Archive for December, 2008

Bush obfuscator dies in plane crash

This is one of those X-files stories where you know in your heart of hearts that the guy was murdered, but you find it very difficult to admit it publicly to avoid seeming a loon.

I guess I’m a loon.

From at-Largely (Larisa Alexandrovna):

Image: Connell Donatelli Inc.

Mike Connell set-up the alternate email and communications system for the White House. He was responsible for creating the system that hosted the infamous GWB43.com accounts that Karl Rove and others used. When asked by Congress to provide these emails, the White House said that they were destroyed. But in reality, what Connell is alleged to have done is move these files to other servers after having allegedly scrubbed the files from all “known” Karl Rove accounts.

In addition, I have reason to believe that the alternate accounts were used to communicate with US Attorneys involved in political prosecutions, like that of Don Siegelman. This is what I have been working on to prove for over a year. In fact, it was through following the Siegelman-Rove trail that I found evidence leading to Connell. That is how I became aware of him. Mike was getting ready to talk. He was frightened.”

Graham writes: “Unfortunately, he won’t get to talk. He died in a plane crash yesterday.”

UPDATE: A curious press release: “Bush Insider Who Planned To Tell All Killed In Plane Crash: Non-Profit Demands Full Federal InvestigationMark Frauenfelder
BoingBoing

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Another reason why red light cameras are unjust

If you don’t already think there is something rotten with the police camera systems that are going up all across the country (Kansas City, MO is putting them in as I type), try this one on for size:

As a prank, students from [Maryland] high schools have been taking advantage of the county’s Speed Camera Program in order to exact revenge on people who they believe have wronged them in the past, including other students and even teachers…Students duplicate the license plates by printing plate numbers on glossy photo paper, using fonts from certain websites that “mimic” those on Maryland license plates. They tape the duplicate plate over the existing plate on the back of their car and purposefully speed through a speed camera…The victim then receives a citation in the mail days later.Joe Slaninka
The Sentinel

The owner of the vehicle is the one that is ticketed with these cameras. So, for instance, if your car is stolen (or, as above, someone fakes your plate) and the thief runs a light, you get the ticket in the mail weeks after being burgled. Do we really need any more proof that these systems should be demolished?

Via GNN

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Everyone deserves water

Make potable water a universal human right!

Article 31:
Everyone has the right to clean and accessible water, adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and family, and no one shall be deprived of such access or quality of water due to individual economic circumstance.
Article31.org

Sign the petition to make potable water a universal human right. I did. I’m currently at the bottom of page 32 of the signees. Then, check out the documentary that inspired this petition, FLOW. The film (and the issue) is too powerful to ignore. Water is a right, not a privilege.

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