# articles

feed_id: 08f070e5b4e8bb7b7d0072bc622f9f2d
title: Censorship at UK university
uri: Censorship-at-UK-university
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#30_September_2017_%28Censorship_at_UK_university%29
content:
<p>
A UK university
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/sep/29/manchester-university-censors-title-holocaust-survivor-speech-criticising-israel">censored
a speaker</a> whose speech was going to be titled, "Youâre doing to
Palestinians what the Nazis did to me", because the Israeli embassy
said that was "antisemitic".  The speaker was a child in Germany when
the Nazis took power.
<p>
Uri Avnery has made
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-mar-jun.html#27%20April%202010%20(The%20Israeli%20right%20win)">similar
comparisons</a>.  He too had real experience with Nazis as a child in
Germany.


feed_id: cd4df91117ab0b2a06a41922cec2d579
title: Methane emissions from cows
uri: 2017-10-01-Methane-emissions-from-cows
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#30_September_2017_%28Methane_emissions_from_cows%29
content:
<p>
More and bigger cows mean that their methane emissions are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/29/methane-emissions-cattle-11-percent-higher-than-estimated">higher
than scientists had calculated</a>.
<p>
This is one reason people should eat less beef.


feed_id: c348cd054b6c4750a43aa83cdddc9782
title: Australian thugs attack protesters
uri: Australian-thugs-attack-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#30_September_2017_%28Australian_thugs_attack_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Australian thugs
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/29/dylan-voller-arrested-during-protest-against-youth-imprisonment">violently
attacked indigenous protesters that were blocking the road outside a
prison</a>.  Then they pretended that standing on the road was
comparable to a violent attack.
<p>
The protest was against imprisoning indigenous people at a high rate.


feed_id: ba08c45c699f5aa01c6952647f51df35
title: Fight against fascism and nazism
uri: Fight-against-fascism-and-nazism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Fight_against_fascism_and_nazism%29

content:
<p>
The first Americans to fight against fascism and nazism <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/09/30/the-americans-who-fought-fascism-before-wwii/">fought as
volunteers in Spain</a>.
<p>
During the Cold War, the US treated those who survived as an
inconvenience and a threat.


feed_id: 1550f859f89e23f4d5f473bb76ba12c6
title: US and North Korea
uri: US-and-North-Korea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28US_and_North_Korea%29
content:
<p>
Tillerson says that the <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/30/rex-tillerson-us-north-korea-direct-communication">US can and does talk with North Korea</a>.
<p>
Let's hope they talk about making peace.


feed_id: 534f71727777288258679c3de8c6028b
title: Food insecurity
uri: 2017-10-01-Food-insecurity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Food_insecurity%29
content:
<p>
Many US college <a href=" https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/a3k4d8/colleges-are-finally-taking-student-hunger-seriously">students have food insecurity</a>. Probably more than a
quarter of them.
<p>
It is natural that the high costs, and heavy loans, make some students
skimp on food.


feed_id: 94462c9ee53007a6fe4c9e8167b1aad9
title: Energy saboteur
uri: Energy-saboteur
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Energy_saboteur%29
content:
<p>
Saboteur of Energy Perry wants a law to force the use of <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/perry-ferc-proposal-reliability-ecbd1e54409c/">dirty
electric generation</a>.


feed_id: 0a087fc9a4c50952a7b64c72a69aa52d
title: Phony lower "price"
uri: Phony-lower-price
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Phony_lower_price%29
content:
<p>
Unbundling costs to give a phony lower "price" means <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/30/ryanair-low-cost-revolution-airline-cancellation-crisis">unbunding
responsibilities to the public</a>. Let's learn to resist the temptation.


feed_id: c07d8f769a4eb7dda091f37a5fac44df
title: UN decolonization committee
uri: UN-decolonization-committee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28UN_decolonization_committee%29
content:
<p>
The UN decolonization committee <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/30/west-papua-independence-petition-is-rebuffed-at-un">refused to consider the case</a> of
Western Papua.


feed_id: 4c9c56a34c88f1dbd32ededc72cd4c9c
title: Massive surveillance
uri: 2017-10-01-Massive-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Massive_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Officials are pressuring the US Senate to <a href=" https://theintercept.com/2017/09/29/trump-administration-lobbying-hard-for-sweeping-surveillance-law/">reauthorize disguised massive
surveillance</a> of Americans' phone calls.


feed_id: 209cdf305d91655d8b09f4fadfc8e4fb
title: Anti-war movement
uri: Anti-war-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Anti-war_movement%29
content:
<p>
The anti-war movement <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/27/vietnam-war-protesters-have-nothing-apologize"> never condemned veterans returning from Vietnam</a>.
<p>
It recruited them, and many were eager to join.
<p>
This is why ever since Dubya conquered and occupied Iraq I have
insisted on giving priority to condemning the war rather than
"supporting our troops".
<p>
The support the troops needed, and deserved,
was the movement to remove them from Iraq.
<p>
I never "thanked them for serving their country", because I refused to
pretend that their mission in Iraq was any service to the United
States.
<p>
Many of them joined with the intention of serving their
country, but that's not what Dubya sent them to do.


feed_id: fa5b2d5b0146427a4f19a844b08b43fc
title: Harvard's propaganda
uri: Harvard-s-propaganda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Harvard%27s_propaganda%29
content:
<p>
Harvard's Program on Education Policy and Governance is a <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/25/harvard-shames-itself-staging-koch-sponsored-betsy-lovefest-no-dissenting-voices">propaganda
outfit for charter schools and voucher programs</a>.
<p>
It is not unusual for universities to sell their prestige to legitimize
any campaign has money to offer.


feed_id: 400dd48ef0e0e06d9f1aedb76fa73502
title: Sharing research papers
uri: Sharing-research-papers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Sharing_research_papers%29
content:
<p>
The scientific publishers have threatened ResearchGate, demanding it allow
them to <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170921/09215938257/scientific-publishers-want-upload-filter-to-stop-academics-sharing-their-own-papers-without-permission.shtml">stop researchers from sharing their own papers</a>.
<p>
Government research funding should block researchers from signing the
usual restrictive publication contracts. 
<p>
That would kill off the parasitic journals.


feed_id: 4adf6aece37177afd18f38bd2c48431a
title: Marine reserve zones
uri: Marine-reserve-zones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Marine_reserve_zones%29
content:
<p>
Scientists beg Australia not to <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/27/david-suzuki-australia-sickening-threat-to-marine-reserves-undermines-global-protection">reduce the size of its marine reserve zones</a>.


feed_id: b41cd0a7535be649efacc52de4a9786f
title: Spanish thugs
uri: 2017-10-01-Spanish-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Spanish_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Spanish thugs rioted around a school where people were trying to vote
in the Catalan referendum. They shot rubber-coated steel bullets at
the crowd, <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/01/dozens-injured-as-riot-police-storm-catalan-ref-polling-stations">injuring many of them</a>.
<p>
I still disapprove of those who want to make Catalonia independent so
as to stop aiding the poorer parts of Spain. That is mere
selfishness.


feed_id: 6951b297c08313c5721bda6fb80810e1
title: Phony lower "price"
uri: 2017-10-01-Phony-lower-price
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Phony_lower_price%29
content:
<p>
Unbundling costs to give a phony lower "price" means <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/30/ryanair-low-cost-revolution-airline-cancellation-crisis">unbunding
responsibilities to the public</a>. 
<p>
Let's learn to resist the temptation.


feed_id: b934ddfafe7d759180c5c0c82d2027fd
title: Anti-war movement
uri: 2017-10-02-Anti-war-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Anti-war_movement%29
content:
<p>
The anti-war movement <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/27/vietnam-war-protesters-have-nothing-apologize"> never condemned veterans returning from Vietnam</a>.
<p>
It recruited them, and many were eager to join.
<p>
This is why ever since <a href="/glossary.html#dubya">Dubya</a> conquered and occupied Iraq i have
insisted on giving priority to condemning the war rather than
"supporting our troops".
<p>
The support the troops needed, and deserved,
was the movement to remove them from Iraq.
<p>
I never "thanked them for serving their country", because I refused to
pretend that their mission in Iraq was any service to the United
States.
<p>
Many of them joined with the intention of serving their
country, but that's not what <a href="/glossary.html#dubya">Dubya</a> sent them to do.


feed_id: 16079876ac8bec466b22811d8c3d4045
title: Anti-war movement
uri: 2017-10-02-Anti-war-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Anti-war_movement%29
content:
<p>
The anti-war movement <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/27/vietnam-war-protesters-have-nothing-apologize"> never condemned veterans returning from Vietnam</a>.
<p>
It recruited them, and many were eager to join.
<p>
This is why ever since <a href="/glossary.html#dubya">Dubya</a> conquered and occupied Iraq I have
insisted on giving priority to condemning the war rather than
"supporting our troops".
<p>
The support the troops needed, and deserved,
was the movement to remove them from Iraq.
<p>
I never "thanked them for serving their country", because I refused to
pretend that their mission in Iraq was any service to the United
States.
<p>
Many of them joined with the intention of serving their
country, but that's not what <a href="/glossary.html#dubya">Dubya</a> sent them to do.


feed_id: b92c75535cce46c38b004dcb9d1e97fb
title: Suing to overturn the decision
uri: Suing-to-overturn-the-decision
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Suing_to_overturn_the_decision%29
content:
<p>
Adrian Crook is suing to overturn the decision that said <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/01/canada-father-bus-children-adrian-crook">his children
can't take the public bus to school</a>, or even walk to the store across
the street.


feed_id: 830267149d404c586d4e56937196baa0
title: Immigration prisons
uri: 2017-10-02-Immigration-prisons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Immigration_prisons%29
content:
<p>
Immigrants released on bail from US immigration prisons <a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-ankle-monitor-business-accused-of-using-fear-to-bin-1819004652">often have to
wear position trackers</a>. 
<p>
The company that does this charges high fees for the “service”, 
which can drive them into debt.


feed_id: 5cd85c8299ae4c59e8abc9c5bd5f2d8c
title: Nigerian refugees
uri: Nigerian-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Nigerian_refugees%29
content:
<p>
Cameroon is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/sep/27/tortured-abused-deported-cameroon-accused-of-driving-out-100000-nigerian-refugees-human-rights-watch">torturing and deporting Nigerian refugees</a>, treating them as responsible for Boko Haram's crimes.


feed_id: 3abd799de8377f626069ee518a58eae3
title: Labour party
uri: Labour-party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Labour_party%29
content:
<p>
Corbyn says Labour will <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/27/jeremy-corbyn-promises-rent-controls-and-clampdown-on-gentrification">change the Tory policies</a> that drive rents up.
<p>
To complete the job will require building lots and lots more public
housing. 
<p>
I hope and trust Labour will do that.


feed_id: 0ce922f243732e03178fa2a97b539d1d
title: Deportation notices
uri: Deportation-notices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Deportation_notices%29
content:
<p>
When the UK sends deportation notices, it doesn't even
state a way to challenge them <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/26/leave-uk-immediately-scientist-is-latest-victim-of-home-office-blunder">in case they are mistaken</a>.
<p>
The sending of a notice to a specific person may be an error.
<p>
The failure to say how to challenge the order is not an error.
<p>
It is a policy decision, and the policy is to bully people.


feed_id: f330eb1929f6268b93d6de2df4852f97
title: Vulture capitalists
uri: Vulture-capitalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Vulture_capitalists%29
content:
<p>
Puerto Rico needs <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/09/29/wall-street-vultures-circle-demands-immediate-puerto-rico-debt-relief">debt relief to protect</a> it from vulture capitalists.
<p>
Puerto Rico's imposed nondemocratic government is refusing to release
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2017/sep/27/puerto-rico-debt-recovery">enough funds for recovery</a> from Hurricane Maria.
<p>
Its priority is to accumulate money to pay off the banksters.
<p>
US policies systematically <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/26/if-trump-were-really-president-hed-forgive-puerto-ricos-debts-and-rescue-it">pushed Puerto Rico into debt</a>.


feed_id: b785ac2c5a148175a840a9ff2633be99
title: Climate protection
uri: Climate-protection
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Climate_protection%29
content:
<p>
Don't let <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/09/26/trade-rules-should-not-trump-action-climate-change">NAFTA interfere with climate protection</a>:
get rid of the investor-state plutocracy provision!


feed_id: 66171b1f47c9f7c9e36405ec31a80f3f
title: Urgent: Do No Harm Act
uri: Urgent-Do-No-Harm-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Do_No_Harm_Act%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/do_no_harm_lgbtq">support</a>
the Do No Harm Act, that would block the use of the Religious Freedom
Restoration Act as an excuse for an organization to discriminate
against people in its services.


feed_id: 6dfac45b964f2740e0c93ad65030e2aa
title: Urgent: Drop Faux News
uri: Urgent-Drop-Faux-News
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Drop_Faux_News%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/oreilly_hannity/">call
on advertisers</a> to drop Faux News.


feed_id: 3b770fdd854f8b1f116b92bf584ffd06
title: Banks reselling individuals' debt
uri: Banks-reselling-individuals-debt
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Banks_reselling_individuals_debt%29

content:
<p>
When banks and stores make a habit of lending to individuals and
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/30/whiz-kids-at-work-on-consumer-credit-are-too-clever-by-half">reselling
the debt to companies that only collect payments</a>, it becomes a
motor to ruin people.
<p>
We should not allow banks to resell someone's debt, except as a whole
unit, to another bank.  That way, they will have a reason to help the
debtors get past a difficult time (so as to continue paying later),
and a reason to restrain themselves from lending too much.


feed_id: d39084909641bfb77d2f08343b1ac299
title: Urgent: Protect immigrants
uri: Urgent-Protect-immigrants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_immigrants%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/DACA_Dems">call on Senate
Democrats</a> to resist Republican attempts to use DACA as a hostage
to attack other immigrants.


feed_id: 6bf45e226db45e685213302efea1b8dd
title: Use of personal email by White House
uri: Use-of-personal-email-by-White-House
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Use_of_personal_email_by_White_House%29

content:
<p>
NSA 
<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/29/white-house-private-email-nsa-warning-243324">Warned
White House against Using Personal Email</a>, shortly after the
cheater's inauguration.


feed_id: 6946f60d0fec7e96aece878280642bcd
title: Modern methods of censorship
uri: Modern-methods-of-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Modern_methods_of_censorship%29
content:
<p>
The First Amendment was written to block direct government censorship,
and is not effective against 
<a href="https://knightcolumbia.org/content/tim-wu-first-amendment-obsolete">modern
methods of censorship</a>, such as harassment by troll armies, and
being drowned out by massive propaganda flooding campaigns funded by
corporations and states.
<p>
It is an error to conclude that the First Amendment is "obsolete".
Blocking direct government censorship is just as necessary as ever
was.  But it wasn't designed to protect against the new methods that
amount to censorship.


feed_id: 7faf3cbbb74aff102b22b6da6c43dea0
title: Arrests for possession of marijuana
uri: 2017-10-02-Arrests-for-possession-of-marijuana
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Arrests_for_possession_of_marijuana%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/09/26/more-people-were-arrested-last-year-over-pot-than-for-murder-rape-aggravated-assault-and-robbery-combined/">5%
of people arrested in the US in 2016</a> were arrested for possession
of marijuana.
<p>
No one should be arrested or punished for that.  It is gratuitous
suffering.


feed_id: d808a3e30094c5f6692d90930ed7cd8f
title: Iraqi Kurdistan
uri: Iraqi-Kurdistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Iraqi_Kurdistan%29
content:
<p>
All the regional and world powers seem to support war against Iraqi
Kurdistan, after its referendum which confirmed that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/30/observer-view-on-kurdish-referendum-independence">nearly
everyone there wants independence</a>.


feed_id: da0dff179f2e20306acb82e38bbfc697
title: Military propaganda at football games
uri: Military-propaganda-at-football-games
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Military_propaganda_at_football_games%29

content:
<p>
Having players on the field to stand (or kneel) while playing the US
national anthem at football games, is
<a href="https://www.truthdig.com/articles/pentagon-paid-nfl-displays-patriotism/">paid
propaganda from the US military</a>.  Its purpose is to convince poor
people to sign up for the military.


feed_id: 24e75aabab57b827993ffc6ec2021a00
title: Troll's tax cuts
uri: Troll-s-tax-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Trolls_tax_cuts%29
content:
<p>
Over time, the troll's tax cuts would do 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/09/29/surprise-non-partisan-analysis-finds-trump-tax-plan-primarily-rewards-top-1">even
more to enrich the rich</a>.
<p>
These tax cuts will be cited as the excuse for spending cuts, which
will fall on the non-rich.  For most non-rich Americans, the tiny tax
cuts will be insignificant compared with the effect of spending cuts.
What it adds up to is <a href="/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>.
<p>
This is not an issue of economics.  It is an 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/29/trumps-tax-plan-act-political-domination-rich">effect
of the raw power of the rich</a>.  Power that we must take away from
them.


feed_id: 4207c61205f2fcef1d17d3f906f6bf0a
title: 1000 squatters SÃ£o Paulo face eviction
uri: 1000-squatters-SÃ-o-Paulo-face-eviction
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%281000_squatters_Sao_Paulo_face_eviction%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/30/driven-by-poverty-squatters-occupied-a-derelict-sao-paulo-hotel-now-they-face-eviction">1000
squatters living in a former hotel</a> in SÃ£o Paulo are threatened
with eviction.


feed_id: 5fa4ef462c7beea3bf24c2a58522563b
title: Urgent: Arctic National Wildlife Reserve
uri: Urgent-Arctic-National-Wildlife-Reserve
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Arctic_National_Wildlife_Reserve%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.nrdc.org/letter/af-arctic-refuge-170925">Tell your congresscritter and senators</a> to protect
the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.


feed_id: ed5ce9e2de397b60df6531bb53f8de53
title: Urgent: Puerto Rico recovery funding
uri: Urgent-Puerto-Rico-recovery-funding
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Puerto_Rico_recovery_funding%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/puerto-rico-relief/">call on Congress</a> to pass real recovery funding
and debt relief for Puerto Rico.


feed_id: 0e34531dfb50a58ebba958763e2868c4
title: Social mobility
uri: 2017-10-02-Social-mobility
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Social_mobility%29
content:
<p>
Quality of education is <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/09/education-and-economic-mobility/541041/">not the main factor</a> that affects social
mobility in the US.
<p>
Social mobility is important for fairness: people of ability and
initiative shouldn't be stuck working as a sales clerk because their
parents did. But social mobility does not make poverty excusable.
People who work as sales clerks should be able to have a decent life,
as they did a few decades ago.


feed_id: 76904e0b951da7689de4d639ea5eaac4
title: US in Vietnam and Afghanistan
uri: US-in-Vietnam-and-Afghanistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28US_in_Vietnam_and_Afghanistan%29
content:
<p>
The US forgot how its stupidity and arrogance led it into a war in
Vietnam that it couldn't win, and took years to find the strength to
abandon. So it <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/30/vietnam-nightmare-again">did the same thing</a> in Afghanistan.


feed_id: 7e0db45334ec42c76cfe7817a21e029d
title: Canada tax loophole
uri: Canada-tax-loophole
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Canada_tax_loophole%29
content:
<p>
Canada should end its <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/30/time-end-tax-breaks-benefit-rich">tax loophole</a> for personal corporations.


feed_id: 140c634e42df0ba1bcffd51c9621b42a
title: Macron's state of emergency
uri: Macron-s-state-of-emergency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Macron%27s_state_of_emergency%29
content:
<p>
Macron wants to "end" France's state of emergency by making it mostly
permanent. This would be a permanent <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/28/macrons-counter-terror-bill-risks-frances-human-rights-record-says-un">defeat for human rights</a> in France.


feed_id: 07ab5d3f547a586f6593bdaca647b522
title: Students in Brussels
uri: Students-in-Brussels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Students_in_Brussels%29
content:
<p>
University students in Brussels are having trouble making ends meet,
so some are driven to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/26/sugar-daddy-website-targeting-belgian-students-faces-legal-action-richmeetbeautiful">seek wealthy lovers</a>.


feed_id: 8254e295e13acce520ca3a977c0224e6
title: Child victims of violence
uri: Child-victims-of-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Child_victims_of_violence%29
content:
<p>
Each year, 75% of the world's children are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/sep/26/almost-75-of-all-children-are-subjected-to-violence-each-year-research-finds">victims of violence</a>.


feed_id: 8e271b76bee46151c8a1ab30a372f3ab
title: Media and free will
uri: Media-and-free-will
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Media_and_free_will%29
content:
<p>
Modern Media Is a <a href="http://nautil.us/issue/52/the-hive/modern-media-is-a-dos-attack-on-your-free-will">DoS Attack on Your Free Will</a>.


feed_id: cc3e3b90e0e2433f216b56df9b209d4b
title: Global heating help
uri: Global-heating-help
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Global_heating_help%29
content:
<p>
The IMF says that the wealthy countries, which are chiefly causing
global heating, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/27/do-more-to-help-poor-nations-cope-with-climate-change-imf-tells-rich-countries">must do more to help</a> poor countries adapt to the
effects.
<p>
Adapting to global heating is like a game of Space Invaders: the
invaders keep coming closer, and eventually you lose. We must give
priority to <em>reducing</em> the amount of global heating that the world
will have to live with.


feed_id: 95ba2fa4d0dc4330999e9876373c915e
title: St. Louis protests
uri: 2017-10-02-St-Louis-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28St._Louis_protests%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police-practices/i-was-aclu-legal-observer-during-st-louis">I Was an ACLU Legal Observer</a> During the St. Louis Protests. Here's What I Saw.
<p>
Thugs <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/st-louis-filmmaker-beating-556a6d98b229/">attacked a journalist</a> who was making video of the protests
and the thugs' attack.


feed_id: b6a55075c08c8799af89787098296ae7
title: Illinois abortion funding
uri: Illinois-abortion-funding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Illinois_abortion_funding%29
content:
<p>
Illinois has <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/abortion/medicaid-will-now-cover-abortion-low-income-women-illinois-take">approved Medicaid-funding</a> for abortions.


feed_id: 2e20f90bfa3de63b232ec9c339448a96
title: Phony lower "price"
uri: 2017-10-02-Phony-lower-price
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#1_October_2017_%28Phony_lower_price%29
content:
<p>
Unbundling costs to give a phony lower "price" means <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/30/ryanair-low-cost-revolution-airline-cancellation-crisis">unbundling
responsibilities to the public</a>. 
<p>
Let's learn to resist the temptation.


feed_id: e6d0478ef7862a695a4c4e9a93d627de
title: DNA-based criminal convictions
uri: DNA-based-criminal-convictions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28DNA-based_criminal_convictions%29
content:
<p>
Matching tiny samples of DNA with people is an
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/02/dna-in-the-dock-how-flawed-techniques-send-innocent-people-to-prison">unreliable
basis for convicting someone of a crime</a>.
<p>
For instance, DNA can be transferred between items of clothing that are
washed together.


feed_id: 3de1bbfba61624948707bf21df0b9206
title: Cost of living at a UK university
uri: Cost-of-living-at-a-UK-university
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Cost_of_living_at_a_UK_university%29

content:
<p>
In the UK, as in the US, the cost of living at a university is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/02/forget-tuition-fees-cost-of-living-key-working-class-students">more
than many students can afford</a>.


feed_id: c6d7ab9a8a71feac9c5fb39b7cad13a0
title: The Yimby movement
uri: The-Yimby-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28The_Yimby_movement%29
content:
<p>
The Yimby movement campaigns for building
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/oct/02/rise-of-the-yimbys-angry-millennials-radical-housing-solution">dense
high-rise housing</a> convenient to public transit.
<p>
I am strongly in favor, but some rules are needed.  For instance, if a
project involves tearing down housing where tenants live, they must be
offered space in the new building at a comparable rent.  And it is
wise for cities to require a good fraction of the new apartments to be
offered at affordable rent — not merely 10%.  If the developer
balks, the city should offer the incentive of permission for a larger
building.
<p>
Gentrification occurs when a housing shortage makes run-down houses in
poor people's neighborhoods attractive to the not-so-poor.  In a
housing shortage, there are two ways for the poor people to protect
themselves from eviction: resistance and jiu-jitsu.
<p>
Resistance means trying to stop the not-so-poor from moving into your
neighborhood.  You have to make it ugly and unappealing.  If you
succeed, that does nothing to reduce the shortage that is the motor
for gentrification.  You only push it off onto some other
neighborhood.
<p>
Jiu-jitsu means pushing to build so much new, dense housing that the
not-so-poor won't be interested in buying your home.  It takes a
city-wide campaign, but success helps all the poor people in the city.


feed_id: f23d5772ded722dba21856d554a65abb
title: Catalonia and Spain
uri: Catalonia-and-Spain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Catalonia_and_Spain%29
content:
<p>
Catalonia And Spain
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/01/catalonia-and-spain-need-a-compromise-but-who-can-deliver-one">Need
a Compromise</a>, But Who Can Deliver One?


feed_id: 08e6675f23ae7d28b15558a6659b8912
title: Reagan's tax adviser
uri: Reagan-s-tax-adviser
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Reagans_tax_adviser%29
content:
<p>
Reagan's tax adviser says, "I helped create the GOP tax myth.
<a href='https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/09/28/i-helped-create-the-gop-tax-myth-trump-is-wrong-tax-cuts-dont-equal-growth/'>Tax
cuts donât equal growth</a>."


feed_id: 7c67b8d527ebfe16a13f415131b5952e
title: Single-payer health care
uri: 2017-10-03-Single-payer-health-care
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Single-payer_health_care%29
content:
<p>
Canadian Doctor to U.S.:
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/18/canadian-doctor-us-try-single-payer-health-care-instead-trashing-it">Try
Single-Payer Health Care Instead Of Trashing It</a>.


feed_id: 766dcb1eab124eb6e7a1b3f89b206c6b
title: Fairtrade gold mining
uri: Fairtrade-gold-mining
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#2_October_2017_%28Fairtrade_gold_mining%29
content:
<p>
Fairtrade gold mining
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/01/comic-relief-and-fairtrade-back-ethical-gold-mining-in-east-africa">extracts
gold more efficiently and avoids toxic mercury</a>.


feed_id: 494eb6e49cbaf06873ecf7ee19e6742d
title: White supremacy
uri: White-supremacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28White_supremacy%29
content:
<p>
"It's one thing to disagree with [the troll] and quite a different
thing to
<a href='https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/09/30/donald-trump-now-owns-white-supremacy'>take
a stand against his white supremacy</a>."


feed_id: f4dbf055ac223bd6edfabf015369ddb8
title: Cleaning up US elections
uri: Cleaning-up-US-elections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Cleaning_up_US_elections%29
content:
<p>
The We the People Act would clean up US elections
<a href="https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/download/we-the-people-democracy-reform-act&download=1">at
several levels</a>.


feed_id: 8687af922e8f8f1516f2ea352675f792
title: Globalists
uri: Globalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Globalists%29
content:
<p>
The Globalists Are Systematically Destroying Americaâs Middle
Class...with
<a href="https://www.infowars.com/the-globalists-are-systematically-destroying-a">personal
debt</a>.


feed_id: f99bd43da105f096b3a2195701e88244
title: Guggenheim bows to internet mob
uri: Guggenheim-bows-to-internet-mob
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Guggenheim_bows_to_internet_mob%29

content:
<p>
"By bowing to the braying internet mob, the Guggenheim
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/02/guggenheim-internet-mob-withdrawing-artworks-online-hysteria'>forgot
its purpose</a>."


feed_id: fda072f4d0e54c1973f2dfe356b10fd6
title: Global heating, earthquakes, tsunamis
uri: Global-heating-earthquakes-tsunamis
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Global_heating%2C_earthquakes%2C_tsunamis%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> can cause earthquakes in Greenland due to reduction in
weight of the ice sheet.  When they are underwater, they
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/feb/26/why-climate-change-shake-earth">will
cause tsunamis</a>.


feed_id: 015592288bec8eb16be57ac8b05ed1aa
title: Yacht clubs reducing plastic waste
uri: Yacht-clubs-reducing-plastic-waste
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Yacht_clubs_reducing_plastic_waste%29

content:
<p>
Yacht clubs are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/02/sardinia-yacht-club-targets-sailors-with-charter-to-cut-plastic-waste">organizing
to reduce plastic waste and promote renewable energy</a>.


feed_id: a047945f5b0d9861e62eaabca88ed2ed
title: Planned strike
uri: Planned-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Planned_strike%29
content:
<p>
A general strike is planned in Catalonia as a protest <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/02/mix-hope-fear-anger-catalonia-millions-vote-independence-spain/">against repression
by the police</a>.
<p>
I would not assume that most of the people that didn't (or couldn't) vote
on Sundau were supporters of independence.
<p>
I think that people who supported independence were more motivated to vote.


feed_id: 1d47505fbe34e43d5a261dcb99d6aada
title: Philip Morris's foundation
uri: Philip-Morris-s-foundation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Philip_Morris%27s_foundation%29
content:
<p>
The WHO denounced Philip Morris's recently established foundation for
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/10/philip-morris-sets-up-80m-research-foundation-who-flips-them-the-bird/">nicotine-promotig research</a>.
<p>
“There are many unanswered questions about tobacco harm reduction, but
the research needed to answer these questions should not be funded by
tobacco companies.”


feed_id: 8d8321e2f3a673f5f0f604c1b14c6688
title: Gun control
uri: 2017-10-04-Gun-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Gun_control%29
content:
<p>
Musician Caleb Keeter learned, under fire, that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/02/las-vegas-gun-control-caleb-keeter-josh-abbott-band">having your own guns
was useless for stopping a massacre</a>.
<p>
How do you shoot someone who is firing from inside a 32th-floor
window? You'd have trouble even aiming at the right window,
while being shot at.


feed_id: f9581a2951169e07c4330d7edaf04c0c
title: SCROTUS CHIP program
uri: SCROTUS-CHIP-program
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28SCROTUS_CHIP_program%29
content:
<p>
SCROTUS quietly allowed the <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/02/congress-threatens-to-take-health-insurance-away-from-9-million-kids-just-because/">CHIP program to expire</a>.
<p>
It funds medical care for roughly 9% of the children in the US.


feed_id: 398ba98a58703cafd4f957443a45a9d5
title: Tax evasion
uri: 2017-10-04-Tax-evasion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Tax_evasion%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> wants to give “American” multinational companies a special
opportunity to bring foreign profits to the US <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/02/trump-tax-plan-jobs-economy-gary-cohn/">without paying any tax on them</a>.
<p>
This was proposed while Obama was president, but defeated by popular
outrage.
<p>
I've noticed that proposals to get corporations to do less harm
generally offer them a reward, while proposals to get individuals to
do less harm generally threaten punishment.
<p>
I think that is backwards.
<p>
Let's tax the money that multinationals keep outside the US.


feed_id: 0893d341fd7d725931833d4b5dede326
title: Catalonian's referendum
uri: Catalonian-s-referendum
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Catalonian%27s_referendum%29
content:
<p>
Letters about the <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/02/opinion-divided-by-the-catalan-referendum">referendum in Catalonia</a>.


feed_id: 83b7f16206657e64ec136d26a0443c16
title: Illegal colonies
uri: Illegal-colonies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Illegal_colonies%29
content:
<p>
Netanyahu wants to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/03/netanyahu-backs-annexation-of-west-bank-settlements">annex a swath of Palestine</a> in which Israel
has illegally built colonies.
<p>
All Israel's colonies in Palestinian territory are illegal under
international law.


feed_id: ebe415c3f886921cc10e82a996e2bf0c
title: Urgent: Prosecution of killer
uri: Urgent-Prosecution-of-killer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Prosecution_of_killer%29

content:
<p>
Everyone:
<a href="https://campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/justice-for-keegan">call
for prosecution</a> of the killer of Keegan Von Roberts.


feed_id: 74c7786f18a3064844f811ad67f95290
title: Gun control
uri: 2017-10-04-Gun-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Gun_control%29
content:
<p>
The US spends almost
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/02/cost-of-gun-violence-hospital-expenses-johns-hopkins-study">3
billion dollars a year treating the wounds of people who are
shot</a>. (Only a small fraction of those who are shot are killed by
the shot.)
<p>
If the victims don't have medical insurance, their lives will be
ruined by the expense of treatment.
<p>
The US must adopt
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/02/las-vegas-america-gun-control-choice">stricter,
effective gun control</a>.
<p>
Background checks would not have prevented the Las Vegas massacre, as
the killer had nothing in his background to find.  But they could have
prevented some recent right-wing terrorist acts.  Making automatic
weapons and large magazines harder to get might have prevented the Las
Vegas massacre.
<p>
Perhaps the US should follow
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#19_June_2014_(Violent_mental_illness_and_guns)">Canada's
policies</a>, which seem to work effectively.


feed_id: 3dd25f84c9fe86af1bee083ae9596e55
title: Saboteurs wasting public money
uri: Saboteurs-wasting-public-money
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Saboteurs_wasting_public_money%29
content:
<p>
A second one of the troll's saboteurs is in trouble for
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/02/ryan-zinke-charter-flights-investigation-interior-department-inspector-general">wasting
public money on flying in chartered planes</a>.
<p>
This pattern is remarkable.  It says something, I think, about the
kind of person that the troll chose.


feed_id: 54e99c630754976ead65f75f43269e86
title: Fake news stories on Facebook and Google
uri: Fake-news-stories-on-Facebook-and-Google
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Fake_news_stories_on_Facebook_and_Google%29

content:
<p>
Facebook and Google
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/02/las-vegas-shooting-facebook-google-fake-news-shooter">both
circulated fake news stories</a> saying that the Las Vegas gunman was
a Democrat and killed people as an act of hostility towards the troll.
<p>
The sad thing is, the people who support the troll are likely to
cling to this and ignore the corrections (if they even see those).


feed_id: 31f1f1a3675a66055cede1b45ed79ad4
title: Bill to criminalize boycott
uri: Bill-to-criminalize-boycott
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Bill_to_criminalize_boycott%29
content:
<p>
The ACLU is
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/02/upcoming-aipac-visit-promises-to-renew-focus-on-israel-anti-boycott-bill/">campaigning
to block the bill</a> to criminalize participation in Palestinian
boycott of Israel.  Victory is not guaranteed.


feed_id: 2acd075eece3f0de2d58a93a969278c5
title: Metal detectors and thugs at schools
uri: Metal-detectors-and-thugs-at-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Metal_detectors_and_thugs_at_schools%29

content:
<p>
Putting metal detectors at the door of a school, or putting thugs
inside it, are attempts to make a
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/59d217d9e4b0f58902e5cddf">quick
patch without understanding what is really going wrong</a> in the
school.


feed_id: 5935e4f87de93d68e5fe43c1e7f4e64d
title: Philip Morris's foundation
uri: 2017-10-04-Philip-Morris-s-foundation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Philip_Morris%27s_foundation%29
content:
<p>
The WHO denounced Philip Morris's recently established foundation for
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/10/philip-morris-sets-up-80m-research-foundation-who-flips-them-the-bird/">nicotine-promoting research</a>.
<p>
“There are many unanswered questions about tobacco harm reduction, but
the research needed to answer these questions should not be funded by
tobacco companies.”


feed_id: 569027334ffdb2aa4baaa392683a169d
title: Urgent: gun control
uri: Urgent-gun-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_gun_control%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call for <a href="https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/gun-control-now">commonsense gun control</a> now.


feed_id: 1408dc3536a5927b02474f9fb4f9479f
title: Urgent: help Puerto Rico
uri: Urgent-help-Puerto-Rico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_help_Puerto_Rico%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/puerto_rico">help Puerto Rico</a>, not Wall Street.


feed_id: 1e94c9564107fb572640a87eaa70a623
title: Fossil fuel subsidies
uri: 2017-10-04-Fossil-fuel-subsidies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Fossil_fuel_subsidies%29
content:
<p>
US fossil fuel subsidies amount to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/03/report-trumps-energy-dominance-plans-rely-billions-fossil-fuel-subsidies">20 billion dollars</a> per year.
<p>
The troll wants to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/02/republican-tax-cuts-could-be-paved-fossil-fuel-giveaways">give them even more</a>.


feed_id: 29ca8d2ac000c4ba4c1ff5c80a376d72
title: Scotland fracking
uri: Scotland-fracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Scotland_fracking%29
content:
<p>
Scotland has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/03/scottish-government-bans-fracking-scotland-paul-wheelhouse">banned fracking</a> in order to prevent environmental damage.


feed_id: a1b7793df6ef361318efc9d6eda3849d
title: Tory capitalism
uri: Tory-capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Tory_capitalism%29
content:
<p>
The Tories advocate <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/problem-not-capitalism-tories-thatcher-treasury-cupboard-bare">extreme capitalism</a>. Labour advocates a form of
capitalism that doesn't crush people.


feed_id: 18c92ef10010e555853d652e901aa8b9
title: Puerto Rico nursing home
uri: Puerto-Rico-nursing-home
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Puerto_Rico_nursing_home%29
content:
<p>
200 old people in a nursing home in Puerto Rico were recently found
to be lacking <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/03/puerto-rico-elderly-hurricane-victims">food, water and medicine</a>.
<p>
In areas cut off from communication, such people may be dying in large
numbers.


feed_id: a0cd579524581f0b5edb4228d417e4ae
title: Tory welfare
uri: Tory-welfare
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Tory_welfare%29
content:
<p>
The Tories' new system for paying welfare benefits causes suffering
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/03/tories-universal-credit-nightmare-benefits-system-misery">through its design</a>, not merely due to bugs and glitches.


feed_id: 29dc24baca78c95fd1f348173132a89f
title: Cheap chickens
uri: Cheap-chickens
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Cheap_chickens%29
content:
<p>
Producing chickens that are very cheap is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/play-chicken-food-safety-meat-industry-food-fordism">very expensive for society</a>.


feed_id: ef3b9766eceeee7b4ed90218a1a51d01
title: Rape in Vietnam
uri: Rape-in-Vietnam
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Rape_in_Vietnam%29
content:
<p>
Raping Vietnamese women was <a href="http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2017/09/american-rape-vietnamese-women-considered-standard-operating-procedure.html">standard practice</a> for US troops in Vietnam.
<p>
Many unit commanders condoned the practice of rape. Often soldiers
killed women after gang-raping them.


feed_id: f3b6092193c440e527fa4560747fd447
title: Guns and gun murders
uri: Guns-and-gun-murders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Guns_and_gun_murders%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/02/us-gun-control-ownership-violence-statistics">Statistics</a> about guns and gun murders in the US.


feed_id: cf1990a498ca987af562111566423eb0
title: Gun nut 'unity'
uri: Gun-nut-unity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Gun_nut_%27unity%27%29
content:
<p>
According to gun nuts, Americans are supposed to respond to massacres
not with thinking but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/mourn-las-vegas-shooting-gun-control">with "unity"</a> with the gun nuts.


feed_id: 1c0d7fd73c374418d1ba46abcc2b0f7a
title: Sex robots
uri: 2017-10-04-Sex-robots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Sex_robots%29
content:
<p>
Sex robots could help couples <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/sexbots-nuts-bolts-relationships-sex-robots">maintain their relationships</a> despite
a difference in sexuality.


feed_id: 65c7949984343f9dced72598288f3050
title: War on cash
uri: War-on-cash
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28War_on_cash%29
content:
<p>
The global <a href="https://aeon.co/essays/if-plastic-replaces-cash-much-that-is-good-will-be-lost">war on cash is being waged actively</a>.
<p>
We must fight actively for cash.
<p>
The surveillance danger of a <a href=" https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/papers/2013/P3822.pdf">cashless society (or nearly cashless)</a> was presented to the US Congress in 1968.


feed_id: 1b1be34dd599153724e076ee9093bb82
title: General strike
uri: General-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28General_strike%29
content:
<p>
300,000 protested in Barcelona against the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/03/catalonia-tensions-rise-as-strikes-held-over-police-violence-during-referendum">brutal attack by Spanish
government thugs</a>.
<p>
However, the general strike was not universally observed.


feed_id: 26d8d1e2c4f98d0863138cd6f6da6982
title: Russian bots
uri: Russian-bots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Russian_bots%29
content:
<p>
Suggestions for Twitter to <a href=" http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2017/10/twitter_could_do_more_to_stop_its_russian_bot_problem_and_defend_democracy.html">avoid being a patsy for bots</a>.


