[Slashdot-mailer] Slashdot Daily Report (11/16/2000)
David Jacoby
jacoby@ecn.purdue.edu
Thu, 16 Nov 2000 11:00:03 -0500 (EST)
Slashdot Daily Report ( http://slashdot.org/ )
News for Nerds. Stuff That Matters.
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Super Computing 2000
A science article from the "big-iron" department
sent by michael
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/14/1820212
Stephen Adler of Brookhaven Laboratory has
written a fine account of the Super Computing 2000
conference in Dallas, Texas. He covers super
computing, venture capital, some fascinating info
about SETI, open source software, and even has
some geek porn.
--------------------
COMDEX and Linux Handhelds
A articles article from the "we're-getting-closer" department
sent by CmdrTaco
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/15/1422212
code_slayer sent us a cool review of linux
handhelds at COMDEX. You can see Qt Embedded
(which has been released under the GPL) as well as
MicroWindows, and a bunch of prototype boards. I'm
still waiting for the 802.11 wireless linux
handheld capable of displaying remote X
applications, but it looks like we're getting
closer.
--------------------
Dune: House Harkonnen
A books article from the "my-beautiful-feyd" department
sent by Hemos
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/13/1613244
I've taken some time to read the Kevin J.
Anderson/Brian Herbert written Dune: House
Harkonnen, which is the second in the prequel
series. Find out what I think about the potential
blasphemy of Dune prequels *grin*. [TABLE NOT
SHOWN]
--------------------
Formation of the KDE League
A articles article from the "solomon-grundy-want-pants" department
sent by CmdrTaco
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/15/1519251
Several folks noted that the KDE team has
announced a collaboration with industry, similiar
to the GNOME foundation ... it's called the KDE
League. If only they can get Green Lantern and
Aquagirl to join existing members like TrollTech,
Corel, HP, IBM, MandrakeSoft, and SuSE. (Noticably
missing from the official press release are names
like Red Hat and VA Linux.)
--------------------
Answers About Bastille Linux From Jon & Jay
A interviews article from the "say-"bas-TEE"" department
sent by timothy
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/08/1616204
You asked, they answer. Jon Lasser and Jay Beale
decided to kick their answers back and forth a few
times in the style of Crossfire -- at least if
Crossfire guests were security-obsessed, literate
hackers with a knack for finding gaps in Linux and
Unix security. And don't forget the book creds:
Jon wrote the excellent Think Unix (want to buy
it, huh?), and Jay is plugging away at (and just
plain plugging) his upcoming tome from
Addison-Wesley,Securing Linux the Bastille Way.
--------------------
Even More Porn Image Recognition Software
A articles article from the "a-proc-mail-option" department
sent by Hemos
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/15/1354239
Rob Pascual writes: "I thought this article was
interesting. It's a review of software that
analyzes pictures in email to see if they are
porn. Not that it works too well, but it's
interesting how it works, and has a lot of cool
info on image recognition." See also this earlier
Slashdot story about the same concept embodied in
software from Exotrope and Eye-T, which seems
mostly to illustrate how absurd it is.
--------------------
OSHA Announces Final Ergonomics Program Standard
A articles article from the "will-you-be-my-posture-pal?" department
sent by CmdrTaco
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/15/1511253
Desdinova77 writes "OSHA has announced rules for
proper ergonomics to prevent RSI type injuries On
their site (I had trouble gtting to this site but
it is the 'official' link on the OSHA site. There
is also a story about it on Yahoo " Is this going
to have an affect on any of your offices? I doubt
my broken couch meets the specs.
--------------------
GNU Hardware Cooperative
A articles article from the "well-it-sounds-good-in-theory" department
sent by CmdrTaco
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/15/1527241
dfelznic writes "With the support of several
leaders in the free software community, Spindletop
is in the process of becoming the first (and only)
GNU Cooperative, supporting the hardware needs of
end-users of free software such as GNU/Linux.
Spindletop is based in the birthplace of free
software, Cambridge, MA." Allright, I'm a skeptic,
but it if it works, it sure would be great.
--------------------
Has Netscape's Browser Become Too Self-Serving?
