You remember Sandy Berger? Just in case you don’t, he was Bill Clinton’s National Security Advisor and former advisor to the John Kerry campaign.

You remember why he made it into the news a while back? Just in case you don’t, he is the guy who was caught spiriting classified documents and handwritten notes (stuffed in his pants) from a highly restricted section of the National Archives prior to the 9/11 political circus hearings.

Mr. Burger, who had claimed that stuffing handwritten notes down his pants and removing highly classified documents from a secure area was an “honest mistake,” will be pleading guilty to a “misdemeanor.”

Yes, I said, “misdemeanor.” Just a little Washington “oopsie,” I suppose.

Via Res Ipsa Loquitur

Today we managed to squeeze in a couple latecomers, but now the final headcount has been provided to the caterer, and, as such, we are unable to accommodate any additional attendees.

Thank you to those who have arranged to attend. We are looking forward to a terrific time together.

If any of the attendees has any questions, please drop me an e-mail at the address provided in the sidebar.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday.

This picture and the one linked below were shot a week or so ago by a friend of a friend in New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the Union. I have written in the past about the annual battle in New Jersey over whether the state should permit a limited bear hunt to control the black bear over-population and thereby reduce the increasing number of people-bear confrontations.

I suspect that even those who are vehemently opposed to the bear hunt would not be very happy to see this fellow (and they tell me that he’s a just a youngster) hanging out on the back deck.

Cousin Jack is dabbling with podcasting. Check it out here for some interesting information concerning the Byzantine process of getting a license, if one even exists, to play copyrighted music on a podcast. You can also get an ample dose of some serious picking (with the picker’s permission). Finally, you should not miss Jack’s rendition of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony (copyright has expired), which will make your hair hurt is truly inspired.

Quite a night, this.

As I was pulling into my driveway tonight, sporting a major case of the ass from a long and aggravating day, I got a phone call from Eric. My rotten mood instantly turned around when he told me that he was calling from Chicago where he was attending a Blogmeet and was, at that moment, surrounded by Bloggers. They were obviously having a helluva time. Before I knew it, I was talking to Teresa from Technicalities, Harvey of Bad Example, and my buddy – The Laughing Wolf. I wish I could have transported myself to the Windy City to join in the serious writing discussions that I am sure would be taking place as soon as I hung up the phone.

About a half hour (and a plate of kielbasa and eggs and a couple bourbons) later, I tuned into Yellowstone Radio via the Internet to listen to a panel discussion about blogging. The panelists included Craig of mtpolitics (who liveblogged the event) and Karen of karbonkountymoos. Randy and T.L. Hines called in, and it was great to hear their voices. I had drunk just enough bourbon to dial in to the program. The call screener said, “Wow, we never had a call from New Jersey before,” and he put me right on the air. However, I suspect that after hearing about thirty seconds of Jerseyspeak, he decided that I would be the last call they would take from New Jersey. I can’t believe that they actually thought that I have an accent. Fuggetaboutit!

Talking to Bloggers in Chicago and calling in to a Montana radio program where some of my cronies were appearing – this blogging thing is pretty farookin’ amazing.

What a horrible thought.

And yet, you may be doing exactly that if your computer contains Peer to Peer software, the type that countless people use to share music files.

As Rick, at See What You Share, has pointed out in the past, unless you configure your Peer to Peer software to permit sharing only music files, anyone with the same software can access all the files on your C Drive.

The possibility of sharing your kids’ pictures with pedophiles is not a bunch of theoretical baloney. Rick has seen instances where the pictures of User A’s children stored in his computer have shown up on the User B’s computer, along with numerous child p0rm files (as is plain from the disgusting file names).

The problem is that many, if not most, of these programs default to permitting the sharing of all files, and they automatically run each time you boot up your computer. The net result is that the same freak who can download pictures of your kids also can download your resume, your tax returns, your correspondence, your credit card and banking information and everything else that you may have stored on your C Drive, including the type of information that makes locating you and or your children a snap.

