September 30, 2004

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: The Runaway Prosecutor

Safire argues against the prosecutorial campaign to ferret out reporters' sources when laws have been broken. This is a touchy subject involving First and Fifth Amendment rights, but journalists and their sources have no rights to break a valid law or impede legitimate law enforcement.

September 29, 2004

Argus Leader - Local News Don Hewitt, Founder of 60 Minutes

"That was the night that politicians looked at us in television and said, 'Those guys are the only way to run for office.' And we looked at them and said, 'Those guys are a bottomless pit of advertising dollars,' " Hewitt said. "I think the marriage of television and politics ushered in the age of big-money campaigning, and I think we're all the poorer for it."

From Don Hewitt reflecting on the first presidential TV debate. His perspectives in this interview are interesting. He sees the demise coming of the broadcast TV news anchor. I agree their days are numbered in the face of 7/24 cable news channels.

Yahoo! News - Federal Scientists Search for Lost H-Bomb

I never realized we had lost 11 nukes. If we know we've lost 11 and roughly where they are, I wonder is Russia and other countries with nuclear weapons know where all there's are?

Yahoo! News - Jackson Joins Kerry Campaign As Adviser

The extortioner and rabble rouser has linked arms with Kerry. The reverend is a sad excuse for a leader...in the same category as charlatan Al Sharpton.

Arcanus Maximus: Great article by David Brooks

David Brooks' Sunday NYTimes article of August 29, 2004 is shown here. It's a must-read for thinking about our future. I would emphasize some points more than others, but he's covered all the major bases. An excellent read.

Yahoo! News - Fox News beats all rivals

"For the first time in its history, Fox News Channel beat the combined competition in primetime during the third quarter of 2004, with major headlines of the summer including the national political conventions and a brutal string of hurricanes.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News averaged 1.8 million viewers, while CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and Headline News averaged a combined total of 1.7 million. The quarter ended Sunday."

An incredible success story as far as number of viewers and ratings is concerned. The 'media elite' in this country will find much to criticize here, I'm sure. The Fox News format makes it the viewer's chore to sort news from opinion. Some would argue that this is not the way to do news, but given the flameout of CBS news over the forged documents underlying its Bush National Guard service story, traditional mainstream video news is taking a severe beating.

DHS | Department of Homeland Security | Fact Sheet: US-VISIT

This face and finger scan biometric system may offer some improvement in security at our borders, but combating illegal immigration is the tougher nut to crack.

September 28, 2004

BFP Editorial on Vermont's Auditor of Accounts

Elizabeth Ready is apparently dishonest in having claimed educational credentials that she does not have. Not once, but repetitively, in various state directories she has misrepresented her education. This dishonesty follows another episode a couple of years ago when she used state billing for personal cell phone calls. Given two situations where the facts are clear, she again offers excuses that her personal life was so busy she overlooked these details. Nonsense! I think she's a phony, untrustworthy and unfit for State Auditor.

Nevertheless, today's Burlington Free Press editorial (note: this link is not permanent because the BFP does not archive news and editorial content online indefinitely) gives her a pass by not condemning her actions in the face of straightforward evidence. The editorial merely states the facts, a reporter's job, but does not opine against Ready's dishonesty. Instead, the editorial states that the electorate should decide in November. That we will, but this stance shows lack of backbone at the Free Press! Is this because the Freep's new editorial writer, a former aide to Governor Howard Dean and more recently his campaign for President, is a Democratic operative who can't bring herself to chastise Ready, a fellow Democrat?? Does the Freep think it's too soon to endorse Brock by opposing Ready?

Randy Brock, a highly qualified, experienced candidate with a BA from Middlebury and an MA from Yale should be elected Auditor in November.

The New York Times > Washington > Reporters Put Under Scrutiny in C.I.A. Leak

"A reporter for The Times, M. A. Farber, spent 40 days in jail in 1978 rather than name a source. 'You ought not go back to a source from whom you have obtained confidential information and ask to be absolved of your obligation,' Mr. Farber said. 'The reporter always has the option of keeping his mouth shut. If he isn't willing to accept that responsibility, he oughtn't be in the game in the first place.'"

"Robin Bierstedt, a deputy general counsel at Time Inc., disputed that reasoning. "Confidential source protection is based on the reporter's protection of the source," Ms. Bierstedt said. "If the source no longer wants that protection, and informs the reporter of that fact, the reporter should be free to testify, if he or she chooses.""

