The "Is Hot Cool or Cool Hot?" Cupcake

Ancho chiles and cayane pepper imbue these Chocolate Ancho Chile Cupcakes... and the Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting with avery nice...what can I say...warmth in your mouth!

Believe me, I haven't just been lying around these past few weeks not making cupcakes!! In fact, I've made Brownie Cupcakes with Mocha Frosting, Vanilla Cupcakes with Lemonade Frosting and, these warm, then hot cupcakes.

Work has just been so crazy that I didn't have time to post anything! We've just launched three new web sites at Maryland and had this many meetings...endless meetings.

And, I have my first professional cupcake gig for a wedding that's going to be in February for 200 cupcakes. Today we have a cupcake tasting! I was very nervous but they loved the cupcake samples. The wedding will be in the chapel at the University of Maryland ... how appropriate...and Testudo will be in attendance!





If you would like to give these cupcakes a shot, you can find it here.

Have a great week!

CQ

The Ills of Big Pharma? What if there were a cure - right now - to save your life and you couldn't get it?

It's happening to Andrew Barron's dad, who happens to have a researcher on his case who has discovered something important.

It appears the Drug Company with the potential cure is trying to block its use.

In what can only be defined as a miracle in timing, a few days ago, one of his doctors who has been studying his tumor cells in the lab for years found an antibody with an exact match: Tysabri which is manufactured by your company, Biogen Idec. In the test tube, it attached to the antigens on the surface of the tumor 100%.

Though the drug has never been used before in this way, and because time is running out, the head of the FDA, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach has granted special approval for use of the drug for this purpose but you have personally decided “no”.

Help Andrew if you can - he says how in his post.

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Quinn Swims From Angel Island (And It Wasn't Even On Fire)

Quinn Swims From Angel Island (And It Wasn't Even On Fire)

Our part-aquatic friends the Woodheads continue to make their mark in the chilly world of open water swimming. Here's eight-year-old Quinn finally coming up for air, a towel, and age-group winning honors after swimming from Angel Island (San Francisco Bay) to Tiburon. He's gearing up for more Alcatraz shenanigans next.

This was the Founding Moment of a Social Movement on Privacy

The international privacy action day on Saturday was a total blast. I was speaking at the demonstration in Berlin, and you just can not imagine how it feels when 100 000 people are shouting "we are here, we are loud, because they steal our data!".

I don't have time for an exhaustive report right now, so I just quote the press release of the "Freedom not Fear" network from Sunday:

Yesterday, the first worldwide protests against surveillance measures such as the collection of all telecommunications data, the surveillance of air travellers and the biometric registration of citizens were held under the motto "Freedom not Fear - Stop the surveillance mania!". In at least 15 countries citizens demanded a cutback on surveillance, a moratorium on new surveillance powers and an independent evaluation of existing surveillance powers. "A free and open society cannot exist without unconditionally private spaces and communications", explains an international memorandum.

In Berlin the greatest protest march against surveillance in Germany's history took place: Participants in the 2 km long, peaceful protest march carried signs reading "You are Germany, you are a suspect", "No Stasi 2.0 - Constitution applicable here", "Fear of Freedom?" and "Glass citizens, brittle democracy".

Apart from related music tracks, loud chants of "Belittle it today, be under surveillance tomorrow" or "We are here and we are loud because they are stealing our data" could be heard. During the protests, which were supported by more than 100 civil liberties groups, professional associations, unions, political parties and other organisations, artists played parodies on surveillance society.

In their final speeches in front of the Brandenburg Gate, the organisers called for political consequences: padeluun of civil liberties group FoeBuD said that in view of the mass protests politicians needed to react now and repeal the blanket retention of all telecommunications data introduced in 2006. Patrick Breyer of Arbeitskreis Vorratsdatenspeicherung presented a five point plan according to which surveillance should be reduced, existing laws should be evaluated and plans for new surveillance measures should be halted. In the course of a "new, freedom-loving security policy" specific preventive measures such as youth projects should be invested in and the "real problems" of people such as poverty and education should be focused on. Ricardo Cristof Remmert-Fontes of Arbeitskreis Vorratsdatenspeicherung announced further action and invited participants to join parties held in seven participating clubs in Berlin under the motto "The long night of surveillance".

