C++ for Anyone from MIT

C++ is not exclusively for adult programmers but MIT has released programming for anyone through MIT's Media Lab. Researchers in the Lab's "Lifelong Kindergarten Group" created a program called Scratch, a graphical programming language geared to be programming learners, including children and teens.

A good introduction can be seen on how to create interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art with Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu).

Google Educational Offerings

Campus Technology today released a story that Google is offering researchers a closer look at their search capabilities. Two new services are offered to the individauls in higher education--access to Web search and machine translations--as part of Google's University Research Programs effort. The program for investigation, "the University Research Program for Google Search," has merit if it can unleash the incredible data hidden via the web, and certainly Google is one company that has revealed the resources of the web more than any other entity.

The second service, Google Translate, seems less promising although I have not taken it for a spin just yet. I still have to get over my bad experience with DragonDictate, c. 1998, when I spent an inordinate amount of time teaching a recalcitrant program and computer how to talk like me. Come to think of it, that may have been the problem.

"I Wanna' Be Like Osama"

The 60th Edinburgh Festival Fringe is featuring "Osama the Musical" which is a:
"Sensational new musical comedy set to incite violent applause and a new cult following featuring insightful satirical sequences including "I Wanna' Be Like Osama. The West shall not be won (again) so long as we have a high-kicking chorus line!"

Those Irresistible Nerds

Graph source: Source: Robert Half Technology, May 2007

Mary Brandel published a story in the 6 August 2007 issue of Computerworld reviewing what technology skills are in short supply. The list of skills follow below: Machine learning, Mobile applications, Wireless networking, Project management, General networking, Network convergence, Open-source programming, Business intelligence, and Embedded security.

Nothing "GNU" (New) in China

Wikipedia representatives have stated that Baidu.com Inc., the largest search engine in China, may be their worst copyright violator. Baidu plagiarizes Wikipedia without attribution or honoring the GNU license.

The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. has never sued a copyright violator and the Foundation has no plans to sue Baidu but this looks like an attempt to shame the company into compliance. All Wikipedia needs is the company to respect its copyright license by simply attributing Wikipedia entries on Baidu Baike, the company's Chinese-language Web encyclopedia.

"They do not respect the license at all," said Florence Nibart-Devouard, chairman of the board of trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation.

Pentagon Describes How to Combat IEDs

Speaking of worthwhile blogs to read, The Danger Room in fact carried a story about an excellent research paper--AN ASYMMETRIC THREAT INVOKES STRATEGIC LEADER INITIATIVE: THE JOINT IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DEFEAT ORGANIZATION by WILLIAM G. ADAMSON, COL, USA, that is worthwhile reading.

The report has some good news and some bad news. The Pentagon is praised for its "resilience, learning and adapting to the IED threat." It credits JIEDDO's chief, retired General Montgommery Meigs, with "vision [and] leadership." And the paper notes that "casualty rates per IED attack are down, indicating that the cumulative effort of training, better protective equipment, and improved intelligence [have] had a positive effect."

On the other hand, what we hear in American journalism is true as well. The paper states that the American effort against improvised bombs has been an "unsatisfactory performance [with] an incomplete strategy." What's more, the JIEDDO-led struggle against the hand-made explosives has a "strategic flaw" that may keep the U.S. from ever gaining the upper hand on the bombers, Adamson notes: The lack of authority to knock bureaucratic heads. He recommends instead establishing a separate, Executive Branch agency with a "laser-like concentration on the hostile use of IEDs."

I'd like to be knocking some bureaucratic heads and it would be helpful if journalists would be carrying stories that reveal how insurgents can be effectively met, and defeated.

A List of the Second Best Blogs in the World

I know you are enthralled to stay here at Blog Smith but are there any other cool places to go? A 6 August story from Computerworld noted the top Geek Blog Sites. In no particular order the list is:

Hack a Day

Lifehacker

IT Toolbox Blogs

Danger Room

O’Reilly Radar

Techdirt

Feedster

Rough Type

The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Elliott Back’s blog

4sysops

Go ahead, check them out, I won't be offended if you read the second best blogs in the world.

Black Muslim Bakery: A Bit of Upside-Down Cake?

The late Dr. Yusuf Bey created Your Black Muslim Bakery nearly 40 years ago, selling bean and carrot pies and hoping to inspire Oakland's poor to become "respectable and productive individuals."

