Thursday, November 25, 2004

Wal-Mart Bows to Trade Unions at Stores in China. After years of opposing unions in the United States and around the world, Wal-Mart Stores said it would allow a union at its operations in China. By DAVID BARBOZA. [NYT > Business] Of course, in the PRC, the labor or trade union is more or less the government, anyay. Still, maybe this gives some leverage in the West: "Why do you allow unions in China, but not in California? Oh! Because you'd rather negotiate with a communist government than with free employees!" 8:11:10 PM    comment []

Pacers, Pistons b-ball brawl reimagined as Picasso's Guernica On this odd fan tribute page for the Washington Wizards: a brilliant basketball-riot-themed Photoshop adaptation of Picasso's Guernica. Link (Thanks, Tony, and Doug) (thanks, Xeni!) 8:04:59 PM    comment []

Iranians Retain Plutonium Plan in Nuclear Deal. The recent nuclear accord European officials signed with Iran leaves Iran free to make plutonium, which can also be used as fuel for nuclear weapons. By By WILLIAM J. BROAD and ELAINE SCIOLINO. [NYT > International] 8:04:27 PM    comment []

The Persian Gulf. Firts Iranian blogopshere's Google bombing has been successfull: arabian gulf The page we made protesting National Geographic's use of Arabic names for some Iranian islands and for the Persian gulf, is now ranked first in Google, thanks to efforts by Pendar and thousands of Iranian bloggers. But in their press release, National Geographic Society has defended its decision to use those names. Here is their press release about the issue which is behind a wierd guest book form: Statement on Persian Gulf/Arabian Gulf National Geographic Books has recently published its Eighth Edition Atlas of the World. Questions have been raised... [Editor: Myself (English)] 8:01:48 PM    comment []

Going to College? First, Go to the Web. A cottage industry has sprung up to offer students online help in choosing the right college. By By ANNE FIELD. [NYT > Education] 9:10:28 AM    comment []

The Dream Factory. Any product, any shape, any size -- manufactured on your desktop! The future is the fabricator. By Bruce Sterling from Wired magazine. [Wired News] That is, of course, also one important premise of The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, by Neal Stephenson. 9:09:31 AM    comment []

Looking to understand security? Let me recommend Bruce Schneier's essay on Behavioral Assessment Profiling. (It's from the Schneier on Security blog.) 9:06:13 AM    comment []

Killing Philadelphia freedom. In September, I reported that Philadelphia was considering funding a WiFi service for the city. Sixty percent of the citizens have no access to broadband. The city elders believe that's no way to enter the 21st century. But as Public Knowledge now reports, a bill on the Governor's desk would now make it impossible for Philadelphia to offer such a service, because it "competes" with private businesses offering the same service. So, let's see: If I open a private street light company, selling the photons my lights give off, can Philadelphia offer "free" street lights? Or does the fact that Guards To Go offers services in Philadelphia mean we need to disband the Phlly police department? I am from Pennsylvania. I spent 4 wonderful years in Philadelphia. (Indeed, I was elected Youth Governor in 1979!) If you're connected to that freedom-loving state, please say something to the Governor. [Lessig Blog] 9:04:12 AM    comment []

Microsoft proposes piracy amnesty. Software juggernaut raises the white flag, offering to replace people's counterfeit copies of Windows XP, hoping to track down pirates. [CNET News.com] 9:03:51 AM    comment []