Category: government

Copyright reform bill critics eye victory

On By Rick McIn good news, government1 Comment

A controversial bill that seeks to reform Canadian copyright laws, expected to be introduced early this week, may be quashed after a groundswell of opposition erupted over the past week.

The government last week filed a notice indicating the bill would be introduced this week, leading industry experts to expect it to happen on Tuesday. But a spokesperson for Industry Minister Jim Prentice, who was to introduce the bill, said it would not happen on Tuesday and could not say if it would happen this week.

prentice-jim071017.jpg Minister of Industry Jim Prentice has said his proposed copyright reform bill will bring Canada in line with its international obligations.
The House of Commons will take a break until January after Friday’s session.

Cory Doctorow, co-editor of influential technology blog Boing Boing and a former director of the Electronic Freedom Foundation advocacy, on Monday wrote that the government’s plan is now in disarray. …

Copyright reform bill critics eye victory

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I dashed off an email to Jim Prentice from Calgary:

I pretty much agree with Cory Doctorow.

Intellectual digital property protection is important, but the American model of trying to “police” digital rights does not work. There is unanimous agreement on that. Microsoft is selling Office in the developing world for $3 because they understand the old model is over.

Creators of intellectual property that is digitized (I am one of them) need find a new model to generate revenue. The same amount of money will be spent worldwide on content, but distribution is changing. In future there will be few middle men.

And there will be winners and losers in the shift. The sooner Canada adapts, the more Canadians will be winners in the next economy. We have a chance to get ahead of the Americans here.

Do not follow the most backward set of regulations anywhere in the Western world. The USA is a laughing stock.

This issue is a deal breaker for me. If the Harper government goes ahead with it I will not only vote Liberal, but I will lobby for the Liberals in future.

Rick McCharles, Calgary

O Canada! The Canadian DMCA version

On By Rick McIn bad news, economics, governmentLeave a comment

Cory Doctorow is angry.

… a new version of the Canadian national anthem, in honour of the terrible proposal for a Canadian version of the US DMCA, a copyright law that has led to 20,000 lawsuits against music fans, terrible damage to innovation and free speech, all without paying artists or preventing infringement.

O Canada! The Canadian DMCA version of the national anthem – Boing Boing

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Oprahbama vs Billary

On By Rick McIn governmentLeave a comment

Things are ramping up.

Bill Clinton or Oprah? Who has more star power draw for voters?

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is sending Bill Clinton here to South Carolina on Saturday, the day before Oprah Winfrey arrives. The former president has spoken here often on behalf of his wife and has proved enormously popular with South Carolina voters.

Not Feeling the Oprah Love – The Caucus – Politics – New York Times Blog

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Oprah. She’s a superb business person, but how much more to her is there?

In this case I admire Oprah. She has no much to gain and a lot to lose by jumping on Obama’s bandwagon. She must believe in the guy.

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source

U.S. Comptroller General projects Fall of the American Empire

On By Rick McIn bad news, economics, government, TVLeave a comment

180px-david_m_walker1.jpgDavid M. Walker speaks truth to power.

How can he do that in the USA?

He has a 15-year appointment as Comptroller General of the USA and cannot be brought down by the President nor anyone else.

Walker has compared the present-day United States with the Roman Empire in its decline, saying the U.S. government is “on a ‘burning platform’ of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action is not taken soon.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is a legislative branch agency founded in 1921, whose mission is to help improve the performance and assure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. Over the years, GAO has earned a reputation for professional objective, fact-based, and nonpartisan reviews of government issues and operations. …

David M. Walker (U.S. Comptroller General) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The USA is a great nation. But with no political accountability beyond the next election. Walker’s budget projections are “the dirty little secret that everyone in Washington knows, but no one will talk about”.

Watch an excerpt from the TV show 60 Minutes on YouTube, or click PLAY.

I don’t expect things to change.

Not until full out disaster forces the issue.

Thanks Barbara Anne for circulating this video.

60 Minutes – interview with 7yr-old Afghani

On By Rick McIn audiocasts, government, product endorsements, TVLeave a comment

Yes, the Russians were worse. The Taliban were worse. It will likely be worse when Coalition forces, including Canada, finally leave.

But ask the 7-year-old survivor of an American bomb strike in Afghanistan (not Iraq) what he thinks of the USA after his entire family was killed. Not by accident. They targeted his family home because intelligence said two bad guys were being sheltered there.

This makes me angry. What would I do when I grew up if I was this young boy?

60minutes.jpgThe TV show 60 Minutes is one of the best of American media. I rarely see the show, but can subscribe to the podcast.

A recent episode blew me away. The President of Afghanistan, an ally, asked George Bush privately to reduce the number of air strikes on his country. When that had no effect, he went public on 60 Minutes.

Turns out the American military has a formula for how many civilian casualties are acceptable when trying to blow up one bad guy with a computer guided 2000lb bomb.

