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Some prominent people have called free software "communist" in an attempt to bring Cold War bugaboos to bear against the movement—a kind of "nuclear option" of FUD. I remember the paranoia of the Cold War personally, and I thought then (and I still do now) that it was "just stupid".
So rather than react as some have done with a knee-jerk "no it's not!", I propose to accept the label and see where that insight takes us. Maybe there is something communist about free software? I think we will see, however, that the idea behind free software is far more radical: no less "communist" than "capitalist", but no more so, either.
The tired rhetoric of the Cold War
August 6th is known as "Peace Day". It's an ironic name for the day that commemorates the day in 1945 when the United States became the only country ever (before or since) to use a nuclear weapon on live human beings. It might be argued that that final offensive act of WWII was also the initial offensive act of the Cold War. We had cooperated uneasily with Soviet Communists to win the war, and when it was over, our political machine began the first go at the "New American Century", with American monopoly control of nuclear weapons as the big stick needed to police the world.
Sometime in the next few years, the Soviets overcame that disadvantage; the "red scare" was started; and Senator McCarthy's anti-communist witch-hunts began—and the word "communist" became more than an academic classification of a particular socio-economic philosophy. It became a dirty word, synonymous with "traitor", and if Bill Gates can still get a rise out of using it to describe the free software movement, then we're apparently still not quite over that paranoia.
But in the end, it is just a word—an idea that, right or wrong, appealed to millions of human beings for decades. I believe that there is some insight to be gained from considering free software from the communist perspective. Maybe in certain important ways, free software is worthy of the name "communist". Not the dirty word, not the strawman totalitarian threat of the communist party, but the pure concept behind it. The part of communism that convinced millions of people that it might be a good idea.
Communism was a political philosophy attempting to solve certain kinds of social problems in the Capitalist West that were (and are) quite frankly real problems: poverty, class stratification, and social injustice. That it did not seem to solve those problems when applied on a national scale during the 20th century represented a human failure, but hardly an incarnation of evil. And you've not yet given an idea a fair hearing until you've looked at it from the point of view of its supporters. Communists themselves do not see the central state control of the economy as the point of communism—only as a means. Marx argued that it should be expected to "wither away" in fact.
No, the point of communism, as communists would describe it, is to implement the communist ideal:
From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.
In this particular sense, free software development does indeed follow. Since there is often no direct and exclusive material remuneration for the work done, the principle reasons for doing software work on free community projects are the abilities and desires of the developers. We have an "interest-ocracy", as some have described it—those who care enough about the design to do the work, get to determine how it is done.
Likewise, the nature of software as information and the resulting near zero cost of replication of the work leads naturally to a condition in which there is no reason not to take according to your needs.
The essential, unbreakable connection between the give of production and the take of consumption is broken naturally by the nature of software itself. Fearing the economic consequences of this reality in a society which takes the conservation of number and mass (natural properties of matter, but unnatural for information), our capitalist societies have constructed elaborate, centrally-administered market-controls (sound familiar?) in order to force the information market, against its nature, to imitate the properties of the matter marketplace.
We call these controls, collectively, the "intellectual property regime". And what was once a fairly innocuous implementation, limited in both time and scope, has become enormous. When 12 year old kids and senior citizens are being threatened with lawsuits and fines of more than they might earn in the next ten years for the horrible crime of listening to music and sharing it with their friends; when vast corporations use armies of lawyers to claim control of trivial ideas through software patents; when international treaties hinge on the application of stricter and stricter controls on the dissemination of information; when the act of merely writing software capable of breaking these manacles on intellectual freedom is made into a criminal offense—can we really pretend that "IP laws" are any less oppressive than the communist "command economy"?
Free software eliminates these unnatural controls, freeing the marketplace, and allowing information products to assume their natural behavior. A behavior, which—curiously—embraces the ideals of the communist society.
Free-Market Communism
In fact, the free/copyleft license strategy and the whole concept of community-based peer production cuts right across this political spectrum, destroying the traditional boundaries, because it achieves the communist ideals without the restrictions that capitalists object to.
As a social contract, free-copyleft licenses like the GPL draw a very different boundary for personal "property" in the intellectual sphere than either capitalism or communism does in the material world. Attribution is accorded much greater importance, as the important fuel for the "reputation game" that keeps excellent creators in a position to create. But the ability to control the use and replication of the work is rejected. Indeed, via the copyleft requirement, this artificial market control is denied to all, ensuring that the work is free for use, reuse, improvement, and sharing of the improved work. The work is owned in that sense, not by any individual, but by "the commons".
Thus it can be said to be both "communist" and "free-market"—at least from a certain point of view. We in the West have been conditioned to believe that the free-market always chooses competition, but in the case of free software, the free market chooses cooperation, or to put it more bluntly, communism (that is to say, it encourages people to behave communally and hold property in common). People can participate in a free software project with little or no "capital", so there is no reason to raise large capital investments, hence no actual need for "capitalism" as such (as opposed to the case of proprietary software, you do not need a company to start a free software project!).
That, of course, is the cannonball that knocks the supports out from under the capitalist arguments for the importance of intellectual property controls to maintain production. They take it as a foregone conclusion that production is impossible without monetary capital investment and that licensing-fees are the only way to recoup that investment. However, free software production is demonstrably so efficient and reductive to cost that capital investment becomes almost irrelevant for all but a tiny minority of software projects. Hence, less restrictive means of collecting revenue—such as service contracts, commissions received beforehand, and investment based on personal use value—have proved adequate to meet the much more modest funding requirements of free software projects.
Contrary to the assumptions of our society, "free market" does not necessarily imply "capitalist". "Capitalism" refers to the specific practice of accumulating capital to start enterprises. In the material marketplace, free markets appear to invariably lead to capitalism, but we can't safely assume that will be so in information markets.
In the free-market of community-based peer production (CBPP), labor is spontaneously contributed to the completion of goals for the pure joy (or enlightened self-interest, if you prefer—which I generally do) of helping the communal effort, based on the skill sets of the people contributing. This happens completely without state coersion or market controls. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" occurs without any kind of state enforcement (i.e. in a free market). Hence, CBPP or free software development, is a real, working case of "free market communism".
We already know that this system works. It built GNU. It built Linux. It built X. It built Wikipedia. It has accomplished things with little or no capital investment that cost corporations billions of dollars in capital (compare to Microsoft Windows, the Apple O/S (before Darwin/OS X), and Encyclopedia Brittanica). And far from being inferior copies as our Western capitalist education says they must be, they appear to be at least as good if not better than their proprietary equivalents. In some cases—such as the Internet itself—there are no proprietary equivalents.
A new revolution
This free market, bazaar economy doesn't really resemble the real 20th century communist societies. But it might resemble the vision that Marx had in his head—of a communist society that worked, that didn't need market controls or oppression to function. But that's not something we should be eager to condemn, is it?
I think the only reason people don't say this is that they are afraid of being labeled "communist" because of the historical paranoia. But I don't think we should be so reactive. We should rise above that level, and realize that that's exactly what we are doing with the free software movement and the bazaar—we are rising above the tired, 20th century conceptions of "communism" and "capitalism". We are replacing them both in the way every old system should hope to be replaced—by building something that works even better.
Long live the revolution!
Copyright © 2006 Terry Hancock / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)
Originally published at www.FreeSoftwareMagazine.com.
You must retain this notice if you reprint this article.
Speak the Word, Comrade!
But I thought we were an autonomous collective...
Scott C.
The highest expression of communism
Any of you that have worked for a large corporation know that therein lies the ultimate expression of communism. The individual is subjugated to the will of the collective (We are Borg. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated or fired).
Well that certainly put the cat among the pigeons
Well that certainly put the cat among the pigeons. ;-)
(I'm refering to the comments on the digg site linked above, actually)
I can't say that wasn't my intention. Honestly, though I did not mean to use the proposition "free software is communist" as merely a strawman -- I actually believe that the term is at least as applicable as "capitalist" is (and actually more so).
We really have four concepts: "capitalism", "free market", "communism", and "command economy". In the industrial-era matter economy we could safely assume that "free market capitalism" would be aligned opposite to "command economy communism". So much so that we have conflated these four concepts into two.
But the information economy turns that on its head. Now we have to choose between "command economy capitalism" and "free market communism".
So if you were a "free market capitalist", which bit was it that you liked? The freedom, or the necessity of building capital in order to create wealth? Personally, I'm going for the freedom -- and if that means that the natural approach to information production is communist, then so be it.
It seems to me that I've already said all this, so if people didn't get it the first time, this comment probably won't help, but I can't help trying again!
