text:
"Pitchfork reports that Apple has won approval from the US Patent and Trademark Office for technology that could be used to prevent fans filming or taking photos of gigs on their iPhones."
Issues and developments related to Intellectual Property (e.g. Copyright, Fair Use, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets) and Open Movements (e.g. Open Access, Open Data, Open Educational Resources (OER)), examined in the "Intellectual Property and Open Movements" and "Ethics of Data, Information, and Emerging Technologies" graduate courses I teach at the University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information. -- Kip Currier, PhD, JD
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Apple wins patent on technology to stop fans filming gigs; Guardian, 6/30/16
Guardian Music, Guardian; Apple wins patent on technology to stop fans filming gigs:
A Look at Copyright Lawsuits Involving Hit Songs; Associated Press via New York Times, 6/24/16
Associated Press via New York Times; A Look at Copyright Lawsuits Involving Hit Songs:
"A federal court jury in Los Angeles has decided that Led Zeppelin did not steal a riff for the intro of its epic hit, "Stairway to Heaven." Here is a look at some other cases that have taken pop songs from the recording studio to the courtroom over plagiarism allegations."
Exclusive: Google, Facebook Quietly Move Toward Automatic Blocking of Extremist Videos; Reuters via New York Times, 6/24/16
Reuters via New York Times; Exclusive: Google, Facebook Quietly Move Toward Automatic Blocking of Extremist Videos:
"Some of the web’s biggest destinations for watching videos have quietly started using automation to remove extremist content from their sites, according to two people familiar with the process. The move is a major step forward for internet companies that are eager to eradicate violent propaganda from their sites and are under pressure to do so from governments around the world as attacks by extremists proliferate, from Syria to Belgium and the United States. YouTube and Facebook are among the sites deploying systems to block or rapidly take down Islamic State videos and other similar material, the sources said. The technology was originally developed to identify and remove copyright-protected content on video sites. It looks for "hashes," a type of unique digital fingerprint that internet companies automatically assign to specific videos, allowing all content with matching fingerprints to be removed rapidly. Such a system would catch attempts to repost content already identified as unacceptable, but would not automatically block videos that have not been seen before."
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Trump Institute Offered Get-Rich Schemes With Plagiarized Lessons; New York Times, 6/29/16
Jonathan Martin, New York Times; Trump Institute Offered Get-Rich Schemes With Plagiarized Lessons:
"Yet there was an even more fundamental deceit to the business, unreported until now: Extensive portions of the materials that students received after paying their seminar fees, supposedly containing Mr. Trump’s special wisdom, had been plagiarized from an obscure real estate manual published a decade earlier. Together, the exaggerated claims about his own role, the checkered pasts of the people with whom he went into business and the theft of intellectual property at the venture’s heart all illustrate the fiction underpinning so many of Mr. Trump’s licensing businesses: Putting his name on products and services — and collecting fees — was often where his actual involvement began and ended."
‘Happy Birthday’ Lawyers Target Other Song Copyrights; Bloomberg Law, 6/28/16
Anandashankar Mazumdar, Bloomberg Law; ‘Happy Birthday’ Lawyers Target Other Song Copyrights:
"In April, they filed a complaint over “We Shall Overcome,” the protest song synonymous with the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. ” `We Shall Overcome’ is a profoundly important song,” Rifkin said. ” `Happy Birthday’ is possibly the world’s most famous song, but `We Shall Overcome’ is possibly the world’s most important song. It has a moving appeal to an awful lot of people, and it is a very important piece of music, and we think it’s important that it be given back to the public.” On June 14, the lawyers filed another complaint, this time over “This Land Is Your Land,” the folk song associated with Depression-era troubadour and political activist Woody Guthrie, who wrote the lyrics to an existing melody. Guthrie’s copyright on the lyrics expired in 1973, the complaint said..." Restoring Balance to the Copyright Act As they take on similar cases, Rifkin said he considers the challenge of dubious copyright claims an important part of the copyright system. He and Newman, he said, are trying to hit the balance referred to by Justice Elena Kagan in an opinion in a Supreme Court case involving legal fees in copyright cases. The purpose of the Copyright Act—”enriching the general public through access to creative works”— is served by “striking a balance between two subsidiary aims: encouraging and rewarding authors’ creations while also enabling others to build on that work,” Kagan said."
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Huckabee’s anti-gay-marriage rally leads to copyright suit, $25,000 payment; Ars Technica, 6/27/16
Joe Mullin, Ars Technica; Huckabee’s anti-gay-marriage rally leads to copyright suit, $25,000 payment:
"Now, CNN has reported that Huckabee's campaign ended up paying $25,000 to Sullivan's music company to resolve a copyright infringement lawsuit over the incident. Two payments of $12,500 each appeared on a June 20 document filed with the Federal Election Commission... Huckabee's campaign didn't give up without a fight, though. In court documents, Huckabee argued that his use of "Eye of the Tiger" was "de minimis" and should be considered fair use. He also said the rally for Davis was a "religious assembly," which further mitigated against a finding of infringement. This isn't the first time "Eye of the Tiger" has been in the political eye of the storm. Newt Gingrich used the song at rallies for years before getting sued in 2012, when he mounted a presidential bid. He settled for an undisclosed sum. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney also used the song in 2012, but he quickly stopped after receiving a warning from McGarry."
Flipping Journals to Open Access; Library Journal, 6/22/16
John Parsons, Library Journal; Flipping Journals to Open Access:
"Mandates from governments, funding sources, and institutions, have made the switch to open access all but inevitable. This puts increasing pressure on traditional journals to change, a process commonly known as “flipping,” but a new study reveals the many ways to convert from subscriptions to OA. Publishers are understandably cautious. Paid subscription models were established before the advent of the Internet and OA, to support the many services required to produce a peer-reviewed article. Every traditional publisher must navigate the transition with care—and on the basis of its own, unique circumstances."
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Illuminating the ‘Dark’ Web and Content Monitoring; New York Times, 6/24/16
Ted Loos, New York Times; Illuminating the ‘Dark’ Web and Content Monitoring:
"Eva and Franco Mattes — married Brooklyn artists and “hacktivists” — use those ideas metaphorically, peeling back the surface of what they call the “sanitized” internet to reveal its murkier side: the world of content monitoring and the elusive individuals who are tasked with tracking and removing offensive material online. Their latest exhibition, “Abuse Standards Violations,” on view at London’s Carroll/Fletcher gallery until Aug. 27, is a journey into what Ben Vickers, a London curator at the Serpentine Galleries and fan of their work, called “the dark, morbid heart of the internet.”"
Friday, June 24, 2016
Moonshine Maker Loses ‘Kentucky’ in Legal Battle With University; New York Times, 6/23/16
Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times; Moonshine Maker Loses ‘Kentucky’ in Legal Battle With University:
"The university — whose Wildcats basketball team brings in millions of dollars in revenue each year — says it does; in 1997, it trademarked the word “Kentucky” for use on clothing. When Mr. Fultz opened shop last October in his home city, Whitesburg, and tried to trademark his business name, the university tried to block him from doing so for apparel. Officials said they mostly hoped to open negotiations with Mr. Fultz to keep him from marketing “Kentucky Mist Moonshine” T-shirts in the school’s signature colors of royal blue and white. Instead, Mr. Fultz filed suit. But on Thursday, a federal court in Lexington sided with the university and dismissed his case. In a 32-page ruling, Judge Danny C. Reeves of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky accepted the university’s arguments that it was immune from being sued, and that Kentucky Mist had no standing to bring the case."
‘Star Trek: Axanar’ Producers Fire Back at ‘Draconian’ Fan Film Guidelines; Comic Book Resources, 6/24/16
Kevin Melrose, Comic Book Resources; ‘Star Trek: Axanar’ Producers Fire Back at ‘Draconian’ Fan Film Guidelines:
"The producers of “Star Trek: Axanar” have responded to new fan film guidelines established by Paramount Pictures and CBS, calling them “Draconian” and stifling to fandom. “We have been asking for guidelines for years,” producers said in a tweet. “CBS decided to make those guidelines Draconian.”"
Posted by Kip Currier, PhD, JD at 9:50 AM No comments:
Difference between trademark, copyright and patent; YourStory, 6/24/16
Nikita Bhatia, YourStory.com; Difference between trademark, copyright and patent:
"Intellectual property is a vast and complex term. Many a time people are confused or have incorrectly used the terms in intellectual property law. They have spoken of “copyrighting” an idea or even “patenting” a book! To understand these terms, it is essential to know what is Intellectual Property and what all does it entail."
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Free Led Zeppelin: “This is about music, it’s not about sound”; Salon, 6/22/16
Scott Timberg, Salon; Free Led Zeppelin: “This is about music, it’s not about sound” :
"The federal court trial considering whether Led Zeppelin stole from a Spirit song for its ubiquitous “Stairway to Heaven” is moving toward its conclusion. Zeppelin singer Robert Plant took the stand Tuesday, saying he did not remember hearing the instrumental “Taurus” and describing in detail the way he wrote “Stairway” with guitarist Jimmy Page. But the case is about a legal concept as much as musical ones – the plagiarism of intellectual property. Salon spoke to the Charles Cronin, who teaches at USC’s Gould School of Law and has written extensively on musical plagiarism. He’s also founder of the Music Copyright Infringement Resource, now housed at the university."
Led Zeppelin Wins Copyright Infringement Suit Over Opening Lick of 'Stairway to Heaven'; ABC News, 6/23/16
Sherene Tagharobi and Lesley Messer, ABC News; Led Zeppelin Wins Copyright Infringement Suit Over Opening Lick of 'Stairway to Heaven' :
"A jury today found that Led Zeppelin had not plagiarized the opening riff of "Stairway to Heaven." After a day of deliberation, the ruling came back that there was no copyright infringement. An eight-person jury delivered the verdict, ruling there was no "extrinsic similarity between Spirit's 'Taurus' and 'Stairway,'" following five days of testimony from music experts, a former Spirit band member and the surviving members of Led Zeppelin."
Star Trek Fan Film Guidelines Announced; StarTrek.com, 6/23/16
CBS & Paramount, StarTrek.com; Star Trek Fan Film Guidelines Announced:
"Dear Star Trek fans, Star Trek fandom is like no other. Your support, enthusiasm and passion are the reasons that Star Trek has flourished for five decades and will continue long into the future. You are the reason the original Star Trek series was rescued and renewed in 1968, and the reason it has endured as an iconic and multi-generational phenomenon that has spawned seven television series and 13 movies. Throughout the years, many of you have expressed your love for the franchise through creative endeavors such as fan films. So today, we want to show our appreciation by bringing fan films back to their roots. The heart of these fan films has always been about expressing one’s love and passion for Star Trek. They have been about fan creativity and sharing unique stories with other fans to show admiration for the TV shows and movies. These films are a labor of love for any fan with desire, imagination and a camera. We want to support this innovation and encourage celebrations of this beloved cultural phenomenon. It is with this perspective in mind that we are introducing a set of guidelines at Star Trek Fan Films. Thank you for your ongoing and steadfast enthusiasm and support, which ensure that Star Trek will continue to inspire generations to come. CBS and Paramount Pictures"
Posted by Kip Currier, PhD, JD at 2:12 PM No comments:
Labels: CBS, copyright law, fair use, fan creativity, fan fiction, fan-made works, Paramount, Star Trek Fan Film guidelines
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
China Smartphone Makers Snap Up Patents in Fight for Market Dominance; Wall Street Journal, 6/20/16
Juro Osawa, Wall Street Journal; China Smartphone Makers Snap Up Patents in Fight for Market Dominance:
"China’s smartphone makers increasingly are turning to patents as ammunition as they try to reel in global leaders Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co."
Posted by Kip Currier, PhD, JD at 2:46 PM No comments:
Labels: Apple, China, Huawei, patent applications, patents, Samsung, smartphones, US
Exhibit Explores Ancient Roman 'Designer' Labels, Trademarks; Associated Press via ABC News, 6/16/16
Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press via ABC News; Exhibit Explores Ancient Roman 'Designer' Labels, Trademarks:
"In an ancient twist to today's Made-in-Italy labeling, Romans of some 2,000 years ago took to branding with zeal, putting names, trademarks and other identifying details with meticulous care on items including tableware, plumbing pipes and lead ammunition for slingshots."
Posted by Kip Currier, PhD, JD at 2:44 PM No comments:
Taylor Swift Wants YouTube To Treat Artists More Fairly, Too; Huffington Post, 6/20/16
Sara Boboltz, Huffington Post; Taylor Swift Wants YouTube To Treat Artists More Fairly, Too:
"Taylor Swift, Sir Paul McCartney and U2 are among those set to join the music industry’s increasingly loud battle with the world’s largest music service: YouTube. The musicians hope to plead the case in a series of ads this week that it is time to reform a 17-year-old law known as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that they believe puts tech giants before musicians. Enacted way back in 1998, the DMCA offers certain protections — sometimes called “safe harbor” — for websites hosting copyrighted content. Under the law, websites like YouTube can serve copyrighted music uploaded by ordinary users so long as the site takes it down when the rights holder asks. In an open letter to be published Tuesday in D.C.-based publications The Hill, Politico and Roll Call, dozens of artists and major record labels call for reforming the DMCA, according to multiple reports. Many major record labels are currently involved in contract renegotiations with YouTube, or will be shortly, meaning the letter will make its debut at a key time. Those same labels believe that the DMCA gives big tech companies like YouTube a leg up in negotiating fees — meaning less revenue is making its way back to music creators. And that doesn’t make artists very happy, either. Music industry executives call that difference between actual profit from user-generated content sites and estimated potential profit a “value gap.” And they’re out to close it."
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Led Zeppelin faces copyright case for ‘Stairway to Heaven’; PBS NewsHour, 6/19/16
[Podcast and Transcript] Phil Hirschkorn, PBS NewsHour; Led Zeppelin faces copyright case for ‘Stairway to Heaven’ :
"This week in Los Angeles federal court, a jury began hearing evidence and testimony on whether rock band Led Zeppelin may have lifted part of their iconic song, “Stairway to Heaven.” At stake is the band’s reputation and millions of dollars. NewsHour Weekend’s Phil Hirschkorn reports."
Progress Worth Noting: Congress Strengthens The Freedom Of Information Act And The Public’s Right To Know; Huffington Post, 6/17/16
Dorothy Samuels, Huffington Post; Progress Worth Noting: Congress Strengthens The Freedom Of Information Act And The Public’s Right To Know:
"In a gloomy news week dominated by the slaughter of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. and its aftermath, it is understandable that Congressional approval of unrelated legislation easing access to government records has not garnered tons of public attention. But Monday’s House passage of the bipartisan Freedom of Information Improvement Act previously approved by the Senate (also by a unanimous vote) now sends to the White House a major FOIA reform bill and blast against Washington’s culture of unwarranted government secrecy. President Obama has said he’ll sign the measure — a fitting way to mark the 50th anniversary of the nation’s premier transparency law this July 4th. The bill’s foremost accomplishment is that it will embed in federal law a “presumption of openness,” making it clear that “sunshine, not secrecy, is the default setting of our government” and “government information belongs in the hands of the people,” as Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the Senate’s foremost Democratic champion of the legislation puts it... The idea is to make it harder for agency officials deny release of government information sought under the FOIA. The “presumption of openness” was first laid out as executive branch policy by President Bill Clinton, only to be reversed by his successor, President George W. Bush. President Obama reinstated it in 2009 as one of his first acts upon taking office, but his administration has been criticized for straying from the commitment to openness in practice, even lobbying against a similar version of the legislation that nearly passed both houses of Congress two years ago."
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Four Big Questions to Help You Understand the Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act; National Law Review, 6/16/16
William A. Nolan, National Law Review; Four Big Questions to Help You Understand the Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act:
"On May 11, President Obama signed into law the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), effective immediately. Previously, trade secret law has consisted almost entirely of 48 states’ versions of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA), so a federal law is a significant development. Almost all businesses have at least some confidential information that would qualify as a trade secret, so it is important for businesses and their lawyers to understand what this new federal law means and does not mean. We do that here with four broad questions."
What is a Trademark? Is Your Business Ready for one?; Small Business Trends, 6/16/16
Nellie Akalp, Small Business Trends; What is a Trademark? Is Your Business Ready for one? :
"It takes a minimum of several months — sometimes close to a year — to register a trademark. While you may be at the mercy of the backlog at the USPTO, there are a few things you can do to make sure your application is processed as quickly as possible. First, the more distinctive your mark is, the easier it will be to trademark. A descriptive or generic name like “Pretty Flowers” will most likely be rejected. In addition, performing a very thorough name search upfront is the most important thing you can do to speed along your trademark application and minimize the chance of rejection. Your application will be rejected (and you’ll lose your application fee) if the USPTO finds another business is already using a similar mark in commerce. Searching the USPTO’s online database is a first step toward finding any similar and potentially conflicting marks. But, if you’re serious about your trademark application, you should also perform a thorough search that includes state trademark databases and business directories. That’s because a business can enjoy common law rights without formally registering. You can have a trademark lawyer or online legal filing service help you with this important search."
Beijing Says Apple's iPhone 6 Violates Chinese Design Patent; NPR, 6/17/16
Alina Selyukh, NPR; Beijing Says Apple's iPhone 6 Violates Chinese Design Patent:
"Apple has hit a new snag in China: Beijing's intellectual property agency has ruled that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus violate a design patent by one of China's own smartphone-makers. Authorities found that this older generation of iPhones looks too similar to a phone, the 100C, made by a company called Shenzhen Baili. As a result, Apple was ordered to stop selling the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in Beijing. However, Apple says it appealed the order and the ruling has been stayed for the duration of the appeal — meaning that for now, the sales will continue. Curiously, the order did not apply to the latest generation of iPhones, the 6s and 6s Plus, even though they closely resemble the older phones."
Appeals Court Gives Internet Service Providers Big Relief in Copyright Disputes; Hollywood Reporter, 6/18/16
Eriq Gardner, Hollywood Reporter; Appeals Court Gives Internet Service Providers Big Relief in Copyright Disputes:
"On Thursday, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals issued a long- and eagerly-awaited opinion in a case brought by major record labels against the video-sharing site Vimeo. The decision will be cheered by those in the tech community by providing some immunization from copyright liability. Capitol Records and others sued the Barry Diller-owned Vimeo in 2009 — a virtual generation ago in the digital world. At the time, Viacom was fighting with YouTube over how to interpret the safe harbor provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which allows ISPs to escape copyright claims so long as they remove infringements expeditiously and not have actual knowledge of infringements on their networks. The since-settled YouTube controversy slowed the Vimeo case, which dealt with videos posted of the "lip dub" variety, showing users who choreographed elaborate lip-synching spectacles to popular music. Ultimately, Capitol Records et. al. v. Vimeo figures to be just as important as Viacom v. YouTube... The case is now remanded back to the district court to sort out, but the decision may save Vimeo tens of millions of dollars in liability, and more importantly, become a new guiding post for copyright owners and digital service providers. Here's the full opinion."
Friday, June 17, 2016
You Will Never Unsee This Wondrously Strange Fake Japanese Advertisement for Donald Trump; Slate, 6/16/16
Katy Waldman, Slate; You Will Never Unsee This Wondrously Strange Fake Japanese Advertisement for Donald Trump:
"Mike Diva is, per his Facebook page, a “MAKER OF VIDEOS/MUSIC/MEMES/DREAMS” and he has bequeathed the pre-apocalyptic world its eighth wonder, a dizzying, sorbet-hued phantasmagoria that gestures toward the coming end times. It is called “Japanese Donald Trump Commercial”... We could not resist getting Diva, whose real name is Mike Dahlquist, on the phone... How long did it take you to make the video? Dahlquist: All told, about a month and a half. I’m really lucky my friends are talented and willing to work for free, because of course we had zero budget. The actress was a friend of mine, perfect for the part—her hair was already like that and everything."
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Everything you need to know about Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' copyright infringement trial; Entertainment Weekly, 6/16/16
Eric Renner Brown, Entertainment Weekly; Everything you need to know about Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' copyright infringement trial:
"This week, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin attended Los Angeles court for the infringement trial aiming to determine whether or not the iconic band relied too heavily on the song of one of their classic rock contemporaries when writing “Stairway to Heaven.” The convoluted saga could result in a change of credit and reallocated royalties — and at the very least it’s just the latest in Zeppelin’s decades-long struggle with crediting the influences behind some of their biggest hits. Read on for everything you need to know about the case."
Supreme Court Rules on Legal Fees in Copyright Cases; New York Times, 6/16/16
Adam Liptak, New York Times; Supreme Court Rules on Legal Fees in Copyright Cases:
"The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that a Thai student who in 2013 won a copyright case involving imported textbooks should have another chance to persuade a lower court that the textbook’s publisher should pay his legal fees... Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the court, said whether the losing side’s position was objectively reasonable should play a major role in the analysis. But she said the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in New York, and the district courts it supervises, may have placed nearly dispositive weight on that one factor. Justice Kagan said other considerations — including motivation, deterrence and compensation — must also play a role in the analysis. But she appeared to suggest that the student, Supap Kirtsaeng, was unlikely to prevail under the correct standard."
Panels Brainstorm Ideas On Innovation And Drug Access; Intellectual Property Watch, 6/15/16
Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch; Panels Brainstorm Ideas On Innovation And Drug Access:
"The Harvard Global Health Institute and the Berkman Center for Internet and Society & Global Access in Action co-organised an event on practical strategies to expand access to medicine and promote innovation on 13 June. The event was partly webcast. In his introductory remarks, Ashish Jha, K.T. Li professor of international health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, talked about the tension between two communities with two competing sets of ideas. The first set, he said, is the real practical need for more innovation for treating diseases and diagnostic tests. However, innovation fundamentally is expensive, “and there is no shortcut that we know of to make innovation happen without anybody’s forces,” he said. The opposing factor, he said, is that a very large proportion of the world’s population that cannot afford to pay for the innovation. “The idea that innovation would only benefit those who can afford to pay for it is an idea that we feel is both from a moral, economic, and intellectual perspective, unsustainable.” “We have to move forward beyond this tension, beyond this point of contention … and find practical solutions” that both support innovation yet ensure that there is broad access, he said."
Mr. Modi, Don't Patent Cow Urine; New York Times, 6/16/16
Achal Prabhala and Sudhir Krishnaswamy, New York Times; Mr. Modi, Don't Patent Cow Urine:
"The B.J.P. government released India’s first National Intellectual Property Rights Policy last month, and it is dangerously misguided. Although the paper reaffirms the basic tenets of India’s admirably farsighted patent laws, it also calls for protecting traditional remedies like cow urine. Taken to its logical conclusion, this policy could open the door to many more exceptions, playing into the hands of patent-happy international pharmaceutical companies. Big Pharma justifies aggressive patenting by claiming that profit-making drives invention by giving labs and companies an incentive to invest in research. Indian law takes the opposite view: Higher standards for legal protection leave more room for innovation. Unlike many other countries, India does not allow patents for natural substances, traditional remedies, frivolous inventions or marginal innovations. This is a good thing — a great thing, in fact. Having fewer patents means more competition for more generic drugs, which means more affordable medicine for more people. Imatinib, a drug used to treat a form of leukemia, is available in India at about one-tenth the price it costs in much of the world. In 2000, when the only anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS available were produced by Western companies, the annual cost of treatment was about $10,000. The price has dropped to about $350, at least in the developing world, thanks to generic equivalents that were developed in India. Naturally, all this drives Big Pharma mad. Its business model relies largely on patenting small tweaks to existing technologies, which multiplies financial returns with only minimal investment in research."
Paramount Says 'Star Trek' Fan Film Lawsuit Lives On; Hollywood Reporter, 6/16/16
Eriq Gardner, Hollywood Reporter; Paramount Says 'Star Trek' Fan Film Lawsuit Lives On:
"The two studios filed a copyright infringement lawsuit at the very end of 2015, and over objections that the Star Trek rights-owners couldn't really copyright elements like the Klingon language or the pointy Vulcan ears, a judge rejected a motion to dismiss. The legal dispute over a project hyped as a would-be studio-quality film that's set before Captain James. T. Kirk's voyage on the U.S.S. Enterprise has commanded attention in large part because the studios have either tolerated or encouraged fan-made works through the years. In mid-May, during a promotional event for Star Trek Beyond, Abrams raised the hopes of many by hinting the lawsuit would be over soon... So far, that hasn't turned out to be the case."
Apple gets patent for wrap-around iPhone screen; CNN Money, 6/14/16
Chris Isidore, CNN Money; Apple gets patent for wrap-around iPhone screen:
"Apple was granted a patent Tuesday for a 360-degree screen, which would put a display on all sides of an iPhone: front, back and slide. Apple's application says the 360-degree screen would let customers play video games or watch videos that would play on both sides of the phone. It could also display a still photo that would appear in a continuous loop around the iPhone... The patent application doesn't disclose any details about actual plans to incorporate this feature into an upcoming version of an iPhone. Very often patents are granted for innovations that are not brought to market by the patent holder for reasons such the cost of the new device or problems with getting it to function in the real world."
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Carla Hayden is one Senate vote away from becoming a groundbreaking librarian of Congress; Washington Post, 6/10/16
Peggy McGlone, Washington Post; Carla Hayden is one Senate vote away from becoming a groundbreaking librarian of Congress: [Kip Currier: Carla Hayden was an Assistant Professor in the Library and Information Science Department of the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences from 1987-1991.]
"Carla D. Hayden — President Obama’s nominee to become the 14th librarian of Congress — is one vote away from making history. The Senate Rules Committee recommended that the full Senate approve the nomination of Hayden, 63, to become the new head of the Library of Congress. If approved, the head of Baltimore’s public library system would be the first woman and the first African American to lead the federal agency. A past president of the American Library Association, Hayden has served on the National Museum and Library Services Board since 2010. She earned a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Chicago. She is credited with improving the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, where she has been chief executive for 23 years, by upgrading its technology and establishing it as a vital community resource... Appearing before the Senate committee in April, Hayden acknowledged the challenges facing the sprawling library. Last year, a congressional report criticized the agency for widespread technological failures that wasted tax dollars and caused problems for the Copyright Office and for services for the disabled. Hayden told lawmakers she believed the library could become a model for all libraries, which must adapt to a changing world... The oldest federal cultural institution, the Library of Congress has 3,200 employees and an annual budget of $630 million. It serves as the research arm of Congress, provides Congress with legal advice and runs the Copyright Office, a major player in the world’s digital economy."
Posted by Kip Currier, PhD, JD at 1:44 PM No comments:
Led Zeppelin’s ’Stairway to Heaven’ in Copyright Trial; Wall Street Journal, 6/14/16
[Video] Mark Kelly, Wall Street Journal; Led Zeppelin’s ’Stairway to Heaven’ in Copyright Trial:
"A jury trial begins on Tuesday in Los Angeles to determine whether the opening notes to Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" were copied from the song "Taurus" by the band Spirit."
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Citigroup Sues AT&T Over 'Thanks' Word: Copyright Infringement; Tech Times, 6/12/16
Horia Ungureanu, Tech Times; Citigroup Sues AT&T Over 'Thanks' Word: Copyright Infringement: [Kip Currier: 2 mistakes in this Tech Times article: 1. In the headline. Copyright is neither relevant nor at issue in this case. 2. The Tech Times article's author says "Gizmodo showcases a picture of the patent, in case you need to see it to believe it.", but Patent is not relevant in this case either. These are two striking examples of how different types of intellectual property are so often misunderstood and confused with one another. This story is an example of Trademark and Gizmodo gets the story right.]
"An unlikely lawsuit started as Citigroup filed a complaint against AT&T, which the credit card company says is infringing upon its trademark. AT&T did not steal Citigroup's logo or slogan or anything of the sort, but it did have the audacity to use the word "thanks" in a campaign addressing customer-loyalty. The bank sued the telecom company, underlining the fact that it has secured a trademark for the word "thanks" some years ago. This is not a late April Fool's Day joke, although we really wish it was. According to the legal complaint that was filed in a Manhattan federal court, AT&T's campaign infringes a few of the trademarks of Citigroup. For example, the credit card enterprise owns both "Citi ThankYou" and "ThankYou." Gizmodo showcases a picture of the patent, in case you need to see it to believe it. As a reminder, Citigroup has been making use of the "ThankYou" trademark since 2004, when it began a customer-loyalty program. The company says that over seven million of its clients have credit cards with the ThankYou slogan written in big letter across them."
Posted by Kip Currier, PhD, JD at 11:46 AM No comments:
Labels: alleged infringement, AT&T, Citigroup, copyright, patents, trademarks
Saturday, June 11, 2016
New York Times Says Fair Use Of 300 Words Will Run You About $1800; New York Times, 6/10/16
Tim Cushing, TechDirt; New York Times Says Fair Use Of 300 Words Will Run You About $1800:
"Fair use is apparently the last refuge of a scofflaw. Following on the heels of a Sony rep's assertion that people could avail themselves of fair use for the right price, here comes the New York Times implying fair use not only does not exist, but that it runs more than $6/word. Obtaining formal permission to use three quotations from New York Times articles in a book ultimately cost two professors $1,884. They’re outraged, and have taken to Kickstarter — in part to recoup the charges, but primarily, they say, to “protest the Times’ and publishers’ lack of respect for Fair Use.” These professors used quotes from other sources in their book about press coverage of health issues, but only the Gray Lady stood there with her hand out, expecting nearly $2,000 in exchange for three quotes totalling less than 300 words. The professors paid, but the New York Times "policy" just ensures it will be avoided by others looking to source quotes for their publications. The high rate it charges (which it claims is a "20% discount") for fair use of its work will be viewed by others as proxy censorship. And when censorship of this sort rears its head, most people just route around it. Other sources will be sought and the New York Times won't be padding its bottom line with ridiculous fees for de minimis use of its articles. The authors' Kickstarter isn't so much to pay off the Times, but more to raise awareness of the publication's unwillingness to respect fair use."
Friday, June 10, 2016
The OPEN Government Data Act Would, Uh, Open Government Data; Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), 6/10/16
Elliot Harmon and Aaron Mackey, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF); The OPEN Government Data Act Would, Uh, Open Government Data:
"The U.S. government has made huge strides in its open data practices over the last few years. Since it launched in 2009, data.gov has become a crucial source for everything from climate and agricultural data to Department of Education records. For the most part, this new era of data disclosure didn’t happen because Congress passed new laws; it happened through presidential orders and procedural improvements in the Executive Branch. Unfortunately, it might be just as easy for future administrations to roll back the current open data program. That’s why EFF supports a bill that would mandate public access to government data and urges Congress to pass it. Recently introduced in both the House and Senate, the Open, Public, Electronic, and Necessary Government Data Act (OPEN Data Act, S. 2852, H.R. 5051) would require all federal government agencies to automatically make public any data sets they produce, subject to narrow exceptions for national security or other reasons (more on those reasons in a minute). It would also require that that data be shared in a machine-readable format—that is, a format that can be processed by a computer without a person having to manually tinker with each entry. In 2013, President Obama issued an executive order that government data be shared in machine-readable formats. The OPEN Government Data Act would lock that requirement into law and provide a stronger legal definition for machine-readable data. EFF applauds the OPEN Data Act and hopes to see it pass. By turning the good practices that the Executive Branch has gradually adopted into law, the OPEN Data Act can help usher in a new era for U.S. data transparency."
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Open access: All human knowledge is there—so why can’t everybody access it?; Ars Technica, 6/7/16
Glyn Moody, Ars Technica; Open access: All human knowledge is there—so why can’t everybody access it? :
"In 1836, Anthony Panizzi, who later became principal librarian of the British Museum, gave evidence before a parliamentary select committee. At that time, he was only first assistant librarian, but even then he had an ambitious vision for what would one day became the British Library. He told the committee: I want a poor student to have the same means of indulging his learned curiosity, of following his rational pursuits, of consulting the same authorities, of fathoming the most intricate inquiry as the richest man in the kingdom, as far as books go, and I contend that the government is bound to give him the most liberal and unlimited assistance in this respect... The example of The Pirate Bay shows that the current game of domain whack-a-mole is not one that the lawyers are likely to win. But even if they did, it is too late. Science magazine's analysis of Sci-Hub downloads reveals that the busiest city location is Tehran. It wrote: "Much of that is from Iranians using programs to automatically download huge swathes of Sci-Hub’s papers to make a local mirror of the site. Rahimi, an engineering student in Tehran, confirms this. 'There are several Persian sites similar to Sci-Hub'." In this, people are following in the footsteps of Aaron Swartz, with the difference that we don't know what he intended to do with the millions of articles he had downloaded, whereas those mirroring Sci-Hub certainly intend to share the contents widely. It would be surprising if others around the world, especially in emerging economies, are not busily downloading all 45 million papers to do the same."
Beyoncé faces lawsuit over claims Lemonade trailer 'copied' ideas; Guardian, 6/9/16
Guardian; Beyoncé faces lawsuit over claims Lemonade trailer 'copied' ideas:
"A filmmaker has issued a lawsuit against Beyoncé, claiming the trailer for her visual album Lemonade copied images from a short film he had made. Matthew Fulks says his film Palinoia had been seen by a member of Beyoncé’s team, and that a number of scenes appeared to have been recreated in the Lemonade trailer. “The number of aesthetic decisions included in Plaintiff’s Palinoia Work that are parroted in Defendants’ Lemonade Trailer demonstrates that the Lemonade Trailer is substantially similar to the Palinoia Work,” the complaint says. “The misappropriated content includes both the particular elements that the Plaintiff chose to comprise the Palinoia Work and the coordination and arrangement of those particular elements.”"
Ed Sheeran Sued For $20 Million For Allegedly Plagiarzing ‘Photograph’; Huffington Post, 6/8/16
Julia Brucculieri, Huffington Post; Ed Sheeran Sued For $20 Million For Allegedly Plagiarzing ‘Photograph’ :
"The English musician, who happens to be BFFs with Taylor Swift, is reportedly being sued for $20 million dollars over his song “Photograph,” according to Billboard. Songwriters Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard and their publishing company claim the song borrows heavily from their track, “Amazing,” which was released as a single by 2010 “X Factor” winner Matt Cardle. Harrington and Leonard have written hits for some of the industry’s biggest stars, including Kylie Minogue. To help with their case, the plaintiffs are working with attorney Richard Busch, who was involved in the copyright lawsuit between Marvin Gaye’s family and Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over the song “Blurred Lines.” If you recall, Thicke and Williams lost the case and contested a $7.4 million jury verdict that found they plagiarized the Motown great’s “Got to Give It Up.” The lawsuit against Sheeran says “Photograph” is too similar to the original composition of “Amazing” by Harrington and Leonard and the version recorded by Cardle. The plaintiffs claim the two songs share 39 identical notes."
Sweden bans M&M's logo in trademark battle; BBC News, 6/8/16
BBC News; Sweden bans M&M's logo in trademark battle:
"A Swedish court has ruled that the confectionery firm Mars can no longer advertise its M&M's brand with the lower case lettering "m&m". The court ruled that the logo is too similar to the single lower case "m" used by the Swedish chocolate covered peanut brand Marabou. If Mars doesn't appeal it will have to use the capital M&M logo in Sweden starting in July... In January, Nestle lost its case to trademark the finger shape of its KitKat bars. A British court ruled that a Norwegian bar, called Kvikk Lunsj, was entitled to use the same shape."
Posted by Kip Currier, PhD, JD at 8:31 AM No comments:
Labels: finger shape of KitKat bars, M&M, Marabou, Mars, Nestle, Sweden, trademark dispute
Monday, June 6, 2016
Hacker Lexicon: What Is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?; Wired, 6/6/16
Kim Zetter, Wired; Hacker Lexicon: What Is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act? :
"THE CALL FOR copyright reform in America has grown so loud that Congress has finally heard it. Lawmakers have ordered a slate of studies to look into how to fix what has become a broken system, and activists are cautiously optimistic that this could be the first step toward reform. The source of the fracture? The Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The DMCA was passed in 1998 as an anti-piracy statute effectively making it illegal to circumvent copy protections designed to prevent pirates from duplicating digital copyrighted works and selling or freely distributing them. It also makes it illegal to manufacture or distribute tools or techniques for circumventing copy controls. But in reality the controversial law’s effects have been much broader by allowing game developers, music and film companies and others to keep a tight control on how consumers use their copyrighted works, preventing them in some cases from making copies of their purchased products for their own use or from jailbreaking smartphones and other devices to use them in ways the manufacturers dislike. The DMCA has two problematic sections: section 1201, which deals with the circumvention of copy-protections, and section 512, which allows a copyright holder to send a so-called takedown notice to web sites and others believed to be infringing a copyright."
Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ to Be Scrutinized in Court in Copyright Case; New York Times, 6/5/16
Ben Sisario, New York Times; Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ to Be Scrutinized in Court in Copyright Case:
"Whatever happens with the Led Zeppelin trial, the industry is still trying to understand the effects of the “Blurred Lines” case, which is under appeal. Matt Pincus, the chief executive of Songs Music Publishing, an independent publisher that works with current pop and hip-hop acts like the Weeknd and Desiigner, said his company was seeing far more claims of infringement now — most made privately, outside of court — than ever before. But the reasons were not clear, he said. “It could be opportunism, because lawyers are smelling blood,” Mr. Pincus said. “But it could also be because we have moved to a real collaboration economy now, where pop records have multiple collaborators in a way that they didn’t five or six years ago.” Those collaborators may dispute credits or royalties after the fact."
Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose is trying to get a 'fat photo' off the Internet; CNet, 6/5/16
Aloysius Low, CNet; Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose is trying to get a 'fat photo' off the Internet:
"What would you do if you were the lead singer of Guns N' Roses and some young punks on the Internet used a photo of you to make fat jokes? Well, Axl Rose thinks the best way to deal is to wipe all traces of the picture off the web, and he's starting with Google... Interestingly, the copyright for the original image is tricky. While TorrentFreak did hunt down the original photographer to check if Axl Rose has the right to take down the image, Web Sheriff, the company performing the takedown, says that photographers at the singer's show sign an agreement transferring copyright ownership to his company."
IBM has been awarded an average of 24 patents per day so far in 2016; Quartz, 6/2/16
[2,500th post since this blog was started in 2008--Kip Currier] Mike Murphy, Quartz; IBM has been awarded an average of 24 patents per day so far in 2016:
"The media tends to focus on the crazy things Google, Facebook, and Apple patent, but they’re still dwarfed by more traditional companies like IBM and Samsung when it comes to the number of patents they’re awarded each year. Through the first half of 2016, IBM has, yet again, been the leader in technology patents, averaging roughly 23.6 patents awarded each day..." The company is in the middle of a painful reinvention, that sees the company shifting further away from hardware sales into cloud computing, analytics, and AI services. It’s also plugging away on a myriad of fundamental scientific research projects—many of which could revolutionize the world if they can come to fruition—which is where many of its patent applications originate."
Public info, now: As county and city improve, the state stays lousy; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/6/16
Editorial Board, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Public info, now: As county and city improve, the state stays lousy:
"County officials in recent days have rolled out new online tools to make certain types of public information more accessible. Controller Chelsa Wagner on Thursday debuted alleghenycounty.opengov.com, which features graphs, charts and sortable data about spending, vendors, employees, salaries and benefits. She also introduced allegheny.openbookportal.com, providing instant access to contracts with vendors... Local governments are getting better at providing basic financial and vendor information to the public, and some officials, such as city Controller Michael Lamb, take pride in providing easy access to public information... Across the state, however, access to public documents is uneven, and obtaining anything beyond routine documents, such as annual budgets, often involves a cumbersome right-to-know process in which the government agency drags its feet and attempts to keep secret anything potentially embarrassing or controversial. Incremental progress on openness should be applauded, but it is important to remember that the larger battle is far from won."
Friday, June 3, 2016
The Google/Oracle decision was bad for copyright and bad for software; Ars Technica, 6/2/16
Peter Bright, Ars Technica; The Google/Oracle decision was bad for copyright and bad for software:
"Oracle's long-running lawsuit against Google has raised two contentious questions. The first is whether application programming interfaces (APIs) should be copyrightable at all. The second is whether, if they are copyrightable, repurposing portions of those APIs can be done without a license in the name of "fair use.""
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Open-access journal eLife gets £25-million boost; Nature, 6/1/16
Ewen Callaway, Nature; Open-access journal eLife gets £25-million boost:
"When three of the world’s biggest private biomedical funders launched the journal eLife in 2012, they wanted to shake up the way in which scientists published their top papers. The new journal would be unashamedly elitist, competing with biology’s traditional ‘big three’, Nature, Science and Cell, to publish the best work. But unlike these, eLife would use working scientists as editors, and it would be open access. And with backers providing £18 million (US$26 million) over five years, authors wouldn’t need to pay anything to publish there. Four years and more than 1,800 publications later, eLife’s funders — the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Chevy Chase, Maryland, the Wellcome Trust in London and the Max Planck Society in Berlin — announced on 1 June that they will continue their support. They will back the non-profit eLife organization with a further £25 million between 2017 and 2022 (see ‘eLife by the numbers’)."
Madonna prevails in copyright lawsuit over 'Vogue' song; Reuters, 6/2/16
Dan Levine, Reuters; Madonna prevails in copyright lawsuit over 'Vogue' song:
"In a 2-1 vote, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California ruled that a general audience would not recognize the 0.23-second snippet in "Vogue" as originating from the song "Love Break." Shep Pettibone, a producer of "Vogue," also recorded "Love Break" in the early 1980's, according to the court ruling. The plaintiff, VMG Salsoul LLC, owns the copyright to "Love Break" and alleged Pettibone sampled the "horn hit" from the earlier work and added it to "Vogue."... The dissenting judge, Barry Silverman, said even a small sample of music, used without a license, should be a copyright violation. "In any other context, this would be called theft," Silverman wrote. Robert Besser, a lawyer for VMG Salsoul, said in a phone interview: "I agree with the dissent because it should be an infringement for copying any piece of any sound recording." He said his client would review its legal options."
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Game of Thrones is taking action against Pornhub for breach of copyright; BBC News, 6/1/16
BBC News; Game of Thrones is taking action against Pornhub for breach of copyright:
"The makers of Game of Thrones are taking action against Pornhub over breach of copyright. HBO says it's because some scenes from the show have appeared on the site. Some other videos even include parodies of porn stars pretending to be characters such as Cersei Lannister and Lord Varys from Game of Thrones."
Music World Bands Together Against YouTube, Seeking Change to Law; New York Times, 5/31/16
Ben Sisario, New York Times; Music World Bands Together Against YouTube, Seeking Change to Law:
"The fight over the Digital Millennium Copyright Act has touched a nerve. The music industry is bracing for what may be a high-wattage lobbying battle reminiscent of the one over the Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill that was abandoned in 2012 after opposition from technology activists and Internet giants like Google and Wikipedia. The copyright law gives “safe harbor” to Internet service providers that host third-party material. While music groups criticize the law, some legal scholars and policy specialists say any change to it would need to be considered carefully, particularly to preserve protections like fair use. “Anything that rewrites the D.M.C.A. isn’t just going to affect YouTube,” said James Grimmelmann, a law professor at the University of Maryland. “It is going to affect blogs. It is going to affect fan sites. It is going to affect places for game creators and documentarians and all kinds of others.” In December, the United States Copyright Office asked for comments about D.M.C.A. as part of a review of the law, and filings by record companies show how laborious copyright policing can be."
Reprint of Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ Tests German Law; New York Times, 6/1/16
Melissa Eddy, New York Times; Reprint of Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ Tests German Law:
"A German publisher of right-wing books has begun selling a reprint of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” originally issued in 1943 by the Nazi party’s central publishing house, a move that risks violating Germany’s law against the distribution of Nazi propaganda. A copyright on “Mein Kampf” that was held by the Bavarian government expired on Dec. 31, and an annotated scholarly edition was published this year with government permission. Now, state prosecutors in the German city of Leipzig, where the publisher, Der Schelm, is based, are investigating whether they can press charges . Last week, prosecutors in Bamberg opened a separate investigation after a bookseller, who was not identified, advertised Der Schelm’s edition. Although Hitler’s two-volume treatise, written from 1924 to 1927 and laying out his ideas on race and violence, is widely available on the internet, the annotated version is the only one that is legal in Germany. The 3,500 comments accompanying the text provide context for the work, and they are aimed, in part, at trying to prevent a new generation from taking up Nazi ideologies. “Promoting an edition without annotations is considered a criminal offense,” Christopher Rosenbusch, a spokesman for prosecutors in Bamberg, said on Wednesday."
Donald Trump's 'playbooks' offer a glimpse into his ruthless business practices; Guardian, 6/1/16
Rupert Neate and Lauren Gambino, Guardian; Donald Trump's 'playbooks' offer a glimpse into his ruthless business practices:
"US district court judge Gonzalo Curiel on Tuesday made public more than 400 pages of Trump University “playbooks” describing how Trump staff should target prospective students’ weaknesses to encourage them to sign up for a $34,995 Gold Elite three-day package. Trump University staff were instructed to get people to pile on credit card debt and to target their financial weaknesses in an attempt to sell them the high-priced real estate courses. The documents contained an undated “personal message” from Trump to new enrollees at the school: “Only doers get rich. I know that in these three packed days, you will learn everything to make a million dollars within the next 12 months.”... New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman, who has also sued Trump University, renewed his attacks on Trump on Tuesday. “You are not allowed to protect the trade secrets of a three-card Monte game,” Schneiderman said ahead of the document’s release."
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


