Category: News

Not again. It seems that every single year or so, politicians in Australia suddenly decide that it makes sense to filter the internet to block out “bad stuff.” And every time they do this, people point out how this is censorship, it doesn’t work, it harms legitimate uses, and it’s a waste of time and money… and eventually the whole thing dies down. But… it’s back again. Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is pushing a plan to filter out a list of “criminal” sites. Amazingly, Conroy is claiming that a recent trial showed that filtering technology was 100% effective. That seems unlikely. Every year that this comes up, there are widespread protests about the censorship, but once again, the politicians don’t seem to care. They just want headlines about how they helped “protect the children.”

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Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name

We’ve been assured that the diminutive Mitsubishi i is headed to the States, so we took it for a spin through the mountains towering over Palm Springs and came away impressed with its packaging and poise.

Dirty Dozen: Twelve of the auto industry’s biggest busts of the last decade

After a fierce debate, we’ve picked the auto industry’s biggest busts of the last decade and take solace in the fact that Naughties are almost behind us.

Bugatti honors Dubai with three special editions Veyrons

The world doesn’t just need another limited edition Bugatti Veyron… it needs three. So what’s the perfect venue for the trio’s debut? The Dubai Motor Show, natch.

Also of interest:

• 2011 Audi A1 not coming to the States?
• Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster
• VIDEO: Photographer snaps drag car crash with nerves of steel
• Mercedes-Benz SLS goes from zero to gold in seconds for Dubai show
• REPORT: Kia Forte Koup may get brand’s first-ever turbo

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 12.15.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re not handy or patient with a paint brush, there’s another option: spraying your paint. If you haven’t checked out the options in years, you may be surprised by what’s available. I’ve highlighted several projects below from Valspar Spray. Follow the links for step-by-step instructions for remaking your home without buying new accessories. Also, visit the Color Buzz blog for lots more inspiration on ways to use spray, including recycled gift wrap!

If you have a white appliance that sticks out in your kitchen, then give it a new hue. Read the step-by-step fridge painting guide for spraying your appliance a new, more welcoming color. Using color sprays can be a cost-effective solution for adding harmony to the kitchen.

To turn a white refrigerator or dishwasher into a sleeker stainless steel appliance, choose Valspar’s Stainless Steel Appliance spray. The spray shouldn’t be used on sinks, ovens, stove tops, or other surfaces that reach more than 200 degrees F.

Other ideas to give your home an easy, budget-friendly makeover:

For the holidays, turn a plain glass vase and some old ornaments into a new Christmas centerpiece using glass frosting spray.

Transform an ordinary, tired chandelier into a stylish new accessory with a simple paint job. Visit the Designer Chandelier idea from Valspar to get the instructions for this project.

Freshen up your laundry basket with a quick spray paint job, sure to fill in all the hard-to-reach places on wicker items. Get the wicker laundry basket paint project details.

If you’re tired of your metal or wood candlesticks, remake them with stone, crackle, or suede spray. Read the guide to painting your candlesticks.

Decorate the fish tank or bowl with frosting spray. Get the instructions for decorating your fish bowl. Of course, you’ll need to relocate your fish during this project, or decorate before adding fish.

(Images via Valspar Spray)

Post from: Blisstree

Redecorate Affordably with Spray

You set up your Christmas tree a few days ago. Doesn’t it look nice? All those pretty lights and sparkling decorations just transformed the room and everyone is suddenly obsessed with what you’re putting under the tree. Now, all you have to do is…Was that a tinkling crash? Oh, no! Well, looks like the first thing you need to do is put the glass ornaments higher up on the tree so your curious toddler and playful pup can’t knock them down! Here are a few other things you should consider:

• Keep any falling needles off the floor. Babies, kittens and puppies might decide to check out the taste and that isn’t a good thing, whether the needles are real or artificial.
• Don’t let pets or toddlers near the tree. You may want to put a portable playpen around the tree until Christmas day to guard against speedy toddlers getting to the tree before grown ups can catch them.
• Make sure the tree is properly secured in the stand. A big, fully decorated tree is very heavy. Having a tree fall on you would really hurt!
• Keep any light cords out of the way so people won’t trip on them. If you can’t run a cord along a wall or under a carpet to the outlet, tape it down so there aren’t big loops of wire on the floor.
• Avoid putting any candles near the tree. An open flame and dry branches are not a good combination.

