A history of Alabama's State Flag

Selma to Montgomery March 2012

The Largest Gang In America

Today I am recommending you watch The Largest Street Gang In America produced by Boiling Frogs. This is one of the films featured on my DVD called Cop Out. It showcases several instances of severe police abuse and brutality. In the majority of the cases the people who had called the police or were in need of help found themselves victims of the system, wrongfully detained arrested or killed.Were these tragedies simply caused by accidental miscommunication or is there something more to it then that?

The Film that follows contains graphic footage depicting severe cases of police brutality. First and foremost we must recognize that the police are people just like you and me and we all have our problems. This is in no way an excuse to pardon such behavior but rather should be something to keep in mind to help us examine the the complex nature of the authority. These cases are not representative of all cops or interactions with them, sometimes you have a run in with a cop who is feeling forgiving that particular day, they flaunt their authority above you and then let you go. This happens more or less often depending on the demographic you are situated in, but as the old adage goes ""Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."  meaning that it is not the person filling the position but rather the position its self that is the problem. In the case of the police force this problem is exacerbated by a myriad of factors: The steady and gradual militarization of the police, lack of accountability, vested interest from the prison industrial complex, the fraternal duty to "look out" for one another, and the type of person who because of these factors and others tends to become a cop. Eliminating any one of these problems would lead to better relations between the authorities and the people, though the aim is to eliminate the usage of a militarized external police force entirely. 



This is only part one as you can see. The rest is up on youtube, liveleak, and probably other sites as well.

Support Open Source

Most of you reading this will be running some version of Windows or perhaps Apple. A few of you, like myself, are running some sort of open source platform. I'm using Ubuntu Studio 11.04. Ubuntu is a distro of GNU Linux of the Debian. Open Source means that the source code for the program is openly available and can be altered and shared freely. Because of this there many different "flavors" of Linux... many many flavors. All of this created maintained and changed by a dedicated community of users, different camps have formed creating different OS's based off of the same source code, each making changes to make the program fit their needs. This requires an active community willing to give input, their time, their knowledge. Because of this one wishing to use Linux must learn more about how their computer works than a Windows or Apple user. The community helps those who help themselves, most problems a new user encounters have been vetted out on the forums. After a fair amount of trouble shooting you can post on the forums with the information you have gathered and most of the time you will receive a timely and helpful response.

 Linux encourages users to use open source alternatives to programs produced by large patent gobbling corporations. Here are just a few sites that I have picked out, doing a simple search will turn up pages and pages of results.

Osalt lists several commercial and open source programs. Why pay for Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop or Norton Antivirus when there are perfectly good free alternatives.

Sourceforge is a hub for open source programs.

FOSS Wiki for Free Open Source Software

The Big Brother State

This Video can be found at: http://bigbrotherstate.com/

Also on my DVD "Cop Out"

Technology is making the world a smaller place everyday. We are told things are getting easier, we now have a device for nearly every human need. All the while we are becoming less and less aware of how these devices of wonderment function, and the impact they produce. Those who refuse to adapt and learn are forced into the roles of blind consumers, incapable of critical thought. Cyberspace and mass transfer and storage of information through the tubes of the interwebs is a untamed frontier still in its infancy. Created though cultural needs, now it is a major component in the exchange and development of culture.

So how how is the cyberwar to be fought?

Anonymously      

First, a quick fix that lets one hide in plain sight, well at least to anyone trying to look at with anything other than their own two eyes...                       

  

I remember coming across this article a few years back: http://hac kkedgadgets.com/2008/02/21/ir-leds-used-to-defeat-security-cameras/           

That's right it only takes a battery, some LEDs, and a bit of soldering to mask ones self from the all seeing eye. Plus they dont cost much to make, meaning that they would make the perfect gift to any of your friends who worry about "Them" listening in. I suspect it these small devices were to become a popular mask worn by those who dont like being watched then it wouldnt take long for laws to come about that would restrict the use of such objects, or perhaps more broadly against trying to mask ones identity from digital scrutiny.

Next to secure ones Identity in the digital realm.  For this we will use Vidalia, Tor, and a proxy (Privoxy, Polipo, ect.)       

For in depth information on how this system works I recommend visiting the Tor Project

Heres  vid for installing/ running it on windows:



Now this kid does an ok job but you can tell he doesnt really know what he's talking about. This is why you really need to check out the Tor Project. Make sure you have your proxy configured and running with Tor at all times. Both Privoxy and Polipo are full of functionality but are not the most user friendly, that goes double for Privoxy. Be sure to run the test on the Tor Project site to see if you are indeed masked by Tor. Now you are just about as close to anonymous as you can get, free to go where you please without reprimand. But... there's a few things you should know before going off the deep end of the deep web.

There exists a database of everything you have ever done, it contains your innermost fears and your wildest dreams. It knows your credit card number, your social security number, phone number, your passwords, your work schedule and where you live. It isnt housed in a government funded lab, it isn't hidden away with free masons or extraterrestrial reptilians, its not even a data mining operation that will sell your secretes for pennies on the dollar. No, this database is maintained by one very dedicated little person spends so much time maintaining their collection of facts that they are almost always willing to give it away for free with out a second thought... That person is you.

