I realized today what the true meaning of Christmas is. It is good to give. You should give things to people who you care about. Instead of doing this throughout the year, we concentrate it all one one day. That allows us to be assholes the rest of the year. We can also give less by concentrating it on one day. Christmas is about being a good person for one day out of the year so that we can be complete selfish assholes the rest of the year.
May you be touched by His noodly appendage. Ramen.
The Space Shuttle landed safely. The astronauts are in Florida. They only needed one state to land it this time. I call that a job well done.
Dec. 23rd, 2006 @ 11:53 am
Some people have sex. This guy turns Star Wars into an ASCII character based movie. Here's how to see it.
Mac users, go to the Applications folder and open the Utilities folder. In that, you will find Terminal. Open it. OR If you are on 10.4, Hold down command (the Apple key) and press space. Then, type terminal and click on it when it shows up on the results list.
Windows users, hold the Windows key on your keyboard (between ctrl and alt) and press r. Type cmd and press enter.
Anyone else, find your command line. It is there somewhere. If you are on something other than Mac or Windows, you obviously know enough to know where your command line is. If you don't, find the nearest Sarlac pit and jump in.
Now, if your system is configured like 99% of systems out there, typing "telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl" and pressing enter will display Star Wars Episode 4 played entirely by ASCII characters.
Dec. 17th, 2006 @ 11:42 pm
Reality TV comes from England. It is one of the most soul-suckingly bad things to happen to TV ever. How did something so bad come about?
I WW2, American soldiers needed companionship while stationed in the UK. They found British women also needed companionship while their men were off fighting. The Americans went home, leaving behind many children. The British men didn't come back from the war, having died or hooked up with the local women. There were many men who grew up fatherless, becoming TV producers for the BBC. As revenge on the American men who left their mothers, the war orphans invented reality TV, conspired to make it appear successful in the UK, and got Americans to watch it.
As punishment for this, I suggest expelling Sinbad, Rob Schneider, and Carrot Top from our country, exiling them to the UK.
Nov. 18th, 2006 @ 11:12 am
Today's election is going smoothly, if you define smoothly as, "violating the Ohio Revised code and the US Constitution."
I had two incidents with poll workers today that were not in the best interest of the Republic. First off, I was filming a documentary of the process of casting a ballot. It was going to show the process from entering the door to casting the actual ballot and returning the ballot card. I was the camera operator while my friend was there to vote. It didn't go over well with the poll workers. They stated several times that they didn't think you can take pictures at the polls. I turned off my camera and put it at my side before turning it back on.
Later, the Secretary of State's office confirmed that there is no law restricting the use of photography and video equipment at the polls. The Licking County Director of Elections, Mr. Jay Morrow, however, feels otherwise. He couldn't tell me where the law is or why there was no notice of this posted. He could only offer that they might be responding to my "loitering." They never once stated that I couldn't be there and had to leave. I don't think loitering was a concern that they had. One poll worker mentioned something about how she didn't think taking pictures that didn't include faces was a problem. Apparently, she has never heard of pixelating faces in video editing.
As a video documentarian, I have 1st amendment protections in cases like this. The election process is supposed to be public and transparent. We are being denied the ability to record the process.
The video will be posted as soon as I have it edited.
Before I explain the second incident, please read the following excerpt from the US Constitution, Amendment 24, Section 1.
1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
The second incident involved the new identification law. I was unable to record it as I had no camera operator with me. The new law requires you to identify yourself to be able to vote. This is a noble attempt at preventing voter fraud and should have been implemented decades, if not centuries ago.
The problem is, the system is flawed. You are allowed to present a driver's license or state ID. These are government documents that you pay for. Notice I said allowed, not required. You also have the option to present a current utility bill, bank statement, or pay stub. If none of these are available, you can vote using a provisional ballot.
Since I paid $24 just a few weeks ago to renew my driver's license, requiring that I show that to vote in a congressional election is a violation of my rights as they are protected by the 24th amendment.
I presented the poll worker with my bank statement. She accepted it at first, using it to find my name in her book and passing it to the next poll worker as she should do with a proper identification. Then she asked me for my photo ID. I know that the only photo ID that is accepted is a state or federal ID. Not wanting to be made to use a provisional ballot, as several people were at that moment, I showed my driver's license. I said, "This is dangerously close to a poll tax; I paid for this." She took my ID, looked at it quickly, and handed it back. She said it was important that they make sure that I was me. I agreed that it was important, but stated that the system was flawed.
