Gang of Feral Cats or Rabid Gang of Feral Cats. #philsbandnames #bandnames #songnames

Ripped from the headlines.

New Reads: Foreward Reviews

Here's a new review site.

New Must Reads: Motherboard and the entirety of the VICE family.

Looks like Motherboard is attempting to be the Mondo 2000 and.or early 90s Wired. 

But all the VICE properties are interesting.

Black Death Squirrels. Black Death Squirrels. And: Black Death Squirrels. #philsbandnames #bandnames #songnames

Hey its the new problem.

There's also a rally for Trayvon Martin this Saturday at noon.

Here's the Facebook page.

There is a site called "Trayvon Pittsburgh". #trayvonmartin #justice4trayvon

They have demands. No I don't know how they'll be met with a GOP state legislature.

Also good news from the National Journal: Obama's Helping Hand Surprises Hill Democrats

There's more: "The president told Nancy Pelosi he'll fundraise for a Democratic House majority."

About damn time. If he wants a legacy, then he has to retain the senate and win back the house, otherwise his only legacy is judicial appointments which he's severely behind on.

Love this National Journal headline: Pennsylvania Republicans Looking to Push Out Their Governor

Oh and it continues. "Tom Corbett is one of the most unpopular politicians in the country. Now his own party is turning on him."

Don't let them stop you Tom. You keep fighting. 

Nice case study as to what's wrong with Green Party candidacies. Behold: The David Curtis fundraising page. #greenparty

Did you know that you could contest a statewide seat for about 10 grand? Neither did I. And if it was a state would it be California? I would guess 5 to 10 million to even be considered for a state run there. I think Meg Whitman spent $100 million for the California governor's race and lost.

But David is starting humble. Only wants 10 grand  and he's raised a whopping $405 dollars. Its still early I mean, you know.

Meanwhile, I have a plan that would actually work. Need 30000 people, at least, to give small donations to actually win. That's about 1.5 million per year. Still not enough to contest a statewide race like California. What is the strategy of the Green Party? Why don't they use small donations to build a treasure chest and actually target races they could win? Will the Pirate or Justice Party get a clue?

New collection site called Popular Resistance.

Finds stories that are important but not reported on by the corporate press.

New Volkswagon car gets 300 miles to the gallon.

Not being offered in the states. Why not?

Big investigative story about the Koch Brothers that your local newspaper can't afford to do. Too much lost advertising...#kochbrothers

Read all about it. This is produced by something called The Investigation Reporting Workshop.

A decent android or ubuntu computer for 99 bucks?

It has some kind of off brand 2 to 4 core chip but it's operating android. I wish they would add a screen and charge about $150 for it. Bang a laptap. Here are the specs.

New site I'll be taking a look at called "Geek".

Had a very bad experience with "Den of Geek" though. Here's Geek.

#nerdland You do consecutive bits on Gitmo and Calif solitary hell and tell Ed Snowden to come back home?

Melissa Harris Perry you're losing me...Bradley Manning is another good reason you would avoid the United States as long as possible.

That Fusion Engine Man #philsbandnames #BandNames

Name of short story that I will probably never finish.

#philsbandnames #bandnames ...And We Fight Crime

Forget the band names again. There's a twitter user who needs a band name and they might actually be good musicians. Here's a change at eternity...

#philsbandnames #bandnames Where Glass Rain Falls at 4000 MPH

Because I forgot to add the hashtags before.

Where Glass Rain Falls at 4000 MPH

Based on a true story apparently.

...And We Fight Crime. #philsbandnames #bandnames

Sometimes the muse just strikes you.

Giant Robots vs. Giant Monsters #philsbandnames #bandnames #pacificrim

I'm sorry but Pacific Rim looks just awesome.

Rules on taking photos in public. Just so Deborah DuPont and her annoying husband Chip Dupont can know the law.

