Indigenous People's Literature Blog

Native Americans As Slaves, Slave Owners In North

2012-02-01T07:28:00.001-08:00

Reuters: "Spam" linked to diabetes risk in Native Americans

In a new study, American Indians who frequently ate processed meat that comes in a can - a common food on reservations and one subsidized by the U.S. government - had a two-fold increased risk of developing diabetes compared to those who ate little or none of the products generically known as "spam."

NPR: Native Americans As Slaves, Slave Owners In North

MacArthur 'Genius' Tiya Miles does pioneering research on the relationship between Cherokee Indians and African-Americans. She speaks with host Michel Martin about shedding light on the unexplored history of Native American and African-American slavery in Michigan.

Forbes: Obama Administration Aims to Clear Roadblocks Holding Up Tribal Renewables

America’s Indian Country has the potential to host a significant share of the renewable energy generated in the United States. But development of those resources is stymied by a lack of transmission, onerous tax disincentives, and a thicket of bureaucracy. A new rule proposed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), promises to clear the bureaucratic tangle.

Top 5 Web Design Mistakes Small Businesses Make

2012-02-01T04:51:00.001-08:00

http://mashable.com/2011/04/10/5-web-design-mistakes/

Your Own Business Website
- Getting Virginia businesses online. Free websites from Google.
www.VirginiaGetOnline.com

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

If you’re a small business owner, your website is the central hub of your company, and it’s a pivotal part of your marketing and branding.

Potential customers visit your site specifically for its content, meaning its appearance and usability are critical to its success and how those users view your company. However, getting your web design wrong can have a negative impact on your business.

Here are 5 common web design mistakes you must avoid to create a great user experience and grow your bottom line.

1. Poor Navigation

Many small businesses fail to make navigation a priority, but without careful attention to how people navigate your site, you could unintentionally be creating a frustrating experience for any potential visitor. People visit your site for specific information, and if they cannot find it they will quickly go elsewhere, leaving with the impression that your business is disorganized in more than just its website.

A good navigation structure should be seamless and will keep visitors on your site longer, which means potentially more readers, subscribers, sales or leads — whichever is your primary objective.

Website navigation affects both usability and accessibility, so it’s important to make it a primary concern. Most websites and blogs use common navigational techniques that are expected by the average visitor. The pages and sections of the site should be easy and logical for visitors to maneuver. Don’t make your visitors think about how to navigate your site; it should be effortless and natural.

There are several principles you can follow to create an effective navigation structure:

Use icons to aid navigation. They’re both visually appealing and easy to use and understand.
Create logical groups of related links, with the most important links on the top-level navigation bar and functional (dashboard, account, settings, etc.) and legal (copyright, privacy, terms) located elsewhere.
Provide location information so users know where they are on any given page and how to proceed to another area of the website. This can be achieved by using Breadcrumb navigation.

2. No Clear Calls To Action

The fundamental error of many small business websites is the lack of a clear call to action. We’ve all seen bland small-business brochure websites with nothing but endless descriptive paragraphs. If you aren’t leading users to commit to an action (buy a product, contact you or subscribe, for example), then you are losing them.

Driving traffic to your website is important, but that traffic is useless if your primary call to action is a plain “click here” link buried in a sea of text. Call-to-action buttons are a great way to grab the user’s attention, and these buttons can be the key to higher conversions. Investing time and consideration into creating successful calls to action can help guide users and address their needs while achieving your own business goals.

It’s important to keep the following best practices in mind when creating an optimal call to action:

The design of a call to action can be broken down into 4 simple elements — size, shape, color, and position. Each plays a vital part in determining how effective the call to action is in directing the user.
Don’t make your users work or think, or they’ll leave. It’s not that they aren’t smart, it’s that they want access to information quickly without spending unnecessary time searching for it.
Don’t overdo it with multiple, competing calls to action on every page. Decide what your primary target is and then define a clear objective per page. Your content should have answered, “What’s in it for me?” and your call to action should now answer, “What do I do now?”

3. Color & Contrast

Color and contrast aren’t usually high up on the list of priorities for a small business owner when it comes to creating a website. But it should be, because if your website text does not have sufficient contrast compared to its background, people will have difficulty reading your content, especially people with poor vision or color-blindness.

Aside from plain readability, color and contrast are important because they can be used to create visual interest and direct the attention of the user. It can equally be effective in organizing and defining the flow and hierarchy of a page, and it’s therefore an essential principle to pay attention to during the design process. Here are some tips:

Using a free a Color Contrast tool (which conforms to accepted standards) you can easily check to see how the contrast on your website measures up.
Research how major sites use color and contrast to improve readability and highlight specific sections, and use this knowledge to experiment with color schemes.
One of best ways to enhance contrast is by creating size differences between elements, making some things appear larger than others. This works especially well within a minimal color scheme, and it means you don’t have to necessarily rely on color.

4. Content, Content, Content

People visit your website for its content, and how that is structured is a huge factor in its success or failure. Unfortunately, an overwhelming number of small businesses get so caught up in overloading the user with information that they overlook how that information is presented.

Most people do not read unless it’s absolutely necessary, and they prefer to scan through information quickly to get to the points of interest. This is why it’s so important to establish a strong visual content hierarchy so users can quickly scan your site and sifting through relevant information. A logical content hierarchy also acts as a guide through each page and creates a more enjoyable user experience.

So when focusing on your content, it’s best to keep in mind these three tips:

White space is possibly the most important factor to consider. It will allow the user to focus on the meaningful content within each section.
Break up lengthy pieces of information into digestible blocks of text, utilizing headings, sub-headings, bullets, blockquotes and paragraphs.
Readable content is important, so use a good line height that is large enough to make content scannable. Margins and letter spacing also need to be taken into consideration.

The 10 Most Blatant Design Ripoffs in Social Media

2012-02-01T04:42:00.001-08:00

http://mashable.com/2012/01/31/10-blatant-social-media-design-ripoffs/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter#view_as_one_page-gallery_box4095

Pinspire vs. Pinterest
It doesn't get more blatant than this. Pinspire is pretty much a pixel-for-pixel Pinterest clone, created by the serial digital ripoff artists at Rocket Internet. It's a bit obscene just how much of a copycat Pinspire is -- from concept to functionality to the cursive-style logo. Will it be as lucrative for the Rocket's Sawmer Brothers as their other projects, an eBay clone they sold to the real auction site for $50 million or the European deals site that Groupon gobbled up? Or will someone finally serve them with a cease-and-desist letter? If that happens, someone please pin it.
Heello vs. Twitter
Founded by the guy who created Twitpic, Heello doesn't just look like Twitter. It works exactly the same, just renaming tweets as pings, retweets as echoes and followers as listeners. The only things missing are, of course, the user base and popularity. That's left Heello, after a short period where it was an amusing haven for joke accounts (imagine Mark Zuckerberg as a profane megalomaniac), largely empty.
Funded By Me vs. Kickstarter
"Crowdfunding has been used for centuries," says the About page for Funded By Me, almost coming across as an excuse to blunt any accusations of copyingKickstarter. It's actually a rather benign clone, basically taking the crowdfunding idea and giving it a base in Scandinavia. Site design is very similar, however, with both adopting a call to action that's more prominent than the brand, followed by a Pinterest-y river of featured projects.
Yammer vs. Facebook
Yammer is a networking tool for business. Rather than re-invent the wheel on group communication, Yammer chose to emulate Facebook's user interface and functionality. And when we say "emulate" we mean "copy wholesale," right down to the blue-and-white color scheme, pulldown menus and sidebar list of apps. If you have both services open, you are guaranteed to be confused about which one you're on at some point -- probably right when you're about to share those photos of your pub crawl last night.
SCVNGR vs. Foursquare
Location services have been around for a long time, and Foursquare is far from the first. It's arguably the most successful, though, and with that success brings imitators. Case in point: SCVNGR, whose name may be a little too on the nose, and cribs not just Foursquare's concept of socially powered check-ins, but also the game mechanics of badges as well. Facebook might also want to have a word about the main menu, since it looks very similar to the one in Facebook's old iOS app.
DianDian vs. Tumblr
Can we forgive a service in China for wanting to create an instablogging service that functions just like Tumblr? Of course. Is it then OK to rip off the execution so completely that the sign-up process, layout and tiled explore wall. We'll leave that up to you, but there's no question DianDian, aka the Chinese Tumblr, is one of the more top-to-bottom copycats we've seen.
Hacker News vs. Reddit
Take one look at Reddit and you'll wonder why anyone would ever want to rip off its design, but there's Hacker News, inviting the question. Reddit, like Craigslist, is almost laughably minimalistic, and it wears its stripped-down design with pride. The approach is popular with a certain nerdy demographic, and it's clearly the same group targeted by Hacker News, complete with its own voting system.
PicPlz vs. Instagram
Sorry, PicPlz, we're not buying it. You may have changed Instagram's "Popular" to "Interesting" and taken the number of columns down to three from four, but it's the same damn thing. Just like "My Network" is exactly like "Feed" and "News" is "Activity." PicPlz may do a couple of tricks that Instagram doesn't, like preserving the original image, but the whole presentation makes it come across as a second-rate copy.
Blinklist vs. Delicious
During its Yahoo years, you wouldn't have thought Delicious would have been worth ripping off, but being the original web-based bookmarks app counts for something (as does the clever name). Delicious has since revamped itself, so Blinklist serves as a ripoff of what it used to be, and kind of an ugly one at that. And you have to question the relevance of a "social bookmarking" service that none of my friends are on and where one of the Popular topics is just "insurance." As ripoffs go, this one's a fail.
DZone vs. Digg
Sorry Dzone, but flipping which side your margin is on (as well as the thumbnail photos on posts) doesn't make your site design any less of a Digg ripoff. Maybe selecting a different color for your vote boxes or ditching the white background would do the trick. The "Digg for developers" concept is kind of promising, but right now there's not much reason to visit DZone instead of the developers section of Digg.
In the world of social media, discovering that worthwhile original idea for your app or website is by far the hardest thing to get right. It’s so hard, in fact — and the field so potentially lucrative — that many parties who jump into the field tend not to bother. Why should you create something original when there are so many successful sites and services that you can just rip off?
At least that appears to be the thinking behind many Internet companies whose concepts, web design or apps appear to owe a lot to other, more successful forebears. Once you start looking, it’s not hard to find digital ripoffs. At best, they’re quirky homages inspired by a successful digital brand. At worst, they’re ersatz imitators looking to cash in on someone else’s idea — just a step or two above malware.
Perhaps that’s a little harsh. After all, the humor writer Josh Billings once said, “About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good judgment.” If you substitute “web designer” for “writer,” he may have been talking about the state of digital design today. After all, it would be impossible to find a design that isn’t at least a little derivative.
SEE ALSO: Top 5 Web Design Mistakes Small Businesses Make
Still, there’s a difference between borrowing some core design ideas and wholesale imitating. In social media, where the essential premise of connecting and sharing with your friends provides a basic architecture, perhaps the line between the two is blurrier than in other fields. After all, Facebook was called a MySpace clone, which was called a Friendster clone before that. But they are (and were) nothing like each other.
While building on existing concepts will always be part of design, so too will mimics, where the cloning is so pervasive and total that the site is nothing more than a copy of the original, merely slipped into a different skin. Here are the 10 most flagrant design ripoffs in social media today, at least to Mashable‘s eye.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 - 164 years of occupation !

