http://jantervonen.com/merry-christmas
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Alleged rapist and sexual predator Mr. Julian Assange having friends in high places
On 19.12.2011 an article was published in Sydney Morning Herald, which refers to an open letter directed to the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd. It appears that the Minister is being urged to "help" alleged rapist and sexual predator Mr. Julian Assange currently on bail in the UK, where he is waiting to be extradited to Sweden. In the letter, signed by among others numerous lawyers, concerns are being expressed by stating that "... should Mr Assange be placed in Swedish custody, he will be subject to the process of "temporary surrender", enabling his removal to the United States without the appropriate legal processes that accompany normal extradition cases ..." This "concern" is unfounded, lacks any substance and is completely without merit. The relevant Article VI of the supplement to the Treaty for extradition between the USA and Sweden which is applied in any extradition between Sweden and the USA reads as follows: "If the extradition request is granted in the case of a person who is being prosecuted or is serving a sentence in the territory of the requested State for a different offense/ the requested State may:
...
b) temporarily surrender the person sought to the requesting State for the purpose of prosecution* The person so surrendered shall be kept in custody while in the requesting State and shall be returned to the requested State after the conclusion of the proceedings against that person in accordance with conditions to be determined by mutual agreement of the Contracting States."
...
b) temporarily surrender the person sought to the requesting State for the purpose of prosecution* The person so surrendered shall be kept in custody while in the requesting State and shall be returned to the requested State after the conclusion of the proceedings against that person in accordance with conditions to be determined by mutual agreement of the Contracting States."
As anybody (in particular lawyers who went on to sign the above mentioned letter) can see, the so called temporary surrender does not enable Mr. Assange's removal "... to the United States without the appropriate legal processes that accompany normal extradition cases ..." Before temporary surrender can even be asked it requires (i) an extradition request and (ii) a decision granting that extradition. It is not the case, as the letter in question appears to suggest, that with the use of temporary surrender normal procedures could be bypassed. In addition, before that extradition request from Sweden to the USA could be granted, it would require consent from the UK in accordance with Article 15 of the European Convention on extradition concerning so called re-extradition to a third state.
This big publicity campaign for Mr. Assange raises some further thoughts to consider. It turns out, that one could easily draw conclusions that Australia is steered by some kind of double-standards in relation to extradition matters. The above mentioned concerns for Mr. Assange were raised simply because the question is about an Australian citizen subject to extradition proceedings overseas. At the same time, in fact since 2005, an American citizen has been in custody in Australia pursuant to an extradition proceeding to the USA. To cut the story short, in this case Australian authorities together with Dutch and Americans wanted to ensure that the said American individual could be extradited to the USA. As it happened, this American was originally arrested in Holland. However, the Dutch prosecutor advised that his extradition could not be granted to the USA due to statute of limitations. After this, Australian, Dutch and American authorities made an agreement that if he was to be extradited first to Australia, Australia would then extradite him to the USA - assuming, of course, that Holland would grant this re-extradition. Needless to say, Holland granted re-extradition and Australia is happy to extradite him. The case continues.
http://jantervonen.com/alleged-rapist-and-sexual-predator-mr-julianFriday, December 9, 2011
New Twitter leaves some space for your notes!
I just love the new Twitter. Half of the screen is empty - which leaves tons of space for example for your Post-It notes! Great!
http://jantervonen.com/new-twitter-leaves-some-space-for-your-notesThursday, December 8, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson Promotes New Headphones By Way Of Sean Parker
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson should be hawking headphones. That's why he's sitting in the mixing booth at Engine Room Audio in Lower Manhattan at 9:40 a.m. Instead, though, the Jamaica, Queens-bred rapper is talking about his next Silicon Valley investments--and Sean Parker.
"I think Sean Parker damaged the music business with Napster," Jackson says. "Now he's trying to fix it."
In a charcoal gray suit with a wine-red handkerchief, Jackson looks more Gordon Gekko than chart-topping rockstar. Then again, what's a modern rock star if not a branding machine. For 50's part, he's moved on from hit singles to hit investments. Jackson runs his own label under Interscope Records; he's built successful sneaker and clothing lines; he's starred in movies and video games; and he's injected capital in everything from 3-D glasses startups to energy drink companies. In 2007, an early investment in Vitamin Water-maker Glacéau proved prescient when Coca-Cola bought the company for $4.1 billion, an acquisition that earned 50 Cent a reported $100 million. Today, he's technically here to promote his next business venture, SMS Audio, makers of high-end headphones. "The category is huge," he says. "These headphones are definitely going to be the biggest stocking stuffer."
But first, let's talk about Spotify. Jackson has invested mainly in physical products so far--vitamin drinks, fashion, headphones. But he's looking to invest in tech startups. "I have some ideas now," he says. "I don't want to discuss the deal until the papers get signed because everyone else will get excited--and then we get scattered."
