Speedwerx Commercial from Sleadhead247 on Vimeo.

Thief River Falls, Minn. (Dec. 21, 2009) – Round two of the ISOC National Snocross season brought Team Arctic to the famed Milwaukee Mile and a crowd estimated at 15,000. The team responded with historic wins of their own, taking Pro classes, Semi Pro Stock and Jr. 14-15, as well as top finishes in all classes.

“Team Arctic has a long and storied tradition at the Milwaukee Mile, going all the way back to Dave Thompson’s historic oval win in 1973,” said Mike Kloety, Team Arctic Race Manager. “To return here and win four classes was a highlight for our team and our fans.”

Team Arctic/Monster Energy phenom Tucker Hibbert continued his unbeaten march in the Pro classes, thrilling race fans with come-from-behind wins and his nearly flawless combination of speed and talent. The victories marked career wins #49 and #50 for Hibbert.

As was the case the week prior at Duluth, Team Arctic/Christian Bros. Racing stalwart Garth Kaufman shrugged off a poor start in the Pro Stock final, picked off racers on every lap and put himself into third place with the most exciting run of the weekend.

For the first time in his young career, Team Arctic/Christian Bros. Racing’s Logan Christian scored victory in the Semi Pro class, winning the Stock #2 final after a tough battle with Factory Team Arctic’s Cody Thomsen and Kyle Pallin. Christian also took third in the Semi Pro Open which, combined with his finishes the week prior, put him and Thomsen on a path towards the season point championships. Likewise, Pallin’s second place in both Semi Pro Stock classes underscores his consistency, and the strong likelihood he’ll stand atop the podium yet this season.

“We’re two races into the season and already we’re in a great position for our championship hopes in Pro, Semi Pro and the Sport classes,” said Kloety. “Our Sno Pro 600 is practically bulletproof, our racers are on top and we head into the holiday break with no significant injuries.”

Thief River Falls, Minn. (Dec. 14, 2009) – Despite postponing the Spirit National ISOC Snocross race two weeks, the inevitable happened: Team Arctic racers collected the most wins in the biggest classes, including both Pro finals and two-of-three in Semi Pro.

In other words, it’s going to be another long and disappointing season for the competition.

“Of the 10 classes comprising Sport to Pro, Team Arctic won five,” said Mike Kloety, Race Team Manager. “I’d call that a dominating performance. And I’d credit the preparation and hard work of our teams coupled with the performance and durability of our Sno Pro 600 race sled.”

Tucker Hibbert’s reign over the Pro class continued as the Arctic Cat/Monster racer won every heat and final in both Stock and Open with his customary combination of speed, control and sled preparation. Hibbert’s strongest challenge came from Team Arctic’s Dan Ebert, who took the holeshot and led the Pro Stock final for six of the 20 laps before settling for second ahead of Christian Bros. Racing’s (CBR) Garth Kaufman, also on an Arctic Cat.

Matching Hibbert’s outstanding performance was Factory Team Arctic racer and first-year Semi Pro, Cody Thomsen, who swept the Open and Stock #2 finals en route to an undefeated weekend (Note: ISOC allows Semi Pro racers to enter two of three classes: Open, Stock #1 or Stock #2).

Logan Christian of the CBR team showed strong speed and conditioning to move within striking distance of Thomsen in the Open final, setting up what will likely be a season-long battle between them.  Add to the mix Thomsen’s new teammate, Kyle Pallin, who took second in Stock #1 (and appeared one additional lap away from winning), and looks poised for a heavy haul of hardware.

As if winning four of the top-five classes weren’t enough, Team Arctic/Sportech racer Andrew Carlson’s victory in Sport Stock #2 and third in Stock #1 proved two things: He’s the guy to beat for the class championship; and the Sno Pro 600 is a winner in every class.

“This is our third year with the Sno Pro 600,” said Kloety. “We’ve optimized the power, handling and durability to the point that it’s a turn-key winner. Add to the mix the on-track clutching support of Speedwerx, plus the knowledge and dedication of our teams’ crews, and the result is a top-to-bottom sweep like we saw at Duluth.”

The next race in the ISOC National Snocross Series is Dec. 18-19 at the Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, Wis. Go to www.isocracing for more information.

Five Wins and a Clean Sweep of Season Opener

Photos courtesy of John Sandberg

Despite postponing the Spirit National ISOC Snocross race two weeks, the inevitable happened: Team Arctic racers collected the most wins in the biggest classes, including both Pro finals and two-of-three in Semi Pro.

In other words, it’s going to be another long and disappointing season for the competition.

“Of the 10 classes comprising Sport to Pro, Team Arctic won five,” said Mike Kloety, Race Team Manager. “I’d call that a dominating performance. And I’d credit the preparation and hard work of our teams coupled with the performance and durability of our Sno Pro 600 race sled.”

Tucker Hibbert’s reign over the Pro class continued as the Arctic Cat/Monster racer won every heat and final in both Stock and Open with his customary combination of speed, control and sled preparation. Hibbert’s strongest challenge came from Team Arctic’s Dan Ebert, who took the holeshot and led the Pro Stock final for six of the 20 laps before settling for second ahead of Christian Bros. Racing’s (CBR) Garth Kaufman, also on an Arctic Cat.

Matching Hibbert’s outstanding performance was Factory Team Arctic racer and first-year Semi Pro, Cody Thomsen, who swept the Open and Stock #2 finals en route to an undefeated weekend (Note: ISOC allows Semi Pro racers to enter two of three classes: Open, Stock #1 or Stock #2).

Logan Christian of the CBR team showed strong speed and conditioning to move within striking distance of Thomsen in the Open final, setting up what will likely be a season-long battle between them.  Add to the mix Thomsen’s new teammate, Kyle Pallin, who took second in Stock #1 (and appeared one additional lap away from winning), and looks poised for a heavy haul of hardware.

As if winning four of the top-five classes weren’t enough, Team Arctic/Sportech racer Andrew Carlson’s victory in Sport Stock #2 and third in Stock #1 proved two things: He’s the guy to beat for the class championship; and the Sno Pro 600 is a winner in every class.

“This is our third year with the Sno Pro 600,” said Kloety. “We’ve optimized the power, handling and durability to the point that it’s a turn-key winner. Add to the mix the on-track clutching support of Speedwerx, plus the knowledge and dedication of our teams’ crews, and the result is a top-to-bottom sweep like we saw at Duluth.”

The next race in the ISOC National Snocross Series is Dec. 18-19 at the Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, Wis. Go to ISOC Racing for more information.

Team Arctic Results from the ISOC Duluth Spirit National

Pro Stock

1. Tucker Hibbert

2. Dan Ebert

3. Garth Kaufman

Pro Open

1. Tucker Hibbert

Pro Women

3. Carly Davis

4. JC Hupe

Semi Pro Open

1. Cody Thomsen

2. Logan Christian

4. Matt Pichner

Semi Pro Stock #1

2. Kyle Pallin

Semi Pro Stock #2

1. Cody Thomsen

Sport Stock #1

3. Andrew Carlson

Sport Stock #2

1. Andrew Carlson

Jr. 16-17

3. Wesley Sweeney

Jr. 14-15

2. Wesley Sweeney

Thanks to our new president, it took us only a few months to fix up our transatlantic tension with the Europeans mainly with the Frenchies that Bush left us with. We are now even going further donating money to French Consortium to help ensuring Open Global Internet. It looks to me all this non-sense French and French Fries bashing that started from the Bush administration are slowly going away. Thanks God! It is about time. BTW, not sure how many of you know about this – French Fries has nothing to do with France. It is from Belgium.

