Comment and trackback support added today
I thought that I would try this out. Use the comment function (click on "Comment" under a post) to let me know if I should have even bothered...
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Canadian court finds for file swappers
A court has ruled against a request by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) to compel Canadian ISPs to give up the identities of Canadian file swappers. The judge went further than merely refusing the CRIA's request - to quote the Globe and Mail, "According to the judge, there is no compelling evidence that either downloading or sharing of digital music files is even illegal." Great news for fair use of copyrighted material in Canada.
A court has ruled against a request by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) to compel Canadian ISPs to give up the identities of Canadian file swappers. The judge went further than merely refusing the CRIA's request - to quote the Globe and Mail, "According to the judge, there is no compelling evidence that either downloading or sharing of digital music files is even illegal." Great news for fair use of copyrighted material in Canada.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Equifax Canada reports security breach
Detailed credit files of over 1400 individuals localized in Alberta, BC, and a few in Onatario were stolen from Equifax systems. The breach shows signs of being masterminded by organized crime. Not good.
Detailed credit files of over 1400 individuals localized in Alberta, BC, and a few in Onatario were stolen from Equifax systems. The breach shows signs of being masterminded by organized crime. Not good.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
The Pluto (and therefore Sedna) debate continues
The debate rages onward. What I found particularly enjoyable was S. Alan Stern's rant in a recent Space Daily article where it is clear that emotionally, he really wants Pluto to be called a planet. This may have something to do with the fact that he is the leader of NASA's Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission. Would Pluto not be an equally interesting object of scientific study whether or not we label it "planet"? And what would an astronomical discovery be without an animated fly-by of the new discovery starting from Earth?
The debate rages onward. What I found particularly enjoyable was S. Alan Stern's rant in a recent Space Daily article where it is clear that emotionally, he really wants Pluto to be called a planet. This may have something to do with the fact that he is the leader of NASA's Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission. Would Pluto not be an equally interesting object of scientific study whether or not we label it "planet"? And what would an astronomical discovery be without an animated fly-by of the new discovery starting from Earth?
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
And then there were eight
A working group of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has declared that size does indeed matter. Sadly, Sedna is merely a trans-Neptunian body and not a planet. Now the planet cops have turned their attention to poor old Pluto. Will Pluto get its planet license revoked after over 100 years?
A working group of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has declared that size does indeed matter. Sadly, Sedna is merely a trans-Neptunian body and not a planet. Now the planet cops have turned their attention to poor old Pluto. Will Pluto get its planet license revoked after over 100 years?
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
The spiritual benefits of a new planet
The staff astrologer of the illustrious UK paper The Sun has revealed some surprising positive influences emanating from the newly discovered planet!
The staff astrologer of the illustrious UK paper The Sun has revealed some surprising positive influences emanating from the newly discovered planet!
A new planet! When will it stop?
First, they tell us the Earth is round. Then the Earth is not the centre of the universe. Then there are planets beyond the original Galilean six. Then they find something like Quaoar orbiting beyond Pluto and decide that it is a "trans-Neptunian object" and not a planet. And now they find a new larger ice ball and name it after a fingerless patrifagial Inuit goddess badly in need of tonsurial care - is Sedna planet or not? Who decides?
First, they tell us the Earth is round. Then the Earth is not the centre of the universe. Then there are planets beyond the original Galilean six. Then they find something like Quaoar orbiting beyond Pluto and decide that it is a "trans-Neptunian object" and not a planet. And now they find a new larger ice ball and name it after a fingerless patrifagial Inuit goddess badly in need of tonsurial care - is Sedna planet or not? Who decides?
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Blood in the library
Canada's libraries are a haven of cultural memory and quiet study. They are also a good place for the homicidal trio that dogs your footsteps to pin you down and attempt murder by the blade. A student was knifed multiple times in the University of Alberta's science and technology library on March 10th.. This is a surreal event to take place at my alma mater, but I wanted to take this opportunity to remind all library users to practice safe studying - do not tell anyone where you plan to be studying in the library, and do not study at the same carrel twice.
Canada's libraries are a haven of cultural memory and quiet study. They are also a good place for the homicidal trio that dogs your footsteps to pin you down and attempt murder by the blade. A student was knifed multiple times in the University of Alberta's science and technology library on March 10th.. This is a surreal event to take place at my alma mater, but I wanted to take this opportunity to remind all library users to practice safe studying - do not tell anyone where you plan to be studying in the library, and do not study at the same carrel twice.
Monday, March 08, 2004
Wikipedia - wikipedia
Last night I was awoken with a start in the middle of the night by an unanswered question, what happens if you look up "wikipedia" in Wikipedia? Finally, once all hope of returning to sleep was lost, I had to crawl out of bed and find out. Wikipedia is a wiki-based free content encyclopedia which includes almanac-like and gazetteer-like information. Free means free to use, free to edit, and free to copy and redistribute. Wikipedia is multilingual, and an open-content, collaboratively developed creation, managed and operated by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. As of March 2004, it contains over 220,000 articles in English, and over 290,000 articles in other languages.
Last night I was awoken with a start in the middle of the night by an unanswered question, what happens if you look up "wikipedia" in Wikipedia? Finally, once all hope of returning to sleep was lost, I had to crawl out of bed and find out. Wikipedia is a wiki-based free content encyclopedia which includes almanac-like and gazetteer-like information. Free means free to use, free to edit, and free to copy and redistribute. Wikipedia is multilingual, and an open-content, collaboratively developed creation, managed and operated by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. As of March 2004, it contains over 220,000 articles in English, and over 290,000 articles in other languages.
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About Me
- thrashor
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Returned to working as a Management Consultant, specializing in risk, security, and regulatory compliance, with Fujitsu Canada after running the IT shop in the largest library in the South Pacific.