How About "Community"
I look at FOSS the same way I look at barn raisings, the neighbor that fixes cars as a hobby, giving somebody a lift to the gas station when they run out of fuel, or an individual that donates his/her time to organize the school carnival:
It is not required, it is an opportunity to help out a neighbor or community because it is the right thing to do.
Our community is just bigger and more diverse is all.
-- Bilfurd
Don't accept THEIR labels
On Boston Legal, Denny Crane said something like, "You lost when you allowed me to frame the question". Allowing Proprietary-Control-Oriented persons and businesses to put their labels on us goes a long way towards simply surrendering to their many unfair characterizations.
Thus: Don't EVER call it "Digital RIGHTS management": Point out the simple fact that it imposes RESTRICTIONS, and insist that it be called 'Digital Restrictions Management'.
And: Don't EVER let them call us 'Communists', allowing the obvious linkage to the totalitarian characteristics of all so-called "Communist" Governments (past and present).
Perhaps we're "Socialists". I feel that we're actually "Libertarians", because Free Software is about FREEDOM-- you aren't FORCED to use it. Don't EVER accept this carefully chosen label of MS toadies. Thanks for listening. Your essay is provocative, I was very happy to be provoked :)
Don't accept their values either ...
The problem I have with being called a "communist" is not unlike the problem with being called a "liberal". Since when is it an insult? And so why should we run scared from it?
You have to have bought into a particular and very elaborate "frame" in order to accept the idea that "communism" is automatically evil. The other side isn't just throwing insulting words around, they're attempting to redefine them in the process by lumping a whole complex system of assumptions onto them.
It's true that the communism as implemented in the 20th century largely derives from Karl Marx, and might be more properly and narrowly defined as "Marxism" which is particularly violent and oppressive (one could mention Lenin and Stalin, but they're hardly an improvement), but American labor unions have also identified themselves and been identified by others as "communist". Certainly they believe in the power of collective action. And I for one, owe a personal debt of gratitude to American labor unions. Collective bargaining for fair wages is the reason I have a college education.
I know that in a pure capitalist system, the tradesmen in my ancestry would've been ground into the dirt by the same kind of greedy capitalist scum that's trying to control this ideology. I've seen what they do first hand, and I've read enough history to know exactly what the "captains of industry" will do to the working class if they can make one extra stinking buck by doing it.
I'll fight for "freedom" versus "oppression", but "capitalism" versus "communism"? Who cares? Freedom can be ideological, but fighting for the economy to be controlled by a few people with deep pockets versus the collective decisionmaking of the many? That's way too much like the "divine right of kings" for my taste. Prove to me why it should matter to me.
IMHO, the only reason why it matters is because -- in the matter economy -- capitalism is what happens when there are no market controls. It is in that sense "natural". Communist states in the 20th century showed us just how expensive and difficult it is to manage an economy unnaturally, and I strongly support the free market, which means that as regards the matter economy, I'm a capitalist, albeit not exactly a "laissez faire" capitalist, because I believe that capitalist markets need boundary conditions in order to behave reasonably well.
But come the information economy and the tables are turned -- now communism is what happens naturally in a free market, and the capitalists need extensive market controls to keep themselves in business. Or so believes Microsoft, the RIAA, and the MPAA. They say we have to have extensive "private intellectual property" systems, artificially enforced by state authority via more and more restrictive laws. And then the laws about that private property aren't enough (and consumers don't believe they're fair), so they start trying to make new technology to enforce their will violently, by oppressing the consumer. Then they feel they need a new set of laws (like the DMCA) to protect the technology of oppression -- even from the prying eyes of researchers. Essentially, they are asking for secret state police measures to enforce their will.
So, I think we need to stop fearing the idea that what we're doing might be communist. Our experience has mislead us into believing that it is the communists who want to oppress us, and that capitalism is always the way to freedom. But that doesn't work in the information world. Information is best when it is widely shared and held in common -- even the American "Founding Fathers" believed that. It's only the peculiar idea of trying to apply rules from the matter marketplace onto information that would make us think otherwise.
The problem with the label "libertarian", though it is probably just as descriptive, is that -- as a party -- libertarians have come down on the other side of the intellectual property issue. Unfortunately, they've been so snowed by the capitalist propaganda, that they don't realize that IP is unfree.
Still, maybe an argument from the "libertarian" angle is worth writing. The main reason I didn't do that here is that I think it's already been done rather well.
It is all about the labour
The flagships of Capitalistic economical thought, to mention just two Johns - John Meynard Keynes and John Kenneth Galbright, have spent the entire productive lives trying to deny simple Marx`s sentence
- The human labour and human labour only creates the new value
Capitalism is all about taking away that new value from it`s rightful owner - the worker.
It is also mentioned in Marx`s "Das Kapital" that reaching the high level of human thought together with "production forces" (technology!?) is a must to make true Comunism viable.
And the paradox - How on earth could come that initiative comes from the most unexpected place - the ultimae Capitalistic society (please read USA). Maybe Marx`s predecessor Hegel could help
- Everz system carries in it`s essence the seed of it`s own destruction
A true failure of our educational system
When you make a statement like, "...hence no actual need for "capitalism�" you fail to realize that most capitalist start off with relatively nothing but the desire to be succesful.
Philosophicaly speaking, capitalism is an extension of free markets. If you choose to share your knowlegde, capital, widgets, programs, etc. that makes you a good person, not a communist.
And that is the kind of
And that is the kind of ignorance that a bourgeois upbringing leads to, as long as we're throwing ad hominem attacks around. ;-)
Sure they start off with "nothing". Nothing but education (generally beyond what is available for the public at large -- that being "communist" or "socialist", too, of course), family connections, and -- oh yeah -- MONEY.
If you get a job to earn capital, you aren't a capitalist, you're a worker. If you get your education from the state-funded public school system only (which is what your choice is limited to if your parents didn't give you the MONEY -- because, for example, they didn't have it), then your remark is particularly ironic.
And if you think it's possible to start out with no education, get a job, pay your way through school, save up money, and start a business from scratch... well, you obviously didn't grow up in the United States anytime in the last 40 years.
bourgeois? really?
Terry Hancock,
I find it very amusing how people like you consider me to be part of the evil, privileged, rich, just because I chose to escape poverty, and not become reliant on government.
When I was very young my mother, brother, and I lived in government housing. Our mother taught us that we can be anything we want to be if we:
1. Learn to speak properly.
2. Get all the education we can.
She refused to accept food stamps because she could afford food, just not housing, and she wanted us to know that we were not supposed to take handouts just because they were there.
So, I guess in a way you are right, success is dependent on being privileged enough to have a good education. Just not the bourgeois education you suggest. The education of success is what my mother gave me. The education you give is that of failure. You and those like you are guilty of telling people in tough situations that they cannot succeed on their own. Your message is the root of the social problem.
Does the public education system in the US suck? Yes. But there is still no excuse for not learning. Free/Libre software is the great equalizer. There is absolutely no reason not to learn skills that make you highly marketable. That's the path I chose. My brother had the discipline to get good grades and he went into radiology and with grants and scholarships paid less than half of full price for his schooling. If we would have been influenced by people like you, saying things like "if you think it's possible...", we'd be in poverty today. Shame on you.
I'm sorry if the term "bourgeois" offended you. Clearly you felt I was labeling you. But pithy banter aside, the term was accurate in the way I used it, which was to modify the word "education", and that is exactly what I meant: "an education defined by the values and needs of the bourgeoisie".
The definition of "bourgeois" (from Wordnet, the GCIDE definitions are similar) is:
- "belonging to the middle class" or
- "a capitalist who engages in industrial commercial enterprise"
In other words, someone who owns the capital for their own production, such as a small (or medium-sized) business owner.
Regardless of your economic class, if you got your education in a US public school, or indeed, in almost any US private school, then the curriculum was almost certainly determined by members of the bourgeoisie, either directly, or through indirect influences such as a school board position. I have seen very few exceptions to this rule.
Mind you, this is equally true of the education I received, at least through high school level.
By and large, this is not a problem, but there are conflicts of interest that can create confusion.
I assert that it is one such confusion that you are clinging to in your prior anonymous post -- the conflation between the separate terms "capitalist" and "free market". Since the free market is probably the best ideological argument for the benefit of capitalism, is it any surprise that capitalists themselves want to believe that the two are inseparable?
Thus, conventional education in the US treats these terms as interchangeable, because it is assumed they always go hand-in-hand. This is not a conspiracy. It's a blind spot. I'm sure the people writing those textbooks think they are telling the truth when they imply that "capitalism" and the "free market" are the same thing.
However, the main point of this article is precisely that, in the domain of information production, they are not the same!
