The settlement recognizes many of the changes made in Google Buzz privacy settings. Image: Flickr / tarpipe / CC-BY-SA

In an e-mail sent to all Google Buzz users today, Google announced the preliminary approval of its Buzz settlement. The buzz about Google Buzz was that user’s privacy was systematically violated. The $8.5 million settlement does not pay out to Buzz users, but will be used to promote internet privacy.

Google Buzz raised privacy concerns

When Google Buzz launched in February, Google almost immediately received many complaints. The service automatically published a lot of the information in user’s Gmail accounts to the public social networking profile. Information such as websites visited and individuals on contact lists were published without first asking for user’s permission.

The lawsuit against Google Buzz

A large group of Google Buzz and Gmail users banded together to bring a class-action lawsuit against Google Buzz. This lawsuit claims that Google did not respond to user concerns about privacy and security quickly enough. The Google Buzz lawsuit is based on the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, Stored Communications Act and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The class in the action was expanded to include all users of Gmail and Google Buzz.

Google announces Buzz settlement

In an e-mail sent to all Google Buzz users on Nov. 2, Google outlined the settlement agreed to by a judge, which said the company will dedicate $8.5 million to promote internet privacy. Google has also agreed to “do more to educate people about privacy controls specific to Buzz.” Final approval of the settlement is still pending, and users of Gmail or Google Buzz have until Jan. 1, 2011, to object to the settlement. If users want to not accept the settlement and sue Google on their own, they have to opt-out by Dec. 6, 2010.

Full text of the Google Buzz Class Action Settlement e-mail

Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making an exception to let you know that we’ve reached a settlement in a lawsuit regarding Google Buzz (http://buzz.google.com), a service we launched within Gmail in February of this year.

Shortly after its launch, we heard from a number of people who were concerned about privacy. In addition, we were sued by a group of Buzz users and recently reached a settlement in this case.

The settlement acknowledges that we quickly changed the service to address users’ concerns. In addition, Google has committed $8.5 million to an independent fund, most of which will support organizations promoting privacy education and policy on the web. We will also do more to educate people about privacy controls specific to Buzz. The more people know about privacy online, the better their online experience will be.

Just to be clear, this is not a settlement in which people who use Gmail can file to receive compensation. Everyone in the U.S. who uses Gmail is included in the settlement, unless you personally decide to opt out before December 6, 2010. The Court will consider final approval of the agreement on January 31, 2011. This email is a summary of the settlement, and more detailed information and instructions approved by the court, including instructions about how to opt out, object, or comment, are available at http://www.BuzzClassAction.com.

The 2010 election results could mean big changes across the country. Image: Flickr / vox_efx / CC-BY

Election day 2010 is still going strong, but the 2010 election results are coming in soon. With everything from marijuana legalization to control of the legislature up for grabs, 2010 election results could mean huge changes. Though the final results could take days, some 2010 election results could be called in a matter of hours.

Tracking the 2010 vote results

The 2010 election results could be called as early as within the hour the polls close. Exit polls are used to predict results, but they can be notoriously difficult to verify. Absentee ballots or mail-in ballots could take a few days after election day 2010 to fully count, but races with a clear winner could still be called earlier than that.

Where to track 2010 election results

The election results for the 2010 vote will be tracked live on several different sites. To track governors races as well as house and senate results, Politico has a regularly updated map. To follow the results of propositions and initiatives, Ballotpedia has a comprehensive list of each state. Until results have been certified by each state, the results can be disputed in almost every state.

Problems with 2010 election results

Though voting for election day 2010 is not yet over, there are already some challenges to the results. In Kansas, prosecutors are looking into allegations of voter intimidation, including incorrect information of where to cast a vote. In New York City, electronic voting machines are causing problems that are reminiscent of September’s “royal screw-up.” In Philadelphia, poll workers had to use a sledgehammer to open a polling place after the key did not work. Rhode Island is turning away voters because of malfunctioning machines. Missouri is having “connectivity issues” with the secretary of state website. Finally, North Carolina’s Surry County ended up printing out the wrong voter registries.

What are you watching for in the 2010 election results? Did you have problems voting?

The Prop 19 in California vote is happening, and the results are hotly awaited. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The voting results won’t be in for some time, but Prop 19 in California is being watched. The measure, Proposition 19, would dramatically decriminalize recreational use and growth of marijuana. The proposed measure has created a lot of controversy, as many say the dangers outweigh possible benefits. Others think criminalizing marijuana has done more harm than good.