Do you have any tips for Christmas tree safety?

Photo: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Christmas Tree Safety

You can now download full version of games via the newly launched Games for Windows Games on Demand service. You can see the complete list of games now available here. Once you download the Games for Windows client, be sure and grab Tinker. This is a free game that will allow you to add some new achievements and couple of hundred points on to your Gamerscore for free and while you are sitting at your desk.

Download the Games for Windows client here, then once you install it you can download Tinker from within the Games for Windows LIVE application.

If you need some help in Tinker, we’ve got you covered here.

I’m not sure if the Trucker College Green Demons qualified…

It’s the holiday season again and that can only mean one thing – we’re about to bombarded by the numerous bowl games that will dominate the next couple of weeks. It’s as much apart of the Christmas season as eggnog, gaudy sweaters and ridiculous and tacky Christmas decorations. Which is fitting, because, much like the overblown displays we see throughout countless American suburban neighborhoods, the bowl system is just as overdone. 

It’s like the Griswold house…overdone, overblown…yet oddly you can’t turn away.

Like crack, though, we just can’t get enough of it. We’ll bitch about the prospects of some program from the Sun Belt taking on the fifth best MAC team and yet, when it’s all said and done, how many of you will pass up the opportunity to watch it if there is nothing else planned for that night? 

I mean, even at my aunt’s annual Christmas Eve party last year, we watched Notre Dame take on Hawaii in their bowl game. It wasn’t an epic showdown and neither team really deserved the post season – but it didn’t stop any of our family from watching that game. 

In fact, I overdosed on bowl games in ’08. Maybe it was in anticipation for the Sugar Bowl or maybe I truly am addicted. But when I came across a game between two 7-win teams that didn’t mean anything other than bragging rights, I stopped and watched.

That’s what happens, right? We can’t pass up the chance to watch football. Especially when we know in less than a month, it’ll be over until August. That’s a long time and the bowl season offers up that one last party. You know, the bowl season really is our Fat Tuesday. We’ll use it to gorge ourselves on the game knowing the fast is but only a few days away. 

Which makes a playoff that much more obvious. You not only get the beauty of more games, but they actually mean something. Who cares if Bowling Green beats Idaho? Neither team has any chance of finishing ranked. So, like most every other bowl, it’s just filler. It’s just empty calories.

Now I’m sure to their fans, that bowl means a lot. But I’m not an Idaho fan and I don’t expect them to put anything into the Poinsettia Bowl. So, basically, there are only a handful of bowl games that seriously interest a great deal of college football fans. That’s obviously the national championship game and the BCS bowl your conference’s best team might be playing in that year. For us, it’s the Fiesta. Outside of that, I don’t care what happens in the Orange. Or even the Sugar. 

The national championship only matters because, even if we don’t like the process, it still decides the champion.

That means every other bowl game is just there for the sake of being there. If the Little Caesars Bowl were to fold tomorrow, would anyone care? Well maybe the C-USA and MAC – but that’s about it. 

Yet I don’t doubt that, if I stumble across the Little Caesars Bowl, I’ll find myself watching. Do I care if Marshall or Ohio wins? No. But it won’t stop me from enjoying the game.

Many industries have been reluctant to embrace the digital revolution, but the law is one of the biggest luddites in the bunch.

This is why I was pleased to learn recently that New York City is using a computerized system to send offender reports to judges before court dates. Computers!

After tearing through 50 million pages of paper over the last decade, the city made the switch a year ago. There’s no printing piles of paper and running them all over town — and there are no more papercuts. Just as important, the initiative has improved the timeliness of information coming before judges.

If only this achievement could be more widely copied.

(more…)

After a brief boycott of the UN Climate talks on Monday, poor countries agreed to resume talks.


The European Union says poor countries have stopped their boycott of climate change negotiations and have found a solution to their dispute with rich nations.


Informal talks resolved the impasse between rich and poor nations ending the day long boycott, which was started by African countries and backed by 135 developing countries including China and India.


The boycott disrupted efforts to forge a pact on global warming, delaying the frantic work of negotiators who are trying to resolve technical issues before more than 110 world leaders arrive in Copenhagen later in the week. It appeared aimed at shifting the focus of UN Climate talks to the responsibilities of industrial countries and making greenhouse gas emission cuts the first item for the leaders to discuss.


