Concerns have been raised about Microsoft's move to implement what Microsoft is affectionately calling "Secure Boot".

Below is a verbatim copy of the FSF-Newsletter informing subscribers of the proposed measure and its potential hazards.

While researching the issue, I came upon several lengthy articles about "Secure Boot", technically known as Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), and, no surprise here, opinions on the subject are divided. I've added some relevant quotes, opinions and links after the Newsletter content.

350.org is an environmental lobby/awarenes group.
Below is a copy, (verbatim - legal or otherwise), of their most recent newsletter regarding the energy industry's attempt to fast-track a coal-burning powerplant project before the new environmental regulations come into effect. - As per usual, it all about the bonuses...

Nintendo 3DS's Terms of Use agreement "steals" user generated content.

According to a recent DefectiveByDesign Newsletter, the Nintendo 3DS's EULA, (End User License Agreement), is absolutely unacceptable and must be "bricked".

Among other things, the "Terms of Agreement", if accepted, grants Nintendo the irrevocable right to all information and content originating from "your" 3DS, including messages, images - photos - etc, etc.

Such an agreement is tantamount to camera manufacturer claiming rights to pictures taken with their cameras. ...go figure...

DefectiveByDesign.org actively campaigns to eliminate the various forms of DRM, (Digital Rights Management).

Are vaccines causing neurological damage? Yes and No

An article in this month's GeorgiaStraight Magazine raises concerns about the use of Aluminum as an adjuvant in vaccines, and highlights the fact that aluminum, though a regular part of your diet, is a different animal when introduced into your system intravenously.

So why is aluminum used in vaccines at all?
Well, I'm no expert, but according to the Wikipedia article on "ADJUVANTS" many vaccines simply wouldn't work without it.

The MomCrowd.com has a good article explaining some of the issues involved as well.

The Georgia Straight's: Aluminum vaccines may be linked to health risks article.

Related Resources:

Use of Adjuvants – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjuvant
http://www.straight.com/query
VaccineTruth – Where are the Safety Studies?
UK gov docs on aluminum in vaccines – glass vs: plastic ampules
http://www.themomcrowd.com/ – aluminum in vaccines

Firefox 4 is available for downloading, and at present, it's looking like Mozilla is setting the bar for performance and user-adoption.
PCWorld.com is featuring a great article about Why Firefox 4 is Winning the Browser Battle.

The exact reasons why Firefox is winning big time are listed as follows:

1. Non-Exclusivity - Mozilla Firefox is cross-platform and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux equally well. - And it's open source...
2. Firefox 4 is much faster than anything else out there, (including older versions of Firefox), and now features the new JägerMonkey JavaScriptEngine. ...and it's open source...
3. Firefox still leads the pack when it comes to privacy protection - This is most evidenced in the way the "other" browsers try to emulate Firefox innovations. ...and it's open source...
4. Prominently featured is the fact that Firefox is an open source project, and is, in part, (approx. 40%), developed by savvy users. - You can't touch that!! ...and it's open source...
5. Firefox is secure! Open source development means that the source code is scrutinised by non-partisan developers and users - bug-fixes and security-patches are delivered quickly. – Oh, and did I mention it's open source?

Check the browser out for yourself at Mozilla.com - It's free – as in free beer – and a snap to install!

If you're new to Firefox, you might want to check out the amazing plug-ins and extensions that helped make Firefox the success that it is.

The following article is a verbatim reproduction of a FreeSoftwareFoundation - Broken by Design.org article, reprinted with permission, and in accordance with their copyright notice.
The accompanying article about Amazon's Kindle eBook reader, and its licensing terms. The Amazon.com End User License can be read here: Amazom.com Help

---

The Amazon Kindle is an ebook reading computer that poses very serious dangers to society. When you purchase a Kindle, you are subject to Amazon's Digital Restriction Management (DRM), a system designed to take away rights you would typically have when reading a book.

Your basic rights to share, sell, or donate a book are subject to fights with Amazon over the legal and technological restrictions they try to impose. If you try to exercise these rights anyway, you might be violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) -- which could bring severe criminal penalties -- and Amazon can try to revoke your ability to use all the books you've bought.

The FSF is desperately trying to raise awareness about (anti-)social tracking devices

such as the Facebook "Like" button.
Such devices are deeply embedded throughout commercial Internet sites to track readers/surfers in ways and on levels which are chipping away at privacy standards/laws, and undermine the open, public nature of the Internet.

The letter below, by Richard Stallman, is a response to current events as they relate to free software, society and the Internet.

Despite my better judgement, today I went ahead and "Liked" something on Facebook.

What I liked is a group called 350.org. This is an organization that's decided to be proactive about issues surrounding "global-warming", and their approach seems workable.

Basically, they're doing something rather than just wanking and carrying on as if it were all someone else's doing.

Scrolling through the wall-posts on their Facebook Page I noticed a link to the Franke James Blog and decided to go have a quick look - Cool little graphical story about one person's view of climate change and how to confront the issue.
Here's the URL : http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=1896

Watching the CBC news-cast today, the story that really peaked my interest was about the flat-lining American economy.

What came to mind was the fact that very few items on America's store-shelves are Made in America. Especially not at any of the Big-Box stores - where America's workers and house-wives shop.

If all you're buying are foreign products, what job will you be able to get to earn a living?

It's happened – The Limewire service is SHUTDOWN!!!.

Due to a court-ordered injunction, the popular file-sharing software has been blocked from the Gnutella network.

According to a quote from PCMag.com, Lime Wire spokesperson Tiffany Guarnaccia told PCMag.com that "the searching, downloading, uploading, file trading and/or file distribution functionality, and/or all functionality; of LimeWire's P2P file-sharing software" has been disabled.

According to the PCMag.com article, Lime Wire still hopes to be reborn as a copyright-friendly service that will provide direct sales of copyrighted materials to the public.

The freedom to drink Tea is such a basic right that we sometimes take it for granted.

You'd think that the freedom to read is just as an inalienable right as is the right to drink tea, but it's not.

Julian Assange
New Media Day/Peter ErichsenRape Allegations against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange a smear campaign?

Since last year I've been reading Greg Palast's Newsletter, so this morning I decided to follow it up by navigating to the Huffington Post website.

According to Wikipedia, "The Huffington Post is a liberal/progressive American news website and aggregated blog".

The first story that drew my interest was about rape allegations against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

The story in the Post reads like a chapter from some cheap political thriller.

I'm not saying that it is a smear campaign – how the hell should I know – but it sure reads that way.

Here's a link to the story in The Huffington Post – check it out yourself.

Alexander Reichle-Schmel announces Debian's 17^th birthday.

In case you haven't seen it yet, here's a copy of the Debian Newsletter announcing Debian's 17^th birthday.

Debian is considered by many to be the Grand-Daddy/Mommy of many of today's most popular Linux operating systems, including Ubuntu. – A Grand-Daddy at 17, go figure...