LCN - The 6 Mix With Mary Anne Hobbs
3 hours ago
Thursday, 6 October 2011
U.S. Signs International Anti-Piracy Accord
The United States applauded the deal.
“As with many of the challenges we face in today’s global economy, no government can single-handedly eliminate the problem of global counterfeiting and piracy. Signing this agreement is therefore an act of shared leadership and determination in the international fight against intellectual property theft,” said Mariam Sapiro, deputy United States trade representative.
The deal, more than three years in the making and open for signing until May 2013, exports on participating nations an intellectual-property enforcement regime resembling the one in the United States.
Rashmi Rangnath, a staff attorney with Public Knowledge in Washington, D.C., said the deal “clearly, is an attempt to foist U.S. law on other countries.”
Among other things, the accord demands governments make it unlawful to market devices that circumvent copyright, such as devices that copy encrypted DVDs without authorization. That is akin to a feature in the the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the United States, where the law has been used by Hollywood studios to block RealNetworks from marketing DVD-copying technology.
The accord, which the United States says does not require Congressional approval, also calls on participating nations to maintain extensive seizure and forfeiture laws when it comes to counterfeited goods that are trademarked or copyrighted. Most important, countries must carry out a legal system where victims of intellectual property theft may be awarded an undefined amount of monetary damages.
In the United States, for example, the Copyright Act allows for damages of up to $150,000 per infringement. A Boston jury has dinged a college student $675,000 for pilfering 30 tracks on Kazaa, while a Minnesota jury has awarded the Recording Industry Association of America $1.5 million for the purloining of 24 songs online.
A U.S.-backed footnote removed from the document more than a year ago provided for “the termination” of internet accounts for repeat online infringers. U.S. internet service providers and content providers, however, have brokered such a deal toward that goal.
Until European Union authorities began leaking the document’s text, the Obama administration was claiming the accord was a “national security” secret.
David Kravets @'Wired'
Power to the bosses is the Tories' goal
Never let a serious crisis go to waste, was the advice of Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama's former chief of staff, at the height of the 2008 financial crisis. His old boss may have struggled to embrace the wisdom, but it appears to have become a mantra for Conservatives gathered in Manchester this week.
So much for detoxification: the party that replaced its logo with a tree is now talking about watering down carbon emissions targets. Those traditional Tory bêtes noires – the unemployed and immigrants – are getting a renewed kicking in speeches. But it is in the proposed two-pronged assault on workers' rights that the Cameron Project becomes clear: to use a crisis unleashed by the banks to re-order society in the interests of the people at the top.
To begin with, George Osborne declared his intention to make it easier for bosses to sack workers – perversely, as a means of combating rising unemployment. The qualifying period for unfair dismissals will be increased from one year of employment to two; and workers who take their former employers to industrial tribunals will have to pay an initial deposit of £250, and another £1,000 if a hearing is granted. Osborne claims this will encourage companies to take workers on, but John Philpott, chief economic adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, believes it will simply "make employment less stable over the economic cycle".
Here is an attempt to scapegoat workers' rights for rising unemployment, rather than a lethal combination of government cuts and a lack of demand in the economy. Indeed, the only OECD country with a worse record on employment protection is the United States.
The second front being opened – perhaps predictably – is against the Tories' old trade union foes. Union reps in public services are given paid leave to represent workers: across the whole Civil Service, it accounts for just 0.2 per cent of staff time. But according to Francis Maude, it "has got way out of hand", so a crackdown beckons. In actual fact, union reps play a key role. A TUC report last year found that they saved billions in productivity gains and reducing working days lost to injury and illness. Their numbers have certainly increased, but largely because the last Conservative government abandoned national bargaining in the mid-1990s, leaving industrial relations issues in a tangled mess of departments and agencies.
Using the economic crisis as cover, the Tories are carrying on where Thatcherism left off: redistributing power from working people to their bosses. The last Conservative governments achieved it largely through anti-union laws, a clampdown on workers' rights, shifting the burden of tax from direct to indirect taxation, and mass unemployment. It was remarkably successful. Back in 1973, nearly two-thirds of national wealth went to workers' pay; today, it's just 53 per cent.
