Open Doors

Hu Qianci, China’s youngest political prisoner


Two long posts reminding us about the real cost of freedom...

China: Hack into Freedom City

China: Hu Jia’s family become human “state secrets”

Open Change

You must be the change you want to see in the world.
- Mahatma Gandhi

Open Spin

Recently we have heard that the war in Iraq is "better" due to the surge.

This is the American Political Experience (A.P.E.) at its very worst. By 'spinning' this story political operatives have somehow tried to legitimized something that less than two months ago was (and still is) an abhorrence.

It is not OK that George Bush sent our troops into harms way for his personal and political ambitions.

It is not OK that we accept any form of a "better" war.

Open and free from fear

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

FDR made two assertions.

1. We have nothing to fear.
2. We should fear fear itself.

America as the most powerful, wealthy, healthy country on the planet has nothing to fear. Our existing military industrial complex stands in the face of any threat. The strength of our economy is still the foundation of world economy. Our ability to maintain our high social standard continues to make us the desired destination of people seeking freedom and prosperity around the world.

Today, this very minute the people of the United States of America have nothing to fear. We have nothing to fear.

Very soon our nation will be thrown into a political melee. The only issue that will be brought to the American people will be the specter of fear. We will be told that the most powerful, wealthy, healthy country on the planet should live in fear. We will be told that the only way to combat that fear is to keep to the old tried and true ways. We will be told to be very afraid of any deviation from the old ways, any change from the current status quo. We will be told to be very afraid.

Fear is the last bastion of the power monger.

We have nothing to fear.

Unscrupulous politicians will use fear itself as a tool to subjugate us. Fear will be used to indenture our servitude. Fear will be the chains to enslave us.

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
- FDR

Open Economy of Nutrition

I want to share some insights that have come to me about the economy of nutrition.

I am so affluent that I can eat three meals a day and snacks which equals roughly ...

2 eggs, 3 strips of bacon, hashbrowns, 2 slices of buttered toast, orange juice = 700+
1 cola = 240
1 Double McCheeseburger, Lg. Fries, 16oz Cola = 1160+
1 cola = 240
1 breast, 1 drumstick fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, mac & cheese, green beans, 2 biscuits, 16oz cola = 1460+
4 oz Doritos, 2 beers = 860+

Total = 4660 calories

I am so affluent that I could...but I don't. If I did consume that much food (calories) I would have to burn that many calories (give or take a metabolic variable*) to keep from putting on weight. In view of this country's obesity epidemic I can assume that we as a society are so affluent that we can afford to consume many more calories than we burn.



The BMI calculator at
said that my 221 lbs on my 6'0" body = 30 = Obese. That was just before Thanksgiving, 2007.

Now, before I go any further this is not about a diet and how much weight I may or may not have lost. There are plenty of blog posts that extol the merits of every diet imaginable, somewhere else.

The insights that I want to share in this post are 'side effects' - lessons that I have learned along the way. Before elaborating I feel obliged to assert the following: YMMV - please consult a physician.

I limit my caloric intake to 1500-1750 calories per day. I can eat anything, anything I want. I just cannot eat as much as I might want.

Another important part of this experience is my Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

You use energy no matter what you're doing, even when sleeping. The BMR Calculator will calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR); the number of calories you'd burn if you stayed in bed all day.

You have a BMR of 1939.95.

I take this to mean that if I consume 1500-1750 calories a day and burn 1939.95 then I am likely to lose weight. Additionally, since I get up and go to work most days I am likely to burn significantly more than just my 'BMR'. (Spoiler: It is working.)

1. When I started eating 1500-1750 calories per day - my chronic heartburn went away. I went from taking a maximum strength 'Acid Suppressor' and 4-6 antacids per day to zero, nada, none. This is a MAJOR achievement for me as I don't like taking as much as an aspirin - even if I do have a splitting headache.
   
2. I became reacquainted with fresh green vegetables and fresh fruits. To put the most delicate spin on the matter this had a cleansing affect on my alimentary system.
3. Once my internal plumbing system was cleaned out I quickly realized how BLOATED and uncomfortable I get when I do "enjoy" one of those caloric-expensive double McCheeseburgers.
4. Initially I was HUNGRY all the time. This was/is very frustrating. I am an affluent American, born to the land of plenty - Why, oh why must I feel hungry for even one minute?!? Why (whine) must I endure such 'agony' ... "I'm whiney hungry. I deserve to eat anything I want. I demand the right to satisfy my desires. I should get anything I whiney want!"
5. By paying attention and eating small amounts of good food to alleviate my desires I can manage my hunger. In fact, once I begin to understand the difference between my desires and what real hunger is... I have realized that I am not really hungry all the time...like I thought I felt.
6. Society, most specifically the media and its supporters in conjunction with the major food producers, contribute more than any other to America's problem of obesity. Sadly it is a simple matter of supply-and-demand profit driven economics. Put in its simplest terms... FAT is cheap. If I sell you FAT then I make more money. If I convince you that FAT tastes better than lean you will buy more FAT...and I will make more money. The more FAT you buy the FATTER you become. Ironically, our obesity is a direct result of our capitalism flourishing.
7. Which brings me to the real... economy of nutrition. This is the real lesson in all of this. It is true, I can eat anything I want. So I can eat one double McCheeseburger _or_ I can have 2 HUGE salads. The McCheeseburger leaves me feeling bloated and uncomfortable and HUNGRY 2 hours later ... 2 HUGE salads will satisfy my hunger for the entire day AND allow me to snack on healthy food throughout the day. By being nutritionally selective I get the benefit of food value and the volume that satisfies my socially driven desires.
   

(You see? I haven't just been obsessing about the Democratic primaries... I really do have a few other concerns in my life. :)

Open Values(?)

Clearly, American values are for sale ...