Prop 19 in California may not be a pipe dream

The state of California already has greater freedom than many other states for medical marijuana users, but recreational use is still criminal. California voters have tried to legalize marijuana before, to no avail. California Proposition 19, or Prop 19, would make it legal to possess, transport or use in a recreational fashion, provided one doesn’t drive under the influence or smoke in the presence of anyone younger than 21. Half the funding for the ad campaign came from a single person, Richard Lee, according to ABC. Lee is a successful entrepreneur who grows and sells marijuana for medicinal purposes. Lee has used medical marijuana for years, as it alleviates the back spasms he experiences as the result of an accident that left him paralyzed. He turned his treatment into opportunity, and runs a $7 million medicinal marijuana growing business.

Celebrities weigh in

Many celebrities have thrown their weight behind the cause. Billionaire George Soros donated more than $1 million to Prop 19 funding. Zach Galifianakis, star of “The Hangover,” recently pulled a stunt on “Real Time on Bill Maher,” in which he produced what appeared to be a joint on air and smoked it, shocking the other guests. Maher later said he believed it was actually a clove cigarette, according to CNN. Some members of law enforcement and other groups, such as the Republican Liberty Caucus, the libertarian wing of the Republican Party, have also backed the measure.

Grass roots campaign

Similar support  and opposition exists for Prop 19 in California and elsewhere. Other states, such as Arizona and South Dakota are facing medical marijuana bills, but Proposition 19 is different. It will be the first full decriminalization in the United States should it pass.

Sources

ABC

CNN

The Fed is expected to launch another round of quantitative easing, a move some consider a risky gamble that won't work. Image: CC banspy/Flickr

A much-anticipated second round of quantitative easing from the Federal Reserve is expected this week. In a move known as “QE2,” the Fed is expected to buy Treasury securities to flood money into the economy, make it easier to borrow and spend, and reduce the likelihood of deflation. Some experts think QE2 is a risky move that could weaken the Fed and trigger inflation without having the desired effect.

QE2: Money from nothing

The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee will meet to discuss monetary policy Tuesday while the country is conducting midterm elections. The Fed has been waiting until after the election to announce additional measures to stimulate the economy. Most experts, traders and investors expect the Fed’s next move to be another round of quantitative easing. Fed chairman Ben Bernanke has said that deflation is emerging as the biggest threat to economic recovery. QE2 is an attempt to prevent deflation. By buying Treasurys, the Fed is essentially creating money from nothing and infusing it into credit markets. In theory, interest rates will stay low, lending will increase, and the economy will be stimulated.

QE2 the Fed’s only remaining option

The first round of quantitative easing began when the economy collapsed at the end of the Bush administration. The Fed purchased more than $1 trillion in bad home loans that were packaged and sold as securities that no investors would touch. Quantitative easing was considered effective in slowing the economy’s decline. The rebound has yet to happen, however, with an anemic 2 percent growth rate in the third quarter. QE2 may be the only arrow left in the Fed’s quiver.

QE2 a ‘dangerous gamble’

Quantitative easing comes with high risk, and some are warning that runaway inflation could be the consequence if the Fed pulls the trigger. Thomas M. Hoenig, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, recently called QE2 a “dangerous gamble” and a “bargain with the devil.” But grandstanding politicians demonizing government spending have deprived the Fed of fiscal policy in the form of economic stimulus. Economist James K. Galbraith told the New York Times that government stimulus would work. He said quantitative easing would do nothing but flood banks with more cash they won’t lend.

Sources

USA Today

New York Times

Bloomberg

Some medical marijuana growers and salespeople are arguing against Prop 19 in California. Image: Wikimedia Commons

California’s Prop 19 has a little bit of everything that has made the 2010 election season interesting. The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act, Proposition 19 on the California ballot, is up for a vote. Here is an overview of the arguments about California’s Prop 19.

The basics of Prop 19

Prop 19 would, in short, make recreational marijuana use legal in California. The voter initiative, if passed, would allow anyone 21 years of age or older to “possess, cultivate or transport marijuana for personal use.” Any local government would be given the right to regulate and tax any part of the marijuana industry. It would also be illegal to smoke in public while anyone younger than 21 was present, and driving while under the influence would be illegal.

Tax argument for Prop 19

One major argument for Prop 19 is the potential tax revenue for California. Not only would Prop 19 remove the more than $1 billion cost of enforcing anti-marijuana laws, it would create about $1.3 billion in tax revenue. In a state that has cut paychecks to minimum wage to make ends meet, that amount of money could help the state keep paying its employees.

States’ rights argument for Prop 19

Many conservative groups are supporting California’s Prop 19, not specifically for the legalization of marijuana, but for states’ rights. Conservative groups say that the United States federal government has no place regulating intoxicants. For Tea Party groups, Prop 19 is proving to be a question of state and individual rights.

