Archive | September, 2010

Who’s next?

Ali Abdulemam, the blogger and system operator of the banned BahrainOnline.org has been summoned to appear before the National Security accused of allowing his forum to broadcast wrong and malicious information.

Bahraini blogger and system operator Ali Abdulemam

Abdulemam joins tens, possibly hundreds, more apprehended Bahrainis all accused or charged with some malicious intent against the ruling regime. According to most operating human rights organisations in the country, they have had their rights violated and some even went as far as accusing the security services of applying systemic torture on some of those incarcerated.

I fear that this latest development further degrades the country’s reputation and gives some credence to the charges of it being an enemy of freedom of expression and that of human rights too.

I hope that Abdulemam gets released untouched soon. Like any other forum operator and blogger, he has no real control over his guests’ contributions. Sites like those offered by Abdulemam should be supported and allowed to freely operate as they serve an extremely important function in providing a place for citizens and others to voice their opinions. BahrainOnline.org is known to be a central venue for this, so much so that it is said that even ministers tend to log in first thing in the morning to find out what’s happening in the country rather than read the papers.

I would ask for Ali Abdulemam to be immediately released. As far as I could deduce, he has not done anything wrong.

Maybe it’s time to resurrect the Free Ali site and prepare a few more for other Bahraini bloggers and forum sysops?

Update 100906@1858: This statement was released on the Bahrain News Agency‘s website in connection with his arrest earlier:

STATEMENT ON ARREST OF ALI ABDULEMAM

Manama Sep 05 (BNA) Following reports of the arrest of Ali Abdulemam, referred to as a blogger, Bahrain’s Ministry of the Interior released the following statement:

“Ali Abdulemam was arrested on Saturday 4th September as part of the ongoing investigation into the terrorist network accused of planning and executing a campaign of violence, intimidation and subversion in Bahrain. As part of this investigation compelling evidence emerged connecting Ali Abdulemam directly to this network. “Any assumption that Mr.Abdulemam has been arrested purely on the basis of any political views he may hold is entirely inaccurate and is connected solely to evidence of his involvement with senior members of the terrorist network. “On Saturday 4th September, Bahrain’s National Security Agency requested that Mr Abdulemam come in for interview. Following this request, Mr Abdulemam attempted to flee the country and was arrested at Bahrain International Airport under the Protection of the Community Against Terrorism Act 2006 and has been presented to the Director of Public Prosecution. “At present authorities are continuing to investigate the full extent of Mr Abdulemam’s involvement in the terrorist plot and his detention will continue to be fully in-line with international standards as well as in strict adherence to Bahraini law.” A H N BNA 1742 GMT 2010/09/05

Pressing for optimum strategies

I was reading this article this morning in the Globe & Mail this morning – our last full day in this lovely country – and thought it’s worth sharing:

Down the rat hole of gambling: Lab rodents press for optimum strategy but lose on slots

Study shows lab rats have trouble differentiating between wins and near misses on slot machines

As part of a study of gambling behaviour, a group of lab rats at the University of British Columbia found themselves looking down four holes.

Some of the holes offered great rewards – more sugar pellets than they knew what to do with – paired with the potential for harsh punishment in the form of imposed “time outs” that removed them from the game for long stretches. The other holes offered moderation, with less possibility of punishment, but also lesser rewards.

So did they take the gamble? According to UBC psychology assistant professor Catharine Winstanley, the rats couldn’t resist at least trying the far riskier option; but eventually, they figured out the optimal strategy – going for smaller gains and smaller penalties – and stuck to it.

In another gambling simulation, the rats played “slot machines” – that is, they would press a lever that would make a series of lights turn on or off. If all the lights came on, the rats could collect a windfall of sugar pellets; if all of the lights were off, but they still tried to collect a prize, they would be “punished” by being temporarily removed from the game.

What’s interesting is that the rats seemed to have trouble differentiating between wins and near-misses – where two of the three lights were lit – which may help to explain what keeps rats, and by extension humans, pushing those levers.