++++++++++++++++++

The basic views about whether a reporter should be forced to reveal his/her confidential sources are revealed in the quotes above. This is a tough nut. The credibility of the press is at stake in a time when the media continue to lose support in the view of a large portion of America, according to polls.

My take is that when national security is at stake, revealing secrets is a crime. However, it's wrong to use national security as a cover for political acts. Intertwining security and politics is bad business. The media has a lot to lose in this debate.

The New York Times > Technology > What's in the Box? Radio Tags Know That, and More

This change will be painful for many small suppliers and slow to implement because of the complexities created for IT data gathering, handling and reporting. However, it's inevitable for most good produced. Wonder if China is moving heavily in this direction?

September 27, 2004

If RSS ain't broke... | Tech News on ZDNet

Steve Gillmor is Dan's brother, I think. This piece explodes with possibilities for the future of content distribution.

The Internet and content distribution tools are moving faster than our mortal brains can handle.

At bottom, personal time and priorities become the gating factor.

Dean Rants

Today's Burlington Free Press quotes Howard Dean at a Borders' book signing for his new book You Have The Power:
"Electing John Kerry and John Edwards - which I'm obviously doing everything I can to help - is not enough. That just papers over and saves us from a right-wing, crackpot Supreme Court."

This rhetoric has become so much a part of Dean that I can no longer consider him a serious, mainstream politician. His radicalism has become a rallying point for the hatred so many lefties have for Bush. This is not healthy. In my view, not shared by most Vermonters, Dean has become an embarrassment.

September 25, 2004

Hurricane Jeanne Bears Down on Florida

Is there no end in sight for Nature's ravages in Florida. The people must be frazzled to a fare-thee-well!


Hurricane Jeanne 09/24/04 1800 EST Posted by Hello

The New York Times > Technology > Circuits > From Storage, a New Fashion

USB flash drives are surely convenient, but relatively easy to lose. Sensitive data means they must be safeguarded. In fact, many companies and government agencies do not permit them in areas where important and sensitive data is used.

September 23, 2004

Thanks, Dan: Gallup Finds Trust in Media at New Low

I wonder how BIG media will respond to fix their problem, assuming they believe they have a problem? When less than 1/2 of Americans believe or trust media reporting, the press is on its way to irrelevancy

Heinz Kerry helps Democrats raise $1M at Phoenix event - 2004-09-23 - The Business Journal of Phoenix

Heinz Kerry helps Democrats raise $1M at Phoenix event - 2004-09-23 - The Business Journal of Phoenix:

That would be good for the country, good for Bush, and bad for Kerry. Perhaps we have him bottled up somewhere and can go get him whenever we want. Perhaps we don't. Getting him is good. Not getting him is bad.

Kerry can't get Osama before the election. Only Bush's team can. Call it an advantage of incumbency.

Too bad, Teresa. That's the way it is.

"'I wouldn't be surprised if he appeared in the next month,' said Heinz Kerry, alluding to a possible capture by United States and allied forces before election day. "

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: The Prince of Tides, Tacking and Attacking

With little respect due, Maureen. You're full of shit.

September 18, 2004

PressThink: Rather's Satisfaction: Mystifying Troubles at CBS

This incisive analysis of the CBS News/Dan Rather mess by Jay Rosen is worth reading.

The New York Times > International > Europe > Chechen Rebel Grimly Vows More Attacks

Guerrilla
Separatist
Insurgent
Freedom Fighter
Martyr
Rebel
Terrorist

"Shamil Basayev, the elusive Chechen guerrilla commander who has become Russia's most wanted man, has claimed responsibility for planning acts of terror that have killed more than 440 people here since August and is threatening more attacks, according to a statement released on a separatist Web site on Friday."

"In a lengthy letter posted early Friday morning, Mr. Basayev said his group, the Riyadus-Salakhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs, "had carried out a number of successful combat operations on the territory of Russia."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
The language used by people and the media to describe terrorism astounds me. The wanton killing of innocent civilians is terrorism pure and simple. The New York Times and other media's use of less intense words is a travesty. This bastard is a terrorist. The fact that he wears military clothing is a distinction that abuses the Geneva Convention protocols. (Terrorist: One who utilizes the systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve political objectives, while disguised as a civilian non-combatant. The use of a civilian disguise while on operations exempts the perpetrator from protection under the Geneva Conventions, and consequently if captured they are liable for prosecution as common criminals.
www.aeroflight.co.uk/definitions.htm)

His use of the term 'combat operations' is a farce and a travesty. Putin is correct to crack down on this wanton killing and the leaders who sponsor it. I'm sure there are legitimate grievances in Chechnya. I don't claim to know what they are, but the horror wreaked by these people is terrorism and must be condemned with all possible steps to eliminate it.

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > Bush Opens Lead Despite Unease Voiced in Survey

While Bush seems to be gaining and Kerry falling behind in the polls. Polls are frail and much can happen between now and the election to change voters' opinions.

"This poll and several others in recent days with differing findings have suggested that the electorate is in flux. Alternatively, the different results may reflect how difficult it is to poll a closely divided public, particularly when answering machines, caller identification devices and cellphones make people harder to reach on their home telephones."

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: A War Hero or a Phony?

Kristof examines Kerry's war record confirming some of his claims and suggesting exaggeration in others.

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: Kerry's Cast of Thousands

An outstanding creative piece of political satire by David Brooks about Kerry's campaign.

September 17, 2004

HoustonChronicle.com - Memos' possible source attacked Bush in past

If this reporter is accurate and if Burkett is the person that gave the documents to CBS, neither the documents nor the source can be trusted. Boom! Boom! The beat goes on.

PCWorld.com - Regulators Debate Broadband by Power Lines

Regulators should always provide a 'light hand' when dealing with new technologies. They must lose the mindset of protecting everybody from anything when it comes to new technologies.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"New York's Dunleavy called for consistent regulations for BPL in addition to a light touch. 'In any industry ... the policy, whatever it may be, needs to be stable,' he said. 'The market, the financial community, and investors abhor uncertainty. We've got to figure out a way to provide certainty. It's a very easy thing to say, it's a very difficult thing to do.'"

September 15, 2004

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > Memos on Bush Are Fake but Accurate, Typist Says

Boom! Boom! Boom! The beat goes on and each day CBS slides deeper into the sinkhole of lost credibility. CBS becomes the story rather than Bush's National Guard service 30 years ago.. The DNC must be crazy over this.

The New York Times > Technology > Amazon to Take Searches on Web to a New Depth

Seems the NSA and the CIA and the FBI would be very interested in this technology...if large numbers of people begin to use it. Smart terrorists will avoid it.

The Words Used by the News Media

When is a terrorist not a terrorist? The following from James Dwinell (The Dwinell Political Report September 13, 2004) clearly describes how important language is when describing events, people, groups, etc.
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MILITANTS MY ASS

The continuing reports from Beslan Russia spoke of the “militants” who had taken over an elementary school. Russian women were quoted, “The militants have our children.” Webster speaks of a militant as a “civil rights activist.” The New York Times wrote of “the band of militants.” Were they playing the trombone? Singing We Shall Overcome?

Scum of the earth would be too kind. They are extremist Islamic terrorists. Understanding that one man’s terrorist may be another man’s freedom fighter, they were not. Freedom fighters do not shoot, torture, terrorize, and shoot children in the back. They could be called renegades, traitors, butchers, baby-killers, molesters, mobsters, malevolent whack jobs, evil doers, crazed
butchers, Nazis, sadists, ghouls, and more. But certainly not a “band of militants.” There is nothing nice, inspiring, patriotic, or commendable about terror. Only fear. Using air brushed vocabulary is a road block to a solution. Calling evil by another name does not help.

September 14, 2004

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: Hawk vs. Hawk

If Bush wins the election, the confrontationalists may be in the ascendancy. Hopefully, in this election a Bush victory will be accompanied by a larger Republican Congressional majority. No hope of that in the Vermont Senatorial race.

The New York Times > Science > Preserving an Old-Forest Wilderness at the Ends of the Earth

A major conservation effort underway on Tierra del Fuego with Goldman Sachs contributing a large amount of land to a new reserve.

Expert Cited by CBS Says He Didn't Authenticate Papers (washingtonpost.com)

This Washington Post article is the most damaging to date. It concludes with these words:

"Questions about the CBS documents have grown to the point that they overshadow the allegations of favorable treatment toward Bush.

Prominent conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh are insisting the documents are forged. New York Times columnist William Safire said yesterday that CBS should agree to an independent investigation. Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center, called on the network to apologize, saying: "The CBS story is a hoax and a fraud, and a cheap and sloppy one at that. It boggles the mind that Dan Rather and CBS continue to defend it.""

Weather Underground: Tropical Storm: 5 Day Forecast Map

This track for Ivan spells big trouble for New Orleans.

Scripting News: 9/14/2004

Dave Winer has it wrong in his politics. If he thinks Bush is responsible for the scenario (and it's not out of the realm of possibility) he paints that Bin Laden and his fundamentalist cronies would choke the West's oil supply, he has a responsibility to show that Kerry has an alternative.

Does he for a minute think that diplomacy and negotiation with radical Islamists is an option? Dream on!

Broadband needs a nonpartisan FCC | Perspectives | CNET News.com

Excuse me Congressman, but I find no mention in your letter/article of the competition in broadband services provided by cable companies who, by the way, have the lion's share of broadband customers in the U.S. Further, cable companies have no requirement to provide sharing of their facilities with competitors.

As is so common in this telecom debate, only half the story is told, particularly by politicians.

A Tribute to the Victims and Heroes of 9/11

This is a lasting tribute in pictures to the horror of 9/11. Just as the world must never forget the Holocaust in Europe or the genocides in Africa, 9/11 and the other
acts of terror during the past decades must be frequently retold to all humanity. And we have no choice but to go to war against the perpetrators and eradicate them wherever they are found.

In the face of this overwhelming evil, how can one possibly believe that the base of our humanity is 'good' when such evil deeds are repeated throughout history. Thank God He has sent his Son as a Savior from the evil that lurks in us!

Wi-Fi Networking News: More on University of Texas Wi-Fi Policy

This is a developing dilemma. FCC says universities can ban students from establishing their own WiFi hotspots only if they live in university-owned housing. If others own the buildings, students can set up their own.

September 13, 2004

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: Those Discredited Memos

Safire 'puts his arm around Rather' and says: Check it out Dan.

Rather commented on Friday to the effect that until someone comes forward with solid evidence showing the documents to be forgeries that he won't answer his critics. Safire says:

"To shut up sources and impugn the motives of serious critics - from opinionated bloggers to straight journalists - demeans the Murrow tradition. Nor is any angry demand that others prove them wrong acceptable, especially when no original documents are available to prove anything."

Dan Rather's credibility is gone and a great deal of CBS News' with it. In their business, it only takes one massive screw up to lose reputation. This may be it, particularly since Rather and CBS have been left-leaning for so long. To attack the President with possibly false documents is amateurish.

The CBS Conundrum - Washington Post

A good summary of the events leading to CBS' story based on documents that may be forged that has caused such a furor. Unfortunately for Kerry, these distracting events take attention form the issues in the campaign that Kerry would like to focus on. But he has only himself and his team to blame for focusing so intensely on his own Viet Nam war record.

If these documents are phony, someone has taken CBS for a ride. In any event, CBS still maintains their story is true and the documents are real.

They are losing tremendous credibility as a news source until and unless they can prove the documents are valid and how and where they gained possession of them.

Meanwhile, nearly everyone associated with Killian is telling the same story: the documents are fakes, thus CBS' story becomes less credible and Rather finds himself in a very tight bind.

September 11, 2004


In The Eye of Ivan Septemeber 9, 2004
Posted by Hello

Hurricane IVAN - Bad News for the Caymans and Cuba

"AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT MEASURED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 912 MB...26.93 INCHES. THIS IS THE SIXTH LOWEST CENTRAL PRESSURE ON RECORD FOR A HURRICANE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 20 TO 25 FEET...LOCALLY HIGHER... ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL IN CUBA.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES...POSSIBLY CAUSING LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES...CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE PATH OF IVAN."

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Contributor: The Duel Between Body and Soul

The opinion piece misses a key reality of a human being: I prefer the model: body - soul - spirit. Here's a view closer to mine on this point.

body: our physical self consisting of atoms and molecules

soul: those processes of the brain that create memory, reason and emotions

spirit: that which is created by God and is eternal; the part of a human that will never die

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > Bush's Backers Donate Heavily to Veteran Ads

Another example of how the '527s' are a terrible substitute for money that would otherwise be directly available to the candidates and the political parties. George Soros and the others who fund groups like MoveOn.org will always find ways to use $ to influence political races and the quest for power that will support their ideas and philosophies. The channels may be different, but the outcome is the same. 'Big Money' remains in politics and always will. The 527s provide the opportunity for candidates to say: "I didn't do/say it" and easily point fingers at others who, they say, have no connection to the campaigns. Do they think we believe there is 'no connection?' Nonsense!

