The Barbican's new exhibition features birds playing musical instruments - which leads to the occasional unexpected drama

There was a look of mild panic on the face of the steward at the Barbican's Curve gallery when she politely asked everyone to leave on Monday evening."I'm sorry, we are having a technical difficulty," she said.

Half an hour earlier, the only problem had been you couldn't hear the cymbals in Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's exhibition. They had microphones on them, but all you could hear was the guitar and bass. Oh, and the vocals; the soft, busy chatter of the live flock of zebra finches sharing the room with us. They are the players in Boursier-Mougenot's rock band, inadvertently plucking and scraping the strings of the guitars as they perch or take-off, or shuffle along the fretboard while preening.

At one point a finch appeared to be doing an experimental solo, as he weaved Marram grass around the bridge of a guitar; one man's Hendrix is another bird's doomed attempt at nest building. The loudspeaker in the far corner seemed to be a favourite place to take a crap, but hey, this is rock'n'roll.

Whatever Ozzy Osbourne did with a bat on stage doesn't come close to what happened next. To intakes of breath from the crowd, an egg was laid on one of the horizontally mounted Les Pauls. It rolled perilously close to the edge, but came to a halt. The collective wisdom seemed to be that no one should touch the egg: it would cause the mother to abandon it. So, we were ushered out while the bird expert was called. The band, meanwhile, played on.

"It's sort of abandoned anyway by not being laid in a nest," says naturalist writer and broadcaster Stephen Moss. But the perceived wisdom, he says, is misguided: "If you touch an egg in a nest, a bird will not abandon it. Birds have a strong instinct to incubate."

So what did happen? "The breeder has taken it back to the aviary for another bird to sit on," says a Barbican representative. "We've now installed boxes so if any of the birds want to nest they can. The gallery is not the right environment for baby birds, but the birds in the exhibition are happy in the environment."

I hope so. The Barbican says it has consulted both the breeders and City of London animal health inspectors to make sure this is not a damaging experience. But I can't help thinking I'd find accidentally being in an experimental rock band every time I got up to lay an egg a bit stressful.

• Installation
• Birds

Storytellers invent life histories for unknown subjects in National Portrait Gallery vaults

For more than half a century they have lain in a storeroom, unidentified and unseen by the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the National Portrait Gallery every year. But new life is being breathed into a collection of 16th and 17th century portraits of mystery figures thanks to a collaboration between the gallery and seven popular writers.

The authors, including the Booker prizewinner John Banville and Joanna Trollope, have examined pictures that the gallery could not hang in public because the subjects were anonymous. The writers have imagined the lives the sitters might have led and produced a short work of fiction around the images.

Banville takes a portrait of a handsome man on his deathbed and reinvents him as a much-admired officer, Launcelot Northbrook, who served with Cromwell's New Model Army. "The saying was that half the women of London went into mourning when, in 1643, he married," Banville writes.

Trollope imagines the subject of one of the paintings writing a diary entry for the day the painting was completed. "I am a little taken aback in the matter of my nose," writes Paxton Whitfield, a Cornish gentleman. "My nose has about it a shine and a hint of colour which would indicate a propensity to being fuddled. I am, in truth, seldom fuddled ... I remonstrated with the painter."

Many pieces are melancholy. Tracy Chevalier, best known for her novel Girl with a Pearl Earring in which she weaves a story around the image of a young woman in a Vermeer masterpiece, repeats the trick with a rare 16th century sketch of a painfully pale woman. The painter, William, is "too honest", she has the figure say. "He did not hide how thin I look, the flesh melted from my cheeks, my brow so bony."

A second Chevalier story imagines a portrait of a handsome boy with flushed cheeks as the object of a male friend's desires. "Only George could call me Rosy ... He managed to make the word tender."

The crime writer Minette Walters and the journalist and author Sarah Singleton also contributed pieces of writing.

There is some light relief in a story fantasy writer Terry Pratchett creates around a hopeless seafarer called Joshua Easement, who presents Queen Elizabeth with a "marvellous and intriguing animal" from the Americas. It turns out that Easement does not have a sense of smell and had given the queen a skunk. Tarnya Cooper, curator of 16th century collections at the National Portrait Gallery, said the writers had done something "incredible".

"They have looked into a portrait without knowing anything about it and judged from a gesture, from costume, from the look in someone's eyes what might be going on in their lives. I hope it will help people engage with portraiture in a new way."

Cooper said the 13 portraits were bought between 1858 and 1971. When the identity of the sitters was disproved or disputed, the pieces were removed from display or lent out.

