I don't normally do this, but this is some promotion material for a non-profit online service. It is rather like "Digg" and similar, but non-commercial and dedicated to us, the users, with our ability to find "trusted" news. So ...
About NewsTrust
NewsTrust is a citizen news service that helps people find good journalism online. This next-generation social network features some of the best news and opinions from hundreds of trusted online sources. NewsTrust members rate news stories based on journalistic quality, not just popularity.
It's a great way to get "news you can trust" all in one place. NewsTrust offers a fine selection of quality journalism on their free web site, which is now open to the public:
http://beta.newstrust.net/
NewsTrust encourages both media literacy and civic engagement. NewsTrust review tools guide members through careful news evaluations, based on key journalistic principles such as fairness, balance, evidence, context and importance. Independent research studies show that citizen reviewers using these review tools can evaluate news quality reliably - and as effectively as experienced journalists.
NewsTrust publishes a quality ratings database for hundreds of mainstream and alternative news sources, to help the public identify trustworthy publications. This valuable online knowledge base about the news media was created to help citizens make more informed decisions about our democracy.
NewsTrust is non-profit, non-partisan and member-driven. NewsTrust's Executive Director, Fabrice Florin, is a former journalist and a digital media pioneer at Apple and Macromedia. The NewsTrust team includes award-winning journalist and media executive Rory O'Connor and former Lucasfilm project manager David Fox, who bring extensive track records in content and technology development. NewsTrust advisors include Dan Gillmor, Howard Rheingold and other digital media innovators from organizations like Google, Poynter Institute and the University of California
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Monday, December 25, 2006
Scenes from the Boston 9/11 Truth Tea Party
Typically, there have been log-in problems here just when I haven't been checking all the posts. It seems my account details changed with an upgrade to the new blogger interface which means the settings at other services like YouTube had to be manually updated.
Sadly, this also meant tht all my pre-cashmas extras didn't make it here. The above was sent as one of many tests and is the first to work. Happy holidays!
Later.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Bagdad Today
Newly released map of Bagdad showing the so-called Green Zone and the extent of partisan segregation around it.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Questioning Time
News has just come in that the preacher has finally been subjected to police questioning over the honours scandal. It seems investigators visited Downing Street and subjected him to a 2 hour interrogation, although he has not yet been cautioned or arrested.
Some of you may not be seeing the OpEd listings here at the moment. The source site is currently moving to a new server and the change can take a while to filter through the increasingly complex network we call the web. It should reappear within a couple of days at the most.
Some other technical news ...
You may have noticed a slowdown on this blog and some changes to the other links.
First off is the new "Vod-Pod". This provides me with an extremely fasy way to publish eTV streams from a vast array of sources very quickly and in one place. Some highlights will still appear here, but the "pod" gives you a wider selection and allows for capturing more than can easily be embedded here.
The comment I used to publish here is now by and large in the link left to "Bloglines", with a vast array of uncommented daily links in "Hotlinks". The latter is also sent out as a daily headlines email, so let me know if you want to be on the list. Deloivered every morning courtesy of Furl.
Bloglines works using RSS feeds rather than normal webpages. This makes scanning items extremely fast. My blog also contains a vast selection of RSS links which, unlike those here, can be viewed as listings before you pursue the actual posts.
There are also new links for "Diggs" and "Tags". The former contains major items that are voted on by the network to increase exposure for less-than-obvious news, etcetera. The latter contains more permanent links via "delicious" and is a copy of my public bookmarks. As with "Blogmarks" this provides a very sppedy Web2 experience, especially when using the superb new Firefox browser on virtually any platform.
The "blogroll" is now filling up rapidly. This too is the result of automation which allows me to tag recommended blogs without coming here to modify the list. If youy want to submit a blog, please mail me a link at malburns@gmail.com rather than the usual address.
Last but not least, all links here now have a pop-up preview feature which allows you to see the destination without actually clicking on it. A time-saving feature if you are curious but want to avoid clicking away from this site.
So, until the next ...
Later.
Some of you may not be seeing the OpEd listings here at the moment. The source site is currently moving to a new server and the change can take a while to filter through the increasingly complex network we call the web. It should reappear within a couple of days at the most.
Some other technical news ...
You may have noticed a slowdown on this blog and some changes to the other links.
First off is the new "Vod-Pod". This provides me with an extremely fasy way to publish eTV streams from a vast array of sources very quickly and in one place. Some highlights will still appear here, but the "pod" gives you a wider selection and allows for capturing more than can easily be embedded here.
The comment I used to publish here is now by and large in the link left to "Bloglines", with a vast array of uncommented daily links in "Hotlinks". The latter is also sent out as a daily headlines email, so let me know if you want to be on the list. Deloivered every morning courtesy of Furl.
Bloglines works using RSS feeds rather than normal webpages. This makes scanning items extremely fast. My blog also contains a vast selection of RSS links which, unlike those here, can be viewed as listings before you pursue the actual posts.
