Doctor Who: 47 Years in 6 Minutes

A very cool fan created video: Doctor Who: 47 Years in 6 Minutes. Enjoy. [HT The Fine Brothers & Space]

Worth Reading: iPhone keeps record of everywhere you go in secret file, Terrorism alert less colourful, Sheen’s court, Filmmakers Opposing Premium VOD

* Guardian, “iPhone keeps record of everywhere you go – Privacy fears raised as researchers reveal file on iPhone that stores location coordinates and timestamps of owner’s movements” Here is an excerpt (emphasis added),

“”Apple has made it possible for almost anybody – a jealous spouse, a private detective – with access to your phone or computer to get detailed information about where you’ve been,” said Pete Warden, one of the researchers.

Only the iPhone records the user’s location in this way, say Warden and Alasdair Allan, the data scientists who discovered the file and are presenting their findings at the Where 2.0 conference in San Francisco on Wednesday. “Alasdair has looked for similar tracking code in [Google's] Android phones and couldn’t find any,” said Warden. “We haven’t come across any instances of other phone manufacturers doing this.“

Simon Davies, director of the pressure group Privacy International, said: “This is a worrying discovery. Location is one of the most sensitive elements in anyone’s life – just think where people go in the evening. The existence of that data creates a real threat to privacy. The absence of notice to users or any control option can only stem from an ignorance about privacy at the design stage.” [...]

The iPhone system, by contrast, appears to record the data whether or not the user agrees. Apple declined to comment on why the file is created or whether it can be disabled.

Dragons’ Den star Brett Wilson to host “Risky Business” on Slice TV

4:43pm Update: Here is a great radio interview with Brett  by @phoenixonair. Highly recommended. I have fixed this article to correct my mistaken impressions about some elements of the show. Sorry for the mistakes.

***

I am excited to report a new high-stakes investing television series with Brett Wilson called Risky Business is being launched and premiering on Slice in Fall 2011. The show is holding casting calls for both investors and entrepreneurs.

After gaining better understanding from listening to Brett’s radio interview, the entrepreneurs are definitely not the kind I have originally been thinking of. This makes everything really interesting and non-traditional. According to Brett, Risky Business is based on the UK BBC format “Beat the Bank“. Interestingly, Duncan Bannatyne, presenter of Beat, is a Dragon on BBC.

Here is an excerpt from the press release (emphasis added),

“In each episode of Risky Business, Brett will give the daring couple a chance to risk big and win big. As host, he will guide the investors as they choose between pitches made by two different entrepreneurs, each looking for capital and offering a big return. The options will be unusual – such as investing in undervalued vintage wine labels or betting it all on a high stakes one-night-only event. The duo will stake their life savings on one investment, and Brett will invest in the other.  It isn’t until the end of the episode that it is revealed how each investment performed.  Will the risk-taking couple win big or lose it all?  Do they out perform Brett?  Or does Brett prove he can make money just about anywhere?

Stephen Harper is an Evil Astronaut? – The power to ridicule

“Actual patriotism has to do with loving a place enough to try and improve it.” – Win Butler of @ArcadeFire

Stephen Harper is an Evil Astronaut. Funny. [via ShitHarperDid]

Yoko VS Harper [Warning: strong language]

Worth Reading: Michael Douglas headlines fundraiser for McGill, Berkshire Hathaway Insider Trading/Shareholder Suit, Herzog/McCarthy/Krauss talk science & art

* CBC News, “Michael Douglas began cancer journey in Canada – Star will headline Montreal fundraiser for head and neck cancer“

* Alice Schroeder, Berkshire Hathaway Insider Trading, Shareholder Suit [Here is a link to the shareholder suit filing http://www.scribd.com/doc/53362856/kirby-v-sokol]

* Filmmaker Werner Herzog, novelist Cormac McCarthy, and physicist Lawrence Krauss talk about the connection between science and art (NPR Science Friday).

Summary of Microsoft v. i4i Oral Argument @ US Supreme Court

Check out Patently O’s “Summary of Microsoft v. i4i Oral Argument“‘ See a rough US Supreme Court transcript of this case. [HT Patently O]

See also National Post, “Chairman of i4i confident Microsoft defeated“

““We think it went tremendously well,” he [Loudon Owen, chairman of Toronto based i4i] said in a telephone interview after leaving the Washington courtroom. “I would be very very surprised if it wasn’t a favourable ruling for us.””

Reuters, “Top court hears Microsoft appeal on i4i patent“

CNet, “Supreme Court queries Microsoft on patent law“

“Just as Microsoft lawyer Thomas Hungar began presenting its arguments, Justices Antonin Scalia, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Elena Kagen pressed him on the legal precedent in a 1934 case that seemed to mandate using a higher evidentiary standard.

“The language of that opinion is extremely broad,” Kagan said, according to a transcript. “And if you read that opinion, no one would gather from that opinion the kinds of limits that you’re suggesting on it.

Ginsburg, too, seemed to read the earlier ruling as requiring a higher standard of evidence than Microsoft proposes.

