November 7, 2006 Elections
It is time to vote, have you? If you have, does your vote really count? Are you sure? Voting at polls with computer systems really has to make you wonder. If you haven’t watched the documentary on HBO called “Hacking Democracy” you should. This documentary does well with showing you not only the flaws in the computer systems that you vote through. But even the deception with election officials. It is of course shocking and enough to make your stomach sick.

The HBO documentary follows Seattle grandmother and writer Bev Harris on the adventure of the Hacking Democracy. Bev Harris has a website called Black Box Voting. At this site you can find many others who are also concerned with the computer systems running our polls.

Now today, my husband and I went to vote. We knew they were using computer systems now in our area, I just couldn’t remember who they were through. Micro Vote are the machines used in Jasper County Indiana. Today we were using their Infinity machines, we have used the MV-464 in the past as well. I found a nice memo on their website, just a little suggestion to their potential consumers not to buy used machines they originally sold to another state. I also found 2 user lists on their website. Micro Vote List 1 and Micro Vote List 2. If your state or county is listed, I guess we know who to contact to discuss the use of these machines in our county.

I also found an article about MicroVote system and a judgement against them for just over a million dollars. And another article about the MicroVote systems needing upgrades before the election. Doesn’t seem to me like they would of had enough time to do upgrades, and proper testing. And it is also funny that MicroVote did change the system before without telling officials? I take the time to Vote, I just wonder if it worth it.

You can find some interesting information at Voters Unite. They have a pdf document of failures with the MicroVote System.

Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act
(H.R. 583/S. 424)

I just finished requesting the one representive in my district to support this bill. If you are willing to support this bill, please check to see if your representatives do as well. You can find out more about the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act here.

I know a few people know I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, you can find out more about this disease at http://www.arthritis.org and I have a little on my site about what I have been through the last couple years. Currently I’m waiting to see my doctor again because the drugs I’m using stopped working.

If you know anyone with Arthritis, please let them know they can contact their representatives through http://capwiz.com/arthritis/home/ in the Action alerts section.

Thank you!

Tanya Martin

Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas
What a blast we had at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. We didn’t find any diamonds, we did find glass and quartz. There were 10 diamonds found the 4 days we were there. Even though we didn’t find any, we had a ton of fun.

It rained several times while we were there, and my daughter Bianca lost the bottom of her shoe. We were wondering why everyone was running for the wash area’s (that have roofs and concrete floors). Well as soon as we started to try to move, we found ourselves sticking to the ground. Then it got worse when we pulled our feet up and felt about 10 lbs of dirt stuck to and around our shoes. It seems the ground has so much clay that your feet will stick into the ground. You can see the sock between the top of the shoe and the inside cloth of the shoe.

The Saturday we were there they were having their 100th anniversary of John Huddlestons 1st diamond find, it was fun. They started the day with a treasure hunt. They burried plastic bottles that are orange in the field. Each bottle contains a certificate for a major prize. They also hid orange and red rocks, that were traded for prizes as well.

They continued with many games all day, three legged race, watermelon seed spitting contest, many activities all day long. We looked for bottles but didn’t find any. There were still 2 left when we left that Sunday. They leave them out for about a month and will still give out the prizes.

Discovery Channel at Crater of Diamonds
Also, Discovery Channel was there, I think I saw them 2 days. They are doing a special on the Crater of Diamonds State park and this 100th anniversary celebration. I will be watching for information to make it to their website. I think they did get us walking around the town.

Pictures at Crater of Diamonds
The first 2 pictures are of me digging, that was at the beginning of the day. The next is me sifting through the dirt to find the pebbles and look for diamonds.

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Here are a few of the dig area:

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On Founders Day:

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Everyone getting started on our first day. This is my husband, son and daughter (who is hard at work).

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Here are pictures from the park entrance:

(ME) (My daughter Bianca)
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(My Son Calvin) (FAVORITE - My husband)
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Here are a few of my family working away:

The picture of my son ( 2nd picture - white tshirt around middle of the picture), the guy behind him had given him some tips. He said the guy was there on a 30 day dig. It was his 21st day and he had found 7 diamonds so far.
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And the last day of digging:

I managed to learn how to not get covered in dirt. Everyone else, well not so good. I’m definitely going back, there was so much we didn’t get to check out while we were there. They have serveral State Parks in that area, can’t wait to see more!

Crater of Diamonds State Park
It is vacation time, so I decided it was time to take the kids and head to Arkansas. We are leaving Wednesday to spend 4 days digging in the dirt at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Sounds like fun to me!

They have founders day on the 17th, with a treasure hunt and diamond digging contest. I’m sure we will have a blast. We also made our own diamond digging kit. It was fun just shopping for things to use.

When I get back, it will be back to work as usual. Currently I’m working on a new network that will be amazing for consumers, and a steal for advertisers. Nothing like this yet. Keep watch, I will reveal more about this amazing unique internet marketing opportunity.