Nicole Hughes
September 6, 2008 | 9:05 am EST
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has lost his re-election bid. The Senior Republican member of the United States Senate was initially ahead of Democratic opponent Mark Begich on election, before all returns had been counted, but fell behind in the extremely tight contest eventually losing by 3,724 votes.
Senator Stevens’ loss came on the heels of his public disgrace of being convicted on several Federal felony counts of violating disclosure laws as an elected official after failing to disclose numerous gifts given to him by contractors in his home state of Alaska. Should he have won, Stevens would have been a sitting Senator and convicted felon in a nation where in many states, including Alaska, convicted felons are not even afforded the right to vote. Hats off to Alaska for saving themselves and the country the infamy of sending Ted Stevens for another term in the US Senate.
Read the rest of this entry »
The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!
TakePart Gang:
Participant Media Takes Burning Man by Blair Golson
Hurricane Gustav: Photo Update by Joshua Tremblay
* * *
Nicole Hughes:
Obama Acceptance Speech: Green Energy Highlights
* * *
A Survey of the Top 10 Greenest Presidents
HP Designs Laptop for Wal-Mart, Reduces 97% of Packaging
* * *
Jon Popham:
Open Mic Reveals Right-Leaning Journalists’ Real Views
Comcast Appeals FCC Net Neutrality Decision
* * *
Giulia Rozzi:
Female Amputee Competes in Beijing Olympics
* * *
Gina Telaroli:
Comcast has appealed a decision by the FCC disallowing the company’s practice of purposefully slowing down certain types of web traffic. The Internet and Cable provider is hoping the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will overturn the Federal Communications Commision ruling which was heralded as a victory for Net Neutrality advocates throughout the Internets.
The FCC ruling in question arose from an investigation by the Associated Press last which found Comcast was secretly blocking and restricting its users legal, peer-to-peer traffic in what appeared to be an effort to restrict bulky flie sharing traffic that was eating a significant portion of the Cable Giant’s bandwidth. Watchdog organizations Free Press and Public Knowledge filed complaints with the FCC which in turn ruled Comcast was violating its Internet Policy Statement and ordered the company to halt the practice.
Read the rest of this entry »
Justine Bateman isn’t just on Desperate Housewives. She is a desperate activist in her fight for net neutrality.
The actress and producer, who played Michael Keaton’s sister Mallory on Family Ties, and is Jason Bateman’s sister in real life, testified at a senate hearing on the Future of the Internet on April 22nd. Bateman told senators
In entertainment, I believe we are on the verge of a creative renaissance…. The Internet is the new grid upon which this renaissance can rest, because unfortunately the business grid of TV and film today cannot support that…. Net Neutrality will allow for we creators to continue owning and controlling our content with this innovation comes competition. Net Neutrality would insure a level playing field for that.
Read the rest of this entry »
Save the whales! Save the rain forests! Save the internet?
Yes, apparently the internet needs to be saved too. According to savetheinternet.com Network Neutrality aka “Net Neutrality” for short is in danger. Net Neutrality is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.
Check out this video from James Rucker, director of SavetheInternet.com partner ColorofChange.org, says his organization “wouldn’t have had a chance without a free and open Internet.” Net Neutrality is vital to bloggers, activists and organizers working for a more just and equitable society.
Put simply, Net Neutrality means no discrimination. Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination.
Read the rest of this entry »
Apparently Comcast has been interfering with Internet subscribers service that share files with other users. While many times file sharing signals illegal activities, Comcast deliberately slowing down service would mean they were controlling content and violating “Net Neutrality”. The FCC is set to look at the complaints made on Comcast.
Want to learn more about why this is so so so so important? (after all if you’re reading this you must like using the Internet)
Go here to learn about The Savetheinternet.com Coalition
Andy Kondrat:
