[Grapevine-cvs-commits] cvs: grapevine / README

[blackh <gra...@li...>]

blackh		Sat Aug 16 01:19:56 2003 EDT

  Modified files:              
    /grapevine	README 
  Log:
  Improvements to README file for next release.
  
  
Index: grapevine/README
diff -u grapevine/README:1.12 grapevine/README:1.13
--- grapevine/README:1.12	Sat Aug 16 01:03:14 2003
+++ grapevine/README	Sat Aug 16 01:19:56 2003
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-$Id: README,v 1.12 2003/08/16 08:03:14 blackh Exp $
+$Id: README,v 1.13 2003/08/16 08:19:56 blackh Exp $
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Stephen Blackheath  02 May 2003               http://www.grapevineproject.org/
+Stephen Blackheath  16 Aug 2003               http://www.grapevineproject.org/
 
 
 Thank you for helping us test the Grapevine Project!
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@
 NOTE:  The use of this software entails some risk to you.  It is important
 that you read the WARNING document before using it.
 
-For usage instructions, see README.<Your Operating System>
-
 
 WHAT IS IT?
 
@@ -47,6 +45,8 @@
 network, you will need to add them as allowed addresses in
 grapevine-config.xml and re-start the daemon.
 
+For more detailed usage instructions, see README.<Your Operating System>
+
 
 CAN I USE IT WITH A DIAL-UP CONNECTION?
 
@@ -103,9 +103,9 @@
 Information as power
 
 Few people truly grasp the political power that comes from the control of the
-flow of information in human society.  The withholding of information is one
-of the primary mechanisms of power at all strata of society.  When this power
-is concentrated, the result is tyranny.  When this power is diffused, tyranny
+flow of information.  The withholding of information is one of the primary
+mechanisms of power at all strata of society.  When this power is
+concentrated, the result is tyranny.  When this power is diffused, tyranny
 cannot exist.
 
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
 information, I do not lose it.  The free exchange of information produces the
 greatest possible material wealth (which is quite distinct from monetary
 wealth, which represents the distribution of economic control rather than
-a measure the amount of wealth as is commonly believed).
+a measure the amount of wealth).
 
 Intellectual property in its modern form is an economic system that sacrifices
 this great benefit to society, so that corporations can translate the power of
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@
 expiry period has gradually increased from 15 years to 99 years, and so these
 corporations now own a large section of our culture, and even much of our
 language (the basis of thought).  And, they are constantly dreaming up new
-things that can be owned, such as genetic material.
+things that can be owned, such as genetic material and Internet search
+keywords.
 
 Our purpose is to shift the balance of power.
 
@@ -133,9 +134,9 @@
 
 Libel (defamation) laws were created to protect a person's good name from
 mud slinging, which is a very good idea.  Unfortunately, some while ago
-companies became 'legal persons'.  And so they had an unbeatable combination:
-The legal rights of a person, and the political power of a homicidal robot
-from the future.  So for example, they are protected by libel laws, but not
+companies became 'legal persons'.  And so this meant they had the legal
+rights of a person, but the political power of a homicidal robot from the
+future.  For example, they are protected by libel laws, but not effectively
 bound by murder laws.  This has allowed them to go into Third World countries
 and shoot people (which is becoming a regular occurrence), and then prosecute
 anyone who tells on them.
@@ -161,9 +162,8 @@
 modems.  The Internet is slowly being converted into interactive television.
 
 Many news websites drop old articles into the memory hole, freeing themselves
-from scrutiny.  New Zealand's leading news website drops articles after a day!
-The global news agencies are swiftly degenerating into outright lying,
-especially regarding economics and war.
+from scrutiny.  The global news agencies are swiftly degenerating into
+outright lying, especially regarding economics and war.
 
 Governments - the Australian Government being a shining example - are dreaming
 up fake crackdowns on child pornography, hate speech, and other acts of
@@ -171,10 +171,11 @@
 this marvellous property of being inherently unaccountable.  It only needs to
 be introduced - it does not need to be justified on an ongoing basis.
 
-Various "terrorist" websites have been shut down in the USA (First Amendment
-be damned!).  Internet Service Providers (which are owned by news and
-entertainment corporations) are increasingly being required to police
-censorship and copyright laws, and more recently, "counter-terrorism".
+Various "terrorist" websites have been shut down in the USA (the Home of the
+Brave rather than the Land of the Free).  Internet Service Providers (which
+are owned by news and entertainment corporations) are increasingly being
+required to police censorship and copyright laws, and more recently,
+"counter-terrorism".
 
 And importantly, hate speech is now illegal in Europe, providing a panorama
 of excuses for political censorship.
@@ -198,11 +199,8 @@
 system.  When the government is corrupt, freedom is dead.  Which kind of
 government do you live under?
 
-Surveillance is a central theme in Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty Four".  This
-surveillance violates the Fourth Amendment of the American Constitution.  And,
-if you think about it the Third Amendment is also about surveillance, but it
-was written before Orwell's notion of "continuous warfare" became non-fiction,
-and before the advent of police and digitally networked video cameras.
+It is important to note that total surveillance violates TWO ammendments to
+the American Constitution.
 
   ARTICLE THREE
 
@@ -210,6 +208,9 @@
   consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed
   by law.
 
+In the modern world, read "police" and "electronic surveillance equipment",
+neither of which existed when this law was written.
+
   ARTICLE FOUR
 
   The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
@@ -217,4 +218,7 @@
   and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or
   affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
   persons or things to be seized.
+
+Surveillance is a central theme in Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty Four", a book
+which every adult should read.