Tuesday, March 07, 2006

privacy Congress Renews Patriot Act. In a close vote, the House extends the USA Patriot Act just before it would expire. Though a filibuster forces Bush to accept some new restrictions on terrorism probes, Republicans declare a legislative victory. [Wired News: Top Stories] 7:53:23 PM    comment

open source The Trouble With Software Upgrades. [Slashdot] the option to not upgrade is one of the unsung beauties of open source -- to change software on your own timeline and keep the stuff that works for you as long as you need it.  The hassle of changing software versions is a humanly expensive process that can offset the "wonderful updated features" in this years upgrade.  The hanging on to "what works" is often made very difficult by commercial software vendors who understandably need more income. --BL 7:05:34 PM    comment

audio Playing the World From a Basement. [Slashdot] this clearly shows the leveling of the music production playing field and the potential of internet "events" like concerts to draw big crowds (60k+). --BL 6:57:42 PM    comment

eContent New tools to create learning materials - NGFL. A new partnership will test the use of an online learning toolkit to create, share and use interactive learning objects. The programme combines the efforts of the ICT Register, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), and MWR, a producer of intera [Online Learning Update] 10:06:32 AM    comment

eContent Integrating Hypertextual Subjects: Combining Modern Academic Essay Writing with Postmodern Web Zines - Robert Samuels, Karios. In this hypertext, I argue that the construction of a class web zine as a shared writing project can help students to integrate traditonal and non-traditional models of academic writing.1 In detailing my students’ production and reception of a web zine en [Online Learning Update] 10:03:40 AM    comment

Culture SAP vs. Oracle, Battle Royale. [Slashdot] big and bigger 10:01:37 AM    comment

Culture Rutgers Chief Said to Plan End to Separate Women's College. The proposal would consolidate Douglass College and the university's four other undergraduate liberal arts schools into one college of arts and sciences. By RICHARD LEZIN JONES and JOHN KOBLIN. [NYT > Education] The endo of the other Douglas -- BL 10:00:03 AM    comment

learning M.I.T. to Match Grant Money for Lower-Income Students. There is broadening concern that students of modest means will be priced out of a college education because they cannot afford to take on tens of thousands of dollars in loans. By JONATHAN D. GLATER. [NYT > Education] 9:53:23 AM    comment

open source How OSS Models Put Vendor Support on Solid Ground. [Slashdot] 9:43:02 AM    comment

assessment To learn something, testing beats studying. Remember the dreaded pop quiz? Despite their reputation as a cruel tool of teachers intent on striking fear into the hearts of unprepared students, quizzes -- given early and often -- may be a student's best friend when it comes to understanding and retaining information for the long haul, suggests new psychology research from Washington University in St. Louis. [Science Blog -] 9:30:09 AM    comment

open source LAMP Lights the OSS Security Way. [Slashdot] 9:26:21 AM    comment