The developing countries want to extend the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which imposed penalties on rich nations if they did not comply with its strict emissions limits but made no such binding demands on developing nations.


The United States had withdrawn from Kyoto over concerns it would harm the US economy and China, India and other major greenhouse gas emitters were not required to take action. China is now the world’s largest greenhouse gas polluter.


It was the second time African envoys have disrupted the climate talks. At the last round of negotiations in November, the African bloc forced a one-day suspension until wealthy countries agreed to spell out what steps they will take to reduce emissions.


Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice said the dispute was setback to negotiations.


“We have lost some time. There is no doubt about that” Prentice said “It is not particularly helpful, but all in all it is our responsibility to get on with it and continue to negotiate”



In other developments:


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is warning that if negotiators at the climate conference in Copenhagen leave the tough issues to global leaders to resolve, the world risks have a weak or no deal.


Ban appealed to negotiators to redouble their efforts, stop posturing or blaming others and reach a compromise. He told reporters on Monday he is reasonably optimistic the UN Conference will end with a politically binding deal that is fair, comprehensive and equitable.
The White House announced on Monday a new program drawing funds from international partners to spend 350 million US dollars over five years to supply developing nations with clean energy technology.


The program will contribute to distribution of solar power alternatives for homes including sun powered lanterns, supply of cleaner equipment and appliances a push to fund and put in place renewable systems in the worlds poorer nations.


When the first heads of state arrive on Copenhagen on Wednesday, they must have an agreed text to look at, says India’s environment minister Jairam Ramesh.


The Economic Times of India is reporting that Ramesh “categorically” insists that an agreed text on global deal reaching beyond the present period of the Kyoto Protocol must be worked out by the end of Tuesday December 15.

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related.posts:

1. We Have A Deal: The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference Result
2. Copenhagen Climate Change Conference: Day 9 Recap
3. Copenhagen Climate Change Conference: Week 1 Round-Up

I first had potato tacos (Spanish: tacos de papa) at a small hole-in-the-wall taqueria in East Los Angeles. My first reaction was, “Potato taco?! Never heard of that!” but my friend insisted I try one. I took a bite and the savory deliciousness just exploded in my mouth. Since then, I’ve been looking for potato tacos, but you know what? They are hard to find. I haven’t found them in San Francisco yet! So, I simply took matters into my own hands and learned to make my own.

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Adam Green lays out the proper negotiating strategy to get a public option successfully through the Senate. If health care reform dies, it’s because it has been abandoned in the winter cold.

This week the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights is meeting in Geneva to discuss a proposed treaty intended to increase access to books and other information in formats accessible to the world’s blind, visually impaired and print disabled citizens.

There’s a chronic shortage of accessible format material across the world. In the U.S. it’s estimated that only 5% of published works are available in formats accessible to visually impaired persons. In the U.K. it’s 4% and in India it’s 0.5%. The treaty is intended to address two things that have led to this situation: first, the lack of exceptions in countries’ national copyright laws that would permit creation of accessible format copies of works for the visually impaired without having to seek prior permission from copyright owners; second, uncertainty about the legality of importing and exporting accessible format material created under a national exception or special licence in one country for use by visually impaired citizens in another country. This is an international problem in need of a global solution. As a 1985 report which considered these issues recommended, an international instrument is needed to facilitate the creation and distribution of accessible format material across borders. It requires an international solution.

This afternoon, in a thoughtful and clear statement, the U.S. delegation to WIPO acknowledged the concerns of the visually impaired community and suggested how the international copyright community should proceed in addressing the needs of those with print disabilities.

Key excerpts are below, but the statement is worth reading in its entirety. It is refreshing to see such an influential voice at WIPO come out in support of a balanced system of international copyright law that serves the needs of all the world’s citizens.

Our commitment to reaching an international consensus on copyright exceptions for persons with print disabilities

First, the United States believes that the time has come for WIPO Members to work toward some form of international consensus on basic, necessary limitations and exceptions in copyright law for persons with print disabilities. This international consensus could take multiple forms, including a model law endorsed by the SCCR, a detailed Joint Recommendation to be adopted by the WIPO General Assemblies, and/or a multilateral treaty. The United States is open to discussing and exploring all these options.