The Washington based, Internet Society ISOC , a non-profit organization focused on Internet-related standards, education and policy made an unspecified donation to French based World Wide Web (W3C) today. Their donation is aimed at helping W3C evolve into an organization that creates open web standards.

Not sure this was the first time they made such donation though. I know both ISOC and W3C have worked together for years in a number of areas, and have deeply shared values about the Internet development.

The two organizations will continue to operate independently, and will maintain their long-standing, informal collaboration. ISOC’s pledge of support is for three years, with both organizations working to ensure progress.

The first snocross race of 2009-2010 season is in the history books, and with it a return to Team Arctic’s winning tradition. With the postponement of the ISOC National Series until Dec. 12-13, a Regional ISOC race at Quadna Mountain Park (QMP) in Hill City, Minn., served as a tune-up for many Team Arctic snocrossers. Eight class wins, including three of four Pro class victories, proves that only fine-tuning is needed to dominate the rest of the season.

Although many familiar Team Arctic racers stayed home, a handful of top National and Regional competitors were all the team needed to win the biggest classes. With a victory in the National Pro Open class and third in National Pro Stock, first-year pro Dan Ebert proved he’s ready to win at the highest level. His teammate Kyle Pallin, a Semi Pro on the National circuit, won the Pro Super Stock final, while Matt Pichner and Cody Thomsen went one-two in the Pro Open final.

Racers who normally compete in the National Series are required to bump up to the next category at Regional Events, which is why Pallin, Pichner and Thomsen were competing in the Pro classes rather than Semi Pro.

Team Arctic racers decimated the Semi Pro Super Stock #1 final, with Jacob Muller leading a sweep of the top-four placings. And Wesley Sweeney took the win in Jr. 14-15, completing the top-down victory run for Team Green.

Winning finals in all major categories answered any questions about whether the new 2010 Sno Pro 600 race sled was as formidable as it was the previous season, and what fans should expect from the team.

“We believe we have many of the top racers and that our Sno Pro is a top sled,” said Team Arctic Race Manager, Mike Kloety, “But there’s always a question of what to expect at the beginning of each season. Our success at QMP proved that we’ve hit our marks for both talent and equipment.

“Two of our new racers, Paul Bauerly and Kyle Pallin, came from another brand and showed an immediate, marked improvement. With all of our top racers ready to do battle at the Spirit National this coming weekend, we’re confident that Team Arctic’s winning tradition will prevail.”

National Pro Open:

• 1st – Dan Ebert
• 4th – Paul Bauerly

National Pro Super Stock:

• 2nd - Paul Bauerly
• 3rd – Dan Ebert

Pro Open:

• 1st – Matt Pichner
• 2nd – Cody Thomsen
• 6th – Justin Steck
• 7th - Kyle Pallin

Semi Pro Super Stock:

• 1st – Kyle Pallin
• 3rd - Justin Steck
• 4th – Cody Thomsen
• 6th - Matt Pichner

Pro Am +30 Super Stock:

• 4th – Karl Christian
• 5th - Roger Bastyr

Pro Am Womens Super Stock:

• 2nd - April Moritz

Semi Pro Open:

• 2nd – Andrew Carlson
• 6th – Devin Bertoch
• 7th – Jacob Blanshan

Semi Pro Super Stock #1:

• 1st – Jacob Muller
• 2nd – Andrew Carlson
• 3rd – Nathan Moritz
• 4th – Dusty Miller
• 6th – Jacob Blanshan
• 8th – Devin Bertoch
• 9th – Levi Tipcke

Semi Pro Super Stock #2:

• 2nd – Nathan Moritz
• 3rd – Mike Hansen
• 4th – Devin Bertoch
• 6th – Levi Tipcke
• 7th – Jacob Muller
• 10th – Andrew Carlson
• 12th – Dusty Miller

Sport Stock #1:

• 2nd – Jesse Hendrickson
• 4th – Johan Sundstrom

Sport Stock #2:

• 2nd – Jesse Hendrickson
• 3rd – Tyler Riewer

Plus 30:

• 2nd – Les Anderson
• 3rd – Roger Bastyr

Plus 40:

• 2nd – Les Anderson

Novice Stock #1:

• 1st – Nick Patterson
• 2nd – Mickey Moore
• 3rd – Drew Cook
• 4th – Cody Roloff
• 5th – Britt Anderson
• 6th – Adam Wolfe

Novice Stock #2:

• 1st – Mickey Moore
• 3rd – Drew Cook
• 4th – Cody Roloff
• 5th – Nick Patterson
• 6th – Britt Anderson

Jr. 16-17:

• 2nd – Wesley Sweeney
• 3rd – Johan Sundstrom
• 4th – Nick Patterson

Jr. 14-15 Sun.:

• 1st – Wesley Sweeney

Minnesota regional event has plenty of snow to race

The ISOC Minnesota Regional Circuit will have its first race this weekend at Quadna Mountain Park in Hill City, MN. Recent cold temperatures have enabled the ski hill to create enough snow for good racing conditions.

Warm weather across the country has made snow making difficult and postponed many races, which will likely create the event at Quadna a popular one for racers.

“It is great that Quadna has as much snow as it does with all the warm weather conditions across the country,” said ISOC Director of Operations Scott Lorentz. “We are looking forward to finally starting the season off and we should have a very good racer turn out.”

The race will be a two-day event running all day December 5th & 6th. Racers can enter the race online at ISOCRacing.com up to midnight on Wednesday prior to the event. Registrations after Wednesday include additional late fees. Spectator tickets start as low as $5.

ISOC’s AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will kick-off the following weekend with the AMSOIL Duluth National at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN. The traditional Thanksgiving weekend event was postponed until December 11th – 13th.

For more information, visit ISOCRacing.com or call (763) 497-8474

The AMSOIL Duluth National has been rescheduled. Due to unseasonably warm temperatures and an extended forecast for more of the same, the 18th annual race at Spirit Mountain has been moved to run the weekend of December 11 – 13.

Representatives from Visit Duluth, Spirit Mountain and ISOC have been watching the weather and considering all options. The staff at Spirit Mountain was prepared to work around the clock to make the required snow for the event, but Mother Nature has not cooperated with snowmaking efforts.

“The cold weather just didn’t make it to Minnesota by Sunday like we had hoped,” said Terry Mattson, Visit Duluth President and CEO. “While it is expected to get cold enough later in the week, there would not be enough time to 100% guarantee there would be enough snow to pull off
the event. We are concerned about the safety of our riders and putting together a good show for the fans.”

The AMSOIL Duluth National will be held on December 11 – 13 with the schedule of events running exactly as it had originally been planned. All tickets held by spectators will be valid for the new weekend. All racers registered for the event will be transferred to the new weekend. If you are not able to compete, please contact the ISOC office for a refund.

The postponement of the AMSOIL Duluth National will have no affect on the schedule for the Milwaukee Mile National on December 18 – 19.

A Minnesota Regional schedule for the season will be released this week with confirmed dates resulting from the rescheduling of the AMSOIL Duluth National.

We are looking forward to a great season of racing in 2009/2010. If you have any questions, please contact ISOC Racing at (763) 497-8474. Specific questions regarding Duluth may be directed to Visit Duluth at (218) 722-4011.

The Amsoil Duluth National at Spirit Mountain scheduled for this weekend have been rescheduled for December 11-13 due to unseasonably warm temps.

On a totally different note we just received this awesome ad from one of our riders overseas. Straight from Sweden! Sweet.

Above average temperatures have made snowmaking difficult at Spirit Mountain

As of today (11/19/09), the AMSOIL Duluth National is still on as planned for its 18 annual race on Thanksgiving weekend. However, a final decision will be made on Monday morning of next week at 9am if the race will run as planned or if it will be postponed.

