I guess to ensure they still have people to govern...
Rather, once produced - what STOPS the sale of said drug?
After Taiwan has announced their intention to copy the drug in their state laboratories and explicitly stating that it will not be marked commercially, it will be a serious diplomatic blunder to renege on it afterwards wouldn't it? Especially from a place that has little international recongition as a "country", they simply can't afford to screw up.
Taiwan is not copying the vaccine. There is still no vaccine.
TFA:
Tamiflu, made by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, cannot cure bird-flu but is widely seen as the best anti-viral drug to fight it, correspondents say.
...due to possible US influence. However if it is the PRC that is doing this instead I would be expecting a swift but tactful diplomatic response.
On a tangent here, but hasn't Brazil been manufacturing some pharmaceuticals for quite some time now without the corresponding approval from patent holders?
Still a very uphill battle to convert users over though...
The typical demographic that favours convenience/sinks to the level of using AIM would probably not be competent enough to set up anything else on their computer... On the other hand, do we really want to trust them to do so?;-)
I think the government's attitude is somewhat "Wait-And-See". The voluntary nature of this program is infinitely better than having legislation slapped in your face.
If "they" see the desired results (I would dare say discreet change) there would be no incentive for them to rock the boat further.
As the article states, you already need photo ID for proof-of-age before buying cigerettes and booze...
In terms of privacy I can't see this requirement for video games being any more intrusive than that.
Generally, people who have a problem with this also disagrees with video game ratings in general. I think that's the real problem we'll encounter in this discussion:)
You can obtain a complete medical record even by traditional pen-and-paper methods... sure it's slightly more inconvenient and probably cost a few dollars in photocopying, but you retain reasonable control over your files (which I think ultimately is the core issue at hand)
All external cards/chips/blobs etc can be lost... embedding does have its advantages that it will always stay with the person - unless that part of the body is amputated, of course:)
The true context does involve a "cashless society" of some sort... after all, what else would verse #17 mean if "no one may but or sell except one who has the mark"???
Wouldn't that feature let the spambot do the same and deny the legitimate owner access to the account?
The cost of living in India would be lower than the home country + comparable wages = ability to save.
When did Governments get so suddenly benign?
I guess to ensure they still have people to govern...
Rather, once produced - what STOPS the sale of said drug?
After Taiwan has announced their intention to copy the drug in their state laboratories and explicitly stating that it will not be marked commercially, it will be a serious diplomatic blunder to renege on it afterwards wouldn't it? Especially from a place that has little international recongition as a "country", they simply can't afford to screw up.
Taiwan is not copying the vaccine. There is still no vaccine.
TFA:
Tamiflu, made by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, cannot cure bird-flu but is widely seen as the best anti-viral drug to fight it, correspondents say.
Methinks the stockpile is not for sale... TFA states that:
/. ? I apologise for the fallacy of my logic.
"The government has said it will not market the drug commercially."
also
"A generic version of the drug produced by the island's National Health Institute is said to be 99% akin to the Tamiflu produced by Roche."
*ulp* wait a minute, RTFA and
...due to possible US influence. However if it is the PRC that is doing this instead I would be expecting a swift but tactful diplomatic response.
On a tangent here, but hasn't Brazil been manufacturing some pharmaceuticals for quite some time now without the corresponding approval from patent holders?
I just can't wait for those terrorists lugging slingshots powered by resilin bands ;-)
Still a very uphill battle to convert users over though...
;-)
The typical demographic that favours convenience/sinks to the level of using AIM would probably not be competent enough to set up anything else on their computer... On the other hand, do we really want to trust them to do so?
Does America have any laws regarding compulsory education to a certain level?
If that exists and yet does not extend to college level, one has to wonder why this is being proposed.
Also I can't see any real benefits (eg. in terms of missing persons) of this scheme. Anybody would like to think up some?
Wans't really meant to attack your choice of category.
/.ers actually RTFA, or even the writeup itself. :p
But look at all those "outsourced to India" memes... funny how many
The article states clearly that the support is for engineering type problems.
Article?!? Wait a minute, this is slashdot after all...
...if you're required to go through an HTTP proxy anyway? (Like most corporate environments)
Maybe the next generation of home ADSL routers would have one in their firmware and tout it as a "security feature"?
If that patent really has a leg to stand on, why not sue 3d app makers like Alias as well? Surely there's more profit that way...
Or are they counting on the game companies to simply settle?
At least this ruling would deter (mis)application of the DMCA on objects that the consumers actually own.
Still won't help with the current situation of entertainment media or software though.
...as in the ST:TOS episode.
:p
Now where are the casaulty units?
The ratings labels are a guideline to help parents with their executive decision making as they are simply bombarded with information everyday.
The voluntary enforcement by retail stores is simply a logical step - the proverbial ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
I think the government's attitude is somewhat "Wait-And-See". The voluntary nature of this program is infinitely better than having legislation slapped in your face.
If "they" see the desired results (I would dare say discreet change) there would be no incentive for them to rock the boat further.
It's a lame attempt at a joke, but there is a point.
Political-correctness still knows no bounds. Wasn't one of the MS flight sims changed in the last minute to remove the twin towers?
The excuse-makers will find other scapegoats - such as online ordering...
In response, probably put pressure on customs and excise...
It's all an endless loop, in a way.
As the article states, you already need photo ID for proof-of-age before buying cigerettes and booze...
:)
In terms of privacy I can't see this requirement for video games being any more intrusive than that.
Generally, people who have a problem with this also disagrees with video game ratings in general. I think that's the real problem we'll encounter in this discussion
You can obtain a complete medical record even by traditional pen-and-paper methods... sure it's slightly more inconvenient and probably cost a few dollars in photocopying, but you retain reasonable control over your files (which I think ultimately is the core issue at hand)
As long as the medical information stay in the hands of your doctors and no-one else, then it's probably a good thing...
What if health insurance companies have equal access to all this information?
Premiums will probably skyrocket for almost everybody - because as more information is available, the more they can cast doubt about your risk.
All external cards/chips/blobs etc can be lost... embedding does have its advantages that it will always stay with the person - unless that part of the body is amputated, of course :)
The true context does involve a "cashless society" of some sort... after all, what else would verse #17 mean if "no one may but or sell except one who has the mark"???
The first incentive for such a "mark" to be installed is of course enabling of commerce - a unit of exchange...
It is not such a great leap of imagination into a totally cashless society.