Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Ambition of Facebook
Robert Scoble speaks with people at Facebook’s F8 event about what may be coming down the pike for Facebook.
Pay attention to what these people say, as it will be affecting you and your online experiences, whether you have a facebook account or not.
Read more at Robert Scoble's blog. His post is very thorough and informative.
Macon Commissioners to Hold Joint Meeting with Franklin and Highlands Tonight
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Victory for the First Amendment
Case Demonstrates that CAIR is a Fraudulent Civil Rights Organization
Lobbying on behalf of Hamas and the OIC
Center for Security Policy
For immediate release
For more information:
David Yerushalmi, Esq.
Law Offices of David Yerushalmi
646.262.0500
www.davidyerushalmilaw.comApril 21, 2010 – Miami, Florida: When the South Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) pressured the Miami-Dade Country Transit Authority to yank bus panel ads contracted and paid for by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer of the Freedom Defense Initiative because the ads were “offensive to Muslims”, the two activists turned to the Law Offices of David Yerushalmi, P.C. for help. Mr. Yerushalmi joined forces with the Thomas More Law Center and the two law firms began preparing a federal complaint alleging breach of contract and violation of Ms. Geller’s and Mr. Spencer’s First Amendment Rights.
The bus ad, which appears immediately below, began running on Tuesday, April 13th. Just two days later, on Thursday, after pressure from CAIR, the bus ads had already been pulled down and Mr. Yerushalmi’s clients received notice of the ad contract termination through media reports on Friday.
CAIR, as it typically does, issued nationwide press releases and blasted emails to tens of thousands of outlets on Friday crowing over its “victory” of suppressing free speech on the grounds that the ads promoted “bigotry”. Newspaper and other media stories in the Miami Herald, the Orlando Sentinel, Fox Business News, and NBC ran blindly with the CAIR-generated story on Friday with headlines like: “Miami-Dade Transit Throws Islamic Ad Under the Bus.”
Ironically, CAIR, which has been named by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI as a Muslim Brotherhood-Hamas front group and unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror fund raising trial—a trial which culminated in guilty verdicts for all of the Muslim Brotherhood defendants—claims it is “the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization.”
“It is ironic,” Mr. Yerushalmi noted, “that the media allows CAIR to claim the mantle of a civil rights organization when it embraces censorship by the government all in the service of the ‘anti-blasphemy’ platform of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), which calls for international legislation providing for criminal penalties against anyone who ‘insults Islam and its prophet Mohammed.’ Free speech is apparently not one of the freedoms in CAIR’s version of the U.S. Constitution—at least not for critics of Islam.”
Mr. Yerushalmi added that the Center for Security Policy, a leading Washington D.C. national security think tank run by former Reagan administration official Frank Gaffney, has documented that CAIR is an illegal, unregistered foreign agent of the OIC, receiving millions of dollars from Islamic countries in order to pursue their political goals in the U.S. (See the CAIR Observatory at www.cairobservatory.org.) Mr. Yerushalmi is General Counsel to the Center for Security Policy.
By Friday, the day after the bus ads had been pulled, Mr. Yerushalmi and his co-counsel Robert Muise were prepared to go into federal court early the next week armed with a complaint and motion for temporary restraining order.
A teleconference was arranged first with the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s office, which took place Monday afternoon. After listening to Mr. Yerushalmi’s brief, the county attorneys conceded the ads should not have been pulled. By Tuesday, Mr. Yerushalmi had negotiated a full and complete retraction of the contract termination with a NY-based attorney for CBS Outdoor. Not only would the original 10 king-sized ads go back up on the Transit Authority buses, but CBS would run an additional 20 king-sized bus ads for no additional charge.
The new agreement was inked and signed by Wednesday, April 21. The ads are expected to go back up by early next week.
“This is not just an important day for the First Amendment. It is a ‘teaching moment’ for the media and for others in various government agencies who come across CAIR,” Mr. Yerushalmi added. “CAIR is a criminal organization with ties to Hamas and other jihadists. This is not my opinion but the considered view of the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI, and the federal courts, all based on evidence CAIR has never refuted. If you find yourself on the same side of an issue with CAIR, you’d better examine the facts a bit more closely. You’re likely in bed with the Muslim Brotherhood, even if only unwittingly.”
Mr. Yerushalmi is currently prosecuting two separate fraud cases against CAIR on behalf of five former CAIR clients, three of whom are Muslim Americans, who were defrauded by CAIR.
About David Yerushalmi, Esq.
