blog.bsing.net » 2005

Archive for December, 2005

Open Society at Risk

Resurgence: Culture Wars
This page is a repository of the recent resurgence in right wing attacks on free expression, the use of the Patriot Act for political intimidation and repression, and the general intolerance of unpopular opinions and images. Please send us information and links. It is only through making these abuses visible that we can counter them and insist on an open and tolerant society. The focus of this page is mainly on visual culture and the arts, though the political and social repression is certainly not limited to these areas.

Add comment Datestamp: December 30th, 2005

European GPS

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Galileo satellite phones home

It paves the way for a network of 30 satellites that will give Europe its own version of the US Global Positioning System (GPS).

The 3.4bn-euro (£2.3bn; $4bn) project will give civilian users a satellite navigation and positioning service that is ten times more accurate than the alternatives available today.

While public signals from GPS are already widely used by the likes of sailors, mountaineers and motorists, the US military reserves the right to limit its use or switch it off for security reasons.

Add comment Datestamp: December 29th, 2005

Who’s Regulating the GMOs in our Food?

On The Media– LABORATORY DIET
“But your point is still a good one, which is that Americans generally are very confident in our regulators. They assume that this technology has really been looked at carefully and they assume that there are all these kind of tests. But, in fact, you know, those tests didn’t really take place….We have planted 100 million acres of these new crops, taking a tremendous experiment with our ecosystem - and possibly with our health - without a thorough examination and thorough testing. That’s a scandal. That is a scandal.”

Add comment Datestamp: December 27th, 2005

Support Turbulence

There are only 5 days remaining to make a tax-deductible contribution in 2005 (US tax payers only) to New Radio and Performing Arts, Inc.. In addition to Cory Arcangel, Kate Armstrong, Andy Deck, Jason Freeman, Mariam Ghani, Peter Horvath, Yael Kanarek, Michael Takeo Magruder, Michael Mandiberg, MTAA, Yoshi Sodeoka, Helen Thorington and Ricardo Miranda Zuñiga, Preemptive Media and Nathaniel Stern have recently contributed artwork to our fundraiser.

Please go to this page right now to insure Turbulence’s continued success.

Add comment Datestamp: December 27th, 2005

‘Flex-Fuel’ Concept Fails to Deliver on Potential

NPR Radio Story on Alternative Fuel, E85
“You may be surprised to know that since the 1990s, American roads have been filled with cars capable of running on alternative fuel. These so called “flex-fuel” vehicles can burn either gasoline or ethanol — or almost any mixture of the two. The problem is, most drivers don’t know their cars can do this, and the “flex-fuel” concept is backfiring.”

A report about the failure of flex-fuel programs in the US that should allow 5 million drivers to use ethanol E85 (or a fuel that is 85% made from crops like corn) instead of gasoline–but the problem is where can one buy it? Flex-fuel has unfortunately become a loophole for the big car companies to get more gas-guzzlers on the road rather than a way to reduce dependency on oil and help reduce greenhouse gases.

Where you can buy E85: E85 Locator. Within 400 miles of New York City I found only a few stations in MD that are open to the public. All New York state stations are for government use only.

Add comment Datestamp: December 26th, 2005

Need a Last Minute Holiday Gift???

PrintedMatter.org
Synopsis: A workbook about the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), teaching the reader “how to become a zapped! RFID Scout.” Witty and well designed as a teaching tool, this workbook provides information about surveillance, tracking and information collected using RFID technology along with exercises, true and false quizzes, and much more.