Work continues on naming the sitters – Chevalier's "Rosy" has just been identified by students from Bristol University as Sir Robert Dudley, the illegitimate son of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite courtier, the Earl of Leicester.

The actor, writer and director Julian Fellowes said he jumped at the chance to be involved in the exhibition, Imagined Lives: Mystery Portraits, which opens today at the National Trust's Montacute House, near Yeovil in Somerset.

"The importance of portraits is that they remind us of the central truth that can get lost at times – that history is the reporting of the actions of real people," he said.

"There were real men and women making choices, calamitous or happy, throughout history."

The exhibition runs until October at Montacute House, near Yeovil, Somerset. A collection of the stories is available

• Art
• John Banville

Legal chief tells of killings and torture in early days of invasion

Eight or more civilians died in the custody of British troops in the weeks after the invasion of Iraq, despite frequent warnings by the army's most senior legal adviser there about unlawful treatment of detainees, an inquiry has heard.

In devastating evidence to an official inquiry, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Mercer described the way Iraqi detainees were intimidated and hooded by British soldiers as "repulsive". He said that 10 days after the invasion in March 2003 he saw 20 or 30 detainees lined up with sandbags on their heads.

He was shocked, he said, adding that it was "a bit like seeing pictures of Guantánamo Bay for the first time".

Mercer said he had had a "massive row" with the commander of the Queens Dragoon Guards about the army's legal obligations under the Geneva conventions and the European Convention on Human Rights. He had walked out of a meeting between British officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross after being told by a "political adviser" to keep his mouth shut, he added.

Mercer's repeated protests about the unlawful treatment of Iraqis in British custody was so unwelcome within the Ministry of Defence that his boss, Martin Hemming, head of its legal service, threatened to report him to the Law Society, he said.

Mercer, who is still serving, was giving evidence into the death of Baha Mousa, a Basra hotel worker who died in British custody in September 2003. This was months after Mercer had persistently warned senior army officers — including General Robin Brims, commander of British troops in southern Iraq — that detainees were being subjected to unlawful treatment.

He revealed that he and Brims later refused to sign statements pre-prepared by Hemming as evidence to the Commons human rights committee.

He said the abuse of Iraqi prisoners might have been prevented if a British judge had been appointed to oversee the handling of detainees, a proposal that he said was blocked by Lord Goldsmith, the attorney general.

Goldsmith, who has said he never authorised the use of five banned techniques, including hooding, may be asked to give evidence to the inquiry with the former defence secretary Geoff Hoon, and former armed forces minister, Adam Ingram.

In his evidence, Mercer described how in May 2003, two months after first issuing his warnings, military police investigators told him about two deaths in custody. They added that they thought there were "five or six more deaths that required investigation".

Speaking later outside the inquiry, Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers, which represents Iraqi detainees, said there were 47 "unresolved cases" involving the mistreatment of civilians by British troops. "There are so many cases, that is why we need a single inquiry [to cover them all]", he said.

Mercer recalled seeing one prisoner, Faisal Sadoon, held in "appalling conditions" in a container "with a barbed wire door in 40 degrees-plus of heat". He was told of prisoners appearing bruised and hooded at detention centres. He recalled seeing "a generator running outside the interrogation tent, which seemed to me to create a culture of intimidation and possibly with the aim of muffling any noise".

He warned that "in no circumstances should [detainees'] faces be covered as this might impair breathing" "I felt I was banging my head against a brick wall. We found ourselves in a constant legal battle," he told the inquiry.

He regarded hooding, banned in 1972, as repulsive. "It amounts to violence and intimidation and it degrades the individual so I don't like it in any circumstance," he said.

He said he felt vindicated when the Red Cross began to express concern in May 2003. British soldiers were handed cards before the invasion saying that civilians should be treated "humanely". But there was no training in interrogation techniques, Mercer said.

His warnings, and those of the Red Cross, reached ministers and top military commanders in London. But hooding was not banned until after Mousa's death more than six months later, the inquiry heard.

"The issue of prisoners had very low priority and was treated more as an inconvenience than an obligation under international law," Mercer said in a written statement to the inquiry. It was partly a question of resources and lack of planning, he said.

But he added that it was also about "proper education, training, and the moral compass". He said there was a "classic dilemma" in the army. "You're in the command structure and there's always pressure to do one thing, when legally you may believe something else".

