NSA Web Site Places 'Cookies' On Computers |

~ I personally now will delete my cookies after visiting any Government website. ~` `TP

---------------

InformationWeek | Privacy | NSA Web Site Places 'Cookies' On Computers | December 29, 2005: " By Anick Jesdanun , NEW YORK (AP)--The National Security Agency's Internet site has been placing files on visitors' computers that can track their Web surfing activity despite strict federal rules banning most of them. These files, known as 'cookies,' disappeared after a privacy activist complained and The Associated Press made inquiries this week, and agency officials acknowledged Wednesday they had made a mistake. Nonetheless, the issue raises questions about privacy at a spy agency already on the defensive amid reports of a secretive eavesdropping program in the United States. 'Considering the surveillance power the NSA has, cookies are not exactly a major concern,' said Ari Schwartz, associate director at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a privacy advocacy group in Washington, D.C. 'But it does show a general lack of understanding about privacy rules when they are not even following the government's very basic rules for Web privacy.'"

Internet Fosters Local Political Movements, AP News

~~~ It appears from this article the Internet is finally causing some political activity , that otherwise would not happen. But I still feel for the most, the Internet has done little to change the balance of powers in elections , nor seriously impacted how legislation is passed & public policy formed. Even in the the headline here, note the choice of the word "fosters" as oppossed to "galvanizes" or "energizes" . [Click HERE for another recent post & article on this suject] ~~` TP
.

----------

"Internet Fosters Local Political Movements"
By RON FOURNIER
AP Political Writer
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1135653

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Frustrated by government and empowered by technology, Americans are filling needs and fighting causes through grass-roots organizations they built themselves -- some sophisticated, others quaintly ad hoc. This is the era of people-driven politics.

From a homemaker-turned-kingmaker in Pittsburgh to dog owners in New York to a 'gym rat' here in southwest Florida, people are using the Internet to do what politicians can't -- or won't -- do."

Fla. attorney general says his e-mails aren't spam | CNET News.com

~~ Political emails may be propaganda, but to call them spam --- which is commercial -- is unfair. We expect politicians to stuff our real and virtual mailboxes with reasons why I should vote for them. I am just thankful to live in a country where election violence , bombings & etc does not occur [anymore ] . If the price for that is a little "political spam" , well I am cool with that ~ `~~ TP

Fla. attorney general says his e-mails aren't spam | CNET News.com: "Florida's attorney general has spearheaded an aggressive campaign against unsolicited e-mails, or spam. But as a candidate for governor, he appears to be generating some unwanted Internet clutter himself."

"Spy Court Judge Quits In Protest:" : washingtonpost.com

~ This Spy-gate thing is going to be serious news for a while. When both Democrats & Republican Senate leaders are expressing civil liberties concerns, all citizens should be concerned. Nixon -- and those Presidents before him -- walked over civil liberties regularly. No one wants to go back to those times , with Presidential Enemy lists , covert wire taps, & etc. The Bush Team must feel the Power of Checks and Balances here.
Hopefully Congress is up to the job ~~ TP
-----------------------------

"Jurist Concerned Bush Order Tainted Work of Secret Panel"

By Carol D. Leonnig and Dafna Linzer
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 21, 2005; Page A01

"A federal judge has resigned from the court that oversees government surveillance in intelligence cases in protest of President Bush's secret authorization of a domestic spying program, according to two sources. U.S. District Judge James Robertson, one of 11 members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court,, sent a letter to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. late Monday notifying him of his resignation without providing an explanation".

"Word of Robertson's resignation came as two Senate Republicans joined the call for congressional investigations into the National Security Agency's warrantless interception of telephone calls and e-mails to overseas locations by U.S. citizens suspected of links to terrorist groups. They questioned the legality of the operation and the extent to which the White House kept Congress informed."

"Sens. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and Olympia J. Snowe (Maine) echoed concerns raised by Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who has promised hearings in the new year."

"Hagel and Snowe joined Democrats Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Carl M. Levin (Mich.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.) in calling for a joint investigation by the Senate judiciary and intelligence panels into the classified program."

F.B.I. Watched Activist Groups, New Files Show - New York Times

~~~ Not that this is really surprising. When i worked for GreenPeace in during the Reagan years, we knew that we were being monitiored. Strange thing is we had nothing to hide,, I mean we were publicity-hound-political-activists, who telegraphed to the media most everything we did or said. Why non-violent groups need to be "monitiored" is still really beyond me.

Either way the Bush Team is in trouble. If these domestic spying games the Administration is playing are found to be more than just unethical, but also to be illegal, some heads are going to have to roll. Being Scooter Libby already got indicted, maybe Dick Cheney is next, as he is the main powerplayer. { Don't tell me you really think Bush is in charge of this complicated stuff ! } ~~ ` TP
----------------------------

F.B.I. Watched Activist Groups, New Files Show - New York Times: "the documents, coming after the Bush administration's confirmation that President Bush had authorized some spying without warrants in fighting terrorism, prompted charges from civil rights advocates that the government had improperly blurred the line between terrorism and acts of civil disobedience and lawful protest.

