Corporate complicity with the Great Firewall

Question: Does anyone really believe this is not happening in the United States, too?

Comment: Alan Greenspan, the "guru" of "free markets," says free markets work best without government interference; but, it seems that these "free markets" fear the people whether in China or the United States and it takes massive government involvement to protect these "free markets" from being replaced with the planned economy of socialism. It seems the only time the "free marketeers" don't complain about government interference and involvement is when it takes government to protect the "free market" from the wrath of the people who are fed up with "free markets."




Corporate complicity with the Great FirewallChina is strongly criticised for its internet censorship – but it is western technology firms that have provided the tools for the job

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/13/china.censorship

Dmitri Vitaliev guardian.co.uk,

Wednesday August 13 2008 11:00 BST

Like its precursor, the Great Wall of China, the Great Firewall was constructed to guard China from waves of foreign influence and information intrusion. With the world's spotlight on China and widespread criticism of its repressive actions, one should not forget that the knowledge and technology used to create the world's most prominent Big Brother society was designed in the west, often by the very same corporations whose advertisements on TV take up the time between the relay race and the javelin competition.

Much more than your standard internet filtering gateway, the Great Firewall comprises an administrative collaboration of seven government ministries, unrestricted access to numerous public record databases, closed circuit television footage with built-in facial recognition systems, as well as the more well-known information surveillance and censorship technology. Software and hardware purchased from around the world continue to tighten the screws of a digital information society. Network control and optimisation, intrusion detection and other security features promised in the product brochures of western IT firms are put to use against the rights to privacy and freedom of an entire populace. This is a brief survey of the surveillance scene:

A recent (non-intrusive) scan through the website of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security revealed a number of documents listing an inventory of various security technologies. One spreadsheet details software and hardware implemented for network surveillance, packet scanning and user detection. A closer inspection reveals that the Chinese internet infrastructure employs a huge array of security products, procured from companies all around the world. An example of four tools, chosen from the several hundred found in the inventory:

XSGuard Management System: purchased from the Els Shield (Shanghai) Information Technology Co Ltd, network management software developed in the Netherlands. It allows for monitoring of network packets and performing digital forensics.

Cisco 4125 Intrusion Detection System: purchased from Cisco China and used for monitoring activity on the T1 subnet. Other items sold include the ASA 5505, which "provides intelligent threat defense and secure communications services that stop attacks before they impact business continuity."

YangNet Police Network Intrusion Detection System: purchased from the Bright Oceans Corporation in China. According to their (badly translated) website, the product "acts in a transparent based on a URL filtering and text content filtering, shielding bad, illegal site, on the conduct of fine-grained web content filtering and the precise control and prevent all internal net users to browse the cult, pornography and other undesirable foreign websites and webpages. This feature is suitable for primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions, government, business and professional applications."

Radware DefensePro 2000: an Israeli technology organisation; in this case, the product offers an "Adaptive Decision Engine: behaviour-based, self-learning mechanism proactively scans for anomalous network, server and client traffic patterns ... and is designed for enterprise core and perimeter deployment, data centers, university campuses and carrier backbones."

A popular acronym in government, big business and the military for today's centralised surveillance technologies is "C4I" (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence). The top shelf of the technology market offers solutions that integrate closed circuit television with criminal records databases, national health insurance with biometric ID cards, holiday travel bookings with international terrorist lists and so on.

Security China 2000, the largest national security exhibition, attended by the world's most renowned IT corporations, marked a beginning of Chinese endeavours to create the world's most sophisticated surveillance infrastructure. It was sponsored by the Chinese Public Security Bureau, the ministry in charge of policing the internet. The meeting was attended by US-based Lucent, Sun Microsystems and Cisco, European wireless giants Nokia and Ericsson, and Canada's Nortel Networks, among many others. The main event was China's Golden Shield Project – an ambitious plan to link China's national and internet surveillance networks, public record databases, CCTV cameras, speech and face recognition databases, smart cards, credit records and a myriad of regional and national ministries. Their mission was to make the network "see, hear and think" in the continuing effort to solidify state control.

Nortel Networks continues to work with the Chinese Tsinghua University on developing speech recognition software, often used in surveillance of telephone conversations, allowing the network to hear. It has also widely distributed its "personal internet suite" to providers in Shanghai, Beijing and other major Chinese cities. The software allows IPs not only to monitor what their subscribers are doing online, but to control what information is delivered to them.

Content requested from a home computer for topics deemed undesirable will be stored against that person's personal file in numerous databases. The network rolled out with product and knowledge support from western IT firms is designed to think – that is, to identify individual subscribers when they log on, matching names to IP addresses, and learning, over time, what interests them.

The Golden Shield Project also integrates a facial recognition system (FRS), partly developed by Acsys Biometrics, a Canadian company. Rolled out across closed-circuit video surveillance networks in Chinese cities, it allows the Golden Shield to see. Rick Collins, senior manager of Nortel's advanced research laboratory, ProtoNet, said of the Acsys system: "Layering Acsys' face recognition's capabilities within Nortel Networks' solutions will make communication networks more personal. I envision a network that knows who you are, where you are and can reach you whether you're on your mobile phone or at your desktop."

An enthusiastic business partner of the Chinese state apparatus has been Cisco. Notorious for its several appearances before the US House of Representatives to explain their role in supplying virtually the entire hardware on which the Golden Shield Project operates, as well as multiple systems to assist Chinese ministries responsible for catching political and social dissidents and censoring the internet. In 1997, Cisco won the contract to supply internet "firewall boxes" and, by 2006, they supplied 60% of the Chinese market for routers, switches and other sophisticated networking gear. Its estimated annual revenue from China is $500m.

In 2003, Cisco's "Policenet" software was rolled out as the backbone of the Chinese state security system. This software, in conjunction with Intel's fingerprint technology, is compatible with the Chinese surveillance systems and allows a policeman stopping a person on the street to scan that person's ID card and access instantly the individual's past political and social behaviour, family history and recent internet activity.

Terry Alberstein, director of corporate affairs for Cisco Systems (Asia Pacific), confirmed in 2005 that Cisco does indeed sell networking and telecommunications equipment directly to the Public Security Bureau and other law enforcement offices throughout China. Cisco recently stated that it also provides service and training to Chinese police officials. Unlike other IT companies, Cisco has signed contracts directly with Chinese public security authorities.

It is futile to argue whether western corporations are directly responsible for the uses to which China puts their technologies. Following basic free-trade principles, products are most likely sold "as is" to (rather than customised for) the Chinese government or third-party resellers. However, just as in the arms trade, these practices have led to the creation of a hostile digital environment, inhabited by Da Ge (pinyin for Big Brother). Whenever we pause to discuss or protest China's decision to filter websites or jail Yahoo email account holders, we must bear in mind that the technology that has made this possible was built in our own backyard.

Campaign of hate continues; law enforcement refuses to act

Very important questions needs to be addressed here:

Do people have a right to engage in campaigns in defense of workers' rights without being subjected to this kind of hate campaign which does in fact rise to the level of a hate crime?

Why hasn't law enforcement put an end to this hate campaign by making Google remove this message of hate?

Anyone can see that this entire "operation" smells of a COINTELPRO type operation. With the FBI engaged in these kinds of perverted schemes it is no wonder they can't protect the American people from terrorists.

Look at the way these bigoted, cowardly hate-mongers hide their dirty deeds behind anonymity.


-----Original Message-----

From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]

Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 11:25 AM

To: 'attorney.general@state.mn.us'; 'stellherdave@yahoo.com'; 'al.erickson@state.mn.us'; 'mark.shields@state.mn.us'; 'michael.campion@state.mn.us'

Cc: 'Al Juhnke'; 'rep.dave.olin@house.mn'; 'rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn'; 'rep.bill.hilty@house.mn'; 'gdubovich@usw.org'; 'contact@airamerica.com'

Subject:

Re: hate campaign; I believe to be related to workers' rights and Indian Gaming issues in Minnesota and Michigan

Re: Hate crime

Attention: Lori Swanson, Minnesota Attorney General; Michael Campion, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Public Safety;

This person/people have been allowed to orchestrate this vicious campaign of hate against me now for a number of years without law-enforcement doing anything to halt it. Please see the link and the posting below.

Who is orchestrating this campaign I do not know. What I do know is that Brian Melendez, Chair of the MNDFL started the snowball rolling down the hill. What is also known is that Brian Melendez has had contact with these Internet companies trying to prevent me from exercising my constitutional rights protected under the First Amendment of The Bill of Rights.

I have also received a written threat from the law firm of Brownstein/Hyatt/Farber/Schreck representing the Station Casinos and the Frank Fertitta Family; at present I am involved in a struggle in opposition to a “Compact” in Michigan (Gun Lake casino Compact) trying to get the rights of casino workers included in the “Compact” before final approval. I would point out that this controversy was part of what ended up sending Jack Abramoff to prison because of his role in this “Compact.” This law firm just happens to be well-connected with the Democratic Party. This law firm just happens to represent Google, also.

I do not think it is coincidental that this perverted, two-bit fascist always just happens to come out with postings like this against me at the same time that Brian Melendez and business/casino interests in the MN DFL are not happy with my political activities… which are completely legal.

I note that I sign my name and contact information to everything I post on the Internet; any thing I write is always identified as originating with me.

These culprits and purveyors of hate-mongering sign nothing nor do they identify themselves.

