June 26, 2003
DNA database stores 2m profiles
DNA database stores 2m profiles Guardian Unlimited: Politics: "12.45pm: The national DNA database is on the verge of loading its two millionth profile, the home secretary, David Blunkett, was due to announce today."
Acording to Blunkett UK has 2 million criminals. That is about 3 of the population.
U.S. asks EU to cut Hamas funding
U.S. asks EU to cut Hamas funding In CNN Europe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday called on European nations to cut off all funding for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, putting post Iraq-war relations with Europe under new strain.
On related news, UK asks US to cut IRA funding.
June 20, 2003
Wired News: Orrin Hatch: Software Pirate?
Wired News: Orrin Hatch: Software Pirate?
The senator's site makes extensive use of a JavaScript menu system developed by Milonic Solutions, a software company based in the United Kingdom. The copyright-protected code has not been licensed for use on Hatch's website.
BURN HIM I SAY!
June 19, 2003
US slaps crippling import duty on Hynix chips
ZDNet |UK| - News - Story - US slaps crippling import duty on Hynix chips
GO GLOBALIZATION!
Male Chromosome Seriously Weird Wired
Male Chromosome Seriously Weird Wired News: "The chromosome that makes a human male has some odd characteristics. Among them: It swaps DNA only with itself and doesn't share during fertilization. Explains a lot. By Kristen Philipkoski."
June 18, 2003
The Robocoaster Gizmodo: " An
The Robocoaster Gizmodo: "
An industrial robot might turn out to be the Next Big Thing at amusement parks. The Robocoaster is essentially a massive robotic arm with a rollercoaster-type harness attached to the end of it: Kuka claims to be the first company in the world to use PC controls in its industrial robots, typically used in large car assembly lines. It uses Microsoft Windows to control the freestanding, 30-foot-tall, nearly 8,000-pound robotic ride. "It picks you up and it pulls you through different motions in G-forces that get exerted on your body," Manzella says. "It's mainly dynamic movements that nobody's ever seen before. And unlike traditional amusement park rides, the robo-ride gives riders an additional "thrill" from its unpredictable movements. "Normally, when you're sitting on a roller coaster, you're looking forward and you can look down the roller coaster and you can know where you're going," he says. "In this particular ride, you never know where you're going next."It's about time they finally found something frivolous for industrial robots to do, but wait a second. Are you really going to strap yourself to a 30-foot tall, 8,000 pound ride that's controlled by a PC running Windows? Hate to take a cheap shot here, but I wouldn't even trust a PC to control my air conditioner , let alone some gigantic robotic arm that could potentially hurl me to my death.
Read"
Thrills and Chills. Indeed.
Hatch Takes Aim at Illegal Downloading
Yahoo! News - Hatch Takes Aim at Illegal Downloading
WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) said Tuesday he favors developing new technology to remotely destroy the computers of people who illegally download music from the Internet.
HOLYWOOD'S ARMY.
June 17, 2003
Revisionist History MetaFilter: "Bush Blasts
Revisionist History MetaFilter: "Bush Blasts 'Revisionist Historians' on Iraq
President Bush countered those questioning his justification for the invasion of Iraq on Monday, dismissing "revisionist historians" and saying Washington acted to counter an imminent a persistent threat. "Now there are some who would like to rewrite history; revisionist historians is what I like to call them," Bush said in a speech to New Jersey business leaders."
Come again ? :) GWB hates revisionists ? :)
Telegraph: America's rebuilding of Iraq is in chaos
Telegraph | News | America's rebuilding of Iraq is in chaos, say British
June 16, 2003
You report, we kill you
You report, we kill you MetaFilter: "Turning the tanks on the reporters The Observer's Phillip Knightley writes that Iraq will go down as the war when journalists seemed to become a target . Predicted here , discussed "in progress" here . The BBC, Al-Jazeera, and the US Committee to Protect Journalists thought it prudent to find out from the Pentagon what steps they could take to protect their correspondents if war came to Iraq... All three organisations concluded that the Pentagon was determined to deter western correspondents from reporting any war from the 'enemy' side; would view such journalism in Iraq as activity of 'military significance', and might well bomb the area. "
Linux kernel coder puts SCO on notice
Linux kernel coder puts SCO on notice
"This means that your distribution of the above given file, and any sale of OpenLinux 3.1.1, is not authorized by me and infringes my copyright."