2012-02-01T04:33:00.001-08:00

Nuestro Pueblo tiene una historia de lucha y resistencia sin fin

encontrá la violencia y la opresión nacional, segregación racista,

explotación de clase, deportaciones masivas y desigualdad, NOSOTROS

creemos que tenemos que RECONOCER la linea fronteriza entre EU-Mexico

y el Tratado De Guadalupe Hidalgo de 1848 COMO ILEGAL! (Es una

frontera impuesta por fuerza militar, guerra, invasión y opresión) Y

Feb 2, 1848-2012 164 years of occupation! Because in the 1836 to 1900', we as a Mexican@ Indigenous people were displaced by force off our lands in South Texas and what is now the Southwestern United States, and by the 1900's we were working what were our lands but now under Gringo ownership. The invaders and occupiers became the owners and we became 'cheap' wage-labor, Because the clauses guaranteeing the land ownership of Mexican and Indigenous people north of the borderline established by the War of the United States against Mexico 1845-48 and under the protection by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo but that were VIOLATED repeatedly and with impunity, Because our people suffered a campaign of terror and death at the guns of white racist vigilantes, lynchings by White mobs, the mass savage killings by the Texas Rangers, and genocide under the Slave Republic of Texas and under United States occupation and military control that turned the northwestern part of Mexico, into the now Southwest of the United States, Because we have been treated and have experienced genocide in indigenous peoples and lands, national oppression as a people, exploitation as a working class, racism and racial segregation, mass deportations as migrant workers and youth experience incarceration not education, And because, our people have a story of unending struggle and resistance against the violence, national oppression, racist segregation, class exploitation, mass deportations, and inequality We believe that we must recognize the US-Mexico border line and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo of 1848, as ILLEGAL! (It is a border imposed by military force, war, invasion and oppression) and denounce them every year on this date, We must rescue and revive our peoples struggles and stories; A regeneration of our culture, universal human rights, indigenous roots, and languages, and connection to the land that is not U.S. Centric, We must decolonize our lands, our minds, spirits and our people for we are for all practical and political purposes treated as an internal colony within the entrails of the monster. We reject the assimilationist models of hegemonic power, capitalism and imperialism, colonialism and white supremacy and hold high our goal for liberation, not just reform; but true democracy, and universal equality for all! Another United States is Possible and Necessary for another world to be possible and happen! "Traducción: El Tratado de Guadalupe Hidalgo del 2 de febrero del 1848-al 2012 son 164 anos de occupacion!. Porque desde 1836 y 1900, Nosotros como pueblo Mexicano Indígena, nos desplazaron por fuerza de nuestras tierras en el sur de Tejas lo que es el suroeste de los EU y ya para los 1900s estábamos trabajando esas tierras pero ahora abajo de los nuevos dueños gringos. Los invasores y ocupadores se volvieron los dueños y nosotros nos convertimos trabajadores "mano barata." Porque las clausas garantizando títulos de la tierra para los dueños de sus tierras para nosotros los Mexicanos e otros pueblos indígenas norte de la LINIA FRONTERIZA establecida por la Guerra de los EU y Mexico del 1845 z 1848 y abajo la protección del Tratado de Guadalupe Hidalgo pero que FUERON VIOLADOS repetidamente y con impunidad.

Porque Nuestra gente sufrio de una campana de terror y muerte de las armas de los vigilantes racistas blancos, ahorcadoras por hordas blancas, las masacres salvajes de los Rinches tejanos, y genocidio abajo el ESTADO Esclavista de Texas y bajo la ocupación de los EEUU y su control militar que cambio el Noroeste de Mexico a lo que ahora es conocido el Suroeste de los EU. Porque hemos sido tratados y experimentado genocidio en tierras y pueblo indígenas, opresión nacional como pueblo, explotación como clase trabajadora, racismo y segregación racial, deportaciones masivas como trabajadores migrantes y hemos experimentado encarcelación de juventud y no educación, Y Porque

Tenemos Descolonizar nuestras tierras, nuestras mentes, nuestro

Denunciarlos cada ano en esta fecha. Necesitamos Rescatar y Revivir

las luchas de nuestros pueblos y sus luchas; Una Regeneración de

nuestra cultura, derechos humanos universales, raices indígenas y

Lenguas, Y nuestra conectivo a la tierra que no sea USA-Centrica.

espíritu y nuestra gente porque al fin de cuentas practicables y políticas somos tratados como una colonia interna en las tripas de la bestia. Rechazamos modelos de asimilación de poderes hegemonías, capitalismo e imperialismo, colonización, y la supremacia blanca y Guardamos alto nuestras metas para la liberación, no solo reformas; pero verdaderamente una democracia y igualdad universal para todos! Otro EU es posible y Necesario para que Otro mundo sea posible y sucede!" Ruben Solis University Sin Fronteras grulla@swunion.org skype:rubensolisgarcia

Pitbull VS Kitten (Real Love Real Fights)

2012-02-01T04:24:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=czhpQe-56qg

WATCH THE SEQUEL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAsHRinMg6UIntroducing the dog Spike - my majestic American Pitbull Terrier - and Visa, my 2 months old cat. While trying to depict their relentless Looney Tunes style relationship of caring and hugging while fighting and mocking about (countless plates and cups were broken during filming) the best choice of soundtrack was Guns n' Roses - Live And Let Die

http://amzn.to/xfEWIQAnd remember Pitbulls are not dangerous.

People with video cameras are.

U.S. Drones Stir Outrage In Iraq; Fleet May Grow

2012-02-01T03:00:00.001-08:00

U.S. Drones Stir Outrage In Iraq; Fleet May Grow --Program by State Dept. Is Seen as an Affront to Sovereignty 30 Jan 2012 The State Department is operating a small fleet of surveillance drones in Iraq to help protect the United States Embassy and consulates, as well as American personnel mercenaries. Some senior Iraqi officials expressed outrage at the program, saying the unarmed aircraft are an affront to Iraqi sovereignty. The program was described by the department's diplomatic security branch in a little-noticed section of its most recent annual report and outlined in broad terms in a two-page online prospectus for companies that might bid on a contract to manage the program. It foreshadows a possible expansion of unmanned drone operations into the diplomatic arm of the American government; until now they have been mainly the province of the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency. [Just shoot them down - problem solved.]

Breaking: Mitt Romney projected winner in GOP Florida primary: NBC News --50 delegates at stake 31 Jan 2012 Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is projected to win the Republican primary in Florida, in a 'winner-take-all' primary state, NBC News projects. Newt Gingrich is projected to finish in second place. [This story will be updated.]

FDA secretly surveilled e-mail of scientists and doctors, intercepted communications with congressional staff 29 Jan 2012 The Food and Drug Administration secretly monitored the personal e-mail of a group of its own scientists and doctors after they warned Congress that the agency was approving medical devices that they believed posed unacceptable risks to patients, government documents show. The surveillance - detailed in e-mails and memos unearthed by six of the scientists and doctors, who filed a lawsuit against the FDA in U.S. District Court in Washington last week - took place over two years as the plaintiffs accessed their personal Gmail accounts from government computers. Copies of the e-mails show that, starting in January 2009, the FDA intercepted communications with congressional staffers and draft versions of whistleblower complaints complete with editing notes in the margins. The agency also took electronic snapshots of the computer desktops of the FDA employees and reviewed documents they saved on the hard drives of their government computers.

USociopaths trolling to spend billions on Blackwater and other corpora-terrorists: Pentagon Prepares for New Military Talks With Iraq 30 Jan 2012 The Obama administration is preparing to begin talks with Iraq on defining a long-term defense relationship that may include expanded U.S. training 'help,' according to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's chief policy aide. Michele Flournoy said in an interview with a small group of reporters that the administration is open to Iraqi suggestions about the scope and depth of defense ties. "One of the things we're looking forward to doing is sitting down with the Iraqis in the coming month or two to start thinking about how they want to work with" the U.S. military to develop a program of exercises, training and other forms of security cooperation, Flournoy said.

Car bomb kills three Iraqi soldiers north of Baghdad 31 Jan 2012 Three Iraqi soldiers have been killed in a bomb blast north of Baghdad, an Iraqi official said today. The attack came hours before the nation's parliament is to reconvene after Sunni-backed politicians ended their boycott in protest at persecution of Sunni officials. Major Ghalib al-Karkhi, a police spokesman in Diyala province, said a parked car bomb was detonated near a military patrol in Baqouba late yesterday, killing three soldiers and injuring three others.

Huge Israeli Drone That Can Reach Iran Crashes [What a shame!] 30 Jan 2012 The Israeli military says a drone that can fly as far as Iran has crashed in central Israel on a routine experimental flight. The military says there were no injuries in Sunday's crash, and it was investigating the incident. The Heron TP drone is also known locally as the Eitan. It is the largest unmanned aircraft in Israel's military arsenal.

