July 5th, 2012 IRC Meeting

Agenda

1. Status of Liquid Feedback Hackathon

2. Status of VPN testing

3. TPP position?

4. National Party News & Pirate Picnic

5. Position on Election Laws Reform Bill of 2012?

6. Anything else folks want to bring up

Quick Notes / Summaries Re Proposed Bills to be Discussed:

1. Liquid Feedback Hackathon

2. Status of VPN testing

There is an opportunity for Massachusetts Pirate Party to offer a low-cost VPN service to our members. Some of the other state parties are interested and will pursue this option.

A VPN service can be used to protect a member's privacy. For example, you can browse certain websites and use a protocol such as BitTorrent through your VPN provider. Your computer will have an encrypted communication to the VPN server and someone trying to snoop on your connection will be unable to tell what you are doing.

This is managed by PPI (Pirate Parties International). The VPN service would allow members to pay with multiple currencies including Bitcoin, but they could also use a regular credit card. The cost is as low as $5 per month. Mass Pirate Party would receive half of the proceeds so we would have to ensure that we are complying with campaign finance laws.

Erix has been testing it.

3. TPP position?

4. National Party News

Pirate Picnic?

5. Position on Election Laws Reform Bill of 2012?

This bill would:

• Mandate random post-election audits to ensure voting machines are working correctly and that your vote is counted accurately;
• Let 16- and 17-year-olds pre-register to vote, greatly increasing the number who will actually vote when they turn 18;
• Let voters download and print voter-registration forms;
• Improve training of election officers so they can better protect every citizen's right to vote.

Attending

[Draft list]

• jokeefe - James O'Keefe, Somerville
• SplendidSpoon - Lauren P, Cambridge/Boxboro
• aphelionz - Mark Henderson, Marshfield
• erixoltan - Erik Zoltan, Framingham

Observers:

• [bsod]
• illunatic
• passtab -
• brandon
• strider

Summary

1. Status of Liquid Feedback Hackathon

Successful with Virtual Machine (VM) & Amazon Machine Image (AMI) versions created. The AMI version is up on EC2 servers.

We are working out the notifications and testing it before we release it to a wider audience.

2. Status of VPN testing

Erik is working on it.

3. TPP position?

We will look at the CA/Australian position and use that as a draft. Erik will propose on Liquid Feedback. 4. National Party News & Pirate Picnic

5. Position on Election Laws Reform Bill of 2012?

Jamie will post it on the Liquid Feedback server.

