jugglerjon - Slashdot User

Submission + - Feds halt best medical practices program (zdnet.com)

Submitted by modapi on Sunday December 30, 2007 @10:55PM

modapi writes: Even common medical procedures can have their success rates dramatically improved by having doctors use checklists. But the Fed's Office for Human Research Protections of the Department of Health & Human Services has halted the practice, claiming the checklists are actually "human subject research" requiring informed consent. ZDnet's Robin Harris comments

"Human subject research requires the patient's informed consent for good reason. But once a "best practice" is defined, asking patients if they want it is, in effect, giving them the option to accept substandard care. How would this work in the ICU? I can see it now: Researcher: "Ms. At-Death's-Door? I need your informed consent for some human subject research. We're requiring doctors to perform procedures correctly by using checklists. You can also opt for our standard level of ineptitude."

He includes contact info and a suggested letter for people who want better health care practice.

Submission + - Nintendo Wii Fully Exploited

Submitted by Croakyvoice on Sunday December 30, 2007 @07:55AM

Croakyvoice writes: The 24th Annual Chaos Communication Congress was the launchpad for the unveiling of the hacking of the Nintendo Wii via an exploit to allow homebrew to run in native Wii mode ( previously only Gamecube Homebrew was available on the Wii) which will allow access to the Wiimote, WiFi and SD Cart Slot. Tehskeen a Wii scene site has today posted an interview with the author of the exploit who has discussed the release to the public and linux amongst other things.

Submission + - TSA limits lithium batteries on airplanes

Submitted by yali on Friday December 28, 2007 @01:30PM

yali writes: The U.S. Transportation and Security Administration has issued new rules limiting travel with lithium batteries. As of January 1, no spare lithium batteries are allowed in checked luggage. Batteries carried in the cabin are subject to limitations on per-battery and total lithium content, and spare batteries must have the terminals covered. If you're returning home from the holidays with new toys, be sure to check out the new restrictions before you pack.

Submission + - New Jersey Denies Internet from Sex Offenders (nytimes.com) 3

Submitted by

eldavojohn

on Friday December 28, 2007 @11:45AM

eldavojohn writes: "New Jersey just passed legislation making it illegal for sex offenders to use the internet. NJ congresswoman Linda D. Greenstein said, "When Megan's Law was enacted, few could envision a day when a sex offender hiding behind a fake screen name would be a mouse-click away from new and unwitting victims. Sex offenders cannot be given an opportunity to abuse the anonymity the Internet can provide as a means of opening a door to countless new potential victims." While they still can search for jobs, this is a major expansion over the prior legislation which barred them from social networking sites like facebook or myspace."

Submission + - New Jersey Bans Sex Offenders from Internet

Submitted by

Michael

on Friday December 28, 2007 @11:25AM

Michael writes: "The New York Times (among others) is reporting that New Jersey's governor has recently signed into law legislation that will ban registered sex offenders from using the Internet. Read about it here."

Submission + - Digital TV Burnout

Submitted by mpthompson on Friday December 28, 2007 @02:47AM

mpthompson writes: According to Embedded.com beyond the robust growth, glitzy new high-end displays and marketing frenzy lurks the dirty little secret of HDTV: An unsettling number of sets are returned to the retail outlets where they are purchased. Consumers are often wowed by the performance of HDTVs displaying slow-moving, brightly colored video on the showroom floor, but are disappointed by the performance of the set when they get it home. There are many factors at play, but consumer confusion over jargon laden HDTV technology seems to be the major culprit. Manufacturers also blame the compression technologies used by cable and satellite providers to jam as many channels into their bandwidth as possible for consumer dissatisfaction. Is Joe Six-Pack really ready for digital TV?

Submission + - Has RIAA expert Jacobson contradicted himself? (blogspot.com) 1

Submitted by

NewYorkCountryLawyer

on Wednesday December 26, 2007 @11:20AM

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes: "A year and five months after examining the defendant's hard drive in UMG v. Lindor, the RIAA's "expert" witness, Dr. Doug Jacobson, has issued a "supplemental report" which appears to contradict his earlier "reports" alluding to the hard drive inspection. In view of the superb job the Slashdot community and the Groklaw community did in helping first to prepare for, and then to vet, Jacobson's deposition, I humbly submit for your learned review the now three (3) versions of the "expert's" opinions based on the hard drive, for your analysis. As with almost all federal litigation documents nowadays, they are, unfortunately, in *pdf format: (a) December 19, 2006, declaration; (b) unsigned October 25, 2006, report, awaiting approval from RIAA lawyers; and (c) December 15, 2007, version. The initial observations of commentators on my blog are located here."

Submission + - A new low in restrictive software licensing 4

Submitted by Coutal on Tuesday December 25, 2007 @05:52PM

Coutal writes: Licensing is usually looked upon as a burden by software customers, although one we're grudgingly used to living with. However, at times one encounters new lows which can still invoke sufficient outrage — a stealable license.
Recently, my i-go based pocket pc navigation unit was stolen. However, I still retained my valid serial number, certificate of authenticity, proof of purchase and even a backup of the software. I figured restoring my software to another device should be a matter of unit service or (tops) minimal fee for media restoration. Tech support, however, had other ideas in mind. They informed me that my license was stolen with the unit. No amount of explanation of the lack of logic in that statement made through. They insisted that my backups were also void because I no longer have the original SD card and that I am not allowed to use them (which kind of defeats the whole purpose of backup, as the device only stores extremely little other data than the original software — no more than a few points of interest and marginal settings).

