Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

Diebold Voting Machines

Saturday, April 28th, 2007

Is it paranoia if it’s true? This video demonstrates how election results could be rigged by installing malicious software. Software is installed in the Diebold machines by swapping memory cards. More technical information can be found on the Princeton voting site.

FBI Director Mueller

Friday, April 27th, 2007

The United States Senate committee on appropriations heard FBI Director Mueller’s testimony on the 2008 Budget. Mueller’s comments were focused on five primary issues:

  • Combating Terrorism
  • Preventing the Acquisition of Weapons of Mass Destruction/Render Safe
  • Defeating Foreign Intelligence Operations
  • Reduce Child Exploitation and Violent Crimes
  • Strengthening Infrastructure and Information Technology

Many of the questions focused on development of information technology within the organization. There was a hint of skepticism about the phased roll out of the FBI’s new case management system “Sentinel”; previous efforts to build such a system failed due to poor management at a cost of 170 million dollars. Fast-forwarding two years to the present, Lockheed Martin was named as the primary contractor for Sentinel and was awarded 305 million dollars to build it over the next six years.

California vs. EPA

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007

There is a stench of smog and it’s coming from Washington. California wants to push tougher emissions standards and is entitled under a certain provisions of the US Clean Air Act, noted below. The EPA however is not approving a special waiver that would set the wheels in motion. Our esteemed California governor is prepared to sue the EPA of this dispute.

Part A, section 116, of the US Clean Air Act states California is entitled:

” Sec. 116. Except as otherwise provided in sections 119 (c), (e), and (f)(as in effect before the date of the enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977), 209, 211(c)(4), and 233 (preempting certain State regulation of moving sources) nothing in this Act shall preclude or deny the right of any State or political subdivision thereof to adopt or enforce (1) any standard or limitation respecting emissions of air pollutants or (2) any requirement respecting control or abatement of air pollution; except that if an emission standard or limitation is in effect under an applicable implementation plan or under section 111 or 112, such State or political subdivision may not adopt or enforce any emission standard or limitation which is less stringent than the standard or limitation under such plan or section.
[42 U.S.C. 7416]