Instead we face a choice between "free market communism" and "command economy capitalism" (choices we didn't have in the matter marketplace). As someone who strongly favors the "free market" (the lack of market controls) but is ambivalent about "capitalism" (the accumulation of wealth to fund businesses), I favor the former choice -- it's more important to be free than to allow people to get rich (not that I believe it's bad to get rich, it just isn't as important to society as freedom is). If that means being a "communist" (one who believes in collective action to start projects), then I'm cool with that.
Furthermore, this is limited to the information marketplace. Since I favor the free market, I also favor "free market capitalism" where it occurs -- which is in the matter marketplace.
But of course, this is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, because the whole point is that the old rules and assumptions break down in the information marketplace. I'm sure you realize that neither Adam Smith nor Karl Marx had any clue what 21st century information economies were going to look like. They both dealt with the matter economics of the agrarian and industrial ages. Thus, their theories both break down when the fundamental assumptions they are based on -- such as the conservation of number -- are broken.
It's a bit off-topic, but since you bring it up, I do not advocate "government handouts" any more or less than your mother did. I've made similar choices myself, and for much the same reasons.
communism or liberalism do not apply to free software or K.E.
Arguing whether free software is communist or liberal is like arguing whether photosintesis is imaginative or conventional.
It just does not make sense. you are trying to qualify something with terms that just don't apply to it, it is false both that the
statement is true and that it is false, it's a meaningless statement.
You can say a lot of true things one way or another and still don't prove anything. You could say photosintesis is imaginative
because nobody would have thought of it if we hadn't had plants to show us. But that's silly, not only because we wouldn't
be here, much less think of photosintesis, if there were no plants, but because "imaginative" applies to ideas, attitudes and
human behaviour, not to biochemical reactions. You could say that photosintesis is conventional because it happens all over
the planet and is the basis of all conventional life in the planet. But it is not "conventional". It is natural but nobody
has decided to use photosintesis to turn sun radiation to life as an option between some other equally valid option that we could
have choosen. It is no convention because nobody planned it, so it is not conventional.
Communism and capitalism is about allocating resources. Communism says they should be allocated evenly among everybody,
and capitalism that people who are somehow more productive should get more resources. Communism believes that it is
wasteful for someone to have more than he needs while someone has less than necessary and capitalism thinks that it
is wasteful to allocate the same resources to those who produce more than those who produce less. This only makes
sense when resources are allocatable. Once you deal with resources that everybody can have as much as he wants without
stopping anybody else from having the same (like information) the allocation is irrelevant, is meaningless and is
That's theory. In practice we haven't tried communism and we haven't tried free markets. We've tried state controled
production and oligopolists controlled markets . Somehow the communists argue that private control of means of production
leads to the benefit of only the few that control means of production and neglect of desirable outcomes from which no
single party benefits, while capitalists argue that central control
of production leads to both a control problem too large to solve (therefore bureaucracy and inefficiencies) and
to the benefit of those controlling it (the political class). But that is again about finite resources. Should
factories produce Cola or books ? A factory can only produce one of the two. You can have only so many factories,
you can't have two facilities in the same place at the same time... But should a desktop be programmed in C or C++ ?
Well, you can have 2 different desktops . monolithic kernel or microkernel ? You can have a wide choice of kernels...
Even if you are sure of what is the right decision you don't lose anything by someone taking different decisions.
If I am sure that kids need to read books more than drink cola, so we should prioritise paper and book factories
over cola factories, and someone else disagrees then we have a problem because there is only so much land to build
the factories, only so much water to use for cola or for manufacturing paper... So we can start arguing whether
it should be decided by the government or the venture capital.
The only finite resource in knowledge economy is time, and even that it is only finite from a certain perspective.
Your own time is finite, but if you happen to have children maybe the time available for any task is not finite
(at least until you take into account that we don't seem to be getting round to making our species survive
an infinite time).
If free software was communism then the free software revolution should be about confiscating excess software from those who
have more software than they need and giving it to those who don't have enough software. Free software is not that, at most is
about giving software to those who need it (and about much more) but there's no need to take it from anyone else.
If free software was capitalism then it wouldn't make sense that everybody could get tens of thousands of packages
in a distribution, irrespective of their contribution to free software, the amount of free software available
to each person should be related somehow to what that person "deserves" by some notion of "deserving". Both absurdities remind more of propietary software than of free software, because both are modeled on scarcity of resources which is
contrary to the nature of information and therefore to the nature of software.
Do you think Marx woud have objected to his books being included in the large libraries of people who already had
many books (think of e-books so that the scarcity of paper or printing press does not play a role)? Do you think
Keynes would have a problem if told that every person in the would would be able to read his theory irrespective
of how much money he had, how much work he had done and how much he had contributed to economic theory ?. Was Marx
against private libraries ? Was Keynes against public libraries ? (would they have been if they had known
of electronic storage of their works?). Did Stalin pretend that all information should be owned by the state ?
(i.e. was he against confidentiality or secrets?). Did McCarthy outlaw language, math or any other knowledge
shared by everyone ?. Both capitalism and communism is about matter economy. Information is only addressed
as an asset for control, not as a good.
The article points rightly many incoherencies of trying to apply mater economy to intangibles, but it does not realise that communism is just a different matter economy model, not more adapted to knowledge economy than capitalism.
So free software is not about capitalism, not about communism: it is about information and about choice, about software and about freedom.
this article is provoking, but missleading a bit
50-50-90 rule:
when you can choose from 2 points of view which both seem to be 50/50 accurate, in 90 percents you will pick the wrong one.
(why - there is usually 3rd option which was hidden from you).
Its not about communism or capitalism. do not accept the mark.
All americans could be seen as commies: are u a practicing communist ?
its all about freedom:
- managed (censored) world against the free one,
- slavery / freedom,
- lies / truth,
- creativity / corruption.
Open Source Democracy vs Closed Source Communism
Let Us not be Confused by the Obfuscation and Dissembling by those Multi-Billionaires who wish to do us Great Harm so that they may further continue to Profit from Our Ignorance.
Closed Source binary-only Software is BY DEFINITION Communist. It has NO TRANSPARENCY and NO ACCOUNTABILITY to the People of the World who are Forced to use it. We are not allowed to Change anything. If We try, We are Persecuted in exactly the same way Communist China deals with Dissidents.
Free Open Source Software is BY DEFINITION Democratic. Laws are Codified so as to be able to be read by anyone with Common Sense. The People may Contribute to the Legislation by Petitioning the Democracy. The People may Contribute to Open Source Software in exactly the same way.
Petitioners in Communism get Flattened by Tanks, or their Quasi-Legal representative equivalent, because Communists care nothing for the Rule of Law. Communists Rule by Whim and Fiat. Communists Arrest you and then Invent the Crime for which you have been Arrested.
Bill Gates is a Communist Dictator who rules by Whim and Fiat. If you do NOT Absolutely and Completely Agree with what he says, he will Persecute you, Bankrupt you and eventually Destroy you, if all else fails to sway you to his Communist Ideology.
Like all Communists, Bill Gates is very skilled in the Arts of Lying and Calling People Names, but the Names he calls the Free People of the World are really only projections of his own mentally defective Communist self-image.
In the 70s and 80s he called all Hobbyists pirates, yet Bill Gates is the one who STOLE Dartmouth BASIC, put his Own Name on it and sold it to the Apple and Tandy Computer Companies. Dartmouth University was not, and has never been to this very day, ever paid anything for the code he had Stolen Outright from the original developers of BASIC.
That is what Communists do. They Steal from the People, then turn around and say what they did was not Grand Larceny. They claim Innovation in Design, when all it really consists of is Innovation in Theft.
Almost without exception, the other Computer Systems Manufacturers at the time who wished to use BASIC did pay Dartmouth University, and they did prominently display the Credit for the Software to Dartmouth University.
Democratic Society gives until it hurts. It gets a lot of people, mostly the Confused and those Communists with an Agenda, upset at the way how they throw Money, Time and Effort around like it Grows on Trees, but the Simple Fact of the matter is that the the People of a Free and Democratic Society give Because they know the People deserve the Best that can be made. They also know that, for the future generations to understand it, THE GIVING MUST BE CODIFIED IN A TRANSPARENT AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE FORM. There is NO OTHER WAY to Insure the Viability, Integrity and Future of Freedom and Democracy.
Communists only know how to Steal. It has been 8 years since Bill Gates and Company were Convicted of Abusing their Monopoly Power and they still, to this very day, have not complied with ANY of the Remedies set forth by the Honorable Thomas Penfield Jackson or his Successors on Appeal. Bill Gates and Company simply CAN NOT comply with the Remedies because they have no idea whatsoever how a Free and Democratic Society works. It is Anathema to their Ideology.