It is Labour's job to oppose these attacks, but its leadership remains paralysed by fear of getting slammed for being in the unions' pockets. Few politicians make the case that unions have any legitimate place in public life. They are "vested interests", not our biggest democratic movement, representing 7m nurses, supermarket checkout assistants, factory workers and others who keep the country ticking. The Tories – bankrolled by City firms and multimillionaires – can implement policies benefiting their backers without facing accusations of being their puppets.
I asked Neil Kinnock last year if the Conservatives were the class warriors of British politics. "No, because they've never had to engage in a class war," he answered. "Largely because we signed the peace treaty without realising that they hadn't." After this week, it's time to put those illusions to rest.
Owen Jones @'The Independent'
So much for detoxification: the party that replaced its logo with a tree is now talking about watering down carbon emissions targets. Those traditional Tory bêtes noires – the unemployed and immigrants – are getting a renewed kicking in speeches. But it is in the proposed two-pronged assault on workers' rights that the Cameron Project becomes clear: to use a crisis unleashed by the banks to re-order society in the interests of the people at the top.
To begin with, George Osborne declared his intention to make it easier for bosses to sack workers – perversely, as a means of combating rising unemployment. The qualifying period for unfair dismissals will be increased from one year of employment to two; and workers who take their former employers to industrial tribunals will have to pay an initial deposit of £250, and another £1,000 if a hearing is granted. Osborne claims this will encourage companies to take workers on, but John Philpott, chief economic adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, believes it will simply "make employment less stable over the economic cycle".
Here is an attempt to scapegoat workers' rights for rising unemployment, rather than a lethal combination of government cuts and a lack of demand in the economy. Indeed, the only OECD country with a worse record on employment protection is the United States.
The second front being opened – perhaps predictably – is against the Tories' old trade union foes. Union reps in public services are given paid leave to represent workers: across the whole Civil Service, it accounts for just 0.2 per cent of staff time. But according to Francis Maude, it "has got way out of hand", so a crackdown beckons. In actual fact, union reps play a key role. A TUC report last year found that they saved billions in productivity gains and reducing working days lost to injury and illness. Their numbers have certainly increased, but largely because the last Conservative government abandoned national bargaining in the mid-1990s, leaving industrial relations issues in a tangled mess of departments and agencies.
Using the economic crisis as cover, the Tories are carrying on where Thatcherism left off: redistributing power from working people to their bosses. The last Conservative governments achieved it largely through anti-union laws, a clampdown on workers' rights, shifting the burden of tax from direct to indirect taxation, and mass unemployment. It was remarkably successful. Back in 1973, nearly two-thirds of national wealth went to workers' pay; today, it's just 53 per cent.
It is Labour's job to oppose these attacks, but its leadership remains paralysed by fear of getting slammed for being in the unions' pockets. Few politicians make the case that unions have any legitimate place in public life. They are "vested interests", not our biggest democratic movement, representing 7m nurses, supermarket checkout assistants, factory workers and others who keep the country ticking. The Tories – bankrolled by City firms and multimillionaires – can implement policies benefiting their backers without facing accusations of being their puppets.
I asked Neil Kinnock last year if the Conservatives were the class warriors of British politics. "No, because they've never had to engage in a class war," he answered. "Largely because we signed the peace treaty without realising that they hadn't." After this week, it's time to put those illusions to rest.
Owen Jones @'The Independent'
Rocking Kabul: Afghanistan stages secretive rock event
The event finished in the Central Sound Festival at Bagh-e Babor Gardens
It was arranged in secret, dates and venues closely guarded until the day.
But this basement gig, held underneath a veterinary clinic, isn't in London or New York but in the Afghan capital, Kabul.The event was part of the city's first rock festival since the fall of the Taliban and it went ahead despite threats to some of the bands.
"Four or five years ago all this could only have been a dream," says lead vocalist of District Unknown, Kassim.
"You wouldn't even be able to dream it up actually. Having a rock festival, people gathering, girls and boys together and listening to this music and headbanging. But this week it's happening."
District Unknown are an Afghan heavy metal band and like their idols Slipknot, they usually wear masks. But they wear them to protect their identity, having been threatened by the Taliban not to play music.
"Some so-called very religious people like to spread the fear of the Taliban. I've been threatened two times," says the band's 23-year-old drummer, Pedrum.
"They come to you and say stop it or we'll force you to stop. I told them that I had stopped, so we all started using masks. I hate hiding myself, I'm sick of it."
