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Netanyahu's obsessive desire to control the media reveals undemocratic tendencies. He wants to reduce criticism of himself and weaken the power of ordinary citizens, while strengthening the government at their expense.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus deep involvement in the media market was discussed last year by several gatekeepers. Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit ordered him not to get involved in any issue relevant to Shaul Elovitch, owner of the phone company Bezeq and the Internet news site Walla, due to the conflict of interests that their friendship creates. Later, following a petition to the High Court of Justice, Netanyahu was forced to temporarily give up his role as communications minister altogether and transfer the ministry to Tzachi Hanegbi.

In addition, Netanyahus unacceptable attempts to influence his media coverage by exploiting his governmental powers have been at the center of a police investigation into his meetings with the publisher of the daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

Nevertheless, Netanyahu continues to be involved in legislation aimed at increasing his influence over Israels media. As TheMarkers Nati Tucker reported yesterday, a bill sponsored by the Communications Ministry would give Netanyahu and his government unprecedented control over all broadcast media in Israel. Its goal is to set up a new regulatory agency that would supervise all commercial television stations, including the Channel 2 and Channel 10 news corporations, as well as the multichannel platforms Hot and Yes, the regional radio stations, Army Radio and the new public broadcasting corporation, which includes all the radio stations currently operated by Israel Radio.

The way appointments would be made to the new agency constitutes a significant retreat from the attempts of the last few years to create a buffer between the government and the media. The chairman of the new regulatory body, who will also be its chief executive, is slated to be a direct political appointee of the minister in charge. In addition, the agencys governing council will be an internal government department operating under the ministers direct authority. Via this agency, Netanyahu also seeks to erase the achievement represented by the establishment of the new broadcasting corporation, and in effect to oust the entirety of the corporations governing council and management, thereby killing the attempt to establish independent public broadcasting in Israel.

Netanyahus obsessive desire to control the media reveals undemocratic tendencies. The prime minister wants to reduce criticism of himself and weaken the power of ordinary citizens, while strengthening the government and especially its head at their expense. The proposed legislation would deal a mortal blow to freedom of expression in Israel and seriously undermine the foundations of its democracy.

The above article is Haaretz's lead editorial, as published in the Hebrew and English newspapers in Israel.

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Originally posted here:
Netanyahu Continues Gagging the Media - Haaretz

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Physicists at the University of Otago have found a way to control individual atoms, making them appear wherever they command.

Dr Mikkel Andersen. Supplied.

The research, led by Dr Mikkel Andersen from the Dodd-Walls Centre, follows a breakthrough in 2010 when the team isolated and captured a neutralrubidium-85 atom, which allowed them to photograph it for the first time.

Cooling the atoms to almost absolute zero (minus 273 degrees Celsius) and use certain frequencies and intensities of laser lights. Cooling eliminates the atoms random wobbling, allowing it to reach a quantum state with high purity, which Dr Andersen said represents the ultimate control over individual atoms.

We are pushing the boundaries for the level of control that scientists can have over microscopic systems. Technical revolutions our society has undergone in past decades largely, if not entirely, originate from being able to control systems at a smaller and smaller scale, he said.

This has been a long journey. This is what we have been trying to get to for 10 years.

The research was supported through a Marsden Fund and the findings are soon to be published inPhysical Review A: Rapid Communications.

The findings have been covered in NZ media, including:

NZ Herald:Kiwis control atoms in new breakthroughOtago Daily Times:Otago scientists control atomStuff.co.nz:Otago Uni physicists have worked out how to control individual atoms

Follow this link:
Science Media Centre Blog Archive Otago researchers take ... - Science Media Centre (blog)

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks

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GLENDALE, AZ DECEMBER 18: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks

Its a confusing situation and one that is an ongoing story. But over the past couple of days Twitter has been all, well, atwitter over an exchange between Saints receivers Michael Thomas and Brandin Cooks.

Cooks has been the subject of trade rumors of late.The Saints arereportedly shopping his services in exchange for draft picks. Two of the leading suitors are said to be the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.

A good breakdown on the story by Eliot Shorr-Parks was carried on the website NJ.com doing due diligence from an Eagles perspective and can be found here.

To summarize, Michael Thomas put out the following tweet on Sunday:

Cooks, taking the comment personally sent out a now deleted tweet saying Trigger fingers turn to Twitter fingers.

ATLANTA, GA JANUARY 01: Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas added a reply stating that he was simply tweeting lyrics from a song but responses to his initial tweet were liked from his account suggesting Cooks was being addressed directly.

None of what happened next is any longer available online. Some of what were reporting here is hearsay from individuals who say they followed the post.

Lewis took to Instagram Live for his rants. He lookedto be in what wellcharitably describe as less than ideal playing shape. In the post he was working out in a kids playground.

NEW ORLEANS, LA OCTOBER 04: Keenan Lewis

Lewis allegedly got Michael Thomas on the phone, on speaker, and got him talking about coaches and teammates. Tweets describe elements of the phone call in which Thomas allegedly called Willie Snead a role player and Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen a bum.

