Google knows it. Viacom knows it. The Chamber of Commerce knows it. Internet democracy groups know it. BoingBoing knows it. But, the Internet hasn't been told yet -- we're going to get blown away by the end of the year. The worst bill in Internet history is about to become law. Law is very real here in the United States and legal language is often different than stated intentions -- this law would give government and corporations the power to block sites like BoingBoing over infringing links on at least one webpage posted by their users. Believe the EFF, Public Knowledge, Google when they say this bill is about much more than copyright, it's about the Internet and free speech everywhere.
[....]
    PROTECT IP (S. 968)/SOPA (HR. 3261) creates the first system for Internet censorship - this bill has sweeping provisions that give the government and corporations leeway and legal cover for taking down sites "by accident," mistakenly, or for NOT doing "enough" to protect the interests of Hollywood. These bills that are moving very quickly through Congress and can pass before Christmas aim to give the US government and corporations the ability to block sites over infringing links posted by their users and give ISPs the release to take any means to block peoples' sites, including slowing down your connection. That's right, some say this bill is a workaround to net neutrality and is bigger than net neutrality.

The first minute is essential viewing, and the next 14 minutes is pretty good too.

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It is a harrowing read, but some things we need to know.

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They arrested 30 of the occupiers who were holding a prayer meeting (great TV footage I'm sure). There will be a meeting at 4 pm local to decide what to do next. It will be interesting cos the Mayor simply cannot allow them to re-occupy when the feds go home or the overtime budget runs out.

But you can't help feel that even when OO lose, they win in terms of publicity.

Meanwhile the Mayor's legal adviser has resigned in protest

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Guardian - US officials worried about security at London 2012 Olympics

The Guardian has learned the committee is attempting to resolve a potential crisis over venue security, after conceding it had underestimated the number of security guards needed at the 32 sites across the country. Originally it had thought 10,000 guards would be enough, but after a review over the summer it now believes it will need up to 21,000.

Venue safety is not the responsibility of the police, so the firm G4S was awarded the contract to find and train the initial group. The company will this week begin an advertising campaign to meet that target. But the organising committee does not have the money to pay G4S to make up the shortfall, and does not believe the firm has enough time to do so, forcing ministers to turn to the Ministry of Defence for help.

The MoD has offered 3,000 soldiers, and another 2,000 in reserve - half the total required. The ministry is working within its own tight budget, and the late request for help has irritated some officials.

"What have they been doing for the last five years?" asked one. "There is less than a year to go and they've only just realised they need twice the number of security guards they first thought. Where is the money to pay for this coming from?

what a joke !!

anyway, no doubt to reassure us all that they're taking it all very very seriously indeed, Phillip Hammond slightly over-reacts.

Guardian - Ground-to-air missiles could be deployed at London Olympics.

Seriously, do you need to read any more ? I am reminded of the tanks Blunkett sent to Heathrow in 2003 brandishing weapons that could only have caused far more mayhem than they could ever have solved.

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Our company currently seeking Customer Service Representative to join our team.

Employee Type: Part-Time Employee

The major duty of the incumbent is to promptly receive and process stockbrokers payments to further transfer them applying specified method. Please inquire for detailed work scheme.

Requirements:
 - Expert skill in managing payments and transfers between our company and clients.
 - Knowledge of basic payment systems.
 - Ability to schedule working hours effectively.
 - Availability of spare time (3-4 hours per day).
 - Advanced user ability to operate computer and to use Internet and e-mail.
 - Legal age.

 Payment basis: During the trial period you will be paid 1500 GBP per month. You will also be keeping 5% commission as bonus from every payment received from a client.
 With the current volume of clients on average your overall income will add up to 3000 GBP per month. After the trial period your base salary will go up to 2000 GBP per month, plus 8% commission (11% for financial agents with corporate bank account).

Benefits:
 - Flexible work schedule.
 - Possibility to combine the job with primary employment.
 - Free training course.

If you would like to apply to this vacancy and inquire more detailed information, please reply email to our Customer Service Representatives Manager.

£1500 a month part time ??? Does this sound remotely real to anyone ?

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I protest for many reasons, but at the head of the monster there is the phenomenal wealth that is being used to bribe our democratically elected officials in both parties, and I don't know how true reform is achieved without confronting this behemoth.

I know what the GOP stands for, they stand for the interests of the super rich and powerful and they will use any means to achieve that end.

I have no idea what the Democratic party stands for anymore. Sure, they talk a good game, but when push comes to shove I don't think the Democratic party stands for ANYTHING, other than the feigned consensus forged between every bribe taking Republican and a growing crowd of bribe taking Democrats. Since 2009 I have seen the Democratic Establishment squander every opportunity to hold the GOP accountable for lying us into Iraq and selling a laundry list of failed ideas that harm the majority of Americans while tremendously benefiting big business and the super rich. Now, the new 2011 version of the Democratic Establishment seems hell bent yet again to commit political suicide for the 2nd time in 6 months in order to achieve the bipartisan collusion with the GOP on behalf of their undying fealty to the special interests who have bribed them in their pursuit of free markets under austerity for all, and while all this takes place before our eyes in the open the media asks me "Why are you protesting? What are your demands?" as if they are blind and can not see the bribery taking place. It is because, obviously, the media is entirely corrupt too.

I am reminded of JFK's speech 50 years ago about what makes a liberal

I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, in human liberty as the source of national action, in the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas. It is, I believe, the faith in our fellow citizens as individuals and as people that lies at the heart of the liberal faith. For liberalism is not so much a party creed or set of fixed platform promises as it is an attitude of mind and heart, a faith in man's ability through the experiences of his reason and judgment to increase for himself and his fellow men the amount of justice and freedom and brotherhood which all human life deserves.

I believe also in the United States of America, in the promise that it contains and has contained throughout our history of producing a society so abundant and creative and so free and responsible that it cannot only fulfill the aspirations of its citizens, but serve equally well as a beacon for all mankind. I do not believe in a superstate. I see no magic in tax dollars which are sent to Washington and then returned. I abhor the waste and incompetence of large-scale federal bureaucracies in this administration as well as in others. I do not favor state compulsion when voluntary individual effort can do the job and do it well. But I believe in a government which acts, which exercises its full powers and full responsibilities. Government is an art and a precious obligation; and when it has a job to do, I believe it should do it. And this requires not only great ends but that we propose concrete means of achieving them.

Our responsibility is not discharged by announcement of virtuous ends. Our responsibility is to achieve these objectives with social invention, with political skill, and executive vigor. I believe for these reasons that liberalism is our best and only hope in the world today. For the liberal society is a free society, and it is at the same time and for that reason a strong society. Its strength is drawn from the will of free people committed to great ends and peacefully striving to meet them. Only liberalism, in short, can repair our national power, restore our national purpose, and liberate our national energies. And the only basic issue in the 1960 campaign is whether our government will fall in a conservative rut and die there, or whether we will move ahead in the liberal spirit of daring, of breaking new ground, of doing in our generation what Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and Adlai Stevenson did in their time of influence and responsibility.

Jesse, get yer man Bernie Sanders to stop being independent and create a new national party around him. Elect him president.

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•  Romney has forged to above 30% or has fallen to third place at 18%.

•  Cain is at 27% or 25%

•  Gingrich is running 22% or 28%

The only consistency I can find is a Gingrich surge.  All the polls I've seen have him in the 20 percentile range, a major improvement over even two weeks ago.


She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

I have to write a short Flash animation script about the potential future of this by Friday. Apua! Hjälp!

I'm looking forward to the gestural complexity of the ingegnere moderno version.

You can't be me, I'm taken