U.S. actor Charlie Sheen questions 9/11 theories

Charlie Sheen, appearing on cable television news network station CNN on March 24, questioned the credibility of the theory that 19 hijackers caused all of the destruction to the World Trade Center.

Sheen said; "It seems to me like, you know, 19 amateurs with box cutters taking over four commercial airliners and hitting 75 percent of their targets, that feels like a conspiracy theory… I am an American citizen that loves my country…. People want the truth. They want the truth. And what's been offered to us resembles nothing of the sort."

In recounting his reaction on the day of the event, Sheen said,"I was up early and we were gonna do a pre-shoot on Spin City, the show I used to do. I was watching the news and the north tower was burning. There was a feeling, it just didn't look like any commercial jetliner I've flown on any time in my life and then when the buildings came down later on that day I said to my brother, 'Call me insane but did it sorta look like those buildings came down in a controlled demolition?'"

Writer Marc Jacobson, of the New York magazine, who co-appeared with Sheen on the same program said in response: "Well, I think he's doing a reasonable rendition of what other people that believe in this stuff say. And when he says he has his facts straight, I mean, I think the facts are in question. I mean, I think, just because you know what it says on all of these different Web sites doesn't mean that that's necessarily the fact. That's the reason why the United States government, with their endless amounts of resources, let us down by not doing the proper work on the 9/11 Commission. That's a real problem. Well, you know, but, I mean, it's just one of those kind of things where you do this work and nobody really cares, but then Charlie Sheen is interested, so then everybody is interested, and that's fine. You know, obviously, this material needs to be looked at again, because there's been a lot of problems with the 9/11 Commission report. People feel it's not adequate. Most of the people who had lost people during that time feel it's not adequate. And it's just I think we're living in a truth vacuum, in a sense, that any time there's a truth vacuum, these ideas -- because people are smart. They put two and two together. Sometimes they get five; sometimes they get 12, but sometimes they get 11, like 9/11, but sometimes they get four. And the thing is that, if you have a situation where the so-called facts are covered up and aggressively covered up, then you're going to get these conspiracy theories." One website is claiming that Google had been censoring out any news articles relating to Sheen and 9/11 from it's search engine.

Regarding the plane that hit the Pentagon, Sheen also has questions: "Just show us how this particular plane pulled off these maneuvers… It is up to us to reveal the truth. It is up to us because we owe it to the families, we owe it to the victims, we owe it to everyone's life who was drastically altered, horrifically, that day and forever. We owe it to them to uncover what happened."

Some supporters of Sheen's theories have complained about the lack of mainstream media coverage. They point to CNN's recent cancellation of Ed Asner's interview on Showbiz Tonight, where he was expected to support Sheen's position, as an example of the "media blackout".

Marina Hyde of The Guardian proposed a theory of her own with regard to Sheen: "Frankly, with dentistry as expensive as yours, you simply can't afford to let The Man stamp his jackboot down on your face, and so it is that when faced with the inquiry 'did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone?', you find yourself thinking: 'God, I mean… do any of us? Like, he had to have people, you know? At least an agent and a publicist.'"


Actor estadounidense Charlie Sheen pone en duda versión oficial de los ataques del 11-S

Durante un entrevista por radio con el periodista Alex Jones, el actor estadounidense Charlie Sheen puso en duda la versión oficial de los ataques del 11 de septiembre y exigió una investigación verdaderamente independiente sobre el hecho y los sucesos que llevaron a él.

Hablando en el programa de Alex Jones, el actor expresó que tenía problemas para creer la versión oficial de los acontecimientos. "Me parece a mi que 19 aficionados con unos abrelatas tomándose cuatro aviones comerciales y golpeando el 75% de los blancos, suena como una teoría de conspiración".

Sheen describió su escepticismo en relación con la razón oficial dada para explicar la caída de las Torres Gemelas de Nueva York. “Yo estaba mirando las noticias y la torre norte estaba en llamas. Vi en directo cómo se dio, a la torre sur, esa famosa toma donde [el avión] desaparece por detrás del edificio y luego vemos una tremenda bola de fuego.”

“Hubo la sensación de que no se parecía a ninguno de los aviones comerciales en los que he viajado en mi vida y luego, cuando los edificios se vienen al suelo más tarde ese mismo día y le digo a mi hermano, ‘llámame loco, pero ¿no parece que esos edificios se vinieron abajo en una demolición controlada’?”

Sheen dijo que el instinto de la gente, de que los edificios fueron demolidos, fue ‘lavado’ deliberadamente mediante el bombardeo incesante por los medios de la versión oficial desde el primer día.

Con respecto a la torre número 7, que no fue golpeada por ningún avión, Sheen usó el término pull ("halar" en inglés) para decir que el edificio se demolió controladamente. Esta técnica permite que el edificio haga implosión sobre su propia base y parece haber sido usada en el edificio 7 donde es visible su ‘rizado’ característico.

Sheen criticó el comportamiento del presidente George W. Bush durante el incidente, quien después de recibir la noticia permaneció en un salón de clase con unos niños de una escuela: “me parece que ante la revelación de esa noticia el servicio secreto agarraría al presidente como si el se estuviera quemando y lo sacarían de esa habitación”.

Sobre el hecho de que Bush afirmara dos veces que vio cuando el primer avión se estrelló contra la torre norte en un momento en que la transmisión no había salido al aire, Sheen dijo: “creo que una de las ventajas de ser presidente es que se tiene acceso a los canales de televisión que no existen en el universo conocido (...) te lleva a pensar que el ha visto imágenes similares en algún tipo de simulacro tal como fueron”.

Sheen explicó su incredulidad de que la historia oficial de lo que pasó en El Pentágono encajara con la evidencia física. “Muéstranos esa increíble maniobra..., muéstranos como ese avión en particular hizo esas maniobras. Un giro de 270 grados a una velocidad de 500 millas [por hora, u 804 km/h] y descendiendo 7.000 pies en 2 horas y media, rozando las copas de los árboles durante los últimos 500 metros.”

No se ha podido confirmar si un avión comercial se estrelló contra el Pentágono porque ese edificio ha confiscado y se ha negado a mostrar cualquier video que muestre el impacto. Con respecto a ello el comentario de Sheen fue: “¿...y qué hay de las cámaras del Sheraton, la cámara de la estación de gasolina, la cámara de la autopista, que hay acerca de todas esas tomas que tienen esto perfectamente documentado? En lugar de eso, muestran 5 tramas que ellos mismos afirman no haber autorizado, eso es realmente sospechoso”.

Sheen exigió que se llevara a cabo una investigación por parte de un comité neutral. “¿Por qué no emplear políticos extranjeros retirados? ¿Qué tal usar expertos que no tengan ningún vínculo con esta administración?”


U.S. heiress, designer, and author Gloria Vanderbilt dies at 95

U.S. heiress Gloria Vanderbilt died on Monday at the age of 95, her son Anderson Cooper announced.  She had advanced stomach cancer.  Scion of the wealthy Vanderbilt family and the subject of a heavily publicized custody battle early in life, she later also became a performer, artist, and designer of porcelain, linens, and a well-known line of designer jeans.

Anderson Cooper, of CNN, one of Vanderbilt's four sons, stated, "Gloria Vanderbilt was an extraordinary woman, who loved life, and lived it on her own terms [...] She was a painter, a writer, and designer but also a remarkable mother, wife, and friend. She was 95 years old, but ask anyone close to her, and they'd tell you, she was the youngest person they knew, the coolest, and most modern."

Vanderbilt was born in 1924 into the wealthy Vanderbilt family, great-great granddaughter of the railroad and shipping tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt.  Her father, Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, died with liver disease when she was one.  At the age of ten, Vanderbilt was the subject of a heavily publicized custody battle between her widowed mother, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, and her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, who controlled a large piece of the Vanderbilt fortune.  Her aunt won.

Although she had a trust fund worth US$5 million that she shared with one half-sister, over the course of her life, Vanderbilt also earned income herself through various pursuits.  Encouraged to explore creative outlets by a psychotherapist, Vanderbilt took acting lessons and eventually performed on stage in The Time of Your Life in 1955 and appeared on television programs.  She also focused on art and design, creating paintings, collages, linens, and a brand of designer jeans that would generate millions in sales. In 1990, the Smithsonian museum featured her jeans alongside the works of designers including Coco Chanel in an exhibit on gender and style.

Syracuse University pop culture professor Robert Thompson remarked, "The thing that really made Gloria Vanderbilt penetrate the American consciousness was the blue jeans war of the late '70s and early 1980s [...] The jeans moved from being functional clothes to designer jeans [...] it was her attempt to take something that was so unglamorous and invest it in high fashion style."

Vanderbilt was married to talent agent Pasquale "Pat" Di Cicco; conductor Leopold Stokowski, who fathered two of her sons; director Sidney Lumet; and author Wyatt Cooper; but, according to her memoirs, also had some degree of romantic involvement with, amongst others, Errol Flynn, Frank Sinatra, and Marlon Brando.  She would later say her union with Cooper was her only happy marriage.

Vanderbilt also authored several books, including the memoirs Once Upon a Time and Black Knight, White Knight and the 2009 novel Obsession, which the New York Times called "the steamiest book ever written by an octogenarian."

Vanderbilt is survived by two sons with Stokowski, Stanislaus and Christopher, and by her son Anderson Cooper.  Another son, Carter Cooper, predeceased her.


Gloria Vanderbilt, 95, gestorben

New York (Vereinigte Staaten), 20.06.2019 – Die amerikanische Millionenerbin Gloria Vanderbilt starb am 17. Juni in New York City im Alter von 95 Jahren an Magenkrebs. Die einzige Tochter von Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, die früh in ihrem Leben Gegenstand eines in der Öffentlichkeit verfolgten Sorgerechtsstreits gegen ihre verwitwete Mutter Gloria Morgan-Vanderbilt war, infolgedessen sie in die Obhut ihrer Tante Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney kam, verdiente sich später als Schauspielerin, Künstlerin und Designerin mit einer weitbekannten Marke von Designerjeans ihr eigenes Auskommen.

„Gloria Vanderbilt war eine außergewöhnliche Frau, die das Leben liebte und es zu ihren eigenen Bedingungen lebte“, sagte einer von Vanderbilts vier Söhnen, der CNN-Moderator Anderson Cooper in einer Stellungnahme. „Sie war Malerin, Schriftstellerin und Designerin, aber auch eine bemerkenswerte Mutter, Ehefrau und Freundin. Sie war 95 Jahre alt, aber fragen sie irgendwen in ihrem Umfeld, und sie werden ihnen sagen, dass sie die jüngste Person war, die sie kannten, die coolste und die modernste.“

Vanderbilt wurde 1924 in die wohlhabende Vanderbilt-Familie geboren. Sie war die Urgroßenkelin des Eisenbahn- und Schifffahrtstycoons Cornelius Vanderbilt. Ihr Vater Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt starb an Leberzirrhose, als Gloria 15 Monate Jahre alt war.

Obwohl Gloria Vanderbilt einen Treuhandfonds mit fünf Millionen US-Dollar mit einer Halbschwester teilte, hat sie im Laufe ihres Lebens ihr Auskommen durch verschiedene Aktivitäten bestritten. Von ihrem Psychotherapeuten zu kreativen Beschäftigungen ermuntert, nahm Vanderbilt Schauspielunterricht und trat 1955 im Stück „The Time of Your Life“ auf die Bühne.  Sie konzentrierte sich außerdem auf Kunst und Design, schuf Gemälde, Collagen, Porzellan, Leinenwäsche und schließlich eine Marke von Designerjeans, die einen Millionenumsatz erzielte. 1990 zeigte das Smithsonian-Museum ihre Jeans neben den Arbeiten der Modeschöpferin Coco Chanel und in einer Ausstellung über Gender und Stil. Irgendwann war Vanderbilts persönliches Vermögen größer als das ihres Vorfahren Cornelius.

„Das Ding, mit dem Gloria Vanderbilt wirklich das Bewusstsein der amerikanischen Öffentlichkeit durchdrungen hat, war der Blue-Jeans-Krieg Ende der 1970er und Anfang der 1980er Jahre“, sagte Robert Thompson, Professor für Popkultur an der Syracuse University. „Die Jeans wandelten sich von funktionalen Kleidungsstücken zu Designerjeans… es war ihr Versuch, irgendetwas so unglamouröses zu nehmen und es in hochmodischem Stil zu verwenden.“

Vanderbilt war in erster Ehe verheiratet mit dem Hollywoodagenten Pasquale Di Cicco, danach mit dem Dirigenten Leopold Stokowski, der Vater von zwei ihrer vier Söhne wurde. Weitere Ehen folgten mit dem Regisseur Sidney Lumet und dem Schriftsteller Wyatt Cooper. In ihren Memoiren räumte sie auch Liebschaften mit Errol Flynn, Frank Sinatra und Marlon Brando ein. Später sagte sie, dass die Verbindung mit Cooper ihre einzige glückliche Ehe gewesen war.

