# articles

feed_id: 32f2ad91023296f70de8d313376d101a
title: PISSI
uri: 2015-12-14-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#13_December_2015_%28PISSI%29
content:
<p>
PISSI seduces naive youths 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/us/americans-attracted-to-isis-find-an-echo-chamber-on-social-media.html">by 
offering a cause and a community</a> to people who feel that no one 
takes them seriously.</p>


feed_id: 74356a0093569813e17f7a0152b813bd
title: New system for work
uri: 2015-12-14-New-system-for-work
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#13_December_2015_%28New_system_for_work%29
content:
<p>
It would be good to 
<a href="https://medium.com/@mgorbis/designing-a-new-operating-system-for-work-28d1dc3e0f64#.3zdsrl30g">change 
legally required pension schemes</a> so that they are not connected 
with any particular employer.</p>
<p>
The article's picture of the "future of work" shows distortions.  "An
algorithm matches you with a gig that optimizes your income
opportunity"?  Not likely.  Rather, it will optimize the income of the
company that runs it, as it accumulates data about you that it will
sell to someone.</p>
<p>
Will you be able to decide when to work?  Maybe in theory,
but in practice you'll find out at 08:00 that you have to work
for 4 hours from 11:00 to 15:00 or go without.</p>


feed_id: 6c4b8dd1048742f2f3e919e01631c8e2
title: Reliable gene editing
uri: 2015-12-14-Reliable-gene-editing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#13_December_2015_%28Reliable_gene_editing%29
content:
<p>
Now that reliable gene editing has been developed, it will certainly
be used to
<a href="https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/engineering-the-better-baby-by-arthur-caplan-2015-12">eliminate 
hereditary diseases</a>.  To deny people this remedy would
be too cruel.</p>
<p>
I don't think it is bad in principle to make enhancements using this
technology.  However, designing an enhanced human that doesn't already
exist is not as straightforward as replacing a defective gene with its
normal counterpart.  Until a number of people with a certain supposed
enhancement grow up, we won't know whether the change is an
enhancement or an impediment.</p>


feed_id: 2d273bb369b9a87c326d6c7c2670b107
title: CO2 emissions
uri: 2015-12-14-CO2-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#13_December_2015_%28CO2_emissions%29
content:
<p>
The carbon emissions commitments of some countries 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/12/11/paris-climate-conference-emissions-promi">are 
so weak that their emissions will keep increasing</a>.  What should we 
do about this?</p>
<p>
Since this is about avoiding global disaster, the response implicitly
proposed in the article (Just give up) is stupid.  What we really need
to do is make those countries reduce emissions.</p>
<p>
Given the hundreds of millions of deaths this disaster is likely to
cause globally, emitting too much carbon is an act of war.  It would
be justified to bomb coal-burning power plants to stop their
emissions, if nothing less can do the job.</p>


feed_id: 95f4c4f3621c5bb8f28dd0c56e6b581d
title: Artificial gene drives
uri: 2015-12-14-Artificial-gene-drives
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#13_December_2015_%28Artificial_gene_drives%29
content:
<p>
Artificial gene drives 
<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/gene-drives-and-crispr-could-revolutionize-ecosystem-management/">make 
it possible to modify entire wild populations of organisms</a> that
reproduce sexually and don't take long to mature.  For instance, we
could modify wild mosquitoes so that they can't carry malaria.  We
could wipe out populations of invasive species, such as zebra mussels
or asian carp in the US.</p>
<p>
Because it is possible to remove the drive later, if any of the
drive-harboring asian carp got back to Asia where these fish normally
live, we could easily eliminate the drive to protect the species in
the range where it belongs.</p>


feed_id: 56b9e57cb3092545234a0cbc4bcb1cff
title: Images generator site taken down
uri: 2015-12-14-Images-generator-site-taken-down
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#13_December_2015_%28Images_generator_site_taken_down%29

content:
<p>
A web site that generated images in the style of handwritten signs
used in the London subway ("Underground") 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/11/parody-london-tube-sign-generator-taken-down-after-legal-threats-from-tfl">was 
taken down</a> at the request of the subway.  The subway said the site
was being used to generate racist signs and presented this as legal
grounds for censorship.  Racist messages are nasty, but it's wrong to
shut down a medium of communication just because some people used it
communicate nasty messages.  The UK does not respect freedom of speech
enough, but I hope that this demand was not legally enforceable
there.</p>
<p>
I 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">would 
have refused all along to use a web site to generate parody signs</a>, 
because doing such a job using someone else's service is SaaSS
(Service as a Software Substitute).</p>
<p>
Any digital service automatically gives the service operator power
over its users.  This service's operator demonstrated that power when
he shut it down, thus stopping people from making any more signs no
matter what the messages.  In addition, users could not freely alter
any aspects of how the service worked, except those for which it
offered explicit settings.  The service controlled that too.</p>
<p>
The right way to make these sign images, or do any computing job that
involves you alone, is with a free program you run in your own
computer.  That way, the program's author does not subsequently have
power over the users once they get copies.</p>
<p>
If the developer had released a free program to do this, he would not
have been able to "shut it down" on demand.</p>


feed_id: 70515e9558176ebb2e0a10b358e67972
title: Addiction to video
uri: 2015-12-14-Addiction-to-video
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#13_December_2015_%28Addiction_to_video%29
content:
<p>
Young children are getting addicted to video 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/dec/11/youtube-videos-addictive-antisocial-children-girls-tim-lott-tyler-oakley">to 
the point that they don't experience much real social 
interaction</a>.</p>


feed_id: 3375fdaf5b27483f99fa9c87046f0e70
title: Urgent: discrimination in car loans
uri: Urgent-discrimination-in-car-loans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_discrimination_in_car_loans%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://action.sumofus.org/a/gm-auto-loans/">call 
on GM</a> to oppose plans to legalize discrimination in car loans.


feed_id: 2dfd8f22aa22f81b42a7c3b6d462b170
title: License-plate recognition cameras
uri: License-plate-recognition-cameras
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28License-plate_recognition_cameras%29

content:
<p>
Free software turns mobile devices into <a
href="http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/12/new-open-source-license-plate-reader-software-lets-you-make-your-own-hot-list/">license-plate
recognition cameras</a>.
<p>
I've proposed that it should be illegal for <em>anyone</em> to set up
a license-plate recognition camera pointing at a public place except
with a specific court order.


feed_id: 7fdfcbd358a2d1021149f5e0f8e27ff9
title: Encryption back doors to catch terrorists
uri: Encryption-back-doors-to-catch-terrorists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Encryption_back_doors_to_catch_terrorists%29

content:
<p>
Accusing governments of 
<a href="http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001137.html">lying</a> when
they say that they want encryption back doors to catch terrorists.


feed_id: 8827ac0c5857b60a28c3a30168278d65
title: "Energy U-turn"
uri: Energy-U-turn
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Energy_U-turn%29
content:
<p>
The UK needs to make an "energy U-turn" to satisfy its 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/13/conservatives-energy-green-cuts-policies-paris-deal">Paris 
commitments</a>.


feed_id: a56fecdeeb9ebd919fa98aad796a4647
title: "Saving" Greece
uri: Saving-Greece
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Saving_Greece%29
content:
<p>
European banksters, rather than show Greeks the full extent of what
they demand for "saving" Greece, are imposing it a step at a time.
But Greeks are threatening to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/13/alexis-tsipras-greece-paves-way-further-privatisations-energy-sector-reforms">protest
and bring down the government.</a>


feed_id: 87515cfc242457170902e0065974ee58
title: Syriac Christian women
uri: Syriac-Christian-women
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Syriac_Christian_women%29
content:
<p>
Syriac Christian Women Take Up Kalashnikovs to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/13/syriac-christian-women-militia-fight-islamic-state">Fight 
PISSI</a>.
<p>
Bravo!


feed_id: 61f92a1b200756abb0785d418db97ea4
title: Climate deal: the pistol has fired
uri: Climate-deal-the-pistol-has-fired
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Climate_deal%3A_the_pistol_has_fired%29

content:
<p>
Climate Deal: the Pistol Has Fired, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/13/paris-climate-talks-15c-marathon-negotiating-physics">So 
Why aren't We Running?</a>


feed_id: 411b5b38255a8b7636a6ab7c55f4312c
title: Nigeria proposing to censor internet
uri: Nigeria-proposing-to-censor-internet
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Nigeria_proposing_to_censor_internet%29

content:
<p>
Nigeria is proposing to censor internet communication, making it a
crime to post 
<a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/12/03/dispatches-attempts-muzzle-nigerias-social-media">"false
information"</a>. That tends to mean information that the state
doesn't like.


feed_id: f86d6129c4b362c71099542826b17be5
title: Legacy of death
uri: Legacy-of-death
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Legacy_of_death%29
content:
<p>
US Nuclear Weapons Complex Leaves 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/11/us-nuclear-weapons-complex-leaves-legacy-death-american-soil">'Legacy 
of Death on American Soil'</a>.


feed_id: 187fd21b821b86f4fba33a9f2d9926b7
title: Torture of Shaker Aamer
uri: Torture-of-Shaker-Aamer
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Torture_of_Shaker_Aamer%29
content:
<p>
Shaker Aamer rebukes extremists and terrorists, telling them 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/13/shaker-aamer-attacks-extremism-guantanamo-release">to
leave the UK if they don't love it.</a>
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/13/you-aint-no-muslim-bruv-man-leytonstone-denounces-extremism">He's 
not alone</a>.
<p>
Aamer accuses Tony B'liar and other UK officials of knowing about his
torture, during which 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/13/tony-blair-jack-straw-questions-complicity-in-shaker-aamer-treatment">UK
agents were present</a>.


feed_id: c009a9acbe8adb82b3e1b97a03beaeb4
title: Keep on laughing at Trump
uri: Keep-on-laughing-at-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Keep_on_laughing_at_Trump%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/13/dont-ban-donald-trump-just-laugh-at-him">Don't 
Ban Donald Trump</a>.  Just Keep on Laughing at Him.


feed_id: a72c90810cfa8e8572cee92772c17e04
title: Local councils in Salafi Arabia
uri: Local-councils-in-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Local_councils_in_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
17 women have been elected to local councils in Salafi Arabia,
overcoming the tremendous handicaps imposed by that country's 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/13/saudi-arabia-elects-up-to-17-female-councillors-in-historic-election">sexist 
laws</a>.
<p>
However, these councils do not even theoretically offer women a path
to changing the laws that oppress them.
<p>
Islamic law is fundamentally opposed to human rights, and deserves to
be considered a gross injustice.


feed_id: ecb37c14bf4583f581db892c8dbea4c5
title: Less disposable income
uri: Less-disposable-income
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Less_disposable_income%29
content:
<p>
British companies 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2015/dec/12/british-business-profit-lost-wages-workers-prosperity">make 
more money</a> than 15 years ago, and workers have less disposable
income than 15 years ago.
<p>
This is dooH niboR at work.


feed_id: 27e1bce11ee053956a4f2b65ac53ad5f
title: Charter schools in the US
uri: Charter-schools-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_%28Charter_schools_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
Charter schools in the US provide an avenue for private owners get
public money for their 
<a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/12/10/charter-schools-are-a-gravy-train-say-researchers.html">private
businesses</a>.
<p>
I suppose that's why so many local and state policies to encourage
charter schools were set up: due to pressure from the businesses that
intended to enrich themselves.
<p>
Since charter schools do not in general provide a better education
(this supposed benefit was the ostensible reason for them), we should
phase them out.  Creating them was a mistake, and those policies were
a mistake.


feed_id: 75be6d3c5d1bb5af67d90f222dfaafd8
title: Urgent: Clear labels on GMO foods
uri: Urgent-Clear-labels-on-GMO-foods
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Clear_labels_on_GMO_foods%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your senators at 1-877-796-1949 to demand
<a href="http://oregonrighttoknow.org/">clear, transparent labels on
GMO food</a> — not QR codes.


feed_id: f015461cd7828c5309be700919a15c00
title: Urgent: Stop big pharma's tax dodging
uri: Urgent-Stop-big-pharma-s-tax-dodging
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_big_pharmas_tax_dodging%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://www.signherenow.org/petition/bigpharma/">tell
Congress</a> to stop big pharma's tax dodging.


feed_id: 8337832a7b345c6916e3826a495db89f
title: Democratic Syrian local councils
uri: Democratic-Syrian-local-councils
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Democratic_Syrian_local_councils%29

content:
<p>
Some Syrian rebels have set up 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/14/syria-local-councils-assad-isis">democratic
local councils</a>: dictatorship and theocracy are not the only
options.


feed_id: 449c773a220d198504b6aeb009e62bfb
title: The Paris deal
uri: The-Paris-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28The_Paris_deal%29
content:
<p>
One advance in the Paris deal: 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/14/pentagon-to-lose-emissions-exemption-under-paris-climate-deal">emissions
of armies are now counted</a>.


feed_id: 0db3763cc7004b9ddda55345a4da2507
title: Operation Ceasefire
uri: Operation-Ceasefire
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Operation_Ceasefire%29
content:
<p>
An effective method of reducing gun violence by gangs is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/14/turned-our-back-on-a-proven-method-to-curtail-gun-violence-project-ceasefire">no
longer in use in the US</a> because nobody will pay for it.


feed_id: 8c38e451300661b8fefbc90a904493c8
title: Global heating deniers lose battle
uri: Global-heating-deniers-lose-battle
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Global_heating_deniers_lose_battle%29

content:
<p>
"<a href='http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/dec/14/the-paris-agreement-signals-that-deniers-have-lost-the-climate-wars'>The
Paris agreement</a> signals that deniers have lost the climate wars."
<p>
Their agents in many governments and institutions are still sabotaging
real progress, but they have lost the battle for society's overall
direction.  It was inevitable that would happen once the effects of
global heating became sufficiently visible.  Thus, what they intended
was a delaying action.
<p>
Did they succeed enough to cause the slow destruction of human
civilization and Earth's biosphere?  Time will tell.


feed_id: e28c8f94a75eec2850c7c042f3f9d1c5
title: The NRA
uri: The-NRA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28The_NRA%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/14/inside-the-nra-the-officials-keeping-gun-control-laws-off-the-us-agenda">Inside
the NRA</a>: the Officials Keeping Gun Control Laws Off the US Agenda.
<p>
Some of their lobbying is done through 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/14/purple-strategies-guns/">disguised
relationships</a>.


feed_id: c38bd3f3a5d762379ce708cc066e8da4
title: Urgent: Investigate Exxon
uri: Urgent-Investigate-Exxon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_Exxon%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=5046">call 
on the attorney general</a> to investigate Exxon.


feed_id: a8f129effe5886fa993af47fa1db2b9f
title: Tunisia represses homosexuals
uri: Tunisia-represses-homosexuals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Tunisia_represses_homosexuals%29

content:
<p>
Tunisia, despite being more or less democratic, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/14/tunisia-students-homosexuality-prison-human-rights">represses
homosexuals</a>.


feed_id: e95333bbd9025df4a3c17772608506ca
title: Canadian mining companies
uri: Canadian-mining-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Canadian_mining_companies%29
content:
<p>
Canadian mining companies operating in Latin America often 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/andes-to-the-amazon/2015/dec/14/canada-justin-trudeau-mining-abuses-latin-america">trash
the environment and the rights of local inhabitants</a>.


feed_id: 08158f616c4e7729f041d0d034b5bc75
title: Inaction of US Fish and Wildlife Service
uri: Inaction-of-US-Fish-and-Wildlife-Service
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Inaction_of_US_Fish_and_Wildlife_Service%29

content:
<p>
The US Fish and Wildlife Service takes action extremely rarely to
protect endangered species.  Out of 88,000 proposed projects, the
F&WS approved all of them, and 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/14/government-rarely-intervened-projects-endangered-species">took
action in just two cases</a>.


feed_id: 21ac75bf1a5ed3946cdf15809340a6c9
title: Municipal broadband networks
uri: 2015-12-16-Municipal-broadband-networks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Municipal_broadband_networks%29
content:
<p>
Marco Rubio is trying to serve the large US ISPs by 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/14/marco-rubio-pushes-to-block-low-cost-high-speed-broadband/">banning
municipal broadband networks</a>.


feed_id: 23e9737ac54c67d8c5c32330c37be825
title: Foreign intervention in Yemen
uri: Foreign-intervention-in-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Foreign_intervention_in_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
The foreign intervention in Yemen, led by Salafi Arabia (*) and backed
by the US, suffered a setback: 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/14/houthi-rebels-attack-rocks-prospects-for-yemen-peace-talks">commanders
of the ground troops were killed by Houthis</a>.
<p>
* I refer to Saudi Arabia this way to highlight how it spreads an
extreme and cruel version of Islam around the world.


feed_id: 33fae6f2f7b1163eb3e2a0de4d953b1b
title: Shrimp peeled by slaves
uri: Shrimp-peeled-by-slaves
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28Shrimp_peeled_by_slaves%29
content:
<p>
Shrimp exported from Thailand to major multinational front companies
are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/14/shrimp-sold-by-global-supermarkets-is-peeled-by-slave-labourers-in-thailand">often
peeled by slaves</a>.


feed_id: ee5e17b70021a7430594eda14b6da93a
title: India to continue burning lots of coal
uri: India-to-continue-burning-lots-of-coal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_December_2015_%28India_to_continue_burning_lots_of_coal%29

content:
<p>
India will make the Paris agreement futile by 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/14/india-says-paris-climate-deal-wont-affect-plans-to-double-coal-output">continuing
to burn lots of coal</a>.
<p>
The UK will do likewise if the Tories continue 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/14/david-cameron-u-turn-paris-climate-change-summit">their
fossil-fool policies</a>.


feed_id: 1640ad2f79b435a4ac2c4060207b7d09
title: Very urgent: Reject budget bill riders
uri: Very-urgent-Reject-budget-bill-riders
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_budget_bill_riders%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your congresscritter to vote against the budget
authorization bill if it has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/16/congress-cybersecurity-information-sharing-cisa-spending-bill">any 
riders that change policies</a>.  Whether the changes are for big oil,
for snooping, against Planned Parenthood or against meat labeling,
reject them!
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and
888-355-3588.


feed_id: a3ec0ab59590252ad99df314de7c4b52
title: Coat hanger abortions
uri: Coat-hanger-abortions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Coat_hanger_abortions%29
content:
<p>
Women in some US states have been
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/15/wire-coat-hanger-abortion-stories-united-states">forced
back to using coat hangers</a>.


feed_id: f7999e4be8b839613d867b861d9c607e
title: Investigation of Brazilian politicians
uri: Investigation-of-Brazilian-politicians
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Investigation_of_Brazilian_politicians%29

content:
<p>
Major Brazilian politicians are
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/15/brazilian-police-raid-homes-of-senior-politicians-as-corruption-inquiry-widens">being
investigated for corruption</a>.


feed_id: 361124238305c3257a69f613d4b42277
title: Poland's new right-wing gov't
uri: Poland-s-new-right-wing-gov-t
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Polands_new_right-wing_govt%29
content:
<p>
Poland's newly elected right-wing government is
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/15/world/europe/poland-law-and-justice-party-jaroslaw-kaczynski.html">trying
to seize extra power</a> by replacing the supreme court.


feed_id: e697b3218070ad0f403b30798f691a78
title: Danger of accidental nuclear war
uri: Danger-of-accidental-nuclear-war
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Danger_of_accidental_nuclear_war%29

content:
<p>
William Perry, Bill Clinton's secretary of defense, warns of a new
nuclear arms race and the danger of
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/15/new-nuclear-arms-race">accidental
nuclear war</a>.


feed_id: 42e1fa1ea84e089474c45fdaf103ff2e
title: T-Mobile violating Net Neutrality
uri: T-Mobile-violating-Net-Neutrality
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28T-Mobile_violating_Net_Neutrality%29

content:
<p>
T-Mobile in the US seems to be clearly
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/12/t_mobile_s_binge_on_program_likely_violates_net_neutrality.html">violating
Net Neutrality rules</a>.


feed_id: d15ce3ac3f1b661e17fc8e574fa11bcd
title: Life in prison for attempting abortion
uri: Life-in-prison-for-attempting-abortion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Life_in_prison_for_attempting_abortion%29

content:
<p>
A woman in Tennessee
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/15/tennessee-woman-charged-attempted-murder-failed-self-induced-abortion">faces
life in prison</a> for trying to give herself a late term abortion.
<p>
I wonder why she did not get an early, safe abortion?  Has Tennessee
taken measures to make this so inconvenient that she gave up on it?


feed_id: 58eccef6712ea97ea79065f658349b7a
title: DuPont-Dow merger
uri: DuPont-Dow-merger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28DuPont-Dow_merger%29
content:
<p>
The DuPont-Dow merger
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2015/12/dupont-dow-merger-spwans-new-pesticidegmo-seed-behemoth">would
create another seed sales giant</a>, like Monsanto.


feed_id: d6dde5221cb41643d61dd2812771d653
title: Journalists jailed in Egypt
uri: Journalists-jailed-in-Egypt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Journalists_jailed_in_Egypt%29
content:
<p>
Egypt Jails
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/15/egypt-jails-record-number-of-journalists">Record
Number of Journalists</a> (23 as of December 1).


feed_id: 703708ca71110b92c38e40213064ca9b
title: Recording thugs
uri: 2015-12-17-Recording-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Recording_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Spanish journalists will ask the European Court of Human Rights to
overturn the
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/15/journalists-take-fight-against-spanish-gag-law-to-european-court">law
that prohibits photos and videos of thugs</a>, [del: even ] especially
when they are at their worst.


feed_id: 52c22a59ee3444e2f93db68de31c83f2
title: Decline of Britain's butterfly species
uri: Decline-of-Britain-s-butterfly-species
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Decline_of_Britains_butterfly_species%29

content:
<p>
3/4 of Britain's butterfly species have declined, some very much,
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/15/decline-in-over-three-quarters-uk-butterfly-species-final-warning-says-chris-packham">in
the last 40 years</a>.  This indicates that many other insect species,
less beloved by humans, have probably declined too — adding up
to an ecological calamity.


feed_id: 80ef73b3469259919654d8fef22930a7
title: School tells boy to cover up shirt
uri: School-tells-boy-to-cover-up-shirt
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28School_tells_boy_to_cover_up_shirt%29

content:
<p>
A school in California told a boy to cover up his Star Wars t-shirt
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/12/14/school-officials-make-boy-scout-cover-up">because
it showed a fictional character holding a gun</a>.
<p>
It may be a reasonable policy to exclude symbols of violence from the
classroom, not because someone else was shot, but rather to avoid
promoting militarism.  It could also be a wise policy to prohibit
shirts with commercial advertising, which this was.
<p>
Note that they did not punish the boy.  US schools punish students for
absurd reasons, even get them jailed, and that is a very harmful
practice; but it did not happen in this case.


feed_id: af236ba52b53e9f98e1f0b7471c82c73
title: Ted Cruz's global heating denialism
uri: Ted-Cruz-s-global-heating-denialism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Ted_Cruzs_global_heating_denialism%29

content:
<p>
Ted Cruz bases his global heating denialism on
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2015/12/14/ted-cruzs-climate-change-festival-of-fra">simple,
clear lies</a>.  Then he attacks the complex solution of regulation,
ignoring the market-based simple solution, a carbon tax.


feed_id: aad68e0bc7cb93afba4faff930b314d7
title: Muslim scholar defends freedom of speech
uri: Muslim-scholar-defends-freedom-of-speech
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Muslim_scholar_defends_freedom_of_speech%29

content:
<p>
A Muslim scholar
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/14/muslim-scholar-christian-pastor-james-mcconnell-islam-satanic">defends
the freedom of speech of a Christian preacher</a> who is being
prosecuted — in the UK — for saying Islam is "Satanic".
<p>
Islam has bad aspects, like Christianity and other major religions,
but I would not apply the term "Satanic" to it.  Nonetheless, I defend
other people's right to do that.


feed_id: 1ac11e5cfaf191af45a9a40ac3d57144
title: Algorithms derived from "big data"
uri: Algorithms-derived-from-big-data
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Algorithms_derived_from_big_data%29

content:
<p>
Algorithms derived from "big data"
<a href="http://www.fordfoundation.org/ideas/equals-change-blog/posts/can-computers-be-racist-big-data-inequality-and-discrimination/">can
come to implement racial discrimination</a> because the data reflect
the results of discrimination.
<p>
The article takes a foolish, naive attitude to companies that collect
data about people, in effect believing their claims that they use it
<em>only</em> to "serve you better", and neglecting the danger that it
becomes available to others such as crackers and Big Brother.  But
even though they ignore the principal injustices of collecting data
about you, their point about another injustice in the use of the data
is important.


feed_id: 39a518eb91f7fc95c7a78956d72da4ca
title: Mexican newspapers
uri: Mexican-newspapers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Mexican_newspapers%29
content:
<p>
Drug trafficking gangs
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/censor-or-die-the-death-of-mexican-news-in-the-age-of-drug-cartels/2015/12/09/23acf3ae-8a26-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html">order
Mexican newspapers what to say</a> about drug issues.


feed_id: c942f6bfd6fb1230c7ea85d982aaeccf
title: "Sarcastic" statement a crime in Thailand
uri: Sarcastic-statement-a-crime-in-Thailand
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Sarcastic_statement_a_crime_in_Thailand%29

content:
<p>
In Thailand, even a
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/15/world/asia/thailand-lese-majeste-tongdaeng.html">"sarcastic"
statement about the king's dog</a> is a crime.
<p>
Don't go to Thailand unless you have an urgent mission for some very
good cause.


feed_id: d7589b5c655f46051caf6b40ae421047
title: The Paris commitments
uri: The-Paris-commitments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28The_Paris_commitments%29
content:
<p>
Claim No Easy Victories.  Paris Was a Failure, But
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2015/dec/15/claim-no-easy-victories-paris-was-a-failure-but-a-climate-justice-movement-is-rising">a
Climate Justice Movement Is Rising</a>.
<p>
Is it rising faster than the temperature?
<p>
If the world takes them seriously, the Paris commitments could
<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/the-fate-of-the-world-changed-in-paris-but-by-how-much/">shrink
the fossil fuel industry</a> and avoid global disaster.
<p>
But the fossil fuel industry is still strong and still working to stop
governments from carrying out those commitments properly.


feed_id: 4534eac3fe3005b247188b6e2122d8a4
title: "Criminal insult" charge
uri: Criminal-insult-charge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Criminal_insult_charge%29
content:
<p>
An MP in Zimbabwe faces 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/15/grace-mugabe-insult-lands-zimbabwe-lawmaker-in-court">charges
of "criminal insult"</a> against strongman Mugabe's wife.


feed_id: 6acdd782bd4dd10bfddebad3f9eeb4c5
title: DRM in "smart" lightbulbs
uri: DRM-in-smart-lightbulbs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28DRM_in_smart_lightbulbs%29
content:
<p>
Now DRM is in 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20151214/07452133070/lightbulb-drm-philips-locks-purchasers-out-third-party-bulbs-with-firmware-update.shtml">"smart"
lightbulbs</a>!
<p>
If a product is "smart", and you didn't build it, it is cleverly
serving its manufacturer <em>against you</em>.


feed_id: c104e2455613681f53c9c3945f17e9a3
title: DEA database of phone calls
uri: DEA-database-of-phone-calls
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28DEA_database_of_phone_calls%29
content:
<p>
The DEA reported to a judge that it has 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/12/victory-privacy-and-transparency-hrw-v-dea">erased
its massive database of phone calls made within the US</a>.
<p>
However, 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-sep-dec.html#02_September_2013_(ATT_maintains_complete_database_of_cell_phone_calls)">when
phone companies keep these records for the DEA</a>, that is almost as
bad.


feed_id: 26b0a6c620541f6cac8348e0215870ea
title: Planted drugs
uri: Planted-drugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Planted_drugs%29
content:
<p>
Some Alabama thugs
<a href="http://henrycountyreport.com/blog/2015/12/01/leaked-documents-reveal-dothan-police-department-planted-drugs-on-young-black-men-for-years-district-attorney-doug-valeska-complicit/">
planted drugs on a thousand black men</a> to put them
in prison.  They were motivated by racism.


feed_id: 0b50fa1a63e4193883c5985d34b6f0e4
title: Fact-checking
uri: Fact-checking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Fact-checking%29
content:
<p>
Republicans have learned to make fact-checking useless: when their
claims are shown to be false,
<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/america-is-too-dumb-for-tv-news-20151125">
they repeat the claims</a> and accuse the
media of a cover-up.
<p>
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2009-jul-oct.html#06%20July%202009%20%28US%20mass%20media%20about%20Saddam%20Hussein%29">
Dubya and his men did this</a> in regard to Saddam Hussein's nonexistent
weapons of mass distruction, and they convinced a lot of Americans.
<p>
I am surprised by the idea that CNN is "liberal."  I have no TV, but
from everything I have heard, CNN is rather right-wing.


feed_id: 53af72da01599bd1110dd33cb758900f
title: Still Illegal
uri: Still-Illegal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Still_Illegal%29
content:
<p>
Obama's Speech
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/06/war-with-isis-illegal-obama-speech">
Reminded Americans</a> That the War with [PISSI] Is Still
Illegal.


feed_id: abc962b40d5dcca0ef51bb6a2f484b9f
title: Designed to be addictive
uri: Designed-to-be-addictive
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Designed_to_be_addictive%29
content:
<p>
If you "can't put down" a mobile device, that's because it was
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/technology/personaltech/cant-put-down-your-device-thats-by-design.html">
designed
to be addictive</a>.


feed_id: ddf611cfb889039bcc3fc548dce3f8a7
title: Emissions tax
uri: Emissions-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Emissions_tax%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/07/bernie-sanders-urges-carbon-tax-and-deeper-emissions-cuts-in-climate-plan">
Sanders has endorsed a carbon emissions tax.</a>
<p>
This is the way to
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/07/bernie-sanders-urges-carbon-tax-and-deeper-emissions-cuts-in-climate-plan">
let the market decide just how and where</a> to reduce
emissions.


feed_id: bbe0b67f5b920bd990b82010986b3950
title: Antisocialist opposition
uri: Antisocialist-opposition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Antisocialist_opposition%29
content:
<p>
The
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/07/venezuela-elections-socialists-dealt-a-blow-as-opposition-wins-landslide">
antisocialist opposition won the election</a> in Venezuela.
<p>
People were very unhappy with the shortages, which were caused by
foolish government policies; for instance, subsidies for the prices of
certain foods, which encouraged people to smuggle them into Colombia,
and currency exchange controls.
<p>
I fear that the antisocialists will eliminate the programs that Chavez
set up for education and medical care.  Subsidizing food for the poor
is necessary, and the problems come from the system that the
socialists set upl but I expect the antisocialists to end the
subsidies so as to make life hard for the non-rich.


feed_id: 14d9aac3d3b89962942e5b348f88e580
title: Food supply
uri: Food-supply
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Food_supply%29
content:
<p>
Humans' food supply is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/07/environment-risk-eating-same-food">
dangerously biologically concentrated</a>:
three-quarters of our food comes from 12 species of plants and five of
animals,
What's more, the number of different varieties of the plant species
is decreasing.


feed_id: 708930d84f58430b3f6d9c35bd2453dc
title: Question what they are told
uri: Question-what-they-are-told
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Question_what_they_are_told%29
content:
<p>
The UK says that children who question what they are told, or
criticize
government policy,
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/young-people-who-question-government-policy-or-the-media-may-be-extremists-officials-tell-parents-a6756086.html">
are terrorist suspects</a>.


feed_id: 12e69199fd602953fadc25f103e278e0
title: Left destitute
uri: Left-destitute
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Left_destitute%29
content:
<p>
Many prisoners in the US are left destitute when they get out of
prison
because
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-prison-fees-lawsuits-met-20151129-story.html">
the state sues them for just about everything they have got</a>,
or even more.
<p>
If this happened to me, I'd withdraw the money as cash and toss it
onto a street, just to spite the state.


feed_id: 56d23b0407736c8ed58b63a00aa3b90c
title: Pointing a gun
uri: Pointing-a-gun
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Pointing_a_gun%29
content:
<p>
A thug has been convicted of a felony for pointing a gun at a man's
head.  The man had done nothing to warrant attention; the thug was
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/officer-convicted-of-assault-for-pointing-gun-at-civilians-face/2015/12/02/f8d3ec04-992b-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html?tid=sm_fb">
showing off how much power he had</a>.


feed_id: d434ace32575fab95942c890bff1d340
title: Five San Francisco thugs
uri: Five-San-Francisco-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Five_San_Francisco_thugs%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Man-shot-dead-by-S-F-cops-IDd-as-26-year-old-6673167.php">
Five San Francisco thugs shot Mario Woods dead.</a>  They said he had a
knife and wouldn't drop it — though he made no move to attack
them.
Maybe he did have one.
<p>
If I were in that situation, I might be in real danger, even if I were
holding a gun — since I have no training, skill or experience in
such a confrontation.  However if five thugs with pointed guns think
they are in danger from a man with a knife at his side, they must be
incompetent.


feed_id: de73ae54c60cf2bc393de3976b11eb46
title: Richest 20 Americans
uri: Richest-20-Americans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Richest_20_Americans%29
content:
<p>
The richest 20 Americans
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/02/richest-20-own-more-half-people">
own more than half the population</a>.
To spread the wealth, vote for progressives.


feed_id: a32b872c67bb5a343ae40fbf748a9d45
title: Constitutional convention
uri: Constitutional-convention
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Constitutional_convention%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/02/pro-democracy-group-warns-secret-right-wing-push-rewrite-constitution">
Right-wing groups are 7 states away</a> from triggering a constitutional
convention that could rewrite the US Constitution in unpredictable
ways.


feed_id: 6c8259ab7c9768135e11cf7ba73bcfbc
title: Sabotage efforts
uri: Sabotage-efforts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Sabotage_efforts%29
content:
<p>
The
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/02/new-report-details-tpps-panoply-threats-climate">
TPP would sabotage efforts to curb global heating</a> in several ways.
<p>
This is a natural consequence of the way it was drawn up.  For each
area of business, the US government asked the companies in that area
what they wanted.  The fossil fuel companies asked for policies that
will help them.
<p>
Fundamentally, control of greenhouse gas emissions is good for the
people, so it's what democracy will do if it works right.
The TPP is a business-supremacy treaty with some secondary support
for unregulated trade.  What these treaties do is weaken democracy
and give business more power.


feed_id: 34fbf853d00efc0d7ded4111cd936481
title: Contraceptive prescriptions
uri: Contraceptive-prescriptions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_December_2015_%28Contraceptive_prescriptions%29
content:
<p>
The
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/24/1453946/-Washington-and-California-s-new-contraception-laws-may-be-game-changers?detail=email">
states of Washington and California</a> will allow most women to get
contraceptive prescriptions from pharmacists, without seeing a doctor
first.


feed_id: c8071ffc569d82444ba3ff6c9f06a451
title: NSA's register of Americans' phone calls
uri: NSA-s-register-of-Americans-phone-calls
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28NSAs_register_of_Americans_phone_calls%29

content:
<p>
Senator Cruz suggested that the NSA's register of Americans' phone
calls may actually have 
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/12/senate-probing-whether-cruz-leaked-classified-surveillance-data-during-debate/">increased
under the misnamed "USA Freedom Act"</a>.
<p>
Apparently he was not supposed to let us know this.


feed_id: 9fae8894091e1eed6cff4a2066bef385
title: Tories rigging electoral system
uri: Tories-rigging-electoral-system
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Tories_rigging_electoral_system%29

content:
<p>
The Tories are rigging the UK's political and electoral system
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/14/conservative-power-grab-stay-in-power-permanent">to
eliminate the possibility of resistance</a>.


feed_id: b95bff8944d4d3abf38d40229e916170
title: Prosecution for coat hanger abortion
uri: Prosecution-for-coat-hanger-abortion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Prosecution_for_coat_hanger_abortion%29

content:
<p>
Tennessee's 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/14/tennessee-self-abortion-arrest-highlights-dangers-war-women">prosecution
of a woman for a coat hanger abortion</a> is the armored unit at the
point of the war on women.


feed_id: bab9a593ce911440b0bfe600720c74af
title: iThings
uri: iThings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28iThings%29
content:
<p>
"Is my iPhone listening to me?"  An iPhone seems to have 
<a href="https://www.privacysos.org/node/1866">heard a user's
conversation about where person was going</a>, and added it to the
user's profile for some Apple service.
<p>
The iPhone, like any other mobile phone, tells Big Brother where you
are.  Your private destination will be known to the phone network (and
Big Brother) when you get there.  Meanwhile, just about all mobile
phones can be made to listen to <em>all</em> the conversation around
them, and send it to whoever did this.  This is why I call them
"Stalin's dream".  Either of these is so vicious that I refuse to
carry one.
<p>
However, that snooping doesn't send data to Apple.  The possible
listening feature reported here would enable Apple, also, to listen to
conversations around the device.
<p>
The iThings are full of nonfree software; Apple controls the software,
and the users don't.  You 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">can
never rationally trust a nonfree program</a>.  Whether or not they
have a functionality that listens for Apple, the device is 
<a href="http://gnu.org/proprietary/malware-apple.html ">full of
malware</a>.
<p>
A listening functionality would be the sort of thing you must expect,
whether or not it is present now.


feed_id: bb120637f7f2ed53364335f4abcd5c3b
title: Australian equivalent of SWAT
uri: Australian-equivalent-of-SWAT
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Australian_equivalent_of_SWAT%29

content:
<p>
The Australian equivalent of a SWAT team 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/17/queensland-girl-who-woke-to-armed-police-in-bedroom-feared-for-her-life">terrified
13-year-old April Clarke</a> after they woke her by pointing a bright
light and a gun at her.


feed_id: 2c2a28ddcc7035924b98566cc51e1afc
title: Sharif Mobley still alive
uri: Sharif-Mobley-still-alive
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Sharif_Mobley_still_alive%29
content:
<p>
Sharif Mobley is apparently still alive, and has been 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/16/yemen-court-spares-life-of-american-sharif-mobley">sentenced
to 10 years in prison</a> for (reportedly) shooting a prison guard.


feed_id: 8ceb2d50d16ba2eb062e9db80f760863
title: Congress trying legalize export of crude
uri: Congress-trying-legalize-export-of-crude
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Congress_trying_legalize_export_of_crude%29

content:
<p>
The US Congress is trying to boost global heating by legalizing 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/16/us-oil-export-ban-budget-deal-congress-republicans-environment">export
of crude oil</a>.


feed_id: 2ae39e6c74b47be5b97a6c7a3f3a7f58
title: "Reform" for corporate criminals
uri: Reform-for-corporate-criminals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Reform_for_corporate_criminals%29

content:
<p>
The Koch brothers sponsor 
<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/12/13002/koch-criminal-justice-reform-trojan-horse">"criminal
justice reform" for corporate criminals</a>.


feed_id: 21615546efa6b6b6ea26be7bf3527d7f
title: FTC fails to block mergers
uri: FTC-fails-to-block-mergers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28FTC_fails_to_block_mergers%29
content:
<p>
The Federal Trade Commission could block mergers, but Obama's director
of the Bureau of Competition 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/16/why-are-drug-monopolies-running-amok-meet-deborah-feinstein/">hardly
ever tries</a>.
<p>
This is one thing President Sanders could fix on his own.


feed_id: e3d745638cc8b81a93eb8a94c14ffaf2
title: Republicans propose war crimes
uri: Republicans-propose-war-crimes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Republicans_propose_war_crimes%29

content:
<p>
Republicans 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/16/republican-debate-isis-war-crimes">propose
war crimes</a> as a response to PISSI.
<p>
You almost might as well join PISSI, if you're going to do that.


feed_id: 0888874a1cf481f57e2335d4be70f3f5
title: Stand against sexist insults
uri: Stand-against-sexist-insults
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Stand_against_sexist_insults%29
content:
<p>
Let's stand together against 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/16/online-sexism-social-media-debate-abuse">sexist
insults on social media</a>.
<p>
I am against limiting freedom of speech, but there is a lot we can do
without going that far.


feed_id: 345365594033588621ab0be1fda8afb1
title: "Moderate Syrian forces"
uri: Moderate-Syrian-forces
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Moderate_Syrian_forces%29
content:
<p>
The idea of recruiting support from "moderate Syrian forces" is based
on
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/16/dont-rely-syria-moderate-fighting-force-anti-isis">oversimplification
and confusion</a>.


feed_id: 2886836cb792078e6f59938d0ffef214
title: Record High Arctic Temperatures
uri: Record-High-Arctic-Temperatures
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Record_High_Arctic_Temperatures%29

content:
<p>
Record High Arctic Temperatures in 2015 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/15/arctic-noaa-report-record-high-temperatures-diminishing-sea-ice">Having
'Profound Effects' on Region</a>.


feed_id: ddcad489e31b093060275d4500baac02
title: Bernie Sanders beating all Republicans
uri: Bernie-Sanders-beating-all-Republicans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Bernie_Sanders_beating_all_Republicans%29

content:
<p>
The subtle way some oppose Bernie Sanders is by trying to convince us
that he can't win — contrary to the polls that show him 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/15/beware-someone-trying-convince-you-bernie-cant-win">beating
all the Republicans</a>.
<p>
If you would rather have Sanders as president than Clinton,
you should campaign now for Sanders.  The worst that can happen
is that Clinton wins the nomination anyway.


