American Censorship SOPA & PIPA

[KG26_Alpha]

Ok firstly let's not get too political but discuss the ramifications of the effect on media sites.



Anyone signed up yet ?

http://americancensorship.org/

[Sternjaeger II]

all I know is that I needed Wikipedia for work today and couldn't access it... motherlickers!! :evil:

[bongodriver]

Will a views of people outside the US count?

[JimmyBlonde]

You can petition the State Department Bongodriver.

[Osprey]

Will a views of people outside the US count?

No, especially if they want to deport you for any of the things that are legal in the UK but aren't in the USA.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/jan/13/piracy-student-loses-us-extradition

[BaronBonBaron]

Last month I contacted my local Representative and state Senators telling them to fight against SOPA/PIPA, I'll do it again soon.

IMO these bills are bad, bad, bad.

[Thee_oddball]

"There was once a nanny-goat who said,
In my cradle someone sang to me:
"A strong man is coming.
He will set you free!"

The ox looked at her askance.
Then turning to the pig
He said,
"That will be the butcher."

Bertolt Brecht

[CWMV]

Will a views of people outside the US count?

Hell, they don't even listen to we citizens anymore, so your totally out of consideration.

[Ataros]

No, especially if they want to deport you for any of the things that are legal in the UK but aren't in the USA.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/jan/13/piracy-student-loses-us-extradition

UK does not protect its citizens? A hair-raising revelation. I would not be surprised if this happened in Russia or any 3rd world country. Sorry but it looks as if UK had lost its independence.

In July the agency's assistant deputy director told the Guardian that ICE would now actively pursue websites similar to TVShack even if their only connection to the US was a website address ending in .com or .net.

Such suffixes are routed through Verisign, an internet infrastructure company based in Virginia, which the agency believes is sufficient to seek a US prosecution.

Kind of "evidence" Stalin's or Putin's court would use. To me it seems as the only connection to the US is that someone in the US does not like this. Human rights is a myth even in good old Europe. Ahh... This world is doomed. Orwell's "1984" slowly comes true. Those who print money order the music :)

BTW, from here it seems that Germany or France are much more independent from the US, at least it was obvious in Tony Blair's time.

[335th_GRAthos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HGEUhCfQ464

[ATAG_Doc]

No, especially if they want to deport you for any of the things that are legal in the UK but aren't in the USA.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/jan/13/piracy-student-loses-us-extradition

This is the effects of globalization. No one will partake in it unless there is a regress process and this is sadly what it is. I don't like it one bit but the powers to be on both side recognize that there has to be a process to address business issues on both sides of the ocean. No one rushing to vote for this setup probably ever considered this as a result but it is what it is. Big business will continue to run things I'm afraid.

[von Pilsner]

It is troubling (in the USA at least) that intellectual property has become so important that many times it is now (somehow) a criminal offense instead of a civil issue.

I hate to think that people in other countries need to be careful of breaking US law when they are in their own (supposedly) soverign nation....
This guy (http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/01/13/1548214/us-government-seeks-extradition-of-uk-student-for-file-sharing) is likely getting extradited to the US for a link sharing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O'Dwyer) site, the government where he lives does not think it's worth prosecuting, but they will ship him off to the USA for some good old fashioned justice... :(

Our IP laws seem to be getting quite broad in their interpetation and enforcement...
-Supreme Court Says Congress May Re-Copyright Public Domain Works (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/scotus-re-copyright-decision/)
-The Great Martin Luther King Copyright Conundrum (http://news.yahoo.com/great-martin-luther-king-copyright-conundrum-170521665.html) ($10.00 to see I have a Dream historical speech)
and so on and so forth...

[JG52Uther]

It is troubling (in the USA at least) that intellectual property has become so important that many times it is now (somehow) a criminal offense instead of a civil issue.

I hate to think that people in other countries need to be careful of breaking US law when they are in their own (supposedly) soverign nation....
This guy (http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/01/13/1548214/us-government-seeks-extradition-of-uk-student-for-file-sharing) is likely getting extradited to the US for a link sharing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O'Dwyer) site, the government where he lives does not think it's worth prosecuting, but they will ship him off to the USA for some good old fashioned justice... :(
.
Its quite a big story here, as what he did is not even an offense in the UK...

[fruitbat]

Its quite a big story here, as what he did is not even an offense in the UK...

Thank Mr Blair for signing the most one sided treaty in history, not including those of a defeated country, although that's moot.....

[Ataros]

This means if a modder makes a Grumman aircraft model for CloD one day and it is used on a server located in the USA or published on a US website, he can be extradited to the USA for prosecution.

Does EU have the same agreement?

[fruitbat]

Does EU have the same agreement?

No, only Britain, they weren't as far up George's arse as Tony was. To be fair, neither was George's underpants.

