V.A. Saturday
43 minutes ago
Friday, 19 February 2010
Thursday, 18 February 2010
School used student laptop webcams to spy on them at school and home
According to the filings in Blake J Robbins v Lower Merion School District (PA) et al, the laptops issued to high-school students in the well-heeled Philly suburb have webcams that can be covertly activated by the schools' administrators, who have used this facility to spy on students and even their families. The issue came to light when the Robbins's child was disciplined for "improper behavior in his home" and the Vice Principal used a photo taken by the webcam as evidence. The suit is a class action, brought on behalf of all students issued with these machines.
If true, these allegations are about as creepy as they come. I don't about you, but I often have the laptop in the room while I'm getting dressed, having private discussions with my family, and so on. The idea that a school district would not only spy on its students' clickstreams and emails (bad enough), but also use these machines as AV bugs is purely horrifying.
Schools are in an absolute panic about kids divulging too much online, worried about pedos and marketers and embarrassing photos that will haunt you when you run for office or apply for a job in 10 years. They tell kids to treat their personal details as though they were precious.
But when schools take that personal information, indiscriminately invading privacy (and, of course, punishing students who use proxies and other privacy tools to avoid official surveillance), they send a much more powerful message: your privacy is worthless and you shouldn't try to protect it.
Robbins v. Lower Merion School District (PDF) (Thanks, Roland!)
Primal Scream to play 'Screamadelica' in its entirety in November
Primal Scream have announced they are set to play their seminal 1991 album 'Screamadelica' in its entirety in November.
The band, who have never played the album live in full before, will perform it at the London Olympia on November 27.
'Screamadelica', considered a dance/rock classic, was produced by Andrew Weatherall and features 'Movin' On Up', 'Loaded' and the 10-minute long 'Come Together'.
Tickets go on sale on February 26.
The band, who have never played the album live in full before, will perform it at the London Olympia on November 27.
'Screamadelica', considered a dance/rock classic, was produced by Andrew Weatherall and features 'Movin' On Up', 'Loaded' and the 10-minute long 'Come Together'.
Tickets go on sale on February 26.
Liverpool FC deny latest takeover rumours but billionaire ‘is seriously considering bid’
Despite denials from Liverpool FC that Indian businessmen Mukesh Ambani and Subrata Roy are amongst the potential investors in negotiations with the club, sources in India insist that Roy is seriously considering a bid for the Anfield giants, which could emerge within the next ten days.
Roy, chairman of the Sahara Group conglomerate, has consistently supported Indian cricket and distanced himself from a move to buy a Premier League soccer club, but rumours linking him with a move to Liverpool have not gone away, and an increasing number of sources close to Sahara claim that Roy is seriously considering the move.
'It is believed Roy is examining the viability of buying a stake, which would dilute the shareholding of Liverpool's co-owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks,' notes the Daily Telegraph newspaper. 'Liverpool remain confident of completing an equity infusion, a stated "requirement" of their banks, RBS and Wachovia, if Hicks and Gillett are to refinance their £237 million loan this summer before the end of the season.'
- Liverpool FC: Rafa Benitez calls for new ownership of club
- Banks won't loan Liverpool cash for stadium without new ownership
Earlier this week Rafa Benitez, Liverpool's manager, added his voice to those calling for Hicks and Gillett, to sell a stake in the club to fresh investors.
"Everyone knows we need a new stadium and investors if we want to go forward so it would be good for the club," Benitez told ESPN. "Over the last two years everyone is talking about new investors and the new stadium and so all the fans are waiting for this good news - and me too."
Ruby Hunter RIP
Aboriginal singer and songwriter Ruby Hunter has died.
The partner of singer Archie Roach reportedly died of a heart attack at her home in Victoria's western district, sources have confirmed.
A Ngarrindjeri woman from South Australia, Hunter met her lifelong partner Archie Roach when she was 16 when they both were homeless teenagers.
Hunter received two ARIA Award nominations - one in 1995 and one in 2000.
She has won Deadlys in 2000 for Female Artist of the Year, 2003 for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music and 2004 for Excellence in Film and Theatrical Score.
She made her acting debut in One Night the Moon.
With Archie Roach and Paul Grabowsky she wrote and performed the concert Ruby's Story, which told the story of her life through song and spoken word.
With Archie Roach and Paul Grabowsky she wrote and performed the concert Ruby's Story, which told the story of her life through song and spoken word.
Peaches stopped from performing Jesus Christ Superstar
Judas! ... Peaches prevented from going electro with Jesus Christ Superstar. Photograph: Getty
Peaches' "stripped-down" performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar has been "crucified before opening night", the electro-rapper declared yesterday. The concert, which was to take place at Berlin's Hebbel theatre, was cancelled after German rights-holders allegedly refused to license the songs.
"To perform Jesus Christ Superstar as a one-woman-song is a crazy enterprise," Peaches admitted in her initial press release. Citing her teenage affection for the musical, the singer announced plans to sing the entire show, "from entering Jerusalem until the crucifixion", in performances from 25-27 March. Accompanied by pianist Chilly Gonzales, "Peaches will sing all roles including: Jesus, Maria Magdalena, the disciples and the pharisees," organisers said.
Unfortunately, Sir Andrew's German colleagues were not enthusiastic. In a flurry of posts to Twitter, Peaches revealed that the musical's rights-holders had refused to grant her permission to use the material. "[They] claim that this project is of no interest to them due to its unconventional form," she wrote. "It's a shame that the authorities feel threatened by this fresh approach. I know a lot of people who really love the music and would appreciate this stripped-down solo performance. I have so much respect for the music and lyrics from the original score and this was my way of honouring that."
Earlier, Peaches framed the Jesus Christ Superstar production in the same terms as her previous concert performances, many of which were provocative or sexually explicit. "I'm a performer," she said, "my concerts are extravagant and play with exaggerations. This project allows me to do without all this. I want to confront this task totally exposed, because it is a possibility. It's a question of stamina." There's still time for rights-holders to turn the other cheek.
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