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Christmas Cheer

Does Santa Hate Linux? 271

Posted by timothy from the elf-beating-question dept.
beernutmark writes "Well, it looks like Santa or at least Norad/Google hates Linux. This year, for the first time since its inception, Norad is not making a simple .kml file available for download to track Santa. You must connect to their website with a Windows/Mac browser and use the browser plugin. No full-screen Google Earth to look at the beautiful areas around Santa's path. (Anyone have any open source source kml files for tracking Santa or any idea how we can go about making one for 2010?)"

Comment Re:Surgeon General's Warning (Score 1) 1078

by f_raze13 (#30185010) Attached to: Apple Voiding Smokers' Warranties?
If you had read even the summary, you might have noticed that Apple's problem was not that the smoke constituted improper use, or that it damaged the computers. Their only problem was the fact that having their employees fix said computers would expose them to a "biohazard." Regardless of whether or not smoke causes a buildup of crap on the inside of the computer, which I'm not arguing with at all, Apple should have already provided their employees who are exposed to the harmful chemicals already found in computers.

Comment Re:here's where we get to hear someone spew (Score 1) 932

by f_raze13 (#30081436) Attached to: Easing the Job of Family Tech Support?
While I'm not arguing with the fact that what you suggested might fix the problem, that wasn't what the poster was asking. Being "introduced to computers at a very young age," the poster no doubt already knows about the lack of viruses on Macs. However, even with this knowledge, he asked slashdot about resources for teaching his family safe computing practices on PCs. This might indicate that he actually has a reason for choosing to stick with PCs over switching to Macs. It might be nice to actually respect his choice and instead actually answer his question.
Spam

Opting Out Increases Spam? 481

Posted by timothy from the damned-either-way dept.
J. L. Tympanum writes "I used to ignore spam but recently I have been using the opt-out feature. Now I get more spam than ever, especially of the Nigerian scam (and related) types. The latter has gone from almost none to several a day. Was I a fool for opting out? Is my email address being harvested when I opt out? Has anybody had similar experience?"
Games

BioShock 2 Interviews and Early Looks 105

Posted by Soulskill from the hello-big-daddy dept.
Parz writes with word that new information is emerging about the much-anticipated BioShock 2. Eurogamer has a detailed write-up about the game, saying that it raises curiosity and exhibits plot-depth in a manner similar to the first game. Gamespot has a video interview with some of the developers, in which they talk about some of the new environments and how they're able to do more with the story in a sequel by not having to explain the fundamental characteristics of the setting. In an interview with Gameplayer, Lead Level Architect Hogarth de la Plante said, "You'll see locations in BioShock 2 that are completely flooded interior structures that you can walk through out in the ocean." A gameplay trailer was recently released, and screenshots are available as well.

Comment Re:Proprietary downloader (Score 1) 52

by f_raze13 (#26732655) Attached to: Amazon Enters Gaming Market
On the other hand, if you're running StartupMonitor or any similar program, or have even a basic ability to use msconfig, you may simply close the downloader, and it will never open again until you need it again.

I do agree that the DRM on it is rather bogus, though.
The Courts

Submission + - RIAA Hearing Next Week To Be Televised (blogspot.com)

Submitted by
NewYorkCountryLawyer
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes: "One commentator labels it 'another fly in the RIAA's ointment'. In SONY BMG Music v. Tenenbaum, the Boston, Massachusetts, RIAA case in which the defendant is represented by Harvard law professor Charles Nesson and a group of his students, the Judge has ruled that the hearing scheduled for January 22nd will be televised over the internet. The hearing will relate to Mr. Tenenbaum's counterclaims against the record companies and against the RIAA. In her 11-page opinion (PDF), District Judge Nancy Gertner labeled as 'curious' the record companies' opposition to televising the proceedings, since their professed reason for bringing the cases is deterrence, 'a strategy [which] effectively relies on the publicity arising from this litigation'."
Government

Submission + - Church of Scientology violates Federal Law (rapidshare.com) 5

Submitted by
FreedomToThink
FreedomToThink writes: "This is a very long story I'm sure the editors will have fun with, but I couldn't see how to cut it down at all.

On the eve of the Ides of March protest, from the source of the recent 'Anonymous' submitted CCHR leak on wikileaks, comes this message

"Dear $cientology,You attempt injunctions.I respond.Shall we continue the game? Much Love, DEEP CLAM"

Included was yet another PDF this time including yet more emails leaked from a Church of Scientology front group.