[GOZR]

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

[TheEditor]

I thought this was a good read:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=23797

[BaronBonBaron]

"Yesterday's internet-wide protest may not have killed Congress's anti-piracy efforts completely, but a lot of legislators (including some co-sponsors) suddenly can't run away from the bills fast enough. According to Ars Technica's count, 18 Senators, mostly Republican, have withdrawn their support for the Protect IP Act in the last 24 hours, including seven former co-sponsors. Roy Blunt of Missouri (pictured), is another one of the co-sponsors who turned on the bill, following Marco Rubio's lead. Most are now calling PIPA "flawed" or "not ready for prime time," but since they didn't seem to feel that way on Tuesday, it's pretty clear that Wednesday's public protests have had at least some of their desired effect." :)

http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-bail-sopa-pipa-yesterdays-internet-blackout-121420287.html

[335th_GRAthos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HGEUhCfQ464

I think the issue is over as I read that President Obama announced that he will block the law.

~S~

[nearmiss]

America has the best government money can buy.

Lobbyists spend billions each year, just lobbying Congress.

They buy all the influence ther billions can buy.

Americans don't know zip about how the stupid bills get to congress, that are created by lobbyists.

There are more rats (influence peddlers) among lobbyists than can be counted on American politican scene.

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/index.php

If the rats persist with these types of bills they will eventually succeed. The American people are too busy lying on the sofa, sucking up potato chips, french fries, and watching TV to care about politics.

When Nikita Kruschev banged his shoe on the table and declared, ‘We shall destroy you from within’ during the infamous "Kitchen Debate" - he knew what he was talking about. He was talking about the destruction of the so-called American Republic being replaced with communism.

[von Pilsner]

Americans don't know zip about how the stupid bills get to congress, that are created by lobbyists.

Not necessarily true, but since I do not have millions myself I find it difficult to be on capitol hill lobbying congress to support my interests.

The American people are too busy lying on the sofa, sucking up potato chips, french fries, and watching TV to care about politics..

Ouch - you could probably make your point without insulting every American... Not caring and feeling disenfranchised are 2 different things and I believe you may be confusing one with the other. Most adults I know have opinions about the current political scene here and as far as I know most of my friends and co-workers vote. I'm not sure how that equates to not caring.

[Oldschool61]

America has the best government money can buy.

Lobbyists spend billions each year, just lobbying Congress.

They buy all the influence ther billions can buy.

Americans don't know zip about how the stupid bills get to congress, that are created by lobbyists.

There are more rats (influence peddlers) among lobbyists than can be counted on American politican scene.

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/index.php

If the rats persist with these types of bills they will eventually succeed. The American people are too busy lying on the sofa, sucking up potato chips, french fries, and watching TV to care about politics.

When Nikita Kruschev banged his shoe on the table and declared, ‘We shall destroy you from within’ during the infamous "Kitchen Debate" - he knew what he was talking about. He was talking about the destruction of the so-called American Republic being replaced with communism.

Corporate take over is facist. Problem is republican primarily as well as some dems allow business to be people and now we see the damage being done.

[addman]

It seems -right now- that the bill probably won't be passed and rightly so. This is a victory for freedom on the internet and I bet for every try that those money mongering suits do to limit it will meet even stiffer and stiffer opposition. Here in Finland I've done what I've could, commenting on online news articles and informing people on why this SOPA (which actually translates directly to "garbage" in Swedish) bill is such a bad thing.

At the same time though, here in Finland, thepiratebay.org has been blocked by Elisa (which is a big ISP here) because they have been threatened to pay hefty fines by the "IFPI" (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry). It was a court order and Elisa had to comply or pay fines, they chose the former. Other ISP's here are under the same "threat" but nothing has come of it yet. Sadly, I have Elisa DSL connection so I can no more access the piratebay. It does not bother me in the sense that I can't download pirated music/software/games/movies, if I wanted to there are countless alternative sites.

:mad:IT DOES OUTRAGE ME THOUGH THAT IN A SO CALLED FREE AND MODERN SOCIETY AS FINLAND I CANNOT VISIT ANY WEBSITE I WANT, PIRATE SITE OR NOT PIRATE SITE. I AM ASHAMED OF HAVING TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHICH ROBS ME OF MY LIBERTIES ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A SNEAKY AND QUIET FASHION AS THIS COURT RULING.:mad:

"It's just one website and a pirate one as well" some might say. I see it as the beginning of the end of the free internet that we have had so far.

[Oldschool61]

No, only Britain, they weren't as far up George's arse as Tony was. To be fair, neither was George's underpants.

When you say George do you mean George Bush our special needs president?

[fruitbat]

When you say George do you mean George Bush our special needs president?

yep.

[Oldschool61]

It seems -right now- that the bill probably won't be passed and rightly so. This is a victory for freedom on the internet and I bet for every try that those money mongering suits do to limit it will meet even stiffer and stiffer opposition. Here in Finland I've done what I've could, commenting on online news articles and informing people on why this SOPA (which actually translates directly to "garbage" in Swedish) bill is such a bad thing.

At the same time though, here in Finland, thepiratebay.org has been blocked by Elisa (which is a big ISP here) because they have been threatened to pay hefty fines by the "IFPI" (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry). It was a court order and Elisa had to comply or pay fines, they chose the former. Other ISP's here are under the same "threat" but nothing has come of it yet. Sadly, I have Elisa DSL connection so I can no more access the piratebay. It does not bother me in the sense that I can't download pirated music/software/games/movies, if I wanted to there are countless alternative sites.

