# articles

feed_id: bb6a17080606fff2fc296aeebdab15d5
title: Crispr-Cas9
uri: Crispr-Cas9
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#29_July_2018_%28Crispr-Cas9%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/25/gene-editing-is-gm-europes-highest-court-rules">Europe
has ruled</a> that organisms with genes edited with Crispr-Cas9 are
considered "genetically modified".
<p>
It would be absurd to deny this.  The real question is what rules should
apply to them.
<p>
Perhaps that should depend on what the modification does.  A
modification for use with a pesticide is potentially dangerous because
pesticides are often dangerous.  A patented gene is legally dangerous.
A variety that could outcompete the wild type is evolutionarily
dangerous.


feed_id: bffb94b27e4e23c8beadf57235f43767
title: Improper euthanization
uri: Improper-euthanization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#29_July_2018_%28Improper_euthanization%29
content:
<p>
Doctors in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is lawful, are in trouble
because they euthanized a demented woman
who <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/25/doctor-netherlands-asked-family-hold-down-euthanasia-patient">at
that moment was uncooperative</a>.  She had previously given them
instructions to do so, but it was not done in the proper legal form.
<p>
I agree that the system should be very careful to prevent people from
being killed unwillingly.  At the same time, if the system
investigates small failures like this one, that gives me the
impression that overall it is very effectively careful.


feed_id: 2dbce2d979b168356be2e261458b2293
title: Uribe investigation
uri: Uribe-investigation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#29_July_2018_%28Uribe_investigation%29
content:
<p>
Álvaro Uribe, the former president of Colombia who I referred to as el
presidente
horrible, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/25/colombia-alvaro-uribe-mi6-death-squads-charges">is
being investigated</a> for bribing and intimidating witnesses.
<p>
He was closely associated with the paramilitares, right-wing
state-supported terrorists
that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-jan-apr.html#18_April_2010_(Guerrilla_Groups)">plagued
Colombia then</a>
and <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#27_July_2018_(Colombia's_terrorists)">still
plague it now</a>.


feed_id: 2474045af538f134354d15163fb4e3dc
title: 'Stand your ground' law
uri: Stand-your-ground-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#29_July_2018_%28%27Stand_your_ground%27_law%29
content:
<p>
Florida's "stand your ground" law is not as loose as it is presented.
It covers only people that kill based on a reasonable belief that they
are in danger.  To
kill <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/07/25/dont-blame-stand-your-ground-for-markeis">based
on an unreasonable belief</a> is still a crime.
<p>
Notwithstanding that, I still think it is better not to have such a
law.  If you face a real threat, and you can protect yourself by
moving away or by shooting someone, I think it is valid for the law to
say that you ought to move away rather than shoot.


feed_id: bbc5e85eec22ab1813e0e697ef4d0c42
title: Political prisoner in Turkey
uri: Political-prisoner-in-Turkey
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#29_July_2018_%28Political_prisoner_in_Turkey%29
content:
<p>
The US is pressuring Turkey
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/25/turkey-andrew-brunson-american-pastor-released-house-arrest">release
one political prisoner</a> who is an American Christian preacher.
<p>
The idea that a Christian foreigner collaborated with Gülen, an
Islamist, in a supposed coup plot is absurd.  But then again, we never
saw proof that Gülen himself was involved in the coup plot.
<p>
The preacher's release would be a step forward, but we shouldn't
forget the thousands of Turks that
are <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#27_October_2012_(43_days_on_hunger_strike_in_Turkey)">political
prisoners in Turkey</a>.


feed_id: c9d1bfbf02715de6e33b7c9b47222e5c
title: Falsehoods on Facebook
uri: Falsehoods-on-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#29_July_2018_%28Falsehoods_on_Facebook%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> deniers
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jul/25/facebook-video-spreads-climate-denial-misinformation-to-5-million-users">still
spreading falsehoods</a> on Facebook.
<p>
I see danger in deleting false claims about history (including denial
of the holocaust) and false claims about physics (including denial of
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>).  However, Facebook could legitimately mark them
as "bogus" and provide links to corrective information.
<p>
I suspect that the denialist funding, which corrupts politicians and
institutions, is the core of the problem.


feed_id: ae33dacf773c3ac0e736daf7f025ba5a
title: Election law violation
uri: Election-law-violation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#29_July_2018_%28Election_law_violation%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a> is now proven to have violated election laws, but his
supporters
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/25/trump-scandal-president">unlikely
to care</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a>'s brazenly increasing broad disrespect for standards of
ethics and legality has trained his supporters not to care about those
standards any more.


feed_id: 697d3bfecaf062d25d67f44636cc656e
title: Russian prison torture
uri: Russian-prison-torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#29_July_2018_%28Russian_prison_torture%29
content:
<p>
Three Russian prison
thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/25/three-russian-guards-yaroslavl-plead-guilty-to-mass-beating-of-prisoner-yevgeny-makarov">pled
guilty to torturing a prisoner</a>.
I wonder what happened to the other 7 guards that participated.
<p>
The victim's lawyer received death threats and has fled.


feed_id: 9442b72d302a5938b963c14f463c8a29
title: Urgent: Abortion rights in Argentina
uri: Urgent-Abortion-rights-in-Argentina
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Abortion_rights_in_Argentina%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/27767/action/1">Call
on the Argentine senate</a> to pass abortion rights.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 2eb0a587ca1635486a1f00c109767170
title: Urgent: Markeis McGlockton
uri: Urgent-Markeis-McGlockton
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Markeis_McGlockton%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/go/77772">Call on
Florida</a> to file charges against Markeis McGlockton's killer.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 1ea570485a63100da656ffa95a392992
title: Remote shutoff device
uri: Remote-shutoff-device
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Remote_shutoff_device%29
content:
<p>
California requires each portable phone to carry a remote shutoff
device.  This was meant for turning off phones that had been stolen,
but now it
is <a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/07/24/told-you-so.html">being
used for other cases too</a>.


feed_id: 47dba9525f240b3396bdc8e401485ef2
title: Emissions and heatwaves
uri: Emissions-and-heatwaves
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Emissions_and_heatwaves%29
content:
<p>
Our current rate of emission of greenhouse gases will lead (in a few
decades)
to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/25/1782970/-We-have-to-get-used-to-131-F-temperatures-thanks-to-Trump-s-policies-on-carbon-emissions?detail=emaildkre">heatwaves
with temperatures of 55 C (131 F)</a>.


feed_id: 5d7c9faa0fc6a78b43689c668ae75ac0
title: 'Just in time' production
uri: Just-in-time-production
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28%27Just_in_time%27_production%29
content:
<p>
"Just in time" production, with no inventory, is very efficient
&mdash; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/26/stockpile-food-no-deal-brexit-dream-on">and
terribly fragile</a>, since it tends to convert any narrow problem
into a broad stoppage.
<p>
My conclusion is that disaster preparedness at the national level
includes requiring the production of everything people really need to
be done the robust, old-fashioned "inefficient" way.


feed_id: e8acc0ab221830c8c16d9be8029cd7d3
title: ISP ratings
uri: ISP-ratings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28ISP_ratings%29
content:
<p>
Massachusetts is considering a bill
to <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20180724/07442240297/massachusetts-just-latest-state-to-embrace-net-neutrality.shtml">set
up a system of ratings on ISPs</a> based on how far they respect
network neutrality.
<p>
It sounds nice, but with so few ISPs, it might not do a lot for
network neutrality.


feed_id: ee213a503f23b341007f9953f5c830cc
title: Female genital mutilation
uri: 2018-07-31-Female-genital-mutilation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Female_genital_mutilation%29
content:
<p>
Somalia is prosecuting female genital mutilation for the first time.
The victim, a 10-year-old
girl, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jul/26/first-fgm-prosecution-in-somalia-history-death-10-year-old-girl">died
from the operation</a>.


feed_id: 05a64c32d672ef826b4076744b9aad04
title: Wildfires in Greece
uri: Wildfires-in-Greece
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Wildfires_in_Greece%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/26/greece-wildfires-authorities-blamed-for-high-death-toll">Greeks
blame the government</a> for being unprepared to help save people from
the wildfire.
<p>
Preparations cost money.  Are the euro-<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a> responsible for this?
<p>
Another cause was that people illegally built houses on land that was
supposed to be reserved for escape routes.  That sort of corruption is
typical of Greece.


feed_id: e5e2e7aa635aacf35a66f7998a0f89de
title: License plate number
uri: License-plate-number
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28License_plate_number%29
content:
<p>
A UK parking garage
company <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jul/25/justpark-app-zero-letter-o-fine-numberplate">threatened
a customer</a> who entered "O" instead of "0" in per license plate
number.  The company's software refused to recognize "0".
<p>
However, that is only a secondary wrong.  The company's primary wrong
was
in <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">asking
for the license plate number</a>.


feed_id: 40b3c99fc588be3a91995d7e4381ad0e
title: Iranian progressive movement
uri: Iranian-progressive-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Iranian_progressive_movement%29
content:
<p>
The real Iranian progressive movement begs the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/25/who-will-stop-trump-tweeting-us-war-iran?cd-origin=rss">end
the US sanctions against Iran</a>.
<p>
A foreign conflict is exactly what any illiberal regime prays for.
People will forgive the regime when there is a foreign threat it can
claim to be standing up to.


feed_id: aa1e3ec1952348686f78894985951db5
title: Cambodia election boycott
uri: Cambodia-election-boycott
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Cambodia_election_boycott%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/26/democracy-has-died-cambodias-exiled-politicians-call-for-election-boycott">"Democracy
Has Died"</a>: Cambodia's Exiled Politicians Call for Election
Boycott.


feed_id: 06156a368cae976a2ffa2ffce80eb4ce
title: Hostility in the UK
uri: Hostility-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Hostility_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
The world music festival Womad says
that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/26/foreign-musicians-shunning-uk-says-womad-organiser">many
musicians refuse even to try</a> to perform in the UK, because they
don't want to face the intentionally hostile environment.


feed_id: 0fd364e7cb9098a580a1f21146ba8ad6
title: Voter caging
uri: Voter-caging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Voter_caging%29
content:
<p>
A systematic effort to observe voter caging (a form of voter
suppression) in North Carolina has induced the Republicans to more or
less <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/23/1782799/-In-a-first-no-voter-caging-in-North-Carolina-so-far-this-year-We-re-watching-for-it-Coincidence?detail=emaildkre">stop
the practice this year</a>.


feed_id: 2ab2c543d0570e24fa930520bb8e27d3
title: Consecutive scandals
uri: Consecutive-scandals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#30_July_2018_%28Consecutive_scandals%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter uses scandals to distract from other scandals.
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/21/1782419/-Look-over-there-it-s-a-distraction-Cohen-s-tape-is-shocking-but-also-what-Trump-needs-right-now?detail=emaildkre">Sliding
from one scandal to another scandal</a> makes it hard to focus on any
one of them.
<p>
To sell out America to Russia is shocking in a special way.  However,
I think that selling out America to billionaires, <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a> and
theocrats does more damage.


feed_id: ec6cea7b08633a9b4d91fb8c40da4d1a
title: Right-wing extremist use of Facebook
uri: Right-wing-extremist-use-of-Facebook
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Right-wing_extremist_use_of_Facebook%29

content:
<p>
Right-wing extremists use Facebook to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/25/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-sandy-hook-parents-open-letter">whip
up hate against the families of people killed in massacres committed
by right-wingers</a>.


feed_id: a7072b3b9f7931ae4d80c5c1c0d6e1d5
title: Ebola vaccine swiftly ends outbreak
uri: Ebola-vaccine-swiftly-ends-outbreak
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Ebola_vaccine_swiftly_ends_outbreak%29

content:
<p>
The new Ebola vaccine 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jul/25/halted-spread-deadly-ebola-drc-oly-ilunga-kalenga">swiftly
ended the latest Congo outbreak</a>.  Medics vaccinated the people in
danger of getting exposed from the current victims.


feed_id: 09a8bc840fc762e5d9fc591b4e3969b1
title: "Conservatives"
uri: Conservatives
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Conservatives%29
content:
<p>
"Conservatives" 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/25/conservatives-brexit-big-business">claim
to stand for conserving something</a>, but that is bogus.


feed_id: 4e8697c448ee4a4841943037ba37cecc
title: Bushfire season
uri: Bushfire-season
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Bushfire_season%29
content:
<p>
The bushfire season in parts of Australia starts in August &mdash;
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/25/bushfire-season-brought-forward-in-nsw-after-next-to-no-rain">in
winter</a>.


feed_id: a007ca5d5c289a7d895feb523894588a
title: Threating violence as a disease
uri: Threating-violence-as-a-disease
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Threating_violence_as_a_disease%29
content:
<p>
Treating violence as a disease, and blocking its spread where there
is an outbreak, has proved 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jul/24/violent-crime-cured-rather-than-punished-scottish-violence-reduction-unit">effective
in various cities for reducing violence</a>.


feed_id: 9701bc5d4f5460225df26ea1a3e1ca2c
title: "Hypocritical Clergymen"
uri: Hypocritical-Clergymen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Hypocritical_Clergymen%29
content:
<p>
"Hypocritical Clergymen"- How the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/24/hypocritical-clergymen-how-trump-pompeo-slam-iran-backfires">Trump-Pompeo
Slam of Iran</a> Backfires.


feed_id: 32b873bd63e6134e3573e6b946d2c12d
title: Triangular system of world superpowers
uri: Triangular-system-of-world-superpowers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Triangular_system_of_world_superpowers%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> seems to be trying to move the world from a system of
(incomplete) US hegemony to a system of 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/24/entering-1984-world-trump-style">three
roughly comparable superpowers</a>.
<p>
This can have some good effects.  US hegemony, when challenged, has
led to a proliferation of wars.  A triangular system might provide a
way out of some of them.  At the same time, it could start other wars.


feed_id: 643769a1949b588968101981e196d892
title: 8 dollars a minute to phone from prison
uri: 8-dollars-a-minute-to-phone-from-prison
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%288_dollars_a_minute_to_phone_from_prison%29

content:
<p>
Parents have to pay 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/23/1783002/-ICE-Forcing-Parents-of-Kidnapped-Children-to-Pay-8-a-Minute-to-Talk-to-Them">8
dollars a minute</a> to talk with their offspring that were taken away
by the US deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>.
<p>
I suspect that this fee is imposed not by the deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> agency
itself but rather by the privatized prisons that the agency uses.  In
other words, the agency is privileging a few companies to shaft these
parents rather than shafting them itself.
<p>
This indirectly does not morally absolve the agency of responsibility,
but does provides a convenient shield for evading that responsibility.
<p>
Privatization of a state activity is wrong in general for 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#27_October_2017_(Privatizing_services)">several
reasons</a>, and one is that it systematically tends to lead to
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-may-aug.html#15_August_2017_(Government_service_outsourcing)">unaccountability</a>.
This is one of many examples.


feed_id: b7a220a432f565a541d8d30c830a13a3
title: Attack on renewable electricity program
uri: Attack-on-renewable-electricity-program
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Attack_on_renewable_electricity_program%29

content:
<p>
California's renewable electricity program has been 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/07/24/new-report-exposes-cleanwashing-california-state-renewables-program-includes">attacked</a>
in a way that seems fallacious to me.
<p>
Landfills and sewage treatment plants are needed in any case, and they
produce methane day in and day out.  I think that this methane
qualifies as renewable.
<p>
As long as factory farms exist, the same is true of them.  You may
wish to abolish factory farms, but as long as they exist, it is good
to burn their methane for electricity.  That is better than dumping it
into the air (it is a powerful greenhouse gas) even if we use
solar or wind power to make the electricity.
<p>
If someday conditions for farms are reformed, collecting and burning
their methane waste would still be a good thing, if it is still
feasible.
<p>
Likewise for paper mills.  It could be good to improve them to
generate less waste, if that is possible, but until that time we
should burn the methane rather than let it into the air.


feed_id: 57aa153d9671a08f002622fbf4f11577
title: Supermax "detention center"
uri: Supermax-detention-center
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Supermax_detention_center%29
content:
<p>
(satire): a new supermax "detention center" will 
<a href="https://www.theonion.com/ice-opens-new-supermax-detention-center-for-most-harden-1827838332">imprison
the most hardened toddlers</a>.


feed_id: 32bbe6e01cc8cbadccad469addcdfb39
title: Novichok nerve gas
uri: Novichok-nerve-gas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Novichok_nerve_gas%29
content:
<p>
Someone 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/24/novichok-victim-ill-within-15-minutes-says-partner-charlie-rowley">went
to the trouble of packaging nerve gas in a perfume spray bottle and
sealing it in a box</a>, just like new, and leaving that as a deadly
booby trap for whoever happened to pick it up.
<p>
Since the novichok nerve gas is hard to make, a state was surely
involved in doing this.  But one can only guess why.


feed_id: 3b14354c201053d1748537153eea50e2
title: Urgent: Kavanaugh's records
uri: Urgent-Kavanaugh-s-records
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Kavanaugh%27s_records%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Kavanaugh_records">urge
the Senate</a> to insist on getting all of Kavanaugh's records before
considering his nomination.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 92b40e3de2057e3c2aeb5c4543154469
title: Urgent: Oppose war with Iran
uri: 2018-08-01-Urgent-Oppose-war-with-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_war_with_Iran%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://act.winwithoutwar.org/letter/Tell-Congress-No-Attack-Iran/">call
on your congresscritter and senators</a> to oppose war with Iran.
</p>
<p>If you send a letter, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b4efd8587a8e958e5a1877b1c8d6aeef
title: Booming economy and debt
uri: Booming-economy-and-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Booming_economy_and_debt%29
content:
<p>
The US economy is booming, but it's based on pushing poor
Americans <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-consumers-insight/mortgage-groupon-and-card-debt-how-the-bottom-half-bolsters-u-s-economy-idUSKBN1KD0EM">deeper
into debt</a>.


feed_id: c95d051511b4705646e7b8ed8d00810f
title: Civilian killings in Raqqa
uri: Civilian-killings-in-Raqqa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Civilian_killings_in_Raqqa%29
content:
<p>
The US and
allies <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/07/26/us-coalition-efforts-ensure-accountability-civilian-deaths-are-welcome-first?cd-origin=rss">have
accepted responsibility</a> for killing many civilians in Raqqa.


feed_id: 9547fa7ff461850373285bad7d4d5f70
title: Ride-pooling traffic
uri: Ride-pooling-traffic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Ride-pooling_traffic%29
content:
<p>
Ride-pooling services tend
to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2018/07/25/a-new-study-says-services-like-uberpool-are-making-traffic-worse/?noredirect=on">increase
street traffic</a>: they take business away from the more efficient
buses and trains.
<p>
That's while tracking their passengers, which should be illegal.


feed_id: f979f166072ce32703a70cbe3c768b3a
title: Military spending bill
uri: 2018-08-01-Military-spending-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Military_spending_bill%29
content:
<p>
The military spending bill threatens to impoverish non-rich Americans
by <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/26/139-house-democrats-join-gop-approve-717-billion-military-spending?cd-origin=rss">too
much military spending</a> (and the rich won't pay their share of it).


feed_id: b67bc6e31422280219305ee70793bfff
title: The bullshitter's collaborations
uri: The-bullshitter-s-collaborations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28The_bullshitter%27s_collaborations%29

content:
<p>
"Centrist" right-wing Democrats intentionally plan to focus on the
bullshitter's collaboration with
Putin <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/26/gop-and-corporate-dems-gain-when-democrats-run-against-putin?cd-origin=rss">rather
than his collaboration</a> with planet-roasters and the billionaires
that make most Americans poor.


feed_id: 11323d73e48f376e9b3d5dbcb2a96016
title: Christian theocracy
uri: Christian-theocracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Christian_theocracy%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter's "Christian" supporters are more interested
in <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/27/trump-supporters-hiding-plain-sight?cd-origin=rss">imposing
Christian theocracy</a> than in practicing Christianity.


feed_id: 9c51f48037728a9b4a586c27fc8ef601
title: Phony abortion counseling
uri: Phony-abortion-counseling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Phony_abortion_counseling%29
content:
<p>
Phony abortion counseling organizations are set up
to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/26/1783670/-Here-s-How-Crisis-Pregnancy-Centers-Harm-Women?detail=emaildkre">lure
and trap women</a> into having babies which they could have avoided
with an abortion.  They also collect personal data about the women,
which they use to harass them later.


feed_id: 8097850df6b65132ab7ab0ede6b7c470
title: CEO income ratio
uri: CEO-income-ratio
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28CEO_income_ratio%29
content:
<p>
The usual figures for the ratio of CEO income to workers' income are
an underestimate &mdash; they don't count the
CEOs' <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/26/workers-wages-continue-fall-under-trump-analysis-shows-ceo-pay-way-higher-typically?cd-origin=rss">enormous
income from rising stocks</a>.


feed_id: 1732f968b7512682b16f9d472cf30d8a
title: Leaking methane
uri: Leaking-methane
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Leaking_methane%29
content:
<p>
Methane is leaking out of the ground in the Russian
Arctic.  <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/photos-reveal-more-than-200-bright-blue-arctic-lakes-have-started-bubbling-with-methane-gas">200
methane-loaded lakes</a> have recently come into existence.


feed_id: 3206fd1faa8b8ac44817820763de624f
title: Political ashes fall
uri: Political-ashes-fall
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Political_ashes_fall%29
content:
<p>
After the fires near
Athens, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/27/tsipras-talks-of-greeces-heaviest-moment-after-forest-fires">the
political ashes fall</a>.
<p>
It is incorrect to call these fires "Greece’s worst disaster in modern
times".  The economic occupation of Greece by the euro-<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a> has
surely caused far more
harm, <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-may-aug.html#28_May_2016_(No_debt_relief_for_Greece)">both
economically and in human lives</a>.


feed_id: 4bc375d30e485ad2bbd2f19c5ea73ef2
title: California wildfires
uri: 2018-08-01-California-wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28California_wildfires%29
content:
<p>
Large wildfires are burning up
California <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/27/california-fires-latest-news-updates-carr-ferguson-deaths">before
the usual start</a> of the fire season.
<p>
In 20 years there will be much worse fires, but eventually most of the
state's forests will be gone.


feed_id: 9923bbce9bd75b6ffe206a4e153b5965
title: Extreme weather
uri: 2018-08-01-Extreme-weather
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_%28Extreme_weather%29
content:
<p>
Michael Mann: extreme weather is "the face of climate change"; the
long-predicted effects of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/27/extreme-global-weather-climate-change-michael-mann">"playing
out in real-time"</a>.


feed_id: 649d8131d28adec46498b84c5ad4d1cf
title: Urgent: CLASSICS act
uri: Urgent-CLASSICS-act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_CLASSICS_act%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.eff.org/action/stop-another-expansion-of-copyright-tell-the-senate-to-vote-no-on-s-2823">call
on the Senate</a> to reject the CLASSICS act which would make a large
extension of copyright on musical recordings.
</p>
<p>If you send an email, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 8a1d07a0f9ca27d064bb646f7af6e0f3
title: Urgent: DHS funding
uri: Urgent-DHS-funding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_DHS_funding%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/call-senators-defund-dhs">Phone
your senators</a> to oppose funding the Department of Homeland Sadism.
</p>
<p>If you phone, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: f85bb4ae89b3188686fb6d0416894aa7
title: Violence in Nicaragua
uri: Violence-in-Nicaragua
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Violence_in_Nicaragua%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/27/opposition-behind-the-violence-in-nicaragua">A
report claims</a> that the opposition in Nicaragua is responsible for
the violence.
<p>
Is it true, or is it fake news?


feed_id: 0bcea9105003c0cb26c64ef588f9caab
title: Repealing FOSTA
uri: Repealing-FOSTA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Repealing_FOSTA%29
content:
<p>
Non-trafficked independent sex workers are trying
to <a href="https://reason.com/reasontv/2018/07/27/sex-workers-fosta-sesta">convince
Congress to repeal FOSTA</a>.


feed_id: c208b973c2a1d5e79644eb0dad243189
title: Journalists in Egypt
uri: Journalists-in-Egypt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Journalists_in_Egypt%29
content:
<p>
Egypt can
now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jul/27/fake-news-becomes-tool-of-repression-after-egypt-passes-new-law">use
"fake news" as an excuse</a> to put journalists in prison.


feed_id: 7388996682be4727d18f5e8789589042
title: CLASSICS bill
uri: CLASSICS-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28CLASSICS_bill%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/07/classics-future-assaults-against-public-domain">Criticizing
CLASSICS</a>, a bill to retroactively increase copyright old musical
recordings.
<p>
I worry about the other bill that this was attached to, MMV.  I don't
know any details about it, but any plan to "compensate" publishers is
likely to
be <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-vs-community.html">bad
for the public</a>.


feed_id: f0c9a77d31a6a4ad1bbab1ea3dbdf95e
title: Ending cash bail
uri: Ending-cash-bail
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Ending_cash_bail%29
content:
<p>
Bernie
Sanders <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/25/denouncing-americas-debtor-prison-system-sanders-introduces-bill-end-cash-bail?cd-origin=rss">introduced
a bill</a> to end cash bail at the federal level and pressure states
to end it too.


feed_id: 305f0d490528a36946d712e1b4242f60
title: Fines by federal agencies
uri: Fines-by-federal-agencies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Fines_by_federal_agencies%29
content:
<p>
Fines issued by 11 federal agencies to businesses dropped greatly
after <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> put saboteurs in charge.  In the
EPA <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/25/trump-corporate-penalties-drop-public-citizen-study">they
dropped 94%</a>.


feed_id: 880f5d5eea61eb04a4e2c83a4c6b7260
title: Smearing shaming
uri: Smearing-shaming
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Smearing_shaming%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/no-pirate-sites-are-not-the-1-online-source-for-malware-180728/">A
campaign to smear sharing</a> by calling it "piracy" and saying that
it loads malware.


feed_id: f9a35bad94ebe4d9354e646e0ee53cf6
title: Communism and capitalism
uri: Communism-and-capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Communism_and_capitalism%29
content:
<p>
Condemn Communists’ Cruelties, But
Capitalism <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/26/communists-capitalism-stalinism-economic-model">Has
Its Own Terrible Record</a>.
<p>
Let's not equate socialism with communism.  I think we can do without
communism, but we need socialism.  Capitalism implies competition,
with winners and losers.  We need some socialism to go with the
capitalism, so that losing the capitalist competition is not a
personal disaster.


feed_id: 28c8cdbfb11255a4461a670b3f52ea3f
title: Colombian journalists
uri: Colombian-journalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Colombian_journalists%29
content:
<p>
Colombian journalists are receiving death threats from paramilitaries
and believe that newly elected President
Duque <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/28/colombia-journalists-death-threats-duque">is
encouraging them</a>.


feed_id: e35c57565a615b6429ef939577cef336
title: Working with a criminal conviction
uri: Working-with-a-criminal-conviction
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Working_with_a_criminal_conviction%29

content:
<p>
US states ban anyone with a past criminal conviction
from <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/07/28/a-second-chance-for-people-wit">working
in certain jobs</a> &mdash; such as cosmetologist, plumber, massage
therapist, and dietitian.
<p>
In addition to denying criminals the possibility of going straight, these rules
can also ruin the life of people prosecuted for protesting.


feed_id: fb36fc566ea80a6a77c0c12cc4f44be8
title: Voter purges
uri: Voter-purges
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Voter_purges%29
content:
<p>
No part of the US
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/28/voter-purges-interfering-elections-democracy">safe
from voter purges</a>, used to disenfranchise marginalized people.


feed_id: e1121fbc81d7437d0c9fe25049db192a
title: Exaggerating censorship
uri: Exaggerating-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Exaggerating_censorship%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jul/26/the-free-speech-panic-censorship-how-the-right-concocted-a-crisis">How
right-wingers use exaggeration</a> to give the idea that they are
threatened with censorship.


feed_id: 4c6fcf1780bda7c014bd0d4abcd14e1d
title: Urgent: People's Budget
uri: 2018-08-03-Urgent-People-s-Budget
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_People%27s_Budget%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-this-petition-to-support-the-2019-peoples-budget?nowrapper=true">Endorse
the People's Budget</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/the-peoples-budget-a-progressive-path-forward-fy-2019/">For
a little more information</a> on it.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 13e17c9d426ff151762f65a63a2c65c0
title: Urgent: No Money Bail Act
uri: Urgent-No-Money-Bail-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_No_Money_Bail_Act%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.berniesanders.com/signup/no-money-bail-act">support
the No Money Bail Act</a>.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: da19fe6876c716b45872a2c3682d47b6
title: Voting list purges
uri: Voting-list-purges
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Voting_list_purges%29
content:
<p>
US
states <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/publication/purges-growing-threat-right-vote">purged
16 million voters</a> from voting lists between 2014 and 2016.  That
was more than in the previous election cycle.


feed_id: ba7f6f9ad608ba43462c69b99adf31a3
title: Stabbing at abortion rights march
uri: Stabbing-at-abortion-rights-march
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Stabbing_at_abortion_rights_march%29

content:
<p>
Antiabortionists in Chile are accused
of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/chile-abortion-rights-rally-attack-stabbing">stabbing
three women</a> in a march for abortion rights.
<p>
Nobody could really love fetuses the way they claim to do.  The reason
for opposition to abortion rights is hostility toward women.


feed_id: d7f4ecffa6cdd1be205079a3ffb3ac11
title: Living from paycheck to paycheck
uri: 2018-08-03-Living-from-paycheck-to-paycheck
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Living_from_paycheck_to_paycheck%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/29/us-economy-workers-paycheck-robert-reich">Almost
80% of US Workers</a> Live from Paycheck to Paycheck.
<p>
As the article explains, US workers mostly have no bargaining power,
and many sectors of the economy lack competition.
<p>
A factor that the article doesn't mention is that concentration of
industry means there
is <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#2_November_2017_(Concentrating_food_industry)">less
competition for hiring workers</a>.


feed_id: da70fcd83e11212585d27f0d6b401855
title: Value of opinion
uri: Value-of-opinion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Value_of_opinion%29
content:
<p>
A major change in modern news media: opinion has become more valued
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/29/digital-media-opinion-facts-comment">and
facts less so</a>.


feed_id: 2e8bda7cbe817eb55eb7066ca8a377bb
title: Hun Sen's election victory
uri: Hun-Sen-s-election-victory
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Hun_Sen%27s_election_victory%29
content:
<p>
Cambodian tyrant Hun
Sen <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/cambodia-hun-sen-re-elected-in-landslide-victory-after-brutal-crackdown">won
a smashing election victory</a> after totally smashing the opposition
and the press.


feed_id: 35209af5179b6f19780e75f43683ac4f
title: Hottest years ever
uri: Hottest-years-ever
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Hottest_years_ever%29
content:
<p>
Hottest Four Years
Ever? <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/28/hottest-four-years-ever-2015-2016-2017-2018?cd-origin=rss">2015. 2016. 2017. 2018?</a>
<p>
Our Scorched Earth Needs Voters
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/29/our-scorched-earth-needs-voters-to-put-more-heat-on-their-politicians">Put
More Heat on Their Politicians</a>.


feed_id: 784cb30a77e10ade2c012eb19d683cbc
title: Rules for truck engines
uri: Rules-for-truck-engines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Rules_for_truck_engines%29
content:
<p>
Wheeler, the acting administrator of the EPA, revoked Pruitt's last
act of sabotage &mdash; which permitted the construction of heavily
polluting trucks installing old engines.  A court blocked the order,
and instead of challenging
it, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/27/major-win-clean-air-and-public-health-epa-reverses-pruitts-super-polluting-truck?cd-origin=rss">Wheeler
cancelled it</a>.
<p>
However, he does violate ethics rules,
by <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/27/because-he-wont-let-go-his-corporate-polluter-past-epa-chief-andrew-wheeler-already?cd-origin=rss">meeting
with his previous polluter clients</a>.
<p>
Perhaps Wheeler prefers to concentrate on a few especially destructive
forms of sabotage, rather than inefficient scattershot sabotage.


feed_id: bf84c547951b4d478228da1664be20aa
title: Equifax got away
uri: Equifax-got-away
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Equifax_got_away%29
content:
<p>
Equifax <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/07/27/one-year-after-discovering-its-breach-your-data-equifax-still-hasnt-paid-price?cd-origin=rss">got
away without any penalty</a> after carelessly allowing crackers to get
data on around 150 million Americans.


feed_id: b961cb0961e33fbde8d0d03e3ad6fed3
title: Disneyland workers
uri: Disneyland-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Disneyland_workers%29
content:
<p>
10,000 unionized Disneyland
workers <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/27/victory-workers-demanding-justice-and-dignity-disneyland-employees-secure-15-minimum?cd-origin=rss">have
won a big raise</a>.  20,000 more non-organized and badly paid
Disneyland workers depend on a ballot measure to increase the minimum
wage (for certain businesses only).


feed_id: 05f80002443ac7edac9c1dd409112ba0
title: GDP and income
uri: GDP-and-income
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28GDP_and_income%29
content:
<p>
"You can't eat GDP."  The US economy appears to be very successful, if
you measure it by this incorrect measure.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/27/you-cant-eat-gdp-reminder-most-workers-are-struggling-trump-and-corporate-media-tout?cd-origin=rss">most
people's income is going down</a>.
<p>
It's nothing new that the
GDP <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#2_December_2017_(Measuring_the_economy)">does
not measure what matters</a> about an economy,
but having an example where the GDP rises and most people's lives actually
get worse is a clearer demonstration of this.


feed_id: 11d0a5926727dc2501809e7dd7d92702
title: UAE secret police
uri: UAE-secret-police
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28UAE_secret_police%29
content:
<p>
As part of the US-backed intervention in Yemen, the UAE operates a
secret police unit
that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/24/god-only-knows-tortured-killed-or-forcibly-disappeared-people-yemen?cd-origin=rss">kills
and tortures Yemeni civilians</a>.


feed_id: 36ac8ac51d84b77dc5dbedef885872f3
title: Deportation protest
uri: Deportation-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Deportation_protest%29
content:
<p>
Elin Ersson prevented Sweden from deporting someone to Afghanistan
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/25/swedish-student-plane-protest-stops-mans-deportation-afghanistan">refusing
to sit down</a> on the flight.


feed_id: f8844fafa4d585ab92813a6cceeb4758
title: National Defense Authorization Act
uri: 2018-08-03-National-Defense-Authorization-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28National_Defense_Authorization_Act%29

content:
<p>
The National Defense Authorization Act explicitly says it 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/07/26/conference-committee-national-defense-authorization-act-states-trump-has-no">doesn't
authorize war with Iran</a>.


feed_id: bf0ceef1d9f1c41ec48b3ed50a16f699
title: Separated refugee families
uri: Separated-refugee-families
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Separated_refugee_families%29
content:
<p>
Skepticism After US Government Says It's "On Track" to Reunite 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/26/trump-reunification-deadline-concerns-children-parents-deported">2,551
[refugee families]</a>.
<p>
The government does not keep parents and lawyers informed when it moves
these prisoners around.  That is standard practice with prisoners of the US
government, and it is never excusable.
<p>
The US may keep some refugee children away from their parents 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/25/us-immigration-latest-parents-renuite-with-childen-problems">for
years</a>.
<p>
In some cases this will be "for their protection."  The sadism
agencies are using all possible creativity to make excuses to
"protect" children by causing them suffering.  They might even allow
the children as permanent immigrants to keep them away from their
families.
<p>
Or, even worse, they might allow those children to stay until age 18,
growing up knowing only the US, and then deport them to a country they
hardly remember.


feed_id: 3edf23df7c6cbc73f536d51ba674d823
title: Antisemitism
uri: 2018-08-03-Antisemitism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Antisemitism%29
content:
<p>
Several insightful comments about 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/27/antisemitism-ihra-definition-jewish-writers">drawing
the line for the boundary</a> of antisemitism.


feed_id: 382df6c5f06358e3b852a86c5ba76a57
title: Israeli colonists in West Bank
uri: Israeli-colonists-in-West-Bank
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Israeli_colonists_in_West_Bank%29
content:
<p>
A Palestinian teenager in the West Bank attacked Israeli colonists
with a knife, killing one.  Israelis shot him dead, as is their usual
practice.  Then they punished his relatives, also usual practice, but
they didn't feel that was enough.  So the next punishment will be to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/27/israel-responds-to-fatal-knife-attack-with-new-settler-homes">build
another illegal colony</a>, taking more land from the Palestinians.
<p>
Israel had, and has, no right to settle its citizens in the land it
conquered in 1967.


feed_id: 6f2aec25424c6766aeff4595b1c55bf4
title: Bullshitter's border wall
uri: Bullshitter-s-border-wall
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Bullshitters_border_wall%29
content:
<p>
The National Butterfly Center wildlife preserve will be 
<a href="https://reason.com/reasontv/2018/07/26/butterflies-and-border-walls">effectively
ruined</a> by the bullshitter's border wall.  So will the property of
many other landowners.
<p>
Eminent domain is acceptable as a practice as long as the government
properly compensates the people whose land is taken.  For the
government to seek excuses not to compensate them makes the practice
inexcusable.


feed_id: 8c5641e05195f2180fc7ed8e37938dd6
title: Massacres of Australian indigenous people
uri: Massacres-of-Australian-indigenous-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Massacres_of_Australian_indigenous_people%29

content:
<p>
A map now lists 250 massacres of Australian indigenous people.  Many
of them were committed with the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/27/evidence-of-250-massacres-of-indigenous-australians-mapped">help
or connivance of Australian uniformed thugs</a>.


feed_id: 7659f6bef7edf522a9f758f047993894
title: Medicine hackers
uri: Medicine-hackers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Medicine_hackers%29
content:
<p>
Medicine hackers 
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/43pngb/how-to-make-your-own-medicine-four-thieves-vinegar-collective">distribute
instructions for manufacturing medicines</a> to avoid the intolerable
prices of the US pharma industry.


feed_id: ae25f394435f9a33ffb099f15ca82b89
title: Death penalty
uri: 2018-08-03-Death-penalty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Death_penalty%29
content:
<p>
Public and legal pressure made the UK government reconsider the plan
to hand over two <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> fighters to the US 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/26/british-government-dirty-deal-trump-isis-suspects-trial">for
possible execution</a>.
<p>
The plan is illegal; the UK government is not allowed to cooperate
with the death penalty under any circumstances whatsoever.
<p>
The two extremists in question may be guilty of multiple murders, and
that would deserve punishment &mdash; but not the death penalty.  Even
the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> does not deserve the death penalty.


feed_id: b1c3a9561a539848d8b8f4b7985f0df5
title: Harassment of same-sex couples
uri: Harassment-of-same-sex-couples
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Harassment_of_same-sex_couples%29
content:
<p>
A right-wing extremist Italian politician 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/27/italian-minister-takes-aim-at-same-sex-couples-who-seek-surrogacy-abroad">wants
to harass same-sex couples</a> that have arranged surrogate gestation
in order to have a child.
<p>
The proposal is motivated by bigotry against same-sex couples, and
such bigotry deserves condemnation.  It is excessively cruel, probably
because right-wing extremism uses cruelty to recruit support.
<p>
However, I disapprove of surrogate gestation, along with all extreme
measures for producing offspring, regardless of the sex of the
would-be parents.  Such measures normalize the natalist position that
having children is tremendously important.  The pressure for people to
have children is one of the causes of possible coming global disaster.
We should discourage all the extreme measures, though not with the
cruelty that right-wing extremists would use.


feed_id: 193124b172dd59ce593297506609d756
title: Legalization of marijuana
uri: 2018-08-03-Legalization-of-marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Legalization_of_marijuana%29
content:
<p>
The UK has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/26/medicinal-cannabis-how-two-heartbreaking-cases-helped-change-law">legalized</a>
medicines made from marijuana.


feed_id: b1b9d28add23bb8f0e5e9092b56c5d8a
title: Tracking all cars' movements
uri: Tracking-all-cars-movements
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Tracking_all_cars_movements%29
content:
<p>
Connecticut 
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/location-tracking/connecticuts-plan-install-electronic-tolling-could-be">threatens
to track all cars' movements</a> and charge a toll on that basis.
<p>
What's worse is that the ACLU is legitimizing the scheme by proposing
only to regulate the use of the data.  That "solution" would last only
until the state finds an opportunity to relax the regulation.  On the
issue of massive surveillance, it is tantamount to surrender.
<p>
A real solution would be to collect money some other way.  One obvious
way is checking cars' total mileage from time to time, perhaps once a
month or once a year.  This is not ideal, but comes pretty close: it
would avoid nearly all the data collection in the currently proposed
scheme.


