RIP Aaron Swartz 1986-2013, Internet Activist
English: Aaron Swartz at a Creative Commons event. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you are moved to act, please call
the President’s Office:
202-456-1111
the Attorney General’s Office:
202-353-1555
U.S. Attorney Massachusetts:
617-748-3100;
508-368-0100;
413-785-0235.
THE CASE OF AARON SWARTZ:
HE COULD BE ANY ONE OF US
TO FALL VICTIM
TO THE U.S.S. JUSTICE SYSTEM
by guest blogger Grant Marcus 1/14/13
shown us that bank fraud is too big to fail, while vulnerable activists like Aaron Swartz can, through bullying and intimidation, be made too small to succeed, or even survive.
documents from JSTOR, an online aggregator of scientific journals.
The U.S. Attorney, Carmen Ortiz from Massachusetts charged him
with computer fraud to which he plead not guilty. JSTOR refused to
press charges, but the U.S. Attorney’s office mercilessly pursued
the case regardless.The Justice Department kept watch on Swartz 24/7, and in
Gastapoish fashion, harassed him frequently to accept deals that
would include up to 35 years in prison. Many believe that because
of Swartz’ demands for Internet freedom, he was made a political
domestic example by the Obama administration–much like Man-
ning has been made example of by the Military Industrial Com-
plex, under Obama–with both threatening the exclusionary right
of government, and the wealth and power it represents. Read more…
What are your intentions for 2013? Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? These are mine: watch my mind, watch my mouth, watch my health by going for a walk everyday.
When you are alone,
watch your mind.
When you are with others,
watch your mouth.
–Tibetan saying from Lambre: Dawn of Enlightenment by Lama Choedak Yuthok
As a doctoral student in Community Psychology, Liberation Psychology and Ecopsychology at Pacific Graduate Institute, I am spending my winter break from teaching writing at Ventura College writing three papers of my own, all due the first Saturday in January.
And I am really struggling with these papers, my mind racing all over the place and getting no where fast, so this reminder to watch my mind is very timely.
This advice makes for a good new year’s resolution as well. In 2013, I am going to mind my mind and my mouth.
In 2013, I am also going to make time for a 30 minute or more walk or walking meditation each day. Yesterday, January 1, it was a snow shoe hike…
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This quote from Krishnamurti is helping me; you might find it useful too.
Today, Sunday December 16, 2012 at 4pm, the An Lac Buddhist Mission, 901 South Saticoy Avenue, Ventura, California 93004 will host a memorial service for the departed and a Blessing Service for those who survived the shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Related articles
- Krishnamurti: Not Crippled By Memory (heartflow2012.wordpress.com)
- Freedom from the Known – J. Krishnamurti (nondualityamerica.wordpress.com)
You must understand it,
go into it,
examine it,
give your heart and your mind,
with everything that you have,
to find out a way
of living differently.
That depends on you,
and not on someone else,
because in this there is no teacher, no pupil;
there is not leader;
there is no guru;
here is no Master, no Saviour.
You yourself are the teacher and the pupil;
you are the Master;
you are the guru;
you are the leader;
you are everything.
—J. Krishnamurti (US, 1966)
Today, Sunday December 16, 2012 at 4pm, the An Lac Buddhist Mission, 901 South Saticoy Avenue, Ventura, California 93004 will host a memorial service for the departed and a Blessing Service for those who survived the shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Please join this offering of flowers, incense, and candles; a chanting of blessing discourse…
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Burning Man Gangnam Style? Tix on Sale!
Keeping with the Gangnam Style theme of resent posts (NASA style and Wine Country Style), today I posted a Burning Man Gangnam Style video to go along with information on how to get your 2013 Burning Man “Cargo Cult” tickets.
Once again, Burning Man is offering tickets to this year’s festival at a premium price of $650– just in time for you to stuff your favorite stockings (up to four, anyway!)
The trick? YOU MUST PREREGISTER NOW through noon Weds. December 19, 2012 in order to buy tickets http://tickets.burningman.com/registration-holiday2013.html
Then on Thurs. Dec. 20, at noon, 3000 tickets will be sold first come first served.
Not up for spending $650?
Burning Man says tickets will be a lot cheaper and on January 4, Burning Man will announce how many and at what prices and when tickets will be made available. In 2013, they will be sold be first-come first-served — no lottery like last year. To weed out scalpers, buyers will pre-register. Once again in 2013, Burning Man will facilitate Low Income Ticket Program and Secure Ticket Exchange Program (STEP), a safe, hassle-free exchange of tickets between people in the aftermarket.
They will not be implementing identity-based ticketing (e.g. name-on-ticket). Read why by Larry Harvey: http://blog.burningman.com/?p=23887.)
Full Burning Man ticket information: http://tickets.burningman.com
Ticketing FAQ (http://tickets2.burningman.com/faq.php)
Ticketing forum (http://ticketsupport.burningman.com/home).
Read about the 2013 Burning Man theme “Cargo Cult.”
There are lots of other Burning Man posts on this blog too–just search under Burning Man!
Another great Gangnam Style parody! Cheers!
