Luke_Wilbur

Looks like Damian Lazarus is getting the crowd dancing in this video.

I think China and the United States governments need to learn about what it means to be friends. Not just trading partners.

Northrop-EADS said its KC-30 will create 25,000 jobs across the country. Boeing stated that the KC-767 would have supported 44,000 jobs accross the country. That is 19,000 Jobs lost for Americans on one decision. Republican Senator Sam Brownback said he was "shocked at this decision and very disappointed. Republican Representative Todd Tiahrt said he was "deeply troubled." More information Boeing loses 40 billion US deal to French Airbus, 40% of Jobs to go to European Countries

The Air Force announced today it has selected Northrop Grumman Corp. to build its next-generation air-refueling tanker aircraft. The contract calls for up to 179 new KC-45A tankers to be built over the next decade or so at a cost of around $35 billion. Tanker aircraft are used to refuel other aircraft while in flight. This initial contract for the newly named KC-45A will provide significantly greater air refueling capabilities than our current fleet of Eisenhower-era KC-135s,” Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. The new tanker “will be able to refuel U.S. and allied aircraft in every area of responsibility, worldwide, 24 hours a day, in adverse weather and be equipped with defensive systems,” Wynne said. The new planes eventually will replace hundreds of aging KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft that were introduced in the late 1950s. "Today's tanker decision is a major step in the Air Force’s critical recapitalizing and modernization that is going to be required to defend the United States and to support our international partners in the 21st century, Wynne said. The new aircraft also will used to carry cargo, passengers, and medical patients, the Air Force secretary said. "The KC-45, built by Northrop Grumman, will provide our nation and partners the critical ability to reach across the globe and project our combat capability or our humanitarian friendship rapidly and effectively,” Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, the Air Force’s vice chief of staff, said. The new tankers, McNabb continued, will “ensure our bombers and our fighters can deliver global power and give our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms the ability to provide global vigilance.” The Airbus-Northrop Grumman partnership had competed against the Boeing Co. for the tanker contract, said Sue C. Payton, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. Payton cited the transparency of the contracting competition, noting both enterprises had received regular feedback from the Air Force on how they were performing throughout the process. Northrop Grumman clearly provided the best value to the government,” Payton said, noting the Airbus-allied group’s plane earned superior marks for mission capability, past performance and in several other categories. I would tell you, that, overall, Northrop Grumman did have strong areas in aerial refueling and in airlift,” Payton said. There was “no bias” involved in the awarding of the contract, she emphasized. Both competitors will be debriefed in coming weeks, Payton said, noting there is an appeal process. If everything goes well, the first test aircraft should be flying by 2010, said Air Force Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, commander of Air Mobility Command based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Air Mobility Command provides the U.S. military with passenger, cargo, tanker and other aircraft support. The Air Force should receive the first group of operational KC-45A aircraft around 2013, Lichte said. Citing his role as Air Mobility Command’s chief, Lichte expressed relief that the process to deliver a new air refueling tanker to his service is moving forward. We know that in the future years we will have a new tanker," Lichte said. "Tankers are what really enable the fight." Why Did This Happen? The Darleen A. Druyan Scandal Darleen A. Druyun (a.k.a the Dragon Lady), was a member of the Senior Executive Service, is principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition and management, Washington, D.C. She supervised, directed and oversaw the management of Air Force acquisition programs and acquisition streamlining, and provides advice on acquisition matters to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, chief of staff and secretary of the Air Force. She launched the Air Force acquisition reform "Lightning Bolts" initiatives to jump-start acquisition reform in the Air Force. She helds the position of chairman of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Program Management Board of Directors. The board was chartered by the North Atlantic Council to manage the multibillion dollar 12-nation funded NATO E-3A Program. Prior to joining the staff of the secretary of the Air Force, Mrs. Druyun served as associate administrator for procurement at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She was directly responsible for providing functional management leadership and direction of procurement activities. In April 1992 she was appointed NASA's chief of staff, responsible for providing counsel on all matters of policy and agency procedures, and managing the activities of the agency. She was appointed to her current position in February 1993. In 1993 Druyun was investigated for her involvement in a plan to speed up payments by the Air Force to McDonnell Douglas . Although several other people involved were discharged, Druyun kept her position. In 2000 Druyun sent the resumes of her daughter, a recent college graduate, and her daughter's fiancé, a published PhD Aeronautical Engineer, to Boeing and both were hired. The investigation into her illegal activities was spearheaded by Senator John McCain. Druyun and Michael Sears, Boeing's chief financial officer, discussed Druyun's hiring during negotiations on a $23 billion deal in which the Air Force would buy or lease as many as 100 Boeing 767 aerial-refueling planes. Druyun subsequently went to work for Boeing. Sears also was convicted and served four months in prison. According to an October 27 Washington Post article, Boeing executives met with Darleen Druyun on September 25, 2001, to discuss how the company could sell the tankers even though the Air Force did not have the funds to cover the deal. “Druyun agreed at the meeting, according to notes taken by Boeing, not only to promote the leasing idea on Capitol Hill but also to find needed money by cutting back a comparatively inexpensive modernization program for existing tankers—an arrangement, Boeing and the Air Force have acknowledged, that will retire flightworthy tankers early to procure new ones,” the Post reported. “She also said ‘work placement could help’ [promote the deal], meaning that Boeing should ensure that subcontracts were awarded in the districts of key Congress members, according to the notes.” In April 2002, Senator McCain, along with Senator Carl Levin and Senator John Warner, requested that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) undertake an analysis of the proposed lease.98 CBO lacked access to the figures that the Air Force and Boeing were negotiating, but analyzed the lease deal using a variety of assumptions. Based on its model, CBO informed Senator McCain that the leasing option would cost approximately $37 billion.100 On the other hand, CBO estimated to buy the 100 tankers outright would cost approximately $25 billion. Moreover, the Air Force would then own, and thus be able to use, sell, or lease the aircraft after the lease expired. Upon receiving this analysis from CBO, Senator McCain’s office promptly issued a press release using CBO’s estimates as evidence that the lease option was a bad idea. Senator McCain stated in the press release, “CBO is one of the most respected nonpartisan agencies in Washington. Their analysis confirms what everyone already knows; this leasing proposal is a bad deal for the taxpayers, a bad deal for the military, and a bad deal for pretty much everyone but Boeing.” In May 2002, Senator McCain cited to a report by GAO as proof that the lease plan was a bad idea. He highlighted that GAO estimated it would cost the Air Force $26 billion to lease 100 tankers for 6-10 years, while the existing tanker fleet could be upgraded for approximately $3.6 billion. The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), suspicious of the lease, informed the DoD IG that on October 21, 2002, while she was negotiating the tanker deal, Ms. Druyun sold her home to Boeing Vice President and assistant general counsel, John Judy. The U.S. Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog agency, concluded Druyun improperly steered the original contract to Boeing. Druyun, entered a supplemental plea agreement in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for conspiracy to violate Title 18, U. S. Code § 208(a).14 On April 20, 2004, as part of her original plea agreement, Ms. Druyun acknowledged a conflict of interest in negotiating a job with Boeing while simultaneously negotiating a contract with the same company in her capacity as the senior procurement official for the Air Force. Druyun served nine months at a medium-security facility in Marianna, Fla. She was also fined $5,000 and ordered to serve three years of community service. She was released October 3, 2005. Ms. Druyun was eventually hired by Boeing to help lead its missile defense business at a salary of $250,000 a year There have been wide repercussions from the scandal. Two senior civilian officials in the Air Force, one of them the service's secretary, James Roche, went into early retirement. Druyun's conviction triggered 51 reviews — of contracts, Air Force procedures, Pentagon acquisition practices and conflict-of-interest regulations — then-acting Air Force Secretary Michael Dominguez told the Senate Armed Services Committee in April. The Air Force also is opened to competition a portion of its contract to build a new small satellite-guided bomb that had been awarded to Boeing. Ms. Druyun now acknowledges that she agreed to pay a higher price for the tankers than she thought they were really worth. She admitted explicitly that she agreed to the inflated prices to curry favor with her future employers and as a “parting gift to Boeing” from her position as a senior Air Force procurement official. She also admitted to providing Boeing with a Airbus proprietary pricing information related to this same procurement. For more information read the attached PDF The Darleen Druyun Debacle: Procurement, Power, and Corruption BY Jeffrey Branstetter GetTRDoc.pdf Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