There are also new links for "Diggs" and "Tags". The former contains major items that are voted on by the network to increase exposure for less-than-obvious news, etcetera. The latter contains more permanent links via "delicious" and is a copy of my public bookmarks. As with "Blogmarks" this provides a very sppedy Web2 experience, especially when using the superb new Firefox browser on virtually any platform.
The "blogroll" is now filling up rapidly. This too is the result of automation which allows me to tag recommended blogs without coming here to modify the list. If youy want to submit a blog, please mail me a link at malburns@gmail.com rather than the usual address.
Last but not least, all links here now have a pop-up preview feature which allows you to see the destination without actually clicking on it. A time-saving feature if you are curious but want to avoid clicking away from this site.
So, until the next ...
Later.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Articles of Impeachment
Articles of Impeachment Filed Against Bush, In Congress
In her departing days, a Congresswoman has actually managed to file articles of impeachment against the Ape Emporer. Whether this will be pusued when the newly-elected congress takes over shortly remains to be seen, but it's a start!
In the UK, those worried about the surveillance stae might care to check out The Big Opt-Out here.
Later.
In her departing days, a Congresswoman has actually managed to file articles of impeachment against the Ape Emporer. Whether this will be pusued when the newly-elected congress takes over shortly remains to be seen, but it's a start!
In the UK, those worried about the surveillance stae might care to check out The Big Opt-Out here.
Later.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Stern Rebuke
Climate change author quits Treasury after Brown freezes him out
Last months report by Sir Nicholas Stern was the wake-up call both the government and industry needed with regard to the mechanics and implications of climate change. One would have thought the media coverage and the compelling nightmarish revelations would have been more evident in The Gorgon's budget proposals, but no such luck. As a result, in an ultimate snub, Stern has today announced he's quitting his job.
Talking of reports, across the Atlantic we have the Iraq Study Group proclaiming the reality of disaster. Whilst encouraging that incoming defense secretary Gates has effectively admitted Amerika is losing the battle, one sees little chance of any real shift whilst the Imperial Ape remains enthroned. Baker and many other so-called thinkers of a new approach all have vested interests in oil and associated companies - their less-publicised suggestions for the accelerated privatisation of Iraq's energy industry is actually an enhanced imperial agenda by way of corporate proxies. Given that this is the core source of resentment over Amerikan meddling in the Middle East, its continued promotion will probably just lead to more defeat for and agression against the occupying forces.
Others, in Iraq itself, have suggested that withdrawing troops from the country will actually better empower the local government to sort out the mess. The reason? Without the presence of imperial troops, Al Qaeda fighters will have no purpose in participating and fermenting the "insurgency". Their departure to other battlefields would thus offer Iraq itself a far better chance of bringing its civil war and partisan conflicts under control. Were Amerikan/Israeli corporate interests to maintain a presence, no doubt accompanied by "private" armies for protection, Al Qaeda and its ilk would still have very good reason to stay the course.
The Preacher himself took out a further overdraft on his carbon credits by jetting himself over to partake in the Baker report ceremonies. Whatver happened behind the scenes, the big press conference was a gloomy affairs indeed, brightened only by the BBC's political editor getting a chance to take Bush to task personally. The spectacle was largely one of two fading players intent on going down fighting. The difference is legacy - Blair desparately wants one whilst Bush couldn't give a shit" In the latter case, money in the bank is all and even that is held in non-dollar currency.
Much is now made of the need to help Palestine avoid obliteration from its Zionist occupiers but neither Bush or Blair have the wherewithall or reputation do do anything about the situation. One hint of change did come from the aforemention incoming Gates who effectively conceded that Amerika acknowledged Israel as a nuclear power. No real revelation in itself, the telling part is in Amerika's previous denial of that status - not to mention Israel's own! Acknowledgement will now make it diplomatically very difficult for Amerika to veto any action the UN authorise to remedy the illegality of such atomic development.
This is especially to the point if the international community wish to censure Iran, North Korea and others for developing a nuclear facility. Sadly, one leads by example and both Blair and Bush seem intent on opposing the non-proliferation treaties for their own purposes. Hardly the way to endear themselves to others for whom their decrees reek of hypocrisy.
Later.
Last months report by Sir Nicholas Stern was the wake-up call both the government and industry needed with regard to the mechanics and implications of climate change. One would have thought the media coverage and the compelling nightmarish revelations would have been more evident in The Gorgon's budget proposals, but no such luck. As a result, in an ultimate snub, Stern has today announced he's quitting his job.