Karzai 'to hold peace talks with Taliban in Saudi Arabia' 30 Jan 2012 The Afghan government will hold talks with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia, opening up an alternative avenue to peace negotiations between the insurgent group and the United States, according to reports. The Taliban, which was ousted from power after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks [inside job] on the United States, has previously refused to talk to the Afghan President Hamid Karzai, branding him as an American stooge. The Saudi-brokered meetings are due to take place in coming weeks ahead of talks in Qatar, where the Taliban is opening an office for the purpose of holding discussions with the Americans aimed at ending the decade-long war, the BBC reported.

Thousand police officers deployed on streets of Indianapolis as massive Super Bowl security operation swings into gear --Special teams sweeping Lucas Oil Stadium 30 Jan 2012 A massive security operation involving 1,000 police officers has been launched in Indianapolis as the city's first Super Bowl rolls into town this week. Super Bowl fever has already hit the city and 150,000 NFL fans are expected to descend on downtown Indianapolis in one of the most high-security events in the U.S. The city has invested millions of dollars to keep spectators safe, including most bizarrely the installation of 150 new manhole covers after a series of underground explosions. Officers at the event have been equipped with smartphones and other electronic hand-held devices to allow them to feed photos and videos to a new state-of-the-art operations centre on the city's east side.

Police Violence Targets Occupy Oakland Demonstration --NLGSF Demands Action From the Monitor On Police Misconduct 30 Jan 2012 The National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (NLGSF) condemns Oakland Police (OPD) and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) violence, mass arrests and abuses against Occupy demonstrators at Saturday's demonstration. Police violently attacked activists with chemical weapons, so called Less-Lethal munitions, and physical assaults. Hundreds were arrested unlawfully, without opportunity to disperse, and then detained for many hours on the street and then in buses, in stress positions, and without bathrooms, food or water. Once in jail, protesters faced inhumanely crowded conditions, abusive treatment and were denied access to legal counsel. The NLGSF received many reports of assaults on protesters... Police reportedly threw others through a glass door, and down a flight of steps. A videographer was pushed to the ground and clubbed.

Park Police tase Occupy D.C. protester Sunday 29 Jan 2012 An Occupy D.C. protester was tased Sunday afternoon at McPherson Square, as Park Police were handing out fliers about the upcoming Monday deadline on overnight camping. Park Police Sergeant David Schlosser tells WTOP the man got angry about the fliers and confronted officers about the ban. Schlosser says officers used a taser on the man when he wouldn't comply with police orders. Police arrested him and took him to the hospital, after he informed them about a previous medical condition.

Park service to crack down on Occupy DC camps --Demonstrators vow to continue vigil at two sites in DC 30 Jan 2012 The National Park Service plans to crack down Monday on what it calls "sleeping activity" at two longstanding camps established by Occupy DC demonstrators in the nation's capital. The service notified protesters on Friday that they "may be subject to arrest and their property subject to seizure as evidence" if there are evident "camping violations" by around noon Monday. The demonstrators say they will defend their sites.

WikiLeaks to move servers offshore, sources say 31 Jan 2012 Julian Assange's investors are in the process of purchasing a boat to move WikiLeaks' servers offshore in an attempt to evade prosecution from U.S. law enforcement, FoxNews.com has learned. Multiple sources within the hacker community with knowledge of day-to-day WikiLeaks activities say Assange's financial backers have been working behind the scenes on the logistics of moving the servers to international waters. WikiLeaks' servers are now based in Sweden and Iceland, among other locations.

WikiLeaks's Assange Sued on Eve of U.K. Extradition Appeal 31 Jan 2012 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who will ask the U.K. Supreme Court tomorrow to block his extradition to Sweden in a rape case, was sued by the British law firm he hired after his 2010 arrest. Finers Stephens Innocent LLP, which specializes in commercial litigation, sued the 40-year-old Australian yesterday in London over legal fees, according to court records. Assange replaced the firm last year after a U.K. judge rejected his defense and upheld the Swedish arrest warrant.

Illinois nuclear reactor shuts down, vents radioactive steam --Officials say the steam contains low levels of tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen. --Nuclear Regulatory Commission declared 'unusual event' 30 Jan 2012 Officials at a northern Illinois nuclear power plant believe a failed piece of equipment at a switchyard caused it to shut down. Exelon Nuclear officials say the switchyard is similar to a large substation that delivers power from the plant to the electrical grid. Unit 2 at Byron Generating Station shut down around 10:18 a.m. Monday after losing power. Operators began releasing [radioactive] steam to reduce pressure, though not from within the nuclear reactor.

Illinois nuclear plant shut down over power issue 30 Jan 2012 A nuclear reactor at a northern Illinois plant shut down Monday after losing power, and [radioactive] steam was being vented to reduce pressure, according to officials from Exelon Nuclear and federal regulators. Unit 2 at Byron Generating Station, about 95 miles northwest of Chicago, shut down at 10:18 a.m., after losing power, Exelon officials said. Diesel generators began supplying power to the plant, and operators began releasing steam to cool the reactor from the part of the plant where turbines are producing electricity, not from within the nuclear reactor itself, officials said.

Japan finds water leaks at stricken nuclear plant 29 Jan 2012 Japan's stricken nuclear power plant has leaked more than 600 liters of water, forcing it to briefly suspend cooling operations at a spent-fuel pond at the weekend. The operator of the Fukushima complex, the Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), reported two main leakages on its Web site on Sunday, one from a pump near the plant's office building and another from a back-up cooling system at reactor No.4. Water had also leaked at other facilities within the complex, the Nikkei newspaper said Monday.

Fukushima pets in no-go zone face harsh winter 31 Jan 2012 Dogs and cats that were abandoned in the Fukushima exclusion zone after last year's nuclear crisis have had to survive high radiation and a lack of food, and they are now struggling with the region's freezing winter weather. The government let animal welfare groups enter the evacuation zone temporarily in December to rescue surviving pets before the severe winter weather set in, but Yasunori Hoso said there were still many more dogs and cats left in the area. Hoso runs a shelter for about 350 dogs and cats rescued from the 20-km evacuation zone around the crippled nuclear plant.

Occupy Exxon Mobil: Exxon Mobil's quarterly profit hits $9.4 billion 31 Jan 2012 Exxon Mobil Corp. said Thursday its fourth-quarter profit rose 2% to $9.4 billion, or $1.97 a share, from $9.25 billion, or $1.85 a share, in the year-ago period. The oil major earned $41.1 billion in 2011, up 35%, reflecting higher crude oil prices. In the fourth quarter, capital spending remained about flat at $10 billion. [Exxon Mobil - and other oil corpora-terrorists - gets huge tax subsidies - thanks to Obusha and his GOP overlords. And, after USociopaths/Israel attacks Iran, Exxon Mobil will make a greater killing on the killing.]

Taxpayers still owed $132.9B from bailout: report 26 Jan 2012 A government watchdog says U.S. taxpayers are still owed $132.9 billion that companies haven't repaid from the financial bailout, and some of that will never be recovered. The bailout launched at the height of the financial crisis in September 2008 will continue to exist for years, says a report issued Thursday by Christy Romero, the acting special inspector general for the $700 billion bailout. Some bailout programs, such as the effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure by reducing mortgage payments, will last as late as 2017, costing the government an additional $51 billion or so.

Eurozone unemployment at new record high 31 Jan 2012 Unemployment in the 17-nation eurozone ended 2011 at 10.4 per cent, a new record high for the single currency since its launch at the start of 1999, official figures showed today. Eurostat, the EU's statistics office, said the rate in December was unchanged, as November's was revised upwards from a previous estimate of 10.3%. Unemployment has been steadily rising over the past year - in December 2010, it stood at 9.5% - largely because of Europe's debt crisis.

Free the Captive Dolphins in Turkey --Target: Republic of Turkey Prime Minister and the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock --Sponsored by: Freedom for Dolphins and Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project 31 Jan 2012 Dolphin captivity is cruel, no matter where it is in the world. Unfortunately, there are 10 dolphinariums in Turkey, with dolphins being held in rusty, cramped and unnatural pens. Sadly, many bear the physical and emotional scars of their appalling conditions... The Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry, together with the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, have the authority to shut down these operations and to prevent further captures and imports of dolphins into the country. Please sign and share this petition!

Some Interesting Books !

2012-02-01T02:52:00.001-08:00

Ahmed Rashid. Descent into Chaos: The U.S. and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
http://www.amazon.com/Descent-into-Chaos-Disaster-Afghanistan/dp/014311557X/r...

Peter Maass (for some reason, this author's name rings bells for me, but I can't remember why). Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil.
http://www.amazon.com/Crude-World-Violent-Twilight-Vintage/dp/1400075459/ref=...
Aaron L. Friedburg. A Contest for Supremacy: China, America, and the Struggle for Mastery in Asia.
http://www.amazon.com/Contest-Supremacy-America-Struggle-Mastery/dp/039306828...
Last night I saw a very interesting interview by Charlie Rose on PBS. He talked to David Barboza, the Shanghai correspondent for the New York Times, and it was a fascinating glimpse into post-Mao, post-Communist China. You can catch the interview at http://www.charlierose.com/ I'm not sure that Chinese capitalism is an improvement over the People's Revolution.
You will have to watch the program and decide for yourself.
Andrew Feinstein. The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade.
ISBN 978-0-374-20838-7
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&fiel...
Steve Crenshaw & John Jackson. Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity and Ingenuity Can Change the World.
http://www.amazon.com/Small-Acts-Resistance-Tenacity-Ingenuity/dp/1402768079/...
Alan Axelrod. A Savage Empire: Trappers, Traders, Tribes and the Wars that Made America.
ISBN 978-0-312-57656-1
   The jacket blurb says, "The story of the role of the beaver trade in the founding of America."
http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Empire-Trappers-Traders-America/dp/0312576560/re...

Copying Mozart !

