Monthly Archives: May 2004

Rat Study Shows That Exercise Promotes Neuron Growth

Posted on 5/27/2004 by Ben

Exercise makes you smarter? Previous research had linked physical exertion with higher levels of neuronal growth factors known as neurotrophins in the spinal cord and skeletal muscles… The scientists gave rats access to a running wheel for periods ranging from … Continue reading →

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Antispam framework scores Microsoft endorsement

Posted on 5/26/2004 by Ben

Microsoft is merging its email Caller ID effort with SPF. DomainKeys cooperation is also in the works:“DomainKeys is the long-term approach; SPF is the short-term approach,” Wong said. “If all goes well, we will meet in the middle and squash … Continue reading →

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Mozilla Foundation and Opera Software Describe Joint Vision for Web Application Framework

Posted on 5/26/2004 by Ben

Opera Software and the Mozilla Foundation are working together on a web application framework. I think I need to learn more about XAML and see how it compares.

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8,500 Gallons of Water for 1 Pound of Beef

Posted on 5/24/2004 by Ben

A new study presented to the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development stresses the need to produce more nutrition using less water. One of the key findings of the report is that today, unlike during the “Green Revolution” of the 1960s, … Continue reading →

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Designs on the White House

Posted on 5/21/2004 by Ben

There are some really good shirt designs on Designs on the White House now, and some really bad ones. Submissions and voting have been extended by a week.

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A Scanner Darkly

Posted on 5/20/2004 by Ben

Boing Boing has some A Scanner Darkly scoopage.

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Andrew Tannenbaum on Linus didn’t write Linux

Posted on 5/20/2004 by Ben

Andrew Tannenbaum debunks the idea that Linus didn’t invent Linux. Tannenbaum is the author of MINIX, the OS that inspired Linus to write Linux because he didn’t want to shell out $69 for MINIX. He hilariously describes his interview with … Continue reading →

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More Mono and patents

Posted on 5/20/2004 by Ben

The debate about whether patents are a risk to Mono goes on. Seth Nickell of Red Hat gives his reasoning and Miguel de Icaza of Novell responds. I’m still in the pro-Mono camp if only because I don’t think Microsoft … Continue reading →

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Executives criticize the tech industry

Posted on 5/19/2004 by Ben

The Business Roundtable, a trade group for executives of 150 of America’s largest corporations, is criticizing the technology industry for releasing software with poor security. The group cites estimates from the nation’s banks and savings institutions that attacks by viruses … Continue reading →

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Six Log: How are you using the tool?

Posted on 5/18/2004 by Ben

Mena Trott asks how people are using Movable Type. I was using MT to manage three blogs, two public and one private, with one author. I try to use open source software whenever possible but, like Mark Pilgrim, I saw … Continue reading →

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Album of the Week

Posted on 5/17/2004 by Ben

The album of the week is Iron & Wine’s Our Endless Numbered Days. For a special bonus, here is my (not RIAA-safe) As Seen on TV Spring 2004 playlist, a compilation of songs from recent commercials.

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Same-sex couples marry in Massachusetts

Posted on 5/17/2004 by Ben

Today I’m proud of my state. Now we just need to vote down the constitutional amendment.

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Frontier kernel goes open source

Posted on 5/17/2004 by Ben

After bashing open source as recently as Friday, Dave Winer has announced that Userland will be releasing an open source version of the Frontier kernel. Well, good for them, I guess.

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Seven open source business strategies for competitive advantage

Posted on 5/17/2004 by Ben

IT Manager’s Journal outlines seven open source business models. Several of these mostly involve selling proprietary software so I wouldn’t call them open source.

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Linus didn’t invent Linux

Posted on 5/17/2004 by Ben

The Alexis de Toqueville Institution, which receives funding from Microsoft, has released a study claiming that Linus Torvahlds didn’t invent Linux after all. Comedy! Their press release provides no proof, no facts, no details, but it claims the author, the … Continue reading →

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