An MoD spokesman said: "All deaths in British custody in Iraq have been thoroughly investigated. Having committed to a public inquiry, it would be wrong to comment upon any evidence presented to it."

He said the ministry will have an opportunity to respond to the report written by the chairman, Sir William Gage, at the end of proceedings.

• Baha Mousa
• Iraq
• Military

UK politicians announced cross-party support for the UK government's new "British Inspiration Awards," which will include categories for varying creative cultural sectors, including video games. Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP, Conservative Leader David Cameron MP and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg MP jointly announced the new awards on Tuesday. The inaugural BIAs will take place Friday, April 23 this year at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London EC1. "I am enormously proud of the talented people ...

AP – “A museum tracing the history of Britain’s 300,000-strong Jewish community is reopening after a 10 million pound ($15 million) expansion. The Jewish Museum calls itself the only such gallery in London dedicated to a minority group. It includes a large collection of Jewish ceremonial art as well as interactive displays tracing the history of Jews in Britain from the 11th century until the present day.

Pontiff will travel to Scotland, hold two public masses and meet the Queen in first official visit to Britain of a pope

Buckingham Palace confirmed details today of the first official visit to Britain of a pope, which will see Benedict XVI celebrate two public masses, meet the Queen and move a 19th century theologian closer to sainthood in a ceremony at Coventry airport.

Non-policing costs amount to £15m, a sum to be met by the state and the Catholic churches of England, Scotland and Wales. Policing costs will depend on the venue for each engagement and will draw on existing budgets for the forces involved ‑ Strathclyde police, the Metropolitan police and West Midlands police.

The pope, due to visit in September, will travel to Scotland and England during his four-day trip, taking in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Coventry and London.

He will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor John Paul II, who visited the country on a pastoral trip in 1982, by celebrating mass in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.

The pope will also lead the beatification ceremony at Coventry airport of Cardinal John Henry Newman, who is likely to become the first Englishman since the 17th century to be made a saint and the first British, non-martyred saint since St John Twenge in 1379. Popes normally instruct beatifications to be carried out at a local level but the pontiff has made no secret of his admiration for Newman, who is variously described as a "towering figure" and the most famous Anglican to convert to Catholicism ‑ at least until Tony Blair. At a Foreign Office briefing the Scotland secretary, Jim Murphy, welcomed the visit, describing it as a "truly unique event".

Murphy said discussions were continuing as to how to best divide the cost but that appropriate contributions from church or state would be made. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, president of the Conference of Bishops in Scotland, said: "When John Paul II came it was a pastoral event and it was paid for by the church. We're not scrimping in any way."

Following the Scottish leg of the tour, which includes an audience with the Queen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Coventry event, the pope will travel to London for a lecture on civil society and a potentially awkward meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace.

Relations between the two buckled last year when the pope created a special wing in the Catholic church for traditionalist Anglicans disaffected with greater inclusion of gay and female clergy, by allowing them to convert while retaining Anglican aspects of worship.

Dr Rowan Williams received no notice of the papal plan and was only informed of the development a fortnight before a press conference to announce it, where he looked visibly uncomfortable.

• Pope Benedict XVI
• Scotland
• Religion
• Pope John Paul II
• Italy

By Scott M. Fulton, III, Betanews

The British House of Lords has passed a bill that might, if enacted into law, put the UK's Parliament at odds with the European Commission over how best to enforce copyright anti-infringement laws. Called the Digital Economy Bill, it would charge Internet service providers with the task of keeping track of suspected file sharers and copyright violators, and reporting on them to copyright holders as well as to the country's Office of Communications (OFCOM).

As the bill is currently written, OFCOM would be charged with determining the "initial obligations" of Internet service providers with respect to suspected infringers, provided those obligations meet the specific guidelines. It would be up to OFCOM, should the bill be enacted, to determine all the specifics -- the "fiddly bits" -- such as how ISPs monitor their customers ("subscribers"), at what stage it becomes necessary to report on their activities, how long they retain information on those customers, and what else they do with that data. In the UK, regulations enacted by a regulatory body such as OFCOM are called codes.

Specifically, the bill would require that OFCOM "makes provision about how internet service providers are to keep information about subscribers; that it limits the time for which they may keep that information; that the requirements concerning subscriber appeals are met in relation to the code; that the provisions of the code are objectively justifiable in relation to the matters to which it relates; that those provisions are not such as to discriminate unduly against particular persons or against a particular description of persons; that those provisions are proportionate to what they are intended to achieve; [and] that, in relation to what those provisions are intended to achieve, they are transparent." (This page from Parliament.UK contains the exact text of this section.)

