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interpreting the constitution
| redstat |
in bed with the red
fun d' mental
Weather
one nation, under surveillance
spread of the red
number 144 03.23.08
source: Viroqua Institute
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| verbatim archive |
| Slim Harpo Tribute Page |
Attempts to address the US
dependency on imported oil by
significantly increasing the
production of corn-based ethanol
will have disastrous effects for the
Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone,”
scientists have warned in a pair of
recently published research
studies.
Both reports conclude that
increased corn production will
result in exponentially higher
levels of nitrogen runoff from
heavily fertilized Midwestern farm
fields, overwhelming streams in
the Mississippi River basin and
contributing to the unnatural
algae blooms that have created
the low-oxygen Dead Zone,
which at over 7900 square miles
is already approximately the size
of the state of New Jersey. A
researcher involved with one of
the studies said that the expected
increase in nitrogen levels “will
overwhelm all the suggested
mitigation options.”
One study, published in the
current issue of the journal
Nature, tracked the process by
which fresh water river systems
absorb nitrogen, revealing that
this natural denitrification cannot
keep pace with ever-increasing
levels of fertilizers used by
agribusiness. A separate study
concluded that corn-based
ethanol production poses a direct
threat to the Gulf of Mexico, and
that congressionally proposed
increases in ethanol production
would raise Gulf nitrogen levels
between 10 and 19 percent by
2022. The report was published in
the Proceedings of the National
Journal of Sciences. it's all true
dependency on imported oil by
significantly increasing the
production of corn-based ethanol
will have disastrous effects for the
Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone,”
scientists have warned in a pair of
recently published research
studies.
Both reports conclude that
increased corn production will
result in exponentially higher
levels of nitrogen runoff from
heavily fertilized Midwestern farm
fields, overwhelming streams in
the Mississippi River basin and
contributing to the unnatural
algae blooms that have created
the low-oxygen Dead Zone,
which at over 7900 square miles
is already approximately the size
of the state of New Jersey. A
researcher involved with one of
the studies said that the expected
increase in nitrogen levels “will
overwhelm all the suggested
mitigation options.”
One study, published in the
current issue of the journal
Nature, tracked the process by
which fresh water river systems
absorb nitrogen, revealing that
this natural denitrification cannot
keep pace with ever-increasing
levels of fertilizers used by
agribusiness. A separate study
concluded that corn-based
ethanol production poses a direct
threat to the Gulf of Mexico, and
that congressionally proposed
increases in ethanol production
would raise Gulf nitrogen levels
between 10 and 19 percent by
2022. The report was published in
the Proceedings of the National
Journal of Sciences. it's all true
Election officials in New Jersey have
abandoned their plans to commission an
independent review of electronic voting
systems that malfunctioned during
primary voting in February after
receiving legal threats from Sequoia
Voting Systems, the private company
that manufactured and sold the suspect
machines.
The Constitutional Officers Association
of New Jersey, acting on behalf of
county clerks that administer elections,
had approached Princeton University
computer security expert Edward Felten
seeking an analysis of discrepancies
observed in at least 60 AVC Advantage
machines built by Sequoia. In a series of
threatening emails and letters first
reported by independent journalist Brad
Friedman on his influential Bradblog,
Sequoia Vice President Edwin Smith
abandoned their plans to commission an
independent review of electronic voting
systems that malfunctioned during
primary voting in February after
receiving legal threats from Sequoia
Voting Systems, the private company
that manufactured and sold the suspect
machines.
The Constitutional Officers Association
of New Jersey, acting on behalf of
county clerks that administer elections,
had approached Princeton University
computer security expert Edward Felten
seeking an analysis of discrepancies
observed in at least 60 AVC Advantage
machines built by Sequoia. In a series of
threatening emails and letters first
reported by independent journalist Brad
Friedman on his influential Bradblog,
Sequoia Vice President Edwin Smith
asserted that the counties, which have
spent millions of dollars on licensing
agreements with Sequoia, have no right
to perform independent analysis of the
machines or their software.
The company has blamed the New
Jersey anomalies on “poll worker error,”
and has promised to conduct its own
review of the AVC Advantage machines,
which are used in 18 of the state’s 21
counties. Friedman reports that election
officials have told him privately that they
are reluctant to engage in legal action
against companies that sell them
electronic voting systems because they
will be dependent on the same
technology for the upcoming general
election in November. Computer
scientists have pointed out that the same
machines will be widely used in next
month’s Pennsylvania primary. it's all true
spent millions of dollars on licensing
agreements with Sequoia, have no right
to perform independent analysis of the
machines or their software.