“If on Monday morning at 9am, we are not 100% certain the race can be run and the snow necessary for the event will be made, the event will be postponed for two weeks,” said Scott Lorentz, ISOC Director of Operations. “We know a lot of fans and race teams travel a long way for this event and we are trying to be as proactive as possible with this decision.”

In a collaborative effort between Visit Duluth, Spirit Mountain and ISOC, it was decided that if the race is postponed it will run the weekend of December 11‐13. The rescheduling of the AMSOIL Duluth National will not affect any other dates for the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series and the Milwaukee Mile National will run as planned the following weekend.

“We have twenty‐one snow guns waiting in place to make the snow for the event,” said Terry Mattson, Visit Duluth President/CEO. “Based on the years of experience with this event and looking at the weather forecast, we believe we can still have enough snow for a great race. But if we cannot guarantee it for our fans and racers, we want to make sure they can plan accordingly.”

A final decision on this year’s event will be released on Monday morning. Until then, the 18th Annual AMSOIL Duluth National is on as expected and we are looking forward to another great season. If you have specific questions please contact either ISOC Racing at (763) 497‐8474 or Visit Duluth at (218) 722‐4011.

Team Arctic Returns with the Most Potent Race Sleds

Team Arctic racers will head into battle this upcoming 2009-2010 race season piloting an improved and more potent array of race sleds, including the Sno Pro 600, Sno Pro 500 and M8 HCR hillclimber.

Leading the charge is an updated, race-only Sno Pro 600 that builds upon its place atop snocross and cross-country competition via a handful of improvements aimed at improved durability.

The 4130 chrome-moly and extruded-aluminum chassis sees reinforcement to the rear of tunnel for increased strength where the heat-exchanger mounts. A longer, more durably-mounted rear bumper complements the stiffened upper-chassis spar brackets for increased rigidity.

Additional focus was given to both suspensions, with more durable tie-rod ends for the upper A-arms (and on the steering arms), and a more robust front arm, idler arm and rear shock pivot in the Slide Action rear suspension.

The race-only 600 laydown engine proved to be the performance-leader last season and returns for 2010 with a new exhaust manifold that emphasizes quicker throttle response for improved holeshots. Stainless steel baffle plates in the resonator and additional welding on the exhaust pipe seams reinforce the system’s durability. A new metric-threaded crankshaft bolt is now used for commonality with other Arctic Cat engines. Horsepower for this ultra-light, high-performance engine remains 127 with pump gas.

The drive train on the Sno Pro has also been beefed up, with a 15-wide chain and gears, a stiffer driven shaft and stronger drive belt.

As it did last year, Arctic Cat produced both snocross and cross-country versions of the 2010 600 Sno Pro. The snocross Sno Pro incorporates a 15 x 128 x 1.7-in. lug Camoplast track, the Peak Torque Limiting (PTL) driveshaft system and 9-tooth drivers, C&A Pro skis, a 7-gallon fuel tank and unique calibration for the clutches and suspensions.

The cross-country Sno Pro utilizes a 1.25-in. Ripsaw track; a dash-mounted choke cable; 11-gallon fuel tank; the new ACT skis; 10-tooth drivers on the standard (non-PTL) driveshaft; a dash-mounted speedometer/tachometer; standard snow flap; and taller mid-height windshield.

Both versions of the 600 Sno Pro are equipped with high-performance goodies like V-Force Reeds, remote-reservoir FOX IFP shocks and TEAM driven clutch.

“Last season, Team Arctic racers won 32 out of 60 finals in the ISOC Pro, Semi-Pro and Sport snocross classes, as well as 39 of 87 possible class victories in USCC cross-country competition,” said Team Arctic Race Manager, Mike Kloety. “Clearly we have the best race sled in the business, and our focus for 2010 was to eliminate the few minor durability gremlins.”

Racers who are aiming at the 85-hp and Junior classes are will have the ultimate entry-level racer in the all-new Sno Pro 500. Based on the same championship-winning chassis of the 600 Sno Pro, this new consumer-available sled offers an 85-hp, EFI-equipped engine and oil injection for simplicity, ease and a level of performance that matches most riders’ abilities.

Besides the engine, the Sno Pro 500 is nearly identical to the cross-country version of the 600 Sno Pro, the only significant exception being the non-reservoir FOX IFP shocks and their calibration.

“The Sno Pro 500 is truly a gas-and-go race sled,” said Kloety. “To go racing, racers will simply have to stud the track, add more aggressive carbides and put on their race number. With EFI, there’s no jetting to mess with. And with a suspension calibration by Kirk Hibbert, it will be ideal for anyone in cross-country, and for less-aggressive snocross racers.

“We built the Sno Pro 500 to make it easy for would-be competitors to go snowmobile racing. It’s a fun, durable and extremely competitive sled that’s going to bring added attention to the 85-hp class this season.”

In the RMSHA hillclimb circuit, Team Arctic racers will go over-the-top with a more powerful and potent M8 HCR (Hill Climb Racer). Powered by the all-new 800 H.O. that pumps out 162 hp and has a 4.3-pound lighter, quicker-revving crankshaft, the 2010 M8 HCR comes to a knife-fight bearing a big gun.

In addition to the more powerful engine, the new HCR gets a wider 42-44-inch adjustable ski stance; more aggressively-calibrated FOX Float shocks in the rear suspension and Zero Pro shocks on the front; the new tall and extra light M seat; FrogzSkin-covered hood vents; and a harder 90-durometer 15 x 153 x 2.25-inch Power Claw track.

“The HCR was the dominant sled in RMSHA competition last year, with our phenomenal racers claiming 15 World Championship titles at Jackson Hole, 78 out of 172 first place finishes, 15 King titles and five High Point titles during the season,” said Mike Kloety. “We’ve provided them an even more-capable HCR this year, so I can confidently expect another stunning season.”

S N O P R O 6 0 0
2 0 1 0  A R C T I C  C A T  T E C H N I C A L  S P E C I F I C A T I O N S

ENGINE TYPE, DISPLACEMENT (cc): 2-stroke, 599
ENGINE COOLING, CYLINDERS: Liquid, twin
BORE X STROKE (mm): 73.8 x 70 mm (2.906 x 2.755 in.)
CHAINCASE LUBRICANT LEVEL: 236 ml (8 fl.Oz.)
GASOLINE: (Recommended 92 Octane (minimum) Non-Oxygenated
LUBRICATION: Premix (32:1 Ratio) Arctic Cat Synthetic APV 2-Cycle Oil
COOLING SYSTEM CAPACITY: 3.81 l (4.0 U.S.qt.)
STARTING SYSTEM: Manual Recoil
CARBURETION: Mikuni TM40 mm rack
EXHAUST: APV with tuned ceramic – coated pipe, pipe sensor and canister
DRIVE: Arctic (rpm sensing)
DRIVEN CLUTCH: Team driven
SKI STANCE (in.): 42.5
SKI MATERIAL: C & A Pro XT
FRONT SUSPENSION: AWS VIII double-wishbone A-arms with FOX Zero Pro IFP shocks and sway bar
FRONT TRAVEL (in.): 10
REAR SUSPENSION: Slide-action frame with 7-position coupling, FOX ZERO X Piggyback front and rear shocks with adjustable dampening
REAR TRAVEL (in.): 13.5
TRACK WIDTH X LENGTH X LUG (in.): 15 x 128 x 1.7 Camoplast
BRAKES: Hydraulic disc
GAS TANK CAPACITY (Actual): 27.41 l (7.23 U.S. gal.)
GAS TANK CAPACITY (Rated): 24.61 l (6.5 U.S. gal.)
LENGTH x WIDTH (in.): 117 x 49.5
HEADLIGHT: Dual halogen (4-bulb)
DRY WEIGHT (approx): 204 kg (450 lb.)
STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Handwarmer, thumbwarmer, low-height windshield, check engine temp light, tether swtich, V_Force reeds, adjustable timing-select module, sway bar, ACT Hot start system
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT: VIP Data Acquisition System, digital/analog tachometer, digital/analog speedometer, dual stage trip odometer, mid-height windshield, 11 gallon gas tank
AVAILABLE COLORS: Green

SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Hi all,

Today is the third day of my trip and the first day off the IGF conference.