This past Friday though, the bakery and its related businesses, a chain of bakeries, a security service, and a school among other businesses, was raided after the killing of 57-year-old Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey.

Seven people associated with the organization were arrested in connection with the killing and other violent crimes.

Bailey was working on an expose of the organization's finances when he was killed in a daring broad daylight murder by a masked gunman.

The gunman is believed to be Devaughndre Broussard, an employer of the group.

The Muslim group's headquarters at the original bakery and three Oakland houses tied to the group were raided.

Assistant Police Chief Howard Jordan said the raids were part of a yearlong investigation into a variety of violent crimes, including two homicides this year and a kidnapping and torture case.

Yusuf Bey elicited ire from the public in 1994 when he ran for mayor of Oakland. He received less than 5 percent of the vote after a campaign in which he said that women "belong back in the home" and that gays should not be allowed to teach school.

In 2002, Bey was accused of raping a girl but he died of colon cancer in 2003 while awaiting trial.

Bey tapped Waajid Aljawwaad Bey as his successor in his multimillion-dollar empire.

Five months later, Aljawwaad Bey's body was found buried in an unsolved homicide.

The group was plagued by additional violence. In 2005 the leader of the Bey security service, John Bey, was shot outside his Oakland home. He survived, and his attacker was never found. In 2005, Bey's 23-year-old son, Antar Bey, the organization's heir apparent, was killed in what police called a botched carjacking attempt at a gas station in North Oakland.

Shortly after Antar's murder, his brother, Yusuf Bey IV, took over the bakery empire.

Yusuf has pending charges stemming from a 2005 case in which he is accused of leading a Black Muslim group caught by surveillance cameras in November 2005 smashing up two Oakland corner stores. The men berated the stores' Muslim owners for selling alcohol to the black community even though alcohol is forbidden by Islam.

Your Black Muslim Bakery filed for bankruptcy last year.

After Friday's raid, county health inspectors shut down the bakery for health-code violations.

I often hear about how Muslims are targeted in the post 9/11 period but in any other circumstances, Your Black Muslim Bakery would be standard law enforcement activity.

The story reminds me how the Black Panthers, starting out with the best of intentions, dissipated to impotence by internal squabbles, violence, and police enforcement. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

I always liked Oakland, despite its grittiness, its an interesting mix of cultures, pleasant scenery, and working-class ethos. I stayed there this summer near Jack London Square while visiting San Francisco. I wish the city well.

Key Insurgent Killed

U.S. troops reportedly killed a key insurgent who was the planner of an important Shia shrine. This al-Qaeda leader who planned the attack on the shrine led to a major escalation in sectarian violence.

Haitham al-Badri plotted and carried out the 2006 and 2007 attacks on the al-Askari shrine in Samarra, which destroyed its golden dome and minarets.

Badri, allegedly the leader of al-Qaeda in Salahuddin Province, was eliminated on Thursday by US troops east of Samarra.

The attacks on the mosque horrified Shias which set off a wave of sectarian violence which claimed the lives of thousands of civilians.

While U.S. troops continue to do their job, the Iraqis are failing to create a viable and unified governmental structure.

A New Philadaelphia Story: The Archdiocese at the Movies

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia is now playing at the movies. Archdiocesen spokeswoman Donna Farrell announced an effort to advertise in a new medium, films, in the form of 30-second commercials running on 264 movie theater screens in the area. The advertisement will appear only on screens showing movies rated G, PG or PG-13, stated Farrell.

Enrollment decline has been precipitous: the archdiocese's Catholic elementary schools has dropped from 78,921 students to 62,559 over the past six years, while high school enrollment declined from 23,249 to 20,749 during the same period.

Note on Robert Dallek's book, An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917-1963

One of the most important assertions, and a point of controversy for historians when this book first came out, is that Dallek did not think Kennedy's presidency was damaged by his risky sexual behavior and bad health.

Upon reading though, just the panoply alone of drugs and injections was enough to convince me that Kennedy at least suffered a great deal. The evidence that he was conclusively and negatively effected by the drugs is not clear, it may never be. But, I found it alarming that so many physicians ruthlessly medicated the man without offering genuine relief.

Kennedy may be likened rather to a well-trained athlete who is medicated and medically treated beyond the norm. People can still function, even out-perform those around them. Kennedy had an incredible will; I think he really rose to the situation, he really was a war hero on PT 109. His endurance and commitment to his men after his boat was split in two by a Japanese warship is impressive. On the other hand, I don't think sinking into hero worship is sound, he certainly had his share of mistakes such as the Bay of Pigs, he just seemed to be a high-performing individual, warts and all.

