Archive for September 2nd, 2007
Beware Your Work-Issued Cell Phones
September 2nd, 2007
A long-time employee of a New York school system could lose his job for clocking out at the same place at the same time while carrying a work-issued cell phone with GPS that showed him at home during the hours he claims he was at work.
A 21-year employee of the school system could lose his job after officials accused him of repeatedly leaving early – and stunned the worker with data it got by tracking his movements with a city-issued cellphone, The Post has learned.
In a precedent-setting case, administrative trial judge Tynia Richard recommended the firing of John Halpin, a veteran supervisor of carpenters, for cutting out before the end of his shift on as many as 83 occasions between March 2 and Aug. 9, 2006.
The evidence against Halpin, whose base pay is $300 a day, included time cards that suspiciously appeared stamped on the same machine, even though his duties placed him in different locations each day.
But there was a clincher: data gathered through the GPS system on Halpin’s cellphone, which he accepted in 2005 without being told it might be used to trace his every move.
On March 8, for example, supervisors determined that Halpin was last in Manhattan at 1:31 p.m. and was home in Levittown, L.I., at 2:40 p.m. On March 29, Halpin was found at home at 2:38 p.m.
The earliest he was caught in Levittown was 1:40 p.m. on June 22.
But his shift wasn’t supposed to end until 3:30 p.m.
Some workers refused the free-phone offer, saying they preferred to use their own cells.
Looks like he should have had his own cell phone too.
Posted in 
This Thief Has Remorse
September 2nd, 2007
A Wellington, New Zealand, thief burglarized the home of Graeme and Shirley Glass.
The burglar smashed the window to gain entrance and then stole a lap top computer, American Express credit card and a camera.
When the Glass’ returned home they found all the items piled on their table, along with a neatly written note apologizing for “violating the safety and security of your home”
The burglar also placed a pair of gloves and a basketball purchased with the credit card.
The robber also promised to leave cash in Glass’ mailbox to pay for the smashed window when he had enough money.
“I have never written truer words when I say that I wish that I had never done this to you and your family,” the note read. “From the bottom of my heart I am sorry.”
Tony Snow on President Bush
September 2nd, 2007
What a class act Tony Snow is and what a shame he wasn’t the president’s press secretary for all of his term.
I’m going to miss him.
You Can Make A Commencement Speech as Long as You Don’t Mention Jesus
September 2nd, 2007
First of all I don’t understand why a school would have 15 valedictorians in the same class, but I digress.
Erica Corder was one of 15 valedictorians at Lewis-Palmer High School in Colorado in 2006. They each got 30 seconds to speak and when it came her turn her speech was to encourage the audience to get to know Jesus.
Oh, my! The entire faculty must have swooned at the same time! Her principal, Mark Brewer, told her if she didn’t apologize she wouldn’t receive her diploma, though she’d still be able to graduate.
On Monday Erica Corder sued the school district.
The lawsuit said Brewer would not give Corder her diploma until she included a sentence saying, “I realize that, had I asked ahead of time, I would not have been allowed to say what I did.” Corder received her diploma after complying.
The school district released a statement Wednesday saying officials reviewed Corder’s case when it happened in 2006 and also met several times with Corder and her parents.
“While we are disappointed that this matter has resulted in litigation, we are confident that all actions taken by school officials were constitutionally appropriate,” the statement said. “As a result, we intend to vigorously defend the claims. Beyond that, it is the district’s policy not to comment on pending litigation.”
Brewer, who now works for Douglas County schools, declined to comment Wednesday.
Corder is represented by attorneys affiliated with Liberty Counsel, an Orlando, Fla.-based group that says it is dedicated to advancing religious freedom.
Wanna bet if she had mentioned Muhammad and his “peaceful” religion she would have not been penalized?
