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WillyT
WillyT's Journal
WillyT's Journal
November 9, 2013
A satelite photograph shows the enormous size of typhoon Haiyan as it strikes the Philippines on Nov. 8 (Japan Metrological Agency / Hand / EPA)
From: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/53497768/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1
Satelite Image Of Typhoon Haiyan
A satelite photograph shows the enormous size of typhoon Haiyan as it strikes the Philippines on Nov. 8 (Japan Metrological Agency / Hand / EPA)
From: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/53497768/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1
November 9, 2013
JULIE BORT - BusinessInsider
NOV. 8, 2013, 7:53 PM
<snip>
Click on it, and it takes you to a page that extols the NSA's virtues as an employer.
Our favorite part? That bit in the corner that says: "Go mobile." The NSA released a new mobile Android app in October, available in Google Play.
The app, it says, will "deliver everything you need to explore a career with NSA right to your device – plus more!"
Installing an app from the NSA onto your smartphone – what could possibly go wrong?
And guess what? According the NSA's Facebook page: it's now available for the iPhone, too.
<snip>
Link: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-nsa-just-released-a-smartphone-app-2013-11
LOL !!! - The NSA Just Released A Smartphone App (Oh, The Irony!) - BusinessInsider
The NSA Just Released A Smartphone App (Oh, The Irony!)JULIE BORT - BusinessInsider
NOV. 8, 2013, 7:53 PM
<snip>
Click on it, and it takes you to a page that extols the NSA's virtues as an employer.
Our favorite part? That bit in the corner that says: "Go mobile." The NSA released a new mobile Android app in October, available in Google Play.
The app, it says, will "deliver everything you need to explore a career with NSA right to your device – plus more!"
Installing an app from the NSA onto your smartphone – what could possibly go wrong?
And guess what? According the NSA's Facebook page: it's now available for the iPhone, too.
<snip>
Link: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-nsa-just-released-a-smartphone-app-2013-11
November 9, 2013
UK journalist's lawyers advise against returning home after working with NSA whistleblower, says statement on WikiLeaks
Philip Oltermann in Berlin - The Guardian
Wednesday 6 November 2013 14.45 EST
UK WikiLeaks journalist Sarah Harrison with Edward Snowden in Moscow in October. Photograph: Sunshine Press/Getty Images
<snip>
Sarah Harrison, the British journalist and WikiLeaks staffer who has been working with Edward Snowden since his arrival in Moscow, has left Russia and joined the growing band of net activists stranded in Berlin.
A statement released on the WikiLeaks website, attributed to Harrison, states that she arrived in Germany on Saturday and has been advised by her lawyers that it is "not safe to return home" to the UK.
Harrison joins a growing group of journalists and activists who were involved in the publication of Snowden's files and are now living in the German capital "in effective exile", including Laura Poitras and Jacob Applebaum.
The statement, which is also quoted on Spiegel website, accused the US and UK governments of using "aggressive tactics" against journalists who have reported on unethical surveillance practices.
"It should be fanciful to suggest that national security journalism which has the purpose of producing honest government or enforcing basic privacy rights should be called 'terrorism', but that is how the UK is choosing to interpret this law."
<snip>
More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/06/sarah-harrison-edward-snowden-berlin
Journalist "...advised by her lawyers that it is "not safe to return home" to the UK."
Sarah Harrison joins other Edward Snowden files 'exiles' in BerlinUK journalist's lawyers advise against returning home after working with NSA whistleblower, says statement on WikiLeaks
Philip Oltermann in Berlin - The Guardian
Wednesday 6 November 2013 14.45 EST
UK WikiLeaks journalist Sarah Harrison with Edward Snowden in Moscow in October. Photograph: Sunshine Press/Getty Images
<snip>
Sarah Harrison, the British journalist and WikiLeaks staffer who has been working with Edward Snowden since his arrival in Moscow, has left Russia and joined the growing band of net activists stranded in Berlin.