This is frightening stuff and something that law enforcement authorities and legislators had best begin paying attention to. Law enforcement authorities can and should use Peer to Peer software to locate and prosecute child p0rn collectors and purveyors who prey upon unsuspecting Peer to Peer software users. Legislators can also play a role by requiring the licensors of Peer to Peer software to configure their programs such that they do not default to “all files.” In addition, the software companies should be required to prominently post a warning of the potential consequences of permitting access to “all files.”

However, at the end of the day, the most important tool to combat this problem is education. People who use Peer to Peer software must be made aware that, while they think they are only sharing tunes, they might actually be sharing the entire contents of their computers with countless numbers of people all over the world, many of whom are predatory animals.

Memo to Mainstream Media: Wake up!!!

Update: Michelle Malkin weighs in with “Child Porn and P2P: a Reality Check,” which includes some horrific screen shots.

I am making final arrangements for Da Jersey Blogmeet, which will take place on April 2, 2005. Click on da button on da left for da details. I have to provide the food guy with a final headcount on Thursday morning, so if you are interested in attending, let Kate or me know by midnight, Eastern Time, on Wednesday.

Dat’s all.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Self-Promotional Easter Note: Those who have been coming around here for less than a year may have missed my take on the Easter Bunny.

Until yesterday, I had never heard of NAUPA. It is the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, which is an association of state treasurers, and similar state officials, who administer unclaimed property in each of the states. NAUPA offers a free search tool, which directs you first to the appropriate state site, which then permits the entry of a name to determine whether the state is retaining unclaimed property belonging to someone with that name.

I learned about it after a friend of mine in Hawaii went to the site and discovered that the states of Hawaii and New Jersey were holding unclaimed property belonging to his decease brother-in-law and deceased aunt, respectively. He had written to me, because he thought that he also had found the name of my deceased mother at the Jersey site.

I went to the NAUPA site and navigated to the New Jersey Unclaimed Property Site, and determined that the person in question did have the same first name as my mother and was from the same town, but had a different address. However, I was sufficiently intrigued to pop in the surnames of grandparents, and up popped the name and address of an aunt, who is very much alive, but who had moved away several years ago from the address listed for her in the search result. I dropped her a note directing her to the site, which contains the instructions for making a claim.

You might want to give it a look. One never knows.

Yes, six days into the meds, and I am feeling much, much better, thank you. In fact, I feel about 90% normal, which is quite amazing, given the way I felt last Monday. I have benefited from lots of horizontal and comfortable chair time, aided by a stack of books– generally potboilers, rather than any heavy-duty stuff — to help pass the time.

So, you ask, “Yo, Jimbo what was wrong? Enquiring minds want to know.”

Well, let’s just say that it was an infection (of unknown etiology) that I have experienced twice before over the last dozen years, and it resides in a spot where no male wants to have an infection. Its symptoms? Let’s just say that, while sitting or lying absolutely still (and properly “supported”), things are OK, but moving around or (gasp!) standing up requires a bit of mental preparation for the surge of pain that would normally accompany a swift kick in the stindeens. (Ladies, it may not be the pain of childbirth, but it’s gotta be right up there.)

Indeed, today, I feel well enough that I might even do a bit of regular posting later, now that I don’t have to deal with the “Holy Shit!!” moment that previously would have been part of standing up. In fact, tomorrow, we will be heading off to daughter’s house for a MAHvelous Easter dinner.

I want to thank everyone for sending me their best wishes in comments, e-mails and phone calls. I read the comments and e-mails during the brief periods of standing in front of the computer, which were part of side-trips on the way to the bathroom. I was moved and inspired by them. And, as for the comments left by these three smartasses these three friends of mine, which made me laugh when I didn’t feel much like laughing, let me stress that I did not, do not, and never have had a venereal disease, but thanks for the laugh. Of course, I may personally serve you bastards with process in Jekyll.