:mad:IT DOES OUTRAGE ME THOUGH THAT IN A SO CALLED FREE AND MODERN SOCIETY AS FINLAND I CANNOT VISIT ANY WEBSITE I WANT, PIRATE SITE OR NOT PIRATE SITE. I AM ASHAMED OF HAVING TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHICH ROBS ME OF MY LIBERTIES ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A SNEAKY AND QUIET FASHION AS THIS COURT RULING.:mad:

"It's just one website and a pirate one as well" some might say. I see it as the beginning of the end of the free internet that we have had so far.

Cant you use a proxy site to access thepiratebay?

[addman]

Cant you use a proxy site to access thepiratebay?

No I don't think so. I don't care so much about piratebay and how to go abouts accessing it. It's just the fact that it's actually blocked, here, in Finland, this is not supposed to be China. That bugs me.

[BaronBonBaron]

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa395/logan3759/funny22.jpg


:-P Anyway, here's a good article on the subject.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/10/house-takes-senates-bad-internet-censorship-bill-makes-it-worse.ars

[swiss]

Cant you use a proxy site to access thepiratebay?

Sure you could, a simple vpn connection would do the trick.

[nearmiss]

It's not about pirate bay or intellectual theft...

It's about taking over communication between people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gyivhkllMA

Radical extremists can't take over the country while allowing free speech to flourish.

Mark Lloyd = http://radio.about.com/od/miscellaneous/p/Mark-Lloyd.htm

I regret saying this. If this goes down and gets approved. You watch the EU and other countries fall into the same line.

This is a biggy of the worst sort.

A Saudi shiek just bought a 300,000,000 interest in Twitter. Why? Twitter and Facebook were the communication mechanism in the middle east revolutions in Egypt, Yemen, etc,etc.
Saudi Arabia has enormous oil reserves. The extremists want to get hold of that country with all that oil wealth to wage their jihad?

The facts aren't all in yet, but if the extremists get control in Libya... look out, because Libya has 9th largest oil reserves in the world. All that oil means lots of money to wage the Jihad.

The internet is the free press of the entire world right now, except for China and a few others. Control the press and communication between the people is imperative to radicals.

So yes! This legislation can have world changing impact on freedom of speech worldwide.

[BadAim]

I'm always amazed at the naivete of people who believe themselves to be smarter than everyone else. How freaking long can people really keep blaming George Bush for the failures of the present (and the past) administrations? Good job keeping this thread non political. The Socialists will get their wish and take this republic apart piece by piece, then blame the conservatives for the inevitable collapse. The sad part is that the inept bureaucracy and broken political system that is facilitating the whole thing so very well will have no idea what happened....... and neither will the majority of Americans.

I guess we deserve you Euro's derision. Good luck with your own inevitable collapse.

[nearmiss]

The sad part is that the inept bureaucracy and broken political system that is facilitating the whole thing so very well will have no idea what happened....... and neither will the majority of Americans.


You are right on target BadAim...

There should be no cause for derision by EU, because the EU house of cards is falling as well.

In fact, the entire world is on the Central banking system's "FIAT MONEY".

Every country in the world has no collateral supporting it's money. The entire world's money supply is nothing, but promissory notes.

The Central banks have made us all brothers holding each others IOUs.

-------------------

I just got this email thought it might interest some of you

Thank you so so much for joining the fight against SOPA and PIPA today! You are a part of the largest online protest in history.

Because of you, we really might win this fight to protect our freedoms-- but we haven't won yet.

Please, do these three things right now to make the strike even bigger:

1. Forward this email to as many friends as possible! Make sure they watch this video <http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa/> .

2. Post to twitter <https://twitter.com/share?text=Join%20the%20largest%20online%20protest %20of%20all%20time%20-%20don't%20censor%20the%20internet!%20sopastrike.c om%20%23SOPASTRIKE (https://twitter.com/share?text=Join%20the%20largest%20online%20protest %20of%20all%20time%20-%20don%27t%20censor%20the%20internet%21%20sopastri ke.com%20%23SOPASTRIKE)> and post to facebook <https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://sopastrike.com> - you can also follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/fightfortheftr> if you want more breaking news.

Thank you again -- and stay tuned for more updates as we get ready for the next vote in Congress.

- Fight for the Future - this video really turns the light on

PIPA VIDEO <http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa>


or here on Vimeo

http://vimeo.com/31100268

[bongodriver]

Crazy ain't it.....everybody owes everybody else with interest and all the money owed doesn't even exist....or something like that.

[GOZR]

http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_19777444?source=rss

http://www.businessinsider.com/megaupload-shut-down-2012-1

Getting serious .. people need to react..!

This should be the People flag !!!......
http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp344/GOZR/frog.gif
Revolution !!!!!!

[NedLynch]

Just my two cents, besides the fact that the suggested bills are an abomination:

The biggest problem in the US seems to be the unavailability of complete, neutral, factual and easily accessable news. The news media in the US are worse than bad, imo mostly because they are for profit companies.

Moreso than who controls money, who controls information is in power.