I say to you all and for all to hear, that Bill Gates verily is the greatest Communist and Criminal Mastermind of the 20th and 21st Centuries. He has been Our Most Deadly Foe for over 30 years, and he continues to be Our Worst Enemy. We, the Free and Democratic People of the World, are still Fighting against him and we shall continue to Fight against him, against those Billionaire fellows of his Communist ilk and against those who would sympathize, support and make excuses for the Bad Behavior of Their Communist Dictators who continue to act against the wishes of a Free and Democratic Society. The Free People of the World are neither Confused, Ignorant nor Guillible.
The only Real Question that Remains to be Answered is will We, the Free and Democratic People of the World, be Triumphant and shed ourselves of Bill Gates and Company, or at the very least Bring them to Heel and Force them to Behave as a Free and Democratic Society demands?
It is my Great Hope that We, the Free and Democratic People of the World, will prevail. We should keep in mind that Victory is not Inevitable but, by Each of Us doing Our Part to dispel Confusion, Lies and Ignorance, it most surely is a Distinct Probability that FREEDOM WILL PREVAIL.
Until that day dawns, We will continue to face a struggle NO LESS IMPORTANT to the Future of the Free People of the World than the American People have faced, and continue to face, in their struggles from 1776 onwards.
John Quincy Public, Citizen of the World.
Get Real and read some books
I think someone should read some story books and get real here..... unfortunately our "capitalistic democracy" is just as bad (if you wish ) as communism, except from some other million side effects (i.e. Global warming, is that enough???).
Well... free Citizens of the world maybe you should describe how bad people are rather than someones ideals. American are just as bad as Soviet ciizen, which are just as bad as European which are just as bad as Indian and arabs... and so on. Muslim are just as bad as christians, that are just as bad as Hindu, which are just as bad as jewish and so on. The socialists Ideals are no worst or better than any other Ideal, It`s actually people as anytime in our history that just can resist power and find mean ways to get it. So why don`t you just free your way of thinking and stop the bllsht, try to see wher does Bill Gates fit in exactly, try to see if in a corporate world you can speak free and change something. Certainly there hasn`t ever been a Bill Gates in the Communist China, so what the fu.. are you talking about... what are you on drugs??? What did they teach you at school ??? what about stealing... well maybe all these other Big existing "democratic corporation" who are stealing our childrens furure are founded in China and then sent to the West to spread communist Ideals... GET real and think before you speak.
Aron M, Human being
A little off topic. However, unless Tony or Dave deletes this, I'll reply.
Communism has never actually "worked". Communism is where all the people work together with no government. Did that ever happen? The USSR always had a government. So did China. And North Korea. So, it never actually worked.
I agree, free software can look like Communism. Except that there's a difference. We being "communistic" and working together on free software, we are helping the free market grow. Would IE 7 have been as good if Firefox wasn't released? No. Why? The MS developers wouldn't have had any competition, hence they wouldn't have put it as high a priority as some other products (like operating systems).
"Free Software is communist" is back...
...and it may damage Free Software more now than ten years ago, when almost nobody knew what FS is anyway. After a couple of recent comments on Linux Today I had to put an answer with some facts:
The Online Loser Guide, 2010 edition:


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Monday August 6, 2012
North Augusta, SC--Winning breeds winning. Ask any coach and they'll tell you that. At North Augusta, the winning tradition is back in a big way as they are getting closer to becoming one of the elite programs in the state of South Carolina.
What Dan Pippin has accomplished with the jackets is to replace quality with quality. Despite losing Vinnie Miller and Montez Mcguire, other kids are ready to step in and be relied upon. Look for the names Devonte Pressley and Cody Turner to become more prevelant. Throw in some size, something they haven't had a ton of in the past, and look out.
"You know offensive line wise we're pretty big, defensive line wise, we're pretty big." said Dan Pippin "I think defensively we're faster and more atheltic then we have been in the last couple of years, not to take anything away from those kids. I'm pretty happy with how we're doing right now."
North Augusta is also getting these kids used to winning big games on the road in november. They've been bounced in the semis the last two years so Dan Pippin conitnues to beef up the schedule knowing the odds are good they'll have to travel away from home late in the playoffs.
"I think it shows a lot. That we can go on the road and scrimmage and play just as good so when the game comes it'll just be like a scrimmage again." said Trey Morgan
"I would love to tell you we could be in the semifinals at home but realistically I don't know if that can happen" added coach Pippin "So I think this is going to be a great experience for the kids but it's also a learning opportunity for us."
To that end, they've already scrimmaged Goose Creek and will do so with Greenwood. Then in the regular season, a trip to T.L. Hanna and then a game in Atlanta against Valdosta. All with the goal of getting these kids use to playing on a big stage.

subset: commoncrawl


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Browse by Medical Category
Rheumatology Unit
Accepting New Patients
Dr. Allen Steere is known nationally and internationally for his expertise in the care of Lyme disease patients. He has been recognized as one of the "best doctors in Boston and in Americ" for many years.
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Dr. Steere is a medical researcher and physician who is internationally recognized for his studies of Lyme disease. Dr. Steeres training was at Columbia University in New York. In 1976, while a post-doctoral fellow at Yale, he and his colleagues described Lyme arthritis. During his faculty period at Yale and subsequently at Tufts, he detailed the clinical features of Lyme disease, identified the spirochetal etiology of the infection in human patients, developed serologic, culture and PCR tests for diagnosis, conducted antibiotic trials, and was principal investigator of the SmithKline Beecham Phase III Lyme disease vaccine trial. Dr. Steere currently serves as Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of Translational Research in Rheumatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he studies Lyme disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
New research shows that PCR testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA—the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks—in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists.
A new study finds that a particular strain of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease may be more virulent, leading to increased inflammation in joints that persists after antibiotic treatment.
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text:
News 12 at 6 o'clock / Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012
AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. -- A unique airport community in Aiken County is in jeopardy after failing to get the proper permits to pave their neighborhood runway.
Everyone in Twin Lakes Air Park has one thing in common: their love for flying.
"They can leave here and go all over the United States then come right back here," pilot John Shey said.
Shey moved to Twin Lakes Air Park in the early 1980s to start an aviation maintenance business. Most people live in Twin Lakes Air Park because of the runway.
But now, the residents worry they may soon lose it.
"If the airport is closed down, I don't think you could even sell your property," Shey said.
And his fear could become reality.
In 2006, the owners of the runway decided to have it repaved. However, they made a costly mistake by failing to get the proper permits with the county.
The county learned of the violation this summer and slapped the S-17 Owners Association with a thousand dollar a day fine until the runway meets engineering standards. Documents show S-17 is also dealing with a foreclosure suit.
"They're hurting the people that didn't do the wrong," Shey said.
According to the local magistrate, lawyers on both sides are currently working toward an agreement and it could mean closing the runway down. If the runway does close, residents will have 45 days to relocate their planes.
However, the agreement has not been finalized yet.
"People come here for that reason. They came here for the airport," Shey said.


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At a time when so many different ideas about Jesus are being circulated, what more authentic source for learning about him than the Gospels? And what better way of studying the New Testament than with an expert who has spent his life pondering and teaching it? Scripture scholar Father Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., is our guide.
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1986-03-20 Char-Koosta News
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You name it and there's probably an event covering it on the Flathead Reservation this spring and summer This year will no doubt go down in the record books as the "year of big doings" on the Flathead Reservation, with more than half-a-dozen conferences and gatherings planned for spring and early summer Antoine "Stoney" Curley Memorial — Friday, March 21, at the St Ignatius Longhouse. The 3rd annual event will feature a youth conference vo o r-a> o CT» in with presentations by Tribal Health's Alcohol Component, beginning at 9 am A community dinner and wardance will follow in the evening at the St Ignatius community center. (Please see the map on page 2.) For more information, call Anna Whiting (676-2770), Mary Herak (745-3811) or Marie Torosian (675-2700, ext 37). Native American Fish and Wildlife Society's 4th annual conference, April 8 through 11. Although the conference itself will be held in Missoula (there weren't enough accomodations on the Rez for the number of expected participants, organizer Herschel Mays said), its being sponsored by the Tribes and its Wildlife Recreation Department In addition to a (tentatively planned) feast and tour of the Reservation, the four-day event will feature speakers from across the country who will discuss fish and wildlife management as it relates to budget crunches, research, and jurisdiction and enforcement issues. (We hope to have a firm agenda in the April 3 Char-Koosta News.) For more details, call Mays at 406/675-2700, ext 357). Annual Two Eagle River School Elders Week Encampment, May 14-17, at Agnes Vanderburg's Valley Creek camp, west of Arlee. Details: Carlos Sundermann at 406/246-3498. Arlee Songfest, May 23-25, at the Arlee Celebration (powwow) Grounds, "All types of music welcomed", says a publicity poster for the second annual event In addition to 2Vz days of music, the songfest has a special prayer service planned for Vietnam veterans on May (Concludes on page two) Job Training folks move to Ronan The Tribes' Job Training (Manpower) Program has moved from Pablo to Ronan. The program is now housed with Family Assistance in the building across from Tribal Health which was once, known as the Camel Recreation Center. The new phone number is 676-3500. 1 Pondera Hydro meets with Council........ ........Page 3 N ........Page 4 S ........Page 6 1 n .......Page 11 .......Page 13 u E .......Page 15
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|1986-03-20 Char-Koosta News
|Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation.