As to the sex, well, I certainly was not aware of it at the time but enough evidence came to light over the years. I guess he enjoyed himself.

Dallek obtained documents indicating Kennedy had an affair with a 19-year-old intern in the White House: shades of Bill Clinton. He discovered 17 blacked-out pages in an oral history by Barbara Gamarekian, who was an aide to Kennedy Press Secretary Pierre Salinger.

Gamarekian refused to give him the name of the former intern to protect the woman but the pages were from 40 years ago so authentic enough. In fact, the New York Daily News subsequently learned the woman's identity and published an interview with her.

Many Americans consider Kennedy to be among the greatest presidents, but Dallek says most historians would dispute that, he fell well short of great or even near great. He failed to win passage for civil rights legislation and other major legislative initiatives and he stumbled in foreign policy with the Bay of Pigs and an escalation of the Vietnam War, Dallek stated in interviews about the book.

The assassination colors our perception. Kennedy has tended to be idolized as a result. Since I finally got around to the book I believe it is well worth reading and certainly presents a human presidential figure.

Copyright: Who Owns Creative Work?

What is the purpose of the "Copyright Clause?"

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution, known as the Copyright Clause (the Copyright and Patent Clause, the Intellectual Property Clause, and the Progress Clause), empowers the United States Congress:

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.

The clause actually confers two distinct powers: the power to secure for limited times to authors the exclusive right to their writings, and the power to secure for limited times to inventors the exclusive rights to their discoveries.

A number of United States Supreme Court cases interprets the text. The Court has determined that because the purpose of the clause is to stimulate development of the works it protects, its purpose is not to inhibit such progress.

After an author creates, they retain the rights, though not exclusively of course, fair use doctrine, while related, is primarily a First Amendment doctrine. It permits certain unauthorized uses of copyrighted material in the name of greater freedoms. In teaching for example, obtaining authorized use from every author would be ludicrous. No practical teaching could be done.

In instances of disagreement, who should prevail?

Here is one such example: "I understand that before I started volunteering with [insert academic JOURNAL here], there were some tensions between your editorial team and the [insert academic JOURNAL here] board."

So who owns the work? The guiding principle here seems to be the stimulation of works, not to prohibit "progress" however ill-defined and unwieldy. Especially in a democracy it seems one would want to err on the side of controversy and expression, unless one's intent was to inhibit such progress.

If the author of an unpublished work specifically objected to inclusion in an archive, I would argue that they retain that right.

However, the work of editors, redactors, and others have a creative aspect as well. That is their original contribution to the progress of the useful arts and sciences.

Therefore, I would strenuously object to the statement that "many of the items [archived materials] fall in to the category of [insert academic JOURNAL here] papers, as opposed to personal correspondence or work."

In this instance the editor did of course, "work," their creative contribution; in addition, the editor in question also has academic credentials, a Masters of Library Science, or their promotion of scientific endeavor. Thus, on two grounds I would argue that the editor is on sound constitutional ground.

The premise of the succeeding editor or board reveals the weakness of their position; they have to ask permission.

With the above in mind, we'd like to ask you to advise [insert University Archivist here] at the
[insert University's Library here] that items in the {insert original Editor's name here] Papers other than your personal correspondence be removed from the archive.

So who owns the work?

The original editor of course.

HP Unhealthy Print

A story on Computerworld yesterday released yesterday noted that Hewlett-Packard makes 90% of unhealthy laser printers tested by researchers. Of course, the researchers looked at a more HP printers than anyone else so this could bias the result. 83% of the total printers researched, were from HP.

Nearly all the laser printers fingered by researchers for spewing particulate matter into offices and homes are sold by HP.

The article in the American Chemical Society's Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) journal, measured emissions of 58 laser printers, including models from Canon Inc., HP, Ricoh Co. and Toshiba Corp. Particle emissions, believed to be related to the ultrafine powdered toner, were measured and the printers ranked in several categories.

Of the "high emitters" at least for me, they do not effect me personally. I don't have any of the offending models: the Color LaserJet 4650dn; Color LaserJet 5550dtn; Color LaserJet 8550n; LaserJet 1320n; LaserJet 2420n; LaserJet 4200dtn; LaserJet 4250n; LaserJet 5; LaserJet 8000dn; and the LaserJet 8150n.

