Save the Internet!

INMATES, it's time to make your voice heard.  Once again, your freedom of speech on the internet is at risk of being severely restricted.  If you recall, several months ago I wrote an article about this issue and asked you to take action - and many of you answered the call.  Well, it's that time again.

This month, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is holding meetings with representatives from countries across the globe to re-negotiate how we communicate on the internet.  Attendees of the meetings will be select government officials from several countries.  The issue here is that many of the representatives at the ITU conference reside in countries that are against the internet and especially sharing your thoughts openly.

Some of the proposals before the ITU could impede our your ability to speak your mind.  Additionally, services like YouTube and FaceBook would have to pay fees in order to operate in certain places.  What does this mean?  It means that our society will not be able to enjoy the infinite sharing of information that we are so accustomed to.  Also, it means that FaceBook, YouTube and other social media sites might start charging users to help mitigate these new operational fees.  Needless to say, this is not good.

Please take action and make your voice heard.  Let's keep the internet functioning as the ultimate mechanism that facilitates free speech for everyone.  Click the link below to learn more and to be a part of the solution.  Toast!

http://www.google.com/intl/en/takeaction/       

DAMN THE MAN!

INMATES - Congress is attempting to pass legislation that, despite it's plausible good intentions, could affect freedom of speech on the internet. If passed, the bills would make unauthorized media streaming a felony and hold the web publishers and hosting services responsible for curbing their users from posting copyright-infringed content.

What this means is that a wide range of online communities like YouTube, Twitter,Facebook and Life Behind Bars would have to censor users or get shut down and ordinary users could be imprisoned for five years for posting any copyrighted work.

Considering how much we value our ability to speak our minds, especially within this forum, I highly recommend you read more about this and if you decide you are against this legislation, click the link below and sign the petition (it takes less than 30 seconds).  Make your voice heard.

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

LBB Beta Site

The Parole Board is kicking it into high gear when it comes to the LBB website.  As many of you already know, the site is currently in Beta Mode (testing).  We spend countless hours tinkering with the site in an attempt to try to think of what it needs.  But, instead of us trying to determining everything it needs, we would rather get feedback from some INMATES. 

After all, it's the INMATES that will be using the site, so why shouldn't we get some input on various things you would like?  Also, if there are things that aren't working right, are hard to figure out, etc - well, we want to know about that.  The plan is to migrate the INMATES off FaceBook and onto our site, for LBB purposes only of course.  Obviously, we aren't trying to tell people to stop using FaceBook altogether.  Rather, we just want the INMATES to use our website when dealing with LBB stuff.  Having our own site is absolutely essential.  By doing so, we will have complete control over how things work and look (FYI - we will also have a smartphone app that you can download for free in order to conveniently access the site).

Currently, there are four INMATES that have asked me to update the Job Release list with their information.  But, FaceBook is not cooperating and will not allow us to update the list.  In fact, I can't even create a new job posting/job search list.  And these are the little things that drive me crazy.  Don't get me wrong, FaceBook has been pivotal to the growth of LBB.  However, I won't be happy until we are not longer operating under the parameters of another forum.

Anyway, the point is, we are working nonstop on the website and would like to hear what you have to say/think.  If you are interested in obtaining access to the Beta Site in order to let us know your thoughts and recommendations, just let me know and I'll get you access. 

One disclaimer though, we are currently only working on the way the site works.  Functionality is our main task at the moment.  After the site runs the way we want it to, then we will make it ascetically pleasing.  So, just note that the site looks nothing like it will once we launch it.  The colors, fonts, everything will change.  We know how it will look but aren't worried about that right now because it doesn't matter how nice it looks if it doesn't work.