2012-01-31T16:49:00.001-08:00

Live From Lincoln Center: Copying Mozart

Obama holds fundraiser with American Indians

2012-01-31T16:36:00.001-08:00

AP: Obama holds fundraiser with American Indians

President Barack Obama, raising money for his campaign among tribal leaders, said Friday he wants American Indians to be "full partners" in the economy. Obama met with 70 to 75 supporters from Native American tribes. Democratic officials said the fundraiser would benefit the Obama Victory Fund, a joint committee of the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

AP: Officials look for payoff in Native Mob sweep

Members of the Native Mob gang have shot rivals in Minneapolis, sold drugs in Duluth, and thrown boiling water in a person's face in Crow Wing County. Authorities say they've also assaulted an informant on the White Earth Indian Reservation and shot up houses from Cass Lake to Mille Lacs. This week's federal indictment of 24 suspected Native Mob members will disrupt the activity of one of Minnesota's most violent gangs and could bring some communities a reprieve from violence, authorities said. But it likely won't dismantle the organization -- which is highly structured, active in prison, and wields power from the Twin Cities to reservations throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

ICT: BIA’s Impact on Indian Education Is an Education in Bad Education

The forerunner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was created by the U.S. federal government in 1824 to handle all matters relating to American Indians.
From its inception, the ultimate goal of what ultimately became the BIA was not to protect Indians, but to assimilate them into white society. One major tool of that assimilation was education.

Rosebud students combat stereotypes

They’re powerful words routinely used to stereotype people living on American Indian reservations: poor, violent, alcoholic and obese. Students at one high school on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Rosebud Sioux tribe, have one response: We’re more than that. Behind the attention-grabbing headlines and pictures of reservation life, there’s a rich culture and sense of pride that often goes unnoticed, students from Todd County High School in Mission said.

BBC: Guatemala ex-leader Rios Montt to face genocide charge

Ex-Guatemalan military leader Efrain Rios Montt is to be tried for genocide and crimes against humanity. Gen Rios Montt, 85, was in power from 1982-1983, when some of the country's worst civil war atrocities occurred. Whole villages of indigenous Mayans were massacred as part of government efforts to defeat left-wing rebels. Gen Rios Montt, who has denied ordering massacres, refused to comment in court. But a judge ruled he had a case to answer, placing him under house arrest.

AP: Sitka artist using bulletproof material for work

Local artist Teri Rofkar is going boldly into the future with new artwork that features modern materials and a political edge.Rofkar was one of two dozen artists or art groups in the U.S. to receive the grant, and the first Alaskan chosen in the history of the program. The grant is worth about $90,000 over two years in funding and other assistance.

Green energy boom blows trouble into Mexico

The Isthmus of Tehuantapec, Mexico's narrowest point, is a powerful wind tunnel of air currents whipping through the mountains that separate the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The wind is "sacred" in this village, says indigenous Huave fisherman Donaciano Victoria. This isolated region of the state of Oaxaca is one of the world's most continuously windy spots. And because wind is a valuable commodity in a world seeking alternative energy, a "wind rush" – reminiscent of the gold and oil rushes of other eras – has swept into the isthmus.

Okla. tribes seek federal ruling in water lawsuit

Two Oklahoma-based American Indian tribes filed court documents Thursday saying the state’s plan to ask a state court to determine the tribes’ water rights won’t resolve their federal lawsuit. The Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations filed a federal lawsuit in August to stop the Oklahoma Water Resources Board from selling its water storage rights to Sardis Lake in southeastern Oklahoma to the Oklahoma City Water Utility Trust without first reaching an agreement with the tribe.

Polar Bears Starving

2012-01-31T16:07:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,
Polar bears' survival depends on us slowing global warming--which is melting the ice they depend on to hunt for food. But, right now polluters are attacking the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to reduce the carbon dioxide that is threatening the livelihood of this beloved species.
In the last week, over 9,000 people like you took action to protect polar bears, but we can't stop there.
Polar bears need you to speak up for their future--please take action today!
-Sue

Polar Bears Starving

Protect their Ice from Corporate Polluters

Fight for starving polar bears today»

Support our efforts»

Alert your friends»

Dear Friends,
We are running out of time to make a difference for the future of polar bears in the Hudson Bay--who are starving as rising global temperatures fueled by carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants melts their icy habitat.
Yesterday, President Obama described a "new energy future" in his State of the Union Address. Polar bears are depending on us to ensure that it is a clean energy future.
Polar bears are starving--take action to protect them today.
There is still hope for polar bears, but only if we greatly cut the carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants--starting now.
With coal-fired power plants being the largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S., by reducing the pollution they emit, we can make a substantial impact in the fight for polar bears.
But, even as polar bears go hungry from the impacts of climate change, greedy corporate polluters are fighting to keep dumping unlimited carbon pollution into our air
Don't let corporate pollution starve polar bears to extinction--send this message today.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is acting now to limit carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants, but the EPA is coming under attack and needs to hear your support for stopping the unlimited pollution that threatens the future of polar bears.
Polar bears do have hope of surviving into the next century if we act now to reduce one of the greatest emitters of the carbon pollution that is melting their ice.
Help create a better future for polar bears--send a message to the EPA today.
Thanks for all you do for wildlife!
Sincerely,
Sue Brown
Executive Director, NWF Action Fund
info@nwa.org
Twitter: @wildlifeaction
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NAKED, BLOODY IMPERIALISM - WE CAME, WE SAW, HE DIED

2012-01-31T16:03:00.001-08:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/20/us-libya-gaddafi-finalhours-idUSTRE...
Gaddafi's death - who pulled the trigger?
Related News
Gaddafi killed in hometown, Libya eyes future
Thu, Oct 20 2011
Timeline: Libya's civil war nears end
Thu, Oct 20 2011
Libya forces relaunch Sirte assault after setback
Wed, Oct 19 2011
WRAPUP 5-Clinton brings unity message on visit to new Libya
Tue, Oct 18 2011
Gaddafi diehards in Sirte hold up Libyan troops
Sun, Oct 16 2011Analysis & Opinion
Gaddafi death could add momentum to Arab Spring

Related Video
The hunt for Gaddafi in 60 seconds
Thu, Oct 20 2011
A look back at the Gaddafi era
By Tim Gaynor and Taha Zargoun
(Reuters) - Disturbing images of a blood-stained and shaken Muammar Gaddafi being dragged around by angry fighters quickly circulated around the world after the Libyan dictator's dramatic death near his home town of Sirte.
The exact circumstances of his demise are still unclear with conflicting accounts of his death. But the footage of the last chaotic moments of Gaddafi's life offered some clues into what happened.
Gaddafi was still alive when he was captured near Sirte. In the video, filmed by a bystander in the crowd and later aired on television, Gaddafi is shown dazed and wounded being dragged off a vehicle's bonnet and pulled to the ground by his hair.
"Keep him alive, keep him alive!" someone shouts. Gaddafi then goes out of view and gunshots ring out.
"They captured him alive and while he was being taken away, they beat him and then they killed him," one senior source in the NTC told Reuters. "He might have been resisting."
In what appeared to contradict the events depicted in the video, Libya's ruling National Transitional Council said Gaddafi was killed when a gunfight broke out after his capture between his supporters and government fighters. He died from a bullet wound to the head, the prime minister said.
The NTC said no order had been given to kill him.
Gaddafi called the rebels who rose up against his 42 years of one-man rule "rats," but in the end it appeared that it was he who was captured cowering in a drainage pipe full of rubbish and filth.
"He called us rats, but look where we found him," said Ahmed Al Sahati, a 27-year-old government fighter, standing next to two stinking drainage pipes under a six-lane highway near Sirte.
On the ground, government fighters described scenes of carnage as they told stories of Gaddafi's final hours.
Shortly before dawn prayers, Gaddafi, surrounded by a few dozen loyal bodyguards and accompanied by the head of his now non-existent army Abu Bakr Younis Jabr, broke out of the two-month siege of Sirte and made a break for the west.
They did not get far.
France said its aircraft struck military vehicles belonging to Gaddafi forces near Sirte at about 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT), but said it was unsure whether the strikes had killed Gaddafi. A NATO official said the convoy was hit either by a French plane or a U.S. Predator drone.
Two miles west of Sirte, 15 pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns lay burned out, smashed and smoldering next to an electricity substation 20 meters from the main road.
They had clearly been hit by a force far beyond anything the motley army the former rebels has assembled during eight months of revolt to overthrow the once feared leader.
There was no bomb crater, indicating the strike may have been carried out by a jet fighter.
Inside the trucks still in their seats sat the charred skeletal remains of drivers and passengers killed instantly by the strike. Other bodies lay mutilated and contorted strewn across the grass. Some 50 bodies in all.
Mansour Daou, leader of Gaddafi's personal bodyguards, was with the former strongman shortly before his end. He told al Arabiya television that after the air strike the survivors had "split into groups and each group went its own way."
"I was with Gaddafi and Abu Bakr Younis Jabr and about four volunteer soldiers." Daou said he had not witnessed his leader's death because he had fallen unconscious after being wounded in the back by a shell explosion.
"MY MASTER IS HERE"
Fighters on the ground said Gaddafi and a handful of his men appeared to have run through a stand of trees and taken refuge in the two drainage pipes.
"At first we fired at them with anti-aircraft guns, but it was no use," said Salem Bakeer, while being feted by his comrades near the road. "Then we went in on foot.
"One of Gaddafi's men came out waving his rifle in the air and shouting surrender, but as soon as he saw my face he started shooting at me," he told Reuters.
"Then I think Gaddafi must have told them to stop. 'My master is here, my master is here', he said, 'Muammar Gaddafi is here and he is wounded'," said Bakeer.
"We went in and brought Gaddafi out. He was saying 'what's wrong? What's wrong? What's going on?'. Then we took him and put him in the car," Bakeer said.
At the time of his capture, Gaddafi was already wounded with gunshots to his leg and to his back, Bakeer said.
Other government fighters who said they took part in Gaddafi's capture, separately confirmed Bakeer's version of events, though one said the man who ruled Libya for 42 years was shot and wounded at the last minute by one of his own men.
"One of Muammar Gaddafi's guards shot him in the chest," said Omran Jouma Shawan.
There were also other versions of events. NTC official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters Gaddafi had been finally cornered in a compound in Sirte after hours of fighting, and wounded in a gun battle with NTC forces.
He said Gaddafi kept repeating "What is the matter? What's going on? What do you want?" and resisted as NTC fighters seized him. He added that Gaddafi died of his wounds as he was being transported in an ambulance.
"He was bleeding from his stomach. It took a long time to transport him. He bled to death (in the ambulance)," he said.
Another NTC official, speaking to Reuters anonymously, gave a violent account of Gaddafi's death: "They (NTC fighters) beat him very harshly and then they killed him. This is a war."
Some video footage showed what appeared to be Gaddafi's lifeless body being loaded into an ambulance in Sirte.
One of the fighters who said he took part in the capture brandished a heavily engraved golden pistol he said he had taken from Gaddafi.
Fallen electricity cables partially covered the entrance to the pipes and the bodies of three men, apparently Gaddafi bodyguards lay at the entrance to one end, one in shorts probably due to a bandaged wound on his leg.
Four more bodies lay at the other end of the pipes. All black men, one had his brains blown out, another man had been decapitated, his dreadlocked head lying beside his torso.
Army chief Jabr was also captured alive, Bakeer said. NTC officials later announced he was dead.
Joyous government fighters fired their weapons in the air, shouted "Allahu Akbar" and posed for pictures. Others wrote graffiti on the concrete parapets of the highway. One said simply: "Gaddafi was captured here."
(Additional reporting by Rania El Gamal in Sirte and Samia Nakhoul in Amman; Writing by Jon Hemming; Editing by Maria Golovnina and Matthew Jones)

