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Petition to Release the CPT Four in Iraq

While I generally dismiss petitions as primarily list-building tools, I have to admit there are some very prominent signatures on the petition to release the CPT Four. This petition refers to the four activists from the Christian Peacemaker Teams who were recently abducted in Iraq. However slim its chances of immediate success may be, I believe that the kindness and sincerity of this appeal reflects and reinforces the best in all of us. Posted: 12/5/05; 10:51:53 PM #

BellSouth Withdraws Donation Over Free WiFi

Just as New Orleans becomes the first major city in the U.S. to offer free wireless internet access, BellSouth withdraws a promised donation of a building. Free wireless access is a powerful tool for small nonprofits and small businesses alike, but the telcos and cable companies would rather some people do without, so that there is the necessary scarcity for them to be able charge the rest for access. They have been successfully lobbying state governments to prohibit municipal WiFi and now it seems they will use the leverage of charitable donations in the fight as well. There is a lot at stake here and I for one find myself firmly on the side of New Orleans. Posted: 12/5/05; 10:29:57 AM #