Found a Great New Music Site

http://blip.fm/home is an online community site that allows you pick songs and make a "playlist" of blips that allows you and your friends to essentially DJ the music you love most. They could do a better job of summing it up for those of use less tech savvy. But already I'm a fan...I even embedded their widget in this page. Enjoy.

Some recent fun skiing at Alta, Utah

I had the good fortune to take a week of vacation in Utah. Spent a fabulous day at Alta and managed to get my friends to let me film them skiing. Here is a little video I posted to YouTube.

Another Obstacle to Voting?

As if there aren't enough potential pitfalls in this year's election: long lines, lost absentee ballots, ensuring you are registered, finding your polling location, and making the time to vote, you could get there and find your right to vote challenged by another person at the polls. "Challenged at the polls? What do you mean?" "Why would someone challenge me?" "Is that legal?" There is a combination of surprise, confusion and consternation from people when I talk to them about voter challengers at the polls. The reason people often state for challenging a voter is to prevent voter fraud. But before you believe that, read this.

Don't let all this get you down, this post is to make you realize how much EVERY VOTE COUNTS. Why would they go to so much trouble to challenge a individual voters if they didn't think it would make a difference? So if you had any question before about whether your vote can make a difference or is really needed...here is some evidence that should help prove it.

Yes, it is legal to challenge a voter at the polls. The rules about this vary from state to state. The National Association of Secretaries of State has a website called http://www.canivote.org/ where you can check your registration and polling location.

Confirm that before you go. To find out more information on your state's rules go to the ACLU's website and download the Voter Empowerment Card for your state. They have also posted a great video "Always Practice Safe Voting" you should watch as well.

Project Vote has a 26 page document titled, The Role of Challengers in Elections, available for download on challengers that answers many of the questions you may have. They are already seeing issues with early voting.

For a light, but still serious look at voter challenges and other ways the vote is being suppressed - download Robert Kennedy Jr. and Greg Palast's comic book, "Steal Back Your Vote" and read their article in Rolling Stone.

Some ways to prevent being challenged:

• Don't wear a t-shirt, ping, button or other item that identifies who you plan to vote for. Some states ban it completely, including Vermont, South Carolina and New York.
• Don't discuss your vote with people in line. Voting used to be considered more private. I'm not saying you have to do this, but it may lead to you being able to quietly come in, vote, and go home.
• Vote early.
• If you do wait till Tuesday, November 4th, vote during the morning or before or after lunch. After 5pm is when most people are at the polls.

This has happened in the past and they often know who they are going to target. The practice was so bad in the 2004 election that some states have passed new laws, including Minnesota. NPR has a great article about voter challenges.

This is usually a Republican strategy to slow down the line, discourage people, scare lower income or minorities and in general disrupt the process. A recent story in South Carolina illustrates the tactics used.

If you don't believe this will happen, read these articles:
A Wis. Call for GOP Poll Watchers Draws National Notice -Wahington Post
National GOP Officials Outline Poll-Watcher Plan - LA Times, California
Democrats Press GOP To Ease Off Game Plan for Voter Challenges - Washington Post, Maryland Poll watchers will keep tabs on voters at precincts - UpState.com in South Carolina
Intimidation Nation. Who will watch the poll-watchers? - Slate
Voter Challenges - Kolotv.com, Reno, NV
State to Notify 4,770 Their Votes Are ‘Challenged’ - Altanta Journal Constitution, Georgia

I spent three hours today digging for information on what to do if you are challenged. I could only find one blog post that had a broken link to an article in the Dayton Daily News. I will keep digging and see what I can find! Thanks for reading.

Cross posted from the RickeyPAC Blog on 10/31/2008 - Happy Halloween!

Why Voting is Important

Voting. It is easy to fall into the trap of being complacent or disinterested or just plain frustrated with the whole process. Our nation's vigorous population is made up of people of every race, religion and creed. It may seem like democracy doesn’t work, or that it only works for people who don’t agree with you. Yet the founding fathers of the United States of America had a beautiful idea. They dreamed up this republic we live in, they tried to see into the future and create rules for a nation that would stand the test of time. And here we are over 225 years later and the USA is still here in all its glory and you still have a voice, a say in who represents you at all levels of government.

Election season can feel draining. The debates are hashed and re-hashed. Ads berate you while you are trying to drive to work, watch your favorite show or surf the internet. Candidates try to get their message out, convince you to vote for them and not their opponent. The election season may feel personal, particularly during presidential elections when it feels like so much more is on the line. Talking politics with friends and family can be uncomfortable. But try, ask their opinion, share yours, get more information and spread it around to people you know. Just always remember we are all people, we all have the right to our own opinions and don’t let special interest or campaign rhetoric invade your heart and generate anger, fear or hate for others. Things your vote could do at the local, regional and national level:

• Reduce global warming and traffic congestion by approving a new mass transit package for your city.
• Defeat a local initiative to limit the rights of a minority group. Elect a new land commissioner in your state who will work with private interests and conservation groups to find a better balance.
• Send a corrupt Senator or Congressperson packing and replace them with a fresh face and a new chance in Congress.
• Elect a President of the United States who you feel can lead us best through the next four years.

But if you don’t vote, you’ll never know.

Cross posted from http://rickeypac.blogspot.com/

Risk seizure and search of laptop, ipod, and cell phone when you return from international travel

It has been awhile since I've written something, but today a story from Daily Tech was brought to my attention. The US Government has joined the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. "The international agreement, to which details were being ironed out, would demand investment in large policing organizations to "bust" those who download and share music and movies." (source Daily Tech article). The Washington Post also covered the story.

What does this mean for you? It means that people who cross the US Border, citizens of the US or other nations, may have their personal electronic devices seized, searched and potentially not returned. This is a fundamental breach of our rights as defnined in the US Constitution by the Fourth Amendment, "Search and Seizure. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Ratified 12/15/1791."

Another snip from the article, "Recently released information reveals that the Department of Homeland Security has been granted the power to without any suspicion of wrongdoing seize travelers’ "device(s) capable of storing information in digital or analog form," including “hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes" as well as "all papers and other written documentation." After seizure, the materials may be taken off site. The contents of the laptops can then be shared with other agencies and/or private entities for language translation, data decryption or other reasons.The policies were apparently put in place July 16 by two DHS agencies: U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They have existed in a similar, but undocumented form previously. Interestingly, while the policy contains provisions to protect business information and attorney-client privileged material, they have no provisions to protect personal medical records or other personal data like financial records."

What can you do to protect your right to privacy? Senator Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) is considering legislation to define the law further and protect privacy rights. We need strong legislation or support of legal challenges to this law.

1. Write to your Political Leaders about this issue and your fundamental constitutional right to privacy. Write your US Congressperson and Senator.
2. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or email to the local TV station asking them to cover the issue.
3. Support the ACLU's Legal Action against this law.

Thanks for reading!

China Cracks Down on Tibetan Protestors

The Chinese are using violence to put down protests that have erupted in Tibet during the past week. Monks, students and other citizens of Tibet are protesting Chinese rule and their attempts to dilute and eradicate the cultural, religious and political rights of the Tibetan people.

Bejing's 58 years of oppression in Tibet includes the dissolution of Tibetan currency, political rights and way of life by encouraging migration of the ethnic Han people, and limiting the freedom of the people. Also, persecution of religion, re-education of Buddhist monks and nuns and the abduction of the Spiritual Leader, the 11th Panchen Lama.

In 1950 the Chinese invaded the peaceful independent nation of Tibet and annexed the country into China. His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 where he now maintains a government in exile at his monastery in Darmasala. From there he calls for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Tibet.

Want to get involved?

Go to www.savetibet.org and sign-up for updates on what you can do to help.
Write to your Political Leaders about your support of Tibetan Freedom and ask them to put pressure on Bejing. Write your US Congressperson and Senator.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or email to the local TV station asking them to cover the issue.

Vanishing Bees

Honey bees are dying off in record numbers and scientists are baffled as to why. These small creatures are responsible for much of our food supply thanks to their tireless pollination efforts. To find out more about the bees you can read more at the following links. Also consider donating money to the people making the documentary The Vanishing of the Bees - in their words, "This film is a work in progress. If you like what you see, please donate. This film cannot be completed without your support."

Disappearing Bees website
New York Times Article

And a fun article about a family who has more bees than they know what to do with.

Zen Cast - Buddhist Podcast

I have been listening to the Zen Cast series of podcasts in the car lately. I really enjoy the viewpoint and ideas they discuss. Gil Fronsdal and Robina Courtin are my favorite teachers to listen to. You can find them online or in iTunes if you search for "Zencast". They also have an associated Zencast blog, check it out.