feed_id: 144b0754c7ca44dbd943456a91fac06d
title: Secret trial and gag order
uri: Secret-trial-and-gag-order
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Secret_trial_and_gag_order%29
content:
<p>
The UK convicted Wang Yam of murder in a secret trial, and has now
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/16/jailed-mi6-informant-chinese-dissident-wang-yam-human-rights-court">forbidden
him to take the case to the European Court of Justice</a>.  He is also
gagged.


feed_id: b068dcedc7514f41c731f12155fa0571
title: Baltimore thugs preparing for repression
uri: Baltimore-thugs-preparing-for-repression
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Baltimore_thugs_preparing_for_repression%29

content:
<p>
Baltimore's thugs are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/16/baltimore-police-prepare-freddie-gray-trial-verdict-protests">preparing
for repression</a> when verdicts are announced in the trial of the
thugs involved in killing Freddie Gray.


feed_id: 91fdf709e14e0d09b947839d834c69ca
title: Renewable energy roadmaps
uri: Renewable-energy-roadmaps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Renewable_energy_roadmaps%29
content:
<p>
We have roadmaps for 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/16/new-form-climate-denialism-dont-celebrate-yet-cop-21">providing
the world's power needs with renewable energy</a>; don't heed the
naysayers.


feed_id: f5ae3a8abccd84d1a55abcd29d7b2715
title: Urgent: Trump's campaign
uri: Urgent-Trump-s-campaign
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Trump%27s_campaign%29
content:
<p>US citizens: call on Republican leaders to say they <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/disavow_trump">won't support</a> Trump's campaign if he wins the Republican nomination.


feed_id: 3e7e65b11a2640d5f8df64fbb99275cc
title: Urgent: military force against PISSI
uri: Urgent-military-force-against-PISSI
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_military_force_against_PISSI%29

content:
<p>US citizens: call on Congress to vote on an <a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-vote-on-an-authoriz">authorization</a> for using military force against PISSI.


feed_id: 1ac20eba5b47fb8857d531628029f382
title: Thug that killed Darrius Stewart
uri: Thug-that-killed-Darrius-Stewart
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Thug_that_killed_Darrius_Stewart%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/16/memphis-darrius-stewart-moving-away-from-police-officer-shooting-witnesses">Witnesses say</a> that the thug that killed Darrius Stewart
misrepresented the circumstances of firing the fatal shot;
Stewart was moving away, not threatening the thug.
<p><em>If</em> the rest of the thug's story is correct, the thug had just
had a need to defend himself.  People cannot digest new information in
a fraction of a second.  Perhaps he had no time to consciously digest
the fact that Stewart had started to flee, before firing the second
shot.


feed_id: e6a682740e760ef9b088da0b403c27d6
title: Foam for extinguishing oil fires
uri: Foam-for-extinguishing-oil-fires
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Foam_for_extinguishing_oil_fires%29

content:
<p>Foam for extinguishing oil fires contains <a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/16/toxic-firefighting-foam-has-contaminated-u-s-drinking-water-with-pfcs/">toxic chemicals</a>; in some towns these have contaminated the drinking water and cause cancer.


feed_id: 11c162e2695024fcd32eb59bf4e1298a
title: Questioning assumption that Qur'an has to be obeyed
uri: Questioning-assumption-that-Qur-an-has-to-be-obeyed
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Questioning_assumption_that_Qur%27an_has_to_be_obeyed%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/16/muslims-faith-isis-religion-islam">Some Muslims</a> are questioning the assumption that the Qur'an has to be obeyed.


feed_id: 76b2852e70cd6b1bb0e5efb28a18ea99
title: Prisoners of Assad's forces
uri: Prisoners-of-Assad-s-forces
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Prisoners_of_Assad%27s_forces%29

content:
<p>Human Rights Watch says <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/16/7000-syrians-died-state-detention-tortured-executed-caesar-photographs">7000 prisoners</a> of Assad's forces were executed or died after torture.


feed_id: ff727a4f954f0dd6ca43f7bb67c6666e
title: Different interpretation of Islam
uri: Different-interpretation-of-Islam
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Different_interpretation_of_Islam%29

content:
<p>Sudan plans to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/16/sudan-charges-25-death-penalty-apostasy-sharia-law">execute</a> 25 people for following a different interpretation of Islam.
<p>Shari'a law is an offense against human rights; any state that adopts it is doing an <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#25_October_2015_(Fanatical_Muslims_in_Indonesia)">injustice</a>.


feed_id: 519f2e08878441b0f429cc280807c920
title: UK general election
uri: UK-general-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28UK_general_election%29
content:
<p>A Tory claimed that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/16/tory-co-chairman-claimed-obama-sent-pollster-to-uk-to-stop-miliband-book-says">Obama sent help</a> so that the Tory party would win the UK general election.
<p>Obama is a moderate Republican (they used to exist) in the Democratic Party.  That's why I never voted for him.


feed_id: 59e4cbd9fc9c62e3eb428dfab5471edc
title: American Red Cross
uri: American-Red-Cross
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28American_Red_Cross%29
content:
<p>The American Red Cross picked up new management from AT&T, which has "rationalized" the organization with <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/the-corporate-takeover-of-the-red-cross">disastrous results</a>.


feed_id: 08bec0665186160f64cb30a171fe4afd
title: Comcast hit with $26M penalty
uri: Comcast-hit-with-26M-penalty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Comcast_hit_with_%2426M_penalty%29

content:
<p>Comcast Hit With <a href="http://consumerist.com/2015/12/15/comcast-hit-with-26m-penalty-for-dumping-hazardous-waste-and-revealing-personal-customer-info/">$26M Penalty</a> For Dumping Hazardous Waste AND Revealing Personal Customer Info.


feed_id: 96b33280ea02e694099cea528707cc11
title: Rate of death sentences
uri: Rate-of-death-sentences
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Rate_of_death_sentences%29
content:
<p>The death penalty remains legal in many US states, but the rate of death sentences has fallen by <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/16/death-penalty-cases-us-lowest-level-40-years">almost a factor of 10</a> since the 1990s.


feed_id: bdea727cbcef9e4eb8b2a26b42dc3d32
title: Threat to privacy
uri: Threat-to-privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Threat_to_privacy%29
content:
<p>Sites that ask people to give data about their friends are a <a href="http://news.psu.edu/story/384843/2015/12/14/research/let-go-my-info-people-are-info-egoists-when-it-comes-their-privacy">fiendish threat to privacy</a>.


feed_id: 8c5667577a44fbe73821aac26968eef9
title: Hoax bomb threats
uri: Hoax-bomb-threats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Hoax_bomb_threats%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/15/us/la-new-york-school-threats/index.html">Los Angeles and New York City</a> both got hoax bomb threats.
Los Angeles sent all the children home that day, whereas
New York figured out it was a hoax.
<p>Do real bombers <em>ever</em> give advance warning?
Aren't these threats invariably hoaxes?


feed_id: 031498574d89e43c31c710bb06646056
title: Jews that attacked Palestinians
uri: Jews-that-attacked-Palestinians
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Jews_that_attacked_Palestinians%29

content:
<p>For once, Israel has treated Jews that attacked Palestinians as <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4734782,00.html">real criminals.</a>


feed_id: 00c4bed37c9bb2d29c866e84c2d2e70d
title: Lexmark workers in Mexico
uri: Lexmark-workers-in-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Lexmark_workers_in_Mexico%29
content:
<p>Lexmark has fired the leaders of a union in Mexico; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/15/printer-giant-lexmark-fires-juarez-factory-workers-demanding-raise">the workers are on strike</a> demanding a raise of 35 cents an hour.


feed_id: ed4f1586ca513a30e69b3e2c658bd00e
title: Abortions at home
uri: Abortions-at-home
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Abortions_at_home%29
content:
<p>Between <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/11/texas-self-abort/416229/">100,000 and 250,000</a> Texas women have done abortions at home, nearly always with drugs.


feed_id: 41304fe1764a65a26d55df557eca87c4
title: Bangladesh banned Twitter
uri: Bangladesh-banned-Twitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Bangladesh_banned_Twitter%29
content:
<p>Bangladesh has banned Twitter, as well as <a href="https://thestack.com/security/2015/12/14/bangladesh-extends-social-media-ban-blocking-twitter-and-skype/">many other</a> digital communications media.


feed_id: f7c1b86c511579b523b713375c937689
title: Iranian missile test
uri: Iranian-missile-test
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Iranian_missile_test%29
content:
<p>The UN concluded an Iranian missile test <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/16/iran-violated-sanctions-with-missile-test-says-un-panel">violated the nuclear agreement</a>.


feed_id: 16fd1ce3790f2aaca6e3119a9ea40f6d
title: State-imposed bankruptcy government
uri: State-imposed-bankruptcy-government
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28State-imposed_bankruptcy_goverment%29

content:
<p>State-imposed bankruptcy government in Flint, Michigan, switched to
taking municipal water from the polluted Flint River as a measure to
save money, and refused to acknowledge that it was contaminated with
lead.  The new mayor of Flint has declared an emergency and residents
are going to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/15/michigan-mayor-declares-manmade-disaster-lead-tainted-water-supply">sue the state</a>.
<p>The city has moved back to another source of water, but this is too late
for all the young children of Flint.


feed_id: 80729fb564c5e8d73dadebe392046ced
title: "Real name" policy
uri: Real-name-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_%28Real_name_policy%29
content:
<p>Facebook relaxed its "real name" policy, but only for people who are being harassed for <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/15/facebook-change-controversial-real-name-policy">certain specific reasons</a>.
<p>This relieves a very specific acute problem, but does not enable ordinary people to use Facebook without being tracked.


feed_id: 1d9e510e43a68040f178b14b354e93c6
title: Why MIT must support student hackers
uri: Why-MIT-must-support-student-hackers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Why_MIT_must_support_student_hackers%29

content:
<p>
Star Simpson tells MIT why it must provide support for students who
make harmless technological hacks and are treated to
<a href="https://medium.com/@starsandrobots/understandably-cause-for-alarm-1f0929be0615#.lsjlxlere">witch
hunts by panicking ignorant fools</a>.


feed_id: daaaa2b681ea20b06aab665145879af4
title: UK's supposed CO2 reduction pledge
uri: UK-s-supposed-CO2-reduction-pledge
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28UKs_supposed_CO2_reduction_pledge%29

content:
<p>
The UK is implementing its supposed CO<sub>2</sub> reduction pledge by
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2015/dec/17/uk-cuts-renewable-energy-make-a-mockery-of-its-pledge-paris-climate-talks">reducing
subsidies for solar power</a>.  Just not reducing them as much as was
initially proposed.
<p>
In 6 months they will make another reduction.


feed_id: 9709acbd200fdc08bbc1b0cc4d5fbf77
title: Burundi
uri: 2015-12-19-Burundi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Burundi%29
content:
<p>
Burundi
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/17/burundi-very-cusp-civil-war-warns-un-human-rights-chief-zeid-raad-al-hussein">On
'Very Cusp' of Civil Conflict</a>, Warns UN Human Rights Chief.


feed_id: 71913d56b4227cf51e53da938e7e1bab
title: Overstating efficiency of light bulbs
uri: Overstating-efficiency-of-light-bulbs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Overstating_efficiency_of_light_bulbs%29

content:
<p>
Lightbulb manufacturers have found an
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/17/leading-lightbulb-brands-making-false-claims-on-energy-efficiency">excuse
to overstate the efficiency</a> of their bulbs.


feed_id: 346dc8ff9327dfed612709c49ec402ca
title: "Terrorist" postings or messages
uri: Terrorist-postings-or-messages
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Terrorist_postings_or_messages%29

content:
<p>
Senate
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/17/senators-want-social-media-firms-to-hunt-for-terrorists/">proposes
to require communications companies to report "terrorist" postings or
messages</a> (not merely actual threats) threaten human rights, and
companies would have a lot of trouble doing so.
<p>
I fear also that only companies that mistreat their users in other
ways will make enough money to be able to hire people to carry this
out.


feed_id: 931fc675f76fae943a1eadfbfbec0233
title: Extreme overprotection of children
uri: Extreme-overprotection-of-children
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Extreme_overprotection_of_children%29

content:
<p>
Americans in general have an extreme overprotective attitude towards
allowing children even to
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/12/how-old-should-kids-be-theyre-allowed-play-front-yard-their-own">play
in the front yard</a>.  Most Americans think children under 10 are too
young.
<p>
This is the effect of massive publicity about dangers that are
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#07_March_2015_(Kidnaping_by_strangers_extremely_rare)">very
rare</a>.
<p>
I suspect this overprotection will tend to make children feel
smothered as well as making them timid.
<p>
The requirement to supervise children without a break, and the need to
bring them everywhere they are to go, imposes tremendous stress and
expense on parents.  When I was 7 years old, I walked home from
school, used my keys to go in, and amused myself till my mother got
home from work.  She did not have to pay for "child care" — I
knew how to read and play without adult help.
<p>
I support Sanders's proposal to
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/17/sanders-right-childcare-system-us-disaster">tax
the rich more to fund day care</a>.  But we can eliminate a
substantial fraction of the expense by teaching parents that children
don't need to stay in day care for so many years.


feed_id: c1c57ce6eb5c7ad1e9103647fbccd4b4
title: Republicans organizing for Sanders
uri: Republicans-organizing-for-Sanders
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Republicans_organizing_for_Sanders%29

content:
<p>
Some Republicans, fed up with plutocracy, are
<a href="http://www.gopforsanders.com/">organizing for Sanders</a>.
<p>
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/the-lifelong-conservatives-who-love-bernie-sanders/417441/">Interviews</a>
with some of them.
<p>
Sanders talks about his
<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/bernie-sanders-surprise-republicans-support-me">support
among Republicans</a>.


feed_id: af652f764d78a933176d7a8237cd69a6
title: Ukraine bans Communist Party
uri: Ukraine-bans-Communist-Party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Ukraine_bans_Communist_Party%29
content:
<p>
Ukraine has infringed political rights by
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/ukraine-bans-communist-party-separatism">banning
the Communist Party</a> and even the word "communist".


feed_id: ea9a847f1497cce6bc1bad9d803c4409
title: UK leaves big tax evaders alone
uri: UK-leaves-big-tax-evaders-alone
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28UK_leaves_big_tax_evaders_alone%29

content:
<p>
The UK is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/17/george-osborne-tax-evasion-avoidance-cheats-big-companies">cracking
down on people that evade small amounts of taxes</a> while leaving the
big tax evaders alone.
<p>
However, the tax dodging that governments choose to permit is
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#26_June_2015_(Tax_havens)">even
bigger</a>.
<p>
Under plutocratist governments, the purpose of taxes is to serve the
rich and crush the rest.


feed_id: c891bfdd82743553ced8e7b9af900c6c
title: Congresscritters work for Google
uri: Congresscritters-work-for-Google
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Congresscritters_work_for_Google%29

content:
<p>
Google funded some congressional campaigns, and the congresscritters
elected performed for Google by
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/google-lobbyists-congress-antitrust-brussels-eu">supporting
Google against an EU legal investigation</a> about abuse of its market
position.


feed_id: 079ba9f55609695b0c71594c781cc2f8
title: Avoiding global heating disaster
uri: 2015-12-19-Avoiding-global-heating-disaster
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Avoiding_global_heating_disaster%29

content:
<p>
We are making a mistake, relying on some mysterious
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2015/dec/17/magical-thinking-about-progress-wont-save-planet-earth">"progress"</a>
to save Earth from global heating disaster.
<p>
Avoiding heating disaster requires a
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/16/paris-climate-talks-and-15c-target-wartime-scale-mobilization-our-only-option-left">mobilization
comparable to what would be made for a large war</a>.


feed_id: c1d1d5fc11144793f34d468cbc473aef
title: Congress surrenders to the WTO
uri: Congress-surrenders-to-the-WTO
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_%28Congress_surrenders_to_the_WTO%29

content:
<p>
Congress used the budget bill as an excuse to surrender to the WTO:
it
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/16/and-just-free-trade-pact-trounces-us-law">voted
to eliminated country-of-origin meat labeling</a>.
<p>
Don't pretend that Congress would have the courage to defy the TPP.


feed_id: 87a0ebaf94771ed90798a590725e6bd1
title: 30% of Republicans want to bomb Agrabah
uri: 30-of-Republicans-want-to-bomb-Agrabah
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%2830_percent_of_Republicans_want_to_bomb_Agrabah%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/18/republican-voters-bomb-agrabah-disney-aladdin-donald-trump">30%
of Republicans</a> want to bomb Agrabah (a fictional medieval Arab
country).
<p>
Only around 20% of Democrats want to bomb Agrabah.


feed_id: cb1f4b1501b9d2662b3527e79b73f859
title: Al Jazeera blocks access to an article
uri: Al-Jazeera-blocks-access-to-an-article
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Al_Jazeera_blocks_access_to_an_article%29

content:
<p>
Al Jazeera deleted and 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/18/al-jazeera-blocks-anti-saudi-arabia-article/">blocked
access to an article it had published</a>, which criticized Salafi
Arabia's disrespect for human rights.
<p>
Here is 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/18/heres-the-al-jazeera-article-on-saudi-arabia-you-cant-read-outside-the-u-s/">the
article</a>.


feed_id: 8a11c99b37a82846e18ba79dc9ef403f
title: Loss of monkeys and birds
uri: Loss-of-monkeys-and-birds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Loss_of_monkeys_and_birds%29
content:
<p>
Loss of Monkeys And Birds in Tropical Forests 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/18/carbon-emissions-loss-of-monkeys-and-birds-in-tropical-forests">Driving
Up Carbon Emissions</a>.
<p>
The problem is that hardwood trees need those animals to disperse
their seeds.


feed_id: 848627c9c73c698a92b9a88ada8b2e8c
title: Foreign policy "advice" from a company
uri: Foreign-policy-advice-from-a-company
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Foreign_policy_advice_from_a_company%29

content:
<p>
A company gives foreign policy "advice" to candidates such as Clinton,
Rubio and Cruz, led and 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/18/beacon-global-strategies/">funded
by companies in the military-industrial complex</a>.
<p>
The company says this is not lobbying, but that's what it adds up to.
<p>
It looks like Sanders is not interested in their "advice".


feed_id: b748c3aedf9d0e2cd7a031868bd2aeb6
title: Martin Shkreli resigns after arrest
uri: Martin-Shkreli-resigns-after-arrest
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Martin_Shkreli_resigns_after_arrest%29

content:
<p>
Martin Shkreli, whose company Turing Pharmaceuticals raised the price
of Dataprim and blocked companies from making generic drugs, has
resigned after being 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/18/martin-shkreli-resigns-turing-pharmaceuticals-fraud-charges">arrested
on charges of fraud</a> in his previous company.
<p>
I wonder whether the new management will reduce the price.  But either
way his practices of blocking other companies from making generic
equivalents should be made illegal.


feed_id: 3f115b15a0abb528ab9fc76e6a85fada
title: Complaints filed against thugs
uri: Complaints-filed-against-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Complaints_filed_against_thugs%29

content:
<p>
The Los Angeles Thug Department 
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lapd-biased-policing-report-20151215-story.html">investigated
over 1300 claims of bias in 2012-2014</a>, and judged <em>not one</em>
of them valid.
<p>
Either LA thugs are remarkably free of bias, far beyond what humans
would be capable of, or they are protecting each other.
<p>
A study of complaints filed against Chicago thugs found that 
<a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-to-predict-which-chicago-cops-will-commit-misconduct/">10%
of the thugs got 30% of the complaints</a>.
<p>
These thugs can influence the behavior of other thugs, so it is
important to get rid of them.
<p>
Most thugs don't beat up or kill without justification, but nearly all
of them will protect other thugs that do so.  That's why they
generally deserve the name of "thug".  Those few who refuse to protect
the violent thugs re the ones who merit the title of "police officer".


feed_id: c0b50151eb250dcb617fd47a3373460d
title: Municipal broadband
uri: 2015-12-20-Municipal-broadband
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Municipal_broadband%29
content:
<p>
SCROTUS, working to help pricey US ISPs, are 
<a href="http://www.dailydot.com/politics/fcc-municipal-broadband-senators-complaint-letter/">pressuring
the FCC to give up on defending municipal broadband</a> in the US.
<p>
SCROTUS = Sleazy Congressional Republicans Of The United States.


feed_id: c9e4c0b4dc9d85c5bb353cf9e7f0a756
title: Girls rescued from FGM in Kenya
uri: Girls-rescued-from-FGM-in-Kenya
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Girls_rescued_from_FGM_in_Kenya%29

content:
<p>
Kenyan [thugs] Rescue 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/18/kenyan-police-rescue-hundreds-of-girls-due-to-undergo-fgm">Hundreds
of Girls Due to Undergo FGM</a>.
<p>
When I call them "thugs", that doesn't mean everything the thugs do is
bad.  It means that occasionally one of them kills someone unjustly
and the rest then try to protect that one.


feed_id: 6b09a9a3dac986fe8beab0afb398a59d
title: Nuclear industry waste in Subarnarekha river
uri: Nuclear-industry-waste-in-Subarnarekha-river
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Nuclear_industry_waste_in_Subarnarekha_river%29

content:
<p>
India's nuclear industry dumps waste into the Subarnarekha river,
making its water
<a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/12/14/18844/india-s-nuclear-industry-pours-its-wastes-river-death-and-disease">unsafe
to drink</a>.


feed_id: 8937788fdd9342edec696c4f62900c00
title: Don't binge on news about a tragedy
uri: Don-t-binge-on-news-about-a-tragedy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Dont_binge_on_news_about_a_tragedy%29

content:
<p>
Recommendation: 
<a href="http://www.futurity.org/tragic-news-health-1071422-2/">don't
binge on news about a tragedy</a>.


feed_id: 7807214556bde1666a34b949250996aa
title: Gun control
uri: 2015-12-20-Gun-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Gun_control%29
content:
<p>
The San Bernardino shooters used 
<a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_29204710/san-bernardino-shoots-reignites-californias-gun-debate">large
magazines that are illegal to sell in California</a>.
<p>
It's not hard to buy them in some other state, perhaps Arizona or
Nevada, and bring them illegally to California.  However, if they were
illegal in the whole US, it would really be hard to get them.
<p>
The guns were also 
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/san-bernardino-shooting-attackers-modified-weapons-to-make-them-more-deadly-a6761566.html">modified
illegally so they could fire faster</a>.
<p>
Those intending to commit murder will not be deterred by fear of
punishment for doing these modifications, but the law could require
designs that make this more difficult to do.


feed_id: 4ed1c80fb64fab13863d8454e9d8b089
title: Plain cigarette pack law survives attack
uri: Plain-cigarette-pack-law-survives-attack
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Plain_cigarette_pack_law_survives_attack%29

content:
<p>
Australia's plain paper cigarette pack law 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/18/australia-wins-international-legal-battle-with-philip-morris-over-plain-packaging">survived
an attack through a "trade treaty"</a>.
<p>
This is good news, but many good laws and policies have been destroyed
by these business-supremacy treaties, most recently US
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#18_December_2015_(Congress_surrenders_to_the_WTO)">country-of-origin
meat labelling</a>.
<p>
We should get rid of all such treaties.


feed_id: 6bf68f5e77c39985b6eb75ecf7dc0918
title: Congress's budget bill
uri: Congress-s-budget-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Congresss_budget_bill%29
content:
<p>
Congress's budget bill includes 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/17/us-congress-corporations-merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year">tax
breaks for some big businesses</a>.


feed_id: f73759f310a4831c445d736211e7c42d
title: Global heating damaging lakes
uri: Global-heating-damaging-lakes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Global_heating_damaging_lakes%29

content:
<p>
Global heating is 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/17/not-just-oceans-and-atmosphere-rapid-warming-killing-worlds-lakes">damaging
lakes around the world</a>.


feed_id: f565bcd3522356f7d4c1a5f35efb198f
title: Charter schools forced into Philadelphia
uri: Charter-schools-forced-into-Philadelphia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Charter_schools_forced_into_Philadelphia%29

content:
<p>
Pennsylvania has passed a law to 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#26_October_2015_(Weak_supervision_of_charter_schools)">force
charter schools into Philadelphia</a>.
<p>
Charter schools 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#17_July_2015_(Money_spent_promoting_charter_schools)">do
not, in general, provide a better education</a> but they are great for
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#14_December_2015_(Charter_schools_in_the_US)">profiteering
at public expense</a>.


feed_id: 1f6662370dd9d8029586d783a87c7a33
title: Investigation of UK thug who shot a man
uri: Investigation-of-UK-thug-who-shot-a-man
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Investigation_of_UK_thug_who_shot_a_man%29

content:
<p>
A thug in the UK is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/17/police-marksman-arrested-shooting-suspect-dead-wood-green">being
investigated</a> for shooting a man; some say the victim was sleeping
in his car.
<p>
As usual, thugs are organizing to demand an end to the investigation.


feed_id: 260efab08a164210ee1dcc9d99a48ec7
title: Urgent: Free human rights defender
uri: Urgent-Free-human-rights-defender
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Free_human_rights_defender%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/free-waleed-jailed-saudi">call
on Obama and Congress</a> to press for release of human rights
defender Waleed Abu al-Khair, imprisoned by Salafi Arabia.
<p>
The country's official name is "Saudi Arabia", but that disguises its
nasty nature.


feed_id: d57f1fde57f742e6fae410a9a9e9bb90
title: Snooping cameras with "Facewatch"
uri: Snooping-cameras-with-Facewatch
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Snooping_cameras_with_Facewatch%29

content:
<p>
"Facewatch" connects snooping cameras in stores to a 
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/12/pre-crime-arrives-in-the-uk-better-make-sure-your-face-stays-off-the-crowdsourced-watch-list/">blacklist
of faces</a>.
<p>
We need to abolish this system; I believe it 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">should
be illegal for anyone to operate cameras in this way</a>, including
the state, except following a court order to put a camera in a certain
place for a certain period.


feed_id: 159af502290f286ab59b661f3d543f92
title: Urgent: Disconnect from corrupting funding
uri: Urgent-Disconnect-from-corrupting-funding
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Disconnect_from_corrupting_funding%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://act.climatetruth.org/sign/suffolk_GMU">Call on George
Mason University</a> to disconnect from the Koch brothers' corrupting
funding.


feed_id: 0b3f4472b3a4bea830176d41e537527c
title: Urgent: Clean energy tax incentives
uri: Urgent-Clean-energy-tax-incentives
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Clean_energy_tax_incentives%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure2.edf.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&id=2734&page=UserAction">call
on your congresscritter</a> to renew clean energy tax incentives.


feed_id: 6547c5da0d62f7edc294370b485d2e35
title: China's president wants help with censorship
uri: China-s-president-wants-help-with-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Chinas_president_wants_help_with_censorship%29

content:
<p>
The President of China 
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015-12-16/chinas-xi-calls-for-cooperation-on-internet-regulation">wants
countries to organize</a> to censor the internet.


feed_id: 2bb5a75616913d65d1f20048e9d19b72
title: UK's "bedroom tax"
uri: UK-s-bedroom-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28UKs_bedroom_tax%29
content:
<p>
The UK's "bedroom tax", a cut in benefits for disabled or unemployed
living in apartments judged to have an extra room, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/17/bedroom-tax-three-quarters-cut-back-food-dwp-research">has
pressured lots of people to skimp on food</a>, but few have moved to
smaller apartments.
<p>
That's partly because few smaller apartments are available in the
areas where these people live.  Also, some disabled people couldn't
move to an apartment without room for the relatives that take care of
them.
<p>
The right-wing government won't mind this outcome.  The policy was
meant as an excuse to squeeze the weak, and it has succeeded at that.


feed_id: 5cb985d30b504a82d8bc3b67e49172a9
title: Increasing prosecutions in Thailand
uri: Increasing-prosecutions-in-Thailand
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Increasing_prosecutions_in_Thailand%29

content:
<p>
As the Thai king gets older and less able, the military is trying to
prop up the royal family's image by 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/2015/dec/17/thailand-royal-dog-prosecution">prosecuting
more people</a>.


feed_id: 4ec81530877c22d2f6e669740f5cc799
title: Press ignores Bernie Sanders
uri: Press-ignores-Bernie-Sanders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Press_ignores_Bernie_Sanders%29
content:
<p>
Bernie Sanders Is More Popular Than Trump, But 
<a href="http://boingboing.net/2015/12/17/bernie-sanders-is-more-popular.html">the
Press Ignores Him</a>.


feed_id: 8d058c9bdfc370bf90605d3ed3149371
title: Thugs attack peaceful protesters
uri: Thugs-attack-peaceful-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Thugs_attack_peaceful_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Thugs 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/17/teenager-knocked-to-ground-police-protest-freddie-gray">inexplicably
attacked peaceful protesters</a> who were responding to the mistrial
of a thug involved in Freddie Gray's death.


feed_id: adb10e9f329725b8ab89c44419ce1502
title: CWA endorses Sanders
uri: CWA-endorses-Sanders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28CWA_endorses_Sanders%29
content:
<p>
The Communications Workers of America 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/12/17/cwa-endorses-sen-bernie-sanders-president">endorsed
Sanders for president</a>.


feed_id: 4d8fa0ddb06db4adfbfd14e9623057ba
title: When thugs are suspected of crimes
uri: When-thugs-are-suspected-of-crimes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28When_thugs_are_suspected_of_crimes%29

content:
<p>
When thugs are suspected of crimes, they get 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/12/police-contract-protections-interrogation-chicago">better
treatment than everyone else</a>.


feed_id: ba5e98f652abf617856075bf1bf0b269
title: Global heating screwing up agriculture
uri: Global-heating-screwing-up-agriculture
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Global_heating_screwing_up_agriculture%29

content:
<p>
Global heating has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/dec/17/haitians-are-noticing-climate-change-impacts-on-extreme-weather-and-agriculture">changed
the seasons</a> in Haiti, screwing up agriculture.


feed_id: f975cbf0e393eab18d23401e35d98f38
title: Brazil blocks access to WhatsApp
uri: Brazil-blocks-access-to-WhatsApp
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Brazil_blocks_access_to_WhatsApp%29

content:
<p>
A court in Brazil 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/17/whatsapp-blocked-brazil-48-hours-facebook">blocked
all access to WhatsApp for 48 hours</a>.
<p>
WhatsApp requires running a nonfree program, which is a foolish thing
to do; you are making a mistake if you use it.  It also involves a
server that will snoop on you for Big Brother.  Still, it is wrong for
Brazil to forbid connections to that server.


feed_id: 8c541fcd9aaabbb1f5cfbd8773c49c1d
title: Hottest year ever recorded
uri: Hottest-year-ever-recorded
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Hottest_year_ever_recorded%29
content:
<p>
Forecast: 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/17/2016-set-to-be-hottest-year-on-record-globally">2016
will be the hottest year ever recorded</a>, beating the previous
record from 2015.


feed_id: c662d7814539926852cf06337cc1b589
title: Christian extremists' war on women
uri: Christian-extremists-war-on-women
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Christian_extremists_war_on_women%29

content:
<p>
How far do Christianist extremists take their 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/17/el-salvador-anti-abortion-law-premature-birth-miscarriage-attempted-murder">war
on women</a> when nobody stops them?


feed_id: 3d803c6d044151e8557fba45b0e37c62
title: Salafi Arabia to execute protester
uri: Salafi-Arabia-to-execute-protester
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#19_December_2015_%28Salafi_Arabia_to_execute_protester%29

content:
<p>
Salafi Arabia is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/family-teenage-saudi-protester-abdullah-al-zaher-sentenced-death-appeal-life">planning
to execute protester Abdullah al-Zaher</a>, who was 15 years old at
the time, after torturing him into confessing to various crimes.


feed_id: 2058739fd1b22a3fcdb08386447f5679
title: Complaints filed against thugs
uri: 2015-12-21-Complaints-filed-against-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_%28Complaints_filed_against_thugs%29

content:
<p>
The Los Angeles Thug Department 
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lapd-biased-policing-report-20151215-story.html">investigated
over 1300 claims of bias in 2012-2014</a>, and judged <em>not one</em>
of them valid.
<p>
Either LA thugs are remarkably free of bias, far beyond what humans
would be capable of, or they are protecting each other.
<p>
A study of complaints filed against Chicago thugs found that 
<a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-to-predict-which-chicago-cops-will-commit-misconduct/">10%
of the thugs got 30% of the complaints</a>.
<p>
These thugs can influence the behavior of other thugs, so it is
important to get rid of them.
<p>
Most thugs don't beat up or kill without justification, but nearly all
of them will protect other thugs that do so.  That's why they
generally deserve the name of "thug".  Those few who refuse to protect
the violent thugs are the ones who merit the title of "police officer".


feed_id: 6d77389b0db9038bb7aa58a2894d70b3
title: Urgent: Abortion clinics
uri: Urgent-Abortion-clinics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Abortion_clinics%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act1.myngp.com/Forms/NoScript/-7777153606515425280">call
on the Department of Justice</a> to investigate violence against
abortion clinics as terrorism.


feed_id: af7ae26755e1209c67d66009eeebd794
title: Urgent: Oppose Florida fracking bill
uri: Urgent-Oppose-Florida-fracking-bill
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_Florida_fracking_bill%29

content:
<p>
Citizens of Florida: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/environmental-action/sign/governor-scott-veto-any">oppose
the state bill</a> to impose fracking everywhere in the state.


feed_id: b110f68f52c1c3efc69bf04395aec979
title: Urgent: Cancel Corinthian College loans
uri: Urgent-Cancel-Corinthian-College-loans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Cancel_Corinthian_College_loans%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://action.civilrights.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=5265">call 
on the Department of Education</a> to cancel all loans to students of
Corinthian Colleges.


feed_id: 6f53e62754bea15479e8d4bc3b9bfcc1
title: Victory against PISSI
uri: Victory-against-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Victory_against_PISSI%29
content:
<p>
If we fight PISSI, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/16/isis-military-france-paris-attacks-nato-article-5">what
would we want victory to look like</a>?


feed_id: 975c708b340034ed248f3dde77e58721
title: Suicide and depression in the UK
uri: Suicide-and-depression-in-the-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Suicide_and_depression_in_the_UK%29

content:
<p>
The UK's relentless 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/16/fit-for-work-tests-serious-toll-mental-health-work-capability">pressure
to declare disabled people capable of working</a> has led to around
600 suicides and over 700,000 prescriptions for antidepressants.


feed_id: be8196af0e1f21af0a3496110db68c98
title: Censorship of history
uri: Censorship-of-history
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Censorship_of_history%29
content:
<p>
Cecil Rhodes Was a Racist, But You 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/20/atonement-for-the-past-not-censorship-of-history">Can't
Readily Expunge Him from History</a>.


feed_id: ce0a009aba399c6e008548ff475d7dc8
title: Ending the civil war in Syria
uri: Ending-the-civil-war-in-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Ending_the_civil_war_in_Syria%29

content:
<p>
The UN has set up a 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/19/un-resolution-syria-creates-framework-yawning-gaps-assad">conference
of relevant powers</a> to try to end the civil war in Syria.
<p>
Has anyone proposed a solution to protect human rights for all the
ethnic groups and sects?


feed_id: 1f1eef9f51f43a71a962759ca5c3ae04
title: US drone registration system
uri: US-drone-registration-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28US_drone_registration_system%29
content:
<p>
The US drone registration system 
<a href="http://gizmodo.com/report-the-faas-drone-registry-will-be-public-includin-1748793059">will
make drone owners' names and addresses visible to the public</a>.


feed_id: f4d239ec39559a2170b4057fc1b830fd
title: US's limits on visa waiver program
uri: US-s-limits-on-visa-waiver-program
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28USs_limits_on_visa_waiver_program%29

content:
<p>
Ambassadors from EU countries 
<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/262999-what-the-visa-waiver-program-means-to-europe">warn
of retaliation</a> for the US's limits on the visa waiver program.
<p>
Some have suggested that Europe would retaliate by imposing the same
restriction on Americans, blocking Iranian-Americans etc.  That would
be a foolish way to retaliate, since the Americans who support the
recent restriction would be glad to see Iranian-Americans punished.
As retaliation, it would be ineffective.
<p>
My suggestion is that Europe should require visas for Americans whose
names begin with "R", or perhaps "Ry".  That might be a small fraction
comparable to the fraction of Europeans affected by the new US
restrictions.
<p>
Another idea: require visas of Americans related to Republican
congresscritters.


feed_id: 129b7a0acd77929beb0eba0677f1d0e0
title: Arrest of Shkreli
uri: Arrest-of-Shkreli
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Arrest_of_Shkreli%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://popehat.com/2015/12/17/an-open-letter-to-reuters-reporters-nate-raymond-and-david-ingram/">Did
government officials tip off reporters</a> to film the arrest of
Shkreli?
<p>
Shkreli is a greedy bastard and we ought to make it illegal to act as
he did with Daraprim.  (His arrest was about a 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_(Martin_Shkreli_resigns_after_arrest)">different
matter</a>.)  However, for the issue raised here, he's just one
example among many, and the questions posed apply to everyone.


feed_id: 582ead9539b31016cfb6e9db61c1b1e9
title: Surveillance of people in cars in London
uri: Surveillance-of-people-in-cars-in-London
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Surveillance_of_people_in_cars_in_London%29

content:
<p>
Thugs will 
<a href="http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2015/07/uk-police-to-get-real-time-access-to-photos-of-drivers-entering-london/">collect
photos in real time of everyone riding in cars</a> in London.
<p>
When the state knows where everyone goes, and who talks with whom,
democracy 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">cannot
survive</a>.  That doesn't bother the UK government, which is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#6_December_2015_(UK_Tories_adapting_Republican_gerrymandering)">applying
Republican-style techniques</a> to effectively eliminate democracy in
the UK.


feed_id: ed2f484dab19eb7752b42235c2b67ea2
title: FBI demands personal information for drones
uri: FBI-demands-personal-information-for-drones
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28FBI_demands_personal_information_for_drones%29

content:
<p>
The FBI 
<a href="http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001138.html">demands a
credit card number</a> to register a drone, as well as other personal
information.
<p>
This puts the drone owners at risk.


feed_id: 6e7e81a0e039e9f350799f4327f8ec71
title: PAT-RIOT Act "national security letters"
uri: PAT-RIOT-Act-national-security-letters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28PAT-RIOT_Act_national_security_letters%29

content:
<p>
We now know how broad and sweeping the PAT-RIOT Act "national security
letters" are; and 
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/the-national-security-letter-spy-tool-has-been-uncloaked-and-its-bad/">functionaries
can demand them arbitrarily</a>.


feed_id: 9cada1241c077f55a6d8ff9ee5894fbb
title: Santa Claus confirms NSA attack
uri: Santa-Claus-confirms-NSA-attack
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Santa_Claus_confirms_NSA_attack%29

content:
<p>
Santa Claus Confirms 
<a href="https://edri.org/santa-claus-confirms-nsa-attack-on-naughty-or-nice-database/">NSA
Attack on Naughty-Or-Nice Database</a>.


feed_id: 2b3f0ba5b17ce276705cd766b51c0741
title: DNC's data company
uri: DNC-s-data-company
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28DNCs_data_company%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic National Committee's data company has repeatedly failed
to keep each candidate's data secret from other candidates.  One
Sanders staffer accessed some of Clinton's data, and the campaign
fired him for this.
<p>
The DNC took the excuse to deny the Sanders campaign 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/18/democrats-punish-bernie-sanders-campaign-following-clinton-data-breach">all
access to its own voter information data base</a>.
<p>
The Sanders campaign has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/18/bernie-sanders-set-to-sue-democratic-national-committee-over-data-access">sued
the DNC for this</a>.


feed_id: 207a14c622ca86873ae679fe35331944
title: Escalation of the War on Sharing
uri: Escalation-of-the-War-on-Sharing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Escalation_of_the_War_on_Sharing%29

content:
<p>
In an escalation of the War on Sharing, a US ISP was 
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/12/rightscorp-wins-landmark-ruling-cox-hit-with-25m-verdict-in-copyright-case/">fined
millions for not disconnecting users</a> that repeatedly did file
sharing.
<p>
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-vs-community.html">Sharing
should be legal</a>.


feed_id: ef9584b83acc621e035a4e647b6e39d8
title: Tent cities in the US
uri: Tent-cities-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Tent_cities_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
Tent cities in the US are the result of 
<a href="https://placesjournal.org/article/tent-city-america/">laws
that force homeless people out of downtown areas</a>.


feed_id: 255ec93c30dd19691f7b6d8a0dadd4cb
title: Pete Seeger's FBI file
uri: Pete-Seeger-s-FBI-file
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Pete_Seegers_FBI_file%29
content:
<p>
Pete Seeger's FBI File Reveals How the Folk Legend First Became a
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/12/pete-seeger-fbi-file">Target
of the Feds</a>.


feed_id: 3e2c86e567c38e897253f7fba8ec12ac
title: Germany can open investigation in US torture
uri: Germany-can-open-investigation-in-US-torture
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Germany_can_open_investigation_in_US_torture%29

content:
<p>
Why Germany 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/18/why-germany-can-and-should-open-investigation-us-torture">Can
and Should</a> Open an Investigation into US Torture.


feed_id: a8eee630f8860b0d2e6f46f15ad74c05
title: How government tracks cell phones
uri: How-government-tracks-cell-phones
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28How_government_tracks_cell_phones%29

content:
<p>
How the Government Surveils Cellphones: 
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/09/how-the-government-surveils-cell-phones-a-primer/404818/">A
Primer</a>.
<p>
This doesn't include the possibility of using the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-nov-feb.html#20_December_2014_(Back_door_in_Chinese_version_of_Android)">universal
back door</a> to turn the phone into a full-time listening device.
<p>
And there is also 
<a href="http://news.softpedia.com/news/interapp-the-gadget-that-can-spy-on-any-smartphone-497864.shtml">extracting
data through WiFi</a>.


