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chareverie writes "A law just passed in New York now requires labels for violent content in video games that are already rated, as well as having parent-controlled lockout features installed in consoles by 2010. The law has caused an uproar with civil rights groups who claim that such a law is unconstitutional. A legal challenge is already in the works by the New York Civil Liberties Union who cite that similar laws that have been brought to courts in California, Illinois, Minessota, and Washington state have been deemed as unconstitutional. NYCLU legislative director Robert Perry also says that the 'new law is a "back door" way of regulating video game content.'"

langelgjm writes "Ever find yourself scrambling for the TV remote to mute those insanely loud commercials? I know I do. Sometimes it seems like they're twice the volume of the actual program. Now, however, the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, introduced in both the House and Senate last month, aims to make those noisy commercials a thing of the past. The bill seeks to "require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe a standard to preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than the program material they accompany," and goes on to give details. Check it out, and if you like it, call and ask your Senator or Representative to cosponsor it today."

As i look at the Bell Systems metal phone booth sign hanging over my desk ( its mounted on the wall ), ill never be convinced that it was a good idea.

Oh, and my lucite block with a piece of the local bell office's sign embedded in it from when the sign was removed after the breakup and subsequent name change, that sits on my desk next to my cup holder.

Sorry, *no one* can convince me otherwise, ever.

Oh, and i still have my original bluebox so don't call me jaded..

An anonymous reader writes "I'm an aspiring /.er interested in public policy, particularly as it applies to technology and communications. I think I'd like to work at an agency like the FCC or FTC, or perhaps a non-governmental organization like the Center for Democracy and Technology. I'm trying to decide whether to pursue a law degree, or a master's degree in public affairs or public policy. What advice can the /. community offer as to which degree would be more valuable given my interests and ambitions?"

An anonymous reader writes "A tiny portable projector, about the size of a pack of cards, may soon replace a ring tone as the most annoying thing on the train or bus. These technical innovations can project an image up to 50 inches in size in dark lighting, making them ideal for on-the-road business presentations. They can also be hooked up to cell phones or media devices, though, possibly introducing a whole new level of social intrusion into US culture. 'Digital projectors were once bulky. These new models, though, are small enough to fit into the pocket of consumers who want a big-screen experience from a small-screen device. Some of the models are expected to be on the market by year-end, or sooner. Prices have yet to be announced. Matthew S. Brennesholtz, an analyst at Insight Media, a marketing research firm in Norwalk, Conn., says he thinks the projectors will initially cost about $350, then quickly drop to less than $300.'"

At least one university liberal enough to accept the deeply flawed and mostly rejected Vista OS is recommending faculty and students stay away from SP1. "University of Pennsylvania tech staffers are advising faculty and students not to upgrade their computers to the new service pack for Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system. The school's Information Systems & Computing department said it will support Vista SP1 on new systems where it's pre-installed, but added that it 'strongly recommends that all other users adopt a "wait and see" attitude,' according to a newly published department bulletin." And CIO magazine doesn't quite go so far as to call on Microsoft to throw away Vista, but it does ask its readers to weigh in on that topic.

An anonymous reader writes "I am currently a graduate student at a very well-known university. I will finish my Master's degree next year. I have been thinking about continuing on to the law school here and doing work in the law and ethics of information technology, with the eventual goal of working for a place like the Center for Democracy and Technology. However, I am also very interested in computer engineering and in general the more "hands on" side of things. My hobbies have include playing with PIC microcontrollers, which I've interfaced to magnetic stripe and RFID card readers. Soon I'm going to order a kit and try writing to RFID cards. If I had the time, I would probably do that sort of thing all day, every day.

Recently I have been thinking about going back home and getting a BS in computer engineering. Since I already have the general education requirements, I could complete it in at most 3 years. I would be 27 upon finishing it. Have any /.ers changed from a liberal arts field, and gone back to get a second bachelor's degree in a technical field? Am I simply trying to indulge a hobby? How will being older than other graduates affect my job prospects and advancement opportunities in the computer engineering field?"

YourAstrologer writes "Wired Science asks: Should scientists date people who believe in astrology? Apparently, the argument is quite complex. Astrology is sort of a flawed mental shortcut for understanding the world, but so is disregarding someone because of their spiritual beliefs. Women are inundated with astrological nonsense from fashion magazines, so it is normative for them to believe it even if they are otherwise highly logical. Smart people can convince themselves of silly things."

langelgjm writes "Following the lead of the major music labels, the two largest publishers in the US, Random House and Penguin Group, have announced that they will no longer include DRM on their audio books, opting instead for the unprotected MP3 format. In addition to concerns that DRM allows distributors of audio books such as Apple too much control, Madeline McIntosh, senior VP at Random House Audio Group, had this to say: "Our feeling is that D.R.M. is not actually doing anything to prevent piracy.""
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/media/03audiobook.html?ref=technology

langelgjm writes "In a move sure to raise the hackles of privacy advocates everywhere, the New York Times reports that three UK ISPs have entered into talks with an advertising firm, Phorm, to deliver targeted advertising to their customers. According to the article, "The three Internet providers have agreed to give Phorm access to customers' browsing records, letting it track a Web user's every move." But according to Phorm's website, "Our technology doesn't store any personally identifiable information or IP addresses and we don't retain information on user browsing behaviour. So we never know — and can't record — who's browsing, or where they've browsed." Together, the three ISPs involved constitute a massive portion of the UK's ISP market. Will customers be willing to trust their browsing records to Phorm, even if they are anonymized as is claimed?"
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/technology/18target.html

An Anonymous Coward writes "The Washington Post has an article about the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity's take on the numerous virtual worlds (e.g. Second Life) that have cropped up in recent years. IARPA's thesis is that because the Government can't currently monitor all the communication and interaction, terrorists will plot and scheme in such environments."

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Lest there be anyone left who believes the RIAA's propaganda that its litigation campaign is intended to benefit the 'creators' of the music, Hollywood Reporter reports that the RIAA is asking the Copyright Royalty Board to lower songwriter royalties on song file downloads, from the present rate of 9 cents per song — about 13% of the wholesale price — down to 8% of wholesale. Meanwhile, the big digital music companies, such as Apple, want the royalty rate lowered even more, to something like 4% of wholesale. So any representations by any of these companies that they are concerned for the 'creators' of the music must henceforth be taken with a boxcar-load of salt."

theodp writes "For 200 members of the Immanuel Bible Church and their friends, the annual Super Bowl party is over thanks to the NFL, which explained that airing NFL games at churches on large-screen TV sets violates the NFL copyright. Federal copyright law includes an exemption for sports bars, according to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, but churches are out of luck. Churchgoers who aren't averse to a little drinking-and-driving still have the opportunity to see the game together in public on a screen bigger than 55 inches."