My Latest Book: Breach of Honor

BOOK NOTES:

TITLE: Breach of Honor (pending)

CATEGORY: Fiction Novel

AUTHOR: Asta Dido (Pen name of Sam DiBernardo)

WRITTEN: Writing started September 2009

COMPLETION DATE: Unknown (Part 1 completed to pg. 97) Proofing, Editing and Literary Agent still pending.

SUBJECT: NYPD; A Police Officer’s Life and work on the “job” in the 1970’s

CAUTIONS: (Violence and “R” rated language and non-graphic sexual content)

Highlighting Scenes: 1. The protagonist is called to a scene of an accidental death where a male white is found suspended from a broken rope device impaled on the foot of a chair in an accidental death while masturbating. 2. Protagonist responds to a couple trying to murder a pregnant woman to steal her unborn infant. 3. An infant is found in the garbage with umbilical chord still attached. 4. Fist fight with a drug addict on a subway train 5. The Officer is accidentally wounded in a “friendly fire” incident by another Cop while trying to stop a gas station robbery. 6. Hospital scenes. 7. A suitcase is stolen containing millions of dollars in Diamonds, Gold and Notes and an Assassin is sent after it and is lured into a trap and killed by the protagonist.

Thrilling action and “snappy dialog” with black humor…
For more information email askastadido@gmail.com

COOKIEGATE!!!

March 5, 2009

Candidate condemned by his own statement!

I believe that Eric Ulrich is in clear violation of the election laws and should prohibit him from being certified as a NY City Councilman for the 32nd District, Queens, NY. His statement below, I believe constitutes and effort to influence the outcome of an election by bribery! Whether the bribery is dollars, cookies or even buying coffee for poll workers it is still an effort to sway the opinions of poll workers , eventually the voters opinion, and that is contrary to the election laws of The State of New York. And, I believe this to be “pernicious behavior” according to Election Law thus it is a serious matter for The Board Of Election, it’s General Council and New York State Attorney General and NY State Election officials.

Furthermore, the law is clear about electioneering and campaigning at poll sites on election day! Poll workers and attending officials are legally and adequately compensated for their work that day and are legally bound NOT to collect or seek any other forms of reward be it cookies, coffee, bagels, cannoli or offers of the same and it is illegal to proffer such offers!

“During his impromptu victory speech at Villa Russo in Ozone Park on February 24th, 2009 Mr. Ulrich said: Of course, the young Ozone Park Republican district leader didn’t do it alone. During his impromptu victory speech at Villa Russo in Ozone Park Tuesday night, Ulrich thanked his grandmother —‘who baked cookies for every single poll site in the district…’”

This statement was reported in several local newspapers including the Queens Chronicle, Vol XXXII No. 9 dated Thursday, February 26, 2009 by. Lee Landor, Editor. This information is being passed on to Mr. Steven H. Richman, Attorney for the NYC Board of Elections and should be passed on, in turn, to The Conflicts of Interest Board. It is being issued by Sam DiBernardo who says: “If I have to live by the rules and laws so, does everyone else without exception and insists on urgent action. Your respective agencies are familiar with the “chapter and verse” of the law as they pertain to this matter and they should be enforced evenly and equally!”

Thank you,

Sam DiBernardo

GIVE THEM HELL!!!

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON THE NYC BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS FOR REMOVING ME FROM THE BALLOT ON A TRIVIAL (AND i MEAN TRIVIAL) ERROR ON MY PETITIONS DENYING MY CONSTITUENTS AND VOTERS FREEDOM OF CHOICE. IT IS UNDEMOCRATIC, UNFAIR AND AS UN- AMERICAN AS CAN BE. WRITE THE NYC BOARD OF ELECTIONS, 32 BROADWAY, NY,NY 10007 AND LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT FOR 3 OUT OF SEVEN HATCHETED.

Setting The Record Straight!