The company has blamed the New
Jersey anomalies on “poll worker error,”
and has promised to conduct its own
review of the AVC Advantage machines,
which are used in 18 of the state’s 21
counties. Friedman reports that election
officials have told him privately that they
are reluctant to engage in legal action
against companies that sell them
electronic voting systems because they
will be dependent on the same
technology for the upcoming general
election in November. Computer
scientists have pointed out that the same
machines will be widely used in next
month’s Pennsylvania primary. it's all true
b$ 2 4 6
| france |
| uk |
| us |
| canada |
| Conventional arms exports top five countries |
| russia |
...It must be exciting
for you, in some ways
romantic, in some
ways, you know,
confronting danger."
Washington DC 03.13.08
for you, in some ways
romantic, in some
ways, you know,
confronting danger."
Washington DC 03.13.08
verbatim number 28.3
"I must say, I’m a little
envious, If I were
slightly younger and
not employed here, I
think it would be a
fantastic experience to
be on the front lines...
envious, If I were
slightly younger and
not employed here, I
think it would be a
fantastic experience to
be on the front lines...
The United Nations special investigator
on torture said that the Pentagon has
denied him access to American military
jails, prisons and detention facilities in
Iraq. Manfred Nowak, an Austrian Law
professor who is designated by the UN
Human Rights Council as an independent
rapporteur on torture, said officials told
him that the US military is not required
to submit to international human rights
inspections.
Nowak told reporters, “I am a little
astonished that the US government is
not willing to grant me access.” Nowak
said that he has received approval from
the Iraqi deputy minister for human
on torture said that the Pentagon has
denied him access to American military
jails, prisons and detention facilities in
Iraq. Manfred Nowak, an Austrian Law
professor who is designated by the UN
Human Rights Council as an independent
rapporteur on torture, said officials told
him that the US military is not required
to submit to international human rights
inspections.
Nowak told reporters, “I am a little
astonished that the US government is
not willing to grant me access.” Nowak
said that he has received approval from
the Iraqi deputy minister for human
rights and British officials to perform
unannounced on-site visits of their
detention centers in Iraq.
Although the State Department has
declined to comment, officials who
know of the request told the Associated
Press that international human rights law
does not apply to the US occupation of
Iraq because of on-going armed conflict
in the country. The State Department
said it does allow inspectors from the
Red Cross to visit its detention centers
in Iraq, but the reports the Red Cross
writes about the condition of prisoners
in Iraq are confidential. Reports made
by the Human Rights Council to the UN
unannounced on-site visits of their
detention centers in Iraq.
Although the State Department has
declined to comment, officials who
know of the request told the Associated
Press that international human rights law
does not apply to the US occupation of
Iraq because of on-going armed conflict
in the country. The State Department
said it does allow inspectors from the
Red Cross to visit its detention centers
in Iraq, but the reports the Red Cross
writes about the condition of prisoners
in Iraq are confidential. Reports made
by the Human Rights Council to the UN
are released to the public.
The world was stunned in 2003 when
the torturous treatment of detainees
at the US run Abu Ghraib detention
center came to light. Nowak said
that he has received reports that
conditions in US detention facilities
have improved, including anecdotal
evidence that captives in Iraq would
prefer to be held by the US military
than by the Iraqi security forces. The
torture investigator for the UN said
he was puzzled by the Pentagon’s
refusal to allow his inspections
because, “it might even be in
their interest.” it's all true
The world was stunned in 2003 when
the torturous treatment of detainees
at the US run Abu Ghraib detention
center came to light. Nowak said
that he has received reports that
conditions in US detention facilities
have improved, including anecdotal
evidence that captives in Iraq would
prefer to be held by the US military
than by the Iraqi security forces. The
torture investigator for the UN said
he was puzzled by the Pentagon’s
refusal to allow his inspections
because, “it might even be in
their interest.” it's all true
A US soldier has filed a federal
lawsuit alleging that he is the victim
of religious discrimination. Army
Specialist Jeremy Hall claims that he
has been denied a promotion due to
the fact that he does not believe in a
god. Hall is a self-professed atheist.
Hall says that several incidents led to
his decision to seek protection from
the courts. The first incident
occurred when Hall was deployed in
Iraq with his military police unit. Hall
was prevented from holding an open
meeting at his base to discuss
atheism. The lawsuit alleges that Maj
Freddy Welborn prevented the
meeting from taking place and
threatened to bring military charges
against Hall.
