Podmedia Reports

Robert Liden, EVP and General Manager at Stirling Energy Systems, talks about SES deal with SDG&E and other solar electricity issues

2005-09-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

Stirling Energy Systems solar power dishes

Robert Liden, EVP and General Manager at Stirling Energy Systems

a third visit to Etopia Media's Solar World by Robert Liden, EVP and General Manager, Stirling Energy Systems

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) yesterday signed the second of two big solar energy deals recently won by Phoenix-based Stirling Energy Systems.

To assess the importance and implications of this deal for the future of solar energy in the U.S. and worldwide, Etopia Media's Solar World spoke this afternoon with Robert Liden, EVP and General Manager at Stirling Energy Systems, about this agreement and what it means.

You can listen to that conversation with Robert Liden, Robert Liden, EVP and General Manager at Stirling Energy Systems, by clicking here.

You can also listen to an interview with Ed Van Herik, spokesperson for San Diego Gas & Electric, talking about this same deal by clicking here.

And you can listen to an interview with Rhone Resch, President of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), talking about the importance of this second of two big recent contracts for the delivery of sunshine-sourced electricity by clicking here.

For more information about Stirling Energy Systems (SES), click here.

For more information about the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), click here.

For more information about San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) (SES), click here.

listen to Robert Liden at SES explain how "solar-thermal" energy generation works, in two previous Solar World interviews

For a detailed explanation of the technology involved in the "solar-thermal" units that will be supplying the power that SDG&E will be buying from Stirling Energy Systems, you can listen to two interviews with Robert Liden, EVP and General Manager at Stirling Energy Systems, in which he discusses how they works and talks about a similar agreement recently signed between his company and Southern California Edison (SCE) to also provide them with electricity from SES's solar-thermal electricity-generating systems.

To do that, you can click on the title of the August 12, 2005, interview with Robert Liden, "Robert Liden, EVP and General Manager at Stirling Energy Systems, talks about its deal with Southern California Edison to build and operate the world's largest solar energy facility" and/or the title of the August 17, 2005, interview with him, " Robert Liden, EVP and General Manager at Stirling Energy Systems, talks about the global potential of solar-generated electricity and hydrogen".

Links to "Three Wars"

2005-09-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

stem cells

avian influenza strain H5N1 (in gold)

Stem Cell Wars, Volume 1

Broadband Wars, Volume 1

Rx Wars, Volume 1

Etopia Media News Networks' Week in Review #1: July 31, 2005 to August 6, 2005

2005-08-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

As usual, the focus this week at Etopia Media News Networks has been on the intersection of new technologies and politics, and, more specifically, the conflicted, confusing, and lagging response of the "political community" to technological innovation.

Energy and Geopolitics

On the global and national level, former Director of Central Intelligence R. James Woolsey, after briefly mentioning his suggestion that the U.S. move as rapidly as possible to adopt a transportation policy based on "plug-in hybrid electric vehicle" technology during a guest appearance on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," made another guest appearance, this one on Etopia Media's Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle World to speak in much greater detail about the background and possibilities involved in transitioning the U.S. to a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle-based future.

8-5-05: R. James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence, talks about a "plug-in hybrid electric vehicle-based strategy" for fighting terrorism and enhancing national security; supports Arizona Senator John McCain for President (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle #6)

Politics and Privacy

RFID (radio frequency identification) technology is already in place to help track the constantly-changing locations of millions of products. California State Senator Joe Simitian, who represents the area that includes Stanford University in Sacramento, wants a three-year moratorium on the deployment of this technology on mass-distributed, state-mandated identification documents such as driver's license. Roxanne Gould, spokesperson for the RFID industry, opposes such a moratorium.

The two of them appeared together on Etopia Media's California Politics Today on August 3, 2005, in a civil-but-somewhat-heated discussion of whether putting little radios that can broadcast personal information and possibly allow "data skimming" by identity thieves and stalkers, and second-by-second "location surveillance" by the police and other governmental authorities, on smart cards that the government can require you to carry is in the best interests of the people of California.

8-3-05: California State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) and AeA/High-Tech Trust Coalition spokesperson Roxanne Gould discuss SB 682 (California Politics Today™ #399)

Telecom Politics

On Friday, August 5, 2005, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that:

"big telephone companies no longer have to lease their high-speed Internet lines to competitors, giving the companies more power over the delivery of popular fast Internet services."