I just received this email from the office of Congressman Ron Paul. http://www.house.gov/paul/

I was given a Press Release of Senator McCaskill that should put an end to this debacle. McCaskill Fights to Clarify Presidential Eligibility for Americans Born Abroad Children born to military families serving abroad get their shot at being president After starting out her day shocked about a New York Times article that calls into question the eligibility of American citizens born outside the United States to U.S. military families to become President, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill filed a bill today to put an end to the question once and for all. Just before she spoke on the Senate floor about her concerns related to this issue, McCaskill hand wrote her legislative fix on a yellow legal pad, which she delivered to the Senate clerk, that would ensure that any person born to U.S. citizens serving in the Armed Services while stationed abroad qualify to become president of the United States. “In America, so many parents say to their young children, ‘if you work hard and you play by the rules, in America, someday you can be president of the United States,’” McCaskill said today on the Senate floor. “Our brave and respected military should never have to spend a minute worrying whether or not this is true for their child.” The U.S. Constitution currently states that “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President,” but does not define the term natural born citizen. McCaskill’s bill would clarify the eligibility requirements for becoming president by defining the term “natural-born citizen” as it relates to citizens born to U.S. military families while abroad. To date, every president elected was either born in the continental U.S. or was a citizen at the time the Constitution was adopted. However, it is not uncommon for U.S. military families serving abroad to give birth to children during their time overseas. McCaskill believes there should be no question about whether these children could serve as president someday. “We should quickly and without fanfare fix this ambiguity and make it very clear that any child of anyone serving in the active military should in fact be qualified to run for president of the United States,” McCaskill said.

This is an interesting fact In 1880, the Congress of the United States had enacted a law, known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, prohibiting persons of the Chinese race from coming into the United States or becoming naturalized U.S. citizens. Chinese immigrants already in the U.S. were allowed to stay, but were ineligible for naturalization and if they left the U.S., they generally could not return. However, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868 after the Civil War, states the following concerning citizenship: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. The Supreme Court, in the Wong Kim Ark case, was called upon to decide whether an American-born person of Chinese ancestry could constitutionally be denied U.S. citizenship and excluded from the country. Held: In a 6-2 decision, the Court held that under the Fourteenth Amendment, a child born in the United States of parents of foreign descent who, at the time of the child's birth are subjects of a foreign power but who have a permanent domicile and residence in the United States and are carrying on business in the United States, and are not employed in any diplomatic or official capacity under a foreign power, and are not members of foreign forces in hostile occupation of United States territory, becomes a citizen of the United States at the time of birth. The 14th Amendment's citizenship clause, according to the court's majority, had to be interpreted in light of English common law tradition that had excluded from citizenship at birth only two classes of people: children born to foreign diplomats and (2) children born to enemy forces engaged in hostile occupation of the country's territory. The majority held that the "subject to the jurisdiction" phrase in the 14th Amendment specifically encompassed these conditions (plus a third condition, namely, that Indian tribes were not considered subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Since McCain was born on an U.S. Naval base (Coco Solo) in the Canal Zone when the United States controlled it, he would be a 'natural-born' U.S. citizen. Like U.S. embassies in foreign countries, U.S. military bases are considered to be U.S. soil.

