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That's the 9.75 months of 2004 as Compared to ~31 years!!! *Headline News from NewsScan and Edupage [PG Editor's Comments In Brackets]
From NewsScan:
GETTING INSIDE YOUR HEAD Brain scanning technology (long used to detect conditions such as Alzheimer's and autism) is now being used to understand how people make choices and how they react to such things as religious experiences, Coke versus Pepsi marketing, and Democrat versus Republican political campaigns. Known as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), brain scans measure blood flow. During an fMRI, active regions of the brain can be seen lighting up on a computer monitor, indicating either empathy or opposition to what (or whom) the subject is being asked to think about. But the technology is raising strong ethical concerns about "neuromarketing" from critics such as Gary Ruskin of the nonprofit organization Commercial Alert: "This is a story of the corruption of medical research. It's a technology that should be used to ease human suffering, not make political propaganda more effective." (AP/San Jose Mercury News 28 Oct 2004) <http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/10040162.htm> [and. . .GETTING INSIDE YOUR COMPUTER'S HEAD] SPYWARE EPIDEMIC THREATENS TO STALL COMPUTER INDUSTRY Computer makers say that their technical support lines are lit up by consumers frustrated over sluggish performance and increasingly they're tracing the problems back to one culprit: spyware. Companies are concerned about the cost of the calls, but they're even more worried that that customers will wrongly blame them for performance deficiencies. Russ Cooper, senior scientist with TruSecure Corp., says now that spyware has become epidemic, it's time for Microsoft and other technology companies to launch a public education campaign along the lines of the old "Only *you* can prevent forest fires" concept. The industry's incentive is pure survival, says Cooper. Microsoft officials blame rogue software for up to a third of applications crashes on Windows XP computers and AOL estimates that just three such programs together cause about 300,000 Internet disconnections per day. Forrester Research analyst Jonathan Penn says spyware-related customer support can cost $15 to $45 per phone call, but it's worth it. "Security is a component of loyalty. People, they want all these various services, but they expect security to come with it." (AP 31 Oct 2004) <http://apnews.excite.com/article/20041031/D862JARG0.html> [More below on Spyware in the Edupage section] INTERNET BROADENS VOTERS' POLITICAL HORIZONS More than 40% of U.S. Internet users have gotten news and information about this year's presidential campaign online, and 31% of broadband users now cite the Net as their primary source of campaign news -- about the same number as those who rely on newspapers (35%). And while some pundits had expressed concern that wider use of the Internet would result in a decreased exposure to viewpoints that conflict with users', it turns out that Internet users have a greater overall exposure to political arguments, including those that challenge their preferences. "People are using the Internet to broaden their political horizons, not narrow them," says Kelly Garret, co-author of a new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. "Use of the Internet doesn't necessarily diminish partisanship, or even zealotry. But it does expose online Americans to more points of view, and, on balance, that is a good thing." One surprise coming out of the survey -- about 20% of Americans say they actually prefer news sources that challenge their point of view, and nearly 10% are *more* aware of arguments that oppose their candidate than arguments in favor. (Pew Internet & American Life Project 28 Oct 2004) <http://www.pewinternet.org> AMD's LOW-COST ONLINE-ACCESS DEVICE Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) plans to sell an Internet access device in India and other developing countries for two to three hundred dollars. Called the Personal Internet Communicator (PIC), it was developed in conjunction with companies such as Solectron, Seagate, Samsung, and Macromedia, and will be sold in India through VSNL, an international phone service and Internet access provider that's part of the India's Tata conglomerate. VNSL will offer the device, which runs on a Microsoft Windows-based operating system, as a bundled service to broadband customers. Although Internet penetration in India is now about 0.4% and broadband penetration 0.02%, the country plans to have 20 million broadband and 40 million Internet users by 2010, with much of that growth coming from wireless technologies. (Reuters/USA Today 31 Oct 2004) <http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/gear/computing/2004-10-31-net-access- india_x.htm> [Meanwhile in China] CHINA CLOSES INTERNET CAFES China has shut down 1,600 Internet cafes and fined operators a total of $12 million because they allowed children play violent games or commit other violations of the government's policies to clean up Web sites and video games. Investigators have inspected 1.8 million Internet cafes looking for unlicensed operations, has ordered 18,000 of them to "stop operation for rectification" of violations. The country has the world's second-largest population of Internet users after the United States, with 87 million people online. Culture Ministry official Zhang Xinjian says: "Porn, gambling, violence and similar problems have adversely affected the healthy development of the Internet in China." (AP/Los Angeles Times 1 Nov 2004) <http://www.latimes.com/technology/ats-ap_technology12nov01,1,1722637.story? coll=sns-ap-toptechnology> [More below on this story in the Edupage section] BUSH WEB SITE BLOCKS FOREIGN VISITORS The Bush-Cheney campaign has cut off access to its Web site by anyone outside the U.S. or Canada. Instead, those visitors will see the message: "Access denied. You don't have permission to access www.georgewbush.com on this server." The move comes a week after a crippling hacker attack that took down the Web site for six hours. Security experts say that while it's not usual for Web sites to block traffic from specific Internet addresses or from certain countries notorious for churning out spam, the Bush-Cheney campaign's move is probably unprecedented. "I've never heard of a site wholesale blocking access from the rest of the world," says Johannes Ulrich, CTO for the SANS Internet Storm Center. "I guess they decided it just wasn't worth the trouble to leave it open to foreign visitors." Jonah Sieger, a founding partner for Connections Media, which does consulting work with Democratic candidates, says it doesn't make sense for the Bush-Cheney folks to "consciously block access to anybody. Maybe the next thing they'll try is to block Democrats and people in blue states from coming to the site." (Washington Post 27 Oct 2004) <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2668-2004Oct27.html> VIDEO GAMES FOR THE VERY YOUNG Video game makers are turning their attention to the younger crowd -- in this case, children as young as 2 or 3 -- in an effort to meet demand and groom a new generation of players. A report issued last year by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation indicated that half of all 4- to 6-year-olds had played video games -- on handheld devices, computers or game consoles -- and a quarter reported playing several times a week. Of children 3 or younger, 14% had played video games. "Companies have found that there's an untapped market with the really young kid," says Kaiser VP Vicky Rideout. To meet this demand, Atari is marketing a line of PC games for children aged 3 to 6 that come in see-through boxes and include a small toy, like a doll or action figure. The new market comes as a boon for the multibillion-dollar video game industry as it looks to expand beyond its core constituency -- males aged 14 to 34. And by starting the kids early, it "helps to feed in new gamers all the time," says an executive at one video game company. Meanwhile, an analyst with research firm NPD Group says that partly as a result of this shift, conventional toy sales are flat. "If parents are spending $200, $400 and more on these things, they take away from other things kids can have. But kids seem very happy and content with a computer and a couple of games." (New York Times 28 Oct 2004) <http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/28/technology/circuits/28kids.html> SIGN OF THE TIMES: GOLD MP3s In a nod to the digital age, the Recording Industry Association of America has issued its first gold, platinum and multiplatinum certifications for digital downloads. RIAA chief executive Mitch Bainwol calls the awards "a reflection of both the commitment of the entire music community to consumer-friendly legitimate digital services and fan appetite for high-quality music." The RIAA based its certifications on sales from legitimate digital download services, including Apple iTunes, Musicmatch, Napster and RealNetworks. And the winner is: Outkast's "Hey Ya!" with more than 400,000 downloads (earning it the only multiplatinum designation). In addition, six songs qualified for platinum (200,000 downloads) and 45 for gold (100,000 downloads). (CNet News.com 27 Oct 2004) http://news.com.com/From+gold+records+to+gold+MP3s/2100-1027_3-5429377.html [and. . .in a related story] INTERNET MUSIC REWRITES INDUSTRY RULES While the music industry has been focusing on music piracy, another phenomenon is slowly emerging -- the Web as venture capital source. Chart-topping rockers The Darkness have sold enough downloads, T-shirts and other fan-abilia to finance their next album, and British band Marillion has used its site to raise funds for its last two albums -- before they recorded them. "The Internet is our savior. Without it, we wouldn't be what we are today. It's really turned the business around," says Marillion's marketing manager. Meanwhile, Universal Music has begun using the Web as a testing/breeding ground for new acts, signing them to a "digital rights" contract before committing serious money to their promotion. "It acts as an incubation label, if you will," says Universal Music UK new media services director Rob Wells. "It's the Marillion concept." (Reuters/CNet 31 Oct 2004) <http://news.com.com/iTunes+aside%2C+Web+is+changing+the+music+industry/2100 -1027_3-5433891.html> E-VOTING COMPANIES DIVULGE *SOME* SOFTWARE CODE Electronic voting equipment makers Diebold Election Systems, Election Systems & Software, Hart InterCivic and Sequoia Voting Systems have agreed to submit millions of lines of software code to the National Software Reference Library, but have refused to include their most valuable data -- their proprietary source code. They also say they might not provide the library with copies of software patches and updates. The companies acted at the request of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, whose chairman noted that although the data submitted was far from complete, he hoped the companies' ongoing submissions would eventually result in making election software more transparent. A number of scientists have called for "open source" voting software that could be independently verified, but many