It's on the Inquirer, but still :)
June 15, 2003
Goodbye, Erin Brockovich
Goodbye, Erin Brockovich, as class actions end Guardian Unlimited: World: "The US Congress is set to hand business chiefs the greatest gift since the advent of the Bush administration: an end to so-called 'class action' suits."
Iraqi mobile labs nothing to do with germ warfare
Iraqi mobile labs nothing to do with germ warfare, report finds Guardian Unlimited: World: "An official British investigation into two trailers found in northern Iraq has concluded they are not mobile germ warfare labs, as was claimed by Tony Blair and President George Bush."
Hamas rules out ceasefire
Hamas rules out ceasefire as both sides bury their dead Guardian Unlimited: World: "US peace monitors fly in to salvage 'road map' as Gaza militants threaten to undermine Palestinian Prime Minister."
June 13, 2003
Hydrogen's Future Up in the
Hydrogen's Future Up in the Air Wired News: "Caltech researchers raise the possibility that a hydrogen economy may not be an environmentally friendly one. They say its widespread use could increase damage to the Earth's ozone layer." Hummmmm
June 12, 2003
The Mercury: PlayStation driver turns killer
The Mercury: PlayStation driver turns killer [12jun03] A TEENAGER who had only ever driven a car in PlayStation games killed a woman during his first time behind the wheel. Cause you see, before playstation kids never stole cars and smashed them.
First fatality of MS's anti-virus
First fatality of MS's anti-virus purchase - Linux RAV anti-virus software will die Security News Portal: "Users and resellers of RAV AntiVirus, especially popular on Linux platforms, are in limbo after Microsoft's decision to buy the RAV technology from Romania's GeCAD Software Srl. Microsoft plans to di..."
"We are not a monopoly" now say that again with a straight face.
June 11, 2003
US warns EU over criminal
US warns EU over criminal court In BBC: Europe Washington has asked the UN to grant US peacekeepers another year's exemption from prosecution by the new International Criminal Court.
Judge Dread Platoon ?
US church pays $25m to
US church pays $25m to abuse victims Guardian Unlimited: World: "Roman Catholic church in Louisville, Kentucky to pay more than $25m to child sex abuse victims."
June 10, 2003
Microsoft dumping WinXP in anti-Lindows
Microsoft dumping WinXP in anti-Lindows effort? In ArsTechnica MP3.com and Lindows founder Michael Robertson has his own column at The Tech Zone, and in an editorial posted last week, Robertson alleged that Microsoft is selling WindowsXP at amazingly low rates to retailers who might otherwise consider stocking computers with the Lindows Linux distribution.
Is Microsoft geting ... what's the word ... scared ? On the other hand, the current US administration gave them clear signs they have nothing to fear from the Law soooo
Israel accused of terrorist attack
Israel accused of terrorist attack Guardian Unlimited: World: "Israel today admitted trying to assassinate a senior Hamas leader in an attack denounced by the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, as a "terrorist" action."
June 09, 2003
Turn The Other Cheek, George
kuro5hin.org || Turn The Other Cheek, George Since the World Trade Centre was attacked in September 2001, a series of events has unfolded which have distorted the world's view of Christianity. President Bush's claim to be a born-again Christian is contentious in the worldwide community of believers, especially in the light of his actions as President since the attack. As a lifelong Christian and theologian-in-training, I present here my reflections on this course of action, led by a man who confidently claims to be a Christian.
June 08, 2003
Were they weapons of self-delusion?
Were they weapons of self-delusion? Guardian Unlimited: World: "Despite frantic efforts by leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, it's the story that won't go away. As spies and spin doctors trade insults, the mystery of Saddam's arsenal grows ever deeper."
June 06, 2003
ESR, DorksRUs
ESR goes on not disapointing anyone at being the biggest dork that ever lived. As NTK points out he keeps mangling the Jargon File adding his own entries THAT NOONE ACTUALLY USES. On the other hand, he decided noone uses FTP anymore.
Dork on!
Comments about this entry can be sent to chbm at esr.doesnt.repre.sent-me.net.
Who said what ?
So, did Wolfowitz actually say what he said ? Or did someone say he said something else ? Surely there must be tapes !!
It may not be official after all.
Hain leads fightback to secure
Hain leads fightback to secure permanent EU president Guardian Unlimited: World: "Britain was last night leading a fightback to secure a permanent president in the EU's new constitution as negotiations drew to a close."
