Jobe's home of rants and observations

Fight censorship.

2006-05-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Rebuild it!

2006-04-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

Ever have a problem with WinXP, and nothing seems to help? Try this trick, it may help.

InformationWeek | XP Management | Langa Letter: XP's Little-Known 'Rebuild' Command | April 17, 2006

It's all about him.

2006-04-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

"I'd vote for myself," the Lakers star said with a smile.

And if he couldn't?

"I wouldn't vote at all."

That's him talking about the NBA MVP.
It's always about him. One of the most self-centered guys I know.

MVP Race in NBA Still Too Close to Call - Yahoo! News

Thank You Harry Taylor.

2006-04-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

What a great speech.

Thank You Harry Taylor.

Here we go again, but with NUKES?!?

2006-04-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

The U.S. administration is stepping up plans for a possible air strike on Iran, despite publicly pushing for a diplomatic solution to a dispute over its nuclear ambitions, according to a report by influential investigative journalist Seymour Hersh.

The report also says the U.S. military is seriously considering the use of a tactical nuclear weapon against Iran to ensure the destruction of Iran's main centrifuge plant at Natanz. The Pentagon advisor is quoted as saying some senior officers and officials were considering quitting over the issue.

Wanna bet this stupid and insane idea will happen right before the November elections, for political reasons?
News One Article | Reuters.com

Let me pick my jaw from the ground.

2006-04-07T16:57:00.000-07:00

911 operators should be treating each and every call like it is an emergency, yet here is one that doesn't, telling a kid, whose mom had collapsed, that he shouldn't be playing on the phone.
Unfreakingbelievable.

Police Investigate Response to 911 Call - Yahoo! News

What a hypocrite!

2006-04-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

Bush was the one that authorized the leak about Joseph Wilson.

Will he fire himself now? Censure himself?

What a hypocrit!

Bush said to have cleared Iraq leak - Yahoo! News

Free security applications

2006-04-06T02:08:00.000-07:00

Was looking for a free anti virus scanner, and I came across this page, which lists a ton of them (AV's, firewalls, rootkit detection and removal, etc.)
Check it out if you don't have an anti virus scanner and firewall, both must haves in my opinion.

Free anti-virus software; Freebyte's Guide to

“In fact, the RIAA has been known to suggest that students drop out of college or go to community college in order to be able to afford settlements.”

2006-04-05T16:35:00.000-07:00

Yet another reason.

Run Over by the RIAA Don...t Tap the Glass - The Tech

Unfreakingbelievable.

2006-03-30T17:38:00.000-08:00

Wow. Let's just put them both in jail, together, for a very long time. Matter of fact, just throw away the key when they go to jail.

National Section - WFMY News 2: Police: Mom Let Son Be Abused For $600

Abramoff gets sentenced

2006-03-29T22:59:00.000-08:00

He got his sentence for five years and ten months. Along with three years of probation and twenty-one million dollar restitution. The prison time was the minimum allowed, and I think he got off pretty lenient.
He doesn't have to report for ninety days, so he can continue to help the prosecutors.
He also needs to be sentenced for three federal charges, where there is no date set for sentencing.

Abramoff gets 6 years for fraud - Yahoo! News

RNS memo

2006-03-29T06:09:00.000-08:00

Gotta love it :)

Memorandum
To: Ken Mehlman
From: Jan van Lohuizen
Date: March 3, 2006
Re: Bush -- Congressional Republicans

Per our conversation, we took another look at the way voters, Republicans specifically, link President Bush and Republicans in the House and the Senate. There are several points worth making:

1. President Bush continues to have the strong loyal support of Republican voters. Despite slippage in approval ratings among all voters, the President's job approval among Republicans continues to be very high. Most members will be elected with between 80% and 100% of their support coming from Republicans. I don't see that Republicans driving a wedge between themselves and the President is a good election strategy.

2. My read of the current environment is that our problem will be turnout. '06 could become an election like '82 or '84. In '82 Republicans showed up at relatively normal turnout rates, while Democrats, because they were angry, showed up at abnormally high turnout rates. In '94, Republican turnout was elevated, while Democratic turnout was depressed. We have every reason to believe '06 could become the inverse of '82. We don't see signs of a depressed Republican turnout yet, but we have every reason to believe Democrats will turn out in high numbers. Anything we do to depress turnout, by not running as a unified party for instance, could very well lead to serious consequences in November.

3. The President is seen universally as the face of the Republican Party. We are now brand W. Republicans. The following chart shows the extremely close correlation between the Presidentâ€™s image and overall ratings of the party.

President Bush drives our image and will do so until we have real national front-runners for the '08 nomination. Attacking the President is counter productive for all Republicans, not just the candidates launching the attacks. If he drops, we all drop.

Hotline On Call: RNC Memo Warns GOPers Not To Distance Themselves From Bush

MAD TV with Bush

2006-03-28T21:44:00.000-08:00

Pretty funny video on Crooks and Liars, check it out.

Windows Media Player
Quicktime

"a candidate in her own mind."

2006-03-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

A Republican challenger to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is bizarrely claiming that the former first lady has been spying in her bedroom window and flying helicopters over her house in the Hamptons, witnesses told The Post yesterday.

"Hillary Clinton is really worried about me, and is so worried, in fact, that she had helicopters flying over my house in Southampton today taking pictures," according to a prominent GOP activist who was at the event.

"She wasn't joking, she was very, very serious, and she also claimed that Clinton's people were taking pictures across the street from her house in Manhattan, taking pictures from an apartment across the street from her bedroom," added the eyewitness, who is not involved in the Senate race.

Yea, ssuurree she is.

New York Post Online Edition: news

How lame.

2006-03-25T16:30:00.000-08:00

The First Lady donated money to a hurricane-relief fund, which is in itself cool, but she had a stipulation. It had to be used to buy software from her son's company.
To me, that's pretty lame, and as Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy says, sets a bad precedent.

The Seattle Times: Nation & World: Barbara Bush made donation — provided her son's firm got it

Just another post to show that Bush is a liar.

