Suba de aranceles de Impos, alla van, ellos y despues nosotros

New York 'iPod tax' incites media bleating

It's a sign of the digital times: New York's governor proposes a state budget that slashes spending on education and healthcare, lays off hundreds of workers, and increases taxes on everything from cigars to beer to luxury yachts, and most media reports focus on the proposal's misleadingly monikered "iPod tax."

Think we're exaggerating? Check out this partial list:

• The Business Review of Albany, New York: "NY governor proposes 'iPod tax'"
• Business First of Buffalo, New York: "Have you heard about NY's iPod tax?"
• Silicon Alley Insider of New York City: "New York Governor Proposes iPod Tax"
• The Guardian of London: "New York hits iPod users with tax on downloads"
• Time: "New York Gov. Proposes 'iPod Tax'"
• The Times of London: "Gov David Paterson calls for 'iPod tax' to close state's budget deficit"
• The Houston Examiner: "New York to tax your iPod, Coke and Pepsi"
• Scientific American: "New York proposes iPod tax"

The blogosphere dutifully followed the mainstream-media herd:

• Fountainhead Zero: New York State Budget Crisis: iPod Tax"
• CrunchGear: "NY governor proposes iPod tax (among others) to make up budget shortfall"
• Modern Conservative: "New York State Budget Crisis: iPod Tax?"
• Newsvine: "Gov. David Paterson unveils dire New York State budget that includes... the iPod Tax"
• osmoothie: "New York blasted with 88 new taxes, including an 'iPod tax'"

People, people, people...

There are three reasons to be miffed at the iPodification of the proposed New York State budget by the media. First - and least important - the iPod is being singled out by lazy headline writers as the target of the tax. Not so. Those who have actually read the budget proposal will note that it refers to "digitally delivered entertainment services" and not merely wares from the iTunes Store. We're talking everything from instantly downloadable Netflix gratification to porn-by-the-pound from GigaGrope.tv.

Second, taxing downloadable digital content is not news. Over two-and-a-half years ago,Cnet reported that "15 states and the District of Columbia now tax downloads of music, movies and electronic books." A follow-up article this year added that "In 2008 alone, at least nine states have considered digital download taxes, and at least five of those states have enacted them into law." Taxing the download stream has become a mainstream revenue stream.

Third, and finally, is simple fairness. Financially, New York State is in the toilet. Tax revenue from Wall Street? Gone. Tax revenue from tourism? Crippled. Local real-estate taxes? Evaporating. Paterson's proposed budget tears a bloody $3.5bn chunk out of the state's healthcare budget and sharply increases tuition at the State University of New York and City University of New York systems at a time when students can't even find jobs asking "Do you want fries with that?" because fewer and fewer New Yorkers can afford those tasty artery-cloggers. It lays off 521 state workers while unemployment skyrockets and cuts nearly $700m from aid to schools.

And the discussion centers on the part of the proposal that levies a four-cent tax on a 99-cent tune from the iTunes Store? Puh-leeze...

A little perspective would be welcome. 

alla vamos, por favor, ver la fecha

pero, antes un solo parrafo

Protection, meant to be a good servant, becomes a dominant and costly master.

