Saturday, May 31, 2003

How the G.O.P. Created Affirmative Action. The University of Michigan case involving race will be deceide by the Supremem Court soon. But the real issue is do we understand the original source of constitutional doctrine on which affirmative action is based. By Jack Bass. [New York Times: Opinion] 2:10:01 PM    comment []

'Off the Record' Gates/Jobs Comments Posted Online. The organizers of the Wall Street Journal's D -- All Things Digital conference made reporters promise that all sessions were... [Dan Gillmor's eJournal] 2:09:15 PM    comment []

With Wireless, an English City Reaches Across Digital Divide. Wi-Fi, or wireless fidelity, is being used to provide Internet access to the economically downtrodden people of East Manchester. By Mark Landler. [New York Times: Technology] 7:36:25 AM    comment []

Allies: Where are the WMDs?!. The Dems and the U.S. public may meekly accept the administration's ever-changing answers about Saddam's alleged weapons. But our foreign allies don't -- and the more the White House spins, the angrier they get. [Salon.com] 7:32:02 AM    comment []

U.K. Paper Recruits Iraqi Blogger. The Iraqi known as Salam Pax, who has capivated thousands of readers around the world with his online accounts of life in Iraq, will write a biweekly column for The Guardian in Britain. [Wired News] 7:29:05 AM    comment []

India leader advocates open source: The president of India added to a growing foreign-relations headache for Microsoft with a speech in which he advocated broader adoption of open-source software. By David Becker, CNET News.com. In a speech during dedication ceremonies Wednesday for the country's new International Institute of Information Technology in the university city of Pune, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam recounted a conversation earlier this year with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. We were discussing the future challenges in information technology, including the issues related to software security, Kalam said, according to a transcript of the speech. I made a point that we look for open-source codes so that we can easily introduce the users built security algorithms. Our discussions became difficult, since our views were different. . . . The most unfortunate thing is that India still seems to believe in proprietary solutions, he said in the speech. Further spread of IT, which is influencing the daily life of individuals, would have a devastating effect on the lives of society due to any small shift in the business practice involving these proprietary solutions. It is precisely for these reasons open-source software needs to be built, which would be cost-effective for the entire society. In India, open-source code software will have to come and stay in a big way for the benefit of our billion people. 5:20:20 AM    comment []