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2017 News Release Archive
News Release ~ 04/10/2017
Attorney General Sessions Moves Against the Independence and Integrity of Forensic Science
Washington, DC (Apr. 10, 2017) – The Washington Post reported this morning that Attorney General Jeff Sessions "would not renew the National Commission on Forensic Science, a roughly 30-member advisory panel of scientists, judges, crime lab leaders, prosecutors and defense lawyers chartered by the Obama administration in 2013." Attorney General Sessions also "suspended an expanded review of FBI testimony across several techniques that have come under question, saying a new strategy will be set by an in-house team of law enforcement advisors."
According to a news release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the DOJ is today filing a federal register notice (advance copy is linked here) requesting public comment on various forensic science issues before June 9, 2017.
In making the announcement, Attorney General Sessions applauded "the professionalism of the National Commission on Forensic Science" and acknowledged "the contributions it has made in this crucial field" of ensuring "accurate forensic science analysis."
"The reliance of law enforcement on questionable science and the overstatement of the reliability of that science has been a leading cause of the wrongful conviction of innocent people," said National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) President Barry J. Pollack. "The reason the National Commission on Forensic Science has been so important is that it includes leading independent scientists, allowing an unbiased expert evaluation of which techniques are scientifically valid and which are not. NACDL is terribly disappointed that even while acknowledging the crucial role played by the National Commission on Forensic Science, the Attorney General has chosen to disband it. The Association hopes the DOJ will not abandon its recent steps toward promoting scientific independence and enhancing the reliability of all forensic evidence used in the criminal justice system."
As noted in a statement submitted for the record by NACDL in connection with a March 28, 2017, House hearing on The State of Forensic Science in the United States, faulty forensic science is the second leading cause of wrongful conviction. Indeed, to focus in on just one area, less than two years ago, in April 2015, the DOJ, FBI, Innocence Project, and NACDL jointly reported the FBI's conclusion that FBI testimony on microscopic hair analysis contained errors in at least 90% of cases and that 26 of 28 FBI agent/analysts provided either testimony or reports with erroneous statements. The joint review focuses on cases worked prior to 2000, when mitochondrial DNA testing on hair became routine at the FBI.
There is no shortage of research evidencing the problems with various forensic disciplines and emphasizing the importance of scientific independence from law enforcement. In 2009, a blue-ribbon panel of experts funded by Congress and convened by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) produced Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States, a landmark report that analyzed a range of forensic disciplines. In 2016, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) issued its own report, reaffirming many of the underlying conclusions of the 2009 NAS study. These reports, along with the seemingly endless litany of major scandals at forensic laboratories nationwide, reveal that the fundamental system for delivery of forensic science in the criminal justice system is broken, and that structural reform is needed.
NACDL convened its own task force in response to the 2009 NAS report, and issued a series of recommendations in 2010. That document endorsed: (1) forming a central, science-based federal agency that is independent of law enforcement and prosecution agencies, (2) improving the culture of science, (3) adopting a national code of ethics, (4) reinforcing the prerequisite of research, (5) providing greater education, (6) ensuring transparency and discovery, and (7) allocating greater defense resources, particularly for indigent defense services. Progress has been made on some of these objectives. But sadly, much of the promise of the 2009 NAS report and its associated recommendations remain unfulfilled, as the 2016 PCAST report attests. The use of flawed forensic evidence cannot be prevented unless the key principles articulated in the NAS and PCAST reports, as well as in NACDL's Principles and Recommendations for Strengthening Forensic Science in the Courtroom, are implemented.
As detailed in full in its recent statement to the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, just prior to today's announcement by Attorney General Sessions, NACDL urged Congress to: (1) provide a dedicated funding stream to support the existing National Commission on Forensic Science and either formally separate it from the DOJ, or ensure that it is not under the exclusive control of law enforcement, (2) establish mandatory accreditation, certification, and proficiency standards, (3) bolster the emerging culture of science and increased transparency in forensic work, and (4) enhance the support for defense attorneys commensurate with the increased prevalence and role of forensic science in criminal cases.
NACDL's Principles and Recommendations for Strengthening Forensic Science in the Courtroom is available here. NACDL has also catalogued a number of crime lab and forensics scandals in recent years, which is available here.
A link to the National Research Council's landmark 2009 report – Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward – is available here. And a link to the President's Counsel of Advisors on Science and Technology's 2016 report – Forensic Science in the Criminal Courts: Ensuring Scientific Validity of Feature-Comparison Methods – is available here.
Ivan Dominguez, Director of Public Affairs and Communications (202) 465-7662 or idominguez@nacdl.org
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal justice system.


