Month: September 2020

Die Pose des Protests – Laizismus als Symbol der Verwestlichung

Indien und die Türkei galten lange als Paradebeispiele der laizistischen Staatsdoktrin. Doch der religiöse Nationalismus der aktuellen Autokraten ist anschlussfähig und stützt sich auf alte Missverständnisse.

Indien und die Türkei galten lange als Paradebeispiele der laizistischen Staatsdoktrin. Doch der religiöse Nationalismus der aktuellen Autokraten ist anschlussfähig und stützt sich auf alte Missverständnisse.

Russian vaccine trial data has some odd-looking data [Updated]

Most of the results are fairly expected, but there are some interesting details.

Image of a women in medical protective gear holding a box of samples.

Enlarge / MOSCOW, RUSSIA - SEPTEMBER 4, 2020: Medical staff with newly delivered boxes containing COVID-19 vaccine in a cold room at No2 Outpatient Clinic in southern Moscow. (credit: Stanislav Krasilnikov / Getty Images)

Update, September 9, 2020: On Monday, Enrico Bucci published an open letter outlining some concerns with the data in The Lancet paper that describes the vaccine safety tests. Bucci is an adjunct professor at Temple University who also runs a company that focuses on research integrity, so he has some history in this area. His open letter highlights a number of instances in the paper where the data for different samples produces identical or near-identical results.

While a few instances of this might be expected due to the similarities between the experiments and the small population of participants, the large number of such cases is highly unusual. And, as Bucci notes, the raw data underlying these graphs has not been made available, making it impossible to identify any innocuous reasons the results are so similar.

The letter simply calls the issue to the attention of the editors at The Lancet, where the study was published. As of today, 25 additional professors have signed it.

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ETTV Opens Doors to Uploaders After SPARKS Bust Takes Down Prime Source

The high-profile bust of several alleged Scene members has also wreaked havoc across the broader piracy ecosystem. Torrent site ETTV just announced that it will open its doors to uploaders because there’s a shortage of fresh content. As it turns out, the SPARKS group – the target of last week’s raids – was ETTV’s prime content source.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.

ettv logoThe piracy ecosystem is more structured than most people assume. While anyone can upload a file online, the most popular content is distributed publicly by a small number of uploaders.

This was also the case at ETTV, which started out as a TV-torrent distribution group on the public torrent site ExtraTorrent.

After its original home was shut down, ETTV decided to launch its own website, allowing a select group of uploaders to share content there. These types of distribution groups feed the majority of all pirated videos to the masses. However, they are not the source.

Many Torrent Groups Rely on The Scene

Groups like ETTV often get their content from the top of the piracy pyramid, also known as The Scene. While there is no active cooperation between Scene groups and torrent uploaders, those who know where to look can get access to Scene content. That is, until a major bust changes the game.

As reported in great detail over the past days, a criminal investigation by the US authorities shook up The Scene. Three alleged members with ties to the group SPARKS were arrested and raids across the world toppled dozens of topsites where Scene content was shared.

This was not just a major blow to The Scene. It affects the entire piracy ecosystem, as became apparent from a recent decision made by ETTV.

ETTV just moved to a new domain at ETTVcentral.com as its previous one was heavily downranked and blocked by Google. However, what’s even more significant is that the site now allows all members to upload torrents, instead of just the small group of uploaders that it previously worked with.

SPARKS Was ETTV’s Prime Source

Torrents from known uploaders will now be listed as ‘verified’ but, other than that, everyone can add content. While this change was already in the planning, the SPARKS bust sped up the process. As it turns out, SPARKS was ETTV’s prime source.

“All ETTV torrents were coming from them,” ETTV administrator ‘sidekickbob’ tells us. “With exception of a couple of movies here and there, we don’t upload anything anymore at the moment because we’re not getting any new content.”

This is an example of how the investigation into a few Scene members affected the entire piracy ecosystem, including Jane Doe in Sydney, who suddenly couldn’t download her favorite TV-shows.

“There was a significant reduction in available content after the bust. We need ‘independent’ uploaders to fill in the blanks. If they do a good job, they will get a more prominent appearance on the ETTV site by being upgraded to ‘Uploader’,” sidekickbob says.

The Future Remains Uncertain

It’s not as if piracy has come to a complete standstill. Those who look hard enough can still find pretty much all they need. However, ETTV was impacted severely, according to sidekickbob, who mentions that they are mostly looking for consistent TV show uploaders.

By opening the site up to the public ETTV also hopes to increase content variety. On the other side, it will also require more moderation as spammers and scammers are always lurking.

ETTV has had quite a lot of trouble over the past few months. The site’s main operator disappeared without a trace last December after which sidekickbob stepped up. However, several domains and resources were lost. For now, the site is hanging in there but its future remains uncertain.

“After losing four domains, the image host, and being blocked on Google, it’s a wonder we’re still alive. This latest domain change is the last effort to remain alive, and I think we will, but I will know for sure by the end of the year,” sidekickbob says.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.

Kann Trauer über die Corona-Toten zu einem sozialen Protest führen?

Kommentar: Der von Steinmeier ins Gespräch gebrachte Trauertag für die Corona-Opfer könnte ein Tag des Protestes gegen ein gesellschaftliches System sein, das dafür sorgt, dass Menschen an eigentlich heilbaren Krankheiten sterben müssen

Kommentar: Der von Steinmeier ins Gespräch gebrachte Trauertag für die Corona-Opfer könnte ein Tag des Protestes gegen ein gesellschaftliches System sein, das dafür sorgt, dass Menschen an eigentlich heilbaren Krankheiten sterben müssen

Novichok: how are victims surviving poisoning?

Novichok doesn’t kill everyone.

The Novichok agent A-234 molecule—a proposed structure.

Enlarge / The Novichok agent A-234 molecule—a proposed structure. (credit: Molekuul/Getty Images)

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is likely to survive a suspected poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok, according to the hospital treating him. There have now been at least six known cases of serious Novichok poisoning in the past two years. But only one victim tragically died from it.

Why is that? Is the substance less lethal than previously thought? Or could it be that the stockpile of the nerve agent is degrading?

Nerve agents were discovered through pesticide research. They belong to a group of substances known as organophosphorus chemicals, or “OPs” for short. There are literally thousands of OP substances, many of which can damage the body by inhibiting a family of enzymes known as “cholinesterases” that are critical to regulating the activity of the central nervous system in animals.

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