Constitutional Freedoms on the Internet
May 28, 2006
Analysis: First Amendment Applies to Internet
"A California appeals court ruled Friday that online reporters are protected by the same confidentiality laws that protect traditional journalists, striking a blow to efforts by Apple Computer to identify people who leaked confidential company data." – New York Times.
This is good news. Reporters should have these freedoms: It's necessary to be a watchdog for the government and big business.
A First Step in Internet Freedom
May 26, 2006
" A bipartisan majority on the House Judiciary Committee yesterday passed the "Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act" — a good bill that would use antitrust law to protect Network Neutrality. Special thanks to those of you who called the key members who cast the deciding votes." – freepress.net
Now is a time to write your representatives telling them to pass the network neutrality laws!
Some more NSA shite
May 18, 2006
Phone Companies Should be Scared…
May 17, 2006
Phone Companies Distance Themselves from NSA
Having to confess to being one of the companies that gave the NSA everyone's phone logs is a PR nightmare… but I don't think PR problems is all they should be worrying about.
They should have to deal with every angry customer. They owe it to every one of them whose records they just handed over. As customers, we should demand retribution and make these companies more responsible. They were too willing to give up personal data. I wouldn't mind free service for a while. I really wouldn't mind if some of these big telco companies could possibly split up.
Who you gonna call?
Trustbusters!
News of the Day
May 16, 2006
US releases 9/11 video of Pentagon jet crash
- you can see the videos here: http://www.judicialwatch.org/flight77.shtml
- You can't really make out much. I can't even see a plane.
Update on (somewhat) rich guy who's fighting the MPAA in court
Prosecution Lambastes Enron Defendants in Closing Arguments
Bush Calls for Border Troops, Guest Workers
Firefox continues to gain ground
Coming to my blog soon: I will be doing a better job organizing my posts by topic…
http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=239
This house produces as much energy as it consumes in a year and combines "renewable energy technologies with advanced energy-efficient construction."
Everything from solar power, to ground source heat pumps, to a tankless water heater. It's designed to be efficient and use natural resources to draw power.
If modern houses could use just some of the techniques used to make this house efficient, we'd be saving a ton of energy.
I can't say that I use too many energy saving techniques, but I do use flouresent light bulbs and don't really use all that much energy. My laptop only draws as much power as a regular light bulb. But, it's not like I can buy solar panels and a ground heat pump because I rent. However, it is something I'd consider for when I do have a house. Sometimes small things like good insulation and turning lights out when you aren't using them save lots of energy and money! With rising gas and energy prices, it pays to be a little more conservative (environmentally, not politically).
Support Global Warming Pollution Controls
May 15, 2006
That's one title that needs a catchier name.
http://www.nrdc.org/media/pressreleases/060510c.asp
"Today the House Appropriations Committee approved a resolution already passed in the Senate that recognizes the problem of global warming and declares the U.S. needs mandatory limits to cut the pollution that causes it."
This is a good time to call your representative and tell them you support the environment.
Here's some points you can advise them on:
- Reduce pollution, especially greenhouse gases
- Encourage studies about global warming
- Research alternative energy sources
- Reduce America's dependence on oil
- Discourage oil drilling in Alaska
- Protect endangered species and their habitats
Here are some resources for information
Thanks!
Good-bye checks and balances- People OK with that!
May 12, 2006
Well, according to this article on Wired, it looks like the NSA won't let the Department of Justice have access to the clearance it needs to do some investigating.
Apparently this doesn't concern most citizens, because a recent poll shows that Americans support NSA's efforts.
It looks like the constitution has become optional now a days… and all America can do is shrug its shoulders! Meh.
It's time to stand up and tell them that this is unacceptable!
Do what you can- vote, petition, inform others!
A disturbing report on domestic spying :-o
May 12, 2006
(and we're not kidding, they ARE watching you)
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060511-6813.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-12-hayden-support_x.htm
Every phone call you make is logged… and that's just the beginning.
I wish this were only conspiracy theory…
And you know what?
