It has been 61 days since the naughty Calvin, Dog of Love (a well deserved name, mind you...) snuck under Talia's protective undergarment and knocked up the girl. Average gestation time for Chinese Cresteds is 63 days. Which, of course, would be 4th of July weekend. And, of course, all veterinarians with sense are off on holiday of some sort, leaving me to fend with this brand new experience of whelping. "I don't know nuthin' bout birthin' no puppies"

Poor Talia is big as a house and is totally miserable, spending most of her time as "velcro dog" (stuck to the side of me) letting out little sighs. Moving around is difficult for her, being as large as she is (almost 20 lbs, up from 14). The ultrasound showed 6 to 7 pups, which was confirmed by X ray last Friday, and the normal litter for a Crested is 1 or 2 pups, so this poor little girl is a total wreck. She doesn't seem to like her whelping box much, and prefers to spend all her time on our bed. I'm expecting she's going to find a way to have the puppies there, so it's time to go get plastic sheeting and all the fixings, and hope we catch her before she starts spewing forth pups.

None of us were quite ready for this. We DID want to breed Calvin and Talia, but not for her first heat. We planned on letting her grow up a little more first. But Calvin got himself under the diaper, and here we are today. As puppy countdown progresses, and poor Talia tries to hold out just a few more days.

Posted by mikki at 01:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Ya think there's any possible chance that even if laws were to be passed curtailing TSA's free reign over the traveling public that they'd obey it? They already think they've above the law.

CDT Urges Privacy Protection in Air Passenger Screening: "CDT Executive Director Jim Dempsey today warned a House subcommittee that government efforts to create a new air traveler screening system -- called Secure Flight -- have yet to adequately address critical issues concerning the system's effectiveness and ability to protect the privacy and due process rights of Americans. CDT said that the government must develop consistent criteria for adding suspected terrorists to watch lists and should collect from airlines only the minimum amount of data necessary to make effective matches against those lists."

(Via Center for Democracy and Technology.)

Posted by mikki at 06:59 PM | Permalink

I just spent four hours in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic, picking up my husband because the aircraft he was flying in had a transponder failure, thus it was not allowed to return to its airport of origin to protect the world from possible terrorists. The new rule is that nobody without a working transponder can enter the zone within 30 nautical miles of Washington, DC. Protect that shrub!

It didn't matter that the pilot in command and owner of the aircraft in question had been vetted by the Secret Service, who now likely know more about him than his wife does. It didn't matter that the aircraft was on a flight plan and could clearly been seen by radar as following its flight plan. It didn't matter that flight without a transponder is of no hazard to anyone, and it didn't matter that the aircraft was returning to its place of origin after the transponder suddenly failed IN FLIGHT. Nope, none of those things matter to the safety and security of our hallowed leaders who must be kept completely safe from those EVIL Cessna 172s that might possibly dump airplane parts somewhere possibly near enough to the White House to cause a litter hazard.

For those who don't know, a transponder is the little device that broadcasts a code number to air traffic control so that they can positively identify you. In olden times, when a transponder would fail in an area where one was required, one would phone up the nearest facility (or use the radio if they were already in the air) and request a waiver. If there was no hassle, such as overly full airspace, or other unforeseen annoyances, they would say "right o" and that would be that. But not anymore. Now, even if air traffic control wanted to, they can't allow you in because some dipshit with no aviation experience has made the decision FOR us.

I'm just happy that my air conditioner worked in the car while sitting through 4 hours of driving in bumper to bumper traffic.

Posted by mikki at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So why should we even bother to TRY to stop executive branch agencies from screwing American citizens? Even when Congress steps up to the plate and says "thou shalt not," the TSA says "screw you" and does what it wants. This really isn't the first, nor will it be the last time that we've been told that the executive branch can do whatever it wants, even in the face of contrary law.

JURIST - Paper Chase: TSA collected air passenger personal data despite Congressional ban: "TSA collected air passenger personal data despite Congressional ban  

[JURIST] According to documents obtained by the Associated Press Monday, the Transportation Security Administration [official website] collected private information about commercial airline passengers who flew in June 2004, despite Congressional instructions not to do so. The documents indicate the information was gathered to test Secure Flight [official website], a passenger pre-screening program which, along with its predecessor CAPPS II [JURIST report], has been criticized for failing to protect private personal information. The documents will be published in the Federal Register [official website] this week. AP has more."

