In defense of democracy and freedom...

Local officials defy Patriot Act
ARCATA WAS one of the first cities to pass resolutions against global warming and a unilateral war in Iraq. Last month, it joined the rising chorus of municipalities to pass a resolution urging local law enforcement officials and others contacted by federal officials to refuse requests under the Patriot Act that they believe violate an individual’s civil rights under the Constitution. Then, the city went a step further.

This little city (pop.: 16,000) has become the first in the nation to pass an ordinance that outlaws voluntary compliance with the Patriot Act. [MSNBC]

 

Fuel smart cars becoming smart money...

Concept Cars Hop on Eco-Bandwagon. At the New York Auto Show, carmakers roll out a pair of concept vehicles designed to give a little back to nature. A new Volvo filters the air outside as you drive it, while a Ford boasts an interior made of recyclable materials. By John Gartner. [Wired News]

Personally I've been wating a long time to see the Toyota Prius. I've heard rumors that it is supposed to be the same size as the Corolla but I have yet to see a picture of it next to any other car currently on the market.

 

Is Canada next...

This is a very interesting piece from Kuro5hin.org.

World's largest oil reserve. Technically speaking the Middle East is not the largest oil reserve in the world. In fact the largest oil deposits are very close to the United States of America. They lie north of the border. [kuro5hin.org]

Now I just have to wonder, viewing our recent pattern of invading countries and fighting wars to secure the nations future fossil fuel power needs, is Canada next?

 

So much for freedom...

Well. The DOJ (Department of Justice) has sided with RIAA (Really Is just Another Anacronym) making your ISP (Internet Service Provider) responsible for what's on your computer.

 U.S. Backs Record Labels in Pursuit of Music Sharer. The Bush administration has sided with the recording industry in its court battle to force Internet providers to disclose the identities of subscribers who may be illegally trading materials online. By Amy Harmon. [New York Times: Technology]

Makes me want to move to Canada. Personally, I don't believe that ANYONE has the right to tell me what should or should NOT be on my home computer.

 

Ain't it great to be free...

It seems the post September 11th regime (and it is one too) has stretched its long McCarthy-ist fingers into the tech industry. I remember reading the story of how this young man was arrested but then I had heard nothing more until this article.

Guilty until proven innocent. CNET News.com's Declan McCullaghchronicles the bizarre tale of an Intel engineer thrown into U.S. solitary confinement for reasons that remain confidential. [CNET News.com]

Makes me wonder if I can be arrested for donating to the Sierra Club. They oppose Bush's plan to drill for oil in Alaska you know. I have friends who are Palestinian that I have not seen since slightly after September 11th. I wonder what's became of them.

 

Woo hoo! I think...
Borders Goes Live. Borders launches its T-Mobile service in several states, 145 stores: Borders had announced last November that it had partnered with T-Mobile to put hot spot service in all Borders stores in the US. Today, they announced all stores in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington have gone live, or 145 stores total.... [Wi-Fi Networking News] 

Bush guilty of war crimes?...
Former congressman asks court to decide if Bush committed war crimes
Former U.S. Rep. Clair Callan of Nebraska has asked a federal court to determine if President Bush is guilty of war crimes in Iraq.

Callan has filed a motion for a temporary restraining order in U.S. District Court in Lincoln that would stop the president from ordering further attacks in Iraq.

Callan argues that Bush is in violation of international law, including United Nations treaties and the findings of the Nuremburg Tribunal, for ordering the invasion of a country that has not attacked the United States. [The Independent]

 

The facts ma'am. Just the facts...

CNN's Incredible Admission. UPDATED In an appalling op-ed piece in the New York Times, "The News We Kept to Ourselves," CNN's chief news... [Dan Gillmor's eJournal]

I guess when you're not reporting the raw facts but reporting what someone else is telling you is the facts, you're merely reporting someones opinion.

 

Kevin Sites captured outside Tikrit...

Kevin Sites captured and released. Kevin Sites was captured on the front lines outside Tikrit a few hours ago. He and his team were held at gunpoint, accused of espionage, fired at, interrogated, threatened with execution, then released after about a four-hour hell. All of us are relieved that he is now safe and sound. [Kevin Sites Blog]

Wow! Listen to the audio feed as Kevin recounts the ordeal live to Wolfblitzer via Videophone.

 

Live!...

The most amazing thing is going on in Baghdad. I'm watching the Live Feed from CNN as Iraqi's are attempting to topple the statue of Saddam. If I can pull off a screen capture I'll post it.

There are Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Marines everywhere around. Big crowd of people.

 

"It was a place of evil."...
Iraqis Show Journalists Secret Jail. Iraqis showed journalists a white stone jail where they claim Saddam Hussein's secret police for decades tortured inmates with beatings, mutilations, electric shocks and chemical baths. [Associated Press war headlines via GoUpstate.com] 

Free at last, free at last...

Party in Basra. Liberated Iraqis in Basra discuss the past with a member of Saddam's Fedayeen goon squad. Perhaps this helps explain... [Richard Bennett's Omphalos]

Nicely put. Follow link to see picture for clarification.

 

Not-as-lethal...

Rubber Bullets. garret comments on the use of rubber bullets in Oakland against anti-war protesters and dockworkers. Most people know this, but it never hurts to keep on repeating it: Rubber bullets are tools for experts to use. And even in the most expert of hands, they can kill. You aim low, because a shot to the face can leave a lasting... (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) .. and even a fatal impression - and not just in children. These can cause a messy closed head injury when improperly used. Here... [Code The Web Socket]

To continue on with Alwin's post, there was a great special on the History Channel's Modern Marvels called "Super Guns" (See the 1pm-2pm time slot) while I was on lunch yesterday. It seems rubber bullets are actually hardended plastic and vulcanized rubber much harder than a hockey puck. Now renamed from the misnomer "non-lethal", not-as-lethal weapons are still deadly. Rubber bullets, when fired at the ground, shatter and produce sharpnel as dangersous as a handgrenade. Rubber bullets still break bones, cause internal trauma, and may even kill. It pays to pay attention.

 

Analog cellular tossed by the wayside...
Analog cellular being phased out by carriers, suppliers
AT&T Wireless, one of the two primary supporters of low-speed 19.2Kbps network, will discontinue its service as of June 2004, according to a spokesperson. [InfoWorld]

I guess I chose the perfect time to upgrade to GPRS.

 

Upgrade your Apache server now...

Apache urges update ahead of DoS risk alert.
Details of the problem, discovered by security outfit iDefense, are to be made available later today. [The Register]

Wow! Somebody who actually know's to warn then send the disclose the details of the problem before it can be exploited. How refreshing. You think Microsoft is listening?

 

Plagarism?...

Noted War Blogger Cops to Copying. Sean-Paul Kelley, the man behind the immensely popular Iraq war blog The Agonist, admits he posted information from a highly regarded commercial intelligence company on his site without sourcing it -- and in some cases credited it to unnamed sources. By Daniel Forbes. [Wired News]

Whoa! What an interesting turn of events.