Die LA Times nannte Vanderbilt als Vorbild für sowohl den 1936 gedrehten Spielfilm „The Poor Little Rich Girl“ mit Shirley Temple als auch für die Holly Golightly in Truman Capotes 1958 erschienenen Roman „Frühstück bei Tiffany“.

Vanderbilt schrieb selbst mehrere Bücher, darunter ihre Memoiren „Once Upon a Time“ und „Black Knight, White Knight“ sowie den 2009 erschienenen Roman „Obsession“, über den die New York Times Book Review urteilte, er sei „heißeste Buch, das je von einer Achtzigjährigen geschrieben wurde“.

Vanderbilt hinterlässt zwei Söhne aus ihrer Ehe mit Stokowski: Stanislaus und Christopher, sowie Anderson Cooper. Ein weiterer Sohn, Carter Cooper, starb vor ihr.

Portal:Vereinigte Staaten


U.S. isolated in opposition to cultural diversity treaty

The United States has become increasingly isolated this week in its stance against a new treaty designed to protect and promote cultural diversity in the age of transnational media industries. The treaty, called the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions, was sponsored by Canada and France and has been negotiated by government delegates from over 180 countries in a 2-year consensus process. It is expected to be approved later this week by the plenary session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization UNESCO.

The treaty grants individual countries a right "to maintain, adopt, and implement policies and measures they deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory". This is designed to protect national cultural policy from 'free trade' agreements like the WTO/GATS, the Free Trade Area of the Americas, or bilateral trade negotiations. For example, the screenquota system in South Korea that requires Korean cinemas to show Korean films about 50% of the time, which supporters argue has nurtured the growth of the Korean movie industry, would likely be eliminated if audiovisual services were brought into the WTO - as the United States Trade Representative has proposed. Other countries, like France and Canada have similar policies in place to support their local artists and film industry.

Promoters of the treaty argued that it will allow countries to promote and maintain cultural diversity. The British ambassador to UNESCO characterized the draft as "clear, carefully balanced, and consistent with principles of international law and fundamental human rights".

The United States government criticized the treaty on the grounds it would encourage trade protectionism and could serve as a justification for repressive governments to control their media systems. Condoleezza Rice wrote letters encouraging governments to oppose the treaty.

The United States stood largely alone in that position. Last Monday night, the United States was only joined by Israel to vote for some last minute amendments brought in by the U.S., whereas 151 nations voted for the original wording of the treaty. Australia and Kiribati abstained.


Estados Unidos se opone a convención de la UNESCO sobre diversidad cultural

La mayoría de los 191 países miembros de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO) ha aprobado este jueves la Convención sobre la Protección y Promoción de la Diversidad de las Expresiones Culturales, que busca proteger e incentivar las industrias nacionales de cine y música en el marco de la globalización. Dicha convención entrará en vigor tres meses después de que 30 países miembros la ratifiquen.

Aunque fue apoyada por potencias como Francia -que tiene ya grandes subsidios para sus industrias culturales y estrictos controles al material extranjero-, Canadá y el Reino Unido, los Estados Unidos se opusieron y trataron de introducir 28 enmiendas, rechazadas de forma unánime por la UNESCO.

Al respecto, Louise Oliver, embajadora de los Estados Unidos ante la UNESCO, calificó el texto como "un documento erróneo, ambiguo y proteccionista" y dijo que puede interpretarse como un atentado contra la libertad de expresión, pues "el término excepción cultural nunca ha sido definido". La diplomática declaró que "la base de la diversidad cultural es la libertad. Los principales ponentes de esta convención parecen más interesados en el control sobre flujos de comercio y las vidas de sus ciudadanos que en promover la libertad y la diversidad cultural".

Por el contrario, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, ministro francés de cultura, dijo que "no somos más la oveja negra en este tema. Europa está unida en esto. Comparte los valores que hemos defendido". El representante británico, Timothy Craddock, se refirió al texto de la convención como "claro, cuidadosamente balanceado, consistente con los principios del derecho internacional y los derechos humanos fundamentales".

A favor de la convención votaron 148 países. En contra estuvieron Estados Unidos e Israel, mientras que Honduras, Nicaragua, Liberia y Australia se abstuvieron.


U2 walks over the Bosphorus Bridge before concert

Members of Irish rock band U2 took a walk on Istanbul's famous Bosphorus Bridge connecting Europe and Asia on Sunday, accompanied by Turkish ministers Egemen Bağış and Hayati Yazıcı.

Lead singer Bono gave a speech during the trip. "Last September I was asking, what would be the most inspiring thing about Istanbul? And I said you know[, Bağış], it is the bridge between the East and the West, Europe and Asia, the secular and the religious. It is very important. And then you suggested 'maybe would you like to walk on the bridge? Would you like to play a concert?' And I said a walk will be much easier than a concert. Now I am not so sure."

U2 have also met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Dolmabahçe Palace before their concert at Atatürk Olympic Stadium as part of the U2 360° Tour. They presented him a red iPod nano.


U2'dan dev İstanbul konseri

Bono ve U2 360 Derece adlı konser turnesinin İstanbul ayağında çok başarılı bulunan bir performans sergiledi.

U2 ve solisti Bono, İstanbullular'a uzun zaman akıllarda kalacak bir müzik ziyafeti çekti. Pazartesi gecesi trafiğin tıkanması yüzünden bir buçuk saat geç başlayan konser Atatürk Stadı'nda Bono ve U2 için bir ilk olduğu gibi, izleyiciler içinde onları sahnede görmek açısından bir ilkti.

Konserde en sevilen şarkılarını söyleyen Bono ve grubu U2, her konserlerinde olduğu gibi bu kez de politikaya da yer verdi. Dünyada insan hakları, 1995'de gözaltındayken kaybolan Fehmi Tosun, Kayıp Anneleri gibi konulara değinen Bono, Türkiye'nin önemini vurguladı ve "Burada olup bitenler bütün dünyayı ilgilendiriyor çünkü Türkiye Doğu'yla Batı'yı birleştiren önemli bir ülke," dedi.

Konserin en çok alkışlanan bölümlerinden biri de Bono'nun Zülfü Livaneli'yle birlikte "Yiğidim Aslanım" parçasını seslendirmesi oldu. U2'nun sahne ve ses düzeni ve profeesyonel performansı müzik eleştirmenlerinden tam not aldı.

Bono, Pazar günü Başbakan Recep Tayyip Erdoğan'la görüştü ve iki kıtayı birleştiren Boğaz Köprüsü'nden geçerken çok heyecanlandığını söyledi.


UK actor Peter Postlethwaite dies aged 64

The man that Steven Spielberg once called "possibly the best actor in the world", has died. Peter Postlethwaite (OBE), a resident of England who worked as an actor for over 40 years, died of testicular cancer in Shropshire at the age of 64, according to his friend Andrew Richardson.

Postlethwaite, born in Warrington in 1946, was most famous for his starring role in such films as Brassed Off, The Usual Suspects and, more recently, Inception. He was also known to be a stage performer. In 1993, he was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor.

He is survived by wife Jacqui and children Will and Lily - aged 21 and 14, respectively.


Ο Πέτερ Ποστλιθγουάιτ απεβίωσε στην ηλικία των 64

Ο Πέτερ Ποστλιθγουάιτ που θεωρούταν ως "ο  καλύτερος ίσως ηθοποιός στον κόσμο" απεβίωσε στην ηλικία των 64 ετών. Δούλευε επαγγελματικά ως ηθοποιός πάνω απο 40 χρόνια και συμμετείχε κυρίως σε αγγλικές ταινίες, αφού η καταγωγή του ήταν απο την Μεγάλη Βρετανία. Ο Πέτερ πέθανε απο καρκίνο των όρχεων, σύμφωνα με τον φίλο του, Άντριου Ρίχαρτνσον.

Ο Ποστλιθγουάιτ γεννήθηκε το 1946 στο Γουάρινγκτον της Αγγλίας, και είναι γνωστός από  τις ταινίες στις οποίες πρωταγωνιστούσε, όπως Brassed Off, The Usual Suspects αλλά αυτή που τον έκανε ιδιαίτερα γνωστό ήταν η ταινία Inception. To 1993, είχε αναδειχθεί ως ο καλύτερος ηθοποιός.

Ο Πέτερ ήταν επίσης παντρεμένος με την σύζυγο του, Τζακουί και είχε δύο παιδιά, τον Γουίλι και την Λιλί, που ήταν 21 και 14 ετών αντίστοιχα.

5 Ιανουαρίου 2011


US ABC network to offer more shows dubbed in Spanish

Due to a growing US Hispanic population, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) announced that all primetime shows in their upcoming lineup will be closed captioned in both English and Spanish.  In addition, four of the shows, as well as many theatrically-released films and other specials, will be dubbed in Spanish.

The move was a major one for ABC.  Previously, only the Hispanic comedy The George Lopez Show was captioned and dubbed in Spanish.  "We wanted to move beyond toe-dipping and really dive in," said Stephen McPherson, ABC entertainment chief. "Almost half of the 41 million Hispanics in this country watch only or mostly Spanish-language television, and we want to bring that audience to ABC."

The SAP function allows an optional second audio transmission, which may be used for transmitting programs in Spanish.  However, the additional costs of hiring voice actors to provide Spanish dialogue, as well as production costs, have been prohibitive for most networks.  McPherson said that while it was "not inexpensive", having Spanish-speaking viewership could yield a significant benefit.

George Lopez will continue to air, dubbed in Spanish.  In addition, two of the network's most popular shows, Desperate Housewives and Lost, as well as the new comedy Freddie, will be dubbed; Spanish voice actors are currently being cast for the roles.


La cadena ABC anuncia la emisión de programas en español para la audiencia hispana de EUA

La cadena de televisión estadounidense ABC ha anunciado que todos sus programas del horario estelar (primetime) tendrán sistema closed-captioned (subtítulos) en inglés y español. Además, cuatro de los programas y algunas películas y especiales serán doblados al español.

Anteriormente, sólo la comedia hispana The George Lopez Show tenía subtítulos y doblaje a la lengua de Cervantes. "Queríamos ir más allá de simplemente tocar el agua con los pies para sumergirnos de verdad", declaró Stephen McPherson, jefe de entretenimiento de ABC. "Casi la mitad de los 41 millones de hispanos en este país ven sólo o en gran parte televisión en español, y queremos traer esa audiencia a ABC".

La función denominada secondary audio program (SAP) permite una segunda transmisión optional de audio, que en Estados Unidos se suele emplear para emitir programas en español. Sin embargo, el costo adicional de contratar actores de doblaje para los diálogos, así como los costos de producción, habían sido demasiado prohibitivos para la mayoría de las cadenas. McPherson afirmó que, si bien el costo "no era tan alto", tener teleaudiencia hispana puede rendir un beneficio significativo.

George Lopez seguirá emitiéndose con doblaje al castellano. Fuera de ello, dos de las series más populares de la cadena, Desperate Housewives y Lost, además de la nueva comedia Freddie, serán dobladas. La elección de los actores de doblaje está en proceso.


US actor Dennis Hopper dies at age 74

Actor, director, and artist Dennis Hopper has died today at the age of 74. He was known to suffer from prostate cancer since October 2009.

He was born Dennis Lee Hopper on May 17, 1936 in Dodge City, Kansas.  As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors Studio.  He made his first television appearance in 1955, and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Giant (1956).  Over the next ten years, Hopper appeared frequently on television in guest roles, and by the end of the 1960s had played supporting roles in several films.  He directed and starred in Easy Rider (1969), winning an award at the Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as co-writer of the film's script.

Hopper was unable to build on this success for several years, until a featured role in Apocalypse Now (1979) brought him attention.  He subsequently received critical recognition for his work in Blue Velvet and Hoosiers, with the latter film garnering him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  Hopper's more recent work included a leading role in the television series Crash.

Hopper was a prolific photographer, painter, and sculptor whose works have been exhibited worldwide.

On January 12, 2010, several months after the cancer diagnosis, Hopper had filed for divorce from his wife Victoria Duffy leading to an extended public feud between the couple over the course of the following months.