A statement released on the WikiLeaks website, attributed to Harrison, states that she arrived in Germany on Saturday and has been advised by her lawyers that it is "not safe to return home" to the UK.
Harrison joins a growing group of journalists and activists who were involved in the publication of Snowden's files and are now living in the German capital "in effective exile", including Laura Poitras and Jacob Applebaum.
The statement, which is also quoted on Spiegel website, accused the US and UK governments of using "aggressive tactics" against journalists who have reported on unethical surveillance practices.
"It should be fanciful to suggest that national security journalism which has the purpose of producing honest government or enforcing basic privacy rights should be called 'terrorism', but that is how the UK is choosing to interpret this law."
<snip>
More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/06/sarah-harrison-edward-snowden-berlin
November 9, 2013
Senator Feinstein's bill is a big step backwards for privacy. In contrast, the USA Freedom Act would stop intelligence abuses
Michelle Richardson - theguardian.com
Friday 8 November 2013 09.30 EST
<snip>
Members of Congress have introduced almost 30 separate bills to rein in NSA spying, increase transparency, or rework the secret court process that has sanctioned these programs. Two pieces of legislation, however, have momentum, and they couldn't be more different.
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – the body charged with oversight of these very programs – advanced legislation introduced by its chair, Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat from California), last week that would entrench the current spying programs and give them explicit Congressional authorization to continue.
The legislation would make clear in no uncertain terms that communication records like phone, email, and internet data can be collected without even an ounce of suspicion, pursuant to the so-called privacy rules already in place. Being silent on other types of data like location information or financial records, it passively condones their collection too, but without even the benefit of the paltry protections in place now. For the first time in history, Congress would explicitly and intentionally authorize dragnet domestic spying programs targeting every day Americans.
The Feinstein bill also makes the current situation even worse. It gives the government a 72-hour grace period to warrantlessly spy on foreigners who enter the US, without even the attorney general approval that is currently required in emergency situations. It explicitly states that none of its provisions should be read to prevent law enforcement from digging through massive NSA databases for evidence of criminal activity. By doing so, it authorizes that specific practice in a roundabout way. Finally, it sets up the prospect of all members of Congress accessing important court orders and other information, but then undercuts this requirement by endorsing current rules and practices that have been used to prevent members of the House from reading foundational documents that could inform the votes they must make on whether to continue these programs.
The counterproposal is called the USA Freedom Act. Introduced by Rep James Sensenbrenner (a Wisconsin Republican) and Senator Patrick Leahy (a Vermont Democrat) of the powerful House and Senate Judiciary Committees, the bill has...
<snip>
More: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/dianne-feinstein-nsa-intelligence-reform-bill
Feinstein's NSA Bill Shows She Doesn't Have A Clue About Intelligence Reform - GuardianUK
Feinstein's NSA bill shows she doesn't have a clue about intelligence reformSenator Feinstein's bill is a big step backwards for privacy. In contrast, the USA Freedom Act would stop intelligence abuses
Michelle Richardson - theguardian.com
Friday 8 November 2013 09.30 EST
<snip>
Members of Congress have introduced almost 30 separate bills to rein in NSA spying, increase transparency, or rework the secret court process that has sanctioned these programs. Two pieces of legislation, however, have momentum, and they couldn't be more different.
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – the body charged with oversight of these very programs – advanced legislation introduced by its chair, Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat from California), last week that would entrench the current spying programs and give them explicit Congressional authorization to continue.
The legislation would make clear in no uncertain terms that communication records like phone, email, and internet data can be collected without even an ounce of suspicion, pursuant to the so-called privacy rules already in place. Being silent on other types of data like location information or financial records, it passively condones their collection too, but without even the benefit of the paltry protections in place now. For the first time in history, Congress would explicitly and intentionally authorize dragnet domestic spying programs targeting every day Americans.