Growers arguing against Prop 19

The debate against passing California’s Proposition 19 is getting some support from unusual groups. Some producers and sellers of medical marijuana have spoken out against passing Proposition 19 in California. They believe that if marijuana is legal for recreational use, the medical market will be harmed. Not only could the price of marijuana drop, but their business could face high taxes for a medical product.

You can read more about California’s Prop 19 in this two-part series on the initiative. In the end, Proposition 19 brings up lots of tough issues for California residents. How do you plan to vote?

Voting is important -- but finding the answer to "where do I vote" is not always easy. Image: Flickr / Theresa Thompson / CC-BY

There are many hotly debated issues and races in this year’s election. If you want to share your thoughts, it is important to know the answer to “where do I vote?” Depending on which state you are in, “where do I vote” is a question that could be easy or complicated to answer.

Remember to register

Before you ask “where do I vote,” it is important to remember that you must be registered to vote. Many states require that you register at least 15 to 30 days before an election, often at the county clerk’s office. Some states, such as Montana, do allow in-person registration on the day of the election.

Where do I vote

In order to find out where you can vote, you could call your state elections office and ask “where do I vote?” You can also check online and use one of several tools that tells you where you should vote. Vote 411 answers questions about where to vote as well as questions about early voting, voters registration and ID requirements. Google is also answering the question “where do I vote” with the Google Voter Info maps tool.

Why voting is important

The question “where do I vote?” has importance beyond a set of maps. Voter turnout in the United States during midterm elections has been less than 40 percent, according to the Federal Election Commission. In many states, voting for midterm elections is only open on one day, and while some states require employers offer paid leave in order to vote, not all do. Many blame low voter turnout on accessibility — getting to the place where you are supposed to vote can be difficult at times. Others wonder why the “where do I vote” question even exists anymore. Mail-in voting systems have been tested as successful in increasing turnout in some states. Should voting be a place-based question, or should voting be available online or with a mail-in system?

This photo of the surface of Mars shows what astronauts will be living in should the NASA and DARPA project succeed. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

A recent joint project between NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, has been uncovered. The idea is to create a spaceship able to ferry not only personnel but sufficient supplies for a visit to Mars. It’s called the Hundred Year Starship, but the journey would be a bit different from the moon landings. These astronauts wouldn’t be coming back.

DARPA and NASA to colonize Mars

At the Long Conversation conference in San Francisco, Pete Worden of the NASA Ames Research Center announced a new project between NASA and DARPA. The project, according to The Telegraph, is so far called the Hundred Year Starship program, and the two government agencies are looking to enlist help. The world’s billionaires are being solicited for donations, including Larry Page, co-founder of Google. An initial design could be available next year. This project is far more ambitious than the DARPA Challenge, an endurance race for self-driving cars. The goal of this project is to come up with a spacecraft that can ferry a crew of astronauts and a large amount of cargo to Mars. However, unlike Apollo 11 or the International Space Station missions, these astronauts aren’t coming back.

One way ticket

The distances between Earth and other planets doesn’t lend itself easily to a ferry service. A journey to Mars would take nine months to complete. Anyone who lands there will have to be self sufficient. NASA has $1 million to spend, but it is anticipated the project would cost at least $10 billion to pull off. To move one pound of equipment in space, according to Fox News, four pounds of fuel are required to do it. Getting to Mars in the first place is difficult enough, and a return journey that much closer to impossible.

Colonization and the final frontier

Mars is the next great undertaking in space exploration, and colonizing other planets is perhaps next on the list. The mission would be ferrying astronauts to Mars to establish a permanent colony. They would need to adjust to living on the Red Planet. This planet, at some point, will die. Mankind, if it is to survive, must find a way to live somewhere else.

Sources

The Telegraph

Fox News

On Anderson Cooper's show, Clint McCance announced his resignation. Image by: minds-eye/Flickr/CC-BY-SA

Clint McCance, the controversial member of an Arkansas school board, has announced his resignation. He went on “AC360,” the CNN news and interview program hosted by Anderson Cooper, to discuss his Facebook comments. He was apologetic and conceded his remarks were inappropriate. He also was remorseful for spreading hate speech. He also announced he was leaving his position on the school board.

Clint McCance resigns in Anderson Cooper interview

Earlier this week, a member of an Arkansas school board, in Pleasant Plains, Ark., was discovered to have posted some incredibly inflammatory remarks about homosexuals and the recent spate of suicides of gay teen boys. The Facebook posts in question were opposing the Wear Purple on October 20, or Spirit Day, movement. He wrote “we are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves (sic) because of their sin,” and other hate-filled responses to commenters followed. He caused a media sensation and was interviewed recently on the “AC360″ program on CNN, by host Anderson Cooper. Cooper asked pointed questions of McCance. Before the end of the interview, McCance announced he was resigning his post as Vice President of Midland School District.