feed_id: 9f6ceb527fe7000c1d59c83f1e178e64
title: Health and safety regulations
uri: Health-and-safety-regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Health_and_safety_regulations%29
content:
<p>
Pence boasted of success in <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/02/vice-president-pence-touts-success-gutting-public-health-and-safety-protections">eliminating health and safety regulations</a>
that protected people from dangerous business practices.
<p>
The Republicans' next target is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/02/alarm-sounded-over-trumps-little-noticed-push-undermine-food-safety">food safety</a>.


feed_id: 09fc4a2fe7261ceb39f5ff91ffaa2a16
title: Russian activist
uri: Russian-activist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Russian_activist%29
content:
<p>
Russian opposition activist Navalny has been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/02/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-returns-to-jail">jailed for organizing
public meetings</a>.


feed_id: 1fc79441e5af0f3a6ea3620cdff81d5f
title: Grazing animals
uri: Grazing-animals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Grazing_animals%29
content:
<p>
Claims that grazing animals in some special way <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2014/aug/04/eat-more-meat-and-save-the-world-the-latest-implausible-farming-miracle">will protect against
desertification</a> seem to be pseudoscience.


feed_id: 41841626f68aac340870150fcba84cf5
title: Nuclear disarmament
uri: 2017-10-05-Nuclear-disarmament
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Nuclear_disarmament%29
content:
<p>
The US Senate may be the last bulwark for the <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/04/iran-nuclear-deal-europe-trump-congress">nuclear disarmament deal with Iran</a>.


feed_id: 11e96b8250246cdc432bb4e69767843b
title: Puerto Rico's debt
uri: Puerto-Rico-s-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Puerto_Rico%27s_debt%29
content:
<p>
A hedge fund, the Baupost Group, has <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/03/we-can-finally-identify-one-of-the-largest-holders-of-puerto-rican-debt/">bought a billion dollars of
Puerto Rico's debt</a>, hiding its actions through a front company.
<p>
This debt should be cancelled by bankruptcy.


feed_id: 8279a1051f6a1ed52d47c6f1f0ce836c
title: Sanders' statement
uri: Sanders-statement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Sanders%27_statement%29
content:
<p>
The Washington Post did “fact-checking“ on Sanders' statement
that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/03/wapo-defends-boss-against-sanders-charge-hes-extremely-wealthy">6 people own as much wealth as half of humanity</a>, found it
factually correct — and accused him of lying.


feed_id: bef6f420171ab69db8f2721583c8987b
title: Catalonian's referendum
uri: 2017-10-05-Catalonian-s-referendum
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#4_October_2017_%28Catalonian%27s_referendum%29
content:
<p>
The King of Spain <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/03/king-felipe-catalan-authorities-have-scorned-all-spaniards-with-referendum">spewed contempt at Catalonia's separatist leaders</a>
and disregarded the violence of Spain's thugs.


feed_id: 83fd01f64c2a680a9f025ac2b3e8e2d2
title: Planned strike
uri: 2017-10-05-Planned-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#3_October_2017_%28Planned_strike%29
content:
<p>
A general strike is planned in Catalonia as a protest <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/02/mix-hope-fear-anger-catalonia-millions-vote-independence-spain/">against repression
by the police</a>.
<p>
I would not assume that most of the people that didn't (or couldn't) vote
on Sunday were supporters of independence.
<p>
I think that people who supported independence were more motivated to vote.


feed_id: c95fd9fe6b897ee28e56eb6009554642
title: Urgent: Fire Michigan State Thug director
uri: Urgent-Fire-Michigan-State-Thug-director
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Fire_Michigan_State_Thug_director%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/gov-snyder-fire-mich-police-director/">call
for firing the Michigan State Thug director</a> for calling NFL
protesters "anti-American", as well as for rewarding thugs that killed
blacks.


feed_id: 75a0ade31a57865a04369710bcbec80c
title: Collective punishment of Palestinians
uri: Collective-punishment-of-Palestinians
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Collective_punishment_of_Palestinians%29

content:
<p>
After one Palestinian killed some of the occupation forces, Israeli
troops turned his village upside down, and said they would destroy his
family's home, and other homes as well.  They took at least 25
Palestinians' cars.  In all, some 
<a href="http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20170928_collective_punishment_following_har_adar_attack">40,000
Palestinians were subject to collective reprisal</a>.


feed_id: 60663f527375eb2749cc522bb620c09d
title: Definition of "terrorism"
uri: Definition-of-terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Definition_of_terrorism%29
content:
<p>
Nevada has an 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/04/lone-wolf-white-terrorist-las-vegas">overbroad
definition of "terrorism"</a> which equates it to trying to kill or
physically harm many people indiscriminately.
<p>
That weakens the word to the point of meaninglessness.
By that definition, any serial killer qualifies as a "terrorist".
<p>
The criterion that's missing is that of a political motive.


feed_id: b8d8b1fbb0ad9526dd488725e3ce0d5d
title: Industrial meat production
uri: 2017-10-05-Industrial-meat-production
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Industrial_meat_production%29
content:
<p>
Industrial meat production is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/04/factory-farming-destructive-wasteful-cruel-says-philip-lymbery-farmageddon-author">leading
to several disasters at once</a>.  It pollutes broad areas, it
destroys irreplaceable topsoil, and it contributes greatly to global
heating.  Meanwhile it ruins antibiotics, which kills people.
<p>
One way to convince just about everyone to eat a lot less meat is by
taxing production to cover the burden that it places on society.


feed_id: 7c5b971c529206cfbcdd86494dea028b
title: How corporations cheat America
uri: How-corporations-cheat-America
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28How_corporations_cheat_America%29
content:
<p>
Three Insidious Ways 'Overtaxed' Corporations Are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/02/three-insidious-ways-overtaxed-corporations-are-cheating-america">Cheating
America</a>.


feed_id: 03134bfd18b34c6a404edeec2cad07e0
title: Forced arbitration
uri: Forced-arbitration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Forced_arbitration%29
content:
<p>
The reason banks want to impose forced arbitration on customers is
that they know they can
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/02/forced-arbitration-bad-consumers">rip
off their customers for hundreds of millions of dollars</a> that way.


feed_id: 68585bb4f6cebf211512cb6beb515d79
title: The American empire
uri: The-American-empire
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28The_American_empire%29
content:
<p>
A prediction that the American empire 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/02/end-empire">might
collapse very swiftly</a>.


feed_id: 86d7c276049ce7972fc0a1cc700adf64
title: Health care, food, and shelter
uri: Health-care-food-and-shelter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Health_care%2C_food%2C_and_shelter%29

content:
<p>
Republican Senator Calls Health Care, Food, And Shelter a 
<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/ron-johnson-health-care-a-privilege-1d9fe371b55a/">"Privilege"</a>.
<p>
It is an arrogant veiled way of saying, "Poor people, drop dead."
<p>
The idea that economic growth would enable more Americans to afford
the essentials of life is based on fallacious economics.  In our
current economic system, extreme capitalism, growth goes almost 100%
to the rich, who can already afford food, shelter and medical care.


feed_id: a12e7a5f234d983309fd746b2c6a84d5
title: Rape as a tool
uri: Rape-as-a-tool
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Rape_as_a_tool%29
content:
<p>
Both (all?) sides in the Central African Republic use rape as a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/05/rape-instrument-of-war-central-african-republic-conflict-study-sexual-slavery">tool
of of intimidation, and enslave captured women</a>.
<p>
Many of these women contract HIV from rape.
<p>
No treatmentd is available for them.


feed_id: c617a20a3bc209783cc6f63e80765be0
title: Funds diverted to corruption
uri: Funds-diverted-to-corruption
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Funds_diverted_to_corruption%29
content:
<p>
Various methods of estimation suggest that at most 15% of <a href="https://www.cgdev.org/blog/how-much-aid-really-lost-corruption">aid funds are diverted to corruption</a>. 
<p>
Which means that 85% contribute to the intended activity.
<p>
US aid to Afghanistan and Iraq are a special case.
<p>
Those handouts were not supervised carefully.


feed_id: 268f245d4b703b003e92a636fdd4cf74
title: Ethics in medicine
uri: Ethics-in-medicine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Ethics_in_medicine%29
content:
<p>
Some hospitals in the US do cesarian sections on women <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/05/new-york-staten-island-university-hospital-c-section-ethics-medicine">despite their
explicit refusal</a>.


feed_id: a75b96b01342ba98f582760d8b134f5e
title: Plutocrats support
uri: Plutocrats-support
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Plutocrats_support%29
content:
<p>
Some plutocrats support <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/05/donald-trump-exposing-contradictions-elite">social equality while promoting dooH niboR</a>.
<p>
These two positions appear independent, but ultimately conflict.


feed_id: e19e0b579cf8b519d1642b779e6d3e0e
title: Israel lobby pressures US
uri: Israel-lobby-pressures-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Israel_lobby_pressures_US%29
content:
<p>The Israel lobby continues to pressure the US into unconditional support for whatever Israel does, and <a href="http://forward.com/opinion/383901/that-israel-lobby-controversy-history-has-proved-us-right/?">continues to encourage Israel to follow the path of apartheid</a>.</p>
<p>When there was a massive peace movement in Israel, I referred to that lobby as the "Israeli hawks' lobby", refusing to treat Israel as a monolithic right-wing bloc.  However, since around 10 years ago, the peace movement has shrunk to a small minority.  The distinction between "Israeli hawks" and "Israel" is no longer politically significant.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: dfc883254392129685046c1706f0c2d0
title: Russia social media politics
uri: Russia-social-media-politics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Russia_social_media_politics%29
content:
<p>Russian political influence agents <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/russians-took-a-page-from-corporate-america-by-using-facebook-tool-to-id-and-influence-voters/2017/10/02/681e40d8-a7c5-11e7-850e-2bdd1236be5d_story.html">took advantage</a> of the same manipulative system that was designed to serve companies.</p>
<p>Instead of complaining only when Russians use it, how about if we get rid of it entirely?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e133e2e118a72382eb7c51b49fa19e70
title: Israeli soldier sentence reduction
uri: Israeli-soldier-sentence-reduction
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Israeli_soldier_sentence_reduction%29

content:
<p>The Israeli soldier that <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israeli-soldiers-idf-licence-to-kill-no-accountability-palestinians-west-bank-gaza-hebron-shooting-a7971651.html">murdered an incapacitated Palestinian</a> was sentenced to only 18 months in prison, but that has been shortened to 14 months.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 008338944cd5aa74c4fd231575160c1b
title: Israel Susya village
uri: Israel-Susya-village
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Israel_Susya_village%29
content:
<p>Israel plans to <a href="https://972mag.com/the-israeli-army-is-now-justifying-expulsion-with-feminism/129955/">demolish the village</a> of Susya … again.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e60b4183259ea1bcaccfeeff3cafb40b
title: Las Vegas O'reilly NRA
uri: Las-Vegas-O-reilly-NRA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Las_Vegas_O%27reilly_NRA%29
content:
<p>Gun massacres are not the price of freedom. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/03/no-bill-oreilly-bloody-las-vegas-massacre-not-price-freedom">They are the price of the NRA's power</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4beaa8b2477f011a22be43a7646634f2
title: Puerto Rico's debt
uri: 2017-10-06-Puerto-Rico-s-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Puerto_Rico%27s_debt%29
content:
<p>
The troll said, at one moment, that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/04/trump-calls-puerto-ricos-debt-be-wiped-out">Puerto Rico's debt should be
cancelled</a>.
<p>
If an ordinary semi-honest politician said that, it would probably
mean something.
<p>Alas, the troll is happy to change his mind from day to day.


feed_id: da44a02a347c1345cdb4a1eea9055dbd
title: Responsibility to society
uri: Responsibility-to-society
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Responsibility_to_society%29
content:
<p>
Step by step, corporations have thrown off their <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/04/how-big-corporations-game-our-democracy-their-plutocracy">responsibility to society
and taken power</a>.


feed_id: dd8c7ea51ae703c46abddd5f0774fc7d
title: Medicaid funding crisis
uri: Medicaid-funding-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Medicaid_funding_crisis%29
content:
<p>
Puerto Rico will be <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/04/puerto-rico-faces-imminent-medicaid-funding-crisis-too">short of funds for Medicaid next year</a>.


feed_id: d65ee9233fd782db2efa1d8e75860210
title: Supreme Court
uri: Supreme-Court
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Supreme_Court%29
content:
<p>
The Supreme Court, now with Gorsuch, will make many
important decisions this year <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/04/judicial-roadmap-supreme-court-veers-right">affecting human rights and democracy</a>.


feed_id: 6c38f5c517929484f7bc481c5d279d41
title: Cutting down forests
uri: Cutting-down-forests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Cutting_down_forests%29
content:
<p>
Australia is massively <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/05/alarming-rise-in-queensland-tree-clearing-as-400000-hectares-stripped">cutting down forests to make cattle farms</a>.
<p>
This contributes double to global heating — first with deforestation, and second with the cows themselves.


feed_id: d1ae54cec9cc5e8409d7d95fe50007ab
title: Illegal deforestation
uri: Illegal-deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Illegal_deforestation%29
content:
<p>
Brazil wants to build 47 dams on the TapajÃ³s river to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/brazil-amazon-tapajos-hydrovia-scheme">transport soy beans
from deforested plantations</a>.
<p>
This would release a large amount of CO2.
<p>
It would also legitimize the deforestation, which was probably illegal in the first place.
<p>
Keeping transport difficult could be the first step in eliminating
those plantations and allowing the forest to return — if it isn't too late.
<p>
Hydroelectric dams do not use fossil fuel, but they do release
a lot of CO2 from decaying vegetation each year.
<p>
Growing crops to feed animals is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/05/vast-animal-feed-crops-meat-needs-destroying-planet">overstrainimg Earth's resources</a>.
<p>
If we stopped growing soy beans to feed animals, there would ne
no need for soy plantations in the TapajÃ³s basin.


feed_id: 5a66d2cfd8aa1c10b7fcfcb0f47972d3
title: Ethiopia regime
uri: Ethiopia-regime
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Ethiopia_regime%29
content:
<p>
How US Surveillance Helps Repressive Regimes — <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/10/03/how-us-surveillance-helps-repressive-regimes-ethiopia-case">the Ethiopia Case</a>.


feed_id: 5864b8cae744cfd82504dd98f5c6dc90
title: Feinstein's gun bill
uri: Feinstein-s-gun-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Feinstein%27s_gun_bill%29
content:
<p>
Senator Feinstein has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/04/dianne-feinstein-bump-stocks-senate-gun-control-bill">filed a bill</a> to ban "bump stocks", which pump
a semiautomatic rifle to fire like a machine gun.

There is a chance Republicans will <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/04/bump-stock-ban-republican-senators-243453">vote for it</a>.
<p>
The time Americans want to talk about gun control is after a massacre,
which is why SCROTUS tell us we <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/04/democratic-governor-cant-talk-about-it-now-crowd-killing-us">shouldn't do it</a> then.
<p>
The NRA exists to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-may-aug.html#17_May_2016_(NRA_misleads_and_misrepresents)">promote gun sales</a>,
so the legislators that accept support from the NRA
are effectively on the payroll of gun manufacturers.


feed_id: 9bc8d92f0a639706fa434130710dfc74
title: Antisemitism
uri: Antisemitism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Antisemitism%29
content:
<p>
One purported <a href="media/dc92f752.press_release_document_antisemitism.pdf" data-original-source="https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/sites/default/files/press_release_document_antisemitism.pdf">definition of antisemitism</a>
includes an example that doesn't belong: it claims that comparing
Israel's treatment of Palestinians to the behavior of Nazis towards
Jews is "antisemitism".
<p>
Two Jews who felt the brunt of Nazi antisemitism as children in
Germany make this comparison. <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-sep-dec.html#25%20October%202010%20(Perpetual%20war)">One is Uri Avnery</a>, founder of Gush Shalom.
The other is Marika Sherwood, who <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/sep/29/manchester-university-censors-title-holocaust-survivor-speech-criticising-israel">faced censorship</a> just recently when
she tried to say this at Manchester University.


feed_id: 0ee069738a9aaf5353e9309a7c1705be
title: Republican budget
uri: Republican-budget
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Republican_budget%29
content:
<p>
Congress is already working on the Republicans' <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/03/lets-stop-gops-biggest-grift-all">cuts in programs</a> that
help the non-rich, to make up for their planned tax cut for the rich.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> couldn't repeal American's medical care, so they plan to
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/04/senate-budget-tax-cuts-medicare-medicaid-health-care/">eliminate a lot of it</a> through budget cuts.


feed_id: 1f95427ae1e7102648fcf4516b480843
title: Professional 'guardians'
uri: Professional-guardians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Professional_%27guardians%27%29
content:
<p>
Professional "guardians" <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/how-the-elderly-lose-their-rights">prey on</a> vulnerable old Americans, making them
wards of the court through procedures rigged against them, cutting
them off from their relatives and trashing their souvenirs, and get
the profit of selling off their property.


feed_id: ff94122a520e65d223de48cddf6519e0
title: Oxfam helping Puerto Rico
uri: Oxfam-helping-Puerto-Rico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Oxfam_helping_Puerto_Rico%29
content:
<p>
Oxfam has decided to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/03/outraged-slow-and-inadequate-us-response-oxfam-intervenes-puerto-rico">help Puerto Rico</a>, since the US government is not doing
a great job of that.


feed_id: 6d32a810edcf2bfd788955f184142ccf
title: Solar energy jobs
uri: Solar-energy-jobs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Solar_energy_jobs%29
content:
<p>
A push for solar energy could create <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/03/new-analysis-finds-virginia-could-create-over-50000-new-jobs-commitment-10">50,000 good jobs</a> in Virginia.
I suppose every state would get similar results.
<p>
But we have to install more than just solar generation.
We need government funding for batteries, too.
A multi-year government program to buy 10 million dollars of
batteries each year would accelerate progress in batteries.


feed_id: f5bb1d83372b7d026b1652ea798c5d1d
title: Disaster relief practices
uri: Disaster-relief-practices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Disaster_relief_practices%29
content:
<p>
Some <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/03/trump-visits-puerto-rico-lets-remember-and-apply-real-lessons-haiti">proposed practices</a> for organizations bringing aid for disaster relief.


feed_id: 65290b6cf25e496302d9af8fad85b798
title: Gerrymandering
uri: 2017-10-06-Gerrymandering
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Gerrymandering%29
content:
<p>
The Supreme Court will have the opportunity to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/03/fairmaps-pro-democracy-rally-supreme-court-hears-most-significant-voting-rights-case">restrain partisan
gerrymandering</a>, currently used by Republicans to keep state
legislatures and the House of Representatives in Republican hands.


feed_id: f5861832ff2d0d90a8d831715883df50
title: Real harm by the buffoon
uri: Real-harm-by-the-buffoon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Real_harm_by_the_buffoon%29
content:
<p>
Noam Chomsky comments on the real harm done by the buffoon and
his saboteurs; <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/03/trump-presidency-or-how-further-enrich-masters-universe">don't be distracted</a> by his buffoonery.


feed_id: 52dbd4739edc81819ede52e74955da5b
title: Illegal deforestation
uri: 2017-10-06-Illegal-deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_%28Illegal_deforestation%29
content:
<p>
Brazil wants to build 47 dams on the TapajÃ³s river to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/brazil-amazon-tapajos-hydrovia-scheme">transport soy beans
from deforested plantations</a>.
<p>
This would release a large amount of CO2.
<p>
It would also legitimize the deforestation, which was probably illegal in the first place.
<p>
Keeping transport difficult could be the first step in eliminating
those plantations and allowing the forest to return — if it isn't too late.
<p>
Hydroelectric dams do not use fossil fuel, but they do release
a lot of CO2 from decaying vegetation each year.
<p>
Growing crops to feed animals is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/05/vast-animal-feed-crops-meat-needs-destroying-planet">overstraining Earth's resources</a>.
<p>
If we stopped growing soy beans to feed animals, there would be
no need for soy plantations in the TapajÃ³s basin.


feed_id: 663c320ed5511d2bb7bfc4ac612601c9
title: Caribbean islands and global heating
uri: Caribbean-islands-and-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Caribbean_islands_and_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
Caribbean islands' economies and mode of life are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/06/climate-change-in-the-caribbean-learning-lessons-from-irma-and-maria">based on the previous
temperature levels</a>.
<p>
The amount of global heating we have already seen puts their survival in doubt.
<p>
It could take 10 years to rebuild from Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
<p>
If such hurricanes come more than once a decade, there will be no
use rebuilding; people will have to leave.


feed_id: e8aff7d0a581783ae1cd5c79f12d7c21
title: Abolish nuclear weapons
uri: Abolish-nuclear-weapons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Abolish_nuclear_weapons%29
content:
<p>
International Campaign to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/06/anti-nuclear-campaign-group-ican-wins-nobel-peace-prize">Abolish Nuclear Weapons has received the
Nobel Peace Prize</a>.


feed_id: 29edec1c0b51a20941495d6487d97041
title: Illegal overwork
uri: Illegal-overwork
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Illegal_overwork%29
content:
<p>
Dentsu advertising agency, a Japanese company that required an
employee <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/06/japanese-firm-fined-token-sum-after-woman-died-from-overwork">to work so much overtime that she killed herself</a>, was let off
with a slap on the wrist for that illegality.


feed_id: bf5acc761cc2515dcd184a256993832c
title: Nuclear disarmament deal
uri: Nuclear-disarmament-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Nuclear_disarmament_deal%29
content:
<p>
The troll's refusal to certify the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/06/trump-demonisation-iran-dishonest-dangerous-nuclear-deal">nuclear disarmament deal with Iran</a>
is dishonest and dangerous.


feed_id: 22a7502d969c796618101951b75c9d44
title: Public housing
uri: Public-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Public_housing%29
content:
<p>
The Tories now say they will build public housing, so <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2017/oct/06/councils-homes-theresa-may-public-land-sales">why are they
selling the land they will need to build it on?</a>


feed_id: dc479fa9634fab06921479a8d27c1482
title: Deliberate murder
uri: Deliberate-murder
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Deliberate_murder%29
content:
<p>
A video shows that a thug <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/05/patrick-harmon-utah-police-shooting">shot Patrick Harmon while he was running away</a>. 
<p>
The thug first said, “I'll fucking shoot you”, proving it was
deliberate murder.
<p>
This is the clearest imaginable proof that US thugs can get away
with blatant murder.


feed_id: 65338352faf207c2d213ad7e6248cf5d
title: Dark Future for Brazil
uri: Dark-Future-for-Brazil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Dark_Future_for_Brazil%29
content:
<p>
A Reactionary Wave Points to a <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/05/brazil-reactionary-politics-election-bolsonaro/">Dark Future for Brazil</a>.


feed_id: 61cb340839de73ab9e5554e51300967a
title: Animal rights activists
uri: Animal-rights-activists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Animal_rights_activists%29
content:
<p>
The FBI is <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/05/factory-farms-fbi-missing-piglets-animal-rights-glenn-greenwald/">raiding animal sanctuaries to find two sick, dying piglets</a>
that animal rights activists took from a farm.
<p>
The whole power of the US government is deployed to help Smithfield Foods conceal its practices.
<p>
I am not an animal rights activist. 
<p>
I post this article because I condemn the repression that the US government uses against animal
rights activists, including calling them “terrorists”.


feed_id: 7d2c4d7cd4f4177e760bfb710c56bed3
title: Warming Soils
uri: Warming-Soils
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Warming_Soils%29
content:
<p>
Carbon Emissions from Warming Soils Could <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/05/carbon-emissions-warming-soils-higher-than-estimated-signalling-tipping-points">Trigger Disastrous Feedback Loop</a>.


feed_id: d618af22f6e6007e392f6132397a61e2
title: Contaminated honey
uri: Contaminated-honey
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Contaminated_honey%29
content:
<p>
Around the world, most honey contains <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/05/honey-tests-reveal-global-contamination-by-bee-harming-pesticides">pesticides from the plants that
the bees visited</a>.


feed_id: e51a150505ff8d7f0cb2808880f367ae
title: EPA's Office of Air and Radiation
uri: EPA-s-Office-of-Air-and-Radiation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28EPA%27s_Office_of_Air_and_Radiation%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> has nominated a saboteur for the EPA's Office of Air and
Radiation who <a hreF="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/06/watch-a-top-epa-nominee-embarrass-himself-with-feigned-ignorance-of-basic-facts/">plays dumb when asked questions about global heating</a>.


feed_id: 75a66977b0e3619e579854a58476c7c0
title: Stun guns
uri: Stun-guns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Stun_guns%29
content:
<p>
A thousand people have <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-taser-911/">died after being shot with tasers</a>.
<p>
Often the cause of death is a combination of the taser shot
and some predisposing medical factor.
<p>
But lots of people have such factors.


feed_id: d4f8972fc4480921095f557043e4cf36
title: UK thugs
uri: 2017-10-07-UK-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28UK_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Hundreds of thugs in the UK are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/05/police-sexual-abuse-officers-watchdog">accused of rape or sexual abuse</a>.
<p>
It's admirable that the state is taking the matter seriously and
trying to reform the system. 
<p>
This happens in the US too, but there is not much of an effort to stop it.


feed_id: 44367d305668a21ab90142d976f80c82
title: Indigenous children
uri: Indigenous-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Indigenous_children%29
content:
<p>
Canada has agreed to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/06/decades-after-government-seizure-of-children-indigenous-canadians-will-receive-compensation">pay compensation to indigenous children</a> that were
taken away from their families and forced to live in boarding schools,
or even forcibly adopted.


feed_id: a62078a5f209d6dff9dfe4ba29de8585
title: Fire safety measures
uri: Fire-safety-measures
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Fire_safety_measures%29
content:
<p>
The Tories have changed their mind and now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/06/ministers-refusing-pay-improvements-fire-safety-grenfell">refuse to pay for cleaning
up the fire-prone construction in public housing</a>.


feed_id: 70d532cbdab6b0ba54cea9d5aed16669
title: Religious discrimination
uri: Religious-discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Religious_discrimination%29
content:
<p>
Sessions is acting to make it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/06/jeff-sessions-issues-directive-undercutting-lgbtq-protections">easier for religious groups to
discriminate against queer people, or against women</a>.


feed_id: 37ba1a080d4462c70ed5ffb78fb6e363
title: Birth control
uri: 2017-10-07-Birth-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Birth_control%29
content:
<p>
The troll has given companies and schools <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/06/trump-contraception-birth-control-obamacare-mandate">easier permission to deny
birth control coverage</a> in their medical plans.


feed_id: 092cd3e11814792030d01a1127e7d893
title: Gun control
uri: 2017-10-07-Gun-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Gun_control%29
content:
<p>
States with <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/05/two-charts-gun-crisis-one-hopeful-one-hopeless">more guns per capita have more gun killings per capita</a>.
<p>
This means that even partially effective gun control is better than no
gun control. 
<p>
Any measure that reduces the number of guns people have will save lives.
<p>
Some US <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/05/we-need-fewer-guns-the-activists-who-are-rejecting-half-measures-on-firearms">gun control activists have given up hope of compromise with
the NRA</a>, and have decided to campaign for policies to substantially
reduce the number of guns in the US.
<p>
One idea is that owning a gun in the US should require a license.


feed_id: f5d9554c69eebd35c340b97acf352070
title: Racialized voter suppression
uri: Racialized-voter-suppression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Racialized_voter_suppression%29
content:
<p>
NAACP: “It is amazing to me that weâre having a conversation about
Russian [cracking], but weâre not having a conversation about
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/04/rev-barber-systematic-racialized-voter-suppression-election-hacking-us-must-address">racialized voter suppression, which is systemic racism, which is a
tool of white nationalism.</a>”


feed_id: a2c6c7fc216b0c4b536fb9221d9ab0cc
title: Endangered species
uri: 2017-10-07-Endangered-species
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Endangered_species%29
content:
<p>
The troll's saboteurs are getting down to work: <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/04/world-animal-day-takes-dark-turn-interior-dept-denies-protections-25-species">25 endangered species
were denied protection</a>.
<p>
One of them is well known: the walrus, endangered by
global heating which is melting the sea ice that they depend on.


feed_id: 0a8001a2c6064c4bb125130de8a26cf8
title: Stun guns
uri: 2017-10-07-Stun-guns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Stun_guns%29
content:
<p>
A thousand people have <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-taser-911/">died after being shot with tasers</a>.
<p>
Often the cause of death is a combination of the taser shot
and some predisposing medical factor.
<p>
But lots of people have such factors.


feed_id: 2508c052ae5e8ce1677bcbad2d65cf4b
title: Urgent: Stop funding global heating
uri: Urgent-Stop-funding-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_funding_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://petitions.signforgood.com/EquatorBanksAct/">call on
banks</a> to stop funding global heating disaster and projects that
steal from indigenous peoples.


feed_id: 3b4a56d0b480e1cd92a9d190008f2b96
title: Urgent: Reject NRA bills
uri: Urgent-Reject-NRA-bills
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_NRA_bills%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.everytown.org/letter/send-your-direct-message-congress-reject-nra">tell
your Senators</a> to reject the NRA bills that would make it easy to
buy silencers, and legal to carry concealed guns in all states.


feed_id: 76deb0141c55fb8811674fc8a8bffb9f
title: Border surveillance bills
uri: Border-surveillance-bills
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Border_surveillance_bills%29
content:
<p>
EFF: 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/09/stop-border-surveillance-bill">Stop
the Border Surveillance Bills</a>.
<p>
And 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/no-airport-biometric-surveillance">another
one</a>.


feed_id: 68f19c778ecee049f1884f64fdb6bd9c
title: Congresscritter wants to ban abortions
uri: Congresscritter-wants-to-ban-abortions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Congresscritter_wants_to_ban_abortions%29

content:
<p>
Republican Congresscritter Tim Murphy wants to ban abortions, 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/04/another-rabidly-pro-life-republican-reportedly-urged-mistress-seek-abortion">but
not for his secret lover</a>.


feed_id: c60783f82ef4f52c88b712c67417bc66
title: North Korea's proposed concessions
uri: North-Korea-s-proposed-concessions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28North_Koreas_proposed_concessions%29

content:
<p>
North Korea (with China's support) 
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/world/asia/north-korea-missle-tests.html">has
been proposing nuclear concessions for months</a>.


feed_id: 300ea57d96621f520e0f92d420b91cb7
title: Carbon-neutral fuel
uri: Carbon-neutral-fuel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Carbon-neutral_fuel%29
content:
<p>
Solar power
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/05/its-our-choice-renewable-energy-superpower-or-asian-pacific-rust-belt">can
be used to make methane from the air</a>.  Burning that methane later
will be carbon-neutral.  We just have to make sure that very little of
the methane leaks into the air.


feed_id: 9904edbc7be2d67d010107d9fa640898
title: Methane waste/leak regulation
uri: Methane-waste-leak-regulation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Methane_waste%252Fleak_regulation%29

content:
<p>
A court 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/05/court-orders-trump-administration-reinstate-obama-emissions-rule">reinstated
the methane waste/leak regulation</a> established under Obama.


feed_id: 071ddb8ac964eb5be5e42078c455b2eb
title: Slavery in India
uri: 2017-10-07-Slavery-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Slavery_in_India%29
content:
<p>
A report on slavery which calls attention to the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/indian-government-advised-to-discredit-slavery-research">14
million (or more) slaves in India today</a> could be bad for the
export business.  An Indian intelligence agency proposed a campaign to
discredit the report.


feed_id: 50a61bee6fa1159e9529936ce9d14d5d
title: Record high temperatures in Australia
uri: Record-high-temperatures-in-Australia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Record_high_temperatures_in_Australia%29

content:
<p>
The 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/05/sweltering-september-smashes-australias-temperature-records">record
high September temperature</a> should help Australians recognize the
reality of global heating.


feed_id: 446917bdf8c4f357638881eb3e09a6aa
title: Thugs in Salafi Arabia
uri: Thugs-in-Salafi-Arabia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Thugs_in_Salafi_Arabia%29
content:
<p>
Why is the University of New Haven 
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/42133-university-of-new-haven-and-saudi-police-big-money-makes-strange-bedfellows">training
thugs in Salafi Arabia</a>?
<p>
Certainly not to help them respect human rights, which are not
recognized in that country.


feed_id: d8042f8cfc938f270a2cc043392deca5
title: Refugees sent back to Afghanistan
uri: Refugees-sent-back-to-Afghanistan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Refugees_sent_back_to_Afghanistan%29

content:
<p>
Several European countries are sending refugees back to Afghanistan
even though they are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/britain-accused-of-unlawfully-deporting-afghan-asylum-seekers-amnesty">likely
to be attacked once there</a>.


feed_id: e6b447fec6ffb407773a986c54d2d884
title: YouTube actively promotes fake news
uri: YouTube-actively-promotes-fake-news
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28YouTube_actively_promotes_fake_news%29

content:
<p>
YouTube is actively 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/04/las-vegas-shooting-youtube-hoax-conspiracy-theories">promoting
fake news that claims the Las Vegas massacre was a hoax</a>, or that
it was carried out to provide an excuse for gun control laws.


feed_id: aff214573f9b85248abfa4de514ff045
title: Stem cell research threatened
uri: Stem-cell-research-threatened
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Stem_cell_research_threatened%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/04/charlatans-threaten-stem-cell-research-with-unproven-cures-say-experts">Charlatans
Threaten Stem Cell Research with Unproven Cures</a>, Say Experts.


feed_id: fde7ca1292727f5a7652d61b6ac3891e
title: Bluetooth devices with lousy security
uri: Bluetooth-devices-with-lousy-security
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#6_October_2017_%28Bluetooth_devices_with_lousy_security%29

content:
<p>
Many Bluetooth devices, such as sex toys, have 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/10/screwdriving-many-bluetooth-sex-toys-leave-users-vulnerable/">lousy
security</a> and can easily be entered by crackers.
<p>
Some them (all of them?) violate users' privacy even without such an
attack, because they are 
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html#SpywareAtHome">designed
to snoop on the users</a> for their manufacturers.


feed_id: 0e3c449b8bc61a54d803c7a06262f7c7
title: Save the elephant
uri: Save-the-elephant
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Save_the_elephant%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/07/it-is-chic-to-save-the-elephant-but-what-about-the-world">It's chic to save the elephant, but what about the world?</a>
<p>
Saving elephants can be a rallying point for resisting some of the
forces that endanger the world.


feed_id: 1553ea6fbd464f5352287cdac1f59d40
title: Memories of historical victories
uri: Memories-of-historical-victories
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Memories_of_historical_victories%29

content:
<p>
Memories of historical victories are easily <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/07/endlessly-refighting-old-wars-does-nothing-to-heal-a-fractured-present">bent towards crude modern
purposes</a>.
<p>
That doesn't mean we should forget the past. 
<p>
But we should remember the wrongs our nation (whichever one) 
has done with its power in the past, not blindly glorify that power.


feed_id: 6d96bdb7042e81978f6aab45ff519083
title: Sexist rules
uri: Sexist-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Sexist_rules%29
content:
<p>
Women students in an Indian university <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/07/india-female-students-eve-teasing">protested against the
universities' absurd sexist rules</a>, and their callous disregard when
men grab the students.
<p>
The university thugs attacked the protesters,
and won general condemnation.


feed_id: 76a13f82af35b8d6a364f1e2fdea8d17
title: Antibiotic resistance
uri: 2017-10-09-Antibiotic-resistance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Antibiotic_resistance%29
content:
<p>
If we don't quit the activities that promote antibiotic resistance,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/08/world-faces-antibiotic-apocalypse-says-chief-medical-officer">some operations could become fatal</a>.


feed_id: 6f3f870d7c8b3961838181faedfc107a
title: Modern cryptographic identifier
uri: Modern-cryptographic-identifier
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Modern_cryptographic_identifier%29

content:
<p>
The US is considering giving citizens a “<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/10/white-house-wants-to-end-social-security-numbers-as-a-national-id/">modern cryptographic identifier</a>”.
<p>
The use of social security numbers is indeed problematical,
but other alternatives can also be dangerous.


feed_id: 7cbfb8212360abaa3e5f489e9f8b6272
title: California needs more housing
uri: California-needs-more-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28California_needs_more_housing%29
content:
<p>
California needs 20% more housing. The only way to get there
is to <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/1jPdgJGrbxc/california-housing-plan-is-a-dud">facilitate building more</a>.
<p>
However, the article fails to mention directly the biggest obstacle:
zoning laws that limit the amount of housing that can be built
in any given piece of land.


feed_id: 9257ac3a970cd2b46651a76d7df46fab
title: LGBT targeted in wave of arrests
uri: LGBT-targeted-in-wave-of-arrests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28LGBT_targeted_in_wave_of_arrests%29

content:
<p>
Egyptian thugs arrested dozens of people at a concert, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/08/lgbt-people-egypt-targeted-wave-arrests-violence">accusing them
of being gay</a>.


feed_id: c4b6136bf30f30d8fe407076453ad2fd
title: Benefit from capitalism
uri: Benefit-from-capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Benefit_from_capitalism%29
content:
<p>
“Only the few benefit from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/oct/07/truly-free-market-exploits-weak-and-defenceless">unrestrained capitalism</a>.”


feed_id: 27034301273138aa9c44339a48095899
title: Silent Catalonia
uri: Silent-Catalonia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Silent_Catalonia%29
content:
<p>
Hundreds of thousands of Catalans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/08/catalan-leader-faces-dilemma-as-silent-majority-finds-its-voice">marched in Barcelona to keep
Catalonia in Spain</a>.
<p>
The repressive behavior of Catalan thugs a week ago has not
convinced Catalans in general to support independence.
<p>
It is clear now that the Catalan government does not have a mandate to
declare independence.
<p>
Also, it seems that there could be a
reconciliation between Catalonia and Spain.
<p>
However, Spain owes an apology for the actions of the thugs.


feed_id: 057385eca670705ab5b54b2aa9854fb6
title: Thugs in Indonesia
uri: Thugs-in-Indonesia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Thugs_in_Indonesia%29
content:
<p>
Thugs in Indonesia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/08/indonesia-police-detain-51-men-in-raid-on-jakarta-gay-spa">arrested 50 people in a gay club</a>.


feed_id: ec7cf6128ea2818f06e686db296eccdc
title: Very urgent: Militarization of thugs
uri: Very-urgent-Militarization-of-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Very_urgent%3A_Militarization_of_thugs%29

content:
<p>
In Massachusetts: testify, or just be present for support, at the
State House on Oct 10 at 10am (room B-2) for limits on <a href="https://warrantless.org/2017/10/turn-out-testify-tuesday/">militarization
of thugs</a> in Massachusetts.


feed_id: c23b8ca3720cb5a44277e1f309adcb80
title: Urgent: Gun control
uri: Urgent-Gun-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Gun_control%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/las-vegas">call on Republicans</a> to support common sense gun control.


feed_id: 9c3da8c9a10708e969df7b81a01cce49
title: Urgent: Digital privacy
uri: Urgent-Digital-privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Digital_privacy%29
content:
<p>
EU citizens: EDRi asks you to <a href="https://edri.org/dear-meps-we-need-you-to-protect-our-privacy-online/">write to your MEPs</a> to support digital
privacy.
<p>
Of course, other things are needed. You could also call for a ban
on cameras that look at public areas, have enough image quality
to recognize people, and can transmit the image to some other place.
Exceptions should require a specific court order.
<p>
See <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html</a> for more
explanation.


feed_id: 54aee990cb8eb42780a06238c3d09f5a
title: Urgent: EPA's chemical safety office
uri: Urgent-EPA-s-chemical-safety-office
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_EPA%27s_chemical_safety_office%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/reject_dourson">call on the Senate</a> to reject chemical industry mouthpiece
Michael Dourson as the head of the EPA's chemical safety office.
<p>
He would convert it into the chemical poisoning office.


feed_id: cf1a83f9293f74b628a21cc8981f99ca
title: Accusing the poor of being lazy
uri: Accusing-the-poor-of-being-lazy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Accusing_the_poor_of_being_lazy%29

content:
<p>
When the rich accuse the poor of being lazy, they may be projecting
their own expectation of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/06/why-do-so-many-super-rich-despise-poor">always being served</a>.


feed_id: 93fc52231ae2f664c9d528bc25741d7e
title: Taser investigations
uri: Taser-investigations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Taser_investigations%29
content:
<p>
Taser sneakily <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-taser-experts/">interferes with investigations</a> into the death
of people who are killed with tasers.
The "best possible evidence", according to Taser, is the result
of investigation by university scientists paid by the company.