In other countries, the following events took place in the course of yesterday's "Freedom not Fear day": Protest event with music and several art performances in Den Haag, lectures in Rome, surveillance camera mapping in Madrid, art performances in front of Parliament in Vienna, protest rallies in Paris, Prague, Sofia and Stockholm, the distribution of privacy software in Kopenhagen, informative events in Guatemala City and Buenos Aires as well as a light projection onto Toronto's Town Hall. In London, the construction of a surveillance state was protested by creating a massive collage of photos on Parliament Square showing the prime minister and the action day's motto "Freedom not Fear".

Before the action day, Arbeitskreis Vorratsdatenspeicherung had warned of a "surveillance avalanche in Germany": According to the group, the German parliament has tightened surveillance and control over citizens at least 21 times in the past 10 years. At least 18 more surveillance proposals are presently on the political agenda, for example the blanket collection of air traveller's data and the transfer of personal data to the US.

More reports, videos etc. are here.

India Habitat Centre (New Delhi): Ramesh Terdal

From past 13 yrs have been constantly experimenting .today my media are acrylic.when I paint, I try to reproducing my sense of imagination, my experience as well as my emotions in the form of different textures, brush strokes and forms, some times my works have metaphor of society and sometime open to interpretation, said a young and promising Indian artist Ramesh Terdal.

His expressions through creative mediums are the form of an inward journey. It reflects how he conceive his existing potentials and true towards life .Ramesh Terdal started his journey with inward flow of light (journey through life) as his subject of paintings which belongs to every walk of life voilant mind,cruel gunman image,exposing bodys,they made their body as a earning source to exposing body ,black shadows over society,superemo image, power dominated image,how passion inter built with once day to day life, imbalance society. a struggle that is existing within the complexity life.India is a country where life and struggle is not rolling in a parallel way but it is an endless zigzag competition of living. Where lives are continuously struggling with unknown anxiety, fear and heat rate.in this struggle/juggling I am finding hope of smile metaphore of kid,infant,in innocent faces, once he said.

His work, for quite some time, has found inspiration / borrows motifs from the mass media. The black and white photographic images adopt a documentary style of address, presenting a snippet of everyday reality, such as we would be likely to find in a newspaper or magazine clipping. Apart from this stencils, and advertisements, Magazines, photographs.like cut out figures and billboard hoardings. The cutout has become a vehicle for him to transport populations to different localities and diverse societies. It also helps him to look at the social fabric today. After all what is our social structure? What relationships are we building up within our society ?He said, “I do not believe in concrete structures like the state and religion. They are both artificial entities. In reality there are no marked boundaries it is a palimpsest.”

Painting is his passion and journey ,so for,has been quite and eventful. There are things to learn,unlearn and learn every day,as an aspiring art practitioner we have social responsibility on us there is lot to learn things around us; keeping these things in to mind that we have to convey the society about right and wrong i fallow my heart and paint for society.
Ramesh believe that all art reflects on ones own ideal state of beauty and he look at it as a concept of personal transformation. Ramesh’s work has therefore a certain meditative connotation, as it strives to uncover an ideal of harmony and stability that remains however, forever ephemeral.

India Habitat Centre (New Delhi): Ramesh Terdal

Venue: Open Palm Court Gallery India Habitat Centre Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Dates: 23-28 October, 2008, 11 am - 8 pm daily

Website: http://www.ashokartgallery.com/

Details: First time in New Delhi presenting a very talented and promising young artist Ramesh Terdal. Ashok Art Gallery is going to host a show of 18 recent paintings of artist Ramesh Terdal At Open Palm Court Gallery India Habitat Centre.

COME AND JOIN US FOR A DRINK(NA) ON 23RD OCT AT 6 PM

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists.
Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

Palin Found Guilty of Ethics Violation & Abuse of Power

From All Facts and Opinions

Brian Ross of ABC News reports that investigator Stephen Branchflower determined that while Sarah and Todd Palin's desire to have their former brother-in-law fired was not the only reason for Walt Monegan's sacking, it was part of the justification for it, and that made the move unethical and illegal.

