Friday, July 12, 2002

Norwegian gov ditches contract with Microsoft. 'Unfortunate deal,' says minister [The Register] 10:10:49 PM

Memos: Bush knew of Harken's problems. Contrary to the president's statements, company memos show he knew the firm was headed for trouble. [Salon.com] 10:10:26 PM

Why Bush's Middle East propaganda campaign won't work. The U.S. is spending millions crafting messages to win the hearts and minds of the Arab world. There's just one problem: We have no credibility [Salon.com] 10:09:53 PM

Wired News: Palladium: Safe or Security Flaw? Earlier this week, Palladium architects from Microsoft and AMD provided Wired News with separate under-the-hood tours of the software and hardware technology plans behind Palladium's high concept pitch. The good/bad news: As described, Palladium won't meet most of the hyperbolic claims being made for it. [Tomalak's Realm] 9:57:49 PM

Who Wants This War? - And why don't we find out before we start one? By Michael Kinsley [Daypop Top 40] 9:56:52 PM

The McCain solution. Twelve ways to restore trust in corporate America, from limiting executive stock sales to firing the SEC's Harvey Pitt. [Salon.com] 9:37:50 PM

L is for lawsuit Welcome to high school in America, 2002, where grades are a niggling annoyance that can be swept aside by a well-placed threat, and where teachers and administrators only have authority as long as they don't displease parents. Bad grades, discipline problems, shocking attendance records: Offenses that in the past warranted school action as strong as suspension, dismissal from school or refusal to grant a diploma are easily blocked or reversed -- as long as Dad's got a good lawyer. [Daypop Top 40] 9:32:05 PM

Is It Time for Drug Policy Reform in the US?. The time has come for the United States to shed its antiquated and puritanical drug laws. Regardless of one's own personal preference regarding the use of intoxicating substances, at the most fundamental level, what right does the government have to tell an adult which chemicals they may put into their own body? Certainly, engaging in activities such as driving a car or operating machinery while intoxicated endanger others and should not be permissible. In the privacy of one's own home, however, how does the government have the right to determine which substances may be consumend, and which may not? [kuro5hin.org] 9:07:47 PM

Can we trust Microsoft? Um...probably not. Salon asks: Can we trust Microsoft's Palladium? Could Palladium function as a kind of technological straitjacket, a Redmond-operated remote control over your data and, in consequence, your life? According to those who've looked closely at the proposal, the answer is a definite, unhelpful "maybe." But the better question is this: Why would Microsoft want to build such a restrictive system? [Tomalak's Realm] [Mac Net Journal] 9:06:28 PM

Bush stonewalls release of family-planning study. A State Department team investigated oft-refuted charges raised by a far-right group that a U.N. family-planning agency abetted forced abortions in China. But Bush won't release the study -- or $34 million in aid. [Salon.com] 8:59:33 PM

News.Com: Lawmakers: Keep your tunes to yourself. Legislators are readying a bill that could sharply limit Americans' rights relating to copying music, taping TV shows, and transferring files through the Internet. At the same time, the draft legislation seen by CNET News.com would place the struggling Webcasting industry on firmer legal footing. [Tomalak's Realm] 8:56:55 PM

Bush Took Oil Firm's Loans as Director As a Texas businessman, President Bush took two low-interest loans from an oil company where he was a member of the board of directors, engaging in a practice he condemned this week in his plan to stem corporate abuse and accounting fraud. [Daypop Top 40] 8:21:33 AM

Yes to Webcasts, no to fair use. Copies, Webcasts tangled in draft bill. Key House legislators propose a bill that would give a minor boost to Webcasters but limit Americans' rights related to copying music or transferring files. [CNET News.com] As this article states, if approved, it could make it illegal to tape a TV show and then loan that tape to a friend. In short, this is not a good trade off... [Mac Net Journal] 8:20:26 AM

California payback may fall billions short. Gov. Gray Davis wants $8.9 billion refunded from energy companies. But Bush regulators tell Salon they'll recommend just a fraction of that -- and Democrats are ready to cry foul. [Salon.com] 8:20:03 AM

Tom the Dancing Bug. Corporate crime: A crime drama in eight panels, being a metaphor for current infamous illegalities [Salon.com] 8:19:00 AM

CNN.com - Man who shot beating video arrested - July 11, 2002 [Daypop Top 40] 8:14:59 AM

Palladium: Safe or Security Flaw?. Microsoft's new project could offer virus protection, control over personal information, even spam blocking. Or maybe it's a giant boondoggle. By Paul Boutin. [Wired News] 8:13:01 AM

Open source developers wary of MS graphics patent grab. OpenGL mail [The Register] 8:12:41 AM

Harken Hypocrisy - Bush's corporate ethics: Do as I say, not as I do. There's no way to square the rules Bush applied to himself on Monday with the rules he applied to others on Tuesday. [Daypop Top 40] 8:05:36 AM

The Mile High Gun Club. Minutes ago, the US House of Representatives passed a bill by a margin of 197 votes that would allow volunteer pilots who undergo firearms training to carry firearms with them when they perform their piloting duties. [kuro5hin.org] This'll last until the first plane goes down because a pilot fired his gun and blew a hole in the side of the airplane, then Congress will rush to make illegal...and take credit for making us all safer. My prediction is that this whole cycle will last no more than 24 months. 8:02:57 AM

Money matters force standard stalemate. Royalty payments could play a big part in tech disputes as leading companies stake a claim on standards. [CNET News.com] Patents are going to completely screw up the Internet, if we don't get our act together and revise our IP laws. Instead of having the freedom to visit web sites authored by anyone, you'll basically be watching the all-Microsoft channel, all the time. 7:58:47 AM

MS: our phone software might not be good enough. Don't ask me, I only work here [The Register] 7:57:18 AM

MS licensing deadline doom looms - buy or die. Or defect... [The Register] 7:51:42 AM

IE scripting flaw uncovered. Full disclosure [The Register] 7:50:04 AM

© Copyright 2003 Michael Alderete.