The Feinstein bill also makes the current situation even worse. It gives the government a 72-hour grace period to warrantlessly spy on foreigners who enter the US, without even the attorney general approval that is currently required in emergency situations. It explicitly states that none of its provisions should be read to prevent law enforcement from digging through massive NSA databases for evidence of criminal activity. By doing so, it authorizes that specific practice in a roundabout way. Finally, it sets up the prospect of all members of Congress accessing important court orders and other information, but then undercuts this requirement by endorsing current rules and practices that have been used to prevent members of the House from reading foundational documents that could inform the votes they must make on whether to continue these programs.
The counterproposal is called the USA Freedom Act. Introduced by Rep James Sensenbrenner (a Wisconsin Republican) and Senator Patrick Leahy (a Vermont Democrat) of the powerful House and Senate Judiciary Committees, the bill has...
<snip>
More: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/dianne-feinstein-nsa-intelligence-reform-bill
November 9, 2013
Following his appearance on Newsnight, the comedian explains why he believes there are alternatives to our current regime
Russell Brand - The Guardian
Tuesday 5 November 2013 12.57 EST
More: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/russell-brand-democratic-system-newsnight
"They say the system works. What they mean is... "the system works for me"."
Russell Brand: we deserve more from our democratic systemFollowing his appearance on Newsnight, the comedian explains why he believes there are alternatives to our current regime
Russell Brand - The Guardian
Tuesday 5 November 2013 12.57 EST
The only reason to vote is if the vote represents power or change. I don't think it does. I fervently believe that we deserve more from our democratic system than the few derisory tit-bits tossed from the carousel of the mighty, when they hop a few inches left or right. The lazily duplicitous servants of The City expect us to gratefully participate in what amounts to little more than a political hokey cokey where every four years we get to choose what colour tie the liar who leads us wears.
Obviously there has been some criticism of my outburst, I've not been universally applauded as a cross between Jack Sparrow and Spartacus (which is what I'm going for) but they've been oddly personal and I think irrelevant to the argument. I try not to read about myself as the mean stuff is hurtful and the good stuff hard to believe, but my mates always give me the gist of what's going on, the bastards. Some people say I'm a hypocrite because I've got money now. When I was poor and I complained about inequality people said I was bitter, now I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite. I'm beginning to think they just don't want inequality on the agenda because it is a real problem that needs to be addressed.
I like Jeremy Paxman, incidentally. I think he's a decent bloke but like a lot of people who work deep within the system it's hard for him to countenance ideas from outside the narrowly prescribed trench of contemporary democracy. Most of the people who criticized me have a vested interest in the maintenance of the system. They say the system works. What they mean is "the system works for me".
The less privileged among us are already living in the apocalypse, the thousands of street sleepers in our country, the refugees and the exploited underclass across our planet daily confront what we would regard as the end of the world. No money, no home, no friends, no support, no hand of friendship reaching out, just acculturated and inculcated condemnation.
When I first got a few quid it was like an anaesthetic that made me forget what was important but now I've woken up. I can't deny that I've done a lot of daft things while I was under the capitalist fugue, some silly telly, soppy scandals, movies better left unmade. I've also become rich. I don't hate rich people; Che Guevara was a rich person. I don't hate anyone, I judge no one, that's not my job, I'm a comedian and my job is to say whatever I like to whoever I want if I'm prepared to take the consequences. Well I am.
The less privileged among us are already living in the apocalypse, the thousands of street sleepers in our country, the refugees and the exploited underclass across our planet daily confront what we would regard as the end of the world. No money, no home, no friends, no support, no hand of friendship reaching out, just acculturated and inculcated condemnation.
When I first got a few quid it was like an anaesthetic that made me forget what was important but now I've woken up. I can't deny that I've done a lot of daft things while I was under the capitalist fugue, some silly telly, soppy scandals, movies better left unmade. I've also become rich. I don't hate rich people; Che Guevara was a rich person. I don't hate anyone, I judge no one, that's not my job, I'm a comedian and my job is to say whatever I like to whoever I want if I'm prepared to take the consequences. Well I am.
