Wednesday, May 28, 2003

A tax cut for everyone, unless you're poor of course... Tax Law Bars Child Credit for Many Poor Families. Due to a last-minute revision in the tax bill that the president signed, millions of low-income families will not get the increased child credit that is in the measure. By David Firestone. [New York Times: Politics] And why does this not suprise me? 11:56:02 PM    Talk to me! []

Hey, a judge who gets it!!! "Maverick Judge" Upholds Free Speech in Washington State. On May 22, the judge who upheld the legality of the FBI Russian hacker trap and also issued a permanent injunction against the City of Medina free speech-stopping statute declared the Washington state law barring publication of law officers' personal information unconstitutional. [kuro5hin.org] 11:33:45 PM    Talk to me! []

So not all the labels are stuck in the past... Two Labels Warm Up to MP3's. Two record labels are including unprotected MP3 files along with conventional CD audio tracks. By Bill Werde. [New York Times: Technology] This is good.  Someone is understanding that you can't erase history.  You can't simply wish a change away.  The world has changed, the way people listen to music has changed.  Why would I want to deal with cd's?  They skip, they only hold 15 songs, and they break.  Look at the legal pay services popping up.  Anyone else notice that the only ones that are working, are not those run by the labels?  Apple sold more tracks in its first week then all the labels ones sold in the entire time they had been operating.  And they are selling tracks for a buck.  People will do things the legal way, as long as its just as easy, or at least close to the alternative.  Sure, the fact that tracks are free make the p2p networks popular, but you know what another reason is?  They are easy, and they have everything.  You can find a track or a cd that you can't easily find.  Some aren't in stores, some are, but then you got to get to the store.  It takes all of 30 seconds to download an cd, and 30 minutes to go buy it, if you're lucky.  That is why p2p is so popular. RIAA take note... 10:11:35 PM    Talk to me! []

So true... America rejoices as Bush's $217 tax cut produces mass wealth in Malaysia. Plus more great news from your favorite show, NTR -- "Now That's Republican!" [Salon.com] 9:42:05 PM    Talk to me! []

I wonder what would have happened if the WHO hadn't lost their nerve last time... Two more Sars deaths in Toronto. Two more die of Sars, taking the toll to 29, as the Canadian prime minister says the virus is under control. [BBC News | World | UK Edition] 8:52:37 PM    Talk to me! []

Does this annoy the hell out of anyone else? AOL Says F.C.C. Rule Holds Back Its Instant Messaging [New York Times: Technology] I am getting sick of this.  Big bohemoth companies (aol, telcos, etc) agree to something so that they can do something they want.  Basically, they sign a contract.  Then they decide that after they got what they want, they no longer want to do they promised to do.  And tey'll get away with it. 8:21:46 PM    Talk to me! []

Cool Puzzles... You know those logic puzzles where you have to get a sheep, wolf and cabbage accross a river.  Well, this site has them in game form.  Neat stuff.  Unfortently you can only pay the first three games for free.  But still fun. 1:17:51 AM    Talk to me! []

Cool puzzles You know those logic puzzles where you have to get a sheep, wolf and cabbage accross a river.  Well, this site has them in game form.  Neat stuff.  Unfortently you can only pay the first three games for free.  But still fun. 1:17:07 AM    Talk to me! []

Hey, a possible good thing from the white house, amazing.... Bush signs Aids-fighting plan. US President Bush signs an emergency plan to help fight Aids in Africa and the Caribbean. [BBC News | World | UK Edition] I remember reading or hearing on NPR a while back that this is a bunch of money, but that the US decided to go its own, rather than working with existing international organizations, ohh, such as the United Nations.  But, it is money.... 12:41:50 AM    Talk to me! []

© Copyright 2003 Kurt Hines.