I was just on the community forums and someone was asking about room control for podcasting. As a musician, I've seen it all. Foam, egg cartons, carpeting, and more on the walls. But what is the cheapest and aesthetically pleasing way to do it?
I remember one time I went to a friends house to lay down some drum tracks. We weaved through the house into the basement to a room stuffed in the back corner. He opened the door to a room filled with burlap hung from the ceiling and floor. The burlap had couch foam inside it and this made the whole room feel like one big padded cell.
All I needed was a straight jacket.
You don't need to go to that extreme. After all, that's a lot of burlap! Plus, you're not crazy.
Look at your empty room (or visualize the empty room). If you were to take a tennis ball and throw it from the point you will be podcasting from (and assuming this ball breaks all rules of motion and gravity), visualize where that tennis ball will go.
Does it bounce to the back wall? Will it move from corner to corner like those cheesy 90's screensavers used to do?
This is where you want to focus your efforts. Your voice travels around a room just like that tennis ball would. Every obstacle can kill the sound and less bounce.
The floor might be easy to take care of with a carpet (if not already), but the ceiling can definitely cause bounce as well. If you rent your place and cannot put wall anchors up, this can get a little tricky – but not impossible.
If you have an empty a closet and can take down the shelves and cross-bar, this can be the best option. Depending on the type of closet, you can isolate your podcast rig from the rest of the room noise – even that loud computer in the corner.
Better yet – the loud computer could go into the closet to reduce the noise. Just make sure there is some ventilation.
A canvas painting is a great way to deaden your room. The canvas is about an inch away from the wall and can absorb and trap sound.
You can go to any craft store and get a stretched canvas. Smaller ones are $6 a canvas whereas larger ones can get up to $80.
Add $5 in acrylic paint and $5 for a brush to give your blank canvas some color. You don't have to be an artist to give the room a feel and sound.
Curtains might be a bad thing for the Penguin when Batman comes, but they are great for podcasters trying to get the bounce out of a room. You don't even need a window to put curtains up with.
I have used curtain rods for more than curtains, too. Some are sturdy enough to hold mic clips, lights, or other items.
Do a search for Floor to Ceiling pole. These are adjustable polls that can sometimes hold simple items. Hang your soundproof items from there.
Cardboard boxes are also great sound barriers. If you have to store those old boxes of papers, books, or whatever, think of using the back wall for those.
And yes – they work great for your cat audience to watch you podcast.
Vibrations go from mic, to floor, to room. getting padding to set under your table can also help with the sound protection – especially if you have hard wood floors.
If you go to the sporting store, you can get interlocking floor panels for a decent price. they can also be used on walls and floors. If you don't like the look of them, you could also put the pads behind your desk so the desk-to-wall doesn't become a sound chamber.
Do you have other ways to deaden your walls? Let me know!


text:
BJ The Chicago Kid Shares "Woman's World" Video
Watch BJ The Chicago Kid's video for "Woman's World" from his In My Mind album.
music / R&B
Kendrick Lamar And Hannibal Buress Join BJ The Chicago Kid In "The New Cupid" Video
Kendrick Lamar And Hannibal Buress Join BJ The Chicago Kid In "The New Cupid" Video
This Is What "Joe" Means In Chicago
In the 15th episode of The Slang Show, BJ The Chicago Kid explains what "joe" means in Chicago.
Listen To BJ The Chicago Kid's "OMG" Feat. Jay Rock
BJ The Chicago Kid shares "OMG" featuring Jay Rock.
BJ The Chicago Kid Discusses His Inspiration For In My Mind
BJ The Chicago Kid Interviewed by NPR about new album In My Mind.
Watch BJ The Chicago Kid's "A Day In My Mind" Video
BJ The Chicago Kid Shares "A Day In My Mind" Video
Stream BJ The Chicago Kid's In My Mind
Stream BJ The Chicago Kid's "In My Mind."
BJ The Chicago Kid Connects With Buddy And Constantine On "Man Down"
BJ The Chicago Kid Connects With Buddy And Constantine On "Man Down."
BJ The Chicago Kid Shares "Turnin' Me Up"
BJ The Chicago Kid Shares "Turnin Me Up."
BJ The Chicago Kid Shares New Remix Of "Church" With Ty Dolla $ign and Anderson Paak
BJ The CHicago Kid has released a new remix for his single "Church" featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Anderson Paak,
BJ The Chicago Kid Recruits Isabella For "Love Inside"
BJ The Chicago Kid Details 'In My Mind.'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Carrie Sheehan tossed a four-hitter and went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run Thursday to lead Cimarron-Memorial's softball team to a 4-1 win over visiting Arbor View.
Hannah Williams went 2-for-4 with a run scored for Cimarron.
Chelsa Baca had an RBI single for Arbor View.
Shadow Ridge 10, Cheyenne 1 — At Shadow Ridge, Krislyn Campos went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI to help lead the Mustangs past the Desert Shields.
Danielle Buecker was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Shadow Ridge, which got a two-hitter from Jasmine Bouie.
Melanie Manley doubled and drove in Cheyenne's lone run.
Centennial 10, Faith Lutheran 1 — At Centennial, Bailie Nelson had two hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in three runs to help the Bulldogs top the Crusaders.
Katelynn Rauskin tossed a five-hitter and struck out seven for Centennial.
Lauryn Lipe had two hits for Faith Lutheran.
Legacy 16, Mojave 0 — At Legacy, Francis Hinojosa went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Jordyn Vulpi was 2-for-2 with a home run as the Longhorns used a 14-run first inning to rout the Rattlers.
Alyssa Santos threw a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and was 3-for-3 with a triple for Legacy, which got a double and three RBIs from Alexis Fuller.
Desert Oasis 13, Bishop Gorman 3 — At Gorman, Emily Heinz went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and two RBIs to lead the Diamondbacks past the Gaels.
C.J. Wilson went 2-for-4 with a double to help Desert Oasis, and teammate Briona Santovito went 2-for-2.
O'Sheyon Rollins, Alexandria Gordon and Miranda Robles had two hits apiece for Gorman.
Pahrump Valley 10, Spring Valley 4 — At Spring Valley, winning pitcher Whitney Roderick went 2-for-5, and Casey Sierra was 2-for-4 as the Trojans used a five-run third inning to pull away from the Grizzlies.
Sara Williams had a triple and two RBIs for Pahrump.
Bonanza 16, Sierra Vista 2 — At Bonanza, Nicolette Lind went 4-for-4, and Emily Osborn was 2-for-2 with a double and four RBIs to help the Bengals rout the Mountain Lions in five innings.
Megan Rabe was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Raquell Scholz went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for Bonanza.
Clark 22, Western 2 — At Clark, Julia Hagen fired a five-inning one-hitter with nine strikeouts, and Julianna Thornock was 3-for-3 with two doubles as the Chargers blitzed the Warriors.
Alex Haty went 3-for-4 for Clark, which scored 10 runs in the first inning.
Durango 12, Palo Verde 2 — At Palo Verde, Samantha Juarez went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and three RBIs to help the Trailblazers beat the Panthers in five innings.
Nicole Schultz was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBIs to help Durango, which scored nine runs in the fifth inning to seal the win. Teammate Mindy Larson also homered.
Las Vegas 16, Sunrise Mountain 2 — At Sunrise Mountain, Jenice Gutierrez went 5-for-5 with a double as the Wildcats blitzed the Miners in five innings.
Krizzel Galvez also went 5-for-5 for Las Vegas, and teammate Ashly Westgarth was 4-for-5.
Virgin Valley 28, Desert Pines 1 — At Desert Pines, the Bulldogs cruised to a five-inning win with the help of 14 hits and 13 walks.
Karen Dorado had a home run for Virgin Valley, which blitzed to the early advantage with 10 runs in the first inning.
Moapa Valley 17, Canyon Springs 9 — At Overton, Hannah Leavitt had a double and scored three runs as the Pirates capitalized on 10 Canyon Springs' errors to win.
The Pirates trailed 8-5 before scoring 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.


text:
The 1924 United States Senate election in Maine was held on September 8, 1924. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bert Fernald overcame a challenge from U.S. Representative Frank E. Guernsey in the Republican primary. In the general election, Fernald was re-elected to a second term in office over Democratic newspaperman Fulton J. Redman.