I have read the 263-page Branchflower report from start to finish. These are its major findings:

Finding Number One:

For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides

“The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.”

Finding Number Two:

I find that, although Walt Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety. In spite of that, Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.

Finding Number Three:

Harbor Adjustment Service of Anchorage, and its owner Ms. Murleen Wilkes, handled Trooper Michael Wooten’s workers’ compensation claim properly and in the normal course of business like any other claim processed by Harbor Adjustment Service and Ms. Wilkes. Further, Trooper Wooten received all the workers’ compensation benefits to which he was entitled.

Finding Number Four:

The Attorney General’s office has failed to substantially comply with my August 6, 2008, written request to Governor Sarah Palin for information about the case in the form of emails.

More from Bloomberg:

"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: To get Trooper Michael Wooten fired,'' according to the report issued today in Anchorage.

Even so, the report said Palin's firing in July of former state Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, who had refused to fire Wooten, was a "proper and lawful exercise'' of her wide authority to fire department heads for any reason. Monegan contends the governor dismissed him for refusing to fire Wooten, who was involved in a divorce and custody battle with Palin's sister.

Violation of the ethics act could result in sanctions, such as a fine, by a state ethics board, lawmakers said.

Members of the Legislative Council voted 12-0 to release the report even though there wasn't agreement on the findings, lawmakers said.

"I don't think there is a consensus on the conclusions,'' said Representative Bill Stoltze.

A bold new vision for research networks in Europe

[A committee made of NRENs, researchers and users has produced a very interesting white paper on the future of research networking in Europe. The paper articulates a vision of a network of NREN and pan-national virtual network peers made up of cross border fiber and other direct interconnections, rather than relying exclusively on a traditional hierarchical network architecture. I particularly like the idea of a “network factory” where the job of future network engineers will not be to build networks, but to provide tools to others to create their own virtual networks on top of a common substrate made of NRENs, cross border, campus networks and backbone links. Worth reading. Some excerpts from the paper-BSA]

http://www.dante.net/upload/pdf/GN3-08-034-GN3-White-Paper.pdf

To plan, provide and manage an advanced networking infrastructure interconnecting NRENs via a hybrid optical interconnect that includes GÉANT3 backbone links, direct Cross-Border-Fibres (CBF) and global connections.

To develop and support an agreed upon portfolio of multi-domain services enabling NREN Operators to manage secure and reliable networking solutions across the extended European Research Area and beyond, around the globe.

.. we are witnessing the emergence of a multitude of user-driven virtual networks and this trend may be considered as a new paradigm shift. GÉANT3 should evolve as a network factory with the network itself being an entity capable to create/host complex objects made of circuits and nodes, enabling community oriented services. Summarizing, there will be a constant need to
evaluate the significance of advanced technology without compromising the production quality of the GÉANT3 service portfolio.

The network infrastructures are becoming increasingly important with the deployment of services that deliver advanced capabilities to the end users through the network. It is expected that the High Performance Computing community, including growing Grid initiatives and fertilized by the emerging Cloud Computing concept will continue to exploit the opportunities that access to high speed networks brings.

Architecturally, the general adoption of Service Oriented Architectures (SOA) will allow the integration of services from many different providers creating a vibrant and competitive set of offerings built on top of the network.

R&E networking is by nature multi-domain, thus services must be established across confederate (loosely coupled) administrative domains: Campuses, NRENs and International interconnections. The latter include GÉANT3 backbone links, Cross-Border-Fibres (CBFs) and connections with global peers. Expedited, eventually automated multi-domain management is an area where our community will continue innovating, triggered by pressing end-user requirements and profiting from the web of trust amongst partner NRENs and their global peers.

Back to College

It's been a long time since I last wrote. Ramadan is over, it was a month that I devoted mostly to praying and reading.. the day was very short because of all the things I had to do. We went to the mosque occasionally and I had much to think about and didn't have the urge to write.