Facebook remarks ignite controversy

So far this year, five stories of teenagers who were bullied because of their sexual orientation and committed suicide have made it into the news. McCance’s comments on Facebook, though having quasi-religious origin, were not well received. In the post, he said he wouldn’t wear purple unless “they all (gay people) commit suicide,” and that he was glad that gay people “give each other AIDS and die.” He further went on to say he would disown his own children and “run them off” if they were to come out as gay. When Cooper asked McCance if he would really do that, McCance said he didn’t know. The Midland School District, and the Arkansas commissioner of education released statements condemning his statements.

Sources

CNN

Karl Rove said gravitas is a quality people look for in a presidential candidate that Sarah Palin does not possess. Image: CC scripting news/Flickr

Gravitas, according to Wikipedia, is a Latin word referring to a person having substance, or depth of personality. Karl Rove, even though he managed to get George W. Bush elected, has said that Sarah Palin doesn’t have the gravitas to be taken seriously as a Republican presidential candidate. Her lack of gravitas showed this week when Tea Party candidates who rode her endorsement to primary victories refused to answer questions about Palin’s presidential qualifications.

Sarah Palin’s gravitas deficit

Millions of Americans, and perhaps even Sarah Palin, now know what “gravitas” means, thanks to Karl Rove, a man not known for introducing such dignified words into political discourse. Rove told the Telegraph he doubted that the American people thought Palin had the gravitas for “the most demanding job in the world.” Rove offered Palin’s reality show on the Discovery Channel as an example of how the former vice presidential candidate’s image is out of sync with a presence voters would expect to occupy the Oval Office.

Karl Rove throws his gravitas around

Rove wields a certain amount of gravitas himself within the Republican establishment. He got George W. Bush elected twice and has advised several GOP governors and congressmen to electoral victories. Rove knows how to win elections, which may explain his candid assessment of Palin and her Tea Party protege, Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell. Last month Rove told Fox News that he wasn’t impressed by O’Donnell’s political skills. He was also concerned about O’Donnell saying “a lot of nutty things” and misleading voters about her “checkered background.”

Palin’s gravitas trickles down

Tea Party candidates who benefited most from Sarah Palin’s blessing may agree with Rove’s assessment of the Mama Grizzly’s gravitas. Thursday, O’Donnell lifted her self-imposed ban on talking with the media and spoke to Jim Acosta from CNN. Acosta asked her whether Palin was qualified to be commander in chief. She dodged the question, asking “Is she running for president?” The New York Daily News reports that Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller refused to publicly endorse Palin, which prompted an angry e-mail from her husband Todd, who wrote “Sarah put her a– on the line for Joe and he can’t answer a simple question.”

Sources

Christian Science Monitor

The Telegraph

New York Daily News

Hiccups, which Jennifer Mee suffered constantly, are due to a contraction of the diaphragm. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Jennifer Mee, the “Hiccup Girl” who was featured on national news shows, has been arrested for murder. Mee, 19, was charged along with two other people of robbing a man at gunpoint and murdering him. Jennifer Mee came to national prominence several years ago as a result of weeks of continuous hiccups. She was on the “Today Show,” among others.

Jennifer Mee charged with murder

Jennifer Mee was arrested in Florida on suspicion of first degree murder along with two others charged with the crime, according to MSNBC. It is alleged that Mee, 19, along with Laron Raiford, 20, and Lamont Newton, 22, lured Shannon Griffin to a undisclosed location. He was robbed at gunpoint by Raiford and Newton. After taking things from the man, a scuffle ensued and Griffin was shot numerous times, mostly in the upper torso. All three have admitted to being involved with the crime. Jennifer Mee and her accomplices are being charged under the felony murder statute, in which an accomplice to a crime which ends in murder is held accountable for the murder as well. If convicted, all three may face the death penalty.

‘Hiccup Girl’

Jennifer Mee came to national prominence as “The Hiccup Girl.” For Jennifer Mee, hiccups went on for more than five weeks constantly. She would hiccup up to 50 times a minute every day, which eventually attracted media attention. She was featured on the “Today Show” among others in 2007, coming to national prominence. She saw numerous specialists to cure the affliction, and she eventually was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, according to WTSP News in Tampa. Tourette’s medication cured her hiccups.