It is not that americans are stupid or do not care. When I came to US more than 15 years ago I immediately felt cut off from the rest of the world newswise, it's like living in a bubble or on another planet and it has gotten worse over time for sure.

The other thing is that americans actually felt they were making a change for the better for themselves and for the world by voting for Obama, or at least roughly half of the US, the other half is still stuck in their view that a country/government has to be run like a business and that capitalism = freedom and make their voting decision dependant on the candidates stand on gay marriage, abortion rights and religion while in the middle of two wars ( I remember the horrid 2004 presidential campaign).
And nobody can tell me that 8 years of George did not do their good part to transport the US and in consequence the world into the economic toilet. There are many who believe this was deliberate and targeted at the destruction of the middle class, since a strong middle class is a big factor in having an actually free people.

But alas nothing got better, the powers to be in the US are probably way beyond the grasp and control of the people and brick by brick, little by little, noticed or unoticed, freedom is being dismantled.
There are a lot of people here in the US who are dissatisfied, desperate and angry (pretty much everybody in my workplace) and yet feel powerless to change things and take control over their fortunes. If voting does nothing then what does?

The proposed legislation will not pass, this time, but the proposed measures will come back in one way or another. The control of the flow of information and the masses is way to important.

[Jatta Raso]

Ok firstly let not get too political but discuss the ramifications of the effect on media sites.



Anyone signed up yet ?

http://americancensorship.org/

can't do that, this is a political issue from surface to core; information control (of any sort) is, along with repression, a fascist's government main weapon and censorship is the prime ammunition

[JG52Uther]

So, megaupload is gone, expect more sights to follow. The 'net is changing in a big way.

[CWMV]

...But alas nothing got better, the powers to be in the US are probably way beyond the grasp and control of the people and brick by brick, little by little, noticed or unoticed, freedom is being dismantled.
There are a lot of people here in the US who are dissatisfied, desperate and angry (pretty much everybody in my workplace) and yet feel powerless to change things and take control over their fortunes. If voting does nothing then what does?
...

Your previous comments aside, this part is beyond true.
My post over at SAS, as i am too lazy to re-type it!

And here is the great part!
I wrote three of my representatives in the last week. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Barbara "Hope she dies in a fire" Boxer (D-CA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)( >:().
Representative of the two political parties here in the US.
From Jeff Denham:

"Dear Mr. Dotson,

Thank you for your letter regarding intellectual property rights and content piracy online. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue and your opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), H.R. 3261.

Online content piracy is a major challenge to our intellectual property protection and is illegal. While the scale is difficult to gauge it is clear that piracy is a major cause of lost revenue for American firms both domestically and internationally.

It is extremely important that we continue to proactively take the steps necessary to ensure artists will keep producing the work that we all enjoy by protecting their copyrights from piracy. At the same time, we must always be wary of government regulation– especially in the ever-changing and expanding internet world. We must be careful that in our attempts to protect content and stop piracy, we must not unnecessarily hinder technological advancements and innovation.

On October 26, 2011, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced H.R. 3261. This bill aims to promote prosperity, creativity, and entrepreneurship by combating the theft of intellectual property. It would make additional enhancements of federal law to combat property theft. Like you, I have serious concerns with SOPA as it currently stands. The language is broad and could have serious unintended consequences. Congress needs to work with the technology and user communities to craft laws that protect against piracy without hampering innovation... "

And from Dianne Feinstein:

''Dear Mr. Dotson :

I received your letter expressing opposition to the "Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act," commonly known as the "PROTECT IP Act." I appreciate knowing your views on this matter.

The "PROTECT IP Act" (S. 968) gives both copyright and trademark owners and the U.S. Department of Justice the authority to take action against websites that are "dedicated to infringing activities." These are websites that have "no significant use other than engaging in, enabling, or facilitating" copyright infringement, the sale of goods with a counterfeit trademark, or the evasion of technological measures designed to protect against copying.

The bill does not violate First Amendment rights to free speech because copyright piracy is not speech.

America's copyright industry is an important economic engine, and I believe copyright owners should be able to prevent their works from being illegally duplicated and stolen. The protection of intellectual property is particularly vital to California's thriving film, music, and high-technology industries.

I understand you have concerns about the "PROTECT IP Act." While I voted in favor of this bill when it was before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have also been working with California high-technology businesses to improve the bill and to address the concerns of high-tech businesses, public interest groups and others. I recognize the bill needs further changes to prevent it from imposing undue burdens on legitimate businesses and activities, and I will be working to make the improvements, either by working with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) or through amendments on the Senate floor.

On May 26, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the "PROTECT IP Act" for consideration by the full Senate. Please know I will keep your concerns and thoughts in mind should the Senate proceed to a vote on this legislation. As you may be aware, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) has introduced similar legislation, the "Stop Online Piracy Act" (H.R. 3261), in the House of Representatives...''

Boxer has yet to reply, but I doubt I will receive anything different from that simpering socialist ninny.

What a crock!

[Wolf_Rider]

It's not about pirate bay or intellectual theft...


The internet is the free press of the entire world right now, except for China and a few others. Control the press and communication between the people is imperative to radicals.

