https: is supposed to be followed by two slashes. Apparently, the second got converted to an italic tag.

For content links and quick analysis, Julia Reda MEP (Pirate): https:/juliareda.eu/2019/02/eu-copyright-final-text

For time schedule, MEP contact information, etc: https:/saveyourinternet.eu/act

Wikipedia is not a subdivision of any of the mentioned companies but as usual in the EU copyright legislation is publicly motivated by the need to get money from big US companies and written so it hits everybody. This is not an accident.

And if anyone thinks it is about starving artists and writers:

Authors' rights: The Parliament's proposal that authors should have a right to proportionate remuneration has been severely watered down: Total buy-out contracts will continue to be the norm.

Far as I can tell, if the proposals pass all sites that allows users to write, embed images and movies will have to either implement upload filters (and look at Tumblr if anyone think that is easy), buy licenses for all works that may be posted there, or be liable for users misconduct. And contrary to earlier legislation, if you don't do one of the first, removing after the fact is not enough. And with IPRED 2 came mandatory punitive damages for copyright infringements, so it will be most lucrative to sue sites like Wikipedia, or for that matter Eurotrib.

Wikipedia in Sweden was sued a couple of years ago for allowing photos of public statues without licenses. Photos the users had taken themselves. That suit was successful, so I don't think German Wikipedia is wrong here. This is legislation that may very well break Wikipedia and sites like Eurotrib.

Oh, and snippet and link will count as copyright infringement.

Wm. "Drug Czar" Barr's letter to the US Congress
transmitting "the status of [his] initial review of the report" prepared by Special Counsel Rbt. S. Mueller III.

HPSCI Majority View and hearing of sundry alternative hypotheses developing ...

SZ article. Brief summary: Deficit spending and tax cuts for workers have led to the French economy growing faster than the German.

I've no idea about local politics here, so "Moderates" could well mean hard-core neoliberals.

it's just libertarians being libertarian.

Gummint's cummina gicha. Be afraid, hate your leaders, they're gona spoil your fun and take your toys away. Vote Orban/Le Pen/whever the biggest fascist in Poland/Netherlands is

Theresa May goes to chruch every sunday without fail and she created the "hostile evironment" at the Home Office.

I'd have said that all you needed to do was quote the Prime Minister to prove x-tianity os quite okay with callous disregard without getting into the weeds of the bible

Indonesia's first subway opens in its gridlocked capital

"Today we will begin a new civilization [heh] by operating the first phase of mass rapid transit in Jakarta," Widodo told several thousand guests and residents at the inauguration.

The line that opened Sunday includes seven elevated and six underground stations built by two consortiums of local and Japanese companies. Passengers can ride for free until the end of the month, after which operator PT MRT Jakarta has said tickets will cost the equivalent of between 70 cents and $1.

With a large and sophisticated tunnel boring machine, contractors have so far bore a 180-meter tunnel for the first phase, 2015
Ekatama Group Enerpac® synchronous lifting and skidding tunnel bore

Jakarta to invest in Jabodebek LRT, launch integrated ticketing, 2017
"PT Adhi Karya, the state-owned construction firm, is the developer and has received IDR1.4 trillion in the form of state capital participation (PMN). PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) is the operator and financing coordinator. It has received IDR7.6 trillion."

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Jakarta, map
"The 1st phase, funded through a loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which later merged into the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is expected to open to the public in 2018."

re: mendacity heaped on calumny

Since world history began in 1992, one might be tempted  only to consider foregoing statements by the controlling member of the controlling party of the current session of the US Congress in relation to rules of rankd and order concerning members' constitutional authorities and privileges literally regarding classification of STATE SECRETS and NATIONAL SECURITY, provided by agents of the executive branch, and adopted by them (the "Gangs" of 4 and 8). Purportedly to effect prudential government management.

On occasions of enacting the AUMF and reauthorizing the Patriot Act, for example, as well as reviews of FBI evidence said to accompany warrant applications to FISA courts for surveillance of US citizens.

Democratic Memo Defends FBI Surveillance of Ex-Trump Adviser (Feb 2018)
Justice Department briefs lawmakers on Russia probe sources (May 2018, cached 404)

"Nothing we heard today has changed our view that there is no evidence to support any allegation that the FBI or any intel agency placed a spy in the Trump campaign," said a statement Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., read to reporters on behalf of himself, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. ...Pelosi had received the invitation to attend, but sent Schiff instead, she told reporters at the Capitol on Thursday.
[...]
Warner spoke briefly to reporters after the meeting..."There's never been a Gang of Eight meeting with that kind of White House presence," he said.

FBI hands House GOP thousands of documents on Russia probe (June 2018)

Democrats have raised increasingly pitched concerns about the intrusiveness of GOP requests. Republicans have argued that their demands for information are part of a constitutional responsibility to oversee the FBI and Justice Department, but Democrats and some FBI defenders say their efforts appear aimed at providing fodder for Trump to defend against the ongoing investigation of his campaign's contacts with Kremlin-linked individuals.

