Daily Archives: January 30, 2012

SOPA Was Only the Beginning: ACTA Gets International Push Back

January 30, 2012   Juliann Busciglio   No comments

As members of the European Union sign ACTA into something that we should use, it still requires ratification from the European parliament. Many citizens decided to fight against ACTA, unfortunately while these protests are happening, the government signed the treaty anyway.

ACTA can impact the Internet. ACTA may not be as popular as the SOPA/PIPA bills were. The anti-SOPA protests resulted in a positive way. On the other hand, ACTA appears as if the complaints are not being heard. Many people are protesting, and want the government to notice.

At Avaaz.org there is a petition where citizens through European are invited to sign. Its goal is to reach 750,000 signatures, currently the petition is close to the 600,000 mark.

 

Maybe these governments will sit up and take notice of what their citizens want although, considering all the governments that have already signed ACTA, these protests may not do any good until the EU parliament looks at the treaty, but is not going to happen until this summer.

 

 

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The Right to Anonymity is a Matter of Privacy

January 30, 2012   Juliann Busciglio   No comments

January 28th marks International Privacy Day. Many countries across the globe are acknowledging this holiday with special events. This current year, we are honoring the holiday by bringing attention to recent international privacy threats.

At EFF, they view anonymity as free speech and privacy. They say that  the right to anonymity is truly a matter of privacy. Many professionals use pseudonyms online to keep employment separate from their personal lives.

Four years ago, an Alaskan blogger, Alaska Muckraker wrote about her criticism of McCain running-mate Sarah Palin. The Alaska Muckraker was blogging and committed an act of journalism. . Later, after inveighing against a rude email sent to constituents by Alaska State Representative Mike Doogan, AKM was outed–by Doogan–who wrote that his “own theory about the public process is you can say what you want, as long as you are willing to stand behind it using your real name.”

Anonymity and pseudonymous may seem increasingly difficult to achieve online. Companies like Face book block the right to use pseudonym. If you think you are being anonymous that might not always be the case.

We should continue to fight for the right of privacy but to value our right we can use tools like Tor. Anonymous bloggers can use Global Voices Advocacy;’s online guide to blogging anonymously using sites like Word press or Tor. All internet users should be educated on what is private and what is not.

 

 

 

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Bruce Springsteen’s “Wrecking Ball” to Appear on Vinyl

January 30, 2012   Samantha Kauffman   No comments

Photo Credit: http://glennsimmons.files.wordpress.com

 Bruce Springsteen’s new album, that will be released on March 6, 2012, will also be appearing on vinyl.

The album will be pressed as a two LP set and will contain 11 songs from the original album.

A bonus CD copy of the album will also be included with the vinyl copy.

Springsteen reported that “Wrecking Ball” is the best album he has done in years.

Springsteen and the E Street Band will be touring the new album from March 18 throughout the month of April in addition to his European tour dates.

This story contains information from Ultimate Classic Rock.

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Miranda Lambert Suffers another Loss

January 30, 2012   Samantha Kauffman   No comments

Photo Credit: http://img2.timeinc.net/people

After an already tough week for Miranda Lambert, the country star is faced with another loss.

After Lambert and her husband, Blake Shelton, dealt with the mourning over the death of his father, Dick Shelton, Lambert now has lost her childhood friend after a tragic accident.

Lambert posted a heart-filled tweet on her Twitter regarding her current situation, “I have lost a friend I’ve had since 3rd grade today in a tragic accident, when will this pain end. Please pray for peace,” according to Taste of Country.

Friends and family of Lambert replied with their thoughts and prayers like fellow country star, Dierks Bentley.

Lambert later reminded fans, friends and family to contact your friends especially ones you haven’t heard from in awhile, and to remind them you love them because the pain you feel when it’s too late is hurtful.

Shelton and Lambert both rescheduled shows last week to spend time with their family. It is not yet determined if Lambert will rescheduling anymore shows.

 

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Former Michigan Attorney General Against Legalized Marijuana

January 30, 2012   Joanelle Navarro   1 Comment

Photo Credit: www.theblackbottom.com

The former attorney general for Michigan, Mike Cox, recently admitted that although he had smoked marijuana in high school during the 1970s, he doesn’t believe that cannabis should be legalized.

Cox believes there are some problems with legalizing the drug and that he won’t support moves to do it in the states.

“I am not for it mostly because I don’t know how you regulate common, everyday things such as driving while impaired,” Cox said.

The Republican former attorney general was the keynote speaker during a daylong symposium held on Jan. 27.  The event was held at Wayne State University’s Law School and the social, economic, health and legal impacts of marijuana reform were discussed.

Cox said during his speech that he wants the Michigan Legislature to address the ambiguities in the medical marijuana law that was passed in 2008 by 63 percent of voters.

The former attorney general said he believes medical marijuana dispensaries are consistent with voter wants, although they aren’t directly authorized in the referendum that they approved.

The event came after activists had launched a petition drive urging people to sign for a constitutional amendment that would make marijuana legal for adults 21 and over.  Their effort needs to collect 322, 608 signatures by July 9 in order to qualify for the November ballot.  The drive has recruited around 2,000 volunteers around the state.

Despite these efforts, the current Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette outwardly opposes medicinal cannabis and claims that the whole business is a sham.  He also believes that medicinal cannabis is just a back door to legalization.

Since the approval of medical marijuana in 2008, around 130,000 patients have registered with the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

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‘The Grey’ Not a Hit with Environmentalists

January 30, 2012   Meagan Cahuasqui   No comments

Renowned actor Liam Neeson recently starred in a movie called The Grey that tells the story of a team of oil drillers in Alaska that survived a plane crash but must now survive the blood thirsty wolves before help finds them.  The film has not been well received among environmentalists as they claim it is a false depiction of wolves.

The beasts that fall into the role of villain for the film are described as “rogue wolves,” a term that does not apply to the real-life animals.  Contrary to what the movie shows, since gray wolves have been reintroduced to Yellowstone Park, the elk herds that had been foraging in the area and diminishing certain plant life have been curbed with the wolves’ hunting patterns, which don’t include human beings.

Not all reviews are concerned with the veracity of the wolves’ depiction though.  In a review by the Rolling Stone, The Grey is complimented on its exciting portrayal of man vs. nature with Neeson playing the heroic survivalist who conquers nature by beating the killer wolves.

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