feed_id: e49d9c3da7ee183c23aaa92be519618d
title: DNA collection law
uri: DNA-collection-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28DNA_collection_law%29
content:
<p>
Kuwait's Supreme Court <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/10/kuwaits-constitutional-court-mandatory-dna-collection-law-is-no-good/">overturned</a> its mandatory DNA collection law.
<p>
It is good that Kuwait has a court independent enough to do such a thing.


feed_id: c8bf6c3af12eca85ba6aecc4e35be075
title: Anti-Muslim event
uri: Anti-Muslim-event
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Anti-Muslim_event%29
content:
<p>
An anti-Muslim bigotry event in Texas was <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/05/politics/heart-of-texas-russia-event/index.html">organized by</a> Russian agents.


feed_id: e488ed7108a08b976061f1c4c3a36d2f
title: Singapore artist
uri: Singapore-artist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Singapore_artist%29
content:
<p>
In repressive Singapore, an artist's solitary performance is labeled
an <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2017/10/05/is-free-speech-an-empty-promise-in-singapore-activists-bristle-after-police-detain-performance-artist/">"illegal assembly"</a>.
<p>
"Illegal assembly" is one of the favorite world-wide excuses for repression
of protesters.


feed_id: 07ac53b6b940f98df4a70aece6954650
title: Oil firms in Peru
uri: Oil-firms-in-Peru
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Oil_firms_in_Peru%29
content:
<p>
Peru Urged to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/andes-to-the-amazon/2017/oct/06/peru-urged-to-ban-oil-firms-from-isolated-indigenous-peoples-land">Ban Oil Firms</a> From Isolated Indigenous Peoples' Land.


feed_id: 98b2631a67488fe6606a2487e156379f
title: Progressive rhetoric
uri: Progressive-rhetoric
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Progressive_rhetoric%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> and Bannon often borrow progressive rhetoric. Keep your
eye on their actions, which are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/06/steve-bannons-thomas-frank-wrecking-crew">totally plutocratic</a>.


feed_id: 5b781a50c8200a0f68197b24a1169ae0
title: Cryin'air pilots
uri: 2017-10-09-Cryin-air-pilots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Cryin%27air_pilots%29
content:
<p>
The boss of Cryin'air had to beg pilots <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/06/learn-ryanair-theresa-may-keep-people-pay-properly">not to switch</a> to other
airlines, offering them substantial inducements.
<p>
He can take these favors away again just as fast as he offered them,
so I suggest that the pilots hold out for official recognition of a
union for all the employees of Cryin'air.


feed_id: 3b3b7c78694307490c3d7cfc4a2c8a8a
title: Worker-friendly cleaning company
uri: Worker-friendly-cleaning-company
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Worker-friendly_cleaning_company%29

content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/06/new-cleaning-firm-to-give-staff-london-living-wage-and-guaranteed-hours">small office-cleaning company</a> competes based on giving workers
better pay, predictable hours, and decent working conditions.
<p>
I wish it success, but the state should require all cleaning companies
to do these things.


feed_id: 34b82c70201dd5ef5a11e7ead5075f48
title: Protecting indigenous peoples
uri: Protecting-indigenous-peoples
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Protecting_indigenous_peoples%29
content:
<p>
Protecting indigenous peoples is a way to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/06/protect-lives-indigenous-people-can-limit-climate-change-says-un">protect the forests</a> they live in.
This will slow global heating.


feed_id: 25bda71cac592d013f63202476489531
title: Insider trading
uri: Insider-trading
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Insider_trading%29
content:
<p>
Documents show that Iceland's PM engaged in what looks like insider
trading, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/06/iceland-pm-sold-bank-assets-hours-before-financial-crash-leaks-show">selling stock in a bank</a> just before it collapsed. As a
member of parliament's economy committee, he could have found out
before the public did.


feed_id: 7fbfc41254c447fd67631daee467f7cc
title: Real-time facial recognition
uri: Real-time-facial-recognition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Real-time_facial_recognition%29
content:
<p>
Australia's government wants to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/06/privacy-concerns-voiced-over-photo-database-link-to-real-time-surveillance">connect cameras</a> to real-time facial
recognition against a massive database.


feed_id: 1e7f99a13c639f19564e619108d0d6be
title: The invisible hand
uri: The-invisible-hand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28The_invisible_hand%29
content:
<p>
The cult of the invisible hand is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2017/oct/05/the-truth-about-capitalism-is-out-as-marxs-magic-cap-starts-to-slip">losing the power</a> to captivate the people
that are losing out.


feed_id: 0b002278823d89700fd8b326d0299ac3
title: US gun killings
uri: US-gun-killings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28US_gun_killings%29
content:
<p>
US gun killings since 1968 have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/05/us-gun-violence-charts-data">killed more people</a> than all US wars.
Most of them were killed one by one.


feed_id: 1233e6702bea369e2b4c6b381771804c
title: Macron and workers' rights
uri: Macron-and-workers-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#9_October_2017_%28Macron_and_workers%27_rights%29
content:
<p>
Macron expressed contempt for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/macron-accused-of-class-contempt-after-jibe-at-protesting-workers">workers that protested</a> his recent
attacks on workers' rights.
<p>
Macron's insult is a non-sequitur. If they did get different jobs in
France, that would not recover the rights that Macron just took away
from them.
<p>
But if Macron just wants to demonize workers, it won't matter that
his rebuke to them was irrational.


feed_id: d5d906b57e576174d950af4ad374ea11
title: Urgent: Block 20-week abortion ban
uri: Urgent-Block-20-week-abortion-ban
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Block_20-week_abortion_ban%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.pfaw.org/sign/no-20-week-ban/">call on the
Senate</a> to block the Republicans' 20-week abortion ban.


feed_id: 8d0c48bb905d3683548ad230842d0782
title: Urgent: Oppose bad copyright law changes
uri: Urgent-Oppose-bad-copyright-law-changes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_bad_copyright_law_changes%29

content:
<p>
EU citizens:
<a href="https://act.openmedia.org/savethelink-call">phone your
MEPs</a> to oppose bad changes in EU copyright law.


feed_id: cfcfb0bd564f180c55a429429e98f6ae
title: LinkedIn accounts
uri: LinkedIn-accounts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28LinkedIn_accounts%29
content:
<p>
A paying customer of LinkedIn closed his account, feeling that
LinkedIn had started cheating him by eliminating the features he
wanted to pay for.  Then LinkedIn
<a href="https://medium.com/@martingeddes/linkedin-or-lockedin-why-i-deleted-my-account-and-maybe-you-should-too-8cad40a0ea68">refused
to delete his account immediately</a>.
<p>
One of the features he resented losing, being informed of what users
said when referring others to his account, seems like an injustice to
me.  But his overall conclusion — that we must manage our own
digital identities, not entrust that to some company — is right.


feed_id: 4a1eef1938cf38523ee2716c10bdb3c0
title: California "sanctuary state" law
uri: California-sanctuary-state-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28California_sanctuary_state_law%29

content:
<p>
California has adopted a "sanctuary state" law which
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/05/california-sanctuary-state-law-trump">forbids
state and local thugs from cooperating with deportation teams</a>.


feed_id: 13417a2ab9c32c74a84baef85b88c9b9
title: Thugs raid Polish women's rights groups
uri: Thugs-raid-Polish-women-s-rights-groups
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Thugs_raid_Polish_womens_rights_groups%29

content:
<p>
Polish women's rights groups were
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/police-raid-offices-of-womens-groups-in-poland">raided
by thugs</a> in an apparent act of intimidation.


feed_id: a41dcc4bbd7433c698fbf26c3a0e916b
title: American fighting for PISSI captured
uri: American-fighting-for-PISSI-captured
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28American_fighting_for_PISSI_captured%29

content:
<p>
The Syrian Kurds captured an American that was fighting for <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>.  He
is now a prisoner of the US military, which has refused to say who he
is.  The ACLU has petitioned to
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/05/aclu-challenges-detention-of-u-s-citizen-accused-of-fighting-for-isis/">give
him a lawyer and a hearing</a>.
<p>
The ACLU doesn't claim that he has done nothing wrong, or that he
shouldn't be punished for fighting for <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>.  Its claim is that he
deserves a fair trial for whatever the charges will be.


feed_id: 6148126b6275bb370a6e46fba088efd1
title: Eradicating rats from Lord Howe Island
uri: Eradicating-rats-from-Lord-Howe-Island
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Eradicating_rats_from_Lord_Howe_Island%29

content:
<p>
The plan to eradicate rats from Lord Howe Island, and thus protect
endangered species found nowhere else, is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/09/trouble-in-paradise-lord-howe-island-divided-over-plan-to-exterminate-rats">running
into controversy</a>.
<p>
One argument in favor is that the benefit of eradicating the rats
would continue, even if due to global disaster humans can no longer
continue controlling the rat population.


feed_id: ff22bc385aeea69150c3264c8d7d6c8f
title: Happiness in dense UK cities
uri: Happiness-in-dense-UK-cities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Happiness_in_dense_UK_cities%29
content:
<p>
People in the UK are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/06/inner-city-living-makes-for-healthier-happier-people-study-finds">healthier
and happier in dense cities than in suburbs</a>.


feed_id: 1b1df45f6681de9420ac77f368fab38f
title: Guns handed in by Australians
uri: Guns-handed-in-by-Australians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Guns_handed_in_by_Australians%29
content:
<p>
Australians handed in
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/06/australias-firearms-amnesty-collects-more-than-50000-guns">50,000
guns</a> to be destroyed.


feed_id: f6affb64a1ca10ad85be8cea070d4483
title: Gun control
uri: 2017-10-10-Gun-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Gun_control%29
content:
<p>
The US rejects gun control because many people cling to a few
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/06/americans-guns-nra-las-vegas-shooting">foolish
myths</a>.
<p>
What the article doesn't say is that this is no accident.  The myths
have existed for a long time, but they didn't have such fervent
believers 50 years ago.  The NRA pumps up these myths with public
relations campaigns.
<p>
One of these myths that people with guns can stop a massacre.  The
noteworthy thing about the guitarist in whose concert the Las Vegas
massacre occurred is that his crew had guns because they believed
this myth, and now he knows it is false.


feed_id: 2ae3fc9a1bb9eb91be75ffb79b2b82fa
title: Laws against having sex with an animal
uri: Laws-against-having-sex-with-an-animal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Laws_against_having_sex_with_an_animal%29

content:
<p>
European countries are
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/32411241/denmark-passes-law-to-ban-bestiality">passing
laws against having sex with an animal</a>.  (We are talking about sex
practices that don't physically hurt the animal.)
<p>
These laws have no rational basis.  We know that some animals enjoy
sex with humans.  Others don't.  But really, if you smear something on
your genitals that tastes good to dogs, and have a dog lick you off,
it harms no one.  Why should this be illegal except mindless religion?


feed_id: a42cd7e53dffe7576e1b19f455b40fde
title: NY thugs arrest, handcuff, and rape woman
uri: NY-thugs-arrest-handcuff-and-rape-woman
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28NY_thugs_arrest%2C_handcuff%2C_and_rape_woman%29

content:
<p>
Two New York thugs arrested and handcuffed a woman, then took her away
and
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/nyc-teen-claims-nypd-cops-raped-arrest-drug-charge-article-1.3530054">raped
her</a>.
<p>
They say she consented, with handcuffs on.
<p>
The thug sergeants' association insists that thugs should enjoy
impunity for anything they do.  Especially sergeants.


feed_id: 82516887fdc856d143ae79bd97720ed1
title: Members of Congress in NRA's pocket
uri: Members-of-Congress-in-NRA-s-pocket
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Members_of_Congress_in_NRAs_pocket%29

content:
<p>
A
<a href="https://splinternews.com/every-member-of-congress-who-took-money-from-the-nra-an-1819059582">list
of members of Congress</a> that took money from the NRA to oppose gun
control.


feed_id: 519056fceb892a2c79f68f26048e03af
title: Tracking phones by wifi interfaces
uri: Tracking-phones-by-wifi-interfaces
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Tracking_phones_by_wifi_interfaces%29

content:
<p>
The London subway ("underground") intends to track passengers'
movements by the
<a href="http://news.sky.com/story/tfl-may-make-322m-by-selling-on-data-from-passengers-mobiles-via-tube-wifi-11056118">wifi
interfaces of their phones</a>.
<p>
Stores already do this.  It should be illegal for anyone to set up
such a system to surveil people in general, except with a specific
court order.


feed_id: d6eea8175afbf159fbaaa726ef0891cb
title: Professor rebuked for suggestions
uri: Professor-rebuked-for-suggestions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Professor_rebuked_for_suggestions%29

content:
<p>
Professor Wax at the University of Pennsylvania was rebuked by the
administration for publishing some
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2017/09/08/penn-law-prof-amy-wax-on-her-controversi">conservative
suggestions for making US society better</a>.
<p>
I think people should be entitled to make such statements, and we
should judge them on their merits.
<p>
People will respect education when education brings them either
respect or the opportunity to enter a profession.
<p>
I strongly believe that people should not have children unless they
can afford to raise the children properly — but punishing poor
people for having children tends to imply punishing the children, and
it isn't the children's fault.  The best way to discourage
overreproduction is to make effective birth control available gratis.
<p>
As for respecting authority, let's have authority that can earn some
respect.  It's hard to argue for respecting violent thugs, or court
systems that treat poor people as money trees, or a president that got
into office through
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_February_2017_(Ethical_tone)">cheating</a>.


feed_id: 1ba8a628e86ccdd55165cb93d2f58a34
title: Urgent: Reject drug czar
uri: Urgent-Reject-drug-czar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_drug_czar%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://engage.drugpolicy.org/secure/oppose-tom-marino">call on the Senate</a> to reject Tom Marino as drug czar.
I gave this message:
<blockquote>
Please reject Tom Marino as "drug czar." Then please reject everyone
and anyone that might be nominated for that office. Its only purpose
is to pursue the harmful and deadly "war on drugs".
</blockquote>


feed_id: fbf6a052654d74e551c4c38958c12bc5
title: Urgent: Support bail reform
uri: Urgent-Support-bail-reform
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Support_bail_reform%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/sen-kamala-harris-money-bail-reform/">call on your senators</a> to support bail reform,
so that poor people won't spend months or even years in jail
because they are accused of a crime.


feed_id: 066575bc0c7a30e4824d870b690ca6d6
title: Foreign subsidiaries
uri: Foreign-subsidiaries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Foreign_subsidiaries%29
content:
<p>
SCROTUS propose to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/02/100-organizations-urge-congress-reject-giant-tax-loophole-offshoring-and-tax">completely eliminate taxation</a> of "US" corporations'
foreign subsidiaries.
<p>
What do you give the corporation that has everything?


feed_id: cdfcf4c1461a78e194a2c867ff1beea5
title: Spain's internet repression
uri: Spain-s-internet-repression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Spain%27s_internet_repression%29
content:
<p>
Spain's internet repression against Catalonia threatens to <a href="https://xnet-x.net/en/digital-repression-and-resistance-catalan-referendum/">set new
precedents</a> for state repression in the EU.


feed_id: b76394ac56733e2350a06431b4c702a8
title: Alabama voting laws
uri: Alabama-voting-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Alabama_voting_laws%29
content:
<p>
In Alabama, poor people are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/04/alabama-voting-poll-tax">barred from voting</a> because of fines
upon fines that they cannot pay.
<p>
Many states have a practice of crushing the poor with fines, then
interest on the fines, then fines for not paying the fines, ad
infinitem. This was revealed <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_September_2014_(Ferguson_court_fine_income)">in Ferguson</a>.
<p>
However, using it to stop thousands of people from voting is in effect
a form of rigging elections.


feed_id: 43f1ba8d5fa7b53d46d7d785bb251475
title: Rohingya prisoner massacre
uri: Rohingya-prisoner-massacre
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Rohingya_prisoner_massacre%29
content:
<p>
Witnesses say Burmese soldiers <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/04/myanmar-military-accused-executing-dozens-fleeing-rohingya-villagers-rakhine-state">massacred dozens</a> of Rohingya prisoners
one day in Maung Nu village.
<p>
They are also accused of raping prisoners.


feed_id: 80a8511e6f9793be8a22dc4b84c14e7b
title: Rwandan dissident jailed
uri: Rwandan-dissident-jailed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Rwandan_dissident_jailed%29
content:
<p>
Diane Shima Rwigara, Rwandan dissident, has been jailed and faces
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/04/critic-of-rwandan-president-charged-with-inciting-insurrection">absurd charges</a>.


feed_id: 4a1d766b6e7d872b1e52ef654c95d03e
title: The troll and Russia
uri: The-troll-and-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28The_troll_and_Russia%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/07/trump-russia-steele-dossier-moscow">Discoveries over the past year</a> have confirmed many of the points in Steele's
dossier about the troll's cooperation with Russia.


feed_id: fbb4c2ec3378ec52a32fbae0788203d5
title: Puerto Rico's debt
uri: 2017-10-10-Puerto-Rico-s-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Puerto_Rico%27s_debt%29
content:
<p>
Political Support Growing to <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/07/puerto-rico-debt-donald-trump-bernie-sanders/">Wipe Out</a> Puerto Ricoâs Wall Street Debt.


feed_id: bcaa098ba36de2e6fe39e6b4b05dd6f9
title: Life in Costa Rica
uri: Life-in-Costa-Rica
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Life_in_Costa_Rica%29
content:
<p>
Costa Rica offers an example of giving everyone <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/working-in-development/2017/oct/07/how-to-avert-the-apocalypse-take-lessons-from-costa-rica">a good life</a>
without a lot of money.
<p>
It shows how we could reduce industrial activity and cause less harm
to the Earth, without feeling deprived.


feed_id: 5c5c216120dfbaec71abba0ff6478569
title: Vegas and surveillance
uri: Vegas-and-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Vegas_and_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
The Vegas Shooting Makes It Clear More Surveillance <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20171005/11440738352/vegas-shooting-makes-it-clear-more-surveillance-isnt-answer.shtml">Isn't The Answer</a>.
<p>
The author is too quick to claim that eliminating cameras "isn't the answer".
It is absolutely crucial for eliminating the surveillance state.


feed_id: 794a8e4347199763292680af208f90c3
title: Massacre bias
uri: Massacre-bias
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Massacre_bias%29
content:
<p>
The US has seen much larger massacres than the one in Las Vegas, but
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/07/a-sick-country-filled-with-guns/">they are ignored now</a> because they were lynchings and their victims
were blacks.
<p>
This is part of a broader biased pattern of reacting to massacres.


feed_id: 2b8494b92bbdaca32851e94ec34db2ba
title: Terrorism plot
uri: Terrorism-plot
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Terrorism_plot%29
content:
<p>
The FBI says it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/07/new-york-terrorist-plots-thwarted-by-undercover-fbi-agent">caught terrorists</a> plotting attacks in New York City.
The article fails to show us whether they were capable of really
doing any part of the violence they talked about.
<p>
The FBI has a <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#18_April_2015_(FBI_entrapment_of_mentally_ill)">history</a> of <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#1_January_2016_(FBI)">luring</a> incompetent <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-mar-jun.html#26_April_2016_(FBI_entrapment)">fantasy</a> terrorists into a
"conspiracy" with an agent and then imprisoning them. Then it claims
to be "protecting" us from a danger that never existed outside their
minds.
<p>
Were these defendants real potential terrorists, or were they
another group of fantasizers?


feed_id: 5417d501da56f034011711255ceceb3d
title: Center-left losing support
uri: Center-left-losing-support
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Center-left_losing_support%29
content:
<p>
"Center-left" parties and politicians are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/05/center-left-had-its-chance-its-time-something-new">losing support</a> in Europe and
the US as the public sees their right-wing support for banksters.


feed_id: 59475bd54de058718006aebe8860c129
title: MLK's economic equality
uri: MLK-s-economic-equality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28MLK%27s_economic_equality%29
content:
<p>
The economic equality that Martin Luther King started campaigning for
in 1967 remains to be achieved. Things have <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/06/martin-luther-king-jr-asked-chaos-or-community">even got worse</a>.


feed_id: 83e46b09abf728d772704166ada75367
title: US medical coverage
uri: US-medical-coverage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28US_medical_coverage%29
content:
<p>
The troll is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/06/yet-more-shameful-evidence-trump-actively-sabotaging-obamacare">personally sabotaging</a> US medical coverage aid
in several states.


feed_id: 56bda4a9c7da4698b5bae4b75a10421b
title: Puerto Rico utilities
uri: Puerto-Rico-utilities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Puerto_Rico_utilities%29
content:
<p>
The US government no longer reports on what fraction of Puerto Ricans <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/06/administration-blots-out-damning-data-puerto-ricos-lack-power-water-federal-response">lack
water and electricity</a>.
<p>
Restoring potable water to half the population is probably quite an
achievement given the extent of devastation.


feed_id: ae99adaa2ba13dfb31bf6319b1032c77
title: Urgent: Impeach the Troll
uri: Urgent-Impeach-the-Troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Impeach_the_Troll%29
content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13076">Call for impeaching the troll</a> before he starts a nuclear war.</p>
<p>To sign this with JavaScript disabled, use <a href="/salsalabs-method.html">the Salsalabs method</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1fa21e5ead881040ede72f5d7163aa70
title: Animal Grain Waste
uri: Animal-Grain-Waste
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Animal_Grain_Waste%29
content:
<p>Growing food crops to feed animals <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/07/feeding-grain-to-farm-animals-wastes-more-than-1bn-a-year-data-shows">will cause over a trillion dollars a year in losses</a>, by 2050, if current trends continue.</p>
<p>I think that the current trends are so damaging that they will cause a crisis before 2050.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5dbee8df7df7a96aa7b8fc273f11a11f
title: Marriage myths
uri: Marriage-myths
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28Marriage_myths%29
content:
<p>People that get married <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/07/the-con-behind-every-wedding">are often deluded about the prospects of their marriage</a>: they think that marriage will assure a good relationship. The wedding industry builds up this myth, by teaching women to focus foolishly on a "dream wedding" rather than on what makes for a good relationship over time.</p>
<p>I will never promise to love someone forever.  The commitment that makes sense to me is to continue making efforts to have a good relationship and to keep it good, for as long as I see any chance of achieving this.</p>
<p>For many women in their 20s, the anticipated wedding is the adult replacement for presents from Santa Claus on Christmas morning.  Just as adults often don't dare to tell 5-year-old's there is no Santa Claus, they don't dare tell marriers that marriage doesn't mean you live happily ever after.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 04ddd1ddba256cae0be3c8664e18214b
title: PISSI recruitment rape
uri: PISSI-recruitment-rape
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#10_October_2017_%28PISSI_recruitment_rape%29
content:
<p>PISSI <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/07/isis-rape-slavery-british-recruits-islamic-state">used the prospect of raping captured women</a>, and having female slaves, to recruit men.</p>
<p>I see a resemblance between this and the Republican Party.</p>
<p>Many <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/07/children-isis-fighters-syria-raqqa-orphans-uncertain-future">women joined PISSI and were married to jihadis</a>, and had children. Now they and their toddlers are outcasts, shunned in Iraq by local people that hate PISSI, and excluded from their (or the PISSI men's) home countries in many cases.  European countries think even toddlers could have been radicalized already.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 2ce878a75b012f03e93fde3e5a8fbb1e
title: Urgent: call on the USDA to toughen poultry safety inspection
uri: Urgent-call-on-the-USDA-to-toughen-poultry-safety-inspection
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_call_on_the_USDA_to_toughen_poultry_safety_inspection%29

content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="https://secure.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app363a?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=3116">call on the USDA to reject the chicken factories' proposal</a> to make inspection even more rushed and inadequate.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9bf1e2cbe693ffc05c1ed062f7966868
title: Elephant skin trading
uri: Elephant-skin-trading
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Elephant_skin_trading%29
content:
<p>Now that the ivory trade has been suppressed, people have invented silly excuses <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2017/oct/09/elephant-skin-trade-the-animals-latest-existential-threat">to create demand for pieces of elephant skin</a>.</p>
<p>Why didn't they invent uses for cockroaches or pigeon feet?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7a4f6eb8d38ce0ae771438774a97e039
title: Iran imprisoned journalist
uri: Iran-imprisoned-journalist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Iran_imprisoned_journalist%29
content:
<p>Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, British journalist imprisoned in Iran, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/british-iranian-woman-jailed-in-tehran-faces-new-charges-says-husband">faces new absurd charges</a> including participating in a protest outside the Iranian embassy in London.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7d5c6cd4ab3dac06d1da23062b69aebd
title: EU vehicle pollution
uri: EU-vehicle-pollution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28EU_vehicle_pollution%29
content:
<p>The EU proposes to handle deceptive car software by allowing car manufacturers to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/09/secrecy-around-air-pollution-controls-in-cars-faces-legal-challenge">keep their emissions control systems secret</a>. That would encourage them to deceive even more.</p>
<p>Businesses are not in general entitled to human rights.  Trade secrecy is an antisocial practice that often harms the public and occasionally endangers the public.  Whenever a business's secret practice endanger the public, the business should be compelled to reveal the secrets so that people can check on the danger.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e7f3c7bc791354dff727821148982ac9
title: Costly cities in US
uri: Costly-cities-in-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Costly_cities_in_US%29
content:
<p>It's hard for runaway teenagers in San Francisco when <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/oct/09/one-false-move-and-youre-done-how-us-cities-are-changing-for-runaway-kids">a small apartment costs $2000 a month</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e67faa72d131f7958fccc561ffea07ae
title: Reducing gun violence tips
uri: Reducing-gun-violence-tips
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Reducing_gun_violence_tips%29
content:
<p><a href="https://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/2017/10/gun-control-five/index3.html">Suggestions</a> for how to reduce gun violence in your community.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: cdaf133ed4d8640694874ec621750094
title: Troll Daca border wall
uri: Troll-Daca-border-wall
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Troll_Daca_border_wall%29
content:
<p>The troll is using Daca immigrants <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/09/trump-demands-congress-fund-border-wall-as-price-for-keeping-dreamers">as hostages to get funding</a> for his border wall and changes in immigration rules.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d2a977b79dbfeec1249c40a169ced42a
title: Urgent: Pay reparations to Vietnam
uri: Urgent-Pay-reparations-to-Vietnam
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Pay_reparations_to_Vietnam%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13075">call
for the US to pay reparations</a> to Vietnam for the tremendous damage
the US did in the war in Vietnam.
<p>
I left this message
<blockquote>
As your constituent, I urge you to support U.S. government
reparations to Vietnam now, as Nixon promised in 1973.

Since Vietnam has become quite repressive, we could make
respect for freedom of speech a condition for this.
</blockquote>


feed_id: fef733a8c1f258211cd16d1094e399d0
title: Urgent: Birth control coverage
uri: 2017-10-12-Urgent-Birth-control-coverage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Birth_control_coverage%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/secure/birth-control-rule">oppose
plans to let corporations claim to have "religious beliefs"</a> and
use them as an excuse to exclude birth control coverage from
employees' medical plans.
<p>
I left this comment:
<blockquote>
The proposed new rule about insurance and birth control pretends to
promote religious freedom, but actually it is religious tyranny to
allow company executives to decide for their own (real or pretend)
religious reasons what medical care their employees' insurance can
cover.  When women are pressured into having children, that often
pushes the family into poverty, especially in the US where half
the jobs pay an inadequate wage and welfare benefits are being cut.
</blockquote>


feed_id: 973b61652075a5863b4d31c8a3b91d37
title: Australian state weakens clean water law
uri: Australian-state-weakens-clean-water-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Australian_state_weakens_clean_water_law%29

content:
<p>
A state in Australia has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/10/nsw-to-weaken-water-quality-test-for-extensions-to-mines">weakened
its clean water law</a> to allow a coal mine to keep operating.
<p>
That mine is a triple danger: polluting the air, polluting the water,
and advancing global heating.


feed_id: 0ac8d0c547d9e38886d184ac3d80494f
title: Labeling groups as "terrorist" without trial
uri: Labeling-groups-as-terrorist-without-trial
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Labeling_groups_as_terrorist_without_trial%29

content:
<p>
Iran threatens war with the US 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/10/trumps-targeting-of-revolutionary-guards-is-a-step-too-far-for-iran">if
the US designates the Revolutionary Guards as a "terrorist group"</a>.
<p>
I think it is an injustice to label any group as "terrorist" without a
fair trial.  The injustice hits individuals as well as groups, since
individuals can be imprisoned for supporting the group <em>in any
way</em> once the group has been so designated.


feed_id: 2bea7fdb8105b069976f69e44aac61b7
title: UK prisons
uri: 2017-10-12-UK-prisons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28UK_prisons%29
content:
<p>
Overcrowded UK prisons, unhygienic and degrading, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/10/prisons-degrading-inmates-driven-to-drugs-says-chief-inspector">drive
prisoners to drugs</a>, according to the chief inspector of prisons.


feed_id: 9c2b2f71f204c65f92371f19808127d4
title: Colombian thugs kill protesters
uri: Colombian-thugs-kill-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Colombian_thugs_kill_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Colombian thugs 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/colombia-suspends-four-police-officers-deaths-coca-farmers">shot
a crowd of protesters</a>, killing several of them.  The state has
taken notice of this crime.


feed_id: 7194128936a7ba1c9edb060851e7b076
title: Enslaved workers in Qatar
uri: Enslaved-workers-in-Qatar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Enslaved_workers_in_Qatar%29
content:
<p>
Enslaved construction workers in Qatar get there based on 
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/world-cup-2022-qatars-workers-slaves-building-mausoleums-stadiums-modern-slavery-kafala-a7980816.html">lies
told by their old friends</a>.  If they tell investigators how they
have been cheated, and how they are treated, they are jailed.
<p>
The Qatari state is behind this and profits from this.
The article recommends boycotting some British businesses,
but why not boycott Qatar airways too?


feed_id: fd3b98d190109e3d21b9b69cb7acc008
title: Vice President's protest
uri: Vice-President-s-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Vice_Presidents_protest%29
content:
<p>
When NFL players protested discrimination by kneeling, Vice President
Dense 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/08/pence-departure-nfl-game-slammed-pr-stunt-orchestrated-trump">staged
a counterprotest by leaving the game</a>.
<p>
He has a right to protest, just like everyone else.  What's shameful
is that he chose to protest in favor of discrimination.


feed_id: 111dc5ebcaf2106f28b0b8c49de5bfea
title: UK immigration agents
uri: UK-immigration-agents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28UK_immigration_agents%29
content:
<p>
UK immigration agents 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/08/one-in-five-stopped-by-immigration-enforcement-is-a-uk-citizen-figures-show">don't
seem to be very careful about who they stop and question</a>, since in
some cities 1/3 of those people are UK citizens.


feed_id: 54adc7c58509954ad101741c3a734ffb
title: Ending political power of business
uri: Ending-political-power-of-business
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Ending_political_power_of_business%29

content:
<p>
Young people reject a business-dominated society and demand Socialism,
but concretely 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/09/socialism-with-a-spine-the-only-21st-century-alternative">what
is that going to mean</a>?
<p>
One proposed meaning is "Liberalism with a spine".  What does the
spine mean?  It means keeping a sharp and suspicious watch on attempts
by the rich and businesses to reconstitute their power.
<p>
To keep any sort of Socialism from being resubordinated to business,
we need to put an end to the political power of business.  The bigger
a business is, the more political power it has, so we need to split
big businesses into small ones.  Then we can stop them from ruining or
subverting the other measures we take.
<p>
My proposed 
<a href="/articles/progressive-tax-on-business-gross-income.html">progressive
tax on business</a> could help.


feed_id: d25be3abdcd4fddf6697703a023edcf7
title: Russian election-meddlers
uri: Russian-election-meddlers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Russian_election-meddlers%29
content:
<p>
Russian election-meddlers 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/russian-operatives-spent-thousands-of-dollars-on-google-ads-source-claims">spent
considerable money on Google advertising</a>.


feed_id: f85c39a77573dcbd1343648e810aaf1b
title: Medical insurance
uri: 2017-10-12-Medical-insurance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Medical_insurance%29
content:
<p>
What is it like to switch from private medical insurance to a
single-payer system?  
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/09/new-medicare-recipients-bernie-sanders-health-care/">Interviews
with Americans</a> who have done so.


feed_id: 5f4868ef490d2c8c39e1fcc384dd6ffd
title: Secret trials
uri: Secret-trials
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Secret_trials%29
content:
<p>
Nigeria will try people accused of supporting Boko Haram in
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/nigeria-begin-secret-trials-thousands-boko-haram-suspects">secret
trials</a>.
<p>
A secret trial is an unjust trial, whether in Nigeria or 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#19_November_2014_(Convicted_of_possessing_a_copy_of_a_book)">Britain</a>.


feed_id: 2b93e53a888f36a7514807f65f4cefd0
title: Edited photo
uri: Edited-photo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Edited_photo%29
content:
<p>
A photo is circulating on the net which appears to show me with my arm
around a young woman and my hand on her almost-nude behind.
<p>
That never happened; the photo was edited.  The only part of it that
is me is the man's head.  The man's torso, arms, legs, and clothing,
and the woman, were from a photo I was not in.


feed_id: c9866fa4da2abc89b4b9ab400ca68a9b
title: Georgia thugs
uri: Georgia-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Georgia_thugs%29
content:
<p>
The ACLU is suing to stop Georgia from 
<a href="https://www.acluga.org/en/news/aclu-georgia-files-suit-against-cobb-county-unconstitutional-dui-drug-arrests">arresting
people because a thug thinks they appear to be stoned</a>.
<p>
Also in Georgia, thugs are being prosecuted for 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20171005/08115638349/sheriff-deputies-indicted-after-subjecting-entire-high-school-to-invasive-pat-downs.shtml">groping
lots of high school students</a> under the pretext of searching them,
with no valid reason or legal basis to search them.
<p>
More harm done by the completely misguided 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-mar-jun.html#10%20April%202009%20(Legalizing%20drugs%20would%20save%20billions)">"war
on drugs"</a>.


feed_id: 09fc7b269810f973e364f88e647b69cc
title: Repression in Egypt
uri: Repression-in-Egypt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Repression_in_Egypt%29
content:
<p>
Egyptian thugs 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/08/lgbt-people-egypt-targeted-wave-arrests-violence">arrested
dozens of people at a concert</a>, making silly charges that are a
front for "being homosexual."
<p>
It is part of the increasing general repression directed at gays
in Egypt.


feed_id: 9e563c834049cbdcc0a7a3b2041826e3
title: Violent thugs in St Petersburg
uri: Violent-thugs-in-St-Petersburg
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#11_October_2017_%28Violent_thugs_in_St_Petersburg%29

content:
<p>
Russian riot thugs lived up to their name by 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/07/hurricane-nate-us-cleanup-costs">violently
attacking protesters</a> in St Petersburg.  However, in Moscow the
thugs mainly watched 1000 protesters chant slogans.


feed_id: 3516ea420ce57dd5292aeba17f8c45b2
title: Urgent: IRS commissioner
uri: Urgent-IRS-commissioner
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_IRS_commissioner%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/preserve_IRS_integrity">call on the Senate</a> to stop the troll from appointing a
crony as IRS commissioner who would block the tax investigation of the
troll.


feed_id: 23273a74f326068b09ce119252ce3c63
title: Urgent: NAFTA
uri: Urgent-NAFTA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_NAFTA%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://petitions.signforgood.com/EndISDS/">call on your congresscritter</a> to reject any version of
NAFTA that allows companies to sue countries if their laws are
inconvenient.


feed_id: 66809f9ae3163eaa4c4a2dff6b36cb6f
title: Pro-Israel lobby infiltration
uri: Pro-Israel-lobby-infiltration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Pro-Israel_lobby_infiltration%29
content:
<p>
An undercover Al-Jazeera reporter <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/09/an-al-jazeera-reporter-went-undercover-with-the-pro-israel-lobby-in-washington/">infiltrated the Israeli campaign</a> to
destroy the reputations of politicians that object to Israel's
occupation policies.
Israel accused al-Jazeera's reporting of anti-semitism, but the accusation
was rejected.


feed_id: 1874ca62ce191392c56c2db3ef13dc96
title: Clean Power Plan
uri: 2017-10-12-Clean-Power-Plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Clean_Power_Plan%29
content:
<p>
In addition to reducing the long-term chance of avoiding disaster,
the troll's cancellation of the Clean Power Plan will <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/10/trump-administrations-clean-power-plan-repeal-will-deliver-dirtier-air-more">kill thousands</a>
and sicken tens of thousands of Americans over the next few decades.


feed_id: 9b62193c77896df18ce2b42545c0ce30
title: Business-supremacy treaties
uri: 2017-10-12-Business-supremacy-treaties
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Business-supremacy_treaties%29
content:
<p>
UK ministers aim to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/10/parliament-be-shut-out-post-brexit-trade-deals">thrust Parliament aside</a>, claiming the power to impose
"transitional" business-supremacy treaties without giving Parliament
any say in them.


feed_id: bc230bdea502d53fae9838468df33196
title: Puerto Rico food shortage
uri: Puerto-Rico-food-shortage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Puerto_Rico_food_shortage%29
content:
<p>
Puerto Rico: US Officials Privately Acknowledge <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/11/puerto-rico-food-shortage-hurricane-maria">Serious Food Shortage</a>.
<p>
And FEMA is calmly letting things get worse.


feed_id: 616064a442b435f2f345c9f79712e913
title: Killings by US thugs
uri: 2017-10-12-Killings-by-US-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Killings_by_US_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Half of all killings by US thugs were <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/11/police-killings-counted-harvard-study">covered up</a> in CDC records by
misclassification.
<p>
The study was done for 2015, but I doubt it was very different in 2014.


feed_id: efa01b089fe554c7291625cd5d916d27
title: Warrantless jailing
uri: Warrantless-jailing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Warrantless_jailing%29
content:
<p>
Jamaica has eliminated human rights with a law for jailing people
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/11/jamaica-police-military-sweeping-powers-zones-of-special-operations">without a warrant</a>.


feed_id: 031e47d133e8a43e95baabe77ea1d68a
title: Selling off public housing
uri: Selling-off-public-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Selling_off_public_housing%29
content:
<p>
The UK must <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2017/oct/11/housing-crisis-england-scrap-right-to-buy-help-to-buy">stop selling off</a> public housing.


feed_id: ed6c9cdd77ac217668dd45940733fffe
title: Convicted journalist
uri: Convicted-journalist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Convicted_journalist%29
content:
<p>
Turkish journalist Ayla Albayrak has been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/10/wall-street-journal-turkey-ayla-albayrak-prison">convicted in absentia</a> for "terrorist
propaganda". She reported for the Wall Street Journal on Turkey's
supply of arms to Syrian rebels, including jihadis.
<p>
Foreign newspapers will have to send underground reporters to Turkey
and print their articles without bylines.


feed_id: a5f4dce6f33418f5b30ecfb511629270
title: Refugees on Manus Island
uri: Refugees-on-Manus-Island
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Refugees_on_Manus_Island%29
content:
<p>
Australia is inviting the refugees it has dumped on Manus Island the
opportunity to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/11/refugees-on-manus-island-offered-chance-to-move-to-nauru">move to Nauru</a>,
which is a tyranny that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-mar-jun.html#26_June_2016_(Nauru)">excludes the press</a>.


feed_id: 430c23f5bc2bdeb2ae812bd6540446c9
title: Sexual harassment
uri: Sexual-harassment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#12_October_2017_%28Sexual_harassment%29
content:
<p>
Most sexual harassment is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/10/data-sexual-harassment-iceberg">never reported</a>, so most harassers get away
with it.


feed_id: b88435f3fc63a5854c75a2101cf812ed
title: Urgent: Protection from PAT RIOT Act
uri: Urgent-Protection-from-PAT-RIOT-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Protection_from_PAT_RIOT_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/fix-bill-tell-congress-we-need-stronger-reforms-702-bill/">tell
Congress</a> that the "USA Liberty Act" is not strong enough to
protect Americans from the PAT RIOT Act.


feed_id: 6b96e2e2b77f05d13080a60be60628e5
title: Urgent: No cuts to medical care
uri: Urgent-No-cuts-to-medical-care
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_No_cuts_to_medical_care%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://go.ourrevolution.com/page/s/stand-up-to-corporate-greed">tell
Congress</a> not to cut medical care to pay for tax cuts for
corporations.


feed_id: a77e213978ebe8df98ef2a5898f4051d
title: Urgent: No tax cuts for business
uri: Urgent-No-tax-cuts-for-business
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_No_tax_cuts_for_business%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to
<a href="https://petitions.signforgood.com/stoptrumptaxcuts/">reject
tax cuts for business</a>; increase their taxes instead.