Anyone want to go back to carbons? Elementary kids got high from those.

Extraterritoriality, Extradition, and Hacking

According to a story yesterday on Computerworld U.K the United Kingdom will try a hacker's case against extradition to the United States.

In the old days of colonialism, a person who committed a crime in a colony was taken back to the home country, where presumably they would get a more sympathetic hearing. Today, this is a twist on the old legal principle.

In cyberspace, where is the crime?

Gary McKinnon is accused of causing $961,000 worth of damage to computers by hacking into the Pentagon, NASA, and U.S. military systems. McKinnon, an ex-systems administrator allegedly conducted the largest military hack of all time. He won the right to have his case against extradition to the U.S. heard by the U.K. House of Lords.

McKinnon maintains that the alleged offenses took place in the U.K. and that is where he should stand trial.

He could face a life sentence in jail with no chance of repatriation if he is extradited to the U.S.

The U.S. may be particularly adamant about prosecution since McKinnon hacked he systems shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The U.S. government may want to make an example of him as a warning to would be or potential terrorists.

That deterrent seems specious but I suppose he could be useful to analyze what he did to probe weaknesses in U.S. defense, goodness knows they are chronic.

I Give China a "Bath"

Being the forgiving sort, I've decided to give China another "Bath" and I exchanged the lamp for a new one: so far, so good, although its only been on a minute.

Let's see how the new one does.

Bed, Bath, and Beyond: Made in China

So I needed a lamp near my computer and I perused the aisles looking for one. I found a hip looking blue one which looked ideal. In and out in a flash, my idea of shopping since I'm on a meter. Less than a week later, kaput. Where from?

Bed, Bath, and Beyond: Made in China.

Good thing Fido was not hungry or I didn't need to brush my teeth.

"How's Your House," Ian Hunter on Hurricane Katrina

How's Your House by Ian Hunter (Song at NOMRF.org)

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Description: Ian Hunter courtesy of YepRoc Records for the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. Video Produced by Grewvia. This song and 15 others by artists including Dr. John, Edwin McCain, James Andrews, Joe Topping and a new song by the Kaiser Chiefs are available at NOMRF.org. 100% of the proceeds will help the grass roots New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund.

Microsoft Struggles to Catch Google

In a story today on Computerworld Microsoft is attempting to catch up with Google and Yahoo in search capabilities. They have a long way to go. In June, Google sites captured 49.5% of the U.S. search market, while Yahoo sites ranked second with 25.1% of U.S. searches, followed by a distant Microsoft with only 13.2%, according to comScore Networks Inc.

Microsoft though began a new center, the Internet Services Research Center, as a part of Microsoft's research group. Interestingly enough though, the center will have teams in the U.S., but also some in Beijing.

Maybe Microsoft can go hard on those Chinese government types who are pushovers for Google.

Ahead or Behind the Curve?

Today, 29 July 2007, the BBC reported that Prime Minister of Great Britain, Gordon Brown, stated that the world owes the US a debt.

On the cusp of his first visit with George Bush, Brown stated that the U.S. leadership in the war against international terrorism is a debt that the world owes America.

Some analysts had speculated that Brown would distance himself from George Bush.

So far Brown has not publicly stated he would.

Newest Expansion Pack to Civilization IV: Beyond The Sword

One of the more intriguing developments in the gaming world, for an educator at least, is the accurate and realistic portrayal of history in the play. One of the best is Civilization IV. To the basic game is the newest expansion pack, Beyond the Sword, the second release after the Warlords edition.

The creator, Sid Meier, did not intend to write an educational game, precisely what makes it so fun probably, although an educator can do a great deal with the game to teach history. In a recent interview, Meier notes:

I read an interesting article recently about how some teachers actually use Civilization III in their classes as a teaching tool. Would you endorse or recommend the use of Civilization III as an educational product?

Sid: There's certainly nothing in the game that's just totally, flat-out wrong. I think Civilization is a good place to learn some basic ideas about history, and to be a part of it; to make the decisions. The great thing about a game is that you're the star of it. You're actually there making the decisions. Yes, it's been used in a lot of different educational situations, and if you can get a kid interested in history through a game, that's...We certainly lead them through the Civilopedia. We let them know that there's more out there if you want to explore it.

I've heard about a lot of people who played games as a kid and have gained a lot of useful knowledge that they were able to use later in life. So I certainly encourage people to use Civilization as a way to introduce them to history and make it exciting