feed_id: ffc47fa00eff838a5d3d67cc83c1445a
title: UK immigration bill
uri: UK-immigration-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28UK_immigration_bill%29
content:
<p>
The UK is planning a law that will 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/21/uk-immigration-bill-trafficking-anti-slavery-experts-modern-slavery-act-2015">make
victims of trafficking afraid to speak up</a>.


feed_id: 1f66f75aeb699cdf13c043a413e2c8b5
title: Undercover thug attacks protester
uri: Undercover-thug-attacks-protester
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Undercover_thug_attacks_protester%29

content:
<p>
Montreal protester Katie Nelson recognized an undercover thug when he
took off his mask — he was pretending to be a protester —
because he was 
<a href="http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/concordia-student-injured-in-anti-austerity-protest-has-a-lawsuit-pending-against-police">one
of the thugs she was already suing for a previous attack on her</a>.
So he attacked her again.  She is now in the hospital and preparing
another lawsuit.


feed_id: aeef7ed0d4e890eec974356f43e0a456
title: Right-wing billionaire-owned newspaper
uri: Right-wing-billionaire-owned-newspaper
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Right-wing_billionaire-owned_newspaper%29

content:
<p>
Right-wing billionaire Sheldon Adelson appears to have bought the Las
Vegas Review-Journal just to 
<a href="http://boingboing.net/2015/12/19/billionaire-sheldon-adelson-se.html">set
its reporters to trying to dig up dirt on judges who didn't bow down
to his wealth</a>.
<p>
<a href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/judge-adelson-lawsuit-subject-unusual-scrutiny-amid-review-journal-sale">More
information</a>.


feed_id: d64fac8c9e64858c2a3b8240e3a4560a
title: UK's anti-sharing thugs
uri: UK-s-anti-sharing-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28UKs_anti-sharing_thugs%29
content:
<p>
The UK's anti-sharing thugs have come down on people who
noncommercially distributed karaoke recordings <em>because they are
not commercially available</em>, and 
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/12/uk-police-busts-karaoke-gang-for-sharing-songs-that-arent-commercially-available/">using
a sleazy trick of language to equate this with commercial
redistribution</a>.


feed_id: f0cc82a6f5392dfe7911e747956f0a21
title: US alliance with Salafi Arabia
uri: US-alliance-with-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28US_alliance_with_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
Yemen's civil war, in which the US-backed intervention by Salafi Arabia
has 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/18/yemen-crisis-one-more-reason-re-evaluate-toxic-us-saudi-alliance">made
millions homeless and uses cluster bombs</a>, shows that the US
alliance with Salafi Arabia is a disaster.


feed_id: d9fc7daaf3540b0880287037bbeb546b
title: Extremist views of Syrian rebel fighters
uri: Extremist-views-of-Syrian-rebel-fighters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Extremist_views_of_Syrian_rebel_fighters%29

content:
<p>
Most Syrian rebel fighters hold 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/20/most-syrian-rebels-sympathise-with-isis-says-thinktank">extremist
views similar to PISSI</a>, even though they are enemies of PISSI.
<p>
This shows that defeating PISSI won't eliminate Salafi oppression from
Syria.  (There may be no way to do that, in the short term.)  However,
those groups might not want to attack outside Syria; it might be
possible to make peace with them.
<p>
It will be hard to make peace in a way that includes them and the
secular Kurds.


feed_id: 5bb131b73d63763550246c1e8c6b4a5f
title: Punishing old people for falling
uri: Punishing-old-people-for-falling
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Punishing_old_people_for_falling%29

content:
<p>
A UK local government, squeezed for funds, is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/20/old-people-falling-down-cuts-councils-essex">planning
to charge old people every time they need someone to pick them up
after falling</a>.


feed_id: 4f07296f35bf2955333d9d44fa5ad0b3
title: "Smart" watches can tell what you're typing
uri: Smart-watches-can-tell-what-you-re-typing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Smart_watches_can_tell_what_youre_typing%29

content:
<p>
Malicious code in a "smart" watch can tell what you are typing by 
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/heres-how-your-smartphone-can-reveal-what-youre-typing">measuring
your arm motion</a>.
<p>
Anything called "smart", unless all the software is free, is an attack
on your freedom and privacy.


feed_id: b966d82c36effc9e09206cbc267fbecb
title: Mandatory minimum sentences
uri: 2015-12-22-Mandatory-minimum-sentences
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Mandatory_minimum_sentences%29
content:
<p>
Mandatory minimum sentences are a recent aberration in US history; we
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/20/solution-isnt-kindler-gentler-prison">could
get rid of most of them</a>.


feed_id: 768cdd31bdfe51334f5ff72f9e500a37
title: Dow still leaking pollution in Bhopal
uri: Dow-still-leaking-pollution-in-Bhopal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Dow_still_leaking_pollution_in_Bhopal%29

content:
<p>
Dow continues to disregard criminal court charges in India and 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/12/18/dow-must-show-criminal-court-hearing-bhopal">refuses
to remediate</a> the pollution that still leaks from its factory in
Bhopal.
<p>
I wonder if DuPont has property in India that could be seized if it
merges with Dow.  Perhaps a lien could be put on it now, to stop
DuPont from selling it before the merger.


feed_id: e6123a84ac6ced3f62926e82b0d88608
title: Meeting Paris conference goals
uri: Meeting-Paris-conference-goals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_December_2015_%28Meeting_Paris_conference_goals%29

content:
<p>
The Paris conference didn't pay much attention to
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/18/meat-paris-and-next-steps">meat
production</a>, but to meet the goal requires a big reduction.


feed_id: 78aa1d76b79f5de374b660a055cf2192
title: Urgent: Reveal donors to Columbia's CGEP
uri: Urgent-Reveal-donors-to-Columbia-s-CGEP
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#22_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Reveal_donors_to_Columbias_CGEP%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://www.climatehawksvote.com/columbia_exxon">call on
Columbia University</a> to reveal all the donors to Center on Global
Energy Policy, since they seem to include Exxon.


feed_id: c32ed78145680d6a208fe2a0f8468005
title: Urgent: Free Waleed Abu al-Khair
uri: Urgent-Free-Waleed-Abu-al-Khair
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#22_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Free_Waleed_Abu_al-Khair%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1839&ea.campaign.id=42773">Call
on Salafi Arabia to free human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair.


feed_id: 0a67b7d8de3a27484266f671d560de22
title: Urgent: Track and publish weapons sales
uri: Urgent-Track-and-publish-weapons-sales
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#22_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Track_and_publish_weapons_sales%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://diy.rootsaction.org/petitions/resume-reporting-on-weapons-sales">call
on Congress to resume tracking and publishing world weapons sales.


feed_id: a9eb19c7f472a49d4c4caa55662b9f38
title: Facebook "real name" policy
uri: Facebook-real-name-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#22_December_2015_%28Facebook_real_name_policy%29
content:
<p>
Facebook relaxed its "real name" policy, but only 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/15/facebook-change-controversial-real-name-policy">for
people who are being harassed for certain specific reasons</a>.
<p>
This relieves a very specific acute problem, but does not enable
ordinary people to use Facebook without being tracked.


feed_id: 003ab5b1c1b66251edce7131cadbacd1
title: US wages war against lots of Muslims
uri: US-wages-war-against-lots-of-Muslims
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28US_wages_war_against_lots_of_Muslims%29

content:
<p>
In response to occasional crimes by a few Muslims, the US 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2015/12/20/americas-asymmetrical-war-on-terror">wages
actual war against lots of Muslims</a>.
<p>
I should point out that the guns used by Malik and his spouse were not
lawfully purchased in the form he had them, and a 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#20_December_2015_(Gun_control)">stricter
system of gun control</a> could have made them difficult for him to
get.
<p>
Because the US is waging actual war, its innocent victims greatly
outnumber the victims of Muslim terrorists in the US.  Americans are
much more likely to be killed by thugs than by terrorists.
<p>
Christianist terrorism against US abortion facilities is a more
serious threat because it is concentrated against a few.  If you are
an abortion doctor, that danger is large.


feed_id: f44ecd981008f807412993a3075e2720
title: Urgent: Don't legitimize Israeli colonies
uri: Urgent-Don-t-legitimize-Israeli-colonies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Dont_legitimize_Israeli_colonies%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-oppose-push">call
on Congress</a> to reject a resolution to legitimize Israeli colonies
in Palestine.


feed_id: d3e44ac2e8c4c05d2718402c2d3db546
title: DNC reenables Sanders' access to voter data
uri: DNC-reenables-Sanders-access-to-voter-data
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28DNC_reenables_Sanders_access_to_voter_data%29

content:
<p>
The Democratic National Committee 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/19/bernie-sanders-campaign-claims-win-after-dnc-hands-back-access-to-voter-file">reenabled
Sanders' access to voter data</a>; the Sanders campaign did the
requested investigation and took appropriate action.


feed_id: 34eaf3b5edf5fa76035e07e048a52d08
title: Exaggerated idea of level of danger
uri: Exaggerated-idea-of-level-of-danger
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Exaggerated_idea_of_level_of_danger%29

content:
<p>
Lumping together crowd killing sprees with the more common multiple
shootings in families and gangs 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/12/no-there-were-not-355-mass-shootings-this-year">gives
the public an exaggerated idea of the level of danger</a> from the
former.
<p>
If shootings cause around 110,000 casualties in the year in the US,
that shows guns are a serious problem, but the sensational killing
sprees are a small part of it.


feed_id: e2516bc395e87397a55eab5805dc260b
title: Violent domestic relationships
uri: Violent-domestic-relationships
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Violent_domestic_relationships%29

content:
<p>
Violent domestic relationships 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/11/most-people-dont-get-domestic-violence-because-it-doesnt-make-sense">don't
make sense in rational terms</a>.  The victims are so traumatized that
they blame themselves for the other person's violence.


feed_id: e008957852dedbbb31572fae2cdb3132
title: Wild bees declining
uri: Wild-bees-declining
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Wild_bees_declining%29
content:
<p>
Wild bees are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/21/wild-bees-population-decline-agriculture-farming-california-midwest">declining
in US agricultural areas</a>.


feed_id: 6882000fa418c7f7c4e7e9fc87055388
title: Dealing with terrorist videos
uri: Dealing-with-terrorist-videos
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Dealing_with_terrorist_videos%29

content:
<p>
A 
<a href="http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001139.html">Proposal</a>
for Dealing with Terrorist Videos on the Internet.


feed_id: b1ea6c96553d1e8e09213d16a80b6994
title: Racial disparity in arrests
uri: Racial-disparity-in-arrests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Racial_disparity_in_arrests%29
content:
<p>
Study Documents
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/12/21/study-documents-extreme-racial-disparity-arrests-low-level-offenses">Extreme
Racial Disparity</a> in Arrests for Low-Level Offenses [in a US city].


feed_id: b76b6d4ccd19f42fbd1574e0499b7f6f
title: Clinton endorses FBI's take on encryption
uri: Clinton-endorses-FBI-s-take-on-encryption
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Clinton_endorses_FBIs_take_on_encryption%29

content:
<p>
Clinton has 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/21/democratic-debate-spawns-fantasy-talk-on-encryption/">endorsed
the FBI's take on encryption</a>.
<p>
I had already decided not to vote for her if she wins the nomination.
I hope you will join me.  But let's try to prevent that issue from
arising.  Please support the Sanders campaign.


feed_id: 90ec27f7fbaeddd8968df6608501139e
title: Force-feeding immigration prisoners
uri: Force-feeding-immigration-prisoners
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Force-feeding_immigration_prisoners%29

content:
<p>
A US court ruled that the US 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/21/miami-judge-rules-that-immigration-detainees-can-be-force-fed">can
force-feed immigration prisoners on hunger strike</a>.
<p>
This is a violation of their human rights.  A sane person has a right
to commit suicide and a right to fast to death.
<p>
Now that the prisoners have been denied the right to hunger strike, I
expect that some will commit quick suicide as a protest.


feed_id: 862edb4bb3d9a8a5c670d7f1cd9d707a
title: Playing into hands of terrorists
uri: Playing-into-hands-of-terrorists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Playing_into_hands_of_terrorists%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/21/terrorism-hoax-reaction-fear">Treating
every rumor or threat of terrorism as serious</a> is an effect of fear
and it plays into the hands of terrorists.


feed_id: 6eb1a2ed51852e7e0b05baf67d410369
title: Muslim students US schools bullied
uri: Muslim-students-US-schools-bullied
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Muslim_students_US_schools_bullied%29

content:
<p>
Muslim students in US schools, even young ones, face 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/21/anti-muslim-harassment-american-classrooms-student-bullying">frequent
bullying that can go as far as physical attacks</a>.
<p>
Violent attacks against Muslims are 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/18/charts-violence-against-muslims-ravaging-us-communities">increasing</a>.


feed_id: e83fb5f58debd7af86db75ac8f2feee8
title: Sudanese editors face death penalty
uri: Sudanese-editors-face-death-penalty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Sudanese_editors_face_death_penalty%29

content:
<p>
Sudanese Editors Face Death Penalty for 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/21/sudan-editors-death-penalty-arab-spring-charges">'Inciting
an Arab Spring'</a>.
<p>
In Sudan, only Winter is allowed.


feed_id: 0f09c27344f4cf271b928ade4a00a513
title: Ill treatment of homeless people
uri: Ill-treatment-of-homeless-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Ill_treatment_of_homeless_people%29

content:
<p>
Many people and governments 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2015/dec/21/homeless-people-not-vermin-cockroaches-human-rights">treat
homeless people like vermin</a>.  Laws that shove them into obscure
corners help others ignore how badly they are being treated.
<p>
Ultimately this is done to please store owners (who want them out of
the way) and rich (who don't want to pay taxes to give them homes).
<p>
The same rich people are responsible for the policies that make people
homeless.


feed_id: 297b86908527920272cd582159a2674e
title: Prison
uri: 2015-12-23-Prison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Prison%29
content:
<p>
Could prison be replaced with a 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/21/can-prison-work-crime">different
correctional system</a>?


feed_id: ef33a304dd9cbb8764fe814d28e04be4
title: Spain's parliament divided
uri: Spain-s-parliament-divided
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Spains_parliament_divided%29
content:
<p>
Spain's parliament is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/21/spain-broad-consensus-messy-election-result-parliament-opportunity-challenge">divided</a>;
it is not clear who will govern.


feed_id: 29f938d5a31146135ba176035fb116d5
title: Chicago thug may have made false accusation
uri: Chicago-thug-may-have-made-false-accusation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Chicago_thug_may_have_made_false_accusation%29

content:
<p>
A video suggests a Chicago thug may have made a false accusation about
Alfontish Cockerham
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/21/chicago-police-shooting-alfontish-nunu-cockerham-video-witness">to
excuse shooting him dead</a>.


feed_id: 9e9cc48c122aa4b5a8dc95bca1e1156f
title: New web error code
uri: New-web-error-code
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28New_web_error_code%29
content:
<p>
A new Web error code has been established 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/12/21/censorship_451_error_code_approved_by_ietf/">for
legally imposed censorship</a>.


feed_id: f1f1a43bfcf60c67eabd940ed0d8f94c
title: Menstruating women treated as "unclean"
uri: Menstruating-women-treated-as-unclean
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Menstruating_women_treated_as_unclean%29

content:
<p>
In rural India, the menstruating women are still treated as "unclean".
They are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/22/india-menstruation-periods-gaokor-women-isolated">banished
to rude huts outside the village</a>.  Girls miss school.


feed_id: 2ec3ef6db655a4aa9d13220a747e1b3e
title: Boko Haram violence
uri: Boko-Haram-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Boko_Haram_violence%29
content:
<p>
Boko Haram Violence 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/22/boko-haram-violence-keeping-a-million-children-out-of-school-says-unicef">Keeping
a Million Children Out of School</a>, Says UNICEF.


feed_id: 9217e4331ebcb03eb746018142c675c4
title: Racist inspired by Trump
uri: Racist-inspired-by-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Racist_inspired_by_Trump%29
content:
<p>
A racist inspired by Trump 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/22/california-man-arrested-for-building-a-pipe-bomb-and-threats-to-muslims">built
a pipe bomb to attack Muslims with</a>.


feed_id: 844a4608b6db314f7982df32fad1869a
title: Antibiotic resistance
uri: 2015-12-24-Antibiotic-resistance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Antibiotic_resistance%29
content:
<p>
Humanity has not acted to slow antibiotic resistance; now it is
"almost too late" to avoid 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/22/almost-too-late-fears-of-global-superbug-crisis-in-wake-of-antibiotic-misuse">losing
the most important current antibiotics</a>.
<p>
The responsibility is the plutocratic state, which obeys agribusiness
and disregards the general good.


feed_id: 5e79f257a6db63e04a57f038283d9f18
title: Unjust tech
uri: Unjust-tech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28Unjust_tech%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.schneier.com/essays/archives/2015/12/can_laws_keep_up_wit.html">Can
Laws Keep Up with Tech World?</a>
<p>
It should be noted that 
<a href="https://stallman.org/amazon.html">Amazon</a>, 
<a href="https://stallman.org/uber.html">Guber</a> and 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">WhatsApp
(proprietary software)</a> are inherently unjust.


feed_id: 8aae41d005cd43b4357e5099ba8b9779
title: US thugs claim there is a "war on police"
uri: US-thugs-claim-there-is-a-war-on-police
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#23_December_2015_%28US_thugs_claim_there_is_a_war_on_police%29

content:
<p>
US thugs continue to claim that there is a "war on police", violence
against thugs continues to be rare.  
<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/the-biggest-threat-to-american-public-safety-is-the-american-police-state/">Marauding
thugs remain the bigger threat</a>.
<p>
Thugs kill a lot more Americans than terrorists do; but they do lesser
forms of violence more often than killings.


feed_id: b7bc5924ed1b3458f7d6f024f0fc80a0
title: Urgent: Tesoro-Savage oil export terminal
uri: Urgent-Tesoro-Savage-oil-export-terminal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Tesoro-Savage_oil_export_terminal%29

content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/TesoroSavage?t=1004&akid=16379.1183552.yEHeAj">oppose</a> building the Tesoro-Savage oil export terminal in Washington State.


feed_id: dae55b27d109648418615407c9e0926a
title: Urgent: toy factories in China
uri: Urgent-toy-factories-in-China
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_toy_factories_in_China%29

content:
<p>Everyone: call on major toy branding companies to <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/china_sweatshop_workers?t=1003&akid=16391.1183552.08UF7y">improve wages and working conditions</a> in their factories in China.


feed_id: f1cd593c7d7015f1ab387874c9262f00
title: Urgent: drone registration site
uri: Urgent-drone-registration-site
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_drone_registration_site%29

content:
<p>Does it work to use the US government drone registration site
with LibreJS enabled to block nonfree Javascript code?
Please email your answer to rms on the site gnu.org.


feed_id: 22e828dc4659c035497ada60c9c6d8d8
title: Urgent: stand with Nagpur
uri: Urgent-stand-with-Nagpur
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_stand_with_Nagpur%29
content:
<p>Everyone: Stand with the people of Nagpur and tell the World Bank to <a href="http://act.stopcorporateabuse.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18843">stop pushing privatization of water.</a>


feed_id: 6e26d235c6a1b1a1807d440f392f97c8
title: Charging more for products
uri: Charging-more-for-products
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Charging_more_for_products%29
content:
<p>Companies tend to <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2015/12/it-really-way-more-expensive-be-woman
">charge more for their products aimed at women or girls</a> than for comparable products aimed at men or boys.
<p>Why should scooters be meant specifically for one sex?  There is no
good reason for that.  That too is a marketing ploy.  Give a girl a
blue scooter, and fight against creeping genderization of everything,
while also saving money.


feed_id: 697b5d40b06e6f12c7e7d20d2ba6949a
title: Adelson buys your newspaper
uri: Adelson-buys-your-newspaper
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Adelson_buys_your_newspaper%29
content:
<p>What If Sheldon Adelson Buys Your Newspaper?  <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/23/las-vegas-review-journal-editor-resigns-sheldon-adelson">Write About Him, Then Leave.</a>


feed_id: 969b3f158ee92eaa9ad0d8dad116ac59
title: Obama's support for "moderate" Syrian resistance
uri: Obama-s-support-for-moderate-Syrian-resistance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Obama%27s_support_for_moderate_Syrian_resistance%29

content:
<p>The US military thought Obama's support for "moderate" Syrian resistance was only helping Jihadis, so it began <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n01/seymour-m-hersh/military-to-military">feeding intelligence indirectly to Assad</a> to help him fight those rebels.


feed_id: 8e8da6cdb490b4bc3121a7b741a49b01
title: Physical search instead of body scanning
uri: Physical-search-instead-of-body-scanning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Physical_search_instead_of_body_scanning%29

content:
<p>The TSA may <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/tsa-electronic-body-scans-opt-out-policy">stop some passangers</a> from requesting a physical search instead of body scanning.
<p>I don't object to the millimeter-wave scanners now in use, but I still
consider this change dangerous.  What if they move to another machine
that is potentiallky dangerous, as the x-ray scanners were?


feed_id: 99b815da46f6624ea60e956c0eb285d0
title: Colonies in Palestine
uri: Colonies-in-Palestine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Colonies_in_Palestine%29
content:
<p>Israel's ambassador to the US has gone out of his way to send <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/23/because-nothing-says-happy-holidays-illegal-occupation">holiday gifts</a> made by colonies in Palestine.


feed_id: 7550bec75c5645f0858aa57142bb084b
title: Bogus opinion polls
uri: Bogus-opinion-polls
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Bogus_opinion_polls%29
content:
<p>Thailand's dictators <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/thailands-junta-releases-poll-showing-993-of-citizens-happy-with-its-performance">don't have elections,</a> but they have bogus opinion polls.


feed_id: 71b2d066e429bf7cb6b8c9efb7482f26
title: Wearing makeup to appear Asian (or black)
uri: Wearing-makeup-to-appear-Asian-(or-black)
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Wearing_makeup_to_appear_Asian_%28or_black%29%29

content:
<p>Is it wrong for <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/23/yellowface-discrimination-asians-prejudice-racism
">Caucasian actors</a> to wear makeup to appear Asian (or black)?
<p>The article presents an incoherent mixture of percieved insult, lack
of Asian role models on TV, and loss of work for Asian actors.  Any
or all of those issues might be valid, but they are all different,
and mixing them up produces only confusion.
<p>If it is a matter of work discrimination, how about making up nonwhite
actors up to appear Caucasian?  All actors' race would cease to matter.
<p>If it is a matter of visible role models on TV, that's a matter of
appearance only.  Why does it matter what the actor's real skin color
or appearance is, beneath the makeup?
<p>If you feel insulted, please explain why an actor's makeup constitutes
a statement about Asians, because I don't see that.


feed_id: 1ffedd2cd1b7d79e7413cf7dc208f1ec
title: Poland's Christianist extremist government
uri: Poland-s-Christianist-extremist-government
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Poland%27s_Christianist_extremist_government%29

content:
<p>Poland's Christianist extremist government is <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/polands-government-carries-through-on-threat-to-constitutional-court">undermining the Supreme Court,</a>  apparently to facilitate a <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/protests-in-poland-as-proposesd-laws-curtail-womens-rights">total ban on abortions.</a>
<p>I support ending subsidies for IVF; the world has an excess of human
babies and it makes no sense at all to spend public funds on making
more.
<p>Once babies are born, we must make sure they get good food, medical
care, education, and a good home with parents that are not stressed
about a lack of money.
<p>Naturally, the right-wing government plans to cut that.  Christianist
extremist don't care about real babies.


feed_id: c56a81a59db087ef0f05af6409e25ccd
title: The atmosphere as public trust
uri: The-atmosphere-as-public-trust
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28The_atmosphere_as_public_trust%29

content:
<p>Officially designating the atmosphere as a <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/22/seeking-recourse-against-polluters-call-claim-sky-common-good-intensifies">public trust</a> might help get some countries to act against global heating.


feed_id: ff5e641ae069313caddb7c7391c9743c
title: Exxon's global heating research
uri: Exxon-s-global-heating-research
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Exxon%27s_global_heating_research%29

content:
<p>Exxon shared its global heating research with other major oil companies <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/22/more-exxon-big-oil-companies-years-shared-damning-climate-research">as far back as 1980.</a>
<p>They have all been knowingly working to make sure the US government does not avoid disaster.


feed_id: cdd65f5158e650e8b1e69dd14e1fdc9e
title: Loss of manufacturing jobs
uri: Loss-of-manufacturing-jobs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Loss_of_manufacturing_jobs%29
content:
<p>The loss of manufacturing jobs in the US <a href="http://fair.org/home/loss-of-manufacturing-jobs-isnt-tectonic-its-a-policy-choice/">is not inevitable.</a> It is the result of political choices.


feed_id: 896a51ae34a76fdc48104bbb1f5b66bf
title: Spending public assistance
uri: Spending-public-assistance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Spending_public_assistance%29
content:
<p>The US and various states are prohibiting poor people from spending public assistance on various expensive habits that <a href="https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/09/welfare-republicans-sam-brownback-race-corporations/">they can't afford anyway.</a>
<p>The motive might be to fool the public into believing that welfare
recipients really have money for luxury foods such as lobster, on
ocean cruises, or even on tattoos.
<p>If you can barely afford food at all, you will do without those things
anyway.


feed_id: aa3025e74ad13eed4b4f00bcc986fcd4
title: ARM and IBM teamed up
uri: ARM-and-IBM-teamed-up
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28ARM_and_IBM_teamed_up%29
content:
<p>ARM and IBM have teamed up to make devices that <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3050710/elasticity/ibm-and-chip-designer-arm-want-to-monitor-every-device-they-can">monitor and surveil their users.</a>


feed_id: 4f6f3425eb6fc5d1ea5c686f8af78a56
title: Libya's new unified government
uri: Libya-s-new-unified-government
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Libya%27s_new_unified_government%29

content:
<p>The UN is moving towards authorizing Libya's new unified government to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/22/un-support-libya-government-open-door-potential-uk-airstrikes-isis">invite Western help to fight PISSI.</a>
<p>An intervention in support of Libyan ground troops has a reasonable chance of success.


feed_id: 11842df8fa09a5523364d470d16a705a
title: Israel considering Putin-style law
uri: Israel-considering-Putin-style-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Israel_considering_Putin-style_law%29

content:
<p>Israel is considering a Putin-style law to restrict human-rights NGOs
that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/22/israel-human-rights-democracy
">receive support from European governments.</a>  The President of Israel was
called a traitor for meeting with the New Israel Fund.


feed_id: b22622ed62cbc1aecab4c7544e329944
title: Fall of Sangin
uri: Fall-of-Sangin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Fall_of_Sangin%29
content:
<p>The fall of Sangin demonstrates the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/22/mothers-of-british-soldiers-waste-fall-of-sangin-helmand">futility</a> of NATO's trying to hold it.
<p>Once the Taliban started to resurge, the US and NATO never had a
plausible plan for defeating the Taliban, since the Afghan government
has never generated enough loyalty to do so.  The only question is how
long to prop it up.


feed_id: a9494730a800b82ff00a286be32cf9dd
title: Geneva conventions
uri: Geneva-conventions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Geneva_conventions%29
content:
<p>Increasingly, wars involve bombing <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/dec/22/it-is-time-to-stop-the-indiscriminate-bombing-and-shelling-of-urban-areas">cities full of civilians,</a> as countries ignore the Geneva conventions.


feed_id: 5908fc83a4981b39464b41f42e1dce0c
title: Tax loophole
uri: Tax-loophole
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Tax_loophole%29
content:
<p>A tax loophole encourages US companies to <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/12/22/ceo-stocking-stuffers
">increase pay to their CEOs.</a>


feed_id: 85f05793f15059c0c2ee0d39d31a59ac
title: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in ground beef
uri: Antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-in-ground-beef
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Antibiotic-resistant_bacteria_in_ground_beef%29

content:
<p>
Ground beef generally has bacteria all through it, and some of them
can make people sick.  Consumer Reports found that US ground beef,
unless it is from 'grass-fed organic beef', often contains
<a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/beefsafety">antibiotic-resistant
bacteria</a>.


feed_id: d4ab9b8db3c1a49fcb12a6b67a2e1f79
title: British Muslims blocked from entering US
uri: British-Muslims-blocked-from-entering-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28British_Muslims_blocked_from_entering_US%29

content:
<p>
It appears the US is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/23/uk-imam-ajmal-masroor-us-business-visa-revoked-without-explanation">blocking
many British Muslims from entering the US</a>, often in arbitrary
last-minute ways that cause unnecessary trouble and expense.
<p>
Blocking 10 family members from traveling because of an objection
to their one relative is especially nasty, and gratuitous.
<p>
Because there is no way to find out in advance if you will be blocked
in this way, British Muslims in general are 
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35167511">afraid to buy tickets
to the US</a>.
<p>
It seems to me that the US should offer a way to ask, before buying
tickets, "Will you allow me to fly there?"  If the US responds that
you can go, and blocks you later, it should compensate you for the
costs of your flight and other preparations.
<p>
And it is unconscionable to block 11 people because of objections
about one.


feed_id: 289c4f0879a46a8b3fed4f3da6f47f08
title: Australia's anti-renewable-energy policies
uri: Australia-s-anti-renewable-energy-policies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Australias_anti-renewable-energy_policies%29

content:
<p>
Australia is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/24/new-clean-energy-investment-mandate-a-shift-from-policy-proposed-by-abbott">slowly
shifting away from the anti-renewable-energy policies</a> that Abbott
set up.


feed_id: ea52b053e374bd1bf2af689516b461b0
title: Russia dropping cluster bombs on Syria
uri: Russia-dropping-cluster-bombs-on-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Russia_dropping_cluster_bombs_on_Syria%29

content:
<p>
Amnesty International says Russia is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/russian-cluster-bombs-killed-hundreds-civilians-syria-watchdog">dropping
cluster bombs on Syrian cities</a>, even on areas of no military
significance.


feed_id: b10624672c97053f34aa7a1c61a58781
title: Illegal spying on activists in Ecuador
uri: Illegal-spying-on-activists-in-Ecuador
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Illegal_spying_on_activists_in_Ecuador%29

content:
<p>
Leaked documents say that Ecuador's intelligence agency 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/03/ecuador-spied-on-opponents-amazon-oil-plan-documents-rafael-correa">illegally
spied on activists</a> who campaigned against oil extraction in the
Amazon.


feed_id: 740c5fa4c0a20708e5ae69ae254184be
title: Christmas in officially Muslim countries
uri: Christmas-in-officially-Muslim-countries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Christmas_in_officially_Muslim_countries%29

content:
<p>
Some officially Muslim countries have demonstrated their intolerance
of non-Muslims by 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/christmas-banned-somalia-tajikistan-brunei">banning
visible celebration of Christmas</a>.
<p>
Will they ban 
<a href="https://stallman.org/grav-mas.html">Grav-Mass</a>, too?


feed_id: c72b2164d70bb9372d83789a8a39f69f
title: The "no fly list"
uri: 2015-12-26-The-no-fly-list
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28The_no_fly_list%29
content:
<p>
The "no fly list" 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/23/no-fly-list-operates-in-secret-power-to-exclude">punishes
people by surprise</a>, and people are put in the list based on
"predictive judgments" which can be based on nothing but noise.


feed_id: 55e1d2d1f569989322eb55d9f92886cc
title: Raid in Sangin
uri: Raid-in-Sangin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Raid_in_Sangin%29
content:
<p>
Afghan army reinforcements 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/sangin-reinforcements-reach-besieged-afghan-town-as-britain-sends-troops">may
kick the Taliban out of Sangin</a>.
<p>
If the Taliban melt away when confronted by a relief force, that will
not constitute a victory for the Afghan government.  Rather, it will
mean that the Taliban are following through after a large, successful
raid, in accord with standard guerrilla tactics.
<p>
To turn this raid into a victory, the Afghan army would need to
surround Sangin and kill the Taliban fighters caught in the trap.
I don't think they will try it.


feed_id: 208dedb6ba40f9b7ac230b6a612e47dd
title: Shot dead by Georgia thugs
uri: Shot-dead-by-Georgia-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Shot_dead_by_Georgia_thugs%29
content:
<p>
44% of the people shot dead by Georgia thugs (since 2010) were either
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/12/22/184-killed-georgia-cops-shot-in-back">unarmed
or shot in the back</a>.  That's just the beginning of it.


feed_id: e0d1f409c7b529c5aa442f24b6b5300b
title: Prison for throwing stones at car
uri: Prison-for-throwing-stones-at-car
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Prison_for_throwing_stones_at_car%29

content:
<p>
Israel sentenced Palestinian teenagers to 
<a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/74219">15 years in prison</a>
after they confessed under pressure to throwing stones at a car.
<p>
The car was driven by a family that lives in an Israeli colony in
Palestinian territory.  One of the children in the car died from the
attack.  The killing was a serious crime, but there is no credible
evidence about who did it.


feed_id: 9cc4c08da5790467beeec4c4368eeedd
title: Israel violates international law
uri: Israel-violates-international-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Israel_violates_international_law%29

content:
<p>
Israel violates international law by taking Palestinian prisoners out
of Palestine.  Here's
<a href="http://972mag.com/the-forced-transfer-of-palestinian-detainees-why-it-matters/114923/">why
that violation is important</a>.


feed_id: d318250c37ebb989fb4c93d4c87aeea1
title: Israel on foreign funding
uri: Israel-on-foreign-funding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Israel_on_foreign_funding%29
content:
<p>
To the Israeli right-wing, 
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/israel-should-be-proud-of-the-open-criticism-democracy-provokes-a6782031.html">foreign
funding for Breaking the Silence is an outrage</a>; foreign funding
for extending colonies in Palestine is just fine.
<p>
After Israel arrested Jews who killed Palestinians, fanatical
colonists 
<a href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=769460">attacked
another Palestinian family</a>.  Fortunately not fatally this time.


feed_id: 5d80ca58826552cb45b2fb1a0cfed038
title: Palestinian Christians
uri: Palestinian-Christians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Palestinian_Christians%29
content:
<p>
Palestinian Christians suffer from the occupation like Palestinian
Muslims, but find it 
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/12/20/after-2000-years-christians-gaza-disappearing/77503936/">easier
to move elsewhere</a>.


feed_id: ddbdfadd95c05af9c8e6b2d152ca6ea3
title: Mennonites on occupation of Palestine
uri: Mennonites-on-occupation-of-Palestine
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Mennonites_on_occupation_of_Palestine%29

content:
<p>
Mennonites who visited Palestine 
<a href="http://mennoworld.org/2015/12/21/latest-issue/opinion-injustice-in-israel/">defend
the need for boycott, divestment and sanctions</a> against Israel's
occupation of Palestine.


feed_id: 441047324e3fc77f0f21b01f7e865f57
title: Physical search instead of body scanning
uri: 2015-12-26-Physical-search-instead-of-body-scanning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Physical_search_instead_of_body_scanning%29

content:
<p>The TSA may <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/tsa-electronic-body-scans-opt-out-policy">stop some passengers</a> from requesting a physical search instead of body scanning.
<p>I don't object to the millimeter-wave scanners now in use, but I still
consider this change dangerous.  What if they move to another machine
that is potentially dangerous, as the x-ray scanners were?


feed_id: 17a39f29d4e48e95d2d832e90b7cda70
title: Wearing makeup to appear Asian (or black)
uri: 2015-12-26-Wearing-makeup-to-appear-Asian-(or-black)
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_December_2015_%28Wearing_makeup_to_appear_Asian_%28or_black%29%29

content:
<p>Is it wrong for <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/23/yellowface-discrimination-asians-prejudice-racism
">Caucasian actors</a> to wear makeup to appear Asian (or black)?
<p>The article presents an incoherent mixture of perceived insult, lack
of Asian role models on TV, and loss of work for Asian actors.  Any
or all of those issues might be valid, but they are all different,
and mixing them up produces only confusion.
<p>If it is a matter of work discrimination, how about making up nonwhite
actors up to appear Caucasian?  All actors' race would cease to matter.
<p>If it is a matter of visible role models on TV, that's a matter of
appearance only.  Why does it matter what the actor's real skin color
or appearance is, beneath the makeup?
<p>If you feel insulted, please explain why an actor's makeup constitutes
a statement about Asians, because I don't see that.


feed_id: 28ca11cb360c2e2a01af384f55f91f58
title: Christmas in officially Muslim countries
uri: 2015-12-26-Christmas-in-officially-Muslim-countries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#25_December_2015_%28Christmas_in_officially_Muslim_countries%29

content:
<p>
Some officially Muslim countries have demonstrated their intolerance
of non-Muslims by 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/christmas-banned-somalia-tajikistan-brunei">banning
visible celebration of Christmas</a>.
<p>
Will they ban 
<a href="https://stallman.org/grav-mass.html">Grav-Mass</a>, too?


feed_id: c3afd7a4e808e0e9d17bd153d7dfac34
title: Urgent: Investigate death of Sandra Bland
uri: Urgent-Investigate-death-of-Sandra-Bland
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_death_of_Sandra_Bland%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/sandra_bland/">call on
Attorney General Lynch</a> to investigate death of Sandra Bland.


feed_id: bac6475f49427f186549f7fd4d12faf2
title: Urgent: Oregon's national forests
uri: Urgent-Oregon-s-national-forests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Oregons_national_forests%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/Oregon_forests">Tell
Congress</a> not to sell off or cut down Oregon's national forests.


feed_id: 11f24391794f5947afc6274b24b16f8f
title: Sanders
uri: 2015-12-27-Sanders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Sanders%29
content:
<p>
Polls show Sanders doing 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/23/poll-shows-sanders-would-trounce-trump-general-election">considerably
better against Trump than Clinton would do</a>.


feed_id: 029120295e69f377309d8787d81f05c9
title: Back Lives Matter protest
uri: Back-Lives-Matter-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Back_Lives_Matter_protest%29
content:
<p>
A Black Lives Matter protest at the Mall of America was 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/23/undeterred-malls-crackdown-black-lives-matter-shuts-down-business-usual">not
entirely blocked</a> by the mall management armed with court orders.
<p>
Nonetheless, the difficulties they faced show that replacing real
public space with pseudo-public space inside malls is dangerous to
democracy.  People should have the right to protest inside malls.


feed_id: 04c3cfcfe61ba6cb365444d8e2051db3
title: Guber
uri: Guber
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Guber%29
content:
<p>
Seattle has arranged to give Guber drivers a 
<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/could-unions-disrupt-ubers-empire/">chance
to unionize</a>.
<p>
This can help the drivers get more pay, but it won't do anything to
reduce the surveillance that passengers are subject to, or save them
from the requirement to run nonfree software.


feed_id: 6e1252d4a1661883b7534a0d58ba372b
title: The range of ideas that fit into Islam
uri: The-range-of-ideas-that-fit-into-Islam
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28The_range_of_ideas_that_fit_into_Islam%29

content:
<p>
It 
<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/contradiction-and-diversity/">takes
a rather large book</a> to describe the range of ideas that fit into
Islam — except in the opinion of Salafis.


feed_id: 833a6513c44c674ef7c019232ae47f04
title: French citizenship
uri: French-citizenship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28French_citizenship%29
content:
<p>
French President Hollande is getting strong criticism for 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/24/hollande-accused-betraying-republic-dual-nationality-plan">plans
to take away citizenship from people who were born citizens of
France</a>.
<p>
His other plans, such as the permanent state of emergency,
seen even worse.


feed_id: cb6275714d1d66ea01a1bdd126920593
title: Gmail psychological profiles
uri: Gmail-psychological-profiles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Gmail_psychological_profiles%29
content:
<p>
Google's Gmail and other connected services create psychological
profiles of every user — and all the people they communicate
with by email.  A slowly progressing lawsuit claims that this 
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/google-using-gmail-build-psychological-profiles-hundreds-millions-people?paging=off">violates
California law</a>.
<p>
You can opt out of this by 
<a href="https://fsf.org/resources/free-software-webmail">changing to
some other mail service</a>, running your own mail server, and/or
encrypting the text of your emails with the 
<a href="https://gnupg.org">GNU Privacy Guard</a>.


feed_id: deaa20bb11097d316c6d5bf57ef5babd
title: US-Korea "free trade" agreement
uri: US-Korea-free-trade-agreement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28US-Korea_free_trade_agreement%29

content:
<p>
The US-Korea "free trade" agreement, if evaluated in the conventional
terms of exports and imports, has been a 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/06/30/eighth-anniversary-signing-us-korea-fta-shows-failure-obamas-more-exports-more">big
loss for US exports and US employment</a>.
<p>
This is on top of the harm that the treaty does to both countries by
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2007-jan-apr.html#31%20January%202007%20(Free%20trade%20treaties)">undermining 
democracy</a>.


feed_id: 5ca17cd110d6146eb36ff1cca2f6fdf9
title: School voucher system in Sweden
uri: School-voucher-system-in-Sweden
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28School_voucher_system_in_Sweden%29

content:
<p>
In 1992, Sweden adopted a school voucher system.  Since then the
Swedish educational system has become 
<a href="http://dianeravitch.net/2013/03/26/the-swedish-voucher-system-an-appraisal/">more
unequal, and less effective</a> overall.


feed_id: a5a108ddbc1f65e6f30c706448964c3a
title: French journalists in China
uri: French-journalists-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28French_journalists_in_China%29
content:
<p>
China seems to 
<a href="https://cpj.org/2015/12/china-delays-visa-renewal-for-critical-french-jour.php">plan
to expel a French journalist</a> whose articles in France have
criticized the regime.


