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Debian

Submission + - Where the Heck is Etch?

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Last September, some of the Debian Linux distribution's leadership wanted to make sure that Etch, the next version of Debian, arrived on its December 4th due date. So, the Dunc-Tank group decided to experiment with financially supporting some key developers to get Debian out the door on time. Almost two months later, though, according to the February 17th Release Critical Bug Report memo to the Debian Developers Announcement list, there are still 541 release critical bugs. Now, that's not quite as bad as it sounds.
Censorship

Submission + - Google kills blog, but only after a death threat

Submitted by thefickler
thefickler writes: Google has finally shut down a blog that posted a death threat against a New Zealand politician. Cyfswatch, a blog dedicated to attacking the New Zealand Government's Child Youth and Family Service (CYFS), was hosted by Google's free blogging service, Blogger. Green MP, Sue Bradford, who is advocating an "anti-smacking" bill, was much hated by Cyfswatch and its readers.

"Bradford is a worthy candidate for NZ's first political assassination — I only wish I had the resources to do it," wrote one particularly angry anonymous contributor to the site. This threat led to the blog being shut down.
User Journal

Journal SPAM: JOTD 3

Journal by Jeremiah Cornelius

One afternoon a wealthy Republican was riding in his limousine when he saw two men along the roadside eating grass. Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate.

He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?

"We don't have any money for food," the poor man replied. "We have to eat grass."

"Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you" the Republican said.

Top Ten Open Source Innovators 152

Posted by CowboyNeal from the leading-the-pack dept.
42istheanswer writes "Open source is so much more than Linux these days. A lot is happening beyond the popular operating system. Open source models are thriving in CRM (SugarCRM), messaging (Scalix), and systems management (Zenoss). Datamation has identified ten leading commercial open-source innovators and the projects they are working on in their article, Ten Leading Open Source Innovators."
Privacy

Submission + - Get Out the Tin Hats; dust-speck sized RFID

Submitted by MedicinalMan
MedicinalMan writes: According to Pink Tentacle, http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/02/hitachi-develo ps-rfid-powder/ very tiny RFID chips 0.05mm x 0.05mm will be markted by Hitachi in the next couple of years. The many harmless uses generally involve embedding them in paper (money, gift certificates, admission tickets, etc.). The main specs are: "128-bit ROM for storing a unique 38-digit ID number.The new chips are also 9 times smaller than the prototype chips Hitachi unveiled last year, which measure 0.15 x 0.15 mm." Telescreen: There will be absolutely no uses that involve privacy invasion nor should paranoia increase. Carry on...War is peace...
Space

Submission + - Whistle While You Work? Not in Space.

Submitted by
Ant
Ant writes: "ABC News report that astronauts on spacewalks will never, ever be able to whistle while they work in space. Former NASA astronaut, Dan Barry has seven hours of spacewalking time to his credit. He tried whistling during his spacewalk on STS-96 in May 1999. "It wasn't something I hadn't planned — I thought of it on the fly. It turned out that it didn't work." he said. "You can't whistle because the air pressure in the suit is only 4.3 [pounds per square inch], and normal atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi, so there are not enough air molecules blowing by your lips to make a sound," he said. Seen on Blue's News."
Robotics

Submission + - Pleo Now Available for Pre-order at Trossen Roboti

Submitted by
Trossen Robotics
Trossen Robotics writes: "Pleo Available for Preorder at Trossen Robotics

Feb 22nd, 2007 — Trossen Robotics is announcing the preorder availability of the Ugobe Pleo robotic dinosaur. Trossen Robotics has received permission to begin taking preorders for the Pleo which is slated to ship around July 2007.

CEO Matt Trossen, "The Pleo has been the most talked about commercial robot since the Roomba. We anticipate very high demand for this product and are very excited to be carrying it for our customers. As with any new technical product which has garnered a strong buzz, people should reserve their place in line as soon as possible if they want one. We know that we will be tearing open a box as soon as they arrive."

Price: $349.95
Estimated Shipping date: July 2007
Product Link: http://www.trossenrobotics.com/store/p/5165-PLEO.a spx
Website Link: http://www.trossenrobotics.com/

Items Included:
  Pleo / Companion Guide / AC Charger / Training Device / Warranty Card

Pleo Technical Specs:

Ugobe LifeOS
  — 32 bit Atmel ARM 7 microprocessor — The main processor for Pleo
  — 16 bit sub processor — The processor dedicated to the camera system
  — (4) 8 bit processors that provide the low-level motor control for the servos
  — (35) Sensors including a camera custom designed to fit into Pleo's very compact body.
  — (4) foot-switches to detect footfalls and being picked up — assists with spatial orientation.
  — (12) capacitive touch sensors (4) legs, (4) feet, back, shoulder, head, chin
  — (2) microphones for directional sound detection
  — (14) "Force" sensors, one per servo, to recognize abuse through force feedback joints.
  — Orientation/tilt sensor
  — IR transceiver for bidirectional data communication with other Pleos.
  — IR interrupter for detection of objects in Pleo's mouth
  — (14) motors. Standard low voltage DC motors
  — (150) gears and clutches
  — Rechargeable NiMH battery pack
  — USB port with mini USB connector
  — SD/MMC memory card slot

Pleo Size Specs:
  Length: 18.8 in / 47.75 cm
  Width: 5.84 in / 14.83 cm
  Height: 6.82 in / 17.32 cm
  Weight: 3.5 lbs / 1.59 kg"
Portables (Apple)

Submission + - iPods making their way into cockpits

Submitted by
Agentscott00
Agentscott00 writes: "Apple's iPod has found its way into the cockpit and is about to become a flight data recorder (FDR), more commonly known as "black box." Flight reports that light aircraft maker LoPresti Speed Merchants is adding the ability to use an iPod as a flight data recorder to its Fury piston aircraft. The airplane will include an iPod dock connector, and will be able to send data to the iPod for storage. Although it's not clear yet exactly what data will be recorded, typically that includes system monitoring information and data for post-flight analysis."

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