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

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

wireless Toronto to Become One Huge Hotspot. [Slashdot] 10:16:37 AM    comment

Culture AT&T Aims to Become All Things to All Customers. AT&T's ambitions have raised questions about whether its strategy of gobbling up rivals has reached a point of diminishing returns. By KEN BELSON. [NYT > Technology] 9:48:22 AM    comment

genetics Mouse Moms that Run Have Brainier Pups. Jogging is apparently beneficial for brain development. This is the implication of the latest findings of brain researchers of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch and the Charité – University Medical School Berlin. According to the study, mouse offspring whose mothers exercised voluntarily during pregnancy by running on an excercise wheel developed about 40 percent more neuronal cells than the offspring of inactive mouse mothers. [Science Blog -] 9:32:57 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