feed_id: 599bef06213508a0f65f8aaf914c690d
title: The Battle Over Sangin
uri: The-Battle-Over-Sangin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28The_Battle_Over_Sangin%29
content:
<p>
The Battle Over Sangin Should Teach the West Some 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/24/battle-sangin-military-lessons-local-realities-afghanistan">Vital
Military Lessons</a>.  And political lessons, too, about "attempting
cultural change on a management consultant timeline."
<p>
I still think the US might have achieved a good outcome in Afghanistan
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2010-nov-feb.html#18%20December%202010%20(The%20war%20in%20Afghanistan)">if
it had refrained from attacking and destroying Iraq</a>.


feed_id: 7851bd6094df87c707f0622ea47fe47d
title: Judaist fanatics
uri: Judaist-fanatics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Judaist_fanatics%29
content:
<p>
Judaist fanatics in Israel had themselves filmed 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/24/video-jewish-extremists-mocking-death-of-toddler-wedding-israel">celebrating
the murder of an Arab toddler</a>.
<p>
Judaist, Christianist or Islamist, they are all enemies of human
rights.  The worst of them are killers, but the rest are still bad.


feed_id: 8b89881161d14e9866cba57c12431647
title: India rejects Facebook's power grab
uri: India-rejects-Facebook-s-power-grab
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28India_rejects_Facebooks_power_grab%29

content:
<p>
India has 
<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3054970/elasticity/facebook-free-basics-curtailed-in-india-over-net-neutrality-dispute">blocked
Facebook's plan</a> to extend internet service without network
neutrality.
<p>
Access to the internet can be good or bad, depending on whether the
internet respects your freedom.  If people make the error of assuming
that it is good unconditionally, that can lead them to mistake
Facebook's power grab for a real gift.


feed_id: 40649e77cec7145c975c7f8299572835
title: Hunger and homelessness in the US
uri: Hunger-and-homelessness-in-the-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Hunger_and_homelessness_in_the_US%29

content:
<p>
22 US cities reported 
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/shocking-unacceptable-levels-hunger-and-homelessness-american-cities">high
levels of hunger and homelessness</a> for the year Sep '14 — Aug
'15.


feed_id: 7c4b4017d9a408845ccf20344df713e2
title: Poverty in the US permanently stunts IQ
uri: Poverty-in-the-US-permanently-stunts-IQ
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#26_December_2015_%28Poverty_in_the_US_permanently_stunts_IQ%29

content:
<p>
In the US, poverty 
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/12/poverty-stunts-iq-in-the-us-but-not-in-other-developed-countries/">permanently
stunts childrens' IQ</a>, but not in other developed countries.
<p>
It is not clear why the US gets different results.


feed_id: 2abd48d8aad4417bd2c6199865ffe0cc
title: Social isolation
uri: Social-isolation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#27_December_2015_%28Social_isolation%29
content:
<p>
American society pushes people into social isolation, and
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/how-can-we-stop-americas-deadly-epidemic-loneliness">1/4
of American adults have no one they can confide in</a>.  For old
people, loneliness is often fatal.


feed_id: 3b0511fc7a1b57253d32e65a6b5574bb
title: Work-related diseases
uri: Work-related-diseases
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#27_December_2015_%28Work-related_diseases%29
content:
<p>
Work-related diseases
<a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/12/23/19078/commentary-unseen-toll-workplace-disease-america">kill
50,000 Americans a year</a>.  That's more than are killed by guns, and
terrorism is a pinprick by comparison.
<p>
Meanwhile, we could do a lot to reduce work-related diseases
without limiting anyone's human rights.


feed_id: 2a620f4917b242d21f5312d379a16790
title: Endangered species
uri: Endangered-species
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#27_December_2015_%28Endangered_species%29
content:
<p>
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has become
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/12/23/number-species-waiting-list-endangered-species-act-protection-drops-historic-low">more
active in considering endangered species and establishing protection
for them</a>.  The case backlog is decreasing.
<p>
Measures like the Endangered Species Act are adequate for dealing with
local threats in a world that is stable overall.  Of course, many
countries don't have an Endangered Species Act and many governments
are not able to really enforce such laws.  But even if they did, that
won't be enough in the future.  Climate mayhem will swamp these local
protection efforts, much as rising oceans will swamp sea walls.


feed_id: 0bbd7ed20191e0d23903b1aa3cc83f85
title: Mosquito-borne virus spreading
uri: Mosquito-borne-virus-spreading
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#27_December_2015_%28Mosquito-borne_virus_spreading%29

content:
<p>
A mosquito-borne virus in Brazil is spreading, and its spread can be
measured by the thousands of
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/23/unprecedented-situation-brazil-number-cases-virus-linked-birth-defect-explodes">babies
born with microcephaly</a>.
<p>
Global heating effects are indirectly responsible for the spread of
the mosquitos that transmit the virus.


feed_id: 418baf2d628595b7a5a785b1a665dae6
title: USAF proposed killing civilians in 1959
uri: USAF-proposed-killing-civilians-in-1959
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#27_December_2015_%28USAF_proposed_killing_civilians_in_1959%29

content:
<p>
In 1959, a US Air Force proposal for how to target nuclear weapons on
the Soviet Union
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/23/declassified-cold-war-files-show-disturbing-nuclear-targeting-population-centers">treated
killing of civilians as a goal</a>.


feed_id: 833e68aeefe14a1e980fb263b62df8aa
title: Transportation in the US
uri: Transportation-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28Transportation_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
Most of the US has been
<a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/6/12/8768827/seniors-aging-car-driving">restructured
around automobiles</a>.  As people get older, eventually they can't
drive any more, so they become stuck at home.


feed_id: 65f56da79caf73fe4867271be4eeb8b9
title: European Patent Office
uri: European-Patent-Office
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28European_Patent_Office%29
content:
<p>
The European Patent Office hired a surveillance company to
<a href="http://techrights.org/2015/06/01/control-risks-and-ddos-attacks/">snoop
on its critics</a>.


feed_id: aa774a7598542b5205528b9b19c6b501
title: Corporatization of American Red Cross
uri: Corporatization-of-American-Red-Cross
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28Corporatization_of_American_Red_Cross%29

content:
<p>
The American Red Cross spent millions in Haiti to provide shelter
and
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/03/american-red-cross-squandered-aid-haiti-earthquake-report-alleges">built
just six houses with that money</a>.
<p>
This seems to relate to its
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#17_December_2015_(American_Red_Cross)">overall
corporatization</a>.


feed_id: 2d4d4d43d2998ba625f0733b02bfe36c
title: US supported creation of Salafist state
uri: US-supported-creation-of-Salafist-state
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28US_supported_creation_of_Salafist_state%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/03/us-isis-syria-iraq">In
2013</a>, the US supported the creation of some sort of Salafist
"Islamic state" in Syria and Iraq as a way to weaken Assad.


feed_id: 306692fa34731cdf0fd6ff749d9f0a04
title: Juniper Networks back door
uri: Juniper-Networks-back-door
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28Juniper_Networks_back_door%29
content:
<p>
Was it the NSA that put the
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/23/your-business-been-hacked-thanks-nsa">back
door in Juniper Networks firewalls</a>?
<p>
It has been trying to attack
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/06/22/nsa-gchq-targeted-kaspersky/">antivirus
software</a>.


feed_id: ca93499e85e16d287d6fb429f95f07d2
title: Fingerprints required for cell phone
uri: Fingerprints-required-for-cell-phone
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28Fingerprints_required_for_cell_phone%29

content:
<p>
Bangladesh demands
<a href="https://globalvoices.org/2015/12/22/bangladesh-will-demand-biometric-data-from-all-sim-card-users/">fingerprints
from everyone that has a cell phone</a>.
<p>
That would convince me not to visit Bangladesh, if I carried a cell
phone.


feed_id: 8ebee055e2a2edcd68cecd1a6c3e5a96
title: Fluoridation of water
uri: Fluoridation-of-water
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28Fluoridation_of_water%29
content:
<p>
There is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/25/fluoride-water-supply-benefit-unproved-tooth-decay">no
conclusive evidence</a> about whether fluoridation of water supply
reduces tooth decay, though there is suggestive evidence that it does.


feed_id: d9cb3ec19a5c88669f5a0fc95d485a6e
title: People's movements tracked in Hyde Park
uri: People-s-movements-tracked-in-Hyde-Park
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28Peoples_movements_tracked_in_Hyde_Park%29

content:
<p>
The UK government tracked people's movements in Hyde Park
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/25/hyde-park-visitors-tracked-mobile-phone-data-ee">through
their mobile phones</a>.
<p>
This particular project did not record their names, but that would
have been easy to do.


feed_id: 181273f610602a19174bcff45b26d5e3
title: Syrian Islamist fighters in Damascus
uri: Syrian-Islamist-fighters-in-Damascus
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28Syrian_Islamist_fighters_in_Damascus%29

content:
<p>
2000 Syrian Islamist fighters and Assad's forces have made a deal
whereby the Islamists will
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/25/syrian-islamists-to-be-evacuated-from-southern-damascus-in-un-brokered-deal">evacuate
an area near Damascus, leaving their heavy weapons</a>.


feed_id: 6a3e1d6d87a986ec63ee7ad4abfd1b25
title: Medical uses of marijuana
uri: Medical-uses-of-marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#29_December_2015_%28Medical_uses_of_marijuana%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/howard20151225">Ten
important medical uses</a> of marijuana.


feed_id: 088ba495542d9c2ec1b9e945ab5d3366
title: Urgent: Democratic Party debates
uri: Urgent-Democratic-Party-debates
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Democratic_Party_debates%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/DNCdebates/">call on
the Democratic Party</a> to schedule more debates and make them more
visible.


feed_id: adda38edf93f4f31f31fee782fe54f73
title: Urgent: Reject measures to "protect" us
uri: Urgent-Reject-measures-to-protect-us
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_measures_to_protect_us%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/secure/reject-calls-unconstitutional-surveillance-0">call
on Congress</a> to reject measures to "protect" us at the expense of
our human rights.


feed_id: 7d7b9134424e3625454c974bfdda5452
title: Twitter deletes journalist's tweets
uri: Twitter-deletes-journalist-s-tweets
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Twitter_deletes_journalists_tweets%29

content:
<p>
Twitter 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bank-of-america-merrill-lynch-persuaded-twitter-to-delete-my-tweets-2015-12">deleted
a journalist's tweets</a> because a bank asked for this.


feed_id: bb0223616ef7014531ea712fba208078
title: Juniper Networks back doors
uri: Juniper-Networks-back-doors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Juniper_Networks_back_doors%29
content:
<p>
Evidence that points to 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/26/if-close-us-ally-backdoored-juniper-would-nsa-tell-congress">NSA
involvement</a> in putting the back door in Juniper Networks products.


feed_id: 3c96587724c74012c39e4f91f75d9ea2
title: Taliban in Helmand
uri: Taliban-in-Helmand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Taliban_in_Helmand%29
content:
<p>
The Taliban have taken over 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/26/taliban-helmand-opium">most
districts in Helmand</a>; Sangin is one of the few still being
contested.  They may hope to make it their headquarters.


feed_id: ad2e3b1e15d0126b28457205770a4897
title: System of bail in the US
uri: System-of-bail-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28System_of_bail_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
The system of bail in the US 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/26/bail-bond-reform-california-lawsuit-prison">pressures
poor people to plead guilty to crimes they didn't commit</a> —
or else it puts them in debt.


feed_id: be924b9003c617c350ed875395f8f9a1
title: Cocaine in "legitimate" capital markets
uri: Cocaine-in-legitimate-capital-markets
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Cocaine_in_legitimate_capital_markets%29

content:
<p>
"Legitimate" capital markets are thoroughly hooked on cocaine; in
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/dec/26/man-who-exposed-lie-war-on-drugs-roberto-saviano-ed-vulliamy">laundering
drug money</a>, London is more important than the Cayman Islands.


feed_id: 601ea0e263628e1d7a22fd604d9dfa52
title: War on sites that facilitate sharing
uri: War-on-sites-that-facilitate-sharing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28War_on_sites_that_facilitate_sharing%29

content:
<p>
The copyright industry's war on sites that facilitate sharing causes
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/anti-piracy-measures-putting-internet-users-at-risk-150503/">harm
to users</a> even when not entirely successful.
<p>
Please do not use our enemies' smear term, "piracy", to refer to
sharing.


feed_id: 359b12de3d0a2c2f41fc3066d96f3c88
title: MPAA Funds Pro-Copyright Scholars
uri: MPAA-Funds-Pro-Copyright-Scholars
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28MPAA_Funds_Pro-Copyright_Scholars%29

content:
<p>
MPAA Funds Pro-Copyright Scholars 
<a href="http://torrentfreak.com/mpaa-funds-pro-copyright-scholars-to-influence-politics-150425/">to
Influence Politics</a>.


feed_id: cd3bd956a62823e552d18fe4065226b5
title: Recognition technology
uri: Recognition-technology
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Recognition_technology%29
content:
<p>
Advances in recognition technology 
<a href="http://privacysos.org/node/1724">threaten to enable tracking
people easily by cameras</a> through recognizing their faces or
irises.
<p>
There is no easy solution to this problem, but since it threatens
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">oppression
that can make democracy ineffective</a>, it justifies the cost of a
difficult solution.


feed_id: 436f9c7ad4d94f71cd5ce49b60bc7496
title: Guantanamo
uri: 2015-12-30-Guantanamo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Guantanamo%29
content:
<p>
Obama blames Congress for slowing the release of prisoners from
Guantanamo, but he and his staff are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/26/guantanamo-bay-close-obama-administration-detainees-laywers">primarily
responsible for the delay</a>.
<p>
"Guantanamo" has come to stand for "imprisonment without trial", but
they are not the same.  Obama talks about "closing Guantanamo prison"
but his method of doing so is to move imprisonment without trial to
the US mainland.  That would make it even more unjust.  We could hope
that the Supreme Court would consider it more clearly unacceptable
— but what if it did the opposite?
<p>
The US must end its imprisonment without trial.  Every prisoner in
Guantanamo deserves to get a real, fair trial or be freed.


feed_id: 8a42a8b349836d87dd793d715cf5d11b
title: California's diminishing rainfall
uri: California-s-diminishing-rainfall
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Californias_diminishing_rainfall%29

content:
<p>
California confronts the question of 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/science/california-wants-to-store-water-for-farmers-but-struggles-over-how-to-do-it.html">how
to manage its diminishing rainfall</a>.
<p>
Global heating will make the US midwest hotter and 
<a href="http://grist.org/food/how-will-midwest-farmers-prepare-for-the-impact-of-climate-change/">interfere
with rain</a>.
<p>
The real solution, the efficient solution, is to cut back on
CO<sub>2</sub> emissions so that the climate won't get more screwed.


feed_id: a8282794ca18c6f12a4cb34563c2c40a
title: TSA scanner policy
uri: TSA-scanner-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28TSA_scanner_policy%29
content:
<p>
A 
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/12/24/court-challenge-tsa-change-full-body-scans/77873878/">lawsuit</a>
seeks to make the TSA change its policy of requiring some passengers
to go through a scanner.


feed_id: e18e32983cc54fccbfc6c4abd43e1391
title: Game cr…apps
uri: Game-cr-apps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Game_crapps%29
content:
<p>
Modern gratis game cr…apps 
<a href="http://toucharcade.com/2015/09/16/we-own-you-confessions-of-a-free-to-play-producer/">collect
a wide range of data about their users and their users' friends and
associates</a>.  Even nastier, they do it through ad networks that
merge the data collected by various cr…apps and sites made by
different companies.
<p>
They use this data to manipulate people to buy things, and hunt for
"whales" who can be led to spend a lot of money.  They also use a back
door to manipulate the game play for specific players.
<p>
While the article describes gratis games, games that cost money can
use the same tactics.
<p>
All this reinforces the point that proprietary software is software
for suckers.


feed_id: eb676ecfb5139a336cb092a96d67b0b9
title: Warm December
uri: Warm-December
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Warm_December%29
content:
<p>
The unusually warm December is making some people concerned about
their 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/25/science/touch-of-spring-in-december-on-east-coast-as-flowers-bloom-early.html">flowering
perennials</a>, some of which are blooming now instead of waiting for
spring.
<p>
However, what concerns me more is that this warm December will not be
so unusual at the end of the century.


feed_id: 8368e9644208a626650e99a7f8a6fff4
title: Listening machines
uri: Listening-machines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Listening_machines%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/06/listening-machines/396179/">Beware</a>
the Listening Machines.


feed_id: 96a9139cd06943e76ec96ea514452f3e
title: Taking risks during childhood
uri: Taking-risks-during-childhood
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#30_December_2015_%28Taking_risks_during_childhood%29

content:
<p>
"<a href='http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/14/should-i-let-my-child-take-more-risks'>Should
I let my child take more risks?</a>" Probably yes, up to a point.
However, you might consider transporting your child by car to be too
dangerous and beyond the limit.


feed_id: e33f77b1f5989012aa51ce5ba7ff9938
title: Urgent: Protect victims of forced labor
uri: Urgent-Protect-victims-of-forced-labor
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_victims_of_forced_labor%29

content:
<p>
Everyone:
<a href="http://www.walkfree.org/C29/">urge your government</a> to
sign the treaty to protect victims of forced labor.
<p>
<a href="http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:P029">More
information</a> about the treaty.
<p>
If you don't run the Javascript code, you won't see anything in your
browser to show that you signed, but in my case it did in fact work;
you should get a confirmation email.


feed_id: 821e6313b1624848e4c3cf2f2f26b36e
title: Japan apologizes to Korean women
uri: Japan-apologizes-to-Korean-women
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Japan_apologizes_to_Korean_women%29

content:
<p>
Japan has apologized to the Korean women that it
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/28/the-guardian-view-on-japan-south-korea-and-comfort-women-one-step-towards-healing-the-wounds-of-the-past">forced
into prostitution during World War II</a>.
<p>
The Japanese army did that in other places, too, including what is now
Indonesia.  After the war, many of these women never went home because
they felt ashamed — in effect internalizing the blame that
(according to their culture) their families would have imposed on
them.


feed_id: 86d4301c28c47072bfa2460ff9857c83
title: Internet of Things + DMCA
uri: Internet-of-Things-DMCA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Internet_of_Things_%2B_DMCA%29
content:
<p>
Combining the Internet of Things with the DMCA creates the
<a href="https://www.schneier.com/essays/archives/2015/12/how_the_internet_of_.html">Internet
without Good Choices</a>.


feed_id: 113cae81233a608505297c2879c8a4e9
title: The TPP
uri: 2015-12-31-The-TPP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28The_TPP%29
content:
<p>
The TPP is
<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/trans-pacific-partnership-is-a-wonderful-idea-for-china/article27939142/">harmful
even if evaluated based on the "free trade" ideology</a>.
<p>
Of course, that ideology is a mistake because it reduces the effective
power of democracy and increases the effective power of businesses.
Existing "free trade" treaties are part of the reason that the US has
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#09_April_2015_(Replacement_of_democracy_with_plutocracy)">become
a plutocracy</a>.  This is why I advocate
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-jan-apr.html#24_March_2013_(Ecuador_to_cancel_trade_treaty_with_the_US)">cancelling
them</a>.
<p>
Part of the article uses the incoherent term
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">"intellectual
property"</a>.  It is always a mistake, without exception, to group
together copyrights and patents as if they were a single issue.  And
that term includes several other laws as well.  If you think they are
similar than you don't understand what they really do.


feed_id: 71a37ebc4fe5af41af4d83aab4d0f2a6
title: The TSA
uri: The-TSA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28The_TSA%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://papersplease.org/wp/2015/12/18/are-tsa-actions-subject-to-judicial-review/">No
Social Security number? No passport. Why?  Are TSA Actions Subject to
Judicial Review?</a>


feed_id: 989d0ac62d33457cb4d655e927492324
title: Polio vaccination in Pakistan and Afghanistan
uri: Polio-vaccination-in-Pakistan-and-Afghanistan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Polio_vaccination_in_Pakistan_and_Afghanistan%29

content:
<p>
Polio vaccination is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/28/polio-pakistan-afghanistan-world-health-organisation">advancing
again</a> in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Extremist groups have stopped
opposing vaccination, and new infections have gone way down.


feed_id: 5aa7d5dddf067835476caba3a62e8f1c
title: Seizure of property by thugs
uri: Seizure-of-property-by-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Seizure_of_property_by_thugs%29
content:
<p>
The US has stopped offering local thug departments the chance to
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/23/the-feds-just-shut-down-a-huge-program-that-lets-cops-take-your-stuff-and-keep-it/">seize
people's property and split it with the Federal government</a>.
Ironically, this is due to budget cuts imposed by SCROTUS.


feed_id: 0d3439422a81a1359ed2b90dad98ba63
title: Blockade of Yemen
uri: Blockade-of-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Blockade_of_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
Taiz, in Yemen, is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/28/life-under-siege-inside-taiz-yemen-houthi">suffering
from a siege imposed by the Houthis</a>, within the general blockade
of Yemen imposed by Salafi (*) Arabia and the US.
<p>
The US is supporting this blockade (and the bombing and invasion) to
suck up to some private interests, since nothing about the
intervention serves any national interest.
<p>
* Officially "Saudi Arabia", but its global support for the repressive
and cruel Salafist form of Islam (which helped inspire al Qa'ida and
PISSI) is the most important characteristic of that country.


feed_id: 555377bfa64d274a3efe97d3ff51edb6
title: Wind energy
uri: 2015-12-31-Wind-energy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Wind_energy%29
content:
<p>
Wind energy is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/dec/28/the-strong-economics-of-wind-energy">becoming
the most efficient investment in power generation</a>.
<p>
Now think of how much faster we would progress towards curbing global
heating if fossil fuels did not enjoy their present
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#22_September_2015_(Fossil_fuel_subsidies)">subsidies</a>.


feed_id: 14a87529def80ef9c09edd0976b2d137
title: Sequestering carbon in the soil
uri: Sequestering-carbon-in-the-soil
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Sequestering_carbon_in_the_soil%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/24/theres-way-save-our-future-so-why-arent-more-people-talking-about-it">Agriculture</a>
may be able to sequester carbon in the soil.


feed_id: 5f2294fd56eb38bf409a81ba2fd740a3
title: Israel's "transparency" law
uri: Israel-s-transparency-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Israels_transparency_law%29
content:
<p>
Israel's "transparency" law requires human rights NGO to disclose
their funding, but
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/27/israeli-transparency-bill-human-rights">right-wing
NGOs have been given exemptions</a>.
<p>
The transparency requirement, per se, is not unjust, but it is being
applied selectively to oppose human rights.


feed_id: 69fd7e3bf65723a51fca3e766a8c661c
title: More Ethiopian journalists arrested
uri: More-Ethiopian-journalists-arrested
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28More_Ethiopian_journalists_arrested%29

content:
<p>
Ethiopia has
<a href="https://www.cpj.org/2015/12/ethiopia-arrests-second-journalist-in-a-week-summo.php">arrested
more journalists</a> and is threatening bloggers.


feed_id: dbcdc5f27f175a567e2c8d9b1d073b60
title: El Niño + human-caused climate mayhem
uri: El-Niño-human-caused-climate-mayhem
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28El_Nino_%2B_human-caused_climate_mayhem%29

content:
<p>
Flooding in Britain, record US temperatures and Australian wildfires
result from El Niño
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/27/uk-floods-and-extreme-global-weather-linked-to-el-nino-and-climate-change">on
top of human-caused climate mayhem</a>.


feed_id: 7d79d444376f930abef92bc3595234c8
title: Iraqi army recapturing Ramadi
uri: Iraqi-army-recapturing-Ramadi
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Iraqi_army_recapturing_Ramadi%29

content:
<p>
The Iraqi army is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/27/iraqi-forces-seize-key-base-in-ramadi-from-isis">slowly
recapturing Ramadi</a>.  Most of the PISSI fighters have
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/27/iraqi-forces-ramadi-islamic-state">fled</a>,
leaving a rear guard which seems to intend to slow the army's advance.
<p>
The Iraqi army is not defeating PISSI's full strength.  Nonetheless,
the loss of Ramadi may weaken PISSI somewhat.


feed_id: edaa69188458ecbd6934086e35be6af4
title: Bernie Sanders
uri: 2015-12-31-Bernie-Sanders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Bernie_Sanders%29
content:
<p>
Bernie Sanders:
"<a href='http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/27/bernie-sanders-donald-trump-income-inequality'>I
can win the backing of Donald Trump supporters</a>."
<p>
Trump (and others before him) have distracted them into blaming weak
scapegoats.  Sanders will show them who they should really be angry
at: the plutocrats.


feed_id: 167f12294aecda1b0dd11eedb0a68ac7
title: Deadly US ground beef
uri: Deadly-US-ground-beef
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28Deadly_US_ground_beef%29
content:
<p>
Ground beef in the US, if it isn't "organic grass-fed beef", is quite
likely to harbor
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2015/08/poop-ground-beef-superbugs-antibiotic-resistant">antibiotic-resistant
bacteria that kill people</a>.
<p>
The organic grass-fed beef will cost more, but that won't bother you
unless you eat too much beef (alas, many Americans do).


feed_id: 559231aa86cdcc955f8a92f3d19ab8aa
title: US airports kicking homeless people out
uri: US-airports-kicking-homeless-people-out
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28US_airports_kicking_homeless_people_out%29

content:
<p>
US airports are kicking homeless people
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/27/airports-homeless-people-crackdown-new-rules">into
the cold</a>.


feed_id: 751d1de43b93fe84f2b1ba03720bded0
title: China adopts encryption back door law
uri: China-adopts-encryption-back-door-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28China_adopts_encryption_back_door_law%29

content:
<p>
China has adopted a law
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/28/world/asia/china-passes-antiterrorism-law-that-critics-fear-may-overreach.html">requiring
services to hand over encryption back doors</a>.
<p>
This power seems to exist already in the US; it's what
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-nov-feb.html#11_November_2013_(Ladar_Levison_threatened_with_prosecution_for_closing_Lavabit)">forced
Ladar Levison to shut down Lavabit</a>.


feed_id: d4f21b3cc75b1871dad5540e7b584aae
title: How Peabody Energy exploits poverty
uri: How-Peabody-Energy-exploits-poverty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28How_Peabody_Energy_exploits_poverty%29

content:
<p>
How Peabody Energy
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/19/the-truth-behind-peabodys-campaign-to-rebrand-coal-as-a-poverty-cure">exploits
poverty</a> to excuse burning coal.
<p>
Coal is not going to make poor people better off, beyond a decade or
two.  The brunt of climate mayhem will fail mainly on the poor —
hundreds of millions of them.


feed_id: 96fe4c1d1782fccf7df31bbe97ba61e1
title: China adopts law against domestic violence
uri: China-adopts-law-against-domestic-violence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#31_December_2015_%28China_adopts_law_against_domestic_violence%29

content:
<p>
China has adopted a
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/27/china-passes-first-domestic-violence-law">law
against domestic violence</a>.
<p>
Chinese society before the revolution was very very sexist.


feed_id: f136bc36541bc1fa551bc0a9ed37a907
title: Capitalism
uri: 2016-01-01-Capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Capitalism%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/04/07/capitalism-america-giving-crazy-bad-name-while-subverting-democracy">
Capitalism in America</a>
: Giving Crazy a Bad Name While Subverting Democracy.
</p>


feed_id: 9c603e98420661a35f45cbb8f63b0f83
title: Pete Hoekstra
uri: Pete-Hoekstra
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Pete_Hoekstra%29
content:
<p>Former congresscritter Pete Hoekstra supported NSA surveillance
consistently while in office.  He 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20151230/07594433199/one-congresss-biggest-defenders-nsa-surveillance-suddenly-aghast-that-nsa-may-have-spied-him.shtml">
was shocked</a>
 to discover recently
that the NSA listened to him.
</p>


feed_id: 6e98e6c2643353cf5f17c51af2f97783
title: Obama's policies
uri: Obama-s-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Obama%27s_policies%29
content:
<p>Obama's policies encourage replacement of coal with fracked gas, but
some US cities 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/30/fracked-gas-wont-achieve-paris-climate-goals-empowering-communities-could">
have policies to head toward renewable energy</a>
 instead.
</p>


feed_id: 7a3fb63d95dd715d472649c86b3df8c1
title: UK's cameras
uri: UK-s-cameras
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28UK%27s_cameras%29
content:
<p>The UK's parliament 
<a href="https://www.rt.com/uk/327475-police-surveillance-database-cars/">
was never consulted</a>
 about setting up cameras to
track all car travel.
</p>


feed_id: 15482dbffa1eb21009b6ab92d5c6f1f0
title: Brussels
uri: Brussels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Brussels%29
content:
<p>Scandal in Brussels!  Some soldiers and some thugs 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/30/belgian-soldiers-police-held-orgy-during-brussels-lockdown">
had a sex party</a>

in the office, while they were sleeping there because transport was shut
down.
</p>
<p>Why this constitutes a problem or a wrong is not clear to me.
It did not hurt anyone.</p>


feed_id: 7a0c7dee2ac5f68a2461fa44acc07b9f
title: Taliban
uri: 2016-01-01-Taliban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Taliban%29
content:
<p>Afghan journalists suspect that the attempts on their life come from a
Taliban-supporting "fifth column" 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/30/shot-for-speaking-out-taliban-target-prominent-critics-in-afghanistan">
inside the Afghan government</a>
.
</p>


feed_id: 76f5c6a8e872133a457aaec317993b81
title: Global heating
uri: 2016-01-01-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>The question is not, "How likely are we to limit global heating to
1.5C,"
but rather, "
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/dec/30/why-we-need-the-next-to-impossible-15c-temperature-target">
How much damage will it cause</a>
 if we don't?"
</p>


feed_id: 772cce1a0581c2a437afcab155cff531
title: El Niño
uri: El-Niño
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28El_Ni%C3%B1o%29
content:
<p>Hunger Threatens Millions as 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/30/hunger-threatens-millions-el-nino-drought-floods-humanitarian-disaster">
El Niño Causes</a>
 Drought And Floods.
</p>
<p>El Niño events have occurred for a long time, but this one
comes on top of the effects of 1C of global heating.</p>
<p>California seals 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/30/el-nino-ocean-warming-seals-california-pacific">
are starving</a>
 because sardines have had to head for
colder water.
</p>


feed_id: b4b3f18f46c7b5ecc0ddb19d55135a1b
title: Putin's attacks
uri: Putin-s-attacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Putin%27s_attacks%29
content:
<p>About 1/3 of the casualties of Putin's air attacks in Syria 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/30/russian-airstrikes-kill-2300-syria-human-rights-group">
are civilians</a>
,
according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
</p>


feed_id: 7d78117093c832cafb39ea0c9853708f
title: OpenJDK
uri: OpenJDK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28OpenJDK%29
content:
<p>Google 
<a href="http://venturebeat.com/2015/12/29/google-confirms-next-android-version-wont-use-oracles-proprietary-java-apis/">
is shifting Android to use OpenJDK</a>
 rather than its own Java
implementation which used a reimplementation of Java based on the
proprietary header files of the proprietary Java implementation.
</p>
<p>This concrete result is good for the free software community, but the
idea that a compatible implementation of an interface spec might
infringe the copyright on header files is very very dangerous.
Fortunately, the appeals court that made this decision hears copyright
cases only in very rare circumstances.</p>
<p>The FSF urged the Supreme Court not to consider the appeal
because we feared it might sustain the appeal court's ruling,
which would extend this bad decision to the whole US.</p>


feed_id: 27e56e82cfc36db3b36ae12c9490a85f
title: Marijuana
uri: 2016-01-01-Marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Marijuana%29
content:
<p>Roughly half the jobs in the US 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/12/29/the-puzzling-persistence-of-pee-tests">
require</a>
 urine tests to detect use of
marijuana.  This policy never made any sense, and it is even more
absurd in states which have legalized marijuana.
</p>


feed_id: cacb09d99d769646067f76af3a49addf
title: Censorship in universities
uri: Censorship-in-universities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Censorship_in_universities%29
content:
<p>2015's notorious censorship 
<a href="https://reason.com/blog/2015/12/29/silencing-students-the-8-most-loathsome">
attempts</a>
 in universities.
</p>
<p>A school-sponsored sports team is not a person.  I think it is
legitimate for the school to exercize control over what ateam does,
which would be wrong if directed towards an individual student.</p>


feed_id: 04bee5b14a11bde0ff9fedabbec5f749
title: Google's snooping
uri: Google-s-snooping
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Google%27s_snooping%29
content:
<p>As usual, campaigns to limit Google's snooping on students through
their schools 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/12/28/google-is-tracking-students-as-it-sells-more-products-to-schools-privacy-advocates-warn/">
demand an inadequate remedy</a>
.
</p>
<p>If the school makes an account in a student's name on a company's
server, or stores any unencrypted information there about the
student's activity, that is already a violation of the student's
privacy.</p>
<p>Parents must go beyond asking "Please sir, may my child have some more
privacy" and organize to put an end to these snooping activities.</p>
<p>In addition, Google services 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html">
nearly all require the user to run
nonfree software</a>
 (written in Javascript).
</p>


feed_id: c8049a5d28ceeb08d9ee103983953a65
title: Pentagon
uri: Pentagon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Pentagon%29
content:
<p>The Pentagon 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/28/pentagon-deliberately-thwarting-efforts-close-guantanamo">
is deliberately obstructing</a>
 the release of prisoners from
Guantanamo with a campaign of persistent non-cooperation.
</p>


feed_id: fa3668060a8dcd541a8678cd17b76d80
title: Afghanistan
uri: Afghanistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Afghanistan%29
content:
<p>The US commander in Afghanistan says that the US will needs more
troops to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/30/more-troops-may-be-needed-in-afghanistan-says-us-and-nato-chief">
continue propping up</a>
 the Afghan government.
</p>
<p>The choice, as I expected, is to keep propping it up ad infinitem
or let it fall.
</p>


feed_id: 26f87ea8f1841d58e752ce6b2a19270b
title: Thomas Podgoretsky
uri: Thomas-Podgoretsky
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Thomas_Podgoretsky%29
content:
<p>The UK's Minister for Cruel Deportation 
<a href="http://www.private-eye.co.uk/issue-1407/in-the-back">
wants to deport</a>
 Thomas
Podgoretsky because he made the mistake of visiting the US, having a
stroke and heart attacks there, and staying there until he was well
enough to go home to the UK.
</p>


feed_id: ba2805d96e45bb8414c5e54a1d0dd36c
title: Tamir Rice
uri: 2016-01-01-Tamir-Rice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Tamir_Rice%29
content:
<p>The excuses offered to the grand jury for the shooting of Tamir Rice
beg 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/29/police-officers-tamir-rice-shooting-reacted-to-what-they-were-told-lawyer-says">
questions that were apparently ignored</a>
 — for instance, why
didn't they stay a little further away and take a second to understand
the situation.
</p>


feed_id: a1f1e055c593fe7d87d4a9b27cd4114f
title: Chronicle of Woe
uri: Chronicle-of-Woe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Chronicle_of_Woe%29
content:
<p>A 
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/author/itemlist/user/45016">
Chronicle of Woe</a>
: US Policing Culture From Iraq and Vietnam to Jon
Burge's Chicago.
</p>


feed_id: 99e5d355ba68d6f61636d751594fc38e
title: Flawed terrorism
uri: Flawed-terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Flawed_terrorism%29
content:
<p>Is Flawed Terrorism Research 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/04/07/flawed-terrorism-research-driving-flawed-counterterrorism-policies">
Driving</a>
 Flawed Counterterrorism Policies?
</p>


feed_id: 2f4fc0937861080239ee8667c515018f
title: US thugs
uri: 2016-01-01-US-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28US_thugs%29
content:
<p>US thugs 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/29/28-people-killed-bb-pellet-guns-police-tamir-rice">
shot and killed</a>
 at least 28 people this year
who were holding pellet guns or BB guns.
</p>
<p>I wonder what fraction of them were black.
I suspect thugs are more likely to take a pellet gun for a real gun
when it is held by a black.
</p>


feed_id: 342286b6b2827b696f8e22edcfb6a95f
title: Hossein Derakhshan
uri: 2016-01-01-Hossein-Derakhshan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Hossein_Derakhshan%29
content:
<p>In 2008, Hossein Derakhshan's blog was so influential that Iran
imprisoned for it.  Released in 2014, he encountered an Internet in
which Facebook and Instagram discourage people from looking at any
other web sites.  Real discussion 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/29/irans-blogfather-facebook-instagram-and-twitter-are-killing-the-web">
has been replaced</a>
 by trivia videos.
</p>


feed_id: f4331fed7ab89b079c169d963110b8df
title: Squatters in London
uri: Squatters-in-London
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Squatters_in_London%29
content:
<p>In London, squatters 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/29/squatters-occupy-royal-mint-site-to-protest-against-homelessness">
occupied</a>
 the former mint site to protest
against homelessness.
</p>


feed_id: dcc4c1667326333c268c313e967a7a54
title: Syria
uri: 2016-01-01-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Syria%29
content:
<p>A six-month truce between Assad and rebels 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/29/syria-war-fighters-civilians-evacuated-un-deal">
is holding</a>
 in parts of Syria.
</p>


feed_id: a7212e207b2a5234759197ceac0207d8
title: Ramadi
uri: 2016-01-01-Ramadi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Ramadi%29
content:
<p>Between US air strikes and PISSI's explosive booby traps, Ramadi is
now 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/29/iraq-celebrates-ramadi-recapture-ruins-isis">
mostly a ruin</a>
.
</p>
<p>That's better than what it was a month ago, a stronghold of barbarity.
I expect that the civilian survivors will say so.  Helping them get their
voice out, to show young Muslims what a monster PISSI is, will help them
resist radicalization.</p>


feed_id: 34682c4d4c9d70a00c3fbde96774ba6d
title: Success and failure
uri: Success-and-failure
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Success_and_failure%29
content:
<p>Evidence that the 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/29/succeed-learning-to-love-failures">
key to success is dealing in a useful way with failure</a>
.
</p>


feed_id: 1deced0ba629cc2a17964bc4ac269c0b
title: UK's budget cuts
uri: UK-s-budget-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28UK%27s_budget_cuts%29
content:
<p>The UK's budget cuts 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/29/cut-pay-floods-strip-back-state">
have come back</a>
 as tremendous damage.
</p>


feed_id: 9506e87f2aac981134d80408577f8f16
title: US and immigration
uri: US-and-immigration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28US_and_immigration%29
content:
<p>The US government 
<a href="http://ccrjustice.org/home/press-center/press-releases/immigration-detention-bed-quotas-private-prison-corporations?utm_source=CCR&utm_medium=email">
is concealing</a>
 parts of its contracts with companies
that imprison immigration violators, specifically the parts that show
how these contracts financiall pressure the government to imprison
more of them.
</p>


feed_id: b4ef0f0c56ff9e9bdf23a2db4c043f4a
title: DMCA
uri: DMCA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28DMCA%29
content:
<p>Prohibiting farmers from repairing tractors is not a side effect of
the DMCA.  It 
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/farmers-unable-to-repair-tractors-because-copyright-never-a-side-effect-but-core-intention-of-law-150426/">
is part of the core</a>
 goal.
</p>


feed_id: b168ef77abd2f1d05d2a522cd4e2148e
title: Encryption
uri: 2016-01-01-Encryption
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Encryption%29
content:
<p>Americans 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/china-anti-terror-law-encryption_56801192e4b014efe0d86ed0">
must not stand</a>
 for officials' advocating China-style attacks
on our encryption systems.
</p>
<p>Encryption alone can't protect us from all the sorts of digital
surveillance that are being set up in the US.  Encryption won't stop
systems from recognizing your license plate or your face.  Encryption
won't enable you to pay anonymously with a credit card, or carry a
portable phone 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">
and not be tracked</a>
.
</p>


feed_id: 1d43a8e6808262ec8af5e9329957db3e
title: Global heating and tornado
uri: Global-heating-and-tornado
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Global_heating_and_tornado%29
content:
<p>It appears that global heating 
<a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2015/12/28/at_end_of_hottest_ever_year">
is increasing</a>
 tornado damage in the US.
</p>


feed_id: 5cfb923398634b66c10afdaa581ff0d1
title: Zuckerberg
uri: Zuckerberg
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Zuckerberg%29
content:
<p>Facebook's Zuckerberg: If You Oppose 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/blog/netneutrality/articles/20151228/05480433177/facebooks-zuckerberg-if-you-oppose-our-international-power-grab-youre-enemy-poor.shtml">
Our International Power Grab</a>
, 
You're An Enemy Of The Poor.
</p>
<p>I have long challenged campaigns 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/digital-inclusion-in-freedom.html">
that prioritize people's internet access over 
their freedom</a>
.
</p>


feed_id: 632e1705d99e7ef64b69b079805cf77b
title: Methan leak
uri: Methan-leak
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Methan_leak%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/why-we-cant-stop-the-enormous-methane-leak-flooding-la">
An enormous methane leak</a>
 from an old gas well in California will take months
to shut off.
</p>


feed_id: ea62095a49333ca802401777b4f9071d
title: Erdogan
uri: Erdogan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Erdogan%29
content:
<p>I Revealed the Truth about President Erdogan And Syria. For That, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/28/truth-president-erdogan-jailed-turkey-regime-state-security-crime">
He Had</a>
 Me
Jailed.
</p>


feed_id: 76c3e3fa14b8fc6227bb162c858cfc76
title: Obama
uri: 2016-01-01-Obama
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Obama%29
content:
<p>Obama's program to help homeowners faced with foreclosure 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/28/obama-program-hurt-homeowners-and-helped-big-banks-now-its-dead/">
did not
function</a>
 well, and now SCROTUS have abolished it.
</p>


feed_id: f2bbd6b9aacc8660535d14f36283f09f
title: Global heating
uri: 2016-01-01-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>UK governments 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/28/threat-climate-change-government-flood">
have repeatedly refused</a>
 to confront the way global
heating effects put Britain in danger.
</p>


feed_id: ca7f48776fa187347adf6813c3ad6328
title: Tamir Rice
uri: 2016-01-01-Tamir-Rice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Tamir_Rice%29
content:
<p>The thug that killed Tamir Rice 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/28/tamir-rice-shooting-no-charges-cleveland-officer-timothy-loehmann">
will not be</a>
 prosecuted.
</p>
<p>Prosecutors often intentionally throw the fight in the grand jury.
We need a special mechanism for bringing charges against thugs
that shoot people, or make falls accusations.</p>


feed_id: d54a30afd23633b0e38ea83a038bbe1f
title: China adopts law against domestic violence
uri: 2016-01-02-China-adopts-law-against-domestic-violence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28China_adopts_law_against_domestic_violence%29

content:
<p>
China has adopted a
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/27/china-passes-first-domestic-violence-law">law
against domestic violence</a>.
<p>
Chinese society before the revolution was very very sexist.


