ZDNet reports on Microsoft’s latest strategy in fighting piracy. In theory it should allow any pirated copy to be traced back to its original registered purchaser.

Linux Weekly News has Alan Cox’ email about the release of Linux kernel 2.4.1ac19.

Dallas News reports on unfolding events in Stockholm, Sweden: “Within a few weeks, the streets of Stockholm will become the scene of a sophisticated virtual reality game, thanks to the latest in location-sensing technology for wireless phones. In the game being released this spring by a start-up called It’s Alive, players will track and shoot each other with their cell phones in a kind of high-tech paint ball…”

Linux Weekly News warns of a bug in vixie-cron, a version of the cron scheduler present on most UNIX systems, and provides patches under Red Hat.

Anonymous Reader writes “Linuxlookup.com : Read The Fine Manual. Read The Fricking Man-pages! However you hear it or say it, you know what it means. But when was the last time you actually did it?

Read the full tip at http://www.linuxlookup.com/html/main/totw.html“

Gareth J. Greenaway writes: “The Simi-Conejo Linux Users Group will be holding LUGFest IV on April 21st and 22nd, 2001, in Simi Valley, California.

A LUGFest is an opportunity for Linux users to demo Linux (or other Open Source operating systems), Linux applications, attend seminars, and BOF (Birds Of a Feather) sessions. Additionally, Linux vendors may participate and show off their wares.

LUGFest III was held on October 28, 2000, and was a great success. (See http://www.sclug.org/members/notes.cgi?date=10-28- 2000-LUGFest3). Approximately 350 Linux enthusiasts and a number of vendors attended over the course of the afternoon.

We had people come from Orange County, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita, the South Bay area, all points in between, and also from out-of-state. Many Linux vendors donated stuff for giveways and raffles. Vendors who came with their wares were VA Linux, SGI, LinuxCare, LinuxBoxen, Mandrake, Parasoft, VMware, Cobolt, LinuxSolve, Corel, Loki Games, Cosmo Engineering and Andern.org

If you have a special skill with Linux or a Linux application, or if you’re a Linux vendor who would like to show off his products, SCLUG would love to have you participate in LUGFest IV! SCLUG is also looking for speakers on Linux, Open Source, or other related subjects.

Due to the continually growing attendance from LUGFest to LUGFest, we’ve changed the LUGFest to a two-afternoon event so more people can attend.

For more info, to register for LFIV, or to volunteer to do a demo, contact gareth@wiked.org, or visit http://www.lugfest.org.”

From ZDNet UK: Computer hackers could be classed as terrorists under a UK law, which is designed to prevent dissident political
groups from using the UK as a base for terrorism. The new law recognizes a threat from cyberterrorists for the first time.

The BBC demonstrates how easy it is to censor online content in the United Kingdom. Basically, a person complains to the Web site’s ISP, and the site is pulled.

Cox News Service reports that Americans are embracing the Internet like no other technology before it, with nine million new users online in the first half of 2000.

NewsWeek (on MSNBC.com) reports on what’s next for the music industry following the latest Napster court ruling. “at the same time they’re trying to shut
down Napster, the giant entertainment conglomerates are
frantically trying to come up with their own business models to
somehow combine Napster’s selection and ease with a big, fat
cash register on the other end. ‘They’re engaged in Tarzan
economics,’ says Jim Griffin, CEO of Cherry Lane Digital.
‘Desperately holding on to one vine — their old business
model — until they can grab firm hold of the next one.’ “