Luckily with organisations like them, Occupy, Anonymous and The People's Assembly I don't need to come with ideas, we can all participate. I'm happy to be a part of the conversation, if more young people are talking about fracking instead of twerking we're heading in the right direction. The people that govern us don't want an active population who are politically engaged, they want passive consumers distracted by the spectacle of which I accept I am a part.
If we all collude and collaborate together we can design a new system that makes the current one obsolete. The reality is there are alternatives. That is the terrifying truth that the media, government and big business work so hard to conceal. Even the outlet that printed this will tomorrow print a couple of columns saying what a naïve wanker I am, or try to find ways that I've fucked up. Well I am naïve and I have fucked up but I tell you something else. I believe in change. I don't mind getting my hands dirty because my hands are dirty already. I don't mind giving my life to this because I'm only alive because of the compassion and love of others. Men and women strong enough to defy this system and live according to higher laws. This is a journey we can all go on together, all of us. We can include everyone and fear no one. A system that serves the planet and the people. I'd vote for that.
If we all collude and collaborate together we can design a new system that makes the current one obsolete. The reality is there are alternatives. That is the terrifying truth that the media, government and big business work so hard to conceal. Even the outlet that printed this will tomorrow print a couple of columns saying what a naïve wanker I am, or try to find ways that I've fucked up. Well I am naïve and I have fucked up but I tell you something else. I believe in change. I don't mind getting my hands dirty because my hands are dirty already. I don't mind giving my life to this because I'm only alive because of the compassion and love of others. Men and women strong enough to defy this system and live according to higher laws. This is a journey we can all go on together, all of us. We can include everyone and fear no one. A system that serves the planet and the people. I'd vote for that.
More: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/russell-brand-democratic-system-newsnight
November 8, 2013
The Plan...
Something to keep in mind:
Near the turn of the 20th century the states wanted a direct election of senators, and Nebraska was the first state to call for an Article V. Convention in 1893. By 1913 the movement had come within one state of reaching the necessary 2/3 threshold that would force a convention. When it became clear to Congress that the 17th Amendment was going to happen one way or another they decided to preempt a convention by passing it themselves. The threat of a convention is the strongest message we can send and the most effective way to restore our democracy in the United States. This can and must be done in a far shorter time period then it took for the 17th Amendment, then again, they didn't have the power of the internet and other technology we will be using in this battle.
From: http://www.wolf-pac.com/the_plan
Near the turn of the 20th century the states wanted a direct election of senators, and Nebraska was the first state to call for an Article V. Convention in 1893. By 1913 the movement had come within one state of reaching the necessary 2/3 threshold that would force a convention. When it became clear to Congress that the 17th Amendment was going to happen one way or another they decided to preempt a convention by passing it themselves. The threat of a convention is the strongest message we can send and the most effective way to restore our democracy in the United States. This can and must be done in a far shorter time period then it took for the 17th Amendment, then again, they didn't have the power of the internet and other technology we will be using in this battle.
From: http://www.wolf-pac.com/the_plan
November 8, 2013
By Ellen Nakashima - WaPo
Published: November 6
<snip>
The Obama administration is considering ending a controversial policy that since 2010 has placed one military official at the head of both the nation’s largest spy agency and its cyber-operations command, U.S. officials said.
National Security Council officials are scheduled to meet soon to discuss the issue of separating the leadership of the National Security Agency and Cyber Command, a shift that some officials say would help avoid an undue concentration of power in one individual and separate entities with two fundamentally different missions: spying and conducting military attacks.
The administration is also discussing whether the NSA should be led by a civilian.