feed_id: 9cdbaefa4dc60409df069ab3826234e2
title: Taliban
uri: 2016-01-04-Taliban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Taliban%29
content:
<p>Afghan journalists suspect that the attempts on their life come from a
Taliban-supporting "fifth column" 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/30/shot-for-speaking-out-taliban-target-prominent-critics-in-afghanistan">
inside the Afghan government</a>.
</p>


feed_id: e98e23c271a6426af231c26295e5c3c4
title: Google's snooping
uri: 2016-01-04-Google-s-snooping
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Google%27s_snooping%29
content:
<p>As usual, campaigns to limit Google's snooping on students through
their schools 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/12/28/google-is-tracking-students-as-it-sells-more-products-to-schools-privacy-advocates-warn/">
demand an inadequate remedy</a>.
</p>
<p>If the school makes an account in a student's name on a company's
server, or stores any unencrypted information there about the
student's activity, that is already a violation of the student's
privacy.</p>
<p>Parents must go beyond asking "Please sir, may my child have some more
privacy" and organize to put an end to these snooping activities.</p>
<p>In addition, Google services 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html">
nearly all require the user to run
nonfree software</a>
 (written in Javascript).
</p>


feed_id: a207132261ffa09bf1d8abc86c71ca82
title: Ramadi
uri: 2016-01-04-Ramadi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Ramadi%29
content:
<p>Between US air strikes and PISSI's explosive booby traps, Ramadi is
now 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/29/iraq-celebrates-ramadi-recapture-ruins-isis">
mostly a ruin</a>.
</p>
<p>That's better than what it was a month ago, a stronghold of barbarity.
I expect that the civilian survivors will say so.  Helping them get their
voice out, to show young Muslims what a monster PISSI is, will help them
resist radicalization.</p>


feed_id: d19f6e648bc99557a9eadad96971ae0a
title: Encryption
uri: 2016-01-04-Encryption
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Encryption%29
content:
<p>Americans 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/china-anti-terror-law-encryption_56801192e4b014efe0d86ed0">
must not stand</a>
 for officials' advocating China-style attacks
on our encryption systems.
</p>
<p>Encryption alone can't protect us from all the sorts of digital
surveillance that are being set up in the US.  Encryption won't stop
systems from recognizing your license plate or your face.  Encryption
won't enable you to pay anonymously with a credit card, or carry a
portable phone 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">
and not be tracked</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 81a60169c8d1dfbc604fa3c9d98d9ac9
title: Zuckerberg
uri: 2016-01-04-Zuckerberg
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_%28Zuckerberg%29
content:
<p>Facebook's Zuckerberg: If You Oppose 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/blog/netneutrality/articles/20151228/05480433177/facebooks-zuckerberg-if-you-oppose-our-international-power-grab-youre-enemy-poor.shtml">
Our International Power Grab</a>
, 
You're An Enemy Of The Poor.
</p>
<p>I have long challenged campaigns 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/digital-inclusion-in-freedom.html">
that prioritize people's internet access over 
their freedom</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 3b198306ff1c981a7af043acc5ef46df
title: Expense of global heating
uri: Expense-of-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Expense_of_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
Economists who have climate expertise say that global heating will be
painfully expensive, an 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/jan/04/consensus-of-economists-cut-carbon-pollution">economic
drain</a>.
<p>
It will be far worse than a drain, of course.  It is likely to kill
hundreds of millions of people.  But people who think in narrow
economic terms may be persuaded more by the drain.


feed_id: 944b5ccb5cbdc9dc41888ca581a06976
title: The War on Women
uri: The-War-on-Women
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28The_War_on_Women%29
content:
<p>
The War on Women Is 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/01/watch-abortion-trends-battle-2016">About
to Get a Whole Lot Worse</a>.


feed_id: d4404a587963c12db7fe5e09a5bbf5f8
title: Consequence of civil war in Yemen
uri: Consequence-of-civil-war-in-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Consequence_of_civil_war_in_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
The civil war in Yemen has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/04/yemen-declares-curfew-in-aden-as-government-forces-retake-strategic-port">allowed
al-Qaida to operate unchecked</a>, and PISSI is worming in their too.
<p>
There is no legitimate reason for Salafi Arabia to fight the Houthis,
and 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#31_December_2015_(Blockade_of_Yemen)">no
legitimate reason for the US to help</a>.


feed_id: a8221df0c71fc8f4f09570a80666058b
title: American football
uri: American-football
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28American_football%29
content:
<p>
American football 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/04/american-football-is-too-dangerous-and-it-should-be-abolished">damages
the players' brains and causes them to die young</a>.  We should put
an end to it.
<p>
The first step is not to buy, or wear, football fan merchandise.  Get
GNU merchandise instead, since that supports a cause that deserves
support.


feed_id: ecbd2bf955fb656677346c96dc016c48
title: How Mogadishu's mayor won popular support
uri: How-Mogadishu-s-mayor-won-popular-support
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28How_Mogadishus_mayor_won_popular_support%29

content:
<p>
How the mayor of Mogadishu 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jan/04/somalia-al-shabaab-insurgency-mogadishu-mohamed-nur">won
popular support away from al-Shabaab</a>.
<p>
This may be why al-Shabaab has found it necessary to sink to 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_(Trump_in_terror_group_recruiting_video)">using
Trump for publicity</a>.


feed_id: b64477bfe460aef4286adef246413dec
title: Police officer quits thug department
uri: Police-officer-quits-thug-department
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Police_officer_quits_thug_department%29

content:
<p>
Redditt Hudson quit the thug department in a suburb of St Louis
because its racist brutality was 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/06/I-was-a-st-louis-cop-my-peers-were-racist-and-violent-and-theres-only-one-fix/">incompatible
with his wish to be a police officer</a> and to serve and protect.


feed_id: 726771b69ac220935edb9b35a4581d3b
title: Snooping video game consoles
uri: Snooping-video-game-consoles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Snooping_video_game_consoles%29
content:
<p>
Many video game consoles 
<a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/12/29/how-much-data-are-video-games-collecting-about-you.html">snoop
on their users and report to the internet — even what their
users weigh</a>.  A game console is a computer, and you can't trust a
computer with a nonfree operating system.


feed_id: 0d666dcec333aee3222bcb5e0021c346
title: Charlie Hebdo
uri: 2016-01-05-Charlie-Hebdo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28Charlie_Hebdo%29
content:
<p>
Correcting 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/03/charlie-hebdo-scurrilous-reports-by-non-french-speakers">ignorant
anglophone criticism</a> of Charlie Hebdo.


feed_id: 0d6d6257f4fd0dafae326e17d7057185
title: A chance to defeat plutocrats
uri: A-chance-to-defeat-plutocrats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28A_chance_to_defeat_plutocrats%29
content:
<p>
The 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/03/stake-2016-ending-vicious-cycle-wealth-and-power">2016
presidential election</a> gives the US a chance to defeat the vicious
cycle of plutocracy.
<p>
We need to stop being nice to plutocrats.  They are trying to
impoverish everyone else.  They deserve to be crushed.


feed_id: 4e27dae2e1b6bd3edcc5d2ae4fd62098
title: Anti-state militia occupies Oregon building
uri: Anti-state-militia-occupies-Oregon-building
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28Anti-state_militia_occupies_Oregon_building%29

content:
<p>
An anti-state militia has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/03/oregon-militia-threatens-showdown-with-us-agents-at-wildlife-refuge">occupied
a building at a wildlife refuge</a> in Oregon as a protest.
<p>
Setting fire to your grass, with the aim of burning only your grass,
may be good or bad, but it is not ethically comparable to setting fire
to a building.
<p>
On the other hand, occupying a government building with guns is not
ethically comparable to a peaceful sit-in.


feed_id: 7690628c0b56ecce91276883c0853566
title: Prison for defaming a food
uri: Prison-for-defaming-a-food
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28Prison_for_defaming_a_food%29
content:
<p>
Michael McFeat, expat working at a mine in Kyrgyzstan, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/03/british-worker-kyrgyzstan-gold-mine-held-horse-penis-delicacy-comparison">faces
years in prison</a> for defaming a local food delicacy.
<p>
It is impossible to defame Kyrgyzstan's human rights record, which is
worse even than 
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_December_2015_(Sarcastic_statement_a_crime_in_Thailand)">Thailand's</a>.
<p>
Even "free" countries in Europe are not free of the practice of
criminalizing insults.
<p>
The state sensibly 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/04/kyrgyzstan-judge-deports-briton-comparing-sausage-dish-horse-penis">deported
him rather than imprisoning him</a>, but that doesn't reduce the
injustice of having a law that prohibits such statements.


feed_id: e8c9a5e9c0a3add006e621ecbd1dec6f
title: Russian censorship
uri: 2016-01-05-Russian-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28Russian_censorship%29
content:
<p>
Russian censorship almost killed a series of 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jan/03/russian-censors-target-childrens-books-that-break-the-mould">detective
stories for children</a>.


feed_id: 375369da96f518ec99bfc598cdbe98cc
title: Nonviolent dissident executed
uri: Nonviolent-dissident-executed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28Nonviolent_dissident_executed%29
content:
<p>
Salafi Arabia's 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/03/irans-leader-vows-divine-vengeance-over-clerics-execution-in-saudi">execution
of a Shi'ite leader of peaceful protests</a> has aroused threats of
violence from Iran.
<p>
I hope that we won't let issues of international rivalries bury the
really issue here: a repressive regime has murdered a nonviolent
dissident.  Iran has done likewise.  We don't have to choose a side
between them.  We can demand they both respect dissent.


feed_id: 3b35005681b9acd696a1abac31925acd
title: Record-breaking floods
uri: Record-breaking-floods
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28Record-breaking_floods%29
content:
<p>
Record-breaking floods have 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/02/midwest-flood-2016-illinois-iowa-tennessee-missouri">hit
many US states</a>.  They are especially unusual because of happening
in winter, which is not when floods typically occur.  This suggests
that global heating was part of the cause, which suggests that worse
floods are coming.


feed_id: d4cd2f2b4a9b343a2e9d734f50a29738
title: UK flood defenses
uri: UK-flood-defenses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28UK_flood_defenses%29
content:
<p>
The UK government 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/02/tory-cuts-wrecking-uk-flood-defences">cut
spending on flood defenses</a>, knowing that this would double the
vulnerability over time.
<p>
What use is there in provoking rising seas and 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-nov-feb.html#11_January_2014_(Heavy_rains_in_UK_likely_due_to_global_heating)">unusual
heavy rains</a> but then preventing them from actually flooding
people's homes?


feed_id: 69d923681cd5e46c3910591d48482e5f
title: Wolves
uri: Wolves
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28Wolves%29
content:
<p>
Poland saved the wolves, but the right-wing government probably wants
to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/02/wolf-maligned-predator-poland-carpathians">wipe
them out</a>, as happens also 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#15_May_2014_(US_wolf_populations)">in
the US</a>.
<p>
The article gives a clear explanation of why the absence of wolves
causes big problems with other ecosystems.  (But it might make sense
to have more hunting of wild boars, whose meat is in demand from
European gourmets.)


feed_id: 3c1905ce5e198c59200b1acdf710588b
title: Facebook and Guber cults
uri: Facebook-and-Guber-cults
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28Facebook_and_Guber_cults%29
content:
<p>
Facebook and Guber can be seen as 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/03/hi-tech-silicon-valley-cult-populism">cults</a>,
with the ability to mobilize millions of members to condemn any
regulations that protect people from those businesses.


feed_id: 2e7003150e67e0957caa541d84130d5b
title: In independent press in Rwanda
uri: In-independent-press-in-Rwanda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#4_January_2016_%28In_independent_press_in_Rwanda%29
content:
<p>
President Kagame rigs the elections in Rwanda, even including a
prearranged small fraction of votes for opposition, and there is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/03/rwanda-president-paul-kagame-crushed-free-press">no
independent press to report on it</a>.


feed_id: 293e8cb4ee3fa1dbc4cca3799d184e35
title: Urgent: Endorsement for president
uri: Urgent-Endorsement-for-president
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Endorsement_for_president%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/anna-galland-please-hold">call
on MoveOn</a> to ask its supporters which Democrat to endorse for
president.


feed_id: 03681ab579c0d62488b1f033ca9b25a0
title: Urgent: Repeal Hyde amendment
uri: Urgent-Repeal-Hyde-amendment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Repeal_Hyde_amendment%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/1560">call for repeal</a>
of the Hyde amendment — allow US government to fund abortions.


feed_id: 345a8ae865ff2b975053336afd4ab433
title: Urgent: File charges against killers
uri: Urgent-File-charges-against-killers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_File_charges_against_killers%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/tamir_rice_doj/">call
on the Justice Department</a> to file charges against Tamir Rice's
killers.


feed_id: 1197672670b20d4db78fa8c82bd17c68
title: Deaths in US wars since 2001
uri: Deaths-in-US-wars-since-2001
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28Deaths_in_US_wars_since_2001%29
content:
<p>
A study estimates that the US's wars since 2001 have killed 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/03/26/body-count-report-reveals-least-13-million-lives-lost-us-led-war-terror">over
a million people</a>.


feed_id: d8aa511469af957e514e10c41a8eb552
title: HK publishing company employee missing
uri: HK-publishing-company-employee-missing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28HK_publishing_company_employee_missing%29

content:
<p>
Yet another employee of a Hong Kong publishing company has apparently
been
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/jan/02/fifth-man-working-for-publishers-critical-of-chinese-government-goes-missing">disappeared
by China</a>.


feed_id: 4924438bebaeb850be59bb1f4ea7ba12
title: Personalized ads at stores
uri: Personalized-ads-at-stores
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28Personalized_ads_at_stores%29
content:
<p>
People who have more money than work really love getting 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/business/smallbusiness/shopadvisor-lets-retailers-target-shoppers-by-location-and-interests.html">personalized
ads as they pass the door of a store</a>.


feed_id: 955961c88fd952190174438e8601732d
title: Plans to impose seed monopolies
uri: Plans-to-impose-seed-monopolies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28Plans_to_impose_seed_monopolies%29

content:
<p>
The Gates Foundation and USAID are 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/03/23/gates-foundations-seed-agenda-africa-another-form-colonialism-warns-protesters">planning
together</a> how to impose commercial seeds monopolies in Africa.


feed_id: 1b90107f46f00f8a73af3fe6ade0b7f7
title: Leader of peaceful protest executed
uri: Leader-of-peaceful-protest-executed
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28Leader_of_peaceful_protest_executed%29

content:
<p>
Salafi Arabia 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/02/sheikh-nimr-al-nimr-shia-cleric-thorn-saudi-regime-side">executed
the leader</a> of a peaceful protest movement.


feed_id: 44f6de61b1e7e395b0bdb6fbe38c5827
title: No need to continue security theater
uri: No-need-to-continue-security-theater
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28No_need_to_continue_security_theater%29

content:
<p>
New Years Eve demonstrated that, yet again, Islamist terrorists are
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/02/we-are-still-alive-non-terrorism-edition">such
a small threat to Americans that we need not worry about them</a>, and
that we don't need to continue security theater.
<p>
But we have plenty of feckless fantasy terrorists; 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/02/new-york-rochester-pro-isis-plot-emanuel-lutchman">the
FBI keeps generating them</a>.  The latest one has been mentally ill
and easily manipulated all his life.


feed_id: b6d035fb265221e30990edd55176cf0b
title: ACLU suing Catholic hospital
uri: ACLU-suing-Catholic-hospital
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28ACLU_suing_Catholic_hospital%29
content:
<p>
The ACLU is suing a Catholic hospital to 
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/hospital-refuses-pregnancy-related-care-again-because-religious-directives">demand
permission to give Rebecca Chamorro a tubal ligation</a> as part of
her expected birth by cesarean section.
<p>
Creeping control of medicine by religion has gone so far that there
are no hospitals near her which would do it.
<p>
She could get the tubal ligation separately, but that means an added
risk to her health.
<p>
If a church insists on limiting medicine, it should not be allowed
to operate hospitals.


feed_id: 7a06d73c268a1abebf3e110a75a865e7
title: Trump in terror group recruiting video
uri: Trump-in-terror-group-recruiting-video
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28Trump_in_terror_group_recruiting_video%29

content:
<p>
Al-Shabaab, the Islamist terror group in Somalia, has made a
recruiting video 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/02/somalis-al-shabaab-militants-use-donald-trump-in-recruiting-film">featuring
Donald Trump</a>.
<p>
Trump is not responsible for their decision to do this.
He is responsible for stirring up sectarian hatred of the sort
that helps every sort of fanatic.


feed_id: 69517c4a1459a89aad96bedae173679b
title: No charges against Tamir Rice's killers
uri: No-charges-against-Tamir-Rice-s-killers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#3_January_2016_%28No_charges_against_Tamir_Rices_killers%29

content:
<p>
Protesters are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/01/tamir-rice-protest-cleveland-prosecutor-timothy-mcginty">picketing
the home of the prosecutor</a> whose underwhelming efforts led to no
charges against Tamir Rice's killers.


feed_id: a51cce4f8469b3826ad1cf9ed3fa6aa0
title: Juniper Networks back door
uri: 2016-01-05-Juniper-Networks-back-door
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Juniper_Networks_back_door%29
content:
<p>
The secret back door in Juniper Networks firewalls took advantage of a
<a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/12/researchers-solve-the-juniper-mystery-and-they-say-its-partially-the-nsas-fault/">weakness
introduced intentionally by the NSA</a> in an encryption standard.
<p>
Thus, the argument that "If we let the NSA break it, others will take
it" is not mere theory.  (People usually state this as, "The bad guys
will use it too", but I reject the presumption that the NSA is always
a good guy.)
<p>
Since the weakness has been publicly known for years, this fact does
not prove that the NSA introduced this particular back door.  That
might have done by various attackers.  It's also possible that the
back door was inserted by Juniper Networks, or by some of its staff,
perhaps in collaboration with the NSA.
<p>
Juniper Networks has fixed only part of the known problem.  Because
the software is proprietary, users are compelled to wait and see if
Juniper Networks inserts the presumed one-line fix for the rest of the
problem.
<p>
If it were free software, these users would be free to insert this
change on their own.


feed_id: e752d1e00b085773c58aab3158367929
title: Privatizing play for children
uri: Privatizing-play-for-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Privatizing_play_for_children%29
content:
<p>
The next step in privatization of all aspects of life is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/29/go-ape-privatisation-childrens-play-battersea">privatizing
play for children</a>.  The promotion campaign says that parents who
don't pay the high fees for this are short-changing their children.
<p>
I am sure the idea that children should never be left unsupervised
contributes to this tendency.


feed_id: d1d96efcfe5be0b6527aea68813b4da6
title: China's new "snooper's charter"
uri: China-s-new-snooper-s-charter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Chinas_new_snoopers_charter%29
content:
<p>
China's 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/29/china-introduces-its-own-snoopers-charter">new
"snooper's charter"</a> does not include the power to demand a
backdoor.  It stops at demanding companies decrypt messages on demand.
<p>
Even this may be impossible if it covers messages encrypted by the
users with their own software.


feed_id: 2e3c7a3668212cc186c860b6d489911f
title: Earthquakes in Oklahoma
uri: Earthquakes-in-Oklahoma
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Earthquakes_in_Oklahoma%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/01/oklahoma-earthquakes-oil-gas-industry-wastewater-injection">Injection
of oil and gas well wastewater</a> is causing a lot of earthquakes in
Oklahoma, and some of them are strong enough to do real damage.


feed_id: df4c4bd36133e81e1da0061955e82627
title: Book banned by Israeli schools
uri: Book-banned-by-Israeli-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Book_banned_by_Israeli_schools%29
content:
<p>
Israeli schools have banned a 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/01/novel-about-jewish-palestinian-love-affair-is-barred-from-israeli-curriculum">book
about a mixed-ethnicity couple</a>.


feed_id: 6ae87dc6b6ad4039299d6be2e535d94e
title: Britons gone to fight for the Peshmerga
uri: Britons-gone-to-fight-for-the-Peshmerga
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Britons_gone_to_fight_for_the_Peshmerga%29

content:
<p>
Reportedly 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/01/britons-fighting-islamic-state-in-syria-are-the-greatest-heroes">100
Britons</a> have gone to fight for the Peshmerga against PISSI.


feed_id: 062ab2f09f6c41fe13c606ffc3d2d437
title: Use of artificial ocean reefs backfires
uri: Use-of-artificial-ocean-reefs-backfires
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Use_of_artificial_ocean_reefs_backfires%29

content:
<p>
Artificial ocean reefs, made of used tires, were intended to provide
shelters for marine life.  They backfired: the metal clips that held
them together have rusted, loosing the tires to drift across the sea
bottom, 
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34231-using-tires-to-create-an-artificial-reef-in-florida-was-a-really-bad-idea">destroying
life there</a>.


feed_id: 21960133cd56d235bc7fcf452cd46347
title: Copyright as a system of censorship
uri: Copyright-as-a-system-of-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Copyright_as_a_system_of_censorship%29

content:
<p>
Copyright started in England as a system of censorship, and through
the end of 2015 it was used in Germany to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/01/mein-kampf-book-adolf-hitler-copyright-expires">prohibit
publication of Hitler's hate tract, Mein Kampf</a>.
<p>
The world would be better off if nobody had ever thought of Hitler's
form of hatred, but we can't get rid of it through censorship.


feed_id: 3432e91294e3fd8b515459c0ef660255
title: Unjust extension of copyright
uri: Unjust-extension-of-copyright
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Unjust_extension_of_copyright%29
content:
<p>
Unjust extension of copyright in the US has denied us the use of many
books and works published in 1959.  Here's a 
<a href="https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2016/pre-1976">list
of some</a>.
<p>
We should shorten copyright to last 10 years, for old works and new
works.


feed_id: 8ee52b6f5822b7665e327486a0dc3fbe
title: Students' privacy
uri: Students-privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Students_privacy%29
content:
<p>
Some states have strict laws about students' privacy, which schools
violate by 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/12/30/google-a-school-official-this-regulatory-quirk-can-leave-parents-in-the-dark/">handing
students' data to Google</a>.  Schools try to defeat these laws by
designating Google as a "school official".
<p>
One part of the solution is that schools should not accumulate so much
data about their students.  Personal data, once collected,
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html"><em>will</em>
be misused</a>.


feed_id: d83b9fc0d243a634f02874f8e36f8e41
title: US Planning New Iran Sanctions
uri: US-Planning-New-Iran-Sanctions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28US_Planning_New_Iran_Sanctions%29
content:
<p>
US 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/31/us-planning-new-iran-sanctions-over-ballistic-missile-programme-report">Planning
New Iran Sanctions</a> over Ballistic Missile Programme.


feed_id: c96d6091f2378fc780296bc1103513ec
title: Facebook's grab for internet control
uri: Facebook-s-grab-for-internet-control
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Facebooks_grab_for_internet_control%29

content:
<p>
Comparing 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/29/free-basics-will-take-away-more-our-right-internet">Facebook's
grab for internet</a> control with Monsanto's control over seeds.
<p>
The article gets confused in one point by the incoherent term
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">"intellectual
property"</a>.  The sense of understanding that you get from that term
represents a false understanding.


feed_id: 4aa03ca4a15468562f9ca007dc3239b1
title: Prematurely born fetuses
uri: Prematurely-born-fetuses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28Prematurely_born_fetuses%29
content:
<p>
Due to advances in medicine, it is possible to save a fraction of
fetuses born prematurely after 
<a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/new-evidence-complicates-decisions-on-when-to-save-extremely-premature-babies/">as
little as 22 weeks</a>.
<p>
A 22-week fetus, whether inside of a womb or outside, is not a human
being.  It is only a potential future human being.
<p>
If you give birth to one, you can try to keep it alive until it
becomes a human being.  But unless we were in a space colony with an
urgent need to increase the population, I will not drop anything to
help you, and I don't think it's a good use of our tax money.  There
is a superfluity of babies that are born without such extraordinary
efforts — and there are millions of real, existing, human beings
that already exist and need help.  I think real existing human beings
should have priority over potential future human beings.
<p>
Writers have envisioned artificial wombs in which a zygote can develop
into a fetus and eventually into a human being.  Perhaps some day we
will build them.  That won't create an obligation to use them for
every zygote.


feed_id: 72659ad4460e521e8f01bbf92ce6a551
title: "American Exceptionalism"
uri: American-Exceptionalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#2_January_2016_%28American_Exceptionalism%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/12/30/ongoing-tension-between-power-and-morality">"American
Exceptionalism"</a> allows Americans to believe that the US is so
fundamentally morally right that it is still in the right no matter
what evils it commits.


feed_id: d24fded402eb487d758e301688078217
title: Urgent: Tamir Rice
uri: Urgent-Tamir-Rice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Tamir_Rice%29
content:
<p>
Everyone:
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/justice-for-tamir-rice">call
for a new grand jury</a> to consider charges against the killers of
Tamir Rice.


feed_id: 76880a9db1817c3d7740852f11eefdf2
title: Bush forces' role in creating PISSI
uri: Bush-forces-role-in-creating-PISSI
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Bush_forces_role_in_creating_PISSI%29

content:
<p>
Vincent Emanuele, formerly of the Bush forces in Iraq, reports on how
he and his fellow occupier
<a href="http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/I-Helped-Create-ISIS-20151218-0016.html">created
hatred that manifests in PISSI</a>.
<p>
The Bush forces were parts of the US military that were used by Bush
to carry out his private war.  They
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#25_June_2013_(Suicide_of_former_Bush_forces_soldier)">signed
up to serve their country</a>, but they ended up serving evil instead.


feed_id: 52385a2621dd130aad6ad55e81a82d29
title: TPP's rules about trade secrets
uri: TPP-s-rules-about-trade-secrets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28TPPs_rules_about_trade_secrets%29
content:
<p>
The TPP's rules about trade secrets would
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20151229/06561133182/tpps-forgotten-danger-stronger-trade-secrets-protection-with-criminal-penalties-infringement.shtml">require
inventors and competitors to treat them as secrets, even after they
have leaked</a>.
<p>
This reminds me of how the Obama regime treats the Snowden
revelations,
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#22_August_2014_(US_military_prohibits_reading_The_Intercept)">ordering
government employees not to look at them</a>.


feed_id: c48a7435d04c7bf2d36892b5cd0ff597
title: Thai military holds civilian prisoners
uri: Thai-military-holds-civilian-prisoners
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Thai_military_holds_civilian_prisoners%29

content:
<p>
Thailand's military is holding people accused of various crimes
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/30/thai-military-expands-power-over-prison-system-with-bangkok-black-site">in
a military base</a>, where they are often kept shackled and
blindfolded.
<p>
This treatment of prisoners is not quite as bad as the US has done in
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#15_July_2015_(Secrets_of_the_torturers)">Guantanamo</a>,
but the wrong is broader in the sense that anyone in Thailand could be
treated this way.  but the wrong is broader in the sense that anyone
in Thailand could be treated this way.


feed_id: 18dac1c08269d41e9e1063c9696953d2
title: China blocks foreign press
uri: China-blocks-foreign-press
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28China_blocks_foreign_press%29
content:
<p>China 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/31/ursula-gauthier-foreign-media-must-fight-china-censorship-says-expelled-journalist">
almost completely blocks</a>
 foreign press from Tibet and Xinjiang.
</p>


feed_id: 802ce21ae73a88ebd26b4ba701bc7afb
title: UK spying
uri: UK-spying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28UK_spying%29
content:
<p>Tech Companies [will] 
<a href="http://www.techspot.com/news/63292-tech-companies-face-criminal-charges-if-they-notify.html?">
Face Criminal Charges</a>
 If They Notify Users of UK
Government Spying.
</p>
<p>The US 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-nov-feb.html#11_November_2013_%28Ladar_Levison_threatened_with_prosecution_for_closing_Lavabit%29">
committed a similar injustice</a>
 with Ladar Levison.
</p>


feed_id: 22111a3e75837306e9c1e2271fabe91e
title: Poland's public broadcasting
uri: Poland-s-public-broadcasting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Poland%27s_public_broadcasting%29
content:
<p>Poland's right-wing governing party 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/31/poland-leader-jaroslaw-kaczynski">
is moving to impose direct
political control</a>
 of public broadcasting.
</p>
<p>Berlusconi did something similar.
</p>


feed_id: f28c00c0740ce0dbfb6eb6aaabe7613d
title: FBI
uri: FBI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28FBI%29
content:
<p>The FBI has protected us from 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/31/new-york-arrest-plot-new-years-rochester">
another fantasy</a>
 terrorist.
</p>


feed_id: 786dde299470b42c9680192d8169c8af
title: Marco Rubio
uri: Marco-Rubio
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Marco_Rubio%29
content:
<p>Marco Rubio 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/31/rubio-outraged-by-spying-on-israels-government-ok-with-mass-surveillance-of-americans/">
doesn't mind how the US government snoops</a>
 on all of us,
but he condemns US snooping on Israeli officials.
</p>


feed_id: 6c90aabfee3a2a9e51bebc1c266aec83
title: Boston thugs
uri: 2016-01-05-Boston-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Boston_thugs%29
content:
<p>Boston thugs 
<a href="media/a7a830d8.policing_dissent.pdf" data-original-source="http://www.aclum.org/sites/all/files/policing_dissent.pdf">
have aggressively investigated</a>
 political dissent groups
for many years.
</p>
<p>This 
<a href="http://privacysos.org/node/1417">
continued</a>
 with Occupy Boston.
</p>


feed_id: 8b980fe279c76b2838e2a0960afc5248
title: Terrorism
uri: 2016-01-05-Terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Terrorism%29
content:
<p>Trying to spot terrorists through supposed "behavioral indicators" of
terrorists 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/12/31/prior-to-san-bernardino-attack-many-were-trained-to-spot-terrorists-none-did/">
has never had a success</a>, and the evidence that they are
useless keeps increasing.
</p>


feed_id: cf9a5d62d28e7a48ccdb5c9e79ea1240
title: California's aquifers
uri: California-s-aquifers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28California%27s_aquifers%29
content:
<p>El Niño rains 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/31/el-nino-blamed-weather-chaos-california-upside-still-drought">
will not suffice</a>
 to refill California's depleted aquifers.
</p>


feed_id: b2aab7abc0f8df819953f26b63d15fc8
title: Killer thugs
uri: Killer-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Killer_thugs%29
content:
<p>The responsibility of prosecuting killer thugs in the US typically

<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/31/ties-that-bind-conflicts-of-interest-police-killings">
falls on their colleagues</a>, the local prosecutors.  No wonder it
is so
hard to do this.
</p>
<p>Thugs accused of killing, or making false accusations, should be
prosecuted by others.</p>


feed_id: 3dba823f62470e041c9f3e043614522b
title: Ahmed Rajib Haider
uri: Ahmed-Rajib-Haider
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Ahmed_Rajib_Haider%29
content:
<p>Students 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/31/two-sentenced-death-bangladesh-blogger-ahmed-rajib-haider">
have been convicted</a>
 in Bangladesh of killing secular blogger
Ahmed Rajib Haider.
</p>
<p>I disapprove of the death penalty on principle, but aside from that
I welcome this ruling.</p>


feed_id: 544e1d95f00b3af88b4cc30ce8155f84
title: Facebook
uri: 2016-01-05-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Facebook%29
content:
<p>When India's government launched an inquiry about Facebook's
drastically unneutral internet access scheme (gratis access to the
poor, limited to a specific set of sites), Facebook 
<a href="http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/voices/ddosing-a-regulator-a-how-to-manual-from-facebooks-free-basics/">
started a DDOS
campaign asking</a>
 its useds to send nonresponsive answers.</p>
<p>Worse, Facebook's proprietary apps made useds' computers send
expressions of support for this campaign, even when the useds did not
want to.
</p>
<p>Never trust these cr…apps.  They 
<a href="http://gnu.org/proprietary/">
are as dangerous</a>
 as any other
proprietary software.
</p>


feed_id: d9ce6ba3f859c7f779a05a127555699d
title: Avoiding taxes
uri: Avoiding-taxes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Avoiding_taxes%29
content:
<p>Super-rich Americans 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/30/business/economy/for-the-wealthiest-private-tax-system-saves-them-billions.html?_r=0">
avoid millions of dollars in taxes</a>
 through dodges
such as moving money through tax heavens.
</p>


feed_id: d0e1909b6141960c3e8b31658b7fd664
title: Plutocracy
uri: Plutocracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#1_January_2016_%28Plutocracy%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/04/06/how-america-became-oligarchy">
How plutocracy took over America</a>, starting with the fiscal power of
private banks.
</p>


feed_id: b8c849df4d0f20d9775426cd9689c88f
title: Canadian CEO salary
uri: Canadian-CEO-salary
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Canadian_CEO_salary%29
content:
<p>Some 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/04/happy-2016-these-ceos-have-already-banked-average-workers-salary">
Canadian CEOs</a>
 have already made as much money in 2016 as the
average worker will make in a whole year.
</p>


feed_id: 4220c81f50a19f604b5da8aca4754e37
title: Electronic toys hamper language learning
uri: Electronic-toys-hamper-language-learning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Electronic_toys_hamper_language_learning%29

content:
<p>Children that often play with electronic toys that sound bells and
whistles
<a href="http://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/how-does-type-of-toy-affect-quantity-quality-of-language-in-infant-playtime/">
advance more slowly</a>
 in language learning.
</p>


feed_id: 6b6b2c51f1a831dee053f2ac05c10b5c
title: About Nimr Al-Nimr
uri: About-Nimr-Al-Nimr
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28About_Nimr_Al-Nimr%29
content:
<p>More about 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/04/execution-nimr-al-nimr-one-more-reason-re-evaluate-toxic-us-saudi-alliance">
Nimr Al-Nimr</a>,
 dissident executed by Salafi Arabia.
</p>
<p>Salafi Arabia's well-funded PR campaign 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/04/saudi-pr-machine/">
pays pundits</a>
 to excuse the murder of dissident Nimr al-Nimr or to distract attention
to secondary issues.
</p>


feed_id: 9b5fe57449e9e132d044e860874d0f6a
title: Canada put 6-year-old on 'no fly' list
uri: Canada-put-6-year-old-on-no-fly-list
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Canada_put_6-year-old_on_%27no_fly%27_list%29

content:
<p>Canada ludicrously put 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/04/canada-six-year-old-no-fly-list-syed-adam-ahmed">
6-year-old Syed Adam Ahmed</a>
 on its "no fly" list.
</p>


feed_id: e5374450828416ee0e9f7d49fdad0f5d
title: Rape evidence left unanalyzed
uri: Rape-evidence-left-unanalyzed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Rape_evidence_left_unanalyzed%29
content:
<p>Across the US, some 70,000 rape evidence kits have been 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/04/florida-rape-kits-untested-backlog">
left unanalyzed</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 3b8febfdd23ec7120945f97c10d1a179
title: Teenagers' access to abortion
uri: Teenagers-access-to-abortion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Teenagers%27_access_to_abortion%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/04/why-would-you-trust-a-teen-to-raise-a-kid-but-not-to-have-an-abortion">
Laws That Restrict Teenagers' Access to Abortion Services Make No
Logical Sense.</a>
</p>


feed_id: 3dcacd8d4cc14acb18acfea1cee47cde
title: Oregon militiamen
uri: Oregon-militiamen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28Oregon_militiamen%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/04/if-the-oregon-militiamen-were-muslim-or-black-they-would-probably-be-dead-by-now-ammon-bundy">
If the Oregon Militiamen Were Muslim Or Black, They'd Probably Be Dead
By Now.</a>
</p>


feed_id: 566cfd851fc7bce4dbc9bbc665465099
title: US surprise-cancelled Muslim's visa
uri: US-surprise-cancelled-Muslim-s-visa
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#5_January_2016_%28US_surprise-cancelled_Muslim%27s_visa%29

content:
<p>The US surprise-cancelled a Muslim grandparent's US visa,
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/04/us-canceled-my-muslim-mother-visa-as-tried-to-visit-her-first-grandchild">
stopping her from visiting her newborn grandchild</a>
 in the US.
</p>


feed_id: 8be875f866ebd0ec018640112c590516
title: Methane emissions from northern lakes
uri: Methane-emissions-from-northern-lakes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28Methane_emissions_from_northern_lakes%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.su.se/english/about/profile-areas/climate-seas-and-environment/large-and-increasing-methane-emissions-from-northern-lakes-1.263259">Large
And Increasing</a> Methane Emissions from Northern Lakes.


feed_id: b1eb671604e5e8676c367787e4c1c570
title: Fees imposed on home solar power
uri: Fees-imposed-on-home-solar-power
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28Fees_imposed_on_home_solar_power%29

content:
<p>
Nevada increased fees imposed on home solar power, 
<a href="http://www.treehugger.com/environmental-policy/sunny-nevada-killing-solar-industry-state-new-net-metering-rules.html">during
the holiday</a> hoping people would not notice.
<p>
I suspect that money from the power utilities was used to corrupt the
officials.


feed_id: 68526f3b6f8982e41844f676d06c13bd
title: Wood poaching and overfishing
uri: Wood-poaching-and-overfishing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28Wood_poaching_and_overfishing%29
content:
<p>
Thailand is fighting a war against 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/05/thailands-forest-rangers-step-up-training-in-violent-blood-wood-war">wood
poachers</a>.
<p>
Pacific bluefin tuna are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/05/threatened-bluefin-tuna-nets-high-price-tokyo-fish-market">being
hunted to extinction</a> for sushi.


feed_id: 6de3beaa5603c59080c77c0075927a95
title: Small victory for freedom of speech
uri: Small-victory-for-freedom-of-speech
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28Small_victory_for_freedom_of_speech%29

content:
<p>
A small victory for freedom of speech in the UK: a Christian who was
prosecuted for saying insulting things about Islam was 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/05/pastor-who-said-islam-was-doctrine-spawned-in-hell-is-cleared-by-court">acquitted</a>.
<p>
Since there is no Satan and there is no Hell, all two of his
criticisms are clearly mistaken.  As for "heathen", whether that
applies to Islam depends on the definition, but is that word an
insult?  Not to me.  I am proud to be a heathen.
<p>
But those details are all side issues.  Freedom of speech includes the
right to criticize, offend, insult, or even mock any person, any idea,
any practice, any belief, and any institution.  That includes any
religion — even the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/saint.html">Church of Emacs</a>.


feed_id: 96d44f08e02835db0d59c472e7b8274e
title: US officials to besiege armed anarchists
uri: US-officials-to-besiege-armed-anarchists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28US_officials_to_besiege_armed_anarchists%29

content:
<p>
Us officials say they plan to besiege the armed anarchists that took
over a wildlife refuge, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/05/oregon-wildlife-militia-standoff-power-cut-off">cutting
off food, power and phone service</a>.
<p>
It is wise to try to avoid shooting, but the gang must be prosecuted
for this.


feed_id: 480bca80a11d9169a4082058efc750e6
title: Schengen free-travel zone crumbling
uri: Schengen-free-travel-zone-crumbling
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28Schengen_free-travel_zone_crumbling%29

content:
<p>
Europe's 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/05/is-the-schengen-dream-of-europe-without-borders-becoming-a-thing-of-the-past">inability
to unify its handling of refugees</a> is making the Schengen
free-travel zone start to crumble.


feed_id: 05cd835e38f6cfc07c32d67cb934d5d1
title: UK wiping out social housing
uri: UK-wiping-out-social-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28UK_wiping_out_social_housing%29
content:
<p>
The UK government is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2016/jan/05/housing-and-planning-bill-power-grab-developers">wiping
out social housing</a> in a giant act of 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/05/rob-poor-give-rich-housing-policy-2016">dooH
niboR</a>.


feed_id: 7555c0afc780dae83b846112c67cc1a1
title: Ignorant American vandals
uri: Ignorant-American-vandals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28Ignorant_American_vandals%29
content:
<p>
A US bookstore named after the Egyptian goddess Isis was 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/05/us-bookstore-changes-isis-branding-after-attacks">forced
to change its name by ignorant American vandals</a>.