feed_id: 7aa3f966a520d67484979b4116d20b23
title: Teenage activists
uri: Teenage-activists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Teenage_activists%29
content:
<p>
Teenagers have an additional reason to become activists: it
<a href="http://www.futurity.org/teen-activism-jobs-1566892/">helps
them get good jobs</a>.
<p>
That's in addition to the contribution to the world of the activism
itself.


feed_id: f61d84842a3f5ffc9c7fddfaeea16c30
title: Catalan
uri: Catalan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Catalan%29
content:
<p>
The Catalan government has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/10/catalan-government-suspends-declaration-of-independence">called
off the declaration of independence</a>.
<p>
This is proper, since many Catalans have made it clear they do not
want independence.


feed_id: d5c02fdce189a411c1e58ea8058461f3
title: US states suing to keep Clean Power Plan
uri: US-states-suing-to-keep-Clean-Power-Plan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28US_states_suing_to_keep_Clean_Power_Plan%29

content:
<p>
US states are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/10/trump-climate-change-clean-power-plan-fightback">suing
to keep the Clean Power Plan in effect</a>.
<p>
That measure is
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_(Urgent:_Clean_Power_Plan)">far
from sufficient to the avoid coming disaster</a>, but it is a lot
better than doing nothing at all.  The planet roasters are not
satisfied with a high probability of global disaster — they are
determined to reduce the chances of avoiding it.


feed_id: 3d64051d02c60b1340eb9850812278fa
title: Thug attacks on anti-fracking protests
uri: Thug-attacks-on-anti-fracking-protests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Thug_attacks_on_anti-fracking_protests%29

content:
<p>
British thugs use
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/10/woman-supplying-tea-anti-fracking-protesters-forcibly-removed-police">absurd
pretexts</a> to attack anti-fracking protests.


feed_id: 9ae6264fea6393c590187d34a7e132dc
title: Strategy of planet roasters
uri: Strategy-of-planet-roasters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Strategy_of_planet_roasters%29
content:
<p>
"Tony Abbott
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2017/oct/11/tony-abbott-dares-us-to-reject-evidence-on-climate-but-reveals-a-coward'>dares
us to reject evidence on climate</a>, but reveals a coward."
<p>
How daring is it to repeat bullshit and get richly rewarded by the
planet roasters?  I call that "gall", not "daring".
<p>
Part of the strategy of the planet roasters is to whip up passionate
concern for the short term.  This has been so expensive that, to shut
down coal-fired electric generation in Australia, one has to argue
that this electricity is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/11/liddell-extension-would-push-up-power-prices-analysts-report-says">too
expensive</a>.
<p>
The same appears in government's plans to reduce the tiny risk
of terrorism by
<a href="#13_October_2017_(Total_surveillance)">tracking Australians with face recognition</a>.


feed_id: 2d1521a7cfcf0dc2859bee0f9cea985e
title: Loss of employment due to hurricanes
uri: Loss-of-employment-due-to-hurricanes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Loss_of_employment_due_to_hurricanes%29

content:
<p>
The US lost employment due to the recent hurricanes.  This is a
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/10/its-not-regulation-that-is-a-threat-to-jobs-its-climate-change/">taste
of what global heating will do</a> in the future.


feed_id: a0b1056c3de7550f10fbeff0f7991d11
title: Superstitious mobs
uri: Superstitious-mobs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Superstitious_mobs%29
content:
<p>
Superstitious mobs in Malawi are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/un-moves-malawi-staff-vampire-scare">killing
people they accuse of being vampires</a>.


feed_id: fd6a8d57881314d4d4b74eb26b7c8016
title: Former PM of Australia spews bullshit
uri: Former-PM-of-Australia-spews-bullshit
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Former_PM_of_Australia_spews_bullshit%29

content:
<p>
Tony Abbott, former prime minister of Australia, is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/10/tony-abbott-says-climate-change-is-probably-doing-good">spewing
bullshit about global heating</a>.  He has as little connection with
reality as the troll.


feed_id: dd9bb3bd46c976c5f815394d296c2c44
title: Ads advocating tax cuts for the rich
uri: Ads-advocating-tax-cuts-for-the-rich
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Ads_advocating_tax_cuts_for_the_rich%29

content:
<p>
The US Chamber of Commerce and the Koch brothers are running ads
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/10/tax-plan-lobbyists-chamber-commerce-koch-brothers/">presenting
"ordinary people" advocating tax cuts for the rich</a>.


feed_id: bf2d1bdaf5c8ee219c58883aea665719
title: Total surveillance
uri: 2017-10-13-Total-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Total_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Australian politicians are now reaching for total surveillance of everyone,
<a href="https://theconversation.com/lets-face-it-well-be-no-safer-with-a-national-facial-recognition-database-85179">pretending
it will reduce the tiny danger of terrorism</a> in Australia.


feed_id: dc902e48d3d843dcb6e6d58f52e47b73
title: UK habit of jailing torture victims
uri: UK-habit-of-jailing-torture-victims
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28UK_habit_of_jailing_torture_victims%29

content:
<p>
The UK has made a habit of
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/10/torture-victims-were-wrongly-imprisoned-in-uk-high-court-rules">jailing
refugees who were tortured</a>, unless they were tortured officially
by a state.


feed_id: e732e9e7c65e033585d3689cff538b7f
title: Documentary about Buddhist monk in Burma
uri: Documentary-about-Buddhist-monk-in-Burma
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Documentary_about_Buddhist_monk_in_Burma%29

content:
<p>
A documentary about a Buddhist monk in Burma who dedicated his life to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/10/the-venerable-w-review-ashin-wirathu-myanmar-rohingya-muslims-barbet-schroeder">driving
out the Rohingya</a>.


feed_id: 711a29e21ee83aebd817219db6d1de80
title: Bumblebees
uri: Bumblebees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Bumblebees%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> can be bad for bumblebees.  Spreading the same number
of flowers over a longer growing season means
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/4/1703782/-Daily-Bucket-conservation-is-complicated-longer-flowering-season-doesn-t-mean-happier-bees">more
days with no flowers for the bees to drink from</a>.


feed_id: d2657d402aec37a00fc87bc62b5be0bd
title: FEMA
uri: FEMA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28FEMA%29
content:
<p>
People in Puerto Rico are getting sick from bacteria and molds that
are spreading.  FEMA is offering people
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/09/nurses-ground-puerto-rico-warn-dire-conditions-slow-relief-effort-posing-urgent">forms
to fill out</a>, instead of food and water.


feed_id: af389b1a7d32d2d79197c9f79352cc19
title: Hope
uri: Hope
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Hope%29
content:
<p>
"<a href='https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/09/faces-pain-faces-hope'>Hope</a>
means walking away from the illusion that you will be the next Bill
Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Kim Kardashian."
<p>
I wouldn't want to be like any of them!


feed_id: 813e098c33375d64b660544399d43ef6
title: Peace movements
uri: Peace-movements
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28Peace_movements%29
content:
<p>
How the US military has
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/09/how-we-learned-not-care-about-americas-wars">put
an end to peace movements</a>.


feed_id: cb8ce91b384b9777d78eb735f5230233
title: US military spending
uri: 2017-10-13-US-military-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#13_October_2017_%28US_military_spending%29
content:
<p>
The real purpose of US military spending is
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/10/how-military-industrial-complex-preys-troops">mainly
not military</a>.


feed_id: 1960084a6b35d234112d590ee915c173
title: Urgent: Endangered Species Act
uri: 2017-10-14-Urgent-Endangered-Species-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Endangered_Species_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call for preserving the Endangered Species Act's
provisions for
<a href="https://secure.awf.org/dems-stop-HR2603">protecting
endangered species that live outside the US</a>.

<P>


feed_id: 0445f43e438611927bf8439cfa81f2b1
title: Urgent: Protect Mueller's investigation
uri: Urgent-Protect-Mueller-s-investigation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_Muellers_investigation%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your senators to support the bill to
<a href="https://act.moveon.org/call/call-senate-protect-mueller-dem/">protect
Mueller's criminal investigation from the troll</a>.
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641
and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: fef053c689dc14a3c6a92358474a190a
title: Urgent: Prevent war with Iran
uri: Urgent-Prevent-war-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Prevent_war_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone Senate Democrats to urge them to
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/call/Dems_Iran_War">prevent war
with Iran</a>.
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641
and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: 0aa73437a092afdeed1c58e10a8836bb
title: Avoiding global heating disaster
uri: 2017-10-14-Avoiding-global-heating-disaster
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Avoiding_global_heating_disaster%29

content:
<p>
Some scientists think we can't avoid global heating disaster
unless we can
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/11/world-will-need-carbon-sucking-technology-by-2030s-scientists-warn">develop
technology to pull CO<sub>2</sub> out of the air</a>.
<p>
Technology exists to do it in small quantities, but the denialists
will refuse to spend the money to deploy it enough to do the job.
Instead, they will cite the mere possibility it will someday work as
an excuse to go on burning.


feed_id: 22ff1394a73f37eb164a0eeae61fff70
title: Dealing with election interference
uri: Dealing-with-election-interference
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Dealing_with_election_interference%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/facebook-twitter-crosshairs-investigators-probing-russian-interference-lets">Advice
from the EFF</a> about how to deal with Russian election interference.


feed_id: 2e5f8a73e5a695bb1c2826b9c01930b2
title: Americans' privacy under attack
uri: Americans-privacy-under-attack
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Americans_privacy_under_attack%29

content:
<p>
The US government is attacking Americans' privacy again by
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/deputy-attorney-general-rosensteins-responsible-encryption-demand-bad-and-he">trying
to stop products from offering effective encryption</a>.


feed_id: e624065ecc1096c5dcf3de83bda5f009
title: Ethnic cleansing of Rohingya
uri: 2017-10-14-Ethnic-cleansing-of-Rohingya
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Ethnic_cleansing_of_Rohingya%29
content:
<p>
UN investigators conclude that Burma made a systematic effort towards
ethnic cleansing of Rohingya, and that it
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/11/rohingya-refugees-myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi-un-report">started
before the date when some Rohingya launched an attack</a>.


feed_id: 0b02e5be9a6bc29f233d85b45acd6967
title: Hong Kong denies entry to Benedict Rogers
uri: Hong-Kong-denies-entry-to-Benedict-Rogers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Hong_Kong_denies_entry_to_Benedict_Rogers%29

content:
<p>
China
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/12/hong-kong-chief-implies-china-is-responsible-for-barring-british-activist">ordered
Hong Kong to deny entry to Benedict Rogers</a>, who wanted to observe
the human rights situation there.
<p>
Here's
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/12/why-the-world-must-wake-up-to-chinas-threat-to-freedom-in-hong-kong">Benedict
Rogers's description</a> of what he was going to do, and what
happened.
<p>
I think that Xi intends to show visible contempt for the "one country,
two systems" agreement made 20 years ago with the UK.
China is so strong that it need not obey any commitments.


feed_id: 276b1cef10a489e52468d09673614aa7
title: Global heating threatens clownfish
uri: Global-heating-threatens-clownfish
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Global_heating_threatens_clownfish%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> endangers sea anemones, and that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/12/finding-nemo-losing-climate-study-clownfish">endangers
clownfish</a>.


feed_id: 540721fd382cc54a071ef8d792c70e7a
title: Democracy in Kyrgyzstan
uri: Democracy-in-Kyrgyzstan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Democracy_in_Kyrgyzstan%29
content:
<p>
Kyrgyzstan has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/12/kyrgyzstan-set-for-freest-and-fairest-election-in-central-asian-history">developed
a real democracy</a>.
<p>
Maybe some day its neighbors will follow that example.


feed_id: 300b935c0d9a62c547a2005c06db55ce
title: Obsession with total comfort
uri: Obsession-with-total-comfort
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Obsession_with_total_comfort%29
content:
<p>
Modern society's
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/12/our-sickly-sweet-obsession-with-comfort-will-end-up-killing-us">obsession
with total comfort</a> has become a perversion; it endangers our
future.


feed_id: 4e539a7882a220aff025e8def2cab082
title: Philippine thug campaign of killing
uri: Philippine-thug-campaign-of-killing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Philippine_thug_campaign_of_killing%29

content:
<p>
Philippines <a href="/glossary.html#dodirty">President Do-dirty</a> has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/12/philippines-rodrigo-duterte-police-war-drugs">told
the thug death squads to stop their campaign of killing</a>.
<p>
This could be very good, if it is real and lasts.


feed_id: 6ca278d0e8a2547f6adad508419706a0
title: Troll publishing false reports
uri: Troll-publishing-false-reports
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Troll_publishing_false_reports%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is publishing
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/11/ground-reports-destroy-trumps-sunny-portrayal-puerto-rico-recovery">false
reports of doing a great job of helping Puerto Rico</a>.
<p>
This reminds me of lies that Communist countries used to tell, except
that it wasn't so easy to find the truth to compare those lies with.


feed_id: e55a48d3464103e6080a55c032cdc841
title: Troll wants new nuclear arms race
uri: Troll-wants-new-nuclear-arms-race
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Troll_wants_new_nuclear_arms_race%29

content:
<p>
Tillerson called the troll a moron because the troll
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/10/11/trumps-loose-rhetoric-on-nuclear-weapons-has-become-a-very-real-concern/">wants
a new nuclear arms race</a>.


feed_id: 78d25b6bc8a0db41c877acd216b820c0
title: Raising taxes on the rich
uri: 2017-10-14-Raising-taxes-on-the-rich
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Raising_taxes_on_the_rich%29
content:
<p>
The IMF's economists say raising taxes on the rich will
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/11/imf-higher-taxes-rich-inequality-jeremy-corbyn-labour-donald-trump">reduce
inequality without reducing economic growth</a>.


feed_id: ceee94406ec5aacfc5c5f4d0eb6ea52e
title: Progressive candidates winning
uri: Progressive-candidates-winning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Progressive_candidates_winning%29

content:
<p>
Progressive candidates are winning or leading in local races in
<a href="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/10/nationwide-progressive-candidates-leading-winning.html">places
one would not expect this</a>.


feed_id: c67a241b120d259062e7b9a2161b43c0
title: Fleeing to Florida
uri: Fleeing-to-Florida
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Fleeing_to_Florida%29
content:
<p>
Many thousands of Puerto Ricans are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/12/florida-puerto-rican-influx-hurricane-maria">fleeing to Florida</a>. Perhaps as
many as 100,000. They arrive with nothing.


feed_id: 31b24afd2eeb567a5146597a5054ea6c
title: School-to-prison pipeline
uri: 2017-10-14-School-to-prison-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28School-to-prison_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
In some schools with a full-time resident thug, the school-to-prison
pipeline starts with <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/juvenile-justice/school-prison-pipeline/we-dont-think-8-year-old-boy-should-be-put-handcuffs">handcuffing eight-year-olds</a>.


feed_id: a5d77e44c7b44fc92bab7f068391465b
title: Passenger ID
uri: Passenger-ID
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Passenger_ID%29
content:
<p>
US government thugs stopped all passengers exiting a domestic flight
and demanded they <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/ice-and-border-patrol-abuses/were-suing-government-violating-rights">show ID</a>. This is unconstitutional.


feed_id: 15384ae7118c89ef558af2fbd331f0b5
title: Adaptable clothes
uri: Adaptable-clothes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Adaptable_clothes%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2017/oct/12/one-size-fits-all-the-designer-creating-clothes-that-grow-with-kids">Adaptable clothes</a> for children can be used by a growing baby for more
than two years.
<p>
Much of the article is about the wastefulness of buying clothing to
use for a short while. I would expect that most such purchases are
frivolous. If you are wise, you will reject the fashion industry and
frivolous sales pitches, and buy clothes with a view to using them
for a long time. If you don't want it enough to use it for a long
time, you don't need to buy it at all.


feed_id: 156052856629127ad87cbf8688ae7aa2
title: Ammunition ban
uri: Ammunition-ban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Ammunition_ban%29
content:
<p>
Democrats propose to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/12/democrats-ban-proposal-ammunition-magazines-las-vegas">ban possession</a> of ammunition clips that hold more
than 10 bullets.
<p>
I support this. Of course, I understand it won't magically cause all
large magazines to disappear. Many people will keep them illegally.
But these will be found from time to time and destroyed, so they will
become more scarce. Criminals that move in criminal circles will have
contacts from whom to buy them, but other would-be killers won't
have such contacts.


feed_id: e9b2e4a11bca63decd2c862c7053dc29
title: Plastic packaging
uri: Plastic-packaging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Plastic_packaging%29
content:
<p>
Supermarkets must develop <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/12/supermarkets-stop-using-plastic-packaging-former-asda-boss-andy-clarke">replacements</a> for plastic packaging.
<p>
Avoiding single-use bags to carry purchases in
is only part of what we need to do.


feed_id: d233ff19a0fd60aec99a5db0f6b4ce03
title: Sally Jones
uri: Sally-Jones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Sally_Jones%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/12/is-targeting-of-isis-member-sally-jones-legally-justified">Was</a> the
Targeting of <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> Member Sally Jones Legally Justified?
<p>
Looking at this in terms of right and wrong, I think it was justified
in principle, for a reason they don't seem to be talking about. <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>
was a would-be state which held territory with an army. (It still
holds a little territory though not much.) The US and UK were, and
are, at war with <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>. In war, I see no reason why one army
shouldn't attack the effective propagandists of the enemy, along with
its soldiers.
<p>
This doesn't apply to underground terrorist groups because they
are more like a criminal gang than like an enemy state.


feed_id: 208909bd7556307e498217b7f53aa484
title: Yemen's cholera epidemic
uri: Yemen-s-cholera-epidemic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Yemen%27s_cholera_epidemic%29
content:
<p>
Yemen's <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/12/yemen-cholera-outbreak-worst-in-history-1-million-cases-by-end-of-year">cholera epidemic</a> is the worst in recorded history.
<p>
It is caused directly by the US-supported <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#11_August_2016_(Saudi_Arabia_115billion_military_equipment_from_US)">bombardment of Yemen</a> by
<a href="/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>,
part of a totally <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#07_September_2015_(US-backed_intervention_in_Yemen)">unjustifiable war</a>.


feed_id: 8c5d2e986e6c894c0150f407344aac6a
title: Tortured refugees
uri: Tortured-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Tortured_refugees%29
content:
<p>
The UK decided a year ago that having been tortured by rebels and gangsters
doesn't count as torture, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/12/torture-survivors-uk-detention-centres-home-office-high-court-ruling">for refugees</a>.


feed_id: 57afd684b1e89ea10e716113b5955b6f
title: Poor Britons and the EU
uri: Poor-Britons-and-the-EU
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Poor_Britons_and_the_EU%29
content:
<p>
The poor Britons that voted to leave the EU were saying that they
had <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2017/oct/12/still-puzzled-by-the-brexit-vote-take-yourself-off-to-blakenall-heath">nothing to lose</a>.
<p>
They correctly realized that neither the Tories nor the useless
B'liarist Labour Party offered them anything, so they said, "If the
rest of Britain makes us live like this, the rest of Britain must join
us."
<p>
Does Corbyn's revivified Labour Party offer them a chance to join the
rest of Britain in something better?


feed_id: b86c4037032828179562eb3d9a96998c
title: US and Unesco
uri: US-and-Unesco
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28US_and_Unesco%29
content:
<p>
The troll is pulling the US <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/12/us-withdraw-unesco-december-united-nations">out of Unesco</a> to protest its respect for
Palestine, which is a member of Unesco.


feed_id: 3a1c41e1713b7fe306c16745bb75ebde
title: Massacre in Rakhine
uri: Massacre-in-Rakhine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Massacre_in_Rakhine%29
content:
<p>
There is a Hindu minority in Rakhine state in Burma, in which the
Rohingya also live. Masked men massacred them and the rest fled to
Bangladesh. There is now a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/12/myanmar-mass-graves-mystery-surrounds-deaths-of-hindu-villagers-dirty-tricks-rohingya">disagreement</a> about whether the killers
were Rohingya, or the Burmese army.


feed_id: a11cf0524b3e8439dda3f3f4cefafff6
title: Wall street world climate
uri: Wall-street-world-climate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Wall_street_world_climate%29
content:
<p>BNP Paribas <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/11/great-news-climate-banking-giant-ditches-tar-sands-arctic-drilling">has stopped investing</a> in shale oil, tar sands, and Arctic drilling.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b84ba0bddad634ee2853642c652b7849
title: GOP tax plan
uri: GOP-tax-plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28GOP_tax_plan%29
content:
<p>Five examples that demonstrate that tax cuts for the rich <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/11/five-reasons-gop-tax-plan-cruel-joke">don't trickle down to the public</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4e37676a9f75126bf35b403adcb6ab8f
title: ACLU vs Kansas
uri: ACLU-vs-Kansas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28ACLU_vs_Kansas%29
content:
<p>The ACLU <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/11/aclu-sues-kansas-over-unconstitutional-law-barring-boycott-israel">is suing to overturn a Kansas law</a> that requires state employees to certify that they are not boycotting Israel.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: cb1f671515d3003a73a9a0ded9ff18fa
title: US taxes
uri: 2017-10-15-US-taxes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28US_taxes%29
content:
<p>75% of Americans <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/11/gop-pushes-windfall-1-three-fourths-us-support-higher-taxes-rich">want to increase taxes</a> on the rich.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 084e7b59d1dc8b2978e5de3c3f7cd224
title: Robert Pruett DNA
uri: Robert-Pruett-DNA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28Robert_Pruett_DNA%29
content:
<p>A judge has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/28/texas-calls-off-robert-pruett-execution-hours">postponed the execution</a> of Robert Pruett so DNA tests can be done that might prove he was innocent.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 10f69eae2dca6898ae926930d5744b24
title: Association with Ted Cruz
uri: Association-with-Ted-Cruz
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Association_with_Ted_Cruz%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/porn-industry-irrevocably-damaged-by-association-with-ted-cruz">Porn Industry Irrevocably Damaged</a> by Association with Ted Cruz.


feed_id: 52d8411a43dfd49e957c45e51f9f010e
title: Solar power
uri: 2017-10-15-Solar-power
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Solar_power%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.dw.com/en/solar-power-helps-transform-la-gang-members/a-40362032">Former gang members in Los Angeles</a> are going straight with the help of
training that leads to paid jobs installing solar power cells.


feed_id: d95f19e7a3774a097a5b268110f196a3
title: Nuclear deal
uri: Nuclear-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Nuclear_deal%29
content:
<p>
The IHEA says that Iran is complying with the nuclear deal and that
the troll is (as usual)
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/31/iran-nuclear-deal-trump-un">making false claims</a>.


feed_id: e0a34e42047546ab44ea2eac74b731e9
title: Combat Slavery
uri: Combat-Slavery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Combat_Slavery%29
content:
<p>
[Large] <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/16/australian-companies-will-be-forced-to-report-on-how-they-combat-slavery">Australian Companies Will Be Forced to Report</a> on How They
Combat Slavery.


feed_id: 98d931f9ea932120d68a79c32f808237
title: Sleep on the street
uri: Sleep-on-the-street
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Sleep_on_the_street%29
content:
<p>
The UK's housing shortage
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/10/end-homelessness-tories-chose-not-crisis-report">will make 40,000 people sleep on the street
by 2041</a>, supposing present trends don't get worse.  The state could
fix this, but the Tories prefer not to.


feed_id: 2f33c3ec1df76cc6ccf7c02dd55393ce
title: Urgent: CHIP program
uri: Urgent-CHIP-program
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_CHIP_program%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/congress-chip">call on Congress</a> to preserve the CHIP program that funds
medical care for children.


feed_id: 0b3a973b11c1131bf31a4878239ad154
title: Urgent: rapist custody
uri: Urgent-rapist-custody
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_rapist_custody%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: Michigan, <a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/judge_ross/">remove judge Ross</a> for giving a rapist custody of
the child caused by his rape.


feed_id: d1301be2296f6daa1067a3a1240d8006
title: Nuclear missile subs
uri: Nuclear-missile-subs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Nuclear_missile_subs%29
content:
<p>
The UK is using its new nuclear power plant to maintain skills to
build nuclear missile <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/12/electricity-consumers-to-fund-nuclear-weapons-through-hinkley-point-c">submarines</a>.


feed_id: bcf3bed190428b852e485b50ddf5f149
title: Geoengineering
uri: 2017-10-15-Geoengineering
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Geoengineering%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/14/geoengineering-is-not-a-quick-fix-for-climate-change-experts-warn-trump">Geoengineering</a> Is
Not A Quick Fix For <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: d5b3c7c3ba0bd394a21b31250a39eb43
title: Hallucinogenic mushrooms
uri: Hallucinogenic-mushrooms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Hallucinogenic_mushrooms%29
content:
<p>
Hallucinogenic mushrooms have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/13/magic-mushrooms-reboot-brain-in-depressed-people-study">helped some patients</a> with untreatable
depression.


feed_id: 36364b8cbf74b4c9445bf6b2a0a600f8
title: Building code violations
uri: Building-code-violations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Building_code_violations%29
content:
<p>
The earthquake casualties in Mexico City were caused by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/oct/13/complaints-earthquake-scandal-mexico-city-dead-construction-collapse">failing to enforce</a>
building codes, even when people complained that buildings had violations.
Many of those buildings collapsed in the quake.


feed_id: 32cbc3c68b3bd6b00a1e9fa84f161fef
title: Baby penguins
uri: Baby-penguins
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Baby_penguins%29
content:
<p>
Baby penguins starved — almost all the chicks in one large colony —
because of a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/13/penguins-starving-death-something-very-wrong-antarctic">shortage of fish</a> their parents could catch. One of the
causes is overfishing, so a large sanctuary area is proposed.


feed_id: 8f1a283c25fa8993d1b41607ae9a17e5
title: Background check law
uri: Background-check-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Background_check_law%29
content:
<p>
Nevada's officials have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/13/nevada-must-enforce-its-own-background-check-law-legal-suit-demands">refused to enforce</a> the background check law passed
in January. A lawsuit demands that they start.


feed_id: b285eaebbbb5782a0915981cd9f0961e
title: Medical care sabotage
uri: Medical-care-sabotage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Medical_care_sabotage%29
content:
<p>
The troll wants to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/13/healthcare-donald-trump-obamacare-executive-orders">sabotage the system</a> of federal support for medical care,
so that millions of Americans won't in practice be able to get it.
<p>
His executive order doesn't immediately do this, but it asks an agency
to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/12/politics/trump-obamacare-executive-order/index.html">work on doing this</a>.
<p>
Here's how that change would <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/12/stripping-aca-regulations-association-health-plans-will-devastate-small">undermine</a> the system.


feed_id: 28465043db3874b8dec28d24053e9fbc
title: Containment
uri: 2017-10-15-Containment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Containment%29
content:
<p>
The new US government strategy is a matter of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/13/donald-trump-can-be-removed-from-presidency-democrats-winning-elections">containment</a>.
<p>
Containing the troll, to the extent it is possible, is necessary;
but it could also do lasting harm to the US government.


feed_id: e58e1c7626131ae3e06bf0011c33525e
title: Opioids for pain
uri: Opioids-for-pain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Opioids_for_pain%29
content:
<p>
The global war on people in pain causes 25 million people each year
to die <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/12/more-than-25-million-people-dying-in-agony-without-morphine-every-year">in great pain</a>, unable to get the opioids they need.


feed_id: 30cf4bd78e055fa0c1c32df3e15e1b8c
title: Agency to aid Rohingya
uri: Agency-to-aid-Rohingya
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Agency_to_aid_Rohingya%29
content:
<p>
Aung San Suu Kyi proposes a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/13/aung-san-suu-kyi-unveils-relief-plans-for-rohingya-muslims-myanmar">civilian agency</a> to aid the Rohingya.


feed_id: ed71fe188cc6a89493bc19f594e1f4f4
title: ACLU vs Kansas
uri: 2017-10-15-ACLU-vs-Kansas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#14_October_2017_%28ACLU_vs_Kansas%29
content:
<p>The ACLU <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/11/aclu-sues-kansas-over-unconstitutional-law-barring-boycott-israel">is suing to overturn a Kansas law</a> that requires state employees to certify that they are not boycotting Israel.</p>
<p>
I don't believe that the fact that the basis for Ms Koontz's views
is religious should affect the case. People have a right to boycott
any company or any country, regardless of their motives for doing so.</p>
<p>
Meanwhile, the idea that a long-serving public school teacher is
paid as a contractor seems very fishy to me. Is that an indication
of another way Kansas is mistreating teachers?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1ad14737ce1bc12ef0ab59e9c481fb59
title: Repeatedly watched
uri: Repeatedly-watched
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Repeatedly_watched%29
content:
<p>
The
<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/amber-laws-extremism?utm_term=.ru6lzrb33N#.kfAxj2l991">Tories want to jail</a> anyone that "repeatedly" watches "extremist"
videos.
<p>
I'd call this "extreme censorship".  How long before the Labour
Party's videos are classified as "extreme"?
<p>
The UK already has strict and broad censorship laws, and they are
an injustice too.


feed_id: 517032c08e3dce740d01d0c7c3af89a6
title: Data storage
uri: Data-storage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Data_storage%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-china-idUSKCN1AU1LH">Apple has outsourced its user dats storage in China</a> to a company
controlled by the Communist Party of the province of Guizhou


feed_id: 77d749951f3e471ab0720c83e331e9c6
title: Antisemitism
uri: 2017-10-16-Antisemitism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Antisemitism%29
content:
<p>
One purported <a href="media/dc92f752.press_release_document_antisemitism.pdf" data-original-source="https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/sites/default/files/press_release_document_antisemitism.pdf">definition of antisemitism</a>
includes an example that doesn't belong: it claims that comparing
Israel's treatment of Palestinians to the behavior of Nazis towards
Jews is "antisemitism".
<p>
Two Jews who felt the brunt of Nazi antisemitism as children in
Germany make this comparison. <a href="http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1463759865/">One is Uri Avnery</a>, founder of Gush Shalom.
The other is Marika Sherwood, who <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/sep/29/manchester-university-censors-title-holocaust-survivor-speech-criticising-israel">faced censorship</a> just recently when
she tried to say this at Manchester University.


feed_id: 8cdbd6f18adbcc6fff66103c5a1efc0d
title: Data storage
uri: 2017-10-16-Data-storage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#15_October_2017_%28Data_storage%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-china-idUSKCN1AU1LH">Apple has outsourced its user data storage in China</a> to a company
controlled by the Communist Party of the province of Guizhou


feed_id: faadd1d71ca747a5a1b1c8ed5dfcb9b5
title: Catalonia
uri: 2017-10-17-Catalonia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Catalonia%29
content:
<p>
"I hope
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/11/catalonia-spain-right-to-leave-oppressed-self-determination">Catalonia</a>
stays with Spain, but I support its right to leave."


feed_id: 16eaea70c2bb01e310ef83f002237bc3
title: Government services
uri: Government-services
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Government_services%29
content:
<p>
Limiting some government service to poor people alone is the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/11/nhs-housing-food-universal-basic-services-inequality">first
step on the path to make it inadequate and lousy</a>.  Once it is
limited to the poor, only poor people are hurt when it becomes
inadequate and lousy, so stingy politicians conclude they can get away
with it.
<p>
They may even limit the service to poor people as part of a long
term plan to get rid of it.
<p>
The right way to make wealthy people pay for the service they get is
through a progressive income tax.


feed_id: 04a1d6b0ee7ab02333c5ea92e149a6aa
title: False claims made by VPN providers
uri: False-claims-made-by-VPN-providers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28False_claims_made_by_VPN_providers%29

content:
<p>
Cyberstalking Case Highlights How VPN Provider Claims About Not
Keeping Logs Are
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20171009/10301738370/cyberstalking-ca">Often
False</a>.


feed_id: 8da9b40ab1579b905083c4e970b8a545
title: NAFTA
uri: 2017-10-17-NAFTA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28NAFTA%29
content:
<p>
The Mexican government
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/10/mexico-nafta-luis-videgaray-warning-trump">threatens
to retaliate against the US</a> if NAFTA is terminated.
<p>
This courage would be admirable if the Mexican government were doing
this in the interest of Mexicans in general.  However, Mexicans in
general would be better off without NAFTA.
<p>
NAFTA has been good for owners of export businesses, including the
border factories that pay Mexicans less than US workers used to make.
They get a lot of attention from the Mexicans government, though they
may not be Mexicans.
<p>
Meanwhile, NAFTA was a disaster for Mexican peasants, who could not
complete with cheap factory-farmed US corn.  They fell into penury.


feed_id: 1bd209f631d67b87fb91f980768676a9
title: The IMF
uri: The-IMF
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28The_IMF%29
content:
<p>
The IMF tells governments to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/11/imf-tells-rich-nations-that-greater-urgency-needed-on-climate-change">reduce
greenhouse emissions and pay workers more</a>.
<p>
OMG!


feed_id: 85626fd612247f19992b0d06c9f06880
title: Puerto Rico
uri: 2017-10-17-Puerto-Rico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Puerto_Rico%29
content:
<p>
Congress proposes to waste more money on flood insurance for houses
that are sure to be flooded, but
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/11/puerto-rico-relief-bill-cancels-16-billion-in-debt-but-not-for-puerto-rico/">offers
Puerto Rico nothing but more loans</a>.
<p>
Puerto Rico cannot pay its existing debt without terrible suffering.
That terrible suffering is surely what the banksters and the troll
plan to inflict.


feed_id: 737aa9260d8fea4fb3a8e37ad257f7cd
title: Tory stinginess
uri: Tory-stinginess
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Tory_stinginess%29
content:
<p>
Tory stinginess is driving ever more British families into penury,
and the Tory response to that is to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/11/austerity-policy-blamed-record-numbers-children-taken-into-care">take
their children away</a>.


feed_id: eb717fda797a7d72a93b9e151ebaee65
title: Fukushima
uri: Fukushima
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Fukushima%29
content:
<p>
Some Japanese people who fled homes in the vicinity of Fukushima have been
awarded $3200 each in compensation.  This is
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/10/court-awards-fukushima-residents-measly-3200-nuclear-disaster-made-area-unlivable">not
going to cover the costs of living somewhere else</a>.
<p>
On the other hand, I don't see how it can make sense to order TEPCO to
reduce the radioactivity level in their homes to what it was before
the meltdowns.  It is no use ordering someone to do the impossible.


feed_id: f2ff184a9d89858140011332a8b7d029
title: Mistreatment of workers
uri: 2017-10-17-Mistreatment-of-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Mistreatment_of_workers%29
content:
<p>
The head of a UK food delivery company, which
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/10/deliveroo-workers-rights-uber">calls
workers "independent contractors" and pays them crap</a>, warned that
paying them decent wages would make each delivery cost over a dollar
more.
<p>
So be it!


feed_id: fa65aec68c14f97ca2ff53114457ffeb
title: Israeli "settlers"
uri: Israeli-settlers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Israeli_settlers%29
content:
<p>
Israeli "settlers" in the colony of Yitzar, accompanied by soldiers,
<a href="https://palsolidarity.org/2017/10/when-buildings-break-bones/">beat
up Munir al-Nuri, broke his legs, and maimed his foot</a>, so he would
not dare try to work his farmland.


feed_id: 0ae3e25eddf8578948dff2c5046344a3
title: Human rights defender Issa Amro
uri: Human-rights-defender-Issa-Amro
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Human_rights_defender_Issa_Amro%29

content:
<p>
Bernie Sanders supported Palestinian human rights defender Issa
Amro, who
<a href="https://972mag.com/sanders-stands-with-palestinian-activist-more-politicians-must-do-the-same/130023/">faces
political accusations</a>.


feed_id: dcd55e5b70a6b31bfb1bbf98f62b34b9
title: Urgent: ending war in Afghanistan
uri: Urgent-ending-war-in-Afghanistan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_ending_war_in_Afghanistan%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="http://act.winwithoutwar.org/sign/end_afghanistan_war/">call on Mattis</a> to make a plan for ending the war in Afghanistan.


feed_id: efeb47db41e5df6f3d997d05a6e8096e
title: Urgent: reject NRA's plan
uri: Urgent-reject-NRA-s-plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_reject_NRA%27s_plan%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="http://act.everytown.org/letter/send-your-direct-message-congress-reject-nra-today/">call on Congress</a> to reject the NRA's plan for "concealed
carry reciprocity".


feed_id: d39c1d6d6e49222d75135b3af9188b5f
title: Urgent: nuclear disarmament
uri: Urgent-nuclear-disarmament
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_nuclear_disarmament%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="http://act.winwithoutwar.org/sign/tell-congress-save-iran-deal/">call on Congress</a> to protect the nuclear disarmament deal
with Iran.


feed_id: 9dbfdc15340015a2413f5fca171dbeff
title: Urgent: ESPN firing
uri: Urgent-ESPN-firing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_ESPN_firing%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/ESPN_Jemele_Hill/">Tell ESPN</a> to restore Jemele Hill's job and fire the
executive that fired her.


feed_id: 0e57f0eb82fd75699cc742be5efe1b20
title: Violence against civilians
uri: Violence-against-civilians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Violence_against_civilians%29
content:
<p>
An Iraq veteran says that US soldiers in Iraq faced <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/12/empire-comes-home">stricter discipline</a>
for their violence against civilians than thugs in the US today face.


feed_id: 606d876c5dfdcccc2029803449dd955f
title: California fires
uri: 2017-10-17-California-fires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28California_fires%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/12/no-end-sight-californias-deadly-flames-called-climate-change-fire-alarm">Relating</a> the deadly fires in California to <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global%20heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: 2454ee0eceeecff8e8fcdd1c7f05969e
title: Water in Puerto Rico
uri: Water-in-Puerto-Rico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Water_in_Puerto_Rico%29
content:
<p>
With 1/3 of the water system nonfunctional after Hurricane Maria,
Puerto Rico authorities are providing water in one area from a site
contaminated with <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/13/us/puerto-rico-superfund-water/index.html">toxic industrial waste</a>.
<p>
Whether that water is contaminated enough to be a significant danger
is not yet known. But it is clear that people in that area would be
in immediate and substantial danger if they had to get water from
other local sources.


feed_id: dd1de392b2d3217f5c396e86121ca25a
title: e-Bay fraud
uri: e-Bay-fraud
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28e-Bay_fraud%29
content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/oct/14/ebay-vigilantes-outconning-the-con-men-bank-accounts">group of volunteers</a> track down the bank accounts used for fraud on e-Bay
and get the accounts closed — if the banks cooperate.


feed_id: f22c307d34e81879c696da09b4247dd3
title: DACA teachers
uri: DACA-teachers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28DACA_teachers%29
content:
<p>
20,000 school teachers in the US are working under permission from the
DACA rule, which has been cancelled by the troll. If DACA is not replaced,
around <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/13/usa-today-20000-daca-teachers-risk-and-your-kids-could-feel-fallout-too">600,000 students'</a> education will be disrupted.
<p>
I think the troll will consider this a benefit, since he wants to
privatize public education anyway.
<p>
The main reason for continuing DACA is to avoid exiling people who have
grown up as Americans after having been brought to the US as children.


feed_id: b2942a46419e546a9597a9c9beb079df
title: Driving with phone
uri: Driving-with-phone
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Driving_with_phone%29
content:
<p>
The UK plans to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/oct/14/drivers-who-kill-may-now-face-life-sentence">sentence drivers</a> to life in prison if they have a fatal
collision while using a phone.
<p>
This is a disproportionate measure that probably will not be effective
to reduce phone use by drivers. When the goal is to convince people
not to do something (such as drink or text while driving), the
unlikely possibility of a heavy punishment is less effective than a
small punishment that they will get more often.


feed_id: d8c7b6b35a45d0eb5b92291b73ed8db9
title: Sexual predators
uri: Sexual-predators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Sexual_predators%29
content:
<p>
Sexual predators succeed with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/14/after-weinstein-stop-asking-women-to-answer-for-sex-predators-crimes">support from society</a> around them. "For
every person who asks: 'Why didnât she?', there is a woman who can
answer: 'I did.'" — but the results were not good.


feed_id: b57fdb95107d44dfcd7774ed199a24d8
title: Earthquake response
uri: Earthquake-response
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Earthquake_response%29
content:
<p>
The Mexican government's corrupt response to the earthquake includes
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/42246-militarization-and-shock-doctrine-policies-abound-after-earthquake-in-mexico">offering land</a> to investors.
<p>
The damaged houses are a tiny fraction; thus, the people affected have
plenty of neighbors who have not been harmed and can give them shelter,
help them, etc.
<p>
This contrasts with the islands such as Puerto Rico where almost everyone
has lost greatly.