2006-03-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

Bush: "First-just if I might correct a misperception, I don't think we ever said, at least I know I didn't say that there was a direct connection between September 11th and Saddam Hussein."

In days gone by-SOTU-three years ago:

Bush: "Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al-Qaeda."

What the White House doesn't want you to know.

2006-03-21T06:01:00.000-08:00

Global warming is happening, and before it's to late, we need to do something about it.
Just a fucking shame that BushCo is politicizing it, making all arguements from scientists, about global warming, weaker.

"In my more than three decades in the government I've never witnessed such restrictions on the ability of scientists to communicate with the public."

That's a quote from James Hansen, arguably the world's leading researcher on global warming.

Rewriting The Science - CBS News

An Amazon search result.

2006-03-21T02:05:00.000-08:00

If you were to type in abortion into their search engine, you would get results for abortion, but at the top, it would say "Did you mean adoption?"

Spokeswoman Patty Smith said the automated prompt was purely based on technology, and that no human had made the decision to show the question.

Amazon removed the question after receiving an email complaint about it.

Wired News:

Some people say (straw-man arguements)

2006-03-20T13:32:00.000-08:00

Bush routinely is criticized for dressing up events with a too-rosy glow. But experts in political speech say the straw man device, in which the president makes himself appear entirely reasonable by contrast to supposed "critics," is just as problematic.

Lame, and he needs to stop using it. Which of course I'm sure he will ..... not.

Bush Using Straw-Man Arguments in Speeches - Yahoo! News

Shaming companies.

2006-03-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

Now here's a good idea. Shaming companies that are advertising in software products.

The Center for Demoracy and Technology today released the names of nearly a dozen companies who are among the biggest customers of 180solutions, a Bellevue, Wash., adware maker whose storied history with unauthorized installations has been the subject of numerous Security Fix blog posts and other articles.

Help make it work, and spread the word.

Security Fix - Brian Krebs on Computer and Internet Security - (washingtonpost.com)

I want to trademark a word.

2006-03-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

An every day word, like super hero.
Yep, that word is trademarked by both Marvel and DC Comics. Never heard of that, so I wonder if it is enforceable. Personally, I think it slipped into the public domain, like thermos and aspirin.

NEWSARAMA - SUPER HERO HAPPY HOUR CHANGES NAME

Let's revoke a Constitutional Amendment.

2006-03-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

Because that's what Senators Mike DeWine, Olympia Snowe, Lindsey Graham, and Chuck Hagel are proposing to do, with a bill that they introduced Thursday.

I'll quote georgia10 from DailyKos

Yesterday, these four Senators introduced the "Terrorist Surveillance Act of 2006." The bill would legalize the President's crimes. It would allow this Congress to rubber-stamp the administration's violation of FISA and the Fourth Amendment by condoning warrantless spying. According to their ass-backwards approach to oversight, the President can continue to spy on Americans without a warrant for 45 days. After 45 days, the President has three choices:

1. "Stop" the spying: Because naturally, we can trust this government to cease and desist on demand, given its amazing track record of self-restraint;
2. Ask the FISA court for a court order: Because naturally, this President has shown great respect for the FISA court process and would dutifully follow Congressional directives when it comes to applying for a FISA order; or
3. Inform the Intelligence Sub-committee: Because, of course, the President has proven he can be trusted to follow the law and notify intelligence activities about warrantless spying.

The bill is co-sponsored by four so-called "moderates" in order to hide its radical and catastrophic nature. What these four extremists accomplish with their bill is to amend the Constitution unilaterally--without the consent of the states--by nullifying the Fourth Amendment. Warrant? Reasonable cause? Psssh. Remnants of a pre-9/11 world, my friends.

As Dorothy said, "I don't think we are in Kansas anymore."

Daily Kos: The Terrorist Surveillance Act of 2006

Astounding poll result.

2006-03-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

*Updated
Deleted the cut and paste I did of the poll, as it was extremely hard to read.

Basically, amongst voters, 48% approve of a censure of Bush, and 43% oppose it. Bush needs to pay some type of price for his illegal and unconstitutional wiretapping, and a censure would be one way to do so.

American Research Group

Incompetent.

2006-03-16T15:09:00.000-08:00

The single word most frequently associated with George W. Bush today is "incompetent,"and close behind are two other increasingly mentioned descriptors: "idiot" and "liar." All three are mentioned far more often today than a year ago.

Currently, 48% use a negative word to describe Bush compared with just 28% who use a positive term, and 10% who use neutral language.

Along with 33% approval ratings. Will it get any worse?

Summary of Findings: Bush Approval Falls to 33%, Congress Earns Rare Praise

Ambitious list.

2006-03-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

John in DC, a blogger at AMERICAblog, wants to compile a list of every idiotic thing that Bush has ever done. So, if you have the time, go add to the never-ending list.

AMERICAblog: Because a great nation deserves the truth

Knock on wood.

2006-03-15T23:24:00.000-08:00

Was reading a blog, Spyware Confidential just now, and I realized that alot of people may not know where to report something like this, and hopefully no one will, but just in case anyone has too, here is a link to report child porn. General information can be found at Missingkids.com and the Cyber Tipline

» The sickest thing I've ever seen | Spyware Confidential | ZDNet.com

Pat Robertson, at it again.

2006-03-15T13:28:00.000-08:00

He's called for the assassination of Venezuela's president.
He said that Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel, was struck down in divine retribution.
This time, he said that "Islam is not a religion of peace" and "the goal of Islam, ladies and gentlemen whether you like it or not, is world domination".
He also commented about a news item regarding the cartoons of Mohammed that was recently shown where Muslims were shown yelling, "May Allah bomb you! May Osama Bin Laden bomb you!". He replied to that, "just shows the kind of people we're dealing with. These people are crazed fanatics, and I want to say it now: I believe it's motivated by demonic power. It is satanic and it's time we recognize what we're dealing with".

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Top US evangelist targets Islam

A basketball story.