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Home Tech There may be meteors hitting the atmosphere at speeds close to the...
There may be meteors hitting the atmosphere at speeds close to the speed of light
Daniel Kucher
It's no secret that our planet is often exposed to stones and rocks from space. It was recently revealed that our planet was often exposed to particles that have speeds close to the speed of light, but very small in size.
The world has been exposed to many pieces of stone from space throughout its history, spanning billions of years. While the sky stones sometimes hit the planet, sometimes it passed very close and dropped its ruins into the atmosphere.
When the meteorite is said to fall, many people think of structures like giant meteorites that first deplete the dinosaurs. In reality, a rock of that size rarely hits our planet, usually small stones fall on our planet.
Very small, very fast meteors
Harvard astronomers Amir Siraj and Prof. According to Abraham Loeb's new study, the Earth's atmosphere may be exposed to particles that are quite fast every year, but have sizes ranging from 1 mm to 10 cm. According to the researchers, these meteors have appeared after a supernova incident in a nearby area and may be extremely fast tracks. The speeds of the tracks go from a few thousand times the speed of sound to levels close to the speed of light.
"Observational Signatures of Sub-Relativistic Meteors / Observational Signatures of Meteors Below Relative Velocity" will be published on arXiv and will be published in the journal Astrophysical Journal. The aim of this study is one of the most curious questions in astronomy: "Can supernovae reach the relativisitic speeds?" It is expected to answer the question.
Supernovas in the past affected the Earth
According to the findings, the researchers stated that heavy elements had fallen on Earth after at least one supernova explosion in the past. Supernova explosions also emit a significant amount of dust, but these parts cannot reach relativistic speeds.
Astronomers also announced that a ten thousandth of the diameter of the pieces thrown from supernova explosions is less than 1 mm in diameter. Particles of supernovae come to our planet at least once a month within the Milky Way Galaxy.
We can hardly observe whether small parts are approaching the speed of light, because the technology we have was not developed for such small targets. The speed of these particles can be 100 times higher than normally observed particles, which is not something our technology is trying to see.
Chasing particles that cannot be observed
Siraj and Loeb developed a hydrodynamic and radiative model for this study. Thus, hot plasma vortexes, which are caused by meteor transitions close to relativistic velocities, are revealed. Thus, the researchers guessed how the signals would emerge and determined what the astronomers should look at.
According to the researchers, these activities not only produce a loud sound that can be recorded with a microphone, but also reveal a visible radiation glow. Both effects occur in milliseconds.
The duo's work has formed the basis for observing such small and high-speed parts. In new researches, the movements of these parts can be recorded in real terms by using microphones, radiation observations and infrared monitoring devices.
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Dashbike, The Rear Bike Light That Also Records What's Behind...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Tag: Judicial Watch
JUDICIAL WATCH: New FDA Records Show Obama Administration Purchased Organs, Heads and Tissue From Full Term Aborted Babies
September 15, 2021 by Breck Worsham, posted in Uncategorized
WASHINGTON — Judicial Watch announced today that it received 198 pages of records and communications from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) involving "humanized mice" research with human fetal heads, organs and tissue, including communications and contracts with human fetal tissue provider Advanced Bioscience Resources (ABR). Most of the records are communications and related attachments between Perrin Larton, a procurement manager for ABR, and research veterinary medical officer Dr. Kristina Howard of the FDA.
Judicial Watch received the records through a March 2019 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, of which the FDA is a part (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department Health and Human Services (No. 1:19-cv-00876)). The lawsuit asks for all contracts and related documentation on disbursement of funds, procedural documents and communications between FDA and ABR for the provision of human fetal tissue to be used in humanized mice research. After successfully opposing the FDA's redaction of certain information from its records, a federal court ordered HHS to release additional information about its purchases of organs harvested from aborted human fetuses – including "line item prices," or the price per organ the government paid to ABR. The court also found "there is reason to question" whether the transactions violate federal law barring the sale of fetal organs. Documents previously uncovered in this lawsuit show that the federal government demanded the purchased fetal organs be "fresh and never frozen.")
The records include an FDA generated contract with ABR, based on a "requisition" it issued on July 27, 2012, for $12,000 worth of "tissue procurement for humanized mice," indicates the requisition was for a "non-competitive award." Although the initial award was for $12,000, the total estimated amount of funds allocated for the requisition was $60,000. Under "Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition," the FDA writes:
Scientists within the FDA and in the larger field of humanized mouse research have searched extensively over the past several years and ABR is the only company in the U.S. capable of supplying tissues suitable for HM research. No other company or organization is capable of fulfilling the need.
Costs are estimated [for the fetal parts] at $230 per tissue x two tissues per shipment = $460 plus $95 shipping = $555 per shipment. A total of 21 shipments = $11,655.00.
An April 1, 2013, "Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract" form that shows the FDA purchased fetal livers and thymuses from ABR going back to at least October 2012, billing $580 per liver/thymus set, but later paying a unit price of $685.
A January 1, 2013, "Fees for Services Schedule" provided by ABR to the FDA includes:
FETAL CADAVEROUS PROCUREMENT SERVICE FEE
2nd trimester D&E [Dilation and Evacuation abortion] (13-24 weeks) per specimen $275
1st trimester aspiration [abortion] (8-12 weeks) per specimen $515
Intact Calvarium [baby's skull] (8-24 weeks)" per specimen $515
The fees for services schedule also includes "Special Processing/Preservation" of the fetal parts, such as "Tissue 'Cleaning,'" "Snap freezing" and "Passive freezing (Dry ice)."
In a September 9, 2014, "Order for Supplies or Services," the FDA writes regarding a $9,900 order:
The Contractors shall ship 2nd Trimester thymus $325, 2nd Trimester liver $325. Overnight deliver $150 and EFT wire transfer fee $25, for a total per delivery of $825. Total of this contract not to exceed $9,900.00.
As the result of an August 21, 2015, "Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract," ABR bumped up the price of baby livers and thymuses from $325 each to $340 each.
A "Tissue Acquisition Quote" sent by ABR to Howard on July 5, 2017, provided a quote of $5,440 each to provide 16 sets of second trimester (16-24 weeks) livers and 16 sets of second trimester (16-24 weeks) thymuses at $340 per "sample." The request for the quote notes that "tissue known to be positive for HIV, HepA, HepB, HepC or chromosomal abnormalities are not acceptable."
On June 28, 2017, a redacted FDA contract specialist sends Larton at ABR a request for a quote (RFQ) of pricing for human fetal tissue, aged "16-24 weeks," including a "Statement of Needs":
The HM [humanized mice] are created by surgical implantations of human tissue into mice that have multiple genetic mutations that block the development of the mouse immune system at a very early stage. The absence of the mouse immune system allows the human tissues to grow and develop into functional human tissues…. In order for the humanization to proceed correctly we need to obtain fetal tissue with a specific set of specialized characteristics.
A May 2018, report from a company named "LABS," which was employed by ABR to test fetal parts and their mothers for hepatitis and HIV, notes in its "methodology description" that they are approved by the FDA "for living and cadaveric donor screening."
The records include a recitation of requirements by the FDA for "Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer," in which ABR must adhere to regulations relating to "Convict Labor" and "Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies."
On September 24, 2018, the Trump FDA terminated its contract with ABR for human tissue purchases and began an audit of its acquisitions of baby body parts. The records include the FDA's letter terminating the contract:
Based on the terms and conditions of the Purchase Order as awarded to Advanced Bioscience Resources, Inc. ("ABR") on July 27, 2018, the Government is not sufficiently assured that the human tissue provided to the Government to humanize the immune systems of mice will comply with the prohibitions set forth under 42 U.S.C. § 289g- 2. Furthermore, the Government has concerns with the sufficiency of the sole-source justification. Therefore, pursuant to FAR [Federal Acquisition Regulation] clause 52.213-4(f), the Purchase Order is being terminated effective September 24, 2018.
"Chopping up aborted human beings for their organs and tissue is a moral and legal outrage," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "This issue should be front and center in any debate about America's barbaric abortion industry."
In February 2020, Judicial Watch first uncovered through this lawsuit hundreds of pages of records from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showing that the agency paid thousands of dollars to a California-based firm to purchase organs from aborted human fetuses to create "humanized mice" for HIV research.
In May 2021, this lawsuit uncovered FDA records showing the agency spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to buy human fetal tissue from ABR. The tissue was used in creating "humanized mice" to test "biologic drug products." The records indicated the FDA wanted tissue purchases "Fresh; shipped on wet ice."
On August 3, 2021, Judicial Watch announced that it and The Center for Medical Progress (CMP), through a separate lawsuit, received 252 pages of new documents from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that reveal nearly $3 million in federal funds were spent on the University of Pittsburgh's quest to become a "Tissue Hub" for human fetal tissue ranging from 6 to 42 weeks' gestation. The Pitt scientists note that, "All fetal tissue is collected through a collaborative process including Family Planning, Obstetrics and Pathology." Pitt anticipated "being able to harvest and distribute quality tissue and cells … [and] do not anticipate any major problems related to the acquisition and distribution of the tissues." Pitt's target goal "is to have available a minimum of 5 cases (tissues and if possible other biologicals) per week of gestational age for ages 6-42 weeks."
Tagged abortion, BARACK OBAMA, FDA, Fetal Harvesting, Judicial Watch, Planned ParenthoodLeave a comment
JUDICIAL WATCH BOMBSHELL: Hillary staffer admits under oath that Clinton used personal email for official business
May 7, 2019 May 7, 2019 by Breck Worsham, posted in crime, law, news, politics
WASHINGTON (Judicial Watch) — Jacob "Jake" Sullivan, Hillary Clinton's senior advisor and deputy chief of staff when she was secretary of state, has now answered Judicial Watch's questions under oath.
Judicial Watch has released the transcript of this court-ordered deposition in which he admits that both he and Clinton used her unsecure non-government email system to conduct official State Department business.
The organization's court-ordered discovery centered upon whether Clinton intentionally attempted to evade the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by using a non-government email system and whether the State Department adequately searched for records responsive to Judicial Watch's FOIA request.
In the questioning, Sullivan admitted that he had used his personal Gmail account at times for State Department business but denied that he had sent classified information to Secretary Clinton's unsecured personal system.
After Judicial Watch pointed out that on January 26, 2010, Sullivan sent a classified email with the subject line "call sheet," Sullivan testified: "When I sent this email, my best judgment was that none of the material in it was classified, and I felt comfortable sending the email on an unclassified system. The material has subsequently been unclassified but at the time that I sent it, I did not believe that it was classified."
Sullivan's deposition is part of United States District Judge Royce C. Lamberth's order for senior officials — including Susan Rice, Ben Rhodes, Jacob Sullivan, and FBI official E.W. Priestap – to respond under oath to Judicial Watch's questions.
A full transcript of the deposition is available by clicking here.
Tagged Hillary Clinton, Judicial Watch, Justice DepartmentLeave a comment
'WITCH HUNT': Judicial Watch sues for 'coup' documents
February 21, 2019 by Breck Worsham, posted in crime, law, news, politics
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for all records of communication of former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the Office of the Attorney General Jeff Sessions, or the Office of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein discussing the 25th Amendment or presidential fitness. Additionally, the lawsuit seeks all recordings made by any official in the Office of the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General of meetings in the Executive Office of the President or Vice President.
