What we really need a 3-strike rule for stupidity.
If the system had worked as intended "file-sharing abusers" would have been carted off to a judge after 3 warnings. The information from Trident MediaGuard would have been presented as reliable information from a safe and secure system...
Ironically, under the Hadopi laws internet users who fail to secure their connections can be punished for the acts of others.
Also ironic is that this is the third strike for Hadopi:
1 - They pirated their logo font
2 - Their website was turned into a Pirate Bay search engine
3 - The company licensed to spy on p2p users failed to secure their own systems.
It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is
Tax-payer funded agencies / departments always end up being controlled by the politicians! This would be no different. And herein "lies" the problem.
Bill Clinton demonstrated with his "not sex", oral sex, sex scandal that truth, for politicians, is a matter of definition. (It was Bill Clinton after all who famously said, "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is").
A more scary example:
During the Bush regime, the definition of torture was adjusted so that that it required “serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death,” ... punching someone in the stomach or asphyxiating them with a wet sack was okay provided that the victim didn't die or suffer permanent damage.
In others words, torture was not torture because the US government said so... how would a US government fact checking agency deal with such "facts"? How would a US government fact checking agency deal with conveniently classified facts?
If the US wants a fact-checking agency they should just send a donation to Wikileaks and the people of the world can decided for themselves.
Just guessing here...mandatory firewall with a whitelist of acceptable browsers / other software. Such a prohibition would obviously not just apply to browsers but any software that is used to connect to the Internet (would defeat the purpose otherwise).
They could force Microsoft to alter the EU version of Windows so that only "authorized" browsers will work.
They have already forced Microsoft to offer Opera (and other browsers) in the EU version of Windows, so this would not be an unreasonable move for these guys. After all, feeble minded Europeans (who apparently don't know how to download their own choice of browser) need to be protected against all the dangerous websites containing uncensored and pirated (shudder) music and video!
Not just a customs problem... "Product selection on canada.zappos.com is limited due to distribution agreements with the brands we sell in the United States".
Although I was being slightly sarcastic, the comments I made do have a grain of truth. You get what you pay for.
It is easy to suggest slightly lower standards, but not so easy to accept the personal consequences of those reduced standards (which is why it comes across as sarcastic).
If I (or a family member) is ill I expect medical professionals to pull out all the stops to make things right. This is something one has to be prepared to pay for.
More info about the affects of pharma price controls in SA
Per a 2006 article...
"Since last November, 103 small pharmacies countrywide have shuttered, most citing the price controls, according to a survey by the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa. "Since then a lot more have gone," said society spokesperson Clive Stanton. "Patients are getting a cheaper service, but the problem is that in some areas they will get no service at all."" [ http://www.thebody.com/content/news/art23818.html ]
Not only have pharmacies in smaller and poorer areas closed down, but bright youngsters are (obviously) opting pick other professions entirely...
"Changes in legislation, around pharmacist remuneration for example, has however led to much lower numbers of students applying for access into pharmacy programmes at most schools, a much higher percentage of applications were thus accepted and students barely making the cut-off criteria were accepted." [ http://www.sapj.co.za/index.php/SAPJ/article/viewFile/600/546 ]
Those that qualify are leaving the country...
At one South African university more than half of the South African pharmacy students are considering emigrating upon qualification.
[ http://dar.ju.edu.jo/jjps/v2n2/Article%207.pdf ]
Most concerning for me is resource allocation. It's well known that drug companies invest their resources in developing drugs that are likely to give the best return on investment. Baldness is likely to get more resources than malaria. Why? Rich bald guys don't bleat on about price controls and patents.
In my country, pharma price controls were implemented a few years ago...from manufacturer all the way down to retail.
Small pharmacies and pharmacies in smaller and / or poorer areas closed down. The corporate chains stepped in. Good luck to anyone who has an emergency after hours, or who would prefer to be serviced by a qualified pharmacist (as opposed to an assistant), or who needs an expensive drug (with loss-making margins...will not be stocked).
In a similar move my government thought that it would be a good idea to increase the regulation of medical insurers particularly the manner in which they priced risk...premiums increased and benefits / cover went down.
In the face of price control industry either cuts costs to maintain profits or redeploys capital to other industries / countries.
Price controls in the USA would be a great think for the rest of us!
If I go to a public park and start loading the benches and playground equipment into my truck, I will be arrested because taking something out of the public domain and trying to make it private property is basically theft.
The same should apply to people / companies who try to steal words.
PS I like the letter "M", from now on I think that everyone should pay me a license fee to use it...
On the post: Travesty Of Thomas Drake Being Charged With Espionage Making Mainstream News
On the post: France Suspends 3 Strikes Monitoring Following Data Breach
Dust of the guillontine
If the system had worked as intended "file-sharing abusers" would have been carted off to a judge after 3 warnings. The information from Trident MediaGuard would have been presented as reliable information from a safe and secure system...
Ironically, under the Hadopi laws internet users who fail to secure their connections can be punished for the acts of others.
Also ironic is that this is the third strike for Hadopi:
1 - They pirated their logo font
2 - Their website was turned into a Pirate Bay search engine
3 - The company licensed to spy on p2p users failed to secure their own systems.
...and lets not forget this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/08/nicolas-sarkozy-french-pr_n_313723.html
By rights the French government should be banned from the internet!
On the post: Bill Clinton Thinks The Internet Needs A Taxpayer Funded Ministry Of Truth
It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is
Bill Clinton demonstrated with his "not sex", oral sex, sex scandal that truth, for politicians, is a matter of definition. (It was Bill Clinton after all who famously said, "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is").
A more scary example:
During the Bush regime, the definition of torture was adjusted so that that it required “serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death,” ... punching someone in the stomach or asphyxiating them with a wet sack was okay provided that the victim didn't die or suffer permanent damage.