Sen. Clinton accepts donations from troubled firm

Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 3:50 PM PT

Filed Under: Politics

By Lisa Myers and Jim Popkin, NBC News

Sen. Hillary Clinton has declined to return $170,000 in campaign contributions from individuals at a company accused of widespread sexual harassment, and whose CEO is a disbarred lawyer with a criminal record, federal campaign records show.

The federal government has accused the Illinois management consulting firm, International Profit Associates, or IPA, of a brazen pattern of sexual harassment including "sexual assaults,” “degrading anti-female language" and "obscene suggestions."

Long article located here -> LINK

---

(Now forming...the committee to not re-elect Presidents Clinton)
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Journalism

If you don't like the light reflected on you, stand in a different light.

On the Press Bus, Some Questions Over Favoritism

...
The most significant element of the coverage that has so rankled the Clinton campaign may be one that cannot responsibly be omitted: her recent win-loss record in nominating contests.

“My role model and mentor at The A.P. was Walter Mears, who recently retired, and he used to say that who wins is part of the story,” said Mike Glover, an Associated Press reporter, as he flew on Mrs. Clinton’s plane on Thursday from Hanging Rock, Ohio, to Houston. “We’re covering a candidate who’s lost 11 straight primaries. They’re covering a candidate who has won 11 straight primaries.”

Open QOTD (3)

Quote For The Day

from ChuckSigars.com by Chuck

“Now one of Clinton’s laws of politics is this: If one candidate’s trying to scare you and the other one’s trying to get you to think, if one candidate’s appealing to your fears and the other one’s appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope.”

—–Bill Clinton, 2004.

Good one - Thanks Chuck.

Bonus Link: YouTube video....(added 18:54)


Thanks to Beth-who-doesn't-blog,-yet!

Open Letter to Bill & Melinda Gates

Is this true?!?!? Is this the light that you wish to see you philanthropic efforts bathed in?!?!?

Quoted from Wiki.linux-delhi.org

Using NGOs to Push Agendas

The extent to which Microsoft can go in its efforts to get OOXML is interesting. Microsoft has "persuaded" several non-profit organizations to bombard the Indian IT Secretary and the Additional Director General of the Bureau of Indian Standards with letters supporting its OOXML proposal. A copy of the form letter they have been circulating to NGOs is given below. Somebody should interview these NGOs to see how much they really know about OOXML and open standards.

The sequence of events leading up to the spamming of GoI? is:

Letter from an NGO thanking Microsoft (name changed to protect their identity)

I'd like to thank you personally, and on behalf of XYZ, for Microsoft's invaluable contribution to the cause of XYZ in India. The grant will go a long way in enabling XYZ to enhance our productivity, efficiency and impact. Apart, of course, from permitting us to deploy the money saved to programmes. I do hope you can find the time soon to visit a XYZ-supported project to see your contribution in action.

Mail from Microsoft India's Corporate Social Responsibility group to the NGO

As per our discussion please find attached the draft letters -­ please cut/edit/ delete and change it any which way you find useful. Also attached is the list of NGOs who have sent the letters. And attached is also a document that details wht (sic) this debate is all about. Look forward to hear from you in this regard. In case you decide to send the letters, can you please send me a scan of the singed (sic) letters that you send out. Thanks this will help me track the process.

Thanks

Form letters on OOXML sent by Microsoft to NGOs

To

Mr. Jainder Singh, IAS
Secretary
Department of IT
Ministry of Communications & IT,
Electronics Niketan
CGO Complex
New Delhi - 110 003

Respected Sir

Please write a paragraph about your organization

Please paraphrase "We support OXML as a standard that encourages multiplicity of choice and interoperability giving us the ultimate consumer the choice. * recognizes that multiple standards are good for the economy and also for technical innovation and progress in the country, especially for smaller organizations like us, who require choice and innovation"

Please write about your work

Please paraphrase "*** also supports OXML as this does not have any financial implications thus releasing our resources for welfare and development of society."

Thanking You

Yours Faithfully

Name Designation

---

To

Mr. Rakesh Verma, IAS
Additional Director General
Bureau of Indian Standards
Manak Bhawan
BSZ Marg
New Delhi

Respected Sir

Please write a paragraph about your organization

Please paraphrase "We support OXML as a standard that encourages multiplicity of choice and interoperability giving us the ultimate consumer the choice. * recognizes that multiple standards are good for the economy and also for technical innovation and progress in the country, especially for smaller organizations like us, who require choice and innovation"

Please write about your work

Please paraphrase "*** also supports OXML as this does not have any financial implications thus releasing our resources for welfare and development of society."

Thanking You

Yours Faithfully

Name Designation

---

So some, if not all of these NGOs are beneficiaries of cash inputs from MS' Corporate Social Railroading^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Responsibility arm. I'd really be interested in answers to these questions, anyone up to asking them?

• How many letters supporting OOXML has the Government of India received from NGOs in the recent past?
• How many of these NGOs have received cash inputs (directly or indirectly) from MS?
• How many of these NGOs can sit across a table and discuss OOXML?
• How many of these NGOs can enumerate the benefits of OOXML over, say, ODF for their own organisations?

When I consider the recent case in Sweden where MS actively offered ``Marketing Contributions'' to its business partners to vote for OOXML (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136599-c,companynews/article.html), and look at the scenario in India, I'm tempted to draw unflattering (to MS) conclusions.

-- RajMathur - 27 Feb 2008

Open Request: Please help spread the word.

Dear Friend,

Voters in places like Atlanta, Brooklyn, St. Louis, and Inglewood have made clear their choice for president: Barack Obama. So why are some members of the Congressional Black Caucus threatening to use their power as "superdelegates" to undermine those votes and nominate Hillary Clinton?

