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15 Jan 2011 22:02

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World: New Tunisia leader’s first act: Opening up the Interwebs

As a follow-up to our last Tunisia post, it’s good to note that new leader Fouad Mebazaa has unblocked the Interwebs in the country. Good news for everyone who likes freedom. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Jan 2011 21:06

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World: Tunisians: Ousted leader Ben Ali just as bad as “Big Brother”

  • I saw the RCD and the government and saw that it’s exactly like this book, with the big pictures of Ben Ali everywhere and people listening in to phone calls and informing on each other. Joining them is like selling your soul to the devil.
  • Former Tunisian citizen Ahmad Chebil • Explaining his experience with Zine el Abidine Ben Ali’s government, which wanted him to become a “citizen watcher” – essentially, someone who would spy on others and inform the government. But he never went for it – wanna know why? Well, he read a french translation of “1984” and could see the evil behind the basic idea. Also worth noting: This Ars Technica article explaining how the country ratcheted up its Internet censorship efforts in recent weeks – and how the Internet fought back. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Jan 2010 11:09

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Tech: Survival of the tweetest? AFP tries an endurance test for journalists

  • one Five journalists will be locked away in a farmhouse in rural France for five days next month.
  • two The journos will not have access to any form of mainstream media but Twitter and Facebook.
  • three Among the sources banned: TV, radio, newspapers, smartphones and other Web sites.
  • four The goal? To report what they see on social media, and to test the quality of the info. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Jul 2009 12:33

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Tech: Amazon deletes Kindle books, adds irony in the process

  • Amazon says this is a ‘rarity,’ but even once is too many times for bull$*(% like this to happen. … And of course the fact that this happened to 1984, of all books, makes this even more surreal.
  • Gizmodo writer Adam Frucci • Regarding Amazon’s latest struggle with the Kindle – the fact that they deleted copies of George Orwell’s “1984” and “Animal Farm” remotely. While it appears to be a rights issue more than anything else (i.e. the publisher didn’t have those rights), the truth of the matter is, Amazon deleted books in the very style that makes them look like Big Brother, which should concern Kindle owners. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Mar 2009 11:02

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Culture: Brit reality celeb Jade Goody loses her battle with cancer

  • A public life Goody first became a fixture in the British press – specifically the British tabloid press – after starring on the British version of “Big Brother” in 2002. Goody took advantage of her notoriety by marketing the heck out of her public image. She took a PR hit in 2007 after making racist remarks on the celebrity edition of “Big Brother” but managed to recover to some degree.
  • A public death After joining the Indian edition of “Big Brother” in 2008 she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2008. She found it was terminal weeks ago, and lived out the last few weeks of her life very publicly, including getting married in a big spectacle. She claimed she was doing it to raise money for her daughter. Goody died today in her sleep. She was 27. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

21 Feb 2009 16:20

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World: A reality star deals with the harsh reality of terminal cancer

  • People will say I’m doing this for money. And they’re right. I am, but not to buy flash cars or big houses. It’s for my sons’ future.
  • Jade Goody • Reality TV star, most notably of the 2002 British version of “Big Brother,” on her fight with cervical cancer. Goody has kept herself in the spotlight since finding out, and will get married tomorrow, with the cameras focused squarely on her. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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