Australian resellers can expect to deliver an easier sales pitch following Compaq and IBM's $US1 billion agreement to sell each other's storage software and hardware.
Compaq Australia claims the deal will help resellers overcome end-user resistance to adopt SAN technology in the booming storage market as the alliance will deliver SAN interoperability between the companies' product sets.
Stephen Bovis, Compaq's enterprise products manager, told ARN today the alliance will also strengthen Compaq and IBM's product portfolio as product sharing would enable each to "fill in the gaps. One of the biggest problems with SAN has been open standards," he said. It will also give IBM access to Compaq technology for its NT, Unix and software products, he said.
As for the distribution and reseller channel, Bovis said local competition will remain unchanged, as are the vendors' sales and marketing efforts. "From a reseller point of view, it's going to be a lot easier to sell the benefits of SAN to a customer," he said.
Compaq CEO Michael Capellas predicted the deal would improve the interoperability of storage networking technology, to make such networks easier for enterprises to deploy and manage.
Under the terms of the deal, Compaq will sell IBM's high-end Shark storage servers and some Tivoli Systems systems-management software. In turn, IBM will sell Compaq's StorageWorks Modular Array 8000 systems and software, which use IBM high-speed hard-disk drives.
In addition, IBM will support Compaq's VersaStor software, which guides various platforms to help users find files in a single store of data.
Analysts said the deal, which would help Compaq and IBM take on kingpin EMC, might also complicate things for customers. The two companies will cooperate on selling storage technology, but compete in every other realm, especially Windows NT servers.
"I think the whole deal will confuse the life out of the poor IBM and Compaq sales guys," as well as the end users, said Steve Duplessie, an analyst at Enterprise Storage Group in Massachusetts. For example, he said, a Compaq sales rep might try to sell the IBM Shark product, only to have an IBM rep try to sell it direct to the same customer. In the midst of that battle, EMC could "walk in and take the deal", Duplessie said.
However, in the long term, an IBM and Compaq partnership could create problems for the dominant high-end EMC Symmetrix storage platform, said Bob Zimmerman, an analyst at Giga Information Group in California.
Market researcher International Data Corp estimates the storage systems and storage management market will grow to about $US48 billion in 2003.