In others words, torture was not torture because the US government said so... how would a US government fact checking agency deal with such "facts"? How would a US government fact checking agency deal with conveniently classified facts?
If the US wants a fact-checking agency they should just send a donation to Wikileaks and the people of the world can decided for themselves.
On the post: DailyDirt: Weapons To Fight Terrorists...
On the post: DailyDirt: Weapons To Fight Terrorists...
"The report also found that 46 per cent of the victims of US air strikes whose gender could be determined were female and 39 per cent were children."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/5161326/Number-of-women-and- children-killed-in-Iraq-air-raids-disproportionately-high.html
Not exact but good enough?
On the post: University Newspaper Figures Out How To Get Around Administration's Censorship Orders
On the post: Obama Administration Asks Supreme Court To Determine If FCC Can Fine ABC For Showing Charlotte Ross Naked
On the post: TSA Says 'You Might Be A Terrorist If... You Complain About The TSA'
On the post: Politicians Considering Useless Browser Blocks Against 'Rogue' Sites
On the post: Politicians Considering Useless Browser Blocks Against 'Rogue' Sites
They have already forced Microsoft to offer Opera (and other browsers) in the EU version of Windows, so this would not be an unreasonable move for these guys. After all, feeble minded Europeans (who apparently don't know how to download their own choice of browser) need to be protected against all the dangerous websites containing uncensored and pirated (shudder) music and video!
On the post: Zappos Gives Up On Canada Due To Customs Problems
On the post: Retroactive Drug Monopoly Raises Rates From $10... To $1,500
It is easy to suggest slightly lower standards, but not so easy to accept the personal consequences of those reduced standards (which is why it comes across as sarcastic).
If I (or a family member) is ill I expect medical professionals to pull out all the stops to make things right. This is something one has to be prepared to pay for.
On the post: Bath & Bodyworks Goes To Court To Explain To Summit Entertainment That The Word Twilight Existed Before The Movie
On the post: Retroactive Drug Monopoly Raises Rates From $10... To $1,500
More info about the affects of pharma price controls in SA
"Since last November, 103 small pharmacies countrywide have shuttered, most citing the price controls, according to a survey by the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa. "Since then a lot more have gone," said society spokesperson Clive Stanton. "Patients are getting a cheaper service, but the problem is that in some areas they will get no service at all."" [ http://www.thebody.com/content/news/art23818.html ]
More pharmacies shutting down...
[ http://www.fightingmalaria.org/article.aspx?id=1549]
Not only have pharmacies in smaller and poorer areas closed down, but bright youngsters are (obviously) opting pick other professions entirely...
"Changes in legislation, around pharmacist remuneration for example, has however led to much lower numbers of students applying for access into pharmacy programmes at most schools, a much higher percentage of applications were thus accepted and students barely making the cut-off criteria were accepted." [ http://www.sapj.co.za/index.php/SAPJ/article/viewFile/600/546 ]
Fixed dispensing fees were implemented in South Africa in 2004. In 2005 there was a 23,5% decrease in the enrollment of student in pharmacy programs.
[ http://www.hsrcpress.ac.za/downloadpdf.php?pdffile=files%2FPDF%2F2218%2F19_HRD_Review.pdf&downlo adfilename=Human%20Resources%20Development%20Review%202008%20-%20Chapter%2019%20-%20Pharmacists ]
Those that qualify are leaving the country...
At one South African university more than half of the South African pharmacy students are considering emigrating upon qualification.
[ http://dar.ju.edu.jo/jjps/v2n2/Article%207.pdf ]
Most concerning for me is resource allocation. It's well known that drug companies invest their resources in developing drugs that are likely to give the best return on investment. Baldness is likely to get more resources than malaria. Why? Rich bald guys don't bleat on about price controls and patents.
You get what you pay for. No shortcuts.
On the post: Retroactive Drug Monopoly Raises Rates From $10... To $1,500
On the post: Retroactive Drug Monopoly Raises Rates From $10... To $1,500
1. Reduce the educational requirement to become a doctor (i.e. increase supply and price will come down).
2. Prohibit malpractice claims (malpractice insurance makes going to the doctor and hospital more expensive)(another bad idea!)
3. Lower the standards hospitals are required to meet (possibly introducing a star-rating system -similar to hotels - you will get what you pay for).
4. And finally accept mortality...accepting a slightly higher risk of dying should reduce your costs.
On the post: Retroactive Drug Monopoly Raises Rates From $10... To $1,500
In my country, pharma price controls were implemented a few years ago...from manufacturer all the way down to retail.
Small pharmacies and pharmacies in smaller and / or poorer areas closed down. The corporate chains stepped in. Good luck to anyone who has an emergency after hours, or who would prefer to be serviced by a qualified pharmacist (as opposed to an assistant), or who needs an expensive drug (with loss-making margins...will not be stocked).
In a similar move my government thought that it would be a good idea to increase the regulation of medical insurers particularly the manner in which they priced risk...premiums increased and benefits / cover went down.
In the face of price control industry either cuts costs to maintain profits or redeploys capital to other industries / countries.
Price controls in the USA would be a great think for the rest of us!
On the post: Bath & Bodyworks Goes To Court To Explain To Summit Entertainment That The Word Twilight Existed Before The Movie
The same should apply to people / companies who try to steal words.
PS I like the letter "M", from now on I think that everyone should pay me a license fee to use it...
On the post: French Court Tosses Ridiculous Criminal Complaint By Israeli Against An American Over Book Review By A German
There seems to be an entire herd of people who believe that criticizing Israel or an Israeli is anti-semitic (Check on Google - lots of debate).
On the post: French Court Tosses Ridiculous Criminal Complaint By Israeli Against An American Over Book Review By A German