The Daily Teaser: 2-7-11

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve got the BBC News channel on in the background, at the moment.

And the presenter’s have just done the morning paper review: something that I occasionally find interesting to watch.

The thing dominant piece in some of the papers … ?

Seems to be the various legal proceedings against former IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Hmmm …

Now, personally … ?

I personally think rape charges are some of the more serious on the books: and personally believe that those against Wikileaks head, Julian Assange, were somewhat iffy, given the situation.

Those against Strauss-Kahn, though … ?

I really couldn’t tell you.

The fact that the case seems to be so widely reported … ?

To me, personally, that seems very odd: don’t forget, here in the UK, there’s a legal concept called sub judice: which seriously restricts the reporting of an active case.

So the amount of coverage it’s getting, even given the fame of the defendant … ?

Lets just say that’s slightly strange, and disturbing to me.

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

BEFORE I start on Andy Murray … !

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — who I think may have a thing or two to say about sub judice — putting in her answers. Along with bagging 7 out of 7, she also wished me well on the smoking front, and managed to offer us a translation of Hong Kong.

Lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 2nd July saw Amelia Earhart and her navigator disappear: in which year … ?

Q2) What was the name of her (male) navigator?

Q3) Over which ocean were they, when their last message was heard?

Q4) Moving on … 2nd July, 1993 saw the death of actor, Fred Gwynne: which member of the Munster family did he play … ?

Q5) July 2nd, 2005, was the day of the Live8 series of global charity concerts: who — along with Bono — opened the London gig?

Q6) 2nd July, 1698, saw Thomas Savery granted a patent for an early form of what … ?

Q7) And finally … 2nd July, 1777, saw Vermont become the first US state to abolish … what … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) At midnight on the 1st of July, Britain handed what back to China … ?

A1) Hong Kong.

Q2) More to the point, in which year was this … ?

Q2) 1997.

Q3) What does this region’s name translate into English as … ?

A3) Fragrant Harbour.

Q4) Name either of the official languages in that part of China.

A4) English and Cantonese Chinese.

Q5) Moving on … 1st July, 1908, saw SOS internationally adopted as a Distress signal: what French phrase was adopted as its spoken equivalent in 1927 … ?

A5) Mayday: or M’aidez in the original French.

Q6) 1st July, 2004, saw the Cassini-Huygens probe arrive at which planet … ?

A6) Saturn.

Q7) 1st July, 1991, saw the official dissolving of which pact … ?

A7) The Warsaw Pact.

Q8) And finally … 1st July, 2007, saw what banned in indoor public spaces in England … ?

A8) Smoking.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

Night Watch and Wikileaks: Blood, Black Magic and an ongoing new-media story …

You know, it’s not that often I do a double posting.

After all, I generally stick some good advice I once received.

In other words, stick to one subject, per post: it’s makes that post a lot easier to find by search engines.

Well …

That …

And adding relevant tags …

And back-links, front links, what-have-you …

But the one about one subject per post is the main one I had in mind: mostly because I try not to break it, these days …

First off … ?

I’ve got to admit, I saw a couple of articles about WikiLeaks float past.

Firstly … ?

Well, the first one concerns a piece I noticed a couple of days ago, and have been meaning to show you: this one.

Seems that three of WikiLeaks’ supporters on Twitter now will have their details examined in serious detail by a US Court.

The other piece … ?

Is that Bradley Manning, the US marine accused of passing the recent batch of government documents to WikiLeaks has had comments made: by P. J. Crowley, a US State Department spokesman, no less, who’s described Manning’s arrest and confinement as is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.”. “None the less Bradley Manning is in the right place”.

Which sounds, frankly, contradictory …

Almost as bad as WikiLeak’s treatment of Private Manning …

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Let’s move on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

Now, I’ve got to admit, I have left this a little late, but I’m also very aware that Kevin D, Movie Night Adrian and I were all at my place, last night.