computer security experts remain pessimistic because no technology exists today that would allow an election official who suspects fraud to check software code on a voting machine and compare with the code stored in the library. Avi Rubin, technical director of the Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute, called the code-sharing program "meaningless." (AP 27 Oct 2004) <http://apnews.excite.com/article/20041027/D85VOSTG1.html> LANDLINES YIELD TO MOBILES IN INDIA Mobile phone users have outstripped traditional landline connections in India, according to the industry, marking a major lifestyle and communications milestone for the rapidly changing country. A survey conducted by India's leading telecoms magazine, Voice and Data, found 45 million people possess mobile phones in India compared to 44 million who have landlines. "It took landline phone subscriptions 50 years to get to the 40-million-mark while mobile phones have touched it in nine years and four months. Mobile phones have created a complete culture change in communication," says the magazine's senior assistant editor, Pravin Prashant. (The Age 25 Oct 2004) rec'd from John Lamp <http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/25/1098667675148.html> You have been reading excerpts from NewsScan: NewsScan Daily is underwritten by RLG, a world-class organization making significant and sustained contributions to the effective management and appropriate use of information technology. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the text, html, or handheld versions of NewsScan Daily, send the appropriate subscribe or unsubscribe messages (i.e., with the word 'subscribe' or 'unsubscribe' in the subject line) to: Text version: Send message to NewsScan@NewsScan.com Html version: Send mail to NewsScan-html@NewsScan.com NewsScan-To-Go: http://www.newsscan.com/handheld/current.html *
From Edupage
OXFORD HANDS OUT PUNISHMENT FOR HACKING Oxford University's Court of Summary Jurisdiction has suspended two students who hacked into the university's computer and then wrote about their exploits in the student newspaper. Patrick Foster and Roger Waite admitted they compromised the university's computer system, using a program they easily obtained online, and said they publicized the event to bring attention to the system's lax security. The university court did not find the students' explanation of altruism compelling, suspending Foster until May 2005 and Waite until January 2005. A spokesperson for the university declined to discuss details of the case but noted that "[a]ny student found to have breached university regulations on computer use would face disciplinary action." Foster and Waite said they would appeal the suspension, which they describe as "too harsh." Foster said, "We were simply trying to expose the security failings in Oxford's IT network." BBC, 29 October 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/3966045.stm MORE SUPPORT FOR ADDING GAMES TO CURRICULUM Researchers at the Institute of Education at London University contend that the study of computer and video games has a place in the academic curriculum just as do studies of film, television, and literature. The findings are based on a three-year study in the United Kingdom of games and their influence on education. According to Caroline Pelletier, manager of the project, "Games literacy is a way of investigating how games are means of expression and representation, just like writing or drawing." Andrew Burn, associate director of the Institute of Education's Centre for the Study of Children, Youth, and Media, called games "a legitimate cultural form that deserve critical analysis." Burn noted that, according to the study, a key element of the value of games is allowing students to create their own games. Researchers did acknowledge, however, that in the often male-dominated world of gaming, many of the girls in the study felt left out. Research fellow Diane Carr said that girls "have little motivation to play and remain disengaged." Representatives of the gaming industry praised the researchers for "intelligently" addressing the "cultural, social, and educational value of computer and video games." BBC, 26 October 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3956241.stm THE GROWING PROBLEM OF SPYWARE As the number of computers infected with spyware spirals upward, technology companies face a growing burden, both for supporting users whose computers are slowed by spyware and for protecting their corporate reputation from the perception that they are to blame. Microsoft estimates that one-third of Windows XP crashes result from spyware, and AOL says that three spyware applications alone cause 300,000 Internet disconnections per day. A significant portion of spyware is installed with other applications, such as games or file-sharing tools. Often, users who download such applications and agree to licensing terms unwittingly consent to the spyware also, which is included in long licensing agreements. Because many users technically agree to install spyware, companies such as Dell are unable to do much to help those customers when they call complaining of slow performance. Companies such as Dell and HP are beginning to address the problem, however, by including antispyware tools with new computers, and Microsoft's Service Pack 2 for Windows XP works to protect users by notifying them whenever such applications are being installed. Associated Press, 31 October 2004 http://apnews.excite.com/article/20041031/D862JARG0.html CHINESE AUTHORITIES CLOSE INTERNET CAFES Government officials in China have acknowledged the forced closure of 1,600 Internet cafes