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16 Jan 2011 22:31

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World: Like a clichéd plot device, Jean-Claude Duvalier is back in Haiti


The guy on this sign was forced into exile from Haiti 25 years ago. Now, no longer a baby, “Baby Doc” is back, perhaps looking for forgiveness from the weakened country. source
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16 Jan 2011 17:32

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World: Update: Three things you should know about Tunisia’s unrest

  • one Protesters are wary of trusting the police; the situation remains volatile. Two major gun battles took place on Sunday, one of them near the presidential palace.
  • two Tunisia’s prime minister is promising a new government on Monday, and at least one ousted party plans to return to the country after the unrest dies down.
  • three High-profile members of former president Ben Ali’s staff have been arrested, and some of his family members have been attacked and killed by angry citizens. source
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16 Jan 2011 14:16

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Culture, World: Chilean miners – all 33 of them – plotting huge book, movie deal

  • All the life story rights are vested in this company and we have not yet granted anyone the official rights to the story.
  • Chilean attorney Guillermo Carey • Discussing what the Chilean miners plan to do with their made-for-a-movie story. Rather than just letting any one of the guys individually release a book and fight for the movie rights (and thereby splitting the Chilean miner film market), they plan to do everything together, possibly as a massive package deal. The deal would mean that the miners would stand behind a single book and film deal, possibly with a multilevel promotional push that would make Brangelina jealous. We can’t wait to play the Chilean miner video game on our Nintendo Wii. We bet it’d be called “Run Inside of This Room for 69 Days.” Or possibly even a branded reboot of the “Lemmings” franchise. source
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16 Jan 2011 12:14

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World: Wikileaks, Stuxnet collide to create awesome article about Iran

  • Iran doesn’t have the bomb yet. But they’ve been trying really hard to get it, according to the latest round of data released from Wikileaks. The Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, which reportedly has all 250,000 diplomatic cables, has been releasing them slowly but surely, and the latest one is kinda sorta a big deal. The cables portray it as kind of last-gasp attempt for Iran to jump-start its diplomatic prowess. “A race exists between the bomb and financial collapse,” one French nuclear expert explained in the cable. Some quick numbers:
  • 350 Iranian companies and groups were reportedly involved in the pursuit of nuclear technology
  • 30+ countries that have contacts Iran is trying to use to make this bomb thingy happen
  • no Iran doesn’t have much in the way of its own uranium, making their job tougher source
  • » Oh, and remember Stuxnet? That computer worm seemingly designed to damage Iran’s nuclear program was reportedly a American-Israeli joint, according to this here article by The New York Times. It was reportedly so effective at causing a malware ruckus that it set Iran’s nuclear program back by several years. Favorite line: “The computer program also secretly recorded what normal operations at the nuclear plant looked like, then played those readings back to plant operators, like a pre-recorded security tape in a bank heist, so that it would appear that everything was operating normally while the centrifuges were actually tearing themselves apart.” Class.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Jan 2011 22:02

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World: New Tunisia leader’s first act: Opening up the Interwebs

As a follow-up to our last Tunisia post, it’s good to note that new leader Fouad Mebazaa has unblocked the Interwebs in the country. Good news for everyone who likes freedom. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Jan 2011 21:06

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World: Tunisians: Ousted leader Ben Ali just as bad as “Big Brother”

  • I saw the RCD and the government and saw that it’s exactly like this book, with the big pictures of Ben Ali everywhere and people listening in to phone calls and informing on each other. Joining them is like selling your soul to the devil.
  • Former Tunisian citizen Ahmad Chebil • Explaining his experience with Zine el Abidine Ben Ali’s government, which wanted him to become a “citizen watcher” – essentially, someone who would spy on others and inform the government. But he never went for it – wanna know why? Well, he read a french translation of “1984” and could see the evil behind the basic idea. Also worth noting: This Ars Technica article explaining how the country ratcheted up its Internet censorship efforts in recent weeks – and how the Internet fought back. source
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15 Jan 2011 13:32

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World: A quick recap of Tunisia’s presidential situation at the moment

  • one Tunisian president in the 23 years before yesterday’s freefall
  • three Tunisian presidents in just 24 hours; sounds fairly stable to us source
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14 Jan 2011 14:30

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World: Tunisia’s Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, taking over

  • And I urge all the sons and daughters of Tunisia, from all political and intellectual backgrounds, of every affiliation, to adhere to the true national spirit. So we can safeguard our nation that is so dear to us, in order to overcome this difficult phase and return security.
  • Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi • While informing Tunisian residents that he’ll be taking over presidential duties from troubled President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who has ruled since 1987 and just dissolved the government. There are reports that Ben Ali has straight-up left the country.  source
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14 Jan 2011 13:34

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Biz, World: Could food prices be a root cause of Tunisia’s unrest?

  • 32% increase in food prices in 2010’s second half source
  • » How does this matter? We’re at a record with food prices, making it hard for people to live in third-world countries. With quick growth in countries such as China, reserves are becoming harder to keep, and the supplies of basic crops like corn and soybeans (which also get used in vast quantities for such things as ethanol) are down significantly. And since Americans tend to eat more processed foods (which use fewer raw materials), price increases aren’t felt in the developed world as much as they are in the third world. “In this country, a much higher proportion of your food dollar is spent on processing, advertising and promotion and marketing,” said Global Insight economist Tom Jackson. “There’s not really that margin built in between the farmer and the consumer in the developing countries.”

 

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14 Jan 2011 11:58

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World: More on the (very scary) Tunisia government dissolution

  • Running battles amid extreme violence from police. Protesters being chased on to rooftops. This is turning very, very bad. Gunshots are now ringing around us and in the other sidestreets around interior ministry.
  • Guardian reporter Angelique Chrisafis • Tweeting about the scene in Tunisia, where violent protests have led to the country’s dissolution. At least 23 people have died, many shot by police, since the protests began a month ago. Another 12 died in Tunis and Ras Jebel last night alone. The president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, promised that police would leave protesters alone, and that he would resign office by 2014. “I understand the Tunisians, I understand their demands,” he said. “I am sad about what is happening now after 50 years of service to the country, military service, all the different posts, 23 years of the presidency.” He’s been in office since 1987. Protesters, upset about the poor economic situation, want him to step down immediately. source
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