feed_id: 91e1374c6db4ae58b00a2e0fa603bf65
title: Giant methane leak in California
uri: Giant-methane-leak-in-California
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#6_January_2016_%28Giant_methane_leak_in_California%29

content:
<p>
The giant methane leak in California was partly due to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/05/aliso-canyon-leak-california-climate-change">removal
of the blowout preventer</a> decades ago.


feed_id: fb1f5601f47dc0a0e1b3a7e06343c746
title: Gun lobby
uri: Gun-lobby
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Gun_lobby%29
content:
<p>The gun lobby has cut the funding of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms to the point where 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/06/bureau-alcohol-tobacco-firearms-obama-gun-control-measures-funding-understaffing">
it can't enforce</a>
 existing gun laws.
</p>


feed_id: c9987541ad311efd43c30153b9920075
title: Federal Trade Commission
uri: 2016-01-07-Federal-Trade-Commission
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Federal_Trade_Commission%29
content:
<p>The head of the Federal Trade Commission 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/06/fitbit-ces-privacy-concerns-health-step-counter-technology">
refuses</a>
 to use a Fitbit
because she doesn't want to be snooped on.
</p>
<p>Bravo to the government official who presents a real example.</p>
<p>You won't recover your privacy with weak moans, "It's a shame how much
this device snoops on me, but I can't resist."  But if you start
saying, "You snooping jerks, get out of my life!" you will start to
change things, first for yourself.</p>


feed_id: efbc38feab8e856df5516cf6dfd40fa7
title: Paiute tribe
uri: Paiute-tribe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Paiute_tribe%29
content:
<p>Local area residents and local Paiute tribe both 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/06/oregon-militia-malheur-wildlife-refuge-paiute-indian-tribe-sacred-land">
want</a>
 the anarchists
occupying a wildlife management building to go home.
</p>


feed_id: be21bd376aadc0c236fdb18d151a837a
title: Medical bills of insured Americans
uri: Medical-bills-of-insured-Americans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28Medical_bills_of_insured_Americans%29

content:
<p>
One in Five Insured Americans Still
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/05/health-insurance-americans-survey-medical-bills-cost">Struggle
to Pay Medical Bills</a>.


feed_id: 807f5c6eeb0fa03c841664ba45f79220
title: Corporate crime
uri: Corporate-crime
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28Corporate_crime%29
content:
<p>
What's Being Fined? Not
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/05/whats-being-fined-not-corporate-crime">Corporate
Crime</a>.


feed_id: 1864cae7aff0199f8874cf22af2078c9
title: Abortion advice in Northern Ireland
uri: Abortion-advice-in-Northern-Ireland
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28Abortion_advice_in_Northern_Ireland%29

content:
<p>
Medical personnel in Northern Ireland
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/05/northern-ireland-medics-fear-prison-abortion-advice">fear
they will be jailed</a> if they tell women where to get abortions.


feed_id: 4a454d4c3d0777f3ee9f64ff044e9d6c
title: Urgent: Human rights in Salafi Arabia
uri: Urgent-Human-rights-in-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Human_rights_in_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/increase-pressure-on-Saudi-Arabia">call
on Obama</a> to pressure Salafi Arabia to respect human rights and
refrain from militarism.


feed_id: 01c69ccc5ee535edd2c14164950502ec
title: Burundi's thugs killing dissidents
uri: Burundi-s-thugs-killing-dissidents
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28Burundis_thugs_killing_dissidents%29

content:
<p>
Burundi's thugs are
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/05/burundi-pierre-nkurunziza-police-protest-crack-down">killing
dissidents</a> that impose the rule of president-turned-dictator
Nkurunziza.


feed_id: 2ca240124b7d0caecf7e75098432cd9d
title: Armed seizure of wildlife refuge
uri: Armed-seizure-of-wildlife-refuge
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28Armed_seizure_of_wildlife_refuge%29

content:
<p>
All the sides involved in the armed seizure of a wildlife refuge
have done
<a href="http://www.cato.org/blog/no-good-guys-west">substantial
wrongs</a>.


feed_id: 111a494f37aea1aade9ab8275f88ec35
title: College football
uri: College-football
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28College_football%29
content:
<p>
The President of Drexel University says why that school has no
football team: prestigious football teams
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2016/01/04/3735956/drexel-president-no-football/">cost
schools a lot of money, and drive up the cost of education</a>.
<p>
I don't know whether college football causes brain damage like
professional American football.  Perhaps someone can tell me and give
me a reference to post.


feed_id: 3ffbd2497932f89e4fb81903d27e0090
title: Climate mayhem
uri: 2016-01-07-Climate-mayhem
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28Climate_mayhem%29
content:
<p>
Climate mayhem is
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/01/04/3735800/climate-change-farmers-mental-health/">harming
farmers' mental health</a>.


feed_id: e82369ac766ec6bf5dc951afabf828b6
title: The stress of coping with racism
uri: The-stress-of-coping-with-racism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28The_stress_of_coping_with_racism%29

content:
<p>
Coping with the stress of swimming against the US's racist current
<a href="http://www.futurity.org/black-college-students-grit-1081992-2/">makes
many black college students sick</a>.
<p>
Something similar can happen to students from low-income backgrounds,
but
<a href="http://www.futurity.org/chilly-universities-1083972-2/">school
policies can prevent it</a>.


feed_id: 6dc40c6c069ec766dc1f1d7a32379782
title: Sri Lanka
uri: 2016-01-07-Sri-Lanka
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Sri_Lanka%29
content:
<p>Sri Lanka's new president 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/sri-lanka-accused-human-rights-abuses-mathripala-sirisena">
vowed to end torture</a>
 and official kidnapings,
but has not succeeded in ending them.
</p>


feed_id: 64c5ec3b46689d0b7ed48016de59a587
title: Clinton
uri: 2016-01-07-Clinton
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Clinton%29
content:
<p>Clinton 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/01/06/clintons-paid-speech-bonanza">
was paid almost 12 million dollars</a>
 for 51 speeches.
</p>
<p>What could make her speeches worth so much to those with lots of
money?
</p>


feed_id: 2da0a8e9cc6c9b76185770a54673db3e
title: Saudi
uri: Saudi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Saudi%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/06/saudi-game-changing-head-chopping">
Saudi Game-Changing Head-Chopping</a>.
</p>


feed_id: dee24c767e7ce1f933e52a8b451596db
title: America's Food System
uri: America-s-Food-System
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28America%27s_Food_System%29
content:
<p>America's Food System 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/01/americas-food-system-could-be-more-vulnerable-climate-change-we-thought">
Could Be More Vulnerable</a>
 to Climate Change Than We Thought.
</p>


feed_id: 5b0f4b51fee6956f0f090ecb66e1c629
title: Convincing young
uri: Convincing-young
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Convincing_young%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/06/convincing-young-blame-old-not-rich">
Convincing the Young to Blame the Old, Not the Rich</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 2e500e6fe8b357bb2ca1d4cf67d06d44
title: Mall of America
uri: Mall-of-America
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Mall_of_America%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/06/why-its-scary-that-the-mall-of-america-can-crush-dissent/">
Why</a>
 It's Scary That the Mall of America Can Crush Dissent.
</p>


feed_id: 29ba6a99b208dce719bb16a4e7a8ef19
title: Political power of Wall Street
uri: Political-power-of-Wall-Street
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Political_power_of_Wall_Street%29
content:
<p>Sanders 
<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/01/13008/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-wall-street">
plans to reduce</a>
 the political power of Wall Street.
Clinton's proposals simply don't go far enough.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/06/bernie-sanders-and-big-short">
Bernie Sanders and 'The Big Short'</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 3690eeb38e694be2e37fa06c63a398d1
title: EPA
uri: 2016-01-07-EPA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28EPA%29
content:
<p>The EPA 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/01/06/epa-assessment-finds-common-pesticide-harms-bees">
found</a>
 that imidacloprid (a neonicotinoid pesticide) harms
honeybees.
</p>
<p>It 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/01/06/epa-concludes-neonicotinoids-pose-risk-bees-fails-analyze-other-pollinators">
has not investigate</a>
 how that chemical affects other pollinators,
but if the danger to honeybees is enough reason to restrict its use,
maybe the other studies won't be needed.</p>


feed_id: 5634592020b6d67bbcc8000a591d6ffb
title: Salafi Arabia
uri: 2016-01-07-Salafi-Arabia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Salafi_Arabia%29
content:
<p>I suppose that Salafi Arabia 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/05/saudi-coalition-just-bombed-a-center-for-the-blind-in-yemen/">
did not intentionally bomb</a>
 the al Noor
Center for Care and Rehabilitation of the Blind, in Yemen.  It's just
part of the hell that war is.  Which is why Salafi Arabia and the US
are so wrong to pursue this unjustified war.
</p>


feed_id: f985952e68065ffd145680c8ad99a5cb
title: NFL
uri: NFL
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28NFL%29
content:
<p>The NFL 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/05/nfl-super-bowl-field-youth-league-fight">
wants to ruin</a>
 a local children's soccer field by turning it into
a press center.
</p>


feed_id: 2794ce9263632704065bddfb94042e86
title: Australia
uri: 2016-01-07-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Australia%29
content:
<p>Australia 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/06/hassan-asif-whose-family-were-initially-refused-visas-to-visit-dies-in-melbourne">
saw reason and allowed</a>
 Hassan Asif's mother and brother
to visit and be with him as he died of cancer.
</p>


feed_id: 6eb5375805e4c0dc60f2383f1509878d
title: Charlie Hebdo
uri: 2016-01-07-Charlie-Hebdo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Charlie_Hebdo%29
content:
<p>Bravo Charlie Hebdo 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/06/charlie-hebdo-anniversary-cover-disrespects-all-faiths-vatican-newspaper-says">
for a cover</a>
 showing "god" as an armed extremist.
</p>
<p>Pope Francis lost a few points in my esteem for trying to claim such
statements
should be off limits.</p>


feed_id: 54357213ac5a5c9891d77a384a1eb00e
title: Brazil
uri: Brazil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Brazil%29
content:
<p>Soaring expenses for living in Brazil's cities, along with demolition
of favelas, 
<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/a-conversation-with-guilherme-boulos-leader-of-brazils-homeless-workers-movement/">
have given rise</a>
 to the Homeless Workers' Movement.
</p>


feed_id: d6ae7c8f46d813e0d68db3be84edba96
title: Gas emissions from meat production
uri: Gas-emissions-from-meat-production
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Gas_emissions_from_meat_production%29

content:
<p>Thanks to SCROTUS, the US 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/01/us-meat-emissions-paris-cop21">
does not even keep track</a>
 of the greenhouse
gas emissions from meat production.
</p>


feed_id: d5dc81d918895cf4dcb54b16a84aeb5f
title: SCROTUS
uri: 2016-01-07-SCROTUS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28SCROTUS%29
content:
<p>SCROTUS 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/1/4/1466041/-House-Republicans-ready-Volkswagen-bailout-vote?detail=email">
have proposed a bill</a>
 to shield companies such as Volkswagen from
lawsuits by victims of their fraud.
</p>
<p>The plutocratist politician wants the government to take the side of
the rich in every kind of question.</p>


feed_id: baa3f7aab7f6134a1e05953b537621cb
title: Right-wing anarchists
uri: Right-wing-anarchists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Right-wing_anarchists%29
content:
<p>Violent right-wing anarchists 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/01/04/1466117/-Ammon-Bundy-like-his-father-before-him-hates-the-Fed-except-when-taking-money-from-the-Fed?detail=email">
hate the federal government</a>, but they don't
mind accepting subsidized loans from it.
</p>
<p>This shows one of many reasons 
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/why-we-need-a-state.html">
I disagree</a>
 with anarchism.
</p>


feed_id: df2de1cf50ec3c70b41c1600607492da
title: NYC thug
uri: NYC-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28NYC_thug%29
content:
<p>New York City thug 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/01/04/1466043/-NYPD-officer-indicted-after-video-shows-he-falsified-police-report-and-groped-woman?detail=email">
started groping a woman</a>
 in a restaurant.
When a friend started making a video, another thug attacked him
and arrested him.  The thugs threw the cell phone out the window
and made false charges against him.
</p>
<p>One of the thugs has been indicted.  Why not both?
</p>


feed_id: a06c7272cb2ff5d751e76101e09920d8
title: UN Special Rapporteur
uri: UN-Special-Rapporteur
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28UN_Special_Rapporteur%29
content:
<p>The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine 
<a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4748515,00.html">
has resigned
after 18 months of being blocked by Israel</a>
 from entering occupied
Palestine.
</p>


feed_id: 0fe03e76a9beb5399a0f5cf78d04e351
title: Crimea
uri: Crimea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Crimea%29
content:
<p>Putin's men 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/crimea-children-theatre-forced-to-shut-western-propaganda">
have shut down</a>
 a children's theater in Crimea; it is accused
of spreading pro-western propaganda.
</p>


feed_id: c5d3b534894e3e8510df2499b9ce8b9a
title: Insurance companies
uri: Insurance-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Insurance_companies%29
content:
<p>Insurance companies 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/01/04/the-big-data-of-bad-driving-and-how-insurers-plan-to-track-your-every-turn/">
are increasingly giving</a>
 drivers an "offer" to track their
driving, an offer which most people effectively can't refuse.
</p>
<p>I don't think it an injustice for insurance companies to track
<em>how</em>
you drive, safely or not.  I also don't see anything wrong in making the
car
inform you if you do anything that seems risky (though there are some
occasions
when slamming on the brakes, or the accelerator, is important for
safety).
What I object to is anything that allows anyone to track <em>where you
go</em>.</p>
<p>The article ends with the obligatory "Give up trying to fight this"
message.  
</p>


feed_id: 52d1c56db14c63105030457b5fc606d6
title: Exxon
uri: Exxon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Exxon%29
content:
<p>Why Is the Largest Earth Science Conference 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/jan/06/why-is-the-largest-earth-science-conference-still-sponsored-by-exxon">
Still Sponsored</a>
 by Exxon?
</p>


feed_id: 353242ee3ffb1ed93f6a0cec5fdb0b06
title: William Binney
uri: William-Binney
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28William_Binney%29
content:
<p>NSA whistleblower William Binney 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/snoopers-charter-will-cost-british-lives-mps-warned">
told</a>
 Parliament that the UK's massive
listening plans will be useless for preventing terrorism.
</p>
<p>They will be much more effective for spreading terror among
dissidents.
</p>


feed_id: 9a722ed683bf8a00aab040b3aec9fca7
title: Family planning advisors
uri: Family-planning-advisors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Family_planning_advisors%29
content:
<p>Family planning advisors in Northern Ireland, who in general are
forbidden to do abortions, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/belfast-family-planning-advisers-hounded-and-followed-by-anti-abortion-activists">
are nonetheless harassed</a>
 at their homes and
in stores by religious fanatics that oppose birth control.
</p>
<p>Some women there 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/nagpur-to-northern-ireland-pill-pipeline-helping-women-get-round-abortion-ban">
get abortion pills</a>
 in the mail from where they are
legal.
</p>


feed_id: d6250bf97780be673cbbf8e97314a3d9
title: Christianity
uri: Christianity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Christianity%29
content:
<p>A twisted form of Christianity 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/06/god-prosperity-gospel-youtube-kenneth-copeland-jesse-duplantis">
says</a>
 that true believers are rewarded
with riches.
Are they worshiping Mammon?
</p>


feed_id: ef01cb5c98ad9fa8367de5f4c3b2e792
title: Salafi Arabia
uri: 2016-01-07-Salafi-Arabia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Salafi_Arabia%29
content:
<p>The 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/05/saudi-iran-crisis-spells-long-syrian-war">
diplomatic rupture</a>
 that Salafi Arabia has provoked with Iran
is likely to block efforts to negotiate peace in Syria.
</p>
<p>Iran is an evil theocracy, and Salafi Arabia is an evil theocratic
absolute monarchy.  There is no legitimate room in the human world for
either one, but Salafi Arabia is worse.  Both of them execute lots of
people, but Salafi Arabia executes people simply for criticizing state
policy.  And it has spread a cruel form if Islam around the world.</p>
<p>In this conflict with Iran, nearly all the wrong seems to be on Salafi
Arabia's side.</p>
<p>Turning Salafi Arabia into a pariah and blockading its sales of oil
would do the world a lot of good.
</p>


feed_id: d3105c7acbce972ec902abd7be576269
title: Organic farmers
uri: Organic-farmers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Organic_farmers%29
content:
<p>Organic farmers 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/05/organic-farmers-score-new-victory-david-and-goliath-gmo-fight">
won a victory</a>
 when a court upheld a ban on genetically
engineered crops in part of Oregon.
</p>


feed_id: cafd94ff7f4bf65b8badd7efca846620
title: Reject Israeli products
uri: Reject-Israeli-products
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Reject_Israeli_products%29
content:
<p>
<a href="media/35167865.Letter-on-settlement-trade-FINAL-.pdf" data-original-source="http://www.eccpalestine.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Letter-on-settlement-trade-FINAL-.pdf">
Calling on European countries</a>
 to carry out their legal obligation to reject
products made by the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
</p>


feed_id: 438f5b4b5420ae6c150bad8535d12300
title: Global heating
uri: 2016-01-07-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>Global heating effects 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/05/climate-change-could-dry-up-global-power-production-study-warns">
can make</a>
 many power plants (fossil and nuclear and
hydroelectric) cease to function.
</p>


feed_id: d30a2bde0abf4cce852488ce94178cf5
title: Lee Bo
uri: Lee-Bo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Lee_Bo%29
content:
<p>Publisher Lee Bo, before his disappearance, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/05/smear-campaign-chinese-president-linked-disappearance-hong-kong-booksellers">
said</a>
 that his disappeared partner
was planning to publish a book that the Chinese government wanted to
suppress.
</p>


feed_id: f49fb642ee250fc482ec2266fa259266
title: Women discrimination
uri: Women-discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28Women_discrimination%29
content:
<p>Women in the US 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/1/3/1464280/-It-sucks-to-be-a-woman-in-the-United-States?detail=email">
face</a>
 many sorts of discrimination.
</p>
<p>I think that it's foolish to vote for Clinton just because she's a
woman.
I don't think she wants to make real change in any area.
</p>


feed_id: f0bc07d1891392e5f3664ab92d2364ab
title: PISSI
uri: 2016-01-07-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_%28PISSI%29
content:
<p>PISSI 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/05/why-islamic-state-minor-leagues-terror">
is minor league terror</a>
 campaigned with the really big dangers,
including nuclear weapons and burning carbon.
</p>
<p>North Korea 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/a-grave-threat-why-north-koreas-claimed-nuclear-test-is-a-cause-for-concern">
claims</a>
 to have tested a hydrogen bomb, defying both the US
and China.
</p>
<p>PISSI is important enough that we should make efforts to stamp it out,
and take care not to create more places it can spread to; but we
should not obsess over PISSI and get distracted by it from bigger
threats.</p>


feed_id: 14828ed4ddfc307e29f36db418308872
title: Teenagers in solitary confinement
uri: Teenagers-in-solitary-confinement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Teenagers_in_solitary_confinement%29

content:
<p>Nebraska puts teenagers in solitary confinement for months, effectively <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/07/report-nebraska-lets-juveniles-be-locked-in-solitary-confinement-for-90-days/">throwing away the key.</a>


feed_id: d5d98f7a2d05e15da94c1028f1a850a7
title: Pillars of Poland's democracy
uri: Pillars-of-Poland-s-democracy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Pillars_of_Poland%27s_democracy%29

content:
<p>The Pillars of Poland's Democracy <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/07/polish-democracy-destroyed-constitution-media-poland">Are Being Destroyed.</a>  And nobody sees any way to stop it.


feed_id: 664e788e573b7ad2fade7530e83fa551
title: Thug prosecuted for perjury
uri: Thug-prosecuted-for-perjury
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Thug_prosecuted_for_perjury%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/06/texas-state-trooper-arrested-sandra-bland-perjury-charges
">The thug that arrested Sandra Bland</a> is being prosecuted for perjury.
<p>Hooray!
<p>Only a tiny fraction of thugs actually kill people, but lots of them
make false accusations or lie to support them.  Prosecuting only the
few killers will not change the behavior of thugs in general.
Prosecuting perjury could make all of them fear they will pay for
their crimes.


feed_id: 897a65ea4caa27603e9fc548c47482e3
title: Former officials in Guatemala
uri: Former-officials-in-Guatemala
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Former_officials_in_Guatemala%29
content:
<p>Former officials in Guatemala <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/guatemala-arrests-human-rights-abuse-civil-war-killing">are being prosecuted</a> for crimes committed during the civil war.


feed_id: fa728e09f9cd1c97e1af8f3cf94a7f1c
title: Sweetened drinks
uri: Sweetened-drinks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Sweetened_drinks%29
content:
<p>Reducing the sugar levels in sweetened drinks <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/06/reduced-sugar-in-soft-drinks-would-prevent-diabetes-study-says">could prevent lots of disease.</a>


feed_id: 1b2690d001a193d7884e3909292c3ddf
title: North Korea's nuclear weapons
uri: North-Korea-s-nuclear-weapons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28North_Korea%27s_nuclear_weapons%29

content:
<p>SCROTUS propose North Korea's nuclear weapons as an excuse for expensive anti-missile systems that <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/06/north-korea-missile-waste/">probably would not work.</a>


feed_id: 4da22864f80bdf250b019038f3e3c23a
title: Opposition legislators in Venezuela
uri: Opposition-legislators-in-Venezuela
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Opposition_legislators_in_Venezuela%29

content:
<p>In Venezuela, Congress and the Supreme Court <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/venezuela-congress-swears-in-three-politicians-barred-by-supreme-court">disagree</a> about whether certain opposition legislators were elected honestly or by fraud.


feed_id: b9a7ab44a852a353f97ae4fd3f712f87
title: Edward Pinkney
uri: Edward-Pinkney
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Edward_Pinkney%29
content:
<p>Edward Pinkney of Benton Harbor promoted a <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/08/13/why-is-rev-edward-pinkney-in-prison-another-case-of-political-persecution/">recall petition for the mayor.</a>  Officials accused him of a possibly imaginary crime, a white
jury convicted him based on <em>no evidence whatsoever</em>, and he was sentenced to prison for years.  But even that did not silence him.
<p>They have <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/12/11/the-routine-lies-of-prison-officials/">mistreated him in prison, too.</a>


feed_id: 746a8d88d9e6e7de8cb7d78e571b1682
title: Exssential injustice of NAFTA
uri: Exssential-injustice-of-NAFTA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Exssential_injustice_of_NAFTA%29
content:
<p>The company that was going to build the Keystone XL pipeline
is <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/06/keystone-xl-transcanada-lawsuit-obama-nafta">suing,</a> claiming that under NAFTA the US has no right to reject the pipeline.
<p>I don't know that it will win, but the mere fact that it can try demonstrates the essential injustice of NAFTA and other
business-supremacy treaties.
<p>Let's put an end to NAFTA!  And let's defeat the TPP!


feed_id: 5ea64ae5002450e45e31c503a924e825
title: Tax on sugary drinks
uri: Tax-on-sugary-drinks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Tax_on_sugary_drinks%29
content:
<p>Mexico's tax on sugary drinks has <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/01/more-evidence-soda-taxes-work-mexico
">substantially reduced</a> consumption of them.


feed_id: cb06cc6842f46486203605ce3e9c5197
title: Suzanne Lee
uri: Suzanne-Lee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Suzanne_Lee%29
content:
<p>Suzanne Lee dares Northern Ireland to prosecute her for her <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/07/belfast-woman-abortion-pills-police-challenge-arrest-me-or-change-the-law">abortion.</a>
<p>Sarah Ewart needed an abortion because her fetus had a <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/07/northern-ireland-abortion-ban-sarah-ewart-interview">fatal defect,</a> but doctors in Northern Ireland were terrified of life imprisonment if they did it.  It cost her 3000 dollars to go to England for the operation.
<p>Women in nearly all countries in <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2011-nov-feb.html#19_January_2012_(Latin_American_Social_Media)">Latin America</a> face similar oppressive laws, but there is no nearby place they can go for an abortion.


feed_id: 44588020b1429138b21cba0fce3e50d2
title: Reckless poisoning
uri: Reckless-poisoning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Reckless_poisoning%29
content:
<p>Michael Moore: Michigan Governor Snyder <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/06/dear-gov-snyder-you-have-go-jail
">should be jailed</a> for recklessly poisoning all the children of Flint.


feed_id: 5db6f771efc1cb1ffe8e7a4d8e56968f
title: Urgent: US funds for abortions
uri: Urgent-US-funds-for-abortions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_US_funds_for_abortions%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/obama_helms">call on
Obama</a> to use an executive order clarifying that US funds can be
used for abortions in cases of rape or incest, or when a woman's life
is in danger.


feed_id: f24d6cea39d362a2da3664f18f408480
title: Self-censorship in HK bookstores
uri: Self-censorship-in-HK-bookstores
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Self-censorship_in_HK_bookstores%29

content:
<p>
A 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/07/hong-kong-bookshops-pull-politically-sensitive-titles-after-publishers-vanish">wave
of self-censorship</a> hits Hong Kong bookstores.


feed_id: 2d4299fa9cd33957c7363b15bd9b20c9
title: Global heating denialism
uri: 2016-01-08-Global-heating-denialism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Global_heating_denialism%29
content:
<p>
Organized global heating denialism 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2016/jan/07/era-of-climate-science-denial-is-not-over-study-finds">has
not stopped</a>.
<p>
Those rich would-be planet roasters know they will lose eventually,
but they are carrying out a real guard action to hold us back from
averting disaster.
<p>
They are 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-jul-oct.html#04_October_2012_(Effect_of_global_heating_on_people)">planning
to kill your grandchildren</a>.


feed_id: 7e4659a3ef37158a1df0c61d1eabe23f
title: Oral contraceptives
uri: Oral-contraceptives
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Oral_contraceptives%29
content:
<p>
Oral contraceptives taken before or during pregnancy are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/07/contraceptive-pill-does-not-contribute-to-birth-defects-say-researchers">safe</a>.
<p>
Specifically, they do not cause any increase in birth defects.


feed_id: fb6319e5eb64f3c31aa5ecbd69a3fbec
title: Candidate who will work for the wealthy
uri: Candidate-who-will-work-for-the-wealthy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Candidate_who_will_work_for_the_wealthy%29

content:
<p>
Clinton shows that she will work for the wealthy, by 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/07/hillary-clinton-fundraising-california-hollywood-silicon-valley-money">meeting
with wealthy donors</a>.
<p>
We can expect her to kowtow to the MPAA's attacks on our freedom and
to tech companies' attacks on our privacy.


feed_id: a88a06e5b6ce43eee57a820d5cb4e069
title: Twitter
uri: Twitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Twitter%29
content:
<p>
Twitter is 
<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2016/01/05/twitter_isn_t_raising_the_140_character_limit_it_s_building_a_wall.html">considering
encouraging users to post articles</a> on Twitter.  Twitter could
control access to these articles, or delete them.


feed_id: c68ac71586ebda65bab665a250ee3fe3
title: Overprotecting attitude towards teenagers
uri: Overprotecting-attitude-towards-teenagers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Overprotecting_attitude_towards_teenagers%29

content:
<p>
The overprotecting attitude towards teenagers is a 
<a href="https://reason.com/blog/2016/01/05/airlines-think-15-year-olds-need-runway">great
excuse for some companies to gouge</a>.


feed_id: 295bf4c93e0257761e30a02e90e62a88
title: Bernie Sanders presents reforms for banks
uri: Bernie-Sanders-presents-reforms-for-banks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Bernie_Sanders_presents_reforms_for_banks%29

content:
<p>
Bernie Sanders presents a 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/05/greed-not-good">long
list of reforms</a> for banks, and presents the facts to demonstrate
that fraud is their standard practice.


feed_id: 62bfd4af7ccbe278b511980bf478f92e
title: Level of cortisol in children's hair
uri: Level-of-cortisol-in-children-s-hair
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Level_of_cortisol_in_childrens_hair%29

content:
<p>
The 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/07/cortisol-levels-in-childrens-hair-may-reveal-future-mental-health-risk">effects
of traumatic events on children's bodies</a> can now be measured from
the level of cortisol in their hair.


feed_id: 3cae88327ee4a1ed9fa585ddd72b13f7
title: Global heating slowing water circulation
uri: Global-heating-slowing-water-circulation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Global_heating_slowing_water_circulation%29

content:
<p>
Global heating is slowing the 
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34218-climate-disruption-amplifies-atlantic-currents-contribution-to-sea-level-rise">overall
water circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean</a>.  One effect is
increased sea-level rise for the northeast US.
<p>
Some worry that this circulation pattern could slow so much that it
causes 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#11_September_2015_(Gulf_Stream)">drastic
changes</a> in the Arctic Ocean.


feed_id: 0bc3daf500737e21fb11bfffe044f1c2
title: Pacific Decadal Oscillation
uri: Pacific-Decadal-Oscillation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Pacific_Decadal_Oscillation%29
content:
<p>
The Pacific Decadal Oscillation causes <em>some</em> parameters of
global heating to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/06/earth-is-experiencing-a-global-warming-spurt">resemble
a staircase</a> more than an even ramp.
<p>
For a while, the increased heat goes into the ocean, then for a while
it goes into the atmosphere.  The denial campaign focused on the last
period when heat went into the ocean and 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-sep-dec.html#19_October_2013_(Pretending_there_is_a_pause_in_global_heating)">claimed
that global heating has "paused"</a>.


feed_id: fb5f5cc2488a2d5325ba404e44b6af13
title: Journalist jailed "for protective reasons"
uri: Journalist-jailed-for-protective-reasons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#8_January_2016_%28Journalist_jailed_for_protective_reasons%29

content:
<p>
A Turkish journalist who was arrested for filming a fight between
state thugs and PKK supporters was jailed "for protective reasons".
Now he has been released on bail, but 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/05/vice-journalist-mohammed-rasool-released-prison-turkey">still
faces charges</a>.
<p>
What could this sort of thing 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#14_October_2015_(Erdogans_tyranny)">"protect"
Turkey from</a>?  From the truth about
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#08_September_2015_(Turkey%2FPKK_escalation)">its
government</a>?


feed_id: 45dec556ae7e2f722ce2f9c4cab947be
title: Disabled workers
uri: Disabled-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Disabled_workers%29
content:
<p>The UK spends 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/08/fit-for-work-tests-double-cost-dwp-disability-cuts">
more money testing disabled workers</a>
 to see who
supposedly could work than it saves by denying disability benefits to
them.
That's despite the fact that the testing system errs in favor of
finding
disabled people "fit to work".
</p>


feed_id: 92627c13c37db7b5c22c3280dff24987
title: Jenny Jones
uri: Jenny-Jones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Jenny_Jones%29
content:
<p>Jenny Jones, Green Party politician, thanks the heroic, whistleblowing
police officer 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/08/police-spy-thought-crime-met-jenny-jones-deomestic-extremist">
who revealed how thugs destroyed files about her</a>
, and
pretended the files had never existed.
</p>
<p>Apparently the surveillance continues, treating her as a terrorist
suspect
along with an unknown number of British dissidents.</p>


feed_id: 862bb1e6546ab57d10b2928e49eaac96
title: Taxes
uri: Taxes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Taxes%29
content:
<p>Should "US" companies 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/06/should-big-corporations-pay-taxes-they-owe">
pay the taxes</a>
 they owe?  They are lobbying to
get out of it.
</p>
<p>We should 
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/progressive-tax-on-business-gross-income.html">
tax them on progressive rates</a>
, to put economic pressure
on large companies to split up.
</p>


feed_id: ada0816513abbdbf2d09894d919fa9c5
title: Dams
uri: Dams
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Dams%29
content:
<p>Proposed dams 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/08/hydro-dam-boom-threatens-third-of-worlds-freshwater-fish">
could destroy</a>
 1/3 of the world's fresh-water fish species.
</p>
<p>The dams 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jan/08/wonder-of-the-aquatic-world-under-threat-from-plans-for-mekong-dams">
would ruin the seasonal flooding cycle</a>
 of Cambodia's lake, Tonle Sap,
source of fish for the Mekong river.  Millions of people's food supplies
could be destroyed.
</p>


feed_id: 2eef381821d657292eabd991aed6ba0c
title: PISSI
uri: 2016-01-09-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28PISSI%29
content:
<p>A PISSI fanatic '
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/08/islamic-state-militant-killed-mother-syria-monitor">
Killed His Own Mother</a>
 in Syria'.
</p>
<p>This story may be of use in convincing people not to jon PISSI.
For his sake — as well as ours — I hope a bomb gets him soon.
</p>


feed_id: bf237799216ac68028b28f48dd2ef125
title: France
uri: France
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28France%29
content:
<p>Where Were the Post-Hebdo Free Speech Crusaders as France 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/08/where-were-the-post-hebdo-free-speech-crusaders-as-france-spent-the-last-year-crushing-free-speech/">
Spent</a>
 the Last
Year Crushing Free Speech?
</p>
<p>I was there, for whatever little good I can do.
</p>


feed_id: 2e23da558c0396d34900b5ae8b5f9fc9
title: "Internet of snoopers"
uri: Internet-of-snoopers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Internet_of_snoopers%29
content:
<p>Businesses 
<a href="http://www.securityweek.com/when-iot-comes-office">
must take precautions</a>
 against
staff's bringing "internet of snoopers" devices to the office.
They could be snooping on anything or everything.
</p>
<p>Of course, individuals should take the same precautions
in their own homes.  Don't trust a device that talks to the internet
if it has nonfree software in it.</p>


feed_id: a4d8ea223624369ccf22288736b59401
title: Melting of Greenland's ice
uri: Melting-of-Greenland-s-ice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Melting_of_Greenland%27s_ice%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/1/6/1466664/-Another-headline-to-get-used-to-reading-Greenland-ice-may-be-melting-faster-than-previously-thought?detail=email">
Some scientific evidence</a>
 that the rate of melting of Greenland's ice
is more than was projected.
</p>


feed_id: 88ca1bf06c042a7239855e6ad1e03b81
title: Haiti
uri: Haiti
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Haiti%29
content:
<p>Haitians angry at the plan 
<a href="http://bienaimepost.com/how-haitians-used-social-media-to-upset-haitis-elections-like-an-1804-boss/">
to rig the election</a>
 again
forced a postponement.
</p>


feed_id: 0693abd7ac19c1a4670c9cc8e42d3625
title: French government
uri: French-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28French_government%29
content:
<p>The French government 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/06/permanent-state-emergency-france-seeks-alarming-expanse-police-powers">
wants to make</a>
 "emergency" powers permanent,
which would be a blow to freedom in France.
</p>


feed_id: c61e002220bdcd2688e2db97b7ddf8cf
title: North Korea
uri: 2016-01-09-North-Korea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28North_Korea%29
content:
<p>North Korea's [Claimed] H-Bomb Test Points 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/06/north-koreas-alleged-h-bomb-test-points-need-global-ban-nukes">
to Need</a>
 for Global Ban on Nukes.
</p>


feed_id: fc755012ee2bc7b70fbffb91ba7cf524
title: Minimum wage
uri: 2016-01-09-Minimum-wage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Minimum_wage%29
content:
<p>What a $14.44 minimum wage 
<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/this-is-what-15-an-hour-looks-like/">
has done</a>
 in Emeryville.
</p>


feed_id: 3d75d5dfaf7f6d7e10bf8c6dc87f7055
title: California
uri: 2016-01-09-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28California%29
content:
<p>California 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/12/30/1464823/-2-California-judges-hand-the-misleading-Crisis-Pregnancy-Centers-their-asses-again?detail=email">
now requires</a>
 the dishonest "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" to tell the
women they "advise" where to get honest advice about abortion.
</p>


feed_id: 3c61daeb28bd9717f21c7544647fbf3a
title: Nuclear Weapons
uri: 2016-01-09-Nuclear-Weapons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Nuclear_Weapons%29
content:
<p>Nuclear Weapons Risk 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/07/nuclear-weapons-risk-greater-than-in-cold-war-says-ex-pentagon-chief">
Greater Than in Cold War</a>
, Says [Former Head of Pentagon].
</p>


feed_id: 32819fc845d24f50e35d05f5d200cdd4
title: Wild bison
uri: Wild-bison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28Wild_bison%29
content:
<p>Wild bison living around Yellowstone National Park 
<a href="http://www.nrdconline.org/site/R?i=y7HFhkCzDM1i0S6kIQfK6A">
have received</a>

increased protection.
</p>


feed_id: bdf4ade3c723405c96736c488e63ca51
title: DRM
uri: DRM
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28DRM%29
content:
<p>There is a hardware product that 
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/warner-bros-and-intel-sue-4k-content-protection-ripper-160104/">
strips the digital shackles</a>
 from
HDCP-encrypted video between a computer and its monitor.
</p>
<p>These devices will probably become impossible to get in the US, in a
few weeks.  Thus, they will not be able to free all users from this
kind of DRM, nor from the DRM on the media themselves (typically
BluRay or Netfux).</p>
<p>Nonetheless, even hundreds of these devices could make HDCP fail to
achieve what the copyright lords want, and that would be a victory
to celebrate.</p>
<p>Our ultimate goal is to abolish DRM.</p>
<p>DefectiveByDesign.org</p>


feed_id: f00870e53378112a4162df7e97d35521
title: CIA
uri: 2016-01-09-CIA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28CIA%29
content:
<p>wo CIA agents 
<a href="http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/two-cia-agents-arrested-by-minutemen">
have reportedly been arrested</a>
 smuggling half a ton of
cocaine from Mexico in a CIA van.  They say it was a CIA operation;
the CIA says it wasn't.
</p>
<p>We can't take the word of anyone involved.</p>


feed_id: b60d366a00a90912ce6dbfa2c554c3d1
title: Urgent: Israel's "foreign agents" label
uri: Urgent-Israel-s-foreign-agents-label
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#09_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Israels_foreign_agents_label%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-stand-up-for-1">call
on Congress</a> to pressure Israel not to label human rights NGOs (but
not right-wing ethnic cleansers) as "foreign agents".


feed_id: b3a7d23cde199c1d9616a8ce0cedd279
title: Urgent: Protect the Grand Canyon
uri: Urgent-Protect-the-Grand-Canyon
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#09_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_the_Grand_Canyon%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/protect_grand_canyon">call on
Obama</a> to create the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National
Monument, which would protect the Grand Canyon area from uranium
mining.