Sunday morning, April 20, the pope will visit Ground Zero, before an afternoon Mass at Yankee Stadium. A full itinerary is available at www.uspapalvisit.org. Most events are open to media, but space at many sites is limited. Pools will be established; not all credentialed media can be present at every site. All credentialed media will have access to live feed of events at media centers in Washington and New York, as well as a password-protected Web site to access all of the papal texts.

Tuesday, April 15 Arrival at Andrews Air Force Base. Greeting by President Bush and Mrs. Bush. Also present will be local dignitaries of the church and the apostolic nuncio. Wednesday, April 16, 10:30 a.m. President Bush and the First Lady meet the Holy Father on the south lawn of the White House. This is only the second time in history that a pontiff has visited the White House. At the end of the welcoming ceremony, a private meeting is scheduled for the Holy Father and the President, while dignitaries of the two states also meet. Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 p.m. Private prayer service and meeting with the 350 bishops of the United States at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Before the prayer service, which will be held in the crypt of the Shrine, there will be outdoor photo opportunities of the public welcoming the pope to this national church. Thursday, April 17, 10:00 a.m. The pope will offer Mass at the new Nationals Park in Washington. This will be the first non-baseball event in the park, and Catholics from around the country are making plans to attend. Thursday, April 17, 5 p.m. The heads of the more than 200 Catholic colleges and universities in the United States and superintendents from the 195 Catholic dioceses have been invited to an address by Pope Benedict XVI on the importance of Catholic education. The address will be on the campus of The Catholic University of America, the only college in the United States operated by the bishops. Thursday, April 17, 6:30 p.m. Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and representatives of other religions will meet the Holy Father at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, next door to Catholic University. Friday, April 18, 10:45 a.m. Pope Benedict XVI will address the United Nations, after an early morning flight to New York. Friday, April 18, 6 p.m. Prayer service with leaders from other Christian denominations at St. Joseph's Church, founded by German Catholics, in Manhattan. Saturday, April 19, 9:15 a.m. Mass for priests, deacons and members of religious orders at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the heart of New York City. Saturday, April 19, 4:30 p.m. The Holy Father will meet with young Catholics, including 50 youngsters with a range of disabilities, at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers. Thousands of young people, including hundreds of seminarians, are expected to participate in a rally/prayer service and to hear the pope speak. Sunday, April 20, 9:30 a.m. The Holy Father will visit Ground Zero, the site of the disaster at the World Trade Center. Sunday, April 20, 2:30 p.m. Mass at Yankee Stadium will bring this historic visit to a close. The 200th anniversary of the Baltimore Archdiocese’s designation as an archdiocese, as well as the birth of four dioceses – Boston, New York, Louisville and Philadelphia – will be highlighted during the Mass. Sunday, April 20, 8 p.m. Shepherd One lifts off from John F. Kennedy airport in the Brooklyn Diocese, heading east to the Eternal City.

3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008 Telephone: (202) 333-7121 Fax 202.337-4036 Archbishop Papal Nuncio - Pietro Sambi Most Reverend Pietro Sambi was born in Sogliano al Rubicone (FC) Italy, on June 27, 1938, Titular Archbishop of Belcastro, is the current Apostolic Nuncio (Papal ambassador) to the United States. It is a diplomatic post of Vatican City and the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States with the rank of ambassador. The nuncio is consecrated Archbishop and after his period of service as Nuncio has ended historically has been elevated to the rank of Cardinal in consistory. Pietro Sambi ordained to the priesthood on March 14, 1964, and began work in the diplomatic service of the Secretariat of State in 1969, serving at the nunciatures in Cameroon, Jerusalem, Cuba, Algeria, Nicaragua, Belgium, and India. On October 10, 1985, Sambi was named the pro-nuncio to Burundi by Pope John Paul II, and was ordained as a bishop as the titular archbishop of Belcastro. In 1991 he was made the pro-nuncio to Indonesia, and in 1998 was named nuncio to Israel and Cyprus and apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine. Pope Benedict XVI named Sambi the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States on December 17, 2005. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is located in Washington, D.C. 3211 Fourth Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20017 (202) 541-3000 3090 Communications Department commdett@uccb.org Credentialing Helen Osman

What happened to the idea that the United States is a melting pot of people from all over the world?

So, how do your child compare with students nationally and from around the world? Click this link http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/eyk/ Where did the Dare to Compare questions come from? These questions are from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the Civic Education Study (CivEd) and National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides reliable and timely data on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. students compared to that of students in other countries. Kids' Zone Dare to Compare has included TIMSS 4th and 8th grade level data for 42 and 38 countries respectively in the subjects of math and science. Civic Education Study (CivEd) The Civic Education Study (CivEd), conducted in 1999, provides information on U.S. ninth-graders' knowledge of democratic practices and institutions and on how it compares with the knowledge of students in 27 other participating countries. In addition, CivEd provides data about U.S. ninth-grade students’ attitudes toward democracy, national identity, international relations, and social cohesion and diversity. NCES Kids' Zone has included 9th grade civics questions and results collected in this study. 4th, 8th and 12th grade students participated in the NAEP geography, history and math studies. National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. Assessments are conducted periodically in mathematics, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, and U.S. history. NCES Kids' Zone has included questions and responses for the following subjects: * 4th, 8th & 12th grade geography * 4th, 8th & 12th grade history * 4th, 8th & 12th grade math

Eighth-grade mathematics lessons in Japan, Australia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, the Netherlands, and Switzerland placed a greater emphasis on introducing new content (ranging from 56 to 76 percent of lesson time) than the United States who tends to put more emphasis on reviewing previous content. In the United States least 63 percent of problems per lesson of low procedural complexity. At the other end of the scale, up to 12 percent of problems per lesson, on average, were of high procedural complexity. In Japan, 39 percent of problems per lesson were of high procedural complexity, a greater percentage than in any of the other six countries. Japanese eighth-grade mathematics lessons contained a higher percentage of problems per lesson that were mathematically related (42 percent) than lessons in any of the other countries. Moreover, Japanese lessons contained a lower percentage of problems per lesson that were repetitions (40 percent) than those in any of the other countries. In all of the countries except Japan, at least 65 percent of the problems per lesson, on average, were identified as repetitions of the preceding problem. In the United States a greater percentage of problems per lesson were presented as using procedures than either making connections or stating concepts. While in Japan there was no detectable difference in the percentage of problems per lesson that were presented as using procedures compared to those presented as making connections. In U.S. eighth-grade mathematics lessons, a smaller percentage of making-connections problems were solved in a way that actually made the connections among mathematical facts, procedures, and concepts evident during classroom discussions than in the other countries. One way that teachers can help students identify the key mathematical point of a lesson is to describe the goal of the lesson. To be included in the analysis, a goal statement about a specific mathematical topic to be covered during the lesson had to be explicitly written or said by the teacher.Play Video for Czech Republic Across all seven countries, a higher percentage of eighth-grade mathematics lessons in the Czech Republic contained goal statements (91 percent) than in all the other countries except Japan. Dutch lessons included the fewest goal statements of any of the countries (21 percent). A second way to help students recognize key ideas in a lesson is a summary statement at the end of a lesson.Play Video for Japan For all the countries, summary statements were less common than goal statements. Lesson summaries were identified in at least 21 percent of eighth-grade mathematics lessons in Japan, the Czech Republic, and Hong Kong SAR, and in 10 percent of lessons in Australia. In the other countries where reliable estimates could be calculated, between 2 and 6 percent of lessons included summary statements. After an individual mathematics problem has been solved, teachers might also summarize the points that the problem illustrates. On average, mathematics teachers in Japan summarized a higher percentage of problems per lesson (27 percent) than in any of the other countries. Average mathematics scale scores of eighth-grade students, by country: 2003 International average 466 Singapore 605 Korea, Republic of 589 Hong Kong 586 Chinese Taipei 585 Japan 570 Belgium-Flemish 537 Netherlands2 536 Estonia 531 Hungary 529 Malaysia 508 Latvia 508 Russian Federation 508 Slovak Republic 508 Australia 505 United States 504 Lithuania4 502 Sweden 499 Scotland2 498 (Israel) 496 New Zealand 494 Slovenia 493 Italy 484 Armenia 478 Serbia4 477 Bulgaria 476 Romania 475 Norway 461 Moldova, Republic of 460 Cyprus 459 (Macedonia, Republic of ) 435 Lebanon 433 Jordan 424 Iran, Islamic Republic of 411 Indonesia4 411 Tunisia 410 Egypt 406 Bahrain 401 Palestinian National Authority 390 Chile 387 (Morocco) 387 Philippines 378 Botswana 366 Saudi Arabia 332 Ghana 276 South Africa 264 http://nces.ed.gov/timss/TIMSS03Tables.asp...=3&Figure=5

NBC Today Show stated that over half of Americans believe in UFOs. Conspiracy theorist believe that Area 51 may hold the answer.

The USS Lake Erie launches a Standard Missile-3 at a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph over the Pacific Ocean on Feb. 20, 2008. Defense Dept.

The US has successfully struck down the disabled spy satellite with a missile fired from a warship in waters west of Hawaii, military officials say.

On Tuesday, the Senate, with the backing of 18 Democrats and every Republican, defeated attempts by Sens. Chris Dodd and Russ Feingold to hold the telecom companies accountable for their past illegal wiretapping conduct. Sen. Barack Obama voted to hold telecom companies accountable. Sen. John McCain voted against holding telecom companies accountable. Sen. Hillary Clinton did not vote.

On Tuesday, the Senate, with the backing of 18 Democrats and every Republican, defeated attempts by Sens. Chris Dodd and Russ Feingold to hold the telecom companies accountable for their past illegal conduct. Sen. Barack Obama voted for your freedom. Sen. John McCain voted against you. Sen. Hillary Clinton did not vote. Democratic leaders in the House refused to vote on the Senate bill. The House passed its own version of the surveillance law in October and it does not include telecom immunity. Democrats want to negotiate a compromise with the Senate when lawmakers return from a 10-day recess. Here is a little background about the technology. SS8 Networks, headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., is an independent provider of carriergrade, regulatory-compliant electronic surveillance solutions that have been deployed on all continents for the largest wireline, wireless, cable, VoIP and satellite service providers. These voice and data installations can already intercept more than 500 million subscribers, and serve over 10,000 law enforcement agents. SS8’s expertise in communications forensics ensures that intercepted traffic is securely targeted, seized, stored, transferred and analyzed, so that evidentiary chain of custody is maintained for successful criminal prosecution. These solutions are typically divided into three key functions: access, mediation and collection. The access function comprises existing network elements that are provisioned to provide call detail records or call content for target individuals. Alternatively, passive probes may be used where no such capability exists on the access element. The mediation (or delivery) function is used for warrant provisioning, communicating with the access elements and probes and formatting call data for delivery to the law enforcement agency (LEA). The collection function equates to products deployed by LEAs for the appropriate collection and analysis of call records and content. VoIP Service Providers Must Comply with CALEA The FCC has ruled that (FCC 05-153, In the Matter of: Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act and Broadband Access and Services) determined that VoIP Service Providers are required to provide access to law enforcement agencies for the purposes of lawful interception. In 2005, A Petition for Review was filed. It is interesting to see a major American Security Conference ISS was held in DUBAI last year. Founded in 1980, TeleStrategies is the leading producer of telecommunications conference events in the United States. Since its launch, the firm has produced over three hundred industry events attracting over 10,000 telecommunications professionals globally. Crowne Plaza Hotel DUBAI SHEIKH ZAYED AL NAHYAN ROAD PO BOX 23215 DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Hotel Front Desk: 971-4-3311111 | Hotel Fax: 971-4-3315555 Pre-Conference Training Seminar Sunday, 25 February 2007 8:00-16:00 hrs Understanding Telecommunications Technologies for Law Enforcement Agents, Intelligence Analysts and Non-Telecom Engineers Presented by: Dr. Jerry Lucas, President, TeleStrategies (PhD, Physics) Dr. Matthew Lucas, VP, TeleStrategies (PhD, Computer Science) This one day, pre-conference training seminar provides a technology primer for Law Enforcement Agents, Intelligence Analysts, Vendors and Non-engineers, who need to understand the basics of today’s telecommunications networks and services provided in order to support lawful interception and counterterrorism programs. Four ISS World Tracks: Conference Track 1 Lawful Interception Technology and Solutions Track Conference Track 2 Investigative Analysis Technology Development and Solutions Conference Track 3 Lawful Intercept Regulatory Development and Telecom Operators Compliance Conference Track 4 Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst Training and Product Demonstrations Keynote Sessions Monday, 26 February, 2007 9:00-9:15 Welcoming Remarks Tatiana Lucas, ISS World Program Director 9:15-10:00 Lawful Intercept Industry Overview Tony Rutkowski, President, Global LI Industry Forum and VP VeriSign 10:30-12:00 Lawful Intercept Guru Roundtable Dr. Jerry Lucas, President, TeleStrategies Chris MacFarlane, President, ETI Connect Carlo Rogialli, CTO, RCS Alessandro Guida, Solutions Architect, ATIS-Systems Tony Rutkowski, VP, VeriSign Dr. Andrew Watson, Technical Director, Detica Praveen Kankariya, Chairman, Clear-Trail Andrea Formenti, CEO and Founder, AREA ( Italy) 13:00-14:00 Government Keynote Panelists Funsho Fayomi, Assistant Director, Legal Services, Nigerian Communications Commission Masoon Shukair, Commissioner, Telecom Regulatory Commission, Jordan Shamsul Jafni Shafie, Head Information and Network Security Department Content, Malaysian Communication Mohamed Ali Eid, Director General, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Somalia Basil Udotai, Esq., Office of the National Security Adviser, Cybercrime Working Group , Nigeria Gen. George Boustani, Ex Executive Committee Member of Iterpol, Lebanon To attend Track 4 you must be a sworn Law Enforcement Officer, Intelligent Analyst, Homeland Security, Justice, Interior or other Government employee with counterterrorism or criminal investigation responsibilities. Conference Track 4 Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst Training and Product Demonstrations To attend Track 4 you must be a sworn Law Enforcement Officer, Intelligent Analyst, Homeland Security, Justice, Interior or other Government employee with counterterrorism or criminal investigation responsibilities. Government picture ID required for entry to the Track 4 Training and Product Demonstrations rooms. Certificate of training completion will be available upon request. Monday, 26 February, 2007 13:00-14:00 How to Run Successful Security Awareness Programs for LEAs This talk will examine how a formal comprehensive security awareness training structure adds value to the versatility, adaptability and overall effectiveness of LEA agents. Mathieu Gorge, Managing Director, VigiTrust 13:00-14:00 Speaker Recognition and Topic Spotting Siemens will provide an overview of their sophisticated Intelligence Modules with emphasis on Speaker Recognition for voice recordings and Topic Spotting for emails and other text files. Manfred Bendisch, Product Line Management, Voice & Data Recording, Siemens 14:30-15:30 Introduction to Key Cyber-Terrorism Concepts-items LEA Staff