Voters should decide elections--not politicians. And members of the Congressional Black Caucus should amplify the political voice of their constituents, not silence it. I've joined ColorOfChange.org in demanding that the CBC to listen to the voters; let's tell them to vote with the people, not against us:

http://www.colorofchange.org/superd/?id=1867-526328

Voters in almost all the districts represented by the CBC have chosen Obama, helping him win more delegates than Clinton. But only some delegates vote based on the results of primaries. A fifth of the delegates that will vote at the convention -- and decide the nomination -- are "superdelegates" that can technically vote however they like, regardless of what the voters say. These superdelegates are members of Congress, senators, governors and Democratic party insiders. In a contest this close, they have the power to overturn the will of voters, and decide the outcome.

In 2000 and 2004, CBC members stood up to defend the rights of Black voters that had been disenfranchised. It would be a disgrace for its members to now undermine the votes of Black people in their districts. Rarely have Black voters across the country been so unified behind a particular candidate; if CBC members vote against their constituents, it will diminish the power of Black voters in a historic election that could result in our country's first Black president.

It will take courage and conviction for CBC members to break with back-room politics and stand up for democracy. But we must demand it. Please join us:

http://www.colorofchange.org/superd/?id=1867-526328

Thanks.

Open Experienced

Drummer Buddy Miles, Hendrix Collaborator, Dies
eFluxMedia - 1 hour ago
By Jane Ivory Buddy Miles, the innovative drummer who played with musical legends like Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Carlos Santana, passed away Tuesday night at his home in Austin, TX.
Buddy Miles, 60; drummer with Hendrix, voice of California raisins Los Angeles Times

Open Blatent Power Mongering GRAB!

Under the thin guise of an 'informative' site the Clinton's campaign is trying to usurp the popular vote by swaying super delegates to vote for "the candidate they believe is best qualified to be president."

I urge everyone to review "Delegate Hub" ( Paid for by Hillary Clinton for President ) and see for yourself what a desperate ploy this is to undermine the democratic process.

This "site" was brought to my attention by the excellent article Senator Clinton's "Million Little Pieces" moment

[Excerpt]

Which brings us to Senator Clinton. Faced with fears that she may be planning to ignore our votes, she has gone public with what we might call the Washington defense: "Of course I'm planning to ignore you if you don't vote for me, because I want to win. That's how it works. If I get elected by seating the bogus Florida and Michigan delegates, and convincing party members to vote for me no matter what you want, well, what's the big deal? As long as the process selects a candidate, what does it matter if it isn't the one most of you want?"

---

(Now forming...the committee to not re-elect Presidents Clinton)
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Leadership

I encourage one and all to read the entire article... I just wanted to chronicle this one line.

Dave Winer

Obama as Told by George Lakoff

Posted February 27, 2008 | 04:07 PM (EST)

...

And there was the shift in thinking that came from last night's debate. We already have more leadership from this man who hasn't even won the Democratic nomination yet than we have from the actual President of the United States. Further, in the last two campaigns, I have exhorted the candidates to use the money they raise to solve important problems, and realize that Obama had done exactly that. He's uniting us as a country. There's nothing more important, once we remember that we're all Americans and that that means something, we can do so much more than when we're divided by the "wedge issues" of cynical political hacks. We always have had the option to take back our country, now we seem to be doing that.

When we put aside our differences, and I'm not talking about the heads of companies and lobbyists and government officials, but the people, they really can't stop us. We have the means to pass laws that they have to obey and we have police and military to enforce those laws. The founders of our country believed in this, and believed in us, we're not fools to agree with them, we're just using our power.

Open First Amendment

Barack Obama is being lambasted in political circles for not condemning Louis Farrakhan. In Tuesday's "Debate" (citing the NYT transcript)

MR. RUSSERT: Senator Obama, one of the things in a campaign is that you have to react to unexpected developments.

On Sunday, the headline in your hometown paper, Chicago Tribune: "Louis Farrakhan Backs Obama for President at Nation of Islam Convention in Chicago." Do you accept the support of Louis Farrakhan?

SEN. OBAMA: You know, I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan's anti-Semitic comments. I think that they are unacceptable and reprehensible. I did not solicit this support. He expressed pride in an African-American who seems to be bringing the country together. I obviously can't censor him, but it is not support that I sought. And we're not doing anything, I assure you, formally or informally with Minister Farrakhan.

MR. RUSSERT: Do you reject his support?

SEN. OBAMA: Well, Tim, you know, I can't say to somebody that he can't say that he thinks I'm a good guy. (Laughter.) You know, I -- you know, I -- I have been very clear in my denunciations of him and his past statements, and I think that indicates to the American people what my stance is on those comments.

Emphasis mine for clarity of focus...

Translation: Senator Obama have you stopped associating with anti-semites?

(To understand this translation see my previous post: Open Truth)

Now, listen to the Truth of his answer ... I obviously can't censor him, but it is not support that I sought. Senator Obama is honoring the First Amendment rights of Louis Farrakhan and the "American Political Experience" (A.P.E.) culture is trying to bludgeon him with it. These are the same First Amendment rights that we insists are our unalienable rights.

"Well, Tim, you know, I can't say to somebody that he can't say that he thinks I'm a good guy."

Open Images

Ben Franklin, 2007
8.5 feet wide by 10.5 feet tall in three horizontal panels

Depicts 125,000 one-hundred dollar bills ($12.5 million), the amount our government spends every hour on the war in Iraq.


Partial zoom:


Detail at actual size:


Chris Jordan's Current Work Thanks to Beth-who-doesn't-blog-yet!

Open Footprint

I saw this at Goatless.org and wanted one of my own...

Open Question

How much are ISP's making in profits?

Before they decry the need for bandwidth limits and higher user fees perhaps they should show us the bottom line.

I suggest that ISP's are being very quiet about HUGE profit margins.

Open Returns

Not... many happy... (excerpted from)

Who Will Tell Hillary?