During Ramadan few of my friends had very hard circumstances that they're still suffering from. My friend's brother got kidnapped, was returned afterwards but now he's left outside Iraq to be sure of his safety. Another friend is living in a very gloomy atmosphere after the death of her cousin and the serious sickness of his brother. I am very bad at dealing with such situations and have no idea how to make any of them feel better which makes me feel quite helpless.

Then came Eid.. This Eid was very refreshing since for the past two years we didn't get to visit many houses as we usually do because we had grandpa (God's mercy be on him) and grandma (who's moved to the UAE and is enjoying her time now) at our house and were a main attraction of visitors rather than visiting people ourselves. Also, we had new friends to visit, those we have made in our trip to Turkey, and it was fun to see them again and talk about the journey and what's after.

This Monday was the first day of my new year as a junior is college. See how fast time goes! I was excited and fully charged to start the new year. I have forgotten so much of what I've studied in the past two years and would like to get it back!

We spent the first day chatting and congratulating the professors and our friends on Eid.. catching up with what's happened and observing the changes the vacation has made. We didn't take any lessons, and were told to come and get our books on Wednesday.
I didn't go to college today, because judging by the look of things yesterday we will only be wasting our time and have nothing done. Tomorrow I'll get my books.. I can't wait!

The male students got me really bothered yesterday, acting as if they don't even know us. Only two, maybe three, bothered to say hello!
This year is going to be my first in college without my cousin and his friends who have graduated. It feels a bit lonely already :(

We have a new building for our dept. (Communication engineering department) this year. The college started with one building and is slowly expanding to four buildings (one for each department and one for the deanery and administration) and we're only short by one now which I expect will be ready by next year. I love the new building, it's mostly blue (my favorite color) and is still very clean. Some of my friends think it's depressing and feels like a hospital, but I like it.

I still haven't met our professors who will be teaching us this year. That's my main concern, because seniors' talking about few wasn't very promising and I've had a bad experience with our new Eng. Analysis professor last year, which I really don't want to repeat.

Update&Charts

Hi, still working hard on my debut album, the progress is slow but steady. I have taken time off from gigging to work on it and this has proven to be very liberating. Can't wait to get back on the road again though and play some of my new things. I will be in the USA until the end of this year, and then back in Europe in January/February for a tour. On the release front, 3024-003 will be in the shops on October 20th, my remix for Warp will be out in November as well as my remix for Scuba. Another track called "Yet" will come out on the new Tectonic album. I'll post a clip of it on my space soon. In a few weeks i'll also post the tracks for 3024-004 and 005 there. Here's a chart I compiled for german magazine Groove, and there's also a digital chart for Beatport.com here.

1. The Bug - Lost Flying Lotus remix (Ninja Tune)
2. Kode9 & LD - 2Bad (Hyperdub)
3. Martyn - Vancouver 2562's Puur Natuur Dub (3024)
4. Kenny Larkin - Vibin' (Planet E)
5. Mike Slott - Deux Three ft. Muhsinah (All City)
6. Martyn - KRDL-T-GRV (3024)
7. Samiyam - Grapesicles (Warp)
8. Scuba - The Upside Martyns Down mix (Hotflush)
9. Omar S - Blade Runner (FXHE)
10. Kerri Chandler - Fortran (Argy's 6:23 mix) (Deeply Rooted House)

What music is all about to me..

I received this message on myspace a while back:

"I been working at a youth centre for young people at risk of homelessness. Quite a lot of them are sleeping rough and the others are in hostels. I started a music project a couple months ago which has been going down well- dj'ing and mc'ing. Yesterday it all got proper rowdy and they were all cussing each other so after giving them a last warning I decided we needed to get away from the grime and bring it down a bit. I put on 'Natural Selection' expecting them to all cuss - no disrespect but they all like the aggy grime beats. It changed everything man, they were proper in it and the whole vibe changed, all chatting about their life and the proper hardship they're going thru. just thought i'd let u know coz i thought it would have made u haps to see. Definitely bringing in more of the deeper dubstep in for them. Anyways nuff respects, can't get enough of your music, seriously soothin on the soul."