This campaign of hate has all the ear-marks of a COINTELPRO type operation where the FBI and law enforcement agencies work hand in hand with the political establishment, corporations and right-wing bigots are given the “green light” to conduct their dirty campaigns of hatred.

I would also note, that I do not think it is coincidental that this “person/s” has brought their campaign back to life just as hate-groups have begun a racist hate campaign as their “contribution” to the 2008 Elections as has been noted by the media. My blog in question being attacked just happens to be on Barack Obama’s official campaign web site:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmaki

I expect the Minnesota Attorney General and Commissioner of Public Safety to begin an investigation--- this time, in earnest--- to put a halt to this campaign of hate, and fully prosecute the perpetrators.

As a first step all of the postings by this hate group should be removed from the Internet immediately.

On its face, this is libel, slander and defamation of character.

I would also note that these posts are encouraging violence against me and are in fact an implicit death threat.

I have a right to voice my concerns and opinions, engage in activity relating to protecting the rights of casino workers without being subjected to this kind of intimidation, hate and threats.

I believe this particular instance, of this on-going hate campaign, is a direct response to this exchange, which you can see was posted only hours after this e-mail exchange:

From: Alan L. Maki
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 2:53 PM
To: stellherdave@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Al Franken... Minnesotans now have a chance to dump the Dumb Donkey

Dave Erickson wrote:

To Whom it May Concern,

I believe your attempts to get your person elected are sickening. You certainly have the right to do what you're doing. However, it is my belief you're hurting the DFL, the progressive movement, and your candidate.


Mr. Erickson,

Speaking of "sickening."

I can think of nothing more "sickening" than the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party continuing its long twenty-year silence as some 30,000 of your fellow Minnesotans continue to go to work in smoke-filled casinos without any rights under state or federal labor laws.

If you do not believe me just how "sickening" this is, I would suggest that you contact your nearest chapter of the American Cancer Society or the Minnesota Heart and Lung Foundation.

What is "sickening" is that we have so many County Chairs and members of the MN DFL State Central Committee, like puppets on Mr. Melendez' string, engaged in a campaign of silence trying to cover up this dirty and hideous deed committed by the MN DFL just so it could reap campaign contributions from these casino managements.

This, Mr. Erickson, is what is "sickening."

Please, Mr. Erickson, explain to 30,000 Minnesotans working in the smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights while the candidates you support suck in campaign contributions from these casino managements; please explain just what it is that you find to be "progressive" about this?

At the September Primary we are going with Priscilla Lord Faris because we think her father, Miles Lord, has taught her to understand the effects of workers being coerced to work in unhealthy and unsafe working environments... we will not support the dumb donkey Al Franken, nor will we support that dumb cluck Norm Coleman--- another creature created by the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, if you will recall.

Want to talk about "hurting," Mr. Erickson... no, I didn't think so.

Thank a casino worker for Al Franken losing

Better yet, Mr. Erickson; thank yourself that Al Franken is going to lose--- remember, Mr. Erickson, you picked the loser.

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Committee

From: dave erickson
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 11:08 PM
To: Alan L. Maki
Subject: Re: Al Franken... Minnesotans now have a chance to dump the Dumb Donkey

To Whom it May Concern,

I believe your attempts to get your person elected are sickening. You certainly have the right to do what you're doing. However, it is my belief you're hurting the DFL, the progressive movement, and your candidate.

--- On Sun, 8/3/08, Alan L. Maki wrote:
From: Alan L. Maki
Subject: Al Franken... Minnesotans now have a chance to dump the Dumb Donkey

Alan L. Maki

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.hackers.malicious/browse_thread/thread/a0ac2fbf3db936c0


alan maki the pedo?
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ThePsyko View profile

More options Aug 7, 6:05 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: ThePsyko
Date: 07 Aug 2008 23:05:09 GMT
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 6:05 pm
Subject: alan maki the pedo?
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author
"This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S. should be run
like a communist/Stalinist regime where my friends at can get equality in
their effort to children. We need to defend ourselves against people who
would like to expose us: http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama supports the
destruction of online predators...
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
--
ThePsyko
Public Enemy #7
**Pissing off the planet, one person at a time**


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FrozenNorth View profile

More options Aug 7, 6:55 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: FrozenNorth
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:55:16 GMT
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 6:55 pm
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
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ThePsyko wrote:
> "This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S. should be run
> like a communist/Stalinist regime where my friends at can get equality in
> their effort to children. We need to defend ourselves against people who
> would like to expose us: http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
> I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama supports the
> destruction of online predators...
> http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
Can I assume you have already reported that to Obama's webmaster and/or the
appropriate authorities?
--
Froz...


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ThePsyko View profile

More options Aug 7, 6:29 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: ThePsyko
Date: 07 Aug 2008 23:29:56 GMT
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 6:29 pm
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author
On 07 Aug 2008 I stormed the castle called alt.hackers.malicious and
heard FrozenNorth cry out in news:1366411.qfkiXTokAk@frozennorth.to...
> ThePsyko wrote:
>> "This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S. should be
>> run like a communist/Stalinist regime where my friends at can get
>> equality in their effort to children. We need to defend ourselves
>> against people who would like to expose us:
>> http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
>> I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama supports the
>> destruction of online predators...
>> http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
> Can I assume you have already reported that to Obama's webmaster
> and/or the appropriate authorities?
not yet.. busy upgrading my mail server :)
--
ThePsyko
Public Enemy #7
**Pissing off the planet, one person at a time**


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-=Biscuit=- View profile

More options Aug 7, 7:18 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: "-=Biscuit=-"
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:18:14 -0700
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 7:18 pm
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
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ThePsyko delighted us to no end by
taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
news:Xns9AF3AAA6FB777LifeIsGood@nntp.petitmorte.net, on the
hallowed day of Thu 07 Aug 2008 04:05:09p:
> "This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S. should
> be run like a communist/Stalinist regime where my friends at
> can get equality in their effort to children. We need to defend
> ourselves against people who would like to expose us:
> http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
> I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama supports
> the destruction of online predators...
> http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
Unfuckingbelievable they don't have better filters....
--
-=Mara=-
Never underestimated the power of stupid people in large groups.


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-=Biscuit=- View profile

More options Aug 7, 7:18 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: "-=Biscuit=-"
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:18:27 -0700
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 7:18 pm
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author
ThePsyko delighted us to no end by
taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
news:Xns9AF3AEDAB3858LifeIsGood@nntp.petitmorte.net, on the
hallowed day of Thu 07 Aug 2008 04:29:56p:

- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

> On 07 Aug 2008 I stormed the castle called
> alt.hackers.malicious and heard FrozenNorth cry out in
> news:1366411.qfkiXTokAk@frozennorth.to...
>> ThePsyko wrote:
>>> "This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S.
>>> should be run like a communist/Stalinist regime where my
>>> friends at can get equality in their effort to children. We
>>> need to defend ourselves against people who would like to
>>> expose us: http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
>>> I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama
>>> supports the destruction of online predators...
>>> http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
>> Can I assume you have already reported that to Obama's
>> webmaster and/or the appropriate authorities?
> not yet.. busy upgrading my mail server :)
I did.
--
-=Mara=-
Never underestimated the power of stupid people in large groups.


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FrozenNorth View profile

More options Aug 7, 7:22 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: FrozenNorth
Date: Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:22:27 GMT
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 7:22 pm
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author

- Hide quoted text -
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-=Biscuit=- wrote:
> ThePsyko delighted us to no end by
> taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
> news:Xns9AF3AEDAB3858LifeIsGood@nntp.petitmorte.net, on the
> hallowed day of Thu 07 Aug 2008 04:29:56p:
>> On 07 Aug 2008 I stormed the castle called
>> alt.hackers.malicious and heard FrozenNorth cry out in
>> news:1366411.qfkiXTokAk@frozennorth.to...
>>> ThePsyko wrote:
>>>> "This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S.
>>>> should be run like a communist/Stalinist regime where my
>>>> friends at can get equality in their effort to children. We
>>>> need to defend ourselves against people who would like to
>>>> expose us: http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
>>>> I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama
>>>> supports the destruction of online predators...
>>>> http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
>>> Can I assume you have already reported that to Obama's
>>> webmaster and/or the appropriate authorities?
>> not yet.. busy upgrading my mail server :)
> I did.
Me too.
;-)
--
Froz...


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Brandon D Cartwright View profile

More options Aug 7, 8:44 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: Brandon D Cartwright
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:44:52 -0700
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 8:44 pm
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
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Note: The author of this message requested that it not be archived. This message will be removed from Groups in 6 days (Aug 14, 8:44 pm).


On 07 Aug 2008 23:05:09 GMT, ThePsyko
wrote:
>"This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S. should be run
>like a communist/Stalinist regime where my friends at can get equality in
>their effort to children. We need to defend ourselves against people who
>would like to expose us: http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
>I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama supports the
>destruction of online predators...
>http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
You are correct..
In fact he supports the death penalty for the worst offenders..
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25379987/
"I have said repeatedly that I think that the death penalty should be
applied in very narrow circumstances for the most egregious of
crimes," Obama said at a news conference.
"I think that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a
heinous crime and if a state makes a decision that under narrow,
limited, well-defined circumstances the death penalty is at least
potentially applicable, that that does not violate our Constitution."


