from wired:
Former National Security Agency analyst Russell Tice shed new light on the Bush administration’s warrantless domestic spying last week when he told MSNBC that the NSA blended credit card transaction records with wiretap data to keep tabs on thousands of Americans.
from digg and engadget:
For years, Diebold has embarrassed itself by claiming that obvious faults were actually not faults at all, and during the past decade or so, it mastered the act of pointing the finger. Now that it has ironically renamed itself Premier Election Solutions, it’s finally coming clean.
My website has been running a McCain Ad for three days. It’s pretty consistently on the main page. I find this terribly amusing.
You might have noticed some additions to my intro page, facebook or myspace pages. Thus, it needs to be said:
My political opinions and support of any individual candidate are my choice alone. My choices or opinions should not be considered those of my family, friends or employer. You’re entitled to your opinion too. I encourage debate, but my opinions are just that…My opinions.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming primaries this Tuesday. What we’re witnessing, with the growing support of Barack Obama, is a potential bloodless coup of the existing political establishment. (Not a bad thing) This is going to be an exciting and especially historic campaign with international implications for centuries to come.
Sometimes your faith in the system is restored…or at least propped up temporarily, today is one of those days. Our ex D.A. is finally going to have to answer for at least some of his crimes. Hopefully the loathsome scum is going to jail next, it would seem as though he’s earned it.
By Cindi Lash and Janice Crompton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
FBI agents seized several items from Washington County District Attorney John C. Pettit’s office today in connection with a federal grand jury investigation.
The search began about 10 a.m. and ended at 2:50 p.m., when the agents, assisted by state police, hauled out six boxes and two bags of material, a computer, some manila envelopes and a big, black safe on wheels.
The officers had brought a subpoena to the county solicitor, J. Lynn DeHaven, this morning, but he directed them to give it to another solicitor, Mary Lyn Drewitz.
Ms. Drewitz said the subpoena ordered the three Washington County commissioners to appear before a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on Jan. 22 and to bring the safe and its contents with them.
Ms. Drewitz said she believes the commissioners won’t have to appear before the grand jury because the federal agents now have the safe and what was in it.
Mr. Pettit, who has been the target of an FBI investigation trying to determine whether he has provided preferential legal treatment to friends and supporters, was not in his office while the search was being conducted. He could not be reached for comment afterward.
But his attorney, Patrick J. Thomassey, said he had no knowledge of a grand jury investigation of Mr. Pettit. He noted that the subpoena was served on Washington County for records that happened to be stored in Mr. Pettit’s office.
County Commissioner Diana Irey said she was told that the subpoena was “to review and/or confiscate contents within the district attorney’s office.”
“They served the subpoena to our solicitor this morning in connection with a federal grand jury, and that’s all we really know,” said Mrs. Irey. “We are giving the authorities our full cooperation.”
Two weeks ago today, Mr. Pettit lost his re-election bid to political newcomer Steven Toprani. The 72-year-old Mr. Pettit was seeking his seventh term in office and had reportedly been the subject of a federal probe for some time
from the Observer-Reporter
FBI agents are searching the the Washington County district attorney’s office this morning, apparently seeking records.
Washington County solicitor J. Lynn DeHaven said agents served a subpeona this morning at his office seeking records from the office of District Attorney John C. Pettit. Between seven and 10 agents are at the DA’s office.
“I can tell you that this was done pursuant to a grand jury investigation” involving the DA’s office, DeHaven said.
Pettit, who lost his bid for re-election to a seventh term in the general election to Republican Steven Toprani, acknowledged last year that he was the subject of an FBI investigation into alleged abuses of his office.
County Commissioner Diana Irey said Tuesday that “the authorities have our complete cooperation.”
Woo Hoo. Anyone has got to be better than Pettit. Woo Hoo!
from the Observer-Reporter
TOPRANI POUNDS PETTIT
By Linda Metz, Staff writer
The winds of change swept through the Washington County district attorney’s office Tuesday.
Republican and political newcomer Steven M. Toprani knocked off veteran incumbent John C. Pettit for the chief law enforcement position in the county by an unofficial vote margin of 27,129 to 14,283.
Pettit, a Democrat, was seeking his seventh term in office.
“It certainly surprised me,” said Toprani about his overwhelming vote total at his election night celebration at Southpointe Golf Club. “Over the course of the past 10 months, we always had a good response. We were certainly hoping that would translate into votes, and it did.”
He added, “I’m very humbled and very proud of the trust the people of Washington County gave me.”
