The Great Chinese Firewall

The internet in China is not the same medium enjoyed in the West. China's internet
authorities are using filtering technology that disables a popular feature on Google. The
feature puts snapshots of web pages onto servers based outside China, which enabled
the Chinese to view sites that were otherwise blocked. Banned key words are embedded
in desktop software to filter messaging among PC's and cellphones. The Chinese
Ministry of Public Security is the agency that polices the internet. They have been
successful at encoding routers with unique numerical addresses for the web sites the
Chinese government deems objectionable. This blocks uncensored news. Filtering
devices also comb messages, searching for objectionable words. Chinese e-mails can be
lost in cyberspace, never reaching their destination, and going unanswered. Internet
service providers seem to be doing their own censoring and blocking probably at the
behest of the Chinese government. Instant messaging software filters words and terms
too.

asiapundit looking for blog contributors

asiapundit.com is looking for bloggers to contribute to their bog. The Great Firewall of China has limited the web/blogmaster's browsing and the idea is to create an English speaking group blog. This is an open offer and a style guide will be used.

Culture

say goodbye to cheap voip

drops of blue,

Anyone who thinks that VoIP services for long distance and international calling are going to continue growing unabated is sadly mistaken. Anyone who watched the battles in the late 1990s between independent DSL providers and local and regional Bell phone companies knows that these one-time monopolists can play hardball with the best of them, and this isn't about to change.

The future of VoIP is clear. No matter who invented or thought of it first, the telcos will own it. You'll be getting your VoIP from them eventually. They'll buy out the more pesky competitors and trick or ruin the others. A few cooperative small fry will be allowed to exist as tokens to show the world that there is an open and competitive marketplace.

Roche prepares flu drug for developing countries

In the face of worries about a potential flu pandemic that authorities believe could kill millions of people worldwide, Swiss pharmaceuticals group Roche is in talks with the World Health Organization to donate up to one million treatments of its antiviral drug Tamiflu for use in less developed countries, primarily in Asia where bird flu is showing signs of transmission to humans.

Roche has already given 120,000 treatments of Tamiflu to the WHO. The new talks come at a time when less developed nations have said they would be hardest hit by an outbreak of flu and would not be able to purchase does of the drug, which is currently the only antiviral that is notably effective against the flu.

The concern is to get the drug to locations where an outbreak of flu would be likely to start, so it could be stopped before it begins to spread more widely. Orders of the drug have doubled in two months, but have come mostly from developed nations. Roche has not commented on the retail price of Tamiflu, but government figures from the UK indicate a price of £13 ($24, €19) for a course of treatment with the drug.

VACCINES

japanese economic numbers improve

Japanese economic growth reached a surprisingly high 5.3% on an annualized basis in the first quarter of 2005. This followed nine months of economic stagnation that resulted from a slowdown in export growth, despite strong growth remaining in place in the US and China, Japan’s two main export markets. Previously, Japan had recorded strong economic growth in late 2003 and early 2004 as a result of strong export demand.

A significant rise in consumer spending and an increase in inventory building were the main two catalysts of this strong growth over the first three months of the year. However, this inventory building indicates that this latest surge in economic growth might not be sustained unless domestic demand remains strong. Should economic growth in the US and China slow significantly in the coming months, Japan could once again find itself in the midst of another recession.

Economics

has wal-mart gone too far?

Wal-Mart is trying to put supercenter in Flagstaff Arizona. The city council of Flagstaff passed an ordinance preventing Wal-Mart from developing the super complex. The ordinance must now be ratified by the voters. Wal-Mart has ran a newspaper ad which shows a historic photo of people throwing books into a large fire, with a clearly visible swastika – has text that reads: "Should we let government tell us what we can read?" It ran in a northern Arizona newspaper and was paid for by a political action committee the company helped fund.

After many complaints, Wal-Mart is running an apology ad and is sending an apology to the Anti-Defamation League of Arizona.

first responders get help

The National Library of Medicine has created software for handhelds to help first responders when they arrive at a hazardous-material incident, such as a chemical spill. The Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) provides critical information and WISER versions for handheld systems that run Palm OS and Pocket PC are available as free downloads.

Star Wars flu may hamper IT work

The new Star Wars movie may prove to be IT's problem with productivity in the next several days. The self-proclaimed geeks freely admit that they are Star Wars fans and some have even called in sick so that they could see the movie on opening day.