Traded in the Volvo SUV (which was probably the worst car I have ever owned) for the Ford Escape. It’s a great small SUV with full on 4 wheel drive and averaging over 30 MPG.

Problem is the Escape Hybrid is very hard to find. Looked from Maine to DC on the east coast last year and the total number available was 0. Bought the car in California. The dealer had 5 on the lot and sold 4 the day I bought mine. The dealer is out of business as of October 09.

Any bets that the Republicans intended the failure of the economy, but it happened several months sooner than expected, instead of after the Democrats were nominally in control, so it could be blamed on them?

I suspect this for a couple of reasons. One is the recession at the start of Bush’s administration. He didn’t seem to realize Greenspan largely created that. Instead he felt Dems had somehow conjured it to make him look bad. Now he wants revenge. Maybe. Another is they really want to take down unions and this is just their best time to do it. After all, Bush didn’t want more of this crisis on his watch.

It’s a great read…

Plame Wilson goes to the Supremes…SCOTUS here she comes!

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/….._1118.html

http://www.projectcensored.org…..ry/y-2009/

See #8 on the list.

USABook> Electronic Surveillance> Cell Site Simulators, Triggerfish, Cell Phones

A cell site simulator (sometimes called a digital analyzer, cell site locator, triggerfish, ESN reader, or swamp box) is a mobile device that can electronically force a cell phone to register its telephone number (MIN), electronic serial number (ESN), and information about its location when the phone is turned on. This can be done without the user knowing about it, and without the cell phone provider.

Section 216 of the Patriot Act altered the definition of a pen register in 18 U.S.C. 3127 (3) so that it includes these devices. Consequently, a pen register/trap and trace order must be obtained by the government before it uses such a device.

The use of a triggerfish to located cellular telephones is an issue of some controversy. The Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO) encourages AUSAs to contact Mark Eckenwiler at (202) 616-0435 if the questions or concerns.

Note. It may also be possible to flash the firmware of a cell phone so that you can intercept conversations using a suspect’s cell phone as the bug. You don’t even have to have possession of the phone to modify it; the “firmware” is modified wirelessly. This law enforcement tool was recently discussed in a Memorandum Opinion from the SDNY, and has been getting a bit of news coverage lately. The authority for doing this can be found in 18 U.S.C. 2518(11), but it sounds like something that you would not want to do without checking with OEO first…

(My Bold)