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Open Source

Submission + - "Buy no Evil" Android App (haaretz.com)

Submitted by David Hume
David Hume writes: Haaretz is reporting that "Israeli bloggers have recently released a new Android application geared toward informing users whether or not their potential purchases were manufactured in one of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank." The Buy No Evil Android app is free. (Bar code download) As reported in the LiveLeak article, "New app makes boycotting West Bank settlements a touch easier," the bloggers behind the new application are Noam Rotem, Itamar Shaltiel, and Boris Boltianski, who run the "Activism is Open-Source" (English) blog. The message announcing the app states, "Buying a product means supporting the producer, and while we do not advocate a consumer ban, we do believe that people should be aware of which manufacturers they support."

Comment Anonymous Iran (Score 1) 333

by David Hume (#28426677) Attached to: Mass Arrests of Journalists Follow Iran Elections

It seems to me that helping them communicate (setting up proxies, opening more tor exit nodes, etc) is helpful, but not particularly open to cries of puppetry. Plenty of people are doing exactly that, and I think it's wonderful that there are simple things a quiet geek can do to help out a bit. Of course, detractors can always claim that open communication is a Western ideal, but it's become quite clear that a lot of Iranians want it as well.

Agreed.

See Anonymous Iran.
http://iran.whyweprotest.net/

Interesting video:
Anonymous Message to Iranian Government.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hUFv5c4lFg&
Censorship

Submission + - Man attacked in Ohio for providing Iran proxies (dailykos.com) 1

Submitted by David Hume
David Hume writes: electronicmaji is reporting on the Daily Kos that the individual known as ProtesterHelp (see also here) was attacked in Ohio for providing network security for Twitterers in Iran, setting up private networks to provide secure proxies, calling for media networks to remove the Iranians Twiterers information from their broadcast, and providing counter-intelligence services (including Basiji and Army Locations) within the Twitter community. ProtesterHelp was allegedly attacked by a group of men while walking to class in Ohio. The men, who appeared to ProtesterHelp to be either Iranian or Lebanese, drove up besides him and threw rocks at him while shouting, "Mousavi Fraud." ProtesterHelp further reported that his personal information has been leaked, and is currently being spread both online and inside of Iran amongst the government. For updates see #iranelection.
Censorship

Church of Scientology On Trial In France 890

Posted by kdawson from the speaking-truth-to-fraud dept.
An anonymous reader sends word that a trial has opened in Paris that could shut down Scientology in France. The organization stands accused of targeting vulnerable people for commercial gain. Scientology does not have the status of a religion there, as it does in the US, and anti-cult groups have pursued it vigorously over more than 30 years. The current case is based on complaints filed by two women in December 1998 and July 1999. Three other former members who had initially joined the complaint have withdrawn after "reaching a financial arrangement with church officials." If convicted, the seven top Scientologists in France face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of €1M. The Church of Scientology-Celebrity Centre and its Scientology Freedom Space bookshop not only face a much larger fine but also run the risk of being shut down completely.
Businesses

Submission + - Is age discrimination a problem in IT? (ca.gov)

Submitted by
David Hume
David Hume writes: "In the published decision in Brian Reid v. Google, Inc., the California Court of Appeal for the Sixth Appellate District reinstated an employment age discrimination claim against Google. Brian Reid, 52, was employed as an engineer at Google. In Reid's only written performance review while employed at Google, he was described as having 'an extraordinarily broad range of knowledge concerning Operations, Engineering in general and an aptitude and orientation towards operational and IT issues.' The review went on to state that Reid was 'very intelligent,' 'creative,' and 'a problem solver.' Reid's performance rating indicated he 'consistently [met] expectations.' Despite this, he was allegedly referred to as an 'old man,' an 'old guy,' an 'old fuddy-duddy.' and told his ideas were 'too old to matter.' People joked that that the CD jewel case office placard should be an 'LP' instead of a 'CD.' Eventually, Reid was moved into a new position developing a graduate program to retain engineers. Reid was then terminated from the engineering department because he was not a 'cultural fit.' Reid filed a lawsuit against Google for age discrimination. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Google on the age discrimination claim. Reid appealed. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reversed. The Court of Appeal noted that it was undisputed that Reid 'was performing competently in the position he held, both in the Operations and Engineering Departments, and as head of the newly created graduate program.' The Court of appeal concluded 'that Reid produced sufficient evidence that Google's reasons for terminating him were untrue or pretextual, and that Google acted with discriminatory motive such that a factfinder would conclude Google engaged in age discrimination. Accordingly, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment as to the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh causes of action.' As a result, the case was remanded to the trial court for trial on the merits. Hence the quetion, is age discrimination a problem in IT? Is it really the case that one can be 'very intelligent,' 'creative,' and 'a problem solver," but be fired because one is not a 'cultural fit' due to one's age?"
Google

Submission + - Age Discrimination Claim Against Google Reinstated (ca.gov)