THE FLAGRANT HYPOCRISY OF THE LIBYA INTERVENTION
http://www.thenation.com/article/159454/libya-intervention
GADAFI AND MANDELA - BROTHER LEADERS
http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=627606
LIBYANS BACK GADAFFI IN TRIPOLI'S GREEN SQUARE
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/17/libyans-back-muammar-the-colonel
HERE WE GO AGAIN - THE LIBYAN INTERVENTION

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v33/n07/rory-stewart/here-we-go-again
FIVE MYTHS OF THE LIBYAN INTERVENTION

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-09-

30-five-myths-of-libyan-intervention/
LIBYA INTERVENTION DRIVEN BY OIL INTEREST
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/libya-conflict.96b/

LIBYAN OIL WAR - IS IT THAT SIMPLE?

http://www.salon.com/2011/03/21/the_libyan_oil_war_connection/

See the full gallery on Posterous

This is the job I've always wanted to do ! - "the culture of music"

2012-01-31T12:26:00.001-08:00

http://www.careersinmusic.com/ethnomusicologist.aspx
http://www.careersinmusic.com/music-jobs.aspx
The Ethnomusicologist is one who researches music, musicians, instruments, and music producing processes. He or she looks deeply into
different cultures and their music-making practices and capabilities. For example, they might travel to China to get to know a family of musicians who perfected a certain instrument or created a specific type of music. The Ethnomusicologist engrosses themselves into the culture, doing the best they can to get a feel for beliefs and customs, and the role of music.
Even though there is a great deal of travel in this position, these individuals also conduct research traditionally within libraries and museums. Overall, the position is one of low-stress, and incredibly enjoyable for anyone who enjoys their work. With that said, to be successful, one should have a passion for travel and should enjoy communicating with the world's many cultures. They need to be accustomed to spending a lot of time away from home, as they could be spending months and maybe even years with certain cultures.

Resulting benefits of such travel and research include becoming a part of new cultures, and then teaching students or museum goers about the culture of music. One of the most enjoyable aspects for many is the opportunity to see the world from many different angles.

Salaries
Salaries depend on a number of factors including experience, educational background, and the particular position with which they are employed. All things considered, they can earn between $30,000 and $91,000. Usually those who work in museums are paid the most, relatively.

Employment
Ethnomusicologists can find work in a number of different settings like universities, libraries, and museums, along within the Recording Industry Association of America. There is currently a growing interest in the field, which may make it easier to obtain an entry-level position.

Advancement
It's common for many Ethnomusicologists to move into traditional teaching roles after they've had some time and experience in the field. One can advance their career by taking on more advanced, in-depth experiences with cultures in areas not previously researched.

Education and Training
To get started in this position, one should have a bachelor's degree. But, to earn more and obtain more advanced positions, a graduate degree should be obtained. Study areas include sociology, anthropology, psychology or other cultural study areas.

Experience, Skills, and Personality
Because of the fact that most of their time is spent in the field, Ethnomusicologists must have superior research skills, while remaining objective and analytical. They need to know how to take detailed notes, and they should be good at deductive reasoning. Also, they should be good writers, with the ability to translate their notes into detailed reports once research has taken place.

Unions and Associations
Ethnomusicologists may belong to the Society for Ethnomusicology, which is dedicated to the study of all forms of music from the perspectives of social science.
=========
This is what I have been for 50 years:

Music Copyist

A music copyist produces the various parts or individual music lines for instruments from a music score, in preparation for a performance or recording session. This work is done by using computer music notation applications. The two roles of the computer-based copyist – the production of parts and of scores – are invariably combined, as it is fairly straightforward to extract parts from the score in music notation applications. The music copyist needs to have a strong understanding of music notation as developed by music publishers over the last century.

There is also an editing component to this job whereby mistakes are detected if they are missed by composers when writing the score. As freelancers, music copyists need to have good skills in small business management, professional networking and self-promotion. Copyists learn a lot about arranging and composition in the course of their work, so these career opportunities are also available to them.
This would be something I do (even includes one of my other passions regarding Native Americans):

About the job
http://us.music-jobs.com/current/music-copyist-job-24337718
Hi, I am looking for a copyist to take the transcription for an 8 movement concerto called Tribal Music Suite (TMS).
Here's what I'm looking for: someone to take the transcription for the strings from the recording one track at a time and put all parts into score format as well as individual parts. All in Adobe, computer generated plus a disc containing the written work from the software program ie Finale, etc (for future editing and changes). Woodwinds & horns have written parts but need to be edited as per the recording.
Here is what I'll send you. A CD-ROM disc of all the parts rendered in 16bit 44.1K wav files, all in sync with a click, can be imported into an your music software program and transcribed or copied accordingly. Plus the written/arranged parts for the wood winds and brass that need to be edited; plus the written viola part that was not on the original recording but needs to be in the score.
Here is a list of the parts for the 1st movement:
Solo violin
1st violins sometimes same as solo violin
2nd violins
violas (part is written out by hand but not on recording)
cellos (this part has been finished)
dbl basses (arco + pizz)
trombones (3)
tympani
snare drum
triangle
gong
cymble swells
chimes
pow wow drum and singers (listed in score but not to be transcribed)
wind effect (listed in score but not to be transcribed)
string pads (synth)
penny whistle
flutes (2) (already arranged/transcribed but needs editing from recording)
Clarinet (1) (already arranged/transcribed but needs editing from recording)
I will overnight a package of the 1st movement to you (no emails or mp3s) plus 1/2 of the estimated fee in check form. You can email me back the Adobe version of the parts and when complete I will send you the balance for the 1st movement and if all has worked well then it's on to the next movement. A completed score and individual parts?
Please let me know if you can help. If you think the project is too big for you or expensive for me don't write me back as that is a clear indication of lack of interest.
Unfortunately it has been taken!!
==========
Recently I have been this:
http://www.careersinmusic.com/recording-artist-website-content-producer.aspx
RECORDING ARTIST WEBSITE CONTENT PRODUCER
$25,000 to $75,000+
Website Content Manager, Website Content Editor
Writes and maintains content on website, retains a following through various methods, gathers fan base.
Other Music Jobs
Recording Artist Website Content Producer
Personal Assistant to Recording Artist
Celebrity Bodyguard
Ethnomusicologist
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Email Address *
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Select all the fields you're interseted in below. You'll be notified about the career fields you choose when information is available.

★ All Music Related Jobs* ★
*If you select this, leave the rest blank. You'll get them automatically.

Music Performing & Writing
The Music Business
Recording & The Record Industry
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Facility, Arena and Club
Music Industry Merchandising
Music Industry PR & Advertising
Radio & Television
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Symphony, Orchestra, and Opera
Instrument Work & Development
Other Music Jobs
About This Music Career
In order to keep fans informed and interested in artists and their websites, most artists, their management companies, or labels retain Website Content Producers, who are responsible for creating and maintaining site content. To begin the process, these individuals are expected to develop and carry out a strategic online content plan. These plans must be fresh and innovative in order to keep fans returning to the site. This is important because websites give artists a presence on the web, allowing fans to find general information, along with timely news, concert dates, and new album offerings. These sites also give artists a simple way to sell or promote their albums and other merchandise including t-shirts and more.

As mentioned, Website Content Producers are responsible for maintaining the content of the site, ensuring content is informative, user friendly, and exciting. To accomplish this, individuals need to research and write engaging stories and articles on a variety of subjects. Content might be about the artist, the music industry in general, or other subjects.

Aside from an exciting homepage that contains breaking news and timely information, other pages on the site might include biographies, artist profiles, feature stories, interviews, tour news, discographies, lyrics of songs, forums, photos, videos and more. Also, the Website Content Producer may develop blogs, webcasts, chats, podcasts and more in order to keep the site relevant and exciting. These outlets help to get fans involved and connected to the act. The Website Content Producer must also find ways to develop mailing lists of fans by utilizing “contact us” forms, surveys, sweepstakes, or fan clubs. These lists are used to get news out quickly, and to inform fans about concert dates and new album availability.

Some sites are extremely large and developed, sometimes requiring more than one Content Producer. In such a situation, one may be a Senior or Executive Website Content Producer who oversees the entire site and the other may develop and monitor blogs and so on.

