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UK Citizens May Soon Need License To Photograph Stuff They Already Own (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader writes with this story from Ars Technica UK: Changes to UK copyright law will soon mean that you may need to take out a licence to photograph classic designer objects, even if you own them. That's the result of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, which extends the copyright of artistic objects like designer chairs from 25 years after they were first marketed to 70 years after the creator's death. In most cases, that will be well over a hundred years after the object was designed. During that period, taking a photo of the item will often require a licence from the copyright owner regardless of who owns the particular object in question. This sounds like a great kernel for a short story, and a terrible idea for a law.
On the continent many countries use proportional representation based on lists of candidates. And usually parties must form coalitions to govern. This is not necessarily a problem as long as political parties are able to compromise. It even allows to make the process of democratic consensus more transparent. For example, in Germany the conservative party is in a coalition with the social democrats and they worked out a treaty for this coalition which is a compromise between both party programs. In addition Germany has direct candidates. So the first all winners of a direct seat go to parliament and then they check if this fits the proportional representation scheme. And if it does not the under represented parties can seat additional politicians from their list.
One, it was closer to 40% than 30%.
Two, boundary changes are decided by a neutral, independent body.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Three. We had a referendum about an alternative voting system in 2011. The existing system was kept. Deal with it.
Three. We had a referendum about an alternative voting system in 2011. The existing system was kept. Deal with it.
That was the Tories being devillishly smart. Part of the coalition agreement was to put that to the vote. The tories managed to find a system even less popular then FPP to go to a referendum. Just because the even worse AV failed, doesn't mean FPP is the best or even preferred by the public.
SJW n. One who posts facts.