Should Always Keep in Mind It is useful to reassess LEAs understanding of basic concepts relating to the fight against such threats: what constitutes Cyber-terrorism, how do attacks take place, against whom. What are governments doing at local and international levels. What is the industry doing and is it doing its part to protect Critical Infrastructure for its citizens? Mathieu Gorge, Managing Director, VigiTrust 14:30-15:30 Data Mining and Behavior Analysis The Siemens Intelligence Platform offers a multitude of investigation tools to the analyst. This session will present two of them - Data Mining and Behavior Analysis - and their application in Intelligence Gathering. Manfred Bendisch, Product Line Management, Voice & Data Recording, Siemens 16:00-17:00 Information Hiding, Steganography and Detection Definition and History, Digital Media, Basic Principles, Users, Comparison with Watermarking, Steganography, Requirements, Covers, Evaluation and Benchmarking, Detection, Attacks, Examples of Techniques, Demos (Audio and Image Files). Prof. H. Al-Ahmad, Head EE Department, ETISALAT University College 16:00-17:00 Direct Memory Imaging of Damaged and PIN Locked Mobile Phone Handsets Forensic Telecommunications Services Ltd. will provide an introduction to their unique capabilities for imaging directly from embedded memory chips in mobile phone handsets. The system also automatically translates the binary data into human readable text ready for evidential use. Shaun Hipgrave, Director and Operations Manager, Forensic Telecommunication Services Tuesday, 27 February, 2007 9:00-10:00 Advanced Targeting Methods for IP Traffic Analysis and Investigations in Tactical Environments In a world where a telephone call is not a telephone call any longer, and users roam everywhere in wireline and wireless networks, clever targeting techniques must be used in order to grant the investigative action effectiveness. Carlo Rogialli, CTO, RCS 10:30-11:30 Identifying, Managing, Controlling Computer Fraud & Security Threats Guidance Software EnCase® solutions provide the foundation for both law enforcement and corporate enterprise investigations that enable corporate, government and law enforcement agencies to conduct effective computer investigations of all types while maintaining the forensic integrity of the data. Frank Wyse, EMEA Technical Manager, Guidance Software 13:00-13:30 ATIS Interception Management System – AIMS This presentation will highlight the benefits of a unified platform to interface with multiple networks and services. Nagui Erian, Business Development Manager, ATIS-Systems 13:00-14:00 Live Demo of Next Generation Lawful Interception Platform Praveen Kankariya, Chairman, Clear-Trail 13:30-14:00 ATIS Intelligence Platform ATIS Intelligence Platform - how to find answers when you don't know what you are looking for. Alessandro Guida, Solution Architect, ATIS-Systems 14:30-15:30 Cyber Forensics: Playing Digital Detective This presentation provides an insightful overview and demonstration of computer digital forensics, identify key players, and define what tools are needed and what you will need to know as a Certified Fraud and Forensic Examiner. Jon R. Hansen, VP Sales and Business Development, AccessData 16:00-17:00 The ZEBRA System The Zebra records all of the call content presented to it, making it possible for law enforcement agencies to reconstruct events leading up to a major incident and exploring all possible scenarios. André Scholtz, Director, Business Development, VASTech Marius Ackerman,Technical Director, VASTech 16:00-17:00 The Group 2000 LIMA Lawful Intercept Solution Frank Dikker, Manager, Group 2000 Wednesday, 28 February, 2007 8:30-9:00 ATIS KLARIOS Intelligent DATA Search and Analysis The ATIS Klarios® application provides simple and intuitive tools for the purpose of analysing (condensing) large amounts of data . This session will focus on and demonstrate a new approach to simple interactive querying and data presentation. Alessandro Guida, Solution Architect, ATIS-Systems 8:30-9:30 LVIS Loquendo Voice Investigation System LVIS is an easy-to-use, turnkey software solution allowing investigators to retrieve biometrics from recordings of telephone conversations. In some cases, Loquendo technology can even work in a real-time environment. Luciano Piovano, Loquendo 9:00-9:30 Challenges for LEAs and Intelligence Agencies Karanvir Singh, Managing Director, Kommlabs Dezign Pvt. Limited 10:00-11:00 MCR System: An Integrated Platform for Optimized LI ( Live Demo for LEAs) AREA will present MCR System (Monitoring Center & Recording System), a single software application for LI of voice, fax, video and data, including a graphic tool designed to analyze recorded data and manage all LEAs admin tasks. Emanuele Marcozzi, Product Manger, AREA 10:00-11:00 PenLink Tracking of Targets through Location Based Technology: “Users can define a geographical area of interest and be alerted automatically when a target or targets enters said area” Derek Teten, Market Developer, Pen-Link 11:30-12:30 Practical examples of Lawful Intercept This speech will discuss the options available to authorities to intercept web traffic (both HTTP and encrypted traffic), the technology required and placement options. Examples will be used that include blocking pornographic content across the Middle East, Internet Watch Foundation blocking of child pornography in Europe and sites that promote terrorism. The depth of functionality will be discussed for individual URL blocking, reverse lookups, HTTTPS blocking and updates. Options for logging, blocking Skype and peer-to-peer traffic and collating traffic logs will be discussed. Craig Hicks-Frazer, VP , Blue Coat Systems 11:30-12:00 SIC4WIFI - Interception in Wireless LAN Networks This system, which can be used totally independently as a standalone solution or can be deployed in combination with an interception centre, allows the identification, recording and analysis of wireless LAN sessions in any environment. Klaus Weigmann & Simon Thewes, Directors, Sales & Marketing, Syborg 12:00-12:30 SIC - Monitoring Centre for Voice and Data Presentation of the SYBORG INTERCEPTION CENTRE, the solution for lawful interception of voice and data. SIC integrates all the functionalities which today's investigators need to handle interception of voice and of narrow band and broadband sessions. Klaus Weigmann & Simon Thewes, Directors, Sales & Marketing, Syborg

