Tag Archives: canada

Robot Arm Will Install New Earth-Facing Cameras On The Space Station

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TORONTO, CANADA – Canada’s robotic Canadarm2 will install the next two Urthecast cameras on the International Space Station, removing the need for astronauts to go outside to do the work themselves, the company announced today (Sept. 30).

Urthecast plans to place two Earth-facing cameras on the United States side of the station (on Node 3) to add to the two they already have on the Russian Zvezda module. Technical problems with the cameras forced the Russians to do an extra spacewalk to complete the work earlier this year.

via Robot Arm Will Install New Earth-Facing Cameras On The Space Station.

Gaining experience by doing and then figuring out how to automate that in space is the main reason for having a space station.   This station is a valuable resource for all of mankind.

B.C. Court Orders Google To Remove Websites From its Worldwide Index

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The implications are enormous since if a Canadian court has the power to limit access to information for the globe, presumably other courts would as well. While the court does not grapple with this possibility, what happens if a Russian court orders Google to remove gay and lesbian sites from its database? Or if Iran orders it remove Israeli sites from the database? The possibilities are endless since local rules of freedom of expression often differ from country to country. Yet the B.C. court adopts the view that it can issue an order with global effect.

via Michael Geist – Global Deletion Orders? B.C. Court Orders Google To Remove Websites From its Worldwide Index.

Sony Rootkit Redux: Canadian Business Groups Lobby For Right To Install Spyware on Your Computer

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This provision would effectively legalize spyware in Canada on behalf of these industry groups. The potential scope of coverage is breathtaking: a software program secretly installed by an entertainment software company designed to detect or investigate alleged copyright infringement would be covered by this exception.

via Michael Geist – Sony Rootkit Redux: Canadian Business Groups Lobby For Right To Install Spyware on Your Computer.

Hopefully something like this never sees the light of day in the US and if it does, it helps raise awareness of copyright abuse.  The Sony rootkit was a pretty nasty piece of malware that was rather difficult to remove properly.  Bad things will happen to the unsuspecting and the more novice computer user should the ability of anyone to install spyware at the root level become legal.  If I recall correctly, the Sony rootkit installed before the user accepted the End User License Agreement.  Thus, even if you read the EULA and decided not to install or have anything to do with Sony, Sony already parked itself on your computer.