Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wakaw residents want answers as they’re left without power or water
After windstorms left tens of thousands of people in the dark, power is scheduled to be restored to parts of the province early Thursday evening.
However, some customers in Wakaw are frustrated by the lack of communication from SaskPower. They were left with no power for close to three days, and say they couldn’t get an answer from the power company.
Even Ed Kidd, the mayor of Wakaw, felt deserted. “We’re pretty disappointed with SaskPower. They haven't got a hold of us at all. They haven't called the office or myself.”
During the worst of the storm, SaskPower was flooded with calls. But apparently there were too many for the company to handle.
The company provided a media release Thursday afternoon, saying it hopes to have all customers back on-line by dinner time. However, the residents of Wakaw have no access to radio, television, or the internet. So, they have no way of getting that release, and instead flood SaskPower with more calls.
The hospital in the area was holding on with emergency power, and SaskWater should be back up and running after the city had to rely on its reserves for almost two days.
“You know it would be really nice if you could inform us of the situation so we can tell our residents what's going on,” says Kidd.
Read more: http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/wakaw-residents-want-answers-as-they-re-left-without-power-or-water-1.858512#ixzz1z8f8llcR
Warning Regina Drivers!!! Sink Hole on Victoria Ave!!
A large sink hole has appeared on Victoria Ave East near the corner of Reynolds St.
Steer clear of this as it has backed up traffic for blocks in both directions
Scientists Invent Particles That Will Let You Live Without Breathing
This may seem like something out of a science fiction movie: researchers have designed microparticles that can be injected directly into the bloodstream to quickly oxygenate your body, even if you can't breathe anymore. It's one of the best medical breakthroughs in recent years, and one that could save millions of lives every year.
The invention, developed by a team at Boston Children's Hospital, will allow medical teams to keep patients alive and well for 15 to 30 minutes despite major respiratory failure. This is enough time for doctors and emergency personnel to act without risking a heart attack or permanent brain injuries in the patient.
The solution has already been successfully tested on animals under critical lung failure. When the doctors injected this liquid into the patient's veins, it restored oxygen in their blood to near-normal levels, granting them those precious additional minutes of life.
Particles of fat and oxygen
The particles are composed of oxygen gas pocketed in a layer of lipids, a natural molecule that usually stores energy or serves as a component to cell membranes. Lipids can be waxes, some vitamins, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, or—as in this case—fats.
These fatty oxygen particles are about two to four micrometers in size. They are suspended in a liquid solution that can be easily carried and used by paramedics, emergency crews and intensive care personnel. This seemingly magic elixir carries "three to four times the oxygen content of our own red blood cells."
Similar solutions have failed in the past because they caused gas embolism, rather than oxygenating the cells. According to John Kheir, MD at the Department of Cardiology at Boston Children's Hospital, they solved the problem by using deformable particles, rather than bubbles:
We have engineered around this problem by packaging the gas into small, deformable particles. They dramatically increase the surface area for gas exchange and are able to squeeze through capillaries where free gas would get stuck.
Kheir had the idea of an injected oxygen solution started after he had to treat a little girl in 2006. Because of a lung hemorrhage caused by pneumonia, the girl sustained severe brain injuries which, ultimately, lead to her death before the medical team could place her in a heart-lung machine.
Soon after, Kheir assembled a team of chemical engineers, particle scientists, and medical doctors to work on this idea, which had promising results from the very beginning:
Some of the most convincing experiments were the early ones. We drew each other's blood, mixed it in a test tube with the microparticles, and watched blue blood turn immediately red, right before our eyes.
It sounds like magic, but it was just the start of what, after years of investigation, became this real life-giving liquid in a bottle.
