Lingering Detail: December 18

I just got back from the New York Defender Services office near City Hall. By the way as of today I also got a new cellphone. I wanted to know if the court order from May, June was still in place, so I would know which political events to avoid. The clerk Wendy confirmed the original harassment charge has been dropped. But the second court order violation charge has not been dropped, she said. Stay away from her, she said. I very much will, I said. She also told me I had a court date on December 18 for that second charge. I am so glad I know. I did not know I had a court date. Missing a court date is a serious offense in its own right. Now I know not to miss.

My immigration court date is currently set for December 16 in Chicago. But my lawyer has filed the paperwork to get the venue shifted to New York. I have been led to understand change of venue would mean my next immigration court date would be a few months away in New York.

The whole court order violation charge is based on the claim that this email above was ccd to ERC. That just is not true. All I have to do is print out this email. By the way I still don't know which person between Justin and Tracey forwarded the email to her. I don't want to know.

To Go Or Not To Go
December 10: Holiday
Pitcher
Kettle, Pitcher
December 3, Kettle Full Of Fish, December 4, Rudy's, December 10, Holiday?

I don't understand the thinking behind dropping the iffy harassment charge, but not dropping the bogus court order violation charge. Either it is a trick to get me to think the whole thing is over so I would show up for a DL21C event which would generate a call to the cops, and then not even Allah can save you. Or it is an invitation to countersue. I am not interested in either. I just want this whole legal mess to come to an end, I just want this whole thing to go away. That is all I want.

Wendy told me the court order violation charge will be "dropped" on December 18. But then John Youngblood had me believe the whole thing will "go away" on "June 4." Now I know better. Now I know by "the whole thing" he meant my person. (June 4, 2008 Court Appearance: Prepared Statement: Final Draft) The question I face is, do I stick with my court appointed attorney, or do I get a private attorney? My fancy immigration lawyer Rudra has a fancy criminal lawyer friend - white guy - and so maybe I should seek Rudra's advice on this one. The last thing I want to happen on December 18 is for a guilty verdict to come my way with clear evidence to the contrary. Once the system grabs you, it lies to you every step of the way with abandon. You get told repeatedly it is not about justice, and the facts, it is about power, you don't got no power. Like a female guard said at Varick, "You all, you don't got no rights, or you would not be here."

A MLK Style Death Awaits Me In Nepal
Lipstick On A Pig
Jail Time
Letter To The Department Of Homeland Security
Freedom, Finally

In The News

Sept. 11 Suspects Offer to Plead Guilty ‘in Full’ (Update4) Bloomberg
Nepal PM threatens party pullout BBC News
Clinton checks out new State Department offices The Associated Press
Are Republicans on the March? Washington Post
Obama Supports a Hometown Protest Against Layoffs Wall Street Journal Blogs
Sarah-less 'Saturday Night Live,' returns to Hillary and Bill Clinton Los Angeles Times
Nepal to start flights to more than 18 Indian cities soon Xinhua
SC notice to Bihar Govt on MLA's plea against contempt SamayLive
Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Over Obama’s Citizenship New York Times
Pakistan Raids a Militant Camp, But India Is Skeptical TIME
Muslims in India Join to Repudiate Terrorism New York Times
US-China dialogue is Paulson's vital legacy Asia Times Online
Obama admits he hasn’t totally kicked the cigarette habit Christian Science Monitor
NYC mayor praises Caroline Kennedy The Associated Press
Amid Talk of Kennedy, Paterson Turns to Humor New York Times
New EU travel bans for Zimbabwe BBC News
Google's Android marches into iPhone territory Australian IT
Google links to Salesforce.com cloud ZDNet UK
Google, Salesforce.com Partner on Cloud Computing eWeek
Dell triples charge to downgrade PCs to XP to $150 Computerworld
Apple vs. Dell vs. Lenovo: Got to Love Choices E-Commerce Times
Kennedy Center honors Barbra Streisand and Morgan Freeman Los Angeles Times