One F.B.I. document indicates that agents in Indianapolis planned to conduct surveillance as part of a 'Vegan Community Project.' Another document talks of the Catholic Workers group's 'semi-communistic ideology.' A third indicates the bureau's interest in determining the location of a protest over llama fur planned by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The documents, provided to The New York Times over the past week, came as part of a series of Freedom of Information Act lawsuits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. For more than a year, the A.C.L.U. has been seeking access to information in F.B.I. files on about 150 protest and social groups that it says may have been improperly monitored."

ABC News: Was Bush Authorized to Spy on American Citizens?

ABC News: Was Bush Authorized to Spy on American Citizens?: "Speed Necessary?

The president said he needed the power to eavesdrop without a court order to streamline the process of wiretapping suspected terrorists.

'We've got to be fast on our feet, quick to detect and prevent,' Bush said.

But the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows investigators to wiretap before getting a warrant, as long as they request permission from a special intelligence court within 72 hours.

'Doesn't hold water,' said Saltzburg. 'As long as you can act in emergencies before you get a court order, then speed is irrelevant here.'

The secret court has overwhelmingly done the bidding of recent administrations. Since 1979, the Justice Department has gone before the secret court 18,742 times and has only been turned down in four instances.

But for the Bush administration, court approval, at times, was not fast enough.

ABC News' Pierre Thomas filed this report for 'World News Tonight.'"

Just Three More Years !!!

~~ So Bush admits, with his anti-terror flag wrapped tightly around him,
Congress is ticked off. Hearings will come with the new year.
Well at least it will not be a boring three more years. ~~ TP

===================

Lawmakers Call for Domestic Spying Probe - Yahoo! News

"Lawmakers Call for Domestic Spying Probe"
============================

http://news.bbc.co.uk

Bush admits he authorised spying

President George W Bush has admitted he authorised secret monitoring of communications within the United States in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks.

Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts - New York Times

~~~ The NY Times has an extensive article today on the Bush team again forgetting that a Democracy is a place where the Government does not spy on its citizens with out first getting a Court order. This is major news , but unless Congress raises a stink and starts hearings , it will pass under the radar of most voters.

I have to keep saying to myself -

-- "Just three more years,, Just three more years".

Anybody will be better than the Bushies in 2008. 

{ Assuming that Team Bush does not find 

some way to cancel the 2008 American elections.] ~~~ TP
-----------------------------------------

Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts
By JAMES RISEN and ERIC LICHTBLAU

"WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 - Months after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for evidence of terrorist activity without the court-approved warrants ordinarily required for domestic spying, according to government officials"

" Hackers fuel Peru-Chile rivalry" BBC NEWS | Americas |

~~~ Now this is really Technopolitical. Maybe cross-border Political-Hacking could replace military wars. But probably not. ~~ TP
-----------

BBC NEWS | Americas | Hackers fuel Peru-Chile rivalry: "The historic rivalry between Peru and Chile has spilled into cyberspace with hackers from both countries striking at government websites."

~~ Big alarm bells here. If the internet becomes a place where the Internet Service Providers can favor some websites over others , the internet will simply be crippled and much less useful---especially as a political tool. Something tells me that common sense and the consumer market will not let this fragmentation occur. But who knows? ~~~ TP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Stake: The Net as We Know It

BusinessWeek

By Catherine Yang

"Google et al fear broadband carriers will tie up traffic with new tolls and controls. Ultimately, it could mean a world of Internet haves and have-nots

The Internet has always been a model of freedom. Today the Web is flourishing because anyone can click to any site or download any service they want on an open network. But now the phone and cable companies that operate broadband networks have a different vision. If they get their way, today's Information Highway could be laden with tollgates, express lanes, and traffic tie-ups -- all designed to make money for the network companies."

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2005/tc20051215_141991.htm

" Sen. William Proxmire Dead At 90 "

~~ The second Senate giant to pass this week. Like Sen. Eugence McCarthy , William Proxmire is one for the history books. A unique maverick who often defied labels. Mostly "Liberal" , but against abortion. Thifty , but always bought home the milk-price supports to the home state. Most importantly Sen. Proxmire also led the charge to get the USA to sign the International Genocide Treaty. A very complex man indeed, and like Sen. McCarthy the type of politician who probably could not get elected today.~~ TP
----------------------------------

CBS News | Sen. William Proxmire Dead At 90 | December 15, 2005 "Long before the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law was a twinkle in the eye of lawmakers, and at a time when millions were spent campaigning for Senate seats, Proxmire made a point of accepting no contributions. In 1982 he registered only $145.10 in campaign costs, yet gleaned 64 percent of the vote."