And watching something of an old friend.

Well …

Me and Kevin, at any rate, any way.

The film in question … ?

Was one I know I’ve watched, before, the 2004 Russian film, Ночной дозор: Nochnoy Dozor, or Night Watch if you’d like it in English.

Now, I’ve written about Night Watch, before now.

So I’ll point you at the my previous post about it, and its sequel, Day Watch: I think they’re good reading.

But I also know the one thing I can add to those, here and now.

Is that Movie Night Adrian, Kevin D and I all agreed on this …

Adrian: Keeper ★★★☆

Paul: Keeper ★★★☆

Kevin: Keeper ★★★☆

The Daily Teaser …

Hmmm …

There’s a thing …

I’ll be honest, a couple of news items have floated past me.

First off … ?

Seems today’s the day that Julian Assange is to begin his extradition battle, today: and something I didn’t know is that he — as yet — hasn’t been charged by the Swedish authorities.

Which sounds wrong, but that’s me …

The other …

Is simply the sad news that yesterday saw the death of guitarist, Gary Moore.

I’ll be honest, I was never a huge fan: but Parisian Walkways is something of a classic …

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi, all on her ownsome, putting in her answers, and scoring 7 out of 7: lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we … ?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 7th February, 1907, saw the Mud March, from Hyde Park to Exeter Hall: this was Britain’s first march in support of what … ?

Q2) 7th February, 1974, saw the birth of drummer, Danny Goffey: with which Britpop band did he come to prominence … ?

Q3) 7th February, 1984, saw Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart make the world’s first untethered space-walk using a … what … ?

Q4) 7th February, 1991, saw Jean-Bertrand Aristide sworn in as the first democratically elected president of where … ?

Q5) And finally … 7th February, 1992, saw the singing of the Maastricht Treaty on European Union: in which country is Maastricht … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 6th February, 1819, saw Sir Stamford Raffles found Singapore: is the modern city-state a republic, monarchy or theocracy … ?

A1) A republic: the Republic of Singapore, to be exact.

Q2) 6th February, 2001, saw who elected as PM of Israel … ?

Q2) Ariel Sharon.

Q3) More to the point, what was the name of the party he lead?

A3) Likud.

Q4) 6th February, 1820, saw freed Afro-American slaves — sponsored by a group called the American Colonization Society — start a small settlement in what’s now which African nation … ?

A4) Liberia.

Q5) 6th February, 1838, saw the birth of English actor, John Henry Brodribb: how was he better known … ?

A5) Sir Henry Irving.

Q6) That actor, during his peak, co-owned the Lyceum Theatre in London: which famous Irish author managed the Lyceum, during this time … ?

A6) Bram Stoker.

Q7) And finally … 6th February, 1998, saw the death of Carl Wilson: with which US band did he come to prominence … ?

A7) The Beach Boys.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later … !

WikiLeaks: An open Letter to President Barack Obama

Right …

I’ve got to confess, this is the first time I think I’ve done something like this.

But, after hearing on the news, tonight, about the latest twist in the WikiLeaks saga, I thought I had to say something to possibly the most powerful bloke on the planet.

According to the BBC news report I’ve just seen, about the subpœna that Twitter has received, ordering them to hand over details of the Twitter accounts for half a dozen or so prominent people involved with WikiLeaks, it get’s worse.

It seems that this also involves similar levels of detail about their followers.

I’m insulted.

If the US Justice system wants my details, they have two choices.

Either they can politely ask me for them, themselves: complete with an explanation of why they want them.

Or they can sod off.

Either way, I got inspired.

Inspired enough to send this open letter …

To President Barack Obama.

Here …

President Barack Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,

Washington DC

USA

Dear Mr Obama,

I’m writing to you, after hearing the news that the Federal District Court in Virginia, has subpœnaed Twitter.com, in order to gain access to private account details of four Twitter users linked to the ongoing US dispute with the whistle blowing site, WikiLeaks.