The suit was filed after the Justice Department failed to respond to three separate FOIA requests dated September 21, 2018 (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:19-cv-00388)). The lawsuit seeks all written and audio/visual records of any FBI/DOJ discussions regarding the 25th Amendment and plans to secretly record President Trump in the Oval Office.
On February 14, 2019, former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe stated in an interview with CBS that "there were conversations about the possibility of removing Trump under the 25th Amendment and confirming that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had offered to wear a wire around the president."
After President Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey, reportedly top DOJ officials discussed whether to recruit cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office.
President Trump recently tweeted: "The biggest abuse of power and corruption scandal in our history, and it's much worse than we thought. Andrew McCabe (FBI) admitted to plotting a coup (government overthrow) when he was serving in the FBI, before he was fired for lying & leaking."
It was reported in September 2018 that Deputy Attorney General, Rod J. Rosenstein, suggested that he secretly record President Trump in the White House in an effort to invoke the 25th Amendment and have President Trump removed. Judicial Watch's immediate follow-up FOIA requests were ignored.
"It is no surprise that we are facing an immense cover-up of senior FBI and DOJ leadership discussions to pursue a seditious coup against President Trump," stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "This effort to overthrow President Trump is a fundamental threat to our constitutional republic so Judicial Watch will do everything it can in the courts to expose everything possible about this lawlessness."
Tagged Andrew McCabe, FBI, JEFF SESSIONS, Judicial Watch, New York Times, President Trump, Robert Mueller, Rod Rosenstein, Tom FittonLeave a comment
JUDICIAL WATCH: Suit Filed for Records of Former FBI Counsel Baker's Communications with Anti-Trump Dossier Author
January 31, 2019 by Breck Worsham, posted in crime, law, news, politics
(Washington, DC) — Judicial Watch announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice for all records of communication from January 2016 to January 2018 between former FBI General Counsel James Baker and anti-Trump dossier author Christopher Steele.
Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking to compel the FBI to comply with a January 5, 2018, FOIA request (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:19-cv-00177). The lawsuit seeks:
Any and all records of communication, including but not limited to emails, text messages and instant chats, sent between Baker and any of the following individuals: former British intelligence officer Steele, principal of Orbis Business Intelligence, Ltd.; Glenn Simpson of Fusion GPS; former GPS contractor Nellie Ohr; and/or David Corn, a reporter with Mother Jones magazine.
The FBI claimed it had no responsive records, but Baker was deeply involved with the FBI's investigation of the Trump campaign and is currently the subject of a criminal investigation for leaking to the media.
The FBI's "no records" response is belied by Baker's closed-door congressional testimony in October 2018, in which he reportedly testified that David Corn, a reporter at the far Left Mother Jones magazine, had provided him with a copy of the anti-Trump dossier the day after President Trump's 2016 election victory. Baker also reportedly testified that he believed at the time Corn received the dossier from Simpson, the co-founder of Fusion GPS.
Fusion GPS employee Nellie Ohr is the wife of former Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr, who was a key conduit between dossier author Christopher Steele and the FBI. Former FBI Director James Comey himself called the dossier "salacious and unverified."
Judicial Watch in August 2018 filed a related lawsuit seeking records about the Ohrs' involvement in the anti-Trump dossier and the FBI's meetings with the Democratic National Committee's law firm Perkins Coie. In November Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit about the firm itself.
Perkins Coie had hired Fusion GPS to dig into President Trump's background. Baker reportedly told congressional investigators that Perkins Coie lawyer Michael Sussmann "initiated contact with [Baker] and provided documents and computer storage devices on Russian hacking." The contact was made in late 2016 as federal investigators prepared a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to spy on Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
In August 2018, Judicial Watch released FBI records showing that Steele was cut off as a "Confidential Human Source" after he disclosed his relationship to the FBI to a third party. The documents show at least 11 FBI payments to Steele in 2016.
Baker also advised top FBI officials during the Hillary Clinton email scandal. He left his role as general counsel in January 2018 and resigned from the FBI in May 2018.
"The real collusion scandal of the 2016 election is the effort by the Clinton campaign and the Obama DOJ/FBI to spy on and destroy President Donald Trump," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. "And it looks like the FBI is covering up documents on this Russiagate scandal, which is why Judicial Watch is again in federal court."
Tagged 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton, Judicial Watch, President Donald TrumpLeave a comment
BOOM: Judicial Watch obtains emails showing Podesta Group worked for pro-Russia Ukrainian political party
December 20, 2018 by Breck Worsham, posted in crime, law, news, politics
WASHINGTON — Judicial Watch today released new documents from the U.S. Department of State showing the Podesta Group working on behalf of the pro-Russia Ukrainian political group "Party of Regions." The new documents also show longtime Obama and Clinton counselor John Podesta lobbying on behalf of his brother's firm.
Judicial Watch obtained the documents in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the State Department filed on November 20, 2017, (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:17-cv-02489)). The lawsuit was filed after the State Department failed to respond to a September 13, 2017, FOIA request for:
All records of communication between any official, employee, or representative of the Department of State and any principal, employee, or representative of Podesta Group, Inc.
All records produced related to any meetings or telephonic communications between any official, employee, or representative of the Department of State and any principal, employee, or representative of Podesta Group, Inc.
All records regarding the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine.
The FOIA request covers the timeframe of January 1, 2012 to the present.
A March 28, 2013, email from now-Deputy Executive Secretary in the Office of the Secretary of State Baxter Hunt shows the Podesta Group, led by Tony Podesta, a Clinton bundler and brother of Clinton's 2016 campaign chairman John Podesta, represented the Party of Regions, a pro-Kremlin political party in Ukraine.
In the March 2013 email, to a number of officials including then-U.S. Foreign Service Officer John Tefft (who would go on to be U.S. Ambassador to Russia in 2014) and State Department director for the Office of Eastern Europe Alexander Kasanof, Hunt writes:
See below, I also stressed to them the need for GOU to take concrete steps to get new SBA with IMF and avoid PFC/loss of GSP. Podesta Group is noted among host of Ukraine lobbyists in article I'll forward in article on low side.
Ben Chang and Mark Tavlarides of the Podesta Group, which is representing the Party of Regions, told us they were working with Klyuyev on a visit he plans to make to Washington in early May. They are working to broaden the POR's contacts on the Hill, including setting up a meeting for Klyuyev with Chris Smith, and have advised Kyiv to stop trying to justify their actions against Tymoshenko in Washington. They also noted that during his recent meeting with former EC President Prodi, HFAC Chairman Ed Royce said that Congress would not be enacting sanctions legislation against Ukraine.
The Party of Regions served as the pro-Kremlin political base for Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia in 2014.
Like Paul Manafort, who is currently under indictment in the errant special counsel Russia investigation, the Podesta Group had to retroactively file Foreign Agent Registration Act disclosures with the Justice Department for Ukrainian-related work. The filing states that the Podesta group provided for the nonprofit European Centre for a Modern Ukraine "government relations and public relations services within the United States and Europe to promote political and economic cooperation between Ukraine and the West. The [Podesta Group] conducted outreach to congressional and executive branch offices, members of the media, nongovernmental organizations and think tanks." Unlike Manafort and his partner Rick Gates, the Mueller special counsel operation hasn't indicted anyone from the Podesta Group.
Also, the new emails show longtime Obama and Clinton counselor John Podesta, lobbying on behalf of the Podesta Group's efforts to secure a maintenance facility from Jet Blue and Lufthansa for Puerto Rico.
In a June 27, 2013, email former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and current New Jersey Gov. Philip D. Murphy writes to John Podesta, Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs at the American Embassy in Berlin Seth Winnick, and others:
Jet Blue and Lufthansa are considering 2 locations for a maintenance center – Puerto Rico or Mexico. The Governor of PR wants this badly. The question is can we get to LH at the right levels to make the case. Either John or colleague OR John's brother Tony or colleague will get to us with more details.
Winnick then writes to John Podesta: "Washington alerted us to this advocacy issue and we are on it. Phil will try to connect in the next few days and we will follow up."
Later that day, in an email sent to his brother Tony Podesta and Winnick, John Podesta writes: "Thanks Seth. The Governor is a friend of mine. My brother Tony represents Puerto Rico and will follow up with details."
Winnick replies to John and Tony Podesta: "Happy to help on this one. I think we have the details we need for now from SelectUSA at Commerce but will come back if any issues arise."
Puerto Rico was selected by the airlines for the facility to service A320s in 2014.
Judicial Watch is waiting to hear on any additional documents the State Department may produce in response to the FOIA lawsuit about the Podesta Group.
"By the standards of the Mueller special counsel operation, these emails alone would have been enough for the Podestas to have been hauled before a grand jury or worse," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "These emails are a stark reminder that the Mueller's special counsel operation seems more interested in the alleged foreign ties of the Trump team, rather than Hillary Clinton's (and Barack Obama's) associates."
Tagged John Podesta, Judicial Watch, RussiaLeave a comment
JUDICIAL WATCH: Obama State Dept provided classified 'Russiagate' docs to multiple senators immediately prior toTrump inauguration
December 17, 2018 by Breck Worsham, posted in law, news, politics
WASHINGTON– Judicial Watch today released two sets of heavily redacted State Department documents, 38 pages and 48 pages, showing classified information was researched and disseminated to multiple U.S. Senators by the Obama administration immediately prior to President Donald Trump's inauguration. The documents reveal that among those receiving the classified documents were Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Sen. Robert Corker (R-TN).
Judicial Watch obtained the documents through a June 2018 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed against the State Department after it failed to respond to a February 2018 request seeking records of the Obama State Department's last-minute efforts to share classified information about Russia election interference issues with Democratic Senator Ben Cardin (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:18-cv-01381)).
The documents reveal the Obama State Department urgently gathering classified Russia investigation information and disseminating it to members of Congress within hours of Donald Trump taking office.
In a Thursday, January 5, 2017, email chain then-State Department Congressional Advisor Hera Abassi indicates that then-Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland's bureau was attempting to get Russian investigation related documents to the office of Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) office as quickly as possible. (In June 2016 Nuland permitted a meeting between Steele and the FBI's legal attaché in Rome. Nuland told CBS News that the State Department knew about the Steele dossier by July 2016.)
In the email, with the subject line "For Immediate Review – Call Sheet for S Call with Senator Warner," Abassi writes: "I told Cardin's folks … that the process is long. Can we ensure that there are no holdups on our end?"
Minutes later, Abassi confirms that Nuland was fully aware of the information that the State Department was providing to members of Congress alleging Russia interference information: "This is definitely on EUR A/S radar!"
Leaving no doubt that the State Department officials knew they were transmitting classified information, in a Wednesday, January 18, 2017, email with the subject line "Cables/M," Former Foreign Service Officer Kerem Bilge writes to State Department Congressional advisor Hilary Johnson and others: "Highest class is SECRET/NOFORN."
Johnson replies: "FYI – so we can keep the SECRET/NOFORN header, and should declassify it 25 years from tomorrow.
"I forwarded the fully cleared version to the two of you on the high side [Editor's Note: "high side" is State Department term for high security classification system], but let me know if there's anything else you need from me on this.