"Who gets to see the e-mail of the deceased?":The Christian Science Monitor

~~ IF you want your email to stay private after you pass on , it seems the onus is on you to state so in your will. Otherwise as this case below ,, the courts can release the the email to your next of kin ~~ TP
----------------------------------------------

Who gets to see the e-mail of the deceased?

By Susan Llewelyn Leach |
Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
"
....from a legal point of view, e-mail's status is not clear cut. Even the experts can't agree. One law professor describes it as "a property interest," but not intellectual property. Another lecturer on law says absolutely it is intellectual property and is covered by copyright laws.

What makes these legal distinctions more critical is the growing volume of e-mail - and with it rising privacy issues. Free e-mail accounts - some with storage capacities up to 250 MB - allow people to pile up digital photos, documents, and volumes of correspondence without a second's thought. Few people are thinking through the ramifications, says Alan Chappell, a privacy and data-collection consultant."

McCarthy's rare mold: USATODAY.com

~~~ I have been reading a lot of o-bits about Sen. Eugene McCarthy, and this one from 'USA Today' struck the chord I was looking for. ~~ TP
---------------------------------------------------

USATODAY.com - McCarthy's rare mold: "McCarthy's rare mold
Most politicians whose biggest claim to fame was a second-place finish in a presidential primary would barely rate a footnote from historians.

But Eugene McCarthy, who died Saturday at age 89, wasn't like most politicians." it is hard to imagine someone as quirky or principled as McCarthy surviving in today's political environment. He didn't take the oath of self-preservation and mindless partisanship that seems to be an officeholder's first action today. He didn't base his stands on the winds of the moment......

......The nation would be well-served if more people of McCarthy's unwavering integrity were drawn to public service. It would also do well to have more officials like McCarthy with interests in poetry and other areas beyond politics and the law.

......But he was an unusual politician at a unique moment in history. It's probably safe to say there won't be many more like him anytime soon. ~~` How True , and that is what is too bad . ~` TP

Internet redefining politics: new survey

~~ I disagree with the findings here. While the Internet is becoming "part" of politics in the USA, there has not been , nor will there be soon any major shift in political power.

The Republicans have used the internet to help
solidify their base better than the Democrats have.

This is because there is still a major Digital Divide in the USA,
with the wealthier Republicans having more broadband to use politically . ~~ ` `TP
----------------------------------------------------------------

Internet redefining politics: new survey: "Online campaigning is transforming US politics and empowering individual voters dwarfed by the might of the print and broadcast media, the author of a major new Internet use survey said."

http://www.physorg.com/news8706.html

"US warns of fake net domain data" / BBC NEWS | Technology |

BBC NEWS | Technology | US warns of fake net domain data: "More than 5% of the net's most popular domains have been registered using 'patently false' data, research shows."

-------------------------------------------

~~~ But the USA also went to war in Iraq using " 'patently false' data."
So I guess that evens it all out, huh ?
{While I do not directly put my real name and etc, here at technopolitical.com ,
a few clicks around my profile will lead you to my ID if you really care to know. ] ~~~ TP

EFF moves to block certification of e-voting systems | CNET News.com

I do not see any reason to believe that the Internet will be able to overcome the fundamental issue of trust for election voting anytime in the near future.

Paper ballots and their "hanging chads" while time consuming to count and not at all perfect, are still physically tangible.

And it does not take an advanced degree in micro-processor technologies to re-count the votes if there is a challenge by the losing side in a close race.
If the Florida votes in dispute during the 2000 Bush-Gore Presidential race had been Internet-Cast-Votes, history may have been different,
Maybe not, but I would not choose to risk it. To have the core of the American democratic process become an activity of cyber-space is something I find spooky. Hackers have proven to be some of the most talented minds of our time and there has yet to be a cyber-system that has been made impregnable to attack. When it come to voting for President or anything else, I would rather take my chances with the hanging chads~~~ TP .

***

EFF moves to block certification of e-voting systems

By Anne Broache

http://news.com.com/EFF+moves+to+block+certification+of+e-voting+systems/2100-1028_3-5988243.html

Story last modified Thu Dec 08 17:57:00 PST 2005 The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a court complaint Thursday aimed at blocking North Carolina's recent certifications of voting machines, saying state elections officials failed to meet legal requirements before signing off on the systems. The complaint (click for PDF), filed in Wake County Superior Court by the EFF and a Raleigh lawyer on behalf of a local voters' advocate, calls for a judge to void certifications that the Board of Elections issued last week to Diebold, ES&S and Sequoia Voting Systems. It also requests a restraining order that would prevent elections officials from certifying any new systems until they comply fully with state election laws. The state legislature modified those laws this summer, setting new standards for e-voting machines and requiring that existing systems be decertified. State elections officials 'exceeded their statutory authority' in signing off on the systems, because they disregarded the law in two areas, the complaint charges.

It's official: Diebold election bugware can't be trusted | The Register

To have elections -- the core of the American democratic process---

become an activity of cyber-space,
is something I find spooky. .