Republican primary

Candidates
Bert Fernald, incumbent Senator since 1916
Frank E. Guernsey, U.S. Representative from Dover
Louis A. Jack, former President of the Maine Board of Trade and candidate for Governor in 1920

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates
Fulton J. Redman, newspaper editor and former State Representative from Bar Harbor

Results
Redman was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

General election

Results

See also
 1924 United States Senate elections

References

Maine
1924

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
The Consequences of Transformed Logistics: The Impact of Autonomous Systems
By David Beaumont
Western militaries, including the Australian Defence Force (ADF), have been exploiting semi-autonomous systems for years.
It is only a matter of time before robotics and other associated technologies revolutionise warfare to the point the militaries must transform.
Yet he biggest problem to face militaries is not in the choice of the systems to employ, and where to use them, but from the increasing reliance militaries will have on their technology.
This reliance will not only transpire into changes to the logistics needs of armies, navies and air forces, but could very well lead to substantive organisational change.
There has been very little conversation as to what the implications of this robotic revolution will be on the logistics of modern militaries – the 'logistics of autonomy'.
Many writers have effusively seen robotics as changing the characteristics of militaries and transforming in the way they go to war. There are ample discussions on the ethics in the use of autonomous weapons, and volumes of promising statements on how robotic weapons and equipment will create new opportunities and risks.
Just as the invention of the internal combustion engine changed the logistics needs of armies, and the invention of power flight created an entirely new military domain of war, technological-induced transformation always comes with significant changes to way such military forces are sustained.
Motorisation, mechanisation, flight, rocketry and computing elevated the importance of mechanics, petroleum operations, munitions specialists and supply specialists to the wars of the last 120 years. Better materiel and training to the soldier, sailor and airman helped to 'thin' the battlefield; technology allowing each combatant able to bring more and more firepower to bear on the enemy than the previous military generation.
However, this increase in the use of technology has created a commensurate increase in logistics support; creating an 'interminable contest' between the teeth and 'tail' that the 'teeth' is losing.1
The centre of gravity for military forces is in the process of moving from the battlefield and to the supply depots, bases, ports and defence infrastructure in 'rear echelons' and what the Australian Defence Force calls the 'national support base'.
The shift from the human to machine will only accelerate this transformation.
Militaries using autonomous weapons will, if we are optimistic about the technology, look very different in twenty, thirty years in the future.
But there's a dark side to technology-centric transformation.
It can create tremendous complexity for forces that rush to bring in service capabilities. If the goal is to remove humans from 'dull, dirty and dangerous work' in the combat zone, the cost will be likely be borne in the establishment of new organisations and systems to sustain autonomous weapons on the ocean, in the field and in the air.
The military workforce will also have to change to reflect the technical need.
Although we might want to call the future an 'age of automation', we could also call the coming period the 'age of the engineer'. This situation is somewhat ironic in that one of the primary goals for automating logistics is to lower the number of personnel invested in logistics tasks.
It is instructive that the invention of computers – so essential for modern military logistics – has not achieved much in stemming the growth in the 'tail' of modern militaries.
We are far from removing logisticians from the battlefield.
Militaries will need engineers, uniformed or civilian, in abundance.
The current generation of autonomous battlefield systems are 'brittle', not particularly adaptable and easily break down. In the context of armies, this problem reflects the difficulty for machines that lack the manoeuvrability of a human being. The situation is better for military aviation and naval uses where the impact of environment is much less. All systems are at presence sensitive to conditions, and need routine attention – and most aren't capable of self-care.
This is not to say that militaries need to expand their organic logistics capabilities at this point.
Military logistics always extends into the economy – more specifically the nation's industrial base – and the integration of industry into the routine sustainment of new autonomous systems will remain important.
It is quite clear that industry partners will have to continue to work closely, if not intimately, with Army, Navy and Air Force to provide the technical support and expertise that is traditionally difficult for the military to generate independently.
It is also clear that we need to have a conversation about how skills may be transferred into the military workforce if needed in a crisis, or how autonomous systems might be sustained and repaired in conflict zone.
Perhaps we can combat the 'less-positive' effects of automation by focussing on the notion of disposable military robots. It's tempting to think that we can abandon a robot when it is damaged or no longer in use; it appeals to our sense that there is a real possibility that we can remove humans from danger and replace them with something of lesser value.
We must, however, be realistic with our aspirations. Until production lines run so large that costs are driven down, or newer technologies are found that dramatically lower costs, it will be inevitable that we treat autonomic systems with the same level of care we do any other form of exquisite, and expensive, technology.
It will not only be militaries that will need to transform as autonomy supplants humans.
There is a tremendous opportunity for defence industry to step into a gap that has been unfilled since the dying days of the national electronics industry in the 1980s.
If we are to embrace the use of autonomy in the ADF as a credible alternative to the human combatant, it will be highly advantageous for the military to have a national industry behind it.
A dependency on foreign componentry and construction can become a strategic risk – especially as global supply chains are contested or limited resources shared.
I suspect we will find electronics and componentry join ammunition and fuel as a marker of strategic resilience in due course.
In the meantime, we will need to be careful about accelerating into autonomy else we embark upon a costly sham with unviable capabilities in combat.
Perhaps this will necessitate us having a conversation about Australian innovations and their identification as a matter of strategic value and a target of regulation. Most innovations in autonomous systems will come from the private sector, and in many cases, will be available to the highest bidder. A pessimistic view of the future suggests we need preserve whatever advantage we can, and – as a nation – we might have to balance our commercial and strategic interests.
With autonomy firmly on the horizon for the ADF and other advanced militaries, it seems clear that we must initiate this discussion now.
Autonomous systems will be essential to the ADF of the future. It will create new options at all levels of war, improve the capacity of a defence force pressured by its relative size, and give us new opportunities to exploit. The technology behind automation is an area where Australia can generate a strategic advantage if it chooses to; we have a high standard of education, a population thriving with high stands of technology use, and a long track-record of innovation as a nation.
We have an ADF prepared for change and actively seeking partners to overcome many of the challenges, and take advantage of new opportunities, posed by automation.
We all know how rapidly the technology around automation is evolving.
The sooner Defence, industry and the wide range of technology partners work on overcoming the logistics limitations of autonomy the better. This way we will realise the potential of the technology, rather than bring into being capabilities or systems that are too exquisite to be practically employable let alone sustainable.
This is an enduring problem with introducing new technology into defence forces in a time of relative peace, where there is always a temptation to made expedient decisions to introduce new capabilities without the funding or capacity to support it.
Provided comprehensive plans are developed well in advance, the 'logistics of autonomy' is another area of opportunity to give the ADF a new advantage.
This article was published on Logistics in War on May 8, 2020.
The featured photo shows an Australian Army soldier Trooper Chris Jack from B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment, School of Armour, remotely controls an autonomous M113 AS4 optionally crewed combat vehicle (OCCV) at the Majura Training Area, Canberra.
Macksey, K., For want of a nail: the impact on war of logistics and communications, Brasseys, UK, 1989, p 1


BBC Sport brings you live coverage of the National Winter Swimming Championships in Sheffield from Wednesday, 13 December to Sunday, 17 December.
Coverage: Watch live on Connected TV, BBC Sport website & mobile app.
Olympic silver medallists Siobhan-Marie O'Connor and James Guy are among the stars in action at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield.
The championships will be the final chance for swimmers to make a case to be included in England's team for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
While Guy and O'Connor have already been selected to compete at the Games on the Gold Coast, both will still be looking to impress in their respective events.
Other competitors include Chris Walker-Hebborn, Andrew Willis, Molly Renshaw, Aimee Willmott and Hannah Miley.
Watch all the action live on Connected TV, the BBC Sport website and mobile app.
All times are GMT and subject to late changes.
You may be able to watch more events on the Swim England website.


Reinforcement learning is tough. POMDPs are hard. And doing RL in partially observable problems is a huge challenge. With Sammie and Chris Amato, I have been making some progress to get a principled method (based on Monte Carlo tree search) too scale for structured problems. We can learn both how to act, as well as the structure of the problem at the same time. See the paper and bib.


