22 Apr 2007
Health Inspector Calls and Chef’s Pride Cracks

If you seek the finest expression of raw, naked State power, look no further than the so-called "health and safety laws". Ask yourself how long this same "inspection service" ignored a real health and safety issue, one that was reported by patrons, and compare with their actions in this case.

"Arbitrary" is too polite a word. "Exercising power for the sake of political cover" would come closer to the mark.

A restaurant owner cannot bring himself to reopen Brasserie LCB, which city officials had temporarily closed.

(link) [New York Times]

09:08 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link

Microsoft Is Sued For Patent Violation Over .NET

Do patent trolls roost? And have they come home?

As reported by Info World, Microsoft was issued a cease and desist order on February 7 of this year by Vertical Computer Systems. The order was for patent infringement by the current implementations of the .NET framework. Both the .NET framework and Vertical Computer Systems' SiteFlash use XML to create component-based structures that are used to build and operate web sites. Vertical Computer Systems is requesting a full jury trial. If VCS prevails, .NET technology implementations as we know them may completely change and Microsoft would probably have to pay out a hefty sum.

(link) [Slashdot]

09:03 /Copywrongs | 0 comments | permanent link

Rangers beg volcano visitors not to leave offerings

In heathen practice, food offerings or libations are supposed to attract things that will eat them - it's a sign of acceptance of the offering by whatever powers were paying attention. The rangers at the park are worried about attracting rats, but methinks I smell rats of a different sort here.

If the park management were that concerned with "cultural sensitivity", they could easily set up a special area for such offerings. And there's no explanation as to how, exactly, the small quantities of rotting food left on the top of a volcano are endangering the nene goose.

in fact, I think that allowing any organized group of Hawaiian pagans to set up a small temple on the site might be completely appropriate.

Rangers at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are launching a program to stop people from leaving religious offerings at the summit of Mount Kilauea -- including food they say attracts rats and cockroaches.

(link) [CNN.com]

08:59 /Asatru | 0 comments | permanent link