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Submission Summary: 0 pending, 32 declined, 10 accepted (42 total, 23.81% accepted)

Submission + - Texas narrowly rejects allowing academics to fact-check public school textbooks (csmonitor.com)

jriding writes: AUSTIN, Texas â" Top Texas education officials rejected Wednesday letting university experts fact-check textbooks approved for use in public-school classrooms statewide, instead reaffirming a vetting system that has helped spark years of ideological battles over how potentially thorny lessons in history and science are taught.

Submission + - McConnell introduces bill to extend NSA surveillance (washingtonpost.com)

jriding writes: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced a bill Tuesday night to extend through 2020 a controversial surveillance authority under the Patriot Act.

The move comes as a bipartisan group of lawmakers in both chambers is preparing legislation to scale back the governmentâ(TM)s spying powers under Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Submission + - Good News! The DOJ Might Kill the Comcast-Time Warner Merger (gizmodo.com) 1

jriding writes: The Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger has been in the works for so long, itâ(TM)s starting to feel like the impending monopolistic telecom Frankenbaby was inevitable. But the Justice Department may kibosh the deal for violating antitrust laws, according to a report from Bloomberg.
http://gizmodo.com/good-news-t...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/...
http://www.ft.com/fastft/31000...

Submission + - FCC posts its 400-page net neutrality order (cnet.com)

jriding writes: Simply titled "Open Internet FCC-15-24A1," the order runs 400 pages.
The actual text of the new rules is only 305 words long.
Wheeler said reclassifying broadband as an utility gives the FCC its best shot at withstanding legal challenges. The courts have twice tossed out earlier rules aimed at protecting Internet openness. The FCC chairman has said repeatedly the agency does not intend to set rates or add new taxes to broadband bills. More than 100 pages of the 400-page document released Thursday explain that forbearance.

AT&T had hinted it would file a lawsuit once the new rules become public. The company's chief lobbyist, Jim Cicconi, didn't indicate Thursday when or even if AT&T would sue — only that the battle is far from over.

"Unfortunately, the order released today begins a period of uncertainty that will damage broadband investment in the United States," Cicconi said. "Ultimately, though, we are confident the issue will be resolved by bipartisan action by Congress or a future FCC, or by the courts."

Media

Submission + - RIAA looses $222K verdict

jriding writes: Found on Google news. http://government.zdnet.com/?p=4040 The $222,000 verdict against Jammy Thomas for copyright infringement by P2P is no more. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Davis dismissed the verdict, saying it was based on the faulty "making available" theory of distribution.
Media

Submission + - Everyone but Apple joins new "buy once, play a

jriding writes: Straight from the article.
"Mitch Singer, who has been CTO at Sony Pictures since 2006, will head up the effort. The goal is to allow purchased video content to play seamlessly on any device or screen that the buyer owns and to allow access to a "virtual library" of purchased content accessible from anywhere on the 'Net. According to Singer, video should become a buy once, play anywhere technology like CDs and DVDs. "

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080915-everyone-but-apple-joins-new-buy-once-play-anywhere-group.html#
Social Networks

Submission + - Facebook interviewer heckled at web conference

jriding writes: Zuckerberg, the 23-year-old billionaire, was the keynote speaker at the SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. Business Week journalist Sarah Lacy took the stage to question Zuckerberg, but the audience quickly grew tired of the topics she focused on, claiming that the real issues were being ignored. "Never, ever have I seen such a train wreck of an interview," claimed audience member, Jason Pontin, via Twitter. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/176130/facebook-founder-heckled-at-web-conference.html Side note.. Twitter hits it big!
PlayStation (Games)

Submission + - Guitar Hero announced Rock Band,

figgen writes: Gamers and music fans alike have been eagerly awaiting the details of Harmonix Music System's next project. Today, the development team behind Guitar Hero announced Rock Band, a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 title that expands on the formula of its monster hit by adding drumming and singing. With MTV onboard as a partner, Harmonix was able to sign deals with the major forces in the music publishing industry and has access to the master recordings of music from popular artists. Electronics Arts is also involved, and will use its global reach to help distribute the game. GameSpot had a chance to chat with Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos and EA Partners vice president David DeMartini to get more details on this ambitious project http://www.gamespot.com/news/6168398.html

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