2006-03-15T00:12:00.000-08:00

Add Bush to people that have called on the autistic basketball manager after his great game, where he was put in near the end of a game.
He scored twenty points in about three minutes of play, missing his first two shots, then hitting six treys and a two-pointer.
Disney and Warner Brothers has already called, according to Jason McElwain's mother.
Always nice to hear a touching story.

wcbstv.com - Bush Visits Autistic Teen Hoops Star

Eavesdropping Bill

2006-03-13T02:09:00.000-08:00

Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) is sponsoring a bill with Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) that would solidify the administration's eavesdropping authority.
I don't think it's necessary to have this law. Just seems like they are wanting to cover-up the illegal and unconstitutional wiretapping by Bush, as well as any other (and strongly hinted at by Gonzalez) eavesdropping programs that may be going on now. There is also a law that makes it a crime if you give classified information to an unauthorized person. Instead of drafting this law, how about setting up some hearings on the illegal and unconstitutional wiretapping by Bush.

Reporters Exempt From Eavesdropping Bill

Have internet, find the CIA

2006-03-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

The Chicago Tribune posted a story on there website, and found all kinds of information about the CIA on the internet. Now, to me, that's just a huge security risk. Even if only 1% of the 2653 of the CIA employees were undercover, that is 26 people. Then there are the two dozen facilities that were discovered as well.

More at the link.

Chicago Tribune | Internet blows CIA cover

More Katrina mistakes.

2006-03-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

Can't blame Reid on this gaffe. There are 11, 000 (yes, eleven thousand!) mobile homes NOT being used for the Hurricane Katrina victims. FEMA stated they can't use them because federal prohibits them from placing them on flood plains. Bush could issue an executive order that could temporarily exempt FEMA from that.

CBS News | Reid 'Ashamed' Over Katrina Mobile Homes

Some facts about the Republican led Senate

2006-03-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

Turning a $124 billion surplus in 1999 into a $337 billion deficit;
Sending another 5.5 million people into poverty;
Adding an expensive prescription drug program to Medicare that few seniors can use or understand;
More than doubling the number of lawmakers' pet projects;
Sending unemployment up from 4.2 percent in 2001 to 4.9 percent now, up 17 percent.
Seeing numerous members involved in a corruption scandal that "will be bigger than any (government scandal) in the last 50 years," according to the former US House counsel.

Pathetic isn't it?
You can read more at the link.

Insecure and Unprepared: Bill Frist's Senate Majority - Senate Majority Project

A letter to read.

2006-03-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

Nothing I can add to it, as Joseph W. DuRocher does it elonquently.

Joseph DuRocher: Letter to President Bush [Candide's Notebooks]

No Diebold machines to be used in the 2006 election in Maryland

2006-03-11T01:48:00.000-08:00

Because they can't produce paper receipts, which every machine that is used in an electoral process should do in the USA, not just in Maryland.

Healey (a state delegate from Maryland) said the law would require that the machines provide a paper trail before the 2008 elections or Diebold would risk losing its contract with the state.

Maryland House votes to oust Diebold machines - Computerworld

Former Bush lawyer criticizes NSA wiretaps.

2006-03-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

A former senior national security lawyer at the Justice Department is highly critical of some of the Bush administration's key legal justifications for warrantless spying, saying that many of the government's arguments are weak and unlikely to be endorsed by the courts, according to documents released yesterday.

The lawyer, David S. Kris, also said that the Bush's interpretation of Congress's authorization of the use of force against al-Qaeda was "weak justification" that would be unlikely to be supported by the judicial system.

Ex-Justice Lawyer Rips Case for Spying

Billionaires list, by Forbes

2006-03-10T01:54:00.000-08:00

That time of the year again, and Forbes has there annual list out of billionaires.
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, tops it again, for the 12th year running. And there are 793 of them, up from 691 last year. Total worth: 2.6 trillion dollars. That's alot of money.
More at the link.

The World's Billionaires - Forbes.com

If Sen. Pat Roberts Made Speed Limit Signs

2006-03-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

LOL, great sign that he would make.
Check it out.

Think Progress » If Sen. Pat Roberts Made Speed Limit Signs

Geysers on a Saturn moon

2006-03-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

If true, would be huge news. The article says that water is not essential to life, but I tend to think differently.
Never knew this

"Other moons in the solar system have liquid water oceans covered by kilometers of icy crust," said Dr. Andrew Ingersoll of the California Institute of Technology. "What's different here is that pockets of liquid water may be more than tens of meters below the surface."

We'll learn more when the next phase of the Cassinni (a joint NASA-Europe Space Agency project) makes a 220 mile flyby of Enceladus.

ABC News: Probe Spots Signs of Water Geysers on Saturn Moon

Deceptive fund raising.

2006-03-09T00:24:00.000-08:00

What a lame way to try and get money. If you look at the envelopes, they do look formal, like something the US Government would send.
Then they have the audacity to ask for the survey back along with $11 to help cover the cost.

NRSC Fundraising Scheme Has Potential to Intimidate Elderly | BlueNC

Correction: No runoff

2006-03-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

Looks like there won't be a runoff, as I stated here, as Cuellar received more then 50% of the vote.

Biondi having second thoughts.

2006-03-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

Looks like Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi, from New Jersey, is having second thoughts about his proposed legislation that I mentioned here.
Apparently he has been receiving negative feedback from all over the country,

it is becoming apparent that the bill may be too broad in scope and in reality not enforceable.

You can read the entire email here.

Like I said, just a bad law.

LawGeek: Biondi rethinking mandatory online identification bill!

An Abramoff quote for the ages.

2006-03-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

This one is for all the lying Republicans who say otherwise.

"Any important Republican who comes out and says they didn't know me is almost certainly lying."

Untouchables

2006-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

KingOneEye on DailyKos posted this. Very nicely done picture if you ask me, and you can buy it, along with other ones.

Untouchables

"What are you benching, buff guy?"

2006-03-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

That's what Abramoff said Bush said to him.

Vanity Fair hasn't put it up on there site yet, but you can view the pdf here.

Here are some excerpts

President Bush, who claims not to remember having his picture taken with Abramoff. According to Abramoff, at one time, the president joked with Abramoff about his weight lifting past: "What are you benching, buff guy?"

