Web porn rated .xxx - Technology - International Herald Tribune
As someone who grew up in a time when sight of a single pubic hair would have had the law enforcement authorities up in arms, one sometimes stands back aghast to see how far the sexual revolution changed the world. Unfortunately, it didn't take care of "sexism" to the same extent and the profusion of sex-orientated websites is more symptomatic of woefully regressive attitudes than any great exploration of formerly taboo subjects. Today's news is that these sites will be getting their own suffix ie:"www.hotstuff4U2Cinbed.xxx" so we can more clearly avoid them. How many sites actually choose to adopt it is another matter - too many of them already make the most of it by promoting themselves with very nondescript names indeed.
Also announced today is that Microsoft will be adopting the XML format for the next version of their office software suite. Open Office and Sun Microsystems have been doing this for years, making our files truely multifunctional and portable - I wonder if the new alliance between these formerly bitter rivals has anything to do with the decision. Still - anything to see the end of those monstrous Word and Powerpoint documents that plaque the web and a few trillion offices elsewhere.
Plans are for "Live8" to run some kind of text-based lottery for people to get some kind of official tickets to cover costs for the event in Hyde Park - even though the concerts themselves are said to be free. The motive of course is consciousness-raising rather than fund-raising this time round, but already there's a row about the treasury levying VAT on whatever financial transactions there are.
In an interview the other night, Bob Geldof told us how friendly he was with Blair and Brown, describing them as "decent guys". (That he also recalled Blair in Live Aid days as "a terrible musician in a terrible band" is beside the point!) Yet now he's battling Brown for a tax rebate that Blair thinks he should get, whilst getting ready to battle Blair (on his return from holidays in warm climes) over his rousing the masses to descend on Edinburgh for the G8 summit itself. Brown, of course, is a scot. The public may love it, but the Scottish police are in a complete panic and almost every political heavyweight is shuddering at the thought of what could well be an unprecedended protest rally.
One wonders just how much Bob's so-called friends will be stretched to accomodate him in the coming weeks. We'll see!
Later.
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