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-=Biscuit=- View profile

More options Aug 7, 9:06 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: "-=Biscuit=-"
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:06:46 -0700
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 9:06 pm
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author
FrozenNorth delighted us to no
end by taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
news:45120673.obMDYaso3X@frozennorth.to, on the hallowed day of
Thu 07 Aug 2008 05:22:27p:

- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

> -=Biscuit=- wrote:
>> ThePsyko delighted us to no end
>> by taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
>> news:Xns9AF3AEDAB3858LifeIsGood@nntp.petitmorte.net, on the
>> hallowed day of Thu 07 Aug 2008 04:29:56p:
>>> On 07 Aug 2008 I stormed the castle called
>>> alt.hackers.malicious and heard FrozenNorth cry out in
>>> news:1366411.qfkiXTokAk@frozennorth.to...
>>>> ThePsyko wrote:
>>>>> "This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S.
>>>>> should be run like a communist/Stalinist regime where my
>>>>> friends at can get equality in their effort to children. We
>>>>> need to defend ourselves against people who would like to
>>>>> expose us: http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
>>>>> I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama
>>>>> supports the destruction of online predators...
>>>>> http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
>>>> Can I assume you have already reported that to Obama's
>>>> webmaster and/or the appropriate authorities?
>>> not yet.. busy upgrading my mail server :)
>> I did.
> Me too.
> ;-)
Kewl, at least SOME of us care!
*sticks tongue out to TP*
--
-=Mara=-
Never underestimated the power of stupid people in large groups.


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ThePsyko View profile

More options Aug 7, 8:39 pm

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: ThePsyko
Date: 08 Aug 2008 01:39:26 GMT
Local: Thurs, Aug 7 2008 8:39 pm
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author
On 07 Aug 2008 I stormed the castle called alt.hackers.malicious and
heard -=Biscuit=- cry out in
news:Xns9AF3C26D32D5Cno.one@foo_blah_bar.com...

- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

> FrozenNorth delighted us to no
> end by taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
> news:45120673.obMDYaso3X@frozennorth.to, on the hallowed day of
> Thu 07 Aug 2008 05:22:27p:
>> -=Biscuit=- wrote:
>>> ThePsyko delighted us to no end
>>> by taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
>>> news:Xns9AF3AEDAB3858LifeIsGood@nntp.petitmorte.net, on the
>>> hallowed day of Thu 07 Aug 2008 04:29:56p:
>>>> On 07 Aug 2008 I stormed the castle called
>>>> alt.hackers.malicious and heard FrozenNorth cry out in
>>>> news:1366411.qfkiXTokAk@frozennorth.to...
>>>>> ThePsyko wrote:
>>>>>> "This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S.
>>>>>> should be run like a communist/Stalinist regime where my
>>>>>> friends at can get equality in their effort to children. We
>>>>>> need to defend ourselves against people who would like to
>>>>>> expose us: http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
>>>>>> I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama
>>>>>> supports the destruction of online predators...
>>>>>> http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobama
>>>>> Can I assume you have already reported that to Obama's
>>>>> webmaster and/or the appropriate authorities?
>>>> not yet.. busy upgrading my mail server :)
>>> I did.
>> Me too.
>> ;-)
> Kewl, at least SOME of us care!
> *sticks tongue out to TP*
It's not that I don't care, I just have lackeys like you to do it for me
:)
--
ThePsyko
Public Enemy #7
**Pissing off the planet, one person at a time**


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-=Biscuit=- View profile

More options Aug 8, 5:09 am

Newsgroups: alt.hackers.malicious
From: "-=Biscuit=-"
Date: Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:09:53 -0700
Local: Fri, Aug 8 2008 5:09 am
Subject: Re: alan maki the pedo?
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author
ThePsyko delighted us to no end by
taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
news:Xns9AF3C4CF3E189LifeIsGood@nntp.petitmorte.net, on the
hallowed day of Thu 07 Aug 2008 06:39:26p:

- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

> On 07 Aug 2008 I stormed the castle called
> alt.hackers.malicious and heard -=Biscuit=- cry out in
> news:Xns9AF3C26D32D5Cno.one@foo_blah_bar.com...
>> FrozenNorth delighted us to
>> no end by taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
>> news:45120673.obMDYaso3X@frozennorth.to, on the hallowed day
>> of Thu 07 Aug 2008 05:22:27p:
>>> -=Biscuit=- wrote:
>>>> ThePsyko delighted us to no end
>>>> by taking a lime green crayon and scribbling in
>>>> news:Xns9AF3AEDAB3858LifeIsGood@nntp.petitmorte.net, on the
>>>> hallowed day of Thu 07 Aug 2008 04:29:56p:
>>>>> On 07 Aug 2008 I stormed the castle called
>>>>> alt.hackers.malicious and heard FrozenNorth cry out in
>>>>> news:1366411.qfkiXTokAk@frozennorth.to...
>>>>>> ThePsyko wrote:
>>>>>>> "This blog is about my fight for and communism. The U.S.
>>>>>>> should be run like a communist/Stalinist regime where my
>>>>>>> friends at can get equality in their effort to children.
>>>>>>> We need to defend ourselves against people who would like
>>>>>>> to expose us: http://rikijo.blogspot.com Alan Maki"
>>>>>>> I may not be a big obama fan, but I'm sure even obama
>>>>>>> supports the destruction of online predators...
>>>>>>> http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmakiobam
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>> Can I assume you have already reported that to Obama's
>>>>>> webmaster and/or the appropriate authorities?
>>>>> not yet.. busy upgrading my mail server :)
>>>> I did.
>>> Me too.
>>> ;-)
>> Kewl, at least SOME of us care!
>> *sticks tongue out to TP*
> It's not that I don't care,
Yes it is, you lazy tree hugger!
> I just have lackeys like you to do
> it for me
> :)
/me adds "One more ass kicking" to your tab
Lemme me know when you're ready to settle your bar tab :)
--
-=Mara=-
Never underestimated the power of stupid people in large groups.


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Alan L. Maki
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell phone: 651-587-5541
E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Agents can randomly seize travelers' laptops or PDAs

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/investing/bal-bz.ml.laptops29jun29,0,3324276.story



Agents can randomly seize travelers' laptops or PDAs

By Jim Puzzanghera

June 29, 2008

WASHINGTON - Bill Hogan was returning home from Germany in February when a customs agent at Washington Dulles International Airport pulled him aside. He could re-enter the country, she told him. But his laptop could not.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents said he had been chosen for "random inspection of electronic media," and kept his computer for about two weeks, recalled Hogan, 55, a freelance journalist from Falls Church, Va.

Though it was a spare computer that had little important information, Hogan felt violated.

"It's not an inspection. It's a seizure," he said. "What do they do with it? I assume they just copy everything."

For several years, U.S. officials have been searching and seizing laptops, digital cameras, cell phones and other electronic devices at the border with few publicly released details. Complaints from travelers and privacy advocates have spurred some lawmakers to question the U.S. Customs and Border Protection policy.

As people store more and more information electronically, the debate hinges on whether searching a laptop is the equivalent of looking in your luggage, or more like a strip search.

"Customs agents must have the ability to conduct even highly intrusive searches when there is reason to suspect criminal or terrorist activity, but suspicion-less searches of Americans' laptops and similar devices go too far," said Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat who chairs a subcommittee that examined the searches at a hearing Wednesday. "Congress should not allow this gross violation of privacy."

Authorities need a search warrant to get at a computer in a person's home, and reasonable suspicion of illegal activity to search a laptop in other places. But the rules change at border crossings. Courts have ruled that there's no need for warrants or suspicions when a person is seeking to enter the country - agents can search belongings, including computer gear, for any reason.

The latest was the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in April that agents acted properly in turning over information used to charge a traveler with possession of child pornography. His laptop had been searched in 2005 at Los Angeles International Airport.

Any routine search is considered "reasonable" under the Fourth Amendment, legal scholars agree. But Feingold worries that the law has not kept up with technology.

"People keep their lives on these devices: diaries, personal mail, financial records, family photos. ... The government should not be able to read this information," said Lee Tien, senior staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. In February, the group and the Asian Law Caucus sued authorities for more information about the program.

The issue is of particular concern for businesses, which risk the loss of proprietary data when executives travel abroad, said Susan K. Gurley, executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives. After the California ruling, the group warned its members to limit the business and personal information they carry on laptops taken out of the country.

Of 100 people who responded to a survey the association did in February, seven said they had been subject to the seizure of a laptop or other electronic device.

Jayson P. Ahern, deputy commissioner of customs and border protection, said in written testimony to the subcommittee that the agency would "protect information that may be discovered during the examination process, as well as private information of a personal nature that is not in violation of any law." The agency conducts "a regular review and purging of information that is no longer relevant," Ahern wrote.

Feingold said the testimony gave "little meaningful detail" about the program. He is considering legislation to prohibit such routine searches of electronic devices without reasonable suspicion.

But Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas said U.S. officials have to balance individual rights with protecting the nation.

"Terrorists take advantage of this kind of technology," he said.

Hogan, the freelance journalist, said there was no reason for customs agents to think he was a terrorist. He advised people to take precautions with their laptops when they leave the country.

"I certainly would never take it again," he said.

Jim Puzzanghera writes for the Los Angeles Times.



Some thoughts by the great working class writer Howard Fast as the dark, gloomy days of McCarthyism were beginning to take hold in our country...



