Slashdot

Enon writes "eEye Digital Security has discovered 14 vulnerabilities in the FLAC file format that affect a huge range of media players on every supported operating system (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Unix, BSD, Solaris, and even some hardware players are vulnerable). Heise points out a number of vulnerable apps that use the open source libavcodec audio codec library, which in turn relies on the flawed libFLAC library. These vulnerabilities could allow a person of ill will to trojanize FLAC files that could compromise your computer if they are played on a vulnerable media player. eEye worked with US-CERT to notify vulnerable vendors."

cnet-declan writes "Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is asking Congress to make 'attempted' copyright infringement a federal crime. The text of the legislation as well as the official press-release is available online. Rep. Lamar Smith, a key House Republican, said he 'applauds' the idea, and his Democratic counterpart is probably on board too. In addition, the so-called Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2007 would create a new crime of life imprisonment for using pirated software in some circumstances, expand the DMCA with civil asset forfeiture, and authorize wiretaps in investigations of Americans who are 'attempting' to infringe copyrights. Does this go too far?"

1. What is your occupation?
Weilder of the Wire Brush of Enlightenment and the Broadsword of Understanding. i.e. I'm doing system administration.

2. What color are your socks right now?
Black and yellow.

3. What are you listening to right now?
Spoon - Gimme Fiction

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
A strawberry trifle.

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
I only drive stick shifts. Automatics - eugh!

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Green

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Lucy at the NCC, just for a chat.

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Well, i wasn't really sent it, I just saw it in FortKnox's journal.

9. How old are you today?
%00100010

10. Favorite drinks?
Any beer by Bushy's
Tea. I drink vast quantities of the stuff.

11. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Rugby

12. Have you ever dyed your hair?
No, but a hairdresser that I used to go to in Nassau Bay was always trying to get me to have it bleached blonde. I refused.

13. Pets?
One grumpy cat and two misbehaving kittens. The cat is grumpy mostly on account of the kittens, which she is getting tired of.

14. Favorite food?
Anything with some Scoville heat index to it.

15. What was the last movie you watched?
"Battle of Britain", starring Michael Caine amongst others.

16. Favorite holiday?
Flying holidays.

17. What do you do to vent anger?
Write a long rant about whatever made me angry

18. What were your favorite toys as a kid?
Technical Lego

19. What is your favorite: fall or spring?
Spring. Autumn just reminds me that hurricane season followed by short dull days is on the way. This weekend, the gales were gusting to 80mph. Fortunately, I didn't lose any slates off my roof.

20. Hugs or kisses?
Hugs.

21. Cherry or blueberry?
Blueberry

22. Do you want your friends to send this back?
Oh why not, it's a pointless meme, so it has to circulate!

23. Who is the most likely to respond?
No idea

24. Who is least likely to respond?
No idea

25. Living arrangements?
I am owned by three cats.

26. When was the last time you cried?
Probably when my mother died.

27. What is on the floor of your closet?
- A box of various Cat5 cable left overs.
- A Sun type 5 keyboard and mouse.
- A box of photos
- A box of random obsolete expansion cards
- A dead Sinclair Spectrum (with rubber keys) awaiting repairs.

28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you're sending this to?
this isn't an email, and I'm not really certain :-)

29. What did you do last night?
Braved the Severe Gale 10 winds and went to the pub with my Dad.

An anonymous reader writes, "Novell has published additional details about its agreements with Microsoft concerning Windows and Linux interoperability and patents. It seems the company is receiving an up-front payment of $348 million from Microsoft, for SLES subscription certificates and for patent cross-licensing. Microsoft will make an upfront payment to Novell of $240 million for SLES subscription 'certificates' that Microsoft can use, resell, or distribute over the term of the agreement. Regarding the patent cooperation agreement, Microsoft will make an up-front net payment to Novell of $108 million, and Novell will make ongoing payments totaling at least $40 million over five years to Microsoft."