Mitakuye Oyasin — we are all related…
even with me very sore tush – had to come and send ya’ll wishes for the day so – the truck is on its way:
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Be safe.
Love you all – do not forget to breathe – see ya – I am going to go and rest me weary body for a long while.
OUCH!!!
Season Finale of Monk tonite.
…whomever they are! Putting stuff on hold is a good thing – I suppose. Sensory overload. Have you ever had someone tell you not to interpret what THEY mean – when you were NOT trying to do that in the first place?
I don’t like people putting words in my mouth or mis-interpreting my meaning. I am more than willing to clarify – but why must I always have to do that. I have no intention/desire to argue or spar all the time – I simply have this insane desire to be quiet for awhile – in other words to SHUT UP!!!
So right now I am going to take time out from writing – maybe a day or two – or a week – or??? God knows – I don’t want to offend anyone. I am not in this world to please everyone – For the most part I am just trying to be kind and informative – yeh – and vent once in awhile – if I am hurting someone – then perhaps I should not be doing this at all. Jeez – it is not like I’m writing for the Washington Post. No one is gonna miss me. The world will not stop spinning. God spare me from folks in menopause… 
I am so out of energy with ya’ll.
So – here I am – see you on the morning side. Love ya – stay safe…
Being more aware that the so-called government has already been gleaning ALL the information it has wanted for quite awhile – whenever it wanted to – for whatever reason – why? because they can. Because of the publicity regarding the illegal spying they have been doing THEY want to make it ?Legal? – a monumental spin perhaps??? Criminy – how dumb do ya think we are…?
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Google Must Hand Government Information About Searches
By JOSH GERSTEIN – Staff Reporter of the Sun 15 March, 2006
SAN JOSE, Calif. – A federal judge said yesterday that he will require Google to give the government some of the data it has demanded for use in a long-running lawsuit relating to pornography on the Internet, but he did not seem inclined to force the company to turn over potentially-sensitive information, such as search queries submitted by individual Web users.
“It’s my intent to give some relief to the government,” Judge James Ware said after hearing nearly 90 minutes of argument in a packed courtroom in the heart of Silicon Valley. “What I need to study is how to shape it,” the judge said.
During the hearing, lawyers for the Justice Department and for the search giant acknowledged that the government has substantially cut back its initial request, which asked Google to turn over billions of Web addresses in the firm’s index, as well as millions of search queries. The government is now seeking just 50,000 addresses, also called uniform resource locators, and only 5,000 searches. But Google is continuing to resist.
Judge Ware expressed repeated concerns that the subpoena could improperly burden Google and invade the privacy of some of the company’s customers. He noted that Google is not a party to the underlying case, a lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union brought in Pennsylvania to block the federal government from enforcing a 1998 law, the Child Online Protection Act, which is aimed at preventing minors from seeing sexually explicit material on the Internet.
A Justice Department attorney, Joel McElvain, said the government needs the data to help answer a key question in the lawsuit: whether Internet filtering software is effective. “The government is not seeking any personally identifiable information,” Mr. McElvain said. However, an attorney for Google, Albert Gidari Jr., said all kinds of personal information, including Social Security and credit card numbers, could be part of a search query. “It might make a statement about the sexual preferences of a public figure,” he said. “If you were one of those people, I don’t think you would want that in third-party hands.”
Mr. McElvain noted that Google regularly publishes its most popular searches as part of its “Zeitgeist” feature and Google’s advertisers and others routinely get some queries from Web browsers. The government lawyer also promised that any data produced would not be used for any purpose beyond the law suit.
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Judge Ware seemed dubious about that assertion. He asked what would happen if one of the search queries included the name of one of his law clerks, along with that of Osama bin Laden. “Are you telling me the government would ignore it?” the judge asked. “Yes, I am,” Mr. McElvain replied. He said the fact that someone searched for the two names would have no significance. “There’s no real information to be gleaned from that,” he said. Judge Ware also questioned the government’s assurances that the data would be protected from disclosure. “I don’t know how you do that in a case where you’re trying to prove something at a public trial,” the judge said.
In civil lawsuits, subpoenas are routinely enforced as long as the information sought might lead to admissible evidence. Judge Ware said the stakes are somewhat different when the government is seeking the information. “Ordinarily, the government, in order to get information, would have to be very careful because the Fourth Amendment protects us from searches and seizures,” he said.
The judge said he was “very reticent” to conclude that the information sought was irrelevant to a case pending across the country. However, he also noted that the government was not seeking direct evidence, but trying to force Google to cooperate in a research study. “Lots of people want to do studies,” the judge said.
