Archives of fanfiction on the net have traditionally grouped stories according to rating (i.e. X, R, PG-13, PG, and G), so that everyone knows what to expect before they read a story. But it turns out that their use of the rating system may be illegal. A few fanfiction writers have apparently begun receiving cease-and-desist notices from the MPAA demanding that they stop using the rating system since it's the intellectual property of the MPAA.

MPAA sending C&Ds for improper use of rating symbols

The latest information confirms the ?card specifications quoted in the August 6 DigiTimes article and adds the number of connection pads (20), the operating voltage (legacy 5V, 3.3V, 1.8V), the frequency (60MHz) and the interface (MMC SPI USB, x1, x4, x8, x16). There is also a micro-size card added at 24×18×1.4mm (14mm shorter than the full size 24×32×1.4mm)

Mu-Card Alliance’s new 2-terabyte ‘?card’ ready to go!

If Bush wins, Prime Minister Tony Blair does not have to do anything but the silence will be meaningful. Blair's advisers calculate that a win for Bush would vindicate Britain's alliance with the US and will indirectly strengthen Blair's own re-election bid, now anticipated for May next year. A Bush victory also strengthens Blair against left-wingers in his own party - like it or not, they will have to admit that they are facing another four years with Bush in the White House, and there is nobody better than Blair to deal with him.

Blair's reaction to outcomes of the US elections

Between 2000 and the arrival in Iraq of United Nations Monitoring, Inspection and Verification Commission (UNMOVIC) inspectors in November 2002, Iraqi engineers worked on three clandestine programmes to develop long-range ballistic missiles. Details of all three missiles were revealed in the Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to the DCI on Iraq's WMD published on 30 September 2004.

Iraq planned three illegal long-range missiles

Researchers at UC Berkeley, along with scientists from the University of Oregon and the University of Illinois, say they can slow the speed of light in a way that could help speed the delivery of movies to your PC.

Slowing the speed of light to improve networking

On Tuesday a federal appeals court ruled that artists must pay for every musical sample in their work.

The ruling says artists must pay for not only large samples of another artist's work, but also snippets — smaller notes, chords and beats that are not the artist's original composition — which had previously been legal, according to The Associated Press.

Actual Court Ruling:
http://pacer.ca6.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=04a0297p.06

Court Rules That All Musical Samples Must Be Paid For

The First Court of Appeals in Massachusetts ruled that Bradford C. Councilman did not violate criminal wiretap laws when he surreptitiously copied and read the mail of his customers in order to monitor their transactions.

E-Mail Snooping Ruled Permissible

The US Marine Corps (USMC) and navy are considering a radical restructuring that will change the way units ashore are organised to fight and alter plans for at least two new ship class designs to support those forces.

http://peoships.crane.navy.mil/factsheets/lharfactsheet.htm

US considers overhaul of amphibious forces

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, are developing a self-powered exoskeleton.

http://bleex.me.berkeley.edu/bleex.htm
http://www.darpa.mil/dso/thrust/matdev/ehpa.htm

Self-powered exoskeleton assists human locomotion

Quantum cryptography has emerged from the laboratory and into the real world.

Quantum codes debut in real world