Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, February 22, 2021

Drama and theater! The veil is lifting. Tech giants are useful, but they seem driven by parasites. The same can be said of legislative bodies, entertainment giants, and prosecutors going after the January 6 Capitol Insurrection.

Jessica Watkins has an interesting story to tell. Her defense of January 6 could convince the public that the prosecution is over-stating its case, looking to hang anyone and everyone possible as payback for the Capitol being breached. In acquitting those who occupied their legislative floor in 2014, Taiwan’s dignity far outshines that of America’s. To the US Supreme Court: You have a higher bar to reach, so to speak.

Social media takes a bumpy turn for the better. Australia’s social media law is somewhat vague, but mainly forces dialog. As understood by the Times, the Aussie law, along with the infamous ‘Articles 11’ of the EU law, aren’t aimed at the normal guy nor the pundit. Instead, they aim at huge tech giants who use AI to aggregate enormous numbers of new stories as one more added feature of their already behemoth-sized tech services. The infamous EU ‘Article 13’ law banning memes is another story. While Europe wants to tax links on Apple and Google, then ban memes for nearly everyone, Australia just wants Facebook and Google to have a conversation when they re-post part of a news story.

While the giants fight, originality steps up. In the approaching shadow of it becoming illegal to use any old music on YouTube, the need for original music spikes. Such laws were lobbied for by big entertainment companies; ironically it is big entertainment that now faces its fiercest competition from billions of ‘little guys’—who used to be their customers.

So, to the tech giants, tech-phobic lawmakers, copyright mongers, and prosecutors: Keep overreaching. Just keep overreaching.

Trump

Sen. Lindsey Graham says he spoke to Donald Trump after his acquittal and the former President is ‘excited’ about 2022 // CNN

State & Local

Michigan restaurants push for increased capacity limits // WOOD NBC 8 Grand Rapids, MI

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of energy emergency in MI // ABC 12 Flint

Liquor licenses suspended at Michigan bar violating 25% capacity, 10 p.m. closing rules // MLive.com

Satirical billboard south of Michigan border calls Whitmer ‘Indiana businessperson of the year’ // MLive.com

Republicans

Trump-McConnell rift threatens GOP’s Senate hopes // Politico

The Birthplace of the Republican Party Buckles After Trump Nearly Blew Up the GOP // Politico

Trump declares war on McConnell, vows to back MAGA challengers // CNBC

Trump rips McConnell in lengthy statement after being acquitted in impeachment trial // CNN

Violence, Radicalism & Terrorism

Alleged Oathkeeper says she was protecting VIPs at Trump rally // CNN

Soc Media, Cybersecurity & Tech

What is Article 13 and Article 11? // IT Pro

Australia news code: What’s this row with Facebook and Google all about? // BBC News

Google and Facebook: the landmark Australian law that will make them pay for news content // Guardian

Facebook restarts talks over Australia media law // Politico (EU)

News Law – Facebook Australia // australia.fb.com

Space

Mars landing team ‘awestruck’ by photo of descending rover // Phys.org

NASA Mars Perseverance rover has successfully landed // CNN

Mid East

US sanctions inflicted $1 trillion damage on Iran’s economy: FM // Aljazeera

NATO Focus

UPDATE 1-White House says U.S. not inviting Russia to G7 // Yahoo News

U.S. enters NATO meetings: China and Russia threats, Afghanistan war drags // CNBC

Standard