feed_id: 1f1b558b21589c6dfe16457a0e0c42b7
title: Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seeker
uri: Sri-Lankan-Tamil-asylum-seeker
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Sri_Lankan_Tamil_asylum_seeker%29
content:
<p>
Australia 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/26/flat-owners-have-to-pay-3m-recladding-cost-of-two-manchester-blocks">found
a convenient excuse</a> not to reexamine the asylum case of a Sri
Lankan Tamil man, even though his whole family has been shot or
disappeared.


feed_id: 2fb96c078be843ec278db34393160d9d
title: Debts from studying at "colleges"
uri: Debts-from-studying-at-colleges
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Debts_from_studying_at_colleges%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> DeVos 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/25/revolting-betsy-devos-unveils-proposal-make-it-harder-students-defrauded-predatory">delayed
Obama's rules</a> that would have enabled students to get out of their
debts for studying at "colleges" that cheated them.  Now she wants to
modify those rules so they would avoid achieving the goals.
<p>
This is an example of plutocratist rule: it encourages schemes to push
poor people into debt, then gives priority to the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">bankster</a> creditors.


feed_id: bb7f4c334cdd1cb3eae84d44ac21d384
title: Sleazy antiabortion tactics
uri: Sleazy-antiabortion-tactics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Sleazy_antiabortion_tactics%29
content:
<p>
Antiabortionists are trying a new legal pathway: 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/19/1781883/-The-state-law-that-gives-personhood-proponents-a-new-path-to-attack-abortion-rights">state
laws</a> saying that frozen embryos have an interest in being
gestated.
<p>
Given society's tremendous interest in not increasing the human
population, I think it would be wise to adopt laws that discourage
implanting frozen embryos.
<p>
Another sleazy tactic is to make women, before an abortion, choose how
to
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/20/1781986/-Whether-you-have-a-miscarriage-or-an-abortion-they-d-force-you-to-have-to-have-a-burial">"bury"
the fetus</a>.


feed_id: ff5fda8b1f509cca4a2341f3a2779e79
title: "Alternative medicine"
uri: Alternative-medicine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Alternative_medicine%29
content:
<p>
Gwyneth Paltrow started a magazine to publish about "alternative
medicine", but it didn't take off because the publisher insisted on
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/25/gwyneth-paltrow-didnt-want-conde-nast-to-fact-check-goop-articles">fact-checking
the medical claims</a>.
<p>
Most "alternative medicine" has not been scientifically tested.  Once
in a while, by chance, an alternative "treatment" is effective.
Mostly they aren't.


feed_id: 658492463d9288bc1a449ab290de5ffd
title: Flint's water supply
uri: 2018-08-03-Flint-s-water-supply
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Flints_water_supply%29
content:
<p>
For a period of time, Flint's water supply 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/26/report-finds-flint-water-crisis-may-have-killed-119-nearly-10-times-official-death">infected
people with legionaire's disease</a>.  12 deaths have been attributed
to this, but a study suggests a few dozen other deaths might have been
due to the same cause.
<p>
This is aside from the lead poisoning that damaged the brains of
thousands of children in Flint due to the bad water supply.
<p>
Both problems were the consequence of the Republicans' 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#01_February_2016_(Republicans_in_Michigan)">imposition
of a nondemocratic government on Flint</a>.


feed_id: a9692a724c796952f5e3c0f20f623217
title: Reporter banned from press event
uri: Reporter-banned-from-press-event
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Reporter_banned_from_press_event%29

content:
<p>
The bullshitter 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/26/while-claiming-support-free-press-white-house-defends-decision-ban-reporter-news">had
a specific reporter banned</a> from a press event for trying to ask
embarrassing questions at a previous event.


feed_id: c8b7add50a35eb0a3f0fb68a55948802
title: The ocean
uri: The-ocean
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28The_ocean%29
content:
<p>
Only 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/26/just-13-of-global-oceans-undamaged-by-humanity-research-reveals">13%
of the ocean's area</a> remains mostly wild and unaltered by human
activities.


feed_id: 59ddedcfd8bdfea15726c6bbe0a054b1
title: Bill to allow escape from vultures
uri: Bill-to-allow-escape-from-vultures
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Bill_to_allow_escape_from_vultures%29

content:
<p>
Progressive senators have introduced a bill to allow US territories to
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/07/26/senate-bill-offers-debt-relief-puerto-rico">escape
from debt after a natural disaster</a>.  This would enable Puerto Rico
to escape from the vultures that are trying to convert the territory's
infrastructure into their property.


feed_id: 9e717a2d3ff6c8801bba913b027743db
title: Cheater's business history
uri: Cheater-s-business-history
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Cheaters_business_history%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a>'s business history is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/26/trumps-dirty-money">full
of signs that lead one to suspect money laundering</a>.


feed_id: f3fcbf89a5535c4acf3c53a0bd5b17fb
title: Thugs planned arrest of Stormy Daniels
uri: Thugs-planned-arrest-of-Stormy-Daniels
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#2_August_2018_%28Thugs_planned_arrest_of_Stormy_Daniels%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">Thugs</a> planned an operation specifically to arrest Stormy Daniels, then
<a href="https://www.thecut.com/2018/07/stormy-daniels-arrest-columbus-police-stripping.html">lied
about it</a>.


feed_id: e7917440d2a23b57fcf3e4dfa53c1814
title: Urgent: Block Kavanaugh's agenda
uri: Urgent-Block-Kavanaugh-s-agenda
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Block_Kavanaughs_agenda%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/kavanaugh-environment">call
on the Senate</a> to block Kavanaugh's anti-environmental agenda.


feed_id: 2abe3d121a0c52abd01abaff9d9d773f
title: Urgent: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
uri: Urgent-Violence-Against-Women-Reauthorization-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Violence_Against_Women_Reauthorization_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/vawa-july-2018/">call
on your congresscritter</a> to cosponsor the Violence Against Women
Reauthorization Act.


feed_id: 6094871746efb5305537c634cfd9076e
title: Urgent: Call on UPS to quit ALEC
uri: Urgent-Call-on-UPS-to-quit-ALEC
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Call_on_UPS_to_quit_ALEC%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/UPS-dump-ALEC">call on
UPS</a> to quit ALEC.


feed_id: 14778db2bc269fccdd76e5b0de2cba3f
title: California wildfires
uri: 2018-08-04-California-wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28California_wildfires%29
content:
<p>
As California wildfires become bigger, faster-moving and much more
frequent,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/30/california-wildfires-climate-change-new-normal">firefighters
worry</a> that fighting one fire after another will make them
exhausted so that mistakes will kill them.


feed_id: 4e6394c46425b90509bccbe79a4c4e11
title: Urgent: Control over public space
uri: Urgent-Control-over-public-space
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Control_over_public_space%29

content:
<p>
Citizens of Massachusetts: 
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/send-message/ma-stop-corporate-takeover">tell the legislature</a> not to give control
over public space permanently to businesses.


feed_id: b1953fe3db8ed1fec4bdfb1a40d4a040
title: Global heating damage
uri: 2018-08-04-Global-heating-damage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Global_heating_damage%29
content:
<p>
Soon the damage caused by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> will be so great that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/31/climate-change-denial-oil-companies-fossil-fuels">even
fossil fuel companies will be unable to escape</a>.


feed_id: e9a1e15aa8cc65b8dae73cc9ce37739f
title: Lies used to get US to conquer Iraq
uri: Lies-used-to-get-US-to-conquer-Iraq
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Lies_used_to_get_US_to_conquer_Iraq%29

content:
<p>
Aside from the lies about Saddam Hussein, 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/30/foolish-wars-have-consequences">other
lies</a> were used to get the US to conquer Iraq and spread misery
there.  Lies like, "This war will be quick, easy, cheap, and painless,
and Iraqis will thank us."


feed_id: c0c8d6741ba48d5d8d760c586151985e
title: Rand Paul to support Kavanaugh
uri: Rand-Paul-to-support-Kavanaugh
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Rand_Paul_to_support_Kavanaugh%29
content:
<p>
Rand Paul 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/30/rand-paul-endorses-trump-supreme-court-pick-brett-kavanaugh">yielded
and will support</a> Kavanaugh.
<p>
So, probably, will Manchin.
<p>
What a shame that Manchin, Donnelly and Heitkamp were not replaced in
primaries.  They are only a little better than Republicans, but they
block all chance of electing senators that won't be like Republicans.


feed_id: c003d16d1c68462f225b3fab469f6e99
title: Mismanagement of Ebola outbreak
uri: Mismanagement-of-Ebola-outbreak
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Mismanagement_of_Ebola_outbreak%29
content:
<p>
WHO mismanaged the large Ebola outbreak of 2014 and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jul/30/getting-to-zero-book-mistakes-ebola-outbreak-oliver-johnson-sinead-walsh">failed
to make reforms afterward</a>.
<p>
The availability of a vaccine has made it 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#31_July_2018_(Ebola_vaccine_swiftly_ends_outbreak)">a
lot easier to control an Ebola outbreak now</a> than it was in 2014,
but WHO should nonetheless learn to do a good job.


feed_id: 7f189c28a95d4478c4abe7ac59248b41
title: The need to defend Assange's freedom
uri: The-need-to-defend-Assange-s-freedom
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28The_need_to_defend_Assanges_freedom%29

content:
<p>
Why Americans 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/27/why-americans-need-defend-julian-assanges-freedom">Need
to Defend Julian Assange's Freedom</a>.
<p>
The overall issue is vitally important, far more important than
which side Wikileaks' publications have served.


feed_id: 83785e1473bd2f1d456d084b9816c890
title: Extreme weather and price of food
uri: Extreme-weather-and-price-of-food
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Extreme_weather_and_price_of_food%29

content:
<p>
Extreme weather may 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/30/extreme-weather-could-push-uk-food-prices-up-this-year-say-farmers">drive
up the price of food</a> in the UK.
<p>
In a few decades, we 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_July_2018_(Global_heating_and_pests)">may
not be able to grow wheat</a> in the US.


feed_id: e1bbcbe6ab9fb472276b6ebdfef25de3
title: Fossil fuel subsidies
uri: 2018-08-04-Fossil-fuel-subsidies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Fossil_fuel_subsidies%29
content:
<p>
America Spends 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jul/30/america-spends-over-20bn-per-year-on-fossil-fuel-subsidies-abolish-them">Over
$20bn per Year</a> on Fossil Fuel Subsidies.  Abolish them!


feed_id: 8b0c53d1845c2cbc06775991b8cc60a8
title: Tulsi Gabbard's ties with Hindu fanatics
uri: Tulsi-Gabbard-s-ties-with-Hindu-fanatics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Tulsi_Gabbards_ties_with_Hindu_fanatics%29

content:
<p>
An appeal to Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to break off 
<a href="https://www.minoritiesofindia.org/fascist-hindu-nationalism-besieges-indias-minorities/">ties
with murderous Hindu fanatics</a>.


feed_id: 1b8a84885a2e86262969d3491f69e62e
title: Mumia Abu-Jamal remains an activist
uri: Mumia-Abu-Jamal-remains-an-activist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Mumia_Abu-Jamal_remains_an_activist%29

content:
<p>
Mumia Abu-Jamal is less of a celebrity now that he no longer faces
execution, but he 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/30/intoxicating-freedom-gripping-fear-mumia-abu-jamal-on-life-as-a-black-panther">remains
an activist</a>.
<p>
It seems likely he shot and killed the Philadelphia <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a>, as accused.
I have no idea, based on the known facts, whether that killing was
justifiable or not.  But if his trial was full of evident injustices,
he deserves a new trial.


feed_id: cf6e88e91222af5bff97d89d3c1262b1
title: UK public schools
uri: 2018-08-04-UK-public-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28UK_public_schools%29
content:
<p>
Parents are leading the fight to block the UK's forced conversion of
their local public school into an 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/30/outsourced-schools-parents-primary-academy-trusts">unaccountable
publicly paid private schools</a>.


feed_id: aa5ca68a3f1db2a46d579a20f7380470
title: Theater of Security Agency
uri: 2018-08-04-Theater-of-Security-Agency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Theater_of_Security_Agency%29
content:
<p>
The TSA has put some passengers on a list of suspects, because of
actions that 
<a href="http://apps.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/graphics/2018/07/tsa-quiet-skies/">vaguely
suggest a remote possibility they might be involved in something</a>,
then has air marshals to follow them and take notes on them, in
airports and in flight.
<p>
In effect, the Theater of Security Agency is performing security
theater with only itself as an audience.
<p>
Does this suggest to you that the TSA is getting more money than it
can put to any good use?


feed_id: 64409d950573da484073956ed2ae219d
title: Tories' voter suppression plan
uri: Tories-voter-suppression-plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Tories_voter_suppression_plan%29
content:
<p>
The Tories' voter suppression plan is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/30/compulsory-voter-id-uk-government-urged-halt-plans-vulnerable-disadvantaged-charities-warn">facing
opposition</a>.


feed_id: f85a0081e8c55dd0727b332155d6f5f1
title: National identity
uri: National-identity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28National_identity%29
content:
<p>
"<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/24/national-identity-fake-toxic-intolerance-italy-fascism'>National
identity</a> is fake. We should focus on the wider common good."
<p>
I think "artificial" is a more apt word than "fake", It is good to
encourage fellow-feeling with the people of your country, but not to
the point that it interferes with fellow-feeling with everyone else.


feed_id: 62bc023a325bda793d623374b587abcb
title: Proposed merger of A&amp;TT and Time Warner
uri: Proposed-merger-of-A-TT-and-Time-Warner
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Proposed_merger_of_ATT_and_Time_Warner%29

content:
<p>
The proposed merger of AT&amp;T and Time Warner would become 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/27/how-att-time-warner-deal-could-ruin-open-internet">even
more harmful due to the absence of network neutrality</a>.
<p>
The US should do what some other countries have done: require whoever
owns the cable to a customer's home to rent its use to any ISP.  This
way we could have many competing ISPs.


feed_id: 946878b7d19e8ad9581fba6db323e2fd
title: Publicly-owned drug manufacturer
uri: Publicly-owned-drug-manufacturer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Publicly-owned_drug_manufacturer%29

content:
<p>
A publicly-owned drug manufacturer 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/28/we-need-public-option-prescription-drugs">would
be a good idea</a> for the US.
<p>
However, that alone will not do enough to push down gouging drug
prices.  The US should do what other countries do: negotiate with drug
companies on behalf of all patients to set a lower price.
<p>
But that alone is not enough either.  When a drug's manufacturer funds
the studies of the effects of the drug, it 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2004-jan-apr.html#28%20April%202004%20(Drug%20Company%20Research)">corrupts
the study</a>.  The government should fund these studies, taking the
drug company out of the equation entirely.
<p>
This will eliminate one of the arguments that the drug companies use
to give an appearance of justifying charging such high prices.


feed_id: a5c037cad2ddbc1530d5519affeef04b
title: Humane prison
uri: Humane-prison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Humane_prison%29
content:
<p>
New Zealand is replacing a supermax prison with a humane prison
designed to provide a sort of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/yoga-herbs-and-sunshine-new-zealand-opens-humane-jail-for-most-violent-inmates">therapy
for mentally ill violent criminals</a>.


feed_id: aea64d2d90f071c7c306740402c438b5
title: Sale of customers' DNA data
uri: Sale-of-customers-DNA-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Sale_of_customers_DNA_data%29
content:
<p>
23andMe will 
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/big-pharma-dna/566240/">sell
the DNA data of its customers</a> to GlaxoSmithKline.
<p>
If this is useful for medical research, it should not be a monopoly of
one company.
<p>
The results of DNA testing should be returned to the subject, then
deleted.  If the subject wants to make them available for research,
perse can send them.  If perse does send them, they should be
available to all researchers.


feed_id: 4e386b9ffa0a9baeac9796fe4aa947f3
title: Kelsey Smith Act fails to protect
uri: Kelsey-Smith-Act-fails-to-protect
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Kelsey_Smith_Act_fails_to_protect%29

content:
<p>
A bill, the Kelsey Smith Act, tries to do something well-meaning (make
mobile phone networks report the location of a phone when <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> say
the owner needs help), but it
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/07/undermining-mobile-phone-users-privacy-wont-make-us-safer">has
nothing to protect against mistakes or lies by the thugs</a>.


feed_id: 8bacc3c0bec0eefc1a4319fe1ca00c76
title: Bully's attacks on the press
uri: Bully-s-attacks-on-the-press
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Bullys_attacks_on_the_press%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>'s persistent attacks on the press lead some in the press to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/29/new-york-times-washington-post-trump-attacks-press-warning">fear
that they will encourage physical attacks</a> by his supporters.


feed_id: a3462e4b814330fbc4f41177143dd566
title: Illegal cutting of forests
uri: Illegal-cutting-of-forests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Illegal_cutting_of_forests%29
content:
<p>
Illegal cutting of forests is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/30/bulk-of-timber-exports-from-papua-new-guinea-wont-pass-legal-test">rife
in Papua New Guinea</a>, and the level of corruption is such that
logging permits are not a sufficient basis to judge whether timber was
cut legally.


feed_id: 1c00954462066a3c4c692ea3671d11fb
title: Laws that restrict strip clubs
uri: Laws-that-restrict-strip-clubs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Laws_that_restrict_strip_clubs%29
content:
<p>
Strippers 
<a href="https://www.thecut.com/2018/07/11-strippers-on-being-criminalized-for-doing-their-jobs.html">criticize</a>
the laws that restrict strip clubs.


feed_id: 293f213fdfb7ed79c6632beb7deab83d
title: Giving birth to a child in the US
uri: Giving-birth-to-a-child-in-the-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_%28Giving_birth_to_a_child_in_the_US%29

content:
<p>
The US is the most dangerous country in the developed world for giving
birth to a child.
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/27/us-worst-place-world-give-birth-usa-today-investigation">50,000
women are injured every year</a>, and half of those injuries could be
avoided by proper care.
<p>
All it would take is some money.


feed_id: 0a034093f91a55455e5c0323659ba533
title: Medicare for All report
uri: Medicare-for-All-report
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Medicare_for_All_report%29
content:
<p>
The Koch brothers funded a think tank to publish a smear report
projecting that Medicare for All would cost 33 trillion dollars over
the next ten years.  This is
a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/30/koch-funded-hit-piece-backfires-shows-medicare-all-would-save-300-billion-over-ten?cd-origin=rss">savings
of many trillions</a> compared with what the current US system is
expected to cost &mdash; and it doesn't cover everyone.
<p>
The report mentioned this point at the end, where many reporters did
not notice it.
<p>
It also
disregarded <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/31/bernie-sanders-thanks-koch-brothers-accidentally-making-case-medicare-all?cd-origin=rss">8
trillion in expected cost savings</a> from simplifications in the
payment system under Medicare for All.


feed_id: f3c47d6b0925965564e4f3e6787c570e
title: Forced marriage
uri: 2018-08-04-Forced-marriage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Forced_marriage%29
content:
<p>
The UK worked with Bangladesh to defeat a plan to force a woman into
marriage.  Her parents threatened to kill her if she didn't do as they
ordered.
Now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/30/uk-couple-jailed-trying-to-force-daughter-marry-in-bangladesh">they
are in prison</a>.
<p>
It will be necessary to watch them carefully when they get out of prison.
They may try to kill her then.


feed_id: c1683db1209b88e38a96272790cc1f8d
title: Fatal weather in 2070
uri: Fatal-weather-in-2070
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Fatal_weather_in_2070%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> will bring fatal weather to the North China plain
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/31/chinas-most-populous-area-could-be-uninhabitable-by-end-of-century">starting
in 2070</a>.
<p>
Other parts of China may also be hit by this.


feed_id: 0557ac4df388fb20d62a17cb39055996
title: Concentration of wealth
uri: 2018-08-04-Concentration-of-wealth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Concentration_of_wealth%29
content:
<p>
Canada is
suffering <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/31/canada-richest-families-same-wealth-12-million-people-report">increasing
concentration of wealth</a>, but it's nowhere near as bad as in the
US.


feed_id: de2a683d236357e84687cdbb0e4cf1f5
title: Political ads on Facebook
uri: Political-ads-on-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Political_ads_on_Facebook%29
content:
<p>
Facebook
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/31/facebook-russia-election-midterms-meddling">shut
down accounts</a> of Russians that were buying political ads, accusing
them of "coordinated meddling" in the coming US election.


feed_id: b6d8ff7bd1c5dde21105ff52cd0761ae
title: Criticism of Israel
uri: 2018-08-04-Criticism-of-Israel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Criticism_of_Israel%29
content:
<p>
Palestinians in the
UK <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/31/palestinians-in-the-uk-speak-out-for-the-right-to-freedom-of-speech">published
a statement</a> condemning the attempt to label of criticism of Israel
as "antisemitism" as a violation of their supporters' human rights.
<p>
I've read a number of articles in the Guardian about the Labour
Party's refusal to label it so.  It seems that there are, or have
been, real antisemites in the party, but that there is also an
organized campaign by supporters of the Israeli occupation/blockade of
Palestine to force the party to endorse that tactic of mislabeling.


feed_id: f037668a7bfc1e1d5a406320fa8b8bf6
title: 3D-printed guns
uri: 2018-08-04-3D-printed-guns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%283D-printed_guns%29
content:
<p>
Seattle
Judge <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/31/seattle-judge-blocks-release-of-blueprints-for-3d-printed-guns">Blocks
Release of Blueprints</a> for 3D-Printed Guns.
<p>
I would rather that they not be available, but the censorship of
preventing that seems dangerous.


feed_id: f85fdc278b9f540c9914904e0c49bb7a
title: Electronic health records
uri: Electronic-health-records
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Electronic_health_records%29
content:
<p>
Australians Say No Thanks to Electronic Health Records, because the
system <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/riskfactor/computing/it/australians-choosing-to-optout-of-controversial-my-health-record-system">does
not respect their privacy</a>.


feed_id: 4092981b278b99af3df2ccf39f24a00e
title: Unified welfare payments
uri: Unified-welfare-payments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Unified_welfare_payments%29
content:
<p>
The UK unified all forms of welfare support into a single monthly
payment.  In cases of domestic violence or abuse,
this <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/01/universal-credit-payments-at-risk-of-being-used-by-abusers-mps-say">plays
into the abuser's hands</a>.


feed_id: dd49ff7beb2f16a91c95fc8c8ffc7c5c
title: Patents and Indian tribes
uri: Patents-and-Indian-tribes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Patents_and_Indian_tribes%29
content:
<p>
Companies can no
longer <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/07/court-native-american-tribe-cant-be-a-sovereign-shield-during-patent-review/">use
Indian tribes as a shield</a> against reevaluation of a US patent.


feed_id: f026a15becc214692c27b1b9b47b4524
title: Racist thug attack
uri: Racist-thug-attack
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Racist_thug_attack%29
content:
<p>
Two New Orleans <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have been charged after making
an <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/officers-fired-charged-after-allegedly-beating-man-and-calling-him-fake-american/">unprovoked
racist attack</a>.


feed_id: 4c0ac19155992749a28ebc6800718fc4
title: Tongass National Forest
uri: Tongass-National-Forest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Tongass_National_Forest%29
content:
<p>
We need
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/31/alaska-tongass-national-forest-at-risk-logging-perdue">save
the Tongass National Forest</a> from Republican axes so that it can
continue to do the crucial work that healthy forests do to protect
Earth's climate from us.


feed_id: 746fef51d788d48d93a444482b710aeb
title: Stigmatizing abortion
uri: Stigmatizing-abortion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Stigmatizing_abortion%29
content:
<p>
The more abortion is stigmatized, the more women tend
to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322811408_Internalized_Stigma_and_Stigma-Related_Isolation_Predict_Women's_Psychological_Distress_and_Physical_Health_Symptoms_Post-Abortion">suffer
mental and physical symptoms</a> after an abortion.


feed_id: e7c83a1d0ed985d597009507da82c672
title: Roman library discovered
uri: Roman-library-discovered
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Roman_library_discovered%29
content:
<p>
An ancient Roman
library <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/31/spectacular-ancient-public-library-discovered-in-germany">has
been discovered</a> in Cologne, which may have been a public library.


feed_id: c289ff3c3c5e645917771bf21b06e604
title: Phoning Rohrabacher
uri: Phoning-Rohrabacher
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Phoning_Rohrabacher%29
content:
<p>
Republican Congresscritter Rohrabacher is using <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
to <a href="https://thedailybanter.com/issues/2018/07/27/rohrabachers-intimidates-citizens/">harass
voters that phone</a>.


feed_id: 58edb9f2eba273312669c3b798bf99da
title: Death sentences in Egypt
uri: Death-sentences-in-Egypt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Death_sentences_in_Egypt%29
content:
<p>
Egypt
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/30/egypt-responds-trumps-lifting-military-aid-ban-sentencing-75-anti-coup-protesters?cd-origin=rss">sentenced
80 protesters to death</a>.  They participated in a sit-in to protest
the military coup against President Morsi.
<p>
I recommend that everyone stay away from Egypt.


feed_id: c64039c0398f7644b22a85748d14b3cb
title: GMOs in India
uri: GMOs-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28GMOs_in_India%29
content:
<p>
India has strictly regulated GMOs,
but <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/30/despite-ban-and-new-labels-study-reveals-large-scale-illegal-presence-gmos-indias?cd-origin=rss">regulations
are widely ignored</a>.
<p>
I don't advocate a blanket ban on GMOs.  Each genetically modified
variety is a separate issue, with its own advantages and
disadvantages.  Some of them will be advantageous to use.  However,
it is important to study each one.
<p>
However, those which will be grown in large quantities, for food or
fabric, must not spread patent pollution
that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2003-nov-feb.html#23_January_2004_(Infringed_genes)">tramples
farmers' rights</a>.


feed_id: 78ba3b8302a5403c27c8449247e45aee
title: Resisting privatization
uri: Resisting-privatization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Resisting_privatization%29
content:
<p>
The citizens of Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/30/lancaster-shows-how-say-no-geo-group?cd-origin=rss">organized
to prevent privatization</a> of support for just-released prisoners
that is intended to help them reintegrate into society.
<p>
The intention of the companies that take over any sort of public
service is to divert some of the funds into profit.  Since that means
less money for actually doing the job, the company must (1) pay the
staff a pittance and (2) skimp on the job.
<p>
Government activities should never be contracted out to companies
if the amount of work is enough to occupy several full-time staff.


feed_id: 2d5201fd545bfbbda14a12345aa3c0ed
title: Fix Democracy Now campaign
uri: Fix-Democracy-Now-campaign
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Fix_Democracy_Now_campaign%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/30/because-corporate-money-poisoning-our-democracy-progressives-launch-fixdemocracynow?cd-origin=rss">Fix
Democracy Now campaign</a> is aimed at ending the schemes used to
suppress democracy in the US.


feed_id: 5322f121a3b277e0af67030c300c4067
title: JPay tablets for prisoners
uri: JPay-tablets-for-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28JPay_tablets_for_prisoners%29
content:
<p>
JPay tablets are provided gratis to prisoners in New York State.  Then
they <a href="https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2018/07/24/no-cost-contract/">gouge
the prisoners</a> and their families.


feed_id: 0bffea2dc2ef527f94d8799707eb4675
title: Biometric Mirror
uri: Biometric-Mirror
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Biometric_Mirror%29
content:
<p>
Biometric Mirror gives people an opportunity to see how harmful
<a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/holding-a-black-mirror-up-to-artificial-intelligence">AI-based
suppositions and probabilistic inferences</a> can be.


feed_id: 9487aa58795e8432d7e62c351b0a0d54
title: Sinclair-Tribune merger
uri: Sinclair-Tribune-merger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Sinclair-Tribune_merger%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> has 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/07/trump-tweets-anger-at-fcc-after-pai-blocks-sinclairtribune-merger/">threatened
Ajit Pai</a> after the FCC enforced its rules and blocked the
Sinclair-Tribune merger.


feed_id: 102c07ab0f87f818e1165d72b856e506
title: New Zealand
uri: 2018-08-05-New-Zealand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28New_Zealand%29
content:
<p>
Zoe Carew, age 7, asked a New Zealand official to change "Linemen" to
"Line Crew" on temporary road signs.  So 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/31/pulled-into-line-girl-7-gets-new-zealand-to-change-sexist-road-signs">he
did</a>.
<p>
Seven-year-olds of New Zealand, please write to officials asking them
<a href="https://stallman.org/business-supremacy-treaties.html">not to sign the TPP with
its I Sue Democratic States clause</a>.


feed_id: 50180519537eed47987fa3418f340910
title: No martyrs
uri: No-martyrs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28No_martyrs%29
content:
<p>
To execute those who fought for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> would glorify them as 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/30/isis-beatle-el-shafee-elsheikh-execution-radicalisation">martyrs</a>.


feed_id: f3ae85e0bb1c239c37192b14a7524692
title: "Flat hierarchy" facade
uri: Flat-hierarchy-facade
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Flat_hierarchy_facade%29
content:
<p>
No Bosses, No Managers: the Truth Behind the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/30/no-bosses-managers-flat-hierachy-workplace-tech-hollywood">"Flat
Hierarchy" Facade</a>.


feed_id: 8d8af68aba45f0fc052d94830767176e
title: Assam list of citizens
uri: Assam-list-of-citizens
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Assam_list_of_citizens%29
content:
<p>
Four million people in Assam 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/30/four-million-excluded-from-indian-states-assam-draft-list-of-citizens">face
having to prove that they are Indian citizens</a>, or left stateless
and put into US-style immigration prisons.


feed_id: c36c6bd9b53c395a5ddb9b33a9173cb5
title: Amazon worker injuries
uri: Amazon-worker-injuries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Amazon_worker_injuries%29
content:
<p>
When workers at Amazon are injured, Amazon 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/30/accidents-at-amazon-workers-left-to-suffer-after-warehouse-injuries">shafts
them</a>.


feed_id: 26d22af1e60a48d90a4b932532fc74ba
title: Government By the People Act
uri: Government-By-the-People-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Government_By_the_People_Act%29
content:
<p>
The Government By the People Act is another bill that proposes to
<a href="https://sarbanes.house.gov/bythepeople">replace campaign
funding by the rich</a>.


feed_id: 7ff3cf5ef7633048ada357635d83cc83
title: King penguin population crash
uri: King-penguin-population-crash
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28King_penguin_population_crash%29
content:
<p>
The population of king penguins in their principal island home has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/30/worlds-largest-king-penguin-colony-has-declined-by-90">crashed
by 90%</a>.
<p>
Scientists don't know why, but if <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> is not responsible
now, it is expected to hit them later.


feed_id: db318bdfd27b3f38fab40ab40f79cd6f
title: Nicaraguans fleeing to Costa Rica
uri: Nicaraguans-fleeing-to-Costa-Rica
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Nicaraguans_fleeing_to_Costa_Rica%29

content:
<p>
Thousands of Nicaraguans are fleeing to Costa Rica to escape 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/nicaragua-refugees-costa-rica-daniel-ortega-violence">repression
by Ortega's "security" forces</a>.
<p>
Various expats' reports on the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/30/blood-on-the-streets-in-ortegas-corrupt-nicaragua">clampdown
in Nicaragua</a>.


feed_id: 02bc44818b7c1526618363fcb86f8e53
title: Another US economic crisis looms
uri: Another-US-economic-crisis-looms
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Another_US_economic_crisis_looms%29

content:
<p>
Sooner or later the US will have 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/30/economy-fast-lane-no-brakes">another
economic crisis</a>.  The causes of the last one are still mostly in
place.
<p>
The Dodd-Frank law was an 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#19_March_2014_(Federal_Reserve_seeks_to_implement_ineffective_reforms)">insufficient
measure to prevent another crisis</a>, and
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#8_June_2018_(Break_up_the_big_banks)">part
of it has been repealed</a>.


feed_id: 289f065e8f719a44024cca8e5037c793
title: Macron a plutocratist
uri: Macron-a-plutocratist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_August_2018_%28Macron_a_plutocratist%29
content:
<p>
Macron is being harmed by the scandal of his aide who dressed up as a
uniformed <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> to help beat up a protester.  But the worst scandal is
that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/30/macron-benalla-scandal-undo-him">he's
a centrist</a> &mdash; a plutocratist.
<p>
Alas, he has already done permanent damage to the rights of workers,
and to the interests of the non-rich.


feed_id: 77bbf608546fca8e332d3cb2a5b0e4d8
title: Pruitt's EPA decisions
uri: Pruitt-s-EPA-decisions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Pruitts_EPA_decisions%29
content:
<p>
Pruitt's EPA Decisions 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/07/31/pruitts-epa-decisions-should-be-suspended-until-corruption-investigations-are">Should
Be Suspended</a> Until Corruption Investigations Are Complete.


feed_id: c7074240fcdf1bca2452a4ed5dd91d43
title: Putting the bully above the law
uri: Putting-the-bully-above-the-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Putting_the_bully_above_the_law%29
content:
<p>
Brett Kavanaugh Would Put Trump 
<a href="http://www.pfaw.org/blog-posts/brett-kavanaugh-would-put-trump-above-the-law/">Above
the Law</a>.


feed_id: c4cb035d084c9c50cb5c7d8e0f2568f3
title: Saboteur of Homeland Sadism
uri: Saboteur-of-Homeland-Sadism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Saboteur_of_Homeland_Sadism%29
content:
<p>
Senator Durbin: the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#saboteur">saboteur</a> of Homeland Sadism 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/31/sen-durbin-tells-architect-humanitarian-disaster-kirstjen-nielsen-resign">should
resign</a> for having taken 2700 border-crossers' kids away from their
parents.


feed_id: 1d98ad01068f3ae9c7de564a995b662b
title: US government legal aid for refugees
uri: US-government-legal-aid-for-refugees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28US_government_legal_aid_for_refugees%29

content:
<p>
Refugees are especially vulnerable denial of their rights by
government officials.  US government legal aid 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/31/lawyering-immigration-trump-era">helps
them to exercise their rights</a>.
<p>
Counterintuitively, it also saves the US money &mdash; imprisoning
refugees turns out to be expensive.  But even that reason may not sway
officials whose goal is to demonize and scapegoat refugees, not merely
to brush them off.


feed_id: c7ebfb3d575a656af89e4b470a747ebf
title: British crown's tax-haven islands
uri: British-crown-s-tax-haven-islands
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28British_crowns_tax-haven_islands%29

content:
<p>
Jersey and Guernsey, tax-haven islands that belong to the British
crown but are not part of the United Kingdom, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/31/jersey-finance-paid-iea-to-trash-hotbeds-of-tax-evasion-claims">paid
a plutocratist think-tank</a> to publish absurd trickle-down arguments
in favor of tax havens.


feed_id: 6e8fbe455f5b66c7cac0b37266da6fc6
title: Thug gets promotion
uri: Thug-gets-promotion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Thug_gets_promotion%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Cop Who Shot Unarmed Black Man 
<a href="https://www.theonion.com/cop-who-shot-unarmed-black-man-let-off-with-a-promotion-1828002782">Let
Off With A Promotion</a>.


feed_id: 83df9766299abeca7d8088420b56f63b
title: US government whitewash of Keystone XL
uri: US-government-whitewash-of-Keystone-XL
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28US_government_whitewash_of_Keystone_XL%29

content:
<p>
The US government 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/31/denouncing-trumps-environmental-impact-review-illegal-green-groups-vow-defeat">issued
a whitewash</a> as the environmental impact review about the Keystone
XL tar sands pipeline.


feed_id: 606ddb57c8b76c460252a21e9ca1e8c0
title: Increasing pressure on the bullshitter
uri: Increasing-pressure-on-the-bullshitter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Increasing_pressure_on_the_bullshitter%29

content:
<p>
As pressure increases on the bullshitter for his crimes and tricks, he
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/31/trump-major-legal-and-political-trouble-his-desperate-attempts-escape-it-could-lead">might
do drastic things to escape</a>, such as declare martial law or start
a war.
<p>
Perhaps this is his motive for preparing a war with Iran.


feed_id: 5c97d4bb7c31f7932dd76f143c21ffb8
title: Donor-advised funds
uri: Donor-advised-funds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Donor-advised_funds%29
content:
<p>
"Donor-advised funds" allow rich people to take tax deductions today
for "donations" that 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/07/31/if-you-take-charitable-tax-deduction-you-should-actually-give-charity">won't
actually reach any charity for years or decades</a>.  Perhaps never.


feed_id: b567e3e66489c2ff1fcb30c53fea1695
title: Campaign to encourage young people to vote
uri: Campaign-to-encourage-young-people-to-vote
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Campaign_to_encourage_young_people_to_vote%29

content:
<p>
A Democratic billionaire is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/31/bypassing-democratic-party-billionaire-tom-steyer-pours-110-million-impeach-trump">funding
a campaign</a> to encourage young people to register and vote.  It
says that impeachment of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> is the biggest motivator.


feed_id: f95f272fbee432fe57bc178cca165ad1
title: Work precarious in the UK
uri: Work-precarious-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Work_precarious_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
Many workers in the UK 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2018/jul/31/british-workers-call-in-sick-record-low-economic-weakness">no
longer dare to call in sick</a>; their work is precarious so they
could be fired for that.
<p>
Instead they go to work while sick.  That risks making themselves
sicker and making other people sick.


feed_id: 107a388165ff6d5a4676195d494a0bfa
title: The Republican Party
uri: 2018-08-06-The-Republican-Party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28The_Republican_Party%29
content:
<p>
The Republican Party has 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/30/1784619/-10-signs-the-Republican-Party-is-now-a-full-blown-cult">morphed
into a cult</a>; it shows all the crucial signs.
<p>
The advice about how to lead people out of a cult is something that
you could try to use with people that you have a long-term personal
relationship with.  It is not applicable to acquaintances.


feed_id: 0da72846e87dc73cf15e2e971a94231f
title: Taxing electric cars and bicycles
uri: Taxing-electric-cars-and-bicycles
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Taxing_electric_cars_and_bicycles%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a>
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/30/1784657/-House-Republicans-want-to-tax-bicycle-tires-transit-and-electric-vehicle-batteries">want
to tax batteries for electric vehicles, and bicycle tires</a>.  This
is in the name of eliminating "free riders" on roads.
<p>
The same motive is cited for schemes to track all car travel
in places such as 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#3_August_2018_(Tracking_all_cars_movements)">Connecticut</a>.
Supposedly it is unfair that the gas tax falls heavily on the cars
that burn fossil fuels and help to destroy civilization, and not at
all on electric cars whose electricity can be obtained from renewable
generation.
<p>
I wonder how much the Koch brothers paid legislators to advocate these
positions.


feed_id: ee3c0c55b5315c9fa1150f1498c9af7f
title: Separation of children from parents
uri: 2018-08-06-Separation-of-children-from-parents
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Separation_of_children_from_parents%29

content:
<p>
Some border-crossing parents say that the deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> returned
their children, only to demand they agree to immediate deportation.
When they refused to waive their rights, the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/30/1784659/-Some-migrant-parents-were-torn-from-their-children-twice-lawsuit-alleges">took
their children away again</a>.


feed_id: eda42ac4998f64f127a88203f2521536
title: Billionaires' capital gains tax
uri: Billionaires-capital-gains-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Billionaires_capital_gains_tax%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> hopes to order the IRS to change its rules to give
billionaires a 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/31/how-will-they-pay-it-trump-plan-would-bypass-congress-hand-rich-another-100-billion">giant
tax cut on capital gains</a>.


feed_id: f49567a234bc2b800eee1ad21db17bd1
title: Urgent: Eliminate ISDS
uri: Urgent-Eliminate-ISDS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Eliminate_ISDS%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://petitions.signforgood.com/replace-NAFTA/">call
for the renegotiated NAFTA to eliminate ISDS</a>, and add
environmental protection and wage standards.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 2ea9d96f3805d7207d22eafbebad4753
title: Urgent: Oil drilling safety rules
uri: Urgent-Oil-drilling-safety-rules
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Oil_drilling_safety_rules%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3361">call
on the US</a> not to weaken undersea oil drilling safety rules.
</p>
<p>If you file a comment, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: ddbc134d62dad24bdda7747efd4e1dce
title: Suspicious Facebook accounts
uri: Suspicious-Facebook-accounts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Suspicious_Facebook_accounts%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Facebook Identifies Dozens Of Suspicious Accounts Seemingly
<a href="https://www.theonion.com/facebook-identifies-dozens-of-suspicious-accounts-seemi-1828031512">Enjoying
Time On Website</a>.