ISPs would be indemnified from any responsibility for the infringing activity, but only if they fulfill their obligations as OFCOM would define them. Those obligations would include, according to the bill, expedient response to requests from copyright holders, as well as some sort of "technical measure" to punish the "relevant subscriber." As the bill is written now, it appears the fuzziness of "relevant subscriber" may be intentional, so as not to imply that the customer must first be found guilty of charges.

"A 'technical obligation,' in relation to an internet service provider, is an obligation for the provider to take a technical measure against some or all relevant subscribers to its service for the purpose of preventing or reducing infringement of copyright by means of the Internet," the bill reads. "A 'technical measure' is a measure that: (a) limits the speed or other capacity of the service provided to a subscriber; (b) prevents a subscriber from using the service to gain access to particular material, or limits such use; (c) suspends the service provided to a subscriber; or (d) limits the service provided to a subscriber in another way. A subscriber to an internet access service is 'relevant' if the subscriber is a relevant subscriber to the service...in relation to one or more copyright owners."

From here, the bill proceeds to the House of Commons, where elected officials will debate whether it would be fair, under the terms of the last paragraph, to punish suspected subscribers prior to their hearing in court. Liberal leaders there were quoted by the BBC this morning as having indicated such a law would be contrary to the EU's Technical Standards Directive.

Last week, in a near-unanimous vote of the European Parliament, a resolution was adopted to compel participants in the multi-national Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to report to the EU Parliament, and eventually publicly, on terms being negotiated between countries. Such terms might compel member countries in ACTA to adopt laws similar to what the House of Lords just passed.

Ironically, this entire affair comes on the same week as MPs begin debate on a measure, first reported by the London Telegraph, to replace the House of Lords entirely with a second, publicly elected body of Parliament. The new upper house -- which may, the report states, be dubbed the "Senate" -- would include members who may very well be lords and landowners, elected for staggered terms of up to 15 years. Some say the Labour Party is unveiling the plan now in order to attract opposition from Tory leaders, who currently have an edge in public opinion polls. Painting the Tories as "pro-Lords" could, in turn, color them as "pro-establishment," and thus out of touch with modern-day British interests.

Ordinary motorists are being legally mugged by the price of petrol. It's time to put the brakes on fat-cat fuel barons

It is with dismay that I note the current prices displayed at petrol stations up and down the country. What is particularly hard to digest is the total lack of justification for today's prices. The average motorist is currently paying just over £1.15 per litre unleaded, with some in London reaching £1.20, already echoing the notorious peak of July 2008.

However, the cost of crude oil is nowhere near the spike it hit during that time; in fact, it is only just over half. Where, therefore, is the reasoning behind hitting motorists so hard in the wallet? It is, unfortunately, to be located at the desks of a handful of investors instructing market speculators to drive prices up, and sustained by petrol companies not being prepared to pass falls directly on to the consumer.

So let us outline the impact of these price rises on those who feel it most acutely. First, hardworking families and rural communities, both of which are reliant on their cars. In my constituency in Lancashire, there is a large rural community: parents need to get children to school and farmers must move around the area. Any increase in the cost of a tank of petrol must be funded from their static household budgets.

Second, let us consider the UK's haulage and transport industries, integral to the national economy – yet both are trembling beneath the weight of these excessive prices.

Exorbitant price increases and the ever-present uncertainty over further increases are a mounting burden to motorists. The result is a transport industry already struggling and now facing still further fuel inflation. All of this at a time when the economy needs nurturing and all the help it can get.

In short, petrol consumers are being legally mugged.

It is high time that urgent and sustainable action is taken. Petrol companies have been getting away with this for far too long. The government needs to address the issue with vigour and show its commitment to helping ordinary members of the public. We should not be steamrollered by a handful of dominant companies which monopolise the supply chain with ease.

I believe there are two courses of action to be taken: the planned 3p increase in petrol duty should be delayed indefinitely; and petrol companies should be more effectively regulated – we have allowed them to become too powerful.

Indeed, we should be considering a windfall on these companies in order to fund a reduction in overall duty. Regulation of petrol companies and the major retailers must demonstrate commitment to the motorist and the UK's hard-pressed transport industries.

Petrol companies once known for exploration should now be under the spotlight for their exploitation. And we should be willing to demonstrate resoundingly that we will not be held to ransom by fat-cat fuel barons.

