British pop singer M.I.A has sparked world wide criticism in the media over the video clip to her new song Born Free. The 9 minute video clip which depicts U.S authorities going house by house to round up all the red headed men for execution has even been banned on YouTube!

I'll be first to admit the video is over the top graphically violent, and honestly the song itself is none but a bunch of noise (maybe I'm just getting to old) but I don't think it deserves the sort of criticism it's getting if on the other hand we're going to say pop stars like Lady Gaga are allowed to have their extremely sexually explicit video clips and movies like Saw IV are allowed to exist. In fact if anything I'd have to say M.I.A's video clip is rather tame compared to any of the remade films Rob Zombie has done. And more over, M.I.A and ROMAIN GAVRAS were attempting to make a political statement with this video clip. Sure the clip does a clumsy job at making it's statement, but it quite clearly has hit people hard (otherwise it wouldn't have so much media attention) so one must assume it has at least partly fulfilled it's purpose.

Do I agree video clips like this should exist? No, of course not, but I disagree with video clips like those of Lady Gaga and movies like Rob Zombies remake of Halloween even more. None of this crap should exist, it's not art, it's not expressionism, it's not about complementing music or benefiting society. It's pornographic sexuality and violence for shear shock value and commercial gain. All of these types of videos should be banned, not just one video that has a bit of violence in it. I certainly don't think it's appropriate that I walk into a shop like Big-W and my children can see Lady Gaga half naked, dancing around like a whore on the LCD Tvs. We need to really take a long hard look in the mirror at the crap we're allowing Record companies to pump out and expose our children to.

Black music like rap, hip hop and this new very of r'n'b are weird sure, and they suck big time. But what is even weirder and completely sad is when White people, especially young girls, try to immitate it. To bolster my case I submit the video I pulled off YouTube below. Note other then how stupid their lyrics are and how funny they look trying to be black, that they have completely messed up the chroma key.

On the 15th of December it was announced that a Mandatory Internet Filtering system would indeed be installed in ISPs around Australia and should be switched on within 12 months time. Supporters of the filtering cite that it will stop child pornography so it's a good thing. How wrong can you be?

"Fact, online child pornography is most often distributed by private email attachments to avoid detection. The internet filter will ONLY block out websites"

Child pornography which is distributed online, is most often by private email between pedophiles as apposed to putting it on a website which would open the creator of the website, and it's members up to all sorts of criminal prosecutions. Simply put, if the main distribution network for child pornography was websites, then there would be a lot more pedophiles in jail. If your sole reason for supporting the filter is stopping child porn, then you need to rethink your position.

So what are the facts about the list? Well, the filter has it's roots all the way back in 1999 when the then liberal government introduced laws which gave the Australian Communications and Media Authority; authority over internet content displayed in Australia. Under that law Content hosted in Australia and classified Classification restricted, or 18+ without an age verification system would be issued a take down notice. Such content hosted internationally would be added to a black list for use in voluntarily installed software on home PCs.

In August 2007 the Australian government through it's NetAlert department offered free, voluntary downloads of internet filtering software to be installed on home PCs. Late 2008 the scheme was shut down, with ACMA Senator Stephen Conroy citing it had not been successful with very few Australian's downloading the software. Clearly that should have woken him up to how Australians feel about filtering the internet, but instead it only inspired him into ISP level filtering instead.

"This very much seems to be a situation where Stephen Conroy feels he knows what's better for Australian's then they do for themselves. If you look up fascism in the dictionary, it will define it very much in that way."

During the elections which seen Labor form the federal government, they claimed the ISP level filtering would be an opt-out scheme. Of course an opt-in scheme would have been more desirable but at least in an opt-out scheme you of course have a way to not be filtered online and gain unrestricted access to information on the internet. But since forming government the policy has changed to one of mandatory filtering at the ISP level. This means every household, school, business, organisation or other entity connected to the internet will be under the power of the internet filter without any way to remove it. If you have an internet connection, the internet filter affects you.

So what is the big deal right? I mean surely they're only going to block out websites that are illegal... right? Wrong! All Restricted Classification content, X18+ content and R18+ content will be blocked. Speficially the AMCA criteria states;

• * Any online content that is classified RC or X 18+ by the Classification Board. This includes real depictions of actual sexual activity, child pornography, depictions of bestiality, material containing excessive violence or sexual violence, detailed instruction in crime, violence or drug use, and/or material that advocates the doing of a terrorist act.
• * Content which is classified R 18+* and not subject to a restricted access system that prevents access by children. This includes depictions of simulated sexual activity, material containing strong, realistic violence and other material dealing with intense adult themes.

