Thursday, May 01, 2003

This is one of the best shows on Television, I hope it stays that way... `West Wing' Writer Quits. Aaron Sorkin, who wrote all but one episode of "The West Wing," said that he was leaving the show. By Bill Carter. [New York Times: Business] 10:43:07 PM    Talk to me! []

Interesting,,, Crash Course in Orthodox Judaism for Lieberman's Aides. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman is trying to balance running for president with obeying the extensive and intricate rules that govern the activities of members of his faith. By Adam Nagourney. [New York Times: Politics] 6:45:41 PM    Talk to me! []

The Runners... The Runners There's a fascinating story at the Wash-Post this morning on the District of Columbia's hidden subculture of "runners," people who dash from police stations to lawyers' offices, delivering on-the-spot news about recent car crashes. But why would lawyers want to know about vehicle accidents? "I have reviewed your accident report at the police station and it appears to be an excellent case," a deep-voiced woman might say, as she did during calls a few months ago. "I'm wondering if you were interested in being compensated for any injuries you may have sustained." The runner's job is "part telemarketing, part chauffeuring you to lawyers and doctors, and a lot of hustle." [The Raven] 5:08:04 PM    Talk to me! []

A modest proposal to end spam By Declan McCullagh April 28, 2003, 7:00 AM PT http://news.com.com/2010-1071-998513.html or http://news.com.com/2010-1071-998513.html WASHINGTON--It's not every day people bet their jobs on the effectiveness of a law--let alone an antispam law. Many U.S. states have already enacted such e-mail laws, and spam keeps flooding in. But that's exactly what Larry Lessig, a Stanford University law professor and one of the most prominent liberal voices online, has done. A few months ago, Lessig made an unusual wager: If Congress enacts an antispam law that offers bounties for the reporting of spammers, and the law fails to "substantially reduce the level of spam," he will resign from his dream job at a top law school. 2:16:15 PM    Talk to me! []

---- Declan McCullagh declan@well.com wrote ---- US Wiretap Report Last year's wiretap stats: http://www.politechbot.com/p-03584.html This Years Wiretap stats http://www.uscourts.gov/wiretap02/2002wttxt.pdf http://www.uscourts.gov/wiretap02/contents.html 12:49:35 PM    Talk to me! []

---- Declan McCullagh declan@well.com wrote ---- > [Such a raid is plausible. Stranger things have happened. But important > facts that would allow it to be independently verified are missing from > this account. What's the name of the restaurant? The names of the Feds, > badge numbers of the local cops? --Declan] > > Declan, > > If you haven't seen this yet, it might be good material for the politechbot: > > http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID770 > 11:18:15 AM    Talk to me! []

Hear that Mr. Bush? Greenspan Says Tax Cut Is Not Needed for Growth. Alan Greenspan told Congress that further large tax cuts without spending reductions could be damaging to the economy. By David E. Rosenbaum. [New York Times: Business] 2:01:31 AM    Talk to me! []

Now this is interesting.... Visa to Pay Retailers $2 Billion and Cut Fees. Visa USA, facing a trial over its debit card fees, agreed to a settlement with retailers on Wednesday, two days after a similar deal was reached by MasterCard. By Jennifer Bayot. [New York Times: Business] 1:02:28 AM    Talk to me! []

Education woes... Tuition Minefield at State Schools. Market forces are pressing state colleges to raise tuition while politics are pressing them to keep it low. By Alan B. Krueger. [New York Times: Business] I got to Michigan State University, where, like everywhere else, there is a intense budget shortfall.  When they talk about aid, there are something they leave out.  Supposedly, people who can afford college don't get aid, and those that need it, do.  The problem is everyone in the middle.  My family made too much to get aid, but not enough to be able to pay for college.  So I've been working my way through, paying for college as I go.  I'm lucky though, I have skills (technology) that I can put to use through my business, to pay for school.  Most people either have their parents pay for college (if they can afford it), or go horrendisly into debt with college loans, which it takes years if not decades to pay off.  Affordable education should be a bedrock of our society, for it is that education which makes society great. 12:49:24 AM    Talk to me! []

An article about Isreal that only mentions Palestine three times, wow 700,000 Go on Strike in Israel, Protesting Government Cuts. Schools closed, airports shut down, and practically all public services ground to a halt as workers protested proposed spending cuts and mass firings. By Greg Myre. [New York Times: Business] 12:31:38 AM    Talk to me! []

© Copyright 2003 Kurt Hines.