Setting The Record Straight!
I, Sam DiBernardo, was not ruled off the ballot for lack of signatures. I was knocked off for a "Prima Facie " error-- because instead of putting on the petition "candidate for City Council Dist 32. I Put "INDEPENDENT" See Attached. The number of signatures on my petition was NEVER CHALLENGED BY THE BOARD OR ANY OTHER CANDIDATE! And, if not challenged whether one gets 10 or 10,000 signatures is totally irrelevant. If I could have won my challenge in NY State Supreme Court on Tue. Feb. 10th I would have been placed on the ballot for the Special Election to be held on Feb 24th to fill the vacant NYC Council seat in the 32nd District!
I was a witness to the “blood bath” that took place at the Board of Elections hearing on Feb. 3rd and I saw the Attorneys or, I should call sharks go after Frank Gallusio and Glenn DiResto only to administer the ”death blow” in court on February 9th. And in my case on the 10th.
After spending 2 days in the NY State Supreme Court chasing around like crazy my appeal was finally heard Feb 10. and denied by (unsympathetic) Justice Phyllis Orlikoff Flug. The Prima Facie error (using the word “Independent” instead of listing the 32nd City Council Dist., Queens NY) and that was the only matter under discussion. She said that the Election Law is as stated and that I didn't follow the rules. See the petition sample incl. and, denied my placement on the ballot. The Law was never cited in this case and the attorney’s overheard exiting the courtroom saying “we beat him!”

I wrote and argued my own case: PETITION IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO PLACE CANDIDATES NAME ON THE BALLOT and filed every single supporting document and those legal forms required to file a case. I did not have a fool for a client—I fought a good battle and did as well or better than expected. With this judge Clarence Darrow would have failed!

I went up against 2 Board Of elections Attorneys and I got the judge to silence one for a fair fight. I was doing good for a while. They argued they weren't served properly and I won that --then they said I was late in filing the Appeal and I won that because the case was filed on the 9th Feb, the last day for filing. First the BOE sent some "schlub" a non-attorney and the judge tossed him out of the court room and told him to get the attorneys there and the case was held over 2 hrs more and, the judge refused to rule a default in my favor. Please note that if I were to be as late in arriving as the BOE atty’s (3 hours total) my case would have been thrown out the window! In all there were 4 hold overs, 2 courtrooms, and 2 judges the final being Hon. Judge Flug who, I’m not sure but, I believe, had ruled against Mr. Gallusio, myself and probably against Mr. DiResto who’s case was postponed over a week? You know Elections should NOT be decided by Attorneys, Boards of elections and certainly not by the courts and its judges. It seems that “the people be damned, and the voter left with little or no choice. ELECTIONS SHOULD BE BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE AND LEFT TO THE PEOPLE To Elect WHO THEY WANT TO REPRESENT THEM… Sam DiBernardo

VOTERS BLINDSIDED!

by Sam DiBernardo

Voters you are loosing it. You are being had! You are being screwed! You are being dooped! You are being fooled into thinking you have a choice of which candidate to vote for when in fact if the Board of Elections and Hired Gunsell lawyers, big mouth bullies, hired by the most vicious of candidates, who are calling the shots and controlling the electoral process and controlling who you can vote for!
SORRY, HOMEY DON’T PLAY THAT!!

Forget about choice! Forget about getting the most qualified and dedicated candidate; a candidate who can and will do the things you want from your elected official—one who's in tune with your needs, desires and, who is laying the groundwork for a newer and better generation; the one who’s ultimate concern is your family and especially YOUR CHILDREN!!!

This ridiculous and often outrageous process is why you end up with selfish political hacks who muck thing up so badly that it costs you big time. Forget about the big shots on Wall Street—they were left to their devices and greed by who else? By stupid, lazy, corrupt or all of the above politicians and that’s because you never had a CHOICE!

We don’t need politicians who can do us special favors—yes you would love that if you were on the receiving end—what we need is managers and leaders and bright and energetic men and women who say: “We can do more with less and do it better!” “Those who say we are not going to feed you but, teach you how to grow your own food so you can feed your family and your children—we will provide the “climate!”

The climate change we need is not in the atmosphere it is in government and business—IT IS IN US!!!

