Amazing video explains how Firefly fans saved free speech on campus [Video]

Amazing video explains how Firefly fans saved free speech on campus [Video]

via io9 by Charlie Jane Anders on 12/27/11

Remember when that Wisconsin professor put a Firefly poster on his door? And the college authorities freaked out and threatened him with criminal charges? More »

Aww...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/28/showbiz/obit-tarzan-cheetah/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

test

Why I'll miss 'Community': Because Britta can't say 'bagel'

Why I'll miss 'Community': Because Britta can't say 'bagel'

via Latest Posts from What's Alan Watching on Hitfix on 12/22/11

Last week, I introduced what will hopefully not be a very long-running series on HitFix, in which I plan to spend every Thursday until NBC returns "Community" to its schedule showcasing a different clip that speaks to why it's one of my favorite shows and why I'll miss it...http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching

AT&T Throws the Towel in on T-Mobile Acquisition

WHEW

AT&T Throws the Towel in on T-Mobile Acquisition

via Android Phone Fans by Quentyn Kennemer on 12/19/11

And just like that, T-Mobile is safe (for now). AT&T has announced that they’re ending bids to acquire T-Mobile up against heavy resistance from the FCC and the Department of Justice.

Because the deal, which was expected to be accepted and in the finalizing stages in the first couple of months of 2012, fell through, AT&T owes T-Mobile’s parent company Deutsche Telekom $4 billion as well as a roaming agreement that AT&T states is mutually beneficial to both parties.

And all in the world of magenta let loose a deep sigh of relief. The question is – who will try next? We’re sure someone will. A lot of you want it to be Google, and – trust me – we’d want that too.

But as it stands, T-Mobile is T-Mobile and AT&T will look into other areas of investment and opportunities to improve service for their consumers (at least that’s what they say their motive behind the acquisition was). Read on for full press details.

AT&T Ends Bid to Add Network Capacity Through T-Mobile USA Purchase

Company Reaffirms Its Commitment to Mobile Broadband Leadership

DALLAS-(BUSINESS WIRE)-AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) said today that after a thorough review of options it has agreed with Deutsche Telekom AG to end its bid to acquire T-Mobile USA, which began in March of this year.

"AT&T will continue to be aggressive in leading the mobile Internet revolution"
The actions by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice to block this transaction do not change the realities of the U.S. wireless industry. It is one of the most fiercely competitive industries in the world, with a mounting need for more spectrum that has not diminished and must be addressed immediately. The AT&T and T-Mobile USA combination would have offered an interim solution to this spectrum shortage. In the absence of such steps, customers will be harmed and needed investment will be stifled.

"AT&T will continue to be aggressive in leading the mobile Internet revolution," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO. "Over the past four years we have invested more in our networks than any other U.S. company. As a result, today we deliver best-in-class mobile broadband speeds - connecting smartphones, tablets and emerging devices at a record pace - and we are well under way with our nationwide 4G LTE deployment.

"To meet the needs of our customers, we will continue to invest," Stephenson said. "However, adding capacity to meet these needs will require policymakers to do two things. First, in the near term, they should allow the free markets to work so that additional spectrum is available to meet the immediate needs of the U.S. wireless industry, including expeditiously approving our acquisition of unused Qualcomm spectrum currently pending before the FCC. Second, policymakers should enact legislation to meet our nation's longer-term spectrum needs.

"The mobile Internet is a dynamic industry that can be a critical driver in restoring American economic growth and job creation, but only if companies are allowed to react quickly to customer needs and market forces," Stephenson said.

To reflect the break-up considerations due Deutsche Telekom, AT&T will recognize a pretax accounting charge of $4 billion in the 4th quarter of 2011. Additionally, AT&T will enter a mutually beneficial roaming agreement with Deutsche Telekom.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

Film: Newswire: Dalton Trumbo finally given credit for writing Roman Holiday

Film: Newswire: Dalton Trumbo finally given credit for writing Roman Holiday

via A.V. Club on 12/19/11

The Writers Guild of America has righted one of the lingering wrongs of the McCarthy era, restoring a screenplay credit to blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo for his 1953 romantic comedy Roman Holiday, nearly 60 years after it was released. Trumbo was one of the most tragic figures of the Hollywood Ten, sentenced to nearly a year in federal prison for refusing to name names before the House Un-American Activities Committee and he and his family spending a decade living in exile in Mexico while earning a living writing under fake names or using fronts. One of those fronts, Ian McLellan ...

Books: Newswire: R.I.P. Joe Simon, comics legend and co-creator of Captain A...

Bah.

Books: Newswire: R.I.P. Joe Simon, comics legend and co-creator of Captain America

via A.V. Club on 12/15/11

In more sad news for the comics world, the Associated Press is reporting the death of Joe Simon, one of the industry’s most acclaimed writers and the co-creator (with artist Jack Kirby) of Captain America, one of comicdom’s most stalwart superheroes. Simon died after suffering from a brief, undisclosed illness. He was 98. Simon started out doing editorial cartoons and publicity work for Paramount Pictures before being hired by Funnies, Inc., the early comics packager that published the first issue of what would later become Marvel. In those early days, Simon created Golden Age characters like the Fiery ...

Carrier IQ Working With the FBI? FOIA Denial Seems to Suggest as Much

Look, it's Batman, ok? Batman's using your cell phone as sonar

Carrier IQ Working With the FBI? FOIA Denial Seems to Suggest as Much

via Android Phone Fans by Quentyn Kennemer on 12/12/11

Well this is very interesting. Government transparency group MuckRock, likely perplexed by recent allegations that personal user information is being collected by Carrier IQ, sought to find out if any governing bodies had records that show they work with Carrier IQ in one way or another. One of those governing bodies was the FBI.