Officials said privately that the changes could help tamp the current furor over the NSA’s sweeping powers by narrowing the authorities assigned to its director. Because of heightened political sensitivities, what might ordinarily be an internal Defense Department policy matter is now being coordinated by the White House, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
The White House sees an opportunity to address the issue with the NSA’s director, Gen. Keith Alexander, due to retire in March. Alexander has led the NSA since 2005 and Cyber Command since its full launch in 2010. He was nominated by President Obama in 2009 to head the command, which defends Pentagon networks and, when directed, attacks adversaries’ computers.
Administration officials say...
<snip>
More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-weighs-proposal-to-end-dual-leadership-role-at-nsa-cyber-command/2013/11/06/e64a23d8-4701-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_story.html
Snowden... What's The Big Deal ???
U.S. weighs option to end dual leadership role at NSA, Cyber CommandBy Ellen Nakashima - WaPo
Published: November 6
<snip>
The Obama administration is considering ending a controversial policy that since 2010 has placed one military official at the head of both the nation’s largest spy agency and its cyber-operations command, U.S. officials said.
National Security Council officials are scheduled to meet soon to discuss the issue of separating the leadership of the National Security Agency and Cyber Command, a shift that some officials say would help avoid an undue concentration of power in one individual and separate entities with two fundamentally different missions: spying and conducting military attacks.
The administration is also discussing whether the NSA should be led by a civilian.
Officials said privately that the changes could help tamp the current furor over the NSA’s sweeping powers by narrowing the authorities assigned to its director. Because of heightened political sensitivities, what might ordinarily be an internal Defense Department policy matter is now being coordinated by the White House, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
The White House sees an opportunity to address the issue with the NSA’s director, Gen. Keith Alexander, due to retire in March. Alexander has led the NSA since 2005 and Cyber Command since its full launch in 2010. He was nominated by President Obama in 2009 to head the command, which defends Pentagon networks and, when directed, attacks adversaries’ computers.
Administration officials say...
<snip>
More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-weighs-proposal-to-end-dual-leadership-role-at-nsa-cyber-command/2013/11/06/e64a23d8-4701-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_story.html
November 8, 2013
Get... Money... Out... Of... Politics...
How many of you have heard about Wolf-Pac ???
They've actually had a number of statehouses introduce this.
Seems the local state legislators are sick of the money dance, and are actually a lot more for Democracy than their National counter-parts.
Link: http://www.wolf-pac.com/
Take a look around.
November 8, 2013
Thanks for having the first part correct.
But I have a couple of questions regarding the "long view":
1) How long... is the long view?
Do I get to live long enough to see the benefits of the long view? (I turn 58 on Saturday) Does my immediate family, and their children, the children I taught back in the 80's, their children... their childrens children ???
2) How much suffering is incurred during the "long view"?
How many starve, get sick and die, get ripped off, lose their jobs, their homes, their marriages, their kids, their very own lives... DURING the long view?
Thanks in advance.
(And no, I won't provide the link... wouldn't want to get in trouble.)
Wow... Apparently Another DUer And I Have Our "Hearts In The Right Place"...
But Can't See The "Long View"...Thanks for having the first part correct.
But I have a couple of questions regarding the "long view":
1) How long... is the long view?
Do I get to live long enough to see the benefits of the long view? (I turn 58 on Saturday) Does my immediate family, and their children, the children I taught back in the 80's, their children... their childrens children ???
2) How much suffering is incurred during the "long view"?
How many starve, get sick and die, get ripped off, lose their jobs, their homes, their marriages, their kids, their very own lives... DURING the long view?
Thanks in advance.
(And no, I won't provide the link... wouldn't want to get in trouble.)
November 7, 2013
Link: http://www.wolf-pac.com/
And listen to how far they've gotten so far.
This Is Just ONE Of The Ways We Are Trying To Cure The Political Disease In America...
I Ask You To... At Least Check It Out.Link: http://www.wolf-pac.com/
And listen to how far they've gotten so far.
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