The day before, Richard Ramlall, Senior VP at "convergent" cable TV, phone and internet service provider RCN, spoke at length with Etopia Media's American Politics Today about the impact of distribution and content production consolidation on the choices available to U.S. media consumers and of the efforts his company is involved in to create a "level playing field" for the benefit of these consumers.

8-4-05: RCN SVP Richard Ramlall talks about avoiding "a perfect storm" of consumer-hostile telecom reform and creating a consumer-friendly "level playing field" (American Politics Today #39)

Stem Cells

More so than usual, research involving embryonic stem cells was in the news, and, as usual, Etopia Media News Networks led the way in coverage of the biomedical, ethical, financial, and political aspects of this growing debate.

8-4-05: Stem cell update, August 4, 2005 (American Politics Today #40)

8-3-05: Motion to consolidate two stem cell cases is granted (California Politics Today™ #398)

8-3-05: Dana Cody updates stem cell lawsuit consolidation proceedings story; calls ICOC Chair Robert Klein "a religious bigot"; says her arguments are constitutionally, not religiously, based (California Politics Today™ #397)

8-1-05: California State Treasurer Phil Angelides' press secretary discusses "bridge funding" of embryonic stem cell research in California (California Politics Today™ #396)

Media and Communications Technology

As part of its constant and on-going effort to keep its audience up-to-the-minute on the latest developments in digital communications technology, and, whenever possible, in ways that demonstrate that technology itself, two articles on Etopia Media's Entertainment Technology World highlighted the latest in personal video communications, in an interview with Jason Loeffler at EZonics, the company that provides the webcams for many Etopia Media News Networks remote video interviews, and another in-depth interview about the roll-out of advanced digital cinema technology in the context of the rapidly-evolving film/video distribution-and-exhibition space with Kurt Schwenk, now the General Manager of the Digital Cinema Division at NEC Solutions (America), located in the heart of "Hollywood," in Burbank, California, not far at all from the Etopia Media studios in, um, Studio City, California.

8-4-05: Jason Loeffler, Sales Manager at EZonics, talks about its iContact Pro web cam (Entertainment Technology World #32) (includes video)

8-2-05: Kurt Schwenk, General Manager, Digital Cinema Division, NEC Solutions (America), updates the digital cinema story (Entertainment Technology World #31)

Listen to and watch all, or even a good chuck of, these timely reports from Etopia Media News Networks and you'll have a better than random chance of gaining some portion of that understanding of today's technopolitical environment that can help you successfully navigate your business and personal lives in these rapidly-changing times.

First ten Etopia Media News Network remotely-recorded video interviews

2005-08-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Jason Loeffler, Sales Manager, EZonics
(EMNN Video #10--August 4, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Scott Lomond, Executive Vice President, SightSpeed
(EMNN Video #9--July 30, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Lee Tsao, Worldwide Solutions Director, Pronto Networks
(EMNN Video #8--July 30, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Robin Williams, Ph.D., Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow, University College, London
(EMNN Video #7--July 4, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Randal Picker, Professor of Law, University of Chicago
(EMNN Video #6--May 13, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Jim Pickrell, President, Brand X
(EMNN Video #5--April 14, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Dr. Neil Martin, Medical Director, Neurosurgery ICU, UCLA Medical Center
(EMNN Video #4--April 8, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Yulun Wang, founder and CEO, InTouch Health, Inc.
(EMNN Video #3--April 7, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Etopia Media's ETW reporter with Tony Dunckel and Troy Stein, TechSmith product managers for SnagIt® and Camtasia Studio®, respectively
(EMNN Video #2--March 28, 2005)

(click on photo to activate video clip)

Dianah Neff, Chief Information Officer, City of Philadelphia
(EMNN Video #1--March 22, 2005)

Internet's future at stake with competing telecomm reform bills

2005-07-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

U.S. Senator John Ensign, Republican, Arizona

Click on the title of this blog to access an article concerning the upcoming battle between telecommunications legislation choices that would empower citizens to determine their own digital destiny or hand control of the Internet over to a power-and-profit-crazed duopoly of telco and cable companies.

For more on this story, click here.

Midwest renewable energy pioneer talks about wind power

2005-07-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

Top of Iowa Wind Farm Phase III, from Midwest Renewable Energy Corporation

Click on the title of this post to listen to Stephen Dryden, President of Midwest Renewable Energy Corporation, talk about generating wind power in the upper Midwest.