• Oil
• Oil and gas companies
• Motoring
• Transport
• Regulators
• Consumer affairs
• Consumer rights
• Consumer spending
• Tax
• Tax and spending

James White

A look at the inaccurately presented views of the gender pay gap made in the media and by government. Analyses pay gaps that should exist but don`t in certain jobs like the police, the military and the fire service. Features Angry Harry, Erin Pizzey, Stephen Fitzgerald and Oliver Curry (London School of Economics and Demos).
Part 2, Part 3Rated 4.2285 / 5 | 190 views | 0 comments

Click here to watch the videoSubmitted By: Drop0utTags: gender pay gap feminism government

At our Mobilize 09 conference, Frank Meehan, CEO of London-based INQ told me that his company was going to follow-up its successful Facebook phone with more devices including lower cost smart phones targeting fast growing mobile markets such as India. Today, the company launched its social mobile phones in India. The company has roped in MS Dhoni, captain of Indian Cricket Team as its spokesperson. Aircel, a mobile carrier will be selling it to its customers. The INQ Mini 3G and the INQ Chat 3G will be available in India. The INQ Chat 3G is a qwerty device. The highly competitive Indian mobile market has made it difficult for carriers to bank solely on voice revenues. The INQ devices are being made available at a time when Indian carriers are looking for ways to goose their data revenues.

Gordon Brown's unpopularity is still harming Labour's election chances, according to an ICM poll for the Guardian today. Julian Glover says the gap between the two main parties has grown to nine points.

Our design critic Jonathan Glancey arges that the advent of high-speed rail is the ideal time to rebuild the Euston Arch, the monumental landmark that stood for 130 years outside the London railway terminal.

Schoolchildren are being monitored by CCTV cameras as frequently as inmates in prisons and passengers at airports, according to Salford university researchers. Reporter Jessica Shepherd says schools may be breaking the law.

How might the research currently being undertaken by British scientists change the lives of future generations? Impact is the name of an exhibition opening today at the Royal College of Art in Kensington, west London, which attempts to answer that question. Anthony Dunne, head of design interactions at the RCA, shows us round.

Relations between Israel and the United States are at 35-year low, according to the Israeli ambassador to Washington. His comments came after Israel's announcement - during a visit by the US vice-president, Joe Biden - of plans to build 1,600 homes in occupied East Jerusalem. Ian Black, the Guardian's Middle East editor, looks at Israel's options.

It’s a brand new week, which means it’s time for Mashable’s guide to upcoming social media and web events, parties, and conferences. For more upcoming event listings, check out Mashable’s Events section.

Is your event not on this list? Contact us at least one month before your event and let’s establish a media partnership.

Mashable’s Weekly Social Media and Marketing Event Guide is proudly supported by Eventbrite, the Web’s Event Marketplace.

March 15-16, 2010, London, UK: At Social Media World Forum, learn from social networks, brands, advertisers and analysts. Hear from leading social networks on their strategy, revenue models and how they are approaching the future. Worldwide case studies from global brands and corporations on their use of social media. Examine the current market conditions, future forecasts and predictions from leading analysts. Mention you are a Mashable reader to receive 15% discount.

March 17, 2010, San Francisco, CA: Join SF New Tech, the Bay Area’s largest and longest running monthly tech event, to get an early look at of some of the hottest new tech around. Famous for its sold out events where executives (and the occasional hacker or two) take to the stage to strut their stuff, SF New Tech is *the* place where early adaptors, developers, influnencers, venture capitalists, journalists, bloggers, and regular every-day folks converge to see the latest and greatest technology. Visit sfnewtech.com for details.

March 19, 2010, London, UK: Justmeans’ Social Media and Stakeholder Engagement Conference will bring together the top minds in sustainability, marketing, innovation and technology. This executive forum will explore how technology can enable sustainable business by involving stakeholders in the value creation process and will showcase examples of success and failure in this rapidly evolving market. Use this link for a 10% registration discount.

March 22-23, 2010, Paris, France: At Marketing 2.0 Conference, learn from brands’ social media initiatives, advertisers, researchers and analyst. Hear from leading people in the Social Media business on their strategy, revenue models and how they are approaching the upcoming trends in the Social Mediasphere. Worldwide case studies from global brands and corporations on their use of social media. Examine the current market conditions, future forecasts and predictions from leading researchers. The socialmash2010 discount code gives you €200 off.

