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Submission Summary: 0 pending, 115 declined, 36 accepted (151 total, 23.84% accepted)

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Security

Submission + - Researchers Crack *All* CA State Voting Machines

ewhac writes: "The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that computer security researchers throughout the University of California system managed to crack the security on every voting machine they tested that has been approved for use in the state. The researchers are unwilling to say how vulnerable the machines are, as the tests were conducted in an environment highly advantageous to the testers. They had complete access to the devices' source code and unlimited time to try and crack the machines. No malicious code was found in any of the machines, but Matt Bishop, who led the team from UC Davis, was surprised by the weakness of the security measures employed. The tests were ordered by Secretary of State Debra Bowen, who has until Friday of next week to decide whether to decertify any of the machines for use in the upcoming Presidential primary election."
Space

Submission + - Blast at SpaceShipOne Facility Kills Two

ewhac writes: "An explosion at the Mojave Air and Space Port has killed two people and critically injured four others, according to the Associated Press. Details are sketchy at the moment. Nitrous oxide is reported to be involved, but it is not yet known if a motor test was involved. The Mojave Air and Space Port, located in the high desert near Edwards Air Force Base, is owned by Scaled Composites LLC, the builders of SpaceShipOne."
Announcements

Submission + - Jim Butterfield, 1936 - 2007 1

ewhac writes: "While nearly everyone was going crazy over the iPhone, the computing community lost a luminary on Friday. Jim Butterfield, an early columnist and author for hobbyist computing in the 1970's and 80's, passed away peacefully in his sleep at 1:30 AM on 29 June. He was 71. Jim had been battling cancer since at least December of last year, when he announced he was beginning chemotherapy. Jim was a frequent contributor to periodicals such as The Transactor, COMPUTE!, and TPUG; and was the author of several books on introductory programming. Jim's clear and incisive writing helped introduce a generation of newcomers to the joys and wonders of computers and computer programming. No small fraction of today's engineers owe their livlihoods to Jim's writing and enthusiasm, this chronicler included. He will be missed."
Privacy

Submission + - Identity Thief Apprehended by Victim

ewhac writes: "Karen Lodrick was entering her sixth month of hell dealing with the repercussions of having her identity stolen and used to loot her accounts. But while she was waiting for a beverage, there standing in line was the woman who appeared on Wells Fargo security video emptying her accounts. What followed was a 45 minute chase through San Francisco streets that ended with the thief being taken into custody by police."
The Media

Submission + - Jack Valenti Dead

ewhac writes: "It is common tradition in Western culture to not speak ill of the dead. Many will doubtless find themselves sorely tested to uphold this tradition when learning of the death of Jack Valenti, the former head of the RIAA. He was 85. Valenti, a decorated World War II veteran, abolished the restrictive Hays censorship code in favor of the motion picture ratings system which he was instrumental in designing. No stranger to controversy, he was also at loggerheads with the burgeoning high-tech community, having compared the video recorder to the Boston Strangler, and successfully lobbied Washington for the NET Act and the DMCA. Valenti died from complications of a stroke suffered in March. He had been hospitalized for several weeks at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center before passing away today."
Google

Submission + - Google Buys DoubleClick

ewhac writes: "The Associated Press is reporting that Google has struck a deal to acquire DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in cash. DoubleClick, one of the oldest advertising companies on the Web, has been long criticized for its questionable practices of using browser cookies to quietly track the browsing habits of users. It is unclear how this acquisition meshes with Google's mantra of, "Don't be evil.""
Movies

Submission + - TRON Classified "Sensitive" by Homeland Se

ewhac writes: "Apparently a Jeff Bridges film is now a credible threat to the Republic. Reports are emerging from Hollywood that the Department of Homeland Security has classified the film TRON as "sensitive" and ordered Disney studios to surrender all its copies. Concern reportedly surrounds the live action scenes shot at the Shiva nuclear fusion research facility, which apparently after 25 years are now considered to reveal sensitive details about nuclear technology."
Sony

Submission + - Sony Losing Up To $300 Per Unit on PS3

ewhac writes: "iSuppli has just published the results of their tear-down of the Sony PS3. According to their estimates, Sony is losing $241 per unit for the PS3 with the 20Gig hard disk, and $306 for the 60Gig version. By contrast, the 20Gig Xbox 360 of today costs $75 less than it's $500 price tag. Even given the high BOM of the Sony, however, iSuppli describes the PS3 as a sophisticated, cutting-edge design. Other choice details include the 400 Watt power supply, and the three custom ASICs, each with over 1200 pins."
Businesses

Submission + - AT&T/BellSouth Merger Approved by Justice Dept

ewhac writes: "The Associated Press is reporting that the US Justice Department has unconditionally approved a merger between AT&T (née SBC) and BellSouth. The merger is valued at over $78 billion, and would result in Cingular being wholly owned by AT&T. The proposed merger has been blasted by consumer advocates as well as two FCC commissioners. Approval from the FCC is still required for the merger to go forward."
Intel

Submission + - Intel to Slash Up To 20K Jobs

ewhac writes: "Facing stiff competition from AMD and under mounting pressure to reduce costs, analysts are predicting Intel will begin laying off as many as 20,000 workers beginning as early as next week. CEO Paul Otellini is trying to cut $1 billion in costs this year and refocus Intel on its core chip business."

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