But the message must contain a specific series of Arabic characters, so you're likely to receive it only as a prank. And there are ways to resolve the problem.
Mobile World Congress 2015
CNET's Marguerite Reardon explains how three key phenomena could reshape the wireless industry in the next few years and pave the way for more-affordable mobile services.
That's a crazy-good deal on a monitor that includes an HDMI input and stereo speakers. But there is a small catch.
T-Mobile's Kyocera Rally is a compact feature phone with expandable memory and a VGA camera.
When Google unveiled its smart and controversial eyewear three years ago, some early tech adopters tried to do their part by eagerly pushing for Glass acceptance. The world pushed back.
Simple and fun to use, the Polaroid Zip is a great little accessory for freeing your photos from your smartphone.
Smart cards want to replace your wallet full of debit and credit cards with one dynamic smart card. Here's what you need to know.
The Speed's price may be tempting, but skip it for better prepaid handsets that are faster and more reliable.
The small printer is set to ship in September for $250.
LaCie announced its Porsche Design Mobile Drive, which features a USB-C connector and will work natively with Apple's new MacBook. The drive will also work with existing computers' USB ports via an included adapter cable.
Pricing not available


text:
Great Seats, Great Prices, Great Extras
Get exclusive access to priority onsales and special offers, plus never miss out on the biggest stories from the West End, Off-West End and beyond.
No Data Message
The Site will be created by designer Chloe Lamford and house five new pieces of writing
The star of upcoming TV series Guerrilla on the inspiration behind his new Royal Court play Torn
Nathaniel Martello-White's new play places the audience inside an intense session of family therapy
Tom Bateman and Lorna Brown are among the stars of the productions
Award-winning actress Denise Gough stars in Jeremy Herrin's production