After that, everything went mostly smoothly. I made my selections on the Diebold machine that I don't trust any farther than the sparks would fly if I showed it how much I like it in the proper monkey-fling-poo sort of way. (The limitations on our freedom make us not much better than monkeys, so you might as well fling away, Mrs. Garrison.) It printed the results on its internal paper tape. They all matched what I told it. I have no way of knowing if it was stored on the memory card that way, but the paper was right. The problem with the paper, though, is that it wasn't clearly visible all the way to the bottom. After it scrolled up, I was able to see it, but I had to press the "Cast Ballot" button to get it to move.
Overall, I was disappointed with the whole election process. I had to use a machine that is easy to hack, I was denied my 24th amendment rights, and more importantly, I was denied my 1st amendment rights. I'm considering contacting the ACLU about the poll tax. I can't afford a lawyer of my own, so they'll have to do. Maybe they can help set up a class action lawsuit and make the state IDs free for registered voters and get refunds for all the registered voters who paid for their IDs after the voter identification law was passed.
Anyway, I'm fully pissed off now. Maybe I'll go watch V for Vendetta, Equilibrium, Deathrace 2000, or 1984.
Nov. 7th, 2006 @ 05:01 pm
Last Thursday, HBO showed a documentary on electronic voting. They told the truth. As a result of this being truth, Diebold Election Systems Inc. (DESI) did everything they could to stop it from being aired. They told about the discrepancies between actual votes and recorded votes, including Volusia County being negative for Gore. They even showed how, with access to a memory card, one person could change a whole election. They demonstrated it with the help of a Florida elections official. Below is a link to the video. It is over an hour long. Watch the whole thing before you go to vote tomorrow. I'll be taking my video camera, but I know it won't prevent this kind of fraud.
The following block of text that you probably won't read details how and why martial law may be declared in parts of the United States. It was just signed into law. In short, it allows the President, after notifying Congress (not asking for permission from Congress, notifying them), to deploy Federal troops in the United States for the purposes of Law Enforcement. I think the worst part is Paragraph 2. It allows any state that violates the Constitution to be taken over by Federal troops. Nevermind that the Federal government is not enforcing the Constitution on itself. EVERY STATE is violating the Constitution in some way. Ohio denies civil rights to homosexuals and smokers. All states have violations of the 2nd amendment. Most violate the 4th as well. Under Paragraph 2, if a state is controlled by the opposition to the President, he can invade the state and does not have to ask for permission. This is not a bill that you need to write to your congressman and ask him not to vote for. This is law. Posse Commitatus is over.
SEC. 1076. USE OF THE ARMED FORCES IN MAJOR PUBLIC EMER- GENCIES. (a) USE OF THE ARMED FORCES AUTHORIZED.-- (1) IN GENERAL.--Section 333 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: " 333. Major public emergencies; interference with State and Federal law "(a) USE OF ARMED FORCES IN MAJOR PUBLIC EMERGENCIES.-- (1) The President may employ the armed forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to-- "(A) restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition in any State or possession of the United States, the President determines that-- "(i) domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order; and "(ii) such violence results in a condition described in paragraph (2); or "(B) suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy if such insurrec- tion, violation, combination, or conspiracy results in a condition described in paragraph (2). "(2) A condition described in this paragraph is a condition that-- "(A) so hinders the execution of the laws of a State or possession, as applicable, and of the United States within that State or possession, that any part or class of its people is deprived of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law, and the constituted authorities of that State or possession are unable, fail, or refuse to protect that right, privilege, or immunity, or to give that protection; or "(B) opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws. "(3) In any situation covered by paragraph (1)(B), the State shall be considered to have denied the equal protection of the laws secured by the Constitution. "(b) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.--The President shall notify Congress of the determination to exercise the authority in subsection (a)(1)(A) as soon as practicable after the determination and every 14 days thereafter during the duration of the exercise of that authority.". (2) PROCLAMATION TO DISPERSE.--Section 334 of such title is amended by inserting "or those obstructing the enforcement of the laws" after "insurgents". (3) HEADING AMENDMENT.--The heading of chapter 15 of such title is amended to read as follows: "CHAPTER 15--ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER". (4) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.--(A) The tables of chapters at the beginning of subtitle A of title 10, United States Code, and at the beginning of part I of such subtitle, are each amended by striking the item relating to chapter 15 and inserting the following new item: "15 Enforcement of the Laws to Restore Public Order ... 