This is what the future is about. And it's a beautiful one indeed, one that is arriving earlier than we ever could have expected. I wonder if this would find its way to other uses. I can see it as an emergency injection in a spaceship, for example. But what about getting a shot for diving? [ScienceDaily]
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tornado Watch for Regina, Sk (Funnel Clouds Spotted)
For Updated Animated Version Click Below
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/maps/cask0261?ref=rlink_weather_satrad
Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Regina+added+tornado+watch+list/6843262/story.html#ixzz1yxO7jwT6
REGINA — Regina has been added to Environment Canada's list of Saskatchewan communities that could see tornado activity today.
Severe storms are on the brewing in the skies in parts of the province and tornadic activity is possible for areas including Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Craik, Swift Current, Outlook, Watrous, Hanley, Imperial, Dinsmore and Prince Albert.
During Tuesday afternoon, the tornado watch was expanded to Leader, Gull Lake, Maple Creek, Shaunavon, Val Marie and Cypress Hills. Regina was also added to the tornado watch list at approximately 3:30 p.m.
The weather radar showed a severe thunderstorm 20 kilometres south of Gull Lake tracking northeast at 50 km/h towards Swift Current. At 9:28 a.m., it gave golf ball sized hail 15 km west of Consul. The storm is also capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h.
Environment Canada issued the warning, “That severe thunderstorms are imminent or occurring in these regions. Remember that some severe thunderstorms produce tornadoes. Listen for updated warnings.”
According to Environment Canada’s latest update, Swift Current, Herbert, Cabri, Kyle and Lucky Man are all under a severe thunderstorm warning and tornado watch.
Environment Canada notifies residents of the possibility of sever weather developing. A watch may be upgraded to a warning, which is an urgent message that severe weather is either occurring or will occur. Warnings are usually issued six to 24 hours in advance, although some severe weather — such as thunderstorms and tornadoes — can develop quickly and with less than a half-hour’s notice.
On the Environment Canada website severe thunder storm watches have been issued for the southern part of the province including, Fort Qu’Appelle, Indian Head, Lumsden, Pilot Butte, Estevan, Weyburn, Radville, Milestone, Assiniboia, Gravelbourg, Coronach, Shaunovan Maple Creek, Val Marie, Cypress Hills, Leader, Gull Lake. Shaunovan, Cypress Hills, Maple Creek. and Regina.
Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Regina+added+tornado+watch+list/6843262/story.html#ixzz1yxO7jwT6
Monday, June 25, 2012
Paul Woldu: The Juggernaut Returns Home
"This is not your first time, this is not your last time, but this is your damn BEST time!"-Corey Chambiln
"There's nowhere I 'd rather be than here right now."-Paul Woldu
Martin Short mentioned the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the fact that he is a huge fan of the CFL on the June 14th episode of Conan, Conan O'Brien's current late nigh talk show, he also mentioned that there was a time in the CFL (1961-1998) where there were confusingly so, both the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Ottawa Rough Riders. However this should have ended after the 1966 season by virtue of the Saskatchewan Roughriders winning that year's Grey Cup 29-14 at Vancouver's Empire Stadium now Empire Fields where the B.C. Lions returned to play the majority of the 2010 season due to renovations to B.C. Place Stadium for the 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Winter Olympics and the 2011 Grey Cup, which by the way the B.C. Lions won. Renovations included expansion of seating capatcity and a retro fit that included a retractable roof. Ironically the first game played by the Lions at Empire Fields was against the 2010 Saskatchewan Roughriders who would go on to lose the 2010 Montreal Alouettes, after having already lost the previous years Grey Cup to virtually the same team on a too many men penalty, there were 13 men on the fileld, there should only be 12.
Paul Woldu, whom the Riders acquired as a free agent this past off season, played on both of those Alouettes teams. In 2009 he led the Alouettes with 19 special teams tackles, 6 defensive tackles and 1 interception for a 72 yard touchdown. In 2008 with 15 of them, Paul finished third on the Alouettes in special teams tackles. Paul Played in 3 straight Grey Cups from 2008-2010, losing only the 2008 game to the Calgary Stampeders who were quarterbacked by former Saskatchewan Roughrider, Henry Burris, who is now the starting quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, against whom the Saskatchewan Roughriders play their regular season opener on June 29th.