"Note: we'll need to make sure there is someone in Senate security tomorrow who can accept these."
On Wednesday, January 18, 2017, Johnson confirms that classified documents were sent to Senator Corker in addition to Senator Cardin. "Flagging that I sent you a high side request for clearance of the draft transmittal letter to send documents to Senators Corker and Cardin."
Additionally, involved in providing classified information to members of the Senate was Naz Durakoglu, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs.
In an email dated Thursday, January 19, 2017, with the subject line "Signed, sealed, delivered" Durakoglu apparently confirms that Obama State Department officials were eager to provide the classified material before Trump was sworn into office: "We made the deadline!" Durakoglu states [Emphasis added] "Thank you everyone for what was truly a Department-wide effort!"
President Trump was inaugurated less than 24 hours later.
In a Wednesday, January 18, 2017 email, Naz Durakoglu signed off on the document transmittal letter on behalf of her bureau. This letter accompanied "the documents to Senator Corker and Cardin".
In a Thursday, January 19, 2017 email, Durakoglu appears to confirm that she is who carried the documents from the State Department to Capitol Hill. She states, "I will be carrying over the cables to the Hill."
"These documents show remarkable evidence of the non-stop, unethical effort in the Obama State Department to gather and send its own dossier of classified information on Russia in an effort to discredit the incoming Trump administration," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
According to a March 2017 report in the Baltimore Sun: "Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin received classified information about Russia's involvement in elections when the Obama administration was attempting to disseminate that material widely across the government in order to aid in future investigations, according to a report Wednesday … Obama officials were concerned, according to the report [in The New York Times], that the Trump administration would cover up intelligence once power changed hands."
Judicial Watch has confirmed through previously obtained State Department documents that the Obama State Department did, in fact, provide classified documents to Senator Cardin. The documents also show Russian political interference in elections and politics in countries across Europe. In a section of the documents provided to Cardin titled "Political Parties" and marked as sensitive, Russia reportedly sought to foster relationships with groups in Germany, Austria, and France, to include paying members to travel to conferences in Crimea and Donbas "where they stoutly defend Russian policy."
The following section titled "Pro-Kremlin NGOs and Think Tanks," also marked as sensitive, discusses the Russian government funded Caucasus Research Network, which helped to spread anti-EU and NATO reports throughout the region. Also discussed is the Human Rights Accountability Global Initiative, which was founded by Natalia Veselnitskaya. The Initiative was reportedly "working to erode support for the Magnitsky Act (which imposes sanctions on … gross human rights violations). The organization screened an anti-Magnitsky film at Washington's Newseum in June."
The Magnitsky Act attracted public attention earlier this year when it was reported Veselnitskaya obtained a meeting with Donald Trump Jr. with the purpose of seeking to undermine the act. It was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to repeal the act at least in part because it targeted top Russian officials who had committed human rights violations and were the beneficiaries of a $230-million tax fraud that Magnitsky exposed.
Tagged BARACK OBAMA, Judicial Watch, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, President Donald Trump, RussiaLeave a comment
REPORT: Judicial Watch lawsuit seeks records on Hillary Clinton's security clearance
November 1, 2018 November 1, 2018 by Breck Worsham, posted in crime, law, news, politics, Uncategorized
WASHINGTON— Judicial Watch announced Thursday that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. State Department requesting all records regarding the security clearance status of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and four of her top aides during her tenure at the State Department.
Clinton's security clearance reportedly was withdrawn at her request on August 30 – which is nine days after Judicial Watch filed an August 21 FOIA request seeking information on the former Secretary of State's security clearance status.
Judicial Watch filed its lawsuit (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (1:18-cv-02496)) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the State Department failed to respond to the August 21 FOIA request seeking:
Any and all records concerning, regarding, or relating to the security clearance status of Clinton, Huma Abedin, Cheryl Mills, Jacob Sullivan and Phillipe Reines.
In a September 21 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Charles S. Faulkner said that, at her request, Clinton's security clearance was "administratively withdrawn" on August 30.
The letter added that, on September 20, security clearances were "administratively withdrawn" for Clinton aide Cheryl Mills and four other redacted names who "had been granted access to classified information through a request made by Secretary Clinton designating them as researchers." The letter also suggests that Mrs. Clinton and her aides may have been cited for "valid security incidents."
An October 12 news release from the Senate Judiciary Committee said that the news on Clinton's security clearance was part of an update from the State Department of "its ongoing review of the mishandling of classified information related to the use of Clinton's non-government email server…. Department authorities are continuing to review tens of thousands of documents for classified content."
"The State Department needs to provide the full truth on the security clearances of Hillary Clinton and her top aides," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said, "and why the agency allowed Mrs. Clinton to keep her clearance despite her mishandling of classified information and related false statements."
Tagged FOIA, Hillary Clinton, Judicial Watch, Senate Judiciary Committee, Tom FittonLeave a comment
TICK TOCK: Judicial Watch sues Justice Dept. for contents of Anthony Weiner laptop
September 11, 2018 September 11, 2018 by Breck Worsham, posted in crime, law, news, politics
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Judicial Watch announced Tuesday that it has filed suit against the Justice Department to turn over all emails found on the laptop of convicted New York Congressman Anthony Weiner.
The conservative watchdog group says it wants access to all records relating to the FBI's investigation into then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's private email server. They're also demanding all communication records between FBI officials regarding Clinton's knowledge of "illicit activities" involving Weiner, who was married at the time of his arrest to Huma Abedin, vice chair of Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.
"The Anthony Weiner laptop-Clinton email cover-up by the Obama DOJ and FBI is central to uncovering the corrupt politicization of those agencies," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement Tuesday. "The same FBI that provided cover for Hillary Clinton was going full bore against then-candidate Trump and this lawsuit aims to uncover the full truth about that corruption."
As stated on the Judicial Watch website, a separate Judicial Watch lawsuit already uncovered at least 18 classified emails from the Clinton server on the Weiner laptop.
In a related case, Judicial Watch uncovered 424 pages of FBI records that include an email revealing that fired FBI official Peter Strzok created the initial draft of the October 2016 letter then-FBI director James Comey sent to Congress notifying lawmakers of the discovery of Hillary Clinton emails on Weiner's laptop.
The notification, according to the DOJ IG, came a full month after the emails were discovered by the FBI on Weiner's laptop. The delay, Judicial Watch suggests, may have been the result of anti-Trump bias by FBI official Peter Strzok and others.
At the time of his arrest, it was rumored that Weiner's laptop contained "secret file" titled "insurance" which supposedly related to Clinton. The contents of the supposed file, although the topic of much speculation, have never been authenticated or revealed.
Weiner was convicted in a sexting scandal in 2017 after sending sexually explicit photos to a 15-year-old girl. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Tagged Anthony Weiner, Department of Justice, FBI, Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin, Judicial Watch, Tom FittonLeave a comment
'LOCK HER UP': Judicial Watch files House Ethics complaint against Maxine Waters for inciting violence and assaults on Trump administration officials
June 26, 2018 June 26, 2018 by Breck Worsham, posted in crime, law, news, politics
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Judicial Watch) — Judicial Watch today sent a hand-delivered letter to the chairman and co-chairman of the House Office of Congressional Ethics calling for an investigation into whether Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) violated House ethics rules by encouraging violence against Trump administration Cabinet members.
Rep. Maxine Waters addressed a rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 23, telling a crowd:
"If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them! And you tell them that they are not welcome, anymore, anywhere." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Fu3g1MGHY
In today's letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics co-chairman, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton writes:
In encouraging individuals to create "crowds" who will "push back" on President Trump's Cabinet members at private business establishments and in seemingly trying to prevent these Cabinet officials from obtaining basic necessities without fear of assault and violence, Rep. Waters seems to be in violation of House rules, specifically:
A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House shall conduct himself at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House. [House Rule 23, clause 1.]
We hereby request that the Office of Congressional Ethics conduct a preliminary investigation into whether Rep. Maxine Waters violated House Rules in encouraging attacks on Cabinet officials.
"Rep. Maxine Waters incited violence and assault against members of President Trump's Cabinet," stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "It is urgent that the House Ethics Office quickly act to hold her accountable for this dangerous incitement."
Tagged House Office of Congressional Ethics, Judicial Watch, Maxine Waters, President Donald Trump, Trump administrationLeave a comment
NY POST: Mueller "Gonna be in a world of hurt" once explosive FISA Memo goes public
January 26, 2018 January 26, 2018 by Breck Worsham, posted in Uncategorized
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FBI, Department of Justice and special counsel Robert Mueller will all be in a "world of hurt" once a four-page memo detailing FISA abuses that took place under the Obama administration are revealed, says The New York Post's Paul Sperry.
"I'm told Steele & Simpson + the FBI & DOJ/NSD + even FISC are all gonna be in a world of hurt when this 4-pp memo + underlying docs hit the fan," Sperry tweeted on Thursday. (https://twitter.com/paulsperry_/status/956737620758974465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2018%2F01%2Fsperry-fbi-doj-mueller-gonna-world-hurt-explosive-fisa-memo-goes-public%2F).
"Steele & Simpson are caught in a sh*tstorm of lies, which further tainted the FBI's FISA warrant to spy on Team Trump," Sperry continued. "And as a result, the memo is going to create a BIG credibility problem for Mueller, since his team debriefed Steele and tapped into Simpson's "research" on Manafort and Deutsche Bank. Buckle your seatbelts, sports fans …".
Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton concurred with Sperry's comments, adding that Mueller likely knows his clock is ticking.
"My guess is Mueller is racing to "interview" @RealDonaldTrump before his own investigation further implodes with revelations of illegal anti-Trump actions/bias from the "Memo" and text messages. #ReleaseTheMemo", Fitton tweeted (https://twitter.com/TomFitton/status/956548403831418880).
Fox News legal contributor Judge Andrew Napolitano also said during an apperance on Fox & Friends that, for the good of the American people, the content of the memo should be revealed on the House floor.
"[They] sat on it while the rest of Congress debated and expanded FISA. The rest of Congress should have known what the House Intelligence Committee knows," said Napolitano (http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/25/fisa-surveillance-memo-judge-napolitano-says-contents-must-be-released).
Further, added Napolitano, should the committee vote against releasing it, a member should defy the vote and disclose the memo's contents on the House floor in order to make it a matter of public record.
"The speech and debate clause of the Constitution protects members of Congress from the legal consequences of what they say on the floor," said the judge.
The comments come after a New York Times report was published claiming that Trump demanded Mueller's firing just weeks after the special counsel was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
The president denied those allegations as he arrived Friday at the site of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"Fake news, folks. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories," he told reporters.
Tagged Congress, FBI, FISA, FISAGate, Fox and Friends, Fox News, House Intelligence Committee, Judge Andrew Naplitano, Judicial Watch, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, Paul Sperry, President Trump, Robert Mueller, TWITTERLeave a comment