|Salish Indians --Newspapers.; Kutenai Indians --Newspapers.; Pablo (Montana) --Newspapers.; Kootenai Indians
|You name it and there's probably an event covering it on the Flathead Reservation this spring and summer; Job Training folks move to Ronan; SRO crowd watches Pondera Hydro ptich to the council; Explained at the Dixon-Arlee-St. Ignatius district meeting: Why do they keep messing around with our treaty hunting rights?; New Tribal members; Eagles available on a limited basis for religious and ceremonial rites; Mission town and schools have fun learning about drug and alcohol abuse; Tribal employees and alcohol abuse; St. Ignatius Action project features multi-cultural approach; Vern returns...and Bearhead gets a new hat; Advice for spring burners: A less-happy sign of spring: Spring quarter details announced; Winter quarter Eagle Feather comes out; SKC alumni association has plans; Campus Kitchen has new management; Book features Tribes; Scholarships available to Montanans; BYU offers pre-college summer program; Students may benefit from consortium membership; The Tribal Council of the confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; Documentary about Indian education...
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|D'Arcy McNickle Library
|Volume 14, Number 23
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text:
Irving'e karşı Lipstadt
Holocaust Denial on Trial, Trial Judgment: Electronic Edition, by Charles GrayTable of Contents
|The parties >
1.1 A summary of the main issues
1.1 In this action the Claimant, David Irving, maintains that he has been libelled in a book entitled "Denying the Holocaust - The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory", which was published by Penguin Books Limited and written by Professor Deborah Lipstadt, who are respectively the First and Second Defendants in the action. (For the sake of brevity I shall refer to them, as in due course I shall refer to the expert witnesses, by their last names).
1.2 The essential issues in the action can be summarised as follows: Irving complains that certain passages in the Defendants' book accuse him of being a Nazi apologist and an admirer of Hitler, who has resorted to the distortion of facts and to the manipulation of documents in support of his contention that the Holocaust did not take place. He contends that the Defendants' book is part of a concerted attempt to ruin his reputation as an historian and he seeks damages accordingly. The Defendants, whilst they do not accept the interpretation which Irving places on the passages complained of, assert that it is true that Irving is discredited as an historian by reason of his denial of the Holocaust and by reason of his persistent distortion of the historical record so as to depict Hitler in a favourable light. The Defendants maintain that the claim for damages for libel must in consequence fail.
1.3 Needless to say, the context in which these issues fall to be determined is one which arouses the strongest passions. On that account, it is important that I stress at the outset of this judgment that I do not regard it as being any part of my function as the trial judge to make findings of fact as to what did and what did not occur during the Nazi regime in Germany. It will be necessary for me to rehearse, at some length, certain historical data. The need for this arises because I must evaluate the criticisms of or (as Irving would put it) the attack upon his conduct as an historian in the light of the available historical evidence. But it is not for me to form, still less to express, a judgement about what happened. That is a task for historians. It is important that those reading this judgment should bear well in mind the distinction between my judicial role in resolving the issues arising between these parties and the role of the historian seeking to provide an accurate narrative of past events.
|The parties >


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Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - Thursday, January 31, 2013
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Mandatory meeting for all new and returning leaders of student clubs and organizations. At least one club member MUST be present to earn your club 10% of the eligible funding. All paperwork due at this time. Lunch provided.
2501 W. 84th St.
Bloomington, MN 55431
p: 952-888-4777
Copyright 2012 Northwestern Health Sciences University


text:
Enver Gjokaj has landed a major recurring role on Witches of East End, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively.
The Dollhouse alum will play Mike, a mysterious stranger and novelist who takes a strong interest in Ingrid (Rachel Boston), but his reasons for getting to know her go far beyond her work at the library.
Check out all the must-watch new shows
Gjokaj, whose credits also include Dexter and Vegas, will first appear in the Nov. 17 episode and recur through the Season 1 finale in December.
Witches of East End airs Sundays at 10/9c on Lifetime.
View original Exclusive: Dollhouse's Enver Gjokaj Lands Major Role on Witches of East End at TVGuide.com
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Is It a Rebound Relationship—Or Something More?
If you can cook, clean, or wash clothes, congratulations! "In our culture, there's a long-standing preconception that a woman that can cook is better wife material," says Dr. Yasmin Davidds, life coach and author of several books, including Latinas 7 Principles to Personal Empowerment. Here's the deal: that long-held notion is actually changing. As the number of Latinas who earn the same or more than their husbands keeps rising, it means there's less time for cooking or hosting. The NPD Group, a market research company, said in a 2011 report that more than 40% of Latinos who eat out are bringing their kids along. Dining out is a family affair, and women are no longer being relegated to domestic duty.
Ready for some troubling news? Cheating website ashleymadison.com says 1.2 million U.S. Latinos are using the Spanish- language version of their site since its 2009 launch. They also found that Latinos on their sites are having affairs at younger ages—average age is 31 for women and 38 for men. Yikes! Truth be told, it's really unfair to single out Latinos as the only men who cheat. Have you seen the show Cheaters? It's the U.N. of cheating men and women.
However, from a sociological and historical perspective, infidelity has always been tacitly understood to be part of a Latino's relationship. "As a ulture, Latinos are more accepting of cheating," Dr. Davidds explains. "The idea of machismo dominates, as does the idea that the woman sacrifices herself because she is dependent on the man."


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Cats for Sale in Bronx, New York(1 - 15 of 12,333)
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See what else is available or ask your friends and neighbors.
$85 Sweet & Gentle Kitty with Amber Eyes for Adoption (Lola)Manhasset, NYLola is a gorgeous, sweet and gentle three year old female with beautiful amber eyes. She was born as a stray in Farmingdale, Long Island...Monica G. · 1 day ago
$125 Affectionate Female Calico for Adoption (Nani)Manhasset, NYNani is a very vocal and outgoing four year old female dilute calico rescued from death row at NY animal control. She is spayed, fully ve...Monica G. · 1 day ago
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kittens for saleBrooklyn, NYPersian exotic 2 months old gorgeous pure breed all shots, collars and health certificates. Price is negotiable.Alexandra W. · 4 days ago
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Counseling and Wellness Services offers students short-term individual counseling, group counseling, self-improvement classes, referrals, and psychiatric medication services. All services except psychiatric medication services are free of charge.
Learn more about our services at nyu.edu/counseling.
Get in Touch
726 Broadway, Suite 471, New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212.998.4780 | Fax: 212.995.4096 | firstname.lastname@example.com
Key People
In Counseling and Wellness Services
Zoe Ragouzeos
Assistant Vice President, NYU Student Mental Health - GNU; Director, Counseling & Wellness


text:
- Nov 5:
- Contra Costa Times editorial: BART leaders didn't just cave -- they got rolled
- Nov 1:
- Contra Costa Times editorial: Careful what you wish for. BART strike ban could be worse the than the disease
- Major BART unions approve contract that ended strike
- Oct 31:
- Coroner releases cause of death for BART workers
- Oct 29:
- Legislature to hold special hearing on BART worker safety
- Oct 28:
- Barnidge: There's a good reason BART wanted control of overtime expenses
- Oct 27:
- Barnidge: Visiting 44 BART stations on the way to an Assembly seat?
- Oct 26:
- BART raises follow similar pay bumps for Bay Area workers, especially in government
- Oct 25:
- Borenstein: BART upped offer on salary and benefits 48 percent in the final hours of negotiations
- Oct 24:
- BART: Controversial "simple approval" work practice eliminated
- Two arrested for graffiti at BART's Richmond yard during strike
- Oct 23:
- BART deaths investigation to halt service Wednesday afternoon between Pleasant Hill, Lafayette
- Man hurled hammer at striking BART workers, DA says
- Roadshow: Should BART workers be allowed to strike?