Sam DiBernardo

KANGAROO COURT

Yes Virginia, today it was like a Kangaroo Court at the Board Of Elections and they kicked me off the ballot for a chickenshit, what they called, a "Prima Facie" fatal error. They said my petitions didn't let the signers know what district I was running for yet, ironically, when the called me to the podium I was called as the candidate from the 32nd Dist. Aren’t they saying “the hell with the voters in the NY City council District 32?” I guess they don’t read the newspapers naming me as one of seven candidates running for office in, again, the 32 District, Queens NY!

The Board Attorney sat there like Madam Defarge in “A Tale of Two Cities” and instead of "off with his head" it was "off the ballot!" And cut me short? Heck, they were afraid to let me speak my piece and called a guard to threaten and push me off my stand! Now I know what Jesus must have felt as he stood before Mr. P. Pilate!

It was like a gray suited lawyers convention, or more accurately, like a gathering of sharks at feeding time and oh don’t they love the smell of blood in the water! Those who hired the Attys with the biggest and loudest mouths made it onto the ballot. It was like the board and the Attys have a language and partnership of their own—their own club so to speak! Today I witnessed Attorney’s and Board Members arguing aloud about nick names and stars on petition sheets and I expected an argument of “how many angels can you fit on the head of a pin!” I'm going to fight and appeal but this kind of action should be totally unnecessary in a Democratic Society—the outcome of an election should NOT BE DECEIDED BY A BOARD OF ELECTIONS; IT SHOULD BE DECEIDED BY THE VOTERS—BY THE PEOPLE. I personally took the time and made the effort to put together a campaign for public office-- that I spent countless hours and, I went out and gathered signatures in the coldest and meanest of weather conditions just to be dismissed like some minor irritation to the Board Of Elections comprised of members from just the two and only two major parties. Who are they trying to kid? That Independent guy be damned!


Finally, let me point out that some Candidates backed by the Republican and Democratic Party’s sailed through the BOE’s hearings right onto the ballot with barely a whimper by board members although they are not safe either; one of the Candidates placed a shark in the water with them too! Do I have to draw you a picture? The score now—three down and four to go from the original seven candidates. At this rate who knows where it will end and this is why I believe the power to remove a candidate from the ballot be taken away from the BOE and that they be commissioned to act solely as an instrument to provide information and opinion to the public! Yes, this would mean more Candidates on the ballot and more freedom of choice for the Voting Public…

Folks, nothing is going to change unless people like you and I speak up and start to gather the supporters for meaningful change. God knows it is needed! Come on people, get behind me and let’s strike another blow for Democracy!!!

Write me and let me know how you feel.


Sam DiBernardo

REFORM THE NY STATE ELECTION LAWS

Let me speak in the vernacular "New York State's Election Laws SUCK! They need to be changed and updated to meet the needs of the people and the election process brought into the 21st Century. Old processes, systems, voting machines are so outdated that it is a horrendous joke. A change in the number of signatures required to get on the ballot should be drastically lowered to "reasonable amounts" ascending from say 100 for lower offices to perhaps a couple of thousand for any presidential race and that all petitions and Election documents written clearly in plain English as to be understood by a fifth grade reader. THE "PLAYING FIELD SHOULD BE LEVELED" to allow all Candidates a chance to run for office and even win regardless of Party or "Non" affiliations.I'm writing this because this is effecting the recently called "Special Election" and in particular, my Candidacy and I want to direct your attention to my prior blog below this. If Iraq can have an Election with 14,000 candidates why can't we New Yorkers have an election where all the people who went out and got signatures (and there are only seven for my race) are allowed to be on the ballot without cutthroat challenges!!!

Run For Office--Are Yor Crazy?

Queens Politics from Where I stand; What I Know, What I See, What Say I
By Sam Di Bernardo


Again I ask “So You Want to Run For Public Office?”

So, you are not sitting on Walden Pond, you are sitting in front of your TV perhaps annoyed by the news you try “channel surfing” but you can’t escape it—every channel (except one with a boring infomercial about trim abs) has a story about politics or worse—a political advertisement; one opponent bashing the other! Then it jumps out at you—politics is not for intellectuals!