"Most lobbyists meet with a committee chairman, staff, a few members. We'd meet with the whole leadership of the House and Senate, the entire committee on both sides, then create a roster of who might ideologically support the idea and get them in the war.... We'd get people firing constantly on the decision-makers. And we'd outwork everyone in the media.... Most Washington lobbyists are lazy, people of limits, people who move glacially slow. I felt my job was to go out there and save the world.... I thought it was immoral to take someone's money and not win for them. And we basically didn't lose."

here's what the lobbyist says about Sen. Conrad Burns: "Every appropriation we wanted [from Burns's committee] we got. Our staffs were as close as they could be. They practically used Signatures as their cafeteria. I mean, it's a little difficult for him to run from that record."

Hotline On Call: Abramoff On Bush

What liberal media?

2006-03-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

Media Matters did a study on Hardball, and came up with some interesting numbers. They labeled all the guests that appeared on the show as Democrat, Republican, conservative, progressive, or neutral (nonpartisan, centrist, or having no political orientation) for January and February of 2006.

Here is what Media Matters had to say:

The data reflected in these charts show that the number of Republican/conservative guests has been significantly higher than the number of Democratic/progressive guests. In January, Republicans/conservatives led Democrats/progressives 55 to 38 -- a difference of 59 percent to 41 percent. By February, that advantage had increased: Republican/conservatives outnumbered Democrats/progressives 55 to 34, or 62 percent to 38 percent.

They also did a study on the three of Sunday talk shows, ABC's This Week, CBS' Face the Nation, and NBC's Meet the Press, and came up with similiar results. You can read the summary here, and the detailed report here (pdf)

Like I said... what liberal media.

Media Matters - If It's Sunday, It's Conservative: An analysis of the Sunday talk show guests on ABC, CBS, and NBC, 1997 - 2005

They also

DeLay and a runoff.

2006-03-08T02:20:00.000-08:00

Looks like DeLay won the primary with 64% of the vote, where he will face Democrat challenger Nick Lampson.

As for the District 28 Democrat primary, with Cuellar, Rodriguez, and Morales, it looks like there will be a runoff between Cuellar and Rodriguez, though that is by a hair. A runoff occurs when no candidate receives 50%+1 of the vote, and Cuellar received 49% of the vote, with 245 of 276 precincts reporting at this time. Cuellar received 19,426 votes to Rodriguez's 17,536 votes (Morales had 2,627. Makes me wonder who did Morales pull more votes from.... Cuellar or Rodriguez?)

CNN.com - DeLay wins GOP primary - Mar 8, 2006

Telling the 'approved' story

2006-03-07T18:20:00.000-08:00

So sad, cause it's so true. Go read it.

Capitol Hill Blue - Telling the 'approved' story

Beyond disappointment.

2006-03-07T16:28:00.000-08:00

I am beyond disappointed. This is a travesty. They rejected a proposal to investigate BushCo's illegal and unconstitutional wiretapping

``This committee is basically under control of the White House,'' Rockefeller told reporters after the two-hour meeting today in Washington. ``It's an unprecedented bout of political pressure from the White House.''

Basically, they are making a subcommittee to create oversight (read rubberstamp) of BushCo's illegal and unconstitutional wiretapping.

Update:
According to the Contra Costa Times, four Republican Senators (Mike DeWine of Ohio, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Olympia Snowe of Maine) are circulating legislation that would restrict BushCo's ability to wiretap American citizens without court approval.

Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide

Texas Primary Election

2006-03-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

If you want to stay caught up with the results of the Texas Primary, here is a website that will keep you up to date.
Click here if you are specifically interested in the Morales/Rodriguez primary vote for District 28.

DeLay to spend election night with lobbyists

2006-03-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

Why is this not surprising, that DeLay spends election night at some fundraiser. Especially when he has been battered over it, and his close relationship to Abramoff.

Chron.com | DeLay to spend election night with lobbyists

Like free stuff?

2006-03-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

Seen this posted on grc.com's newsgroups. Just look for the picture on the right, where it says "valuable stuff". You will need a passport from Microsoft and to fill in the answers, and voila, there you go.

Mystery Solved

Clear March 29th on your calender.

2006-03-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

That's the day that Abramoff will be sentenced.

"We will name names. We will provide the public with evidence of what is going on out there," Lowell said. "It seems to me that is not in the interest of law enforcement." (Lowell is Abramoff's lawyer)

Government lawyers were arguing against it, citing it may jeopardize his cooperation in ongoing criminal investigations, but Huck the judge said, "I'm not persuaded we should treat Mr. Kidan and Mr. Abramoff any differently than anyone else,". So let's hope it doesn't hamper the investigation in any fashion.

Miami judge refuses to delay sentencing for lobbyist Abramoff

Bush has bad karma.

2006-03-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, it was because of the dogs, but of course you would say that too if you had Bush over for a visit.

Priests Purify Shrine After Bush Visit

Just a bad law

2006-03-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

Here we have a NJ Assemblyman, Peter J Biondi, who is introducing a bill that would require all ISP's and websites with comments/forums to demand user information of all posters.
Not only would this be a nightmare to keep up with for both ISP's and websites, but there is a reason why alot of people post anonymously. Some examples are (from Lawgeek)

gay teens in homophobic areas often go online to ask questions anonymously about their sexual identity; sexual assault victims often seek support and recovery resources anonymously online; and patients interested in controversial procedures like abortion often need anonymity to seek medical information safely.

Another reason is we would lose our privacy. Google, Yahoo, and the other search engines would have us in there search engine results, and easily accessible by anyone and everyone. This would be the start of Big Brother watching over all of us.

Like I said, just overall a very bad law, however well-intentioned.

