Daily Archives: July 3, 2012

Internet activists draft Declaration of Internet Freedom

Posted: July 3, 2012 at 2:15 am

Internet advocates announced the Declaration of Internet Freedom on July 2, 2012.

Activist groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Free Press and Access Now banned together and announced Monday the writing of the Declaration of Internet Freedom. The organizations say the document is "a set of principles providing a positive vision to preserve the Internet as a platform for speech, innovation and creativity."

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Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International and Mozilla have all pledged their support for the declaration.

The full text of the Declaration of Internet Freedom reads:

PREAMBLE

We believe that a free and open Internet can bring about a better world. To keep the Internet free and open, we call on communities, industries and countries to recognize these principles. We believe that they will help to bring about more creativity, more innovation and more open societies.

We are joining an international movement to defend our freedoms because we believe that they are worth fighting for.

Let's discuss these principles - agree or disagree with them, debate them, translate them, make them your own and broaden the discussion with your community - as only the Internet can make possible.

Join us in keeping the Internet free and open.

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Internet activists draft Declaration of Internet Freedom

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ATK Announces Independent Assessment Team for Liberty

Posted: at 2:15 am

SALT LAKE CITY, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --ATK (ATK) and the Liberty program announced an independent assessment team and their first tasking to advise the company on development of its commercial human certification plan for the Liberty system, which includes the launch vehicle, upper stage, abort system, composite spacecraft, ground and mission operations, crew and passenger training and a test flight crew.

The FAA is authorized by Congress to regulate commercial human spaceflight. Over the next few years, the FAA will use a phased approach to regulating the crew and passenger safety of the emerging commercial human spaceflight industry. In the meantime, and in the absence of specific government human certification standards, the developers themselves must look to NASA and International Partner human spaceflight best practices and lessons learned to develop their own design and operations criteria. Developing the Liberty-specific commercial human certification plan early in the program ensures the system will be designed from the outset to ensure flight crew and passenger safety.

Liberty's independent assessment team is led by Bryan O'Connor with team members Ken Bowersox, Kevin Leclaire and Alain Souchier. This team brings former space shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) commanders together with experts in NASA Safety and Mission Assurance, commercial space business and cryogenic engine development.

"As we build Liberty using streamlined and affordablecommercial approaches, we intend tomaintain asteady emphasis on crew safety, which is why we brought together top talent for the Liberty independent assessment team," said Kent Rominger, ATK vice president and program manager for Liberty. "We have one of the best teams whose background and expertise will ensure Liberty is safe and reliable for our commercial customers."

Leading the Liberty independent assessment team, O'Connor brings a strong background in flight test, program management, safety and mission assurance (SM&A). As a former two-time shuttle astronaut and United States Marine Corps test pilot he has served in various high-profile positions over his career including assistant program manager for the Marine AV-8 Harrier and NASA Space Shuttle Programs, NASA's first chairman of the Space Flight Safety Panel that was established to support return-to-flight design re-certification. During O'Connor's tenure at NASA Headquarters he served as director of the Space Station Redesign Team, Space Shuttle Program director, and later as the chief of Safety and Mission Assurance where he was responsible for the safety, reliability, maintainability and quality assurance of all NASA programs.

"I am looking forward to working with ATK on their commercial human certification plan for Liberty," said O'Connor. "It is extremely important to get this plan right. Fortunately, they have a head start because all of Liberty's subsystems were originally designed to be human-rated."

Bowersox is also a former navy test pilot and shuttle astronaut with four shuttle missions and one ISS mission, which included Russia Soyuz training and a return via the Soyuz capsule. He served as the Expedition-6 crew commander for over five months aboard the International Space Station. During his tenure at NASA he held a variety of assignments, notably chief of the Astronaut Office Safety Branch and chairman of the Spaceflight Safety Panel. Bowersox will oversee crew training and the commercial human certification plan for the Liberty program.

Leclaire brings extensive experience in starting and developing space-related companies. He has provided management consulting services to clients involved in the space, satellite and technology sectors and was previously a senior associate at the preeminent venture capital firm that focused on space-related companies. Leclaire will oversee the business aspects of the Liberty program with a focus on ensuring a solid business case without compromising crew safety.

Souchier was the program manager for the design of the stage propulsion systems on the Ariane 5 central core, the technical manager over the engineering department that developed the Vulcain Ariane 5 cryogenic engine and the stage associated propulsion systems, and Snecma's future programs director. During his 30-year career, he has been honored with a bronze and silver medal from the French space agency (CNET). Souchier will ensure all aspects of the Vulcain 2 engine upgrades for air start will be effectively implemented.

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ATK Announces Independent Assessment Team for Liberty

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Liberty Star Receives Updated ZTEM, South Block Big Chunk, Alaska

Posted: at 2:15 am

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. (Liberty Star or the Company) (LBSR: OTCBB) is pleased to announce that the Company has received updated, geophysical ZTEM electromagnetic imagery of the south block of its Big Chunk Super Project (BCSP) in southeastern Alaska.

