Topic: NEWS english - on January 16, 2017 at 5:32:00 PM CET
Who killed bourgeois democracy in Europe?
When a system calls itself democracy, but forces increasing parts of the demos (people) to live under poverty, its own central concept gradually becomes hollow.
Since early December 2016, following the Italian referendum that cancelled Renzi’s government, most newspapers and news-sites have expressed fears about the populist and anti-EU comedian Beppe Grillo and his Five Star Movement winning the next elections in Italy. Simultaneously, the same progressive media seem pretty happy about the Austrian elections that took place that same weekend. In that case the victory against a right-wing populist, with neo-Nazi tendencies, was celebrated. What is striking is that even left-leaning news sources expressed their relief at what was in fact the victory of a highly neoliberal political agenda.
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Topic: NEWS english - on January 12, 2017 at 11:43:00 AM CET
The Deep State Goes to War with President-Elect, Using Unverified Claims, as Democrats Cheer
In January, 1961, Dwight Eisenhower delivered his farewell address after serving two terms as U.S. president; the five-star general chose to warn Americans of this specific threat to democracy: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” That warning was issued prior to the decadelong escalation of the Vietnam War, three more decades of Cold War mania, and the post-9/11 era, all of which radically expanded that unelected faction’s power even further. This is the faction that is now engaged in open warfare against the duly elected and already widely disliked president-elect, Donald Trump. They are using classic Cold War dirty tactics and the defining ingredients of what has until recently been denounced as “Fake News.”
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Topic: NEWS english - on January 7, 2017 at 2:18:00 PM CET
San Francisco's DNA Lounge is now on Patreon
The umbrella of DNA is host to countless vibrant communities and thousands of regulars. We've had many years of the most diverse, weird, interesting calendar of any venue. A typical month here doesn't include just bands and DJs, but comedy, lecture series, circuses, robotic exhibitions, dance performances, hair shows... We always strive to provide a home for a whole lot of truly amazing art. DNA Lounge has always been a political project: an attempt to move the needle of culture in this city. To provide a forum for a wide variety of art that makes this city a better place. DNA Lounge is putatively a business, but it is also activism. A political, cultural and artistic project like this does not come cheap. While we consider DNA Lounge to be monumentally successful in all the ways that truly matter, monetarily, the club has always operated at a significant loss.
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Topic: NEWS english - on December 22, 2016 at 5:03:00 PM CET
2016: The Year the Media Broke
Rupert Murdoch’s bid for a full takeover of Sky TV demonstrates graphically that the extreme concentration of media ownership has not yet run its course. It also yet again underlines the extent to which the Leveson Inquiry was barking entirely up the wrong tree. There is no question to which the correct answer is increased government control over free speech. Any inquiry into the media should look first and foremost at its highly concentrated ownership and how to instil more pluralism. It is probably now too late to expect that a vibrant, diverse traditional media is achievable. We can however be cheered by the continuing decline of the political influence of the mainstream media, as illustrated by its “Fake News” panic. Even five years ago, if the mainstream media carried a meme that was fundamentally untrue, the chances of persuading public opinion of its untruth were almost minimal. Similarly if they wished to ignore an inconvenient truth, it would be very hard indeed to get it out to a significant number.
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Topic: NEWS english - on December 22, 2016 at 5:02:00 PM CET
Twitter is ‘toast’ and the stock is not even worth $10: Analyst
Twitter is "toast" as a company and the stock is not even worth $10, according to a research note published Tuesday, following the departure of another top executive at the social media service. The microblogging platform's chief technology officer, Adam Messinger, tweeted that he would leave the company and "take some time off", while Josh McFarland, vice president of product at Twitter, also said he was exiting the company. Both executives announced their departure on Tuesday.
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Topic: NEWS english - on August 11, 2016 at 4:48:00 PM CEST
Arianna Huffington to leave Huffington Post
Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington said on Thursday she would leave the company to focus on running her new venture, health and wellness startup Thrive Global.