Trial awaits

All three defendants have admitted to being involved in the crime, and are being held without bail. If all three are convicted, they can be sentenced to death under the felony murder statute. Felony murder mandates at least a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Sources

MCNBC

WTSP

Wikileaks will release 400,000 secret documents on the Iraq war that cover prisoner abuse, civilian deaths and other harsh realities. Image: CC Publik15/Flickr

WikiLeaks is getting ready to release 400,000 classified documents expected to offer an unadulterated view of the Iraq War. A source described as close to WikiLeaks leaked the news. The fact that the upcoming release date of the documents was leaked is evidence of turmoil among WikiLeaks volunteers and director Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks Iraq War documents

WikiLeaks Twittered an announcement Friday that it would hold a news conference about the release of secret documents from the Iraq War Saturday. The New York Times reports that WikiLeaks had already made the documents available to several news organizations on the condition that they be withheld until WikiLeaks released them online. Aspects of the war the documents reveal include the Iraqi civilian deaths, Iraqi prisoner abuse and instances in which the Iranian military armed insurgents and attacked American troops.

Pentagon: WikiLeaks reveals nothing new

The WikiLeaks release of Iraq War documents was discounted by the Pentagon. Even so, the Christian Science Monitor reports that Pentagon officials said their release “could very well get our troops and those they are fighting with killed.” But the officials told the Monitor they reveal little that new information. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said the time frame of the war covered in the documents has been extensively covered in news, books and films.

WikiLeaks’ internal dissent

As the U.S. government pressures WikiLeaks, there has been evidence of dissension within the organization. CNN reports that since WikiLeaks revealed the identity of informers when it published the Afghan War Diary earlier this year, some of its volunteer journalists and computer geeks have quit over Julian Assange’s business methods. Financial support has also become an issue. A British company, Moneybookers, which had been soliciting donations for WikiLeaks, ended its relationship with the whistleblowing site last week. Assange claims the U.S. government was behind the Moneybookers decision.

Sources

New York Times

Christian Science Monitor

CNN

Marisol Valles Garcia will try to balance duties as police chief of a violent Mexican town with her studies in criminology. Image: CC katesheet/Flickr

Marisol Valles Garcia is now the police chief of the violent town of Guadalupe Distrito Bravo in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. After all the town’s police officers had been either kidnapped or killed, Valles Garcia was the only person who would take the job. The 20-year-old woman working on her criminology degree was sworn in Wednesday.

20-year old woman stands up to drug cartels

Marisol Valles Garcia told CNN she gladly accepted when Mayor Jose Luis Guerrero offered her the job as police chief. In one of the most violent towns in Chihuahua, Valles Garcia envisions a non-violent role for her 13-member force, which is mostly female and doesn’t carry guns. She told CNN en Español her weapons will be principles and values. Valles Garcia said her goal is to establish crime prevention programs in neighborhoods and schools, achieve security in public places and encourage cooperation among neighbors to form watch committees.

Drug gangs duke it out

The Municipio of Guadalupe Distrito Bravo in northern Chihuahua along the Texas border has seen heavy fighting between the Sinaloa cartel and the La Linea gang for control of smuggling routes, according to MSNBC. Three Guadalupe Distrito Bravo officials have been killed since the gang war broke out in 2008. Guadalupe residents say drug cartels take over the town at night. Armed with assault rifles, they ride through town in pickups and SUVs. The assistant mayor of nearby El Porvenir and the mayor of Guadalupe were killed shortly before Valles Garcia took office.

The Mexican police problem

If they aren’t killed or scared away in many Mexican towns, entire police forces have been fired or arrested for cooperating with drug cartels. The Associated Press reports that officials say low wages and inferior weaponry add to the problem. Recently soldiers and federal police have taken over patrols on main roads, but they’re afraid to venture down unfamiliar dirt roads leading to towns like Guadalupe that are owned by the drug traffickers.

Sources

CNN

MSNBC

Associated Press

Dixie Elixirs are currently available in the United States for medical marijuana patients only. (Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Wellspring Collective)

Soda sales have been in the proverbial toilet lately because of the recession, and organic soda has fared even worse. However, Discovery News reports that there is one new organic marijuana soft drink that is sure to give the munchies to medical marijuana patients. Dixie Elixirs of Denver, Colo., is selling organic marijuana soda to anyone with a valid prescription for medical marijuana.

Marijuana soft drink in a tie-dyed rainbow of flavors

Dixie Elixirs marijuana soda comes in eight flavors that are not commonly associated with hemp. Pink lemonade, root beer and grape are just some of the sweet tastes that will help medical marijuana patients take their minds off painful chemotherapy, glaucoma or other marijuana-worthy affliction. Tongue-in-cheek, the owners of Dixie Elixirs told Discovery that future flavors for marijuana lovers may include pizza and nachos.