From the "Daily Worker"

NO MAN CAN BE SILENT

by Howard Fast

In a box in a cupboard my father kept three somewhat old, somewhat ragged American flags. We were poor people with few possessions, but wherever we went the flags went too. One of them, the best of the three, came out for holidays. It didn't matter what the importance of the holiday was; whether it was Decoration Day or Columbus Day out came the best of the three flags to be draped over a window sill or tied onto a pole.
I asked him once why he kept the old flags and he said that they were entitled to it, he thought; you didn't throw a flag away; it was more than old clothes, more than a shirt whose destiny was to become a dustrag.

My brother still has the flags. My father, many years since, was laid away in the good earth of this country which he loved so well, so deeply, so unreservedly, so simply and so lastingly. His love for America was not the cheap thing that Rotarians call patriotism; it was the attachment of the child to the mother; it had some of what the farmer feels when he picks up the black earth and crumbles it in his fingers; it was respect born out of understanding, and though I value many things he gave me, I think I value that most.

People have asked, me, too often perhaps, why I write the kind of books I do; they ask me where my ideas come from, and if I were to say that my writing and all in it comes from the land that bore me and nurtured me, it would be pat and evident, but the truth nevertheless. It is a hard thing to say; even as, in this day and this situation, we are being robbed of our ideals and our principles, so are we being robbed of the ability to say a basic thing simply and straightforwardly and unashamedly.

Whatever I am, America made me; I say that proudly and will, I trust, continue to say it until I die. For a decade and a half I have tried, in every way I know, to understand my country and to serve her. I have never put pen to paper except with that purpose in mind, and sometimes I have succeeded poorly and sometimes well. I think I can say that. This is no time for modesty, but a time for courage and greatness. Many men will speak out, and it is fitting that they should speak out with all their hearts and all their strength.

I have lived through the history of this land, roamed through it, and had the good fortune to understand some very great men who are dead these many years. Also I came to know some of the living, so that I can tell my children some day how I took the hand of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and talked with him and ate with him--and the hands of others too.

And this I know: that never in all its time and history was our land in such peril, such terrible, mortal peril! What a craven, miserable creature a man must be to remain silent at a time like this! What a poor thing it is to sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage and less!


Liberty, democracy, human rights--these are words we wrote across the sky in starry letters. It was our tiny revolutionary army that taught the world an eternal lesson in freedom. It was in our land that the dignity of the individual was exalted. It was our Bill of Rights that sanctified the security of the citizen, and it was our Civil War that taught the world a lesson in the price that freedom requires.

And what do we see now? A congressman whose very name has become a shameful and international badge of iniquity and hatred proposes in Congress a bill which at one stroke would wipe out all our rights, all our hard-won freedom. And there are men who stay silent.

A member of the Cabinet calls for the suppression of a political party which has worked tirelessly and unceasingly for civil rights and for the cause of labor and the people. And some men say: after all it is not my party, and I will stay silent; perhaps they will forget me and leave me alone.

A President of this land calls for a world empire, for forcible intervention in any land which strikes our fancy, and implicit in his words is the threat of a war which could wipe out a hundred million or five hundred million human souls, a war against a former ally of ours--and the Congress listens to him and applauds him.

What have we come to? Did Germany teach us no lessons? Do we still believe the insane illusion that by silence men can make their peace with fascism? Are we to become so like insects, so like beetles and. roaches that we believe in the security of the crevices into which frightened men crawl?

This is no time for complicated preachments. The simple fact is this: that all we believe in and all we value is at stake.


Howard Fast--- America's outstanding working class writer and Communist...



...dragged before the House Un-American Activities Committee... is this where our country is headed once again?



Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net



Check out my blog:



Thoughts From Podunk



http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

CenturyTel subverts democracy...

Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:29:39 -0500

From: "Alan L. Maki"


Subject: Re: You have failed to correct the problem of you own making with my ISP service


To: support@centurytel.net, abuse@centurytel.net, attorney.general@state.mn.us, rep.bill.hilty@state.mn.us


To Whom it may concern in the CenturyTel Internet Technical Support Department, CenturyTel Legal Department, and CenturyTel Corporate Affairs;

I have repeatedly contacted CenturyTel Support with my problem to no avail.

I suggest you provide this e-mail to your CenturyTel Legal Department since I intend to take legal action in the Courts--- and in the court of public opinion--- to have my problems resolved.

I will be seeking compensation and punitive damages against CenturyTel.

I "Replied to All" not knowing how many names were in the "CC
Line" in the e-mail I had received.

It was obviously more than what CenturyTel allows, which triggered something in your system to prevent my further e-mailing.

If CenturyTel is so concerned with the number of addresses in an out-going e-mail and is going to take this kind of punitive action; then CenturyTel has an obligation to provide some kind of program to its customers to count each and every address in an e-mail before it goes out. Is such a technology available; or isn't it? If it is, why don't you provide it.

Immediately upon trying to send out further e-mails using my Micro Soft Outlook I
started getting all outgoing mail returned as "undeliverable."

Obviously, something in your system kicks in and causes this to happen.

This happened on a previous occasion some months ago; exact same problem. Now
your technicians claim they do not know what to do.

How can your "system" be programed by a human being to do something, and now your IT Department does not know what to do to correct the problem--- or, perhaps, intentionally refuses to correct the problem?

I was told a Supervisor would be in touch with me; no one has contacted me.

I use my e-mail and ISP service to publish and distribute my views on issues
with the intent of participating in the decision-making process of this country
in a way that I can influence the direction of our country.

This is my right; just as Thomas Paine distributed his broadsides against injustices.

Corporations like CenturyTel hire high-paid lobbyists to do this work for them.

Corporations are persons according to law.

As a person, I have just as much right to get my views out to people as any
corporation.

CenturyTel has the obvious intent here of maliciously thwarting democracy and
placing obstacles in the way of the democratic right of citizen participation
in the decision-making process of our government.

The boast to the world is that the Internet and advanced technology has speeded up and made it easier for people across the globe to communicate; and, here we
have CenturyTel becoming an obstacle to people like myself using this technology
to communicate with our fellow citizens, public and elected officials, and those
seeking higher office.

In the last few days even my ability to receive e-mail has been obstructed by
CenturyTel.

Let me remind CenturyTel that material of a political nature, which I am
involved in disseminating, is NOT considered SPAM; unlike hundreds of e-mails
CenturyTel allows to enter my mail-box from actual spammers, many, if not most, of whom are out-right crooks and charlatans working every conceivable kind of scam known to man.

Let me, also, remind CenturyTel that I am not involved in the "trade"
of pornography; another big-business industry of "entrepreneurs" which you allow to
use you services to Spam me without any recrimination or retribution from
CenturyTel.

CenturyTel also allows the most racist and anti-Semitic messages to come into my
in-box; I use my e-mail and the Internet to educate against this kind of
hate-mongering.

I expect the service for which I pay a very good price to be restored to normal
operation without delay.

CenturyTel created this problem; I expect CenturyTel technicians to resolve this
problem.

I would also note that these "restrictions" CenturyTel has placed on
my account have come after I began sending out letters supporting a candidate
for United States Senate--- Priscilla Lord Faris.

As CenturyTel is well aware, my previous problems arose after complaints from
one Brian Melendez, the Chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party,
decided he did not want me communicating my opinions with fellow members of the
MNDFL State Central Committee and the newsmedia.

I would also note that forcing me to use your "WEBmail" program is
another form of harassment because it is so pathetically inadequate given the
state of technology that it is a barrier to communications to open and democratic communication.

For your information; I am "blogging" this letter hoping that anyone
seeking the services of an Internet Service Provider will have second thoughts
about paying CenturyTel so much money for a service aimed at undermining democracy.

I would also point out that I dropped my previous Internet Service Provider, WikTel Communications, after that company admitted that they allowed the FBI access to my incoming and outgoing e-mails. I would note, that I have been a target of a non-stop. never-ending FBI investigation since 1964... I would think that this lengthy of an investigation would be sufficient to have had me arrested by now... and, as you can see, I am not sitting in a prison cell.

I pay big money for your ISP services; I expect to get what I pay for.

There is an old saying that I learned in college adverting class: When someone is satisfied with a service they might tell a person or two; when they are not satisfied with a service they tell everyone.

I also learned there is a little formula which enables a corporation to figure out how much it costs to overcome the "advertising" of a disgruntled customer... I am sure CenturyTel Public Relations can provide you with the data.

I am wondering what your stock-holders will think they are going further into debt for as your corporate board has made the decision to borrow millions of dollars to pay out dividends because you run a company like this. If you ran your company in a customers would be satisfied with your services, perhaps you wouldn't have to borrow money to pay dividends.

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell Phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my Blog:

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Democracy and Internet Service Providers (ISP)

Democracy and Internet Service Providers (ISP)
July 20, 2008

This is what my Internet Service Provider, CenturyTel, does to me when I am e-mailing.

I was emailing my views on Al Gore’s ideas about using his proposed “carbon tax” to finance Social Security and now they have prohibited me from e-mailing.

By Federal Statute political e-mails with political opinions is not “Spam.”

Just like citizen Tom Paine used to leaflet and post his opinions where ever he could, I distribute my opinions via e-mail.

