Weinergate Analysis

Dan Wolfe's own screenshots show his advance knowledge of "inapporopriate" pic

I don't post all that often, but this week's hubub over a picture of an underwear-covered crotch bulge purportedly sent to a young woman by Rep. Anthony Weiner has inspired me to do some debunking.

First: Much credit is due to Cannonfire for their work in uncovering the gaping security hole (since closed) in yfrog's photo sharing setup.

Also: Much credit to the folks who contributed to this Fark.com thread in which the yfrog exploit was tested and confirmed, and additional evidence as to the behavior of yfrog was gathered. See also, another thread participant's write up of this evidence

Now, the additional evidence:

When a photo is uploaded to yfrog, it is not sent to the assosciated Twitter account immediately. There is a delay of a few minutes between the photo appearing on yfrog, and it being sent to twitter. The way the photo appears on yfrog changes slightly after the tweet hits twitter, meaning that it is possible to place the timing of the yfrog screenshot Mr Wolfe took with some certainty. This was demonstrated with a willing volunteer's twitter/yfrog accounts in the above linked Fark.com thread (the good stuff starts around post #300):

Before the image is tweeted:

After the image is tweeted:

Note that the twitter message with the photo link does not appear on the yfrog page until the message is sent out via twitter.

Compare the above photos with Dan Wolfe's screenshot of Weiner's yfrog page:

See anything missing? The twitter message is not there. This means that Wolfe's screenshot was taken BEFORE the message was ever sent out via twitter. There are two possible explanations for this:

1. Mr Wolfe just happened to be browsing through Rep. Weiner's yfrog photos and noticed the picture and took a screenshot during the few minutes that the photo was up, or
2. Wolfe is the person who uploaded the photo using the previously documented yfrog exploit. 

I'll let readers decide on the more likely explanation, but someone grabbing a screenshot of the photo BEFORE IT POSTED TO TWITTER is pretty unlikely unless they had some sort of advance knowledge.

This, combined with the previously documented inconsistencies in the photo's EXIF metadata screams right-wing smear attempt, and not-very-well-executed one at that.

Book Review: Land of the Painted Caves

I have thoroughly enjoyed each installment of Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series, and The Land of the Painted Caves was no exception. My chief complaint has been having to wait so long for each new installment as the novels follow Ayla and Jondalar on their journeys of growth and self-discovery. The detail with which Auel describes the environment, tools and ways of living bring the settings to life. The downside of the detail is that Painted Caves is a big book (physically), but that is justified because it is also a big book from the point of view of the sweeping, intoxicating story woven by Auel.

Painted Caves picks up where Shelters of Stone left off, with Ayla and Jondalar as new parents to Jonayla, and Ayla struggling to balance time commitments between her new daughter and her duties as an acolyte to the First among those who serve the Mother. Each step along Ayla's journey has highlighted one or more advances in human society and human understanding of the world around us, and Painted Caves is no exception. From the domestication of animals to the discovery of pottery, each step in the process has seemed like a novelization of discovering a new fundamental technology in one of the Civilization games. The upheaval caused by the revelation in Painted Caves has the potential to shatter the largely matriarchal society which has thus far existed among the Others.

My recommendation: Pre-order this book. Put a hold on it now if it is already in your local library's catalog. For the folks who have been waiting with bated breath for the next installment in the Earth's Children series, this book is everything that the previous installments have led Auel's dedicated fans to expect. March 29th can't get here fast enough.

Darrell Issa's priorities

While his official website still contains a broken contact form, preventing him from receiving communications from his constituents, my Congressman (Darrell Issa) was tweeting about making videos of construction in the hearing room he is taking over. Of course, having a newly-refurbished room to hold hearings in is more important than having the people that elected you be able to contact you.

Where is the code for me to enter???

The giant Cross on Mt. Soledad

A local Tea Party group in San Diego will be holding a rally to protest the ordered removal of the giant Cross that sits atop Mt. Soledad this coming Saturday (Jan 15, 2010). How can a group which claims to defend the US Constitution have become so turned around? The First Amendment has been interpreted to mean that the Government cannot endorse any religion. That means that religious displays on government property cannot be permitted. It protects everyone from having a religion forced upon them by the government. It protects me from being forced to be Christian just as it protects the Tea Partiers from being forced to follow Sharia law.