I’m given to understand this includes:

• Mailing addresses
• Billing information
• Connection records
• IP addresses
• And email addresses.

I’m also given to understand that this includes similar details for the followers of the four people.

I’m one of those followers.

I’ve taken an interest in the ongoing story, as I believe that — regardless of any specific security concerns — the WikiLeaks site has and is capable of making contributions to open government, whichever government it happens to be.

And also object to the fact that the US government wants my details, as part of its dispute with the site.

I am a UK citizen, and thus have no protection under US law from what I believe is a gross invasion of privacy: something I understand is granted to US citizens, by US law.

Mr Obama, when you were elected many people around the world, saw it as a sign of positive change in the world.

I was one of them.

Change typified by that now famous phrase, “Yes, we can”.

Looking at the WikiLeaks story … ?

I now believe that those who believe that change to be just around the corner …

Believed that you represented a cleaner form of American government …

Believed that your administration would be better than the one it replaced …

Have been seriously let down.

For that, I hold you responsible.

Yours,

Paul Downie.

Now, I don’t know if he’ll read it.

Or what sort of response I’ll get*.

But if you’d like to do the same … ?

Firstly, copy and paste the relevant bit of textº.

Then send it here.

To paraphrase The Ramones … ?

“Heigh-Ho, Lets Go”.

* Hopefully, it won’t include marines abseiling down the side of my flat …

º Creative Commons License, remember … ? I’ll waive the attribution clause, just for this letter.

WikiLeaks: Getting Tweeted About …

Hmm …

You know, it has been a while since I’ve posted about WikiLeaks.

But — since Julian Assange’s bailing — there’s not much that I’ve seen that I though could be worth mentioning to you.

Until a piece of news floated past my attention …

It seems that — in the middle of December of last year — the US District Court for Virginia had subpœnaed Twitter: in order to get hold of the details of Julian Assange, Pfc Manning, who’d leaked the cables to WikiLeaks in the first place, and Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, who’d helped frame Iceland’s Modern Media Initiative, which made Iceland a have for investigative journalism.

Who, understandably, was a touch Tweeted off.

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Now, quite what this all implies, I’m not sure.

But to me … ?

It look’s like the US is still after the whistle blowing site.

Personally … ?

I personally don’t think any better for them for doing so.

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Apps, Leaks, and Gods …

You know, it’s been a while, hasn’t it, since I’ve written up about a bit of tech news …

But one thing has grabbed my attention, recently …

That, of course, is the on-going WikiLeaks story.

One recent thing that caught my attention about it … ?

Was the fact that a Russian developer, Igor Barinov, had come up with a WikiLeaks app for the iPhone.

And had it removed, after three days …

Hmmm …

I’m a touch …

Well …

I think the best word is uneasy.

I’ll have to admit, I’m something of a fan of Apple products: so seeing them put the frighteners on someone, over the WikiLeaks scandal … ?

Isn’t something I’m too stunned with …

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At any rate, shall we move on to something else … ?

Yes, lets …

I’ve got to admit, something I did manage to pick up — from work — was a copy of the classic 1976 BBC series, I, Claudius.

And, my word, it’s still an amazingly powerful piece of work, even after 34 years … !

I’ll leave you to read up on the plot of both it and the Robert Graves novels its based on.

And a little clip: of John Hurt’s rather good performance as Caligula.

I just hope none of us get headaches like these …

WikiLeaks: Julian Assange Get’s Out of Jail Card … Kick’s In …

Hmmm …

And if that collection of photos doesn’t look odd, I don’t know what does.

At any rate, news has just come through that Julian Assange has been freed on bail.

All to the good, I believe.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I believe the chap’s been falsely accused: and let’s leave that there, shall we … ?

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At any rate, I’ve got to admit, I was in town, today: mostly doing a little food and Christmas shopping.

I ended up in Somerfields.

Mostly because they happen to be near work — where I was oggling a few bits and bobs — and on the way home.