Hackers have proven to be some of the most talented minds of

our time and there has yet to be a cyber-system that has

been made impregnable to attack. When it comes to voting for

President or anything else, I would rather take my chances

with the hanging chads. than risk electronic election chaos . ~~

~ TP

-------------------------------------------------------------

It's official: Diebold election bugware can't be trusted | The Register: "Due to irregularities in the 2004 election traced to touch screen terminals, North Carolina has taken the very reasonable precaution of requiring vendors of electronic voting gizmos to place all of the source code in escrow. Diebold has objected to the possibility of criminal sanctions if they fail to comply, and argued for an exemption before Wake County Superior Court Judge Narley Cashwell. The judge declined to issue an exemption, and Diebold has concluded that it has no choice but withdraw from the state."

Wired News: Blogging With a Wooden Tongue

~~~ This Blog will never speak with a Wooden Tongue ~~~ TP
------------------------------------------------------------------

Wired News: Blogging With a Wooden Tongue:
By Momus

02:00 AM Nov. 29, 2005 PT

The French call it la langue de bois, the 'wooden tongue.' It's the language of officialdom; of politics, power and propaganda. It's usually spoken by someone whose job is to speak, but whose real mission is to end speech.

Once upon a time, the wooden tongue was restricted to corporate reps, PR mouthpieces and government spinmeisters. But over the last couple of years, there's been a fashion for official websites to reformat as blogs. A corporate website might be consulted once or twice, but a blog invites readers to return for a daily dose of 'rolling news' about the product, personality or politician being advertised."

----------------

"Dutch tech firm wants to rid the Web of the .com" : CNET News.com

~` The Internet is young , very young.

The growth and changes ahead are anybody's guess.

Just think the phrase "Dot Com" might one day

be the answer to a trivia question. ~~ TP

-------------------------

"Dutch tech firm wants to rid the Web of the .com"

By Reuters
http://news.com.com/Dutch+tech+firm+wants+to+rid+the+Web+of+the+.com/2100-1038_3-5972183.html

Story last modified Sat Nov 26 14:05:00 PST 2005

AMSTERDAM--A Dutch technology company has breathed life into a project to rid the Internet of suffixes such as .com, and instead offer single names which can be countries, company names or fantasy words.

Such a system, which enables countries, individuals and firms to have a Web address consisting of a single name, offers flexibility and is language and character independent.

'The plan is to offer names in any character set,' said Erik Seeboldt, managing director of Amsterdam-based UnifiedRoot."

Ad dollars threaten bloggers' rebel reputations | CNET News.com

~~ Oh , how surprising.

I really always thought bloggers

would stay pure and chaste , and completly immune

to the temptations ad-dollars.
{ I hope you see my tounge in cheek here. }~~

~TP

"Ad dollars threaten bloggers' rebel reputations"

By Louise Story
http://news.com.com/Ad+dollars+threaten+bloggers+rebel+reputations/2100-1025_3-5972623.html
Sun Nov 27 11:10:00 PST 2005 "

Questions on the Legality of Campaign Fund-Raising - New York Times

Questions on the Legality of Campaign Fund-Raising - New York Times: "'Contributions can only take you so far,' said former Senator John B. Breaux, a Louisiana Democrat who has relocated to a K Street law firm and is now advising clients on lobbying strategy. 'I tell them, 'Look, you can give to an elected official and take them to lunch, dinner and breakfast. "But if you are asking them to vote yes on an issue and they have 2,000 letters from home telling them to vote no, then you have a problem."

~~ The most powerful tool in any political lobby , is the handwritten letter from the home district . Even in this technopolitical world in which we now exist , the simple old ways of local storefront politics still prevails. ~~ TP

HAPPY Turkey Day.

CNN.com - Technology pushing political films to forefront - Nov 23, 2005

~~~ Interesting , but how many people watch political films ? Especially films that they are not already pre-disposed to agree with.

Come to think of it , is anybody reading this ? Why am I writing ? ~~
~~ TP
-------------------------

CNN.com - Technology pushing political films to forefront - Nov 23, 2005: "Through the use of digital technology and Internet distribution it is now easier than ever for filmmakers to push their points of view. Movies can be made quickly and cheaply, then burned onto DVDs and disseminated worldwide on the Web.
'You couldn't do these films with the old technology,' says Greenwald. 'It's tremendously exciting for the way it continues to democratize the process, from making the films to distributing them.'"