Vote Rigging?

From: "Mike Kaplan" <mkaplan@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: Fw: RE-ELECT FRANK HIBBARD, MAYOR OF CLEARWATER
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 11:53:07 -0400

See below. Everyone in Clearwater MUST vote. Every vote will be needed to be
sure Hibbard gets re-elected. The alternative is Rita Garvey who is an SP.

— Original Message —
From: Shelly <mailto:shelly.bauer@Earthlink.net> Bauer
To: Shelly Bauer <mailto:shelly.bauer@earthlink.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 8:09 AM
Subject: RE-ELECT FRANK HIBBARD, MAYOR OF CLEARWATER

DO YOUR PART
RE-ELECT FRANK HIBBARD
MAYOR OF CLEARWATER
VOTE!!!
JANUARY 29TH
TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED!

Lunch with your preferred Presidential candidates for a high price?

ONE SEAT LEFT

I have arranged a private one-hour luncheon with Ron Paul on 11/28 in St.
Pete when he will be in town for the CNN/YouTube Republican debate.

This luncheon is reserved for $1000+ donors to Ron Paul's presidential
campaign. 19 people so far have paid and confirmed and will have the honor
and pleasure of having lunch and communicating with Ron Paul directly.


From the head of the "Non Proffit" CCHR Bruce Wiseman

Go the the HELP committee website. The link is here.
http://help.senate.gov/About.html
Here you will see the names of the Committee members on the left hand
side
of the page. Please go to the individual websites of the Republican =
members
(this will take just a bit of leg work on your part by putting their =
name
into Google) and calling their office or sending a fax to them (email is =
the
least effective) stating your opposition to S. 1375 The Mother's Act.


Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one "which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."

An OCMB (Operation Clambake Message Board)regular adds :

I downloaded myself a copy and started looking through them. I found an interesting one on pages 47-48.
http://rapidshare.com/files/99292051/CCHRLeak3.pdf.html

Karin Pouw of OSA of CofS writes a message.
It's forwarded by Michael Genung. He's the guy who runs ACSR, Association for Citizens Sociel Reform. http://www.citizensforsocialreform.org/ ["CSR Background and Philosopy: CSR was founded in 2001 by a group of Scientologists and other like-minded individuals concerned with the escalating social ills in society. CSR's purpose is to work with in the field of public policy to bring about more effective and humane solutions to these social ills of illiteracy, criminality substance abuse and general decay of character."]

Then it's forwarded by Doyle Mills, of LEAF fame (Letters to the Editor Attack Force).
Then it's forwarded by Mary C. (possibly one of two Mary C's I'm thinking of, but unsure).
Then it's forwarded by Mike Kaplan, another person who runs an email list and forwards CCHR type stuff to CofS members.

If that ain't stringing a line from the CofS to CCHR and the CofS front group ("grassroots") movements, then I don't know what is!


Apologies in advance as the Enturbulation servers will not be up to a slashdotting so the Coral Cache link is here Enturbulation Discussion (already cached for you)

ANYONE CAN REPORT TAX FRAUD DIRECTLY TO THE IRS : http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=106778,00.html It does require that you print out and mail in an actual hardcopy, but it does not require you to identify yourself.

Just a casual user passing on a message from the Enturbulation forum, this is already out there, there's no reason to attack the messenger."
Censorship

Submission + - US Scientists Censored - Yet Again

Submitted by Cemu
Cemu writes: Over at msnbc.com there's yet another story about how the current administration is censoring scientists. When speaking at public events there is "special handling" when speaking about anything "involving or potentially involving climate change, sea ice, and/or polar bears".
Upgrades

Submission + - Britian to step boldly into the Nineteenth Century

Submitted by
mqduck
mqduck writes: "The British may have finally decided that their whole "democracy" experiment was a good idea and that now's the time to take it out of probation. No, they're not making the Queen get a job and pay rent, but they are going to turn the House of Lords into a fully elected body, getting rid of the seats guaranteed to the descendants of feudal lords. I hope that cake we've been saving for them since 1782 is still good!"
Power

Submission + - Peak Oil is Alive: More Evidence of Saudi Decline

Submitted by
Prof. Goose
Prof. Goose writes: "http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2331

In this post, I extend my analysis of Saudi Arabian production backwards four years earlier than my post of last week. I explain in detail how the evidence strongly suggests that since late 2004, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has entered rapid decline of their oil production, at least for the time being.
This should be required reading for everyone."

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