Weaponized Food–Do We Need a Striped Eggplant? by Joseph Natoli

by Joseph Natoli
Writer, Dandelion Salad
April 10, 2013

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

Gulliver’s Travels in Food, Farming & Cuisine: Chronicle Three

Over the years I’ve remarked that what Americans do to food is not just growing, cooking and eating it but what I call “weaponizing” it.

This is done not in the service of feeding an increasing multitude but in the service of an array of reasons I list as if they sprang from Pandora’s Box:

Digital Disconnect: Robert McChesney on “How Capitalism is Turning the Internet Against Democracy”

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democracynow·Apr 5, 2013

www.democracynow.org – Longtime media-reform advocate Robert McChesney looks at how the future of American politics could be largely determined by who controls the Internet in his newest book. “‘Digital Disconnect’ talks about the difference between the mythology of the Internet — the hope would it empower people and make democracy triumphant — versus the reality of large corporate monopolies and the government working together are taking away the promise of the Internet to suit their interests,” says McChesney, the co-founder of Free Press and the National Conference for Media Reform.

Jerry Mander Connects the Dots Between Corporate Media and the Food We Eat

Image by lonely radio via Flickr

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kokotan·Mar 18, 2006

Jerry Mander, executive director of the International Forum on Globalization talks about the centralization of media and effect of advertisement.

Exclusive: The Dangers of Technological Singularity by Rocket Kirchner

Image by :NFR: via Flickr

by Rocket Kirchner
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Rocket Kirchner (blog)
Rocket Kirchner (youtube channel)
March 20, 2013

Sherlock Holmes said, “When one tries to rise above nature, one is liable to fall below it.” Utopian thought has always been dangerous, and just in case you didn’t know it we are coming face to face with one whopper looming over the horizon in this century. It began with what was considered a relatively harmless ideology known as “Transhumanism” and has been exponentially accelerating toward what Vernor Vinge calls a technological singularity, or “the prediction wall”.

The New Propaganda Is Liberal. The New Slavery Is Digital. by John Pilger

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by John Pilger
http://johnpilger.com
14 March 2013

Image by Truthout.org via Flickr

What is modern propaganda? For many, it is the lies of a totalitarian state. In the 1970s, I met Leni Riefenstahl and asked her about her epic films that glorified the Nazis. Using revolutionary camera and lighting techniques, she produced a documentary form that mesmerized Germans; her ‘Triumph of the Will’  cast Hitler’s spell.

She told me that the “messages” of her films were dependent not on “orders from above,” but on the “submissive void” of the German public. Did that include the liberal, educated bourgeoisie? “Everyone,” she said.

Barack Obama’s Executive Order — Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity + Cyber Dragnet? Obama’s Internet security order to enable monitoring of civilians

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Propaganda Alert!

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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 12, 2013

EXECUTIVE ORDER

- – - – - – -

IMPROVING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE CYBERSECURITY

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Role of State Terror in Death of Anti-SOPA Activist Aaron Swartz by Imani Henry

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Image by Steve Rhodes via Flickr

By Imani Henry
Workers World
January 21, 2013

The largest online protest in history, known as the anti-SOPA Internet strike, took place on Jan. 18 a year ago to oppose the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act. If passed, SOPA and PIPA would have had the potential to drastically censor and limit users’ access to online information, as well as give the U.S. government more power to police the Internet.  The bills were backed by corporations in the entertainment industry.

Apps: Inanities and Dependencies by Ralph Nader

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by Ralph Nader
The Nader Page
Jan. 10, 2013

Image by Seth Meranda via Flickr

Redundant, trivial, overcomplicated and dependency-inducing apps (computer applications) are flooding the internet. Some apps associated with deceptive and harmful claims are even drawing the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Consumers beware!

Technology Servitude by Joel S. Hirschhorn

by Joel S. Hirschhorn
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
www.foavc.org
January 5, 2013

Image by Susan NYC via Flickr

Everywhere I look outside my home I see people busy on their high tech devices, while driving, while walking, while shopping, while in groups of friends, while in restaurants, while waiting in doctor offices and hospitals, while sitting in toilets – everywhere.  While connected electronically, they are inattentive to and disconnected in physical reality.

People have been steadily manipulated to become technology addicted.  Technology is the opiate of the masses.

The CEB Story: The Liberator — Open Source Brick Press

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Image by Sean Church via Flickr

by Open Source Ecology

This story traces the evolution of the Liberator, OSE’s open source compressed earth brick press, from 2007 to 2012. If you’re interested in our CEB press, you can find our information and designs at opensourceecology.org/wiki/Civilization_Starter_Kit_DVD_v0.01

TrapWire: American cities under total surveillance?

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Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

Aug 14, 2012 by RussiaToday

It’s been revealed that the U.S. government is secretly spying on its citizens using an advanced surveillance programme. Software called TrapWire allegedly has access to all security cameras across the country. Documents revealed through Wikileaks claim the software uses the collected data to monitor people via facial recognition. Censorship and technology campaigner Aaron Swartz says people’s every move online and on the street is now being watched.

Elation At Mission Control As Mars Rover Curiosity Successfully Lands On The Red Planet

Image by NASA Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr

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Congratulations to NASA!

Note: replaced first video Aug. 8, 2012

Aug 6, 2012 by RussiaToday

(Touchdown! 0:40) Robotic rover Curiosity has successfully landed in Mars’ Gale Crater. The landing, described by NASA as “seven minutes of terror,” proceeded smoothly – READ MORE http://on.rt.com/d0rbeb

New CISPA in the Senate ready for a vote + Action Alert: Support Privacy Amendments To Cyber-Security Bill

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Jul 31, 2012 by RTAmerica

Congress is debating a new cybersecurity bill that has garnered the support of the White House. Does that mean it will ease the fears from Capitol Hill while still respecting concerns of privacy though? Aaron Swartz of Demand Progress joins RT’s Liz Wahl to talk about the latest efforts regarding the newest cybersecurity legislation being considered.

Internet of food: Arduino-based, urban aquaponics in Oakland

Image by Scrap Pile via Flickr

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Jun 25, 2012 by kirstendirksen

The land in West Oakland where Eric Maundu is trying to farm is covered with freeways, roads, light rail and parking lots so there’s not much arable land and the soil is contaminated. So Maundu doesn’t use soil. Instead he’s growing plants using fish and circulating water.

It’s called aquaponics- a gardening system that combines hydroponics (water-based planting) and aquaculture (fish farming). It’s been hailed as the future of farming: it uses less water (up to 90% less than traditional gardening), doesn’t attract soil-based bugs and produces two types of produce (both plants and fish).

China is Eating our Lunch by Dennis Kucinich

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by Dennis J. Kucinich
Washington, Jul 18, 2012

Image by codepinkphoenix via Flickr

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today defended American businesses in their efforts to compete with foreign competitors to produce green technologies such as solar panels and called for Congressional action on trade manipulation. That manipulation has allowed China to flood the domestic U.S. market with below-cost solar panels. After China dumped subsidized solar panels into the market, the price of solar panels fell below the manufacturing cost of American solar panels. That price drop put many businesses in financial distress, including some companies that had been supported with loans from the Department of Energy.