When pressed, Jackson flashes a knowing grin. I ask him whether he's investing in a small music-related startup. "Well, they're really well established companies that I'll end up being involved in," he says. Like Spotify? "Those are the kinds of guys I want to hang out with, down there in Silicon Valley," Jackson answers coyly. He says he knows Parker but declines to go into anymore detail. But clearly he's impressed by streaming services like Spotify, which he says, "are the future of music. The experience with Napster gave them the insight--all the information [they needed]."
Jackson ticks off characteristics that he learned from finding new talent and producers in the music industry and says it's not so different looking for successful entrepreneurs. It boils down to four traits, he says: quality of material, performance, appearance, and personality. It was those qualities that led him to Brian Nohe, founder of KonoAudio, which SMS Audio acquired in August to support its sound technology. "Ultimately the vision is not just a headphone company," says Nohe, now SMS's president. "I mean, 50 wants to create an audio company. You will see us move into laptops, speakers, and home entertainment."
Jackson and Nohe say you might expect them to partner with device makers like HP, but it's SMS's technology (not to be confused with the alternate name for text messaging) that they feel, that will help distinguish them from competitors. Jackson is well aware he's entering a saturated market, introducing yet another offering of celebrity endorsed headphones. Ironically it was 50 Cent's bosses, Dr. Dre and Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine, who sparked the craze with their line of Robert Brunner-designed Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, from Monster, which led to similar cross-branding deals with Lady Gaga, Ludacris, P. Diddy, Justin Bieber, Daft Punk, and even Quincy Jones and Miles Davis. But Jackson believes SMS's wireless technology will help it stand out--technology, he adds, that's even impressed Dre and Iovine. "It uses Kleer technology, which is a higher level of technology than what's presented with BlueTooth," he says. For his Sync headphones, for example, up to four headphones can be wirelessly synced to one single source, enabling users to hear CD-quality music as far as 50 feet away, be it from an iPhone or stereo system.
Jackson also looks forward to the challenge, especially with his mentor Dr. Dre. "[Dre] is so competitive," he says. "They're not offended by me [doing this]. This project allows me to show you from my perspective what the best quality is. [Beats by Dre] are all over the place. It's just time for a new version."
Finally, he's excited about the new headphones project--not the first time he's been charged up by a new venture. When 50 Cent tweeted to his 3.8 million followers about H&H Imports, a company his G-Unit label owns 30,000,000 shares of, the company's stock nearly quadrupled, earning the rapper an estimated $8.7 million overnight. Trouble is, the self-promtion ran afoul of financial authorities. "I tell you that was a nightmare," Jackson says, laughing. "I had some conversations with the SEC."
Before the meeting draws to a close, 50 and Nohe want me to try out a pair of the new Sync headphones. I slip on a pair, and wait for the music to come on. Moments later, a song begins playing, magically streaming into my ears. It's "Disco Inferno." By 50 Cent.
Clearly he's still capable of some self-promotion.
via fastcompany.com
Assange doesn't want to understand the extradition law
"I have not been charged with any crime in any country," Assange said outside the High Court in London after losing an extradition battle there. "Despite this, the European arrest warrant is so restrictive that it prevents U.K. courts from considering the facts of a case, as judges have made clear here today." (CNN)
It is simply absurd that Mr. Assange is attempting to attack the mechanism behind the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). Indeed, Mr. Assange must be dillusional. Absent retrospective changes in the relevant law, the alleged grounds he is attempting to pursue are doomed to fail. This is primarily because of the differences in the legal systems within Europe it is not a requirement that a person shall be "charged" (in the common law sense) before an EAW is issued. This is how the drafters of the law wanted it to be. Accordingly, any argument to that direction is a moot point. Secondly, it is more common than not that in an extradition proceeding the "facts" are not to be considered by the requested country as that is specifically left for the courts and officials in the requesting country.
http://jantervonen.com/assange-doesnt-want-to-understand-the-extradiSunday, December 4, 2011
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Remember when you were thinking you really wish you could film your bicycle courier route so you can watch it again from home to see if you can improve your delivery time? Have at it. Optrix has unveiled the weatherproof HD Sport Mount, which turns your iPhone 4, 4S and iPod touch into an action sports camera. Combined with the iPhone 4S image stabilizing capabilities, Optrix captures “... stunning video in all environments possible, from extreme racing to a relaxing day at the pool.”
And maybe even extreme racing in the pool, if that’s your thing.
The Optrix HD Sport Mount for iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPod Touch can now be pre-ordered for $79.99. Optrix will be releasing accompanying video recording apps that will measure lay speed, g-force, lap-time and more right onto the videos.
Product [HD Sport Mount.