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

Im going to try and stay uptodate with this and thank a Screen Writer every week. I have an appreciation for Screen writing that has been building over the years. for years now I have been attempting to write for the screen with not so good results. I really value the role screen writers have and the stories they create. It also makes me feel like they are under-appreciated and really need to be more visible to the world. They don't need celebrity status, but the work of a writer in this age seems undervalued.

This week, I wanted to thank Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky. For their very creative work on the Star Trek: Voyager Episode "11:59" It taught me lessons about staying in touch with what I have now, and not focusing to much on the next best thing.

I think back on that show and realize that the writing is very inspiring. The crew and there interest in the past, of relatives long gone was a wonderfully suprizing addition to the backstory delveoping in regards to Janeways ancestoral history.

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

Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,139829/article.html#

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.

Link: http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientprofile.php?recipientID=395

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.

Link: http://www.clubsilicononline.com/2007/10/new-website-new.html

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.