Kevin McNick, hacker icon and social engineer extraordinaire once said 
                                    "Theres no patch for human stupidity" 
In other words no mater how secure you make a system so long as there is a human element involved somewhere in the chain, they will always be the weakest link.

A term you would do good to familiarize yourself with: Security Culture  
For online security culture visit: http://security.resist.ca/

Here is a good zine for IRL Security Culture:
http://zinelibrary.info/security-culture-handbook-activists

-In short always be conscious of the information you share with others both face to face as well as over digital mediums.

-Set up disposable "dummy" email accounts when you are not sure about giving out your real information.

-When using Tor assume an "alter ego" in other words, never access any site with your IRL personal information.

-The most secure form of communication is between people in a public place

-People can be fooled much easier than computers

-The frontline is everywhere

My next posts on this topic will cover some basics of Open Source Computing and The Deep Web.

The Police

Alabama HB 56 Protest

This past Saturday, at Kelly Ingram park in Birmingham, Alabama, people gathered in protest to HB 56,  a copy cat of the Arizona immigration law.         

       

 Actually HB 56 wishes to one up the Arizona bill.

(Lifted right of the GOP site)

 What does this bill do?

• Requires law enforcement officers to attempt to determine the immigration status of a person who they suspect is an unauthorized alien of this country. Determination is affirmed through valid state or federally-issued identification.
• Provides that illegal aliens convicted of a crime are to be fined and turned over to federal immigration authorities upon their release from imprisonment.
• Makes trespassing by illegal aliens a Class A misdemeanor, which becomes a Class C felony if the subject is found in possession of contraband or a deadly weapon.
  • Class A misdemeanors carry a penalty of up to one year in jail, and a fine of up to $6,000.
  • Class C felonies carry a penalty of 1-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
• Makes the smuggling of illegal immigrants a Class B felony, and authorizes law enforcement officers to stop drivers suspected of such activity.
  • Class B felonies carry a penalty of 2-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000.
• Prohibits the pick-up and transport of unauthorized aliens to work sites (Class A misdemeanor).
• Prohibits unauthorized aliens from applying for, soliciting for in a public place or performing work as an employee or contractor (Class A misdemeanor)
• Prohibits the transport, concealment, harboring and housing of unauthorized aliens if a person recklessly disregards the fact that the alien is illegally in the U.S. This does not apply to persons acting in the capacity of a child or adult protective service worker, a first responder, an ambulance attendant, or an emergency medical attendant.
• Prohibits a business from knowingly employing an unauthorized alien.
  • Employers proven to violate this prohibition are subject to probation on the first offense, and revocation of state and local business licenses upon repeat offenses.
  • Knowingly filing a false or frivolous accusation against a business would be a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of three months in jail, and a fine of up to $500.
• Requires employers to verify the legal status of potential employees with either the federal “E-verify” program or a system to be designed by Alabama Department of Homeland Security.
• Makes registering to vote or attempting to vote by an unauthorized alien a Class C felony.
• Requires those applying for and receiving public benefits to provide proof of legal presence in the U.S.
• Makes entering or attempting to enter into a business transaction with the state by an unauthorized alien a Class C felony.
• Makes knowingly manufacturing, reproducing or selling of false identification documents, or committing vital records identity fraud, a Class C felony.
• Provides that verification of lawful presence for state-distributed public benefits, including Medicaid and CHIP, shall be made through a verification program operated by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.
• Requires State government entities providing state or local public benefits to submit annual compliance reports to the Senate Government Affairs Committee and the House Government Operations Committee.
• Authorizes the Alabama Department of Homeland Security to enforce these immigration laws, and promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of this act.

 

 

I only caught part of this event, and left before it was getting dark, but from what I saw the turn out was typical of  what a protest in Birmingham produces these days. I saw maybe between 50 and 100 folks (dont quote me on that) But I can say for sure that the crowd regardless of the size was a health mix of folks of race, sex, and I guess religion and class as well.



Brave students, undocumented and unafraid, stood before the crowd and spoke about their experiences growing up and their feelings towards the bill that threatens to send them away from the future they dream of. "Card carrying" Americans spoke out against the injustice that is inherent within HB 56, how it is criminalizing acts of humane kindness and selfless sacrifice, how it wishes to return us to some rotten roots of a racist past that we have been trying to put behind us. These kids, they're just kids, too often children get blamed for the nearsightedness of elders, and all they want to do is live, be happy. its not political its life.

          

The final speech was given by David Gespass, president of the National Lawyers Guild. Mr Gespass Always delivers a good fiery speech, enough humor to keep you interested, damning enough to keep you riled up, and uplifting enough to keep you marching on. I had to leave as he was wrapping up.

                            

All in all the message was clear, No one is illegal, there is no such thing. There are only people, some want to live in peace and others want to live off the well-being of others. Some put their lives on the line for their loved ones and others just pay to put people in the way. Resistance is alive and well here in Birmingham and we arnt going anywhere. The old southern gentry can just wither up and die in the humid Alabama heat.