March 22-23 & 25-26, 2010, Hong Kong & Singapore: Join us at the Social Media & PR conference. This comprehensive two-day event sees PR practitioners from leading global brands and agencies come together to share about the best practices, pitfalls to avoid, case studies, how-tos, measurement and ethics of social media in PR. See social media’s relevance to both B2B & B2C, discuss how new & traditional PR avenues can be integrated. Register today. Save 10% when you enter ‘Mashable‘ under ‘How did you know about this event’.

March 22-25, 2010, Dallas, TX: Attend the Advanced Learning Institute’s 17th Forum on Social Media for Government: How To Engage Your Employees And Citizens By Using The Latest Web 2.0 Technologies To Drive Communication Results, to learn how to capture the power of social media in your organization, along with helpful tools, tips and techniques to get started. Hear practical advice, firsthand, from leading government agencies and organizations such as: Transportation Security Administration; NASA; Microsoft U.S. Public Sector, CDC; GovLoop; Southwest Airlines; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Army Reserve; City of Sugar Land, TX; Missouri River Regional Library; City of Reno, NV; Texas Parks & Wildlife Department; Deloitte Services, LP; GolinHarris; 2ndSix; & Panetta Communications. Mention Mashable when registering to save $200.

March 22-26, New York, NY: Go beyond search at the Search Engine Strategies. Learn the newest trends, strategic action plans, and technology that industry leaders are employing today. Our experts will trace the natural evolution of search exploring topics such as: digital asset optimization, mobile application development, transition from search to discovery and more. SAVE 15% with code MHNY15. Program will focus on cutting edge strategies, tips, and tactics that will be driving search in 2010. Hear from the leading voices in search and digital like Avinash Kaushik, David Meerman Scott, Tim Ash, Ray Comstock and more.

March 23, 2010, San Francisco, CA: Swagapalooza is an experiment in viral media. On March 23rd, the world’s most-followed bloggers, tweeters, and digital influencers will gather to judge five-minute auditions from the creators of the latest, greatest, and most unexpected new products. Are you one of the world’s top bloggers or tweeters? If so you deserve to be begged for your attention and your following. Your taste and discernment make you the perfect judge of these marketers who will come to cajole, beg, and bribe you with more free stuff than you can imagine... Tickets are free for those who qualify.

March 23, 2010, Sacramento, CA: Northern California Social Media Society Launch Party. Join NCSMS in celebrating their launch. Celebrate with cocktails, appetizers and door prizes; learn about the Society and network with other individuals and businesses. The NCSMS provides an opportunity for their members to collaborate with other individuals and advocates as well as continue to grow social media marketing skills and smarts. Whether you want to learn or lead, this is a great opportunity to be part of an organization which is dedicated to the advancement of social media. The event is free to those who register.

March 23-24, 2010, Berlin, Germany: Learn, discuss and explore the challenges and commercial opportunities that exist within the mobile internet ecosystem and make the most of best-practice perspectives over a two day period offering a programme packed with case studies, roundtable discussions, industry snapshots, masterclasses and fishbowl sessions. Significant discount for Mobile Operators, Online/Mobile Communities, and Content providers! Go to iir-mobileinternet.com/mashable for more information.

March 24, 2010, New York, NY: Social Reputation Management: Protecting and Strengthening Your Brand Across the Social Web is a conference that will share the best case studies on how communicators and marketers listen to conversations, monitor and comprehend what is being said, and engage through the social web. The case studies will be followed by moderated interactive roundtables. Use promo code MASH for a discounted rate of $155.

March 24, 2010, Rutherford, NJ: Learn about how you would grow your business, talk to your customers, interact and engage. Social Media will help your business grow, financially and in relation to your customers. Topics include Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Blogging, etc. This workshop is geared for small businesses that want to grow their fanbase and reach potential customers and make your relationships better with by using the social web. Click over to socialbiz324.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets to the event and use the code mashable to save 50%.

March 24-25, 2010, San Francisco, CA: EyeforTravel’s Social Media Strategies for Travel conference goes beyond the ‘what is social media?’ debates (that were so 2008!) and examines the strategic importance of social media to travel brands. The 2 day conference will share leading case studies, hits, tips and advice from top travel companies including JetBlue, Hilton, Virgin America and more. Use the discount MASHABLE to save $100 on the registration fee!

March 25, 2010, Santa Monica, CA: Join us for more rock solid networking with tech geeks, VCs, entrepreneurs and good folks just like you. Schmoozd is an exclusive social mixer bringing together professionals in marketing, advertising, technology, social media and startups. The event is designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, relationship building and deal making. For more information, please visit www.schmoozd.com. Mashable readers get 50% off when registering via this link.