It is amazing to me that all the big-business gurus like Alan Greenspan boast of how the Internet has “revolutionized” communications for business; but, the corporations— like CenturyTel who now have hijacked control over the Internet are opposed to citizens using e-mail and the Internet to convey their views.

Al Gore is putting forward his views very cleverly, not for the public good; but to bolster the profits of the businesses he is heavily invested in.

No wonder Al Gore doesn’t want to talk about taxing “wealth.” And, he hides this refusal to discuss wealth behind cute little ditties like, “We should tax what we burn; not what we earn.”

The corporate world, including the CEO’s of my Internet Service Provider— CenturyTel— apparently like Al Gore’s message better than mine… so, since they have the “power and control” they exercise this “power and control” to silence me when I bring foward alternative views, like those I posted here yesterday; views in opposition to the capitalists’ neoliberal agenda.

What is really the epitome of hypocrisy is these corporations have the unmitigated gall to turn around and call this “democracy.”

Al Gore has a multi-million dollar campaign promoting his views on global warming and his so-called “solutions.”

Those of us with opinions contrary to the reactionary, neoliberal views Gore is trying to pass as “progressive” have a right to respond to his views in a way that we become part of the decision-making process… this is what democracy is really supposed to be all about.

There is a very simple solution to corporate and government suppression of political views which I and many, many others in the United States— the world’s greatest “bastion of democracy”— are being subjected to.

The solution is very simple…

Take all aspects of the Internet out of corporate hands.

The Internet should be managed, run and operated on a not-for-profit basis; the only goal and objective being to make this great marvel of the new, modern, hi-tech world available for all people to freely and democratically communicate their views, just as Al Gore does now because he can afford to buy his way into this “public square” and dominate the battle of ideas in our modern world.

Working people create all wealth. The wealth created by workers has created the Internet. It is simply wrong that national governments and local public bodies have abandoned their responsibilities to the public to insure that big-money does not create the rules of usage for the Internet through their “terms” of use which not only do not take into consideration the democratic rights of working people to be full participants in society to the full extent technology has the potential to provide; worse yet, these elected public officials and those working for government agencies… in the name of “hands off business” have enabled these corporations to push working people right out of the decision making process— again.

The bosses have never liked working people to express their views and opinions— especially when those views and opinions run contrary to the corporate drive for maximum profits.

As such…

The Internet should become the first truly fully inter-nationalized publicly owned venture, jointly owned by all of humanity under the direction and control of a United Nations’ body specifically created for this purpose.

These “Internet Service Providers” are making out like bandits as they rip us off and then don’t even let us use the full potential of the service when we express views not to the liking of big-business which is seeking to profit off of ending the very global warming they created in the first place.

Here is the response I received from my Internet Service Provider— CenturyTel— a huge, mega-communication corporation, which has denied me the right to use, a service I am over-charged for.

For many days I have been denied the right to use MicroSoft Outlook to convey my opinions and response to Al Gore stated:

CenturyTel - Contact Request Processed
var s_pageName=”Contact Request Processed”;
var s_server=”interapp.centurytel.com”;

var s_account=”centelcom”;

We’re committed to delivering quality service.

Thank you for contacting CenturyTel Customer Service!

We appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions, because it is our goal to provide the highest quality service available. We will do our best to respond to your e-mail within 2 business days. Please feel free to contact us again if you have
additional questions or comments.

The information submitted…

Area: High-Speed Internet

Topic: Help Desk

Comments:
I cannot use my Microsoft Outlook to send out. This problem happened before after I sent out a large number of e-mails.I use my e-mail for Democratic Party related political activities and this is my right. Politically related materials are not spam as defined by federal statutes.I expect you to get my service that I pay your company a very good price for to get my service back up and running properly.Centurytel is making a corporate decision to interfere with my right to advocate my views.


Posted by alanmaki

A dangerous threat to Social Security linked to proposed “carbon tax” from Al Gore
July 20, 2008

Al Gore made an important speech on “carbon taxes;” click on the link to hear his speech or read it below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt9wZloG97U

Please distribute this widely to all your e-mail lists and list serves so Al Gore’s speech gets the kind of discussion these ideas deserve in a democracy.

My thinking on Al Gore’s speech:

The time has come to start talking about the politics and economics of livelihood… working class politics.

Al Gore has proposed that the solution for keeping Social Security solvent is to fund it with a “carbon tax.”

Think about this: The idea behind the “carbon tax” is to end pollution… as carbon emissions decline, so will revenue from the “carbon tax.”

Social Security should continue to be funded from the sources that are taxed right now… any change jeopardizes the very existence of Social Security.

If anything, Social Security taxes on the employers needs to be increased.

This is a very regressive and reactionary idea aimed at destroying the best progressive social program we have in this country— Social Security.

The source of funding for Social Security is just where it belongs right now… the only reform in funding required is to drastically increase the burden on employers so Social Security will provide all those in retirement a real living income; and, retirement age should be reduced to 50 so that the millions of unemployed will have jobs so they continue to build-up the Social Security fund… unemployed people contribute nothing towards Social Security; apparently mercury emissions have retarded thinking among some politicians.

There is nothing wrong with Social Security that full-employment wouldn’t solve.

Social Security should derive its funding from the point nearest where wealth is being created; not where wealth is being destroyed.

A “carbon tax” should be placed on each and every corporation and industry, including a very heavy carbon tax on any industry using coal, gas and oil; this tax should be used to finance the creation of new clean, green industries being proposed by Barack Obama.

In fact, if these industries were threatened with nationalization and public ownership we would see more rapid compliance than with the threat of taxes or fines.

What is really bizarre is that Al Gore and Barack Obama have been completely silent when it comes to what kind of concrete action is required to save closing auto plants like the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant… ironically, this present clean, green manufacturing operation would pay no Social Security taxes at all under the Gore proposal supported by Barack Obama. Obama supports this hare-brained scheme like that advocated by Al Gore to finance Social Security; but he has not raised his voice to save the jobs of two-thousand auto-workers, who, with their employer are paying into Social Security in a very big way… Do Al Gore and Barack Obama support the capitalist scheme to close the St. Paul Ford Plant Twin Cities Assembly Plant, place a hydro dam powering the operation into the hands of a private foreign corporation, and shipping these two-thousand jobs to Thailand… this is really a boon to Social Security, isn’t it?

At some point there has to be some accountability from politicians like Al Gore and Barack Obama— this is not a one-way street; in return for votes, politicians have to be taught to listen respectfully to working people with an eye towards solving problems in favor of working people and their standard of living and livelihoods.

How much will carbon emissions increase when the Ford Motor Company brings its new Ford Ranger plant in Thailand into full production once they begin shipping to North America? How much will the Ford Motor Company contribute towards the U.S. Social Security fund from “carbon taxes” on its operations in Thailand… The same amount they will pay into Social Security in Thailand— absolutely nothing. Al Gore and Barack Obama have not considered this.

Why not nationalize any corporation that doesn’t meet Gore’s proposed guidelines?

Alan Greenspan is laughing like heck over all the dates set way into the future at which point these industries will have to come into compliance with carbon emission and pollution standards… Greenspan figures by these far distant dates established for compliance by these dirty industries, they will have been replaced with new technologies paid for compliments of U.S. tax-payers and the impoverishment of the working class in North America.

We could force 100% compliance with carbon emission and pollution standards in five years, instead of fifty, if these industries were threatened with nationalization for lack of compliance with clean air and water standards.

Again, transferring funding for Social Security from its present base of “wealth” to deriving revenue from a “carbon tax” is not the way to go.

Barack Obama and Al Gore propose that tax-payers fund this “new green economy” creating an entirely new industry and subsidizing corporations to the hilt… to the tune of trillions upon trillions of dollars; what tax-payers finance, tax-payers must own… including a share of the profits the equivalent of tax-payer funding. We must introduce this new kind of thinking into the political process right at the initial beginning stage.

Modern state-monopoly capitalism has concocted these neoliberal schemes to confuse working people while standards of living are driven down through such schemes; before workers know what has hit them the damage is done. Workers create all wealth… the working class’ standard of living must rise along with this “new clean, green industry.”

The time has come for working people to assert themselves into the decision making process in a very vocal and decisive manner. Keeping quiet until after Election Day is not the answer. Speak up now.

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/


Below is the New York Times coverage of Al Gore’s speech which is followed by the speech itself.

New York Times coverage of Al Gore’s speech:

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/washington/18gorecnd.html

Gore Calls for Carbon-Free Electric Power

By DAVID STOUT

Published: July 18, 2008

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Al Gore said on Thursday that Americans must abandon electricity generated by fossil fuels within a decade and rely on the sun, the winds and other environmentally friendly sources of power, or risk losing their national security as well as their creature comforts.

Al Gore spoke about energy policy in Washington on Thursday.

“The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk,” Mr. Gore said in a speech to an energy conference here. “The future of human civilization is at stake.”

Mr. Gore called for the kind of concerted national effort that enabled Americans to walk on the moon 39 years ago this month, just eight years after President John F. Kennedy famously embraced that goal. He said the goal of producing all of the nation’s electricity from “renewable energy and truly clean, carbon-free sources” within 10 years is not some farfetched vision, although he said it would require fundamental changes in political thinking and personal expectations.

“This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative,” Mr. Gore said in his remarks at the conference. “It represents a challenge to all Americans, in every walk of life — to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen.”