By Robert D. Novak

Monday, February 25, 2008; Page A15

Clinton's tipping point may have come when it was announced that her $5 million loan to her campaign came from a fund she shares with Bill Clinton. That puts into play for the general election business deals by the former president that transformed him from an indigent to a multimillionaire and might excite interest in their income tax returns, which the Clintons refuse to release. The prospect impels many Democratic insiders to pray for the clear Obama victories on March 4 that they hope will make it unnecessary for anybody to beg Hillary Clinton to end her failed campaign.

(Now forming...the committee to not re-elect Presidents Clinton)
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Parody

Open Polling

My interest here is not a conclusive prognostication but to highlight the current differences in the voiced opinions of the world population.



With 8608 votes counted...

Candidate US North Amer South Amer Eur Mid East Africa S/C Asia S/E Asia Aust Total Democrats Hillary Clinton 6.8% 10.8% 13.2% 12.1% 1.4% 10.4% 14.7% 13.6% 12.3% 6.5% Barack Obama 37.0% 52.4% 60.5% 60.4% 4.5% 77.9% 69.3% 70.7% 56.4% 33.2% Mike Gravel 10.6% 3.4% 0.0% 2.5% 1.1% 0.0% 2.7% 0.0% 5.4% 5.5% Republicans Mike Huckabee 17.1% 2.2% 0.0% 1.0% 0.4% 2.5% 2.7% 2.1% 1.0% 7.7% John McCain 6.2% 6.9% 15.8% 4.2% 1.8% 3.7% 4.0% 5.0% 5.4% 4.5% Mitt Romney 3.0% 1.3% 2.6% 1.3% 75.9% 2.5% 2.7% 1.4% 2.5% 25.3% Ron Paul 19.2% 23.1% 7.9% 18.6% 14.9% 3.1% 4.0% 7.1% 17.2% 17.3%

Total votes : 8608

Open Truth

What do these three questions have in common?

Have you stopped beating your wife?
Has your husband stopped sleeping around?
Have you stopped taking PAC money?

Each is a linguistic trap.

Responder: "Yes, I have stopped beating my wife."
Interrogator: "Then you freely admit that you have beat your wife."

Responder: "Yes, my husband has stopped sleeping around."
Interrogator: "Sigh"

Responder: "Yes, I have stopped taking PAC money."
Interrogator: "Sigh"

Each is designed to elicit a truthful response and at the same time condemn the responder. The particular 'feature' of these questions is that we as a culture use them to condemn the responder regardless of the truth of their answer.

Michelle Obama has had the unfortunate "American Political Experience" of having told the truth. She told the American public "... recently that she's really proud of her country for the first time in her adult life." (AP) Within seconds of that utterance political adversaries and pundits speculated that Michelle had not been proud of her country. (They even went to sanctimonious ends to suggest that they have always been proud of their country.)

Let me state this as clearly as I possibly can.

On occasions too numerous to mention I have not been proud of my country.
- William B. Meloney VII

Michelle Obama has fearlessly told the truth and we as an "A.P.E." culture have tried to bludgeon her with it. Shame on us!

Michelle Obama should be revered for stating clearly that 'the emperor is naked!' For the first time in many of our adult lives we truly have something of which we can be proud. For the first time in my adult life I am not subject to "politics as usual." In this political race there is a possibility that the election will not be stolen from the candidate with the populous mandate. For the first time in my adult life I feel that personal views are not only being heard but honored.

Open Freedom

Frequently Asked Questions about Stoning

1. What is stoning?

   Stoning, or lapidation, refers to a method of execution in which an organized group throws stones or rocks at the person they wish to execute. Although it takes many different forms, stoning has been used throughout history and in many religious and cultural traditions as a kind of community justice or capital punishment. For instance, the practice has been documented among the ancient Greeks to punish people judged to be prostitutes, adulterers or murderers. It is also documented in the Jewish Tradition via the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and the Talmud, or Jewish Oral Law. In the Old Testament of the Bible, stoning is prescribed a method of execution for crimes such as murder, blasphemy or apostasy. Although there is no mention of stoning in the Quran, the practice has since grown to be associated with Islam and Muslim culture.
   

---

11. Shouldn’t we just accept stoning as part of someone’s culture and their right to freedom of belief?

    There is no excuse for the killing of women in the name of any ‘religion’, ‘culture’ or ‘tradition’.

    ‘Religion’ and ‘culture’ cannot and must not be invoked as excuse for the killing of women, because religion and the laws which derive from it are always subjective interpretations. Culture is not static, but constantly re-created and re-defined by the various interests of groups in positions of power in a society at any given time. There is no excuse for the killing of women. Murder is a brutal violation of the most basic human right – the right to life – and any practice which harms women or impinges upon their agency and autonomy contradicts fundamental rights, such as the right to security; the right to freedom from violence; from inhuman, degrading treatment and punishment; from terror; the right to choose a marriage partner; and the right to not face discrimination under the law. As long as impunity exists, the misappropriation of culture and religion will continue to threaten women’s safety.

    No ‘culture’ has the right to kill and harm women based on their perceptions of morality or honour. The freedom of belief does not mean freedom to kill. Stoning is a brutal example of how culture and religion are being misused to perpetuate violence against women.

---

Open Influence (peddling?)

How hamstrung would the office of the President of the United States of America be if...

The Clinton’s Kazakh Affair Is Spinning

Posted by Zhanna_Zhukova | in Politics, Business | on February 20th, 2008

Tags: No Tags

Here is an updated reporting on the scandal around ex-president of the United States Bill Clinton, his friend Frank Guistra (a canadian financier and businessman) and Kazakhstan, where Guistra got a lucrative contract in uranium production after the visit to Almaty together with Clinton. ...

