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A Syrian man looks at his mobile phone in a neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. (Image: Associated Press)

Random disconnections, mass censorship, and widespread online surveillance that could see activists' doors kicked down at any time by forces loyal to the country's oppressive leader.

It's just another day in the life of the Syrian Internet.

Little is known (and even less has been reported in mainstream media) about the state of Internet access in the troubled, war-torn state, or how technology is used to fight the despotic President Bashar al Assad.

Declared a civil war by the United Nations almost exactly two years ago in December 2011, the vast majority of those living, working, and fighting on the ground call it something else a "revolution" much in the way that those in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt declared during their own uprisings in the so-called Arab Spring.

The fighting in Syria has not subsided. It has intensified, and has no end in sight. And make no mistake; the opposition forces are not winning the war. They are however far ahead in the war of words on the Western front by way of old-fashioned propaganda, thanks to a technological embrace.

But it's not fooling everyone.

Though the U.N. has previously said there is mounting evidence to show Assad and senior officials have beeninvolved in war crimes, the global body has alsovoiced concerns over the opposition's actions during the course of the conflict.

This once developed and burgeoning economy has in the last two years been ravished by fighting, where almost every city block can be a micro-battlefield. But culturally and societally it is not so far removed from the Western world. The Syrian people have kept perhaps surprisingly as up to date with modern technological advances as they can be, in spite of foreign embargoes and severed trade routes.

In speaking to ordinary civilians, media activists, opposition members, and the occasional ground fighter over the course of the last four months, it became clear the war was fought not just with weapons and words, but also over the Web.

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Censorship, surveillance, and Android phones: Syria's tech revolution, from the cutting room floor

Posted December 13, 2013

LeBron James (left) and Kobe Bryant (right) were among the most retweeted athletes of 2013. (Sun Sentinel/Getty Images)

Twitter announced this week that four of the social networking sites top 10 most shared sports tweets of 2013 were posted by NBA players.

Heat forward LeBron James, Knicks guard J.R. Smith and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant all appeared on Twitters top 10 retweeted sports tweets list, which also included messages from a soccer player, United States Soccer, a college basketball player and an NFL player. A retweet is a way for Twitter users to share someone elses content to their followers.

James, the NBAs reigning MVP, had the NBAs most retweeted message of the year back in February when he responded to ongoing comparisons with Michael Jordan.

Im not MJ, Im LJ, James wrote. That simple declaration has been retweeted more than 76,000 times, ranking fourth among all sports tweets. James would later discuss his Michael Jordan moment during the 2013 Finals in a Sports Illustrated cover story.

Smith followed one spot behind James for a trash-talking reply to then-Nets forward Kris Humphries, who talked a little smack about Brooklyn getting a win against New York at Madison Square Garden.

Big game tonight! The Garden got really quiet on the way out, Humphries wrote.Smith replied: Wasnt quiet when Kanye tore it down last month!

Humphries divorced reality television star Kim Kardashian after a 72-day marriage; Kardashian is now engaged to West, a popular rapper and producer. Smiths quip produced more than 62,000 retweets.

A late-arriver to Twitter, Bryant was the only NBA player to appear twice on the list. His first tweet The antisocial has become social #mambatweets produced more than 50,000 retweets, ranking eighth on the list. His most popular tweet, though, was a jab at Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who had wondered aloud whether the Lakers should use the amnesty clause on Bryants league-leading salary in response to new luxury tax rules put in place by the leagues Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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LeBron James, Kobe Bryant rank among 2013's most retweeted sports tweets

Posted December 13, 2013

LeBron James (left) and Kobe Bryant (right) were among the most retweeted athletes of 2013. (Sun Sentinel/Getty Images)

Twitter announced this week that four of the social networking sites top 10 most shared sports tweets of 2013 were posted by NBA players.

Heat forward LeBron James, Knicks guard J.R. Smith and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant all appeared on Twitters top 10 retweeted sports tweets list, which also included messages from a soccer player, United States Soccer, a college basketball player and an NFL player. A retweet is a way for Twitter users to share someone elses content to their followers.

James, the NBAs reigning MVP, had the NBAs most retweeted message of the year back in February when he responded to ongoing comparisons with Michael Jordan.

Im not MJ, Im LJ, James wrote. That simple declaration has been retweeted more than 76,000 times, ranking fourth among all sports tweets. James would later discuss his Michael Jordan moment during the 2013 Finals in a Sports Illustrated cover story.

Smith followed one spot behind James for a trash-talking reply to then-Nets forward Kris Humphries, who talked a little smack about Brooklyn getting a win against New York at Madison Square Garden.

Big game tonight! The Garden got really quiet on the way out, Humphries wrote.Smith replied: Wasnt quiet when Kanye tore it down last month!

Humphries divorced reality television star Kim Kardashian after a 72-day marriage; Kardashian is now engaged to West, a popular rapper and producer. Smiths quip produced more than 62,000 retweets.