So yes! This legislation can have world changing impact on freedom of speech worldwide.



You've nailed what is really all about...

A tamer but similar "Government initiative" is underway down here in Australia, with Government attempting to install a "'net filter". Basically, its a URL lock out list employed at ISP level, kept in secret and in reality - open to all sorts of manipulation.
This was being instigated under the old cry of "protecting the kiddies"... trouble is it doesn't do that anywhere near effectively, not even loosely effectively.

Controlling the Press, is key to keeping the public under control and under thumb... lack of proper education being another tool used to "keep the people down", as it were.

George Orwell wrote a book about what is happening... it is titled "Animal Farm". It is a marvelous, eye opening read (and no, its not an expose on socialism per se), it is an expose on "government" and the corruption of and subsequent abuse of power.
Lack of education, makes it easy to change the rules whilst saying the rules are what the citizens respond to best... lack of clear facts (news, etc) feed Chinese Whispers and the two together, make it easy generate fear and sew doubt. We're at the stage now, where the tower has been destroyed by the shadowy militant inhibitants of the farm next door, that no citizen has ever seen, and has to be rebuilt twice as thick, Snowball has been chased off and the pups are about to start tearing out the throats of those who speak out.

[Osprey]

Thank Mr Blair for signing the most one sided treaty in history, not including those of a defeated country, although that's moot.....

I think most of the British foreign policy with Bush and Blair went like this (@ 1.38 )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVreL6SFQ_k

embarrassing. The current dirtbags in Government said they'd remove this awful 'deal' if elected but have avoided it completely. It disgusts me.

[nearmiss]

Your previous comments aside, this part is beyond true.
My post over at SAS, as i am too lazy to re-type it!

You aren't alone by any imagination.

Read those congressional responses carefully, that you posted, realize one MOST IMPORTANT thing. They don't care what you think. They are empowered like never before. They don't give a whit for constituents views, they have the unions, community organizers and the media upholding their tenure in congress.

I read after Obama was elected that the media alone was worth 15 points to him in the last presidential election. McCain would have been a clear victor, except for the power of the media. I'm not saying McCain would have been any better, but he wouldn't have radicalized persons in such conspicuous authority. (czars). He would have been too aware of public opinion. Obama and his team don't care about public opinion they are empowered.

If the government is able to quash freedom of speech on the internet it could be the threshold event. People that are computer literate should build advocacy websites where people are enjoined. Young people should be extremely involved, because they are going to get to pay for the exorbitant wasting of America's resources and tyrannical government.

It is expedient, we must preserve status quo of the internet. Any government interventions no matter how small will be a step to taking it over and quashing free speech.

[BaronBonBaron]

"Immediately following Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) decision to postpone a full vote on the “PROTECT IP Act” (PIPA), which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), chief sponsor of the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA), has announced that he will delay further consideration of the contentious anti-piracy bill in the House “until there is wider agreement on a solution.”"

SOPA/PIPA is stopped...

“I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy,” said Smith in a statement. “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.”

...for now.

http://news.yahoo.com/sopa-stopped-chief-sponsor-delays-action-indefinitely-182059946.html

[Vengeanze]

A Saudi shiek just bought a 300,000,000 interest in Twitter. Why? Twitter and Facebook were the communication mechanism in the middle east revolutions in Egypt, Yemen, etc,etc.
Saudi Arabia has enormous oil reserves. The extremists want to get hold of that country with all that oil wealth to wage their jihad?

Hehe. Bush Jr choose to send in troops into Iraq instead. Cost just a tad more. ;-)
Same pattern as in ww2. Always being the comboy.


"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else."
- Churchill

All in good fun. :-)

[Vengeanze]

America has the best government money can buy.

Lobbyists spend billions each year, just lobbying Congress.

They buy all the influence ther billions can buy.

Americans don't know zip about how the stupid bills get to congress, that are created by lobbyists.

There are more rats (influence peddlers) among lobbyists than can be counted on American politican scene.

True over here too. :-(

[Osprey]

......“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.”


http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-steal-jailbreak-2011-6#

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Pavel

You know what, I could go on, anyone could, it's easy. Suffice it to say we're dealing with huge hypocracy and lies. Technically Sony are Japanese of course, but they are Global and make most of their money in the USA and Europe anyway.

[nearmiss]

I think it may be fair to say... Politicians aren't listening anywhere.

The last bastion of communication ( and the best) is the internet.

This above all must be preserved as is.

Anyone with the skill to build websites and share on the internet should consider carefully how they can be more involved. We need proactive people willing to do more to stop governments from reverting us to who knows what.

The people of the world must be united, not as special interest groups, but as the majority. The quiet ones of the majority must be enjoined to prevent governments from turning us all into worker ants.

[swiss]

sopa is dead (http://mashable.com/2012/01/20/sopa-is-dead-smith-pulls-bill/)

:cool:


edit:

Smith also released the following statement on Friday:

“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% 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.


19 million jobs?
$100.000.000.000 turnover.

In music and movies?! roflamo

[Thee_oddball]

Just my two cents, besides the fact that the suggested bills are an abomination:

The biggest problem in the US seems to be the unavailability of complete, neutral, factual and easily accessable news. The news media in the US are worse than bad, imo mostly because they are for profit companies.