feed_id: ca07bfac7e6df542f4fb78f0f5701504
title: Guantanamo
uri: 2017-10-17-Guantanamo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Guantanamo%29
content:
<p>
A hunger-striking <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/13/guantanamo-bay-khalid-qasim-hunger-strike">Guantanamo prisoner</a> says guards have stopped
force-feeding him, and stopped paying attention to his medical
condition.
<p>
I don't think prison guards should force-feed prisoners. However, the
main injustices of the Guantanamo prison are (1) <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-mar-jun.html#19_June_2013_(List_of_people_held_indefinitely_without_trial_in_Guantanamo)">imprisonment without
trial</a>
and (2) <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2006-mar-jun.html#29%20May%202006%20(Guantanamo%20Chaplain%20describes%20torture)">torture</a>.


feed_id: 8f08d10653f34e8b907df1a876fd5d78
title: Cambodia crackdown
uri: Cambodia-crackdown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Cambodia_crackdown%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/13/crackdown-cambodia-exiled-opposition-mu-sochua">World Must Wake Up</a> to Crackdown in Cambodia, Says Exiled Opposition
Politician.


feed_id: 2486274edd9d631782047e89561673c1
title: Fossil-fuel ban in Paris
uri: Fossil-fuel-ban-in-Paris
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Fossil-fuel_ban_in_Paris%29
content:
<p>
France is going to
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/12/great-applause-paris-announces-combustion-engine-ban-2030">
ban sale of fossil-fuel cars in 2040,
</a>
and ban them from driving in Paris.
<p>
Unfortunately, the Autolib electric cars are a massive surveillance
system, because you have to identify yourself to drive one.
France now allows the state to look at all this data with hardly
any limits.


feed_id: 180af69a3e884d7c059dd27d76523a38
title: Extinction
uri: Extinction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Extinction%29
content:
<p>
Humans Driving Extinction
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/mar/07/extinction-species-evolve">
Faster than Species Can Evolve,
</a>
Say Experts.


feed_id: 6d7222bde48f4a0f4c17622b66c2da13
title: Jihadi guerrilla groups
uri: Jihadi-guerrilla-groups
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Jihadi_guerrilla_groups%29
content:
<p>
The region south of the Sahara Desert now hosts various
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/15/sahel-niger-us-special-forces-islamists">
jihadi
guerrilla groups.
</a>


feed_id: effa111bc262eda8b099c054df17a070
title: Oligarchies
uri: Oligarchies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Oligarchies%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/15/oligarchy-lessons-ancient-greece">
Studying oligarchies:
how they function and how they maintain their power.
</a>
<p>
The crucial moral point about a "civil oligarchy", which maintains its power
through laws, is that laws designed to keep an oligarchy in power do not
deserve to be obeyed.


feed_id: ff49b5c9561be71e09a32b65addc4fc5
title: Catalan solidarity economy
uri: Catalan-solidarity-economy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Catalan_solidarity_economy%29
content:
<p>
On
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/15/catalonia-independence-neighbourhood-nationhood-referendum">
the neighborhood cooperative movement in Catalonia
</a>
and its political
importance.


feed_id: 0a5f5064cfcccc0453cb2151e31d560e
title: Pay-as-you-go
uri: Pay-as-you-go
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Pay-as-you-go%29
content:
<p>
Poor people have to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/15/the-warped-logic-of-making-the-poor-pay-more">
buy everything pay-as-you-go,
</a>
and that is often
more expensive.
<p>
Ironically, in some cases pay-as-you-go is the only anonymous option,
so I choose it even if it costs more.  Fortunately, I can afford that
extra cost.


feed_id: 94273e63d193ddd4ec58fc7dac9fa35a
title: Windows 10
uri: 2017-10-17-Windows-10
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Windows_10%29
content:
<p>
The Dutch digital privacy agency
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/10/dutch-privacy-regulator-says-that-windows-10-breaks-the-law/">
accuses Windows 10 of failing to give users
enough information about its surveillance
</a>
to permit their informed consent.
<p>
The agency is trying to do the right thing, but a requirement for informed
consent by the user is not enough to protect the public against companies
whose use is seen by users as effectively required for life.


feed_id: 744501192511ad3be85461fe22f56d2b
title: Interrogation methods
uri: Interrogation-methods
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Interrogation_methods%29
content:
<p>
Scientific study of interrogation of terrorist suspects confirms what
expert interrogators say:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/oct/13/the-scientists-persuading-terrorists-to-spill-their-secrets">
the right method is to respect the suspect
as a human being, and be willing to listen.
</a>
<p>
Torture, and even intimidation that is less than torture, help the
suspect clam up.


feed_id: 6c24d330d867986c6df06195f96ca25e
title: Facebook's election influence
uri: Facebook-s-election-influence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Facebook%27s_election_influence%29

content:
<p>
Russia used, and still uses,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/14/russia-us-politics-social-media-facebook">
advertising on social networks to
polarize Americans.
</a>
<p>
One approach to thwart this, without interfering with freedom of
speech, is to limit the kinds of advertising targeting that are allowed.


feed_id: 3b3b54cb0f7be885c1da77eddc3effdd
title: NYC internet kiosks
uri: NYC-internet-kiosks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28NYC_internet_kiosks%29
content:
<p>
New York City's gratis internet kiosks collect lots of personal data,
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/09/linknyc-improves-privacy-policy-yet-problems-remain">
including via cameras that are always running.
</a>
They don't tell the public
how much.


feed_id: d0534b941c8edc155b2bd2bba8db4c99
title: Antibiotic apocalypse
uri: Antibiotic-apocalypse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Antibiotic_apocalypse%29
content:
<p>
"If the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/09/antibiotic-apocalypse-agribusiness-big-pharma">
'antibiotic apocalypse'
</a>
happens, it'll be because our
politicians let it."


feed_id: 58269279e4008dfdc1898b3c58d69575
title: Iraqi Kurdistan
uri: 2017-10-17-Iraqi-Kurdistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Iraqi_Kurdistan%29
content:
<p>
It seems the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/iraqi-army-advances-kirkuk-kurds">
Shi'ite Iraqi government and the Iraqi Kurds
</a>
are close to
open war over the city of Kirkuk.
<p>
This means
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/fears-of-new-guerrilla-war-before-isis-dream-of-caliphate-is-crushed">
the two forces that did the most to defeat PISSI
</a>
could be
about to be at war.
<p>
I see nothing sacred about the borders of Iraq, or unity of Iraq.
That was an artificial construct created by the UK and France at the
end of World War I.  Dividing Iraq into three parts might be the only
way the Sunnis and Shi'ites can stop fighting each other.  Their conflict,
which became murderous after the fall of Saddam Hussein,
was the soil from which PISSI grew.


feed_id: a301c52a597c35f034ae7011b0634365
title: Iran disarmament deal
uri: Iran-disarmament-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Iran_disarmament_deal%29
content:
<p>
If Netanyahu controls the US congress as it appears he does, he
can make it
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/15/trump-shoots-us-foot-over-iran">
kill the nuclear disarmament deal with Iran.
</a>


feed_id: 7ab77f2d77875527773eaf20551d3ed2
title: Pets
uri: Pets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Pets%29
content:
<p>
People with spare disposable cash frivol it away on
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/16/we-treat-our-pets-as-people-is-it-because-its-getting-harder-to-have-faith-in-humans">
luxuries for their pets.
</a>
<p>
The advantage of a pet over a human friend or mate is that you can
project whatever feelings you wish onto the pet, and the pet will
never say it's not true.


feed_id: aafabfc516f7d95baaf1a81a5be4e2d3
title: Replacement of coal
uri: Replacement-of-coal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Replacement_of_coal%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/oct/16/the-war-on-coal-is-over-coal-lost">
The replacement of coal with other energy sources
</a>
in US electric
generation is basically inevitable, because coal is too expensive.
<p>
This would be an occasion for a victory celebration, if not for the
fact that natural gas produces greenhouse emissions too.  Indeed,
getting gas from fracking produces a lot of emissions, and so do
methane leaks.
<p>
While it's heartening to know that the US is on course to achieve its
Paris climate commitments even without the Clean Power Plan, remember
that the Paris commitments are
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#13_December_2015_(Paris_climate_deal)">
not enough to avoid global heating
disaster.
</a>


feed_id: efff6644e1ceef15153d08c7fa06447f
title: Turkmen corruption
uri: Turkmen-corruption
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Turkmen_corruption%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/oct/16/people-afraid-inside-ashgabat-turkmenistan-closed-city">
The "president" tyrant of Turkmenistan
</a>
treats the country as his
personal toy.


feed_id: 6bf8bcef9605943d274ccec1867a1edb
title: Overprotectiveness
uri: 2017-10-17-Overprotectiveness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Overprotectiveness%29
content:
<p>
Relating the
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/why-are-millennials-so-afraid-of-freedom-i-think-we-know/">
overprotectiveness about speakers at universites
</a>
to overprotectiveness of raising children.


feed_id: d4af400c1c38a98500e6a6af62734685
title: Mogadishu bomb attack
uri: Mogadishu-bomb-attack
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Mogadishu_bomb_attack%29
content:
<p>
Al-Shabaab exploded a large bomb in Mogadishu,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/mogadishu-bombing-al-shabaab-behind-deadly-blast-officials-say">
killing 300 people,
</a>
mainly civilians.
<p>
Al-Shabaab exists because
<a href="https://stallman.org/notes/2006-nov-feb.html#04 February 2007 (Islamic Courts Union)">
the US decided to destabilize the Islamic
Courts Movement government,
</a>
which brought temporary peace to Somalia.


feed_id: cf19f6230148b26b36eee48e200e11a7
title: MI5 disrupting Labour
uri: MI5-disrupting-Labour
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28MI5_disrupting_Labour%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/16/stella-rimington-should-stop-fuelling-paranoid-fantasies-about-jeremy-corbyn">
MI5 has been sabotaging Labour politicians for decades.
</a>
Now its
former chief claims that Labour wants to "destroy democracy".
<p>
As usual, the right-wing accuses the left of what the right-wing is
doing.
<p>
The author has faith that British democracy is strong enough to stop
MI5 and other right-wing parts of the state from destroying democracy.
I hope he is right, but the greatly increased surveillance capability
means it would be easier than it was before.


feed_id: 547cdcdb8278311ff538c11b5b96a752
title: Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria
uri: Puerto-Rico-Hurricane-Maria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Puerto_Rico_Hurricane_Maria%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/13/after-storm-its-labor-vs-finance-future-puerto-rico">Plutocrats plan</a> to use Hurricane Maria as an excuse to grab Puerto Rico's remaining assets.</p>
<p>"Wall Street has encouraged the kind of predatory speculation that doesnât just bet against the people of Puerto Rico, but rigs the game to make sure they lose."</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 3ee5d4d615b2efdfd6568b95d9508253
title: NOAA troll nominations
uri: NOAA-troll-nominations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28NOAA_troll_nominations%29
content:
<p>The troll has nominated people from private weather forecasting companies to heat the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which means they <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/12/conflicts-interest-noaas-nominees-accuweather-ceo-barry-myers-and-dr-neil-jacobs">could shut off its public weather forecasting</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 86336d0f630510abc8af11ee68318da4
title: UK censorship
uri: UK-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28UK_censorship%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/13/woman-could-face-hate-prosecution-over-anti-dup-banner">UK censorship gone mad</a>: carrying a sign saying "Fuck the DUP" (a political party) may be a crime.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e6651ef908404f0c1b8fc15ae22b98d8
title: Antibiotic resistance
uri: 2017-10-18-Antibiotic-resistance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Antibiotic_resistance%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/13/avoid-antibiotic-apocalypse-we-must-reign-drug-and-farming-companies">Regulations we need</a> in order to hold back antibiotic resistance.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c138db0c01ca5338bf071bb09754fad7
title: Tunisia desert battle
uri: Tunisia-desert-battle
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Tunisia_desert_battle%29
content:
<p>Tunisia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/13/tunisia-battle-to-keep-desert-at-bay-acacias-for-all">could be destroyed by desertification</a> that is fed by global heating.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 441d41ac741f7bda7194313fd1570aa1
title: Urgent: impeach the troll
uri: Urgent-impeach-the-troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_impeach_the_troll%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call for <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13093">impeaching the troll</a> before he starts WW III.


feed_id: e6291a2111d06933c6ae70cd5a987b51
title: Urgent: press freedom
uri: Urgent-press-freedom
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_press_freedom%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="http://act.pfaw.org/sign/speak-out-freedom-press/">call on Congress</a> to defend freedom of the press.


feed_id: 2fb6537c515cfff77aa2ea1f5245b367
title: Web site investigators
uri: Web-site-investigators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Web_site_investigators%29
content:
<p>
ACLU: how journalists investigating the honesty or dishonesty of web sites
can <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/internet-privacy/tips-data-journalism-shadow-overbroad-anti-hacking-law">reduce the threat</a> from the oppressive Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
<p>
It is unfortunate that the article uses the term "hackers" to refer to
people that <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/on-hacking.html">break security</a>.


feed_id: e6ca2ba3da7096b9941a8cf5e2e8c36d
title: US drone deaths
uri: US-drone-deaths
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28US_drone_deaths%29
content:
<p>
A US drone <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/14/us-drone-strike-kills-14-isis-militants-in-afghanistan">killed 14 people</a> in Afghanistan. Were they soldiers of PISSI,
or civilians?
<p>
The US government ought to be honest about this.


feed_id: 5bf12392f6befc9d5f1fab8297123ede
title: US troops in Niger
uri: US-troops-in-Niger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28US_troops_in_Niger%29
content:
<p>
Is it good to have US troops fighting in Niger? Shouldn't there be
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2017/10/17/four-commandos-dead-in-niger-is-a-bipart">public scrutiny</a> of the question?


feed_id: 5ee7b845c559f6c0f3f53e316ea35c58
title: Guantanamo hunger strikers
uri: Guantanamo-hunger-strikers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Guantanamo_hunger_strikers%29
content:
<p>
Two prisoners in Guantanamo are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/17/guantanamo-bay-hunger-strike-president-trump-fair-trial-tom-watson">on hunger strike</a> demanding a trial.
Three US presidents have decided to imprison them forever without
a trial.
<p>
Dubya and Obama force-fed hunger strikers. <a href="/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> allows them to
die if they choose, but has cut off their medical treatment.
<p>
Either way, nothing can justify imprisonment without trial.


feed_id: d43a26c61bae4b1ae408faf65f6f276e
title: Tax and budget proposal
uri: Tax-and-budget-proposal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Tax_and_budget_proposal%29
content:
<p>
Bernie Sanders slams the Republican <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/16/republican-budget-gift-billionaires-bernie-sanders">tax and budget proposal</a> as
<a href="/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>.


feed_id: 983dc354b83bdc7809b876317836f3cc
title: Iraqi Kurds
uri: Iraqi-Kurds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Iraqi_Kurds%29
content:
<p>
The Iraqi Kurds have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/iraqi-forces-drive-kurdish-fighters-out-of-sinjar">pulled out</a> of some disputed areas
without a fight, including Kirkuk and its oil fields, and Sinjar.
<p>
These areas are not part of the territory that became Iraqi Kurdistan.
The Kurds <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_(Iraqi_Kurdistan)">took over Kirkuk</a> when the Iraqi army collapsed in Mosul,
to stop <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> from capturing it.
They <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#15_November_2015_(PISSI_expelled_from_Sinjar)">recaptured Sinjar</a> from PISSI in battle.


feed_id: 7e9d45b19b7d8e67c0df3238bd9b043c
title: California wildfires
uri: 2017-10-18-California-wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28California_wildfires%29
content:
<p>
California's deadly wildfires have burned <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/16/california-wildfire-death-toll-recovery">3000 square miles</a> and destroyed
thousands of buildings.


feed_id: 6267f19af95b69bd913c8d7c570dd87e
title: Koch brother agent
uri: Koch-brother-agent
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Koch_brother_agent%29
content:
<p>
Pence is an agent of the Koch brothers, and he is slowly <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/16/hopes-trump-impeachment-persist-new-warnings-president-pence">converting the troll</a>
into another such agent.


feed_id: 2022af2dce49a63320851295fb778231
title: Dance for North Korea
uri: Dance-for-North-Korea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Dance_for_North_Korea%29
content:
<p>
If the bully decides to bomb North Korea, he could <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/16/5-myths-about-war-north-korea-make-americans-think-they-are-safe">cause global disaster</a>
and nobody could restrain him.
<p>
I think he doesn't actually intend to do this, that he is only being
bombastic (just like his North Korean counterpart). It is a sort of
dance, meant for show. But that kind of dance can go off the tracks.


feed_id: b0cda367455f758dee9d6a442c6c2ce2
title: Unsafe food imports
uri: Unsafe-food-imports
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Unsafe_food_imports%29
content:
<p>
The US agency that evaluates foreign food safety inspections is doing
a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/16/new-report-illustrates-why-usda-must-not-allow-chinese-poultry-or-brazilian">careless and sloppy job</a>, approving imports that aren't safe.


feed_id: 5c77cb4ddf5293655cef80e3950b981b
title: Iraqi Kurdistan
uri: 2017-10-18-Iraqi-Kurdistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Iraqi_Kurdistan%29
content:
<p>
It seems the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/iraqi-army-advances-kirkuk-kurds">
Shi'ite Iraqi government and the Iraqi Kurds
</a>
are close to
open war over the city of Kirkuk.
<p>
This means
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/fears-of-new-guerrilla-war-before-isis-dream-of-caliphate-is-crushed">
the two forces that did the most to defeat <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>
</a>
could be
about to be at war.
<p>
I see nothing sacred about the borders of Iraq, or unity of Iraq.
That was an artificial construct created by the UK and France at the
end of World War I.  Dividing Iraq into three parts might be the only
way the Sunnis and Shi'ites can stop fighting each other.  Their conflict,
which became murderous after the fall of Saddam Hussein,
was the soil from which <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> grew.


feed_id: 85c7525e1ca4c9d4d9395e0add847341
title: Canada's methane emissions
uri: Canada-s-methane-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Canadas_methane_emissions%29
content:
<p>
Canada's methane emissions are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/study-methane-emissions-from-alberta-oil-and-gas-wells-are-worse-than-thought">25%
or 50% higher than people thought</a>.


feed_id: b0fcc5c1888591704f1373690411c931
title: Third iteration of troll's Muslim ban
uri: Third-iteration-of-troll-s-Muslim-ban
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Third_iteration_of_trolls_Muslim_ban%29

content:
<p>
The third iteration of the bully's partial ban on Muslim visitors has
been 
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/17/trump-travel-ban-blocked-hawaii-judge">blocked
by a court</a>.


feed_id: d35347a8ae2155b956993edf4de50e29
title: Curbing global heating
uri: 2017-10-19-Curbing-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Curbing_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/17/regreening-the-planet-could-cut-as-much-carbon-as-halting-oil-use-report">Caring
for forests, peat bogs and agricultural land</a> could do a large part
of the job of curbing global heating.
<p>
It is easier said than done.  It is hard to do large amounts of
illegal fossil fuel extraction except in a failed state, but illegal
deforestation is going wild in countries including 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#5_October_2017_(Illegal_deforestation)">Brazil</a>
and
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_September_2017_(Forest_defenders_in_Indonesia)">Indonesia</a>.
<p>
Those governments are corrupt but they are hardly failed states.


feed_id: e23be20adc841b3a550c08b69b160fe2
title: Emergency assistance to Puerto Rico
uri: Emergency-assistance-to-Puerto-Rico
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Emergency_assistance_to_Puerto_Rico%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/12/trump-criticises-puerto-rico-hurricane-aid-cannot-go-on-forever">complains
about how long emergency assistance to Puerto Rico is taking</a>,
basically preparing to withdraw aid.
<p>
This is while most of the island's electric grid is still down,
and a large fraction have no water supply either.


feed_id: 562c4bd05a8e451b470dea411879fb04
title: Murder of anti-apartheid activist
uri: Murder-of-anti-apartheid-activist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Murder_of_anti-apartheid_activist%29

content:
<p>
A court hearing concluded that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/12/south-africa-judge-rules-police-murdered-anti-apartheid-activist-in-1971">South
African thugs murdered anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol</a>.  The
thugs said he had killed himself in prison — a story that was
implausible at the time.
<p>
The murder took place in 1971, but a thug that covered up the truth
is still alive to be prosecuted.


feed_id: 10ad0074a834f319aaad82872b90d9fc
title: Disabled people trapped in homes in UK
uri: Disabled-people-trapped-in-homes-in-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Disabled_people_trapped_in_homes_in_UK%29

content:
<p>
Many disabled people in the UK have been pushed into 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/12/britains-hidden-scandal-disabled-people-trapped-homes-accessible-housing
">living in apartments they cannot get out of</a>.  Some of the
apartments endanger their lives too.


feed_id: 30050c2ed9dc7786b5888dd31516cd0c
title: Taxpayers' money spent by Pence
uri: Taxpayers-money-spent-by-Pence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Taxpayers_money_spent_by_Pence%29

content:
<p>
Vice President Pence 
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/08/politics/pence-indianapolis-flights-cost/index.html">spent
a quarter million dollars of taxpayers' money</a> to visit a football
game so he could leave as a protest.
<p>
He has a right to protest by leaving a game, but spending taxpayers'
money to do this is the act of a cheater.


feed_id: 47befeba69a3ae54c2fde0734754dcc9
title: Rapist gets partial custody of child
uri: Rapist-gets-partial-custody-of-child
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Rapist_gets_partial_custody_of_child%29

content:
<p>
A US man who kidnaped and raped a 12-year-old girl, 10 years ago, has
been given 
<a href="https://patch.com/michigan/across-mi/rapist-gets-joint-custody-child-fathered-attack-michigan-judge">partial
custody of the child she had as a result</a>.
<p>
That man is the last man in American who should get custody of a
child.  Merely giving him the woman's address put her in danger.
<p>
As a side issue, I wonder why she didn't have an abortion.  That would
have been a much better outcome than a child born to an adolescent who
can't support a child.
<p>
I fear that fanatical Christians had something to do with this.


feed_id: 873c783e9e72380eaf2efcda062cbf08
title: Making books available
uri: Making-books-available
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Making_books_available%29
content:
<p>
The Internet Archive has discovered 
<a href="https://blog.archive.org/2017/10/10/books-from-1923-to-1941-now-liberated/">a
way to make most books published before 1941 available</a> even though
their copyright was maliciously extended by the Micky Mouse Copyright
Act.


feed_id: b81d33ea07dca2e824ed7983311b5229
title: "Development banks"
uri: Development-banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Development_banks%29
content:
<p>
The main "development banks" have put 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/12/fossil-fuels-win-billions-in-public-money-after-paris-climate-deal-angry-campaigners-claim">5
billion dollars into fossil fuel projects</a> since the Paris climate
conference.


feed_id: 4fbdf7e93bdf91fbf3fcef167366805c
title: Right-wing false-flag attacks
uri: Right-wing-false-flag-attacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Right-wing_false-flag_attacks%29
content:
<p>
A right-wing non-Muslim American left a dangerous bomb in an airport
last week, as a false-flag terrorist operation, and the media have
paid 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/11/terrorist-donald-trump-airport-bomber-estes-asheville/">hardly
any attention</a>.
<p>
That's because he doesn't serve the right-wing narrative about
terrorism.
<p>
Right-wingers claim every act of terrorism attributed to them is a
"false-flag attack", but it seems that nearly all false-flag attacks
are committed by right-wingers like this one.  The US 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2004-sep-dec.html#20%20December%202004%20(Secret%20NATO%20cold%20war%20armies)">organized
right-wing false-flag attacks in Europe in the 60s/70s</a>.


feed_id: fa4ca7287e6a15e29b1623470441c808
title: Overprotectiveness
uri: 2017-10-19-Overprotectiveness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_%28Overprotectiveness%29
content:
<p>
Relating the
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/why-are-millennials-so-afraid-of-freedom-i-think-we-know/">
overprotectiveness about speakers at universities
</a>
to overprotectiveness of raising children.


feed_id: b64104b24b2654a67731d6409a71c744
title: End slavery
uri: End-slavery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28End_slavery%29
content:
<p>
For the Price of a Few Warships, We Could <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/18/for-the-price-of-a-few-warships-we-could-end-slavery">End Slavery</a> Once And for All.


feed_id: 66eadcce563ee10e96212a3e28b7e346
title: Australia energy
uri: Australia-energy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Australia_energy%29
content:
<p>
Australia has made a plan to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/19/coalitions-energy-plan-hurts-renewables-more-than-no-action-greens">discourage the adoption</a> of renewable
energy.


feed_id: d224d8733b9830c43d22bf1b5fdebfb4
title: Face coverings
uri: Face-coverings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Face_coverings%29
content:
<p>
Quebec has banned people from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/18/quebec-passes-law-banning-muslims-from-wearing-face-coverings-in-public">covering their faces</a> while on public
transit.
<p>
This prevents all citizens from protecting themselves from the massive
surveillance systems.


feed_id: 2700fcd95aad684b21b41333226797d1
title: US Palestinian shot
uri: US-Palestinian-shot
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28US_Palestinian_shot%29
content:
<p>
Israeli troops shot an unarmed Palestinian teenager, then kept
paramedics away while he bled to death. This is not unusual, but that
teenager was a US citizen, which makes the US government <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/18/palestinian-american-killed-israel-mahmoud-shaalan/">scramble
to avoid</a> taking proper notice.


feed_id: 4cd6540c0cedc20daaf961e918c71eb7
title: Flying insects
uri: Flying-insects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Flying_insects%29
content:
<p>
Populations of flying insects in Germany's wildlife reserves have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/18/warning-of-ecological-armageddon-after-dramatic-plunge-in-insect-numbers">fallen by 3/4</a> in the past 25 years.
<p>
This can affect entire ecosystems.


feed_id: d2e8315dbd007c5cea4a6869fedc6e24
title: Foster parenting
uri: Foster-parenting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Foster_parenting%29
content:
<p>
Foster parenting in the US has been privatized, and some of the companies
shirk their <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/18/foster-care-children-deaths-mentor-network/">responsibilities</a>.
<p>
Government services should never be privatized unless that gives the public
a competitive market. Children in foster care do not get to choose
the foster care company, so that is not the case here.
<p>
We need not even raise the point that the customers of foster care are
children, who need foster care because of their immaturity, so they
are not ready to make a wise choice of foster care company.


feed_id: c8eb1412c0ed7a6d625d6aedb0e5c602
title: Firefighting chemicals
uri: Firefighting-chemicals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Firefighting_chemicals%29
content:
<p>
Carcinogenic firefighting chemicals are getting into US water supplies,
and since they do not naturally degrade, the level <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/18/toxic-firefighting-chemicals-the-most-seminal-public-health-challenge">continues to increase</a>.


feed_id: 42c8743616701f7bc3a46f0e708c8e82
title: Kenyan election
uri: 2017-10-20-Kenyan-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Kenyan_election%29
content:
<p>
Kenyan election commissioner Roselyn Akombe has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/18/kenya-election-official-flees-country-and-claims-presidential-vote-will-not-be-free">fled to the US</a> and
says that it is impossible for the coming repeat election to be free
and fair.
<p>
The leader of the opposition has refused to participate, for the same
reason.


feed_id: 7c2c1e61e2ddb10549fc63fee6a40c5c
title: Whistleblower protections
uri: Whistleblower-protections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Whistleblower_protections%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/whistleblower-protections-usa-liberty-act-not-enough">Whistleblower Protections</a> in USA Liberty Act Not Enough.
<p>
The only adequate protection for a whistleblower who tells us the
government's dirty secrets is if the government <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">cannot identify</a> the
whistleblower.


feed_id: 7287ad7fd7cf84be41f97bb3ca31d95d
title: March against al-Shabaab
uri: March-against-al-Shabaab
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28March_against_al-Shabaab%29
content:
<p>
Somalis <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/18/thousands-march-somalia-attack-truck-bomb-mogadishu">marched through Mogadishu</a> to demand more efforts to defeat al-Shabaab.
<p>
If the people turn strongly against that organization, they may have a chance
of defeating it.


feed_id: 549b8527ead690553cb931d9b3cd3900
title: Foreign subsidiaries
uri: 2017-10-20-Foreign-subsidiaries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Foreign_subsidiaries%29
content:
<p>
3/4 of the biggest 500 US corporations have foreign subsidiaries.
If Republicans make a bigger tax break for income of those subsidiaries,
they will use <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/17/stiffing-us-taxpayers-grand-scale-fortune-500-holding-26-trillion-offshore">accounting tricks</a> to run all their profits through them.


feed_id: 5be68a827a5bf4ff771d51af0418df31
title: Valve turners
uri: Valve-turners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#19_October_2017_%28Valve_turners%29
content:
<p>
The "valve turner" protesters will be <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/17/victory-valve-turners-judge-allows-necessity-defense-climate-trial">allowed to present</a> a necessity defense
for their protest,
which consisted of shutting off a pipeline.


feed_id: fef35b000cd57a4588d4331c25281e32
title: Disabled people trapped in homes in UK
uri: 2017-10-20-Disabled-people-trapped-in-homes-in-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#18_October_2017_%28Disabled_people_trapped_in_homes_in_UK%29

content:
<p>
Many disabled people in the UK have been pushed into 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/12/britains-hidden-scandal-disabled-people-trapped-homes-accessible-housing">living in apartments they cannot get out of</a>.  Some of the
apartments endanger their lives too.


feed_id: 8bfea7e0ae22eaa4ca5b24cace9a0569
title: Facial Expressions
uri: Facial-Expressions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Facial_Expressions%29
content:
<p>
Dogs Have Pet <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/19/dogs-have-pet-facial-expressions-to-use-on-humans-study-finds">Facial Expressions to Use on Humans</a>, Study Finds.


feed_id: bd894c4b3607a93f58fbae36b8289c82
title: Trump's Hotels
uri: Trump-s-Hotels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Trump%27s_Hotels%29
content:
<p>
Lawsuit Says Trump's Ownership of Hotels <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/19/lawsuit-says-trumps-ownership-of-hotels-violates-the-constitution">Violates the Constitution</a>.


feed_id: 107c6badb8a14c413ca66cd996e87afe
title: Block Smartphone Cameras
uri: Block-Smartphone-Cameras
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Block_Smartphone_Cameras%29
content:
<p>
A system of rapidly flickering leds makes <a href=" https://www.spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/audiovideo/lishield-can-block-smartphone-cameras-for-privacys-sake">mobile device cameras
fail to work</a>.


feed_id: 97d2ec36ffe35478463d2d249b35ac34
title: White-supremacist supporters
uri: White-supremacist-supporters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28White-supremacist_supporters%29
content:
<p>
The troll continued the US history of contempt towards <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/19/sergeant-la-david-johnson-black-soldier-donald-trump">black soldiers and
veterans</a>.
I think the troll intentionally displayed contempt as a way of
appealing to his white-supremacist supporters.


feed_id: 83b129b70bd9df58363d415f802e4fd4
title: Chinese tyrant
uri: Chinese-tyrant
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Chinese_tyrant%29
content:
<p>
Chinese tyrant Xi is officially <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/huge-deal-china-era-of-xi-jinping-thought-politics">reorienting the Communist Party</a> around
his own personal ideas.
<p>
He is aiming to make China as totalitarian as it was under Mao.
<p>
The bully's supporters want to make the US oppressive in a similar way.


feed_id: de27e84027da76e80e07149440b71549
title: Labour Party
uri: 2017-10-20-Labour-Party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Labour_Party%29
content:
<p>
The Labour Party will govern New Zealand together with another party
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/jacinda-ardern-new-zealand-prime-minister-labour-coalition-deal-winston-peters">that aims to deconcentrate wealth</a>.
<p>
Can anyone show me what these parties say about the Treacherous
Plutocratic Poison? The US has dropped out, but the other countries
were continuing to negotiate that <a href="/business-supremacy-treaties.html">business-supremacy treaty</a>.


feed_id: 6b31f0ff43970082a42d46be9209d14a
title: Escaping from Raqqa
uri: Escaping-from-Raqqa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Escaping_from_Raqqa%29
content:
<p>
Report from a group of civilians <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/19/escape-from-raqqa-isis-syria">escaping from Raqqa</a>.


feed_id: cfbc08a3170d318b543e471077fa6524
title: Big pharma lobbying
uri: Big-pharma-lobbying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Big_pharma_lobbying%29
content:
<p>
Big pharma lobbying enables drug companies to pump out large amounts
of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/19/big-pharma-money-lobbying-us-opioid-crisis">high-dose opioids that are ideal for causing addiction</a>.
<p>
Therefore, most efforts to reduce opioid addiction operate through
repression, surveillance, and denial of our civil liberties.
<p>
The drug companies also lobby to keep drugs expensive.


feed_id: 44001bfd66a3be6c1e4dea31849a6e8c
title: Suicide jeep bombs
uri: Suicide-jeep-bombs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Suicide_jeep_bombs%29
content:
<p>
The Taliban are wearing down the Afghan army through <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/taliban-suicide-attackers-kill-scores-of-afghan-soldiers-in-kandahar">suicide jeep bombs</a>.


feed_id: 8e9a4a9eaf02de15739eeeab2895d84d
title: prejudice British Muslims
uri: prejudice-British-Muslims
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28prejudice_British_Muslims%29
content:
<p>
The BBC tried to show people the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/oct/19/my-week-as-a-muslim-documentary-sparks-racism-row">prejudice British Muslims experience</a> by
making up and dressing up a white woman to appear to be a Pakistani Muslim.
<p>
A hypersensitive Muslim group claims there is something essentially wrong
about such a disguise.
<p>
I see no validity in their argument; I think it was just fine to do this
program.
<p>
The term “blackface” refers to a kind of entertainment that was common
a hundred years ago, in which white performers wore nonrealistic
stylized makeup that stood for “think of us as blacks” and then acted
a stereotype of black culture and behavior patterns.
<p> 
I can see how blacks would find that offensive. But that doesn't apply to
cross-racial makeup as such.
<p>
I can understand the concerns of actors from minority groups if whites
get the few parts for characters from their own groups.
<p>
On the other hand, maybe with a suitable makeup disguise they could apply for parts
for white characters.
<p>
I just had a horrible idea.
<p>
If using makeup and clothing to appear black or Pakistani if you're not is despicable, what about using
makeup and clothing to appear female if you're not? Is that despicable too?
<p>
Will this benighted identity campaign target transvestites next?


feed_id: 5ecd5b97455a2b628f8fb62d3c3717ea
title: White-supremacist supporters
uri: 2017-10-20-White-supremacist-supporters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28White-supremacist_supporters%29
content:
<p>
The troll continued the US history of contempt towards <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/19/sergeant-la-david-johnson-black-soldier-donald-trump">black soldiers and
veterans</a>.
<p>
I think the troll intentionally displayed contempt as a way of
appealing to his white-supremacist supporters.


feed_id: 5e1f8872f0ce5ded3b3472433540371b
title: UK modern slavery
uri: UK-modern-slavery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28UK_modern_slavery%29
content:
<p>The number of people enslaved in the UK <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/17/true-scale-of-uk-slavery-tens-of-thousands-of-victims-kevin-hyland">could be tens of thousands</a>, according to the official in charge of eradicating it.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 568f0f6268c1532aa2746e067942f217
title: Tom Marino opioids scandal
uri: Tom-Marino-opioids-scandal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Tom_Marino_opioids_scandal%29
content:
<p>The troll's choice for "drug czar" was a saboteur who was helping drug companies <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/17/trump-pick-for-drug-czar-tom-marino-withdraws">distribute opioids more loosely</a>.  This was such a scandal that the troll had to drop him.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 55c7427e9689d537505bce82ef7f82f6
title: UK environmental regulations
uri: UK-environmental-regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28UK_environmental_regulations%29
content:
<p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/17/uk-withdrawal-bill-rips-the-heart-out-of-environmental-law-say-campaigners">Tories are trying</a> to use exit from the EU as an excuse to eliminate much of the UK's environmental protection regulations.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: cbd4d24dcd34122352a03b7e764286f3
title: Somalia truck bomb
uri: Somalia-truck-bomb
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Somalia_truck_bomb%29
content:
<p>The very deadly raid on Mogadishu appears to have been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/somalia-bomber-was-ex-solider-whose-town-was-raided-by-us-forces">revenge for a US raid</a> that killed several civilians.</p>
<p>It is ironic that revenge for killing Somali civilians takes the form of killing an even larger number of Somali civilians.  But the intended target was a government agency.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1f618f8388c17a04cc98a9824a5c326c
title: US aided anti-communist purge
uri: US-aided-anti-communist-purge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28US_aided_anti-communist_purge%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/indonesia-anti-communist-killings-us-declassified-files">Formerly secret files</a> show how the US aided the massacre of several hundred thousand suspected communists in Indonesia, and how organized Muslim groups helped the army kill them.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7e22da589abc060d3f2ea6b06dc63f7c
title: Apple's censorship
uri: Apple-s-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Apple%27s_censorship%29
content:
<p>
US Senators Ask Apple Why <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/us-senators-ask-apple-why-vpn-apps-were-removed-in-china-171020/">VPN Apps Were Removed in China</a>.
<p>
Their questioning misses Apple's wrong which created the problem: that
Apple designed the iThings to impose Apple's own censorship.
<p>
<a href="https://gnu.org/malware/malware-apple.html#censorship">More about Apple Censorship</a>.


feed_id: ac1a089e4a6562b3ab62e5facef094bc
title: High rents
uri: 2017-10-21-High-rents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28High_rents%29
content:
<p>
High rents in London have led to a successful <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lloydsbank-new-normal/2017/oct/18/inside-the-worlds-largest-co-living-space-youve-got-a-whole-community-under-one-roof">co-living building with 500 inhabitants</a>.
<p>
Alas, it is so expensive that most people couldn't afford it.


feed_id: 4b1b63ff28e8e5c3309c0990feefc2c5
title: Sex offender's list
uri: Sex-offender-s-list
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Sex_offender%27s_list%29
content:
<p>
Zack Anderson's life has been turned into hell because he had sex with
a 14-year-old who said she was 17. 
<p>
Now Indiana is grasping at straws for excuses to put him on the sex offender's list for 25 years.
<p>
Excuses such as that a <a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/turning-church-volunteering-into-a-crime-for-shame
-indiana/">minor started working at his church</a> and was there when he was.
<p>
The normal occupation of human adolescents is sex.
<p>
This case demonstrates what everyone should already have known: a human of age
14 can consent to sex, even seek it out.
<p>
Claims to the contrary are false, and when these claims appear in a law, it's a lying law.
<p>
The term “statutory rape” is a reflection of this lie. It means, “We
know that wasn't rape, but we will pretend it was.”
<p>
Adolescents can be bullied / tricked / bribed into sex.
<p>
So can adults, as the recent accusations against Weinstein and others demonstrate.
<p>
It could be useful to do something to help people of any
age resist such pressures, on the occasions when they would rather not
have sex.
<p>
However, denying the fact that people also do have sex voluntarily is not the solution.


feed_id: cec7ac5965ab54e888031cf1f85f03c0
title: Chemical Agent Orange
uri: Chemical-Agent-Orange
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Chemical_Agent_Orange%29
content:
<p>
The chemical Agent Orange, which the US dropped massively on Vietnam,
continues <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/09/vietnam-war-not-history-victims-agent-orange">causing birth defects there</a>.
<p>
<a href=" https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/334">HR 334 would provide funds</a> to those who suffer from birth defects
or injuries caused by American use of Agent Orange in Vietnam.


feed_id: e566dbf6226ebb9cf293055c619d29d9
title: White supremacists
uri: 2017-10-21-White-supremacists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28White_supremacists%29
content:
<p>
Three white supremacists tried to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/20/gainesville-shooting-three-men-charged-florida-richard-spencer">shoot protesters after a right-wing rally</a>.


feed_id: 6a57d9c9967caf15e92e6dd054f1396f
title: New York City thugs
uri: New-York-City-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28New_York_City_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Two dirty New York City thugs claim that a teenager under arrest and
handcuffed <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/20/brooklyn-teen-police-rape-consent/">consented to having sex with them</a>.


feed_id: 0817b930a3d1e6aa306e25fada8338e7
title: Medical marijuana
uri: 2017-10-21-Medical-marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Medical_marijuana%29
content:
<p>
Peru has legalized <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/20/peru-marijuana-cannabis-legal-terminally-ill-children">medical marijuana</a>.