text:
Slew of retailers head to Downtown Brooklyn
Jul.July 15, 2010 01:30 PM
By Yaffi Spodek
Caroline Pardo of Two Trees Management
Barneys Co-op — set to open at 194 Atlantic Avenue in Downtown
Brooklyn Sept. 1 — is the first of several new big-box retailers
coming to the neighborhood, and a prime indicator of the borough's
shifting demographics and ongoing expansion, experts say.
"The corridor is changing, as national stores are looking now in places
where before they didn't think they could support businesses," said
Caroline Pardo, the director of leasing for Two Trees Management at
Wednesday's annual NYC Business Improvement District Conference
covering the future of retail in New York City.
In the past five years, Pardo has helped bring over 50 businesses to the Downtown Brooklyn and Dumbo areas. Trader Joe's
on Court Street, and Urban Outfitters on Atlantic Avenue, were two of
the more recent additions to the area, with Pier 1 Imports and
furniture retailer Crate and Barrel 2 also looking to set up shop on
the avenue, she told The Real Deal.
H&M and Sephora are seeking space on Fulton Street in Downtown
Brooklyn, she said, and the Paper Source stationery store is hunting
for a location on Smith Street. Swarovski Crystal is also looking at a
spot on Court Street, off Atlantic Avenue, Pardo added.
"These stores are now coming to the outer boroughs because the
retailers realize that the people who shop in Manhattan actually live
in Brooklyn," Pardo said. "The demographics are changing and they
realize there is a lot of money in Brooklyn, so now it makes 100
percent sense that they want to expand there."
Brooklyn in particular has been underserved, according to Steven
Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, who was the
keynote speaker at the conference. He noted that Brooklyn has one mall
for every 2.5 million people, while Long Island — a suburban enclave
of roughly the same population — has one for every 386,000.
Costco and Walmart have opened in the city in recent years and are doing well, despite initial skepticism regarding their chances for survival, Benjamin Fox, vice president of Winick Realty Group, told The Real Deal. He also dismissed the notion that New York City would get taken over by big-box retailers.
"It's unfounded," he said. "There is a place for everything. The
big-box retailers help the local city by retaining money that would
otherwise be in the suburbs."
Even while the city recovers from the economic recession, retail sales
have been steadily improving, Spinola said, though consumers remain
cautious. But the market is slowly adjusting, he said.
Spinola pointed to the Times Square leases of Aeropostale and the Walt
Disney store as signs of a return to large leases in New York City.
There is less space available for leasing, he said, and the space that
is, comes at a premium, averaging $1,400 per square foot. But even with
all this growth, "we are dramatically under-retailed in New York,"
Spinola noted. "New York City can support more retail stores if we
lower operating costs and stop mandating wages and benefits."
Fox highlighted other neighborhoods that he says have a dearth of
retail — the Lower East Side, Chinatown and Harlem. Similar to
Brooklyn, he attributes the limited number of retailers to the changing
demographics that have outpaced the retail cycle. "In those
neighborhoods, there is a changing population base, which bodes well
for retailers," he told The Real Deal. "There is now more spending
power, but in the past, retail hadn't kept up with the change in the
neighborhoods."
Fox said consumer confidence is tied to the unemployment rate, which
was at 9.5 percent in June. "There will be more consumer confidence
when unemployment starts to shrink," he noted after the conference.
He also emphasized the value of having a neighborhood entrepreneur
opening up in his or her hometown, as the catalyst to help attract
retailers who hail from outside the area.
"Harlem is a classic example of how low-income neighborhoods can change
and retailers can open up to affordable rates," Fox said.
The future of retail looks bright, Fox said.
He predicts that in the next 10 years there will be a strengthened
middle class with more disposable income, and more retailers in
Downtown Brooklyn as well as in Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem and
neighborhoods in the South Bronx. Pardo agreed, saying that she expects
to see more malls opening outside Manhattan, similar to Downtown
Brooklyn's Fulton Mall and the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst.
barneys new yorkBenjamin Foxsteven spinolaTwo Trees Management
"Living concrete" could revolutionize real estate on earth, and in space
Barneys' lights still on, but workers left in dark
Two Trees unveils bold plan for Williamsburg towers, beach
Barneys' flagship Madison Avenue spot will stay open — but with a smaller footprint
It's over for Barneys: Luxury retailer to be sold, stores closed
Two Trees lands $85M refi for Dumbo's
After rent hike, Barneys extends credit line
Barneys plans to give up space at its Madison Avenue flagship
Two Trees-linked LLC buys Brooklyn petroleum facility


Enjoy 3.88 acres with 222' of lake frontage on Lake Bernice. Build your own business or enjoy building the home of your dreams. This land, back in the day, was a gravel pit-just for a little history.
Kim G Stover of Shorewest Realtors Inc.


text:
Q: EWS Push Subscription, how to know when it expires? I am subscribing to EWS push notifications for calendar events using python. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/dd636171(v=exchg.80).aspx
When doing the same thing with google, you get an "expires" date in the first request, so you know when you need to renew the subscription.
How do I know when the EWS subscription is going to expire so I can renew?

A: There is no real timeout property for push notifications. Exchange push notifications works in a slightly different way, as alluded to by the time-out section in the documentation:

If the server does not receive a response to a push notification or
  status ping, it retries sending the notification several times before
  it stops sending the notifications.

So you do not subscribe for a set amount of time. You will get notifications as long as you respond to the server and acknowledge that you received the notification. The server will stop sending notifications to you when you stop sending status pings to every push notification.
How many times the Exchange server should retry and ask you for a status ping can be specified in the initial subscription request, with the StatusFrequency-element. You simply specify for how many minutes the server should ask you for an acknowledgement before giving up and stop pushing notifications to you.
Webdav101's article on the topic is really good, and he states that it is up to you to have some fallback code for when subscriptions stops for some reason. That could be handled by simply issuing a new push subscription if you have not received a notification for a while.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Why France Is Best For Retirement Abroad
France covers a landmass of over 640,000 square kilometres, and in all that space it spans such broad topography that whether you're looking for retirement on a sun drenched beach, with views of dramatic mountain peaks, in a vibrant city or in the heart of the most gorgeous rolling countryside, you will find a home for yourself in France.
France tops the retirement abroad checklist for many, especially those from the United Kingdom (UK) and European Economic Area (EEA) because for them, retiring to France requires almost nothing in the form of visas and paperwork.
If you herald from North America it's possible to get a long-stay visa and convert that to residency if you fulfil fairly simple affordability and character criteria.
This means that retiring to France is a real possibility for many of us.
But what stacks up in France's favour?
A quality of life unsurpassed. You will live in a nation rich in history and culture, famed for its gastronomy, its wine and its inimitably laid back pace of life.
France also has first world infrastructure and healthcare; the latter is affordably accessible for anyone from the UK or EEA in receipt of a state pension. Healthcare in France is also accessible with medical insurance that's far cheaper than US insurance for those who retire from America for example.
France has excellent international air links. And because of its excellent road and rail infrastructure, nowhere in France is inaccessible whether you want to live in the rural heartlands of Brittany in the north, or overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in the south.
French regions favoured for retirement include the Dordogne and Provence, but don't overlook the Midi Pyrenees or Vercors when conducting your own search for the perfect home in France.
Whilst the Dordogne and Provence are stunning, their desirability has inflated their real estate prices. Whereas if you head to lesser known parts of France such as the Midi Pyrenees or Vercors you can still snap up an absolute bargain of a property in France at rock bottom prices.
Whilst it isn't considered a low cost or tax favourable place to live, it's taxation and cost of living rates are no higher that you might face at home, and in many cases retirees living in France find their expenses are far less.
Submerse yourself in the French language and you will assimilate it in no time, and give yourself up to the French way of life to ensure yours is a fabulously relaxed and happy retirement abroad.


Will You Join The Kidney Fundraising Convoy?
Can there be a better month than August to get out your classic bike and enjoy the Great British summertime's exhilarating open roads?
Well now you'll need even less incentive to don your leathers, helmet and gloves – you can help raise money for charity at the same time.
A kidney failure patient is calling on fellow bikers to join him on a charity convoy through Dorset to help the hospital that's been treating him.
Spencer Furley, from Northbourne in Dorset, is inviting you to take part in a 1,000-strong bike parade in aid of nearby Royal Bournemouth Hospital, part of the Dorset County Hospital Charitable Trust.
Its renal unit has helped 39-year-old Spencer in his long fight against chronic kidney pain.
Whether your machine is a classic and requires classic motorbike insurance or you ride something more modern, Spencer would love to hear from you.
The convoy is due to head off from Queen Elizabeth School, Blandford Road, Wimborne Minster BH21 4DT, at 1pm on Sunday, August 30.
Participants are asked to arrive an hour early. The convoy will ride through the picturesque county of Dorset en route to the no-less beautiful Somerset, where Henstridge Airfield is the destination.
It costs just £5 to do your bit and join the convoy. Hundreds of bikers have already done so, but at the moment there are still spaces available. So hurry!
What does the unit need?
He really wants to stage "something big" in a bid to give something back to the hospital's renal department.
Spencer also wants the motorbike ride to raise awareness of the country's organ donation register to help more donors come forward for potentially life-saving volunteer work.
Want to donate an organ?


text:
Богди́нсько-Баскунча́цький державний природний заказник () — Російський природний заказник комплексного профілю, розташований на території Астраханської області Південного федерального округу.

Географія
Заказник розташований на території Ахтубінського району Астраханської області безпосередньо межуючи із Богдинсько-Баскунчацьким заповідником, так як останній був створений із його частини. В районі відомо близько 20 печер, найбільша з яких сягає 1,5 км у довжину, різноманіття осадових порід та мінералів, палеонтологічні залишки. Особливості ландшафту визначили флору та фауну, яка різко відрізняється від сусідніх напівпустельних комплексів більшим різноманіттям видів та угрупувань.

Резерват має регіональне значення та ландшафтний, тобто комплексний, профіль. Площа заказника становить 32801,3 га або 35222 га.