As it were …

At any rate, the one thing I did notice, in the front area of the shop, was a trio of reps from the Brentwood Gazette, handing out goody bags with silly Santa hats.

The trio included the Gazette’s new editor, Neville Wilson.

Nice chap, actually: this is despite me mentioning he was the first Neville I’d met. Even managed to get his card off him him, as well.

So, just in case you need to get in touch with him, directly … ?

His email address is neville.wilson@gazettenews.co.uk

Just in case you ever need it …

WikiLeaks: Julian Assange Get’s Out of Jail … sometime …

Well, that’s something …

Just in case you’ve not seen the news, it seems that Julian Assange — head of the WikiLeaks site —has been bailed by courts in London.

Complete with guarantees of £240,000.

He still has to stay in HMP Wandsworth for a few more days, whilst the Swedish authorities appeal the decision.

Personally, though … ?

I’m hoping this signals the start of the end of the travesty of his gaoling.

WikiLeaks and Liberal Democrats

You know, I’ve got to admit, there’s been a lot going on, news wise, hasn’t there … ?

There has, hasn’t there … ?

On top of the on-going WikiLeaks story, here in the UK, we’ve also seen intense protests by students over the governments recent raising of tuition fees. And cutting of university budgets.

Now I’m not sure how I feel personally about that,

Although I do know that my two younger sisters — university graduates, both — wouldn’t be too happy about it, were they both still studying.

What gets me about it … ?

Is simply the fact that the Liberal Democrats — who I voted for at the general election — quite publicly broke a pledge to not do so, were they in government.

Now I know politicians can all too easily be accused of breaking promises.

But I can’t recall Labour or Conservatives being caught so flagrantly with — hoping Councillor Chilvers will forgive me — their pants down.

Way down, in this case.

And can’t help but think that, whatever the rights and wrongs of the student protests*, that many students who’ve peaceably and lawfully protested these changes can be forgiven for voting Labour at the next General Election.

I think they aren’t to blame if they feel betrayed.

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Now, quickly back to WikiLeaks.

One thing that did catch my attention was this article, about how the Hacktivist group, Anonymous, are encouraging people to join what they call a ‘voluntary botnet’.

While the rebellious teen that I was, many years ago, can appreciate the efforts, I have one small question.

Are they stark, raving bonkers … ?

No, seriously … ?

Are they … ?

Questions aside about the legality of the software they’re suggesting people use — something called LOIC — I can’t see any one sensible installing something that hands over control of their machines to someone else.

No matter how laudable the other person’s intentions.

I think I’m going to suggest people sign a petition, instead …

* Lord knows there are rights and wrongs: I’m also thinking the protest organisers were a touch naïve not to realise that vary shades of anarchist protest-hijackers would totter along. I’m also wondering what twit in the Royal Protection Squad let Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall out, without checking on what was going on. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always had the impression that some of our more left-wing brethren use the phrase ‘Royal Family’ as an alternative to ‘target’. And keep handy eggs around. But that’s just me.

WikiLeaks: Developments

Hmmm …

You know, for those of us that follow these things, the WikiLeaks story is running, running and running …

With a couple of developments, today.

For starters … ?

Well, for starters, it seems that WikiLeaks has uploaded something it calls its insurance file to Pirate Bay.

The contents … ?

I don’t know for sure, but I’m assuming it’s not the current location of Elvis Presley.

The problem there, is that Julian Assange can’t necessarily release the password: but I’m assuming there’s way round that …

On top of that … ?

It also seems that a Hacktivist group called Anonymous is going what hackers do: only, in this case … ?

Aiming their talents at the various sites who’ve cut off or suspended services to WikiLeaks.

They’re also encouraging people to join their ‘voluntary botnet’, to help the attacks they’re carrying out: whether that’s something you want to do is down to you: after all, having your PC as part of such a net isn’t necessarily a good idea, most of the time.

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