Kirk and the Crew with Bishop

STOP ACTA & TPP

Stop ACTA & TPP! - Never use trade agreements to mess with the Internet!

They tried to push internet censorship through Congress and we stopped them with our STOP SOPA/PIPA protests. But the companies behind SOPA & PIPA have a backup plan: secretive trade agreements like ACTA & TPP. If we can't stop these backroom deals, the internet's future belongs to SOPA's backers. DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO SPREAD THE WORD, CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, YELL FROM THE STREET CORNERS, ALL OF IT! You can start by using the form below to send a message. Get more detail from KILLACTA.org

I urge you to vote no on ACTA and to communicate its severe problems to your colleagues. ACTA's vague language locks us into obsolete copyright and patent laws, preventing democracies from updating their laws to unlock new economic and social opportunities.It criminalizes harmless remixes by ordinary users if they achieve 'a commercial scale' (art 2.14.1) which many amateur videos do on sites like Youtube. And it criminalizes legitimate websites by making them responsible for user behavior ('aiding and abetting' art 2.14.4).Worse, it permanently bypasses the democratic process by empowering the 'ACTA Committee' to 'propose amendments to [ACTA]' without your approval. (art 6.4) In other words, it's impossible to know what you're voting for.The global movement against the US law SOPA showed that internet freedom is a crucial issue which belongs in the legislative process of each country. You should view ACTA as an attempt by a handful of companies to circumvent the democratic process, and you should vote against it.Thank you. Please reply if you have any questions.

Kirk and the Crew with Bishop

May 17, 2010

Greg Bishop fills in for Kirk Farah on Kirk and the Crew. This morning, tune in to 970 WMAY to talk about Big Slick and how to cure it, free speech and journalism, health care lawsuits, revolution and audits! Tune in online at WMAY dot com. You can also join a video chat room to see what's happening inside the studio during the show. Don't forget, your phone calls are always appreciated at 217.629.7970.

Big Slick

It has been nearly a month since the Deep Horizon Oil Rig blew up, killing 11. What is taking so long to contain the spill? Could it be that it is a mile deep? The president came out to smack down BP, Trans Ocean, Haliburton and the Federal Government. Hear his words and sound off on them this morning on Kirk and the Crew.

Free Speech

"Crude," a documentary about how Ecuadorian natives' homeland was/is being destroyed by Chevron/Texaco oil exploration and drilling, detail the ongoing legal battle for over $20 billion. Well, the filmmaker has been ordered by a New York court to hand over raw footage from the documentary to the oil company to help in the ongoing lawsuit. What does this mean for the future of journalism. Another story out of Canada where courts are forcing a journalist to hand over their notes to help in a criminal investigation also raises the same question ... does ensuring there is never truly going to be confidentiality for sources mean less sources will come forward to blow the whistle? Also, check this story out about onlookers filming a film crew and their footage being taken down from YouTube for copyright infringement. Bizarre!

Illuminati Motor Works

If you missed the impromptu interview on Saturday Session with Kevin Smith from Illuminati Motor Works, be sure to tune in today just after 10 am. Kevin Smith, the crew, and the car named 7 made it through the first round of Progressive Insurance's X-Prize. What is the next phase?

Filing suit

More states are signing on to file suit against the Federal Government to stop the individual mandate on insurance. Nevada's Governor, after their Attorney General refused to file suit, found a private attorney willing to build litigation necessary to block the law. Will someone in Illinois do the same? Meanwhile, if you want to ensure that Illinois will protect her citizens from fed overreaching, be sure to sign the petition to urge Illinois Representative Bill Mitchel to amend his bill to have the state protect her citizens from potential repercussion.

Revolution

Around the world, the have nots are standing up to take on oppressive power. This was the case in Kyrgyzstan where the past week showed continued turmoil for the interim government. In Thailand, the government is firing upon it's own people who are taking to the streets in violent clashes. Bishop will flash back to a conversation with Dr. Bruce DeMesquita about if a revolution is possible in the US.

Audits

There will be an audit of the Sangamon County Coroner's office after a criminal investigation is complete. What will this audit show? All Kids proved to be inefficient after an audit showed lack of oversight. Meanwhile the Federal Reserve will be audited, well kinda ... but only one time. Despite the potential audit of the Fed, they could get more and more power. Why hand over more power to the secretive central bank without knowing the full extent of their role in the financial crisis?

A4PG Fundraiser tonight

Tonight at Catie Girl's Restaurant (400 E. Jefferson in Springfield) beginning at 5:30, join the Access 4 Producers' Group for a much needed fundraiser! Tickets at the door are $15 and go towards the Producers Groups efforts to get community television back up and running with new productions. Get all the details about the group and the event online at Access4.tv.

Contact

Greg Bishop can be contacted many different ways. Check out Bishop's Google Profile (after the conversation with Katherine, who knows how much bigger Google will get) to get links and phone numbers. To call Saturday Session on WMAY, dial 217.629.7970 or email bishop@wmay.com. You can also join the video chat room with live streaming video (available during the show, 9 to noon CST, only).