GEOTECH LTD. Airborne Geophysical Surveys delivered the updated data comprising:

Comments James Briscoe, Liberty Stars CEO and Chief Geologist, ZTEM technology has improved since 2009 when the processed survey was first presented to us. We applaud and appreciate Geotechs efforts to deliver to us an updated detailed view of our south block. We will use this information to draw detailed plans for drilling at the Big Chunk as soon as possible.

James A. Briscoe James A. Briscoe, Professional Geologist, AZ CA CEO/Chief Geologist Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.

Read Your Invitation and RSVP to Briscoes Whirlwind Trip, July 5-18 http://www.libertystaruranium.com/ja-briscoe-whirlwind-trip/

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Liberty Star Receives Updated ZTEM, South Block Big Chunk, Alaska

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NRA goes ahead, makes Joe Coors’ day

Posted: at 2:13 am

UPDATE: Congressman Ed Perlmutters campaign weighs in.

The National Rifle Association has endorsed congressional candidate Joe Coors, saying the Golden Republican is committed to protecting our Second Amendment freedoms and hunting heritage.

The endorsement is from the NRAs political victory fund, which does not automatically endorse the Republican in the race, said spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. In Colorado in 2010, the group endorsed two Democratic incumbents, Reps. John Salazar of Manassa, and Betsy Markey of Fort Collins, over their GOP challengers, Scott Tipton and Cory Gardner, respectively. Arulanandam said the incumbents had strong 2nd Amendment records.

The NRA doesnt share that opinion of Coors opponent, Democrat Ed Perlmutter, who is seeking his fourth term in the 7th Congressional District.

Joe Coors is a strong supporter of national concealed carry, the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act, and legislation to help open access to public lands to sportsmen, the NRA said in its release. In contrast, his opponent voted against the Sportsmens Heritage Act of 2012 and the National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act. In addition, Congressman Perlumutter supports the reauthorization of the Clinton Gun Ban and refused to sign both the Heller and McDonald amicus briefs.

Coors zinged Perlmutter at the news.

My opponent seems to think that taking guns away from the good guys will keep the bad guys from getting them, Coors said. I know the difference and I will act accordingly as your congressman from the 7th District. Unlike my opponent, I trust Colorados gun owners and will work in Congress to ensure that they enjoy the freedom the Second Amendment guarantees, not less.

Perlmutters campaign said he has a strong record of supporting the 2nd Amendment, back to his days in the state Senate.

What we share is support for the 2nd Amendment and law abiding citizens and sportsmens rights to lawfully buy firearms, the campaign said in a statement.

What Joe Coors and the NRA apparently dont share, is Eds belief that cop-killer assault weapons should be restricted and there should be background checks so people with mental illnesses cant buy guns, which is what could have prevented some of the terrible gun-related school and church killings in our state and country and why law enforcement endorses Ed.

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NRA goes ahead, makes Joe Coors’ day

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Internet cartoonist's charity fundraiser turns into free speech debate

Posted: at 2:13 am

The Oatmeal

This cheeky response to a legal threat began a successful charity fundraiser, but it also led to convoluted drama.

By Rosa Golijan

Most of the time, I avoid calling legal fights "bizarre" or "unbelievable," but both terms seem applicable towhat is going on between cartoonist Matthew "The Oatmeal" Inman and attorney Charles Carreon.

In less than a month,a lawsuit threat was turned into a highly successful charity fundraiser which then became a legal drama so twisted that a crowd-sourcing website, two charities, one hundred individuals listed as "John Doe," and even the California state attorney general found themselves involved.

But why does all this matter to you?

Because freedom of speech is on the line as it often is whenever someone's Internet activity leads to a legal mess.

Wait! How'd we get to this point?Even though many people don't recognize his name, 29-year-oldMatthew "The Oatmeal" Inman is a popular cartoonist. You've probably seen plenty of his work such as "10 Words You Need To Stop Misspelling,""What It's Like To Own An Apple Product," or "Cat vs Internet" in yourFacebookfeed, on Twitter, or on your favorite blog at some point. It's almost impossible to avoid Inman online.

As we explained when we intially begain covering the Carreon vs. Inman drama, the popularity of Inman's work often prompts websites to repost it without asking or crediting him. More often than not, these websites will even profit from this practice.

About a year ago, Inman got fed up with a website called FunnyJunk which had become particularly prone tore-hosting and monetizing his work. Hewrote a blog postdeclaring that FunnyJunk had "practically stolen [his] entire website."The website's owner respondedby claiming that Inman was threatening to sue him and removing any content which referenced "The Oatmeal."

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Internet cartoonist's charity fundraiser turns into free speech debate

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