Welcome to REWinn.com

FreeNet Conversion

In the old days (like 5 years ago) it was pretty neat to maintain a web site. But it's become like tuning up your car: worth understanding in theory, but kinda pointless; there are too many better ways to maintain a web presences.

Another issue is that, like any moderately well-rounded person, my interests are too broad to fit onto a single site. People looking for legal humor are not often going to be be interested in old SCA photos; all those pages have in common is ME. And that's not really relevant to anyone but me.

So, for a challenge, I plan a cleanup. I'm moving my content to appropriate freespots, with just enough interconnection to make it interesting. Each freespot is organized thematically.

In addition, I've some project sites:

Perhaps we'll look back at the days of personal websites and go "Huh? Why?"

Coffee and Fair Trade

Mmmmm. Who doesn't like coffee? But we want the good stuff, and we want to be responsible. Here's some resources.

TransFair: http://www.transfairusa.org/
"TransFair USA, a non-profit organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the U.S. and one of 20 members of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). TransFair’s rigorous audit system, which tracks products from farm to finished product, verifies industry compliance with Fair Trade criteria. TransFair allows U.S. companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet strict Fair Trade standards"

Equal Exchange: http://www.equalexchange.com/
"Equal Exchange, founded in 1986, is the oldest and largest for-profit Fair Trade company in the US. We offer organic, gourmet coffee, tea, sugar, cocoa, and chocolate bars produced by democratically run farmer co-ops in Latin America, Africa and Asia.  Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world."

Batian Peak Coffee:  http://www.batianpeak.net.  "This company is 100% farmer owned. Our farm is located about 60 km from the capital Nairobi, the main varities of Tea grown here are the Assam."

Caffe' Vita Coffee Roasting Co: http://www.caffevita.com/
"Sustainability extends from the local communities we are a part of to the coffee farms that we buy from. Locally, we strive to educate our staff and customers on coffee quality and issues of sustainability. We also support many social service community groups in and around the communities we serve."
They have a delightful blog about looking for good, sustainable coffee: http://vitaonepot.blogspot.com/

Stump Town Coffee: http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/
"Believing in the social, environmental and economic benefits of sustainable business leads us to support not only coffee farms that are committed to the well being of their workers, land and water, it compels us to be a sustainable business in our own community..."

Tony's Coffees & Teas: http://www.tonyscoffee.com/
"Tony's Coffee is licensed to roast and sell Fair Trade Certified coffees by TransFair USA, and also certified by the Washington State Department of Agriculture as an Organic Processor."

Choice Organic Teas: http://www.choiceorganicteas.com/
"Choice Organic will forever disdain the use of environmentally harmful chemicals to cultivate tea."

Enjoy! --- 3/16/2008

Pentagon Iraqi Perspectives Project: What to do!

Who says there was no direct connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda? Our own military.

Where on the internet can you read the detailed report behind that claim? You can't.

The report, called the Iraqi Perspectives Project, was created by the Joint Forces Command and is based on a detailed study of all available documents. Normally, such JFC reports are proudly posted on the internet as PDFs so We The People can understand what's really going on (and how our tax dollars and blood are being spent.)

But the inconvenient truths in the Iraqi Perspectives Project will not get the usual press release, will not be posted online and will not be distributed by email.

Asked why, the spokesman for Joint Forces Command said: “We’re making the report available to anyone who wishes to have it, and we’ll send it out via CD in the mail.”

That's right! In the internet era, posting and emailing PDFs are the standard, the Pentagon has chosen effectively to hide the information by making it available only by mail --- and by not telling anyone how to order a copy.

A Pentagon official is reported to say the study was “too politically sensitive.” Apparently, the officer's oath to protect the Constitution has been replaced by an oath to protect current political leaders. 

WHAT TO DO:

Order the CD, d'uh!

It's not clear how to order such a CD, but it might be worth asking at the United States Joint Forces Command:
http://www.jwfc.jfcom.mil/webapps/forms/USJFCOM/feedback.jsp

You can learn more about the reason for the report (but not for its censorship) here:
http://www.jfcom.mil/newslink/storyarchive/2006/sp032406.htm

KUDOS to ABC News for reporting on this: http://blogs.abcnews.com/rapidreport/2008/03/pentagon-report.html

http://rewinn.blogspot.com/2008/03/pentagon-iraqi-perspectives-project.html  -3/13/2008

Update: Here's the Files!

Big News! The CD arrived in my mailbox Monday, March 17 (St. Patrick's Day). That's pretty good, really. Kudos to the Pentagon for efficient delivery (too bad it wasn't on the web but, give credit where credit is due.)

Now, IMO you should still order the CD so you can have your own copy. But if you're as lazy as I am, you may wish to get them here. The CD contained 5 large PDFs

Iraqi Perspectives Project
Saddam and Terrorism: Emerging Insights from Captured Iraqi Documents

-3/17/2008

The New Mod Squad!

