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typodupeerror

Comment Re:Response to the "problems." (Score 1) 215

As sibling poster pointed out, the concept of "getting rid of bad doctors" is simplistic. For reference, see the Institute of Medicine Report To Err is Human. One salient quote from the report brief:

One of the report's main conclusions is that the majority of medical errors do not result from individual recklessness or the actions of a particular group--this is not a "bad apple" problem. More commonly, errors are caused by faulty systems, processes, and conditions that lead people to make mistakes or fail to prevent them.

In your example above with the wrong dosing, don't forget that there is a chain of people that that dose goes through -- e.g. the pharmacist, the nurse, etc...It is their jobs as well to question medication. In fact, nurses will state that if a wrong medication is given, then they are liable for it, even if the doctor ordered it (this is anecdotal, I do not know exact policies and procedures around this). Of course, people will argue that if nurses question a doctor they will never win. And while this argument is appealing to our preconceived notions of power structures and roles, the reality is different and there are procedures to escalate issues such as this. Again, this is to underscore that medical errors are mostly due multiple failures in the system or deficiencies in the system itself. Let's face it -- to expect perfection from one person (a doctor, a priest, the president, you name it) is unreasonable at best and irrational at worst.

Comment Re:Bad decision (Score 1) 284

You're missing two things. One, people who use the internet are already exposed to all sorts of voices and opinions. Using this medium can only increase the strength with which the church's message reaches them, compared to not using it.

Two, you're singling out religion for no reason. Whenever people group around an idea, you will see a tendency to toe the party line. It can be a political party, a philosophy, a sports team, a lifestyle, a music genre, a franchise... Very high profile groups, such as political parties, have always had their own channels (eg newspapers that support their political views), but on the internet, every group can have its own fora, from Linux users to Twilight fans.

Comment Re:Who cares? (Score 1) 353

As someone who actually has a G1, I can assure you that the required data plan is only $25 a month. The difference is only $10 a month, which means that if the tmobile subsidy was 270, it would be cheaper to get the contract, not factoring inflation.

Granted, the difference only exists if you are not getting the unlimited minutes plan. $50 a month for unlimited talk means no price difference between contract and not contract. If you use your phone an hour a day, it would be stupid not to get the unlimited plan. If you aren't using the unlimited plan, its a little silly to put any money into your phone in the first place. Head over to walmart and get straight talk - 1000 minutes, 1000 texts, 30 mb of data, $30 a month, no contract (ie you pay, then you get the month).

Books

The Tell-All Campus Tour 34

theodp writes "Want to check out colleges without the bother of having to read about them? Well, my YouTube-loving friend, the NY Times reports that old-school elephantine dead-tree college guidebooks may be a thing of the past thanks to startup unigo.com, which has launched a free, gigantic, student-generated web-based guide to North American colleges that's laden with photos, Flip-shot videos and reviews (OK, you may have to do some reading)."
Government

Citizens Demand To See Secret ACTA Treaty 223

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "One hundred groups of concerned citizens have united to demand a look at the secret ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) treaty and have drafted a letter to their representatives asking for information. We've discussed ACTA before, including what are believed to be parts of ACTA that lawmakers are trying to get a head start on."

Comment Re:Online = good, but done horribly (Score 1) 88

If I wanted to read "American Gods" on my computer, I would download a copy from #bookz on IRC. At least I can read that copy.

There are also dozens of copies of it at the local (Chicago) library.

I already have a signed copy of the book, so I won't bother doing either.

A very readable book with an unreadable online version.
The Almighty Buck

Intel Resigns from One Laptop Per Child Project 338

theodp writes "Reportedly angered by the One Laptop Per Child project's demand that it curtail work on its Classmate PC and other cheap laptops, Intel has resigned from the project's board and canceled plans for an Intel-based OLPC laptop. Intel's withdrawal from the project comes less than six months after the chip-making giant earned kudos for agreeing to contribute funding and join the board of OLPC. It's the latest blow to the OLPC, whose CTO quit earlier this week to launch a for-profit company to commercialize her OLPC inventions."
The Courts

EU Encouraging Standardized DRM, Licensing 153

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "The European Commission is trying to encourage a standard licensing and DRM scheme for all of Europe, as well as 'cooperation procedures' and 'codes of conduct' for ISPs, copyright holders, and customers. No legislation has been proposed yet, but the 'cooperation procedures' sound like a push for an EU version of the DMCA Takedown Notices, which are already routinely sent to people outside the US. While simplified licensing might be nice, it's interesting that they don't appear to understand the inherent tension between standardization, interoperability and DRM — break once, copy everywhere."
Music

Submission + - SPAM: Man claims Apple Nano iPod caught fire in pants 1

alphadogg writes: An Atlanta man says his iPod Nano caught fire in his pants. The nearly two year-old iPod caught fire in the pocket of Danny Williams at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where he is employed, according to Williams' mother, Elaine. The flames lasted 15 seconds and fire reached up to his chest, she said in a telephone interview. [spam URL stripped]
Republicans

Journal SPAM: I hate all Iranians, US aide tells MPs 10

Britsh MPs visiting the Pentagon to discuss America's stance on Iran and Iraq were shocked to be told by one of President Bush's senior women officials: "I hate all Iranians."

And she also accused Britain of "dismantling" the Anglo-US-led coalition in Iraq by pulling troops out of Basra too soon.

Education

Olin College — Re-Engineering Engineering 181

theodp writes "In its College Issue, the NYT Magazine profiles tuition-free Olin College, which is building a different breed of engineer, stressing creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurship — and, in no small part, courage. But questions remain as to whether the industry is ready for the freethinking products of Olin, and vice versa. Few of the class of 2006 are going on to grad study in engineering or jobs in the field."

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