feed_id: effb8bb6a330ac753cc18c9823f9a94a
title: Amazon's captive purchasers
uri: Amazon-s-captive-purchasers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Amazon%27s_captive_purchasers%29
content:
<p>
Amazon is luring US local governments to become captive purchasers.
If they do, the city
will <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/01/amazons-worst-bargain-yet?cd-origin=rss">lose
out in a number of ways</a>.
<p>
So will workers in the region, given the way
Amazon <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#4_July_2018_(Amazon_warehouse_like_prison)">mistreats
them</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/amazon.html">No one should buy from
Amazon.</a>


feed_id: d42b77e77f37963293391fd3ce3423a6
title: Thugs called on black Americans
uri: Thugs-called-on-black-Americans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Thugs_called_on_black_Americans%29
content:
<p>
For black Americans, having the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> called on them based on silly
suspicions or intentional harassment is
a <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/31/1784898/-Two-Incidents-of-Having-White-People-Call-Cops-on-Me-For-Stupid-Stuff?detail=emaildkre">normal
part of life</a>.


feed_id: d512add8ff31564710ef839b83342af4
title: Misperceiving black faces
uri: Misperceiving-black-faces
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Misperceiving_black_faces%29
content:
<p>
White adults have a certain tendency
to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/24/1783166/-New-research-uncovers-the-racial-anger-bias-some-educators-have-against-their-black-students?detail=emailLL">misperceive
black faces as expressing anger</a>.  This leads to unfairness in
school towards black students.


feed_id: c71ecacbab2a79e1b4d43b7fd8ce4fa4
title: Flint's water supply
uri: 2018-08-06-Flint-s-water-supply
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Flint%27s_water_supply%29
content:
<p>
Flint's water supply is no longer especially toxic, but unsafe levels
of various toxic
metals <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/25/1783419/-Yes-Flint-you-can-drink-the-filtered-water-but-the-emergency-isn-t-over-yet?detail=emailLL">can
be found across the US</a> since the standards are too weak.
<p>
Meanwhile, many families in Flint have had their water shut off,
and they have been threatened with seizure of their homes.


feed_id: f2ed4b9b62f5f6e11d8c5605ca642036
title: Amnesty International smart phones
uri: Amnesty-International-smart-phones
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Amnesty_International_smart_phones%29

content:
<p>
Some government &mdash; probably a Middle Eastern Arab country &mdash;
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/01/amnesty-international-says-chilling-attack-staffer-using-israeli-made-spyware-may-be?cd-origin=rss">trying
to take over the smart phones</a> of Amnesty International staff.


feed_id: 4edc0e81743c8cdbe8df0873e733f190
title: Basis for attacking Iran
uri: Basis-for-attacking-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Basis_for_attacking_Iran%29
content:
<p>
The Veteran Intelligence Professionals for
Sanity <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/01/vips-trump-intel-iran-could-be-catastrophic?cd-origin=rss">warn
the bullshitter</a> that using bullshit intelligence as a basis for
attacking Iran could be disastrous.


feed_id: fc0f3bc3c3a6125b9a61134ebb00f078
title: Deeply held religious bigotry
uri: Deeply-held-religious-bigotry
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Deeply_held_religious_bigotry%29
content:
<p>
(Satire) <a href="https://politics.theonion.com/sessions-vows-to-protect-all-deeply-held-religious-bigo-1828026403">Sessions
Vows To Protect</a> All Deeply Held Religious Bigotry.


feed_id: 83a1c79f79e8b5de198fb9efd25698eb
title: Censored Google in China
uri: Censored-Google-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Censored_Google_in_China%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/01/dont-be-evil-unless-its-worth-untold-new-riches-whistleblower-reveals-google-plan?cd-origin=rss">Whistleblower
Reveals Google Plan</a> to Launch Censored Search Engine in China.
<p>
Refusing to censor for China is one of few noteworthy admirable things
Google has done (making
a <a href="https://stallman.org/apple.html">big contrast with
Apple</a>).
<p>
Now it seems that Google intends to sink to Apple's level.
<p>
I think it is unacceptable that
Google <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/hrant-dink.html">obeys
French censorship</a>
and <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#09_September_2015_(Possession_of_extreme_pornography)">British
censorship</a>.


feed_id: 73fa6c940382f7a7ef29d5de0606197d
title: Drug dealers moving in
uri: Drug-dealers-moving-in
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Drug_dealers_moving_in%29
content:
<p>
In Britain, drug dealers move into "vulnerable" people's homes
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/01/uk-gangs-using-vulnerable-peoples-homes-to-stash-drugs">first
helping them cope</a>.
<p>
It occurs to me that cuts in all sorts of support for mental health
and for isolated, disabled and unemployed people may be responsible
for this.


feed_id: 08b442ed9c0f8b1eb963a4fb821adeee
title: Humanitarian aid to Syria
uri: Humanitarian-aid-to-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Humanitarian_aid_to_Syria%29
content:
<p>
Western countries providing humanitarian aid to Syria should not let
Russia or Assad control its distribution.  Food and medical
supplies <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/01/emmanuel-macron-vladimir-putin-syria">can
be used as a weapon</a>.


feed_id: 9c30a436e23ce0a98b2eca2303e4983a
title: Car seizure program
uri: Car-seizure-program
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_%28Car_seizure_program%29
content:
<p>
Albuquerque's highly lucrative car seizure program has
been <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/08/01/federal-judge-breaks-up-albuquerques-car">shut
down by a court</a>.


feed_id: 2870f11c7d2af311439a85b4e1ebe527
title: Urgent: 'Quiet skies' program
uri: Urgent-Quiet-skies-program
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_%27Quiet_skies%27_program%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/shut-down-tsas-quiet-skies-spy-program/">call
on the TSA</a> to shut down "quiet skies", the program of surveillance
of people chosen for nothing more than a "what if".
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 725d640330e525538e9daff79f5680bd
title: Air pollution from fracking
uri: Air-pollution-from-fracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Air_pollution_from_fracking%29
content:
<p>
Fracking causes air pollution, said a study carried out for the UK
government.  The
Tories <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/02/buried-uk-government-report-finds-fracking-increases-air-pollution">kept
this secret for 3 years</a> while changing policies so Britons could
not resist fracking.


feed_id: 63eb62ea19a5bd4ee9bbd88c98b978c9
title: Emissions regulations
uri: Emissions-regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Emissions_regulations%29
content:
<p>
The
EPA <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/02/epa-trump-vehicle-emissions-clean-car-rules">intends
to kill Obama's upgrade</a> of car emissions regulations and intends
to cancel California's authorization to set stricter standards.


feed_id: c675b17a225e7d2bea064b2e80b3d8e5
title: Italy forgiving Egypt
uri: Italy-forgiving-Egypt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Italy_forgiving_Egypt%29
content:
<p>
Italy's right-wing
government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/02/arrest-highlights-growing-ties-between-egypt-and-italy">has
forgiven Egypt</a> for the murder of Italian
student <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#14_September_2017_(Egyptian_arrests_investigator)">Giulio
Regeni</a> and has arrested an Egyptian opposition politician that the
Egyptian government wants to imprison.


feed_id: ff5666e9a70ee5a64d51abeeb08e8767
title: UK visas for musicians
uri: UK-visas-for-musicians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28UK_visas_for_musicians%29
content:
<p>
The UK has made it difficult for musicians to get visas to perform.
Sometimes
it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/aug/02/womad-visa-fiasco-brexit-britain-live-music-festival">holds
their passports for weeks</a> before telling them no, and as a result
they can't apply for visas to perform in other countries.
<p>
Some are allowed in after their performances are over.
<p>
Some lose thousands of dollars they paid for tickets they couldn't use.


feed_id: a9c5d4ce2a8d2e08b9067f973c77b753
title: Gaza aid ship
uri: Gaza-aid-ship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Gaza_aid_ship%29
content:
<p>
Israel <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/02/claims-of-violence-as-israel-deports-crew-on-gaza-aid-boat">attacked
a Gaza aid ship</a>, beating up and tasing the activists.
<p>
Israel has no excuse for preventing boats with non-military aid
from sailing to Gaza.


feed_id: b35125949cf1e750295a155f2f87d096
title: Testifying for abortion case
uri: Testifying-for-abortion-case
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Testifying_for_abortion_case%29
content:
<p>
Brazilian professor Debora Diniz is scheduled to testify in the
Supreme Court in a case that aims to legalize abortion.  Anti-abortion
fanatics have demonstrated their commitment to preserving all human
life
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/02/professor-forced-into-hiding-by-death-threats-over-brazil-abortion-hearing">threatening
to kill her</a>.


feed_id: 9bdc2c5484e8e985e7b9325f84a1def2
title: Sanctions on Turkish ministers
uri: Sanctions-on-Turkish-ministers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Sanctions_on_Turkish_ministers%29
content:
<p>
The US
will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/02/us-sanctions-turkey-jailed-pastor-andrew-craig-brunson">put
sanctions on two Turkish ministers</a> for prosecuting an American
expat that runs a Christian church in Turkey.
<p>
This could give the US an opportunity to defend all the others &mdash;
dissidents, journalists, opposition politicians, and bystanders
&mdash; suffering
from <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#6_April_2018_(Arrests_in_Turkey)">repression
in Turkey</a>.


feed_id: 0d49093a9b24fb64e558266475bdb4be
title: Visas for forced marriages
uri: Visas-for-forced-marriages
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Visas_for_forced_marriages%29
content:
<p>
UK women that were forced into marriage in other countries sometimes
ask the government not to allow their husbands into the
UK.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/02/uk-accused-of-turning-blind-eye-to-forced-marriages-to-grant-visas">Half
of these requests</a> are denied.
<p>
It is a perverse exception to the usual UK practice of looking for any
excuse whatsoever to deny a visa.


feed_id: 70e757a98c7670f600bc9387f71c3c86
title: 'Naive' climate defender
uri: Naive-climate-defender
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28%27Naive%27_climate_defender%29
content:
<p>
A planet-roaster elected official called a young climate defense
campaigner
"naive".  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/02/climate-youth-activism-scott-wagner-naive">Here
is a response</a> from a leading young climate defender.
<p>
I think the word "naive" is hardly adequate for that official.
I suspect that "cynical" and "corrupt" would fit him better.


feed_id: 594e51513c4d561db2f282430291a7dd
title: BBC global heating 'debates'
uri: BBC-global-heating-debates
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28BBC_global_heating_%27debates%27%29

content:
<p>
The
BBC <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/02/bbc-climate-change-deniers-balance">still
holds "debates"</a> with denialists about whether global heating is
happening.
<p>
The UK government is controlled by planet-roasters; that's plain to
see as it prohibits all ways to resist fracking while making it easy
for any fringe group
to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#29_November_2016_(UK_ministers_delay_fracking_report)">block
wind farms</a>.  I wonder if the government is somehow responsible for
the BBC's policy.


feed_id: 391a33f5bb3e0c82912a2031fb708452
title: Activists in Salafi Arabia
uri: Activists-in-Salafi-Arabia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Activists_in_Salafi_Arabia%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> has arrested many human rights activists,
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/02/un-sounds-alarm-saudi-human-rights-crackdown-arrests-samar-badawi-nassima-al-sadah">some
are accused of "terrorism"</a>.
<p>
It is common practice to use laws supposedly intended for "terrorism"
against dissidents.


feed_id: ee73cfb781eeeef62499c037b961da92
title: Deporting military spouses
uri: Deporting-military-spouses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Deporting_military_spouses%29
content:
<p>
The US deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have now been ordered
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/02/military-family-separation-immigration-trump-mexico">deport
spouses of military veterans</a>.
<p>
The person cited in this example is being punished for a paper she was
tricked into signing many years ago.  The deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
are <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/24/kids-exchange-deportation-migrants-claim-they-were-promised-they-could/">still
doing that sort of thing</a> now.


feed_id: 3c060dcac1278d32863b403066b6e601
title: Reduced security screening
uri: Reduced-security-screening
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Reduced_security_screening%29
content:
<p>
The TSA is
considering <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/02/tsa-considering-ending-security-screening-150-airports">ending
security screening</a> of passengers on flights in small "regional"
planes.
<p>
One of the criticisms cited in the article is mistaken &mdash; the TSA
says that passengers connecting from a small plane to a larger one
would be screened at the connection airport.
<p>
Given how inefficient the TSA is at finding weapons in passengers'
baggage &mdash; reportedly
it <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#16_November_2017_(TSA_failure_rate)">misses
most of them</a> &mdash; I don't think this would put passengers in
much danger.  A terrorist that wants to kill 60 people could do that
in a subway car.


feed_id: d584071fcf8b9ebdf9c0ff15358c13c1
title: Fracking in Mexico
uri: Fracking-in-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Fracking_in_Mexico%29
content:
<p>
President AMLO says he
will <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/02/moving-right-direction-mexican-president-elect-amlo-promises-outlaw-fracking?cd-origin=rss">ban
fracking in Mexico</a>.
<p>
Hooray!  Let's hope we can do it in the US, too.


feed_id: 2a2ba21c334e0a7ffded0682afe23ab1
title: Conscripting immigration enforcers
uri: Conscripting-immigration-enforcers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#6_August_2018_%28Conscripting_immigration_enforcers%29

content:
<p>
The UK's "hostile environment" has conscripted teachers, doctors,
landlords, even charities for the
homeless <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/01/hostile-environment-immigrants-crept-into-schools-hospitals-homes-border-guards">into
immigration enforcers</a>.
<p>
The government replaced the word "hostile" with "compliant", to try to
duck the criticism.  I see no reason to follow that right-wing act of
political correctness.


feed_id: e1c389b7898b442f9ab2d1581531cd3d
title: Hospital disinfectants
uri: Hospital-disinfectants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Hospital_disinfectants%29
content:
<p>
Bacteria 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/01/bacteria-becoming-resistant-to-hospital-disinfectants-warn-scientists">Becoming
Resistant</a> to Hospital Disinfectants, Warn Scientists.


feed_id: 6f5f833c4ad3c38d13c6e08675f7d5ed
title: Zimbabwe election
uri: Zimbabwe-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Zimbabwe_election%29
content:
<p>
The ruling party claimed victory in the Zimbabwe election, the
opposition claimed the election was stolen, and now soldiers are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/02/morning-mail-zimbabwe-clashes-aussies-maths-nobel-no-degree-teachers">shooting
at protesters on the streets</a>.
<p>
There is some 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/01/the-guardian-view-on-zimbabwes-elections-better-is-not-good-enough">evidence
that the election was stolen</a>.


feed_id: 834eae11c4d5a6ef088384bbc8fefcbd
title: Google still planning "smart city"
uri: Google-still-planning-smart-city
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Google_still_planning_smart_city%29

content:
<p>
Google Is Still Planning a ‘Smart City’ in Toronto Despite 
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/xwkv9z/google-planning-smart-city-toronto-despite-privacy-concerns">Major
Privacy Concerns</a>.
<p>
When something is called "smart", understand "spy".


feed_id: 3b23fd7c2afcdb0f015aaaf9a4eea1f0
title: Denial of medical care on Manus Island
uri: Denial-of-medical-care-on-Manus-Island
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Denial_of_medical_care_on_Manus_Island%29

content:
<p>
Australia 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/02/manus-medical-neglect-scandalous-australian-doctors-say">continues
denying crucial medical care to its prisoners</a> on Manus Island.
One prisoner faces lifelong blindness from the denial of treatment.


feed_id: c71cbc85b1bcff998cbf67032eb87d3b
title: Thugs snooping on activists
uri: Thugs-snooping-on-activists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Thugs_snooping_on_activists%29
content:
<p>
Memphis <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/01/memphis-police-black-lives-matter-activists">surveilling
and investigating Black Lives Matter activists</a>.
<p>
These activists are no enemies of society &mdash; only of the racism
and injustice of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>.


feed_id: 4256035d3d5afc3995d3a5a81c93f05a
title: Reducing discrimination
uri: Reducing-discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Reducing_discrimination%29
content:
<p>
Some activists 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/01/west-side-story-role-recast-proms-whitewashing-backlash-sierra-boggess">demand
to impose every possible kind of discrimination</a> on theater and
cinema, making each part the property of some specific group.
<p>
I understand that performers in some groups face discrimination which
is an obstacle to their careers.  There are two ways to deal with
that: less discrimination or more discrimination.
<p>
The demand being made is to maximize discrimination in a world of
hundreds of crosscutting quotas.  How many parts will be open to a
female-to-male transsexual of mixed Tibetan and Vietnamese ancestry?
None, I suppose.
<p>
To accept some discrimination as legitimate would poison the goal of
ending discrimination.  We must not make that terrible mistake.
Therefore, I demand _less_ discrimination, not more.  If audiences can
accept seeing a caucasian play a character that was "Asian", as the
makers of Hellboy expect, then audiences can learn to accept seeing an
"Asian" actor portray a character that wasn't "Asian".
<p>
I put "Asian" in quotes because many disparate ethnic and racial
groups come from Asia.


feed_id: 4e70a066eaf4d23bf2af45dd7fae8178
title: Charges against protesters dropped
uri: Charges-against-protesters-dropped
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Charges_against_protesters_dropped%29

content:
<p>
After two years, Minnesota has dropped charges against 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/01/philando-castile-shooting-charges-dropped-against-protesters">18
people who protested the killing of Philando Castile</a>, who was shot
by a <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> for 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_July_2016_(Raising_hands_in_the_air_while_black)">informing
the thug that he was carrying a licensed gun</a>.
<p>
Perhaps the prosecutors decided that two years of ruining these
upstanding citizens' lives was enough.
<p>
I wonder what happened in the trial of seven other protesters,
and whether charges remain against others.


feed_id: c4a2544422142081ad93167a7ae13f23
title: Australian city wipes out dengue fever
uri: Australian-city-wipes-out-dengue-fever
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Australian_city_wipes_out_dengue_fever%29

content:
<p>
Specially prepared mosquitos wiped out dengue fever in an Australian
city.  They 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/01/dengue-fever-outbreak-halted-by-release-of-infected-mosquitoes">carried
bacteria that infected all the mosquitos of that species</a> and
prevented them from being hosts for the dengue virus.


feed_id: efbb58b3716e77231ca2b204343c4484
title: Prison sentence for having abortion
uri: Prison-sentence-for-having-abortion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Prison_sentence_for_having_abortion%29

content:
<p>
Indonesia sentenced a teenage girl to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/01/protests-in-indonesia-as-girl-raped-by-brother-is-jailed-for-abortion">prison
for having an abortion</a>.
<p>
This is more galling because she was pregnant due to rape, but I don't
think we should assign any special importance to that.  Women who want
an abortion should not be judged based on how they got pregnant.
<p>
Every pregnant woman is entitled to abortion rights.


feed_id: 1227b3c6b914554ec42ad826c688ff71
title: US making peace approach to Taliban
uri: US-making-peace-approach-to-Taliban
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28US_making_peace_approch_to_Taliban%29

content:
<p>
The US is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/01/afghanistan-us-look-taliban-for-help-isis-attacks-rise">making
a peace approach to the Taliban</a., hoping to defeat an offshoot of
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> in Afghanistan.
<p>
The dynamic among Islamist fanatics is that the most extreme ideology
tends to have the most attraction for those inclined towards
fanaticism.  Even the Taliban and the US together might find it hard
to destroy <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>.


feed_id: 8a249a5c4abf7c395bd777922609c277
title: Risky loans mushrooming
uri: Risky-loans-mushrooming
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Risky_loans_mushrooming%29
content:
<p>
Kavanaugh 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/28/1784246/-So-there-s-this-debt-bomb-ticking-ticking-ticking-and-the-SCOTUS-nominee-is-involved-really">loosened
rules on making complex loan derivatives</a>, with the effect that
risky loans are mushrooming.


feed_id: a1a75fc95deeae1b1d75d107df5f4eb7
title: Being home while black
uri: Being-home-while-black
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Being_home_while_black%29
content:
<p>
Santa Monica <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> confronted a black man in his home at gunpoint.  
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/29/1784360/-Not-safe-at-home-celebrity-status-money-won-t-stop-police-raids-if-you-re-Black">A
neighbor reported him as a "black robber"</a> and a thug pulled out
his gun before even asking what was going on.


feed_id: 25eeae18cce9bc20661a8af681d7245c
title: Mountaintop-removal coal mining
uri: 2018-08-07-Mountaintop-removal-coal-mining
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Mountaintop-removal_coal_mining%29
content:
<p>
Mountaintop-removal coal mining is estimated to cause around 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/27/1784009/-Study-shows-in-detail-the-extent-of-coal-industry-s-devastating-mountaintop-removals">1000
extra deaths from lung diseases per year</a>, as well as many birth
defects.  This is in addition to permanent scars on the land.


feed_id: a78840d1528da039bcf89329e652ae6b
title: Propensity to disapprove of women
uri: Propensity-to-disapprove-of-women
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Propensity_to_disapprove_of_women%29

content:
<p>
The 
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/opinion/sunday/motherhood-in-the-age-of-fear.html">witch
hunt against mothers that leave a child unwatched for even a
minute</a> is due to fear that is demonstrably whipped up by a
propensity to disapprove of women.  The more the disapproval, the more
the irrational fear.


feed_id: 8abe677e11c4dfaab9c71fc71556c4c9
title: Bullshitter's intimidation tactic
uri: Bullshitter-s-intimidation-tactic
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Bullshitters_intimidation_tactic%29

content:
<p>
The bullshitter has got very far by intimidating those who don't dare
publicly oppose him to make them obey.  Now he is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/31/following-bannons-lead-trump-goes-cannibal-total-joke-koch-brothers-fellow">trying
this on the Koch brothers</a>.
<p>
This would be fun to watch, if we could be sure it would fail.  But it
has 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/28/1784147/-Meghan-McCain-s-Disgrace-Proves-the-Point-Conservatives-Are-Prone-to-Submission">succeeded
in making many powerful politicians submissive</a>.  I hope it fails
now.


feed_id: 60fb209bf5c70d9aa40a25ac19f71598
title: Sexual abuse of refugee minors
uri: Sexual-abuse-of-refugee-minors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Sexual_abuse_of_refugee_minors%29
content:
<p>
Many refugee minors, perhaps including children, report sexual abuse
<a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/07/27/636762.html">by the thugs
that imprison them</a>.
<p>
A court ordered prison <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> to stop 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/31/even-has-be-said-grotesque-judge-orders-trump-admin-stop-drugging-migrant-children">drugging
refugee minors in their prison</a>.


feed_id: c4c136e2a18a5f2d56148d9cf9a46a89
title: Ryanair still plans to fight unions
uri: Ryanair-still-plans-to-fight-unions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Ryanair_still_plans_to_fight_unions%29

content:
<p>
Ryanair has been forced to recognize a few unions but it 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jul/31/ryanair-boss-threatens-to-move-jobs-to-poland-in-face-of-walkouts">still
plans to fight them</a> to keep wages down.
<p>
We don't have to be easy prey for this.


feed_id: 13d9860051b3f4c4766fefc902b9ee65
title: US making peace approach to Taliban
uri: 2018-08-07-US-making-peace-approach-to-Taliban
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28US_making_peace_approch_to_Taliban%29

content:
<p>
The US is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/01/afghanistan-us-look-taliban-for-help-isis-attacks-rise">making
a peace approach to the Taliban</a>, hoping to defeat an offshoot of
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> in Afghanistan.
<p>
The dynamic among Islamist fanatics is that the most extreme ideology
tends to have the most attraction for those inclined towards
fanaticism.  Even the Taliban and the US together might find it hard
to destroy <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>.


feed_id: 4ae1f000ee1bebf9ec137bac779cefaa
title: Urgent: Saboteur Zinke
uri: Urgent-Saboteur-Zinke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Saboteur_Zinke%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/zinke_resign">call
on Saboteur of the Interior Zinke</a> to resign.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: f1d9c4699ff638d8c778dc0fa59408b2
title: Genetic diversity
uri: Genetic-diversity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Genetic_diversity%29
content:
<p>
In a fluctuating environment, natural selection
can <a href="https://phys.org/news/2018-08-wildflowers-combat-climate-diversity.html">maintain
genetic diversity</a>.


feed_id: 1a97a8570deabed498cef1f3fd6ed2bd
title: Dissident in Bahrain
uri: Dissident-in-Bahrain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Dissident_in_Bahrain%29
content:
<p>
Bahrain is killing imprisoned dissident Hassan Mushaima
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/03/torture-bahrain-killing-my-father-hassan-mushaima-arms-sales-repression">denying
him medical care</a>.
<p>
Bahrain <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#25_February_2016_(Dissident_sentenced_to_year_in_prison)">repressed
a campaign</a> for democracy and human rights with the help of troops
from <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>.


feed_id: 4e3aae5933b286d78f0b27aa7ea645ba
title: Government drug advice
uri: Government-drug-advice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Government_drug_advice%29
content:
<p>
Government advice about drugs and health tends to
be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/03/alcohol-health-government-advice-drug-benefits-morality">perverted
by rigid morality</a> which assumes using drugs is immoral.
<p>
There is a proposal that the reason total alcohol abstainers in middle
age tend statistically to show worse health than moderate drinkers is
that a substantial fraction of them are alcoholics on the wagon, who
would be suffering damage from their previous heavy drinking.
It would be interesting to study whether that is the case.


feed_id: 0d83a1198155da0c464f285f60e9d478
title: Drought in North Korea
uri: Drought-in-North-Korea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Drought_in_North_Korea%29
content:
<p>
North Korea has
been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/03/north-korea-warns-natural-disaster-heatwave-sears-crops">hit
with a drought and heat wave</a> that could result in crop failure and
then massive starvation.
<p>
Ironically, it is largely the US that is responsible for the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>
that is largely responsible for heat waves and droughts today.


feed_id: 5d34ace16064f83465c02dab740a7346
title: French working class
uri: French-working-class
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28French_working_class%29
content:
<p>
Why the French working class abandoned the Communist Party for
right-wing
extremism: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/aug/03/returning-to-reims-by-didier-eribon-review">it
wasn't about the philosophies</a> the two stood for.


feed_id: 8a9ef59b7d8d43ed19e641dccc916e97
title: A reserve and a dam
uri: A-reserve-and-a-dam
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28A_reserve_and_a_dam%29
content:
<p>
The World Bank supported a reserve to protect chimpanzees, a species
now endangered.  It also proposes to support a
dam <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/03/chimp-sanctuary-created-by-world-bank-threatened-by-world-bank-backed-dam">that
would flood the reserve</a>.


feed_id: a9a36dcbd7a5a4561c6b36a5ec856a8c
title: Violent attacks in Italy
uri: Violent-attacks-in-Italy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Violent_attacks_in_Italy%29
content:
<p>
The right-wing Italian government
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/aug/03/warning-of-dangerous-acceleration-in-attacks-on-immigrants-in-italy">boosted
violent attacks</a> against immigrants.


feed_id: 937ca1afbdb488d5477571922fb83242
title: Continuing Russian interference
uri: Continuing-Russian-interference
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Continuing_Russian_interference%29
content:
<p>
US spy agencies say that Russian
agents <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/03/us-russia-election-meddling-latest-dan-coats">continue
to try to interfere</a> in the US elections this year.
<p>
Rich Americans engage in some of the same attacks
(<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-jan-apr.html#22_January_2012_(Secretive_Group)">suppressing
voting</a>
and <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-nov-feb.html#31_January_2015_(Expensive_campaign_attack_ads)">pouring
in campaign funds</a>).


feed_id: 41cf50bba7977ba45186a9d26ede4bcb
title: Oleg Sentsov
uri: 2018-08-08-Oleg-Sentsov
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Oleg_Sentsov%29
content:
<p>
Oleg Sentsov, a political prisoner that protested Russia's military
takeover of the Crimea,
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/03/oleg-sentsov-hunger-strike-protest-ukrainian-prisoners-putin">been
on hunger strike 82 days</a>.
<p>
Amnesty International
was <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/02/amnesty-international-denied-access-oleg-sentsov-hunger-strike-81-days?cd-origin=rss">forbidden
to see Sentsov</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#9_August_2016_(Detente_with_Russia)">My
views</a> on the takeover of the Crimea.


feed_id: ce1cced43273d9a1858e57f99fcf2162
title: Sun Wenguang
uri: Sun-Wenguang
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Sun_Wenguang%29
content:
<p>
Chinese human rights defender Sun Wenguang
was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/02/chinese-dissident-in-his-80s-arrested-at-home-during-live-tv-interview">arrested
in his home</a> while doing a video interview.


feed_id: 9685863060c5303c4f2a7ae16a0e2882
title: Think tanks
uri: Think-tanks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Think_tanks%29
content:
<p>
"Think tanks" supposedly offer objective research as a service, but
nowadays the service most of them provide
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/aug/02/are-thinktanks-as-brainy-as-they-sound-">slanted
research and lobbying</a>.


feed_id: f024e34ba0da17237c8b2e072fcf8a13
title: Cruel food delivery company
uri: Cruel-food-delivery-company
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Cruel_food_delivery_company%29
content:
<p>
An Australian food delivery company was especially cruel to its staff,
making them compete for rewards and punishing the losers.  But it has
been <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-02/foodora-pulls-out-of-australia/10066964">driven
out of business</a>.  Hooray!
<p>
Now make a law so that no company can do this.


feed_id: b91fbf09428bfe88ec969c49ac497de2
title: Reducing discrimination
uri: 2018-08-08-Reducing-discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#7_August_2018_%28Reducing_discrimination%29
content:
<p>
Some activists 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/01/west-side-story-role-recast-proms-whitewashing-backlash-sierra-boggess">demand
to impose every possible kind of discrimination</a> on theater and
cinema, making each part the property of some specific group.
<p>
I understand that performers in some groups face discrimination which
is an obstacle to their careers.  There are two ways to deal with
that: less discrimination or more discrimination.
<p>
The demand being made is to maximize discrimination in a world of
hundreds of crosscutting quotas.  How many parts will be open to a
female-to-male transsexual of mixed Tibetan and Vietnamese ancestry?
None, I suppose.
<p>
To accept some discrimination as legitimate would poison the goal of
ending discrimination.  We must not make that terrible mistake.
Therefore, I demand <em>less</em> discrimination, not more.  If audiences can
accept seeing a caucasian play a character that was "Asian", as the
makers of Hellboy expect, then audiences can learn to accept seeing an
"Asian" actor portray a character that wasn't "Asian".
<p>
I put "Asian" in quotes because many disparate ethnic and racial
groups come from Asia.


feed_id: 70b19c1af53206d1d305b3b2345e47b1
title: Putting imprisoned refugee minors to work
uri: Putting-imprisoned-refugee-minors-to-work
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Putting_imprisoned_refugee_minors_to_work%29

content:
<p>
(Satire): Ivanka Trump complains that imprisoned refugee minors are
not given sewing machines so they can 
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/ivanka-trump-distraught-after-learning-detained-migrant-1828062128">work
for a sweatshop</a>.


feed_id: 1c45c4a00eb8b3ca2e32c4da080969eb
title: Votes to leave the EU
uri: Votes-to-leave-the-EU
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Votes_to_leave_the_EU%29
content:
<p>
In parts of the UK 
<a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/07/31/austerity-kills.html">where
Tory dooH ninoR policies did the most harm</a>, more people voted to
leave the EU.


feed_id: 80c8aceb6a5ccdf7cc1a3cb200ddbbee
title: Nicaraguan refugees in Costa Rica
uri: Nicaraguan-refugees-in-Costa-Rica
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Nicaraguan_refugees_in_Costa_Rica%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/23000-flee-unrest-hit-nicaragua-seek-asylum-costa-rica-180731154757428.html">23000
Nicaraguans</a> have fled as refugees to Costa Rica.


feed_id: f745463105ee64859f234c9733b7a4bc
title: Facebook supports housing discrimination
uri: Facebook-supports-housing-discrimination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Facebook_supports_housing_discrimination%29

content:
<p>
Facebook 
<a href="https://www.publicknowledge.org/news-blog/blogs/the-right-to-life-liberty-and-technology-how-civil-rights-are-violated-in-the-digital-age">still
supports housing discrimination</a> through its advertising.


feed_id: fb258fd0c8390378f8a89c250895087e
title: Senators who voted for more military spending
uri: Senators-who-voted-for-more-military-spending
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Senators_who_voted_for_more_military_spending%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/02/40-senate-democrats-join-gop-send-717-billion-military-spending-bill-trumps-desk">40
Senate Democrats</a> voted to spend $717 billion dollars on the US
military.


feed_id: d16bee736390b98342af0199d96d4894
title: Voter suppression and gerrymandering
uri: 2018-08-08-Voter-suppression-and-gerrymandering
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Voter_suppression_and_gerrymandering%29

content:
<p>
Want to Fight GOP Voter Suppression And Gerrymandering?  
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/1/1784650/-Want-to-fight-GOP-voter-suppression-and-gerrymandering-Elect-Democratic-secretaries-of-state">Elect
Democratic Secretaries of State</a>?


feed_id: a16938c34c984a2e01f1406d9c596ce1
title: Refugees kept in inhumane conditions
uri: Refugees-kept-in-inhumane-conditions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Refugees_kept_in_inhumane_conditions%29

content:
<p>
The ACLU is suing because the US is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/01/civil-rights-groups-sue-president-trump-and-ice-jailing-immigrants-inhumane">keeping
refugees in prison in inhumane conditions</a>: cut off, lacking food
and medical care, and kept uninformed by giving them information only
in English.


feed_id: 498c5274c950f6a608ae633d33c2cc59
title: Criticism of Israel
uri: 2018-08-08-Criticism-of-Israel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Criticism_of_Israel%29
content:
<p>
Corbyn has focused closely on the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/03/jeremy-corbyn-labour-is-not-a-threat-to-jews-in-britain">difference
between antisemitism and criticism of Israel</a>, and on the need to
eliminate the former while ensuring the latter is permitted.
<p>
I am convinced that his critics are fudging the line between the two,
and exaggerating, and that it is part of the world-wide campaign to
smear criticism of Israel as "antisemitism".


feed_id: 595bbb51b6933beb70ed4bde4032fca9
title: Prisoners of thugs regularly killed
uri: Prisoners-of-thugs-regularly-killed
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Prisoners_of_thugs_regularly_killed%29

content:
<p>
In a 
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/08/03/sugar-town-puts-louisiana-police-miscond">town
in Louisiana</a>, prisoners of the thugs regularly get killed, and
justice is never done.


feed_id: ad740f2846a30d87a7fa748643d405a0
title: Privatization of water supply
uri: 2018-08-08-Privatization-of-water-supply
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Privatization_of_water_supply%29
content:
<p>
Baltimore proposes to amend its charter so that it can 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/03/first-big-us-city-poised-ban-water-privatization-permanently">never
privatize the water supply</a>.
<p>
We should amend the US Constitution so that government services cannot
be privatized at all.


feed_id: 94917523375612d819399581af07eee3
title: Artificial pseudo-scandals
uri: Artificial-pseudo-scandals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Artificial_pseudo-scandals%29
content:
<p>
Right-wingers 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/03/sarah-jeong-new-york-times-twitter-posts-racism">take
old tweets out of context</a> to create artificial pseudo-scandals for
anyone they think of as opposed to them.
<p>
ISTR I've seen other political camps act similarly.
<p>
We must make room for people to learn and change.


feed_id: 7b65ed5efb4cb60b09b692446188d5fe
title: The repressor
uri: The-repressor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28The_repressor%29
content:
<p>
The repressor has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/03/trump-enemy-of-the-people-meaning-history">followed
the lead of Stalin and Mao</a> in calling some Americans "enemies of
the people".


feed_id: 2004d42a8632824b0ac4ee4548bb5542
title: Australia's native forest
uri: 2018-08-08-Australia-s-native-forest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Australias_native_forest%29
content:
<p>
Australia's right wing government has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/04/clearing-of-native-vegetation-in-nsw-jumps-800-in-three-years">taken
the limits off destroying native forest</a>.  New South Wales is also
ruled by the right-wing, so there is nothing to hold it back there.
<p>
If this isn't stopped, koalas could have little habitat left.


feed_id: 7d5250f6d813b93a6a4c52be6b384726
title: How Russia uses US courts
uri: How-Russia-uses-US-courts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28How_Russia_uses_US_courts%29
content:
<p>
How Russia 
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/07/how-russia-persecutes-its-dissidents-using-us-courts/566309/">Persecutes
Its Dissidents Using U.S. Courts</a>.


feed_id: 23d19b89c282b4959c9828d9e1ff8cb9
title: The bullshitter's actions
uri: The-bullshitter-s-actions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28The_bullshitters_actions%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter's actions are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/02/we-will-have-face-consequences-donald-trump-getting-his-hands-economy">driving
the US into a spiral of disruption</a> that could leave it a ruin.
<p>
His bullshit is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/02/mayhem-our-president">making
the fraud of Springtime for Hitler into reality</a>.


feed_id: 3f4e809250062622667fa0dd2d99d819
title: Hindu bigotry in India
uri: Hindu-bigotry-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Hindu_bigotry_in_India%29
content:
<p>
The Hindu bigotry that rules India is 
<a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/08/01/the-right-wing-assault-on-academic-freedom-in-india/">crushing
contrary views</a> in Indian universities.


feed_id: ccc7ee07280f94c3608ab51ee44158be
title: Denialism
uri: Denialism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Denialism%29
content:
<p>
Denialism consists of movements that feel triumph because they
continue to maintain an absurd contention and nobody can make them
stop.
<p>
It is threatened with replacement by 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/03/denialism-what-drives-people-to-reject-the-truth">post-denialism</a>,
in which a group of people spew all sorts of contradictory bullshit
and revel in the fact that they have the power to undermine systematic
efforts to determine the truth.
<p>
We need to recognize bullshitting groups and stop giving credence to
the bullshit, but that alone won't stop them from killing people
and occasionally paralyzing society.


feed_id: 71d3af073d82b437916548c3c6eb8436
title: Zimbabwe election
uri: 2018-08-08-Zimbabwe-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Zimbabwe_election%29
content:
<p>
The Zimbabwean opposition candidate claimed that the election was
"fraudulent and illegitimate", 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/03/zimbabwe-riot-police-opposition-press-conference-chamisa">once
riot thugs stopped interfering with his press conference</a>.


feed_id: 43c452c00b04f1d8c9d3d60bfca0b87c
title: Thug body cameras
uri: 2018-08-08-Thug-body-cameras
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Thug_body_cameras%29
content:
<p>
Boston found that body cameras had a 
<a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/2018/08/02/boston-police-to-expand-use-of-body-cameras-after-northeastern-report-shows-they-boost-trust-lead-to-fairer-trials/">small
but significant effect</a> in reducing thugs' use of force against the
public.


feed_id: 8e8345cb9744300e65c3fc63bf713314
title: China's support for tyrants
uri: China-s-support-for-tyrants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Chinas_support_for_tyrants%29
content:
<p>
China is now powerful enough to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/03/zimbabwe-president-backed-by-chinese-over-election-protests">support
tyrants around the world</a>, just like the US.