Yes, this is only a Special Election time and the worse is yet to come. And YES, it will come like a storm in a tea kettle and it will hit your neighborhood. Worse than Death and Taxes, you can’t escape it but you can choose to do as most, unfortunately, simply ignore it!

The next best thing, or worse thing, you could do is say: “If I can’t beat them, I’ll join them!” Hell’s Bells, I’m going to run for office myself and this is where the fun, if you can call it fun, begins!

In the first place it is a matter of place and time. In earlier times it was simple all you had to be (brushing aside without mentioning race and religion) was a “land owner.” Ask to be placed on a ballot and there you were—a candidate. In sparsely populated East Cupcake North Dakota it might pretty much be much the same today. But no, not so fast, you live in New York State; the State with the most confusing, complicated archaic election laws in the entire universe. I know, been there, done that! Efforts to change and simplify New York’s election laws have been downed faster than White Castle hamburgers with the same belly bombing after effects. Sitting politicians will not and can not digest change and nothing less than a miracle has brought about term limits in some dynastic kingdoms.

Running for office, any office in the “Empire State” is so difficult and complicated it’s difficult to know where to start. I suggest you start with a visit to a Psychiatrist. We have a state where the major political parties and incumbents have a strangle hold on the system. Oy, the office holder has such a deal especially with the new term limits—there’s always the next higher step that he/she seems to glide into oh so easily and that being done a “seat is left vacant” and the chase begins anew and you don’t have to be a genius to know who the favorites will be.

In General there are Election Districts, Assembly Districts, Congressional Districts, State Senate, Council and Civil Court Districts in any race have the maps and voter registration records that can be purchased from the Board of Elections. You have to file all the required mountain of forms. There is a “Calendar” for this to know how and when to file the forms and dates are super critical and then there is the Financial Reporting; you best know to do this or forget running for office—if you mess up on the slightest technicality you will never see your name on the ballot and I haven’t begun to mention “signatures and challenges!”

Then there is getting people to sign your petition and that’s akin and as hard as asking people, strangers, for a blood donation and just as there are blood types there are “types of registered voters.” Only registered democrats can sign for a democratic candidate—republican for a republican and so on. They can only sign for one candidate once. If you need, say 1000 signatures to get on the ballot you’d better submit 5000 and more because sure as shootin’ pardner they will have a small army of worker bees with red pencils for stingers at the Board of Election’s Office to challenge each and every signature. This brings us to the “Special Election” (Note. None of the candidates have a party listing for this) for a vacated seat in the New York City Council. I don’t want to say too about this now; I can’t because there will be a “hearing” and because the signatures “we” got in the dead of winter in the coldest days in years in an allowable span of just 12 days is being challenged. I got under xxxx signatures and some “voter” (and not another candidate?) is the challenger—are you kidding me—come on give me some credit for a modicum of intelligence! Did he get his thirty (30) pieces of silver for this or is this cowardly action the act of some moronic twit! My advice to this jerk is “get a life!” What does he care about how many voters he will disenfranchise if his challenge stands—I wonder if he and others are aware that there is something called “The Vote America Act” mandated by the Federal Government and written into our own NY State Election Laws to remedy inequities in Election Practices throughout the country. The Federal Government wants “fair” elections and WE New Yorkers want this too; darn it, give the people a choice! Don’t demand that candidates be magicians to get on the ballot. All that should be required should be required are applications written in plain English, an indication of serious intent to serve (newsflash, not everyone wants to run for office) and a small otherwise reasonable sampling of signatures. THE SYSTEM CRIES OUT FOR REFORM AND i ECHO THAT CALL!!!

This reminds of a little story that presumably took place in the deep South years before the Civil Rights Movement. An African American and Graduate of Howard University Law went to his County Clerks Office to register to vote. The “good ol’ redneck” behind the counter asked “ Boy, do you know how to read?” To which the man simply replied a dignified “Yes!” The clerk handing him a Chinese Language newspaper said “can you read this?” The man again replied “yes!” The clerk with anger and disrespect in his voice said “Boy, then read it to me!” The man took out his reading glasses and said “it says here that no black man is going to be allowed vote in this county until we defeat Ol’ Jim Crow!!!”