(Via Jurist.)

Posted by mikki at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Boy hailed for air safety gadget: "Boy hailed for air safety gadget Daryn Murray hopes his creation will help prevent plane crashes A Scots schoolboy has been praised by airport bosses after inventing a gadget which could help prevent plane crashes. Daryn Murray's Aircraft Debris Protector warns pilots of dangerous material lying on runways before they prepare to land. The 12-year-old from East Kilbride was inspired by the Concorde crash near Paris which was thought to have been caused by a metal strip on the runway. The British Airport Authority (BAA) is keen to develop the idea. The operator, which owns Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports, believes it could make runways extra safe."

(Via BBC.)

Posted by mikki at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NewsFromRussia.Com Potato farmers want 'couch potato' expelled from dictionary: "British potato farmers become experts in linguistics - they want the term 'couch potato' be banished from the Oxford English Dictionary. They argue that the description of slothful TV addicts harms the vegetable's image. In their fight for the image of potato about 30 farmers took to the streets, demonstrating outside Parliament and carrying signs that read 'couch potato out' and 'ban the term couch potato.' A similar rally took place in Oxford, central England. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the term 'couch potato' as 'a person who spends leisure time passively or idly sitting around, especially watching television or video tapes.' The British Potato Council wants the expression stripped from the dictionary and replaced in everyday speech with the term 'couch slouch.' Farmers believe that the phrase 'couch potato' makes the vegetable seem unhealthy. "

(Via Pravad.)

Posted by mikki at 05:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At long last, some of our elected officials have grown the balls to draw some kind of a line in the sand to stop our Fearless Leader from attaining his goal of becoming Chief of the Thought Police. In an administration that seems bent on "anti privacy terrorism" it is refreshing to see an attempt at drawing the line somewhere. In this case, Congress voted to stop the storm troopers from delving into library and bookstore records. Of course, the Shrub promises to veto it so that all will know whether these naughty possible terrorists may have been reading incriminating books or magazines like oh, Bill Clinton's Memoirs.

Washington Post Coverage "The House handed President Bush the first defeat in his effort to preserve the broad powers of the USA Patriot Act, voting yesterday to curtail the FBI's ability to seize library and bookstore records for terrorism investigations.Bush has threatened to veto any measure that weakens those powers. The surprise 238 to 187 rebuke to the White House was produced when a handful of conservative Republicans, worried about government intrusion, joined with Democrats who are concerned about personal privacy."

Posted by mikki at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What? Could it possibly be that having to fly in from certain airports after hiring an armed law enforcement person to ride in your airplane, then trying to find a way to get them back to where they started, then hire another one when you decide to leave, and then get them back to DC might be tough for people to do? Really?

Small-Plane Rules Called Too Harsh: "U.S. senators yesterday criticized proposed Transportation Security Administration rules allowing corporate jets and small charter aircraft to return to Reagan National Airport, saying the guidelines were so onerous that few private fliers would meet them."

(Via Washington Post: Metro.)

Posted by mikki at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

All rightie folks... I'm not allowed free passage to visit family in my little airplane, but the border crossing geniuses let THIS guy in. And it's not even a case of someone sneaking in with an elaborate plan of stealth and intrigue. Nope, he just showed up at the crossing with all this stuff.

This world gets stranger and stranger

Man With Bloody Chain Saw Let in to U.S.: "BOSTON-On April 25, Gregory Despres arrived at the U.S.-Canadian border crossing at Calais, Maine, carrying a homemade sword, a hatchet, a knife, brass knuckles and a chain saw stained with what appeared to be blood. U.S. customs agents confiscated the weapons and fingerprinted Despres. Then they let him into the United States. The following day, a gruesome scene was discovered in Despres' hometown of Minto, New Brunswick…"

(Via FindLaw: Top Legal Headlines.)

Posted by mikki at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What's yours is mine and what's mine? Seems people can't even have copies of their OWN STUFF anymore? When will it end?