Trump may have to wait to see public release of FBI documents  (Sep 2018)

Meanwhile, Democrats who sit on congressional intelligence committees said Trump is trying to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. They want a briefing from the intelligence community before any documents are released.

::

The Latest: Barr decision on report to cause fireworks (23 Mar 2019)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told House Democrats she would reject any classified briefing on special counsel Robert Mueller's report, saying the information must be provided to Congress in a way that allows lawmakers to discuss it publicly.

Where the &@!$% is Christopher Steele? oh, him? He's guarding the impeachment bill in an undisclosed location.

There is a way out of this mess, even, or especially, with a constrained timeline. But it would require a bit of political imagination on May's part. Hence everyone's pessimism.

She has to be able to come to accept that her deal is dead, in this parliament at least, and that it is her responsibility, as PM, to find and chart an alternative route.

This means one of two things:

1. Accept the default outcome of no deal, which will in all probability mean no future trade deal either, and no certainty that even "WTO rules" will apply. "WTO rules" are an unchallenged Brexiteer shibboleth. In reality, if the EU decides "WTO rules" aren't in its interest, it can tear up the WTO rulebook, as Trump has done, and refuse to agree the UK is a WTO member in good standing, refuse to agree WTO tariffs and quotas with the UK, or even withdraw from the WTO altogether. After all, the vast bulk of EU external trade is governed by bi-lateral trade deals rather than by generic WTO rules.

2. She can follow the logic of her own position - which is that her deal is in the UK's best interests - and put her deal directly to the British people either by was of a general election or second referendum. This will require at least a couple of months to organise, hence a further A.50 extension, and participation in EP elections. A general election could be called for May 23rd. to coincide with EP elections and reduce the cost and political overhead. Corbyn is sure to agree and provide a parliamentary majority, no matter what the hard core Tory Brexiteers say.

A general election in May will cause huge dilemmas for both parties. The Tories will try to ride two horses at once: May's deal and no deal, in an attempt to head of UKIP, Farage, the BNP and assorted fascists. Labour will also be trying to ride two horses: "A better deal" which Corbyn will claim to be able to negotiate - to general scepticism if not derision -  to be followed by a second referendum giving the people a final choice between Corbyn's deal and Remain.

I really don't understand what peoples problem with a second referendum or general election is. Democracy is a moving feast. People change their minds all the time. Different parties with different policies come to power. It doesn't really matter what people thought they were promised in 2016. The bottom line is that "having cake and eating it" isn't on the menu. It's time to make a more informed choice. But it is all down to May, and she has shown no evidence of imagination or ability so far.

"just a question of time... they will have to reveal how democracy means zero to them..."
Tue Nov 29th, 2011 at 11:40:01 AM EST

"It's not about the nail."

Love it, this charming turn of phrase which so many feel they know so well through their "lived experiences" begging the quesion:

What is politics?

And suddenly I have an idea that can vastly increase the viability of the Boring Company. I shall sell this for as low as 999999€.

Frankly I don't know. What is generally called "Democracy" is just getting people to make a cross on a piece of paper every few years. I guess you are allowed to send money in between. Marching, striking or getting your head cracked by a police charge counts for nothing. Well no, as Chomsky already noticed 40 or 50 years ago: The "crisis of democracy" was people taking part in democracy.
The polls I've seen haven't shifted much and I wouldn't be suprised if all the 70 year olds would just show up again to put the cross on the piece of paper. Of course, I also wouldn't be surprised if the polls were utter garbage.

Preferred #Brexit options:
Abandon it 35%
Leave on WTO terms on 29/3 24%
Leave w/new deal after 29/3 14%
Leave w/May's deal on 29/3 12%
None/DK 15%
(NET leave 50%)@ComRes for @Daily_Express

— Andrew Hawkins (@Andrew_ComRes) 23. März 2019

But at least this should make it obvious that there was never a prospect of anti-EU riots. Though the Nazis might murder another MP.

Of course this whole Brexit thing is still anti-politics. It reminds me of those utterly banal "more or less state" discussions the most boring OP writer in dying newspapers love to write. After all what is the purpose of leaving the EU? To be a bit more racist? Have they looked at the EU lately? Sovereignty, whatever that is supposed to mean isn't on the menu. No ()Brexit [Juche] on the paper. The last years should have Of course the people pretending to speak for the Remain side are just as riseable.

We need to talk about Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson and People's Vote. THREAD.

— Jo Maugham QC (@JolyonMaugham) 22. März 2019

What are those European values supposed to be? And why is Tony Blair talking about them?
Now, given the utter senselessness of the question at hand, we can't really expect a sensible answer. Corbyn's pretend Brexit might not have been so bad, but is still nonsense. Rerunning the referendum is nearly as nonsensical as running it in the first place. Running a referendum with May's deal on it is nonsense. Or with Corbyn's hypothetical better deal on it. Tearing up all trade arrangements with no plan or vision is nonsense. And just revoking A50 after three years of this....

