Millions are at risk for addiction.  Thousands are dying.  Our court systems are clogged and our jails overflowing.  Pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession make $$$ Billions……….

A senate investigation is presently ongoing. Check out the ProPublica article here:
American Pain Foundation Shuts Down as Senators Launch Investigation of Prescription Narcotics

Comment:  ProPublica pursues “Dollars for Doctors”.  We thought we would give this a “twist” and accordingly, created a new blog category:  “Doctors For Dollars”.  What is the true buying power (or costs) of pharmaceutical dollars??

“On April 23, 2012, to celebrate its 20th Anniversary, the Internet Society inaugurated the Internet Hall of Fame with an Awards Gala during Global INET 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Pioneers Circle
Recognizing individuals who were instrumental in the early design and development of the Internet: Paul Baran, Vint Cerf, Danny Cohen, Steve Crocker, Donald Davies, Elizabeth Feinler, Charles Herzfeld, Robert Kahn, Peter Kirstein, Leonard Kleinrock, John Klensin, Jon Postel, Louis Pouzin, and Lawrence Roberts.

Innovators
Recognizing individuals who made outstanding technological, commercial, or policy advances and helped to expand the Internet’s reach: Mitchell Baker, Tim Berners-Lee, Robert Cailliau, Van Jacobson, Lawrence Landweber, Paul Mockapetris, Craig Newmark, Raymond Tomlinson, Linus Torvalds, and Philip Zimmermann.

Global Connectors
Recognizing individuals from around the world who have made significant contributions to the global growth and use of the Internet: Randy Bush, Kilnam Chon, Al Gore, Nancy Hafkin, Geoff Huston, Brewster Kahle, Daniel Karrenberg, Toru Takahashi, and Tan Tin Wee.

Comments
Internet Society President and CEO Lynn St.Amour stated, “This historic assembly of Internet visionaries, innovators, and leaders represents an extraordinary breadth of vision and work. While the inductees have extremely diverse backgrounds and represent many different countries, each individual has an incredible passion for their work. We all benefit from their outstanding contributions to a global Internet, making it one of the greatest catalysts of economic and societal development of all time.”

Raúl Echeberría, Chairman of the Internet Society’s Board of Trustees, noted, “The Internet, which connects more than two billion people around the world today, is the result of many important contributions from creative and visionary individuals over the past several decades. The 2012 Internet Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments and advancements of 33 talented people who have made significant contributions to the design, development, and expansion of the Internet.”

About the Internet Hall of Fame
The Internet Hall of Fame is an annual awards program that has been established by the Internet Society to publicly recognize a distinguished and select group of leaders and luminaries who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the global Internet. More information on the program can be found at http://www.internethalloffame.org.”

• Why Twitter’s New Censorship Tool Isn’t As Bad As It Seems  by Arthur Bright

• Mega Uh-Oh by Wayne Marshall who in his blog, discusses his recent article in the Boston Phoenix Mega Up Yours (Wayne shares his thoughts on the recent Megaupload “bust”).

These are thought provoking and worth the visit.  “Rock on”  Wayne’s World!

We wonder how that might affect the publishing/recording/movie/etc/etc industry profit picture?

Here is the ABC News article on the facebook announcement.

Statement from Chairman Smith on Senate Delay of Vote on PROTECT IP Act

Washington, D.C. — House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in response to the Senate decision to postpone consideration of legislation to help combat online piracy.

Chairman Smith:  “I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy. It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.

“The problem of online piracy is too big to ignore. American intellectual property industries provide 19 million high-paying jobs and account for more than 60 percent of U.S. exports. The theft of America’s intellectual property costs the U.S. economy more than $100 billion annually and results in the loss of thousands of American jobs.  Congress cannot stand by and do nothing while American innovators and job creators are under attack.

“The online theft of American intellectual property is no different than the theft of products from a store.  It is illegal and the law should be enforced both in the store and online.

“The Committee will continue work with copyright owners, Internet companies, financial institutions to develop proposals that combat online piracy and protect America’s intellectual property.  We welcome input from all organizations and individuals who have an honest difference of opinion about how best to address this widespread problem.  The Committee remains committed to finding a solution to the problem of online piracy that protects American intellectual property and innovation.”

The House Judiciary Committee will postpone consideration of the legislation until there is wider agreement on a solution.

US Congress members and their stands on SOPA and PIPA

Website:
http://www.fas.org/index.html

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/fascientists

Wikipedia:
Foundation of American Scientists
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_American_Scientists

URL Excerpt on HR1540 “NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012 (posted on the FAS website):
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2011_cr/cyberwar.html

The direct link to this article is: http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=4932