- 'Industrial' hemp support takes root"

 was a staple of most all economies till just a few hundred years ago. { Ever wonder where "Hempstead", Long Island got it's name from ??}

TO ban hemp farming today is a crime against the environment AND small farmers. Hemp is a low maintenance crop that is cheap and easy to grow. As well , hemp fibers are the strongest of natural fibers. {Remember the Military’s "Hemp for Victory" in WW II ? }
Go to:
Hemp Industries Association
http://thehia.org/index.html

~~~ Industrial Hemp will again be legal crop one day. It is too good of a renewable natural
resource to be used for Food , Fuel, and Fiber to be left undeveloped.
Time will come.
~ ` ` TP

---------------------

USATODAY.com - 'Industrial' hemp support takes root: "Led by Monson, North Dakota's Legislature has passed laws to make hemp farming legal — if the U.S. government ever allows it. The laws would require hemp growers to undergo criminal background checks and agree to subject their plants to tests for THC.

Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Montana and West Virginia also have passed hemp-farming bills. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, introduced such a bill in Congress in June, but it hasn't advanced in the face of opposition by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the White House's anti-drug office.

The DEA says allowing farmers to grow hemp in the USA would undermine the war on drugs. It says marijuana growers would be able to camouflage their crop with similar-looking hemp plants, and that DEA agents would have difficulty quickly telling the difference.

'Let's not be naïve,' says Tom Riley of the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy. 'The pro-dope people have been pushing hemp for 20 years because they know that if they can have hemp fields, then they can have marijuana fields. It's ... stoner logic.'

Monson says he and his supporters don't intend to grow illegal drugs. 'We have answers for all the (DEA's) concerns.'"

LaSalute.net - UN predicts 'internet of things'

~~~ Will the Internet of 2105 still have blogs ? ~~ ~~` TP
--------------------------
--------------

LaSalute.net - UN predicts 'internet of things': "UN predicts 'internet of things'

Changes brought about by the internet will be dwarfed by those prompted by the networking of everyday objects, says a report by a UN body. The study looks at how the use of electronic tags and sensors could create an 'internet of things'...

Journalist, Cover Thyself - New York Times

~~ Journalist writing about journalist.
Movies about making movies.
Even comic stips about writing comic strips. I think I will start a blog about blogging.

But seriously , a little self-examination is always good, but the main point of journalists today is all too often the medium itself -- to which I plead guilty !!

[OK, so you have caught me in a

cynically self-effacing mood today.]

~~` TP
-----------------------------------------

Journalist, Cover Thyself - New York Times: "In the last few years, with the rise of blogs and a rich supply of scandals at news organizations, including The New York Times, the media have come under intense scrutiny. And many news outlets have turned a critical eye on themselves - a tricky matter rife with conflict that raises the question of whether anyone can report fully and fairly on his or her own employer, particularly for public consumption."

Alito Often Ruled for Religious Expression - N Y Times

Alito Often Ruled for Religious Expression - New York Times: "Nathan J. Diament, the public affairs director for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, said Judge Alito's record demonstrated 'a deep understanding' of the Free Exercise Clause. Mr. Diament mentioned Judge Alito's concurrence in a ruling allowing a Jewish teacher at William Paterson College in New Jersey to go forward with a lawsuit accusing the school administration of trying to force her out by scheduling events on Friday evenings. 'He didn't just agree that the suit should go forward,' Mr. Diament said. 'He went out of his way to express his philosophy on the need to accommodate religious individuals.'"

During the 2004 Election Cycle, Internet & digital became more embedded..... Howard Dean raised $$ , but still lost the nomination to Kerry.

During the 2004 Election Cycle, the Internet & digital tech

toys became more embedded into election campaign

arsenals.

Howard Dean raised $ on the Internet like no one before,

---and certainly helped to set the stage for Team Obama's masterful TechnoPolitical triumph in 2008---

but still,

in 2004 Gov. Dean lost the

Democratic nomination to John Kerry.

~tp

------------------------------------

Friday, June 20, 2003

Democrats vie in Internet 'primary'

Democrats vie in Internet 'primary'

By Tom Curry, MSNBC
Fri, 20 Jun 2003

Some activists smell something fishy about next week's Web-based "primary" to test the early strength of Democratic presidential contenders. While a number of the candidates are urging their supporters to vote in the Moveon.org event, some strategists see it as skewed toward Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor who shares the group's antiwar views. "It appears to be rigged," said Erik Smith, a spokesman for Rep. Dick Gephardt's campaign.

National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation

National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation: "NCDD brings together those who actively practice, promote and study inclusive, high quality conversations. We believe that elevating the quality of thinking and communication in organizations and among citizens is key to solving humanity's most pressing problems."

Young Voters Led Surge in 2004 Election - AP Wire

~~ For the record ~~~ TP

Young Voters Led Surge in 2004 Election - Yahoo! News:

"The 18-24 set made up 9 percent of the electorate last year, up very slightly from 8 percent the previous election. It's unclear what that might mean for the young vote in the future.

'Will it work for kids who were 14 years old in 2004? No idea. That work still remains to be done,' King said. 'But the 2004 campaign itself was an immense mobilizing event, bringing out the largest percent of young voters in 32 years.'

Democrats found hope in the statistics because, according to exit polls, Kerry won 56 percent of votes cast by people aged 18-24. Bush earned 43 percent of their votes."