- Oct 22:
- Two trainees were being prepared to shuttle commuters during BART strike, feds say
- BART strike deal: how it happened and who gets what
- Contra Costa Times editorial: BART negotiators sold out riders and taxpayers
- Oct 21:
- BART tragedy: Trainee was operating train that struck and killed workers, NTSB says
- Barnidge: BART riders have spoken, and they're not happy
- BART strike: Calls for law to ban transit strikes pick up steam
- Oct 20:
- National Transportation Safety Board takes over BART tragedy investigation
- Oct 19:
- Two BART workers killed during maintenance work as strike moves into third day
- Oct 16:
- Barnidge: Worker demands weren't the only ridiculous thing about BART labor negotiations
- Jul 2:
- Data Center: Current and projected average BART wages
- Jun 9:
- BART's top-paid worker of 2012 never worked a day
WALNUT CREEK -- BART has indefinitely suspended its "simple approval" practice following the deaths of two workers, halting the controversial system that placed safety squarely on the shoulders of ground crews.
On Sunday, the day after the fatal crash, an interoffice memo went out to BART employees from Roy Aguilera, head of the Operations Control Center, with a subject line: "Simple Approvals prohibited until further notice."
"Effective immediately, simple approvals are not authorized. All access to right of way shall be accomplished with a work area that provides the crew protection from train movement," the memo read.
Under the order, trains must be kept below 27 mph in all work areas, halted or routed around.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, federal, state and local investigators reenacted the double-fatal BART accident on a stretch of Contra Costa County tracks Wednesday, as the national president for one of the transit agency's largest unions blamed the deaths on BART management.
Upset that a BART supervisor was training an employee to operate a train during a work stoppage, Lawrence Hanley, Amalgamated Transit Union international president, said the agency is responsible for the two deaths.
"What's missing from the hands of BART right now are handcuffs," said Hanley in a phone interview from Washington, D.C. "You don't train in a situation where you can kill people. It's like walking into a kindergarten class and handing out loaded pistols."
The labor chief called for a criminal investigation, though it's unclear what laws may have been broken.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said its investigation is not criminal. An NTSB official on scene Wednesday said he could not comment, and the national office did not return a call for comment.
Contra Costa District Attorney Mark Peterson said his office has not been contacted about the BART accident, adding he would not expect a call until after the NTSB or other government agencies probes were completed. At that point, BART police could bring them a case, and his office would have the option to bring criminal or civil charges.
"The NTSB is leading the investigation into what happened and the cause," BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said in an email. "It is unfortunate there are some who want to politicize the tragic death of our employees during a time we are all grieving. It is irresponsible to draw any conclusion of the cause until the independent investigation is complete and we have a clear picture of what happened."
NTSB investigators, along with BART and California Public Utilities Commission officials, conducted a re-enactment Wednesday afternoon along the same stretch of track where a BART train driven by a trainee struck and killed 58-year-old Christopher Sheppard, a BART employee, and 66-year-old Laurence Daniels, a rail consultant, who were inspecting a "dip" in the track.
The two men were operating under "simple approval" Saturday, a controversial policy that makes them responsible for their own safety. One was supposed to act as the lookout and remain outside the train's "envelope," at least 5 feet away from the tracks in a place where he can view an oncoming train 15 seconds away. However, both men were hit, which means both workers were inside the envelope.
On Wednesday, investigators placed two mannequins on the tracks at the spot where the men were hit, adjacent to Jones Road and Pimlico Drive in Walnut Creek. The dummies were both facing away from the train, which was traveling from the Walnut Creek to Pleasant Hill station, but it's unclear whether investigators believe the two men had their backs to the train, which was traveling at least 60 mph.
A 2008 BART worker death also involved simple approval, and the transit agency had made changes to protocol since then, but still fought state regulators on further changes.
The other option for performing track work are "work orders," usually reserved for large-scale construction projects where BART provides the protection for the workers by single-tracking around them, holding trains or limiting the work area.
During the re-enactment, a four-car train, the same length as Saturday's train, made a few passes on the section of track, appearing to brake at different speeds. Investigators marked the train's stopping point each time with red spraypaint, photographing and documenting evidence.
Most BART workers and local union representatives have shied away from placing blame for the two men's deaths. However, Hanley firmly blamed management, who had been warned by labor that running trains with replacement operators would endanger people.
"When you willingly put people behind the operation panel ... and they have no experience operating trains, you have put people intentionally in harm's way, and this time, two people died," Hanley said.
Investigators have said the train was in automatic mode Saturday while traveling 60 to 75 mph, which is standard for that section of the track, a BART worker said.
BART trains operate in four modes: off, yard manual (a maximum speed of 10 mph and only allowed in the yards), road manual (maximum of 25 mph on the commuter lines) and automatic.
Trains usually operate in automatic mode, with a computer adjusting speeds based on the "command speed," which varies from Level 2 (fastest and most common) down to the slowest, Level 6, BART sources said.
Trains entering the accident stretch under automatic power at Level 2 generally leave the Walnut Creek station at 36 mph, increase to 70 mph, then decrease to 50 mph, and to 36 mph before arriving at the Pleasant Hill station.
BART has said the two men were investigating a reported "dip" in the tracks. Dips are common, BART sources said, caused by settling ground underneath the tracks. They can create a noticeable bump for riders and, if left untreated, can cause damage to trains, they said.
The reported dip sits in between a trouble-plagued piece of BART equipment -- a faulty switchover.
In 2009, the BART board approved a $27.9 million project to install x-shaped "crossover" tracks allowing trains to cross from one track to another, reducing delays when trains break down. BART received $13 million from the federal economic stimulus bill and another $11.6 million from Bay Area bridge toll money aimed at reducing traffic.
The project was completed in 2010 but has not worked in the three years since, BART sources said.
"It's new technology that still doesn't work properly," one worker said. "They put in new train control technology, but it doesn't blend with the old."
Staff writer Malaika Fraley contributed to this report. Contact Matthias Gafni at 925-952-5026. Follow him at Twitter.com/mgafni.


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Members of the 7th Judicial District Crime Task Force arrested a Cedar Hill neighborhood man on the afternoon of April 24, after executing a search warrant at his Outer Drive home.
Oak Ridge Police Officer Marvell Moore arrested 37-year-old Sebastian Gomez Del Campo shortly before 5 p.m. during a raid. He was charged with possession of Schedule VI drugs (hashish) for resale, possession of Schedule VI drugs (marijuana) for resale, the cultivation of Schedule VI drugs (marijuana), possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Moore reported officers found 15.2 grams of purported hashish inside Gomez Del Campo's home at 133 Outer Drive. The hashish was reportedly found in a utility room.
The officers also found almost two pounds of purported marijuana in several locations inside the house and six marijuana plants "with a root system."
Gomez Del Campo was reportedly also in possession of a fully loaded Cobra .380 semi-automatic pistol, which was seized along with the purported narcotics, as well as drug paraphernalia including scales, grinders, glass pipes, plastic bags, rolling papers and a small glass bong.
Beverly Majors can be contacted at (865) 220-5514.
Location, ST | website.com


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|2007 Inductee (Football 1953-1958/Track 1953-1958)
O. Jay Williams was born in Spearman, Texas in 1935 and spent his youth in Hondo, Texas. Williams was a three-sport athlete at Hondo High School competing in football, baseball, and basketball. His leadership skills led to him being named team captain of both the basketball and football teams during his senior year. Williams was recognized for his achievements on the football field, being named to the All-District team during both his junior and senior year as well as being named to the 1952 All-State team. Williams was not the only Hondo resident to migrate south to the University of Corpus Christi. Life long friends and teammates Lloyd Lindeburg and Lloyd Muennink would attend UCC as well.
Williams retired from the Navy in December of 1978 with a number of honors including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal w/one Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross), and Vietnam Campaign Medal. In 1975, he was selected as a Deacon in the Baptist Church.
He was recognized for his success as a civilian as well as the numerous military awards. Then Secretary of Energy Frederico Pena, authored a letter of commendation for cumulative sales in excess of 16 billion dollars to the U.S. Treasurer. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy recognized Williams for his maximization of revenue to the government prior to the sale of NPR-1. Finally, in July 1999, Williams was awarded the Distinguished Career Service award by the DOE Secretary of Energy.


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Brian Dunkleman needs some love in the New Year and one of his resolutions was to be booked at the Lake Tahoe Improv here in 2013.
Our first headliner of the year is easily one of the most easy-going guys you'll ever meet. He has more than enough history to draw comedy from and, as I've said more than once, some of the best comedy comes from the most pain.
I first worked with Dunkie before "American Idol." Then came 2002 and the reality-based television show. Back then the show had two hosts: Ryan Seacrest and Dunkleman. After the first season, Dunkie "decided not to return for Season 2 in order to pursue other opportunities in the world of TV and feature films."