domain: entertainment


text:
Mike van Fabio Interview [Q&A]
Mike van Fabio – Born 6 Dec 1991, Polish Trance music producer, remixer and DJ.
His passion for electronic music started yet in early childhood, after Robert’s Miles ‘Dreamland’ album was released (1996). About ten years later, influenced by events like Trance Energy and artists like Johan Gielen, 4 Strings or ATB, Mike decided to take his first steps in music production. Up to the present day his tracks and remixes are supported by the biggest names of the world’s Trance scene like Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Aly & Fila, Giuseppe Ottaviani, John O’Callaghan and many more. He made himself a name with releases on labels such as Armada Music, Black Hole, Monster Tunes and Amsterdam Trance Records.
Mike is also 1st place winner of Tritonal’s Lifted remix competition in 2013.
-Tell us please how you begin with music and djing?
I started to listen to Trance music in early childhood after hearing Robert’s Miles tracks from Dreamland album in radiostations. Those tracks were Children and Fable.
When I was 10 maybe 12 years old, I became a big fan of events like Trance Energy, Sensation or Sunrise Festival. I was obviously too young to participate in events like that but I had tons of clips and after movies from my favorite DJ’s gigs like Svenson & Gielen, 4 Strings, ATB or Rank1.
That’s where it all started and I thought it must be an awesome feeling to play your own tunes in front of thousands of happy people dancing to it.
-How do you stay up to date with the latest music trends?
I usually browse Beatport charts like Top 100, sometimes I check other producers’ charts or youtube channels of my favorite producers & labels for something new. Listening to the radio shows of my favorite DJs is also a good way to discover something new and cool.
-With which labels and artists have you worked?
I worked with really many labels like Armada, Raz Nitzan, Monster Tunes, Abora, Infrasonic, Suanda, Phoenix, Enhanced, some sub-labels of Black Hole Recordings and recently new label of Darren Porter – Reason II Rise Music where my latest single was released. I had the pleasure to work with legendary names like Geert Huinink (Armin’s and Tiesto’s co-producer in some of their past albums), had a few collaborations with some cool artists like Allen Watts, Madwave, Alex van ReeVe and also produced few vocal trance tracks with some great vocalists like Elles De Graaf, Denise Rivera or Kim Kiona and many more which I was a big fan of even years before I decided to try my luck in producer’s career. I also had the opportunity to officially remix songs from some great artists like 4 Strings, Talla 2XLC, Allen & Envy or Icone.
-Any new releases?
A few days ago my new remix and single were released.
My new uplifting tune entitled ‘Spacewalker’ on the new label by Darren Porter “Reason II Rise Music” and my remix for really talented Polish duo KBK & Nayenne that is out on Suanda Music.
I’m currently working on some new uplifting tracks and one vocal trance project, so I hope to reveal more news very soon 🙂
-In the studio, what’s your set-up?
I work with FL Studio since version 7.0 if I remember well. My studio setup is currently two KRK Rokit 8 studio monitors, PC on Windows with FL, Novation Launchkey 25 midi keyboard, mixer channel controller by Behringer and that’s all.
-What’s your creative process in the studio?
I usually start from the main melody, trying to create a climax/drop part in the first place, and then after I have what I expected more or less, I’m focusing on building the rest of the track around it. I prefer to start from the main part and then decide how to build the rest of the track that fits its style.
-Your typical DJ set-up?
To be honest, I am still developing the DJ side of my career and I didn’t have the opportunity to perform on many events so far but I think usually it was DJM-800 and CDJ-1000 or CDJ-2000 which worked for me very fine.
-What have you done online? Have you seen any DJ video streams that impressed you?
I don’t have my own radio show or podcast yet but yes I noticed there are a lot of DJs now who put really big effort into their DJ streams and to entertain their listeners. You can notice how interactive those streams became (for example lot of DJ shows on Twitch) which I think is a really good and helpful thing to keep your audience grooving.
-How do you think the electronic music scene was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
I think it was affected pretty much, especially on the DJ side of the scene. As we all know, most gigs were canceled those days and a lot of DJs and their managers / booking agencies lost their pretty significant part of income. You can also notice a lot of producers and DJs started their own support programs and educational courses for other producers and even beginners to deal with this situation which is a really good thing in my opinion. Hopefully, everything is going to come back to normal and there will be no more stress about if your favorite artist will appear on the long-awaited gig or if the event will successfully take place as planned without postponing it a second or third time.
-Do you have other activities beside music?
Yes, I’m a fan of shooting, having my own collection of rifles and guns, taking part in shooting competitions, riding motocross and offroad vehicles, reading much about space, the universe and various related things but I think music is still what I spend the most time on.
-What can we expect from you in the future?
I hope to deliver much more tracks than during the past 2 years. I really wish to start working on my artist album but there are still few collaborations and unfinished projects which I’d like to finalize first. You can surely expect some releases including vocal and non-vocal tracks and probably at least 2 collabs with other producers yet this year 😉

domain: artistic


text:
(Download b.o.o.k.s) Tim? The Official Biography of Avicii -
(Download b.o.o.k.s) Tim? The Official Biography of Avicii Creator By (Ard&) Descriptions The intimate biography of the iconic DJ who was lost too soon.Tim Bergling was a musical visionary who, through his sense for melodies, came to define the era when Swedish and European house music took over the world.But Tim Bergling was also an introverted and fragile young man who was forced to grow up at an inhumanly fast pace. After a series of emergencies resulting in hospital stays, he stopped touring in the summer of 2016. Barely two years later, he took his own life.Tim - The Biography of Avicii is written by the award-winning journalist M?ns Mosesson, who through interviews with Tim's family, friends and colleagues in the music business, has intimately gotten to know the star producer. The book paints an honest picture of Tim and his search in life, not shying from the difficulties that he struggled with. Link For Download Book Available Formats : PDF/EPUB/MOBI CLICK HERE FOR DOWNLOAD BOOK MEET YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK Over 4.2 million eBooks ready to download now. Discover important books for all ages - to read this month and beyond. Read anytime, anywhere with Booktorrent. SIGN UP NOW AND START READING RIGHT AWAY Thanks for joining us !

domain: library


TAMPA, Fla. - Imagine when citrus groves covered more of Florida. If time were turned back, you’d find the art of the orange groves on the labels of citrus boxes.
They’re especially interesting to Elizabeth Lee Barron. "Each time I found a new label it was like I won the lottery," said the longtime librarian at the University of Tampa.
She has traced her family roots through citrus box labels.
One label shows a baby who would later grew into Elizabeth’s Aunt Pep.
"She is now 103 years old," continued Barron. "She lives in Orlando and it was the first label that my grandparents produced."
Her family story begins when her great-grandfather, D.C. Lee, settled on Lake Thonotosassa in the late 1800’s.
To sell oranges, growers added color to their labels.
"When they shipped the citrus to market, the labels actually attracted buyers," explained Barron.
The state citrus commission supplied advertising art to many growers, but the Lee’s put their family images on their labels.
"Three aunts and my father, so I have four labels that have my aunts and my father on them," Barron said.
She’s found dozens of her family labels. Her brother made them into a poster for Christmas gifts.
"He pulled me aside and said don’t find anymore because I’ve got the poster where I want it."
But she’s not so sure that's the end of it. "I’ve actually found one since then, but I haven’t told him yet," she laughed.
She hasn’t placed a value on her citrus label collection. "To me, they’re priceless."


text:
Doggy Day Care in Shalimar, Tempe, AZ
Drop off your dog at your sitter's home in the morning, and pick them up in the evening.
“After only one visit, my dog was already crying with excitement as we drove to Marisa’s house for his second daycare visit. I love the photos and messages I receive throughout the day, and I can tell my dog has a great time!”
Danielle & Kyle Q.
“Danielle and Kyle were so accommodating to my hectic day and change of plans. My dog has a lot of energy and they seemed to handle her just fine. My pupster was clearly worn out as she went straight to bed once we got home. That’s exactly what I’m looking for when it comes to a sitter and a day experience for her, somewhere where she will have another awesome dog to play with, kind (and command following hosts), and just an overall loving and welcome experience. Will definitely use them again! My pup was soooooo happy with her experience and so was I!”
“Alex took great care of our pup! She was very responsive and made us feel comfortable during our meet and greet. Jester looks forward to another stay! Thank you!”
“Alexa provided a fun and safe space for my pup to spend the night while I saw a concert. She was super helpful in accommodating a late night pick up. Would recommend!”
“I'm so grateful for Carly's outstanding care of my beloved dog Sperry! She has been an incredible dog sitter, showing genuine love and attention to Sperry's needs. Carly's responsible and reliable nature allows me to leave Sperry with complete peace of mind, knowing he's in the best hands. Sperry absolutely adores Carly, and I couldn't ask for a more trustworthy and caring sitter for my furry friend. Thank you, Carly, for being an amazing dog sitter!”
“Alyssa is very loving and caring with my dog. I’m definitely going to book more times. Her dogs are so friendly!! She always sends me pictures and videos. I’m quite sure they had a blast!”
“I think she is just a right person for a pet she has always updated me and her Communication with her has always been 100% there not only does she update me on my 4 legged love one but she is so easy to contact and understanding about scheduling no matter what time 3 am or 6 pm also making sure my Puppy is is happy and there needs are reached”
“This was my first time using this app. Candice is AWESOME. My Powder had a great time. She communicates throughout the day. She is flexible and GENUINELY cares about your pet. I would use her over and over again!”
About: I’ve been taking care of my dog and my other friends dogs for the past 4 years I’m very patient and energetic. I strive to really make the dogs happy. I’m always home. I just go to ASU I study political science. The school is just 5 mins from my house. I have 2 classes. So I’m always available. Take the dog on walks. Spending time with them, making sure their water is always filled and that thw animals are always fed. Brushing them and keeping them clean. Making sure they playtime. Make sure they have treats. I would just treat them like they are my own pet.
“Yash is really good with pets! He grew up around dogs so he knows the time, effort and love that goes into taking care of them. He also has experience taking care of rescue dogs with phobias which means he is adept at handling skittish and unpredictable behavior. Above all, he just really loves animals so don’t worry your pet is in good hands!”
About: I have been raising and taking care of dogs my whole life! I’ve helped raise 4 puppies and have two dogs of my own that I grew up with! I love dogs more than humans sometimes 😉 I am a full time college student and I have more than enough free time to work part time and I have plenty of extra time to take care of your furry friends!! My pets are my family, they sleep in my bed and hangout on the couches with us. They are more than spoiled to say the least!
“Nataly and her partner were wonderful with my pup for a full week, walking him frequently and even giving him a bath. I couldn't be happier.”
“Abigail is fantastic with our dogs. She is attentive, informative and has a very calm demeanor that puts an owner at ease when your fur babies go to stay with her. Her 10-year-old son is also great with our senior dog who gets nervous around children. He was so calm around my senior dog that my dog even gave him kisses after being allowed to warm up to new people and a new space. Having a puppy and a senior dog myself, shows they are great with all ages of dogs. Abigail had our dogs for daycare and they will be returning a few days from now for a 10 day stay as we travel out of state.”
About: I have had cats, dogs and chickens since I was born! I love all animals and can play with them for multiple hours on end… and I like to tell myself that animals love my energy I work usually days at the end of the week and have lots of free time at the beginning of the week so I have decent availability! I live in an apartment with a balcony that is fully protected. We have 3 bedrooms and a large living room and kitchen that is honestly perfect for anything up to a large dog!
“I’ve known Devan a very long time ever since she was a little girl. She loves animals of every size type and breed. Every time I’ve needed her to take care of my dog and cat she has always been super reliable and dependable to walk or feed them when needed. Devan just has a way of showing love and caring for our four legged family members.”
About: I’ve done some dog sitting, as well as owned 3 dogs. 2 of which were family dogs and 1 of my own! I love dogs:) I am currently a student taking online classes so I can be flexible with scheduling, especially during the summer time. Same day scheduling is allowed! I do have a job that is not from home. I work 3 days a week, 6 hour shifts. It changes weekly so we will have to schedule accordingly to your dogs needs!! I have a puppy of my own so if your dogs are not friendly/dont get along with other dogs I will have to come to your place. I live in an apartment that has a dog park as well as lots of places for walks!! I know how scary it can be finding the right sitter for your dog, trust me i’ve had to do it too, and it causes a lot of stress. I am here to make sure your stress is eased. I am available to answer any questions you may have/set up a meet and greet before hand if that makes you and your pup more comfortable!!
About: I’ve always had 1-2 dogs at a time throughout my whole life. My friends and neighbors have described me as a responsible pet owner as I love walking my own dog multiple times a day, we might as well bring on a few friends! I work from home full time, I’m gone from 7.45am-8.30am and 3.30pm-4:15pm to drop off and pick up my daughter from school. Sometimes our own dog tags along so if your dog loves car rides, that’s not an issue for us! We have a 7 seaters that can easily turn into a doggy joyride. We recently lost our big black dog in the photos so it’s only the white little dog now. I have a fenced patio with pet friendly fake grass for emergencies (if a dog is a little sick or night time potty break) that I clean daily, other than that I walk my dog around a safe neighborhood. On weekends we like to go on easy hikes to get that good exercise.
“She is reliable, trustworthy and goes above and beyond. Every dog that she meets, you can see that they just adore her. I would trust her to come in my home and care for my dog. Highly recommended!!”
“Svetlana has dog sat and house sat for me on many occasions. She is very reliable and takes great care of my puppy who absolutely loves her. When she is watching my puppy he gets lots of playtime and walks as well as lots of love and cuddles. Svetlana is reliable and careful with my house as well. She is a great resource for me when I have to travel and I never have to worry about my puppy or house.”
“We needed someone to watch our 7 year old German Shepherd during the day while I went off and played old man baseball. Kelly turned out to be perfect. Very flexible and didn’t require any of these meet and greets a number of Rover sitters want. Being from out of town that never works. She sent pictures and videos four the four days we used her. Can’t really say much more she seemed to like him and he came back a tired pup. Good Job!!!”

