National conference for independent voters a success

Hundreds gathered in New York City last weekend for a conference sponsored by IndependentVoting.org. Among the topics discussed was the deliberate exclusion of independents from the political process by the Republocrats.

CAIVN

Despite the fact that Independents constitute the fastest growing segment of the American electorate and already outnumber both Democrats and Republicans [...]

Micro payment system is exactly what bloggers need

The new supposed micro-payment systems from PayPal and Google aren’t really micro-payment at all. Real micro payment needs to be completely automatic and for tiny amounts, like a penny an article (or less.)

For example, I use micro-payments and charge a penny an article for major blog articles here. You sign up. At the end [...]

Convert your bike to ride on snow

The Ktrak conversion kit works on any bike. Inhabitat has more.

Enviro / cleantech links

NYC plans to turn sewage sludge into energy.

Ultra-thin paint cuts fuel costs on jets.

Power your devices with water. Yes, water.

Chevron ordered to pay $8 billion in environmental damages by Ecuador court.

Shell Oill says we’re running out of oil.

Exxon-Mobil is buying companies because it can’t find enough oil on its own.

[...]

Just another stomach-turning coverup by the Catholic Church

Hundreds of children were raped and abused in Philadelphia and the monsignor in charge of investigating it instead shuffled priests around putting more children at risk. And of course they continue to stonewall.

It occurs to me that the only accusations and convictions so far have been against priests, with none against bishops, archbishops, or [...]

Bill introduced to ban open carry of handguns in California

What’s that you say? You didn’t even know open carry was legal in California? Why yes it is. The gun must be in clear view at all times and be unloaded. You may also legally carry ammo on a clip next to the holstered gun. You don’t need a license. (However, as one who [...]

US Postal Service may default

Retiree health care benefits are a major part of the problem as is declining mail volume. Why mail a letter when you can email or text someone? They are threatening to default if Congress doesn’t allow them to put less than the mandated amount into their health care fund. This is a California-style desperation move, [...]

HBGary. Down the rabbit hole. And don’t mess with Anonymous

I’ve been remiss on posting about the escalating HBGary scandal. They’re a shadowy cybersecurity company who pitched clients like BofA on how they could destroy Wikileaks for them. Their CEO boasted they could take down Anonymous and instead the company got their head handed to them on a platter.

Forbes

Last week, the [...]

Mubarak and senior military ordered protesters killed. Low level army refused

Robert Fisk on The Independent

Mubarak ordered the Egyptian Third Army to crush the demonstrators in Tahrir Square with their tanks after flying F-16 fighter bombers at low level over the protesters.

Many of the senior tank commanders could be seen tearing off their headsets – over which they had received the fatal orders – [...]

A cautionary note on Egypt

Jim Kunstler says the revolts are fueled by increasing popularion size, decreasing resources (including food) and mismanagement of contraction by governments. Further, people were probably jubilant in the early days of the French Revolution but it ended with the Reign or Terror and installation of a new monarch.

A democracy in Egypt, even if it [...]