feed_id: 15ce3aaa06c9c3957805a622889302dd
title: Urgent: Mueller's investigation
uri: 2018-08-09-Urgent-Mueller-s-investigation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Mueller%27s_investigation%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://www.signherenow.org/petition/protect-mueller/progressamerica/">call
on Congress</a> to Protect Mueller's investigation.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: d8a180bec32ed4e6c224204fd12b6d6a
title: Urgent: Drug prices
uri: Urgent-Drug-prices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Drug_prices%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/doggett_part_d">call
on Congress</a> to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 9dc7dda173c021dcdf8d035c52957d35
title: Move group
uri: Move-group
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Move_group%29
content:
<p>
In 1978 the Move black liberation group was besieged by a gang of
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>, who eventually tried to shoot them all.  One thug was killed
&mdash; by another <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a>, since the Move members didn't shoot at all.
In a perversion of justice, all the Move members there were sent to
prison for life.
<p>
They can't ever have
parole <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/31/a-siege-a-bomb-48-dogs-and-the-black-commune-that-would-not-surrender">unless
they express "remorse"</a> for what they didn't do.
<p>
I don't know enough about the activities of Move to say whether I
would support it.  I have not heard the other accusations and
criticisms against Move, so I cannot judge whether they committed some
crime some time, or did things I would disagree with.  I don't know
whether there were grounds to arrest them in 1978, or in 1985.
I have no opinion about those matters.
<p>
But it is clear that biggest injustice in the matter was the one done to them
by the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/31/debbie-sims-africa-mike-jr-black-liberation-orphan-move-nine-philadelphia">See
also</a>


feed_id: 56837f017c6e22fb54f501b97e3cc51a
title: Medical marijuana dispensaries
uri: 2018-08-09-Medical-marijuana-dispensaries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Medical_marijuana_dispensaries%29
content:
<p>
Legalizing recreational marijuana in Oregon wiped out the medical
marijuana dispensaries.  The businesses don't cater to the sick people
that need medical marijuana, and parts of the state which don't allow
sales
have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/31/oregon-cannabis-medical-marijuana-problems-sick-people">nowhere
for sick people to go</a>.


feed_id: d7a3fdd1c9689c313ededc37ed67a9f1
title: Resettling refugee families
uri: Resettling-refugee-families
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Resettling_refugee_families%29
content:
<p>
It would be cheaper as well as kinder to resettle refugee families
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/05/solution-border-crisis-detained-migrants-refugees">rather
than imprison them</a>.


feed_id: 298831cfa76a421819b55554c2a7d676
title: Opposition in Zimbabwe
uri: Opposition-in-Zimbabwe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Opposition_in_Zimbabwe%29
content:
<p>
The opposition in Zimbabwe, officially said to have been defeated in
the election, says its supporters have
been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/05/zimbabwean-opposition-reports-human-rights-abuses">abducted
and attacked</a>.


feed_id: 7a889af1aa8d97582bbd6bbba4f31e3e
title: Employers and free speech
uri: Employers-and-free-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Employers_and_free_speech%29
content:
<p>
"<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/05/why-are-employers-allowed-police-what-we-say-private-citizens-angela-williamson-cricket-australia">Why
are employers allowed</a> to police what we say as private citizens?"


feed_id: 833123c05fa2dd2b87d4730f5d80af7a
title: Consent in a relationship
uri: Consent-in-a-relationship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Consent_in_a_relationship%29
content:
<p>
"Consent" for anything in a love relationship
can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/05/reimagine-consent-romantic-lives-mandy-len-catron">have
a meaning far deeper</a> than a binary "yes or no" decision.
<p>
I think this article is profound.  I wish it did not have the blemish
of the use of "they" for singular antecedents.
<p>
Loving each other does not imply automatic understanding of each
other.  It means a willingness to trust each other and care for each
other.  That doesn't substitute for learning about each other, but
rather provides the base for such learning.


feed_id: 22271bed64f7572ea3cef0bc66e61d92
title: Monarch butterfly
uri: Monarch-butterfly
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Monarch_butterfly%29
content:
<p>
The Monarch butterfly is being driven to extinction, facing threats in
both the US and
Mexico.  <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/04/why-treaty-protection-needed-migratory-pollinators?cd-origin=rss">We
need a treaty</a> to protect migratory insects, like the one to
protect migratory birds.


feed_id: df4bf7df39d4e057e99187fbbb96006d
title: Coffee farms in Puerto Rico
uri: Coffee-farms-in-Puerto-Rico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Coffee_farms_in_Puerto_Rico%29
content:
<p>
While various companies try to privatize Puerto Rico's public
utilities, Coca Cola
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/04/coffee-and-shock-doctrine-puerto-rico?cd-origin=rss">buying
up its coffee farms</a>.


feed_id: 3ff495ea87db1cbdd4845182d3823668
title: Theft accusation
uri: Theft-accusation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Theft_accusation%29
content:
<p>
Safeway
staff <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/2/1785328/-Safeway-employees-call-911-on-woman-helping-homeless-OUTSIDE-of-Safeway-for-shoplifting?detail=emaildkre">accused
Erika Martin of theft</a> because she gave something to a homeless man
who was outside the store.


feed_id: ee04f4f0ef87c7fb0f334238e125c6c3
title: Italy's Five Star Party
uri: Italy-s-Five-Star-Party
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Italy%27s_Five_Star_Party%29
content:
<p>
The members of Italy's Five Star party
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/05/italy-coalition-cracks-five-star-salvini-racism">getting
fed up with</a> the racism, scapegoating immigrants, of the right-wing
League coalition partner.
<p>
The example of the bullshitter suggests that Salvini may have succeeded in
unleashing racism and could end up with more votes in the next election.
Allowing him into government may turn out to be a bad mistake.


feed_id: 251f7cf1be17b48a25742f8a6d7eba49
title: Endangered species in the sea
uri: Endangered-species-in-the-sea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Endangered_species_in_the_sea%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/05/last-chance-save-oceans-fishing-un-biodiversity-conference">A
UN conference</a> aims to set up an endangered species protection on
the high seas.


feed_id: 0fca0a6bf45245f4be04e53f40537a0c
title: Organ donation by default
uri: Organ-donation-by-default
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Organ_donation_by_default%29
content:
<p>
The UK has made organ
donation <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/05/organ-donation-rules-change-presume-consent">approved
by default</a>.  People can still refuse to allow their organs to be
donated, but they have to request this.
<p>
As an American, I had to give explicit permission for reuse of my
organs when I die.  I became aware of this when I got my driver's
license, and I filled out a donor card eagerly.  Please give permission
for your remains to save lives.


feed_id: 27f148d7b145415c2062ae441017f95c
title: Bullshitter's voter fraud commission
uri: Bullshitter-s-voter-fraud-commission
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Bullshitters_voter_fraud_commission%29

content:
<p>
The bullshitter set up a commission which claimed to have found
evidence of voter fraud.  Matt Dunlap, ex member of the commission,
says that claim was a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/03/documents-disprove-white-house-voter-claims-says-ex-member-of-trump-commission">total
fabrication</a>.
<p>
While the commission operated, Dunlap was not allowed to see these
documents.  He had to sue to get them.


feed_id: 18a63e331bb4a8cd15fd7aec244fddb9
title: Illegal insurance offered by NRA
uri: Illegal-insurance-offered-by-NRA
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Illegal_insurance_offered_by_NRA%29

content:
<p>
The NRA 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/03/desperate-court-filing-nra-claims-it-may-soon-be-unable-exist-due-financial-troubles">illegally
offered insurance to gun owners</a>, and was stopped; now it says the
fines may wipe it out.
<p>
The NRA's main purpose is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-may-aug.html#17_May_2016_(NRA_misleads_and_misrepresents)">marketing
for guns</a>.  The insurance was a political stunt, and I won't feel
sorry it puts an end to the gun marketing campaign.


feed_id: d5753731bed70021a454f8c3171102af
title: Laws to protect hotel cleaning staff
uri: Laws-to-protect-hotel-cleaning-staff
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Laws_to_protect_hotel_cleaning_staff%29

content:
<p>
Various cities are considering requiring hotels to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/03/california-hotels-housekeepers-panic-buttons-sexual-harassment">equip
cleaning staff with silent alarm buttons</a> in case guests attack
them.  Some of these laws also raise the minimum wage.


feed_id: 021ace728af83829f7cc23d3c8da07de
title: Federal investigation of Exxon dropped
uri: Federal-investigation-of-Exxon-dropped
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Federal_investigation_of_Exxon_dropped%29

content:
<p>
Sabotage at the SEC: it has 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/03/trumps-sec-closes-probe-exxons-knowledge-climate-crisis-latest-gift-fossil-fuel">dropped
the federal investigation of Exxon for lying about the danger global
heating</a>.  The cheater sees nothing as more admirable than fraud
against the whole world.
<p>
New York State's investigation is continuing, so Exxon may eventually
face justice.
<p>
Remember the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#exxon">correct
pronunciation</a> of the name "Exxon".


feed_id: 212cf5eae114e80ef4f690a2cf7cdb25
title: IBM directly linked to genocide
uri: IBM-directly-linked-to-genocide
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28IBM_directly_linked_to_genocide%29
content:
<p>
IBM in the US directly controlled its Polish subsidiary, which
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/mar/29/humanities.highereducation">supplied
punched card machines for German genocide</a>, and received payment
for them via Switzerland.


feed_id: f8295dfc065c3be4321f5cb055579689
title: Mountaintop removal coal mining
uri: 2018-08-09-Mountaintop-removal-coal-mining
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Mountaintop_removal_coal_mining%29
content:
<p>
With mountaintop removal coal mining, you don't need to be a miner to
be 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/03/witnessing-coals-death-march">made
sick by the dust from the mine</a>.
<p>
Considering the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#02_July_2015_(EPA_blocked_from_limiting_toxic_emissions)">toxic
effects of burning coal</a>, we ought to ban coal mining entirely.


feed_id: a03d5b514fd3537f23bb5635e24c3b1e
title: China's censorship imposed abroad
uri: China-s-censorship-imposed-abroad
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Chinas_censorship_imposed_abroad%29

content:
<p>
China regularly imposes censorship on Chinese people living abroad by
<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-great-firewall-censorship-under-xi-jinping-2018-3">threatening
their relatives in China</a>.
<p>
Censorship now goes beyond politics &mdash; 
<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-new-censorship-crackdown-targets-obscenities-and-dissent-2018-6">anything
lewd or disorderly is now banned</a>.  Thus sexual repression joins
political repression.


feed_id: 24ac109ed494448f9d545525d35dc4eb
title: Sabotage of US wildlife refuges
uri: Sabotage-of-US-wildlife-refuges
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Sabotage_of_US_wildlife_refuges%29
content:
<p>
Sabotage of US wildlife refuges: 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/03/trump-administration-opens-national-wildlife-refuges-pollinator-poisons-and">permitting
use of neonicotinoid pesticides and others</a> (Roundup, etc.) in some
of them.


feed_id: 8089cc598c0caf54984c02cd88f064bf
title: Corporations buying back their stock
uri: Corporations-buying-back-their-stock
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Corporations_buying_back_their_stock%29

content:
<p>
Why we should 
<a href="http://theweek.com/articles/787966/ban-share-buybacks">ban
corporations from buying back their stock</a>.  It was Reagan that
legalized this, which should make anyone suspicious.


feed_id: 1c90de6ab6093130778467e521acd423
title: Sex work vs trafficking
uri: Sex-work-vs-trafficking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Sex_work_vs_trafficking%29
content:
<p>
Some women in Nepal 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/03/nosy-persistent-brave-the-women-who-catch-sex-traffickers-red-handed">try
to spot young women who are bring trafficked out to India</a>.
<p>
Reading between the lines, I get the impression this traffic is rooted
in a combination of naivety on the part of young women (isn't there an
effort to teach them that these offers are probably phony?) combined
with prudish prejudice on the part of parents.  I suspect that some of
them wanted to, in effect, sell their daughters into marriage, and
those lose value as brides if they get a "bad" reputation.
<p>
These are the things that need to be changed to put a real crimp
in trafficking.
<p>
Destigmatizing sex work in India would also help, as that stigma
encourages and facilitates keeping prostitutes as slaves.


feed_id: 2dd0bdb4bcc9cc7806b1ef4934225c33
title: Miracle solution to poverty
uri: Miracle-solution-to-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28Miracle_solution_to_poverty%29
content:
<p>
Stories about the few people rescued from poverty or deadly sickness
via surprising acts of personal charity 
<href="https://thinkprogress.org/do-the-impossible-never-complain-live-the-dream-the-dark-morals-of-todays-feel-good-stories-63b38b4a4953/">distract
Americans from campaigning for a better social system</a> (at least
like what we had a few decades ago, if not better) which standardly
takes care of everyone.
<p>
In effect, they suggest that the solution is to pray for a personal
miracle rather than organize to help everyone.
<p>
I am sure that GoFundMe requires nonfree Javascript code, so I would
never use that site.  More importantly, I recognize it does more good
to donate to the progressive political campaigns to help everyone,
than to help one person at a time directly.
<p>
The miracle solution doesn't scale.  If a million people pray for a
miracle, at most a few thousand are likely to get one.  To help people
in general, we need to help them systematically.  With Medicare for
All, you will get treatment for your illness.  With paid family leave,
you won't need your coworkers to sacrifice their vacations.  With
decent wages, you'll have savings and the failure of your car won't
make you walk to work.  With more housing in cities and good public
transport, you won't need a car.


feed_id: 86265249960ebe0b658d67c6717d89d1
title: The privatization of Sallie May
uri: The-privatization-of-Sallie-May
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28The_privatization_of_Sallie_May%29
content:
<p>
How the privatization of Sallie May
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/2/1785249/-How-free-market-policies-worsened-the-student-loan-debt-crisis">turned
it into a predatory lender</a>, which has grown into the principal
source of student loans in the US, at high interest and impossible for
people to escape.
<p>
Borrowing to go to school in the US is a risky bet.  Lots of Americans
lose the bet, and are saddled with debt for the rest of their lives.


feed_id: 22bb700a7a99ba0033ff3c01c5413fbb
title: The Kochs and the bullshitter
uri: The-Kochs-and-the-bullshitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#8_August_2018_%28The_Kochs_and_the_bullshitter%29
content:
<p>
"The Kochs 
<a href='https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/3/1785501/-The-Kochs-turned-the-GOP-into-a-crazy-train-then-left-the-keys-where-any-idiot-could-find-them'>turned
the GOP into a crazy train</a>, then left the keys where any idiot
could find them."
<p>
I think that is a bit of an exaggeration.  What the bullshitter did
required total contempt for truth, practiced for a long time.


feed_id: b91901a61bd740a92e3b6a0a025c245e
title: Urgent: Same Day Registration Act
uri: Urgent-Same-Day-Registration-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Same_Day_Registration_Act%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/same_day_registration">call
on Congress</a> to pass the Same Day Registration Act.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 2c2d50087ee7b7ef0a2b80c483dde3ae
title: Urgent: Medicare for All caucus
uri: Urgent-Medicare-for-All-caucus
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Medicare_for_All_caucus%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/medicare_for_all_caucus">call
on your congresscritter</a> to join the Medicare for All caucus.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 55935afb16f45239b220a16a2794b6ae
title: Democratic base
uri: Democratic-base
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Democratic_base%29
content:
<p>
Congressional Democrats risk defeat if they
don't <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/05/corporate-pacs-target-key-dems-ocasio-cortez-says-party-must-embrace-progressive?cd-origin=rss">support
the progressive program</a> of the Democratic base.


feed_id: f21ac53442e1574d7f2359f5af7fdc74
title: Smoke inhalation
uri: Smoke-inhalation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Smoke_inhalation%29
content:
<p>
People in a large part of California and Oregon are suffering from
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/06/wildfires-west-oregon-california-smoke">mild
cases of smoke inhalation</a>.  For old people, it can be fatal.  For
children and pregnant women, it can cause lasting damage.
<p>
The writer recognizes that this was caused by fossil fuel combustion
and that his children will be paying the price for the rest of their
lives.  That will be true, one way or another, for everyone that is a
child today.  Not everywhere is getting arid &mdash; some are getting
permanently drenched &mdash; but no place is safe from the violence
that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#climate">climate mayhem</a> will cause.
<p>
Please do your bit to reduce the problem: have no more children.


feed_id: 26f351c87dd8c883ae099bb87822af60
title: Protecting the US election
uri: Protecting-the-US-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Protecting_the_US_election%29
content:
<p>
Republicans
are <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/31/1784914/-Why-are-Republicans-so-opposed-to-protecting-November-s-election-from-Russian-hackers?detail=emaildkre">very
firmly opposed</a> to protecting November's US election from Russian
interference.
<p>
I speculate that the reason they oppose it is that the bullshitter has
threatened to attack them in the election if they resist his masters.


feed_id: 4ed33d6be16473cf84d8a1d3b635e9eb
title: Amazon's finances
uri: Amazon-s-finances
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Amazon%27s_finances%29
content:
<p>
Amazon, and other multinational companies, should be required
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/06/amazon-tax-not-transparent-accountancy-three-reforms">publish
a lot a more information</a> about its income and accounts in each
country.
<p>
"It's not illegal" is a valid excuse in court, but not in our
judgment.  Laws that encourage tax-dodging by the rich are the result
of a tacit conspiracy that communicates through lobbying.  The
politicians that keep these laws in place are responsible, and so are
the companies that lobby for them and profit from them.  Morally, they
are all culpable.


feed_id: ee1eb1cb2a4eb47ee2768359fabca230
title: LA thug gangs
uri: LA-thug-gangs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28LA_thug_gangs%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">Thugs</a> in the LA area are
now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/05/police-violence-cliques-and-secret-tattoos-fears-rise-over-la-sheriff-gangs">forming
violent gangs</a>.  And I don't mean the departments they work for or
their unions.


feed_id: 906cec4baeb1fab94a8d571ce89547f8
title: Forced into early marriage
uri: Forced-into-early-marriage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Forced_into_early_marriage%29
content:
<p>
Syrian refugees think they are protecting their daughters by forcing
them into early marriage.  For many of them, it means being raped.  A
significant number of
them <a href="https://www.freedomunited.org/news/syrian-child-brides-increasingly-contemplate-suicide">commit
suicide to escape the trap</a>.


feed_id: e724d9ac40ae304c99a58f1f86a7352e
title: Parents tracking children
uri: Parents-tracking-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Parents_tracking_children%29
content:
<p>
Many US parents now want
to <a href="https://letgrow.org/this-mom-is-glad-she-gpsed-her-kids-for-reasons-that-make-no-sense/">track
their children all the time</a>, and expect them to call for help for
any minor problem rather than learn by handling it themselves.
<p>
When I was 8 years old, I could hardly have got very lost in
Manhattan; but if I had, I would simply have asked someone the way
to a subway stop.


feed_id: 9477a8323421b6a4d6aee84e87338f00
title: Janitors on strike
uri: Janitors-on-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Janitors_on_strike%29
content:
<p>
Janitors of some government agencies
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/05/london-cleaners-strike-over-living-wage-and-sick-pay">going
on strike in London</a>.


feed_id: c10cc976099f8917aa3bdbcd0af5ddc2
title: UK separating immigrant families
uri: UK-separating-immigrant-families
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28UK_separating_immigrant_families%29

content:
<p>
The UK separates immigrant parents from their
babies, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/05/child-separation-migrant-parents-uk-hostile-environment-trump">hundreds
of them per year</a>, as part of its policy of intentional hostility.
<p>
The UK owes compensation to legal residents deported or threatened due
to its error-prone and catch-22 immigration practices.  It drags its
feet to pressure them
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/05/sajid-javid-accused-of-buying-silence-of-windrush-citizens">sign
gag agreements</a>.


feed_id: 94b3274f5dc88a23c4beb8f37fb41c54
title: Renewable energy in California
uri: Renewable-energy-in-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Renewable_energy_in_California%29
content:
<p>
Nobel Peace Prize
winners <a href="media/f8bc1b04.Governor-Brown-Letter-Final-7-30-18.pdf" data-original-source="https://nobelwomensinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Governor-Brown-Letter-Final-7-30-18.pdf">call
on California Governor Brown</a> to move California completely to
renewable energy.


feed_id: 33aab3df9061b589b8696f70260f98ce
title: Whistling at women
uri: Whistling-at-women
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#10_August_2018_%28Whistling_at_women%29
content:
<p>
Women <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/31/paris-harasser-video-men-rejected-women-fear-violence">fear
when men whistle at them</a> because occasionally one of those men
attacks them physically.
<p>
I can understand how this danger teaches women to react to whistling
with fear.  It is considerate not to whistle.  It does not follow that
whistling is <em>wrong</em>.
<p>
That a fraction of people that do A also do B, where B is wrong, does
not imply that A is wrong.  It would be unjust to criminalize whistling
because of what a small fraction of whistling men go on to do.
<p>
I wonder, though: if we could end misogynist violence against women
on the street, would women cease to feel frightened by whistling?


feed_id: cac7e58e2ba25ded9fe1dcb9856bbff3
title: Conductors, orchestra directors, and rape
uri: Conductors-orchestra-directors-and-rape
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#9_August_2018_%28Conductors%2C_orchestra_directors%2C_and_rape%29

content:
<p>
In classical music performance, conductors, orchestra directors and
agents have so much power over musicians that they use it to 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/assaults-in-dressing-rooms-groping-during-lessons-classical-musicians-reveal-a-profession-rife-with-harassment/2018/07/25/f47617d0-36c8-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html">get
away with rape, and actions that come close to rape</a>.
<p>
These incidents, the ones clearly described, are grossly wrong.  Other
incidents are described with the vague word "inappropriate", or
"sexual assault" which is almost as broad.  They might in fact be
additional instances of rape, or something close.  But "inappropriate"
could also be used for minor matters.  It is important not to be vague
in this way.


feed_id: 07348737dcf5eac43f8b7b68c166bab4
title: Urgent: Kirstjen Nielsen
uri: Urgent-Kirstjen-Nielsen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Kirstjen_Nielsen%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/dhs-sec-nielsen-must-resign?nowrapper=true">call
on the Kirstjen Nielsen</a>, Secretary of the Department of Harshness
and Sadism, to resign.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 9e0ecfd03d2f93db353c08ce0ed070a1
title: Urgent: Protection from extreme heat
uri: Urgent-Protection-from-extreme-heat
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Protection_from_extreme_heat%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/OSHA-heat">call
on OSHA</a> to make regulations to protect workers from extreme heat.
<p>
The best way to do this in the long term is to curb <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>
fast.  Otherwise we will not be able to keep up with this problem as
it gets ever worse.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: f3fc7ca0ec1b60cb14d206b4f63c0602
title: Warning on Kavanaugh
uri: Warning-on-Kavanaugh
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Warning_on_Kavanaugh%29
content:
<p>
Warning Kavanaugh Would Be 'Rubber Stamp' on Trump's Anti-Healthcare,
Anti-[abortion] Agenda, Groups
Announce <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/07/warning-kavanaugh-would-be-rubber-stamp-trumps-anti-healthcare-anti-choice-agenda?cd-origin=rss">Wave
of Direct Actions</a>.


feed_id: a22c840812536a07bde81f894a3efb2e
title: Poultry inspection
uri: Poultry-inspection
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Poultry_inspection%29
content:
<p>
The US poultry inspection system has been undermined by privatization,
and now supervisors are pressuring inspectors
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/07/usda-inspectors-pressured-keep-line-speeds-under-privatized-inspection-system?cd-origin=rss">put
speed above safety</a>.


feed_id: a4a099e926968fd7b6a54f5b299b312f
title: Limits on emoluments
uri: Limits-on-emoluments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Limits_on_emoluments%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/07/encouraging-progress-prying-open-trumps-finances?cd-origin=rss">An
initial court ruling</a> says that the US Constitution's limits on
"emoluments" for the president has a broad meaning, and that a lawsuit
accusing <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> of corruption for operating a hotel in Washington
can go ahead.


feed_id: 33b178b9d5fd33b823b11989c1cab2f5
title: Censoring Alex Jones
uri: Censoring-Alex-Jones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Censoring_Alex_Jones%29
content:
<p>
Several internet redistribution
companies <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/6/17655516/infowars-ban-apple-youtube-facebook-spotify">have
deleted</a> Alex Jones's right-wing conspiracy theory broadcasts.
<p>
I don't think this deletion is much of a loss to the world.  Many of
his claims are bullshit, and some are dangerous bullshit.
<p>
A few do have some distorted relation to reality.  Apple
is <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_January_2017_(Apples_censorship_system)">censoring
for China</a>, and
soon <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#5_August_2018_(Censored_Google_in_China)">Google
may join in</a>.  Some of the waste chemicals businesses and humans
release into lakes and rivers do affect the sexual maturation of sea
animals, making them physically abnormal: not merely "gay",
but <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#06_December_2014_(Fracking_chemicals)">incapable
of reproducing</a>.
If that hits a whole population, it will soon disappear.
<p>
However, occasional partial overlaps with the truth don't cancel out
Jones's plenteous falsehoods.
<p>
What worries me is the censorship power that a few private companies
have.  They say that they are entitled to decide what not to publish
on the grounds that they are private companies.  They are not obliged to
redistribute something merely because it is not illegal.
<p>
But it is dangerous that a few companies have so much power.
<p>
If each one were small, I'd stand up for each one's right to decide
what not to publish.  But each of these companies affects hundreds of
millions of people, perhaps billions.  Their influence is so great
that people and governments ask them, or try to pressure them, to
censor certain things <em>so that those things will not be
available</em>.
<p>
This is developing into a contradiction &mdash; a system of imposed
censorship that legitimizes itself by pretending not to be one.
<p>
I don't believe that this censorship will be limited to right-wing
extremists.  Oil companies have lots of money to spend on
marginalizing the sane voice of alarm.  Billionaires have lots to
spend on marginalizing the demand to restore democracy.


feed_id: fc15178aae716d1d97d63010334e9258
title: Degrading plastic
uri: Degrading-plastic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Degrading_plastic%29
content:
<p>
As plastic degrades,
it <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/6/1785787/-Degrading-plastics-revealed-as-source-of-greenhouse-gases?detail=emaildkre">releases
greenhouse gases</a>.  Thus, when it is finished killing fish and
birds directly, it can help wipe them out (along with human
civilization).


feed_id: 3b954d4305053f12b255064def4405b5
title: Jared Kushner's deletions
uri: Jared-Kushner-s-deletions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Jared_Kushner%27s_deletions%29
content:
<p>
When Jared Kushner owned the New York Observer, he
personally <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stevenperlberg/jared-kushner-new-york-observer">deleted
stories about his friends</a>.
<p>
He had a right to do this, but it's disreputable as journalism.


feed_id: ceef7f6af5d7ef30d8ad9651bc77172d
title: Children being alone
uri: Children-being-alone
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Children_being_alone%29
content:
<p>
Outside the US, the world recognizes
that <a href="https://letgrow.org/american-parenting-vs-the-rest-of-the-world-bizarrely-afraid-stifling-uncool/">children
are safe alone</a>.


feed_id: fbe8b153e95830a9ec3f47eb3b38cc4d
title: Personal data from banks
uri: Personal-data-from-banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Personal_data_from_banks%29
content:
<p>
Amazon, Facebook and Google
are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/06/bid-dystopian-surveillance-power-facebook-asking-big-banks-customer-data?cd-origin=rss">pressuring
US banks to give them personal data</a> on the activities of bank
customers.
<p>
So far, it seems the banks have refused.  We cannot count on them to
continue to refuse.  This is one more reason to pay anonymously with
cash.


feed_id: b5db87248ae1b08eee3d41cb4bcbfe15
title: Peace movement in Afghanistan
uri: Peace-movement-in-Afghanistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Peace_movement_in_Afghanistan%29
content:
<p>
The peace movement in Afghanistan points out that the "war against
terror" has
only <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/06/can-afghans-convince-us-method-war-isnt-effective?cd-origin=rss">increased
terror and increased war</a>.  They need peace to cope with the global
heating effects, such as the oases that are drying up.


feed_id: bd77c1e0b10072468fd0af08ae6444bc
title: Sanctions against Iran
uri: 2018-08-12-Sanctions-against-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Sanctions_against_Iran%29
content:
<p>
The EU
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/07/the-guardian-view-on-iran-and-sanctions-the-eu-stands-firm">pushing
hard against</a> the war-lover's sanctions against Iran.


feed_id: d20bcc48e84aa83be2ecb1254bdc44c6
title: Corrupt cops in the Philippines
uri: Corrupt-cops-in-the-Philippines
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Corrupt_cops_in_the_Philippines%29

content:
<p>
Philippine <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#dodirty">President Do-dirty</a>
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/07/rodrigo-duterte-threatens-to-kill-corrupt-police-officers">threatened
to kill corrupt cops</a>.
<p>
I sympathize with condemnation of corrupt cops, but summary execution
is never justice.  Anyway, decriminalizing the drugs would put an end
to this corruption and could result in a lot less drug use too.  (That
has <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#7_March_2018_(Portugal's_decriminalization)">worked
in Portugal</a>.)


feed_id: 076fa9017274fcdfbbb4a0dea3962330
title: Consumer privacy bills
uri: Consumer-privacy-bills
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Consumer_privacy_bills%29
content:
<p>
Telecom Lobbyists
Have <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/3ky5wj/telecom-lobbyists-have-stalled-70-state-level-bills-that-would-protect-consumer-privacy">Stalled
70 State-Level Bills</a> That Would Protect Consumer Privacy.


feed_id: 5c8c9ec90e70416fdf07a40d4fdf2ac7
title: ALEC setting the table
uri: ALEC-setting-the-table
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28ALEC_setting_the_table%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2018/08/13377/alec-gerrymandering-union-busting-protecting-fossil-fuels-privitizing-schools">ALEC
Sets the Table</a> for Gerrymandering, Union Busting, Protecting
Fossil Fuels, and Privatizing Schools.


feed_id: 1abb6a5e1431852f9a97a8a1a17cf0dc
title: Homelessness in Britain
uri: 2018-08-12-Homelessness-in-Britain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Homelessness_in_Britain%29
content:
<p>
As homelessness (in the US sense &mdash; no place to live) increases
in Britain, a
pub <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/shortcuts/2018/aug/07/wetherspoon-ban-homeless-people-cornwall-owen-jones">refused
to serve two homeless men</a> to whom a kind person decided to give
breakfast.
<p>
This
is <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-sep-dec.html#13%20October%202010%20(Progressives%20must%20promote%20empathy%20and%20justice)">right-wing
disgust-based morality</a> at work.


feed_id: c94ea8d8e9eb63dc2e1b791fbe1c3a4b
title: Ambassador to Salafi Arabia
uri: Ambassador-to-Salafi-Arabia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Ambassador_to_Salafi_Arabia%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> went apeshit when Canada's ambassador talked about the
human rights champions that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> has imprisoned.  It expelled
the ambassador, cut of air travel, and suspended some trade.
<p>
Then a government-connected
organization <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/07/saudi-arabia-canada-toronto-cn-tower-9-11-photo-apology">threatened
a terrorist attack</a> against Canada.
<p>
That repressive regime is trying
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/07/saudi-arabia-canada-spat-analysis">intimidate
all governments</a> so that they don't dare criticize.


feed_id: ef185433c9da0afd41cf09b91c10951b
title: California wildfire
uri: California-wildfire
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28California_wildfire%29
content:
<p>
Largest Wildfire in California's History Expected
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/07/mendocino-complex-wildfire-california-biggest">Burn
for Rest of August</a>.


feed_id: f2687d8101a7b658d39eabde98f9789a
title: Caribbean States on global heating
uri: Caribbean-States-on-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Caribbean_States_on_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/07/trump-climate-change-threat-caribbean-islands-warning">Caribbean
States Beg Trump</a> to Grasp Climate Change Threat: "War Has Come to
Us."
<p>
I think that producing dangerous levels of greenhouse gas should
literally be considered an act of war against whatever parts of the
world will be damaged.


feed_id: fa55ac1688cb37b7120e872188dad59d
title: Arrested for being Dalit
uri: Arrested-for-being-Dalit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Arrested_for_being_Dalit%29
content:
<p>
In Meerut, People &mdash; Including Children &mdash;
Were <a href="https://thewire.in/caste/bharat-bandh-dalit-children-arrest-meerut">Arrested
for Being Dalit</a>.
Literally!


feed_id: 4f554d3ab49190c5bdfcbc9579462eb6
title: 600 minors still prisoners
uri: 600-minors-still-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28600_minors_still_prisoners%29
content:
<p>
Almost 600 minors taken away from refugees
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/07/us-family-separations-immigration-migrant-rights">still
prisoners of the US government</a>, and are in danger of being
"permanently orphaned."
<p>
Three US agencies were negligent about keeping records about the families
that they "deleted".
<p>
I suspect that a substantial fraction of these minors are children too
young even to give the names and addresses of their parents.


feed_id: 49c5391a15f4c6e54ccbb6d2b4de86b3
title: Toxic algae
uri: Toxic-algae
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Toxic_algae%29
content:
<p>
Fueled by Pollution and Unsound
Policies, <a href="https://truthout.org/articles/fueled-by-pollution-and-unsound-policies-toxic-algae-overtakes-florida-beaches/">Toxic
Algae Overtake Florida Beaches</a>.
<p>
Is it worth trying to fix this problem?  If we will curb global
heating rapidly, to avoid
the <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#17_September_2017_(Defense_against_flooding)">inundation
of most of Florida</a>,
then yes.


feed_id: c48c9ffd06e1bc928a89a6339a944eb3
title: American democracy crisis
uri: American-democracy-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28American_democracy_crisis%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/07/american-democracy-crisis-trump-supreme-court">American Democracy Is in Crisis, And Not Just Because of Trump</a>.</p>
<p>There are points in the US Constitution that could be improved based on practical experience.  Alas, to hold a new constitutional convention would make things worse.  Right-wingers want one, because they expect they could dominate it and eliminate protection for human rights.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 841c1cf5b22b4d34eb4923133e2953ce
title: Financial advice
uri: Financial-advice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28Financial_advice%29
content:
<p>(satire) <a href="https://www.theonion.com/financial-planners-suggest-spending-one-evening-each-we-1828135076">Financial advisors recommend</a> Americans spend one evening ripping apart &hellip; their homes each week in search of hidden cash, jewelry, or other valuables.</p>
<p>It's about as effective as anything else you can do, as long as rich rule.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 45601b174f4d8728946c25c91e6fad0b
title: American backed Saudi coalition
uri: American-backed-Saudi-coalition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28American_backed_Saudi_coalition%29

content:
<p>The US and al-Qa'ida are both fighting the Houthis in Yemen. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/06/us-now-allied-al-qaeda-yemen-ap-reveals-american-backed-saudi-coalition-forged-deals?cd-origin=rss">US allies are recruiting al-Qa'ida members</a> and funding al-Qa'ida groups there.</p>
<p>This is especially ironic since the supposed reason the US is fighting in Yemen is to keep al-Qa'ida down.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6bb5ffa391bf884223630ba54184548c
title: Journalists cover online conspiracy theory
uri: Journalists-cover-online-conspiracy-theory
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28Journalists_cover_online_conspiracy_theory%29

content:
<p>Journalists, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/06/online-conspiracy-theory-journalism-qanon">don't play into the hands of conspiracy trolls</a>!</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 977d6337141403064151f9e905b43584
title: Louisiana thugs strangle man to death
uri: Louisiana-thugs-strangle-man-to-death
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28Louisiana_thugs_strangle_man_to_death%29

content:
<p><a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/08/03/angry-louisiana-cops-strangle.html">Angry Louisiana Cops Strangle Man to Death After He Asks to See His Arrest Warrant</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d38310a29fc19dc80a50e894a1759f01
title: Bird populations decrease in Mojave Desert
uri: Bird-populations-decrease-in-Mojave-Desert
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28Bird_populations_decrease_in_Mojave_Desert%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/climate-change-taking-down-birds-mojave-desert-180969893/">Global heating seems to be responsible</a> for the 40% decrease in bird populations in the Mojave Desert.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9368b4738c6bc88b48280a11fd1d98bb
title: US rent decreasing only for rich
uri: US-rent-decreasing-only-for-rich
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28US_rent_decreasing_only_for_rich%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/06/glut-overpriced-apartments-has-made-rents-fall-rich-soar-poor-cities-nationwide?cd-origin=rss">US housing construction is skewed towards the rich</a>.  So much luxury housing has been built in recent years that rents are going down -- for the rich only.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9caf95abedeaafd349b362594a276597
title: Danger of invisible government deeds
uri: Danger-of-invisible-government-deeds
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28Danger_of_invisible_government_deeds%29

content:
<p>Many government programs <a href="http://web-old.archive.org/web/20180802021832/https://www.wired.com/story/the-danger-of-invisible-government-deeds/">work so well that people hardly notice them</a>. When right-wingers try to wreck them -- to create problems that would support their claim that "government activity can't benefit people" --  the public don't realize what is at risk.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 176fac373465f547cd6eaed67598378b
title: London: bookstore attacked by right-wing extremists
uri: London-bookstore-attacked-by-right-wing-extremists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28London%3A_bookstore_attacked_by_right-wing_extremists%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/06/far-right-target-books-alarm-bells-bookmarks-donald-trump">Anti-Semitic right-wing extremists attacked a leftist bookstore in London</a>, and it is clearly the result of the right-wing extremism of the US and UK governments.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 852dd14cbb21570c46ceacc1347b0277
title: Big oil and climate change
uri: Big-oil-and-climate-change
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28Big_oil_and_climate_change%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/aug/06/the-gop-and-big-oil-cant-escape-blame-for-climate-change-dana-nuccitelli">Don't blame climate mayhem on "human nature"</a> and exculpate the people responsible.</p>
<p>Human nature includes many options.  It doesn't force people to follow any one of them, so it is not an excuse.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 874a42bad5ca8111ad20dbc6fe0d3ef1
title: China demolishes Ai Weiwei's studio
uri: China-demolishes-Ai-Weiwei-s-studio
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28China_demolishes_Ai_Weiweis_studio%29

content:
<p>
The Chinese government abruptly demolished Ai Weiwei's studio 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/04/ai-weiwei-beijing-studio-razed-by-chinese-authorities">without
notice</a>.  His art was still inside.


feed_id: e8c14476cd589dba3ba6c8b1d9fdb9d8
title: Separation of minors from parents
uri: Separation-of-minors-from-parents
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Separation_of_minors_from_parents%29

content:
<p>
A judge rebuked the government for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/04/migrant-family-separations-trump-administration-judge">dragging
its heels in reuniting kidnaped refugee minors with their parents</a>,
in particular for creating spurious obstacles, and for 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/03/after-coercing-parents-agreeing-deportation-trump-doj-foists-responsibility-reunite">claiming
that finding the parents is not its responsibility</a>.


feed_id: 84ce2602dede80fc76c80df67b28d875
title: Charlottesville
uri: 2018-08-12-Charlottesville
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Charlottesville%29
content:
<p>
A year after right-wing extremists' demonstration of violent hate,
Charlottesville is looking at how to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/04/charlottesville-viginia-one-year-on-violence-far-right">change
its systemic racism</a>.


feed_id: 6757eede56f96ed8aa2224635d8fea7b
title: UK's incompetent fire code enforcement
uri: UK-s-incompetent-fire-code-enforcement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28UKs_incompetent_fire_code_enforcement%29

content:
<p>
The UK's fire code enforcement is deeply incompetent.  The government
was warned in 2014 about how flammable construction materials were
causing deadly fires, but 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/04/grenfell-tower-prentable-tragedy-proof-warning-combustible-cladding">regulators
did nothing</a> to stop that use.  The large, deadly fire was the
natural result.
<p>
The government has still not banned putting them into additional
buildings.  Meanwhile, the residents of condos in buildings which use
the same dangerous materials are being ordered to replace them at
their own expense &mdash; which would put many of them into penury.


feed_id: c9082a96473f43730f07f091ea5a5cea
title: Journalists barred from West Papua
uri: Journalists-barred-from-West-Papua
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Journalists_barred_from_West_Papua%29

content:
<p>
Indonesia continues to stop foreign journalists from visiting West
Papua.  Former journalists are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/04/australian-student-barred-from-indonesia-and-blacklisted-by-government">blacklisted</a>.
<p>
This is because Indonesia has been colonizing Papua since conquering
the territory in the 1960s, settling large numbers of Javanese there,
and is trying to cover up the indigenous people's resistance.
After Indonesia's experience with Dutch colonialism, it has not learned
to think of colonialism as wrong.
<p>
Sad to say, the US also requires journalists to have a special visa.
Foreigners that enter the US on a tourist visa are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/05/usa.weekend7">forbidden
to report professionally from the US</a>.