New Jersey Assemblyman introduced bill to force online identification

Reading the fine print (of EULAs)

2006-03-06T01:53:00.000-08:00

Like most people, I just click yes to most EULAs, though sometimes I do read some of it (I know, I should always read them).
This one by Vonage seems to be taking things to the extreme, and I am not so sure the first or the second one they mention is entirely legal.
The first one is mandatory arbitration (and no jury trial).
The second one is no class action suits... you agree not to join any or bring any up.
The third and last one, is that Vonage will begin charging 911 related fees beginning on or about March 5, 2006.

Read the fine print: three things you didn't know about your Vonage contract

$400m for WHAT!?

2006-03-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

$400 million to build detention centers in USA, built by a subsidiary of BushCo's favorite company, Halliburton (called KBR, formerly Brown and Root).

This is more then four times the amount (they were provided $90m) requested for the previous year in 2006.
This is a part of a Homeland Security plan entitled ENDGAME (pdf file) that expands "a mission first articulated in the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798." Its goal is the capability to "remove all removable aliens," including "illegal economic migrants, aliens who have committed criminal acts, asylum-seekers (required to be retained by law) or potential terrorists."
$400 million dollars! Supposedly to house illegal immigrants.

Also,

Significantly, both the KBR contract and the ENDGAME plan are open-ended. The contract calls for a response to "an emergency influx of immigrants, or to support the rapid development of new programs" in the event of other emergencies, such as "a natural disaster." "New programs" is of course a term with no precise limitation. So, in the current administration, is ENDGAME's goal of removing "potential terrorists."

Pressed for time at the moment, you can read more at the link provided.

10-Year U.S. Strategic Plan For Detention Camps Revives Proposals From Oliver North

Only the deeply religious and brutally sodomized virgins can have an abortion

2006-03-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

BILL NAPOLI: A real-life description to me would be a rape victim, brutally raped, savaged. The girl was a virgin. She was religious. She planned on saving her virginity until she was married. She was brutalized and raped, sodomized as bad as you can possibly make it, and is impregnated. I mean, that girl could be so messed up, physically and psychologically, that carrying that child could very well threaten her life.

He must be a control freak at home with his wife. Having to jump through hoops just to get an abortion. It is the woman's body, let her decide if she wants to keep it or not. Which is pretty hard to do as it is now, in South Dakota. There is only one abortion clinic in South Dakota, at Sioux Falls. And then you have to wait 24 hours for there waiting period, and you have to go through mandatory counseling. And if you happen to be a minor, your parents have to be notified.

South Dakota Bans Most Types Of Abortion

Wampum: 2005 Koufax Awards -- The Polls Are Open

2006-03-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

Here is your chance to vote who you think are the best bloggers (left-leaning). So vote, and have your friends vote.

Wampum: 2005 Koufax Awards -- The Polls Are Open

UK, US to withdraw Iraq forces by early '07

2006-03-05T02:28:00.000-08:00

Would love to see this confirmed by BushCo (and hear his spin of things).
One thing that surprises me, is that it isn't before the elections, as I would not put it past the Republicans to politicize it, and reap any rewards for withdrawing our troops from Iraq (like at the ballot).

The Sunday Telegraph said the planned pull-out followed an acceptance by the two governments that the presence of foreign troops in Iraq was now a large obstacle to securing peace.

Wasn't this what Murtha said?

Just glad, once it is confirmed, that there is an end.

UK, US to withdraw Iraq forces by early '07

Tillman probe now criminal

2006-03-05T02:09:00.000-08:00

Why not just tell the truth the first time out.
Apparently, this is not the end of the story, of Pat Tillman, who was famous for not taking a multi-million dollar contract with the NFL, and instead opted to join the US Army Rangers. He ended up being killed in Afghanistan, and it wasn't revealed til about 5 weeks later that he was killed by friendly fire.
Needless to say, his parents are pissed, and I would be too. Why is it now being considered something other then a case of friendly fire, almost a year since he was killed.

Tillman probe now criminal

Bill Frist threatens to re-structure the Intelligence Committee in order to block NSA hearings

2006-03-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

In a very well piece, Glenn Greenwald explains how Frist is threatening to restructure the Intelligence Committee that wants to hold hearings on the NSA warrantless taps. Frist thinks that there is to much partismanship in the Committee, and wants to make it like other committees (majority gets more seats, minority gets less, where as now on the Intelligence Committee, they both share equal number of seats).
This is all to rubberstamp any actions to cover up for BushCo illegal and unconstitutional wiretaps.
Just let them do there jobs on the Committee!

Bill Frist threatens to re-structure the Intelligence Committee in order to block NSA hearings

Careful of paying your bills.

2006-03-04T02:29:00.000-08:00

Apparently, if you overpay your credit card by a certain percentage, you will get flagged, and the Department of Homeland Security, and until the threat alert is lifted, nothing happens.
Slowly, our rights are being eroded. It's not just BushCo, I'm sure it has happened with both Republicans and Democrats, over the course of time, it happened. And once we lose a right, it seldom comes back, that's why it is so important to protect our rights.

Careful of paying your bills.

Pentagon Prepares to Release Gitmo Names

2006-03-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

After four years, it's about time. Though it doesn't go far enough.

Some current and former Guantanamo detainees remain unidentified, and will even after the release of the documents Friday. An unknown number of the named prisoners have been freed or transferred to custody elsewhere.

What is it with BushCo and Guantanamo Bay. Just because it's not in America, doesn't mean American laws don't apply there. What if a CIA agent decided to kill a fellow CIA agent in Guantanamo Bay, the way it is now, he could get away with it.... assuming it is told to the murdered person's family truthfully.

Pentagon Prepares to Release Gitmo Names

DOJ Investigating Digital Music Prices

2006-03-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

Not the first time they have been investigated, though as far as I know, this is the first time for digital music. There needs to be a serious effort to investigate the record labels. Between the payola and price fixing, you would get the impression that the record labels are using illegal methods to keep the prices high, as they have a history of being charged with price fixing and other illegal activities.

DOJ Investigating Digital Music Prices

Senator Wyden describes his 'net neutrality' bill

2006-03-03T02:17:00.000-08:00

Seems like a good bill (I support net-neutrality), and this would do alot towards that. Let's just hope it passes, and becomes law.

