meta-roj

i need to drop a link to this story in here, despite the massive coverage all over the web, because someday, i’m going to come back to this and make a point or two.

Enron Traders Caught On Tape

“He just f—s California,” says one Enron employee. “He steals money from California to the tune of about a million.”

“Will you rephrase that?” asks a second employee.

“OK, he, um, he arbitrages the California market to the tune of a million bucks or two a day,” replies the first.

i’m leaving grandma millie out of this for now.

you could pay attention to joi and save your hearing, or you could get hip with pat benetar and just buy buy lots of batteries…

Pat Benatar Hawks Hearing-Aid Batteries [ap]

Energizer Holdings Inc. is appealing to the rock ‘n’ roll sensibilities of baby boomers by enlisting 1980s rocker Pat Benatar to boost sales of hearing-aid batteries.

certainly an interesting read [pdf], the organization good jobs first has released a report on taxpayer subisidies for walmart – because, well, walmart needs the breaks.

the report claims that it documents more than $1 billion in subidies from local and state governments. it’s been picked up by the new york times.

the news is that corporate disney has barred subsidiary miramax from distributing moore’s overtly anti-bush film farenheit 911. i’m thinking this is a huge mistake.

i’m just guessing this is a really bad business decision that could, maybe, just demonstrate that “film distributors” are becoming a bit redundant.

moore’s got an agenda, wether you agree with it or not, and i’m guessing he’s more interested in getting his film into people’s eyeballs before the election than he is into counting the ticket drop on opening weekend.

now that it’s made the news, how long will it take for someone to “leak” the film? i imagine it’ll find a legitimate distributor and an illegitimate one as well.

and maybe moore’s next film will feature a mouse…

i hope they can do it… i really, really, do.

(that’s e-billion as in $2,718,281,828…. it’s a nice number, and certainly bolder than my personal favorite, $1,618,033,988).

diebold has been a fixture around here since the dawn of the meta-roj blog, so i was quite anxious about the big news coming from california this week. unfortunately, i’ve been a bit busy and i haven’t had time to really dive in too deep, so i can’t provide some brilliant insightful commentary of my own (or even really borrow someone else’s!), so what i’ll do is share these tidbits and point you in some directions to follow on your own, should the issue move you….

there are two laws introducedin california to ban electronic voting. the relevant amendment seems to be attached to sb 530 and sb 1723.

sb 530 and sb 1723

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a city or
county may not use any form of direct recording electronic device as
part of its voting system for the November 2, 2004, general election.

the effect of this language would seem to preclude use of the diebold equipment in the california general election unless some really substantial changes are made to the equipment. these amendments are offered in response to the conclusions of the voter systems panel convened to study the problem.

problem? what problem? 573 of 1,038 polling places in san diego county failed to open on time because of diebold computer malfunctions. and that’s just the beginning. i guess your vote doesn’t count if the machine isn’t working while you’re at the polls.

the california secretary of state has a page providing the source materials and reports on the march 2, 2004 elections and the performance of the voting machines. lots and lots of reading material here.

Diebold President Robert J. Urosevich

We’re not idiots, though we may act from time to time as not the smartest

it’s possible. this is an important follow up to my last post about christie key.

here’s the apoligy letter as posted to the gamma phi beta site.

Thursday, April 15, 2004

To Whom It May Concern:

In light of the recent events concerning the University of Missouri Greek Week 2004 Blood Drive, I am writing this to offer my most sincere apology. I failed to consider the consequences of my actions in suggesting that members lie about important health issues in order to earn points for our chapter.

I want to specifically apologize to the American Red Cross, an organization that is dedicated to saving lives. I am very sorry for the waste of resources that may have resulted from my irresponsible email remarks. I also regret that it created concern about the safety of donated blood and required the American Red Cross to defend their policies and procedures.

To the University of Missouri, I apologize for potentially jeopardizing our good relationship with the Red Cross, as well as our reputation. I ask the administration, faculty, staff, and my fellow students to forgive my error that put us in the public eye for such a negative act.

I realize that I have embarrassed the Greek community and tarnished a proud tradition. Greek Week competition is meant to serve the community and present a positive image of sororities and fraternities at the university. I do hope that this well-deserved image will soon be restored.

Finally, I want to express my profound regret for violating the high standards of my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. For over 130 years, their mission and values have reflected a commitment to scholarship, service, sisterhood, and integrity. I will do my best to live up to those standards and pass them on to my sisters.

Sincerely,

Christie Key

ars technica drops the dime (as it were) on a legislative initiative in california to put the brakes on the whole gmail thing.

ever since those ipo rumors got started, there have been some hints at the dark side of google. i picked it up here twice.

has google compromised itself and it’s famous “don’t be evil” philosophy yet?

this goes under business, since it’s the same level of ethics that brought us all the grand business scandals of recent years.

this broke at the missourian and in the columbia daily tribune. later reported by the associated press and picked up around the world.

christie key, the blood drive coordinator for the gamma phi beta sorority at the university of missouri sent an email to some 170 people…

christie key

I dont care if you got a tattoo last week LIE. I dont care if you have a cold. Suck it up. We all do. LIE. Recent peircings? LIE.

christie key

We’re not messing around. Punishment for not giving blood is going to be quite severe.

aside from the fact that this means the american red cross now has to do damage-control because people are concerned about the safety of the blood supply, this would seem to violate the university’s statement of values.

i’m sure it was worth winning. i hope guinness puts a stopper on this record-attempt. i probably can’t afford the kind of money it would take to buy christie a clue, so i guess we just have to hope that a title like ceo or president isn’t in her future.

will there be consequences?

NYC Restaurants Not Hurt by Smoking Ban

Tax receipts from bars and restaurants jumped almost 9 percent in the 10 months since the city’s public smoking ban went into effect, proof the city says that businesses haven’t been harmed by the rules.

is that a win (public health)-win (business)?