In 2006 whilst still a member of the Regina Thunder, Paul attended training camp with the Roughriders before his collrge career even began. He was the youngest player at camp at just 21, not turning 22 until September. He played in one pre-season game against the Edmonton Eskimoes. His 2012 regular season home opener will be July 8th againstthose same Eskimoes.
After the 2006 training camp with the Riders, Paul then joined the U of S Huskies. With the CIS Saskatchewan Huskies Woldu was a CIS First-Team All-Canadian and a Canda West First-Team All-Star. He registered 18 tackles, an interception and five knock downs. He played in the 2006 East-West All-Star Game.
For Paul foorball is a family affair, Eldest brother, Bereket (B.K.) Woldu, played for the Miller Marauders, Regina Rams (when they were still a junior team) from 1994-1996 and went on to be the Head Coach of the Sheldon Williams Spartans until the end of 2010 high school football season, his second eldest brother, Peter, went to Campbell Collegiate with a budding rapper, who would later have a couple videos on youtube, an obscure cover called "Lifecheck" by the Pocket Dwellers and a collaboration with Mike Ballan of the Poison classic, "Every Rose has Its Thorn", those videos are no longer available. But, in his only year at Campbell Collegiate (1997-1998 school year), that budding rapper cut a wide swath and left his mark in many areas: Grade 8 basketball and volleyball, volleyball line judge, and met many long term friends including, Danny Elder, Co-Owner of Off Axis, Evan Tyler, who is currently a Toronto based rapper and visual artist, Ira Lee, who is an international rap sensation and Peter Woldu's brother, and Grade 9 Leboldus Golden Sun, Paul Woldu.
Peter also played for the U of S Huskies,but unlike Paul, for whatever reason, he is not living his football dream, he is currently working at the South Albert Shopper's Drug Mart.
"It's great to know where you come from, but it's better to know where you're going!"-Sinoris Moss
If the last four seasons are any indictation, Paul is going to be a great success with the Riders this season and not simply because he is from here, but because he is an immensly talented player and 3 time Grey Cup finalist.
He had 1 pass knockdown in his first pre season game this season.
-Jade Duckett
Coach Goodspeed?
Veteran Offensive Lineman Dan Goodspeed, who has been primaraly an offensive tackle during his CFL career with Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders, NFL Career with San Franscisco 49ers, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins and in the short lived XFL with the Orlando Rage may soon be donning a new cap. He is currently on the 9 game injured list but he might not be returning to playing whether or not his injury he heals properly or not, he may be joining the riders coaching staff. Coach Chamblin said that "Dan is at a point in his career where he still wants to play, but if his playing days are done, he is ready to move into other roles."
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Unbelievable On So Many Levels
Dr Guevara
Expanding The World Of Civilization V
One of the longest running video games series' of our time is Sid Meier's Civilization. In each civilization game you pick a civilization, like the Romans, Greeks, French, etc. You start off in Ancient times and then lead your civilization through the ages according to your desires. You Can either establish a great military empire, or perhaps your civilization will be the most cultured and sophisticated, or maybe you will found a country of geniuses. The choices are yours, and in the new expansion pack to Civilization 5 you can now found and customize your own religion! If you think this sounds cool check out Civilization 5: Gods and Kings, available in almost all retail stores that carry PC games.
