Dvorak News Blog

Father Cutié gets some Booty

By Eideard Wednesday May 6, 2009

Faithful supporters of Father Alberto Cutié have expressed shock and disbelief after photos of the celebrity priest in a Spanish language magazine showed him kissing and fondling a woman on Miami Beach.

The Archdiocese of Miami has relieved Father Cutié of his duties at St. Francis de Sales parish on Miami Beach and at the Catholic radio station, Radio Peace and Radio Paz…

The photos raise a question: did Cutié, who was ordained as a priest in 1995, break his church-cherished vow of celibacy?

“The vow of celibacy really means there is a commitment outside the vow that stresses the focus on the holy order,” said Ross Agosta. “The vow of celibacy is there for a reason.”

“He’s on a prayerful journey,” said Ross Agosta. “He’s still a priest, but he is on leave…”

Since 1998, Father Cutié has hosted several Spanish-language talk shows and programs. He’s been seen in 24 million homes in 22 countries. He writes a syndicated newspaper advice column called “Advice from a friend.” He’s been dubbed “Father Oprah” by his fans. He also was published. His book is “Real Life, Real Love—7 paths to a strong and lasting relationship.” He was the son of Cuban parents. He grew up in Miami and attended Southwest High School.

Har! Too many years of putting up with ignorance and banality.

Video – Cory Doctorow on DRM

By Gasparrini Wednesday May 6, 2009

19 Comments

Cory Doctorow gives a talk at the O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference in regards to DRM.

Apple moves into gaming: Who should worry most? Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony?

By SN Wednesday May 6, 2009

27 Comments

According to Forbes, Apple is “preparing an all-out assault on the handheld gaming market.” CNBC’s Guy Adami claims there’s talk that Apple may try to take over Electronic Arts.

There is little doubt that Apple wants to expand the gaming capabilities of its iPhone and iPod Touch. Could Apple also be planning a console via its Apple TV? Time will tell.

So my question for the day is: If Apple does get serious about gaming, which company should worry the most? Feel free to explain why in the comments.

Idiot Feds Bust and Imprison Suburban 10th Grader as Terrorist

By John C Dvorak Tuesday May 5, 2009

85 Comments

Apparently the government doesn’t understand what spoofing is and cannot seem to do actual investigative work. This tale is shameful.

Found by Wayne Bronikowski.

Will Apple buy Twitter? Why?

By John C Dvorak Tuesday May 5, 2009

15 Comments

The Microsoft Windows 7 blitz begins. Many problems being discussed only on the back pages. Trojan shipped with some copies of Win 7.
Microsoft to layoff 5000 more workers.
Amazon to announce new Kindle DX tomorrow. Textbooks on the kindle?
Will Apple buy Twitter? Why would they want to?
How about textbooks by Google?
New iMAX movie to be done at the Hubble telescope in 3D.
Apple to make a 3g Netbook?
Digital warfare center to be built out by the military.

click ► to listen:

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Michael Savage: Banned in Britain for Opinion

By McCullough Tuesday May 5, 2009

96 Comments

Sixteen people banned from entering the UK were “named and shamed” by the Home Office today.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she decided to make public the names of 16 people banned since October so others could better understand what sort of behaviour Britain was not prepared to tolerate. The list includes hate preachers, anti-gay protesters and a far- right US talk show host. “I think it’s important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here, the fact that it’s a privilege to come and the sort of things that mean you won’t be welcome in this country,” Ms Smith told GMTV.

“We are publishing the names of 16 of those that we have excluded since October. We are telling people who they are and why it is we don’t want them in this country.” She said the number of people excluded from Britain had risen from an average of two a month to five a month since October. The list of the 16 “least wanted” includes radio talk show host Michael Savage, real name Michael Weiner.

“This is someone who has fallen into the category of fomenting hatred, of such extreme views and expressing them in such a way that it is actually likely to cause inter-community tension or even violence if that person were allowed into the country,” Ms Smith told BBC Breakfast.

“If people have so clearly overstepped the mark in terms of the way not just that they are talking but the sort of attitudes that they are expressing to the extent that we think that this is likely to cause or have the potential to cause violence or inter-community tension in this country, then actually I think the right thing is not to let them into the country in the first place. Not to open the stable door then try to close it later,” Ms Smith said.

Disturbing trend or great idea? Is free speech for everyone or just those you agree with? What about the radical clerics already in the UK, will they be deported?

The Vanishing Car Illusion

By McCullough Tuesday May 5, 2009

30 Comments

A design student made a battered old Skoda “disappear” by painting it to merge with the surrounding car park.

Sara Watson, who is studying drawing at the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan), took three weeks to transform the car’s appearance. She created the illusion in the car park outside her studio at Uclan’s Hanover Building in Preston.

The car is now being used for advertising by the local recycling firm that donated the vehicle.

‘Just amazing’

Ms Watson, a second year student, said: “I was experimenting with the whole concept of illusion but needed something a bit more physical to make a real impact.” She was given the Skoda Fabia from the breaker’s yard at local firm Recycling Lives.

Owner Steve Jackson described her work as “amazing”.

“When I first saw the photos I was convinced it was something which had been done on the computer,” said Mr Jackson.

“But when you look more closely you see the effort and attention to detail she has put into it. It is just amazing.”

Click here for video.

Newspaper Association kills hard copy version of its trade magazine

By Eideard Tuesday May 5, 2009

2 Comments

Another print publication has fallen victim in the struggling newspaper industry—this time, a magazine.

The Newspaper Association of America has ceased publication of Presstime, its print magazine. The May issue will be its last.

The association will continue to publish the magazine as a digital edition. “Continuing the Presstime mission online is part of the transformation very much in line with the changes our members are making to their own businesses,” a NAA spokesperson told Editor & Publisher.