Today was full and exciting as expected!

Scroll down to the subject that interests you.

Backdoor  Censorship

In the morning we went to the main opening session of the IGF, where I met (thanks to Dima) Robert Guerra who among other things, did a large evaluation of the policy in freedom of expression around the world. I asked him if the latest Israeli phenomena, where pressure is put on the governments to pass censorship laws for the Internet that are disguised as laws against child pornography. He told me this is terribly common. I am actually quite alarmed, as someone against Internet filtering. It seems the only solution that people can come up with for stopping child pornography and other illegal activity on the net, is to block the Internet in a way that might turn it to just another corporation and government tool.

Open Standards and Microsoft

After the main generic session, a new friend of mine called : Jeremy Malcolm, told me on the #igf chat channel on IRC to come join the open standards workshop. I just walked in time to hear Microsoft’s response about a claim (that I missed) that government document formats need to be open source. Quickly I found that no one was listening to each other: Microsoft said what they think (closed source solutions), Sun said what they thought (They actually coined the term semi-open solutions) and so did the human right person too (they like open source). Here is an  example: There was a mention on the panel that in a certain country there was a voting system that was only working in “some browser”. Microsoft would never support such a claim, they just changed he subject.

Its a shame because the issues raised where interesting, mostly about e-goverment policy – Should they support more than one standard? or should the government impose standards on others. There was also a talk about the fact that a lot of existing solutions are in most cases sing closed protocols because those tools were mostly developed by companies in the private sector.

I am worrid about what is going to happen in 30 years, with no standard how could we open historical documents from the archives if we can’t open them?

Main Session with Tim Berners-Lee, founder of W3C

The opening session had quite an number of important people. the ministry of communication in Egypt, followed my the Prime Minister, this was quite an honor.

The lecture after them was smart and with a nice prospective  - Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of W3C gave this talk. He started talking about how the http protocols were written, and how the count of web pages grew to be about the same amount of brain cells he has (joking that the difference is that the number of web pages is rising, and his brains cells number is going down) . Then he continued to tell how W3C had developed its agenda where everyone should be connected. They started working on multilingualism followed by attending the needs of people with disabilities, who actually find the web a lot easier to use for certain daily things. He continued to talk about the new mobile web and how most of he people I the world today are going to encounter the Internet for the first time in their lives via a cellphone and not a PC. His final statement was that W3C is launching a new organization called W3F, he tweeted this on stage, Sadly I could not re-tweet this because the Internet just crashed at that time.

Israelis in the IGF – ISOC IL and the Embassy

As I exited to the lobby I was approached to my surprise by someone talking to me in Hebrew. This was Oren Marmorstein from the Israeli Embassy in Egypt, who came all the way from Cairo to visit us. Apparently the Ministry of Communication told him about us. At the same time we finally found Rimon Levy, the head of Israeli Internet society (ISOC-IL), and all of a sudden there were 4 of us speaking Hebrew in the lobby.

A talk with Rimon on ISOC-IL and the new localized domain names

One of the hot topic in IGF this year is that they are launching this week what they call international domain names or IDN. This means we will have domain names in unicode supporting not only Latin characters. I asked Rimon if we are going to have those in Israel and how they will work.

He told me that the Israeli domains would actually be right-to-left. So the parsing of the links will go in the opposite direction (even when combining with English). There is also the question of who will be the IDN register in Israel. It seems important that we will make sure in Israel that the IDN control will not fall in to a commercial company hands, because this would mean the money spent on domains would not go back to the community.

Another thing I asked was how the Israeli domains are going to look like, ICANN who is in charge of domain registration requires that the county domains would contain something related to the country, although “. ישראל” Is quite long to be added to every Internet address. ISOC-IL did not come with a solution yet. So I would love to pass ISOC-IL suggestions for Israeli domain names here if you comment!

By the way,  I asked Rimon why a few weeks ago there was a lot of criticism made by bloggers about the management of ISOC-IL and he said he is not really sure himself, so if any of you bloggers are reading I would like you to comment on this (flame responsibly).

The Big Dinner and a talk with one of the founders of the Internet

Dima is among other things trying to compile a biography of Jon Postel, one of the key people during the founding of the Internet, at a certain time he was the person you had to give a phone call to register a domain. At the dinner, we were introduced by Walda (that I met in ITU Telecom 2008) to a person called Robert Kahn, who knew John and actually passed the domain registration work to him after he found it to be too annoying.

Robert told us all along the dinner stories on how the Internet was formed. It was fascinating! I was peculiarly fascinated by the fact that he is the one that invented the format of IP addresses where you have to separate the bytes by a dots (like 127.0.0.1). He did that to distinguish between Internet IPs and the ARPANET addresses. He told us how they tried to implement other communication systems before they Internet that did not work (using radio and satellites among other things), how finally they arrived to Internet and how they got it bridged with other networks that existed at the time. He told us how slowly the world took interest in the Internet and that it became all of a sudden a worldwide network, interesting organizations like the ITU, UN and countries.

Tomorrow is my last day, so I hope I will manage to blog

Dima., Oren from the Israleli embassy, Rimon from ISOC-IL, 'Gbenga from Nigeria and me

Opening Panel

Robert Kahn and me

A Winning Tradition in Every Arena throughout North America

Photo Courtesy of John Sandberg

With the winter 2009-2010 snowmobile race season set to begin in just three weeks, another legendary crew of Team Arctic racers is poised to pounce upon the podiums available in snocross, cross-country, hill climb, drag racing and more.

“I look at the combined experience of our teams and racers, the improvements we’ve made to our race sleds, the support of our sponsors and the new racers we’ve brought in, and I’m convinced Team Arctic will be as potent in 2010 as it was in 2009,” said Team Arctic Race Manager, Mike Kloety.

While the national-level races remain a high-priority for Team Arctic in 2010, Arctic Cat understands that its regional racers are the back-bone of the program, and their success is equally important for the team.

“Look at our list of racers, and not just the headline-winners,” said Kloety. “Across all disciplines and geographic areas, these racers and teams carry the passion of this company through their dedication, sportsmanship and, ultimately, their success. Their efforts are appreciated by everyone in the Arctic Cat family.”

Snocross: New and Familiar Names

The Team Arctic Snocross program includes the most successful core of racers from last year, but with a few twists that will bolster their overall performance.

Tucker Hibbert – defending X Games champion and undefeated in the four ISOC Nationals that he raced last season – is back on the Monster Energy Arctic Cat, with a six-race schedule focused on the first half of the season.

The Arctic Cat Factory Team will consist of neo-Pro Dan Ebert, who scored multiple Semi-Pro wins last year; Cody Thomsen, who won the Sport Super Stock championship last season and is now in Semi Pro; and new-to-the-team Kyle Pallin (Semi-Pro), whose speed and success will complement the crew that’s headed by crew chief Russ Ebert.

The Christian Bros. Racing (CBR) team returns with an even more potent cadre of racers. New additions to CBR include Ryan Simons (who won in both ISOC and USCC in 2009), Cory Davis (ISOC Semi-Pro Stock Champion and USCC Pro winner) and Zach Pattyn. They join last year’s Pro Open Championship challenger Garth Kauffman; Pro Women’s Champion Carly Davis; Semi-Pro stalwart Logan Christian; and Pro Vet Karl Christian.

