You might have seen it in passing in previous posts, but really, the hands-down savior on SOPA/PIPA is Oregon’s Senator Ron Wyden. You see, Senator Wyden was the first one to see the danger of these bills, and for a long time, the only prominent voice speaking against it. Without him, this thing would have already passed, unheeded, without a single whimper. And we’d have seen a sudden transformation of how the very internet works, and who gets to speak on it. You can read the history of this here. You see, one Senator can make a difference, and start a grassroots movement to stop a juggernaut of a well-funded bill from passing.

The fight is never completely over, and I’m certain we’ll be here again, covering this issue as the bill gets “rebuilt” into a sneak attack. But we wouldn’t have even gotten this reprieve at all without Senator Wyden. I sent him a heartfelt thank you note via this link. You should really do the same. If we could send this guy 100,000 roses (or maybe iTunes gift cards?) it wouldn’t be enough to thank him for his courage, and his zeal for doing what was right.

On an internet full of amazingly awesome PIPA/SOPA diatribes, videos, cartoons, animated cartoons, and explanations, this is the best one I’ve read. It sums up why it’s dangerous, and really goes into the history, the problem at hand (piracy) and outlines how out of touch the music and movie industry, and our political class, really are when it comes to technology and the internet, and how to address changing revenue streams. It comes from the point of view of a Hollywood professional.

If you read anything else on PIPA/SOPA, read this one.

Update: This is an awesome parody video, and a good example of what SOPA/PIPA and its ilk could ban, since it’s a song uploaded on YouTube parodying a real song, technically protected speech, but under these bills, the Big Giant Company that probably owns copyright to the original doesn’t even have to prove it’s a copyright violation to scuttle the entire YouTube website over it. No joke.

Update II: And you should read this letter to the internet from Senator Ron Wyden, who had put a hold on this legislation (PIPA) in the Senate a year ago, and without whom, this might have already passed before anyone really knew what it was about. Senator Wyden bought us time. The Senate has a vote scheduled next Tuesday to override the hold, which is a danger moment for this bill, but as of today, 33 Senators have now come out against it. That is up from a mere five objections a week ago.

I put in a call to Congresswoman Niki Tsgonas’ office yesterday and got an answer back today (after LiL went black). So I wanted to write this post and get it ready for when the site comes back up.

Rep. Tsongas is a definite NO on SOPA or anything resembling it (like PIPA). Says her office:

She is opposed to it. Niki believes that it is written too broadly and would have an adverse affect on free speech and internet innovation. The legislation is a major departure from the current “notice and take-down” system that provided protection from liability for internet service providers and websites that expeditiously remove infringing materials from their networks.

This to me shows a good understanding about the issue at hand - that Rep. Tsongas and her staff grok the monumental shift that these bills represent to our electronic freedom of speech.

As an aside, Senator Scott Brown is also against PIPA (/SOPA) and will vote no. Kudos to him on this issue.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that no web content maker on the internet should NOT be in total fear of SOPA. (Edit: I meant no web content maker should NOT be in fear…) I knew it was bad, but BoingBoing put it into real perspective:

Boing Boing could never co-exist with a SOPA world: we could not ever link to another website unless we were sure that no links to anything that infringes copyright appeared on that site. So in order to link to a URL on LiveJournal or WordPress or Twitter or Blogspot, we’d have to first confirm that no one had ever made an infringing link, anywhere on that site. Making one link would require checking millions (even tens of millions) of pages, just to be sure that we weren’t in some way impinging on the ability of five Hollywood studios, four multinational record labels, and six global publishers to maximize their profits.

If we failed to take this precaution, our finances could be frozen, our ad broker forced to pull ads from our site, and depending on which version of the bill goes to the vote, our domains confiscated, and, because our server is in Canada, our IP address would be added to a US-wide blacklist that every ISP in the country would be required to censor.

So LeftinLowell is going to join the one-day blackout tomorrow, Jan 18th, from 8am to 8pm. Lest we go dark permanently under a SOPA world. If you have a website, you might want to consider the simple steps that the website gives you to do so - a simple javascript that goes into your head tag.

Let’s be clear, it isn’t easy being a legitimate newspaper these days. What with all the ‘blogging’ and such.

Pardon my delight, as I remind anyone who cares, “To err is human. To forgive … means you ain’t from Lowell!”

Maybe you noticed that earlier I picked up on a story from our ‘Blog of Record.’ (They are legit, y’know.) The aforementioned BoR then chased after the point I raised, as did Gerry Nutter, highlighting that a corruption culprit was still at-large. (Which is no biggie, btw, because there are illegal aliens around) Now I may not be legit, but I took the high road and didn’t finger anyone as the “co-conspirator.” Besides, I am not the pal of the Assistant U.S. Attorney, so I only know what is bouncing around the bubble. Meaning, I don’t KNOW nothin’.