Moreso than who controls money, who controls information is in power.

It is not that americans are stupid or do not care. When I came to US more than 15 years ago I immediately felt cut off from the rest of the world newswise, it's like living in a bubble or on another planet and it has gotten worse over time for sure.

The other thing is that americans actually felt they were making a change for the better for themselves and for the world by voting for Obama, or at least roughly half of the US, the other half is still stuck in their view that a country/government has to be run like a business and that capitalism = freedom and make their voting decision dependant on the candidates stand on gay marriage, abortion rights and religion while in the middle of two wars ( I remember the horrid 2004 presidential campaign).
And nobody can tell me that 8 years of George did not do their good part to transport the US and in consequence the world into the economic toilet. There are many who believe this was deliberate and targeted at the destruction of the middle class, since a strong middle class is a big factor in having an actually free people.

But alas nothing got better, the powers to be in the US are probably way beyond the grasp and control of the people and brick by brick, little by little, noticed or unoticed, freedom is being dismantled.
There are a lot of people here in the US who are dissatisfied, desperate and angry (pretty much everybody in my workplace) and yet feel powerless to change things and take control over their fortunes. If voting does nothing then what does?

The proposed legislation will not pass, this time, but the proposed measures will come back in one way or another. The control of the flow of information and the masses is way to important.

+1 well said

[FFCW_Urizen]

19 million jobs?
$100.000.000.000 turnover.

In music and movies?! roflamo

My guess is, that he is not just referring to Movies and Music, but also Games and Books. Just watch the end-titles-screen of any movie and look at the number of people involved. Then you might not lyao ;) .

[NedLynch]

19 million jobs, 60% of US exports

Yeah, another thing I could go on and on about that is wrong with this country.
The short version is manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas where cheap labour can be found (cough...China...chough).
So what's left in the US?
Intellectual property (that'll help really to have some independance when it comes to physical goods), virtual money making (Wall Street...yeah great) and the service sector (would you like cheese with that?).
So our duty as Americans seems to be to buy cheap plastic toys made in China for our kids around the hollidays so the US economy can thrive?

It is my understanding that the general feeling amongst average people (me included) is nothing is being made in the US anymore.
Just look at where the parts in our computers are made to the largest extend.
One other word, solar panels...like I said I could go on and on.

[FFCW_Urizen]

For shipping manufacturing jobs overseas, there isn´t one country, or more accurately, one company who doesn´t do that. It´s not just that wages are cheaper, companies have to invest less in safety standards, as most of those don´t exist in those countries.
it´s all about maximising profits.

[Octocat]

UK does not protect its citizens? A hair-raising revelation. I would not be surprised if this happened in Russia or any 3rd world country. Sorry but it looks as if UK had lost its independence.



Kind of "evidence" Stalin's or Putin's court would use. To me it seems as the only connection to the US is that someone in the US does not like this. Human rights is a myth even in good old Europe. Ahh... This world is doomed. Orwell's "1984" slowly comes true. Those who print money order the music :)

BTW, from here it seems that Germany or France are much more independent from the US, at least it was obvious in Tony Blair's time.


Tony Blair was a U.S. puppet. Great movie about it: The Ghost Writer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139328/). Germany did not have full sovereignty from the end of WW2 and until today, a document affirming a condition called "German Chancellor Act"

Also article:Berlin is Washington's Vassal Until 2099 (http://www.zundelsite.org/old_zundelsite/english/zgrams/zg2008/080523_Berlin_is_vassal.php)

[WTE_Galway]

The motivation is simple ...

" We here in Hollywood lack the imagination to create anything other than reruns sold the way we have always sold them and we also lack the motivation to provide any sort of service or value added features to attract people to genuine products. How can we continue to fleece people ? .. i know lets call a congressman and legislate it to be so ... "

[brando]

The option is to manufacture a quality product and base the price on the reliability and the support (that needs to be) available. CH Products are a good example of American build quality - conventional but sturdy - their controllers have the reputation of lasting a decade or longer. If something goes wrong they will fix it, and the software writer can be contacted any day on the users' website. They don't really do meaningless bells and whistles...but most users don't need that.

The problem is more about weaning your children away from the boredom/ gratification/ boredom cycle that has taken over from society.

[Wolf_Rider]

For shipping manufacturing jobs overseas, there isn´t one country, or more accurately, one company who doesn´t do that. It´s not just that wages are cheaper, companies have to invest less in safety standards, as most of those don´t exist in those countries.
it´s all about maximising profits.



It gets the unions out of their face as well

[5./JG27.Farber]

Anyone noticed Google will be changing their Privacy Policy in the next few months? Have you seen what is on it?

Im pretty sure this is not coincidental.

So anyone recommend a new search engine?

[Oldschool61]

For shipping manufacturing jobs overseas, there isn´t one country, or more accurately, one company who doesn´t do that. It´s not just that wages are cheaper, companies have to invest less in safety standards, as most of those don´t exist in those countries.
it´s all about maximising profits.

Or in simple terms GREED!!

