Young Women Encouraged to Go For IT. An anonymous reader writes "Wednesday Microsoft Canada's vice president of developer and platform evangelism encouraged 9th grade girls to head for an IT career with a presentation that debunked key myths. Apparently IT isn't geeky or socially isolating. From the article: "Some issues (the girls) brought up included fears that their friends will think (working in IT) is a geeky thing to do, and that IT work is not very social...They were concerned that there were limitations for women in this area of technology, and they felt there is a stigma associated with IT in terms of it not being a very exciting place to work." [Slashdot]

 

12:57:23 PM    

 

This story has been everywhere...but...aside from reading, writing and 'rithmatic, what is going on in HS with CADD, GIS, desktop graphics and video these days?  Anyone care to comment about their neighborhood?  Take this link to Digital Issues for feedback, please.  Bill Gates Proclaims US High Schools Obsolete. bryan sent us a story about Bill Gates' take on US High Schools. He says 'America's high schools are obsolete. By obsolete, I don't just mean that they're broken, flawed or underfunded, though a case could be made for every one of those points. By obsolete, I mean our high schools even when they're working as designed cannot teach all our students what they need to know today.'" [Slashdot]

 

12:56:24 PM    

 

Skype users may soon be sending text messages. Users of the Internet phone service offered by Skype International may soon be able to send text messages to mobile phones thanks to a service that went into beta testing on Friday.[InfoWorld: Top News]

 

12:51:50 PM    

 

Icesoft rendering technology used by Macromedia. Icesoft Technologies said its Icereader SDK is being incorporated into the Macromedia ColdFusion application server, providing for conversion of HTML-based data into PDF or Flash content. [InfoWorld: Top News]

 

12:50:40 PM    

 

Orange next-gen smart phone details leak. SPV C550 to target music fans? [The Register]

 

12:49:27 PM    

 

FedEx Freight enhances online shipping capabilities. FedEx Freight, a subsidiary of FedEx, has added new online capabilities that allow shippers to more easily view shipping activity snapshots and receive pickup confirmation numbers. [Computerworld News]

 

12:48:15 PM    

 

Mozilla warns of security holes, updates Firefox. Several vulnerabilities in Firefox and the Mozilla Suite put users of the open source products at risk of attacks, the organization said. [Computerworld News]

 

12:47:32 PM    

 

Bollywood DVD fraudster is jailed. A major distributor of counterfeit DVDs of Bollywood films is jailed for three years at a London court. [BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

 

12:46:50 PM    

 

US woman sues over cartridges. A US woman sues Hewlett Packard saying its printer ink cartridges are programmed to expire. [BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

 

12:45:14 PM    

 

Sporting rivals go to extra time. What will the fast-changing virtual sports landscape mean for video game fans? [BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

 

12:44:22 PM    

 

To me, Florida feels like Silicon Valley, with hotter weather, closer to the beach, and without the traffic. And real estate is more reasonable too. I often get confused, thinking I'm in Palo Alto. When I realize I'm not, that's a good feeling. ";->" [Scripting News]

 

12:43:16 PM    

 

The Register: Doonesbury savages Pepperland's copyright utopians. "When Garry Trudeau's satirical eye engages a target, there's only one winner." I think he's taking on an exaggerated version of the Marxist-Lessigist movement, though. (And speaking of engaging a target...) [Hack the Planet]

 

12:41:13 PM