Dennis Hopper ist tot

Los Angeles (Vereinigte Staaten), 30.05.2010 – Einer der ganz Großen Hollywoods hat die Bühne für immer verlassen. Der US-amerikanische Schauspieler Dennis Hopper starb am 28. Mai im Alter von 74 Jahren in Venice, Kalifornien an Krebs. Hopper spielte in mehr als 140 Filmen. Er war zweimal für einen Oscar nominiert und gewann einmal einen Golden Globe. Weltberühmt wurde Hopper durch seine Rolle in „Easy Rider“.

Hopper stammte aus Dodge City, Kansas. Nach ein paar Fernsehrollen wirkte er in Nebenrollen in den James-Dean-Klassikern „…denn sie wissen nicht, was sie tun“ und „Giganten“ mit. Er lernte Henry Fonda kennen und dessen Sohn Peter, mit dem er an der Verwirklichung von „Easy Rider“ arbeitete. Der dritte im Bunde war Jack Nicholson. Hopper war nicht nur Hauptdarsteller des Filmes, sondern führte auch Regie und begründete so, fast nebenbei, das New Hollywood. Es waren Nicholson, Fonda und Hopper, die Harley-Davidson-Motorräder und die Musik der Gruppe „Steppenwolf“, die den Film von 1969 zu einem Klassiker machten.

Doch in Hoppers Karriere folgte auf diesen Erfolg eine Zeit von Misserfolgen. Zwar spielte er im Vietnam-Kriegsdrama „Apocalypse Now“ mit, doch erst als ihm David Lynch in seinem Film „Blue Velvet – Verbotene Blicke“ die Rolle des Sadisten Frank Booth gab, kam wirklich die Wende. Auch seine nächste Regiearbeit, „Colors – Farben der Gewalt“, kam an, Hopper war wieder da. 1994 stellte er in „Speed“ den psychopathischen Bombenleger Howard Payne dar, der Keanu Reeves und Sandra Bullock in Atem hält. Ein Jahr später spielte er den Bösewicht in Kevin Kostners Endzeitdrama „Waterworld“.

Spektakulär wie seine Rollen war auch sein Privatleben. Hopper war fünfmal verheiratet und hatte vier Kinder, jedes mit einer anderen Frau. Er wurde wegen Raserei verhaftet und fiel wegen Alkohol- und Drogenkonsums auf.

Hopper wirkte auch in dem Film „Der amerikanische Freund“ des deutschen Regisseurs Wim Wenders mit. Mit ihm sollte ihn eine langjährige Freundschaft verbinden. Es war ein Film Wenders′, in dem Hopper eine seiner letzten Rollen spielte: in „Palermo Shooting“ stellte er 2008 den Tod dar. Der hat ihn nun geholt.


US actor Gary Coleman dies aged 42

US actor Gary Coleman died Friday at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, after complications from a brain hemorrhage. Coleman was admitted to the hospital on May 26 after falling and injuring his head. He went into a coma on May 27 and required life support. He was taken off life support and died shortly after noon on Friday. He was 42 years old.

Coleman had been suffering multiple medical problems throughout his life, however, it is unknown if these problems affected his death. He suffered from a congenital kidney disease which required two transplants and daily dialysis. On February 27, 2010 Coleman suffered a seizure on the set of the television show The Insider.

Coleman's career began with appearances in US sit-com's such as The Jeffersons and Good Times. He was best known for his recurring role as Arnold Jackson on Diff'rent Strokes and his recurring line, "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?".


Falleció el actor Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman, el actor que interpretó a Arnold en la serie Diff'rent Strokes de la década de los setenta (más conocida como Blanco y negro en América Latina y Arnold en España y Uruguay), falleció a los 42 de edad a causa de una caída en su vivienda de Utah, Estados Unidos. Estuvo en coma en el Centro Médico Regional de Utah Valley por una lesión cerebral que le ocasionó el golpe.

Inmediatamente después de la caída permaneció consciente, pero su situación empeoró con el paso del tiempo, indicó John Alcantar, vocero del actor. La cadena ABC News informó que sufrió una lesión intracraneal.

El actor nació con una enfermedad congénita del riñón, causándole nefritis (una destrucción autoinmune del riñón) y en consecuencia su crecimiento se detuvo a una edad temprana, llevándolo a desarrollar una estatura pequeña: 1,40 metros (4 pies y 8 pulgadas) lo que se convirtió en su característica más distintiva.

Coleman tuvo dos trasplantes de riñón, uno en 1973 y otro en 1984, además requería diálisis de manera constante. El actor había sufrido dos infartos, uno el 6 de enero y otro a finales de febrero, mientras filmaba The Insider. A finales de los 80 fue trasplantado de riñones en dos oportunidades para tratar la enfermedad de nefritis que le impidió crecer.


Addio a Gary Coleman, interprete di "Arnold"

È morto ieri a Provo, nello Utah, Gary Coleman, l'attore statunitense divenuto famoso in tutto il mondo per il ruolo di Arnold nel popolare telefilm degli anni '70-'80 Il mio amico Arnold. Aveva solo 42 anni.

Coleman versava in stato di coma dopo essere stato operato d'urgenza in seguito alla caduta verificatasi in casa sua mercoledì, che gli aveva provocato un'emorragia cerebrale. La caduta era stata provocata probabilmente da un malore dell'attore, che da anni soffriva di gravi problemi di salute ed era continuamente sottoposto a dialisi.

L'annuncio del decesso è stato dato dal manager dell'attore alle 12:08, ora locale.

Gary Wayne Coleman era nato a Zion l'8 febbraio 1968. Nel 1978 era stato scelto per interpretare Arnold, il bambino di colore del quartiere di Harlem, adottato insieme al fratello dal ricco Sig. Drummond, che, dopo la morte della moglie, viveva solo con la figlia in un attico di Manhattan. Coleman interpretò questo ruolo fino al 1986.

Oltre all'interpretazione del ruolo principale ne Il mio amico Arnold, Coleman era apparso come guest-star in vari telefilm, come I Jefferson, nonché in "versione cartone animato" ne I Simpson.

L'attore soffriva sin da bambino di nefrite, un problema che aveva limitato la sua crescita. Non sono stati però soltanto i disturbi di salute a condizionare la sua esistenza: alla fine degli anni '90, Coleman aveva infatti anche avuto problemi con la giustizia.

La morte di Gary Coleman, che del telefilm Arnold era il protagonista, non è la prima tra quelle degli attori legati alla serie: Dana Plato, che nel telefilm interpretava Kimberley Drummond, la sorellastra di Arnold, è infatti morta nel 1999 in seguito ad un'overdose, mentre tre settimane fa lo stesso figlio della Plato, che aveva solamente 26 anni, è morto suicida a quarantotto ore dall'anniversario della morte della madre.

Problemi giudiziari avevano invece coinvolto tempo fa Todd Bridges, l'attore che interpretava Willis, il fratello di Arnold.


Morre o ator Gary Coleman aos 42 anos

Salt Lake City • 28 de maio de 2010

Morreu na sexta-feira, 28 de maio de 2010, aos 42 anos de idade o ex-ator norte-americano Gary Coleman, devido a complicações decorrentes de uma queda. Era popular por seu papel na série de televisão estadunidense Different Strokes, conhecida como "Arnold" no Brasil.[1][2]


Actorul american Gary Coleman a murit la vârstă de 42 de ani

29 mai 2010 Provo, Utah, Statele Unite ale Americii —

Actorul american Gary Coleman a murit vineri la Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Utah după o hemoragie intracraniană. Coleman a fost internat în spital pe 26 mai, după ce a căzut și s-a lovit la cap. A intrat în comă pe 27 mai și a fost conectat la aparate pentru a fi menținut în viață. El a fost deconectat de la aparatele care îl mențineau în viață și a murit la scurt timp în după amiaza zilei de vineri.

Coleman a suferit mai multe probleme medicale de-a lungul vieții, oricum nu se știe dacă aceste probleme au avut legătură cu moartea sa. A suferit de o boală de rinichi congenitală care a necesitat două transplanturi și dializă în fiecare zi. La data de 27 februarie 2010 Coleman a suferit un atac de apoplexie pe platourile de filmare ale show-ului de televiziune Insider.

Cariera lui Coleman a încuput cu apariția în sit-comuri ca: The Jeffersons și Good Times. El a fost cel mai bine cunoscut pentru rolurile sale recurente ca Arnold Jackson în Strokes Diff'rent și a liniei sale recurente, "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?".


அமெரிக்க நடிகர் கேரி கோல்மன் 42வது வயதில் காலமானார்

அமெரிக்க நடிகர் கேரி கோல்மன் நேற்று வெள்ளிக்கிழமை அன்று யூட்டா மாநிலத்தில் உள்ள யூட்டா பிராந்திய மருத்துவமனையில் காலமானார். டிபரெண்ட் ஸ்ட்ரோக்ஸ் (1978–1986) என்ற அமெரிக்க சூழ்நிலை நிகழ்ச்சியில் அர்னால்ட் ஜாக்சன் என்ற அவரது பாத்திரத்திற்காக சிறப்பாக அறியப்பட்டார்.

கோல்மன் மே 26 ஆம் நாளன்று தனது வீட்டில் மாடியில் இருந்து வீழ்ந்து தலையில் அடிபட்டு மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தார். நினைவு எதுவும் இல்லாத நிலையில் அவர் நேற்று மே 28 இல் பகலில் காலமானார். இறக்கும் போது அவருக்கு வயது 42.

இவரது வாழ்நாள் பூராவும் பலவித மருத்துவ நோய்களுக்கு உள்ளாகியிருந்தார். இவையே இவரின் மரணத்திற்குக் காரணமா என இன்னும் அறியப்படவில்லை. இவரது இரண்டு சிறுநீரகங்களும் பழுதான நிலையில் சிறுநீரக மாற்று சிகிச்சை செய்து கொண்டு நாளாந்த டயாலிசிசில் (dialysis) இருந்து வந்தார்.

கோல்மன் ”த ஜெஃபர்சன்ஸ்” (The Jeffersons), ”குட் டைம்ஸ்” (Good Times) ஆகிய புகழ்பெற்ற தொலைக்காட்சித் தொடர்கள் மூலம் நடிப்புலகிற்கு அறிமுகமானார். ”டிபரண்ட் ஸ்ட்ரோக்ஸ்” என்ற தொடரில் ஆர்னல்ட் ஜாக்சன் என்ற நகைச்சுவைப் பாத்திரத்தில் நடித்து உலகப் புகழ் பெற்றார்.


US actor Patrick McGoohan dead at age 80

Two-time Emmy Award-winning American-born actor, Patrick McGoohan, famed for his role as Number Six in the 1960s cult British television series The Prisoner, has died at the Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California.

He died on January 13, following a short illness at the age of 80. McGoohan's death was made public by his son-in-law, film producer Cleve Landsberg.

Born in New York City, and raised in the UK and Ireland, the actor played in numerous series on both continents.  Aside from The Prisoner, his notable roles were in the ITV network series Armchair Theatre and Danger Man. McGoohan was also considered for the role of the iconic spy James Bond.

It is for the series The Prisoner, filmed in Portmeirion, North Wales, that he will be best remembered. The show's tagline, "I am not a number, I am a free man!" emphasised the primary focus of the series, McGoohan's escape from his captor, "Number One".

McGoohan leaves behind his wife Joan Drummond McGoohan, three daughters, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.


Ator americano Patrick McGoohan morre aos 80 anos de idade

Santa Monica, Califórnia, Estados Unidos • 16 de janeiro de 2009

Dois prêmios vencidos do Emmy Award, o ator Patrick McGoohan, famoso por seu papel como Number Six na década de 1960 na série de televisão britânica The Prisoner, morreu no Saint John's Health Center, na cidade de Santa Mônica, Califórnia.

Ele morreu em 13 de janeiro, após uma curta doença aos 80 anos de idade. A morte de McGoohan foi tornado público pelo seu genro e produtor de filme Cleve Landsberg.

Nascido na cidade de Nova York e criado no Reino Unido e na Irlanda, o ator participou numerosas séries de ambos os continentes. Afora o preso, o notável papél estava na rede ITV da série Armchair Theatre e Danger Man. McGoohan também foi considerada para o papel do icônico espião James Bond.

Trata-se da série The Prisoner, filmado em Portmeirion, Gales do Norte, que ele será sempre lembrado. O show da Tagline, "Eu não sou um número, sou um homem livre!" salientou o foco principal da série, McGoohan da fuga de seu captor, "Number One".

McGoohan deixou a esposa Joan Drummond McGoohan, três filhas, cinco netos e um bisneto.


