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GNU is Not Unix

Microsoft finally open sources Windows 7 tool

Submitted by Krystalo
Krystalo writes "Ars Technica reports:

Microsoft has open sourced the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (WUDT) by releasing it under the GPLv2 license. The code is now available on CodePlex, Microsoft's Open Source software project hosting repository, over at wudt.codeplex.com. The actual installer for the tool is now again available for download at the Microsoft Store (2.59MB). Last month, the company pulled the tool after GPL violation claims, started an investigation, and then took responsibility for the violation."
Games

"Universal Jigsaw Puzzle" Hits Stores in Japan->

Submitted by Riktov
Riktov writes "I came across this at Tokyo toy store last week, and it's one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Jigazo Puzzle is a jigsaw puzzle, but you can make anything with it. It has just 300 pieces which are all just varying shades of a single color, though a few have gradations across the piece; i.e., each piece is a generic pixel. Out of the box, you can make Mona Lisa, JFK, etc, arranging it according to symbols printed on the reverse side. But here's the amazing thing: take a photo (for example, of yourself) with a cell-phone, e-mail it to the company, and they will send you back a pattern that will recreate that photo. This article is in Japanese, but as they say, a few pictures are worth a million words. And 300 pixels are worth an infinite number of pictures."
Link to Original Source
Microsoft

Amanda Congdon Weighs in on Bill Gates' Tax Dodge-> 1

Submitted by newscloud
newscloud writes "Former Rocketboom host, Amanda Congdon throws down the gavel today in Sometimesdaily's Internet Justice report on Microsoft's $1.24 billion Washington State tax dodge. Earlier today, Wa. Gov. Gregoire proposed a budget to close the state's $2.6 billion deficit which "gut[s] core services to the poor...[including] a sharp reduction in financial aid for college students and eliminating state-subsidized insurance for thousands of low-income workers, as well as aid to people who can't work because of disabilities." Local coverage of Microsoft's tax practices has increased with the launch of MicrosoftTaxDodge.com and its challenge to CEO Ballmer to open up the company's tax records. Slashdot recently reported on Microsoft's use of Washington courts to defend it's Nevada subsidiary."
Link to Original Source
Science

Buy Local, Act Evil

Submitted by theodp
theodp writes "Slate reports that buying local vegetables and organic products may turn you into a heartless jerk. University of Toronto researchers found that virtuous shopping can actually lead to immoral behavior. In their study, subjects who made simulated eco-friendly purchases ended up less likely to exhibit altruism in a laboratory game and more likely to cheat and steal. The findings add to a growing body of research into a phenomenon known among social psychologists as "moral credentials" or "moral licensing." When people have the chance to demonstrate their goodness, even in the most token of ways, they then feel free to relax their ethical standards in other areas. For example, researchers at Northwestern reported that subjects who wrote self-flattering stories later pledged to give less money to charity than others. And in another recent study, participants who recalled their own righteous deeds were less inclined to donate blood, volunteer, or engage in other "prosocial" acts. They were also more likely to cheat on a math assignment. Elsewhere on Slate, Al Gore rebuffed criticism of his green technology investments as he discussed how he hopes his new book will help people find solutions to the problem of global warming (sorry, couldn't resist!)."

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