Does he regret that decision? Brian has said repeatedly that departing "Idol" in its infancy was not his smartest move but that he really wanted to be an actor.
"Listen, I'd like to say that I was just young and stupid, but the truth is, I really wasn't that young," he said. "What I wanted to do with my life is be an actor and that's going great."
Dunkie also said that he found it hard to watch the contestants get criticized. "I didn't like watching those kids being brought to tears like that. I didn't understand why they had to do it. I didn't get it," he said.
After Dunkie left the show, the industry was kind of nasty toward him. While nobody will admit he was being blackballed getting gigs, yeah, he was being blackballed. Every now and then you'd see Dunkleman getting chastised in the entertainment industry.
In an extra scene from "The Simpsons Movie," Marge, Lisa, and Homer, acting as Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell, respectively, audition the actual Simon Cowell for a role. When he fails, they drop him into a pit of lions, where Bart, acting as Ryan Seacrest, says that they "haven't eaten this well since Dunkleman." As recently as last year on the March 2012 "Castle" episode "A Dance with Death," Dunkleman is referenced as an example of a has-been game-show host whom nobody remembers.
But to be fair, since leaving "American Idol," Dunkleman has had guest spots on "Ghost Whisperer," "Las Vegas" and a season as himself in VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club." He was also on NBC's "Friends," "Third Rock from the Sun," and "That '70s Show" on FOX.
When he was here last, Brian got another hosting gig for the "The Sky Ball League," which aired every Saturday and Sunday on Fox Sports Prime. Dunkleman insists the program "is going to be bigger than 'Idol.'" Brian Kessler, co-creator of "The Sky Ball League," along with sports executive Danny Swartz, said "The huge success of our first season exceeded our expectations. We started out small and snowballed to the finals with amazing athletes, great personalities and a tremendous fan base. Next season we will be increasing the number of teams that will play in the league." Part of their success no doubt is due to Brian's improvisational hosting duties, which kept the pace going well in-between the action on the court. I'll always be a Dunkie fan and you will, too, when you see him this first week of the New Year at Tahoe.
I love a good comedy duo and it's so rare finding them these days, let alone a real good one with spot-on chemistry.
It's even rarer finding one to perform up here in Tahoe, but we not only excavated a very good duo but they're bringing in the New Year, too.
Carlie and Doni make their debut up here and, well, it's about time, too.
They haven't been together that long, but in the short time they've been a team, they have accomplished much and the word is spreading on these two.
It's always interesting how comedy duos are formed. When I first worked with The Stagebenders, they were already doing theater separately and sort of gyrated toward one another when they realized that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Sounds like the same with Carlie and Doni.
They met in 2005 at Los Angeles Community College Theater Academy and couldn't be bothered with the format for what was funny. Sometimes it's instinctive and just can't be taught.
Both play guitar, but had a knack for all things improvisational and both are, well, completely opposite, which makes for a great bond when fusing together a successful comedy duo.
Doni is a lesbian while Carlie is heterosexual with a preference for "guys with accents: I don't date Americans."
Usually it's a fellow co-worker or a best friend who dares you to try out standup by doing an open mic night, but in this case it was Carlie's mom who convinced her daughter to sign the two of them up for an open mic at The Comedy Store on Sunset.
Like most comics, they were insecure about how their style would go over with the crowd, but they clicked and have been perfecting their brand ever since.
Others have noticed them, too, including Los Angeles Magazine, which voted the duo "Best Comedians in L.A. for 2011."
Sounds to me like this will be the first and last time we have them up here as the middle act, because the way things are going they'll be headlining our room before year's end.
Happy New Year.


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Charlene Dena Richards, 98, of Chambersburg died Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in the Village of Laurel Run, Fayetteville. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the William F. Sellers Funeral Home, Chambersburg. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services Wednesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Norland Cemetery, Chambersburg.
Location, ST | website.com


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Family photo of Jordan Davis with his father, Ron. Jordon moved to Jacksonville from Atlanta to live with his father in 2010. He attended Wolfson High School, where he told teachers he wanted to join the Marine Corps after graduation.
Davis' father said Jordan was a typical high school junior who was about to leave his part-time job at Winn-Dixie to work at McDonald's, looking forward to buying his first car and turning 18. He had a "million-dollar smile" and liked music, listening to mostly rap but also the sounds of his dad's generation, including James Brown and The Temptations.
On Nov. 23, 45-year-old Michael Dunn and his girlfriend were in Jacksonville to attend his son's wedding.
Christopher Dunn married Cinder at Winterbourne Inn in Orange Park that afternoon.
According to Jacksonville police, Michael Dunn stopped on the way from the wedding to his hotel at the Gate gas station on Southside Boulevard at Baymeadows Road. While his girlfriend was inside, he got into a confrontation over loud music coming from the SUV of four teenagers who had just left the mall.
Police say Dunn fired at least eight shots at the car, and Davis was hit by two bullets. Dunn's girlfriend ran outside."When she came out, she said, 'What's going on?' and supposedly his statement was, 'I just fired at these kids,'" JSO Lt. Rob Schoonover said. "At that time I don't know if he knew that he struck anyone in the vehicle."
Several people witnessed the shooting, and one provided police with the license plate number of the car the suspect was driving.
Police say Michael Dunn and his girlfriend spent the night at a hotel, then drove home to Satellite Beach, about 160 miles away, where he was arrested.He told detectives he had been in the process of turning himself in to a neighbor, who was in law enforcement.
The next day, at his first interview with detectives in Brevard County, Dunn said he thought he saw the barrel of a gun in the window of the SUV, so he retrieved his handgun from the glove compartment."Quicker than a flash, I had a round chambered in it and I shot. ... I shot four times and pull out and in my mind, they got a gun. ... I was still scared and so I shot four more times."
After two interview sessions at the Brevard County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 24, 2012,Dunn was arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder.
Dunn, seen at a first appearance hearing in Brevard County, was described by police as a gun collector who shot at local ranges. His attorney, Robin Lemonidis, says her client "absolutely" felt threatened and saw someone with a shotgun in the SUV.
Michael Dunn was returned to Jacksonville to face charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
After the shooting, Davis' family received an outpouring of support from the community. A "Justice for Jordan" Facebook page was set up and his classmates gathered at a memorial service with T-shirts showing Davis' smiling face.
Classmates at Wolfson signed a memorial mural for Davis, the second Wolfson student who died tragically in three months."They don't really understand how this happened, is this real, and they probably expect to see their friend or friends return to school the next day just as usual," psychologist Justin D'Arienzo said.
On Dec. 17, 2012, a Duval County grand jury indicted Dunn on charges of first-degree murderand three counts of attempted murder.
Over the course of 2013, Davis' parents were interviewed on national television, the story of his shooting death was featured in Jet and Rolling Stone magazines, and his image was featured on a billboard in Times Square. The national attention increased after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder charges in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford due to similarities of the two cases.
In May 2013, Dunn's defense asked that Circuit Judge Suzanne Bass be disqualified. After the motion was granted, she recused herself from the case and Judge Mallory Cooper was assigned. Six weeks later, Cooper also recused herself and Chief Judge Donald Moran assigned Judge Russell Healey to the case.
On July 1, 2013, information from 911 calls caused Dunn's attorney to refile a motion for bond. One caller said that passengers riding with Davis tried to "stash something" after the shooting.The Davis family's attorney said that claim was "preposterous" and has already been debunked. Judge Healey denied the motion.
In July 2013, the Florida Civil Rights Association asked Gov. Rick Scott to find someone other than State Attorney Angela Corey to prosecute Michael Dunn. The governor rejected the request. Davis' parents said they were not consulted about the request and did not want Corey removed from the case.
In mid-August 2013, Judge Healey granted a defense motion to delay the trial from September 23 to early 2014.
In October 2013, Channel 4 obtained three letters Dunn wrote from his jail cell, as well as audio recordings from people who know him.
Legal observers believe Dunn may have written the letters from jail knowing they would make news. Judge Healey voiced concern that this material could compromise the trial and ruled that he must approve all future releases, including the audio recordings of jailhouse visits and phone calls.
One year after Jordan's death, his father and mother -- Ron Davis and Lucia McBath -- discussed the pain, the challenges, and even the blessings in their lives since their 17-year-old son was shot and killed.
In early January 2014, John Phillips, attorney for Jordan Davis' parents and two other boys who were in the SUV that night, confirmed to Channel 4 that all civil suits against Michael Dunn were resolved."We made an offer to settle both cases against Michael Dunn -- 1) the estate of Jordan Davis' case and 2) the case of two boys we represent," Phillips said. "They accepted the offer in full. We cannot disclose the offer at this time, but it resolved all civil suits in principle."
