Bono's one of 150 nominees for this year's Nobel peace prize. Along with the Pope.
10:44:17 PM  #   your two cents []

EU Agrees to Give Passenger Data to U.S. [Slashdot]
10:00:25 PM  #   your two cents []

Retiring exec: Microsoft needs open-source [InfoWorld: Top News] Also see this from News.com: Critics cite weak spots at Microsoft. A Merrill Lynch analyst voices concerns about software maker's response to the growing popularity of open source, echoing statements made by a former Microsoft executive.
9:54:11 PM  #   your two cents []

Amazing -- pictures of 1971 rock stars with their parents. Don't miss Frank Zappa or Elton John.
7:50:50 PM  #   your two cents []

Tom Friedman has a direct and thoughtful column today, critical of nearly all participants in the argument over Iraq, and very pointed in its criticism of Bush and his administration. But he argues there is a need to take on Saddam. Do read the whole piece, no matter what your perspective is -- or you think it should be:

I side with those who believe we need to confront Saddam — but we have to do it right, with allies and staying power, and the Bush team has bungled that.

The Bush folks are big on attitude, weak on strategy and terrible at diplomacy. I covered the first gulf war, in 1990-91. What I remember most are the seven trips I took with Secretary of State James A. Baker III around the world to watch him build — face-to-face — the coalition and public support for that war, before a shot was fired. Going to someone else's country is a sign you respect his opinion. This Bush team has done no such hands-on spade work. Its members think diplomacy is a phone call...

...It is legitimate for Europeans to oppose such a war, but not simply by sticking a thumb in our eye and their heads in the sand. It's also legitimate for the Bush folks to focus the world on Saddam, but two years of their gratuitous bullying has made many people deaf to America's arguments.

7:17:41 PM  #   your two cents []

Ciaran O'Riordan of the Irish Linux Users Group (ILUG) has posted this message -- anyone in Ireland concerned about this issue might want to contect the MEPs noted below.

Hello all. Tomorrow (Thursday, 20/02/2003) there will be a European Parliament vote about software patents [14. Patentability of computer-implemented inventions (T07732)]. For info about this see: http://www.aful.org/wws/arc/patents/2003-02/msg00022.html and http://www.aful.org/wws/arc/patents/2003-02/msg00023.html

What can you do? There are two Irish MEPs that are part of the "Industry, Research, Trade and Energy" (ITRE) committee of the European Parliament.

Nuala Ahern: Tel: +353 (0)1 287 6574, Fax: +353 (0)1 287 2638 E-mail: nahern@eircom.net, nahern@europarl.eu.int; Web: www.nualaahern.net

Sean O Neachtain: Tel: +353 (0)91-553146, Fax: +353 (0)91-553606; E-mail: seanoneachtain@eircom.net, soneachtain@europarl.eu.int

These two people have a vote, they are speaking in your name, please drop them an email. I've already mailed them the details, if you folk can even send them a three word mail "no software patents" that would be great. Thanks for any help.

5:31:33 PM  #   your two cents []

10,000 motorists face first day fines. As many as 10,000 motorists face fines for driving into London on Monday without paying the £5 congestion charge. [Guardian Unlimited]
11:45:25 AM  #   your two cents []

US plan for new nuclear arsenal. The Bush administration is planning a secret meeting to discuss the construction of a new generation of nuclear weapons, according to a leaked Pentagon document. [Guardian Unlimited]
11:44:19 AM  #   your two cents []

Gallup poll shows strong public support for NASA. [spacetoday.net]
11:43:33 AM  #   your two cents []

"Your 'inner child' has long been waiting for a chance to usurp control of your body and force it to perform certain actions. The time is now at hand. Read and follow the instructions below." [MetaFilter]

11:40:50 AM  #   your two cents []

Boy, lots of stuff happening on the search engine front this past week: Overture Services to Buy AltaVista for $140 Million.  [New York Times: Technology]
11:31:27 AM  #   your two cents []

Group to field spam-filter complaints. [CNET News.com] Needless to say, this has been set up by email marketers... Meanwhile: Microsoft going after Hotmail spammers. Maybe they should just talk to Yahoo about why Yahoo's spam filtering is so darn effective in contrast to Hotmail's...
11:27:53 AM  #   your two cents []