Although Mr. Gore has made global warming and energy conservation his signature issues, winning a Nobel Prize for his efforts, his speech on Thursday argued that the reasons for renouncing fossil fuels go far beyond concern for the climate.

In it, he cited military-intelligence studies warning of “dangerous national security implications” tied to climate change, including the possibility of “hundreds of millions of climate refugees” causing instability around the world, and said the United States is dangerously vulnerable because of its reliance on foreign oil.

Doubtless aware that his remarks would be met with skepticism, or even ridicule, in some quarters, Mr. Gore insisted in his speech that the goal of carbon-free power is not only achievable but practical, and that businesses would embrace it once they saw that it made fundamental economic sense.

Mr. Gore said the most important policy change in the transformation would be taxes on carbon dioxide production, with an accompanying reduction in payroll taxes. “We should tax what we burn, not what we earn,” he said.

The former vice president said in his speech that he could not recall a worse confluence of problems facing the country: higher gasoline prices, jobs being “outsourced,” the home mortgage industry in turmoil. “Meanwhile, the war in Iraq continues, and now the war in Afghanistan appears to be getting worse,” he said.

By calling for new political leadership and speaking disdainfully of “defenders of the status quo,” Mr. Gore was hurling a dart at the man who defeated him for the presidency in 2000, George W. Bush. Critics of Mr. Bush say that his policies are too often colored by his background in the oil business.

A crucial shortcoming in the country’s political leadership is a failure to view interlocking problems as basically one problem that is “deeply ironic in its simplicity,” Mr. Gore said, namely “our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels.”

“We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet,” Mr. Gore said. “Every bit of that’s got to change.”

And it can change, he said, citing some scientists’ estimates that enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth in 40 minutes to meet the world’s energy needs for a year, and that the winds that blow across the Midwest every day could meet the country’s daily electricity needs.

Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the presumptive Democratic candidate for president, immediately praised Mr. Gore’s speech. “For decades, Al Gore has challenged the skeptics in Washington on climate change and awakened the conscience of a nation to the urgency of this threat,” Mr. Obama said.

A shift away from fossil fuels would make the United States a leader instead of a sometime rebel on energy and conservation issues worldwide, Mr. Gore said. Nor, he said, would the hard work of people who toil on oil rigs and deep in the earth be for naught. “We should guarantee good jobs in the fresh air and sunshine for any coal miner displaced by impacts on the coal industry,” he said by way of example. “Every single one of them.”

“Of course, there are those who will tell us that this can’t be done,” he conceded. “But even those who reap the profits of the carbon age have to recognize the inevitability of its demise. As one OPEC oil minister observed, ‘The Stone Age didn’t end because of a shortage of stones.’ ”

This is Al Gore’s actual speech

July 17, 2008

A Generational Challenge to Repower America (as prepared)

D.A.R. Constitution Hall

Washington, D.C.

Ladies and gentlemen:

There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is such a moment. The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk. And even more – if more should be required – the future of human civilization is at stake.

I don’t remember a time in our country when so many things seemed to be going so wrong simultaneously. Our economy is in terrible shape and getting worse, gasoline prices are increasing dramatically, and so are electricity rates. Jobs are being outsourced. Home mortgages are in trouble. Banks, automobile companies and other institutions we depend upon are under growing pressure. Distinguished senior business leaders are telling us that this is just the beginning unless we find the courage to make some major changes quickly.

The climate crisis, in particular, is getting a lot worse – much more quickly than predicted. Scientists with access to data from Navy submarines traversing underneath the North polar ice cap have warned that there is now a 75 percent chance that within five years the entire ice cap will completely disappear during the summer months. This will further increase the melting pressure on Greenland. According to experts, the Jakobshavn glacier, one of Greenland’s largest, is moving at a faster rate than ever before, losing 20 million tons of ice every day, equivalent to the amount of water used every year by the residents of New York City.

Two major studies from military intelligence experts have warned our leaders about the dangerous national security implications of the climate crisis, including the possibility of hundreds of millions of climate refugees destabilizing nations around the world.

Just two days ago, 27 senior statesmen and retired military leaders warned of the national security threat from an “energy tsunami” that would be triggered by a loss of our access to foreign oil. Meanwhile, the war in Iraq continues, and now the war in Afghanistan appears to be getting worse.

And by the way, our weather sure is getting strange, isn’t it? There seem to be more tornadoes than in living memory, longer droughts, bigger downpours and record floods. Unprecedented fires are burning in California and elsewhere in the American West. Higher temperatures lead to drier vegetation that makes kindling for mega-fires of the kind that have been raging in Canada, Greece, Russia, China, South America, Australia and Africa. Scientists in the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Science at Tel Aviv University tell us that for every one degree increase in temperature, lightning strikes will go up another 10 percent. And it is lightning, after all, that is principally responsible for igniting the conflagration in California today.

Like a lot of people, it seems to me that all these problems are bigger than any of the solutions that have thus far been proposed for them, and that’s been worrying me.

I’m convinced that one reason we’ve seemed paralyzed in the face of these crises is our tendency to offer old solutions to each crisis separately – without taking the others into account. And these outdated proposals have not only been ineffective – they almost always make the other crises even worse.

Yet when we look at all three of these seemingly intractable challenges at the same time, we can see the common thread running through them, deeply ironic in its simplicity: our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels is at the core of all three of these challenges – the economic, environmental and national security crises.

We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that’s got to change.

But if we grab hold of that common thread and pull it hard, all of these complex problems begin to unravel and we will find that we’re holding the answer to all of them right in our hand.

The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels.

In my search for genuinely effective answers to the climate crisis, I have held a series of “solutions summits” with engineers, scientists, and CEOs. In those discussions, one thing has become abundantly clear: when you connect the dots, it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices. Moreover, they are also the very same solutions we need to guarantee our national security without having to go to war in the Persian Gulf.

What if we could use fuels that are not expensive, don’t cause pollution and are abundantly available right here at home?

We have such fuels. Scientists have confirmed that enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100 percent of the entire world’s energy needs for a full year. Tapping just a small portion of this solar energy could provide all of the electricity America uses.

And enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to also meet 100 percent of US electricity demand. Geothermal energy, similarly, is capable of providing enormous supplies of electricity for America.

The quickest, cheapest and best way to start using all this renewable energy is in the production of electricity. In fact, we can start right now using solar power, wind power and geothermal power to make electricity for our homes and businesses.

But to make this exciting potential a reality, and truly solve our nation’s problems, we need a new start.

That’s why I’m proposing today a strategic initiative designed to free us from the crises that are holding us down and to regain control of our own destiny. It’s not the only thing we need to do. But this strategic challenge is the lynchpin of a bold new strategy needed to re-power America.

Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.

This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative. It represents a challenge to all Americans – in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen.

A few years ago, it would not have been possible to issue such a challenge. But here’s what’s changed: the sharp cost reductions now beginning to take place in solar, wind, and geothermal power – coupled with the recent dramatic price increases for oil and coal – have radically changed the economics of energy.

When I first went to Congress 32 years ago, I listened to experts testify that if oil ever got to $35 a barrel, then renewable sources of energy would become competitive. Well, today, the price of oil is over $135 per barrel. And sure enough, billions of dollars of new investment are flowing into the development of concentrated solar thermal, photovoltaics, windmills, geothermal plants, and a variety of ingenious new ways to improve our efficiency and conserve presently wasted energy.

And as the demand for renewable energy grows, the costs will continue to fall. Let me give you one revealing example: the price of the specialized silicon used to make solar cells was recently as high as $300 per kilogram. But the newest contracts have prices as low as $50 a kilogram.

You know, the same thing happened with computer chips – also made out of silicon. The price paid for the same performance came down by 50 percent every 18 months – year after year, and that’s what’s happened for 40 years in a row.

To those who argue that we do not yet have the technology to accomplish these results with renewable energy: I ask them to come with me to meet the entrepreneurs who will drive this revolution. I’ve seen what they are doing and I have no doubt that we can meet this challenge.

To those who say the costs are still too high: I ask them to consider whether the costs of oil and coal will ever stop increasing if we keep relying on quickly depleting energy sources to feed a rapidly growing demand all around the world. When demand for oil and coal increases, their price goes up. When demand for solar cells increases, the price often comes down.

When we send money to foreign countries to buy nearly 70 percent of the oil we use every day, they build new skyscrapers and we lose jobs. When we spend that money building solar arrays and windmills, we build competitive industries and gain jobs here at home.

Of course there are those who will tell us this can’t be done. Some of the voices we hear are the defenders of the status quo – the ones with a vested interest in perpetuating the current system, no matter how high a price the rest of us will have to pay. But even those who reap the profits of the carbon age have to recognize the inevitability of its demise. As one OPEC oil minister observed, “The Stone Age didn’t end because of a shortage of stones.”

To those who say 10 years is not enough time, I respectfully ask them to consider what the world’s scientists are telling us about the risks we face if we don’t act in 10 years. The leading experts predict that we have less than 10 years to make dramatic changes in our global warming pollution lest we lose our ability to ever recover from this environmental crisis. When the use of oil and coal goes up, pollution goes up. When the use of solar, wind and geothermal increases, pollution comes down.

To those who say the challenge is not politically viable: I suggest they go before the American people and try to defend the status quo. Then bear witness to the people’s appetite for change.