Dr. Guevara
Wanted-Dead or Alive 5
Today we shall be notifying the world of the video game we feel is worth letting people know about. This year has been one of ups and downs, with generally more down as game companies release more of the same,although one game at E3 that will catch the notice of any who wants something different is Dead or Alive 5. Dead or Alive is a fighting game series, one of the finest out there, objectively speaking. It features gorgeous 3-D environments, which will now be interactive, excellent graphics, and fast paced 3-D fighting. And I do mean fast indeed, the movements are almost too fast for human reflexes to keep up with. Dead or Alive 5 will hit stores in September of 2012, and for an idea of what to expect check out the game trailer we have put up for you.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Jersey Shore Spawns Equally Horrendous Filth
Today, I, The Esteemed Dr. Guevara, learned of a horrendous thing today. All of the western world is familiar with the abomination known as Jersey Shore. The meme above describes how many people feel about the show, which follows the lives of a bunch of twenty something young adults, who have become synonymous with the concept of 'douchebag'. Famous among them are Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino and Nicole"Snooki' Palozzi. As if The original product was a steaming pile of refuse from the minds of money grubbing Tv executives, and now it turns out Snooki and Jennifer 'Jwoww' Farley have thier own spin off show! This Humble doctor pleads to MTV: Guys Please, haven't we suffered enough? Any opinions from our readers would be greatly loved.
Dr. Guevara
Uruguay Legalizes Marijuana, Other South American Countries May Join
Following our previous story, "Uruguay Lives Up To It's Promise Of Freedom, Marijuana Is Legal," Turns out Uruguay may not be the only nation in South America fighting a drug prohibition that has been in place in the West for Decades. Due to a rising wave of violent crime that has been mostly cause by drug gangs, Uruguay has legalised marijuana and will produce a state run service that will sell marijuana to registered users. The Presidents of Mexico and Colombia have stated interest they too would be interested in taking alternative measures to prevent drug use as well.For more on the story follow the link below.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nationalisation-uruguays-solution-to-its-drug-problem-7873537.html
Dr. Guevara
1: Tegel, Simon. "Nationalism, Uruguay's solution to its drug problem." www.independent.co.uk/. June 22, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
How Do 'Bath Salts' Drive People Crazy?
On Saturday May 26th, 2012; in Miami, a naked, "zombielike" man viciously attacked a homeless man, biting off and eating much of his face. Police shot and killed the 31-year-old attacker, Rudy Eugene, who, according to some news outlets, may have been high on "bath salts" at the time of his cannibalistic attack.
These soothing-sounding substances are not what they seem. Manufactured in China and sold legally online and in drug paraphernalia stores under misleading brand names like "Ivory Wave," bath salts contain a bevy of newly concocted chemicals, such as methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), which aren't yet banned by the federal government. When snorted, injected or smoked, the synthetic powders can induce a state of paranoid delirium paired with abnormal strength, a combination that often leads to horrific acts of violence.
In short, "bath salts" actually do live up to the warnings of old-school anti-drug ads, which cautioned potential users of insanity, death and murder. The salts work by putting the brain's survival instincts into overdrive, essentially causing an extreme adrenaline rush that lasts for hours rather than moments.
MDPV, the active ingredient in "bath salts," increases the body's concentration of adrenalinelike hormones that prepare the heart, muscle tissue and the brain for the "fight or flight" response, explained Thomas Penders, an associate professor in the department of psychiatric medicine at East Carolina University. It does this by stopping neurons in the brain from reabsorbing the chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine immediately after secreting them, as would normally happen. This leads to a steady buildup of these neurochemicals, which trigger a person's primal survival behaviors, Penders told Life's Little Mysteries.
"One system of circuits in our brains are wired to detect and respond to threats. Overstimulation of this circuit leads to overestimation of actions by others as threatening. When the system becomes overwhelmed, as it does [from an overdose of] 'bath salts,' a condition develops known as 'excited delirium,'" he said. [Slideshow: Scientists Analyze Drawings by an Acid-Tripping Artist]
Crack cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and PCP can also induce "excited delirium." It's a state of paranoid fearfulness and rage mixed with seemingly superhuman strength, as more oxygen is delivered to muscles, increasing their power. "This, to some extent, explains the bizarre aggressive behaviors we have seen during the recent rash of 'bath salt' cases," Penders said. "[However,] I cannot imagine what the individual in Miami was perceiving to fully explain the vicious attackdescribed there."
