New York Knicks player Carmelo Anthony thinks America needs a TV show where he talks about his political ideas and tells us how we should think about current events.
Month: June 2017
Decent Launches Global Media Distribution Platform
Free and open communication has long been an essential component of a successful democracy. Unfortunately, money, power and influence over time have stifled today’s media environment adversely impacting both content producers and consumers alike.
In an effort to democratize creative content, DECENT has officially launched its blockchain-based, global media distribution platform. The name is an acronym for Decentralized Network; Encrypted & Secure; Content Distribution System; Elimination of 3rd Parties; New Way of Online Publishing; Timestamped Data Records.
Designed to bring more transparency and fairness to the media industry, DECENT allows artists to seamlessly distribute digital content for immediate payment and without hefty fees. Peer-to-peer in its orientation, consumers decide the merits of a certain piece of content posted through a Yelp-like community rating system. The content, however, cannot be censored or removed.
This blockchain initiative endeavors to disrupt the legacy world of media distribution by allowing artists more freedom and control over the ownership and distribution of their content, all without compromising on security. It represents a potential gamechanger for the massive global media and content distribution industry — one that’s estimated to grow from $1.7 trillion in 2016 to over $2 trillion in 2019.
DECENT was founded in 2016 by two friends, Matej Michalko and Matej Boda, from Slovakia. It sprouted from a shared vision that blockchain technology could fuel a coordinated system of digital content publishing and sharing throughout the world.
Funding for DECENT was fueled by an ICO campaign last summer, which raised more than 5,881 BTC, at that time valued at $4.2 million USD. There were 4,300 ICO participants in total and no other key funding partners.
Michalko recounted the journey leading up to his own personal discovery of blockchain technology and its potential uses for the content distribution space. “I’ve been extensively involved in Bitcoin since 2011, even mining it from my own laptop at the beginning. I quickly realized that the innovative technology behind Bitcoin had the potential to change the modern world.”
When Michalko started to delve further into blockchain technology, he found a seemingly endless list of use cases the new technology could support. “I became determined to use blockchain technology to create something revolutionary that would be beneficial for people on a global scale. A short time later ongoing discussions between myself and our future co-founder Matej Boda quickly led to DECENT being born.”
He says that DECENT Network is a reaction to the issues that the majority of content producers face nowadays in the entertainment and media industry. “There is too much artificial complexity and too many barriers in the industry affecting both the access to market and income of the content owners.”
DECENT’S digital model allows artists to distribute any form of content, including written, music, videos, ebooks and pictures. These distribution channels are free of third-party influence, meaning that artists can also manage their intellectual property rights and set their own pricing.
One of the innovative adaptations that distinguishes DECENT from other blockchain platforms is the network’s reputation management system. This allows content creators who share their digital work on the platform to build a lifetime reputation, based on ratings from those who purchase content on the platform. DECENT Network also allows content creators to instantly receive payment when someone downloads their content, without any middleman interference.
Michalko believes that DECENT can break the trajectory in which a majority of power is concentrated in the hands of a few players controlling the industry. “Artists, filmmakers and writers lose control over their work and depend on the mercy of the ‘big guys.’ We designed DECENT Network to do away with all that and bring more transparency and fairness to the digital content industry.”
DECENT estimates that writers, for example, lose a healthy 30–75 percent chunk of their earnings when publishing with Amazon. Similarly, musicians, through licensing agreements, lose around 30 percent when selling a track on iTunes. Blockchain technology therefore serves as a mechanism that helps writers and musicians keep more money, while connecting with their audiences directly.
Michalko says that artists will be paid for their downloaded content through DECENT’s own cryptocurrency called “DCT,” which will be launched together with DECENT Network. Other payment options, he says, will be available in the future. “Artists will no longer have to wait months before seeing a penny from their work. And at the time of launch, DECENT Network will be a completely free-of-charge service for artists.”
