I just received a letter from the EFF today. Looks like they are working on an end of year drive. They have been awfully great about fighting for our rights online this year. They are asking for donations or for purchases from their new online store.

It's not too late to get that special someone a special EFF gift!

Support the EFF - EFF Store

Microsoft's efforts so far to obstruct Xbox mod chips have been relatively trivial, and simple for the modders to circumvent. The most recent redesign, for example, was dealt with inside a week. But on his recent Australian adventure Microsoft president Steve Ballmer dispensed one of the clearest policy statements on Xbox so far - Microsoft intends Xbox to be a closed system and to stay that way, and will use both technical and legal avenues to protect it.

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...Ballmer said that Microsoft might have to reconsider selling Xbox in Australia, or seek changes in the law.

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It's been suggested to us several times recently that there is a growing need for a Free Hardware Foundation - this is beginning to have a certain logic, we think.

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Agreed. I am really tired of Steve Ballmer. Dude, you *LOST* the server market, get over it. You are going to lose your core OS business. Trying to stop unlicensed software didn't work for the NES and they *THRIVED* from it!!! Subsidized hardware sales was a technique mastered by Sony way before you had a clue...

Stick to applications, that's what you do best.

Ballmer baulks at Oz Xbox chippers charter

Ben Laurie's explanation of his part as an expert witness during the Yahoo! Nazi case in France. Short, but interesting.

The Yahoo! Nazi Case

I despise Microsoft. Between their fascist tactics and the Bush administration's I've been feeling more and more like the U.S.A. is becoming less the place that I thought it was. Does personal freedom mean nothing any more?

MS to eradicate GPL, hence Linux

A quite excellent article about practical political activism on the Internet. I have to say that coming from the infamous cDc I'm surprised at the quality and thought that is very practical methodologies for making a difference.

They are quite clearly trying to make the same kind of distinction that is made between the "Anarchists" at the Seattle WTO who were quite violent and those who thought carefully about how to provide passive resistance without engaging in a physical power struggle with the authorities.

Clearly the latter methodology is less likely to create ire and to make a real impact. Say no, but don't punch the other guy to prove your point.

Online Political Activism

The EFF's analysis of the PATRIOT act. This is from a while back, but a good read nevertheless. I'm not sure if it has been recommended before, but you should know what kind of mess your duly elected representatives have gotten you into. Probably one of the more startling pieces of evidence showing the "herd" mentality of various representatives directly following 9-11.

In a nutshell? More sweeping powers for law enforcement when it was not clear that they need them in order to prevent terrorist attacks.

EFF Analysis of USA PATRIOT Act (Oct. 31, 2001)

Another excellent argument about why the RIAA, MPAA, and others are definitely stunting the ability of people and artists to interact.

Sharing Doesn't Hurt

A noble cause and a noble site. Find out more about your rights online and how to combat the "Chilling Effects" of corporations and individual who are using some of the new laws (DMCA, etc.) to clamp down on your rights to free speech!

Chilling Effects Clearinghouse