US actor Peter Falk dies aged 83

US actor Peter Falk died on Thursday at his home in Beverly Hills, California after a struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Falk may be most known for his role as Detective Columbo in the television series of the same name that ran on NBC from 1968 to 1978, which moved to ABC in 1989. The last episode aired in 2003. His portrayal of the character won him four Emmy Awards.

Falk, born in 1927, had his right eye surgically removed at the age of three, due to a cancerous growth. He wore a glass eye for most of his life. Because of this, he was rejected by the armed services at the end of World War II.

Falk starred in his first crime film, Murder, Inc. in 1960, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. In Blake Edwards's 1965 film The Great Race, he appeared with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Natalie Wood.

Falk is survived by his wife and two daughters.


Mor l'actor Peter Falk

Dijous passat, a la nit, va morir l'actor Peter Falk a l'edat de 83 anys. Des de l'any 2005, patia de la malaltia d'Alzheimer i ja no va poder treballar. La seva família no ha revelat les causes exactes de la seva mor. Va començar la seva carrera l'any 1957 participant en un episodi de la sèrie Robert Montgomery Presents. Fou protagonista a les pel·lícules de John Cassavetes: Maridos i Una dona ofuscada.

Sobretot, el difunt fou conegut a la petita pantalla pel seu personatge, el tinent Columbo de la policia criminal de Los Angeles. Aquell personatge fou una mica confús però investigador de geni, vestit amb un impermeable gastat, conduint un vell Peugeot 403 i evocant freqüentment la seva dona. Fou també acompanyat pel seu gos, un Basset Hund, que mai no va saber donar-li un nom. Va interpretar el personatge durant 35 anys i 69 episodis. La sèrie regalà al públic algunes escenes d'antologia on, per exemple, el detectiu improvisà un reparador de televisió fent sortir la seva propietària de polleguera. A França, Serge Sauvion va donar-li la seva veu contribuint a l'èxit de la sèrie al país.


US-Schauspieler Peter Falk 83-jährig gestorben

Los Angeles (Vereinigte Staaten), 24.06.2011 – Wer kennt ihn nicht, den nur scheinbar immer zerstreuten, aber doch so verschlagenen, fast immer Zigarre rauchenden „Inspektor Columbo“ mit dem abgetragenen Trench-Coat und dem klapprigen Peugeot aus der US-Krimiserie „Columbo“? Seit Jahrzehnten fanden und finden die unzähligen Folgen des Inspektors Columbo immer wieder den Weg in die Abendprogramme deutscher und internationaler Fernsehsender. Die Rolle schien ihm wie auf den Leib geschnitten zu sein. Am Donnerstagabend starb der Schauspieler Peter Falk im Alter von 83 Jahren in seinem Haus in Berverly Hills.

Eine offizielle Erklärung zu seiner Todesursache wurde von seiner Familie nicht veröffentlicht. Es ist jedoch bekannt, dass Falk an Demenz litt. Seit dem Sommer 2009 stand Falk unter der Vormundschaft seiner Frau Shera.

Zwischen 1968 und 2003 wirkte Peter Falk an fast 70 TV-Produktionen des schrulligen Polizeiinspektors des Los Angeles Police Departments mit.


پیتر فالک، هنرپیشه آمریکایی درگذشت

پیتر فالک بازیگر آمریکایی در سن ۸۳ سالگی درگذشت. او اکثر شهرت خود را برای بازی در نقش ستوان کلمبو در مجموعه تلویزیونی کلمبو به دست آورد. او به خاطر این  چهار بار جایزه امی را دریافت کرد.

خبرگزاری‌ها از قول خانواده او اعلام کرده‌اند که او در خانه اش در لس آنجلس درگذشته‌است. فالک از چند سال پیش از اختلال حواس و آلزایمر رنج می‌برد، اما به گفته خانواده او در آرامش کامل دنیا را ترک کرد. پیتر فالک از سال ۱۹۵۸ در بیش از ۴۰ فیلم سینمایی بازی کرد.


États-Unis : décès de Peter Falk

Publié le 26 juin 2011 à Los Angeles

Dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi dernier, l'acteur Peter Falk est décédé à l'âge de 83 ans. Il souffrait de la maladie d'Alzheimer depuis 2005 et ne pouvait plus travailler. Sa famille n'a pas communiqué les causes exactes de son décès. Il commença sa carrière d'acteur dès 1957 en apparaissant dans un épisode de la série Robert Montgomery Presents. Il joua dans des films de John Cassavetes, où il fut l'acteur fétiche : Husbands et Une femme sous influence.

Il fut surtout connu au petit écran pour son personnage, le lieutenant Columbo, de la police criminelle de Los Angeles. Il incarna un personnage un peu brouillon mais qui était un enquêteur de génie, vêtu d'un imperméable élimé, conduisant une Peugeot 403 et évoquant fréquemment sa femme. Il faut aussi accompagné par un Basset hound auquel il n'a jamais pu donner un nom, si ce n'est « Le Chien ». Il interpréta ce rôle durant 35 ans et 69 épisodes. La série offrit au public des scènes d'anthologie où, par exemple, le détective s'improvisa réparateur de télévision provoquant une crise de nerfs de sa propriétaire. En France, Serge Sauvion lui prêta sa voix dans la version française, contribuant grandement au succès de la série dans le pays.


È morto Peter Falk, famoso interprete del tenente Colombo

Si è spento all'età di 83 anni Peter Falk, il famoso volto del tenente Colombo, il 23 giugno nella sua casa a Beverly Hills.

La notizia dell'avvenuta morte è stata diffusa dai familiari dell'attore statunitense senza comunicarne la causa. L'attore soffriva di Alzheimer dal 2008 ed era affetto dalla demenza senile.


23 iunie 2011 Beverly Hills, California, Statele Unite ale Americii —

Actorul Peter Falk a murit la vârsta de 83 de ani în localitatea Beverly Hills, California. Acesta a jucat în serialul polițist Colombo.


Умер актёр Питер Фальк

В Калифорнии умер знаменитый американский актер Питер Фальк. Он скончался в своем доме в Беверли-Хиллс в четверг. Этот факт подтвердил официальный представитель актера, как сообщают американские СМИ. Об его смерти только стало известно на следующий день, его родственники сообщили.

Фальк родился в сентябре 1927 г. Актёр прославился ролью инспектора в сериале «Коломбо» («Columbo»), в котором снимался с 1968 г. по 2003 г. Этот сериал демонстрировался в 26 странах мира. Фалька два раза номинировали на «Оскар» и получил пять наград «Эмми», из которых четыре были за роль Коломбо.

В последние годы жизни Фальк страдал болезнью Альцгеймера. Он был женат дважды.

25 июня 2011 года


Umro glumac Piter Falk

24. јун 2011.Лос Анђелес-  (Beta-AP) - Američki glumac Piter Falk, najpoznatiji po ulozi detektiva u dugovečnoj televizijskoj seriji „Kolumbo“, umro je u 84. godini, saopšteno je u petak u Los Anđelesu.

Falk je umro u četvrtak uveče u svom domu na Beverli Hilsu. Glumac je bolovao od Alhajmerove bolesti, navodi se u jednom sudskom spisu izjava njegove ćerke Ketrin (Catherine) iz 2008. godine.

Emitovanje detektivske serije „Kolumbo“ počelo je 1971. godine u udarnom terminu na televiziji En-Bi-Si (NBC), a poslednja epizoda emitovana je 2003. godine.


US government, music industry websites taken offline in web attack

The day after several major websites staged a mass blackout over proposed United States anti piracy legislation, namely the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) proposals, members of online activist group Anonymous have knocked US Justice Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI), Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) and Universal Music (UMG)'s websites offline in apparently coordinated web attacks. Several other websites such as BMI.com were also taken offline.

At about 4:15 p.m. EST both www.justice.gov, www.fbi.gov, and www.universalmusic.com went offline. Shortly after 5:00 p.m. the RIAA's website also went dark. At the time of this report, all three websites are still offline. Just after 6:00 p.m., Universal Music Group shut down their website for "maintenance." In postings to Twitter, members of Anonymous claim responsibility, saying the attacks are a response to the FBI's seizure and shutdown of file-sharing website Megaupload, and in protest against the American anti-piracy laws. The group calls this "the largest attack ever by Anonymous" with over 5,600 people participating in the attack.

"The government takes down Megaupload? 15 minutes later Anonymous takes down government & record label sites. Expect us," stated a message from 'YourAnonNews' on Twitter. Another member of Anonymous told RT News that there are more attacks to come.

Megaupload was a file-sharing website boasting over 50 million visits per day. On Thursday the FBI seized and shutdown the website, arresting its founder and three other people. A total of seven people connected to the website were arrested and indicted on charges that include copyright infringement, racketeering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Authorities say Megaupload allowed individuals to download movies "often before their theatrical release, music, television programs, electronic books, and business and entertainment software on a massive scale." They also claim the website was costing entertainment industry copyright-holders "well in excess of US$500 million" in damages.

"Wikipedia, Reddit in 'blackout' against SOPA, PROTECT IP laws" — Wikinews, January 17, 2012


Anonymous ataca la página web de Universal Music en represalia al cierre de Megaupload

19 de enero de 2012Estados Unidos —

Un día después de que varios principales cibersitios escenificasen un apagón masivo en protesta contra las legislaciones SOPA y PIPA propuestas por los Estados Unidos, miembros del grupo activista en línea Anonymous atacaron y dejaron fuera de línea los sitios del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos, del FBI, de la RIAA (en inglés Recording Industry Association of America, ‘Asociación de Industria Discográfica de Estados Unidos’) y de Universal Music Group en ciberataques aparentemente coordinados. También dejaron fuera de línea varios otros sitios como BMI.com.

Cerca de las 21:15 UTC, www.justice.gov, www.fbi.gov y www.universalmusic.com quedaron fuera de línea. Poco después de las 22:00 UTC, el sitio de la RIAA sufrió también un apagón. Justo después de las 23:00 UTC, Universal Music Group cerró su sitio para “mantenimiento”. En publicaciones en Twitter, miembros de Anonymous asumieron ser los responsables, diciendo que los ataques son una respuesta a la incautación y cierre del servicio para alojamiento de archivos Megaupload por parte del FBI, y en señal de protesta contra las leyes estadounidenses de antipiratería. El grupo lo ha llamado “el mayor ataque jamás hecho por Anonymous”, pues más de 5.600 personas participaron en el ataque.

“¿El gobierno cierra Megaupload? 15 minutos más tarde, Anonymous cierra sitios del gobierno y de sellos discográficos. Espérennos”, declaró un mensaje de “YourAnonNews” en Twitter. Otro miembro de Anonymous dijo que sucederán más ataques.

Megaupload era un cibersitio de intercambio de archivos que contaba con más 50 millones de visitas al día. Hoy, el FBI confiscó y cerró el sitio, arrestando a Kim Dotcom, su fundador, y a otras tres personas. En total, siete personas relacionadas con el sitio fueron arrestadas y acusadas de cargos que incluyen violación de derechos de autor, crimen organizado y conspiración para cometer lavado de dinero. Las autoridades dicen que Megaupload permitía a las personas descargar películas “a menudo antes de su estreno en cines, música, programas de televisión, libros electrónicos, y software de negocios y de entretenimiento, a gran escala”. También sostienen que el sitio le estaba costando a los titulares de derechos de autor de la industria del entretenimiento “muchísimo más de $500 millones” en concepto de daños. La demanda fue emitida por una unidad judicial de Virginia, Estados Unidos.

A pesar de que la detención y el cierre del cibersitio ocurre un día después de la masiva protesta cibernética en contra de SOPA y PIPA, fuentes policiales que fueron citadas por el periódico Wall Street Journal sostienen que no hay una relación entre estos polémicos proyectos de ley y las detenciones.


Anonymous ataca cibersites do Governo dos Estados Unidos em represália ao fechamento de Megaupload

Estados Unidos • 19 de janeiro de 2012

Um dia depois de vários grandes sites fizerem um enorme blecaute em protesto contra as leis SOPA e PIPA proposto pelos Estados Unidos, os membros do grupo ativista on-line Anonymous atacaram e deixaram os sites em off-line ("fora do ar", em inglês) do United States Department of Justice (Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos, em inglês), o FBI, a RIAA (Associação da Indústria Discográfica dos Estados Unidos, em inglês) e a Universal Music Group no ciber-ataque aparentemente coordenados. Também deixaram fora do ar vários outros sites online como BMI.com.