Years ago when I ran for a seat in The United State’s House of Representatives so many signatures I collected were challenged (red lined) that what was left was not enough to be placed on the ballot. They gotcha right there—you can’t swing at the ball if you can’t get into the batters box!

At a hearing at the Board of Elections I threatened to handcuff myself to a table in order to get a favorable ruling—that failed so I ended up taking my case to the Federal Courts. Me alone facing a battery of their attorneys and I was lost. The judge was stern and told the attorneys that “they” could be fined up to $10,000.00 for each illegally red lined signature in a Federal Election but, when they got the case postponed to the month of December I cried out, “but your honor, the election is in November” to no avail. This was a classic case of “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied!!!” My Opponent was the sole candidate who won the election that year without a single vote cast against him. It was like having the Kentucky Derby with only one horse; another appropriate sports analogy!

It was pure idealism that made me decide to run in the first place when in the prior election for Congress the Incumbent had every single line on the ballot; Dem., Republican, Conservative, Right-to-Life and all the rest, one had no choice—if you wanted to vote it was for him or nothing! I burned inside as I asked myself “what country am I living in?” That burning flame became so intense that I vowed that I would run myself as the challenger and even if it was as if I had to learn to read a foreign language newspaper called NY State Election Laws. But, hell someone had to do it!

Did me and my 85 young college men and women staff and volunteers stand a chance of being elected; of winning the election? When my opponent saw the when and how we collected so many signatures he must have thought so; or maybe it was the buttons and my campaign t-shirts on handsome young men and pretty young co-eds that made him or his advisors and patrons decide to “nip this dangerous thing, this young Fiorello, in the bud!” Too much was at stake—millions and millions of dollars and big barrels of pork and jobs and favors to be had!!!

To be continued if requested;

Part 2, A Campaign in Action; the learning curve and the actual running of a political campaign to follow.


Sam Di Bernardo,

Candidate for New York City Council Dist. 32 Queens

THE COMEBACK KID...

As Rick said to Sam in the movie "Casablanca" "You played it for her, you can play it for me!" So, play this movie and as Sam DiBernardo says"YES, WE CAN!"
Google my name and see me on you tube at www.youtube.com/electsam

I don't have the money other candidates have so I hammer away here, noting (marketing wise) that my targeting is too broad and I can't afford to "select" my audience and because name recognition is the "name of the game!!!"

City Council Seat For Sale!

FOR SALE!
NY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 32, QUEENS OFFICE!

It seems that some Candidates for the NY City Council District 32, Queens, NY have some very deep deep pockets with so much money to spend it appears like they are trying to buy their way into office. I wont mention any names (let them buy their publicity; they can afford it) but, one has spent close to $100,000. 00 in his campaign and, incidentally, wonder of wonders was able to file thousands of signatures 2 days after filing was announced—is he a miracle worker or something else?

Was the gun jumped or did some Candidates “stockpile signatures?” I, Sam DiBernardo, am running on fumes but my background, knowledge, experience and ethics are the strongest of any Candidate and I, at 74, have “been around the block a couple of times so, don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes! People like these should be rejected by the Voters! DON’T LET THEM FOOL YOU THE VOTER!!!

Two other candidates have already spent $50,000 in round fat numbers! Is this fair? I think not! Financial Procedures and “Limits” have been defined by the Campaign Finance Board so, fellow Candidates don’t dance around these rules. Play fair and don’t play “the knock your opponent off the ballot game.” If the people like and believe in you and your message, then you will be elected. Remember, no Candidate is in a position to promise JOBS or anything else. He or she will sit in the NY City Council in a temporary position as a newcomer and asked to wisely cast their votes and opinions on issues (and even initiate new ones) brought before the Board.” Like it is—I calls ‘em likes I sees them!” Can I Hear an AMEN!

