Yummy Wakame

A court upheld decision by the Copyright Royalty Board in the US to hugely increase royalties for streaming music online could kill off all but the largest internet radio broadcasts on May 15th. more…

Wired news:

The case currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is a litmus test that may well determine the future of the telecom industry. If Verizon’s patent claims against Vonage hold up in the appeals court, the fate of many smaller VOIP companies, such as SunRocket and Packet8, could immediately be put in jeopardy, as the same patents could also prevent them from connecting their internet phone services to the public phone network.

The short-term effect could give Verizon a de facto VOIP monopoly. Long-term, the case could affect more purely internet-based communication services, such as those offered by peer-to-peer telephony leader Skype.

Thanks Nathan.

“Today is a good day for American taxpayers; it marks the beginning of the end of an outdated , antiquated tax that has survived a century beyond its original purpose, and by now should have been ancient history,” said Treasury Secretary John Snow in a statement.”

I was listening to Off The Hook and it turns out that there was once a “luxury” tax on long-distance services way back in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish-American War that is now refundable. As the article says “The refund will apply to the 3 percent excise tax billed to them on long-distance service since Feb. 28, 2003 and will include interest. Consumers will be able to claim it on their 2006 tax returns, which they will file in 2007.” So if you need some extra cash and you’ve paid for a long distance during those dates, by all means get some money back.

Woot!

“In the year 2014, The New York Times has gone offline. The Fourth Estate’s fortunes have waned. What happened to the news? And what is EPIC?”

Watch the video.

I’ve long heard stories of how Chinese families, with a government-imposed limit to how many children they are allowed to bear, would kill their newborn daughters in hopes of having another shot and bearing a son, who could then continue the family name. Now, I can’t be sure of whether or not that is true, but this report in Wired Magazine has China’s gender ratio all askew, with 15 million more males than females between the ages of 5 and 20.

Can you imagine having to compete against 14,999,999 other guys to get that last remaining girl?

Well I don’t know if you’re aware but today is the day Saddam Hussein finally gets his day in court. Its about time really, considering he’s been held for 2 years!! In any case the trial is likely to be adjourned for weeks, perhaps into next year, after Saddam and his co-defendants make an initial appearance.

Saddam Hussein could face a death sentence if the Iraqi tribunal convicts him at the end of his trial. Amnesty International said yesterday it has sent three delegates to Baghdad to ensure that the trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is fair and that it is opposed to applying the death penalty if he is convicted.

Whatever your feelings are on Saddam, do you really think its possible for him and his top aides to get a fair trial? The tribunal was set up in December 2003 by the US-dominated Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). The parliament elected in January 2005 is due to legitimize the court and rename it the Iraqi Higher Criminal Court. There is already controversy over the legality of this special tribunal which may undermine the legitimacy of any trial outcome. Also the evidence against him was not protected after the US-led invasion and a lot of it has been compromised. For example, mass graves were dug up with heavy equipment by relatives desperate to find remains of their loved ones, and key documents went missing in the chaotic days after Saddam’s fall.

So the ticket has been bought and I’m flying out to the USA on the 7th of November - just 3 weeks away!!!!

My life is all go at the moment trying to tie up the last few things with ongoing projects, banking, taxes, my few belongings… I’m moving out of Brighton on the 31st of this month and staying in London with my friend Bronny for the last week.

After that… stap stap waar die son sak. Né!