Current Affairs General

Websites go offline over new anti-piracy laws

January 18, 2012 – 11:49 pm

If you were unable to access some of the most popular websites from the United States today, then you haven’t lost your internet connection.

Many were taken offline, or ‘blacked out’, in protest at plans by two controversial new pieces of legislation put forward by politicians in Washington, SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Project IP Act). Although these laws would only affect the US, however if passed, it could also have serious implications for internet users worldwide.

If you want more information on today’s protest, click on this page.

Many websites, including some here in the UK, have given the day its full support. A vote on the law is due on January 24th.

 

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General Media Sport

Football Association sticks with ITV, despite cock-ups

January 17, 2012 – 9:57 pm

The guys over at the FA have gone against their better judgment by awarding a new two-years rights deal with broadcaster ITV for the FA Cup and England internationals.

The deal, which cost £90million over the period, will see ITV screen 16 live FA Cup games per season and England’s home World Cup qualifiers. They will also screen the domestic football season’s annual curtain-raiser, the Community Shield as well as six matches from the FA Youth Cup.

This deal represents a further smack in the teeth for armchair football fans. ITV‘s recent football coverage has been hit a series of poor presentation problems and high-profile cock-ups. The sooner the BBC and Sky jointly take back the rights when they next come round to bid, the better it will be for the  fans.

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General Sport

Muhammad Ali is 70

January 17, 2012 – 9:05 pm

Celebrate the birthday today of the ultimate modern boxing legend. His greatness and presence puts all of the so-called current champions to shame.

Enough said.

 

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General Media

How not to save the British film industry

January 16, 2012 – 10:52 pm

Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker writes in his regular Monday column today about the state of British film making…. and gives unqualified advice to the government about how to support it.

He rightly argues the usual points about the problems about producing films in this country and getting them seen:

“….The problem with British films isn’t a failure of ambition- it’s a challenge of getting the damn things seen in a world filled with chain multiplexes with monolithic distributors…”

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Current Affairs General

High-speed rail lines approved… at a cost

January 13, 2012 – 11:32 pm

The infamous HS2 high-speed rail line was finally given the go-ahead this week, but not without the usual howls of protests from people who oppose it in its entirety.

The first phase of the line, between London and Birmingham, is due to be completed in 2026, after which it will be split up with connections to Manchester and Leeds, eventually leading to Edinburgh and London, cutting journey times.

But will it make any real difference to the country’s stop-start rail policy? I think there will be a lot more twists and turns before this project becomes a reality.

 

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