Senator Wyden describes his 'net neutrality' bill

U.S. Cites Exception in Torture Ban

2006-03-03T01:53:00.000-08:00

Wow.

America used to stand for Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.
Now, it seems like we are the Land of the Torture, and Home to the Spies.
The McCain amendment banned torture. This is the same amendment that Bush issued a "signing statement", which basically means if necessary, he can bypass it to protect national security.
But according to the article, the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, removes general access to U.S. courts for all Guantanamo Bay captives. Which means that if there is proof that there is torture at Guatanamo Bay in Cuba (and they are breaking the law), there isn't a damn thing anyone can do.

And he (somehow, and supposedly) got the majority vote in 2004.

U.S. Cites Exception in Torture Ban

Alito Sent Focus On The Family Founder Thank-You Note

2006-03-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

How lame and predictable of him.

Republicans are screaming that judges nowadays are pursuing an agenda from the bench. Where are you now, Republicans!?
Hypocrites!

Alito Sent Focus On The Family Founder Thank-You Note

Hurricane impact - Bush ‘warned day before Katrina struck’

2006-03-01T19:19:00.000-08:00

This is criminal. Over a thousand people died, and hundreds of thousands more lost there homes.
And BushCo knew about this before, contradicting what he said before, that he didn't know the levees were breached.
That makes him a liar.
A LIAR!

Updated:

Crooks and Liars has a video of it here

Hurricane impact - Bush ‘warned day before Katrina struck’

Our Open Letter to AOL

2006-03-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

AOL (and Yahoo) are wanting to charge for email, by allowing emails to get past the filters they have set up, thus ensuring the emails get delivered.
However, AOL would not have any incentive to keep there spam filters up to date if they implement this plan.
But the economic incentives point the other way: The moment AOL switches to a two-tiered Internet where giant emailers pay for preferential service, AOL will face a simple business choice: spend money to keep regular spam filters up-to-date, or make money by neglecting their spam filters and pushing more senders to pay for guaranteed delivery. Poor delivery of mail turns from being a problem that AOL has every incentive to fix to something that could actually make them money if the company ignores it.
Please consider signing this petition that they have made (also signed by more then 50 organizations, like AFL-CIO, O'Reilly Media, Humane Society of the United States)

Our Open Letter to AOL

House Republicans could see 10 to 15 more retirements

2006-03-01T13:26:00.000-08:00

‘Please stay, please stay, please stay.’ According to the news story, thats what the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, New York Rep. Tom Reynolds is saying to Republicans on not retiring.
Just hope we can win either (or better yet, both!) the Senate or House this year, to counter the corrupt and incompetent Neocons and BushCo.
Its looking good for Democrats this election cycle, but we still need to fight them with tooth and nail for all possible gains, and not to let up in any form. If anything, we need to go after the Republicans more, just seems like we are not united in some of the more important messages (Iraq for one) that we should be.

House Republicans could see 10 to 15 more retirements:

Some great places to live at

2006-03-01T01:10:00.000-08:00

Who would have named a street Psycho Path (in Traverse City, MI) or Farfrompoopen Road (in TN).

Psycho Path voted wackiest street name

The Minnesota GOP’s Stealth Attack On Privacy

2006-02-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

Incredible.
If this affected me, I would be up in arms.
Fishing for answers to controversial questions, and then reporting them back to the Minnesota GOP, without notifying the person at all (nor in there EULA). Nor do the Minnesota GOP have a privacy policy.

» The Minnesota GOP’s Stealth Attack On Privacy

Check out your deep ancestry.

2006-02-28T02:27:00.000-08:00

This is not a genealogy test and you won't learn about your great grandparents. You will learn, however, of your deep ancestry, the ancient genetic journeys and physical travels of your distant relatives.

Looks interesting, and would be cool to see the physical travels (I have always been interested in my genealogy) of my ancestors.

How to Participate - The Genographic Project

Ports Argument and Iraq Hurt Bush in a New Survey

2006-02-28T02:07:00.000-08:00

34% of the people polled, approve of the way Bush is handling the job. Pretty lousy ratings if you ask me, and the lowest of his presidency. Expect them to get lower if he continues to push for the port deal for Dubai Ports World.

Updated:
Was checking out DailyKos, and apparently Cheney's numbers are way lower, like ogre level ratings (18% approval). Full poll results here (pdf file). Haven't had a chance to check it out yet.

Ports Argument and Iraq Hurt Bush in a New Survey

High Court to Rule on DeLay Redistricting

2006-02-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

Use Bugmenot if you don't have a subscription to the LA Times to get in.

Finally the Supreme Court will rule on the obvious and blatant disregard of the law, when the Republicans redistricted Texas in 2003, in a non-Census year (which is when they can do it), so the delegation to the House would go from 21-11 Democrat advantage, to a 17-15 Republican advantage.

High Court to Rule on DeLay Redistricting

Website of the Day

2006-02-27T13:32:00.000-08:00

gethuman - changing the face of customer service

This is for my girlfriend.

2006-02-27T02:34:00.000-08:00

Pathetic isn't it.

2006-02-26T14:35:00.000-08:00

My blog is worth $564.54.
How much is your blog worth?

Ah well.

Big Oil fan after little manonzalez

2006-02-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

Er, what the hell.

Here is a Representative from Congress (Republican of course), that is launching an investigation into Citgo, for possible antitrust violations. You say "About time!", but continue reading to learn why this is beyond outrageous.

Citgo is offering cheaper oil for poor Americans, by discounting oil by as much as 60% in the Northeast.

According to the news article, it is very embarrasing to the big oil companies that have earned record-setting profits, like ExxonMobil which earned more then 36 billion dollars. Yes, that's billion.

Oh, and it is owned by the Venezuelan government, which is run by Hugo Chavez.

Big Oil fan after little man

Kristol: “We Have Not Had A Serious Three-Year Effort To Fight A War In Iraq”

2006-02-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

It's all about the oil over in Iraq, nothing less.

As for Bill Kristol's comment, is he saying that the neocon's strategy isn't working? Seems like it to me. Also seems like he is pinning most, if not all, of the blame on Rumsfield.