Історія
Видобуток солі на озері Баскунчак ведеться з першої половини 18 століття. Саме від того часу відбувається інтенсивний антропогенний вплив на природу регіону. Щоби захистити природу озера була створена Баскунчацька санітарно-захисна зона Баскунчацького родовища, яка стала першою територіальною формою охорони природи в регіоні. Ця зона була затверджена Владимирським райвиконкомом Нижньо-Волзького краю від 11 лютого 1931 року. Площа санітарно-охоронної зони, що обмежувала озеро по всьому периметру смугою шириною приблизно 2,5-5 км, становила 32683,2 га. Рішенням Астраханського облвиконкому від 19 квітня 1979 року № 254 гора Велике Богдо була оголошена геологічною пам'яткою природи обласного значення площею 1470 га. Навколо гори була виділена охоронна зона шириною 100 м. 1983 року захисні лісосмуги Богдинської науково-дослідної агролісомеліоративної дослідницької станції, яка була створена 1924 року і розташовувалась за 8 км на південь від озера, були оголошені рішенням Астраханського облвиконкому ботанічною пам'яткою природи обласного значення. Площа нової охоронної території «Зелений сад» становила 220,7 га. 1985 року геологічною пам'яткою природи обласного значення було оголошене карстове поле в урочищі Шарбулак біля південного краю озера Баскунчак. Площа цієї території склала 730 га. Постановою голови адміністрації Астраханської області від 25 листопада 1993 року № 196 всі три пам'ятки природи та санітарно-охоронна зона навколо озера увійшли до складу новоствореного Богдинсько-Баскунчацького заказника. Площа заказника склала 57000 га. Постановою Уряду Російської Федерації від 18 листопада 1997 року № 1445 на частині території заказника площею 18478 га був утворений Богдинсько-Баскунчацький державний природний заповідник.

Біоценоз

Богдинсько-Баскунчацький заказник має велике екологічне, наукове, генетичне та рекреаційне значення як унікальний ландшафт, середовище існування угрупувань диких рослин та тварин, місце збереження їхнього генофонду. Фауна представлена низкою видів, серед яких найціннішим є реліктовий ссавець сайгак. Район представляє велику цінність як біотип перегузні, занесеної до Червоної книги Російської Федерації, і яка знаходиться під загрозою зникнення.

Екологія
Через значний антропогенний вплив на природу заказника, відбувається безповоротне знищення певних об'єктів. Так, на момент вивчення регіону 1992–1993 років, ще до створення самого заказника, мало місце втрата гори Куба-Тау, аналога гори Велике Богдо, але менших розмірів.

В безпосередній близькості до заказника знаходяться виробничі підприємства Баскунчацього промислового регіону, в основному німецької компанії «Knauf», яка займається видобутком та переробкою гіпсу на місцевому родовищі. З 1998 року між компанією та керівництвом Астраханської області діє домовленість про співпрацю. Тому при розширенні видобутку гіпсу на ділянку Кошара-Тургай, яка знаходиться вже на території заказника, віце-губернатор області Костянтин Маркелов пообіцяв німецьким інвесторам допомогти у вирішення нової проблеми. Таким чином постає небезпека охорони території заказника та дії, що протирічать законодавству. Геологорозвідувальні пошуки, розробка корисних копалин та вибухові роботи завдадуть значної шкоди природним комплексам.

Примітки

Посилання
 Факторы сохранения биоразнообразия Астраханской области в охраняемых резервах
 Функциональное зонирование территории государственного природного заповедника «Богдинско-Баскунчакский»