I actually found this to be a problem when taking photos at the Three Rivers Arts Festival some weeks ago. I usually take pics of the best artists and present my own little best of show here at the Three Rivers Online empire of sites. But first here's the ACLU stance on taking photos in public:

Taking photographs of things that are plainly visible from public spaces is a constitutional right – and that includes federal buildings, transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties. Unfortunately, there is a widespread, continuing pattern of law enforcement officers ordering people to stop taking photographs from public places, and harassing, detaining and arresting those who fail to comply. Learn more »

>> Know Your Rights: See more essential resources from the ACLU

Your rights as a photographer:

• When in public spaces where you are lawfully present you have the right to photograph anything that is in plain view. That includes pictures of federal buildings, transportation facilities, and police. Such photography is a form of public oversight over the government and is important in a free society.

Just for the record, Deborah and Chip, if you're in a public park, even privately administered,  and your exhibit was in a public park -- unless Occupy activists try to take it over then you might run into problems during the winter-- so, therefore, I can take pictures. I'll be publishing their work a little bit later tonight. I actually thought Deborah was a talented artist which is why I took those pictures so I could promote her work. Chip's work, on the other hand, which was beside his wife's, kind of sucked so I didn't take any pictures of his work. Just an artistic opinion there Chip, also protected by the first amendment. You're welcome.

A rare once a year moment: I agree with Instapundit.

I think the Evil One known as the Instapundit is right about this. If journalists were officially credentialed, then only writers connected to big media outfits -- or big American media outfits -- would be considered "legitimate" journalists. When of course the best journalists in the world work for foreign outlets or online sites. Who is working for the corporate media who produces work as good as Matt Taibbi, Greg Palast or Glenn Greenwald. It should be pointed that while the Guardian takes ads that they're run by what looks to be a non profit. They're not necessarily beholden to shareholders.

Depressing post about Pringles food of death. Probably true. I'm adding this site.

Read this horrifying story. Apparently no potato chip is safe. And Pringles made from a slurry of food stuffs? Need to add this whole site.

Story I need to read about the whistleblower you haven't heard about. #whistleblower #EdwardSnowden

There really is a war against journalism.

Start the recess appointments now Mr. President.

If you actually like labor that is...sometimes I wonder. How's Penny doing?

Site I need to add about Bitcoin. #bitcoin

Yeah. Let's talk Bitcoin. I'm gonna learn me stuff about this vital artificial currency.

I Is Who I Is #philsbandnames #bandnames #pauladeen

I believe Paula Deen described herself that way and of course that would be a cool band name.

End the filibuster and give traditional court actions a chance with more judges appointed by the Democratic Party

END THE FILIBUSTER HARRY REID. APPOINT JUDGES. PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS.

The good news about the horrible June 25th Supreme Court decision that gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is that you can still use the courts to overturn voter suppression laws (here and here). The bad news is that you have to end the filibuster in order to strengthen democratic party majorities in as many circuits and appeals courts as possible. This would mean that President Barack Obama would have to fight in a masculine way and demand that Harry Reid change the filibuster rules. So, further bad news would be that the president talks a good game but doesn't fight for anything. Or at least he doesn't fight as hard as otherwise horrific GOP governor Jan Brewer when she fights to take the free medicaid money he's offering or won't fight as hard as that spunky and very fit Wendy Davis for the self determination of women's bodies. (Hint: You should start vetoing things, even defense bills, to get what you want, unless you don't have the balls of a Brewer or a Davis. It wouldn't surprise me.)


But enough about the bad news. Let's get back to the good news again. I learned of this good news right here in my home state of Pennsylvania. One of the more depressing things about the power of the justice department to pre clear problem states is that this is a power that's only available in nine problem states. Pennsylvania, founded by Quakers and where the Republicans aren't completely evil, was never a problem state to begin with or at least it didn't have that kind of obvious Jim Crow legacy that would warrant a vigilant federal eye. However, in 2010 when the Republicans won all three chambers in Pennsylvania we essentially became Alabama even though we've been a blue state for what I think has been the last four presidential cycles. We're not getting the free medicaid money either because apparently alleged Christian Values republican politicians would rather you die. But enough about my awful Gov. Tom Corbett. And yes its early but I hope this is correct.

