Bizzy’s AM Coffee Biz-Econ-Life Links (072406)

Free Links:

• I haven’t said anything about the Middle East-Israel-Lebanon situation, for two reasons — first, this is supposed to be a usually-business-econ-consumer-etc. blog with a dash of politics; second, the Middle East is a very easily understood situation. Thanks to RCP’s blog (HT Dr. Sanity), I don’t even have to tell you, I can just show you:

  

• Somebody may be spying, and then squatting, on your domain name search (HT Techdirt) — even at the best-known domain-search sites.
• Maybe something will really be done to ensure a paper trail for e-voting –
  

  A bunch of e-voting activists showed up at hearings on Capitol Hill this week, and the amazing thing was that the Congresspeople in the committee meeting were clearly interested. The committee wasn’t even supposed to discuss paper trails for voting machines, but they all brought it up — with some noting how they’ve been hearing about this issue from worried constituents. While a lot of this is “theater,” as the article notes, it’s good to hear that politicians are at least listening to the issue, and not brushing it aside as some “fringe” complaint. Even better, is that it appears politicians from both major parties are concerned about it — so it’s not becoming a partisan issue.

• Every year or so, Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi visits the Yasukuni Shrine. Shortly after each visit, South Korea and China whine about it. This year was no exception:
  

  Japanese premier Junichiro Koizumi says he will continue visiting a controversial Tokyo war shrine despite evidence the former emperor opposed it.

  Documents show Emperor Hirohito stopped visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, which commemorates Japan’s war dead, because war criminals were honoured there.

  The shrine is a key source of tension between Japan and its neighbours, who say it honours Japan’s militarist past.

  Mr Koizumi’s visits have caused ties with China and South Korea to worsen.

  Oh please. The shrine, as the Wiki entry says and as someone who knows Japan well confirmed, “a religious institution that is independent from the Japanese government.” Further, the entry notes that “its Book of Souls lists the names of 2,466,532 men and women whose lives were dedicated to the service of Japan, particularly to those killed in wartimes such as Japanese and former colonial soldiers. Since 1978, the Yasukuni Shrine has included a total of 1,068 war criminals, including 14 Class A war criminals.”

  A little real-world perspective on the part of Japan’s neighbors would be welcome, especially from the country that brought us Tiananmen Square and deploys the world’s largest ground force. No one is buried at the shrine; the only “offenses” are the inclusion of names on scrolls, and that the Shinto priests there pray for everyone’s souls.

• It looks like The National Enquirer ought to consider separate US and British editions:
  

  Actress Kate Hudson has won a libel action against the National Enquirer magazine after it published an article suggesting she had an eating disorder.
  The magazine ran pictures claiming to show Hudson as “painfully thin” and said her mother, Hollywood star Goldie Hawn, had urged her to “eat something”.

  But lawyers for the magazine admitted the claims were false and agreed to pay damages for the distress caused.

  ….. Although Hudson is American and the magazine is published by an American company, she was able to sue under British libel laws because the magazine was also published in the UK.

• Really Big Whoop — After considering inflation, credit-card late fees have leveled off ….. at an average of $31.37. I suppose we should be grateful for this, but the average is up 137% since 1996.