From Slate:
The Faith-Based Vote
“As we barrel toward Election Day, Direct Recording Electronic voting systems—usually touch-screen, always entirely unverifiable—are still being used by 20 percent to 30 percent of U.S. voters. The nation will rely on the faith-based results reported by these oft-failed, easily manipulated, virus-prone voting systems for the next two to six years and probably beyond. Whoever the machines report as the “winner” will become the winner, even though no human being will be able to prove that any of those candidates received more votes than the “loser.” And there will be virtually nothing we can do about it.
(snip)
If you’d like to see how easy it is to hack a Sequoia DRE and flip the results of an election in a way that is virtually impossible to discover (even on a DRE that prints receipts) University of California-Santa Barbara made a handy video as part of California’s landmark 2007 “Top to Bottom Review” of e-voting systems. The California secretary of state decertified Sequoia’s and most other DREs after the UCSB findings. But a bevy of states continue to use them anyway.
For small-time voter fraud, try out the little yellow button on the back of Sequoia’s AVC Edge DRE. Press it in the right pattern, and you can cast as many votes as you like. You may not know the pattern, but plenty of election officials and Sequoia maintenance employees do. They frequently have unfettered access to the machines during early voting and on Election Day.”
Certainly puts Tuesday’s election results in perspective eh?
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From The Atlantic:
For the First Time, the TSA Meets Resistance
“At BWI, I told the officer who directed me to the back-scatter that I preferred a pat-down. I did this in order to see how effective the manual search would be. When I made this request, a number of TSA officers, to my surprise, began laughing. I asked why. One of them — the one who would eventually conduct my pat-down — said that the rules were changing shortly, and that I would soon understand why the back-scatter was preferable to the manual search.
(snip)
“Yes, but starting tomorrow, we’re going to start searching your crotchal area” — this is the word he used, “crotchal” — and you’re not going to like it.”
“What am I not going to like?” I asked.
“We have to search up your thighs and between your legs until we meet resistance,” he explained.
“Resistance?” I asked.
“Your testicles,” he explained.
This practice does not prevent terrorism. It’s just training the masses to accept the coming police state. I say fuck that and fight the good fight. I’ve quote Doug Stanhope before about this-“If you’re legal - always say “I opt out” and pretend to enjoy the thorough pat-down like a deviant.” Moan some when they grope your genitals. Or in a shy voice suggest the TSA agent tell you you’re pretty before sexually molesting you. If they’re going to fuck with you then fuck back.
—
From NOLA:
Sen. David Vitter wins re-election in remarkable comeback
“Louisiana voters easily re-elected Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter to a second six-year term Tuesday over Congressman Charlie Melancon and 10 minor candidates in a campaign in which disenchantment with the Democratic agenda trumped concerns about the incumbent’s personal character.
Vitter, who apologized for committing a “serious sin” and said he had found forgiveness from his family and his God, executed a well-disciplined campaign, mostly steering clear of the media and communicating to voters through 30-second ads that tied Melancon to President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders in Washington. ”
David Vitter wins reelection while Deborah Palfrey’s “suicide” fades from public memory. Grrrrrr! This election result pisses me off so much.
Posted by Vixen as News at 9:23 PM CST
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Recently Reverend Billy posted about his Pledgathon on his Facebook page. If you can donate this season his cause is a good one.
Support The Movement!
“We have a low budget — we pay six musicians and the weekly rehearsal hall rental, a 2 1/2 person staff but no office, just computers and phones and musical equipment to buy and maintain. Once in a while we will take out an ad in the Onion. Most of us — and all the singers — are activists on top of day-jobs.
We like action. We’ll lead a parade, energize a picket line in a Wal-Mart parking lot, sing at a fundraiser to save a town from a supermall… Maybe we’re too busy to write grants, or , we remember so many rejections when we did have a grant-writer. We seem to fall “out of category.” Amen! So - JOIN THE CHURCH. We’re asking you to be our supporters. We’re a good bang for the change-the-world buck.”
Posted by Vixen as Activism at 9:02 PM CDT
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From Bound, not Gagged:
Update from Sex Worker advocates at UN in Geneva this week
“Tomorrow, November 5, 2010, the United States will be reviewed as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The session can be viewed online as a webcast.