Rice predicts Clinton will do 'great job' succeeding her AFP
Goons kill rape victim's son in Kishanganj district, Bihar Times of India
Obama Offers First Look at Massive Plan To Create Jobs Washington Post
Obama Warns Iran Over Nuke Policy Sky News
Bobby Jindal and the GOP Don’t Believe in Evolution U.S. News & World Report
Obama Outlines Plan to Put Every Child Online PC World
Barack Obama pledges $700B public works plan to help economy Chicago Tribune
Clinton successor must complement Schumer Newsday
Replacing Senator Clinton New York Times
Strength of a woman Times of India
Nepal's first aircraft passes test flight Xinhua
It is official: no rat farming in Bihar Thaindian.com
Obama Pledges Public Works on a Vast Scale New York Times
Bush, Democrats seek to finalize auto bailout Reuters
Kenyan PM joins calls for foreign troops to oust Mugabe ABC Online
China Protests Sarkozy-Dalai Lama Meeting Voice of America
Obama Warns of Further Economic Pain New York Times
Obama to Inherit "Vexing" Middle East from Departing Bush Deutsche Welle
Bush defends his record in Mideast Los Angeles Times
Taiwan should welcome Dalai Lama's visit eTaiwan News
Amitabh Bachchan's gun sets off airport scare Times of India
Amitabh Bachchan is impressive for his age: Jennifer Zee News
Maradona magic on show Hindu
Laid-off workers occupy Chicago factory, seek pay Reuters
Soccer-Frenzied fans welcome Maradona to Kolkata Reuters.uk
OJ Simpson prepares for prison Reuters

Laloo

In The News

The Kashmir Connection: A Puzzle New York Times on April 23, 2006, Osama bin Laden seemed to signal an open alliance with groups like Lashkar, and their goals. He issued a proclamation denouncing “a Crusader-Zionist-Hindu war against Muslims.” He referred to the United States, Israel and India in the statement ..... no one knows if this attack was the start of something new.
Obama Pledges Public Works on a Vast Scale New York Times
Kennedy Is Said to Cast Her Eye on Senate Seat New York Times
US senators says Pakistan will act The Associated Press
Terrorist SIM card trail leads to Kolkata Times of India
White House Memo Bush, On His Way Out, Leads Way in for Others New York Times
Decoy fails to deploy, but missile test called 'success' CNN International
Report Debunks Theory That US Heard a Coded Warning About Pearl Harbor New York Times
Applause from every side as Obama picks all-star team Financial Times

Universal Broadband, Universal Health Care

Universal broadband and bringing all public school buildings into the 21st century have to be key components of the $500 billion stimulus package. On that add roads and bridges. Although initially not intended to be so, universal health care has to be part of the same package. And it can not be about throwing good money after bad. The problem with health care in this country is not that there is not enough money in the sector as is, the problem is that the sector acts like there are no market forces at work. It is socialized medicine, not socialized medicine for the people, but socialized for the insurance companies and big pharma. If market forces were at work in the medical industry, the paperwork would for the most part vanish, companies would compete with each other to adopt the latest in information technology. They would compete to cut costs. Cutting down paperwork is a big part of cutting costs in the sector. Yes, people may keep their current insurance if they like it, that is the Obama message, but the amounts those people pay have to go down. Universal broadband should similarly have a downward pull on the cost of education. And roads and bridges and public schools are things that you repair periodically. There is wear and tear involved. Giving the public schools a new look and feel is key to breaking the cycle of chronic poverty in the inner cities and in rural America and in the Appalachia.

In Bill Clinton's 1990s America saw the early pangs of becoming a knowledge economy. But it never got there. And then Bush happened. Finally we can dream again. Obama is in. Universal broadband and universal health care are the bedrock of a possible knowledge economy. A knowledge economy is not just about dot com companies and flash in the pan millionaires. A knowledge economy is about lifelong learning for everyone. In that scenario it is going to be perfectly normal for people to not just have many jobs but several careers over a lifetime. That flux will add to the productivity levels. But that flux will increase anxiety levels instead of productivity levels if there is no universal health care.

