A TOOL FOR SPIES

When Iran’s opposition protesters used Twitter and other forms of social media last year to let the world know about their regime’s brutal post election crackdown, activists praised Twitter as the tool of revolution and freedom. But now Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has figured out how to twist this tool into one of repression. Though as recently as this past January Chávez was decrying Twitter as a weapon of terrorists, he’s since turned into an avid Twitterer himself ( his account, the country’s most popular, boasted more than half a million followers at press time ), as well as a devoted Facebook user and blogger.

      Far from embracing the democratic spirit of the Web, though, the Venezuelan strongman is using his accounts and blog to exhort people to spy on each other. At the launch of his Twitter account, Chávez enjoined the Boliviarian faithful to use it to keep an eye on state enemies, namely the wealthy. My Twitter account is open for you to denounce them, “ Chávez announced on his television program. El Presidente has hired a staff of 200 to deal with tweeted “requests, denunciations, and other problems,” which have resulted in actions against allegedly credit-stingy banks and currency speculators. He’s now considering going a step further and ruling that all Venezuelan Web sites must move from U.S.- based servers to domestic ones - which would, of course, make them far easier to control. Big Brother would be proud.

              (Newsweek – June 14, 2010. By Mac Margolis and Alex Marin)

A TOOL FOR SPIES

When Iran’s opposition protesters used Twitter and other forms of social media last year to let the world know about their regime’s brutal post election crackdown, activists praised Twitter as the tool of revolution and freedom. But now Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has figured out how to twist this tool into one of repression. Though as recently as this past January Chávez was decrying Twitter as a weapon of terrorists, he’s since turned into an avid Twitterer himself ( his account, the country’s most popular, boasted more than half a million followers at press time ), as well as a devoted Facebook user and blogger.

      Far from embracing the democratic spirit of the Web, though, the Venezuelan strongman is using his accounts and blog to exhort people to spy on each other. At the launch of his Twitter account, Chávez enjoined the Boliviarian faithful to use it to keep an eye on state enemies, namely the wealthy. My Twitter account is open for you to denounce them, “ Chávez announced on his television program. El Presidente has hired a staff of 200 to deal with tweeted “requests, denunciations, and other problems,” which have resulted in actions against allegedly credit-stingy banks and currency speculators. He’s now considering going a step further and ruling that all Venezuelan Web sites must move from U.S.- based servers to domestic ones - which would, of course, make them far easier to control. Big Brother would be proud.

              (Newsweek – June 14, 2010. By Mac Margolis and Alex Marin)

A TOOL FOR SPIES

When Iran’s opposition protesters used Twitter and other forms of social media last year to let the world know about their regime’s brutal post election crackdown, activists praised Twitter as the tool of revolution and freedom. But now Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has figured out how to twist this tool into one of repression. Though as recently as this past January Chávez was decrying Twitter as a weapon of terrorists, he’s since turned into an avid Twitterer himself ( his account, the country’s most popular, boasted more than half a million followers at press time ), as well as a devoted Facebook user and blogger.

      Far from embracing the democratic spirit of the Web, though, the Venezuelan strongman is using his accounts and blog to exhort people to spy on each other. At the launch of his Twitter account, Chávez enjoined the Boliviarian faithful to use it to keep an eye on state enemies, namely the wealthy. My Twitter account is open for you to denounce them, “ Chávez announced on his television program. El Presidente has hired a staff of 200 to deal with tweeted “requests, denunciations, and other problems,” which have resulted in actions against allegedly credit-stingy banks and currency speculators. He’s now considering going a step further and ruling that all Venezuelan Web sites must move from U.S.- based servers to domestic ones - which would, of course, make them far easier to control. Big Brother would be proud.

              (Newsweek – June 14, 2010. By Mac Margolis and Alex Marin)

Instrução: Leia a letra da música Calling occupants of interplanetary craft para responder a  questão.

                                        Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

In your mind you have capacities you know

To telepath messages through the vast unknown

Please close your eyes and concentrate

With every thought you think

Upon the recitation we’re about to sing

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary most extraordinary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary, most extraordinary craft

You’ve been observing our earth

And we’d like to make a contact with you

We are your friends

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary ultra-emissaries

We’ve been observing your earth

And one night we’ll make a contact with you

We are your friends

Calling occupants of interplanetary quite extraordinary craft

And please come in peace, we beseech you

Only a landing will teach them

Our earth may never survive

So do come, we beg you

Please interstellar policeman

Oh won’t you give us a sign

Give us a sign that we’ve reached you

With your mind you have ability to form

And transmit thought energy far beyond the norm

You close your eyes, you concentrate

Together that’s the way

To send the message

We declare world contact day

Calling occupants

Calling occupants

Calling occupants of interplanetary, anti-adversary craft

We are your friends

                                                                                                (http://www.lyricsfreak.com)

Instrução: Leia a letra da música Calling occupants of interplanetary craft para responder a  questão.

                                        Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

In your mind you have capacities you know

To telepath messages through the vast unknown

Please close your eyes and concentrate

With every thought you think

Upon the recitation we’re about to sing

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary most extraordinary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary, most extraordinary craft

You’ve been observing our earth

And we’d like to make a contact with you

We are your friends

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary ultra-emissaries

We’ve been observing your earth

And one night we’ll make a contact with you

We are your friends

Calling occupants of interplanetary quite extraordinary craft

And please come in peace, we beseech you

Only a landing will teach them

Our earth may never survive

So do come, we beg you

Please interstellar policeman

Oh won’t you give us a sign

Give us a sign that we’ve reached you

With your mind you have ability to form

And transmit thought energy far beyond the norm

You close your eyes, you concentrate

Together that’s the way

To send the message

We declare world contact day

Calling occupants

Calling occupants

Calling occupants of interplanetary, anti-adversary craft

We are your friends

                                                                                                (http://www.lyricsfreak.com)

Instrução: Leia a letra da música Calling occupants of interplanetary craft para responder a  questão.

                                        Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

In your mind you have capacities you know

To telepath messages through the vast unknown

Please close your eyes and concentrate

With every thought you think

Upon the recitation we’re about to sing

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary most extraordinary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary, most extraordinary craft

You’ve been observing our earth

And we’d like to make a contact with you

We are your friends

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary ultra-emissaries

We’ve been observing your earth

And one night we’ll make a contact with you

We are your friends

Calling occupants of interplanetary quite extraordinary craft

And please come in peace, we beseech you

Only a landing will teach them

Our earth may never survive

So do come, we beg you

Please interstellar policeman

Oh won’t you give us a sign

Give us a sign that we’ve reached you

With your mind you have ability to form

And transmit thought energy far beyond the norm

You close your eyes, you concentrate

Together that’s the way

To send the message

We declare world contact day

Calling occupants

Calling occupants

Calling occupants of interplanetary, anti-adversary craft

We are your friends

                                                                                                (http://www.lyricsfreak.com)

Instrução: Leia a letra da música Calling occupants of interplanetary craft para responder a  questão.

                                        Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

In your mind you have capacities you know

To telepath messages through the vast unknown

Please close your eyes and concentrate

With every thought you think

Upon the recitation we’re about to sing

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary most extraordinary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary, most extraordinary craft

You’ve been observing our earth

And we’d like to make a contact with you

We are your friends

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft

Calling occupants of interplanetary ultra-emissaries

We’ve been observing your earth

And one night we’ll make a contact with you

We are your friends

Calling occupants of interplanetary quite extraordinary craft

And please come in peace, we beseech you

Only a landing will teach them

Our earth may never survive

So do come, we beg you

Please interstellar policeman

Oh won’t you give us a sign

Give us a sign that we’ve reached you

With your mind you have ability to form

And transmit thought energy far beyond the norm

You close your eyes, you concentrate

Together that’s the way

To send the message

We declare world contact day

Calling occupants

Calling occupants

Calling occupants of interplanetary, anti-adversary craft

We are your friends

                                                                                                (http://www.lyricsfreak.com)

Instrução: Leia o texto Is there life on other planets? para responder a  questão.

                                              Is there life on other planets?

                                                                                                              Hans Bodlaender

      There are many science fiction movies, television series and books about creatures from other planets. In most of these books and movies, aliens have spaceships that allow them to travel between different star systems, and on planets in these other systems, intelligent creatures live and look like people, but are different. We all know that reality is different from books. Physics tells us that strange things happen when we travel with a speed somewhat close to the speed of light – and, if modern physics is correct, it is impossible for humans to travel between star systems. If other creatures live on other planets, then they have to face the same type of problems, so it seems impossible for them to travel from their planets to ours. If there are intelligent creatures living on planets in other star systems, it seems, according to modern science, that we won’t meet them.

      If there is life on other planets, how did it originate? I see three hypotheses:

1. On the other planet, life started in the same way as the evolution theory says that it started here. Apart from the fact that the evolution theory is not the well-rounded and totally scientifically proven theory that people want us to believe, in general, followers of the theory tell that the chance of life starting on a planet is rather small. A term sometimes used is: A magnificent accident. I believe the probability is even smaller than they say, too small to assume that it actually can have happened by accident, but even if you believe life on earth was such a magnificent accident, the chances that this has happened more than once are too small to assume that it may have happened.

2. Life on different planets has a common origin. Say, some very primitive form of life originated somewhere travels to another planet, developing there into an intelligent form of life. There are quite a lot of questions to be asked of such a theory, and, again, calculating the probabilities seems to make it unlikely.

3. Life on earth has been created by God. Possibly, God has also created life on other planets. If God has created life on earth, he may have created life on other planets too. As far as I can tell, the Bible does not say anything about this, so this remains possible. If there are intelligent beings on other planets, I would assume they would know God. Would they also have a fall to sin, like the humans? Would we meet them in heaven? Would there be atheists and religious extraterrestrials? We cannot know.

      So, if there are extra-terrestrial intelligent beings, or, even, other types of life on planets outside our solar system, then to me, that would be a new proof of the existence of God. But I cannot understand atheists that sincerely state they follow standard evolution theory and are at the same moment on a search for intelligent life on other planets.