Once a week, Jordan Winery posts a new video on their youtube channel. Yesterday, award winning Jordan blogger and PR person extradinaire Lisa Matttson and her team at Jordan went “Gangnam Style” and posted this parody of PSY’s K-POP youtube megahit that has had the most views of any video ever. While the Jordan video may not hit the million mark, it went from 250 yesterday to nearly 1000 views today and is sure to bring a laugh to wine drinkers familiar with the images in the original.
There are a number of parody videos out there; some like Jordan’s, parody the images but others also change the lyrics like “Annoying Orange’s Nya Nya Style” which is a favorite of my son or my personal favorite, NASA Style which combines intelligent lyrics with an amazing location–the Johnson Space Center!
Cheers!
PS Time for bubbles! Tomorrow 12/16 is the…
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NASA Goes Gangnam Style!
The incredible location of the Johnson Space Center and the inteligent lyrics of this NASA parody of PSY’s K-POP hit “Gangnam Style” make this one standout from the hundreds currently crowding YouTube. Listen closely, learn, and enjoy!
Related articles
- NASA celebrates Johnson Space Center with ‘Gangnam Style’ parody (theverge.com)
- NASA’s Johnson Style Is A Gangnam Style Parody (ubergizmo.com)
- ‘Johnson’ Style video brings NA, NA, NA, NA, NASA STYLE! to life (chron.com)
End of the World? Make mine wine!
Get ready for the end of the world–or holiday parties!–by attending one of these Ventura County wine events or by joining us online for the next Thirsty Girl Twitter Tasting of bubbly from Chateau Ste Michelle!
Saturday and Sunday December 15th and 16th from 11 – 5 is Old Creek Ranch and Vino V‘s Annual Open House December 15th and 16th from 11 – 5. 10024 Old Creek Road, Ventura, CA where you can sample wine from the barrel, purchase futures, taste library wines, try a limited number of Chardonnay verticals, and winemaker Michael Meagher will happily tell you why he’s excited about the 2012 harvest and how this year’s warmer summer was a welcomed change that allowed “the grapes to ripen gradually, yet with an emphasis on fruit flavor.”
Sunday, December 16 from 2-4pm is the Ventura Wine Company’s annual champagne tasting held at the Cave, 4435 McGrath Street #301 Ventura, CA 93003. (805) 642-9449. For $35, you can taste a selection of 40 Sparklers and Champagne, listen to live entertainment by Veron Thomas, and sample light appetizers from The Cave. Dress warmly and bring a rain jacket because the event is held primarily outside. Anyone can come and take advantage of special pricing on sparklers on Sunday!
Wednesday, December 19 at 5pm (Pacific) will find me in bubbles again as we pop corks from Chateau Ste Michelle for another Thirsty Girl Twitter Tasting, this time of Domaine Ste. Michelle’s Brut & Brut Rose. I’m very excited also to announce that Thirsty Girl has added my wine blog, Wine Predator, to their site!
Finally, celebrate the end of the world in style with “Baubles” the new bubbly at the Four Brix Foodie Friday 12/21/12 from 4-8pm. For $15, get fresh Oysters on a half shell, Wine Barrel Smoked Oysters, and a Smitten Clam Chowder. RSVP! Find Four Brix Winery, 2290 Eastman Ave., 109, Ventura, CA 93003.
Related articles
- End of the World Ventura County Wine Events + A Twitter Tasting! (winepredator.wordpress.com)
- Be Tempted by Tempranillo on International Tempranillo Day 11/8 (winepredator.wordpress.com)
- To Aerate or Not to Aerate? (girlonwine.com)
“We are such stuff,
as dreams are made on.”
Shakespeare
“I was thinking,
about a series of dreams.”
Bob Dylan
“You gotta follow that dream,
wherever that dream may lead you.”
Bruce Springsteen
And so I am here in Anaheim after 37 years of watching this man spin dreams in the form of songs, one after another, which emanate from the darkness that he and all of us must pass through.
He walks on stage, and unlike any other rock star I can think of, he asks: “Are you ready to be transformed?”
Burning Man 2013 Theme Announced: Cargo Cult?
Burning Man 2013 Theme: Cargo Cult
The Burning Man Organization recently announced the theme of the 2013 event: Cargo Cult.
Huh? Yes, if you ask me, this is a jaw dropper of a theme.
Each year Larry Harvey, without or without a little help from his friends, comes up with a theme which is announced the night of the Burn or sometime soon after so that the citizens of Black Rock City can get their theme on. Read more…
Happy Thanksgiving 2012!
May your thanksgiving celebrations be as colorful as this turkey by my nine year old son which we taped to our purple front door (look Mom, he said, no brown!)
May your heart be full of gratitude and your tummy full of tasty treats!
May you take a moment to hold hands with friends and family and count your many blessings.
I am grateful for so much this year: my life is full of countless blessings. My son and his creativity, my husband and his patience are just two ways that I am grateful this year.
I also want to thank you for being one of my readers and subscribers; I am grateful to you.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving? Did you blog about Thanksgiving?
I’d like to encourage you to read this blog post about Thanksgiving and gratitude by a wine blogging, cartoon drawing friend of mine.
art predator 