] uba will gradually switch to the open-source Linux
] operating system for its state computers, eliminating its
] exclusive use of Windows, the government daily Juventud
] Rebelde reported Tuesday.

A serious blow to Microsoft.

Hack In The Box - Keeping Knowledge Free - www.hackinthebox.org

] The slope shows an unbelievable decline in computer
] science majors," Astrachan said. "There are smart people
] no longer even signing up to take our introductory
] courses. We need to fix it, or there's not going to be a
] U.S. work force in computer sciences."

Huh? Just like 3 years ago it was nearly impossible to get an IT/CS job due to the tech bubble busting - now we're talking about a shortage of employees?

heraldsun.com: IBM, colleges: More top students needed

] Is Windows cheaper to patch than open source software?

At this point in time I think Windows is more expensive to patch due to all of the reboots required. Longhorn is supposed to require MUCH less rebooting - but then again Longhorn is supposed to have a lot of stuff that it probably ain't gonna have.

Slashdot | Windows Cheaper to Patch Than Open Source?

] The service, similar to offerings from its competitors,
] lets users aggregate information, search, E-mail, and
] other content in their own personal portal to the Web.

I really like this homepage by google - it's google'ish in the sense that it's minimalistic, fast, and easy to use. And it integrates with Gmail.

InformationWeek - Google - Google Gets Personal - May 19, 2005

] fellow built a hovercraft for his son out of junk in his
] garage using the plans he found online. He used a
] countertop as the base, a leaf blower as the "lifter",
] PVC pip, Goop glue, plastic sheeting and duct tape.

Hmm... I might have to try this. This guy used a corded leaf blower - but if you used heavier tarping and a more powerful gas powered blower; this might be a fun thing to race around the neighborhood.

MAKE: Blog: Garage Hack: Hovercraft

] Hurd told analysts that more layoffs of employees are in
] the offing in its current quarter, meaning HP will have
] to put aside $100 million for the redundancies.

They have been laying off people by the thousands since about May 2000, every single quarter - all of em'. Looks like an end is not yet in sight.

HP warns of more layoffs ahead

] The "Pulsed Energy Projectile" (PEP) device "fires a
] laser pulse that generates a burst of expanding plasma
] when it hits something solid", the New Scientist
] explains. If you happen to be that something solid, then
] you get temporarily incapacitated without suffering
] permanent injury.

Very cool stuff.

Scientists slam US plasma weapon | The Register

] he New York Times revealed yesterday that the US Air
] Force is lobbying president Bush to approve a national
] security directive which "could move the United States
] closer to fielding offensive and defensive space
] weapons".

Sweet.

USAF seeks space weapon mandate | The Register

] WASHINGTON %u2014 The Treasury Department (search), in
] the Bush administration's hardest stance yet, warned
] China that, unless it overhauls its currency, it likely
] will be accused of manipulating it to gain an unfair
] trade advantage over the United States

In addition Bush asked that China please include 1 eggroll with every order of Mongolian Beef.

FOXNews.com - Business - U.S. Treasury: China Needs to Overhaul Currency System

Decius wrote:
] ] Kulam Dastagir, 28, a bird seller who refused to join the
] ] demonstration, said: "I don't think the report is true, but
]
] ] these crises work for those who want to make fights between
]
] ] people."
]
] This astute observation applies to just about everyone
] involved in these events on all sides.

Wow, a bird seller in Afghanistan? So the guy has enough sense to make a comment like he did above, but yet his profession is to sell birds in Afghanistan. I mean really, is there a big demand for birds in Afghanistan?

RE: Newsweek Apologizes