The secret gig is packed and sweaty and there's a very enthusiastic mosh pit. It could almost pass as a rock night at a student union bar in the UK.
The boys wear low-slung jeans with Pink Floyd and Red Hot Chili Peppers T-shirts, the few girls in attendance wear long-sleeved tops, but don't cover their hair like most Afghan women.
'Not for girls' Eighteen-year-old Nargis and 25-year-old Farida are students in Kabul. They are two of just four girls at the gig.
"I like to come to such places because you don't find this sort of thing in Afghanistan," says Farida.
Like everyone at the gig, they are taking a big risk and like everyone there they ask for their surnames not to be used.
Much of Afghan society thinks girls don't come out at night, and certainly not without their parents.
"There are not many girls who are brave enough to come to these parties," admits Nagris. "There are many Afghan men at this party who think it's wrong for a girl to come.
"But now we come and they can see it's not something very bad. It's only music, we're just chilling."
Farida says she's determined to try her best to lead a normal life: "We know anything can happen. Everyday when you walk out of your house, you know you might not come home in the evening.
"But we can't lock ourselves away and not enjoy our lives. We need to take the risks to live our lives like human beings."
Secret texts Music was banned under the Taliban and Afghan society remains a deeply conservative one.
Bands came from all over Central Asia, including Iran and Tajikistan Whilst traditional Afghan music and even Bollywood songs can be heard on the streets of the capital, rock music is generally seen as an unwanted western influence.
That disapproval meant fans had to register on a secret database to let them receive text messages of where and when the performances were taking place.
Almost 1,000 people attended the four-day event, with bands taking part from all over central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iran.
It's 10 years this week since British and American forces began bombing Kabul to get rid of the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks.
International troops have been based in the country ever since, but both Britain and America want all combat troops out of Afghanistan by 2015.
Pedrum from District Unknown has mixed emotions about the deadline: "I think if the international forces leave this country just as it's moved forward everything will be smashed up again.
"We're lucky they are here but we need to find our own path. It's not right to try to make Afghanistan a western country. It's never going to happen.
"But no-one forced us to play rock music tonight, no-one forced us to growl and shout. No-one forced those guys to headbang to us, but they did."
Fugn semantics...
wikileaks WikiLeaks
We have not released Steve Jobs medical records. Do try reading before writing.
@wikileaks You released them in 2009, correct? And just felt we needed to read them again today?
We have not released Steve Jobs medical records. Do try reading before writing.
domknight Dominic Knight
exilestreet Mona Street
@wikileaks do try thinking before tweeting
jamesrbuk James Ball
Fairly dubious strategy from@wikileaks too: having alienated half the world's media, now alienates fans of 1. Apple and 2. Privacy.
Fairly dubious strategy from
rj_gallagher Ryan Gallagher
@jamesrbuk Got to agree. Aside from being a breach of Article 8 (is.gd/PO4DPc) it's just bad taste.
FontShop FontShop
Thank you Steve Jobs, for all you did in your time on earth toward promoting good design to the masses.
Thank you Steve Jobs, for all you did in your time on earth toward promoting good design to the masses.
OneNakedApe .
Apparently there are 1.78 deaths per second in the world. Some are more meaningful than others bit.ly/7pFtr
Apparently there are 1.78 deaths per second in the world. Some are more meaningful than others bit.ly/7pFtr
Please don't bring back Herbert Marcuse
As an almost soixante-huitard, I predict that the Occupy Wall Street crowd will soon rediscover Herbert Marcuse and return him to guruhood. His 1968 postscript to his 1965 essay on "repressive tolerance" will no doubt be the first to return to vogue.
