ANTI-OBAMA PROTESTS
 
Thousands of protesters complaining about US taxes met on Saturday in Washington, their plan of action being to denounce Barack Obama’s healthcare reform plans.

On the Web, many videos of the protest were sent in to demonstrate its magnitude. Protests also followed in other towns, where gatherings were also filmed and posted online.

This female video blogger expresses her pride at attending the anti-Obama meeting in Washington.

The Web is, of course, the favourite platform for the president’s detractors. Videos attacking a possible socialist programme continue to multiply - like this one, where Obama is likened to a Soviet Union leader.
 

It is mainly the taxes imposed by the Obama administration that are causing the uproar. This animated online drawing presents Obama as ‘Taxman’.
 

In this song, which borrows from a traditional American tune, the composer criticises the direction taken by the government, which he believes is overly interventionist. He bemoans restrictions on citizens’ freedom.
 

INFLUENZA A (H1N1)

France is preparing to face the Influenza A (H1N1) epidemic. On the Web, the mood is one of humour as Net users have decided to see the funny side of the situation.

Many parody the official recommendations. ‘Vaness la Bomba’ has published this video. One of the recommendations she gives is a special dance which allows you to avoid contact with members of the public in the street.
 

This Web user also makes fun of the prevailing sense of paranoia by posting this montage. It is a preview for a spoof horror film apparently entitled ‘Virus’.

In this sketch posted on YouTube, one Net user says he has found the first pig contaminated with the virus in Mexico - ‘Pig Zero.’
 

But the greatest success concerns virus-inspired games, tens of which have appeared online. Some are more serious than others. This UK virology research centre has launched its own game with an educational motive, the aim being to explain how the virus is spread.
 

Finally, hundreds of Net users have participated in this preventative video competition organised by the US health department. Ten finalists are in the running. Here is one of them. The results will be made known on September 16.

MADEINNATIONS.COM

 
Do you know the origin of the products you buy? The site, "Made in nations" has a collaborative format that allows you to discover where everyday products are manufactured. The aim is to turn citizens into responsible consumers. Although it is easy to find out the country of origin of classic products like T-shirts and pairs of shoes, it is more difficult for other objects such as mobile phones and computers.
 

BRAIN AND SOCIAL MEDIA

 
According to a Scottish scientific study, the brain reacts differently to various social networks that Net users visit. Facebook is thought to boost the memorial function and in return, intellectual capacities, while Twitter and YouTube are thought not to stimulate memory, but to instead encourage the Net user towards passivity. Behind the discovery is psychologist Tracey Alloway, who even goes so far as to suggest that regular use of Facebook makes users more intelligent. It's news that should please many!
 

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Here is the video currently causing a buzz online - a video created by the CNES, (France's Space Research Centre), presenting the future missions of the satellite SMOS, which will be sent into orbit on November 2. In particular it will study rising sea levels and phenomena such as global warming and desertification. It's a new tool which should help us better understand the damaging effects of climate change.