When the Sky is Full of 0’s and 1’s
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CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State :: Plan calls for pricier parking along busy streets

Mixed feelings about this one. First off, when did my hood (edgewater) become as trendy as logan square or hyde park. Second, they do mention that money from the meters would go toward better designated crosswalks and bike lanes. I am all about the bike lanes. My concern is that with meters rates increasing ppl will just park in the neighborhood streets, making it harder to find street parking near our apartment.

ugh…

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Politics :: City loses voters’ vital information

Good article to read, and found in the suntimes no less (the better of the 2 papers in my opinion). There is a mention of the following web site re4m.org where you can request more information. That 43rd Alderman candidate sounds like someone really ontop of internet and e-voting security.

that I did not hear, but I have read read a lot about.

So with that muddling around my head I composed this Human-Animal Hybrid. Enjoy

(Permission to forward and reprint granted, with link to http://www.blackboxvoting.org)

You might be the one to help us crack this case.

At issue: A YES-NO question: Do Diebold touch-screens have a problem similar to that
identified in the Black Box Voting project in Leon County, Florida — the devastating hack
of the Diebold optical scan system. Just a YES-NO question.

Black Box Voting has now obtained certain NEW specific information indicating that
the answer with the touch-screens will be �YES.� One of our researchers has identified
an interpreter, which appears to be specifically prohibited by 2002 FEC standards, inside
a Diebold touchscreen system.

What is needed now is to confirm this finding with a “pedigreed” Diebold touch-screen
system � ie., one to which we are given legitimate access with one of our publicly known
experts. We will have to show that what our protected source has found is also present in
a system delivered by Diebold for use in actual elections. This cannot be a stolen system,
a specially souped-up system (i.e. one that Diebold chooses), or a system used without
authorization of its custodians.

Please immediately make contact with those you know to see if you can facilitate a quick
YES-NO examination of an official Diebold touch-screen voting system anywhere in the
United States or Canada. We know what we’re looking for. We know where it is. We
simply need to confirm that it is ALSO in one of the systems delivered to public officials.

Note that in July, Diebold sent �threat� letters to its customers, warning them not to allow
examination of their systems. However, in December Black Box Voting was shown to be
correct when we alleged that there was executable code and an interpreter in the optical
scan machines/memory cards. Diebold lied, under oath and in writing, to secretaries of state
and purchasing officials about this. Now, the entire Diebold product line has been called
into question, and we believe our findings will soon spill over into other vendors’ products
as well.

Following our demonstration in Leon County, Florida, California refused to certify Diebold.
Pennsylvania has now refused to certify Diebold. Diebold has now been dropped from
counties in Florida and Missouri. Diebold has refused to give its source code to North Carolina,
most likely due to the NC requirement that allows POLITICAL PARTIES to examine the source
code, which would risk revealing the problems exposed by the Black Box Voting projects
conducted with Harri Hursti and others.

If you may be able to help with this project, please call Bev at (206) 335-7747 or Kathleen at
206-354-5723 or the main office at (425) 793-1030 or send to bev@blackboxvoting.org.
Telephone or send an overnight letter (sent by Fed X but not U.S. Post Office, to 330 SW 43rd
St Suite K PMB 547 Renton WA 98055) The contents of our e-mail was penetrated by an
outsider in late November in connection with confidential plans for upcoming testing,
so we do not recommend that you contact us by e-mail for this particular endeavor.

The sooner the better. It is important to roll back use of ANY MACHINES WITH PROHIBITED
CODE well in advance of the 2006 elections, in order to allow local jurisdictions to make
other plans.

Chicago Tribune | Air Marshal Kills Passenger, Citing Threat

WTF…no.no.no WHAT THE FUCK!

So now we let police shoot first and ask questions later. I thought this was innocent until PROVEN guilty. According to the story, even after the shooting, the man is already dead, husband of 20 years, they found NO BOMBS ON THE PLANE! This has gone way to far to the other side. We are getting way to parinoid and need to take a step back and rethink these things. All these marshalls couldnt catch up to the guy and pin him down. Where they too scared of getting blown up themselves. Well here is news for you, your line of work is dangerous. TO SERVE AND PROTECT. You dont get to choose who to serve and who to not. Couple this incident witht the one in England and things start to get really scary. Officers of this caliber are very well trained markmen. They know where to shoot a person where it will only wound them and where it will kill them. If they have to resort to shooting they should attempt to wound so that a fair trial and investigation can take place. Isn’t is what our fore fathers wanted.

Chicago Tribune | Where you can, can’t smoke

What a deal. NOT. Most of the things on this list you couldnt smoke at any way. Come on. When was the last time you could smoke in a movie theather, or a public elevator. I was hoping for a ban on smoking in bars and restraunts, where the most damage is done to employee’s and non-smoking patrons. I went to San Fran a few years ago and saw The Delgados play at a club called Bimbo’s. We walked in, watched the opener and a few songs in I turn to Kirstie and ask “Does something seem missing to you” and we both went “Doh” San Fran is no smoking. Double bonus is that inbetween bands all the smokers (and there were lots of them) rushed out side, giving up their choice spots on the floor. So you could go and see a show, get a spot on the floor where you like, and leave the night not smelling like smoke, or having your eyes tear over from the thick haze. But, you say, the deal says that restraunts and bars have until 2008 then they will be no smoking too. Not really.

* Bars, taverns and other public areas or workplaces that install air purification devices that ensure the same air quality inside as outside can seek an exemption from the smoking ban.

We have all seen those things. They could never clean out all the air in, for example, The Empty Bottle and make it like the air outside. This is just a great loop hole for restraunt and bar owns to use in the future.
This is a great step, but on a very long journey. We must not give up the fight for clean air in all public spaces.

HomeFromIraqNow.org
So I got an email from the TurnYourBackOnBush people today informing me of this. Its a movement to get an initative placed on the ballot in Ma so that the govenor can refuse to send national gaurd to Iraq. If they are succsessful then they will try to do this in the other 23 states that allow such initiatives.
qoute from the email:

Keeping the National Guard at home where we need them The goal of this campaign is to place a binding initiative on the Massachusetts ballot to prevent the Governor from sending any more National Guard troops to Iraq. A yes vote on this initiative will not only stop future deployments of the National Guard to Iraq, but will also send a very strong message to our elected leaders that we want them to end the war and bring all of our troops home.

So if you live in and/or near Massachusetts try and help by collecting signatures.