Slashdot Mirror

bcrowell writes "The LA Times has a front-page article about how open-source college textbooks are starting to gain traction. One author says, 'I couldn't continue assigning idiotic books that are starting to break $200,' and describes attempts by commercial publishers to bribe faculty to use their books. The Cal State system has started a Digital Marketplace to help faculty find out about their options for free and non-free digital textbooks, and the student group PIRG has collected 1200 faculty signatures on a statement of support for open textbooks."

barakn writes "Scientists have savaged the new movie The Day After Tomorrow, which depicts global warming causing a new ice age and freezing New York solid. The movie follows on the heels of a report to the Department of Defense in February, written by two guys who are not climatologists, about the implications of global warming triggering the growth of ice sheets in the northern hemisphere. There is a plausible theory which suggests that melting ice may release enough fresh water to halt circulation of warm water from the Gulf Stream, thus significantly cooling Europe and the east coast of North America. Note that this theory depends on melting ice, not growing ice, which may be one reason scientists find the ice age scenario so hard to swallow. New satellite evidence suggests a part of this circulation may already be slowing down. Those on the North American west coast will not have to worry about ice sheets, but changes in Arctic ice could mean the western drought will be permanent. For those of you who would rather do something before it's too late, iron seems to work, but the long-term ecological implications are still unknown."

Microsoft and Hughes have opted out of the CETI plan. The plan called for US$300M to be invested in upgrading and updating technology within the California state university system. The school system says they may be replaced. Hmm, Linux and a support contract, anyone? =)

Microsoft and Hughes have opted out of the CETI plan. The plan called for US$300M to be invested in upgrading and updating technology within the California state university system. The school system says they may be replaced. Hmm, Linux and a support contract, anyone? =)

Today, CETI has suffered another set-back. CETI is the for-profit limited liability joint venture that Microsoft, GTE, Hughes Electronics and Fujitsu want to set up to become the exclusive technology provider to California State University. The deadline for CETI to sign the ten-year exclusivity deal has been postponed from the end of March to end of May, having originally been scheduled for the end of January. Many fear that the deal will influence students, biassing them in their professional lives against competitor products which they have never encountered. Coming from Europe, I have been surprised at work, by how few Americans encountered Unix at University. In Europe, using Unix is required for many sciences, and definitely for Computer Science. Netaction has organized a campaign against CETI.

Today, CETI has suffered another set-back. CETI is the for-profit limited liability joint venture that Microsoft, GTE, Hughes Electronics and Fujitsu want to set up to become the exclusive technology provider to California State University. The deadline for CETI to sign the ten-year exclusivity deal has been postponed from the end of March to end of May, having originally been scheduled for the end of January. Many fear that the deal will influence students, biassing them in their professional lives against competitor products which they have never encountered. Coming from Europe, I have been surprised at work, by how few Americans encountered Unix at University. In Europe, using Unix is required for many sciences, and definitely for Computer Science. Netaction has organized a campaign against CETI.