International Privacy Day

As you are undoubtedly aware, yesterday was International Privacy Day (you knew that, right?). And since anonymity is sort of an issue at ye old Humboldt Herald, we thought you’d like this from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The Right to Anonymity is a Matter of Privacy

This Jan­u­ary 28 marks Inter­na­tion­al Pri­va­cy Day. Dif­fer­ent coun­tries around the world are cel­e­brat­ing this day with their own events. This year, we are hon­or­ing the day by call­ing atten­tion to recent inter­na­tion­al pri­va­cy threats and inter­view­ing data pro­tec­tion author­i­ties, gov­ern­ment offi­cials, and activists to gain insight into var­i­ous aspects of pri­va­cy rights and relat­ed leg­is­la­tion in their own respec­tive coun­tries.

—

Through­out his­to­ry, there have been a num­ber of rea­sons why indi­vid­u­als have taken to writ­ing or pro­duc­ing art under a pseu­do­nym. In the 18th cen­tu­ry, James Madi­son, Alexan­der Hamil­ton, and John Jay took on the pseu­do­nym Pub­lius to pub­lish The Fed­er­al­ist Papers. In 19th cen­tu­ry Eng­land, pseu­do­nyms allowed women–like the Brontë sis­ters, who ini­tial­ly pub­lished under Cur­rer, Ellis, and Acton Bell–to be taken seri­ous­ly as writ­ers.

Today, pseu­do­nyms con­tin­ue to serve a range of indi­vid­u­als, and for a vari­ety of rea­sons. At EFF, we view anonymi­ty as both a mat­ter of free speech and pri­va­cy, but in light of Inter­na­tion­al Pri­va­cy Day, Jan­u­ary 28, this piece will focus main­ly on the lat­ter, look­ing at the ways in which the right to anonymi­ty–or pseudonymity–is truly a mat­ter of pri­va­cy.

Continue reading.

What Will It Take To Save Coho?

[From Greg King.]

Earlier this month the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released its long awaited draft Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Recovery Plan. Though we’ve hardly had a chance to penetrate the 1,400-page document, the first meeting is coming right up:

January 31 – Humboldt Area Foundation 5-8:30 p.m. 373 Indianola Rd. (between Arcata and Eureka). We have asked NMFS to hold future meetings in Arcata or Eureka proper.

For a list of the four additional North Coast meetings, plus a brief analysis of the Coho Recovery Plan and links to the plan itself, see here.

Siskiyou Land Conservancy had significant input in the creation of the Smith River section of the Recovery Plan. The Smith River is the healthiest large watershed in the entire “SONCC” area, yet even here Coho salmon are on the brink of extinction. Add your voice. Let’s not lose this iconic and beautiful symbol of a wild North Coast.

Lawsuit filed over Naval sonar training

[Press Release.]

 Navy Training Blasts Marine Mammals With Harmful Sonar

Wildlife Protection Agency Challenged for Not Doing Its Job

SAN FRANCISCO— A coalition of conservation and American Indian groups today sued the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect thousands of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions from U.S. Navy warfare training exercises along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.

Earthjustice, representing InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, Friends of the San Juans, Natural Resources Defense Council and People For Puget Sound, today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Northern California challenging the Fisheries Service’s approval of the Navy’s training activities in its Northwest Training Range Complex. The lawsuit calls on the agency to mitigate anticipated harm to marine mammals and biologically critical areas within the training range that stretches from Northern California to the Canadian border.

“These training exercises will harm dozens of protected species of marine mammals — Southern resident killer whales, blue whales, humpback whales, dolphins and porpoises — through the use of high-intensity mid-frequency sonar,” said Steve Mashuda, an Earthjustice attorney representing the groups. “The Fisheries Service fell down on the job and failed to require the Navy to take reasonable and effective actions to protect them.”

Local man launches petition for Romney fraud investigation

[From Mitch Trachtenberg.]

The White House has created the ability to “petition the White House,” and I’ve started a petition to request voter fraud charges against Mitt Romney be investigated.  Please consider signing and/or spreading: http://wh.gov/K9e .