'I so want to be President but I can't take him anywhere...*Sigh*'

Open Language

Are languages free? Thoughts on the International Mother Language day

from Global Voices Online by Rezwan

Today is the International Mother Language Day, an annual event in UNESCO member states to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This is mostly the international recognition of the Language Movement Day called ‘Ekushey February', which is commemorated in Bangladesh since 1952. The date of 21st February was chosen in homage to a number of ‘language martyrs' from Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) who were shot on 21st February 1952 in Dhaka, during public protest. They were demonstrating to establish their mother language Bangla as a national language along with Urdu, which was chosen as the sole official language in the then newly created Pakistan.

Photo: Shaheed Minar, a solemn and symbolic sculpture erected in the place of the massacre. The monument is the symbol of Bangladesh Nationalism.

Open QOTD (2)

A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice

-- Thomas Paine

Submitted for your consideration by Sister Beth (who doesn't blog, yet!)

Open Progress?

in short…

February 13, 2008 · 8 Comments

USA … 1931

Saudi Arabia… 2007

Translation: “According to The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice; passing coffee to women is not allowed.

Thanks for your cooperation!”

Oh no, thank you...

Open Open Open Open

Click "What has Barack Obama done for me lately?" ... then just reload the page every time you get the urge.

Open Superdelegates

Excerpts from David Plouffe's letter to Barak Obama supporters...

As you've probably heard, there could be a wildcard in the race for the Democratic nomination.

We firmly believe that the candidate who has won the most pledged delegates -- the result of having more voters in more places supporting your campaign -- will be the Democratic nominee.

...

While we intend to continue winning states and expanding our lead among the pledged delegates, and believe that will likely ensure that Barack is the Democratic nominee, we're also doing the work of reaching out to superdelegates and making sure as many as possible support Barack Obama.

Here's where you can play a key role.

Our work so far has taught us one important lesson: that your personal story about why you support Barack Obama is often the most powerful persuasion tool for someone who's undecided. That's true whether that undecided voter is your neighbor or a superdelegate.

The story of where you're from, what brought you into the political process, the issues that matter to you, and why you became part of this movement has the potential to inspire someone who could cast a deciding vote in this contest.

Our staff will compile stories from supporters like you and make them a key part of the conversation with superdelegates as Barack asks for their support.

Share your story to help persuade superdelegates now:

http://my.barackobama.com/superdelegates

Here is my response to that request...

I believe that people, in their heart of hearts, are good caring conscientious citizens. I know that all members of our great nation wish to serve as a model of democracy in action for a world that is torn asunder by the interests of a privileged few. Please allow our democratic process to be a beacon of freedom.

Open Rights

Human Rights First - This is test. What is the objective of this organization?

Our Mission

Human Rights First believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law will help ensure the dignity to which every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism, intolerance, and violence.

Human Rights First protects people at risk: refugees who flee persecution, victims of crimes against humanity or other mass human rights violations, victims of discrimination, those whose rights are eroded in the name of national security, and human rights advocates who are targeted for defending the rights of others. These groups are often the first victims of societal instability and breakdown; their treatment is a harbinger of wider-scale repression. Human Rights First works to prevent violations against these groups and to seek justice and accountability for violations against them.

Human Rights First is practical and effective. We advocate for change at the highest levels of national and international policymaking. We seek justice through the courts. We raise awareness and understanding through the media. We build coalitions among those with divergent views. And we mobilize people to act.

Human Rights First is a non-profit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in New York and Washington D.C. To maintain our independence, we accept no government funding.

2005-06 Accomplishments

2005-06 Annual Report

Open Protest (1)

Iran: Protests over ban of women's magazine

from Global Voices Online by Hamid Tehrani

Zanan Magazine [Fa] (means “women's magazine”) was banned by the Iranian government two weeks ago, after 16 years in print. Iranian authorities have canceled the license sof many journals and magazines in recent years, but Zanan's closure has stirred strong international and national protests.

More than 120 academics and human rights activists such as Noam Chomsky, Jürgen Habermas, Betty Willams, and Shirin Ebadi have signed a letter and addressed it to Iranian leaders protesting the ban.

More than 1000 Iranian journalists, intellectuals, and cultural personalities within Iran and abroad, wrote a similar letter and praised the role of Zanan in Iran. Human Rights First launched a protest campaign too.

Open QOTD (1)

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from
acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.
-- W. Somerset Maugham

Open MADNESS

SCO is back

From the Oh Puke dept.:
Embattled Unix vendor SCO may get a new lease on life, thanks to a $100 million infusion aimed at helping it emerge from bankruptcy and pursue its controversial legal claims.

The financing comes from Stephen Norris Capital Partners (SNCP), which will take a controlling

It is time to start investigating Stephen Norris Capital Partners. Who are they? Where does their money come from? Why do they feel continued litigation is in anybody's best interest?

If, and this is a big if, SNCP has anything other than a pure heart and a helping attitude then we should seriously consider NOT supporting any of their other interests.

THIS MADNESS (SCO) HAS TO STOP!

Open QOTD

Message of hope

from Mining Nuggets by tamarika

Quote of the day:

Obama gives us content, conviction, and commitment. Frank Paynter

He was there!

Open Curiosity RE: DRM & RIAA

Which Operating System and/or application set has been used to copy the majority of the 'illegal or pirated' content?

Why doesn't the RIAA go after the entity that is has the greatest interest in and most responsibility for such 'illegal or pirated' materials?

Hmmmmm?!?!

Open Changes

Open Photo Op

Gobama!

Borrowed from the University of Chicago
The Law School
Home > Faculty > Barack Obama

Barack Obama

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Barack Obama
Senior Lecturer in Law (on leave of absence)

Open Count

Count every vote! Every vote counts!!!

Call for Help: Create Petitions to Count the Vote in Washington State, Count the Popular Vote in the DNC
By Zephyr Teachout, 02/11/2008 - 11:53am

After everybody aped Moveon's brilliant petition innovations, petitions became a tool for list growth, mostly a marketing tool. But there are two things happening right now that just beg for petitions--real ones, as in, people petitioning the government and their candidates:

(1) Superdelegates ought affirm popular vote. I tend to think they should affirm the total vote numbers around the country, but I'd be happy with the affirmation of the delegate count. Consensus around this needs to be decided before the popular vote is decided, so that the process is not subservient to the political needs of either candidate. Will someone make a petition for this, one that we can then distribute, along with thoughtful signators comments, to all the superdelegates?