Mr. McElvain noted that Yahoo, America Online, and Microsoft have already complied with similar requests. He conceded that the Google data were not essential, but he said the company’s information would “improve” the quality of the study. Judge Ware observed that Google’s dominance in the search field all but guaranteed that the government would seek the company’s data. “You’re the best. You’re the biggest. You made yourself so,” he told the firm’s lawyers.
During the hearing, the courtroom sometimes sounded more like a computer convention, as the judge and the lawyers batted about terms such as “source code,” “random number generator,” and even “crawl depth.” The judge also inquired several times about the financial cost to Google, a discussion that seemed somewhat comical in light of the company’s $104 billion market value. The government said it would reimburse the firm for whatever expenses it incurs to produce the data. As the session concluded, Judge Ware seemed to favor giving the government the sample of indexed Web addresses, but to reject or further limit the request for search queries. He said he would issue a formal ruling “very quickly.”
A Google attorney, Nicole Wong, said later that the firm was “very pleased” with the hearing. “At the very least, we have come a long way from the initial subpoena from the government,” she said. “I think the biggest concern is what the precedent is.”
Last August, the government directed subpoenas to Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and America Online, seeking the address of every Web page cataloged by those services as well as the text of all searches conducted during a two-month period last summer. All the firms except for Google have said publicly that they have complied with the subpoenas. Spokesmen for the companies said they negotiated more limited responses than the government initially sought. More than 30 companies offering Internet filtering services also received demands to turn over information for use in the ongoing litigation. Those subpoenas sought data on how often the filters are used and how much of the Web they deem pornographic.
The Justice Department released copies of the subpoenas to The New York Sun in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
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May I remind the government that somewhere there are 13 year old kids smart enough to find all the private information about you – and as I have mentioned previously when you are spying on us…there are many who are spying on YOU!!! Why? – I don’t have a clue! Personally – I could care less.
Stem cell research is NOT about harvesting babies. I am sure that all rational souls realise that. Yes, I realise, too, that corporate entities will try and make money and again attempt to control it. Bottom line it really is not about being competitive, I feel, it is about the knowledge, allowing us to help people improve the quality of their lives. If we could have done more earlier – perhaps Chris Reeve would still be with us. Perhaps Ronald Reagan would have had a better quality of life…on and on-what we could/can do.
May I suggest that you all check out Chris and Dana Reeve’s Foundation site – check all the links – there is a very informative video – click on the paralysis resource centre – in the upper right there is the [click] video regarding showing some of the wonderful things they have done/do. We simply cannot allow those idiots in DC to destroy everything CRF and others have accomplished and will continue to doing in the future. If you all can just take some time to learn more about what positive progress is happening. Couldn’t hurt.
Some folks are fiercely independent feeling that we should all take care of ourselves – not depend on government etc. None of us can do it alone we are all connected as children of God. We need to make it clear from these “politico’s” that THEY work for US! – and we are MAD as HELL and we are NOT going to take it anymore.
http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.geIMLPOpGjF/b.899265/k.CC03/Home.htm
As far as the Bush Administration – so evil and just plain stupid – and dis- connected from their fellow humans. They will eventually be hoist by their own petard ‘s. BTW – They do need to remember that while they are spying on us – someone is spying on them…!
AMEN… off my soapbox for today. Thanks for listening – just be open ya’ll – give a care about yourselves and others…
I feel very blessed to have him in my life. His kindnesses over the years knows no bounds. What can I say he even shares his tiny cat people with me.
Sometimes there are no so-called good reasons why a person is in your life – it’s just that it is so damn cool that they are there. JDD enjoy!!!
TYGS!
PLEASE Support the SPECTER-HARKIN-FEINSTEIN Amendment
Tell Congress to increase vital funding for paralysis health research and quality of life programs
Bush Budget Cuts NIH, CDC Funding
Two weeks ago, we first told you of the cuts to paralysis research and health programs proposed in the President’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget. The President’s budget would cut funding for 18 of the 19 Institutes that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including those focusing on paralysis research.
In addition to the cuts in medical research, the President’s budget also proposes deep cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for disability programs, chronic disease prevention, quality of life programs, and health promotion. Specifically, the proposal cuts nearly $20 million from Chronic Disease programs as well as nearly $15 million from Birth Defects and Developmental Disability programs. In fact, under the President’s proposal, the entire CDC Paralysis program, which supports the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, would be completely eliminated.
Senate CAN Vote to Increase Public Health Funding
This week, the Senate is scheduled to vote on the Senate Budget Resolution, which sets the overall funding allocations for all federal spending. As currently drafted, the Senate Budget Resolution CUTS funding for medical research and public health programs. While this is a very serious situation, there is a glimmer of hope. This week, (possibly as soon as Tuesday) the Senate will vote on the SPECTER-HARKIN-FEINSTEIN Amendment to increase funding for all health and education programs by $7 billion. The only way to guarantee that paralysis health research and quality of life programs are not only saved from cuts but also receive necessary increases in FY 2007 is for the Senate to pass the SPECTER-HARKIN-FEINSTEIN Amendment.