feed_id: 640579673d468d98651d22d12acd6c42
title: PISSI
uri: 2016-01-09-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28PISSI%29
content:
<p>A PISSI fanatic '
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/08/islamic-state-militant-killed-mother-syria-monitor">
Killed His Own Mother</a>
 in Syria'.
</p>
<p>This story may be of use in convincing people not to join PISSI.
For his sake — as well as ours — I hope a bomb gets him soon.
</p>


feed_id: c01511ff171e4ba0ff4bad237710e3ff
title: CIA
uri: 2016-01-09-CIA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_%28CIA%29
content:
<p>
Two CIA agents 
<a href="http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/two-cia-agents-arrested-by-minutemen">haves
reportedly been arrested</a> smuggling half a ton of cocaine from
Mexico in a CIA van.  They say it was a CIA operation; the CIA says it
wasn't.</p>
<p>
We can't take the word of anyone involved.</p>


feed_id: 141abaf8b28dddc162e4b61143a598ad
title: US gov to collect data about students
uri: US-gov-to-collect-data-about-students
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28US_gov_to_collect_data_about_students%29

content:
<p>The US government wants to 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/01/07/new-student-database-slammed-by-privacy-experts/">
collect data about thousands of students</a>.
Then, adding stupidity to injustice, it wants to entrust this data
to a private company.</p>


feed_id: 75fe077f062ba6d370db3da38c6aaa7b
title: Surveillance meeting with tech firms
uri: Surveillance-meeting-with-tech-firms
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Surveillance_meeting_with_tech_firms%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/08/planning-more-surveillance-us-officials-hold-shady-meeting-tech-firms">
Planning for More Surveillance? US Officials Hold 'Shady Meeting' With
Tech Firms.</a>
</p>


feed_id: 7df84d51f4aef4902360914252387da4
title: In trouble for critizising Israel
uri: In-trouble-for-critizising-Israel
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28In_trouble_for_critizising_Israel%29

content:
<p>An Israeli expat high school student posted tweets that criticized
Israel.  School officials accused her of "bullying" someone (who was
never named), and 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/nyregion/anti-israel-tweets-land-new-jersey-student-in-principals-office.html?emc=eta1&_r=0">
threatened her with prosecution</a>.
</p>


feed_id: b0dab62b0bce32c0ebfdf7d9410d0850
title: Cologne sex attacks
uri: Cologne-sex-attacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Cologne_sex_attacks%29
content:
<p>Bands of men, perhaps refugees, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/09/germany-sex-attacks-cologne-immigration">
marauded around Cologne</a>
 groping and raping women, with the effect of fueling German hostility
towards
refugees.
</p>
<p>The left must 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/09/the-left-must-admit-the-truth-about-the-assaults-on-women-in-cologne">
face this issue seriously</a>.
</p>


feed_id: a64fe1147d656a5114ab80b744e83da2
title: FBI investigating Chicago police shooting
uri: FBI-investigating-Chicago-police-shooting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28FBI_investigating_Chicago_police_shooting%29

content:
<p>The FBI is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/09/fbi-investigating-fatal-chicago-police-shooting">
investigating</a>
 the shooting of Esau Castellanos by Chicago thugs.
</p>


feed_id: 7beccddc2ae2ccf1a9a29b587d308706
title: Woman escaped from Raqqa
uri: Woman-escaped-from-Raqqa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Woman_escaped_from_Raqqa%29
content:
<p>A woman reports on how she 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/09/sophie-kasiki-isis-raqqa-child-radicalised">
escaped from Raqqa</a>
 after converting to
Islam and moving there to be a slave of PISSI.
</p>
<p>I hope she can teach others to resist this madness.</p>


feed_id: f467fb750a2bc7aa9cca2ed007622d17
title: California methane leak
uri: California-methane-leak
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28California_methane_leak%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/author/itemlist/user/48233">
How Corporate Greed Caused the Massive California Methane Leak.</a>
</p>


feed_id: 628ca564f74202f781add128b439b500
title: Results of marijuana legalization
uri: Results-of-marijuana-legalization
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Results_of_marijuana_legalization%29

content:
<p>Two years after marijuana became legal in Colorado, the 
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/author/itemlist/user/51814">
results</a>
 are clear:
a big drop in arrests and a big increase in state revenue.
</p>


feed_id: ddf544bb70458934dba71d3c4dcb183f
title: FBI to track some animal abuse
uri: FBI-to-track-some-animal-abuse
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28FBI_to_track_some_animal_abuse%29

content:
<p>The FBI will start tracking instances of cruelty to animals, 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/08/fbi-track-animal-abuse-homicide-which-animals">
except in factory farms</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 7149d64673f3b8b8ad7225541db6c342
title: You can make a difference
uri: You-can-make-a-difference
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28You_can_make_a_difference%29
content:
<p>An individual can 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/09/12-people-who-made-difference-and-you-can-too">
still make a difference</a>
 to the world, through firm and thoughtful effort.
</p>
<p>Even if you make only 1% of the difference that those people made,
it will still be an important contribution to humanity.</p>


feed_id: 007241ec29277329ba6c23951ea1bdff
title: Software censorship
uri: Software-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Software_censorship%29
content:
<p>China demonstrates that trying to stop unsnoopable conversation leads
straight to 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/01/china-shows-how-backdoors-lead-software-censorship">
absolute censorship of software</a>
 that people install on their computers.
</p>
<p>Citizens of the US, UK and France, your freedom is directly
threatened.  I suggest you join a strong and firm privacy defense
organization, without delay.</p>


feed_id: a7a38a9987d006b716479c1a59ede295
title: Voice commands will not serve you
uri: Voice-commands-will-not-serve-you
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Voice_commands_will_not_serve_you%29

content:
<p>Various proprietary appliances and systems are competing to get you
to 
<a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/3055178/why-every-gadget-you-own-suddenly-wants-to-talk-to-you">
give voice commands</a>
 to them.
They are designed to sucker you, not serve you.  If you don't want
to be a sucker, you had better reject them all.</p>


feed_id: 53bf8d002aae7cd0e8aef5c7bc89009e
title: Scan fingerprints to buy food
uri: Scan-fingerprints-to-buy-food
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Scan_fingerprints_to_buy_food%29
content:
<p>In Venezuela, purchasing food in a grocery store 
<a href="http://www.ifex.org/venezuela/2015/12/30/huella_digital/">
requires biometric ID and fingerprints</a>.
</p>
<p>Purchases there have long required giving a national ID number, and
that itself is oppressive.  When in Venezuela I have refused to do
this.</p>


feed_id: c7c021b81a72060fbd7116fe61180af1
title: US drivers' licenses as ID
uri: US-drivers-licenses-as-ID
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28US_drivers%27_licenses_as_ID%29
content:
<p>The US government is pushing to turn drivers' licenses into national
ID cards, but some states have resisted.  Sad to say, some of them
seem to be 
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/01/next-week-five-states-ids-will-stop-working-in-federal-facilities/">
on the verge of caving in</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 0176bf755836ffb3d8bea6aed563bd29
title: Facebook censors little mermaid
uri: Facebook-censors-little-mermaid
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Facebook_censors_little_mermaid%29

content:
<p>Facebook thinks that Copenhagen's famous mermaid statue 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nude-mermaid-art-gets-censored_568a9c24e4b0b958f65c2d5d">
needs a bathing suit</a>.
</p>
<p>The statue is also afflicted by today's harsh and insanely long
copyright.</p>


feed_id: 2b24c4a263e6a516439622517d60122e
title: Urgent: Wasserman Schultz's resignation
uri: Urgent-Wasserman-Schultz-s-resignation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Wasserman_Schultzs_resignation%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on DNC chair Wasserman Schultz to
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/DWS_Resign">resign</a>.


feed_id: c83d9bd761fd19e2543d13b2481622e6
title: Guber
uri: 2016-01-10-Guber
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Guber%29
content:
<p>
Guber (*) will encrypt user location data to
<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3055313/uber-agrees-to-encrypt-all-user-geo-data-to-close-god-view-investigation">protect
users' privacy from some forms of malicious access</a>.
<p>
Don't feel safe with Guber yet!  If Guber retains the ability to
decrypt that data, the possibility of accessing the data will still
exist.  Perhaps when Big Brother wants to see it.
<p>
Meanwhile, Guber
<a href="https://stallman.org/uber.html">demands to know who you are, and demands you run
nonfree software</a>.
<p>
* Its official name is "Uber", but I call it "Guber" since it pays
drivers peanuts.  Which is another reason to refuse to use Guber.


feed_id: abe250b387fe5ed9400efb3986003b07
title: South Africa to punish journalism
uri: South-Africa-to-punish-journalism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28South_Africa_to_punish_journalism%29

content:
<p>
South Africa is
<a href="https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2016/01/raymond-joseph-south-africa-cybercrimes-and-cybersecurity-bill/">planning
to punish journalism as espionage</a>, following Obama's evil example.


feed_id: 41a0127449d70714bd825a69b1b9c362
title: Chinese censorship
uri: 2016-01-10-Chinese-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Chinese_censorship%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.dw.com/en/poet-yang-lian-there-are-cracks-and-holes-in-chinas-censorship/a-18965418">How
artists look for the cracks</a> in increasing Chinese censorship.


feed_id: 168e782e8d2fc0af0fea18ad4454d753
title: Silicon Valley surveillance
uri: Silicon-Valley-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Silicon_Valley_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Asking Silicon Valley to 'Disrupt' Terrorists Is Tech Talk for
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/08/white-house-silicon-valley-meeting-terrorism-social-media-facebook-twitter-microsoft-youtube-apple">'Surveillance'</a>.


feed_id: 530cd5d1f73d8039c1573d0dfe0514d0
title: Dalits punished for protesting
uri: Dalits-punished-for-protesting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Dalits_punished_for_protesting%29

content:
<p>
Pressure from Hindu extremist political organizations in India has
influenced Hyderabad University to punish Dalits that
<a href="http://www.bhatkallys.com/news-regional/hyderabad-university-dalit-students-pay-heavy-price-protesting-hindutva-brigade/">protested
mistreatment by bigoted students</a>.


feed_id: 29e93ae3601a3b21969475f929461235
title: Video of murder suppressed
uri: Video-of-murder-suppressed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Video_of_murder_suppressed%29
content:
<p>
Internal emails show that Rahm Emanuel's team worked hard to suppress
the video of Laquan McDonald's murder secret,
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/1/7/1466951/-Emails-show-that-Emanuel-s-lawyers-tried-to-keep-McDonald-video-hidden-during-election">for
his re-election's sake</a>.
<p>
This is one reason why Rahm Emanuel ought to resign as mayor.


feed_id: 43aaadcecc5d57ecaf94d4bfffc70460
title: Charges for leaving children in car
uri: Charges-for-leaving-children-in-car
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Charges_for_leaving_children_in_car%29

content:
<p>
Mr and Ms Hypes left their children in a car in a parking lot while
buying snacks for them.  For this, they face criminal charges and
their children
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/01/07/parents-arrested-cps-might-take-kids-bec">may
be taken away from them</a>.
<p>
The Hypes did do one thing that was very wrong: they had a second
child which they could not afford without public assistance.  (I don't
know whether they were already poor when they had their first child.)
Many people do that; it is unfair to those children and to the rest of
us.
<p>
We should take steps to prevent it from happening.  However, arresting
the parents subsequently as they struggle to cope does no good at all.


feed_id: c37cee7c2f1f27f6ff8e55f65aeae250
title: The occupiers of Oregon wildlife refuge
uri: The-occupiers-of-Oregon-wildlife-refuge
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28The_occupiers_of_Oregon_wildlife_refuge%29

content:
<p>
The right-wing anarchists that occupied Malheur's wildlife management
center are
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/01/06/making-a-murderer-and-malheur-militia">judged
with prejudice</a> by many Americans because they are "rednecks".
<p>
We should not misrepresent the situation by calling them "terrorists".
However, there are fundamental differences between them and Black
Lives Matter.
<p>
Black Lives Matter demands that thugs stop unjustified killing of
black people.  The occupiers of the Oregon wildlife refuge demand to
be allowed to destroy wildlife for their profit.
<p>
There is also a fundamental difference in their methods.  Black Lives
Matter does peaceful (though occasionally inconvenient) protests.  The
armed occupiers in Oregon threaten violence.
<p>
Thus, I support Black Lives Matter, while I hope to see the occupiers
sentenced and jailed.
<p>
We should not misrepresent the situation by calling the occupiers a
"militia".  Under the US Constitution, they aren't one.  If they were
one, they
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/01/08/1467169/-Dear-Militiamen-Meet-the-New-Boss-Same-as-the-Old-Boss">would
be under the president's orders</a>.


feed_id: c814d8403434463f70ae309d45250260
title: Harmful chemicals injected by frackers
uri: Harmful-chemicals-injected-by-frackers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Harmful_chemicals_injected_by_frackers%29

content:
<p>
Of 1021 chemicals injected by frackers, researchers found data about
240.  Of those,
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/07/new-study-highlights-big-unknowns-public-health-harm-frackings-chemical-cocktail">150
(over half) are associated with reproductive or developmental
damage</a>.
<p>
These problems can affect humans and wildlife.
<p>
For the other 781 chemicals, no experimental results have been
published, but we can expect that a large fraction of them cause
similar problems.


feed_id: 8d4dbcb61313a97508758b63eba5d43a
title: Every time business calls the shots
uri: Every-time-business-calls-the-shots
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Every_time_business_calls_the_shots%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/jan/09/earth-will-lose-every-time-when-companies-call-shots">The
Planet Will Lose</a> Every Time That Business Calls the Shots.


feed_id: ab0e76133c68f59c3699154d17825877
title: Guns in Texas Psychiatric Hospitals
uri: Guns-in-Texas-Psychiatric-Hospitals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Guns_in_Texas_Psychiatric_Hospitals%29

content:
<p>
Guns in Texas Psychiatric Hospitals
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/08/texas-open-carry-gun-law-psychiatric-hospitals">Could
Harm Patients</a>, Advocates Say.


feed_id: 04d7440ccb6796fa0de4f18967aa5e51
title: American football
uri: 2016-01-10-American-football
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28American_football%29
content:
<p>
Football exposes players of all ages to the
<a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/review/544466/are-young-athletes-risking-brain-damage/">danger
of brain damage</a>.
<p>
Players at certain ages may be specially vulnerable because certain
parts of their brains are still developing.
<p>
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is 
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2014/10/us/ncaa-concussions/">not 
doing its job</a> to protect college football players from this danger.


feed_id: 01112b8a94012953a9d92088e5750f7b
title: UK "junior doctors" to go on strike
uri: UK-junior-doctors-to-go-on-strike
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28UK_junior_doctors_to_go_on_strike%29

content:
<p>
UK "junior doctors" will go on strike
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/08/junior-doctors-strike-to-go-ahead-after-talks-fail">against
government plans to gradually cut their pay</a>.


feed_id: 5fa0b4e71cdad0a062b7f519dc2266d1
title: NY Thug Department surveillance
uri: NY-Thug-Department-surveillance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28NY_Thug_Department_surveillance%29

content:
<p>
The New York Thug Department has
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/08/nypd-spied-muslim-americans-will-court-settlement-bring-change">settled
a lawsuit</a> by adopting measures to prevent it from surveilling
people because they are Muslims.


feed_id: fb208094e101d09cf485d27127041572
title: College football
uri: 2016-01-10-College-football
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#07_January_2016_%28College_football%29
content:
<p>
The President of Drexel University says why that school has no
football team: prestigious football teams
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2016/01/04/3735956/drexel-president-no-football/">cost
schools a lot of money, and drive up the cost of education</a>.
<p>
The same problem with football exists for 
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_(American_football)">college
students and younger students</a>.  


feed_id: 5de2b38d1365f786d48bdef83beaf47d
title: Forecast for the next decade
uri: Forecast-for-the-next-decade
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Forecast_for_the_next_decade%29
content:
<p>
A long-range forecast for the next decade:
<a href="http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2016/01/long-range-forecast.html">increased
conflict and economic difficulty</a>.


feed_id: 26376ee46ca86e06caf4d68b15762e18
title: Surveillance and punishment
uri: Surveillance-and-punishment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Surveillance_and_punishment%29
content:
<p>
The US is
<a href="https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2016/01/replacing_judgm.html">drifting
into a surveillance-and-punishment social score system</a> like what
China's government has explicitly imposed.
<p>
This is a side effect of something that is bad for other reasons:
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">massive
surveillance</a>.  Instead of trying to treat the symptom, let's cure
the disease.


feed_id: 36f452c04443f38a79f8d9a963222d16
title: Fracking earthquakes
uri: Fracking-earthquakes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Fracking_earthquakes%29
content:
<p>
Proper regulations can prevent fracking wastewater from causing
earthquakes, but Oklahoma's legislature is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/10/fracking-earthquakes-oklahoma-colorado-gas-companies">too
corrupted to bother</a>.


feed_id: b96a2f7cb638bad20be116bd008229a2
title: Argentina's new Supreme Court judges
uri: Argentina-s-new-Supreme-Court-judges
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Argentinas_new_Supreme_Court_judges%29

content:
<p>
Argentina's right-wing president claims to have appointed new judges to the
Supreme Court
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/10/argentinian-president-mauricio-macri-anti-democratic-decrees">without
asking for the required Senate approval</a>.


feed_id: 87d4dd7be2dac3ff3333dec8577ac36d
title: New snooping device
uri: New-snooping-device
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28New_snooping_device%29
content:
<p>
A
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/10/petzi-monitor-your-pet">new
snooping device</a> is meant for watching pets.
<p>
Whose pet are you?


feed_id: ab60461b8ceabe94bf08ba0f17c20c78
title: Spooks and security reporters
uri: Spooks-and-security-reporters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Spooks_and_security_reporters%29
content:
<p>
Beware Spooks
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/10/beware-spooks-stringing-along-security-correspondents">Stringing
Along Security Reporters</a>.


feed_id: 8a91205b0b1c3b1ff80998b5ed08329d
title: Catholic sexual rigidity
uri: Catholic-sexual-rigidity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Catholic_sexual_rigidity%29
content:
<p>
Pope Francis has put a softer glove on the same old Catholic sexual
rigidity, but
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/10/pope-francis-the-name-of-god-is-mercy-review">has
not made the underlying stance more flexible</a>.


feed_id: 689eafc90dab5fc35c267ae745db22e9
title: Malware from Forbes.com
uri: Malware-from-Forbes-com
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Malware_from_Forbes.com%29
content:
<p>
Forbes.com demanded readers turn off ad-blockers — then sent
them
<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/08/you-say-advertising-i-say-block-that-malware/">malware</a>.
<p>
In fact, ordinary ads in web pages are all malware <em>because they
track visitors</em>.  Surveillance is a malicious functionality;
hence, malware.


feed_id: 61dd6f80a5da1af28516ec46a125f22a
title: Internet of Things
uri: 2016-01-11-Internet-of-Things
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Internet_of_Things%29
content:
<p>
The Internet of Things That
<a href="https://www.schneier.com/essays/archives/2016/01/the_internet_of_thin_1.html">Talk
About You Behind Your Back</a>.
<p>
Some are
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/02/technology/looking-beyond-the-internet-of-things.html?_r=1">planning
to foist this on everything in your life</a>.


feed_id: 65fd8583ad8d688d94c28e7c081d4d25
title: Wall Street Taking Over Nonprofit Sector
uri: Wall-Street-Taking-Over-Nonprofit-Sector
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_%28Wall_Street_Taking_Over_Nonprofit_Sector%29

content:
<p>
Wall Street
<a href="https://shadowproof.com/2016/01/04/wall-street-taking-over-nonprofit-sector/">Taking
Over Nonprofit Sector</a>.  Increasingly, the boards of directors of
charities include representatives of Wall Street who will insure that
the charities never rock a boat.


feed_id: 7b037fc73d96ddc9b2f74d7f2acfec67
title: Urgent: Reject the TPP
uri: 2016-01-12-Urgent-Reject-the-TPP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_the_TPP%29
content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/stop_tpp_2016">call on
Congress</a> to reject the TPP.


feed_id: 6c5d2567dc7405c7b68c33d6df2a232b
title: US political violence
uri: US-political-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28US_political_violence%29
content:
<p>
The US has been
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/04/american-empire-murder-inc">sponsoring,
teaching and carrying out</a> political violence in countries across
the globe for more than a century now.


feed_id: bd9a0637e25f89106c409b12d7fc7d31
title: Urgent: Prevent lead poisoning
uri: Urgent-Prevent-lead-poisoning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Prevent_lead_poisoning%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/lead-poisoning/">call for
restoration of funds</a> for preventing lead poisoning.


feed_id: 1277e5189c7158409db3c1b6d32345e6
title: Urgent: Investigate killer thugs
uri: Urgent-Investigate-killer-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_killer_thugs%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/DOJ_Black_Lives">call on the
Justice Department</a> to investigate killer thugs.


feed_id: 6f734d9ea71a422dc7be26c5bd06384a
title: Urgent: Break up the big banks
uri: Urgent-Break-up-the-big-banks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Break_up_the_big_banks%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/SandersWallSt/">support
Sanders' plan</a> to break up the big banks and put a leash on
banksters' power.


feed_id: 1276268425ee6600aae7f54905ade0a0
title: Imprisonment of children
uri: Imprisonment-of-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28Imprisonment_of_children%29
content:
<p>
UNICEF estimates that
<a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/08/children-behind-bars">at
least a million children</a> are imprisoned for various reasons.


feed_id: 86a2a49a3c40c9b257305445e26dced7
title: Digital surveillance of Pentagon staff
uri: Digital-surveillance-of-Pentagon-staff
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28Digital_surveillance_of_Pentagon_staff%29

content:
<p>
The Pentagon has
<a href="https://shadowproof.com/2016/01/07/insider-threat-program-hundred-thousand-pentagon-personnel-under-total-surveillance/">imposed
pervasive digital surveillance on over 100,000 staff</a>, even outside
of work.
<p>
This is, I presume, to make sure they don't give information to the
Pentagon's enemies, which include the American public.


feed_id: 4631d7857b213a3dd3c924f755ab6fe2
title: Basic income for citizens
uri: Basic-income-for-citizens
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28Basic_income_for_citizens%29
content:
<p>
A basic income for citizens has in several cases encouraged
<a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/santens20160110">social
cohesion</a>.


feed_id: b83bbfe930c235b5e36408b5621fb079
title: The wildlife refuge occupiers
uri: The-wildlife-refuge-occupiers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28The_wildlife_refuge_occupiers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://boingboing.net/2016/01/09/de-bullshitifying-the-libertop.html">De-bullshitifying</a>
the libertopian Legend of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
<p>
It is an exaggeration to call the occupiers
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#10_January_2016_(The_occupiers_of_Oregon_wildlife_refuge)">"terrorists"</a>,
but I expect that Doctorow is correct about the facts.


feed_id: ea5e284bb54668cec9c1ad6857a4c4d3
title: Turkey and PISSI
uri: Turkey-and-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#11_January_2016_%28Turkey_and_PISSI%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/10/isis-immigration-operation-turkey-syria-border-passenger-manifests-tel-abyad-islamic-state">PISSI
'Ran Sophisticated Immigration Operation' on Turkey-Syria Border</a>.
<p>
Turkey could seal the border if it tried.  It has supported PISSI for
reasons
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#21_November_2015_(Turkey_keeps_PISSIs_supply_lines_open)">financial</a>
and <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_November_2015_(PISSI%27s_violence_helps_Erdogan)">ideological</a>.
<p>
PISSI is the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_September_2014_(PISSI)">Pseudo-Islamic
State in Syria and Iraq</a>.


feed_id: 051797b4efa5e0b4f6e4ef510e7314f6
title: Totoaba and vaquita headed for extinction
uri: Totoaba-and-vaquita-headed-for-extinction
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Totoaba_and_vaquita_headed_for_extinction%29

content:
<p>
The totoaba fish, and the vaquita porpoise, are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/radical-conservation/2016/jan/11/china-aquatic-cocaine-vaquita-totoaba-mexico-endangered-extinct">headed
for extinction</a> because of selfish and callous rich Chinese who
don't care what they destroy in proving how important they are.
<p>
Curiously, the eating of fish swim bladder (from non-endangered fish)
is a common practice in Chinese food.  Try crabmeat and fish maw soup
if you ever get a chance.


feed_id: 5a803fb5be69d1d1d39a04a9d36c4ae0
title: Plutocrats' "money is speech"
uri: Plutocrats-money-is-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Plutocrats_money_is_speech%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/01/if-money-speech-first-amendment-billionaires-dream">"Money
is speech"</a> turns the First Amendment into a requirement for
plutocrats' money to rule all.


feed_id: de7d12f8dfc370da970917d31b769842
title: State regulation of toxic chemicals
uri: State-regulation-of-toxic-chemicals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28State_regulation_of_toxic_chemicals%29

content:
<p>
SCROTUS are 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/11/toxic-reform-law-would-gut-state-rules-on-dangerous-chemicals/">trying
to stop states from regulating toxic chemicals</a>.  The bill would
ban states from regulating chemicals that the EPA has started to test.
<p>
Because the EPA is constrained to be very slow and cautious, and has
little funds to do this, protecting Americans from toxic chemicals
depends on states that have more courage.  That's inconvenient for the
businesses that use the chemicals, so naturally their subservient
legislators are trying to stop the states.
<p>
SCROTUS: Sleazy Congressional Republicans Of The United States


feed_id: 7affc8e5c7f4be6cb6a6fd7bb7df210e
title: UK's immigration law
uri: UK-s-immigration-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28UKs_immigration_law%29
content:
<p>
The UK's immigration law converts foreign domestic workers into 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jan/11/uk-increasing-abuse-foreign-maids-tied-visas">slaves
of their employers</a>.
<p>
The employers go as far as 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jan/11/domestic-workers-abused-uk-london-gulf-state-employers-iron-pressed-my-hand">maiming
them</a>.  If they run away, the government punishes them and denies
them medical care.


feed_id: b6c4436308911585b7a76aa019033eb9
title: Africa's population growth
uri: Africa-s-population-growth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Africas_population_growth%29
content:
<p>
Africa's population growth rate is not declining.  If it doesn't
decline, it will cause a 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jan/11/population-growth-in-africa-grasping-the-scale-of-the-challenge">disaster
of overpopulation</a> that will spill over to the rest of the world.
<p>
We should give Africa all the aid necessary to bring its population
under control.


feed_id: 9973f62bbafb814820432b003adee1c2
title: Carbon tax
uri: Carbon-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Carbon_tax%29
content:
<p>
A carbon tax can encourage cuts in emissions
while having 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/11/uk-wide-carbon-tax-would-have-little-impact-on-consumers-study-finds">little
overall effect on prices of goods</a>.


feed_id: 73745812998ce7b4ab5cdf3afacbc83a
title: Tropical forests
uri: Tropical-forests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Tropical_forests%29
content:
<p>
Tropical forests are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/11/climate-change-solutions-rainforest-melting-polar-ice-caps">effective
methods of pulling carbon out of the air</a>, as long as we don't
convert them into plantations.


feed_id: 0cc6a7d1fdd0344529efb219faf0b0d1
title: Children killed by Russian bombers
uri: Children-killed-by-Russian-bombers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Children_killed_by_Russian_bombers%29

content:
<p>
Russian bombers 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/11/syria-monitor-says-children-dead-after-russian-airstrike-hits-school">killed
more children in Syria</a>.
<p>
They are matching the US-supported bombings carried out by 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#21_December_2015_(US_alliance_with_Salafi_Arabia)">Salafi
Arabia in Yemen</a>.


feed_id: 7ee5c94a0e1f1d43be34a19d72e9de5e
title: NHS privatisation
uri: NHS-privatisation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28NHS_privatisation%29
content:
<p>
My Junior Doctor Colleagues Are Striking for the Wrong Reasons:
"Everyone in the [UK] NHS should rise up against 
<a href='http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/views-from-the-nhs-frontline/2016/jan/11/nhs-junior-doctors-striking-wrong-reasons-privatisation'>privatisation</a>."


feed_id: 645f6e1f7dc2f96e9179c56cabb3a782
title: Americans eager to bomb other countries
uri: Americans-eager-to-bomb-other-countries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Americans_eager_to_bomb_other_countries%29

content:
<p>
Americans are 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/11/why-collateral-damage-elicits-so-little-empathy-among-americans">eager
to bomb other countries</a>; they feel little empathy with the people
who are killed, or made homeless.


feed_id: 61dbeec237a407c207b2bc6d39494a14
title: Republican Election Rigging Tactics
uri: Republican-Election-Rigging-Tactics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Republican_Election_Rigging_Tactics%29

content:
<p>

<a href="https://stallman.org/republican-election-rigging.html">Republican
Election Rigging Tactics</a>


feed_id: e4d4749637388501b3a1ea03ddafbff6
title: Urgent: Reduce diesel exhaust
uri: Urgent-Reduce-diesel-exhaust
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Reduce_diesel_exhaust%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1825">call
on the EPA</a> to reduce diesel exhaust near ports, trains and truck
routes.


feed_id: c8e1088df988508ea94d6e17f6963dbb
title: Americans' long work hours
uri: Americans-long-work-hours
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Americans_long_work_hours%29
content:
<p>
Why do Americans work such long hours?  One cause is that 
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/01/inequality-work-hours/422775/">ordinary
workers wages have not kept up with their productivity</a>.


feed_id: c3e7817836e9d85d41f086c6045f8a18
title: Polish journalists protest new media law
uri: Polish-journalists-protest-new-media-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Polish_journalists_protest_new_media_law%29

content:
<p>
Polish journalists protested the new media law that 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/jan/11/polish-journalists-protest-at-states-control-of-public-broadcasting">gives
the state direct political control over public broadcasting</a>.


feed_id: 374caeca2d373971fbc06ef69a2c75e1
title: The shadow banking sector
uri: The-shadow-banking-sector
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28The_shadow_banking_sector%29
content:
<p>
Good News: The Fed Is Finally
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/01/good-news-fed-finally-going-after-leverage-shadow-banking-sector">Going
After Leverage in the Shadow Banking Sector</a>.


feed_id: 576a25d296526fe8174f25a5b21d74db
title: Guantanamo special bureaucracy
uri: Guantanamo-special-bureaucracy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Guantanamo_special_bureaucracy%29

content:
<p>
How special bureaucracy 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/11/guantanamo-prisoner-release-delays-review-boards-closure">slows
down release of prisoners</a> from Guantanamo.


feed_id: b4a615d17bc57a76faddd7953befe349
title: Uganda attacking dissidents
uri: Uganda-attacking-dissidents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Uganda_attacking_dissidents%29
content:
<p>
Uganda is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jan/11/uganda-elections-political-intimidation-having-chilling-effect-media">attacking
journalists and dissidents</a>.


feed_id: e97d4e284c0d8d539a3d6e6e611c1067
title: Melting icebergs
uri: Melting-icebergs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Melting_icebergs%29
content:
<p>
Melting icebergs create 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/11/giant-icebergs-are-slowing-climate-change-research-reveals">negative
feedback</a> on global heating.
<p>
Good news, but that won't save us by itself.


feed_id: 115bbdc7e1dc4046dc05c7b76feee2f6
title: Cutting union funding for Labour Party
uri: Cutting-union-funding-for-Labour-Party
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Cutting_union_funding_for_Labour_Party%29

content:
<p>
The UK Conservative party is trying to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2016/jan/11/tory-assault-on-labour-funding-ignores-its-own-corruption">rig
future elections in its favor</a> by cutting union funding for the
Labour Party.
<p>
Cutting plutocrats' support for the Conservative Party is not on the
agenda.


feed_id: fa3747bd53d6d8e9619f4adccbc336bf
title: Bernie Sanders leads Trump in polls
uri: Bernie-Sanders-leads-Trump-in-polls
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Bernie_Sanders_leads_Trump_in_polls%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.juancole.com/2016/01/media-blackout-on-bernie-sanders-continues-even-though-he-leads-trump-in-polls.html">Media
Blackout</a> on Bernie Sanders Continues even though he leads Trump in
Polls.


feed_id: ef23447746145bdb244b64d97e61d5b9
title: Proprietary software to measure bra size
uri: Proprietary-software-to-measure-bra-size
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Proprietary_software_to_measure_bra_size%29

content:
<p>
If you are uncomfortable trusting another woman to measure your bra
size, now you can use a company's proprietary software, which entails
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/10/the-innovators-the-app-promising-the-perfect-fitting-bra">trusting
the company and Big Brother</a>.


feed_id: f94d119367b78b807ab81aa72d5eebb2
title: Why Putin's men poisoned Litvinenko
uri: Why-Putin-s-men-poisoned-Litvinenko
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Why_Putins_men_poisoned_Litvinenko%29

content:
<p>
It appears the reason Putin's men poisoned Alexander Litvinenko
was to
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/12/alexander-litvinenko-russia-murder">stop
him from testifying about Putin's links with Russian mafias</a>, which
were linked to Spanish mafias.


feed_id: 5cd69c7b15a1a512eea95638dd453484
title: Superstitious fear of vaccines
uri: Superstitious-fear-of-vaccines
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Superstitious_fear_of_vaccines%29

content:
<p>
Superstitious fear of vaccines
<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2016/01/11/new_study_clears_gardasil_of_unrelated_illness.html">kills
people</a>, even in the US.


feed_id: 73b08b78da28d0e191f129fc1ef3fac1
title: Iran arrests journalists
uri: Iran-arrests-journalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Iran_arrests_journalists%29
content:
<p>
Iran
<a href="https://cpj.org/2016/01/iran-arrests-journalists-bans-newspaper-ahead-of-e.php">Arrests
Journalists, Bans Newspaper</a> Ahead of Elections.


feed_id: bb875d939c24268ad57ce0075cb9e67f
title: Juniper Networks backdoor
uri: Juniper-Networks-backdoor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Juniper_Networks_backdoor%29
content:
<p>
Why did Juniper Networks add the NSA-sabotaged key generation code,
which was already suspect, when it
<a href="http://www.wired.com/2016/01/new-discovery-around-juniper-backdoor-raises-more-questions-about-the-company/">already
had a safe method</a>?


feed_id: 2d76e7a69b7ff387d4ac21d73fb1f015
title: Thugs use metatdata to score people
uri: Thugs-use-metatdata-to-score-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Thugs_use_metatdata_to_score_people%29

content:
<p>
US thugs now examine all sorts of records associated with a person's
name or address, to
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/11/metadata-comes-home-new-threat-score-policing-tools">estimate
how "dangerous" the person is</a> and whether to send a military-style
team to break down per door.
<p>
(I used Marge Piercy's third-person singular possessive form "per",
which is a gender-neutral alternative to "her".  I absolutely refuse
to use "they" in singular.)


feed_id: 7e69f687cdd98a242dc481adbb09033c
title: Isolation of old and disabled people
uri: Isolation-of-old-and-disabled-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Isolation_of_old_and_disabled_people%29

content:
<p>
In the UK, old and disabled people are now essentially
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/11/activity-older-people-cuts-elderly-social-life">isolated
in their homes</a>, never seeing anyone.  The activities where they
used to talk with other people have been eliminated, along with the
transport that would have brought them there.
<p>
People who have few social contacts tend to die sooner,
so I guess this is a way of getting rid of them.


feed_id: 0ff0dee4a82c3960f5c21ed3b22c7952
title: Promotion of long-term innovation
uri: Promotion-of-long-term-innovation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Promotion_of_long-term_innovation%29

content:
<p>
The Entrepreneurial State: states such as the US, Germany and UK have
made a big difference by actively promoting long-term innovation;
today's strip-the-state corporations
<a href="http://boingboing.net/2016/01/06/the-entrepreneurial-state-how.html">prevent
such long-term activity by evading taxes</a>.
<p>
We should not make the mistake of making innovation as such our
highest goal.  When the richest get to direct which innovations we
use, they will do so for their good, not ours.
<p>
When we do need progress, the effects of illegitimate plutocratic
governance can be seen when people
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/12/artificial-trees-fight-climate-change">foolishly
wish that billionaires would invest in the research</a>.
<p>
In the 1960s, when the US still made the rich pay substantial taxes,
the state funded important research.


feed_id: 2e2f17a409e29d1901d5dd718f162dd2
title: Sanders signs Fix Democracy pledge
uri: Sanders-signs-Fix-Democracy-pledge
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Sanders_signs_Fix_Democracy_pledge%29

content:
<p>
Sanders is
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/11/sanders-first-sign-fix-democracy-pledge-rejecting-fossil-fuel-cash">First
to Sign 'Fix Democracy' Pledge</a> Rejecting Fossil Fuel Cash.


feed_id: c14499a103ad58543cf14b3461ae70eb
title: Special Belgian tax breaks
uri: Special-Belgian-tax-breaks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Special_Belgian_tax_breaks%29
content:
<p>
The EU says that special Belgian tax breaks for some large companies
were
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/11/belgiums-tax-breaks-for-multinationals-ruled-illegal-state-aid">illegal</a>.


feed_id: e32ee5fb4347be37e35556b0cec2f387
title: Three MSF hospitals bombed since October
uri: Three-MSF-hospitals-bombed-since-October
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_%28Three_MSF_hospitals_bombed_since_October%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/11/in-yemen-civilians-suffer-relentless-bombing-by-saudi-led-coalition/">Three
MSF hospitals</a> have been bombed in Yemen since October, all by the
Salafi Arabia with US support.


feed_id: 1b73e4a52b4f236fffff7c6b5dc45206
title: China arrests human rights campaigner
uri: China-arrests-human-rights-campaigner
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28China_arrests_human_rights_campaigner%29

content:
<p>
China has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/china-human-rights-crackdown-arrest-peter-dahlin-swedish-activist">arrested
Swedish human rights campaigner Peter Dahlin</a> on typical absurd
charges.
<p>
Dahlin's campaign tried to defend Chinese human rights campaigners
who were arrested or disappeared by the state.  China has arrested
many Chinese lawyers who have done that.


feed_id: 8ef33b545e951efb676481152eee5c6b
title: Proposed attack on human rights in Canada
uri: Proposed-attack-on-human-rights-in-Canada
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Proposed_attack_on_human_rights_in_Canada%29

content:
<p>
Canadians are
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/canada-anti-terror-law-public-consultation-campaign">organizing
to oppose</a> the proposed attack on human rights.


feed_id: ad04f615c770ab20e305dd968e4a6c6b
title: Obama forgot commitment to end US wars
uri: Obama-forgot-commitment-to-end-US-wars
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Obama_forgot_commitment_to_end_US_wars%29

content:
<p>
Obama told us he would end US wars, but somehow 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/13/obama-wars-iraq-afghanistan-syria-foreign-policy-peace-failure">forgot
this commitment</a>.  Aside from Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul, the
current presidential candidates propose increasing US interventions.
<p>
These interventions typically (1) cause terrible harm, (2) create
failed states, (3) spread militarism, (4) boost the
military-industrial complex, and (5) undermine human rights in the US.
<p>
I am not a pacifist.  Some situations require war.  But if the
president is predisposed to war, we will do it far too much.


feed_id: 57aea13374f62b9ce880a4329005083e
title: Hong Kong to ban import and export of ivory
uri: Hong-Kong-to-ban-import-and-export-of-ivory
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Hong_Kong_to_ban_import_and_export_of_ivory%29

content:
<p>
Hong Kong has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/13/hong-kong-bans-import-and-export-of-ivory">agreed
to ban import and export of ivory</a>.
<p>
This may help save elephants.


feed_id: cbd4a7263e259f1429efa033046ab80e
title: Cuts in legal aid in the UK
uri: Cuts-in-legal-aid-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Cuts_in_legal_aid_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
The UK's highest judge says that cuts in legal aid have made for 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/jan/13/uk-most-senior-judge-says-justice-has-become-unaffordable-to-most">injustice
in trials</a>.


feed_id: e5dd327d1798e06b1f40ba6d9ad766ea
title: Snooping on Muslim students
uri: Snooping-on-Muslim-students
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Snooping_on_Muslim_students%29
content:
<p>
Directors of UK schools warn that pressuring them to snoop on Muslim
students 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jan/12/rules-extremism-teachers-pupils-spy-radicalisation-muslims-prevent">will
backfire</a>.


feed_id: a15082d1128db1130ef501caeb00ec06
title: Salafi Arabia arrests Samar Badawi
uri: Salafi-Arabia-arrests-Samar-Badawi
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Salafi_Arabia_arrests_Samar_Badawi%29

content:
<p>
Salafi Arabia has arrested Samar Badawi, sister of imprisoned Raif
Badawi, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/12/samar-badawi-sister-blogger-raif-badawi-arrested-saudi-arabia">for
advocating release of her former husband from prison</a>.


feed_id: 5f324f2862744016ead32644a1cfa021
title: Obama's men demand total snooping again
uri: Obama-s-men-demand-total-snooping-again
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Obamas_men_demand_total_snooping_again%29

content:
<p>
Obama's men are 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/12/apples-tim-cook-lashes-out-at-white-house-officials-for-being-wishy-washy-on-encryption/">demanding
total snooping</a> again.
<p>
It is absurd to claim that "security" requires that nobody be able to
have a private conversation any more.  That's tyranny, not safety.
<p>
Our best chance, perhaps our only chance ever, to convert the US
back into a democracy is Sanders' "political revolution".
Please give him your energetic support.


feed_id: a635a381010515978dc158d54745c3ae
title: Ocean acidification
uri: 2016-01-14-Ocean-acidification
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Ocean_acidification%29
content:
<p>
Acidification Affects the 
<a href="http://phys.org/news/2016-01-acidification-affects-ability-bacteria-oceans.html?utm_source=menu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=item-menu">Ability
of Bacteria to Clean Our Oceans</a>.


feed_id: 3182bb693d91612cc9ff286067c77cd5
title: Indonesia denies visa to journalist
uri: Indonesia-denies-visa-to-journalist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Indonesia_denies_visa_to_journalist%29

content:
<p>
Indonesia 
<a href="https://cpj.org/2016/01/indonesia-denies-media-visa-for-france-24-reporter.php">denied
a visa to journalist Cyril Payen</a>, apparently because he made a
documentary about Indonesia's response to the independence movement in
West Papua.


feed_id: 31ff515f4e268cc89cb2ee5bc9e3abec
title: Monitoring people through "their" phones
uri: Monitoring-people-through-their-phones
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Monitoring_people_through_their_phones%29

content:
<p>
The natural extension of monitoring people through "their" phones is
<a href="http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2016/01/fool-activity-tracker.html">proprietary
software to make sure they can't "fool" the monitoring</a>.