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FILM REVIEW: Frank Rich on Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11"
New York Times May 23, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/23/arts/23RICH.html?pagewanted=1
"But why should we hear about body bags, and deaths, and how many, what day it's gonna happen, and how many this or what do you suppose? Or, I mean, it's, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that? And watch him suffer." — Barbara Bush on "Good Morning America," March 18, 2003
SHE needn't have worried. Her son wasn't suffering. In one of the several pieces of startling video exhibited for the first time in Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," we catch a candid glimpse of President Bush some 36 hours after his mother's breakfast TV interview — minutes before he makes his own prime-time TV address to take the nation to war in Iraq. He is sitting at his desk in the Oval Office. A makeup woman is doing his face. And Mr. Bush is having a high old time. He darts his eyes about and grins, as if he were playing a peek-a-boo game with someone just off-camera. He could be a teenager goofing with his buds to relieve the passing tedium of a haircut.
In your wildest dreams you couldn't imagine Franklin Roosevelt behaving this way 30 seconds before declaring war, with grave decisions and their consequences at stake," said Mr. Moore in an interview before his new documentary's premiere at Cannes last Monday. "But that may be giving him credit for thinking that the decisions were grave." As we spoke, the consequences of those decisions kept coming. The premiere of "Fahrenheit 9/11" took place as news spread of the assassination of a widely admired post-Saddam Iraqi leader, Ezzedine Salim, blown up by a suicide bomber just a hundred yards from the entrance to America's "safe" headquarters, the Green Zone, in Baghdad.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" will arrive soon enough at your local cineplex — there's lots of money to be made — so discount much of the squabbling en route. Disney hasn't succeeded in censoring Mr. Moore so much as in enhancing his stature as a master provocateur and self-promoter. And the White House, which likewise hasn't a prayer of stopping this film, may yet fan the p.r. flames. "It's so outrageously false, it's not even worth comment," was last week's blustery opening salvo by Dan Bartlett, the White House communications director. New York's *Daily News* reported that Republican officials might even try to use the Federal Election Commission to shut the film down. That would be the best thing to happen to Michael Moore since Charlton Heston granted him an interview.
Whatever you think of Mr. Moore, there's no question he's detonating dynamite here. From a variety of sources — foreign journalists and broadcasters (like Britain's Channel Four), freelancers and sympathetic American TV workers who slipped him illicit video — he supplies war-time pictures that have been largely shielded from our view. Instead of recycling images of the planes hitting the World Trade Center on 9/11 once again, Mr. Moore can revel in extended new close-ups of the president continuing to read "My Pet Goat" to elementary school students in Florida for nearly seven long minutes after learning of the attack. Just when Abu Ghraib and the savage beheading of Nicholas Berg make us think we've seen it all, here is yet another major escalation in the nation-jolting images that have become the battleground for the war about the war.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" is not the movie Moore watchers, fans or foes, were expecting. (If it were, the foes would find it easier to ignore.) When he first announced this project last year after his boorish Oscar-night diatribe against Mr. Bush, he described it as an expos of the connections between the Bush and bin Laden dynasties. But that story has been so strenuously told elsewhere — most notably in Craig Unger's best seller, "House of Bush, House of Saud" — that it's no longer news. Mr. Moore settles for a brisk recap in the first of his film's two hours. And, predictably, he stirs it into an over-the-top, at times tendentious replay of a Bush hater's greatest hits: Katherine Harris, the Supreme Court, Harken Energy, AWOL in Alabama, the Carlyle Group, Halliburton, the lazy Crawford vacation of August 2001, the Patriot Act. But then the movie veers off in another direction entirely. Mr. Moore takes the same hairpin turn the country has over the past 14 months and crash-lands into the gripping story that is unfolding in real time right now.
Wasn't it just weeks ago that we were debating whether we should see the coffins of the American dead and whether Ted Koppel should read their names on "Nightline"? In "Fahrenheit 9/11," we see the actual dying, of American troops and Iraqi civilians alike, with all the ripped flesh and spilled guts that the violence of war entails. (If Steven Spielberg can simulate World War II carnage in "Saving Private Ryan," it's hard to argue that Mr. Moore should shy away from the reality in a present-day war.) We also see some of the 4,000-plus American casualties: those troops hidden away in clinics at Walter Reed and at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Fort Campbell, Ky., where they try to cope with nerve damage and multiple severed limbs. They are not silent. They talk about their pain and their morphine, and they talk about betrayal. "I was a Republican for quite a few years," one soldier says with an almost innocent air of bafflement, "and for some reason they conduct business in a very dishonest way."
Of course, Mr. Moore is being selective in what he chooses to include in his movie; he's a polemicist, not a journalist. But he implicitly raises the issue that much of what we've seen elsewhere during this war, often under the label of "news," has been just as subjectively edited. Perhaps the most damning sequence in "Fahrenheit 9/11" is the one showing American troops as they ridicule hooded detainees in a holding pen near Samarra, Iraq, in December 2003. A male soldier touches the erection of a prisoner lying on a stretcher underneath a blanket, an intimation of the sexual humiliations that were happening at Abu Ghraib at that same time. Besides adding further corroboration to Seymour Hersh's report that the top command has sanctioned a culture of abuse not confined to a single prison or a single company or seven guards, this video raises another question: why didn't we see any of this on American TV before "60 Minutes II"?
Don Van Natta Jr. of the *New York Times* reported in March 2003 that we were using hooding and other inhumane techniques at C.I.A. interrogation centers in Afghanistan and elsewhere. CNN reported on Jan. 20, after the Army quietly announced its criminal investigation into prison abuses, that "U.S. soldiers reportedly posed for photographs with partially unclothed Iraqi prisoners." And there the matter stood for months, even though, as we know now, soldiers' relatives with knowledge of these incidents were repeatedly trying to alert Congress and news organizations to the full panorama of the story.
Mr. Moore says he obtained his video from an independent foreign journalist embedded with the Americans. "We've had this footage in our possession for two months," he says. "I saw it before any of the Abu Ghraib news broke. I think it's pretty embarrassing that a guy like me with a high school education and with no training in journalism can do this. What the hell is going on here? It's pathetic."
We already know that politicians in denial will dismiss the abuse sequence in Mr. Moore's film as mere partisanship. Someone will surely echo Senator James Inhofe's Abu Ghraib complaint that "humanitarian do-gooders" looking for human rights violations are maligning "our troops, our heroes" as they continue to fight and die. But Senator Inhofe and his colleagues might ask how much they are honoring soldiers who are overextended, undermanned and bereft of a coherent plan in Iraq. Last weekend the *Los Angeles Times* reported that for the first time three Army divisions, more than a third of its combat troops, are so depleted of equipment and skills that they are classified "unfit to fight." In contrast to Washington's neglect, much of "Fahrenheit 9/11" turns out to be a patriotic celebration of the heroic American troops who have been fighting and dying under these and other deplorable conditions since President Bush's declaration of war.
In particular, the movie's second hour is carried by the wrenching story of Lila Lipscomb, a flag-waving, self-described "conservative Democrat" from Mr. Moore's hometown of Flint, Mich., whose son, Sgt. Michael Pedersen, was killed in Iraq. We watch Mrs. Lipscomb, who by her own account "always hated" antiwar protesters, come undone with grief and rage. As her extended family gathers around her in the living room, she clutches her son's last letter home and reads it aloud, her shaking voice and hand contrasting with his precise handwriting on lined notebook paper. A good son, Sergeant Pedersen thanks his mother for sending "the bible and books and candy," but not before writing of the president: "He got us out here for nothing whatsoever. I am so furious right now, Mama."
By this point, Mr. Moore's jokes, some of them sub-par retreads of Jon Stewart's riffs about the coalition of the willing, have vanished from "Fahrenheit 9/11." So, pretty much, has Michael Moore himself. He told me that Harvey Weinstein of Miramax had wanted him to insert more of himself into the film — "you're the star they're coming to see" — but for once he exercised self-control, getting out of the way of a story that is bigger than he is. "It doesn't need me running around with my exclamation points," he said. He can't resist underlining one moral at the end, but by then the audience, crushed by the needlessness of Mrs. Lipscomb's loss, is ready to listen. Speaking of America's volunteer army, Mr. Moore concludes: "They serve so that we don't have to. They offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is, remarkably, their gift to us. And all they ask for in return is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. Will they ever trust us again?"
"Fahrenheit 9/11" doesn't push any Vietnam analogies, but you may find one in a montage at the start, in which a number of administration luminaries (Cheney, Rice, Ashcroft, Powell) in addition to the president are seen being made up for TV appearances. It's reminiscent of Richard Avedon's photographic portrait of the Mission Council, the American diplomats and military figures running the war in Saigon in 1971. But at least those subjects were dignified. In Mr. Moore's candid-camera portraits, a particularly unappetizing spectacle is provided by Paul Wolfowitz, the architect of both the administration's Iraqi fixation and its doctrine of "preventive" war. We watch him stick his comb in his mouth until it is wet with spit, after which he runs it through his hair. This is not the image we usually see of the deputy defense secretary, who has been ritualistically presented in the press as the most refined of intellectuals — a guy with, as Barbara Bush would have it, a beautiful mind.
Like Mrs. Bush, Mr. Wolfowitz hasn't let that mind be overly sullied by body bags and such — to the point where he underestimated the number of American deaths in Iraq by more than 200 in public last month. No one would ever accuse Michael Moore of having a beautiful mind. Subtleties and fine distinctions are not his thing. That matters very little, it turns out, when you have a story this ugly and this powerful to tell.