Michalko hopes that by 2020, DECENT Network will have become the number one worldwide media sharing platform. “We hope to bring more transparency and fairness to the digital content industry for both creators and consumers. I hope that with our launch people will realize the advantage of DECENT Network over other content distribution platforms.”
The post Decent Launches Global Media Distribution Platform appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.
New York Times: Turns Out ‘17 Intelligence Agencies’ Was Fake News
The New York Times placed a bombshell of a correction at the bottom of a pessimistic piece on President Donald Trump Thursday.
Sheila Jackson Lee: Trump’s ‘Continuous Assault on Women’ Is Why He ‘Needs to Resign’
Friday on Fox Business Network’s “Cavuto: Coast to Coast,” Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) clarified that when she called for President Donald Trump to resign after his tweets about MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski, it was not based on one tweet. Jackson Lee said, “Over his career here as president, his tenure, he has done a number of things, a number of tweets…a series of things. He is incompatible with the office and the leadership of this country. And, yes, the idea that his continuous assault on women only compounds the fact that I would ask him — it’s a job that he does not seemingly like, he needs to resign.” “And I stand by that because he is inappropriate for the office,” she added. “You can’t even get answers from his cabinet officers about housing, about State Department issues because they’re not staffed. They’re not staffed because the White House can’t seem to agree on appointments. You have to be able to run this country on behalf of the American people.” Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
Twitter Denies It Is Developing Feature for Users to Flag ‘Fake’ or ‘Harmful’ News
The Washington Post claims Twitter is prototyping a feature that would allow users to report “fake news” and “harmful information.”
Starving Venezuelans Haul Off Vending Machines in Mass Looting Attack
Photos from inside Venezuela have shown people participating in mass looting as a means of survival, including stealing entire vending machines and carrying them through the streets.
President Trump Vows to Usher in Golden Era of American Energy Dominance
We will bring new opportunity to the heartland, new prosperity to our inner cities, and new infrastructure all across our nation. When it comes to the future of America’s energy needs, we will find it, we will dream it, and we will build it.
President Donald J. Trump
On Thursday, President Donald J. Trump joined Energy Industry Executives, members of Congress, and Cabinet Officials at the Department of Energy to deliver remarks on unleashing America’s boundless capacity for energy production.
“We’re here today to usher in a new American energy policy,” he declared.
The President explained that he is not only focusing on “energy independence,” but also “energy dominance.”
With that goal in mind, he outlined six concrete steps his Administration is immediately taking to promote strength and innovation in America’s energy sector.
“First, we will begin to revive and expand our nuclear energy sector, which produces clean, renewable and emissions-free energy. A complete review of U.S. nuclear energy policy will help us find new ways to revitalize this crucial energy resource.
Second, the Department of the Treasury will address barriers to the financing of highly efficient overseas coal energy plants. Ukraine already tells us they need millions of metric tons right now – and we want to sell it to them, and to everyone else who needs it.
Third, my administration has just approved the construction of a new petroleum pipeline to Mexico, which will further boost American Energy Exports.
Fourth, just today, a major U.S. company, Sempra Energy, signed an agreement to begin negotiations for the sale of more American natural gas to South Korea.
Fifth, the U.S. Department of Energy is announcing today that it will approve two long-term applications to export additional natural gas from the Lake Charles LNG terminal in Louisiana.
Finally, in order to unlock more energy from the 94 percent of offshore land closed to development under the previous administration, we are creating a new offshore Oil and Gas Leasing program. America will be allowed to access the vast energy wealth located right off our shores.”
These steps will benefit the American people in numerous ways, the President explained.
Our country will no longer be vulnerable to foreign regimes that use energy as an economic weapon; American families will have access to cheaper energy, allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned dollars; and our workers will have access to more jobs and opportunities.
“And this is only the beginning,” the President said. The Golden Era of American Energy is now underway – and all of you will be a part of creating this exciting new future.”