Top 5 Reasons I Should Not Be Your Child's Godmother ;-D

Hey Blog Sisters,

Here's the scoop. In my outer circle, my friends are popping out babies faster than the Palin family. In my inner circle however, my girls are all deliriously happy indie artist single goddesses unburdened by the darling delight that is motherhood.

Many of those wonderful outer circle girlfriends are trying to carefully choose who should raise their children should something horrible befall them. Others are trying to figure out which potential godparents would give their rugrats the best gifts. While some may be competing for these prized godmother spots, I write this impassioned plea to let you know, my pregnant and soon to be pregnant friends, when it comes to godmotherhood I am not your woman.

I have 2 godchildren, one nephew and a cat. Add to that trying to still trying to raise myself and my best friends and my hands are pretty full. I was blessed to have the best parents on the planet and then to add to my embarrassment of riches my Uncle Patrick and Aunt Ena ROCK as godparents. When I took off for LA to seek my fortune, telling my parents to kiss the back of the $300 jeans that they'd bought me, my Aunt Ena saw to it that the floor I was sleeping on was padded with a comfy mattress and silk sheets. And my Uncle Patrick was no slouch either. When I was that annoying brat in the first row of 2nd grade raising my hand before the questions were asked Uncle P kept me stocked in Highlights magazines so that I could be the chick lit writer I am today! Alas, my friends, this is too much to live up to. I am selfishly enjoying life too much to commit to helping you raise your children. Lest you doubt me in this area, I offer you this:

TOP 5 REASONS YOU SHOULD CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE AS YOUR BABY'S GODMAMA

5) The Blooming Plants. I adore plants and greenery of any kind. I have been known to annoyingly remark during rainstorms, "well the trees need water too." When my EFH (Ex From Hell) aka SGF (Still Good Friend) and I decided to part ways (meaning he cheated on me with every cheap trick available) I was forced to leave my lovely houseplants. They all had special meaning to me and were gifts from people I cared for. Fine, I thought as I packed to move to an apartment with no window ledges, you keep the bloody plants. In my mind, the plants would miss my tender affection and all quickly drop dead, forcing EFH to realize that I was the glue that held the very threads of life together. Instead, when I returned a year later to collect the bulk of my things, I found a virtual greenhouse! The plants were flourishing like they never had when I watered them with PUR, fed them and even spoke to them. The plants were glad that I was gone. Imagine how your kids would feel if I was left in their care.

4) K & R. My current godchildren. Wonderful as they are I am embarrassed to say that I rarely see them. One mother tried to ply me to visit with guilt by saying that poor little R asked how come she only sees Auntie Abiola inside the TV. How did I deal with this? Did I pack up a bushel of toys and books and head over? No, I apologized and felt guilty for 5 whole minutes before reiterating Goddess Maxim Number 3 - Guilt is a Wasted Emotion. Then I met my inner circle girls for Tuesdays at Tilman's- a delightful feast of networking and debauchery in Manhattan. Whatareyougonnado? Let your child fall to this same fate? Not recommended.

3) Better Alternatives. If something were to happen to you, might I suggest a nunnery or that uncle you mentioned who lives in your basement?

2) The Pets. When I was a kid, I never took to the baby dolls. Instead I turned my toy refrigerator on the side to make a file cabinet and turned the toy stove into a pretend desk to write on. When I was bored with that, my refrigerator was Barbie's second townhouse. True story! The Abrams family did have pets from time to time. The two I remember the most are the dogs Rocky and Flirt. I can honestly swear on a stack of Bibles that I never ever had physical contact with either of these animals. I am embarrassed to add that 2 years ago when my sister was shocked by and opposed to me getting a cat, Flirt's name came up and I asked how was he. Flirt is a girl, my sister explained. Oh, I said. When I did get a cat my sister and cousin came over and threatened to rescue her if she showed any signs of neglect! Again, true story.