Neither does the Blog of Record, but they were inclined to wing it & fling it. Keeping up with the Joneses Bloggers, eh?

The clandestine co-conspirator is widely believed to be downtown Lowell property owner Thomas Byrne.

Ouch! No doubt that Chris Scott’s “widely” is wider than this humble blogger’s, but Tommy hasn’t come up in my meager wideness.

I posted that quote, as an Update to my diary. Later, when checking the hyperlink, I noticed the blog entry had been … um, … tweaked.

Just below is the original, with the line I blockquoted bracketed in red:

(more…)

I went on an adventure yesterday, a journey which started with a thorough “de-cluttering” of our home - which for years has had various computer and electronics parts strewn about waiting for a proper disposal solution. We host Thanksgiving at my house, and I was tired of tucking these old things in little corners or closets temporarily in order to have gatherings.

My batch of undesirables

In desperation over the weekend, I piled up a 10 year old tower computer (the one I started my business with, now two “generations” past) by the front door, along with a batch of CFL light bulbs which need careful disposing, an old motherboard, some cell phones, and a keyboard and mouse with the “old” connectors. I piled them there, and called the Solid Waste & Recycling Office to ask if there was a way to see them recycled.

I got several answers, including that one can bring some of these things to places like Staples, or Lowe’s and Home Depot for CFLs - and then one name was mentioned, but he told me to call first to see what they could take. That name was Northeast Material Handling, which a year ago moved from North Chelmsford into the old Prince Spaghetti factory off of Gorham St. Little did I know pursuing that tidbit would bring me lock, stock and CFL to the imposing building which is the old factory, with everything in my little car. Because when I spoke to Patti, she told me they take all of what I was looking to get rid of - for free! (You can check out their website here.)

The city should have the NMH’s name and phone number and website prominently on the Solid Waste and Recycling’s web page, because after my experience there, I found out that a partnership with NMH would be a win-win-win for residents, the city, and for the company as well. A win for residents who want to get rid of stuff without paying a fee (in some cases, I think there may be a nominal fee, but not usually), for the city, which is struggling with its waste management budget deficit, and which had to impose fees to carry away bulk items, and a win for the company, which tears this stuff apart for the materials, and makes a profit.

Electronics recycling dissembling area

The company gets its profitability from the size of its massive operation, Patti told me. As I took a tour of the place (I came for the recycling, and stayed for the tour!) I can fully believe it! Huge containers of old CRT monitors, a big assembly line of dismantlers to break apart such complex items as computers and cell phones into component parts, a massive store of furniture both home and office (for sale! more on that later). Everything they break down is recycled, said my tour guide, and that means everything. From the “painted aluminum” of computer cases, to the heavy metal of the printed circuit boards, to all the plastic bits that hold it together - and much of this is done on site. (The big thing they don’t do on site, Patti told me, is break down wood, which they send out). All of the materials are reclaimed, recycled, and sold for reuse.

Giant aisles of office furniture

Miles of computer chairs! (It seemed!)

You find the coolest, oddest stuff there

What’s more, she also talked about the security they have, and they even do work for the Department of Defense. For companies or government entities with very sensitive data, they offer specially monitored destruction. For the average cell phone or hard drive, when I expressed that I was concerned about possible data still left on them, she showed me just how thoroughly they take these things apart, degaussing drives, and then breaking them down and melting them, all under the watchful eye of video cameras. When I saw their operation I wasn’t so worried about my cell phones going into the mix. It was a relief, because even if I’d found their proper cords, I wasn’t sure I could boot them up after all this time to wipe all my contacts and info, and even if I did, I didn’t really want to spend the time on it!

They also took my CFLs and will de-mercury them and recycle them properly. It was one stop shopping for all my disposal needs. They will do pick up by arrangement, too, for appliances and items that are too bulky for your vehicle to carry.

The rest of my tour was of their furniture/for sale section. I have never ever seen so many computer chairs in one place! And a huge aisle of file cabinets! I will never go to Staples for office furniture again. They have couches, and tables, and dining room chairs, of every style you could think of. Cubicles and big executive desks. Some were outdated - some were very nice and in good shape. I’d have a hard time working there, seeing the inventory going in and out without buying a lot. The prices are what you expect - a lot lower than for new items, priced based on condition and desirability, but they take the care to clean the factory dust (the place can’t help but get dusty) before you pick them up or they deliver them. If you want to see their current inventory (or part of it at least) they post it on their website - but it changes daily, as things come in and get sold!

