New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions: "Don't talk about clothes. Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean was a momentous event: the man who won the popular vote in 2000 threw his support to a candidate who accuses the president of wrongfully taking the nation to war. So what did some prominent commentators write about? Why, the fact that both men wore blue suits. "

Thank Dave Winers for the pointer.

Dean Makes Racial-Political History

Doc Searls has pointed out an article in the Black Commentator about the importance of Howard Deans December 7 speech. When I read the Dean speech I thought it was good and it just reinforced why I was supporting Dean with my time and what little money I could spare. This article from the Black Commentator drives home how importanint Dr. Deans' campaign is.

Dean Makes Racial-Political History: "Howard Dean has taken history in his hands by hitching his ascendant campaign to a straightforward, anti-corporate message that does not pander to white racism. He presents whites in the South and elsewhere with the only principled choice they should be offered: to vote their interests, or vote for their bosses' interests (if they are lucky enough to have a job)."

PressThink: Private Life, Public Happiness and the Howard Dean Connection

I have signed on with the good Doctor: Howard Dean. Some people get it. Some people want to understand. Some of us have started to have two way conversations, but so many just don't have a clue. PressThink: Private Life, Public Happiness and the Howard Dean Connection. Maybe if more like Jay Rosen continue to explain what is going on. Then someday the press will begin to hear the message. Some day the press will understand we are routing around them!

Excerpts of Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi's Nobel Peace Prize lecture

Excerpts of Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi's Nobel Peace Prize lecture: "Excerpts from the English translation of Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi's Nobel Peace Prize lecture Wednesday in Oslo, Norway. The speech was delivered in Farsi, her native language. "

Lawrence Lessig: White House re-writes history

Lawrence Lessig speaking of new speak, a report from the Archives

In a very few words Lessig nails a sample of Bush's lies. While pointing to an excellent resource on the web. How any intelligent person could in believe any thing the White House says is beyond me.

Makes Me Cry

This head line from the New York Times:

U.S. Soldier Killed While Guarding Long Gas Lines in Iraq

It is not the only place I have seen a version of this today. I can not read the story the head line tells me all I want or need to know. A brave Son of ours died serving our country, with pride I am sure. He asked no questions, and like a good solder he went and did what he was told. I have to cry for him and his family. His comrades in arms will swear to seek and find, justice and revenge when their anger has passed they to will cry, and ask why.

This solder did not have to die standing guard in Iraq. If the American people had not given Appointed President Bush; such a free hand in chasing terrorist. Because of this laps in judgment we can not defend our actions to our former friends around the world. I worry about our loss of standing and trust, our loss of place in the World.

I cry for the Solder who died needlessly in Iraq.

The File-Sharing Debates

This is what the RIAA does not understand.

The File-Sharing Debates: "This intriguing note arrived from a guy who's both a software engineer and a musician in two bands: "It's my belief that music CDs will soon be given away free. The CD will become promotional material to advertise a band's live shows and merchandise for sale. Space inside the CD cover could even be sold for advertising.

"This will have several results: First, bands will reduce the cost of producing a CD by making use of the incredible capabilities of your average digital recording system to avoid the ridiculous hourly prices that professional recording studios charge. (Next week my band is doing this very thing.) Self-production will become the norm.

"Second, CDs will become shorter, more focused and released more frequently. ("See us on tour next month at these locations! Hear these four songs performed live!") Third, bands will perform live far more often and venues for live music will see a resurgence in popularity."

Like the Internet people will route around trouble, the big parasite RIAA will have to learn new tricks

Anonymous Coward makes fun of the system of laws in the U.S.

In this comment thread --
GrokLaw - Linus Digs Into Copyright Law and Notices Something Useful --
an Anonymous Cowards makes this statement.

Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, December 05 2003 @ 04:15 PM EST

The system of laws in the U.S. is one of the most successful open source projects in the history of the world. I'm thankful to all those who contribute positively to that system for the common good, and to the betterment of society.

Unfortunately this is true in every sense - that is, just like open source, if you don't like the way a project is going, you can pay someone to change it.

Hence DMCA and so forth.

The truth hurts.

The New Yorker: Letter From Bagdad

I have been and will remain strongly against the war in Iraq. I also feel strongly now that we fucked up roally we must do what ever we can to make Iraq a better place for it's people. This piece in The New Yorker: Letter from Bagdad Bring forward some good thoughts on whats going wrong and where to look for the right. Here is a taste:

"The ongoing debate over the war in Iraq has rarely moved beyond abstract terms to take into account the human beings - Iraqis and Americans alike - whose lives are affected by decisions in Washington."

Smart Networks, Stupid Networks

Brian Moffatt: That's why I like the Internet. I'm am usually the dumbest person in the room. I don't like hanging around with other stupid people. Stupid people make me angry. Mostly because they remind me of myself.

More on Diebold

Electronic Frontier Foundation: Diebold Backs Down, Won't Sue on Publication of Electronic Voting Machine Flaws

Op-Ed Columnist: Hack the Vote

New York Times Op-Ed Columnist: Hack the Vote

Maybe the Diebold case is coming to the forefront. Bet you do not see any thing about it in the Daily Oklahoman.

Wells Fargo sets a good example

The Register is running a story by Mark Rasch of Security Focus that commends Wells Fargo Bank for how it handles the loss when a laptop computer containing account data was stolen from a contractor.

Much of the story is about how weak the California Law is. And I am thinking at least Califorina has a law.

Diebold agrees not to sue. EFF looks to punish Diebold under DMCA

I noticed a hand full of copies of this AP story. I hope Silicon Valley keeps its links live.

Watch this it's part of a very important debate, that is at the heart of American democracy. I trust that computers can be used for voting but; only with a paper trail.