I for one do not believe our country can withstand 10 more years of the status quo. Our families cannot stand 10 more years of gas price increases. Our workers cannot stand 10 more years of job losses and outsourcing of factories. Our economy cannot stand 10 more years of sending $2 billion every 24 hours to foreign countries for oil. And our soldiers and their families cannot take another 10 years of repeated troop deployments to dangerous regions that just happen to have large oil supplies.

What could we do instead for the next 10 years? What should we do during the next 10 years? Some of our greatest accomplishments as a nation have resulted from commitments to reach a goal that fell well beyond the next election: the Marshall Plan, Social Security, the interstate highway system. But a political promise to do something

40 years from now is universally ignored because everyone knows that it’s meaningless. Ten years is about the maximum time that we as a nation can hold a steady aim and hit our target.

When President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely in 10 years, many people doubted we could accomplish that goal. But 8 years and 2 months later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon.

To be sure, reaching the goal of 100 percent renewable and truly clean electricity within 10 years will require us to overcome many obstacles. At present, for example, we do not have a unified national grid that is sufficiently advanced to link the areas where the sun shines and the wind blows to the cities in the East and the West that need the electricity. Our national electric grid is critical infrastructure, as vital to the health and security of our economy as our highways and telecommunication networks. Today, our grids are antiquated, fragile, and vulnerable to cascading failure. Power outages and defects in the current grid system cost US businesses more than $120 billion dollars a year. It has to be upgraded anyway.

We could further increase the value and efficiency of a Unified National Grid by helping our struggling auto giants switch to the manufacture of plug-in electric cars. An electric vehicle fleet would sharply reduce the cost of driving a car, reduce pollution, and increase the flexibility of our electricity grid.

At the same time, of course, we need to greatly improve our commitment to efficiency and conservation. That’s the best investment we can make.

America’s transition to renewable energy sources must also include adequate provisions to assist those Americans who would unfairly face hardship. For example, we must recognize those who have toiled in dangerous conditions to bring us our present energy supply. We should guarantee good jobs in the fresh air and sunshine for any coal miner displaced by impacts on the coal industry. Every single one of them.

Of course, we could and should speed up this transition by insisting that the price of carbon-based energy include the costs of the environmental damage it causes. I have long supported a sharp reduction in payroll taxes with the difference made up in CO2 taxes. We should tax what we burn, not what we earn. This is the single most important policy change we can make.

In order to foster international cooperation, it is also essential that the United States rejoin the global community and lead efforts to secure an international treaty at Copenhagen in December of next year that includes a cap on CO2 emissions and a global partnership that recognizes the necessity of addressing the threats of extreme poverty and disease as part of the world’s agenda for solving the climate crisis.

Of course the greatest obstacle to meeting the challenge of 100 percent renewable electricity in 10 years may be the deep dysfunction of our politics and our self-governing system as it exists today. In recent years, our politics has tended toward incremental proposals made up of small policies designed to avoid offending special interests, alternating with occasional baby steps in the right direction. Our democracy has become sclerotic at a time when these crises require boldness.

It is only a truly dysfunctional system that would buy into the perverse logic that the short-term answer to high gasoline prices is drilling for more oil ten years from now.

Am I the only one who finds it strange that our government so often adopts a so-called solution that has absolutely nothing to do with the problem it is supposed to address? When people rightly complain about higher gasoline prices, we propose to give more money to the oil companies and pretend that they’re going to bring gasoline prices down. It will do nothing of the sort, and everyone knows it. If we keep going back to the same policies that have never ever worked in the past and have served only to produce the highest gasoline prices in history alongside the greatest oil company profits in history, nobody should be surprised if we get the same result over and over again. But the Congress may be poised to move in that direction anyway because some of them are being stampeded by lobbyists for special interests that know how to make the system work for them instead of the American people.

If you want to know the truth about gasoline prices, here it is: the exploding demand for oil, especially in places like China, is overwhelming the rate of new discoveries by so much that oil prices are almost certain to continue upward over time no matter what the oil companies promise. And politicians cannot bring gasoline prices down in the short term.

However, there actually is one extremely effective way to bring the costs of driving a car way down within a few short years. The way to bring gas prices down is to end our dependence on oil and use the renewable sources that can give us the equivalent of $1 per gallon gasoline.

Many Americans have begun to wonder whether or not we’ve simply lost our appetite for bold policy solutions. And folks who claim to know how our system works these days have told us we might as well forget about our political system doing anything bold, especially if it is contrary to the wishes of special interests. And I’ve got to admit, that sure seems to be the way things have been going. But I’ve begun to hear different voices in this country from people who are not only tired of baby steps and special interest politics, but are hungry for a new, different and bold approach.

We are on the eve of a presidential election. We are in the midst of an international climate treaty process that will conclude its work before the end of the first year of the new president’s term. It is a great error to say that the United States must wait for others to join us in this matter. In fact, we must move first, because that is the key to getting others to follow; and because moving first is in our own national interest.

So I ask you to join with me to call on every candidate, at every level, to accept this challenge – for America to be running on 100 percent zero-carbon electricity in 10 years. It’s time for us to move beyond empty rhetoric. We need to act now.

This is a generational moment. A moment when we decide our own path and our collective fate. I’m asking you – each of you – to join me and build this future. Please join the WE campaign at wecansolveit.org. We need you. And we need you now. We’re committed to changing not just light bulbs, but laws. And laws will only change with leadership.

On July 16, 1969, the United States of America was finally ready to meet President Kennedy’s challenge of landing Americans on the moon. I will never forget standing beside my father a few miles from the launch site, waiting for the giant Saturn 5 rocket to lift Apollo 11 into the sky. I was a young man, 21 years old, who had graduated from college a month before and was enlisting in the United States Army three weeks later.

I will never forget the inspiration of those minutes. The power and the vibration of the giant rocket’s engines shook my entire body. As I watched the rocket rise, slowly at first and then with great speed, the sound was deafening. We craned our necks to follow its path until we were looking straight up into the air. And then four days later, I watched along with hundreds of millions of others around the world as Neil Armstrong took one small step to the surface of the moon and changed the history of the human race.

We must now lift our nation to reach another goal that will change history. Our entire civilization depends upon us now embarking on a new journey of exploration and discovery. Our success depends on our willingness as a people to undertake this journey and to complete it within 10 years. Once again, we have an opportunity to take a giant leap for humankind.

The Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens said in a statement that Mr. Gore’s plan would still not address “the stranglehold that foreign oil has on our country.” Mr. Pickens has called for a blend of government leadership and private enterprise to harness the full potential of wind power to help break what he calls “our deadly addiction to foreign oil.”

Lies, Lies and more lies from the Main Stream Media

Note: following this letter is one of the attachments provided to Mr. Saltzman

-----Original Message-----

From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]

Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:47 PM

To: 'jsaltzman@globe.com'

Cc: 'John Kolstad'; 'Dr. James Hart'; 'nnosal@uaw.net'; 'rgettel@uaw.net'; 'gdubovich@usw.org'; 'attorney.general@state.mn.us'; 'rep.bill.hilty@house.mn'; 'rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn'; 'Charley Underwood'; 'brian.melendez@usa.net'; 'susan.rego@embarqmail.com'; 'vivian votava'; 'George Greene'; 'David Shove'; 'debssoc@sbcglobal.net'

Subject: Re: Your article on NAMBLA has helped to spin a campaign of hate and bigotry...

Mr. Saltzman;

These Curleys and the right-wing organizations backing them have spun a web of hate and bigotry that has been, and continues to be used, in an effort to malign and intimidate many others--- myself included--- whose only “crime” is being of a political persuasion, myself a union organizer and a Communist--- who these people do not like.

A case in point is the vicious and malicious blog that has been set up with approval by Blogger.com, a company owned by Google, whose lawyers--- Brownstein/Hyatt/Farber/Schreck just happen to represent a real sleaze-ball who owns a massive casino empire--- Station Casinos, in which I happen to be embroiled in a bitter labor dispute which that has become a focus of the public because it has entered the legislative arena in Michigan.

Feel free to look at this blog:

http://rikijo.blogspot.com/2006/03/update-operation-show-me-money-casino.html

http://rikijo.blogspot.com/2006/03/phase-iioperation-show-me-money.html

http://www.topix.com/forum/us/fbi/TVC3R6CR6BT9T2M1F


I am one of the most “investigated people in America;” by the local, county, and state police and the FBI and the United States Department of Justice; even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police along with law enforcement agencies in half a dozen other countries will tell you that I am squeaky clean.

I will give you my permission to access any and all records about me as they are maintained by any governmental or police agency, the Pinkertons or United States Information Services or any other public or private agency. The FBI admits to maintaining a dossier on me of over 10,000 pages (ten-thousand).

I would challenge you or any other reporter to find anything in my personal or public life which would in any way suggest that I, in any way, shape or form, have had any association with, or involvement with this NAMBLA.

I would point out, that another progressive figure here in Minnesota, John Kolstad, a musician, former Democratic Party activist, and now Green Party activist who ran for the office of Minnesota Attorney General in the last election is also being smeared by these hate-mongers.

These hate-mongers used NAMBLA to conduct a hate campaign against the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition which promotes single-payer universal health care; my own sympathies lie with socialized health care.

Feel free to look over my own blogs and you will find that I may state some fairly controversial opinions; BUT, you will find that I do so using my real name and always providing contact information including address, phone and e-mail addresses.