…

The United States believes that the initial most productive course of action may be a work program that begins with a series of serious, focused consultations aimed at producing a carefully-crafted Joint Recommendation of the Berne Assembly and the WIPO General Assembly. We further believe this initial Joint Recommendation could be a step toward the development of a treaty establishing basic copyright limitations and exceptions for persons with print disabilities.

The first goal of international consensus in this area

In our consultations and review it has become clear to us that the most pressing problem — the one identified repeatedly by experts — is the cross-border distribution of special format materials made for persons with print disabilities, whether these special format materials are made under copyright exceptions in national law or special licensing arrangements. Therefore, the United States believes that our first goal should be to reach international consensus on the free exportation and importation of special format materials for persons with print disabilities in all countries.

…

Further international consensus on basic exceptions for print disabilities The United States is also prepared to participate in a WIPO work program to establish further international consensus on specific exceptions and limitations for persons with print disabilities that should be part of national copyright laws.

…

A balanced system of international copyright law

We recognize that some in the international copyright community believe that any international consensus on substantive limitations and exceptions to copyright law would weaken international copyright law. The United States does not share that point of view. The United States is committed to both better exceptions in copyright law and better enforcement of copyright law. Indeed, as we work with countries to establish consensus on proper, basic exceptions within copyright law, we will ask countries to work with us to improve the enforcement of copyright. This is part and parcel of a balanced international system of intellectual property.

Jonäno and Sami Baby are making it easy to give back to those in need this holiday season with their Get One, Gift One deal. For every Sami Baby eco-friendly baby piece you purchase until December 23rd, Jonäno and Sami Baby will donate a brand new item of baby clothes to the good folks at Dignity U Wear.

Sami Baby organic baby clothing separates and collections feature quality eco fabrics made from organic bamboo and organic cotton crops with sweatshop-free practices. Plus they have the cutest designs. Shown above are some sweet pieces all made with soft viscose of organic bamboo blended with organic cotton. …

• Sami Lap Tee Panda Tan
• Sami Hat Buttercup Yellow
• Sami Sleeper Counting Sheep Petal Pink

Dignity U Wear was founded in April of 2000 by philanthropist and Holocaust survivor, Henri Landwirth. Henri, knowing what it was like to be without the basics, including clothing, founded the program in hopes to create real change in the lives of children and adults in need. Change that restores broken spirits and restores hope, dignity and self-esteem which is why Dignity U Wear distributes only brand new clothes to families in need.

There are many more adorable Sami Baby pieces available including socks, pants, and onesies. Visit Jonäno to see all their goods, plus pick up one of their well-priced items before December 23rd to gift one to a baby in need.

Post from: Blisstree

Get One, Gift One Eco-Baby Clothing

Filed under: Concept Cars, Crossover, Mini, Off-Road

We still have few more months to wait before the production version of the new MINI Crossover arrives, but the folks in Oxford will be dropping a new concept in Detroit next month to tide us over. Think of the MINI Beachcomber as the melding of one of Alec Issigonis’ progeny with a Jeep Wrangler. The Beachcomber is based on the brand’s new CUV, but gets an open-top/open-sides look reminiscent of the American off-road icon.

Unlike the mid-sixties Mini Moke, this one retains the main structure of the upcoming crossover, but is unlikely to ever see production. The new all-wheel drive system in the concept and the turbocharged four cylinder are both expected to appear in the production Crossover, although the 4,000-word press release somehow manages to avoid giving any actual technical details. Like a Wrangler, the Beachcomber can accommodate either solid roof inserts or a soft top. Hopefully we’ll get more details in Detroit, but before then check out the release after the jump.

[Source: MINI]

Continue reading Detroit Preview: MINI Beachcomber concept

Detroit Preview: MINI Beachcomber concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Inc. has begun to send out email invitations to the media for a company hosted event. The invitation only event will be held on Thursday, January 7th at 11am Pacific, coinciding with the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Much like last year’s event which showcased the debut of webOS and the Palm Pre, the event will be held in the Venetian Hotel. The invite was delivered early this afternoon via a plain bright orange rectangular email that states:

Please join us at CES.
to see and hear what’s new from Palm.