March 25, 2010, Toronto, ON: Join Nick La, creator of the popular blog Web Designer Wall, owner of N.Design Studio, IconDock, and Best Web Gallery for a one-day immersion into WordPress, the world’s most popular publishing platform. If you want to learn how to create your own WordPress themes, understand how to use template tags and conditional tags to format and display the data you want, or how to use WordPress as a content management system, Nick will take you from WordPress Zero to Hero in 7 hours flat.

March 25-26 2010, Atlanta, GA: REtechSouth: The only event in the Southeast that ties cutting edge social media concepts and practices, plus tips and tactics on existing technologies, to the unique challenges of the current real estate market. It’s worth attending just to absorb all the expertise that will be in the room, as real estate’s best and brightest direct their attention towards your needs. Presented by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. Save $29 off registration by using the code Mashable.

March 29, 2010, Portland OR: The social media conference for marketers, Social Fresh is not about concept, but focused purely on case studies from the front lines. Learn what social media can really do for business bottom lines. One day, 35 speakers from companies like Intel, Ford, Comcast, Nike and many more. As well as keynote Peter Shankman. Register now and use coupon code mashable for 15% off.

March 30, 2010, London, UK: The upcoming Hit Me! Social Media and Search event is designed for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to find out the latest practical business advice and information about Social Media and Search. Freshbusinessthinking.com has partnered with Microsoft to deliver this power-packed one day event featuring experts and leading practitioners from the world of social media and search. Stats published by Nielsen show that social media usage has increased by 82% in the last year. The challenge for organisations of all sizes is how to use social media to drive business. Over 1500 delegates have attended our one-day events and the average rating is 8.5 out of 10 – the next one is shaping up to be the best ever with a host of experts on hand to give you the information and advice you need to grow your business online. Mashable readers: get a discount entering promotional code MASHABLE.

March 30-April 1, 2010, San Jose, CA: Become Location Enabled at Where 2.0. Now in its sixth year, Where 2.0 is one of the world’s foremost events dedicated to exploring the emerging technologies in the geospatial industry. At Where 2.0, we expose the tools pushing the boundaries of the location frontier. Join us and meet the people behind the mashups, the people behind the platforms, and the people looking ahead to the future of geospatial. Find out what’s viable now, what’s lurking just below the radar and how to gain a competitive edge. Register now and save 15% at en.oreilly.com/where2010. Use code whr10mash.

April 5, 2010, New York, NY: You need to be a social media specialist. Today’s marketplace demands it. Content, regardless of medium or platform, is regularly created, curated, commented upon and shared by consumers. If you’re not strategizing to maximize the social component, you’re missing prime opportunities. Register for the IAB Social Media Marketplace to gain insights from Federated Media’s John Battelle, MediaLink’s Wenda Harris Millard, Del Monte’s Doug Chavez, Deep Focus’s Ian Schafer, GE’s Andrew Markowitz and more. Use code mashable to save $100.

April 7, 2010, Cincinnati, OH: BlogWell: How Big Brands Use Social Media features 8 great case studies on the best social media programs at large corporations. AT&T, Dell, Duke Energy, General Mills, Hilton, Procter & Gamble, Rogers Communications, and Tyson Foods share case studies in corporate social media. You’ll learn how to get started, get past roadblocks, and make your social media program phenomenal. From GasPedal and the Social Media Business Council. Get $39 off registration by using the code ILoveMashable.

April 7, 2010, New York, NY: Attend the Social Media Advertising Consortium’s April NYC Salon. Join SMAC members for a lively discussion on how brands are organized around social media. A panel of top brands including IBM and PepsiCo, and agencies will share insights, look at best practices, campaign successes and discuss what’s next in measurement and research. Discussion followed by networking, wine & light hors d’oeuvres. The cost is free for SMAC members and $45 for non-members. Mention Mashable when registering to save 10%. Space is limited so register early.

April 7-8, 2010, New York, NY: Strengthen your business with mobile marketing, apps, video, and content at Think Mobile, a conference focused on mobile strategy, marketing, and mobile apps. Learn how to get your brand in front of the right customers, how to handle mobile content, and how to make money in mobile. The full day dedicated to mobile apps will cover building an app team, designing user interfaces, marketing your app, and targeting development for specific platforms. Speakers represent AdMob, Pandora, Nielsen, Bravo, PCMag.com, and more. Register with promo code TMMASH and save 20%!