This is not new. My hero Gandhi spent many years weighing how many hundreds of thousands would die when the British left India.

Problem for the US military, however, is that they rarely blow up the bad guy. Air strikes are easy. They only cost money, not American soldier’s lives.

Needless to say, there were no bad guys in the 7-year-old’s house. American troops had searched it just the day before.

You should listen to to the audiocast of that show.

President Hamid Karzai tells Scott Pelley that too many civilians are being killed in U.S. bombing raids on Afghanistan.

60 Minutes Archive, – CBS News official website

You can see some of the (slow streaming) video here.

Jon Stewart through 2010

On By Rick McIn government, humour, TVLeave a comment

Good news:

Comedy Central’s most valuable gem, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” has the most uncanny knack for satire on everything today’s news can dish out, but before Jon Stewart, the show was barely a blip on the radar. (I dare you to recall any significant, memorable episodes when Craig Kilborn hosted; many of you are probably wondering who that even is, if you’re not asking when he ever hosted “The Daily Show.”) …

But if you’re wondering who will mock the next President Elect of the United States after he is elected, never fear! Jon Stewart will still be here! Comedy Central has extended his contract to 2010, according to a report by ComingSoon.net, which quoted Stewart on the good news.

“I love doing this show,” Stewart stated. “I feel like I work with and for the best in the business. I look forward to using this extension to having great fun at President (Stephen) Colbert’s expense.”

Jon Stewart Will Dish It Out Daily Through 2010 – MoviesOnline

rs1013jon-stewart-and-stephen-colbert-rolling-stone-no-1013-november-2006-posters.jpg

I much prefer Colbert, myself. Here’s a thoughtful article from the LA Times:

Colbert vs. Stewart – Has the student surpassed the master?

You can watch clips from both shows whenever you want on-line, commercial free, on a number of legal sites. I use NewsCloud.

Bush and the Dalai Lama

On By Rick McIn governmentLeave a comment

George Bush did something right. I think I have to post it.

It is a rarity these days for United States President George W Bush to receive praise for his foreign policy, but that is what he deserves for his public embrace of the Dalai Lama, The Dominion Post says.

His actions are in marked contrast to those of (New Zealand) Prime Minister Helen Clark, who decided earlier this year that a 10-minute meeting in a Brisbane airport lounge meant there was no need to meet him in the Beehive, and National Party leader John Key, who dropped in on a meeting the exiled Tibetan leader was having with National foreign affairs spokesman Murray McCully, rather than meet him separately. For them, discretion – and a desire for a free trade deal with China – overcame valour. …

Principles that fit the policies – Dominion Post, New Zealand

And this is not the first time:

bush-lama.jpg

President George W. Bush welcomes the Dalai Lama to the White House Wednesday, September 10, 2003. White House photo by Paul Morse.

President George W. Bush welcomes the Dalai Lama to the White House Wednesday, September 10, 2003. White House photo by Paul Morse.

pressure on Beijing begins

On By Rick McIn government, gymnastics, sport - amateurLeave a comment

How will the old men running China react to this kind of scrutiny leading up to the Olympic Games next year?

I expect them to make concessions to democratic reform.

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In this innovative ad, Amnesty International comes dangerously close to violating the heavily protected Olympic Rings trademark. At the same time, they get their point powerfully across.

The ad text reads, “In the name of ensuring stability and harmony in the country during the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese Government continues to detain and harass political activists, journalists, lawyers and human rights workers.” …

Beijing Olympic Rings of Torture – Amnesty International’s Shock Campaign

Amnesty International

Mother Of All Heists – $500 Million stolen

On By Rick McIn government, IslamLeave a comment

The principle motivator for the USA attacking Iraq, I feel, was to put taxpayer dollars into the pockets of rich Americans. Rich Republicans. The Bush regime assumed they’d recover the money — somehow — from Iraqi oil.

But they had no incentive at all to put US taxpayer dollars into the pockets of rich Iraquis. This is just the Mother of all Blunders.

From 60 Minutes:

image2107136g.jpg(CBS) This segment was originally broadcast on Oct. 22, 2006. It was updated on June 14, 2007.

President Bush says the United States can’t leave Iraq until the country can govern and defend itself. Right now a number of inconvenient facts suggest it can do neither. Everyone knows about the chaotic security situation, but less has been reported about the rampant corruption that has infected a succession of Iraqi governments. In a story that first aired in Oct. 2006, Iraqi investigators told 60 Minutes that at least half a billion dollars that was supposed to equip the new Iraqi military was stolen by the very people the U.S. had entrusted to run it.

As correspondent Steve Kroft reports, it has been called one of the biggest thefts in history, the mother of all heists, and it happened right under the noses of U.S. advisors. But neither the United States nor its allies have shown much of an appetite for pursuing it.

The Mother Of All Heists, 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft Reports On Disappearance Of More Than $500 Million To Equip Iraqi Army – CBS News

related post – BBC – who stole the Baghdad billions?