Wow. That is pretty incredible story. I know for a fact that I get so wrapped up in my work that I do not take any time to work out. My waistline is expanding. That is really why I like to go to my farm and work my fields. Depressed, Be supportive and do not give up.

I ask you again, does surrounding yourself with gay co-workers, supporters, and friends make you gay? Should straight people only interact with straight people? How do gay people turn straight people into something they do not want or be something they are not.

While Mayor Fenty has publically stated that the gay community is a vibrant and vital part of our city and supports gay marriage, it does not mean that Adrian Fenty is gay. Fenty's 2006 Campaign Mission Statement states it best. When you write the posts do you think of what stress you may be giving to the Mayor's wife Michelle and their twin sons, Matthew and Andrew? You should read this NBC 4 News Article. Senator Barack Obama has stated that he supports civil unions, but he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman." A man who votes against the Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 does not seem all all that gay to me. When you write the posts do you think of what stress you may be giving to the Senator's wife Michelle and their two girls Malia and Sasha? You should read this CBS Evening News Article. Obama and Fenty are rising young stars in American politics. The Fenty machine is not just the mayor its his supporters as well. The Fenty machine realizes that if Obama wins this city will benifit. Are you saying that a straight man cannot be friends or work with a gay man? Or are you saying that you know for sure that Fenty has been intimate with Dan Tangherlini, Neil Albert. etc?

Anyone watch the Television Show "Ninja Warrior." Ever since the writer's strike I have been watching the show on G4. Most participants are amateur athletes hailing from Japan, although some national television personalities and Olympians from other countries--most notably gymnast Paul Hamm and his identical twin brother Morgan Hamm--occasionally take part in the competition. Some of the more enthusiastic competitors dress up in costumes, bring props to the starting stage, or show off some of their talents. Nagano is definitely the best. View the video at YouTube. http://www.tbs.co.jp/program/sasuke_20070919.html

It appears that Larry has accepted the offer from WhiteHouse.com. This is no issue.

Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer Regarding Animal Cruelty Charges Filed Against Employees at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company February 15, 2008 "Today, the San Bernardino District Attorney filed felony animal cruelty charges against two employees who were terminated by Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. It is regrettable that these animals were mistreated and I am encouraged and supportive of these actions by the San Bernardino District Attorney in response to this mistreatment. Since Jan. 30, when USDA learned of allegations made regarding inhumane handling of non-ambulatory disabled cattle at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company, the Department has taken many aggressive steps. To date, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company remains suspended by the Food Safety and Inspection Service and is not operating at this time. We continue to conduct a thorough investigation into whether any violations of food safety or additional humane handling regulations have occurred. On Feb. 8, our Office of the Inspector General took the lead on the investigation. At that time, USDA extended the administrative hold on Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company products for the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations while the investigation continues. I remain quite confident in the safety of the food supply. USDA will continue to take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation." available for direct purchase by consumers. All products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 336” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on various dates from Feb. 1, 2006 to Feb. 2, 2008. Companies are urged to check their inventories and hold the products until the recalling firm makes arrangements for final disposition of the products. The following products are subject to recall: • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BURRITO FILLING MIX.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., PACKED FOR JACOBELLIES SAUSAGE CO., 74/26 GROUND BEEF.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., RAW GROUND BEEF MEATBALL MIX FOR FURTHER PROCESSING.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF ‘FOR COOKING ONLY’, FAT: 15%.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF ‘FOR COOKING ONLY’.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF TO BE FURTHER PROCESSED INTO COOKED ITEMS, FAT: 15%.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF 85/15.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., COARSE GROUND BEEF 93/7.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., FINE GROUND BEEF ‘FOR COOKING ONLY’, FAT: 15%.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., FINE GROUND BEEF ‘FOR COOKING ONLY’.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., 90 - 10% GROUND BEEF, 3/16 GRIND.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., GROUND BEEF 1 LB. PACKAGE, FAT: 15%.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., GROUND BEEF, FAT: 15%.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., RAW BONELESS BEEF TRIMMINGS, ‘FOR COOKING ONLY’.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., RAW BONELESS BEEF, ‘FOR COOKING ONLY’.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BEEF GROUND 50/50% LEAN.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BEEF GROUND 73/27% LEAN.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BEEF GROUND 81/19% LEAN.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., BONELESS BEEF 90/10.” • Various weight boxes of “WESTLAND MEAT CO., GROUND PORK FOR FURTHER PROCESSING NOT TO EXCEED 30% FAT.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF TRI TIP.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF TOP SIRLOIN BUTT.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF STRIP SIRLOIN.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF RIB EYE LIP-ON.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF PISMO TENDERLOIN.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF O/S SKIRT.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF I/S SKIRT.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF FLANK STEAK.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF BOTTOM SIRLOIN FLAP.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF STRIP LOIN BONE-IN, FURTHER PROCESS 1X1.” • Various weight boxes of “PACKED FOR: KING MEAT CO., BEEF EXPORT RIB 2X2, FURTHER PROCESS.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF RIBEYE ROLL LIP-ON.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF RIBEYE ROLL LIP-ON.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF PLATE, OUTSIDE SKIRT.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF PLATE, OUTSIDE SKIRT.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF PLATE, INSIDE SKIRT.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF PLATE, INSIDE SKIRT.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF LOIN, STRIP LOIN, BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF LOIN, STRIP LOIN, BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF LOIN, BOTTOM SIRLOIN BUTT, FLAP, BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF LOIN, BOTTOM SIRLOIN BUTT, FLAP, BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF LOIN, TOP SIRLOIN BUTT, BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF LOIN, TOP SIRLOIN BUTT, BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF LOIN, TENDERLOIN, FULL, SIDE MUSCLE ON, DEFATTED.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF LOIN, TENDERLOIN, FULL, SIDE MUSCLE ON, DEFATTED.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF FLANK STEAK.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF FLANK STEAK.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA SELECT, BEEF, BOTTOM SIRLOIN BUTT TRI TIP BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of REGAL brand “USDA CHOICE OR HIGHER, BEEF, BOTTOM SIRLOIN BUTT TRI TIP BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF LIVERS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF FEET.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF TRIPE.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF REGULAR TRIPE.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF HONEYCOMB TRIPE.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF TAILS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF CHEEK MEAT.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF TONGUES.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF TONGUE TRIMMINGS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF BONELESS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF RIBS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF HEARTS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF CHEEKS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF PLATES.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF SMALL INTESTINES.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF LIPS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF SPLEENS.” • Various weight boxes of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF SALIVARY GLANDS, LYMPH NODES AND FAT [TONGUES].” • Six-gallon containers of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF BILE.” • One- and six-gallon containers of “HALLMARK MEAT PACKING BEEF BLOOD, .2% SODIUM CITRATE ADDED.” Some of the Westland Meat Co. branded products were purchased for Federal food and nutrition programs and, since Jan. 30, 2008, USDA has had an administrative hold on all products from Westland Meat Co. in all of these outlets including, in the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Assistance Program on Indian Reservations. Based on this Class II recall, officials of the Food and Nutrition Service and Agricultural Marketing Service will work closely with State food and nutrition officials to minimize any disruptions caused by the removal and disposal of recalled Westland Meat Co. products. Media and consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Plant Manager Stan Mendell or Food Safety Consultant Steve Sayer at (909) 590-3340. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/images_recalls/005-2008_Labels.pdf