Por volta das 21:15 UTC, www.justice.gov, www.fbi.gov e www.universalmusic.com estavam off-line. Pouco depois das 22:00 UTC, o site RIAA também sofreu um blecaute. Apenas depois das 23:00 UTC, Universal Music Group fechou seu site para "manutenção". Em publicações sobre o Twitter, os membros do Anonymous assumiram serem responsáveis, afirmando que os ataques são uma resposta à apreensão e encerramento do serviço de hospedagem de arquivos Rapidshare pelo FBI e em protesto contra leis anti-pirataria nos EUA. O grupo chamou-lhe "o maior ataque já feito por Anonymous", para mais de 5.600 pessoas participaram do ataque.

"O governo fecha [...] Megaupload? 15 minutos depois, Anonymous fecha [...] sites do governo e outras gravadoras. Nós Esperamos.",[nota 1] mensagem de 'YourAnonNews' no Twitter. Outro membro do Anonymous disse que mais ataques vão acontecer.

Megaupload era um site de compartilhamento de arquivos que tinha mais de 50 milhões de acessos por dia. Hoje, o FBI apreendeu e fechou o site, Dotcom prender Kim, fundador, e três outros. No total, sete pessoas associadas com o site foram presos e acusados de acusações de violação de direitos autorais, extorsão e conspiração para cometer lavagem de dinheiro. As autoridades dizem Megaupload permitia que as pessoas de baixar filmes "muitas vezes antes de seu lançamento nos cinemas, música, programas de TV, livros e software de negócios e entretenimento em grande escala". Eles também alegam que o local estava custando os proprietários dos direitos autorais na indústria do entretenimento "muito mais do que US$ 500 milhões" por danos. A demanda foi emitido por uma unidade judiciária de Virginia, EUA.

Embora a prisão e o fechamento do site ocorra um dia depois do protesto maciço dos ciber contra SOPA e PIPA, fontes da polícia citados pelo jornal Wall Street Journal dizem que não há relação entre essas leis polêmicas e detenções.


US novelist John Updike dies age 76

Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist John Updike has died of lung cancer at a hospice near his home in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. He was 76.

Born John Hoyer Updike in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1932, he documented ordinary — if highly sexualized — American life in around 50 works, beginning with The Poorhouse Fair in 1959. He once said that his books were about "the American small town, Protestant middle class".

The son of a Pennsylvania school teacher who worked in the holidays as a laborer, he was educated at Harvard University — where he edited the magazine Lampoon — and United Kingdom's The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art. From there, he went on to write for The New Yorker.

After The Poorhouse Fair, he introduced the character of Harold 'Rabbit' Angstrom in his 1960 work Rabbit, Run. His two Pulitzer prizes were won for further books featuring the character: Rabbit Is Rich and Rabbit at Rest. His 1984 novel The Witches of Eastwick was made into a film starring Jack Nicholson, Cher and Susan Sarandon. His work drew criticism as well as awards, not least for his depiction of female characters and voyeuristic passages describing rape.

He was ambivalent about his reputation, noting in his 1989 autobiography Self-Consciousness that he was aware of "my ponderously growing oeuvre, dragging behind me like an ever-heavier tail". As well as the Pulitzer prizes, Updike won many literary awards, including the National Medal for Humanities in 2003. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Updike had two daughters, Elizabeth and Miranda, and two sons, David and Michael, by his first wife Mary. His second wife Martha survives him.


Напусна ни Джон Ъпдайк

На 27 януари 2009 г. почина Джон Ъпдайк - писател, поет и есеист, два пъти носител на литературната наградата Пулицър. Той обрисуваше в мрачни краски живота на американската буржоазия в малките градчета и предградията и екзистенциална плетеница от секс, религиозна вяра и смърт.

27 януари 2009 г.


US rapper Mac Miller dies at home in Los Angeles

On Friday, rapper Mac Miller was found dead in his bedroom at home in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, United States, according to reports. He was 26.

According to news website TMZ, a friend called emergency services from Mac Miller's apartment, in regard to a cardiac arrest. According to the coroner, Mac Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigation was ongoing to identify the cause of the death.

Reports said Mac Miller previously abused drugs, which reportedly affected his two-year relationship with singer Ariana Grande.  They broke up in May this year.

Mac Miller was an US rapper, singer and record producer. He was born Malcolm James McCormick in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US in 1992. In 2007, at the age of fifteen, he released his first mixtape under the nickname "EZ Mac". He later switched to name "Mac Miller".


وفاة مغني الراب الأمريكي ماك ميلر بمنزله في لوس أنجلس

وجد مغني الراب الأمريكي ماك ميلر متوفيا في غرفته ظهيرة الجمعة الماضي بمنزله في سان فيرناندو فالي بسان فرانسيسكو الواقعة في ولاية كاليفورنيا الأمريكية، وذلك حسب تقارير إعلامية مؤكد منها. وتوفي المغني عن عمر يناهز 26 سنة.

وحسب موقع تي ام زي الإخباري، فقد اتصل صديق لماك ميلر بخدمات الطوارئ معلنا أن صديقه توفي بنوبة قلبية. وجرت التحقيقات لمعرفة سبب الوفاة، فتبين لاحقا أن المغني قد تعاطى جرعة زائدة من المخدرات، وجرى تبرير ذلك بتقارير تفيد إدمانه على العقاقير المخدرة.

وكان تعاطيه للمخدرات قد أثر سلبا على الجانب العاطفي لحياته وعلى العلاقة التي جمعته بسنتين مع الفنانة الأمريكية أريانا غراندي، ما نتج عنه انفصالهما في مايو الماضي. وتسبب ذلك بمشاكل نفسية له، أعقبها قيامه بحادثة سير وفراره من مسرح الجريمة، ثم اعترافه لاحقا بارتكابها.

ويعتبر مالكولم جيمز ماكورميك ممثلا وموسيقيا ومغنيا وكاتبا غنائيا ومنتج أسطوانات، من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، ولد في بيتسبرغ، بنسيلفانيا في 19 يناير 1992. وأنتج أول موسيقى له في 2007 عندما بلغ من العمر 15 سنة تحت الاسم المستعار "EZ Mac"، والذي غيره لاحقا بماك ميلر.

الثلاثاء 11 سبتمبر 2018


Morre aos 26 anos o rapper americano Mac Miller

Na última sexta-feira (7/9), morreu aos 26 anos de idade, o cantor do rap e hip-hop americano Malcolm James McCormick, mais conhecido como Mac Miller, que foi conhecido anteriormente sob os pseudônimos de EZ Mac e Larry Lovestein, além de cantar, era também produtor musical. De acordo com a imprensa americana, Mac Miller foi encontrado morto em seu quarto em apartamento no bairro de San Fernando Valley, na cidade de Los Angeles, no Estado de Califórnia (sudoeste dos Estados Unidos), por volta do meio-dia (hora local). De acordo com autoridades locais, a causa da morte do artista foi uma overdose "óbvia" de drogas.

De acordo com o site de notícias TMZ, um amigo pessoal do Mac Miller encontrou no quatro sem sinais de vida e ligou para serviços de emergência do apartamento, sob suspeita de uma parada cardíaca. De acordo com o site, o legista examinou Mac Miller e declarou morto no local, além de iniciar a investigação para identificar a causa da morte do cantor, embora seja o abuso nas drogas. TMZ é o mesmo site que ficou conhecido no mundo, ao ser o primeiro divulgar a notícia da morte do cantor Michael Jackson em 2009, também em Los Angeles.

O cantor era o namorado da também cantora norte-americana Ariana Grande desde 2016, mas por causa de abuso e vício nas drogas pelo rapper, afetou seu relacionamento com a cantora e o namoro do casal acabou dois anos depois em maio deste ano. Depois disso, seu abuso vício em drogas se tornou pública, embora Mac Miller seja viciado e se tratava contra as drogas há anos.

Malcolm James McCormick nasceu na cidade de Pittsburgh (no Estado de Pensilvânia) EUA 19 de janeiro de 1992. Em 2007, com a idade de quinze anos, ele lançou sua primeira mixtape sob o apelido de "EZ Mac". Mais tarde, ele mudou para o nome "Mac Miller". Já nos 18 anos que ele assinou um contrato com a gravadora independente local Rostrum registros e criou sua primeira mixtape K.I.D.S..

Em 2011, o primeiro álbum de estúdio de Mac Miller Blue Slide Park fez sua estréia em primeiro lugar na tabela Billboard 200 . Ele se tornou o primeiro intérprete independente em 16 anos, que conseguiu alcançar isso. No mesmo ano, um clipe de Mack Miller na música Donald Trump reuniu quase 150 milhões de visualizações no YouTube. O cantor enfatizou que não era um defensor de Donald Trump.

Em 2012, ele afirmou que "prefiro ser um rapper branco banal do que um viciado em drogas que não consegue sair de casa. Você não ficará na história se morrer de overdose. Você simplesmente morrerá". O último álbum, o Swimming, foi lançado no mês passado. No total, o músico lançou cinco álbuns de estúdio.

Familiares, parentes de Miller e estrelas de rap expressaram suas condolências, incluindo Post Malone, um dos fundadores do Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah, Kid Cady, J. Cole, ASAP Rocky, Pusha T, Wiz Khalifa e muitos outros, bem como estrelas da NBA, com que Miller manteve relações amigáveis. O rapper Pitchfork cita a declaração da família Miller:

A rapper Missy Elliot escreveu:

Snoop Dogg publicou suas condolências em sua conta no Twitter:

O produtor e músico Farrell Williams lembrou que há seis anos ele colaborou com Miller:

O rapper de 23 anos Joey Badass escreveu no instagram:


Категория:Мак Миллер

Мак Миллер (19 января 1992 года, Питтсбург, США  — 7 сентября 2018 года,  Лос-Анджелес, США) — рэпер, певец, автор песен, музыкальный продюсер. Образование: Taylor Allderdice High School. Жанр: хип-хоп, современный ритм-н-блюз, неосоул. Музыкальные инструменты: вокал, ударная установка, гитара, фортепиано.


US singer Etta James dies aged 73

Legendary soul singer Etta James died aged 73 yesterday at Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside, California after a long battle with leukemia. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2009.

James was born in Los Angeles, California as Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938. She is best known for her 1961 hit At Last. She gained prominence following the success of All I Could Do Was Cry, At last, and Trust in Me.  She won six Grammy Awards.

In the 1960's, James developed addiction to heroin and later to cocaine in the 1970's. Despite personal problems, James reinvented herself with the 1988 album Seven Year Itch. Actress Beyoncé Knowles played James in the film Cadillac Records in 2008.

James is survived by her husband Artis Mills, and her sons Donto and Sametto.


Cantante estadounidense Etta James falleció a la edad de 73 años

La legendaria cantante de soul Etta James falleció a la edad de 73 años ayer en el Hospital de la Comunidad de Riverside en Riverside, California tras una larga batalla contra la leucemia. Ella fue diagnosticada en 2009 con la enfermedad de Alzheimer.

James nació en Los Ángeles, California como Jammesetta Hawkins el 25 de enero de 1938. Ella es conocida por su canción At Last. Ella ganó seis premios Grammy.

En 1960, desarrolló su adicción a la heroína y luego a la cocaína en 1970. A pesar de sus problemas personales, James se reinventó con el álbum Seven Year Itch que salió a la venta en 1988. La actriz Beyoncé Knowles interpretó a James en la película Cadillac Records en 2008.


Etta James muore all'età di 73 anni

La leggendaria cantante blues Etta James muore all'età di 73 anni nel Riverside Community Hospital a Riverside in California, dopo una lunga lotta contro il diabete e l'alzheimer.

La cantante era diventata famosa durante gli anni '60 grazie a canzoni di successo come At Last, I Just Wanna Make Love to You e The Wallflower; durante la sua carriera vinse ben quattro Grammy Awards e diciassette Blues Music Awards. Il New York Times afferma che «un’artista di tale versatilità è impossibile da etichettare»; la James sperimentò sonorità blues, soul e R&B, riscuotendo fin da subito un grande successo di pubblico e critica.

Subito dopo la morte, l'omaggio di Aretha Franklin: «Era una delle più grandi cantanti soul della mia generazione. Quando cantava, eri obbligata a sentirla». Altri artisti vicini alla blueswoman, come Christina Aguilera e Nathan Followill, si sono uniti alle condoglianze.


Victory Day 60th anniversary commemorated in Russia

Today the 60th anniversary of Victory Day was commemorated in Russia, and other successor states of the Soviet Union.