For more on this story, click here.

Greg Hanssen at EnergyCS talks about the emergence of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)

2005-07-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this article to listen to Greg Hanssen, VP at EnergyCS, talk about the emergence of a new generation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) capable of attaining triple-digit mileage.

For more on this story, click here.

R. James Woolsey, former CIA Director, calls for immediate move to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)

2005-07-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

R. James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence; co-chairman, Committee on the Present Danger

( Photo from October 30, 2003, hearings, "Panel III - China’s Energy Diplomacy and its Geopolitical Implications I" of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission)

Click on the title of this post to learn more about former Director of Central Intelligence and current co-chairman of the "Committee on the Present Danger" R. James Woolsey's call for an immediate transition to a regime of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as the best way to improve U.S. national security and fight terrorism.

In the words of the former CIA Director, "It's the batteries, stupid."

For more about this story, click here.

Listen to MTA official talk about "super-bus" Orange Line in San Fernando Valley

2005-07-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles County Metro Orange Line map

NABI 60BRT

Click on the title of this post to listen to an interview with Roger Dames, Deputy Executive Officer and Orange Line project manager at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), the organization responsible for designing, building, and operating the Orange Line and the rest of the Metro Rail system, about that system's probable late October/early November target date and about other significant aspects of this advanced vehicular transportation system.

For more about this story, click here.

Listen to Professor Mark Jacobson at Stanford University talk about wind power

2005-07-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

map of mean wind speeds 80 meters above the ground in N. America in 2000

(chart taken from "Evaluation of global wind power," by Cristina L. Archer and Mark Z. Jacobson, a summary of which was submitted to the Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres in September, 2004)

Click on the title of this post to listen to a detailed explanation from Stanford Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Mark Jacobson about where the wind comes from; how it's distributed around the earth; how it can be converted to electricity using wind turbines; how that energy can be used to power vehicles; what the trade-offs are, environmentally, in using various methods to produce hydrogen to fuel vehicles; and how power from the wind figures in the overall picture of using renewable sources of energy to provide the force required to move vehicles around on the surface of the earth.

Mark Z. Jacobson, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University

For more about this story, click here.

Learn about breakthrough "plug-in hybrid electric vehicles" (PHEVs)

2005-07-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

rare and historic EV1 promotional hat, circa 1996

A good way to learn more about the breakthrough EDrive technology that creates "plug-in hybrid electric vehicles" (PHEVs) is to take a look at the May 2, 2005, press release entitled "California Firms Join Forces To Develop New Plug-In Hybrid Technology.".

For more on this story, click here.

California State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) talks about SB 682, warns of "surveillance by skimming" dangers, calls for more discussion

2005-07-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

Joe Simitian, California State Senator (D-Palo Alto)

Click on the title of this post to hear California State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) talk about SB 682, a bill to regulate RFID tags on California State and local government identifiction documents.

For more on this story, click here.

California resumes medical marijuana ID card trial program

2005-07-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

marijuana, in a DEA photo

California's Department of Health Services has resumed the medical marijuana ID trial program that it suspended following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, in Gonzales v. Raich, that Congress' constitutional right to regulate interstate commerce overrides the right of California to exempt medical users of marijuana from federal criminal prosecution.

Click on the title of this post to listen to Ken August, spokesperson for the California Department of Health Services, talk about the original decision to suspend the state medical marijuana ID trial program.

For more on this story, click here.

California Attorney General spokesperson talks about decision to exclude Proposition 77 from the November, 2005, ballot on constitutional grounds

2005-07-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Bill Lockyer, California's Attorney General

Click on the title of this blog post to listen to Tom Dresslar, spokesperson for California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, talk about today's decision to exclude Governor Schwarzenegger's re-districting reform proposal from the November, 2005, Statewide Special Election ballot because the language of that proposed law, as circulated to petition signers, was never submitted to the Office of the Attorney General for an official Title and Summary.

For more on this story, click here.

Ted Costa vows to appeal anti-Proposition 77 decision

2005-07-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ted Costa, Board Member and CEO, People's Advocate

Click on this blog post's title to hear Ted Costa, proponent of Governor Schwarzenegger's re-districting initiative, Proposition 77, vow to carry on after a court ruled that the proposed measure, as circulated, had not met the constitutional requirement of being submitted to the Attorney General for an official Title and Summary.

For more on this story, click here.