The group is painting this as an issue of respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation, but they are determined to run roughshod over the very freedoms that many of those servicemen and women gave their lives protecting. I doubt very much that the Tea Party would rise to the defense of a symbol from another religious tradition if it were atop Mt Soledad instead of a cross. By championing this cause, the Tea Party is once again showing that they are not about defending freedom, but rather that they champion the establishment of a pseudo-theocracy, where only the "right" religion is allowed to be endorsed. The US is not a Christian nation any more than it is an Islamic nation, Jewish nation, or Hindu nation. It is a nation where all are free to believe as they choose. If the Tea Party wants to defend freedoms, it needs to start by defending the freedoms it doesn't like rather than trying to invent a freedom to impose their religious beliefs on others. Of course, living in a free country means that the Tea Party is free to be hypocrites, too.

The Blondes Are Back!

While taking pictures of the Tea Party event in Oceanside, CA on April 15, 2010 I snapped a photo of these two young ladies:

At the next Oceanside Tea Party (October 10, 2010) they were back with a more polished presentation, having officially become the "Blondes Against Obama":

A little additional checking has revealed they they have set up a website where they pontificate on the socialist takeover of the federal government and also sell T-shirts in both "Blondes Against Obama" and "Brunettes Against Obama" designs. I don't know why they're not including redheads.

Book Review: Power Down by Ben Coes

This summer, I received an advance copy of Power Down by Ben Coes as part of my local library's summer reading program. While the overall plot line and characters are indeed compelling, the book loses a lot in its inattention to the details which allow the reader to suspend disbelief.

Power Down may actually be the worst book I have read since Dan Brown's Deception Point- the glaring factual errors in the description of certain plot elements should be obvious to anyone who took chemistry in high school, has any familiarity with e-mail beyond using AOL, or has ever lived in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Coes also seems to possess a staggering lack of knowledge as to the operation of the fundamental technologies of the internet, which plays a key role in the tracking down of the CIA mole who assists the terrorist mastermind behind the plot of the book. Would it have been all that hard for Coes or someone at his publisher (St. Martin's Press) to track down someone who actually knows something about this stuff and help him get the details right? By the time I finished the book, I had a splitting headache which I attribute to my brain attempting to escape the torture of Power Down by exiting my skull through my right ear.

Some of the basic problems with the novel are so glaring as to make me question the veracity of Ben Coes' biography on his own website. I find it almost impossible to believe that someone who supposedly worked in the White House under two presidents and in a number of positions within the federal government has the ignorance of law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions within Washington, DC that Ben Coes displays.

Coes compounds the problems of the technical errors which run rampant throughout the novel by choosing incongruous similes to use in descriptions of events throughout the novel.

The basic plot:

Dewey Andreas is a former US Army Ranger and current oil rig boss who survives a terrorist attack on his rig, and goes on a mission to find the person (or persons) behind the attack. He soon learns that the attack he survived is not an isolated incident, but part of a coordinated plot to destroy the essential infrastructure of the United States.

My conclusion:

Not only would I not recommend  Power Down to anyone to read, I can't even loan the copy I have to a friend, because by the time I was done reading it, the book was covered in red ink from the pen I used to make corrections and mark the glaring factual errors. After finishing the book, I am in desperate need of two things: A new red pen (as mine is now out of ink), and a Costco-sized bottle of Advil to treat the throbbing headache I have developed as a result of reading this book. After my headache subsides, I'll start looking for the 15 or 20 IQ points I lost in the process of reading Power Down.

Glenn Beck Endorses Socialism

I was watching Glenn Beck's keynote speech at CPAC (embedded below for your viewing displeasure) and I was shocked to hear this gem at the halfway point:

"I educated myself. I went to the Library where books are free."

Then, Beck followed it up with this statement a few seconds later, hammering it home:

"My education was free, and I'm proud of that."

I had to watch that bit again, because I wasn't sure that I had heard it right. Especially since these "conservatives" were applauding. It's at about 32:40 if you don't want to watch the whole thing.

What kind of true, bootstrappy conservative uses and endorses dirty, commie, socialist things like free public libraries?




So, you tell me. Am I crazy? Or does Glenn Beck approve of Socialism (at least, when he benefits from it)?

We can't afford debt, so let's sell bonds!

Glenn Beck must be on the verge of a mental breakdown- assuming he was ever sane to begin with, that is. His opening rant today couldn't even manage to stay internally consistent. Although the majority of it seemed to be focused on criticizing the Obama administration's Afghanistan policy (or lack thereof), he also took a brief detour into ranting about the US national debt. Then, not even three minutes later, Beck advocated selling war bonds to finance the continuation of hostilities in Afghanistan. Apparently, Beck doesn't understand that selling bonds is borrowing money. Here's the video- with the two excerpts (it repeats three times to drive home the point):

Beck can't even manage to stay internally consistent for five minutes. Can any of his fans explain to me why people listen to this clown?

Fiction authors tell you the truth?

Glenn Beck (Alfred Peachous) explained today who he turns to for "the truth," and it should come as a surprise to no one that for him, the ultimate source of truth is fiction authors.





This really explains a lot about Glenn's paranoid, delusional rantings. If the line between truth and fiction is nonexistent, then the more often a lie is repeated, the more true it must become. The blurred line in Beck's mind between truth and fiction should give most of his hardcore fans pause. The inability to separate fantasy from reality is grounds for having someone declared legally insane. Of course, that also explains why there has been no answer to the question of whether Glenn Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990. Maybe he did it, but has convinced himself that it was just a fantasy.

Glenn Beck gets censored by Fox!

Poor Glenn! Alfred Peachous (while in character as Glenn Beck) got censored by Fox today, just as he hit his stride in a rant about all the things that one Congressman should fix in Washington. He got through wasteful spending, fat interns, creating jobs in districts that don't exist, hookers, lies, meaningless resolutions, communists in the White House, 2000-page bills that he hasn't read, Treasury Secretaries that don't pay their taxes, and fiscal policies that don't make any sense whatsoever. At that point, Glenn was cut off. Why not ask the Congressman to eliminate rape and murder, Glenn? Even just the rapes and murders which occurred in 1990 would be a good start.



Of course, I can't help Glenn/Alfred with the issue of his understanding fiscal policies, since by his own admission, he doesn't understand the economy. Exactly what the Congressman is going to do about fat interns or prostitution is a little beyond me as well, and since it's the Senate not the House of Representatives which confirms cabinet members, I don't think the Congressman can do much about the Secretary of the Treasury, either. Actually, it appears that Glenn Beck doesn't know much about how the federal government works at all. That raises questions like "What is this man (or character) doing on the air?" and "Why do people listen to this imbecile?" I don't know the answer to those questions, just like I don't know if Glenn Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990.

Glenn Beck discredits himself

Wednesday: Glenn Beck tells the world that Glenn Beck doesn't understand the subject he spent an hour discussing the day before.



I'm really laughing at this right now. Glenn spent his entire show yesterday pissing and moaning about how the Government is destroying the economy. Then today he announces that one of the most frustrating things about his job is "trying to explain the economy to people, and to understand it myself." Apparently, trying to understand the economy for Glenn is like "banging my head against the wall." Trust me, Glenn. That's how I feel about watching your show.

Of course, I'm not sure why anyone would listen to a man who refuses to deny the persistent rumor that he raped and murdered a young girl in 1990, but in case you needed another reason, there it is.

Hour-Long Infomercial: The new Glenn Beck Show

Unfortunately, I watch Glenn Beck's daily show on Fox News Right-Wing Opinion Channel. I do this in order to be able to criticize and refute the fear-mongering Wharrrgarbl that issues forth from his oral cavity. Actually, "watch" may be a mis-characterization of what I am doing, since I frequently find my self engaged in facepalming or gazing at the ceiling in a silent plea to the Flying Spaghetti Monster that Beck didn't actually say whatever inanity I just heard.