The EU presidency debates rage on. I wonder if my government is even aware.
June 05, 2003
Vesuvius residents offered 25,000 euros
Vesuvius residents offered 25,000 euros to leave In BBC: Europe
"Hummmm soooooo it's either 25000 euros or getting engulfed by hot molten LAVA .... can I have a bit more time to think ?"
'Ban all tobacco' - US Surgeon General
'Ban all tobacco' - US health chief Guardian Unlimited: World: "US Surgeon general says he will support abolition of cigarettes and all tobacco products. I wonder how P&M will react to reality ?
It's official, it WAS about the Oil
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Wolfowitz: Iraq war was about oil
Asked why a nuclear power such as North Korea was being treated differently from Iraq, where hardly any weapons of mass destruction had been found, the deputy defence minister said: "Let's look at it simply. The most important difference between North Korea and Iraq is that economically, we just had no choice in Iraq. The country swims on a sea of oil."
June 04, 2003
Palm buying Handspring in the Fall
Palm buying Handspring in the Fall In ArsTechnica
Does this mean Handspring stuff will have real developer support ?
Legal action hits SCO Web site | CNET News.com
Legal action hits SCO Web site | CNET News.com
And Novell didn't even get started on them.
Radiohead fan sites asked to remove lyrics and tabs
Radiohead fan sites have been asked to remove their lyrics and tabs archives MetaFilter: "Radiohead fan sites have been asked to remove their lyrics and tabs archives. Yesterday, two popular Radiohead fan sites, Green Plastic and At Ease , were sent this email by a legal representative of Warner Bros. Publications and Warner/Chappell Music asking them to take down any lyrics and tabs from their site. The letter claimed "their distribution constitutes an infringement of our rights under U.S. Copyright Law. More than that, the availability of these files have a direct impact on our ability to market and sell our musical arrangements and songbooks, and that adversely affects the royalties that we are able to generate and pay to the band." Those opposed have started a petition online . Who's right on this one?"
Maybe I should stop playing RadioHead stuff on my guitar. Or maybe I should forget about RadioHead altogether. I bet that would make Warner happy.
Review of Orange SPV MS Phone
HowardChui.com
Sources on the field report Orange was spoted trying to give that thing away.
June 03, 2003
Driving While Intaxicated Wired News:
Driving While Intaxicated Wired News: "Oregon lawmakers think they've landed on a clever way to pay for road maintenance: Instead of a gas tax, they're evaluating a scheme to electronically monitor the mileage that each driver travels and assess a per-mile road-use fee. Privacy and environmental advocates are not impressed. By Will Wade."
'Cause taxing gas is not God's way m'k!
Unilateral Superior Arms? | MetaFilter
Unilateral Superior Arms? MetaFilter: "Is the USA "an empire in denial?"
"The United States is a 'danger to the world' because of its denial that it is a military and economic empire, according to Niall Ferguson, historian and new-found darling of the American right.""
What the EU constitution says
What the EU constitution says In BBC: Europe
UK is for an EU President ? Did anyone tell the Brits ?
June 02, 2003
Universal address system gets Microsoft backing
Globetechnology "With Microsoft's data engine behind it, Mr. Shen thinks the NAC stands a better chance of gaining the necessary universal acceptance. Street address for 18 countries are listed with MapPoint. The system also lists 25 countries for driving directions, as well as complete addresses in 58 cities."
Right. Universal. I see.
Straw dismisses Iraq inquiry calls
Straw dismisses Iraq inquiry calls BBC News: "Foreign Secretary Jack Straw rejects the growing calls for an inquiry into claims about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction"
June 01, 2003
Ballmer unloads even more Microsoft
Ballmer unloads even more Microsoft stock - What is going on here... Security News Portal: "Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer this week cashed in on nearly 2 million shares of the software giant's stock, bringing the total number he sold this month to about 51 million. The stock sold ..."
Danger will robinson!
The cluster bombs that litter
The cluster bombs that litter Iraq Guardian Unlimited: World: "Exclusive: The shocking extent of unexploded cluster bombs dropped by American and British planes, which litter Iraq eight weeks after the conflict, is revealed in detail for the first time today."
Clashes mar G8 summit opening
Clashes mar G8 summit opening BBC: Europe: "Anti-globalisation demonstrators and police clash in Swiss and French cities as world leaders meet in Evian, eastern France."