The new American tariff

Jun 21st 1930
From The Economist print edition

The signature by President Hoover of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Bill at Washington is the tragi-comic finale to one of the most amazing chapters in world tariff history, and it is one that protectionist enthusiasts the world over would do well to study. The reason for tariff revision was a desire to restore a balance of protection which had been tilted to the disadvantage of the agriculturalist. But so soon as ever the tariff schedules were cast into the melting-pot of revision, log-rollers and politicians set to work stirring with all their might, and a measure which started with the single object of giving satisfaction to the farmer emerges as a full-fledged high tariff act in which nearly 900 duties have been raised, some extravagantly. Such is the inevitable result of vested interests working through political influence, ending in signature by a president, antagonistic to the bill, under compulsion of political necessities. No one, except the interests who fancy their own pockets may benefit, wanted the tariff; big business in the East is against it; the economists of America have condemned it in unison; the motor manufacturers have implored Mr Hoover to use his veto; and the fear of its economic consequences at home and abroad was mainly responsible for the heaviest slump of the year in Wall Street. Yet it is now the law of that land, and we have the spectacle of a great country, at a moment of severe trade depression, and faced with a growing necessity to export her manufactures, deliberately erecting barriers against trade with the rest of the world. Here, indeed, is a classic example of what happens to a country which once starts on the slope of protection. Protection, meant to be a good servant, becomes a dominant and costly master. President Hoover, we see, endeavours to coat the pill by suggesting that the "flexible" provisions will be used to mitigate the effects of the tariff, where it may be found to be irksome. This hope is surely illusory, as similar hopes held out in the past have proved to lie. In the first two years of President Coolidge's administration a number of duties were raised, but only two reduced—namely, on the vital items of bran and live bobwhite quail. We are compelled to accept the view expressed some years ago by Dr Taussig that "the interests involved in tariff-making are so powerful, and can exert such influence on the party in power, that disinterested and non-partisan administration of the flexible provisions is a vain dream." If there is any comfort to be derived from this latest chapter in tariff folly, it is the belief that American eyes will be forcibly opened to the fact that they are faced by areductio ad absurdum. Incidentally, every week brings new evidence of the realisation by American business leaders of the dangers of the fiscal path which America is treading. In a contribution to the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Mr Edward A. Filene, while disavowing Free Trade convictions, argues powerfully that a lowering of American tariffs is essential for the stimulation both of world trade in general and American exports in particular.Magna est veritas et prevalebit.

Islandia

Para salir de lo diario (y los chinos), esta Islandia, donde filmaron una pelicula de Bond, y, creo van a enviar a alguno de aca muy rapido, no se si para calmar a los Islandeses o a los Ingleses
el articulo es largo, vale la pena practicar el ingles, hasta dice, donde dice que debemos pagar las deudas?

un par de exceprts del mismo, por favor, no se rian, lo dicen los Islandeses, no yo

On the chilly afternoon of December 1st a few hundred of them, shouting “David out, David out”, gathered at the Arnarson statue and marched down the hill to the central bank. In the lobby, they were met by riot police, who eventually defused the situation.

Ordinary citizens instead borrowed from their banks in cheaper currencies such as yen and Swiss francs to buy even the most modest homes and cars.

She blames the country’s reckless bankers for the ruin of the economy. “If I met a banker,” she says, “I’d kick his ass so hard, my shoes would be stuck inside.”

In Iceland there are still many misgivings about repaying the huge debts incurred, as there are about other aspects of the IMF programme.

In his unassuming whitewashed offices near the central bank, Geir Haarde, the prime minister, appears sympathetic to some of these concerns. “There is still a lot of legal argumentation saying we should not pay” the debt to Icesave depositors, he says, though he stresses that his government has agreed to reimburse them.

He suggests that the government also thought long and hard before turning to the IMF.

Para que se sigan ilustrando, si quieren

http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12762027&source=hptextfeature

enjoy

quienes no leen la historia, etc (o algo asi)

Podre o no molestar con China, pero creo que en los proximos 10 años comeremos arroz, nos guste o no

para muestra, algo de historia

China in History — From 200 to 2005

By The Globalist

For all the raging debates about China’s future, what about the country’s past as a guidepost? Especially if one looks back further than the past 60 years, amazing perspectives emerge. And then, there are all the historic achievements of China right in our own time — from reducing poverty to achieving stellar economic growth.