April 7-9, 2010 Sydney, Australia: ConnectNow is a three day event focusing on the intersection of social media, emerging technologies and enterprise. The first two days is conference, where you’ll learn from international specialists how to leverage off new trends in marketing innovation such as augmented reality, location based services, social search, the real-time web, mobile’s growing dominance and the importance of ’social capital’. Day three is workshop day specifically for non-profits, charities, Government and community groups. Attend ConnectNow and leave equipped with actionable strategies to implement to your business. Register online and email info@connectnow.net.au quoting: Mashablemates to get 10% discount!

April 8-10, 2010, Atlanta, GA: The 2010 Nonprofit Technology Conference will bring together more than 1,000 nonprofit leaders, IT innovators, communications gurus, fundraising superstars and nonprofit staffers from all over. You’ll learn the latest trends, practical how-tos, and IT solutions that can optimize your organization’s use of technology and help you meet your mission to create more social good in the world — and you’ll have a good time, to boot. Select “Mashable” from the “How did you hear?” field to receive an $100 discount.

April 9, 2010, London, UK: Natural SEO, a thupr event, aims to resolve some of the myths around SEO. The event brings together people who blog (for themselves or on behalf of others) with tools designed to help them, and experts prepared to share their wisdom. There are discussion streams and the chance to try out some of the software on site in a relaxed, conversational environment. The event is free, but limited to 100 places.

April 12-15, 2010, Santa Clara, CA: The 6th annual MySQL Conference & Expo, presented by O’Reilly Media, brings over 2,000 open source and database enthusiasts together to harness the power of MySQL and celebrate the huge MySQL ecosystem. The O’Reilly MySQL Conference & Expo is a new event that builds on the tradition of past MySQL conferences (previous events were co-presented with MySQL AB and with Sun). This inclusive, innovative event will showcase the full spectrum of the MySQL ecosystem, from global corporations and diverse service vendors to start-ups and grassroots projects. Our growing lineup of speakers, program committee members, and sponsors represent a wide array of some of the most influential companies and projects in the MySQL community. Register now and save an additional 15% at: en.oreilly.com/mysql2010. Use discount code mys10msh.

April 12-15, 2010, Washington, DC: Attend the Advanced Learning Institute’s Forum on Social Media for Recruiting in Government & Defense: Using Web 2.0 Technologies To Attract, Retain, And Engage Top Talent To Become An Employer Of Choice, to learn how to incorporate the power of social media into your organization’s recruiting strategy, along with helpful tools, practical tips and techniques to get started. Hear practical advice, firsthand, from leading government agencies and organizations such as the: Internal Revenue Service; Library of Congress; Booz Allen Hamilton; Sodexo, Inc.; U.S. Air Force; Peace Corps; Arbita, Inc.; Panetta Communications; CollegeRecruiter.com; Bold Interactive; Campbell-Ewald; Brazen Careerist & CampusGov. Mention Mashable when registering to save $200.

April 12-16, 2010, New York, NY: Attend New York Entrepreneur Week (NYEW), a non-profit movement formed around a single belief: entrepreneurs change the world. The New York Entrepreneur Week movement gives you the opportunity to actively engage the foremost entrepreneurs, investors and dealmakers both in the State and from around the world. Now is the time for entrepreneurs who have the will and drive to prove they can achieve anything, to stand up and come together in New York State for another groundbreaking NYEW event. Receive 75% off with code: Mashable 2010.

April 16-17, 2010, Royal Oak, MI: FutureMidwest, the region’s largest two-day technology and knowledge conference, is aimed at helping professionals successfully add digital strategies to their communications programs. Technology and online tools have dramatically changed the way we do business. FutureMidwest will highlight the effect this transition has had on companies. The conference will feature presentations, group breakout sessions, relationship-building opportunities and influencers who are redefining business in the digital age. For a 50% discount, e-mail your name to hello AT FutureMidwest DOT com with the subject line “It’s Happening Mashable.” Then go to the Web site and register as a student.

April 16-18, 2010 Montreal, Quebec, Canada: The iPhone Boot Camp offers a three day workshop on iPhone and iPad Development, covering basic to advanced features such as web services, database, core location and animation, audio and camera and augmented reality. The workshops are limited to fifteen developers and is a full 24 hours of training. The iPhone Boot Camp is a well established certificate training program that has trained over 200 iPhone developers in dozens of cities since 2008. Our instructors are all developers with several apps in the store and experienced trainers using proven course material. Most developers are able to develop an app for sale in the app store after completing the training. The(...)