UPDATE:
An email arrives from my friend the Wall Street lawyer:
UNDER the conditions prevailing in this country, tolerance does not, and cannot, fulfill the civilizing function attributed to it by the liberal protagonists of democracy, namely, protection of dissent. The progressive historical force of tolerance lies in its extension to those modes and forms of dissent which are not committed to the status quo of society, and not confined to the institutional framework of the established society. Consequently, the idea of tolerance implies the necessity, for the dissenting group or individuals, to become illegitimate if and when the established legitimacy prevents and counteracts the development of dissent. This would be the case not only in a totalitarian society, under a dictatorship, in one-party states, but also in a democracy (representative, parliamentary, or 'direct') where the majority does not result from the development of independent thought and opinion but rather from the monopolistic or oligopolistic administration of public opinion, without terror and (normally) without censorship. In such cases, the majority is self-perpetuating while perpetuating the vested interests which made it a majority. In its very structure this majority is 'closed', petrified; it repels a priori any change other than changes within the system. But this means that the majority is no longer justified in claiming the democratic title of the best guardian of the common interest. And such a majority is all but the opposite of Rousseau's 'general will': it is composed, not of individuals who, in their political functions, have made effective 'abstraction' from their private interests, but, on the contrary, of individuals who have effectively identified their private. interests with their political functions. And the representatives of this majority, in ascertaining and executing its will, ascertain and execute the will of the vested interests, which have formed the majority. The ideology of democracy hides its lack of substance.Hard to believe, but as a student I actually had to read such stuff. I suppose I am now myself a cog in the machine upholding the "monopolistic or oligopolistic administration of public opinion".
UPDATE:
An email arrives from my friend the Wall Street lawyer:
You’d think to be taken seriously they would at least loot or destroy something. For historical reference, I think it was Abbie Hoffman who caused a riot on the floor of the NYSE back in the ‘60’s by dumping a basket of dollar bills from the visitors’ gallery. Of course, this is not possible with today’s security, and if you want to throw away money on the exchange you have to do it the old fashioned way (investing in shares).Lexington @'The Economist'
Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself -- at the university's 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005.
Transcript of Steve Jobs' address:
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html
Transcript of Steve Jobs' address:
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html
Steve Jobs RIP
We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.
Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts
- Apple'se statement
Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts
- Apple'se statement
Steve Jobs dead: Apple confirms former CEO loses fight
Occupy Wall Street - Official Demands (UPDATED)
The Sovereign People's Movement, represented nationally through the people occupying the various Liberty Square locations across this great country, have laid out and democratically submitted and are currently voting on the list of following Demands to then be distilled into one Unified Common demand of the people.
LIST OF PROPOSED "DEMANDS FOR CONGRESS"
Participate in Democracy and Vote Here to Have Your Voice Heard
LIST OF PROPOSED "DEMANDS FOR CONGRESS"
- CONGRESS PASS HR 1489 ("RETURN TO PRUDENT BANKING ACT" http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1489 ). THIS REINSTATES MANY PROVISIONS OF THE GLASS-STEAGALL ACT. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass–Steagall_Act --- Wiki entry summary: The repeal of provisions of the Glass–Steagall Act of 1933 by the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act in 1999 effectively removed the separation that previously existed between investment banking which issued securities and commercial banks which accepted deposits. The deregulation also removed conflict of interest prohibitions between investment bankers serving as officers of commercial banks. Most economists believe this repeal directly contributed to the severity of the Financial crisis of 2007–2011 by allowing Wall Street investment banking firms to gamble with their depositors' money that was held in commercial banks owned or created by the investment firms. Here's detail on repeal in 1999 and how it happened: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass–Steagall_Act#Repeal .
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Vote Here #1
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- USE CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY AND OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AGENCIES FULLY INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THE WALL STREET CRIMINALS who clearly broke the law and helped cause the 2008 financial crisis in the following notable cases: (insert list of the most clear cut criminal actions). There is a pretty broad consensus that there is a clear group of people who got away with millions / billions illegally and haven't been brought to justice. Boy would this be long overdue and cathartic for millions of Americans. It would also be a shot across the bow for the financial industry. If you watch the solidly researched and awared winning documentary film "Inside Job" that was narrated by Matt Damon (pretty brave Matt!) and do other research, it wouldn't take long to develop the list.
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Vote Here #2
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- CONGRESS ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY BY REVERSING THE EFFECTS OF THE CITIZENS UNITED SUPREME COURT DECISION which essentially said corporations can spend as much as they want on elections. The result is that corporations can pretty much buy elections. Corporations should be highly limited in ability to contribute to political campaigns no matter what the election and no matter what the form of media. This legislation should also RE-ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC AIRWAVES IN THE U.S. SO THAT POLITICAL CANDIDATES ARE GIVEN EQUAL TIME FOR FREE AT REASONABLE INTERVALS IN DAILY PROGRAMMING DURING CAMPAIGN SEASON. The same should extend to other media.
