Recently there has been a brief e-mail discussion about what Jeremy Blaber puts up on his blog--my comment is that it is his blog, and reflects his opinions re: news and commentary.
Here is an article from CQ Politics (Congressional Quarterly) on how politicians are trying to tap into the blogosphere.
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000002710033
David Balducci's latest book --The Whole Truth (Grand Central Pub., 2008) is about "perception management" or spinning the truth in the age of the internet & multi media (this goes way beyond Wag the Dog.
The internet has a LOT potential, it holds a lot of information and misinformaiton. The object is learning to critically assess the information.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
April 22
Today is both EARTH DAY and Equal Pay Day (the day when women's average wages have caught up what the average male earned in 2007!).
Monday, April 14, 2008
UCDW Annual Meeting
Come network and vote tonight 4/14/09 from 6:30 on at Rive Gauche, Fair St. Kingston (Just down from Dem Hdqtrs)....
Monday, March 31, 2008
A letter from Andi Novick
Dear Friends,
I have written to explain why I am proceeding to sue the NYS legislature for their abdication. My letter can be found at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_andi_nov_080315_open_letter_to_ny_ci.htm
In the briefest terms I am bringing this lawsuit because when our government fails us as miserably as it has, our system provides that is the judiciary to whom we should turn to stop the legislature from behaving in derogation of its responsibility to protect our constitutional right to vote. Our electoral system has always required a transparent, observable highly safeguarded process to ensure the integrity of our vote. The safeguards, intended to prevent the opportunities for fraud and manipulation, that we have enjoyed for well over a century, will be rendered non existent if we permit our vote counting to be concealed within the unobservable processes of a computer. It doesn't matter what kind of computer, be it a DRE or Optical Scanner, software driven devices have been shown to be highly vulnerable to manipulation without detection.
We know all software driven systems can be manipulated regardless of the level of security provided, but it should be known that the voting systems on the market provide no security as compared to the standards that computers used in financial transactions are subject to. And even with the standards and oversight an institution such as Hannaford grocery stores provides, just this past week millions of us had our credit cards stopped because Hannaford's computers has been hacked. Software was installed on the servers at every one of its grocery stores in 6 states, notwithstanding the firewalls, virus checks and close scrutiny that Hannaford's computers, unlike our voting computers, were subjected to. Hannaford said any single person, a technician for the vendor or a hacker, could have done this. For more on the story see http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/03/28/advanced_tactic_targeted_grocer?mode=PF . By the way, Hannaford's computer security did not detect the breach. It was only discovered because fraudulent transactions were being conducted. In the election industry no such mechanisms are in place that would trigger an investigation. We'd never know. What a way to run a democratic electoral system.
The stakes are a lot higher when we're talking about controlling the US treasury, a far more desirable target than our four million or so credit cards that were gotten. And we're talking about nothing less that our sovereignty when voting computers are hacked. We in New York are the only state that has not yet computerized its electoral system. Please ask yourself again what you are willing to do to fight for your freedom before the theft-enabling machines are installed in New York? If you do nothing else write to your newspapers and local media outlets. Demand coverage and investigation. Write to your legislators and send them a copy of my letter linked above. Let them know they should be ashamed of themselves. Write to our new governor, see what he's willing to do. Email me and volunteer to resist and assist.
thanks
andi novick Northeast Citizens for Responsible Media (Re-Media)
"The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case." Thomas Paine
Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home .
I have written to explain why I am proceeding to sue the NYS legislature for their abdication. My letter can be found at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_andi_nov_080315_open_letter_to_ny_ci.htm
In the briefest terms I am bringing this lawsuit because when our government fails us as miserably as it has, our system provides that is the judiciary to whom we should turn to stop the legislature from behaving in derogation of its responsibility to protect our constitutional right to vote. Our electoral system has always required a transparent, observable highly safeguarded process to ensure the integrity of our vote. The safeguards, intended to prevent the opportunities for fraud and manipulation, that we have enjoyed for well over a century, will be rendered non existent if we permit our vote counting to be concealed within the unobservable processes of a computer. It doesn't matter what kind of computer, be it a DRE or Optical Scanner, software driven devices have been shown to be highly vulnerable to manipulation without detection.
We know all software driven systems can be manipulated regardless of the level of security provided, but it should be known that the voting systems on the market provide no security as compared to the standards that computers used in financial transactions are subject to. And even with the standards and oversight an institution such as Hannaford grocery stores provides, just this past week millions of us had our credit cards stopped because Hannaford's computers has been hacked. Software was installed on the servers at every one of its grocery stores in 6 states, notwithstanding the firewalls, virus checks and close scrutiny that Hannaford's computers, unlike our voting computers, were subjected to. Hannaford said any single person, a technician for the vendor or a hacker, could have done this. For more on the story see http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/03/28/advanced_tactic_targeted_grocer?mode=PF . By the way, Hannaford's computer security did not detect the breach. It was only discovered because fraudulent transactions were being conducted. In the election industry no such mechanisms are in place that would trigger an investigation. We'd never know. What a way to run a democratic electoral system.
The stakes are a lot higher when we're talking about controlling the US treasury, a far more desirable target than our four million or so credit cards that were gotten. And we're talking about nothing less that our sovereignty when voting computers are hacked. We in New York are the only state that has not yet computerized its electoral system. Please ask yourself again what you are willing to do to fight for your freedom before the theft-enabling machines are installed in New York? If you do nothing else write to your newspapers and local media outlets. Demand coverage and investigation. Write to your legislators and send them a copy of my letter linked above. Let them know they should be ashamed of themselves. Write to our new governor, see what he's willing to do. Email me and volunteer to resist and assist.
thanks
andi novick Northeast Citizens for Responsible Media (Re-Media)
"The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case." Thomas Paine
Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home .