Meeting Minutes

<nowiki>

[12:06] <@jokeefe> so agenda/notes at - http://masspirates.org/wiki/index.php?title=July_5th,_2012_IRC_Meeting [12:06] <@aphelionz> Right on [12:07] <@jokeefe> start with ids - Jamie O'Keefe, Somerville [12:07] <+mildbeard> Erik Zoltan, Framingham [12:07] <@aphelionz> Mark Henderson, Marshfield [12:10] <@jokeefe> SplendidSpoon will catch up :-) [12:10] <@jokeefe> next item 1. Status of Liquid Feedback Hackathon [12:10] <@jokeefe> anyone want to give a report? [12:10] <@jokeefe> or two [12:11] <+mildbeard> I think it was a big success. [12:11] <@aphelionz> Yeah, we had two major successes [12:11] <@aphelionz> one was the VM and the other was the EC2 instance [12:11] <@aphelionz> We just need to sort out a few things like emailing and customization in the config [12:12] <+mildbeard> I will continue to work on a set of an instructions that other groups can use to install it. Some of them have had a heck of a time with it but it's really not that hard and I'm trying to script the whole process. [12:13] <@aphelionz> jokeefe: what else do you think we need before we start actually using the software? [12:13] <@aphelionz> mildbeard: that would be awesome [12:14] <@jokeefe> for me, I want to make sure that 1) we can invite people reliably and 2) it works [12:14] <@SplendidSpoon> Lauren P, Cambridge/Boxboro [12:14] <@jokeefe> we have seen some success with both of those, but we don't seem to be completely there yet. [12:14] <+mildbeard> It seems to work on ec2 from what I can see. The VM created by Sean also works. [12:14] <@jokeefe> how big is the vm? [12:15] <+mildbeard> I think he used the default 8GB capacity. I would have made it bigger personally. However the actual file is like 6 GB. [12:15] <@aphelionz> yeah the EC2 has 10GB and its more than half full [12:15] <+mildbeard> I have a slightly touched up .ova file I can post for anyone who wants to try it out. [12:16] <@jokeefe> wondering if we should just put it up somewhere for people to get [12:20] <@jokeefe> ? [12:20] <@aphelionz> I think we should [12:21] <@aphelionz> we should maybe consider doing a VM, a build script, and an AMI as three options [12:21] <@jokeefe> what is an AMI? [12:22] == mildbeard [~erixoltan@hknv-28-026-620-99.bstnma.fios.verizon.net] has quit [Ping timeout: 264 seconds] [12:23] <@aphelionz> Amazon Machine Image - basically a distributable VM for AWS [12:23] == mildbeard [~erixoltan@hknv-28-026-620-99.bstnma.fios.verizon.net] has joined #masspirates [12:23] == mode/#masspirates [+v mildbeard] by [4Q] [12:23] == mode/#masspirates [+l 17] by [4Q] [12:24] <@jokeefe> all three sound good [12:24] == mildbeard [~erixoltan@hknv-28-026-620-99.bstnma.fios.verizon.net] has quit [Remote host closed the connection] [12:24] <@jokeefe> so SpledidSpoon, did you get the email invite? [12:25] == mildbeard [~erixoltan@hknv-28-026-620-99.bstnma.fios.verizon.net] has joined #masspirates [12:25] == mode/#masspirates [+v mildbeard] by [4Q] [12:25] <+mildbeard> take 3 [12:25] == mode/#masspirates [+l 17] by [4Q] [12:25] <+mildbeard> keep crashing [12:25] <+mildbeard> sorry [12:26] <@jokeefe> np [12:26] <@jokeefe> so next is 2. Status of VPN testing [12:26] <@jokeefe> have you had a chance to look at it further mildbeard? [12:27] <+mildbeard> I was just working on it when my system crashed! (The system crash was unrelated.) [12:27] <+mildbeard> Sorry for the delay, will definitely have a solid answer by next mtg. [12:28] <@jokeefe> ok, great [12:28] <@jokeefe> item 3. TPP position? [12:28] <+mildbeard> remind me what TPP is? [12:28] <@jokeefe> Trans-Pacific Partnership [12:29] <+mildbeard> aah, that's what California Pirate Party had a big deal about right? [12:29] <@jokeefe> yes, so now that ACTA seems dead, TPP seems to be the next copyright rigid treaty out there. [12:29] <@jokeefe> we should have a statement on it [12:29] <+mildbeard> Is this something we can use liquid feedback to get opinions on any aspects of? [12:30] <@jokeefe> sure [12:30] <@jokeefe> want to see if anyone wanted to write a draft [12:30] <+mildbeard> Just as a test - I think CA and Australia had it right anyway. [12:30] <@jokeefe> not thinking we would decide now [12:30] <@jokeefe> could use whatever they have as our start point [12:31] <+mildbeard> I will volunteer to contact California and get their input on it, and put something on the EC2 LF server based on what I learn. [12:32] <@jokeefe> sounds good [12:33] <@jokeefe> next item 4. National Party News & Pirate Picnic [12:33] <@jokeefe> Boston Freedom of Information has suggested Aug 4th as a date for the picnic, and having it on Georges island [12:34] <@jokeefe> I emailed nat list, but haven't gotten responses. [12:34] <+mildbeard> I haven't heard anything about picnics from other states. Aug 4 is my son's 3rd birthday. [12:34] <+mildbeard> There was no PNC meeting yesterday because of the holiday. The constitutional committee submitted a "RC1" draft constitution. [12:34] <@jokeefe> that would be a conflict [12:34] <@jokeefe> how does it look? [12:34] <+mildbeard> http://ipir.at/uspprc1 [12:35] <+mildbeard> I think it is awesome. It has the components of the