Granted Paulson is making the right moves right now, the $700 billion to the financial sector will come back as a trillion in about five years, possibly more. Anything above $700 billion will more than pay towards this $500 billion stimulus expense.

But the number one reason for this stimulus deal is that if you don't do it, the economy is going to spiral down into an even deeper recession. Can't allow that to happen. Deeper recession means wealth will vanish. There is going to be deflation in several sectors.

This 500 billion deal also allows Obama to get America to take the first steps towards energy independence. JFK took America to the moon, Barack gets to take America to energy independence. It might not happen in eight years, or 10, the challenge is bigger than landing a man on the moon. But a Manhattan Project like focus in research and development is needed.

To Go Or Not To Go

December 10: Holiday Party by the State Democratic Party (likely not attending)

I am surprised how torn I am about the December 10 event. Should I go? Should I not go? Is it legal for me to go? Or is it legal but unwise? Worse, is it legal and foolish? Legal and not the best use of my time? Should I even be blogging this thought churn? Should I instead just quietly skip?

I am not too worried about the blogging part. I have blogged about pretty much everything since I showed up in town, including the misadventure over the past six months. It is legal. It is free speech. It is a lifestyle choice.

A MLK Style Death Awaits Me In Nepal
Lipstick On A Pig
Jail Time
Letter To The Department Of Homeland Security
Freedom, Finally



Then there is the legality question. (June 4, 2008 Court Appearance: Prepared Statement: Final Draft) The harassment charge was dropped, but I don't know if it was dropped by ERC or NYPD. And I don't really have a way to find out. I guess I could go talk to the state appointed attorney in question. Is that worth my time? The iffy harassment charge was dropped. But the bogus court order violation and the resulting overnight arrest is still on the records which leads me to believe perhaps the harassment charge was dropped by ERC, not the NYPD. Because why would the NYPD drop one and keep another? But even if one was dropped and another was not, what happens to the court order resulting from both? Is that still in place? Does it stay in place forever? How does that work? And if it is still in place, I know not to contact ERC, not to ask anyone else to do it for me, and not to show up for DL21C events. But what about an event like this one? I don't know for sure if she will be there. But there is a chance she will be as an active political person. And I have no way to find out. The idea of showing up and then having to leave is not appealing. But if there is no longer a court order, is it okay for me to show up for DL21C events? Or would that trigger another chain of unpleasant events for me? I should perhaps visit John Youngblood and find out if the court order is still in place. Just to be on the safe side. The political asylum case is enough of a legal weight, I don't want another.

December 10: Holiday
Pitcher
Kettle, Pitcher
December 3, Kettle Full Of Fish, December 4, Rudy's, December 10, Holiday?

Then there is the social angle. Court order or no court order, discomfort might be reason enough to avoid, discomfort on either her part or mine.

And then there is a political angle. The whole drama has been a study in race, and gender to me, possibly even class, but not that much, I am a future billionaire, in a class of my own. Yet another angle would be to say the October 2007 Senator Mary event started a chain reaction that got Spitzer and Hillary out of Bobby's way for 2016. (Louisiana Senator Event: Crime Scene) Come to think of it, Hillary could still run in 2016. If McCain can run at 73, why can't Hillary run at 68? That woman is dynamo.

All I really need to be of use to Barack over the next eight years is Google News, and Blogger. I am a digital democrat.

And there is a technical question. I have asked Rohini if there is a cash way of purchasing the ticket to the event. Rohini is Desi and the state party Finance Chair. That makes me less likely to root for Bobby.