“An infringer who assails the validity of a patent…bears a heavy burden of persuasion and fails unless his evidence has more than a dubious preponderance,” Ginsburg said.”

Vote Mob @ Memorial University of Newfoundland

Vote Mob @ Memorial University of Newfoundland. Very nice production. Great job! Who said the youth and students don’t care?! Go vote on May 2nd!

Apr 19, 2011 Update:

CTV News with video, “Younger voters say their issues still being ignored“

Royal Wedding (T-Mobile spoof)

The ad agency that does T-Mobile ads has done it again with a great viral video (posted April 15, with over 4.6 million views already)! Let me say it again, ads that are good enough that people have fun watching are willingly reposting for you are simply priceless. See this CBC News video report.

Also check out this previous T-mobile ad campaign.

Worth Reading: Securing privacy, Showrunner DIY TV promos, Legal strategies in Charlie Sheen case, High noon in i4i-Microsoft fight

* Guardian, Cory Doctorow: ‘The most powerful mechanism we have for securing the privacy of individuals is for them to care about that privacy’ – video – “Blogger, writer and activist Cory Doctorow on social networking, revolution and how to avoid haemorrhaging personal information online”

* The Hollywood Reporter, Q&A: ‘Cougar Town’ Boss Bill Lawrence Airs His Frustrations With Disney

“THR: So what does work?

Lawrence: There are some shows like Modern Family or American Idol where lightening strikes. Otherwise, you have two options. First, you build word-of-mouth.

THR: And the second?

Lawrence: Keep your loyal fans interested by giving them as much access, content and interaction as possible. That’s what I like as a TV viewer. For me, every show that I’ve felt like, “Wow, they actually care what the fans think” or “they’re actually writing for somebody,” I’m more loyal to. On Scrubs, we gave our fans extra content and access to the cast and writers. And in return, we could count on them to find the show on a network that moved the show about 20 times.

VOTE Mob: Rick Mercer on CTV’s Question Period talking about young people involvement in election

Highly recommend you watch this short video clip, “CTV’s Question Period: Rick Mercer on involvement”

“The veteran political comedian says it is refreshing young people are taking action in a brand new way, and explains how the recent ‘vote mobs’ show the kids are alright and getting engaged.“

Rick Mercer: Vote Mobs

1001 Chairs for Ai Weiwei

Toronto Star report, “1001 Chairs for Ai Weiwei, Toronto version” (Facebook photos)

Torontoist, “Scene: Where is Ai Weiwei?“

Protest pictures, details and comments posted onto the worldwide 1001 Chairs for Ai Weiwei Facebook group. Pix from New York City here, here, here. Pix from Munich here.

NPR, “Art And Consequence: A Talk With China’s Controversial Ai Weiwei“

This Sunday, at Chinese embassies all over the world, protesters are planning a global sit-in to protest the detention of the internationally renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. Ai was taken into custody by Chinese authorities nearly two weeks ago for what government officials now say are questions about his finances.

The protesters will be bringing chairs to sit on. They aren’t worried about getting tired. The design of the protest is a homage to a piece by Ai that was exhibited in 2007 at Documenta 12, a major arts festival in Kassel, Germany.

Viral Campaign: ShitHarperDid.com

Plain and simple with some solid source reference articles about Sh*t Harper Did.

“Stephen Harper thinks that what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger. Unless it kills you.

In 2008, Luc Pomerleau, a biologist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, discovered secret government plans to weaken regulations & allow corporate food producers to conduct their own safety inspections. Pomerleau leaked the news and was immediately fired. Then the listeriosis meat outbreak killed 17 Canadians.

Read about Luc Pomerleau in The Ottawa Citizen“

Here is their “Ben Mulroney Not Endorsing ShitHarperDid.com“.

Other videos: check out this, this, and this one with some strong language.

Check out CTV news report of the viral campaign: ShitHarperDid.com. Now Toronto Q&A with the makers of shitharperdid.com,

Who are you guys?

We are a million dollar ad agency. Wait, no we’re a socialist-communist-liberal conspiracy unit. Wait, no we’re scruffy hipster types. Wait, no, we’re an oft overlooked, disregarded and actively ignored demographic of Canadian voters who want attention by swearing so you’ll ground us. But then at least we’ll be part of the cool swearing kids, right? Those kids smoke. Actually we’re a group of young Canadian artists (comedians, musicians, filmmakers and designers). [...]

What are you hoping the site will accomplish?

VOTE Mob – University of Calgary

It is nice to read “U of C ‘Vote Mob’ riled up for Canadian election – Rally urges students to get involved in voting”. Check out www.studentsneedtovote.ca.

University of Calgary Vote Mob (Omni News)

CBC News, “Rise of the Vote Mob feature on CBC“

U of C Videos, “University of Calgary Vote Mob – Unstoppable!“

This Rick Mercer’s rant to get people, especially students, out to vote started the “Vote Mob” thing.