David Yerushalmi has been practicing law for more than 26 years. He is a litigator specializing in securities law, public policy relating to national security, and public interest law. Mr. Yerushalmi is licensed and practices in Washington D.C., New York, California, and Arizona.
Solar Dynamics Observatory:
Stunning First Light Images Released
Image Courtesy of NASA
April 21, 2010: Warning, the images you are about to see could take your breath away.At a press conference today in Washington DC, researchers unveiled "First Light" images from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, a space telescope designed to study the sun.
"SDO is working beautifully," reports project scientist Dean Pesnell of the Goddard Space Flight Center. "This is even better than we could have dreamed."
Launched on February 11th from Cape Canaveral, the observatory has spent the past two months moving into a geosynchronous orbit and activating its instruments. As soon as SDO's telescope doors opened, the spacecraft began beaming back scenes so beautiful and puzzlingly complex that even seasoned observers were stunned.
Source: Science at NASA
Audio version of the above story.
Here is one of the movies of an erupting prominence observed by SDO on March 30, 2010 in HD resolution:
The geek in me is impressed, and is eagerly wading through the images and awaiting the papers that are sure to follow as scientists share what they are learning about the sun.
NC-11 Congressional Fundraising Race
April 21, 2010 Update
It looks like I should have waited one more day before posting a fund raising race update. The numbers from Open Secrets for Eichenbaum and Newman are in:
| Raised: |  $690,709 |
| Spent: |  $337,474 |
| Cash on Hand: |  $1,296,940 |
| Last Report: | March 31, 2010 |
 | PAC contributions | $364,671 | (53%) |
 | Individual contributions | $297,471 | (43%) |
 | Candidate self-financing | $0 | (0%) |
 | Other | $28,567 | (4%) |
Jeff Miller (R)
| Raised: | $128,930 |
| Spent: | $102,776 |
| Cash on Hand: | $26,152 |
| Last Report: | April 14, 2010 |
| PAC contributions | $0 | (0%) |
| Individual contributions | $116,930 | (91%) |
| Candidate self-financing | $12,000 | (9%) |
| Other | $0 | (0%) |
Dan Eichenbaum (R)
| Raised: | $123,694 |
| Spent: | $43,146 |
| Cash on Hand: | $80,548 |
| Last Report: | March 31, 2010 |
| PAC contributions | $0 | (0%) |
| Individual contributions | $21,117 | (17%) |
| Candidate self-financing | $102,577 | (83%) |
| Other | $0 | (0%) |
Gregory A. Newman (R)
| Raised: | $37,045 |
| Spent: | $34,957 |
| Cash on Hand: | $2,087 |
| Last Report: | March 31, 2010 |
| PAC contributions | $0 | (0%) |
| Individual contributions | $17,045 | (46%) |
| Candidate self-financing | $20,000 | (54%) |
| Other | $0 | (0%) |
So, this gives us a clearer view of the race, and where the candidates stand on their ability to raise money.
I'm disappointed that no one raised more than a quarter million dollars, which I consider the minimal acceptable level for preparing to take out an incumbent like Heath Shuler, especially one who rides the fence on many issues.
**11.30am** I've looked the numbers over, and am blown over that Open Secrets is reporting that Eichenbaum is mostly self-financed. The mantra from that campaign has been grassroots, grassroots, grassroots.
Dan Eichenbaum (R)
| Raised: | $123,694 |
| Spent: | $43,146 |
| Cash on Hand: | $80,548 |
| Last Report: | March 31, 2010 |
| PAC contributions | $0 | (0%) |
| Individual contributions | $21,117 | (17%) |
| Candidate self-financing | $102,577 | (83%) |
| Other | $0 | (0%) |
If these numbers are correct, then Eichenbaum has only raised $21,117 from individuals...while giving his own campaign $102,577. I'm blown away by that.
Miller, on the other hand, has raised $116,930 from individuals and has given his own campaign $12,000. I'm blown away by that, because the conventional wisdom had it that Miller paying for his own campaign. These numbers don't support that.
I've been eagerly awaiting the FEC reports that will detail who gave how much to each campaign. I'd like to have those before the primary on May 4th...
Previously:
NC-11 Congressional Fundraising Race
April 20, 2010 Update
.
Best "Downfall" Parody Yet!!!
It was too good to be true. Lots of people had fun making "Downfall" parodies. Now the producer of the "Downfall" film has gotten his panties in a wad. Bear witness:
Hitler, as "Downfall producer" orders a DMCA takedown from Brad Templeton on Vimeo.