domain: pet


text:
Table of Contents
What movies did Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand make together?
The Way We Were is a 1973 American romantic drama film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.
What did Barbra Streisand think of Judy Garland?
Barbra Streisand recalls meeting Judy Garland: ‘Oh my God, this woman is fantastic’ Barbra Streisand has one of the greatest voices of all time. But she doesn’t always like to hear it. “I don’t listen to my records and I don’t watch my movies,” Streisand tells USA TODAY.
How old was Robert Redford in The Way We Were?
Before Robert Redford was a director and even before he washed Meryl Streep’s hair in Out of Africa, he was fulfilling fantasies and breaking hearts alongside Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were. At the age of 37, his eyes were at their bluest, his hair at its fullest, and his smile at its brightest.
Did Barbra Streisand get on with Robert Redford?
The Way They Were? Barbra Streisand Had a Massive Crush on Robert Redford While Filming Classic Movie, New Biography Says. Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford famously played love interests in the 1973 classic The Way We Were.
What did Robert Redford say about Barbra Streisand?
Redford has also looked back fondly on filming the beloved drama with Streisand. “I remember the fun we had,” he once said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. “I remember liking her energy and her spirit; it was wonderful to play off of. I also really enjoyed kidding her.
Are Barbra Streisand and Jane Fonda friends?
Per the Globe, Streisand and Fonda are no longer friends. Streisand supposedly keeps telling everyone who will listen that she’s responsible for Fonda’s career.
Did Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford ever date?
In a run of hits in the 1970s – What’s Up, Doc?, The Way We Were and A Star Is Born – Streisand had affairs with leading men Ryan O’Neal, Robert Redford and Kris Kristofferson.
What did Robert Redford think of Barbra Streisand?
Was Elvis offered a role in A Star Is Born?
She even went to Las Vegas to see Elvis after one of his performances in 1975, and talked to him directly to convince him to play the part. Elvis wanted to do it, but Colonel Tom Parker, his manager, was angry that Streisand did not come to him first.
Can Barbra Streisand read music?
Though she never learned to read music, Streisand says she can hear a tune in her head. So when she works on arrangements for her recordings, she says she hums or sings the various parts of the orchestra.

domain: celebrity


Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki (pictured) wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to steer away from influencing the choice of running mate for Deputy President William Ruto in 2022.
Speaking during a fundraiser at Gianchuku Church yesterday, Prof Kindiki, who is also the deputy Senate speaker, said the President should leave Mr Ruto and the people of Mt Kenya East to decide who will take the position without forcing them to settle on a person of his choosing.
"The Deputy President will be our candidate in 2022 and the Mt Kenya East people stand a good chance to field his running mate," said Kindiki.
"The President should stand aside and leave this chance to that person who will come in agreement with Mr Ruto," he added.
He said that just like a father does when his son is choosing a suitor, the President should be quiet and wait to see which person Ruto would present as his running mate.
"We are all President Kenyatta's sons and daughters and he should therefore be careful not separate us by favouring some at the expense of others," he said.
But Kindiki did not expound on who the favourite choice of the President was.
The senator has been lobbying for the position and has since announced that he is serving his last term as a county level leader to play on the national political field in 2022.


text:
RECENTLY VIEWED ACTS
Classical vocalist Andrew is one of the UK’s leading operatic tenors. He has performed and recorded with many of the leading names in contemporary classical music, including Karl Jenkins and Carlo Bergonzi and sung in some of the most prestigious venues in Europe including the Teatro Verdi in Busseto.
Andrew studied at the Guildhall school of Music in London and the Oran Brown Seminary at the Julliard School in New York. He has trained extensively with the distinguished tenor Carlo Bergonzi in Italy, who has proclaimed that Andrew has "the finest tenor voice in the world".
Some of the highlights of Andrew's career include:
- Singing Pie Jesu with composer, Karl Jenkins and the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Performing the National Anthem at Twickenham Rugby Stadium before a live audience of 80.000 and a broadcast audience of millions more on the BBC and Sky Television.
- Performing at the World Travel Awards in Dubai
- Performing for Aiisha Ramadin to open her fashion show 2009
- Nessun Dorma
- Che gelida manina
- Funiculi Funicula
- O'sole Mio
- La Donna Mobile
- Come back to Sorrento
- Time to say goodbye (modern)
- Catari Catari
- Non ti scordar di me
- Some enchanted evening (South Pacific)
- Be my love
- The Drinking song (The student prince)
- Maria ( West Side Story)
- Edelweiss (Sound of Music)
- Music Theatre:
" Andrew Amdur is a fantastic tenor (2007) "
" A fine tenor indeed. "
Karl Jenkins (UK's leading classical composer.
" Andrew is a great tenor and in my opinion one of the best in the world. "
Carlo Bergonzi : Infamous operatic tenor


text:
Book Name: Sahilon Ki Hawa
Writer: Amjad Islam Amjad
Amjad Islam Amjad is the author of the book Sahilon Ki Hawa Pdf. It is a poetry book. The book contains poems, stanzas, and ghazals. The author describes the feelings of humans about nature, love, hate, and life. He highlighted the issues of humanity which they are facing in the modern days.
Amjad Islam Amjad is a poet, columnist, playwright, and educationist. He is famous for his popular TV serials like Waris, Fashaar, etc. In his long writing career, he authored dozens of books in prose and poetry. Meanwhile, he is considered an excellent poet of Urdu. I hope you will like the book Sahilon Ki Hawa Pdf, and share it with others.
Here on the site, you can download Amjad Islam Amjad Books in pdf. If you like, you can subscribe to our website to get updates about the new posts. You also can join us on social media sites. You may read the other book Shehar Dar Shehar, Chalo Japan Chaltay Hain, and Sapne Baat Nahi Karte.


This thesis studies the orbit prediction and determination methods and proposes an orbit determination technique for low earth-orbit satellites using Global Positioning System(GPS).
perturbation models, propagation technique, and numerical integration methods, which determine the accuracy of prediction, are studied for orbit prediction. Simulation result show that high-order non-symmetric gravity effects can not be neglected for low earth-orbit satellite.
For orbit determination, the GPS measurement is used as the position measurement model. Both the extended Kalman filter and the least-squares method are used for sequential and batch estimation. It is shown that a low earth-orbit satellite equipped with a GPS receiver can obtain the required orbit determination accuracy without any aid of ground tracking station.


text:
Check out any and all of these eight spooky podcasts, just in time for Halloween.
Written and produced by horror author Aaron Mahnke, Lore delves into the dark side of history and folklore. From the origins of vampires to the workings of serial killers such as Jack the Ripper, Lore is just as fascinating as it is chilling—so much so, in fact, that Lore has been adapted into an Amazon Prime original series.
Lore currently stands at 98 episodes, and new episodes are released every two weeks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Play.
The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives is a horror-fiction podcast that follows Jonathan Sims, an archivist for the Magnus Institute, an organization that investigates the “strange.” Each episode is thrilling on its own, but as the whole story starts to unfold, you realize that these strange occurrences aren’t necessarily disconnected.
The Magnus Archives has released 120 episodes so far, with new episodes released weekly on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Black Tapes is a procedural fiction podcast about two people’s experience with the paranormal (think The X-Files in podcast form). The storyline is intensely dramatic almost to the point of confusion, but the atmosphere and content itself is so effective at keeping you engaged that it really doesn’t matter.
Black Tapes wrapped up in 2017 and contains 30 episodes over 3 seasons. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Play.
The Last Podcast on the Left
The Last Podcast on the Left exists somewhere between the genres of comedy, true crime and horror. It covers conspiracy theories, urban legends, odd internet findings and various other types of spooky stories. Its dark sense of humor brings comedic lightness to these otherwise spine-chilling discussions.
Episodes of The Last Podcast on the Left are released weekly and can be found on Apple Podcasts and Soundcloud.
If minimalism is more your thing, look no further than Knifepoint Horror. With minimal effects and only a single first person narrator, Knifepoint Horror is reminiscent of spooky tales told around a campfire. Although all of the episodes are quite terrifying, “possession,” “sisters” and “staircase” are particularly chilling.
Episodes of Knifepoint Horror have been released intermittently since 2010 and can be listened to through Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The NoSleep Podcast
Originating from the subreddit r/nosleep, The NoSleep Podcast features multiple original spooky short stories per episode. NoSleep makes use of multiple talented voice actors and boasts a high overall production value, giving each episode its own sort of personality.
There are currently 300 episodes of The NoSleep Podcast, and new episodes are released weekly. You can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Unexplained delves into terrifying tales of the absurd and unexplainable, real life events and mysteries that have not yet, and might never, be explained. The narrator is fantastic at delivering potent and entertaining descriptions of events, resulting in a sense of wonderment that accompanies the creepy.
Unexplained is a biweekly podcast and can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Two Girls One Ghost
Two Girls One Ghost is written and produced by two best friends who discuss their own interests and experiences with the paranormal. Two Girls One Ghost definitely exists within the vein of horror/paranormal, but the hilarious commentary from the hosts creates a more lighthearted experience.
New episodes of Two Girls One Ghost are released regularly, and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Play.