The parade on Red Square started at 7:00 UTC. The leaders of more than 50 countries and heads of several international organisations attended the parade. George W. Bush watched the parade with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Others attending included:

More than 4,000 World War II veterans and 7,000 military personnel were involved in the parade. The culmination was the flight of 12 planes (made up of SU-25s and MIG-29s), which emitted white, blue and red smoke to paint a Russian flag in the air.

Average Moscow citizens were not allowed to the parade. The exits from several metropolitan stations were closed. Mass celebrations are planned to be held at Poklonnaya Gora, Moscow's primary WW2 memorial.

Several new monuments were opened today, such as the 8-meter statue of Charles de Gaulle by Zurab Tsereteli and the monument to soldiers from Allied countries.

In the evening there was a large fireworks display.

The 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day was commemorated across Europe yesterday.


Obchody zakończenia II wojny światowej: Przemówienie Putina

Na moskiewskich obchodach zakończenia II wojny światowej, jako jedyny przemówił Władimir Putin. Złożył hołd prawie wszystkim tym, którzy przyczynili się do pokonania faszyzmu. Prawie wszystkim, bo w swoim przemówieniu ani razu nie wymienił Polski.

Prezydent Rosji podkreślił, że jego kraj "zawsze będzie pamiętać pomoc, której w walce z nazizmem udzielili jej sojusznicy - USA, Wielka Brytania, Francja i inne państwa koalicji antyhitlerowskiej, a także niemieccy i włoscy antyfaszyści". Putin dodał, że 9 maja to "święta data" dla Wspólnoty Niepodległych Państw.

W przemówieniu rosyjski przywódca podkreślił zasługi Armii Czerwonej, która nie tylko odparła atak Niemców, ale również "pogoniła wroga". "Rezultaty bitew pod Moskwą i Stalingradem, męstwo mieszkańców oblężonego Leningradu, sukcesy na Łuku Kurskim i nad Dnieprem - to przesądziło o wynikach II wojny światowej. Wyzwoleniem Europy i bitwą o Berlin, Armia Czerwona postawiła zwycięską kropkę w wojnie."

Nawiązując do współczesności, Putin powiedział o pojednaniu rosyjsko-niemieckim oraz stwierdził, że współpraca międzynarodowa w dobie walki z terroryzmem jest szczególnie potrzebna.

Na Placu Czerwonym miała miejsce dziś również tak hucznie wcześniej zapowiadana defilada wojskowa, na której pojawiły się nawet czerwone sztandary z sierpem i młotem. W jej czasie po jednej stronie rosyjskiego prezydenta Władimira Putina stał przywódca USA George W. Bush, a po drugiej - prezydent Francji Jacques Chirac. Z tyłu za prezydentem Ukrainy, Wiktorem Juszczenką zajmował miejsce polski prezydent Aleksander Kwaśniewski.


Video game's secret sex scenes spark outrage

The National Institute on the Media and the Family (NIMF), a media watchdog group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota issued a "nationwide parental alert" today. This came after finding out about hidden sex scenes in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

The game also has been criticised as being too violent. This is not limited to San Andreas: the entire series has come under fire for its content, mostly the last two games, Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

The sex scenes come in the form of a "mini-game" in which the player controls the male with the task of maximising his cohort's "excitment." The hidden game in GTA: San Andreas is not advertised or easy to find but can be unlocked by modifying the game using a program which has been widely available on the Internet for weeks. But for NIMF and the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), the organization which rates video games and rated GTA: San Andreas 'M' for Mature, the hidden mini-game came as a surprise. As such, the ESRB has launched an investigation into the matter.

To unlock the hidden sex mini-game on the Playstation 2 requires an Action Replay or Gameshark.  These devices cannot transfer new content to a console but can enable content already contained on the game disc.  The presence of this minigame on an unmodified retail version implies that it was created by the game's creators rather than hackers or the mod community.

Rockstar Games, the game's publisher, refused to comment on whether the sex scenes were inserted by their programmers. Rockstar Games has also said, "We thoroughly support the work of the ESRB, and believe that it has an exemplary record of rating games and promoting understanding of video game content. We also feel confident that the investigation will uphold the original rating of the game, as the work of the mod community is beyond the scope of either publishers or the ESRB."

In the game the character may have girlfriends, and at a certain point in his stats he can entertain his girlfriend with some "coffee". However, the "hot coffee" modification unlocks the secret sex scenes after the two share a drink.

The sex scene portrays oral sex and coitus, but genitals are not shown. A video of the secret sex scene can be found here[1] (warning: contains mature content).

It's interesting to note that modifying a video game's source code is a violation of the software licensing agreement.  Rockstar announced that it may pursue legal proceedings against Action Replay, whose device enables the hacking of the console version of San Andreas. When it comes right down to it, its much easier (and quicker) to find free adult content on the internet, or download pornographic movies from a P2P network, than it is to crack a video game.

Rockstar Games may be subject to a Mandatory Recall.


Din nou fum negru, după votul de dimineață

19 aprilie 2005 Vatican, Vatican — Fum negru a ieșit din nou pe hornul Capelei Sixtine din Vatican arătând faptul că nu a fost ales încă un succesor lui Ioan Paul al II-lea de către cardinalii catolici. Cardinalii vor vota din nou după amiază.

Pe fața multor pelerini și turiști s-a putut observa mirarea când pe acoperișul capelei a apărut fum gri. Apoi, acesta s-a înnegrit, astfel mulțimea a început să plece.

În cazul în care se va alege un Suveran Pontif, pe acest horn mult mediatizat va apărea fum alb urmat de sunetul clopotelor Bazilicii Sfântul Petru.

Roger Wilkison, „Black Smoke Rises From Vatican on Second Day of Conclave” — News VOA Com, 19 aprilie 2005


Viktor Schreckengost dies at 101

Viktor Schreckengost, the father of industrial design and creator of the Jazz Bowl, an iconic piece of Jazz Age art designed for Eleanor Roosevelt during his association with Cowan Pottery died yesterday. He was 101.

Schreckengost was born on June 26, 1906 in Sebring, Ohio, United States.

Schreckengost's peers included the far more famous designers Raymond Loewy and Norman Bel Geddes.

In 2000, the Cleveland Museum of Art curated the first ever retrospective of Schreckengost's work. Stunning in scope, the exhibition included sculpture, pottery, dinnerware, drawings, and paintings.


Viktor Schreckengost morre aos 101 anos

Viktor Schreckengost, o pai do design industrial e criador do Jazz Bowl, um pedaço de icónica Jazz Idade arte concebida para Eleanor Roosevelt durante a sua associação com Cowan Pottery faleceu ontem. Ele tinha 101 anos de idade.

Schreckengost nasceu em 26 de junho de 1906 em Sebring, Ohio, Estados Unidos.

As obras de Schreckengost incluiram a medida mais famosos designers Raymond Loewy e Norman Bel Geddes.

Em 2000, o Museu de Arte de Cleveland mostrou a primeira retrospectiva do trabalho do Schreckengost. O atordoamento em âmbito, a exposição incluía escultura, cerâmica, dinnerware, desenhos e pinturas.

*Steven Litt. Viktor Schreckengost has died at age 101 — The Plain Dealer (News Paper, 27 de janeiro de 2008

*Industrial designer Schreckengost dies [inativa] — Associated Press, 26 de janeiro de 2008. Página visitada em 28 de janeiro de 2008. Arquivada em 1 de fevereiro de 2008

*AP. Industrial Designer Schreckengost Dies — Guardian Unlimited, 27 de janeiro de 2008


Vintage plane crashes into road during Shoreham Airshow in England

Police warn more bodies may remain to be found after yesterday's crash of a vintage jet killed at least seven people. The Hawker Hunter crashed into a busy road during the Shoreham Airshow in England.

The plane failed to pull out of a large loop at around 1:20p.m. It hit the nearby A27 road, erupting into a fireball and leaving cars burned out and heavily damaged. The scene in West Sussex is near the town of Shoreham.

Pilot Andy Hill is presently alive but critically injured in hospital. He has previously flown with British Airways and the Royal Air Force. Two of the dead are Worthing United FC football players, Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, who were on their way to a match.

Also killed was Matt Jones, 24, who worked as a personal trainer. He came from Littlehampton and was giving a friend a lift. A vintage Daimler wedding limousine on its way to collect a bride was also caught up in the crash, but its owner Chariot Chauffeurs say they are unclear on if the driver was a fatality.

Sussex Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch are investigating. Police Superintendent Jane Derrick said last night, "At this time we are continuing to search[...] It is possible that tonight and tomorrow we are going to find more bodies at the scene." She said it is believed all casualties except the pilot were road users. At least fourteen were injured.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry today said eleven people are "highly likely to have died in this tragedy", based upon "our initial work at the site" and "inquiries following calls to the emergency services from worried families and friends". He said officers currently remain at the "incredibly large" scene. There are plans to remove plane wreckage using a crane tomorrow.

The pilot, Hill, was experienced, with years of display flying under his belt and a military career that included flying Harrier jump-jets. David Wildridge, another pilot who took part yesterday, said Hill is "well-known and well-loved", "very professional", and that his Harrier experience made him "the best of the best."

The 1950s jet was decommissioned from military service in 1996 and sold at auction. In 2012 English entrepreneur Graham Peacock bought it for around £65,000. It is a regular at airshows.

Tina Tilley, head of the local chamber of commerce, was at the show and said "From where we were we could see the jet came down very low and looked like it was going to scoop up — but it didn't. There were flames and we knew it was right on the A27. Everyone was horrified and there were people crying." Motorist Dom Lawson, whose car was narrowly missed, said "It was like something out of Die Hard". The road closure left thousands trapped at the scene as they could not remove their cars.

In a statement, Prime Minister David Cameron sent "his heartfelt condolences to the families of the people who were so tragically killed [...] [his] thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims." The airshow is cancelled today.

It is one of three deadly European airshow crashes in four days. On Thursday two planes carrying parachutists collided and crashed in West Slovakia. At least seven were killed. They had been practising for an airshow due to be held this weekend. Today two small planes collided during an airshow in Dittingen, Switzerland. One of the pilots escaped but the other was killed.

Earlier this year a pilot was killed when his plane crashed during an aerial display at CarFest in England. In 2007 a Shoreham Airshow display recreating the Battle of Britain ended with a pilot dead following a crash.


Angleterre : un avion s'écrase lors d’un meeting aérien, sept morts

Un avion de chasse de collection qui participait à un meeting aérien s'est écrasé, samedi 22 août, à Brighton, sur la côte sud de l'Angleterre. Selon un premier bilan, au moins sept morts sont à déplorer et quinze autres personnes ont été blessées.

Selon les premières constations de la police, l'avion participait à un meeting aérien lorsqu'il a percuté quatre voitures sur l’autoroute A27, un axe routier important, au nord de l’aéroport de Shoreham. L'accident s'est produit à 12h20 GMT. Les organisateurs du spectacle aérien ont parlés d'un « incident majeur » sur Twitter. Les organisateurs appartiennent à la Royal Air Forces Association.

L'appareil serait un avion de chasse Hawker Hunter des années 1950. Les secours ont réussis à extraire le pilote qui a été transporté à l’hôpital dans un état critique. Des hélicoptères quadrillent la zone à la recherche de victimes alors qu'un épais nuage de fumée noire s'élevait au-dessus de la zone du crash après l'accident.

Plusieurs milliers de personnes assistaient au meeting aérien lors de l'accident. Selon les premières constations, l'accident serait du à une erreur de pilotage. En effet, le pilote n'est pas parvenu à redresser l'avion à la sortie d'un looping, et il s'est écrasé sur une route jouxtant le site du meeting aérien.

« On aurait dit qu'il n'avait plus assez de vitesse pour finir le looping, et au lieu d'accélérer, il est tombé rapidement et a touché le sol ». Il ajoute « Il y a eu une énorme boule de feu ». Plusieurs témoins rapportent que le crash avait été ressenti jusque dans les bâtiments tout autour.

La police a indiqué dans un communiqué que l'avion avait touché à ce moment plusieurs véhicules, avant de finir sa course dans les buissons.

Le bureau d'enquête britannique sur les accidents aériens (AAIB) a été chargé de l’enquête. Par ailleurs la suite du meeting aérien, qui devait durer jusqu'à dimanche, a été annulée.

David Cameron a adressé un message de condoléances aux familles des victimes.


Wypadek myśliwca na pokazach lotniczych w Shoreham w Wielkiej Brytanii

22 sierpnia 2015 podczas pokazów lotniczych Shoreham Airshow w Wielkiej Brytanii, rozbił się myśliwiec Hawker Hunter.

