Yahoo! News - MP3.com founder to start new music venture

Yahoo! News - MP3.com founder to start new music venture
"Breaking with other online music services, such as Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes and Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Music Store, MP3tunes will not use a format with digital rights management (DRM) technology to copy-protect the tracks it sells for download, but instead will use the popular MP3 format without DRM, Robertson said in an interview.

At launch, MP3tunes will offer a few hundred thousand tracks from independent labels and artists at a cost of US$0.88 per track or $8.88 per album, Robertson said. MP3tunes has yet to approach the major record labels, he said.
Because the tracks will be offered in MP3 format, buyers can use the music they purchase on virtually any digital music player or computer, as well as make unlimited copies of their songs and burn their music onto CD, Robertson said. Most other online music sellers restrict what users can do with their songs."

Edward C. Baig: Personal Tech -
2/3/2005 9:04 AM
MSN Search test finds some flaws (USATODAY.com)
USATODAY.com - Microsoft sent me a fact sheet promising that the "built from the ground up" MSN Search tool, which officially launched earlier this week, "provides people with real answers to many of their questions."

Doraemon Limited Edition iPod mini Set (Custom Design Case, Wheel Protector) (Special Order)

Doraemon Limited Edition iPod mini Set (Custom Design Case, Wheel Protector) (Special Order)
"Only 1000 Doraemon iPod mini set will be produced. Order ends as soon as the quota is fulfilled. The expected shipping date is March, 2005. Your credit card will not be charged until the item is shipped

Product Description:

A special joint project co-developed by Dorabell and Apple Japan. The limited edition Doraemon iPod mini features laser engraved 'Doraemon' on the back, custom protective case, and 5 sheets of wheel protector."

Social Security Makeover
Tops Bush Agenda

By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent
The Associated Press
At Forefront of Bush's Second Term,
a Contentious Plan to Remake Social Security

WASHINGTON Feb 3, 2005 — At the dawn of a second term, President Bush is campaigning again, this time for changes in Social Security that would combine reduced government benefits for younger workers with "a chance to build a nest egg" through personal accounts.

"We must make Social Security permanently sound, not leave that task for another day," Bush told Congress Wednesday night in a State of the Union address that elicited applause from Republicans and audible grumbles from Democrats in the audience.

With success in Congress far from assured, the president chose to follow up the prime time televised speech with trips over two days to four states. Each is represented in the Senate by at least one Democrat the administration hopes to sway on Social Security.

Bush's first stop was North Dakota, which he won heavily in last fall's election. Even so, early indications were not so positive this time.

Calling all Amateur Radio Operators
We are in need of a few rigs. There are two Indonesia Red Cross (PMI) camps here in Aceh about 2km apart as the crow flies. One of the camps has a GSM cellphone that will initiate a call, but drops it within a few seconds. The other camp has no signal at all. We are looking for donations of two Handy Talkies, as well as a repeater so that they can connect back to the primary Red Cross site in Banda Aceh. Whenever medical supplies are needed, it requires a drive in to town, or someone to run back and forth between the camps on bike or on foot. Giving them the ability to use voice comms would greatly enhance their ability to help the refugees. Please contact Jeremy Parr at jeremyparr@gmail.com or Earl Campbell N8TV at earl@uphi.net.

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Wired 13.02: The Firefox Explosion

Wired 13.02: The Firefox Explosion

"'People thought the browser wars were over,' Ross says, relishing the giant-killer role. 'But now there's a widespread perception that IE is not secure - and here we are.' What started out as one schoolboy's exercise in minimalism, with a nod to Google's back-to-basics obsession, has tapped into a growing desire for simplicity among ordinary computer users. 'The success of this thing has totally surprised us,' Goodger adds. 'Firefox has really touched a nerve.'"

Wired 13.02: The Firefox Explosion

Wired 13.02: The Firefox Explosion
"The Firefox Explosion
It's fast, secure, open source - and super popular.
The hot new browser called Firefox is rocking the software world. (Watch your back, Bill Gates.)
By Josh McHughPage 1 of 3

For Rob Davis, the final straw came during a beautiful weekend last summer, which he spent holed up in his Minneapolis apartment killing a zombie.

The week before, a malicious software program had invaded Davis' PC through his browser, Internet Explorer, using a technique called the DSO exploit.

His computer had been repurposed as a 'zombie box' - its CPU and bandwidth co-opted to pump reams of spam onto the Internet.

Furious, Davis dropped out of a planned Lake Superior camping trip to instead back up his computer and reformat his crippled hard drive. Then he vowed never to open IE again."

Ham Radio Update Tsunami panic in Indonesia's Sulawesi as strong earthquake kills one

Yahoo! News - Tsunami panic in Indonesia's Sulawesi as strong earthquake kills one

"Tsunami panic in Indonesia's Sulawesi as strong earthquake kills one
Mon Jan 24, 5:36 AM ET

JAKARTA (AFP) - A strong earthquake shook Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing one person, severely injuring four others and prompting thousands to flee for fear of a repeat of last month's tsunami disaster.

The quake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale and caused several buildings to collapse in the coastal city of Palu, just 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the epicentre, when it struck shortly before dawn, seismology officials said. "