In this title, Sony: No online service has ‘stepped forward’ to distribute The Interview, Sony is caught in a blatant lie.

2600 has offered their services, I have offered to assist them posting the file on a Torrent server, 4chan has offered, BitTorrent, and others have made the offer.

Crackle is reportedly the leading contender. FYI, I created a Crackle.com account today, just in case.

Perhaps the title would be more accurate if they said “If we can’t earn some money, we’re not going to post it.  We really don’t mean for free, that was self-serving, disingenuous and a lie.”

Perhaps they want to post it to NetFlix and earn a teensy bit of money, or iTunes, or someplace else that charges so Sony can get a cut.

I mean, the publicity on this movie is out the roof. Everybody is talking about it and everybody is going to want to see it, but nobody wants to chance a lawsuit by hosting it physically.

So…  Sony is looking for “approved” hosts, most likely pay sources, eh? Is it too difficult for them to say that?

Is this Corporate greed?  Is this the MPAA gone wild (once again)?  Is Sony money-grubbing?

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) must know they’re sitting on a potential goldmine, they just do not know how to capitalize outside the conventional theater system.  SPE is being forced to ‘think outside the box’ and that is something they’re not used to.  *gasp*  They also know the instant the movie becomes available for download it will uploaded to a Torrent file server almost simultaneously.

As for the physical threats, a Torrent file is the safest.  There is no concrete and mortar associated with Torrent files, so safety is obviously not their main concern.

Sony really means no Pay-for-View has stepped forward and offered their services.

It’s a new world, ladies and gentlemen, and Sony has no balls.

North Korea is somewhat of a magnet, more so at this moment than most other times, for negative articles by the media outlets of the world. This article, Chinese Annoyance With North Korea Bubbles to the Surface, by the New York Times brings a new facet to the discussion. This is truly a negative article by a senior in the Chinese government, published by a state-run newspaper and the NYT picked it up.

This article might be considered an official but deniable story by the Chinese government, which figuratively says “North Korea, stop it”.  North Korea does not take criticism well, and rarely receives rebukes by China, so the North Korean leadership should* pay attention.

Is this propaganda by China? No and yes. This article reflects very negatively against North Korea, who should take this very seriously as a message pointed in their direction by their main benefactor.  This article only offers truthful information, most likely in an attempt to elicit a response from North Korea. Making a case this is propaganda is difficult, but it is intended to get a reaction from North Korea by the Chinese.

This might, I say again might, be the extent of China’s assistance to the US, as a response to the US’s request for Chinese assistance in the case of the Sony hack…. but it is a damn good one. Will China do more? Behind the scenes, I suspect so…

*This is North Korea we’re talking about, who never seem to react normally.  To anything, ever.

In a show of defiance to North Korea, the US Congress is seeking a ‘private’ viewing of “The Interview”.

Congress is heavily guarded and it is doubtful North Korea can attack the Congressmen and women as they view the video.

I would only hope Congress makes the video available to the public, as the public was the intended audience.

Capitol screening sought for ‘The Interview’

By LAUREN FRENCH 12/22/14 5:25 PM EST

“The Interview” may be coming to a Capitol near you.

Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of California wrote to Sony Pictures on Monday inviting the studio to screen the highly anticipated film at Capitol facilities to highlight Congress’ support for Sony Pictures as it faces intense push-back from North Korea.

The comedic film, which depicts Seth Rogen and James Franco as interviewers hired by the CIA to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was pulled from release by Sony over reported threats to theaters screening it.

“Screening ‘The Interview’will demonstrate the U.S. Congress’s support of the freedom of speech. This is about our right to live without fear, and knowing that our values will not be compromised by the idle threats of a despotic regime,” Sherman wrote. “Good or bad, Americans should not be deprived of the opportunity to see this movie.”

Sony faced a massive release of internal emails and data, a cyberattack the U.S. has pinned on North Korea. The North Korean government has denied those claims.

But Sherman, who represents a district where movie making is an important industry, said members of Congress should get a chance to view the controversial film.

“This is also about educating Members of Congress. Everyone is talking about ‘The Interview.’ I think it’s important for Congress to know, and see, what we are talking about,” wrote Sherman, the chair of the congressional Entertainment Industries Caucus.