Podczas wykonywania jednej z ewolucji myśliwiec Hawker Hunter spadł na autostradę A27 w hrabstwie West Sussex. W katastrofie zginęło co najmniej 7 osób.


Visionary and author Arthur C. Clarke dead at age 90

British expatriate science fiction author, futurist, and visionary Arthur C. Clarke died on Wednesday in a hospital in his adopted hometown of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was 90 years old.

"Sir Arthur passed away a short while ago at the Apollo Hospital. He had been in hospital for the past four days. He had been in and out of the hospital in recent weeks," said Clarke's assistant, Rohan de Silva.

Reports say that after a long 50 year battle with post-polio syndrome, Clarke died at 1:30 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday from breathing complications.

Famous for writing over 100 science fiction and science publications, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, he is also credited as the one who presented the concept of the geostationary communication satellite.

"Sometimes I am asked how I would like to be remembered. I have had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer and space promoter. Of all these I would like to be remembered as a writer," said Clarke not long before he died.


Der visionäre Science-Fiction-Schriftsteller Arthur C. Clarke ist tot

Colombo (Sri Lanka), 19.03.2008 – Arthur C. Clarke, der Autor des legendären Romans zu dem Film „2001: Odyssee im Weltraum“ (1968), ist tot. Er starb am heutigen Mittwoch im Alter von 90 Jahren in einem Krankenhaus in Sri Lanka, wo der berühmte Science-Fiction-Autor seit den 1960-er Jahren lebte.

„Guten Morgen, Dave.“ Wer kennt ihn nicht, diesen Satz, den der nach eigener Aussage unfehlbare Computer „HAL 9000“ in Stanley Kubricks Meisterwerk „2001: Odyssee im Weltraum“ mit dieser unvergleichlich warmen Stimme zu dem fiktiven Astronauten Dave Bowman sagt? Ein sprechender Computer, der auch noch von den Lippen ablesen kann und jede Bewegung der Astronauten mit dem merkwürdigen roten Auge verfolgt.

Die Idee dieses Computers war nicht nur reine Fantasie. Arthur C. Clarke war ein Pedant, was die Recherchen zu seinen Büchern betrifft. Er schrieb nicht einfach ins Blaue hinein. Der Computer HAL sollte wirklich das darstellen, was ein Computer aus der Sicht der 1960er-Jahre im Jahr 1997 (dem fiktiven Geburtstag von HAL 9000 in Clarkes Roman) können sollte. Clarke reiste zu den bedeutendsten Informatikern seiner Zeit und fragte sie nach den Entwicklungsperspektiven von Computern. Was er dabei in Erfahrung bringen konnte, verwandelte er in eine wissenschaftlich begründete Fantasie, die in dem legendären HAL 9000 Gestalt annahm. Diese Recherchen wurden in Auszügen in „Aufbruch zu verlorenen Welten“ den deutschen Lesern zugänglich gemacht. Was die Voraussage Clarkes zur Leistungsfähigkeit von Computern betrifft, so wurden diese in mancher Hinsicht übertroffen, vor allem im Hinblick auf die Miniaturisierung. Aber von den Lippen ablesen können sie immer noch nicht. Arthur C. Clarke hinterließ jedoch noch eine allgemeingültige Aussage, die seine Sichtweise auf technische Innovationen kennzeichnet und die als „Clarkes Drittes Gesetz“ bekannt geworden ist: „Jede hinreichend fortgeschrittene Technologie ist von Magie nicht zu unterscheiden.“2

Clarke sagte auch bereits in den 1940er-Jahren voraus, dass Menschen noch vor der Jahrtausendwende den Mond betreten würden, woran zu dieser Zeit eigentlich niemand dachte. Auch zur Bedeutung der Satellitentechnik und zur Verwendung von Mobiltelefonen machte er damals Voraussagen. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg hatte der als Sohn eines Bauern im englischen Sommerset geborene Arthur C. Clarke Mathematik und Physik am King's College in London studiert. Seine literarischen Werke waren wirklich im besten Sinne „Science fiction“. 1953 wurde er mit seinem Erstlingswerk „Aufbruch zu den Sternen“ bekannt. Clarke hat über hundert Bücher geschrieben, von denen viele Bestseller geworden sind und in über 30 Sprachen übersetzt wurden. Für seine Verdienste wurde er von der britischen Königin Elisabeth II. 1998 zum Ritter geschlagen.

Seit 1995 war Arthur C. Clarke wegen einer späten Erkrankung an der Kinderlähmung, an der bereits seit den 1960er-Jahren litt, auf einen Rollstuhl angewiesen. Er hörte aber nie auf zu arbeiten. Neben seiner literarischen Produktion arbeitete er an einem nach ihm benannten „Zentrum für Moderne Technologie“ in Colombo.

In den letzten Wochen hatte sich sein Gesundheitszustand verschlechtert, weshalb er in ein Krankenhaus eingeliefert wurde, wo er die letzten vier Tage seines Lebens verbrachte. Er starb schließlich an Herzversagen. Zuletzt hatte er noch an einem Roman gearbeitet.


Muere en Sri Lanka el escritor Arthur C. Clarke

19 de marzo de 2008Colombo, Sri Lanka — El escritor británico de ciencia ficción Arthur C. Clarke falleció el miércoles en un hospital de Colombo a las 01:30 (hora local), tras sufrir un paro cardiorrespiratorio a sus 90 años de edad.

De acuerdo a lo anunciado por su asistente personal Rohan de Silva "Sir Arthur se apagó en el hospital Apollo de Colombo por una crisis cardiorrespiratoria, en donde estuvo internado durante cuatro días. Había ingresado y salido del hospital durante las últimas semanas".

Clarke nació el 16 de diciembre de 1917 en la población inglesa de Minehead y desde muy pequeño se interesó por la astronomía, por lo que fue fundador y presidente de la Sociedad Interplanetaria Británica. Prestó servicio militar en la Fuerza Aérea Real durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial donde trabajó en el proyecto de desarrollo del radar.

A lo largo de su vida escribió más de un centenar de libros, en los cuales planteó muchas ideas nuevas para la tecnología como los satélites geoestacionarios. También ue comentarista para la cadena de televisión CBS durante el alunizaje y las misiones Apolo. Una de sus obras más conocidas fue 2001: Odisea del espacio, que fue llevada exitosamente al cine.

En 1956, después de un fracaso matrimonial, se fue a vivir a Sri Lanka en donde incentivó su interés por la fotografía y el submarinismo. Años más tarde sufrió el síndrome post-polio que, desde 1995, lo obligó a utilizar una silla de ruedas.

En el 2000 recibió el título de Caballero británico, postergado por las acusaciones que enfrentó por pederastia, que amenazaron su reputación y de las que fue exonerado tras las investigaciones.


Arthur C. Clarke nie żyje

19 marca 2008 r. o godz. 1:30 (czasu miejscowego, w Polsce: 18 marca godzina 21:00) w Kolombo na Cejlonie zmarł sir Arthur Charles Clarke (ur. 16 grudnia 1917 r.), brytyjski pisarz zajmujący się fantastyką naukową, znany jako autor Odysei Kosmicznej, która w 1968 r. przy udziale Stanleya Kubricka została zekranizowana. Ekranizacji doczekała sie także książka pt. 2010: Odyseja kosmiczna.

Bestsellerem była również książka pt. Spotkanie z Ramą, która otrzymała wiele nagród, m.in. Hugo i Nebula. W 2009 r. ma odbyć się premiera filmu na jej podstawie. Autorem scenariusza jest Arthur C. Clarke.

Pisarz uważany jest też za prekursora idei satelitów geostacjonarnych i sztucznej inteligencji (komputer HAL[1] z filmu Stanleya Kubricka pt. Odyseja kosmiczna 2001).

18 grudnia 2007 r. w Colombo odbyła się uroczystość z okazji jego 90. urodzin. Clarke zapytany o życzenie urodzinowe, powiedział: "Zatelefonować do E.T., aby ludzkość pozbyła się uzależnienia od ropy naftowej i pokoju na Sri Lance".

Brytyjska królowa mając na względzie jego zasługi przyznała mu tytuł szlachecki.

Clarke od kilkudziesięciu lat chorował na zespół post-polio, powodujący niedowład mięśni. Pisarz zmarł w wieku 90 lat w Kolombo, gdzie mieszkał od 1956 r. Przyczyną śmierci były problemy z oddychaniem.

Ogółem napisał ok. 100 książek, do których można zaliczyć m.in.:


Morre Arthur C. Clarke no Sri Lanka

Morre o escritor e inventor inglês Arthur C. Clarke no Sri Lanka.


A încetat din viaţă marele scriitor SF Sir Arthur C. Clarke

19 martie 2008 Colombo, Sri Lanka —

Arthur C. Clarke (n. 16 decembrie 1917 în Minehead, Somerset, Anglia), autorul legendarului roman Odiseea spațială 2001, a decedat miercuri la vârsta de 90 de ani într-un spital din Sri-Lanka, țară în care se stabilise din 1956.

Trăsăturile autocrate ale computerului HAL din cel mai celebru roman al său, ecranizat de Stanley Kubrick, sunt rezultatul reflexiei futurologului Clarke asupra evoluției inteligenței artificiale, din perspectiva deceniului al șaptelea al secolului XX. Autorul a consultat în timp ce se documenta pentru roman pe unii dintre cei mai importanți cercetători din domeniul informaticii ai timpului și a publicat ulterior materialul științific folosit pentru Odiseea spațială 2001. Unele din previziunile din acest roman nu s-au adeverit, dar a rămas valabilă așa-numita "Lege a treia a lui Clarke": "Orice tehnologie suficient de avansată nu se poate distinge de magie" ("Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", citat din Prelude to Space, 1951). Clarke a prezis în anii '40 posibilitatea zborurilor spațiale spre lună încă înainte de finele mileniului. De asemenea, el a întrevăzut rolul importat pe care-l vor juca în viitor sateliții de telecomunicații[1].

Fiu al unui fermier din comitatul Somerset, Arthur C. Clarke a studiat după cel de-al Doilea Război Mondial matematica și fizica la King's College din  Londra. Ca autor de povestiri Science-Fiction a debutat între anii 1937 și 1945, scriind pentru diverse fanzine. Prima sa povestire a fost publicată în 1946, primul roman, Prelude to Space, în 1951. Autor a peste o sută de cărți, traduse în zeci de limbi, Clarke a fost înnobilat în anul 1998 de către regina Elisabeta a II-a.

Din anul 1995 autorul era imobilizat într-un scaun cu rotile, din cauza unui sindrom post-polio de care suferea din anii '60. În luna februarie 2008 starea sănătății i se înrăutățise. Clarke a murit la data de 19 martie în urma unui atac cardiac.


Arthur C. Clarke död

Publiceringar 19 mars • mars 2008 • kvartal 1 • vecka 12


Wales to call time on smoking in April 2007

The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that smoking will be banned in enclosed public places on April 2, 2007. The ban will affect pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants and all other enclosed public spaces in Wales, although smoking in beer gardens etc will be at the discretion of the landlord. The ban will come into effect one month before the Welsh general election, on the same day as a similar ban in Northern Ireland and before a ban in England. Scotland already has a similar smoking ban in place.

People lighting up after April 2, 2007 will face on the spot fines. New bilingual no smoking signs will need to be prominently displayed.

Smoking Ban Wales Official Site


Le Pays de Galles interdit de fumer dans les lieux clos

L'Assemblée nationale du Pays de Galles a annoncé l'interdiction de fumer dans les lieux publics clos à partir du 2 avril 2007. Cette interdiction s'ettendra aux pubs, boites de nuits, bars et restaurants ainsi qu'à tous les lieux publiques fermés. Les propriétaires seront libre de proposer un lieu à ciel ouvert dans leur établissement(beer garden). Cette interdiction interviendra le même jour que celle en Irlande du Nord, avant celle en Angleterre. L'Écosse a dèjà promulgué une loi similaire.


Wallace and Gromit sets destroyed by fire

The sets and props of popular claymation characters  Wallace and Gromit have been destroyed in a warehouse blaze this morning in Bristol, UK.

The disaster comes only days after the US release of Nick Park's latest film featuring the characters, The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, which topped the box office chart and took US$16.1 million (GB£9.1 million) over the weekend.  The film is scheduled for UK release this Friday.

Sets and models from the new film escaped as they had not yet been added to the Aardman Animation collection hosted in Bristol.  Among the damage caused by the blaze, the character Morph was lost; for many UK children the appearance of this character in Tony Hart's BBC art programmes was their first introduction to stop motion animation.