Today's show was particularly embarrassing. It was basically an hour-long infomercial shilling for the group that constitutes the majority of Glenn Beck's few remaining advertisers: Companies selling gold. Doom-and-gloom economic predictions have become standard fare on Beck's show of late, including simplistic analysis of monetary policies that would make any freshman economics professor cringe. The point of all of this seems to be that the US Dollar is doomed, globalization is inevitable, and that inflation will erode American purchasing power to almost nothing. This apocalyptic predictions then inevitably segue into commercials where convicted criminal G. Gordon Liddy and others implore the viewers to invest their money in a safe, physical commodity- GOLD!

I guess Beck must need to take a periodic break from his usual fare of comparing healthcare reform to being raped by Roman Polanski, and relentlessly pursuing his witch-hunt of ACORN and SEIU. Or maybe Beck is afraid that what advertisers he has left will follow the lead of so many others and withdraw their sponsorship. Whatever the motivation, Beck has a long way to go if he now has his eyes on being the next Billy Mays or Vince Offer.

Today on Glenn Beck: We're the young girl getting raped

No, You didn't read that wrong. Glenn Beck today chose to describe health care reform in the terms of Roman Polanski raping a young girl. Watch:


Maybe it's just me, but that analogy seems a little crude, especially given the unanswered questions that have been swirling since the beginning of September regarding Beck's own involvement in the 1990 rape and murder of another young girl. Does Glenn Beck have rape on the brain? Is he really a homicidal pedophile who will offend again and again until someone stops him?

I'm not saying he is. I'm just asking questions. I'm also advising young girls that they might be safer if they skip this year's performance of Glenn Beck's "The Christmas Sweater"

Glenn Beck: On the side of criminals

Yesterday's Glenn Beck show included an update on Glenn's ACORN witch hunt. Specifically, Glenn is outraged by two things:

• That ACORN is suing the government over being stripped of its funding through an unconstitutional Bill of Attainder
  
• That the California Attorney General is investigating the criminal conduct of the "filmmakers" who made hidden-camera videos in ACORN offices
  

The Bill of Attainder issue is a Constitutional one. The provision prohibiting such bills exists to prevent Congress from becoming judge and jury. If a person or organization commits a crime, they should be tried in a court of law, not the halls of Congress.

Glenn's manufactured outrage at the direction of the California Attorney General's investigation into the tapes would be hilarious if it was not intended to fuel attacks on a group that exists to help those in society who need help the most. Of course, Beck does not address the fact that the ACORN employees called the police to report the suspected criminal activity. To Beck, it is also completely irrelevant that the recording of the private conversation was in violation of California Penal Code section 632(a). Watch the clip from the show below:

For the life of me, I cannot explain why Glenn Beck is outraged that the California Attorney General is investigating a crime instead of a non-crime, unless Beck is actually pro-criminal. Glenn's defense of criminals may also have something to do with his refusal to address the rumor that he was himself involved in the rape and murder of a young girl in 1990.

Glenn Beck according to South Park

Last night's South Park episode took on right-wing media demagogue Glenn Beck. For folks in the US, the episode is available to watch HERE.

Some obvious parallels to the recent "Did Glenn Beck Rape and Murder a Young Girl in 1990?" saga are present. Cartman gets his start doing the morning announcements, quickly expanding his media empire from audio-only, to video, to writing books. The main target of his attacks is student body president Wendy Testaburger, who is blamed for all manner of ills at the school. The attacks continue and escalate rapidly from maintenance issues at the school to being a drug-addicted slut, to being responsible for a Smurf genocide.

Cartman's grand plan disintegrates when he finds his rhetorical "asking questions" style turned back on him, suggesting that it was his illicit relationship with Smurfette which was actually responsible for the wiping out of the Smurfs, and the untimely death of Smurfette.