Sam DiBernardo,
The Older but Wiser Candidate for NY City Council, District 32 Queens, NY

A Very Special Day...

How fitting is it that the day Barack Obama is inaugurated that I filed my “Certificate of Acceptance!”—complying with the Election Law that designates me as a Candidate for NY City Council, District 32 Queens. It seems that this is an omen that bodes well and I feel that I answer his call to service and the challenge to face that call against all the odds and seemingly insurmountable problems; one of seven Candidates with no money or “party” support! Shame on anyone or anything that tries to prevent me or anyone from this call to service! The seven, all of good will and intentions should appear on the ballot AND LET THE PEOPLE DECEIDE who to vote for! It the right way—it is The American Way and none should interfere with this sacred right! Do I make good sense in speaking the truth?

I feel that I was a little part of the generation that brought today’s change about when as an Activist and Candidate for the US House of Representatives 32 years ago I did my part in enrolling African American and voters of all races, creeds and religions. Along with my petitions I carried stacks of “Voter Registration Forms”—I carried them into Rochdale, Richmond Hill, Ozone and Rego Park and to all areas that was in that day Congressional District 7. I would ask “are you a registered voter?” and if the answer was no I would give them the form and take the time to tell how important it is to exercise that right that so many have given their lives for. Had I the time in the Special Election on Feb. 24th I would do the same…

So today, January 20th, 2009 is a special day, an historic day and a day I, along with millions of Americans, shall never forget.

Sam DiBernardo

Elect Sam the Man To Win...

Practice Makes Perfect--This is the Video to Watch!

Sam The Man the Video

Sam DiBernardo for Education for Schools for NYC Council District 32 Queens

HELP THE UNDERDOG WIN!

I am definately the "Underdog" in the race for the NY City Council District 32, Queens seat and I need your help and support:

KOREAN WAR VETERAN

LONG TIME COMMUNITY RESIDENT

VETERAN EDUCATOR

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN

As a retired HS Computer Teacher do I know about Education and Technology Issues?
You Betcha! I like to see the Federal Moneies slated for NYC Dept of Ed Released and used solely for that purpose. I want to see each kid has a computer or laptop!

Do I know about issues about Safety and help for Senior Citizens? You Betcha--I am 74 and I know the problems Seniors can face!

I was in the Mortgage Industry so I have knowledge that can help those with Mortgage problems in the City Council...

Do You want to see a better Economy--so do I and I will vote for Bills that support that effort---VOTE FOR ME!!!

EMAIL ME AT forlearning@hotmail.com and catch my blogs at

http://www.thoughts.com/electsam/blog

http://electsamdibernardo32.blogspot.com/


http://astadido.blogspot.com/

Thank you,

Sam DiBernardo

A Couple of MY Sayings...

Life isn't a bowl of cherries but, you can't do anything without a sense of humor...

If you can't laff at yourself, everyone else will...

Pizza Pie is a great learning tool--I used to promise my students a Pizza Party to encourage good performance and grades. Best money I ever spent!

Catch MY Video and vote for me...

Campaign Update...

Hello Everybody, This is my Campaign Update:

I’m one day closer to becoming the New York City Councilperson from District 32, Queens and it has been an “Uphill Battle!” The big stumbling block has been getting the required signatures and it seems that the weather and other factors have conspired against me. I have been out there in what feels like sub-zero weather collecting signatures.

I have met all my filing requirements and deadlines including financial disclosure reports (and it wasn’t easy) and I have opened a checking account, as required, and that account is a DBA Samuel DiBernardo 4 City Council and I can legally accept $1,375 from individual contributors; which is, incidentally, tax deductible! There is no limit on what I can amass because I am not asking for matching campaign funds. Unfortunately I cannot accept Corporate or PAC monies. I will be asking for contributions when the time is right and I hope in my heart of hearts that I will not be denied…

My opponents are like sharks and there is blood in the waters. I and others can expect to be challenged and it’s going to be like “The Shootout at the O. K. Corral!!!” Going to Court and other legal means might have to be used to resolve this scramble.

Those of you who know me also know that am a fighter and not a quitter and I will take this campaign to its conclusion—be it bitter or glorious.

