23 Jan 2009
CDC study: Kentucky has highest smoking death rate

I don't care how you feel about smoking, this qualifies as a Study in Stupidity: did they expect to find the highest rates of "death from smoking" in states with the lowest population of smokers?

AP - Kentucky and West Virginia — where people traditionally smoke the most — have the highest death rates from smoking, a new federal study has found. Rounding out the 10 states with the highest average annual smoking death rates were Nevada, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana and Missouri.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

08:04 /Home | 0 comments | permanent link

Microsoft Brings Back DRM

M$ is brain damaged. This will fly about as fast and high as the proverbial concrete balloon.

Microsoft yesterday unveiled its MSN Mobile Music service — and a surprise return to digital rights management (DRM). While companies such as Apple and Amazon have finally moved to music download services free of copy protection, MSN Mobile locks tracks to the mobile handset they are downloaded to. It also charges more than the other services per track, and offers no way to transfer your tracks to your new phone when you upgrade. The company's Head of Mobile UK spoke to PC Pro about the launch, but his answers are almost as baffling as the service itself. Best quote: Q: 'If I buy these songs on your service — and they're locked to my phone — what happens when I upgrade my phone in six months' time?' A: 'Well, I think you know the answer to that.'

(link) [Slashdot]

07:50 /Copywrongs | 0 comments | permanent link

Islam film Dutch MP to be charged

There's something about the rich stink of hypocrisy here. Contrast:

"Participation in the public debate has become a dangerous activity. If you give your opinion, you risk being prosecuted," he said.

with

A year earlier, Mr Wilders described the Koran as a "fascist book" and called for it to be banned in "the same way we ban Mein Kampf", in a letter published in the De Volkskrant newspaper.

Apparently, when Mr. Wilders himself disapproves of the material, it's perfectly OK for the government to ban and/or censor it. However, should the government apply the same proscriptions to his speech based on someone else's opinion, then it's an attack on Western Civilization and his attackers are evil Nazi clones out to surpress free speech.

This bozo wouldn't know free speech if it clubbed him up side of the head.

A Dutch court orders prosecutors to put right-wing politician Geert Wilders on trial for making anti-Islamic statements.

(link) [BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition]

07:30 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link