Spokesperson for California Attorney General talks about speeding the resolution of stem cell litigation

2005-07-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

Dana Cody, executive director, Life Legal Defense Foundation

Bill Lockyer, California's Attorney General

Click on the title of this blog post to listen to Nathan Barankin, spokesperson for California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, talk about the pending court action seeking to consolidate the two lawsuits being brought to block the sale of $3 billion in California State bonds for embryonic stem cell research.

For about this story, click here

Cadman Chui, co-founder, CrispAds, talks about CrispAds for blogs

2005-07-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this blog post to listen to Cadman Chui, co-founder of the Toronto/San Francsico-based CrispAds company, talk about the CrispAds blog-centric text and banner ads program.

To visit the CrispAds web site and sign up for the program as a blogger or as an advertiser, click here.

Kurt Schwenk at NEC Solutions (America) explains digital cinema

2005-07-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

Kurt Schwenk, Director, Media Solutions, Media Solutions Division of NEC Solutions (America), Inc. (NECSAM)

NEC Solutions (America)'s STAR*Beam iS15 digital cinema projector

Click on the title of this post to listen to Kurt Schwenk, Director, Media Solutions, Media Solutions Division of NEC Solutions (America), Inc., (NECSAM) talk about and explain the technology of and business case for the next generation of projected visual entertainment: digital cinema.

For more about this, click here.

Jim Pickrell, President of Brand X, provides background of Brand X U.S. Supreme Court case

2005-07-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

Jim Pickrell, President, Brand X

Click on the title of this post to watch and listen to Jim Pickrell, President of Brand X in Santa Monica, California, talk about his company's case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

For more about this, click here.

Brand X President Jim Pickrell talks about Brand X decision from the U.S. Supreme Court

2005-07-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

U.S. Supreme Court Building

Jim Pickrell, President, Brand X, at the Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii

Click on the title of this post to listen to Jim Pickrell, President of Brand X, talk about the eponymous Supreme Court decision allowing cable companies not to allow his company to use their cable plant to offer broadband Internet services.

For more about this, click here.

SightSpeed CEO Brad Treat talks about SightSpeed 4.0

2005-07-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

Brad Treat, CEO, and Vera Belenky, Marketing Associate, SightSpeed

Click on the title of this post to watch and listen to Brad Treat, CEO at SightSpeed, and Vera Belenky, Marketing Associate at SightSpeed, talk about version 4.0 of SightSpeed's videoconferencing software system.

For more about this, click here.

Another effort to link to Ann Louise Bardach interview

2005-07-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

Ann Louise Bardach, investigative reporter

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California

For more about this August 27, 2004, interview, click here.

For an update on this story, including a prediction made by Ms. Bardach in the early afternoon of Friday, July 15, 2005, that Governor Schwarzenegger would need to cut his ties with American Media, Inc., a prediction that was realized later that afternoon, click here.

For an update of Governor Schwarzenegger's legal situation in the wake of his decision to give up his consultancy with American Media, click here.

Robin Williams at UCL talks about his bi-polar disorder treatment research

2005-07-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

Robin Williams, Ph.D., Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow, University College, London

Click on the title/link of this post to watch and listen to Robin Williams, researcher at University College, London, talk about his research into treatments for bi-polar disorder.

For more about this, click here.

Randal Picker talks about ClearPlay, Grokster, the Betamax precedent, TiVO, and other techno-entertainment issues

2005-07-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Randal Picker, Professor of Law, University of Chicago

Click on the title/link of this entry to watch and listen to Randal Picker, law professor at the University of Chicago, talk about ClearPlay, Grokster, the Betamax precedent, TiVO, and other techno-entertainment issues.

For more about this, click here.

Dr. Neil Martin at UCLA talks about RP-6 medical robot

2005-07-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Dr. Neil Martin, Medical Director, Neurosurgery ICU, UCLA Medical Center

Click on the title/link to watch and listen to Dr. Neil Martin at UCLA talk about the RP-6 tele-medical robot.

For more about this story, click on: Neil Martin, MD, talks about the RP-6 robot trial in the Neurosurgery ICU at UCLA Medical Center.

Ethical and legal questions remain as Schwarzenegger sends back the money, while Propositionista Ted Costa tries to have it both ways

2005-07-16T03:08:00.000-07:00

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California

Read the latest on Governor Schwarzenegger's efforts to break free of his conflict-of-interest controversy and about how ballot proposition aficionado Ted Costa wants to apply the law strictly in some cases and more loosely in others by clicking here.

