# articles

feed_id: c1bc2f7efe4c73963215e077321ceeee
title: Performance_Indicators
uri: Performance_Indicators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Performance_Indicaters%29
content:
<p>
Optimizing "key performance indicators" destroys the relationship that
made them appear to be worth optimizing, <a href="
https://boingboing.net/2019/06/26/breaking-goodharts-law.html">Optimizing apps (or web
sites) for "engagement" (how much time users spend in them) tends to
makes them, at very least, a persistent annoyance -- if not a tool for
right-wing hatred and disinformation.</a>

<p>
With a free/libre program, the users can exercise control
and override these the decisions they don't like.


feed_id: ac3df4fd6e340677d4e1ee92b90f49d0
title: Ma_Jian_About_Hong_Kong
uri: Ma_Jian_About_Hong_Kong
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Ma_Jian_About_Hong_Kong%29
content:
<p>
Author Ma Jian: <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/28/china-abuction-hong-kong-beijing-g20-ma-jian">"I felt the fear of abduction by China in Hong Kong.
Appeasing Bejing has to stop."
</a>


feed_id: 7b24f02b48335d06a33f48211566acf9
title: German_Extremists_Kill_List
uri: German_Extremists_Kill_List
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28German_Etreamists_Kill_List%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing German extremists assembled a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/28/german-far-right-group-used-police-data-to-compile-death-list
">list of politicians and activists
to kill</a>, based on data obtained from thugs and the military.


feed_id: 86058840f3808db2b49ba3629f5e6f23
title: UK_Planet_Roasters'_Victory
uri: UK_Planet_Roasters-_Victory
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28UK_Planet_Roasters%27_Victory%29
content:
<p>
In a victory for planet-roasting, protesters in the UK were <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/28/anti-fracking-activists-breached-injunction-judge-rules-cuadrilla">convicted of
violating an anti-protest injunction set up to protect a fracking company.
</a>
<p>
The protesters were attempting to save the lives of the people that
fracking would kill a few decades from now. The judge will pressure
them to say they were sorry for this. They should refuse to apologize
for protecting the ecosphere. The only thing they should be sorry
about is that they did not succeed.


feed_id: 4066ddade65577e1d3f30c2a5360e6d4
title: EU_Resists_One_Party_States
uri: EU_Resists_One_Party_States
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28EU_Resistes_One_Party_sStates%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/28/europe-mistakes-hungary-law-poland-ruling-retirement-polish-judges">The EU is starting to resist authoritarian national governments that try to
set up one-party states.</a>

<p>
I hope this is not too late.


feed_id: 122920491c7d3884e51a513644fffd31
title: Nazanin_Zaghari &mdash Ratcliffe
uri: Nazanin_Zaghari-mdash-Ratcliffe
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Nazanin_Zaghari_%2526mdash_Ratcliffe%29

content:
<p>
<a herf="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jun/28/nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe-husbands-hunger-strike-nears-two-week-point
">Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is hunger striking in prison on Iran.</a> Her
husband is hunger striking in support of her outside the Iranian
embassy in London.


feed_id: b258a239a4f60a1e1c42c04727dd33d5
title: Wang_Quanzhang'S_Trial
uri: Wang_Quanzhang-S_Trial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Wang_Quanzhang%27S_Trial%29
content:
<p>
Chinese human rights defender Wang Quanzhang has been in prison four
years. <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/28/chinese-human-rights-lawyer-wang-quanzhang-totally-changed-man-after-jail">Just recently he had "trial" which sentenced him to four more
years in prison.</a>

<p>
His wife was just allowed to see him for the first time since he was
grabbed, and says he is falling apart as a result of brainwashing
conditions.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-mar-jun.html#22_June_2019_(Indictment_of_Assange)">

The US does not generally imprison prominent human rights lawyers, but
it persecutes journalists</a>
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#05_August_2013_(US_govt_double_standards_for_extradition)">
and their sources.
</a>
<p>
I don't know of any government that comes even close to respecting
human rights.


feed_id: 3ff7a128e790a8d655e84f3ad5538997
title: Pride_Capitalism_in_Disguise
uri: Pride_Capitalism_in_Disguise
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Pride_Capitalism_in_Disguise%29
content:
<p>
LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations today are <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/28/pride-rainbow-branded-capitalism-stonewall-lgbt">"rainbow-branded capitalism":
instead of liberation,</a> they demand for queers the same
strictures that most straights suffer under.


feed_id: eedf3044e350e7429b3b67aad6de4cfc
title: China_Paying_for_Personal_Data
uri: China_Paying_for_Personal_Data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28China_Paying_for_Personal_Data%29
content:
<p>
In China, <a href="
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-ai-data-insight/faces-for-cookware-data-collection-industry-flourishes-as-china-pursues-ai-ambitions-idUSKCN1TS3EA">companies actually pay people</a> (with household goods) for
personal data to train AIs.

<p>
Is this any better than what happens now in the US? I don't think so.
A little pay cannot compensate for the loss anonymity cause by the
spying and control that the AIs will enable.


feed_id: 4dbca8dde590a290db5b29b8d9a29619
title: Agriculture_and_Seaweed
uri: Agriculture_and_Seaweed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Agriculture_and_Seaweed%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/28/mexico-seaweed-invasion-tourism-caribbean-beaches">Human agriculture may be causing the excess of seaweed that is making
Mexico's beaches unpleasant.</a>

<p>
Fertilizer runoff does other damage. Mexico needs to curb it, rather
than cleaning beaches twice a day.


feed_id: df31ccf8ff68a32368451bb2c824c22d
title: Phones_in_Schools
uri: Phones_in_Schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Phones_in_Schools%29
content:
<p>
"You can't enforce a ban on mobile phones in the classroom &mdash <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/commentisfree/2019/jun/28/you-cant-enforce-a-ban-on-mobile-phones-in-the-classroom-we-should-teach-kids-to-hate-them-instead"> we should
teach kids to hate them instead."
</a>
<p>
I am doing my part &mdash please join me.


feed_id: 08e465908cad620e34d85291c399e802
title: Politics_Need_to_Consider_Poor
uri: Politics_Need_to_Consider_Poor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Politics_Need_to_Consider_Poor%29
content:
<p>
US politics must consider the poor again. <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/28/poor-peoples-campaign-poverty-voice-2020-election">A fight between the middle
class and the wealthy has pushed them down for decades.</a>


feed_id: fc48b0350db33285e01e3319a48535a8
title: Jamal_Khashoggi's_Warning
uri: Jamal_Khashoggi-s_Warning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Jamal_Khashoggi%27s_Warning%29
content:
<p>
Jamal Khashoggi warned Moroccan journalist Taoufik Bouachrine <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/27/jamal-khashoggi-warned-moroccan-journalist-before-his-arrest-says-wife">that he
was a target too.</a>

<p>
Bouachrine was subsequently jailed on political charges.


feed_id: 1e4deebc3272c2633c92fdfc1803d7ed
title: Increase_in_Abortions
uri: Increase_in_Abortions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Increase_in_Abortions%29
content:
<p>
Ironically, the US global campaign against talking about abortion
has led to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jun/27/global-gag-rule-africa-abortion-study
">big increase in abortions in some African countries.</a>
<p>
That results from an increase in the pregnancy rate. Sad to say, not
all the unintended additional pregnancies will be terminated. Some
will lead soon to an increase in unintended births, which will lead in
a couple of decades to an increase in unintended deaths.


feed_id: 051e5a73581c10cbb7409285716991c5
title: Japan_Resumes_Whailing
uri: Japan_Resumes_Whailing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Japan_Resumes_Whailing%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/28/after-30-years-japan-prepares-to-resume-commercial-whaling">Japan is going to resume overt commercial whaling.</a>

<p>
For decades, Japan has dishonestly called its whaling "scientific".


feed_id: f0b95ffa65f7e6558191d52a256c89c9
title: Chennai_Water_Crisis
uri: Chennai_Water_Crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Chennai_Water_Crisis%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/28/our-whole-life-is-disrupted-hope-dries-up-as-chennai-battles-historic-drought
">The city of Chennai is copying with running out of water, but how long
can it go on?</a> Drought is expected to spread to 20 more cities by next
year.


feed_id: d2bef339e6636662919bb0cee6e4fa15
title: EPA_Revokes_Employee's_Union
uri: EPA_Revokes_Employee-s_Union
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28EPA_Revokes_Employee%27s_Union%29
content:
<p>
The Environmental Poisoning Agency has become the Employment Punishing
Agency, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/26/new-imposed-contract-trumps-epa-tries-neuter-worker-rights?cd-origin=rss
">by unilaterally revoking the employees' union representation
in all but name.</a>


feed_id: 92b2d6a1d75a4bc248a1fd5ec8993150
title: Fake_News
uri: Fake_News
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Fake_News%29
content:
<p><a href="
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/O6Lp3GaJJvk/
">
Singapore, Russia and France are trying to dictate what news is "fake".
</a>


feed_id: ad1d2b931c8baa18d1bc2840cc47e80d
title: Citizenship_Question
uri: Citizenship_Question
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Citizenship_Question%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/27/census-citizenship-ruling-supreme-court-trump-question-verdict-2020
">The Supreme Court blocked the citizenship question in the 2020 census,
but not finally.</a> Republicans will have a chance to offer another excuse.


feed_id: 5836af464c7bb41a5e0c54e95bfbc9c3
title: Hong_Kong
uri: Hong_Kong
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Hong_Kong%29
content:
<p><a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/27/beijing-hong-kong-extradition-bill-china">
"Beijing will not rest until it controls Hong Kong. We must keep fighting."
</a>


feed_id: 834d96850920a8c06c43a538e9afd5bd
title: Berlin_Hacker
uri: Berlin_Hacker
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Berlin_Hacker%29
content:
<p>
A hacker in Berlin posted advertisements of nonexistent and subtly absurd
construction projects, <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/27/artist-protests-using-fake-real-estate-images-and-dupes-investors">and got real offers to buy in.</a>


feed_id: 0eacdfbfc2d445cc1bc9d34235c7cdff
title: Cervical_Cancer_Vaccine
uri: Cervical_Cancer_Vaccine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Cervical_Cancer_Vaccine%29
content:
<p>
Cervical cancer is caused by a virus. <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/26/hpv-human-papilloma-virus-vaccine-cervical-cancer-elimination-study">An effective vaccine makes
eradication of that virus a plausible future goal.</a>

<p>
If, that is, misogynist anti-vaxxers don't stop it.


feed_id: 23b7014a04e9e04c36b827c3c6fc3a58
title: Abdul_Aziz_Muhamat
uri: Abdul_Aziz_Muhamat
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Abdul_Aziz_Muhamat%29
content:
<p>
Abdul Aziz Muhamat, who was dumped by Australia in Manus Island, <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/27/former-manus-island-detainee-tells-un-human-beings-are-being-destroyed">plead
for the UN Human Rights Council to give the effectively imprisoned
refugees new homes.</a>


feed_id: 0d76417b409de7c03d09b97cd3fb8a82
title: Businesses_now_blocking_FOIA
uri: Businesses_now_blocking_FOIA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Buissnesses_now_blocking_FOIA%29
content:
<p>
The Supreme Court gave <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/06/24/supreme-court-rules-against-government-transparency-contracts-private-businesses?cd-origin=rss">businesses the power to block FOIA requests
for information about what they are doing in government contracts.</a>

<p>
Since trade secrecy is generally harmful to society, we need to move
in the opposite direction: to reduce the power of business to impose
secrecy when that harms society or community in any way.


feed_id: 723a321743ed2602c154faf80ab7ca4a
title: Guantánamo_Medical_Care
uri: Guantánamo_Medical_Care
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Guant%C3%83%C2%A1namo_Medical_Care%29

content:
<p>
The report, <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/06/26/report-documents-pervasive-deficiencies-medical-care-detainees-guantanamo-bay?cd-origin=rss">"Deprivation and Despair: The Crisis of Medical Care at
Guantánamo,"</a> finds systemic failures of medical care for the prisoners.


feed_id: b2aab07c5a73e211a8eb6b66e349ddca
title: Warren's_Election_Reform
uri: Warren-s_Election_Reform
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Warren%27s_Election_Reform%29
content:
<p>
Senator Warren's plan to reform elections is aimed at <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/26/warren-wins-praise-plan-end-rigged-game-plaguing-us-elections-expanding-voting?cd-origin=rss">securing elections from
rigging and theft, and removing obstacles to voting,</a>

<p>
At the general level described in the article, it looks good to me.
On some issues, the details may be crucial.


feed_id: 54901bc7f5f2b9bbbc4653219f07409e
title: London_Thugs_Pay
uri: London_Thugs_Pay
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28London_Thugs_Pay%29
content:
<p>
The London thug department has been forced to <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/26/met-police-in-700k-payout-to-detained-anti-fascist-protesters">pay compensation to
anti-fascist protesters</a> that it besieged for hours on the street, then
arrested.


feed_id: 5c60182e0d1f67aa8580cc44e7145cc2
title: Sander's_Student_Debt_Abolition
uri: Sander-s_Student_Debt_Abolition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Sander%27s_Student_Debt_Abolition%29

content:
<p>
Sanders advocates <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/26/benefits-all-or-just-some-sanders-student-debt-plan-highlights-2020-debate-over?cd-origin=rss">blanket abolition of Americans' college debt</a> because
programs that serve only people with low incomes tend to get cut down
to zero.

<p>
Plutocrats want those funds to go to them, not to be used to help
non-rich. If the program doesn't include the middle class, the
plutocrats can propagandize the middle class to support ending the
program by shrinking it step by step to nothing.
<p>
<a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/06/26/intergenerational-warfare-scam-we-need-expand-social-security-and-end-student-debt?cd-origin=rss
">Millions of Americans of the age at which Americans used to retire are
weighted down with college debt</a> &mdash their own, or their childrens's.


feed_id: b93316bec358a8cc43a731d118942972
title: Facebook_Crypto currency
uri: Facebook_Crypto-currency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Facebook_Cryptocurrency%29
content:
<p>
Facebook's proposed currency is marketed as "decentralization"
but actually it is an attempt to <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/06/26/facebook-may-pose-greater-danger-wall-street?cd-origin=rss">supplant banks with a system
under complete centralized private control.</a>

<p>
The name "libra" refers to a unit of weight (a pound), but I expect it
was chosen for its false association with "libre". It has nothing to
do with freedom, though; it would create a system of unitary power
rather than a system of freedom. The name is a fib.
<p>
How about calling it "Fib-Lib"?


feed_id: efc21f00322832babbe31300585fad55
title: NYC_Thugs_Racism
uri: NYC_Thugs_Racism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28NYC_Thugs_Racism%29
content:
<p>
The New York City <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> department continues racist practices despite
the court order to cease them. <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/06/26/independent-investigation-inspector-general-slams-nypd-continued-biased-policing?cd-origin=rss">Its internal "investigations" of
reported racism are bogus.</a>


feed_id: 18ca2dadbc3385abb66de857760492d7
title: Darthmouth_Tracking_Workers
uri: Darthmouth_Tracking_Workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Darthmouth_Tracking_Workers%29
content:
<p>
Dartmouth University <a href="
https://www.dartmouth.edu/press-releases/phones_and_wearables_combine_to_assess_worker_performance_62419.html">developed a system to monitor workers in many
different ways together.</a> It can "assess worker performance" by
tracking all sorts of behavior.

<p>
Some research should not be done, and this is one example.


feed_id: e0e14befdaa31a6b5959c3ca1ab6c55f
title: Palestine_Biometrics
uri: Palestine_Biometrics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Palestine_Biometrics%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/israels-high-tech-face-lift-takes-the-sting-out-of-checkpoints--but-not-of-the-occupation/2019/06/11/3bda3690-78bf-11e9-a7bf-c8a43b84ee31_story.html?utm_term=.d14b59fe9604&noredirect=on
">Fingerprint and face scanning</a> makes the occupation of Palestine less
inconvenient, but more oppressive.


feed_id: 8c9f80c29dfc7c943259157b6963ca17
title: Oil_and_Gas_industry
uri: Oil_and_Gas_industry
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Oil_and_Gas_industry%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/the-highlight/2019/5/28/18629833/climate-change-2019-green-new-deal">"Stop obsessing over your environmental 'sins.' Fight the oil and gas
industry instead."</a>

<p>
I agree, as regards personal consumption. However, working to
construct fossil fuel facilities does a specially concentrated form of
harm. I don't think that you can justify oil drilling in the name of
"feeding your family", because <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> is already causing tens
of thousands of American families to become destitute, and any wells
you drill will make that worse in the future. The first way to fight
the oil and gas industry is to stop working for it.


feed_id: ec9ca42d430954f1268e2e10cbd526d8
title: Social_Media_Regulations
uri: Social_Media_Regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Soscial_Media_Regulations%29
content:
<p>
Op-Ed From the Future: "The way we regulated social media platforms
didn’t end harassment, extremism or disinformation. <a href="
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/opinion/future-free-speech-social-media-platforms.html">It only gave them
more power and made the problem worse."</a>


feed_id: 968b3169ee8ebc1136ae32475537b38a
title: Anti_Abortion_history
uri: Anti_Abortion_history
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Anti_Abortion_history%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/23/opinion/anti-abortion-history.html
">The Long, Cruel History of the Anti-Abortion Crusade.</a>
<p>
The writer is wrong on one point, when he asserts that "no one is
pro-abortion". I am pro-abortion. I expect each additional human
baby born today to result in more than one additional premature human
death a few decades from now. For this and <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html
">other powerful reasons, have an abortion, not baby.</a>
<p>
However, trying to <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/26/two-child-benefits-limit-society-inhumanity-scroungers">discourage excess births by cutting welfare benefits</a>
for large families is cruel and unjustified.

<p>
Children did not choose to be born, or in which families they were
born, and growing up in poverty can stunt them physically and mentally
for life.


feed_id: f9b621616c6de756ed38d11492c3bb10
title: Global_Heating_Impacts_Rights
uri: Global_Heating_Impacts_Rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Global_Heating_Impacts_Rights%29
content:
<p>
"Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human
rights, said the impacts of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> are likely to undermine not
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/25/climate-apartheid-united-nations-expert-says-human-rights-may-not-survive-crisis
">only basic rights to life, water, food, and housing for hundreds of
millions of people, but also democracy and the rule of law."</a>


feed_id: 07c489f88b1f04ce51c421856db5bd6a
title: Candidate_Israel_Criticism
uri: Candidate_Israel_Criticism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Canidate_Isral_Criticism%29
content:
<p>
Only Sanders and Buttigieg, of the well-known presidential candidates,
dared to <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/06/24/most-democratic-candidates-still-afraid-criticize-israels-violations-palestinian?cd-origin=rss">criticize Israel's treatment of Palestinians.</a>


feed_id: ec7bdf49b74a2fec9e1e1c8e0841fbf2
title: UN_Face_Surveillance
uri: UN_Face_Surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28UN_Face_Survalance%29
content:
<p>
U.N. Food Chief Refuses To Deliver Food To Starving Yemen's <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-un/un-food-chief-warns-aid-suspension-in-yemen-likely-to-start-this-week-idUSKCN1TI1X7
">Unless They Can Be Identified Using Facial Biometrics.</a>


feed_id: 92b2d4c7b7de722d3dfdd2fbb3001876
title: Sanders_VS_Terrorism
uri: Sanders_VS_Terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Sanders_VS_Terrism%29
content:
<p>
Bernie Sanders: <a href="
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2019-06-24/ending-americas-endless-war
">We Must Stop Giving Terrorists Exactly What They Want</a>
(in the Middle East).


feed_id: a64aa208eedb6e2d6e014c99cb784d04
title: FCC_Sides_with_Comcast
uri: FCC_Sides_with_Comcast
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28FCC_Sides_with_Commcast%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/fcc-siding-landlords-and-comcast-over-tenants-who-want-broadband-choices">FCC Is Siding With Landlords and Comcast Over Tenants</a> Who Want Broadband Choices.


feed_id: d64e86cfcf0af65eb375c3fd8f8f5537
title: Al_Gore_economy
uri: Al_Gore_economy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Al_Gore_economy%29
content:
<p>
Al Gore: only big solutions can <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/25/climate-crisis-al-gore-global-economy-needs-major-upgrade-fast">offset impact of
systemic shifts and avert disaster.</a>


feed_id: d69fe1983d7f1feab553af284f82b308
title: Instagram_Influence
uri: Instagram_Influence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Instagram%27s_Influence%29
content:
<p>
The madness of people influenced by Instagram is <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/25/an-avocado-cafe-is-my-worst-nightmare-but-this-is-instagrams-world-now-we-just-live-in-it">causing trouble for
the rest of us.</a>

<p>
The simplest way to stop Instagram from annoying your life
is to stop using it and stop paying attention to it6.


feed_id: 2b0d8955b6e21d1c0ff1252586d4f7fb
title: Self_Driving_cars
uri: Self_Driving_cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Self_Driving_cars%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self-driving/surveillance-and-the-selfdriving-car">The (so-called) Self-Driving Car Is a Surveillance Tool.</a>

<p>
I say "so-called" because remote-drive software has already been
developed, Unless you own the car and the software that controls it is
free/libre, you cannot ever be confident that it is driving itself
rather than being driven under someone else's control.


feed_id: f037015b2b410c56090e3af1b120358b
title: Aggression_Detection
uri: Aggression_Detection
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Aggression_Detection%29
content:
<p>
"Aggression detector" systems for schools throw an <a href="
https://features.propublica.org/aggression-detector/the-unproven-invasive-surveillance-technology-schools-are-using-to-monitor-students/">alarm whenever
someone's voice sounds "stressed".</a>

<p>
Even if the system were entirely accurate, attempting to use it would
make people more stressed. Only a tiny fraction of these events
represent people who are about to attack someone. In the rest of the
cases, bothering them will only make their lives more miserable and
more stressed.
<p>
Suppose you are a teacher or school principal. How could use use
these data without making the school worse? You can't. So don't use
it.


feed_id: ead8bd2814e576ee92ba1db16d7a102c
title: Tashif Turner
uri: Tashif-Turner
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Tashif_Turner%29
content:
<p>
 US <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> will hunt desperately for an excuse to arrest someone.
Chicago artist Tashif Turner had a permit to paint a mural, but he
didn't have it with him, so they arrested him. <a href="
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/wUylP2R36t4/">But it gets worse.</a>


feed_id: bc482903511998ccde95ceeee746915e
title: US_Citizenship_revoke
uri: US_Citizenship_revoke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28US_Citizenship_revoke%29
content:
<p>
Naturalized US citizens now face the terrifying threat of having their
<a href="
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/pB_jmcLGInk/
">citizenship taken away without their even being informed.</a>


feed_id: f36029038e95977c2c71d06b920bffc5
title: UK_Visa_Discrimination
uri: UK_Visa_Discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28UK_Visa_Discrimniation%29
content:
<p>
 The head of a department of Unesco has decided not to hold conferences
in the UK any more. <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/24/unesco-chair-blasts-discriminatory-uk-visitor-visa-system
">It is too hard for even sponsored participants to get
a visa to attend.</a>


feed_id: ae3250d5d0f9e17cf206bd4510476789
title: UK_Visa_Discrimination
uri: 2019-07-24-UK_Visa_Discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28UK_Visa_Discrimination%29
content:
<p>
The head of a department of <a href="Unesco has decided not to hold conferences
in the UK any more. It is too hard for even sponsored participants to get
a visa to attend.

<p>
<li><a name="23_July_2019_(Insulin_Murder)" />23 July 2019 (<a class="titlelink" href="#23_July_2019_(Insulin_Murder)">Insulin_Murder</a>)
<p>
Extension of patenting, together with general encouragement of greed,
has made insulin so expensive in the US that American diabetics
have to skimp on everything else &mdash <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/06/24/insulin-racket?cd-origin=rss"> and even then they may die from not
being able to buy insulin.</a>

<p>
It amounts to murder.


feed_id: bb6849f39b83a036e78f95db1c85d680
title: Manus_Island_Refugee
uri: Manus_Island_Refugee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Manus_Island_Refugee%29
content:
<p>
The refugee who tried to kill himself by fire in Manus Island
will <a hear="
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/25/manus-island-asylum-seeker-who-set-himself-on-fire-to-be-charged-with-attempted-suicide">face charges leading to life imprisonment</a> in a smaller prison.

<p>
Those who imprisoned him in Papua New Guinea and those who denied
him medical treatment should be considered responsible for his "crime",
which is not as grave as theirs.


feed_id: b85f6936990290d8885c6f1c65aaa26d
title: Environmental_myth
uri: Environmental_myth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Enviromental_myth%29
content:
<p>
It's a myth that environmental regulations stifle economic
productivity. Harmful chemicals cost the US $340bn a year.

<p>
The <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/25/banning-dangerous-chemicals-could-save-the-us-billions-iq">benefits of using those chemicals are concentrated on businesses,
while the damage is dispersed among lots of families,</a> mostly not rich.
Politically, under the plutocratist system, the former counts more
than the latter.


feed_id: 8453347a4ccc4a41820827cbd4a63870
title: Plastic_and_Global_Heating
uri: Plastic_and_Global_Heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Plastic_and_Global_Heating%29
content:
<p>
 "Every stage of the plastic life-cycle <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2019/jun/24/the-earths-climate-is-paying-for-our-addiction-to-plastic">releases harmful carbon emissions
into the atmosphere, contributing to global heating."</a>

<p>
This is in addition to poisoning sea animals and land animals.


feed_id: 4c061b27c2233f26c5c678b2d3c99561
title: Thug's_Facebook_Posts
uri: Thug-s_Facebook_Posts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Thug%27s_Facebook_Posts%29
content:
<p>
 Some US thugs are being investigated and may be fired because of <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/24/police-facebook-posts-racism-violence-plain-view-project">fomenting
violence on Facebook.</a>

<p>
Cops are supposed to be police officers, not <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>. Firing them for
statements that contradict the mission of their profession is right
and proper.


feed_id: f05e940693b0dc7debdedda3423dbc11
title: Companies'_Facebook
uri: Companies-_Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Companies%27_Facebook_%29
content:
<p>
An Australian court ruled that <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jun/25/media-companies-scramble-after-judge-rules-they-are-liable-for-facebook-comments" />companies are negligent in permitting
"defamatory" comments</a> to be posted on their Facebook pages.

<p>
Facebook does not give the companies any authority to moderate the comments,
so the only way they can comply is by setting up a filter which rejects all
comments. This is ridiculous.


feed_id: d1c59aaefc715ddb992a5df0f3fa3d18
title: Congo Population
uri: Congo-Population
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Congo_Population%29
content:
<p>
      <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jul/22/gorillas-charcoal-fight-survival-congo-rainforest">
      Population is reaching crunch point in the Congo.</a> 
The Pygmies, who
lived there before, demand to cut down the forest that lowland
gorillas live in.</p>
<p>
  As the world's human population bloats, there won't be enough land for
  everyone. People will get desperate, and try to hang on a little
  longer by destroying forests, farming land that isn't suitable,
catching the last few fish, and so on. But that won't do more than
postpone the end.</p>
<p>
The human population will eventually be limited &mdash after everything
else is gone. We need to limit the human population earlier, before
that destruction occurs.</p>
  </li>
</p>


feed_id: 102c2c157c2f9a8031989f7d003f8143
title: Green_New_Deal
uri: 2019-07-24-Green_New_Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
If you think about the cost of _not_ doing the Green New Deal,
you see we can afford it. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/06/28/who-can-afford-green-new-deal-we-can?cd-origin=rss">
It is an investment in survival.</a>


feed_id: df1f6d679d879c8c155d6caf37c771e4
title: US_Citizenship_revoke
uri: 2019-07-24-US_Citizenship_revoke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28US_Citizenship_revoke%29
content:
<p>
Naturalized US citizens now face the terrifying threat of having their
<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/pB_jmcLGInk/">citizenship taken away without their even being informed.</a>


feed_id: ecba61d57add42bf5bd26fd2f1cb3ac6
title: UK_Visa_Discrimination
uri: 2019-07-24-UK_Visa_Discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28UK_Visa_Discrimniation%29
content:
<p>
 The head of a department of Unesco has decided not to hold conferences
in the UK any more.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/24/unesco-chair-blasts-discriminatory-uk-visitor-visa-system">It is too hard for even sponsored participants to get
a visa to attend.</a>


feed_id: 7ddde8f9a74d3e8a09b8d0ddb04f4a41
title: UK_Visa_Discrimination
uri: 2019-07-24-UK_Visa_Discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28UK_Visa_Discrimination%29
content:
<p>
The head of a department of Unesco has decided not to hold conferences
in the UK any more. It is too hard for even sponsored participants to get
a visa to attend.


feed_id: 094b3f42d71aad3fa50958d2257326d9
title: Insulin_Murder
uri: Insulin_Murder
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#23_July_2019_%28Insulin_Murder%29
content:
<p>
Extension of patenting, together with general encouragement of greed,
has made insulin so expensive in the US that American diabetics
have to skimp on everything else &mdash <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/06/24/insulin-racket?cd-origin=rss"> and even then they may die from not
being able to buy insulin.</a>

<p>
It amounts to murder.


feed_id: a6749b9bd0dad288ad1d6505fe7e0fe2
title: Conman's appointees
uri: Conman-s-appointees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Conmans_appointees%29
content:
<p>
The conman's appointees on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/nuclear-industry-pushing-fewer-inspections-plants-n983671">want
to inspect nuclear power plants less often</a>.
<p>
The owners won't need to fix problems if they can avoid finding out
about them.  The only way we will know about them is if they lead
to an accident.
<p>
A nuclear power plan accident typically results from a 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-sep-dec.html#14_October_2013_(Nuclear_power_plants)">combination
of factors</a>, each one of which might have seemed not to be a big
deal by itself.  Just the sort of the things that the owners would
suggest could be ignored.


feed_id: c9a29dce44a72f26df3081b866c0bb43
title: Right to operate a union
uri: Right-to-operate-a-union
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Right_to_operate_a_union%29
content:
<p>
An appeals court 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/16/appeals-court-delivers-tremendous-blow-federal-workers-decision-uphold-trumps-anti">decided
it had no authority over whether the conman could effectively
eliminate federal workers right to operate a union</a>.
<p>
I wonder how many of the judges involved were appointed recently by
Republicans.


feed_id: 77e6fb638fe05f9ba3198a79eda908c1
title: "Prominent politicians" on Twitter
uri: Prominent-politicians-on-Twitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Prominent_politicians_on_Twitter%29
content:
<p>
Twitter will give "prominent politicians" an 
<a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/597an5/twitter-officially-has-separate-rules-for-politicians">exception
from its rules against posting hatred</a>.
<p>
I think this is a combination of circumstances in which there is
simply no choice that Twitter can make which isn't bad.


feed_id: 14b1556899cd88184e3750c563345245
title: Democratic politicians
uri: Democratic-politicians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Democratic_politicians%29
content:
<p>
Americans are ready to stop trying to dominate the world.
Most Democratic politicians 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/01/democrats-defeat-trump-radically-anti-war">have
yet to catch up</a>.


feed_id: 7ac0a58e1ac3baf47161e05ad881c21a
title: British state arrested dissident for China
uri: British-state-arrested-dissident-for-China
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28British_state_arrested_dissident_for_China%29

content:
<p>
China pressured the British state to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/30/political-pressure-before-arrest-of-chinese-dissident-london">arrest
an exiled Chinese dissident preemptively</a> for Xi's visit in 2015.


feed_id: 048432b98d38a12c944815311c662945
title: The bullshitter and North Korea
uri: The-bullshitter-and-North-Korea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28The_bullshitter_and_North_Korea%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter is making progress with North Korea &mdash; progress
towards 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/30/trump-and-kims-dmz-meeting-proves-more-than-just-a-photo-op">a
deal that would accept its possession of nuclear weapons</a>.
<p>
This is the only possible avenue towards any sort of deal, since
Dictator Kim will not give up those nuclear weapons.  Thus, in a way
this is a wise policy.  But the bullshitter can't acknowledge it, as
it would highlight the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-jan-apr.html#9_April_2019_(Sharing_nuclear_technology)">absurdity
of his policy towards Iran</a>.


feed_id: d4c9345c2466431d39daea193414a896
title: Katharine Gun
uri: Katharine-Gun
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Katharine_Gun%29
content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2019/7/19/katharine_gun_whistleblower_official_secrets_movie
">two-part interview</a> with British whistleblower Katharine Gun, who
revealed how the UK was helping Dubya try to <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2019/7/19/15_years_later_how_uk_whistleblower
"><a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> UN security council
members into approving his attack on Iraq.</a>


feed_id: ffac696559d74957e6f5f5903366c4d9
title: Emotion recognition
uri: Emotion-recognition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Emotion_recongnition%29
content:
<p>
Experts Say 'Emotion Recognition' <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/experts-say-emotion-recognition-lacks-scientific
">Lacks Scientific Foundation.</a>


feed_id: fbda88103966500144e4c07f08c82336
title: Banksters funding Bully's racism
uri: Banksters-funding-Bully-s-racism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Banksters_funding_Bully%27s_racism%29

content:
<p>
Banksters and plutocrats are happy to keep <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/21/donald-trump-racist-wall-street-republicans
">funding the bully's racism.</a>


<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> promotes and spreads racism, but is he really racist?
He lies almost all the time, so why expect him to be sincere in this?
Maybe he spreads racism as a cynical strategy.

<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/21/trump-race-charlottesville-democrats-ilhan-omar-2020">The strategy can be very effective.</a>

<p>
However, since plutocratist Democrats support much of the wrongs that
Republicans do, it is a mistake to conclude we would be better off if
we had not elected progressive leaders such as Ocasio-Cortez.
<p>
To win in 2020, <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/19/trumps-racist-we-knew-now-what?cd-origin=rss
">Democrats need to motivate massive turnout,</a> and they
are the ones who can do that.


feed_id: e558927e79df0c48abe815be9d10f7d5
title: River floods
uri: River-floods
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28River_floods%29
content:
<p>
Using levees to contain flooding <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/20/flood-risks-increase-across-us-its-time-recognize-limits-levees?cd-origin=rss
">rivers makes for bigger floods downstream.</a>
Cities need to leave space along the river for floods to spread out.


feed_id: cd2bc9273116aeabfb1b45d8d9a713f1
title: Private browser modes
uri: Private-browser-modes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Private_browser_modes%29
content:
<p>
"Private" and "incognito" modes of browsers are <a href="
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/07/researchers-investigate-whether-major-advertisers-track-porn-habits-seems-likely/">no protection against
being tracked by Google and Oracle (and to a lesser extent Facebook).</a>

<p>
Tracking people's porn browsing could cause trouble for some people
who pretend to be prudes, but there are much more damaging things
they could track.


feed_id: b65af292a48c3ecdad88b86bd5a5c3c5
title: Plastic manufacturers
uri: Plastic-manufacturers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Plastic_manufacturers%29
content:
<p>
Plastic manufacturers <a href="
https://theintercept.com/2019/07/20/plastics-industry-plastic-recycling/
">are buying state laws</a> to make sure nothing gets
in the way of selling lots of plastic bags (and plastic everything
else).


feed_id: d4a42a56533394131204e65d7745163a
title: North Carolina hurricanes
uri: North-Carolina-hurricanes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28North_Carolina_hurracanes%29
content:
<p>
Fair Bluff, North Carolina, was half wiped out by rain from two recent
hurricanes. <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/21/fair-bluff-north-carolina-hurricane-aftermath-climate-crisis">If another hurricane hits there, it could finish the job.</a>

<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> tends to make storms drop more rain.


feed_id: 5c5ce3b24bb40868b4fed90b7a3d6b82
title: Online photo editing dis-service
uri: Online-photo-editing-dis-service
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Online_photo_editing_dis-service%29
content:
<p>
More concern about how online photo-editing dis-services <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/faceapp-reveals-huge-holes-todays-privacy-laws/594358/
">make use of
the photos people send them.</a>
<p>
The deeper problem with these "apps", which send photos to a remote
server to edit it, is that they send photos to a remote server to edit
it. We call that <a href="
https://gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html
">"service as a software substitute"</a>

because the job
ought to be done by a program you install on your own computer &mdash; a
free program, in order to respect your freedom and autonomy &mdash; and
never sent <i>anywhere.</i>


feed_id: 59a72f540a22d11f2ea1ac2bc490a011
title: Hawaiians protest telescope
uri: Hawaiians-protest-telescope
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Hawiians_protest_telescope%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/20/hawaii-mauna-kea-thirty-meter-telescope">Hawaiians are protesting against plans to construct a new telescope</a>
with a very large mirror, which would advance our knowledge of the
universe.

<p>
The idea that a place is "sacred" is an irrational sensitivity.
It is good to cater to such sensitivities as long as that doesn't
sacrifice something important -- such as the telescope.
<p>
The telescope should be built. However, removing obsolete structures
and making those areas of land nice again does no harm, and doesn't
involve sacrificing anything more than funds. Hawaii should make and
carry out such a deal.


feed_id: 41b0204b954d07fd230764aaa5846dbf
title: Centralist PAC
uri: Centralist-PAC
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Centrailst_PAC%29
content:
<p>
 Democrat-Backed Centrist PAC <a href="
https://theintercept.com/2019/07/19/centrist-democrats-target-freshman-representative/">Is Supporting a Republican Against a Vulnerable
Swing-District Incumbent.</a>


feed_id: 99cb6fa0b771b3389a6231ea2a1ed4e7
title: California Uber employee law
uri: California-Uber-employee-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Calafornia_Uber_employee_law%29
content:
<p>
California is considering a law to make Uber treat drivers <a href="
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zmpaq4/this-bill-could-destroy-ubers-unsustainable-business-model">as
employees.</a>

<p>
This would eliminate one of the huge injustices of Uber.
But it would not eliminate the injustices to the customers.
I hope therefore that it would make Uber give up.


feed_id: f569c1613827f75b13dbf4cc3eabb789
title: Thugs infiltrate anti-fascist protests
uri: Thugs-infiltrate-anti-fascist-protests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Thugs_infiltrate_anti-fascist_protests%29

content:
<p>

Thugs in Los Angeles are infiltrating anti-fascist protests, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/19/los-angeles-police-informant-anti-trump-activist-protest
">and using it
to charge organizers for protesting.</a>


feed_id: beb91c5632b1ab6af4fa36f5c67c3edc
title: Israel spraying herbicides
uri: Israel-spraying-herbicides
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Israel_spraying_herbicides%29
content:
<p>
Israel is spraying herbicides near the Gaza border, and it drifts almost <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/19/israeli-spraying-of-herbicide-near-gaza-harming-palestinian-crops">400 yards into Gaza and kills Palestinians' crops.</a>


feed_id: 7d69332eaa36adf5fffeebb6e4485305
title: Persecution of nonreligious
uri: Persecution-of-nonreligious
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Persecution_of_nonreligous%29
content:
<p>
Prominent humanists <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/19/humanists-are-being-persecuted-too
">decry the persecution of the nonreligious</a> in
various countries.


feed_id: af23949f74df262558e12793f596f67c
title: EPA drops surprise inspections
uri: EPA-drops-surprise-inspections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28EPA_drops_surprise_insprctions%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/19/giving-upper-hand-corporate-polluters-epa-drops-surprise-inspections?cd-origin=rss
">
EPA Drops Surprise Inspections.
</a><p>
This will help companies that deny their polluting activities.


feed_id: 75f24273464585368417877e8e1e4f1d
title: Births near oil wells cause heart defects
uri: Births-near-oil-wells-cause-heart-defects
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Births_near_oil_wells_cause_heart_defects%29

content:
<p>
Babies Born Near Oil and Gas Wells Are Up to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/19/babies-born-near-oil-and-gas-wells-are-70-more-likely-have-congenital-heart-defects?cd-origin=rss
">70% More Likely to Have
Congenital Heart Defects, New Study Shows.</a>


feed_id: 4d597914596b30e9023974d5c6f75ec0
title: (satire) Trump store discount
uri: (satire)-Trump-store-discount
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28%28satire%29_Trump_store_discount%29

content:
<p>
(satire) In an effort to distance the President from a racist remark
chanted about Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) earlier this week, the
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/trump-campaign-store-offering-special-disavowed-discoun-1836539127
">Trump campaign store reportedly began offering a special disavowed
discount Friday on all ‘Send Her Back’ merchandise.</a>


feed_id: 1da90753f8cb11a019f8d771f1c5f1de
title: Greta Thunberg explains accomplishment
uri: Greta-Thunberg-explains-accomplishment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Greta_Thunberg_explaine_accomplishment%29

content:
<p>
Greta Thunberg explains <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/19/until-emissions-drop-nothing-has-been-accomplished-climate-resistance-handbook-here?cd-origin=rss
">what it means to have accomplished something,</a>
<br>
<blockquote>
People always tell me and the other millions of school strikers that we
should be proud of ourselves for what we have accomplished. But the
only thing that we need to look at is the emission curve. And I’m
sorry, but it’s still rising. That curve is the only thing we should
look at.
</blockquote>
<p>
In the same way, I don't measure the advances of the free software
movement simply by how much free software we now have and use,
but also in terms of how much nonfree software remains in use &mdash; which we
need to eliminate.


feed_id: 4afd61f9da91e0f0e555f7ee929cc81e
title: Nonfree browser extensions
uri: Nonfree-browser-extensions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Nonfree_browser_extensions%29
content:
<p>
Many nonfree browser extensions snoop on the user's browsing and <a href="
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/07/18/i-found-your-data-its-sale/?noredirect=on">inform
some company.</a>

<p>
The article does not say that these extensions are nonfree, but that
seems pretty certain from the information given.
<p>
The author of the article did not recognize that this was a part of
the problem. So people are likely to draw misguided conclusions such
as "Don't trust browser extensions", instead of the correct
conclusion, <i>"Don't trust nonfree programs anywhere."</i>


feed_id: edf4c54c0f397cfcf16562467147df3c
title: Small doses of radiation
uri: Small-doses-of-radiation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Small_doses_of_radiation%29
content:
<p>
Small doses of radiation promote the spread of a <a href="
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190718150933.htm">mutation that is one
step on the road to cancer.</a>

<p>
At least, that is true in the esophagus of mice. Nothing is known
about how this might affect other mouse tissues, or any human tissues.
<p>
Humans have, in general, much better defenses against aging than other
mammals, so I would not generalize from non-human animals to humans
about any of these effects.


feed_id: 1f15a4d0b2c0f4474f53df9a87c1d3a9
title: Contraceptive pills eliminate periods
uri: Contraceptive-pills-eliminate-periods
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Contraceptive_pills_elimate_periods%29

content:
<p>
hanks to contraceptive pills, <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/18/women-dont-need-to-bleed-why-many-more-of-us-are-giving-up-periods">women do not have to menstruate at all.</a>

<p>
This reminds me of a story by James Tiptree (Alice Sheldon) about a
woman whose daughter decided to join a movement for natural
menstruation. She couldn't convince her daughter to abandon this
foolish idea, but the experience of menstruating did the job pretty
fast. (What is the story's name?)


feed_id: 42576c1aaf91863a4f2796afcd8cdc5f
title: Private space missions
uri: Private-space-missions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Private_space_missions%29
content:
<p>
Should all crewed space missions be <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/20/moon-frontier-new-worlds-nasa-landing-space-exploration">run by private business?</a>

<p>
In some cases, there is no harm in that. But if we let them build
settlements in space or on the Moon, those will be "company towns"
in which no one can do anything except under the control of the company.
Working there will be like working <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_(Amazon_warehouse_workers)">in an Amazon warehouse.</a


feed_id: 1dacd00a5859547d5df8c0bce0feafcd
title: Kazzastan HTTPS spying
uri: Kazzastan-HTTPS-spying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Kazzastan_HTTPS_spying%29
content:
<p>
The government of Kazakhstan has injected itself as a man &mdash; in &mdash; the &mdash; middle
for all HTTPS communication &mdash; in effect, spying on the browsing of everyone
in the country.

<p>
We would expect such things from an overtly repressive state,
but powerful "free" countries such as Australia, UK and US have done,
or are trying to do, comparable things.


feed_id: f263e0acc222045fd51e3176f3dc92f4
title: Unprivitalizaton of government
uri: Unprivitalizaton-of-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Unprivitalizaton_of_goverment%29
content:
<p>
Labour will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/20/labour-pledges-to-push-councils-into-taking-back-local-services
">organize the unprivatization of local government activities.</a>


feed_id: 5374abcb427520a993478623609928ab
title: UK &mdash Iran tanker standoff
uri: UK-mdash-Iran-tanker-standoff
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28UK_%2526mdash_Iran_tanker_standoff%29

content:
<p>
UK and Iran are now in a <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/20/gulf-crisis-tanker-retaliation-iran-hormuz">tanker-seizure standoff.</a>

<p>
It appears that Bolton told the UK, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/20/britain-lured-into-deadly-trap-on-iran-by-trump-hawk-john-bolton
">"Let's you and them fight."</a>


feed_id: 9077ce8a3e7673fdb0d894a1dbfd9235
title: Tech's battle for attention
uri: Tech-s-battle-for-attention
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Tech%27s_battle_for_attention%29
content:
<p>
People are becoming aware that there is a <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/20/stand-out-of-our-light-politics-big-tech-threat">battle against digital tech
companies for control of each person's attention,</a>

<p>
What people do not yet recognize is that this as a consequence of the
unjust power that companies (even small companies) derive from nonfree
software and from online disservices. So their proposed solutions are
not deep enough.


feed_id: 93ece866eccf5a301b4c6619705ac6ef
title: Job inequality
uri: Job-inequality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Job_inequality%29
content:
<p>
New US jobs are now <a href="
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-nashville-insight/as-u-s-superstar-cities-thrive-weaker-ones-get-left-behind-idUSKCN1UE13B">concentrating in a few cities, with others left
behind.</a>

<p>
Of course, it is expensive to live in the few successful cities. So
the overall effect of this is to screw the poor in yet another way.


feed_id: 6322bbe8ece5c0cc4799d05fc6a7e2f5
title: Ban face recognition
uri: Ban-face-recognition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Ban_face_recongition%29
content:
<p>
Opinion: Don’t Regulate Facial Recognition. <a href="
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/evangreer/dont-regulate-facial-recognition-ban-it">Ban It.</a>

<p>
This article is noteworthy because it attacks face recognition by business,
not just by government.


feed_id: 7b12a2cbd811a135dce6607400a6cbf7
title: Cost of preventing childbirth death increases
uri: Cost-of-preventing-childbirth-death-increases
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Cost_of_preventing_childbirth_death_incrreases%29

content:
<p>
Cost of Global Push to Prevent Women Dying in <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jul/19/cost-of-global-push-to-prevent-women-dying-in-childbirth-to-increase-sixfold">Childbirth to Increase Sixfold.</a>

<p>
This goal requires a combination of better medical care for when women
do give birth, and contraception and abortion to help women avoid
giving birth.


feed_id: 00e10b31e545320a5d8800c84f4afb90
title: Crimes against nature
uri: Crimes-against-nature
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Crimes_against_nature%29
content:
<p>
The Rich Are <a href="
https://jacobinmag.com/2019/07/environment-rich-people-tesla-powerwall-super-yacht-private-jet">Committing Crimes Against Nature.</a>


feed_id: 63260daaf157344f5930b78839b62c10
title: EPA refused to ban chlorpyrifos
uri: EPA-refused-to-ban-chlorpyrifos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28EPA_refused_to_ban_chlorpyrifos%29
content:
<p>
The Environmental Poisoning Agency <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/18/epa-chlorpyrifos-ban-children-brain-damage-trump">refused to ban the pesticide
chlorpyrifos,</a> which seems to cause brain damage in children.

<p>
Wheeler, the head of the Environmental Poisoning Agency (EPA), is more
personally honest, <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/17/10-ways-andrew-wheeler-has-decimated-epa-protections-just-one-year?cd-origin=rss">and that has enabled him to arrange for a lot more
future damage to our environment and our health.</a>


feed_id: 9465500ea763d5a16e3ab865fe526734
title: (satire) Cop vows revenge
uri: (satire)-Cop-vows-revenge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28%28satire%29_Cop_vows_revenge%29
content:
<p>
(satire) <a href="
https://www.theonion.com/cop-vows-to-get-revenge-on-eric-garner-for-trying-to-fr-1836455479">Cop Vows To Get Revenge On Eric Garner</a> For Trying To Frame
Him For Murder.


feed_id: 70078bc463974b39dbc050be3832c460
title: Rising economic inequality
uri: Rising-economic-inequality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Rising_economic_inequality%29
content:
<p>
As rising economic inequality gives the rich more power, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/17/exploitation-time-bomb?cd-origin=rss
">they use it to
push the inequality even harder.</a>


feed_id: a1dcef7ec9717e96f48254fc86946944
title: Replaced US consituion if Republicans win
uri: Replaced-US-consituion-if-Republicans-win
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Replaced_US_consituion_if_Republicans_win%29

content:
<p>
With a big Republican victory in 2020, plutocratists could replace the US Constitution with something as plutocratist as they wish. <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/17/how-trojan-horse-project-rewrite-our-constitution-could-actually-happen-if-trump?cd-origin=rss">And they are already
designing it.</a>

<p>
Pompeo is <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/18/trump-pompeo-human-rights-un-orwellian-mission-redefine">already trying to redefine human rights.</a>

<p>
Their idea of human rights will say that if you're a plutocrat you
have the right to grab anyone's genitals, and if <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">perse</a> complains,
to get per fired.


feed_id: 4ffb8e4e7e0319b9206ff44b99138ba0
title: Republican's case for medicare
uri: Republican-s-case-for-medicare
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Republican%27s_case_for_medicare%29
content:
<p>
This <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/17/republicans-case-medicare-all?cd-origin=rss
">Republican's Case for Medicare for All.</a>


feed_id: c7cb62786876553fd0334a0b1b1c0a79
title: Jewish Voice for Peace
uri: Jewish-Voice-for-Peace
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Jewish_Voice_for_Peace%29
content:
<p>
Jewish Voice for Peace <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/17/groundbreaking-rep-ilhan-omar-praised-new-resolution-affirming-right-engage-boycotts?cd-origin=rss
">praised Rep. Ilhan Omar's resolution</a> affirming
the right to boycott.


feed_id: 58aff6e40319cbfa0b190fe90695f39c
title: Remove Confederate ghosts
uri: Remove-Confederate-ghosts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Remove_Confederate_ghosts%29
content:
<p>

(satire) Virginia <a href="
https://www.theonion.com/virginia-agrees-to-remove-confederate-ghosts-from-state-1836428233
">Agrees To Remove Confederate Ghosts From State Capitol.</a>


feed_id: a798bc7b4a9462deccf50fd17525175a
title: Exaggerated idea of technology
uri: Exaggerated-idea-of-technology
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Exaggerated_idea_of_technology%29
content:
<p>
The fairly quick achievement of landing on the moon gave people an
<a href="
https://theconversation.com/apollo-11-made-us-believe-we-could-do-anything-the-truth-is-it-could-hasten-our-downfall-120249">exaggerated idea of what we can expect to achieve with technology.</a>

<p>
It turns out that technology can't necessarily cure the harm
that massive use of technology is doing.


feed_id: e326211c77b0bc231a74a3ea16c32f8c
title: Getting tough with Extinction Rebellion
uri: Getting-tough-with-Extinction-Rebellion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Getting_tough_with_Extinction_Rebellion%29

content:
<p>
UK thugs <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/18/police-call-for-tougher-sentences-to-deter-extinction-rebellion">want laws changed</a> so they can get tough with Extinction
Rebellion protesters.

<p>
This will avoid some annoying small disruptions, and guarantee
enormous disruptions starting 20 or 30 years from now and continuing
for centuries.


feed_id: 825bf4f86ab744eb0fbed799be6b96c4
title: UK extends global heating
uri: UK-extends-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28UK_extenes_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
The UK has extended global heating by <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/18/uk-energy-saving-efforts-collapse-after-government-slashes-subsidies
">cutting insulation improvements</a>
from 65,000 per month to 10,000 per month.


feed_id: 93622b099bf8a08e90eb2455cf74ecc6
title: Bully wants to send Iraqis back
uri: Bully-wants-to-send-Iraqis-back
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Bully_wnats_to_send_Iraqis_back%29
content:
<p>
 The bully <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/17/iraqi-christians-face-deportation-conned-trump
">wants to send Iraqi Christian refugees back to Iraq,</a> where
they would face murder. Some might starve first because they don't
know anyone there and don't speak Arabic.


feed_id: cd37151ff15dd7bd1d0f2d35f819a63f
title: Moscow rally
uri: Moscow-rally
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Moscow_rally%29
content:
<p>
Thousands Rally in Moscow over Opposition <a href="
https://www.france24.com/en/20190714-moscow-russia-protest-opposition-exclusion-parliament">Exclusion in City Parliament Vote.</a>

<p>
The machine said that the nominating signatures were fake.


feed_id: e776d9d9b60ce74f32889834da565d9a
title: Councils refusing to share data for deportation
uri: Councils-refusing-to-share-data-for-deportation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Councils_refusing_to_share_data_for_deportaion%29

content:
<p>

Some local governments in the UK refuse to <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/17/councils-refusing-to-share-personal-data-of-rough-sleepers-with-home-office
">give homeless people's personal
data to the deportation office.</a>


feed_id: afafb012d02fa21c42a1be5044c31083
title: Artificial snow
uri: Artificial-snow
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Artifical_snow%29
content:
<p>
Proposing a <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/17/manmade-antarctic-snowstorm-could-save-coastal-cities-from-rising-seas">mega project to make snow</a> on top of the west Antarctic ice sheet.

<p>
I think it would be better, and less practical work, to curb the CO2
emissions. What's more, that would also end ocean acidification and
avoid heating the land. But if the plutocrats block that, it would be
better to do this project than not do it.


feed_id: 729d0e857c736c6e3d4f9bd2eab67fe0
title: Thugs attack protesters in Hong Kong
uri: 2019-07-25-Thugs-attack-protesters-in-Hong-Kong
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Thugs_attack_protesters_in_Hong_Kong%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/22/where-were-the-police-hong-kong-outcry-after-masked-thugs-launch-attack">Masked
non uniformed thugs</a> attacked protesters in Hong Kong.
<p>
Protesters say that the uniformed <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> took a suspiciously long time
to arrive, but the article does not indicate how long that was.


feed_id: 60b9d6fbb0092dde70c4b0395901078c
title: Thailand's military rulers
uri: 2019-07-25-Thailand-s-military-rulers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Thailands_military_rulers%29
content:
<p>
Thailand's military rulers have gone beyond charging democracy
activists with crimes.  Now it is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/22/i-thought-they-would-kill-me-thai-dissidents-targeted-in-brutal-crackdown">sending
non uniformed thugs to club them on the head</a>.


feed_id: 1e8544db24994dc5e1e6f75561f7e938
title: Urgent: BOOST Act
uri: Urgent-BOOST-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_BOOST_Act%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/rashida-tlaib-ubi-cash">call
on Congress</a> to pass the BOOST Act, which would give a sum of money
to each poor person or family in the US.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: fa67e770f86ce5c7cb5b5f09f3563fd0
title: Murals in San Francisco
uri: Murals-in-San-Francisco
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Murals_in_San_Francisco%29
content:
<p>
San Francisco
will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/27/san-francisco-high-school-murals-painted-over">cover
up murals</a> that were painted to show how some of the US founding
fathers participated in owning slaves and in conquest of indigenous
peoples.
<p>
People who can't bear to see a depiction of an injustice are useless
for fighting it.  Schools should lead people to face moral issues, not
cower helplessly from them.


feed_id: 6c3cc3adf7348465c46723c3a40db868
title: Richard Zimler
uri: Richard-Zimler
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Richard_Zimler%29
content:
<p>
Author Richard Zimler reports that some of his talks in Britain have
been cancelled because the
hosts <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/29/ive-never-met-antisemitism-in-britain-until-now">fear
protests or violence</a> because he is Jewish.  They seem to fear they
will meet with protests if they invite a Jew to speak.
<p>
I am not convinced that his friends are correct in blaming Palestinian
activists for this.  That claim is not based on direct evidence.


feed_id: a3f42a1f1984d9f20c26d9e694ff81a1
title: Refugees in Australia
uri: Refugees-in-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Refugees_in_Australia%29
content:
<p>
When Australia brings its refugees from Nauru or Manus because it can
no longer deny they need medical treatment,
it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/30/like-a-criminal-inside-the-brisbane-hotel-where-medevac-refugees-are-detained">guards
them like dangerous criminals</a>.
<p>
They are not allowed to see their families.
<p>
Australia even exposes them to bedbugs, which it could easily avoid.


feed_id: 63a492ece7209d2cbbbfaf68e858169c
title: Thugs shooting blacks
uri: Thugs-shooting-blacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Thugs_shooting_blacks%29
content:
<p>
Why do <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> often gratuitously shoot and threaten blacks?  It seems
that some <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
literally <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/28/i-could-have-shot-you-in-front-of-your-fucking-kids-how-cops-dehumanize-black-people">think
of blacks as subhuman</a>.


feed_id: a05d254bde48592fd56b6597deea3fac
title: Solar Foods
uri: Solar-Foods
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Solar_Foods%29
content:
<p>
Solar Foods makes a protein supplement
from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/29/plan-to-sell-50m-meals-electricity-water-air-solar-foods">electricity,
water and air</a>.


feed_id: fbf45e9697998fa07fdd165202f195af
title: Extinction Rebellion
uri: 2019-07-25-Extinction-Rebellion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Extinction_Rebellion%29
content:
<p>
Extinction
Rebellion <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/28/hottest-day-history-france-world-told-do-not-look-away-police-tear-gas-climate">blocked
a bridge in Paris</a> to call attention to the implications of the
hottest day ever recorded there.


feed_id: c7b15504194e0cb16a219bc7804cab2f
title: Fearful of the Census
uri: Fearful-of-the-Census
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Fearful_of_the_Census%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/28/damage-has-been-done-despite-court-ruling-experts-say-trump-succeeded-making">'The
Damage Has Been Done'</a>: Despite Court Ruling, Experts Say Trump
Succeeded in Making Immigrant Communities Fearful of Census.


feed_id: ce49d51650ff5fc11ee9c2db2d1d55f7
title: Piecework sweatshops
uri: Piecework-sweatshops
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Piecework_sweatshops%29
content:
<p>
10% of the workers in Britain have been captured by
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jun/28/gig-economy-in-britain-doubles-accounting-for-47-million-workers">piecework
sweatshop dis-services</a>.
<p>
We must extend all the rights and benefits of employees to cover these
forms of work.


feed_id: 8e120eef43f3a836754b7781eb27fda5
title: Evidence of product defects
uri: Evidence-of-product-defects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Evidence_of_product_defects%29
content:
<p>
Thousands of Americans &mdash; perhaps hundreds of thousands &mdash;
have been killed because judges sealed evidence of deadly defects in
products and kept the defects secret for years as more people died.
The dangerous flaws of OxyContin, which spread opioid addiction, were
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-courts-secrecy-judges/">concealed
for 12 years</a>.
<p>
Trade secrecy is <em>always</em> bad for the public.  Occasionally it
is deadly, but usually merely harmful.  We should change the law so
that no significant problem can be concealed in this way.
<p>
Businesses should not be allowed to enforce an NDA
to conceal mistreatment of workers, customers, or the public.
<p>
Agreeing to nondisclosure of generally useful technical
information, such as software, is betrayal of society as a whole.
I refuse on principle to do this.


feed_id: 729922d30df20c4bf833122ac4508051
title: Getting shot while pregnant
uri: Getting-shot-while-pregnant
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Getting_shot_while_pregnant%29
content:
<p>
A woman in Alabama has
been <a href="https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2019/06/woman-indicted-in-shooting-death-of-her-unborn-child-charges-against-shooter-dismissed.html">charged
with manslaughter</a> for getting shot while pregnant.  The state
treats the fetus as a person.
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/27/terrifying-and-unacceptable-outrage-mounts-over-manslaughter-charge-alabama-woman">More
information.</a>
<p>
This is the natural conclusion of the twisted premises of those who
treat fetuses as sacred.
<p>
But the problem may be broader than that.  Suppose she had been shot
while carrying a three-year-old child in her arms?  Suppose someone
else had shot at her and killed the child.
<p>
I don't think people should be prosecuted for the effects of being
shot at.


feed_id: ebd373346c34e5c89aeae0581abab408
title: Contraceptive pills eliminate periods
uri: 2019-07-25-Contraceptive-pills-eliminate-periods
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Contraceptive_pills_elimate_periods%29

content:
<p>
Thanks to contraceptive pills, <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/18/women-dont-need-to-bleed-why-many-more-of-us-are-giving-up-periods">women do not have to menstruate at all.</a>

<p>
This reminds me of a story by James Tiptree (Alice Sheldon) about a
woman whose daughter decided to join a movement for natural
menstruation. She couldn't convince her daughter to abandon this
foolish idea, but the experience of menstruating did the job pretty
fast. (What is the story's name?)


feed_id: 024d72e1e1af368c15030146a15f8ebe
title: Private space missions
uri: 2019-07-25-Private-space-missions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Private_space_missions%29
content:
<p>
Should all crewed space missions be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/20/moon-frontier-new-worlds-nasa-landing-space-exploration">run by private business?</a>

<p>
In some cases, there is no harm in that. But if we let them build
settlements in space or on the Moon, those will be "company towns"
in which no one can do anything except under the control of the company.
Working there will be like working <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#30_December_2018_(Amazon_warehouse_workers)">in an Amazon warehouse.</a>


feed_id: 0e0e83fa3eddc5d43fb305a64cdd1284
title: Kazakhstan HTTPS spying
uri: Kazakhstan-HTTPS-spying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Kazakhstan_HTTPS_spying%29
content:
<p>
The government of Kazakhstan has injected itself as a
man-in-the-middle for all HTTPS communication &mdash; in effect,
<a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/kazakhstan-government-is-now-intercepting-all-https-traffic/">spying
on the browsing of everyone in the country</a>.
<p>
We would expect such things from an overtly repressive state, but
powerful "free" countries such as Australia, UK and US have done, or
are trying to do, comparable things.


feed_id: 59c5ee6b0a248485e041f1f42faab14d
title: Unprivitalizaton of government
uri: 2019-07-25-Unprivitalizaton-of-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Unprivitalizaton_of_goverment%29
content:
<p>
Labour will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/20/labour-pledges-to-push-councils-into-taking-back-local-services">organize the unprivatization of local government activities.</a>


feed_id: bf035fc7a849d19fd1462d7afc7bedc9
title: UK &mdash Iran tanker standoff
uri: 2019-07-25-UK-mdash-Iran-tanker-standoff
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28UK_%2526mdash_Iran_tanker_standoff%29

content:
<p>
UK and Iran are now in a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/20/gulf-crisis-tanker-retaliation-iran-hormuz">tanker-seizure standoff.</a>

<p>
It appears that Bolton told the UK, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/20/britain-lured-into-deadly-trap-on-iran-by-trump-hawk-john-bolton">"Let's you and them fight."</a>


feed_id: 954c800006e77238530569d282fdb0cf
title: Tech's battle for attention
uri: 2019-07-25-Tech-s-battle-for-attention
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Tech%27s_battle_for_attention%29
content:
<p>
People are becoming aware that there is a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/20/stand-out-of-our-light-politics-big-tech-threat">battle against digital tech
companies for control of each person's attention,</a>

<p>
What people do not yet recognize is that this as a consequence of the
unjust power that companies (even small companies) derive from nonfree
software and from online disservices. So their proposed solutions are
not deep enough.


feed_id: 4fad9ae312589ea9380f9e5182b29d12
title: Job inequality
uri: 2019-07-25-Job-inequality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Job_inequality%29
content:
<p>
New US jobs are now <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-nashville-insight/as-u-s-superstar-cities-thrive-weaker-ones-get-left-behind-idUSKCN1UE13B">concentrating in a few cities, with others left
behind.</a>

<p>
Of course, it is expensive to live in the few successful cities. So
the overall effect of this is to screw the poor in yet another way.


feed_id: 318c6fd8acb9452e8a8bb2bf3eb9308c
title: Ban face recognition
uri: 2019-07-25-Ban-face-recognition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Ban_face_recongition%29
content:
<p>
Opinion: Don’t Regulate Facial Recognition. <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/evangreer/dont-regulate-facial-recognition-ban-it">Ban It.</a>

<p>
This article is noteworthy because it attacks face recognition by business,
not just by government.


feed_id: 09723b7d1d3c03de1abc6d9d83270db1
title: Cost of preventing childbirth death increases
uri: 2019-07-25-Cost-of-preventing-childbirth-death-increases
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Cost_of_preventing_childbirth_death_incrreases%29

content:
<p>
Cost of Global Push to Prevent Women Dying in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jul/19/cost-of-global-push-to-prevent-women-dying-in-childbirth-to-increase-sixfold">Childbirth to Increase Sixfold.</a>

<p>
This goal requires a combination of better medical care for when women
do give birth, and contraception and abortion to help women avoid
giving birth.


feed_id: b0d667da891ea51d90f4c4ab925ce425
title: Crimes against nature
uri: 2019-07-25-Crimes-against-nature
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Crimes_against_nature%29
content:
<p>
The Rich Are <a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2019/07/environment-rich-people-tesla-powerwall-super-yacht-private-jet">Committing Crimes Against Nature.</a>


feed_id: 5798625583cc50ead86b0169f94affb2
title: EPA refused to ban chlorpyrifos
uri: 2019-07-25-EPA-refused-to-ban-chlorpyrifos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28EPA_refused_to_ban_chlorpyrifos%29
content:
<p>
The Environmental Poisoning Agency <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/18/epa-chlorpyrifos-ban-children-brain-damage-trump">refused to ban the pesticide
chlorpyrifos,</a> which seems to cause brain damage in children.

<p>
Wheeler, the head of the Environmental Poisoning Agency (EPA), is more
personally honest, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/17/10-ways-andrew-wheeler-has-decimated-epa-protections-just-one-year?cd-origin=rss">and that has enabled him to arrange for a lot more
future damage to our environment and our health.</a>


feed_id: e6084b90d2ad2b02787d04d4d6fbcadc
title: (satire) Cop vows revenge
uri: 2019-07-25-(satire)-Cop-vows-revenge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28%28satire%29_Cop_vows_revenge%29
content:
<p>
(satire) <a href="https://www.theonion.com/cop-vows-to-get-revenge-on-eric-garner-for-trying-to-fr-1836455479">Cop Vows To Get Revenge On Eric Garner</a> For Trying To Frame
Him For Murder.


feed_id: 6a66589bffb98440db3671324f8a5357
title: Rising economic inequality
uri: 2019-07-25-Rising-economic-inequality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Rising_economic_inequality%29
content:
<p>
As rising economic inequality gives the rich more power, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/17/exploitation-time-bomb?cd-origin=rss">they use it to
push the inequality even harder.</a>


feed_id: 4be23041b9dc3531a2b90a69d6abb773
title: Replaced US constitution if Republicans win
uri: Replaced-US-constitution-if-Republicans-win
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Replaced_US_constitution_if_Republicans_win%29

content:
<p>
With a big Republican victory in 2020, plutocratists could replace the US Constitution with something as plutocratist as they wish. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/17/how-trojan-horse-project-rewrite-our-constitution-could-actually-happen-if-trump?cd-origin=rss">And they are already
designing it.</a>

<p>
Pompeo is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/18/trump-pompeo-human-rights-un-orwellian-mission-redefine">already trying to redefine human rights.</a>

<p>
Their idea of human rights will say that if you're a plutocrat you
have the right to grab anyone's genitals, and if <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">perse</a> complains,
to get per fired.


feed_id: 4679f24510267b28c3e3514cc79468e8
title: Republican's case for medicare
uri: 2019-07-25-Republican-s-case-for-medicare
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Republican%27s_case_for_medicare%29
content:
<p>
This <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/17/republicans-case-medicare-all?cd-origin=rss">Republican's Case for Medicare for All.</a>


feed_id: b57e3f75a1c120393627bc50926c425c
title: Jewish Voice for Peace
uri: 2019-07-25-Jewish-Voice-for-Peace
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Jewish_Voice_for_Peace%29
content:
<p>
Jewish Voice for Peace <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/17/groundbreaking-rep-ilhan-omar-praised-new-resolution-affirming-right-engage-boycotts?cd-origin=rss">praised Rep. Ilhan Omar's resolution</a> affirming
the right to boycott.


feed_id: 87e84475d0fec393a871550db69eb978
title: Remove Confederate ghosts
uri: 2019-07-25-Remove-Confederate-ghosts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#24_July_2019_%28Remove_Confederate_ghosts%29
content:
<p>

(satire) Virginia <a href="https://www.theonion.com/virginia-agrees-to-remove-confederate-ghosts-from-state-1836428233">Agrees To Remove Confederate Ghosts From State Capitol.</a>


feed_id: 4dbbaeb7d10fe90bd2d995f5ccad3513
title: Global Heating
uri: 2019-07-26-Global-Heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Global_Heating%29
content:
<p>
Today's global heating, affecting the whole globe, has no parallel in
historical temperature changes.


feed_id: 0a416cdbe47bddf8cf3d16143ac31a66
title: Urgent: Oppose oil drilling
uri: 2019-07-26-Urgent-Oppose-oil-drilling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_oil_drilling%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/chaco-drilling-2019">call on
the Bureau of Land Management</a> not to allow oil drilling in Chaco
Canyon.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: f0ba9f5e04ec1c334329da769fa59dda
title: Crime of being "disgusting" in UK
uri: Crime-of-being-disgusting-in-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Crime_of_being_disgusting_in_UK%29
content:
<p>
In the UK 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/23/pro-meat-protesters-fined-eating-raw-squirrels-vegan-stall">it
is a crime to do something in public that people in the vicinity find
"disgusting"</a>.
<p>
I too would find it disgusting, but so what?


feed_id: 320c36313aacd3da78386fcc4d3ac263
title: Bully's plan to take away food stamps
uri: Bully-s-plan-to-take-away-food-stamps
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Bullys_plan_to_take_away_food_stamps%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> has a 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/23/unconscionable-trump-usda-proposes-new-rule-strip-food-stamps-over-3-million">new
plan</a> to take food stamps away from some poor Americans.


feed_id: a2b5037a0c337be61dcfd445d9d58f76
title: UK nuclear power plants
uri: UK-nuclear-power-plants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28UK_nuclear_power_plants%29
content:
<p>
The UK is so desperate to build new nuclear power plants that it 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jul/23/new-uk-nuclear-plants-government-cost">will
pay in advance from the treasury</a>.
<p>
This is a decision of the same Tory government that has pretty much
put an end to land-based wind power and cut subsidies for solar power.
<p>
There is a report that the reason is a 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#17_November_2018_(UK_nuclear_power_plant)">disguised
subsidy</a> for the UK's planned new nuclear missile submarines.


feed_id: fa4b04d5eff549c1b721f7dab7309499
title: Effects of increasing minimum wage
uri: Effects-of-increasing-minimum-wage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Effects_of_increasing_minimum_wage%29

content:
<p>
Economists studied the effects of increasing the minimum wage in many
low-wage US counties and found 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/02/busting-right-wing-talking-point-groundbreaking-study-shows-federal-15-minimum-wage">no
sign that this causes loss of work</a>.


feed_id: b4a4cd30a5be0a79df19598d313eb5d1
title: Planned natural gas projects
uri: Planned-natural-gas-projects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Planned_natural_gas_projects%29
content:
<p>
The world's planned natural gas projects 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/03/booming-lng-industry-could-be-as-bad-for-climate-as-coal-experts-warn">won't
fit in the carbon budget</a>.
<p>
Indeed, the world cannot afford <em>any</em> new fossil fuel
infrastructure, because once new infrastructure is built there will be
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_December_2016_(Trudeau_approves_additional_pipeline)">tremendous
pressure to use it and roast Earth's ecosphere</a>.
<p>
The idea of natural gas as a "bridge fuel" is an excuse, which
appeared plausible only because we did not know the amount of methane
leaks.


feed_id: fe48615943bbd0c9acb33e1797c0cb1d
title: Audio recordings of people in public
uri: Audio-recordings-of-people-in-public
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Audio_recordings_of_people_in_public%29

content:
<p>
ACLU: 
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/bogus-aggression-detectors-are-audio-recording">Bogus
“Aggression Detectors”</a> Are Audio-Recording People In Public.
<p>
If we had proper laws, anyone trying to sell a system for aggression
detection would be required to make it send nothing except reports
about aggressions &mdash; not recordings of ordinary conversations.
<p>
The audio recordings on buses in San Francisco (and maybe elsewhere)
should be illegal too.


feed_id: 52542b92345d411a4fb44b6b964ebf61
title: Seizing people's money without a trial
uri: Seizing-people-s-money-without-a-trial
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#25_July_2019_%28Seizing_peoples_money_without_a_trial%29

content:
<p>
Congress and the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> have passed a law to stop the IRS from 
<a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/02/new-law-stops-irs-from-stealing-peoples-money-when-it-deems-their-bank-deposits-suspiciously-small/">seizing
people's money without a trial on mere suspicion that they were
evading the requirement to report depositing more than $10,000 by
depositing smaller amounts</a>.
<p>
Yes, it was as absurd as it looks.


feed_id: 20ba1db1f122e32dd565343ed017c219
title: Progressive trade policy
uri: Progressive-trade-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Progressive_trade_policy%29
content:
<p>
Suggestions for what progressive trade policy should look like:
<a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/24/what-kind-trade-policy-should-progressives-support">putting human beings and nature first</a>.
<p>
What it says about &quot;intellectual property&quot; tries to go in the right
direction, but it is flawed by taking the <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">bogus concept of
&quot;intellectual property&quot; as a basis</a>.


feed_id: 4ba2e350292ed1519a49e941ca643723
title: Facebook's personal data abuse
uri: Facebook-s-personal-data-abuse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Facebook%27s_personal_data_abuse%29
content:
<p>
After the FTC's slap on Facebook's wrist, we can expect it to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/07/24/ftc-settlement-expect-facebook-violate-privacy-again-and-again">abuse
personal data over and over</a>.
<p>
However, even a bigger fine could at best have limited how Facebook abuses
personal data. The real problem is that Facebook collects personal data.
<p>
So don't be a zucker &mdash; don't give Facebook any data. And use a
browser such as IceCat that blocks Like buttons, so Facebook can't get
data about you in any other way.


feed_id: 781a9dc9bde3c6fe0aeee9d36e5e371d
title: Puerto Rico's governor agreed to resign
uri: Puerto-Rico-s-governor-agreed-to-resign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Puerto_Rico%27s_governor_agreed_to_resign%29

content:
<p>
Puerto Rico's governor has finally <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/25/puerto-rico-governor-ricardo-rossello-to-quit-after-weeks-of-protest">agreed to resign</a>,
after many protests including 1/3 of the island's population, plus plans to impeach him.
<p>
The sad thing about Puerto Rico is that the US has saddled it with so
much debt, and imposed so much privatization, that good politicians wouldn't have much chance to do a good job.


feed_id: f87976ff96a9bbda63a75931a420c701
title: Hide climate crisis
uri: Hide-climate-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Hide_climate_crisis%29
content:
<p>
&quot;I'm a scientist. Under [the saboteur] I lost my job for <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/25/trump-administration-climate-crisis-denying-scientist">refusing to
hide climate crisis</a> facts.&quot;


feed_id: 216fc0ebe2d2894a404e5637b3898f35
title: Intellectual debt
uri: Intellectual-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Intellectual_debt%29
content:
<p>
Use of AI techniques whose functioning nobody understands puts society
in a state of "intellectual debt". That is not necessarily bad, but
it can easily <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190725034617/https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-hidden-costs-of-automated-thinking">lead to bad consequences</a> when competition and conflict get into the matter.
<p>
By contrast, the fact that we did not understand how aspirin reduced
headaches did offer anyone an opportunity to cause mysterious
headaches that aspirin would make worse.


feed_id: 53352d0d10a9490dc66bf644b05d4f36
title: Megadroughts Coming to the U.S.
uri: Megadroughts-Coming-to-the-U-S
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Megadroughts_Coming_to_the_U.S.%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ywyykw/megadroughts-are-likely-coming-to-the-us-southwest-within-decades-scientists-say">Megadroughts Are Likely Coming to the U.S.</a> Southwest Within Decades,
Scientists Say.
<p>
Long droughts wiped out the small cities that existed in parts of the
southwest. The big cities that need a lot more water would have more
trouble surviving. Unless perhaps solar-powered condensers can save
the day.


feed_id: c09cbc30548eeafad0dcf824f24972a9
title: Violent porn
uri: Violent-porn
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Violent_porn%29
content:
<p>
Violent porn has made the idea of strangling a woman and calling it
 &quot;sex&quot; appear normal, so women go along with it. If that's not
disgusting enough, men that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/25/fatal-hateful-rise-of-choking-during-sex">murder their lovers or wives</a> can now
pretend that &quot;it was just a sex game&quot;.


feed_id: b84451609d39876ab7567ddd2306c1a3
title: Amazon's household face recognition system
uri: Amazon-s-household-face-recognition-system
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Amazon%27s_household_face_recognition_system%29

content:
<p>
A <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> department in Florida has secretly agreed to act as sales
agents for Amazon's <a href=" https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mb88za/amazon-requires-police-to-shill-surveillance-cameras-in-secret-agreement">household face recognition system</a> (which is often
set up to spy on people for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> departments).


feed_id: d983c14849096e94fe940656b82f74bc
title: Random drug tests
uri: Random-drug-tests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Random_drug_tests%29
content:
<p>
A school in Texas says that it will require all students in
extracurricular activities to submit to <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/25/a-texas-school-district-implements-random-drug-testing">random drug tests</a>.
<p>
I hope many students will refuse.


feed_id: 9f88b4ef230ad95f56ed7e41dca9def0
title: Destruction of the Amazon forest
uri: Destruction-of-the-Amazon-forest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Destruction_of_the_Amazon_forest%29
content:
<p>
Bolsonaro has succeeded at <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/25/amazonian-rainforest-near-unrecoverable-tipping-point">accelerated destruction of the Amazon forest</a>.
<p>
Scientists warn that this may kill the trees that remain.


feed_id: 5ea0d66589375cde3d9a90e037bf7eed
title: Schools uniforms
uri: Schools-uniforms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Schools_uniforms%29
content:
<p>
UK public schools require specific uniforms, <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jul/23/state-schools-choosing-expensive-uniforms-to-exclude-poor-pupils-says-mp">which can be so expensive
that poor families cut back on food</a>. Or else find another school
which isn't trying to keep poor people out.
<p>
This is one of the symptoms of the policy of making schools compete
to avoid being forcibly privatized as "academies".
<p>
I consider the very idea of requiring a uniform outrageous.


feed_id: c3a2c31961830a9ed98d8fc58438ce96
title: Marshall Plan for Central America
uri: Marshall-Plan-for-Central-America
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Marshall_Plan_for_Central_America%29

content:
<p>
The US Needs a <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/23/us-needs-marshall-plan-central-america">Marshall Plan for Central America</a>.
<p>
(Instead of the current martial plan that drives people to flee.)


feed_id: f0e5e15d7616f7e268857239e5ea05c0
title: Phoenix law
uri: Phoenix-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Phoenix_law%29
content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip; Phoenix law
enforcement officials confirmed Tuesday local man Rod Cleighborn had
been hired as a cop for <a href=" https://www.theonion.com/cop-hired-for-posting-racist-rant-on-social-media-1836634142">posting a racist rant on social media</a>.


feed_id: aa12ac4d8c09f2fe989dfc03f49edff0
title: Drop a group of children in the woods
uri: Drop-a-group-of-children-in-the-woods
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Drop_a_group_of_children_in_the_woods%29

content:
<p>
It's a custom in the Netherlands to <a href="https://letgrow.org/only-in-the-netherlands-why-parents-are-leaving-their-kids-in-the-woods-alone-at-night/">drop a group of children in the woods</a>
and challenge them to find their way back to civilization.
<p>
They succeed, and in the process learn self-confidence.
<p>
<blockquote>
&quot;Stijn is 11,&quot; she said. &quot;The time window in which we can teach him
is closing. He is going into adolescence, and then he will make
decisions for himself.&quot;
</blockquote>


feed_id: 29ee42c48754781f11bc184d26f688b7
title: Backfire against progressive president
uri: Backfire-against-progressive-president
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Backfire_against_progressive_president%29

content:
<p>
Pelosi made a deal with the Republicans that will <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/23/its-bad-it-looks-pelosi-under-fire-debt-ceiling-deal-hands-gop-power-kneecap">backfire against any progressive president in 2021</a>.
<p>
Sanders will have to cut harmful spending, such as nuclear weapons
development and secret foreign wars, if he can't get a debt increase
or a tax increase through the Senate.


feed_id: ef60ce8f5d7623e40e998ac54e0c4e17
title: Increasing industrial agriculture
uri: Increasing-industrial-agriculture
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Increasing_industrial_agriculture%29

content:
<p>
Increasing industrial agriculture is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/23/world-hunger-rise">not the way to feed more poor people</a>.
<p>
In the US, it doesn't seriously try.
<p>
Growing corn or soybeans to make fuel is especially foolish since it
uses petroleum-based fertilizer. When that's subsidized, it is a
handout for agribusiness. Biofuel is efficient only when it's made
from byproducts of growing something else that's worth growing in its
own right.


feed_id: 48a0ac4d4bc758abe87843c229d943f0
title: Sociology of gun violence
uri: Sociology-of-gun-violence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Sociology_of_gun_violence%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Senate to vote to support <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-the-senate-must-support-gun-violence-research?nowrapper=true">research into the
sociology of gun violence</a>.


feed_id: d611a82fc7d86e6bb73711b99c63b79a
title: Confirmation bias
uri: Confirmation-bias
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Confirmation_bias%29
content:
<p>
Confirmation bias, <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/24/how-confirmation-bias-sends-innocent-people-to-prison">group think and pressure to find the perpetrator quickly</a>
are major factors in convicting innocent people.


feed_id: c2f6d4b77a0cdacad61a213ae604e798
title: Smart diapers
uri: Smart-diapers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Smart_diapers%29
content:
<p>
&quot;Smart&quot; diapers <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/24/is-buying-a-smart-nappy-really-such-a-clever-idea">spy on the baby</a> and maybe the rest of the family.
<p>
If the manufacturers wanted to, they could make this info available
directly and solely to the parents.


feed_id: 700f525ab41461400445997bc838a85a
title: Global Heating
uri: 2019-07-26-Global-Heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Global_Heating%29
content:
<p>
Today's global heating, affecting the whole globe, has <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jul/24/scientific-consensus-on-humans-causing-global-warming-passes-99">no parallel in
historical temperature changes</a>.


feed_id: cb9300be49f79518add2668023f5adce
title: Right to repair for farm equipment
uri: Right-to-repair-for-farm-equipment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Right_to_repair_for_farm_equipment%29

content:
<p>
Sanders and Warren advocate <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xzqmp/bernie-sanders-calls-for-a-national-right-to-repair-law-for-farmers">right to repair for farm equipment</a>.


feed_id: 0df35b68af5f52d92f1347478956dc55
title: Barcelona will try to prevent airport expansion
uri: Barcelona-will-try-to-prevent-airport-expansion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Barcelona_will_try_to_prevent_airport_expansion%29

content:
<p>
Barcelona will try to prevent <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jul/05/barcelona-mayor-promises-crackdown-cruise-ships">expansion of its airport</a>.
<p>
Bravo! The world cannot sustain the increase of air travel.


feed_id: 52bb79334412b59754c18191f3a14f53
title: The UK is trying to corrupt charities
uri: The-UK-is-trying-to-corrupt-charities
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28The_UK_is_trying_to_corrupt_charities%29

content:
<p>
The UK is trying &mdash; again &mdash; to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/06/home-office-secret-plan-charities-deport-rough-sleepers">corrupt charities that help homeless</a>
people by getting them to participate in a scheme to identify
foreigners and deport them.
<p>
In doublespeak, this scheme is called &quot;support&quot; for homeless people.


feed_id: d481d1bf4e7f233740c7efb5008b721f
title: India is shipping water by train
uri: India-is-shipping-water-by-train
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28India_is_shipping_water_by_train%29
content:
<p>
India is shipping water by train from Kerala to Chennai. But since
the <a href="https://therealnews.com/stories/climate-change-is-devastating-india-with-heat-waves-and-water-shortages">lack of water is due to global heating</a>, the shortfall will
increase over time.
<p>
If Delhi runs out of water next year, I doubt that shipping water from Kerala
will be a solution.
<p>
In the long term, IUDs can help prevent the need for water from
increasing, and solar-powered desalinators can compensate (a little)
for the decrease in supply. But farms need water, too. I fear India
is headed for massive starvation.


feed_id: b50a4738170c9e9b2bfff1a5513c1480
title: Microsoft's anti-Right-to-Repair
uri: Microsoft-s-anti-Right-to-Repair
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Microsoft%27s_anti-Right-to-Repair%29

content:
<p>
Debunking Microsoft's <a href="https://boingboing.net/2019/06/30/nixing-the-fix.html">anti-Right-to-Repair FUD</a>.
<p>
Bravo for the article, but one quotation falls into a widespread
confusion: that spread by the term &quot;intellectual property&quot;.
<p>
<blockquote>
and &quot;If you hire a managed service provider to do your network security
they could, instead,... steal your intellectual property.&quot;
<blockquote>
<p>
In general, that statement is false. It could not steal your
copyrights, or your patents, or your trademarks, or your plant variety
monopolies, or your IC mask monopolies, or your publicity rights &mdash;
those are legal privileges, so they can't be &quot;stolen&quot;. I think the
only things it could possibly steal that way are trade secrets.
<p>
Please <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">don't ever say &quot;intellectual property&quot;</a> if what you mean is
&quot;trade secrets"&quot;. or if what you mean is &quot;copyrights&quot;, or if what you
mean is any other specific thing, because that is a big
generalization. It is likely to convert a narrow true statement into
a broad false one.
<p>
If you think that what you mean is all of them, then please study the
issue more carefully &mdash; a statement so general is usually false,
and probably most of them are not even relevant to the issue at hand.
<p>
If you want to quote a statement where someone else used the term
&quot;intellectual property&quot;, please check whether the statement was false
due to this confusion. Any statement that used that term probably
was confused.


feed_id: 46426e4b91e212564bc57918efd10a7e
title: Law to publish the tax returns of corporations
uri: Law-to-publish-the-tax-returns-of-corporations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Law_to_publish_the_tax_returns_of_corporations%29

content:
<p>
To make Amazon pay its fair share of taxes, and Apple, Google,
Facebook and others too, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/1/19102713/amazon-tax-returns-federal-2020-election-warren-biden-sanders">we need to see their tax returns</a>. Let's change
tax law to publish the tax returns of corporations.
<p>
We could extend this to every company that files a separate tax
return, or to every company that isn't a sole proprietorship.
<p>
With that exception, it would respect personal privacy adequately,


feed_id: edbc18ec8866684573276dd1f68ca7b7
title: Face tracking
uri: Face-tracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Face_tracking%29
content:
<p>
Private use of <a href="https://truthout.org/articles/as-world-reliance-on-biometric-technology-grows-so-does-opposition/">face tracking is widespread and dangerous</a>,
but the proposed regulations only aim at use by public agencies. Not enough!
<p>
Government <a href="https://thelensnola.org/2019/06/20/police-found-surveillance-cameras-with-nopd-logos-mounted-to-a-lakeview-light-pole-they-werent-the-citys-but-they-were-near-a-house-connected-to-a-city-crime-camera-contractor/">surveillance cameras watching the street</a> are a great disguise
for private surveillance cameras put up by nobody-knows-who.
<p>
Surveillance cameras &mdash; <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">cameras transmitting video somewhere else &mdash;
should be illegal</a> except when authorized by a court for a specific
place and period of time.


feed_id: 01cd2d525b365316e86b95aadd3f1394
title: Unfair trials
uri: Unfair-trials
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Unfair_trials%29
content:
<p>
Pressuring Bahrain to cancel executions of people whose <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/26/bahrain-urged-to-halt-imminent-execution-of-two-men">trials were
thoroughly unfair</a>.


feed_id: d215352f72429323c33520686a2b15f5
title: Tobacco Epidemic
uri: Tobacco-Epidemic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Tobacco_Epidemic%29
content:
<p>
Battle Against Tobacco Epidemic <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/26/battle-tobacco-epidemic-who-report-smoking">Is Far from Won</a>.


feed_id: e85672d1655acb6e89d7402f169eb39c
title: European Investment Bank
uri: European-Investment-Bank
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28European_Investment_Bank%29
content:
<p>
The European Investment Bank will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/26/eib-plans-to-cut-all-funding-for-fossil-fuel-projects-by-2020">stop funding fossil duel projects</a>.
<p>
This could make a real difference if other investors follow this example.


feed_id: d3d18cbdaad1cdf0a52101b41f0519b1
title: An interview with Manual Zelaya
uri: An-interview-with-Manual-Zelaya
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28An_interview_with_Manual_Zelaya%29
content:
<p>
An interview with Manual Zelaya, who <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2019/7/3/manuel_zelaya_reflects_on_the_coup">was president of Honduras until
the coup</a> that appears to have been approved by Hilary Clinton.


feed_id: ea8094a28e963ee86db8a91b52a69c46
title: Contrasting codes of conduct
uri: Contrasting-codes-of-conduct
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Contrasting_codes_of_conduct%29
content:
<p>
Contrasting codes of conduct and accusations
with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/04/love-island-kindness-abuse-behaviour">trying to be kind to other people</a>.


feed_id: 9921ecc805a4eb43dea0a6e058b7db60
title: California require bots to identify themselves
uri: California-require-bots-to-identify-themselves
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28California_require_bots_to_identify_themselves%29

content:
<p>
California now has a law <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/will-californias-new-bot-law-strengthen-democracy">requiring bots to identify themselves</a> as such
when used for advertising or electioneering.
<p>
I think this is a good idea, but I wonder whether enforcing the law
will prove difficult.


feed_id: 52baf142aab50e0a7de98d9047ee0c90
title: Brazil frozen chicken infested with salmonella
uri: Brazil-frozen-chicken-infested-with-salmonella
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Brazil_frozen_chicken_infested_with_salmonella%29

content:
<p>
Brazil is a big exporter of frozen chicken, and 1/5 of it is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/03/brazil-one-million-salmonella-infected-chickens-uk">infested
with salmonella</a>.
<p>
The EU should blacklist Brazil until its infestation rate gets down to
the achievable level? I doubt it will do so, but why not? Is it only
lack of moral commitment, or is there some legal obstacle?
<p>
I wonder if some <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#business-supremacy">business-supremacy treaties</a> forbid this.
<p>
Can anyone suggest who to ask?


feed_id: a14f049cab691484f3ef8c9b8da955c3
title: Plants exchange signals
uri: Plants-exchange-signals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Plants_exchange_signals%29
content:
<p>
Plants <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-07/cp-pdt062719.php">exchange signals and respond to some stimuli</a>. Don't leap
to the conclusion that this means they can feel or think.


feed_id: 5eab14625c165220fc248b901c66b7df
title: Trustworthy AI
uri: Trustworthy-AI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Trustworthy_AI%29
content:
<p>
An independent expert group sponsored by the European Union has
published a plan for <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/document.cfm?doc_id=60343">promoting &quot;trustworthy AI&quot;</a>.
<p>
It does not seem to propose how to develop an AI to be trustworthy,
how to determine whether a given AI program is infact trustworthy, or
how any AI program can be trustworthy. As far as I know, these are
totally unsolved problems, but the report takes for granted some
solution is used.


feed_id: 4792408b37fae967841fbf5f5a14b8e7
title: Captured an Iranian oil tanker
uri: Captured-an-Iranian-oil-tanker
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Captured_an_Iranian_oil_tanker%29
content:
<p>
The British navy <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/05/after-british-commandos-seize-oil-tanker-iran-accuses-uk-committing-maritime-piracy">captured an Iranian oil tanker</a> said to be taking oil to Syria.
<p>
This was clearly an act of war, and justifies military action Iran's part.
<p>
The capture <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/05/spain-to-lodge-complaint-over-british-seizure-of-oil-tanker-gibraltar">took place in disputed waters near Gibraltar</a>, and Spain
has objected to it.
<p>
I can't see what relevance EU sanctions have. If the are sanctions,
they prohibit certain dealings between EU entities and Syria. I don't
see how an Iranian ship would come under EU sanctions, unless it is owned
by a European company.
<p>
Only a blockade would purport go that far, and a blockade, if there
were one, would be an act of war in itself. (Remember when Egypt
blockaded Elat? Israel responded to that, legitimately, by capturing
the Sinai.)
<p>
I don't think the EU has announced a blockade of Syria. Indeed, it is
unable to do such a thing; the whole field of war is outside the EU's
scope.
<p>
So there is some bullshit here. I hope someone sorts out the facts.


feed_id: 44fa4ee4b8f2790a72a740fe6ca8b2ac
title: China taking thousands children
uri: China-taking-thousands-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28China_taking_thousands_children%29
content:
<p>
China is <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-48825090">taking thousands of Uighur children away from their parents</a>
and putting them into boarding schools designed to assimilate them.
<p>
This resembles what the US and Canada did to indigenous peoples
during much of the 20th century. Public opinion made the US and
Canada stop this, but in China public opinion is not allowed to exist.
<p>
Even fairly mild reproach of China for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/05/china-plight-uighurs-xinjiang-beijing-muslim">putting a million Uighurs in
brainwash camps</a> has discomfited China. Firm pressure might
accomplish a great deal.
<p>
Perhaps Hong Kong should be the main target of the pressure, for now.


feed_id: 48b1dac639f2f94d65f073aa7117709c
title: Plutocratist party
uri: Plutocratist-party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Plutocratist_party%29
content:
<p>
An explicitly <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/05/resurgent-centre-right-party-poised-for-victory-in-greek-election">plutocratist party is expected to win</a> the elections in
Greece.
<p>
I think Syriza's surrender discredited the idea of resistance.
Perhaps Greeks have thrown in the towel, and are now telling
themselves that surrender will get them some trickle-down.
However, we've seen that that's bullshit. The plutocrats
will be nice to you until you have swallowed the hook, but then they
squeeze ever harder.
<p>
Getting a little more privileges in the labor camp, through assiduous
obedience, will never get you freedom.


feed_id: ee779f87ddd3c81877299d57b596ae6a
title: We'll pay for your personal data
uri: We-ll-pay-for-your-personal-data
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28We%27ll_pay_for_your_personal_data%29

content:
<p>
ACLU: beware dis-services that say, &quot;We'll pay for your personal data&quot;
&mdash; that would only <a href="https://aclu-or.org/en/news/beware-tech-industrys-latest-privacy-trojan-horse">legitimize the basis of their power, not weaken it</a>.
<p>
Shushana Zuboff's take on why &quot;owning the data about you&quot; would be
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/02/facebook-google-data-change-our-behaviour-democracy">ineffective as protection from surveillance capitalism</a>.


feed_id: 2d55049b7ab2e66effbbd73136c70f42
title: Keep information on who paid for each political ad
uri: Keep-information-on-who-paid-for-each-political-ad
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Keep_information_on_who_paid_for_each_political_ad%29

content:
<p>
Canada required social media companies to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/05/countries-must-unite-to-fight-digital-deception">keep information on who paid
for each ad political</a>. Google responded by not running any political
ads.
<p>
The author seems to think that Google somehow defeated Canada. I say
it's just the opposite: Canada achieved a bigger success than it aimed
for!
<p>
This suggests it may be possible for one country to succeed in
defeating a system that spreads fake news, _if_ it can identify the
crucial nexus at which to operate. Different networks function
differently.


feed_id: 5db98badfaa2eae58668a9e0c2ffb10d
title: Shell's Sleazy Censorship
uri: Shell-s-Sleazy-Censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Shell%27s_Sleazy_Censorship%29
content:
<p>
Shell's Sleazy Censorship: arranging a <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/07/05/shell-conference-climate-change/">joint event with climate
defenders</a>, then cancelling the participation of the researcher who
was going to show how Shell is still working to hamper climate defense. 


feed_id: 1f608fdb232a9457eba4ad5410dd5da8
title: Restricting diesel fuel
uri: Restricting-diesel-fuel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Restricting_diesel_fuel%29
content:
<p>
Less well-off areas have least to lose from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/pollutionwatch-diesel-restrictions-will-not-hit-poorest-most">restricting diesel fuel</a>,
and most to gain from clean-air zones, study finds.


feed_id: d5525dc40ba3043333818db77671187f
title: Australian aboriginals
uri: Australian-aboriginals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Australian_aboriginals%29
content:
<p>
The University of New South Wales has <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/05/brickbat-origin-stories/">told teachers not to talk
about the fact that the Australian aboriginals</a> reached and colonized
Australia around 40,000 years ago. Science is to be suppressed so as to
respect their nonscientific traditional views.
<p>
I think that lying to children is likely to backfire on them. I resent
when parents demand I support their lies about Santa Claus, because I
think I'd be doing wrong.
<p>
Lying to adults about their group's origin could be even worse.


feed_id: a3df63ea7f61e76b3e349afcf61dbeef
title: OPEC climate defense campaigns
uri: OPEC-climate-defense-campaigns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28OPEC_climate_defense_campaigns%29
content:
<p>
OPEC acknowledged that climate defense campaigns including the school
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/05/biggest-compliment-yet-greta-thunberg-welcomes-oil-chiefs-greatest-threat-label">strike for climate threaten fossil fuel extraction industry's future profits</a>.
<p>
 Greta Thunberg called this &quot;our biggest compliment yet&quot;.
<p>
OPEC calls criticism "unscientific", but that can only mean that the
likely fragments of the coming disaster have not been specifically
proved. It would be irrational to wait for such detailed proof
before protecting ourselves.
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/04/climate-strike-youth-activism-giving-their-parents-generation-second-chance">Striking students can influence officials even in right-wing parts</a> of
the US. They can mobilize their parents, too.


feed_id: e25290a76ad47edafe8bd570a87bf15e
title: Damage caused by global heating
uri: Damage-caused-by-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Damage_caused_by_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
A study covers 1300 <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/04/study-finds-holding-governments-and-corporations-legally-accountable-climate-crisis">lawsuits against governments and businesses</a>
over damage caused by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: 42c830417da87166debd4e6c21cdb979
title: High stress cause fetuses to miscarry
uri: High-stress-cause-fetuses-to-miscarry
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28High_stress_cause_fetuses_to_miscarry%29

content:
<p>
Situations of high stress cause fetuses to miscarry. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/04/maternal-stress-and-the-male-foetus">The effect
is stronger for male fetuses</a>.
<p>
I wonder whether in Alabama anyone that imposes stress on a pregnant
woman who subsequently has a miscarriage could be prosecuted for
homicide.


feed_id: 7b012dc2351152fa994d6f81f9a71d42
title: US farmers
uri: US-farmers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28US_farmers%29
content:
<p>
US farmers are growing a lot of food but making little money.
At the same time, they are exhausting and losing the soil and
spreading toxins. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/04/us-agriculture-needs-21st-century-new-deal">Here are ideas for how to fix both</a>.
<p>
Another cause of the failure of farms is being compelled to sell to a
few large middleman companies. Many farms have gone broke recently.
The pressure means farmers cannot invest in <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/04/unfair-food-pricing-killing-family-farms-and-regenerative-farming">regenerative agriculture</a>.
<p>
Sanders proposes how to <a href="https://foodfirst.org/publication/parity-and-farm-justice-recipe-for-a-resilient-food-system/">restructure agriculture in the US<a/>
for the sake of farmers.


feed_id: c87b0a3b07b43503517ee09acb5eb3b5
title: Venezuela's suppression forces
uri: Venezuela-s-suppression-forces
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Venezuela%27s_suppression_forces%29
content:
<p>
A UN human rights report says that <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/05/venezuelan-government-uses-arbitrary-arrests-torture-and-death-squads-to-keep-order-u-n-finds">Venezuela's suppression forces have
killed almost 7000</a> people since Jan 2018 for &quot;resisting arrest&quot;. This
is the government's own figure, so it is clear they were all killed in
raids, but it is inconceivable that they all died in that way.
<p>
More information about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/04/venezuela-un-report-nicolas-maduro-violations-against-dissenters">torture discovered by the UN visit</a>.


feed_id: 152175118d5e875075094aefdb0ba6b9
title: Corrupt judge Sergio Moro
uri: Corrupt-judge-Sergio-Moro
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Corrupt_judge_Sergio_Moro%29
content:
<p>
Brazil has thoroughly condemned <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/07/05/scandal-for-bolsonaros-justice-minister-sergio-moro-grows-as-the-intercept-partners-with-brazils-largest-magazine-for-new-expose/">corrupt judge Sergio Moro</a>.
<p>
In the past, this sort of exposure would compel an official to resign.
Nowadays, corrupt officials have discovered that trying to tough it out
may succeed. What will it take to kick Moro out of office?


feed_id: 60e75daea4706ea20159ccf03efcc618
title: Racist stop-and-frisk
uri: Racist-stop-and-frisk
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Racist_stop-and-frisk%29
content:
<p>
US Judge Shira Scheindlin pronounces on racist stop-and-frisk in
Israel based on her decisions about
<a href="https://972mag.com/new-york-israel-racial-profiling-ethiopians/142225/">racist
stop-and-frisk in New York City</a>.


feed_id: 64863a9deacd554880430c9c6b8327ea
title: Military occupation of Palestine
uri: Military-occupation-of-Palestine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Military_occupation_of_Palestine%29
content:
<p>
Israeli right-wing extremists, from Netanyahu on down, have decided to
deny the fact that 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/07/10/republicans-scold-elizabeth-warren-echoing-ariel-sharon-israeli-occupation/">Palestine
is under Israeli military occupation</a>.
<p>
When anyone points out this fact, they call it "anti-semitism".  They
do so, while maintaining an alliance with 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-jan-apr.html#24_March_2019_(The_real_anti-semites)">real
anti-semites in the US</a>.


feed_id: 6b16b20a5c16fd6f2a7e7adbbc0de415
title: "Influencers"
uri: Influencers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Influencers%29
content:
<p>
"Influencers" 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/13/couscousforcomment-the-hashtag-shaming-instagrammers-who-demand-free-food">try
to extort gratis food from restaurants</a>, even ice cream trucks.
<p>
The best way to deal with them is to stay away from Instagram.
It's a branch of Facebook and participating in it is for zuckers.


feed_id: a57a19e5772c9b639e7ddf6167f7eaf9
title: Military bill forbids fighting with Iran
uri: Military-bill-forbids-fighting-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Military_bill_forbids_fighting_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>
House Democrats put an amendment into a military bill that would
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/07/12/trump-iran-vote-congress/">strictly
forbid fighting with Iran</a>, other than defending against attacks.


feed_id: 69d15f8022448e63ee9bd4c5da909359
title: iBad tracking in schools
uri: iBad-tracking-in-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28iBad_tracking_in_schools%29
content:
<p>
If your school provides you with an iBad, it's not merely imposing
user-subjugating software and online dis-services.  It may also be
<a href="https://www.govtech.com/education/Playing-Hooky-in-Illinois-Gets-Harder-with-Technology.html">tracking
your movements in the school</a>.


feed_id: b5d21784270d07c428ad677bf6265ae2
title: Tree planting
uri: Tree-planting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_%28Tree_planting%29
content:
<p>
Tree planting 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions">could
be a big part of preventing climate disaster</a>.
<p>
However, I have to raise two questions:


feed_id: bb2b3c675b3fdf2c28431f2ac9663941
title: Remaining refugees on Manus
uri: Remaining-refugees-on-Manus
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Remaining_refugees_on_Manus%29
content:
<p>
The remaining refugees imprisoned on Manus Island have been invited to
move to New Zealand, but Australia's right wing hate regime <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/21/foreskin-reclaimers-the-intactivists-fighting-infant-male-circumcision">won't let
them.</a>
<p>
It is good that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> did not stop the US from accepting many
refugees from Manus. As for the ones that have moved to Port Moresby,
the capital of Papua New Guinea, I wonder what their lives are like
there.
<p>
Australia is still ashamed of its actions there. An opposition
Australian senator went to Manus Island and asked to visit the prison.
Not only was he denied permission, <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/20/greens-senator-nick-mckim-deported-from-manus-island">Papua New Guinea immediately
deported him.</a>
<p>
It is clear that Papua New Guinea's government is acting as a puppet for
the Australian minister in charge, Dutton.
<p>
By the way, Dutton is the same minister that could have you imprisoned
if you disobey secret orders to sabotage your clients or your free
software. Don't go to Australia.


feed_id: 0a4a18f3c9aac331de84761b60f585c5
title: UK extends abortion and same sex marriage in Northern Ireland
uri: UK-extends-abortion-and-same-sex-marriage-in-Northern-Ireland
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28UK_extens_abortion_and_same_sex_marriage_in_Northern_Ireland%29

content:
<p>
The UK parliament voted to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/09/mps-vote-to-extend-same-sex-marriage-to-northern-ireland
">authorize abortion and same-sex marriage</a> in
Northern Ireland. These were blocked because the parliament of
Northern Ireland ceased to function some years ago.


feed_id: cd61cfb87de5348b5f19f0e52af4600e
title: Advice about militarism
uri: Advice-about-militarism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Advice_about_militarism%29
content:
<p>
Important advice about militarism that President Roosevelt received in 1940,
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/09/riptide-american-militarism?cd-origin=rss
">but the US is forgetting.</a>


feed_id: 4ea0aaf86aa79e189486b128a975cc58
title: Woman's soul in purgatory
uri: Woman-s-soul-in-purgatory
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Woman%27s_soul_in_pergatory%29
content:
<p>
(satire) A woman's soul <a href="https://www.theonion.com/woman-on-third-level-of-purgatory-tired-of-being-passed-1836211628
">complains of gender bias</a> in purgatory.
<p>
There is surely gender bias in <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#16_March_2018_(Gina_Haspel_proving_herself)">CIA torture, too.</a>


feed_id: 4ca5cf62d53f70594ae7ed3c0b1935f9
title: Biden championed Dubya's war with Iraq
uri: Biden-championed-Dubya-s-war-with-Iraq
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Biden_championed_Dubya%27s_war_with_Iraq%29

content:
<p>
Biden didn't just vote for Dubya's war with Iraq. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/09/joe-biden-didnt-just-vote-iraq-invasion-he-helped-lead-march-war?cd-origin=rss
">He championed it.</a>


feed_id: ea7bec0229aaf13a0385e91834d7ea2f
title: Israelis' houses on Palestinians'
uri: Israelis-houses-on-Palestinians
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Israeliss%27_houses_on_Palestinians%27%29

content:
<p>
Israel has decided to legitimize Israelis' houses on Palestinians'
land, if the <a href="
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ag-green-lights-legalization-of-2000-settler-homes-built-on-palestinian-land/">Israelis dealt "in good faith" with the Israeli
government.</a>

<p>
Israelis are not required to show "good faith" to Palestinians themselves.
<p>
Contrast this with how Israel grabs for excuses to make Palestinians
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#21_August_2013_(Israel_forces_Palestinian_to_pay_to_demolish_his_own_home)">demolish their own homes.</a>


feed_id: 6b031e6ca39cf7fd127ebafe27709b46
title: Evidence supports Iran's claim
uri: Evidence-supports-Iran-s-claim
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Evidence_supports_Iran%27s_claim%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="
https://www.richardsilverstein.com/2019/06/24/israel-u-s-engage-in-attack-simulations-preparing-for-war-against-iran/">weight of the evidence supports Iran's claim</a> that the US spy drone
that Iran shot down was over Iran's waters.

<p>
Making war plans and running war games do not strike me as matters of
special concern. Those kinds of preparations are, in most cases, not
followed by an actual war. Thus, if the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> does attack Iran, I
won't consider that planning to be the cause.
<p>
The US has cancelled and violated the nonnuclear accord with Iran but <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/09/trumps-version-iran-accord-heads-i-win-tails-you-lose?cd-origin=rss
">still
criticizes Iran for not obeying it.</a>


feed_id: 6914d4d9bdd8188de7ca70e27df876de
title: Alexa recordings
uri: Alexa-recordings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Alexa_recordings%29
content:
<p>
Amazon keeps Alexa recordings and transcripts <a href="
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/07/amazon-confirms-it-keeps-your-alexa-recordings-basically-forever/">indefinitely.</a>


feed_id: 7030f3f23e360f39de327e03a21cb0f3
title: Arctic wildfires
uri: 2019-07-28-Arctic-wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Arctic_wildfires%29
content:
<p>
"Unprecedented": More Than 100 Arctic Wildfires Burn in <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/26/unprecedented-more-than-100-wildfires-burning-in-the-arctic-in-worst-ever-season">Worst Ever Season.</a>

<p>
In some places the peat is burning and could burn for months.
<p>
The relation between this and <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> is direct in both
directions. The Arctic has heated much more than anywhere else on
Earth, and that temperature makes for fire. And the fire spews CO2
which will increase <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: 7444d4d72484e8cfaf7bd668cc9015c6
title: Mobile phone personality
uri: Mobile-phone-personality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Mobile_phone_personality%29
content:
<p>
A person's pattern of using a mobile phone allows deducing <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2019/jul/phone-movement-personaility">a lot about
per personality.</a>
<p>
Phone companies around the world could use this to help profile people.


feed_id: b2357774045328079f292bf393cd1b1f
title: The right trees in the right place
uri: The-right-trees-in-the-right-place
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28The_right_trees_in_the_right_palce%29

content:
<p>
In order for planting trees to be environmentally beneficial, they
need to be the <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-tree-planting-actually-damages-ecosystems-120786">right trees, in a suitable place.</a>
<p>
I conjecture that a good rule would be to plant trees in places that
used to be forests a few centuries ago, and plant the trees that used
to live there.


feed_id: d431c5a49e4d0ec7d4d04b269aa4797e
title: EPA plans to allow polluters to appeal
uri: EPA-plans-to-allow-polluters-to-appeal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28EPA_plans_to_allow_polluters_to_apeal%29

content:
<p>
The EPA plans to allow polluters to <a href="
https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/conniving-epa-has-gotten-kafkaesque">appeal rulings</a> but not allow
pollution victims to do so.
<p>
Plutocratists have directed that agency to do the opposite of its job.
That is why I now call it the Environmental Poisoning Agency.


feed_id: a380e28baace779a9ea5c8eae04580b1
title: Moscow police arrest 200 protesters
uri: Moscow-police-arrest-200-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Moscow_police_arrest_200_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Moscow Police Arrest up to 200 <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/27/moscow-police-arrest-up-to-200-ahead-of-election-protest">Ahead of Election Protest.</a>

<p>
Putin openly visits contempt on democracy as an act of intimidation,
like what the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> does in the US.


feed_id: e7efba2d8e2ef1e0e9b6cd4d39b747a1
title: Woman forced to wax testicles
uri: Woman-forced-to-wax-testicles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Woman_forced_to_wax_testicles%29
content:
<p>
In <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/27/male-genitalia-week-in-patriarchy-women
">the Guardian</a>
we read,
<blockquote>
Surely a woman shouldn’t be forced to wax testicles if that makes them
feel uncomfortable?
</blockquote>
<p>
Who or what does "them" refer to? The testicles? The woman?
<p>
Notwithstanding my delectation in occasional wildly funny ambiguities
such as that one, I continue to advocate systematically avoiding them
by using <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/genderless-pronouns.html
">singular gender-neutral pronouns</a>
when referring to just one person.
In this particular case, since the person is specified as a woman,
"her" would also have fit.


feed_id: 2e362eb3061c25273daefe46e5ccc70a
title: Siri records
uri: Siri-records
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Siri_records%29
content:
<p>
Siri Records Fights, Doctor's Appointments, And Sex <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/07/siri-records-fights-doctors-appointments-and-sex-and-contractors-hear-it/
">(and contractors hear it).</a>


feed_id: f5e562b268e027f294c9b1ea9a48c1ce
title: Israeli who had to prove his guilt
uri: Israeli-who-had-to-prove-his-guilt
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Israeli_who_had_to_prove_his_guilt%29

content:
<p>
The Israeli Who Had to Prove He's Guilty of Beating a Palestinian, and the
<a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2019/06/israeli-palestinian-innocent/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=israeli-palestinian-innocent&utm_source=Mondoweiss+List&utm_campaign=cfff3e1be5-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b86bace129-cfff3e1be5-39
">Palestinian Who Had to Prove He's Innocent of Raping a Jewish Girl.</a>


feed_id: 9a67af3d2f7f75d0d6eb44f85a2ba225
title: Australian mines cut corners
uri: Australian-mines-cut-corners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Austrailian_mines_cut_corners%29
content:
<p>
The workers in Australian mines now have precarious jobs (and,
apparently, no unions to defend them). So they are afraid they will
be fired if they report how the mine <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/10/mineworkers-fear-reprisals-for-raising-safety-concerns-amid-spike-in-deaths">cuts corners and endangers
people's lives and health.</a>

<p>
The underlying cause of this is right-wing government that lets mines
get away with precarious employment. Give miners more power and their
union will attend to the safety.


feed_id: b639b38879300a6b9d8528ac78bd3f74
title: Machine learning patents
uri: Machine-learning-patents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Macheine_learning_patents%29
content:
<p>
Machine learning / automated classification is going to be <a href="http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2018/06/deepmind-first-major-ai-patent-filings.html">loaded down
with patents,</a> like other fields of computing.

<p>
(The article uses the misleading over-generalization, "IP". It
covers a bunch of disparate laws, which in itself is spreads confusion
by leading people to <a href="
https://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">think those laws have something significant in
common.)</a>

<p>
We need laws that <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/limit-patent-effect.html
">directly exclude software and use of software</a> from
the domain of patents.


feed_id: 818a970f3a3124c908abd63cc27d340a
title: Jewish activists protest deportation thugs
uri: Jewish-activists-protest-deportation-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Jewish_activists_protest_deportaion_thugs%29

content:
<p>
Jewish activists protest the deportation thugs, saying <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/09/never-again-means-close-camps-hundreds-jewish-activists-surround-ice-office-protest?cd-origin=rss">"Never Again
Means Close the Camps!"</a>

<p>
Jews have two different interpretations of "Never again!" One is
narrow: "Never again to us!" The other interpretation is broad:
"Never again to anybody!" I admire that side of Judaism (although it
won't convince me to believe in supernatural entities).


feed_id: ab84569455ef3d1c994e006303d1fa71
title: Amazon strike
uri: Amazon-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Amazon_strike%29
content:
<p>
 A strike planned in an Amazon warehouse is meant to draw
a contrast between the carefully cultivated image Amazon presents to
consumers and the <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/09/fighting-livable-future-amazon-workers-minnesota-warehouse-organize-strike-next?cd-origin=rss">reality for the company's workers.</a>

<p>
By contrast, in the Free Software Movement we aim to draw a contrast
between that same image and the reality for those who make the
mistake of accepting the <a href="https://stallman.org/amazon.html">company's services.</a>


feed_id: 3851286dc0a3e00311058a77dff5fe9a
title: Ocean tipping point
uri: Ocean-tipping-point
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Ocean_tipping_point%29
content:
<p>
Evidence suggests that excess CO2 in the ocean can reach a tipping
point after which the ocean <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/09/completely-terrifying-study-warns-carbon-saturated-oceans-headed-toward-tipping?cd-origin=rss
">would rapidly become much more acidic.</a>


feed_id: 52c0a8f6361493532303957bab0f688a
title: Legalizing recreation marijuana
uri: Legalizing-recreation-marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Legalizing_recreation_marjuana%29
content:
<p>
Legalizing recreational marijuana <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/R57IFpX_FKI/
">correlates with decreased use</a>
by high school students.


feed_id: 7a339c1e8c14695c24435c81bdaff3c5
title: Instagram AI
uri: Instagram-AI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Instagram_AI%29
content:
<p>
Instagram is testing AI-implemented <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/09/instagram-bullying-new-feature-do-you-want-to-post-this
">kind communication guidelines.</a>


In the GNU Project we ask people to learn and consciously practice our
kind <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/kind-communication-guidelines.html
">communication guidelines.</a>


feed_id: 4438475a58881f9fcaba0842a1d1a45b
title: Defense attorneys vow
uri: Defense-attorneys-vow
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Defense_attorneys_vow%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Defense Attorneys Vow To Present Irrefutable Evidence <a href="https://www.theonion.com/defense-attorneys-vow-to-present-irrefutable-evidence-p-1836187029
">Proving Jeffrey
Epstein Billionaire.</a>


feed_id: a7da784cb342786e4ba50a96bd7f5873
title: Employee's fingerprints
uri: Employee-s-fingerprints
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Employee%27s_fingerprints%29
content:
<p>
The staff of a Chicago medical organization are suing because it <a href="
https://cookcountyrecord.com/stories/512711953-amberwood-care-centre-hit-with-class-action-over-timeclocks-requiring-workers-to-scan-fingerprints">identified
them with fingerprints for each shift.</a>

<p>
I think it is bad that the employer has their fingerprints at all.
Is it possible to authenticate people with a biometric that is
normally hidden?


feed_id: 2411790d2b09d49e70dc93eb152ea167
title: US schools monitoring social media
uri: US-schools-monitoring-social-media
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28US_schools_monitoring_social_media%29

content:
<p>
US schools are monitoring social media postings of everyone living
near by, using <a href="
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/05/30/schools-are-deploying-massive-digital-surveillance-systems.html">Artificial Stupidity to detect "threats".</a> Nearly every
alarm is a false alarm.

<p>
One thing that the article doesn't mention is that the contracts for
using the school's computers and their nonfree software, and the
online dis-services that the school wants to let spy on students,
are fundamentally unjust.


feed_id: cd9c0b30466b068a5853f96fc49a844d
title: Christchurch Mayor
uri: Christchurch-Mayor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Christchurch_Mayor%29
content:
<p>
Christchurch Mayor On Mass Shooter: <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/08/christchurch-mayor-shooter-no-idea-name">'I've no idea what his name is'.</a>

<p>
I didn't pay attention to that name either.


feed_id: f7f7d25f944edd7220aff6131752af3a
title: Face recognition and body cameras
uri: Face-recognition-and-body-cameras
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Face_recongnition_and_body_cameras%29

content:
<p>
Real-Time Facial Recognition <a href="
https://privacyintyqcroe.onion/news-analysis/3028/real-time-facial-recognition-should-never-be-coupled-body-worn-cameras">Should Never Be</a> Coupled with Body-Worn Cameras.

<p>
I agree, but that is not enough. We must also them from being used to make
and store videos without limits. My proposed automatic system to decide
<a href="https://stallman.org
/articles/when-should-body-cameras-record.html">
when to save the recording could take care of this job.</a>


feed_id: 72bc442854aae7074de5ab5c08cb67e3
title: Mining drivers licenses
uri: Mining-drivers-licenses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Mining__drivers_licenses%29
content:
<p>
The FBI frequently identifies people by running their photos
through many <a href="
https://web.archive.org/web/20190707201617/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/07/07/fbi-ice-find-state-drivers-license-photos-are-gold-mine-facial-recognition-searches/">states' data bases of drivers license photos.</a>

<p>
The deportation thugs do it too, which means that the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/08/scandal-documents-show-ice-and-fbi-using-facial-recognition-mine-millions-drivers?cd-origin=rss
">states which
permit this expose their residents</a> gratuitously to deportation.


feed_id: 4939bd5406842aeafbc625a24b54de07
title: Tsipras and Syriza
uri: Tsipras-and-Syriza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Tsipras_and_Syriza%29
content:
<p>
Tsipras and Syriza lost the first battle to the global plutocracy.
Then, instead of fighting for every inch, they <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/08/syriza-demise-greece-alexis-tsipras">capitulated eagerly.</a>

<p>
Then most Greeks did the foolish thing that a defeated people often
do: they decided to support a different set of right-wing
plutocratists instead. This was pitiful and stupid. Despair can
drive a people to do self-mutilation, just as it can drive an
individual to it, but don't help your enemies subjugate your people.


feed_id: b1c1b150e18cd4d6ed1b5af04efdfe6b
title: Global heating in Somalia
uri: Global-heating-in-Somalia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Global_heating_in_Somalia%29
content:
<p>
Global heating is causing havoc in Somalia, <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/08/somalia-climate-emergency-world-drought-somalis">through repeated drought.</a>

<p>
As the number of people who can't feed themselves any more increases,
it is clear that other countries will eventually let them die.
But in the mean time, climate strikers and Extinction Rebellion
can present their example of a foretaste of what is coming
if we don't decarbonize.


feed_id: d765903b0e2db92ec96804f79f9f4ae8
title: Redirecting pipeline profits
uri: Redirecting-pipeline-profits
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Redirecting_pipeline_profits%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/07/canadian-prime-minister-justin-trudeaus-climate-package-dangerous-fraud?cd-origin=rss">"[Trudeau's] promise to direct pipeline profits to clean energy</a> is
like allowing cigarettes to be sold to kids as long as tobacco
companies make generous donations to cancer research."

<p>
There is <a href="http://priceofoil.org/2016/05/19/reaction-kinder-morgan-pipeline-proposal-a-recipe-for-climate-disaster/
">no room in the carbon budget</a> for strip-mining
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-jan-apr.html#21%20February%202009%20(Alberta%20tar%20sands)">Alberta's tar sands.</a>


feed_id: ab377ec5804bbe89ff09e5681d128c6a
title: Disasters caused by global heating
uri: Disasters-caused-by-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Disasters_caused_by_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
Local disasters due to <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> are happening at a rate of
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/07/one-climate-crisis-disaster-happening-every-week-un-warns">roughly once per week.</a>

<p>
Mizutori's stance is misguided. We must give priority to long-term
reduction of the harm that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> will do. We must do all we
can in that direction. Defending cities from floods and fires of the
2020s must take second place to reducing the floods and fires of the
2030s, 2040s, 2050s and beyond.
<p>
It is good to defend cities better in the short term, provided this is
not at the expense of measures to reduce the long-term threat.


feed_id: 0e5f4adbf9909df857cb7d57d5ba3268
title: Refusal to cover up murals
uri: Refusal-to-cover-up-murals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Refusal_to_cover_up_murals%29
content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/05/gross-violation-logic-and-sense-open-letter-nearly-140-scholars-implores-sf-school?cd-origin=rss">Scholars implore San Francisco</a> not to cover up the murals that depict
misdeeds of George Washington.

<p>
It is true that we can't tell the school's students (or anyone else)
how to feel. That doesn't mean we must cater to misguided demands
that are motivated by those feelings.


feed_id: d018939246e95f75948d443eb86cb254
title: US concentration camp cruelty
uri: US-concentration-camp-cruelty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28US_concentration_camp_cruelty%29
content:
<p>
In US concentration camps for immigrants, the officers let thugs <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/05/alleged-abuse-us-border-guards-who-forced-detained-migrant-wear-humiliating-sign?cd-origin=rss">vent
cruelty at the prisoners.</a>

<p>
"The conditions in the border cells are shocking –- but the
right[-wing] will use <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/03/migrant-dentention-centres-us-border-patrol
">public outrage [as an excuse to] to build more jails.</a>


feed_id: 588385e3006e1eec91ef524ba2101e3d
title: Bully's act of terror
uri: Bully-s-act-of-terror
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Bully%27s_act_of_terror%29
content:
<p>
For the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>, threatening massive deportation raids then not carrying
them out added up to a successful act of terror. He used <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/06/trump-wants-transform-immigrant-communities-permanent-hyper-exploited-underclass?cd-origin=rss">cruelty to
send a message.</a>

<p>
I did not post about this, because it is a mistake to talk about
whatever the conman says. Next time he tries to terrify people
with a threat, let's please not talk about it. The things
has actually does cause enough harm on their own; we need not
add to them by quoting his threats.


feed_id: d40e9bedf4373656d4e8efe106285638
title: 25 year wealth gap
uri: 25-year-wealth-gap
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%2825_year_wealth_gap%29
content:
<p>
Wealthy white males in the US today are about as healthy (on the
average) as were the wealthy white males of 25 years ago, but all
other demographic groups in the US have <a href="
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/06/28/736938334/the-gap-between-rich-and-poor-americans-health-is-widening">got less healthy since then.</a>

<p>
The study doesn't show the reason for this, but the increasing expense
of medical care in the US is surely part of the reason. The
increasing stress of living in the US under plutocracy may be
another.
<p>
The hospital that became famous for suing poor people for medical charges
they can't pay has dropped some of the lawsuits. <a href="
https://www.propublica.org/article/nonprofit-christian-hospital-suspends-debt-collection-lawsuits-amid-furor-over-suing-its-own-employees">It is going to reconsider
that policy.</a>

<p>
Maybe after this public outrage the hospital will cease all such lawsuits.
Or maybe it won't. If it does stop, it might start again in a year or two
and hope nobody notices.
<p>
No word on whether it will rename itself as "Le Malheur".


feed_id: 76a6a3d134066afb8733725513d321c2
title: Boris Johnson, evil clown
uri: Boris-Johnson-evil-clown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Boris_Johnson%2C_evil_clown%29
content:
<p>
Boris Johnson, an evil clown, may now become prime minister of the UK
by <a href="
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190628/09564442494/boris-johnson-uks-answer-to-trump-offers-masterclass-how-to-use-dead-cat-strategy-combined-with-google-bomb.shtml">burying a real scandal under an assertion so unbelievable</a> that the
press got distracted by how unbelievable it was.

<p>
The assertion was also apparently calculated to disguise one of his
past failures in search engines.
<p>
I didn't post any notes about the unbelievable statement, because it
was not important. Additional reasons to distrust someone's word are
hardly needed when that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-may-aug.html#22_July_2017_(Life_expectancy_with_Tory_policy)">someone is a Tory.</a>


feed_id: 1bdd3afe4e922b0286b8ce680a4bd593
title: Border thugs discussion group
uri: Border-thugs-discussion-group
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Border_thugs_discussion_group%29
content:
<p>
US border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> tried to cover up their secret discussion group
for posting their hatred of immigrants, but the <a href="
https://theintercept.com/2019/07/05/border-patrol-facebook-group/">Intercept saved it
and has posted about it.</a>

<p>
The quotation, "Fuck the whole country of Honduras," is ironic
because that's <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_(An_interview_with_Manual_Zelaya)">exactly what the US has done.</a>


feed_id: a3b4d35d27f7597dbdad7eddf8dce5f4
title: Urgent: Block Facebook's planned currency
uri: Urgent-Block-Facebook-s-planned-currency
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Block_Facebooks_planned_currency%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/libra">call on Congress</a>
to block Facebook's planned currency.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: c44a708d8b799cc7065e7cbb91540271
title: Outspoken progressives
uri: Outspoken-progressives
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Outspoken_progressives%29
content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed concerns
Thursday that outspoken progressives
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/pelosi-concerned-outspoken-progressive-flank-of-party-c-1836707083">could
do permanent damage to Democrats’ reputation as ineffectual
cowards</a>.


feed_id: 0f76509a81b978af9fb41b1b39956530
title: Deportation thugs
uri: 2019-07-28-Deportation-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Deportation_thugs%29
content:
<p>
'I Was Ready to Sign' Deportation Papers, Says US Citizen After Three
Weeks in 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/25/i-was-ready-sign-deportation-papers-says-us-citizen-after-three-weeks-horrific">Horrific
Immigrant Detention Center</a>.
<p>
The conditions included denial of medical care.
<p>
The deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> released him after negative publicity,
but there is no reason to think that they will make the conditions for
the other prisoners any less nasty.


feed_id: 32f9b87ce862a8c611c2110a5a96c148
title: Australia's new coal projects
uri: Australia-s-new-coal-projects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Australias_new_coal_projects%29
content:
<p>
All insurance companies in Australia 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/26/insurance-giant-suncorp-says-it-will-no-longer-cover-new-thermal-coal-projects">now
refuse to insure any new coal projects</a>.  This may put an end to
most of them, but really large companies might self-insure.
<p>
Now what about oil and gas?


feed_id: 8e1ab260cdf7b9ac5e958222161e732c
title: Natural gas disinformation campaign
uri: Natural-gas-disinformation-campaign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Natural_gas_disinformation_campaign%29

content:
<p>
A natural gas company in California 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/26/us-natural-gas-ban-socalgas-berkeley">set
up an unnatural astroturf disinformation campaign</a> to keep the
methane leaking.
<p>
The term "balance" has a powerful irrational appeal.  We've seen this
in the 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html">copyright
field</a> for ages, and now in energy as well.


feed_id: a5d897931051917cc5b0425c78faefe0
title: The British bullshitter
uri: The-British-bullshitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28The_British_bullshitter%29
content:
<p>
About Boris Johnson, the British bullshitter that is 
<a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2019/7/25/ash_sarkar_boris_johnson_uk_pm">allied
with the US bullshitter</a>.


feed_id: 904c27f7dbabfa334b7082bde579369c
title: Deadly heat in tropical regions
uri: Deadly-heat-in-tropical-regions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Deadly_heat_in_tropical_regions%29
content:
<p>
If we don't curb <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>, many tropical regions will experience
deadly heat every year.  Often this will follow 
<a href="https://theconversation.com/heatwave-think-its-hot-in-europe-the-human-body-is-already-close-to-thermal-limits-elsewhere-121003">storms
that cut the electric supply to the air conditioning that would be
necessary to save people's lives</a>.


feed_id: 15b7ea29831bad9d91d1a79a1e563c9c
title: Mueller's testimony
uri: Mueller-s-testimony
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Muellers_testimony%29
content:
<p>
Mueller's testimony did not deal a political blow to the bullshitter,
because he 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/26/mueller-testimony-democrats-impeachment">gave
little if any new explanation</a>.
<p>
I think the bullshitter deserves to be impeached and removed from
office, for treating the US political system with contempt, as well as
multiple crimes and acts of cruelty and dishonesty.  But it is
impossible to do that, and without that possibility, whether to
impeach is simply a matter of political tactics.


feed_id: 2fa9b3414758775af71d1b13fbff777d
title: RT TV disinformation
uri: RT-TV-disinformation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28RT_TV_disinformation%29
content:
<p>
How RT TV 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/26/russia-disinformation-rt-nuanced-online-ofcom-fine">designs
its disinformation to serve Russia's interest</a>.


feed_id: eea6611f3a44632adfdc61f694eca116
title: Opioids executive convicted of bribery
uri: Opioids-executive-convicted-of-bribery
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Opioids_executive_convicted_of_bribery%29

content:
<p>
An opioids executive was convicted of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/02/john-kapoor-opioids-billionaire-founder-guilty-of-bribing-doctors-to-prescribe">bribing
doctors</a> to prescribe the opioid "subsys."


feed_id: 470c677ff6d73bef994f96ddf24d767b
title: Extinction rebellion
uri: Extinction-rebellion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#27_July_2019_%28Extinction_rebellion%29
content:
<p>
Extinction Rebellion:
"<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/jul/26/extinction-rebellion-fashion-week-should-be-a-declaration-of-emergency'>Fashion
Week Should Be a Declaration of Emergency</a>."
<p>
It is bizarre to think that clothing makes a big contribution to
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>, but it is true: "fast fashion", the practice of
wearing clothes just a little and discarding them, has turned clothing
into something to consume rather than a durable good.


feed_id: d212d9f6f994907ba9b13080146ad869
title: Supreme Court allowed Pentagon funds to go towards wall
uri: Supreme-Court-allowed-Pentagon-funds-to-go-towards-wall
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Supreme_Court_allowed_Pentagon_funds_to_go_twords_wall%29

content:
<p>
The Supreme Court allowed the cheater to use <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/26/trump-border-wall-supreme-court
">$2.5bn in Pentagon funds
to build a border wall</a>.


feed_id: d5bfa60590da983bc2739ee0f125cf0d
title: British honours named after empire
uri: British-honours-named-after-empire
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28British_honours_named_after_empire%29

content:
<p>
British "honours" (non-military medals) named after the
no-longer-extant British Empire <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/28/honours-system-british-empire-racism
">cause a moral quandary to some
recipients,</a> whose ethnic background includes a group that was colonized
by said empire.


feed_id: 106e8d67ffd38a2eacace7932db20d22
title: Mueller's testimony basis for impeachment
uri: Mueller-s-testimony-basis-for-impeachment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Mueller%27s_testimony_basis_for_impeachment%29

content:
<p>
Rep. Shiff, head of the House Judiciary Committee, said that Mueller's
testimony provided the <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/28/mueller-testimony-nadler-schiff-trump-lie">basis to consider impeaching the conman</a>.
<p>
It seems to me that we had plenty of basis already.


feed_id: 81a1f2c5932bbacda48dc4d17d6fb1c6
title: Moscow protesters not daunted
uri: Moscow-protesters-not-daunted
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Moscow_protesters_not_daunted%29
content:
<p>
Moscow <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have arrested 1300 pro-democracy protesters, but the
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/28/russian-opposition-calls-for-more-protests-after-mass-arrests">protesters are not daunted</a>.
<p>
All they demand is that the candidates they nominated be allowed to run.


feed_id: 94408e663d056c525402c17e4c670200
title: Miners attack village
uri: Miners-attack-village
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Miners_attack_village%29
content:
<p>
Gold miners in the Brazilian Amazon have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/28/amazon-gold-miners-invade-indigenous-village-brazil-leader-killed
">attacked and captured an
indigenous village</a> and killed the tribe's leader.


feed_id: 0ccac2161b365637c722269d36296ea3
title: Ban on glass skyscrapers
uri: Ban-on-glass-skyscrapers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Ban_on_glass_skyscrapers%29
content:
<p>
Experts Call for Ban on Glass Skyscrapers <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/28/ban-all-glass-skscrapers-to-save-energy-in-climate-crisis">to Save Energy.</a>
<p>
They need extra cooling to make up for the greenhouse effect of the glass.


feed_id: 5578f298bb9a8716055fcbb20388f22b
title: Hong Kong thugs
uri: 2019-07-29-Hong-Kong-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Hong_Konk_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Hong Kong <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> indiscriminately attacked subway passengers who were
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/28/hong-kong-police-likened-to-thugs-after-yuen-long-violence">simply trying to ride the train</a>.
<p>
Some of the passengers had previously been in a protest.


feed_id: 2b85831d5ab574712d1536d287ae8f23
title: UK rape victims
uri: UK-rape-victims
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28UK_rape_victims%29
content:
<p>
UK women have become more willing to report rape, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/28/rape-victims-deserve-more-support-every-step-of-their-way-to-court
">but only 2% of the
cases are actually pursued.</a> This discourages the victims, who say
"forget about it."


feed_id: 089fa849a9dd645d2184fd2f54046741
title: Analysis of Hong Kong's Politics
uri: Analysis-of-Hong-Kong-s-Politics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Analysis_of_Hong_Kong%27s_Politics%29

content:
<p>
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/28/hong-kong-now-unmoored-old-ways-unravelled">An analysis</a> of the Hong Kong political situation.
<p>
Let's look at the argument that Hong Kongers should surrender their
rights to assuage the hurt feelings of a billion Chinese. Are their feelings really hurt? That could be a fiction fabricated by Chinese state.
<p>
But let's suppose that 30 million really do have hurt feelings. It
could be so. If so, why are their feelings hurt? Why do they even
pay attention to Hong Kong? It's because they are more or less
Xi-ple; the state media tells them to feel hurt, and they do not doubt
what they are told.
<p>
Any number of people who demand your surrender because they herded to do so
amount to no reason for you to do that.


feed_id: a255237f6ef3f7ba839d0baaeda7b807
title: Extreme weather has damaged Australasia's marine life
uri: Extreme-weather-has-damaged-Australasia-s-marine-life
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Extreme_weather_has_damaged_Austrailia%27s_marine_life%29

content:
<p>
Extreme Weather Has Damaged Nearly Half Australia's Marine Ecosystems Since
2011.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/28/extreme-weather-has-damaged-nearly-half-australias-marine-ecosystems-since-2011
">
Some were damaged irreversibly.</a>
<p>
The crucial points are that (1) this is surely not limited to
Australia and (2) it will get a lot worse unless we stop it soon.


feed_id: 936731734f09e213367757096787a5a0
title: MSNBC altered Sanders data
uri: MSNBC-altered-Sanders-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28MSNBC_altered_Sanders_data%29
content:
<p>
MSNBC alters arithmetic to make <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/27/msnbcs-anti-sanders-bias-makes-it-forget-how-do-math?cd-origin=rss
">Sanders look bad.</a>


feed_id: 5bf67a3344d3f13e63757284178beeaf
title: Right wing PAC turns out to be less effective
uri: Right-wing-PAC-turns-out-to-be-less-effective
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Right_wing_PAC_turns_out_to_be_less_effective%29

content:
<p>
A big right-wing PAC turned out to be much less effective than
it might have been, because the organizers directed <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/conservative-majority-fund-political-fundraising-pac-kelley-rogers
">much of the money
to themselves.</a>


feed_id: 8621e0b1d719ae73db8632296f556879
title: DOJ approved T&mdash;mobile and Sprint
uri: DOJ-approved-T-mobile-and-Sprint
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28DOJ_approved_T%2526mdash%3Bmobile_and_Sprint%29

content:
<p>
The Department of Justice <a href="
https://boingboing.net/2019/07/26/doj-approves-26-billion-t-mob.html">approved the merger</a> of T-Mobile and Sprint.

<p>
The political power of large companies is such a threat to democracy
that we should make sure they do not merge with or acquire other
companies.


feed_id: b84cd14699911d46d21c736223e8aebc
title: EU requires online payments with phone
uri: EU-requires-online-payments-with-phone
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28EU_requires_online_payments_with_phone%29

content:
<p>
In the EU, online credit card payments will require two-factor identification
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jul/27/thousands-without-mobiles-could-be-frozen-out-of-online-payments">using a mobile phone.</a>

<p>
Many people are up in arms about the inconvenience of this, but that
is only the superficial level. A mobile phone tracks you, and buying
on the internet tracks you. The wise thing to do is to go to a
physical store and pay cash.


feed_id: e41641759b8ffadc24f166c5cb9c8c96
title: Guatemala called safe
uri: Guatemala-called-safe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Guatemala_called_safe%29
content:
<p>
The US made Guatemala agree that the US should call it "safe"
so that refugees that cross Guatemala (from Honduras, El Salvador
and Nicaragua) <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/26/us-guatemala-asylum-agreement-trump-safe-third-country">have to apply for asylum in Guatemala.
</a>
<p>
That policy is ridiculous and unjust because it is based on a falsehood.


feed_id: bd5f2929302d7bf762628aac998ea419
title: Pressure to curb global heating
uri: Pressure-to-curb-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Pressure_to_curb_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
Australia's ruling planet-roasters are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/27/australia-must-help-protect-pacific-from-climate-change-png-prime-minister-says">facing
pressure from Papua New Guinea</a> to help curb global heating.
<p>
Bullshit won't be enough to quell this.


feed_id: a2f0e85b19d4014bff9dfd870bc4818d
title: Reducing severe storms in Europe
uri: Reducing-severe-storms-in-Europe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Reducing_severe_storms_in_Europe%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jul/26/weatherwatch-forests-could-save-us-from-the-worst-storms">Planting
a lot of forests</a> in Europe could reduce severe storms there.


feed_id: e10e45d3cf11ec718565077d562c608d
title: Israeli snipers
uri: Israeli-snipers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Israeli_snipers%29
content:
<p>
In a human advance, Israeli snipers are now
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/25/sniping-innocent-protesters-however-still-fine-israeli-snipers-now-being-trained">being
told to shoot (unarmed) Gaza protesters in the lower leg</a>.
<p>
This reinforces the point that when they shoot someone in the head, it
is
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#26_July_2019_(Palestinian_medic_killed)">no accident</a>.


feed_id: 15fca94f862e2c61129cd146c73e712d
title: Talking points on US major media
uri: Talking-points-on-US-major-media
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Talking_points_on_US_major_media%29
content:
<p>
US major media
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/24/media-cant-quit-trump-supporters-support-trump-stories">continually
print interviews with supporters of the bullshitter showing that they
have not changed their stance</a>.
<p>
This promotes their talking points, but it isn't news any more.


feed_id: 58a69ffd87a467aa6f5fae160210153e
title: Urgent: Call on Harvard to divest fossil fuels
uri: Urgent-Call-on-Harvard-to-divest-fossil-fuels
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Call_on_Harvard_to_divest_fossil_fuels%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/harvard-divest-fossil-fuels_pa
">call on Harvard</a> to divest from fossil fuels.
<p>
If you call, please spread the word!


feed_id: 130ee6cf986fab3d60ccd2cb18a689a8
title: Urgent: Pass domestic workers bill of rights
uri: Urgent-Pass-domestic-workers-bill-of-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Pass_domestic_workers_bill_of_rights%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="
https://act.credoaction.com/sign/domestic_workers_rights
">call on Congress</a> to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.
<p>
If you call, please spread the word!
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard
numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: cd2412dc578a1234d6657cd000a59c66
title: Urgent: Stop pushing death penalty
uri: Urgent-Stop-pushing-death-penalty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_pushing_death_penalty%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on <a href="https://action.aclu.org/petition/cs-da-lacey-end-death-penalty
">Los Angeles DA Lacey</a> to stop pushing for the death penalty.
<p>
If you call, please spread the word!


feed_id: 3cf486c7b6809d8e0e6e94a470782e24
title: Urgent: Pass MORE Act
uri: Urgent-Pass-MORE-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Pass_MORE_Act%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="
https://engage.drugpolicy.org/secure/its-time-end-federal-war-marijuana-repair-harms-prohibition">call on Congress to pass the MORE Act</a> to legalize marijuana
in a thorough way.
<p> 
If you call, please spread the word!
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard
numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: 58e0039c0d64fcbc76b8323000535507
title: Urgent: Allow shorts
uri: Urgent-Allow-shorts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Allow_shorts%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://www.coworker.org/petitions/walmart-let-us-wear-shorts
">call on Walmart</a> to let staff wear shorts.
<p>
If you call, please spread the word!


feed_id: 130a02d955709bfd46cf1b1d30863a8d
title: Urgent: US citizens: call on Alabama Governor Ivey to give clemency to Rocky Myers.
uri: Urgent-US-citizens-call-on-Alabama-Governor-Ivey-to-give-clemency-to
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#29_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_US_citizens%3A_call_on_Alabama_Governor_Ivey_to_give_clemency_to_Rocky_Myers.%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="Https://action.aclu.org/petition/save-rocky-myers
">Call on Alabama Governor Ivey</a> to give clemency to Rocky Myers.
<p>
The reason he could not present these arguments in an appeal
is the law past under President Clinton to sharply limit appeals
against death sentences.
<p>If you call, please spread the word!


feed_id: c099c1b5121a8c4f006e640c5add22be
title: Replacing human workers
uri: 2019-07-29-Replacing-human-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Replacing_human_workers%29
content:
<p>
Why are companies rushing to replace human workers with robots based
on machine learning?  Because that is a way
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/30/robots-definitely-coming-make-world-more-unequal-place">make
the rich richer</a>, and the poor poorer as a byproduct.
<p>
Additional robots are greatly reducing the number of jobs in
manufacturing, and are likely
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jun/30/changing-fast-benefits-dangers-robots-uk-workplace">continue doing so</a>.
<p>
The fact that one particular factory in the UK has more staff now than
in 2007 is neither here nor there.  Evidently a bigger fraction of the
country's manufacturing has been concentrated there.
<p>
The increase in productivity is a benefit to whoever owns the factory,
and the small fraction of people employed there.  But it is not good
for society overall unless those benefits are shared with society
overall.
<p>
It is a mistake to see the issue in nationalistic terms as a
competition with other countries.  It does no good to country C to
have robot factories there rather than in D, E and F, if the benefits
go in each case only to the few owners.  What matters to country C is
making sure the people there who don't own plenty of stock in robot
factories can nonetheless enjoy the products of these factories, and
everything else one needs for a good life.


feed_id: 99ada26e6116399149adec0c71116379
title: Antifascist counterprotesters
uri: Antifascist-counterprotesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Antifascist_counterprotesters%29
content:
<p>
Portland <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> harassed and attacked antifascist counterprotesters,
based
on <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/30/portland-police-cement-milkshake-leftwing-rightwing-protests">accusations that may be phony</a>.
<p>
However, it seems they really did attack the right-wing journalist,
Andy Ngo.  We should not do that.


feed_id: fe7d56126a54a257e37a17a0393d4f97
title: Prisoners' phone calls
uri: Prisoners-phone-calls
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Prisoners%27_phone_calls%29
content:
<p>
A sheriff's office and a special gouge-'em prison phone company
conspired (in effect)
to <a href="https://theappeal.org/do-not-record-orange-county-jail-phone-recordings/">record
prisoners' privileged phone calls</a> with lawyers.


feed_id: dcf91ce81140385b4a6b1e5f8ab3f83c
title: Obrador's policies
uri: Obrador-s-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Obrador%27s_policies%29
content:
<p>
The substantive policies of Mexican President López
Obrador <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/30/mexico-left-amlo-one-year-on">put
business and the US first</a>.
<p>
If this is a "win for Mexico's left", then Clinton was a progressive.


feed_id: 08aa90db493d97c1158fbc5224ab5006
title: Privatized probation officers
uri: Privatized-probation-officers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Privatized_probation_officers%29
content:
<p>
Privatized UK probation officers
say <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/30/chris-grayling-probation-privatisation-disaster">bigger
caseloads and unrealistic targets</a> prevent them from following
their professional standards.
<p>
This is the standard result of privatizing a government service.
We should renationalize all privatized government services.


feed_id: 5df3128a58dfdc665dd59f12bed3f584
title: Mao 2.0
uri: Mao-2-0
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Mao_2.0%29
content:
<p>
China is now ruled by a networked
totalitarianism, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/30/we-have-been-harmonised-life-china-surveillance-state-kai-strittmatter-review">"Mao
2.0"</a>.
<p>
When the article says what "we" believed, the author should speak for
himself.  I never believed that capitalism would by nature bring
democracy.  Democracy is how the non-rich organize the state to
protect them from the power of the rich.
<p>
Back when capitalists needed lots of factory workers, that gave the
workers one advantage in their fight for democracy.  But it did not
guarantee victory.  And now that advantage is gone.


feed_id: d545e145e4b913521aa627bf4280a712
title: Husband's guns
uri: Husband-s-guns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Husband%27s_guns%29
content:
<p>
Courtney Irby took her husband's guns to the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> department because
he had been trying to kill her.  The
thugs <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tanyachen/florida-woman-arrested-for-theft-after-turning-in-abusive">charged
her with burglary</a> and jailed her.


feed_id: 52deb8984b0ec8c9299e920fe9a4dd41
title: Transmountain tar sands pipeline
uri: Transmountain-tar-sands-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Transmountain_tar_sands_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
Trudeau <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/18/trudeau-approval-tar-sands-pipeline-say-critics-would-make-absolute-mockery-climate">gave
Canada's approval</a> to the Transmountain tar sands pipeline.  This
makes a mockery of the climate emergency declaration Trudeau made this
week.


feed_id: 0a7a9132d04744748d368c119ce203cc
title: The new NAFTA
uri: The-new-NAFTA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28The_new_NAFTA%29
content:
<p>
The new NAFTA improves many specific points, but its fundamental
effect is still to give businesses more power and democracy less
power, and thus to transfer
income <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/06/18/whether-its-new-nafta-or-old-nafta-it-serves-1-percent">from
workers to business owners</a>.


feed_id: 82b35b82c1eea929627b77de07d1098f
title: NYC mesh network
uri: NYC-mesh-network
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28NYC_mesh_network%29
content:
<p>
A mesh network
is <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/paj8z8/a-diy-internet-network-has-drastically-expanded-its-coverage-in-nyc">providing
true internet service</a> to large parts of New York City.
<p>
I used to think that community mesh networks could not be more than
toys, but it's a great surprise to see this is not so.


feed_id: be7791ed7184e09b52c1beb76b4a8306
title: Bills to improve security of US elections
uri: Bills-to-improve-security-of-US-elections
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Bills_to_improve_security_of_US_elections%29

content:
<p>
Senate Republicans 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/25/us-election-security-republicans-mueller">blocked</a>
bills to improve the security of US elections.


feed_id: 0ab0ca88c3221816f51f190776e00a7e
title: Cruel "tough on crime" approach
uri: Cruel-tough-on-crime-approach
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Cruel_tough_on_crime_approach%29
content:
<p>
Progressive US district attorneys are making inroads into the cruel
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/23/us-justice-system-progressive-prosecutors-mass-incarceration-death-penalty">"tough
on crime" approach to street crime</a>.
<p>
Toughness for toughness' sake causes a lot of collateral damage
and can backfire by increasing crime.
<p>
The case where toughness is exactly what we need is for business
crime, whether against workers or against customers.  For instance,
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_May_2014_(Mistreatment_of_prostitutes_by_their_employers)">stealing
workers' pay</a> and 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-jul-oct.html#22%20October%202010%20(Caught%20pants%20down)">foreclosing
on millions of Americans' homes using fraudulent papers</a>.  The
perpetrators do this for profit, and if it ceases to be profitable,
they will stop doing it.


feed_id: 7b9d19b01d7d54c9a817c5881b237b97
title: Plutocracy
uri: 2019-07-29-Plutocracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Plutocracy%29
content:
<p>
If we have recourse to a billionaire to defeat the impositions of
other billionaires, the result will be to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/15/why-do-billionaires-keep-presenting-themselves-americas-great-new-hope">ensconce
plutocracy more deeply</a>.
<p>
A society where a small number of the powerful compete for power could
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#27_January_2017_(Roman_Emperors)">turn
into an empire</a>.


feed_id: 04dc053d294d00540f3f69c191ea5b40
title: Deregulation of business
uri: 2019-07-29-Deregulation-of-business
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Deregulation_of_business%29
content:
<p>
Mulvaney is pushing 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/15/trump-sows-discord-chief-staff-mulvaney-reportedly-focused-building-empire-right">deregulation
of business in many areas of the US government</a>.
<p>
By contrast, the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> wants more regulation of 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#14_July_2019_(Urgent:_Housing_assistance)">activities
that help poor people</a>,
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#16_July_2019_(Bully_orders_denial_of_asylum)">refugees</a>,
and
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#17_July_2019_(Bullys_Title_X_gag_rule)">women</a>.


feed_id: d61a8e275b11323a25f925e5436af479
title: Urgent: End federal attacks on abortion rights
uri: Urgent-End-federal-attacks-on-abortion-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_End_federal_attacks_on_abortion_rights%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/signup/reverse_Trump">call on presidential candidates</a> to commit to ending federal attacks on abortion rights.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: b800a22509c376f04b41517d6f627b18
title: Urgent: Shut down Google's location tracker
uri: Urgent-Shut-down-Google-s-location-tracker
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Shut_down_Google%27s_location_tracker%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/shut-down-sensorvault">call on Google</a> to shut down its location tracker Sensorvault.
<p>
Sensorvault stores the locations tracked in great detail by Android
apps, which do this even when location tracking is &quot;turned off&quot;.
<p>
This is what you have to expect from nonfree software.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 42b1bd2f4849cbbd290a1f8a0ba08489
title: Urgent: Reject disinformation tactics
uri: Urgent-Reject-disinformation-tactics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_disinformation_tactics%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/dnc-rnc-defend-our-democracy">call on Democratic and Republican parties</a> to denounce and reject disinformation tactics.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 2ec637ead5498fa40cb2eb7a3a4ca2fa
title: Urgent: Investigate illegalities in use of soldiers
uri: Urgent-Investigate-illegalities-in-use-of-soldiers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_illegalities_in_use_of_soldiers%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/investigate-border-troops-now">call on the Pentagon's inspector general</a> to investigate illegalities in use 
of soldiers to patrol the border.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: e598c21f9ca6318d5bf832f6def6f52e
title: Urgent: Pass the ROE Act
uri: Urgent-Pass-the-ROE-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Pass_the_ROE_Act%29
content:
<p>
Citizens of Massachusetts: <a href="https://action.aclu.org/webform/ma-roe-act-postcard">call on your Mass legislator</a> to pass the ROE Act.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word! 


feed_id: 768faaa0c28d2087e3802e26e4ebaaaf
title: Unusual sexuality
uri: Unusual-sexuality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Unusual_sexuality%29
content:
<p>
Hatred of unusual sexuality still <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/26/i-tried-to-exorcise-my-sexuality-experience">causes gratuitous suffering
around the world</a>.


feed_id: fdac79f8a364b4302a2973aaa44efe68
title: Pentagon's bloated funding deal
uri: Pentagon-s-bloated-funding-deal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Pentagon%27s_bloated_funding_deal%29

content:
<p>
Even some &quot;progressive&quot; Congresscritters voted the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/26/unprecedented-wasteful-and-obscene-house-approves-148-trillion-pentagon-budget">Pentagon's bloated funding deal</a>.


feed_id: 936eaeb2a8346714562926a6e3083aa0
title: Jewish religious leaders
uri: Jewish-religious-leaders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Jewish_religious_leaders%29
content:
<p>
Jewish religious leaders reminded Congress that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/26/over-1400-jewish-clergy-deliver-letter-congress-demanding-right-asylum-refugees">rejection and cruelty to
refugees can hurt anyone</a>.


feed_id: e7b4942a1a8ed2b88f976d36da9abd56
title: Russian hacking the 2020 election
uri: Russian-hacking-the-2020-election
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Russian_hacking_the_2020_election%29

content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip; Russian operative
Pavel Artemyev reportedly expressed disappointment Friday that
gerrymandering has <a href="https://www.theonion.com/russian-operative-disappointed-gerrymandering-taking-al-1836735307">taken all the fun out of hacking the 2020 election</a>.


feed_id: cd47167eec51755f2063cafd893a0f05
title: Comparing foreign policy
uri: Comparing-foreign-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Comparing_foreign_policy%29
content:
<p>
Comparing Warren with Sanders on <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/26/elizabeth-warren-war-and-peace">foreign policy</a>.
<p>
I disagree with the author on some points. Russia and China do
threaten the security of Americans, though not as much as the
bullshitter does. I think the US should keep troops in Rojava (the
Kurdish part of Syria) for as long as Rojava wants them.
<p>
If we care about democracy in the Middle East, we should defend it
when it is threatened.


feed_id: 6250529658c6d8b52e590eb25553ed4d
title: Thugs' video surveillance
uri: Thugs-video-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_%28Thugs%27_video_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Detroit is playing games to expand the <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2019/07/23/detroit-real-time-crime-center-expansion/1802761001/">thugs' video surveillance</a> and obfuscate
its relationship with face recognition.


feed_id: 22ca8b8ab2c3fec209e66e507d0a1e83
title: China sentences 'cyber-dissident'
uri: China-sentences-cyber-dissident
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28China_sentences_cyber-dissident%29
content:
<p>
China's First ‘Cyber-Dissident’ 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/29/china-first-cyber-dissident-huang-qi-jailed-12-years">Jailed
for 12 Years</a<.


feed_id: 3e91163ede850ce8a5852f36708634ed
title: Disastrous deregulation
uri: Disastrous-deregulation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Disastrous_deregulation%29
content:
<p>
If the UK needs to make a new trade agreement with the US, the US will
impose 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/29/trump-trade-deal-britain-bonfire-regulations-liz-truss-brexit">disastrous
permanent deregulation</a>.
<p>
The bullshitter's billionaire backers want this, and Bogus Johnson
will surely rush to obey.  But it would not have been much better
under Obama, or any previous US president since the 1970s.


feed_id: 35ed5ad18f67b949f6a490a9aa18f3e9
title: Global heating
uri: 2019-07-30-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jul/29/guatemala-climate-crisis-migration-drought-famine">making
whole families flee Guatemala</a>.  The seasons have changed, there is
less rain, and crops fail.


feed_id: 9500651d985b5c85c3dcaba186c36e6b
title: Urgent: Ask candidates about net neutrality
uri: Urgent-Ask-candidates-about-net-neutrality
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Ask_candidates_about_net_neutrality%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-cnn-dont-let-att-censor-you-ask-the-candidates-about-net-neutrality">call
on CNN</a> to ask the candidates about net neutrality.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 55b451be7bcb360663ee8b1f49337caf
title: Urgent: Stop giving Nazis a platform
uri: Urgent-Stop-giving-Nazis-a-platform
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_giving_Nazis_a_platform%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.freepress.net/sign/cnn_stop_hate">call on CNN,
and its head, Zucker</a>, to stop giving Nazis a platform.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 62009ed96acc80281b7631f53f7d053d
title: Urgent: Fossil fuel divestment
uri: 2019-07-30-Urgent-Fossil-fuel-divestment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Fossil_fuel_divestment%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://act.priceofoil.org/sign/EIB-stop-funding-fossils-2019/">call
on the European Investment Bank</a>, and the governments that own it,
to adopt the fossil fuel divestment proposal and fully implement it.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 26f1f533cc54b875d32dedf94b372a20
title: Chief aide of UK's new prime minister
uri: Chief-aide-of-UK-s-new-prime-minister
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Chief_aide_of_UKs_new_prime_minister%29

content:
<p>
Bogus Johnson, the new prime minister of the UK, has appointed as his
chief aide a man that has been censured by Parliament for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/28/dominic-cummings-must-face-sanctions-demand-leading-mps">refusing
to testify about fake news activities</a>.


feed_id: a03c84a6231917ae91141b83a39c21e9
title: Unionization
uri: Unionization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Unionization%29
content:
<p>
A study reports: Countries with higher levels of unionization have
<a href="https://boingboing.net/2019/07/25/labor-environmentalism.html">lower
per-capita carbon footprints</a>.


feed_id: 3ddc8f0d091f69b1d7978a418e9ca5d3
title: Ethiopia is trying plant 4 billion trees
uri: Ethiopia-is-trying-plant-4-billion-trees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Ethiopia_is_trying_plant_4_billion_trees%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/29/ethiopia-plants-250m-trees-in-a-day-to-help-tackle-climate-crisis">Ethiopia is trying plant 4 billion trees this year</a>. Each citizen is supposed
to plant 40 at least trees.
<p>
If they are planting the right kinds of trees, <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#28_July_2019_(The_right_trees_in_the_right_palce)">in places where forests
can grow</a>, these trees might do good, if they don't die.
Due to <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>, trees may not survive the next 20 years
in places where they used to grow. However, it is better to try
than not try.


feed_id: eb4c376c19d5cde0a1492c105cd07743
title: Poisoning from lead pellets
uri: Poisoning-from-lead-pellets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Poisoning_from_lead_pellets%29
content:
<p>
We should ban use of lead shot for hunting. The lead pellets remain
lying around, <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/29/use-safe-alternative-to-toxic-lead-gunshot">birds eat them, and die of lead poisoning</a>.
<p>
Eating the poisoned birds, including the birds shot with lead, poisons
people.


feed_id: 22633fbf6a8d847fbbbd8359f33dfe2f
title: Geneva convention to protect wildlife and nature
uri: Geneva-convention-to-protect-wildlife-and-nature
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Geneva_convention_to_protect_wildlife_and_nature%29

content:
<p>
Scientists suggest making a Geneva convention to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jul/24/make-environmental-damage-a-war-say-scientists-geneva-convention">give wildlife and
nature reserves protected status in conflicts</a>.
<p>
What about <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-jan-apr.html#28_January_2013_(Ancient_manuscripts_of_Timbuktu_must_be_protected)">museums with unique objects</a>, 
and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leuven#History">libraries of rare books?</a>
<p>
I think they should have similar protected status.
<p>
Even accidental <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction_of_the_Library_of_Alexandria#Roman_Period_and_destruction">destruction of these special places</a> should be considered
a crime &mdash; the crime of negligence.


feed_id: 9f2949968e419f2fd0d0bc2ef7ac79c9
title: Encryption Backdoors
uri: 2019-07-30-Encryption-Backdoors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Encryption_Backdoors%29
content:
<p>
Barr Says Police <a href=" https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/neaadm/barr-says-police-need-backdoors-doesnt-mention-hacking-cellebrite-graykey">Need Encryption Backdoors</a>, Doesn’t Mention [Cracking]
Tools They Use All the Time.


feed_id: f2b65172c95b3e2023b1fd3d763ede48
title: Children started early on being tracked
uri: Children-started-early-on-being-tracked
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Children_started_early_on_being_tracked%29

content:
<p>
China is getting children started early on <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/f/613978/china-gps-beidou-gives-location-tracking-watches-to-17-000-children-privacy/">being tracked all the time</a>.


feed_id: 3e97f90f9aedaf76fb49d9a6291e8c48
title: Communications Decency Act
uri: Communications-Decency-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Communications_Decency_Act%29
content:
<p>
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects web site
operators from liability for what their users post, is being attacked
in Congress. <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/29/section-230-is-the-internets-first-amendment-now-both-republicans-and-democrats-want-to-take-it-away">This puts all sorts of Internet commenting in danger</a>.


feed_id: c7d4d06f68e877c16fd5b94785b6fc1f
title: Indian teenager accused a politician of rape
uri: Indian-teenager-accused-a-politician-of-rape
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Indian_teenager_accused_a_politician_of_rape%29

content:
<p>
An Indian teenager <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/29/indian-teenager-accused-politician-injured-car-crash-uttar-pradesh">accused a politician of raping her</a>. A truck collided
with the car she was in, killing two of her relatives and injuring her
and her lawyer.
<p>
There is suspicion that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> beat her father to death.


feed_id: 48c8c26d13f53b32cca1ca9aa527d8cf
title: Forcing women into sex work
uri: Forcing-women-into-sex-work
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Forcing_women_into_sex_work%29
content:
<p>
The UK is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/29/austerity-is-forcing-women-into-sex-work-samantha-morton">forcing women into sex work</a> to get a place to live.


feed_id: 152776f29c365e3caf01443af01c221e
title: Thugs beating up prisoners
uri: Thugs-beating-up-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Thugs_beating_up_prisoners%29
content:
<p>
Thugs in Harrisburg have a predilection of <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/29/a-lawsuit-details-a-horrific-night-of-beatings-in-a-pennsylvania-jail">beating up prisoners
and causing them serious injuries</a>, then not taking care of them.


feed_id: 1921a84e783872531038c3a14dff7892
title: Measles attacks the immune cells
uri: Measles-attacks-the-immune-cells
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Measles_attacks_the_immune_cells%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/05/07/404963436/scientists-crack-a-50-year-old-mystery-about-the-measles-vaccine">Measles attacks the immune cells that guard the memory of resisting
past infections</a>. It takes 4 or 5 years for those immune cells to
regrow and provide immunity again to those past infections.
<p>
Thus, if you get measles, you become vulnerable again, for several
years, to infections you were previously immune to. And they can kill
you.


feed_id: 373655aa6379902933cadd5837ea596a
title: China sentences 'cyber-dissident'
uri: 2019-07-30-China-sentences-cyber-dissident
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28China_sentences_cyber-dissident%29
content:
<p>
China's First ‘Cyber-Dissident’ 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/29/china-first-cyber-dissident-huang-qi-jailed-12-years">Jailed
for 12 Years</a>.


feed_id: f763ca054949285d93f8933bb2d0379c
title: Kamala Harris's Medicare for All
uri: Kamala-Harris-s-Medicare-for-All
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Kamala_Harris%27s_Medicare_for_All%29

content:
<p>
Kamala Harris claims to support Medicare for All, but her <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/29/bad-policy-and-bad-politics-kamala-harris-accused-hijacking-medicare-all-label-push?cd-origin=rss
">version is ersatz.</a>


feed_id: a86792bfa083cc8474b44054b4b71005
title: Earth overshoot day
uri: Earth-overshoot-day
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Earth_overshoot_day%29
content:
<p>
This year, Earth Overshoot Day is calculated to occur on August 1.
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/29/earliest-ever-earth-overshoot-day-shows-humanitys-consumption-planets-natural?cd-origin=rss
">After just 7 months,</a> humans have used what the Earth can regenerate in
a whole year.


feed_id: 9943a88a23a4e1bd514325975d4df948
title: Population of wild boar is exploading
uri: Population-of-wild-boar-is-exploading
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Population_of_wild_boar_is_exploading%29

content:
<p>
The population of wild boar is exploding in Europe, and many have
moved into cities where they <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/30/boar-wars-how-wild-hogs-are-trashing-european-cities">injure humans.</a>

<p>
Fortunately, they taste great. If you are in Europe, try some.


feed_id: 8164f31f6c551c9de517c1b9483b4f48
title: Venture capitalists see Buttigieg as an investment
uri: Venture-capitalists-see-Buttigieg-as-an-investment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Venture_capitalists_see_Buttigieg_as_an_investment%29

content:
<p>
In Pete Buttigieg, Venture Capitalists See a Campaign <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/29/in-pete-buttigieg-venture-capitalists-see-a-campaign-to-invest-in">to Invest in.</a>
<p>
That shows he's on the plutocrats' side, not ours.


feed_id: f3a545d074e19617303b762ba89fd5b9
title: Arguments aginst the death penalty
uri: Arguments-aginst-the-death-penalty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Arguments_aginst_the_death_penalty%29

content:
<p>
Reminder of <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/aCdPyMoxlFo/
">some arguments</a> against the death penalty.


feed_id: d0e92dc273f958e930c075945af72b5e
title: Tanzania has arrested a famous investigative journalist
uri: Tanzania-has-arrested-a-famous-investigative-journalist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Tanzania_has_arrested_a_famous_investigative_journalist%29

content:
<p>
Tanzania <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/30/arrest-of-tanzanian-journalist-sparks-fears-over-press-safety">has arrested a famous investigative journalist</a>, Erick
Kabendera.
<p>
One must suppose he investigated something the government didn't want
the public to know about.


feed_id: cc5359f906eafb8faea62b3cf573bfe7
title: Killings of 500 Activists Since Peace Accords
uri: Killings-of-500-Activists-Since-Peace-Accords
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Killings_of_500_Activists_Since_Peace_Accords%29

content:
<p>
Mass Protests in Colombia and Abroad Decry <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2019/7/29/colombia_protests_against_social_leader_assassinations">Killings of 500 Activists Since Peace Accords</a>.


feed_id: e6036c841eb92ef5a1032c85cdcc4940
title: Israel never gives Palestinians the compensation
uri: Israel-never-gives-Palestinians-the-compensation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Israel_never_gives_Palestinians_the_compensation%29

content:
<p>
Under Geneva conventions, every occupying power has an obligation to
compensate any damages it does members of the occupied population,
whether to their bodies or their property. Israel has changed its
laws so that it almost <a href="media/a008bb5a.201703_getting_off_scot_free_eng.pdf" data-original-source="https://www.btselem.org/sites/default/files/sites/default/files2/201703_getting_off_scot_free_eng.pdf">never gives Palestinians the compensation they
are owed</a>.


feed_id: e7b78e95d7b27f08649868c59caadfc9
title: Hindu extremist party
uri: Hindu-extremist-party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Hindu_extremist_party%29
content:
<p>
A local leader of India's ruling Hindu extremist party <a href=" https://thewire.in/communalism/bjp-sunita-singh-gaur-expulsion-communal-violence">called for gang-raping Muslim women</a>.
<p>
She was expelled from the party, but men who said similar things have
generally been tolerated.


feed_id: 7699c2c7937851584b2b2ecd30ab9f3a
title: Chinese border guards
uri: Chinese-border-guards
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Chinese_border_guards%29
content:
<p>
When foreigners enter Xinjiang (China) from Kyrgyzstan, Chinese border
guards have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/02/chinese-border-guards-surveillance-app-tourists-phones">taken their phones away to put malware on them</a>.
<p>
The malware searches files in the phones for various things that China
considers hateful. It might do other things as well.
<p>
I have to point out that people suspect the US of doing similar things
to people entering the US, and in other circumstances as well.


feed_id: a67967d263e8742e1dcd5922464441a5
title: Enforcement of food and drug safety
uri: Enforcement-of-food-and-drug-safety
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Enforcement_of_food_and_drug_safety%29

content:
<p>
Enforcement of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/02/enforcement-food-drug-safety-regulations-trump">food and drug safety regulations</a> has fallen by 33%
under the corruptor.


feed_id: 661ed4d345db266af12a8e6452091482
title: Mistreating the prisoners
uri: Mistreating-the-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Mistreating_the_prisoners%29
content:
<p>
Ocasio-Cortez pushed past border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> so she could speak to
imprisoned immigrants. This enabled her to find out <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/07/01/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-democrats-denounce-migrant-detention-conditions/">how they were
mistreating the prisoners</a>.
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> had gone to extreme lengths to block visiting congresscritters
from observing or finding out the prison conditions, and the visitors
felt menaced by them. Sounds like a visit to North Korea.


feed_id: 6b25fe24028dda60bfdf5a469696de93
title: US insurance company
uri: US-insurance-company
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28US_insurance_company%29
content:
<p>
A major US insurance company has announced it <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/01/insurance-giant-ditching-coal-industry-called-major-step-forward-especially-if">will stop insuring coal companies</a> (or investing in them).


feed_id: f06e43e4a8bc580429a525e28e4fefdf
title: Influence over the department's decisions
uri: Influence-over-the-department-s-decisions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Influence_over_the_department%27s_decisions%29

content:
<p>
Saboteur of the Interior Bernhardt gave his former client <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/07/01/new-foia-documents-reveal-more-industry-influence-interior">influence over
the department's decisions</a>.
<p>
The department has adopted <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/07/01/environmental-groups-release-thousands-interior-department-emails-documenting">new secrecy rules</a>, too.


feed_id: 2929d2dae13b8dbc86299f5ecadba0a7
title: Systems for supporting musicians
uri: Systems-for-supporting-musicians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Systems_for_supporting_musicians%29
content:
<p>
When you buy a record, or pay for music streaming (even via ads), the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2019/jul/01/taylor-swift-is-furious-at-the-sale-of-her-master-tapes-but-shes-luckier-than-most">money usually goes to some company</a>, not to the musicians.
<p>
I've proposed systems for <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-vs-community.html">supporting musicians without depending on record companies</a>, and in a way that encourages sharing.


feed_id: 0e026ad0b5cec753a9e06d9537387b96
title: Al Franken
uri: Al-Franken
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Al_Franken%29
content:
<p>
Al Franken now
<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken">regrets
resigning from the Senate</a>.  Some senators that pushed him to
resign
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/22/al-franken-resignation-senators-regret">now
regret that too</a>.
<p>
The first (main) article does not state clearly whether Franken
touched Tweeden in the process of making the photo, but it seems he
did not.  If that is correct, it was not a sexual act at all.  It was
self-mocking humor.  The photograph depicted a fictional sexual act
without her fictional consent, but making the photo wasn't a sexual
act.
<p>
If it is true that he persistently pressured her to kiss him, on stage
and off, if he stuck his tongue into her mouth despite her objections,
that could well be sexual harassment.  He should have accepted no for
an answer the first time she said it.  However, calling a kiss "sexual
assault" is an exaggeration, an attempt to equate it to much graver
acts, that are crimes.
<p>
The term
<a href="https://stallman.org/antiglossary.html#assult">"sexual
assault"</a> encourages that injustice, and I believe it has been
popularized specifically with that intention.  That is why I reject
that term.
<p>
Meanwhile, Franken says he did not do those things, and the other
actors he previously did the same USO skit with said it was not
harassment, just acting.  Tweeden's store is clearly false in many
details.
<p>
Should we assume Tweeden was honest?  With so many demonstrated
falsehoods in her accusations, and given that she planned them with
other right-wing activists, and that all of them follow a leader who
lies as a tactic every day, I have to suspect that she decided to
falsify accusations through exaggeration so as to kick a strong
Democrat out of the Senate.
<p>
I have no proof of that suspicion.  It is possible that she made the
accusations honestly.  Also, in a hypothetical world, someone might
really have done them.  Supposing for the moment that those
accusations were true, should Franken have resigned over them?
<p>
I don't think so.  They are misjudgments, not crimes.  Franken
deserved the chance to learn from the criticism that surprised him.
Zero tolerance is a very bad way to judge people.
<p>
However, the most important point is to reject the position that if B
feels hurt by what A said or did, then automatically A is wrong.
People judged Franken that way, and he judged himself that way.  But
that way degrades the concept of "wrong" into a mere expression of
subjective disapproval.  What can legitimately be asserted
subjectively can legitimately be ignored subjectively too.  To judge A
that way is to set B up as a tyrant.
<p>
If B's feelings were hurt, that's unfortunate -- but is that A's
fault?  If so, was it culpable, or just a mistake?  That is what we
have to judge, and if we want others to think our judgments worth
following, they must be based on objective facts and objective
standards, including objective standards for what words and gestures
objectively mean.
<p>
Traister is wrestling with a solvable problem.  She says, "When you
change rules, you end up penalizing people who were caught behaving
according to the old rules."  Maybe people do, but that is a sign of
carelessness.  It isn't really hard to change the rules and then judge
old actions by the old rules.  We just have to remember to do so.


feed_id: dc0333ddfe5c54434d6d948326ecccf4
title: Danger of surveillance
uri: Danger-of-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Danger_of_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
One big danger of surveillance is that
<a href="https://theconversation.com/insurance-black-boxes-and-the-surveillance-state-how-free-are-you-really-120691">people
come to believe that breaking a rule is impossible</a>, and then it
becomes unthinkable.


feed_id: f69f3adf8d027d2e3c041ffa2d385cff
title: Unfollow the bullshitter
uri: Unfollow-the-bullshitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Unfollow_the_bullshitter%29
content:
<p>
If you use Twitter,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/30/unfollowtrump-why-we-should-stop-engaging-with-the-us-president-on-twitter">unfollow
the bullshitter</a>.  Posting your outrage does not hurt him &mdash;
it's what he wants.


feed_id: 06679fd621b0a6ff660e43365130d64d
title: Your Family Is None of Their Business
uri: Your-Family-Is-None-of-Their-Business
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Your_Family_Is_None_of_Their_Business%29

content:
<p>
Your Family Is
<a href="https://edri.org/your-family-is-none-of-their-business/">None
of Their Business</a>.
<p>
You, too, are none of their business, but that point is more radical.


feed_id: e0b46d53e13a7e318a62171e4f754b25
title: Tories make it easy to mistreat workers
uri: Tories-make-it-easy-to-mistreat-workers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Tories_make_it_easy_to_mistreat_workers%29

content:
<p>
The Tories have made it easy to get away with mistreating workers in
the UK.  They have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jul/29/employment-tribunal-claims-taking-eight-months-to-be-heard">cut
the funding to employment tribunals</a> to the point where it takes 8
months for a case to be heard.


feed_id: 8cf3f713c7fc8513c3be466b68a6a07f
title: Privatization of government services
uri: 2019-07-31-Privatization-of-government-services
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Privatization_of_government_services%29

content:
<p>
The UK
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jul/29/overseas-students-face-unacceptable-visa-costs-after-outsourcing">privatized
applications for student visa renewals</a>.  Naturally the company
gouges the students, using a dark pattern in which there are supposed
to be gratis appointments but in practice they are not available.
<p>
This particular work has a peak season in September.  In a government
office, the staff would focus on this during the peak season, then
most would shift to other tasks for the rest or the year.  A private
business may not have an opportunity to do that.  Its staff is less
stable than civil servants, and its other contracts come and go.
<p>
This adds to the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_June_2019_(Privatization_of_government_services)">other
reasons</a> that government services should never be privatized.
Occasionally some government service can simply be eliminated.


feed_id: a53a2021a678996fd968c65a72feb824
title: Being green
uri: Being-green
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Being_green%29
content:
<p>
Can You Afford To Be
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/29/eco-friendly-going-green-poor-cost-diary">Green
When You're Not Rich</a>?  I Kept a Diary to Find Out.
<p>
The article shows that many forms of conservation are made far more
difficult by the fact that society's current pushes people in the
other direction.
<p>
The most important choice, to reduce your contribution to the
ecological footprint of humanity, is not mentioned in the article.
It is to choose
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html ">not to have a child</a>.  The
writer apparently does not recognize that that was a choice.


feed_id: a978da5d17570dbec1aa43d21be25ecd
title: Plastic waste from fishing
uri: Plastic-waste-from-fishing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Plastic_waste_from_fishing%29
content:
<p>
Isolated, uninhabited Henderson Island receives
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/30/henderson-island-the-pacific-paradise-groaning-under-18-tonnes-of-plastic-waste">tons
of plastic deposited by the Pacific Ocean</a>.  Scientists visited for
two weeks and collected 6 tons to study it.
<p>
60% comes from fishing.  This accords with reports that most plastic
waste in the ocean is from fishing.  That should be much easier to
eliminate than waste from a billion consumers.
<p>
If the fishing was done near Henderson, it was illegal.  But this
trash could have floated for thousands of miles.


feed_id: f49884e92417786d1c9f4eb0eb0726ae
title: How Stonewall reversed justifying police surveillance
uri: How-Stonewall-reversed-justifying-police-surveillance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28How_Stonewall_reversed_justifying_police_surveillance%29

content:
<p>
How Stonewall Reversed a Long History of Justifying <a href="
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/06/how-police-surveillance-led-stonewall/593026/
">Police
Surveillance (and entrapment and jailing) of gays.</a>


feed_id: bb3b1eabf5199ba3ddf03eb7d2841d9b
title: Deforestation of Amazon driven by meat
uri: Deforestation-of-Amazon-driven-by-meat
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Deforestation_of_Amazon_driven_by_meat%29

content:
<p>
Revealed: Rampant Deforestation of Amazon Driven by <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/02/revealed-amazon-deforestation-driven-global-greed-meat-brazil">Global Greed for Meat.</a>

<p>
The new business-supremacy treaty between the EU and Mercosur trade blocks
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2019/jul/02/barter-amazon-rainforest-burgers-steaks-brazil
">could speed up the deforestation.</a>


feed_id: b0b19ba8a2748786fce1bebf52a6769b
title: Mangrove trees methane
uri: Mangrove-trees-methane
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Mangrove_trees_methane%29
content:
<p>
 After mangrove trees die, they <a href="
http://www.france24.com/fr/taxonomy/emission/18352
">emit lots more methane.</a>


feed_id: 03b757f62acd12d780835628bd91479f
title: God orders swallowing of cyanide
uri: God-orders-swallowing-of-cyanide
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28God_orders_swallowing_of_cyanide%29
content:
<p>
(satire) God ordered His followers to swallow cyanide capsules Monday
in <a href="
https://www.theonion.com/god-orders-all-followers-to-swallow-cyanide-capsules-in-1835954069">preparation for their voyage to Alpha Centauri.</a>


feed_id: f4d594e1e80fa29cff841e6fb84140c9
title: ICANN eliminated limit on fees for org domain
uri: ICANN-eliminated-limit-on-fees-for-org-domain
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28ICANN_eliminated_limit_on_fees_for_org_domain%29

content:
<p>
ICANN has <a href="
https://domainnamewire.com/2019/06/30/domain-overseer-lifts-all-price-caps-on-org-domain-names/">eliminated the limit</a> on fees for having a .org domain name.

<p>
It disregarded almost complete opposition to the move in the public comments
it received.
<p>
The .org domain overseer would make the same amount of money
by collecting $10k for each of 1000 domains as it would by collecting
$10 for each of a million domains. And the former would be a lot
less hassle. I fear that is what we will see.


feed_id: 1ecb11f7fc3adbfc7ee48f19f70fe39a
title: The refugees that fled form Hitler
uri: The-refugees-that-fled-form-Hitler
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28The_refugees_that_fled_form_Hitler%29

content:
<p>
Americans, remember the refugees that tried to flee from Hitler.
All countries turned them away, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/01/i-fled-nazi-germany-i-hope-the-us-doesnt-turn-its-back-on-refugees
">and they were killed by Nazis.</a>


feed_id: 3778ca2aaac00d390ca76b218c0dee3d
title: Rafael Acosta tortured
uri: Rafael-Acosta-tortured
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Rafael_Acosta_tortured%29
content:
<p>
Venezuelan navy captain Rafael Acosta was arrested on June 21 and accused
of plotting a coup. Since then he has <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/01/venezuela-navy-captain-torture-widow-rafael-acosta">died, showing signs of torture.</a>

<p>
Maduro calls for investigation of the accused torture rather than trying
to deny it.


feed_id: 5b8b3761fc02fa43c95eef5b21e1aea6
title: Wife of Dubai's emir fled
uri: Wife-of-Dubai-s-emir-fled
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Wife_of_Dubai%27s_emir_fled%29
content:
<p>
The wife of Dubai's emir has fled and wants a divorce. The emir
thinks of her as property and wants the UK to forcibly <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/01/dubais-ruler-battles-wife-in-uk-court-after-she-fled-emirate">send her back
to him.</a>

<p>
He got his daughter back by sending commandos to grab her.


feed_id: 1a3006515cb839386c9c40a33c315f62
title: Eli Lilly puts profits over lives
uri: Eli-Lilly-puts-profits-over-lives
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%28Eli_Lilly_puts_profits_over_lives%29

content:
<p>
An employee of Eli Lilly, a Pharma company, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/01/if-grandma-table-no-one-will-blink-price-former-drug-company-manager-explains?cd-origin=rss
">reports on when the goal of</a>
maximizing profit replaced that of saving lives.


feed_id: 04f17a888ad7c53d61b26476a5c2ab8b
title: 3 Billionaires
uri: 3-Billionaires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#30_July_2019_%283_Billionaires%29
content:
<p>
Bernie Sanders Is Right: 3 Billionaires Really Do Have More Wealth
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/01/bernie-sanders-right-3-billionaires-really-do-have-more-wealth-half-america?cd-origin=rss
">Than Half of America.</a>


feed_id: 65c5ff47282e960e1f4650bf8dd57cc2
title: Torries do not care about poor people
uri: Torries-do-not-care-about-poor-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Torries_do_not_care_about_poor_people%29

content:
<p>
Bogus Johnson's principal aid acknowledged 2 years ago that the Tories
do not care about <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/30/dominic-cummings-tories-do-not-care-about-poor-people-or-the-nhs">poor people or the NHS.</a>

<p>
It was helpful for him to admit that the Tories are lower than vermin.
Will
Britons take their blindfolds off and see <a href="media/64164a49.anuran-bevan.jpg" data-original-source="https://www.stallman.org/images/anuran-bevan.jpg">this?


feed_id: ac6a6c92f4beb0cf47a781d7683f0f25
title: Johnson and Trump risk disaster for planet
uri: Johnson-and-Trump-risk-disaster-for-planet
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Johnson_and_Trump_risk_disaster_for_planet%29

content:
<p>
Johnson And Trump's Close Ties Risk Disaster for Planet, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/30/corbyn-johnson-trump-relationship-disaster-environment
">Says Corbyn.</a>


feed_id: 9355778af102ccecd73abdd730aa4cd4
title: California requires all candidates to release tax returns
uri: California-requires-all-candidates-to-release-tax-returns
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28California_requires_all_candidates_to_release_tax_returns%29

content:
<p>
California has passed a law requiring all presidential candidates to
<a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/30/california-governor-signs-law-that-would-require-trump-to-release-tax-returns">release their tax returns</a> in order to get on the ballot.
<p>
There is surely something in his tax returns that might have cost him
votes in 2016. But would it have that effect on today's Republicans,
who have become inured to lies, hatred and racism? It might seem like
small potatoes compared with the vicious things that Republicans are
already inured to.
<p>
I can imagine that the conman might abandon California (since he has
little chance of winning there) to defy this law. But if a swing
state does this, he might have to yield.


feed_id: d792456f150398e4659bdae7c80e1f15
title: Gilroy murderer advocated white supremacists
uri: Gilroy-murderer-advocated-white-supremacists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Gilroy_murderer_advocated_white_supremacism%29

content:
<p>
The Gilroy murderer advocated white supremacists, which suggests that
his shooting was an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/30/gilroy-garlic-festival-shooting-california-white-supremacy-links
">act of white supremacist terrorism.</a>


feed_id: 5f366f387b59ab253b4c67911c065c8d
title: Father forgot his children in a car
uri: Father-forgot-his-children-in-a-car
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Father_frogot_his_children_in_a_car%29

content:
<p>
A father forgot his children in a car all day, and they died. Does it
make sense to <a href="
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/wYMxOX-ggmI/">prosecute him?</a>

<p>
Does it make sense to make a law against leaving
children in a car for a few minutes?


feed_id: d1553261de8f4526863d9287cb30b13e
title: DEA has been stalling for years over research
uri: DEA-has-been-stalling-for-years-over-research
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28DEA_has_been_stalling_for_years_over_research%29

content:
<p>
The Drug Enforcement Agency has been stalling for three years over an
application for a permit to grow <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/C8VK_moMC5w/
">marijuana for research.</a>


feed_id: 4850842b0a8df26f50983ac32327af7e
title: Hong Kong protesters trying to identify thugs
uri: Hong-Kong-protesters-trying-to-identify-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Hong_Kong_protesters_trying_to_identify_thugs%29

content:
<p>
Hong Kong protesters are trying to identify thugs <a href="
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/26/technology/hong-kong-protests-facial-recognition-surveillance.html">by their faces,</a>
now that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have stopped wearing identification badges.

<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> generally have an advantage in this kind of conflict.


feed_id: a47ae9c321d0331bfdedbe07d95b8917
title: NSA says it deleted a database
uri: NSA-says-it-deleted-a-database
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28NSA_says_it_deleted_a_database%29
content:
<p>
When the NSA says it deleted a database, it sometimes finds <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/us/politics/nsa-call-data-program.html
">another
copy later.</a>


feed_id: af923e26106cde59c1281718ee32789b
title: New head of Bureau of Land Management
uri: New-head-of-Bureau-of-Land-Management
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28New_head_of_Bureau_of_Land_Management%29

content:
<p>
The new head of the Bureau of Land Management wants to privatize all
public land by <a href="
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/j5wynb/the-new-guy-in-charge-of-public-lands-thinks-we-should-sell-it-all">selling it to rich people.</a>
<p>
I suspect the rich buyers will get it at a very low price.


feed_id: b4653c94ed8afaa181aabf03aab5135b
title: Tech executives apologies
uri: Tech-executives-apologies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Tech_executives_apologies%29
content:
<p>
Tech executives are making a show of apologizing for the damage their
companies have done &hellip; without having to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gy4zwb/silicon-valleys-apology-tour-serves-the-rich-and-powerful
">fix it or even halt it.</a>


feed_id: f0ab35278a3741662d6d618789c76bd9
title: The Democratic debate
uri: The-Democratic-debate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28The_Democratic_debate%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic debate was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/31/bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-democratic-debate
">"Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren v the
'No We Can't' Democrats."</a>


feed_id: a301001d56e0b23f5392510dab7ad629
title: Stop arguing with Bogus Johnson
uri: Stop-arguing-with-Bogus-Johnson
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Stop_arguing_with_Bogus_Johnson%29
content:
<p>

Stop arguing with Bogus Johnson &mdash; <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/31/boris-johnson-caper-vote-him-out">it only feeds the troll.</a>
What is needed is action, not disputation.


feed_id: 4be6276eed7930e3495f60fb839b5cbe
title: José Ramos-Horta calls on Australia to drop charges of whistleblower
uri: José-Ramos-Horta-calls-on-Australia-to-drop-charges-of-whistleblower
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Jos%C3%83%C2%A9_Ramos-Horta_calls_on_Australia_to_drop_charges_of_whistleblower%29

content:
<p>
José Ramos-Horta, former president of East Timor, calls on Australia
to drop charges against the whistleblower that revealed how Australia
was <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/31/timor-leste-and-australia-have-little-to-celebrate-if-witness-k-and-bernard-collaery-are-not-free">spying on the negotiations between those two countries.</a>
<p>
I agree completely. I also agree that it was wrong of Australia to
steal oil located in what was to become East Timor's waters. But the
biggest wrong was that Australia allowed that oil to be burned,
contributing to <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.
<p>
If East Timor had extracted this oil and allowed it to be burned, that
would have been almost as bad. For a just outcome, just to humanity
and nature, we need to leave that oil in the ground.


feed_id: f69a223e823ed55142f9b27ea4be10fb
title: $70 million fine for preventing making of generic drugs
uri: 70-million-fine-for-preventing-making-of-generic-drugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28%2470_million_fine_for_preventing_making_of_generic_drugs%29

content:
<p>
Pharma companies will be fined 70 million dollars for <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/07/drug-makers-to-pay-70-million-over-deals-to-keep-cheap-generics-off-the-market/
">conspiring to prevent</a>
the making of generic drugs.


feed_id: c7d8cd905a89bb317ca3c3a89ef2fc87
title: Criminal charges for throwing a ball
uri: Criminal-charges-for-throwing-a-ball
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Criminal_charges_for_throwing_a_ball%29

content:
<p>
A student from a town near Detroit <a href="
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/qHqUG8QhLAg/">faces criminal charges</a> for throwing
a ball that injured another student, in a game similar to dodge ball.

<p>
I was unable to play volleyball because I was afraid to be hit by the
ball. If you are afraid of being hit by a ball &mdash; whether for
emotional reasons like me, or valid medical reasons like the student that
was injured, you really should decline to play.


feed_id: 361d2ba0d0c3ef64ff61788dc8afdb71
title: Border separations since last year
uri: Border-separations-since-last-year
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Border_seprations_since_last_year%29

content:
<p>
US border thugs have separated over 900 minors <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/30/us-immigration-family-separations-aclu-children-court-filing">from their parents
since a year ago.</a> Almost 200 of them are children under 5 years old.

<p>
There are valid reasons why a compassionate state might do this in
some cases, but when a state and its officials have explicitly
declared hatred for migrants, we must expect it to distort those
reasons into excuses to do harm.


feed_id: 7d96fc2b1a2f59d84914dc2cfd90f790
title: Remaining Vaquita Porpoisess
uri: Remaining-Vaquita-Porpoisess
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Remaining_Vaquita_Porpoisess%29
content:
<p>
The number of remaining vaquita porpoises is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/31/fewer-than-19-vaquita-porpoises-left-study-mexico-illegal-fishing-nets
">between 6 and 19.</a>
<p>
The species might survive if Mexico cracks down on use of gillnets.
It is too late to be sure of that &mdash; if there are just 6, and none is
a female capable of reproducing, it's too late &mdash; but we should try.


feed_id: f6458aaa097181a76f0c4b51ac71da24
title: India is almost done abolishing biased divorce law
uri: India-is-almost-done-abolishing-biased-divorce-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28India_is_almost_done_abolishing_biased_divorce_law%29

content:
<p>
India has almost finished abolishing the <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/31/triple-talaq-india-hails-historic-day-as-parliament-outlaws-islamic-instant-divorce">one-sided law</a> for divorces
among Muslims. Men alone had the right to declare a divorce
unilaterally.

<p>
People should have equal rights in divorce, but I hope this doesn't
result in making divorce too difficult for everyone.


feed_id: 7da361176cd0d78727ee16e44826269c
title: Nigeria's 'economic boom'
uri: Nigeria-s-economic-boom
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Nigeria%27s_%27economic_boom%27%29
content:
<p>
Nigeria shows how extreme inequality of income can <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/30/lesson-west-africa-global-inequality-ground-zero?cd-origin=rss
">spread poverty</a> in
an "economic boom".


feed_id: f71b8889b1ea5343eb7d0cf9eecaf02c
title: European websites responsible for like tracking
uri: European-websites-responsible-for-like-tracking
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28European_websites_responsable_for_like_tracking%29

content:
<p>
The European Court of Justice ruled that a web site with a Like button
is <a href="
https://www.theregister.co.uk/AMP/2019/07/29/eu_gdpr_facebook_like_button/">responsible for the tracking it does.</a>

<p>
This ruling won't make a big difference if the site can make the issue
go away by adding one more clause to its terms of service. But it
might make a small difference, if sites can no longer show a Like
button to a visitor who has not yet explicitly accepted the terms of
service.


feed_id: 54fedb69044c16aa77ca678ee15a2ca5
title: Urgent: Oppose Eugene Scalia's nomination
uri: Urgent-Oppose-Eugene-Scalia-s-nomination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_Eugene_Scalias_nomination%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/scalia-labor">oppose</a>
Eugene Scalia's nomination as secretary of Labor.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 8636917165b783a57f8abc5002287966
title: Scientist resigns from US State Department
uri: Scientist-resigns-from-US-State-Department
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Scientist_resigns_from_US_State_Department%29

content:
<p>
Scientist Rod Schoonover worked for the US State Department to prepare
a report about how <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> would affect US national security.
He has resigned because saboteurs working for the bullshitter
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/opinion/trump-climate-change.html">blocked
him from presenting it to Congress</a>.
<p>
Referring to organized, well-paid denial of evident truth as
"skepticism"
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-may-aug.html#3_July_2017_(Skepticism_vs_denialism)">gives
it a kind of legitimacy exactly where it does the most harm</a>.
Likewise the term "climate change".
<p>
Please avoid using those terms.


feed_id: 853787464b7f709a9fa06e5e2b74763d
title: Adding more thugs in the UK
uri: Adding-more-thugs-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Adding_more_thugs_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
A regional thug chief in the UK said that adding more <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/30/police-chief-reverse-cuts-repair-social-fabric-stop-gangs-england">will
not work to reduce crime without also canceling the Tories'
starve-the-poor policies</a> that make people desperate and offer them
no help in avoiding crime.


feed_id: 562e3d0eb6be5169c6f28a4493a42afc
title: Punishing thugs for false witness
uri: Punishing-thugs-for-false-witness
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Punishing_thugs_for_false_witness%29

content:
<p>
A Florida <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> is being prosecuted for
<a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/30/another-florida-sheriffs-deputy-arrested-for-arresting-people-on-false-drug-charges/">framing
a series of people on phony drug charges</a>.
<p>
It is important to punish <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> for false witness
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-may-aug.html#18_May_2012_(Death_penalty_in_the_US)">in
all kinds of situations</a>, not only when it is a followup to killing
someone.
<p>
As a separate matter, we should end the war that's on drugs.


feed_id: 349b4b0d7ee875a8ec7afb20c677ff05
title: Martial law in Philippines
uri: Martial-law-in-Philippines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Martial_law_in_Philippines%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#dodirty">President Do-dirty</a> seeks to use a state of martial law, aimed
initially at a branch of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>, to
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/07/30/criminalization-environmental-activists-global-witness-report/">crush
an indigenous group</a>, the Lumed.


feed_id: 56b9c93c79b6b8baded7995dcadb5f44
title: The "purity" movement
uri: The-purity-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28The_purity_movement%29
content:
<p>
The Christian extremist that sparked the "purity" movement in the US
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2019/jul/30/inside-christian-purity-guides-joshua-harris-mike-pence-rule">has
repented and apologized</a>.


feed_id: b53c4b45a2637d2dfa5cc0b23dce968b
title: Why the Irish PM looks like an adult
uri: Why-the-Irish-PM-looks-like-an-adult
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Why_the_Irish_PM_looks_like_an_adult%29

content:
<p>
"(Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar looks like an adult
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/30/leo-varadkar-uk-ireland-boris-johnson'>because
the UK is acting like a spoilt toddler</a>."


feed_id: 10ffa6230ded2927acde43093180c380
title: Plastic bags
uri: Plastic-bags
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Plastic_bags%29
content:
<p>
ALEC
<a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2019/07/30/coke-pepsi-drop-trade-association-pushing-plastic-ban-bans/">helps
plastic companies lobby</a> against laws to limit plastic bags.


feed_id: 48760eee6f21f4d0fda632af0275d35e
title: Militarism and violence towards women
uri: Militarism-and-violence-towards-women
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Militarism_and_violence_towards_women%29

content:
<p>
Militarism can encourage people to tolerate and downplay <a href="https://972mag.com/toxic-masculinity-militarism-occupation/142438/">men's violence against women</a>. It carries an imperative to "stand by our troops" even when they rape


feed_id: 16b66a2d6b65bd99570191937856d177
title: Felony Water Throwing
uri: Felony-Water-Throwing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Felony_Water_Throwing%29
content:
<p>
A right-wing nut wants to <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/iF_VQ8eDTgU/">make it a felony to throw water at thugs</a>. Unfortunately, that nut is a state legislator in New York.
<p>
I wonder if the Burmese water festival is celebrated anywhere in NYC. Under that proposed law, if <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> show up there, they could arrest lots of the participants.


feed_id: f080abfe530b6829dae54b2fa3ae6092
title: Hong Kong is charging protesters with "rioting"
uri: Hong-Kong-is-charging-protesters-with-rioting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Hong_Kong_is_charging_protesters_with_rioting%29

content:
<p>
Hong Kong is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/31/anger-as-hong-kong-protesters-appear-in-court-on-rioting-charges">charging protesters with "rioting"</a>, which is defined in such a way that almost any protester can be found "guilty" of that.


feed_id: b0e8d1812324d1058ae1f414c183a8df
title: Wildfire in Russia
uri: Wildfire-in-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Wildfire_in_Russia%29
content:
<p>
There are 11 thousand square miles of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/31/putin-sends-military-fight-siberia-forest-fires-russia">wildfire in Russia</a> now.
<p>
This releases massive amounts of CO2 which will exacerbate the heat
that is responsible for the fires.


feed_id: 7441ce5036e1ed4f2555d7a4eac22e6b
title: UK Housing Shortage
uri: UK-Housing-Shortage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28UK_Housing_Shortage%29
content:
<p>
A proposal for how the UK could <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/01/broken-housing-system-fixed">fix its shortage of housing</a> over the coming decade.


feed_id: 69c72b46b2021968aac4d8261c668715
title: Totalitarian surveillance
uri: Totalitarian-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Totalitarian_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
The bully hopes that <a href="https://www.privacyinternational.org/news-analysis/3011/heres-surveillance-us-exports-central-america-aid-and-its-surviving-trumps-cuts">totalitarian surveillance</a> will stop people from fleeing El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to the US.
<p>
The reason I don't think so is that the governments will control the surveillance and the governments are not interested in making those countries safe for ordinary people. The surveillance won't eliminate the gangs because the gangs are too powerful


feed_id: 50474334ce545146fa8d4fe6a9929c66
title: Israeli soldiers demolished Palestinians' houses
uri: Israeli-soldiers-demolished-Palestinians-houses
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Israeli_soldiers_demolished_Palestinians%27_houses%29

content:
<p>
When Israeli soldiers <a href="https://palsolidarity.org/2019/07/palestinians-and-british-ismers-hospitalized-in-sadistic-and-brutal-display-of-violence-by-israeli-soldiers-in-east-jerusalem-demolition/">demolished Palestinians' houses</a> in the West Bank, saying they were too close to the border between land that Israel claims to have annexed as part of Jerusalem and land Israel does not claim to have annexed, they attacked a number of solidarity witnesses.
<p>
For instance, British solidarity witnesses were in the bathroom, so soldiers threw in tear gas which had no way to dissipate.  And that was only the start of the violence against them.
<p>
The attackers broke the witnesses' bones and in some cases maimed them.


feed_id: 2c344f02b3083fef4a43d29a790ed72b
title: Training to thugs in Central America
uri: Training-to-thugs-in-Central-America
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Training_to_thugs_in_Central_America%29

content:
<p>
The US has giving <a href="https://www.privacyinternational.org/news-analysis/3011/heres-surveillance-us-exports-central-america-aid-and-its-surviving-trumps-cuts">misguided training to thugs in Central America</a>.


feed_id: 0930a7631f063a96386ce42452c336c7
title: Amazon's Ring
uri: Amazon-s-Ring
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Amazon%27s_Ring%29
content:
<p>
Everything Cops Say About <a href="https://gizmodo.com/everything-cops-say-about-amazons-ring-is-scripted-or-a-1836812538">Amazon's Ring Is Scripted or Approved by [Amazon]</a>.
<p>
It should be a crime to set up such an agreement: the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> that sign it
should be criminals and so should the company they make it with.
<p>
Meanwhile, the substance of Ring's massive face recognition is
dangerous in substance.


feed_id: b26c903a3253304d9a18e927ea7eac37
title: Ban on covering your face in public transit
uri: Ban-on-covering-your-face-in-public-transit
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Ban_on_covering_your_face_in_public_transit%29

content:
<p>
The Netherlands' ban on covering your face in public transit and
public buildings <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/01/dutch-police-signal-unwillingness-enforce-new-burqa-ban">turns out to be problematic to enforce</a>.
<p>
That is good &mdash; because face coverings are the only known way to block
face recognition personally. The ban harms anyone that wants privacy
in movements.


feed_id: 7a9a6926076dd5cf465038142d21bdb0
title: Prove Missing Relatives Are Free
uri: Prove-Missing-Relatives-Are-Free
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Prove_Missing_Relatives_Are_Free%29

content:
<p>
Uighurs Challenge China to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/01/uighurs-challenge-china-to-prove-missing-relatives-are-free">Prove Missing Relatives Are Free</a>.
<p>
With the state control over communications, it would be easy to kill
people and claim to have released them.
<p>
We still know nothing of the fate of the new Panchen lama, disappeared
by China while still a child, and his family.
<p>
We would not trust clais by the bullshitter's agents about what has become
of arrested refugees, so why believe what China says.


feed_id: 507bb7969286b2bc6559cb45445263fe
title: Subsidies for fossil fuels
uri: 2019-08-02-Subsidies-for-fossil-fuels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Subsidies_for_fossil_fuels%29
content:
<p>
Subsidies for fossil fuels, globally, amount to 4 times the subsidies
for renewable energy. Shifting 30% of the fossil subsidies to
renewable energy could make <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/01/fossil-fuel-subsidy-cash-pay-green-energy-transition">renewable energy so advantageous that the
world would switch quickly</a>.
<p>
That is not enough by itself to avoid disaster. We need also to
cut down on cattle and growing crops to feed cattle.
<p>
We need to increase forests instead of cutting them down.
<p>
We need to put an end to energy-expensive bitcoin mining.
<p>
But we could do those things, if we do the big job.


feed_id: 736246371cc14ac693fe644aca78e198
title: CO2-removal technology
uri: CO2-removal-technology
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28CO2-removal_technology%29
content:
<p>
CO2-removal technology could be useful, but the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/01/negative-emissions-tech-climate-emergency-carbon-dioxide-emissions">obvious methods can't
remove enough to save us</a>. We must not allow planet roasters to treat
these technologies as an excuse to keep pumping out greenhouse gases.


feed_id: 4a869ec6e9b5f8740540abaa96166333
title: Radioactive nuclear waste
uri: Radioactive-nuclear-waste
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Radioactive_nuclear_waste%29
content:
<p>
What should we do with <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/01/what-should-we-do-with-radioactive-nuclear-waste">radioactive nuclear waste?</a>


feed_id: 4a957b99ef634b7ebaad7eed2ecee79b
title: Bogus Johnson
uri: Bogus-Johnson
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Bogus_Johnson%29
content:
<p>
Bogus Johnson, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/01/boris-johnson-dominic-cummings-whitehall-democracy-civil-servants">from whom lies are expected</a>, could poison the honesty
and objectivity of the civil services.
<p>
The bullshitter has already done this in the US.


feed_id: 91d3995e34239744a4608a597da3ee53
title: Bad implications of the word migrant
uri: Bad-implications-of-the-word-migrant
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Bad_implications_of_the_word_migrant%29

content:
<p>
On the bad implications of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/aug/01/media-framed-migrant-crisis-disaster-reporting">word &quot;migrant&quot;</a>.


feed_id: ee00818c0d16623afc4560b3671fdb3e
title: Kamala Harris's medical care plan
uri: Kamala-Harris-s-medical-care-plan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Kamala_Harris%27s_medical_care_plan%29

content:
<p>
Kamala Harris's medical care plan is a step up from today, but <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/30/fatal-flaw-kamala-harris-health-plan">has
many flaws compared with Sanders's Medicare for All</a>.
<p>
In particular, it supposes that the companies that sell medical care
plans operate from good will, instead of the chiselers and gougers we
see.
<p>
Harris was persistently harsh to the accused as attorney general of
California, opposing criminal justice reform. When she does take a
progressive stand, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/08/corporate-team-rivals-harris-now-top-tier-biden-prevent-progressive-nominee">she sometimes changes her mind under pressure</a>.
<p>
More about her <a href=" https://newrepublic.com/article/154400/kamala-harris-defend-record">past as a prosecutor</a>.
<p>
She also championed a law for internet censorship, which equates ignorance
to guilt.
<p>
The overarching political issue of our times is democracy vs
plutocracy; an official that works for the plutocrats <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/09/americas-real-divide-isnt-left-vs-right-its-democracy-vs-oligarchy">is not going to help
restore democracy</a>.
<p>
As Biden falls in the polls, plutocrats are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/01/after-bidens-sharp-decline-wall-street-investors-reassessing-other-blue-chips">moving their investment to
Kamala Harris (and Buttigieg)</a>.
<p>
Harris accepted <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/07/30/kamala-harris-big-pharma-donations/">campaign funds from pharma executives</a> this year.
<p>
Kamala Harris Set To Raise Money With <a href=" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-wells-fargo-miguel-bustos_n_5d1545fde4b07f6ca57ab47e">Former Wells Fargo Executive</a>.


feed_id: b832e0083126072d9ae7f1263ccf6f64
title: Father forgot his children in a car
uri: 2019-08-02-Father-forgot-his-children-in-a-car
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28Father_frogot_his_children_in_a_car%29

content:
<p>
A father forgot his children in a car all day, and they died. Does it
make sense to <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/30/juan-rodriguez-hot-car-twins">prosecute him?</a>

<p>
Does it make sense to make a law against leaving
children in a car for a few minutes?


feed_id: 0dbf8aa78b403a8ea35e25c264f06789
title: DEA has been stalling for years over research
uri: 2019-08-02-DEA-has-been-stalling-for-years-over-research
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#1_August_2019_%28DEA_has_been_stalling_for_years_over_research%29

content:
<p>
The Drug Enforcement Agency has been stalling for three years over an
application for a permit to grow <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/30/federal-court-demands-answers-from-dea-on-stonewalled-research-cannabis-applications">marijuana for research.</a>


feed_id: 6e403752addd2d7757926f4967158429
title: Criminal charges for throwing a ball
uri: 2019-08-02-Criminal-charges-for-throwing-a-ball
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Criminal_charges_for_throwing_a_ball%29

content:
<p>
A student from a town near Detroit <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/31/a-dodgeball-game-in-michigan-ends-in-assault-charges-for-10-year-old">faces criminal charges</a> for throwing
a ball that injured another student, in a game similar to dodge ball.

<p>
I was unable to play volleyball because I was afraid to be hit by the
ball. If you are afraid of being hit by a ball &mdash; whether for
emotional reasons like me, or valid medical reasons like the student that
was injured, you really should decline to play.


feed_id: e46a526fbf6f490954eb77733864e6a1
title: Arguments aginst the death penalty
uri: 2019-08-02-Arguments-aginst-the-death-penalty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#31_July_2019_%28Arguments_aginst_the_death_penalty%29

content:
<p>
Reminder of <a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/30/if-bill-barr-brings-back-federal-executions-innocent-people-will-die">some arguments</a> against the death penalty.


feed_id: 4dd690325442c4353e3f893e9d0140cb
title: Felony Water Throwing
uri: 2019-08-03-Felony-Water-Throwing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Felony_Water_Throwing%29
content:
<p>
A right-wing nut wants to
<a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/31/a-new-law-would-criminalize-throwing-water-on-nypd-officers/">make
it a felony to throw water at thugs</a>. Unfortunately, that nut is a
state legislator in New York.
<p>
I wonder if the Burmese water festival is celebrated anywhere in
NYC. Under that proposed law,
if <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> show up there, they could
arrest lots of the participants.


feed_id: 6580bea68343915ef9cbc5042e5b7e4c
title: Prove Missing Relatives Are Free
uri: 2019-08-03-Prove-Missing-Relatives-Are-Free
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#2_August_2019_%28Prove_Missing_Relatives_Are_Free%29

content:
<p>
Uighurs Challenge China to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/01/uighurs-challenge-china-to-prove-missing-relatives-are-free">Prove Missing Relatives Are Free</a>.
<p>
With the state control over communications, it would be easy to kill
people and claim to have released them.
<p>
We still know nothing of the fate of the new Panchen lama, disappeared
by China while still a child, and his family.
<p>
We would not trust claims by the bullshitter's agents about what has
become of arrested refugees, so why believe what China says.


feed_id: 339218a54f424f2f6865f2542916da8b
title: Urgent: Stop private equity buyouts
uri: Urgent-Stop-private-equity-buyouts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#3_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_private_equity_buyouts%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/stop-wall-street-looting">call
on Congress</a> to stop private equity buyouts that profit from
destroying a company.


feed_id: 7cd66858a7329e12e6a1974b8f5b69d7
title: Urgent: Election security upgrades
uri: Urgent-Election-security-upgrades
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#3_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Election_security_upgrades%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/mcconnell-election-security_pa">call
on Senator McConnell</a> to stop blocking election security upgrades.


feed_id: 83d9beb47d649f1129b5732a45db19a9
title: Right-wing murder-incitement campaign
uri: Right-wing-murder-incitement-campaign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#3_August_2019_%28Right-wing_murder-incitement_campaign%29

content:
<p>
A 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/01/gun-shop-billboard-the-squad-aoc-omar-tlaib-pressley">right-wing
murder-incitement campaign</a> targets Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan
Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> knows that when he targets people for hate, this sort of
hate campaign is likely to come along.  And they all know that this
sort of hate campaign has a good chance of inspiring murders.  The
fanatic who shot Gabrielle Giffords didn't kill her, but injured her
so gravely that she could no longer serve in Congress.  From the point
of view of right-wing murderers, that's success.


feed_id: 867d540ba117cb735aaf11ed4b0e3ec3
title: Secondary punishments
uri: Secondary-punishments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#3_August_2019_%28Secondary_punishments%29
content:
<p>
Some US cities require 
<a href="https://reason.com/2019/08/01/lawsuit-challenges-ordinance-requiring-eviction-of-entire-household-if-one-member-has-committed-a-crime/">evicting
a whole family from an apartment if any one of them commits a
crime</a>.
<p>
The US has a general tendency to of heaping various secondary
punishments on top of the actual sentence.  Ex-cons can be barred from
education, barred from many kinds of work, barred even from places to
live.  Ultimately they are barred from anything except a life of
crime.


feed_id: 3b46ff0ebd9dc6feabe6c69af53c3030
title: Legalization of assisted suicide
uri: Legalization-of-assisted-suicide
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#3_August_2019_%28Legalization_of_assisted_suicide%29

content:
<p>
Legalization of assisted suicide is spreading to more US states, but
it is
<a href="https://reason.com/2019/08/01/new-jersey-the-latest-state-to-allow-terminally-ill-to-seek-aid-in-dying/">limited
to people expected to die anyway in under 6 months</a>.
<p>
The people who need this the most are those who are condemned to many
years of suffering, by a condition that keeps them helpless or in
horrible pain, and could continue for decades.


feed_id: 5fe1697feb901e108e866b81f44c41b6
title: Australia's planet-roaster government
uri: 2019-08-03-Australia-s-planet-roaster-government
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#3_August_2019_%28Australias_planet-roaster_government%29

content:
<p>
Australia's planet-roaster government has set up a scheme to cut
greenhouse gas emissions.  The cuts are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/02/coalitions-emissions-reduction-fund-labelled-a-joke-after-first-post-election-auction">so
small that it will make no real difference</a>.


feed_id: b369adeb6733e47b1cc8290375d6b542
title: Deforestation in Brazil
uri: 2019-08-03-Deforestation-in-Brazil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#3_August_2019_%28Deforestation_in_Brazil%29
content:
<p>
Bolsonaro has fired the head of Brazil's space institute, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/02/brazil-space-institute-director-sacked-in-amazon-deforestation-row">calling
the satellite measures of deforestation "lies"</a>.  We know who is
the liar, of course.
<p>
Bolsonaro's men are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/01/amazon-deforestation-bolsonaro-government-accused-doubt-data">trying
to set up a second system for monitoring deforestation</a>, perhaps
with the aim of reporting a smaller amount of it.


feed_id: 283f24dad478e77463b3ff31c27caa18
title: Burma
uri: 2019-08-03-Burma
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#3_August_2019_%28Burma%29
content:
<p>
Burma is a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/aug/01/were-not-afraid-to-lead-myanmar-displaced-find-a-new-voice">jigsaw
puzzle of different ethnic groups that want to be independent</a>.  To
a large extent, in practice, they are.


feed_id: cd414a5ba7d691260e4e847f7184a7f7
title: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
uri: Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart%29
content:
<p>
(satire) before leaving to pursue his solo career, Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart fronted an <a href="https://www.theonion.com/music-historians-uncover-evidence-of-18th-century-vienn-1836973337">ultra-popular Viennese boy band</a>.


feed_id: 33efb3ffd1b7312d77ef615d783b3c3e
title: The bullshitter speech
uri: The-bullshitter-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28The_bullshitter_speech%29
content:
<p>
(serious) The bullshitter read a speech which <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/05/completely-inconsistent-everything-hes-ever-said-and-done-trumps-teleprompter-speech">condemned racism
(but not his own)</a>.
<p>
(satire) Trump Aides Go Into <a href="https://politics.theonion.com/trump-aides-go-into-crisis-mode-after-president-s-erran-1836981109">Crisis Mode After President’s Errant Remarks</a>
Condemning White Supremacy.


feed_id: 61a1b1a0ac75edb23edfac68ce000d31
title: Stochastic terrorism
uri: Stochastic-terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Stochastic_terrorism%29
content:
<p>
&quot;Stochastic terrorism&quot; is a term used to describe the practice of
stirring up hatred so that occasionally some <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/05/white-nationalist-does-massacre-now-gaslighting-begins">weak-minded person will
commit a &quot;random&quot; act of murder</a>.
<p>
It is used by various right-wing causes. In the US it started in the
&quot;pro-life&quot; anti-abortion movement. Nowadays it is practiced by white
supremacists and Islamist extremists.


feed_id: 629680c56d69609269e19d3809fa839d
title: Sentence protesters to 20 years in prison
uri: Sentence-protesters-to-20-years-in-prison
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Sentence_protesters_to_20_years_in_prison%29

content:
<p>
Mexico's president advocates laws to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/30/mexico-president-andres-manuel-lopez-obrador-accused-of-hypocrisy-after-supporting-anti-protest-laws">sentence protesters to 20 years in prison</a>.


feed_id: 00dbab4501214afd27da6cd0e08f8312
title: US Trade Deal
uri: US-Trade-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28US_Trade_Deal%29
content:
<p>
UK Too Desperate to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/06/brexit-clinton-treasury-secretary-larry-summers-dismisses-desperate-uk-hopes-of-us-trade-deal">Secure US Trade Deal</a>.
<p>
Or at least, to get anything but a crappy deal.


feed_id: 91adff464a1e8d5debda5340304e0296
title: Obtain Surveillance Footage Without a Warrant
uri: Obtain-Surveillance-Footage-Without-a-Warrant
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Obtain_Surveillance_Footage_Without_a_Warrant%29

content:
<p>
Amazon Is Coaching Cops on How to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/43kga3/amazon-is-coaching-cops-on-how-to-obtain-surveillance-footage-without-a-warrant">Obtain Surveillance Footage Without
a Warrant</a>.


feed_id: 1c9e882e4d8d8cbd835e16802cd39c30
title: New e-cigarette
uri: New-e-cigarette
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28New_e-cigarette%29
content:
<p>
A new e-cigarette is designed to <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2019/08/05/juul-connected-e-cigarette/">require authorization form</a> a
mobile phone, using a nonfree app that collects data about the user.
<p>
I suspect that app also tracks the user's movements all the time.


feed_id: cc7df90947eae794733386353b1d42ce
title: Christian Science church
uri: Christian-Science-church
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Christian_Science_churh%29
content:
<p>
The Christian Science Church <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/06/christian-science-church-medicine-death-horror-of-my-fathers-last-days">is shrinking rapidly</a>.
<p>
That in itself is a good thing. However, the Christian Science
Monitor used to be renowned for serious coverage of important news
topics. Its decline is a loss to all of us.


feed_id: d1a607be3c7a464a4524ba097b7dbd11
title: Business organizations
uri: Business-organizations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Business_organizations%29
content:
<p>
Business organizations in the US spend a billion dollars a year to
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/06/business-group-spending-on-lobbying-in-washington-is-at-least-double-whats-publicly-reported/">pressure for the interests of business</a>.


feed_id: 419bacf79e375c41f57d8acf7a81bbca
title: El Paso Shooter
uri: El-Paso-Shooter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28El_Paso_Shooter%29
content:
<p>
If the El Paso Shooter <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/06/if-the-el-paso-shooter-had-been-muslim-">Had Been Muslim &hellip;</a>


feed_id: 77be26040e082533fd9c5a46c41a8f02
title: One-day general strike in Hong Kong
uri: One-day-general-strike-in-Hong-Kong
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28One-day_general_strike_in_Hong_Kong%29

content:
<p>
A one-day general strike in Hong Kong 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/05/hong-kong-brought-to-a-standstill-as-city-wide-strikes-and-protests-hit">was
very effective</a>.  However, China is threatening to attack and
repress.


feed_id: a0ff968e15dd8b1bd940ae500f2843a4
title: Face recognition at marijuana stores
uri: Face-recognition-at-marijuana-stores
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Face_recognition_at_marijuana_stores%29

content:
<p>
Marijuana stores are using face recognition against 
<a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/597n73/at-cannabis-shops-face-recognition-is-already-a-thing">giant
databases of people who are not in any way suspects</a> and have not
done anything wrong to or in the marijuana store.
<p>
This should be illegal.


feed_id: 3bd7775494b623b22b1bd7cf75f65014
title: Bully responsible for mass shooting
uri: Bully-responsible-for-mass-shooting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Bully_responsible_for_mass_shooting%29

content:
<p>
Beto O'Rourque 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/04/trump-is-a-racist-beto-orourke-links-presidents-rhetoric-to-el-paso-shooting">held
the bully responsible</a> for the mass shooting in El Paso.
<p>
We know this is true.  It is important that prominent people say it.
<p>
Republicans are trying to evade responsibility by saying that the
killers must be mentally disturbed.  Perhaps they are.  However, when
people are predisposed to follow some hate campaign or other and
commit violence for it, they look for a hate movement that is
powerful.  Politicians that support certain hate movements help draw
killers to support them.


feed_id: f44b117dd09bcf9c5c48aa7d8b78301a
title: Programmer sentenced to life in prison
uri: Programmer-sentenced-to-life-in-prison
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Programmer_sentenced_to_life_in_prison%29

content:
<p>
Iranian programmer Saeed Malekpour was 
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49224279">sentence
to life in prison for releasing a program for "uploading photos to the
web"</a>.  He has escaped somehow from Iran.


feed_id: 9dd2051106e6a6ccdbadfb66e7e0abd6
title: Three mass shootings in one weekend
uri: Three-mass-shootings-in-one-weekend
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Three_mass_shootings_in_one_weekend%29

content:
<p>
The US had <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/04/mass-shootings-el-paso-texas-dayton-ohio">three mass shootings in one weekend</a>.
<p>
Only a small fraction of US gun killings are part of mass shootings,
but mass shootings seem to inspire more mass shootings, and they are
often acts of terrorism inspired by hate movements.
<p>
The first of these two shootings, in Dallas, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/05/el-paso-gunmans-fear-migrant-invasion-echoed-donald-trump-fox-news/">was an act of right-wing
terrorism</a> and so <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/04/el-paso-dayton-mass-shootings-donald-trump/">was one other</a>.
<p>
These are clearly inspired by the bully's <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/04/us/politics/trump-mass-shootings.html">support of racism and violence</a>.
<p>
He surely knew this would happen; it isn't the first time, after all.
Therefore it must be intentional. Even people who already agreed with
white supremacism are encouraged to leap into violence by their crowds
of supporters.
<p>
He has converted the whole <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/05/trump-analysis-republican-party-mass-shootings">Republican party into supporters of racism
and violence</a>.
<p>
Some may not entirely like it, but they haven't the courage to resist the
mob that boils around them.


feed_id: 9d28eb9af907fc0314960a0cb179fdc3
title: US military Hikvision internet cameras
uri: US-military-Hikvision-internet-cameras
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28US_military_Hikvision_internet_cameras%29

content:
<p>
The <a href="https://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/how-chinese-security-cameras-are-compromising-us-military-bases/95665">US military has installed lots of Hikvision internet cameras</a>.
This is a problem for two reasons: Hikvision is Chinese, and the cameras
have (reportedly) a universal back door.
<p>
Even if the company weren't Chinese, the universal back door should make people
distrust these cameras.


feed_id: a6cebb7afe9c1fab925768500f7f5b45
title: AI for marketing
uri: AI-for-marketing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28AI_for_marketing%29
content:
<p>
Temporal <a href="https://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/how-ai-is-set-to-make-online-shopping-even-more-tempting/94964">AI for marketing attempts to predict when you are in the mood
for any given product</a>. They rely on collecting and correlating the data
collected by many surveillance systems.
<p>
If we prohibit the collection of data like these, systems like this
will be entirely impossible. Otherwise, they will make a worse dystopia.


feed_id: 8a1263160d4aa3e327e8fb2d109acfb7
title: Powerful way of manipulating people
uri: Powerful-way-of-manipulating-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Powerful_way_of_manipulating_people%29

content:
<p>
The decoy effect is a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190801-the-trick-that-makes-you-overspend">powerful way of manipulating people</a> into making
one choice rather than another.
<p>
I suspect that a policy of dismissing options that are clearly
inferior and writing down a list of only the options you are really
considering would help resist the decoy effect. It is worth doing this
for many reasons if the choice is important.
<p>
And stay away from flight connections that are just 60 minutes,
because that makes a significant risk of a missed connection. I would
choose option B for those flights, by intentional policy, regardless
of C. If I had seen only option A, I would have asked my travel
agent, &quot;Can you find a longer connection time?&quot;


feed_id: ed85d69b3f4f579937c6d2afb0276cae
title: Thug departments give special access to Amazon
uri: Thug-departments-give-special-access-to-Amazon
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Thug_departments_give_special_access_to_Amazon%29

content:
<p>
Some US thug departments give Amazon <a href="https://gizmodo.com/cops-are-giving-amazons-ring-your-real-time-911-data-1836883867">special access to 911 call data</a>.


feed_id: 4df6abb512debbe3aa6c7d04fe5cb2dd
title: Who will pay the costs of global heating
uri: Who-will-pay-the-costs-of-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Who_will_pay_the_costs_of_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
The question about paying the costs of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> is not "Can we
pay" but <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/dont-ask-how-to-pay-for-climate-change-ask-who/">"Who will pay"</a>.
<p>
The article does not mention all the ways <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> is killing people.
For instance, it doesn't include the people killed, directly or indirectly,
by the Syrian civil war and PISSI even though <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> was a major
cause of that war.
<p>
It also doesn't mention the tropical diseases that are spreading north,
or the people that lose their income and then die because they can't
afford medical care.


feed_id: a665b9360ddecf4d5d2c85ad48e36fa8
title: Public domain books published in the US
uri: Public-domain-books-published-in-the-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Public_domain_books_published_in_the_US%29

content:
<p>
A list now exists of which books published in the US before 1964
are in the <a href="https://www.crummy.com/2019/07/22/0">public domain</a> because the copyright was not renewed.


feed_id: 81e399c27c8c748c47a4ee394ce5fc98
title: Private equity companies
uri: Private-equity-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Private_equity_companies%29
content:
<p>
Private equity companies own &quot;doctor groups&quot; that gouge patients with
enormous bills.
<p>
Hospitals <a href="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2019/08/private-equity-the-perps-behind-destructive-hospital-surprise-billing.html">send patients to those doctors without informing them</a> &mdash;
sometimes even when they are unconscious.
<p>
What this shows is that two of the big sicknesses of the US economy
are linked.


feed_id: 1b6de293ca98ec2c67e564dcefd25e1d
title: Future genetic enhancements
uri: Future-genetic-enhancements
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Future_genetic_enhancements%29
content:
<p>
We should make sure that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/03/can-inequality-be-hardwired-our-dna">future genetic enhancements are not limited
to the rich or their children</a>. One part is preventing them from being
patented.
<p>
In addition, we need not and should not rely on private investment for
development of these enhancements. The government funds a lot of
medical research and it can fund this.
<p>
We won't have such treatments soon. You wouldn't want to give an
embryo that will develop into a your child a treatment intended as an
enhancement until its safety and efficacy have been verified. But we
don't know how to verify that except by trying it. With gigantic
advances in simulation of fetal development we might someday have
another way.


feed_id: 97eeb4e98b304650153e2a13eb3cdc56
title: Trade treaties
uri: 2019-08-08-Trade-treaties
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Trade_treaties%29
content:
<p>
Senator Warren's progressive approach to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/04/old-democratic-trade-paradigm-collapsing-good-riddance">trade treaties includes
allowing democratic participation in negotiating them</a>, require joint
crackdown on business tax-dodging and greenhouse emissions, and reject
the secret aim of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>.


feed_id: 2cc806b27ffbc386f5ff696a2768a113
title: Nazis are drawn to commit massacres
uri: Nazis-are-drawn-to-commit-massacres
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Nazis_are_drawn_to_commit_massacres%29

content:
<p>
A proposed analysis of why Nazis are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/05/what-induces-men-to-imitate-the-christchurch-massacre">drawn to commit massacres</a>.
<p>
This shows a parallel with how <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> has changed its approach since
losing its territory: turning from group actions to individual
massacres.


feed_id: 7499267deb3938f693c96b2e1e3faa7b
title: People live in vehicles in the San Francisco
uri: People-live-in-vehicles-in-the-San-Francisco
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28People_live_in_vehicles_in_the_San_Francisco%29

content:
<p>
Thousands of people <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/05/california-housing-homeless-rv-cars-bay-area">live in vehicles in the San Francisco area</a>,
and the city hits them with repression.
<p>
I heard of a person who lives in a house in San Francisco and got an
RV, which <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">perse</a> kept outside the city, but using it for a vacation was
difficult because the punishment for parking it for even a short time
near home was so strict. This came up in conversation as a curious
side effect of repression.


feed_id: 801a47117ca9bbacf0c5d35809307742
title: Forbidden to beg for money
uri: Forbidden-to-beg-for-money
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Forbidden_to_beg_for_money%29
content:
<p>
In Eskilstuna, Sweden, it is <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/05/swedish-town-launches-controversial-21-begging-permit">forbidden to beg for money unless you have money
to pay for a permit</a>.


feed_id: 0e2b06d78ad8de6c2699d2b9eced0074
title: Candidate Marianne Williamson
uri: Candidate-Marianne-Williamson
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Candidate_Marianne_Williamson%29
content:
<p>
Candidate Marianne Williamson <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/05/marianne-williamson-2020-presidential-campaign/">raised some deep issues that other
candidates don't</a>.
<p>
She is too flaky for me to vote for her, but I hope she has influence
with deep points.


feed_id: c8d7e7814d15f6147c9a13e06de03d14
title: Hindu extremist government plans
uri: Hindu-extremist-government-plans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Hindu_extremist_government_plans%29

content:
<p>
India's Hindu extremist government plans to <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/05/india-kashmir-autonomy-status/">permit Hindus from other parts of India to colonize Kashmir</a>.
<p>
This reminds me of Israel's colonization of occupied Palestine.
<p>
India promised Kashmir a referendum on whether to be part of India,
but never held the referendum.


feed_id: 730b94fb86788ba5c3936ea7d5d2ec9d
title: Urgent: Pass stricter gun control
uri: Urgent-Pass-stricter-gun-control
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Pass_stricter_gun_control%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.everytown.org/sign/smarter-gun-laws/">call on the Senate</a> to pass stricter gun control.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 9dd9dff1e552ac0e05e9139da0c924e4
title: Urgent: Expand Social Security
uri: 2019-08-08-Urgent-Expand-Social-Security
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Expand_Social_Security%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-now-tell-congress-we-must-expand-and-protect-social-security-not-destroy-it">call on Congress</a> to expand Social Security, not privatize it.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 892c91fe47e45da319aa3e262a31415f
title: Engaging in violence against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
uri: Engaging-in-violence-against-Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Engaging_in_violence_against_Alexandria_Ocasio-Cortez%29

content:
<p>
A video presents men wearing with Mitch McConnell supporter shirts
<a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/06/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-mitch-mcconnell-photo-cutout">engaging in violence against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a>.
<p>
This looks like support for stochastic terrorism. The photo seems to
have been taken at a rally to support McConnell, so they seem to be
real supporters of his. Will he denounce them firmly, or only with a
wink, or not at all?


feed_id: 11b0e1860377dea182f691dcfd648834
title: A new form of repression
uri: A-new-form-of-repression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28A_new_form_of_repression%29
content:
<p>
A new form of repression by the Russian state; threatening to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/06/couple-face-losing-son-after-bringing-him-to-unsanctioned-rally">take
away protesters' children for bringing them to protests</a> and exposing
them to the violent repression of the Russian state.


feed_id: 2184bfc1540312dad7eea09b96149de1
title: Blaming Mass Shootings
uri: Blaming-Mass-Shootings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Blaming_Mass_Shootings%29
content:
<p>
Blaming Mass Shootings on Mental Illness <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/06/mass-shootings-blame-mental-illness-stigma">Leads to Stigma</a>, Experts Warn.


feed_id: 22c148a51f482df63958c0990cfe53b0
title: New York Times manipulated yet again
uri: New-York-Times-manipulated-yet-again
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28New_York_Times_manipulated_yet_again%29

content:
<p>
The New York Times <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/aug/06/new-york-times-front-page-headline-changed">let itself be manipulated yet again</a> by the
bullshitter's bullshit.
<p>
Yes, it was a mistake to report something the bullshitter said as
if it were sincere. But the first mistake was to pay so much attention
to something he said.
<p>
Here is how <a href="https://www.theonion.com/new-york-times-amends-recent-hero-trump-disarms-woul-1837003333">The Onion satirized what the newspaper did</a>.


feed_id: a9874d4e2ad9d18a8f66080b62860b6e
title: The US froze Venezuela's assets
uri: The-US-froze-Venezuela-s-assets
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28The_US_froze_Venezuela%27s_assets%29

content:
<p>
The US <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/06/trump-freezes-all-venezuelan-government-assets-in-us">froze Venezuela's assets in the US</a>.
<p>
As is generally the case with economic sanctions, this is likely to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/06/it-will-not-work-experts-question-venezuela-sanctions-as-bolton-touts-them">hurt the public more than Maduro</a>.
<p>
It may be difficult for Venezuela to buy food, which could increase
the shortages.


feed_id: 9ea2d2e8f06ad7619dd766faa04365a3
title: Australia plan to reduce alcohol excess
uri: Australia-plan-to-reduce-alcohol-excess
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Australia_plan_to_reduce_alcohol_excess%29

content:
<p>
A plan in Australia to encourage people not to drink alcohol to excess
were evidently <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/07/alcohol-industry-fingerprints-all-over-australias-plan-to-tackle-overdrinking">greatly influenced by the alcohol companies</a>, which suggests they were designed more for show than for effect.


feed_id: e45cb7a16ee039a338cf66e39e82b592
title: Cyprus Police
uri: Cyprus-Police
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Cyprus_Police%29
content:
<p>
UK Woman Says Cyprus Police Forced Her to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/06/uk-woman-says-cyprus-police-forced-her-retract-rape-claim">Retract Rape Claim</a>.


feed_id: d228cda9d5f4ce513e24ebefcadf815c
title: Hindu extremist ruler
uri: Hindu-extremist-ruler
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Hindu_extremist_ruler%29
content:
<p>
Modi, India's Hindu extremist ruler, has imposed total repression on
Kashmir. He has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/05/kashmir-leaders-placed-under-arrest-amid-security-crackdown">arrested the elected leaders of Kashmir</a>, and cut off
phones and internet.
<p>
The order to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/05/indias-ruling-party-turning-kashmir-black-hole-critics-claim-fears-widespread">allow outsiders buy land in Kashmir</a> is based
on arbitrarily negating` an article in India's constitution.
<p>
What does a constitution mean if the government in power can
arbitrarily sweep it away? Nothing.
<p>
I think Modi is planning something far worse than allowing
non-Kashmiris to buy land there. I suspect some horrible act
of repression is in the works, something that will look
so horrible that he wants to make sure the world can't see it.


feed_id: 2e8ce2fe7593d4e39ee34235303ce694
title: Shooters supported Warren for president
uri: Shooters-supported-Warren-for-president
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Shooters_supported_Warren_for_president_%29

content:
<p>
Republicans are trying to distract attention from the violent effects
of their racism by asserting that one of the shooters last weekend
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/06/trump-el-paso-shooter-influence-white-house-rejects-claims-focus-democrats">supported Warren for president</a>.
<p>
Perhaps he did, but that is not a valid parallel, because Senator
Warren doesn't spew hatred the way Republicans do.


feed_id: 459b49681f15f88724286c0278c9e013
title: Powerful Christian preacher
uri: Powerful-Christian-preacher
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#7_August_2019_%28Powerful_Christian_preacher%29
content:
<p>
A Nigerian woman accused a powerful Christian preacher of raping her.
<p>
The response was a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/aug/06/nigeria-metoo-moment-accuser-busola-dakolo">collection of criminal charges against her</a>.


feed_id: 0006224975dafc5ad6be825659275df3
title: Prosecuting whistleblowers
uri: 2019-08-08-Prosecuting-whistleblowers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Prosecuting_whistleblowers%29
content:
<p>
The US collects data from many sources to identify and prosecute
whistleblowers.  After publication, this includes information from
many databases
about <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/04/whistleblowers-surveillance-fbi-trump/">which
employees contacted a journalist</a>.
<p>
The article suggests how messaging software might help protect
whistleblowers; but this won't keep them safe for very long after the
leak is published.
<p>
Above all, the article explains why the US must eliminate the practice
of prosecuting whistleblowers for "spying" is fundamentally wrong
anyway.
<p>
Meanwhile, real spy chiefs want to make things worse
by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-security-fiveeyes-britain-idUSKCN1UP199">banning
secure encryption</a>, and thus put our freedom in more danger &mdash;
from them.


feed_id: 92ce9d745a1dcad0114ddf7f9186ece4
title: Russian protesters
uri: Russian-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Russian_protesters%29
content:
<p>
Russian protesters are more stubborn now than in the past.  Arresting
some of them
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/04/moscow-protests-police-crackdown-putin-russia">not
made them give up</a>.


feed_id: bd0295bd81917a63983bf492083eca83
title: Confronting plutocracy
uri: Confronting-plutocracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Confronting_plutocracy%29
content:
<p>
Both Republicans and Democrats (plutocratist "moderate" Democrats)
harp on right-wing racism
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/02/viral-racism-and-politics-distraction">avoid
confronting plutocracy</a>.


feed_id: 58ea21eefb2ad2a567f90a1b92dea207
title: Facebook political ads
uri: 2019-08-08-Facebook-political-ads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Facebook_political_ads%29
content:
<p>
Facebook is still showing zuckers targeted political ads to serve
right-wing causes,
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/04/facebook-ads-new-polticial-norm-voters-in-dark-where-they-come-from">it's
a secret</a> where the money comes from.
<p>
Revealed: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/01/revealed-johnson-allys-firm-secretly-ran-facebook-propaganda-network">Johnson
Ally's Firm</a> Secretly Ran Facebook Propaganda Network.


feed_id: 48a32a4ca89040cfce51018e3fae0416
title: Al-Qa'ida operations
uri: Al-Qa-ida-operations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Al-Qa%27ida_operations%29
content:
<p>
Al-Qa'ida is still operating, but instead of trying to draw attention
using shocking attacks on the West, its method is
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/04/no-longer-does-al-qaida-grab-headlines-that-might-be-plan">build
support</a> in various parts of the world.
<p>
Since this is not a direct threat to the West, perhaps the West has no
reason to fight it.  However, any region that al-Qa'ida comes to
dominate will suffer a great loss of human rights.  The US should not
intervene militarily, since that would only create an Afghanistan-like
situation.  But if local people want to fight back, it would be good to
give them support while leaving the effort mainly in their hands.


feed_id: 11cff4c135607297733e5d4e52e26a56
title: Conjoined daughters
uri: Conjoined-daughters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Conjoined_daughters%29
content:
<p>
A father plans
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/04/separation-conjoined-twins-dilemma">let
his two conjoined daughters die</a> rather than approve an operation
that would probably save one of them.
<p>
This is a real-life variant
of <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/trolley-problem.html">the
trolley problem</a>,
with a crucial difference: in this case there was time to study the
issue carefully and establish with near certainty what each choice
would lead to before making the decision.  He cannot rationally deny
that his choice of "do nothing" means death for both of daughters.
<p>
His choice is a form of moral cowardice.  The kind of cowardice that
makes someone lose a tooth rather than get a filling.  The kind of
cowardice that makes someone die of late-stage cancer rather than get
early treatment and survive.  So even though I empathize with his
distress at the need to choose between horrible and doubly horrible, I
can't excuse his decision.  The daughters deserve life.  If you can't
save both, at least save one.
<p>
I don't think that we should be more concerned about the couple
because they have four other children.  Having so many is a bad thing
to do, but it has no effect on the issue of saving these daughters.


feed_id: 4024f8139c049c5618fced468a576971
title: Tick populations
uri: Tick-populations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Tick_populations%29
content:
<p>
Global
heating <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/04/my-brush-with-lyme-disease-increase-new-forest-scotland">helps
tick populations grow</a>, and this makes Lyme disease more prevalent.


feed_id: 32e104b1e77b446c988bddec2b43a9c8
title: Freezing ovarian tissue
uri: Freezing-ovarian-tissue
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Freezing_ovarian_tissue%29
content:
<p>
Freezing ovarian tissue and reimplanting it later could enable women
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/04/medical-procedure-delay-menopause">delay
menopause for decades</a>.
<p>
I hope this won't require them to actually menstruate.
I also hope it won't lead to more births.


feed_id: 9ca5b5ac6df2824845af12d256902cf7
title: EU refugee agreement
uri: EU-refugee-agreement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28EU_refugee_agreement%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/04/migrant-rescue-ship-40-people-arrives-malta-after-eu-deal">An
EU agreement</a> provides for southern coastal countries to receive
refugees who will be distributed to other EU countries.


feed_id: 7ebab7ff3a726c85d4823bf03834776c
title: MP Rosena Allin-Khan
uri: MP-Rosena-Allin-Khan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28MP_Rosena_Allin-Khan%29
content:
<p>
Trolls <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/03/rosena-allin-khan-israel-children-hospital-human-rights">attacked
MP Rosena Allin-Khan</a> for trying to convince Israel to let Gazan
parents of sick children getting medical care in Israel to visit their
children.
<p>
MP Allin-Khan describes the abuse as "antisemitic", but what I see in
the examples quoted is condemnation of Israel rather than
anti-semitism as such.  I agree, however, that these examples were
unjustified exaggeration.  Her attempts to convince Israel to loosen
some of the restrictions of the occupation is not support for the
occupation.
<p>
It is one thing to say that a small step is not a full solution to a
problem.  It is another to say that the small step is bad.  We should
make sure campaigns for small steps don't distract us from advocating
a full solution, but that doesn't require condemning them.


feed_id: cdaaaae29d327292c974253617eb0313
title: China surveils students abroad
uri: China-surveils-students-abroad
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28China_surveils_students_abroad%29
content:
<p>
Students from Hong Kong protested in an Australian university.  Some
Chinese people (perhaps students, perhaps not) 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/04/we-cannot-be-seen-the-fallout-from-the-university-of-queenslands-hong-kong-protests">physically
attacked them and surveilled them</a>; some protesters later received
threats, clearly organized by China.
<p>
Many Chinese studying abroad remain 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#28_December_2017_(Chinese_students)">so
connected to the state-controlled Chinese systems of state control
that they do not question the propaganda</a>.  I think the university
should impose requirements on Chinese students that they reduce their
involvement in those systems, so that they are not dominated by them.
It should be a requirement for educational purposes to expose
themselves to other ways of thinking.
<p>
A few months ago I met some Chinese students in MIT CSAIL and urged
them to take advantage of being in the US to read extensively the
things that China does not want them to know.  I specifically
recommended the book, Life and Death in Shanghai, by Nien Cheng, which
describes surviving the cultural revolution of the 60s and 70s.


feed_id: 42022b45ce83dacb75b32860cd7fa288
title: UK's bullshitter
uri: UK-s-bullshitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28UKs_bullshitter%29
content:
<p>
Bogus Johnson is tossing out 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/03/boris-johnson-promises-one-point-eight-billion-pounds-for-nhs">pledges
to spend money to correct little pieces of Tory budget cuts</a>.
Sometimes a new pledge is just part of a larger previous pledge.
<p>
The UK media are using the same bad approach that the US media use
with the bullshitter: taking his promises seriously.  The proper
response any time Johnson says he will do some good thing is, "If he
really does this, we will take it seriously."


feed_id: 6a9c771f9d06a1c3b561106ebc475941
title: Mexican journalists killed
uri: Mexican-journalists-killed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Mexican_journalists_killed%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/04/third-mexican-journalist-killed-in-a-week-amid-record-rate">Third
Mexican Journalist Killed in a Week</a> Amid Record Murder Rate.


feed_id: e0fe2cf47677b74f383d4139c769a6f2
title: Inadequate solutions
uri: Inadequate-solutions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Inadequate_solutions%29
content:
<p>
Andrew Yang's proposes a universal basic income as a substitute for
various existing welfare benefits, and he 
<a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2019/06/andrew-yang-universal-basic-income-presidential-election">doesn't
intend to curb the political power of business</a>.
<p>
His 
<a href="https://www.yang2020.com/policies/data-property-right/">proposed
policy for limiting surveillance</a> is similar to the GDPR, and
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/03/facebook-abusing-data-law-privacy-big-tech-surveillance">inadequate
in the same ways</a>.
<p>
It seems to be designed for a world in which a person entrusts
specific information to a service so it can do specific jobs with that
data, the data comes directly from per, and the service labels it
explicitly as from per.  A world in which there is plenty of
competition among services, and no one ever feels compelled to use
a specific service which <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">perse</a> knows will misuse that data.
<p>
And it ignores what the US government might do with that data
after using the PAT RIOT act to collect the whole database.


feed_id: dbbfbedfbffcf3447881f86aa1e7b34f
title: Annual fund-raising event blocked in UK
uri: Annual-fund-raising-event-blocked-in-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#6_August_2019_%28Annual_fund-raising_event_blocked_in_UK%29

content:
<p>
A UK local council blocked an annual fund-raising event for
Palestinian children 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/03/uk-council-refused-to-host-palestinian-event-over-antisemitism-fears">because
they thought criticism of Israel could be labeled as anti-semitic</a>.


feed_id: 1e669cccc31aaa44e65dc246c2e5eb7b
title: Unboxing videos
uri: Unboxing-videos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Unboxing_videos%29
content:
<p>
"Unboxing" videos which show adults playing with toys, when sponsored
by the toy manufacturer, are in effect <a href="
https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/03/22/youtube-toy-unboxing-advertising-children-lawsuit/">advertising to children.</a>

<p>
They may be illegal. They are certainly manipulative.


feed_id: 3f9794524febc41660e29febdeb029c1
title: Fishermen saving drowning migrants
uri: Fishermen-saving-drowning-migrants
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Fishermen_saving_drowning_migrants%29

content:
<p>
Some Italian fishermen save drowning migrants because they live by the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/03/sicilian-fishermen-risk-prison-to-rescue-migrants-off-libya-italy-salvini
">law of the sea.</a>


feed_id: 36589863e475a81251446d761723b259
title: China playing US's game
uri: China-playing-US-s-game
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28China_playing_US%27s_game%29
content:
<p>
China is trying to play the US game of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/03/china-suspends-cooperation-with-france-on-police-affairs-interpol-meng-hongwei
">intimidating countries that grant asylum</a>
to Chinese political refugees.

<p>
One background flaw in the article is its use of the term
"intellectual property", which always spreads confusion because it
lumps together various <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html
">unrelated laws that affect different issues.
</a>
<p>
This article seems to use "intellectual property" to refer to
trademarks. In many other articles about "intellectual property" and
China, the term refers to trade secrets. Trademarks and trade secrets
have nothing to do with each other, but that bogus over generalization
tries to lead you to think they are one single issue.


feed_id: c9a8f1dda16e62526cb4e9bb81227a7e
title: Tony Timpa
uri: Tony-Timpa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Tony_Timpa%29
content:
<p>
Dallas <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> killed Tony Timpa by grinding him into the ground,
gleefully disregarding his cries that they were killing him. It took
his family <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/02/dallas-police-officers-video-bodycam-tony-timpa
">three years</a> to pry loose the video which showed what
happened.


feed_id: e2961b44821e45104ac555cc3973e900
title: Banning the sale of plastic water bottles
uri: Banning-the-sale-of-plastic-water-bottles
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Banning_the_sale_of_plastic_water_bottles%29

content:
<p>
San Francisco airport will <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/02/san-francisco-international-airport-plastic-water-bottle-ban
">set an example</a> by banning the sale of plastic
bottles of water. Other disposable plastic items are being limited, too.


feed_id: 8b4b506044cd6f338ebb0c890fe44672
title: Greenland's ice sheet shrinking
uri: Greenland-s-ice-sheet-shrinking
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Greenland%27s_ice_sheet_shrinking%29

content:
<p>
Greenland’s ice sheet shrunk more in past month than in an <a href="
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/02/heatwaves-amplify-near-record-levels-of-ice-melt-in-northern-hemisphere">average year.</a>

<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/01/we-urgently-need-change-our-way-living-experts-warn-heat-wave-causes-historic-ice?cd-origin=rss
">
In just one day,</a> 12 billion tons of ice melted.


feed_id: 2dcbd454f89a05221581dc57594bb5ee
title: Immigrants in privatized prisons
uri: Immigrants-in-privatized-prisons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Immigrants_in_privatized_prisions%29

content:
<p>
Putting immigrants in privatized prisons is giving privatized prisons
the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/01/resistance-private-prison-industry-mounts-amid-debate-over-trumps-immigration?cd-origin=rss
">bad name they always deserved.</a>


feed_id: 4395807b0b0f6b25a987de3ba02c2406
title: Tax increases for the rich
uri: Tax-increases-for-the-rich
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Tax_increases_for_the_rich%29
content:
<p>
Mayor de Blasio, also running for president, has proposed <a href="
https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/08/01/de-blasio-proposes-major-tax-plan-address-income-inequality-restore-fairness?cd-origin=rss">big tax
increases</a> for the rich,

<p>
as well as the financial transaction tax (also known as the Tobin
Tax and the Robin Hood Tax), whose principal benefit is to stabilize
financial markets, but which would also bring in some useful revenue.
<p>
This isn't enough to convince me to vote for him instead of Sanders or
Warren, but it's a good target for approach to the issue of taxation.


feed_id: 5897e1a462b1fcf21f25f859339ccccc
title: Food aid for the poor
uri: Food-aid-for-the-poor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Food_aid_for_the_poor%29
content:
<p>
Food aid for the poor <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/01/you-dont-save-money-forcing-people-go-hungry?cd-origin=rss
">benefits the US economy</a> as a side effect.


To
cut it would be spiteful, and irrational unless the goal is to scapegoat
the poor.


feed_id: 9182eb252bb6101ab2f9006caa16b2a2
title: Urgent: Block thugs from conspiring with Amazon
uri: Urgent-Block-thugs-from-conspiring-with-Amazon
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Block_thugs_from_conspiring_with_Amazon%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/amazon-ring">call on your
city officials</a> to block the thug department from conspiring with
Amazon to establish video surveillance in your city.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: ff552d2f775e93b2d65ce47c34f26e6f
title: Urgent: Stop EPA from hiding information
uri: Urgent-Stop-EPA-from-hiding-information
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_EPA_from_hiding_information%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/open-responsive-government-act-2019">call
on the Senate</a> to stop the EPA from hiding information from the
public.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 532f04c186ecefaf1c503b12c2a7a272
title: US women happier without children
uri: US-women-happier-without-children
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28US_women_happier_without_children%29

content:
<p>
Women in the US are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/25/women-happier-without-children-or-a-spouse-happiness-expert">happier,
on the average, if they do not marry or have children</a>.
<p>
In some countries, which give more support to parents, that is 
<a href="https://qz.com/708438/the-parenting-happiness-gap-is-real-new-research-confirms/">not
so</a>.
<p>
Nonetheless, the birth rate 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/03/womans-choice-fertility-rates">continues
to decline in developed countries</a>.
<p>
This is a positive change, given that the world's population is still
increasing.  Now if only we could bring about a decline in the
countries which still have a high birth rate.  The survival of
civilization depends on this.


feed_id: 3e738e8f265085ef8f81732a299ece40
title: Sudan's transitional constitution
uri: Sudan-s-transitional-constitution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Sudans_transitional_constitution%29

content:
<p>
Sudan's protesters and military have announced a sort of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/03/sudanese-military-and-protesters-reach-full-agreement-on-power-sharing-deal">transitional
constitution</a>.


feed_id: 7adebc2bf6df635cf384f0e3922453a2
title: Asylum for man mistaken for trafficker
uri: Asylum-for-man-mistaken-for-trafficker
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Asylum_for_man_mistaken_for_trafficker%29

content:
<p>
Italy Grants Asylum to Eritrean Man 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/03/italy-grants-asylum-to-eritrean-man-mistaken-for-years-for-trafficker">Mistaken
for Years for Trafficker</a>.
<p>
Everyone makes mistakes, but they should not have been so slow to
believe the victims who said he was the wrong man.


feed_id: 49b701675dfe5fe86e4ea688c48884ff
title: Human-monkey chimera embryos
uri: Human-monkey-chimera-embryos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Human-monkey_chimera_embryos%29
content:
<p>
Human-monkey chimera embryos raise 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/03/first-human-monkey-chimera-raises-concern-among-scientists">theoretical
moral questions about possible future mixture between humans and
monkeys</a>.  Should such beings be permitted to be born?  Or come
close to being born?
<p>
I recommend reading Cordwainer Smith's science fiction


feed_id: bd727d9fb35e451cac97e81212414822
title: Subsidized Amazon surveillance
uri: Subsidized-Amazon-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Subsidized_Amazon_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Some US cities are
<a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d3ag37/us-cities-are-helping-people-buy-amazon-surveillance-cameras-using-taxpayer-money">paying
to subsidize the "private" installation</a> of Amazon surveillance
cameras.


feed_id: 2bbd17e0f4ad2bf78a8788e203643e63
title: Economics
uri: Economics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Economics%29
content:
<p>
Economics systematically leads to bad (even disastrous) decisions
because the mathematics are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/03/economics-global-economy-climate-crisis">based
on simplifying assumption which are often not even close to the
truth</a>.
<p>
Indeed, the neoliberal policies founded on those economics have moved
reality even further from some of these assumptions &mdash; for
instance, by allowing massive concentration of many industries.


feed_id: 4dbbdc22836ea757eb2687fbc5146481
title: Turtle doves
uri: Turtle-doves
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Turtle_doves%29
content:
<p>
Wondering 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/03/silencing-natural-world-can-turtle-dove-be-saved">whether
the far-migrating turtle dove can be saved</a> in England.


feed_id: 3382516f9c9abe5b26cea295bee49db1
title: Democratic presidential debates
uri: Democratic-presidential-debates
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Democratic_presidential_debates%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic presidential debates are run by Republicans, and
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/02/cnns-industry-spin-shows-need-independent-debates">the
"moderators" are Republicans</a>.  They 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/03/democratic-debates-control-trump-campaign">manipulate
the debates in a biased way</a>, trying to make progressives look bad
and to provide Republicans useful information for the campaign.
<p>
Unfortunately, to the extent that the plutocratist-biased DNC controls
the debates, that is
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#8_November_2017_(DNC_corruption_revelations)">bad
in other ways</a>.
<p>
We are still pushing it to hold a debate about <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> and
approaching climate disaster.


feed_id: 64ac99b621120d4e6c4a7ee08cd7d997
title: Global heating
uri: 2019-08-08-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#5_August_2019_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
The IPCC warns that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>'s major effects show the need to
change agriculture, and in particular, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/03/ipcc-land-use-food-production-key-to-climate-crisis-leaked-report">eat
a lot less meat</a>.
<p>
Jake Inslee used his short speaking time in the Democratic
presidential debate to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/01/jay-inslee-just-wants-save-world-climate-change">emphasize
the need to curb global heating</a>.  That was good use of it.
<p>
It may be true that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> underlies the other major issues.
But, more fundamentally, plutocracy underlies all the other major
issues and <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> as well.  This is why I believe that a firm
enemy of plutocracy is our best hope for defeating the planet
roasters.


feed_id: f0c6b8872cc15cd06c68ac00dfa30ee5
title: Attacks on medical facilities
uri: 2019-08-08-Attacks-on-medical-facilities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Attacks_on_medical_facilities%29
content:
<p>
Amnesty International reports that Assad's forces are
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/08/01/un-secretary-general-orders-investigation-atrocities-idlib-syria">systematically
attacking medical facilities in Idlib</a>.  The UN ha called for an
investigation.


feed_id: 13e2c53436f9322ec01c660fee1c57f8
title: Ads
uri: 2019-08-08-Ads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Ads%29
content:
<p>
Ads
<a href="https://hackernoon.com/nobody-is-immune-to-ads-7142a4245c2c">influence
many people unconsciously</a>, even people who are trying to pay
attention to something else.


feed_id: 88383578381a85c0f1af6275222ba56c
title: Urgent: Public consultations about public land
uri: Urgent-Public-consultations-about-public-land
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Public_consultations_about_public_land%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3508">call
on the Forest Service</a> not to eliminate public consultations about
mining and logging on public land.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: ebc24fd12bb108165711fa1e07aadbcd
title: Urgent: National Defense Authorization Act
uri: 2019-08-08-Urgent-National-Defense-Authorization-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_National_Defense_Authorization_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to
<a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13733">keep
the good provisions in the House's version</a> of the National Defense
Authorization Act.
<p>
To sign without running nonfree software, please use the
<a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">Salsalabs workaround</a>.
<p>
I replaced their suggested line about the Korean War with
<blockquote>
&mdash;support a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War.
</blockquote>
because it's not as if a hot war were still raging there.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: a9c70b8a38ef8405f7f7127ac98b224a
title: Helping parents
uri: Helping-parents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Helping_parents%29
content:
<p>
More effective than punishing grieving parents:
<a href="https://letgrow.org/feeling-compassion-not-contempt-for-a-grieving-father/">a
practical scheme to help parents avoid forgetting babies in a car</a>.
<p>
An idea that occurs to me is an button the baby can push, which
makes a soft and fun sound when the car is switched on, but
makes a loud one-minute alarm outside when the car is switched off.


feed_id: 06df7debeeffb7f4b83904f099d1de64
title: Carbon emissions
uri: 2019-08-08-Carbon-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Carbon_emissions%29
content:
<p>
(satire) EPA Administrator Proves Carbon Emissions Not Harmful By
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/epa-administrator-proves-carbon-emissions-not-harmful-b-1836912751">Inhaling
Directly From Truck’s Tailpipe</a>.


feed_id: 2dd1e2d80830dcbef8395736400812c8
title: Mistreatment of underage cars
uri: Mistreatment-of-underage-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Mistreatment_of_underage_cars%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Theaters across the country pulled the film Fast & Furious
Presents: Hobbs & Shaw Friday following reports of the
<a href="https://entertainment.theonion.com/hobbs-shaw-pulled-from-theaters-following-reports-o-1836913287">on-set
mistreatment of (underage) cars</a>.


feed_id: 7d31a05224ae236345146c044680dadf
title: Greenhouse gas emissions
uri: 2019-08-08-Greenhouse-gas-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Greenhouse_gas_emissions%29
content:
<p>
Several Pacific island nations
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/31/visionary-document-small-island-nations-declare-climate-crisis-pacific">rebuked
the countries that don't cut their greenhouse gas emissions</a>.


feed_id: 5af8d9a0046bbfd80904a431de5849d2
title: Ronald Reagan's racism
uri: Ronald-Reagan-s-racism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Ronald_Reagans_racism%29
content:
<p>
Knowing that Ronald Reagan was secretly a racist helps make sense of
his
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/31/ronald-reagans-racism-should-come-no-surprise">public
statements that were designed to win support from racists</a>.
<p>
What is different about the bullshitter is that he overtly declares
support for overt racists.


feed_id: 3f6483aa2b7197eb550cf4b7841e5193
title: Nonviolent protest
uri: 2019-08-08-Nonviolent-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Nonviolent_protest%29
content:
<p>
A symbolic protest against Macron's lack of climate defense policy:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/02/taking-macron-down-climate-protesters-strip-french-town-halls-of-portraits">carefully
removing his photo from public administrations</a>.
<p>
They are being investigated by the "anti-terrorism" <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>, which
exemplifies the world-wide tendency to use "anti-terrorism" laws against
nonviolent protesters.  This is why those laws are a threat to
democracy.


feed_id: 075648f05baab4323c12936a4448e790
title: North Atlantic right whales
uri: 2019-08-08-North-Atlantic-right-whales
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28North_Atlantic_right_whales%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/02/north-atlantic-right-whale-deaths-population-canada">How
global heating endangers</a> the North Atlantic right whales.


feed_id: 16db2872c9fc9a6cb0aa6198733ef899
title: Women's rights in Salafi Arabia
uri: 2019-08-08-Women-s-rights-in-Salafi-Arabia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Womens_rights_in_Salafi_Arabia%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> has given women equal rights in regard to
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-49201019">travel
and employment</a>.
<p>
They are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/02/saudi-arabia-women-travel-consent-rights-feminist-movement">still
a long distance from legal equality</a>.


feed_id: e31ffef78dae346a26c48d2fc4fd6e3c
title: Trains instead of planes
uri: Trains-instead-of-planes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Trains_instead_of_planes%29
content:
<p>
To encourage climate-saving use of trains instead of planes,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/02/travel-more-sustainably-train-plane">employers
could offer extra "journey days" on top of vacation time</a>, for
those who use them to travel by train.


feed_id: 859c140b18ad2653cbd26528bcb6d165
title: Wide-area total surveillance systems
uri: Wide-area-total-surveillance-systems
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Wide-area_total_surveillance_systems%29

content:
<p>
The Pentagon has developed wide-area total surveillance systems,
which
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/02/pentagon-balloons-surveillance-midwest">track
all cars' movements in an area 25 miles across</a>.
<p>
We should make sure that the state does not operate these systems
to look at anything but a war zone.


feed_id: 2ccd1c8b25d8df0249d26fe6b2edbd51
title: Jailed for "offensive and vulgar" poetry
uri: Jailed-for-offensive-and-vulgar-poetry
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Jailed_for_offensive_and_vulgar_poetry%29

content:
<p>
The "president" of Uganda demonstrated he is a dirty, delinquent
dictator by
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/aug/02/activist-who-branded-uganda-president-a-dirty-delinquent-dictator-faces-jail-yoweri-museveni-cyber-harassment">jailing
a poet whose poetry was called "offensive and vulgar"</a>.


feed_id: 735d36b7392a1d9b7424762de6b8e908
title: Protesters threatened before rally
uri: Protesters-threatened-before-rally
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Protesters_threatened_before_rally%29

content:
<p>
Russian Protesters
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/02/russia-protesters-threatened-with-jail-before-planned-rally">Threatened
with Jail on Eve of Planned Rally</a>.


feed_id: 5d78f7efd5f772e164d901fe423e80b6
title: Urgent: No landlord-imposed facial recognition
uri: Urgent-No-landlord-imposed-facial-recognition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_No_landlord-imposed_facial_recognition%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/no-biometric-barriers">get
facial recognition technology out of public housing</a>.
<p>
It should be illegal for landlords to impose facial recognition or
internet-connected locks on tenants in <em>any</em> rental housing.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: f5cc7ec80dd15d26503446baee4ee7b1
title: Urgent: Support AB 1215
uri: Urgent-Support-AB-1215
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Support_AB_1215%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: call on the California Senate to pass AB 1215 to
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/send-message/ca-sen-support-ab1215">ban
use of face recognition on body camera videos</a>.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 10e4aa7c8cff6006868e79292babe3cf
title: Urgent: HSBC divestments
uri: Urgent-HSBC-divestments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_HSBC_divestments%29
content:
<p>
Everyone:
<a href="https://350.org/hsbc/">call on HSBC</a> to fully divest from
fossil fuel and arms companies.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 89360419ecfeb84d492a60c0f44a46d2
title: Right-wing death threats
uri: Right-wing-death-threats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Right-wing_death_threats%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing death threats were
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/31/following-death-threats-human-rights-defenders-demand-israeli-authorities-stand">posted
against Amnesty International</a> in Israel.
<p>
That's the right wing for you.


feed_id: 03f39e143ca822fb22c022ae8c70b200
title: The Politics of Petulance
uri: The-Politics-of-Petulance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28The_Politics_of_Petulance%29
content:
<p>
The Politics of Petulance &mdash;
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/01/politics-petulance-donald-trump-boris-johnson">nihilism
whipped up by telling people that it is impossible to make our
situation any better</a>.
<p>
In the US, the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> has laid out a simple plan to make things much
better: reverse all the changes he has made.  That plan may not be the
best possible choice &mdash; perhaps we could agree on a handful of
things he has done that we should keep &mdash; but clearly it would be
a big step forward.  Beyond that, we know other things we need:
single-payer medical care, the Green New Deal, prohibiting mass
surveillance, and others.


feed_id: 2dddf37788922bd5419a74afbf0b7b57
title: Intermediate range nuclear missile treaty
uri: Intermediate-range-nuclear-missile-treaty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Intermediate_range_nuclear_missile_treaty%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>, whose general policy is to come close to nuclear war, has
killed the intermediate range nuclear missile treaty and is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/01/death-of-the-treaty-that-removed-missiles-from-greenham-common">not
trying to negotiate a replacement</a>.
<p>
About the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/02/trump-putin-nuclear-treaty-greenham-common">campaign
of protest</a> which got that treaty started.


feed_id: c3bc041aa1af6871d65d2f0d269fa242
title: Reaching a new agreement with Iran
uri: Reaching-a-new-agreement-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Reaching_a_new_agreement_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> claims to want a "better" agreement with Iran, but
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/01/latest-proof-trump-unwilling-and-incapable-engaging-peace-talks-us-sanctions-irans">his
sanctions against Iran's foreign minister will prevent
negotiations</a>.
<p>
Here is
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/07/31/expert-letter-deescalating-iran">what
experts recommend</a> as the way to reach a new agreement.


feed_id: b4de667ebcec0395f1349d020c43592c
title: Antique steam trains
uri: Antique-steam-trains
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Antique_steam_trains%29
content:
<p>
Because one passenger died in an old steam train,
<a href="https://reason.com/2019/08/01/brickbat-steamed/">all the
antique steam trains in the UK will be required to implement expensive
(and anachronistic) upgrades to the windows and doors</a>.
<p>
Those that can't afford this will have to stop running passenger
excursions.  Which is likely to mean most of them.
<p>
If we want to make society safer and reduce deaths, we should focus
on the cost-effective options, such as programs that help poor people,
birth control, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.


feed_id: bd7fbbab3388b543ec1467f6b155904f
title: Today's advertising
uri: Today-s-advertising
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Todays_advertising%29
content:
<p>
Advertising considered as a
<a href="http://jacek.zlydach.pl/blog/2019-07-31-ads-as-cancer.html">cancer
on society</a>.
<p>
I largely agree.  I think that the worst aspect of today's advertising
(and the reason there is so much of it) is the collection of personal
data &mdash; but the article identifies other ways in which
advertising corrupts society which don't depend on knowing anything
about who sees the ads &mdash; for instance, paid-for articles (I
won't use the euphemism "sponsored" or the derogatory term "content"
for this) and individuals who are paid to insert advertising into
their lives as "influencers".
<p>
However, if you are like me, you probably wouldn't notice what brand of
coffee appears in your friend's photo, so it would fail to exert any
influence.


feed_id: 1db58680ef020d781a9409bfe6dcdda2
title: Reversing the Corporations United decision
uri: Reversing-the-Corporations-United-decision
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Reversing_the_Corporations_United_decision%29

content:
<p>
The
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/07/30/democracy-all-constitutional-amendment-would-wipe-clean-dark-stain-citizens">Democracy
for All constitutional amendment</a> would narrowly reverse the
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#corporationsunited">Corporations United</a>
decision which ruled that corporations have a "human right" to spend
money on electioneering.
<p>
I prefer the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-may-aug.html#2_August_2017_(Urgent:_overrule_Corporations_United)">more
powerful proposed amendment</a> which would reject the idea that
corporations are entitled to human rights.


feed_id: 4d931c7131e64fd47f22728f09d25158
title: New trial for Lamar Johnson
uri: New-trial-for-Lamar-Johnson
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28New_trial_for_Lamar_Johnson%29
content:
<p>
Lamar Johnson was convicted of murder, but the real killers confessed
in 1998 and 2002.  Even though it was known that the "evidence" him
was falsified by a <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a>, it took him until now to win a
<a href="https://reason.com/2019/07/30/prosecutors-faked-evidence-and-the-real-killer-confessed-but-missouri-still-imprisoned-an-innocent-man-for-24-years/">new
trial</a>.
<p>
This is because many judges and officials would rather keep an
innocent man in prison for years than admit that their system made a
mistake.  They think that if they never admit a mistake, we will
believe they never make any.


feed_id: 4d3531aaf08667c844f5489c3a8e7724
title: Election rigging
uri: 2019-08-08-Election-rigging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Election_rigging%29
content:
<p>
Republicans are hard at work
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/01/voter-purges-us-elections-brennan-center-report">removing
blacks and poor people from voter lists</a>.
<p>
They know they can't win an election, so they put their efforts into
rigging elections.  <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> was
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#12_November_2016_(The_election_was_stolen)">"elected"
this way</a> and so in 2018 was the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-jan-apr.html#28_February_2019_(Stolen_Georgia_election)">governor
of Georgia</a>.


feed_id: 9a0cbfcd510cc09fd6819e8a4b5da120
title: Republicrooks
uri: Republicrooks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#4_August_2019_%28Republicrooks%29
content:
<p>
20 Republicrook senators have asked the Treasury Department to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/07/30/led-ted-cruz-gop-senators-call-trump-bypass-congress-give-rich-americans-another-tax">change
a rule so as to cut taxes on capital gains</a>.
<p>
This would benefit billionaires enormously, middle-class people a
little, and poor people not at all.


feed_id: 91552226dbbe94cb87aff03a8bed0fd8
title: Urgent: Stop Walmart selling guns
uri: Urgent-Stop-Walmart-selling-guns
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_Walmart_selling_guns%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/walmart-stop-selling-guns?t=1001">call on Walmart</a> to stop selling guns.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: ce6be515c948633e20432d88cba2138d
title: Urgent: Join a climate strike action
uri: Urgent-Join-a-climate-strike-action
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Join_a_climate_strike_action%29

content:
<p>
In the US, on Sep 20, <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/us-climate-strikes?nowrapper=true&referrer=&source=">join a climate strike action</a>.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 7bdf1ecd36dbe3c823f34fa6dadd96b4
title: Urgent: Preventing nuclear war
uri: Urgent-Preventing-nuclear-war
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Preventing_nuclear_war%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13741">ask your senators and representative</a> to confirm they've
read Daniel Ellsberg's letter about preventing nuclear war.
<p>
To sign without running nonfree software <a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">use the Salsalabs workaround</a>.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: b009c40a5209ae7a681d9648175f198f
title: Released political prisoner Najah Yusuf
uri: Released-political-prisoner-Najah-Yusuf
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Released_political_prisoner_Najah_Yusuf%29

content:
<p>
Bahrain <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/10/bahrain-activist-jailed-for-criticising-grand-prix-released">released political prisoner Najah Yusuf</a>, who was imprisoned
specifically for criticizing the tyranny that rules Bahrain.
<p>
Bahrain crushed protests with the help of troops from other Arab countries and subsequently applied repression to the majority of Shi'a.


feed_id: 778a720e8c1f4fbc74f09194cf360b0f
title: The economy of Zimbabwe is collapsing
uri: The-economy-of-Zimbabwe-is-collapsing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28The_economy_of_Zimbabwe_is_collapsing%29

content:
<p>
The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/10/zimbabwe-emmerson-mnangagwa-battle-to-survive">economy of Zimbabwe is collapsing</a>. It seems to be partly the fault
of local corruption, and partly the fault of IMF-imposed policies to let
the poor starve.
<p>
The author thinks that allowing foreigners to own local businesses is
a change for the better; but that is a neoliberal policy which is
meant to enable foreigners to drain the country's money (instead of
the local elite which does so now). I would guess that was imposed by
the IMF. Does anyone know?
<p>
In the long run, if poor people keep increasing the population, they
are driving themselves into ever-deeper poverty.


feed_id: 8c7d645252113080f08192c3066f4d21
title: Amazon gives rewards to snitch whoever is suspicious
uri: Amazon-gives-rewards-to-snitch-whoever-is-suspicious
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Amazon_gives_rewards_to_snitch_whoever_is_suspicious%29

content:
<p>
Amazon has given people rewards for getting together to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ne8wqx/ring-told-people-to-snitch-on-their-neighbors-in-exchange-for-free-stuff">snitch on whoever
they think is &quot;suspicious&quot;</a>.


feed_id: aee122a6dcdc64b9de37cb384a264047
title: Election support systems
uri: Election-support-systems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Election_support_systems%29
content:
<p>
Election support systems are supposed to be <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3kxzk9/exclusive-critical-us-election-systems-have-been-left-exposed-online-despite-official-denials">kept off the internet as a security measure</a>, but at least 35 US localities disregarded that
precaution.


feed_id: 16897d4df54f4463e798df4eac0398b0
title: US summer camps
uri: US-summer-camps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28US_summer_camps%29
content:
<p>
Many US summer camps maintain parents' engagement with their web sites
by showing them lots of photos of their kids, <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Summer-camps-use-facial-recognition-so-parents-14291272.php">whom it identifies using
face recognition</a>.
<p>
With this goes a team of photographers to make sure that every
activity is monitored.


feed_id: d472870722cff1c0e28839285cad785a
title: Kashmir populace is ready to explode
uri: Kashmir-populace-is-ready-to-explode
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Kashmir_populace_is_ready_to_explode%29

content:
<p>
Journalists operating in Kashmir say that days of curfew have enraged
almost everyone in Kashmir, even people who were not separatists. The
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49294301">populace is ready to explode</a>.
<p>
People are running out of food. Sick people cannot get to the
hospital and some are surely dying. The BBC saw 10,000 people
protest; the Indian forces fired tear gas at them, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/10/kashmir-protests-india-curfew">because protest is forbidden</a>.


feed_id: ff1b9467ad8d249c609478ee6cb1a454
title: Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide
uri: Jeffrey-Epstein-committed-suicide
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Jeffrey_Epstein_committed_suicide%29

content:
<p>
Jeffrey Epstein appears to have committed suicide in his cell.
Or perhaps he was murdered &mdash; it is not unusual for prisoners to
murder prisoners <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/10/jeffrey-epstein-life-profile">accused of sexual crimes</a>.
<p>
Epstein was accused of trafficking: bringing people long distances on
false pretenses and then pressured them into sex or prostitution. He
also reportedly raped some of those people. I believe those
accusations, and I think he deserved to be imprisoned.
<p>
Some of his victims were legally adult. Some were teenage minors. I
don't think that makes any moral difference. I don't think rape is
less wrong if the victim is over 16.


feed_id: 79dfc1df19148e30af32318d906381d7
title: Millenial teaching their own parents to protect privacy
uri: Millenial-teaching-their-own-parents-to-protect-privacy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Millenial_teaching_their_own_parents_to_protect_privacy%29

content:
<p>
Millennial generation parents are <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/the-biggest-risk-to-your-childs-online-privacy-grandma">teaching their own parents to protect the
privacy of their young children</a>.
<p>
Alas, they are probably also <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#16_July_2019_(Teen_resentment_of_surveillance)">snooping on those same children
24 hours a day</a>.
<p>
But appreciation of any aspect of privacy
is a step forward.
<p>
The next step is to spread awareness of how companies and schools spy
on their children.


feed_id: 92fab936f60345b2b6dc675942360ba6
title: Federal law against domestic terrorism
uri: Federal-law-against-domestic-terrorism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Federal_law_against_domestic_terrorism%29

content:
<p>
Making a federal law against &quot;domestic terrorism&quot; is superfluous in
regard to real terrorists, but <a href="https://reason.com/2019/08/08/crimes-committed-by-domestic-terrorists-are-already-illegal-we-dont-need-another-federal-crime/">would endanger others who might be
falsely labeled as terrorists</a>.
<p>
This includes <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#22_November_2017_(Animal_rights_protests)">animal rights activists</a> who have already been labeled as
&quot;terrorists&quot;.
<p>
It might also lead to <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/08/el-paso-fbi-domestic-terrorism/">injustices against non-terrorist right-wingers</a>,
comparable to those that have been inflicted on US Muslims.
<p>
However, I tend to think that their political power will more or less
protect them from that.


feed_id: 226548fc348f3191e41867258230aef4
title: Plant researcher Lewis Ziska
uri: Plant-researcher-Lewis-Ziska
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Plant_researcher_Lewis_Ziska%29
content:
<p>
Plant researcher Lewis Ziska quit the Department of Agriculture in
<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/05/ziska-usda-climate-agriculture-trump-1445271">protest against its political censorship of scientific work</a> (especially, but not only, his own).
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a> fund propaganda campaigns to undermine respect for
science. Now they think they are in a position to kill off the
science. They have thrown out reference libraries, killed of repeated measurements so that there won't be a series of comparable measurements to study later, and now censoring scientific publication.
<p>
Remember how <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> denialists argued that past climate
measurements could not be analyzed over decades because they were not
all made the same way?
<p>
When there's a new system of measurement,
scientists must do careful work to correlate the old measuring system
with the new one, and even after they arrive at the best correlation,
it offers the denialists an avenue for injecting and magnifying doubt.
<p>
By killing off repeated measurements. the denialists hoped to create
another opportunity to do that in the future.


feed_id: 195c7661792eb54461e3baca8bc634ec
title: Honduran President Hernández's campaign
uri: Honduran-President-Hernández-s-campaign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Honduran_President_Hern%C3%83%C2%A1ndez%27s_campaign%29

content:
<p>
Honduran President Hernández's campaign has been accused in the US of
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/honduras-protesters-president-juan-orlando-hernandez-riot-police">taking money from drug dealing and using it for bribes</a>.
<p>
What we know for certain is that he is in office as a result of the coup that Clinton apparently approved when she was Secretary of State.
<p>
Ever since then, the government in Honduras has been plutocratist.


feed_id: bcb783140cfaedd358517c14d02723c4
title: Myth that a poor person can succeed on per own
uri: Myth-that-a-poor-person-can-succeed-on-per-own
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Myth_that_a_poor_person_can_succeed_on_per_own%29

content:
<p>
The American <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/08/myth-rugged-individual">myth that a poor person can succeed on per own</a> is used to distract poor people
from the collective actions that have a better chance of really helping them.
<p>
This situation exists because of the combination of low social
mobility and too little help for the poor. I think we should correct
both of those problems, but the second one is the more important one.


feed_id: 56d58d23a7af25361cad079ba7e8c3ff
title: Gun buyback programs
uri: Gun-buyback-programs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Gun_buyback_programs%29
content:
<p>
Some cities operate <a href=" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/08/el-paso-gun-buyback-control-rights">&quot;gun buyback&quot; programs</a>.
<p>
I think it makes sense to run a buyback program for guns that are
no longer available to buy. Under those circumstances it is a way
of reducing the number of such guns available to the public.


feed_id: 90e40bee854a7e604952b53ab0b68ac2
title: Facebook Reportedly in Talks
uri: Facebook-Reportedly-in-Talks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Facebook_Reportedly_in_Talks%29
content:
<p>
Facebook Reportedly in Talks with News Publishers to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/aug/08/facebook-news-tab-stories-industry-millions">Offer 'Millions'
for [the stories they publish]</a>.
<p>
This plan would help counteract the harm Facebook does to newspapers' finances;
but it would cenent and increase Facebook's power. Thus, overall it would make
the situation worse.
<p>
Please do not refer to publications as &quot;<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">content</a>&quot;. That adopts a point of view
which treats them as a fungible commodity.


feed_id: 5d8b544844f6a3b47dd67ada13598dcd
title: The bully above the country
uri: The-bully-above-the-country
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28The_bully_above_the_country%29
content:
<p>
The former acting chief of the FBI has sued, alleging that the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/08/andrew-mccabe-sues-fbi-deputy-doj-trump-wray-sessions">bully arranged
with Wray and Sessions to oust him and others</a> who did not put the bully
above the country.


feed_id: e70f4070dae8752d81505b909734b83d
title: Uber intentionally operated at a loss
uri: Uber-intentionally-operated-at-a-loss
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Uber_intentionally_operated_at_a_loss%29

content:
<p>
Uber has always intentionally operated at a loss. This enabled Uber
to undercut competition. However, lately it has been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/aug/08/uber-quarterly-earnings-loss-stocks-shares">losing more than
a billion dollars a month</a>.
<p>
This makes Uber vulnerable. Drive in the stake &mdash; cut off Uber now!


feed_id: ed13ff962abe0c2c521dfc8df586c15f
title: Global Heating
uri: 2019-08-11-Global-Heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Global_Heating%29
content:
<p>
Global heating has caused a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/05/toxic-caterpillars-spark-health-scare-across-germany">plague of oak processionary caterpillars</a>
in Germany.  They release tiny toxic hairs.
<p>
Large numbers of them might kill some oak trees, too.


feed_id: 0e6d5bdef3d9c5887897cf23b26392f9
title: Urgent: Oppose the Senate's anti-asylum bill
uri: Urgent-Oppose-the-Senate-s-anti-asylum-bill
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_the_Senate%27s_anti-asylum_bill%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/block-secure-protect-act?t=1001">call on Congress</a> to oppose the Senate's anti-asylum bill.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!
<p>
(satire) The Republican's backup plan to get rid of immigration is for
right-wing terrorism to make the US so dangerous that people will feel
safer in Guatemala.


feed_id: 0fc8482102938b27f2444932ade6403e
title: Urgent: Stop supporting white-nationalist
uri: Urgent-Stop-supporting-white-nationalist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_supporting_white-nationalist%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/Cancel_CarlsonandIngraham/?t=1003">call on Faux News</a> to stop supporting white-nationalist talking points.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: dc98adf895508dfd9a8e4aca2bc72177
title: Apple is putting DRM on batteries
uri: Apple-is-putting-DRM-on-batteries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Apple_is_putting_DRM_on_batteries%29

content:
<p>
Apple is <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/59nz3k/apple-is-locking-batteries-to-specific-iphones-a-nightmare-for-diy-repair">putting DRM on batteries</a>, and the system software turns off
certain features when batteries are replaced other than by Apple.


feed_id: f9962a605709ddeb371dff9647c8c1fe
title: Retire the word taxpayer
uri: Retire-the-word-taxpayer
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Retire_the_word_taxpayer%29
content:
<p>
Suggestion: avoid the word &quot;<a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/08/its-time-left-retire-word-taxpayer">taxpayers</a>&quot;.
<p>
It focuses attention on the part of the public that pays taxes
rather than on the whole public which <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/why-we-need-a-state.html">the state exists to serve</a>.


feed_id: 49d22082b7ab43719be777837fb86fda
title: Monsanto strategy to destroy reputation
uri: Monsanto-strategy-to-destroy-reputation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Monsanto_strategy_to_destroy_reputation%29

content:
<p>
Cary Gillam: &quot;I'm a journalist. Monsanto built a step-by-step <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/08/monsanto-roundup-journalist-documents">strategy to 
destroy my reputation</a>.&quot;


feed_id: f1cf12fac5e6539fe606715bccc81d08
title: Kashmir converted to a pair of territories
uri: Kashmir-converted-to-a-pair-of-territories
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Kashmir_converted_to_a_pair_of_territories%29

content:
<p>
India has converted Kashmir <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/09/kashmiris-will-erupt-fear-grips-region-as-indian-crackdown-bites">from a state to a pair of territories</a>.
<p>
This means less possibility of any kind of self-government.
<p>
India has blocked all communications and travel. If this continues,
people will have to rebel to survive. It is effectively military
occupation, even more strict than the occupation of Palestine.


feed_id: 95aaafcf1969583a9af1f9dbe961b463
title: Creative adventure playgrounds
uri: Creative-adventure-playgrounds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Creative_adventure_playgrounds%29
content:
<p>
The brief history of creative adventure playgrounds &mdash; before
obsessive <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/aug/09/ball-pits-water-slides-playground-design-eric-mcmillan-childrens-village-ontario-place-toronto">safety culture started crushing childhood</a>.


feed_id: db883af0bb391deb132d67004c84595d
title: Canada Prescription Drugs Price Cut
uri: Canada-Prescription-Drugs-Price-Cut
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Canada_Prescription_Drugs_Price_Cut%29

content:
<p>
Canada Announces Regulations to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/09/canada-prescription-drugs-cut-cost">Cut Price of Prescription Drugs</a>.
<p>
The prices are much lower in Canada than in the US because Canada
doesn't have the US laws that were <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-jan-apr.html#4_January_2018_(Urgent:_Drug_price_negotiation)">adopted to keep the prices high</a>.


feed_id: da693c5cf2fdd61d420bd262df2b7a52
title: Palestinian terror group Abu Nidal
uri: Palestinian-terror-group-Abu-Nidal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Palestinian_terror_group_Abu_Nidal%29

content:
<p>
After a deadly terrorist attack in France by Palestinian terror group
Abu Nidal, in 1982, France made a deal with the group: France would
not <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/09/we-made-a-deal-ex-french-spy-chief-admits-1983-pact-with-fatah-terrorists">hassle the group as long as it did not attack in France</a>.


feed_id: 77f279d8fc51ce12ff5587c42e878989
title: Avoid environmental disaster
uri: Avoid-environmental-disaster
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Avoid_environmental_disaster%29
content:
<p>
To avoid environmental disaster, we need to eliminate consumption
competitions and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/aug/09/scrap-the-catwalk-extinction-rebellion-is-right-london-fashion-week-is-unsustainable">consumption pressure &mdash; such as the &quot;fashion industry&quot;</a>.


feed_id: abb2243f8a6e44466d396786197fd02b
title: Moist towelettes
uri: 2019-08-11-Moist-towelettes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Moist_towelettes%29
content:
<p>
Wet wipes, aka moist towelettes, can't be broken down by sewage
treatment plants. When they get into a sewer, they give structure to
fatbergs and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/10/they-pick-up-excrement-and-ball-into-dark-nuggets-the-fatbergs-clogging-sydney-sewers">make them hard to break up</a>.
<p>
It is better to avoid these wipes. I never use them.
<p>
Four squares of two-ply toilet paper, folded four times and wetted, make
something that works to wash your behind with, and no plastic in it.


feed_id: 8cf1da600538064f8178643a36d78126
title: Biden attacked for verbal slip
uri: Biden-attacked-for-verbal-slip
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Biden_attacked_for_verbal_slip%29
content:
<p>
Biden is being attacked for a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/09/joe-biden-poor-kids-white-gaffe-iowa">minor verbal slip</a>.
<p>
He contrasted &quot;poor&quot; with &quot;white&quot;, when saying that children of both
groups have the same potential. Maybe he meant to condemn racial
discrimination, or maybe he meant to condemn economic discrimination,
but he got the two confused and ended up condemning a mixture of both.
<p>
Is that a bad thing? We know that the two discriminations often operate
in parallel.
<p>
I will not vote for Biden, but that's for reasons of substance: he
does not oppose the plutocracy which promotes racism and is makes
economic discrimination so bad.


feed_id: e97018ff578934cb36df22bd61b36964
title: Jimmy Aldaoud
uri: Jimmy-Aldaoud
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Jimmy_Aldaoud%29
content:
<p>
Jimmy Aldaoud had never been in Iraq, and knew no one in Iraq, but he
was an Iraqi citizen. So the <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/08/ice-deportation-iraq-jimmy-aldaoud/">US deported him there</a>, where he
predictably became homeless, and predictably died from lack of
insulin just two months later.
<p>
The US targeted refugees associated with Iraq, including Aldaoud, as
part of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>'s &quot;Muslim ban&quot;. Ironically, Aldaoud was a
Christian, but that didn't save him.