The lesson here is the same as the one delivered by the World Intellectual Property Organization last week to Beck in its denial of his complaint against Isaac Eiland-Hall- that employing a rhetorical, accusatory, "just asking questions" style to attack others leaves you open to the same tactics. Will Glenn Beck learn from this South Park episode? Probably not. The upside is that this means that there will be no interruption in the steady stream of idiocy, providing continued LULZ for people who are less impressionable than Butters.

Welcome Back, Glenn!

Glenn Beck returned to the air today after his recent appendectomy, and I would like to extend him a big Welcome Back! Of course, I was hoping that now that the WIPO complaint he filed has been resolved (Beck lost, in case you didn't hear), he might have something to say about the rumors that Glenn Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990. Sadly, it seems that Glenn has passed on yet another opportunity to address these vicious allegations.

The Red Phone is staying on Glenn's desk! Good News! This means that the 1990 Truth Hotline will not have to worry about getting lonely.

Glenn reiterated on today's show that the people must not be afraid to ask questions, but rather must question with boldness. In the spirit of Glenn Beck's own principles, I find myself now asking again (and again, and again, and again ad nauseum...): Did Glenn Beck rape and murder a young girl in 1990? Maybe one of these days there will be an answer from Glenn other than damning silence.

Edit: Fixed WIPO link

The Glenn Beck 1990 story goes big-time

The story of Isaac Eiland-Hall's WIPO victory over Glenn Beck was all over the interwebs today. Huffington Post, Gawker, Slashdot, NPR, The Register, and even Weekly World News covered the victory at the international arbitration panel.

The site was erroneously reported to be down by some sources, but is still up and operating at http://gb1990.com/ even though Eiland-Hall voluntarily gave the original domain (GlennBeckRapedAndMurderedAYoungGirlIn1990.com) to Beck following the decision in the case.

New sites have already popped up, the most amusing of which (in my opinion) is GlennBeckIsNowAPublicLaughingstock.com -consisting of the full WIPO decision. This isn't going away Mr. Beck. The people want to know the truth.

So, did Glenn Beck rape and murder a young girl?

Now that the WIPO has ruled on GlennBeckRapedAndMurderedAYoungGirlIn1990.com, and the First Amendment and Free Speech have emerged unscathed (the First Amendment was wearing its chastity belt), what happens now?

The WIPO decision notwithstanding, the domain owner has given control of the domain to Beck. Now that the domain has been ruled to be protected political speech, the road is clear for ordinary citizens to continue to host blowhards from all points on the political spectrum on their own petards. The site and the movement, however, live on at gb1990.com. Several additional domains also point to the site, and the highlighting of hypocrisy will continue unabated.

Glenn will be returning to the radio and TV tomorrow after his bout with appendicitis. Hopefully, he will take a few minutes to finally address the question of whether Glenn Beck Raped and Murdered a Young Girl in 1990. Now that there is no longer any pending litigation, there is no conceivable reason to avoid the issue. If he continues to remain silent, I think we can only take his continued silence as a tacit admission of guilt. The 1990 truth hotline is waiting.

BREAKING: Glenn Beck loses his WIPO case

Today Glenn Beck lost in his battle against Free Speech. There are 3 things that must be proven in order to cause a domain name (like GlennBeckRapedAndMurderedAYoungGirlIn1990.com) to be transferred to the complaining party. The panel found that Beck has only proven one of the three.

Marc Randazza, the lawyer for the respondent has a post about it in his blog, along with links to the decision.

Free speech issues aside, the finding that Beck only proved one of the three things he needed to earns him a grade of 33/100, which is an "F" any way you look at it.

Glenn Beck has appendicitis

I would like to take a moment to wish Glenn Beck a speedy recovery from his emergency appendectomy. Maybe after he gets better, he will finally address the questions that have been circulating about his alleged involvement in the 1990 rape and murder of a young girl.

The Onion has a great video lamenting Glenn's "alive" status:

Victim In Fatal Car Accident Tragically Not Glenn Beck

And Jon Stewart did a great Glenn Beck bit last night on the war over Glenn's internal organs:

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