Submission + - Police take fingerprints, even for traffic stops (wbay.com)

Submitted by

Khyber

on Monday December 24, 2007 @04:45AM

Khyber writes: "Green Bay police are now taking on a new tactic to "prevent crime" by fingerprinting you, even for minor traffic violations. The claims seem pretty far-fetched, given the recent surge in the reports of privacy invasions."

Submission + - Retail stores scalping Wii on eBay (arstechnica.com) 2

Submitted by C0rinthian on Friday December 21, 2007 @02:13PM

C0rinthian writes: ArsTechnica reports that the games retailer Slackers has been keeping their stock of the Nintendo Wii of their store shelves, and is instead selling the system on eBay for $400-500. (A $150-$250 markup)

Submission + - IBM Fat Cat Declares War on Employees' Fat Kids

Submitted by

theodp

on Friday December 21, 2007 @01:12PM

theodp writes: "Introduced by CEO Samuel J. Palmisano, IBM's 2007 Corporate Responsibility Report probably should be a contender for worst corporate communication of the year. Where should we begin? The attaboy for a Nun-run program that's reducing the absenteeism of self-reported HIV/AIDS-infected IBM employees in South Africa to two days a year? The up-to-$500 matching grant IBM provides annually for retraining after your inevitable job loss? The pledge to only use voluntary prison labor? The 'Healthy Living Initiatives' program, with its financial penalties for employees that refuse to get-with-the-program, which is now being expanded to take aim at employees' children who don't eat right, exercise enough, or lack 'healthy weight habits?' The 65% employee satisfaction rate?"

Submission + - Lakota Sioux Declare Sovereign Nation Status (commondreams.org)

Submitted by

eternal1001

on Friday December 21, 2007 @11:07AM

eternal1001 writes: "Totally, Unbelievably AMAZING! Why isn't this in the major news outlets? This is massive international news, and I had a heck of a time searching for details on it:

Freedom! Lakota Sioux Indians Declare Sovereign Nation Status

Threaten Land Liens, Contested Real Estate Over Five State Area in U.S.West Dakota Territory Reverts back to Lakota Control According to U.S., International Law

WASHINGTON, DC — December 20 — Lakota Sioux Indian representatives declared sovereign nation status today in Washington D.C. following Monday's withdrawal from all previously signed treaties with the United States Government. The withdrawal, hand delivered to Daniel Turner, Deputy Director of Public Liaison at the State Department, immediately and irrevocably ends all agreements between the Lakota Sioux Nation of Indians and the United States Government outlined in the 1851 and 1868 Treaties at Fort Laramie Wyoming.

"This is an historic day for our Lakota people," declared Russell Means, Itacan of Lakota. "United States colonial rule is at its end!""

Submission + - 300-MPG Jetsons Car for $30K by End of '08 (popularmechanics.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21, 2007 @05:01AM

An anonymous reader writes: You may have heard some of the hype last month when California-based Aptera let out first word of its allegedly super fuel-efficient (and cheap) Typ-1 electric vehicle. Well this video test drive and gee-whiz specs breakdown proves that this thing is for real: 120 miles on a single lithium-phosphate pack charge for 2008, with a 300-mpg model to follow by 2009. Aptera is also mentioned in Wired's new cover story as one of several early front-runners for the Automotive X Prize.

Submission + - RIAA "expert" Jacobson makes new accusatio

Submitted by

NewYorkCountryLawyer

on Thursday December 20, 2007 @12:17PM

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes: "Not content with his prior testimony and his previous reports, the RIAA's "expert", Dr. Doug Jacobson, has submitted a new, "supplemental" report, making new accusations against Ms. Lindor's son, in UMG v. Lindor. He makes no mention of what new development occurred to make him change his mind. The RIAA appears to have become emboldened in Brooklyn by recent rulings there in which the District Judge David G. Trager held that (a) Ms. Lindor's lawyers are not allowed to see MediaSentry's compensation and retainer agreements even though MediaSentry is plaintiffs' primary trial witness; (b) Dr. Jacobson can testify as an 'expert witness' at the trial even though he satisfied none of the Daubert reliability factors, and (c) he will continue to personally control all RIAA cases in the Eastern District of New York, rather than allow random judicial assignment by lot, which is the general rule in federal court. Upon learning of the ruling, one commentator stated that the RIAA has "been foisting supposed tech expert Doug Jacobson on courts hearing specious RIAA sue 'em all cases even though the voracity of Jacobson's evidence has been proven to be highly questionable"."

Submission + - Lakota Nation withdraws from 150 year old treaties (google.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 20, 2007 @10:29AM

An anonymous reader writes: AFP, Fox News and Others have published a story about leaders of the Lakota indian nation withdrawing from US treaties signed over 150 years ago. Interestingly, they're renouncing their US Citizenship (which could be seriously problematic for them later, should their bid fail), and declaring the formation of their own nation. This new Lakota nation would cover parts of 5 states. As justification for their position, they site article 6 of the US Constitution, and US/International Agreements on the rights of indiginous people made during the Vienna Convention in 1980. Among those taking part in this activity is Russell Means, a well known Indian activist and political leader and actor. All of this brings to mind the less famous of the two "Wounded Knee" incidents; the 1973 Wounded Knee Incident.

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