i n - t r i n s i c . n e t

Wanted to let everyone know that the FISA bill passed by a large margin. Thanks for everyone that stood up to oppose this bill. I guess im sad and disappointed that we live in a country that puts the pursuit of money before the peoples well being. I care that people are healthy and have their needs met, but not at the expense of our basic freedoms as humans. I hope that as humans we really start to look at where this country is going and start putting effort into changing it.

Here is a link to a documentary that talks about why we the current state we are after 9/11

The Shock Doctrine

In addition im considering the idea of making a documentary to communicate the implications to our freedoms if we allow this to continue. Secondly I created a write up that describes what has happened so far. Remember this is not just about your communications be monitored. This is about gaining an unfair advantage over people that oppose the damaging effects of power hungry corporations and governments. Having the power to spy on communications that are involved in overthrowing abusive governments and privatization of resources is a sure way to destroy our basic freedoms as humans to life, liberty, and prosperity.

Just so you know what is at stake here, I want to give you a breakdown on what it means now that the bill has passed. I think allot of non-technical people don't care about this and if you don't understand that consequences of this soon it will be too late.

1. Sometime in 2001, the president authorized the NSA to intercept telephone and Internet communications of Americans inside the United States, without the authorization of any law or court. Under the program, the NSA is intercepting and analyzing millions of ordinary Americans' communications, with the help of the country's largest phone and Internet companies. The president has stated that he authorized the domestic spying in 2001, that he has reauthorized the program more than 30 times since its inception, and intends to continue doing so.
http://w2.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/NSA/

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/politics/16program.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

2. All communications that pass over the internet and phone calls go though ATT regardless of what Internet Service Provider you have. They are the gateway, for phone communications and the internet in the US. This may not seem important to you, but its clearly possible to intercept communications in such a way to allow people in power to have information that would allow them to have an unfair advantage in the business and government world. Just imagine knowing when a corporate entity was going to be sold to another company if you had shares in that company? or what if you were a grass roots organization that wanted to plan an unscheduled protest at a OIL company in opposition of pollution to make a statement? there is a possibility that Your calls and internet communications are intercepted. A large room inside of ATT has computers designed to listen specifically for types of communications that have financial or political interest to people in power. Corporations and government want to have that kind of control. It enables them to make all the rules and have profit and decision making advantages over the entire world that cause imbalances in the market and in political circles.

3. Someone in ATT a few anonymous employees that worked close to the secret room spoke out about it. The also had concerns that the government and att were abusing our rights as Americans that was described in the 4th amendment that outlines improper search and seizure.
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/att-whistleblow.html#previouspost

4. EFF brought a lawsuit against ATT for breaking this law. The case is still pending
http://www.eff.org/cases/hepting

5. During this time congress has been trying to pass a bill that gives ATT and other telcos immunity from due process. Recently the FISA bill has passed the house and the senate wants it passed before the 4th of July as further delays could cause the bill to fail..
http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/07/09

Trust me when I tell you that this is largest step we have ever taken toward becoming a surveillance country. Please don't let this happen support the ACLU's lawsuit against the government. please visit their site and make a contribution. http://www.aclu.org/
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/07/continue

I was reading a slashdot article today about a new ebook reader from amazon. I Visited the link to the PC world review and as I read about the device I start to wonder.. "Why would anyone want to by this? its not even close to what my idea of a real book reader should be like.

Let me break down the core requirements for a ebook reader that is going to be usable from a standpoint of a serious book reader:

1: The screen size needs to be the size of a paperback or hard cover book in its closed state, or a device that you open up like a book that has two screens on either side with a hinge mechanism in the middle so it opens just like a book.

2: No keyboard what so ever, everything should be on screen controlled . I.E a Touch screen.

3: NO DRM restrictions what so ever.

4: a connectivity port or wireless device so you can transfer books to and from the device from any computer or another device.

Freedomworks, a grass roots organization interested in lowering taxes, and government influence seems to be getting alot of its money from corporate interests to help the organization defeat polices that are bad for the profits from these companies. Its not very well known by the mainstream. Freedom works is currentely against Socialized Healthcare (Freedomworks) , and Net Neutrality (Freedomworks) among others.

One of my favorite musicians in the game industry had released an album called Era's End. its a collection of music he has written from his life. Alexander Brandon has written music for some popular games, Unreal, Unreal Tournament, Deus Ex and Invisible War. One thing that really made the game Deus Ex so fun to play was the music that he composed. it made you feel like you were living in the game because the music was taking you on a journey alongside where you're character was at in the game. I emailed him and let him know that he should make his music available to the public and he was already thinking about doing that with an album release. Anyways well he did it! His music is released digitally on line now from his website at alexanderbrandon.net.

If you have an interest in game music stop by and check it out.

I keep seeing people use the word "Consumer" when they talk about the economics of what people purchase to enhanced their lives.

Here is a dictionary term that sums up the economical version of the word "Consumer"

One that consumes, especially one that acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing.

And here is the ecological definition:

An organism, usually an animal, that feeds on plants or other animals.

First off, We don't need material things to survive, accept for food and water. My suggestion is to look at taking in food and water as a transfer of energy. What ever you take in it becomes you, and you become it. To a certain extent. I know this is nitpicking but this matter needs to be treated seriously because companies have the idea that they are fulfilling a need that we have and I think that mindset devalues the receiving end companies are providing a product to. It also causes us to feel like we are less then we are. its degrading to call each other consumers when we are discussing matters of economics. If everything you had was taken away from you right now, you would still be able to survive by learning to live off of the land. So I think its a mistake to conceptualize this as a provider and consumer relationship. Subconsciously it takes away your power and puts it into the hands of the provider. The reason for this is that deep down on some level you think you need them or the product to survive.

Take a look around you one day. You will notice that for the most part, everyone its comparing them selfs to something they have or don't have.
For example, I use to think (and I sometimes still do) that if I was making films and generating allot of money then I would better than who I am now. But all that does is create a gap between who I am and what I don't have yet. I fill that gap with negative ideas and emotions that im not good enough or im not doing enough to achieve it. which sets me up to think im not complete or im half of a person I should be. Living like this will always cause me to seek something outside myself to make me complete. If I end up obtaining what I want, ill forget that have it and move on to something else. Something new and interesting that appears to give me value.

So thats my take on this issue. Please correct anyone that tries to use that word, replace it with something that gives value to someone and doesn't take it way. Use person, or human, whatever. Dont fall into the trap of having the world dictate to you what it thinks you should be thinking of yourself.

Thank you.