feed_id: 9ba23625da217e96d162b5a9b8d2ab8f
title: NFL players' protests
uri: NFL-players-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28NFL_players%27_protests%29
content:
<p>
The troll tried to hijack the NFL players' protests.
<p>
Here's a suggestion for how they can take back <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/20/nfl-protest-race-policing-colin-kaepernick">the meaning of their protests</a>.


feed_id: 0b613799e556bd68f56fcf1ad343054e
title: Urgent: EU wood burning
uri: Urgent-EU-wood-burning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_EU_wood_burning%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.nrdc.org/letter/forests-not-fuel-171017">Oppose the EU practice</a> of buying wood to burn it.


feed_id: bbb1e47c55101d4f8629b1a7fe5c7de9
title: Labour economics
uri: Labour-economics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Labour_economics%29
content:
<p>
Corbyn: Labour is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/oct/13/corbyn-hammond-right-to-say-labour-threatens-whole-economic-system">indeed the enemy</a> of the current economic model,
which puts children <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#10_April_2015_(Child_Poverty_in_the_UK)">into poverty</a>
and hunger.


feed_id: 0579a143768a71548d6094f4fd44e6b6
title: Marijuana and opioids
uri: Marijuana-and-opioids
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Marijuana_and_opioids%29
content:
<p>
Legalizing marijuana in Colorado led to a <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/10/17/14-year-trend-of-rising-opioid-deaths-re">decrease in deaths</a> from
opioids.


feed_id: cc1741b8e6b163fc2a64fc99bff1cfa9
title: University speakers
uri: University-speakers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28University_speakers%29
content:
<p>
The UK government plans to pressure universities to eliminate student
union <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/oct/19/ministers-plan-fines-for-universities-which-fail-to-uphold-free-speech">"no platform" policies</a> that exclude speakers on account of their
views.
<p>
There is an anomaly here which I hope someone can explain to me. Can
a student union bar a speaker from speaking at the university, or only
from speaking in the student union's own events? When I read the
actual text of the no-platform policy, it seemed to say the latter.
<p>
How does that endanger the diversity of views at the university? Does
the student union have a monopoly on hosting outside speakers?
<p>
Meanwhile, what about university censorship that has nothing to do
with the student union? For instance, will universities be fined
for <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#30_September_2017_(Censorship_at_UK_university)">censoring a speech</a> at the request of the Israeli embassy
or <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_September_2017_(Professors_rebuke_Harvard)">excluding speakers</a> on request from spy agencies?


feed_id: 97ad358492cae9e6c6a4df3f32c79cf7
title: Aviation thugs
uri: Aviation-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Aviation_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Two of the Chicago aviation thugs that beat up Dr. Dao <a href="https://consumerist.com/2017/10/18/two-chicago-aviation-officers-fired-for-role-in-dragging-united-passenger-from-flight/">have been fired</a>
for lying about it afterwards.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#thug">Thugs</a> that lie deserve to be fired, or better yet prosecuted.
But that was only the secondary wrong; beating up Dr. Dao was
the primary wrong, and it should not go ignored.


feed_id: 488976e7864acf206a5eed13f89ec01c
title: Shoot if you feel danger
uri: Shoot-if-you-feel-danger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Shoot_if_you_feel_danger%29
content:
<p>
Florida men had the ambition of murdering a Guatemalan, searched for
one, and killed him. Now they <a href="http://reverepress.com/news/florida-man-hunts-kills-guatemalan-teen-claims-stand-ground/">claim this was legal</a> under the perverse
"shoot if you feel danger" law.


feed_id: 472d10d5871d7dc736b8ee97cad936c9
title: Toxic pollution
uri: Toxic-pollution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Toxic_pollution%29
content:
<p>
Toxic pollution kills <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/19/global-pollution-kills-millions-threatens-survival-human-societies">9 million people</a> per year, more
than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
<p>
To reduce the pollution requires political will … to tax the
rich more, thus getting funds for enforcement of regulation and
investment in pollution reduction.


feed_id: 78807d9c7dfd421f1e8ca96e4b9599e8
title: Activist group infiltrations
uri: Activist-group-infiltrations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Activist_group_infiltrations%29
content:
<p>
Most men that kill thugs are white, but the FBI has decided to
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/18/fbi-setting-stage-increased-surveillance-black-activists">infiltrate</a> nonviolent black activist groups on the pretext that their
members might do so.


feed_id: 8aa4ee98fd72574b73fce54c2ac45eb9
title: Abortions for imprisoned
uri: Abortions-for-imprisoned
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Abortions_for_imprisoned%29
content:
<p>
The bully's saboteurs are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/18/trump-denies-17-year-old-abortion-access-court-battle-exposes-broader-problem">denying abortions</a> to unauthorized immigrants
that have been imprisoned.
<p>
Those religious fanatics are forcing these vulnerable women to have
babies because they have found the power to do so — but they want to
do this to all women and they are searching for the way to do it.


feed_id: bac6d4ec508c26a1bd1161c1064d7a8f
title: Pruitt's scientific advisors
uri: Pruitt-s-scientific-advisors
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Pruitt%27s_scientific_advisors%29

content:
<p>
Saboteur Pruitt plans to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/18/pruitt-threatens-purge-scientists-who-refuse-be-fossil-fuel-puppets">drop scientific advisors</a> that have received federal
research grants, and keep only those who are funded by businesses.


feed_id: b42821279eadebc7c9d796748f4dee5e
title: Actor union
uri: Actor-union
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Actor_union%29
content:
<p>
One way for movie actors to put an <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/18/harvey-weinstein-and-politics-hollywood">end to sexual harassment</a> is to form a union.


feed_id: 5a725dd77e26aec43c210ebef8989ba5
title: Mattress corruption
uri: Mattress-corruption
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Mattress_corruption%29
content:
<p>
The corrupt world of <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3065928/sleepopolis-casper-bloggers-lawsuits-underside-of-the-mattress-wars">"mattress reviewing" sites</a> that get commissions
from the companies whose products they review.
<p>
I would never order a mattress by mail, because that would put me
in a data base. I want to pay cash. But actually I have never
bought a mattress <em>as such</em>. Here's what I did instead.
<p>
I went to a foam store and bought several layers of foam — hardest on
bottom, then softer ones, finally convoluted foam layers on top. I
also got a wooden board to put the foam on, and six cinder blocks to
make a storage space under the board. This is far cheaper, and you
can pay cash for it.


feed_id: 8a99f7793ef0674125c609c548db3fbe
title: Portugal forest fires
uri: Portugal-forest-fires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Portugal_forest_fires%29
content:
<p>
Portugal has had large and deadly forest fires, even bigger than those
in California. People complain that the government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/portugal-interior-minister-resigns-wild-fires-dead">wasn't prepared</a>
to fight them.
<p>
Instead of condemning the minister, who probably wasn't in a position
to do anything in such a short time, they should blame the oil companies.


feed_id: 3f90ea5b32de8ae210238f5c988eba28
title: NFL players' protests
uri: 2017-10-21-NFL-players-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28NFL_players%27_protests%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> tried to hijack the NFL players' protests.
<p>
Here's a suggestion for how they can take back <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/20/nfl-protest-race-policing-colin-kaepernick">the meaning of their protests</a>.


feed_id: 9b0e6065eb0c56fcb5b01052622dc5e9
title: Chinese tyrant
uri: 2017-10-21-Chinese-tyrant
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#20_October_2017_%28Chinese_tyrant%29
content:
<p>
Chinese tyrant Xi is officially <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/huge-deal-china-era-of-xi-jinping-thought-politics">reorienting the Communist Party</a> around
his own personal ideas.
<p>
He is aiming to make China as totalitarian as it was under Mao.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>'s supporters want to make the US oppressive in a similar way.


feed_id: d0dcf6db432b9fb9515f78d46edfda8c
title: US carriers selling data
uri: US-carriers-selling-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28US_carriers_selling_data%29
content:
<p>US phone companies are <a href="https://medium.com/@philipn/want-to-see-something-crazy-open-this-link-on-your-phone-with-wifi-turned-off-9e0adb00d024">selling other companies access to mobile phone location data</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 05bd4a758cfca6c32bd8c814c67e6731
title: San Juan private security
uri: San-Juan-private-security
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28San_Juan_private_security%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.latinorebels.com/2017/10/10/masked-and-armed-with-rifles-military-security-firms-roam-streets-of-san-juan/">Masked private thugs armed with submachine guns</a> are "patrolling" streets in Puerto Rico.  They refuse to say who they are working for.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a5de4959a4698805e3f9f1ea92ffb532
title: US health services abortion
uri: US-health-services-abortion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28US_health_services_abortion%29
content:
<p>Republican saboteurs have directed the department of Health and Human Services <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/16/tom-prices-revenge-hhs-makes-discriminating-against-reproductive-rights-central">to abolish abortion in the US</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d1fb3b34aed19a1ee7a5ee525ec0dd69
title: US oil rig regulations
uri: US-oil-rig-regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28US_oil_rig_regulations%29
content:
<p>Saboteurs <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/16/trump-moves-slash-safety-rules-oil-rig-explosion-leaves-7-injured-1-missing">want to relax the safety regulations</a> designed to reduce the frequency of explosions on oil rigs.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8da1e03cd6064137b46fda0e1d8eb8a4
title: Urban air pollution
uri: Urban-air-pollution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Urban_air_pollution%29
content:
<p>Electric cars <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/16/our-cities-need-fewer-cars-not-cleaner-cars-electric-green-transport">address only part of the problem</a>.  What we need is less driving.</p>
<p>One way to achieve this is to build cities denser.  That makes public transportation more efficient and more attractive.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e08f8dc8fc101acf82a2ea8ec3e3b50c
title: Right-wing DNC
uri: Right-wing-DNC
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Right-wing_DNC%29
content:
<p>

The Democratic National Committee is
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/19/concern-progressive-purge-bernie-wing-left-cold-dnc">
firing and demoting progressive
officials,
</a>
reinforcing its "centrist" right-wing slant.


feed_id: 79e13940988b1db77c72921af525ef0d
title: Freedom of speech
uri: 2017-10-22-Freedom-of-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Freedom_of_speech%29
content:
<p>
How to teach millennials
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/20/millennials-wary-free-speech-who-can-blame-them">
to value freedom of speech?
</a>


feed_id: 1385bade3dcb95fab1c3a63bf4cc1231
title: Tech startups
uri: Tech-startups
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Tech_startups%29
content:
<p>
The digital tech giants have so much money that they can
crush even established competitors.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/20/tech-startups-facebook-amazon-google-apple">
The number of startups in digital technology
is way down.
</a>
<p>
Most of the things these tech startups would make are unjust, due to
nonfree user software, surveillance, or both.  However, if the giants
do them, they will be unjust that way too.  And the increased
concentration has to be an additional bad.


feed_id: f92ace9f84349ceab2b4bde66bed5301
title: The sycophancy of Xi
uri: The-sycophancy-of-Xi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28The_sycophancy_of_Xi%29
content:
<p>
President Xi is trying to turn China into
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/20/xi-jinping-china-president-leninist-quest-authority-control-carries-dangers">
a nation of fawning yes-men.
</a>
<p>
People are right to think that it may cause resistance.  But when
Chinese accept it, they will tend towards group-think that will lead
to grave mistakes.  (Under Mao, that caused a great famine.)


feed_id: 7f3110a229eb16e4e3dcab00fc99841a
title: Prescription drugs
uri: Prescription-drugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Prescription_drugs%29
content:
<p>
Canada's national medical system has one big gap:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/20/canada-national-pharmacare-prescription-drugs">
on prescription drugs,
it operates like the US's bad system.
</a>
So the progressive party has proposed
to move to a government-operated system.
<p>
This would save about 25% of the current costs, but the government would have
to pay the other 75%, and that might require raising taxes.


feed_id: 534cdf9dda5d3f431ce28435fed8979a
title: Industrial farming
uri: Industrial-farming
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Industrial_farming%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/20/insectageddon-farming-catastrophe-climate-breakdown-insect-populations">
Industrial farming and industrial fishing
</a>
threaten to cause their own
collapse.


feed_id: fabe438f056f8b9e39daed41002e4f93
title: Self-organized recovery
uri: Self-organized-recovery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Self-organized_recovery%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/20/puerto-rico-hurricane-debt-relief/">
Puerto Ricans are implementing
self-organized recovery
</a>
to thwart the Wall Street vampires.


feed_id: 4be113cf234d36c46e255f32b2f575d7
title: Patent trolls using tribes
uri: Patent-trolls-using-tribes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Patent_trolls_using_tribes%29
content:
<p>
US patent trolls have started
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/10/native-american-tribe-sues-amazon-and-microsoft-over-patents/">
using indigenous tribes as front organizations
</a>
to avoid examination of the legal validity of their patents.
<p>
Patents in the software field are
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/software-literary-patents.html">
dangerous for the field
</a>
							  and
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/limit-patent-effect.html">
                                                          unjust
towards all software developers.
</a>
<p>
There is
<a href="media/1dcfd209.45_1_stallman.pdf" data-original-source="https://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/law/students/publications/llj/pdfs/45_1_stallman.pdf">
no good reason to have patents in any field.
</a>


feed_id: a5a92d4472dea0b7c00f88f654614cae
title: Suicide bombers
uri: Suicide-bombers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Suicide_bombers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/20/dozens-killed-in-twin-bombings-of-mosques-in-afghanistan">
Suicide bombers attacked two Shi'a mosques in Afghanistan.
</a>
  Jihadis kill more Afghan civilians than the US does,
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_(Troll_approved_use_of_large_bomb)">
  though the
bully is trying to compete with them.
</a>


feed_id: 3baf142811ce365a3c8e24e00719a75c
title: Dubya's conquest of Iraq
uri: Dubya-s-conquest-of-Iraq
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Dubya%27s_conquest_of_Iraq%29
content:
<p>
The bully is a bigger liar than Dubya, but
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/20/george-w-bush-donald-trump-speech-blood-hands">
so far has not committed
large-scale mayhem
</a>
comparable with Dubya's conquest of Iraq.


feed_id: e034c16ff558bd1c39d8dabff4676d4e
title: E-Verify
uri: E-Verify
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28E-Verify%29
content:
<p>
Expanding E-Verify is
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/expanding-e-verify-privacy-disaster-making">
a Privacy Disaster in the Making.
</a>


feed_id: 819979dd526acaec837fd49f992f7471
title: Guber
uri: 2017-10-22-Guber
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Guber%29
content:
<p>
Guber is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/20/new-york-yellow-cab-taxi-medallion-value-cost">
destroying the taxi industry
</a>
in New York City.
<p>
This is what Guber wants to do.  Please fight back!


feed_id: 93e44d1b8b88185234a146239089320b
title: Urgent: Support bail reform law
uri: Urgent-Support-bail-reform-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Support_bail_reform_law%29

content:
<p>
Residents of Massachusetts:
<a href="https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/issues/alert/?alertid=78885626&type=ST">
Support the bail reform law,
</a>
as the ACLU recommends.


feed_id: 572ae0633d9df63e03d221768336a8cc
title: Glyphosate contamination
uri: Glyphosate-contamination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Glyphosate_contamination%29
content:
<p>

Glyphosate accumulates in soil.  A study of soil samples from some
European countries estimates that
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/19/new-study-shows-glyphosate-contaminated-soils-put-half-europe-risk">
around half the agricultural land
has glyphosate contamination.
</a>
<p>
The article doesn't say what the levels of contamination were, or
whether they are high enough to pose a significant danger.  But if the
EU resumes glyphosate use, soils where it is used will absorb more
glyphosate.


feed_id: f97200fc00b7cb99a1cb9e219f7c4452
title: Uranium sale
uri: Uranium-sale
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Uranium_sale%29
content:
<p>
It took the FBI 4 years to prosecute anyone for
<a href="http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/355749-fbi-uncovered-russian-bribery-plot-before-obama-administration">
a Russia-operated
bribery scheme that procured
a license to sell uranium to the US.
</a>
<p>
It is important to prosecute bribery, but I don't see that sales of
uranium from Russia to the US are inherently worse than sales of
uranium from anywhere else.  I don't see that Obama did anything wrong
in this case.
<p>
By contrast,
<a href="https://stallman.org/notes/2011-nov-feb.html#11_February_2012_(Obama_And_Banksters)">
we know he worked hard to let the criminal banksters off
the hook.
</a>


feed_id: 7c86597c12c2eb8edf8f8c7c9a822c94
title: Tax cuts
uri: Tax-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Tax_cuts%29
content:
<p>
The Republican tax cuts for the rich
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/20/gop-tax-framework-looks-much-kansas-failed-tax-cut-package">
resemble the ones that caused a disaster
for Kansas.
</a>


feed_id: ae10d6901264246dd4539c542e6fc136
title: Urgent: Reject coal lobbyist in EPA
uri: Urgent-Reject-coal-lobbyist-in-EPA
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_coal_lobbyist_in_EPA%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Senate to
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/reject_wheeler_epa?t=1002&">
reject coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler
as an EPA administrator.
</a>


feed_id: 636f97c735615767b4bb8850d3a7e191
title: UK railcard
uri: UK-railcard
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28UK_railcard%29
content:
<p>
British railroads are starting to pressure passengers to use
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/oct/20/millennial-railcard-launch-next-year-third-off-uk-train-fares">
unjust
tracking apps.
</a>
<p>
The first step is for a new discount pass for passengers of age 26-30.
Once people surrender to the pull of this, you can be sure they will
take another step, and another...


feed_id: 35a62cd2c06f1e30d3a8b7fa5883b107
title: Senate budget
uri: Senate-budget
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Senate_budget%29
content:
<p>
The Senate passed a budget resolution that
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/20/senate-budget-sells-out-our-environment-health-and-treasured-arctic-national">
attacks vital programs for
the health of the US,
</a>
and of Americans.
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/19/51-gop-senators-just-voted-cut-15-trillion-medicare-and-medicaid-give-super-rich-and">
Even Medicare was cut.
</a>


feed_id: 164bc0a452272eac5784e95814dd539f
title: Shoot if you feel danger
uri: 2017-10-22-Shoot-if-you-feel-danger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Shoot_if_you_feel_danger%29
content:
<p>
Florida men had the ambition of murdering a Guatamalan, searched for
one, and killed him. Now they <a href="http://reverepress.com/news/florida-man-hunts-kills-guatemalan-teen-claims-stand-ground/">claim this was legal</a> under the perverse
"shoot if you feel danger" law.


feed_id: e4035c4246aa414e9e109e4a876f57c7
title: NFL players' protests
uri: 2017-10-22-NFL-players-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28NFL_players%27_protests%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> tried to hijack the NFL players' protests.
<p>
Here's a suggestion for how they can take back <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/20/nfl-protest-race-policing-colin-kaepernick">the meaning of their protests</a>.


feed_id: 79a039fd696493307e7e3fd9641f54a8
title: Urgent: Undo troll's sabotage
uri: Urgent-Undo-troll-s-sabotage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Undo_trolls_sabotage%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/Trump_CSR/">call on
Congress</a> to undo the bully's sabotage of US medical care.


feed_id: 4ed2a46c84a9633d31e2bdc0c8504729
title: Nitrates in US water supplies
uri: Nitrates-in-US-water-supplies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Nitrates_in_US_water_supplies%29
content:
<p>
US farmers don't bother to keep nitrate fertilizer out of water
supplies.  As a result, water supplies in the rural US have
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/17/report-suspected-carcinogen-farm-runoff-fouls-drinking-water-across-rural">enough
nitrates to cause an increased cancer risk</a>.
<p>
The article doesn't say how many additional people are likely to get
cancer as a result.  It might be a handful, or it might be thousands.


feed_id: d06b37acf311a11aa1009a3e27fd932f
title: Attack on Palestinian school
uri: Attack-on-Palestinian-school
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Attack_on_Palestinian_school%29
content:
<p>
Israeli soldiers
<a href="http://imemc.org/article/army-injures-many-school-children-in-jerusalem/">attacked
a Palestinian school</a>, wounding ten children.
<p>
Palestinian teenagers report being arrested by Israel and
<a href="http://imemc.org/article/palestinian-children-beaten-tortured-under-israeli-interrogation/">tortured</a>.
One was released under a form of house arrest that turns his house
into hell for his whole family.


feed_id: eb917698c15017fc558dd3bf8603bb16
title: Capture of Raqqa
uri: Capture-of-Raqqa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Capture_of_Raqqa%29
content:
<p>
The capture of Raqqa
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/17/order-save-it-islamic-state-city-raqqa-comprehensively-wrecked">killed
over a thousand civilians</a>.
<p>
I don't know whether it was feasible to capture Raqqa with fewer
civilian casualties.


feed_id: 59d15dbcf3bf193db34815a42e148683
title: Palestinian ad ban in tube stations
uri: Palestinian-ad-ban-in-tube-stations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Palestinian_ad_ban_in_tube_stations%29

content:
<p>
The London transit system has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/17/tfl-bans-ads-displaying-palestinian-objections-to-balfour-declaration">banned
Palestinian ads</a> in a way that seems suspiciously politicized.


feed_id: ff35c554b13c3c5329c8efe44bd9bd1a
title: Men in positions of power in movie business
uri: Men-in-positions-of-power-in-movie-business
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Men_in_positions_of_power_in_movie_business%29

content:
<p>
An anonymous Hollywood actress says that Harvey Weinstein is like
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/16/harvey-weinstein-secret-actress">many
men in positions of power in the movie business</a>.
<p>
Reese Witherspoon
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/17/reese-witherspoon-alleges-sexual-assault-by-director-when-she-was-16">concurs</a>.
<p>
So did
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/17/carrie-fisher-gave-predatory-producer-cows-tongue-heather-robinson">Carrie
Fisher</a>.
<p>
I am unable to understand what these men feel about women.  I can
understand wishing for intimacy and sweetness with a lovely woman.  I
can't understand the contempt that these men display towards the women
they want to have sex with.


feed_id: 4b1545aefc541b4e2f5d87e9f49190e3
title: Discussing the substance of racism
uri: Discussing-the-substance-of-racism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Discussing_the_substance_of_racism%29

content:
<p>
A school has
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2017/10/16/code-honor-and-conduct-making-people-uncomfortable-0">removed
To Kill a Mockingbird from classes</a> because it uses the word
"nigger".
<p>
I agree with the writer that discussing the substance of racism should
not mean avoiding old books for terminology we now reject.
<p>
It is ironic that the criticisms include "white saviour complex, since
the book actually shows the limits of white saviours.  The protagonist
tries to be a white saviour but fails to save the black man from being
falsely convicted.  Whereupon that man tried to escape from prison,
and was killed.  On hearing that, someone says (I paraphrase from lack
of memory), "He got tired of waiting for us to give him justice, so he
decided to get his own justice."


feed_id: 91aeb0a87a58b792cf9273454cc32e8c
title: New EPA policy
uri: New-EPA-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28New_EPA_policy%29
content:
<p>
The EPA has a new policy:
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/16/scott-pruitt-who-loved-sue-epa-just-made-it-harder-green-groups-sue-epa">only
settle lawsuits with the companies that it regulates</a>, not with
public interest advocates.


feed_id: 238d5de71ff6edb1b36d8098c7234f25
title: 3d-printed bridge
uri: 3d-printed-bridge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%283d-printed_bridge%29
content:
<p>
The first 3d-printed bridge,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/18/world-first-3d-printed-bridge-cyclists-netherlands">printed
with concrete</a>.


feed_id: 5e38a2882b7ace46c3df93b64d785c9a
title: Urgent: Block nomination of Farr
uri: Urgent-Block-nomination-of-Farr
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Block_nomination_of_Farr%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/oppose-thomas-farr-federal-judge/">call
on your senators</a> to block the nomination of Thomas Farr as a US
judge.


feed_id: 5fc9d50a2ecbb86f8e77b94318f67523
title: Thug's misconduct
uri: Thug-s-misconduct
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#22_October_2017_%28Thugs_misconduct%29
content:
<p>
Fired Cop's Attorney Argues His Client Is Being Punished Unfairly
Because
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20171015/14210838408/fired-cops-attor">The
Public Got To See His Misconduct</a>.


feed_id: 1db6bf438af7adb6c95f51a3a109a383
title: Dubya's conquest of Iraq
uri: 2017-10-22-Dubya-s-conquest-of-Iraq
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Dubya%27s_conquest_of_Iraq%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> is a bigger liar than Dubya, but
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/20/george-w-bush-donald-trump-speech-blood-hands">
so far has not committed
large-scale mayhem
</a>
comparable with <a href="/glossary.html#dubya">Dubya</a>'s conquest of Iraq.


feed_id: 5dfb26ba5b433d8ffd6729498ba0af7f
title: Guber
uri: 2017-10-22-Guber
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#21_October_2017_%28Guber%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#guber">Guber</a> is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/20/new-york-yellow-cab-taxi-medallion-value-cost">
destroying the taxi industry
</a>
in New York City.
<p>
This is what <a href="/glossary.html#guber">Guber</a> wants to do.  Please fight back!


feed_id: bada251876479922dd0ec5a6005903a3
title: Urgent: Network neutrality
uri: 2017-10-23-Urgent-Network-neutrality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Network_neutrality%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your congresscritter at 202-930-8550 to defend
network neutrality. The final vote is likely <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/77g5up/the_fcc_is_expected_to">within a month</a>.


feed_id: 5571d6045b2d2f2ae80a5a66fb7cb0f3
title: Urgent: Puerto Rico's student borrowers
uri: Urgent-Puerto-Rico-s-student-borrowers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Puerto_Rico%27s_student_borrowers%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/devos_puerto_rico">Tell Betsy DeVos</a>: Help Puerto Ricoâs Student Borrowers.


feed_id: 4ca9297e0842d6bdfbc4669d432c4db7
title: Urgent: Medical care funds
uri: Urgent-Medical-care-funds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Medical_care_funds%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/Trump_CSR/">call on Congress</a> to provide the medical care funds that
the bully cut.


feed_id: 9fad2a7671461da629081d6c1082adeb
title: Urgent: ban bump stocks
uri: Urgent-ban-bump-stocks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_ban_bump_stocks%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://petitions.signforgood.com/banbumpstocks/">call on Congress</a> to ban bump stocks.


feed_id: 549a4cc12bde6dab04ced98ce501dad2
title: Beef greenhouse gasses
uri: Beef-greenhouse-gasses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Beef_greenhouse_gasses%29
content:
<p>
Increasing demand for beef is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/21/unfair-trade-us-beef-has-climate-problem">hampering efforts</a> to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
<p>
The true cost of raising beef is not paid by the people that eat it.
It makes a terrible contribution to antibiotic resistance and dead
zones in the ocean, as well as global heating.


feed_id: d20de504984c405ea44fca93d4fd29f7
title: General Kelly
uri: General-Kelly
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28General_Kelly%29
content:
<p>
General Kelly is an <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/21/it-didnt-just-start-now-john-kelly-has-always-been-a-hard-right-bully/">extreme militarist</a> who thinks no one has the right
to question any of the wars that the US fights, and condemns people
who discuss these issues.
<p>
He's right that the US is threatened by incomprehensible lunatics.
They are in the White House and Congress.


feed_id: 1bf75398e01dc2cd6496c464d308685f
title: Dishonest troll
uri: Dishonest-troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Dishonest_troll%29
content:
<p>
US veterans and soldiers are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/21/donald-trump-military-family-fight-veterans">coming to recognize</a> the troll's basic
dishonest and manipulative nature.
<p>
I don't criticize the troll, or any American, for avoiding the Vietnam
War. I wish every American had avoided it — then Americans would
have been better off, and Vietnamese would have been far, far better off.


feed_id: 4f94986434bc7d631ece5d9833c0fcef
title: 'Blacktivist' campaign
uri: Blacktivist-campaign
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28%27Blacktivist%27_campaign%29
content:
<p>
The Americans mobilized by the Russian "blacktivist" campaign say their
activism was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/21/russia-social-media-activism-blacktivist">real and sincere</a>, regardless of the organizer.


feed_id: c16e7b79ee620130489672054570a2ef
title: Toronto thugs
uri: Toronto-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Toronto_thugs%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#thug">Thugs</a> in Toronto systematically stop blacks and hispanics for no reason
except (apparently) their skin color.
On <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/21/toronto-police-carding-desmond-cole-intercepted/">one recent occasion</a> the thugs
beat one of them with a metal pipe and destroyed his eye.


feed_id: 5da83bf2a85ecf4f5e37f17c985239f7
title: Cash keeps working
uri: Cash-keeps-working
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Cash_keeps_working%29
content:
<p>
Cash is the only kind of money that keeps working when a disaster <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-defense-of-cash-why-we-should-bring-back-the-500-note-and-other-big-bills-85880">knocks
out communications</a>.


feed_id: c6536e352e519e82d50a5b6279440803
title: Grading algorithms
uri: Grading-algorithms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Grading_algorithms%29
content:
<p>
Present day algorithms for grading student essays can only look at the
form and structure — they can't understand what the essay is about
and can't distinguish valid from invalid arguments. Thus, they
will teach students to write <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-marking-essays-by-algorithm-risks-rewarding-the-writing-of-bullshit-85910">superficially plausible</a> bullshit.
<p>
That might help the ones who want to become president of the US.
<p>
Running school admissions by algorithm can very easily make <a href="https://theconversation.com/ethics-by-numbers-how-to-build-machine-learning-that-cares-85399">stupid
or unfair</a> decisions.


feed_id: ef9c5e35cdbbffc7f09caec8741fee94
title: Insect decline
uri: Insect-decline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Insect_decline%29
content:
<p>
Many insect species are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/21/insects-giant-ecosystem-collapsing-human-activity-catastrophe">declining drastically</a>, which could be a catastrophe
for ecosystems. Many other species will disappear without insects to
pollinate them or feed them.


feed_id: 6a71ca9cd52b307127ec638d1993123f
title: More vicious CIA
uri: More-vicious-CIA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28More_vicious_CIA%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/20/under-trump-brags-mike-pompeo-cia-will-be-much-more-vicious-agency">bully's CIA head</a> says he will make the CIA "a lot more vicious".
<p>
The CIA has committed great crimes in the past. How will it outdo
them now? By torturing and murdering tens of thousands of people,
perhaps?


feed_id: 605024166681466e2cdc1b9b25a34b0a
title: Suing for global heating
uri: Suing-for-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Suing_for_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
European children <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/20/because-paris-deal-not-nearly-enough-european-climate-kids-file-suit">are suing</a> 47 European countries for not doing enough
to reduce global heating.
<p>
They are wise to do so — the effects of global heating are quite likely
to kill them in a few decades.


feed_id: 169de1b974036a60c93c3ce90d1f5ef8
title: Restrainers
uri: Restrainers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Restrainers%29
content:
<p>
The "adults" that supposedly "restrain" the bully are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/20/trumps-enablers-should-be-shamed-out-public-life">not doing much</a>
to restrain him. We should not legitimize them any more than we
legitimize the bully.


feed_id: 297784f48d95f120011188d34f6d30dd
title: 'Smart' watches for children
uri: Smart-watches-for-children
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28%27Smart%27_watches_for_children%29

content:
<p>
"Smart" watches for children make it east to <a href="https://gizmodo.com/smartwatches-for-kids-are-a-total-privacy-nightmare-1819678508">spy on them</a>.
<p>
The article inexplicably considers only the possibility that unknown
third parties might crack their security and get access to the
children's personal data, while ignoring the certainty that the
manufacturer can do so and that the parents can do so.


feed_id: de45fa80d62437c6bcabc734dedbcf81
title: Body camera efficacy
uri: Body-camera-efficacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Body_camera_efficacy%29
content:
<p>
A study of 2000 thugs in Washington DC found that wearing a body camera
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/upshot/a-big-test-of-police-body-cameras-defies-expectations.html">did not reduce</a> their use of force or the number of complaints about them.
<p>
One possible effect that seems not to have been studied is whether the body
camera recording affected the resolution of complaints, which it could do
by providing evidence beyond the testimony of the citizen and the thug.


feed_id: 2b9d06ba136fcd9443953b806fee7032
title: Imprisoned protesters
uri: Imprisoned-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#23_October_2017_%28Imprisoned_protesters%29
content:
<p>
Egypt put 500 protesters on trial and sentenced most of them to life in prison.
52 of them were released <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/20/irish-egyptian-man-ibrahim-halawa-freed-released-egypt-jail">after 4 years</a> waiting in prison.


feed_id: 9139291f992b07fdaec78a575c984cb9
title: North Korean cyber-attacks
uri: North-Korean-cyber-attacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28North_Korean_cyber-attacks%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/22/north-korea-deadliest-weapon-cyber-operations-sony-pictures">
North Korea carries out cyber-attacks with impunity,
</a>
since it has very
little digital infrastructure that a counterattack could be aimed at.


feed_id: 3b3d304faccddad576d40a1eedf307d8
title: French neo-Nazis
uri: French-neo-Nazis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28French_neo-Nazis%29
content:
<p>
French neo-Nazis have been arrested for
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/22/france-charges-eight-over-plot-targeting-politicians-and-mosques">
planning attacks on
politicians and mosques.
</a>


feed_id: ae73141f5ecfb3ed57c1d92715a7c873
title: Identity extremists
uri: Identity-extremists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Identity_extremists%29
content:
<p>
Concerned about "Identity Extremists"?
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/22/identity-extremists-donald-trump">
There's One in the White House.
</a>


feed_id: fd1f7f18db3cadd5978540760f8f38d6
title: Same-sex parents
uri: Same-sex-parents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Same-sex_parents%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/23/children-raised-by-same-sex-parents-do-as-well-as-their-peers-study-shows">
Children Raised by Same-Sex Parents Do As Well As Their Peers,
</a>
Study Shows.


feed_id: 6ef9229f69b7d306ee0c2a9d9ca450ce
title: Fake news
uri: 2017-10-24-Fake-news
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Fake_news%29
content:
<p>
Studying what makes fake news spread.  Sometimes people
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/health/social-media-fake-news.html?partner=rss&emc=rss">
forward fake news
without really believing it, without even reading it.
</a>


feed_id: 6daf80c437e43786540a15962f70f39e
title: Covering the face
uri: Covering-the-face
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Covering_the_face%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.dw.com/en/austrian-burqa-ban-police-raid-toy-store-over-a-lego-ninja/a-41059204">
Austria has banned covering the face in public.
</a>
<p>
The law is unjust because it stops people from protecting themselves
from the pervasive face-recognition tracking that is now being
perfected.


feed_id: 752997d93d9d0bf3c82248cfe915f067
title: Meatpackers
uri: Meatpackers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Meatpackers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/22/trumps-usda-does-bidding-meatpackers-turns-back-farmers-ranchers">
Trumpâs USDA Does Bidding of Meatpackers,
</a>
Turns Back on Farmers & Ranchers.


feed_id: d83f4c1b146b280e56ee27bc270976a2
title: The intervention in Libya
uri: 2017-10-24-The-intervention-in-Libya
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28The_intervention_in_Libya%29
content:
<p>
A UK investigation concluded that
<a href="https://www.salon.com/2016/09/16/u-k-parliament-report-details-how-natos-2011-war-in-libya-was-based-on-lies/">
the intervention in Libya was based
on lies and distortions.
</a>


feed_id: 5f1b0d5a94ce3b21e4465144616c9248
title: Voter-ID law
uri: Voter-ID-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Voter-ID_law%29
content:
<p>
Interviews with voters and would-be voters show that
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/10/voter-suppression-wisconsin-election-2016/">
Wisconsin's
voter-ID law played a crucial role in delivering that state to the troll.
</a>
<p>
In other words, they show that the election in Wisconsin was stolen.


feed_id: edb9abd5b8c4ae023c95167e291edfe7
title: Anti-fracking protesters
uri: 2017-10-24-Anti-fracking-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Anti-fracking_protesters%29
content:
<p>
Anti-fracking protesters in the UK have started
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/22/fracking-protesters-vow-to-put-their-lives-on-line-after-scaling-rig">
climbing the drilling
tower and chaining themselves to equipment.
</a>
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/notes/2011-may-aug.html#22_August_2011_(Prosecuting_Protesters)">
The "crime" of "aggravated trespass" was created as a veiled way of
criminalizing protests.
</a>
<p>
The "danger" of lighting a flare on the site is nothing compared with
the danger of fracking the site.


feed_id: f9bed43455bb9fd7a063daf1bc6adeb5
title: Kiribati water supply
uri: Kiribati-water-supply
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Kiribati_water_supply%29
content:
<p>
It will be decades before the Kiribati Islands are flooded out, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/23/waiting-for-the-tide-to-turn-kiribatis-fight-for-survival">
but sea water is already contaminating the water supply,
</a>
making it
useless for humans and agriculture.


feed_id: d0b366b4063b753784764839dfe114fc
title: Urgent: Stop interfering with abortions
uri: Urgent-Stop-interfering-with-abortions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_interfering_with_abortions%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: tell the US to
<a href="http://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/sign/171018-undocumented-abortion-ban/?t=5&">
stop interfering when unauthorized
immigrants want to get abortions.
</a>


feed_id: da5ddcb8a2925115daa9c7c8b3918329
title: Pablo Neruda's death
uri: Pablo-Neruda-s-death
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Pablo_Neruda%27s_death%29
content:
<p>
It appears that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/oct/23/pablo-neruda-experts-say-official-cause-of-death-does-not-reflect-reality">
Pablo Neruda was murdered by Pinochet's dictatorship.
</a>
<p>
They said he died from cancer, but after exhuming his body, examiners
say that was a lie.


feed_id: 8f855f38f7e2b61f1e6a729cad634dec
title: Violent extremism
uri: Violent-extremism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Violent_extremism%29
content:
<p>
The US head general invited an Indonesian general to a conference on
dealing with violent extremism,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/23/indonesia-demands-answers-after-military-chief-refused-entry-to-us">
but at the airport he was told
he was not allowed into the US.
</a>
<p>
This sets an example of total incompetence in efforts to counter
violent extremism.


feed_id: 06d4e4af68735de1e4bee4ee22781290
title: Short-termism
uri: Short-termism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Short-termism%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/23/greedy-bosses-broken-capitalism-who-fix">
"If
greedy bosses have broken capitalism,
who will fix it?"
</a>


feed_id: e48917f4ab864bd4d8cebcf3f7e6dd07
title: Avoid the Vietnam War
uri: Avoid-the-Vietnam-War
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Avoid_the_Vietnam_War%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/23/john-mccain-donald-trump-vietnam-bone-spurs-medical-deferment">
McCain attacked the troll for avoiding the Vietnam War.
</a>
<p>
It's not at all unfair that some Americans avoided the draft and
probably becoming a heroin addict while killing Vietnamese.  What's
unfair is that some Americans couldn't avoid this.


feed_id: faf0d73c6845de06fd5bc99ae4f5a637
title: Ocean acidification
uri: 2017-10-24-Ocean-acidification
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Ocean_acidification%29
content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/23/ocean-acidification-deadly-threat-to-marine-life-finds-eight-year-study">
Ocean Acidification Is Deadly Threat to Marine Life,
</a>
Finds Eight-Year Study.
<p>
The plastic we have dumped in the sea harms the ability of sea life to cope
with the acidity.


feed_id: 855ab66afbdacc0d9e702052b08ef09b
title: Resistance exhibition
uri: Resistance-exhibition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Resistance_exhibition%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/23/pete-phoenix-direct-action-protester-activism-exhibition">
Lifelong squatter and protester Pete Phoenix
</a>
will never give up.


feed_id: 0eb7eb3e2d366073c7c9430b8c0a566c
title: Manus Island detention center
uri: Manus-Island-detention-center
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Manus_Island_detention_center%29
content:
<p>
Australia is trying to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/23/600-men-refuse-to-leave-manus-island-detention-centre-as-closure-imminent">
force the refugees it dumped into Manus Island
to move in with the native population, which hates them.
</a>
It is
creatively inventing legalistic excuses for this, which have no moral
validity.
<p>
It is no wonder that few of the refugees want to go to Nauru, a dictatorship
that excludes the press.


feed_id: de23e1d177d8ad95bc97bdd5e133c08e
title: Sexual harassment
uri: 2017-10-24-Sexual-harassment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Sexual_harassment%29
content:
<p>
The victims of the bully's sexual pressuring and harassment hope to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/23/donald-trump-sexual-harassment-accusers-harvey-weinstein">
create
the sort of avalanche that pushed Weinstein out of his job.
</a>
<p>
I don't think it is likely to happen, because the situations are different.
Weinstein couldn't continue his work when lots of people began to condemn him.
The bully, however, is already continuing his sabotage while hated by most
Americans.