As I've stated previously, McCain-Feingold is a bad idea poorly implemented and regulated.

The New York Times > CNET > Technology > Bloggers drive hoax probe into Bush memos

Bloggers get some respect! If the Bush National Guard memo story last Wednesday on CBS reported by Dan Rather proves to be based on forged documents, Rather is headed for retirement.

In any event, the original typed memos should have surfaced by now. The longer they remain unavailable while Rather pleads his case that they are real, the more damage is done to his and CBS' credibility.

Here's the link to one of the blogs that surfaced the possible forgeries.

What is particularly disturbing in this whole episode is that the son of the alleged documents' author, Ltc Killian, himself a Texas National Guard officer, thinks his father did not write the memos. Also, the daughter of Barnes, one of the people Rather interviewed and a big Kerry financial reporter, who said that he pulled strings for Bush to join the Guard, claims her father told he previously that he did not pull any strings for Bush.

In any event politically, the damage to the credibility of the memos has already been done.

The sad fact from all of this is the distraction from the real issues of the campaign created by virulent controversy around events 30 years old. In any event, the media has been damaged more than Bush has by all this falderal.

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: Ruling Class War

Brooks has this wonderful comic spin on the truths of politics. The Kerry/Bush donor ratios are enlightening. Should we assume all our smart college students will wind up Democrats and that the media and librarians, the wanna-be information gatekeepers, will flood us with Democratic spin. Follow the money!

September 10, 2004

Power Line: The sixty-first minute

Fascinating comments and analysis on the possibility of forged documents used by CBS in an attempt to discredit Bush's military service.

September 9, 2004

ABCNEWS.com : Officer's Widow Questions Bush Guard Memos

Are these documents which contain statements that cast Bush's National Guard service in poor light forgeries? If they are proved to be false documents, the media, particularly CBS, Dan Rather and 60 Minutes have a lot of explaining to do. If the documents are false, Kerry's camp is slipping deeper into the doo doo.

Let's see what tomorrow brings on this story!

The New York Times > International > Africa > Powell Says Sudan Abuses Qualify as Genocide

Will the UN Security DO anything about this is the question.

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > Book Unflattering to Bush Draws His Campaign's Fire

The politics of personal destruction is alive. Lots of money to be made by creating negative images of leaders and celebrities. Follow the money!

160 mph Sustained Winds!


Bad News for Cuba and South Coast of U.S.
Posted by Hello

September 8, 2004

Weather Underground: Tropical Weather Hurricane Ivan

This advisory is more bad news for the southeastern and southern parts of the USA

The New York Times > International > Middle East > School Siege in Russia Sparks Self-Criticism in Arab World

At last we have the New York Times reporting on the Muslim voices of dissent to the terrorists that are hijacking the Muslim religion. Bravo for those Muslims that are speaking out against the heinous crimes committed by the radical Islam terrorists. It's about time that Muslim voices are raised against these atrocities and those that commit them.

One example from the NYT article: ""It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims," Abdel Rahman al-Rashed, the general manager of the widely watched Al-Arabiya satellite television station wrote in one of the most striking of these commentaries."

The world's strategy must be nothing less than isolating and eradicating those who abide by no moral code excepted their warped view of the teachings of Mohammed.

The best possible result in the war on terror is for rational Muslims to find and 'bring to justice' (kill) bin Laden and his cronies. Winning the war on terror must include Muslims willing to stand and be counted as enemies of radical Islam, if not friends with the West.

We must never be insulated from or accepting of the terrorist threat and the killings that are so much a part of their strategy. This threat includes Arafat, the Palestinians and their brethren, Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.

One can argue that Palestinian lands are occupied 'illegally', but let's remember that the occupied territories were taken when Israel defended itself and won invasions launched by neighboring Muslim states.

I am very pleased that moderate Muslims are speaking out and that American media is covering it. Again, Bravo!

Belgium considers euthanasia for children

Ugh! Belgium seems to be leading the downward moral spiral will end in the elderly and the infirm euthanised by their or someone else's choice. Be careful who has your general power-of attorney! The world is sick and getting sicker.

