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Microsoft to Offer Patches to U.S. Govt. First
Elitist_Phoenix writes "Reuters reports that 'Microsoft is to give the U.S. government priority in fixing security holes in Windows and other software, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Under a plan to take effect later this year, Microsoft will give the U.S. Air Force versions of software 'patches' to fix serious security vulnerabilities up to a month before they are available to others.' Yet another attempt to fight off impending doom, by trying to keep the government away from open source?"
Keep unneceesary FreeBSD at about 80
Sorry about this off-topic message, but this is something unbelievable!
Finnish defence forces making fun of war prisoner episode!
The Finnish Defence Forces are to investigate the case of digital photographs apparently taken at a Finnish military garrison, in which half-naked soldiers crawl on the floor on a leash. The pictures, which have been posted on the Internet, bear a passing resemblance to the torture photos taken at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. It is believed that the pictures are of some "graduation" or initiation ceremony, and are a conscript prank. The Defence Forces want to investigate if the conscripts have behaved improperly, or broken military law. Defence Forces communications director Ossi Kervinen considers the matter an unfortunate one, saying that the soldiers' behaviour gives a negative impression of the Finnish Defence Forces.
LINK TO PICTURES HERE! http://koti.mbnet.fi/sinoli/Huumori/Iltavahvari/
HERE!
Check out the LAST pictures!!
I know this is a little off topic, but I can't find the answer on google.
Is there a way to import OOo documents into MS office?
Is there a way to make a plugin for MS office that would allow this?
I think it would be great if MS office could have a pluggin that could read (and possibly write!) OOo documents. Then you could just have a note in your email containing OOo documents, "if you haven't updated your MS office installation, you should. Click here to allow it to access the files i've attached."
What would be even better is if MS automatically popped up a window saying you have to install a plugin to view the file.
I haven't used MS office (except when helping someone else) since 1997, so I don't know if this is possible. I think it would really help spread the acceptability of OOo documents though.
I think that the OOo document viewer is a good project, too. It is too bad people aren't working on it. If you could have it as a tiny download then it would serve the purpose of not being forced to convert your stuff into pdf or word. it would also be great if the viewer said, "export to word" and then opened up the file in word or WP.
just some thoughts. I'd appreciate some feedback even if you mod me down as OT. thanks!
What comes first, finding a teacher or becoming a student?
Got this from a friend ---- Looks important but not sure where to post this. I'm new to the OSS scene.
5 /w eek09/patrequ.htm
:
Last year, one of Microsoft's File Allocation Table (FAT) patents was called into question by the USPTO and is currently under review.
Interestingly, just last week additional challenges to Microsoft patents were filed with the USPTO because of concerns with prior art. One of the challenges concerns the same FAT patent brought under scrutiny last year
(5,579,517) - - meaning another individual or company is contesting the validity of this
patent on new grounds. A second challenge to the same patent for different reasons. In this case it's someone named David Hoffman from Valencia, Calif. Can't tell if he represents himself or is part of some company.
The second request is a challenge to yet another Microsoft FAT patent (5,758,352). That's three challenges to the Microsoft FAT patent family in the US in less than one year.
Moreover, back in December a challenge (called a Nullity Proceeding) was initiated against a Microsoft FAT patent in a German court. The German patent number is EP 0618540 (DE 69429378) and the reference number before the Federal Patent Court is: 2 Ni 2/05 (EU).
The FAT patent is the centerpiece of MS's IP. If it gets revoked or invalidated, one has to wonder what they really have. Check out the URL below for info on the patents and the
challenges.
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/200
Here's what you'll find:
=======================
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Requests for Ex Parte Reexamination Filed
5,579,517, Reexam. C.N. 90/007,371, Requested Date: Jan.
08, 2005, Cl. 707/200, Title: COMMON NAME SPACE FOR LONG AND SHORT
FILENAMES, Inventor: Aaron R. Reynolds, et. al., Owner of Record:
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, Attorney or Agent:
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness, Seattle, WA, Ex. Gp.: 2161,
Requester: David L. Hoffman, Valencia, CA
5,758,352, Reexam. C.N. 90/007,372, Requested Date: Jan.
08, 2005, Cl. 707/200, Title: COMMON NAME SPACE FOR LONG AND SHORT
FILENAMES, Inventor: Aaron R. Reynolds, et. al., Owner of Record
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, Attorney or Agent: Microsoft
Corporation, Redmond, WA, Ex. Gp.: 2161, Requester: David L. Hoffman,
Valencia, CA