331". (B) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 15 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to sections 333 and inserting the following new item: "333. Major public emergencies; interference with State and Federal law.". (b) PROVISION OF SUPPLIES, SERVICES, AND EQUIPMENT.-- (1) IN GENERAL.--Chapter 152 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section: " 2567. Supplies, services, and equipment: provision in major public emergencies "(a) PROVISION AUTHORIZED.--In any situation in which the President determines to exercise the authority in section 333(a)(1)(A) of this title, the President may direct the Secretary of Defense to provide supplies, services, and equipment to persons affected by the situation. "(b) COVERED SUPPLIES, SERVICES, AND EQUIPMENT.--The sup- plies, services, and equipment provided under this section may include food, water, utilities, bedding, transportation, tentage, search and rescue, medical care, minor repairs, the removal of debris, and other assistance necessary for the immediate preserva- tion of life and property. "(c) LIMITATIONS.--(1) Supplies, services, and equipment may be provided under this section-- "(A) only to the extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession concerned are unable to provide such supplies, services, and equipment, as the case may be; and "(B) only until such authorities, or other departments or agencies of the United States charged with the provision of such supplies, services, and equipment, are able to provide such supplies, services, and equipment. "(2) The Secretary may provide supplies, services, and equip- ment under this section only to the extent that the Secretary determines that doing so will not interfere with military prepared- ness or ongoing military operations or functions. "(d) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES.--The provision of supplies, services, or equipment under this section shall not be subject to the provisions of section 403(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b(c)).". (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: "2567. Supplies, services, and equipment: provision in major public emergencies". (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.--Section 12304(c)(1) of such title is amended by striking "No unit" and all that follows through "subsection (b)," and inserting "Except to perform any of the func- tions authorized by chapter 15 or section 12406 of this title or by subsection (b), no unit or member of a reserve component may be ordered to active duty under this section".
Oct. 29th, 2006 @ 08:03 am
I think I have met this guy. The name sounds familiar. I think he applied for an account where I work. I wasn't able to set it up because he didn't provide the proper information and I couldn't contact him. I'm pretty sure the application was for a company in New York. I knew there was something wrong with him.
Oct. 28th, 2006 @ 02:50 pm
This is kind of a long video, but it is worth watching. If you don't consider yourself political, watch it anyway. This guy has it figured out. He knows who the real terrorists are. After watching this, go vote on Nov. 7. If you don't plan to vote, watch it again and ask yourself how you can stay home from the polls. By allowing yourself to stay out of the possible solution, you are condoning the actions of the real terrorists.
For those of you who don't know what is going on in Ohio, Here is the latest. Ken Blackwell is the republican candidate. Ted Strickland is the democratic candidate. Bill Peirce is the Libertarian candidate. Ted and Ken have kept Bill out of the debates. This is what we expect. It isn't right, but that is what happens. This, however, is not the worst thing that is happening in Ohio right now.
There has been a complaint against Ted Strickland's voter registration. The claim is that he is voting in the wrong precinct. They say he is registered and votes in his hometown, but he lives in Columbus. Of course he has a residence in Columbus. He works there. His primary residence is not there. If it is found that he is violating election law, he can be removed from the ballot.
This is the kind of bullshit that shows how low Ken Blackwell is willing to sink. Enforcement of this kind of thing is his job. One candidate has the power to take another candidate off the ballot. Welcome to Blackwell's Ohio. It seems a lot like Tweed's New York.
Today, I contributed $100 to the Peirce campaign. I have been planning on voting for Peirce. If Blackwell removes Strickland from the ballot, Strickland gets my vote on principle.
If violating election law gets you removed from the ballot, we should remove Ken Blackwell. When the Libertarian party qualified for major party status, earning a party label next to candidates on the ballot, Blackwell refused to allow it. He has also gone out of his way to prevent people from registering to vote. His strict registration rules kept someone I know from voting in 2004. A federal court ended some of those restrictions, but that doesn't give anyone back the vote from years past.
Even if Blackwell were found to have violated laws, I'd rather not see him removed from the ballot. He will lose fair and square when Strickland beats him. Hopefully Strickland's Secretary of State will not break the same election laws that kept the Libertarian party from being listed on the ballot.
Oct. 18th, 2006 @ 11:17 pm
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