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Thank you for coming to see me at the new AliciaKeys.com. I'm excited to have a fresh place to vibe with you!
I've also relaunched a super special place on my website called The Vault. This is the place where we dig in the archives and bring out performances, interviews, songs and pictures that you've never seen before. We explore all of my albums and also create new tasty exclusive moments just for YOU!!
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Hotels and Tourist InformationWhy Choose YQQ As Your Vancouver Island AirportVisit Vancouver Island
TofinoUclueletPort AlberniParksvilleQualicum BeachThe Comox ValleyCampbell RiverDenman and Hornby IslandMount WashingtonPort McNeill
Top five not-to-miss eventsFive amazing facts about Northern Vancouver IslandTop five day trips from the Comox ValleyTop five family adventures on Northern Vancouver IslandBusting Winter Myths About Vancouver IslandHISTORY of the Comox Valley
Home > Visit Comox Valley > Visit Vancouver Island > Ucluelet
Ucluelet is a district harbor located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean at the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Ucluelet offers breathtaking sights and outdoor adventures with a pristine coastline that is beyond comparison. In the native language, it translates to "safe harbor".
Getting to Ucluelet
There is no direct flight to Ucluelet but getting there is easy via Vancouver Island's Comox Valley Airport. Once you reach the island, you can rent a car from either Budget, Enterprise or National Car Rentalthe service available located at the airport terminal and enjoy a scenic ride to Ucluelet.
History and Climate
Ucluelet used to be populated by the "Nuu-chah-nulth" people who coined its name. The arrival of Europeans and the numerous wars that ensued, have contributed to the tumbled and rugged soul of Ucluelet. In recognition of its growing population and lucrative tourism, it received the status of a district in 1997. Since then, Ucluelet has become an active site for hotels, resorts and adventure tourism.
Today, the population of Ucluelet is a mere 1,627 people. Thousands of tourists flock to Ucluelet each year to enjoy the mild seasonal temperatures. Summer time marks the most active tourist season but moderate winters make Ucluelet a hot spot for travellers all year round.
Ucluelet Activities
For adventure seeking travellers, Ucluelet is one of the best areas for kayaking on Vancouver Island. Enjoy an awe-inspiring kayak trip through the majestic West Coast waters, visit pristine beaches, dine on gourmet food, hike through the beautiful rain forests and behold the wonders of the Pacific Ocean first- hand. Guided tours can be planned for excursions outside the calm waters of the Ucluelet Harbor. Nearby areas such as the Deer Group Islands, Clayoquot Sound and the Barkley Sounds are popular areas for wildlife viewing
The Pacific Rim Whale Festival of Ucluelet is a popular annual event and is an amazing experience. Every year in March and April, up to 20,000 whales migrate to their summer homes in the Arctic en route Ucluelet. Spring, whale watching shows are available because of the lingering Gray whales in Barkley Sound and the appearance of Humpbacks later in the season. Whale watching can be done on the shore but the best way is to choose a boat charter and view on the ocean. Choices vary from high speed inflatable boats to closed cabins ships.
The ability to hike the Pacific Wild Trail is aother great reason to visit Ucluelet. The breathtaking trail follows the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean through thickets of moss, thick ferns and twisted trunks. You can view the fury of the Pacific Ocean as you travel along the rocky shore. The scenic Amphitrite Point light station is also on the Pacific Wild Trail and is only a short 2 km hike away.
The annual Ukee Day Festival runs between July 24 to 26 and is two fun filled days of food, entertainment, kid's games, prizes and competitions for the whole family. Keeping with local traditions, it starts off with a salmon barbecue, long board competition and whiskey dock run. The next day features s a pancake breakfast and a parade.
Ucluelet Accommodation and Dining
Ucluelet offers a wide range of accommodation options ranging from bed and breakfasts, cabins, cottages, campgrounds for parking RVs, motels, hotels and luxurious beachside resorts. There is something that caters to every budget and preference. During the peak tourism season, it is highly advisable to book accommodations well in advance to ensure availability.
Ucluelet may be a small district but when it comes to dining, talented chefs prepare a plethora of mouthwatering culinary masterpieces. The restaurants are affordable while providing a diverse dining experience. From breakfast at coffeehouses to a dining menu filled with fresh local produced seafood, whatever you eat in Ucluelet is enhanced by the stunning ambience of the rugged coast.
With striking coastal vistas, adventurous sports, gourmet food and year round activities, Ucluelet should be your next vacation destination. Perfect for couples, families or groups of friends, Ucluelet makes for a beautiful experience.
Copyright © 2020 Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) | Privacy Policy | Login | FIDS | ID 242 Last Updated: Dec 29, 2015