The decision to shutter Presstime’s print edition came this week as the association eliminated 39 staffers, or roughly halfof its overall workforce.

Is this irony or what?

Thanks, SmartAlix

The MPAA’s favorite government extends blacklist to 46 countries

By Eideard Tuesday May 5, 2009

11 Comments

Each April, the US releases the Special 301 Report, which examines the intellectual property laws of its main trading partners.

The release generated international headlines last week as countries such as Canada and Israel found themselves on the “Priority Watch List” of countries that the US claims are the world’s worst piracy offenders.

In all, the US targeted 46 countries. In addition to the usual suspects such as China and Russia, Europe came in for heavy criticism with Finland, Norway, Spain, Italy, Greece, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland all on the Watch list.

The Report yielded predictable lobbyist support from groups such as the International Intellectual Property Alliance and the Motion Picture Association of America, who used the opportunity to chastise the countries on the list for failing to address their concerns.

Yet the lobby group victory may ultimately prove illusory. By wildly overstating its claims on many countries, the US has undermined its credibility and confirmed criticisms that the report lacks reliability or objective analysis.

Rather than increasing the pressure for reforms, it seems more likely to be characterised as little more than a lobbyist document that is best ignored.

Aside from official “ignoring” of the U.S. role as flunky for the MPAA and their peers, the real world is composed of individuals who will further ignore issuance of the report – if they even notice it.

Al Gore Is The Supreme Court Nominee!

By Uncle Dave Tuesday May 5, 2009

80 Comments

As even the author admits, that headline will likely never appear for real, but who do you think might be an interesting, controversial, funny, stupid or other kind of choice? Who do you think actually should and/or will be nominated? Whoever is finally nominated, what do you think of any fight the right will put up over him or her? Or the left?

“The choice would be electrifying,” writes Michael Sean Winters at “In All Things,” the group blog of America, the Catholic (Jesuit) weekly.

The biggest objection to putting Al Gore on the Supreme Court, I assume, would be that he’s not a lawyer. But is this really a bug rather than a feature? Gore spent sixteen years in Congress, where he helped make the laws, and eight as Vice-President, where he took care that the laws were faithfully executed. His perspective would fill some giant blind spots on the present Court, which is made up entirely of former federal appeals-court judges who have little or no political experience, have never been elected to anything, and have a strikingly narrow experience of life in general.

A law degree is probably a helpful credential, all other things being equal, for a trial judge or an appeals-court judge. But it is far from essential in a Justice of the Supreme Court. The heart of a Justice’s job is interpreting and applying the Constitution, and for that things like a knowledge of history (including Constitutional history), a feel for the workings of government, a strong moral sense, an ability to think and write clearly, and a temperamental affinity for the long view—all of which Gore has in spades—are much more important than a professional familiarity with the details of contract or case law. Gore would make a superb addition to the Court. And, of course, it is pleasant to imagine the opportunity his appointment would afford the four remaining members of the Bush v. Gore junta, especially Antonin “Get Over It” Scalia, to contemplate and, perhaps, repent of their sins.

EU Wants to Take Over the Internet from USA

By John C Dvorak Monday May 4, 2009

24 Comments

Kindle in the news. Can it save the newspapers?
Blackberry outselling iPhone. Meanwhile RIM doing deal with Cisco.
Nine-Inch Nails has a beef with Apple.
EU wants to take over the Internet.
Windows Vista going to get killed by Win 7 say experts.
Google hires goats and gets attention.
IBM will pay you to ditch Sun servers.
Wolfram will not give me a beta.
Apple going big into games?

click ► to listen:

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Chinese Forced to Chain Smoke to Boost Economy

By McCullough Monday May 4, 2009

23 Comments

Local government officials in China have been ordered to smoke nearly a quarter of a million packs of cigarettes in a move to boost the local economy during the global financial crisis.

The edict, issued by officials in Hubei province in central China, threatens to fine officials who “fail to meet their targets” or are caught smoking rival brands manufactured in neighbouring provinces.

Even local schools have been issued with a smoking quota for teachers, while one village was ordered to purchase 400 cartons of cigarettes a year for its officials, according to the local government’s website. The move, which flies in the face of national anti-smoking policies set in Beijing, is aimed at boosting tax revenues and protecting local manufacturers from outside competition from China’s 100 cigarette makers.

In total, officials have been ordered to puff their way through 230,000 packs of Hubei-branded cigarettes worth £400,000.

China’s government has ordered massive government spending at both national and provincial levels to prop up the economy following plummeting demand for Chinese exports abroad, however imposing a cigarette quota is unusual.

“The regulation will boost the local economy via the cigarette tax,” said Chen Nianzu, a member of the Gong’an cigarette market supervision team.

China has 350 million smokers, about a million of whom die each year from smoking-related illnesses. Despite anti-smoking campaigns, cigarette taxes form a major component of China’s annual tax-take at local level.

The nanny state has gone wild.

GOP Attacks Obama’s Plan To Shut Down Tax Havens As A Tax On Businesses

By Uncle Dave Monday May 4, 2009

101 Comments

(Click photo to enlarge.)

You’ve got to give them credit. They’re consistent in their protection of greed.

President Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner announced on Monday a crackdown on offshore tax havens that could produce $210 billion in new tax revenue over the next decade.

The White House will face opposition to the proposal from the business community and Congress. Before the announcement, a Republican leadership staffer circulated an email citing a Bloomberg report saying the proposal “would be the biggest tax increase on U.S. corporations since 1986.” And Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (Ken.) said later on Monday that he could not endorse Obama’s plan since it “gives preferential treatment to foreign companies at the expense of U.S.-based companies.”