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Vote Here #3
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- CONGRESS PASS THE BUFFETT RULE ON FAIR TAXATION SO THE RICH AND CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE & CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOP HOLES AND ENACT A PROHIBITION ON HIDING FUNDS OFF SHORE. No more GE paying zero or negative taxes. Pass the Buffet Rule on fair taxation so the rich pay their fair share. (If we have a really had a good negotiating position and have the place surrounded, we could actually dial up taxes on millionaires, billionaires and corporations even higher...back to what they once were in the 50's and 60's.
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Vote Here #4
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- CONGRESS COMPLETELY REVAMP THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION and staff it at all levels with proven professionals who get the job done protecting the integrity of the marketplace so citizens and investors are both protected. This agency needs a large staff and needs to be well-funded. It's currently has a joke of a budget and is run by Wall St. insiders who often leave for high ticket cushy jobs with the corporations they were just regulating. Hmmm.
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Vote Here #5
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- CONGRESS PASS SPECIFIC AND EFFECTIVE LAWS LIMITING THE INFLUENCE OF LOBBYISTS AND ELIMINATING THE PRACTICE OF LOBBYISTS WRITING LEGISLATION THAT ENDS UP ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS.
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Vote Here #6
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- CONGRESS PASSING "Revolving Door Legislation" LEGISLATION ELIMINATING THE ABILITY OF FORMER GOVERNMENT REGULATORS GOING TO WORK FOR CORPORATIONS THAT THEY ONCE REGULATED. So, you don't get to work at the FDA for five years playing softball with Pfizer and then go to work for Pfizer making $195,000 a year. While they're at it, Congress should pass specific and effective laws to enforce strict judicial standards of conduct in matters concerning conflicts of interest. So long as judges are culled from the ranks of corporate attorneys the 1% will retain control.
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Vote Here #7
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- ELIMINATE "PERSONHOOD" LEGAL STATUS FOR CORPORATIONS. The film "The Corporation" has a great section on how corporations won "personhood status". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SuUzmqBewg . Fast-forward to 2:20. It'll blow your mind. The 14th amendment was supposed to give equal rights to African Americans. It said you "can't deprive a person of life, liberty or property without due process of law". Corporation lawyers wanted corporations to have more power so they basically said "corporations are people." Amazingly, between 1890 and 1910 there were 307 cases brought before the court under the 14th amendment. 288 of these brought by corporations and only 19 by African Americans. 600,000 people were killed to get rights for people and then judges applied those rights to capital and property while stripping them from people. It's time to set this straight.
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Vote Here #8
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To Vote on All #Revolution Demands - Click Here
The Walkman Museum
Welcome to Pocket Calculator's Classic Walkman Museum. Our goal here is to provide you with the most complete vintage walkman & portable stereo information source anywhere. As trivial as the subject may be, we realize there's a following out there in search of information on the history, technology and collectibility of personal stereos and walkmans. The museum provides information on the birth and Golden Age (1979-1989) of these devices through photos, information and opinions.
Most of us have no trouble taking this little device for granted, and perhaps that's only indicative of its success. We struggle to name another invention that has reached such ubiquity in such a short period of time. Sadly, this little gadget has fallen into decline in recent years--gone are the days of sharp styling, state-of-the-art engineering in a small, yet feature-laden package. We're left with hackneyed, disposable descendants, most of which are bulkier than those made 15 years earlier...
Pictured above is the first (and best) Walkman I owned (the Sony TCS-310) bought in 1981 for £100 in a shop in Charlotte Street London W1. I got some great recordings of gigs on this back in the day.
To find your 'cassette tape' (a term just dropped from the Oxford English Dictionary) of choice, go here.
Swans In Concert: ATP Festival 2011
After several years and other projects, frontman Michael Gira reconvened the band in 2010. It wasn't a reunion, because the resulting new album, My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky, was more like the next step. Live, Gira is not unlike his kindred spirit in Woven Hand, shepherding a swirl of foot-stomping chaos, but in five songs smeared over two hours, Swans was absolutely Wagner-ian in scope. The result was masculine and relentless, yet alluring in every respect.
Ron Carter Trio - Jazz sous Les Pommiers Festival 03.06.2011
Ron Carter - bass
Mulgrew Miller - piano
Bobby Groom - guitar
01:20:00
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