If you are interested in going to buy furniture, call Nick at 978-459-9595, he’s the furniture guy.

They also take washers and dryers and fridges and big appliances, again to tear up and recycle every bit of it. You can find a list of things on their website, and I’m sure you can call (978-459-9595, ask for Patti) and find out more details, talk about pick up (for things that you can’t get there yourself) and drop off hours of operation. They are talking about working with the city to arrange hours for resident drop-off on Saturdays, and I really hope that happens.

Northeast Materials Handling also does a lot of fundraising for schools and organizations - the LHS Crew team’s bring-in-your-items day was run by NMH. So if you want to recycle your items for a good cause you can bring them to one of their events, or even create an event of your own for your school or org. The materials, I was told, are also resold right here in New England for use - not only are you recycling locally, but the material stays here to be used!

I found them really friendly as well, and since I am a gregarious girl, I love meeting new people. I never thought I would say this, but I had a hard time tearing myself away from the browsing and the conversations at this recycling and reuse business. There were many fascinating things to be found, like that old-fashioned hot dog/popcorn stand, a castle and glass top side table, and just a ton of other things, artwork and knick knacks and throw pillows and lamps. You really do have to see the place to get the scale. I concluded my adventure by finding a little piece of furniture I’d been looking for for a while and making a purchase. I have the duel contentment that not only did I get a good price, but I am finding a new home for something that could have, in someone else’s hands, taken up space in a landfill.

And that is a feeling worth having!

I’ve been following (mostly online) the Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Boston protests since nearly the beginning. They got traction and coverage on blogs and Twitter long before the media was covering it - in fact, before the unprovoked pepper spray incidents that made the news, the only place to read about what was happening was online.

The media complained that they weren’t cohesive enough and there wasn’t news to cover. Well, that has quickly changed and evolved. For starters, there were some very bad decisions from the NYPD - both institutionally, and by some idiot individuals - which put the protests on the map for the media, and solidified the motivation of participants and supporters. What’s more, it seems the organic sort of organizing that has sprung up has - and I have to use the word evolved again - to meet the challenges of running a protest, dealing with the media, finding a set of demands to articulate why they are angry and not going to take it any more. OWS has spokespeople and media tents and a strong online presence - all while being relatively leadersless in the traditional sense.

In some ways, my personal cynicism alert flag is up. (Yeah, I know, I’m too young to be truly cynical…) I spent years organizing with the peace movement against the Iraq war, butting my head up against the sheer stubbornness of the Bush administration and, later, Obama’s. After all, GitMo is still open, the USA PATRIOT Act was reauthorized and is being used to spy on Americans without due process, we’re still in our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan though with some troop drawdown, and Obama even unilaterally bombed, for right or wrong, Libya, without the consent of Congress.

The only satisfaction we got out of our fight was that most of the American public got on our side after a while. But it still reelected Bush and let itself be lied to about Kerry’s war record and ability to lead, and we never got a truly different kind of leader to replace him in 2008, either. Obama put Wall St executives in charge of the economy even after it was evident they were full of shit.

But there is something really interesting happening with Occupy[America]. For one thing, it’s just average citizens (not diehard liberals or extremely informed people like me) who are protesting. Photo after photo, interview after interview, this is very evident.

There are so many people in this country who have been foreclosed on, laid off, unable to move forward, that a segment of them, with nothing left to lose, are truly taking the fight to the streets. Since they have nothing left to lose - no middle class lifestyle, no prospects - they have a lot to fight for. I always said the worst part about being an anti-war protester is that most of our citizens, even when sympathetic (and the majority was by the time I left that movement) are busy with their lives, making their livings, feeding their families, going to soccer games, and being generally content that things aren’t that bad for them, personally. There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s totally human, and what’s more, a legacy of the last century of American progress. We built the middle class. A country with a middle class able to make ends meet is a relatively politically stable country. It’s a good thing.

Which is why I think there is something different in the air.

Gradually, we’ve seen the erosion of the buying power and the salaries of the middle class. For so many decades before, our children did at least a little better than their parents. Then, since the Reagan era, we started to see the slide. We began to only tread water…then occasionally swallowed some. Then we began drowning, but we as a people were the last to see it happen.

Even in the 2008 economic meltdown, we failed to notice our lungs filling with something other than air.

This generation of young people really are the first who truly believe - nay, who know - they are not destined to do better than their parents. Unlike the spoiled kids of my generation (raised largely in the 80s and coming of age in the 90s), they see the coming tide sweeping over them and pulling them under the water before they even get a chance to begin. They are left behind. And they know that if they do nothing, it will only get worse. They have nothing left to lose.

