Cheney on Economy: But what about eBay?

``That's a source that didn't even exist 10 years ago,'' Cheney told an audience in Cincinnati on Thursday. ``Four hundred thousand people make some money trading on eBay.''
Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards responded that Cheney's comments show how ``out of touch'' he and President Bush are with the economy.
``If we only included bake sales and how much money kids make at lemonade stands, this economy would really be cooking,'' Edwards said in a statement.

Bush's al-Qaeda Numbers Cause Head-Scratching

White House and U.S. intelligence officials declined to provide any back-up data for how they developed the new number—or even to explain the methodology that was used, which they said was classified. The absence of any explanation, as well as the timing, prompted some counterterrorism experts to deride the figure as “meaningless” and predict the revision could fuel allegations that the administration is massaging terrorism data for political purposes.

Democrats Succeed in Blocking Overtime Rule Change

In a sharp rebuke of a new administration policy, the House moved Thursday to block the Labor Department from implementing overtime rules that critics argued could deprive millions of workers of their overtime pay.The 223-193 vote in favor of blocking the rules defied the White House. The White House had threatened to veto a massive spending bill, now on the House floor, if it contains any language tampering with the rules that took effect Aug. 23.
"This is one step in the legislative process. We are continuing to work with the Congress," said Trent Duffy, a spokesman for President Bush.
Democrats, united against the rules, were joined by 22 Republicans in voting for the amendment to a $142.5 billion health and education spending bill.

Terrific Nature Photography

Commercial Megamix

93 seconds of commercial catch-phrases from our mental archealogy.

Kerry Speaks Out on Assault Weapons

"In the al-Qaida manual on terror, they were telling people to go out and buy assault weapons, to come to America and buy assault weapons," Kerry said. "Every law enforcement officer in America doesn't want us selling assault weapons in the streets of America, but George Bush, he says, 'Well, I'm for that.'"

Call to Email Oprah re: Electronic Voting

Voters are emailing Oprah to host Bev Harris of blackboxvoting.org
Oprah willing, Harris can demonstrate the "back door" in Diebold tabulating machines -- which allows anyone with computer access to change the vote count.
This is a story that needs the kind of attention Oprah can bring.

A Call to Patriotic Whistleblowing

The Truth-Telling Project, led by Daniel Ellsberg, encourages whistleblowing in the national interest. It urges current and recently retired government officials to reveal the truth to Congress and the public about governmental wrongdoing. lies and cover-up. It aims to change the norms and practices that sustain the cult of secrecy, and to de-legitimize silence that costs lives.

Court Rules That All Musical Samples Must Be Paid For

The ruling says artists must pay for not only large samples of another artist's work, but also snippets — smaller notes, chords and beats that are not the artist's original composition — which had previously been legal, according to The Associated Press.

Copy-Protection by Threatening All Your Files

Echelon is a Mac application that, if you try to register it with a pirated serial number, will delete your entire home directory. (Windows users: This is a very, very bad thing, second only to wiping the entire drive.) Is this a good way to fight piracy, and can it even be legal?

HR 4077 Bill Would Give Jail Time for File Sharing

From EFF: You may not agree with the recording industry's war on file sharing, but under the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act (PDEA, HR 4077), you'd still have to pay for it. The PDEA would create the first criminal copyright penalties for people who aren't engaged in willful criminal conduct. Under the law's murky "negligence" standard, a person with 1,000 legally obtained songs could be sent to jail for three years if she fails to lock them up tight enough - and that's only for the first offense. In addition, the PDEA would force the government to push a lopsided "education" campaign that demonizes P2P while failing to mention your rights to use copyrighted material. To top it off, all of this would be funded with your tax dollars. Tell Congress to reject the PDEA and explore solutions that pay artists rather than punish people. Learn more

Coleen Rowley to Leave FBI at Year's End

Minneapolis FBI agent Coleen Rowley disclosed Wednesday that she will retire at year's end, even as she warned that counter-terrorism agents now are being swamped with intelligence data and have "too many dots" to connect.
...She said the bureau's dramatic shift to focus its resources on terrorism has resulted in "a huge pendulum swing ... from the mistakes of overcomplacency before September 11. Now we're perhaps embarking on what I call the uncharted waters of massive intelligence collection."
..."Civilizations fall not because of external attack, but because of internal rot," Rowley said. "We have seen a lot of internal rot."
Rowley gained fame in 2002 with her accusations that FBI headquarters bungled a chance to thwart the Sept. 11 attacks when it blocked Minneapolis agents from obtaining a warrant to search the possessions of jailed terrorism suspect Zacarias Moussaoui.