"a $100, hand-cranked laptop computer"

~~~ I want one of these, sounds like a great tech-toy ~~ TP
-----------

Wed Nov 16, 2005
Technology News Article | Reuters.com:
By Andy Sullivan

TUNIS (Reuters) - Researchers unveiled a $100, hand-cranked laptop computer on Wednesday and said they hoped to place them in the hands of millions of schoolchildren around the globe.

About the size of a textbook, the lime-green machines can set up their own wireless networks and operate in areas without a reliable electricity supply, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers said at a United Nations technology summit."
Researchers unveil $100 laptop for schoolkids

Web Site to Blend Journalism With Blogs - Yahoo! News

~~~ Will this make the American Body Politic better informed . Only if people read it~~~ TP

---------

"Some 70 Web journalists, including Instapundit's Glenn Reynolds and David Corn, Washington editor of the Nation magazine, have agreed to participate in OSM — short for Open Source Media"
Web Site to Blend Journalism With Blogs - Yahoo! News:

"China Reportedly Shuts Down Blog" -Thu Nov 3, 8:17 AM ET

To ban the Internet completely is impractical for dictatorships if they want their oppressed citizenship to be able to compete in the globalized world economy. So for dictatorships the only authoritarian option is to attempt control and stifle political cyber-dialogues the best they can without curtailing economic activity.

Or in other words to use their powers of E-Governance in order to constrain the citizen use of Cyber-Activism.

~~So, REMEMBER CHINA ,, I'M WATCHING YOU!!

Be careful how you treat those nice and

well meaning bloggers .

Don't make me come over there !!

-----------------------------

China Reportedly Shuts Down Blog

Thu Nov 3, 8:17 AM ET

"BEIJING - Chinese authorities have blocked a pro-democracy Web log after it was nominated for a freedom of expression award by a German radio station, a press freedom group said Thursday.

The blog, titled Wang Yi's Microphone, dealt with 'sensitive subjects' and was maintained by a teacher from Sichuan province, Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said in a statement"China Reportedly Shuts Down Blog - Yahoo! News:

----------------------------

Internet holds only future for newspapers, experts warn -(AFP) - Newspapers have no future without online and

~~~ The newsprint paper made of dead trees , all the toxic ink , and then disposing of the papers,, make printed newspapers one of the great banes on the environment & municipal waste disposal. As broadband and wireless expand in use and coverage , the less need for printed news.

I for one do not miss the piles of newspapers that used to be in my apartment at every week's end, for now I now get my newspaper fix entirely online. And more and more folks a re joining me each day . ~~~ TP
------------------------

"Internet holds only future for newspapers, experts warn"

Thu Nov 10, 1:11 PM ET

MADRID (AFP) - Newspapers have no future without online and digital services, media executives heard at a World Association of Newspapers meeting in Madrid."

The Internet's Bold Second Act |

CBS News | The Internet's Bold Second Act | October 11, 2005 14:00:05: "This is a far different boom from the dotcom craze of the late 1990s. It is the Web's sober second act, characterized not by soaring stock prices but by forces that are challenging traditional industries — from publishing to telecommunications — to adopt new business plans. Consumers seem to be the only sure winners."

Next-Gen "Analog Hole" Legislation Proposed

~~ Mixed fellings here.
I believe copyrights should be honored. People do not honor them.
If everyone on the internet acted nice & honest this law would not be needed.

But then there is the Libertarian in me sayin' ,,
"Whaooh,, here !! Hold on a sec...." ~`
~~ tp
----------------------------------

Next-Gen "Analog Hole" Legislation Proposed: "The bill would essentially require all analog devices, such as televisions, to either re-encode a signal into a digital form, complete with rights restrictions, or to encode the rights restrictions into the analog stream itself.

Manufacturers would also be forbidden to develop a product that would remove those restrictions. Exectives at Veil Interactive, the developer of the VRAM technology at the heart of the legislation, described the technology as one that would not be noticeable by consumers."
=====================================================

"Blogs and text messages spread call to violence - Europe - International Herald Tribune"

~~~ The Internet seems to be perfect place for Anarchists to organize. { Yes, I know if they are "organized", then they can't truely be anarchists. But try to tell them that. }

The Republicans in the USA also use the internet much better than the Democrats in elections , with the GOP having larger email lists , , and more donations via the net.

This led to
a Republican base turn-out in the 2004 Presidental race that trumped the Democrats -- whose urban base failed to turn out .

Maybe the Democrats could hire the guys now running the tech-side of the Paris Ghetto Riots of 2005 .....

..... and put them in the voter-turnout "war-room" for next year's 2006 mid-term Congresional elections.

~~ `~~ TechnoPolitical ~~

------------------------------------

"PARIS The banners and bullhorns of protest are being replaced in volatile French neighborhoods by mobile phone messages and Skyblog, a Web site hosting messages inflammatory enough ..........."

from :
Blogs and text messages spread call to violence
- Europe - International Herald Tribune:
By Thomas Crampton International Herald Tribune

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2005

President Bush's Walkabout - New York Times

~ ~ Pretty heavy words from the NY Times editorial page.