IIoT Smart Safety Helmet
No Thumbnail Available
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has become a reality thanks to the Industrial Revolution 4.0, which aims to connect as many industrial devices as possible via the internet. The smart safety helmet is one of the most important IoT industrial devices. According to a recent study from grand view research Inc., it expected that the smart helmet market size would be $1.2 Billion by 2025. In the project, a smart safety helmet was designed based on the industrial IoT in a cloud platform using ThinkSpeak which is one of the most common IoT cloud platforms. Sensors and Wi-Fi-based microchip (ESP8266) were also utilized for building the system. The system provides alerts from the most common hazardous events expected in the construction site such as falling from a height, gas leakage, sunstroke due to the high-temperature values in the working environment, and falling objects. Also, the system provides monitoring of the working environment in a real-time situation at the monitoring station by sharing and storing the measurements of the working environment data in the cloud which then allows analysis and showing results as graphs and danger levels each indicated by a specific color, for example, the red range indicates high risk, the green range indicates a safe situation and so on as well as sending signals from the wireless network to the monitoring station and vice versa as a buzzer immediately after an expected hazardous event to increase the possibility to save lives. In addition, real-time location tracking of workers periodically without any GPS hardware using Google Geo location API which depends on the scanning of nearby Wi-Fi networks and send their details to google server. Google then knows the location of each router in the network. So, it can easily approximate the location of the person.


text:
While investors were occupied with the never-ending struggles of the European banking sector this year, telecom found itself in a far worse situation, finishing the calendar year at roughly two-year lows.
Bloomberg's Leila Abboud named Europe's telecom the worst-performing sector of this year among all Stoxx 600 sub-sectors, including financials. And, based on the latest data, telecom has the worst year-to-date share price returns.
Telecom shares dropped 19.9% in 2016, bringing the smallest total returns to its shareholders as a sector. Among the individual players, Vodafone (NASDAQ: Vodafone Group [VOD]), Europe's telecom giant, lost 7% whereas France's Orange (NYSE: Ormat Technologies [ORA]) declined by 12% and Spain's Telefonica (Bolsa de Madrid: Telefonica [TEF]) fell 21% this year. Only a few telecom players like Swiss Sunrise Communications Group (SIX: SRCG) and Danish TDC A/S (NYSE: Teradata Corporation [TDC]) showed a slight improvement. To say the least, telecom investors are unimpressed.
At the moment, the sector's valuations are hitting the two-year lows as providers fail to deliver on the promised growth as well as struggle with a number of blocked acquisitions from EU competition regulators, says Bloomberg. Earlier this year, Margrethe Vestager, EU competition commissioner, has blocked the £10.5 billion acquisition deal between CK Hutchison (HK: 1) and O2, that could possibly create the largest mobile provider of the UK. Financial Times said that this was the first time the commission officially blocked a telecom merger, marking a sharp change in Brussel's macroeconomic policy towards the sector.
“Allowing Hutchison to take over O2 at the terms they proposed would have been bad for UK consumers and bad for the UK mobile sector. The remedies offered by Hutchison were not sufficient to prevent this,” said Margrethe Vestager, as reported by FT.
Interestingly, the commission gave a green light to similar mergers that seeked to decrease the number of players in the industry in Germany and Austria two years ago. An unexpected ban of the Hutchison-O2 deal only further complicated the situation in the industry, say the experts.
Vodafone, the world's second and Europe's largest telecom carrier, has demonstrated its worst performance in years and highlighted the sector's problems. The company showed some depressing fiscal H1 results, closing the first half of the year ending 30 September with more than double basic losses. Vodafone's net loss amounted to €5 billion, with basic loss per share being at 18.38 eurocents, as compared to 9.43 eurocent in 2015.
However, the company blamed the €5 billion net loss on a write-down of its Indian business, as an explanation for the declining revenues and profits. Bloomberg added that the company's strategy to sell more discounted "all-inclusive" packages of broadband, TV and mobile calls as a way to keep customers loyal negatively affected the revenues. And this is the main problem that daunted the entire sector, with many smaller players experiencing stronger losses this year.
The overall valuation of the telecom sector also points at serious problems. According to Bloomberg data, telecom's enterprise value is currently at about 6.3 times forward EBITDA, which is the worst performance in the last 2 years. Again, the sector's peak was in 2015, with valuations of 7.8 times forward EBITDA, when investors were expecting fruitful acquisitions season and friendly regulations from Brussels. As we know, this didn't go as expected.
Therefore, even though several telecom companies like Telecom Italia (IM: TIT) and Deutsche Telekom (XETRA: Deutsche Telekom [DTE]) finished the third quarter with some decent results, considering the overall uncertainty in the markets, telecom has all the chances to remain the struggling sector, with little light ahead.

domain: finance


text:
Love it or loathe it, there's no denying the impact that reality television has made on the social and cultural landscape. We've seen strangers get married, models devour slimy bugs, fat gay guys get naked on an island, and even Ozzy Osbourne cleaning up dog crap. What's next for the ambitious producer? Find some patsy to put on TV and let viewers vote on a way to kill him? Hmm...
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
SHOW ME HOW
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
That not-so-outrageous idea is the premise of The Dead Guy, running at Stages Repertory Theatre. Written by Eric Coble, the satire of reality TV and our seemingly insatiable appetite for it also incorporates a live video feed, prerecorded videos and commercials and even its own theme song, making it a truly multimedia affair. Audiences will experience both the "play" and the "show" at the same time. Here's hoping Paris Hilton's in the cast.
Wednesdays-Sundays. Starts: April 5. Continues through April 23


Ross Wilson has confirmed Giovanni van Bronckhorst will NOT have to sell any players to balance the books at Ibrox.
The new Rangers manager walked through the door this week amid speculation around finances following last week's £23.5million losses reveal from the club's annual general meeting details.
There had been suggestions that van Bronckhorst may find himself in a position where he may have to cash-in on some of his top stars with Premier League clubs circling.
But Wilson, the sporting director, reiterated that no players will have to move on if the manager wants to keep hold.
"No mandate to the manager that we have to sell players," Wilson said.
"We've been really, really clear as a club in our communication that we see player trading as something that has to be normal for this club as it is for nearly every club in world football.
"We've not been strong on that in the past, that's clear to say, but the investors have continued to back this club all the time.
"We've rejected, as everyone knows, some significant offers for some of our players in the last two windows and we'll do so again unless they're the right offer for the right player at the right time.
"If we accept any offers then what we'll definitely be doing is re-investing back in this squad to keep taking us forward.
"We've had to invest a lot in this club to get it back to the club we all know it has to be.
"We're on a really good level today but we've been really clear about what our strategy is and needs to be going forward but there's no requirement on the manager to have to sell anyone."


text:
- Jun 26, 2007
- Reaction score
In a move that will no doubt leave David Cameron cursing at missing the PR opportunity of doing the same, McCain has said the bounty $1 for every person in the US is a "small price to pay for helping to break the back of our oil dependency."
There are rules to the battery's achievement, of course, it must deliver the same amount of power for less than a third of the cost of current systems and have the "size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars."
"In the quest for alternatives to oil, our government has thrown around enough money subsidizing special interests and excusing failure," added McCain.
"From now on, we will encourage heroic efforts in engineering, and we will reward the greatest success."

domain: news


text:
To return to those she loves, she must also return to the past...
In the second instalment of her Emma Grady trilogy, bestselling author Josephine Cox brings us Alley Urchin, a gripping saga of a woman determined to overcome the brutality of life as a convict to return to the man she loves. Perfect for fans of Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin.
By 1870 Emma Grady has spent seven years of servitude as a convict in Australia. Emma lives for the day when she will return to England, to face those who cheated and betrayed her. And to Marlow Tanner, the man she loves - and whose tragic child she had borne and then lost.
Emma struggles to make something of her life in Australia despite the sinister presence of her employer's evil son, Foster. His determination to 'have' Emma leads to dark and terrifying consequences. As Emma battles against adversity, she is unaware that in England the child she has given up for dead is being lovingly raised by Marlow's sister Old Sal, who teaches Emma's daughter Molly to be an expert pickpocket.
Will Emma ever be reunited with Marlow? Even if she finds him, will he still love her? And what of the child lost to both of them? Emma is plagued with fears but her love for Marlow never weakens - and can never be forgotten...
What readers are saying about Alley Urchin:
'Josephine Cox has the unique talent of writing books which provoke every emotion in the reader. This book in the Emma Grady trilogy has all this - and more. We feel for the characters as if we know them and, as with all Josephine Cox books, it is very hard to put down the book once started... You will find yourself impatient to get to the end!'
'Another great, thrilling book which keeps you guessing till the end. The story is well written with some great twists'
'Totally absorbing. Unputdownable!'
Customer ReviewsSee All
Excellent book have all three in hard back from this series,but wanted them on my iPad so I can read them over and over gain. Highly recommended read.