The lawsuit also alleges that a
platoon sergeant at Hall’s base told
him that he would not be a candidate
for promotion because he does not
believe in god. Hall said he was told
by the platoon sergeant that he
would not be able to “pray with his
troops” and otherwise bond with
them in a traditional fashion because
of his atheism. it's all true
lawsuit alleging that he is the victim
of religious discrimination. Army
Specialist Jeremy Hall claims that he
has been denied a promotion due to
the fact that he does not believe in a
god. Hall is a self-professed atheist.
Hall says that several incidents led to
his decision to seek protection from
the courts. The first incident
occurred when Hall was deployed in
Iraq with his military police unit. Hall
was prevented from holding an open
meeting at his base to discuss
atheism. The lawsuit alleges that Maj
Freddy Welborn prevented the
meeting from taking place and
threatened to bring military charges
against Hall.
The lawsuit also alleges that a
platoon sergeant at Hall’s base told
him that he would not be a candidate
for promotion because he does not
believe in god. Hall said he was told
by the platoon sergeant that he
would not be able to “pray with his
troops” and otherwise bond with
them in a traditional fashion because
of his atheism. it's all true
The German high court last week
imposed significant limits on government
surveillance powers, striking down
recent legislation that required
telecommunications companies to
maintain large databases of private
transactions and make them accessible
to law enforcement agencies. The ruling
blocked parts of a European Union data
collection law that sparked protests by
civil liberties advocates and prompted
the largest class action lawsuit in the
country’s history. The decision is the
latest in a series of rulings by the court
affirming privacy rights in cases that
closely parallel litigation pending in the
United States.
The Federal Constitutional Court in
Karlsruhe ordered that the companies
continue to retain the data, in
compliance with EU law, while a legal
imposed significant limits on government
surveillance powers, striking down
recent legislation that required
telecommunications companies to
maintain large databases of private
transactions and make them accessible
to law enforcement agencies. The ruling
blocked parts of a European Union data
collection law that sparked protests by
civil liberties advocates and prompted
the largest class action lawsuit in the
country’s history. The decision is the
latest in a series of rulings by the court
affirming privacy rights in cases that
closely parallel litigation pending in the
United States.
The Federal Constitutional Court in
Karlsruhe ordered that the companies
continue to retain the data, in
compliance with EU law, while a legal
review is in process, but sharply
restricted law enforcement access to the
information, requiring investigators to
obtain warrants by producing evidence of
“serious crime”. The ruling is considered
a setback for the administration of
Chancellor Angela Merkel, which has
introduced several controversial security
measures only to see them declared
unconstitutional after legal challenges.
Opposition parties have criticized the
government for citing the threat of
terrorism in repeatedly testing the limits
of its authority to perform surveillance
on private citizens.
Earlier this month the high court ruled
that a police program that involved
automatically running vast numbers of
auto license plates was unlawfully broad
because the surveillance was performed
without specific cause. In February, the
restricted law enforcement access to the
information, requiring investigators to
obtain warrants by producing evidence of
“serious crime”. The ruling is considered
a setback for the administration of
Chancellor Angela Merkel, which has
introduced several controversial security
measures only to see them declared
unconstitutional after legal challenges.
Opposition parties have criticized the
government for citing the threat of
terrorism in repeatedly testing the limits
of its authority to perform surveillance
on private citizens.
Earlier this month the high court ruled
that a police program that involved
automatically running vast numbers of
auto license plates was unlawfully broad
because the surveillance was performed
without specific cause. In February, the
court blocked the government from
using sophisticated “spyware” to
access private computers, explicitly
recognizing a “fundamental right to
surveillance-free computer systems,”
according to the German newspaper
Deutsche Welle.
In deciding the computer surveillance
case, the judges wrote, “Given the
gravity of the intrusion, the secret
infiltration of an IT system in such a
way that use of the system and its
data can be searched can only be
constitutionally allowed if clear
evidence of a concrete threat to a
prominent object of legal protection
exists.” Critics of data collection laws
also warn that information could be
shared with foreign governments,
leading to abuses beyond the purview
of German courts. it's all true
using sophisticated “spyware” to
access private computers, explicitly
recognizing a “fundamental right to
surveillance-free computer systems,”
according to the German newspaper
Deutsche Welle.
