SkypeTraveler

FUBR Teabagging Nightmare

2006-10-31T19:28:00.000-06:00

Nebraska Absentee voters, beware!

2006-10-15T09:06:00.000-05:00

Letters, 10/15: We need mail-in privacy

Absentee voters, beware!

Do you know that when you request a mail-in ballot, that the information on who receives a ballot is public information? Therefore, the list of names, addresses, etc., is available for anyone to use.

I received my mail-in ballot Wednesday noon and one hour later received a call from Gov. Dave Heineman stating that I had just received a mail-in ballot, and he asked me to vote for Pete Ricketts. I am sure this was a recorded message sent by the Republican Party office, but with the governor’s approval.

I am an election inspector for Lancaster County. If this act had taken place at a polling area, it would be unlawful. It seems to me there is no difference between their tactic and the polling law that we are required to enforce.

I feel this is an invasion of privacy. We need to contact our legislators to get the law or regulation changed.

Gov. Heineman, I am only one person, but you just lost my vote.

Buddy Sizemore, Lincoln

Local man prefers pizza to hot wings

2006-10-03T23:16:00.000-05:00

2006-07-12T17:54:00.000-05:00

eric

Lincoln Journal-Star Article

2006-06-25T10:14:00.000-05:00

Fast action important on wireless

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/06/25/editorial_main/doc449dd2c276876652132559.txt

Lincoln will have to move fast if it wants to stay up to speed with other cities that are setting up municipal wireless Internet networks.

The Lincoln City Council wisely voted this spring to explore the burgeoning field with a work group headed by council member Jonathan Cook.

Quick work is essential. A growing number of cities have set up wireless networks in private-public partnerships. The field is evolving rapidly.

A typical approach is for the city to award a franchise on the basis of competitive bidding.

Frequently this results in subscriptions for high-speed wireless Internet that are lower than the connections for regular broad-band service.

Some cities also have required bidders to offer special rates for low-income groups. Some cities have even set up special districts where users can have a few free hours of wireless access every week.

Now an entirely new business model has emerged, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Portland, Ore., and San Francisco have contracts under which commercial providers will offer high-speed wireless for free. Instead of subscription fees, the providers will rely on advertising to generate revenue.

The development prompted Sacramento, Calif., to scrap its planned contract with MobilePro Corp. Under that proposed contract residents would have paid about $20 a month for wireless Internet.

It’s unclear at this point whether the advertising-based business model will succeed. MobilePro believes that the city of Sacramento’s expectations are unrealistic. “What the city wanted was out of the question,” Jay Wright, MobilePro’s chief executive officer told the Wall Street Journal.

But the business model seems to be gaining momentum. In Sunnyvale, Calif., wireless Internet provider MetroFi made the switch on its own, reasoning that it would attract subscriptions more quickly. The company, however, declined to say whether it is making a profit.

In San Francisco, Google and Earthlink have teamed to offer a hybrid service in which users of free wireless Internet get slower speeds than paying customers.

In Portland, users can choose either free wireless Internet with a half-inch banner in their browser, or pay $19.95 a month for service without the ads.

Insistence by Sacramento city officials on free wireless Internet has dealt a setback to its plans. MobilePro has dropped out and city officials will have to restart the bidding process.

Meanwhile municipal wireless networks are multiplying. Boulder, Colo., Minneapolis, Madison, Wis., are among the more than 250 cities that have deployed or are planning to deploy municipal wireless networks.

If Lincoln doesn’t move quickly, Nebraska’s capital city will find itself falling behind.

Fire at the Semen Center

2006-06-17T21:27:00.000-05:00

Fire at the Semen Center
Originally uploaded by kylecircle.

There was a fire at the Vogler's Semen Center by my parents house. Very exciting!

Generation Debt

2006-06-07T19:39:00.000-05:00

Generation Debt

2006-06-04T13:22:00.000-05:00

Video About Why Copyright Law Is Broken

Understand why copyright law is broken, and is in serious need of being fixed to allow for artistic expression.

Telecom Access Lagging

2006-06-02T06:09:00.000-05:00

A recent Lincoln Journal Star news report (“Every Nebraskan has at least one broadband option,” May 25) included two interesting challenges to the possible need for further competition and options in high-speed Internet access for Nebraskans. Eric Carstenson, the Nebraska Telecommunications lobbyist, presented a report that every Nebraskan has some kind of access to broadband Internet service, and state Sen. Mick Mines of Blair, a member of the task force studying this issue, was quoted, “cost is not the issue.”

Taken together there is no need for public body participation in any further options. Certainly that will maintain our current lagging position in telecom access and cost. A look around the country will reveal that public bodies of various jurisdictions, including municipalities, and their utilities are increasingly participating in broadband Internet services to manage their own infrastructure and serve their citizens, by direct service, partnership or franchising, with the result of lower cost and broader access to all.

Should we venture into such a progressive arena, we might accelerate the economic activity in this state, create more work-at-home options and invite new industries, but then we would have to deal with the issues of growth, retaining the bright young people we educate, etc. Maybe we shouldn’t bother and stick with the status quo!

Walter A. Canney, Lincoln

More Nebraska Pictures

2006-05-26T09:02:00.000-05:00

Nebraska Pictures While Driving

2006-05-26T08:47:00.000-05:00

Nice Girl From Cambodia (She's in Pink)

2006-05-07T19:48:00.000-05:00

Nebraska Pictures While Driving

2006-05-07T19:44:00.000-05:00

Skype is illegal in China, but has 13 million users

2006-05-05T19:14:00.000-05:00

SkypeOut is illegal in China, but Skype says it has 13 million users there. That's more than in any other nation. SkypeOut is important because it makes money.