A late-arriver to Twitter, Bryant was the only NBA player to appear twice on the list. His first tweet The antisocial has become social #mambatweets produced more than 50,000 retweets, ranking eighth on the list. His most popular tweet, though, was a jab at Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who had wondered aloud whether the Lakers should use the amnesty clause on Bryants league-leading salary in response to new luxury tax rules put in place by the leagues Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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LeBron, Kobe among most retweeted in sports

THE ALTRUISTIC Free Software Foundation (FSF) has responded strongly to the open letter from internet firms to the US government about surveillance, saying that it would rather see them put their own houses in order first.

AOL, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Linkedin, Microsoft and Yahoo sent the letter earlier this week. In it they asked for changes in government surveillance practices.

"Dear Mr. President and Members of Congress, We understand that governments have a duty to protect their citizens. But this summer's revelations highlighted the urgent need to reform government surveillance practices worldwide," it said.

"The balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual - rights that are enshrined in our Constitution. This undermines the freedoms we all cherish. It's time for a change."

The FSF said it has seen the letter, and that it concurs with it and can see working with the companies on these goals. However, it said that there are bigger dangers out there, adding that more is needed than government reform. Rather, it said, corporate surveillance reform is more immediately needed.

"The Free Software Foundation may support one or more of the measures proposed to 'reform government surveillance.' We may end up working with this coalition of companies, after we have had a chance to review and discuss with them what they are advocating. It is encouraging to see recognition from the coalition about one side of the surveillance issue," said Free Software Foundation executive director John Sullivan.

"However, this problem is not one that can be solved through government reform alone, and there is a danger that focus on these reforms will be flypaper that drains energy for more fundamental change. In addition to policy reform, we must have software reform."

Sullivan indicated that the companies are making some appropriate noises, but aren't saying all that they should be. He suggested that the firms are complicit in data surveillance.

"In the US, there were already policies and laws against many revealed spy agency behaviors. These rules are being ignored, or interpreted in ways that maximize surveillance," he added.

"The surveillance is actively enabled by these companies' software and technology. Microsoft Windows provides back doors for the NSA. Companies like Google and Facebook build their businesses on the model of consolidating huge amounts of user data, enabling mining of that data, and pulling users away from software run on their own computers to software that is remotely hosted."

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Free Software Foundation wants software and surveillance reform

(PRWEB) December 14, 2013

With the recent launch of its holiday clothing line flying off storage shelves, 420 Friendly is fully embracing the intensity of its promising and posh marijuana-related couture line. A brand that is recognized for its deep-rooted appeal to the California dreamin' counterculture, 420 Friendly has never strayed from its hang loose heritage. These cannabis threads are responsible for discovering the couture of life in the everyday -- the life of the posh, but the posh who keep it real.

420 Friendly is not only a couture line of clothing, but it is more of a brand that presents to its consumer market an element of surprise within all of its designs. In terms of success, this up-and-coming clothing company is responsible for creating many innovative retail developments that are currently leading its surge for stardom.

Although continuing to evolve each and every day, consistency and product quality are two standards that do not change. If there is one thing that will stay consistent, it is 420 Friendly bringing the same confident, whimsical and cool runnings attitude to everything it creates with only the highest possible quality. It will only be a matter of time before 420 Friendly becomes a global phenomenon through its detailed and unique assortment of couture fashion apparel and accessories.

As fashionistas and fashion advocates, 420 Friendly is dedicated to expressing the widespread acceptance of cannabis and properly portraying the 420 Friendly subculture's voice in current fashion. Each product sold through the 420 Friendly online storefront features high-quality material and portrays an accurate voice of the alternative community without any stereotypical or negative connotations. By sticking true to an audience that fully supports the glory of being 420 Friendly, the many designs and products offered through this brand are proving to become one of the holiday seasons hottest commodities.

Consumers everywhere have nothing but great things to say about this brands unique and artistic approach to fashion advocacy. Hip-hop artists, athletes, attorneys, entrepreneurs and even the local librarian love the art of being 420 Friendly. This brand has a couture line that unites every consumer at the seam as a whole and provides the most high-end products.

Additionally, 420 Friendly has implemented an all-new configured retail locator that has been developed by using the JReviews system through Joomla. JReviews is a powerful Joomla-based directory that is responsible for establishing a reviewing component. This component can build media rich review sites, business directories, service directories, product catalogs and even classifieds. The company highly recommended that any entity that needs an established retail locator should use the JReviews system.

With outstanding customer support and an amazing outreach to help anyone within this industry, this is a highly endorsed system. Alejandro Schmeichler, owner of JReviews said, At ClickFWD LLC we are honored and very excited to see that our JReviews component for Joomla! was chosen to power the store locator and review system for the 420 Friendly website. For more information about our products please visit our website at http://www.reviewsforjoomla.com.

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420Friendly Launches New Retail Locator and Apparel Line for Holiday Season