1) My Beloved Kitty Anabelle. My daughter Anabelle is the only child that I can contend with at the moment. She is loved, well fed, happily spoiled and cared for. (When I sit writing for 14 hours and forget to feed her, she reminds me ASAP.) I am leaving soon for Guyana Fashion week and luckily I have friends that remind me to find a sitter for her. Those friends unfortunately are also the same inner circle single childless friends who give me horrible cat mothering advice like put olive oil on Anabelle's back to make her clean herself better. (Don't ask. I'll share this one day.) Your kids don't need this. And besides, Anabelle doesn't really like children.

Think carefully about who you choose as a godmother. I may appear on the surface to be a great surrogate mom catch. However, if you take the time to look deeper I think you'll agree that there are others who are much more deserving of this honor. If some disaster were to befall you, I could be entrusted with your wardrobe, however.

Love / Hugs,
Abiola
Curator of the Goddess Factory Lifestyle

"You've really gotten us into a mess this time, Ollie!"

Comparing Laurel and Hardy to McCain/Palin is a stretch, but if the financial mess we're in now doesn't focus the country's attention on the sorry state of affairs from eight years of insanity, then we deserve to crash.

The presidential campaign of '52 was the first I was old enough to remember, and it seemed so exciting and patriotic back then. We'd just come out of the war, the country was booming, and yes, there were problems, though they seem elementary compared to now. After listening to Stevenson and Eisenhower speak, I expected that the academic would easily beat out the old war horse. That was my first lesson in the short-sightedness of the American public. When I questioned my parents why Stevenson lost, my mom said, "He was too smart for the average American to understand." It didn't make much sense at the time. Unfortunately, she was right.

What does it take for your average American citizen to wake up to the fact that we've shot ourselves in both feet, at home and abroad? I traveled in Central Europe this summer, and was impressed by the sight of wind turbines twirling in swirling wheat fields. We are so terribly out of touch with what's going on in the rest of the world--all we see through the MSM lens is strictly US-centric. We've been salted down, wrapped in cotton wool, and isolated from reality.

Same thing when I lived in Australia for two years. There's so much more going on out there than Americans know. It was a relief to live a life in which American doom and gloom and rotten capitalism was reduced to an 11:30-midnight slot every night, and to have the choice to simply not watch. I learned about countries I'd never heard of before. Saw island nations strip mined by American megacorporations, the population decimated when the silt from runoff ruined the fishing economy. Watched the New Zealand Navy surround the French islands where Chirac conducted an underwater nuclear bomb test. Did this news ever make it to the US media? My guess is the O.J. fiasco pre-empted news of any value.

For all our bluster and misplaced pride, the US has slipped into a Third World existence where we have higher infant mortality than a couple of dozen countries. Our education system is abysmal. Le Monde and other overseas newspapers were solidly behind Obama this summer, and doubtless still are. Even the old standby, American Express Travelers Checks, were in bad odor. If Europeans would accept them, they charged an exhorbitant fee, telling us that by the time they got their money back from AmEx, the dollar would have devalued enough to justify the up to 50% fee.

I learned the hard way that when you finally leave an abuser for good, that's when they deliver the coup de gras. For the unpardonable offense of extricating yourself from a toxic relationship, the abuser seeks to get their last, hardest licks in. That's the one thing I fear for America. That the "October Surprise" will result in either martial law, another stolen election, or both.

It is so frustrating to see the rest of the world taking steps to strengthen their populace and economies, while our particular brand of capitalism only leads to an acute concentration of wealth in the hands of sociopaths, and the common wo/man is crushed beneath the wheel of greed.

OK, decomissioning the soapbox for a while. Please go vote. Hopefully for Obama, but if not, be prepared for a messy backlash.

3024-003 Erosie remix

3024-002's sleeve remixed in true black marker style by Erosie :

Expect the Sarah Palin E-Mail Privacy Act of 2009

As you probably all have read, U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's private email account has been broken into and some of the contents posted at wikileaks (the server seems to be over capacity at the moment, so I save you the link). I won't get into the content of this personal communication, because I agree with Lauren Weinstein that

"we shouldn't be doing to others that which we wouldn't want done to ourselves. Palin's truly personal e-mail and photos have no bearing on the political situation, yet they've been posted along with everything else. There's simply no justifying this from an ethical standpoint."