United States government tries to cover up covert financing to the Venezuelan opposition and Sumate to the tune of US$10 million

Sumate, despite its numerous undemocratic positions and actions, has also been a recipient of US government funds from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in 2003.
However, new documents obtained by Venezuelafoia.info have all been censored by the US government despite the use of the FOIA, which is intended to ensure transparency in US government operations.
The Department of State has withheld the names of the organizations receiving financing from USAID by misapplying a FOIA exemption that is intended to protect “personnel and medical files” of individuals.

Million Worker March Sun., 10-17-04

Sunday, October 17, 2004 [updated from the 16th] is the date for this march. This mobilization is being proposed in response to the attacks upon working families in America and the millions of jobs lost during the Bush administration and with the complicity of Congress. The working class has not suffered such hardships since the Great Depression.

Hightower: The Homeland Security insurance scam

In a breathless and alarmist letter mailed to thousands of people, Mr. Michael Brown, purporting to be the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, warns in bold type that "Floods can happen anywhere." In a scary, red-tag warning on the envelope, Under Secretary Brown direly informs us that "Homeowners insurance doesn't cover you for America's #1 natural disaster." So, in his letter, this homeland czarist shrieks in blood-red type: "Don't Delay! Get Flood Insurance Today." Ever so helpfully, he even provides the name and number of "selected agents" in your area who sell these insurance policies, urging you to "Call your agent."

Lobby, Lobby, Lobby, I'm a Liberal

Further illustrating "the revolving door that exists between those who run campaigns and those who lobby," the Kerry campaign's recent hires -- Joel Johnson, Joe Lockhart, Howard Wolfson and Michael Whouley -- are all lobbyists, as well as Democratic strategists. Johnson directs the Harbour Group, a frequent Alexander Strategy Group partner whose clients include the oil and pharmaceutical industries. Johnson also represented the Asbestos Study Group industry coalition. Whouley's Dewey Square Group, "one of the country's foremost experts in so-called grass-roots and grass-tops lobbying," often works with the DCI Group. Lockhart and Wolfson are partners at the Glover Park Group. Doug Ireland notes that "on CNN's Inside Politics, Jesse Jackson delivered a blistering attack on the Kerry campaign for running away from the Democratic base and the issues it cares about." (From PRWatch.org)

Nutri-washing Junk Food

"Years ago, the environmental movement coined the term "greenwashing" to describe how corporations use public relations to make themselves appear environmentally friendly. Now, nutrition advocates need their own moniker for a similar trend among major food companies - call it 'nutri-washing,'" writes Michele Simon, a public health lawyer and director of the Center for Informed Food Choices. "Some nutrition advocates have applauded such efforts as an attempt by industry to make improvements, however minor. But to praise companies for such 'reforms' too easily rewards them with the positive public-relations spin they seek. Also, these voluntary actions deliberately attempt to deflect any mandatory government regulations - for, as we are starting to learn, voluntary acts can easily be rescinded. ... Moreover, these PR efforts don't tell the whole story. Behind the scenes, industry is lobbying hard to undermine public-health advocacy, especially that aimed at improving the nutrition environment of public schools."

Ashcroft Blocking Investigation of Security Leaks to Israel

The investigation has highlighted concerns that a small group of neo-conservatives in the Pentagon not only may have divulged classified information to Israel, but also tried to mount intelligence and foreign policy operations without informing the State Department and Central Intelligence Agency...
Sources familiar with the investigation said the White House and John Ashcroft, the US attorney-general, had intervened to apply the brakes. “The White House is leaning on the FBI. Some people in the FBI are very upset, they think Ashcroft is playing politics with this,” a former intelligence official said.

Poll: World Wants Bush Out

The world wants United States President George W Bush out of the White House, according to a poll that shows in 30 of 35 countries people preferred Democrat candidate John Kerry.
Senator Kerry was particularly favoured in traditionally strong US allies.
He beat Mr Bush on average by more than a two-to-one margin, 46 per cent to 20 per cent, according to the survey by GlobeScan, a global research firm.

Assault Weapons Ban Ends in Political Silence

Bush says he opposes the semiautomatic weapons, but is careful not to upset the National Rifle Association, a powerful gun lobby.
The NRA will endorse the president's re-election bid after the ban expires, ABC News has learned.
But most Democrats aren't putting up a fight either because they do not want to bring on the wrath of the NRA in key congressional districts during an election year.