How did ancient China view the world? Ancient Chinese claimed to hold a “Mandate of Heaven”, according to which they had a valid claim to preside over everyone else by virtue of their unequivocal political, cultural and moral authority. (University of Southern California) The world's earliest surviving large-scale census was undertaken in China's Han Empire in A.D. 2 — and counted 57,771,400 people.  (Joanna Waley-Cohen, "Sextants of Beijing") For how many centuries did China have the world’s largest economy? China has been the world’s largest economy for 18 of the past 20 centuries. (Financial Times) What else distinguished China? China was not only the largest economy for much of recorded history. Until the 15th century, it also had the highest income per capita — and was the world’s technological leader. (The Economist) What is but one example of China’s technological leadership? Around the year 1000, the Chinese made a series of major technical advances related to their improved knowledge of geography, astronomy, mapmaking and shipbuilding. Among other advances, they invented the compass — which radically improved their ability to navigate. (Franklin Institute) Which effect did that have on world commerce? China became a leading maritime power around the year 1000, when Chinese shipbuilders began to build massive oceangoing junks. These ships were up to 300 feet long, had a capacity of 1,250 tons and were capable of undertaking long-distance voyages. (Joanna Waley-Cohen, "Sextants of Beijing") China was not only the largest economy for much of recorded history. Until the 15th century, it also had the highest income per capita — and was the world’s technological leader. (The Economist) Did the state play a major role in commerce even back then? Customs duties on imports ran at about 10%.The central government maintained monopolies on the most profitable goods, such as ivory, coral, rhinoceros horn and crocodile skins. It banned any private traffic in a number of luxury commodities — and retained an option for preferential purchase of anything imported. (Joanna Waley-Cohen, "Sextants of Beijing") When did China’s economic might reach its high point? China's share of world output peaked in 1820 at about one-third of the global total — a share that had fallen to only 4.5% by 1950. (OECD) What has happened since then? China’s share of world GDP had rebounded to 11.5% by 1998 — well above its 1913 share of 8.9% — largely as a consequence of economic reforms enacted in the 1980s. (OECD) How many Chinese have been lifted out of absolute poverty since 1981? From 1981 to 2001, 422 million Chinese people moved out of absolute poverty. (Columbia University) China became a leading maritime power around the year 1000, when it began to build massive oceangoing junks that were capable of undertaking long-distance voyages.  (Joanna Waley-Cohen, "Sextants of Beijing") How much did an average Chinese plant worker earn a month in 2004? As of 2004, the average Chinese plant worker earns around $80 a month, less than an American on minimum wage makes in two days. (Wall Street Journal) Are China’s economy and export sector expected to continue booming in 2005? In 2005, China is expected to run a trade surplus well in excess of $100 billion — compared to just $32 billion in 2004. (World Bank) And finally, how administratively advanced was China over 2,000 years ago? The world's earliest surviving large-scale census was undertaken in China's Han Empire in A.D. 2 — and counted 57,771,400 people. (Joanna Waley-Cohen, "Sextants of Beijing")

Ideas

La verdad, no se ni siquiera como titular el post, lo que sin duda me imagino es que en un

 

año esta aca

Smart CCTV could put criminals in the frame even before they strike

The Smart CCTV system – shown here in use in Washington DC – tracks movement, and is programmed to alert operators to certain activities – such as in this case, when the two men are about to meet on a street corner known for drug-dealing

ADVERTISEMENT

A new generation of 'intelligent' cameras is being pioneered in Portsmouth

The technology is programmed to watch out for certain suspect behaviour or incidents – such as a car going too fast, someone loitering for longer than normal in a car park, or people coming together in known drug-dealing areas – and sends out an alert if it records something suspicious.

The footage can then be monitored by a CCTV operator, who can decide if an offence is being committed.

In the first set-up of its kind in the UK, Portsmouth City Council has installed a system based on behaviour-recognition software to increase the effectiveness of its camera monitoring.

The Perceptrak system, produced by Smart CCTV Ltd of Havant, has been set up to watch quiet areas such as car parks, stairwells or corridors in buildings and streets at night-time.

It effectively allows CCTV staff to monitor more cameras than before because they do not have be constantly watching each screen to see crimes taking place.

Nick Hewitson, managing director of the Havant firm, said: 'When it sees something untoward happening, the system sends an alert to the control room.

'This allows the security officer to make a human decision on whether to monitor the scene and make an appropriate response. It also ensures that many more scenes are being watched than is normally possible.' The system is being provided to the city council for free. The council control rooms have 142 cameras with live monitoring, watched 24 hours a day.

Ray Stead, CCTV manager at the city council, said the decision to install the software followed a successful trial period in 2006.

'The software is an analytical package which you pass information through.

'It analyses what's on it, and throws up an alarm to say "come and look at me".'

Councillor Jason Fazackarley, cabinet member for community safety, said: 'This is a fantastic development. It's the 21st century equivalent of a nightwatchman, but unlike a nightwatchman it never blinks, it never takes a break and it never gets bored. 

'It's an eye in the night. The darkness is no longer a place where criminals can hide.'