Video: Governor Jindal On The Tonight Show

And then there is a career angle. I am not a politician. In politics the office that most fascinates me intellectually is the presidency, and it is the ultimate executive office. I am temperamentally not suited for anything legislative. I like movement. I am seeking a corporate career for me. It is just that I don't see it as a career switch after a few years of cutting edge political work. I see internet access as the voting right for the 21st century. (IC) My company wants to make it cheaper for people to go online. I fashion myself the MLK for the Global South, if politics is what you understand. I might show up for a political event and feel out of place, feel like I should instead have been working, putting effort into my young startup that very hour, damn the party scene. Not to say I could do with a little more respect from the young progressives in this city, political respect, for work I have already done. You want to fight the war on terror? I got the progressive formula. And you know it.

Change is Coming Holiday Bash

Host:	NYCforChange
Type:	Party - Holiday Party
Network:	Global

Date:	Thursday, December 11, 2008
Time:	8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:	Nightingale Lounge
Street:	213 Second Ave. (Northwest corner of 13th St.)
City/Town:	New York, NY

DL21C's Sixteenth Annual Holiday Bash!

Start Time:	Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 8:00pm
End Time:	Friday, December 12, 2008 at 2:00am
Location:	Strata Nightclub
Street:	915 Broadway (@21st Street)
City/Town:	New York, NY

In The News

China steps up military ties with Nepal Hindustan Times
Hillary Clinton's coterie of 'attack dog' aides has Obama's team ... Telegraph.co.uk
Will Hillary Clinton Really Call Obama 'Boss'? NPR
Castro to end feud and meet Obama Sydney Morning Herald
Fidel Castro says Cuba open to dialogue with Obama Xinhua
Obama pledges massive expansion of infrastructure, Internet Hindu
Obama Pledges Massive Public Works Project New York Times
Comedians laughing all the way to the bank over Hillary Clinton's ... Telegraph.co.uk
Nepal palace massacre survivor makes fresh start Times of India
Former Clinton Rivals May Get Foreign Policy Posts NPR
Kennedy Is Said to Cast Her Eye on Senate Seat New York Times
We want computers, not rat farming: Bihar's Musahars Hindu
British Prime Minister Tells Mugabe Enough is Enough Voice of America
Indian Police Foiled Earlier Plot Against Mumbai New York Times
China sees no possibility of Indo-Pak war post Mumbai attacks Press Trust of India
Sprint Bring WiMax to Portland Wired News
Ballmer Wants Quick Yahoo Pact Wall Street Journal
Intel to help develop WiMax in Kenya Capital FM
Latin America to Account for More Than 10 Percent of Global WiMAX ... MarketWatch
Record 10% of US homeowners in arrears or foreclosure Los Angeles Times
Job losses mount as economic picture worsens The Associated Press
Soccer-Frenzied fans welcome Maradona to Kolkata Reuters.uk
Report: Dell Dumping Google For Microsoft Search (DELL) Silicon Alley Insider
Obama hopes to avoid Clinton health care missteps The Associated Press

LA reacts to Simpson sentencing in Vegas The Associated Press
O.J. Simpson sentenced to lengthy prison term Los Angeles Times
Half-million jobs vanish as economy deteriorates The Associated Press
US Loses 533000 Jobs in November New York Times
Worst month for job loss in 34 years San Francisco Chronicle
Auto execs drive away from Congress empty-handed Reuters
Report: Ballmer says Yahoo search deal better sooner than later CNET News
Result Is Still Uncertain After Minnesota Recount New York Times
Thailand Protests Subside, Sense of Uncertainty Remains Washington Post
Supreme Court case: Can terror suspect in US be held indefinitely? Christian Science Monitor
Obama campaign mulls what to do with $30M surplus The Associated Press
MBA Report Shows Crisis Deepens as Efforts to Stop Foreclosures Fail MarketWatch
Facebook Worm Comes From Infected Friends InformationWeek
Facebook Worm Refuses to Die PC World
Worm spreads on Facebook, hijacks users' clicks Computerworld
Obama in the public eye Sunday Boston Globe
Obama's Mighty Economic Challenge Washington Post
US says latest missile defense test a success Reuters

