Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.

Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
— Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
— Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
— Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
— Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
— Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
— Never plagiarize.
— Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
— Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
— Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
— Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
— Rec... [ Read More (0.3k in body) ]

Society of Professional Journalists: Code of Ethics

here are few television personalities more insufferably pompous and obnoxious than NBC’s Chris Hansen, who despite having earned several awards in journalism, has now been reduced to impersonating a reporter for the newsmagazine, Dateline. Hansen is the point-man for Dateline’s continuing series “To Catch a Predator,” a sting operation on which the show collaborates with the watchdog group Perverted Justice and law enforcement in numerous jurisdictions across the United States. The hidden camera investigation ensnares pedophile suspects red-handed using a coordinated effort that begins with internet chats between a “decoy” posing as a minor and a suspect and ends with police arresting the suspect. It’s a laudable cause.

Therefore, it’s a shame that Hansen and NBC continuously use Dateline to exploit and sensationalize a newsworthy issue for the purpose of generating Nielsen ratings, while mocking the concept of integrity along the way. Each week Dateline exposes an alarming number of creepy (almost exclusively) men, from all demographics, engaging in inappropriate sexual conversations with a Perverted Justice decoy, who the suspects believe is an underage boy or girl. Suspects unknowingly wander into the trap, a house rigged with hidden cameras, police hiding out in the back yard, an adult actor hired by Dateline (who appears to be underage) and the always overzealous Chris Hansen, who is none too shy about injecting himself into the middle of the lurid story.

What transpires next is an exhaustingly perverse scenario. The actor typically invites suspects into the house for a drink, or something equally arbitrary, engages them in small talk and even sometimes asks the suspects to completely disrobe. Meanwhile, in gleeful voice-overs, Hansen apprises viewers of the suspects’ full names, professions, hometowns, marital status and the number of children they may have. Hansen wreaks destruction on the families of the assailants and does so shamelessly, with the tone and enthusiasm of a stand-up comedian, not a newsman.

To Catch a Journalist Impostor

DefCon security on Friday warned attendees at the annual hacker conference that Dateline NBC may have sent a mole with a hidden camera to the event to capture hackers admitting to crimes. DefCon says it was tipped off by their own mole at Dateline who sent them a pic of the undercover journalist who DefCon employees identified as producer Michelle Madigan.

Check the photos... it is her...

'To catch a journalist' @ DefCon NBC Style

The two newest Micro-Trak versions are available on the Byonics
website: http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/

These include the new 8 Watt single channel Micro-Trak, the Micro-Trak 8000, and the Micro-Trak 200 FA, the frequency agile/programmable unit. A European frequency version of the 8 Watt unit will be available in late August.

Allen
VHS

This is great. I am going to try the 8 watt single channel unit soon here and see how well it works in my area. (out in the sticks...)

What is APRS... click here

VHS Micro-Trak New Versions (APRS)

Craig Leipold announced today that he has signed a letter of intent to sell the Nashville Predators and Powers Management (the company that manages the Sommet Center) to a group of local investors, led by David Freeman, CEO of 36 Venture Capital, and including Herb Fritch, CEO of Healthsprings, as well as William "Boots" Del Biaggio, President and CEO of SandHill Capital.

The investors, a group which would have majority and controlling interest in the club, includes local executives in finance, health care and private business. The sale price for the franchise is $193 million. The sale must be approved by the NHL's Board of Governors. The anticipated closing date for the transaction is no later than September 30, 2007.

"I am thrilled that David Freeman and his local group have joined up with Boots Del Biaggio and come together to purchase the Predators," Leipold said. "My hope is that their commitment to Nashville will be reciprocated in the form of business and individual support on an ongoing basis to make this franchise successful for the long-term. This is a great day for Predators fans, players and staff!"

