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Where leaping to conclusions is my primary form of forward motion.
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Saturday, September 10, 2005
$107 Billion and Counting
According to the 2005 Dept. of Homeland Security Budget in Brief, the total expenditures for 2003-2005 exceed $107 billion. Let me repeat that:$107 billion
This does not include the special appropriations made for Katrina. It is just the operating funds for the largest bureaucracy in American history. If we were to demand that the governemnt calculate a Return on Investment (ROI), which is how most businesses determine if something is worth doing, I suspect we would be able to identify precisely one piece of tangible evidence for this massive expenditure - the Disney-like Homeland Security Advisory System.
But we do see enormous burdens on travelers, citizens, airlines, and airports, as well as enormous profit opportunities for bureaucrats, technology companies, and people with hare-brained ideas to sell to the government.
It is amazing what we have come to accept from our elected representatives.
Terry Frazier at 7:48 PM
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Friday, May 13, 2005
Are You A Denied Person?
I received an interesting, informative, and anonymous comment today regarding the Official Denied Persons List athttp://www.bxa.doc.gov/dpl/Default.shtm
Back in October I bought a new copy of PGP and grew annoyed when I paid my money, got my confirmation, and all it included was a "purchase review". Today someone posted an explanation and clarification that made me feel a little better about the situation:
Terry this isn't a re-instatement of the law, it is the current law. The "review" is a machine review. Your name is run against the "denied persons" list - which you can find here (btw i don't see your name on it)http://www.bxa.doc.gov/dpl/Default.shtm
Its not a list of terrorists or naughty boys and girls but a list of those who've violated export control laws and are 'denied' as part of their punishment under law.
When you click to download the software a GEO IP check is performed (determines geographically where you are by your IP) to make sure you aren't in the IP space of one of the embargoed countries - Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Libya, N. Korea. Sudan & Syria. If your IP is anonymous or from a satellite ISP - you'll also be denied I think. Those IPS fall into "A1" and "A2" IP space.
This IP check of course doesn't and couldn't account for someone in say a Syrian embassy in a european country.
I checked the site. It's part of the Dept. of Commerce. And the post seems written by someone who knows the subject. This past Tuesday I received the following e-mail:
Dear Terry Frazier,
PGP Corporation has just released completely new versions of its award-winning desktop products -- PGP Desktop Professional 9.0 (formerly PGP Workgroup Desktop 8.x) and PGP Desktop Home 9.0 (formerly PGP Personal Desktop 8.x). These new versions are the most significant PGP product upgrades ever offered. [...]
I suppose there is some connection between the new product release and someone showing up on my site. Maybe a little "blog trolling" to try and address any negative feelings? In any case, I appreciate the comment and the explanation.
Terry Frazier at 10:00 PM
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Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Senator Johnny Isakson on Bankruptcy
Below is the response I received from Senator Isakson's office. Mr. Isakson was not nearly so loquacious as Mr Chambliss. But then, Mr. Chambliss is a lawyer (aka paid by the word), Mr. Isakson a real estate salesman (paid by developers.)I sent the same letter to both. It covered both the Bankruptcy Bill and the Real ID Act. Mr. Chambliss chose to respond to the Real ID Act only. Mr Isakson to the Bankruptcy Bill only.
At least neither Senator sent me the form letter that the Republicans were sending around after they passed the Bankruptcy Bill. A friend in Texas got exactly the same letter from both his senators. Sad. If I get a response from my Congressman (none so far) I'll post it, as well. In fact, if you've gotten letters from any of your elected representatives send me copies and I'll post them. Would be interesting to see the collection of generalized, non-committal, "trust me" letters.Dear Mr. Frazier:Thank you for contacting my office regarding the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention Act. I appreciate your thoughts on this subject and the opportunity to respond to you.
On March 10 th the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention Act.I voted in favor of this bill because there has become a disturbing trend of abuse in using bankruptcy provisions. Bankruptcy laws were put in place to assist individuals who have reached insolvency, not to serve as a crutch for those who purpose to avoid their obligations. Reform of our Bankruptcy code was necessary to address those issues of abuse.
Thank you again for your ideas and input on this issue. If I may ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Senator Johnny Isakson
Terry Frazier at 3:19 PM
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