In a democracy, differences are resolved in the public square, so-to-speak, where the “battle of ideas in our modern world” often takes on the character of very heated arguments… but, what kind of cowards spin these kinds of campaigns of hate based upon outright lies which are allowed to spin out of control by corporations like “Google” and “Blogger.com” who are being advised to allow this campaign of hate to build under the watchful eyes of the FBI as their lawyers--- in this case, Brownstein/Hyatt/Farber/Schreck who also represents the major stake-holders, Frank Fertitta and family, in a casino venture, the Gun Lake Casino in southwest Michigan where I am leading the struggle which has held up approval for another “Compact” that would rob workers of their most basic and fundamental human rights?

So, while you make light of the Curleys “educating the public” about NAMBLA… the Curleys have proved themselves to be nothing but a bunch of bigots as they sit in silence knowing that their bigoted friends and their right-wing allies are using their so-called “case against NAMBLA” to fans the flames of hate and bigotry against myself, and others like myself, who have no association or knowledge of NAMBLA.

In fact, the first time I ever heard about NAMBLA was when I received a call from a fellow member of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s State Central Committee with whom I work closely on issues of peace and social & economic justice.

You completely ignore the fact that the Curleys and their very cowardly right-wing bigot friends who they have chosen to partner with are now using this issue to malign others… when, apparently, the Curleys are so filled with hate deriving from their sorrow, they cannot think straight.

As a father and grandfather, I truly empathize with the Curleys for the suffering they have experienced with the loss of their child at the hands of such deviant, pathological perverted murderers; however, for this family to allow their hurt to extend to hurting others like myself is despicable and shameful. Make no mistake, the Curleys, and their attorneys, have known about this hateful blog for quite some time because I informed them of such… their attorneys called me filthy names and laughed, knowing that they were using this case to spread their right-wing bigotry far beyond this particular case, causing me to wonder if these people are even part of the human race.

I feel sorry for the Curly family that they would allow their sorrows to be used to harm other innocent people like myself.

Quite frankly, I am not a religious person in any sense of the word… but, I hope Robert and Barbara Curley and their bigoted friends rot in hell.

As a result of your article in the Boston Globe, my phone has been ringing off the hook with death threats and my e-mail box is filling up faster than I can delete the hate. Apparently, people are “googling” up this case because of articles like yours which have been published and finding this very hateful, hurtful and harmful blog/s.

I would encourage you to contact Robert and Barbara Curley and ask them how they feel about the campaign of hate I am being subjected to. I would encourage you to suggest to them that they, along with Google and Blogger.com will be facing a lawsuit themselves for what they are causing to be done to me with this malicious campaign of libel and slander.

Boston always has been a city filled with hate… I guess you people thrive on promoting bigotry and hate… if not racial bigotry and hate, then this type of bigotry and hate.

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell phone: 651-587-5541
E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/



**************

Attachment provided to Reporter Saltzman of the Boston Globe...

From: Alan Maki
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 3:04 PM
To: 'Blogger Help'
Cc: 'audrey thayer'
Subject: RE: [#89088281] BLOGGER: rikijo.blogspot.com


Hello Blogger team;

You have sent me a form e-mail to a very serious problem. Obviously you did not even bother to check out the blog in question or you would know there is no contact information, e-mail or otherwise.

Alan L. Maki

-----Original Message-----
From: Blogger Help [mailto:support@blogger.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 1:31 PM
To: amaki000@centurytel.net
Subject: [#89088281] BLOGGER: rikijo.blogspot.com

Hello Alan,

Thank you for writing regarding content posted on rikijo.blogspot.com. We would like to confirm that we have received and reviewed your inquiry dated 12/7/06.

Blogger.com and Blogspot.com are US sites regulated by US law. Blogger is a provider of content creation tools, not a mediator of that content. We allow our users to create blogs, but we don't make any claims about the content of these pages. Given these facts, and pursuant with section 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act, Blogger does not remove allegedly defamatory material from Blogger.com or Blogspot.com. If a contact email address is listed on the blog, we recommend you working directly with the author to have the content in question removed or changed.

Sincerely,
The Blogger Team



On 12/7/06, Alan Maki wrote:
>
>
>
>
> To whom it may concern:
>
>
>
> I am cited in this campaign of hate that has been spawned using
> blogspot.com. In no way am I or the Red Lake Casino, Hotel, and Restaurant
> Employees' Union Organizing Committee connected with the organization
> "NAMBLA." And all information about me and our organizing drive is posted
> maliciously with the intent to defame, libel, and slander in order to incite
> a violent campaign of hate against me, specifically, and to discredit our
> organizing campaign.
>
>
>
> http://rikijo.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
> As you can see from this link below, those connected with the above
> blogspot, and using this blogspot for the illegal purpose to incite a hate
> crime, have been very busy (please note all postings by one identified as
> "William"):
>
>
>
> http://www.topix.net/forum/us/TVC3R6CR6BT9T2M1F
>
>
>
> It is one thing to argue that free speech includes the right to challenge
> our organizing campaign and the political views, opinions, and activities of
> a public figure such as myself; it is quite another thing to fabricate and
> twist facts together to make a completely false story on a blogspot that is
> intended to foster the kind of hate campaign that could very well lead to
> someone being seriously hurt, injured, or even killed. American history is
> full of such acts of hate spawned by such campaigns as is unfolding by those
> using "blogspot.com;" I do not think that I have to go into specifics of the
> numerous hate crimes in our country that took shape in just such a manner.
>
>
>
> I expect that google, the owners of blogspot will take immediate action to
> remove this < http://rikijo.blogspot.com/ >. Every minute that this blogspot
> remains public your company will be held liable for damages; let me assure
> you that I intend to pursue the needed action at every level, from legal to
> the public, in order to explain to the public that google is part of a
> campaign to discredit our organizing campaign; and me specifically by
> allowing this blogspot to remain the host.
>
>
>
> I have no problem with Red Lake Gaming Enterprises, the FBI or the Canadian
> Security and Intelligence Services, United States Information Services
> (USIS), politicians, or anyone else taking issue with anything that I say or
> do, however, I sign my name, e-mail address, address, and phone number to
> everything… people know that it me saying these things… on the other hand,
> here we have a blogspot, obviously hate is what has motivated its very
> existence, and it is spewing outright lies about me (and others for whom I
> do not speak but who tell me they are concerned but fear complaining will
> cause further attention they do not want under these circumstances).
>
>
>
> The libel, defamation, and slander is very clear… these people have even
> illegally obtained e-mails through gaining access through my ISP… then they
> have re-written these e-mails, posted them on space that you provide, to fit
> into their hate campaign that uses blogspot.
>
>
>
> Let me remind you that know that I have brought this issue to your attention
> that your company has the responsibility to investigate whether what I am
> saying is factual; because, you have the responsibility to take the
> appropriate action; doing nothing is not an appropriate action, nor is
> allowing this blog to remain appropriate. I also assume that you will
> involve the proper law enforcement authorities in your investigation of this
> matter.
>
>
>
> As you will note, I have cc'ed a copy of this letter to Ms. Audrey Thayer of
> the Racial Justice Task Force of the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
> I have spoken with Chuck Samuelson of the Minnesota ACLU earlier today, who
> I can assure you, has many grave concerns about what is appearing in this
> blogspot; as do members of the organizations that I am affiliated with.
>
>
>
> I would also point out that while this outfit that is using your blogspot is
> using the sites of many others in an attempt to "snowball" their campaign of
> hate maliciously using slander and lies, they do not provide for anyone to
> respond on their own blog that your corporation hosts and provides under
> very specifically defined Terms Of Service which all those using your
> blogspot are required to read and adhere to. So these culprits are
> knowingly, not only breaking numerous state and federal laws, they are also
> abusing the privileges you have extended to users under very specific terms
> of your own Agreement.
>
>
>
> Should our organizational efforts have funding cut, or there are other such
> repercussions, I can assure you that google/blogspot will be held
> accountable in a court of law.
>
>
>
> It is my sincere desire in writing to you that a long, protracted drawn out
> legal challenge might be prevented that would be extremely costly to all
> parties concerned. Not only that, your company has a public image it needs
> to maintain in order to insure profitability; hopefully you have the common
> sense to consider how such litigation and the associated publicity will
> affect your corporate bottom line. I would also note, there are several
> cases now where those knowingly participating in such hate campaigns have
> had the courts seize ALL of their assets and turn those assets over to those
> parties that have been the victims; you might want to keep this in mind… one
> such case that comes to mind was brought before the courts by the Southern
> Poverty Law Center.
>
>
>
> I do expect a written response. My contact information is provided below.
>
>
>
> In closing, once again--- I repeat--- neither I nor any of the members of
> our forty-seven member union organizing committee, the majority of whom are
> enrolled members of the Red Lake Nation, are in any way associated with the
> organization "NAMBLA."
>
>
>
> Alan L. Maki
>
> Director of Organizing
>
> Red Lake Casino, Hotel, and Restaurant Employees' Union Organizing Committee
>
>
>
> Member, Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party state central committee
> (Democratic Party)
>
>
>
> Founding Member: Save Our Bog
>
>
>
> Founding Member: Minnesotans for Peace and Social Justice
>
>
>
> 58891 County Road 13
>
> Warroad, Minnesota 56763
>
> Phone: 218-386-2432
>
> Cell phone: 651-587-5541
>
> E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net