The warehouse, located near Bristol's central railway station, dated from the Victorian era and was formerly part of Ismbard Kingdom Brunel's Great Western Railway.

Ten fire crews attended the blaze, in which flames shot 100ft into the air, from 0600 BST into the afternoon, but were unable to prevent the collapse of the roof, interior walls and all three floors of the building.

An investigation will begin once the building has been made safe.


Un incendio destruye los sets de "Wallace y Gromit"

Los sets, los modelos y los accesorios de utilería de los populares personajes de claymation (animación con plastilina) Wallace y Gromit han sido destruidos por un incendio ocurrido la madrugada del lunes en el almacén donde reposaban en Bristol, Reino Unido.

El hecho ocurre después del exitoso estreno de Wallace y Gromit: La Batalla de los Vegetales (o La maldición de las verduras en España) en Estados Unidos hace unos días. Arthur Sheriff, vocero de la productora Aardman Animations, declaró:

Los sets y los modelos de la nueva película se salvaron por no encontrarse en el edificio de Aardman en Bristol. Muchos niños británicos conocieron la técnica de la animación en stop-motion gracias al hoy desaparecido personaje Morph, que aparecía en el programa de Tony Hart en la BBC.

Nick Park, director de Wallace y Gromit, es más conocido en nuestro medio por la película Pollitos en fuga (o Evasión en la granja en España), realizada con la misma técnica y estrenada en 2000.


Wikimania 2007 Exhibitions shows the culture of freedom

On the second day of Wikimania 2007 in Taipei, Group Sessions continued, while the Virtual i.d.ea Interactive Net Art 2007 Exhibition attracted visitors and participants. This exhibition shows the creation of interactions by using creative contents. Four college teams and two  individuals exhibited their work.

This exhibition is mainly focused on Interactive Net Art. Visitors can interact with those artworks, such as "Many Me", "Not One Less", and "One Million Heartbeats", which explored identity, information and community behavior .

Kevin Lam from Hong Kong and Marius Watz from Norway also brought "Mobile Brush" and "Neon Organic / Electro Plastique" artworks to show the culture of freedom of Interactive Net Art.

The Wikimania 2007 Conference will end on August 5. Submitting free-licensed works for the Wikimania Awards is still in progress, the deadline being 8:00 a.m. August 5 (Taipei time). Wikimania Award winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony.

Wikimania 2007 Website


2007維基媒體國際會議 裝置藝術展 秀出自由文化觀

第三屆維基媒體國際大會進入第二天，分組議程仍持續進行，在本屆大會中，以「偽身份」為主題的裝置藝術展示區，也成為在開放空間以外，另一項讓參與者矚目的周邊展覽，而該區吸引了台灣大學、台北藝術大學、台灣科技大學等大專院校，以及個人工作室參與展示，參展者希望藉由各種方式，表達出網際網路創作的自由化，也象徵不同素材的集大成。

在本次大會的特展中，大多的作品以互動式網路藝術為主，舉凡「Many Me」，台大與北藝大的聯合團隊，就利用多種網路的元素，集合成一個身份，而這身份，卻可以在不同地方有不同的角色；另外，也有以道德價值觀重審為主的「一百萬個心跳」，與表達資訊匯流過程的「一個都不能少」等展示區；而「報紙機」則是藉由實體的虛擬販賣機，探測出現今媒體發展的真假虛實面。

除了團隊的展示之外，香港的林欣傑（Kevin Lam）與挪威的馬里烏斯‧瓦茲（Marius Watz）也分別提供了「Mobile Brush」與「有機霓虹／電子塑型」等展品進行展示，台灣也有參與者提供「微型樂園」的作品，都分別顯現出互動式網路藝術的自由文化觀。

本次年會也將於明日（8月5日）結束，而鼓勵自由版權創作的「維基金像獎」徵選活動也正持續地進行，預計於台北時間明日上午8:00截止投稿，並且於年會閉幕典禮中，公佈優勝作品。

【2007年8月4日讯】


Wikimania 2007 Site Events warming up for main conference

Counting down to Wikimania 2007, the Site Events such as "Hacking Days & Extra", "One Laptop Per Child Curriculum Jam", and the "Citizen Journalism Unconference" preluded the main conference.

On August 1, Cary Bass and many other programmers participated in the Hacking Days. Mike "b6s" Jiang hosted this two-day long event where programmers can  exchange experiences.

That same day, the One Laptop Per Child Curriculum Jam kicked off. Project Director Samuel "SJ" Klein invited many teams with an interest in freely licensed content to produce learning materials, which youngsters from 6 to 16 years of age could judge.

The Citizen Journalism Unconference was held August 2. It hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation and Public Television Services Taiwan (PTS). The organization invited Frontier Foundation Researcher Shu-fang Tsai and Facilitator of Institute of Culture Affairs Taiwan Gail West to host this unconference. The Unconference was held in an open space style. Topics for discussion were created by participants at the unconference.

In this unconference, participants talked about lots of free content portals comparisons, such as PeoPo by PTS Taiwan, the characteristics and role of citizen journalists, the comparisons between citizen journalism and professional journalism, and the future of citizen journalism.

After these events, the main conference will start at August 3, 2007 9:00 Taipei local time.


2007維基媒體國際會議 週邊活動起跑 為大會暖身

第三屆維基媒體國際大會正式會議進入倒數，各路人馬陸續蒞臨台北劍潭會場，而在正式會議前的8月1日與2日，專為程式設計交流而設計的「Hacking Days」與探討公民新聞發展的「公民新聞學研討會」，以及由台灣CC創用計畫舉行的「OLPC課程創作，即興混搭」等週邊活動（Site Events），陸續登場，為本次大型會議提前暖身。

Hacking Days是一項以程式技術交流為主的研討會，本屆舉行兩日，開幕（8月1日）活動僅提供受邀之貴賓與程式設計師參與，而在閉幕的8月2日，則提供對程式設計有興趣的參與者，與活動受邀之貴賓進行交流，分享程式設計之技術與經驗，而包含Cary Bass等高手，皆蒞臨此項盛會。

另外，暖身活動另一重頭戲，則是公共電視台舉辦的「公民新聞學研討會」，由文化事業學會的衛格爾（Gail West）與開放空間基金會執行長蔡淑芳主持本項活動，並和與會人員，針對參加者有興趣的公民新聞議題進行意見交流，包含部落格（Blog）、維基新聞（Wikinews）、公廣集團公民新聞平台（PeoPo）、以及相關社會議題進行討論。

而在昨日同步進行的「OLPC課程創作，即興混搭」，則是邀請對於自由版權有興趣之參與者，利用自由版權之素材，包括維基共享資源上的文件，做出適合兒童的教材，並且在教學課程設計活動之後，邀請6至16歲以上的學童組成評審團，選出最佳之作品進行表揚，而在會後，所有的參與者作品皆會以創作共用的開放版權進行釋出，讓更多人能靈活應用。

在所有會場週邊活動（Site Events）結束後，明日（8月3日）年會活動正式亮相，在上午開幕之後，將依照性質，在不同的會議室安排各種話題，讓與會者自行挑選並參加有興趣之議程。

【2007年8月2日讯】


Wikimania jury chooses Alexandria for 2008 location

According to an official mailing list post from Wikimedia Volunteer Coordinator Cary Bass, Wikimania 2008 will be held in Alexandria, Egypt.

The location was chosen because it is "particularly strong in the areas of reflecting the Wikimedia Foundation's roots in geo-diversity and multi-lingualism". According to the final tally, Alexandria placed first in the Funding, Location, Organizing Team, Rotation, Cost, and Venue. Alexandria had 3026 points total.

In second place with 2419 points was Atlanta, Georgia, United States. They placed first in Accommodation, Internet Access, Local Laws, Press, and Social Areas.

Finally, Cape Town, South Africa had 2003 points, placing first in Visas only.

The motto selected for Alexandria's bid is "Let The Knowledge Be Free Everywhere", Atlanta's was "A new day for the New South", and Cape Town's was "Wikimania 2008. The International Wikimania Conference."

According to the post, the Jury used 12 different categories including Accommodation, Funding, Internet Access, Press, Organizing Team, and Visas. Each member of the jury had 60 points to assign to the three proposed venues.

The decision has provoked some debate on the selection process; complaints have been raised about honour killings and gay rights within Egypt, with some asserting that the human rights record of the country should have factored more into the decision process. In reaction to this criticism Jimmy Wales has decided his talk at the conference will be entitled "Free knowledge and human rights".

Karlsruhe, London, and Toronto submitted official bids, but later withdrew at various points throughout the process.


Jurado de Wikimania elige a Alejandría como ciudad anfitriona de Wikimania 2008

De acuerdo a un post del Coordinador Voluntario de Wikimedia Cary Bass en lista de correo oficial, Wikimania 2008 tendrán lugar en Alejandría, Egipto.

La ciudad fue elegida por es "particularmente fuerte en las áreas de reflejar las raíces de geodiversidad y multi-lingualismo de la Fundación Wikimedia".

De acuerdo al post, el Jury utilizó 12 distintas categorías, incluyendo alojamiento, fondos, acceso a Internet, prensa, equipo organizador y visas. Cada miembro del jugador tenía 60 puntos a asignar a los tres lugares de reunión propuestos, los cuales incluían Alejandría, Atlanta (Estados Unidos) y Ciudad del Cabo (Sudáfrica).

De acuerdo al escrutinio final, Alejandría se posicionó primera en fondos, localización, equipo organizador, rotación, costo y lugar de reunión. Alejandría tuvo 3026 votos en total.

En segundo lugar, Atlanta recibió 2419 votos, colocándose en primer lugar en alojamiento, acceso a Internet, leyes locales, prensa y áreas sociales.

Finalmente, Ciudad del Cabo recibió 2003 votos, colocándose en primer lugar en Visas únicamente.

Karlsruhe, Londres y Toronto también se encontraban entre los canditados iniciales, pero fueron retirados durante varios puntos del proceso.

La decisión ha provocado un debate sobre el proceso de selección; han habido quejas en respuesta sobrre el crimen de honor y derechos gay en Egipto, algunos haciendo hincapié en que la historia del país en cuanto a derechos humanos debió haber recibido más influencia en el proceso de decisión. Como respuesta a estas críticas, Jimmy Wales ha decidido que su discurso en la conferencia se llamaría "Conocimiento libre y derechos humanos".


ウィキマニア2008はエジプトで開催―審査委員会発表

ウィキメディア財団（米・フロリダ州セントピータースバーグ）ボランティア・コーディネータ[1]のキャリー・ベース氏[2]は、日本時間10日（UTC9日）同財団公式メーリングリストにおいて、ウィキマニア2008はアレクサンドリア（エジプト）で開催されると発表した。

アレクサンドリアが選定されたのは、「（アレクサンドリアは）ウィキメディア財団の基盤に対して地理多様性と多言語使用を反映することでは特に強い」ためであるとしている。

ベース氏の投稿によれば、開催地審査委員会は開催地選考に当たって12の異なるカテゴリを検討した。選考基準には宿舎・財政・インターネットアクセス・広報・実行委員会・ビザ入手難易度が含まれている。各選考委員はカテゴリごとに60点をもち、開催地を採点した。

最終的に選考の対象となったのはアレクサンドリアのほか、アトランタ（アメリカ合衆国）、ケープタウン（南アフリカ）の3都市である。公開された採点表によれば、アレクサンドリアは、財政・立地・実行委員会・開催地ローテーション・出席のためのコスト・会場の7カテゴリで最高の評価を受け、計3026点を獲得した。

第2位となったアトランタは、宿舎・インターネットアクセス・地域の慣習と法制度・広報・出席者の交流場所について最高の評価を受けたが、2419点に終わった。

ケープタウンはビザ入手難易度で最高の評価を受けたが、2003点に留まった。

公式に招致を名乗り出た都市には、ほかにカールスルーエ（ドイツ）・ロンドン（イギリス）・トロント（カナダ）があったが、最終選考までに招致をとりやめた。

アレクサンドリアが開催地になったことについて、選考過程に対する議論がメーリングリストで引き起こった。エジプトでは「名誉の殺人」（婚外交渉を行った女性が家族により殺害される）があることや、同性愛者の権利に対する擁護がされていないとする苦情があり、開催地での人権侵害一般も選考基準に組み込まれるべきだという批判が行われた。こうした批判に対し、ジミー・ウェールズ名誉理事長は、ウィキマニア2008において「フリーな知と人権」と題した講演を行うことを決めたと同メーリングリスト上で公表した。