pirate wheel as "core values" and the PNC can't create policies that contradict the core values. But the PNC can create policies on any issue, and in general it is a well-structured approach. [12:36] <+mildbeard> It may still be rough around the edges and may require some edits but it looks like a solid basis for a constitution. [12:36] <+mildbeard> If it passes, then the US Pirate Party will have a solid reason to need liquid feedback themselves. [12:37] <+mildbeard> The RC1 constitution is not open for editing - anyone can select text, right-click and add a comment. They will respond to the comments and take them into account in the final draft. [12:39] <@jokeefe> thanks! [12:39] <+mildbeard> that's it on a national front [12:40] <@jokeefe> when do they want state parties to submit comments by? [12:40] <@jokeefe> any plans for a judiciary? [12:41] <+mildbeard> The Constitution will come before the PNC for ratification at the July 11 meeting next Wed. The temporary PNC's existence is only through July 12 at this point, so they will have to either ratify it or vote themselves an extension. [12:41] <+mildbeard> That's interesting jokeefe, do you think a party needs a judiciary? I hadn't thought of it. [12:41] <@SplendidSpoon> Do other parties have those? [12:41] <+mildbeard> Right now the PNC acts in that capacity - for example they can put a state party on probation if they drop off the face of the earth. [12:42] <@jokeefe> Ours does and I got it from the Swedish Pirate Party, IIRC. My experience with the Greens is that you need some way of settling disputes over the meaning of rules and the constitution [12:43] <@jokeefe> the whole separation of powers issue [12:43] <@aphelionz> Interesting [12:43] <+mildbeard> That's very interesting. I would suggest adding it as a comment, but it's a good point. [12:43] <@jokeefe> http://masspirates.org/wiki/index.php?title=Articles_of_Agreement#Article_9.0_-_Council_of_Arbitrators [12:44] <@jokeefe> judges randomly selected from among the members [12:49] <+mildbeard> I think it's a good idea. Do you want me to bring it up as a suggestion or will you put a comment in the document? [12:51] <@jokeefe> I will put it in [12:51] <@jokeefe> would you mail it to the list so others can review it? [12:55] <+mildbeard> Sure. [12:55] <@jokeefe> thanks [12:55] <@jokeefe> so, the last thing on the agenda is 5. Position on Election Laws Reform Bill of 2012? [12:56] <@jokeefe> This bill would: [12:56] <@jokeefe> Mandate random post-election audits to ensure voting machines are working correctly and that your vote is counted accurately; [12:56] <@jokeefe> Let 16- and 17-year-olds pre-register to vote, greatly increasing the number who will actually vote when they turn 18; [12:56] <@jokeefe> Let voters download and print voter-registration forms; [12:56] <@jokeefe> Improve training of election officers so they can better protect every citizen's right to vote. [12:57] <@jokeefe> not something we have to decide right this moment, but seems like something we would support [12:57] <+mildbeard> I think it's exactly what we should support. [12:57] <@aphelionz> agreed [12:57] <+mildbeard> However I also think we should put this on liquid feedback as well. [13:00] <+mildbeard> not to be a one-trick pony... [13:00] <@jokeefe> sounds fine as long as we don't need to decide soon [13:01] <@jokeefe> I'll put it up once I can. [13:01] <@SplendidSpoon> Cool [13:01] <@SplendidSpoon> Are we all set bc I just got asked out to lunch [13:02] <@SplendidSpoon> :D [13:04] <+mildbeard> I don't have anything for the "anything else folks want to bring up" part of the agenda. [13:04] <@jokeefe> I think so, did you ever get the liquid feedback invite SplendidSpoon? [13:04] <@SplendidSpoon> yes [13:04] <@jokeefe> great! [13:04] <@SplendidSpoon> I just haven't gone about making my thing yet [13:05] <@SplendidSpoon> but I will when I get back [13:05] <@jokeefe> thanks [13:05] <@jokeefe> mildbeard, did you try confirming your email address? [13:05] <@jokeefe> or aphelonz, too? [13:05] <@jokeefe> aphelionz that is [13:05] <@SplendidSpoon> oshit it said it's invalid [13:05] <+mildbeard> no [13:05] <@jokeefe> when did you get it? [13:05] <@SplendidSpoon> july 1 [13:06] <@SplendidSpoon> maybe it timed out? [13:06] <@jokeefe> have you received one today? [13:06] <@SplendidSpoon> no [13:06] <@jokeefe> well lets talk after lunch, no sense in holding you up [13:07] <@SplendidSpoon> ok cool [13:07] <@jokeefe> motion to adjourn? [13:07] <@SplendidSpoon> maybe try resending it [13:07] <@SplendidSpoon> ] [13:07] <@SplendidSpoon> ttyl [13:07] == SplendidSpoon [~SplendidS@38.111.ly.vgu] has left #masspirates [] [13:07] == mode/#masspirates [+l 16] by [4Q] [13:07] <@aphelionz> i havent tried my email yet [13:10] <+mildbeard> sorry I move to adjourn [13:11] <@jokeefe> please do, aphelionz. I haven't received a confirmation email so I want to make sure it works [13:11] <@jokeefe> 2nd, [13:11] <@jokeefe> all in favor (not that we cannot hang out) [13:11] <@aphelionz> sure [13:11] <@aphelionz> "aye" [13:11] <@jokeefe> thanks, aphelionz [13:12] <@jokeefe> motion carries [13:12] <@aphelionz> right on