Investigative reporter who broke Schwarzenegger-tabloid story says he'll need to resign his AMI position

2005-07-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ann Louise Bardach, investigative reporter

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California

Click on the title of this blog post to listen to investigative reporter Ann Louise Bardach say she thinks California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will have to resign his job with tabloid giant American Media, Inc., following the revelation that the company will be paying him $8 billion after he vetoed legislation to control the products they make money advertising.

For more on this story, including the complete interview with Ann Louise Bardach, go to: "7-15-05: Investigative reporter who broke the story about Governor Schwarzenegger and his tabloid deal says he'll need to cut his ties with American Media, Inc., and may face a conflict-of-interest investigation (California Politics Today™ #385)"

Josh Kinberg, FireANT co-founder, talks about video podcasting

2005-07-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

Josh Kinberg, co-founder, FireANT

To watch and listen to Josh Kinberg, co-founder of FireANT, as he talks about the latest developments in video blogging and video podcasting (v-podding), click here.

Pertinent links:
FireANT site
Josh Kinberg's videoblog
FreeVlog
OurMedia
Vlogging via phone cam

Politicians using vlogs:
John Edwards Videoblog
John Tobin (Boston City Councillor)
Andrew Rasiej (NYC candidate for Public Advocate)

Alleged "special interest" attorney discusses pending litigation against California's ICOC embryonic stem cell spending

2005-07-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

Dana Cody, executive director, Life Legal Defense Foundation

Click on the title of this post to listen to Dana Cody, Executive Director of the Life Legal Defense Foundation, provide an update on the lawsuit by California's People Advocate arguing against the right of the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee to raise and spent $3 billion of California's money for embryonic stem cell research.

For more about this case, click here

Ted Costa at People's Advocate squares off with Bill Lockyer, California Attorney General, on Proposition 77

2005-07-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

Ted Costa, Board Member and CEO, People's Advocate

Bill Lockyer, California's Attorney General

Click on the title of this blog post to listen to Ted Costa explain why California Proposition 77, the re-districting initiative, ought to be on the November 8, 2005, Statewide Special Election ballot.

Click here to listen to both Mr. Costa (again) and to California Attorney General Bill Lockyer make the case for keeping it OFF that ballot.

Schwarzenegger in "sweetheart deal" with tabloids

2005-07-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

Ann Louise Bardach, investigative reporter

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California

In an August 27, 2004, audio interview posted at "Ann Louise Bardach describes how a secret deal helped make Arnold Schwarzenegger governor", investigative reporter Bardach details her research into the business relationship and the favorable impact of the agreement between Governor Schwarzenegger between incumbent California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the chairman and CEO of American Media, David J. Pecker.

You can find out more about this at "Today's Los Angeles Times expose of Governor Schwarzenegger's alleged tabloid-based conflict of interest recalls August 27, 2004, California Politics Today interview with investigative reporter Ann Louise Bardach detailing similar allegations"

Elisabeth McLaury Lewin, Podcasting News Editor, talks about podcasting

2005-07-11T19:02:00.000-07:00

Elisabeth McLaury Lewin, Editor, Podcasting News

Podcasting News is a leading source of information about the exploding podcast movement.

Elisabeth McLaury Lewin is the Editor of Podcasting News. She spoke today with a reporter from Podmedia Reports about Podcasting News and various aspects of this new online phenomenon.

You can listen to an audio recording of that conversation, in its entirety, by clicking here.

Robin Williams, Ph.D., talks about bipolar disorder and its treatment with valproic acid

2005-07-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Robin Williams, Ph.D., Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow, University College, London

Robin Williams, Ph.D., is a Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow at University College, London, where he's researching the bio-chemistry of bipolar disorder and looking for improved treatments for this condition.

Dr. Williams spoke today with Etopia Media News Network about his research and its possible application in the development of treatments for bipolar disorder with fewer negative side effects.

You can watch and listen to this interview with Dr. Robin Williams, conducted remotely between London and Los Angeles, by clicking here.

For additional material about bipolar disorder, you can access three webcasts about this subject, recorded in February, 2005, by clicking here.

Download Apple iTunes free software client and enter "Podmedia" in the "Search all Podcasts" window on the lower-left side of the screen to locate and subscribe to the Podmedia Reports podcast for further coverage of this and other important political, technology, and bio-medical stories.