Pettit accepted his defeat about 11:30 p.m. when he arrived at Julian’s in Washington and was greeted by about 30 supporters.
“When you look at what I have accomplished and what my opponent has not accomplished, you know it wasn’t about qualifications, it was about politics,” said Pettit. “The way the vote was going, I knew it wasn’t going to get any better.”
When asked what he planned to do in the next two months of his term, Pettit said, “I will do everything I can for the new district attorney.”
Toprani, 28, of Carroll Township, ran unopposed in the primary election. At that time, he was considered an underdog to beat Pettit, although the district attorney had been under scrutiny throughout his last term.
But Toprani’s odds improved as he began canvassing the county and county Democrats grew even more disgruntled with Pettit. In fact, in recent weeks, it was not unusual to see some prominent Democrats wearing political buttons promoting the Republican candidate in the race.
Throughout the campaign, the 72-year-old Pettit dismissed Toprani’s chances in the general election, saying experience was the key to being district attorney, especially now with a dozen pending homicide cases, the introduction of casino gambling and an increasing criminal caseload.
Pettit touted his 20-plus years in the position, his prosecution of more than 50,000 criminal cases and his 43 years of practicing law. And he criticized Toprani for having never tried a criminal case in Washington County and not being a member of the county bar association.
Toprani based his campaign on giving the district attorney’s office a total overhaul. He said the office was behind the times and needed to be brought into the 21st century.
Toprani also came up with a 10-point plan that calls for increased training, communication and funding for the drug task force. He also devised a “dream team” that includes two advisers, J. Michael Aaron, a former Cecil police officer with 15 years of experience as an investigator in Camden, N.J., and Craig R. McKay, a longtime assistant U.S. attorney.
Pettit’s hold on county voters began to wane over allegations that he was the target of a federal investigation, his split from county Democratic committee leaders and his continuing legal battle with the county commissioners over payment of a federal jury verdict.
Toprani took a large early lead Tuesday night, and it was never threatened.
The rally was one of 11 large antiwar held nationwide yesterday as part of the National Day of Action to end the war. An estimated 10,000 people gathered on the Common to listen to speakers. One man says, “I’m not convinced of the value of this. The polls indicate that everyone’s against the war but Bush is still getting the funding he asks for”
Over this weekend I saw the Bodies exhibit at the Carnegie. It uses a process popularized and perfected by artist Gunther von Hagens. It was a little expensive ($22 a person) and too short, the entire exhibit took about an hour and a half and we read everything. Particularly interesting were the fetal bone studies using calcium markers. It’s amazing the rate of development from week to week. Unfortunately since it was a science oriented program, the artistic flair was — for the most part, missing.
There were a lot of children–oddly, and smart parents explaining things in context. Despite my minor quibbles, I highly recommend attending if you’re near Pittsburgh and the Science Center.
I’m still fuming over the fact Al Gore won a Nobel Peace Prize?!?!!? Like an Oscar wasn’t silly enough.
This just further confirms it’s a political prize. Jimmy Carter won for his negotiation of peace around the world, particularly the mid-east…that’s going well.
Henry Kissinger won too…and there are places in the world he’s considered a criminal for acts during the Vietnam War.
Incidently, Gandhi, a brown man under British rule…never won.
Yep. Seems fair to me.
Where’s my Nobel? I’ll even take the economics award here folks. Cut me a break.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s speech at the University of Florida came to a dramatic close Monday, shortly after a vocal audience member was hauled off by police and shot with a Taser gun.
The only thing I find ’shocking’ about the incident is the fact that anyone is surprised. We live in a fascist police state. Deal with it. Like you didn’t know already?
As a country I encourage us to obey our corporate and government overlords and keep your dangerous independent thoughts and questions to yourself. Having been involved in active political protest the past five years I’m looking forward to my tasering… It’s probably cheaper than electroshock therapy.
Dissenting opinions will be silenced and the revolution, well…may or may not, be televised.
I could just post Clash lyrics since they’re the most politically relevant punk rock band yet and they always get me fired up. Anytime I do anything mildly left-wing, I like to blame in on the Clash.
Should I Stay or Should I Go
Darling you gotta let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
Ill be here til the end of time
So you got to let know
Should I stay or should I go?
Always tease tease tease
Siempre - coqetiando y enganyando
Youre happy when Im on my knees
Me arrodilla y estas feliz
One day is fine, next is black
Un dias bien el otro negro
So if you want me off your back
Al rededar en tu espalda
Well come on and let me know
Me tienes que desir
Should I stay or should I go?