December 10: Holiday

Host:	New York State Democratic Party
Type:	Party - Holiday Party

Date:	Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Time:	9:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:	Westin New York at Times Square, Broadway Ballroom - 3rd Floor
Street:	270 West 43rd Street at 7th Avenue
City/Town:	New York, NY

My Status: Maybe Attending, Maybe Not

In The News

Issues Pressing, Obama Fills Top Posts at a Sprint New York Times Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was not sure what Mr. Obama wanted to talk about when she was summoned here last month, said another person close to the transition. She had heard speculation about jobs, but only after she arrived at Mr. Obama’s office did he ask her to think about being secretary of state.

Obama Hauls in Record $750 Million for Campaign New York Times

Pitcher

I had three stops prior: 34th Street, Water Street, and a Momo stop in Jackson Heights. Then I showed up at Rudy's a little after 7:30. The winter tent is on in the backyard. The heater is on. There was a crowd there sure. This was more than five people. Josh, the other person on Drinking Liberally payroll, was holding court. I spent a minute with that huddle, then walked over to a corner crowd, one woman, about five men. Laura and Lucas were engaged and Lucas had organized a gathering with his fellow city planner friends. The guys were from all over the place, Bronx, Brooklyn, New Jersey, Westchester. I talked mostly to Laura to start with, then to Lucas, then to others, there was a Tom.

Justin Krebs showed up late. He gave a shout out to Lucas from the other end of the tent. A little later he walked over. He was his garrulous self. Trivia: this guy is not on Facebook. Now you know why the organization is not growing faster.

He bragged about the 99 cent menu items in his neighborhood, which was right there. "I live right round the corner." Laura asked him if he ate vegetables. What are those? He asked. I feared he might ask me what a cow looks like. Like Bill Clinton says, most New York politicians could not tell one end of the cow from another. Nepal is the Arkansas of the world. We are poor and proud too. Then she asked if he had sheets. He said he had blankets. Standing back to back he mentioned "truck driver." A little later he said it was Rudy's 75th anniversary in a few hours, on the 5th. I guess the place was around also during prohibition. That might have been a Mirza reference.

Laura went out and brought food for her crowd, shared the fries with me. She gave me her card to become Facebook friends with.

Hello Stephanie. Hello Brooke.

There was some kind of a loud beer game going on at the other end of the tent, more than a dozen people participating.

A little after 10 I left.

When he talked about the 99 cent pizza place on 41st and 9th, he said, "I wonder how they make money." He is right on the dot. To me that place is in the same league as Dell and Walmart, it is a terrific business model. You drive the price down and make money on volume. I don't go there just for pizza, I go there for business inspiration.

Kettle, Pitcher
December 3, Kettle Full Of Fish, December 4, Rudy's, December 10, Holiday?

In The News

Issues Pressing, Obama Fills Top Posts at a Sprint New York Times, United States
Obama urges donors to ease Clinton campaign debt The Associated Press
Former president Clinton says Obama must put US further into debt AFP
Supreme Court today deliberates suit blocking Obama presidency Los Angeles Times, CA
A double O moment: Oprah and Obama together in D.C. for The Inaugural Los Angeles Times, CA
Fla. congresswoman hangs up on Obama; thought call was a prank Seattle Times, United States
Florida Congresswoman hangs up on Obama - twice Christian Science Monitor
UN: Nepal agrees to release all child soldiers International Herald Tribune, France
Is Nepal hijacking Indian Idol? Times of India, India
Nepali PM agrees to discharge minors from CPN-M cantonments Xinhua, China