feed_id: 5104fd610987bd4bbd5135b307a26d59
title: Benefits for people with injuries
uri: Benefits-for-people-with-injuries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Benefits_for_people_with_injuries%29

content:
<p>Cutting benefits for people with injuries who might be able to work
will 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/12/cutting-disabled-benefits-welfare-harder-work">
make it harder</a>
 for them to find work.
</p>


feed_id: be1b9198bc2d3b1e31b892c5941b0d56
title: Bernie Sanders endorsed by MoveOn
uri: Bernie-Sanders-endorsed-by-MoveOn
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Bernie_Sanders_endorsed_by_MoveOn%29

content:
<p>MoveOn's members voted by almost 80% to 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/12/moveon-endorses-sanders-following-massive-membership-vote">
endorse Bernie Sanders</a>
 for president.
</p>
<p>I hope this helps him win.  I would be so glad to be able to vote for
a major party candidate for president again.</p>


feed_id: e208c01f4f0bc201ad4fccc4777b063d
title: Israel sued in US for attack on ship
uri: Israel-sued-in-US-for-attack-on-ship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Israel_sued_in_US_for_attack_on_ship%29

content:
<p>Personnel from one of the Gaza aid ships, which flew the US flag, are
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/12/gaza-activists-lawsuit-israel-attack-flotilla">
suing Israel</a>
 in the US for attacking their ship.
</p>


feed_id: 07e27e65630d8e60e42e513059d70e99
title: Arrest of El Chapo
uri: Arrest-of-El-Chapo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Arrest_of_El_Chapo%29
content:
<p>The arrest (yet again) of El Chapo will 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/12/el-chapo-capture-failures-of-drug-war-mexico-us">
have no effect</a>
 on the harm done by the "war on drugs".
</p>
<p>Note that the War on Painkillers does collateral damage to people who
suffer from pain.  I worry, when I think about it, that some day after
another operation I will once again be sent home and told to rely on
percoset
to treat the pain, and once again it won't be enough to do the job.</p>


feed_id: f57d86d39bc92b3717a4cacd9fb306f8
title: Urgent: ask EPA to regulate methane leaks
uri: Urgent-ask-EPA-to-regulate-methane-leaks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_ask_EPA_to_regulate_methane_leaks%29

content:
<p>US citizens: 
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-leaks/">
call on the EPA</a>
 to regulate methane leaks from existing sources.
</p>


feed_id: c4271fb71b046218fa495496829b0719
title: Urgent: call on Congress to expand social security
uri: Urgent-call-on-Congress-to-expand-social-security
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_call_on_Congress_to_expand_social_security%29

content:
<p>US citizens: 
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-security/">
call on Congress</a>
 to expand social security, not cut it.
</p>


feed_id: 2257cca945d082d3ee42788cd8112739
title: Bees and imidacloprid
uri: Bees-and-imidacloprid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Bees_and_imidacloprid%29
content:
<p>Bayer has given up on 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/12/bayer-revises-position-extra-protections-for-bees-from-pesticides">
trying to deny</a>
 the EPA's finding that imidacloprid harms bees.
</p>
<p>If it is really possible to use these pesticides without harming
honeybees or other pollinators, that would be nice.  But we must be
careful of believing that too easily because Bayer pushes us to close
our eyes to facts.</p>


feed_id: 71defeb96c5afeba773d1b881c5f8fc8
title: Anti-fracking protesters
uri: Anti-fracking-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Anti-fracking_protesters%29
content:
<p>Compare 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/12/anti-fracking-protesters-dig-in-as-eviction-battle-starts-in-upton-cheshire">
these protesters</a>
 who aim to protect people and nature against
fracking with the armed Oregon protesters who demand to be allowed to
overgraze and destroy wild forests.
</p>
<p>The anti-frackers have "fortified" the site with a moat ad tunnels
— but no weapons.</p>


feed_id: b4db92dcbec91c6e8174185f89f5f1cb
title: Error in energy budget approach
uri: Error-in-energy-budget-approach
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Error_in_energy_budget_approach%29

content:
<p>The "energy budget" approach to measuring Earth's climate sensitivity
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/jan/12/nasa-study-fixes-error-in-low-contrarian-climate-sensitivity-estimates">
gave anomalously low results</a>
 — due to an error which has now been corrected.
</p>
<p>This particular straw is no longer available for denialists to grasp
at
when arguing we should not hasten to decarbonize.</p>


feed_id: 31278dc5fc3950d002953c42e15302bf
title: Risks of additional children
uri: Risks-of-additional-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Risks_of_additional_children%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2016/January/0111FamilySize">
Researchers Say Additional Children Increase Risk of Educational, 
Behavioral Problems.</a>
</p>


feed_id: 78829e5149d24b136e26555f47c03cfe
title: Bernie Sanders' sincerity
uri: Bernie-Sanders-sincerity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#13_January_2016_%28Bernie_Sanders%27_sincerity%29
content:
<p>Bernie Sanders is a sincere liberal who 
<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-bernie-sanders-fundraising/">
cares more about what's right</a>
 than about what other people think.
</p>
<p>I disagree with one thing he says, however.  If I woke up and
discovered I had been transformed into a hedge fund manager, I'd quit
— <em>and</em> vote for Sanders.</p>
<p>I won't vote for Clinton, though.  Of all the Democratic (and
Republican) presidential candidates, Sanders is the only one I would
vote for.  If not him, then the Greens.</p>


feed_id: de723bd5fa0ddf101578051dac68e205
title: Urgent: Reject fossil fuel money
uri: 2016-01-14-Urgent-Reject-fossil-fuel-money
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_fossil_fuel_money%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3941">call
on presidential candidates</a> to pledge to reject fossil fuel money.


feed_id: 513a2c3dc71a5cc7b697d14d9eccbe69
title: Urgent: TPP explanation from Obama
uri: Urgent-TPP-explanation-from-Obama
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_TPP_explanation_from_Obama%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/potus-show-how-tpp-would">call
on Obama</a> to explain just how the TPP would (he claims) block
Transcanada's NAFTA suit against the US for disapproving the Keystone
XL pipeline.


feed_id: 4b2b781fb28422331b74a82cdbf53182
title: Mafia-style cartels run Kenya
uri: Mafia-style-cartels-run-Kenya
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Mafia-style_cartels_run_Kenya%29
content:
<p>
Kenya is run by mafia-style cartels,
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/kenya-is-run-by-mafia-style-cartels-says-chief-justice">reports
its chief justice</a>.  He says that they have corrupted the branches
of government that are supposed to curb them.


feed_id: 0c89f21768cbc0428a559bfef17c2697
title: The Koch brothers' father
uri: The-Koch-brothers-father
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28The_Koch_brothers_father%29
content:
<p>
The Koch brothers' father, Fred Koch,
<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/01/13014/koch-daddy-and-nazis-revealing-timeline">worked
closely with the fascist countries before World War II</a>, and in
1938 said he admired them.


feed_id: 45494308c8875694000241f9d0a946aa
title: Sanders' health care proposal
uri: Sanders-health-care-proposal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Sanders_health_care_proposal%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2016/01/chelsea-clinton-bernie-sanders-universal-health-care-plan">Clinton's
dishonest attack against</a> Sanders' universal health care proposal.


feed_id: 3deebe6f639b328ce1a8d2550874cd55
title: McDonald's
uri: McDonald-s
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28McDonalds%29
content:
<p>
McDonald's is accused of
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/12/mcdonalds-slammed-super-sized-grip-european-economy">unfair
competition in Europe</a>.


feed_id: 3425e34ff76b8df307e6a988e1ebd7dc
title: Ancient superstition oppresses women
uri: Ancient-superstition-oppresses-women
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Ancient_superstition_oppresses_women%29

content:
<p>
In India, the ancient superstition that considers menstruating women
"impure"
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jan/13/menstruation-temples-mosques-india-ban-women">still
oppresses women today</a>.


feed_id: 5b542fbe8915f7f660550eb3fccfb63e
title: 200 prisoners died in Russia in 2015
uri: 200-prisoners-died-in-Russia-in-2015
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28200_prisoners_died_in_Russia_in_2015%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/200-people-died-in-russian-police-custody-in-2015-says-website">200
prisoners died in Russia in 2015</a>.  Were some of them killed by
thugs?


feed_id: 9b5d22ed9fd7ac2cf17bcb2e5583aac2
title: Attacks on abortion rights
uri: Attacks-on-abortion-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Attacks_on_abortion_rights%29
content:
<p>
Around the world, religious fanatics' attacks on abortion rights have
caused a substantial decrease in safe, legal abortions, matched by an
equal
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/13/whos-driving-high-abortion-rates-religious-right">increase
in unsafe illegal abortions</a>.


feed_id: 278378b2fdb10e409a6b06370b217000
title: Environmental costs of oil and coal
uri: Environmental-costs-of-oil-and-coal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Environmental_costs_of_oil_and_coal%29

content:
<p>
Obama proposes to
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/13/obama-state-of-the-union-address-2016-coal-mining-public-lands">make
oil and coal extractors pay</a> for their environmental costs.
<p>
This would drive the price way up and encourage conservation.
However, it needs to apply to imported coal and oil, not solely
to the coal and oil extracted in the US.
<p>
The IMF endorsed a
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/13/imf-calls-for-carbon-tax-on-ships-and-planes">carbon
tax on ships and planes</a>.
<p>
It should cover everything, but that would be a good start.


feed_id: 9f84f7c3fdc4fbf799d413e7e45e4a07
title: Reducing carp infestation in Australia
uri: Reducing-carp-infestation-in-Australia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Reducing_carp_infestation_in_Australia%29

content:
<p>
A
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/13/fishers-and-conservationists-urge-release-of-herpes-virus-to-kill-murray-river-carp">virus
that infects only carp</a> may provide a way to reduce the carp that
infest a major Australian river.
<p>
It probably won't eradicate them, though; probably some are resistant.
<p>
By releasing several such species-specific viruses at once, and spread
them carefully, we might be able to eradicate the species from a
region.


feed_id: 85cc55c4b36e8029e5d6a358e9b538a9
title: Red light cameras installed due to bribes
uri: Red-light-cameras-installed-due-to-bribes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Red_light_cameras_installed_due_to_bribes%29

content:
<p>
Chicago allegedly installed lots of red light cameras due to
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/bribery-trial-of-australian-traffic-camera-company-redflex-begins-in-chicago">bribes
paid by the manufacturer</a>.
<p>
We must establish a principle that it is an injustice to use computers
to monitor and punish human beings.


feed_id: b99673189cca56022109ba5d242c27a8
title: Kaddie Abdul attends Trump rally
uri: Kaddie-Abdul-attends-Trump-rally
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#14_January_2016_%28Kaddie_Abdul_attends_Trump_rally%29

content:
<p>
Kaddie Abdul attended a Trump rally and
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/13/i-went-to-donald-trump-rally-in-my-hijab-supporters-arent-just-racist-caricatures">gave
his supporters a chance to meet and talk with a Muslim woman</a>.
<p>
Through her conversations, she came to understand their point of view.
Basically, they have suffered real hurt and offense, and blame it on
scapegoats.


feed_id: cc7bdfd32bd5304e59b4e674fbc80c27
title: St Louis financing new stadium for NFL
uri: St-Louis-financing-new-stadium-for-NFL
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28St_Louis_financing_new_stadium_for_NFL%29

content:
<p>
St Louis is experiencing the burden of 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2016/01/st-louis-pay-edward-jones-dome-los-angeles">stupidly
financing a new stadium for an NFL team</a>.


feed_id: 876e2ca67c7bf9e1b20430d89e4c5fc1
title: Revolving doors in Washington
uri: Revolving-doors-in-Washington
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Revolving_doors_in_Washington%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/13/from-google-payroll-to-government-and-back-to-google-again/">From
Google Payroll to Government and Back Again</a>.
<p>
Of course, this "revolving door" is not limited to Google or to
digital technology.  It is standard practice in Washington,
and it is harmful across the board.
<p>
Senator Kay Hagan Promised to Take On Special Interests,
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/13/hagan-special-interest/">Now
She Works for Them</a>.


feed_id: f594855bacd01821125aa188c9d9d158
title: PM Cameron's campaign to pollute
uri: PM-Cameron-s-campaign-to-pollute
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28PM_Camerons_campaign_to_pollute%29

content:
<p>
UK Prime Minister Cameron 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/12/david-cameron-denies-backsliding-on-the-environment">says
he did not "backslide" in his environmental policies</a>.
<p>
That's true.  His campaign to use up and pollute the environment has
only got stronger.


feed_id: 2dbeed2a3a1ea5a6f44e6c6180d0074e
title: Social media companies and government
uri: Social-media-companies-and-government
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Social_media_companies_and_government%29

content:
<p>
Social Media Companies 
<a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/28755/social-media-companies-decline-governments-invitation-join-national-security-state/">Should
Decline the Government's Invitation</a> to Join the National Security
State.


feed_id: 05d59514943a7fe644bf9298077ebf51
title: Oregon ranchers' difficulty
uri: Oregon-ranchers-difficulty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Oregon_ranchers_difficulty%29
content:
<p>
The Oregon ranchers' difficulty is not that the government regulates
use of land, but that it 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2016/01/malheur-militants-are-picking-wrong-beef-feds">allowed
four big companies to take over the beef-packing business</a>.


feed_id: e87a4edd7772952e45601ecf278879dd
title: Turkish journalists and opposition protest
uri: Turkish-journalists-and-opposition-protest
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Turkish_journalists_and_opposition_protest%29

content:
<p>
Turkish journalists and opposition protested about the 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/jan/13/media-demonstrators-in-turkey-demand-release-of-32-journalists">arrest
of over 150 journalists in Turkey</a>.


feed_id: 96246d19e8371504d1fa8cd594f244b6
title: Labour Party support boosted by Corbyn
uri: Labour-Party-support-boosted-by-Corbyn
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Labour_Party_support_boosted_by_Corbyn%29

content:
<p>
Corbyn, who rejects Tony B'liar's right-wing politics, has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/13/revealed-how-jeremy-corbyn-has-reshaped-the-labour-party">boosted
the support for the Labour Party</a>.


feed_id: cc5a700e537bc5522be3fcc94cfc351c
title: Christians flee persecution
uri: Christians-flee-persecution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Christians_flee_persecution%29
content:
<p>
Christians Flee Growing Persecution 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/christians-flee-growing-persecution-africa-middle-east">in
Africa and Middle East</a>.


feed_id: 20a95cfb03d22dd637e3fea143daf495
title: Pakistan arrests extremist group members
uri: Pakistan-arrests-extremist-group-members
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Pakistan_arrests_extremist_group_members%29

content:
<p>
Pakistan has arrested members of the 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/pakistan-holds-members-of-group-blamed-for-india-airbase-assault">extremist
group that the state formerly supported</a> to attack India.


feed_id: 819db9fec48413060e5464ca80b14467
title: The internet in poor countries
uri: The-internet-in-poor-countries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28The_internet_in_poor_countries%29

content:
<p>
In poor countries, the internet has not spread equality; it 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/13/internet-not-conquered-digital-divide-rich-poor-world-bank-report">provides
more benefit to the wealthy</a>.
<p>
This is a secondary issue.  More importantly, the internet <em>as most
people use it</em> is a system of oppression.


feed_id: 072b7648978f45bf0bae223cdf90441d
title: US libraries purging patron records
uri: US-libraries-purging-patron-records
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28US_libraries_purging_patron_records%29

content:
<p>
US libraries are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/13/us-library-records-purged-data-privacy">starting
to purge information on books borrowed</a>, to protect readers'
privacy.


feed_id: 1feee4d30862f119998a2ab27f7bd512
title: Zika likely to reach southern US
uri: Zika-likely-to-reach-southern-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Zika_likely_to_reach_southern_US%29

content:
<p>
Zika, the mosquito-borne virus that causes human fetuses to grow
without most of the brain, is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/13/zika-virus-texas-mosquito-birth-defect-epidemic">likely
to reach the southern US</a>.
<p>
Think of all the women in South America that will be forced by cruel
laws to carry these fetuses to term.  Will Christian fanatics in Texas
try to do the same thing?


feed_id: 0c6861219d9aed2d8b2e0e8cecc87ae2
title: Investigation of Israel's actions
uri: Investigation-of-Israel-s-actions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Investigation_of_Israels_actions%29

content:
<p>
Sweden's foreign minister 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/israel-bars-swedish-foreign-minister-over-call-inquiry-palestinian-deaths">called
for an investigation of Israel's "disproportionate" deadly
response</a> to attacks by Palestinians; Israel has said she is not
welcome there.
<p>
Israel does not allow 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-jul-oct.html#3%20September%202010%20(Israel%20accused%20of%20piracy%20in%20flotilla%20attack)">its 
actions</a> to be 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#22_August_2014_(Investigators_barred_from_Gaza)">investigated</a>.


feed_id: 3e2dd4737358863eddeec2cfc8bc64c9
title: Trump praises dictators
uri: Trump-praises-dictators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Trump_praises_dictators%29
content:
<p>
Donald Trump has 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/01/donald-trump-sure-does-people-who-make-trains-run-time">praised
a long string of dictators</a>, in countries such as China, Egypt,
Libya, Iraq, Russia and North Korea.


feed_id: 2c7231d2010796f5a9c11b6eab0a96f8
title: Mosul dam crumbling
uri: Mosul-dam-crumbling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Mosul_dam_crumbling%29
content:
<p>
Since PISSI captured the Mosul dam, the dam has not received its
necessary maintenance.  It is
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/1/11/1468380/-Worse-Than-Isis-Mosul-dam-foundation-dissolving-Half-a-million-Iraqis-could-die-State-Dept-Warns">starting
to crumble and might collapse</a>.
<p>
The water would inundate Mosul, and could kill a million people or
two.


feed_id: d483befe7e43b492df3263a0a788f259
title: US gov't wants reports about hotel guests
uri: US-gov-t-wants-reports-about-hotel-guests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28US_govt_wants_reports_about_hotel_guests%29

content:
<p>
The US government 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/01/12/homeland-security-asking-hotel-staff-to">wants
hotel workers to report hotel guests for various non-criminal
activities</a>, because supposedly indicates "sex trafficking".
<p>
Some of them might suggest prostitution is going on, but prostitution
does not equal trafficking.  The US has enacted dishonest laws which
pretend that all sex workers under a certain age are being raped, but
that is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#03_November_2015_(Discussion_of_sex-work_trafficking_in_Wisconsin)">not
for laws to decide</a>.
<p>
Some of these so-called signs don't relate to prostitution at all.  I
do several of them every time I stay in a hotel by myself, even though
I'm no sex worker.  (I'd never get anywhere in that profession with my
age and weight.)


feed_id: ebc8cb7f0dc16870a6adf2e1ad1ab7b6
title: Protesters using "necessity defense"
uri: Protesters-using-necessity-defense
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Protesters_using_necessity_defense%29

content:
<p>
Protesters that blocked an oil train are using the "necessity
defense", arguing that 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/12/necessity-defense-oil-train-trial-marks-historic-test-climate-defenders">their
action was needed to keep the community safe</a> from an explosion.


feed_id: 7a14f62c077f739fccad6843426f5325
title: Obama's nuclear modernization
uri: Obama-s-nuclear-modernization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Obamas_nuclear_modernization%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/12/does-obamas-nuclear-modernization-make-unthinkable-thinkable">Does
Obama's Nuclear Modernization Make the Unthinkable 'Thinkable'?</a>


feed_id: 4e286802e0a6d77aea3937e1637c9a94
title: Urgent: Iran deal
uri: Urgent-Iran-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Iran_deal%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-dont-sabotage">call
on Congress</a> not to sabotage the Iran deal.


feed_id: 62f63b36cae6b2fc27d5da41beb1e7b7
title: Fight between Turkey and PKK continues
uri: Fight-between-Turkey-and-PKK-continues
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Fight_between_Turkey_and_PKK_continues%29

content:
<p>
Fighting between the Turkish state and the Kurdish independence
movement PKK 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/14/turkey-police-headquarters-hit-by-car-bomb-attack-reports">continues</a>.
<p>
They had a truce, but Erdo&gbreve;an 
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#17_August_2015_(Provoking_PKK)">broke
the truce in 2015</a> in order to get a better election result.


feed_id: 53b4703ab33239ecef18c70d13eb217f
title: Ted Cruz used unreported funds
uri: Ted-Cruz-used-unreported-funds
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Ted_Cruz_used_unreported_funds%29

content:
<p>
Ted Cruz 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/14/ted-cruz-republican-senate-fundraising-loans-failed-to-disclose">used
unreported funds</a> in his 2012 Senate campaign.


feed_id: a120f6025b42583fe0fbb888a89655c2
title: India's contempt for freedom of speech
uri: India-s-contempt-for-freedom-of-speech
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Indias_contempt_for_freedom_of_speech%29

content:
<p>
India has demonstrated its contempt for freedom of speech
by 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/14/indian-comic-kiku-sharda-arrested-for-tv-spoof-of-guru-gurmeet-ram-rahim-singh">arresting
a comedian for mocking a religious leader</a>.


feed_id: a2e62928bdc18a532369c47e6308c1d5
title: Digital dossiers
uri: Digital-dossiers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Digital_dossiers%29
content:
<p>
Proposing a campaign for 
<a href="https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-shine-a-light-on-the-unseen-algorithms-that-power-big-brother-51373">"transparency"
about the algorithms</a> that make decisions about people based on
their digital dossiers.
<p>
This campaign is right, but misguided: it starts by presuming we
surrender the fight against collecting 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">digital
dossiers about all of us</a>.  That's what we ought to fight against.


feed_id: 25e99e8267a3b5debe88de6725f4386f
title: Asylum seekers from Central America
uri: Asylum-seekers-from-Central-America
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Asylum_seekers_from_Central_America%29

content:
<p>
The 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/13/central-america-refugees-united-states-migrants-admission-john-kerry">UNHCR
will interview people in Central America</a> that hope to ask for
asylum in the US.


feed_id: e79f05acef9b89aea9fdf697a381f326
title: Venezuelan opposition
uri: Venezuelan-opposition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Venezuelan_opposition%29
content:
<p>
The Venezuelan opposition 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/venezuela-opposition-national-assembly-deadlock-resign">yielded
to the Supreme Court</a>, so the opposition does not have a 2/3
majority.


feed_id: b8ec1abe855454cae34e5c4e904a68bc
title: Snooping on employees
uri: 2016-01-16-Snooping-on-employees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Snooping_on_employees%29
content:
<p>
In Europe, employers have been 
<a href="http://www.dw.com/en/boss-reading-your-private-messages-thats-ok-says-court/a-18976393">given
the right to read all messages sent by employees at work</a>.
<p>
I am not sure whether this applies only to use of the company's
systems, or also to the employee's own computers.


feed_id: 4f7b9e9c014268a919ce36ac69c73969
title: Religious fanatics against vaccination
uri: Religious-fanatics-against-vaccination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Religious_fanatics_against_vaccination%29

content:
<p>
Some religious fanatics in Pakistan 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/13/deadly-bombing-polio-clinic-points-cias-chilling-legacy">still
fight against polio vaccination</a>.  The CIA's hunt for Osama bin
Laden was partly responsible.
<p>
To have captured bin Laden and put him on trial would have been a good
thing.  Killing him instead was 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-nov-feb.html#12_December_2014_(CIA_torture_useless)">wrong</a>,
and made little progress against
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#9_January_2016_(PISSI)">religious 
fanaticism</a>.  Tarring the good name of polio vaccinators was a
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#07_September_2012_(Pakistan_punishes_Save_the_Children)">grave 
wrong</a>.


feed_id: 9f9d0d022868b68bee9bfba47c1c3358
title: Flint's water crisis
uri: Flint-s-water-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#15_January_2016_%28Flints_water_crisis%29
content:
<p>
Flint's Water Crisis 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/13/flints-water-crisis-flows-much-bigger-problem">Flows
From A Much Bigger Problem</a>.


feed_id: 9b2d955015a7e9a34f4ce5cd9822a0e6
title: Pollution killing orcas and dolphins
uri: Pollution-killing-orcas-and-dolphins
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Pollution_killing_orcas_and_dolphins%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/14/uks-last-resident-killer-whales-doomed-to-extinction">Pollution
with PCBs</a> is killing the orcas and dolphins of western europe.


feed_id: 0ce3a8cc5c56c70b2b5f6955df9b8231
title: Campbell's Soup Company to label GMOs
uri: Campbell-s-Soup-Company-to-label-GMOs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Campbells_Soup_Company_to_label_GMOs%29

content:
<p>
Campbell's Soup Company agreed to label all products that contain GMO
foods, saying that the 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/14/campbells-will-label-gmos-and-sky-will-not-fall">cost
of this labeling would be insignificant</a>.
<p>
This demonstrates that the opposition to a labeling requirement is
bullshit.
<p>
I do not believe that GMOs are invariably or inherently bad.  But
there are many ways that they <em>can</em> do harm, and without a firm
and strong regulatory system, the companies that develop them will
choose to 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2007-jan-apr.html#08%20February%202007%20(Car%20company%20lobbies)">ignore
the risks</a>.


feed_id: f23deb1dae99aa8b1d0d686fe5ab85bf
title: A defeat for religious fanaticism
uri: A-defeat-for-religious-fanaticism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28A_defeat_for_religious_fanaticism%29

content:
<p>
Gambia has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/14/the-gambia-lifts-headscarves-directive-after-resistance">backed
off from ordering female state employees to cover their hair</a> while
at work.
<p>
This is a small but significant defeat for religious fanaticism.


feed_id: c03d88a00e79641903d01bb2703da255
title: China's leading human rights lawyers
uri: China-s-leading-human-rights-lawyers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Chinas_leading_human_rights_lawyers%29

content:
<p>
China's leading human rights lawyers 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/14/chinas-pursuit-of-human-rights-lawyers-signals-aggressive-push-against-subversion">face
years in prison for "subversion"</a> for trying to implement China's
human rights law.


feed_id: 38add069dc4310ed9d7c74ed781095ee
title: Palestinian poet's death sentence
uri: Palestinian-poet-s-death-sentence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Palestinian_poets_death_sentence%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/14/writers-join-worldwide-action-to-protest-palestinian-poets-death-sentence-in-saudi-arabia">Writers
Join Worldwide Action to Protest</a> Palestinian Poet's Death Sentence
in [Salafi Arabia].
<p>
I call that country Salafi Arabia to remind people that it has been
spending millions of dollars a year for decades to impose its 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-jul-oct.html#11_August_2011_(Beheading_Fuels_Backlash)">cruel,
strict and vicious version of Islam on the Muslim world</a>.  One of
the consequences is the existence of PISSI and other Islamic
fundamentalist organizations.


feed_id: b5003100d1e4c2eac5b552c562c40f98
title: Encryption in France
uri: Encryption-in-France
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Encryption_in_France%29
content:
<p>
France 
<a href="http://www.dailydot.com/politics/encryption-backdoors-french-parliament-legislation-paris-attacks-crypto-wars/">may
prohibit strong encryption</a>.
<p>
If that happens, I may be unable ever to go to France again.


feed_id: 45a34e79d31abb30fab25cf8c814fd8c
title: Spy back doors in portable phones
uri: Spy-back-doors-in-portable-phones
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Spy_back_doors_in_portable_phones%29

content:
<p>
A bill being considered in New York State 
<a href="https://www.onthewire.io/new-york-wants-to-force-vendors-to-decrypt-users-phones/">would
require portable phones to have spy back doors built in</a>.


feed_id: 3f35b4f86761d11a81962a3eaa6e5967
title: Income inequality
uri: 2016-01-16-Income-inequality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Income_inequality%29
content:
<p>
More income inequality in a country leads to 
<a href="https://hbr.org/2016/01/income-inequality-makes-whole-countries-less-happy">less
happiness for the whole population</a> — not only for the poor.
<p>
Look at the US: right-wing politicians use the generally shared
difficulties to divide people and lead them to blame scapegoats.


feed_id: 9b146380d664ae8252d4bcff90827473
title: Movement to privatize public schools
uri: Movement-to-privatize-public-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Movement_to_privatize_public_schools%29

content:
<p>
A
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/01/07/a-primer-on-the-damaging-movement-to-privatize-public-schools/">Primer
on the Damaging Movement</a> to Privatize Public Schools.


feed_id: 26f7d26d477edd9ea7a84b47c02f67fd
title: Urgent: Nuclear diplomacy with Iran
uri: 2016-01-17-Urgent-Nuclear-diplomacy-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Nuclear_diplomacy_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/SenateDems_Iran">call on
Senate Democrats</a> to defend nuclear diplomacy with Iran.


feed_id: 8d50ed519ae83b3ca8ce094817aa36f2
title: Organ donation
uri: Organ-donation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Organ_donation%29
content:
<p>
When families of a dead person
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/15/organ-donation-families-block-transplant">veto
organ transplants</a>, they deny several people a chance to keep their
lives, and deny their deceased relative the chance to save lives.
<p>
My words for those families and their absurd obsession with parts of
corpses: "Grow up!"  They should not have the power to veto
transplants.
<p>
Please sign up as an organ donor.


feed_id: f2b2513f0df1cc38449e9b723e9b19bf
title: The TPP
uri: 2016-01-17-The-TPP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28The_TPP%29
content:
<p>
The TPP, with annotations
<a href="https://www.fightthetpp.org/?can_id=8b24519448cbedadde1c8a966f94caad&source=email-the-tpp-2">explaining
many ways it will do harm</a>.


feed_id: d42bffbb590d3fb7c7811842c8e2ba78
title: Prison for taking abortion pills
uri: Prison-for-taking-abortion-pills
content: <p> A woman is threatened with life imprisonment in Northern Ireland for taking abortion pills.
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Prison_for_taking_abortion_pills%29


feed_id: 3e79a7d138d09f1915d066212d70b98f
title: Copyright for political censorship
uri: Copyright-for-political-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Copyright_for_political_censorship%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/15/australia-day-lamb-ad-creators-demand-animal-rights-group-remove-parody-clip">Using
copyright for political censorship</a>: this time, in Australia
against an organization for humane treatment of animals.


feed_id: 94489ca474fc4c2cb16c0760802d59ab
title: Turkey arrests petition signers
uri: Turkey-arrests-petition-signers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Turkey_arrests_petition_signers%29

content:
<p>
Turkey has
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/15/turkey-rounds-up-academics-who-signed-petition-denouncing-attacks-on-kurds">arrested
academics for signing a petition</a> calling on Erdo&gbreve;an to stop
repression in Kurdish areas.  Over a thousand signatories face
possible prosecution for this.
<p>
Chomsky signed the same petition; in response Erdo&gbreve;an invited
him to visit Turkey.  He refused.  Apparently that refusal was very
wise.


feed_id: 2608fa06378df8baaad8439aecd60050
title: Ostracized for wearing protest t-shirt
uri: Ostracized-for-wearing-protest-t-shirt
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Ostracized_for_wearing_protest_t-shirt%29

content:
<p>
Vlad Kolesnikov
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/14/death-russian-teenager-who-opposed-war-ukraine">protested
Russia's conquest of Crimea</a> by wearing a t-shirt.  His community
and his family ostracized him, and he committed suicide.


feed_id: 0e03b6afa9b944f3b8ddb5eb4aed46d8
title: Protection of reporters' sources
uri: Protection-of-reporters-sources
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Protection_of_reporters_sources%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/jan/14/can-we-really-trust-judges-to-protect-reporters-confidential-sources">Can
We [Britons] Really Trust Judges to Protect Reporters' Confidential
Sources?</a>
<p>
Britons certainly should not trust them to protect
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2016/jan/14/files-detailing-police-spying-operations-against-protesters-published-online">dissidents
and union organizers</a>.


feed_id: f6ca3c952ea22863ad5aae21a4683d20
title: Learning from women who have fled PISSI
uri: Learning-from-women-who-have-fled-PISSI
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Learning_from_women_who_have_fled_PISSI%29

content:
<p>
Who Can Prevent British [and other] Women Joining [PISSI]?
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/14/prevent-british-women-isis-syria-met-police">Those
Who Have Returned</a>.


feed_id: 80e57d37d79b3bd9d59394550823799e
title: Moderate use of marijuana
uri: Moderate-use-of-marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Moderate_use_of_marijuana%29
content:
<p>
A study suggests that moderate use of marijuana
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/sifting-the-evidence/2016/jan/14/does-cannabis-really-lower-your-iq">does
not harm teenagers' brains</a> -- rather, use of marijuana tends to
accompany other factors, or other practices such as use of tobacco and
alcohol, which explain their low grades and IQ scores.


feed_id: 6eac2141744d4b8b5ac2b806691544e6
title: Indonesia's wobbly human rights
uri: Indonesia-s-wobbly-human-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Indonesias_wobbly_human_rights%29

content:
<p>
A terrorist attack in Jakarta puts Indonesia's wobbly human rights
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/14/three-hours-of-mayhem-panic-and-bloodshed-as-terror-comes-to-jakarta">in
great danger</a>.
<p>
Everyone who loves Indonesia must help it to avoid attacking itself
now.


feed_id: 696fb17de33830d9e66c7b799ec3df8f
title: Guantanamo prison
uri: 2016-01-17-Guantanamo-prison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Guantanamo_prison%29
content:
<p>
The Obama regime has speeded up release of some prisoners from
Guantanamo, but
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/14/guantanamo-bay-yemen-detainees-oman">still
holds 49 prisoners there whom it has no intention to try or
release</a>.
<p>
Imprisonment without trial is an injustice which the US should
condemn.  It must cease this practice, to stop setting a bad example
that other regimes cite as an excuse.
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/01/14/guantanamo-prisoners-transferred-oman-fewer-than-100-remain/">10
more have had, or are supposed to have, "trials"</a> — but not
fair trials.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2005-mar-jun.html#30%20March%202005%20(Military%20tribunal)">Unfair
trials</a> are an injustice too.


feed_id: 2a56dd8c17f6babc2f9b47c6220ee18d
title: "Auditing" by global front companies
uri: Auditing-by-global-front-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Auditing_by_global_front_companies%29

content:
<p>
Giant global front companies "audit" their supply chains with lots of
loopholes.  The abuses continue, but the companies can
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jan/14/supply-chain-audits-failing-detect-abuses-report">pretend
to have stopped them</a>.


feed_id: 4efce7d6943dc0965ed40665ac4cc306
title: UK's record floods
uri: UK-s-record-floods
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28UKs_record_floods%29
content:
<p>
The UK's recent record floods were statistically the
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/14/climate-change-made-record-uk-rainfall-in-december-more-likely">result
of global heating</a>.


feed_id: 7f9ec4a383a29898c153851754f747a6
title: HK publisher cancels book from fear
uri: HK-publisher-cancels-book-from-fear
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28HK_publisher_cancels_book_from_fear%29

content:
<p>
A Hong Kong publisher cancelled a book from
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/14/xi-jinpings-nightmare-book-china-pulled-missing-hong-kong-publishers">fear
of Chinese repression</a>.


feed_id: d93e86f3515ee3bac30b689eec3ab86c
title: Anthropomorphism
uri: Anthropomorphism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#16_January_2016_%28Anthropomorphism%29
content:
<p>
Don't give way to
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/14/picture-kangaroo-empathy-sexual-exploitation-human-anthropomorphise">anthropomorphism</a>
when thinking about non-human animals.
<p>
It's possible for other animals to have feelings, but don't assume
they are similar to what you would feel.


feed_id: b5295494efdb946e7c3ef88a33e12bfc
title: Arab Spring
uri: Arab-Spring
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Arab_Spring%29
content:
<p>
The disastrous results of the Arab Spring show that civil resistance
can force out dictators but 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/15/arab-spring-badly-wrong-five-years-on-people-power">building
democracy takes more</a>.
<p>
In Tunisia I was told that the free software movement there was a big
help, because people in it had learned how to work together
effectively without having a boss to give them orders.


feed_id: 5bda7289d7c24abc180ae0314f392ccc
title: Urgent: Fire Baltimore housing chief
uri: Urgent-Fire-Baltimore-housing-chief
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Fire_Baltimore_housing_chief%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/baltimore_graziano">call
on Baltimore</a> to fire housing chief Graziano, who looked he other
way as his staff compelled women to have sex in exchange for legally
mandated repair of their dwellings.


feed_id: 9cb26d726ef9c9c734f3dd4bac43b7d3
title: Urgent: Political spending disclosure
uri: 2016-01-17-Urgent-Political-spending-disclosure
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Political_spending_disclosure%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure2.convio.net/comcau/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1182">Call
on Obama</a> to require federal contractors to disclose their political
spending.


feed_id: 2f517b5cf96e3b5775e54e1d1c0ed2ac
title: Treatment for lead in children's bodies
uri: Treatment-for-lead-in-children-s-bodies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Treatment_for_lead_in_childrens_bodies%29

content:
<p>
The only treatment for the lead in children's bodies in Flint is
<a href="http://www.wired.com/2016/01/flints-high-lead-levels-have-doctors-struggling-for-answers/">special
educational care for a long time</a>.


feed_id: 1113cf46d1b6cdb7d7e679f788e1c634
title: Urgent: No government backdoors
uri: Urgent-No-government-backdoors
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_No_government_backdoors%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://www.securetheinternet.org">call on your
government</a> not to require backdoors in your computers.


feed_id: bfb7fc4632af4b84307ad459e9f431ad
title: New law against vacuuming up user contacts
uri: New-law-against-vacuuming-up-user-contacts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28New_law_against_vacuuming_up_user_contacts%29

content:
<p>
In Germany, it is now 
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-germany-idUSKCN0US27W20160114">illegal
for a web site to vacuum up a users' list of contacts</a>.


feed_id: 18c1526df335d104a58d014736dcaa4d
title: Plan to "redevelop" sex-work district
uri: Plan-to-redevelop-sex-work-district
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Plan_to_redevelop_sex-work_district%29

content:
<p>
In Amsterdam, a plan to "redevelop" the sex-work district has caused
trouble for many prostitutes, but 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jan/15/amsterdam-sex-workers-unlikely-victims-gentrification-red-light-district">found
very little trafficking of women</a>.


feed_id: a28bfd32cd5d652bc6d788ef9e47e064
title: Integrating segregated schools
uri: Integrating-segregated-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Integrating_segregated_schools%29

content:
<p>
Integrating segregated schools in the US 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/01/white-kids-benefits-diverse-schools">faces
opposition</a>.


feed_id: 69d4df453fe3f7aaf4e5c932748a4581
title: Civilians attacked in Burundi
uri: Civilians-attacked-in-Burundi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Civilians_attacked_in_Burundi%29
content:
<p>
In Burundi, reports say the president/tyrant's forces have 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jan/15/burundi-all-alarm-signals-flashing-red-warns-un-as-reports-of-atrocities-mount">attacked
civilians</a> as reprisal for armed resistance.


feed_id: 468fccda424979c533243a7f454eb578
title: Internet of Things
uri: 2016-01-17-Internet-of-Things
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Internet_of_Things%29
content:
<p>
The Internet of Things?  
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/this-rectal-thermometer-is-the-logical-conclusion-of-the-internet-of-things">Up
your ass</a>!


feed_id: ed4a270898b5b14a323bfc3a59c06b22
title: "Retaliation" for discriminatory US policy
uri: Retaliation-for-discriminatory-US-policy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Retaliation_for_discriminatory_US_policy%29

content:
<p>
Americans of Iranian ancestry 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/15/iranian-americans-visa-regulations-waiver-programme-us-immigration">fear
they will be blocked from visiting Europe</a> in "retaliation" for the
discriminatory US policy.
<p>
For other countries to "retaliate" by restricting US citizens of
Iranian origin (and Iraqi, Syrian or Sudanese) would be ridiculous,
like "retaliating" against Nazi Germany by punishing German Jews.  A
meaningful retaliation should infuriate those responsible for the US
policy.  That's why I suggest imposing a visa requirement on US
citizens whose family names start with "Ry".


feed_id: d60d32a96059fab3064caabd2cc5749d
title: Prison for taking abortion pills
uri: 2016-01-18-Prison-for-taking-abortion-pills
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Prison_for_taking_abortion_pills%29

content:
<p>
A woman is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/13/pro-choice-activists-plan-belfast-protest-abortion-trial-northern-ireland">threatened 
with life imprisonment</a> in Northern Ireland for taking abortion
pills.


feed_id: 97128121ae55bd5e19a219cfeac7a394
title: Urgent: get presidential committed to reinterpret Helms amendment
uri: Urgent-get-presidential-committed-to-reinterpret-Helms-amendment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Urgent%3A_get_presidential_committed_to_reinterpret_Helms_amendment%29

content:
<p>US citizens: presidential candidates, 
<a href="https://secure3.convio.net/zpg/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=6E466FC4F4D96D3D40F6DE8A526A1E72.app353a?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=526&src=National_Petition_Launch_M+R_20160113">
commit to reinterpret the Helms amendment</a>
 more literally, to allow US funding for abortions in cases
of rape and medical need.
</p>


feed_id: 1db3368ce0cd0bd93772fd492ee03f33
title: Refugees from from Central America
uri: Refugees-from-from-Central-America
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Refugees_from_from_Central_America%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jan/16/the-other-refugee-crisis-women-on-the-run-from-central-america">
Tens of thousands of women</a>
 from Central America are fleeing to the US
because gangs threaten violence against them or their children.
</p>
<p>They are not economic migrants; they have a real claim for asylum.
Moreover, the US's "war on drugs" is partly responsible for their
plight.</p>


feed_id: 8a799aae188d3dcd8553fe6aad54d7b4
title: Cities can prevent gentrification
uri: Cities-can-prevent-gentrification
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Cities_can_prevent_gentrification%29

content:
<p>Bernie Sanders showed in the 1980s that 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jan/16/gentrification-inevitable-bad-urban-change">
cities can prevent gentrification</a>.
 It is not a law of nature, it is the outcome of choices made by
governments.</p>


feed_id: 34f26bef6b4449e429ea86dca8db2fe2
title: Cheap gasoline drives Americans to drive
uri: Cheap-gasoline-drives-Americans-to-drive
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Cheap_gasoline_drives_Americans_to_drive%29

content:
<p>Cheap gasoline is 
<a href="http://usa.streetsblog.org/2016/01/11/the-new-climate-villain-is-cheap-oil/">
encouraging Americans to drive more</a>
 and produce more CO2.
</p>
<p>To avoid backsliding on efforts to avoid future disaster,
we need an increase in the gasoline tax.</p>


feed_id: d376a3dd591ebfaf0850b6475de61ad1
title: False claims about natural gas
uri: False-claims-about-natural-gas
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28False_claims_about_natural_gas%29

content:
<p>The 
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/environment/methane-madness-porter-ranch-only-tip-iceberg-exposing-catastrophic-impacts-natural-gas">
giant methane leak</a>
 illustrates the point that natural gas is cleaner than coal.
</p>
<p>This false claim was put over by the money and PR of fossil fuel
companies, that want us to make the bad investment of replacing coal
with natural gas, rather than the good investment of replacing fossil
fuels with renewable energy.</p>


feed_id: 798914178acc28ffea9989c3ab4ee57f
title: Netflix founder funds school privatization
uri: Netflix-founder-funds-school-privatization
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-nov-feb.html#17_January_2016_%28Netflix_founder_funds_school_privatization%29

content:
<p>The founder of Netflix gave millions to a fund "for education", but
his choice to head that fund has a history of working "
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/education/netflix-founder-drops-100-join-billionaire-crusade-privatize-our-public-schools">
for privatizing public education</a>".
</p>
<p>Privatized "charter" schools in the US are worse for teachers, worse
for the community, and not better for students; but they are great for
<a href="https://stallman.org/notes/2015-jul-oct.html#26_October_2015_(Weak_supervision_of_charter_schools)">
privatizing federal funds</a>.
</p>


