Bjorn_Redtail - Slashdot User

Submission + - X Prize to Announce Prize in "Tens Of Millions (spaceportforum.com)

Submitted by

DustoneGT

on Tuesday September 04, 2007 @08:37PM

DustoneGT writes: "The X Prize Foundation is planning to announce a historic new prize next Thursday. This will be a joint announcement with a purse sponsor, "a very exciting and well-known Fortune 500 company". No specifics have been announced, but the prize is supposed to be "in the tens of millions of dollars".

What kind of a space race are they trying to kindle now?"

Submission + - What to do about overly broad school board rules? (k12.va.us) 1

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 04, 2007 @07:23PM

An anonymous reader writes: My child is starting school today I have been asked to sign a release that I agree to the School Board Rules. I actually read them unlike most parents and would like to ask Slashdot what can be done about rules like Stafford County VA Rule 12:

Computer violations including trespass, fraud, invasion of privacy, and theft of services;...; removal of computer data, programs, software; alteration/destruction/erasure of computer data, programs, software; ... (See http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Div/Stafford/Regulations/ Students/R7_32.pdf)

"Removal" includes copying ANY data to floppy or memory stick, even if a Kindergartner saved their drawing to floppy. "Erasure" includes formatting your own floppy disk. "Removal of programs" includes open source or even saving program that you wrote. When you boot any operating system, you alter the logs, so by turning on the computer you are in violation.... The penalty is suspension of 10 days or less.

A friend reported this to the school board several years ago but received a terse reply about the board using the same terms as other school boards. According to him, the wording has only gotten longer and more restrictive but still includes the same "removal" and "alteration" clauses.

Is there anything I can do other than posting this to slashdot?

Full text of the rule: "12. Computer violations including trespass, fraud, invasion of privacy, and theft of services; unauthorized use of school computer and/or computer network; removal of computer data, programs, software; alteration/destruction/erasure of computer data, programs, software; intentionally causing a computer and/or computer network to malfunction; use or duplication of software in violation of law or licensing requirements; unauthorized access to any portion of computer network, restricted programs and/or computer drives; unauthorized use of assigned computer passwords to gain access to computer and/or network; any unauthorized use of school computer code(s); failure to abide by acceptable use agreement; Minimum of short-term suspension of 10 days, or less, with the balance of any days to be served carrying over to the succeeding school year, and/or loss of computer and Internet privileges to maximum of expulsion. Additionally, the matter shall be reported to the Superintendent and shall also be reported to the Sheriff if the potential exists for criminal charges to be filed."

Submission + - Maware goes postal - Trojans on mailed CDs hit .au

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29, 2007 @12:40AM

An anonymous reader writes: Scammers in Australia have gone beyond sending malware via e-mail. An organisation in New South Wales discovered several CDs sent to its staffers were loaded with Windows self-executing malware. Australia's CERT, AusCERT, let it slip during a podcast interview, which was followed up by ZDNet Australia. Could this be the first hyrbid postal service/cyberspace worm?

Submission + - Why is Microsoft charging $4000 for DST patches?

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 23, 2007 @02:48PM

An anonymous reader writes: After a phone call to Microsoft, I was informed that even companies with extended patch support still have to pay $4000 for retired product DST patches. (Keep in mind when you sign up for the extended patch support license, you pay extra.) 1. How did MS figure that $4000 a client would cover the cost of the patch? Are they following the pricing schemes of the oil industry? What is the true cost of such things? 2. Why isn't MS getting more slack for charging this ridiculous amount of money? Is this price gouging? 3. Wouldn't it be in Microsoft's best interest to at least offer the Win2k workstation patch as a free download? Would it have been a chance to help improve the company's image? 4. Since Win2k machines still receive Windows Updates, why are they free yet the DST fix is not?

Journal Journal: MPAA Violates Another Software License 297

Journal by Alien54 on Saturday February 17, 2007 @05:38PM

Patrick Robib, a blogger who wrote his own blogging engine called Forest Blog recently noticed that none other than the MPAA was using his work, and had completely violated his linkware license by removing all links back to the

Submission + - Hospital says SSN's not financial data.

Submitted by theEteam on Saturday February 17, 2007 @01:48AM

theEteam writes: According to this report, St Marys Hospital in Leonardtown, Maryland had a laptop stolen with information of 130,000 patients. The hospital does the right thing and sends out letters to everybody effected, telling them that "The computer contained identifying information including names, social security numbers and birthdates for many of our patients." Sounds good so far and not exactly news. Then, according to the article, they state that "the laptop did not contain any patient health or financial information." Link to the hospital letter directly is here. So when did SSNs cease to become financial data?

Renewable Energy for the Data Center? 55

Posted by Cliff on Saturday February 17, 2007 @01:30AM from the every-erg-saved-is-precious dept.

rohar asks: "The ISP/Carrier/Colo company I work for has just announced a new 'green' program. Although this is a step forward, they don't have a comprehensive environmental sustainability plan. I have been leading an open renewable energy project and I think we have 2 novel ideas for scalable and reliable renewable electrical power, the Solar Ammonia Absorption Convection Tower and the Compressed Air Wind Electrical Generation System. Do you have new ideas (Solar PV has been done, for example) for renewable power generation and conservation for the data center and other areas of industry?"

Submission + - Apple CEO lambasts teacher unions

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 16, 2007 @10:38PM

An anonymous reader writes: After publishing a controversial open letter taking a stance against DRM, Steve Jobs turned his attention to teacher unions. As reported by Associated Press, Jobs said "I believe that what is wrong with our schools in this nation is that they have become unionized in the worst possible way," during an education reform conference. He stated that no amount of technology in the classroom would improve public schools until principals could fire bad teachers. Acknowledging the potential fallout of this stance, Jobs also said "Apple just lost some business in this state, I'm sure."

On the other hand, Dell responded that unions were created because "the employer was treating his employees unfairly and that was not good. So now you have these enterprises where they take good care of their people. The employees won, they do really well and succeed."

Slashdot Top Deals