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24. februar 2003
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The empire sues back
Microsoft has launched a countersuit against Sun Microsystem, alleging that Sun broke a 2001 agreement allowing it to use its own version of Java technology. Sun argues that Microsoft made an incompatible version of Java to dissuade developers away from the platform to its own .Net technology.
In the counterclaim, Microsoft's lawyer wrote:
"Sun has no product strategy to counter Microsoft's investment in creating innovative and useful software, and therefore attempts to obstruct Microsoft through litigation."
Whatever your view of Microsoft's anti-competitive activities, it is pretty obvious he has a point. The lawsuit is the last restort of the company that fails in the marketplace.
11:21:10 PM 
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Flying high and wired
Lufthansa and now British Airways has installed a system allowing travellers to connect their laptops to the Net during flights. So far, the system is only available on selected flights in a test period, but expect this to become commonplace.
Some business travellers have already started complaining that the last refuge from work is invaded by emails.
For casual travellers, however, it can surely idle away the hours on boring intercontinental flights. A nice time to do the latest brush-up on lonely planet, perhaps?
10:41:37 PM
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Porn-modernism
Rob at Emhpasis Added continues the debate that started in my blog, in particular in the comments.
Update: Rayne just added her comments, defending the value of postmodernism.
The debate is well worth a look, and I expect my regular reader AC will offer his comments again as well.
I may chime in with an update, but so far I lack examples of postmodernist scribble that has offered any increased understanding of human culture. Quite the opposite, in fact.
9:08:24 PM
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AIDS vaccine a 'limited success'
The first AIDS vaccine subject to an extensive study, AidsVax, shows only a limited success. The initial results show that infection rates only was 3.8% lower for those who had recived the vaccine compared to those who received placebo injections. However, for asians and blacks, the infection rate was as much as 67% lower. The sampling rate for these were low, however, so further study is necessary.
A number of other vaccine products are currently in the works, and researchers are cautiously optimistic after seeing the latest results. At least it indicates that an AIDS vaccine is feasible.
8:47:27 PM
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Evolution works: new species discovered
A new species of weed has recently been discovered in Britain. Richard Abbott, a plant evolutionary biologist, discovered the undistinguished weed and has through extensive DNA analysis demonstrated that it has naturally evolved in Britain over the last 50 years.
The weed, named Senecio eboracensis after the Latin name for York, is a genetic mutant that can breed, unlike most other hybrids, but it can not breed with its own parent species, thus fulfilling the definition for a new species.
Dr Abbott says that speciation has only been confirmed five times in the last century, two times in Britain. Normally the evolution of a new species takes too long for scientists to witness and document it happening.
Not that it is really needed, but this is another example that Darwin was right, and that creationists have no leg to stand on.
6:51:01 PM
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Second Iraq resolution presented tonight
A new British/American resolution draft will be presented to the other Security Council members tonight. It will be brief and to the point. The debate so far will be behind closed doors. France and Russia reiterates there is no need for more resolutions now.
5:32:55 PM
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Sigh
Sunday was totally crap for Salon blogs, with no end to outages, slow updates, no updates. Today doesn't look much better. Still, the recently changed page refuses to register my updates at least half the time.
4:31:57 PM
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And what planet is that?
"Coldplay have taken another giant leap in their quest to assert themselves as the most popular rock band on the planet, picking up two Grammy Awards at the February 23 ceremony." (MTV)
Hey, Coldplay is hot news, but the most popular rock band on this planet with a very wide margin is U2, regardless of what your personal taste is. It takes more than a good year to and a good CD to become legends.
4:21:52 PM
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"The Americans are here. Bring in reinforcements!"
"Bulgarian pimps have been moving armies of prostitute reinforcements hundreds of miles across country to cash in on the arrival of US troops." (Ananova)
America's finest are a long way from home, so what do you expect?
4:56:19 AM
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Will the UN leave the East Timorese behind?
The UN Security Council and a number of countries succeeded in bringing independence and a measure of security to the East Timorese. A recent article in the International Herald Tribune warns of the danger of withdrawing too fast, as there are many troubles yet to be solved. If the UN withdraws before the new state is stable, all the effort be wasted.
Not to mention, the long term nationbuilding commitment of the UN and its major powers is also an indication to other states, most notably Afghanistan and Iraq, to what they can expect when their countries leave the headlines.
4:13:47 AM
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Is it only me?
Not only my blog, but everybody else at Salon takes ages to load as well. A typical Sunday on the Net, I fear.
1:13:04 AM
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© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland.
Last update: 01.03.2003; 00:15:25.
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