Turkey lifts its ban on YouTube

(Reuters) Turkey has lifted its ban on video-sharing website YouTube as material deemed insulting to Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has been removed, Turkish state-run news agency Anatolian reported Saturday.

Ankara's general attorney ruled the site, blocked since May 2008, should be now freely accessible to Turkish users.

The ban was widely criticized, even by Turkey's President Abdullah Gul who used his Twitter page to condemn the move, and said he had asked responsible institutions for a solution.

Under the country's penal code it is an offence to insult the Turkish nation and its institutions.

YouTube said in a statement on Saturday: "We've received reports that some users in Turkey are once again able to access YouTube...We want to be clear that a third party, not YouTube, have apparently removed some of the videos that have caused the blocking of YouTube in Turkey using our automated copyright complaint process."

"We are investigating whether this action is valid in accordance with our copyright policy," YouTube added.

Human rights groups and media watchdog associations have long urged European Union membership candidate Turkey to reform its restrictive Internet laws.

In June the human rights and security group Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Turkey's internet law, first introduced to restrict access to pornography and other content harmful to children, had been expanded to prevent access to over 5,000 sites.

  What do you think about that? Do you think there should be censorship on the net?

cause & effect essay quiz

The quiz starts at 10 a.m tomorrow and the time allocated is 2 hours.

You have been writing essays for two weeks and I'm sure you will do great tomorrow. There's no need to get nervous, just read the topics carefully, choose one and write your essay. Don't forget the important things like thesis statement, topic sentences, transition sentence and comment in the conclusion. Show off your grammar and vocabulary skills, too. Good luck!

turnitin or burnitin?

Hi, I've told you that some students did not like "turnitin". Indeed, quite a few students are against the system. They claim that the system illegally archives students' work without their permission. Check out the link if you like to read about the students who sued the company that created the turnitin system.

"the truth will make you free"

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything! Do you remember the student getting a zero upon refusing to send his paper to turnitin.com? It is used in some universities and high schools in our country, too. Some students like it, some don't.  What do you think about this system? If you were asked to send your written material to an anti-plagiarism website what would your reaction be?

bodyworlds

Hello again! Today I showed you a short video about bodyworlds exhibition and you said you found it interesting. IMHO (in my humble opinion), being medical students, you should see it while you can. What do you think? Exhibition ends December 17... For tickets click on the link please.

P.S: If you dare to go to the exhibition, don't forget to see the video showing how Dr. Gunther von Hagens managed to apply his plastination technique.

and for those karaoke lovers...

sing it!

i promise, next time i will find a more cheerful tune...

"noun clauses" with Lionel Richie

youtube/hello

Hi again! Remember I told you that I learned English listening to music? Here's an unforgettable song from the 80's. It's a little bit cheesy but some of us old folks, love it. It was one of the most romantic songs those days. I was a university student then. Anyway, with this song we will focus on noun clauses. Some examples:

   Hello, is it me you're looking for?
   'cos you know just what to say...

Can you find some more? Click the link above and check it out please! Ciao!