A askslashdot article from the "i-hate-that-bloody-'shop'-button-too!" department
sent by Cliff
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/14/1821244
bschoate wrote in with a good question about
everyone's favorite browser: "I just installed
Netscape 6 and it continues and expands the
practice of providing numerous ways to use
Netscape.com to promote Netscape, Inc. (or AOL for
that matter). I've found at least 42 (hey- there's
that magic number again) toolbar or menu options
that will take you to netscape.com for everything
from buying printer supplies to business Web
hosting. That's not even counting any of the side
bar stuff like "Find and Book Travel". And, all of
those tie-ins are littered with banner ads. So
even if you don't buy anything, you're still
generating revenue for Netscape on some level.
Frankly, I see it as a slap in the face to
Mozilla, since all their volunteered hard work has
created a product that will line Netscape's
pockets. Does any of the money generated by the
browser get back to Mozilla? I kinda doubt it."
Harsh words, but the more I think about it, the
more I believe he has a point. Do any of you feel
the same way, and if so, how do you feel that the
problem should be solved?
--------------------
Controlling Space Satellites
A science article from the "leet-hax0r" department
sent by Hemos
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/15/196240
Cainxinth writes "The New Scientist reports
secure internet servers will blast-off into space
for the first time on Thursday with a mission to
get as beat up as possible. If the
specially-toughened chips survive, they should
allow future internet users to control satellites
from their desktop." Sparc chips - interesting
concept.
--------------------
Slashback: Aircraft, Dreams, Returns
A articles article from the "why-when-I-was-a-boy" department
sent by timothy
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/11/2151202
Some things to think about for ... international
domain name purchasers; airline pilots with heavy
401K investments in Motorola, those whose
religions forbid the purchase of Sony video game
consoles; cracked-website fetishists / voyeurs.
And of course, anyone else who wants to read them.
More below. [timothy whips himself:] As rjh points
out, it's not the FBI that raided Steve Jackson,
but rather the Secret Service. OK, now all we need
is Tom Clancy, Steven Segal and a bad script ...
code_rage writes "Wondering why Iridium has not
been deorbited yet? Still
--------------------
Rambus Slammed For "Judge Shopping"
A articles article from the "naughty-chip-boy" department
sent by Hemos
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/15/2129202
Lawrence Person writes: "Acoording to this story
on Semiconductor Business News, International
Trade Comission Judge Administrative Law Judge
Sidney Harris reprimanded Rambus for "blatant
judge shopping" in response to Rambus withdrawing
its suit against Hyundai after Harris, known as a
tough judge, was assigned to the case. Harris also
ruled "that if Rambus in the future ever filed a
new synchronous patent infringement case against
Hyundai, or even any other firm, such a petition
must be assigned to his court if he is able to
hear it.""
--------------------
Give That Monkey Brain A Robotic Arm!
A articles article from the "was-it-bubbles'-brain?" department
sent by timothy
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/16/0432257
jeffsenter writes: "The NYTimes (free reg. req.)
has a short story about the craziest science since
the story on decoding a cat's vision. A monkey at
Duke has had its brain wired up to control a
robot. However, the robot is at MIT and the signal
goes over the Internet. The research offers some
hope to paralyzed people."
--------------------
Are Public WHOIS Records Necessary?
A articles article from the "subterfuge-shadows-black-ops-shhhh" department
sent by timothy
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/16/0054220
Logic Bomb writes: "CNN is hosting an interesting
article from the Associated Press about WHOIS
records. Privacy advocates do not like that the
owner of a domain name, along with personal
contact information, must be made public. It's an
interesting issue embodying some larger debates,
like whether one truly "owns" a domain name. A
justification for public databases of registrants,
given by one person quoted in the article, is that
the domain name system is a public resource, and
therefore you only own the right to use a domain
name, not the name itself. People have a right to
know who is controlling elements of a public
resource, so whois records should be open to all."
--------------------
Theory Explains How Egyptians Aligned Pyramids to True North
A science article from the "measure-twice-cut-once" department
sent by michael
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/16/0648207
blackage sends us news about how the Egyptians
may have aligned their pyramids. The craziest part
seems to be that their accuracy was good enough in
aligning with these stars that the pyramids can be
dated to within five years! Nature has a nice
description of the theory.
--------------------
Tech Stocks Rollercoaster-How Was Your Ride?