Court delays Fischer deportation

Mr Fischer has tried to fight his deportation by applying for political asylum in Japan and renouncing his US citizenship - both of which have been rejected by the Japanese courts.
He also recently confirmed plans to marry a Japanese woman, Miyoko Watai, the head of the Japan Chess Association.

Not So Swift

At first, the Swift boat veterans had the stage to themselves. On television they made their claims opposite critics and surrogates enlisted by the Kerry campaign, while the anchors sat back in a stunning display of irresponsibility, disguised as impartiality. (From "On The Media")

US Weapons Sales to Nations with Poor Human Rights Records

DOJ Seeks Secret Court Case for Secret Law

Attorneys for Gilmore, a 49-year-old San Francisco resident who co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group, said they don't buy the government's argument and that its latest request raises only more questions.

McLibel Two - Suit Moves from England to the EU Courts

The Government was responding to a complaint by Helen Steel, 39, and David Morris, 50, that they had been denied freedom of expression and a fair hearing when they had to represent themselves during the longest trial in English legal history.

For background on McLibel, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLibel
Beginning in 1986, London Greenpeace (not to be confused with the larger Greenpeace organisation) distributed a pamphlet accusing the McDonald's corporation of everything from selling unhealthy food to exploiting its workers and destroying the South American rain forests. In 1990, McDonald's filed a libel suit against several members of the organization, Steel and Morris included, for distributing the pamphlet on the streets of London.

Hastert Suggests Soros got Rich from Drug Money. Soros Pissed at the Ridiculous Charge

In a tartly worded demand faxed to Hastert, Soros wrote: "Your recent comments implying that I am receiving funds from drug cartels are not only untrue, but also deeply offensive. You do a discredit to yourself and to the dignity of your office by engaging in these dishonest smear tactics. You should be ashamed.
"I must respectfully insist that you either substantiate these claims - – which you cannot do because they are false – or publicly apologize for attempting to defame my character and damage my reputation."

Log Cabin Republicans Vote to Withhold Endorsement from President Bush

“Certain moments in history require that a belief in fairness and equality not be sacrificed in the name of partisan politics; this is one of those moments. The national board’s vote empowers Log Cabin to maintain its integrity while furthering our goal of building a more inclusive Republican Party. Log Cabin is more committed than ever to its core mission to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party. There is a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party, and that fight is bigger than one platform, one convention, or even one President,” said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Guerriero.

Diebold Sued by California Attorney General

Secretary of State Kevin Shelley told Reuters that Diebold deceived California with aggressive marketing that led to the installation of touch-screen voting systems that were not tested or approved nationally, or in California.

Drug Testing May be Posted On-Line

"We want (clinical trial registration) to be mandatory to make sure drug companies aren't hiding anything," she said.
Under current rules, drug makers are able to withhold from the public unfavorable studies of drugs in the regulatory pipeline - such as a study showing that the drug doesn't work against a particular disease.

Cheney Uses Threats of Violence Against Civilians to Achieve Political Goals

At a campaign stop in this midwestern state, Cheney said "It's absolutely essential that we make the right choice" in the election."
If we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that we'll get hit again," he said, implying that Kerry was less determined than Bush in fighting extremists.
"Dick Cheney's scare tactics crossed the line today, showing once again that he and George Bush will do anything and say anything to save their jobs," Edwards replied in a statement.

Aides Shuttle Between Campaigns and 527's

Just last week, Stanley Greenberg was the polling mastermind guiding the way three liberal groups spent tens of millions of dollars attacking President Bush and registering voters. But he quit that position to be an unpaid adviser to the Kerry campaign as it presses to sharpen its message in the final 56 days before the election.
Mr. Greenberg is just the latest in a procession of top strategists who have moved between the campaigns and advocacy groups called 527's - the very organizations that are not supposed to coordinate their activities under campaign finance rules.

Nev. Touch-Screen Voting Has Paper Trail

Nevada residents became the first in the nation to vote on computers that leave a paper trail, taking part in a primary that produced scattered reports of delays - though none of the serious problems that have cast doubt upon electronic voting systems in other states.

Court delays Fischer deportation

The controversial player was detained in Japan while trying to travel to the Philippines on a revoked US passport.
Mr Fischer has tried to fight his deportation by applying for political asylum in Japan and renouncing his US citizenship - both of which have been rejected by the Japanese courts.
He also recently confirmed plans to marry a Japanese woman, Miyoko Watai, the head of the Japan Chess Association.

