3 Things You Should Know About Digital Rights Management

Stories about Digital Right Management (DRM) have been starting to scare me. This technology has the potential to reek havoc on the already established digital network in this nation . For those of you who don't know what DRM is, its any software that limits the distribution of data. Existing DRM is being used on iTunes store as well as computer software. The software often has to connect to a remote third party server by means of the Internet in order to validate and regulate the use of encrypted data. The use of DRM scares me for three reasons

1. Corporate Control
Your Computer and what You do on it is now dependent on how the owner of the DRM protected software regulate their software, a position that could lead to infringement of our personal rights. The servers that run this nations infrastructure and the average personal computer could be and are dependent on corporate regulation of DRM. Me personally much rather have any organizations private or governmental control my actions on a computer even if it is to protect copy-right interests.

2. Loss Of Ownership
It is the very nature of DRM to have a third party enact controls on consumer goods, a process that could potentially lead to abuse of the technology in the future. The very basis of ownership is the right to use, move and manipulate a good. iTunes once again is a prime example, you pay money to get a song but you can only put it on iTunes and an iPod all the other mp3 players are shit out of luck. While not definite there is a big potential for negative repercussions of being manipulated by how corporations regulate DRM. Providers of DRM technology could assume control of products that have already entered the market place.

3. Security
A real world example of this was DRM software that Sony created for it high definition DVDs . When A DVD was inserted into a computer it opened a “secret” link to the internet to check that DVD was not being copied. While this process was not harmful to the computer it was discovered that the hidden link left a “gap” in antivirus software and that virus could enter and infect the afflicted computer, and while not harmful it was still an example of how this software chould e used to spy on the inccent masses.

BE WARY

Governmental and corporate ignorance about the digital age is no longer a form of protection. We the consumer, we the millennial’s need to educate our self so we don’t get burned by misinformation and give up digital rights we don’t even know we have.I am a full believer in copy-right protection but the fact of the matter is that this technology leaves the consumer wide open. DRM presents a major security risk for computer that contains the software. Over all consumers should be weary of DRM and consider the negative repercussions of its implantation.

-Spooky D

Norovirus Strikes Campus

Norovirus has landed. This nasty virus has struck Fairleigh Dickinson and now the Drew campus. According to the CDC, the symptoms of Norovirus illness usually include

• Nausea,

• vomiting,

• diarrhea,

• stomach cramping

Sometimes

• low-grade fever,

• chills,

• headache,

• muscle aches,

• general sense of tiredness.

The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults. Most people with Norovirus illness have both of these symptoms.

Treatment

Currently, there is no antiviral medication that works against Norovirus and there is no vaccine to prevent infection. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics. This is because antibiotics work to fight bacteria and not viruses.
Norovirus illness is usually brief in healthy individuals. Those who are infected should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Dehydration is the most serious health effect that can result from Norovirus infection. Sports drinks do not replace the nutrients and minerals lost during this illness.

I know one person who had all these symptoms. So BECARFULL all those out there beware
beware the virus it transmitted through touch and ingestion so wash your hands and don’t share food

- Spooky D

Meeting with the Students for a Democratic Society

On Wednesday night, the 28^th of February, I attended a gathering – no, something much more – a passionate convergence of highly motivated and inspirational Drew University students; a convergence vibrating not only with a want and determination for a functioning democratic participatory system, but above all, vibrating with frequencies of peace, love and a desire to do good by bettering our campus and its inhabitants. If you have not already guesses, the meeting I attended, was a Students for a Democratic Society meeting. After an hour an a half of observing and conversing with the members of this group, I, myself, was inspired to produce a reaction to what I experienced which I present to you now.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:00 pm with students commenting around the circle what SDS was in their eyes. Newcomers like myself, of which there were a few, were also encouraged to comment on why they were at the meeting. I mentioned that having heard about SDS through several friends, I was there to learn more and also that I had sat in on an SGA meeting and now I wanted to sit in on an SDS meeting. The meeting then continued with the first topic on the agenda which was to discuss the execution of a police brutality workshop to inform students what they can and can’t say or do to Public Safety and police in general, as well as other information pertinent to DPD officers being dicks towards students.

Now I will not try to pretend that I am the most outgoing person on campus, nor that I am quick to make friends or even casual acquaintances, least of all as a newcomer in a group of people, the majority of which I have never met before, however I was almost shocked as how quickly I felt that my presences at the meeting was not only acknowledged, but what’s more, greatly appreciated. Forget for a moment the fact that SDS is a group of people aspiring to function as a truly participatory system which would required them to acknowledge every voice that speaks up. Throw this aside, and trust me when I say that this is a group of genuine, sincere, wholeheartedly caring and accepting people that want to be your friend. I truly feel as though I have just made a dozen now friends with whom I could go to right now and strike up a conversation with.

Now toss back into the salad the fact that all these real and caring people are gathering under one roof and you’ve got a band of powerfully compassionate people with vibrations of devotion and sincerity resonating together into one strong voice that deeply desires to bridge the gap between the administration and the students of Drew University.

I am seriously turned on and I want to hear more.

-Dan Bindschedler