(2) Count every vote in Washington. The Washington Republican chair seemed comfortable declaring a winner when Huckabee was only 242 votes behind, with thousands of votes yet to count.

These situations--where elites breezily assume power--create something approaching democratic horror (is there a word for this, the gut-grippling fear that we are really not in charge?) I've talked with people at poker games and marches, and been flooded with the real fear of friends, frozen by the prospect of superdelegates making the Democratic party decision this year. I have the highest respect for Howard Dean, but I'd vastly prefer a brokered convention between people's representative delegates than a brokered deal between superdelegates--lets show some sound and fury for those that signify nothing.

Open [Counter-] Insurgency

Doc Searles highlighted John Robb’s explanation of 'progress' in Iraq

Where this goes from here is problematic since (and I say this to get you thinking and not to shock you) the US is now leading both the insurgency and the counter-insurgency in Iraq

I think Robb is giving the administration too much credit. Instead of "leading" I suggest that the US is 'paying' for both the insurgency and the counter-insurgency. There in lies the fatal flaw in the overall US strategy. The US is using money like a drug. The US is attempting to addict the Iraq population to an inflated standard of living all the while hoping that peace will break out.

Open Absurdity

Saudi woman's cafe plight highlights rights problems

The English-language Arab News quoted a 40-year-old financial consultant, named only as Yara, as saying she was arrested on Monday by members of the powerful Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

She said she was holding a business meeting with the man in a branch of Starbucks in Riyadh, in a section reserved for families. Saudi law requires that unrelated men and women be segregated in public.

Yara said she was taken to a Riyadh prison, strip-searched and forced to sign a confession to having been caught alone with a unrelated man -- an illegal act in the kingdom which enforces a strict Islamic moral code.

"I had no other choice" but to sign, said the married mother of three. "I was scared for my life ... I was afraid that they would abuse me or do something to me."

She said the religious police, known as the Muttawa, released her several hours later after her husband, Hatim, intervened.

Open Privacy Manifesto

Our sense of privacy is predicated on the perception of our right to choose. Our right to be an individual when making our choices.

Our expectation of privacy is the assumption that we get to choose what we divulge about ourselves and what we choose not to divulge.

Our privacy is not about what someone else dictates as private but what we choose to keep private or conversely what we choose to make 'public'.

In order to implement a system that honors an individual's expectation of privacy it must

• Affirm that all participant information be kept private until the participant specifies that a given unit of information can be made public.
• Or, clearly state that by associating with a system the participant is choosing to make all activity associated information public.
• Clearly state and guarantee that all meta-information is and will be kept anonymous.

Open Demise of the Internet

Sorry, I broke the Internet. Really, I am very sorry...

When I created the link ( Second SuperPower ) I realized that this was the demise of the Internet. The 'First SuperPower' will never allow a larger community to overshadow it. Very soon we will see the heavy hand of established power brokers impose "for-our-own-good" draconian measures to insure that SP^2 is fractured. We are already seeing this in with the implementation of Global Internet Filtering.

ONI - OpenNet Initiative reports ...

From RussiaProfile.org

On Jan. 29, the Council’s Committee on Information Policy held a panel to discuss the bill, which addresses the issues of administrative regulation of content and activities within the World Wide Web - or rather, its Russian segment.

From Nart Villeneuve | Internet Censorship Explorer

Search Monitor Project: China

Search engines are increasingly censoring their results, often by geographic location, having a significant, negative impact on the right to freedom of expression. The most advanced cases of censoring political content is in search engines that market a version of their product in China. This project aims to expose and monitor the censoring practises of search engines with a specific focus on China.

It is very easy to imagine the following here in these United States...

• Content filtered under the auspices of 'National Security' - The Powerful must monitor and censure information deemed contrary to the 'best interests' of 'Powerful Security'.
  
• Content filtered as a form of power segregation (The Powerful have access to "unfiltered" information while the "weak" masses are given only what "they need to know".)
• Content filtered as a form of the 'free market' business model (e.g. economic subjugation) - This is the 'Information for Profit' model where only the affluent can 'afford' access to unfiltered information.
• Content filtered as a from of Ideological 'Cleanliness' - Under the auspices of 'social health' information is filtered and censured for the "good-of-the-people".

Open Valentine

....to Microsoft ... in preparation for loading Linux.



thanks Frank

Open for just 1 day

Thanks to
TIME GOES BY by Ronni Bennett

Open Lacking

Paul Simon - Kodachrome lyrics

When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

I have loved and honored the work of Paul Simon since the very earliest days ... but this particular lyric stanza has always haunted me... when I encountered these websites I began to understand just how 'my lack of education' has really hurt me some...

Utilidade pública

O Escriba [pt] has created a link to his online library, with free books available for download. Some of them are quite rare, others have been forbidden, such as Roberto Carlos' biography. He has only an environmentally-friendly wish: “Please avoid printing them out, reading on the screen is not that much difficult”.

Iran:Remember Faridani,a great photographer

Dokhtari az Iran, writes[Fa] about the death of Nikol Faridani, a famous Iranian photographer who has published several photo books about Iranian cities and nature.Watch some of his photos.

" Watch some of his photos. " Go "watch" this site and be amazed. The photos are great - the rest of the site is magnificent - unfortunately my lack of education prevents me from really appreciating it.

Open Clarity

I continue to be impressed with the clear and concise reporting of the 2008 Primary elections by this site...