They used the beloved Freedom of Information Act to help them out and this is what the Federal Bureau of Investigation had to say:

The material you requested is located in an investigative file which is exempt from disclosure…

This tells us two things – the FBI, in one way, shape or form, is dealing or has dealt with Carrier IQ. And whatever is in this file is too sensitive for it to fall into the wrong hands, deeming its status as exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

We don’t know what is in these files or why they’re exempt. It says it’s in an “investigative file” but who knows what sort of investigation they’re talking about? As we know, our government is currently “fighting terrorism” so that could be the investigative part.

No one can jump to conclusions based on the limited amount of information afforded to us here but it’s definitely cause for concern and paranoia. And perhaps this opaqueness on the part of both Carrier IQ the United States government will speed up the process of bringing about a formal federal investigation on their practices. [MuckRock via Gizmodo]

[Update]: The very first page of the denial letter specifically states that the information they have in the exempt file is for law enforcement purposes and that they cannot release information that will jeopardize any ongoing investigation.

We’re almost completely sure that the FBI isn’t investigating Carrier IQ so the question is: who is Carrier IQ helping the FBI investigate and where is the information they’re using to help the FBI coming from? A classic “whodunnit and why.” MuckRock intends to appeal the FOIA denial.

Confirmed: GSC Game World Closing, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Canned

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Confirmed: GSC Game World Closing, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Canned

via GamePolitics blogs by james_fudge on 12/9/11

Update: 1c Ukraine’s Sergey Galenkin confirms that GSC Game World has officially closed - as reported by Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

"GSC is closed, a fact confirmed by all. The team is almost completely dissolved, the state has only a few people," wrote Galenkin on his blog. 

read more

Two Lost Doctor Who Episodes Found

Two Lost *Doctor Who* Episodes Found

via Slashdot by samzenpus on 12/12/11

First time accepted submitter crow writes "Two episodes of Doctor Who from the 1960s, thought to have been destroyed in the 1970s, have been found. Both were in the hands of a private collector who didn't know what he had. Like most episodes of the time, these were half-hour shows, part of a four-part story, and portions of both stories are still missing."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Slate: “A Robot Has Shot Its Master”

Slate: “A Robot Has Shot Its Master” http://goo.gl/mag/ilEiZ

Untitled

Slate: “A Robot Has Shot Its Master” http://goo.gl/mag/ilEiZ

Books: Newswire: R.I.P. Jerry Robinson, creator of the Joker

Books: Newswire: R.I.P. Jerry Robinson, creator of the Joker

via A.V. Club on 12/8/11

The Los Angeles Times is reporting the death of Jerry Robinson, a key figure of the comic-book Golden Age best known for his work on Batman—in particular, the creation of Batman’s archnemesis the Joker, and his help in shaping characters such as Robin, Two-Face, and Alfred. Robinson died in his sleep at the age of 89. Just a teenager when he was hired by Batman co-creator Bob Kane, Robinson quickly became the title’s primary inker, working with Kane and writer Bill Finger to transform the character from his dark, pulp-inspired origins into the more recognizable Caped Crusader ...

Bloggers Not Journalists, Federal Judge Rules

Bloggers Not Journalists, Federal Judge Rules

via Slashdot by timothy on 12/8/11

New submitter squideatingdough writes "On InfoWorld, Robert X. Cringely covers a recent case of a blogger accused of libel and defamation. The federal judge ruled that journalists warrant more protection from libel suits than bloggers, but it is obvious from the article that bloggers' rights can vary by state, depending on the 'shield laws' in force." Reader blindseer adds a link to this AP article on the case, and asks "If the government can define who is part of the press, and therefore gets First Amendment protections, then where does that place the freedom of the press?" The slippery slope is a steep one; even some relatively open societies require licensure for journalists (visiting ones included) with predictable results. (And the Labour Party would like to see a similar system in the UK.)

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

USPS Ending Overnight First-Class Letter Service

USPS Ending Overnight First-Class Letter Service

via Slashdot by timothy on 12/4/11

New submitter cstacy writes "The United States Postal Service will be closing half of its processing centers this spring. Currently, 42% of first-class mail is delivered the following day for nearby residential and business customers. But that overnight mail will be a thing of the past, with delivery guaranteed only for 2-3 days. About 51% will be delivered in two days. Periodicals may take up to nine days. (Additional delays beyond this may come into play when Congress also authorizes USPS to close operations for some days each week.)"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Well, Breaking Bad happened in real life [Mad Science]

Well, Breaking Bad happened in real life [Mad Science]

via io9 by Cyriaque Lamar on 12/4/11

If Breaking Bad's central conceit — that a harried high school chemistry teacher and his former student team up to enter the lucrative world of methamphetamine production — seems too outlandish to you, here's a strange case that demonstrates just how life can mirror art. More »

TV Ownership Declines For Second Time Since 1970

TV Ownership Declines For Second Time Since 1970

via Slashdot by samzenpus on 12/1/11

bs0d3 writes "Almost every year, the estimated number of U.S. households owning TV sets goes up. Until now. This year, for the second time since 1970, TV ownership has gone down; by about 1%. TV ownership among the key adult 18-49 demo also declined even steeper, down 2.7 percent and percentage of homes without a TV is at the highest level since 1975. The reasons behind this appear to be online media content and the recession."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Why You'll Never See HBO Content on Netflix

Why You'll Never See HBO Content on Netflix

via GamePolitics blogs by james_fudge on 12/1/11

If you are expecting to see HBO's original programming on Netflix anytime soon, you can just forget about that. HBO Co-President Eric Kessler told a gathering of industry executives in New York City that there was "no chance" his company will make its shows available to digital non-subscribers. The industry calls these people "cord cutters," - people who have shifted from cable TV to streaming online services like Netflix.

read more