All of this would seem to show a less than team like atmosphere in the Saints locker room. It puts Michael Thomas in a pretty bad light. Up to this point his public persona has been that of a humble though very gifted athlete and a consummate team player.

Sean Payton has publicly spoken at length about the desire to bring character guys and locker room guys into the Black and Gold through free agency and the draft following the tumult surrounding former Saints Junior Galette and Kenny Stills. This series of events would seem to cast doubt on whether or not theyve accomplished that.

Things got weird following a game in December against the Rams in which Cooks took to Twitter to publicly complain about not being enough of a focus on the offense. At the time it was chalked up to him being hyper competitive. But the incident caused rumors of discontent to spread. It seemed to manythat rookie standout Michael Thomas was stealing his thunder.

NEW ORLEANS, LA NOVEMBER 13: Willie Snead IV

Now those rumors are being given new life and playing out in front of a national media with a thirst for just this kind of TMZ-like story. And Keenan Lewis, like an ex you had forgotten about who finds out youre in a new relationship and seeks to sink it by any means necessary, came out of nowhere to make things spin further out of control.

The team leaders need to get vocal and get involved so things dont go any further than they already have. Thats on Brees, Strief, Jordan and Vaccaro by the way. The veteran leadership of the team.

And the agents for these players need to step in. They need to illustrate that this airingof dirty laundry via public social media does nothing but dimishreturns for them in the long run. Nobody wants this kind of drama on their team.

One things for certain: Cooks wont be in a Saints jersey in 2017.

With the Saints currently negotiating with Willie Snead on a contract extension, the free agency period about to open, the team hoping to get a good return on Cooks via tradeand a losing franchise needing to do everything it can to turn itself around, none of this could be coming at a worse time.

Its time for Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton to get out in front of this story. They need to put it to bed.

Roy Anderson contributes to Who Dat Dish. He hosts the daily New Orleans Saints podcast Locked on Saints available on Google Play, iTunes, Stitcher, Audioboom.com, and TuneIn.

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New Orleans Saints Need to Control Social Media Dumpster Fire - Who Dat Dish

COMMENT: Ten points clear and with one hand on the Premier League crown, Chelsea are in total control. And it's no coincidence - so is their manager.

In Antonio Conte, we're seeing a leader at the peak of his powers. Putting out spotfires before any chance of a blaze. Showing his peers how to react and control a story. It was the stuff of genius last week.

It broke in Milan that Suning, the owners of recently acquired Inter Milan, had identified Conte as the man they wanted at the helm from next season. Stefano Pioli had righted the ship after the disastrous three months of Frank de Boer. But he was always ever going to be stop-gap. Conte was the one Suning wanted - and money would be no object in tempting him home.

The story had legs. Conte was alone in London. He was homesick, so they said. Wife Elisabetta and daughter Vittoria were still in Italy, where both were attending school. With Inter intermediaries making it known of their interest, claims of Conte pining for home gave the claims more credence.

Of course, Conte could've ignored it. He could've let the story run and hope it all fizzled out. But he's just not that type. He drives at issues head on. He likes a confrontation - just ask Diego Costa.

And what's more, Conte is bright enough to know how dark things can turn when there's uncertainty surrounding the leadership. Three of his frontliners - Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois - have all been the subject of intense speculation this season. Running away with the title hasn't eased the doubts over their futures. And those interested would love nothing more than to see confusion develop over Conte's situation at the club

But before anything could really spark, Conte was giving interviews. First with the London Evening Standard, then in his pre-match presser before Monday night's win at West Ham. Everything was on the table. He was open. Wide open. Yes, he missed his family. Yes, he was still adjusting to London life. But no, as far as he was concerned, there was zero chance of him walking out on Chelsea. Indeed, he went further. When it did come time to leave, he wouldn't be returning to Italy. Conte will seek a fresh experience abroad.

And it wasn't picked up by every outlet, but he also let it be known the family will be reunited next season. Elisabetta's uni course will conclude over the summer, so allowing her and Vittoria to relocate to London permanently by the time hubby returns to work.

In one sentence, he'd not only stopped the Inter rumours in their tracks, Conte had also shut down talk of being homesick. The message to his players - and those whom fancy ferrying them away was clear: He's not going anywhere.

Clarity. Certainty. It was all offered by the manager and he was rewarded with another clinical performance at London stadium on Monday. Contrast that to the chaos and carnage across town at Arsenal and you begin to understand why Conte, in a matter of months, managed to get this Chelsea team humming.

It's not always going to run so smoothly. Diego Costa's temperament and on-off move to China is sure to rear up again. Zinedine Zidane still fancies seeing Hazard in his XI at Real Madrid. And Zizou's president, Florentino Perez, remains in contact with Courtois' minders about a return to the city.

But what Conte can control he has. And by getting on the front foot last week, he let it be known to his players - and their agents - the manager is staying.

How to control a story - and then put it out? A certain manager across town could do with getting on the phone to Conte for some advice.

Original post:
Conte in control: How Chelsea boss gave Wenger lesson in media management - Tribal Football