Full details at http://ideas.4brad.com/hitler-tries-dmca-takedown - There are hundreds of parodies of this "Downfall" clip. The studio, Constantin Films, has ordered takedowns of some of them, and eventually even had this parody removed from YouTube. In this clip, Hitler is the producer, and his lawyers tell him why he can't do a DMCA takedown and how the EFF could stop him. He desperately searches for other ways to protect the movie.
Made by Brad Templeton, an EFF board member (but releasing the video on his own.) This video educates about intellectual property issues and parodies the actions of the studio using the very clip they are censoring.
Read more about it at HuffPo.
NC General Assembly
04-21-2010 Legislative Calender
This is the legislative calender for today, delivered with a diatribe regarding the idiotic Justus Warren Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention Task Force.
Call me cynical, but I do not believe that it is the business of the North Carolina General Assembly to be engaging in the activities they do with the Justus Warren Heart Disease & Stoke Prevention. It is not the place of government to tell us how to live healthy or to try to punish those they feel are living unhealthy lives.
This is too close to Big Brother telling 'the little people' how to live their lives because the government views each individual life as a burden, not a gift from God.
| 8:30 AM | Joint Appropriations Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee | 415 LOB |
| 8:30 AM | CANCELLED - Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources | N/A |
| 9:30 AM | 544 LOB | |
| 10:00 AM | Justus-Warren Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention - Legislation and Resource Development | 1027/1128 LB |
| 10:00 AM | Justus-Warren Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention - Prevention | 1124/1224 LB |
| 10:00 AM | Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention - Management | 1228/1327 LB |
| 10:00 AM | Jusuts-Warren Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention - Public Awareness | 1425 LB |
| 10:00 AM | House and Senate Appropriations | 643 LOB |
| 10:00 AM | CANCELLED - Joint Select Com. On Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness | N/A |
| 1:00 PM | 1027/1128 LB | |
| 1:30 PM | CANCELLED - Joint Select Committee on Ex-Offender Reintegration Into Society | N/A1 |
| 2:00 PM | Work and Family Balance, Joint Study Committee | 1228/1327 LB |
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
11th Congressional District
2010 Republican Convention This Weekend
The Republican Party of the 11th Congressional District will be having a convention on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at Haywood Community College. [Link to website]
Registration of delegates begins at 1 pm and the convention is scheduled to begin at 2 pm.
There will be a congressional candidates forum and I will be tweeting and uploading photos of the event live using the twitter hashtag #NC11. I'll be embedding a twitter widget on my blog Saturday so you can follow along. I won't be webcasting it live because the WiFi connection in the auditorium won't support live video.
Directions to the event can be found by using this Google Map:
Previous Convention Coverage:
2009 NC-11 GOP Convention
NC-11 Congressional Fundraising Race
April 20, 2010 Update
It looks like Jeff Miller is the first Republican in the 11th district congressional race to pass $100,000 according to the data available from the FEC, as reported by Open Secrets. The first quarter filing period ended on March 30th, and the data below is what is available mid-morning on April 20, 2010:
Heath Shuler (D) [incumbent]
Raised: $690,709
Spent: $337,474
Cash on Hand: $1,296,940
Last Report: March 31, 2010
PAC contributions $364,671 (53%)
Individual contributions $297,471 (43%)
Candidate self-financing $0 (0%)
Other $28,567 (4%)
Jeff Miller (R)
Raised: $111,260
Spent: $24,992
Cash on Hand: $86,267
Last Report: March 31, 2010
PAC contributions $0 (0%)
Individual contributions $99,260 (89%)
Candidate self-financing $12,000 (11%)
Other $0 (0%)
Gregory A. Newman (R)
Raised: $11,275
Spent: $1,261
Cash on Hand: $10,013
Last Report: December 31, 2009
PAC contributions $0 (0%)
Individual contributions $11,275 (100%)
Candidate self-financing $0 (0%)
Other $0 (0%)
Dan Eichenbaum (R)
Raised: $8,212
Spent: $6,975
Cash on Hand: $1,237
Last Report: December 31, 2009
PAC contributions $0 (0%)
Individual contributions $5,962 (73%)
Candidate self-financing $2,250 (27%)
Other $0 (0%)
James J. Howard (R)
No reports on record for this candidate.
Ed Krause (R)
No reports on record for this candidate.
Kenneth D. West (R)
No reports on record for this candidate.
Aixa Wilson (D)
No reports on record for this candidate.
I've been checking the Internet a couple of times a day for updates, and will let you know when the financial reports for the other candidate become available. Jeff Miller's financial reports have been available for over a week now, and I don't know if the others will have their data ready before the primary or not.
Previously:
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