modemac - Slashdot User

Submission + - Verizon will cut off entire alt.* Usenet hierarchy (cnet.com)

Submitted by

modemac

on Sunday June 15, 2008 @08:16AM

modemac writes: "Verizon has declared it will no longer offer access to the entire alt.* hierarchy of Usenet newsgroups to its customers. This stems from last week's agreement for major ISPs to cut off access to "newsgroups and Web sites" that make child pornography available. According to the story, Verizon found child porn (or what it described as child porn) on "88 newsgroups." In response, the company will cut off about 85% of all of Usenet, as it will only carry newsgroups in the Big Eight."

Submission + - California lawmaker proposes music download tax (dailynews.com)

Submitted by

modemac

on Tuesday April 08, 2008 @07:48AM

modemac writes: "Sacramento, California Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D) wants to expand a 75-year-old sales tax on "tangible personal property" to include music downloads from iTunes and other music-download sites. The tax would specifically apply to music downloads, but the estimate used in this article for revenue generated by 'Net downloading also "includes pornography downloads." The measure, AB 1956, will be considered on Monday, April 14th."

Submission + - Japanese ISPs to cut Net access for file sharers (yomiuri.co.jp)

Submitted by

modemac

on Saturday March 15, 2008 @09:26AM

modemac writes: "Four major Japanese telecom organizations, which represent 'about 1,000 major and smaller' domestic ISPs, have agreed to forcibly cut the Internet connection of users found to repeatedly use Winny and other file-sharing programs to illegally copy gaming software and music. The article states that a new set of ISP guidelines will be drawn up on how to cut off users who 'leak illegally copied material onto the Net.'"

Comment Arecibo ain't pretty (Score 1) 185

by modemac on Thursday November 22, 2007 @10:57AM (#21445979) Attached to: Arecibo Observatory Loses Funding

Just a bit of a warning for those of you who want to see the actual Arecibo location for yourself: the giant radio telescope dish is not the gleaming, shiny, spotless disc we've seen in photos (and the movie Contact). It's actually dirty, stained and tarnished, and littered with debris from the surrounding landscape. This in no way subtracts from its importance or the fact that its funding is needed...but don't get your hopes up too high if you actually go to visit the place yourselves.

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