Random Thoughts (Political Edition)

Oh but that [war criminals] is what they will be called in the arab countries. Along with other pretty nicknames like infidels and crusaders.

And in Korea they say eating an octopus raw and live will give you strength.
 
Which is interesting, but pretty inconsequential diplomaticly speaking.

That said, I don't think diplomacy should go before the rule of law.

I'm taking no position in this case, just to make it clear, but there's no doubt that Blackwater/whatnot is a notable diplomatic issue.
 
So Bono has written a nice little colum for the times to start of 2010 about all the issues in the world he cares about. It is worth a read all in all ... even if you don?t generally agree with Bono.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/opinion/03bono.html?pagewanted=1

What stuck out for me is the short paragraph about intellectual property owners where he whines about how bad all that Filesharing has hit the music-industries profits.

That?s the same Bono that speaks out publically for "the global fund", an organisation that (amoung other things) wants the pharma industry to not use it?s patents (their intellectual property) so that cheap generic drugs can be made for sick people in poor countries, well aware that such a step will decrease the pharma industries profits.

Of course I?m well aware that comparing life-saving medicine to music is a bit of a stretch ... but I think that calling Bono out for having double standarts on different sorts of intellectual property is justified no less.
 
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What's more essential to life than culture?

It is, however, a crucial question which can't be answered with a one liner.
 
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVjuO5v5Cts[/YOUTUBE]

Or else...?
 
So Bono has written a nice little colum for the times to start of 2010 about all the issues in the world he cares about. It is worth a read all in all ... even if you don?t generally agree with Bono.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/opinion/03bono.html?pagewanted=1

What stuck out for me is the short paragraph about intellectual property owners where he whines about how bad all that Filesharing has hit the music-industries profits.

That?s the same Bono that speaks out publically for "the global fund", an organisation that (amoung other things) wants the pharma industry to not use it?s patents (their intellectual property) so that cheap generic drugs can be made for sick people in poor countries, well aware that such a step will decrease the pharma industries profits.

Of course I?m well aware that comparing life-saving medicine to music is a bit of a stretch ... but I think that calling Bono out for having double standarts on different sorts of intellectual property is justified no less.

That's quite a stretch. The Global fund is pushing to fight three main diseases in the third world, Aids, TB, and Malaria. Acquiring the IP to a few drugs is a relatively small and inconsequential goal when you look at the bigger picture.

Plus if I read that right he said basically don't cry for me or the industry, it' the fledgling artists that are taking the hit. It's not like he's putting the RIAA up on a pedestal.
 
What stuck out for me is the short paragraph about intellectual property owners where he whines about how bad all that Filesharing has hit the music-industries profits.
When it's his intellectual property being 'pirated' then it matters. ;)

Just beneath that he cites, "America?s noble effort to stop child pornography" as showing that files can be tracked and whatnot. Often those "noble efforts" have only been thinly veiled attempts to pass laws similar to China's "ignoble" restrictions. That is, they would give the government much, much broader authority than just the ability to go after child pornography.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVjuO5v5Cts[/YOUTUBE]

Or else...?
Because upstanding, God-fearing Christians have never done anything immoral, amirite? I hate Fox News.
 
Sure they have. They just don't like bragging about it.
 
And in Korea they say eating an octopus raw and live will give you strength.

Well yeah, those bastards put up a hell of a fight.

(The octopus, I mean. Not the Koreans.)
 
The Koreans also put up a fight.

But they're not octopussies.
 
Sure they have. They just don't like bragging about it.
I was being sarcastic ;). And they might as well brag about it. Seems like every month or two there's some bible-beating conservative politician involved in a ludicrous sex scandal.
 
I was being sarcastic ;). And they might as well brag about it. Seems like every month or two there's some bible-beating conservative politician involved in a ludicrous sex scandal.

Yup. Remember Ted Haggard? :lol:
 
Well yeah, those bastards put up a hell of a fight.

(The octopus, I mean. Not the Koreans.)

I tried cooking octopus once. It took eight hours.

The little sod kept reaching out of the pot and turning the gas down.
 
I was being sarcastic ;). And they might as well brag about it. Seems like every month or two there's some bible-beating conservative politician involved in a ludicrous sex scandal.

I know, I was being dry.

:p
 
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