Kristol: “We Have Not Had A Serious Three-Year Effort To Fight A War In Iraq”

TIA Lives On

2006-02-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

This is the same program that Congress didn't like, and provided no funding so they couldn't continue there work (and were told to stop) and that was run by retired Navy Vice Adm. John Poindexter. Yes, that Pointdexter that played a central role in the Iran-Contra scandal.
Yet here they are, continuing there work, under a new name presumably to conceal there work.
No means no.

TIA Lives On

UAE terminal takeover extends to 21 ports

2006-02-25T02:29:00.000-08:00

21?! That's way more then 6. Which was bad enough, but 21?!
And then there is the 45 day review, which wasn't done. Of course, BushCo has a reason.
But Bush administration officials said Thursday that review is only triggered if a Cabinet official expresses a national security concern during an interagency review of a proposed takeover.
And last but not least, if they do get to take over port terminal operations, the
The Marine Transportation Security Act of 2002 requires vessels and port facilities to conduct vulnerability assessments and develop security plans including passenger, vehicle and baggage screening procedures; security patrols; establishing restricted areas; personnel identification procedures; access control measures; and/or installation of surveillance equipment.
Under the same law, port facility operators may have access to Coast Guard security incident response plans -- that is, they would know how the Coast Guard plans to counter and respond to terrorist attacks.

Just something bad waiting to happen.

UAE terminal takeover extends to 21 ports

Lawmaker's proposal: Bar Republicans from adopting

2006-02-24T13:06:00.000-08:00

Oh this is classic.

Basically a lawmaker in Ohio wants to bar Republicans from adopting kids cause "credible research" shows that adopted children raised in Republican households are more at risk for developing "emotional problems, social stigmas, inflated egos, and alarming lack of tolerance for others they deem different than themselves and an air of overconfidence to mask their insecurities.
Of course he is just joking, but he is trying to prove a point about a recent bill sponsored by conservative Republicans that would prohibit gays from adopting kids.

Lawmaker's proposal: Bar Republicans from adopting

Russert is a liar.

2006-02-24T12:31:00.000-08:00

What a liar. Republicans were the ones that blocked all the Democrats efforts to spend more money on port security.

For example,
Schumer's amendment to the 2004 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill to provide $70 million for research and development to stop nuclear materials from entering U.S. ports was defeated by a 51-45 near-party-line vote.
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) introduced an amendment to the same bill that would have provided $100 million in port and maritime security grants. The Republican Senate rejected Byrd's measure by a near party-line vote of 51-45.
Republicans also defeated former Sen. Ernest Hollings's (D-SC) amendment to the 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which would have provided $300 million in maritime security grants, by a 50-48 largely party-line vote.
In addition, for the 2003 War Supplemental Appropriations bill, Hollings's amendment to increase port security funding by $1 billion was defeated by a 52-47 vote largely along party lines.
More at the link, and how to contact NBC if you want to let them know how you feel about this.

And Republicans say they are the party of choice for national security. Yea right. More like they want another terroist attack on USA. It's almost criminal the way they are inhibiting security being done or that needs to be done.

Russert suggested Democrats exploiting port deal for national security credibility; overlooked Democratic track record on bolstering port security

Yahoo exec: Labels should sell music without DRM

2006-02-24T02:23:00.000-08:00

I so agree with this.

If I buy the CD, I should be able to transfer it to my MP3 player, leave a CD in my car, have a backup, etc. But no, the recording industry thinks we shouldn't be able to do that. They think we should spend money for the song(s) for the MP3 player, then some more money for the CD we want to keep at home, and if you lose or scratch the original CD, well, just go buy a new one. Greedy bastards.

Would also solve the problem about all these different DRM's, like Microsoft's and Apple's, and the problems about incompatibility between all the MP3 players and different formats of music.

Just promotes pirating of music if you ask me.

Yahoo exec: Labels should sell music without DRM

Neocon architect says: 'Pull it down'

2006-02-23T13:06:00.000-08:00

Pretty sad when one of the main architects says neoconservatism is not working.

As he says towards the end, democracy has to come from within, and be wanted by the people. We can't force it down there throat.

Now, if we can get BushCo to listen.

Neocon architect says: 'Pull it down'

Have a chuckle on the Republicans

2006-02-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

Stolen from here

Entries from the Republican-English Dictionary
by Mark Kleiman
Category: Lying in politics

*Cheney, Dick/ n./* The greater of two evils.

**compassionate conservatism/ n./* Poignant concern for the very wealthy

*creation science/ n./* Pseudoscience that claims George W. Bush's resemblance to a chimpanzee is totally coincidental

*DeLay, Tom/ n./* Past tense of De Lie

*extraordinary rendition/ n./* Outsourcing torture

*God/ n./* Senior presidential adviser

*growth/ n./*
1. The justification for tax cuts for the rich.
2. What happens to the national debt when policy is made according to Definition 1.

*House of Representatives/ n./* Exclusive club; entry fee $1 million to
$5 million (See Senate)

*in the national interest /adj. phr./*
1. Conducive to the election of Republicans.
2. Beneficial to Republican contributors.

*ownership society/ n./*
1. A civilization where 1 percent of the population controls 90 percent of the wealth
2. A political system in which all power is in the hands of the owners

*Patriot Act/ n./*
1. Pre-emptive strike on American freedoms to prevent the terrorists from destroying them first
2. The elimination of one of the reasons why they hate us

*pro-life/ adj./* Valuing human life up until birth

*Senate/ n./* Exclusive club; entry fee $10 million to $30 million

*simplify/ vt./* To reduce, especially to cut the taxes of Republican donors

Microsoft looks for 'protection' money

2006-02-22T17:38:00.000-08:00

Gotta agree with what they are saying in that story.
"'Wait a minute--Microsoft's software is causing the problem, and now they want me to pay extra to fix the problem?'" Pescatore said about Microsoft's OneCare antivirus service and Microsoft Client Protection software.
The way I see it, is why should I have to spend extra for a monopoly to secure there software, assuming it even works as intended, and not be bug-ridden like there OS is.
And of course most people will just pay the money, and be done with that, and allow Microsoft to get richer, cause of course there software will be the first one to pop up when you first turn on a PC.