Me debo ir o que darme
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecisions bugging me
Esta undecision me molesta
If you dont want me, set me free
Si no me quieres, librame
Exactly whom Im supposed to be
Diga me que tengo ser
Dont you know which clothes even fit me?
saves que robas me querda?
Come on and let me know
Me tienes que desir
Should I cool it or should I blow?
me debo ir o quedarme?
Should I stay or should I go now?
yo me frio o lo sophlo?
If I go there will be trouble
Si me voi - va ver peligro
And if I stay it will be double
Si me quedo es doble
So you gotta let me know
Me tienes que decir
Should I stay or should I go?
yo me frio o lo sophlo?
Thanks to the three officers that tipped military times on this. The Air Force, violated 40 years of policy without explanation. Nuclear weapons and warheads are not stored together with conventional weapons. The official account of a slip up, parroted by the official media, is a transparent lie. Was this a false flag operation and who ordered it?
ADAPT is taking the windy city.
Chicago, IL— More than 500 ADAPT activists from around the country will converge in Chicago September 8th-13th to take action against a crisis in Illinois that is the poster child for a larger national problem. The crisis is directly caused by a record of bad decisions made by Illinois state officials, and the institutional bias built into the way the nation’s long term care system is funded.
ADAPT will assure that Gov. Blagojevich knows that his plans to reopen a state institution for persons with developmental disabilities and his lack of support for Money Follows the Person legislation are actions of segregation and in violation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision. ADAPT will also challenge the Illinois Congressional delegation to take a leadership role nationally in eliminating the institutional bias so people with disabilities and older Americans can live at home with dignity.
Currently, Illinois ranks 41st in the nation for providing the community-based services that will allow disabled and older citizens to stay in their own homes. Illinois’ long record of being in the bottom ten states puts it among the worst when it comes to human rights in general and disability rights in particular.
“It turns my stomach to know that my state, historically a home of civil rights in America for people of color, is the same state that is one of the worst civil rights performers in regard to people with disabilities,” said Chicago native Larry Biondi, an organizer with Chicago ADAPT. “I’m ashamed of Illinois’ record of institutionalizing people with disabilities. Right now there almost 20,000 people who have said they want to get out of Illinois’ nursing homes- nursing homes they never wanted to go into in the first place. But they were forced to go there by the institutional bias in Medicaid funding, and the state’s failure to act in accordance with federal law- law that clearly states that people should receive services in ‘…the most integrated setting,’ which is clearly the community!”
While in Chicago, ADAPT will hold a national housing forum that will be attended by HUD Fair Housing Assistant Secretary Kim Kendrick, and state and local officials. At the forum, ADAPT will reveal its national housing agenda; take testimony from people across the country who have had difficulty finding affordable, accessible, integrated housing; and distribute information on pending visitability legislation, and the redirection of HUD’s 811 Supportive Housing program funds to projects that are integrated. Currently, the 811 program primarily funds segregated housing situations for people with disabilities.
“As we have begun to make progress in getting people out of institutions, and preventing people from being forced into institutions, the lack of affordable, accessible, integrated housing in typical neighborhoods has become glaringly apparent,” said Beto Berrera, a member of Chicago ADAPT and a Chicago housing expert. “We are hosting this national housing forum so that federal officials can hear just how bad the situation is, and to gain their support in working with us to right this wrong.”
ADAPT will send a clear message to the Governor of Illinois, the nation’s medical community, and Congress that supporting the incarceration of people in institutions for the ‘crime’ of disability will not be tolerated. In the classic Chicago movie, The Blues Brothers, Jake and Elwood Blues came to Chicago on a mission from God. ADAPT is coming to Chicago on a mission, too….a mission to “Free Our People!”
Here we go…
I’ve been following the beatification process for Mother Teresa ‘here and there’. Recently letters detailing her doubts about her faith have come to light. Christopher Hitchens, a vocal critic, published an especially unsettling article in Newsweek.
Her struggle over faith both humanizes the woman and makes people realize that even those in positions of authority and power have doubts and questions. This shouldn’t be seen as a threat to the church. The human condition is this quest for our place among the unknown and dealing with our own mortality and what that might mean. But, I don’t think it makes her service any less valuable. Apparently, though, she questioned the value. Sad.
This is what I find really disturbing…. independent of religious dogma, right or wrong, true or not, does that mean that devoting your life to helping others and changing the world is a bad thing? Was Ayn Rand right?
