Dispute over cuts in the scientific sector:
On Thursday (22.12.05), SPD parliamentary group leader Hannelore Kraft criticizes that the state subsidies for the science center are to be reduced and will be reduced to zero within four to five years starting in 2006. The consequence would be the complete end for these institutes, as they need state funding to be able to raise third-party funds in the first place. Kraft considers this development "fatal". Contrary to the announcements, the black-yellow coalition is saving on important future areas.
Did anyone really expect anything different? The black-yellow government is simply consistently continuing what the SPD started before - the run-down of NRW. Without rhyme or reason, things are being done wildly, regardless of the cost. The main thing is to be in power and be able to do a lot of damage. In a few years, others will be in power anyway, so why should Prolethikers care about the future? It's only about securing a good position in the economy for the time after the government ...
heise online - French deputies want to legalize private use of file-sharing networks
The dispute over the reform of French copyright law has taken a surprising turn: Contrary to the government's wishes, the deputies, after the second day of negotiations in the early hours of Thursday, have spoken out in favor of allowing the sharing of files of copyrighted works for private purposes using a "global license" with a lump-sum remuneration.
Ok, the direction is of course much better than the previous one. Let's hope it stays that way. It would be a change to see a state focusing on the legalization and sensible implementation of private copies for once. And it could really bring the idea of a cultural flat rate to the fore.
They found strange footprints from 20,000 years ago in Australia:
Among the footprints, there is a small sensation: it is the track of a man who was unusually large for the Ice Age. According to the scientists' estimates, he measured 1.94 meters and moved at a speed of around 30 kilometers per hour.
When one considers that the "indigenous population" was rather small in stature upon the arrival of the English ships, one wonders whether the running giant was a biological error, or whether perhaps more was going on in Australia than we have known so far.