Phone Calls No Longer Private in Britain

Privacy groups have been following this development in Britain. Tomorrow, legislation alters the notion of privacy for all telephone calls - whether it is a land line or a cell phone:

“Officials from the top of Government to lowly council officers will be given unprecedented powers to access details of every phone call in Britain under laws coming into force tomorrow.”

link: Big Brother Britain: Government and councils to spy on ALL our phones

It is all in the name of security. Perhaps the British legislator should remember the caution that Benjamin Franklin raised over two hundred years ago: “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”. And, unfortunately, this is not the final step in surrendering basic civil liberties.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[tags]phone calls, privacy, security, legislation, surveillance, benjamin franklin, britain[/tags]

Hope Solo: Her Coach Takes the Low Road

Greg Ryan, the coach of the U.S. women’s soccer team, is engaging in some subtle character smearing. It is unnecessary and really quite nasty. Here is a sample of his comments about Hope Solo:

“…”I believe she is committed to the process, and it takes more than apology. It takes actions day by day, living right, being a good teammate.”

link: U.S. team dumps Solo

All of a sudden, Hope Solo does not “live right“? And this notion that she is not a “good teammate” is ridiculous. Someone should remind Greg Ryan about some of the statements that Briana Scurry made in 2004. Here is a segment from a 2004 Associated Press article from Greece:

“IRAKLION, Greece (AP) _ There’s no doubt in Briana Scurry’s mind. If she had been the starting goalkeeper four years ago in Sydney, the U.S. women’s soccer team would have won the gold medal.

Instead, one of the heroes of the 1999 World Cup was an out-of-shape bench-warmer, having enjoyed too much the fruits of sudden fame. The torch had passed to Siri Mullinix, who played every minute of the 2000 Olympic tournament, and whose left hand couldn’t quite get all of Dagny Mellgren’s shot in sudden death overtime of the gold-medal game against Norway.”

link: U.S. goalkeeper Scurry out to make amends

Does this mean that Briana Scurry is not a “good teammate”? - Of course not! It means that Briana Scurry, like Hope Solo, has confidence in her abilities. Both are world class athletes and they are able to compete at the highest level of their chosen sport because of their self confidence. It is part of what makes them superb athletes. Their mind set is ‘I can win’.

Greg Ryan is starting Briana Scurry in goal for the consolation match in this World Cup competition. I think it was his right, as a coach, to select whichever goalkeeper he thought could win against Brazil in the semifinal match. He does not have the right to make moral or character statements about Hope Solo when his starting goalkeeper, in the next match, voiced almost the exact same sentiments about another U.S. goalkeeper. To me, Greg Ryan took the low road and this is egregious conduct for a coach. He did not afford the protection to Hope Solo that a coach is expected to provide. Quite simply, he has lost my support - and my respect.

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]soccer, u.s. women’s team, world cup, hope solo, briana scurry, greg ryan, character[/tags]

Hope Solo: Her Coach Takes the Low Road

Greg Ryan, the coach of the U.S. women’s soccer team, is engaging in some subtle character smearing. It is unnecessary and really quite nasty. Here is a sample of his comments about Hope Solo:

“…”I believe she is committed to the process, and it takes more than apology. It takes actions day by day, living right, being a good teammate.”

link: U.S. team dumps Solo

All of a sudden, Hope Solo does not “live right“? And this notion that she is not a “good teammate” is ridiculous. Someone should remind Greg Ryan about some of the statements that Briana Scurry made in 2004. Here is a segment from a 2004 Associated Press article from Greece:

“IRAKLION, Greece (AP) _ There’s no doubt in Briana Scurry’s mind. If she had been the starting goalkeeper four years ago in Sydney, the U.S. women’s soccer team would have won the gold medal.
“I put myself into that entire game,” she said. “And I’ve always felt — and I still feel — that if I were playing, we would have won.”

Instead, one of the heroes of the 1999 World Cup was an out-of-shape bench-warmer, having enjoyed too much the fruits of sudden fame. The torch had passed to Siri Mullinix, who played every minute of the 2000 Olympic tournament, and whose left hand couldn’t quite get all of Dagny Mellgren’s shot in sudden death overtime of the gold-medal game against Norway.”

link: U.S. goalkeeper Scurry out to make amends

Does this mean that Briana Scurry is not a “good teammate”? - Of course not! It means that Briana Scurry, like Hope Solo, has confidence in her abilities. Both are world class athletes and they are able to compete at the highest level of their chosen sport because of their self confidence. It is part of what makes them superb athletes. Their mind set is ‘I can win’.

