Apple has released Security Update 07-14-2003 (available through Software Update) which fixes a problem associated with security and the screensaver on OS X. The patch is available as a free download. So much for the complaints about Apple not responding quickly to security issues.

According to an article from Wired, a Pentagon program that provides online voting in general elections will be increased from the pilot levels in 2000 of 86 users to over 100,000 voters in 2004. The plan is to allow serving troops and ex-patriots to vote using a "secure" system …

An article in the Washington Post indicated that staff in the Metro's planning and architecture group will be cut over the next six years to 10% of its current level. You read that right, not cut by 10%, but cut to 10%. It appears that plans to expand the public …

The US Senate has likely dealt a death blow to the TIA (Total Information Awareness, ahem, Terrorist Information Awareness) program sponsored by former Iran-Contra figure John Poindexter, according to an article on Wired. The Senate has inserted language into the 2004 pending defense appropriations bill explicitly restricting funds from being …

In a country such as Norway with strong social welfare system and emphasis on equal rights, it isn't too surprising that the government has decided to take on inequities in board representation. However, their first step, reported in the New York Times, is a pretty big one. The country will …

Philips is releasing the HDD100, an personal music device that records and plays back MP3 and WMA format files. The design is rather reminiscent of the Apple iPod. The most interesting feature of the new device is the ability to record using analog or digital connections directly to the device …

Macintosh users with Apple's Dot Mac service now have the ability to synchronize their bookmarks between their Macs and also to use those same bookmarks from anywhere on the internet. Once enabled, your synchronized bookmarks are available through the web interface at mac.com. I've tried it and it works …

The International Herald Tribune reports that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that the US tariffs imposed by the Bush (II) administration are protectionist and therefore not compliant with the WTO agreements on tariffs and treaties. This isn't surprising, since the tariffs are protectionist, and were shocking to most …

An article from MacMegasite describes a number of new Panther features, including templates in the address book, secure delete in the finder, and the ability to change command key shortcuts either system-wide or in an individual application

An article from Unstrung quotes press releases from Intel, Bell Canada, and VIA Rail Canada (the Canadian railroad company) stating that some trains traveling between Montreal and Toronto will be fitted with WiFi and satellite access to provide uninterrupted internet connectivity for train users. The service appears to be an …

There was not much extraordinary about the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. It wasn't as extraordinarily bad as The Hulk, but I wouldn't suggest wasting the time or the money unless you want to see Sean walk through a part. One of the biggest problems with this film is that it …

Those interested in programming or learning to program the Macintosh using Cocoa, may find the large collection of sample code from Scotland Software All of it is under a pretty liberal license (basically, you need to say where you got the code). Everything from services, to apps, to nibs in …

A group of agricultural scientists from leading institutions in that field are banding together to form PIPRA (the Public-Sector Intellectual Property Rights Association, no web site yet), according to an article authored by the group in Science (subscription required). The issue spurring on this move is the change in agricultural …

Although not a big shock, Sun Microsystems, has announced that it is broadening its license agreement with with SCO and is optioning a potential ownership stake in same.Although the article that announced this in CNet called Sun a "previously-secret" licensee, anyone who has been in the industry long enough …

A group of researchers in Scotland at the Joseph Bell Centre for Forensic Statistics and Legal Reasoning have developed a program that analyzes the circumstances around a death and determines the cause. An article from the New Scientist describes the basics of the program. This software is part of a …

The ninth Nimitz class aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, will be dedicated today at 11am in a ceremony at the Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. The carrier will be the penultimate Nimitz-class carrier (the final one being the USS George H W Bush) to be built, with the Navy …

A new hack has been discovered that takes over the user's computer in the background and uses it to serve pornographic advertising and web pages, according to an article in the International Herald Tribune. The sites are apparently chosen due to vulnerability and access to high-speed links. It is also …

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Washington state law prohibiting the sale of violent video games, according to an article from CNet. The law, set to go into effect later this month, is one of the few laws to set a new standard for what is considered to be …

A posting from ActiveWin indicates that Microsoft is readying a full version of Windows Media Player 9 for Apple's Macintosh computers, to be released this fall. Indications are that all of the CODECs will be supported, including the WMP9 Voice CODEC used by MSNs Messenger Voice service.

It's a movie based on an old, technologically un-savvy, animatronic ride at Disney World, how much can it really have to offer? The answer is surprising: 2 hours and 23 minutes of raucous fun. Pirates of the Caribbean:The Curse of the Black Pearl may not be up for any …