Jonathan asks: "As someone who has been following the development of software verification technology, a recent trend has intrigued me. It seems that the formal method people have finally come down off their high horse and are offering code verification as just another tool. This approach shows up in recent Java and C# based code verification tools that aren't aimed at 'proving correctness' so much as finding potential errors. Now it seems that such an approach is beginning to find its way into XP methods[pdf] as another verification tool to supplement unit tests. Given the current speed and effectiveness of tools like the Spec# verifier, is code verification via automated theorem proving finally going to make its way into the mainstream?"

kubla2000 writes "The current issue of the Times Educational Supplement is running an article in which they cite a report by the British Educational Communications and Technology Association telling primary and secondary schools in the UK to dump Microsoft Operating systems and products in order to save millions. In a report to be published next week, obtained by The TES, Becta will highlight schools which have turned to free software instead of the market leader's products. Becta does not name Microsoft in its analysis. But almost all schools use some of the company's products. Their conclusion? Schools running OSS are saving 24% on average per pc versus those running proprietary systems."

It's Freezing in here asks: "I'm involved in a study to set up a multimedia language laboratory for teaching Japanese. The most difficult aspect that I'm finding is actually locating a good software suite to supplement a Japanese language curriculum. The question of my day is: Can anybody recommend an excellent multimedia software package for teaching Japanese to foreign students (mainly Arab) in a language lab setting? It must scalable as well. I'm specifically looking for a package that includes pronunciation practice, placement testing, intro, middle and advanced levels, and tons of audio/video along with practice questions. As a benchmark, I'm using the Ellis Academic Series package. I'm well aware that most people don't gain fluency in a language by sitting in front of a computer, so please don't pound that issue. I appreciate Slashdot readers' advice. Thanks!"

We sent 10 of your questions to usability guy Joe Clark, and he took it upon himself to go a bit beyond simply answering them. In his reply he said, "Answers attached in a valid XHTML file. I would suggest at least retaining the id attributes. I copy-edited all the questions, but the words are all the same; they are now merely spelled and capitalized correctly. I think all the links work." Whatever. We left Joe's formatting intact. It's a little different from our usual style, but variety is the spice of Slashdot.

Craig Maloney wrote this review of a book intended to remove some of the confusion from the powerful, free 3D modelling program Blender. Blender is fun to play with, and has been used to create some amazing 3D graphics, but it's not exactly intuitive. Just figuring out what some of the major buttons do was a triumph for me, but I haven't touched it in a few years -- I'd like to try Blender again, but with a book like this one at the ready to supplement the user interface.

Last Friday we solicited questions for Robert Watson, hard-core FreeBSD and TrustedBSD developer. His answers (below) are breathtakingly deep and instructive. Whether you're "just curious" about BSD or a FreeBSD user who wants to see what's going on with the inner circle of developers, you'll want to spend the time it takes to read everything here, and possibly even send Mr. Watson a brief "thank you" email.

kberkit asks: "I've just started as a Web designer/Swiss-army-knife, In the crash course of my travails, I've come across some nifty online tools: traceroute to find out what route and how long my Web pages are taking to load to outside servers; DNS lookup, to figure out what IP address a page is coming from; and online HTML validators to make sure my code is clean. I'm sure this is old hat to a lot of Slashdotters, but I'd be interested in knowing what other online tools others would suggest for us poor schleps who find ourselves expected to work miracles with little budget for proper software." For those of you who like traceroute and ping, may I recommend mtr as a supplement for your toolbox? What other small utilities have you all found useful in your day-to-day work lives?

chromatic is back with a mini-compendium of introductory Linux texts -- and yes, they have the famously protected "Dummies" trademark. Don't scoff at the nature of these books, though; the skill of translating the arcana of any computer topic (and boy are they all arcane to the uninitiated!) into language that mom, kids and the guy down the street can understand is not a common one. If you don't know what a root prompt (or an editor) is, or why you might want one, it's hard to do much else with your system.

Several people have written in with assorted notes about LinuxWorld Expo. I've heard rumblings of prizes for the show including a VW Bug from LinuxCare and even a Harley. I've attached a blurb from Robert McMillan about the show. Also, I've written up a bunch of notes about the Slashdot Booth at the show including a wish list: We need a few contacts in San Jose to help us find some stuff for the show. Somebody has to have this stuff just sitting around, so hit the link if you wanna help.

Washington journalists and pols now have a new Internet nightmare to worry about along with hackers, pornographers, peverts and techno-terrorists. He did it from way outside the system. Jesse Ventura and his "geek squad" have given the Internet its first election victory, and politics might not (we can only hope) ever be the same. How he did it:

Jeremy Arnold has written an essay on what he calls LUTE- the Linux Usability Testing and Evaluation project. It could help make programs more usable by organizing volunteers to test software and clean things up. Far to often great programmers aren't the best at creating the ideal user interface. Perhaps this project could put people who understand the human factors in touch with the guys who write the killer code. Hit the link below to read it and throw in your 2 bits.

In a flurry of news about MS, Brian Baggett sent an email saying that- Gates says Windows 98 is still on track, despite the DOJ decision. However, Bill Gates said Tuesday the Department of Justice was seeking to have the software company "cripple" its products, sent to us by Mike T, who also sent us on interesting article about another effort to broaden technology access for seniors, Microsoft Corp. has donated $150,000 worth of new software and hardware to senior centers across the nation. This donation will supplement a Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) program announced in September 1997, through which more than 500 computers were loaned to senior centers across the country to provide access to important health-care and Medicare information via the Internet.

Whew-busy day for Microsoft.