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued the largest recall in history. Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co., a Chino, Calif., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 143,383,823 pounds of raw and frozen beef products that FSIS has determined to be unfit for human food because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection. Through evidence obtained by FSIS, the establishment did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian in situations in which cattle became non-ambulatory after passing ante-mortem inspection, which is not compliant with FSIS regulations. Such circumstances require that an FSIS public health veterinarian reassess the non-ambulatory cattle which are either condemned and prohibited from the food supply, or tagged as suspect. Suspect cattle receive a more thorough inspection after slaughter than is customary. This noncompliant activity occurred occasionally over the past two years and therefore all beef product produced during the period of time for which evidence indicates such activity occurred has been determined by FSIS to be unfit for human consumption, and is, therefore, adulterated. This recall is designated as Class II due to the remote probability that the beef being recalled would cause adverse health effects if consumed. FSIS made this determination because the animals passed ante-mortem inspection but should have been identified as suspect requiring additional inspection after slaughter to determine if there is evidence of disease, injury, or other signs of abnormalities that may have occurred after ante-mortem inspection. In July 2007, FSIS issued a final rule “Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk Materials for Human Food and Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle.” This rule requires that a case by case disposition must be made by an FSIS Public Health Veterinarian for every animal that becomes non-ambulatory disabled (“downer”) after passing ante-mortem inspection. The prohibition of downer cattle from entering the food supply is only one measure in an interlocking system of controls the federal government has in place to protect the food supply. The government has multiple safeguards regarding BSE in place and the prevalence of the disease in the United States is extremely low. Other BSE security measures include the feed ban that prohibits feeding ruminant protein to other ruminants and an ongoing BSE surveillance program that began before the confirmation of the first BSE positive cow in the U.S. in 2003. As another measure to reduce the risk of potential exposure to consumers, FSIS requires the removal of specified risk materials (SRM) so they do not enter the food supply. Several FSIS line inspectors are stationed at designated points along the production line where they are able to directly observe SRM removal activities. The USDA said that the recall will affect beef products dating to Feb. 1, 2006, that came from the Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., located in California. The same California slaughterhouse has been under investigation for alleged animal abuse. An undercover video from the Humane Society of the United States was released on January 30th, 2008 showing sick animals being shoved with forklifts. Also, the video showed workers kicking, shocking and abusing animals that were apparently too sick or injured to walk into the slaughterhouse. Cattle that becomes "non-ambulatory" is, by USDA Federal regulations, unfit for human consumption and should be discarded. However, since the video allegedly showed workers forcing "downed" non-ambulatory animals to the slaughterhouse, the food that came from it should be recalled as per USDA regulation since it is not safe for human consumption. Downed cattle should be kept out of the food chain supply because a higher risk of contamination by E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease. Around 37 million pounds of the recalled beef was used to make hamburgers, chili and tacos for school lunches and other federal nutrition programs. However, as many officials have already said they do not know how much of the recalled beef have been already eaten. A complete list of the affected products can be found at Products affected by beef recall Among the fast food chains that buy ground beef from Westland/Hallmark is Jack in the Box, a San Diego-based company with restaurants in 18 states. Hey have halted the use of beef from this company until further notice. Another food chain, In-N-Out has also halted the use of the beef from Westland/Hallmark. McDonald's and Burger King said they do not buy beef from Westland/Hallmark Company. The undercover video, shown on television and on YouTube and other video Web sites, has exposed the issues that exist in the food safety chain in the United States. Apparently, the inspection by the USDA was being ineffective since the USDA veterinarian wasn't there all the time needed for proper inspection. As per USDA regulations, a veterinarian should be "in house" to properly inspect slaughtering operations. Some sources pointed out that the veterinarian was there only 2 hour per day. View the video at YouTube. Undercover video shows blatant abuse of "downed" cattle by slaughterhouse workers at Hallmark Meat Packing Co. released by Humane Society of the United States (HSUS.org)