feed_id: 02690e7a0c1c6a63c0b53260982a2538
title: US rent decreasing only for rich
uri: 2018-08-12-US-rent-decreasing-only-for-rich
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28US_rent_decreasing_only_for_rich%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/06/glut-overpriced-apartments-has-made-rents-fall-rich-soar-poor-cities-nationwide?cd-origin=rss">US
housing construction is skewed towards the rich</a>.  So much luxury
housing has been built in recent years that rents are going down
&mdash; for the rich only.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7afd6f8c0a0641de312f1905cc7d7016
title: Danger of invisible government deeds
uri: 2018-08-12-Danger-of-invisible-government-deeds
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#11_August_2018_%28Danger_of_invisible_government_deeds%29

content:
<p>Many government programs
<a href="http://web-old.archive.org/web/20180802021832/https://www.wired.com/story/the-danger-of-invisible-government-deeds/">work
so well that people hardly notice them</a>. When right-wingers try to
wreck them &mdash; to create problems that would support their claim
that "government activity can't benefit people" &mdash; the public
don't realize what is at risk.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b0691c452c5bd0f45534d24bb5d18ae3
title: No military need to use nuclear weapons
uri: No-military-need-to-use-nuclear-weapons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28No_military_need_to_use_nuclear_weapons%29

content:
<p>
The US government in 1945 knew that Japan would soon surrender and
therefore there was 
<a href="https://consortiumnews.com/tag/john-laforge/?print=pdf-search">no
military need to use nuclear weapons</a>.
<p>
With such controversial a claims, it is always possible that it was
fabricated.  I don't think that is the case here.  That article is
followed by several others about issues including the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#01_June_2013_(Cancer_rate_in_Basra)">damage
done by Dirty Uranium in Iraq</a> and felony charges against
nonviolent protesters at a base storing uranium for nuclear weapons.
<p>
Some of these points I already know are valid.


feed_id: 3c5a4209669f466e5404ed345b6387de
title: Department of Veterans Affairs
uri: 2018-08-13-Department-of-Veterans-Affairs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Department_of_Veterans_Affairs%29
content:
<p>
Three of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a>'s cronies are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/08/shadow-rulers-va">unofficially
commanding</a> the Department of Veterans Affairs.


feed_id: cc004718eb54846cc159677885eb534a
title: Illegal activities in Congress
uri: Illegal-activities-in-Congress
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Illegal_activities_in_Congress%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Shy Rep. Harold Olsen confided to reporters Wednesday that he
often
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/shy-congressman-wishes-other-lawmakers-would-include-hi-1828200764">feels
left out</a> of all the illegal activities going on in
Congress&hellip;


feed_id: fc04978a9162d49e45a929868461968d
title: Immigrants subsidize our medical care
uri: Immigrants-subsidize-our-medical-care
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Immigrants_subsidize_our_medical_care%29

content:
<p>
Immigrants in the US do not drain funds for medical care.  On the
contrary,
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/08/immigrants-use-little-health-care-may-help-subsidize-care-non-immigrants">they
subsidize the rest of us</a>.


feed_id: 591b369a132c7a30c0448262b0c50e1e
title: Overcoming corruption and systemic racism
uri: Overcoming-corruption-and-systemic-racism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Overcoming_corruption_and_systemic_racism%29

content:
<p>
Overcoming 'Decades of Corruption and Systemic Racism,' Reformer
Wesley Bell 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/08/overcoming-decades-corruption-and-systemic-racism-reformer-wesley-bell-ousts">Ousts
Prosecutor Who Let Michael Brown's Killer Off the Hook</a>.


feed_id: 7c2cb04d230a7e14966ff245e11109f4
title: Buses and trains
uri: Buses-and-trains
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Buses_and_trains%29
content:
<p>
Using buses and trains can be 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/08/travelling-disabled-hell-institutional-change-kindness">very
difficult for a person with vision or mobility difficulties</a>.
<p>
I speculate that the reason the staff are so unhelpful is cuts in
staff due to either government "austerity" or privatized greed.  When
the staff are overloaded, they are also under pressure, and rush
rather than paying attention with kindness.
<p>
Thus, this is one more of the many problems we can fix by taxing the
rich fairly.


feed_id: 55e0e906372cf5cc1096b11848877aba
title: Asylum in the US
uri: Asylum-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Asylum_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
The scapegoater 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/08/aclu-demands-courts-protect-refugees-fleeing-domestic-and-gang-violence-after">ordered
denial of asylum to people fleeing gang violence and domestic
violence</a>.  The ACLU is suing to block the order.


feed_id: 115a594b01e551311b27d320e59fe8b6
title: Republican "right to work" law
uri: Republican-right-to-work-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Republican_right_to_work_law%29
content:
<p>
2/3 of the voters in Missouri 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/08/giving-hope-workers-across-nation-missouri-votes-repeal-gop-attack-unions">voted
to repeal</a> the recently-inflicted Republican "right to work" law.


feed_id: 5dda78859564510478931462426af853
title: Increased rate bankruptcy
uri: Increased-rate-bankruptcy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Increased_rate_bankruptcy%29
content:
<p>
Americans over age 65 are filing for bankruptcy much more than they
used to &mdash; 
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/business/bankruptcy-older-americans.html">three
times the rate (per population) than in 1991</a>.
<p>
I've read elsewhere that some are crushed by the loans for their
children's college education, which they had to guarantee.  The
children couldn't pay these loans back, and in some cases the parents
can't either.


feed_id: 7423be19db821b180256dc9a9d722753
title: Elected officials who oppose women's rights
uri: Elected-officials-who-oppose-women-s-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Elected_officials_who_oppose_womens_rights%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/07/attacking-everything-contraception-access-wage-equality-15-members-congress-named">13
congresscritters and 2 senators</a> have been labeled as "worst for
women" for opposing a broad range of women's rights.


feed_id: 6f9d0673911a1fcc7a8ed73d2b02a287
title: Power to shut down any publisher of news
uri: Power-to-shut-down-any-publisher-of-news
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Power_to_shut_down_any_publisher_of_news%29

content:
<p>
Almost half of US Republicans want to give the president the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/07/terrifying-poll-shows-43-republicans-think-trump-should-have-power-shutter-news">power
to shut down any publisher of news</a>.  Like Erdo&gbreve;an.
<p>
The bullshitter would shut down any publisher that doesn't fake the
news his way.


feed_id: 6870a5b84f7eec88777640a66b4dbeea
title: Austerity
uri: 2018-08-13-Austerity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Austerity%29
content:
<p>
"At local level Conservatives 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/08/the-guardian-view-on-the-tories-and-civil-society-a-pattern-of-denial">can
see the harm wrought by austerity</a>, but that insight has not
reached the party’s upper echelons."
<p>
None so blind has he who will not see &mdash; because his power is
based on plutocrats that don't want him to see.


feed_id: a61f90aecf1fa04e89e8ed10bed4e3fd
title: Use Our Loos campaign
uri: Use-Our-Loos-campaign
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Use_Our_Loos_campaign%29
content:
<p>
Use Our Loos Campaign 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/08/use-our-loos-campaign-urges-uk-firms-to-open-toilets-to-non-customers">Urges
UK Firms to Open Toilets to Non-Customers</a>.
<p>
I'd make it a law.


feed_id: 588cbefd657a10f9d17c8891113abbb3
title: Florida's "stand your ground" law
uri: 2018-08-13-Florida-s-stand-your-ground-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Floridas_stand_your_ground_law%29
content:
<p>
Even when interpreted carefully, Florida's "stand your ground" law
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/07/why-the-days-of-stand-your-ground-self-defense-laws-may-be-numbered">encourages
people to start a violent confrontation</a> when they could have
avoided it.


feed_id: 8a5f1e9f465bb76039226b3ddddb45dd
title: Sanctions against Iran
uri: 2018-08-13-Sanctions-against-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Sanctions_against_Iran%29
content:
<p>
The war-lover's sanctions against Iran 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/08/donald-trump-iran-sanctions-un-security-council-international-law">violate
a UN security council resolution</a> which the US voted for three
years ago.


feed_id: 91e21b19b593245f1088a8c9568e86ed
title: Killed by dooH niboR
uri: Killed-by-dooH-niboR
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Killed_by_dooH_niboR%29
content:
<p>
Killed by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>: in the UK, an estimated 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/08/austerity-kills-life-expectancy-standstill-britain">1
million more deaths expected by 2041</a> due to spending cuts needed
to help the rich.


feed_id: 2c4ae39d361ae016d04afe3b4aaa794f
title: Urgent: Puerto Rico debt relief
uri: Urgent-Puerto-Rico-debt-relief
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Puerto_Rico_debt_relief%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/puerto_rico_debt_relief">call
on Congress</a> to give Puerto Rico debt relief.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: e0ced762f8741754ea8a2741d214dfe4
title: Internet voting in WV
uri: Internet-voting-in-WV
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Internet_voting_in_WV%29
content:
<p>
West Virginia
is <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/08/experts-criticize-west-virginias-plan-for-smartphone-voting/">allowing
internet voting</a>, which is nuts.
<p>
Adding injustice to idiocy, it requires voters to use a nonfree app.


feed_id: cc44c3143beb3ef0c32ac7ca47c6a19c
title: Charity workers attacked
uri: Charity-workers-attacked
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Charity_workers_attacked%29
content:
<p>
French
thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/08/french-police-accused-of-harassing-aid-workers-at-calais">attacked
and intimidated charity workers</a> that were distributing food to
homeless migrants that want to go to the UK.
<p>
I wonder why they specifically desire to go to the UK.


feed_id: 2f80d29dcd06a883a5760c3794d38f9b
title: Loans from China
uri: Loans-from-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Loans_from_China%29
content:
<p>
Loans from China, like loans from the World Bank or the IMF,
can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/08/huge-increase-in-chinese-aid-pledged-to-pacific">turn
into a terrible trap</a>.


feed_id: 8460f7844a19874cab7fe2e4e65be9ae
title: Electricity in Puerto Rico
uri: 2018-08-13-Electricity-in-Puerto-Rico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Electricity_in_Puerto_Rico%29
content:
<p>
Some Puerto
Ricans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/08/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-electricity-ten-months">still
have no electricity</a>.  The privatizing government is very slow to
reconnect them.
<p>
Inhabitants <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/08/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-water-quality">distrust
the water supply</a>, although it might in fact be quite safe.
<p>
Spreading distrust in the state is a natural consequence of what right-wing
wreckers do to the state.


feed_id: da9c01b5a70b6aee9471afd3e3fefbb8
title: Zimbabwe activists
uri: Zimbabwe-activists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Zimbabwe_activists%29
content:
<p>
Zimbabwe activists
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/08/zimbabwe-activists-go-into-hiding-security-crackdown-intensifies">hiding
from state repression forces</a>.


feed_id: d1d74db7480b0214e680e846833d5a08
title: Orcas in Puget Sound
uri: Orcas-in-Puget-Sound
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Orcas_in_Puget_Sound%29
content:
<p>
To protect the orcas in Puget Sound, we would need
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/08/orcas-killer-whales-endangered-dying-washington">increase
the number of salmon</a> and reduce the level of toxins they carry.
And reduce the level of sea noise from boats.
<p>
Over time, the more humans we make, the less room there will be for
other species to survive on Earth.  I imagine Norma Sanchez's great
grandchild asking per parents, "Why did you have me, knowing what
disasters were likely to be waiting for me before I got to be 40?"


feed_id: c7f9ea22194a2eff5e53db94a8bf7cf4
title: Music Modernization Act
uri: Music-Modernization-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Music_Modernization_Act%29
content:
<p>
The Music Modernization Act would
be <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/music-modernization-act-good-solution-songwriters-dont-combine-it-bad-copyright">dangerous
if not fixed</a>, even without
the <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#10_April_2018_(US:_The_CLASSICS_Act)">"CLASSICS
Act"</a> that has been tacked onto it.


feed_id: a5ada969c41064d9868c2eb82291691e
title: FCC's 'DoS attack'
uri: FCC-s-DoS-attack
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28FCC%27s_%27DoS_attack%27%29
content:
<p>
The FCC's commenting system was overloaded by a flood of comments
supporting network neutrality, and lost some of them.  The FCC
pretended that this problem was caused by a DoS attack, which people
disbelieved at the time.
<p>
Now the FCC
admits <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/07/complete-fabrication-fcc-chair-ajit-pai-finally-admits-claim-attack-net-neutrality">there
was no DoS attack</a>.


feed_id: 83e857d272ad51eeb57d7a2c031ad827
title: Accusations against Wilbur Ross
uri: Accusations-against-Wilbur-Ross
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Accusations_against_Wilbur_Ross%29

content:
<p>
Accusations of theft and fraud against Wilbur Ross, <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> of
Commerce, plus the fine that the SEC imposed, add up
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/07/among-biggest-grifters-american-history-wilbur-ross-accused-stealing-more-120?cd-origin=rss">120
million dollars</a>.
<p>
A big-time crook is just the sort of person <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> wants in office.


feed_id: 624abca15f47aea6a552192433c51004
title: NRA cutting costs
uri: NRA-cutting-costs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28NRA_cutting_costs%29
content:
<p>
(satire) the National Rifle Association told
staff members Tuesday it has been forced to cut operational costs by
<a href="https://www.theonion.com/cash-strapped-nra-forced-to-shoot-dozens-of-redundant-e-1828164543">shooting
dozens of &hellip; redundant employees</a>.


feed_id: ab202fbc05b1fd72a1948b5237d15535
title: Tea worker strike
uri: Tea-worker-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Tea_worker_strike%29
content:
<p>
More Than 400,000 Tea Estate Workers in
India <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/07/tea-plantation-workers-in-india-go-on-strike-over-pay-dispute">Go
on Strike over Pay</a>.
<p>
Their wages are a tiny fraction of what we pay for tea.
Surely the tea companies can handle an increase.


feed_id: 9293238565ef6d2ac87ac2b5ee9b5f64
title: Losing homes to a glitch
uri: Losing-homes-to-a-glitch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Losing_homes_to_a_glitch%29
content:
<p>
Wells Fargo says
that <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/6/1786260/-Wells-Fargo-blames-computer-glitch-for-hundreds-of-customers-lost-homes?detail=emaildkre">a
"glitch" was responsible</a> for causing 400 debtors to lose their
homes.
<p>
That could be the truth, but it's one detail of a system that has been
shaped into something fundamentally designed by and for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>.


feed_id: 13dc70bdb7de7ab8e2aba2df3657945b
title: Record heat in Spain and Portugal
uri: Record-heat-in-Spain-and-Portugal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Record_heat_in_Spain_and_Portugal%29

content:
<p>
Spain and Portugal are suffering under 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/weather/2018/aug/04/europe-heatwave-portugal-spain-extreme-temperatures">unprecedented
heat</a>.
<p>
In December it won't be so hot, and the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a> will say,
"It went away, don't worry about it."


feed_id: 2dd9836800e3a967ca07926835fd1dc7
title: UK ready to make deals with nasty regimes
uri: UK-ready-to-make-deals-with-nasty-regimes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28UK_ready_to_make_deals_with_nasty_regimes%29

content:
<p>
A UK ministry says that the UK needs to be more ready to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/31/britain-must-strike-deals-with-unsavoury-elites-says-fco-report">make
deals with "elites" that have committed war crimes</a>.
<p>
The UK has been quite ready to make deals with nasty regimes:
Qadhafi, <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>, the UAE, China,  If it were any more ready,
it would do this twice an hour.


feed_id: 9928effea0ad2ab0c6cf93247931f0f9
title: Nicaragua's new anti-terrorism law
uri: Nicaragua-s-new-anti-terrorism-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Nicaraguas_new_anti-terrorism_law%29

content:
<p>
Nicaragua's new anti-terrorism law reportedly 
<a href="https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/nicaragua-anti-terrorism-law-criminalize-opposition/">can
be applied to protesters too</a>.
<p>
The article contains a link to the text of the law.  It's hard work
for me to read and understand text like that even in English.  If
someone can check this, I would be grateful.


feed_id: 2782945c39e784e14b115f34d9aa22d1
title: Domestic workers' rights
uri: 2018-08-13-Domestic-workers-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Domestic_workers_rights%29
content:
<p>
Settle 
<a href="https://truthout.org/articles/seattle-domestic-workers-win-most-comprehensive-bill-of-rights-in-us/">has
given domestic workers rights</a>.  In most of the US, they are
excluded from the rights other workers have.


feed_id: ef83622c243ab442d9707e7da15100da
title: France makes "sexual harassment" crime
uri: France-makes-sexual-harassment-crime
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28France_makes_sexual_harassment_crime%29

content:
<p>
France has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/21/france-plans-on-the-spot-fines-for-sexual-harassment-in-public">made
it a crime to "sexually harass" people on the street</a>.
<p>
The most important question about such a law is where it will draw the
line.  Severe cases raise no moral issue &mdash; by all means,
prohibit them.  Violence and threats, including following someone
persistently, ought to be punished.
<p>
It is when we look at cases that are less and less severe that a moral
issue arises.  Where does prohibition of speechcrime become
repression?  Where will the line be drawn?
<p>
We cannot have confidence in France to respect freedom of speech.
European countries standardly infringe freedom of speech by
prohibiting insults.  In France, merely insulting an official is a
crime, and people are really 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-jan-apr.html#15_March_2013_(Activist_mocks_Sarkozy_gets_criminal_conviction)">prosecuted
for it</a>.  To an American, this is almost incredible.
<p>
Therefore, the most crucial point in drafting such laws is to specify
clearly where the line is drawn.
<p>
Unfortunately, the article gives no concrete information about where
the line is drawn.  To the extent that it cites acts whose severity we
can gauge, they rather severe.  We get no information about how mild
an act is now a crime.  Is it a crime to say, "You are beautiful"?  Is
it a crime to say, "Please have coffee with me"?


feed_id: 1f77ea20186d2b1d299e0803777ff764
title: Facebook deletes real event
uri: Facebook-deletes-real-event
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Facebook_deletes_real_event%29
content:
<p>
Facebook 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/08/facebook-deletes-anti-unite-right-event-claiming-russian-involvement">deleted
a real, honest antifascist event</a> after finding out that Russian
state agents were promoting it.
<p>
Russian state agents promote Nazi events and anti-Nazi events
because they want to promote conflict in the US.


feed_id: 3bf70fae18a045f20e732e5fbc2e7855
title: American left rediscovering morality
uri: American-left-rediscovering-morality
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28American_left_rediscovering_morality%29

content:
<p>
How the American Left Is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/04/american-left-morality-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-bernie-sanders">Rediscovering
Morality</a>.
<p>
Right-wing morality looks for excuses not to care if the weak get
crushed.  Left-wing morality looks for ways to avoid crushing the
weak.


feed_id: 4e4e6ab6cd178e30c313617d33b695c0
title: Documents expose Big Pharma scheme
uri: Documents-expose-Big-Pharma-scheme
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Documents_expose_Big_Pharma_scheme%29

content:
<p>
Documents Expose Big Pharma's Scheme to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/02/we-need-healthcare-champions-not-puppets-docs-expose-big-pharmas-scheme-turn">Turn
Democratic Candidates Against Medicare for All</a>.


feed_id: 4602a16c3cdde2a0f0ebcbc0d8fade6a
title: Right-wing smears
uri: Right-wing-smears
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Right-wing_smears%29
content:
<p>
The right-wing used fake news to try to smear AMLO in Mexico, but it
<a href="https://slate.com/technology/2018/08/mexicos-presidential-election-was-rife-with-disinformation-from-inside-the-country.html">didn't
convince people</a>.


feed_id: acae40d7bd5f535bcc2f65dd452e6d20
title: What Democrats can be
uri: What-Democrats-can-be
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28What_Democrats_can_be%29
content:
<p>
Elizabeth Warren: Democrats can be "party of 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/04/elizabeth-warren-democrats-can-be-party-of-white-working-class-and-black-lives-matter'>white
working class and Black Lives Matter</a>."


feed_id: 677ad8df4ea1be77a66dfdbb50eea3d6
title: Record level of CO2 in atmosphere
uri: Record-level-of-CO2-in-atmosphere
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Record_level_of_CO2_in_atmosphere%29

content:
<p>
The atmosphere's level of CO<sub>2</sub> is the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/03/earths-carbon-concentrations-have-soared-levels-not-seen-800000-years">highest
it has been in the 800,000 years recorded by ice cores</a>.
<p>
If we had ice cores from before 800,000 years ago, we might observe
that the CO<sub>2</sub> was less than today for many years before
that.


feed_id: 54e333b983d971a2ec4eec3b57e68f9f
title: UK thugs
uri: 2018-08-13-UK-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28UK_thugs%29
content:
<p>
In the UK, at least <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> that brutally attack prisoners 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/03/officer-punched-incapacitated-suspect-dismissed-darlington-durham">tend
to get punished for it</a>.


feed_id: 98149cce9c3b2ea27955bdce279416fc
title: Chicago's mayor and thug chief
uri: Chicago-s-mayor-and-thug-chief
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Chicagos_mayor_and_thug_chief%29
content:
<p>
Protesters in Chicago 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/03/demanding-rahms-resignation-anti-violence-protesters-shut-down-chicagos-lake-shore">demanded
the resignation of the mayor and the thug chief</a> on account of
violence (including violence by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>), corruption, and refusal to
invest in the neighborhoods where marginal groups live.


feed_id: 5473a4902af6c52dbdce03d20e10ab9e
title: Israel sentences poet to prison
uri: Israel-sentences-poet-to-prison
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Israel_sentences_poet_to_prison%29

content:
<p>
Israel has 
<a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/08/02/israeli-arab-dareen-tatour-sentenced-to-5-months-in-prison-over-pro-palestinian-poem/">sentenced
Palestinian poet Dareen Tatour to prison</a> which talks in general
terms about resisting the occupation.
<p>
Meanwhile, Israelis 
<a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2017/04/furious-palestinian-prosecution/">regularly
propose violence in concrete terms</a> and are not prosecuted for it
at all.
<p>
Israel is now 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#28_July_2018_(Apartheid_state_by_law)">explicitly
an apartheid state</a> and this is part of it.


feed_id: afc1a4151a3084b1652994bd668f41a7
title: Threats from right-wing gunmen
uri: Threats-from-right-wing-gunmen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#12_August_2018_%28Threats_from_right-wing_gunmen%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing gunmen 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/04/patriot-prayer-to-carry-guns-at-portland-rally-as-fears-of-violence-rise">say
they will infiltrate the counterprotest in Portland</a>.
<p>
Given their propensity to cheating and lying, this is in effect a
threat to take their guns out, shoot anti-fascists, then claim they
were "defending themselves" from imaginary "threats".  Then they will
dare people to prove that was not true.


feed_id: 3275e349a285fe3a781cd3be7a069bfe
title: Urgent: Discrimination against queer people
uri: Urgent-Discrimination-against-queer-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Discrimination_against_queer_people%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Block_Aderholt">call
on Congress</a> to block attempts to authorize discrimination against
queer people.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: d23e1526b5cea8f517f8ccd29e23e01c
title: Urgent: AT&amp;T workers
uri: Urgent-AT-T-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_ATT_workers%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-the-fight-for-good-jobs-at-att-4?nowrapper=true">Support
AT&amp;T workers</a> if they strike.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 16ba579f4f7616dd02690dea0081900e
title: Cutting off Infowars
uri: Cutting-off-Infowars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Cutting_off_Infowars%29
content:
<p>
Cutting off Infowars without presenting a clear reason
may <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/infowars-social-media-companies-conspiracy">fuel
all its conspiracy theories</a>.


feed_id: e0f66de7ce84c13a53dfb0ebf5ee5b76
title: Potato harvest
uri: Potato-harvest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Potato_harvest%29
content:
<p>
Extreme weather
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/10/the-chips-are-down-in-belgium-as-heatwave-hits-supply-of-frites">damaged
the potato harvest</a> in Belgium, making frites (known in the US as
"French fried" potatoes) scarce.


feed_id: 6043e780a4faaebf6795e2b28c4eff4b
title: Escaping from global heating
uri: Escaping-from-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Escaping_from_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
As the dimensions of the coming <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> disaster sink in, some
people despair,
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/climate-change-escape-canada-summer-heatwaves">fantasize
about miraculous escapes</a> to high ground in places that are fairly
cold.
<p>
However, it is not too late to avert the worst of the disaster.  If we
put more effort into it, we can overcome the murderous billionaires.
In the mean time, having no children will incrementally reduce the
extent of the disaster.  If we avoid enough births, the resulting
smaller future population might have survivable troubles instead of a
disaster.
<p>
The actions of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a> amount to mass murder that is
already starting.  As a last resort, the victims-to-be could use bombs
to destroy the murderous billionaires' prepared refuges.  If those
realize that they cannot expect to survive dooming the bulk of
humanity to death, some might change sides and direct their power to
averting global disaster.


feed_id: c64e02cb3688aac31a0f0b1ea070dde9
title: Russian deals for UK donor
uri: Russian-deals-for-UK-donor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Russian_deals_for_UK_donor%29
content:
<p>
Russian banks
offered <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/09/revealed-detail-of-exclusive-russian-deal-offered-to-arron-banks-in-brexit-run-up">special
deals to the main donor</a> to the UK's election campaign to leave the
EU.
<p>
Whether this legally counts as corruption on his part may depend on
legal questions I don't understand.  However, what he did qualifies in
spirit as selling out his country.


feed_id: 39732bc120f97045963ff2a39553eae3
title: Tax cut for banks
uri: Tax-cut-for-banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Tax_cut_for_banks%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a> wants to give banks another big tax cut
by <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/09/buried-fine-print-trump-rule-would-give-25-billion-tax-cut-big-bank-fat-cats?cd-origin=rss">redefining
"financial service industry"</a> not to include banks.


feed_id: a7cfae1016ed5188acfe6c535124b281
title: Drone-zapper tower
uri: Drone-zapper-tower
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Drone-zapper_tower%29
content:
<p>
(satire): Yemen
has <a href="https://www.theonion.com/yemen-unveils-new-80-story-drone-zapper-1828227585">developed
a drone-zapper tower</a> to protect people from its infestation of
drones.
<p>
(Serious) Drone Strikes on
Yemen <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/yemen-open-letter-drone-strikes-us">Don’t
Make My Country Safer</a> &mdash; Or Yours.


feed_id: 4a65038265b134839477dc8061a2ed80
title: Ryanair union busting
uri: Ryanair-union-busting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Ryanair_union_busting%29
content:
<p>
Ryanair
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/09/unions-accuse-ryanair-of-breaching-labour-law-after-crews-go-on-strike">trying
to bust unions</a> in Europe, punishing workers in various ways.
<p>
I urge people to refuse to do business with that airline, which I like to
call Cryin'air.


feed_id: 6f3a4812409683a3be92b8493749ad06
title: Edinburgh book festival
uri: Edinburgh-book-festival
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Edinburgh_book_festival%29
content:
<p>
The UK's "hostile environment" for foreigners loused up the Edinburgh
international book festival.  Scotland's devolved
government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/09/authors-visa-struggles-undermine-book-festival-says-sturgeon">is
complaining</a>.
<p>
I should note that the
US <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#2_May_2018_(Hassles_entering_the_US)">does
this too</a>, perhaps worse.  So,
recently, <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#13_May_2018_(Events_moving_to_Canada)">does
Canada</a>.


feed_id: 86b666bba48e9be0aaa7ea56954afdf7
title: Keeping coal power plants
uri: Keeping-coal-power-plants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Keeping_coal_power_plants%29
content:
<p>
The crony-in-chief is still trying to keep money-losing coal power
plants.  He
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/09/bernard-mcnamee-would-lead-charge-ferc-bail-out-old-expensive-coal-plants?cd-origin=rss">another
avenue to do it</a>.
<p>
Plutocratists condemn government help to people in general, citing the
"free market" as justifying suffering for the weak.  But that's only
because the victims are weak.


feed_id: bf978293aea3600c7be411f45c897c9f
title: Fight for the Future
uri: Fight-for-the-Future
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Fight_for_the_Future%29
content:
<p>
Fight for the Future has collected funds
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/09/new-scorecard-crowdfunded-billboards-will-ensure-california-legislators-cant?cd-origin=rss">post
critical billboards</a> in the districts of any California state
legislators that try to undermine the state's planned network
neutrality law.


feed_id: 3a868122018f54bac33710cb231d6c96
title: Chlorpyrifos
uri: Chlorpyrifos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Chlorpyrifos%29
content:
<p>
A US court ordered the EPA to proceed
with <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/09/major-victory-public-health-court-orders-trump-epa-ban-pesticide-harms-kids-brains?cd-origin=rss">banning
the pesticide chlorpyrifos</a>, which it had determined to cause birth
defects in children's brains.


feed_id: d5b280b00c46fa6236d556511d894c57
title: Oil extraction opposition
uri: Oil-extraction-opposition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Oil_extraction_opposition%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/09/international-coalition-asks-ecuadors-president-moreno-protect-earth-defenders?cd-origin=rss">Calling
on President Moreno</a> to protect the lives of indigenous people that
oppose oil extraction in their land.


feed_id: d86253396d96026fb63808f26709d332
title: Asian tick in the US
uri: Asian-tick-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Asian_tick_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
An Asian tick is now 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/08/us-invaded-by-savage-tick-that-sucks-animals-dry-spawns-without-mating/">established
in the US</a>, which reproduces so vigorously that a mass of ticks can
kill a sheep by draining all its blood.
<p>
Freezing weather kills most of them, but we are busy shredding that
protection by heating up the Earth's atmosphere.


feed_id: b8f3acffb135e64cd1fd7d5e98e8c4df
title: Reuniting refugee children and parents
uri: Reuniting-refugee-children-and-parents
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Reuniting_refugee_children_and_parents%29

content:
<p>
The US government is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/10/family-separations-judge-dana-sabraw-migrants">at
last making a real effort</a> to find the refugees whose children it
took away.  It has not succeeded with all of them, but only 26 of
these children remain whose parents or relatives the US has no contact
with.
<p>
This figure appears to pertain to the children alone, not including
the teenagers.


feed_id: d9730714fbae996853c5326d28896fea
title: Hothouse Earth
uri: Hothouse-Earth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Hothouse_Earth%29
content:
<p>
Researchers Suggest We Could Tip into a 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/08/what-prompted-all-the-headlines-about-a-hothouse-earth/">Hothouse
Earth</a>.


feed_id: 5df97b9c935386338ff4de1e6544bfd8
title: Temperature rise and crime rates
uri: Temperature-rise-and-crime-rates
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Temperature_rise_and_crime_rates%29

content:
<p>
When Temperatures Rise, So Do Crime Rates: 
<a href="https://theconversation.com/when-temperatures-rise-so-do-crime-rates-evidence-from-south-africa-100850">evidence
from South Africa</a>.


feed_id: f5453a7bff773043258a2b3c1b6e8d0f
title: Russian crackers in election systems
uri: Russian-crackers-in-election-systems
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Russian_crackers_in_election_systems%29

content:
<p>
Senator Nelson of Florida says that Russian crackers have 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/8/1786853/-Sen-Bill-Nelson-Russians-have-penetrated-Florida-election-systems">got
into the election systems</a> of some Florida counties.


feed_id: 196699177daebc79234454a48af4242a
title: The plan to protect the cheater
uri: The-plan-to-protect-the-cheater
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28The_plan_to_protect_the_cheater%29

content:
<p>
Rep. Nunes, a total lackey of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a>, told his sponsors the plan
to protect <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> from prosecution: 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/09/secret-devin-nunes-recording-gives-away-plan-clear-president-confirm-kavanaugh-first">put
Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, then impeach Deputy Attorney General
Rod Rosenstein, to replace him with someone else that will fire
Mueller</a>.


feed_id: d9a85bc12e127f9451d807d62518b531
title: Fracking on California's public lands
uri: Fracking-on-California-s-public-lands
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Fracking_on_Californias_public_lands%29

content:
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#saboteur">saboteur</a>-in-chief 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/08/continuing-war-california-and-planet-trump-makes-first-move-reopen-states-public">wants
to impose fracking</a> on California's public lands.


feed_id: c43023fad33fd029602e5c3c9831db81
title: Republican election counting corruption
uri: Republican-election-counting-corruption
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Republican_election_counting_corruption%29

content:
<p>
Kris Kobach 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/08/stunning-voting-rights-villain-and-trump-sidekick-kris-kobach-refuses-recuse-himself">refused
to recuse himself from the counting of an election</a> in which he was
one of the candidates.
<p>
There is no kind of corruption of which today's Republicans have any
shame.


feed_id: 54fbb998e292d3f8f673f70a060a2de9
title: Florida's prisons and DRM
uri: Florida-s-prisons-and-DRM
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Floridas_prisons_and_DRM%29
content:
<p>
Captive Audience: How Florida's Prisons and DRM 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/08/captive-audience-how-floridas-prisons-and-drm-made-113m-worth-prisoners-music">Made
$11.3M Worth of Prisoners' Music Disappear</a>.
<p>
This is a bigger crime than most of the prisoners are accused of.
<p>
But the new Jpay system is far worse than that.  It is total greed.
The Florida Department of Corrections and Jpay plan to squeeze money
out of the prisoners, and divide it up.


feed_id: 3abb6d2da8b327fbfdf96ac897ef2307
title: School privatization
uri: 2018-08-15-School-privatization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28School_privatization%29
content:
<p>
Creeping school privatization has been a disaster 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/09/schools-broken-radical-action-education">in
the UK</a>.  Also, 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#2_September_2017_(Charter_schools)">in
different ways</a>, 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-mar-jun.html#2_May_2017_(Privatized_charter_schools_in_New_Orleans)">in
the US</a>.
<p>
We need to restore the formerly public schools to public control.


feed_id: cca578e43689ce01a2daa378cfc620ea
title: Ethical demands of workers
uri: Ethical-demands-of-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Ethical_demands_of_workers%29
content:
<p>
As workers of digital companies start to impose ethical demands, they
are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/09/silicon-valley-tech-workers-labor-activism">discovering
their power</a>.  But how far will they demand ethical behavior?
<p>
They recognize the injustice of some unusual activities that serve
tyranny, but can they recognize the injustice of their businesses'
normal practice, such as proprietary software and collecting personal
data?


feed_id: ca30ee308de0865ced43540192ecb1f5
title: Jailed for accepting glass of wine
uri: Jailed-for-accepting-glass-of-wine
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Jailed_for_accepting_glass_of_wine%29

content:
<p>
A Danish woman accepted a complimentary glass of wine on an Emirates
flight to Dubai.  On account of this, she has been 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/10/woman-held-in-dubai-with-daughter-for-drinking-glass-of-wine-on-flight">jailed
there for a year awaiting trial</a>.


feed_id: 7aacacf179bb26b5e0e8488aa88a72a5
title: Underpaid government contractors
uri: Underpaid-government-contractors
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Underpaid_government_contractors%29

content:
<p>
"The federal government pays millions of contractors 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/10/millions-of-government-workers-paid-poverty-wages-study-says">less
than $15 an hour</a>, and the Trump administration has further cut
wages."


feed_id: 84f38c57ec365611b450197da6729fdf
title: Law to punish Indian sex workers
uri: Law-to-punish-Indian-sex-workers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Law_to_punish_Indian_sex_workers%29

content:
<p>
Indian prostitutes denounce a law that will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/10/indian-sex-workers-vent-fury-over-anti-trafficking-law">punish
them if they work in brothels</a>.  The law would presume they were
trafficked (even if they were not), and sentence them to prison-like
"rehabilitation".


feed_id: 1987644562ae827de94a82430e0c61a6
title: Endangered Species Act
uri: 2018-08-15-Endangered-Species-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Endangered_Species_Act%29
content:
<p>
The enforcement of the Endangered Species Act has been 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/09/report-endangered-species-act-recovery-plans-missing-delayed-and-old">on
slowdown for decades</a>, with the result that many species that need
protection don't get any.


feed_id: 87b2039fe5cf3320fc20c1b714613b52
title: Prescription of heroin for addicts
uri: Prescription-of-heroin-for-addicts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Prescription_of_heroin_for_addicts%29

content:
<p>
Norway will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/10/norway-trials-free-heroin-prescriptions-for-most-serious-addicts">prescribe
heroin for addicts</a>.
<p>
The wall of the "war on drugs" is cracking.  May we soon get rid of it
entirely, and treat drug addicts simply as patients.


feed_id: f93fa567f1b8b657ab75b6957a54bcea
title: Arrest of students who protested
uri: Arrest-of-students-who-protested
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Arrest_of_students_who_protested%29

content:
<p>
Bangladesh is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/10/none-will-be-spared-students-fear-reprisals-over-bangladesh-unrest">arresting</a>
students who participated in protests.


feed_id: 9bda4aa264317030695830f4d2dd15d9
title: Policies that protect the non-rich
uri: Policies-that-protect-the-non-rich
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Policies_that_protect_the_non-rich%29

content:
<p>
Governments can set policies that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/uk-rents-berlin-renters-unions-landlords">prevent
non-rich people from being priced out of a place to live</a>.
<p>
Over the long term, this requires arranging to build housing for the
non-rich.  Governments can do that, too, as long as they don't give
priority to the wishes of the rich.  In the US, we have been
propagandized to forget that we used to do this.


feed_id: 734d1b684c5f2585e6904ddbb923213d
title: Yazidi prisoners of PISSI
uri: Yazidi-prisoners-of-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Yazidi_prisoners_of_PISSI%29
content:
<p>
An Iraqi beekeeper started a campaign that enabled Yazidi prisoners of
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>, in particular women, to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/aug/10/beekeeper-sinjar-dunya-mikhail-review-yazidi-abdullah-shrem-oskar-schindler">save
other Yazidi prisoners of PISSI</a>.


feed_id: cb203373d6dc4563cc6817e159cc9be5
title: Urgent: Fossil fuel contributions
uri: Urgent-Fossil-fuel-contributions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Fossil_fuel_contributions%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.climatetruth.org/sign/DNC_nofossilfuelmoney/">call
on the Democratic National Committee</a> to reinstate in full the
policy of rejecting fossil fuel contributions, which it just weakened.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: e7f4a3a58771a612e41eaa98e136a63e
title: Gina Haspel's reports
uri: Gina-Haspel-s-reports
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Gina_Haspel%27s_reports%29
content:
<p>
Gina Haspel's personal reports to CIA
headquarters <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/10/though-too-late-now-cables-secret-cia-black-site-read-gina-haspels-torture?cd-origin=rss">show
her commitment to torture</a>.


feed_id: cabbc8c6948d1cf52298aa1cbbdb5e96
title: Deportation bus accident
uri: Deportation-bus-accident
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Deportation_bus_accident%29
content:
<p>
The US deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> were transporting imprisoned border-crossing
women to meet their children,
when <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/9/1787078/-ICE-BUSTED-for-lying-about-crashing-a-van-filled-with-mothers-separated-from-their-children?detail=emaildkre">the
bus had an accident</a>.
<p>
Such things happen, but the deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> didn't want to be
embarrassed by it, so they lied to cover it up.
<p>
Several women were injured, but they decided not to go to the hospital
for fear of not seeing their children again.  There was no rational
reason it would have had this effect, but you can't count on <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
to be rational.


feed_id: 22ab1527efea57f0bdbabcb0ce81ac6d
title: DeVos tax dodging
uri: DeVos-tax-dodging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28DeVos_tax_dodging%29
content:
<p>
Betsy DeVos is dodging taxes on her yachts
by <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/9/1787085/-Betsy-DeVos-s-multimillion-yachts-fly-foreign-flags-because-paying-taxes-isn-t-America-first?detail=emaildkre">registering
them outside the US</a>.
<p>
That shows whose side she's on &mdash; not her country's side.  But
she's adding injury to insult: trying to enable sleazy for-profit
colleges <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/10/latest-shameful-abdication-duty-students-devos-moves-unshackle-profit-colleges?cd-origin=rss">keep
the money that they took</a> from Americans who thought they were
paying for a real education.


feed_id: f01d16b744b9a7e9e7362b020b9f6b63
title: Emoluments in the US Constitution
uri: Emoluments-in-the-US-Constitution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Emoluments_in_the_US_Constitution%29

content:
<p>
The authors of the US Constitution made it clear that "emoluments" to
officials included anything of value, and that the purpose of
prohibiting officials including the president from receiving
emoluments was
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/10/confused-emoluments-founding-fathers-would-have-impeached-trump-new-york-minute?cd-origin=rss">prevent
them from being influenced or corrupted</a>.