Jobs Numbers Fall Off Table In November Forbes
Big jobs losses point to deepening recession The Miami Herald
Hill leader says jobs report argues for car rescue The Associated Press
Mortgage Delinquencies, Foreclosure Rise to Record in Recession Bloomberg
Boy George Found Guilty of Hadcuffing Man to Wall FOXNews
Obama laying the groundwork for US health reform Reuters
Clinton looks to loyalists for State Dept. staff The Associated Press
Paris Robbers Grab $108 Million Worth of Diamonds (Update1) Bloomberg
Obama stimulus: Campaign hits $745 million haul The Associated Press
Barack Obama campaign raised nearly $1 billion, shattering records Chicago Tribune
Barack Obama's grass roots in search of new turf Los Angeles Times
Bank of America’s Merrill Takeover May Be Tough Deal (Update2) Bloomberg
Koobface Virus Still Making The Rounds On Facebook Washington Post
Google Friend Connect Now Open To All Websites Washington Post
OJ Simpson faces Vegas sentencing BBC News
Happiness is contagious, new study finds Chicago Tribune
Strangers May Cheer You Up, Study Says New York Times
NASA delays Mars rover launch to 2011 Los Angeles Times
Stocks Drop After Jobs Report Comes in Weak New York Times
Patriarch who revived Russian Orthodox Church dies Reuters
Pakistan has created its own Frankenstien monster: Defense analyst ... Times of India
Pakistan charity under suspicion in India attacks The Daily Advance
Mass. man ticketed in gridlock while wife in labor The Associated Press
Israel braces for more trouble after Hebron rampage AFP
Foreclosures soar 76% to record 1.35 million CNNMoney.com
Detroit bailout drive sputters on Capitol Hill Reuters
Veterans' long-term problems linked to traumatic brain injuries Los Angeles Times

Automakers try to sell Congress on rescue Thursday The Associated Press
GM pledges faster cost-cuts in return for bailout guardian.co.uk
AT&T to cut 12000 jobs and slash spending Reuters
Rice demands 'robust' cooperation from Pakistan in Mumbai probe Christian Science Monitor
Bill Richardson chalks up another Cabinet job for the resume Los Angeles Times
Lawsuit contesting Obama citizenship continues Chicago Tribune
Canadian PM to seek suspension of Parliament to avoid defeat Xinhua
No links with Mumbai attacks, says LeT chief Times of India
Pakistani Islamist Group Denies Involvement in Mumbai Attack Bloomberg
UAW Makes Concessions in Bid to Help Automakers New York Times
Capital One to Buy Chevy Chase Bank for $520 Million (Update2) Bloomberg
Hawaii Endorses Plan for Electric Cars New York Times
Ex-FBI agent faces 30 years to life for mob hit CNN
Richardson joins Obama team as Commerce chief Los Angeles Times, CA
Obama cabinet picks get kudos Boston Globe, United States
Lawmakers urge Obama to keep diversity vow Boston Globe
Most approve of Obama's Cabinet picks, poll shows CNN
Wag the Blog: Hillary's Experience Washington Post
Campaign Promises on Ending the War in Iraq Now Muted by Reality New York Times, United States
Gates on board with Obama's Iraq plan Los Angeles Times
Obama's New Power Troika Faces Crises Old And New Huffington Post
China, India Want More Commitment From Obama on Climate Change Bloomberg
Obama's election brings hope to climate talks The Associated Press
Obama legal team meets with anti-torture generals The Associated Press
Ex-generals to urge Obama action on torture issue Reuters
Barack Obama's appointments, manner reveal a cool, confident leader Seattle Times, United States
Nigeria: Obama Win And the Change We Need in Africa AllAfrica.com
Obama Promises Governors That Federal Help Is on the Way New York Times, United States
Obama promises governors he'll be listening Los Angeles Times
U.S. urged to boost its nuclear vigilance Los Angeles Times, CA
Obama should look to NYC for WMD czar Examiner.com
US must halt spread of nuclear, bio weapons - Biden Reuters
Insurers propose universal, centralized healthcare Los Angeles Times
China's cold war on Tibet ISN, Switzerland
FM plays down fear of impact of global crisis on Nepal Nepalnews.com, Nepal
Govt not doing enough for talks with armed groups, says VP Jha