[nearmiss]

Google probably had it in the works to go along with the SOPA/PIPA thing they expected to pass. Google has been doing alot of things over the past few years and gotten away with it.

Youtube ads are a good example. Google uses your creative videos for their advertisers, they pay the creator of the video nothing. If that isn't the gravy train you tell me what it is. That is copyright enfringement, but they get around it with their waiver agreement you sign onto when you post your videos.

Google is no longer a benefactor or friend to internet users. It isn't about search either. It's about monopolizing marketing.

Also, I just heard that twitter is going to do censoring thing. I wonder if the Saudi Prince that invested 300,000,000 in twitter had anything to do with that. I think Saudi royal family is fearful they will be next in revolutions. Twitter and facebook were the communication mechanisms that facilitated the overthrow of Egypt. People were communicating with each other, which is critical to such actions.

[5./JG27.Farber]

Youtube ads are a good example. Google uses your creative videos for their advertisers, they pay the creator of the video nothing. If that isn't the gravy train you tell me what it is. That is copyright enfringement, but they get around it with their waiver agreement you sign onto when you post your videos.



I use "AdBlocker Plus" plugin module for firefox mozilla, never seen an ad on youtube :)

[335th_GRAthos]

Anyone noticed Google will be changing their Privacy Policy in the next few months? Have you seen what is on it?

Im pretty sure this is not coincidental.

So anyone recommend a new search engine?

Fascinating, the moment I am reading your post, an e-mail arrives:

effective 1st March 2012
http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/

[WTE_Galway]

Lets not forget that in recent years the US courts have ...

- ruled that US companies need never worry about their IP rights going public domain. In the past after a set period like 50 or 60 years copyright expired. Disney won a case a few years back in the US that means US companies can keep renewing their rights forever. If that had been law in the past we would still be paying massive royalty to Mozart, Bach and Beethoven's descendants to perform any of their music even now 100's of years later.

- started to grant world wide rights to US companies for extremely basic and simple things. Apple recently were awarded some really stupid ones including apparently patenting the idea that whilst still on a phone call you can click icons to do other stuff on the phone. Seemingly before apple thought up people thought you had to hang up the phone before playing with any other settings or apps.


It actually would not matter so much if other countries such as must of Western Europe and the UK did not bend over backwards to suck up to US corporate bullying and exploitation.

[nearmiss]

Let's try to keep this on the topic of government intervention with internet. If the US passes this kind of legislation you can say what you will, but the rest of the world will follow. Like domino falling in rows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghfg7t5g7KE

I suggest anyone that can build websites, make your thoughts known through websites. There are all kinds of cheap website building kits available. Almost all people that host websites have free site builder tools.

You can make youtube videos as well. I don't know what the average number of views for video actually is, but I've been amazed at how some of the stupid stuff gets thousands of views. The stupid video above has 7,735 views when i posted it here.

[5./JG27.Farber]

It actually would not matter so much if other countries such as must of Western Europe and the UK did not bend over backwards to suck up to US corporate bullying and exploitation.

The UK has signed an extradition treaty with American, meaning I could "commit a crime" against America here in England and be sent to jail in America....

Wonder which other countries have this treaty.

[nearmiss]

The UK has signed an extradition treaty with American, meaning I could "commit a crime" against America here in England and be sent to jail in America....

Wonder which other countries have this treaty.

That doesn't make sense to you?

With world wide communication and ability to deal with nations while you aren't in the nation you are transacting with is common.

Think through this... What if you arranged to kill someone in America from England, then your hitman did kill, got caught and told who ordered the hit.

Who is guilty the person that ordered the kill or the contract killer?

[SlipBall]

Okay I'll jump in and defend America...You guys must understand what's at stake. I'm sure deep inside you is understood, that it is indeed all about stopping thieft that is at the core of these bill's. Because of measures like this being taken, we will all suffer with some loss of privacy, mainly because a bunch of jerks write these bills...It's all about stopping the robbing of peoples ideas, inventions, and creative expressions, what’s called intellectual property. Everything from trade secrets and proprietary products and parts to movies and music and software. (Il-2 anyone)
It’s a growing threat especially with the rise of digital technologies and Internet file sharing networks. And much of the theft takes place overseas, where laws are often lax and enforcement more difficult. All told, intellectual property theft costs U.S. businesses billions of dollars a year and robs the nation of jobs and lost tax revenues. They are trying to specifically focus on the theft of trade secrets and infringements on products that can impact consumers' health and safety, such as counterfeit aircraft, car, and electronic parts. It's estimated that 1/2 of all the Windows OS in China are pirated...so what's Bill $gates to do??...how would you address this problem I ask.:grin:

[WTE_Galway]

...so what's Bill $gates to do??...how would you address this problem I ask.:grin:

Market the product in a fairer or more innovative way ... provide better service and support to give people something for their money ... actual compete with rather than buying out and/or closing down your competitors .... many things

I find it quite disgusting that over 3/4 of the total cost of a basic (non gaming) PC with office installed is the MS software and only 1/4 the hardware. Especially when its the hardware companies that are struggling to make money not the software/media giants.