Along with the Sportech Racing team (which now hosts Pro racer Paul Bauerly) and the strong contingent of racers and teams listed below, Team Arctic’s snocross program combines strong experience, talent and both National/Regional focus.

National Snocross
Tucker Hibbert
Ryan Simons
Garth Kaufman
Dan Ebert
Cory Davis
Zach Pattyn
Logan Christian
Cody Thomsen
Kyle Pallin
Justin Steck
Dusty Miller
Jacob Muller
Jacob Blanshan
Devin Bertoch
Nathan Moritz
Matt Pichner
Frattalone Racing
Sportech Racing

Canadian Snocross
Shoreline Racing
OTSFF Racing
Robin Deschenes
Kelly Boyd
Jamie Clement
Shaun Demarcke

MWR Snocross
Wes Selby
Taylor Meuwissen
Zach Acord
Willie Elam
Pat McLam
Tuffy McDonald

RMR Snocross
Chris Chico
David Duchnik
Trevor Bouchard
Jacob Phalen
Kyle Becker
KC Anderson

Midwest Snocross
Sticker Dude Racing
Josh Zelenski
Nick Pattyn
Johnathan schwantz
Peer Pressure Racing

Cross-Country: Comprehensive Support at all Levels

As the only factory supporting all classes and areas of cross-country racing, Team Arctic remains the most formidable force in terrain competition throughout North America.

In the USCC circuit, defending Pro Open champion D.J. Ekre and teammate Brian Dick will fly the Christian Bros. Racing banner, aiming for individual race wins and the I-500 in particular.

Joining them will be Team Green racers in the Pro, Semi-Pro, Pro Women and 85-hp classes, the latter of which will prove the effectiveness and competitiveness of the new Sno Pro 500.

In Alaska’s famed Iron Dog cross-country, former champions Scott Davis/Todd Palin,  Brad Helwig/Eric Quam and Andy George/Trey West are focused on returning Team Arctic to the top, where a win would mark 11 victories out of 26 editions of this famed event.

USCC Cross-Country
DJ Ekre
Brian Dick
Chad Lian
Ryan Houston
Dave Dirkman
Josh Carey
Jon Arneson
Josh Glendenning
Phil Storlie
Arne Rantanen JR
Bobby Menne
Cody Kallock
Trevor Fett
Ryan Greening
Cole Nymann
Mike Dirkman
Adam Brandt
Chris Sobeck
Eric Bute
Nathan Moritz
Mark Arneson
Bryce Buchanan
Tom Clement
Chris Klie
Justn Morken
Brad Cierzan
Jim Sobeck
Coltan Vandeputte
Jenna Sobeck
Brent Liggett
Marty Feil
Tim Kallock
Trevor Fett
Jolene Bute
Sasha Cook
April Moritz

IronDog Cross-Country
Scott Davis
Todd Palin
Brad Helwig
Eric Quam
Andy George
Trey West
Micah Huss
Brandon Baxter
Darrick Johnson
Kurt Steiner

Hillclimb: The Kings Remain the Same

With 15 World Championships, 15 King titles and 78 first place finishes in 2009, Team Arctic hillclimb racers approach the 2010 season as the undisputed kings of the mountain.

Names like Tapio, Zollinger, McClure, Tupper, Buckallew, Frisby, Free, Keller and Archibald have dominated the RMSHA mountain circuit aboard M Series snowmobiles, and their return for 2010 will maintain that momentum.

RMSHA Hillclimb
Team Tapio
Todd Tupper
Chance Buckallew
David McClure
Ty Free
Shad Free
Nathan Zollinger
Leslie Keller
Brent Cheeney
Scott Cheeney
Zollinger Racing
Ben Adams
Rob Kincaid
Tony & Jan Ottobre
Robert Tillotson
Jeremy Archibald
Cody Clawson
Russell & Christy Frisby
Derek, KC & Kyler Stone
Jonathan & Dusty Hancy
Rachel Humphery
Chad Smith
Justin Sampson
Braiden Coleman
Cody Swanson
Matt Elliott
Landon Archibald
Lonnie Keller
Sid Archibald

Drag, Oval, Enduro and Watercross

Throughout the history of snowmobile racing, Team Arctic has supported all forms of competition, and its focus for 2010 is to continue its winning tradition.

The drag racing program has proven unbeatable during the grass season thanks to the team’s hard work and dedication, as well as the potent mix of CFR 800, CFR 1000 and F Series snowmobiles.

In oval and enduro competition, Team Arctic comes to the track supporting a mix of teams that blend decades of experience with youthful focus. Names like three-time Eagle River World Champion P.J. Wanderscheid and endure mainstays Team Highland Racing will lead the charge in these legendary race venues.

Drag Racing
Gilland Racing
Glenn Hall
Kelly Shilts
Craig Wyent
Kerry Mcdonald
Matt Lemire
Ice Oval
P.J. Wanderschied
Hoglund Racing

Water Cross
Lindbeck Racing
Enduro Racing
Chris Ryan
Caddarette Racing
Lance Kalbfleisch
Team Highland Racing

Team Arctic’s Dedicated Sponsors

Team Arctic’s success on and off the track is made possible in part because of the strong, loyal support of its sponsors, each of whom shares the same passion as our racers and Arctic Cat.

For 2010, Team Arctic is grateful to announce the return of these great sponsors: Camoplast tracks, APV Synthetic Oil, Fox Racing Shox, Speedwerx, Renton Coil Springs (RCS), Moto Tassinari/VForce3, TEAM, Figgins Transport, Mitsuboshi drive belts, Stud Boy traction, C&A Ultra Pro skis, Smith Optics, Action Graphics and Sportech.

Este blog quiere dar cuenta de todo lo que hay dando vueltas sobre sociología en la red. Esa es su función y con ese fin fue creado. Hay una innumerable cantidad de temas, blogs, autores, libros, cursos, noticias, reportajes, video, entrevista que dan cuenta del quehacer de la disciplina en la actualidad.  Son tantos los temas, autores, items, etc. que posee este blog, que resulta imposible enumerar a todos. Para ayudarte hemos ideado las etiquetas que podes ver al inicio del blog, que te cuenta que material vas a encontrar allí (videos, hemeroteca, cursos, novedades, etc). También hay una etiqueta llama “indice” en la que podes encontrar  con facilidad todo lo que está en la solapa izquierda de la pantalla (asociaciones profesionales, congresos, sociologias temáticas, etc)

Esperamos que todo lo que encuentres te guste, te resulte interesante o te sea de utilidad. Te pedimos por favor que si tenes problemas con algo del material que aquí se muestra, nos lo hagas saber. También pensamos que la información que contiene este blog está bastante bien organizada como para dar con ella con facilidad. Si buscas algo y no lo encontras, te pedimos también que nos lo hagas saber. En una de las solapas superior del blog podes encontrar nuestros mails.

Que disfrutes tu paseo por aquí. Gracias por la visita!!

The situation in Afghanistan is indeed grim. The vignette emerging from various reports shows the map of Afghanistan totally covered with the the Taliban. Two years ago the areas adjoining Pakistan were in the control of the 37 insurgent groups known as the “Taliban” in the West. Today the areas farthest away from the Pakistani border near the Amu Darya and Turkmenistan are in the control of the Anti-Occupation forces. There is almost no area in Afghanistan which does not have a Taliban presence.

This malaise in the Hindu Kush and the Pamirs is reflected in the increasingly paranoid statements of the current US Ambassador in Pakistan, Ms. Anne Paterson. The resurrection of the ghosts of the so called “Quetta Shura” is a smoke and mirrors attempt to obfuscate the situation in Afghanistan and try to lead the public’s attention away from the defeats in the battlefields.