Presidential Elections 2008 - Super Tuesday

Open Future

In the true spirit of change there is a revolution going on in China. Likened to the "Second Superpower" (Link) the newly formed Netizen Party will have a significant impact on China's political landscape.

I will only link here - please consider reading the rather lengthy post.

China: Netizen Party announced

Friday, February 8th, 2008 @ 23:00 UTC

by John Kennedy

If the Netizen Party is established then the existing political regime will find itself on the horns of a dilemma. To accept the rigors of change driven by grassroots interests - which in my view is a good thing. Or, to attempt to put down such a popular movement in the very well publicized area of world politics.

Open SECOND SUPERPOWER

[Excerpted from...]

The Second Superpower Rears its Beautiful Head

James F. Moore

There is an emerging second superpower, but it is not a nation. Instead, it is a new form of international player, constituted by the “will of the people” in a global social movement. The beautiful but deeply agitated face of this second superpower is the worldwide peace campaign, but the body of the movement is made up of millions of people concerned with a broad agenda that includes social development, environmentalism, health, and human rights. This movement has a surprisingly agile and muscular body of citizen activists who identify their interests with world society as a whole—and who recognize that at a fundamental level we are all one. These are people who are attempting to take into account the needs and dreams of all 6.3 billion people in the world—and not just the members of one or another nation. Consider the members of Amnesty International who write letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience, and the millions of Americans who are participating in email actions against the war in Iraq. Or the physicians who contribute their time to Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontieres.

I am not the first - do not let me be the last to raise my voice in support of the SECOND SUPERPOWER. This is an idea who's time has come...

Open Olechko

Moleskine sketchbook pages

January 18th, 2008

Check out my new color drawings in ink pen & watercolor pencils:

[Note added 2/10/8 - These are not my ("Papa") drawings and watercolors. I just thought they deserved recognition.]

Open New Year Symptom

In previous posts I have extolled the value of Global Voices. In an earlier age I imagine it to be like reading a really good international newspaper. Global Voices brings to my dark cave here in the wilds of Kentucky the light of a world vibrant and alive. So here is something that this backwards boy never gave a whole lot of thought to...

Korea: Lunar New Year, do men also struggle?

Saturday, February 9th, 2008 @ 10:12 UTC

by Hyejin Kim

New Year! It’s a big holiday in Korea. People return to their hometowns and worship their ancestors. People gather with relatives whom they haven’t seen for a while. For entertainment and respect for ancestors, preparing meals is a big job. Now New Year has produced a new symptom, ‘New Year Symptom of Housewives’ because of the hard job. Housewives have headaches and some of them get depressed before New Year starts. ‘New Year Symptom’ became a new term in this modern society.

But men are asking, ‘Do men have no ‘New Year Symptom’?’

New Year Symptom… it is not just for housewives… Let’s talk about New Year Symptom of men. The first and last symptom is that they don’t want to go back to their hometown or their wives’ hometowns. […] Looking at how much time you spend on the path of going back to the hometown, my time is spent to 40 percent on the road, 20 percent in my hometown, and 40 percent in my wife’s house. […] In order to see relatives, I can’t go with empty hands. I have to bring bottles of alcohol and meat that fill up my car. Before I go to see my ancestors’ gravestones, I’m already worried. Mother and father… Why did you guys pass away so fast? This undutiful son will go to see you, but can’t trim your graves this time. Please forgive me.

I get depressed around the Christmas holiday here in the US. I have/had read enough pop-psychology to know that this is mostly a reaction to the bi-polar stress of capitalistic materialism verses the Christian Birthday Celebration (oh and I won't forget all my other friends that are caught in the Winter Solstice stresses as well.)

Why is the above article so important? How else would this naive WASP living in the heartland of these United States ever have a clue about what is impacting potentially 1/3 to 1/2 of the world's population?

Open LOLOPOLOTISHUNS

McCain's baggage Friday, February 08, 2008 by Dave Winer.

Open Ambiguity

Because I say so, that's why... (Quoted from Talking Points Memo)

Mukasey also refused Conyers' request to see the OLC opinions that authorized waterboarding, because they discussed techniques of what remains a "classified program." Conyers protested that every member of the committee was cleared to see top secret material, but Mukasey was unmoved, though offered to continue "ongoing discussions" with the committee -- discussions of which Conyers seemed to be unaware.

Update: A transcript of the exchange is below.

CONYERS: Well, are you ready to start a criminal investigation into whether this confirmed use of waterboarding by United States agents was illegal?

MUKASEY: That's a direct question, and I will give a direct answer.

No, I am not, for this reason: Whatever was done as part of a CIA program at the time that it was done was the subject of a Department of Justice opinion through the Office of Legal Counsel and was found to be permissible under the law as it existed then.

For me to use the occasion of the disclosure that that technique was once part of the CIA program -- an authorized part of the CIA program, would be for me to tell anybody who relied, justifiably, on a Justice Department opinion that not only may they no longer rely on that Justice Department opinion, but that they
will now be subject to criminal investigation for having done so.

That would put in question not only that opinion, but also any other opinion from the Justice Department.
Essentially, it would tell people: "You rely on a Justice Department opinion as part of a program, then you will be subject to criminal investigation when, as and if the tenure of the person who wrote the position changes or, indeed, the political winds change." And that's not something that I think would be appropriate and it's not something I will do.

CONYERS: Are you prepared to let us get a copy of the Office of Legal Counsel opinion?

MUKASEY: The Office of Legal Counsel opinion discusses particular techniques that were part of what remains a classified program.

We have, I believe, provided an unclassified discussion of general legal principles -- did it back in 2004. And we have provided some classified briefings with regard to the legal reasoning underlying opinions, and are prepared to continue to do so.

But the opinions themselves can't simply be turned over because they discuss not simply legal reasoning, but the program itself, which remains classified.

CONYERS: Well, every member of this committee is cleared for top secret information.