Even if no one else gets hurt, sufferers of "excited delirium" can wind up dead or in the emergency room, with medical complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, a spike in body and brain temperature, muscle breakdown and kidney failure.
While overdoses of crack cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and PCP can also induce "excited delirium," one particular danger of "bath salts" is that there's no way to gauge how large a dose will trigger the effects, despite the product's appearance of manufactured consistency. Because the substances are not made in the U.S. or regulated for consumption, studies have found varying concentrations of the active compounds from package to package, said Patrick Kyle, director of clinical chemistry and toxicology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. This leads to unintended overdoses.
"The user assumes that since one dose of ‘XYZ’ brand gave him/her a ‘rush’ with the last use, one dose will give the same effect," Kyle wrote in an email. "The user may unknowingly overdose on the same amount of product from the same 'brand.'"
F**k Yeah! Supreme Court Axes FCC's TV Obscenity Rules
TV broadcasters are now free to curse and include nudity
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission and its enforcement of anti-obscenity laws have long been a thorny irritation to colorful media figures like Detroit rapper Eminem who famously sang, "So the F-C-C won't let me be. Or let me be me so let me see. They tried to shut me down on M-T-V. But it feels so empty without me."
Today the U.S. Supreme Court released a ruling that significantly scales back the FCC's censorship authority. In the case Federal Communications Commission, et al. v. Fox Television Stations, Inc., et al. the highest court in the land refused to assess the constitutionality of U.S. federal law that prohibits broadcasted obscenities. However, it did deal FCC efforts a blow by finding it illegal for the FCC to fine TV broadcaster who air obscenity or nudity during daytime hours.
I. FCC's Obscenity Censorship is as Old as Broadcast Television Itself
The ban on TV profanity is virtually as old as broadcast television itself. The first line-based broadcast television tests were carried out in 1933. Just a year later Congress passed the Communications Act of 1934 that formed the FCC, the agency tasked with governing radio and the emerging TV format.
The Communications Act contained provisions banning obscene content from being broadcast.
Profanity has been banned from daytime broadcast television since its introduction
[Image Source: unknown]
In the post-World War II era, television became a ubiquitous element of society and the ban on obscenity was inserted into the U.S. Criminal code. Specifically, Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 1464, prohibits the utterance of "any obscene, indecent or profane language by means of radio communication."
Violations carried stiff penalties -- from the code: "Whoever utters any obscene, indecent, or profane language by means of radio communication shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
The FCC, tasked with enforcement of the law, ruled that between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. all obscene content was out-of-bounds. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., there was a so-called "safe harbor" rule that allowed the broadcast of profanity and sexualized content, but certain words like the F-word in certain contexts or explicit depictions of sex remained prohibited even during this special time.
II. Public Support for Rules Wanes
But as society traded their suits and ties for jeans and a t-shirt, public sentiments about the obscenity ban shifted. Many became critical of the prohibition. After all, didn't the First Amendment guarantee:
Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press
Couldn't obscenity be considered "free speech"?
And then there was the issue of inconsistent enforcement. As cable television became popular in the 1980s and 1990s, the FCC relaxed rules on sex and swearing on cable, under the notion that sensitive individuals like minors whom the law was designed to protect wouldn't have access to the paid content. Likewise, internet TV and/or radio content in the 1990s and 2000s has been minimally policed by the FCC.
Amid this uncertainty network television began to probe the limits of what qualified as "obscene" with the so-called "fleeting obscenity" -- occasional spontaneous outburst of a curse word or two from TV hosts or commentators.
Fox pressed the issue with a pair of Billboard Music Awards broadcasts. In 2002 Cher addressed her critics by exclaiming during the broadcast "fuck 'em", and the next year Nicole Richie during her presentation about her TV show The Simple Life remarked, "Why do they even call it The Simple Life? Have you ever tried to get cow shit out of a Prada purse? It's not so fucking simple."
The FCC did not react sympathetically to broadcasters testing the limits with spontaneity. In 2004 it released strict guidelines forbidding fleeting obscenity and sued Fox for the curse words it broadcast.