The American public is now against the war in Afghanistan. Finding a new scapegoat is another attempt to blame the failure on others. 

The ISOC report in only one of the few reports that have recently emerged showing the total annihilation of the US, NATO and ISAF forces in Pakistan.

The Taliban now holds a permanent presence in 72% of Afghanistan, up from 54% a year ago. Taliban forces have advanced from their southern heartlands, where they are now the de facto governing power in a number of towns and villages, to Afghanistan’s western and north-western provinces, as well as provinces north of Kabul. Within a year, the Taliban’s permanent presence in the country has increased by a startling 18%.

THIS MAP SHOWS TALIBANISTAN in 2007

Talibanistan: 2007 Afghan map showing Taliban control

Three out of the four main highways into Kabul are now compromised by Taliban activity. The capital city has plummeted to minimum levels of control, with the Taliban and other criminal elements infiltrating the city at will.

THIS MAP SHOWS TALIBANISTAN in 2009

Talibanistan: 2009 Afghan map showing Taliban control

Through its research platform in Afghanistan, ICOS determined the Taliban’s presence across the country using a combination of publicly recorded attacks and local perceptions of Taliban presence. One or more insurgent attacks per week in a province constitutes a “permanent Taliban presence” according to ICOS (see full methodology).

Kabul under control of Taliban and others

Report Content:

1. The Taliban are back: Situation update December 2008

2. Advance of the Taliban: maps

3. Full Methodology for the Afghanistan and Kabul Maps

4. Taliban Tactics: The Secret of Their Success

5. Inverting the Pyramid: New Architecture Counter Insurgency Theory

KABUL: A resurgent Taliban has a significant presence across virtually all Afghanistan, eight years after a US-led invasion ousted the radical regime from power, a think-tank said Friday.

The International Council on Security and Development (Icos) said the Taliban had widened their reach across Afghanistan since last November and now had a ‘permanent presence’ in 80 per cent of the country.

‘The unrelenting and disturbing return, spread and advance of the Taliban is now without question,’ said Norine MacDonald, president of the London-based policy research group.

Icos released a map showing the spread of Taliban influence to previously peaceful regions in the west and the north, particularly Balkh and Kunduz provinces that lie on the Uzbek and Tajik borders.

Kunduz was the scene last week of a Nato air strike on Taliban militants who hijacked fuel trucks and where insurgents the following day kidnapped two journalists with the New York Times, one of whom was killed in a rescue raid.

Icos said another 17 per cent of Afghanistan is seeing ‘substantial’ Taliban activity, and added: ‘Taken together, these figures show that the Taliban has a significant presence in virtually all of Afghanistan.’

Perpetual Mimitic War: Strategy for continued Failure in Afghanistan Obama’s Afghan ‘Strategy’ without an “Exit Plan” is a ‘Straightjacket’ named quagmire & defeat

It defined ‘permanent’ presence as an average of one or more attacks a week and ‘substantial’ as one or more attacks in an average month.

The report comes as Afghanistan awaits results in August 20 presidential and provincial council elections, tainted by allegations of fraud with hundreds of thousands of ballots being quarantined and recounts ordered.

We are running the risk of replicating the fate of the Soviets” Mr. Brzezinski Brzezinski: Don’t start new wars. Use diplomacy in Pakistan

Results released gradually show President Hamid Karzai leading the count so far with more than 54 per cent against his main rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who has less than 30 per cent.

Preliminary results are due to be released on Saturday, with the international community urging officials to ensure a clean process that gives legitimacy to the victor and brings an end to the political uncertainty.

Admiral Mullen is still wrong The rude Admiral Michael Mullen is wrong on Afghanistan

Icos expressed concerns about a power vacuum in the case of a run-off, which could drag the process out for another six months or more.

‘This raises the possibility of both a lack of legal authority in the presidency and resulting political instability and government paralysis dragging on for many months,’ said MacDonald. Dawn. Taliban across ‘virtually all’ Afghanistan: report, Friday, 11 Sep, 2009

McChrystal malarkey on Afghanistan hides incompetence of NATO, ISAF & US forces

“Taliban’s Winning Strategy in Afghanistan”: Overcoming “culture of poverty”

The US occupation has not brought security to Afghan women Afghanistan’s Bravest Woman Malalai Joya: “Taliban are logistically & militarily growing stronger as each day dawns.” “Afghan women and men are not ‘liberated’ at all”

The 2009‐2010 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will feature four new race venues to compliment five established Nationals from seasons past. “We are very excited about the new race venues for this season,” said ISOC CEO John Daniels. “We’ve worked very hard to find locations which will lend to success for not only ISOC, but most importantly our racers, fans, sponsors and the entire sport of snocross.”

ISOC’s goal when adding new venues is to make sure they fit a certain criteria to benefit everyone involved with snocross and will expand the sport of snocross. Among other factors, the evaluation process weighs the combination of race track set‐up, community population, expected event media coverage, local commitment to support the race to ensure success and long‐term potential for growth.

The schedule for the 2009‐2010 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series is below. New National events for this season are noted by an asterisk (*).

The five venues which were part of the ACSS schedule last season will again be the focal points for the season. “Snocross tradition can almost be summed up with three events – the AMSOIL Duluth National, Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale and the Air Force National at Canterbury Park,” continued Daniels, “we are thrilled we have multi‐year agreements to keep these events as cornerstone events for the ACSS.”

The final two returning Nationals are the Eastern Nationals and the Hayward 300. Both held their first ever snocross National last season and we’re deemed successful by the overwhelming community support, spectator turn out, media coverage and excitement by all parties to build on initial success. “We are very happy with how the ACSS schedule has come together in only our second season,” said ISOC Director of Operations Scott Lorentz, “We had many great venues we had to turn down this season because the dates just did not work with the rest of our schedule. But after our first season, we are already working on next year’s schedule and are very excited to work those venues into future seasons.”

More about the events, tickets, racer information and specifics for each race will appear on the ISOC website as it becomes available. The ISOC webpage is www.ISOCRacing.com or you can call the ISOC Main Office at (866) 771‐4762.

There is an audio clip doing the rounds that purports to be Democrat Party Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ordering the use of violent force against red shirt demonstrators during April’s Songkhran Uprising. Abhisit doesn’t deny it is his voice, but says the clip has been doctored to change what is said on the clip. The red shirts deny being part of any “dirty trick.”

PPT had a link to the clip (see below) but it now seems to be gone – part of the Democrat Party-led government’s remarkably regular use of censorship.The site hosting the clip states:

หมายเหตุ “ไทยอินไซเดอร์” ทางเว็บมาสเตอร์ จำเป็นต้องถอดคลิปเสียงอื้อฉาวนี้ออก หลังได้รับการแจ้งจากหน่วยงานรัฐ มิเช่นนั้นจะทำการปิดเว็บ แต่เรายังขอลงเนื้อความที่มีการถอดคำต่อคำมาลง เพราะเชื่อว่า “ผู้อ่าน” มีวิจารณญาณในการรับข้อมูลข่าวสาร ว่าสิ่งใดควรเชื่อ หรือไม่ควรเชื่อ

28 ส.ค.2552

Recall the uproar when the Thaksin Shinawatra government tried to clamp down on the media. In fact, it seems to PPT that the Abhisit government is perhaps having more success in its censorship than Thaksin’s government did.

PPT has previously questioned Abhisit’s truthfulness. However, this time, we are going to assume that he is not lying. So what is happening?