feed_id: 6c531d2c0600c26824beae70b06d264b
title: Living in vehicles
uri: Living-in-vehicles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Living_in_vehicles%29
content:
<p>
The number of Americans that live in cars or
RVs <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-americans-are-living-in-their-vehicles-amid-high-housing-prices/">is
rapidly increasing</a>.  Even people with jobs can't afford any other
place to live.
<p>
Why do cities pass laws against this?  Because the city government
works is controlled by the haves, and they don't want their pretty
lives inconvenienced by have-nots.
<p>
This is why I oppose local political movements to keep density down.
Keeping density down means kicking out the have-nots.
<p>
If we end plutocracy, the non-rich will get a bigger share of
the nation's income.  However, in cities that are too expensive,
that may not be sufficient.  We need to weaken zoning laws so as to
build a lot more housing that is near public transportation,
and we must not let the local haves stop it.


feed_id: cfa0e322ee84fc509ce47df96dd230c1
title: The next recession
uri: The-next-recession
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28The_next_recession%29
content:
<p>
Americans overall are increasingly in debt.  This is likely to
<a href="http://wallstreetonparade.com/2018/08/financial-health-of-u-s-consumer-will-determine-severity-of-the-next-recession/">exacerbate
the next recession</a>.
<p>
The figures may not count all the the really large debts of rich(?)
Americans, such as <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a>.  We don't know whether his net assets
are in the positive millions or the negative millions.
<p>
Why is debt increasing while "the US economy is prospering"?  Because
that claim is based on measuring by totals (or per-capita figures,
which over periods of a few years are equivalent to totals).  The rich
are gaining more millions than the non-rich are losing, so the totals
increase.
<p>
The ethical measure of an economy is based on how well the not-rich and
especially the poor are doing.
<p>
World-wide, extreme poverty has been reduced,
but <a href="https://www.axios.com/population-living-in-poverty-around-the-world-4e9a1682-8635-46f5-8c20-43264b765c5e.html">inequality
has risen</a>.


feed_id: 24e97be4ca3164781a509b985f8fb872
title: Tuberculosis medicine
uri: Tuberculosis-medicine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Tuberculosis_medicine%29
content:
<p>
The UN is considering a measure to help poor countries make generic
medicines to treat tuberculosis.  The US
is <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/08/07/tuberculosis-declaration-trump-phrma/">pressuring
various countries</a> so as to defeat the measure.
<p>
The fact that a former Obama advisor is helping that effort
demonstrates what we could see at the time: Obama was more a supporter
of plutocracy than an opponent of it.


feed_id: ea76596d9119fc07c484ff8712284dc4
title: Asbestos exporter
uri: Asbestos-exporter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Asbestos_exporter%29
content:
<p>
A Russian exporter of
asbestos <a href="https://www.ewg.org/release/russian-asbestos-giant-praises-trump-administration-actions-keep-deadly-carcinogen-legal">thanked
the poisoner</a> for keeping asbestos legal in the US.
<p>
We can ban asbestos some day, if we fight asbestos we can.


feed_id: e65c1027f4aef31d04f0669a2ba744bb
title: High-school students on Facebook
uri: High-school-students-on-Facebook
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28High-school_students_on_Facebook%29

content:
<p>
Facebook bought a company apparently for the sake of learning its
tricks
to <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/facebooks-teens-tbh-psychological-trick-memo">rope
in high-school students</a> as useds.


feed_id: 9aa61dea71478831dde696e262b72c93
title: Brazilian presidential candidate
uri: Brazilian-presidential-candidate
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Brazilian_presidential_candidate%29

content:
<p>
The right-wing candidate for president of Brazil showed himself to be
an enemy of democracy by choosing as running mate a general
that <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-politics-bolsonaro/brazilian-right-wing-candidate-bolsonaro-picks-army-general-as-running-mate-idUSKBN1KQ0OU">spoke
in favor of a military coup</a>.
<p>
There is a real danger that this candidate will win.


feed_id: 161ab0aaa68e01a280590b5569f167cb
title: Single-payer medical coverage
uri: Single-payer-medical-coverage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Single-payer_medical_coverage%29
content:
<p>
Younger
MDs <a href="https://khn.org/news/once-its-greatest-foes-doctors-are-embracing-single-payer/">have
won a victory</a> for single-payer medical coverage by convincing the
AMA to consider the idea.


feed_id: b8f22efdfc6828470d473fc09140d0e4
title: Georgia's election systems
uri: Georgia-s-election-systems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Georgia%27s_election_systems%29
content:
<p>
Georgia's election
systems <a href="https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article216056560.html">are
grossly insecure</a>, both for the voter list and for the supposed
list.
<p>
DEFCON
will <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/10/defcon-begins-child-hackers-ready-crack-us-voting-systems-because-adult-hackers-find?cd-origin=rss">hold
a contest for young crackers</a> to break the security of imitations
of real US state voting systems.


feed_id: 169ec386a1903a6e059db660138b6ce7
title: Privatization of US public libraries
uri: Privatization-of-US-public-libraries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Privatization_of_US_public_libraries%29

content:
<p>
The 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/29/1783617/-The-creeping-privatization-of-public-libraries">Creeping
Privatization</a> of [US] Public Libraries.
<p>
The article calls the Koch brothers "libertarians", but their support
for some kinds of human rights is a beard for their real cause: a
laissez-faire, laissez-d&eacute;vorer economy.  They hate public
libraries because they are public, and any public activity that helps
people is what they call "socialism".
<p>
Please don't support their pretense: join me in calling them
"<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#anti">antisocialists</a>".


feed_id: 20fe11b23c6c613017ea12816dbbf598
title: Communications satellite security
uri: Communications-satellite-security
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Communications_satellite_security%29

content:
<p>
Communications satellites 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/news-blog/2018/aug/09/satellite-system-hacking-attacks-ships-planes-military">could
be used to do various kinds of harm</a>, if crackers break their
security.


feed_id: 06db1ba050007ea24dce0adc824f660b
title: US deportation of asylum seekers
uri: US-deportation-of-asylum-seekers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28US_deportation_of_asylum_seekers%29

content:
<p>
Judge 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/09/asylum-seekers-deported-court-trump-administration-judge">Orders
US to Bring Back Family Deported While Asylum Case Was Open</a>.
<p>
I hope higher courts sustain this attempt to rein in the lawless
bullying carried out by US <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>.  One can't count on the right-wing
justices to defend the legal rights of people (as opposed to
businesses).


feed_id: 9ea565200ad8069e83840cce3724cde7
title: Venezuelan opposition
uri: 2018-08-15-Venezuelan-opposition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Venezuelan_opposition%29
content:
<p>
Some 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/venezuela-maduro-opposition-assassination-claim">exiled
members of the Venezuelan opposition</a> endorse the recent
assassination attempt.  Others reject the accusation that they were
involved.


feed_id: bee2d2e16bb7a7057e28f752cdb83a29
title: Medical "wellness score"
uri: Medical-wellness-score
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Medical_wellness_score%29
content:
<p>
Collecting your medical data (and other data about your life) and
combining that into a "wellness score" would give companies an 
<a href="https://theconversation.com/turning-your-health-data-into-a-wellness-score-might-not-be-good-for-you-100641">excuse
to screw you</a>.


feed_id: d5cb86a3001da8e2252313ba6d730460
title: Passive Democrats
uri: Passive-Democrats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Passive_Democrats%29
content:
<p>
The Democrats 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/09/democrats-oppose-trump-republicans-passive">Must
Do More Than Simply Oppose</a> Donald Trump.


feed_id: 0fc0f49b5a6497d1c8be22af5e6e9e3c
title: Puerto Rico acknowledges hurricane deaths
uri: Puerto-Rico-acknowledges-hurricane-deaths
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Puerto_Rico_acknowledges_hurricane_deaths%29

content:
<p>
Puerto Rico has acknowledged that Hurricane Maria 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/puerto-rico-quietly-moves-to-update-hurricane-maria-death-toll-from-64-to-1427">killed
1427 people there</a> &mdash; not all immediately.


feed_id: 1bdc4e7ee7f4c91d4cd1d8419bbdb34a
title: Mauritanian elections
uri: Mauritanian-elections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Mauritanian_elections%29
content:
<p>
Shortly before elections, Mauritania has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/09/biram-dah-abeid-mauritanian-presidential-hopeful-arrested-fears-political-foul-play">jailed
an anti-slavery campaigner</a>.


feed_id: 29ba93d0c6bee4360aac4ca156d2c1a8
title: Hamas and Israel fighting again
uri: Hamas-and-Israel-fighting-again
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Hamas_and_Israel_fighting_again%29

content:
<p>
Hamas and Israel are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/terrifying-night-gaza-israel-hamas-trade-airstrikes-rocket-attacks">back
to fighting again</a>.
<p>
Israel demonstrated conclusively that it will respond to nonviolent
protest by 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#22_April_2018_(Today%27s_Israeli_Army)">shooting
thousands of people</a>.  I find it hard to blame Palestinians for
responding to arms with arms.
<p>
Hamas is an Islamist organization.  That means it 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#04_July_2014_(Nigerian_Atheist_receives_death_threats)">rejects
fundamental human rights</a>.  But that does not justify refusing the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#5_June_2018_(Hamas_proposes_cease_fire)">permanent
cease-fire</a> that it has offered.


feed_id: 4943070c6da49dac63cb5f97c6bd6ab9
title: Zambia hands asylum seeker to Zimbabwe
uri: Zambia-hands-asylum-seeker-to-Zimbabwe
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Zambia_hands_asylum_seeker_to_Zimbabwe%29

content:
<p>
An opposition leader from Zimbabwe fled to Zambia for asylum.  Zambia
handed him back to Zimbabwe, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/zimbabwe-forced-return-of-opposition-figure-gravely-concerning-says-un">defying
an order from the Supreme Court</a>.
<p>
The tyrant of Zimbabwe, after apparently stealing the election, is now
sending soldiers to destroy the homes of opposition supporters.


feed_id: c50ac0805a98ae51a0be04a30c4a29f1
title: Right-wing Democrat works with ALEC
uri: Right-wing-Democrat-works-with-ALEC
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#14_August_2018_%28Right-wing_Democrat_works_with_ALEC%29

content:
<p>
The governor of Louisiana is formally a Democrat, but he is so
right-wing that he 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/09/louisiana-john-bel-edwards-alec">works
with ALEC</a>.


feed_id: bb81aee4551b48eced8bfb3dd6e79029
title: Tribune abandons merger plan
uri: Tribune-abandons-merger-plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Tribune_abandons_merger_plan%29
content:
<p>
Tribune 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/aug/09/tribune-sinclair-buyout-called-off-lawsuit">abandoned
its plan to merge with Sinclair</a>.


feed_id: 9f283bca02db977a3c5e01bcf5a88ab0
title: Abortion in Argentina
uri: Abortion-in-Argentina
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Abortion_in_Argentina%29
content:
<p>
Argentina's senate 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/argentina-abortion-defeat-shows-enduring-power-of-catholic-church">rejected
legalization of abortion</a>.
<p>
Argentines will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/argentina-senate-rejects-bill-legalise-abortion">campaign
to reverse this defeat</a> in the next election.


feed_id: 7318a51a4a81efe9f911872f9d828b7a
title: US-backed intervention in Yemen
uri: 2018-08-15-US-backed-intervention-in-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28US-backed_intervention_in_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
The US-backed intervention in Yemen by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/dozens-dead-in-yemen-as-bus-carrying-children-hit-by-airstrike-icrc">bombed
a bus in Yemen whose passengers were children</a>, killing over 40 of
them.


feed_id: 0081c5cc1b8b0fdefb2bc670dd836c90
title: Solar power with storage batteries
uri: Solar-power-with-storage-batteries
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#13_August_2018_%28Solar_power_with_storage_batteries%29

content:
<p>
Solar power with storage batteries is becoming 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/08/solar-storage-surges-gas-falls">cheap
enough to replace natural gas</a> &mdash; but planet roasters won't
let that happen without a fight.
<p>
Let's fight!  Let's destroy the planet-roaster companies &mdash;
before they destroy us!


feed_id: 7eaa2c4765843d439704d9cb7c6298fa
title: Charges in Dubai
uri: Charges-in-Dubai
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Charges_in_Dubai%29
content:
<p>
Dubai dropped charges against Ellie Holman,
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/11/woman-arrested-with-daughter-in-dubai-over-drinking-wine-is-released">allowed
her to leave</a>.
<p>
Aside from great stress, the experience cost her tens of thousands of
dollars.  Why take a crazy risk?  Stay away!


feed_id: b34836c357b3602f7369a8b393b61a0b
title: Apple's business
uri: Apple-s-business
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Apple%27s_business%29
content:
<p>
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook &mdash; Serf Labor, Overpriced iPhones, and
<a href="https://nader.org/2018/08/07/apples-ceo-tim-cook-serf-labor-overpriced-iphones-and-wasted-burning-profits/">Wasted
Burning Profits</a>.
<p>
He doesn't mention subjugating the users with nonfree software, which
is even worse.


feed_id: 2361df59631f812e71edd62d33efec30
title: Regulating bots
uri: Regulating-bots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Regulating_bots%29
content:
<p>
Regulating Bots on Social Media Is Easier Said Than Done.  For One
Thing, <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2018/08/to-regulate-bots-we-have-to-define-them.html">Defining
"Bot" Is Tricky</a>.


feed_id: 1d0447a3f520eec8f73ff205f75102d2
title: Punishing crime victims
uri: Punishing-crime-victims
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Punishing_crime_victims%29
content:
<p>
Many US cities punish people for being frequent victims of crime.  In
general,
this <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/womens-rights/women-and-criminal-justice/across-new-york-people-color-and-poor-can-face">potentiates
other forms of inequality</a>, so the punishment typically affects
poor people and members of suffering ethnic groups.


feed_id: 690c0cc160ef55070f7e0cf40ad46048
title: Food allergen regulation
uri: Food-allergen-regulation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Food_allergen_regulation%29
content:
<p>
Business
interests <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/08/11/mandatory-allergen-labels-are-a-double-e">argue
against a regulation</a> requiring restaurants to list the allergens
in each food product.
<p>
Usually the problems they cite are real, but exaggerated.
<p>
Every regulation that is implemented locally carries a risk of
inducing businesses to move elsewhere.  However, this is often much
smaller than businesses claim.  In some cases, we can and should
avoid that problem by adopting the regulation for a broader region.
But if the only possibility is to apply it locally, that may still be
better than nothing.
<p>
Small exceptions can make a regulation much easier to obey.
It would make sense to exempt specials that are offered for less than
a week.  I hope the regulation permits a restaurant to address the
cross-contamination issue by saying, "this dish contains shrimp and may
have traces of fish".


feed_id: 9a1db80df3cdb334415d77ec31c8f783
title: Beach in Belgium
uri: Beach-in-Belgium
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Beach_in_Belgium%29
content:
<p>
People dispute how best
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/aug/11/parker-solar-probe-launch-delayed-hitch-rocket">protect
a beach in Belgium</a> from the early stages of global heating, but it
only postpones the problem.
<p>
It also distracts people from the much bigger dangers that we will
encounter if we don't curb <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: b8c6e1c9b87172af345c64ed7419531e
title: Child slaughter in Yemen
uri: Child-slaughter-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Child_slaughter_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
U.S. Is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/10/us-complicit-child-slaughter-yemen?cd-origin=rss">Complicit
in Child Slaughter</a> in Yemen.


feed_id: ec3a63d3f9de4871e6fbe9ddaf1d96cb
title: White nationalist views in politics
uri: White-nationalist-views-in-politics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28White_nationalist_views_in_politics%29

content:
<p>
A Year After Charlottesville, White Nationalist
Views <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/a-year-after-charlottesville-white-nationalist-views-creep-into-politics">Creep
into Politics</a>.
<p>
When activists on the left exult about electing members of
discriminated-against groups (typically women, Muslims, Latins,
blacks, indigenous Americans), or call on the public to support
a candidate for that reason, I am concerned lest this encourage
whites to campaign to elect people because they are white.
The more we legitimize that sort of reason, the more we
clear the pathway of white nationalism.  To defeat that, we
must reject the idea of choosing candidates based on race.
<p>
I choose candidates to support because of what they stand for, not
their origins.
<p>
As for the candidate's religion, I consider that as such unimportant
except to the extent it is reflected in the candidate's position.
<p>
The more a candidate makes a fuss about religion, the more I worry
that per views come from a church.  Most churches hold some right-wing
views that I would not want in a public official.


feed_id: c8ec60e5691a5d041136cecd38dafcd3
title: Training crows
uri: Training-crows
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Training_crows%29
content:
<p>
A French park
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/rook-at-this-mess-french-park-trains-crows-to-pick-up-litter">trained
crows to collect litter</a>.  They are rewarded with food.
<p>
Crows are fairly clever.  I wonder how soon one of them will find that
the most convenient and reliable source of litter is a trash can.


feed_id: 04a42c8e20e1cc4b44a12b90aebf4c8c
title: Corrupt stock transactions
uri: Corrupt-stock-transactions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Corrupt_stock_transactions%29
content:
<p>
Several Republican congresscritters
are <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/9/1787151/-Republican-connected-to-shady-stock-buying-now-connected-to-shady-legislation-surrounding-that-stock?detail=emaildkre">inculpated
in apparently corrupt stock transactions</a> in one Australian
corporation.


feed_id: 82032f7cfcd44afe3f022ca2cced98a2
title: Fighting single-payer medical care
uri: Fighting-single-payer-medical-care
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Fighting_single-payer_medical_care%29

content:
<p>
In a sign of how strong the campaign for single-payer medical care has
become, some giant companies
are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/10/clear-sign-progress-medicare-all-advocates-insurance-and-pharma-giants-build-wall?cd-origin=rss">organizing
to defeat the campaign</a>.
<p>
They have moved from "then they laugh at you" to "then they fight you",
which is an unavoidable step on the path to victory.


feed_id: 25ab318fa4ebecfc236ebe7cb812a3ff
title: Democratic primaries
uri: 2018-08-16-Democratic-primaries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Democratic_primaries%29
content:
<p>
Plutocratist "centrist" Democrats are crying victory because some of
the strong progressive candidates lost primaries this week.  But even
when they lost, their victorious opponents
were <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/10/left-just-getting-started?cd-origin=rss">usually
somewhat progressive</a>.


feed_id: f9e0a4a052b6adfdb5bef7996d334220
title: Roundup held responsible for cancer
uri: Roundup-held-responsible-for-cancer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Roundup_held_responsible_for_cancer%29

content:
<p>
Dewayne Johnson has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/10/monsanto-trial-cancer-dewayne-johnson-ruling">won
his lawsuit against Bayer (formerly Monsanto)</a>, holding the company
and specifically Roundup responsible for his cancer.
<p>
The evidence presented included Monsanto's 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/11/one-mans-suffering-exposed-monsantos-secrets-to-the-world">secret
attempts to corrupt science</a>.  That is an attack on truth, narrower
in scope than what the bullshitter does, but no less evil.
<p>
If our government were not corrupted by large companies (of which
Bayer is one), then Americans wouldn't need to sue anyone to get funds
for their medical care because
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#26_December_2017_(Americans_losing_healthcare)">everyone
would be covered</a>.  We wouldn't depend on lawsuits for harm to
individuals to
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#17_June_2018_(The_EPA)">get
pesticides properly regulated</a>.


feed_id: 6977e99a9b986abeafa30e299043f4be
title: Romanians protest government corruption
uri: Romanians-protest-government-corruption
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Romanians_protest_government_corruption%29

content:
<p>
Romanians protested against government corruption; <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> attacked
peaceful protesters who had their hands up.  (Is that why they are
called "riot" <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>?)
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/hundreds-injured-in-romania-protests-as-emigrants-return-to-fight-corruption">450
people were injured</a>.
<p>
The next day the people held an 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/romania-second-night-of-protests-after-450-injured-in-clashes">even
bigger protest</a>.


feed_id: e9eb71b1b161e05a3eb52b296a99d56e
title: Engineers concerned about ethics
uri: Engineers-concerned-about-ethics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Engineers_concerned_about_ethics%29

content:
<p>
Some engineers are 
<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/at-work/tech-careers/engineers-say-no-thanks-to-silicon-valley-recruiters-citing-ethical-concerns">refusing
work for certain employers</a> because of unethical activities of
those employers.
<p>
Developing nonfree software is mistreating the users, too.  That's
something to boycott.
<p>
The ACM has a 
<a href="https://theconversation.com/programmers-need-ethics-when-designing-the-technologies-that-influence-peoples-lives-100802">new
ethics code</a>, which on some issues seems good.
<p>
I note that the issue of developing weapons or military systems is not
raised.  Neither is the injustice of nonfree software.
<p>
What it says about privacy is comparable in its philosophy to the EU's
GDPR.  That is a step forward but won't prevent oppressive mass
surveillance.
<p>
What it says about patents is absurd &mdash; to "respect" patents in general
would mean screwing yourself; your lawyers would tell you it is foolish.
<p>
What it says about copyrights is vicious &mdash; 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-vs-community.html">sharing
is part of being a good member of society</a>, so if a legal
requirement forbids sharing of copies of published works, that
requirement is devoid of moral authority.


feed_id: d5558abd7bcd7e63256af3665b30d13f
title: Support for socialist bookshop
uri: Support-for-socialist-bookshop
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Support_for_socialist_bookshop%29
content:
<p>
Socialist Bookshop Welcomes 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/bookmarks-bloomsbury-uplifting-response-after-far-right-attack">'Uplifting'
Response After Attack by Far Right</a>.


feed_id: 6bde4769bccc7f456d8ca22c1163cd2f
title: Israel's apartheid law
uri: Israel-s-apartheid-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Israels_apartheid_law%29
content:
<p>
Israeli Arabs and Jews 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/israels-arab-minority-rallies-against-jewish-nation-state-law">rallied
against</a> Israel's apartheid law.


feed_id: 97595258d1541718ca3ca96b7e4551b8
title: Canada's rebuke to Salafi Arabia
uri: Canada-s-rebuke-to-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Canadas_rebuke_to_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
No other country is supporting Canada's 
<a href="http://pothi.com/pothi/book/richard-stallman-gnu-emacs-manual">rebuke
to Salafi Arabia</a>.  They have all been corrupted by its money.
<p>
Organized international condemnation of tyranny has been broken.


feed_id: 51b0ae2668a1e041b00056a00c3c5345
title: Gradually increasing levels of hatred
uri: Gradually-increasing-levels-of-hatred
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Gradually_increasing_levels_of_hatred%29

content:
<p>
We wish that the hate-monger's use on tape of the word "nigger" would
make his supporters ashamed.  However, his strategy is to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/trumps-n-word-tape-is-going-to-be-pussygate-all-over-again">lead
his supporters into gradually increasing levels of hatred</a>.  He
might use the proof of his explicit racism against blacks as an
opportunity to lead his supporters into equally explicit racism.
<p>
Is it possible that the he and Manigault planned it that way?


feed_id: 4988acb65fbb81b8e6fa981e67611305
title: Women's equality
uri: Women-s-equality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Womens_equality%29
content:
<p>
There is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/aug/11/women-equal-to-men-science-fact-book-angela-saini">no
biological obstacle</a> to women's equality.
<p>
There have been clear empirical demonstrations that women face
considerable 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#17_November_2014_(Gender_pay_gap)">direct
gender bias</a>, as well as considerable
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_(Sexism)">unequal
obstacles</a> to their careers.  Given these known explanations, we
have no reason to presume they are any less capable than men.


feed_id: a90f812d3660fbe1b583211ebf5b0017
title: Canadians demand stricter gun regulations
uri: Canadians-demand-stricter-gun-regulations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Canadians_demand_stricter_gun_regulations%29

content:
<p>
Some Canadians 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/fredericton-murders-in-canada-spark-calls-for-gun-reform">demand
stricter gun regulations</a> following an increase in shootings.  The
rate is small compared with the US.


feed_id: c1f285b1c6f395d52af53d5a6bc5a3ec
title: Urgent: Kavanaugh's record
uri: Urgent-Kavanaugh-s-record
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Kavanaugh%27s_record%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://act.pfaw.org/sign/demand-full-review-kavanaughs-records/">Call
on the Senate</a> to get and consider Kavanaugh's record from when he
was working for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#dubya">Dubya</a>.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 03193fc794ce3b739b5ad5bb8d9c7c02
title: Urgent: Manuel Duran Ortega
uri: Urgent-Manuel-Duran-Ortega
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Manuel_Duran_Ortega%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-now-demand-the-release-of-journalist-manuel-duran-ortega?nowrapper=true">Demand
the release</a> of journalist Manuel Duran Ortega.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: a45e673b02ae8818d56eb656290b56a5
title: Tax havens
uri: 2018-08-17-Tax-havens
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Tax_havens%29
content:
<p>
Tax Havens Shielding Companies Responsible
for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/13/tax-havens-shielding-companies-deforestation-overfishing">Deforestation
And Overfishing</a>.


feed_id: 9a2c36567892115931b9659a4c6cb7ec
title: Bankruptcy of local governments
uri: Bankruptcy-of-local-governments
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Bankruptcy_of_local_governments%29

content:
<p>
The UK is driving local governments into bankruptcy, the result being
disastrous cuts in all their services, down to the legal minimum.  On
top of that comes privatization, which has the result
of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/13/councils-austerity-outsourcing-northamptonshire-barnet">introducing
uncontrollable corruption</a>, so that real services don't reach the
legal minimum.


feed_id: 5e61a60165ca3ca8a919e1b5845a6a91
title: Space combat
uri: Space-combat
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Space_combat%29
content:
<p>
Be careful not
to <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-us-plan-for-a-space-force-risks-escalating-a-space-arms-race-101368">set
up a self-fulfilling prophecy</a> of militarizing space in the short
term.
<p>
Perhaps it is impossible to rule out that, in a future with space
settlements, they would sometimes fight wars, with weapons we cannot
anticipate.  That does not imply space combat is inevitable in this
century.


feed_id: b3fb10951b2cab6bf4c088f28a491f44
title: Troops to Afghanistan
uri: Troops-to-Afghanistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Troops_to_Afghanistan%29
content:
<p>
More British Troops
Are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/13/british-troops-afghanistan-appease-trump-war">Being
Sent to Afghanistan</a>,
kowtowing to the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>.
<p>
If the UK becomes desperate for a trade treaty with the US, what would
he demand then?  His demands will not have to be limited to trade.  He
could demand 10,000 troops, or 50,000.


feed_id: d22e2c76fba5b1f22cd02764217c86d3
title: Jobs and fossil fuel use
uri: Jobs-and-fossil-fuel-use
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Jobs_and_fossil_fuel_use%29
content:
<p>
Want to Create More Jobs [and well-paid,
too]?  <a href="https://truthout.org/articles/want-to-create-more-jobs-reduce-fossil-fuel-use/">Reduce
Fossil Fuel Use.</a>
<p>
Even if not for this side effect, we would still need to do this
to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#14_December_2017_(Oil_and_gas_deposits)">avoid
global disaster</a>.


feed_id: e1ef4de538539df2b0b9080f06ea1079
title: 50C temperatures
uri: 50C-temperatures
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%2850C_temperatures%29
content:
<p>
What temperatures of 50C
(122F) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/13/halfway-boiling-city-50c">will
do to urban life</a>.
<p>
If you don't like it, fight to curb <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>!


feed_id: ef6f0f084a4fc9a30db8c17da9f3ded2
title: Russian prison thugs on trial
uri: Russian-prison-thugs-on-trial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Russian_prison_thugs_on_trial%29
content:
<p>
Russian prison <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/13/beaten-ex-russian-inmate-covers-torture-trial-of-former-jailers-prison">on
trial in Russia</a> for beating and injuring prisoners.


feed_id: 612ab78a92b8bd459e4b5f90406f3eeb
title: Peace talks with Taliban
uri: Peace-talks-with-Taliban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Peace_talks_with_Taliban%29
content:
<p>
The peace talks between the US and the
Taliban <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/13/taliban-hails-helpful-us-talks-as-boost-to-afghan-peace-process">offer
some hope</a>.


feed_id: 2cc0b6ae316bc09dd2d0c43b95b23d1a
title: Chicago's murder rate
uri: Chicago-s-murder-rate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Chicago%27s_murder_rate%29
content:
<p>
Chicago's murder rate rose from 2013 to 2016, but since
then <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/08/13/the-truth-behind-chicagos-violence">it
has fallen substantially</a>.
Surely more could be done in ethical ways to reduce it, but Chicagoans
should not do anything rash or dangerous for that sake.


feed_id: 43553d272820211e34c91aa6209c9e64
title: Charter schools in Puerto Rico
uri: Charter-schools-in-Puerto-Rico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Charter_schools_in_Puerto_Rico%29
content:
<p>
Puerto Rico's imposed nondemocratic government
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/10/disaster-capitalism-strikes-again-puerto-ricos-high-court-gives-green-light-charter?cd-origin=rss">imposed
charter schools</a>.


feed_id: 88307d4962ece58d7b0cc070feac881b
title: Mohammed bin Salman and Canada
uri: Mohammed-bin-Salman-and-Canada
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Mohammed_bin_Salman_and_Canada%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/12/saudi-arabia-spat-canada-mohammed-bin-salman-true-colours">The
Bizarre Spat with Canada</a> Shows Mohammed bin Salman's True Colours.


feed_id: 17110a8cbed68784baf56e5ca6a0d1ca
title: Festival speaker's visa
uri: Festival-speaker-s-visa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Festival_speaker%27s_visa%29
content:
<p>
The UK finally offered Palestinian author Nayrouz Qarmout a visa, at
the last minute.
But <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/aug/12/home-office-stopped-author-nayrouz-qarmout-speaking-uk-festival-edinburgh">it
is already too late</a>: since she lives in Gaza, she cannot possibly
get to Edinburgh in time for her speech.


feed_id: 7db3579494737becf868d1f3e729f563
title: Large wildfires in the US
uri: Large-wildfires-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Large_wildfires_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/12/wildfires-more-than-100-us-six-new-blazes-erupt">Over
100 large wildfires</a> are burning now in the US.
<p>
Large wildfires do 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/12/the-five-wildfires-impact-health-housing-economy-biodiversity-soil">substantial
harm afterward</a>, too.


feed_id: cfa2e496727d818d9b39bcec9b358295
title: Punishment for being poor
uri: Punishment-for-being-poor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Punishment_for_being_poor%29
content:
<p>
Conversations with residents of the ghettos of Denmark, who face
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/12/denmark-official-ghettos-cultural-assimilation-country-once-tolerant">systematic
official discrimination</a> for living in areas where most people are
poor.
<p>
This is a slightly indirect way of punishing people for being poor,
and a little more indirectly, punishing them for being immigrants.


feed_id: 98e68399070da2a7107a8482eaebaadd
title: Private prison company threatens child
uri: Private-prison-company-threatens-child
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Private_prison_company_threatens_child%29

content:
<p>
GEO Group, a private prison company, 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/6/1786339/-Huge-private-prison-sends-cease-an-desist-letter-to-quiet-8-year-old-s-anti-ICE-policy-video">sent
a lawsuit threat</a> to try to intimidate a child that explained, on
video, what the company is doing.
<p>
Aside from the specific injustices that the company carries out, the basic
idea of privatizing prisons is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#29_June_2018_(Privatization_of_prisons)">systematic
injustice</a>.
<p>
As for whether these injustices are also illegal, that is a minor side
issue.  If they are not illegal, that's proof of the lobbying power of
these companies.


feed_id: 0de7f35b47412b91c252ddc4a0c9f05b
title: Community schools
uri: Community-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Community_schools%29
content:
<p>
Community schools are run by the local school board, but get an 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/lebrons-radically-different-vision-for-public-education-is-what-we-need">extra
subsidy and make broad efforts to help students overcome their
handicaps</a>.
<p>
Community schools may be a real improvement over ordinary public
schools even when the latter are well funded, but only time will tell.
Any experimental change in education &mdash; supposing the students
don't hate it &mdash; has a tendency to work better, for a while,
simply because it is an experiment.


feed_id: c9b31dd61bf07f5798b32818ebfd7dd3
title: Women raped as act of war
uri: Women-raped-as-act-of-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Women_raped_as_act_of_war%29
content:
<p>
Kosovo now 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/04/didnt-want-taboo-fight-kosovan-women-raped-war">offers
a pension</a> to women who were raped as an act of war by Serb
soldiers.
<p>
What made rape such an effective weapon in that war is the patriarchal
attitude of Kosovan society, which regards women as (in effect)
property and considers them worthless if they are not "chaste".  Serbs
raped them so that their own families would betray them.
<p>
If these women want to make themselves so strong that such betrayal
can no longer weigh down their spirits, they could consider going to
Rojava (in Syria) and joining the 
<a href="https://ypjrojava.com/ypj/en/">Kurdish Women's Protection
Units</a>.  Their help 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#27_July_2018_(Assad_recovering_control_of_Syria)">may
be needed there</a>.


feed_id: 40dc436ab2987e9f736ece62ebc929ae
title: "Gig" platform workers' time on call
uri: Gig-platform-workers-time-on-call
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Gig_platform_workers_time_on_call%29

content:
<p>
New York City has required "gig" platforms to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/new-york-uber-uk-workers-living-wage-minimum-standards-gig-economy">pay
workers a decent wage for the time they are on call</a>.


feed_id: 9fb2977a2792c9d2d259083d52323dc1
title: Plutocrats causing global heating disaster
uri: Plutocrats-causing-global-heating-disaster
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Plutocrats_causing_global_heating_disaster%29

content:
<p>
It's not humanity in general that is causing <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> disaster.
The
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/08/neoliberalism-drives-climate-breakdown-not-human-nature">plutocrats
that have taken control of our planet</a> are the culpable humans.


feed_id: a346c62d3a64080119c4cb15af60678f
title: Concentration of industries
uri: Concentration-of-industries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Concentration_of_industries%29
content:
<p>
The concentration of many industries goes hand in hand with the
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/08/monopoly-or-democracy">concentration
of wealth and the loss of democracy</a>.


feed_id: d3a415981c475ca68a184a0107fc9177
title: Nonviolent activists kidnaped
uri: Nonviolent-activists-kidnaped
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Nonviolent_activists_kidnaped%29
content:
<p>
Nonviolent activists kayaking to protest oil pipeline construction in
Louisiana were 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/10/anti-pipeline-kayaktivists-hit-felony-charges-under-louisianas-new-alec-inspired-law">kidnaped
by private security guards, then charged with felonies</a> under a
recently adopted law designed to give the planet-roasters total power.


feed_id: 8fc37e10b886dfba61fdbca3151600f9
title: Tory proposal to end homelessness
uri: Tory-proposal-to-end-homelessness
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Tory_proposal_to_end_homelessness%29

content:
<p>
A Tory proposal would try to end homelessness in England by 
<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/facial-recognition-malls-1.4773334">spending
roughly 13 million dollars a year over 10 years</a>.
<p>
This is good in principle (though I wonder why the rest of the UK is
not included), but it can't possibly do the job as long as the Tories
continue pushing most people into poverty.  That will generate new
homeless people faster than they can get anyone out of homelessness.
<p>
Unless perhaps the "accommodation" intended for these people
is a small cell.
<p>
Note that I am using the word "homeless" in the American sense.  In UK
terminology means something else.


feed_id: 25fac43e3e30e05fcdee584decccacb1
title: Department of Education under DeVos
uri: Department-of-Education-under-DeVos
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Department_of_Education_under_DeVos%29

content:
<p>
The Department of Education, lead by DeVos, is systematically finding
ways to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/11/back-school-lesson-2018-elites-cut-masses-build">increase
discrimination and impoverish the poor</a>.


feed_id: 6405af7d9f75436268e149406d55b34e
title: Deranged man charged with arson
uri: Deranged-man-charged-with-arson
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Deranged_man_charged_with_arson%29

content:
<p>
A deranged man who is susceptible to any conspiracy theories
has been 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/10/1787347/-Suspected-arsonist-behind-one-of-California-s-wildfires-is-a-right-wing-conspiracy-aficionado">charged
with starting a large wildfire</a> in California.
<p>
Qanon is not so much a conspiracy theory as an infection.  It mutates
faster than HIV, which makes the question of the validity of any of
these almost irrelevant for susceptible hosts.  Disprove one strain
and they will fall prey to another, and another.


feed_id: b51f1bf9121617111b8cb895db247615
title: Campaign to privatize public schools
uri: Campaign-to-privatize-public-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Campaign_to_privatize_public_schools%29

content:
<p>
A campaign to privatize public schools 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/11/wall-street-pac-bankrolling-democrats-thinks-being-progressive-means-mirroring">named
itself "Democrats for Education Reform"</a>, apparently to
misrepresent the Democratic Party and turn people against it.


feed_id: bcca0677fad64b6f1a3b83d8b0010807
title: The Christian Taliban
uri: The-Christian-Taliban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28The_Christian_Taliban%29
content:
<p>
The Christian Taliban in the US 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/7/1786418/-Alabama-woman-s-experience-portends-the-American-Taliban-s-rise-to-power">impose
biased restrictions on women</a> wherever they get enough power to try
it.


feed_id: 59770d9b2a9aa23ad1e53704000bc649
title: Elimination of "national conversation"
uri: Elimination-of-national-conversation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_%28Elimination_of_national_conversation%29

content:
<p>
In Australia as in the US, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/11/abbott-goes-full-trump-as-coalition-tries-out-election-strategies">semiprivate
campaign messages targeted at specific groups</a> have eliminated the
"national conversation" about what is best for the country.
<p>
Perhaps we should tamp down the semiprivate campaign messages.


feed_id: 4c47f063c4f64071e91a09b479a8f011
title: Carbon emissions trading
uri: Carbon-emissions-trading
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Carbon_emissions_trading%29
content:
<p>
The EU's carbon emissions trading price has risen to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/13/blow-for-coal-companies-eu-price-carbon-emissions-hits-ten-year-high">18
euros per ton</a>, which is enough to do a little good.  It would need
to reach 30 euros per ton to start doing the job it was intended for.
<p>
This illustrates the point that a carbon tax is more reliably
effective than emissions trading.


feed_id: fe715ce9feaab7d33e532f0d9cd1c7ce
title: Tax break given to Dollar General
uri: Tax-break-given-to-Dollar-General
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Tax_break_given_to_Dollar_General%29

content:
<p>
In towns too small for a Walmart, Dollar General gets a tax break to
come in and wipe out any local grocery stores.  The result is a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/13/dollar-general-walmart-buhler-haven-kansas">food
desert</a>.
<p>
To subsidize a profit-making business to operate in your town, whether
it's a factory or a store or a sports team, converts businesses into
parasites.  In the long term, only <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a> benefits.


feed_id: 8d4014bd6b2947e8615cc0e832e9f5e2
title: Views-based censorship
uri: Views-based-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Views-based_censorship%29
content:
<p>
Publication control based on opinions and views 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/13/alex-jones-far-only-person-tech-companies-are-silencing">affects
many others</a> aside from Alex Jones.
<p>
Please don't call publications "content", because that 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Content">deprecates
all publications</a>.  A clear term for what the article criticizes is
"views-based censorship".


feed_id: fdde7bd5a7986a4ffbe2bcda2f9c0370
title: Georgia's insecure voting system
uri: Georgia-s-insecure-voting-system
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Georgias_insecure_voting_system%29

content:
<p>
The Georgia special congressional election in 2017 might have been
rigged digitally.  There is no way to find out.  That state's voting
system is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/13/us-election-cybersecurity-hacking-voting">insecure
and impossible to audit</a>.


feed_id: 07450a7e578277cf2799173138ff5691
title: Hungarian media
uri: Hungarian-media
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Hungarian_media%29
content:
<p>
Orb&aacute;n has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/12/orban-tightens-grip-on-hungary-as-oppositions-power-wanes">shut
down or taken over</a> the Hungarian media that opposed him.


feed_id: aa4361624cbd94a5e462f8cc1c722b62
title: Charlottesville thugs
uri: 2018-08-18-Charlottesville-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Charlottesville_thugs%29
content:
<p>
One year after the violent right-wing demonstration in
Charlottesville, students protested against the inaction of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>,
that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/12/charlottesville-anniversary-protest-anger-police-failures-white-supremacists">let
the right-wingers get away with violence</a>.


