US reportedly pulls out of UN Human Rights Council

By Cory Doctorow at 3:40 pm Saturday, Jun 7 • Comments • Share

The Human Rights Tribune is reporting that the US has pulled out of the United Nations' Human Rights Council, "an international body within the United Nations System. Its stated purpose is to address human rights violations."

The news that the US has completely withdrawn from the Human Rights Council spread like wildfire Friday afternoon (June 6) through the corridors of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. There was general consternation amongst diplomats and NGOS. Reached by phone, the American mission in Geneva neither confirmed nor denied the report. Although unofficial, the news comes at a time of long opposition by the Bush administration to the reforms which created the Human Rights Council in June 2006. Washington announced from the beginning that the US would not be an active member but its observer status would mean that it could intervene during the sessions. To date even this has rarely happened.

Link (via Digg)

HOWTO make a portable sandbox out of a wheeled under-bed storage tub

By Cory Doctorow at 7:26 am Saturday, Jun 7 • Comments • Share

Here's a smart tip from Parenthacks: turn a wheeled under-bed storage box into a mobile, lidded sandbox that you can roll into the garage on rainy days and out into the yard on nice ones:

My husband came up with a great idea for a small sandbox: an under-the-bed storage container. This container has a hinged top but the hinge broke so I put it in the garage for another day. My husband filled it 1/2 way with play sand and our daughter loves it. We can play with sand in the garage (if it is raining outside), on the back porch or take it to Grandma's for the afternoon. When we are done we just put the top over it and slide it under the stand that holds the yard tools or under the workbench.

Link

Big Buck Bunny: CC-licensed animated short made with free/open animation tool Blender

By Cory Doctorow at 7:21 am Saturday, Jun 7 • Comments • Share

Mike sez, "To show off the open-source animation program Blender, a small team just finished a great ten-minute cartoon, 'Big Buck Bunny.' They were funded by foundation support and pre-orders of the DVD by the Blender community. What's more, the whole thing is Creative Commons-licensed, and all the files for the animation are available. Here in Worcester MA, our local TV station took advantage of the licensing and broadcast the thing last night in prime time." Link (Thanks, Mike!)