In the Bangkok Post (27 August 2009: “PM: Altered audio clip misleading”) Abhisit confirms that “the voice” orders “officials to use force against red-shirt protesters…”. Abhisit states categorically: “the clip … is definitely an edited clip because I have never given out such order…” and he added that he could prove this fact. PPT will be interested in such evidence.

Sounding more and more like Thaksin Shinawatra when he was prime minister, Abhisit claims the clip was the “work of people with the ill intention of causing misunderstanding and instigating unrest, and added: “I will take legal action against whoever is involved…”. The voice clip was apparently played by the UDD’s DStation, and Abhisit “warned the red-shirt group not to spread the audio it because he would take legal action against them as well.”

Then, Abhisit, after saying how bad the perpetrators of this “dirty trick” were says that he knows “who emailed this audio clip [and adds that they] were connected to politicians and companies with links to a former prime minister, but did not say outright that the person was Thaksin Shinawatra.” To ssome observers, this might sound fishy; he knows who did it, threatened legal action, but then doesn’t name anyone. But let’s assume there are good reasons for not naming names.  Anyway, it is a developing Thai political tradition to mention unnamed people or to reveal their initials only.

But if they are known, will they be arrested?  The premier sort of waffles about “it would be good if this could be done because this should not happen to anyone.” So maybe he doesn’t know who they were?

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the “clip was clearly edited in a way to discredit the government.” This didn’t bother him because he thinks the “public were well enough informed to decide themselves whether the clip was credible or not…”. Well, maybe, but Abhisit is threatening to sue those who play it.

But Abhisit has support for his version of events. First, “Deputy Interior Minister Thavorn Senniam said he was with the prime minister during the Songkran riots all the time but never heard him give such an order.” And, Democrat Party advisory chairman Chuan Leekpai said “he could guarantee that Mr Abhisit had not ordered use of force as alleged.” Were both really by Abhisit’s side during every minute of those events?

The UDD said that so long as “it had not been clearly proven whether the clip had been edited or not, the red-shirts would not use it as a political issue to attack the government during their anti-government rally on Sunday…”.

Update 1: It comes down to this: can Abhisit really prove his counter-claim in any definitive way? Probably not. Could it have been people inside the government putting out the clip? Possibly, given the contest that has been going on of late. Could it be from within the military or ISOC? Also possible, but usually their fingerprints are large as they are so clumsy. Clearly Abhisit is under attack from many sides, but the government simply can’t afford to risk an election. So in the end, this is likely to be just one more of the mounting cases of claim and counter-claim that cannot be proven. There will be an opinion poll that will show something about public perception, but that will count for little as these opponents chip away at Abhisit.

Update 2: Thanks to several readers and to Bangkok Pundit, PPT got their copy of the clip here. We have to say that it certainly sounds like Abhisit and the statement sounds convincing. If it is a fake, it seems to have been exceptionally well done. In The Nation (28 August 2009: “Riot audio tape doctored: PM”) Abhisit admitted the voice in the clip belonged to him, but believed that part of the content was doctored because he did not make such orders. He then adds: “The audio clip was edited because the levels of sound were different,” and then adds, intriguingly, “I affirm that I have never said these words in such a combination.” He also said that he was “ready to clarify any doubts regarding the audio clip and blamed those behind it of intending to hurt the country and incite violence. He also warned such audio editing could be illegal.”

Recommended: Suranand Vejjajiva in the Bangkok Post, 28 August 2009: “PM not taking chances as red shirts crank up engine”.

Update 3: The Democrat Party’s Abhisit and his supporters are in full damage control. The Bangkok Post (28 August 2009: “Audio clip ’sent from former Thaksin firm’”) reports that Party spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks proclaims that his party has traced the origins of the emails that circulated the audio clip. Buranaj says “ the original email message containing the altered audio clip featuring Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s voice was sent from a computer at SC Asset, a subsidiary of Shin Corporation, the former investment conglomerate of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.” The “odd” thing in this is that Shin is now owned by Temasek Holdings, the Singapore government’s investment arm but is still run by Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s  sister (The Nation, 28 August 2009). The “edited voice recording” was sent on to the “information technology and public relations office of the opposition Puea Thai Party before being distributed to about 30 news reporters.”

[Update: PPT believes this information on ownership is incorrect and that SC continues to be controlled by Shinawatras.]

Buranaj “said this explained why Puea Thai MPs tried to get the clip played during Thursday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, which was debating the 2010 Budget Bill.” Meanwhile, another Party spokeman claimed that “forwarding false information is a violation of Article 94 of the Political Party Act and this could lead to a party dissolution.” And, in what is becoming standard practice for the Democrat Party-led government, the “website that released the audio clip had already been shut down, Information and Communications Technology Minister Ranongrak Suwanchawee said. She had ordered its closure.” She also “stressed that stringent legal action under the computer crime law would be taken against all those who forwarded the email containing the audio track.”

It may be that the Democrat Party sees this as an opportunity to go after Thaksin’s family again as another way to stymie the red shirts andPhuea Thai Party.

In a separate statement, “Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon strongly denied reported allegations the armed forces were somehow involved in releasing the sound clip.” He also said he believed that Abhisit would not issue orders to violently crackdown on protestors. He was supported by Army commander-in-chief General Anupong Paojinda who also “insisted that the military had nothing to do with the questionable audio clip.”

Update 4: The Bangkok Post (28 August 2009: “Spokesman: Clip a plot to topple govt”) has “acting government spokesman” Panitan Wattanayagorn claiming that a “group of people craving for violence wants to create a situation that could lead to a change of government and the release of the altered voice clip of the prime minister is part of its plan to incite hatred for the government…”. With no new evidence, Panitan claims that the allegedly edited audio clip “was intended to urge the people to come out against authorities.” In line with a point PPT has made in another post, Panitan says that the “government will try its best to secure the country’s stability…”.

He also said that the government would “take steps to bring those involved in tampering with the clip to justice.” After claiming that they know who distributed the clip, the government now claims that they are now in pursuit of the alleged makers of the clip. saying that there “are only a few groups of people who have the ability and equipment to do this in Thailand and it would not be difficult to find … the culprit.” If the clip is a concoction, why would acting spokesman Panitan think it had to be made in Thailand? Does he know more or is this fishing?

Update 5: The Bangkok Post (29 August 2009: “Democrats warn rivals over audio clip”)  reports that the Democrat Party is accusing “the opposition Puea Thai Party and a company linked to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of being behind the proliferation of the clip.” Now the government proclaims the clip as a “threat to national security and hurting the country as well as inciting people (to cause disturbances)…”, according to the ICT minister. Yes, national security.

Further , it has been claimed that ” the Constitution Court … [should] consider dissolving any political party involved in the posting of the clip as it could lead to violence and put national security at risk.” Yes, national security.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks said “it was obvious Puea Thai MPs wanted to provoke hatred against the government in the run-up to the UDD’s planned rally at Sanam Luang tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan said “SC Asset and the party will lodge a defamation suit against the Democrat Party for accusing the party of being the mastermind of the clip.”

PPT has posted on ISOC propaganda in the south previously (here, here and here, for example). A couple of weeks ago, the now somewhat subdued Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya took diplomats from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and journalists south to show them the “good work” of the government and military. Don Pathan’s account in The Nation (25 August 2009: “Peace in the South demands historical recognition”) of this visit and its context seems well worth considering, especially as the violence there is seeing a spike in recent days.

Back in the days when Thaksin Shinawatra was still prime minister he claimed that he was the target of more than one assassination attempt. The most widely publicized was a car bomb in August 2006.See another Nation story here. Photos of the car and explosives are available.

