George Weyman

The Free Syria Army, an informal collection of anti-regime insurgents, is nowhere near able to protect the population. Their activities provoke the government and its unfree Army to even worse violence. It would be far better if defected soldiers worked for strictly defensive purposes, accompanying street demonstrators and rooting out agents provocateurs rather than suicidally contesting forces that are clearly stronger and better armed. A few automatic weapon rounds fired in the general direction of the artillery regiments bombarding Homs are going to help the artillery with targeting and do little else. Violence also reduces the likelihood of future defections from the security forces. For current Syrian soldiers weighing defection, it is one thing to refuse to fire on unarmed demonstrators. It is another to desert to join the people who are shooting at you. Defections are important -- eventually, they may thin the regime's support. But they aren't going to happen as quickly or... - George Weyman

Hmm - another citizen journalism network that appears to have become a quasi-news agency.> Citizenside's goal is to create the largest online community of amateur and independent reporters where everyone can share their vision of the news by uploading photos and videos for fellow reporters to see. If you have an interesting news-related image or video, Citizenside will contact media outlets on your behalf and offers you a much higher percentage of the sales price than those offered by traditional agencies (up to 75%). Citizenside was created in 2006 by three young associates passionate about the news (two cousins and a friend!) whose complementary experience offers you the best representation when it comes to selling your content. AFPIn November 2007, Agence France-Presse (AFP), the 3rd largest news agency in the world, and the IAM company became shareholders in the Citizenside agency (formerly Scooplive). Primary shareholder of the IAM company and ex-CEO of France Televisions, Xavier... - George Weyman

"Too often, software that is ostensibly designed to serve the user is designed for the wrong user. The people who sign off on your software – the client who pays the bills, or the executive committee that decides what the business needs – may be happy. But the person who spends all day doing data entry or relying on the application’s output curses your name. The problem is: The user that a developer works with to design the application may not be the person who actually uses the software. You might put your heart and soul into answering the needs of the individual or every person on the committee whom you met with. You may create sturdy software that checks-off every item on that organization’s wish list." - George Weyman

Transnational Crisis Project - think tank and training outfit. Armand Hurault works here. - George Weyman

A training programme founded by FreeVoice and the Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists in Jordan. Opened in 2007. Funded by Doen. Works on training and capacity building in north africa for established media to support security and access. - George Weyman

"Lower Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater Prejudice Through Right-Wing Ideology and Low Intergroup Contact" Our results suggest that cognitive abilities play a critical, albeit underappreciated, role in prejudice. Consequently, we recommend a heightened focus on cognitive ability in research on prejudice and a better integration of cognitive ability into prejudice models. - George Weyman

"In spite of the families' appeals in Home to put an end to the acts of terror, the competent authorities practiced the utmost self-restraint and gave terrorists a number of opportunities to return to the road of right.. but they refused and escalated their terror instigated by foreign sides.. all of this pushed the authorities to intervene and deal with them to restore security and stability to Homs." A statement for the Interior Ministry said. Annotated link http://www.diigo.com/bookmar... - George Weyman