Link Smorgasbord, May 13-19

Cosmos Remake Coming To Fox In 2014
"It will star astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson."  I may be squeeing about this. 

Members of Congress finally introduce serious DMCA reform
Perhaps a ray of hope?
"New legislation sponsored by Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Jared Polis (D-CO) takes a broader approach to the issue. In addition to explicitly legalizing cell phone unlocking, the Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 also modifies the DMCA to make clear that unlocking copy-protected content is only illegal if it's done in order to "facilitate the infringement of a copyright." If a circumvention technology is "primarily designed or produced for the purpose of facilitating noninfringing uses," that would not be a violation of copyright."
Georgia Tech Announces Massive Online Master's Degree In Computer Science
Interesting project, and considering how much a Masters costs to earn normally, a potentially very disruptive development.  I am curious how they intend to handle the possibility of cheating/plagiarism, as well as what the final price tag will settle out at.  For now we can expect under $7,000 but it could go either way.  I personally would have no hope of ever finishing a purely online Computer Science degree, but I think that a Computer Science degree pairs well for a pilot accredited MOOC course of study.
"All OMS CS course content will be delivered via the massive open online course (MOOC) format, with enhanced support services for students enrolled in the degree program. Those students also will pay a fraction of the cost of traditional on-campus master’s programs; total tuition for the program is initially expected to be below $7,000. A pilot program, partly supported by a generous gift from AT&T, will begin in the next academic year. Initial enrollment will be limited to a few hundred students recruited from AT&T and Georgia Tech corporate affiliates. Enrollment is expected to expand gradually over the next three years."
The New Yorker Launches 'Strongbox' For Secure Anonymous Leaks 
Steps towards protecting privacy to close the gap left by emerging (and well emerged) technologies.

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