(POLITICO Column: Romney! Cheney! Kim Jong Un! All together again!)There have been a number of calls for a high-profile screening of the film to show support for the U.S. film industry.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) asked President Barack Obama to screen the film at the White House after Obama called Sony’s decision to cancel screenings of the move “a mistake” on Friday.

The film was scheduled to open in theaters on Christmas Day.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/capitol-screening-the-interview-113750.html#ixzz3MgBPZ9tM

“The Interview” will be Shown on Christmas Day, according to Gizmodo.

Free publicity, increased interest – this is sure to be a sellout audience.

Yes, the movie sucks.  Yes, the plot is unlikely and probably unbelievable. Yes, the acting is Class B, perhaps even Class C (meaning pretty bad).

North Korea and all the other anti-American countries are currently waging a ‘cyber war’, of sort, against the United States.  I had a little slowdown this morning.  Did you? *cough* I had to wait a whole 1.5 seconds for some pages to load.  Oh, the agony.

The really bad news for me is that very few places were paying attention to North Korea.  I actually had someone visit this blog from North Korea. Now everybody is interested…  *grin*

I think of the movie release as an opportunity to stick it in the eye of Kim Jong Un.

I know someplace I’d rather stick it.

https://kickass.so/usearch/%22the%20interview%22/

Up yours, North Korea!

5,127 Seeds, 61,479 Peers.  This should take you five minutes to download it.

Peace.

Merry Christmas to you. Frohe Weihnachten. Feliz Navidad! С Рождеством. З Різдвом! Joyeux Noël. Crăciun Fericit! 聖誕節快樂. 메리 크리스마스! God jul! Hyvää joulua! Veselé Vánoce! Häid jõule! חג המולד שמח! मैरी क्रिसमस! メリークリスマス！ Linksmų Kalėdų! کریسمس مبارک! Wesołych Świąt! میری کرسمس! לעבעדיק ניטל!

To all my Pennsylvania Dutch friends: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en Hallich Nei Yaahr!

Some of you might recall a story circulating about 10 days ago about the negative aspects of the app Waze.

Waze is an app that is considered a “social GPS”, where the GPS function is augmented by drivers actually on the road reporting real-time traffic tie-ups, construction, accidents and other things which affect driving conditions.

The story from 10 days ago went that the app was directing traffic through quiet neighborhoods not used to commuter traffic, through mostly unused roads, perhaps roads not constructed for heavy traffic. This story was heavily circulated.

I’m sorry, but when I worked at Luden’s Candy Factory in Reading, PA and had to rush through my ‘secret routes’, I didn’t give a tinkers damn which route I took.

But, I will tell you about a secret route I found in to work, here in DC.  Waze would have appreciated it.  I was working in a building near the Pentagon and wanted to avoid I-395, a traffic jam if there ever was one.  I found one, two, three roads, which were almost always clear of traffic and allowed me to get there in about 20 minutes, almost a miracle, even compared with I-395 at midnight.

Then there was the disclosure that Waze was used by the NYPD cop killer, here.

So tonight, when a friend called and told me that his copy of Waze was malfunctioning and showing city and town names in Hebrew, I thought, easy breezy, this should be all over the news.

Except it wasn’t.

No reporter has broken the news.

I downloaded the app onto my iPhone and tested it out but I could not duplicate the problem…

But imagine if someone could hack a GPS program, route traffic onto commuter routes.  It would suck. Routing them onto medical or emergency evacuation routes would suck for anyone needing assistance, too.

But the residents of the neighborhoods through which the traffic was routed tried to fight back. Cnet reports:

Some locals are trying to fight back by complaining to officials and reportedly logging fake accidents on the app to deter people from taking their neighborhood routes as shortcuts, but Waze said any phony reports are countered by all the real reports people driving through the area are making.

Also, hackers have struck before, here. Interestingly, the hackers contacted Waze on February 2 and received an official response on February 5th.  Then they gave Waze 40 days to fix the problem before making a public disclosure.  Then Google bought Waze.

Now we have a possible hack.  Could this be the same hackers?  If so, their motivation WAS to get Waze to improve the app.

What could be the insidious reasons?  Read the references, it’s not that easy.  Waze says their reports are based on massive amounts of reporting, but can that be the case on routes less traveled?

Thanks for the heads up, Norm!