feed_id: 02d6c1b7f2480a446fd6de912a9c2316
title: Microsoft Contractors Listening Skype Calls
uri: Microsoft-Contractors-Listening-Skype-Calls
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Microsoft_Contractors_Listening_Skype_Calls%29

content:
<p>
Microsoft Contractors Are <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xweqbq/microsoft-contractors-listen-to-skype-calls">Listening to Some Skype Calls</a>.


feed_id: d03e9f4d1abba4efd87878e3ca1da372
title: iPhone was reportedly growing paranoid
uri: iPhone-was-reportedly-growing-paranoid
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28iPhone_was_reportedly_growing_paranoid%29

content:
<p>
(satire) a local iPhone was reportedly growing
paranoid Wednesday that its owner knew <a href=" https://local.theonion.com/iphone-paranoid-owner-knows-it-working-with-fbi-1837027840">it was working with the FBI</a>.
<p>
(<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#10_June_2013_(PRISM)">Every one of them does that, if the FBI wishes</a>.)


feed_id: 291411be13b673bea258220f358d3619
title: Felony murder rule
uri: Felony-murder-rule
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Felony_murder_rule%29
content:
<p>
The felony murder rule punishes criminals for murder when killings
happen <a href="https://reason.com/2019/08/07/police-shot-her-boyfriend-during-a-robbery-she-was-charged-with-his-murder">incidentally in a crime they participated in, even slightly</a>.
<p>
It is evidently unjust, and when the state presents it as justice,
it distorts the basic idea of justice.
<p>
The mention of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holle">Ryan Holle</a> in the article is somewhat misleading. He was aware that his roommate wanted the car that day for a robbery.
<p>
It would have been just to prosecute him as an accessory to robbery.
<p>
It is clear on the general principles of penology why this bonus
punishment does nothing to deter other crimes: the situation is so
unlikely to arise (when people carry out some other crime) that it is
effectively a freak accident. It won't affect the mental calculations
of anyone planning a robbery.
<p>
Making freak accidents worse is not a service to the public.


feed_id: 5f2e48005ac937098d7893c3bfdb1a98
title: Bribing AT&T employees to unlock phones
uri: Bribing-AT-T-employees-to-unlock-phones
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Bribing_AT%2526T_employees_to_unlock_phones%29

content:
<p>
Someone is being prosecuted for <a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/at-t-employees-took-bribes-to-plant-malware-on-the-companys-network/">bribing AT&T employees to unlock phones</a>,
and later to plant spyware in AT&T's systems.
<p>
Planting spyware should be a crime &mdash; too bad they don't prosecute companies
for making <a href="https://gnu.org/malware/proprietary-surveillance.html">software that spies on users</a> but there is nothing wrong about unlocking phones, because it is an 
injustice to lock them in the first place.
<p>
Selling locked phones is an example of the &quot;suffer injustice now, pay later&quot;
business model that is a major factor in sucking freedom out of life.


feed_id: 1a17ccdc0edda88692a1493b0275e750
title: Anti-vaxxer FUD
uri: Anti-vaxxer-FUD
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Anti-vaxxer_FUD%29
content:
<p>
Developing methods to guide parents away from <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2019/08/05/the-vaccine-whisperers-counselors-gently-engage-new-parents-before-their-doubts-harden-into-certainty/">anti-vaxxer FUD</a>.


feed_id: 73359e9fce17d764613639f6a13a2484
title: Private medical insurance in the US
uri: Private-medical-insurance-in-the-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Private_medical_insurance_in_the_US%29

content:
<p>
Private medical insurance in the US is a <a href="https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-08-05/health-insurance-useless">totally lousy system</a>.
<p>
Medicare for All means getting rid of it entirely &mdash; and good riddance!


feed_id: 133febf2d579dc5db13e4be1f083347c
title: Adversarial interoperability
uri: Adversarial-interoperability
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Adversarial_interoperability%29
content:
<p>
&quot;Adversarial interoperability&quot; led to useful competition among many
manufacturers of PCs. Various bad US laws have created obstacles
which <a href="https://boingboing.net/2019/08/05/ibm-pc-compatible-how-adv.html">contribute to today's systems as prisons</a>.


feed_id: 5e524c6be73550dc2865a3283ede7246
title: Investing a lump sum
uri: Investing-a-lump-sum
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Investing_a_lump_sum%29
content:
<p>
Businesses are working hard to convince workers (and retired workers)
to bet that they will do better at <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/07/bolstering-call-expand-social-security-new-reporting-reveals-how-corporations-are">investing a lump sum than their pensions</a> will do. It's a sucker's bet.


feed_id: 494588fad68075e3a693b0b909b3c180
title: Mitch McConnell
uri: Mitch-McConnell
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Mitch_McConnell%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Mitch McConnell Wonders If He <a href="https://politics.theonion.com/mitch-mcconnell-wonders-if-he-could-ve-done-more-to-har-1837034587">Could’ve Done More To Harm People In
Private Sector</a>.


feed_id: 559a19c1485495888de0067f0b4d7cc7
title: Israeli soldier was stabbed
uri: Israeli-soldier-was-stabbed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Israeli_soldier_was_stabbed%29
content:
<p>
An <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/08/manhunt-after-israeli-soldier-stabbed-to-death-in-west-bank">Israeli soldier was stabbed and killed</a> in the occupied West Bank
(part of Palestine). Israelis presume it was done by a Palestinian.
<p> 
Suppose that was so. If the killing was done for a personal motive,
then it was murder. If it was done as an act of resistance to
occupation, it was war. In neither case does it qualify as
&quot;terrorism&quot;, because terrorism means making war on civilians.
<p>
If Palestinians attack Israeli noncombattant civilians, that is
terrorism. If Israelis attack Palestinian noncombattant civilians,
that too is terrorism.


feed_id: 6d14ad3278eaba19cc1cbf6f31900e7f
title: Climate Crisis Reducing Land's Ability to Sustain Humanity
uri: Climate-Crisis-Reducing-Land-s-Ability-to-Sustain-Humanity
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Climate_Crisis_Reducing_Land%27s_Ability_to_Sustain_Humanity%29

content:
<p>
Climate Crisis <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/08/climate-crisis-reducing-lands-ability-to-sustain-humanity-says-ipcc">Reducing Land's Ability to Sustain Humanity</a>, Says IPCC.
<p>
The article mentions population growth as one of the causes of this
problem.
<p>
Agriculture produces almost 1/4 of the world's greenhouse gas
emissions. Considering also the long-term effect on ecosystems shows
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/08/ipcc-land-climate-report-carbon-cost-meat-dairy">farming to be even more destructive</a>.


feed_id: 86129870aafd402eb506801658b761cf
title: Big Pharma’s Trail of Greed
uri: Big-Pharma-s-Trail-of-Greed
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Big_Pharma%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s_Trail_of_Greed%29

content:
<p>
Ralph Nader: Message to Congress: <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/07/message-congress-big-pharmas-trail-greed-power-and-cruelty-must-be-stopped">Big Pharma’s Trail of Greed</a>,
Power, and Cruelty Must Be Stopped.


feed_id: b0ab646032949224eb4bb8d174759816
title: Hong Kong thugs arrested a protester
uri: Hong-Kong-thugs-arrested-a-protester
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Hong_Kong_thugs_arrested_a_protester%29

content:
<p>
Hong Kong thugs arrested a protester <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/08/no-tears-no-blood-hongkongers-stage-huge-laser-show-to-protest-police-arrests">for carrying a laser pointer</a>,
so others held a laser-display protest.


feed_id: 931e2d09a52fe7ed1fb3c0573df73771
title: Impeachment designed presidents like the bullshitter
uri: Impeachment-designed-presidents-like-the-bullshitter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Impeachment_designed_presidents_like_the_bullshitter%29

content:
<p>
Impeachment was designed for <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/07/impeachment-designed-presidents-trump">presidents like the bullshitter</a>.
<p>
Alas, it was designed for a country without political parties, one in
which almost everyone in Congress would want to kick out a president
that is a slimeball.


feed_id: 9edc3f1f2aa173601921a7082a27d2a4
title: Coal miners in Kentucky
uri: Coal-miners-in-Kentucky
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Coal_miners_in_Kentucky%29
content:
<p>
Coal miners in Kentucky are blocking a coal train because the mine <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/07/kentucky-miners-are-blocking-coal-train-back-pay-we-talked-one-about-just">declared
bankruptcy and is cheating required workers</a>.
<p>
I am in favor of smoothing the transition to renewable energy.
<p>
However, survival of civilization requires cutting off coal mining,
and soon. Whatever suffering this causes to the discharged workers,
that will be much less than the suffering continued extraction would cause.
<p>
The sooner we do it, the more resources will be available to help the
ex-miners.
<p>
We could give all the ex-miners what they deserve, if we can tax the
rich. But we have to stop the mining whether we can tax the rich or
not. At the point of desperation, it is better to save some than save
none.


feed_id: 9517f20215426a8a8883481974ac848f
title: Save old footpaths in the UK
uri: Save-old-footpaths-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Save_old_footpaths_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
About the campaign to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/07/ramble-on-the-fight-to-save-forgotten-footpaths">save old footpaths in the UK</a>, which are in
danger of being legalloy eliminated if they are not redocumented by
2026.


feed_id: 28aa13a894a33f683af506de28e95ce1
title: Officials resigning from the US State Department
uri: Officials-resigning-from-the-US-State-Department
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Officials_resigning_from_the_US_State_Department%29

content:
<p>
Several officials have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/08/us-state-departments-top-official-for-latin-america-resigns">resigned from the US State Department</a> for reasons
of conscience.


feed_id: 7c468876fdabc863129b8903a9702f25
title: Israeli soldiers use teargas canisters as deadly weapons
uri: Israeli-soldiers-use-teargas-canisters-as-deadly-weapons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Israeli_soldiers_use_teargas_canisters_as_deadly_weapons%29

content:
<p>
B'tselem: Israeli soldiers use teargas canisters as <a href=" https://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20190806_security_forces_make_deadly_use_of_crowd_control_weapons">deadly weapons
by firing at people's heads</a>.
<p>
Israeli orders say soldiers should not fire them even near to human
beings. The soldiers who do this are evidently hoping to kill someone.
<p>
This practice is not limited to Israelis. <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">Thugs</a> in Portland, Oregon,
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_(Michelle_Fawcett)">did something similar</a>.


feed_id: 2a767eced74d7d63817430cb43704bf2
title: Reject the EPA's new excuse
uri: Reject-the-EPA-s-new-excuse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Reject_the_EPA%27s_new_excuse%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/open-responsive-government-act-2019_chv/">call on Congress</a> to reject the EPA's new excuse to conceal information about pollution.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 433aeb77e99cf309beba44abf71c1d70
title: Employer-Based Health Insurance
uri: Employer-Based-Health-Insurance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Employer-Based_Health_Insurance%29
content:
<p>
Take Away My <a href=" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/06/take-away-my-employer-based-health-insurance-please">Employer-Based Health Insurance</a>. Please.


feed_id: db22df3c01e3d83939d14aab1ad56d16
title: The New York Times morning’s front page
uri: The-New-York-Times-morning-s-front-page
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28The_New_York_Times_morning%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s_front_page%29

content:
<p>
(satire) The New York Times announced Tuesday that it had amended a
headline from the morning’s front page reading <a href="https://www.theonion.com/new-york-times-amends-recent-hero-trump-disarms-woul-1837003333">&quot;Hero Trump Disarms
Would-Be Shooter&quot;</a>. &quot;The original headline did not live up to our
standards of objectivity&hellip;&quot;
<p>
(auto-satire) [The bullshitter] Praises New York Times
Headline That <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/07/trump-praises-new-york-times-headline-that-sparked-uproar-after-shootings">Sparked Uproar after Shootings</a>.


feed_id: 2465915fa4977e419ccd130039a16602
title: Israel's annexation wall
uri: 2019-08-11-Israel-s-annexation-wall
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Israel%27s_annexation_wall%29
content:
<p>
Israel sited the annexation wall as close as possible to Palestinian
buildings. Now it says that the Palestinian buildings the wall runs
close to are a security threat and <a href=" https://fmep.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/no-construction-order.pdf">use that as an excuse to demolish them</a>.


feed_id: fdf21bd993e801d3d48bca8173917cd6
title: Customary congressional visits to Israel
uri: Customary-congressional-visits-to-Israel
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28CUstomary_congressional_visits_to_Israel%29

content:
<p>
Representatives Tlaib and Omar are organizing a congressional visit to
Palestine to counteract the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/squad-occupied-palestine-190731123054231.html">customary congressional visits to Israel</a>.
<p>
The visitors will get a chance to see what life is like under occupation.


feed_id: 9dc34565ac676e41e0ea52bc53622323
title: Israeli thugs interrogation
uri: Israeli-thugs-interrogation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Israeli_thugs_interrogation%29
content:
<p>
Israeli thugs interrogate <a href="https://imemc.org/article/second-child-in-less-than-24-hours-summoned-for-interrogation">young Palestinian children</a>, age 4 and 6.
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> could pressure and intimidate them into saying almost
anything the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> wish.


feed_id: 47e4ef412365cc41c9383040dd7a7429
title: California's coasts erosion
uri: California-s-coasts-erosion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28California%27s_coasts_erosion%29
content:
<p>
California's coasts have been eroding for a long time, but sea-level
rise and stronger storms, both due to global heating, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/06/california-collapsing-beach-deaths-highlight-climate-fueled-erosion-crisis">are accelerating
the erosion</a>.


feed_id: 5eba15843a3aeba46ee8bda7ba208e26
title: Hong Kong's lawyers
uri: Hong-Kong-s-lawyers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Hong_Kong%27s_lawyers%29
content:
<p>
Hong Kong's lawyers (3,000 of them) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/hong-kongs-lawyers-march-against-political-prosecutions">protested &quot;political prosecutions&quot;</a>.


feed_id: c5ad5967b7750cbe6be239185596a464
title: UK is repressing protests by disabled people
uri: UK-is-repressing-protests-by-disabled-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28UK_is_repressing_protests_by_disabled_people%29

content:
<p>
The UK is repressing protests by disabled people by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/07/innocent-people-caught-up-in-uk-welfare-state-surveillance-system">reporting them for
the welfare payments bureau</a>, which then treats presumes them guilty of
cheating.


feed_id: fd0d15b06f90255fda51e4b95677f28c
title: Officials from El Paso
uri: Officials-from-El-Paso
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Officials_from_El_Paso%29
content:
<p>
Officials from El Paso told the racist <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> to stay away; the mayor of Dayton encouraged the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/06/trump-el-paso-dayton-visit-protest">city's residents to protest when he comes</a>.


feed_id: 537f177cae5d902f120bbf5a38b67fe5
title: EU countries proposing to register for trains
uri: EU-countries-proposing-to-register-for-trains
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28EU_countries_proposing_to_register_for_trains%29

content:
<p>
EU countries are proposing to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/eu-may-expand-collection-of-air-passenger-data-to-rail-and-road-users">make people register for trains</a>
as they must for flights.
<p>
Please, EU citizens, organize to fight this. At very least, phone or
send small mail to your MEP.


feed_id: 8691877eda3e3b88f691d2e4563d093e
title: Tropical prawns
uri: Tropical-prawns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Tropical_prawns%29
content:
<p>
Tropical prawns can be farmed on land <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/07/farmer-produces-ethical-king-prawns-in-a-lincolnshire-field">even in temperate-zone countries</a>.
<p>
This farm is surely better than getting prawns from Asia, but I can
think of two sustainability questions not addressed in the article.


feed_id: 48c6e4bba6d1083ef434bf3aa2b8df0a
title: Lonely millenials
uri: Lonely-millenials
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Lonely_millenials%29
content:
<p>
Are millenials lonely because society in general <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/why-are-thirtysomethings-lonely-because-society-doesnt-value-friendship">doesn't value
friendship enough?</a>


feed_id: 164f4047b1ff35ab1882dfeb1529c72b
title: Bully racist's followers
uri: Bully-racist-s-followers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Bully_racist%27s_followers%29
content:
<p>
&quot;Hatriots&quot; &mdash; a funny word to describe <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/theres-an-old-word-for-trumps-brand-of-nationalism-hatriotism">the bully and his racist followers</a>.


feed_id: 51d33835c4591f82d0c0c8cb00751abb
title: Toxicity of the environment for all insects
uri: Toxicity-of-the-environment-for-all-insects
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Toxicity_of_the_environment_for_all_insects%29

content:
<p>
We could lose most insect species by the end of the century, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/americas-dependence-on-pesticides-especially-neonics-is-a-war-on-nature">because
neonicotinoids are killing them</a>.
<p>
Each year the US uses them, they build up in he soil in greater
concentration, increasing the toxicity of the environment for all
kinds of insects. There is no way to remove neonicotinoids from the
soil. Today they are found only in some areas, but over time they
may spread everywhere.
<p>
We need to stop adding more of them before it is too late.


feed_id: 24ee9bf9a1c6e5a3591507f5c0992bcc
title: Extinction Rebellion protester
uri: Extinction-Rebellion-protester
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Extinction_Rebellion_protester%29
content:
<p>
Steve Melia, Extinction Rebellion protester <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/climate-change-extinction-rebellion-london-protest-arrested">convicted in the UK of making
an annoying protest</a>, calls for action.


feed_id: 6840fea637cc1d52e3086609dd83eb4e
title: US and Rojava peace deal
uri: US-and-Rojava-peace-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28US_and_Rojava_peace_deal%29
content:
<p>
Turkey, the US and Rojava have made a sort of peace deal including a plan
for a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/syria-turkey-and-us-reach-deal-to-manage-tensions-over-kurds">buffer zone of some kind between them</a>.


feed_id: 8da42fb8c7ca72c17deb194a49ad19bf
title: Luxembourg plans to legalize marijuana
uri: Luxembourg-plans-to-legalize-marijuana
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Luxembourg_plans_to_legalize_marijuana%29

content:
<p>
Luxembourg plans to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/luxembourg-to-be-first-european-country-to-legalise-cannabis">legalize marijuana</a>.


feed_id: 57be3000d858f2a3dce19af799f25734
title: Boston thugs threw wheelchairs into crusher truck
uri: Boston-thugs-threw-wheelchairs-into-crusher-truck
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Boston_thugs_threw_wheelchairs_into_crusher_truck%29

content:
<p>
Boston <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> picked a few disabled homeless people, stole their
wheelchairs and their other meager belongings, then <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/07/heartbreaking-scene-boston-streets-police-destroy-wheelchairs-belonging-homeless">threw it
immediately into a garbage crusher truck</a>. This was to make sure that
their cruelty could not be reversed.
<p>
Nothing delights a sadist like the chance to hurt someone who is
totally helpless.


feed_id: 1efead1b8d9807147b08a2edcd4ceee2
title: The developing global disaster
uri: The-developing-global-disaster
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28The_developing_global_disaster%29
content:
<p>
The climate researcher's grief &mdash; and rage &mdash; on seeing 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/05/terrible-truth-climate-change">the
developing global disaster</a> that it is still barely possible to
avoid.
<p>
The rate of melting of Greenland <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/05/greenlands-ice-wasnt-supposed-melt-last-week-until-2070">last week reached a level that was 
forecast to occur only in 2070</a>.


feed_id: 45cdd91230726c276a2aeacc7970028b
title: Military spending reduces employment
uri: Military-spending-reduces-employment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Military_spending_reduces_employment%29

content:
<p>
Wasteful military spending in the US is justified in the name of
"creating jobs", but it doesn't even do that.  The main military
contractors have 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/05/more-money-fewer-jobs-stubborn-truth-about-employment-and-defense-industry">reduced their US employment 
even as they have received more money</a>.
<p>
Aside from being counter to fact, the argument is fundamentally
misguided, because it would justify spending government money on
anything whatsoever that involves paying workers.  How about building
a pipeline to pipe water across Manhattan from the East River to the
Hudson River?  How about hiring a thousand workers to manually power
the pumps?
<p>
Creating jobs can be one of the valid reasons for the state to hire
people, but let's put them on a job that will produce useful results
as well.


feed_id: 674cb08a4b89856fc41c62aa7d70dfa7
title: Histories of mass shooting perpetrators
uri: Histories-of-mass-shooting-perpetrators
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Histories_of_mass_shooting_perpetrators%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/05/we-have-studied-every-mass-shooting-1966-heres-what-weve-learned-about-shooters">Lessons
learned</a> by studying the histories of many perpetrators of mass
shootings.
<p>
They made a possibly unwitting bad side point by referring to
publications as <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Content">"content"</a>
and reading/watching them as <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Consume">
&quot;consuming&quot;</a>.
<p>
Their avoidance recommendation applies only to violent &quot;content&qout;, but
that implicitly applies &quot;content&quot; to <em>all</em> publications,
including their own article.


feed_id: b6740000a314cbaa7daf0c00ab118b53
title: Whistleblower pleads guilty
uri: Whistleblower-pleads-guilty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Whistleblower_pleads_guilty%29
content:
<p>
The whistleblower that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/06/witness-k-to-plead-guilty-in-timor-leste-spying-case-but-lawyer-to-fight-charges">revealed Australia was spying 
on East Timor's negotiators</a> has pled guilty.
<p>
It seems that the the whistleblower's name has been concealed.


feed_id: fda75c5c58de933252286d9e9eb1e3b3
title: North Korea
uri: 2019-08-11-North-Korea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28North_Korea%29
content:
<p>
It looked like the bullshitter might have achieved a move towards
peace with North Korea, by deciding to drop the impossible demand that
North Korea get rid of nuclear weapons.  But this turns out to have
been a mirage.  North Korea is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/06/north-korea-fires-more-projectiles-threatens-to-take-new-road">taking its traditional 
belligerent attitude again</a> in response to US-South Korean war games.
<p>
It looks like the bullshitter's weakness of character led Dictator Kim
to think of pushing him around with bluster.


feed_id: 9afc30ed3c141cd87fa35a3810abc90c
title: Michelle Fawcett
uri: Michelle-Fawcett
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Michelle_Fawcett%29
content:
<p>
When Portland <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> attacked the antifascist counterprotesters a year
ago, a <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/05/portland-police-protests-woman-claims-disfigured">fired a flash bang grenade straight at Michelle Fawcett</a>, who was just
standing around.  It exploded on her arm, scarring her and causing
nerve damage that may never heal.


feed_id: 9b0ea372e653534ba30243f3c46c94f2
title: Negotiation with Iran
uri: Negotiation-with-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#8_August_2019_%28Negotiation_with_Iran%29
content:
<p>
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, says he was invited for
White House talks and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/05/iran-sanctioned-after-foreign-minister-declined-trumps-chat-invitation">threatened with sanctions if he did not attend</a>.
<p>
What a cloddish way to make an overture for negotiation.


feed_id: e73d318dc45ea4257dd75340de1fa341
title: Forced labor in Eritrea
uri: Forced-labor-in-Eritrea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#12_August_2019_%28Forced_labor_in_Eritrea%29
content:
<p>
An estimated 
<a href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/08/08/they-are-making-us-slaves-not-educating-us/how-indefinite-conscription-restricts">10%
of the population of Eritrea has fled the country</a> to escape from
forced labor, which can continue for any number of years.


feed_id: 5d6d8ad940ceb9d844c1ef78820afbc1
title: March for free elections in Moscow
uri: March-for-free-elections-in-Moscow
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28March_for_free_elections_in_Moscow%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/10/thousands-march-in-moscow-disqualification-city-elections">50,000
people marched in Moscow</a> for free elections for the city
government.


feed_id: 517d5d3051ca6b584d0090ec7134f32e
title: Loss of Joshua tree habitat
uri: Loss-of-Joshua-tree-habitat
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Loss_of_Joshua_tree_habitat%29
content:
<p>
"Even with major efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/10/joshua-tree-extinct-mojave-desert-climate-change'>80%
of the [Joshua] trees’ habitat</a> will be whittled away by the end of
the century."
<p>
A species confined to a small territory is vulnerable to any sort of
local accident.  If the Joshua trees become extinct, the other species
that depend on them will be extinct too.


feed_id: cdfcc2208eda40aa0765751158479ae6
title: Tory cruelty
uri: Tory-cruelty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Tory_cruelty%29
content:
<p>
The UK continues the Tory cruelty of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2019/aug/09/we-should-be-scared-about-how-horror-stories-of-austerity-will-end">making
disabled people destitute if they miss a welfare appointment</a>
(because, for instance, of being in the hospital).


feed_id: e3e2b4228a097e2dd4cea1c4fc0986bb
title: Monsanto's manipulation
uri: Monsanto-s-manipulation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Monsantos_manipulation%29
content:
<p>
Monsanto 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/08/critics-say-monsantos-spying-and-intimidation-operation-show-why-biotech-giant-needs">Manipulates
Science to Make Roundup Appear Safe</a>.
<p>
"Attorneys have cited 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/oct/07/monsanto-trial-cancer-appeal-glyphosate-chemical'>internal
Monsanto records</a> that they say demonstrate how the company has
manipulated and corrupted the scientific record with respect to the
herbicide’s safety."


feed_id: 9ebcbb9f52116861103339aab26ace29
title: Increase in use of oil slowed
uri: Increase-in-use-of-oil-slowed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Increase_in_use_of_oil_slowed%29
content:
<p>
The US-China trade war has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/09/oil-demand-growth-almost-halves-amid-fears-of-economic-slowdown">slowed
the increase in use of oil</a>.
<p>
That's good, but not enough.  We need to reduce world oil use, not
just slow its increase.


feed_id: 08f8cd65be86e6bf4135ae2fa142b191
title: Marine heatwaves
uri: Marine-heatwaves
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Marine_heatwaves%29
content:
<p>
Marine heatwaves kill coral instantly &mdash; and it is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/09/example-unknown-unknowns-study-detailing-almost-instant-mortality-corals-suggests">already
happening in tropical reefs</a>.
<p>
The death of the coral animals doesn't just leave the reef static.
The exoskeletons that make up the reef degrade.  Many marine species
could go extinct as a result.  And half a billion people could starve.


feed_id: 4c3a88cbbcb3e651d7d88ed5c95c1813
title: DNC proposes no debate about climate
uri: DNC-proposes-no-debate-about-climate
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28DNC_proposes_no_debate_about_climate%29

content:
<p>
Perez, head of the Democratic National Committee, has 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/09/unacceptable-tom-perez-dnc-accused-trying-stifle-climate-debate-2020-dems">proposed
a vague resolution</a> calling for climate defense action &mdash;
instead of a candidates' debate about climate.


feed_id: 6ed75e6fa80f7ed679de0ad54a39ccaf
title: 3-cup bra
uri: 3-cup-bra
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%283-cup_bra%29
content:
<p>
(satire) critics unanimously 
<a href="https://www.theonion.com/victoria-s-secret-accused-of-promoting-unattainable-bea-1837095021">accused
lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret of promoting unattainable beauty
standards</a> Friday with the release of their new 3-cup bra.


feed_id: 2cf074645b3908fe56c851f352f0e500
title: China's big banks
uri: China-s-big-banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Chinas_big_banks%29
content:
<p>
Because China's big banks are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/09/neoliberalism-has-met-its-match-china">mostly
government-owned</a>, they cannot collapse, and the state doesn't let
them shut down a company that is useful to society.


feed_id: ff87ef19ee00ea4ae0d0ec61c763d35f
title: Israel confiscates hiking boots
uri: Israel-confiscates-hiking-boots
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Israel_confiscates_hiking_boots%29

content:
<p>
Israel 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2019/08/07/banning-terrorist-boots-what-occupation-looks">confiscated
a shipment of hiking boots to Palestine</a>, saying that they were
"hidden in a shipment of civilian goods".
<p>
Hikers need pants, too, but don't tell the Israeli government that.


feed_id: 476f5c685f3ad3f4a8a1377aa3ddbfd5
title: SWAT team shoots 12-year-old
uri: SWAT-team-shoots-12-year-old
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28SWAT_team_shoots_12-year-old%29
content:
<p>
A SWAT team <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> shot 12-year-old Amir Worship 
<a href="https://reason.com/2019/08/09/lawsuit-swat-team-shot-12-year-old-in-kneecap-during-raid/">as
he was sitting on the bed with his hands up</a>.  He will never be
able to walk normally again.


feed_id: f7cd44c142d9aa03bb64dfa556a0b0a3
title: Campaign funds from big banks
uri: Campaign-funds-from-big-banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Campaign_funds_from_big_banks%29
content:
<p>
Plutocratist Democrats in Congress want Rep. Maxine Waters to squeeze
campaign funds out of big banks and share it with them, but she
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/09/house-finance-chair-maxine-waters-wins-praise-prioritizing-public-policy-over">decided
to champion their customers' rights</a> instead.


feed_id: 581c2f6d6b733daf28c976eb3b5acbda
title: New Machu Picchu Airport
uri: New-Machu-Picchu-Airport
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28New_Machu_Picchu_Airport%29
content:
<p>
Unesco Demands Answers from Peru over 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/aug/09/machu-picchu-airport-unesco-demands-answers-from-peru-government">Impact
of New Machu Picchu Airport</a>.
<p>
People often wonder why thee are two c's in "Picchu".  It's because
the first c is pronounced separately.  In Quechua, at least in that
area, a c at the end of a syllable stands for the Spanish j sound.  So
if it were written using Spanish orthography, it would be "Pijchu."


feed_id: 0e23a0601892b92200507dfcb6e8e514
title: For-profit prisons
uri: 2019-08-12-For-profit-prisons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28For-profit_prisons%29
content:
<p>
Democratic Socialist Lawmaker Persuades Fellow Denver City Council
Members to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/08/democratic-socialist-lawmaker-persuades-fellow-denver-city-council-members-end">End
Contracts With For-Profit Prison Operators</a>.


feed_id: 1b2b7226e93024450b82c6c33b7b24d0
title: Branding for infants
uri: Branding-for-infants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Branding_for_infants%29
content:
<p>
(satire) infant-mobility giant Graco issued a recall of several
stroller models Thursday after 
<a href="https://www.theonion.com/stroller-recalled-after-manufacturer-discovers-branding-1837060851">discovering
that the company’s branding was not visible enough</a>.
<p>
Viewing logos from the earliest age is now considered crucial for
babies' mental development.


feed_id: 9e026c7a3afaf7aceac79a03c9e6cde9
title: Cars with cellular data connections
uri: Cars-with-cellular-data-connections
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Cars_with_cellular_data_connections%29

content:
<p>
Cars nowadays send lots of data to the manufacturer through a cellular
data connection.  A proposal in Massachusetts would require
manufacturers to give users access to that data &mdash; 
<a href="https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2019/08/06/right-to-repair-ballot-measure">through
a nonfree app</a>.
<p>
Yuck!  This is oppressive practice of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#internetofstings">Internet of Stings</a>: 
<a href="https://gnu.org/malware/proprietary-tethers.html">making you
communicate with the products you own via the manufacturer's
server</a>.
<p>
The cellular data connection enables the phone network to track the
car's movements, but it wouldn't surprise me if the data includes GPS
location.  (Does anyone know for a fact?)
<p>
The right thing to require is that the car offer a data-only
interface, such as a slot to put a memory chip into and the car will
write the data on it.  This way you could show that data to an
independent repair shop when you want to, even though you disconnected
the cellular data antenna and the GPS antenna just after you bought
the car.


feed_id: 1ade45bca5221d6d4116f4e1a99e16d9
title: Ecological-social curriculum
uri: Ecological-social-curriculum
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Ecological-social_curriculum%29
content:
<p>
Proposing an ecological-social curriculum 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/07/green-new-deal-and-our-schools">to
complement the Green New Deal</a>.
<p>
Extending the same ideas into computing, it incorporates the free
software movement.


feed_id: 675eb7fa7688baaeba64e2e2b3cb13a6
title: Transgender student rights
uri: Transgender-student-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Transgender_student_rights%29
content:
<p>
A US judge ruled that transgender students have the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/aug/09/gavin-grimm-trans-bathroom-bill-judge-rules">right
to use the toilets corresponding to their gender identities</a>.
<p>
This decision is only tentative, since the appeal is likely to go up
to the Supreme Court, which is dominated by right-wingers.


feed_id: eaf48cbb7e25a861007fdaea2960dc75
title: Tesla force-installed software
uri: Tesla-force-installed-software
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#11_August_2019_%28Tesla_force-installed_software%29
content:
<p>
Tesla users claim Tesla force-installed software to 
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-battery/tesla-owner-lawsuit-claims-software-update-fraudulently-cut-battery-capacity-idUSKCN1UY2TW">cut
down on battery range, rather than replace the batteries</a>.


feed_id: 3cc490010c94773084011a25fcc82eec
title: Facebook Reportedly in Talks
uri: 2019-08-12-Facebook-Reportedly-in-Talks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#10_August_2019_%28Facebook_Reportedly_in_Talks%29
content:
<p>
Facebook Reportedly in Talks with News Publishers to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/aug/08/facebook-news-tab-stories-industry-millions">Offer 'Millions'
for [the stories they publish]</a>.
<p>
This plan would help counteract the harm Facebook does to newspapers' finances;
but it would cement and increase Facebook's power. Thus, overall it would make
the situation worse.
<p>
Please do not refer to publications as &quot;<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">content</a>&quot;. That adopts a point of view
which treats them as a fungible commodity.


feed_id: 8cf390f47eebf85f69949c8f1dcac706
title: Save old footpaths in the UK
uri: 2019-08-12-Save-old-footpaths-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#9_August_2019_%28Save_old_footpaths_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
About the campaign to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/07/ramble-on-the-fight-to-save-forgotten-footpaths">save old footpaths in the UK</a>, which are in
danger of being legally eliminated if they are not redocumented by
2026.


feed_id: 5b8dd7d850bd106f2bf1bc446f041d35
title: The bully's rejection letter from the KKK
uri: The-bully-s-rejection-letter-from-the-KKK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28The_bully%27s_rejection_letter_from_the_KKK%29

content:
<p>
(satire) The bully shows <a href="https://babylonbee.com/news/trump-proves-hes-not-a-racist-by-showing-his-rejection-letter-from-the-kkk/">his rejection letter from the KKK to prove
he is not a racist</a>.
<p>
I can't tell whether the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> is really racist, or cynically faking
it for the sake of political manipulation. Perhaps he is doing both
at once. I don't think it makes much of a moral difference, though.


feed_id: b7b654cfd3eaca5c60e0bab22fc6f203
title: Determine whether a driver is high on marijuana
uri: Determine-whether-a-driver-is-high-on-marijuana
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28Determine_whether_a_driver_is_high_on_marijuana%29

content:
<p>
Massachusetts Governor Baker wants to use an <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/marijuana/2019/08/09/baker-plan-catch-stoned-drivers-risks-punishing-innocent-people-critics-say/i6jcjfQvBlUzzLJeI8hKaP/story.html">invalid method to determine whether a driver is high on marijuana</a>.
<p>
This is clearly unjust. And there is no pressing need to punish
stoned drivers, because they are much less of a danger than drunk
drivers. It is better to wait until there is a test for being stoned.
<p>
In the mean time, it should be possible to test whether a driver is
currently mentally impaired, never mind the reason (marijuana,
illness, lack of sleep). If so, it is possible to lead the driver to
a place to pull over and rest.


feed_id: d7b1139a8c76dfa8f6b6b668e3939bef
title: Trace connections between homeless people
uri: Trace-connections-between-homeless-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28Trace_connections_between_homeless_people%29

content:
<p>
Is it ethical to use AI to <a href="https://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/how-to-solve-homelessness-with-artificial-intelligence/92033?utm_term=OZY&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DD_2019_07_24&utm_content=B">trace connections between homeless people</a>
so as to more effectively convince them to use condoms?
<p>
I don't see anything wrong with <i>using</i> AI for that, but it is wrong
to collect that social network data in any way except by interviewing them
for this specific purpose, and the data should be discarded afterward.


feed_id: 14683c0af3816adfcc01d23121d02e23
title: Refugees seeking asylum in the US are totally vulnerable
uri: Refugees-seeking-asylum-in-the-US-are-totally-vulnerable
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28Refugees_seeking_asylum_in_the_US_are_totally_vulnerable%29

content:
<p>
Refugees seeking asylum in the US are totally vulnerable to whatever
immigration thugs write on their forms. If the <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/08/11/border-patrol-asylum-claim/">thugs lie, and make the refugee look bad</a>, 
there is no way to disprove the lie &mdash; unless it is so absurd that it disproves itself.


feed_id: 96444f00120a161ca2c8af07c0713593
title: Versace cringeworthy apology for the mistake
uri: Versace-cringeworthy-apology-for-the-mistake
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28Versace_cringeworthy_apology_for_the_mistake%29

content:
<p>
Versace humbled itself to Chinese nationalist market power with a
cringeworthy apology for the mistake of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/11/versace-apologises-after-tops-imply-hong-kong-and-macau-are-countries">presenting Hong Kong and Macau
as countries</a>.
<p>
It is true that they are not independent countries (unfortunately for
them). If the shirt is meant to be factual, it would make sense to
correct it. But there is no justification for the knowing.


feed_id: c7bcc6e4461943d14a0ea9bd546295fc
title: Criminal Facebook advertising
uri: Criminal-Facebook-advertising
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28Criminal_Facebook_advertising%29
content:
<p>
Carole Cadwalladr <a href="http://www.ioamosl.org/CaroleCadwalladr.html">explains the hidden, criminal Facebook advertising</a> (implemented by Cambridge Analytica) which manipulated the UK's
referendum about leaving the EU.
<p>
Her investigation and reporting made this known. But Facebook is still
blocking further investigation.
<p>
Collecting data about people is an injustice. Profiling people is an
injustice. Instead of looking for the smallest tweaks to prevent this
problem, we should sweep away profiling and targeted advertising.


feed_id: 58f5e1e21106ec4a9f81f9123b26daa9
title: Violent Hindu extremists in India
uri: Violent-Hindu-extremists-in-India
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28Violent_Hindu_extremists_in_India%29

content:
<p>
On Tulsi Gabbard's ties to <a href="https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/tulsi-gabbards-ties-to-sangh-parivar-raise-red-flags-as-she-prepares-to-challenge-trump">violent Hindu extremists in India</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/05/tulsi-gabbard-2020-hindu-nationalist-modi/">More information</a>.


feed_id: 6e5be953572fd0a3996ed9220230b6c6
title: US thugs kill 25 dogs a day
uri: US-thugs-kill-25-dogs-a-day
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28US_thugs_kill_25_dogs_a_day%29
content:
<p>
US <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> kill at least 25 dogs a day when they raid houses.
<p>
Recently one tried to <a href="https://reason.com/2019/08/05/body-camera-footage-shows-officer-killing-woman-while-firing-at-nonthreatening-dog/">shoot a dog, which was not actually threatening him</a>,
and killed the dog's owner instead.


feed_id: 6c13e9f048da23f5eaa52c5f4f6e6469
title: The bully is &quot;farming out&quot; violence to individuals
uri: The-bully-is-farming-out-violence-to-individuals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28The_bully_is_%2526quot%3Bfarming_out%2526quot%3B_violence_to_individuals%29

content:
<p>
The bully is <a href="https://theweek.com/articles/856991/farming-state-violence">&quot;farming out&quot; violence to individuals and private groups</a> that are prepared to go further than official thugs.
<p>
Unlike the writer, I will not presume that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> specifically
intended that people respond to his scapegoating only with actions
that fall short of murder. He's seen enough acts of right-wing
terrorism in the US that he knows that some people respond that way.


feed_id: f4bedcecb7e10974eb494e2930da7ddc
title: Urgent: endorse restoring Obama's network neutrality regulations
uri: Urgent-endorse-restoring-Obama-s-network-neutrality-regulations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28Urgent%3A_endorse_restoring_Obama%27s_network_neutrality_regulations%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/2020-net-neutrality?t=1001">call on presidential candidates</a> to endorse restoring Obama's network neutrality regulations.
<p>
True network neutrality goes further than those regulations. An ISP should
not be allowed to make a dossier of your network contacts unless a court order
says to do this specifically to you.
<p>
If you sign, please spread the word!


feed_id: 9ca5cb19c1bcc050a9dc52a6504e274d
title: Trump Executive Order to 'Censor the Internet'
uri: Trump-Executive-Order-to-Censor-the-Internet
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-may-aug.html#13_August_2019_%28Trump_Executive_Order_to_%27Censor_the_Internet%27%29

content:
<p>
Leaked Draft of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/11/leaked-draft-trump-executive-order-censor-internet-denounced-dangerous">Trump Executive Order to 'Censor the Internet'</a> Denounced as
Dangerous, Unconstitutional Edict.