Medical marijuana veto override passes Rhode Island State Senate, 28-6

2005-06-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

marijuana

Rhode Island State Rep. Thomas C. Slater, (D-10th District, Providence)

The Rhode Island State Senate, on a vote of 28-6, achieved the three-fifths super-majority needed to override Governor Carcieri's veto of that state's medical marijuana legalization bill.

To listen to an announcement of that result by the principal author of the State House of Representatives' version of this bill, State Representative Thomas Slater, click here.

For a longer interview with Representative Slater about Rhode Island's medical marijuana bill, click here.

You can subscribe to the Podmedia Reports podcast that carries this interview, and will carry other interviews on this and other topical issues, by going here and following the simple instructions for downloading a "podcatcher" and subscribing to the Podmedia Reports podcast.

Rhode Island's Tom Slater talks about his medical marijuana bill

2005-06-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

thomasslater1.0.mp3
marijuana

Rhode Island State Rep. Thomas C. Slater, (D-10th District, Providence)

Thomas C. Slater represents the people of District 10 in Providence, Rhode Island, in the Rhode Island State House of Representatives.

Representative Slater is the principal author of 2005 –H 6052, "The Edward O. Hawkins Medical Marijuana Act.".

This bill, which would protect Rhode Island residents using medical marijuana from arrest or prosecution by state or local authorities, was passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly on June 28, 2005. The Governor of Rhode Island, Donald L. Carcieri, vetoed the bill on June 29, 2005.

An override vote on the vetoed bill is pending in the Rhode Island General Assembly as this article is posted, at 8:39 EDT, June 30, 2005. The bill passed both houses of the Rhode Island General Assembly by votes greater than the three-fifths margin required for an override of the governor's veto.

You can listen to an audio interview with Representative Thomas C. Slater, in which he talks about the content, purpose, and fate of this bill, which he says will provide "peace of mind" for patients using medical marijuana in Rhode Island, by clicking here.

A successful override of the governor's veto would make Rhode Island the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana and the third to have it legalized through its legislature.

The states that have already legalized medical marijuana are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington State.

You can subscribe to the Podmedia Reports podcast that carries this interview, and will carry other interviews on this and other topical issues, by going here and following the simple instructions for downloading a "podcatcher" and subscribing to the Podmedia Reports podcast.

AMD spokesperson discusses anti-trust suit against Intel

2005-06-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

AMD logo
AMD, the second largest manufacturer of x86 (Pentium) microprocessors, has sued Intel Corporation, the largest such company, for a range of anti-competitive behaviors.

Listen to a concise and timely Podmedia Reports audio interview with an AMD spokesperson, recorded at 4:45 pm, Wednesday, June 29, 2005, summarizing the main points of AMD's allegations against Intel by clicking here.

Read AMD's press release, "AMD Files Antitrust Complaint Against Intel In U.S. Federal District Court".

Read AMD's legal complaint, AMD-Intel Full Complaint.

Read a statement from AMD's CEO: "An Open Letter from Hector Ruiz, AMD Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer".

Make a LARGE or a small contribution to Podmedia Reports.

Tom Cruise's behavior prompts "War of the Worlds" boycott and petition

2005-06-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

As Paramount/SKGDreamworks' War of the Worlds opens wide, PetitionOnLine is hosting a petition directed to the film's director, Steven Spielberg, which begins: "We, the undersigned, wish to inform you that we are compelled to boycott your movie 'War of the Worlds'. Our decision is based solely on the abhorrent behavior of Mr. Tom Cruise," which the petition goes on to describe in lurid detail. Access the petition by clicking here. Watch the War of the Worlds trailers at the Apple War of the Worlds trailers page.

Ali Partovi, CEO, GarageBand.com, talks about GarageBand's expansion into non-music podcasting

2005-06-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

Ali Partovi, CEO, GarageBand.com

Click on the title of this blog entry to listen to an audio interview with Ali Partovi, CEO of GarageBand.

Jim Pickrell, Brand X President, talks about today's Brand X Supreme Court decision

2005-06-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

Jim Pickrell, President, Brand X, at the Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii

Click on the title of this blog entry to listen to an audio interview with Jim Pickrell, Brand X President, on the occasion of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision upholding the Federal Communications Commission's regulation of cable companies as "information services," and not "telecommunications services."