Talking of reports, across the Atlantic we have the Iraq Study Group proclaiming the reality of disaster. Whilst encouraging that incoming defense secretary Gates has effectively admitted Amerika is losing the battle, one sees little chance of any real shift whilst the Imperial Ape remains enthroned. Baker and many other so-called thinkers of a new approach all have vested interests in oil and associated companies - their less-publicised suggestions for the accelerated privatisation of Iraq's energy industry is actually an enhanced imperial agenda by way of corporate proxies. Given that this is the core source of resentment over Amerikan meddling in the Middle East, its continued promotion will probably just lead to more defeat for and agression against the occupying forces.
Others, in Iraq itself, have suggested that withdrawing troops from the country will actually better empower the local government to sort out the mess. The reason? Without the presence of imperial troops, Al Qaeda fighters will have no purpose in participating and fermenting the "insurgency". Their departure to other battlefields would thus offer Iraq itself a far better chance of bringing its civil war and partisan conflicts under control. Were Amerikan/Israeli corporate interests to maintain a presence, no doubt accompanied by "private" armies for protection, Al Qaeda and its ilk would still have very good reason to stay the course.
The Preacher himself took out a further overdraft on his carbon credits by jetting himself over to partake in the Baker report ceremonies. Whatver happened behind the scenes, the big press conference was a gloomy affairs indeed, brightened only by the BBC's political editor getting a chance to take Bush to task personally. The spectacle was largely one of two fading players intent on going down fighting. The difference is legacy - Blair desparately wants one whilst Bush couldn't give a shit" In the latter case, money in the bank is all and even that is held in non-dollar currency.
Much is now made of the need to help Palestine avoid obliteration from its Zionist occupiers but neither Bush or Blair have the wherewithall or reputation do do anything about the situation. One hint of change did come from the aforemention incoming Gates who effectively conceded that Amerika acknowledged Israel as a nuclear power. No real revelation in itself, the telling part is in Amerika's previous denial of that status - not to mention Israel's own! Acknowledgement will now make it diplomatically very difficult for Amerika to veto any action the UN authorise to remedy the illegality of such atomic development.
This is especially to the point if the international community wish to censure Iran, North Korea and others for developing a nuclear facility. Sadly, one leads by example and both Blair and Bush seem intent on opposing the non-proliferation treaties for their own purposes. Hardly the way to endear themselves to others for whom their decrees reek of hypocrisy.
Later.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Palestine
| A Palestine slideshow video featuring the song: "Look into my Eyes" by Outlandish with lyrics by Gihad Ali. Latest links and comments in Bloglines, see left. Later. | |
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Friday, December 01, 2006
Banks Buy Over 200 Million Euro Chinese Carbon Credits
Planet Ark : Banks Buy Over 200 Million Euro Chinese Carbon Credits
A rather odd piece in the morning mail here.
China is a rapidly growing economy and is one of the world's worst polluters - indeed, their pollution grows in line with their economic growth. Yet, proportionate to its industrial base, green and clean projects are also booming. As part of the international community, they also have a stash of these new-fangled commodities known as "carbon credits", which, simply put, are the currency they are allowed to spend on continued pollution.
This report indicates the Western banks are buying up these credits for cash in order to sell them at a profit to client countries and businesses in the richer parts of the world. This sounds like a back-handed way for the huge multinationals to continue their rape and pillage of the planet to the detriment of pooper nations.
The greater issue of concern in this case however must be China itself. If any nation needs a good stash of these credits in hand, they probably come out pretty much on top of the list. At least, certainly until their rapid development stabilises enough for ecological concerns to take priority. The acquistion of their "credits" as a fiscal-driven ploy by outside interests is surely depriving China itself of this much-needed currency. If so, they may end up having to abdicate from the carbon-trading system itself. Then we have a situation where all these purchased credits have no value in themselves and simply act as an excuse for corporate short-term greed to continue its pursuit of planetary destruction.
Food for thought I think.
Later.
A rather odd piece in the morning mail here.
China is a rapidly growing economy and is one of the world's worst polluters - indeed, their pollution grows in line with their economic growth. Yet, proportionate to its industrial base, green and clean projects are also booming. As part of the international community, they also have a stash of these new-fangled commodities known as "carbon credits", which, simply put, are the currency they are allowed to spend on continued pollution.
This report indicates the Western banks are buying up these credits for cash in order to sell them at a profit to client countries and businesses in the richer parts of the world. This sounds like a back-handed way for the huge multinationals to continue their rape and pillage of the planet to the detriment of pooper nations.
The greater issue of concern in this case however must be China itself. If any nation needs a good stash of these credits in hand, they probably come out pretty much on top of the list. At least, certainly until their rapid development stabilises enough for ecological concerns to take priority. The acquistion of their "credits" as a fiscal-driven ploy by outside interests is surely depriving China itself of this much-needed currency. If so, they may end up having to abdicate from the carbon-trading system itself. Then we have a situation where all these purchased credits have no value in themselves and simply act as an excuse for corporate short-term greed to continue its pursuit of planetary destruction.
Food for thought I think.
Later.
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