In addition, Website Content Producers are responsible for overseeing staff copywriters, photographers, and graphic artists. The Content Producer might also need to find a freelancer to produce stories, and is responsible for getting all stories, editing them when necessary, and giving them to the webmaster to put online.

鄭秀文 Sammi Cheng 愛

2012-01-31T11:40:00.001-08:00

Zheng_Xiu_Wen__Sammi_Cheng_Ai_.pdf Download this file

Listen:

MuseScore
@musescore
Free & open source music notation software for Windows, Mac & Linux
http://musescore.org
https://twitter.com/#!/musescore

Wild WAter Dragon (see attachment for written music)

2012-01-31T11:29:00.001-08:00

Listen here:

Ye_Sheng_Shui_Long___WILD_SEA_DRAGON.pdf Download this file

Beginner Question: Why Does MuseScore Keep Adding In Rests?

2012-01-31T11:06:00.000-08:00

MuseScore (free music notation software)

2012-01-31T11:03:00.001-08:00

MuseScore
@musescore
Free & open source music notation software for Windows, Mac & Linux
http://musescore.org
https://twitter.com/#!/musescore

Drain the Mediterranean

2012-01-31T10:24:00.001-08:00

Space Newt

Dear Friends:

A few days ago, when I heard about Newt Gingrich’s plan/idea/hallucination to make the Moon the 51^st State, I wondered what else he has in mind for the country we all love. (I mean America. And, for liberal Democrats, North Korea. Or at least that’s what Newt would say.)

Newt conducted a whirlwind campaign tour around my State of Florida this week. (Better late than never. No, actually, better never.) At the Space Coast, Newt explained what he wants NASA to do. I started to think through what other great plans/ideas/hallucinations that Newt might have in mind for the rest of us. A sort of a Contract With The Universe. Based on Newt’s lunar lunacy, here is what I think that we may see from Newt Gingrich, 45^th President of the United States:

(1) Gingrich will direct the Army Corps of Engineers to drain the Mediterranean Sea. Gingrich will then lay claim to all of the land underneath it. And then he will put the screws to Crete. (Warning to Newt: this may hurt you with your key Tea Party constituent group, the Cretins.)

(2) Gingrich will create jobs in the construction industry by getting bids on a project to make the Washington Monument three times as large, and kind of smoother.   Then he will rename it the “Washington Monument to Newt’s Greatness.”

(3) In order to qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Gingrich will make infants change their own diapers. You know, to show them the value of work.

(4) Gingrich will order the Pentagon’s DARPA weapons lab to erect a giant 10-gigawatt humidifier, and a giant 10-gigawatt dehumidifier. Turn them loose on each other. Let’s settle this, once and for all. (By the way, Steven Wright thought of this first.)

(5) Gingrich will command the Department of Energy to dig a hole deep down into the Earth’s crust, and fill it with soufflé. Think of how proud we will all feel, watch the world’s first geothermal soufflé rise. And rise. And rise.

(6) Gingrich will have the U.S. Postal Service deliver the mail by drone airplane. Just bomb the mailboxes. First with the mail, and then . . . .

(7) Gingrich will instruct NOAA to conduct a valid scientific test to see whether prayer can change the direction of hurricanes as they approach the shore. A double-blind test, so the hurricane doesn’t know.

(8) Gingrich will mandate that the National Institutes of Health develop a neurological examination to determine whether Newt Gingrich really is more intelligent than every other human being combined.

(9) Gingrich will compel all the tree-hugging liberals who work at the National Endowment for the Arts to translate the internet into Klingon. Including the porn. No, especially the porn.

(10) Gingrich will proclaim a Constitutional Amendment mandating that Newt Gingrich (a/k/a the “Great Leader”) be President of the Earth-Moon Alliance for life, and twenty years beyond that.   Just work out the details.

You think I’m kidding. Well, don’t cling to that conclusion. Here are some actual things that Newt really said, and I’m not making any of them up:

“I have enormous personal ambition. I want to shift the entire planet. And I’m doing it. I am now a famous person. I represent real power.”

“Gingrich - Primary mission, Advocate of civilization, Definer of civilization, Teacher of the rules of civilization, Leader of the civilizing forces.”

Gingrich on Gingrich: “The most serious, systematic revolutionary of modern times.”

Newt Gingrich decides who lives and dies. When a reporter asked Gingrich what to do about the homeless a few days after the police shot a homeless man in front of the White House, Gingrich said: “Give the park police more ammo.”

And Newt Gingrich determines what is true and false. As he said a few weeks ago: “Any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood.”

Why is such an obvious megalomaniac considered to be a serious candidate for President? I don’t know. You would have to ask the Tea Party that question.

As for me, I have rather more modest ambitions than Newt does. I would like to try to help the 24 million Americans who can’t find full-time work. The 50 million Americans who can’t see a doctor when they are sick. The 47 million Americans who need government assistance to feed themselves. And the 40 million Americans who live in homes where the mortgage is more than the value of the home.

Let’s keep our eye on the ball, please.

Are you with me?

Courage,

Alan Grayson

'Every Day on this side of the flower bed ... Is A Good Day'

2012-01-31T10:19:00.001-08:00

Sisters Mary Catherine, Maria Theresa, Katherine Marie, Rose Frances & Mary Kathleen left the Convent on a trip to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and were sight-seeing on a Tuesday in July. It was hot and humid in town and their traditional garb was making them so uncomfortable, they decided to stop in at Patty McGuire's Pub for a cold soft drink.
Patty had recently added special legs to his barstools, which were the talk of the fashionable eastside neighborhood. All 5 Nuns sat up at the bar and were enjoying their Cokes when Monsignor Riley and Father McGinty entered the bar through the front door.
They, too, came for a cold drink when they were shocked and almost fainted at what they saw ...

This is too cute not to forward ...

GIVE US A SENSE OF HUMOR, LORD,
GIVE US THE GRACE TO SEE A JOKE,
TO GET SOME HUMOR OUT OF LIFE,
AND PASS IT ON TO OTHER FOLK
'Every Day on this side of the flower bed ... Is A Good Day'

World's Oldest Twins !

2012-01-31T07:11:00.001-08:00

Chinese 104-year-old twins, Cao Daqiao (senior, right) and Cao Xiaoqiao talk at home in Weifang, east China's Shandong province on November 29, 2009. According to the Shanghai Guinness World Records, these twin sisters, who were born in 1905, are the oldest living twins in the world as they are also listed on the Guiness World of Records for the oldest twins.

Thousand hands dance !

2012-01-31T07:00:00.001-08:00

http://www.expressnightout.com/printedition/PDF/EXPRESS_01062012.pdf

Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival 2012

2012-01-31T06:54:00.001-08:00

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/01/harbin_international_ice_and_s.html?...
The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival has been held since 1963, interrupted for a number of years during the Cultural Revolution until it was resumed in 1985. Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang province, in northeastern China. It is nicknamed "Ice City" and aptly so for winter January temperatures that average minus 18 degrees Celsius, under the influence of the cold winter wind from Siberia. The festival officially starts January 5th and lasts one month, although exhibits often stay open longer, weather permitting. Harbin is one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival and Norway's Ski Festival.

Tourists visit ice sculptures during the testing period of the 13th Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival officially launched January 5, 2012. (Sheng Li/Reuters)

2
A newly married husband and wife celebrate after a group wedding ceremony as part of the 28th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. The wedding was organized by the city government, and 18 couples from Nigeria, Russia and China participated in the ceremony, local media reported. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

3
A group of girls pose in front of a castle made from blocks of ice before the opening ceremony of the Harbin International Ice and Snow festival. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

4
A swimmer jumps into the water during a winter swimming event on the ice-covered Songhua river in Harbin in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province. (Associated Press) #

5
A performer rests on a set decoration during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of 13th Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

6
Sunset near a castle made from blocks of ice in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

7
Ice sculptures displayed at the annual Ice and Snow festival in Harbin. Fairy tale palaces, towering pagodas, and even an Egyptian Sphynx -- all carved from ice -- are among the sights at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images) #

8
An employee pours boiling water into a pot at a restaurant built with ice cubes at the 28th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

9
The Harbin Ice and Snow festival, an annual event, now in its 26th year, draws crowds from across China and even a few visitors from overseas, drawn to the unique visions of an international roster of sculptors who illuminate their creations with multicolored electric lights encased in the translucent ice. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images) #

10
Ice block sculptures of fairy tale palaces, towering pagodas, and an Egyptian Sphynx draw crowds from across China and even a few visitors from overseas. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images) #

11
Spectators watch fireworks explode over ice sculptures during the official opening. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

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Fireworks explode while Chinese dancers perform on a snow hill during the opening ceremony. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

13
A woman takes pictures of the colorful ice block buildings. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

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Visitors tour a building structure made from blocks of ice and lit with colorful lights. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

15
Visitors enjoy the sights at the Harbin International Ice and Snow festival. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

16
A climber demonstrates his skill on a building made of blocks of ice during the opening ceremony. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

17
Visitors watch fireworks shoot above the ice block buildings during the opening ceremony of the festival. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

18
Tourists visit ice sculptures. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

19
The colorful lights of the ice block sculptures create a intriguing overall scene for tourists. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

20
Visitors lose themselves in the fantasy-like colorful buildings of the Harbin festival. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

21
Harbin in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province is known for its bitterly cold winters and is often called the "Ice City." (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

22
Even the staircases are made from ice blocks at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

23
A horse carriage carries tourists through the ice sculptures. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

24
A horse carriage carrying tourists adds to the fairy tale mystique of the Harbin festival. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

25
People visit the Harbin Ice-Lantern Show at Zhaolin Park. (ChinaFotoPress/ Getty Images) #

26
Customers have a meal at a restaurant built with ice blocks. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

27
Spectators watch fireworks explode over ice sculptures. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

28
Harbin, known as "Ice City" - a nickname well-earned - for winters that are dry and bitterly cold, with a 24-hours average in January of only minus18.4 degrees celcius. Workers install a tree with lights near buildings made from blocks of ice. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) #

春节 - Happy Lunar New Year 2012 新年快乐

2012-01-31T06:41:00.001-08:00

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/01/lunar_new_year_2012.html
The lunar new year is celebrated throughout the world, but especially in Asia when the lunisolar calendar ticks off a new cycle. This year is the Year of the Dragon on the Chinese zodiac, and is viewed as very auspicious. In China, the holiday is known as 春节, the Spring Festival, and kicks off 15 days of celebration. It also triggers the largest human migration in the world, as hundreds of millions of Chinese trek to see families. Gathered here are images of the preparation for the holiday, the travel scene in mainland China, and celebrations in many parts of the world. 新年快乐!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Use this: "screenr" to record a 5 minute video from your monitor screen !!

