Some internet or software companies, including Microsoft, are talking about a system that put post stamps on email, to avoid spam. The Corriere del Ticino has a page on 13. April dedicated to technological changing in our lifes where spam problem is discussed.
I wrote on this topic in 2003, in my graduation thesis. Actually, the stamp system is one of the possible systems to avoid spam. There are other better systems, some of them free.
A producer of grappa, the famous italian liqueur, does not like the comment on his product done by a blogger. The post was removed by the author, but here is the story of the Papero Giallo.
I received some phone calls from the Istituto Formazione Franchi, a private school that organizes informatic courses. Some months ago they called me and I told that I had no interest in their Word classes.Now it happened again: the 23 February they called me , but I was not at home. The 24 February they called me and I did not answer. The 27 they called and I answered. I told the lady I was not interested and that my telephone number is in the list of people who don’t like to receive commercial/advertising calls. The lady answered that the call was not an advertising call, it was an information. I asked to write me a letter with this specification, so that I can forward it to the Swiss Data Protection Commisioner, that would be glad to explain them the meaning of this FAQ:
Chi è tenuto a rispettare il simbolo «nessun messaggio pubblicitario e divieto di comunicare dati ai fini della pubblicità diretta»? Il simbolo «nessun messaggio pubblicitario e divieto di comunicare dati ai fini della pubblicità diretta» deve essere rispettato non solo in caso di comunicazione commerciale, ma anche in caso di comunicazioni fatte da partiti politici o da organizzazioni a scopo non lucrativo.
Punto Informatico reports that an american judge did not condemn a driver because the software of the breath alcohol tester is not open source. This means that nobody could know exactly how the machine works.
I searched for a while to find out what kind of device is used by the Polizia cantonale in Ticino, but I found nothing.
Ticinonline (and many others) reports that in Ticino smoking will be forbidden in bars, restaurants and clubs. I wrote about this in a previous post.
Yesterday electors said Yes to the law change. I voted No, because I don’t like this kind of prohibitions. I’d like a moderate solution (*), but it seems that Ticinesi are not enough swiss to appreciate a typical swiss compromise.
Another referendum was in discussion: the government wanted to limit the growth of contribution to some statal and para-statal institutions for next two years. People said No. I said no because I think that the state should spend (in a right way) the money that come from taxes. Since I work for a para-statal institution, my motivation could appear partial.
(*) A moderate solution was:
Found somewhere (forgot where, sorry) an interview on Google (TG3) . I’d like to watch, but, since I’m in Switzerland, I can’t. Reason: … due to the Olimpic Winter Games video rights, this content is reserver to the users in the italian country.
Still no idea on what to vote the 12th March.
Smoke has to be forbidden in every “esercizio pubblico”(*) of Ticino?
The big question is for bars, restaurants and clubs. The law, today, says that at least 1/3 of the places has to be reserved as no-smoke area. The proposed change will make smoke forbidden, unless there are separate rooms for smokers, with adequate AC.
Under a political point of view, two fanatic team are clashing: Lega dei Ticinesi and Associazione Svizzera dei non fumatori. The Lega asks for freedom (to smoke), the Associazione asks for freedom (to have fresh air). End of political argumentation.
Vote No (to reject the change) will give to Lega a big victory. And it is wrong: you can’t ask for the right of smoking where you want. The right to breathe is stronger than the right to smoke.
Vote Yes (to accept the change) means to accept a big presence of the law in everyday living. I bet most people will vote yes.
I can’t vote for the moderate proposal, that would forbid smoke in restaurants, allow it in disco-clubs and let the choice to bars (a reasonable choice would be to forbid smoke during lunch time).
(*) “Esercizio pubblico” is an interesting tessiner expression. An “esercizio pubblico” is, according to the law (11.3.2.1), a caffè, bar, restaurant, tea-room, nichtclub, disco-club, every kind of hotel (big, owned by family, b&b, in the mountain,…), rooms etc. The Regolamento for the law specifies the differences. Let me point out differences between bars and restaurant. Actually, I don’t see big differences: bars may serve (warm) things to eat and not only things to drink. You may sit and you’ll find a toilette.
Please note that, even if the name is “esercizio pubblico“, usually this kind of places are owned by people and do not receive any public funds.
According to Punto Informatico, in the article Italia, traffico internet sotto sequestro Italy denies access to 516 web sites (IP numbers). These are gambling sites, legal in other countries (for example UK).
This italian rule prevents you to gamble without paying italian taxes on your bet. But it forbids you to see the site, even if you won’t bet.
If you are in Italy and you’d like to see these sites, have a look at:
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