See the Reuters report here, which includes the wondrous quote from Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) man Panlop Pinmanee who was accused of involvement. Panlop told reporters he had nothing to do with any plot, but that if he had wanted Thaksin dead, he would be dead. He explained that he was experienced at organizing death squads, and said: “It’s impossible that I would assassinate the prime minister. If had wanted to do it, I would have done it more subtly…”, adding, “If I had wanted to kill him, the prime minister would not have escaped.”

At the time, anti-Thaksin personalities ridiculed the whole idea, with some even suggesting that Thaksin had staged a publicity stunt or worse. One commentator stated that the assassination claim was: “a claim that few believed and many saw either as a bid for sympathy or a cover for a security crackdown by loyalists or both.

For a while the case seemed to go away, especially under the military-backed government led by privy councilor Surayud Chulanont, when it seemed that the lower-level military accused of involvement would not be subject to serious investigation. However, back in June, it was reported that progress was being made on the case when a verdict was postponed by the military court.

Now the Bangkok Post (19 August 2009: “Jail terms in Thaksin ‘car bomb’ case”) reports that the verdict has been delivered. The “Bangkok Military Court cleared three suspects of the charge of attempting to murder prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006, but jailed them for illegal possession of explosives and firearms.”

ISOC men Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, Colonel Surapol Supradit and Lieutenant-Colonel Manas Sukprasert were “sentenced the three to six years imprisonment and a fine of 4,000 baht each for illegal possession of explosives and firearms.” Apparently the court considered that there was insufficient evidence to convict them of the car bomb assassination plot. Why? Because a “body search of Lt Thawatchai [who had been driving the car and] who was arrested that day, had not found any evidence of a device to activate the explosives in the vehicle…”.

So despite the failure to convict these military men on the assassination attempt, that the conviction on illegal possession of explosives and firearms shows that there was a plot to kill Thaksin. The masterminds were not and probably will not ever be found, but the coup that followed suggests that the military and palace, who planned and ran the coup, probably saw the coup as Plan B after the assassination plots failed.

Update: The Bangkok Post (20 August 2009: “Officers cleared of attempt to assassinate Thaksin”) uses this somewhat daft headline to kind of assert that there was no assassination bid against Thaksin. The reason is explained: “The court acquitted the three of the attempted murder charge after it heard the bombs had not been wired to go off, that Lt Thawatchai had not held a remote control to detonate them, and Thaksin’s limousine had already passed the flyover.”

This is the kind of reporting that is infuriating for some. One can say “read between the lines” or one can just say that the reporter is being dumb. PPT is not sure which, but the idea that military men can drive around in cars full of explosives, park it on the prime minister’s normal route, and that this is not an assassination bid is just dumb. But then again, those who tried to kill Sondhi Limthongkul seemed to fire hundreds of rounds without killing anyone.

Perhaps Thaksin and Sondhi are lucky that the military is just so hopeless and incompetent in Thailand. However, the idea of measuring competence by successful assassination of political figures is distasteful.

El presidente de la Internet Society (ISOC), el uruguayo Raúl Echeberría, afirmó este jueves que la tecnología de software libre, que permite la visualización del código fuente, “es muy interesante y tiene muchas ventajas”.

 Echeberría, responsable de la principal entidad para el desarrollo global de Internet, aclaró en una entrevista con Efe que, aún así, más allá del software libre lo importante es “el apego a los estándares para asegurar la interoperabilidad y que todos los dispositivos sigan conectándose entre todos”. El presidente de ISOC se refirió así al debate previsto en el Parlasur, órgano legislativo del Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur), en el que se decidirá la recomendación del uso del software libre a nivel regional.

El software libre corresponde a aquellos programas de computadora por los cuales no se paga una licencia de uso, y cuyo su código permanece abierto para que los usuarios puedan gestionarlo. Por ello, Echeberría pidió que no se desarrollen servicios exclusivos a una sola compañía o a un dispositivo específico con el objetivo de incrementar la rentabilidad, sino que se permita la conexión a todo el mundo.

El uruguayo, que fue nombrado presidente de la ISOC hace una semana en una reunión de la organización en Estocolmo, reconoció que el hecho de ser el primer latinoamericano en ocupar este cargo tiene “un mensaje importante desde el punto de vista de demostrar la diversidad”. “La tarea es mostrar efectivamente a la ISOC como una organización global”, agregó Echeberría, al referirse a su nombramiento.

La ISOC es la organización más importante a nivel mundial dedicada exclusivamente al desarrollo global de Internet. Ante los desafíos del futuro que afronta la red, Echeberría apuntó que los esfuerzos de su organización estarán encaminados a conservar “los valores tradicionales como la libertad de expresión y la apertura”.

La ISOC es líder en la búsqueda de soluciones a “problemas tan actuales en la red como son la identidad y la confianza”, aseveró Echeberría. La organización, que cuenta con un presupuesto que ronda los 20 millones de dólares, gestiona y es responsable del dominio de Internet “.org“, además de tener asociadas a la mayoría de empresas mundiales vinculadas a la red como Microsoft, Google o Yahoo. En total, 20.000 personas trabajan en este organismo.

Fuente: La República

PPT has mentioned (here, here and here) the apparently paid advertising by ISOC that is appearing in the Bangkok Post, as well as editorials and stories that have been pumped out by The Nation, extolling the virtues of the ISOC strategy in the south. This material is poorly written but still counts as blatant propaganda.

This continued in the Bangkok Post’s print edition on 10 July 2009, in the Guru supplement and in the main sections of the newspaper. In the former, an almost incomprehensible advertisement-cum-article entitled “ISOC works to counter the drug problem along the kingdom’s borders.”

Claiming that it is now realized that Thailand’s growing drug problem cannot be cured through violence and heavy penalties. This is presumably a reference to Thaksin Shinawatra’s War on Drugs that had widespread support, including in ISOC, the military, police and palace, but that resulted in a large number of extrajudicial deaths and a trampling of human rights. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is then cited as stating that “the best way to solve the [drugs] problem is to apply law rather than violence.” He has closed one National Command Center and established another to continue the work of the one that was abolished.

The problem is that the advertisement then mentions the “five-fence” policy adopted by the government, without explaining what this is and says, “Drugs must be stamped out, but the methods must follow the law. In the past two months, these more effective methods of apprehending offenders have managed to capture a lot of drug dealers.” This may be the case, but ISOC works without transparency or appropriate oversight.

Apparently in line with the Democrat Party-led government’s desire to defeat opposition, it is added that the new coordinating center will “pay close attention to stability within the kingdom…”.

In its advertisement in the main section of the newspaper, ISOC concentrates on the southern rebellion and is entitled “Unrest in the South. Who started the problem?” To cut a long story to the core, ISOC doesn’t answer its headlined question but seems to sweep aside issues of religion and nationalism. The point of the propaganda is to tell readers that everything is sweetness and light on the government side: “The government authorities always follow lawful means in the pursuit of peace and actively give local citizens a role in solving the problems…”.

The ISOC director is quoted: “I wish to affirm that violence and the use of force, in every case, needs to be transparent, no matter which side is responsible.” The idea of violence and force being transparent is novel.

ISOC concludes that it is “clear that the problems in the south arise solely from small groups of insurgents who seek to further agitate the already tense situation…”.

The problem for ISOC and the Democrat Party-led government is that the “new” approach is not backed by actions that give it any substance. Reports of human rights abuse and harassment continue. For a more realistic and informative account, see Don Pathan’s report in The Nation (10 July 2009: “Too many mediators spoil the chance of peace in the south”).

Perhaps the most remarkable statement in this material is the one that claims that ISOC and the military are protecting Thailand’s democracy. That’s a sad reflection on how the military sees its own role. But they probably meant that Thai democracy is “democracy with the king as head of state,” which hardly qualifies as more than a half-baked democracy.