Most of the U.S. can’t legally drink Dixie Elixirs

Currently, 14 states allow the use of marijuana with a valid doctor’s prescription. Hence, the 500,000 or so medical marijuana patients in America reside in these states: Alaska, California, Colorado, D.C., Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Washing away the ‘reefer madness’ stigma

Dixie Elixir’s owners take their marijuana soda line quite seriously, writes Discovery. They are committed to removing the negative stigma – the “reefer madness” strain – that surrounds marijuana. Voters in California are currently considering whether to make recreational marijuana use legal, so the winds of change may be blowing. What Dixie Elixirs would ideally like to see is their brand of marijuana soda sold alongside Pepsi and Coca-Cola on grocery store shelves.

Original Coca-Cola was worse than marijuana soda

Marijuana soda certainly wouldn’t be the most controversial soda to be sold in American grocery stores. Back in 1885, the original formula for Coca-Cola was based on two ingredients that were marketed as being medicinal in nature: extract of coca leaves and kola nuts. Thus, the “coca” in the cola was cocaine. However, Snopes.com points out that by 1891, national fear of “cocainism” prompted Coca-Cola to scale back the amount of cocaine in the soft drink. By 1902, there was only 1/400 of a grain of cocaine per ounce of cola.

Sources

Discovery News

ProCon.org

Snopes.com

Wearing purple on Oct. 20 shows solidarity with bullied youth. Image: Flickr / restlessglobetrotter / CC-BY

Walking down the street, you may see a person or two who has chosen to wear purple on October 20. Designated “spirit day” or “purple day,” October 20 is a day of solidarity for GLBTQ youth. By wearing purple, people are showing their support of bullied youth.

Spirit day started on Facebook

The movement to wear purple October 20, Spirit Day, started on Facebook. Multiple groups suggested that on Oct. 20, those who wanted to show solidarity with bullied GLBTQ youth should wear purple. More than 1 million people have responded to Spirit Day on just one of  more than 12 Facebook events. In short, to wear purple on Oct. 20 is to show support of bullied youth. Pictures and videos of individuals wearing purple are already popping up around the web.

Wear purple day shows solidarity

Wear purple day is a way for people to show that they support Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning youth (GLBTQ) youth. This is in response to the multiple recent suicides of youth who were bullied because of their sexuality. The day began as a day of memorial for the seven teens who committed suicide in the past few months after enduring harassment because of their sexual orientation. The meaning of the day has expanded, however, to include all victims of bullying. While bullying has long been an issue in schools, it is a problem that has recently come to the forefront.

Spirit day just one response

The movement to wear purple October 20 is just one of the many responses to the spate of bullying-related suicides. The “It Gets Better” project is a project that has seen support from around the world, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Many schools and municipalities are also seriously discussing passing anti-bullying legislation and rules. The few court cases that have stemmed from bullying deaths have relied on statues such as manslaughter and assault. Some schools are pouring money into anti-bullying education, while some cities are developing specific anti-bullying laws.

Many Black Friday 2010 shoppers are already planning their Harbor Freight trip. Image: Flickr / Neil T. / CC-BY

Though Halloween is still weeks away, and Thanksgiving is even further, hardcore shoppers are already planning their Black Friday 2010. Harbor Freight is the first store to have its Black Friday ad released. The Harbor Freight Black Friday ad is exciting for people planning to buy tools, plus it marks the beginning of this year’s shopping mania.

Harbor Freight’s Black Friday 2010 deals

The Harbor Freight Black Friday advertisement for 2010 was the first leaked to bfads.net, the website that has become the hub for leaked Black Friday ads. The Black Friday 2010 deals listed for Harbor Freight include an aluminum cargo carrier, surveillance cameras, portable generators and a cordless drill.  Shoppers who not in the market for tools can appreciate the Harbor Freight Black Friday 2010 advertisement as more an indicator of things to come than an actual shopping guide.

Black Friday 2010 ads released

Harbor Freight was the first Black Friday 2010 advertisement released. On Monday at 7:46 p.m., the print and online ads went live as a leaked Black Friday ad. Since then, however, there are other ads that may be Black Friday 2010 advertisements. Sears has released an ad for Oct. 29-30, while the Kmart Toys Catalog has also been released. These advertisements are just whetting the appetites of many hardcore Black Friday shoppers, who are known to take their shopping to the level of obsession.