After China, the next largest nation for Skype is the US which has fewer than half the Chinese total at about six million. The company claims more than 100 million users worldwide.

read more | digg story

Techie attempting to oust MPAA-, RIAA-friendly senator

2006-05-01T13:36:00.000-05:00

Story on Wired about Pete Ashdown running for US Senate against Orrin Hatch.

read more | digg story

Bush: Don't Blame Me! Nebraska Wouldn't Let Me Vote!

2006-04-12T23:18:00.000-05:00

My absentee ballot wasn't signed by a county official, hence my vote for Kerry didn't count in 2004. Here's what they told me!

read more | digg story

Coinstar turns loose change into iTunes songs

2006-04-10T22:07:00.000-05:00

Now in addition to Amazon gift certificates, your loose change can be used for iTunes Music Store songs. There is a Coinstar machine at Hy-Vee on 48th and Leighton in Lincoln, Nebraska. I don't know if they let you transfer your coins into music yet.

read more | digg story

Do his clothes look ragged? What does it matter if he is bearded?

2006-04-09T15:33:00.000-05:00

This little article I got off cnn.com is from Reuters. In the article it says he was "wearing ragged clothes". Does this picture look like he has ragged clothes on? He's wearing a belt and his shirts tucked in. Plus his shirt says God Bless America! Maybe that's what makes him crazy and ragged looking. I don't know. Why do they make a big deal out of his beard? They make it sound like because he has a beard that backs up the idea that he is crazy. What the fuck?

Intruder arrested on White House grounds

Sunday, April 9, 2006; Posted: 4:16 p.m. EDT (20:16 GMT)

Security guards take the intruder into custody.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- An unarmed man penetrated the White House fence on Sunday, screaming incoherently at security guards who pulled their guns and subdued him.

The bearded intruder, wearing ragged clothes and looking distraught, made his way several dozen yards onto the White House grounds before guards surrounded him, forced him down and dragged him away.

President Bush was inside the executive mansion at the time.

My Local Newspaper Has Imbedded Ad Copy Masquerading As A Story

2006-04-06T19:24:00.000-05:00

What the hell is this? This is pathetic! This, uh, story was in the online version of the Lincoln Journal Star. Which is my local newspaper. Its an advertisement disguised as a story!! This is disgusting! The Fourth Estate at its finest!

Breeza has fans
BY RODD CAYTON/Lincoln Journal Star

UTICA — Mike Fehlhafer wants to clear the air about something: His Utica company, Breeza Fans USA, is there to do the customer’s bidding.

The company makes fans according to what the customer needs, (from six inches to seven feet in diameter), as well as when the customer needs them: maybe one, just in time, or maybe a regular shipment of a dozen or so.

Fair pricing, Fehlhafer said, is a key part of Breeza Fans’ customer satisfaction strategy.

“We need to make a living,” he said. “But we’re not out to take advantage of a customer who just needs one (item). We’ll give them the same treatment that we give someone who orders thousands.”

For that, he said, customers have rewarded the company with more business as they have grown.

Brad Carlton, president of Agri-Sales Inc. in Ceresco, said his company has been doing business with Breeza Fans for about four years. Agri-Sales makes swine confinement pens.

“They’re very personable, and willing to work with you,” Carlton said of Breeza employees. “They do a good job of getting a product out in a timely manner.”

Company controller Al Koski said Breeza is fortunate to have a work force that is conscientious about customer service.

Production manager Adam Simmerman said he’s lucky to have a job that provides a family atmosphere and allows him to work independently.

Inside sales manager Anthony Sheppard said he likes interacting with customers and “getting into something new on a daily basis.”

The company has made about $150,000 in capital investment since November, said Fehlhafer. That’s due to buying new machines that replace slower models — a direct response to business growth.

“Sometimes, you invest before you get the contract,” he said. “Sometimes, you get the contract, then you have to make the investment. Any solid businessperson knows … you’re going to have to gamble a little bit.”

Breeza Fans will soon get software that will allow designs to go straight from an engineering computer to a manufacturing machine.

Eighty percent of fans built by Breeza are used on gasoline or diesel engines for industrial applications, Fehlhafer said; that could be an irrigation motor, a generator, an oil exploration platform or another use.

“There’s hardly any industry we haven’t sent at least one or two to,” Fehlhafer said.

The fan begins with a casting of metal. They come in several sizes, and contain five or more knuckles, each of which locks with a plastic or aluminum blade.

Adjustments are made to give customers their preferred fan speed, noise level, horsepower direction and blade angle.

Computers have allowed Breeza Fans to come up with a rapid prototyping system. Using special software, Fehlhafer can build a virtual fan that does that the customer wants. He then e-mails a plan for the fan to the customer, who signs off on the design. It goes into production shortly thereafter.

Just about everything in the Breeza Fans building can be recycled, Fehlhafer said. The amount that the company sends to landfills each week can fit in a trash can the size of those used in many houses.

The “trash,” Fehlhafer said, is mostly potato chip sacks and similar detritus.

Breeza is currently buying its castings from England, Italy and Malaysia, but Fehlhafer said the company’s growth has generated a plan to move production of some of the castings to Nebraska. He said he expects that to happen later this year.

Five years ago, Fehlhafer said, he could’ve placed an order across the ocean and received his merchandise within 30 days. Post 9/11, he said, customs checks and other delays have made it more difficult to count on overseas shipments and meet the customers’ needs.

Breeza Fans also is interested in meeting Utica’s needs. Several employees volunteer with the fire department, and they’re also involved in church groups and local organizations’ boards.

Fehlhafer said it’s his way of giving back to the community.

“I may not give them $10 million in cash,” he said. “But I’ll be the first one there to help work.”

Reach Rodd Cayton at 473-7107 or rcayton@journalstar.com.

Breeza Fans USA, division of Design Industrial Radiators, Inc.

Address: 301 U.S. 34, Utica.

Telephone number: (402) 534-2015

Web address: www.breezafansusa.com

Chief executive on site, title: Mike Fehlhafer, president/general manager

Number of local employees: 10.

Annual revenues: $1.3 million.

Products, services: Manufacturer of industrial fans, fan guards, fan spacers and related mounting structures; 3-D modeling, engineering and design consulting for air movement applications.

Company history: Founded in 1989 by Fehlhafer. Initial focus was radiator design for stationary engine cooling applications. Air movement played a key factor in the cooling design, and in 1993, the company established a relationship with the London Fan Co., later establishing the Breeza Fans division. Industrial fans eventually became the company’s primary business. In 1997 and 1998, the company added fan guards and fan spacers, respectively to its product. A plant expansion came along in 1999, including a CNC mill. The September 11 terrorist attacks cut sales and production practically in half, and the company responded by developing a new marketing strategy and adding new capabilities and software. Since 2005, the company has added new CNC mills, to meet sales demand and reduce production costs by cutting machining time.

New era, same old idea

2006-04-06T17:48:00.000-05:00

Conservative Republicans, led by our own Sen. Ben Nelson (a rose by any other name), have looked to their latter-day savior, Ronald Reagan, for inspiration in their search for an immigration policy.

After searching through the archives, our leaders decided to expand on that oft-used phrase from Reagan’s exhortation of June 12, 1987, thus formulating their enlightened policy: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! And ship it to Arizona.”

Gerald Wilson, Lincoln

Scientists Discover Blue Ring Around Uranus

2006-04-06T17:02:00.000-05:00

The recently discovered outermost ring of gas giant Uranus is a bright blue, scientists said today. Yet they mention nothing about the brown ring! Conspiracy!!

read more | digg story

Man ALLEGEDLY defecated outside Hall of Justice

2006-04-05T23:50:00.000-05:00

A cleaning worker at the Hall of Justice looked outside late Tuesday night and caught sight of a different kind of moon.

Darwin Shum allegedly had his pants down and was defecating on the concrete veranda just north of the entrance at about 11:30 p.m.

The cleaning personnel contacted the police inside the building, and a sergeant went out and caught the 46-year-old in the act, Officer Katherine Finnell said.

Police cited Shum, of 821 G St., about a block from the Hall of Justice, for defecating in public.

If convicted, he would face a minimum of a $100 fine by city ordinance.

Finnell said police didn’t believe Shum was making a political statement or intoxicated at the time.

And it apparently wasn’t the first time Shum felt the need to go outside. Chief Tom Casady said Lincoln police have ticketed him for urinating in public six times.

Concealed weapons bill signed into law

2006-04-05T23:43:00.000-05:00

This is only the beginning for the corrupting influence of lobbying happening in Nebraska. Gene Tyson is a stalking horse for the NRA. What does she get from the NRA for getting this terrible bill through our pathetic legislature? This is a ridiculous bill that nobody was asking for except for nut jobs and the NRA! Criminals aren't gonna stop and think twice about committing a crime because someone might be hiding a gun. Criminals are regular people who are just DESPERATE enough to think they can get away with committing a crime. They are not thinking about the consequences of their actions, hence they aren't going to care if their victim might have a gun. This bill is the result of FEARMONGERING. Republicans have proven how great they are at getting us to vote our fears.

BY NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Former state senator Gene Tyson of Norfolk came to the Capitol on Wednesday to help celebrate passage of a new law that will allow Nebraskans to carry a concealed weapon.

Tyson is one of several former senators who have sponsored similar measures in past years, bills that have never gotten past filibusters by opposing senators.

As he walked into the building, Tyson said he heard a voice behind him say, “If you want a hard job done well, get a woman to do it.”

That was Tyson’s tribute to Sen. Jeanne Combs of Milligan, who shepherded the conceal carry bill (LB454) past the vocal opposition and through three filibuster-stopping cloture votes.

Combs, who has carried a registered handgun while working in home health care and hospice, said that criminals prey on people who are more vulnerable, physically smaller or weaker, and people who are unarmed when the criminal is armed.

Tyson and Combs' comments came during a Wednesday morning ceremony where Gov. Dave Heineman, flanked by about a dozen senators who supported the measure, signed the bill into law.

Heineman addressed some of his comments to Nebraskans who oppose the new law and fear the consequences.

“To my friends and neighbors who disagree, the cold, hard truth is that people who are willing to complete this process are not the sort of people who will use a weapon illegally, the governor said.

Heineman said he will not be getting a permit to carry a concealed weapon but that doesn’t diminish his support. “I don’t have any interest in doing that, but I respect the right of Nebraskans to do that,” he said.

Heineman also reiterated that people who get a permit will go through a rigorous process. They will be screened (fingerprinted and a background check), trained and tested before getting a five-year permit.

The patrol will create the permit and training process before Jan 1, 2007.

One of the big questions — whether cities will be able to ban concealed weapons within their communities — will be answered over the next eight months as the rules and regulations are being developed, according to Heineman and Col. Bryan Tuma, head of the state patrol.

The patrol and governor’s staff will be talking with the attorney general’s office as the rules are drafted, Heineman said. At least two Nebraska communities, Omaha and Kearney, already ban concealed weapons. And the new law appears to allow cities to have different regulations for concealed weapons.

“This is something the attorneys are going to have to work on,” said Tuma.

Netflix files to sue Blockbuster to shut down on-line service

2006-04-04T21:21:00.000-05:00

Online DVD rental company Netflix Inc. on Tuesday sued rival Blockbuster Inc. for patent infringement, asking a federal judge in Northern California to shut down Blockbuster's 18-month-old online rental service and award Netflix damages, according to a copy of the filing. Why now? Why not 2 years ago?

read more | digg story

Man Throws Severed Penis At Police

2006-04-04T01:24:00.000-05:00

In Chicago a man named Jakub Fik, upset with his girlfriend, was arrested for smashing car windows; he also cut off his penis and threw it at police officers.
FULL STORY

Woman Gets $100 Ticket for BUSHIT Bumpersticker

2006-04-04T01:07:00.000-05:00

FULL STORY
“ ‘You have a lewd decal on your car.’ ”

Grier says she immediately thought that one of her kids had put something nasty on her bumper as a joke.

“But then he mentioned the Bush sticker,” she says. That one says: “I’m tired of all the BUSHIT.”

Last year, she says her 20-year-old son was pulled over in Athens, Georgia, for having a bumpersticker that said, “Bush sucks. Dick Cheney too.”

Bush Speeches Written By A group of five students, ages 7-10

2006-04-03T12:05:00.000-05:00

A group of five students, ages 7-10, have written speeches for the President. They have been read and recorded by a professional Bush Impersonator.

read more | digg story

Fair Minded Nebraska?

2006-03-31T00:07:00.000-06:00

The primaries are fast approaching, and the commercials have kicked into full throttle.

Try explaining these commercials to a group of foreign journalists. I did, or at least I tried. Nebraskans, I told them, have often prided themselves on being a nonpartisan, open-minded state. It used to be that way, anyway, I told them. The journalists were here on a State Department-sponsored tour, attempting to understand American political culture, and Nebraska proved to be a perplexing case study.

As a lifelong Nebraskan, I am distressed by the already one-sided tone this election cycle is taking. Even token Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson’s ad features our Republican president and seems to skip over his party affiliation. I tell you, I can’t blame the honorable senator. Those who think outside the red haze in this state are unelectable. What does that say about the status of fair and open-mindedness in this once proudly independent state?

Pete Ricketts says he represents Nebraska values. He will have you believe in his ad that “liberal judges” are the cause of our ills. Yeah, I try and steer clear of all of those Birkenstock-wearing, commie jurists who have steadily eroded civil liberties in this country and swung it to the right. Ricketts will also have you believe that his conservative values built this country, when in reality it was a synthesis of liberal and conservative dialogue that has spawned critical discussion and compromise.

Go out and find someone who has no idea of what it means to be a “fair-minded Nebraskan” and explain to them our legacy of nonpartisanship. And when you get to the past 10 years or so, try not to laugh.

Tyler R. White, Lincoln

Tom Tomorrow

2006-03-31T00:01:00.000-06:00

CBS' News Lara Logan Testifies

2006-03-30T23:47:00.000-06:00

There is no SECURITY in Iraq!! How do you report on any GOOD things happening if you can't get to the good thing. If you get to the good thing, somebody blows that good thing up. Shits Fucked up!

Driving Home Sucks

2006-03-29T22:04:00.000-06:00

Divorced Parents Get Webcam Visitation With Their Children

2006-03-29T21:57:00.000-06:00

Divorced parents get high-tech link to kids! Beats actually seeing them.

read more | digg story

Don’t prolong mistakes

2006-03-29T21:48:00.000-06:00

I am tired.

Tired of worrying about the long-term effects of a war that has killed over 2,300 U.S. soldiers. Tired of trying to resolve the cognitive dissonance created by news that my country is saving Iraq by killing thousands of their children. Tired of hearing that my nephew has been struggling with bouts of anxiety, anger and depression since he returned from his tour in Iraq. Tired of watching our elected representatives trivialize basic human rights in the U.S. and abroad to avoid offending anyone in an election year. Tired of being patronized with talking points intended to keep me from thinking too hard about the mistakes U.S. officials are making in the name of the American people.

Finally, I am tired of waiting for someone else to fix this mess. It is time for each of us to talk in serious ways about how we can pull our troops out of Iraq and move the United Nations in.

This war was a mistake; let’s not make it worse by prolonging it.

Patty Hawk, Crete

What's Worse? Bush or Di**head?

2006-03-28T18:56:00.000-06:00

The FCC decides for us which cuss words are worse on tv. They decide whether a word describes an excretory function or a sexual function. Isn't context more important than the word itself?

read more | digg story

Entire Florida Central Coast [was] placed at UNKNOWN but INCREASED risk

2006-03-26T17:25:00.000-06:00

Air Force O.K.'s shuttle launch even though back up self-destruct devices were not working. These devices keep the booster rockets from careening into peoples' living rooms.

read more | digg story

Nebraska Election Officials Put All Their Eggs In One Basket

2006-03-26T08:45:00.000-06:00

“The technicians that program the machines are being trusted to run your elections. And speaking as a technician, I don’t believe that society at large should ever trust technicians to run things, with no monitoring.”

"Convenience and efficiency are the goals of public officials, but voters are more concerned about transparency and accuracy"

FULL STORY

"Nebraska should use the available trail of paper ballots to assure voter confidence in the ballot process. At the least, a losing candidate should be able to ask for a hand recount if he or she is willing to pay for that recount, which would be between $40,000 to $50,000 for a statewide race.

But the Farmer’s Union, the state Democratic Party and others have been unable to convince state senators a hand-count back-up system is a good idea.

“We are frankly puzzled,” Hansen said about the Legislature’s reluctance to provide any hand-count options. “They have a lot more faith in machines than voters do.”

Nebraskans do have paper ballots, which are then counted by optical scanning machines. Even the new touch machines for Nebraska voters with disabilities print out a paper ballot that is then scanned.

All election recounts are done by machine, with no post-election hand count audit, nor the ability for a candidate to ask for a hand recount.

Twice in the past two years a bill allowing candidates to ask for hand recounts has failed to get out of committee. This year, the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee killed the bill the day of its public hearing in mid-January"

Lincoln Nebraska city employees are not overpaid

2006-03-26T07:46:00.000-06:00

FULL STORY
Mark Twain once famously warned that one should never get into an argument with a person who buys ink by the barrel. Still, after reading the Journal Star’s March 12 Sunday morning spread, and the editorial of March 19, I cannot resist. The headline, the articles, and the editorial were constructed to convince Lincoln’s residents that they are paying its employees too much for the services of city government. There could not be anything further from the truth.

Another famous warning attributed to Mark Twain is that “there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” It is easy to make mistakes when one starts throwing around statistics to make a point. The Journal Star’s articles make several of these mistakes, and the results are very misleading.

IRS plan would allow sale of tax information to marketers

2006-03-26T07:38:00.000-06:00

Full Story

This is one of those what the fuck stories! Who wants this? Why is this a priority for the IRS? Who benefits from this? Follow the money!

PHILADELPHIA — The Internal Revenue Service is quietly moving to loosen the once-inviolable privacy of federal income-tax returns: If it succeeds, accountants and other tax-return preparers will for the first time be able to sell information from individual returns — or even entire returns — to marketers and data brokers, with the consent of the taxpayer.

The change is raising alarm among consumer and privacy-rights advocates. It was included in a set of proposed rules that the Treasury Department and the IRS published in the Dec. 8 Federal Register, where the official notice labeled them “not a significant regulatory action.”

IRS officials portray the changes as housecleaning measures needed to update outmoded regulations adopted before it began accepting returns electronically. The proposed rules, which would become effective 30 days after a final version is published, would require a tax preparer to obtain written consent before selling tax information.

Critics call the changes a dangerous new breach in personal and financial privacy. They say the requirement for signed consent would prove meaningless for many taxpayers, especially those hurriedly reviewing stacks of documents before a filing deadline.

Family Circus

2006-03-25T21:40:00.000-06:00

Family Circus

2006-03-25T20:26:00.000-06:00

Apple iPod: One Giant Leap for Advertising

2006-03-25T16:53:00.000-06:00

It is Apple's 30th birthday next month; and they're planning something big to mark the occasion.

read more | digg story

Republican America in the Year 2026

2006-03-25T15:55:00.000-06:00

MINSK, Belarus (AP) -- Black-clad riot police clubbed demonstrators as government opponents marched Saturday in defiance of a show of force by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko that has drawn U.S. and European Union sanctions.

A week into protests set off by the disputed election that handed Lukashenko a third term, opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich told a crowd of thousands that momentum is growing to bring democracy to Belarus.

"We are starting work against dictatorship, and this work will sooner or later bear its fruit," he said.

Full Story

Update to the iTunes Daily Show Sync Problem

2006-03-25T15:44:00.000-06:00

Dear Kyle,

Thank you for your patience as we have worked to resolve the recent problem with The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

The corrected version of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 3/20/06" has been added to your download queue. You may download it at any time, free of charge, by opening iTunes and selecting Check for Purchases from the Advanced menu.

To learn more about the Check for Purchases feature in iTunes, please read this article.

http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n93015

We apologize that the original version you received had an error. Thank you for your support of iTunes.

Sincerely,

Jared
The iTunes Store Team
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww/

Please have a human read the first email I sent you!

Bernie Sanders Interview

2006-03-24T18:49:00.000-06:00

COMPLETE STORY
Sanders: We have got to change the political culture in America. We need a political revolution. That means we are working on politics not just three weeks before an election but 365 days a year. We have to develop a strong economic message which says every American is entitled to health care through a national health care program. And we’re not going to allow these large corporations to push through trade agreements which allow them to throw Americans out on the street and run to China. We’re not going to give tax breaks to billionaires and then cut back on the needs of our elderly or poor or kids or education. We’re not going to privatize Social Security—in fact, we’re going to strengthen it. We’re going to provide quality education for every kid in America, from preschool through college. We have to take on these corporate leaders who are selling out the American people, whose allegiance is now much more to China than it is to the United States. If we have the courage to take these people on, I think we can overwhelm Bush and his friends.

Why is it that two-thirds of white, rural men voted Republican? Why? That’s what we have to address. That’s crazy. These people are working longer and longer hours. They can’t afford to pay $3.50 for a gallon of gas. They’re losing their jobs. So why do they vote for President Bush? And the Republican Party? We’ve got to address this.

It’s very easy to make fun of George Bush, but that ain’t going to do it. What we have to do is knock on doors and go into communities where there are people who disagree with us on certain issues.

And we have to talk to them. They’re our friends. They’re our allies. They’re our co-workers. We can’t see them as enemies.

That’s easier said than done.

All over this country you have progressive communities like Madison and Burlington, but we’ve got to go well, well, well outside of those communities. We’ve got to go to the rural areas. We’ve got to go where a lot of working people are voting Republican.

We just can’t talk to each other. That’s too easy.

Who Is Killing New Orleans

2006-03-24T18:43:00.000-06:00

Mayor Ray Nagin likes to boast that "New Orleans is back," pointing to the tourists who again prowl the French Quarter and the Tulane students who crowd Magazine Street bistros; but the current population of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi is about the same as that of Disney World on a normal day. More than 60 percent of Nagin's constituents--including an estimated 80 percent of the African-Americans--are still scattered in exile with no obvious way home. MORE

Media Virus: How silly videos and email pranks created the Bored at Work Network. Social networking guru Jonah Peretti explains.

2006-03-24T18:35:00.000-06:00

If you've ever forwarded a video of people "crying while eating" to friends, or spent hours in the office reading knitting blogs, you know about the Bored at Work Network (BWN), whether you realize it or not. As defined by Jonah Peretti, BWN is the largest alternative to corporate media, with a base of millions of activists, temp workers, and salarymen. Though its participants come from all walks of life, they share one thing: they've got internet connections at work, and they are bored. MORE

The Mark Of The Beast 2.0

2006-03-24T18:23:00.000-06:00

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are showing up a lot in the news lately, especially as sources of security risks and privacy invasion. What follows is an introduction to what RFID (or arphids as they are colloquially known) tags are, what they are used for, and what security and privacy risks they present.

read more | digg story

Theaters in a cellphone jam

2006-03-23T21:06:00.000-06:00

This past week the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) pondered blocking cellphone signals as a way to improve the cinema experience.

read more | digg story

Video/Audio Out Of Sync in iTunes' Daily Show Episode

2006-03-23T11:48:00.000-06:00

I got a multi-pass subscription to the Daily Show off of iTunes. I really like it since I don't have cable. However, the March 20th episode of The Daily Show downloaded to my computer with a big glitch in the video in the middle of the episode. I looked on iTunes for a place to complain, and after searching around I finally found a place to complain on their website. This is the automated response I got:

From: msmac@apple.com
Subject: re: Buy Troubleshooting; Follow-up: 15131027
Date: March 21, 2006 2:40:11 PM CST

Dear Customer,

I'm sorry to hear your purchased music is missing. Its possible that the title is still in your download queue. Follow these easy instructions to resume your download:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed. iTunes can be downloaded, free-of-charge, from our website. Installing the latest version of iTunes will not affect your download queue.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

2. Open iTunes.

3. In the Source list on the left-hand side of the iTunes window, click on the green Music Store icon.

4. In the top-right corner of the iTunes window, look for a small button next to the word "Account". Click this button once.

5. Sign in to the iTunes Music Store using your iTunes account name and password.

6. Under the Advanced menu, select Check for Purchases. If you're not sure how to check for purchased music, here's a handy article with step-by-step instructions.

http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n93015

Once you select this menu item, your downloads should resume. Your completed downloads can be found in the Purchased Music playlist. This playlist is normally found under the green Music Store icon in the Source list. If the Purchased Music playlist is not visible, click once on the grey triangle next to the green Music Store icon to display it.

If you are still unable to locate your purchased music after using the "Check for Purchases" command, it's possible that your music is already on your hard drive. To look for it, follow the steps in this article:

http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n301749

It may also be helpful to search your hard drive for the titles of the songs you purchased from the iTunes Music Store. To view your Purchase History, follow these instructions:

1. Click this link to launch iTunes and view the Account Information screen:

http://phobos.apple.com/accountSummary

2. Sign in to the Music Store using your iTunes Music Store account name and password.

3. Click the Purchase History button.

The purchase history will display the most recent purchases first. To view details of any purchase, click the arrow to the left of the order date.

If your download does not resume or you are still unable to locate your music after you've followed these instructions, please reply to this email and we will further investigate. Please include as much information as you can about your network configuration, the actions you took and any errors you might have received. We also need to know what operating system version is installed on your computer.

Thank you for being an iTunes Music Store customer.

Sincerely,

Ethan
The iTunes Music Store team
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww/

This response has nothing to do with what I asked. Plus it just pisses you off because you have to reply and ask for a human being to listen to your complaint. They just hope to wear you out so they don't have to do anything.

The Big Middle Finger to Scientology!

2006-03-23T02:05:00.000-06:00

Fuck You Very Much!

read more | digg story

Yahoo: Official Search Engine of Scientology?

2006-03-22T22:18:00.000-06:00

Yahoo's decision to invite Tom Cruise to speak today at company headquarters has generated some snide comments among employees, some of which are being aired in the blogosphere. The responses seem to highlight resentment among some in the rank and file toward the general perception that the company is trying to go Hollywood.

read more | digg story

China blocks VOIP

2006-03-22T22:07:00.000-06:00

China is blocking VOIP in order to maintain its fixed phone line business.
No More Skype Calls From China?? How will I live??

read more | digg story

Bind your own paperback book: At home!

2006-03-22T18:49:00.000-06:00

This post explains how to make a paperback edition of you favourite ebook....at home.

read more | digg story

FedEx shirt makes it look like you are carrying package

2006-03-22T18:40:00.000-06:00

This funny new shirt makes it look like you are carrying a fedex package!

read more | digg story

Interactive, kinetic sculpture

2006-03-22T18:34:00.000-06:00

"Blame" is an interactive kinetic sculpture consisting of a robotic arm with a pointing hand on the end that scans the gallery, and when it finds a viewer, the arm stops with the hand pointing at the viewer, and then the sculpture proceeds to blame the viewer for some horrible crime against society.

read more | digg story

It Is Muddy Today (See Pictures From Inside My Vehicle)

2006-03-22T17:53:00.000-06:00

Why Macs will run Windows programs by the end of the year

2006-03-21T21:48:00.000-06:00

Windows Applications Will Run On Mac OSX

read more | digg story

California Sues Diebold Over Failures In Security Tests

2006-03-21T20:00:00.000-06:00

The lawsuit seeks to block the purchase of the TSX systems and a reversal of the secretary of state's certification. The suit, filed in Superior Court in San Francisco, is the latest salvo in an ongoing dispute about the security of Diebold electronic voting machines, focused on Diebold's TSX touch-screen system. MORE and EVEN MORE

Comic pokes fun at XP running on Intel Mac

2006-03-21T18:15:00.000-06:00

The Joy of Tech comic sums up how many feel about XP running on a Mac.

read more | digg story

Jeb Bush Creates Chimp Sanctuary For W. Bush's Retirement

2006-03-21T17:43:00.000-06:00

The note reads:

Dear Carole:

Congratulations on your incredible efforts to create a sanctuary for chimps in Ft. Pierce. You can be proud of your accomplishment. Someday George W. can live out his remaining days with his own kind!

Sincerely,

Jeb Bush

I Even Met Hitler On Skype

2006-03-21T17:33:00.000-06:00

Hitler was nicer than I thought he would be.

Got Some Feedback On My Blog Via China

2006-03-21T17:22:00.000-06:00

Thanks for looking at my crap! Keep looking at my crap! I probably shouldn't say crap this much! I'll try to keep this site going.

Prom Dresses From Thailand

2006-03-21T16:55:00.000-06:00

Each condom is individually hand stitched by a 6-year-old girl.

Local Iowa Men Have long Wait For Hot Wings

2006-03-21T16:09:00.000-06:00

Visit Riviera Theatres in Sioux City, Iowa!

Bush: U.S. will succeed in Iraq (Seriously, This Time For Real)

2006-03-21T15:36:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Tuesday that he believes the United States will succeed in Iraq, and that if he didn't believe so, he would withdraw U.S. forces.

"I'm confident, I believe, I'm optimistic we'll succeed -- if not, I'd pull our troops out," Bush said during a White House news conference.

"If I didn't believe we could succeed, I wouldn't be there. I wouldn't put those kids there. I meet with too many families who've lost a loved one to not be able to look them in the eye and say, 'We're doing the right thing,' and we are doing a right thing." Read On

First Day of Spring and it Fucking Snows

2006-03-21T15:17:00.000-06:00

This is 2 days after it snowed too! My landlord doesn't like to shovel snow until you complain to the city. Anybody else have this problem? This is my realty company's website! Send them an email for me at century@cenman.com

FROM STAY FREE MAGAZINE: Torment a starbucks employee hoax

2006-03-21T14:24:00.000-06:00

This hoax where the guy impersonates the CEO of Starbucks and gets an employee to do strange activites gets painful in its development.

The poor employee must have thought he was in email hell when the CEO starts asking for his apartment key to spend the day there with his mistress, as well as firing every fat person and people in beards.

read more | digg story

This Just In...."Congress Favors The Rich"!!

2006-03-21T13:52:00.000-06:00

It’s been quite obvious to me that Congress favors the richest of our citizens. The tax cuts that our president and Congress recently wanted, of course they got passed without any problem. I don’t know the statistics, but I am sure members of Congress are in that income bracket and will benefit.

Now I see our local government is wanting to lower taxes, but again, who will benefit the least? The middle-class taxpayer! I believe there are more middle-income citizens in our country than any other tax bracket, but where are the protests or complaints?

This is an election year, and personally I think we need a great deal of change in our government. I wonder if we will have some good choices in candidates this fall. I find it hard to vote, quite often, because of the choices that are given to us.

It is unfortunate that the candidate who may be the most honest and caring, and could do the most for the citizens of our country, is not the richest. If you don’t have the funds, or rich friends, I don’t think we will ever see a decrease in corruption in our government.

Beverly Irwin, Lincoln

"The Return of Chef!"

2006-03-21T13:45:00.000-06:00

The tenth season of "South Park" will launch Wednesday with a new episode titled "The Return of Chef!", marking the "triumphant homecoming" of lusty school cafeteria cook James "Chef" McElroy to the show, the network said in a statement.

What can Brown do for you?

2006-03-21T09:04:00.000-06:00

So you got that great pair of headphones on ebay and they were a smoking deal. Great. When UPS drops them off you notice that they are damaged. What are your rights? What happens next?

read more | digg story

Fox News Says, "Isaac Hayes Had A Stroke Jan. 17" "sources say that someone quit it (South Park) for him"

2006-03-20T21:01:00.000-06:00

Isaac Hayes' Quitting Controversy

Isaac Hayes did not quit "South Park." My sources say that someone quit it for him.

I can tell you that Hayes is in no position to have quit anything. Contrary to news reports, the great writer, singer and musician suffered a stroke on Jan. 17. At the time it was said that he was hospitalized and suffering from exhaustion.

It’s also absolutely ridiculous to think that Hayes, who loved playing Chef on "South Park," would suddenly turn against the show because they were poking fun at Scientology.

Last November, when the “Trapped in a Closet” episode of the comedy aired, I saw Hayes and spent time with him in Memphis for the annual Blues Ball.

If he hated the show so much, I doubt he would have performed his trademark hit song from the show, “Chocolate Salty Balls.” He tossed the song into the middle of one of his less salacious hits and got the whole audience in the Memphis Pyramid to sing along.

Read The Fox News Story Here!

2006-03-20T11:56:00.000-06:00

"So, Scientology, you have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for Earth has just begun,"

"Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies. Curses and drat! You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail! Hail Xenu!!!"

-Trey Parker and Matt Stone

Ernie Chambers Should Run for Ben Nelson's Senate Seat

2006-03-20T10:31:00.000-06:00

Send Ernie to Congress

People like Jim E. McLaughlin (letter, March 11) might want to see state Sen. Ernie Chambers leave the Nebraska State Legislature when his term is up, but what if his constituents vote for another Ernie Chambers, or someone that shares his beliefs?

Anyway, the state Legislature is too small for the diligent senator. The people of Omaha should vote for Chambers to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Yes, the city of Omaha should send Ernie to Congress. Think of what speeches he could make to other congressmen and to the wide world.

Ted Branstrom, Lincoln

A (gigantic !!!) Lego aircraft carrier

2006-03-20T09:42:00.000-06:00

This thing is built to the scale of those little lego men. That is amazing!! Plus he worked on the details inside the carrier!! Crazy!!!

read more | digg story

Never Tell Chinese Girls Your In Bed When Talking On Skype

2006-03-19T22:26:00.000-06:00

'South Park'-Scientology Battle Rages On

2006-03-19T18:07:00.000-06:00

NEW YORK - "South Park" has declared war on Scientology. Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of the animated satire, are digging in against the celebrity-endorsed religion after a controversial episode mocking outspoken Scientologist tom cruise

read more | digg story

Get those damn Scientologist pricks!

Porn Euros being passed off as real

2006-03-19T18:01:00.000-06:00

The notes, in 300, 600 and 1,000 euro denominations have a ring of 12 hearts instead of the usual EU stars and feature hunky men and big-breasted nude women.

read more | digg story

2006-03-19T11:19:00.000-06:00

Cartoons Kill Muslims

2006-03-19T01:18:00.000-06:00

Herbalife

2006-03-19T00:45:00.000-06:00

Ghana Letter

2006-03-19T00:40:00.000-06:00

Orphan from Ghana Need Help

2006-03-19T00:25:00.000-06:00

Aaaaaah, the entertainment Internet can provide! I like to keep my skype instant messenger program running 24/7. One of the perks of doing this is that you get instant messages and VOIP calls at all hours of the day. One of these cryptic communiques was from an orphan in Ghana. Because Internet is full of scoundrels, I wasn't entirely sure this person was telling me the entire truth. Then I got this envelope in the mail. (see picture)

Inside the envelope there was a letter from the orphan I had communicated with. She also enclosed a bank note from Ghana, 1000 Cedis, which is the equivalent of 10 cents. The letter however was the real goldmine. Thank you Internet. (Read Letter!!)

Now you can own this envelope, bank note, and letter!! click here!!

SkypeTraveler

FUBR Teabagging Nightmare

Nebraska Absentee voters, beware!

Local man prefers pizza to hot wings

Lincoln Journal-Star Article

Fire at the Semen Center

Generation Debt

Telecom Access Lagging

More Nebraska Pictures

Nebraska Pictures While Driving

Nice Girl From Cambodia (She's in Pink)

Nebraska Pictures While Driving

Skype is illegal in China, but has 13 million users

Techie attempting to oust MPAA-, RIAA-friendly senator

Bush: Don't Blame Me! Nebraska Wouldn't Let Me Vote!

Coinstar turns loose change into iTunes songs

Do his clothes look ragged? What does it matter if he is bearded?

My Local Newspaper Has Imbedded Ad Copy Masquerading As A Story

New era, same old idea

Scientists Discover Blue Ring Around Uranus

Man ALLEGEDLY defecated outside Hall of Justice

Concealed weapons bill signed into law

Netflix files to sue Blockbuster to shut down on-line service

Man Throws Severed Penis At Police

Woman Gets $100 Ticket for BUSHIT Bumpersticker

Bush Speeches Written By A group of five students, ages 7-10

Fair Minded Nebraska?

Tom Tomorrow

CBS' News Lara Logan Testifies

Driving Home Sucks

Divorced Parents Get Webcam Visitation With Their Children

Don’t prolong mistakes

What's Worse? Bu**sh** or Di**head?

Entire Florida Central Coast [was] placed at UNKNOWN but INCREASED risk

Nebraska Election Officials Put All Their Eggs In One Basket

Lincoln Nebraska city employees are not overpaid

IRS plan would allow sale of tax information to marketers

Family Circus

Family Circus

Apple iPod: One Giant Leap for Advertising

Republican America in the Year 2026

Update to the iTunes Daily Show Sync Problem

Bernie Sanders Interview

Who Is Killing New Orleans

Media Virus: How silly videos and email pranks created the Bored at Work Network. Social networking guru Jonah Peretti explains.

The Mark Of The Beast 2.0

Theaters in a cellphone jam

Video/Audio Out Of Sync in iTunes' Daily Show Episode

The Big Middle Finger to Scientology!

Yahoo: Official Search Engine of Scientology?

China blocks VOIP

Bind your own paperback book: At home!

FedEx shirt makes it look like you are carrying package

Interactive, kinetic sculpture

It Is Muddy Today (See Pictures From Inside My Vehicle)

Why Macs will run Windows programs by the end of the year

California Sues Diebold Over Failures In Security Tests

Comic pokes fun at XP running on Intel Mac

Jeb Bush Creates Chimp Sanctuary For W. Bush's Retirement

I Even Met Hitler On Skype

Got Some Feedback On My Blog Via China

Prom Dresses From Thailand

Local Iowa Men Have long Wait For Hot Wings

Bush: U.S. will succeed in Iraq (Seriously, This Time For Real)

First Day of Spring and it Fucking Snows

FROM STAY FREE MAGAZINE: Torment a starbucks employee hoax

This Just In...."Congress Favors The Rich"!!

"The Return of Chef!"

What can Brown do for you?

Fox News Says, "Isaac Hayes Had A Stroke Jan. 17" "sources say that someone quit it (South Park) for him"

Ernie Chambers Should Run for Ben Nelson's Senate Seat

A (gigantic !!!) Lego aircraft carrier

Never Tell Chinese Girls Your In Bed When Talking On Skype

'South Park'-Scientology Battle Rages On

Porn Euros being passed off as real

Cartoons Kill Muslims

Herbalife

Ghana Letter

Orphan from Ghana Need Help

What's Worse? Bush or Di**head?