Of course, for persons running for an important public office, we have different expectations of privacy than for the everage John Doe, but what is going too far is just going too far.

But apart from these ethical considerations, there will be practical consequences of this event, Here, the opinions are very diverse even among the liberal crowd. Lauren Weinstein fears that "this chain of events plays into the hands of the Palin/McCain campaign". I tend to agree more with Paul Ohm that this event may trigger the preparations of a federal email privacy act in the United States. Ohm argues rightfully:

Congress often enacts privacy protecting legislation only in the wake of salient, sensationalized, harmful privacy breaches. Thus, Judge Bork's video rental records begat the Video Privacy Protection Act and the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer by a stalker with DMV records led, eventually, to the Drivers' Privacy Protection Act.

Similar things also happened last year in Canada, when the mobile phone records of the Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart were obtained by a reporter through data brokers in the U.S.

Paul Ohm goes on with a prediction I would certainly bet something on:

If I am right about this, expect the E-mail Privacy Act of 2009, and expect it to be a blockbuster. If you're an activist, government lawyer, e-mail provider, or scholar with an interest in information privacy, I advise you to start putting together your statutory wish lists.

Indian Art Market News, the first Indian Art Fair reviews

The recent Art Summit was the Indian art scene’s attempt to climb a new rung in its international aspirations.

astounding 10,000 art enthusiasts walked in to witness India’s First International Art Fair, India Art Summit(TM) 2008, firmly establishing it as a one stop destination for art in India. With an overwhelming mix of art collectors, artists, critics, curators, students and art enthusiasts from across India and overseas, the Summit achieved exactly what it set out to - making art, and the knowledge of art, accessible to a widespread audience.Commercially speaking, the fair clocked in a record sale of approximately 50%, with the 34 participating galleries selling over 280 artworks worth Rs.10 crores approximately. Given that the total value of the 550 artworks on display was approximately Rs. 20 crores, India Art Summit has emerged as one of the most successful first editions of any art fair across the world.With all eyes now on India, event producers Hanmer MS&L, have announced plans to schedule India Art Summit 2009 between 19th - 22nd August’ 2009 in New Delhi. Next year, the fair is proposed to be over three times bigger and applications are already pouring in from across India and world. While in the first year, the focus was largely on Indian art and Indian galleries, the second year will see participation from galleries across the world showcasing a sizeable array of artworks from different parts of the world.
Ashok Art Gallery is a five-yearold Delhi gallery that largely functions online. A mom-and-pop operation with a handful of unknown artists, Ashok Art Gallery has never had any exposure in the media. Their only previous art fair experience was with the Mumbai art expo earlier this year. As one among 35 galleries that participated in the recent India Art Summit (between August 22 and 25), Ashok Art Gallery did not expect to become frontpage news. But their 27-year-old Oriya artist Kanta Kishore’s marble sculptures of rolled-up newspapers were sold within hours of the fair’s opening. Gallerists Ashok Nayak and Kavita Vig, Kavita’s husband Bharat and septuagenarian mother-in-law watched astonished as the art young Indian superstar Subodh Gupta and politician Maneka Gandhi came to their stall. And in their wake, thousands of visitors and the press.Sculptures and installations sold almost as well as paintings, signalling a new trend. The panel of speakers and choice of topics at the Art Forum also drew many accolades and was deemed as amongst one of the best such initiatives of its kind, internationally.
Mr. Sunil Gautam, Managing Director, Hanmer MS&L commenting on the fair said, “It is great to see that India Art Summit has emerged as the most inclusive collaborative art platform in India in it’s very first year. We believe that this initiative is a step in the right direction to put India on the global art fair circuit.”Commenting on the success of the fair, Mr. Philip Hoffman, Chief Executive, The Fine Art Fund said “The Indian market is very important in the global art scene and this fair is a major step. I can imagine this to be major fair in Asia competing alongside London, Miami and Basel in the next 5-10 years. The sales results of the fair seemed very impressive by comparison to other fairs in their first year.”India Art Summit - BackgrounderThe art fraternity in India has for long felt a gap and the need for a collaborative industry platform in the country owing to the phenomenal growth and global interest in Indian art. While the art fraternity the world over gets numerous opportunities to interact and collaborate through various art fairs, biennales & expos, there was no such platform in India. Therefore the time was right for India to offer a suitable platform for art. The initiative has received invaluable recognition and endorsement from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Sotheby’s.The Summit hopes to achieve the dual purpose of, on one hand, serving as a window for International collectors to get a single access point to Indian art and, on the other, exposing the Indian collectors to a range of global Art that will be showcased at the fair in the coming years. More than just a place for buying and selling art, this initiative will enable diverse stakeholders from India and around the world to come together and discuss the creative and commercial aspects of Indian art.Today, Indian art is greatly appreciated both internationally and within the country, annually growing at 30-35%, the Indian art market is currently worth Rs 1500 crores. The Indian art market has gone up by 485 percent in the last decade making it the fourth most buoyant art market in the world. The total auction market size of Indian art has changed from US $5 million in 2003 - just five years back - to nearly US $150 million this year.