Since Waze is owned by Google, now, will they respond?  How big must a disclosure be before they follow up?  Might this be a publicity stunt?  I could think of better ways for Google to get free publicity.  Might this be a publicity stunt by the hackers?  Motivation lulz?

Description.  The Capitol Club of the Association of Old Crows is presenting a series of classes on Information Operations to educate interested persons.

• Who: Persons with an interest in Information Operations, currently no restrictions in attendees.
• What: Unclassified IO classes
• Where: 3rd Floor Classroom, AOC building, 1000 North Payne Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
• When: 0800-1700 20 January 2015
• Why: To provide Information Operations education to members of the AOC and the general public.

Registration: Send an email to joel.k.hard@gmail.com  with name, rank (if applicable), and company. There is a strict limit of 25 people, due to  space limitation.

Cost: Free.

Lunch will be provided, courtesy Capitol Club, AOC.

If demand is far greater than expected, we will do this again, soon, at a larger facility.  This is our first attempt to do this.

If you would like to host such an event, let’s talk. Other courses, classes are available.

January 20^th 2015 IO Classes

0800 – 1000       Dr. Leigh Armistead      Introduction to IO, IO Standards, Overview

1000 – 1200       Dr. J. Michael Waller     How to fight a war of information like a real war

1300 – 1500       Larisa Breton                   Measurement

1500 – 1700       Joel Harding                    Russian Information Warfare

Ukraine Information Warfare Initiatives

An employee of the Council of Europe holds a pen and a placard reading “I am Charlie” during a minute of silence in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Jan. 9, 2015. (photo by REUTERS/Vincent Kessler)

Author Pinar Tremblay

Posted January 9, 2015

I learned about the Charlie Hebdo attack from a phone call in the early morning hours of Jan. 7. The messenger was a political satirist and friend calling from Istanbul. He was calm as he explained the brutal attack. Then he said, “I received a call from a private number. The voice on the line ordered me to turn on the television to take a sneak peak at my own future.” It was not the first time my friend had been threatened. When I asked what he was going to do, he replied with his usual dark humor, “I will first mourn the loss of my colleagues and caricaturize my sorrow.”

Reactions among the Turkish public to the attack in France have varied widely. One group includes Turks showing solidarity with the #JeSuisCharlie hashtag on social media. One can see the high volume of solidarity tweets from Turkey on the day of the attack. There were also protests on the streets of Istanbul.

The Joint June Movement — a protest platform keeping the Gezi spirit alive and known for its opposition to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) — organized a “We are Charlie” march with the slogan “We are not afraid.” Turkish cartoonists also joined in the global movement to stand in solidarity with the victims and their colleagues, publishing and sharing dozens of Charlie Hebdo cartoons and dedicating drawings to the victims.

Tuncay Akgun, executive editor of the prominent Turkish satirical magazine Leman, shared photos of the deceased Charlie Hebdo artists over social media with the caption “They were our friends.” Accompanying a photo of cartoonist and writer Georges Wolinski on a visit to Istanbul’s famous Eyup Sultan Mosque, the publication asked, “Is this man the enemy of Islam?”

The well-known cartoonist Musa Kart, who has been sued by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan several times, drew a searing cartoon with a character resembling Erdogan saying, “I condemn the attack. A 10-year prison sentence for those cartoonists would have been sufficient.” Political caricaturist Semih Poroy told Al-Monitor, “Cartoonists are without protection in Turkey. If freedom of speech is not guaranteed, some might even be inspired by the inhumane events of the Charlie Hebdo attack and try to repeat them.”

Another group of Turks immediately went on the defensive, taking the position that the attackers do not represent “real Islam” and that the attack is against Muslims, too, as it will inevitably increase Islamophobia in the West. Turkey’s top cleric, Mehmet Gormez, head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, fits in this group.

Gormez held a press conference Jan. 8, a day after the attack, and was criticized over social media for having not immediately condemned it. When he was asked what he thought about the attackers screaming “Allahu Akbar!” (“God is Great”), Gormez responded, “They are mocking the minds of people, not only of Muslims but also the Western community. They aim to manipulate the basic values of Muslims. They are abusing the name of Allah.” He also warned Muslims around the world to be vigilant against rising Islamophobia and argued that the attack in Paris was a direct assault on Islam.