"Six weeks ago we set out to acquire the Predators so that we could make sure our team stayed in our town. The letter of intent is a big step toward making it happen. Nashville is now firmly in the driver's seat to keep this franchise," said Freeman. "We are confident of moving through this process successfully and starting the 2007-08 season with local ownership in majority control of the future of the franchise. We want to thank Craig for giving us this opportunity.

"We have recruited Boots Del Biaggio to our investor team because as a limited partner in the San Jose Sharks he has strong experience and is respected by the Board of Governors," added Freeman. "His proven success in this league is important to us."

"Having the opportunity to join this exceptional, dedicated and committed local partnership was an opportunity that I could not turn down," said Del Biaggio, who will assume a minority investment position. "There is no doubt in my mind that this transaction will bring proper leadership and investment to the Predators while building an organization that the NHL leadership will respect and our fans can be proud of and support."

Mr. Leipold does not plan to comment again on the franchise sale until the transaction is completed and is approved by the NHL's Board of Governors.

Hell freaking YEA!

Now who wants to go in on tickets? I cant go to every game but would like to go to a few?

Leipold Signs Letter of Intent to Sell to Nashville Group!

Disgust is an adaptation for survival but what is the point of it now, asks Paul Bloom

Good read...

To Urgh Is Human

mp'd mobile declared bankruptcy after nearly 1/2 of their customers did not pay their bills. Now Verizon, the company the leases Amp'd its network space, is petitioning the court to let them cut service to Amp'd's remaining customers.
From RCR Wireless News:

Verizon Wireless said that as of June 23, Amp'd Mobile had incurred $15.6 million in post-bankruptcy charges and is costing the carrier $370,000 a day, but still has not obtained debtor-in-possession financing that would assure the carrier that its bills will be paid. Verizon Wireless said it has received one payment of $2.5 million, which was supposed to placate the operator and allow Amp'd Mobile to have continued access to its network.

At the time of the bankruptcy filing, Amp'd had already run up $41 million in unpaid bills to Verizon, in addition to the aforementioned $15.6 million.The Pioneer Press reports that Amp'd has about $9,000 in cash. This means that you are likely richer than Amp'd mobile.

Amp'd marketed their services to low income/young/credit risk customers who were otherwise unable to get a nonpre-paid cellphone. It did not work. At all.

Time To Port Your Number: Amp'd Mobile Bankruptcy Costing Verizon $370,000 A Day

The ARRL 2007 National Convention, to be held in conjunction with the Huntsville Hamfest August 18-19 in Huntsville, Alabama, is getting closer by the second. Along with the many convention activities, an exciting forums schedule is being planned. This is your chance to learn about contesting, emergency communications such as D-STAR, public service, education and many technical issues.

Along with the presentations on the ARRL Stage in the ARRL EXPO area, the ARRL will also be presenting forums at the Hamfest. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will be moderating the ARRL Membership Forum. Come and learn more about the issues shaping Amateur Radio today. Meet ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, and other ARRL officials and staff. All are welcome!

ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, will lead the two-part ARRL Education Forum. Part 1 is an overview of the ARRL's new Education Services Department. Topics will include the new ARRL mission statement on education, new licensing materials, enrichment courses and an update on ARRL outreach activities through the Education & Technology Program and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). Part 2 consists of a discussion about ARRL educational and instructional resources and ideas. What do you need? More educational kits? A better Web site resource center? An on-line collaboration site for instructors? More on-line courses? Instructors, teachers, on-line course mentors and others are all encouraged to participate.

ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB will lead a virtual ARRL Headquarters tour. Amateur Radio entered a new era this year, and licensing changes have rekindled enthusiasm among many newcomers and inactive hams. Breen will lead you through a tour of ARRL's national Headquarters. Along the way, she will share stories of ARRL special event activities aimed at encouraging on-air activity among new and newly active hams, including real-time Web blogs and videos, Hello-Live! and the W1AW HF Open House.

ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, will talk about ARES and the Media - How to get attention for our best stories. Emergencies often gain the attention of newspapers and television media, and yet the good works of volunteers in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service are often overlooked. Our best stories are never heard by the public. This ARRL forum will discuss ways to help your public service activities capture the attention of the media.

ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, and ARRL Web/Software Development Manager Jon Bloom, KE3Z, will discuss DXCC and ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW). Do you enjoy the lure of DX (long-distance radio operating)? The pinnacle of DXing success is the ARRL DX Century Club, or DXCC award. Find out everything you've ever wanted to know about the DXCC program and ARRL's Web-based Logbook of the World (LoTW).

The Huntsville Hamfest's preliminary forums schedule is posted on the hamfests Web site.

ARRLWeb: The 2007 ARRL National Convention (Huntsville, AL)

Joost™ provides a new way of watching TV that combines the best of full-screen television entertainment with the interactive and community benefits of the Internet to bring broadcast-quality video to viewers anytime, anywhere. Based on a state-of-the-art, secure, peer-to-peer streaming technology, Joost can be accessed with a broadband Internet connection and offers video content to viewers for free. Joost features more than 150 channels with programming across all genres, including: cartoons and animation; entertainment and film; sports; comedy; lifestyle and documentaries; and sci-fi. Channels and programs available on Joost vary by geographic region, based on copyright ownership. To learn more about Joost, visit www.joost.com.

If anyone here wants to try Joost let me know...

I am trying to figure out how it is streaming all this...
I found some interesting things...

It's a good idea...

(FYI: This is for meme streams users... Do not ask if you are not a user of this site and don't sign up to 'just' get one... because you wont.)

Joost Invites...

Now another market-leading technology company is under fire in Washington as well. An unlikely combination of onetime antitrust defendants like Microsoft and AT&T and liberal consumer groups that have been their traditional antagonists are taking aim at Google.

Interviews by CNET News.com last week show that Microsoft and its occasional allies have met separately with key congressional committees that deal with consumer protection and antitrust issues--both of which announced last week that they will hold hearings on Google's plan to spend $3.1 billion to buy DoubleClick.

The Federal Trade Commission, which must review the merger on antitrust grounds, has also been meeting with Google, Microsoft and those nonprofit consumer groups, according to sources familiar with the meetings. The European Union, egged on by American consumer groups like the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the pro-regulation Center for Digital Democracy, is reviewing the merger too.

All this amounts to the first serious political threat to a company that has grown to a market capitalization of $162 billion by worrying more about serving customers than catering to the whims of bureaucrats and politicians. Longtime Washington observers believe that even if the DoubleClick acquisition is eventually permitted, federal scrutiny will only increase.

For its part, Google says it's confident that the threat to its business can be contained. "We're finding that the more we meet with policymakers, the more they are realizing that Google and DoubleClick are different types of companies, that we take significant steps to protect users' privacy, and that this acquisition will benefit both consumers and advertisers," said spokesman Adam Kovacevich.

In addition to its full-time staff lobbyists, also involved in Google's efforts to fend off antitrust bureaucrats are four newly hired lobbyists in the Washington office of the law firm Brownstein Hyatt & Farber (including Makan Delrahim, a former top Justice Department antitrust official). Google's earlier hires include the now-renamed PodestaMattoon, which draws its name from longtime Democratic dealmaker Tony Podesta, and King and Spalding, home to former Republican Sens. Connie Mack and Dan Coats.

A Google representative said there had not, however, been any personal visits to Washington in support of the DoubleClick deal by top executives like CEO Eric Schmidt and co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who famously showed up in blue jeans and sneakers when he arrived on Capitol Hill for meetings with politicians last summer.

Citing confidentiality concerns, an FTC representative declined to comment on anything beyond the fact that the investigation is continuing. AT&T, which has made public statements in opposition to the merger before, would not comment. Time Warner, which reportedly has voiced concerns about the deal, also would not comment.

Microsoft spok... [ Read More (0.2k in body) ]

On antitrust, is Google the next Microsoft?