On Jan. 21, 2014, Judge Healey heard arguments by Dunn's attorney requestinganother delay in the trial but denied the motion.
Throughout January, there was a flurry of motions, rulings and appeals by the First District Court of Appeals over the release of those audio files of Dunn's jailhouse visitors and phone calls. While both the defense and prosecution opposed the release, Judge Healey ultimately ordered the state attorney's office to release them, as required by Florida law. But the office said it would take eight to 10 weeks and cost $6,000 to release the audio files, which sent WJXT and other local media outlets back to court.
Jury selection began Monday, Feb. 3, 2014. The media and public was not allowed in the courtroom during the selection process, but can listen to an audio feed of the proceedings. After legal objections by the media, two reporters were allowed in the courtroom and single video feed of the proceedings was allowed to be shown to those in an overflow courtroom.
Family of Amber Bass, Michael England and Jillian Barrios, who all died by violence, held signs outside the Duval County Courthouse as Jordan Davis' parents and other entered Monday morning.
At 12:22 p.m. Feb. 5, Judge Russell Healey invites the jury into the courtroom to be sworn in.
The empaneled jury consisted of four white women, two black women, four white men, an Asian woman and a Hispanic man.
The media and the public who applied in a lottery for tickets to the courtroom gets a look at 47-year-old Michael Dunn, who is accused of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle.
First up, Assistant State Attorney John Guy, who delivers a 22-minute opening statement, outlining the confrontation between Dunn and 17-year-old Jordan Davis over loud music coming from the teens' SUV that escalated to Dunn firing 10 shots into the vehicle.
Dunn's defense attorney, Cory Strolla, then delivered his opening statement, saying Dunn thought he saw what could have been the barrel of a shotgun in the window of the SUV. Strolla told the jurors they can't rely on sympathy, empathy, anger in making their decision on Dunn's guilt or innocence.
Among the first prosecution witnesses was Shawn Atkins, who was on probation on theft charges that night when he saw the man firing into the SUV. Atkins provided an eyewitness account and gave the license tag of Michael Dunn's car to police.
The next day, all three teenagers who were in the SUV when Davis was shot and killed were called to testify.
One of the teens -- Tevin Thompson -- was asked if this was a picture of the gun he saw in the man's hand, then asked if the man who shot into the SUV was in the courtroom. He identified Dunn as the gunman.
Under cross examination by the defense, Thompson said he couldn't hear everything Davis said to Dunn, but said he never heard Davis threaten him.UNCUT VIDEO: Tevin Thompson's complete testimony
Also testifying for the prosecution were a Good Samaritan that give Davis CPR until rescue personnel arrived, a paramedic and the first couple of police officers to reach the scene.
With the jury sequestered, testimony continued on Saturday. The state spent over an hour questioning Dunn's fiancée Rhonda Rouer, who was inside the store when she heard two bursts of gunfire and looked through the window towards Dunn's car.
Several other Jacksonville officers testified and Brevard County Sheriff's Deputy Carmine Siniscaltestified that Dunn was cooperative during his arrest the next day. The last witness of the day was forensic investigator Wendy Meacham, who was askedto confirm the items that were taken out of Davis' pockets before the autopsy.
Several times during each day, defense attorney Cory Strolla and State Attorney Angela Corey -- who was part of a three person team of prosecutors in the case -- sparred over what evidence would be allowed in the case and what witnesses could be asked.
Medical Examiner's Office pathologist Dr. Stacey Simons was the next prosecution witness.
The state also used dowels in a manikin to show the direction that bullets when through Jordan Davis' body.
Jordan Davis' parents were in the courtroom at the beginning of the day, but stepped out during the ME's testimony, which included photographs, X-rays and graphic descriptions of the victim's fatal injuries.
The prosecution rested its case after Simons, its 27th state's witness. After lunch, Strolla began calling defense witnesses.
First up, three neighbors who live in the fly-in community in Brevard County where Dunn lives.From left: Randy and Beverly Berry have known Dunn since 2006 and occasionally socialized with him, but under cross examination admitted they weren't close. Frank Thompson testified hemet Dunn through his father and they flew together on weekends.
Next up, the defendant's son, Chris Dunn, whose wedding earlier that dayis what brought Michael Dunn to Jacksonville.
The younger Dunn said he was trying to reconnect with his father, who he had only seen three times in the 15 years since his parents divorced. The son said his father seemed happy to be there and did not have too much to drink.
Next to the stand was Dunn's ex-wife, Phyllis Molinaro, who said they got along fine during the wedding.
The next morning, Michael Dunn is sworn as the defense's only witness.
Defense attorney Cory Strolla guided Dunn through the events of that night and the next day, when described Dunn placed a call to a friend who was a federal law enforcement officer to get advice about how to turn himself in.
Michael Dunn testified that when one of the teens stepped out of the SUV and he felt "this was a clear and present danger."He reached for his pistol in a glove box. Dunn, who had a concealed weapons permit, fired 10 shots,nine of them hitting the SUV. Three of those bullets hit Jordan Davis, killing him.
During cross examination, prosecutor John Guy pointed out inconsistencies between his testimony and his statement to police the day after the shooting."You never told the love of your life that those guys had a gun, did you?"
Recalled as a rebuttal witness, Dunn's fiancée, Rhonda Rouer, testified that he did not mention to her that he saw a gun in the teenagers' SUV that night or on the ride back to Brevard County. He only mentioned it after getting a phone call from a friend.
At the end of the day, Judge Healey told the lawyers he is hoping to have closing arguments the next morning, then there will be extensive jury instructions before they begin deliberations.
Assistant State Attorney Erin Wolfson delivers the closing argument for the state,followed by defense attorney Cory Strolla.
Assistant State Attorney John Guy had the final word. In his rebuttal argument for the state, he told the jury:"That defendant didn't shoot into a car full of kids to save his life.He shot into it to preserve his pride. Period. That's why we're here."
After reading lengthy jury instructions, Healey thanked the jurors for their service and instructed them to not treat statements by the lawyers in the case as facts, and not to view any media coverage of the trial or discuss the case among themselves.
Over the next three days, the jury spent more than 28 hours deliberating, several times sending out questions to the judge on reviewing evidence and on the instructions concerning self defense.
Among the questions was whether they could reach a verdict on some of the charges, but not another. Late Saturday afternoon -- the 10th day of the trial -- the jury said they were deadlocked on the murder charge, but the judge asked them to try one more time.
Michael Dunn showed no emotion as the jury's verdict was announced the evening of Feb. 15: Guilty counts on three counts of first degree murder and firing into an occupied vehicle. A mistrial was declared on the murder charge.
After the verdict, Ron Davis said his son was a good kid and didn't deserve to be collateral damage in an argument over loud music. Jordan's mother, Lucia McBath, said she was happy for a little bit of closure.
After the verdict, State Attorney Angela Corey said she would consult with the Davis family,but had every intention of retrying Dunn for first-degree murder.
Michael Dunn's defense attorney Cory Strolla: "We agree with Ron Davis on this point, there were no winners.Everyone lost something; everyone will be grieving because of what happened here tonight."
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News 12 at 6 o'clock / Friday, Feb. 1, 2013
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) -- Deputies say using deadly force is always the last possible option, but what if they had another choice? Tasers are often used as a backup.
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office doesn't currently have Tasers for road deputies, but they are working on funding for them.
The deadly officer-involved shooting on Friday brings up the question: If the deputy had been equipped with a Taser, would the suspect be dead?
Joshua Roberson lives at Fox Den Apartments and heard the deadly gunshots fired by the deputy Friday morning.
He had a few questions about why the suspect had to be killed, saying, "If you have a man and tell them to put their hands up or down by their side, and they're still reaching, I think Taser force should be used."
But, unfortunately, Tasers aren't an option yet for Richmond County deputies.
"At the present time, our road patrol deputies do not have Tasers, we are in fact, transitioning to those," Sheriff Richard Roundtree said.
The GRU police force all uses Tasers now, and Maj. Gene Maxwell says it's the best crime-fighting tool they have.
"The violence was getting officers hurt and that's why we made the decision to go to Tasers, so that we wouldn't have to go hands on as much," Maxwell said.
But he says Tasers aren't their only tool -- they still carry guns.
"You don't want to take the chance. You can't meet lethal force with non-lethal force," he said.
In the deputy-involved shooting, investigators say the suspect had weapons in his home, and he was using a knife when the deputy shot him, justifying deadly force.
In a news conference Friday, Roundtree says they plan to start phasing in Tasers for their road deputies within the next 30 days.


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- Currently Unavailable
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