Category Archives: government, law, and politics

A Good Start

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Demand Opt-in!!!


Senate Amends, Approves Spam Bill
Updated CAN-SPAM Act faces another vote, but could become law soon.
By Grant Gross

"WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved a national spam bill on Tuesday that would allow fines of up to $6 million or jail terms of up to five years for some spammers. But the bill’s legislative journey is not over yet. The Senate, by unanimous consent, approved the House version of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act of 2003. The bill must now return to the House for final approval because the Senate version included some technical corrections to the House version, said a spokesperson for Senator Conrad Burns (R-Montana), a cosponsor of the Senate CAN-SPAM bill."

"The House is expected to schedule a final vote on the bill for December 2. If passed, it will then go to President Bush to be signed into law. The House voted 392-5 Saturday to approve its pumped-up version of CAN-SPAM, which originally passed the Senate in October."

PC for Your PC

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I frickin’ HATE political correctness!!!

‘Master’
and ‘slave’ computer labels unacceptable, officials say

“LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Los Angeles officials have asked that
manufacturers, suppliers and contractors stop using the terms ‘master’
and ‘slave’ on computer equipment, saying such terms are unacceptable
and offensive. The request — which has some suppliers furious and others busy re-labeling components
— came after an unidentified worker spotted a videotape machine carrying devices
labeled ‘master’ and ‘slave’ and filed a discrimination complaint
with the county’s Office of Affirmative Action Compliance.”

Apparently, Iliad hates it, too.

UserFriendly
Cartoon for Nov 30, 2003

Common Sense Diet

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The
Smoke and Mirrors of Food Labeling
By SHERRI DAY

“Food companies – including some that have pledged to act in the face of rising
obesity rates – routinely exploit labeling laws that allow them to make their products
seem less fattening than they really are, according to nutritionists and consumer
groups.”

While deception in the form of dishonest food labels is deplorable, any furor over
it really just underscores a fundamental lack of common sense among consumers. The
trick to losing weight isn’t counting calories. Just eat sensibly. Eat many small
portions throughout the day with some care given to nutrition. Keep junk food to
a minimum. Exercise. How hard is that to understand? Maybe people already understand
but are too lazy to do it. Americans was quick fixes, not hard work. My diet is
far from perfect, but my portions are now smaller and I exercise – Yoga and Tai
Chi. I’ve lost about ten pounds over the last few months.

Deja Vu, Dien Bien Phu?

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US War Dead in Iraq Exceeds Early Vietnam Years
By David Morgan

"PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – The U.S. death toll in Iraq (news – web sites) has surpassed the number of American soldiers killed during the first three years of the Vietnam War, the brutal Cold War conflict that cast a shadow over U.S. affairs for more than a generation."

Will Iraq become the next Vietnam? More US soldiers have been killed in the two years we've been in Iraq than in the first three years of combat in Vietnam. Will this war end similarly.

There are definitely differences. First of all, we have nearly tens times as many soldiers in Iraq than we had in Vietnam in 1964. By percentage, more of today's soldiers are living. Also, there isn't a major force facing us this time. Guerrillas, while deadly, do not an army make. Unless a nation with a sizeable military joins the Hussein loyalists, Iraq is unlikely to become another Vietnam. Furthermore, if it did, we'd be more like France than ourselves this time. International forces would likely get involved as we did 40 years ago. However, I think the international community lacks the resolve and pig-headed stubbornness that drove us then.

Anyhow, I don't expect to see a casualty explosion like experienced after 1965. If this conflict does get out of hand, I hope the soldiers receive better treatment than their predecessors.

Classy

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Lindows: Microsoft settlement site stays
By David Becker

“Linux seller Lindows.com said Tuesday that it will continue to help Californians process legal claims against Microsoft, despite a challenge by the software giant. “

I’m happy to see Microsoft taken down a notch, but I’m afraid these days there are worse organizations that deserve attention, such as the RIAA and the Department of Homeland Security.