2012-01-31T06:02:00.001-08:00

http://www.screenr.com/stream
http://www.screenr.com/
Instant Screencasts: Just click record
Why Create Screencasts
Share your knowledge on Twitter and Facebook
Reveal tips, tricks and software shortcuts
Showcase the ins and outs of new products and apps
Build brand and expert reputation
Embed video tutorials on sites and blogs
Record a screencast now!
People Love Screenr
Using @Screenr to create and embed some kick butt training vignettes for a presentation. *LOVE* this website by @Articulate! #rocks—ROSS_SANDERS
@screenr is awesome. Looking for excuses to use it. http://screenr.com/—ABIGAILHS
@Screenr SUUUCCCHHHH a great app!!! love it—EPIC_HOLIDAY
Where has @screenr been all my life? Exactly what I was looking for.—KROGSGARD
I don't say it enough, I love @screenr - makes explaining things to clients so simple.—PETEBERNARDO
I love @Screenr - it makes quick recordings to demonstrate what I mean to clients SO MUCH EASIER!—THEWEBGRRL
.@screenr is the greatest thing ever. EVAR.—DARKHELMETLIVE

Turn Your Facebook Timeline Into a Movie ! "Timeline Movie Maker"

2012-01-31T05:56:00.001-08:00

http://mashable.com/2012/01/30/facebook-timeline-movie/?WT.mc_id=en_my_storie...

A browser tool launched Monday transforms content from your Facebook Timeline into a fast-paced movie.
In what will surely incite a roller coaster of flashbacks, Timeline Movie Maker from marketing agency Definition 6 lets you become a filmmaker with the click of a button. Definition 6 collaborated with Facebook.
After Movie Maker “parses nostalgia,” “captures your good side,” and “finds I-Remember-Whens” on your Timeline, the tool allows you to change the movie’s music and replace any image, video or check-in.
Watch my reel below for an example (without the sound). Click here to create your own one-minute cinematic experience. You’ll be able to share your movie only to Facebook friends — not to subscribers. A spokesperson told Mashable Definition 6 has no plans to make the videos embeddable.
I used Screenr to record my mini movie, although the music didn’t capture (trust me, the music is stellar and is a dynamic addition to the visuals). You’ll have these options for music when you create your movie.
“Timeline Movie Maker is evaluating highly engaged content in a chronological fashion, choreographing a user’s personal journey on Facebook, with content that has the most engagement and uses comment analysis to identify key life moments and where the user is tagged,” says Paul Hernacki, CTO at Definition 6. “The result is a powerful example of how the synergy between technology and marketing is crucial in driving complex projects like this to life, ultimately evoking an emotional connection from the end user.”
SEE ALSO: 28 Essential Facebook Timeline Resources | How to Get Old Facebook Back
Facebook announced Jan. 24 that old profiles would be swapped out for Facebook Timeline within a weeks.
What do you think of Facebook Movie Maker? Sound off in the comments.

Over 1,000,000 free ebook titles available (part of the "Internet Archive")

2012-01-30T16:45:00.001-08:00

http://openlibrary.org/
http://www.archive.org/about/faqs.php#Texts_and_Books
Books to Read

The World's classic literature at your fingertips.

55 Excellent Examples of Websites Using HTML5

2012-01-30T15:28:00.001-08:00

http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/55-excellent-examples-of-websites-usin...
HTML5 is the new and updated version of the web standard and famous HTML. HTML5 has tons of new features, techniques and elements that allow designers to create new and beautiful stuff. The new standard incorporates features like video playback and drag-and-drop that have been previously dependent on third-party browser plug-ins such as Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight. With HTML5 you can add some really nice effects to your website with ease… it’s for sure a nice way to go. So based on that, we decided to gather a list showing some excellent examples of sites that are already using HTML5… and we did find some really nice examples, check it out.
Colosseo Type
fishtank
TS3 Trefl
Information Highwayman
Jeroen Homan
Keyzo IT Solutions
M-M Studio
mollar
Spaghetti – Mude.
the energy cell
les intégristes
OusmaneNdiaye
UX London 2010
Samay Bhavsar
Benoit Letondor
Cibgraphics
Avon Renew
Ivana Vasilj
Klix
pmbennett.net
Cazinc
landscapists.info
Silvio Bompan
Deaf Pigeon
mike mai
kloudesign
MediaTinta
Design Heroes
Rider
Studio78
subcide.com
Sports et Loisirs
orengina.net
GreenHouse
Elliot Swan Designs
belleslettres.eu
D’Âme Bio
Isabelle Montminy
Le Cube
cystyleit
Daily Abduzeedo
Bounty Bev
chrisvalleskey.com
websache.de
Slim Kiwi
Joel Jenkins

How to Occupy Nonviolently !

2012-01-30T15:25:00.001-08:00

This! May Not Be! A Peaceful Protest!’: How to Occupy Nonviolently
By Nathan Schneider
http://www.nationofchange.org/may-not-be-peaceful-protest-how-occupy-nonviolently-1327939999
Occupy Oakland got rough on Saturday night, when an attempt to occupy a vacant convention center resulted in police using tear gas and other weapons, as well as, reportedly, protesters throwing rocks back at them. Some of the most widely-circulated photos depicted the burning of an American flag that had been removed from Oakland’s City Hall. On Sunday, other Occupy groups around the country took to the streets in solidarity marches. In New York, there were reports of potentially dangerous actions, including a bottle being thrown. Entrepreneurial live streamer Tim Pool, as The New York Observer anxiously reports, noted that there was
more of a black bloc presence than usual. OccupyWallSt.org called on marchers to
“Wear Black Fight Back,” for whatever reason. The night before, an OWS-er allegedly
used pepper spray on a police officer.

Those who had been at the afternoon’s Occupy Town Square beforehand might have seen this coming. Members of OWS’s Direct Action Working Group—which oversees the planning of most marches and other actions—gave an impromptu teach-in about the idea of “diversity of tactics,” which was in many respects insightful, but ultimately became an apologia for undertaking, or at least tolerating, what might be construed as violent actions. The villains of the presentation, perhaps even more so than police, were those within the movement who denounce or try to stop others who want to do such things. They were described as likely to be sexist and racist for trying to insist on nonviolent discipline.

The teach-in also revealed a misunderstanding. Several participants indicated that they thought Occupy Wall Street had a statement of nonviolence, and that there was an underlying presumption that all movement actions would operate under such an assumption. (Hence the often-heard chant, “This! Is! A peaceful protest!“) To an extent, this is true;
just about every major document passed by the General Assembly
includes some mention of nonviolence.
Many other Occupy groups have issued much more explicit statements of nonviolence. But New York’s Direct Action group has in its GA-passed guidelines a nod to respecting “a diversity of tactics”—which opens the floodgates. It means that, effectively, in an Occupy Wall Street action, you can’t assume that nonviolent discipline will be maintained by everyone
in the movement. And this teach-in was a reminder that nonviolent tactics are not favored
by some of those most influential in Direct Action.

A diversity of tactics can be a good thing.
A lot of the movement’s success stems from creating a framework that smaller, autonomous sub-groups can fill with their own creativity and instincts, as well as their sense of what tactics are appropriate. Gandhi would be the first to add that willingness to fight violently is preferable to mere passivity. And to the credit of their common sense, Occupy protesters have overwhelmingly left the violence to the police.

But the diversity of tactics framework might have other consequences as well. For a movement that still hasn’t managed to mount a demonstration in New York as well-attended as a single sold-out game at Yankee Stadium, the prospect of vigilantes doing dangerous things on behalf of a larger crowd could make even fewer people feel safe taking part. Such a framework can also mean that the media attention is unduly monopolized by a violent few, rather than the effect of a peaceful—even militantly peaceful—many.

When the afternoon teach-in was over, a small group of participants stuck around, many of whom seemed to be concerned about what they’d just heard. (The demographics among these stragglers would have deflected accusations of racism or sexism.) Some were coming to terms with the realization that Direct Action, as it stands, is not planning its marches and demonstrations with nonviolent discipline in mind. And they knew that truly nonviolent action and destructive tactics don’t easily mix.

Therefore, if people in the Occupy movement want to infuse their resistance with a fuller spirit of nonviolence, they will have to organize new kinds of direct actions themselves, whether within or alongside the Direct Action group, and ask outright that those who take part in these particular actions do so nonviolently. All the better if trainings can be provided in advance. Those who believe that nonviolent force is really more powerful and more revolutionary than hateful or destructive force should find ways to prove it. The burden, as it stands, is on them to carve out new space even within the diversity of tactics framework—as well as on their comrades respect these tactics in turn.

Rediscovering What Has Always Been There !

2012-01-30T12:37:00.001-08:00

http://www.indigenouspeople.net/under.htm

"When will we ever begin to understand the meaning of the soil underneath our feet?
From a tiny grain of sand to the largest mountain, everything is sacred.
Our living saints are the evergreen trees. We have no buildings or steeples.
The landscape and lakes are our churches and cathedrals. These are our sacred buildings.
Yesterday and tomorrow exist forever upon our mother, the earth."

"When the last red man shall have become a myth among the white men,
when your children's children think themselves alone in the field,
upon the highway or in the silence of pathless woods,
we and our ancestors will be there standing among them.
We have lived upon this land from days beyond history's records,
far past any living memory, deep into the time of legends."

