On That Equifax Breach

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) asks some fantastic, even important questions here recently of Equifax CEO Richard Smith. More of us need to hear and learn how they, Equifax, operate and operated. It has to do with the industry, certainly, but with our own information and security, too.



This should, once again, shatter any notion that we don't need government and that we don't need government rules and regulations and oversight of corporations.

Congress Still Not Doing Their Job---On the Highway Fund Now

From the NYT today:

House Republicans are poised today to pass an extension of only three months to keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat during peak construction season.

The Senate would be forced to follow suit or face a lapse in highway programs. Congress is getting ready for a five-week summer recess.

So Congress if just barely doing their job, "kicking the can down the road" and then they're going to take a 5 week vacation.

Do you get a 5 week vacation, America?

Especially when you haven't done your job?

Link: House set to vote on stopgap highway funding extension

Quote of the day--on good vs evil

“When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Boston, the police...and unions

We need to be far better than this, America

Already there are stories of Americans apparently, reputedly, I admit, attacking Muslims or people thought to be Muslims, because it's thought the 2 men who planted and set off the bombs in Boston this past week were Muslim:

Boston Marathon Bombing Fallout: Bangladeshi Man Beaten In Bronx For Being An 'Arab' - International Business Times

Link: http://www.ibtimes.com/boston-marathon-bombing-fallout-bangladeshi-man-beaten-bronx-being-arab-1201819

Man Beaten Outside Bronx Applebee's in Anti-Muslim Attack after Boston Bombing

Link: http://www.allmediany.com/news/8039-man-beaten-outside-bronx-applebees-in-anti-muslim-attack-after-boston-bombing

Hate Crimes Against Muslims Rising After Boston Bombings

There are so many ways we should be above this.

First, everyone is to be innocent before proven guilty. That alone should make anyone and everyone safe.

Second, violence should never be resorted to, naturally.

Third, how is it anyone could attack another on just the idea and assumption that they're some religion or ethnicity, as some kind of idea that this made any sense at all? Especially since the attacker knows the person they're attacking, in these cases, is totally and utterly innocent. They're only attacking them because they think them to be part of some religion. How do you do that? How do you justify that kind of act?

Fourth and finally, doesn't or wouldn't that make us, as Americans, or anyone who attacked others, just as bad as the original attackers? Sure, no one is killed but innocent people are attacked. It's wildly wrong.

Boston: In tribute

Quote of the day--on good vs evil

On America, bombs, guns and tragedies

Face it. Let's face it, America has had it.

We've had it with tragedies.

We've had it with innocents being killed. And hurt. And maimed.

We've had it with Tuscon, Arizonas and Aurora, Colorados and Oklahoma City, Oklahomas and Newtown, Connecticuts and now, with Boston, Massachussetts.

We're reaching the ends of our ropes of patience, I think. We've had it with senseless, cowardly and/or insane attacks on innocents of whatever source and by whatever tool.

Doesn't that seem true?

This isn't emotionalism, either, far from it.

It's why, even though today was bombs in Boston, this will effect American's attitudes toward what we want for our nation. That's one more reason the time may have come, begun with Newtown, finally, to do something about, yes, mental health background checks but also background checks for criminal history and then closing the gun show loopholes and waiting periods for weapons purchases and finally, a true, strong but simple ban on assault weapons.

Weapons of war don't belong in societies.

"It is no longer a choice, my friends, between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence."   --Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

Cowardice of the worst and most vile

By now, you've likely heard that 2 bombs went off in Boston, Massachussetts today at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

The people who did this, for whatever bizarre excuse (they'd say reason), there is not only no excuse for this but it must be said that whoever did it are cowards of the first order.

How anyone, anywhere, could do this to civilians, innocent civilians, whether in Boston or Afghanistan or Iraq or any spot on the planet, it's unconscionable and has no place not only in a civilized society but on the planet, period.

This makes us all citizens of the world. This should unite us all. Acts like these make enemies of the perpetrators to all the rest of the world.

I don't believe in hell, personally, but if I did, I would be of the opinion that the darkest, hottest place there would be reserved for the instigators.

Truly, whoever did this is of the lowest life form.

I also don't believe in capital punishment but this is one of those times and events that comes close to changing my mind.

Link:  Two explosions at Boston Marathon: reports

The news

On last evening's news, on KCTV5, all they could do, all evening, it seemed, was show live footage of a helicopter flying over an overturned bus that had apparently been hit by a 4-door red sedan.

Incessantly.

It's as if they hadn't produced a news program earlier that day.

For local news, in their ideal world, they like to get shootings, fires, live helicopter footage or someone crying, for any reason.

Today, on CNN, all they can do is flip between the two stories of the big snowstorm that's supposed to hit New York City, Boston and the Northeast over the weekend and the Los Angeles policeman who killed--what? 3 people?--and who is on the loose.

Ad inifinitum.

Flipped over to NBC news and they told of--guess what?--the LA cop on the loose.

This is one slow news week.

On that debate last night, Part II

It's nearly unbelievable President Obama didn't come out fighting in the debate last evening in Denver.

At least twice, former Liberal Massachusetts Governor, now uber-conservative Republican Mitt Romney brought up his lie that this administration was going to take $716 billion from Medicare and put it on the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare").

It's a known, proven lie and the President let him get away with it at least two times. (For more on the $716 billion lie, see the 2nd link, below).

What is that about?

He needed to go after Romney and this point, at least briefly, and show it was not only untrue but that it will save the US many more millions in our health care spending.

The Obama campaign must now take on the theme Alice Cooper so eloquently put it, years ago:



Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/03/3847023/romney-obama-spar-over-domestic.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/04/1139914/-Romney-s-big-Medicare-lie-takes-center-stage-in-debate

No laws about throwing away or trashing government computers?

I keep remembering that ol' Mittens Romney had computers erased and destroyed on his way out of office back in Massachusetts, when he was governor. Did you read or hear about it?

Mitt Romney administration deleted emails before leaving office

"It doesn't appear to have been illegal, but this, from the Boston Globe, doesn't make Mitt Romney's administration look particularly open and transparent:

Just before Mitt Romney left the Massachusetts governor’s office and first ran for president, 11 of his top aides purchased their state-issued computer hard drives, and the Romney administration’s e-mails were all wiped from a server, according to interviews and records obtained by the Globe.

Romney administration officials had the remaining computers in the governor’s office replaced just before Governor Deval Patrick’s staff showed up to take power in January 2007 … Beth E. Myers, who was Romney’s chief of staff, bought her hard drive on Aug. 18, 2006, the same month that she left state employment.

Peter G. Flaherty, who was Romney’s deputy chief of staff, bought the hard drive from his computer on Nov. 3, 2006 ... Flaherty later became the Romney campaign’s chief liaison to social conservatives."

I don't mind telling you folks here and I think most, if not all, would agree, first, I think this is wrong since these were government computers, reputedly doing government--the people's--work.

Second, I think this could, of course, likely cover up things that otherwise shouldn't have happened.

Third, and most importantly, I think it needs to be said and acted on that this is made illegal--very strictly and clearly illegal--in each and every of the 50 states, all our cities and counties and then in our Federal Government, too.

Every government employee--every one of them--needs to be held accountable for their actions and official words and deeds. These are OUR computers, people, again, supposedly doing our work. It shouldn't be possible to be able to either sell these computers or trash the information on them.

Making this illegal would make our representatives at least somewhat more accountable for their words and actions in office, if not a great deal more.

What troubles me is that there doesn't seem to be an existing outcry for anything like this to happen.

Left as it is, legal to give or throw away this information, will lead to not good things.

If it hasn't already.

Link: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/68583.html#ixzz24P4EfJ6I

St. Lou on "America's Most Amazing 4th of July Fireworks Displays"

Yahoo! News today shows St. Louis as having one of the best Independence Day celebrations in the nation, for what it's worth. What they say:

"On July 4, St. Louis kicks off a three-day-long "America's Biggest Birthday Party" with an evening of fireworks over the city's iconic arch."

It wouldn't be too late to get over there, then, and enjoy it. (Be aware of the huge crowds, it should be noted).

Another thought--while not one of the "most amazing" in the nation, Jefferson City also does a big display over the Capitol building, high on that bluff, overlooking the Missouri River. I've heard it's beautiful, too.

Regardless, happy Fourth. Be safe. Enjoy.

Link: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/XPAdult/My%20Documents/st%20lou.html#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Famericas-most-amazing-4th-july-slideshow%252F-photo-2419856-183600055.html

Big, ugly, inefficient government?

Or people working together?

From Slate.com:

"Massachusetts tops the nation in fourth and eighth grade education, has the lowest child and teen mortality rates, the lowest percentage of uninsured residents, and the second-highest per capita personal income in the country.

Maybe the liberals there are doing something right?"

Link: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/05/massachusetts_is_the_best_state_in_the_union_.single.html

Some Muslims, at least, don't seem to get PR

From the Star today: TERROR TERM: "A Massachussetts man convicted of conspiring to help al-Qaida was sentenced Thursday to 17-1/2 years in prison after giving an impassioned speech in which he declared his love for Islam and predicted one day his trial would be viewed differently. His family and supporters gave Tarek Mehanna a standing ovation as he was led from the court." See? Here's the problem--the problem isn't, for me, with Islam or Muslims at all. The problem is with people who support terrorist groups. You and I could believe in everything political but if you support a terrorist group to gain your goals, we part ways. And this, like I say, is what at least some Muslims don't seem to understand. In the case above, if he simply practiced his Muslim religion, good for him. Supposedly there are words of peace in the Koran (Quran). Terrific. That's as it should be. But if you stand up and cheer for someone who gave money to a terrorist organization, you have definite public relations problems at least in the country where the case took place, if not in the world. It reminds me once again of the question: "Can't we all just get along?"

Want to "buy American"?

Sure, we say we'd rather buy American-made products so here's your chance--on clothing, anyway. GQ magazine just came out with a list of several sources for American made clothes. They are: 1. Pendleton Woolen Mills Pendleton, OR. Est. 1909. Best known for its vibrant blankets, but no slouches in the way of plaid shirts, either. 2. Filson Seattle, WA. Est. 1897. These outdoorsy goods are a staple of urban woodsmen nationwide. 3. Red Wing Red Wing, MN. Est. 1905. Iconic producers of resurgent, Rust Belt-ready work boots. 4. Alden Middleborough, MA. Est. 1884. Stalwart of respectable brogues and loafers; rare company with legit claim to having never gone out of style. 5. Quoddy Lewiston, ME. Est. 1909. Its handmade moccasins are so popular that they're often on back order. 6. L.L.Bean Brunswick, ME. Est. 1912. The iconic mail-order outfitter's duck boots are ubiquitous, and with good reason. 7. Billykirk Lancaster Co., PA. Est. 1999. Amish-made leather shoulder bags, wallets, and key fobs. 8. Gitman Bros. Pilot Mountain, NC. Est. 1978. Some of the most solid (and, uh, patterned) ties around, made in a county known for its quarries. 9. Hamilton Houston, TX. Est. 1883. The dress shirts are from the Lone Star State, but they're classy enough for offices on the coasts. 10. Tony Lama El Paso, TX; Est. 1911. Because you don't want cowboy boots that were stitched anywhere but the Wild West. 11. Levi's Los Angeles, CA This one we knew, right? Est. 1873 If you're an authenticity junkie, you're after Levi's Cali-born, archive-based Made & Crafted line. Link to original post: http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/866/trendy-made-in-america-brands/

Mitt Romney on healthcare in his own words

Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up?

The Right Wing on the United States

How's that "Romneycare/Obamacare" doing in Massachussetts, anyway?

Actually, they like it. They like it a lot: Health Care In Massachusetts: 'Abject Failure' Or Work In Progress? Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/02/13/146701343/health-care-in-massachusetts-abject-failure-or-work-in-progress

An anniversary today

"Today marks the 1-year anniversary of the Republicans taking control of the House. After promising to deliver jobs for the American people they've instead delivered 2 near government shutdowns, 14 votes to repeal patient health care protections, 4 votes to restrict women's access to health care, 3 votes to end medicare, 1 vote to raise taxes on middle class workers, and 0 votes on a comprehensive jobs bill." --Niki Tsongas, from her Facebook page. Politician from Lowell, Massachussetts. Link: https://www.facebook.com/nikitsongas