They join every one of their older siblings, parents, grandparents who have lost a house, a job, a future, despite being of the generations born with more promise. For some of us older ones, we’ve experienced firsthand how it’s gonna be going forward if there are no changes. For the rest of us older ones, we are beginning to understand how fragile our position of comfort is. The OccupyWallSt movement presents this to us in bas-relief - the notion that the middle class is under siege and has been for quite some time.

The thing that is different from now from these previous movements is that the situation that has caused these long term problems is not going to be alleviated by last generation’s leaders. Obama is cut off at the knees to even patch a pathetic temporary band-aid (the jobs bill) on our economic slide by Republican intransigence. And even Obama’s half-measures would probably only prove to elongate the stagnation, not solve the underlying problem. We’re now seeing the gap between the wealthy and the rest of us reach the levels seen right before the 1929 crash. Eventually, this was going to get noticed by someone. By everyone.

Even the Tea Party movement, while misguided to the extreme, is an expression of this loss of power by the average person. Why did they catch fire? Despite being such a minority of even the Republican party? Because poor and middle class Republicans too are suffering in this economic climate, this class warfare on us by the super-wealthy. They just aren’t right on who to blame for this.

Most of America, on the other hand, already knows what and who is to blame. They already overwhelmingly want to see taxes raised back up on the uberwealthy. They know that Wall St needs taking down a peg or three, and that we need to go back to regulating our economic system so that the playing field becomes level again. They just need the energy to look up from their day to day struggles against the tide, to look up, and see that horizon again.

I don’t know where the Occupy movement is going to go. It seems to change and swell bigger by the day, though it could have an upper limit, I suppose. But if this truly is the moment where the American people reach the tipping point, if this is the straw that, finally, after 30 years of straws, breaks the camel’s back, then maybe we can make the changes without the economic crash that I have been foreseeing for years. That crash (which will make 2008 look like cakewalk) could still be coming. But if we organize enough in advance, if we can offer an alternative to the American people now, perhaps we will not lose a decade like they did in the Great Depression. After all, we have history to inform us how best to rebuild the American middle class and spread prosperity around to everyone.

So, occupy on! There may not be an immediate result, but it could offer a long term solution. Hats off to the most powerless among us.

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” - V

This is pretty funny (and also pretty embarrassing). Mysteriously, Eric Fehrnstrom tweeted something incomprehensible coming from him:

Tonight at 8:05 PM, Scott Brown strategist Eric Fehrnstrom tweeted the following from his account:

“I’m excited to announce that Cindy Creem is the newest hire at my charity, Be the Change #mapoli #masen”

Why in the world would one of Scott Brown’s strategists tweet a reference to Sen. Creem and Alan Khazei’s Be the Change organization? Why would he do it from the first person? [Lynne’s note: the Khazei campaign just yesterday announced state Sen. Creem’s endorsement.]

For any BMGers on Twitter, you’re probably familiar with the @CrazyKhazei account. For the most part, the account has been impersonating U.S. Senate candidate Alan Khazei and mocking him.

From all this you can more than assume Fehrnstrom is the one behind the @CrazyKhazei account.

As someone who has several Twitter accounts (the most active of which right now is @leftinlowell), I can see how this can happen. I use a program to manage my accounts all at once on my laptop and my smartphone, with all my accounts logged in. I get streams from all my feeds in several columns, and I can post updates to any or multiple Twitter accounts, and even to my Facebook account and pages. I have, on occasion, meant to post something to one account and accidentally had another account checked off instead.

Of course, none of my accounts are tweeting extremely questionable and mocking Tweets about a candidate for US Senate, either.

You have to go read the rest of the BMG diary, as well, where chrismatth gives us some highlights from the @CrazyKhazei twitter account. Additionally, commenter kloechner catches another Brown campaign staffer (his “online campaign strategist” Robert Willington) who was the one to register “crazykhazei.com.”

One assumes Scott Brown signed off on this, on some level. Right? Way to act like you’re in junior high, guy.

Update: the Globe and WaPo blogs have picked up on the story.

The Community Software Lab (CSL) fundraiser is tomorrow, a nonprofit dedicated to helping other nonprofits with technology, and training young people in the field of IT and software. It’s a great group and the party sounds really fun. It starts at 5:30 tomorrow (Saturday) at 119 Gallery.

It’s only $10 (ahead of time) or $15 at the door, and features a band (Zoloff and the Mood Elevators), food, and if you can’t make it you can also just donate. They are hoping to get needed matching funds for a grant from Google for their technology training program.

Great cause, and good people! Go get your tickets.

This has got to be one of the coolest ways to get your kid into engineering and science. Props.

Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

[Via a friend’s facebook link to Unreasonable Faith.]