(snip)
In preparation for the upcoming review, advocates for the rights of sex workers consulted with networks and organizations working with sex workers, people in the sex trade and people who are affected by anti-prostitution policies in the United States more generally. Drawing on these perspectives, the Best Practices Policy Project, in collaboration with Desiree Alliance and the Sexual Rights Initiative, drafted a comprehensive national statement http://www.bestpracticespolicy.org/downloads/FinalUPRBPPP_Formatted.pdf that describes the ways in which stigmatization and criminalization of sex workers in the United States result in widespread violations of civil and human rights. These abuses are rampant in working class, majority African-American and Latino, and urban communities. Arrests for sex work can lead to a cycle of continued exclusion from housing, marginalization from formal employment, and re-imprisonment. Furthermore, law enforcement officers frequently commit physical and sexual violence against sex workers, while simultaneously failing to recognize that sex workers can be victims of crime, denying justice or support to sex workers who seek their help.”
Wow, this is impressive. Way to go advocates!
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From Palm Beach Post:
Cheetah patron, injured by stripper’s shoe, wins $650,000 judgment
“A man who sued after being struck in the face by a strip dancer’s shoe at the Cheetah nightclub, seriously injuring his eye, has won a $650,000 judgment.
(snip)
Ireland, a roofer, has experienced chronic double vision since stripper Sakeena Shageer’s shoe made contact with his eye at the suburban West Palm Beach club in September 2008, Lytal said.
“When this case was first filed, many people criticized it simply because it occurred at a strip club,” Lytal said. “But we feel the $650,000 settlement goes to show that this was a serious case with serious injuries.”"
I was positive I had blogged about this incident but can’t find it in my archives. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting case. The amount of the settlement surprised me.
—
From Queerty:
Georgia Megachurch Pastor Jim Swilley: I’m Gay, And I’m Telling You Because Of Those Bullycides
“Is it terrible that my first instinct, upon learning Georgia megapastor Jim Swilley has come out, is thinking he must have a secret gay sex scandal that he’s trying to get in front of? Eddie Long and Ted Haggard have ruined it for everyone! But really, this is an amazing story. Keep your chin up for it.
(snip)
The pastor made the announcement to his congregation two weeks ago (yes, it takes time for some stories to trickle), with his family in the audience and decided to come out now after witnessing the rash of gay youths killing themselves. One Internet forum poster says that unlike Atlanta’s Long (whom Swilley won’t speak about), Swilley has not used the pulpit to denigrate gays: “For those of you familiar with Church In the Now, while never discussing his own sexuality, you know that Swilley has always preached a message of inclusion, love and abundance for all God’s children. Bishop Swilley has been asked to step down as Bishop, but will remain as Pastor.” (That last part we haven’t confirmed.)”
Like Queerty, I too assumed there was some sort of sex scandal behind Swilley’s outing. So this was a nice surprise. I’m glad to read that he preached a message of inclusion for gays.
Posted by Vixen as News, Sex Workers at 11:09 PM CDT
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The last few days have been busy for me. I had meant to post about Samhain, The Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear and of course the Nov. 2 elections. Bah.
At least O’Donnell got defeated. And while I’m glad that the CEO of Ebay isn’t going to be CEO of California I’m not overjoyed with Brown winning. Remember this is the same Brown that the Dead Kennedys wrote California Über Alles about. (Youtube version here)
One theme that I find annoying is how the winning party is portrayed as seizing control of whatever they won. I don’t think the Republican party “seized” control. The Democrats had an opportunity and didn’t do what they said they would. The same thing happened the last time Republicans won big. Both parties say they work for the common man and neither do. The more elections I see the more I want to vote third party. But then the old argument starts in my head-am I just wasting my vote? After we got yet another robocall for yet another politician pretending to be different Mr. Radical said-”Oh great I get to vote to be punched in the gut or kicked in the balls”. He’s got a point.
And I haven’t even gotten to the obvious fucking with the votes. How is it that the results of elections, amendments and such are announced before the polls even close? Bah again.
Posted by Vixen as Political Rants, News at 11:08 PM CDT
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