      Finally, is there life on other planets in our solar system? Well, I guess, yes: probably on Mars, there now will be bacteria brought to the planet from earth by one of the Mars-expeditions that were recently carried out.

                                                                (http://people.cs.uu.nl/hansb/religion. Adaptado.)

Instrução: Leia o texto Is there life on other planets? para responder a  questão.

                                              Is there life on other planets?

                                                                                                              Hans Bodlaender

      There are many science fiction movies, television series and books about creatures from other planets. In most of these books and movies, aliens have spaceships that allow them to travel between different star systems, and on planets in these other systems, intelligent creatures live and look like people, but are different. We all know that reality is different from books. Physics tells us that strange things happen when we travel with a speed somewhat close to the speed of light – and, if modern physics is correct, it is impossible for humans to travel between star systems. If other creatures live on other planets, then they have to face the same type of problems, so it seems impossible for them to travel from their planets to ours. If there are intelligent creatures living on planets in other star systems, it seems, according to modern science, that we won’t meet them.

      If there is life on other planets, how did it originate? I see three hypotheses:

1. On the other planet, life started in the same way as the evolution theory says that it started here. Apart from the fact that the evolution theory is not the well-rounded and totally scientifically proven theory that people want us to believe, in general, followers of the theory tell that the chance of life starting on a planet is rather small. A term sometimes used is: A magnificent accident. I believe the probability is even smaller than they say, too small to assume that it actually can have happened by accident, but even if you believe life on earth was such a magnificent accident, the chances that this has happened more than once are too small to assume that it may have happened.

2. Life on different planets has a common origin. Say, some very primitive form of life originated somewhere travels to another planet, developing there into an intelligent form of life. There are quite a lot of questions to be asked of such a theory, and, again, calculating the probabilities seems to make it unlikely.

3. Life on earth has been created by God. Possibly, God has also created life on other planets. If God has created life on earth, he may have created life on other planets too. As far as I can tell, the Bible does not say anything about this, so this remains possible. If there are intelligent beings on other planets, I would assume they would know God. Would they also have a fall to sin, like the humans? Would we meet them in heaven? Would there be atheists and religious extraterrestrials? We cannot know.

      So, if there are extra-terrestrial intelligent beings, or, even, other types of life on planets outside our solar system, then to me, that would be a new proof of the existence of God. But I cannot understand atheists that sincerely state they follow standard evolution theory and are at the same moment on a search for intelligent life on other planets.

      Finally, is there life on other planets in our solar system? Well, I guess, yes: probably on Mars, there now will be bacteria brought to the planet from earth by one of the Mars-expeditions that were recently carried out.

                                                                (http://people.cs.uu.nl/hansb/religion. Adaptado.)

Instrução: Leia o texto Is there life on other planets? para responder a  questão.

                                              Is there life on other planets?

                                                                                                              Hans Bodlaender

      There are many science fiction movies, television series and books about creatures from other planets. In most of these books and movies, aliens have spaceships that allow them to travel between different star systems, and on planets in these other systems, intelligent creatures live and look like people, but are different. We all know that reality is different from books. Physics tells us that strange things happen when we travel with a speed somewhat close to the speed of light – and, if modern physics is correct, it is impossible for humans to travel between star systems. If other creatures live on other planets, then they have to face the same type of problems, so it seems impossible for them to travel from their planets to ours. If there are intelligent creatures living on planets in other star systems, it seems, according to modern science, that we won’t meet them.

      If there is life on other planets, how did it originate? I see three hypotheses:

1. On the other planet, life started in the same way as the evolution theory says that it started here. Apart from the fact that the evolution theory is not the well-rounded and totally scientifically proven theory that people want us to believe, in general, followers of the theory tell that the chance of life starting on a planet is rather small. A term sometimes used is: A magnificent accident. I believe the probability is even smaller than they say, too small to assume that it actually can have happened by accident, but even if you believe life on earth was such a magnificent accident, the chances that this has happened more than once are too small to assume that it may have happened.

2. Life on different planets has a common origin. Say, some very primitive form of life originated somewhere travels to another planet, developing there into an intelligent form of life. There are quite a lot of questions to be asked of such a theory, and, again, calculating the probabilities seems to make it unlikely.

3. Life on earth has been created by God. Possibly, God has also created life on other planets. If God has created life on earth, he may have created life on other planets too. As far as I can tell, the Bible does not say anything about this, so this remains possible. If there are intelligent beings on other planets, I would assume they would know God. Would they also have a fall to sin, like the humans? Would we meet them in heaven? Would there be atheists and religious extraterrestrials? We cannot know.

      So, if there are extra-terrestrial intelligent beings, or, even, other types of life on planets outside our solar system, then to me, that would be a new proof of the existence of God. But I cannot understand atheists that sincerely state they follow standard evolution theory and are at the same moment on a search for intelligent life on other planets.

      Finally, is there life on other planets in our solar system? Well, I guess, yes: probably on Mars, there now will be bacteria brought to the planet from earth by one of the Mars-expeditions that were recently carried out.

                                                                (http://people.cs.uu.nl/hansb/religion. Adaptado.)