A Photofinish for Copyright's Unintended Consequences: "

A friend of mine has a new baby and, with family spread across the globe, likes to use online photo-printing services to share snapshots of the growing baby. She can create an online album, load up photos from the digital camera, and invite relatives to browse and print their favorites. Except when they can't.

It seems one picture, of baby seated against the background of their blue sofa, looked too 'professional' for Ofoto (Kodak). Though she was permitted to upload the photo and copy it to her browser (view it online), when she tried to print a copy to hang in the office, my friend was confronted with a copyright-based denial: 'Your order has been cancelled because it appears your order contains one of the following. 1. Professional images....' She could proceed to print only if she signed an affidavit warranting that she was the photographer or had permission from the copyright owner.

Ofoto's form had no place for my friend to indicate, among other possibilities, that she owned the copyright as work-made-for-hire, or that printing would be fair use. She's now looking for a new online printing service.

Yet even that overreaction is better than what Wal-Mart is doing to people who send photos for digital processing, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune: Snap judgments (via BNA):

[Amateur photographer Zee Helmick had taken photos of her son for a audition, and sent them to Wal-Mart for printing. When she went to pick them up, a Wal-Mart clerk told her] 'We can't release the pictures to you without a copyright release form signed by the photographer.'
...
The clerk said the photos looked like a professional had taken them, Helmick said. And no matter how much Helmick protested that she, an amateur, had snapped the shots of her son, she said the clerk wouldn't budge.

Helmick didn't have a copyright release with her, so she offered to write a note stating that she had taken the photos. She said Wal-Mart refused even that.

I guess Canon's copyright warning is just one manifestation of a general photo-insanity. Not to mention lawyers going after the free software program Gallery.

(Via Wendy: The Blog.)

Posted by mikki at 07:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Once again we have absolute proof of why our private information should be under closer control.....BY US! We, as owners of our own personal property have an obligation to force the businesses who are now profiting from OUR information, to return control to us. OUR credit reports should belong to us, and WE should decide to whom they should be sent and for what purpose.

Organizations should be prohibited by law from asking for our social security numbers. We should be able to have our credit reports and other personal information purged from organizations at will. Once credit has been granted or denied, all information regarding that individual besides their account number, contact information and payment records should be purged. Companies who do not comply, or who allow information they hold to be "stolen" should be responsible for the outcome as a cost of doing business. After all, they are making plenty of money off of the information, loss of it should be a liability to them, not to us.

And again, if companies and other organizations who make money off of keeping this information, and whose businesses depend on maintaining this information in safety and privacy, can't do it, how can government, who has no such incentive, possibly convince us that they will keep things any safer?

CitiFinancial Data Goes Poof: "Computer tapes with bank account information for 3.9 million people are missing. The consumer finance division of Citigroup starts notifying customers that UPS lost their records on route to a credit bureau about a month ago."

(Via Wired News.)

Posted by mikki at 07:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

.XXX: "

ICANN approves new top level domains (TLDs) for the internet at a rate that makes glaciers seem fast. So when ICANN does approve one it is a big deal.

ICANN's most recent contribution to the internet is: .XXX - a top level domain for pornography.

Wow.

Is this progress? Is this a contribution to human values? Isn't the internet already enough of a sewer and a home for the worst that humanity has to offer? Do we have to honor that kind of depravity with an official home? Why should .xxx get precedence over schools, churches, civic groups, aboriginal communities, labor organizations, and artistic groups?

Why .xxx when there were, and remain, so many other people who had so many better ideas that actually would contribute to the value of the internet? But in year 2000 ICANN took $2,000,000 from them and stabbed them in the back. And then ICANN threw them into the limbo of ICANN's never-approved but never-denied purgatory. And for what? For .xxx?!

.xxx is a tribute the lack of vision and the complete idiocy of ICANN's approach to the internet's domain name system, .xxx is a tribute to ICANN's ex-president and to several of ICANN's vision-less past and still present board members. To them we owe .xxx.

Justice Potter Stewart, of the US Supreme Court, wrote in 1964 - 'I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced [as hard-core pornography]. . . [b]ut I know it when I see it . . .' (Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184, 197 (1964))

If a Supreme Court justice couldn't define pornography then one can only wonder how ICANN, a body never noted for legal, or any other form, of inventiveness will do it in the contract with the company it selected to run .xxx.