"Not to be aware of the past is to be eternally a child,
but for those of us who forget the past will be condemned to repeat it.
We are more than the sum of all our knowledge,
we are the products of our imagination.
Mankind 'IS' the product of his ancestors."

"In the world of the powerful there is no space for anyone but
themselves and their servants. In our world everyone has a place.
Only those who give up their history are consigned to oblivion.
On the vacant ground of today, there will grow a flower of tomorrow."

"I prefer my journeys into the natural gardens
where the voice of the Great Spirit is heard in the twittering of birds,
the rippling of mighty brooks, and the sweet fragrance of flowers.
If this be Paganism, then I am honored to be called a Pagan."

"Anonymous" DDoS Web Attack (Please pass on to your IT Departments)

2012-01-30T12:01:00.001-08:00

National Cyber Alert System Technical Cyber Security Alert TA12-024A

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-024A.html

"Anonymous" DDoS Activity Original release date: January 24, 2012 Last revised: -- Source: US-CERT Overview US-CERT has received information from multiple sources about coordinated distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks with targets that included U.S. government agency and entertainment industry websites. The loosely affiliated collective "Anonymous" allegedly promoted the attacks in response to the shutdown of the file hosting site MegaUpload and in protest of proposed U.S. legislation concerning online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods (Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, and Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act, or PIPA). I. Description US-CERT has evidence of two types of DDoS attacks: One using HTTP GET requests and another using a simple UDP flood. The Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC) is a denial-of-service attack tool associated with previous Anonymous activity. US-CERT has reviewed at least two implementations of LOIC. One variant is written in JavaScript and is designed to be used from a web browser. An attacker can access this variant of LOIC on a website and select targets, specify an optional message, throttle attack traffic, and monitor attack progress. A binary variant of LOIC includes the ability to join a botnet to allow nodes to be controlled via IRC or RSS command channels (the "HiveMind" feature). The following is a sample of LOIC traffic recorded in a web server log: "GET /?id=1327014400570&msg=We%20Are%20Legion! HTTP/1.1" 200 99406 "hxxp://pastehtml.com/view/blafp1ly1.html" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:9.0.1) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/9.0.1" The following sites have been identified in HTTP referrer headers of suspected LOIC traffic. This list may not be complete. Please do not visit any of the links as they may still host functioning LOIC or other malicious code. "hxxp://3g.bamatea.com/loic.html" "hxxp://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/" "hxxp://chatimpacto.org/Loic/" "hxxp://cybercrime.hostzi.com/Ym90bmV0/loic/" "hxxp://event.seeho.co.kr/loic.html" "hxxp://pastehtml.com/view/bl3weewxq.html" "hxxp://pastehtml.com/view/bl7qhhp5c.html" "hxxp://pastehtml.com/view/blafp1ly1.html" "hxxp://pastehtml.com/view/blakyjwbi.html" "hxxp://pastehtml.com/view/blal5t64j.html" "hxxp://pastehtml.com/view/blaoyp0qs.html" "hxxp://www.lcnongjipeijian.com/loic.html" "hxxp://www.rotterproxy.info/browse.php/704521df/ccc21Oi8/ vY3liZXJ/jcmltZS5/ob3N0emk/uY29tL1l/tOTBibVY/wL2xvaWM/v/b5/ fnorefer" "hxxp://www.tandycollection.co.kr/loic.html" "hxxp://www.zgon.cn/loic.html" "hxxp://zgon.cn/loic.html" "hxxp://www.turbytoy.com.ar/admin/archivos/hive.html" The following are the A records for the referrer sites as of January, 20, 2012: 3g[.]bamatea[.]com A 218[.]5[.]113[.]218 cybercrime[.]hostzi[.]com A 31[.]170[.]161[.]36 event[.]seeho[.]co[.]kr A 210[.]207[.]87[.]195 chatimpacto[.]org A 66[.]96[.]160[.]151 anonymouse[.]org A 193[.]200[.]150[.]125 pastehtml[.]com A 88[.]90[.]29[.]58 lcnongjipeijian[.]com A 49[.]247[.]252[.]105 www[.]rotterproxy[.]info A 208[.]94[.]245[.]131 www[.]tandycollection[.]co[.]kr A 121[.]254[.]168[.]87 www[.]zgon[.]cn A 59[.]54[.]54[.]204 www[.]turbytoy[.]com[.]ar A 190[.]228[.]29[.]84 The HTTP requests contained an "id" value based on UNIX time and user-defined "msg" value, for example: GET /?id=1327014189930&msg=%C2%A1%C2%A1NO%20NOS%20GUSTA%20LA%20 Other "msg" examples: msg=%C2%A1%C2%A1NO%20NOS%20GUSTA%20LA%20 msg=:) msg=:D msg=Somos%20Legion!!! msg=Somos%20legi%C3%B3n! msg=Stop%20S.O.P.A%20:)%20%E2%99%AB%E2%99%AB HTTP/1.1" 200 99406 "http://pastehtml.com/view/bl7qhhp5c.html" msg=We%20Are%20Legion! msg=gh msg=open%20megaupload msg=que%20sepan%20los%20nacidos%20y%20los%20que%20van%20a%20nacer %20que%20nacimos%20para%20vencer%20y%20no%20para%20ser%20vencidos msg=stop%20SOPA!! msg=We%20are%20Anonymous.%20We%20are%20Legion.%20We%20do%20not%20 forgive.%20We%20do%20not%20forget.%20Expect%20us! The "msg" field can be arbitrarily set by the attacker. As of January 20, 20012, US-CERT has observed another attack that consists of UDP packets on ports 25 and 80. The packets contained a message followed by variable amounts of padding, for example: 66:6c:6f:6f:64:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00 | flood......... Target selection, timing, and other attack activity is often coordinated through social media sites or online forums. US-CERT is continuing research efforts and will provide additional data as it becomes available. II. Solution There are a number of mitigation strategies available for dealing with DDoS attacks, depending on the type of attack as well as the target network infrastructure. In general, the best practice defense for mitigating DDoS attacks involves advanced preparation. * Develop a checklist or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to follow in the event of a DDoS attack. One critical point in a checklist or SOP is to have contact information for your ISP and hosting providers. Identify who should be contacted during a DDoS, what processes should be followed, what information is needed, and what actions will be taken during the attack with each entity. * The ISP or hosting provider may provide DDoS mitigation services. Ensure your staff is aware of the provisions of your service level agreement (SLA). * Maintain contact information for firewall teams, IDS teams, network teams and ensure that it is current and readily available. * Identify critical services that must be maintained during an attack as well as their priority. Services should be prioritized beforehand to identify what resources can be turned off or blocked as needed to limit the effects of the attack. Also, ensure that critical systems have sufficient capacity to withstand a DDoS attack. * Have current network diagrams, IT infrastructure details, and asset inventories. This will assist in determining actions and priorities as the attack progresses. * Understand your current environment and have a baseline of daily network traffic volume, type, and performance. This will allow staff to better identify the type of attack, the point of attack, and the attack vector used. Also, identify any existing bottlenecks and remediation actions if required. * Harden the configuration settings of your network, operating systems, and applications by disabling services and applications not required for a system to perform its intended function. * Implement a bogon block list at the network boundary. * Employ service screening on edge routers wherever possible in order to decrease the load on stateful security devices such as firewalls. * Separate or compartmentalize critical services: * Separate public and private services * Separate intranet, extranet, and internet services * Create single purpose servers for each service such as HTTP, FTP, and DNS * Review the US-CERT Cyber Security Tip Understanding Denial-of-Service Attacks. III. References * Cyber Security Tip ST04-015 - <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST04-015.html> * Anonymous's response to the seizure of MegaUpload according to CNN - <http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/19/technology/megaupload_shutdown/index.htm> * The Internet Strikes Back #OpMegaupload - <http://anonops.blogspot.com/2012/01/internet-strikes-back-opmegaupload.html> * Twitter Post from the author of the JavaScript based LOIC code - <http://www.twitter.com/#!/mendes_rs> * Anonymous Operations tweets on Twitter - <http://twitter.com/#!/anonops> * @Megaupload Tweets on Twitter - <http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%2523Megaupload> * LOIC DDoS Analysis and Detection - <http://blog.spiderlabs.com/2011/01/loic-ddos-analysis-and-detection.html> * Impact of Operation Payback according to CNN - <http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/08/news/companies/mastercard_wiki/index.htm> * OperationPayback messages on YouTube - <> * The Bogon Reference - Team Cymru - <http://www.team-cymru.org/Services/Bogons/> ____________________________________________________________________ The most recent version of this document can be found at: <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-024A.html> ____________________________________________________________________ Feedback can be directed to US-CERT Technical Staff. Please send email to <cert@cert.org> with "TA12-024A Feedback INFO#919868" in the subject. ____________________________________________________________________ For instructions on subscribing to or unsubscribing from this mailing list, visit <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/signup.html>. ____________________________________________________________________ Produced 2012 by US-CERT, a government organization. Terms of use: <http://www.us-cert.gov/legal.html>

Dragon Year & Chinese Calligraphy - 龍年行大運 / 行書 / 草書

2012-01-30T09:53:00.001-08:00

About cursive & semi-cursive Chinese calligraphy

http://www.art-virtue.com/styles/tsao/index.htm
龍年行大運
Chinese people believe the dragon year will bring great fortune.
Semi-cursive Chinese calligraphy style 行書
http://www.art-virtue.com/styles/hsin/index.htm

Cursive style 草書
http://www.art-virtue.com/styles/tsao/index.htm
Small Chinese brush used -- made by the famous Li Fushou

What is your "Worldview"?

2012-01-30T06:37:00.001-08:00

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1bpprb/www.loneatheist.com/uploads/2/8/2/3/2823...

Chen Style Tai Chi - Chinese New Year 1/28/12

2012-01-29T14:54:00.001-08:00

Yuanji - Chinese New Year 1/28/12

2012-01-28T20:23:00.001-08:00

Dance #4
Dance #13
Dance #14

The Beauty of Iran

2012-01-28T08:13:00.001-08:00

BeautyofIran.pps Download this file