Заказники Росії
Природоохоронні території Астраханської області


text:
Financial Privacy & PSD2
Meta-Privacy
Case against the Dutch Passport Act
Municipality Guarantee Letter 2.0
Privacy First nominations for the Dutch Big Brother Awards
At the end of this summer our colleagues from Bits of Freedom will once again be organizing the annual Big Brother Awards. Below are our nominations for the biggest Dutch privacy violations of the past year:
Automatic Number Plate Recognition plans from Minister Opstelten
If it's up to the Dutch Minister of Security and Justice, Ivo Opstelten, the travels of every motorist in the Netherlands will soon be stored in a police database for four weeks through automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) for criminal investigation and prosecution purposes. This means that, in the view of Mr. Opstelten, every motorist is a potential criminal. Privacy First deems this proposal absolutely disproportional and therefore in breach with the right to privacy as stipulated under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In case Dutch Parliament accepts this legislative proposal, Privacy First will summon the Dutch State on account of unlawful legislation in violation with the right to privacy; see http://www.privacyfirst.eu/focus-areas/cctv/item/580-every-motorist-becomes-potential-suspect.html.
Proposal for hacking scheme from Minister Opstelten
A second miserable plan from Minister Ivo Opstelten is to authorize the Dutch police force to hack into your computer and to oblige citizens to decrypt their encrypted files for the police. In the view of Privacy First this plan, too, is entirely in breach with the right to privacy, since it's unnecessary and disproportional. Moreover, the proposal contravenes with the ban on self-incrimination (nemo tenetur). The proposal will lay the basis for future abuse of power and forms a typical building block for a police State instead of a democratic constitutional State. For our main objections, see http://www.privacyfirst.eu/focus-areas/law-and-politics/item/599-privacy-first-objections-against-opstelten-hacking-scheme.html.
License plate parking
As of late, in an ever greater number of Dutch cities (among which Amsterdam) license plate parking is becoming compulsory. Privacy First stands up for the classical right of citizens to travel freely and anonymously in their own country. The right to park anonymously is a part of this. License plate parking clearly disregards these rights. Moreover, it leads to function creep in breach with the right to privacy. The prime example here is the already proven abuse of parking information of lease drivers by the Dutch tax authorities; see http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2013/07/29/privacywaakhond-het-servicehuis-parkeren-overtreedt-de-wet/ (in Dutch).
Highway section controls
Section speed checks on Dutch highways make that the journeys of motorists are continuously being monitored. This forms a massive infringement of the right to privacy. Such an infringement requires a specific legal basis with guarantees against abuse. Moreover, function creep is just around the corner; this already becomes obvious from the current plans of Dutch Minister Opstelten to soon use all highway speed cameras for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) for investigation and prosecution purposes of a whole range of criminal offences as well as the collection of outstanding fines, tax debts, etc.
Besides the 'usual' cameras in neighbourhoods, shops, stations, above highways etc., citizens are increasingly – and almost unnoticed – being spied upon by flying cameras: so-called drones. The government does this (mainly the police) and so are private parties, yet without any sufficient legislation. Because of this the privacy risks and the likelihood of an accident are enormous. Privacy First therefore pleas for a moratorium on the use of drones until proper national legislation is put in place. Furthermore, drones should only be allowed to be used by the government in exceptional cases, for instance in disaster situations or for the investigation of suspects of very serious crimes, and only in case no other adequate means can be deployed. For private parties a license system is to be introduced with strict supervision and enforcement. Moreover, every drone is to be equipped with a transponder that is publically cognizable.
Police Taser weapons
In September 2012 it became known that Dutch Minister Opstelten was planning to equip the entire Dutch police force with Taser weapons. In the view of Privacy First, the use of Taser weapons can easily lead to violations of the international ban on torture and the related right to physical integrity (which is part of the right to privacy). Taser weapons lower the threshold for police violence and hardly leave behind any external scars. At the same time they can inflict serious physical damage and mental harm. In conjunction with the current lack of firearms training for Dutch police officers, this produces serious risks for the Dutch population. In May 2013 the Dutch government had to justify itself over Opstelten's plans in front of the UN Committee against Torture in Geneva; see http://www.privacyfirst.eu/focus-areas/law-and-politics/item/595-dutch-taser-weapons-on-agenda-of-un-committee-against-torture.html. Nevertheless, for the moment Opstelten's intentions seem to be unchanged...
In April 2011 the introduction of a Dutch national Electronic Health Record (Elektronisch Patiëntendossier, EPD) was unanimously binned by the Dutch Senate due to privacy objections and security risks. However, the national introduction of almost the same EPD was subsequently worked towards along a private route and this included the exchange of medical data through a National Switch Point (Landelijk Schakelpunt, LSP). This will by definition lead to 'function creep by design' instead of privacy by design. The digital 'regional walls' in and around the LSP will easily be circumvented or removed. Therefore the entire system can take on its old central form again at any given moment in the future, with all the privacy and security risks this entails. Furthermore, the current layout is characterized by generic instead of specific permission of the patient to share medical data with healthcare providers (and future third parties). This constitutes an imminent danger for the medical privacy of citizens as well as the professional confidentiality of medical specialists.
Published in Law & Politics
UN Committee against Torture condemns Dutch plans for broad introduction of Taser weapons
Since September 2012, Dutch Minister Ivo Opstelten has been planning to equip the entire Dutch police force with Taser weapons. At the request of the Privacy First Foundation, the Dutch government will have to answer some tough questions about this before the UN Committee against Torture.
One of the most important and most ratified human rights treaties in the world is the 1984 United Nations Convention against Torture. Under this Convention, torture is prohibited under all circumstances. Anyone who is guilty of torture anywhere in the world is to be prosecuted or extradited. This also applies to civil servants, ministers, presidents and heads of State. The Netherlands has been a party to the UN Convention against Torture since 1988. Periodically, every country that has ratified the Convention is examined by the supervisory treaty body in Geneva: the UN Committee against Torture (CAT). This upcoming Tuesday and Wednesday it's the Netherlands' turn to come under CAT's scrutiny: on Tuesday the Netherlands will be cross-examined by the Committee on various issues, after which the Dutch delegation will come up with answers on Wednesday. Subsequently, the Committee will make a number of critical recommendations (''Concluding Observations'') to the Netherlands.
In preparation of the Dutch session, the Privacy First Foundation, the Dutch National Human Rights Institute (College voor de Rechten van de Mens) and the Dutch section of the International Commission of Jurists (Nederlands Juristen Comité voor de Mensenrechten, NJCM) have recently sent so-called 'shadow reports' about the Netherlands to the Committee in Geneva. Both Privacy First and NJCM emphatically raised the issue of Taser weapons for the Dutch police. Privacy First did so through a special letter to the Committee: click HERE . In this letter Privacy First draws the Committee's attention to the intention of the Dutch Minister of Security and Justice Mr. Ivo Opstelten to soon supply every Dutch police officer with his/her own Taser weapon. (Currently 'only' the arrest teams of the Dutch police force are equipped with Taser weapons.) In the view of Privacy First, the use of Taser weapons can easily lead to a violation of the international ban on torture as well as the related right to physical integrity, which in turn is part of the right to privacy. Taser weapons lower the treshold for police violence and hardly leave behind any scars. At the same time Taser weapons can inflict serious physical damage and mental harm. In conjunction with the current lack of firearms training for Dutch police officers, this produces serious risks for the Dutch population. Therefore we have requested the Committee to critically examine the Netherlands about this and to advise against introducing Taser weapons for the entire Dutch police force. Last Friday, Privacy First was notified from Geneva that the UN Committee will indeed critically examine this issue. This week Privacy First will keep you up-to-date of the latest developments.
Update 13 May 2013, 23.00h: a livestream of the Dutch session can be viewed online HERE (Tuesday 10am-3pm, Wednesday 3pm).
Update 14 May 2013, 15.00h: Today the Dutch delegation in Geneva (under the chairmanship of the Dutch Permanent Representative to the UN) was critically questioned by the Committee on various issues, among which... Tasers. The Dutch answers will follow tomorrow afternoon at 15.00h. Below are the relevant parts both in text as well as in mp3:
Committee member Nora Sveaass (Norway): "I then want to bring the attention to something that I've been informed of, namely that the State [of the Netherlands] is planning on a pilot of using Taser weapons as a regular weapon within the police force. And the pilot is supposed to take place, I understand, the last half of this year, so it's probably just around the corner. This Committee has on many different occasions warned against the use of Tasers, both in special situations and especially as a regular weapon to all the police, as I understand the plans are. And there are a lot of reasons for this, I won't go into the detail, because these have been described both by this Committee and by a lot of others, because, first of all, health reasons, physical as well as psychological. So I would hope that you would rethink and perhaps change the decision of implementing a pilot and also doing it in practice."
Committee member Fernando Mariño Menéndez (Spain): "I'm also concerned by the decision that we've heard about to generalize the use of Tasers by all regular police officers, as just referred to by Mrs. Sveaass, that the Tasers will be used as an [armament] for standard use across the Kingdom of the Netherlands. That's our understanding, perhaps we're wrong, perhaps there is a special protocol governing the use of Tasers. Our position as a Committee is that Tasers shouldn't be used at all. If they are to be used, and this seems to be dangerous, then they need to be used in very specific cases and properly regulated. We'd like to know what's happening in the Kingdom of the Netherlands."
Update 14 May 2013, 16.45h: This afternoon Privacy First employee Vincent Böhre was interviewed about this topic on Dutch radio station FunX. You can listen to the entire interview (in Dutch) here:
Update 15 May 2013: This afternoon the Netherlands had the opportunity to answer the questions that were asked by the UN Committee yesterday. In the audio file below you can hear how the Dutch Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva denies and downplays the Dutch plans concerning Taser weapons. For the Committee members this was no reason to tone down or withdraw their critical remarks made yesterday. Therefore, Privacy First expects the Committee to express sharp criticism on the Dutch Taser plans in its Concluding Observations that are soon to be issued. Tonight the Committee already published a press release about the Dutch session; click HERE.
Update 16 May 2013: An integral video registration of both session days of the UN Committee is online HERE. The Concluding Observations of the Committee about the Netherlands will follow on Friday afternoon 31 May 2013 (June 3rd at the latest), Privacy First was told by telephone from Geneva today.
Update 22 May 2013: as a result of the Dutch session before the UN Committee last week, Dutch opposition party D66 today has posed a series of critical Parliamentary questions to Minister Opstelten; click HERE (in Dutch).
Update 31 May 2013: As predicted earlier by Privacy First and as reported tonight by Dutch television news program EenVandaag, the UN Committee against Torture has issued a negative statement today about Minister Opstelten's plans to equip the entire Dutch police force with Taser weapons:
"The Committee is concerned about the pilot plan to be reportedly launched to distribute electrical discharge weapons to the entire Dutch police force, without due safeguards against misuse and proper training for the personnel. The Committee is concerned that this may lead to excessive use of force (arts. 2, 11 and 16). The Committee recommends to the State party, in accordance with articles 2 and 16 of the Convention, to refrain from flat distribution and use of electrical discharge weapons by police officers. It also recommends adopting safeguards against misuse and providing proper training for the personnel to avoid excessive use of force. In addition, the Committee recommends that electrical discharge weapons should be used exclusively in extreme limited situations where there is a real and immediate threat to life or risk of serious injury, as a substitute for lethal weapons." (para. 27. Click HERE for the entire document.)
The Privacy First Foundation hopes that this negative stance by the UN Committee will lead to a reconsideration and withdrawal of the Dutch plans to equip every Dutch police officer with a Taser weapon. Privacy First also hopes that the announced pilot will not be executed.
Privacy First calls for moratorium on illegal operations with Dutch police drones
