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01 Aug 2010 20:55

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Tech, World: The BlackBerry’s data-encryption scheme won’t fly in the UAE

  • what The United Arab Emirates is planning to block data usage from BlackBerry devices – a move which could be replicated by India and other countries.
  • why Because BlackBerry devices send encrypted data to a server in Canada, where our friends in the UAE and other countries can’t see it (grumble). source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Jul 2010 09:26

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World: In Spain, Catalonia takes the lead in outlawing bullfighting

While it’s a longstanding tradition, it’s one that has drawn a lot of controversy for its animal cruelty ramifications. So Catalonia banned it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Apr 2010 22:20

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Politics: Ultra-liberal major city to boycott ultra-conservative major state

  • We want to send a message. There are consequences when you target a whole people.
  • San Francisco City Supervisor David Campos • In calling for a boycott of the state of Arizona, along with companies based there, due to their newly passed immigration law – which critics say permits racial profiling. Which is a big freaking deal, kids. While the city is still unsure of the boycott’s economic impact, “We do know that we won’t be sending any city employees to conferences in Arizona,” according to Campos. The resolution will go in front of the city’s board on Tuesday. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

23 Mar 2010 10:19

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Tech, World: So, what can you get away with on China’s Internet, anyway?

  • no You can’t use
    sites like Twitter, Facebook, or many
    blogs, because they can spread info quickly.
  • yes Many English
    papers critical of
    China, including
    The New York Times, are easy to
    read in China.
  • yes Despite China
    making an effort to
    block porn on the
    mainland, many
    porn sites are fairly
    accessible.
  • yes People roam
    the Chinese
    interweb and
    get paid to make
    comments by
    China. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Mar 2010 08:50

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Politics: Mitch McConnell’s fundamental strategy: Don’t let Dems win

His words: “If the proponents of the bill were able to say it was bipartisan, it tended to convey to the public that this is O.K., they must have figured it out.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2010 10:35

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Tech, World: China’s internet blocking is pathetically over-the-top in Xinjiang

The people in this car, from the Chinese Xinjiang province, have to travel 1,000 kilometers – a whole day – just to check their e-mail. Blame last summer’s protests. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

11 Feb 2010 09:54

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Tech, World: Iran is blocking Gmail, may have bigger plans for the internet

  • This has been going on for more than four days now. I contacted my internet provider and they said it is out of their control.
  • An anonymous Iranian whose internet is getting gummed up • Regarding his frustration with the Web. Iran has already shut down Gmail permanently – we blame Buzz – and has only been allowing limited access to the Web in the wake of the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian revolution. Google confirmed that they’ve had a sharp drop in traffic from Iran this week. “Whenever we encounter blocks in our services we try to resolve them as quickly as possibly because we strongly believe that people everywhere should have the ability to communicate freely online,” Google wrote. “Sadly, sometimes it is not within our control.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

08 Feb 2010 09:38

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Tech: 4chan blocked by Verizon Wireless. Will they ever learn?

  • You just don’t block 4chan. You just don’t. Back in July, the site – which revels in offensiveness and the more controversial end of free speech – was blocked by AT&T over reports of a denial of service attack, later found to be caused by a “network error.” The case with Verizon Wireless, however (which doesn’t affect landline DSL connections, by the way), was based on content. Site owner moot was told the site was “explicitly blocked” by the company. Net neutrality was created for this reason, guys. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Jan 2010 20:44

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U.S.: Frozen like ICE: Obama’s gonna freeze some spending. Whoa!

  • three
    years     amount of time Obama plans to stop growth in domestic spending
  • $250
    billion     amount of money the government would save with the measure source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Jan 2010 08:37

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Politics: Sen. Jim DeMint lets politics get in the way of security

  • obvious The Senate needs to confirm a TSA chief. Obama already has a guy picked out, and has for months. We just had a terror attempt, too.
  • lame Sen. Jim DeMint is holding up Erroll Southers‘ nomination … over his fear of unions. WTF? Who cares? Let it go, man! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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