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Q: Seagate 4TB, 3,5" / SATA III (ST4000DM000) and SK-3500 Super-S Combo I bought a 4TB 3.5", SATA III Seagate Desktop HD and put it into a SK-3500 Super-S Combo. My iMac (late 2009) did, however, not detect the HD when I connect it. Since I cannot see it, I am unable to format it. The HD is also not shown in the Terminal after df -h. When I type diskutil list, however, I get the following from Terminal:
0:                                                   *4.1 GB     disk1

After diskutil list the HD is now shown in "Disc Utilities" but featured as "non-writeable" and I cannot create a partition or format it. Not sure why but I suspect that the problem could be the SK-3500 enclosure and I should try another enclosure.
If you have any ideas what else I could try (aside from trying another enclosure), I would appreciate any input very much.

A: The Datastore SK-3500 Super-S Combo enclosure only supports HDDs up to 2 TB. I will now either buy a Synology DS412+ or LMP DataTower 430.

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Tag: WYTHENSHAWE
50p TAX PROMISE PLAYING WELL IN WYTHENSHAWE
WYTHENSHAWE BY ELECTION
Business needs to get the message, ordinary people are angry.
I was at the meeting in London on Saturday when Ed Balls committed Labour to a 50p income tax rate for those earning over £150,000 a year. Before I could get the train dear old Digby Jones and Curry King Gulam Noon were spluttering about Labour lurching to the loony left.
Two days later RBS reveal the latest £3bn bill that we have to pick up for bankers disgraceful behaviour .
Now I know business and banking are different activities, but the continuing banking scandals are eroding people's confidence in capitalism and certainly putting them in the mood to soak the rich.
What is so disturbing about the continuing banking scandal is that the mentality that led to the crash in 2008 has not fundamentally changed. Investigations are on going about the Libor scandal which continued way beyond 2008. In relation to RBS, 80% owned by us, they announced no bonuses this year BUT their chairman Sir Philip Hampton wants a shareholder vote on paying 200% of salary bonuses next year!
So it should be no surprise that Labour Leader Ed Miliband isn't on the prawn cocktail circuit wooing business and he may have nudged a more reluctant Balls into making the 50p announcement early. Miliband sees the way the political wind is blowing and is keen to capture the fairness argument.
The first test of whether he's right or not will come in the Wythenshawe and Sale East by election. Launching the campaign Labour had their Deputy Leader Harriet Harman having a game of indoor bowls at a lifestyle centre and risking headlines about missing the target. In the event the launch went reasonably smoothly for local man Mike Kane who is the party's standard bearer.
FRUITCAKES AND FIBBERS.
The main point of interest will be the performance of UKIP. They've achieved second place in a string of recent northern by elections and will want to repeat the feat in Wythenshawe.
I'm told they are denying my claim that they opened nominations for the by election before the late MP Paul Goggins was dead.
Well I have seen an email from Party Director Lisa Duffy saying "Paul Goggins is seriously ill and there may be a potential for a by election, whilst we wish him well we need to plan for eventualities!"
People have a laugh with pint swigging Nigel Farage and find his anti establishment rhetoric refreshing. They should also bear in mind the party's darker side and the fact that their policy of withdrawing from the European Union could wreck our economy.
Labour are clearly keeping an eye on UKIP. Their Wythenshawe Voice leaflet gives five reasons why they aren't the answer, and at a Fabian conference I attended in London last weekend the point was repeatedly made that some working class Labour voters, as well as Tories, were attracted to UKIP's policy on immigration.
FA CUP LOSING ITS SHINE?
I see the Chelsea boss wants to end replays in the FA Cup because of fixture congestion.
Excuse me. Teams like mine, Plymouth Argyle, don't suffer from fixture congestion. As our ex boss Ian Holloway said once, that's because we're like a tea bag, not in the Cup very long.
Lower division clubs make some badly needed cash from replays and Premier League clubs with their budgets can afford big squads precisely to deal with lots of fixtures.
I yearn for the days when teams went to third and fourth replays. That would make yours eyes water Jose!
The FA must stand up for the minnows.
Posted on February 1, 2014 Categories football, Party PoliticsTags ELECTION, FA, FIBBERS, FRUITCAKES, Labour, London, Paul Goggins, PLAYING, RBS, UKIP, WYTHENSHAWELeave a comment on 50p TAX PROMISE PLAYING WELL IN WYTHENSHAWE


Oshawa is listed among the best top 40 places in Canada to do business. It is the eastern gateway to the Great Toronto Area and is a reputable urban center for business growth. Oshawa is the most dominant economic and learning center in the greater municipality of Durham. With a population of more than 150,000, Oshawa offers a good consumer market as well as a job market. Oshawa was predicted to be one of the fastest growing CMA between the year 2010 and 2013 in Durham Regional Municipality. The growth of Oshawa both in population, infrastructure and business has been constantly on the rise.
If you have a fast food chains for sale in Oshawa you should think twice about selling it on your own. Commercial property selling can be quite cumbersome for even seasoned people. The services commercial agents will be of invaluable help. What does an agent do for you to ensure you make fast and profitable sale?
When you have a fast food chains for sale in Oshawa, by trying to make the sale by yourself you may end up overpricing it. This has the effect of reducing its attractiveness to potential buyers and makes it stay for longer on listings. Overpricing a commercial property always ends up making it sell for less than its fair market value. An agent will give you a price that is not only fair to you but also to potential buyers. This is because they are motivated to make the sale for their interests and while also safeguarding your interests.
The location and manner in which food chains business is listed is fundamental in making quick and profitable sale. Agents have tactics and know listings that can quickly bear fruits. Agents will list your business locally, regionally, nationally or even globally to ensure maximization of sale. Other than this, agents are well connected with real estate investors and may have contacts that may prove useful.
When you have a fast food chains on sale in Oshawa, selling it on your own reduces you negating power. In the course of sale you may encounter brokers that are not against using your real estate inexperience to their advantage. Having a professional will always ensure that the negotiations are professional which will make the sale fair and fast.
Commercial real estate sales involve lots of paperwork: If you are not looking forward to reading volumes of documents, hiring an agent will help reduce your workload. Similarly these agents know the lingo and jargon of commercial property that may come back and delay sale and will help you smoothen such bumps.
Selling fast food chains businesses is not easy: The headaches and stresses involved can make your judgment as the owner clouded. Hiring professionals will ensure that you are logical and fair at all times. Some potential buyers will try and provoke emotions to force your hand. Hiring an agent keeps them in check as they can lose a purchase opportunity that they want.


text:
Taking Organizational Values into the Real World
A sales manager read an article about his company's refusal to deal with any country where "under the table" money was part of the negotiation process. He circled the article and wrote the words "Right On!" in the column, and mailed it to his CEO. The attached note said: "I'm proud to work in a company whose values reflect my own."
Webster defines value as "a principle, standard, or quality considered inherently worthwhile or desirable." The root is the Latin valor, which means strength. The best values serve as a source of strength for an enterprise or an individual. And as leadership effectiveness evolves from command and control to collaboration, the key to bonding people to the goals of the organization automatically becomes the intangibles—relationships, commitments, and shared values.
Values are never not present. Every organization has them. Sometimes they are created with intention and sometimes they are the unhappy result of poorly chosen decisions and actions. But whether they are established deliberately or by accident, values are always present.
So given that they are inevitably going to be part of the company, why don't more leaders actively create the healthiest possible values? Because doing so takes an enormous amount of time, focus, and effort.
Values written on a plaque or laminated card are meaningless. (This is where leaders may start, but it is only a beginning.) Values must be integrated into processes, policies, and organizational behavior before they become tangible—a shared understanding of "how we do things around here."
Achieving this kind of integration takes much more than the crafting of a values statement. It takes an all-encompassing strategic campaign. There are six steps to creating such a campaign.
1. Walk before you talk.
When a company wants to highlight any core value—we'll use collaboration as an example--I recommend holding back all official communication until the following goals have been met:
—Members of the senior management team fully understand how their behavior has to change to be perceived as supportive of knowledge sharing.
—There is a system developed (or at least in the works) for teaching collaborative skills to employees and a process for educating managers as collaborative coaches.
—There is an appropriate shift from individual to team accomplishments in rewards and recognition programs.
2. Tie values to business goals.
All core values need to be connected to strategic objectives. With the value of diversity, for instance, leaders need to present the business case, explaining why diversity is not only the right thing to do, but also why it's crucial to the organization's success. Diversity should be positioned as a positive force for bringing in new ideas, fresh perspectives, better customer service (especially as the customer base also becomes more diverse), and more effective problem-solving potential.
3. Paint a picture of values in action.
People need to see how values actually operate in their day-to-day experience. If the organizational value is work-life balance, leaders need to identify specific behaviors that demonstrate that balance. Better still, they need to find organizational examples where the company's objectives are well served by a flexible work arrangement—and tell those real-life workplace stories.
4. Develop the corporate mechanisms that bring values into reality.
3M allows scientists to spend 15% of their time working on whatever interests them, requires divisions to generate 30% of their revenues from new products introduced within the past four years, has an active internal venture capital fund, and grants prestigious awards for innovations. Even without seeing 3M's formal "values statement," I know what they value.
5. Create linkage.
Ultimately, the leader's role is to create linkage between an organization and its employees. This goes beyond making sure that everyone knows where the company is headed, what's expected of them, and how their contributions fit into the overall strategy, although all of those concepts are vitally important. True linkage—the kind that bonds committed employees to the success of the organization—comes when there is a deep connection between the values of the company and those of the work force. As a leader, the most effective way of developing this powerful connection is to encourage employees to clarify their own personal values and to see how they fit within the values of the organization.
Leaders: Take part in this linkage exercise:
Define your personal values. How do you define success in life? How do you want to be remembered?
Decide what your professional "purpose" is. What do you want to accomplish in your career? What are you passionate about achieving?
Describe your ideal working environment. Under what working conditions are you the happiest and most productive?
Write out the values and principles of the organization. What attitudes and behaviors does the company value? What organizational principles would you be fired for violating?
Link your values to the organization. How do the values of the organization reflect your own values? How does the company afford you opportunities to live your values?
6. Track your "values alignment."
Leaders who utilize a "say/do" survey to periodically monitor employee perception can make sure that the organization stays on track. Such an inquiry identifies values that have been integrated into organizational behavior—and shows where gaps still exist. Typical survey questions are: "This is what our values state. What actions do you see us taking that are in alignment with our values? What behaviors are out of alignment?"
The six steps described here outline an undertaking that is both difficult and time-consuming. But the payoff is an enterprise with cohesive values. Cohesive values can turn an organization into a hologram in which every part contains enough information in condensed form to describe the whole. A hologram is a wonderful image for an organization with strong values. An observer can see the entire organization's culture and ways of doing business by watching one individual, whether a production-floor employee, front desk receptionist, or a senior manager. Customers, suppliers, partners, and other employees will know that they can count on reliable and behavior. Now that's something to value!