Aside from anything else the tactics used in this area are disgusting. Have a look at this typical example of how these corporations behave ...

http://games.on.net/article/14729/Wikileaks_Cables_Show_Hollywood_Engaged_in_Conspir acy_to_Target_iiNet

[nearmiss]

There are a myriad of ways to stop piracy...

Software developer releases new version, but it's buggy. Upon registration updated competent version is downloaded and installed by the software developer on the computer. The developer harvests the MAC address during this process, which is a unique number burned into all computers.

The trouble in China and other countries is... the governments are gangsters.

[swiss]

which is a unique number burned into all computers.


I suggest you google "change mac address";)

[Liz Lemon]

19 million jobs, 60% of US exports

Yeah, another thing I could go on and on about that is wrong with this country.
The short version is manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas where cheap labour can be found (cough...China...chough).
So what's left in the US?
Intellectual property (that'll help really to have some independance when it comes to physical goods), virtual money making (Wall Street...yeah great) and the service sector (would you like cheese with that?).
So our duty as Americans seems to be to buy cheap plastic toys made in China for our kids around the hollidays so the US economy can thrive?

It is my understanding that the general feeling amongst average people (me included) is nothing is being made in the US anymore.
Just look at where the parts in our computers are made to the largest extend.
One other word, solar panels...like I said I could go on and on.

Yeah, you may think that, but its not really true.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_States#Manufacturing

[5./JG27.Farber]

That doesn't make sense to you?

With world wide communication and ability to deal with nations while you aren't in the nation you are transacting with is common.

Think through this... What if you arranged to kill someone in America from England, then your hitman did kill, got caught and told who ordered the hit.

Who is guilty the person that ordered the kill or the contract killer?

No it doesnt make sense that people can be AUTOMATICALLY wrenched from their country. There is virtually no diplomatic process and the American government needs virtually no proof. Why should america be the long armed police man of the world? Do you think China or Russia would just hand over citizens for minor crimes?

Check this out, they took this kid with Autism for "6 months commnuity service" then when they got him, made it 60 years!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8936607/Pressure-to-review-US-extradition-rules-after-Commons-speaks.html

[RCAF_FB_Orville]

No it doesnt make sense that people can be AUTOMATICALLY wrenched from their country. There is virtually no diplomatic process and the American government needs virtually no proof. Why should america be the long armed police man of the world? Do you think China or Russia would just hand over citizens for minor crimes?

Check this out, they took this kid with Autism for "6 months commnuity service" then when they got him, made it 60 years!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8936607/Pressure-to-review-US-extradition-rules-after-Commons-speaks.html

Bottom line is, McKinnon humiliated the US by easily getting into NASA and Pentagon systems with a 300 quid computer, and now they want their pound of flesh. He's a loner-geek with a medical condition called Aspergers syndrome, meaning he lives in his own little world and is most definitely not some super spy or Terrorist mastermind.....Its not fair at all. What he did was 'wrong' and he has apologised profusely for it, and probably did not realise the trouble he could get in.

He deserves sanction, but there are mitigating circumstances, and 60 years is frikkin ludicrous, but then the British Student Richard O' Dwyer is looking at a possible 10 years for creating a website (TV shack) providing links to films and Tv shows etc. Money is God in the US, always has been.

Ironically, 'the land of the free' has the highest documented incarceration rate of any country that has ever existed.....imprisoning more people than the likes of Iran and China.....1 in every 100 US citizens are in actually in jail. Not bashing the US, but it happens to be true. I personally think the UK is a little too soft on certain crimes, but I would prefer moderation and common sense over ridiculously harsh sentencing any day of the week.

Just an opinion.

[bongodriver]

Fair enough.....

I'm editing your posting... because you need to get the message.

You little one-liners with not substance are an annoyance. You poke away on thiese boards with this kind of talk consistently.

I'm not deleting the posting, because if anyone else thinks they are going to disrupt this topic they are mistaken.

[5./JG27.Farber]

I personally think the UK is a little too soft on certain crimes...

Just an opinion.

I know it is.

Britain is just the US's dirty little ****.....politically speaking.


It seems so.

[swiss]

Britain is just the US's dirty little slut.....politically speaking.

You forgot Switzerland!
Recent development shows our government tends to bend over too.

[nearmiss]

No it doesnt make sense that people can be AUTOMATICALLY wrenched from their country. There is virtually no diplomatic process and the American government needs virtually no proof. Why should america be the long armed police man of the world? Do you think China or Russia would just hand over citizens for minor crimes?

Check this out, they took this kid with Autism for "6 months commnuity service" then when they got him, made it 60 years!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8936607/Pressure-to-review-US-extradition-rules-after-Commons-speaks.html

I appreciate your concern in this matter... It has nothing to do with the topic.

Stay on topic, the only reason a posting with political undertones is being allowed to run is the nature of the content affects us all.

[WTE_Galway]

Bottom line is, McKinnon humiliated the US by easily getting into NASA and Pentagon systems with a 300 quid computer ...

Actually not that hard to do.

Back in my undergrad days in the '90s it was a joke in hacker circles that the password to US Navy computers was usually the name of a WWII US battleship.

The sad thing is it was apparently actually true.