I would be suspectful of any kind of voucher system that ties my location and other personal information to my presumed consumption of digital television.
Of course this a data mining dream come true, but there is another factor. Granting licenses (FCC->Broadcaster) in Germany has the following outcome: There is a "company" known as the GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale) that regulates Joe Public's consumption of the media (radio, television, computer with internet) and demands a monthly payment of fees from Joe Public. This money then trickles down to the media distributors. No, pay -> go to court. Pay fine, pay fee.
I would DEFINITELY read the fine print on any application for such a voucher...
Except in the roman times they actually got to watch the blood spill and lions devour the losers. These days you get to watch the body count in Iraq and play "Americas Army."
I guess you're right though. Same difference.
well, this is not news really. joe davis (MIT) suceeded doing this several years ago. he recoded E.COLI bacteria - taken off of space detritus. read more:
Scientific American
dont wanna click: here is some nice info about him:
* Expelled from three high schools and two colleges: for writing about atheism, refusing a haircut, making a still (which exploded), being elected student body president on a "free marijuana" platform and working on an underground anti-war newspaper.
* Walked into the M.I.T. Center for Advanced Visual Studies uninvited in 1982. Secretary called the cops. Forty-five minutes later, Davis walked out with an appointment as a research fellow. (TRUE)
* Latest project is to build a biomechanical ornithopter powered by electrically stimulated frogs legs and to fly it across the Charles river. (it worked and he ate the frogs legs.)
* Uses hollow steel peg leg to open beer bottles, to accompany the band (bugle-style) at his local bar, and to charm curious women at parties. (TRUE, but he can do more...)
Slashdot Mirror
I would be suspectful of any kind of voucher system that ties my location and other personal information to my presumed consumption of digital television.
Of course this a data mining dream come true, but there is another factor. Granting licenses (FCC->Broadcaster) in Germany has the following outcome: There is a "company" known as the GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale) that regulates Joe Public's consumption of the media (radio, television, computer with internet) and demands a monthly payment of fees from Joe Public. This money then trickles down to the media distributors. No, pay -> go to court. Pay fine, pay fee.
I would DEFINITELY read the fine print on any application for such a voucher...
Except in the roman times they actually got to watch the blood spill and lions devour the losers. These days you get to watch the body count in Iraq and play "Americas Army." I guess you're right though. Same difference.
well, this is not news really. joe davis (MIT) suceeded doing this several years ago. he recoded E.COLI bacteria - taken off of space detritus. read more: Scientific American
dont wanna click: here is some nice info about him:
* Expelled from three high schools and two colleges: for writing about atheism, refusing a haircut, making a still (which exploded), being elected student body president on a "free marijuana" platform and working on an underground anti-war newspaper.
* Walked into the M.I.T. Center for Advanced Visual Studies uninvited in 1982. Secretary called the cops. Forty-five minutes later, Davis walked out with an appointment as a research fellow. (TRUE)
* Latest project is to build a biomechanical ornithopter powered by electrically stimulated frogs legs and to fly it across the Charles river. (it worked and he ate the frogs legs.)
* Uses hollow steel peg leg to open beer bottles, to accompany the band (bugle-style) at his local bar, and to charm curious women at parties. (TRUE, but he can do more...)