A askslashdot article from the "better-'n-the-rebel-yell" department
sent by Cliff
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/14/1848252
Jack.Gavigan asks: "Today, the BBC is reporting
that the NASDAQ index, widely regarded as a key
indicator of the health of tech stocks, has
dropped below 3,000 points. If you compare the
NASDAQ's performance over the past five years with
the Dow Jones' Industrial Average and the Standard
& Poors' 500 Index, it becomes apparent that,
whilst the NASDAQ began outperforming the other
indices at the beginning of 1999, its meteoric
rise into the financial stratosphere really took
off toward the end of last year, peaking in March.
Today, it's close to the level it was a year ago
and, although it would have to drop another 1,000
points to bring it back in line with the
DJInd.Avg. and the S&P500, I think that we may be
able to conclude that the Internet/Tech Stocks
bubble has finally deflated. How has the rise and
fall of Internet and tech stocks affected your
lives and careers? If so, was it for better or for
worse?"
--------------------
Rambus Slammed For 'Judge Shopping'
A articles article from the "naughty-chip-boy" department
sent by Hemos
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/15/2129202
Lawrence Person writes: "Acoording to this story
on Semiconductor Business News, International
Trade Comission Judge Administrative Law Judge
Sidney Harris reprimanded Rambus for "blatant
judge shopping" in response to Rambus withdrawing
its suit against Hyundai after Harris, known as a
tough judge, was assigned to the case. Harris also
ruled "that if Rambus in the future ever filed a
new synchronous patent infringement case against
Hyundai, or even any other firm, such a petition
must be assigned to his court if he is able to
hear it.""
--------------------
Theory Tells How Egyptians Aligned Pyramids To True North
A science article from the "measure-twice-cut-once" department
sent by michael
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/16/0648207
blackage sends us news about how the Egyptians
may have aligned their pyramids. The craziest part
seems to be that their accuracy was good enough in
aligning with these stars that the pyramids can be
dated to within five years! Nature has a nice
description of the theory.
--------------------
Tech Stocks Rollercoaster - How Was Your Ride?
A askslashdot article from the "better-'n-the-rebel-yell" department
sent by Cliff
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/14/1848252
Jack.Gavigan asks: "Today, the BBC is reporting
that the NASDAQ index, widely regarded as a key
indicator of the health of tech stocks, has
dropped below 3,000 points. If you compare the
NASDAQ's performance over the past five years with
the Dow Jones' Industrial Average and the Standard
& Poors' 500 Index, it becomes apparent that,
whilst the NASDAQ began outperforming the other
indices at the beginning of 1999, its meteoric
rise into the financial stratosphere really took
off toward the end of last year, peaking in March.
Today, it's close to the level it was a year ago
and, although it would have to drop another 1,000
points to bring it back in line with the
DJInd.Avg. and the S&P500, I think that we may be
able to conclude that the Internet/Tech Stocks
bubble has finally deflated. How has the rise and
fall of Internet and tech stocks affected your
lives and careers? If so, was it for better or for
worse?"
--------------------
Combating Cheating In Online Games
A articles article from the "i-d-k-f-a" department
sent by Hemos
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/16/1246250
mors writes "Gamasutra has an article about how
game developers can make life harder for people
trying to cheat in online games. It analyzes
various ways of cheating, and how they can be made
harder. It does stress that cheating can never be
eliminated (at some point you need to trust the
client machine, so crypto is not the ultimate
solution), but can be made considerably harder."
--------------------
Iridium Saved?
A articles article from the "could-be-maybe" department
sent by Hemos
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/11/16/1248230
Ekeron writes: "Spaceflightnow.com reports that:
'The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern
District of New York today approved the bid of
Iridium Satellite LLC to purchase the operating
assets of Iridium LLC and its subsidiaries.
Iridium Satellite LLC will continue to provide
commercial satellite communications to the U.S.
Government and plans to re-launch affordable
satellite communications services to those
industry segments that have a particular need for
satellite communications (government, military,
humanitarian, heavy industry, maritime, aviation,
adventure) within 60 days.' Get the full story at:
Spaceflightnow."
--------------------
The info is Rob Malda's
The code is mine
MOTD: -----------------------------------
I am no longer associated with Purdue, except for being a former
student, former employee, and active member of the Linux Users Group.
As such, I'll either be moving this service to another server or
killing it entirely. Your input is requested as to what you'd like.
Then again, when was the last time I changed the MOTD? And when was
last time it was read?