Legal problems for Black Friday 2010 ads

Some companies are very careful to keep their Black Friday 2010 deals under wraps. Wal-Mart has already provided a pre-emptory cease-and-desist order to bfads.net. Other companies also have been careful to prevent their ads from being released, yet others openly advertise them. It’s a careful balancing act – release Black Friday 2010 ads too early, like Harbor Freight, and your competitors still have a chance to best you on prices. Release the ads too late, however, and your Black Friday 2010 sale ends up a footnote to most Black Friday shoppers.

A frozen vegetable recall has been announced by a company that received complaints of glass in its peas. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

A frozen vegetables recall has been announced by the manufacturer. The frozen vegetable packages in question were found to have shards of glass in packages of peas. So far, the recall appears to have only been from a single lot of frozen vegetables. There are four packages that may contain them. The recall is nationwide, as these packages are sold in Wal-Mart nationally and Kroger stores in the southeast.

Complaints of glass in frozen vegetables

The packages of frozen food all came from one manufacturer. The Pictsweet Company, of Bells, Tenn., supplies at least two chains with frozen vegetables. The company sells frozen vegetables to Kroger stores in the southeast and to Wal-Mart stores nationwide, according to CNN. The recall is being announced after the company received five complaints of glass in packages of frozen vegetables. The complaints the company received were because of shards of glass, mostly in either packages of peas or in other assortments that include peas. It is believed that the affected parcels all came from a single lot of frozen vegetables. So far, no injuries have been reported from issues related to the recall.

Customers urged to return packages at once

Customers who bought packages of the recalled foods are urged to return the packages to the store as soon as possible, for a full refund. There are four different types of packages affected. Two contain only peas, one has peas and carrots, and one is mixed frozen vegetables, according to CBS. If customers bought any of the following, they are urged to return the packages at once:

• Great Value 12 ounce Steamable Sweet Peas having a “best by” date of July 20 or July 21, 2012
• Great Value 12 ounce Steamable Mixed Vegetables with “best by” date of July 15, 2012
• Kroger 12 ounce Green Peas with production code 1440BD, 1440BU, 1440BV or 1440BW
• Kroger 12 ounce Peas and Carrots with production code 1960BD or 1960BE

Return at once

Consumers who have affected packages should return the vegetables at once. Pictsweet Co. can also be contacted at 1-800-367-7412, extension 417 from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. Central, Monday through Friday.

Sources

CNN

CBS

Police are searching for two men in a maroon Chevrolet Malibu. Image: Wikimedia Commons

In Henning, Tenn., there has been a post office shooting. The post office shooting reportedly killed two employees, but details are still trickling in. The U.S. Postal Service has not confirmed anything other than that there was an incident.

Henning post office shooting

As reported by WMCTV, there was a post office shooting about 9 a.m. Monday morning. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department has reported that two employees were killed. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has said it will be sending investigators to assist in the investigation. No motive, weapon or suspect has been named yet. Investigators have said they are searching for a maroon Chevrolet Malibu with two men inside.

Two killed in Henning post office shooting

According to reports from multiple sources, the post office shooting killed two female employees. The U.S. Postal Service has confirmed that there was an incident in the Henning Post Office, but no other official statements have been released. One witness has said the post office shooting happened during a robbery attempt. Witnesses are being interviewed by law enforcement officials. As reports continue to trickle in, officials will release information.

FBI to be involved in post office shooting investigation

Though the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will be investigating the event, the FBI has also said it will have a hand in it. Because the post office shooting happened in a post office, which is a federal building, it could be considered a federal crime. If and when the individuals responsible for the post office shooting are caught, there are several crimes they could be charged with. Pre-meditated murder would be the first, among many others that could carry life sentences or worse.

Sources

WMCTV
USA Today

The Brooklyn Bridge was shut down because of suspicious flashlights. Image: eschipul/Flickr/CC-BY-SA

This morning, the Brooklyn Bridge was shut down for more than an hour. Pedestrian, cycle and vehicle traffic was closed on the bridge while police investigated “suspicious packages.” The bridge was re-opened when the packages were confirmed to be flashlights with copper wiring.

Brooklyn Bridge shut down by 911 call

Today at 9:38 a.m. local time, police received a 911 call about the Brooklyn Bridge. Reports say the caller reported a flashlight with copper wiring, and it’s also reported that the caller said there were “suspicious packages.” The police immediately shut down the bridge, and the NYPD brought in crews to investigate. There are no reports yet on whether bomb squads were called in or if police independently investigated the suspicious item.

Brooklyn Bridge packages were flashlights

After police investigated, the Brooklyn Bridge was re-opened to all traffic at 10:55 a.m. The flashlights found at both ends of the bridge were most likely from the “Light the Night” walk for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society that was held on Thursday night. This event had participants carrying illuminated balloons in order to raise awareness. These illuminated balloons could also be an explanation for the UFO sightings over New York. These illuminated balloons, meant to call attention to and raise much-needed money for cancer, could very well be cause of many of the recent problems in New York City.