feed_id: c32e246b13fd104098b80482ca3856e8
title: Ankle monitor failures
uri: Ankle-monitor-failures
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Ankle_monitor_failures%29
content:
<p>
We tend to assume that ankle monitors for people on parole or bail
work as they ought to, but that is far from true.  Their 
<a href="http://web-old.archive.org/web/20180804150806/https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-ankle-monitors-are-another-kind-of-jail/">failures
can get people jailed for no fault of their own</a>.  The person who
has to wear one has to pay a lot and many people can't afford it.
<p>
Some people are allergic to them and get sick.


feed_id: 430248b174fd7bfdbd37f1a510690fd0
title: Dalits
uri: 2018-08-18-Dalits
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Dalits%29
content:
<p>
Many Dalits are compelled to clean out latrines by hand, because 
<a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2018/aug/12/trapped-in-manual-scavenging-1856540.html">no
other work is open to them</a>.


feed_id: 3796d526302f6b4c6d187ebbd6f80282
title: Teenage refugees chained
uri: Teenage-refugees-chained
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Teenage_refugees_chained%29
content:
<p>
An immigration prison 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/13/virginia-detention-center-strapped-migrant-children-to-chairs-report-finds">chained
teenage refugees to chairs and put bags over their heads</a>.  Some
say they were also handcuffed and beaten.


feed_id: 58bb07e5cd5472156a70347cb312ed7a
title: Florida's "stand your ground" law
uri: 2018-08-18-Florida-s-stand-your-ground-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Floridas_stand_your_ground_law%29
content:
<p>
Markeis McGlockton's killer has been 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/13/florida-michael-drejka-manslaughter-charge">charged
with manslaughter</a> after prosecutors concluded that Florida's
"stand your ground" law did not cover him.


feed_id: c82ac8833456ef05289027ac617330a3
title: AI systems that can do good
uri: AI-systems-that-can-do-good
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28AI_systems_that_can_do_good%29
content:
<p>
An AI system now 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/13/new-artificial-intelligence-tool-can-detect-eye-problems-as-well-as-experts">excels
at diagnosing many eye diseases</a>.
<p>
I think this sort of AI system can do a lot of good, but hospitals
have a duty to run local copies so as to avoid sending a copy of the
data to any specific database.


feed_id: c5eb886e09ea023cd489cbd12d2e5809
title: Canada's rebuke to Salafi Arabia
uri: 2018-08-18-Canada-s-rebuke-to-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#15_August_2018_%28Canadas_rebuke_to_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
No other country is supporting Canada's 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/canada-saudi-arabia-support-us">rebuke
to Salafi Arabia</a>.  They have all been corrupted by its money.
<p>
Organized international condemnation of tyranny has been broken.


feed_id: 8ccb2443dc3b2e9cf4288375ad9c1e16
title: Urgent: Tighen limits on thugs
uri: Urgent-Tighen-limits-on-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Tighen_limits_on_thugs%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/AB931/">call on
California</a> to tighten limits on thugs' use of deadly force.


feed_id: 84a287310dea014c1c4ebbd79d10d424
title: Global heating
uri: 2018-08-18-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
"If the warming trend caused by greenhouse gas emissions continues,
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/aug/14/extreme-temperatures-especially-likely-for-next-four-years'>years
like 2018 will be the norm in the 2040s</a>, and would be classed as
cold by the end of the century."


feed_id: 366994eb879bd09bcb2b90937a6a93f1
title: Claim of "sonic weapon" attack questioned
uri: Claim-of-sonic-weapon-attack-questioned
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Claim_of_sonic_weapon_attack_questioned%29

content:
<p>
Medical specialists 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/14/cuban-acoustic-attack-report-on-us-diplomats-flawed-say-neurologists">question
the claim</a> that US diplomats in Cuba were attacked with a "sonic
weapon".


feed_id: 803c58fbd2b93fddf4574d29129dc657
title: Caspian Sea alliance
uri: Caspian-Sea-alliance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Caspian_Sea_alliance%29
content:
<p>
The five countries that surround the Caspian Sea 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/12/landmark-caspian-sea-deal-signed-among-five-coastal-nations">made
an agreement to manage it together</a>.
<p>
It also includes an economic alliance among countries that feel
threatened by US sanctions, whether for good reasons or bad reasons.


feed_id: c2af5930aac8706846fae99f3bde98a1
title: Greece
uri: 2018-08-18-Greece
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Greece%29
content:
<p>
The EU's economics chief said, "Without European aid (sic), Greece
would have collapsed and been in 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/12/greece-bailout-drama-curtain-falls-hardship-over'>deep
political and economic chaos for decades</a>."
<p>
Instead, Greece has effectively collapsed and will be in economic
chaos for decades.


feed_id: 7c3f5720b9bb43e3258ce8ac40cd2c36
title: Waste and overuse of resources
uri: Waste-and-overuse-of-resources
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Waste_and_overuse_of_resources%29
content:
<p>
Civilization faces many parallel crises of 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/12/dying-consumption-while-guzzling-snake-oil-environment-crisis-requires-overhauling">waste
and overuse of the world's resources</a>.  The economic system based
on wealth tends to produce crises.


feed_id: 26da6401ba5a4be6d5f201180632dc00
title: Racial censorship
uri: Racial-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Racial_censorship%29
content:
<p>
A novelist begs for forgiveness for transgressing 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/aug/13/how-free-should-novelists-be-to-imagine-radically-different-lives">racial
censorship</a> while endorsing it as valid.
<p>
The core of the article is a thoughtful presentation of how writing
about people different from yourself is difficult but necessary.  You
can easily mess up and make an ass of yourself, so doing it right
requires great care.  But this is no reason to forbid it.
<p>
The sad aspect is that the author ends up endorsing a system of racist
censorship that would cement every writer, every person, into an
ethnic pigeonhole of thought.
<p>
Our existing culture developed by appropriation.  That's what culture
is meant for.  To allow any group to "own" stories, or roles, would
subjugate the human spirit.  You deserve the right to imitate any
culture you can see.  Please do not yield if anyone tries to take that
away from you.
<p>
The real threat to culture today is not "cultural appropriation" by
other people.  It is the giant corporations that control so much
of our culture now.


feed_id: 841b82522b65911d1941955f26209a98
title: Western armies in Niger
uri: Western-armies-in-Niger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Western_armies_in_Niger%29
content:
<p>
People in Niger 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/14/niger-suppresses-dissent-as-us-leads-influx-of-foreign-armies">protested
the presence of Western armies and their drones</a>.  The government
of Niger has all the leaders.
<p>
The US is 
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#16_August_2018_(Nonviolent_activists_kidnaped)">always
much better</a>.


feed_id: 4fcd9435f04c9b1b5a3d6e83ab4c8392
title: Facebook censorship
uri: 2018-08-18-Facebook-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Facebook_censorship%29
content:
<p>
Matt Taibbi: 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/08/beware-slippery-slope-facebook-censorship">Beware
the Slippery Slope</a> of Facebook Censorship.
<p>
I think the problem we must correct is the tendency for people to get
their news via Facebook and Google.


feed_id: 08de6301ac2698e5270014c4e3f55a42
title: ALEC
uri: 2018-08-18-ALEC
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28ALEC%29
content:
<p>
ALEC 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/13/alec-pushing-new-slate-viciously-anti-worker-pro-corporate-laws">has
not gone away</a>: it is pushing state laws to attack unions, and to
promote gerrymandering, fossil fuels, and school privatization.


feed_id: 4092901ae3b294259646910b5fa76ff0
title: Agents harass immigration lawyer
uri: Agents-harass-immigration-lawyer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Agents_harass_immigration_lawyer%29

content:
<p>
An immigration lawyer reports on how US immigration agents
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/12/1787729/-Another-civil-rights-lawyer-randomly-selected-for-additional-screening-at-the-airport">interrogated
him repeatedly</a>, simply to harass him.  This is what they do to
many others, but he knew for certain just what was illegal.


feed_id: 66744ad54d16a3fe75093207d2beee43
title: Bigot condemns US welcome to refugees
uri: Bigot-condemns-US-welcome-to-refugees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Bigot_condemns_US_welcome_to_refugees%29

content:
<p>
Bigot Stephen Miller condemns the US welcome to refugees
that 
<a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/08/13/stephen-miller-is-an-immigration-hypocrite-i-know-because-im-his-uncle-219351">enabled
his grandfather to move to the US and survive</a>.


feed_id: 6100b1b1f42c424acb76fdc9011853ff
title: Anthropomorphizing animals
uri: Anthropomorphizing-animals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Anthropomorphizing_animals%29
content:
<p>
Be 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/14/grieving-orca-mother-emotions-animals-mistake">careful
not to rush</a> to attribute human emotions to animals.


feed_id: df3b45201e6dfa36dadcc23bf85f2dde
title: US economy
uri: 2018-08-18-US-economy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28US_economy%29
content:
<p>
The US economy is making so many Americans suffer that there is an
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/14/how-economic-anxiety-could-help-reshape-america-for-the-better">opening
for big improvements</a> that would have been impossible before.


feed_id: 8e40ab52e9259563152671ed074bb45b
title: Deadly heat in America
uri: Deadly-heat-in-America
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Deadly_heat_in_America%29
content:
<p>
Heat now 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/14/it-cant-get-much-hotter-can-it-how-heat-became-a-national-us-problem">kills
more Americans than floods, hurricanes or other natural disasters</A>
&mdash; but they are all part of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#climate">climate mayhem</a> that global
heating increases.


feed_id: d322509ccca8cf93d4d58392dd0d9d21
title: China's idea of "freedom of speech"
uri: China-s-idea-of-freedom-of-speech
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Chinas_idea_of_freedom_of_speech%29

content:
<p>
Hong Kong's puppet officials 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/14/hong-kong-activist-andy-chan-decries-china-colonial-invasion-defiant-speech">openly
assert that no one should be allowed to speak in favor of independence
from China</a>, and tried to pressure the Foreign Correspondents’ Club
to cancel a presentation.
<p>
This is China's repressive idea of "freedom of speech".


feed_id: c6034500ee0571769e8e05393d7de9ef
title: Overprotection of children
uri: 2018-08-18-Overprotection-of-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Overprotection_of_children%29
content:
<p>
People are rebuking a parent for allowing a 10-year-old child to walk
<a href="https://letgrow.org/3-crossing-guards-in-short-walk-to-my-5th-graders-school-and-still-i-am-crazy-to-let-her-walk/">almost
3 blocks to school without direct parental supervision</a>.  Such
infantilization is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#29_October_2017_(Overprotecting_children)">typical
of the US today</a>.
<p>
In many cultures, in the past, parents left children entirely to their
own devices until puberty, except when giving them chores to do.


feed_id: de8cacdc23fd33fa86469ef6708f6790
title: Urgent: DHS funding
uri: 2018-08-18-Urgent-DHS-funding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_DHS_funding%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/call-senators-defund-dhs">call
on your congresscritter</a> to stop funding the Department of
Hostility and Sadism.
</p>
<p>If you phone, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 8e464560773c090a61ccd444e61642c1
title: Urgent: Barbara Lee
uri: Urgent-Barbara-Lee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Barbara_Lee%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/barbara_lee/">support
Barbara Lee</a> for House Democratic Caucus Chair.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 1a7c584c2386de93d9197c9ca0047cbf
title: Planned obsolescence
uri: Planned-obsolescence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Planned_obsolescence%29
content:
<p>
The EU plans to try
to <a href="https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/elektronica/eu-aims-abolish-planned-obsolescence">restrain
planned obsolescence</a>.
<p>
Bravo!


feed_id: dda9e566c8a08a5f2845d6782c6aff25
title: Ocean acidification
uri: 2018-08-18-Ocean-acidification
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Ocean_acidification%29
content:
<p>
Ocean acidification appears to
be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/16/sydney-rock-oysters-getting-smaller-as-oceans-become-more-acidic">harming
oysters in Australia</a> already.
<p>
Agricultural runoff has an effect locally, and we could reduce it by
changing agricultural practices, However, CO2 in the air also
contributes, and it will continue making worse acidification as long
as we increase the CO2 in the air.
<p>
In a few more decades, there may not be any oysters, clams, mussels,
snails, or coral, or the species whose larvae or juveniles depend on
coral reefs.


feed_id: fec6a3aa37619c6c1360d22e59a38462
title: Lula's presidential bid
uri: Lula-s-presidential-bid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Lula%27s_presidential_bid%29
content:
<p>
Brazil's
Lula <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/15/brazil-lula-presidential-election-campaign-jail">Launches
Presidential Bid from Jail</a> as Thousands March in Support.


feed_id: d464889f47c0ac2995b81be8724c4293
title: Accountable Capitalism Act
uri: Accountable-Capitalism-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Accountable_Capitalism_Act%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/15/elizabeth-warren-accountable-capitalism-act-richest-companies">Senator
Warren has proposed</a> to reform the structure of large corporations
in the US, giving representation to workers, customers and cities, and
requiring them to consider other goals besides profit.


feed_id: 814f8bf2b6909d61569a46e0c76992e0
title: Ocean heat waves
uri: Ocean-heat-waves
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Ocean_heat_waves%29
content:
<p>
The average temperature of the ocean is rising, but not uniformly.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/15/climate-change-san-diego-ocean-temperatures-hit-all-time-high">Heat
waves in the water</a> are increasing, too.
<p>
This means that the danger to marine life is worse than would appear
from the averages alone.


feed_id: d1d66a70ca2a65e2c9b1496ca7ab3e01
title: Divesting from fossil fuels
uri: Divesting-from-fossil-fuels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Divesting_from_fossil_fuels%29
content:
<p>
"Almost 900 cities, universities, and governments have divested over
$6 trillion from the fossil fuel
industry. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/15/if-ireland-can-get-out-fossil-fuels-your-town-can-too?cd-origin=rss">Why
not yours?</a>"


feed_id: 731fb80744cdfda57e196423aeb372cb
title: Privatized bridge
uri: Privatized-bridge
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Privatized_bridge%29
content:
<p>
The bridge that collapsed fatally in Genoa had been privatized.  This
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/15/genoa-bridge-collapse-death-toll-italy-minister-calls-resignations">may
not be a coincidence</a>.


feed_id: 77fdd35888b05ce657a1b7c2fcc374bb
title: Keeping cities cool
uri: Keeping-cities-cool
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Keeping_cities_cool%29
content:
<p>
Some techniques for keeping cities cool function
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/15/what-heat-proof-city-look-like">reflecting
more light back into space</a>, thus counteracting a little global
heating.


feed_id: 5762ee19ac98b8957a661a8f9b3a2bda
title: Wildfires in Sydney
uri: Wildfires-in-Sydney
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Wildfires_in_Sydney%29
content:
<p>
In Sydney, you can tell the end of winter is only 5 weeks away
because <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/15/sydneys-bushfire-season-starts-in-winter-we-may-have-to-rethink-how-we-live">wildfires
are burning</a>.


feed_id: 26d1f87847dd310f9956f409a9349668
title: Canada's human rights record
uri: Canada-s-human-rights-record
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Canada%27s_human_rights_record%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Saudi Arabia Condemns Canada's Appalling Human Rights Record of
<a href="https://www.thebeaverton.com/2018/08/saudi-arabia-condemns-canadas-appalling-human-rights-record-of-selling-arms-to-saudi-arabia/">Selling
Arms to Saudi Arabia</a>.


feed_id: e8c75ba676f5e2fe6d2251474fd2a1a9
title: Nutria invasion
uri: Nutria-invasion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28Nutria_invasion%29
content:
<p>
California faces
an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/15/nutria-california-rodents-wetlands-environment">invasion
of nutria</a> that destroy wetlands.
<p>
I wonder whether neutered nutria (neutria?) could be useful in some
areas for keeping down water hyacinth, kudzu, and other invasive
plants.


feed_id: 39a8317b117f2bdcce8a0489b71439aa
title: 'Adapting' to global heating
uri: Adapting-to-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#17_August_2018_%28%27Adapting%27_to_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
"Adapting" to global
heating <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/14/stop-climate-change-dont-adapt-to-it">is
a red herring</a>. "You don’t 'adapt' to a raging fire, do you? You
have to stop it. And the first thing you need to do is stop pouring
fuel on it."
<p>
With a wildfire, the first step is to contain it.  That's where we are
today in dealing with <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.  An ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure.


feed_id: 4b52d70a3ebcf7b0e991793481b76cd0
title: Urgent: Tap Vanny
uri: Urgent-Tap-Vanny
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Tap_Vanny%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/14044/action/1">tell
Cambodia's ambassador</a> that Cambodia should drop charges against
housing rights defender Tap Vanny.
<p>
With JS disabled, the web site won't show you that you succeeded in
submitting your message to the ambassador, but you should get
an email confirming this.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 591256cf86a734ddc46de06248335111
title: Urgent: Fuel efficiency standards
uri: Urgent-Fuel-efficiency-standards
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Fuel_efficiency_standards%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/automakers-standards">call
on car companies</a> to commit to meeting fuel efficiency standards
even if the bullshitter's men officially cancel them.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 4b0c43beb67c16bfeba58e22831a9a84
title: Trans women and gay men in Turkey
uri: Trans-women-and-gay-men-in-Turkey
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Trans_women_and_gay_men_in_Turkey%29

content:
<p>
In Turkey, men can get away with murdering trans women and gay men by
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/16/she-insulted-my-manhood-turkey-faces-fresh-scrutiny-lgbt-rights">saying
the victim "insulted his manhood."</a>


feed_id: 9cc811a37ae4fb737c48def16535a397
title: Investigations in Yemen
uri: Investigations-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Investigations_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> supposedly investigates when it bombs civilians in
Yemen, but the investigation
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/16/yemen-school-bus-bombing-one-of-50-strikes-on-civilian-vehicles-this-year">usually
a whitewash</a>.


feed_id: 18f32f754046c37e12aded0fd46934bb
title: Pastafarian headgear
uri: Pastafarian-headgear
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Pastafarian_headgear%29
content:
<p>
A Dutch court ruled that
Pastafarianism <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/16/pastafarianism-is-not-a-religion-dutch-court-rules">is
not a religion</a>.
<p>
I agree with the court's decision.  If your religion does not require
you to wear some headgear essentially all the time, if you don't have
to wear it while driving, then you don't have to wear it for your
driver's license.


feed_id: c7cc54860c351bc61f333cacece63a7d
title: Talking about defects
uri: Talking-about-defects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Talking_about_defects%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/08/telling-truth-about-defects-technology-should-never-ever-ever-be-illegal-ever">Telling
the Truth About Defects</a> in Technology Should Never, Ever, Ever Be
Illegal. EVER.


feed_id: e20cf611642ad1f79f65b1add10aba61
title: Fracking opposition in UK
uri: Fracking-opposition-in-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Fracking_opposition_in_UK%29
content:
<p>
The pro-fracking UK
government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/16/uk-government-drops-fracking-question-from-public-attitude-tracker">wants
the public not to know</a> how much the public opposes fracking.


feed_id: bf40469f139a9127f01c72a8f4094ba2
title: British Columbia wildfires
uri: British-Columbia-wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28British_Columbia_wildfires%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/16/british-columbia-wildfires-state-of-emergency-declared">500
wildfires are burning</a> in British Columbia.
<p>
There are so many fires because of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.  It is getting
worse over time.  The Canadian government is trying to push through a
pipeline that will accelerate that process.
<p>
This process will eventually become self-limiting as fires destroy the
pipeline and shut it down.


feed_id: ed96ca5a3a6a3e668278104a95af1985
title: Lobbying by Uber and Lyft
uri: Lobbying-by-Uber-and-Lyft
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Lobbying_by_Uber_and_Lyft%29
content:
<p>
Uber and Lyft
are <a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2018/08/california-independent-contractors-court-ruling-silicon-valley">lobbying
California's Democratic legislators</a> to oppose a plan to give their
"independent contractors" the rights of employees.
<p>
When companies are powerful enough to block justice for their
employees, we cannot allow them to remain so powerful.  But Uber and
Lyft do wrong to their clients customers as well as to their workers,
through surveillance systems.  Let's get rid of them entirely!


feed_id: 2629a0453eed03483df8c3d67be542f2
title: Socialism and capitalism
uri: Socialism-and-capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Socialism_and_capitalism%29
content:
<p>
Most US Democrats
think <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/13/change-gonna-come-poll-shows-democratic-voters-socialism-more-capitalism?cd-origin=rss">favorably
of socialism, but not capitalism</a>.
<p>
Capitalism and socialism are not mutually exclusive; they exist in a
mix.  What the US has today is a plutocratic form of capitalism which
gives the rich the power to extinguish all the socialism, and that
makes it unjust.
<p>
Under the anglo form of capitalism, which controls the US, Canada,
Australia and UK, companies dominate the state so much that it lacks
the power to stop companies from dragging civilization into the grave.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/16/capitalism-climate-change-risks-profits-china">China
is more capable of this</a> than the US is.


feed_id: 874d60311aab59cc3e518779b3b9feb9
title: Monsanto
uri: 2018-08-19-Monsanto
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Monsanto%29
content:
<p>
How Monsanto Plants Stories, Suppresses Science and Silences Dissent to 
<a href="https://truthout.org/video/how-monsanto-plants-stories-suppresses-science-and-silences-dissent/">Sell
a Cancer-Linked Chemical</a>.


feed_id: 8b0daf7cf087954805df0318d94d1eb9
title: Theater in Gaza
uri: Theater-in-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Theater_in_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
Israel <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2018/08/10/resistance-ruins?cd-origin=rss">destroyed
a large theater</a> in Gaza.
Israel's strategy in Gaza is to make people suffer, no matter how.


feed_id: 7e100fe1a1a4176bf5f60d59c3b19950
title: Tailed through airports
uri: Tailed-through-airports
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Tailed_through_airports%29
content:
<p>
The Theater of Security Agency says that of the 5000 people it tailed
through airports for no real
reason, <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20180809/14445040406/tsa-admits-quiet-skies-surveillance-program-is-useless-promises-to-continue-engaging-useless-surveillance.shtml">zero
did anything potentially criminal</a>.
Sounds like the TSA has too much time and money on its hands.
<p>
Now that they have verified there is no real danger, how about ceasing
this dangerous injustice?


feed_id: 3616a2ecd8efd145fac6a5ed467d6521
title: Cracked Amazon device
uri: Cracked-Amazon-device
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_August_2018_%28Cracked_Amazon_device%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/08/12/alexa-bob-carol.html">Crackers
found a way</a> to break the security of an Amazon device and turn it
into a listening device for them.
<p>
It was very difficult for them to do this.  The job would
be much easier for Amazon.  And if some government such as China
or the US told Amazon to do this, or cease to sell the product in
that country, do you think Amazon would have the moral fiber to say no?
<p>
These crackers are probably hackers too,
but <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/on-hacking.html">please
don't use "hacking"</a> to mean "breaking security."


feed_id: 20044cadea82b1985686ed258d5829a8
title: Tipping point of global heating
uri: Tipping-point-of-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Tipping_point_of_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
Scientists warn of the danger that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> could pass a 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/14/terrified-hothouse-earth-dont-despair-do-something">tipping
point leading to a stable "hothouse earth"</a>.  They also say that we
could still avoid this if we take act energetically to curb global
heating.
<p>
We don't know where the tipping points are, so we had better do it
fast!


feed_id: e9ac269c74eb31f937d2ee01c95b48ad
title: Toxic algae bloom in Florida
uri: Toxic-algae-bloom-in-Florida
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Toxic_algae_bloom_in_Florida%29
content:
<p>
[Florida Governor] Scott 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/13/1788014/-Rick-Scott-defunded-agency-tasked-with-overseeing-red-tide-Today-he-declares-State-of-Emergency">defunded
the state agencies responsible for dealing with toxic algae
blooms</a>.  Presto, a giant toxic algae bloom has arrived.


feed_id: 719c13da87d414f0515da971f464931c
title: Israel seizes land "for military use"
uri: Israel-seizes-land-for-military-use
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Israel_seizes_land_for_military_use%29

content:
<p>
Israel seized Palestinians' land "for military use", then promptly 
<a href="http://imemc.org/article/israel-officially-recognizes-colonial-settlement-outpost-built-on-stolen-palestinian-land/">handed
it over to Israeli civilians</a> to build a colony.


feed_id: 9f8aace1d19b8cb9b46a4cdc3fa72d7f
title: Israeli interrogation
uri: Israeli-interrogation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Israeli_interrogation%29
content:
<p>
Peter Beinart, a US Jew, went to Israel with his family for relatives'
religious ceremony.  What he encountered was a 
<a href="https://forward.com/opinion/408066/peter-beinart-i-was-detained-at-ben-gurion-airport-because-of-my-beliefs/">wandering
interrogation</a> that desperately sought some reason to bar him
entry.
<p>
Palestinian writer Lama Khater is 
<a href="https://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=780705">being
interrogated every day</a>, chained to her chair.


feed_id: 35d489fbb4d62e6d982d4388feec6c6b
title: Kavanaugh's writings
uri: Kavanaugh-s-writings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Kavanaughs_writings%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Senate Republicans Promise There Will Be Plenty Of Time To
Review Kavanaugh Writings 
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/senate-republicans-promise-there-will-be-plenty-of-time-1828363131">When
They Become Law Of Land</a>.


feed_id: e13a2ded9c6b966a2f5c6b1e8a84c05c
title: Houthis in Yemen unlikely to be defeated
uri: Houthis-in-Yemen-unlikely-to-be-defeated
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Houthis_in_Yemen_unlikely_to_be_defeated%29

content:
<p>
Just as the US couldn't defeat the Vietnamese with deadly bombardment,
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> and the US are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/15/yemen-saudi-arabias-vietnam">unlikely
to ever defeat the Houthis in Yemen</a>.  They should pull out.
<p>
After North Vietnam conquered South Vietnam, it made all of Vietnam
into an abject, corrupt dictatorship &mdash; which it still is.
Nonetheless, I have to agree that that was better than having an
unending war between one dictatorship and another.


feed_id: 3c32edbc9deeff3ba6407b3ebd8e5ca9
title: Banksters
uri: Banksters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Banksters%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a> of the Royal Bank of Scotland 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/15/rbs-bankers-joked-about-destroying-the-us-housing-market">joked
about the suffering they would cause</a> by making loans that
homeowners would be bankrupted by.


feed_id: c2d25b12d4807ecebf1d082100ea2c35
title: Acacia trees revitalizing land in Niger
uri: Acacia-trees-revitalizing-land-in-Niger
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Acacia_trees_revitalizing_land_in_Niger%29

content:
<p>
Farmers in Niger are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/16/regreening-niger-how-magical-gaos-transformed-land">revitalizing
degraded land</a> with acacia trees that help crops planted near them,
and provide fertilizer too.
<p>
Unfortunately, a disease is spreading that threatens them all.


feed_id: 1001fdbaba5d3cc4ad3e4d3266d162cc
title: Organ donation
uri: 2018-08-20-Organ-donation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Organ_donation%29
content:
<p>
Opt-out (enabled by default) organ donation might not increase
availability 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/16/opt-out-organ-register-unlikely-increase-donations-study">if
the state permits relatives to veto the donation</a>.
<p>
The solution is obvious: stop catering to this deadly irrationality.
Show the relatives the photos of some of the people who will receive
the transplanted organs, and tell them, "We are going to save these
people's lives with your relative's organs.  Their lives are more
important than details of burial."
<p>
In principle, there is no reason to allow people to veto use of their
own organs.  You don't need them after you are dead.  But it is not
irrational, in certain cases, for people to fear they will be killed
for their organs &mdash; reportedly that has happened in China.  And
there is also the concern that the system might be too quick to
declare you dead.


feed_id: a10598707bf13c73094bf284cfc3bb0d
title: Roundup in breakfast foods
uri: Roundup-in-breakfast-foods
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Roundup_in_breakfast_foods%29
content:
<p>
Most breakfast foods for children, made with oats in the US, contain
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/15/glyphosate-its-whats-breakfast-study-finds-cancer-causing-weedkiller-popular-oatmeal">possibly
dangerous levels of Roundup</a>.
<p>
Quaker Oats and Cheerios have substantial levels.


feed_id: e7f6492df409466705072a0a7f1c1c48
title: Delhi running out of water
uri: Delhi-running-out-of-water
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Delhi_running_out_of_water%29
content:
<p>
Between overpopulation, ineffective corrupt planning, and global
heating, Delhi is running out of water.  People occasionally 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/16/how-delhis-rising-heat-and-a-love-of-concrete-caused-a-deadly-water-crisis">fight
over water</a>.  The groundwater could all be used up by 2020.
<p>
Many approaches could help things limp by for some more years, if they
were carried out, but the only humane lasting solution is to
drastically
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html">reduce births</a> in India.


feed_id: c846a753b37ea7a6ce627f3bacf8f661
title: Bridges in western Europe
uri: Bridges-in-western-Europe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Bridges_in_western_Europe%29
content:
<p>
Several countries in western Europe have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/16/bridges-across-europe-are-in-a-dangerous-state-warn-experts">many
bridges in bad condition</a>.
<p>
It looks like these are the countries that expanded their highway
networks in the 1960s because they were prosperous then.


feed_id: 0bf7fefdd8a10cd8b21f5b86edf0860d
title: Condemning a word in all contexts
uri: Condemning-a-word-in-all-contexts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Condemning_a_word_in_all_contexts%29

content:
<p>
It is an 
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/08/16/is-it-racist-to-refer-to-space-colonizat">overreaction</a>
to condemn a word such as "colony" in all contexts, solely because in
some places and times it was the name of an injustice.


feed_id: f27c1abc0da184c61165b3eea649dd8e
title: Protests against copyright censorship
uri: Protests-against-copyright-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#19_August_2018_%28Protests_against_copyright_censorship%29

content:
<p>
Europeans are 
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/europeans-take-upload-filter-protests-to-the-streets-180815/">planning
street protests</a> against automated copyright censorship.


feed_id: 3248116bdbf2a6f652cdb982e76395f7
title: Urgent: Student loan debt
uri: Urgent-Student-loan-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Student_loan_debt%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call
for <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/freedomtoprosperpa">cancellation
of US student loan debt</a>.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b80f3884254fb11b42261a148bbcaf31
title: War on science
uri: War-on-science
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28War_on_science%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter's war on
science <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/14/new-survey-offers-first-look-science-trump-era?cd-origin=rss">is
doing damage</a>.  "At several federal agencies and departments,
scientists reported that political and capacity pressures are
compromising their ability to protect public health and the
environment."


feed_id: 092065109cdccb024cf8b2ba844e025b
title: Housing discrimination
uri: Housing-discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Housing_discrimination%29
content:
<p>
The Department of Housing and Urban Development
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/14/latest-attack-fair-housing-act-carson-moves-gut-anti-segregation-rule?cd-origin=rss">dropped
the goal</a> of fighting discrimination.


feed_id: dd3b34a9d3fbd626a2e0e70e7084637f
title: Systematic TSA harassment
uri: Systematic-TSA-harassment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Systematic_TSA_harassment%29
content:
<p>
The
TSA <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/14/aclu-files-complaint-dhs-over-unfair-blacklisting-us-citizen?cd-origin=rss">systematically
harasses Zainab Merchant</a> every time she travels by air.
Needless to say, they have never found any weapons or explosives on
her, but they have faith that if they search her enough times, one
will appear.


feed_id: ef7dc2d6b3e0d48ed7aab534bf9a0811
title: 'Marital status interviews'
uri: Marital-status-interviews
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28%27Marital_status_interviews%27%29

content:
<p>
The US immigration
thugs <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/14/it-was-set-internal-docs-show-how-us-agencies-arranged-marital-status-interviews?cd-origin=rss">deported
spouses of citizens</a> by tricking them with phony "marital status
interviews".


feed_id: 599c5db07cbdb970c73d140cdb1215a9
title: Adulterer-beheading machine
uri: Adulterer-beheading-machine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Adulterer-beheading_machine%29
content:
<p>
(satire) <a href="https://www.theonion.com/elon-musk-gives-saudi-investors-presentation-on-new-aut-1828339810">Elon
Musk gave Saudi investors a presentation</a> on a new autonomous
adulterer-beheading machine he has invented.


feed_id: 4f2e8bd7ed713976d45f99040155edb5
title: Inequality and mental illness
uri: Inequality-and-mental-illness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Inequality_and_mental_illness%29
content:
<p>
Arguing that increased inequality in a
society <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/14/enemy-between-us-how-inequality-erodes-our-mental-health?cd-origin=rss">causes
mental illness</a>.


feed_id: 12a20e00b85db311ae6b12cd9412966d
title: Decrypting iMonsters
uri: Decrypting-iMonsters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Decrypting_iMonsters%29
content:
<p>
In China, apparently the state can easily decrypt an iMonster; <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
on the
street <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-monitoring-insight/from-laboratory-in-far-west-chinas-surveillance-state-spreads-quietly-idUSKBN1KZ0R3">have
tools to do it</a>.


feed_id: f0f48c301f6ab44dbaffe1f7d21e897f
title: Body scanning in LA metro
uri: Body-scanning-in-LA-metro
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Body_scanning_in_LA_metro%29
content:
<p>
Body scanning will be mandatory in the Los Angeles metro, but
dishonest
officials <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/Los-Angeles-is-First-in-US-to-Install-Subway-Body-Scanners-490860461.html">want
to have it both ways</a>: "The screening process is voluntary, Wiggins
said, but customers who choose not be screened won't be able to ride
on the subway."
<p>
If the scanners don't recognize and identify individuals, and if they
don't use dangerous radiation such as X-rays, maybe they don't do much
harm.  But I presume someone will physically search passengers when
the scanner "finds something".  So the next question will be how many
false positives there are, and what happens to those people.


feed_id: 1321c74404d474649f7e363640909b64
title: Malaysia censorship law
uri: Malaysia-censorship-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Malaysia_censorship_law%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/17/malaysia-scraps-fake-news-law-used-to-stifle-free-speech">Malaysia
repealed</a> its "fake news" censorship law.


feed_id: af5766fa26e9781d5c071165855c37ac
title: Stone stacking
uri: Stone-stacking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Stone_stacking%29
content:
<p>
Stacking stones on a beach
can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/17/stone-stacking-instagram-environment-adventure-tourism">destroy
ancient relics and birds' nests</a>.  It also denies people the chance
to feel that a place is wild.


feed_id: 3cd03d307f1c3ec28a30ab4b4daafb96
title: Holding up science grants
uri: Holding-up-science-grants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Holding_up_science_grants%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> of the Interior Zinke
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/17/interior-secretarys-school-friend-crippling-climate-research-scientists-say">holding
up science grants</a> to make sure they will not produce results
inconvenient for mining and fossil fuel extraction.


feed_id: bb94c32ff99415612703a3168f244021
title: Murders in Honduras
uri: Murders-in-Honduras
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Murders_in_Honduras%29
content:
<p>
Honduran <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> murdered 16 people after the election,
but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/17/honduras-post-election-killings-families-wait-in-vain-for-justice">no
one has been charged</a>.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#19_December_2017_(Stealing_Honduras_election)">The
election was rigged</a>, too.


feed_id: f4503cb3ba151e4c056a4a0dc0fe2e21
title: Coelacanths and oil wells
uri: Coelacanths-and-oil-wells
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Coelacanths_and_oil_wells%29
content:
<p>
The small population of coelacanths could
be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/17/older-than-dinosaurs-last-south-african-coelacanths-threatened-by-oil-exploration">driven
extinct by oil wells</a> to be drilled off South Africa's coast.
<p>
Since oil extraction
is <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#20_March_2018_(Forest_species_loss_projections)">likely
to wipe out</a> half the species on Earth,
there is no excuse for permitting new oil wells anywhere.


feed_id: 83c0ad9dad133073921fe88a8af331b8
title: Chicago thugs
uri: 2018-08-20-Chicago-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Chicago_thugs%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/08/16/chicago-police-misconduct-social-network/">Cruelty
and violence spread</a> among Chicago thugs like a disease.


feed_id: 099aa3b971a946228cdb46dc3587760e
title: Airplanes not targeted
uri: Airplanes-not-targeted
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Airplanes_not_targeted%29
content:
<p>
The
TSA <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131019/02322924936/accidentally-revealed-document-shows-tsa-doesnt-think-terrorists-are-plotting-to-attack-airplanes.shtml">recognized
secretly in 2013</a> that terrorists were not targeting airplanes in
the US.
<p>
In other words, the supposed threat that supposedly justify
unpleasantness
that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-jul-oct.html#09_September_2013_(Americans_die_due_to_unpleasantness_of_TSA_airport_security)">kills
500 Americans a year</a>,
and annoys millions, does not exist at all.
<p>
The TSA recognized this, but tried to keep it secret from the public.


feed_id: 14d1cfac9e3bcc5ee1b0b404a7be28c6
title: Cyberwarfare rules
uri: Cyberwarfare-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Cyberwarfare_rules%29
content:
<p>
The
war-lover <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/16/ive-got-bad-feeling-about-making-analysts-nervous-trump-reportedly-relaxing-cyber?cd-origin=rss">cancelled
Obama's rules</a> about when to use cyberwarfare methods.
<p>
The article assumes they will be used against Russia, but we can't
assume this is limited to Russia.  Maybe now they can be used against
Greenpeace and the ACLU also.


feed_id: 488bdd4ab3547acf4de0093748bb1800
title: Deporting an enslaved wife
uri: Deporting-an-enslaved-wife
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Deporting_an_enslaved_wife%29
content:
<p>
A Pakistani woman moved to the UK to marry a man whose family then
enslaved her.  (I suspect the family was of Pakistani origin.)  Later
her husband told UK authorities to kick her out &mdash; and
they <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/16/denied-visa-after-abuse-they-told-me-i-was-going-in-two-hours">tried
to do so</a> without asking for her side of the story.
<p>
It's clear they have been told to grasp every possible excuse to
deport anyone or keep anyone out.  To listen to the deportee's
testimony would risk spoiling the opportunity.


feed_id: cdc94a1b1e38cbe57989830dd043c66d
title: Uighurs outside China
uri: Uighurs-outside-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Uighurs_outside_China%29
content:
<p>
The Chinese state demands that Uighurs outside
China <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/chinese-police-are-spying-on-uighurson-american-soil">submit
to surveillance</a> and compels them by threatening to punish their
relatives at home.
<p>
China is exporting the technology of total control to other countries,
but that's not the only place they could get such technology.  The US
is also developing it.
<p>
It doesn't matter whether the system that tracks you on the street
comes from China, or the US, or your own country.  For the sake of
freedom and democracy in your country, you need to get rid of the
system.


feed_id: 377ca3b543fccdb7e8a671c0e9c1be17
title: Support for Salafi Arabia and UAE
uri: Support-for-Salafi-Arabia-and-UAE
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Support_for_Salafi_Arabia_and_UAE%29

content:
<p>
The unlimited US support for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> and the UAE boosts al
Qa'ida, involves the US in atrocities both localized and general, and
<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/americas-gulf-allies-are-making-the-world-a-more-dangerous-place/">advances
the cause of tyranny</a> world-wide.  The US should stop this.
<p>
It pressures the US into war with Iran, a war for which there would be
no moral justification or even national interest.
<p>
I suspect there is a monetary interest behind the US support for them.
My main suspicion is that it involves oil and oil profits, although
the US doesn't actually import much oil from the Middle East.


feed_id: 47160a12d6df870daf575af26e7fd0db
title: CEO and worker pay
uri: CEO-and-worker-pay
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28CEO_and_worker_pay%29
content:
<p>
The pay of the CEOs of the biggest US companies
was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/16/ceo-versus-worker-wage-american-companies-pay-gap-study-2018">312
times the pay of the companies' workers</a>, last year.
<p>
Let's not say that the CEOs "earned" the amount they were paid.
To judge whether they earned their pay is a different question
and a complicated one.


feed_id: 324c3c5a1ce641f1458b7010251bc142
title: Harassment of alleged shoplifters
uri: Harassment-of-alleged-shoplifters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Harassment_of_alleged_shoplifters%29

content:
<p>
Stores such as Walmart use contracted companies to pursue alleged
shoplifters.  They 
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/business/falsely-accused-of-shoplifting-but-retailers-demand-they-pay.html">don't
bother to check the facts</a> before they start harassing and
threatening to sue.
<p>
Companies and governments use contractors to evade responsibility and
accountability, as well as to underpay or cheat workers.  We need to
limit the practice in a broad way.


