Loeading off with more on the contentious anti-Internet bills in the Canadian House of Commons…
Don't Toews Me, Bro
The Canadian Internet is firing back against Bills C-30 and C-51. Between Twitter hashtags #TellVicEverything, where Tweeters tell @ToewsVic everything they're doing no matter how insignificant, and #Don'tToewsMeBro, where Tweeters are protesting the bills, the Public Minister's online profile is getting linked to the protest. To top off the backlash, Liberal MP Sean Casey added the following question to the Notice Paper:
"Q-465 — February 15, 2012 — Mr. Casey (Charlottetown) — With regard to websites accessed on the personal departmental desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile phones, tablet computers, or other internet-enabled devices issued to the Minister of Justice and to the Minister of Public Safety: (a) what are the URLs of all websites accessed on said devices between 12:01 a.m. on February 1, 2012, and 12:01 a.m. on February 14, 2012 (all dates and times inclusive), listed by ministry; and (b) at what times were those websites accessed, listed by ministry?"
Related, ISPs have come out against the bills. They're opposition is based on the cost of the equipment they'd have to add to their networks to perform the online spying. The Harper Government claims that the legislation will have measures to minimize the costs to ISPs.
The outcry against the bills has the Harper Government backing off and talking amendments. Many Conservative MPs have admitted that the populace finds the bills "too invasive". However, the Prime Minister has only hinted at changes.
In other news…
Chinese Hackers Cost Nortel
A former systems security adviser said that Chinese hacker attacks contributed to Nortel's downfall. The analyst, Brian Shields, said that hackers spied on Nortel for a decade, stealing business plans, R&D plans, and employee emails. Shields also said that other companies, including RIM, are current targets.
Girls Game Too!
Women are pushing back against the stereotype that gamers are only immature young men. The battle is against the hyper-masculism of online gaming, especially when dealing with men age 13-22.
Angry Birds Flying About
Angry Birds has made its debut on Facebook Tuesday. Rovio, the games maker, is aiming to get one billion people playing the game.
–Scott D