AT&T is just giving them the information they want
"AT&T Corp., Verizon Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp. telephone companies began turning over records of their customers' phone calls shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, said USA Today, citing anonymous sources it said had direct knowledge of the arrangement." -USA Today
(Your world. Delivered straight to the NSA.)
You probably already know that Fox news is a lapdog for the Bush administration, but is CNN just as unwilling to report a story when it may be critical of the US?
This report thinks so:
[Post 9-11 press coverage was quite factual.] But, alas, that was not to last. Researchers found that as the months went by, analysis and opinion gradually crept back in, and the proportion of fact fell from 75 percent of the news to 69 percent. "The level of factualness declined to levels lower than those seen in the middle of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal," says the report. The other trend that showed up was a distinct unwillingness to challenge or criticize U.S. policy or the Bush Administration. In September, 71 percent of news stories were classified as entirely or predominantly pro-U.S. That figure fell to 50 percent in December. It is here that the gulf between CNN and Fox News Channel turns out to be nonexistent. Much has been made in recent weeks of the unabashedly pro-American stance taken by Fox News with regard to the terrorist attacks and the war in Afghanistan. Sure enough, 78 percent of the relevant stories on "Special Report with Brit Hume" were all or mostly supportive of the White House’s actions. But wait: On CNN's "NewsNight with Aaron Brown," 77 percent of the relevant stories were entirely supportive of the Bush Administration. "Looking at the two signature evening newscasts of the two cable networks over nine days, there was no appreciable difference," says the study.
I don't think the media is getting to the hard hitting questions and doing its job as a governmental watch dog. The first amendment is supposed to protect the media and allow it to keep the government in check by reporting on it.
That is not happening now. Without this function, the government can go unchecked. This is dangerous. I think that we are already feeling its effects, but it's going to get worse.
Blogging and the internet can't keep the balance alone. YOU CAN HELP! How can we stop this? Show the media you want fair coverage. Read stories that are factual and critical of the government when it has done wrong (or could do better). The news agencies can tell what stories you read on the internet! Pass along stories that are intersting, not just fluff. Keep a blog or just tell others about what you've read. Also, comment on news pages that allow for comments. There's so much you can do, just let the media know what you want. They want ratings, reward them when they do good.
The constitution gives us this right. Let's use it, before the media completely abuse it.
Show me the money!
May 10, 2006
It looks like Exxon will surpass Microsoft as cash king.
This will make them the biggest company by stock-market value.
I guess that's not hard when you can charge anything you want for your product because people have to have it.
Go Go Net Neutrality!
May 10, 2006
A key Democratic senator is endorsing laws regulating broadband service providers. Republicans have already quashed a bill in committee that provided for regulation of broadband service providers.
"Net neutrality, also called network neutrality, is the idea that network operators should not be allowed to prioritize content and services–particularly video–that come across their pipes."
If you haven't done so yet, write your representatives and tell them to endorse net neutrality. Also, sign this petition and ensure that the internet stays free and neutral!
20 years of withdrawl
May 9, 2006
Our oil dependency will last at least another 20 years.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may take that long to develop.
(Small picture of a fuel cell. Source: micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/fuelcell/)
However, hybrid cars will become much more common.
There’s gotta be some other alternatives!!!
Please help keep the internet free!
May 8, 2006
Save the Internet:
Fill out this this petition to stop big telecommunication companies from taking over the internet.
If you don't know what is going on regarding net neutrality, look here.
" Congress is now pushing a law that would end the free and open Internet as we know it. Internet providers like AT&T and Verizon are lobbying Congress hard to gut Network Neutrality, the Internet's First Amendment and the key to Internet freedom. Net Neutrality prevents AT&T from choosing which websites open most easily for you based on which site pays AT&T more. So Amazon doesn't have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to work more properly on your computer.
Many members of Congress take campaign contributions from these companies, and they don't think the public are paying attention to this issue. Let's show them we care – please sign this petition today." – MoveOn.org
Be informed. Then be active.
Save the Internet:
Fill out this this petition to stop big telecommunication companies from taking over the internet.
