The Old Blog in the Desert

Despite being headquartered in Denver, Colo., Dominion Voting Systems (DVS) continues to develop its election machine programming in Serbia, Canada, and China in violation of U.S. law. 

Dominion’s office in Belgrade, located at Rankeova 19, has been at the center of controversy as it is reportedly involved in programming the voting machines used in the U.S. The company’s practices have raised significant concerns about the legality and security of these systems.

Critics argue that Dominion’s international operations violate federal laws such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), which mandates stringent security controls over federal information systems. Additionally, some concerns allowing foreign entities to develop and access critical election infrastructure contravenes national security protocols.

Despite these concerns, Dominion maintains that its practices are secure. The company asserts that all software development is conducted in-house by DVS employees and is not outsourced to third parties. Chris Riggall, a spokesman for Dominion, emphasized that the software undergoes rigorous review, testing, and certification by federal, state, and local authorities.

However, the presence of overseas developers has fueled ongoing debates about the integrity of the U.S. election systems. Suzanne Mello-Stark, a forensic computer scientist at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and other experts have called for greater transparency in both software and hardware used in voting systems.

Recent job postings for senior software developers in Belgrade and reports of Dominion’s extensive operations in Serbia have raised further concerns. The use of proprietary software by election technology companies, including Dominion, has been criticized for its lack of transparency and potential vulnerabilities.

The situation is complicated further by reports of election systems in multiple states using machines that lack paper backups. Such systems, which include touch-screen voting machines with rewritable flash memory, are particularly susceptible to tampering. Experts like Daniel Lopresti of Lehigh University warn that if the firmware is tampered with, it could be nearly impossible to verify the accuracy of the election results.

The controversy surrounding Dominion is part of a broader debate about election security in the U.S. Recent elections have seen increased concern about potential hacking and the overall security of voting infrastructure, including Nevada, where the state’s highest court has again dismissed a case questioning how Washoe and Clark Counties conduct elections without regarding the evidence. The lack of standardized security measures in the two most populated counties in the state has left other county systems vulnerable to attacks.

Some states are moving towards more secure systems. Maryland, for example, has replaced touch-screen terminals with optical scanners that use paper ballots, offering a verifiable paper trail.

The Biden administration has accelerated an environmental review of a lithium mine in Nevada, drawing attention from conservationists concerned about its impact on an endangered Nevada wildflower.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently unveiled a 2,000-plus page document in a draft environmental impact statement for the Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine, a crucial element for electric vehicle batteries and a linchpin of President Joe Biden’s green energy agenda. Federal officials lauded the progress in reviewing the lithium-boron mine, portraying it as a step toward supporting responsible domestic development of critical minerals to drive the clean energy economy.

Steve Feldgus, Deputy Assistant Interior Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, emphasized the collaborative approach between federal agencies to address environmental concerns while advancing mineral development.

However, environmentalists remain staunch in their opposition, viewing the mine as emblematic of the Biden Administration’s disregard for wildlife protections in pursuit of climate goals. Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin Director at the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the project as “greenwashing extinction,” citing potential violations of the Endangered Species Act due to threats posed to Tiehm’s buckwheat, a rare flower native to the region.

The draft environmental impact statement presents multiple options for the project, with the BLM favoring a plan that minimizes habitat destruction but still raises concerns among conservationists. Despite efforts to mitigate impacts and incorporate conservation measures, critics argue that any harm to the delicate ecosystem could have irreversible consequences for the endangered wildflower.

The contentious project is emblematic of broader tensions between conservation and green energy development and production in Nevada. With a projected 2030 worldwide increase in demand for lithium, the stakes are high for environmental protection and economic advancement.

When a husband or wife loses their spouse to death, they are known as widows or widowers. Should a child lose both of their parents, we call them an orphan.

But there is no word, no name for a parent or parents who have lost a child to death. I suggest “Angle Parent,” to fill the needed requirement.

The federal government has given the green light to Nevada’s initial plan for $416.6 million in taxpayer-funded grant money to expand access to high-speed Internet across the state.

According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Nevada’s plan outlines strategies to deliver high-speed Internet access to areas lacking coverage or connectivity. Nevada is among the first states to achieve access to funds, which are part of a broader $42.5 billion program under the Biden administration’s Internet for All initiative.

Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator, hailed the announcements as a significant step forward in closing the digital divide across the country.

“Kansas, Nevada, and West Virginia have developed robust plans tailored to their specific needs, aimed at deploying dependable, cost-effective high-speed Internet service throughout their states,” Davidson stated.

With the initial plan approved, Nevada has a year to finalize its proposal. The final proposal will provide detailed strategies ensuring comprehensive coverage to all unserved and underserved areas within the state.

Local and regional solar energy initiatives in Nevada receive a significant boost with over $218 million in federal taxpayer funding, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant competition.

The Nevada Clean Energy Fund is the primary recipient, securing $156.1 million to advance its Solar for All initiative. The program plans to make solar energy accessible to marginalized communities by facilitating home installations and community projects.

Additionally, tribal nonprofit GRID Alternatives’ Western Indigenous Network Solar For All (WIN-SFA) will receive $62.5 million to extend solar access to thousands of Native American households. The funding prioritizes tribal communities in Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

When I first became employed by the radio station, I found a large ceramic coffee mug, covered in dust, in the back of the cabinet. After asking who it belonged to, I learned it was the property of nobody.

That day, I declared myself ‘nobody’ and began using it every air shift. Hot coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, it did not matter.

Then, last week, I went to get it and discovered the thing missing. The only thing left was the paper towel I had stuffed inside it after washing it, which was tossed in disgust to the back of the sink, behind the faucet.

