Feb. 2003 Web Digest (in progress, on 5th)


    ==== 2003-02-05 ====

    == BBC ==

    Homes plan facing green protests
    Ambitious plans for hundreds of thousands of new homes
    in south-east England are due to be announced - but
    critics fear green belt destruction.
    Details..

    Youngsters removed from 'worst' jail
    Inmates are due to be taken out of Britain's first
    privately-run young offenders' institution after it
    was condemned by inspectors.
    Details..

    PCs enlisted for bioterror fight
    The spare capacity of millions of computers is to be used to
    search for a treatment for smallpox.
    Details..

    Yugoslavia consigned to history
    The Yugoslav parliament votes to dissolve the Yugoslav federation
    - from now on the country will be known as Serbia and Montenegro.
    Details..

    Leaked report rejects Iraqi al-Qaeda link
    There are no current links between Iraq and the al-Qaeda
    network, according to a UK intelligence report seen by BBC News.
    Details..

    Psyching up the green consumer
    Psychologists are helping the United Nations to pioneer
    ways to persuade us to adopt greener lifestyles.
    Details..

    Working out what genes do
    Scientists launch a major international initiative to
    systematically uncover the function of each of our genes.
    Details..

    Meditation 'good for brain'
    Scientists say they have found evidence that meditation
    has a biological effect on the brain and immune system.
    Details..

    Concern over DIY genetic tests
    The Human Genetics Commission is to allow companies to
    sell genetic testing kits direct to the public.
    Details..


    ==== 2003-02-04 ====

    == Time Worldwatch ==

    SOCIETY: Sleeping Rough
    Europe has a shameful secret : a homeless problem every bit as bad as
    America's. Why homelessness is at a half-century high
    Details..

    == ITWeb ==

    All-in-one living room gadgets arrive
    The Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas last month
    saw the emergence of several devices that connect the computer
    and the television to each other. [Monday, 3 February 2003]
    Details..

    == Computerworld ==

    Revamped NASA Web site performed well during disaster
    NASA's new Web site was relaunched at midnight Feb. 1, just hours before the
    space shuttle Columbia disintegrated and fell to earth.
    Details..

    == Computerworld Careermail ==

    Report: Rapid Programming, XML, Security Skills Top Q4 IT Pay
    Rapid application development, security and XML skills generated
    bonuses for workers of 12% to 16% of base pay in the quarter, according
    to a new report from Foote Partners LLC.
    Details..

    H-1B Visa Awards Drop In '02
    The total number of H-1Bs granted last year, 79,100, was sharply lower
    than in 2001 and far short of the allowed number.
    Details..

    Your Outsourced Future
    Outsourcing IT jobs shouldn't come as a shock. Hard as it may be for
    some to accept, it's happening now and at an accelerating rate.
    Details..

    Big Outsourcing Shift Predicted For IT Jobs
    Up to 45% of IT workers in the U.S. and Canada could see their jobs
    moved to external contractors and consulting firms by 2005, according
    to a new report. But four IT managers said that's not likely to happen
    at their companies.
    Details..

    == Sydney Morning Herald ==

    You're on a winner with Scamseeker
    ..[Jon Patrick, a ] University of Sydney computers professor, [who,] along with a team of
    linguists, is researching the unique phraseology of the rip-off artist. In the largest language
    technology project undertaken in Australia, the Australian Securities and Investment
    Commission has contracted the team to build Scamseeker, a million-dollar digital watchdog to
    patrol the internet in search of scams.
    Details..



    ==== 2003-02-02 ====

    == BBC ==

    Controversial duo top UK pop chart
    Russian duo Tatu - accused of promoting "paedophilic pop" - go
    to number one in the UK charts.
    Details..

    Zeta Jones case due in court
    A court case between Hello! magazine and Michael Douglas and Catherine
    Zeta-Jones is due to begin in London.
    Details..

    'Dormant' volcanoes found to be active
    Scientists are alarmed as a new study reveals volcanoes thought to
    be dormant are in fact active, and call for a census of volcanoes.
    Details..

    Fossil find stirs human debate
    The fossil of an early human-like creature found in South Africa
    suggests our ancestors were less chimp-like than we thought.
    Details..

    Homeopathic remedy 'ineffective'
    The popular homeopathic remedy arnica proved to be no more effective
    than a dummy treatment in clinical trials.
    Details..

    Heat rise clue to shuttle disaster
    Nasa officials say data from the shuttle Columbia indicates it may have
    been losing heat protection tiles as it re-entered earth's atmosphere.
    Details..

    Shuttle sensors give up more clues
    Nasa reveals more information to show Columbia's left side was heating
    up and experiencing increased drag just prior to its loss.
    Details..


    == CNN ==

    REMAINS, PATCH FOUND
    Human remains have been discovered in Texas among debris that rained down from
    the skies Saturday after the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated nearly 40
    miles above the Earth. Along with the remains, an intact mission patch, with
    the names of the seven Columbia crew members, was discovered.
    Details..

    WORLD GRIEVES LOSS OF SHUTTLE
    World leaders have expressed shock and sadness after the space shuttle
    Columbia broke up high in the atmosphere on Saturday as it attempted re-entry
    at the end of its two-week mission.
    Details..

    BREAKTHROUGHS IN BATTLEFIELD MEDICINE
    Special operations forces getting ready for Iraq are now arming themselves
    with new ways to treat life-threatening wounds on the battlefield.
    Details..

    EXPERTS: MICROSOFT SECURITY GETS AN 'F'
    Computer security experts say the recent "SQL Slammer" worm, the worst in more
    than a year, is evidence that Microsoft's year-old security push is not
    working.
    Details..

    SEEKING A HOLY WEB PROTECTOR BY EASTER
    Fed up with hackers, a flood of spam and lousy connections, Italian Roman
    Catholics have launched a search for a patron saint of the Internet. And they
    hope their online poll will yield a holy Web protector by Easter.
    Details..

    MOUNIR, MAN OF PEACE
    Egypt's Mohammed Mounir is known for singing thoughtful and sometimes
    provocative lyrics, a pop star interested in more than music. "My role, and
    the role of any Arab who cherishes his nation, dignity and honor is to
    reconstruct ourselves and ideas. We should fight backward fundamentalist
    thought because Islam is not just a message from a prophet, but rather a
    full-fledged civilization of beautiful values."
    Details..

    POP-UP HIJACKER SNARES WEB VICTIMS
    If pop-up advertisements are swamping your screen when surfing the Internet,
    you may have GAIN or GAIN-type software on your computer.
    Details..

    == Jobserve ==

    How to get a promotion (Part 1)
    Give the organisation plenty of reasons why you are worth it
    Details..

    How to apply for vacancies on Jobserve
    Instant applications for your dream job!
    Details..

    Performance is improving but tensions are growing in the workplace
    Claims new research
    Details..

    Women lose footing on career ladder
    Two key obstacles revealed
    Details..

    Unnecessary traffic saturating key Internet "Root" server
    Researchers findings from US supercomputer centre
    Details..

    BAA airports offer wireless internet connection
    Gatwick North will be the first
    Details..

    == Mail & Guardian ==

    How Saddam hides illegal weapon sites
    Saddam Hussein is using an elaborate network of deception to frustrate
    the United Nations' weapons inspectors and conceal Iraqi weapons of mass
    destruction, according to new intelligence documents released by Downing Street.
    Details..

    SA govt heeds calls for free anti-Aids drugs
    In a dramatic turnaround, the South African government is to announce
    next month a programme that will eventually provide anti-Aids drugs free
    to all those who need them.
    Details..