Greg Ryan is starting Briana Scurry in goal for the consolation match in this World Cup competition. I think it was his right, as a coach, to select whichever goalkeeper he thought could win against Brazil in the semifinal match. He does not have the right to make moral or character statements about Hope Solo when his starting goalkeeper, in the next match, voiced almost the exact same sentiments about another U.S. goalkeeper. To me, Greg Ryan took the low road and this is egregious conduct for a coach. He did not afford the protection to Hope Solo that a coach is expected to provide. Quite simply, he has lost my support - and my respect.

Catherine Forsythe

An Albert Einstein Quote

“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”

Albert Einstein

An Albert Einstein Quote

“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”

Albert Einstein

[tags]albert einstein, quote, stupidity[/tags]

Hope Solo: Dumped by the U.S. Women’s Team

Greg Ryan, the coach of the U.S. Women’s Soccer team has spoke about reconciliation in the matter of Hope Solo. The reconciliation came in terms of retribution. Simply put, Hope Solo was dumped - exiled:

“SHANGHAI — Hope Solo, the unbeaten U.S. goalkeeper who was replaced by veteran Brianna Scurry before the team’s disasterous 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil Thursday in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, has been effectively dismissed from the U.S. team after a private meeting of her teammates on Saturday.

Solo, 25, will not play in Sunday’s bronze-medal game with Norway and will not be allowed to attend the game here.”

link: Solo won’t play or attend final U.S. World Cup match

Apparently, this is made to seem like a team decision. If it was indeed a team decision, then the team has abandoned a team mate. That is retribution. If this is indeed Greg Ryan’s team, then he wants to put his best players on the field. Considering Norway’s style of play, the best goalkeeper for the situation is Hope Solo. Norway will be a team that puts the ball in the air far more than Brazil. That plays to Hope Solo’s strength.

Greg Ryan did not make it a team decision when he decided to switch goalkeepers for the Brazil semifinal game. He simply could have said that Hope Solo plays because she is part of the team and the best person for the situation. His group would have and could have lived with that. Instead, Greg Ryan placed the players in a position whereby they are placed in making a significant decision on a team mate. Then Coach Ryan does not take the full, unmitigated responsibility of having made the decision about Hope Solo.

It is simply poor management - it places Hope Solo’s team mates in an untenable situation. So Hope Solo will not be in uniform for the last consolation World Cup game in China. She will not be allowed to watch it in person. This is a decision from Greg Ryan that does not have my support. And, if indeed the team did not appreciate Hope Solo’s candid remarks, their collective response was to abandon her. That is disconcerting.

Catherine

Hope Solo: Dumped by the U.S. Women’s Team

Greg Ryan, the coach of the U.S. Women’s Soccer team has spoke about reconciliation in the matter of Hope Solo. The reconciliation came in terms of retribution. Simply put, Hope Solo was dumped - exiled:

“SHANGHAI — Hope Solo, the unbeaten U.S. goalkeeper who was replaced by veteran Brianna Scurry before the team’s disasterous 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil Thursday in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, has been effectively dismissed from the U.S. team after a private meeting of her teammates on Saturday.

Solo, 25, will not play in Sunday’s bronze-medal game with Norway and will not be allowed to attend the game here.”

link: Solo won’t play or attend final U.S. World Cup match

Apparently, this is made to seem like a team decision. If it was indeed a team decision, then the team has abandoned a team mate. That is retribution. If this is indeed Greg Ryan’s team, then he wants to put his best players on the field. Considering Norway’s style of play, the best goalkeeper for the situation is Hope Solo. Norway will be a team that puts the ball in the air far more than Brazil. That plays to Hope Solo’s strength.

Greg Ryan did not make it a team decision when he decided to switch goalkeepers for the Brazil semifinal game. He simply could have said that Hope Solo plays because she is part of the team and the best person for the situation. His group would have and could have lived with that. Instead, Greg Ryan placed the players in a position whereby they are placed in making a significant decision on a team mate. Then Coach Ryan does not take the full, unmitigated responsibility of having made the decision about Hope Solo.

It is simply poor management - it places Hope Solo’s team mates in an untenable situation. So Hope Solo will not be in uniform for the last consolation World Cup game in China. She will not be allowed to watch it in person. This is a decision from Greg Ryan that does not have my support. And, if indeed the team did not appreciate Hope Solo’s candid remarks, their collective response was to abandon her. That is disconcerting.

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]soccer, world cup, u.s. women’s national team, hope solo, greg ryan[/tags]

A Quick Fat Test For Your Dog

Is your dog fat? Here is a quick, simple test to determine if your dog is indeed fat.

Run your open palm along the side of the dog. Can you feel the bumps along the dog’s rib cage? If you can’t, then your dog is overweight. No, it is not because the dog has a heavy coat for winter. It’s fat. And it is up to you to do your dog a great kindness and reduce that unnecessary weight. It will prevent a whole load of health issues and save on some very expensive veterinary bills.

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]dogs, weight, health[/tags]