9/11/12

9/11/12

Good morning, All,

It’s 9/11, and maybe because it’s also a Tuesday, as it was on that 9/11 eleven years ago, it’s especially difficult for those of us who were in New York City that morning not to recall the events of that day. And to reflect on what we’ve lost since then.

We had quite a few friends who escaped from the fall of the towers and we’ve heard the stories, first hand, about how they made their way uptown, on foot, since public transportation had been shut down, and did it, exhausted, emotionally drained and covered in the remains of both the buildings and of the people who lost their lives in them.

We live in a different world today: a world where there are cameras on every street corner; where one must submit to a full body scan and score in the correct quadrants of the Meyers-Briggs just to board a plane.  And then there’s this: Gallup Sued by DOJ after Unfavorable Obama Polls, Employment Numbers: http://bit.ly/RQDbHn Expectation of privacy? Did you know that the FBI can listen in on your conversations – even when your cell phone is off? http://bit.ly/P7TqSp The only way around it is to take the battery out. Oh, wait! You can’t remove the battery!

But this is America, and eventually, we do get to the point where enough is enough:
Google Defies FBI Attempts to Gain Cell Phone Passwords. Finally, the empire strikes back. Yes, we know that the phone belonged to a pimp – this time: http://bit.ly/PWerhI
 FAA Ban on Gadgets: Can We Right Humanity’s Greatest Injustice? Yes, we’re talking about shutting off electronic devices during take off and landing. http://bit.ly/RwYjYB
Police seizure of text messages violated 4th Amendment, judge rules: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy. But legality of warrantless cell phone seizures is still unsettled nationwide, so it’s not over.
But at least the battle has been joined and lest we forget the power of the people: FCC backpedals from Internet tax – all due to the public outcry: http://bit.ly/NTJAqp

Edmond Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Last time we checked, this was still America, land of the free and home of the brave. It’s September 11th, and as on that September 11th that dawned eleven years ago, it’s a beautiful day. Unlike then, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like we might once again get to see morning in America. At least people are beginning to see the light. Onward and forward.

Deadlines:

The list of Startup Weekend Upcoming Events

NEW The Awesome Foundation wants to give you $1000 for your best idea – almost anywhere in the world.  We give micro-grants each month to projects that are inspiring, delightful, and elegant: in a word, Awesome. To apply in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWueRO For more information and the complete list of chapters all over the world: http://www.awesomefoundation.org/

THE NEW ENGLAND VENTURE SUMMIT Call for Top Innovators, early deadline September 12th. If you are a Startup seeking capital and/or partnerships, submit your plan for the opportunity to present at The 7th Annual New England Venture Summit, the premier venue connecting emerging growth companies with active Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Corporate VCs and Investment Firms. A select group of 50 Top Innovators from the technology, life sciences and Clean-tech sectors will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, Corporate Investors, and Strategic Partners. To apply to present: e-mail iwant2present@youngstartup.com for an application.To nominate a company:please forward: company name, main contact at firm, contact details and why you think they should present to nominations@youngstartup.com. For more information: http://bit.ly/LjlttK

NYC Best for Business Infographic Competition, deadline September 21st. Designers, show the world why NYC is the best city for business for a chance to win $1,000 cash prize, a poster-size print of your work signed by Mayor Bloomberg, and bragging rights as the City’s top infographic designer. Infographics must incorporate the NYCEDC Dataset to be eligible. The top applicants will be selected as semifinalists and the winner will be chosen by public voting on NYCEDC.com. For more information and to apply: http://www.nycedc.com/competition

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For you edification this week, and staying on theme:

FBI’s Sinister New $1 Billion Project Will Track Everyone By Their Face: http://bit.ly/OlZxpa

Is the FBI Tracking 12 Million Apple Users? How unhappy would you be if you discovered that the FBI is using device information to track citizens? No; we are not talking about people who are allegedly terrorists . . . unless there are 12 million potential terrorists who prefer Apple devices?  http://bit.ly/RCQKhQ

Why You Should Be Terrified Of A Free Trade Agreement You’ve Never Heard Of [Infographic]. And do note which world leader is front and center in the photo: http://rww.to/PB9k4V

Obama Admin Pursuing Executive Order to Enact CISPA-Like Cybersecurity Language. This is a basically complete abdication of the principals of transparency, accountability, and public-participation in government. What stopped it in Congress was the public outcry: http://bit.ly/PXvfF9

Jeff Bezos And The End of PowerPoint As We Know It. Because a picture’s worth a thousand words: http://onforb.es/TsCKZP

Elevator Pitch/Member News
Hint, hint: Feel free to tell us what you’re working on, or if you’ve been featured in the press…Share, and we will, too!

Something special for you from one of our member
TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, September 20-21st. 15% SOS code: SOS.
We are pleased to partner with Webgrrls International and invite you to attend the TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs event on September 20-21 in NYC at a discounted rate. To receive a 15% discount, use code SOS: http://bit.ly/SOS35

That’s it from us this week. We are planning another SOS event and it will be sometime in October. Until then, as always, help is on the way…

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