feed_id: bf5b87ffbd40e02cc2be4e0bfb3391cd
title: Dogs are manipulative
uri: Dogs-are-manipulative
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Dogs_are_manipulative%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/23/truth-manipulative-dog-expressions-for-humans">
Finally, the Truth about Just How Manipulative Your Dog Really Is.
</a>
<p>
Not my dog -- I don't have one.  Perhaps because I'm not such an easy mark.


feed_id: f56e3719cb92c36bed4aa5d3e57d9c6d
title: Anxious American mothers
uri: Anxious-American-mothers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Anxious_American_mothers%29
content:
<p>
Irrationally anxious American mothers think that
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/10/23/ye-olde-ikea-sex-traffickers">
every stranger that comes
near them and their children is a kidnapper,
</a>
and they convince other mothers
to join in the panic and suspicion.


feed_id: 6f7640f6a1d9b8e6895a47a1fc237770
title: Honeybees' future
uri: Honeybees-future
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Honeybees%27_future%29
content:
<p>
"Steady Decline" in Honey Crop Raises
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/23/steady-decline-honey-crop-raises-concern-honeybees-future">
Concern for Honeybees' Future.
</a>


feed_id: 4fb84412688453e670d1607c9ec34ea2
title: Cub scout expelled
uri: Cub-scout-expelled
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Cub_scout_expelled%29
content:
<p>
Cub scout Ames Mayfield
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/22/cub-scout-kicked-out-of-group-colorado-republican-vicki-marble">
asked probing political questions of a
visiting Republican elected official,
</a>
and was punished by expulsion
from his troop.


feed_id: 9ebd2d8af9b95b9336c0582346f90d11
title: Prisoners fighting wild fires
uri: Prisoners-fighting-wild-fires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Prisoners_fighting_wild_fires%29
content:
<p>
US prisoners work for a pittance, even in dangerous jobs such as
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/21/its-time-stop-using-inmates-free-labor">
fighting wild fires.
</a>
<p>
This is unfair to everyone, since prison labor pushes down wages for
free workers.


feed_id: cc7ac547c3a560360a88a06818971fd2
title: Bank transfers
uri: Bank-transfers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Bank_transfers%29
content:
<p>
It's easy to lose any amount of money to fraud
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/oct/21/couple-lose-120000-email-hacking-fraud-legal-sector">
if you send it through
the insecure system of bank transfers.
</a>
<p>
I draw a different lesson: don't use bank transfers except for
repeating small payments.  (Once it works the first time, you'll know
you have the right destination.)  Otherwise, mail a check instead; it
is safer.


feed_id: 68c90df8d95b780a6a02789f7066ac70
title: Direct control over Catalonia
uri: Direct-control-over-Catalonia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Direct_control_over_Catalonia%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/21/catalonai-crisis-spain-rajoy-direct-rule">
Rajoy says he will take
direct control over government in Catalonia.
</a>
  This will really make people there hate him.
<p>
People that support democracy and equality hate him already -- for his
laws that criminalize protests, criminalize posting photos of thugs
committing violence against protesters, criminalize occupying abandoned
buildings, and drive people into penury.


feed_id: 51f7dc9316f10396845e6af6f165baaf
title: Maltese reporter murdered
uri: Maltese-reporter-murdered
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Maltese_reporter_murdered%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/daphne-caruana-galizia-killers-must-be-brought-to-justice">
Maltese reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered,
</a>
apparently by
the mafias that she reported on.


feed_id: 37acd6f215ba6716398346a941543f20
title: Nationalized banks
uri: Nationalized-banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Nationalized_banks%29
content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/19/british-banks-trusted-nationalise-city-profits-communities">
The UK should nationalize the banks.
</a>
<p>
This should have been done when they needed a bailout, but it isn't too late.


feed_id: d600a0fa764cfcfa867a7e05218b22b8
title: No contracts to boycotters
uri: No-contracts-to-boycotters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28No_contracts_to_boycotters%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/19/to-get-hurricane-rebuilding-money-in-texas-contractors-must-promise-they-wont-boycott-israel/">
Texas has a law refusing to make any state contract with a business
that boycotts Israel,
</a>
or even boycotts products made in Israel's
colonies in the West Bank.  The ACLU is seeking people who want to sue
to overturn this as unconstitutional.


feed_id: e8df349a2ca93bb4f84dbc13dcc68a09
title: Vulture capitalists
uri: 2017-10-24-Vulture-capitalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Vulture_capitalists%29
content:
<p>
The major vulture capitalist funds have organized into united lobbies
so that
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/18/despite-puerto-rico-disaster-vulture-firms-relentlessly-seeking-billions-debt">
the US government will
starve Puerto Rico for decades to pay
them off.
</a>
<p>
I suppose that this will end when global heating and other global
disasters make it impossible to collect anything from the people
remaining in Puerto Rico.


feed_id: dc7b6dc342b5011ec30334f5c80d9d63
title: Racist thug promoted
uri: Racist-thug-promoted
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Racist_thug_promoted%29
content:
<p>
Why was Miami's notorious racist thug
<a href="http://theweek.com/speedreads/731689/miamis-most-notorious-cop-named-police-captain">
promoted to captain?
</a>


feed_id: 6e69f47fb708bf22699b3deb2760caa7
title: Fanatical mass movements
uri: Fanatical-mass-movements
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Fanatical_mass_movements%29
content:
<p>
An study of
<a href="https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET2/more/Messerly20171019">
what fanatical mass movements
have in common.
</a>
<p>
The article says only "mass movements", but there are mass movements
which are not fanatical and don't share these characteristics.  For
instance, the 1970s peace movement and the civil rights movement.


feed_id: 887f8596269960a9710b9a28eef7cda7
title: Drone assassinations
uri: 2017-10-24-Drone-assassinations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Drone_assassinations%29
content:
<p>
Obama laid the foundation for
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/18/trump-plans-make-it-easier-kill-civilians-drones-sadly-we-can-thank-obama">
the secret policy of drone assassinations
</a>
which the bully is now stretching.


feed_id: 74a7bad26700ac956850daa3b10aae78
title: Wireless carriers
uri: Wireless-carriers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Wireless_carriers%29
content:
<p>
Wireless Carriers Again Busted
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20171017/11071138421/wireless-carriers-again-busted-collecting-selling-user-data-without-consent-opt-out-tools.shtml">
Collecting, Selling User Data
</a>
Without 
Consent Or Opt Out Tools.
<p>
I don't think we should accept "consent" as an excuse for massive
surveillance.  It is easy to pressure nearly all users into giving
"consent".
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">
We must insist that systems be designed not to surveil.
</a>


feed_id: c3c67818ef71415fff558ccfa844a4e1
title: Face recognition system
uri: Face-recognition-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Face_recognition_system%29
content:
<p>
China says it is developing a face recognition system
with which it will be able to
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20171017/07423938416/details-emerge-worlds-biggest-facial-recognition-surveillance-system-aiming-to-identify-any-chinese-citizen-three-seconds.shtml">
recognize everyone on the street.
</a>
<p>
"Free" countries are moving towards the same thing, and it would
be just as repressive here.
<p>
We need to organize to oppose massive surveillance,
which is more dangerous than terrorists.


feed_id: f5cdfc1d098067ef1e2f9aef0eb685a3
title: Subsidies for Amazon
uri: Subsidies-for-Amazon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Subsidies_for_Amazon%29
content:
<p>
Amazon makes a practice of gaining public subsidies for itself to the
detriment of local competitors.  Now it is making suckers out of city
governments by inviting them to
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/qv34dp/amazons-headquarters-tax-subsidies">
compete to offer the biggest subsidy
for its new headquarters.
</a>
<p>
This demonstrates in the most explicit possible fashion what I've said
for years: when cities compete to offer subsidies to business,
business wins and cities lose.
<p>
We should not allow cities or states to compete with offers of subsidies.


feed_id: 198edcd4dc52294c94ea25fdbac3a4a3
title: Universal credit
uri: Universal-credit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Universal_credit%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2017/oct/19/universal-credit-is-designed-to-blame-the-poor-for-their-poverty">
The Tories'
stingy new welfare system
</a>
forces poor people to choose at the
end of the month -- food or rent?
<p>
Whichever one they choose, Tories have an opportunity to lecture them
for failing to do the impossible, in effect blaming them for the poverty
that the system imposes on them.
<p>
It's not wrong to steal food if you are hungry, or your children are
hungry.  Not wrong in the slightest.  But it is a shame to punch the
garage wall in anger.  The garage isn't responsible for the injustice.
Punching a Tory official would be more to the point.


feed_id: 4a11f0964b783d6b591fad9a0c12b766
title: False confessions
uri: 2017-10-24-False-confessions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28False_confessions%29
content:
<p>
The UN Human Rights Council rebuked China for
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/20/un-china-report-release-human-rights-activists-pay-compensation">
torturing human rights
activists into false confessions.
</a>
<p>
The Chinese state will not heed this rebuke, but it may do something
to weaken Chinese influence.


feed_id: 82971337943802da108110b18e8b0ce0
title: Russia uses Interpol
uri: Russia-uses-Interpol
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Russia_uses_Interpol%29
content:
<p>
Russia uses Interpol against foreign political opponents
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/21/russia-british-businessman-bill-browder-interpol">
by labeling
them as criminals.
</a>


feed_id: 722943b25cd4611281540ea4b43f85ca
title: TPP
uri: 2017-10-24-TPP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28TPP%29
content:
<p>
The new government of New Zealand plans to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/22/jacinda-ardern-threatens-to-strip-australians-of-new-zealand-study-rights">
go on with negotiations for
the TPP,
</a>
demanding only a narrow concession on one specific issue.
<p>
The article says nothing about the nastiest part of the TPP, the ISDR
("I Sue Democratic Republics") clause that allows businesses to sue
countries over policies that hamper their dreams of profit, then it is
not serving its country.  I fear the absence of mention means
that the new government intends to accept ISDR.
<p>
It might be possible for a public campaign in New Zealand to change
this decision.  I hope people there will launch such a campaign.


feed_id: 990388c99af8db69b1bd32ccba0e93ff
title: Legalizing marijuana
uri: Legalizing-marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Legalizing_marijuana%29
content:
<p>
With ever more states legalizing marijuana,
<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/I1Las8SEY0M/legal-marijuana-is-becoming-the-norm">
the US government should bow to
good sense and legalize it too.
</a>


feed_id: 0ea004cd71eb25d1da7c0fbcc8fda3ea
title: Targeted ads
uri: Targeted-ads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Targeted_ads%29
content:
<p>
Comparing
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/22/cambridge-university-trigger-warnings-piccadilly-circus-targeted-advertising-david-mitchell">
targeted, "personalized" ads
</a>
with the behavior of a
high-functioning sociopath.
<p>
Perhaps there should be a law requiring all targeted advertising
platforms and/or all their customers to publish every ad that they've
run, along with the precise details of how it was targeted, so
that people can see what other faces the organization is showing.
<p>
The article may be mistaken about trigger warnings.  I've read that
one of their purposes is to help people prepare for a disturbing
experience.  So don't assume that the Oxford students who see a
trigger warning about Titus Andronicus in their literature class will
avoid studying that play.  It may instead help them to think about the
play more calmly.
[Fix the URL please]


feed_id: c66f71e8adbaa42bd7395b2237a82079
title: Elderly prisoners
uri: Elderly-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Elderly_prisoners%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/10/22/when-prisons-become-nursing-ho">
10,000 prisoners in federal prisons are over 60 years old.
</a>
Their medical care is often inadequate.  They are not going to return to crime,
so why not release them?


feed_id: 6b28002820ca4e28942cd150fe8a9318
title: Gifts to witnesses
uri: Gifts-to-witnesses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Gifts_to_witnesses%29
content:
<p>
The troll said he would
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/22/trump-pay-legal-bills-white-house-staff-aides-russia">
pay the legal fees of his associates and aides
</a>
that are being investigated by Mueller.
<p>
Such gifts to witnesses from the person under investigation may be
criminal.


feed_id: 76a47a37b22238516e190ccb28b5af03
title: Big Pharma's coup
uri: Big-Pharma-s-coup
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Big_Pharma%27s_coup%29
content:
<p>
If Alex Azar Is Confirmed as HHS Secretary,
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/18/if-alex-azar-confirmed-hhs-secretary-big-pharmas-coup-health-care-sphere-will-be">
Big Pharmaâs Coup of Health Care
Sphere Will Be Virtually Complete.
</a>


feed_id: 3d2356c251fa072a521c099c0a475a97
title: Justifying war
uri: Justifying-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Justifying_war%29
content:
<p>
The fact that a US soldier is killed in battle
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/10/22/dying-for-the-empire-is-not-heroic">
doesn't make the war
justified,
</a>
or a wise policy.


feed_id: c95caa2ca67c1fac13378d2d6c62cea7
title: Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance
uri: Manhattan-DA-Cyrus-Vance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Manhattan_DA_Cyrus_Vance%29
content:
<p>
A socialist is running a write-in campaign against Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance
because
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/22/manhattan-district-attorney-race-cyrus-vance-marc-fliedner">
he let Weinstein and the troll's kids off without prosecution
</a>
after getting lots of campaign contributions from them.


feed_id: 5266379158d0e0a4d80b003b109ef4d8
title: Russia arming the Taliban
uri: Russia-arming-the-Taliban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Russia_arming_the_Taliban%29
content:
<p>
Some Afghan officers say
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/22/russia-supplying-taliban-afghanistan">
Russia is arming the Taliban.
</a>
<p>
I would not put it past either of them.
But I don't see that it changes the situation.


feed_id: 27513e21243beabbffa00fbefab339fc
title: Gui Minhai
uri: Gui-Minhai
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Gui_Minhai%29
content:
<p>
China told a Swedish official that it released Gui Minhai from prison
a week ago, but his daughter <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/24/fears-for-safety-of-swedish-bookseller-released-from-chinese-prison">has not heard</a> from him.
<p>
China sent a commando team to kidnap him from Thailand. The US has
also sent commando teams to kidnap people, but at least those were
people accused (perhaps rightly) of organizing mass murder, not
people accused of being book publishers.


feed_id: 6eb86997ca635484dfa7f87eb67b50c7
title: Gerrymandering
uri: 2017-10-25-Gerrymandering
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Gerrymandering%29
content:
<p>
A mathematical way of <a href="https://theconversation.com/rebooting-the-mathematics-behind-gerrymandering-73096">identifying</a> partisan gerrymanders.


feed_id: 8e6b282c92c4522da6b804b60f540a6d
title: Vietnam War protesters
uri: Vietnam-War-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Vietnam_War_protesters%29
content:
<p>
The Vietnam War protesters rescued the US, not to mention Vietnam,
from an endless war that no one else would have dared to stop. We
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/22/vietnam-war-protesters-heroes-or-traitors">need more of them</a> now.


feed_id: 9e6fe7904704ed623857d4c9baaa95bc
title: New Paris climate member
uri: New-Paris-climate-member
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28New_Paris_climate_member%29
content:
<p>
Nicaragua has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/23/nicaragua-joins-paris-climate-accord-us-trump-syria">decided to join</a> the Paris climate agreement
despite criticizing it for being insufficient.


feed_id: eefed23e6965e3b4226132a8fc32f66a
title: Great Barrier Reef tourism
uri: 2017-10-25-Great-Barrier-Reef-tourism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Great_Barrier_Reef_tourism%29
content:
<p>
A predatory coal mining company, whose operations endanger the Great
Barrier Reef both locally and globally, is trying to greenwash itself
by sponsoring an award for companies that draw tourists to the Great
Barrier Reef. But these companies are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/24/queensland-tourism-award-winner-rejects-adani-sponsored-prize">rejecting</a> the award.


feed_id: 9ddf0014dacab4d6d474035290cd1bf2
title: Chinese dissident in US
uri: Chinese-dissident-in-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Chinese_dissident_in_US%29
content:
<p>
The troll is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/23/trumps-call-for-chinese-dissident-to-be-deported-based-on-beijing-letter-report">talking about deporting</a> a rich and very visible Chinese
dissident seeking asylum, because of fraud accusations against him.
<p>
It's not impossible for an asylum-seeker to be a criminal, and it is
not implausible that a billionaire got that wealth via fraud. But we
can't trust accusations against Chinese dissidents that come from
China. China has used <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-nov-feb.html#27%20December%202009%20(Liu%20Xiaobo%20sentenced%20to%2011%20years%20in%20jail)">many</a> dirty <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#21_March_2016_(Disappeared_HK_booksellers%2Fpublishers)">tricks</a> against dissidents,
even against people
that merely <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-mar-jun.html#13_May_2017_(The_Panchen_Lama)">get in its way</a>,
so we must expect anything that attacks a Chinese dissident to be a
dirty trick.
<p>
One possible solution would be to give him asylum, then let China
petition to extradite him. To succeed, China would have to satisfy a
US court that there are grounds to do so.


feed_id: 5f9fc35d7c4a91df47d055cfa9ee57a4
title: Israeli President
uri: Israeli-President
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Israeli_President%29
content:
<p>
Israeli President Accuses Netanyahu And Allies of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/23/israel-president-accuses-netanyahu-and-allies-of-democracy-revolution">Endangering Democracy</a>.


feed_id: bef044a98d290cf426b3c216546ae8bb
title: Gagged scientists
uri: Gagged-scientists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Gagged_scientists%29
content:
<p>
The EPA gagged <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/23/epa-kept-scientists-from-speaking-about-climate-change-at-rhode-island-event">three scientists</a> from speaking at a scientific conference
about observed developments in Narragansett Bay.


feed_id: 582d1862e0f1334e2961184bbf8bf575
title: Americans agree
uri: Americans-agree
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Americans_agree%29
content:
<p>
Americans agree on many <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2017/10/23/americans-agree-more-than-they-realize">political issues</a>.
<p>
It's mainly elected officials that disagree with them.


feed_id: b62ecfaf643b4b71c54fb00733f38274
title: Northern Ireland abortions
uri: Northern-Ireland-abortions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#25_October_2017_%28Northern_Ireland_abortions%29
content:
<p>
Women that live in Northern Ireland <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/23/northern-irish-women-offered-free-abortion-services-in-england">won't be charged</a> for abortions
that they travel to England to get.
<p>
It's a step forward, but abortion must be legalized everywhere.


feed_id: 3ef4b421f829354c5b79de23782310d3
title: Sexual harassment
uri: 2017-10-25-Sexual-harassment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Sexual_harassment%29
content:
<p>
The victims of the bully's sexual pressuring and harassment hope to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/23/donald-trump-sexual-harassment-accusers-harvey-weinstein">
create
the sort of avalanche that pushed Weinstein out of his job.
</a>
<p>
I don't think it is likely to happen, because the situations are different.
Weinstein couldn't continue his work when lots of people began to condemn him.
<a href="/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>, however, is already continuing his sabotage while hated by most
Americans.


feed_id: a473a854b33283d8d2fd2780016caf43
title: Gifts to witnesses
uri: 2017-10-25-Gifts-to-witnesses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Gifts_to_witnesses%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> said he would
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/22/trump-pay-legal-bills-white-house-staff-aides-russia">
pay the legal fees of his associates and aides
</a>
that are being investigated by Mueller.
<p>
Such gifts to witnesses from the person under investigation may be
criminal.


feed_id: 18c004904b999ad53d04766692967c61
title: Housing aid
uri: Housing-aid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Housing_aid%29
content:
<p>
The Tories have been shamed into cancelling some <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/25/theresa-may-performs-major-u-turn-plans-cap-housing-benefit">planned cuts in
housing aid to the poor</a>.


feed_id: 8ba0d91c32b917968e112d2ba8e0c073
title: Rebuking the troll
uri: Rebuking-the-troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Rebuking_the_troll%29
content:
<p>
Before you admire Senator Flake for rebuking the troll, <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/25/jeff-flake-no-hero-resistance-republican-party">look at what Flake stands for</a>.
<p>
He is a right-wing extremist who voted as the troll wished in nearly every vote.


feed_id: c5096747754780721b8dc59ea8c8a516
title: Abortion law
uri: Abortion-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Abortion_law%29
content:
<p>
The UK should abolish its law about abortion and treat it like
any <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/abortion-act-law-50-years-terminations-criminal-stigmatised">other medical procedure</a>.


feed_id: 0799248d336ee908bbdae54280c3e8ae
title: Salafi Arabia's war
uri: Salafi-Arabia-s-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Salafi_Arabia%27s_war%29
content:
<p>
A Tory minister rebuked criticism of Salafi Arabia's war in Yemen,
saying it is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/michael-fallon-urges-mps-prioritise-arms-sales-human-rights">“not helpful” for selling more arms there</a>.


feed_id: 5e1ed88c345da64d098aea3d9b80cab4
title: Beaten up for polluting
uri: Beaten-up-for-polluting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Beaten_up_for_polluting%29
content:
<p>
Upper-caste Hindus beat up a Dalit woman for <a href=" https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/beaten-up-for-polluting-garbage-bin-dalit-dies/articleshow/61191230.cms?">touching and “polluting”
a garbage bin</a>.
<p>
She died from the beating.


feed_id: ade723a9590e1091fdc140aab0599fa3
title: SESTA bill
uri: SESTA-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28SESTA_bill%29
content:
<p>
The SESTA bill to punish online service operators if users post
prostitution ads on their sites <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170919/07115338236/is-there-single-online-service-not-put-risk-sesta.shtml">threatens every known online service
and wiki</a> that isn't strictly moderated.


feed_id: 41a97c4c4c5528a96ddac48669dd2330
title: Privatized public schools
uri: Privatized-public-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Privatized_public_schools%29
content:
<p>
Privatized public schools in England demand that the school principals <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/oct/24/sacked-school-headteacher-alevel-results">cheat
in order to compete for ratings</a>.
<p>
Those who won't, are fired, and then ordered to keep it secret or get harassed.


feed_id: bb1c0b4c13ed8b21a0625238cb0c9c8c
title: Rebuilt trucks
uri: Rebuilt-trucks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Rebuilt_trucks%29
content:
<p>
The bully's saboteurs are thinking of allowing <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/24/proposal-would-re-open-pollution-loophole-big-enough-drive-truck-through">rebuilt trucks to
pollute heavily</a>.


feed_id: 1015cb8b0cae6c476dfbb82bc53918fd
title: Wisconsin prosecutors
uri: Wisconsin-prosecutors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Wisconsin_prosecutors%29
content:
<p>
Evidence of racist bias on the part of <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2017/10/new_research_finds_that_prosecutors_give_white_defendants_better_deals_than.html">Wisconsin prosecutors in offering plea bargains</a>.


feed_id: e4beb2a6cf7b288755a06a6567c1dd7e
title: Amnesty International
uri: 2017-10-26-Amnesty-International
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Amnesty_International%29
content:
<p>
The head of Amnesty International in Turkey stands <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/amnesty-turkish-chair-taner-kilic-on-trial-over-failed-coup">accused of terrorism
based on a handful of innocent facts</a>.
<p>
He is also accused, with several others, of plotting a rebellion, for
a meeting where an expert taught the use of encryption.
<p>
This shows how digital surveillance puts everyone in danger
when a government turns rabid.


feed_id: 5c7bc4a3aa73e605cd65a7caf8a237ed
title: Pollution by frackwells
uri: Pollution-by-frackwells
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Pollution_by_frackwells%29
content:
<p>
Various kinds of pollution released locally by frackwells can cause
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/25/pollutants-from-fracking-could-pose-health-risk-to-children-warn-researchers">development damage to children</a>.


feed_id: 70026d805bc1f44623e70499c5f78aa3
title: Atheist chaplain
uri: Atheist-chaplain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Atheist_chaplain%29
content:
<p>
An Atheist chaplain <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/25/jane-flint-atheist-chaplain-patient-choice-nhs">is not a contradiction</a>. 
<p>
Like religious chaplains, they listen to people's woes and help them cope.


feed_id: fadab7dbe4dfc22e1a0d551da70f1c6c
title: Halloween advice
uri: Halloween-advice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Halloween_advice%29
content:
<p>
How to make Halloween spread <a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/halloween-advice-for-the-obsessive-compulsive/">real fear among parents and children</a>.


feed_id: 3e40d1652bcc3b443995b838f6ee946e
title: Unpaid internships
uri: Unpaid-internships
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Unpaid_internships%29
content:
<p>
A UK journalist from a poor family could afford to do <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/25/sold-sex-fund-unpaid-internships-poor-kids-battling-class-gap">unpaid internships
only by doing sex work</a>.
<p>
It's clear that she was not exploited or mistreated in her sex work.
<p>
The only wrong that happened to her was that she couldn't find another
way to get into a career alongside people from privileged backgrounds.


feed_id: 750174e0c0f390cd652dc74c5b2d8629
title: Reduce greenhouse emissions
uri: Reduce-greenhouse-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Reduce_greenhouse_emissions%29
content:
<p>
Most large companies have plans to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/25/big-companies-climate-change-targets-are-unambitious-say-analysts">reduce greenhouse gas emissions</a>,
but most of them are too weak to be much good in avoiding disaster.


feed_id: 67327e818d4e9fdd0a3902cef2517a0f
title: Moth caterpillars
uri: Moth-caterpillars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Moth_caterpillars%29
content:
<p>
Moth caterpillars are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/25/invasion-of-maize-eating-caterpillars-worsens-hunger-crisis-in-africa-fall-armyworm">eating up most of the crops in large parts of Africa</a>.
<p>
The short-term solution is insecticides, but the long-term solution
has to be reducing the human population through less reproduction.


feed_id: 5dbde7ae3762522fdb4d7f6975451075
title: Greenhouse emissions
uri: Greenhouse-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Greenhouse_emissions%29
content:
<p>
A study estimates that the greenhouse emissions of making and using an
<a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/25/electric-cars-emit-50-less-greenhouse-gas-than-diesel-study-finds">electric car are 1/4 less than a fossil fuel car</a>, even if the
electricity is made from coal.


feed_id: 08194667a1136d2063adfbd51ac649f0
title: Bully's ties with Russia
uri: Bully-s-ties-with-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Bully%27s_ties_with_Russia%29
content:
<p>
Steele's report about the bully's ties with Russia <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/25/hillary-clintons-campaign-and-dnc-helped-fund-trump-russia-inquiry">was funded indirectly
by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party</a>.
<p>
I don't see anything scandalous about this; it is normal for campaigns
to investigate possible scandals of their opponents.
<p>
The real issue about Steele's report is that various points can't be directly
corroborated.
<p>
They may be true, but the report does not prove them.
<p>
That was explicitly clear in the report itself.


feed_id: a2ae29ae0352eb3006d198087c4402c3
title: Afghan refugees
uri: Afghan-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Afghan_refugees%29
content:
<p>
Afghan refugees in Iran face bigotry, to the point that children often
are not allowed to go to school.
<p>
Many of them have been <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/25/syria-iran-afghan-refugees/">forced to go to Syria to fight for Assad</a>.


feed_id: 77c5f16e2dbe66f9b0807ff1a2a913e3
title: Charging 200 protesters
uri: Charging-200-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Charging_200_protesters%29
content:
<p>
The US is charging 200 protesters with <a href=" https://theintercept.com/2017/10/25/trump-inauguration-protest-j20-trial/">“conspiracy” for a protest</a> in
which someone broke a few windows.
<p>
They could all be imprisoned for the rest of their lives for this.
<p>
This sort of repression was seen in the US after the Chicago Haymarket protest. 
<p>
Protest leaders were convicted and executed for a bomb set off by persons unknown.


feed_id: c1b8fff8f637745ff3a3595a3ee57f42
title: Salafi Arabia's war
uri: 2017-10-26-Salafi-Arabia-s-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Salafi_Arabia%27s_war%29
content:
<p>
A Tory minister rebuked criticism of <a href="/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>'s war in Yemen,
saying it is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/michael-fallon-urges-mps-prioritise-arms-sales-human-rights">“not helpful” for selling more arms there</a>.


feed_id: e1e24958944f9641358d16033ab0a9aa
title: Global heating denialist
uri: Global-heating-denialist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Global_heating_denialist%29
content:
<p>
The BBC <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/24/bbc-apologises-over-interview-climate-sceptic-lord-nigel-lawson">has apologized</a> for giving a global heating denialist the opportunity
to spread lies without any criticism.


feed_id: 530c0072b1c0a763c5858e46704d6566
title: Facebook political ads
uri: 2017-10-26-Facebook-political-ads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Facebook_political_ads%29
content:
<p>
"The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/25/how-malcolm-turnbull-getup-and-adani-are-using-facebook-ads-to-push-their-agenda">nature of Facebook ads</a> makes it difficult to see when political ads
go out, which groups are campaigning for which cause and fact-check
what theyâre saying."
<p>
This suggests approaches for regulation. We should regulate the way
ads work, not solely political ads and not solely on Facebook, so that
those who advertise are effectively held responsible for what they say.


feed_id: edd3175f61af1d4c41298ab609041c8e
title: E-cigarettes
uri: 2017-10-26-E-cigarettes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28E-cigarettes%29
content:
<p>
Some see e-cigarettes as a beneficial technology that helps people
quit smoking. Others <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/24/e-cigarette-bans-highlight-public-health-divide-between-us-and-uk-researchers">are concerned</a> that exposure to the vapor could
lead ex-smokers start again, or could harm babies and fetuses.
<p>
We don't have scientific measurements of any of these effects.
However, is there a reason to think that nicotine, specifically, is
what makes second-hand smoke harmful? If it is the other substances
in second-hand tobacco smoke that cause harm, and if those are not
present in e-cigarette vapor, then there is no reason to expect that
to cause harm to bystanders.


feed_id: 39f4fe48245063030502d609c0c3ac85
title: Islam in Salafi Arabia
uri: Islam-in-Salafi-Arabia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Islam_in_Salafi_Arabia%29
content:
<p>
The crown prince (and effective ruler) of <a href="/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> says he will
return that country towards the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/24/i-will-return-saudi-arabia-moderate-islam-crown-prince">"moderate" Islam</a> that it practiced
before 1980.
<p>
From what I've read, it had a rather strict form of Islam even then.
However, this change has to be a step forward, even if it doesn't reach the
level of respecting religious freedom.


feed_id: f6a712e2c788a9e338c7004957287073
title: Face covering in Quebec
uri: Face-covering-in-Quebec
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Face_covering_in_Quebec%29
content:
<p>
Quebec says that its law against covering the face in public transit
and in certain interactions with government agencies applies only when
a person <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/24/quebec-softens-face-cover-ban-muslim-women-niqab-burqa">needs to identify</a> perself. If you don't show a discount card
for the bus fare, you don't have to show your face.
<p>
I think this makes it tolerable.


feed_id: f26883db2d35405f7adb6a687cba643f
title: Minimum wage poverty
uri: 2017-10-26-Minimum-wage-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Minimum_wage_poverty%29
content:
<p>
20% of US minimum-wage workers <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/23/minimum-wage-too-low-keep-working-families-out-poverty-new-report-finds">live in poverty</a>. The minimum wage has
got to rise.


feed_id: 8a98c5a72052f2d8f6e0b3f1b318f3d4
title: Accidental nuclear war
uri: Accidental-nuclear-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Accidental_nuclear_war%29
content:
<p>
The troll is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/23/trump-hysterics-continue-us-moves-put-nuclear-b-52s-24-hour-alert">increasing the risk</a> of accidental nuclear war
by putting B-52s on constant alert with nuclear bombs.


feed_id: 9acf0ce9d3e2d368f0ccd7de004e230d
title: Character award for Dubya
uri: Character-award-for-Dubya
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Character_award_for_Dubya%29
content:
<p>
The army academy at West Point just gave Dubya <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/23/duty-honor-and-atrocity-george-w-bush-receives-character-award-west-point">an award</a> for
demonstrating superior character. By doing this it teaches cadets
the exact opposite of what they are supposed to learn.


feed_id: 7a4d5215377b65ece6444e65bd86de7d
title: US military spending
uri: 2017-10-26-US-military-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28US_military_spending%29
content:
<p>
Most Senate Democrats <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/23/democrats-should-oppose-trumps-military-spending-buildup">failed to oppose</a> the troll's pointless extra
military spending.


feed_id: b0ba45a6e9b5490febe8b3876c0a9d89
title: Tax cut lies
uri: Tax-cut-lies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Tax_cut_lies%29
content:
<p>
Rich Republicans are spending millions <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/24/spending-millions-get-their-billions-gop-mega-donors-plot-pass-trumptaxscam">spreading lies</a> to get their tax
cut of billions.


feed_id: 25dbb2019e1d637e97481ffcb0fc8f3e
title: Urgent: Oppose tax cut for the rich
uri: Urgent-Oppose-tax-cut-for-the-rich
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_tax_cut_for_the_rich%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone Senate Democrats to
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/call/Stop_corporate_taxes_calls">oppose
the Republican tax cut for the rich</a>.
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641
and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: b005dffc195a76bd299c749b01b89af9
title: Urgent: Block SCROTUS provisions
uri: Urgent-Block-SCROTUS-provisions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Block_SCROTUS_provisions%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/democrats_end_of_year">Call
on the Democrats</a> to block SCROTUS from putting nasty provisions
into must-pass bills.


feed_id: 7391cf2158c3e9830a063a76d2db57eb
title: Weinstein's NDA
uri: Weinstein-s-NDA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Weinsteins_NDA%29
content:
<p>
One of Weinstein's victims was pressured to sign a nondisclosure
agreement; now she has publicly broken it to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/24/harvey-weinstein-zelda-perkins-ex-assistant-breaks-nda-to-speak-of-alleged-sexual-harassment">demonstrate
how harmful they are</a>.
<p>
I don't think nondisclosure agreements should be allowed for serious
mistreatment including sexual harassment.


feed_id: 3862beb054b794771c6d8fbf65701437
title: Exploitation of tomato pickers in Italy
uri: Exploitation-of-tomato-pickers-in-Italy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Exploitation_of_tomato_pickers_in_Italy%29

content:
<p>
Tomato pickers in Italy are exploited terribly, and sometimes
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/24/the-terrible-truth-about-your-tin-of-italian-tomatoes">fatally</a>.


feed_id: 0651554b706141cf71b59aae4231e957
title: Thailand
uri: 2017-10-26-Thailand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Thailand%29
content:
<p>
In Thailand, it's not just criticizing the current king that might
lead the generals to put you in prison.  Simply
<a href="https://globalvoices.org/2017/10/23/thai-historian-could-face-15-years-in-prison-for-insulting-a-16th-century-king/">doubting
stories told about a king that lived 400 years ago</a> is enough to
send them on a rampage.


feed_id: 44c72707ed736f3d7559d5822321aa1a
title: Banks
uri: Banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Banks%29
content:
<p>
"Anyone with a brain, not to mention a conscience, should
<a href='https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/23/divest-globe-mobilizations-reach-europe'>put
[per] money in a bank that actually thinks the planet has a
future</a>, instead of one that scrambles for the shortest of short
term gains at any cost."


feed_id: 3f589884b75b1451c6977434462de714
title: Overfishing
uri: 2017-10-26-Overfishing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Overfishing%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> have a bill to
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/23/200-scientists-urge-congress-protect-key-us-fisheries-law">eliminate
regulations that limit overfishing</a>; this will destroy fish stocks.
Scientists have stated their objections to this.


feed_id: 0084ce8b6d8ffc4f8ba1e0ec3450f646
title: Chasing away homeless people
uri: Chasing-away-homeless-people
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Chasing_away_homeless_people%29
content:
<p>
Local governments encounter obstacles in chasing away unsightly
homeless people.  "If theyâre only a bit mean, it wonât work when
people are desperate, but if theyâre very mean, it
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/23/hotel-guests-who-complain-about-rough-sleepers-spoiling-their-view-can-sod-off'>upsets
most of us</a>."


feed_id: 1ad5ec0cf2f6c500bdac2647a238fb64
title: Either democracy or oligarchy
uri: Either-democracy-or-oligarchy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Either_democracy_or_oligarchy%29
content:
<p>
"When it comes to getting big money out of politics and ending crony
capitalism, thereâs no right or left, and certainly no middle. Thereâs
just
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/23/how-end-crony-capitalism">democracy
or oligarchy</a>."


feed_id: 4779379c92b1a35d3cd9ad38472cb22d
title: Google "smart" urban systems
uri: Google-smart-urban-systems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Google_smart_urban_systems%29
content:
<p>
Google will rebuild a neighborhood in Toronto as a
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/24/google-alphabet-sidewalk-labs-toronto">lab
for "smart" urban systems</a>.
<p>
The danger is that "smart" means "under Google's surveillance and
control", as it so often does.


feed_id: f8dd06645700c0367f01f745b71b9b71
title: Memorials to rebellions in the US
uri: Memorials-to-rebellions-in-the-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Memorials_to_rebellions_in_the_US%29

content:
<p>
There are many memorials to the rebellion of white slave-holders, but
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/24/stono-rebellion-slave-uprising-commemoration-monuments-confederate">very
few for the more noble rebellions of black slaves</a> in the US.


feed_id: 62e8c2dc786b424eeff9ecf47b99de28
title: UK attracting dirty money
uri: UK-attracting-dirty-money
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28UK_attracting_dirty_money%29
content:
<p>
If the UK reacts to leaving the EU by
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/24/britain-cant-prosper-tax-haven-hollow-threats-brexiteers-offshore-eu">attracting
dirty money</a>, it will become a swamp and will fall under the power
of corruption.


feed_id: f658da2a003b06ae351c257509bba09d
title: Soil fertility in the UK
uri: Soil-fertility-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Soil_fertility_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
UK Is 30-40 Years Away from
"<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/24/uk-30-40-years-away-eradication-soil-fertility-warns-michael-gove'>Eradication
of Soil Fertility</a>".


feed_id: 8e78125f79e5ab69810681b256b3c2b0
title: Football fans accused of being "GÃ¼lenist"
uri: Football-fans-accused-of-being-GÃ¼lenist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Football_fans_accused_of_being_G%C3%83%C2%BClenist%29

content:
<p>
Turkish football fans are accused of being "GÃ¼lenists" because they
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/24/turkey-investigates-galatasaray-fans-over-gulenist-rocky-poster">carried
a poster from the film, Rocky</a>.


feed_id: 229e6d0b92e7767d5b3f693923721878
title: Targeted ads
uri: 2017-10-26-Targeted-ads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#24_October_2017_%28Targeted_ads%29
content:
<p>
Comparing
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/22/cambridge-university-trigger-warnings-piccadilly-circus-targeted-advertising-david-mitchell">
targeted, "personalized" ads
</a>
with the behavior of a
high-functioning sociopath.
<p>
Perhaps there should be a law requiring all targeted advertising
platforms and/or all their customers to publish every ad that they've
run, along with the precise details of how it was targeted, so
that people can see what other faces the organization is showing.
<p>
The article may be mistaken about trigger warnings.  I've read that
one of their purposes is to help people prepare for a disturbing
experience.  So don't assume that the Oxford students who see a
trigger warning about Titus Andronicus in their literature class will
avoid studying that play.  It may instead help them to think about the
play more calmly.