The 2008 Elections have given birth to a new TV Series: The New Mod Squad!

The original Mod Squad was a police drama produced by Aaron Spelling, featuring three young, hip, crime fighters in a multicultural society. Its catchphrase was "One Black, One White, One Blonde"

The New Mod Squad, produced by Rupert Murdoch, has updated this to "One Black, One Blonde, and One Grumpy Old Man".

In the first episode of the New Mod Squad, Hilary searches for her soul and is captured by the DLC. Obama pursues her throughout the Red States, leading to a dramatic finish when McCain bombs the entire Middle East.

As the ending credits run, the trio sing their theme song

"We are all different,"
"But do not let that trouble you
"For we have one thing in common,"
"We're none of us George W".

MORE: http://www.thespoof.com/search.cfm?writer=6507

-3/7/2008

Do Charity For Free: Download a Cookbook

What could be easier? Through March 31st, 2008, you can download a free cookbook and get $1 donated to the Charity "America's Second Harvest". Just go to http://www.celebrityitaliantable.com, click on "Download Cookbook", and follow directions.

Now, of course the sponsors of this cookbook are hoping you'll sign up for their email newsletter. That's up to you - you'll probably like it, but anyway it's optional. So why not give it a try?

The Price Is Right!

(More free charity at  The Hunger Site:  http://www.thehungersite.com - It costs you nothing, and it does you good. )

More free stuff: http://www.rewinn.com/9993.html   - 3/3/2008

Election Results Leaked Early!


Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

 

Act On Iraq - In Your Town!

You can get your own city or town to act in Iraq. It's a small step, but in the finest tradition of Democracy. The downloadable copy is available at http://www.citiesforprogress.org

Sample Resolution: Bring the Money Home Now Resolution


A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE (YOUR CITY/TOWN NAME HERE) CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. TROOPS CURRENTLY SERVING IN IRAQ, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED, AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED DURING SUCH SERVICE, AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND EXPRESSING THE COUNCIL'S PREFERENCE THAT MISDIRECTED FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE WAR IN IRAQ BE REDIRECTED TO DOMESTIC PRIORITIES, INCLUDING PRESSING NEEDS IN THE CITY OF XXX.

WHEREAS, more than 137,000 United States military personnel, including many from the city, are bravely and honorably serving in Iraq and deserve the support of all the city citizens and Americans; and

WHEREAS, the people of this city will always honor the sacrifices of the American soldiers who have died or been wounded in combat in Iraq, including the more than 3,000 United States military personnel who have died in Iraq and the more than 22,500 who have been wounded; and

WHEREAS, the proposed war budget of year 2008 is 27.2% of the total proposed security budget; and

WHEREAS, our state's cost of war is XX ( http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home ), and our city's cost of the war is XX, ( http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home ) while community development block grants are being cut by XX in our state ( http://www.nationalpriorities.org/table1_cdbg ); and

WHEREAS, the CITY Council of the city hereby expresses its deep opposition to the current budget of increasing military and war spending in Iraq, in part due to the impact on the available federal resources required to provide for the urgent needs of the most vulnerable portions of the American population, including the need to provide for the health, education, and homeland security of the City and of other major urban areas within the United States; and

WHEREAS, in excess of $250 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq while in contrast, the City's total amount of HUD grants has decreased significantly since 2002, the year before the commencement of the war in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, this decrease in federal grant money severely lessens the ability of the City to rebuild its urban core, promote home ownership opportunities in the city, and provide critical housing services for the poor, the disabled, and for people with HIV-AIDS and other medical needs; and

WHEREAS, according to analysis by the Task Force on a Unified Security Budget for the United States published by the Institute for Policy Studies 55.91 billion dollars of the total military spending could be cut allowing for development of domestic nonmilitary goals and redirect funds for immediate domestic goals in this city; and

WHEREAS, polls show that greater than 60% of Americans oppose sending additional American troops to Iraq, which indicates that the majority of Americans share this Council's concerns with increasing funding levels in Iraq at this time

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF XX:

SECTION 1. That X City Council supports the U.S. troops currently serving in Iraq, as well as those that have previously served, and those that have been killed or wounded during such service, and their families.

SECTION 2. That X City Council expresses its opposition to President Bush's increased war and military funding

SECTION 3. That the city, its elected leaders and its citizens have a responsibility to highlight the implications of sending available federal resources, which are urgently needed by the most vulnerable portions of the American population in the city and other major urban areas within the United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the city shall forward copies to President George W. Bush, United States Senators --- and ---, House Representative ---- and members of the state U.S. Congressional delegation.

ADOPTED by the Common Council of the city, state this 6th day of March, 2007.
So and So, President
City Council
[Resolution xxx will now be forwarded to the Mayor for signature.]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/30960

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