To listen to a previous audio interview with Mr. Pickrell, recorded April 4, 2005, click here. To watch a previous, remotely-sourced video interview with Mr. Pickrell, recorded April 14, 2005, click here.

Listen to Carl's Jr./Hardee's spokesperson Brad Haley talk about the controversial Paris Hilton television commercial--Podmedia Reports #7.0

2005-06-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Brad Haley, Executive Vice President of Marketing, CKE Restaurants, Carl's Jr.'s holding company

Click on this blog entry's title to listen to Carl's Jr./Hardee's spokesperson Brad Haley discuss the Carl's Jr. campaign using the Paris Hilton's tv ad, May 25, 2005.

Read more about this at "Brad Haley, EVP at Carl's Jr., says company has no plans to pull the Paris Hilton ad, emphasizing that, 'at the end of the day, it's just an ad.'"

Listen to Carl's Jr./Hardee's spokesperson Brad Haley discuss the second wave of Paris Hilton hamburger ads--Podmedia Reports #6.0

2005-06-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

Brad Haley, Executive Vice President of Marketing, CKE Restaurants, Carl's Jr.'s holding company

Click on this blog entry's title to listen to Carl's Jr./Hardee's spokesperson Brad Haley discuss the Hardee's campaign using the Paris Hilton's tv ad, June 17, 2005.

Read more about this at "With only 9 days to go until the second debut of the Paris Hilton Hardee's® Spicy BBQ Thickburger™ Topped with Texas Toothpicks™ television ad, Brad Haley, EVP at Carl's Jr., talks about the impending launch."

Listen to Parents' Television Council spokesperson Melissa Caldwell discuss Paris Hilton's tv ad--Podmedia Reports #5.0

2005-06-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Melissa Caldwell, Director of Research and Publications at the Parents Television Council

Click on this blog entry's title to listen to Parents' Television Council spokesperson Melissa Caldwell discuss Paris Hilton's tv ad, May 24, 2005.

Read more about this at "Melissa Caldwell, Parents Television Council spokesperson, calls Carl's Jr.'s Paris Hilton ad "a violation of families' trust," but says PTC won't be filing a complaint with the FCC or organizing a boycott against the company."

Paris Hilton May Prefer McDonalds, but Shills for Hardee's--Podmedia Reports #4.0

2005-06-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

tv ad for a $6 piece of meat

Listen to Brad Haley, Executive VP, CKE, Inc., talk about the re-launch of the Paris Hilton burger ad, while Paris herself prefers McDonalds.

Rick Klau, VP, FeedBurner, talks about feed management--Podmedia Reports #3.0

2005-06-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Listen to Rick Klau, VP, Business Development, at FeedBurner talk about feed management and podcasting on June 15, 2005, recorded remotely from Chicago, Illinois.

Mike Grimes at Cuesol talks about Cart Companion--Podmedia Reports #2.0

2005-06-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Mike Grimes, VP of Sales and Business Development at Cuesol

Listen to Mike Grimes, VP of Sales and Business Development at Cuesol talk about that company's Cart Companion and related technologies in this audio interview, recorded from Quincy, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, June 22, 2005.

Will Doherty talks about verified voting--Podmedia Reports #1.2

2005-06-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this post to listen to Will Doherty, Executive Director of Verified Voting.org, talking about testimony today before the U.S. Senate Rules Committee by Stanford Professor of Computer Science David Dill, who called for legislation that would assure that every voter's input into the electoral process would be, in Mr. Doherty's words "counted as cast."

Guy Harrison talks about H.R. 2726--Podmedia Reports #1.1

2005-06-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this post to listen to an interview with Guy Harrison, Chief of Staff for Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, chief sponsor of H.R. 2726, which would, mostly, prohibit states and cities from competing with telcos and cable companies in providing the "big three" of Internet access, voice-over-IP, and video delivery.

Guy Harrison and Will Doherty--Podmedia Reports #1.0

2005-06-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this post to listen to Podmedia Reports #1, featuring interviews with Guy Harrison, Chief of Staff for Texas Congressman Pete Session, talking about H.R. 2726, which would, mostly, prohibit states and cities from competing with telcos and cable companies in providing the "big three" of Internet access, voice-over-IP, and video delivery, and with Will Doherty, Executive Director of Verified Voting.org, talking about testimony today before the U.S. Senate Rules Committee by Stanford Professor of Computer Science David Dill, who called for legislation that would assure that every voter's input into the electoral process would be, in Mr. Doherty's words "counted as cast."