Monday, March 24, 2008
Intelluctualism vs anti-intellectualism
I am in the middle of Susan Jacoby's book The Age of Unreason which is her update of Hofstadter's Anti-intellectualism in American Life. Bill Moyers interviewed her:http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02152008/watch2.html
Here is the NYT review of the book: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/books/11kaku.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
John Dean's comments on Obama's speech on race is a must read. Dean doesn't comment on the content per se, but on the intelligence and eloquence of the speech. Dean goes on to point out that we have been dumbing down America over the past 50 years: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/21/7814/
Here is Obama's speech, if you happened to have somehow missed it:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html
BTW, Here is one of Rev. Wright's so-called incendiary sermon. As I tell my students go to the primary source and make up your own mind: http://www.rolandsmartin.com/blog/?p=147
For some analyses, including Roland Martin's:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/#80452 andhttp://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/the-full-story-behind-rev-jeremiah-wrights-911-sermon/
Here is the NYT review of the book: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/books/11kaku.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
John Dean's comments on Obama's speech on race is a must read. Dean doesn't comment on the content per se, but on the intelligence and eloquence of the speech. Dean goes on to point out that we have been dumbing down America over the past 50 years: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/21/7814/
Here is Obama's speech, if you happened to have somehow missed it:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html
BTW, Here is one of Rev. Wright's so-called incendiary sermon. As I tell my students go to the primary source and make up your own mind: http://www.rolandsmartin.com/blog/?p=147
For some analyses, including Roland Martin's:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/#80452 andhttp://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/the-full-story-behind-rev-jeremiah-wrights-911-sermon/
Friday, March 21, 2008
Affordable Housing in Ulster County
Ulster County released a report on Housing Needs for the county Thursday. Note that the numbers are 3 years old and not not reflect the current down turn in the real estate market.
Here is the story from the Daily Freeman:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19411586&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74969&rfi=6
Here is the report http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning/housing.shtml#pres
Here is the story from the Daily Freeman:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19411586&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74969&rfi=6
Here is the report http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning/housing.shtml#pres
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Re-scheduled Vigil TONIGHT! 3/20
REMINDER: THURSDAY, MARCH 20 - RAIN OR SHINE!
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO BE HELD MARCH 20 AT KINGSTON HIGHIN MEMORY OF GAY STUDENT SLAIN AT CALIFORNIA SCHOOL LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND ALLIES UNITE TO DENOUNCE HATE CRIME
KINGSTON, NEW YORK (March 10) – A memorial candlelight vigil for slain gay California middle school student Lawrence King will be held Thursday, March 20, in front of Kingston High School, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
On February 12 of this year, King, 15, was shot in the head by a classmate in an Oxnard, California classroom, simply because he was gay. King died two days later, on Valentine's Day. The hate crime has attracted national attention and condemnation from such media figures as Anderson Cooper and Ellen DeGeneres.
The event is expected to draw scores of people from the area, as well as members of prominent human rights and educational organizations. The vigil is co-sponsored by the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center and the Hudson Valley chapter of GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network).
"The murder of Lawrence King is an American tragedy that cannot be allowed to go unnoticed," said Ginny Apuzzo, president of the Center. "Every student has the right to be safe at school. This vigil is intended to honor the memory of a courageous young man who was killed simply for being himself, and to call attention to the deadly results of looking the other way when homophobia makes itself known in our schools."
The evening program will include addresses by representatives of the Center, GLSEN and the Kingston High School Gay-Straight Alliance, as well as the Rev. Ralph Merante, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Kingston. Among the still-growing list of organizations that have joined to support the vigil are PFLAG (Parents, Friends, and Family of Lesbians and Gays) of Kingston, YWCA of Ulster County, the Ulster County Mental Health Association, and Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Calendar Listing: Candlelight Vigil for Lawrence King, in front of Kingston High School, March 20, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Sponsored by the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center and GLSEN Hudson Valley. For more information visit www.lgbtqcenter.org
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO BE HELD MARCH 20 AT KINGSTON HIGHIN MEMORY OF GAY STUDENT SLAIN AT CALIFORNIA SCHOOL LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND ALLIES UNITE TO DENOUNCE HATE CRIME
KINGSTON, NEW YORK (March 10) – A memorial candlelight vigil for slain gay California middle school student Lawrence King will be held Thursday, March 20, in front of Kingston High School, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
On February 12 of this year, King, 15, was shot in the head by a classmate in an Oxnard, California classroom, simply because he was gay. King died two days later, on Valentine's Day. The hate crime has attracted national attention and condemnation from such media figures as Anderson Cooper and Ellen DeGeneres.
The event is expected to draw scores of people from the area, as well as members of prominent human rights and educational organizations. The vigil is co-sponsored by the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center and the Hudson Valley chapter of GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network).
"The murder of Lawrence King is an American tragedy that cannot be allowed to go unnoticed," said Ginny Apuzzo, president of the Center. "Every student has the right to be safe at school. This vigil is intended to honor the memory of a courageous young man who was killed simply for being himself, and to call attention to the deadly results of looking the other way when homophobia makes itself known in our schools."
The evening program will include addresses by representatives of the Center, GLSEN and the Kingston High School Gay-Straight Alliance, as well as the Rev. Ralph Merante, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Kingston. Among the still-growing list of organizations that have joined to support the vigil are PFLAG (Parents, Friends, and Family of Lesbians and Gays) of Kingston, YWCA of Ulster County, the Ulster County Mental Health Association, and Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Calendar Listing: Candlelight Vigil for Lawrence King, in front of Kingston High School, March 20, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Sponsored by the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center and GLSEN Hudson Valley. For more information visit www.lgbtqcenter.org
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