feed_id: 8efe70d80abba9efdcacca67b192697c
title: Jackson Mississippi Lumumba mayor
uri: Jackson-Mississippi-Lumumba-mayor
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Jackson_Mississippi_Lumumba_mayor%29

content:
<p>Jackson, Mississippi, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/19/blueprint-most-radical-city-planet">is reorganizing society</a> with a cooperative movement that has the support of the city government.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0b74f41c9bfe10dc3d24a01a753287ac
title: US Government oligarchy
uri: US-Government-oligarchy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28US_Government_oligarchy%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/19/how-deranged-took-over-america">How the Deranged Took Over America.</a></p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6d0760a079e5f6dbc1adc3e57940e0cf
title: Troll undelivered check lie
uri: Troll-undelivered-check-lie
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Troll_undelivered_check_lie%29
content:
<p>The bullshitter <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/19/25000-unmet-promise-family-exposed-trump-told-stop-please-just-stop">promised the parent of a dead soldier a personal gift of $25000</a>, then didn't bother to send it.</p>
<p>On Wednesday the story broke, and the the bullshitter was shamed into fulfilling this promise.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ba0d918fdb66ec16bf08fdcd8e912444
title: UK newspaper global heating
uri: UK-newspaper-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28UK_newspaper_global_heating%29
content:
<p>A right-wing UK newspaper has been rebuked for an article that <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4192182/World-leaders-duped-manipulated-global-warming-data.html">spread global heating denialism through distortions and falsehoods</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9547855dde2f9f96bf8b27664b3afbb6
title: A user's Twitter experience
uri: A-user-s-Twitter-experience
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28A_user%27s_Twitter_experience%29
content:
<p>One Twitter user <a href="https://medium.com/@monteiro/one-persons-history-of-twitter-from-beginning-to-end-5b41abed6c20">relates the history of Twitter</a>; how using it was fun, but turned into ugliness.  He says that the management decided to let in bigotry because that boosted their earnings.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: eaec11877b8379f321adaa468f7d70e5
title: Spain separatist leaders jailed
uri: Spain-separatist-leaders-jailed
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Spain_separatist_leaders_jailed%29

content:
<p>Spain has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/madrid-jails-catalan-separatist-leaders-jordi-cuixart-and-jordi-sanchez-pending-investigation">jailed the leaders of two pro-independence Catalan groups</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 14cc402456ac531ea7c19649b655b410
title: China political pressure
uri: China-political-pressure
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28China_political_pressure%29
content:
<p>China is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/china-communist-party-congress-agents-stifle-activists">preemptively intimidating everyone in the country</a> that might cause an impression of nonunamitity.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 53b4e1935586759bced21b523e2762bf
title: Facebook totalitarianism
uri: Facebook-totalitarianism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Facebook_totalitarianism%29
content:
<p><a href="https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/rinesi20171016">Any Sufficiently Advanced Totalitarianism Is Indistinguishable from Facebook.</a></p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 56310e6c0e1adde2bd8bfdd8cfa554a4
title: Troll tax cut rich benefit
uri: Troll-tax-cut-rich-benefit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Troll_tax_cut_rich_benefit%29
content:
<p>Details of <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/42264-80-percent-of-the-benefit-is-going-to-the-richest-1-percent">how the troll's tax cut gives almost nothing to the non-rich</a> and gives many benefits to the rich.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 32ad0aefc706c6a5e0a86d84ac217e96
title: Russia Chechnya torturing gays
uri: Russia-Chechnya-torturing-gays
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#26_October_2017_%28Russia_Chechnya_torturing_gays%29

content:
<p>The violent Chechen state is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/victim-chechnya-anti-gay-purge-urges-russia-investigate-maxim-lapunov">torturing gays to demand the names of other gays</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7ab5a66915595ad3cefbad70d4c01a4f
title: Harmful measures
uri: Harmful-measures
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Harmful_measures%29
content:
<p>
Establishment Republicans agree with nearly everything the bully actually does. 
<p>
Even the Republicans that condemn him personally <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/25/forget-what-corker-and-flake-say-look-their-destructive-90-pro-trump-voting-records">vote for his harmful measures</a>.


feed_id: 8948ea0171547820b07dafd0cf6f5d8d
title: American right-wing
uri: American-right-wing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28American_right-wing%29
content:
<p>
American right-wing theocrats are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/26/us-groups-pour-millions-into-anti-abortion-campaign-in-latin-america-and-caribbean">pouring money into Latin American
countries</a> to oppose abortion rights three.
<p>
They have brought to Latin countries the same methods of harassment
and deception that they use in the US.
<p>
If women start a campaign to say, “I had an abortion and that was the
right thing,” they could have a lot of influence for abortion rights.


feed_id: e6be41ad313fcad6618599307c1d6c55
title: FCC's saboteurs
uri: FCC-s-saboteurs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28FCC%27s_saboteurs%29
content:
<p>
The FCC's saboteurs eliminated a rule that held back <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/25/fcc-media-ownership-repeal-local-stations/">media concentration to some extent</a>.
<p>
Many radio and TV stations will become repeaters with hardly any local staff, or local journalists.


feed_id: b72a059db9b06f50fc688a312b28a151
title: Chemical attack
uri: Chemical-attack
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Chemical_attack%29
content:
<p>
A UN investigation concluded that Assad's forces carried out a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/26/syria-gas-attack-bashar-al-assad-un-tillerson">chemical attack
earlier this year</a>. 


feed_id: 22f0e9fad6508a44f759c93b6664d8b6
title: Sexist violence
uri: Sexist-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Sexist_violence%29
content:
<p>
Pakistani women are rallying on the internet against <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/oct/26/social-media-brings-pakistans-persecuted-women-rare-justice-after-the-violence">extreme sexist violence</a>.
<p>
Women face more threats than losing their careers.
<p>
Men they say no to, even men who are not rich and famous, may stab them or throw acid
in their faces.


feed_id: 3ef240068a1c8fd28a880edb32b36be9
title: Democrats party
uri: Democrats-party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Democrats_party%29
content:
<p>
Most Democrats have <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/25/tensions-simmer-poll-shows-majority-democrats-want-bold-leftward-shift">rejected the party's plutocratist leaders</a> and support progressive politics.


feed_id: 0619df49ba3f0356a61e56aae9fe145c
title: Disinformation playbook
uri: Disinformation-playbook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Disinformation_playbook%29
content:
<p>
The anti-science <a href=" http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/disinformation-playbook">disinformation playbook</a>, developed by tobacco companies
and since used in many fields, especially fossil fuels.


feed_id: 54b69680d5a9eb0171c1bdf0aa1f2d6b
title: Embarrassing adulation
uri: Embarrassing-adulation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Embarrassing_adulation%29
content:
<p>
The troll gave Chinese tyrant Xi <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/26/extraordinary-elevation-trumps-kowtow-unlikely-to-win-favours-from-xi-jinping">embarrassing adulation</a>.


feed_id: ec66ec050826aaeddf62e35a870a4e02
title: Tax cut
uri: Tax-cut
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Tax_cut%29
content:
<p>
A tax cut for the rich will provide <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/25/corporate-tax-cuts-will-not-increase-wages-working-families">zero benefit for working Americans</a>.


feed_id: bd98e3c90f32bae4cc533e37aafd5605
title: Trillion dollars spent on wars
uri: Trillion-dollars-spent-on-wars
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Trillion_dollars_spent_on_wars%29

content:
<p>
The US has spent almost 5 trillion dollars on wars in the Middle East (perhaps including Afghanistan).
<p>
Americans in <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/25/poor-peoples-campaign-and-2017-nobel-peace-prize-national-call-moral-revival">poverty need that spending</a> transferred to helping them.


feed_id: f4a4be41b314b5a0f105f03c61e7fc02
title: Urgent: Medicare for all
uri: 2017-10-28-Urgent-Medicare-for-all
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Medicare_for_all%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: support <a href="https://www.signherenow.org/petition/medicare-for-all/pccc/">Medicare for all</a>.


feed_id: bc236f492ca284d477f8841a9172a2fb
title: Urgent: National parks
uri: Urgent-National-parks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_National_parks%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="http://action.storyofstuff.org/letter/ask-congress-eliminate-water-bottles-national-parks/">call on Congress</a> to ban sales of bottled water in
national parks.


feed_id: 8e3f1f13170a0c707285a5781a450bfa
title: Urgent: Paris climate agreement
uri: 2017-10-28-Urgent-Paris-climate-agreement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Paris_climate_agreement%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-the-us-government-stand-down-and-stop-undermining-un-climate-talks">call on the US</a> to stop sabotaging the Paris climate
agreement negotiations.


feed_id: 7ed3324e50d3e8aa60a8143b9ecbe6ec
title: Opioid addiction
uri: 2017-10-28-Opioid-addiction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Opioid_addiction%29
content:
<p>
The father of a deceased addict <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/26/this-is-what-the-opioid-epidemic-feels-like-my-son-didnt-have-to-die">accuses Big Pharma</a> of lobbying to keep
opioid addiction going strong.
<p>
Addiction, once you have it, is not a choice. However, it is possible
to avoid addiction by remembering each time you use opioids that you're
standing next to the top of a cliff. From what I've read, although it
wasn't recently, addiction develops when you take more than your pain
requires. So remind yourself to move away from the cliff step by
step. Today you may not need as much painkiller as you needed yesterday.
<p>
I have opioids, and I use them on the rare occasions when I feel great
pain. The last time was when I had dental implants inserted: I needed
8 pills before the pain went down to a level where I did not need them
any more.
<p>
How did I know when that time had come? After the first day, I made a
point to delay taking the next pill to see how long I could stand it.
I took another pill only when the pain compelled me to. As time went
on, I could stand it for longer — because the wound was healing.
Eventually I never needed the next pill.
<p>
Please do not force people suffering from great pain to suffer it
without the help of opioids!


feed_id: db1bcb4dd352d2b95b87f4cc4784f977
title: New Zealand houses
uri: New-Zealand-houses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28New_Zealand_houses%29
content:
<p>
New Zealand is suffering from house price inflation to which foreign
buyers contribute. So it will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/new-zealand-to-ban-foreign-buyers-existing-homes-jacinda-ardern">ban sales of houses</a> to foreigners unless
they are going to live in those houses.
<p>
Rather than banning foreigners entirely from buying housing, why not
tax them 10% of the assessed value each year? Most foreigners seek
investment value, and this will eliminate that, so they won't buy.
<p>
A few rich people may buy property anyway, just to have another home,
but they won't be numerous enough to drive up the prices that citizens
must pay.
<p>
Cambridge, Massachusetts is starting to have the same problem.


feed_id: e5301d0ec0863780efccf764fba0cdd9
title: Facebook mixing data
uri: Facebook-mixing-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Facebook_mixing_data%29
content:
<p>
A fine of 100 million dollars <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/26/whatsapp-facebook-eu-data-article-29-working-party-taskforce-sharing-user">was not enough</a> to get Facebook to stop
mixing data from its WhatsApp tentacle with data from its Facebook
tentacle.


feed_id: f090cf33b23af42a74ad02a312450de4
title: UK fishing quota
uri: UK-fishing-quota
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28UK_fishing_quota%29
content:
<p>
If the UK exits the EU, it might exit the fishing quota system too
and start <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/26/fit-uk-fishing-boats-with-monitoring-technology-after-brexit-campaigners-urge">wiping out</a> fish stocks.


feed_id: a56a15b35573599efa3dd6507b4fa05f
title: CFPB's regulation
uri: CFPB-s-regulation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28CFPB%27s_regulation%29
content:
<p>
SCROTUS have <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/24/after-day-of-feuding-jeff-flake-and-bob-corker-join-trump-to-upend-a-major-consumer-protection/">cancelled</a> the CFPB's regulation that was going to block
banks from imposing mandatory arbitration requirements.
<p>
This will help banks get away with cheating their customers.
<p>
One way you can protect yourself is to stay away from the big US banks.
The small ones may be more vulnerable to public criticism.


feed_id: d66c0bc17b6ef58e7b57086b44512b65
title: Housing segregation
uri: Housing-segregation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Housing_segregation%29
content:
<p>
The Saboteur of Housing and Urban Development is <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/23/ben-carson-hud-lawsuit-section-8-vouchers-fmr-naacp/">trying to delay</a> a
policy to adjust housing subsidies for local areas to reduce segregation.


feed_id: 6206f824c9a0a453200247fee548d9c0
title: Trans people and male violence
uri: Trans-people-and-male-violence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Trans_people_and_male_violence%29

content:
<p>
"<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/24/trans-people-scapegoats-male-violence">Donât deny trans people</a> their rights because of male violence."
<p>
If some women are afraid that abusive men will hide behind a
"transgender" label, I won't criticize them, but it seems to be a
spurious fear because macho men are unlikely to do that. Machismo
teaches men to be horrified of appearing feminine.


feed_id: 610879bc8ca4c3e90cf8b7b67ce13f6e
title: Privatizing services
uri: Privatizing-services
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Privatizing_services%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/24/sheffield-state-corporate-power-subvert-democracy-pfi">Privatization</a> of government activities results in steamrollers that
use the power of the state while claiming the secrecy and lack of
public accountability of private businesses.
<p>
To privatize a public service is an invitation for injustice and
cheating the public.
<p>
To make any aspect of the contract secret is tyranny.
<p>
Labour plans to buy out some of these contracts, but that is a weak,
half-hearted way to fight back. The state can do to these contracts
the same thing that businesses often do to their workers's retirement
funds: transfer them to another private entity which goes bankrupt
later. If that's not legal now, change the law to make it legal.
<p>
Of course, this would be a hostile act. Doing this to workers who
have done nothing wrong to deserve it is unjustified aggression.
<p>
However, doing it to companies that have cheated the public is a
justified counterattack. Ideally we should aim to put all those
companies out of business, so that the prospect of oppressing the
public ceases to appeal to other companies in the future.


feed_id: 28618f38aadfcb32aa6c6fef803ed024
title: CFPB arbitration limits
uri: CFPB-arbitration-limits
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28CFPB_arbitration_limits%29
content:
<p>
The troll's saboteurs have launched <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/24/executive-branch-at-war-treasury-department-launches-attack-on-the-consumer-financial-protection-bureau/">another dishonest attack</a> against
the CFPB's arbitration limits for banks.
<p>
They will say any sort of bullshit, because they have total contempt
for truth.


feed_id: fe912b4f9d44bcdbd59ecdf8155edf8c
title: Civic crowdfunding
uri: Civic-crowdfunding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#27_October_2017_%28Civic_crowdfunding%29
content:
<p>
Crowdfunding is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/oct/24/civic-crowdfunding-erode-democracy-local-authority">becoming a veil</a> to excuse oppressive cuts in public
spending, and a way of letting donors decide what your city will have
and not have.
<p>
I don't think crowdfunding as such is bad, but at the civic level it
is no substitute for a fair system based on taxing business and the
rich, and deciding democratically what to do with the money.


feed_id: b84001710737ebc5db68ec3c6e2e0fc5
title: Ban on arms exports
uri: Ban-on-arms-exports
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Ban_on_arms_exports%29
content:
<p>
Parties in the European Parliament are pushing for a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/26/eu-under-mounting-pressure-to-ban-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia">ban on arms exports</a>
to Salafi Arabia, which aid its intervention in Yemen.


feed_id: b8e2c71b5ef0fff139956be071c04e1e
title: Stopping blacks
uri: Stopping-blacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Stopping_blacks%29
content:
<p>
The UK is still <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/oct/26/stop-and-search-eight-times-more-likely-to-target-black-people">stopping blacks</a> on the street for no reason except to intimidate them.
<p>
It has reduced this mainly for white victims.


feed_id: 716efbc3172cd11c778bdb0ab17874d0
title: Music parasite companies
uri: Music-parasite-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Music_parasite_companies%29
content:
<p>
Leaked: These 3 EU Governments Want to Give Record Labels Control Over
<a href="https://juliareda.eu/2017/10/copyright-bullies/">What We Can And Can't Post Online</a>.
<p>
(They are France, Spain and Portugal.)
<p>
I urge Europeans to launch a campaign of condemnation
of the music parasite companies, as well as a campaign
to convince officials.


feed_id: 6de70a874aa3b57af6ec372ed655a7da
title: Promoting homosexuality
uri: Promoting-homosexuality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Promoting_homosexuality%29
content:
<p>
A group of activists and lawyers in Tanzania met to consider
challenging laws to repress homosexuals, and they were arrested
for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/26/tanzania-illegally-detains-human-rights-lawyers-for-promoting-homosexuality">“promoting homosexuality”</a>.
<p>
This means the government of Tanzania is attacking Tanzanian democracy
as well as gays.


feed_id: 025215b1879a3eb303dfddba317ba7c2
title: Anti-terror laws
uri: Anti-terror-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Anti-terror_laws%29
content:
<p>
The UK's “anti-terror” laws have been repeatedly used against
protesters and dissidents, revealing that government as repressive. 
<p>
A British columnist's British sister was just <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/26/schedule-7-terrorism-act-2000-activism-civil-rights-ethnic-minorities">bullied into testifying
against herself</a> and everyone she knows, on pain of imprisonment.
<p>
The conviction of human rights activist Muhammad Rabbani of Cage, who
heroically faced imprisonment by refusing to tell the thugs anything,
does not seem to have raised a big scandal. 
<p>
Maybe this instance will create the scandal needed to end this repressive practice in Britain.
<p>
Although terrorism does exist in the UK, in the long term it is less
of a danger to Britons than repressive, unjust laws such as this one.


feed_id: becdd1de4bd05cea2c60f413bd4a16e2
title: Albert Einstein
uri: Albert-Einstein
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Albert_Einstein%29
content:
<p>
Albert Einstein: <a href="http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/10/word-god-is-product-of-human-weakness.html">“The word God is for me nothing more than the expression
and product of human weakness.”</a>
<p>
Einstein occasionally made statements that used the word “god” to mean
something like, “whatever circumstances brought about the universe as
it is”. 
<p>
This metaphor was apparently ill-advised, since people cite those statements to claim 
him as a religious believer, which he never was.


feed_id: a6bda9cae43b0b6a8b909ccfb23e5dbb
title: Las Vegas massacre
uri: Las-Vegas-massacre
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Las_Vegas_massacre%29
content:
<p>
Right-wingers have deluded each other into believing the Las Vegas massacre was a hoax.
<p>
Now they are sending the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/26/las-vegas-shooting-conspiracy-theories-social-media">victims threatening letters</a>, hoping I suppose 
to intimidate them into a silence that will aid the campaign to impose the delusion.
<p>
You can support the victims by campaigning for universal medical care in the US. 
<p>
Nobody who is injured or sick should have to beg on GoFundMe to pay for medical care!


feed_id: 68d24f9737d9a88fbe1a18a515558695
title: Kenya's election
uri: Kenya-s-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Kenya%27s_election%29
content:
<p>
Kenya is having its retry election, but the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/26/kenyans-election-rerun-contested-kenyatta-odinga">opposition is boycotting it</a>
because it is being run in an unfair manner.


feed_id: 77d1c9ec0b61f90726e16cf5e48e28f2
title: ISP lobbyists
uri: ISP-lobbyists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28ISP_lobbyists%29
content:
<p>
ISP <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/10/broadband-privacy-rules-would-help-terrorists-lobbyists-told-lawmakers/">lobbyists killed a California bill</a> to protect Americans from ISP snooping
by telling lies to the state senate.


feed_id: 7b3fd9df0d05dc1774132bd70431f0dd
title: Strike on North Korea
uri: Strike-on-North-Korea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Strike_on_North_Korea%29
content:
<p>
Democrats Push Bill to Stop a Trump Pre-Emptive <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/26/democrats-push-bill-to-stop-a-trump-pre-emptive-strike-on-north-korea">Strike on North Korea</a>.


feed_id: 1b502eedec01e9b3763956d9536583a0
title: Ban on arms exports
uri: 2017-10-28-Ban-on-arms-exports
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Ban_on_arms_exports%29
content:
<p>
Parties in the European Parliament are pushing for a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/26/eu-under-mounting-pressure-to-ban-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia">ban on arms exports</a>
to <a href="/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>, which aid its intervention in Yemen.


feed_id: 853520c82b11e48acfa60c766fdabb3a
title: Detroit incinerator
uri: Detroit-incinerator
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Detroit_incinerator%29
content:
<p>
Detroit has a giant incinerator that burns trash from several states
and <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/25/smells-environmental-racism">spreads a sickening cloud for miles around</a>.
<p>
I think that the racial categories of those who suffer this is a
secondary issue. 
<p>
The primary issue is that such incinerators should (1) be modified to emit 
less pollution and (2) should be located in rural areas where the towns are 
dying anyway and far fewer people will be affected.
<p>
It might also be possible to buy out their homes so they can move away.


feed_id: e618554a5a6b7f2d2f65ce1e66c6a6f1
title: Killing all gays
uri: Killing-all-gays
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Killing_all_gays%29
content:
<p>
Although the bully <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/26/ascent-lgbt-right-wing-afd">jokes about killing all gays</a>, some rich gay men think he's great.
<p>
They figure he will never do anything to displease rich supporters.
<p>
It just goes to show that while gay (and, more generally, queer) people
are entitled to the same rights as everyone else, they are not immune
to the cruelty that everyone else can fall into.


feed_id: 1694f39acc0473d6aaa570365ece22c0
title: Corrupt congress
uri: Corrupt-congress
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Corrupt_congress%29
content:
<p>
Brazil's supercorrupt president Temer has again been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/26/michel-temer-brazils-unpopular-president-avoids-corruption-trial">protected from
trial by the corrupt congress</a>.


feed_id: 5168ed4c06b233698376399652e291ec
title: Antibiotic overuse
uri: Antibiotic-overuse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Antibiotic_overuse%29
content:
<p>Patients have only a small share of the responsibility for overuse of antibiotics.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/26/antibiotics-resistance-crisis-patients-antimicrobial-resistance">Doctors have a much larger share</a>.</p>
<p>Of course, <a href="/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#17_October_2017_(Antibiotic_resistance)">farms have an even bigger share</a>.   Don't forget them!</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: de0f0064d5b64b0023adfeb80c217792
title: NAACP travel advisory
uri: NAACP-travel-advisory
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28NAACP_travel_advisory%29
content:
<p>The NAACP has <a href="http://www.naacp.org/latest/naacp-issues-national-travel-advisory-american-airlines/">called on blacks to avoid traveling on American Airlines</a> because it has a tendency to mistreat black passengers.</p>
<p>The boycott <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/26/black-americans-boycott-american-airlines">can be an effective weapon</a>, so when we agree with the goal, we should support it.</p>
<p>It's not an all-or-nothing thing.  Cutting out most of your purchases from a company is almost as good as ceasing totally.</p>
<p>The second article seems to endorse one erroneous assumption: that if several competing companies are equally bad, you must treat them equally.  This is like saying that if several armies are attacking you, you must counterattack them all at once.</p>
<p>The boycott is a weapon, not a punishment.  The state has an obligation to treat all citizens fairly, because it is so strong.  The weak, however, have no obligation to be "fair" to all the strong that mistreat them.  On the contrary, they should do whatever is most effective.  Often that means to pick one target at a time and boycott it until it makes a substantial concession.  Then target another one.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a4eec4f49337a7f50c3d500b46ab02f4
title: Looting Mongolia history
uri: Looting-Mongolia-history
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Looting_Mongolia_history%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2017/oct/26/beyond-ghengis-khan-how-looting-threatens-to-erase-mongolias-history">Beyond Genghis Khan: How Looting Threatens to Erase Mongolia's History.</a></p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7dc36354b0292991ae6ff1bfe8d9476e
title: Coal and sea-level rising
uri: Coal-and-sea-level-rising
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Coal_and_sea-level_rising%29
content:
<p>Researchers say that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/26/sea-levels-to-rise-13m-unless-coal-power-ends-by-2050-report-says">we can avoid disastrous sea-level rise</a> if we limit global heating to under 1.9C.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b7bbcd26b7c691e90e291af60c318201
title: Houston hurricane protective
uri: Houston-hurricane-protective
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Houston_hurricane_protective%29
content:
<p>The temporary workers cleaning up the debris of Houston are not given protective gear.  They are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/23/houston-harvey-construction-workers-protect-abuse-undocumented">exposed to all sorts of toxic material</a>.</p>
<p>They don't get overtime pay or workers' compensation, and their wages are sometimes not paid.</p>
<p>That's plutocracy for you.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 483bdf7b6a26375cea059077a7e681ca
title: China loyalty rating
uri: China-loyalty-rating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28China_loyalty_rating%29
content:
<p>China's new person-rating system <a href="http://www.wired.co.uk/article/chinese-government-social-credit-score-privacy-invasion">will track everything everyone does</a>, and rate each person in China for loyalty to the state, based on monitoring all kinds of actions and communications.</p>
<p>Even talking to a person with a low rating will lower other people's ratings.  So people with low ratings will be shunned, perhaps unemployed.</p>
<p>In a society like that, talented people who don't want to be heroic martyrs, and don't see a way to escape, but who cannot bear becoming active supporters of totalitarianism, will have to show no views and no talent, and reject any trace of ambition that would tempt them to aim for a higher rating so they can get ahead.</p>
<p>They won't have much chance to do good, but at least this way they will do the least possible evil.</p>
<p>"Free" country governments, with their ever-increasing surveillance, are moving indirectly and quietly towards the same horror.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 875faadd5af257d33acdb3ac8e89506a
title: UK universal credit
uri: UK-universal-credit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28UK_universal_credit%29
content:
<p>The Tories are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/24/jobless-poleaxed-universal-credit-workers-low-income-financial-penalties">extending the existing punitive starvation regime</a> for the unemployed and disabled, to cover low-paid workers too.</p>
<p>Poor people must teach each other not to be ashamed of being poor, or of the consequences of their poverty.  The shame falls on the right-wing governments that inflict poverty, and on their supporters, nobody else.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 52d5cd44c43211e2575bd8a9a05c7711
title: Africa elephant poaching
uri: Africa-elephant-poaching
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#28_October_2017_%28Africa_elephant_poaching%29
content:
<p>Elephant poaching is decreasing in Africa, but the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/24/elephant-poaching-drops-africa-but-populations-continue-to-fall">rate is still so high that the population continues to decrease</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f921f254c5837eee3626c710e283387e
title: Urgent: War in Yemen
uri: Urgent-War-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_War_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/sign/end-unauthorized-conflict-yemen/">call on the US government</a> to pull out of Salafi Arabia's
war in Yemen.


feed_id: a7454c2aec0589ea99ba02d36b4aaf27
title: Urgent: Presidential capacity
uri: Urgent-Presidential-capacity
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Presidential_capacity%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/25th_amendment">call on Congress</a> to create the Oversight Commission on
Presidential Capacity by passing H.R.1987.


feed_id: 578172cc293a1e4ca37bf568783d7ac4
title: Urgent: e-privacy regulation
uri: Urgent-e-privacy-regulation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Urgent%3A_e-privacy_regulation%29

content:
<p>
EU citizens: support the <a href="https://edri.org/last-ditch-attack-on-e-privacy-regulation-in-the-european-parliament/">e-privacy regulation</a> against absurd attacks
from lobbyists.
<p>
Give <a href="https://edri.org/contact-ep-eprivacy/">broader support</a> too.


feed_id: 63b575b3cf5ed5f8f1a7bfc97a4b643f
title: UK prisons
uri: 2017-10-29-UK-prisons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28UK_prisons%29
content:
<p>
Due to severe budget cuts, UK prisons are now ruled by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/27/englands-prisons-war-zones-gangs-violence-staff-low-morale">gangs of prisoners</a>.
Anyone that is knocked down has no one to appeal to in getting up again.
<p>
That's like a worse version of life outside prison under the Tories.


feed_id: ed0448417339a39c8bb507f8c3d365bc
title: Advertising to children
uri: Advertising-to-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Advertising_to_children%29
content:
<p>
There is a campaign to protect children from the advertising that is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/25/kids-screen-time-surging-new-project-aims-challenge-corporate-profiteering">directed
at them</a> on tablets.
<p>
They see so much advertising because the tablets run nonfree software.
That nonfree software doesn't <em>generate</em> the advertising —
most of it comes from servers. However, the nonfree software is designed
to help those servers present the advertising, and users can't change it.


feed_id: 1a99c37f17efc0a4d7f57781a2e64456
title: US drug prices
uri: US-drug-prices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28US_drug_prices%29
content:
<p>
Sanders and other democratic senators have introduced a bill to let
the US government <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/25/sanders-cummings-medicare-part-d-legislation-would-lower-seniors-medicine-costs">negotiate drug prices</a> with drug companies.
<p>
This is what almost every other country does to keep prices down.


feed_id: 3a38a024fb275874ccfeffe1a3e90e89
title: Nuclear war evidence
uri: Nuclear-war-evidence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Nuclear_war_evidence%29
content:
<p>
Evidence suggests that the bully <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/10/25/how-prevent-nuclear-war">might launch</a> a nuclear war against
North Korea in November, but this is not certain. We need massive
pressure now.


feed_id: a229567d0ab31a41bc2833a7eac2fd8a
title: Assistant EPA heads
uri: Assistant-EPA-heads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Assistant_EPA_heads%29
content:
<p>
The saboteur in chief has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/25/sworn-enemies-epa-now-just-one-step-heading-key-agency-offices">nominated</a> four saboteurs as assistant heads
of the EPA.


feed_id: 782659410c8c8f26e40ba605dfb1dc5d
title: Center-left parties
uri: 2017-10-29-Center-left-parties
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Center-left_parties%29
content:
<p>
Corbyn: center-left parties <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-labour-brussels-brexit-neoliberalism-socialists-pes-europe-together-eu-a8008776.html">are doomed</a> unless they dare to
advocate radical changes that will end plutocracy.


feed_id: c3e68a704ee1453d8d6561b4d325a6aa
title: DRM in Portugal
uri: DRM-in-Portugal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28DRM_in_Portugal%29
content:
<p>
Portugal has <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/portugal-bans-use-drm-limit-access-public-domain-works">legalized breaking DRM</a> for some purposes, but this is worthless
if you can't find tools to do it with.


feed_id: 1415866eb809ded7ffc0548b44b190a1
title: White supremacism in military
uri: White-supremacism-in-military
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28White_supremacism_in_military%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2017/10/23/military-times-poll-one-in-four-troops-sees-white-nationalism-in-the-ranks/">1/4 of US soldiers</a> have seen white supremacism among the ranks.


feed_id: 27513a84d310d57b0c06d0a169ff9143
title: eBay ink sellers
uri: eBay-ink-sellers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28eBay_ink_sellers%29
content:
<p>
Epson Is Using Its eBay "Trusted Status" to Make Competing Ink Sellers <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/epson-using-its-ebay-trusted-status-make-competing-ink-sellers-vanish">Vanish</a>.


feed_id: 7934c6c5665b9a521e867db7f8533d71
title: Admiring Dubya
uri: Admiring-Dubya
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Admiring_Dubya%29
content:
<p>
Dubya, by condemning the troll, <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/news/357109-poll-dems-have-favorable-view-of-george-w-bush">has convinced</a> most American Democrats
to admire him.
<p>
He's not as bad as the troll, but he did horrible things. He was
responsible for torture and a war of aggression.


feed_id: e79bd257e9781563c80d77bd0cced2b7
title: Sexual harassment
uri: 2017-10-29-Sexual-harassment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Sexual_harassment%29
content:
<p>
The White House says that the women that accuse the bully of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/27/donald-trump-sexual-harassment-claims-women-lying-white-house">sexual
harassment are all lying</a>.
<p>
By definition, to criticize the bully is lying.
<p>
Where do I report for the mandatory class in Trump Thought?


feed_id: 774aafb09d35267a014cd25bf08a09a9
title: First freeze
uri: First-freeze
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28First_freeze%29
content:
<p>
The date of the first freeze has been getting later in the year since 1980,
and the average of recent years is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/28/us-winter-has-shrunk-by-more-than-one-month-in-100-years">a week later than the average</a> in the 1970s.


feed_id: 61977dc4afd917b451ae32f04939e2f3
title: Patrol thugs
uri: Patrol-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Patrol_thugs%29
content:
<p>
US border patrol thugs are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/26/cruel-ruthless-morally-bankrupt-collective-outrage-after-trump-admin-detains-10-year">checking patients in ambulances</a>.
<p>
What this says to unauthorized immigrants is, “If you are sick or
injured, don't you dare ride in an ambulance to the hospital.”


feed_id: 6b11a94e35292b0dd0de3bc54e230957
title: Private prisons
uri: 2017-10-29-Private-prisons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Private_prisons%29
content:
<p>
Putting <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/26/aclu-condemns-ice-plan-expand-use-profit-prisons-immigrant-detention">unauthorized immigrants in private prisons</a> inevitably denies them
their human rights and even their legal rights.
<p>
That's what privatized prisons are for — to reduce accountability
so that guards can mistreat prisoners with impunity.


feed_id: 66264f166d70f39c54e86cf87a98fe3b
title: Refugees to Australia
uri: Refugees-to-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Refugees_to_Australia%29
content:
<p>
Refugees to Australia, dumped on Manus Island, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/27/days-before-the-forced-closure-of-manus-we-have-no-safe-place-to-go">will soon have no safe place to go</a>.
<p>
The only safe place is their former prison, which they are being starved out of.
<p>
They are threatened with attack by the Papuan navy if they stay, and by the inhabitants if they go out.
<p>
No foreigners can assimilate into the tribal societies of Manus Island.


feed_id: e3ea1d56ca11f086c63e9a78bcdb3292
title: Power of giant companies
uri: Power-of-giant-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Power_of_giant_companies%29
content:
<p>
Stiglitz: <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/america-has-a-monopoly-problem-and-its-huge/">The power of giant companies</a> has driven the US economy into unfairness and failure, 
and the political system into injustice.


feed_id: c42c77794f8ca3153a293df2cc08c259
title: Pestering women
uri: Pestering-women
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Pestering_women%29
content:
<p>
A famous theater director had a habit of pestering women, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/26/max-stafford-clark-sex-tracy-ann-oberman">asking them for sex</a>.
<p>
As far as I can tell from this article, he didn't try to force women into sex.
<p>
When women persistently said no, he does not seem to have tried to punish them.
<p>
The most he did was ask.
<p>
He was a pest, but nothing worse than that.


feed_id: 56da3f7474963f25f82687a845b413cf
title: Monitor students
uri: Monitor-students
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Monitor_students%29
content:
<p>
Schools are being asked to buy a brain-wave sensor that purportedly
lets them <a href="https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-10-26-this-company-wants-to-gather-student-brainwave-data-to-measure-engagement">monitor when students are paying attention</a>.
<p>
Whether it works or not, it's oppressive.


feed_id: c923b703356a9734bcaf02fccafaa017
title: Censorship of statements
uri: Censorship-of-statements
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Censorship_of_statements%29
content:
<p>
We must <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/YpWv2hCeaz8/cleveland-state-debates-free-speech-boun">not impose censorship of statements</a> merely because they are nasty,
cruel, and hateful.


feed_id: df8d1d325b89e9878c9f0503bb4306f1
title: USA Rights Act
uri: USA-Rights-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28USA_Rights_Act%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/proposal-restrict-technical-assistance-demands-secret-surveillance-court-raises">USA Rights Act</a> would limit in several ways the US government's massive
surveillance of Americans.
<p>
The EFF supports it, and so should we.
<p>
In particular, it adds more requirements before the government can demand
communications companies decrypt people's data — which raises the question
of how much this is going on secretly now.


feed_id: 80f057923c096388e86d03038d852132
title: Privatize the electric utility
uri: Privatize-the-electric-utility
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Privatize_the_electric_utility%29

content:
<p>
The imposed nonaccountable government of Puerto Rico is taking steps
to <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/10/26/disaster-capitalists-take-big-step-toward-privatizing-puerto-ricos-electric-grid/">privatize the electric utility</a>.


feed_id: 75175a3be37c713429e376d0d063db06
title: EU's internet connection
uri: EU-s-internet-connection
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28EU%27s_internet_connection%29
content:
<p>
The EU's new internet connection service <a href="https://www.laquadrature.net/en/wifi4eu_fails">will track users</a>.
<p>
I will never use it unless I can pretend to be someone else.


feed_id: 9e58a2546caa015fde85c344f2fce1ee
title: Libraries are essential
uri: Libraries-are-essential
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Libraries_are_essential%29
content:
<p>
Libraries are still essential — <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/26/no-one-use-libraries-any-more-rubbish-sanctuaries--enrich-communities">don't let cities close them!</a>


feed_id: edfb7f5869ae79628cb8de78a50803b1
title: Surveillance policy
uri: Surveillance-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Surveillance_policy%29
content:
<p>
A new US policy of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/25/newly-obtained-pentagon-docs-raise-fresh-concerns-about-warrantless-domestic-spying">surveillance of anyone “suspected”</a> (by thugs) of
being a “homegrown violent extremist” is likely to be an excuse for
snooping on lots homegrown nonviolent dissidents.
<p>
Among the thousands of nonviolent dissidents, there will occasionally
be a violent extremist or two.
<p>
But that doesn't excuse repression that threatens our last chance for 
restoring democracy in the US.


feed_id: 47aea1a86e30130475b41683792d3e86
title: Palm oil
uri: 2017-10-29-Palm-oil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Palm_oil%29
content:
<p>
NestlÃ©, Mars and Hershey “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/27/nestle-mars-and-hershey-breaking-promises-over-palm-oil-use-say-campaigners">Breaking Promises over Palm Oil Use</a>.”


feed_id: 962a2abbada646582085dd4c141a4b1f
title: Properly-run referendum
uri: Properly-run-referendum
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Properly-run_referendum%29
content:
<p>
The confrontation between Spain and Catalonia is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/27/the-guardian-view-on-spains-crisis-damage-to-catalonia">dangerous for everyone</a>.
<p>
A properly-run referendum is likely to show most Catalans reject independence. 
<p>
That would more or less solve the problem.
<p>
However, Rajoy is a bully.
<p>
I don't think he wants a peaceful resolution.
<p>
I think he wants a scapegoat to distract Spaniards from his cruel policies towards
poor people and dissent.


feed_id: 72467e50030ad396c375067de42bb666
title: Flood insurance
uri: Flood-insurance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Flood_insurance%29
content:
<p>
FEMA's proposal for future flood insurance <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/26/fema-flood-insurance-proposal-ignores-sea-level-rise">disregards sea level rise</a>.


feed_id: 675fda3b9bf216e32c8bfe12d23c614a
title: Weather forecasting
uri: Weather-forecasting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Weather_forecasting%29
content:
<p>
The saboteur-in-chief wants to cut funds for <a href="https://grist.org/article/life-saving-weather-forecasts-cost-donald-trump-wants-to-slash-them/?utm_content=bufferf599c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=plus.google.com&utm_campaign=buffer">weather forecasting and research</a>.
<p>
What use is it to send record-setting hurricanes at people
if they get warning to flee?


feed_id: d7ceb94188ab4c08e4e45c97f52b500e
title: Election ads
uri: Election-ads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Election_ads%29
content:
<p>
Russia Today says that Twitter made it a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/oct/27/russias-rt-reveals-twitters-pitch-to-sell-millions-of-dollars-in-2016-election-ads">special advertising offer</a>.


feed_id: 3b8a21164f613ad03289e7e90cbe8ef7
title: White supremacist in military
uri: White-supremacist-in-military
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28White_supremacism_in_military%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2017/10/23/military-times-poll-one-in-four-troops-sees-white-nationalism-in-the-ranks/">1/4 of US soldiers</a> have seen white supremacist among the ranks.


feed_id: d0f0e67dc5f59df2658c8172d2b67ac0
title: War crimes
uri: 2017-10-29-War-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28War_crimes%29
content:
<p>
Breaking the Silence, which lead Israeli soldiers and ex-soldiers to
<a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/24/its-being-done-to-intimidate-us-israeli-anti-occupation-groups-face-crackdown">reveal the war crimes they and their fellow soldiers have committed</a>,
faces being banned by proposed laws.
<p>
The right-wing in Israel encourages crimes against Palestinians,
and pressures everyone to cover then up; they therefore define everyone
who reveals them as a “traitor”.
<p>
We saw that perverse attitude in the US towards Chelsea Manning.


feed_id: 792353e888cc616657b5fdefef9c72f2
title: Overprotecting children
uri: 2017-10-29-Overprotecting-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Overprotecting_children%29
content:
<p>
We can laugh at the <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2017/10/26/the-fragile-generation?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reason%2FArticles+%28Reason+Online+-+All+Articles+%28except+Hit+%26+Run+blog%29%29">absurd extremes of the US culture of
overprotecting children</a>, but its everyday form is enough to direct
most kids to grow into weaklings who can't cope with the ordinary
problems of education, work, and life.
<p>
Denied the chance to play freely together, they lose the chance to learn how to cope. 
<p>
Accustomed to being protected from shocking thoughts, they
demand to be protected even when they grow older.


feed_id: 77e809139890ba7780b271da8b8ea546
title: Oil drilling
uri: Oil-drilling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Oil_drilling%29
content:
<p>
The bully's saboteurs plan to expand oil drilling on <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/interior-department-scrubs-climate-change-from-its-strategic-plan/">public lands
while killing renewable energy</a> if they can.
<p>
The bully plans to put a coal industry saboteur <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/10/26/trumps-nomination-steven-gardner-direct-osmre-puts-health-thousands-coal">in charge of protecting
people from coal mine pollution</a>. 
<p>
This is direct murder.


feed_id: cc277fc2412f849d601c282c19aea4d3
title: Tunisia's corrupt politicians
uri: Tunisia-s-corrupt-politicians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jul-oct.html#29_October_2017_%28Tunisias_corrupt_politicians%29
content:
<p>
Tunisia has adopted an amnesty for the corrupt politicians from the
previous dictatorship.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/27/tunisia-reconciliation-act-dismissed-amnesty-of-the-corrupt">People
respond, "We will not forgive."</a>