The case languished in the courts for a half decade before finally coming before the Supreme Court in 2009. At the time the Supreme Court ruled narrowly in the FCC's favor (5-4), but it refused to rule on the Constitutionality of the case.
III. Round 2 at the Supreme Court
That led the case to continue to crawl through the federal court system with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City unanimously finding that the FCC rules violated First Amendment protections to free speech. In the unanimous ruling Judge Rosemary S. Poolerwrote [PDF]:
By prohibiting all 'patently offensive' references to sex, sexual organs, and excretion without giving adequate guidance as to what 'patently offensive' means, the FCC effectively chills speech, because broadcasters have no way of knowing what the FCC will find offensive. To place any discussion of these vast topics at the broadcaster’s peril has the effect of promoting wide self-censorship of valuable material which should be completely protected under the First Amendment.
Round 2 in the censorship case just wrapped up. [Image Source: AP]
But the case was not over. The Appeals court ruling meant that the case was yet again lofted to the Supreme Court. That second hearing finally reached a ruling [PDF] this week, and the result was a reversal of the 2009 decision. Ironically, the Supreme Court opted to yet again to refuse to rule on Constitutionality of the obscenity ban, meaning that the case may yet again be headed to more appeals. Alternatively, similar cases may crawl up the court ladder and be heard by the Supreme Court in the future, who will likely eventually have to make up its mind regarding Constitutionality.
But for now TV broadcasters are free to beginning offering up profanities and nudity in their broadcast, which may make for saucier programming from fictional cop (melo)dramas to reality TV.
The reversal brings broadcast TV in line with the privileges enjoyed by its internet and cable television peers. One final important note: sorry Eminem, radio broadcasters are still forbidden from airing profane commentary or songs -- the last surviving bastion of FCC censorship.
Brit Faces Jail Time for Piracy
Jason Andrew Duesbury is facing at least six months in prison after police found game piracy materials in his home in Staffordshire, England. Last September, police seized 300 bootleg Xbox and PS2 games, three chipped Xboxes, four duplicators, and a memory stick that had artwork and inlays for Xbox covers. Worse? He actually admitted to the cops that he knew he was breaking the law. Clearly he has not been watching enough Law & Order.
Magistrates apparently warned Duesbury that six months in jail–the maximum allowed for this crime–may not be enough. What? I mean, look, I’m not down with game piracy, either, but isn’t jail time a bit excessive, punishment-wise? What do you folks think: victimless crime, or throw the book at him?
Keep reading if you want the whole shebang.
BRANSTON PIRATE IN PICKLE
Staffordshire Market Trader Could Face Jail After Trading Standards Swoop
A Staffordshire market trader who was caught by Trading Standards officers with thousands of illegally copied games and counterfeit DVDs at his Branston home could face jail.
Jason Andrew Duesbury, 37, of Branston – a suburb of Burton, Staffordshire, admitted 17 offences under the Trademarks Act, following a private prosecution brought by
Staffordshire County Council at Burton Magistrates Court on 7th March.
Trading Standards officers, police and ELSPA investigators swooped on
Duesbury’s home on 22nd September last year, where more than 300
illegally copied Xbox and PlayStation 2 games together with over 1,500
counterfeit DVDs were discovered in an upstairs office of the premises.
A stash of adult films were also seized in the raid.
Staffordshire County Council at Burton Magistrates Court on 7th March.
Trading Standards officers, police and ELSPA investigators swooped on
Duesbury’s home on 22nd September last year, where more than 300
illegally copied Xbox and PlayStation 2 games together with over 1,500
counterfeit DVDs were discovered in an upstairs office of the premises.
A stash of adult films were also seized in the raid.
A PC and memory stick, as well as four duplicators and three chipped Xbox consoles, were also seized. Trading Standards staff worked with ELSPA
investigators and other industry experts to establish that all
2,000-plus titles were counterfeit and bore unauthorised trademarks, the court heard.
investigators and other industry experts to establish that all
2,000-plus titles were counterfeit and bore unauthorised trademarks, the court heard.