I really do not like agreeing with NYT's editorials. Doing so often leaves me haunted that I may be mis-informed on the issue at hand.

But in this case, there is no mistake -- the Bush Presidency is a ticking time bomb of more disasters.

We are in a war that seems to have been engineered from even before Bush II took office. { I saw Jimmy Carter say that on TV , to promote his new book .}

A very serious change of both staff & policy is needed from the Oval Office before there are more wars & ill-handled natural disasters..

May G-d help America !!~~ ` TP
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"After President Bush's disastrous visit to Latin America, it's unnerving to realize that his presidency still has more than three years to run."

"An administration with no agenda and no competence would be hard enough to live with on the domestic front.

But the rest of the world simply can't afford an American government this bad for that long."

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from :

President Bush's Walkabout - New York Times:

"Published: November 8, 2005

All go for giant comms satellite: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature |

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | All go for giant comms satellite: "n.

The new satellite will improve and extend communications across South America, most of North America, the Atlantic Ocean and part of the Pacific Ocean.

The two satellites will support the London-based Inmarsat company's global broadband network, BGan.

Their onboard technology is designed to allow people to set up virtual offices anywhere around the world via high-speed broadband connections and new 3G phone technology.

Those set to benefit include business travellers, disaster relief workers and journalists."

"Blogs for a Cause", by "Nicole Price Fasig ,- PC Magazine.

~~~ My cause is to inform you.

[And me too, as doing this blog encourages me to read a broader spectrum of the media.]

I hope to contribute to a world with less censorship, more reasoned & peaceful debate, less war , and a cleaner Earth.....

.... and maybe have a little fun doing it too. ~~~

~~ tp
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by "Nicole Price Fasig
- PC Magazine
Mon Nov 7, 5:00 PM ET

"International bloggers are increasingly positioning themselves as watchdogs over governments.

In countries with oppressive regimes, weblogs are often the only way to communicate injustices to the international community,,,,

,,, but creating and maintaining an anonymous blog can pose nearly insurmountable challenges." { Tell me about it ! ~` tp }

link:
Blogs for a Cause - Yahoo! News:

the most influential Internet moments of the past 10 years

Dotcom boom and bust tops list of Internet watersheds - Yahoo! News: "NEW YORK (AFP)

- The breaking of the Monica Lewinsky scandal [in 1998 was].... voted among the most influential Internet moments of the past 10 years by organisers of the annual Webby Awards."

The second most influential moment voted by the committee came in 1998 when the "The Drudge Report" -- a then little-known, one-man news site -- beat the mainstream media in breaking the scandal of Lewinsky's affair

- White House Staff Begins Ethics Classes

FOXNews.com - Politics - White House Staff Begins Ethics Classes: "ASHINGTON — Mandatory ethics classes began for White House staff on Tuesday, the direct result, according to White House aides, of the indictment and resignation of former vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby.

Libby was indicted 10 days ago for perjury and obstruction of justice charges in the CIA leak case.

A directive memo went out last week to the more than 3,000 White House staffers announcing the sessions. The classes are being conducted by the White House counsel's office."

November 8, 2005

Justices Back Paying Workers as They Suit Up

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 1:53 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that companies must pay plant workers for the time it takes to change into protective clothing and safety gear and walk to their work stations.

The issue was one of two that justices settled in a pair of unanimous decisions, the first rulings under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts in the new fall term. Roberts did not write either one.

In a defeat for business, the court said that employers must pay wages for the donning of ''integral'' gear and the time it takes workers to then walk to the production area.

The court, in a ruling by Justice John Paul Stevens, upheld a decision of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of workers at a meat processing plant in Pasco, Wash. Those workers typically put on sanitary outer garments, boots, hardhats, aprons and gloves.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Scotus-Protective-Gear.html?hp&ex=1131512400&en=31fdf239ce7f8501&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Social funds warn Web firms on human rights - Yahoo! News

~~~` A story like this gives me some hope that the world , in general , is moving in a better direction, with more democracy and less tourture. ~~ ` TP
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"By Eric Auchard
Social funds warn Web firms on human rights - Yahoo! News:

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A group of social investment funds from Western countries called on Monday for Internet companies to refrain from supporting repressive human rights practices in China and other nations."

Could blogs trump stumping in Iowa? | csmonitor.com

~~ No !!!!

Handshakes, kissing babies ,, and meet face to face with the Big $$$$, will ALWAYS win elections.

Internet is not local . All Politics Are Local .

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Could blogs trump stumping in Iowa? | csmonitor.com: "The power of the Internet has led the Pew Center's Michael Cornfield and others to say that we should now speak of a much more visible 'virtual primary.'

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R), Sen. Russ Feingold (D) of Wisconsin, Sen. Evan Bayh (D) of Indiana, and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) of New York all blog or occasionally post on prominent blogs.

Senate majority leader Bill Frist just started a blog. Last week House Republicans initiated a 'Capitol Hill Blog Row,' inviting a number of bloggers to meetings and briefings."