It is an odd balance the members of this group are trying to maintain. They condemn the attack, but then follow with “However …,” and a justification of how Charlie Hebdo constantly provoked and offended Muslims. This group maintains a deep suspicion that Muslims did not carry out the attack. Rather, they blame people who supposedly want to put Muslims in the crosshairs. They are angry at social media users who suggest that the attackers might belong to an Islamist organization or that they reportedly yelled, “We avenged the Prophet!”

Another group is even more worrisome, oscillating between feeling almost satisfied with the attacks, citing justifications for it, and expressing anger toward anyone who might tie the attacks to Muslim perpetuators. “Should we condemn the event in France?” reads the headline of the Jan. 8 column penned by Ali Karahasanoglu for the right-wing daily Yeni Akit.

Karahasanoglu wrote, “I would not think about being involved in an attack as such, or advise anyone to engage in violence, but when asked whether I condemn it or not, I say, ‘Wait a minute.’ Because they ridiculed Islam. With their drawings, they scorned and belittled the prophet. Indeed, their editorial line was based on mocking people. They did not listen to the warnings of those who told them to change their course. Then, when something happens to them, why expect us to condemn it? Not that easy.”

Karahasanoglu then elaborated on the daily bloodshed in the Muslim world and complained that no one hears these Muslims’ cries. He ended his piece with the argument that the West supports those who contribute to killing Muslims and then asks for condemnation when 12 people are killed in the West. “There is no such world,” he concluded.

Yeni Akit also reported under the headline “Protesters in Paris offended our prophet again,” because someone carried a sign of a stick figure the Prophet Muhammad saying, “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”).

One news outlet, Haber Seyret, published a column by Saliha Eren headlined, “We do not have to apologize to anyone because we are Muslims.” Several Islamist newspapers and networks picked it up. Eren wrote, “I do not care what happens in France, when several children are dying from the cold in refugee camps in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan with aid cut off from the UN.” She argued, “We are not going to care about your grievances until you stop putting the blame for each act of terror on Muslims.”

In the meantime, several established Twitter accounts known as AK Trolls — “AK” being the AKP — posted a number of mind-boggling tweets. One of the most popular and controversial AK Troll accounts, @esatreis, wrote, “This evil act [referring to the offensive Charlie Hebdo cartoons] cannot be justified with the argument that ‘They also drew cartoons of the pope.’ To attack a religion is a bigger terrorism than an armed attack.”

A similar argument can be found in Inspire, the al-Qaida magazine, which listed its 10 Most Wanted for Crimes against Islam. The list does not contain anyone involved in armed conflict or violence. The main crimes of those listed has been to somehow offend Islam and the prophet, like @esatreis told the Turkish Twittersphere. Also in the news was @AKKULIS, who features an Erdogan photo on his profile page. He tweeted, “This is a setup against Islam. Killers and victims are all French, so what is it to us?” Another Twitter user in this category took it up a notch, saying, “May they [the victims] rest in hell.”

The hatred toward the cartoonists almost oozes from such comments. Seasoned journalist Emre Uslu, affiliated with the pro-Fethullah Gulen media, suggested that AK Trolls seemed almost happy about the attack. Yet, the worst from among this group came from the account @GizliArsiv, which threatened Leman, warning, “Take a good lesson from the attack.” Remarkably, the user’s grievance wasn’t about the publication offending Islam or the prophet — but Erdogan. The tweet included a snapshot of a series of Erdogan cartoons and accused Leman of being disrespectful to him.

Although most members of this last group were anonymous, the Vahdet Daily columnist Ibrahim Yoruk tweeted to another Turkish satire magazine, Penguen, saying, “Learn from their mistake: There can be no humor with Islamic faith.” Another user, Kerem Cenk, allegedly wrote, “The number of heads to be taken out in Leman magazine is more than 12.”

What was the official political reaction to this intense public debate, even before news of the attack solidified? Umut Oran, a parliamentarian from the main opposition Republican People’s Party, told Al-Monitor that he had submitted a parliamentary question to the prime minister asking what kind of security measures had been put in place to protect the cartoonists of Leman and Penguen, who have been blatantly threatened. Cartoonists in Turkey are used to violence, including arson attacks and guns being fired at their offices, but at a time of mourning on this scale, the degree of blatant, unquenched anger against them is nonetheless frightening.
Source: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/01/turkey-france-charlie-hebdo-attack-satiricals-warned.html?utm_source=Al-Monitor+Newsletter+%5BEnglish%5D&utm_campaign=b130080e05-January_09_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-b130080e05-93108801#

In yet another attempt to censor, isolate and insulate Russian citizens from fair and objective reporting, Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky has called for the creation of a system of filters and blocked websites, somewhat like the Great Firewall of China.