In other words, ALL pornography will be subject to the filter not just child pornography. As well anything which is of an adult nature, that being something you wouldn't want someone under the age of 16 to see. All added to the filter and blocked from view for EVERY Australian, regardless of their age. But this isn't subject just to porn, there is so much more on the list than porn but before I get into that, consider this.

On the 18th of March 2009, wikileaks leaked a copy of the black list onto the internet. A user of the popular internet consumer forum whirlpool posted a link to the black list on the site. The AMCA then issued a notice to Whirlpools hosting company Bulletproof Media that fines of 11,000AUD would apply per day, for every day the link remained on the site. The AMCA furthermore when to extraordinary lengths to forcibly have the black list removed from the wikileaks website. So, consider this, the black list comprises simply the URLs (or domains names) of websites which can not be viewed through the filter. If the filter is such a great thing, then why is it that they are so guarded against the general public viewing the list?

The answer? Because of what the list actually blocks out. From the leaked list it was found that a Brisbane dentist's website was blocked, as was a tuckshop vendors website and the website of a dog kennel. These websites clearly have nothing to do with anything even remotely illegal or 18+ in nature, but yet somehow they're on the list?

But it goes further. In may of 2009 the Australian press, citing wikileaks as it's source broke the news that Dr Philip Nitschke's online Peaceful Pill Handbook, which is a website dealing with euthanasia has been added to the list, as have a range of other websites dealing with the same topic. Apparently the right to a peaceful death for the terminally ill remains out of the scope of reasoning for the federal government even though it isn't illegal in several Australian states.

But still, EVEN MORE FILTERING! In June 2009 the AMCA and the Australian government confirmed that the internet filter will block downloadable games, flash-based web games and websites which sell physical copies of games (like ebay and amazon) that do not meet the MA15+ standard. If the AMCA don't think someone under 16 should see it, then neither should anyone over 18 apparently.

"This isn't about stopping cyber crime; it's about controlling information the public see"

Already many anti-censorship websites campaigning for the filter to not go through have been forcibly taken down by the government. Other sites containing content which is anti-government, or does not support the government has been either forcibly taken down, or added to the black list.

In short the filter classification system stops anyone from not only committing an illegal act online, but from discussing anything that is illegal online, be they for or against the action. It further stops any member of the Australian public, regardless of age viewing any content not suitable for children. It blocks out anything that is deemed to be racist, or that submits a view other than that shared by the censor. Under this classification system, websites like wikipedia (which is a free, user contributed online encyclopedia)have already been announced to be added to the black list; and social networking websites like facebook (due to their user groups, fan pages and applications) have only a limited amount of time before they too are added.

It seem the ONLY way this filter is going to be revoked is if the majority of the Australian public, publicly announce this distaste for the filter and their desire to axe the scheme. If even that didn't work, well then it would be clear that we indeed no longer live in a democracy society. As it stands the labor party are moving very steeply toward a fascist dictatorship not only on filtering but on many issues. It time Australia, that we cut the government back down to size, before we end up in a situation where we suffer from tunnel vision due to lack of information and millions of Australian jobs are lost.

Links;

Wikipedia Article
Electronic Frontiers Australia
No Clean Feed
Labors plan for cyber safety (pdf)
USA Today article
Sydney Morning Herald article (March 19)
Sydney Morning Herald Article (December 15)
ABC News Article

As the year draws to a close we start to reflect on what that year has brought; and one can't reflect on such things without realising a considerable amount of the individuals privacy has been lost. So the question draws, will history hold 2009 as the year privacy was lost?

Facebook and Twitter and of course the Google machine have been the big violators of our privacy in 2009, gathering wads of data on us. This year Facebook made no less than 4 changes to their privacy policy, each one inching just that much more of your privacy away. As a result not only is everything you place on facebook up for documentation and collation with them, but so their privacy policy states, so is every other website you visit including how you interact with every site you visit.

Facebook also teamed up with Microsoft to place facebook on the Xbox 360, automatically updating your facebook status with what games, movies and music your using, as well as various other detailed information about them. Of course once the data is on facebook they file it away to make just that much more of an accurate picture of you. The world went twitter mad in 2009 as well, updating each other with their smallest, most tedious of actions. twitter itself; with a very facebook like privacy policy violated our privacy collating all the data we unwittingly delivered to them.

But it doesn't stop there, facebook took our twitter content and got us to stream it directly from twitter to them where the data could become facebooks to gather as well. And all the while the google machine gobbled up data from facebook, twitter and every other corner of the internet. Google's privacy policy shifted this year to allow for the collection of even more data. Your name, age, date of birth, the school you went to, your medical records, your likes and dislikes, your ex's, school grades, the games, movies and music you involve yourself with, your marital status, your credit rating, how much money you make, how much you paid for your house and how you paid for it...it's all their, publically viewable through google if you only know what to search for.

But where facebook collate each piece of our data as their policy allows for more collection, google play a more shifty game. For google the game plan is to creep through gathering more and more data, but to wait until the time is write to change the policy on collating the data.

But make no mistake, the time WILL come, after all Google are a targeted ads company, gathering data about you and collating it is what their business model is made up of. And with new services like Google's Public DNS and comments from Googles CEO Eric Schmidt on CNBC like

"If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place. If you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search engines - including Google - do retain this information for some time and it's important, for example, that we are all subject in the United States to the Patriot Act and it is possible that all that information could be made available to the authorities."

the stage is certainly set for a future where google know and collate EVERYTHING you do online. And what's more, knowing google; it will all most likely become publically available as well. The thought becomes even scarier when you consider that more and more devices are moving online.

The future see's devices like the Television and Radio, the telephone, the washer/drier and even the fridge all moving online. Even the video game console seems set to be replaced by a Set Top Box to link into a virtual unit. In this future one can expect your weekly shopping list, your phone calls and even how often you wash your clothes and how much water you use to added to the list of google indexed and publically available content. A wise man once said, "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

The big question now becomes, where do we go from here? Knowing what has happened to privacy through 2009 do we allow our privacy to further unravel or do we steal it back from the fingers of sleazy two faced advertising corps, back into our own control?

TJandSarah.com has gained exclusive insider knowledge that 2 new DJs will be joining the TopHogg FM team. The 2 DJs whom are scheduled to be announced on this saturdays "Saturday Night Feaver" show will join TopHogg FM as hosts of the new Friday night dance party.

Gwen Wilkie and Silas Kato will broadcast their 3 hour show as of the 2nd of October. I am told they are expected to play a mixture of dance, techno, trance and house beats to keep you in the party mood. Between tracks Silas and Gwen will tackle such topics as bad pick up lines and worse first dates.

During their show, listeners are encouraged to write in and participate on the topic. Listeners I am told, will also be able to request tracks. The first show, live at 11:30pm AEST on the 2nd of October will only last for an hour and a half due to technical difficulties. You can then catch Silas and Gwen every friday night at 11:30pm AEST for their 3 hours broadcast.

Links;

Listen to TopHogg FM Live

Where previously HTC was the only manufacture we are finally seeing others join the Android party; with Motorola announcing it's new Android based Dext (Cliq in the US). But this is no ordinary device, it's a mobile designed to highlight the use of email and social networking through Motorola's Motoblur android app which will be initially unique to the Dext.

The Dext will automatically sync your webmail, pop mail, facebook, myspace and twitter with the device; every message, post and comment will be there. But it gets better! No need to open an application, no need to switch between apps to read or reply to different bits and pieces. It's all there, together, right on your home screen. You can even reply directly from your home screen!

The Dext isn't just a 1 horse show though, it comes packed with features. For starters it's a touch enabled device with a 320 x 480 display and a slide out full qwerty keyboard. Just what you need to interact best with your social networking sites.

Connectivity doesn't fall short with Wifi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, USB and A-GPS. The phone is 3G compliant, compatible with both HSDPA and EDGE networks. It'll even work on WCDMA networks! This is a phone that can be used anywhere, meaning you'll never lose contact with your friends if you're so inclined.

Inbuilt Media player takes care of AAC, AAC+, AAC+ Enhanced, AMR NB, MIDI, MP3, WAV formats while the Inbuilt Video player handles H.264, H.263, MPEG 4, 3GP and even YouTube direct from the player! Standard with a 5.0MP camera capable of stills and video, it comes with photo editing software and GeoTagging.

Sadly as far as I know serious memory for this device is limited to the microSD card you have, which is upgradable to 32GB. The lack of memory built into the phone is a real misgiving by Motorola in my opinion.

Being that it's an Android based phone it of course comes bundled with masses of Google software, such as Google Voice, Google Talk and Google Maps. QuickOffice is installed, as is LastFM, Amazon Music store, imeem, Shazam, and Accuweather.

Still this is a phone built for Gen-Y for sure, and while it lacks inbuilt memory you can simply purchase a 32GB microSD card and have all the memory you need. It does come bundled with a 2GB microSD which may suffice for some people.

First impressions are that this is a great phone which shows us the tip of what Android can do in the mainstream. A phone certainly for Social Network Addicts and Generation Y. Pricing is yet to be announced but given the lack of inbuilt memory I would think it priced mid-range.

Links;

Motorola CLIQ/DEXT Site
ITWire Article
Phandroid

Many years ago we were promised 100mbps wireless internet in the form of the 802.16e (WiMax) standard. Unfortunately only select countries ever had this promise fulfilled, for the rest of us, wireless internet has been confined mostly, to the 3G networks of cellphone providers.

With 3G HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) and 3G EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) we seen speeds of up to 3.5mbps and 7.2mbps respectively. This was great for most web applications, but no good for streaming high speed, High Definition video on the go, or for multiapping across the web and uploading/downloading large files.

Now there is a new kid coming to the block and he's about to kick 3Gs ass. I predict 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) will be the talk of late 2010 and into 2011. With promised theoretical download speeds of up to 160mbps it'll easily out do your home fibre optic connection. It's important to note also, this speed is considered stable traveling at up to 120km/h

Expect 4G to be released on mobile handsets and USB dongle modems to start with. But as this technology takes hold and blankets an evermore larger area expect other 4G enabled devices to be released. With a stable, super fast internet connection, while traveling at high speeds, there is no reason why internet radios, or car radios with internet radio capabilities can't be released. Nor is there a reason why the same can't be said for IPTV.

With faster mediums like 4G coming into play I can see no reason why eventually handset manufactures won't start to favour VOIP over traditional telephony signal mediums. But that again is only on the assumption we have a united developed world uptake of 4G.

With that said, such data through-put rates, in a mobile setting has to be enticing to ISPs and Mobile Carriers alike, and assuming they are able to get hold of the technology through a suitable reseller deal with a Mobile Carrier, I'm sure we'll see more ISPs entering the mobile internet and mobile phone markets. Yep LTE are the 3 little letters you need to remember, they're the next mobile future and could, if implemented right, spell good things for us all.

Links;

Wikipedia
iTWire Article
Nortel LTE site
Gigaom post

I launched a net radio station again last week, which will be the first in a line of stations to open. I've named this one TopHogg FM and will install a widget to this blog over the next week so you can listen while you read the blog. Of course, the easiest and preferred option for you to listen is through your media player of choice, be it Winamp, itunes, real player or simply Windows Media Player.

To tune in an listen, you can find the stream on Shoutcast or just click the link below. There is a problem with the software in the server, which has been there since my host created the account, I have been promised it will be fixed shortly however. But for now, it's simply a music loop that repeats every 3 or so hours. But soon you'll find it full of music, talk, weather and news.

Links;

TopHogg FM (listen)
TopHogg FM (Website)
Shoutcast
WinAmp
CaperHosting

Consumerism. Marketing teams and companies alike would have us believe it will make us happier; that it will somehow improve and fulfill our lives. But deep down I think we all know that is an outright lie. Yet for some oddity, some of us, nay most of us, get sucked into the game. We consume at ever greater rates, products and services which fill us with empty promises of better, more exciting lives. Of more friends, a better job, more sex appeal, the list goes on..

Why do we do it to ourselves? What tricks are used on us? And is this limited to just adults? How much of a consumer whore have you truly become? These are just some of the questions I hope to explore in this multi-part series on consumerism. Expect the first addition to be released 6pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT+10).

It's come to light that Michael Jackson died from a lethal cocktail of medications that he was addicted to. I know this because it's the only thing the media are reporting about which makes me highly annoyed. Michael Jackson contributed nothing constructive, long lasting or beneficial to society, he was an entertainer, period. The out pouring of emotion from people who didn't know him, didn't interact with him and didn't benefit from his millions of dollars isn't only illogical but plain stupid.

I have never been able to wrap my head around why people hold "celebrities" up in such high regard, when they do nothing constructive. Heck they don't impact your life at all, and their death certainly doesn't change your life or situation in any way.