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or חנוכה, I’d like to invite you to Margie Gelbwasser’s week-plus-a-day of festivities. Margie is the author of Inconvenient, a debut novel which will get published by Flux in 2010. She’s invited a spate of her fellow 2010 debut authors to share their writing tips, and thrown my own guest entry in the middle like the big candle in a menorah. As a sophomore, I should be hazing these frosh, but I like them all so I’ll be cool. For now, at least. Tomorrow, who knows? I’m as unpredictable as a dreidel. Yes, I really had to work to set up that last simile. Zot, you think Hanukkah similes are easy? They’re a latke of work.

With only a short working week left to hammer out a deal, one has to wonder just what are we going to get.


The mood at the opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference last Monday was said to be optimistic and positive.


How quickly it changed.


It only took a day or two before China and the United States, the two largest polluters in the world accounting for over 40% of emissions were in a “war of word” exchanging barbs and questioning each others commitment to the sincerity of their positions.


Drafts started to appear, indicating back room deals and alliances of various developed and developing countries were starting to form. Negoiaters walking out of talks.


This past weekend saw nearly 1200 activists detained as they marched to voice their concern over the lack of progress.


But progress has been made.



Late Friday, word came out a draft that could form “the core” of a document to replace the Kyoto Protocol that will expire in 2012, was released.


It is far from perfect, but it is a start and one that should not be dismissed. There is a lot of expectations from this summit, and with only a week left before over 110 heads of state or their representatives converge on Friday to vote, it is time to put the petty politics of last week on the shelf and get down to business.


AFP reports that a select group of environment ministers from 48 countries met over the weekend to review a draft deal.


“The core discussions have already started” a spokesman told AFP, adding that “we still have a daunting task in front of us over the next few days”.


Indeed. Would you want to be charged with the responsibility of saving the planet?


In the end, there will be an agreement. Will it be perfect? No. Will it be enough? Probably not, and that depends on who you ask. Most importantly it will be a start. It will be an acknowledgment of governments from around the world commitment to curbing what has been done. But it won’t enough, to sit back and let our elected officials implement this deal.


It is incumbent on all of us to advance this agreement by continuing to put power on our respective governments to both adhere to the terms and to fulfill the commitments they have made.


If we don’t, if we let the deal slip to the back burner, then that is our opportunity lost.

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related.posts:

1. Copenhagen Climate Change Conference: Nearing The End
2. Copenhagen Climate Change Conference: Day 9 Recap
3. Copenhagen Day 2 – Climate Change Conference in Denmark

Reader Amy just sent us a great tip for the holidays and all those nuts you’re probably chopping this time of year. It has to do with a very seldom-used tool in our kitchen: the pastry blender.

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A year ago, we noted that the rise of Justin.tv and other “live streaming” services was going to put some pressure on things like exclusive “broadcasting” deals for sporting events. Already, some sports leagues have threatened live streaming sites. For the most part, rather than looking for ways to use this to their advantage and to recognize that fans are helping promote these events, the sports leagues have been freaking out, because all they see is that multi-million dollar exclusive broadcasting rights contracts may be harder to come by.

And, when big entertainment operations feel threatened, who do they turn to? Congress of course. The House Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing about “piracy” of live sporting events, and have asked the CEO of Justin.tv to come defend himself. This will not end well. These sorts of hearings are not about actually hearing all sides of an issue to better understand them. They’re usually for show, so that some politicians can scold some company they don’t like, and then push legislation forward that favors their campaign supporters.

Justin.tv should have a clear DMCA defense here — and that’s what the company appears to be planning to express. But, my guess is that Congress won’t care very much. Rather than differentiate between users and platforms or technologies, they’ll claim that this is “A Problem” that needs to be “Solved.”

But is it really? The ability to “live stream” is something that’s almost entirely brand new, and it really does change the way people can interact. But, live streaming will almost always create some sort of “copyright infringement” or “piracy,” which suggests the real problem isn’t with live streaming, but with copyright laws. The sports leagues and entertainment companies are freaked out for the same reason they’re always freaked out. This new technology, which allows many wonderful things, also takes away their control, and it’s that control that they use to set up artificial barriers, which is what they use to claim monopoly rents. Basically, their markets are being changed by new technologies, and rather than realizing there are ways to embrace that, they instead are running to Congress to try to break the technology.

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“Imminent breakout