Its absence caused me some distress. What became of it and why the distress remains a mystery because it was a mug purchased from Starbucks, and since I am not a fan of that Java empire, it should have been “Big whoop!”

But knowing it was gone, I returned to the cabinet and withdrew yet another mug, even dustier than the first, from the darkness. My new “borrowed” coffee cup is approximately the same size as the first, has a handle, and comes from Nevada State Bank.

Weirder still is that I got a tickle from that fact and had to laugh — because I’m a credit union member.

In pop culture, certain things have the uncanny ability to overshadow their original purpose and become symbols of an era.

Such is the case with Crocs, the ubiquitous rubber clogs that have garnered ridicule and adoration in equal measure. Yet, their journey from movie prop to global sensation is worth exploring.

Released in 2006, Mike Judge’s satirical masterpiece “Idiocracy” envisioned a dystopian future where societal intelligence had plummeted to alarming depths. Amidst the chaos, one of the film’s most memorable quirks was the presence of Crocs, the colorful, hole-riddled footwear that adorned the feet of characters in the film’s bizarre moviescape.

However, including Crocs in “Idiocracy” was not initially intended as a commentary on fashion or footwear trends. In a 2016 interview with Fast Company, Judge revealed that the decision was primarily a cost-cutting measure, as at the time of filming in 2004, Crocs were unknown, and their availability made them a practical choice for the film’s wardrobe department.

What began as a budget-friendly choice morphed, becoming synonymous with comfort and convenience or stupidity and elitism. Moreover, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns further fueled Crocs’ popularity, as people sought comfort and functionality in their attire.

For me, the sight of Crocs is a perfect symbol for today’s society, with Gen Z’s demanding crybaby nature, the bitchy little Karens of the world, and Soy Boys who lack toxic masculinity on the march. As noted by social media users and cultural commentators alike, Crocs, as in the film, has taken on a symbolic significance, reflecting a shift in fashion sense and common sense.

I am tired of the Nevada Democratic Party lying and not being called out for doing so.

Once again, they have engaged in the age-old “fact check” routine using the very-left-leaning online newspaper, the Nevada Independent, claiming they have debunked Joe Lombardo’s assertion that he vetoed legislation for universal free meals for Nevada students because they are “thrown away.” Lombardo’s decision to veto AB139, which would have ensured “free” (nothing is free, idiots, someone has to pay for it, and that someone is Nevada taxpayers) breakfast and lunch in public schools, has drawn criticism.

“Joe Lombardo might call himself the ‘education governor,’ but he isn’t fooling anyone,” remarked Tai Sims, a spokesperson for the Nevada State Democratic Party. “By choosing partisan politics over our students, he denied them guaranteed access to nutritious meals and then lied about it.”

During the pandemic, federal waivers ensured free meals for all students, but these waivers expired after the 2021-22 school year. State lawmakers extended the program for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, utilizing approximately $104 million in federal COVID relief funds.

Nearly 460,000 students received an average of 6.5 million school meals last year. Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui sponsored Assembly Bill 319, allocating $43 million to the state Department of Agriculture to continue the universal “free” breakfast and lunch program, which Lombardo vetoed because of food waste in the state’s schools.

My wife is a nutrition service assistant manager in our local school district, and uneaten food gets thrown away routinely to comply with federal contracts. Failure to discard uneaten food would result in the loss of federal taxpayer-funded monies designated for food services.

So, the claim by Sims is an all-out lie, and I am here to call the Nevada Democratic Party out on their propaganda bullshit. Perhaps they ought to talk to someone other than partisan shills Elizabeth Martinez, Clark County School District (CCSD) director of nutrition services, and Adam Searcy, the CCSD chief operating officer, to learn what is verifiably going on with the school lunch programs in Nevada.

For half a century, the Harris family stood as stalwart defenders of justice in Elko County, committed to upholding the law as etched in the gleaming gold of their iconic badge.

As custodians of order in the vast expanse of the fourth-largest county in the contiguous United States, they navigated the rugged terrain with a blend of toughness, humor, and unwavering integrity.

Sheriff Joe Harris, a towering figure in Elko County’s history, patrolled the expansive territory from 1910 to 1936, traversing the landscape by automobile, train, and horse. His son, Sheriff Jess Harris, continued the family legacy from 1950 to 1974, earning national renown as the “Flying Sheriff” for his innovative use of airplanes in law enforcement.

The bond between the Harris family and the people of Elko County was sealed in gold when the appreciative residents of the mining camp Tuscarora commissioned G.S. Garcia, a renowned craftsman, to create a badge for Sheriff Joe. Crafted from Tuscarora gold and adorned with eight rounded points, the badge symbolized not only the authority of the office but also the deep respect and admiration of the community.

Proudly worn by Joe and Jess, the badge represented their integrity and dedication. Though they eschewed uniforms, opting instead for the badge to adorn their shirts or coats, their commitment to upholding the law was unwavering.

The legacy of the Harris sheriffs extends beyond their tenure in office, as evidenced by Sheriff Neil Harris, who continued the tradition into the 21st century. While not related to Joe and Jess, Sheriff Neil Harris carried forth the proud legacy of his predecessors with honor and distinction.

Today, the Joe and Jess Harris Collection, consisting of weapons and artifacts of their time in office, is a testament to their enduring impact on Elko County’s history. And while the badge remains in the Harris family, its radiance continues to shine as a beacon of justice and integrity in the heart of the Nevada wilderness.

it is spring season
all the beautiful colors
standing in the rain