“We can justify all kinds of behaviour that’s bad for us if rats are doing the same thing,” jokes Ms. Winstanley, who hopes the findings will help them develop medications for people with gambling disorders. “It implies there are actually some very old evolutionary signals that our brains are generating, and that we’re responding and reacting to.”

[The Globe & Mail • 4 Sept 2010]

Interesting behavior don’t you think?

  • the rats couldn’t resist at least trying the far riskier option; but eventually, they figured out the optimal strategy – going for smaller gains and smaller penalties – and stuck to it

    • , and

  • What’s interesting is that the rats seemed to have trouble differentiating between wins and near-misses – where two of the three lights were lit – which may help to explain what keeps rats, and by extension humans, pushing those levers.

hmmmmmm

any lessons to be learned from lab rats I wonder?

Political societies warned: “Your bulletin is too big!”

The National Democratic Action Society (WAAD)'s bulletin

That’s the latest in the salvo against political societies. The most mundane and incoherent excuse to try to “put them in their place” and put another hurdle in the country’s already faltering steps toward democracy. Anything, it seems, to curtail political societies’ effectiveness and to get them to waste their energies into anything but the forthcoming elections. (The government objects to giving these entities their real name: Political Parties. Go figure.)

Five political societies were summoned to the Misery of Information Information Authority (or whatever they call it now) to be told that their political bulletins – you know, the newsprint all political parties and societies produce to communicate with their members and public – are too big.

Jealous, maybe!

But apart from the Information Whatchamakallit’s objection to size, they’re also objecting to the content:

وأوضح سلمان أن إدارة المطبوعات والنشر لم توجه مخالفة معينة إلى الجمعية، وإنما أبدت تحفظها على نوعية الموضوعات التي تطرح في النشرة، وحجم النشرة الذي ارتأت الإدارة أنه من غير المسموح به، وأن النشرة تأخذ شكلاً وطابعاً آخر. [source]

 

Salman [Abdulnabi, the secretary general of the Democratic Progress Tribune Society] explained that the Directorate of Press and Publication did not specify particular violations to the Society, but expressed reservations regarding the issues presented in the bulletins, as well as its size, which the Directorate considered as not allowed, and that the publication has taken another form and character.

The question must be asked that as some of these societies have been producing and distributing their bulletins in secret (before the Reforms) for decades, and have been doing so publicly since the advent of the Reforms, why is the government objecting now? Could it have anything to do with the forthcoming elections?

UPDATE: Looks like the Information Authority has ordered the closure of Alwefaq’s website! Pretty good going isn’t it, and just before the elections, close the largest society’s website. Of course, there are various other ways to access it.

Is there any other ham-fisted way in which the government attempts to further stymie political progress and restrict the already very meagre freedoms which we’re supposed to enjoy?

They banned any talk or reporting on several (politically motivated?) criminal cases which are of extreme interest to the people; they practically banned the freedom of assembly; they continue to ban websites and books; and now they’re interfering with what are essentially trade publications of political societies!

I say, ban the air that we breath while you’re at it. You’ll be doing us a big favour there for a change, considering the pollutants Bahrain suffers from!

I suggest that the political societies save some trees and print their bulletins on just a single page which should only include their name at the top, and a URL to direct people to read their content online.

Small enough for you, Information Authority?

ISP fined BD43,927.120 for NOT blocking websites!

How about that?

2Connect's CEO Fahad Al-Shirawi

The TRA just issued a hefty fine of BD43,927.120 (that’s US$116,517.56 to non-believers) against 2Connect, you know, the blue man people with the funky YouTube skit?

Well, the story from what I understand from the document is that 2Connect is opposed to blocking anything. The TRA found an opportune moment to slap them on their wallet by getting a complaint from a kid at the British School about them being able to access a pornographic site within the school system, which is connected, yes you guessed it, through 2Connect’s high speed network. Perfect! Someone thought. Let’s use this to really screw 2Connect out of some much needed profit and hey presto, the deal is done!

I would wish to take this opportunity to formally thank the ever watchful TRA in protecting our morals and sanity, and protecting our children’s delicate sensibilities, but stomping on 2Connect rather forcefully and reminding them that they must acquiesce to the government’s directives regardless of how sane or otherwise they are.