The Project Gutenberg eBook The Fall of the House of Usher, by Edgar Allan Poe

The Project Gutenberg eBook The Fall of the House of Usher, by Edgar Allan Poe

In case anyone wants to read Poe and 'The Fall of the House of Usher'. A gloomy story from a strange author. Poe was described as (see link preceding):

"With the aid of his psychological stories, critics have proclaimed him necrophilic, dipsomanic, paranoid, impotent, neurotic, oversexed, a habitual taker of drugs, until all that is left in the public eye is an unstable creature sitting gloomily in a dim room, the raven over the door, the bottle on the table, the opium in the pipe, scribbling mad verses."

Why is it that acclaimed writers often have sordid and disrupted lives? Is it this very disruption that provides the fodder for their writing? Is it the black side of genius? Am I too judgmental?

Vermont's View of the World
Posted by Hello

Our Airedale Terriers

Jesse (left) and Scuffer are typical Airedales. Jesse, the female, is the alpha dog and very smart. A quick learner, she is way ahead of Scuffer, the male, in the smarts department. We enjoy both of them!

This is a 1993 photo in Maine near Scarborough.


Jesse & Scuffer - 2003
Posted by Hello

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > The Advisers: Advocacy Groups And Campaigns: An Uneasy Shuttle

Campaign finance reform is a sham, enacted to make Americans think things are different and that BIG money won't influence politics as much as it did before the law was passed.

I thinkMcCain-Feingold violates the First Amendment, if not technically, then in spirit...at least how it's administered or not enforced. In reality people are constrained how they may give $, while no limits are placed on the gifts, only the receiving groups have changed. Other channels are used...the so-called 527 groups and others closely associated. I've heard McCain say that the Federal election Commission is not enforcing the law. Better not to have passed it, I think

Now we have political operatives moving between various support groups and the campaigns, all apparently perfectly legal (enforcement?). This destroys confidence in the system.
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"Advocacy Groups And Campaigns: An Uneasy Shuttle: "...But the free flow of personnel between the campaigns, the groups and the political parties is alarming advocates who fought for tighter campaign finance restrictions and who say it is undermining the rules - or perhaps even breaking them.

Representative Christopher Shays, Republican of Connecticut and a primary sponsor of the new finance law, said: 'This smells - it smells real bad. It shouldn't be happening.' Mr. Shays added: 'There shouldn't be all this back-and-forth going on. It smacks of coordination and there's no good reason for it.'"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I agree!!

September 7, 2004

British ruling cheers VoIP industry | CNET News.com

The VoIp floodgates are opening!

Verizon switches on speedier DSL | CNET News.com

"Verizon said it is selling its 3mbps plan in Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia and parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The faster service will be extended to the remaining 11 states where Verizon sells 1.5mbps service later this year."

The New York Times > AP > National > Rumsfeld Denounces Russia School Attack

"``You find it possible to set some limitations in your dealings with these bastards, so why should we talk to people who are child-killers?''"

Putin's quote above reacting to Colin Powell's suggestion for a political settlement in Chechnya. Putin has awakened.

The New York Times > International > Europe > Thousands Protest Near Red Square Over Killings at School

""Hands off our children," read a banner in the huge, packed crowd, voicing what seemed to be a universal sentiment that even in the vicious world of terrorism there must be a limit to cruelty."


They don't get it. There IS NO LIMIT to the cruelty and murder the fanatical terrorists engage in. Isn't that plain for all to see by now? There is no negotiation with terrorists, only eradication.

PCWorld.com - Has Your Broadband Had Its Fiber?

A clear review of the Bell telecom companies' plans for fiber deployment to the home/neighborhood/home. Verizon is able to move more quickly to deploy because the General Telephone properties they acquired do not fall under the same regulatory constraints as the former Bell company territories. This explains why the clarification of recent FCC rulings is needed.

September 5, 2004

Global Guerrillas: GLOBAL GUERRILLA TARGET: The NA Power Grid

Our power grid and oil supplies are the two high profile BIG targets. I wonder if we have a vulnerability in some much smaller facility similar to the ball bearing manufacturing plants we targeted in Europe during WWII?

September 2, 2004

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > Tactics by Police Mute the Protesters, and Their Messages

Seems to me the police are doing an excellent job. The tone of this article almost suggests the demonstrators should be allowed a rampage. Demonstators have a right to demonstrate (free speech) peacefully, but no inherent right to be heard.

The New York Times > Travel > Champlain on Two Wheels

Wonderful publicity for the Islands of Vermont.