From the response to Parliamentary questions (in Dutch) it emerged this week that there is no specific legal basis for the secret use of drones by police in the Netherlands. According to the Dutch Minister of Security and Justice Mr. Ivo Opstelten, the current use of drones for criminal investigation purposes is based on the general task of the police as described in Article 3 of the Dutch Police Act (Politiewet). However, this vague and brief provision was never designed for this purpose. Moreover, Article 8, paragraph 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) dictates that every governmental infringement on people's privacy has to be explicitly laid down in national legislation which is sufficiently accessible and foreseeable and contains guarantees against abuse (among which are privacy violations and 'function creep'). However, no specific Dutch legal basis for the use of drones by police exists yet, let alone a legal basis that would be sufficiently accessible and foreseeable and that includes privacy guarantees for Dutch citizens. The violation of people's privacy by the current use of drones is therefore in breach with Article 8 ECHR and hence unlawful.
Without a specific legal basis in accordance with Article 8 paragraph 2 ECHR, every police drone constitutes an inadequate means of criminal investigation that shouldn't be used. Therefore the use of such drones should be suspended with immediate effect. In individual criminal cases, it is up to the judge to exclude information gathered with police drones from legal proceedings as it concerns unlawfully obtained evidence.
Privacy First hereby makes an urgent appeal to the Dutch House of Representatives to institute a moratorium on the further use of drones. Such a moratorium should only be lifted after a broad democratic debate has taken place and the use of drones has been properly regulated. In case the current Dutch situation will continue to be politically tolerated, Privacy First reserves the right to enforce a moratorium in court.
Saturday, 23 March 2013 21:48
Heise Online (Germany), 23 March 2013: 'Niederlande: Drogenfahndung und Verfolgung Flüchtiger mit Drohnen'
"Die niederländische Polizei hat seit 2009 in 132 Fällen Drohnen eingesetzt, um unterschiedliche Straftaten zu klären oder Lagebilder zu erstellen. Die Verfolgung von Fluchtautos mit Kameras und das Aufspüren von Cannabis-Plantagen mit Wärmekameras bildeten dabei die Mehrzahl der Einsätze. Dies geht aus Angaben des niederländischen Infrastruktur- und Innenministeriums hervor, das allerdings Details zu den Drohnen-Einsätzen verweigerte. Das findet der anfragende Abgeordnete Gerard Schouw von der Partei D66 untragbar: Der Drohneneinsatz müsse öffentlich kontrollierbar sein und eine rechtliche Grundlage haben.
Gegenüber dem niederländischen Programm von RTL erklärte Schouw, dass ohne genaue Auskünfte und Kontrollmöglichkeiten der Einsatz von Drohnen in einer Grauzone stattfinde. "Aus welcher Entfernung werden da unschuldige Bürger gefilmt? Niemand hat eine Ahnung, was da passiert."
Unterstützung erhielt Schouw von der niederländischen Datenschutzorganisation Privacy First. Deren Anwalt Vincent Böhre erklärte, dass die Kameraüberwachung mit Drohnen eine Überwachungstechnik ist, die nach dem niederländischen Recht nicht erlaubt sei.
Ähnlich äußerte sich der Jurist Leon Wecke von der Universität Radboud. "Wir werden überall von Kameras verfolgt. Nun sind es auch noch Drohnen, denen wir uns nicht bewusst sind." Dies sei eine Verletzung der Privatsphäre, erklärte Wecke gegenüber dem Internet-Nachrichten Nu.nl. Drohnen bedürften daher einer eigenständigen gesetzlichen Regelung, betonte Wecke. Zu den Drohneneinsätzen soll es in Arnhem, Amsterdam, Almere und Rotterdam gekommen sein. Wegen fortlaufender technischer Probleme soll die Amsterdamer Polizei ihre Drohnen inzwischen außer Dienst gestellt haben.
In Deutschland hatten zuletzt die Grünen auf einer Fachtagung über den Einsatz von Drohnen diskutiert und dabei über Polizeidrohnen ebenso wie über Militärdrohnen gesprochen. Die Videos dieser Tagung sind mittlerweile online verfügbar."
Source: Heise Online, 23 March 2013.
Published in Privacy First in the Media
Expatica.com, 18 March 2013: 'Use of drone aircraft in criminal investigations raises privacy fears'
"The police are increasingly using unmanned aircraft in their efforts to track down criminals in the Netherlands, leading to MPs' questions about the privacy implications.
Drones - small helicopters equipped with cameras - are used to trace burglars and getaway cars as well as illegal marijuana plantations. For example, Harlingen borrowed two drones from the defence ministry last year after a spate of burglaries in the Frisian town.
Since 2009, drones have been used in at least 40 areas, the AD reported on Monday. In total, they were in the air on at least 132 different days.
D66 parliamentarian Gerard Schouw has asked the justice ministry to explain the implications of the use of drones on privacy.
'I understand they can be useful, but they need to have a basis in law,' he is quoted as saying by RTL news. 'How closely can innocent citizens be filmed. No-one has a clue what they are filming.'
Lawyer Vincent Böhre from the Privacy First foundation said the use of drones is illegal because the flights are not made public.
'It is a form of camera supervision which is not allowed under Dutch law,' he told the broadcaster. The use of drones also infringes European privacy laws, he said.
Amsterdam city council said earlier this year it had grounded its two €29,000 drones because of continuing technical problems."
Source: Expatica.com (Netherlands), 18 March 2013.
UPI.com (USA), 18 March 2013: 'Dutch question police use of drones'
"Dutch lawmakers and lawyers say they are questioning the increasing use of unmanned aircraft by police to track criminals and locate marijuana plantations.
The drones have been used for at least 132 days in at least 40 areas since 2009, DutchNews.nl reported Monday.
The city of Harlingen borrowed two drones from the defense ministry in 2012 after a rash of burglaries.
"I understand they can be useful, but they need to have a basis in law," said parliamentarian Gerard Schouw after asking the defense ministry to explain the implications the drones may have on privacy.
"How closely can innocent citizens be filmed," he queried. "No one has a clue what they are filming."
Use of the drones is illegal under Dutch law and may violate European privacy laws, said attorney Vincent Bohre of the Privacy First Foundation.
Amsterdam city officials said earlier this year they had grounded their two drones because of technical problems."
Source: UPI.com (United Press International, USA), 18 March 2013.
SonHaber.nl (Turkish), 18 March 2013: 'Hollanda polisi insansız uçakları sevdi'
"Son yıllarda Hollanda polisinin yasadışı faaliyetlerle mücadele konusunda daha fazla oranda insansız uçaklardan kullandığı belirtildi.
AD gazetesinin yer alan bir haberde, "drones" adı verilen insansız uçakların özellikle insan ve uyuşturucu ticareti veya yasadışı suç örgütlerinin araştırıldığı belirtildi. Son dönemlerde bu uçakalrın daha sık kullanıldığı belirtilen haberde 2009'dan bu yana en az 132 kez kullanıldığı belirtildi.
Altyapı ve Çevre Bakanlığı, Güvenlik ve Adalet Bakanlığı ve İçişleri Bakanlığı verilerine göre Hollanda üzerinde en az 40 noktada adı geçen uçakların uçtuğu ve son dönemlerde bu sayıda artma olduğu belirtiliyor.
Gizlilik Birincilik Vakfı (De stichting Privacy First), polis tarafından kullanılan bu uygulamanın, haber verilmeden yapıldığını bundan dolayı da yasadışı olduğunu belirtiyor.
Öte yandan D66 milletvekili Gerard Schouw'da Mecliste bu konu hakkında açıklama isteyeceğini belirtirken "bu tür kontroller yasal ve kontrol edilebilir şekilde olmalı. Şuanda hiç bir şey bilmiyoruz"dedi.
Polis geçtiğimiz yıl Aralık ve bu yıl Şubat ayında Savunma Bakanlığına ait olan Drones uçaklarını Harlingen'deki hırsızlık olaylarını çözmek için kulandığını belirtmişti."
Bron: SonHaber.nl, 18 March 2013
Appeal to the Dutch National Human Rights Institute
As of 2 October 2012, the new Dutch National Human Rights Institute (College voor de Rechten van de Mens, CRM) will open its doors. Recently the Institute under formation established the essential pillars of its policy for the coming years, namely 1) care for the elderly, 2) immigrants and 3) discrimination on the labor market. However, of all human rights, in recent years the right to privacy is worst off in the Netherlands. Contrary to the above mentioned pillars (that concern vulnerable groups of people), the right to privacy appertains to anyone who finds him or herself on Dutch soil. In essence this has turned the entire Dutch population into a vulnerable group, especially in comparison to the situation in other countries where the protection of privacy is much better regulated. A few years ago the right to privacy was even about to become a complete illusion in the Netherlands. In May 2009 this state of affairs led to the foundation of the Dutch Platform for the Protection of Civil Rights (Platform Bescherming Burgerrechten) in which various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have joined forces. This week the Platform sent the below appeal (co-authored and signed by Privacy First) to the chairman of the future National Human Rights Institute, Laurien Koster:
Dear Ms. Koster,
Today, of all human rights, the right to privacy finds itself under the most pressure. Therefore, it is with concern that the Platform for the Protection of Civil Rights recently took note of the three essential pillars of the National Human Rights Institute for the coming years, namely 1) care for the elderly, 2) immigrants and 3) discrimination on the labor market. Not willing to take anything away from the social importance of these three pillars, in this letter we ask you to still consider adopting privacy as one of the pillars of your Institute.
In recent years, there seems to be the tendency in the Netherlands to confront every social problem with a standard formula, that is say, more digital registration, more linkage of files, opening up systems and central databases that become accessible to ever more officials and third parties, restriction of professional autonomy, preventive controls and profiling. It seems as if people, especially politicians, influenced as they are by the media and the vox populi – which in turn is affected by the media – think that these instruments exert a certain control over society that should lead to more order, tranquillity and security. In our opinion the opposite effect is increasingly the case. After all, digitalization implies that the quantity of data that is stored of every citizen becomes ever greater and less clear and less controllable. This especially applies to data that have been inserted or linked up erroneously or that are obsolete. The exponential growth of digital registrations sees a dramatic increase in risks of data leakages while new forms of identity fraud and identity theft arise. This means that the insecurity of digital systems becomes a direct threat to citizens. Furthermore, there's a risk that citizens become their own digital 'doubles' through digital profiling. This implies that the autonomy of the free citizen who participates in society – a characteristic so very important in a democratic constitutional State – is seriously put at stake.
Going back to a society without the Internet or digital files is by no means what we advocate for (if it were possible anyway). However, a sensible use of technological means, among which data storage, biometrics and other such technological assets, will be necessary to retain our democratic constitutional State and affiliated fundamental rights. Particularly in these times of unforeseen technological possibilities we should once more realize how important the fundamental principles of our society are. Therefore, it should every time be assessed what is within the boundaries of acceptability and to what extent possible alternatives on a human scale, such as personal contact but also assistance and service, are desirable or necessary.
Privacy constitutes the basis of our democratic constitutional State. Without privacy many other human rights are at issue, among which are the right to confidential communication and freedom of speech, non-discrimination, freedom of movement, association and assembly, demonstration, culture and religion, press freedom as well as the right to a fair trial. Apart from that we observe that in the Netherlands the right to privacy can only rely on patchy protection by government supervision, that is to say, it only concerns the protection of personal data. As far as the protection of personal privacy in the broadest sense of the word is concerned (and this includes the inviolability of the home and the right to physical integrity) there is hardly any government supervision. Moreover, with regard to the realization and compliance to as well as the protection and promotion of the right to privacy in conjunction with other human rights, government supervision is lacking altogether. It is especially in these areas that your Institute has added value and can help overcome the 'human rights gap' that has come into existence in the Netherlands in recent decades.
We hope that your Institute will still make the right to privacy one of its policy pillars. If you wish, the organizations that together form the Platform for the Protection of Civil Rights are happy to supply you with information and advice.
On behalf of the participants of the Platform for the Protection of Civil Rights I remain respectfully yours.
Vincent Böhre
chairman of the Platform for the Protection of Civil Rights
On behalf of the Platform participants:
Humanistisch Verbond (Humanist Association)
Stichting KDVP (KDVP Foundation; Dome of DBC Free Practices)
Stichting Meldpunt Misbruik ID-plicht (Contact Point on Abuse of Mandatory Identification)
Ouders Online (Parents Online)
Stichting Privacy First (Privacy First Foundation)
Burgerrechtenvereniging Vrijbit (Civil rights society Vrijbit)
Jacques Barth (on behalf of Stichting Brein en Hart i.o. (Brain and Heart Foundation under formation)
Joyce Hes (advisor to the Platform for the Protection of Civil Rights)
Kaspar Mengelberg (on behalf of DeVrijePsych (The Free Psychiatrist))
A pdf version of this letter can be found HERE (in Dutch)
