Since I’m in Edinburgh I should probably plug Indymedia’s coverage of the G8 and Make Poverty History Protests

Control/independence of the media is indeed an absolutely crucial aspect of today’s political life. I mentioned to Mark that a Kenyan journalist was covering the G8 in the British) Guardian newspaper - he’s also writing a blog for the BBC

BTW, DVD players (and most player software) already *do* include censorship in a way… the Region codes developed by Hollywood to allow them to control the markets for their movies are one example which I find infuriating to say the least. On a Mac you’re allowed to change the region of the DVDplayer application a maximum of 5 times. Ever. This means that if you own DVDs from outside “your” region (in my case, region 2 = Europe) then to be able to play them more than a couple of times you’re forced to resort to subverting the region codes, which means you’re breaking the law in some countries.

The fact that Hollywood can dictate to us what we are ALLOWED to do with their products after we’ve bought them is bad enough. But worse than that they’re dictating what’s acceptable use of the ENTIRE technology (DVDs). Worse still, by extension this also regulates how we’re allowed to use OTHER PEOPLE’S CONTENT. It’s almost too ridiculous to believe. (Thank goodness some independent-minded media producers release their DVDs without the region codes.)

This is why the struggle for open source, free culture etc. is so important. The “War on Piracy” is mostly a cover for the multinational media mega-corporations to protect their vested interests and allow them to control the means of production, distribution and consumption. Which means they also smother anything that might threaten their status quo.

uhhh, didn’t mean to rant!

Its frustrating to be this far away but clearly it wouldnt be any better to be there. I know I wont get a good story until the evening news on the world service, but I want to read something.

The truth is really slow to come out in situations like these. I remember all the rumors running around the internet and news stations during September 11th. Plastic and Fark.com are interesting ways to talk to people there quickly and hear how things are going. I can’t stand to watch the American broadcasts at the moment because they’ve gone so far off the deep end. The attack is in London, but they’re doing anything they can to spin it to how it affects America. Are American transport systems safe? Are they next? Is something going to happen here soon? Is the president ok? What does the president say about the attacks? Were any American tourists killed? You almost can’t get anything about London itself. Self-absorbed ratings grabbing fuckers. Thank God I’m a print journalist.

Given that I was travelling on the tube there only 2 days ago I spent most of the morning in shock, moving through fear and anger and all the rest. Since I’m moving to London at the end of September I’ve doing my best to be stoical. Hope Drew and Mithi and any other Londonites who inhabit this blog are all OK, as well as their families and loved ones.

Not sure what your problems with BBC were Mark, but that was how I spotted the story this morning, about 45 minutes after it happened. I’d just finished sending you an email and then went back to the BBC site, which I read several times a day, and the story had appeared at the top.

They’ve been updating the stories throughout the day and reporting information as it became available. The http://ogham.dragonsblood.net/~bitterjug/blog/?p=245#comment-1090 I didn't really have a *problem* with the BBC as such. The story was there but it didn't say anything. There was news but no news. A photo of a bus that someone had tried to turn inside out without first removing the passengers and some interviews with people who thought they knew something. It was just frustrating not to know. Interestingly the first thing I read on Plastic.com was:<br /> <br /> "<q>Not much is known, and news outlets are careful not to be using the T word.</q>" I didn’t really have a *problem* with the BBC as such. The story was there but it didn’t say anything. There was news but no news. A photo of a bus that someone had tried to turn inside out without first removing the passengers and some interviews with people who thought they knew something. It was just frustrating not to know. Interestingly the first thing I read on Plastic.com was: