Tag Archive: internet


Dear Chief Hoxsie,

Many of us enjoy freedom of speech via the internet among many? other forms of civil disobedience. We have recently learned through the Rhode Island ACLU that Themistocles Faraone and Michael Handrigan have been charged with Cyber Bullying for ranting and raving about public figures via website comments.

There are thousands of us that do this frequently through forums and social media. Granted we may not show anger or toss insults 100% of the time, it is surely bound to happen more often than not. We feel it is healthy for people to vent their frustrations about political figures or particular issues in order to connect and help one another find solutions, even if offensive words are used.

We do not agree that these gentlemen are facing charges for what they have vented via the Internet. We would appreciate your efforts to see that the charges are dropped.

Thank you for your consideration.

Drop Charges Against Mr Faraone and Mr Handrigan

?Crush videos, among other fetish videos, feature small live animals, such as kittens, puppies, mice and bunnies, being slowly tortured in the most horrific ways imaginable; including being burnt alive, cut with pruning sheers, nailed to the floor, skinned alive, beaten, stabbed, and having their limbs broken.

? All of these videos share a common theme: the animals are incrementally crushed by a woman in high heels. Most people view these materials for sexual gratification, but these videos are becoming increasingly popular just for their shock value alone. The crush fetish can be also linked to paraphernalia, which is an atypical sexual arousal to nonhuman objects and humans alike being caused physical distress.

? Crush videos are becoming increasingly popular across America, and will escalate to epidemic proportions due to the Supreme Courts recent ruling to legalize them.
It’s not hard to find such sites on the Internet with any search engine-keep in mind it’s now perfectly legal to download and watch. Minors can access these materials with a click of a button. If The Supreme Court says,”Okay fine, It’s free speech,” please first examine the damage it causes both human and nonhuman lives, and society as a whole.

? Freedom of speech has its limits when it places a society in danger, such as the ban on child pornography as it leads to violence of children. Films that exploit, torture, and kill animals for entertainment purposes also puts society in danger, for it is destructive by inciting violent and antisocial behavior, thereby endangering our citizens. Adults showing their own children these videos can cause emotional damage and lead to Antisocial Personality Disorders. This is not only considered child abuse, but is one of the leading disorders found in serial killers. While there are many factors that contribute to someone becoming a serial killer, the one constant they share is animal abuse.

? In short, there is nothing socially redeeming about? crush videos and animal torture videos when used for entertainment and financial purposes. However, relating to educational or for political and sociological purposes, this should be the exception? such as speaking against, or educating the public about the realities of dog fighting or other issues and how it affects a society, such as the making of a violent criminal or serial killer.
International Petition: Ban Crush Videos in America

Louisiana turtle farmers are suing the FDA to lift a 35-year-old ban on the sale of baby red-eared slider turtles, saying they desperately need the business and now have efficient ways to eliminate salmonella, which was the reason for the 1975 ban on the U.S. sale of turtles smaller than 4 inches.

A major reason why those of us who support the ban want it to stay in place is because, although the baby turtles may be salmonella-free, they can still continue to shed the bacteria throughout their lives, wreaking havoc on humans and wildlife alike.

When I wrote about this last month, I didn’t realize there were equally compelling reasons to keep the ban intact, and those reasons are practically in my own backyard. The Madrona Marsh Preserve in the Los Angeles area is a 10-acre refuge — basically a suburban pond — and many turtle owners apparently think it’s the perfect habitat in which to abandon their turtles. That’s right, when the adorable, silver-dollar-sized baby red-eared sliders illegally bought at flea markets, on the internet or elsewhere grow up to become not-so-cute, foot-long, high-maintenance adults, they’re often dumped.

Although the turtles can live to be 50 or older in a proper pond, they have difficulty surviving in places like Madrona Marsh. The Daily Breeze reported last week that officials are finding increasing numbers of the turtles either dead or sick from extreme dehydration. They’re also easy prey for raccoons and other wildlife.

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We the undersigned are requesting the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory?Committee consider the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Awareness Gold Ribbon as a new U.S. Stamp design subject.

More than 12 million people are currently diagnosed with COPD. An additional 12 million likely have the disease and don't even know it.

The statistics surely prove that more must be done to bring COPD awareness to the public; through media exposure, community efforts’, the internet, educational publications, and simply by word of mouth. Educating lung disease individuals and their families is the key; in regards to living and coping with COPD on a daily basis and bringing us one step closer to reversing this breathless lung disease.
Spread COPD Awareness via US Postage Stamp

Climate change deniers make it their business to attack global warming realists in every cobwebbed corner of the Internet. Anyone who has ever written in support of scientific evidence knows this first-hand.

But when do aggressive emails and comments cross this line? This has been an issue in so many areas of our modern life. Sure, the occasional controversial academic could get used to attacks, but in the climate change arena, the discourse is getting seriously out of hand.

When a steady stream of vitriolic hate is directed at a whole pack of prominent scientists whenever they dare venture beyond obscure journals, I think this line is surely crossed. Some of it is almost certainly from individual crazies. Others suggest these attacks are orchestrated, and blogger Tim Lambert notes that one high-profile spokesperson for the climate denial machine regularly publishes the email addresses of “target” scientists. Regardless of the source, I fear it is only a matter of time before abusive words translate to abusive actions.

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My hometown station, FOX Chicago, recently dared to question what is perhaps America’s most sacrosanct institution: the public library. Are libraries a waste of taxpayer money?, the station asked, managing to irritate people on both sides of the aisle.

You know they’re on a no-holds-barred offensive on big government when they go for your local library. When the internet is everywhere and paperbacks are cheap, who needs a library anymore?

FYI, FOX Chicago. Not everyone has home access to the internet. I know, it’s a surprise, given the hoards of people navigating downtown Chicago in Brooks Brothers suits with only their iPhones as company, but much of the city and the nation still doesn’t have internet access.

Among Chicagoans, 40 percent of people don’t have regular access to the internet. Of those, 25 percent have no access at all. In a time where people’s wallets are getting thinner, the internet can be one of the first things to go.

Take a look at this riveting investigative journalism:


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