SOUNDING BOARD is an outlet for opinions on good and crazy things going on at home (wherever I may be). All are welcome. You are not expected to bring anything except your common sense & sense of humor.
'If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.'
-Robert X. Cringely (from geek wisdom)
SOUNDING BOARD
Saturday, May 15, 2004
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Copyright - the right to copy
There's a market here selling photocopied books, I forgot the name but it's somewhere near (as everything is, here in Phnom Penh). I got a chance to visit the copying center recently where bundles of of books are being reproduced. Feels like home, I whispered, where copyright seems to connote the right to copy. Singapore is quite strict on that (at least on paper). When I was there, we were only allowed to reproduce 10 percent of a book or 1 chapter (whichever is less). However, in practice, photocopying shops reproduce books like there's no tomorrow. The only page they do not copy is the copyright page. For what reason, I don't know. It's still a breach of copyright regulations. I'm not passing any judgment whatsoever. I don't have the moral ascendancy to do it anyway.
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Cambodia's new government to be formed soon
After 10 months of political deadlock, Cambodia may soon have a new government as major political parties engage in coalition talks.
The Cambodian Peoples' Party (CPP) gained majority seats based on last year's elections but failed to gain the required 2/3 majority. It has to form a coalition with either FUNCINPEC or Sam Rainsey Party (SRP). However, FUNCINPEC and SRP has formed a coalition among themselves, which poses a huge challenge to CPP in terms of forging a coalition with FUNCINPEC.
The details are amazing particularly how the deadlock is being resolved. Unfortunately, and because I don't want to get into trouble (heheheee), I will have restrain myself and keep my mouth shut (fingers folded, whatever). The modicum amount of information in the papers should be an indication of a temporary hush hush while things are being resolved.
If only it is possible to publish this process of high-level conflict resolution, the Cambodian political deadlock and its ultimate resolution will make a great case study for Public Policy graduate courses. The understatement of the year, as I find it even more exciting than the outcome of the Philippine elections.
posted by Allan at 3:27 PM (GMT+8)
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