Well, in a lot of ways…yes. But, altruism is not an evil–not normally. There are fundamental human truths concerning right and wrong that dictate behavior in cultures around the world independent of which organized belief they ascribe to. These include the acts of selflessness that one undertakes for a cause.
Well… this is just rambling. I’m looking forward to reading the actual letters. The excerpts I’ve read seem almost maniacal and egocentric…as though the religious ‘payoff’ was expected. Hmmm…
Also, I noticed on digg of all places, that Dr. James Kennedy died today. Dr. Kennedy founded Coral Ridge Ministries in Ft. Lauderdale and Westminster. Dr. Kennedy and his school/church/compound were where I spent one of the most unpleasant years of my life. Despite being an ‘elite education institution’… I was forcefed creationism, punished (corporal) when I disagreed and was crammed so full or rules and technicalities about the afterlife…well, that it just seemed like a crock. It made me a strident atheist for a number of years. It’s funny, because the previous five years of education were at a private Christian school and I had a wonderful education both spiritually and academically…and it didn’t seem an affront to god.
I can’t say I’m happy he’s dead, that would be wrong. But I hope they sell off the church properties and actually do the work of their lord for the people. Large edifices, stained glass and satellite broadcasters aren’t the best way to serve the beggar, the prostitute, the person with a disability, the ethnic minority….the people the Christian Bible wants us to help. The often lost and disregarded.
This isn’t an anti religious tirade at all. I’m a believer in a higher power and some organization to the universe and reality…but I don’t pretend to know what it is….I don’t know if it’s a personal heaven, reincarnation or an explosion into pure energy…it could be nothing. I don’t know.
As David Byrne and Natalie Merchant sang “Let the mystery be….”
I’ve been giving a lot of thought to money lately. This isn’t ususual for anyone of course.
Nonetheless, Steph and I are thinking about buying a home and starting a family…in addition to still looking for business properties and developing an online retail site for her family….and reflection on money has become more of an issue.
Money, in addition to its value for obtaining goods and services, is used to barter in ’status’/respect or reputation. In this regard money has value to even those who don’t really value it. Independent of your thought about money, it’s important due to public perception. It’s can’t be escaped, it alters, some might says warps, perception. This manipulation of money, in order to manilpulate perception is more valuable than the currency itself.
I like to think that I’ve reached a point in my life where I value money less. I’ve managed to convince myself of this as evidenced by my change in careers. In a former life I was in executive management inside of human resources and Information Tech. for several Fortune 100 companies, occasionally in research. The income, particularly during the internet boom, was very very good.
My current work in non-profit, while having some of the secondary fiscal benefits of executive management, is still on the very low end of the salary curve. The concern is have I deluded myself too much? Trying to obtain enlightenment at the expense of perception…which I could argue — is somewhat of a necessity for enlightenment. More importantly, does the fiscal status of my position (which is actually pretty good for non-profits in this area) inhibit my ability to perform my job. ie Does a lack of positive perception, due to fiscal perceptions (if it exists), make me less respected and thus, less able to do my job? Does it inhibit others?
I’m not sure how to rectify this, I think it means I need to get more money…and still try to have a strong moral compass. I’m not entirely how possible this is. It may be another quixotic quest….windmill Ho!!!!!
psst…Â
Wanna buy a kidney?
TRIPIL recently completed a survey of most of the polling places in Washington County (141 of 180, as provided by the Board of Elections). Surveys were done by a variety of staff people. Nonetheless, the results, which are terrible, are the subject of an article in the Observer-Reporter this weekend. It’s the front page of the Sunday paper.
From the Observer Reporter
by Barbara Miller
A group of activists for the disabled surveyed 75 percent of Washington County’s 185 polling places and determined more than half of them are not accessible to voters who use wheelchairs or walkers.
Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living tackled Washington in advance of the Nov. 7 general election, and intends to do a similar survey of Greene County before the 2007 primary.
TRIPIL members estimated that about one-third of the polls they deemed inaccessible could be made accessible with minor renovations.
But the group’s survey indicates that 45 polling places are “very inaccessible” and could not be modified before Election Day.
“It doesn’t cost that much to put a bloody, blooming ramp in a front stoop,” said Bob Romero, 55, membership director for TRIPIL, who was born without arms.
One of the aims of the Help America Vote Act was to make the voting process more accessible to the disabled. Even while Washington County hoped to retain its punch-card voting system, it planned to purchase 185 touch-screen devices with headsets to allow the blind to vote.