Michael Rawlinson, managing director of ELSPA
commented: “ELSPA would like to thank everyone involved for their work instigating this investigation and helping to protect local traders and the general community from the effects of pirated goods.”
commented: “ELSPA would like to thank everyone involved for their work instigating this investigation and helping to protect local traders and the general community from the effects of pirated goods.”
Roger
Constantine, prosecuting, said: "Duplicators have one use and one use only — that is to make copies of discs. "All the items seized were taken back to Stafford, where Trading Standards officers worked with representatives from the industry to establish that all the discs were counterfeit copies with unauthorised trademarks.
Constantine, prosecuting, said: "Duplicators have one use and one use only — that is to make copies of discs. "All the items seized were taken back to Stafford, where Trading Standards officers worked with representatives from the industry to establish that all the discs were counterfeit copies with unauthorised trademarks.
"The computer contained programmes to decrypt security devices which usually prevent authentic discs from being copied, and the memory stick included artwork for inlays and covers for Xbox games and films."
Mr
Constantine added: "This is often described as victimless crime, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are the companies that produce the original items which lose money, but it also hits the trader in the high street, who loses out through people selling counterfeits on the markets."
Constantine added: "This is often described as victimless crime, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are the companies that produce the original items which lose money, but it also hits the trader in the high street, who loses out through people selling counterfeits on the markets."
Duesbury, who usually sold jewellery on his market stall, admitted trading in and producing pirated and counterfeit material when questioned. He said he had been trading in the illegal items for around a year and knew that he was breaking the law.
The case was adjourned until 2nd April for pre-sentence reports. Magistrates warned Duesbury that his case may be transferred to Staffordshire Crown Court for sentencing, as the maximum six months in jail that they are allowed to impose may not be sufficient.
Japan Passes Jail-for-Downloaders Anti-Piracy Law
Japan’s legislature has approved a bill revising the nation’s copyright law to add criminal penalties for downloading copyrighted material or backing up content from a DVD. The penalties will come into effect in October.
The Upper House of the Japanese Diet approved the bill by a vote of 221-12, less than a week after the measure cleared the lower house with almost no opposition. Violators risk up to two years in prison or fines up to two million yen (about $25,000).
Opponents of the bill worry it will lead to unnecessary prosecutions because of the way it is written. To face charges, a person must be aware that the material is illegal to download.
“We shouldn’t risk making the general public — including youths — the subject of criminal investigations,” said Upper House member Yuko Mori, as quoted in the Japan Times.
Japanese attorney Toshimitsu Dan told IT Media that even watching a YouTube video could be grounds for arrest “if the viewer is aware that downloading [such material] is illegal.”
Unauthorized uploading and downloading of copyrighted material such as music, movies and video games have been illegal in Japan for years, but until now only uploaders were subject to criminal penalties: up to 10 years in prison or fines as much as 10 million yen ($125,000), according to theTimes.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Sweden on nuclear facility alert as explosives found at plant
 |
| Ringhals nuclear power plant in Varberg (Reuters / Scanpix Sweden) |
2012 Cathedral Village Arts Festival Photos
aszura
belly dancers
steam punk exhibit
rene
aaron "captain anarchy" clarke and jade duckett
Steam Punk lady with Jade Duckett
Amy Nelson and Ken Burton
norm walker
alison long
belly dancers
Aaron "Captain Anarchy" Clarke and Unkown
Bernadette Wagner (http://thereginamom.com)
aszura
Allan Dotson and comic jammers
Niko Snider, her boyfriend and random volunteer
Shayna Stalk
buskers
street fair
matt polsfut (right) and unknown
steam punk exhibit
tahnis (can't for the life of me remember her last name) and the legendary ray bell
sun zoom sparx (formerly CoelacanthDance aka CDance)
Cash Cube
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