The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists. Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

Conference "Privacy in Social Network Sites"

Onother interesting conference here at TU Delft which I am looking forward to: "Privacy in Social Network Sites" on 23 and 24 October 2008. Registration and participation is free, and Delft (right between The Hague and Rotterdam) is always worth a visit. The conference is organized by David Riphagen, who is affiliated with the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and currently is finishing his M.A. thesis at our department on the same topic. His blog on the same theme is also worth a look.

Ramadan

We're in Ramadan now, the fasting season. College will officially start after Eid Al-Fitr and thus I'm trying to exploit the free time I have left.
Going to college and studying in Ramadan had always been very hard, I'd be too tired, and there would barely be any time left to study because of all the activities. But from now and till after my graduation and probably higher studies, Ramadan would be during the vacation, making it much easier.

Beside the usual activities of prayer and reading Quran, I am watching an Islamic show on the stories in the Quran, and some snippets from a series about Antarah ibn Shaddad. I use the rest of the time surfing the net, doing some house work and reading about Java.

The curfew hours have changed to 12AM - 4AM as opposed to 10PM - 6AM, and this time the people are actually exploiting the change and going out instead of locking themselves in as soon as it's dark. Hopefully this will lead to canceling the curfew.
It's a positive step and we really need it to lead to more!

رمضان كريـــــــــم لجميع المسلمين.. أعاده الله علينا و عليكم بالخير و السلام و الصحة و العافية ان شاء الله.

'Peanuts' animator Bill Melendez dies at 91 - MSN TV News

'Peanuts' animator Bill Melendez dies at 91 - MSN TV News

He was the voice of Snoopy. I hope heaven is enjoying a lot of laughter today.

Rating the Party Platforms

from Natalie Davis' All Facts and Opinions
http://gratefuldread.net
http://gratefuldread.wordpress.com/

With the Republican National Convention under way in St. Paul, MN, the time has come to look at the various political parties' platforms side by side. A great organization, eQualityGiving.org, exists to funnel donations to worthy GLBT-supporting candidates. The group rates candidates as either pro-equality, anti-equality, or "heartbreaker." The latter designation means the candidate or party supports some pro-equality planks but just can't work up the nerve to stand for marriage equality -- meaning they oppose full equality under law for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The eQualityGiving.org comparison shows that one party ranks as pro-, one ranks as anti-, and two end up as heartbreakers. Can you guess which is which?

The answers can be found by checking out these two easy to read tables:

1) Comparison of the 2008 Democratic and Republican Party Platforms
http://www.equalitygiving.org/Party-Platform

2) Comparison of the 2008 Libertarian and Green Party Platforms
http://www.equalitygiving.org/Libertarian-Party-Platform-Green-Party-Platform

Sorry, Barack fans who are surprised and disappointed, but if you'd done your homework, you would have known already (and, by the by, Hillary is a heartbreaker too). But Obama is certainly better than the one angry and completely anti-GLBT candidate. Of course, there is one fully pro-GLBT candidate...

Ramadan

Mahmoud Said, The Reciter (1960)