Paul Allen – Idea Man

Great CBS 60 Minutes segment tonight about Paul Allen tonight (here are some 60 Minutes overtime footage).

“Lesley Stahl speaks to Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen in his first interview about his upcoming book in which he criticizes his Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates.“

And read Paul’s memoir  “Idea Man: A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft” when I get my hands on it (see Vanity Fair book excerpt).

200 years old Soy sauce company symbolises Japan’s determination after the tsunami

A highly recommended Guardian story with short video documentary about the 200 years old Yagisawa Shoten , “Soy sauce company symbolises Japan’s determination after the tsunami – Michihiro Kono has taken over a company destroyed by the disaster, and is determined to reopen its doors”

“In less tumultuous times, Michihiro Kono could have expected a seamless transition as the new head of the soy sauce company he took over from his father at the start of the month. But in post-tsunami Japan, Kono is the president of a company that, by any conventional measure, no longer exists.

Roger Ebert: Remaking my voice – TED Talk

Have a watch of Roger Ebert‘s TED Talk: Remaking my voice (with help from Roger’s wife and his friends).

Ai Weiwei still detained, whereabout unknown

* Guardian, “Ai Weiwei arrest protests at Chinese embassies worldwide – Inspired by artist’s installation with 1001 Qing dynasty seats, curator suggests taking chairs into street in silent protest“

“Demonstrators all over the world were sitting outside Chinese embassies on Sunday demanding the release of the detained Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.

Hundreds of protestors brought chairs onto the street tocall for the immediate release of Ai, and in support of the rights of all Chinese artists.

In Hong Kong there were scuffles as 150 protestors came up against lines of police, with reports of at least one detention. In Berlin, about 200 people took part in a largely silent protest. There was also a gathering outside the Chinese embassy in London.”

* Al Jazeera, ”Protest in Hong Kong over Ai Weiwei detention“

* CBC News, “Ai Weiwei: latest casualty of China’s crackdown on dissent – Q&A with Alison Klayman, a Beijing-based filmmaker who made a film about the Chinese artist“

You have spent a lot of time with Ai Weiwei over the last couple of years, during which time he has been increasingly publicly critical of the Chinese regime. Could you describe the issues about which he has been most vocal?

Ai’s denunciation of the Olympic Games and the Olympic stadium as the “false smile” of an authoritarian regime shed light on Weiwei’s activism in China, but the issue that he was most vocal about — and where he inserted himself into the Chinese conscience — was his citizen’s investigation into the deaths of more than 5,000 schoolchildren in poorly constructed schools during the May 2008 earthquake in Sichuan. Over his Twitter feed, Ai solicited over 70 volunteers to independently record the names, ages, classrooms and villages of the dead.

2011 HK Film Awards Best Film, Best Actor & Actress in Calgary Public Library

Calgary Public Library (CPL) truly has a first class and amazing collection of Hong Kong DVDs. Am I justified to make this claim?

Well, you can judge the CPL collection by the results for the 2011 Hong Kong Film Awards (announced in Hong Kong on April 17th Sunday night). Gallants (2010) won best film, the talented Nicholas Tse won his best actor award for The Stool Pigeon (2010), the talented Carina Lau, after deserving to win for many years, finally won her first best actress award in Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010).

And you know what, ALL three films are in the Calgary Public Library collection! You can find and reserve these titles by searching for the keyword “DVD” and the movie title. Enjoy.

The following are trailers of the three films.

Gallants trailer

The Stool Pigeon trailer

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame trailer

P.S. Good job Calgary Public Library! Keep up the good work.

Toronto’s i4i v. Microsoft at US Supreme Court

“The United States Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments Monday for and against changing U.S. patent law to make it easier to invalidate patents – the latest chapter in a historic legal battle between a small Toronto company [i4i] and the largest software firm [Microsoft] on earth.”

For some insightful discussions and “light” readings, see following from Patently O,

* “Microsoft v. i4i: Shifting Weight of Evidence versus Shifting Burden of Proof“

* “Briefing Microsoft v. i4i: Amicus Briefs Supporting Easier Invalidation of Patents in Court“

Air Traffic Controllers no longer permitted to work alone on midnight shift

FAA head of Air Traffic Organization resigned a few days ago. I think this will make things a little bit safer by removing single point of failure if Air Traffic Controllers are no longer permitted to work alone on midnight shift. USA Today, “FAA changing air controllers’ schedules after another falls asleep”

“The FAA announced this week that it would no longer permit controllers to work alone at small and mid-sized airport towers on the midnight shift. The agency has added a second controller at 28 airport towers and one small regional facility.

Unlike most of the previous incidents at airport towers with only one person on duty, there were a total of 12 controllers and two managers on duty at the Miami center at the time of the latest incident, the FAA said. [Note: Yikes!]

As a result of the recent spate of incidents, the controllers in Miami had been given a “a briefing on professionalism and the importance of reporting to work fit for duty” prior to the start of the shift, the FAA said.”

April 17, 2011 Update: 

AP, “Air Controllers to Get More Rest Between Shifts“