Slashback: BlackBerry, Cloning, Smart Hotels

Slashback tonight brings some correction, clarifications, and updates to previous Slashdot stories, including more news from the BlackBerry case, a follow up on the South Korean Cloning pioneer, China promising a strong continuation in space exploration, a behined the scenes look at Smart Hotel technology, a change in direction for the Massachusetts OpenDocument war, and a slightly different approach to the intelligent design in schools question. Read on for the details.

BlackBerry closer to a shutdown. WebHostingGuy writes to tell us MSNBC is reporting that Research in Motion Ltd, the company who makes the BlackBerry is nearer now to a shutdown of their US mobile email service than ever due to the recent ruling handed down. From the article: "U.S. District Judge James Spencer Wednesday ruled invalid a $450 million settlement between RIM and NTP Inc., a small patent holding firm of McLean, Va., that maintains the technology behind the popular BlackBerry infringes on its patents."

Cloning pioneer admits to wrongdoing and resigns. moraes writes "The first research group to clone human embryos ran into some ethical difficulties concerning the source of the eggs - allegations were made indicating that the eggs were taken from junior research assistants. The South Korean pioneer, Hwang Woo Suk, has since resigned his official posts and apologized for lying about the sources of eggs used.."

China on the moon by 2020. IZ Reloaded writes "China will send its astronauts to the moon by 2020 according to the Deputy Commander in Chief of China's manned space flight program. Hu Shixiang said that the goal is subject to the government's funding and their ability to build a rocket with 25 tons capacity."

Behined the scenes with Cisco. molotov writes "Cisco installed the system described in the recent Slashdot article about Smart Hotel Rooms in New York City and has a great video about the technology used in a similar project for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel."

Massachusetts gives Microsoft a second chance. An anonymous reader writes "CNet is reporting that Massachusetts is considering adopting the MS Office XML format as a standard to be used to store the state's documents now that it is under review as an ECMA standard. From the article: 'The commonwealth is very pleased with Microsoft's progress in creating an open document format. If Microsoft follows through as planned, we are optimistic that Office Open XML will meet our new standards for acceptable open formats.' Microsoft still does not intend to support the OpenOffice standard." IBM also took the time to weigh in on the issue with a recent letter to Thomas Trimarco.

University sued for supporting evolution. Hikaru79 writes to tell us that two parents are suing the University of California-Berkeley based on the contents of a website aimed at educating teachers. From the article: "Jeanne and Larry Caldwell, the couple bringing the suit against the site, claim that the site delves improperly into religion. While most debates center around whether or not Intelligent Design is "religion in the classroom," the Caldwells are looking to spin it the other way."

space tourism will take off!

[Filthysock]

"Hu Shixiang said that the goal is subject to the government's funding and their ability to build a rocket with 25 tons capacity."
Good news then, finally something that will be able to lift american space tourists :)

Re:There goes that MS Marketing Lying again.

[MightyMartian]

It appears that politicians and bureaucrats are, after all, mental retards, because they will indeed buy into the notion that if a convicted monopolist puts the word "open" in front of some non-open "standard" (which is itself an abuse of the very notion of a standard), then everything is A-okay. I'm beginning to think that the majority of human beings are sub-standard intellects who deserve to be kicked around by the Napoleon of Redmond and his spooky, violent sidekick Steve "Stinky" Ballmer. I mean, to think that anyone could be some severely mentally challenged that they would buy into this bit of Microsoft's bullshit can only point to mental capacities hovering close to that of brain damaged squid. Such people should be put on display as examples of how retarded the average citizen is that they don't demand and physically force the removal of such an individual should they somehow find themselves in a position of responsibility, even if that position is taking a shit without some help.

Re:China on the Moon, people dying on Earth!

[garcia]

LOL, mod down the truth to the floor because God forbid we lower the importance of "Geek Science" in favor of humans.

Re:space tourism will take off!

[MightyMartian]

It may not be enough for Lance Bass's ego, however.

Re:In soviet russia

[Thunderstruck]

Religion was illegal... ...and people on the whole preferred it that way because it stopped people messing with observable fact. Or lawyers.

On the other hand they had salt mines...

But then again if we were to send the lawyers to the salt mines, I think it would solve most of our problems...

Sure thing, and If you ever get arrested, call your doctor.

Re:In soviet russia

[Dragoonmac]

The Intelligent Being chooses YOU!

Re:Someone needs to go to the moon

[WallaceAndGromit]

For crying out loud... we've already been to the moon!

Pathetic Moderation

[MightyMartian]

Wouldn't it be something if before someone was given mod points, they had at least some ability to demonstrate that they knew something about the world around them, including recent history? it seems, sometimes, that mod points are given to some genuinely retarded people, who probably should be beaten with their computer and shouldn't be given anything more complicated that a box with a light and a button on it.

Re:Stupid NTP!!!

[Drooling Iguana]

Actually, Funny moderations don't affect Karma, which I think is pretty stupid.

Re:1+1=2

[the_humeister]

I thought 1+1=10

Re:Blackberries?

[Shadow Wrought]

That's why you tell your boss that the Blackberry 5-Alarm Virus is loose, and if he sends more than five e-mails from his blackberry a day, it'll erase his inbox;-)

Re:Science != Religion

[aaronl]

In these cases, it is often amusing to turn to Ambrose Bierce's "Devil's Dicitonary".

FAITH, n.
        Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.

RELIGION, n.
        A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.

        "What is your religion my son?" inquired the Archbishop of Rheims.

        "Pardon, monseigneur," replied Rochebriant; "I am ashamed of it."

        "Then why do you not become an atheist?"

        "Impossible! I should be ashamed of atheism."

        "In that case, monsieur, you should join the Protestants."

Re:Can't Intelligent Design and Evolution co-exist

[fred fleenblat]

wait 'til you learn about chicken functionality.

Re:Can't Intelligent Design and Evolution co-exist

[Anonymous Coward]

wait 'til you learn about chicken functionality.

TELL ME MORE!!!

Re:1+1=2

[Turbs]

Science may someday become a religion.

Scientology?

Re:Science != Religion

[GlennC]

I wonder why you don't expect religion to be taught in math classes.

Geez! Don't give these loonies ideas!

it's simple really

[MrKaos]

In closed discussions politicians decided open formats were required to open closed data exchanges. M$ offered a closed word format opposed to the open 'open office' format as they were closed to an open format, thus opening an opportunity for M$ to close the open exchange of data. They could not open thier closed format and they wern't open to implementing an open format so they offered a closed open format. This has closed out the open format and keeps the closed format close to the open closed document format.

I think I might lie down now.

Re:Science != Religion

[TrumpetPower!]

So, Mr. Ford [tinyurl.com], how's it hangin'?

Cheers,

b&