"I thought HuffPost would be my last act. But I've decided to step down as HuffPost's editor-in-chief to run my new venture, Thrive Global," she tweeted.
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Topic: NEWS english - on June 10, 2016 at 9:58:00 PM CEST
Moroccans banned from sharing newspapers
I t is a familiar sight in any pub, cafe or train carriage - newspapers being left on seats for others to read, passed from friend to friend, or even handed over to curious strangers. But in Morocco, the practice has been banned after publishers complained they were losing millions in revenue because people kept sharing them. Members of the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers (FMEJ) said the habit of "leaving newspapers behind in public places" was costing their industry $150m each year in lost revenue.
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Topic: NEWS english - on May 21, 2016 at 4:39:00 PM CEST
Startup To Create Man-Made Meteor Shower For 2020 Olympics
For some countries, a massive pyrotechnic display would do, but not Japan. Japanese startup company Star-ALE wants to create a man-made meteor shower for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The artificial meteor shower called Sky Canvas light show will allow viewers to enjoy it from an area of more than 120 miles. And for that to happen, the pyrotechnics will not be set up on the ground. Star-ALE is taking it to space.
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Topic: NEWS english - on May 18, 2016 at 6:14:00 PM CEST
A Bluetooth-connected tampon. Hoo boy
The vagina, or nature's pocket as Broad City calls it, can do all sorts of mystical things. It's a life canal. Babies come out of it! Before babies traverse that path, there's a recurring visitor: the period. The monthly blood bath is about as natural as it gets, and let's be real, it's a pain to have. Constantly changing tampons, fearing toxic shock syndrome, and keeping track of when it last showed up isn't great. There's also the added paranoia that blood will leak and create a potentially embarrassing public situation. Well fear no more, ladies, because a Chinese company has heard your concerns and thinks it can help. Turn your vagina into a connected device by wearing a Bluetooth tampon. Why didn't you think of that?
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Topic: NEWS english - on April 4, 2014 at 5:12:00 PM CEST
21st CENTURY TANK GIRL: a book by Hewlett & Martin & Co
The goal is to create a brand-spanking-new, 100 page, hardback Tank Girl book. It will feature artwork from seven different artists (some Tank Girl veterans and some new chaps), and will be written, edited, and designed by me.
This will be a truly independent venture, side-stepping the publishing industry and distribution networks, to deliver a product straight into your hands, direct from the creators.
The confirmed artists on this project are - Jamie Hewlett, Brett Parson, Warwick Johnson-Cadwell, Philip Bond, Jim Mahfood, Craig Knowles, and Jonathan Edwards.
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Topic: NEWS english - on January 24, 2014 at 3:49:00 PM CET
Hong Kong tycoon offers $130 million to any man who marries his lesbian daughter
A Hong Kong tycoon may double a “marriage bounty” to find a male suitor for his gay daughter to US$130 million, despite his initial offer attracting 20,000 candidates, a report said.
Two years ago, wealthy property developer Cecil Chao made global headlines by offering a reward of HK$500 million ($65 million) to any man who could persuade daughter Gigi to marry.
He is now considering increasing his offer, a report in a Malaysian financial publication said.
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Topic: NEWS english - on January 23, 2014 at 3:11:00 PM CET
Photo of 'tandem' toilets at Sochi Olympics goes viral
At least one Olympic bathroom seems to be flush with toilets. This photo taken on Friday Jan. 17, 2014, shows two toilets at the cross-country skiing and biathlon center for next monthÌs Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Although two toilets and only one stall like this are not common in Russia, social media users have responded by posting other pictures of toilets standing side by side. One said this was standard at Russian soccer stadiums.
When BBC reporter Steve Rosenberg went to use the bathroom at the cross-country skiing and biathlon center for next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi, he found two toilets but only one stall.
His tweeted picture instantly became a national joke.
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