Hello, people? This is a slight problem. (original reference from DailyKos)

"Diebold GEMS central tabulator contains a stunning security hole"

By entering a 2-digit code in a hidden location, a second set of votes is created. This set of votes can be changed, so that it no longer matches the correct votes. The voting system will then read the totals from the bogus vote set. It takes only seconds to change the votes, and to date not a single location in the U.S. has implemented security measures to fully mitigate the risks.

Whether you vote absentee, on touch-screens, or on paper ballot (fill in the bubble) optical scan machines, all votes are ultimately brought to the "mother ship," the central tabulator at the county which adds them all up and creates the results report. The central tabulator is far more vulnerable than the touch screen terminals. Think about it: If you were going to tamper with an election, would you rather tamper with 4,500 individual voting machines, or with just one machine, the central tabulator which receives votes from all the machines? Of course, the central tabulator is the most desirable target.

Findings: The GEMS central tabulator program is incorrectly designed and highly vulnerable to fraud. Election results can be changed in a matter of seconds. [added emphasis]

What I don't understand is how anyone can argue against a paper trail or tighter electronic security. Yes, some people think this is a vast conspiracy to ensure a Republican vote, but let's try to be reasonable. Why would anyone oppose these protections?

Hello.

Some people asked why I stopped blogging. I'd like to think that I didn't truly stop writing; I just got distracted by life. Moved to a new apartment in a new city. Started a new job with a new commute. Explored a new neighborhood. Et cetera. I met old friends, made new friends, and went on a plethora of dates. Carpe diem.

Then, a few weeks ago, my social life slowed down. Time to write? No. I immersed myself in a gut-wrenching process that I've done twice before. Not fun. Now it consumes all my free time. Most of my friends will know exactly what I'm talking about.

But I didn't stop writing because I was busy. I also didn't know what towrite about. Two years ago, I could rant and rave about the Bush tax giveaways to the rich, Kyoto, mercury, etc. But that was around the time ofthe 2002 congressional races when the democrats were virtually nonexistent andthe media was fully buying in to Bush's claims of WMD, yellowcake, imminentthreats, etc. So I could write about issues that bothered me becase I felt they weren't being discussed much elsewhere.

Now? Media overload. I'm simultaneously attracted to and repulsed from this glut of political media. On one hand, there is so much good stuff outside the mainstream media. I check the state polls and electoral vote projections each morning and the progressive blogs (MyDD, DailyKos) every few hours. Plus the WP and NYT. I laugh at people who think that national popular-vote polls have any resemblance to the actual state of the electoral battle.

At the same time, I am sick of hearing _everyone_ talk about politics. It is politics ad nauseum, even for me. It seems that so many people are merely repeating what they have seen in the paper or heard on talk radio. Even liberals are bothering me in this regard. And the Swift Boat issue? Please, for the love of God, enough is enough. Both sides have had their say, and then some. I'm excited to get past the GOP convention and let the debates begin.

At any rate, I'm back.

Welcome back to the real world, self. It has been a hectic couple of months.

Mood: Celebratory
Song: Moby, "First Cool Hive"