poland

In a stunning repudiation of a United Nations summit, an alliance of Western democracies including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada today rejected a proposed treaty over concerns it hands repressive governments too much authority over the Internet.

"This conference was never meant to focus on Internet issues," said ambassador Terry Kramer, head of the U.S. delegation to the Dubai summit. "The Internet has given the world unimaginable economic and social benefit during these past 24 years -- all without U.N. regulation."

Delegates from the Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, the Philippines, … Read more

Omicron, directed by Romain Tardy and Thomas Vaquie, serves as a permanent animated art exhibit that resides within Centennial Hall in Wroclaw, Poland. The overwhelming light show uses an array of projectors to paint shapes upon the walls and massive ceiling.

For those not familiar with the superstructure also known as Hala Stulecia (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the massive building features a 213-foot diameter dome perfect for artsy projections. … Read more

With Greece teetering on the brink of post-history and Italy constantly attempting to out-buffoon itself, the concept of "nation" is under a little pressure.

Then along comes Apple, hurtling toward style domination, and suddenly it seems to have a market valuation greater than some world economies.

One headline this week, though, crowed slightly beyond reason. "Apple is now worth more than Poland," it read.

It was the use of the word "worth" that caused my cabbage pierogi to resist their final resting place.

Is Apple really "worth" more than Poland? I know … Read more

When serious BLT fans like myself look back over the technological accomplishments of the past century, it seems a bit unfair that we've traveled to the moon and connected the world by sending magic signals through the air, yet still burn a disconcerting proportion of our toast.

At last, a Polish designer has brought the underappreciated art of gently crisping bread into the 21st century. Mateusz Glowka created the Roastie, a wheel-shaped toasting device that's bound to haunt your hamster's nightmares.… Read more

The more people use Facebook, the more they find new uses for it.

Sometimes these don't revolve around poking someone you met last night in a drunken bar, but poking the thoughts and conscience of a wider audience.

A Polish arts organization called Brama Grodzka (Grodzka Gate) was, according to the Associated Press, the driving force behind an idea to create a living testimonial to Holocaust victims. Following its lead, some members of his family and other administrators wrote a Facebook profile for Henio Zytomirski, a 6-year-old boy whose life was brutally taken in the Holocaust.

While more famous … Read more

There are those who believe that enterprise has no place in religion. They are, however, very few in number.

Churches must use every commercial means available to attract devotees, be it advertising, be it incentivizing, or be it the latest in electronic surveillance.

So may I indulge you in the story of Father Gregorz Sowa, a priest in the southwestern Polish town of Gryfow Slaski.

This is not a big place (just over 7,000 inhabitants) and no one terribly famous has ever come out of there to impact the world. However, it is a place, like so many in … Read more

When I lived and worked in Warsaw, Poland, just before the turn of the century, I had a client who was about to make a TV spot. The client insisted on a Polish director. We offered the name Marek Dawid.

"Who's his DP (director of photography)?" the client asked.

"Pawel Edelman," was the answer.

"Oh, I'm not having two Jews on my shoot," came the reply, which was both stunningly anti-Semitic and frighteningly stupid, as Edelman went on to be DP on such movies as "The Pianist."

I tell this … Read more

New contenders are emerging to challenge the BRIC countries' dominance of the offshoring market.

While India was the "undisputed leader," followed by China and other BRIC countries Russia and Brazil, research firm Gartner's list this year of the top 30 offshoring destinations showed Mexico, Poland, and Vietnam pushing their way up to take them on.

Ian Marriott, research vice president at Gartner, said these countries would be seeking to take advantage of the credit crisis to capitalize on organizations' drive to save costs.

The four countries that dropped out from last year's Top 30 were Northern … Read more

Jeff's better half Stacie Blair and Dan the Mantern fill out Friday's show, where once again, things go awry with the technical difficulties. I'm starting to think The 404 is cursed. Stories for the day include fake iPhone lineups in Poland, facial recognition technology at Dunkin' Donuts, parenting tips from The 404, and our new segment "Girlfriend of a Gamer."

Today's show is suppa greeen! We're very excited to welcome Stacie Blair into the studio! She jumps into the chatroom from time to time, but this is the first time ever in the … Read more