Day: May 14, 2010

Categories
Issues and Actions

Own Your Privacy (Again)

It’s a good week when people solve problems. I certainly know it is a lot easier to point problems out rather than solve them; it’s also pretty darn easy to just pledge some money to helping others solve some problems. And that’s why I am feeling good that four specific NYU students exist.

You probably heard of Diaspora on the web this week (but if you haven’t, now’s the time to catch up). Diaspora will be a decentralized social network hub that you the user controls.

the privacy aware, personally controlled, do-it-all distributed open source social network

You own the data; you choose who gets it. Remember back when so many people did not understand that they were not even on the web when they went onto AOL. Why have we been satisfied with going to a centralized social network hub just like we were back in the day with being on AOL’s portal? Particularly when the stakes on so much higher; we’ve been being SPIED ON for far too long.

We believe that privacy and connectedness do not have to be mutually exclusive. With Diaspora, we are reclaiming our data, securing our social connections, and making it easy to share on your own terms. We think we can replace today’s centralized social web with a more secure and convenient decentralized network. Diaspora will be easy to use, and it will be centered on you instead of a faceless hub.

They have had an amazingly successful Kickstarter raise.  That alone is truly inspiring.

Categories
Issues and Actions

Section 181 Update

Today’s update is a guest post from Raz Cunningham.

On Dec. 31, 2009, Section 181 of the American Jobs Creation Act expired. It is going to be renewed in 1 of 2 possible forms. Either in the Tax Extenders Act of 2009 (the House Bill) or the American Worker State and Business Relief Act (the Senate Bill). The language is the same as it was for Section 181, the same tax breaks/benefits still apply. In the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, the language can be found in Section 117 of the Bill; in the American Worker State and Business Relief Act it can be found in Section 145. The language of these two sections is EXACTLY the same. The Senate Bill has already passed in the Senate and is on its way to the House.

What’s important to note is that one of these two Bills, either or, is overwhelmingly expected to pass. Neither Section of either Bill has been the source of any controversy or contesting and is strongly supported by both Parties. Once either Bill is passed, any qualifying film made from Jan 1st, 2010 to Dec. 31st 2010 will be able to take advantage of the tax breaks.

Raz Cunningham is a filmmaker based out of New York & Rhode Island, about to start Pre-Production on his first full length feature film “Our Last Days As Children” this summer.

Categories
Issues and Actions

Do Film Festivals Matter?

Dave ponders at The Hot Blog.
Eugene wonders at Indiewire.
I happily sit at home.