text:
Beethoven "Für Elise"
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It's the most piano classical composition ever played, but it's still a very beautiful piece.
Valentina Lisitsa, piano
The sheet music is available in our Library.
Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor for solo piano, commonly known as "Für Elise", is one of Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular compositions. It was not published during his lifetime, only being discovered (by Ludwig Nohl) 40 years after his death, and may be termed either a Bagatelle or an Albumblatt. The identity of "Elise" is unknown; researchers have suggested Therese Malfatti, Elisabeth Röckel, or Elise Barensfeld.
Valentina Lisitsa (born 25 March 1973) is a Ukrainian pianist. She previously resided in North Carolina before moving to France, and then to Italy. She now shares her time between Moscow and Rome.
Lisitsa is among the most frequently viewed pianists on YouTube – particularly her renderings of Romantic era virtuoso piano composers, including Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Lisitsa independently launched her career on social media, without initially signing with a tour promoter or record company.
Lisitsa has recorded six CDs for Audiofon Records, including three solo CDs and two discs of duets with her husband Alexei Kuznetsoff; a Gold CD for CiscoMusic label with cellist DeRosa; a duet recital on VAI label with violinist Ida Haendel; and DVDs of Frédéric Chopin's 24 Études and Schubert–Liszt Schwanengesang.
Her recording of the four sonatas for violin and piano by composer Charles Ives, made with Hilary Hahn, was released in October 2011 on Deutsche Grammophon label. Her album Valentina Lisitsa Live at the Royal Albert Hall (based on her debut performance at that venue 19 June 2012) was released 2 July 2012.
Lisitsa has reproduced several compositions by various artists, including Sergei Rachmaninoff, Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin and Ludwig van Beethoven. Decca Records released her complete album of Rachmaninoff concertos in October 2012. An album of Liszt works was released in October 2013 on Decca label in 2 formats – CD and 12″ LP which was cut unedited from analog tape. An even more recent album comprises a number of works of the composer and pianist Philip Glass.As of July 2019, her latest release on Decca records is a 10CD set titled Tchaikovsky: The Complete Solo Piano Works.
Tags sheet music
← Christmas is coming! You and your piano are ready? → Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Summertime


text:
Q: MySQL MyISAM table performance... painfully, painfully slow I've got a table structure that can be summarized as follows:
pagegroup
* pagegroupid
* name

has 3600 rows
page
* pageid
* pagegroupid
* data

references pagegroup;
has 10000 rows;
can have anything between 1-700 rows per pagegroup;
the data column is of type mediumtext and the column contains 100k - 200kbytes data per row
userdata
* userdataid
* pageid
* column1
* column2
* column9

references page;
has about 300,000 rows;
can have about 1-50 rows per page
The above structure is pretty straight forwad, the problem is that that a join from userdata to page group is terribly, terribly slow even though I have indexed all columns that should be indexed. The time needed to run a query for such a join (userdata inner_join page inner_join pagegroup) exceeds 3 minutes. This is terribly slow considering the fact that I am not selecting the data column at all. Example of the query that takes too long:
SELECT userdata.column1, pagegroup.name
FROM userdata
INNER JOIN page USING( pageid )
INNER JOIN pagegroup USING( pagegroupid )

Please help by explaining why does it take so long and what can i do to make it faster.
Edit #1
Explain returns following gibberish:
id  select_type  table      type    possible_keys        key      key_len  ref                         rows    Extra
1   SIMPLE       userdata   ALL     pageid                                                             372420
1   SIMPLE       page       eq_ref  PRIMARY,pagegroupid  PRIMARY  4        topsecret.userdata.pageid   1
1   SIMPLE       pagegroup  eq_ref  PRIMARY              PRIMARY  4        topsecret.page.pagegroupid  1

Edit #2
SELECT
u.field2, p.pageid
FROM
userdata u
INNER JOIN page p ON u.pageid = p.pageid;
/*
0.07 sec execution, 6.05 sec fecth
*/

id  select_type  table  type    possible_keys  key      key_len  ref                rows     Extra
1   SIMPLE       u      ALL     pageid                                              372420
1   SIMPLE       p      eq_ref  PRIMARY        PRIMARY  4        topsecret.u.pageid 1        Using index

SELECT
p.pageid, g.pagegroupid
FROM
page p
INNER JOIN pagegroup g ON p.pagegroupid = g.pagegroupid;
/*
9.37 sec execution, 60.0 sec fetch
*/

id  select_type  table  type   possible_keys  key          key_len  ref                      rows  Extra
1   SIMPLE       g      index  PRIMARY        PRIMARY      4                                 3646  Using index
1   SIMPLE       p      ref    pagegroupid    pagegroupid  5        topsecret.g.pagegroupid  3     Using where

Moral of the story
Keep medium/long text columns in a separate table if you run into performance problems such as this one.

A: What's the data type and purpose of columnX in the userdata table? It should be noted that any text data type (i.e excluding char, varchar) forces any temporary tables to be created on disk. Now since you're doing a straight join without conditions, grouping or ordering, it probably won't need any temporary tables, except for aggregating the final result.
I think it would also be very helpful if you show us how your indexes are created. One thing to remember is that while InnoDB concatenates the primary key of the table to each index, MyISAM does not. This means that if you index column name and search for it with LIKE, but still want to get the id of the page group; Then the query would still need to visit the table to get the id instead of being able to retrieve it from the index.
What this means, in your case, if I understand your comment to apphacker correctly, is to get the name of each users pagegroups. The query optimizer would want to use the index for the join, but for each result it would also need to visit the table to retrieve the page group name. If your datatype on name is not bigger than a moderate varchar, i.e. no text, you could also create an index (id, name) which would enable the query to fetch the name directly from the index.
As a final try, you point out that the whole query would probably be faster if the mediumtext was not in the page table.

*

*This column is excluded from the query you are running I presume?

*You could also try to separate the page data from the page "configuration", i.e. which group it belongs to. You'd then probably have something like:

*

*Pages

*

*pageId

*pageGroupId

*PageData

*

*pageId

*data

This would hopefully enable you to join quicker since no column in Pages take up much space. Then, when you needed to display a certain page, you join with the PageData table on the pageId-column to fetch the data needed to display a particular page.

A: The easy way to figure out what MySQL is doing with your query is to have it explain the query to you. Run this and have a look at the output:
EXPLAIN SELECT userdata.column1, pagegroup.name
FROM userdata
INNER JOIN page USING( pageid )
INNER JOIN pagegroup USING( pagegroupid )

MySQL will tell you in which order it processes the queries and what indexes it uses. The fact that you created indexes does not mean that MySQL actually uses them.
See also Optimizing queries with EXPLAIN
EDIT
The output of your EXPLAIN looks fine. It does a full table scan on the userdata table, but that is normal since you want to return all rows in it. The best way to optimize this is to rethink your application. Do you really need to return all 372K rows?

A: I'm assuming the userdata table is very large and does not fit in memory. MySQL would have to read the entire table from harddisk, even if it needs only two small columns.
You can try to eliminate the need for scanning the entire table by defining an index that contains everything the query needs.  That way, the index is not a way to facilitate a search into the main table, but it's a shorthand version of the table itself.  MySQL only has to read the shorthand table from disk.
The index could look like this:
column1, pageid

This has to be non-clustered, or it would be part of the big table, defeating its purpose.  See this page for an idea on how MySQL decides which index to cluster.  The easiest way seems to make sure you have a primary key on pageid, which will be clustered, so the secondary column1+pageid index will be non-clustered.

A: One possible issue is that MySQL uses only one index per query and maybe you don't have a single index with those columns -- or MySQL's query optimizer isn't picking it.  What does EXPLAIN SELECT &c tell you here?

A: I would start with breaking the query up, to figure out if there is one slow and one fast part, or if both are slow (sorry, I'm no fan of the USING syntax, so I'm going to use ON):
SELECT
  u.userdata, p.pageid
FROM
  userdata u
  INNER JOIN page p ON u.pageid = p.pageid

SELECT
  p.pageid, g.pagegroupid
FROM
  page
  INNER JOIN pagegroup g ON p.pagegroupid = g.pagegroupid

What does that give you? Running these with EXPLAIN EXTENDED will provide additional hints.

A: Looks like you're doing a join on all rows on userdata and then trying to select everything. That is every page in a pagegroup with userdata. Where's the WHERE clause? There's no LIMIT, how many results did you want? Why don't you get your row count down on userdata row in your explain result, that should speed up the query. Heh.