MUKASEY: The opinions themselves dealt with a program that -- to the extent the opinions themselves deal with a current -- opinions relating to a past program cannot simply be disclosed in that fashion. They can be the subject of briefings, and have been. We can't simply turn them over.

CONYERS: Well, can we meet and find out what it is you're basing the response to my question?

MUKASEY: I think the question was whether I was going to open a criminal investigation because it's now been disclosed that waterboarding was part of the program.

And what I've said is that waterboarding, because it was authorized to be part of the program, pursuant to approach -- that it was authorized to be part of the CIA program, cannot possibly be the subject of a criminal -- a Justice Department investigation, because that would mean that the same department that authorized the program would now consider prosecuting somebody who followed that advice.

MUKASEY: That won't change whether letters are disclosed or not disclosed.

CONYERS: Well, what we're trying to do is make ourselves conversant with the basis of the response that you gave to my question. So there must be some way, between the Department of Justice and the House Judiciary Committee, that we can be made more aware -- we've requested this document before -- of the document on which you base your response.

MUKASEY: The response about a criminal investigation doesn't really depend on the particular content of the document. It depends on their having been an opinion that defined and authorized the limits of a particular program that is now disclosed included waterboarding at that time. It's no longer part of the program; that's also been disclosed, but that doesn't change the contents of the letter.

That said, I'm sure that we can talk about possible additional discussion of what is in the letters between the department and members of this committee. My understanding is there had been ongoing discussion with members of various committees, including particularly the Intelligence Committees, but I was not aware -- there may well very well have been discussions with members of the committee. I'm not certain as I sit here.

CONYERS: Well, we'll pretend that we've never asked for this before and we'll start right now. Thank you very much.

Open Search

This is Habeas Corpus.

On October 17, 2006, he went missing without a trace. Last seen in Washington, D.C., his current whereabouts are unknown. Where is he? We don't know.

But we do know Habeas Corpus needs our help. What can you do?

Get involved and help us restore Habeas Corpus to his rightful place in our Constitution!

Open Foolishness

RIAA: Anti-Virus Software Should Filter Pirated Content
In addition to your modem, media player and ISP-level filters...
11:55AM Thursday Feb 07 2008 by Karl

Public Knowledge posts a video from the recent State of the Net Conference, at which the RIAA's Cary Sherman discusses ISP piracy filters. Of course, many piracy filtering systems like the one being tested by AT&T could easily be bested by encryption. Sherman has a solution for that: spyware/software on your PC, buried in your anti-virus software or within your modem that would restrict you from viewing certain content:

Filters can be put in the applications for example. You know, one could have a filter on the end user’s computer that would actually eliminate any benefit from…encryption because if you want to hear it, you’d have to decrypt it, and at that point the filter could work. Why would somebody put that on their machine? They likely wouldn't want to do that, they'd do that when it benefits them such as for viruses...

This is such a bad idea!

What is the very first thing Joe Average Jr is going to do if this were enacted?

Let's all say it together, "Disable the anti-virus software!"

...then Joe Jr. will go back to doing whatever he might have been doing AND proliferating virii!

And somebody gets paid to think up this FOOLISHNESS???

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Notice: Any resemblance to any Pirate(s) living or dead is purely coincidental. No animals were harmed in the posting of this blog. Do not operate heavy equipment. Be sure you have at least eight hours to devote to sleep before becoming active. Keep out of the reach of children ... and Pirates.

Open Hope

Thank you Larry Lessig for stating so clearly our hope for the future...














20 minutes or so on why I am 4Barack

Open Decline, 'bout time!

Obama, the Internet and the Decline of Big Money and Big Media

By Micah L. Sifry, 02/06/2008 - 11:14am

...If it were not for the internet, and all the campaign- and voter-generated activism that it has enabled, Hillary Clinton would already be the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, and Barack Obama or another reform-minded candidate would be trailing badly.

The dawning of an age of populist politics... and about D*MNED time!

Open Clock Towers

From All things Pakistan ...

Owais Mughal

Following is a collection of Clock Tower (ghanta ghar) images from Pakistan. Can you tell us where are they located? Once part of every major public building, Clock towers have now gone out of fashion from modern architecture. For Quiz purposes let us number following images from (1) through (9) starting from top left, then going across and then down the rows.

The final answers have not been posted as of this writing... but what a wonderful post!

Open Transparency

Here is the very best reason for Open Source ... posted by Bruce Schneier

A Good Security Investment by DHS

They're paying for open source software to be scanned for security bugs, and then fixing them.

All the software scrutinized was found to have significant numbers of security flaws, Coverity said on Wednesday. Since 2006 the project has helped fix 7,826 open source flaws in 250 projects, out of 50 million lines of code scanned, the company said.

They find, on average, one security flaw per 1,000 lines of code. And when the flaw is fixed, everyone's security improves.

Open.Mouth.Insert...

Korean

서당개 삼 년에 풍월 읊는다.

"Even a dog can recite poetry after three years at school."

... luckily I attended 4 years. :)

Open Pact

A call for shared responsibility...

The Company-Customer Pact

Thanks to Christine ...

I was happy to work with Get Satisfaction this month to draft a provisional “Company-Customer Pact.” Our intention was to create a simple, usable framework for company-customer interaction. Ideally, one that could be recommended and adopted by consumers and companies alike.

Open Endorsement

Through all those years, I chose not to engage in party politics. Though I was asked many times to endorse candidates at every level, I was never comfortable doing so. At this time, however, changing that posture feels like the responsible thing to do. If anyone can navigate the contaminated waters of Washington, lift up the poor, and appeal to the rich to share their wealth, it is Sen. Barack Obama. If anyone can bring light to the darkened corners of this nation and restore our positive influence in world affairs, it is Barack Obama. If anyone can begin the process of healing and bring unity to a country that has been divided for too long, it is Barack Obama. It is time to begin a new journey.

Joan Baez, San Francisco Chronicle