EU optimistic over wider governance of Internet

Internet News Article | Reuters.com: "By Huw Jones

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission hopes a meeting next week will come up with an agreement to allow governments more direct influence over the domain name system that guides traffic around the Internet.

A U.N. report has put forward a more multi-national approach to running the Internet which serves a billion users worldwide, saying this would be more democratic and transparent, a view the 25-nation European Union shares.

Day-to-day handling of domain names is done by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a California-based non-profit organization created by the U.S. Commerce Department.

ICANN's governments committee has only an advisory role."

How Much Is My Blog Worth?

My blog is worth $564.54.
How much is your blog worth?

CBS News | He Said/She Said Over Home Search | November 7, 2005 14:00:09

CBS News | He Said/She Said Over Home Search | November 7, 2005 14:00:09: "the U.S. Supreme Court is about to examine whether the police need the consent of one or both spouses to conduct a warrantless search of a home"

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click Online | Open source turns money-spinner

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click Online | Open source turns money-spinner: "Open source code, written by a community of thousands of software developers, has always been made freely available. But there are ways of making money from it, as David Reid finds out in Amsterdam."

Guardian Unlimited | Science | Fuel's paradise? Power source that turns physics on its head

~~ If this is confirmed as true as written below , then this is History.~~ tp

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"Fuel's paradise? Power source that turns physics on its head"

· Scientist says device disproves quantum theory
· Opponents claim idea is result of wrong maths

Alok Jha, science correspondent
Friday November 4, 2005
The Guardian

It seems too good to be true: a new source of near-limitless power that costs virtually nothing, uses tiny amounts of water as its fuel and produces next to no waste. If that does not sound radical enough, how about this: the principle behind the source turns modern physics on its head."Guardian Unlimited | Science | Fuel's paradise? Power source that turns physics on its head: "Dr Mills argues that there are plenty of flaws in Dr Rathke's critique. "His paper's riddled with mistakes. We've had other physicists contact him and say this is embarrassing to the journal and [Dr Rathke] won't respond," said Dr Mills.
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When Cleaner Air Is a Biblical Obligation - New York Times

When Cleaner Air Is a Biblical Obligation - New York Times: "When Cleaner Air Is a Biblical Obligation"

FCC says emergency alerts should move online | CNET News.com

FCC says emergency alerts should move online | CNET News.com: "The concept isn't exactly new; the portal Terra Lycos proposed a Web-alert system back in 2002 but was ignored by the Department of Homeland Security. Still, it's unclear how it would work in practice. Would the FCC hand Web sites like News.com, CNN.com, Google.com and Yahoo.com mandatory text to post, for instance? Might millions of e-mail messages be sent to customers of U.S. Internet providers?"

, "The role of Novak. "By William F. Buckley Jr.

~~ I am sort of curious about this myself. ~` tp

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By William F. Buckley Jr. Tue Nov 1, 8:11 PM ET

---

The hot-blooded search for criminality in the matter of Cheney/Libby/Rove has not truly satisfied those in search of first-degree venality. Very soon after the indictment of Mr. Libby, the tricoteuses glumly conceded that no conspiracy has been uncovered. It is not alleged that Mr. Cheney whispered to Mr. Libby that he should conceal the truth from the grand jury or the special prosecutor. The great blast of publicity came from the technical exposure of Mr. Libby to (in his case, at his age) a life term in jail, plus a million-odd-dollar fine. If John Jones is hauled in and word is given out that if found guilty he will be hanged and his severance pay confiscated, the public's attention will be drawn to his crime even if it was to double park.

"The great question here is Robert Novak. It was he who published, in his column, that Mrs. Joseph Wilson was a secret agent of the CIA.

I am too close a friend to pursue the matter with Novak, and his loyalty is a postulate. What was going on? If there are mysteries in town, that surely is one of them, the role of Novak."

A recording star born online | News.blog | CNET News.com

A recording star born online | News.blog | CNET News.com: "MySpace is the fourth most popular site on the Internet, with 33 million registered users. Probably a third of those people are between the ages of 14 and 20--an age group that's considered to be the biggest consumers of music."

6abc.com: Wrangling Over Denver Pot Vote

6abc.com: Wrangling Over Denver Pot Vote: "DENVER-November 3, 2005 - Denver officials say they'll sidestep a voter-approved city law that decriminalizes adult possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by prosecuting under state law."

Boo - hiss the City of Denver --TP

Court Hears Internet Anonymity Case -

Court Hears Internet Anonymity Case - Yahoo! News: "By ALEX DOMINGUEZ, Associated Press Writer Wed Nov 2, 3:19 PM ET

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The publisher of a financial newsletter told Maryland's second highest court Wednesday that he should not be forced to disclose his subscriber list and other information sought by an Arizona company seeking those it says made defamatory online comments."

I agree with the publisher , that is protected private information. ~` tp