feed_id: 083f32069384a6f30b684d599402330f
title: Short term results and stock prices
uri: Short-term-results-and-stock-prices
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Short_term_results_and_stock_prices%29

content:
<p>
US companies 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/17/trump-pushes-for-sec-to-end-quarterly-earnings-reports">focus
too much on short term results and current stock price</a>.  Would a
switch to twice-a-year financial reporting improve matters?
<p>
I cannot know the answer, but I tend to think that it is not a good
change: it won't be enough change to fix the short-termism, and it
could result in companies' getting deeper into trouble before the
public notices.


feed_id: a326dbf3d8a6accb880c80a9b98cbf39
title: UK immigration
uri: 2018-08-21-UK-immigration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28UK_immigration%29
content:
<p>
UK immigration authorities have taken over 20 years to decide on
granting asylum to certain refugees.  During that whole period, they
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/17/revealed-asylum-seekers-20-year-wait-for-home-office-ruling">could
not work and lived in penury</a>.
<p>
Nowadays they would also be required to pay for their medical
treatment, which they could not possibly do.  This could kill them.
<p>
Clearly, people waiting for a decision should not be left in penury in
the meanwhile.  However, why not simply grant asylum by default to
anyone whose case takes several years to decide?  The number of such
cases must be small.


feed_id: 652066ed35366b2639f2aed2ab47fb87
title: Admiral stands up to bullshitter
uri: Admiral-stands-up-to-bullshitter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Admiral_stands_up_to_bullshitter%29

content:
<p>
The admiral that was in charge of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden
<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/16/william-mcraven-security-clearance-request-779989">asked
the bullshitter to withdraw his security clearance</a>, in solidarity
with other officials that have been or will be punished in this way.
<p>
That raid was apparently 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#03_September_2012_(Osama_bin_Ladens_death)">intended
to kill bin Laden rather than to arrest and try him for his
crimes</a>.  That was wrong.
<p>
Nonetheless, this gesture of solidarity is admirable.


feed_id: b98d19d0e4943f3dbf073b7bdf3465fc
title: The bullshitter's security clearance
uri: The-bullshitter-s-security-clearance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28The_bullshitters_security_clearance%29

content:
<p>
(satire) Trump Locked Out Of White House 
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/trump-locked-out-of-white-house-after-accidentally-revo-1828394207">After
Accidentally Revoking Own Security Clearance</a>.


feed_id: 2825e8d628726656bfea84c34b491fd5
title: Google employees against censored search
uri: Google-employees-against-censored-search
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Google_employees_against_censored_search%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/17/google-staff-protest-against-plan-for-censored-chinese-search-engine">1400
Google employees signed a letter</a> calling on management to
reconsider the censored search engine for China.


feed_id: 1a061c07b2625090fe01550f1120d85b
title: Brennan not a hero
uri: Brennan-not-a-hero
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Brennan_not_a_hero%29
content:
<p>
Condemn the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> for punishing his critics, but 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/16/shed-not-tear-war-criminal-john-brennan-say-legal-experts-also-recognize-danger">don't
present John Brennan (former CIA head) as a hero</a>.


feed_id: 20bb57083fd511dfefd400beab1c6f88
title: Far-right group membership
uri: Far-right-group-membership
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Far-right_group_membership%29
content:
<p>
"What if 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/17/why-is-the-far-right-dominated-by-men'>male
identity</a>, rather than racist ideology, is the most important
reason why people join far-right groups?"


feed_id: a0010309e82f582f5c24300e67d3ae5e
title: EPA sabotage
uri: 2018-08-21-EPA-sabotage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28EPA_sabotage%29
content:
<p>
One piece of EPA sabotage &mdash; 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/17/epa-setback-court-chemical-safety-environment">not
implementing the safety rules for chemical plants</a> &mdash; has been
blocked by a court.


feed_id: b0a0212d2d113906989833989bf3e959
title: Kavanaugh's position on network neutrality
uri: Kavanaugh-s-position-on-network-neutrality
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#20_August_2018_%28Kavanaughs_position_on_network_neutrality%29

content:
<p>
Kavanaugh took a strange position on network neutrality which included
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/internet-speech/brett-kavanaugh-chose-corporations-over-public-major-net-neutrality">devaluing
the public interest in freedom of speech</a>.


feed_id: 8d2f42ba9a2dec8fd9d1bbf99af5c868
title: Different worlds for prostitutes
uri: Different-worlds-for-prostitutes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Different_worlds_for_prostitutes%29

content:
<p>
It appears that US prostitutes fall into two different worlds: the
ones who work voluntarily in fairly peaceful circumstances, and the
ones who are coerced or enslaved
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/17/so-raping-women-at-gunpoint-is-illegal-in-america-tell-that-to-sex-workers">frequently
face violence</a>.
<p>
I wonder what keeps the two worlds separate.  It seems to be a central
question, perhaps related to what keeps the enslaved ones enslaved.
<p>
I also wonder why a paying customer used a gun to force a prostitute
to have sex.  That implies combining two roles that seem incompatible.
One could rape anyone with a gun, but how does paying fit into that
scenario &mdash; and why call it "buying" sex?


feed_id: 0a17f3d8d3c5fb01545f29f6c48f5a88
title: Mafia boss techniques
uri: Mafia-boss-techniques
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Mafia_boss_techniques%29
content:
<p>
Trump uses
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/18/mafia-style-government-trump-role-autocrats">techniques
of mafia bosses</a> to intimidate.


feed_id: 95857d202e6d3888c10be27cb88b21a6
title: 'Reality TV'
uri: Reality-TV
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28%27Reality_TV%27%29
content:
<p>
"Reality TV" taught the public to accept unreality as real and blatant
lies as truth, even as it taught the bullshitter
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/18/noel-edmonds-reality-tv-democracy-truth-lie">succeed
through telling blatant lies</a>.


feed_id: 8c0110eb062f6e3ba570b9daaf2f3042
title: Age and attraction
uri: Age-and-attraction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Age_and_attraction%29
content:
<p>
Research found that men generally
find <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/18/mens-fixation-on-young-women-is-another-sign-of-masculinity-in-crisis">females
of age 18 the most attractive</a>.
<p>
This accords with the view that Stendhal reported in France in the
1800s, that a woman's most beautiful years were from 16 to 20.
<p>
Although this attitude on men's part is normal, the author still wants
to present it as wrong or perverted, and implicitly demands men
somehow control their attraction to direct it elsewhere.  Which is as
absurd, and as potentially oppressive, as claiming that homosexuals
should control their attraction and direct it towards to the other
sex.  Will men be pressured to undergo "age conversion therapy"
intended to brainwash them to feel attracted mainly to women of their
own age?


feed_id: 164dc329b1539b03c4181d2dcaab23b7
title: Warren's proposal
uri: Warren-s-proposal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Warren%27s_proposal%29
content:
<p>
Senator Warren's proposal aims to make capitalism bearable again
by <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/17/can-elizabeth-warrens-big-new-idea-save-capitalism-and-america-itself?cd-origin=rss">undoing
some of the changes</a> of recent decades, that converted it into a
monster.
<p>
It may not be enough to rein in plutocracy, but at least it is a good
start.


feed_id: a1670d00557303353a51f5305a93dd5c
title: Peer pressure from robots
uri: Peer-pressure-from-robots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Peer_pressure_from_robots%29
content:
<p>
Human children, age 7-9, are vulnerable
to <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/children-are-susceptible-robot-peer-pressure-study-suggests-180970047/">peer
pressure from robots</a>.
<p>
The robots are not disguised &mdash; the children know that they are
robots.


feed_id: 24b2bb7aafb302c383b335b86d55ebd8
title: Offshore oil drilling leases
uri: Offshore-oil-drilling-leases
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Offshore_oil_drilling_leases%29
content:
<p>
A US auction for offshore oil drilling leases attracted less interest
than expected.
Only <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/15/belly-flop-only-one-percent-leases-sold-even-fossil-fuel-industry-understands-trumps?cd-origin=rss">1%
of the leases offered</a> were sold.
<p>
That's a good sign, but not enough to imply that we are on course
already to avoid global disaster.  We need to push hard, to reach that point.


feed_id: 7b7ccbed3b014d240fcbed8864243ac7
title: Order to reunite refugees
uri: Order-to-reunite-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Order_to_reunite_refugees%29
content:
<p>
The US government has disregarded the court order to reunite refugee
minors with their
parents.  <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/17/corporate-media-has-moved-just-reminder-565-children-are-still-separated-families?cd-origin=rss">Over
560 minors</a> are still waiting.
<p>
The article refers to them as "children", but it is generally bad to
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#18_July_2018_(Adult_supervision)">talk
about teenagers that way</a>.


feed_id: 5d15e41cf5b3f055e1addf4fe47b11ee
title: Australia's encryption bill
uri: Australia-s-encryption-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Australia%27s_encryption_bill%29
content:
<p>
Australia's planned law to require companies and individuals to help
the state break encryption could
be <a href="https://www.accessnow.org/what-we-think-you-should-know-about-australias-new-encryption-bill/">used
to repress free encryption software</a> and free software generally,
around the world.
<p>
Australia is an inviting site for attacks on human rights because its
constitution does not protect human rights, and these attacks can
be <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-devil-is-in-the-detail-of-government-bill-to-enable-access-to-communications-data-96909">extended
to the whole world</a>.


feed_id: 5d8d1511ca570f3f25814e0161fbfbc9
title: Progressive changes
uri: Progressive-changes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Progressive_changes%29
content:
<p>
Ralph Nader: progressive politicians need to campaign
for <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/17/going-fundamental-eludes-congressional-progressives?cd-origin=rss">deeper
changes to end plutocracy</a>.
<p>
To give them
credit, <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#27_July_2018_(Medicare_for_All_Caucus)">single-payer
medical care</a> is one such change which progressives have taken up.
<p>
Let's hope
the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/16/democratic-socialism-derangement-syndrome-why-hysteria-about-rise-progressive-left?cd-origin=rss">spread
of Democratic Socialism</a> will lead to adoption of more of Nader's
proposals.


feed_id: e8f8f1fb79c777940ace5716755bb325
title: Skin-care blog
uri: Skin-care-blog
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Skin-care_blog%29
content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip;local man Derek Wilkinson told reporters Friday he
worries his girlfriend, Katie Spencer, has started to
become <a href="https://local.theonion.com/girlfriend-slowly-becoming-radicalized-by-new-skin-care-1828420539">radicalized
by a skin-care blog</a>.


feed_id: c8025db91bb82735e7248ce9bcec32a4
title: The GOP wants them to die
uri: The-GOP-wants-them-to-die
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28The_GOP_wants_them_to_die%29
content:
<p>
"If You're Poor or
Disabled, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/17/if-youre-poor-or-disabled-gop-wants-you-die-outrage-trump-pushes-more-cruel-medicaid?cd-origin=rss">the
GOP Wants You to Die</a>."


feed_id: e34e3ed237c81c664e2836a912e871b7
title: Structurally deficient bridges
uri: Structurally-deficient-bridges
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Structurally_deficient_bridges%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-dangerous-bridges-america-2017-5/">European countries are not alone in facing problems in bridges</a>. There are 56,000 structurally deficient bridges in the US.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5c57a5ada66e8425ae17c70d72b29a24
title: Mexico: gangs target elected officials
uri: Mexico-gangs-target-elected-officials
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Mexico%3A_gangs_target_elected_officials%29

content:
<p>Mexican gangsters are kidnapping and <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/norma-azucena-rodr-guez-mexico-kidnap-congress-woman-violence-veracruz-democrat-revolution-prd-a8492896.html">killing elected officials</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b5423c0b38eeff739f88b579f277b7ad
title: Underground terrorist network
uri: Underground-terrorist-network
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Underground_terrorist_network%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/isis-member-numbers-iraq-syria-un-report-al-qaeda-1.4784582">PISSI no longer holds a territory</a>, but it survives as an underground terrorist network.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 3d316cbb2bd742a8ba78190aa610711d
title: Michael Jackson estate suing Disney
uri: Michael-Jackson-estate-suing-Disney
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Michael_Jackson_estate_suing_Disney%29

content:
<p>Ironic turnabout: <a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/08/14/mickey-mouse-defense.html">Disney is being sued</a> by a greedy estate for applying the principle of fair use, and is publishing a defense of the principle.</p>
<p>The turnabout is that Disney is <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/disney-takes-stand-overzealous-copyright-holders-1134645">a notorious copyright bully</a>.</p>
<p>Don't be distracted by supporting Disney or opposing Disney. We <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">need to reduce the power of copyright</a>, regardless of who is the copyright holder.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 61e3c080d10ee3166c6950e1d5a4feda
title: TeleSUR English Facebook suspension
uri: TeleSUR-English-Facebook-suspension
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28TeleSUR_English_Facebook_suspension%29

content:
<p>'Deeply Disturbing': For Second Time This Year, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/14/deeply-disturbing-second-time-year-facebook-suspends-left-leaning-telesur-english?cd-origin=rss">Facebook Suspends Left-Leaning TeleSUR English Without Explanation</a>.</p>
<p>If there was a reason for this, Facebook should have told it the reason. The same, of course, for anyone whose channel is suspended. I would not be surprised if Telesur made exaggerated or even false statements for political motives, but Facebook doesn't suspend news media for that.</p>
<p>This <a href="https://stallman.org/facebook.html">possible indication of bias is another reason to criticize Facebook</a>, but it would be totally disgusting anyway for other reasons.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 577ebcc5ca31e48c11429ceab2dc0b74
title: Journalists: cover the Republican corruption
uri: Journalists-cover-the-Republican-corruption
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#21_August_2018_%28Journalists%3A_cover_the_Republican_corruption%29

content:
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@dangillmor/dear-journalists-the-war-on-what-you-do-is-escalating-eb584529a271">Proposing that US news organizations intentionally work together</a> to fully cover the Republican corruption of multiple areas of society.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 98246eecdd69717d672cabdcffdace81
title: Children killed by US-supplied bomb
uri: Children-killed-by-US-supplied-bomb
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Children_killed_by_US-supplied_bomb%29

content:
<p>
US Supplied Bomb that Killed 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/19/us-supplied-bomb-that-killed-40-children-school-bus-yemen">40
Children on Yemen School Bus</a>.


feed_id: 5b5c8a6eb367b5e71e1c88cd3be90f14
title: US deportation thugs
uri: 2018-08-23-US-deportation-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28US_deportation_thugs%29
content:
<p>
US deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/18/california-man-pregnant-wife-ice-immigration">arrested
Joel Arrona–Lara as he was driving his wife to the hospital</a> to
give birth.  They left her alone in the car.
<p>
It's 
<a href="https://stallman.org/children.html">not a good thing for anyone, citizen or not,
to have five children</a>.  I mention that because there are people
who think that those who have many children deserve special sympathy.
I don't agree -- I think that this couple deserves the same sympathy
as any other couple, children or no.


feed_id: 3916d32b8fe1311f78a0c2a56d63ef2c
title: Facebook resists a US government demand
uri: Facebook-resists-a-US-government-demand
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Facebook_resists_a_US_government_demand%29

content:
<p>
Facebook is resisting a 
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-encryption-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-government-seeks-facebook-help-to-wiretap-messenger-sources-idUSKBN1L226D">US
government demand to break the encryption of Facebook Messenger</a>.
<p>
This particular act is good, but nowhere near enough to counteract the
<a href="https://stallman.org/facebook.html">wrongs of Facebook's core activities</a>.


feed_id: 224c4b2659ba24b5b74e39bd49547585
title: Republican loyalty to coverups
uri: Republican-loyalty-to-coverups
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Republican_loyalty_to_coverups%29
content:
<p>
Republicans are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/18/new-york-governor-andrew-cuomo-america-never-that-great">making
a distorted attack</a> on New York Governor Cuomo for admitting that
the US has always had flaws.
<p>
By doing this they demonstrate their loyalty to the coverup of all
problems that the US has &mdash; in other words, to keeping those
problems uncorrected.
<p>
Cuomo is not a progressive; I support Cynthia Nixon.  But the
accusation now coming from the liar party is nonsense.


feed_id: 95d93120dbf8adea917da290f105a2e0
title: Cars without local human drivers
uri: Cars-without-local-human-drivers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Cars_without_local_human_drivers%29

content:
<p>
Companies that want to make cars without local human drivers are 
<a href="https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/08/17/if-self-driving-cars-cant-detect-jaywalkers-they-shouldnt-be-on-the-roads/">pressuring
to blame pedestrians for getting in the cars' way</a>.
<p>
The political danger of 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-nov-feb.html#5_February_2018_(Remote_control_cars)">remote
control of driverless cars</a>, and the surveillance danger of they
watch the people they pass by, makes for a danger of worse tyranny as
well as collisions.  We should either ban both remote control of and
surveillance by these cars, or ban the cars.


feed_id: 36d790d1018a18682ab9ff5fbb982215
title: Iran Action Group
uri: Iran-Action-Group
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Iran_Action_Group%29
content:
<p>
"<a href='https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/17/if-you-put-old-w-bush-crony-charge-iran-policy-doesnt-it-signal-war-intention'>Putting
a Bushie Neoconservative in charge</a> of the Iran Action Group can
fairly be seen as a signal that Pompeo wants to do to President Hassan
Rouhani what Bush did to Saddam Hussein."


feed_id: fcfb43b4e3056b0f60477373545c5404
title: Military spending
uri: 2018-08-23-Military-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Military_spending%29
content:
<p>
Congress passed a military spending law that more than doubles what
the US spent at the end of the cold war, and authorizes support for
atrocities in Yemen and Iran.
<p>
The US news media 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/17/trump-snubbed-mccain-media-snubbed-rest-us">distracted
the public from this</a> by focusing on the irrelevant fact that the
bullshitter didn't thank Senator McCain when signing it.
<p>
How about if US newsmedia start focusing on the government actions
that really hurt people?


feed_id: f6b33e14bbe2c0a2fda56640e9d02dd6
title: Intensive farming in the UK
uri: Intensive-farming-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Intensive_farming_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
The intensive farming in the UK is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/18/endangered-birds-farming-uk-brexit">wiping
out wildlife</a>.  Saving it requires urgent action.


feed_id: 4c49bbf1d6a9a0a2a4c6639aa64f2a7e
title: Deficit spending
uri: Deficit-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Deficit_spending%29
content:
<p>
The ten years since the fiscal crisis demonstrate that Keynes is still
right:
<a href="https://www.truthdig.com/articles/let-this-be-the-end-of-austerity-once-and-for-all/">deficit
spending leads a country out of a crisis</a>, while government budget
cuts make it worse.
<p>
Why do today's economists so often refuse to recognize this?  I think
they are pandering to rich people that will profit from
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-sep-dec.html#21_September_2013_(Greece_after_four_years_of_squeezing_by_banksters)">shock
capitalism</a>.
<p>
The full potential of budget-cutting disaster was 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/19/greeces-bailout-is-finally-at-an-end-but-has-been-a-failure">visited
on Greece</a>, and Greeks will continue to be effectively serfs of the
euro-<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a> for decades more.


feed_id: e80725c48fe6374b674159ad763be5fe
title: Facebook racial discrimination
uri: Facebook-racial-discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Facebook_racial_discrimination%29
content:
<p>
Facebook faces a 
<a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/08/17/hud-vs-facebook.html">US
government complaint</a> for racial discrimination in housing
advertisements.


feed_id: c5b9dde9b905f4618561fa512666dff0
title: Thugs tase woman cutting dandelions
uri: Thugs-tase-woman-cutting-dandelions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Thugs_tase_woman_cutting_dandelions%29

content:
<p>
Three <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> in Georgia 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/18/georgia-police-chief-grandmother-taser-gun">tased
an old woman who had a knife</a>, which she was using to cut
dandelions.
<p>
Then they strained to charge her with crimes to fabricate a
justification for their act of gratuitous violence, which could have
killed her.  Tasers
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2008-sep-dec.html#24%20December%202008%20(Tasers)">can
kill people of any age</a>, but I'd expect someone 87 years old to be
more vulnerable.
<p>
With the knife, she could potentially have hurt a <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a>, but she didn't
threaten to attack.  It is part of a <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a>'s job to recognize the
difference between a conceivable threat and an actual one; to
disregard that difference is contempt for the public.  The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> chief
should be fired for trying to excuse that.


feed_id: 59238709488e8371b7e2bb8d8ef8b075
title: Phony scientific journals
uri: 2018-08-23-Phony-scientific-journals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Phony_scientific_journals%29
content:
<p>
Phony scientific journals do more than give "scientists" a way to say
that they have published papers.  They also 
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/3ky45y/hundreds-of-researchers-from-harvard-yale-and-stanford-were-published-in-fake-academic-journals">give
companies a way to create "scientific" evidence</a> for their
products.
<p>
I suspect that Philip Morris and AstraZeneca can buy more prestige for
the places they publish their marketing materials.  Some pharma
companies have been found
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-may-aug.html#9%20August%202009%20(Corrupt%20pharmaceutical%20industry%20practices)">ghostwriting
articles for professionals to sign</a>, and even setting up "journals"
to publish articles to
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-may-aug.html#23%20May%202011%20(Ghost%20Journalism)">boost their products</a>.


feed_id: 4b82876570d6847b27b017a040ad3445
title: Access to toilets
uri: Access-to-toilets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#22_August_2018_%28Access_to_toilets%29
content:
<p>
The only way to enable homeless people to have toilets to use and
avoid harassment by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> is to 
<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Let-s-ban-for-customers-only-policies-12865050.php">require
businesses to allow non-customers to use toilets</a>.
<p>
It is not only the homeless that will benefit from this.  Every
pedestrian will occasionally need to use a toilet.  Sometimes I have
found myself on the street with hands sticky from eating a fruit, and
couldn't find a place I could wash them.  The YMCA showed how
committed it is to charity by refusing to let me use a sink.
<p>
The objections that businesses might have are selfish and callous, and
not worth even considering.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#16_September_2015_(Starbucks_toilets)">I've
advocated this for a long time</a>.


feed_id: 9d5d5223528dc4118fcc3bae3538a91e
title: Urgent: Rain forest drilling
uri: Urgent-Rain-forest-drilling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Rain_forest_drilling%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://waoresist.amazonfrontlines.org/action/">Support
the Waorani</a> against the companies that want to drill in their rain
forest (and pollute it forever).
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 4c974a8f469952917cb10b597418aebc
title: Urgent: Peter Wright
uri: Urgent-Peter-Wright
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Peter_Wright%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/reject_wright">call
on the senate</a> to block confirmation of DowDupont lawyer
Peter Wright as an EPA official.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: bc540e2558899db53420d92d51019902
title: MMR vaccination
uri: MMR-vaccination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28MMR_vaccination%29
content:
<p>
37 people (mostly minors) have died in the first half of 2018 in
Europe because they and
others <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/20/low-mmr-uptake-blamed-for-surge-in-measles-cases-across-europe">didn't
get the MMR vaccination</a>.


feed_id: 60cb9ed96049060bd8bb78f07a799ad2
title: FBI autonomy
uri: FBI-autonomy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28FBI_autonomy%29
content:
<p>
Proposing that the FBI leadership is driven, above all, by
the <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/08/20/why-fbi-directors-want-to-be-autonomous">desire
for effective autonomy</a>.


feed_id: 81f76b52b40d2537652c537fd586c691
title: Corbyn and the EU
uri: Corbyn-and-the-EU
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Corbyn_and_the_EU%29
content:
<p>
Corbyn could lead the European Union to become something
that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/20/jeremy-corbyn-labour-eu-social-democracy">serves
the people of Europe</a>.


feed_id: c1f7aa34baf450e3aa34f0f5ae83c77b
title: Renewable energy in Australia
uri: 2018-08-23-Renewable-energy-in-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Renewable_energy_in_Australia%29
content:
<p>
Australia's right-wing prime minister proposed to encourage renewable
energy,
but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/20/malcolm-turnbulls-emissions-backflip-sends-signal-that-climate-change-is-not-real">he
just capitulated</a> to the planet-roaster wing of the party.


feed_id: 76a3ea97f99af021ef6aa5780c069ca4
title: Extreme weather extremes
uri: Extreme-weather-extremes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Extreme_weather_extremes%29
content:
<p>
"Rising arctic temperatures mean we face
a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/20/summer-weather-is-getting-stuck-due-to-arctic-warming">future
of 'extreme extremes'</a> where sunny days become heatwaves and rain
becomes floods, study says."


feed_id: 864cbc56488328feddf86b629b33e63a
title: Anti-fascist protesters
uri: Anti-fascist-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Anti-fascist_protesters%29
content:
<p>
US <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> nowadays go beyond just arresting anti-fascist protesters by
fabricating absurd "crimes". The
thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/16/anti-fascist-protesters-antifa-police-doxing-twitter-mugshots">publish
their photos and addresses</a>, to expose them to the threat of
fascist violence.
<p>
It is clear that these <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> are on the side of the fascists. Because
of their wish to cheat, they should all be fired. Those who actually
did cheat should be jailed.


feed_id: 68c895eec1e374eba65a27283279f37b
title: Palestinian teenagers tortured
uri: Palestinian-teenagers-tortured
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Palestinian_teenagers_tortured%29
content:
<p>
Palestinian teenagers imprisoned by
Israel <a href="http://imemc.org/article/child-detainee-testimonies-point-to-torture-by-israeli-forces/">were
tortured</a>.


feed_id: cd4fcb442eaf5fbeb96cba1df0fa9f03
title: Smoke drifting to Idaho
uri: Smoke-drifting-to-Idaho
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Smoke_drifting_to_Idaho%29
content:
<p>
The increasing extent of wildfires in California
is <a href="http://www.climatecentral.org/news/breathing-fire-wildfire-smoke-forcing-idahoans-indoors-21915">making
people in Idaho sick</a> from the smoke.


feed_id: 325d820e93c7cc7997e5ffb9fafe570f
title: Cracking the US election system
uri: Cracking-the-US-election-system
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Cracking_the_US_election_system%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/13/1787931/-An-11-year-old-at-hacking-convention-is-able-to-hack-and-change-Florida-vote-in-10-minutes?detail=emaildkre">A
hacker of age 11</a> was able to crack a clone of a real US election
system in 10 minutes.


feed_id: 954fa02b857251ade71ab9754e1b3419
title: Sulfoxamine pesticides
uri: Sulfoxamine-pesticides
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Sulfoxamine_pesticides%29
content:
<p>
Sulfoximine-based pesticides, proposed as a replacement for
neonicotinoids, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/16/new-pesticides-may-harm-bees-as-much-as-existing-ones-study">may
hurt bees just as badly</a>.


feed_id: a0ad778e2b36c8ff865091422bf14c0a
title: Surveilling each other
uri: Surveilling-each-other
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Surveilling_each_other%29
content:
<p>
Surveillance technology for people to use on other people (their
children, delivery couriers) pressures people to check each other,
<a href="https://phys.org/news/2018-08-technology-consumers-spies.html">teaching
people to accept surveillance</a> and feel uncomfortable without it.
<p>
At the top of the pyramid of surveillance will be the rulers of your
country.


feed_id: 5c2070b8da5999986b0385826f07e287
title: Rebuilding Syria
uri: Rebuilding-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Rebuilding_Syria%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/aug/18/putin-urges-europe-to-help-rebuild-syria-so-refugees-can-return">Putin
Urges Europe</a> to Help Rebuild Syria so Refugees Can Return.
<p>
In principle, it seems like a good idea, but it is not clear that the
fighting has stopped. Also, it is not clear that Syria under Assad's
rule is safe for Sunnis.


feed_id: a8393cf32466e129ac1a4ffce6c0bffd
title: Ending war in Afghanistan
uri: Ending-war-in-Afghanistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Ending_war_in_Afghanistan%29
content:
<p>
It's Time
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/19/its-time-to-end-americas-war-in-afghanistan">End
America's War in Afghanistan</a>.


feed_id: 4ce51cc1938c4ac206e444d8d40f1b70
title: Dying on the job
uri: Dying-on-the-job
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Dying_on_the_job%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter is trying to make more Americans die on the job.  His
supreme court nominees
may <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/19/worker-injury-workplace-danger-neil-gorsuch">finish
off American workers' lives</a>.


feed_id: 79959723d97c9c43ba93ff6ad96239e9
title: Wasting gasoline
uri: Wasting-gasoline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Wasting_gasoline%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter's agents claim that, because gasoline is not expensive
now, US
cars <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/19/conserving-oil-no-longer-necessary-for-us-says-trump-administration">might
as well waste it</a>.


feed_id: 2e33bd29f4daad7c4c7ee6ebd1c64141
title: Urgent: End unconditional support for Salafi Arabia
uri: Urgent-End-unconditional-support-for-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_End_unconditional_support_for_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.winwithoutwar.org/sign/break-silence-us-gulf-alliance/">call
on the US</a> to end its unconditional support for Salafi Arabia.


feed_id: 726406311993e714bd9db18455945e41
title: BP buys rights to accelerate fracking
uri: BP-buys-rights-to-accelerate-fracking
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28BP_buys_rights_to_accelerate_fracking%29

content:
<p>
As California burns, <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bp">Billionaire Polluters</a> 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/19/bp-and-big-oil-drive-society-over-climate-cliff">bought
rights to drive the world faster to frack and fruin</a>.


feed_id: 92c19f08831e170b1d7a1cfc8cb3fc08
title: Dutch voters defeat mass surveillance law
uri: Dutch-voters-defeat-mass-surveillance-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Dutch_voters_defeat_mass_surveillance_law%29

content:
<p>
Dutch voters 
<a href="https://www.bof.nl/dossiers/dragnet-surveillance/">eliminated</a>
a new law that allowed mass surveillance.


feed_id: 837441c0a4a5eb8d650dd62cc87ffc3a
title: Socialism
uri: Socialism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Socialism%29
content:
<p>
Socialism has had a range of meanings, with certain 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/19/its-time-reclaim-socialism-dirty-word-category">core
ideas</a> in common.


feed_id: 64cd4730a7d02c568fe559ea1102191d
title: Voters meddling with elections
uri: Voters-meddling-with-elections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Voters_meddling_with_elections%29
content:
<p>
(satire) President Donald Trump 
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/trump-accuses-voters-of-meddling-in-midterms-1828472837">accused
voters Monday of meddling</a> in the upcoming midterms.


feed_id: b648788560148563a2e96fa83f0164de
title: Extreme rain events in India
uri: Extreme-rain-events-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Extreme_rain_events_in_India%29
content:
<p>
Extreme rain events in most of India have become 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/20/after-fires-come-floods">three
times as frequent since 1950</a>.


feed_id: b166f6dceefe54fca2a9b5ac659c819a
title: DeVos's yacht
uri: DeVos-s-yacht
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28DeVoss_yacht%29
content:
<p>
(satire) Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos revealed Monday that she
was 
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/secretary-of-education-reveals-she-s-forced-to-use-own-1828468212">forced
to use her own salary to purchase supplies for her yacht</a>.


feed_id: 4fd1cd193337f5fd099842aff71dde1f
title: In a car while black
uri: In-a-car-while-black
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28In_a_car_while_black%29
content:
<p>
White <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> in Iowa pulled two blacks out of a car and 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2018/08/20/still-here-highly-conscientious-cop-stops-hassles-handcuffs-black-driver-because">handcuffed
them because they had a vague "feeling" about the two</a>.


feed_id: 900d3b10f150b181414f6bdcc46b6864
title: Former Koch brothers lawyer at the EPA
uri: Former-Koch-brothers-lawyer-at-the-EPA
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Former_Koch_brothers_lawyer_at_the_EPA%29

content:
<p>
A lawyer that formerly worked for the Koch brothers is at the EPA, 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/20/former-koch-industries-lawyer-turned-top-trump-epa-official-set-deliver-major-win">in
charge of increasing air pollution</a>.


feed_id: 05c25db1730119fd3644f93163b70ecb
title: Plans to close many voting places
uri: Plans-to-close-many-voting-places
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Plans_to_close_many_voting_places%29

content:
<p>
Some counties in Georgia whose populations include many blacks are
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/20/voting-rights-groups-demand-election-officials-reverse-plan-close-polling-places">planning
to close many voting places this year</a>, apparently to make the
blacks give up after waiting on line a long time.


feed_id: 15f4fe238b15688b6e992e7f3c6ffa78
title: Refugee minors in Nauru
uri: Refugee-minors-in-Nauru
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Refugee_minors_in_Nauru%29
content:
<p>
Australian activists are campaigning to move all refugee children (all
minors, perhaps?) 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/20/human-rights-groups-set-deadline-to-get-all-refugee-children-off-nauru">from
Nauru to Australia</a>.


feed_id: d4749f383af872c8e86099781dfa4b63
title: Remote driving of cars
uri: Remote-driving-of-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Remote_driving_of_cars%29
content:
<p>
Remote driving of cars on city streets is 
<a href="https://phys.org/news/2018-08-silicon-valley-car-tech-firm.html">already
working, more or less</a>.
<p>
The danger that someone will remote-control the supposedly
"driverless" or "autonomous" taxi is only a matter of whether they
decide to do it.  It follows that you cannot trust these cars!


feed_id: b307ac51b666cd0bc56aa108af298a6c
title: Sports teams paid to promote militarism
uri: Sports-teams-paid-to-promote-militarism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#23_August_2018_%28Sports_teams_paid_to_promote_militarism%29

content:
<p>
The US government is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/20/why-cant-we-just-play-ball">paying
US sports teams to promote militarism</a> as propaganda for increased
military spending, and for war.


feed_id: 254875f495d5c48d87cf7b2becec4125
title: Urgent: War in Yemen
uri: 2018-08-25-Urgent-War-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_War_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13453">call
on the US</a> to get out of the war in Yemen.</p>
<p>
You can sign this without running nonfree Javascript code using
the <a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">standard
Salsalabs method</a>.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 76f87a65670ae0d733d810981871b57b
title: Urgent: Supreme Court choice
uri: Urgent-Supreme-Court-choice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Urgent%3A_Supreme_Court_choice%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: Now that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> is directly implicated in violating
election
law, <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/manafort_cohen_kavanaugh">tell
the Senate</a> not to let him put anyone on the Supreme Court who
might help him evade punishment.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 02934afca9e23feaa14e6bffd4f55f0f
title: Shutting down light rail trains
uri: Shutting-down-light-rail-trains
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Shutting_down_light_rail_trains%29

content:
<p>
In the suburbs of Baltimore, a campaign to shut down light rail trains
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/22/addicts-crooks-thieves-the-campaign-to-kill-baltimores-light-rail">resembles
anti-vaccination</a>: once people are predisposed to blame the trains,
they imagine more "examples" to justify their foolish cause.


feed_id: efb2eeed6a1127930a100dd3ac1cb8ba
title: Cohen's plea bargain
uri: Cohen-s-plea-bargain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Cohen%27s_plea_bargain%29
content:
<p>
Michael Cohen
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/22/cancer-trump-presidency-michael-cohen-guilty-plea-criminal">made
a plea bargain</a> and turned state's evidence against the cheater.
<p>
The result could be that the evidence closes in on <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a>. But
he has led Republicans step by step to accept and support
ever-increasing levels of dishonesty, when he orders them to. Have
they reached the point where they will stand by him against all
justice, decency, democracy, and honesty, and will help him to crush
them all? That is surely what <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> is aiming for.
<p>
So far, they
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/22/senior-republicans-hesitate-to-criticise-trump-after-manafort-and-cohen-verdicts">still
defending him</a>.


feed_id: a5a0de2cae64575b57b17abc53bf37be
title: Europe's sick patient
uri: Europe-s-sick-patient
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Europe%27s_sick_patient%29
content:
<p>
Greece May Still Be Europe's Sick Patient, But the
EU <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/21/greece-europe-eu-austerity">Is
at Death's Door</a>.
<p>
That may be an exaggeration. The tyranny of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a>, like other
tyrannies, often manages to hand on for years while extremely sick.
<p>
The EU has become a motor for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>, with rather weak democracy
that isn't enough to restrain the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a>. It pressures member
countries to push most people down. If it is not made democratic it
should be eliminated.


feed_id: 38b8b8f0bac1789a03aa938be2cfd761
title: Prosecution of Backpage
uri: Prosecution-of-Backpage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Prosecution_of_Backpage%29
content:
<p>
The prosecution of Backpage and its publishers was a
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/08/21/backpage-founders-larkin-and-lacey-speak">politically-minded
falsehood</a>, part of a campaign to stop sex workers from
advertising.
<p>
This is why I do not support Kamala Harris. Her campaign struck me as not
merely wrong, but dishonest.
<p>
It seems that many sex workers are enslaved, while many others are
working freely on their own terms. World-wide, workers are enslaved
in many other areas of work: manicure, farming, fishing, construction,
domestic help, from what I recall at this moment. It is very
important to free people from enslavement, but prohibiting manicure,
farming, fishing, construction, domestic help and sex work is not the
way. We need laws aimed at the practice of enslavement and its
methods, not at these jobs.


feed_id: 8e3d1381af19f34d7221be5f983044d0
title: Michigan public health official
uri: Michigan-public-health-official
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Michigan_public_health_official%29

content:
<p>
Michigan's official in charge of public health
faces <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/21/flint-water-crisis-michigans-top-health-official-to-face-trial-over-deaths">charges
of involuntary manslaughter</a> for decisions that lead to cases of
legionnaire's disease.
<p>
Not, alas, for lead poisoning.


feed_id: fb500cec9463f7d015148764cfcd8ae2
title: Air pollution in Spokane
uri: Air-pollution-in-Spokane
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Air_pollution_in_Spokane%29
content:
<p>
Particulate air pollution in Spokane, due to wildfires, is so bad now
that people
are <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/a-smokestorm-is-imminent-spokanes-hazardous-air-now-worse-than-beijing-and-delhi-combined-ca4a46dd7f13/">being
warned to stay indoors</a>.


feed_id: 2f34b26425165f0909cbe8dff1b331ab
title: Death of Uri Avnery
uri: Death-of-Uri-Avnery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Death_of_Uri_Avnery%29
content:
<p>
I am very sad
about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/21/uri-avnery-obituary">the
death of Uri Avnery</a>, our wisest guide to justice and peace in
regard to Israel and Palestine.
<p>
We will now have to figure out the best course
without his wisdom.
<p>
The article doesn't mention that Gush Shalom was forced to drop its
boycott of products of Israeli colonies in Palestinian territory by an
Israel censorship law which contrived
to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#07_December_2012_(Israels_Boycott_Law)">impose
unbounded debt</a> on anyone who advocates the boycott.
<p>
We who live outside Israel
can <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#3_August_2016_(Products_made_in_Israeli_colonies)">still
advocate this boycott</a>.


feed_id: 33d416231c352eb61415e652c40ac5f8
title: Newer frack-wells
uri: Newer-frack-wells
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Newer_frack-wells%29
content:
<p>
Newer frack-wells use a lot more water than the first generation, and
they
produce <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/fracking-is-destroying-americas-water-supply-new-study-9cb163923d24/">a
lot of toxic waste water</a>.


feed_id: fe53df0c76753e2cbe91438faa27f286
title: Clean Power Plan
uri: 2018-08-25-Clean-Power-Plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Clean_Power_Plan%29
content:
<p>
The EPA's proposed sabotage to the Clean Power Plan
would <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/21/epa-clean-power-plan-rollback-affordable-energy-rule">kill
1400 Americans a year</a> through air pollution, and untold millions a
few decades down the line due to increased <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: f6d1cfebcdc0e4a98e974912873588e5
title: China's carbon emissions
uri: China-s-carbon-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28China%27s_carbon_emissions%29
content:
<p>
China may have
already <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/21/trump-drags-us-backwards-chinas-massive-spending-clean-energy-delivers-reduction?cd-origin=rss">turned
the corner on carbon emissions</a>.


feed_id: 546aba819882f5f76930292054c1ffab
title: Warren's proposals
uri: Warren-s-proposals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-may-aug.html#25_August_2018_%28Warren%27s_proposals%29
content:
<p>
Senator Warren
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/08/21/warren-delivers-speech-comprehensive-plan-end-corruption-washington?cd-origin=rss">proposed
a number of measures</a> to reduce corruption in national US politics.
<p>
I think they are all good, but need to be done in parallel with a general
reform to reduce the influence of large donors on campaigns.