Just a quick quiz for you on things that actually did change your life. Who invented the Microwave Oven? How about the Car? Last one, who invented the Television? You use these things every day, they have revolutionised the way we live our lives and yet I'm guessing you can't answer any of these questions; at least without google. The answers of course are Percy Spencer invented the Microwave oven in 1945, Karl Benz invented the first petrol/combustion engine and John Logie Baird invented the Television first demonstrating it in 1926.

Our scientists, inventors, doctors, politicians, friends, family, teachers, emergency service personnel and other like people are those who truly matter, they are the ones who shape, change and direct our lives. Entertainers like singers, actors and general "celebrities" give us nothing, they only prey on our willingness to follow their lives in order to make millions, even billions of dollars from US.

Yet where is the recognition for those who really play a part in our lives? How many of you will show up at the funeral of your family doctor even though s/he has probably saved your life countless times? At the end of the day, when a celebrity dies, we as a society do not lose anything. Yes, sure it's sad for those who knew that celebrity PERSONALLY, but for everyone else it should be business as usual.

The amount of attention being paid to Michael Jackson's death is ridiculous! His death has even over shadowed the death of his fellow celebrity Farra Facet-Major, even though she has done more in way of charity work and the like. THIS JUST MAKES NO SENSE!!!

So Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50. I know this because it's all I hear about when I turn on the radio, look on YouTube, Turn on the TV or wander aimlessly around the web. Here we have a man who started off Black and turned himself white, no sorry that's right it was a "skin condition". A man who has been accused on numerous occasions of being a pedophile (but was proven innocent) and who hasn't released a new song in how long?

I'm sorry but Michael Jackson was lost in the sea of time long ago, his death is just merely coincidental. How many people died on the same day as him who got no media exposure at all? Did you know Michael Jackson personally? Cause I sure as hell didn't. Why the hell would I care about someone being dead who I didn't know? Tell me Sarah or one of the kids is dead and sure it'd rock my world and would be all I thought about for a long time to come. But I have no clue about Michael Jackson, his passing changes absolutely NOTHING in my life, does it honestly, seriously change a damn thing in yours? I'm guessing not.

So can the media PLEASE stop playing Michael Jackson crap, his music sucked when he was alive and surprisingly enough it still sucks now he's dead. Go in peace Michael Jackson, but please do so quietly...

Last night I watched a Documentary on Dominick Dunne entitled "Celebrity: Dominick Dunne" and he struck me as an idiot. For those whom have no idea whom Dominick Dunne is, he is a writer for Vanity Fair magazine whom writes about the judicial system and celebrities in trouble. The thing about Dominick is that he always presumes they are guilty.

The man has undoubtedly had a hard, but impressive life. Some of the things he has done most of us can only dream about, but that gives him no excuse to slander others. Nor does the fact that O.J Simpson most probably killed his daughter, give him an excuse to decide all celebrities are bad. His articles are almost always filled with rumors, lies and fiction but that never stops him entertaining them as fact.

He is also a man whom has turned on some of his celebrity friends when they have landed in hot water. His own son has nothing positive to say about the man, and quite obviously despises him. While Dominick maintains they have a great relationship. Where will the lies end Dominick? Where?

Links;

Wikipedia
Celebrity: Dominick Dunne (Video)

I have a few questions about p!nk which I think more people should be asking. Like for starters why do Australians love her so much? Do they not understand she advocated to the world that they boycott Australian sheep and wool products? It costs people their jobs, their livelihood and buckets of cash to the industry. Why? Because she misunderstood the practice of mulesing which while it looks painful, is much better than them having fly lava under their skin.

I know looking at the images it's hard to understand how this practice would be good for any animal, but it is. It stops Sheep fly from embedding themselves in the rump of the sheep, which will eat away at the sheep causing it pain and loss of the ability to walk. The lava will then burst out through the skin when they reach maturity. It's a common problem without mulesing. Honestly, if you where a sheep, which would you rather?

Now while p!nk has since retracted her statements to boycott Australian sheep and wool products, that hardly makes up for all the pain and heart ache she caused. She lost people money, and more over, lost some people their homes. And all they get is a "Oops sorry I didn't understand" before she skips off on her merry little way. How can True Australian's support a person like that? I am calling for a boycott on P!NK and a ban on her entering the country. She doesn't deserve to be graced by our beautiful nation.

My other question is; Is P!NK really Aaron Carter?

Links;

P!nk speaks for PETA