The 2010  PA GOP trifecta meant that a voter id law was signed into law on March 14th, 2012. They could do that because there isn't a a pre clearance process. However, my old PENNPIC (early 80s) canvassing buddy Witold Walczak is now a big shot with the American Civil Liberties Union and they challenged the law on May 1, 2012. They didn't exactly end up winning before the presidential election but they delayed the decision not only for the 2012 presidential election but also the May Primary in 2013. These are victories that were established without the pre clearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act that were struck down by the Supreme Court. Two disclaimers. One: We didn't win so much on the merits but delayed the law and of course the GOP judge originally handed the ACLU a loss. But the state appeals court overruled with the help of one republican judge who didn't think it was right to steal an election, which is what voter suppression is tantamount to. Two: The Voting Rights Act pre clearance would be better but Witold has shown us a way to fight back. Bottom line: You can fight Voter ID and other voter suppression tactics without the voting rights act. But its definitely harder. The trial for a permanent injunction begins July 15th, 2013 here in Pennsylvania.

This brings us as to why we need as many judges in the federal court system as possible. The truth of the matter is that the Senate leadership has to change the filibuster -- even if its only a narrow change that just changes it for presidential appointments and judicial seats -- in order to fight for the voting rights of blacks, Latinos, seniors and pretty much every other voting demographic of the Democratic Party. It really should have been done earlier. You might even want to eliminate the filibuster for everything or at least make Charles Grassley speak for 80 hours straight in order to do things. How about getting 60 votes to stop everything? Use your discretion and common sense Harry.

But here are the stakes. All of the nine states, presumably the worst states although there were Voter ID laws introduced pretty much everywhere or read this Brennan Center report, are within circuits that not only  have vacancies for judge seats but also vacancies on the more powerful appeals courts.

 It's not just that the more judges that are appointed by Obama increases your odds of having a decent decision. You also have a chance to stack the appeals courts. Some are out of reach such as the fifth circuit where evil Texas lurks and where Republicans have a 10 to 5 appeals court majority. But there are two vacancies in that appeals court so as of now it would seem to be a good idea to fill those vacancies. Furthermore, I believe there are 8 vacancies within the ranks of the district judges. These need to be filled immediately!

Likewise even though democrats control the appeals court majorities in the ninth, eleventh, and fourth circuits there are vacancies in all those circuits except the fourth. Not to mention the other circuits where there are vacancies which is all with the exception of four appeals courts as of June 21, 2013. The more judges that are appointed by the president the better your chances of winning these kinds of suits. In some cases you can't pick your federal judge as its done by some kind of lottery system. In other cases you can. I think I picked a Unitarian appointed by Jimmy Carter in one of my federal cases. I did pretty well.

It really needs to be done now. Tell Harry Reid to change the filibuster so that we can appoint judges that respect the rights of minorities and/or democrats to vote. The president's only legacy could be his appointments. I hope he understands. Yes I know that the Penny Pritzker/Fracking/Banking lobby runs the White House but I don't understand why. Barack Obama isn't running for reelection. Perhaps, quite frankly, he needed that coalition financially to win in 2008 and 2012. But he doesn't need it now. Unless the president is on the post presidential wealth road. I suppose if you want Goldman Sachs to give you several hundred thousand in speaking fees post presidency you might want not to ever prosecute them for theft or slow down the appointment of judges that might recognize even a white collar thief. I hope that's not the reason although a net worth of $100 million does sound nice. A not bought off black president -- who really cared about the voting rights of people who got him elected twice -- would fight to remove the filibuster every single day. That president (non bought off I hope) might also want to make it easier to strike down voter suppression at the federal level at least so the Democratic Party can retake the House in 2014. That way you could leave a real legacy with legislation. I'd like to think the president has thought of this already. But I'm not sure.

So let's give the president some public encouragement. It looks like he needs it.

Sign the petition.  End the Filibuster Harry Reid. Appoint judges. Protect Voting Rights. Related: Also sign the Daily Kos petition urging Harry Reid to make the real filibuster a talking filibuster. Sort of related: Yes this would affect my case against Gidas Flowers and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). Somewhat related:  You can read a summary about my complaints against the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) here. You can read the complete statement against the somewhat shoddy work of Catherine Leete and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) here.

One of my better pics. Thought I would post it here.