The Statue of David has Turned 500

U.S. refusing funding to Kazakhstan for it to secure its 3 tons of plutonium

The 330 tons of spent nuclear fuel contain more than 3 tons of plutonium enriched to more than 90 percent. That's better-than-usual weapons-grade but would require extensive processing to be made into bombs.
The fuel has been cooling for so long and was so lightly irradiated to begin with that it is no longer radioactive enough to be "self-protecting" against theft, according to the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, an anti-proliferation organization.

American Deaths in Iraq Exceed 1,000

Iraqi Civilian Deaths Well Over 10,000

Civilians reported killed by military intervention in Iraq
Min 11793
Max 13802
View Database...

Global Warming Coverage: Bias in the System

Two researchers argue, in a paper published this month in the journal Global Environmental Change, that following the norms of American journalism, U.S. media have promulgated a bias in the coverage of climate change essentially by giving too much credence to climate skeptics at the expense of the scientific consensus.

Army to Rebid Halliburton Contract

Houston-based Halliburton, whose chief executive from 1995 to 2000 was Vice President Dick Cheney, has been buffeted for months by accusations of overcharging on the contract, under which its Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) unit provides services such as dining, housing, laundry and transportation.
Halliburton spokeswoman Wendy Hall told the newspaper the Army's move was expected and that KBR would consider bidding for parts of the work.

Cher's Hexadecimal Clock

The Great... oh you know

Quicktime Bush-bashing a la Chaplin

If Only They Had Invented the Internet - The Failure of Fact-Checking at the Republican Convention

It is the function of journalism to separate fact from fiction. In covering the Republican National Convention of 2004, the media made isolated efforts to point out some of the convention speakers' more egregious distortions, but on the whole failed in their vital role of letting citizens know when they are being lied to.

Skin Deep

A safety assessment of ingrediants in personal care products.

CIA had Malaysia secret police monitor Jan., 2000 al Qaeda meeting where "Operation Holy Tuesday" (9/11) was planned

"This was the first planning meeting of the 9/11 operation. It was to review the progress they had achieved on the operation and to map out their future course of action," Rohan Gunaratna, the world's most renowned expert on Osama bin Laden, told reporters after he appeared before the commission probing 9/11.
The meeting of terrorists in Malaysia has previously been disclosed, but Gunaratna added new details that have never before been revealed, such as the involvement of Khalid Mohammed. Also, the name of the attacks, "Operation Holy Tuesday," has not been previously known.

Record Medicare Price Increases (announced Friday before the holiday)

The 17 percent increase in Medicare premiums is the largest increase in the 40-year history of the program, according to the Associated Press.

Bush muzzled Saudi links post 9/11, says a new book

US President George Bush muzzled his links with the Saudi royal family after the 9/11 air attacks, senator Bob Graham has written in his new book "Intelligence Matters".
The book further says that the White House blacked out 28 pages of a report that dealt with the purported links between the Saudis and the hijackers,
After 9/11 the Bush administration had engaged in a "cover-up" to protect its 'ally', The Independent quoted Graham as writing in his book.
Graham writes that Bush and his senior officials "coddled" the Saudi authorities and waged a war against Saddam Hussein by diverting resources from the hunt for the al-Qaeda.

The Pay-off in Bush Air Guard Fix

This week, former Lt. Governor Ben Barnes of Texas 'fessed up to pulling the strings to keep Little George out of the jungle. "I got a young man named George W. Bush into the Texas Air Guard - and I'm ashamed."
That’s far from the end of the story. In 1994, George W. Bush was elected governor of Texas by a whisker. By that time, Barnes had left office to become a big time corporate lobbyist. To an influence peddler like Barnes, having damning information on a sitting governor is worth its weight in gold – or, more precisely, there’s a value in keeping the info secret.
Barnes appears to have made lucrative use of his knowledge of our President’s slithering out of the draft as a lever to protect a multi-billion dollar contract for a client. That's the information in a confidential letter buried deep in the files of the US Justice Department that fell into my hands at BBC television.

Maths holy grail could bring disaster for internet

"The whole of e-commerce depends on prime numbers. I have described the primes as atoms: what mathematicians are missing is a kind of mathematical prime spectrometer. Chemists have a machine that, if you give it a molecule, will tell you the atoms that it is built from. Mathematicians haven't invented a mathematical version of this. That is what we are after. If the Riemann hypothesis is true, it won't produce a prime number spectrometer. But the proof should give us more understanding of how the primes work, and therefore the proof might be translated into something that might produce this prime spectrometer. If it does, it will bring the whole of e-commerce to its knees, overnight. So there are very big implications."