The Russians seem to realize that without such a system to control what Russian citizens see, they risk the spread of revolutionary ideas, a colored spring revolution, the ability to coordinate demonstrations and other actions, they risk Russian citizens actually reading from non-Russian, non-propagandistic sources, that Russian citizens may see their leadership has lied to them, misinformed Russians, deceived them and been reinforcing “the big lie”.

Russia wants to isolate its citizens.

Apologies, dear readers.  My interests were elsewhere when this was published.

Recall H.R. 4490, forming the International Communications Agency, keeping much of the BBG but changing names?

I was curious why the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) hadn’t done a report about US international broadcasting.  It turns out they did.

“U.S. International Broadcasting: Background and Issues for Reform“.  20 pages, I could read that in my sleep and no coffee.  I have a feeling someone wanted this report bad.  …and they got it bad.  In one night, two at the most.

I tell you, dear reader, I did not like the report.

I felt as if the author went through the steps of history in a perfunctory manner, read the bill and only pulled out a few pieces to highlight and then gave only slight thought as to various options available. As such I felt the author was inexperienced and lacked the foresight necessary to present a multitude of options to the intended readers – Congresspeople.

Same to the authors of H.R. 4490.  This is the current structure of the BBG.  Let’s keep as much intact as we can and then label it “sweeping change”.

Apologies, but even in my MBA classes we always started from scratch in making new organizations, then discussed how we got from there to here.  I expected that approach but I didn’t even detect the slightest bit of innovation.

Oh, but we’re talking about Congress, aren’t we?  I should be impressed that anything got done at all?

I’m wondering what in the hell are you really doing to sell America to the world?

No.  I am not impressed.

Outstanding, wonderful, unbelievably good, terrific, best ever!  All are words and phrases that could be used to describe…

The Capitol Club Chapter of the AOC hosted four Information Operations classes on January 20th, 2015.  The first class, an “Introduction to Information Operations” was taught by Dr. Leigh Armistead. “Fighting a War of Information like a Real War” was then taught by Dr. J. Michael Waller.  “Russian Information Warfare” and “Ukrainian Information Warfare Initiatives” was taught by Joel Harding, and “Cultures and Values” was taught by Christine MacNulty.  25 of 25 seats were reserved, the class started on time and the students included many senior IO personnel.  The discussions were lively and energetic. Everybody, including the instructors, learned much more than expected. To top it all off, four people joined the AOC as new members, on the spot!  We hope this is an ongoing series of classes!

In addition to being a world class educational opportunity, this turned out to be an incredible networking event.  Quite a few of the students were working in Information Operations positions, some very senior, some fairly junior.  Quite a few of the students just had a very strong interest and when the AOC Capitol Club offered these classes, they jumped!  The discussions were very animated and probing. Teachers prompted students, students questioned teachers, and everybody was included, nobody seemed to sit quietly.

For those of you interested in hosting such a class, feel free to contact the Capitol Club, AOC, we can accomodate special requests!  In all seriousness, during the class we discussed serious deficiencies in the US information spaces and system and would love to present to you and your employees, at your convenience, even in your facilities!  All the classes were very unique, all the presenters were unbelievably and uniquely qualified, and you and your employees could benefit greatly from an opportunity to learn from these teachers. Even if your only interest is to get you and your employees current and up to date, we would be glad to help.

Here is a video of Mariupol, in which I stumbled across a non-Russian speaker. ht to mj

To me he sounds British.

Now what in the hell is a British guy doing in Mariupol, Ukraine, in full combat garb, looking  like a Russian?

Except he doesn’t.

Look at the pants.

Look at the jacket. 

A different view now.

I don’t think they’re Russian.

The only equipment which is absolutely Russian is the weapon.

The magazine vest looks like a Russian vest but the camouflage doesn’t look quite right.

Here is the video: