Saturday, March 05, 2005

Bloggers NOT Protected By Constitution

I have to wonder about these people that think the 'shield law' for journalists is designed to allow them to cover for others that broke the law.


From EarthTimes.org - A tentative ruling yesterday by Superior Court judge James Kleinberg is likely to have serious implications for the online publishing industry. In a preliminary ruling on a case filed by Apple Computer against three website publishers, the judge said Apple can force the three website publishers to surrender the names of their sources who disclosed confidential information about the company’s upcoming products.

Apple’s attorney George Riley, argued earlier in the trial that journalists, whether or not belonging to traditional media like press and broadcast were never entitled to the leaked information. Company trade secrets are vital to the survival of any company, and the lifeblood of the industry, he had said.


Bottom line is, "Be Careful Out There!"

Many Questions on Copyright Laws

Google Blogoscoped has a lot of questions concerning copyright laws as they relate to the internet and blogging. Good reading and it will help you think a bit before just wildly doing whatever. My philosophy is if you are not sure about using a pic or quote from another site then ask the site for permission. Always link or at least give credit to the original. If you ever get a cease and desist complaint/order simply comply the best you can. Fighting it may cost to much. Especially if you lose...


from Google Blogoscoped post:Copyright is complicated. Too many lines of gray. Especially in the digital world. ’I'll give this post to the public domain, so share it all you like. But it’s not always that easy.

Take images you put on your web page, for example. Maybe you made the photo with your digital camera. Maybe it’s a photo of a group of people. Are you allowed to publish it without asking anyone? Would it matter if you start charging for it? Would you need to ask all persons on the photo for a permission?

Let’s say you make a photo of a new painting. There’s not much else on the photo but the painting itself. The painting is copyrighted. What happens to your photo – who owns the copyright?

Let’s say the same painting is in the public domain according to the country’s laws. Who owns the copyright now? If you publish it, is everyone else allowed to re-publish it on their site without giving you credit?

(Or maybe our rule-of-thumb should be “do all you can get away with?”)


Quite a large blog post but a very good read. Check it out.

Prayer for Terri Schiavo

Knitting a Conundrum has 2 prayers for Terri and the Schindlers that are wonderful. I suggest taking the link - Putting it in an email - Send it to all on your address list. Thanks Susan!



http://escproductions.bizland.com/knittingcon/blogger.html

Arrests in Coptic Egyptian Family Murders

Thanks to Jihad Watch for the heads up on this one. Two suspects arrested in the slaying of the Armanious family in New Jersy, U.S.A. - The upstairs neighbor of the family and another man were charged today.
Edward McDonald, 25, pleaded not guilty to four counts of felony murder.
Hamilton Sanchez, 30, faces similar charges and also pleaded not guilty.

- At the time of their murder the N.Y. Post broke the story that the father had been threatened for making anti-Muslim remarks online (as I posted 18Jan05 and also posted on 31Jan05) - News coverage at the time seemed to be rather slim to none with many bloggers chastising much of the MSM for not getting on the stick and reporting statements from friends neighbors and family. It appeared from reports that the Police/FBI seemed more intent on hushing up the story than finding the perpetrators.

Well a Big Kudos goes to all of the people involved with working on this case.

From Yahoo News:


The upstairs neighbor of an Egyptian Christian family found slain in their home in January was charged along with another man Friday in the killings, and authorities said the motive was robbery, not religious fanaticism, as some had feared.
~~~~~~~~~~
Armanious, a 47-year-old Coptic Christian; his wife, and their two daughters, ages 8 and 15, were found bound and gagged with puncture wounds to their throats.

The slayings raised tensions between Christian and Muslim immigrants in New Jersey. Armanious frequented Internet chat rooms, posting opinions under the user name "I Love Jesus." Some Christians speculated he was killed by Muslim fanatics.

But Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said the killings took place during a robbery by the two men, who owed someone a large sum of money.
~~~~~~~~~
Authorities said thousands of dollars were withdrawn from Armanious' bank account using his ATM card in the days after the slayings.
~~~~~~~~~

- - - end quotes - - -

Hopefully the ATM cameras will show the truth.
The story can also be read in a good write up at the N.J. Star Ledger.


prying1 sez:
I hope this does settle the case. As said in H.G. Bishop David's Memorial Message at the funeral:
~~~~~~~~~~
The only way to bring this case to an end is for the truth to be revealed and for the criminals to be brought to justice. A swift and just conclusion is the only thing that will end the fear, speculation, and unrest that have filled our hearts and homes since the murders. We, therefore, urge the law enforcement authorities responsible for this investigation to employ every available resource to unravel the truth behind this crime. Until that day, every American family in general, and every family of Coptic descent in particular will feel unsafe.

We still do not accuse any person, group, or organization against this crime. Instead we leave these matters to the proper authorities, in whom we place our full confidence. As a community, we are prepared to accept any explanation regardless of motive so long as we believe it to be the whole truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Long live the truth!!!

Thursday, March 03, 2005

L.A. Times Gives North Korea a Boost!

For years I have been disgusted and critical of the L.A. Times. This time they have gone over the edge. (Like they haven't gone over the edge before.)It is really different this time. The slander against Arnold, lies about Bruce Hershenson, continual socialist Op-Ed in front page news stories pale in comparison with this tool they have handed the North Korean government.

This time. Front page puff piece on North Korea. Barbara Demick, the Times' bureau chief in South Korea apparently met a North Korean 'businessman' (read communist agent) in Bejing, China and interviewed him. John Carroll, editor and executive vice president of the Los Angeles Times saw fit to allow this agent to spew his lies unaltered and unchallenged on the front page. Now the North Korean government has a wonderful piece of propaganda to hold up and claim they are really nice people and the U.S. is the bad guy.

Hugh Hewitt today devoted his entire 3 hour show to this article. Many callers gave testimony of calling the Times and canceling their subscription. I personally called and got as far as John Carrolls office and told his underling he should call Hewitt to defend himself. The lady I spoke with was not happy to hear Hewitts name. "Thanks", was all she said in a voice "dripping with darkness". (see Spongebob post)...


Some quotes from the Times article: (italics are my comments)
The North Koreans said they were keenly attentive to the language used by Bush administration officials in regard to their country. They were relieved that in this year's State of the Union address the president didn't again characterize North Korea as part of an "axis of evil," as he did in 2002. But they were greatly offended that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called North Korea an "outpost of tyranny" during her confirmation hearings. Good for her!

"We were hoping for change from the U.S. administration. We expected some clear-cut positive change," the North Korean said. "Instead, Condoleezza Rice immediately committed the mistake of calling us an outpost of tyranny. North Koreans are most sensitive when they hear that kind of remark." Why? Because it is true?

He believes that Americans have the wrongheaded notion that North Koreas are unhappy with the system of government under Kim Jong Il. "We Asians are traditional people," he said. "We prefer to have a benevolent father leader." One who treats his children with loving discipline maybe? discipline like this!

But he faulted the United States for the collapse of a 1994 pact under which North Korea was supposed to get energy assistance in return for freezing its nuclear program. The agreement fell apart after Washington accused North Korea in 2002 of cheating on the deal, and the U.S. and its allies suspended deliveries of fuel oil. ACCUSED North Korea in 2002 of cheating on the deal? They were taking U.S. help and building a BOMB for God's sake!

The North Korean criticized some Japanese politicians' efforts to link the nuclear talks to the question of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. They kidnapped Japanese citizens and used them for training operatives (read spies) to infiltrate Japanese society. Then killed them when they were finished with them or of no use anymore.



The article goes on with pap that can only be of use for propaganda. Please check Hugh Hewitts site for more links. Write to John.Carroll@latimes.com to quit and move to North Korea so he can give us first hand articles on how wonderful it is there.

Anyone have a email address for Dennis J. Fitzsimons - the head of the Tribune? Please post in comments.


Some major L.A. Times advertisers:
Feel free to go to their webpages - find the 'contact us' -
and ask them (politely) if they think it smart to spend
advertising dollars with a venue that is steadily loosing
customers and dying? Suggest they spend the money
advertising on your blog or website!!!

Tiffany and Co. - Tiffany.com
Mikimoto - MikimotoAmerica.com
Chopard - Chopard.com
Samy's Camera - SamysCamera.com
Macys - Macys.com
Pep Boys - PepBoys.com
Nissan - Nissan.com
Washington Mutual bank - Wamu.com
Citibank - Citibank.com
CostPlus - CostPlus.com
Nextel - Nextel.com
Cingular - Cingular.com
Robinsons May - RobinsonsMay.com



Friday 3-04-05 Update: Hat tip to Hugh Hewitt for Link to More L.A. Times Garbage on N. Korea. - Dump Carroll -

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Schiavo Parents Seek Divorce for Daughter

Yahoo News has an article showing how Terri Schiavo's parents are working hard to throw any stumbling block they can in the path of Michael Schiavo. Of the 11 motions filed by Bob and Mary Schindler this one seems to be the most unlikely to work.


Terri Schiavo's parents asked a judge Monday to allow the severely brain-damaged woman to divorce her husband, accusing him of adultery and not acting in his wife's best interests.
~~~~~~~~
The Schindlers' attorney, David Gibbs, said Greer (Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer) had indicated he will not hear the divorce request and five of the other motions filed Monday, but that only means that the matters are now on their way to being appealed.
~~~~~~~~
Appearing at a rally in Jacksonville, the Schindlers called on Gov. Jeb Bush to look into the circumstances that led to their daughter's 1990 collapse and asked Attorney General Charlie Crist to investigate whether Terri Schiavo's civil rights have been violated.

"We have filed divorce proceedings because of (Michael Schiavo's) total disregard for Terri as his wife," Bob Schindler said. "He is married to Terri, but he is living with another woman and he has two children by her. It has become quite obvious that his priorities are not in Terri's best interest."

"Remaining married to him is an embarrassment," Gibbs said.
~~~~~~~~~
Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, called the new motions little more than an attempt to clog the case with further delays. Felos has said even if Michael Schiavo were to divorce his wife, any new guardian would be obligated to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube because the court has ruled it is her wish not to be kept alive artificially.

"I think everyone knows the parents are going to try anything, including throwing in the kitchen sink, to frustrate the court's final judgment and Terri's wishes," Felos said.

Other motions by the Schindlers ask that some news reporters be allowed to see Terri Schiavo's interactions with her parents, since they contend she responds to them; that they be allowed to take pictures with her before she dies and that those photographs not become Michael Schiavo's property, as a current court order now requires; that she be allowed to die at home; and that they be allowed to bury her rather than the cremation her husband has planned.



Problem is Terri's husband has the power of attorney and his parents do not have the legal right to file for their non-vegetative/responsive daughter's divorce. It will help delay things as appeals are filed.

This Michael Schiavos is a real gem. I wonder what his current girlfriend thinks about him wanting to euthanize his wife? Seems to me that would be a big clue about what to expect from him later in life.

Pray Concerning this and please email your friends to pray about this. - A simple prayer, "Lord, please touch Terri and put your Holy Spirit in this situation."

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Kaleobill Gives Lesson on Honesty

"Tough Morning" is what Bill Streger called his post but I think it could well be called "Getting Real" - Short story of how his day went at a tough school and the lesson he took home with him. It is nice when at the end of the day there is a bit of personal growth and self improvement.
--- Quote: ---


Today I got a reminder that not everyone hides their sin. Not everyone recognizes their sin. But to find a balance where we stop hiding our sin but recognize it and repent of it - that would be biblical. I was talking with a friend this past week who was frustrated that everyone always seems to "have it all together." We come on Sunday mornings to worship, and it seems that everyone is happy and that everyone is perfect. Key word: seems.

What would it look like if we stopped pretending, and took a lesson in honesty from the students I met this morning? Not that we would flaunt our sin as many of them did, but that we would be honest enough to "confess our sin to one another that we might be healed". That we would be vulnerable enough to admit that we don't have it all together and that we do struggle, fall down, and hurt.


---end quote---
The kids he spoke to need a lot of prayer. While we are getting Bill's lesson into our heads and hearts lets not forget them. Lift them up in prayer even if it is just a quick, "Lord, put your Holy Spirit into their lives. Amen."

Democracy is Growing in the Middle East

Tuesday - March 1st 2005 - RadioBlogger says it all concerning the spread of democracy in the middle east. -


Yesterday was a good day. Not a great day, but a good day. The Syrian-run government in Lebanon fell. Democracy is spreading, just like George Bush said would happen in the wake of successes in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Lebanese saw what happened a few hundred miles away a month ago, and have adopted the mentality that if they can vote, then we should be able to as well. And they are voicing their opinion. Nothing could be healthier for that part of the world than the shackles of oppression falling by the wayside.

Check out his blog entitled 'Bitterness' for more about what others are thinking on the history making news...

Sunday, February 27, 2005

My Partial Definition of Homosexual Agenda

By 'agenda' I personally mean quite a bit. Too much to be covered here but a couple things I see are:
Convincing the world that anyone who says anything against the homosexual lifestyle is filled with hate or fear. This is so 'close minded' (something the left rails against) and does not allow for those that disagree with the lifestyle any room for any other heartfelt reasons. Be it moral, health, political or whatever.

That and allowing 'extra rights' for those who claim to be homosexual. (I say this because ANY individual can switch overnight and claim to be Homo, Bi or heterosexual and who can say they are not? It is not the same as a black man bleaching himself white and claiming to be white.) As it stands now every person in this country has the same rights. A crime is committed against a homosexual the criminal should go to jail. A crime is committed against a heterosexual the criminal should go to jail.

Someone, anyone, can marry a person of the opposite sex!

I hear the claim that, "I can't marry the one I love!" "Love", by the common definition of a nice feeling, is tenuous at best. A breeze comes and it blows away. "True Love" is really a decision. A decision to stick through it all through thick or thin. Government using the term marriage is not necessary. Civil Unions and legal contracts can cover the rest. If one of the pair decides it is not worth it, the relationship is broken. Hence divorce. No matter the sexual orientation. We are working with people here. Both sides (of any pair) have a lot of self centeredness that must be overcome to make it work. What I see with the same sex marriage agenda is the desire of socialistic activists to change word definitions to the point where they are meaningless in a court of law and the homosexual community is simply a tool they are using. (Give me a tin foil hat. It is a conspiracy theory for which I have no proof... Except current history...)

If those in the homosexual community really are honest they will see where the extra rights agenda is taking them.

Hate Crimes for example. Someone bips anyone over the head with a stick that person should go to jail. I could care less whether the victim of a crime is black or white, homosexual or straight. Whether the criminal is black or white, homosexual or straight doesn't matter. The criminal should be PUNISHED to the full extent of the law. Do we really believe we can crawl into a persons mind and see if they committed the crime with hate in their thoughts. Who cares if it was hate, or lust or jealousy? They committed a crime they should be punished. I could go on but enough is here to get people mad at me. To quote K. V. Jr., "So it goes."