The bottom line is simple — if the Budget Resolution CUTS the allocations for medical research and public health programs, the Appropriations bill MUST CUT medical research and public health programs.
The SPECTER-HARKIN-FEINSTEIN Amendment restores health and education funding to the same levels they were at just two years ago. That’s right, in just two short years, funding for these critical programs have been cut by $7 billion. If we don’t reverse the trend this year, it will only get worse in the future.
The President and Members of Congress can’t have it both ways — if they support medical research and public health programs, they must support a Budget Resolution that increases, not cuts, funding for medical research and health programs over last year’s level.
ACTION NEEDED NOW
Call 202-225-3121
and ask to speak with your
Senators
If you are not sure who your Senators are,
[ check your local telephone directory] to find your elected officials addresses amd telephone numbers].
Ask them to oppose cuts to medical research and public health and stand with you, their constituent, in support of our efforts to increase funding for paralysis research and public health programs. Request that they vote FOR the SPECTER-HARKIN-FEINSTEIN Amendment to increase funding for health and education by $7 billion.
Once connected to the office, ask to speak with the legislative assistant who handles health care or budget issues.
Share with them the information above and share why these programs (paralysis research and the PRC) are important to you, their constituent.
Ask for a commitment from them to support the SPECTER-HARKIN-FEINSTEIN Amendment and any/every effort to increase funding for Function 550 and paralysis research and health programs.
Finally, let them know you will be following the budget process closely and ask them to keep you up to date on what actions they take.
While we will continue to closely monitor the situation, we need your help. All advocates should contact their representatives. Please call TODAY to urge their support for continued funding for the CDC Paralysis Activities in partnership with the Christopher Reeve Foundation. Please keep us up to date on the actions you take by emailing us at Hope@ChristopherReeve.org.
With your help, we will make sure the Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center as well as the many other CDC paralysis programs receive federal funding this year.
Call your Senator today!
Michael Manganiello
Sr. Vice President
Government Relations
The Christopher Reeve Action Network
Go Forward
TAKE ACTION NOW
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SUPPORT THE PRC!
Make a contribution to an incredible legacy through CRF Superman Tags
Thank you!
View the PSA shown at the end of the popular WB series “Smallville” promoting the Superman tags –
http://video.mww.com/CRF/SmallvillePSA.wmv
…all in all that’s great…but did it have to wait till I had to do a big shop – 2 hour wait for a taxi – AAAhhhhh- nuts.
Love the snow when I have all the outside stuff done – then I snuggle in and watch the gift of snow come down – drink a nice hot chocolate – be warm – play music and enjoy feeling the peace in this house…
Mahalo Nui Loa – GS!
Remembering Dana Reeve
NEW YORK, 7 March 2006
(CBS) This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.
The word that may best describe Dana Reeve is courageous.
Her husband was Superman, but maybe it was Dana Reeve we really believed was the superhero.
“She was a guide in terms of how we should lift our spirits in the face of adversity, how, no matter what we’re faced with, we can overcome it, even death,” says Dana Reeve’s friend, entertainer Mandy Patinkin.
I never saw the two of them together that I didn’t marvel at her grace, her strength, her love for him, and her determination to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
It would have been enough for her to stand by her man. We would have been satisfied with that.
But Dana Reeve wasn’t satisfied with a medical community that said spinal cord injuries are hopeless. She took her dazzling smile and steely determination to Washington, where she cajoled, charmed and convinced stingy lawmakers to make money available for research.
“She really was a profound leader,” Patinkin observes, “in terms of, ‘What do you do in the face of adversity? You behave the way I behave.’ The way Dana Reeve behaves. That’s how you behave. You make the most out of every second.”
Did we sometimes wonder if hers and Chris’s cause was a lost one? Probably.
Yet, there was the evidence. Remember the video? Thousands of hours of excruciating rehabilitation resulted in Chris regaining feeling in parts of his body. He could literally feel with his own flesh what he’d known in his heart since his terrible accident — that Dana was with him.
“It’s certainly a day of sadness,” Patinkin reflects, “but it’s also a day of remembrance of a kind of love and inspiration that is rare and unique. And I deeply believe that it’s possible that these two lights of love couldn’t be without each other.”
First Chris, and now Dana is gone, too. And it breaks our hearts.
Harry’s daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Dear Palestar -
As you my have heard by now, Dana Reeve died last night. Her generous spirit and graceful heart will remain with us as we Go Forward. She will always be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, actress, singer, author, motivational speaker, and advocate. But I am most proud to have known her as my friend for the past 25 years.