Submitted by
David Hume
David Hume writes: "In the published decision in Brian Reid v. Google, Inc., the California Court of Appeal for the Sixth Appellate District reinstated an employment age discrimination claim against Google. Brian Reid, 54, was employed as an engineer at Google, where he was allegedly referred to as an "old fuddy-duddy" and told his ideas were "too old to matter." He was moved into a new position developing a graduate program to retain engineers. Reid was then terminated from the engineering department because he was not a "cultural fit." Reid filed a lawsuit against Google for age discrimination. The trial court granted Google's motion for summary summary judgment on the age discrimination claim. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reversed. The Court of Appeal noted that it was undisputed that Reid "was performing competently in the position he held, both in the Operations and Engineering Departments, and as head of the newly created graduate program." Id., at 11. The Court of appeal concluded "that Reid produced sufficient evidence that Google's reasons for terminating him were untrue or pretextual, and that Google acted with discriminatory motive such that a fact finder would conclude Google engaged in age discrimination. Accordingly, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment as to the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh causes of action." Id. at 25. As a result, the case was remanded to the trial court for trial on the merits."
Google

Submission + - Patent fuels Google mobile phone rumours (latimes.com)

Submitted by
David Hume
David Hume writes: "According to the Los Angeles Times, 'The Google Phone is like the Roswell UFO: Few outsiders know if it really exists, but it's got a cult following.' 'The vision: mobile-phone service offered free of monthly charges to consumers willing to put up with advertising. The goal: for Google to broker advertising on mobile phones the way it has on the Web. The fear: Wireless carriers worry that Google will muscle its way into the young market and capture their wireless advertising dollars.' Somewhat contrary to the Los Angeles Times article, according to the Telegraph, 'Google has filed a patent for a mobile payment processing system, as rumours that the search giant is planning to launch a mobile phone reach fever pitch.' The technology blog GigaOm lists 'Five Facts About Google Phone' including '1.Google Phone is based on a mobile variant of Linux, and is able to run Java virtual machines.' The Boston Globe reports that 'Rich Miner, a Google executive sometimes described as the company's vice president of wireless but officially a 'technical staff member,' has shown Google's new mobile phone to a handful of Boston entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, some of whom have signed nondisclosure agreements and some of whom haven't.'"
Censorship

Submission + - Alice Cooper and the Banned Book (youtube.com)

Submitted by
David Hume
David Hume writes: "The Alice Cooper — Only Women Bleed (Sex, Sharia remix) Music Video is actually the second music video to include the entire contents of a suppressed book. [The first was the Stuck Mojo Open Season (Sex, Sharia remix) Music Video]. The Alice Cooper — Only Women Bleed (Sex, Sharia remix) Music Video is a remix music video dedicated to Mariwan Halabjaee, "the Salman Rushdie of Iraqi-Kurdistan." Mr. Halabjaee is the author of the book "Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam." He was forced to flee Iraqi-Kurdistan and obtain political asylum in Norway because the Islamic League of Kurdistan issued a fatwa to kill him, and the Kurdistan Regional Government refused to offer him protection or to arrest those who threatened his life. Youtube — its not just for videos anymore."
Censorship

Submission + - First music video to include entire banned book (youtube.com)

Submitted by
David Hume
David Hume writes: "The Stuck Mojo Open Season (Sex, Sharia Remix) music video is the first music video to include the entire contents of a suppressed book. Remix and extended version of the music video for the Stuck Mojo song "Open Season," dedicated to Mariwan Halabjaee, "the Salman Rushdie of Iraqi-Kurdistan." Mr. Halabjaee is the author of the book Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam . He was forced to flee Iraqi-Kurdistan and obtain political asylum in Norway because the Islamic League of Kurdistan issued a fatwa to kill him, and the Kurdistan Regional Government refused to offer him protection or to arrest those who threatened his life."
Censorship

Submission + - How Best To Defend Student Bloggers' Rights?

Submitted by FeliX
FeliX writes: A couple of my classmates are currently under fire for having ran a school gossip blog on Blogger.com. The blog was promptly shut down after several students discussed on the blog complained to our principal, who in turn threatend suspension to the authors. However since the creators of the site have remained anonymous, our principal has further threatened police action to root them out if they do not come forward. A while a go discussed a case similar to this. What would be the best plan of action for protecting their rights? What authority does the school have when it comes to using law enforcement in this way? What would be the best plan for these students in order to defend their rights?
The Courts

Submission + - Keith Henson Jailed after Pickets, Usenet Posts

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: Keith Henson was arrested on Friday, Feb. 2 in Prescott, Arizona. He faces extradition to California to serve one year in jail.

Henson was convicted of "interfering with a religion" in 2001 after he picketed Scientology's base in the California desert. The jury was misled into thinking he had posted jokes about "Cruise missiles" (as in Tom Cruise) to the internet newsgroup alt.religion.scientology; the posts in question were not made by him, but even if they had been, that does not constitute a credible threat as required by law. The Electronic Frontier Foundation issued a press release after his conviction expressing grave concern that he had been convicted for exercising his free speech rights.

There were numerous anomalies during his trial (including a summons that was never mailed to him, which would have left him in contempt of court if he hadn't found out about the hearing another way).

Henson has a medical condition requiring regular medication; he has also received death threats and has grave fears for his safety, given Scientology's reach into many prison systems.

Latest news at the Wikipedia entry on Keith Henson; more may appear at Who is Keith Henson?.

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