ICANN's policy on TLDs is bankrupt. The internet can support millions of top level domains. So even an extremely conservative approach that granted one TLD per week - 52 new TLDs per year - wouldn't even begin to bother domain name technology for about 20,000 years. If ICANN were to allow this, then perhaps we could then make room for a .xxx.

But instead ICANN has created an artificial scarcity of top level domains. And it is insulting to the community of internet users when ICANN hands one of those few resources to a group that intends to use it to to promote the worst that humanity has to offer.

To this I say - let ICANN change its own name from ICANN.org to ICANN.xxx. The pornography is the ICANN policy that led to .xxx while denying so many more worthy uses.

(Via CaveBear Blog.)

Posted by mikki at 03:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hooray again for New Hampshire, often thought of as a podunk state full of yokels, but often pretty damn progressive. Today, the House considers a bill to help certified nurse midwives who are getting the short end of the insurance stick nationwide.

One of the best things that ever happened to the Psycho Sensei was when an OB/GYN said, "I don't understand why you are questioning me" about her birthing options. "I don't care if you're afraid, I'm going to do what's best for the baby." He was fired on the spot and we went off to a birthing center with certified nurse midwives who delivered a 9 1/2 pound baby with no drugs, no complications, no episiotomy, no tearing, and a doctor's later comment "I wouldn't have ever known you even HAD a baby if it wasn't here in the record."

A woman's right to choose medical care and birthing options should not be dictated by insurance companies despite evidence that low risk births are LESS problematic and the mothers and babies have BETTER outcomes with certified nurse midwives. Go NH. May more states follow suit.

Concord Monitor Online: Six months ago, Carol Leonard closed the doors to her Hopkinton birthing center, Longmeadow Farm, and stopped delivering babies, ending a 30-year midwifery career. The reason was simple: Leonard said she couldn't afford to stay in business anymore. Although she gets reimbursed by Medicaid for her poorest customers and her wealthiest ones pay on their own, Leonard said her bread-and-butter patients, middle-class women with private insurance, had deserted her because the state's largest insurance companies won't cover births at the center. Today, the House will consider a bill that would require insurance companies to cover midwives who deliver babies in their homes, birthing centers or their patients' homes. Currently several insurance companies only cover midwives who deliver babies in hospitals, known as nurse-midwives, and not home-based midwives, called New Hampshire Certified Midwives.

(Via The Concord Monitor.)

Posted by mikki at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In a very unfortunate case, once again coming out of Indiana, (see the case about two Wiccan parents who were told they were prohibited from brining up their child Wiccan, for more fun from Indiana) a judge with one fell swoop, negated decades of confidentiality laws and protections for teens who go to Planned Parenthood expecting discretion.

Unlike the Wiccan case, this one is not so clear cut. The Wiccan case will likely be quickly overturned as the act of an uninformed judge who slept through First Amendment law classes. This one, given the animosity towards women's reproductive rights in general, and an assault on confidentiality specifically, it may not be so simple to reverse this one. The political climate and weight of a republican majority will make this one a lot more difficult.

Of course, a ruling such as this will keep those most vulnerable and in need of assistance from seeking that help if they know that their most private information is going to the Indiana Attorney General and will no longer be confidential. Yet another betrayal of victims in our society.

Judge: Ind. Can See Minor's Medical Records: " Judge: Ind. Can See Minor's Medical Records By KEN KUSMER Associated Press Writer (AP) - INDIANAPOLIS-An Indiana judge ruled Tuesday that Planned Parenthood of Indiana must turn over to the state the medical records of its patients under 14. Marion County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Johnson sided with the Indiana attorney general's office in its quest to examine the medical records of 84 young patients. Planned Parenthood tried to stop the seizure, arguing that investigators were on a "fishing expedition," possibly to identify the partners of sexually active 12- and 13-year-olds. None of the 84 patients has received an abortion, according to Planned Parenthood. The attorney general's office has said that its Medicaid fraud unit "is investigating whether or not children were neglected by virtue of a failure to report instances of child molestation to the proper authorities."

(Via Findlaw.)

Posted by mikki at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)