Yesterday, in Washington, D.C., we hosted a Congressional briefing to highlight the public health programs of the Christopher Reeve Foundation – primarily the Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center and the NeuroRecovery Network , a network of hospitals that administer intensive activity based therapy. I tell you this because I sat and watched Joe Canose, our Vice President of Quality of Life, talk about Dana and her vision that integrated the quality of life programs, grants, and health promotion initiatives into the mission of the Foundation. At that moment I knew her courage and energy would Go Forward through the work of the PRC.
The most powerful demonstration of the work of the PRC was Dr. Susan Harkema speaking to Congressional staff in attendance about the NeuroRecovery Network, and the ways in which rehabilitation research is improving people’s lives today. Dr. Harkema told the story of a 2-year-old named Chase, who was jumping on a sofa with his older brother when a fall left him paralyzed from the neck down (C-2).
Chase’s parents were told he would never walk again.
Now almost 3, and after nine months of rehabilitation therapy with Dr. Harkema, Chase came with his mother, Renee, to Washington, D.C. With the use of his hands, trunk and legs, Chase got out of his wheelchair, grabbed his walker, and walked down the middle of the room. We were all speechless.
As Chase took each step with his broad smile and fierce determination, I could only think of Dana and Chris and the lasting impact they have made on the lives of so many people.
I use this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support, activism, and resolve to Go Forward . It is now our charge to continue the work of the Foundation in honor of Chris and this remarkable woman, Dana Reeve.
I hope to see you in Washington on May 2nd. We have a large mantle to carry and we turn to you, our friends, to help.
Thank you.
Michael Manganiello
Vice President, Government Relations
Christopher Reeve Action Network
Go Forward
Dana at 44 – mother of Will who is 13 – had 2 sisters – was the widow of Christopher Reeve and truly a Superwoman in her own right.
In lieu of flowers – please consider donations to the Christphher Reeve Foundation: http://www.christopherreeve.org
This statement released this morning by the Christopher Reeve Foundation:
Christopher Reeve Foundation Mourns the Passing of Dana Reeve
(Short Hills, NJ, March 7, 2006) – Dana Reeve, Chair of the Christopher Reeve Foundation (CRF) and founder of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, passed away last night at the age of 44. The cause was lung cancer. Kathy Lewis, President and CEO of CRF, issued the following statement.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and staff of the Christopher Reeve Foundation, we are extremely saddened by the death of Dana Reeve, whose grace and courage under the most difficult of circumstances was a source of comfort and inspiration to all of us. The Foundation extends our deepest condolences and sympathy to the entire Reeve and Morosini families.
“Dana will always be remembered for her passion, strength and ceaseless courage that became her hallmark. Along with her husband Christopher, she faced adversity with grace and determination, bringing hope to millions around the world.
“In addition to being a wonderful mother, actress, singer, author, motivational speaker and advocate, she was a founding board member of the Christopher Reeve Foundation and succeeded her late husband, Christopher Reeve, as chair in 2004. Ms. Reeve established the Foundation’s Quality of Life initiatives: the Quality of Life grants program and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center. Since its inception in 1999, the Quality of Life grants program has awarded more than $8 million to support programs and projects that improve the daily lives of people living with paralysis.”
“After Christopher’s death, Dana was determined to preserve the important work and the legacy of hope that became his life’s mission. Even in our grief, the Foundation must pick up and continue to Go Forward with this mission. At the same time, we commit ourselves to ensuring that the light of grace, courage and hopefulness that Dana embodied continues to shine bright – bringing comfort and hope to people living with paralysis and their families and caregivers.
“Dana’s courage and conviction leave us all with an abiding faith in every person’s ability to make an important difference. We GO FORWARD because it is the responsibility of everyone touched by this remarkable woman to carry on the work of the Foundation.”
Ms. Reeve also served on the boards of The Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, TechHealth, and The Reeve-Irvine Center for Spinal Cord Research and as an advisory board member to the National Family Caregivers Association.
She received numerous awards for her work, most notably the Shining Example Award from Proctor & Gamble in 1998, an American Image Award from the AAFA in 2003, and, the American Cancer Society named her Mother of the Year in 2005. Her book, Care Packages, was published by Random House.
Reeve is survived by her father, Dr. Charles Morosini, sisters Deborah Morosini and Adrienne Morosini Heilman, her son Will and two stepchildren, Matthew and Alexandra. The family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
At this time, no plans for a funeral have been announced. For those who care to do so, donations may be made in Dana’s memory to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, 636 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills, New Jersey 07078 or online at www.ChristopherReeve.org
Goody – Goody…yahoo! Whoo Hoo… TYGS!