(The charges that Romney committed voter fraud by voting in Massachusetts after moving from the state are almost certainly true, but Massachusetts has refused to investigate.  Check out this old Rachel Maddow segment from June 2011. Rachel Maddow – Fred Karger Accuses Mitt Romney Of Voter Fraud.

Supes extend pot moratorium

Humboldt County Supervisors voted to extend a moratorium on marijuana dispensaries at its Tuesday meeting, adding “ten months and fifteen days” to a temporary moratorium passed on December 13th.

Language in the moratorium will emphasize that actions by US attorneys are thwarting efforts by local governments to protect the health and safety of it’s citizens through locally crafted ordinances.

What’s the difference between a vicious animal and a conservative candidate?

KMUD news reports Humboldt County’s conservative elite turned out Friday night to a fundraiser at Redwood Acres to voice their endorsements for Rex Bohn’s campaign for Humboldt County Supervisor.

Eureka City Councilwoman Melinda Ciarabellini, who is going door-to-door for Rex, took the mic and dropped a Q on the crowd.  To paraphrase:

What’s the difference between a pit bull and Rex Bohn?
A: A pit bull will eventually let go.

Grawr!

We certainly saw the locked jaws Rex and co. during that loser of a lawsuit they took all the way to the California Supreme Court over the balloon track, which lost every step of the way.

Supervisor Virginia Bass, Current Sheriff Mike Downey and former Sheriff Gary Philp were there, and Downey said Bohn would help restore things Humboldt County lost, like jobs and “integrity.” He didn’t elaborate on that.  Maybe he meant salmon and redwoods.

The same pit-bull question was popped to supporters at an Allison Jackson rally way back when.  Popular imagery to a Republican crowd, perhaps.

The only other candidate so far is Annette De Modena. Deadline for other hats to fall in the ring is March 9th.

Cole Machado gets 27 years for child porn

[Press Release.]

NORFOLK, VA—Cole Machado, 25, of Eureka, California, was sentenced today in Norfolk federal court to 327 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for production child pornography.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Machado was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Machado previously pled guilty to the charge on September 20, 2011.

More.

EARLIER: Local figure arrested on child porn charges | Machado facing felony child porn charge

Adopt a shelter dog

The Humboldt County Animal Shelter is full of good-looking four-leggeds who need a home.

Chase is a 10-month old Black and Tan Coonhound and German Shepherd mix.

Got room?

The Redwood Pals Rescue blog has a handy database of dogs. Please give it a look.

The Humboldt County Animal Shelter is on Facebook.

Occupy the Courts January 20th

[From Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County]

Noon – 1pm, Friday, January 20th
Eureka Federal Courthouse (Downtown Post Office, 5th & H St)

Inspired by our friends at Occupy Wall Street, and Dr. Cornel West, Move To Amend is planning bold action to mark the second anniversary of the infamous Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision!

Occupy the Courts will be a one day occupation of Federal courthouses across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Friday January 20, 2012.

Move to Amend volunteers and organizers across the USA will lead the charge on the judiciary which created — and continues to expand — corporate personhood rights.

Americans across the country are on the march, and they are marching OUR way. They carry signs that say, “Corporations are NOT people! Money is NOT Speech!” And they are chanting those truths at the top of their lungs! The time has come to make these truths evident to the courts.

Jefferson Community BBQ

(Notice from Heidi Benzonelli)

Friends, Neighbors and Community Partners,

We are having a BBQ and community workday this Saturday January 21…rain or shine!

Please come join the community while we build our future. 10 am til around 3, BBQ somewhere around noon.

We will be at the future home of the Jefferson Community Park Gardens and Community Center, 1000 B street Eureka.  It looks like rain so we will plan most activities for indoors.

A flyer is attached, please pass it on!

This event is hosted by Westside Community Improvement Association and sponsored by First Five Better Together, Humboldt Area Foundation and Eureka First United Methodist Church.