Construction continues to snarl Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is not completely opened for unfettered access. Because the bridge, built in 1883, is undergoing construction on both sides, traffic is still slightly limited. The New York Police Department tends to take a “better safe than sorry” viewpoint when it comes to possible threats to the safety of the city. Nonetheless, some will undoubtedly label this incident an overreaction. However, the speed with which the Brooklyn Bridge was reopened has improved greatly in comparison to former threats.

Sources

Associated Press
Gothamist

Want to get through to a knowledgeable tech support person like this? "Shibboleet" most likely won't help. Image: Flickr / Infusionsoft / CC-BY-SA

Being on any tech support phone call can be very difficult — but would “shibboleet” may be the passcode to an easier time? Unfortunately, shibboleet is not a super-secret backdoor passcode for tech support. The hebrew-based word, however, can be considered uniquely appropriate for its new chosen use.

Shibboleet on XKCD

If you have never read the comic XKCD, it is a “webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.” The hand-drawn stick figure comic tends to cater to the more tech-minded of the internet. This morning’s comic put “shibboleet” to the forefront. According to the dream the comic character was having, saying shibboleet would immediately send a tech support caller to a tech support worker who knows a lot about computers. As the comic put it, “an individual who knows a minimum of two programming languages.”

Will shibboleet work?

Unfortunately, even in the XKCD comic, shibboleet was just a dream. Saying shibboleet if you are on a tech support call will most likely do just one of two things. First, if they have not read XKCD or heard about it, they will just be confused. Second, if they have read XKCD, they will most likely giggle. Long story short, tech support most often relies on scripts and troubleshooting by people who barely get paid enough for a no fax payday loan, not dreamt-in-a-comic backdoor passwords. Saying “sibboleet” may, at least, if you are lucky, start a good conversation with your tech support personnel.

What shibboleet actually means

There are some saying that “shibboleet” is a term based on a Hebrew-language word that means “a person of knowledge.” However, the malmanteau “shibboleet” is most likely a combination of “shibbo”, which is a word used to describe reading and writing access data or passwords; and “leet”, which is usually used to describe a technically savvy person. Most often called “l33t”, this is a second alphabet that uses ASCII characters with the regular alphabet, usually used online.

Methamphetamine users in the U.S. had CVS Pharmacy to thank for allowing sales of the raw materials supporting their habit. Image: CC Bien Stephanson/Flickr

CVS Pharmacy Inc., the nation’s largest drug store chain, was fined $75 million dollars by the federal government for failing to control its sales of cold medicines that can be used to make methamphetamine. Prosecutors said that CVS became the largest supplier of meth lab ingredients in Southern California. CVS was accused of violating the Controlled Substances Act but made a deal to pay the fine instead of admitting wrongdoing.

CVS fuels methamphetamine trade

CVS Pharmacy Inc. paid $75 million — a record fine for this type of case — to close a  federal investigation of the company that became a key link in the nation’s methamphetamine supply chain. The company will also forfeit about $2.6 million in sales of pseudoephedrine products. The Los Angeles Times reports that the government accused CVS of ignoring safeguards intended to limit the sales of medicines containing pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient of methamphetamine. Prosecutors said the company’s lack of oversight fueled the methamphetamine trade in California, Nevada and several other states. Authorities documented thousands of violations of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, which limits the amount of pseudoephedrine a customer can buy in one day.

Smurfers swamp CVS locations

Federal agents began investigating CVS in 2008 after pseudoephedrine seized at several Southern California meth labs was traced to the pharmacy chain. ABC News reports that CVS created an automated system called Meth Tracker to track individual sales, but it didn’t stop multiple same-day purchases. Around Los Angeles, buyers called “smurfers” would hit CVS locations and clear the shelves of cough and cold medicines. Prosecutors said that in Los Angeles County over a 10-month period in 2008, sales of pseudoephedrine products such as Contac, Sudafed, Dimetapp and Chlor-Trimeton jumped more than 150 percent over the same period in 2007.

Feds inspire CVS to change its ways

CVS employees alerted management about crowds of smurfers overrunning CVS locations all over California and Nevada. Prosecutors said the CVS didn’t change its sales practices until it felt the heat of a government investigation. MarketWatch reports that CVS, which had sales of about $99 billion and a profit of $3.7 billion last year, blamed the problem on an inadequate electronic monitoring system. Going forward, CVS CEO Thomas Ryan said the company has made “substantial investments” in enhanced technology that monitors the handling and sales of pseudoephedrine products.