Google, Animal Research Get Readers Writing

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Why are these photographers and judges considering Image Search so fundamentally different from the usual (text) search performed on the Web? No search engine has permission to copy original texts from Web pages and display them as search results, but that practice is so harmless and so useful that it is allowed. Why shouldn't the same reasoning be applied to the search of images instead of text? It is sadly usual, and it is happening in this case once again, that copyright laws are taken beyond common sense, to the benefit of a few and in detriment of most. After all, if this photographer is so afraid of having his work copied illegally, but put it on the Internet, what is he seeking but a little bit of publicity and a few extra bucks, while threatening the very existence of a fundamental tool to Web users? -- Jefferson Portela, Brazil

Will e-books replace paperbacks?

I already buy e-books, but I also value the printed written word as well. I have a huge amount of printed books, and while I find the idea of e-books convenient, I would not always want to use them. I think there will end up being a combination of e-books and printed books. After all, you can easily share a printed book with a friend but it would be harder to share an electronic version. If it comes down to price and the e-book is just as expensive as a printed book, I would opt to buy the printed book because with an e-book you don't really feel like you own it as much. My main gripe with e-books is there should be a universal platform that can read any e-book so you can have the best selection. I find it is not very convenient when you have to buy multiple electronic devices depending on where you buy e-books. For now I just download them to my computer and use an e-reader that also works on my computer to read them. -- Linda Turner, US

No one wants to be cruel to animals, but considering all the good to come out of it I believe it is short-sighted to eliminate research involving animals. To bad we can't rerun a movie on life without such research and show the good that has happened for children and mankind. Perhaps we wouldn't be having such a debate. -- Ed Mueller, US

I read your article about primate research which involves torture to animals without getting their permission. I think that the medical research should abandon some types of animal research. Using natural herbal formulations will give excellent results in improving health. -- Sami Yanikian, Iraq

There are alternatives to animal testing, writes one reader

The gap between rich and poor, for want of better terminology, is a problem in Germany, Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the EU because the incentives to move from a low level of income to a higher level of income are now tied to the demands of the government's social policies. The policies necessitate that those who have the necessary skills to establish lines of business and/or simply provide more employment by way of engaging skilled labor must also regard their earnings as fair game for government to promote equality and stakeholder value. Therefore, those who have a high degree of political pull at the local and national level, or whose skills are deemed vital for the well being of the prevailing bureaucracy, are now disproportionately wealthy. And those who would have made the effort don't bother making the effort. -- Charles Smyth, Great Britain

I believe that support for the arts must mainly come from the state and a small percentage from private sources. At this economic time, we cannot rely on corporate support even though they want to market a good image. The priorities of corporate organizations are profit and their employees' welfare. From the taxes the corporations pay the state, they still account for a contribution to the arts apart from the sponsorship. The state is much more stable than corporate entities as the states in Europe, especially Germany, can manage their culture and arts well. My country, the Philippines, is not art/culture conscious. Given the fact that we were ruled by the Americans for many years, arts and culture is not the government's priority. Unlike in Europe, our government hardly supports arts. From the US rule, we inherited the traditions and culture of the rulers which are not as art or culture oriented as Germany. That is why the state MUST support the arts as the state can control, manage and preserve them. Preserving a country's art and culture determines the country's stability, wealth and social responsibility. -- Leah Gatchalian, Philippines

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