In deciding the computer surveillance
case, the judges wrote, “Given the
gravity of the intrusion, the secret
infiltration of an IT system in such a
way that use of the system and its
data can be searched can only be
constitutionally allowed if clear
evidence of a concrete threat to a
prominent object of legal protection
exists.” Critics of data collection laws
also warn that information could be
shared with foreign governments,
leading to abuses beyond the purview
of German courts. it's all true
German Court Upholds Civil Liberties and Other Foreign Principles
Biofuels Add Mileage
To Gulf Dead Zone
To Gulf Dead Zone
Company Elects to Play Hardball on Voting Software
For the first time in years, congressional
overseers have proposed legislation that
is intended to level the playing field
between banks that offer credit cards
and their customers. The Card Holder’s
Bill of Rights, sponsored by over 80
members of Congress, in the words of
its author Rep. Carolyn Maloney (DNY)
“contains no rate caps, fee setting, or
price controls” but even still, the huge
banks that sponsor credit card
agreements have responded to the
proposed legislation with indignation,
cries of over regulation and, most
recently, bully-boy tactics.
With the assistance of Republican
facilitators who sit on the House
Financial Institutions and Consumer
Credit Subcommittee, large banks
demanded at the last minute that
consumers who were scheduled to
appear in front of the committee release
their entire financial histories to the
press before they were allowed give
testimony about how arbitrary interest
rate increases, misleading contract
terms, excessive fees and usurious
interest rates effected them and their
families.
Representative Mark Udall (D-CO)
described the banks demand to have the
overseers have proposed legislation that
is intended to level the playing field
between banks that offer credit cards
and their customers. The Card Holder’s
Bill of Rights, sponsored by over 80
members of Congress, in the words of
its author Rep. Carolyn Maloney (DNY)
“contains no rate caps, fee setting, or
price controls” but even still, the huge
banks that sponsor credit card
agreements have responded to the
proposed legislation with indignation,
cries of over regulation and, most
recently, bully-boy tactics.
With the assistance of Republican
facilitators who sit on the House
Financial Institutions and Consumer
Credit Subcommittee, large banks
demanded at the last minute that
consumers who were scheduled to
appear in front of the committee release
their entire financial histories to the
press before they were allowed give
testimony about how arbitrary interest
rate increases, misleading contract
terms, excessive fees and usurious
interest rates effected them and their
families.
Representative Mark Udall (D-CO)
described the banks demand to have the
aggrieved consumers reveal their
financial histories to the public before
they testify as a “form of intimidation”
that exhibited the “muscle of the credit
card industry” with committee
Republicans. Udall said, “Consumers
weren’t given a chance to tell their
story…regular people are getting the
short end of the stick.”
The stipulation demanded by the banks
and Republicans on the committee
contradicts consumer protection advice
that, as a matter of course, is given to
individuals by nearly every single law
enforcement agency in the US. Due to
the prevalence of identity theft in
America, consumer protection agencies
always counsel consumers to never
under any circumstances reveal personal
identifiers, especially financial records, to
unknown persons.
The bill provides credit consumers with
protections against arbitrary interest rate
increases and excessive fees and calls for
Congress to provide better oversight of
the credit card industry. So far this
election cycle, candidates Obama and
Clinton have each raised over $6 million
and McCain has raised over $2.5 million
in contributions from the financial
services industry. it's all true
financial histories to the public before
they testify as a “form of intimidation”
that exhibited the “muscle of the credit
card industry” with committee
Republicans. Udall said, “Consumers
weren’t given a chance to tell their
story…regular people are getting the
short end of the stick.”
The stipulation demanded by the banks
and Republicans on the committee
contradicts consumer protection advice
that, as a matter of course, is given to
individuals by nearly every single law
enforcement agency in the US. Due to
the prevalence of identity theft in
America, consumer protection agencies
always counsel consumers to never
under any circumstances reveal personal
identifiers, especially financial records, to
unknown persons.
The bill provides credit consumers with
protections against arbitrary interest rate
increases and excessive fees and calls for
Congress to provide better oversight of
the credit card industry. So far this
election cycle, candidates Obama and
Clinton have each raised over $6 million
and McCain has raised over $2.5 million
in contributions from the financial
services industry. it's all true
Bully Banks Exhibit High Interest in Censorship
Atheist's Bid For
Promotion Doesn't
Have a Prayer
Promotion Doesn't
Have a Prayer
US Military Occupied With Unlawful Rejection of Torture Inspection