Microsoft looks for 'protection' money

Information Is Power

2006-02-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

Why oh why does BushCo have a reason to do this? Seriously, why would they want to make birth and death certificates inaccessible for 70-100 years. This is clearly infringing on states rights, and serves no purpose.

Information Is Power

Sicko Marriage Contract One For The Ages

2006-02-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

Wow. Just wow.
That is one true control freak.

Just read it.

Wow.

Sicko Marriage Contract One For The Ages

Thousands of US troops to join landslide rescue as buried school is located

2006-02-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

This is what we should be doing, instead of invading nations under false pretenses. We also donated $100k of disater equipment. Some of the other nations that have contributed and/or helping are: China, Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Hopefully they will be able to find survivors. If you wish to donate, here is a link to the Canadian Red Cross. Did a quick search, and that's the only one I could find. If anyone happens to know any other ones, please list them.

Thousands of US troops to join landslide rescue as buried school is located

Tired as hell

2006-02-19T14:54:00.000-08:00

Really tired right now. Haven't been sleeping well for a while now. Not sure why, I think it has been happening since before I moved.
Could be the new bed I bought, or maybe cause I eat before I go to bed (I go to bed about an hour after I get home from work), or a combination of both, or something entirely different.
I have a Timex T300B alarm, which is pretty cool, that it allows you to go to sleep to the sounds of nature or music, and wake you up to the same, or a buzzer. Anyways, I use it to help me to go to sleep to the sounds of nature, but have it turn off after 90 minutes. Will set it so it plays all night, so I can see if that helps me sleep at night. Anything to help me sleep better at night.

1984

2006-02-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

Been seeing references to 1984 alot lately, with stories like this one in Houston, where the Chief of Police wanted to place surveillance cameras in apartment buildings and private homes, or BushCo's decision to do unconstitutional widespread wire-tapping.
So I placed an order for one, so I can read it. Shameful, I am a huge advocate of privacy, and haven't read it. Or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and I love science-fiction. At least I own that book, one of the very few books I brought with me, when I moved. I'm sure there are other books that are considered must reads, but none that I can think of at the moment.

Bread ties and milk rings.

2006-02-18T01:36:00.000-08:00

I have two cats, H and L, and I love them, and am glad I took them with me, when I moved to be closer to my girlfriend.

I live in a small place, and when I first moved here, I felt really bad for my cats, cause I thought they were bored. Still feel that way some, especially for H. But not L, not anymore. Instead of spending money on him for toys toys, I'm just going to let him play with a bread tie from now on.

On second thought, after looking for a picture of a bread tie and coming across this on Yahoo, I may just let him play with a milk ring so he doesn't poke his eye, or try to eat it. Coincidently, I just bought a gallon of milk today, and I just gave it to him, and of course to throw me off balance, H plays with it first. Go figure. L did play with it after H was done, and had a ball, so now I just need to find the two bread ties I gave him.

Two years probation for laser prank on US jet

2006-02-18T01:13:00.000-08:00

You know, there are some things in life you just don't do.

Blaming your seven year old daughter for anything that you did, like shining a laser pointer at an airline pilot is one of them. Yet, this guy did it.

Man, that just galls me. What kind of person would do that. Wonder what his wife had to say about that, or his daughter. Hell, if that was me and if I had a daughter, I don't think I would be able to face her.

Two years probation for laser prank on US jet

Chinese dinner.

2006-02-18T00:41:00.000-08:00

How do you spell 40? Do you spell it fourty, or forty? That was the question my girlfriend asked me today, and I said, fourty. I was 100% sure that's how you spelled it, and I bet her on it.

And I lost. I was so floored, cause I thought for sure that's how you spelled it, and I was wrong. Keep on trying to think how I spell it out when I write it, like on a check, and I am just drawing a blank. Not sure I have an old duplicate check somewhere, so I can look.

So, now I owe her a Chinese dinner.

Microsoft woos search users with prizes

2006-02-17T02:29:00.000-08:00

Guess I will be using MSN search now. Would love to win something... and I just checked out there prizes. Some are lame, but others aren't to bad.

Wonder if I can use search bar in Firefox (assuming someone makes one, that originates from MSNSearchandWin.com

Microsoft woos search users with prizes

PostSecret

2006-02-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

Discovered this a few days ago (added it to my Bloglines), I like it. It's interesting, yet sad in a way.

PostSecret

Iran Renames Danish Pastries

2006-02-16T14:38:00.000-08:00

The new "freedom fries". Pretty lame if you ask me (both freedom fries and Roses of the Prophet Muhammad)

How about some Thai Fried Chicken, or have some Madagascarian Cheese if Kentucky or Switzerland pisses someone off.

Iran Renames Danish Pastries - Yahoo! News

RIAA Says Ripping CDs to Your iPod is NOT Fair Use

2006-02-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

I ever mention the fact that I hate RIAA? Oh, I do, with a passion.

They are starting to sound like a politician now.... they stated to the Supreme Court during the MGM v. Grokster hearings (which was wrongly ruled, in my opinion) "The record companies, my clients, have said, for some time now, and it's been on their website for some time now, that it's perfectly lawful to take a CD that you've purchased, upload it onto your computer, put it onto your iPod." and "Similarly, creating a back-up copy of a music CD is not a non-infringing use...."

And yet, here they are, filing a motion (pdf file), saying this to contradict themselves "Nor does the fact that permission to make a copy in particular circumstances is often or even routinely granted, necessarily establish that the copying is a fair use when the copyright owner withholds that authorization. In this regard, the statement attributed to counsel for copyright owners in the MGM v. Grokster case is simply a statement about authorization, not about fair use."

Bastards! Greedy ones at that... we should be able to make back ups (legally!) for any media we may own. Just because it may be affordable, does NOT mean we want to spend money on it twice!

EFF: DeepLinks