and the temporary closure of many thousands more. The Chinese Culture Ministry takes an active role in protecting the country's youth from online content including gambling, pornography, and violence, and the ministry is known for forbidding access to some Internet sites from anywhere in the country. Citing concerns over minors' accessing inappropriate content, the ministry commented officially that of the country's 1.8 million Internet cafes, 18,000 have been fined, ordered to close temporarily, or shut down permanently. For many in China, the cafes are the only means to access the Internet. NewsFactor Network, 1 November 2004 http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=28036 You have been reading excerpts from Edupage: If you have questions or comments about Edupage, http://news.com.com/2100-1040-958352.html or send e-mail to: edupage@educause.edu To SUBSCRIBE to Edupage, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU and in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName *** *Headline News Avoided By Most Of The Major U.S. Media Two stories from the BBC shortwave broadcast to Bermuda: [The "BBC North American World Service" was discontinued in favor of selling the programming to U.S. radio and TV] 1. A BBC reporter in Florida said she, and others present, counted 150 voters come in, fill out 150 forms, but 184 votes were recorded, even though only 150 paper trails. 2. "I voted for Kerry but it came up for Bush." [Ohio] [At least I think this one was BBC, I stayed up pretty much all night, and actually said these two states in reverse when reporting this over the phone, so I'm not sure which program I heard this on, sorry.] US ADMITS TO DEPLOYMENT OF SPACE WARFARE TECHNOLOGY Washington, DC, October 29 The US Air Force's Space Commanders finally admitted that they had very quietly launched and activated various new weapons systems aimed at jamming electronic satellite communications systems of the other space faring countries of the world. The "Conter Communications Systems has been in operation since last month as per information from Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs. Since the US does not currently have any operational space shuttles, one is left to presume any orbital components were launched via the recent Russian launch that orbited the most recent US astronaut. However, no reference to any space-based components was made. Announcements only mentioned ground-based RF [radio frequency] jammers similar in concept to radio jammers since WW II. *** ...and in a related story, the FCC approval of the use of power lines to transmit internet data will essentiall wipe out certain shortwave and CB frequencies in the USA (high-amplitude modulation at high frequencies, a loud constant blast of radio noise which will drown out everything else on those frequencies)... thankfully, this means that Americans will no longer be subjected to the annoyance of news programs originating from the rest of the world, which only served to confuse the situation and make peoples' heads hurt with contradictory information, anyway... commerical truckers, who rely on CB radio, will not be reachable for comment on their CB radios. . . . DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PURSUES RUBIK'S CUBE IP CASE The Oregonian reports that a local Oregon toy store received a visit from federal Homeland Security agents demanding that the owner remove a toy called the Magic Cube, which they claimed was an illegal copy of the Rubik's Cube. Officials say that their agency is responsible for "protecting the integrity of the economy and our nation's financial systems and obviously trademark infringement does have significant economic implications." Yes, there have been other cases as well of use of the PATRIOT Act to pursue copyright infringement. In theory, anything that affects the economy could be called a national security issue, but what is significant is that it is so far only intellectual property that has been singled out for this special protection. CHINA AIMS AT FIVE-DAY SPACE SHOT from BBC News Online China's second manned space flight will carry two astronauts into space and will orbit the Earth for five days. The country's space authorities made the announcement about the mission, which is scheduled for next year, at an air show in China's Guangzhou Province. Mission scientists said they have been working to optimise the performance, safety and reliability of the spacecraft, named Shenzhou VI. http://snipurl.com/a7i9 *STRANGE QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Red Sox will sweep World Series!!! Win 8 straight games!!!" *PREDICTION OF THE WEEK Red Sox will sweep World Series!!! Will win 8 straight games!!! *ODD STATISTICS OF THE WEEK Red Sox sweep World Series!!! Win 8 straight games!!! and. . . . Not one of the major US television networks has mentioned in their reasons for reporting Vice President Gore as having been elected to serve as president that perhaps those in their exit polls actually thought they had voted for Gore, but their votes didn't count. *Information About the Project Gutenberg Mailing Lists For more information about the Project Gutenberg's mailing lists, including the Project Gutenberg Weekly and Monthly Newsletters: and the other Project Gutenberg Mailing Lists: The weekly is sent on Wednesdays, and the monthly is sent on the first Wednesday of the month. To subscribe to any (or to unsubscribe or adjust your subscription preferences), visit the Project Gutenberg mailing list server: http://lists.pglaf.org If you are having trouble with your subscription, please email the list's human administrators at: help@pglaf.org ***