The Soweto Gospel Choir will perform at the opening ceremony for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the first time the World Cup will be hosted by an African nation. (Play the video at left to hear them perform "The Lion Sleeps Tonight.") — Read the rest

Ten years ago, much of the excitement at CES and in Hollywood involved the possibilities of digital cinema and television. This week in Vegas, it's all about 3D.

Sony CEO Howard Stringer described it as "the next great consumer experience," and was joined on stage by previously Kanye-bashed pop star Taylor Swift, whose performance was then streamed live in 3D. — Read the rest

Following up on a previous BB post about internet-related aspects of the current meltdown in Zimbabwe, BoingBoing reader Bretton Vine writes:

I'm in from South Africa, currently experiencing what the popular media
calls a 'human tsunami' of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe across our
borders for everything from work to medicine and even basic foodstuffs which
are smuggled back into Zimbabwe for resale.

Now I know why the FIFA World Cup is such a big deal. It turns out that it's played by ants with a ball stolen from a dung beetle. That is exciting!

In the wild, the ants recognize enemies by their pheromones.

(Click thumbnail for enlargement.) I just opened a letter sent to Boing Boing from some fools at Baker & McKenzie LLP in London.

The letter states that their client, Infront Sports & Media, "anticipates the possibility of unauthorized streaming and downloading of FIFA World Cup matches." — Read the rest

The Chinese government has banned 50 "pirate" games, including The Sims 2, for being too porn-y or otherwise contrary to local ideology.

Liu Binjie, deputy director of the administration and director of the state anti-porn office said here Wednesday that the Chinesegovernment in 2005 will focus on combating illegal publications.