The county learned late last year that punch cards were going the way of the dinosaur and decided to take advantage of federal HAVA grants to purchase 700 Diebold TSx touch-screen devices so all voters could use them. The devices made their debut in the May 16 primary.
Larry Spahr, county elections director, who completed a survey of polling places required annually by the state, deemed 177 of the county’s polling places accessible to the disabled and elderly, many more than TRIPIL later counted.
Spahr learned of TRIPIL’s project over the summer and said he encouraged members to assess polls from their perspective and submit a report.
But identifying problems won’t automatically result in a substitution.
“There are some areas that we’re limited to the structures that are available,” Spahr said.
Cathy Ennis, spokeswoman for the Department of State in Harrisburg, said the official survey conducted by elections offices is required if counties request reimbursement for improvements made to polling places to make them more accessible.
In addition to voting with an alternative ballot, disabled voters can request reassignment to a more accessible poll, Spahr said.
“We are not advocating absentee voting,” said Mike Matthews, 25, who worked on the polling-place survey and met with Spahr about the results. “We miss those who are handing out campaign literature at the polls, and we want people to make their presence visible.”
Matthews has cerebral palsy and does not use special equipment to get around. He has accompanied his uncle, Thomas Matthews Jr., who uses a wheelchair, to the polls for many years.
“At times, it has deterred him from voting,” Matthews said of his uncle.
Among the features TRIPIL looked for — the same as listed on the state survey — were designated parking for disabled voters, a route from a parking space that is at least 36 inches wide, curb cuts or curb ramps, gentle slopes, ramps with handrails and barrier-free routes from entrances to voting machines.
Standard door knobs, according to a state survey form, are not considered acceptable, as are thresholds or door sills one-half inch or greater.
“The churches in Donora, Mother of Mary, help us,” Romero said, calling the path to the polling places in the Mon Valley borough “brutal.”
Romero and Matthews plan to present their data to the county commissioners because taxpayers’ money is used to rent polling places that are not public buildings. The rent varies, Spahr said. Some landlords ask that the county cover utility bills. Others request reimbursement for janitorial services. Spahr estimated the average rent at $60.
While he did not have information about every site listed by TRIPIL, Spahr said although the room used for voting at the Iceoplex in Cecil Township can be reached by descending a staircase, there is second entrance at ground level.
Linell Mankey, librarian at the Chartiers-Houston Community Library since January, agreed with TRIPIL’s assessment that the library has no designated parking for the disabled, and that the doors are “cumbersome.” Although not listed on the TRIPIL survey, Mankey said the library’s lot is gravel, not paved.
The library has been used as a polling place for years.
“They have a valid point,” Mankey said of the survey. “It’s not something you think about unless it affects you.
“We are actively pursuing grants to get doors that are handicapped-accessible, just for convenience. Our doors are energy inefficient. We want doors that really seal.”
Matthews is looking forward to conducting a similar survey in Greene and Fayette counties.
“I’m passionate about getting people to vote,” he said. “Too many issues affect us on the state and federal level for us not to vote.”
While not advocating any candidate or party, TRIPIL is encouraging its 200-plus members to go to the polls Nov. 7 through a mail and phone effort.
“We want them to go like everybody else,” Romero said. “We want equal access to voting like every other American. I don’t want our colleagues to be isolated. Not everyone has power chairs.”
from darren murph at engadget
Ever since these newfangled RFID e-passports hit the mainstream, understandable concerns have frequently surfaced regarding the security (or lack thereof) involved. The Dutch version has already been cracked, Germans can clone theirs, and Ireland’s doesn’t even have a protective sheath to keep its data safe from unauthorized readers; now it appears that you have one more reason to stick with the ole laminated paper version, as security researchers have released “proof-of-contact code that they say enables an attacker to read the passport number, date of birth, and passport expiration date.” The flaw was unveiled by Adam Laurie — a well-respected watchman of Bluetooth security weaknesses — in his “Bugtraq” newsletter, but no specifics were reported regarding how evildoers could extract such precious information and subsequently steal your identity. Nevertheless, those RFID-shielding manufacturers must be licking their chops right about now, and rightfully so.
HAHAHAHAHA
In an interview with the Bucks County Courier Times, embattled Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has equated the war in Iraq with J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” According to the paper, Santorum said that the United States has avoided terrorists attacks at home over the last five years because the “Eye of Mordor” has been focused on Iraq.