Update: in a written reply (pdf) the Institute under formation notifies that in the Netherlands there is indeed ''still a lot to be done to safeguard the right to privacy''. The Institute also acknowledges the limited mandate of the Dutch Data Protection Authority (College Bescherming Persoonsgegevens). However, for the time being the Institute sticks to its intended strategic agenda. Nevertheless, in the future (also the coming three years) the Institute ''can't and won't distance itself from problems when realizing the right to privacy''. Privacy First will be eager to remind the Institute of this in urgent cases.
Published in Meta-Privacy
Privacy First demands privacy-friendly Public Transport chip card
On Thursday 28 February 2013 there will be an important debate about the Dutch 'OV-chipkaart' (Public Transport chip card) in the Dutch House of Representatives (permanent commission for Infrastructure and Environment). In preparation of this debate the Privacy First Foundation today brought the following points to the attention of relevant Dutch Members of Parliament:
The 'anonymous' OV chip card is not anonymous because it contains a unique identification number in the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-chip with which travellers can be identified and tracked afterwards through the linking of transaction data. In the view of Privacy First, this constitutes a violation of two human rights, namely the freedom of movement in conjunction with the right to privacy, in other words the classic right to travel freely and anonymously within one's own country. Privacy First is eager to learn from the House of Representatives as well as the responsible member of government which steps have already been taken for the introduction of an anonymous OV chip card that is truly anonymous, for example through the development of new chip technology and modern forms of encryption without a unique identification number (privacy by design).
As long as (truly) anonymous OV chip cards and anonymous discount cards do not exist, printed travel tickets are to remain available for travellers who want to travel anonymously. Moreover, a special, anonymous discount card for children and elderly people should also be introduced.
Compulsory check-ins and check-outs for students carrying student OV chip cards contravenes with the right of students to travel freely and anonymously. Compulsory check-ins and check-outs therefore have to be abolished.
The planned closure of turnstiles at Dutch National Railway stations (Nederlandse Spoorwegen, NS) constitutes an unnecessary restriction to people's freedom of movement and can lead to dangerous situations in the event of calamities. It also creates unsafe situations in individual cases, for example for children, elderly people, ill or incapacitated people who need to be accompanied through the station by family or friends. Therefore Privacy First makes an urgent appeal to leave the turnstiles open at all times or to get rid of them and replace them with anonymous check-in and check-out poles.
The current retention period of OV chip card data should be reduced to an absolute minimum. Moreover, travellers should be offered the option to erase their travel history at any given moment.
The OV chip card dramatically increases costs for travellers, either when purchasing a chip card, when forgetting to check out, in the event of a malfunctioning card or check-out pole or when deciding to travel anonymously with a printed ticket. Privacy First is eager to hear from the House of Representatives as well as the responsible government member which measures will be taken to make travelling with an OV chip card cheaper while preserving people's privacy.
Published in Mobility
Wednesday, 13 February 2013 15:33
Every motorist to become a potential suspect
The Dutch Ministry of Justice wants to track all motorists. The Privacy First Foundation is preparing for legal action.
Under a new, far-reaching legislative proposal, the Dutch Minister of Security and Justice Ivo Opstelten aims to enhance criminal investigation by introducing a four week storage period of the number plates of all cars through camera surveillance and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). Current rules dictate that these data have to be deleted within 24 hours. In 2010, the previous Dutch Minister of Justice (Hirsch Ballin) planned to make a similar proposal with a storage period of 10 days. However, the Dutch House of Representatives then declared this topic to be controversial. In his current proposal, Opstelten takes things a few steps further. Early 2010 the Dutch Data Protection Authority (College Bescherming Persoonsgegevens, CBP) ruled that police forces were not adhering to Dutch privacy rules by storing number plates for a greater period than was legally allowed. According to the CBP, all number plates that are not suspect (so-called 'no hits') are to be removed from relevant databases immediately. Opstelten's plan to store the number plates of unsuspected citizens for four weeks directly flies in the face of this.
The Privacy First Foundation considers Opstelten's legislative proposal to be a threat to society. ''Under this measure every citizen becomes a potential suspect. You ought to trust the government, but it's that very government that distrusts its own citizens'', Privacy First chairman Bas Filippini declares. In a healthy democratic constitutional State the government should leave innocent citizens alone. Under this legislative proposal the government crosses that fundamental line. Collectively monitoring all motorists for criminal investigation and prosecution purposes is completely disproportionate and therefore unlawful.
In case Dutch Parliament adopts this legislative proposal, Privacy First will summon the Netherlands and have the legislative Act in question declared null and void on account of being in violation with the right to privacy. If needed, Privacy First and individual co-plaintiffs will be prepared to litigate all the way up to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. As of today, every citizen who is willing to participate in this lawsuit can register with Privacy First, stating 'ANPR Trial'.
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Jon R. Osborne
Putting an over-active imagination to work
Chris Kennedy Publishing
Long time gamer turned science fiction and fantasy author to tell the stories the dice wouldn't
The Milesian Accords
A Reluctant Druid
My first novel, A Reluctant Druid is Book 1 of the Milesian Accords. The Exiled Gods want to come back to the world of man while the Powers That Be want to maintain the status quo. Liam Knox is caught in the middle between an ancient destiny and his tangled past.
Find it at Amazon.
A Tempered Warrior
Dragon Award 2018 Finalist – Best Fantasy Novel
The second book of The Milesian Accords urban fantasy trilogy, A Tempered Warrior picks up right after the shocking conclusion of A Reluctant Druid. Time marches forward toward the challenge. Erin, in the otherworldly Glaswold, finds new friends, new foes, and stunning surprises. Meanwhile, those left behind in rural Illinois have to pick up the pieces and move forward.
Find it on Amazon.
A Tangled Fate
The Milesian Accords trilogy reaches its epic conclusion in A Tangled Fate. Time has run out for Liam and Erin. People have already paid the price for helping them, and now they must keep their family and friends safe from the forces arrayed against them. Can Liam and Erin survive long enough to reach the Challenge and face their intertwined fate?
The Four Horsemen Universe – Bjorn's Berserkers
When The Axe Falls
Bjorn's Berserkers join the Omega War!
Bjorn Tovesson III, commander of Bjorn's Berserkers, suspects a plot against the mercenary companies of Earth.
As the storm clouds continue to gather, Bjorn's past is on a collision course with the present, as another of Earth's mercenary companies is out to get him…and with the support of the Mercenary Guild, they have the forces to overwhelm him! Will Bjorn's preparations keep the Berserkers safe, or will they become yet another casualty of the Omega War?
An Axe To Grind
The Omega Wars are over but the galaxy is not at peace.
The Omega War may have ended, but neither Earth nor the galaxy are at peace. Bjorn Tovesson III, commander of Bjorn's Berserkers has returned to Earth. Bear Town is a smoldering ruin, and the Bjorn's father is dead.
While Bjorn hunts the aliens responsible for murdering his father and slaughtering many of the Berserkers trapped on Earth during Peepo's invasion, he receives an offer too good to pass up. Despite the Mercenary Guild suspending contracts, Bjorn could make the credits needed to bring his plans to fruition.
Can Bjorn put aside the past? The Omega War may be over, but everyone still has an axe to grind.
Four Horsemen Universe Frontiers – Book 3
Every epic tale has a beginning.
Bjorn Tovesson III was heir apparent to Bjorn's Berserkers, one of Earth's successful and respected mercenary companies. Bjorn had a different life in mind than what his father wanted. He was a star high school athlete with college prospects that would let him escape a destiny of battle on alien worlds.
When an attack shatters his dreams, how will Bjorn pick up the pieces? Can he still escape a future as a mercenary, or will he embrace it?
A Fistful of Credits
Fourteen outstanding authors. Fourteen extraordinary stories. One bestselling universe.
Enter the Four Horsemen universe, where only a willingness to fight and die for money separates Humans from the majority of the other races. Enter a galaxy not only of mercenaries, but also of Peacemakers, bounty hunters, and even a strung out junkie in the way of a hired assassin.
The Good, The Bad, And The Merc
Bjorn's Berserkers are back!
The Good, The Bad And The Merc is the third anthology set in the best-selling Four Horseman Universe. Featuring a foreword by David Drake, this book contains 16 stories to take you deeper into the 4HU, including "Angels and Aliens" by Jon R. Osborne. Return to the galaxy where mankind's number one export is violence for hire.
Luck Is Not A Factor
Bjorn Tovesson III returns!
What do you do when the odds are stacked against you? Mercs plan, strategize, and sometimes even scheme, but there is one thing they all believe—luck is never a factor.
Unless it is.
Nineteen authors take on various aspects of the universe, giving you additional insight into a galaxy that isn't at war…but definitely isn't at peace.
Stories From This Fallen World
In the late 2020's and early 30's corporations managed to render the major governments of the world obsolete. In the late 30's, what would be known as the Corporate Wars began as larger companies initiated hostile takeovers in a whole new fashion. Employees, armed with corporate weapons, warred for dominance.
On May 1st, 2067, it all ended in nuclear fire.
Sixteen outstanding authors have come to this Fallen World with stories that take place from the islands off the coast of Washington to the plains of central Europe; from the swamps of Florida to the streets of Philadelphia. These stories document the fall…and introduce you to people who might just drag civilization back from the ashes…
An anthology of Hunter tales in the Four Horsemen Universe.
Thirteen incredible authors. Thirteen Stories about the Depik—what they were and where their society goes from here!
The Depik are feared across the galaxy as the ultimate assassins, but when an attack on their home world devastates their society, the survivors are scattered across the galaxy. As humanity helps bring their civilization back together, though, how do the remaining Depik adults put their society back together and teach the young kits and kitas about what was lost?
When Valor Must Hold
Fourteen extraordinary stories. One outstanding anthology.
Fifteen authors have spun fourteen tales of hateful wizards, treacherous seas, and scheming foes. Of times when ancient evils roamed the Earth, looking for souls to claim, and dark prophecies foretold what would happen if the Evil Ones were allowed to succeed. This anthology has all of this and more.
Discover the origin of Nechtan from the Milesian Accords and how he earned his spot in Dunos Scath in "The Errand."
Through The Gate
Salvage System is a beacon of hope, and a number of other races continue looking toward it as an inspiration for how to live and govern themselves, and—in some cases—for assistance in defending themselves and throwing off oppressive regimes.
But the galaxy is a big place, and many of the races in it aren't friendly. Would these forces like to take over Salvage System and acquire its resources? Absolutely.
Fifteen incredible authors take you further into the Salvage Title universe, giving you looks at some of the beacons of hope…and some of the malevolence that has yet to show its face. Can Harmon Tomeral and his friends hold out against it? Take a look inside and find out!
More tales from the Lyon's Den.
Welcome back to the Four Horsemen universe, where only a willingness to fight and die for money separates Humans from the majority of the other races. Edited by bestselling authors and universe creators Mark Wandrey and Chris Kennedy, "The Gates of Hell: More Tales from the Lyon's Den" includes fifteen all-new stories in the Four Horsemen universe by a variety of bestselling authors—and some you may not have heard of…yet. Want witness Bjorn's Berserkers most costly victory? Read "Jaws Of Defeat."
We Dare 2 – Semper Paratus
The apocalypse is coming! Scientists and science fiction novelists have long predicted various forms of the apocalypse, from plagues to wars to aliens. If there's a way to end civilization, someone has probably prophesized it. Civilizations rise and civilizations fall…but are you ready for it to happen to you? How will you survive and thrive in the event of an apocalypse?
One thing is certain—like every civilization before ours, at some point, ours will fall. Will you be ready when that happens? Our authors have dared to look at every type of apocalypse from nuclear war to shadow monsters to darkness falling, and they are ready for the end of the world…are you prepared as well?
Set The Terms
The Peacemaker Anthology
Being a Peacemaker isn't easy. They're charged with setting the terms and doing anything which needs to be done—even if it personally costs them everything. They must learn to honor the threat to all life, and, in the end, they must stand or fall, based on their own convictions.
Welcome back to the Four Horsemen universe, where only a willingness to fight and die for money separates Humans from the majority of the other races. Edited by Mia R. Kleve and bestselling author Kevin Ikenberry, "Set the Terms" includes fourteen all-new Peacemaker-themed stories in the Four Horsemen universe by a variety of bestselling authors—and some you may not have heard of…yet.
JonOz@aol.com
Copyright © 2021 Jon R. Osborne — Escapade WordPress theme by GoDaddy