Not only. FB has been stormed by Leavers all touting the 17 million votes in the referendum as proof that Brexit still has popular support.

Which after today, it doesn't. Not even close. When you get a million people turning up for Option One and twenty or so for Option Two, the idea that Option Two has any popular support is an obvious, glaring, outright, wild lie.

Which is where we came in. It's becoming obvious to progressives that the UK has the thinnest of all possible veneers of democracy. Underneath it is something slightly unusual - a propaganda-led far-right crypto-fascist government, which has specialised in media manipulation instead of the usual outright violent repression and intimidation.

Brexit was supposed to be the next step to a more formal arrangement, but instead it has shown that the UK's politics is a stage set propped up by money - some of it feudal, much of it foreign. With all of the media on-message - even the supposedly progressive Guardian had its pro-Brexit moments - and with FB using targeted ads and paid trolls, voters were supposed to roll over and accept that Brexit was a done deal.

That hasn't happened. Remain is more passionate about Europe than ever. Far from collapsing, pro-Europe sentiment has only grown, while Leave support is collapsing in spite of the industrial propaganda effort supporting it.

The only hold-outs are the corrupt hyper-rich elites, and their political prostitutes in Westminster.

I have no idea what happens next. I suspect this week will finally settle the matter. But it's clear that whatever happens there's been a serious shift in a progressive direction. if Brexit doesn't give it room to prosper, something else will - most likely within the next few years, rather than the next few decades.

Boring Company tunnel interior diameter is 12 feet, same as several London Underground tunnels.

Seems obvious that Gibraltar is about as dead of a dead duck as NI is when it comes to staying within the British Empire.

I don't see the point in trying to give May the boot. The problem is partly her personality and political strategy, but mostly it's that the whole Brexit concept is nonsensical and internally inconsistent.

In any case, there is no time to do anything. General election? Referendum? Negotiate a new deal? How on Earth would any of these sorts of things happen in the available timeline, let alone the whole series of events that would be needed to actually get to where there is a new plan for the UK and EU parliaments to consider and approve???

The choices are still May's plan, no plan, or no Brexit. With another three weeks of time. And a strong possibility of no third vote on her plan.

A million people on the Remain march, less than 70 on the Leave march - those pictures more or less sum it up. The  faux populism of the Brexiteers is becoming more and more exposed.

oh, and how could I forget? Zero indictments for that source of yours who you informed the FBI about after coming to believe they "had played a significant role in the Russian election attack on the US." How'd that one pan out? pic.twitter.com/eHjFplHwnP

— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) March 23, 2019

House Democrats Move to Hobble Primary Challengers

"The core mission of the DCCC is electing House Democrats, which includes supporting and protecting incumbents," the committee wrote in a memo.

archived
Welding et al. v. DNC Services Corp., d/b/a  Democratic National Committee complaint May 2017

But that still wouldn't solve the Gibraltar problem. Has anybody in England proposed a Spanish invasion?

LBC caller declared the UK should invade Ireland as solution to Brexit crisis

we've invaded Iraq, we've invaded Afghanistan, why not Ireland?"

to end May

Or till the end of May.
And the beginning of the Mayn't.
Mayday!

"ISIS Bride" UPDATE
Report: Children returning to Finland from ISIS

More than 80 people, including 30 children, have travelled from Finland to conflict areas in Syria and Iraq, according to the Finnish Security Police (SUPO). Interior Ministry official Tarja Mankkinen told LM that municipalities should organise returnee rehabilitation, particularly for children exposed to extraordinary violence.

No free pass

Last week, the Finnish government called for the establishment of an international court in the Middle East to try those who have fought with the terror group Isis. All the Nordic countries back such a move.
[...]
Finland's Interior Minister, Kai Mykkänen, has said that while Finland will not prevent the return of nationals who left the country to fight with ISIS, it will not extend help to people who have left either.

archived citizenship
Finland won't strip citizenship from ISIS fighters, minister says

Why do you show pictures of the remoaners marches but not the leavers?

— King Richard the lionheart ❌FREE MELANIE SHAW❌ (@KingLionheart) 23. März 2019

The #MarchToLeave is unwittingly allowing for images to be captured that sum up how depressing Brexit is more perfectly than anything we've seen yet. pic.twitter.com/5RgebJBrTS

— Macca 🌚 (@Macca_ISZ) 16. März 2019

" the UK will leave the EU the latest by the 23rd of May - unless it revokes article 50."

Technically it will leave by the 23rd. unless it agrees to hold EP elections, in which case the Council might offer a longer extension provided the UK has a plan of how it wants to use that extra time - e.g. a second referendum or a general election. Revocation can't happen, politically, without one or the other happening first...

"(No not that May, wally. The month!)"

Word is the Council wanted to offer a two month extension to end May but ran into the Parliamentary elections deadline...