A pedido de la audiencia

Bah, uno solo, pero hayq ue mantener contento al cliente

los links de Bayes para SPAM y un par de programas free para eso.

As usual en este negocio, no hay garantias

Saludos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayesian_spam_filtering

http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_assassin

http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml#spamaware

Se viene la noche

Se viene la noche, y, mas rapido de lo que se pensaba, de paso, los terminos de intercambio?

el ultimo parrafo lo repito para que quede muy claro

“Next year is going to be far tougher for everyone than anything we’re seeing now.”

Cobalt fall reflects slowdown in China

Industrial activity in China has slowed so quickly that demand for cobalt has ground to a halt, according to one of the biggest cobalt miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s largest source of the metal.

Camec, the London-listed junior miner, last week mothballed its Mukondo mine, one of the world’s richest cobalt mines, saying it might resume production in early 2009 if prices recover. “It is almost as if there is a buyers’ strike,” said Andrew Groves, chief executive of Camec, referring to Chinese buyers who were buying record quantities of the metal six months ago and sending it to China’s factories to be processed into batteries, propeller blades, magnets and chemicals, among a range of applications so varied that cobalt demand can be seen as a rough proxy of industrial activity.

Cobalt, mined mainly in Congo, has so many uses that demand for it is seen as a proxy of global industrial activity

Economists are scrutinising China’s downturn to gauge the extent of a possible global recession but official statistics do not yet paint a clear picture. The cobalt market’s collapse offers one indication. The market has two poles – Congo and China. Cobalt is mostly mined in Congo’s Katanga province and 64 per cent was processed in China in 2007.

The freezing effect of the end market on the source market was further confirmed last week when Katanga Mining, a copper-cobalt miner in Congo, suspended its cobalt operations. Like Camec, it will meet reduced demand by selling from current stocks.

Mr Groves described Camec’s cobalt mine as only one victim in a global production chain that is seizing up. Companies such as Samsung have cut production of mobile phones in China, he said, causing a “massive drop-off” in orders for phone batteries that use lithium cobalt oxide, in turn halting metal orders from Chinese buyers in Congo.

Cobalt stockpiles are building up in China and further depressing the price, he said. Trading in cobalt concentrate is opaque but, according to Reuters, the import price in eastern China fell 16 per cent in the week to November 14 and has halved since March. In the week to November 21 it plunged further to about $12 per pound, Metal Bulletin reported.

The cobalt price’s collapse is in line with other industrial metals such as aluminium, zinc, nickel and copper. Miners of these metals daily face crises similar to Camec’s and mothballing mines around the world to save cash as they wait for a price recovery.

A crash in Congo’s cobalt and copper mining industry, however, has as many political as commercial implications. The extraordinarily high grades of copper and cobalt ore in Katanga province have attracted scores of foreign mining companies.

Mining revenues help fund the Kinshasa government, which faces an escalating insurgency in the east of the country. The award of mining licences has been a key negotiating chip in attracting investors to the country and extracting a higher cut of their profits.

Drawn by Congo’s abundance of industrial metals, China was the newest and potentially largest of the country’s foreign investors. In January, the Chinese government signed a resources deal with Kinshasa, valued then at $9bn (€7bn, £6bn), that would grant Chinese companies rights to vast quantities of copper and cobalt in exchange for infrastructure.

But the future of the deal is uncertain in the low-price commodity environment. Also uncertain is the viability of established foreign mining companies in Congo such as Camec.

Shares in these mostly junior miners have “taken a Stuka dive out of the clear skies of the commodities boom”, as a South African mining commentator put it. Camec has fallen 95 per cent to 2.50p over the past six months and First Quantum Minerals has fallen 82 per cent in the same period, while Katanga Mining has fallen 97 per cent.

Camec’s suspension of copper and cobalt mining, Mr Groves said, was simply a prudent business decision. The company would run a scaled-down operation centred on a trucking business that is doing work for the World Food Programme. The Mukondo mine would restart within a week after Camec determines prices have recovered.

“We are monitoring on a weekly basis demand from China,” he said. “Early next year seems like a good guess of when we’ll see demand recovering.” But he cautioned, “Next year is going to be far tougher for everyone than anything we’re seeing now.”

de Ft de hoy