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Home / Speakers / Gianno Caldwell
Gianno Caldwell
Fox News Political Analyst and Founder, Caldwell Strategic Consulting
A veteran in legislative affairs, media, and advocacy, he's spent almost two decades sharing his expertise, intellect, and skills to causes ranging from his hometown of Chicago, to presidential campaigns
Frequently provides political analysis and commentary on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Channel, CNN, HLN, BET, TV One, and various other national news networks
A recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including the Porsche Power "30 under 30" and Red Alert Politics "30 under 30" award in 2016, Caldwell continues to be a political trailblazer and influencer who represents the changing climate of politics in the US
His opinions are sought out on a wide variety of topics including domestic policy, the economy, and Congress
LOCATION/TRAVELS FROM: CA
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Gianno Caldwell is the principal and founder of Caldwell Strategic Consulting. This bi-partisan firm headquartered in Washington, DC, focuses on healthcare, financial services, energy, and local government issues.
Gianno has held a role on behalf of a member of Congress as well as roles at the federal, state, and local level reflecting over six years of legislative experience and culminating in the recognition of his ability to effectively create legislative strategies and build bipartisan coalitions. Gianno frequently provides analysis and commentary on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Channel, CNN, HLN, BET, TV One as well as various national news networks. He is also a contributor to The Hill newspaper. His opinions are sought out on a wide variety of topics including domestic policy, the economy, and Congress.
Gianno began his government relations career serving as the Director of Government Relations for Naperville Township, a local government agency in Illinois. His primary focus was to develop strategies to cut costs relative to transportation, healthcare, taxes, pensions, and local government. In this position, he successfully lobbied the reduction of property tax rates for the whole of Naperville Township.
From Gianno's proven success at the local level, Gianno went on to serve as a Legislative Liaison to the Illinois State Treasurer. In this role, Gianno was keenly responsible for successfully advancing venture capital legislation that was signed into law, an effort unsuccessfully attempted by the two previous administrations. The Illinois State Treasurer has the responsibility of investing more than 17 billion in state funds and as his advisor on banking, financial services, tax, healthcare, pensions, gaming, and venture capital related legislation, the signing of this law allowed for the investment of state funds along with private capital into Illinois-based technology, start-up companies. From working at the State and local levels, Gianno was requested to continue to support Illinois interests in Washington, DC.
As a Legislative Intern, Gianno worked on behalf of Congressman John Shimkus, assisting with the research and analysis of health, energy, and telecommunications legislation. Understanding the intricacies and complex nature of these fields, Gianno wrote a state impact analysis on the implementation healthcare exchange legislation. The impact analysis and profile was then developed into briefing materials and talking points for the Energy and Commerce health subcommittee. Additionally, Gianno composed an analysis on proposed federal legislation that would impact the state of Illinois' Medicaid program which required the state of Illinois' Medicaid budget to be analyzed and measured to provide a cost benefit analysis.
Prior to these roles, Gianno worked for the Social Security Administration leaving the agency after nearly seven years of service in numerous positions. In his last role with the administration he worked as a Senior Legal Analyst to the former Federal National Medicare Chief Judge. In 2011, Gianno served as the Director of African American Outreach for the DuPage County Republican party, the largest Republican county organization in Illinois. Additionally, Gianno served on Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign for President as an advance staffer. Gianno is a native Chicagoan and holds a bachelor's of science in psychology from Grand Canyon University.
Taken For Granted Talking Points:
How a stranger became the catalyst that helped change Gianno's political narrative
Going head-to-head with fellow Fox News Contributor Richard Fowler on air
The misconceptions about gun violence in Chicago, including:
Hiring more police officers is going to fix everything
If the government could ban all guns in the city, everything would be resolved
Why Democrats need to be held responsible for Chicago's violence
His November 2018 D.C. visit to lobby the First Step Act
"The Art of the Compromise" to effectively understand where all parties in a disagreement are coming from and to forge a solution that continues to meet the spirit of what each person truly wants:
Winning today is less important than winning your goal
Keep your emotions in check, understanding the importance of emotions at the very beginnings of the conversation
Share deeply and authentically
Listen with an open mind
Show appreciation
Gianno Caldwell is a fresh, thought provoking voice that is important and inspirational.
Taken for Granted: How Conservatism Can Win Back the Americans That Liberalism Failed
Bakari Sellers
CNN Political Analyst & Former Representative from South Carolina
GOP Strategist, Political Contributor to CNN and Telemundo, and Co-Host of ABC's The View
Eboni Williams
Co-Host of REVOLT TV's State of the Culture, Best-Selling Author, TV Personality, & Attorney
Dana Perino
Former White House Press Secretary, Fox News Host, Political Commentator, & Best-Selling Author