God has blessed me with many talents and a strong desire to help my fellow man and especially the children and it would be a sin to do nothing. To be able to serve is all I ask from 3/4's of a century of life.

Sam

Love Ya All

A Blurb About The World At Your Fingertips...

This is an excerpt from the full story below that I'm sure you will enjoy reading. I write these stories because life isn't all about "Politics" and because I think I'm still a teacher at heart. Please read and become a "Follower!"

Enjoy,

Sam DiBernardo


I like to tell a cute story about my first elementary classroom with 12 TI computers. One afternoon I stayed late and programmed each and every computer. The next day when my first, my brightest and favorite class came rushing into my room I kicked them out and very sternly had them line up in the hall. Oh, Oh they thought Mr. D is cross with us and we better watch out and listen to him. I had them walk into the room 2 by 2 and directed them to their assigned desks with the instructions “touch nothing until I tell you”—they were as quiet as a mouse (which we didn’t have yet). Then I told them to raise their index finger and hold it up and when I say Go, hit the enter key. GO! And, every screen lit up at the same time with a Halloween Jack-O-Lantern with the message Happy Halloween! The kids went wild and rushed up and surrounded me with the happiest laughter and smiles on earth! What Joy! Pure Joy! I’ll wager that none of those kids ever forgot that day! That still fills me with so much pride I could burst!

The World At Your Fingertips...

Computer Search Engines

by Sam DiBernardo

The Biblical saying and encouragement “Seek and Ye Shall Find” has never been truer than it is today, especially when it comes to finding whatever information you are looking for on the Internet. How and when the Internet began and was first developed can be found—yes—on the internet in pages chock full of information like Wikipedia but the important thing is how did I find this information that you yourself can look up in the first place. Well I started with a “Search Engine” and the one I used for this search was “Google” but there are others like Yahoo and Microsoft and “Ask” (formerly Ask Jeeves).

When I started with personal computers and it seems like it was at the dawn of civilization my first “PC” was a Tandy TL-2. I toyed with K-Pro (which I adored) and Texas Instruments TI-99 and big sized IBM computers. But I think that the TL-2 was one my first serious entries into home computing along with the Commodor 64 which billed itself as “The Worlds First Personal Computer” introduced at the Consumer’s Electronics show in Chicago, 1977, before Apple and Radio Shack’s Tandy Computers introduced theirs. I used to see the Commodor in the window showcases of the camera stores on 40th street in NYC and was tempted to buy one but, the TL-2 (which I could play with in a Radio Shack Store) had everything I wanted at a price I could afford—still a great formula for buying computers today!

My TL-2 had a modem and I could even in those early days join in on “group chats” and had my first experience with the primitive web. Got my introduction to “Hyper Text” with my hook-up. Text would be highlighted in different colors— left click any of them and the message behind them was displayed but it was slower than my grandmother climbing stairs in a Hi-Rise and just as iffy!

My Tandy had a “language” all it’s own and so did the other machines. This was before IBM and Bill Gates developed DOS (Disk Operating Systems). IBM failed to recognize the potential of DOS and virtually gave it to Mr. Gates for free—Bill went on to start Microsoft and learned to do windows; so, how big and rich are they today?

My first computer teaching job was in an Elementary School in Canarsie, Brooklyn and we had the Texas Instrument puters that had to use a tv as the screen with a special UHF switch and the programming language was “Logo” and to begin you typed in “Tell Turtle” to work a simple program or two. I recall it had the one and only computer game called “Pong!” The kids loved it— being a big kid myself, so did I! Incidentally, you couldn’t make a diagonal line or anything circular; everything looked like it was made with Leggo blocks.

I like to tell a cute story about my first elementary classroom with 12 TI computers. One afternoon I stayed late and programmed each and every computer. The next day when my first, my brightest and favorite class came rushing into my room I kicked them out and very sternly had them line up in the hall. Oh, Oh they thought Mr. D is cross with us and we better watch out and listen to him. I had them walk into the room 2 by 2 and directed them to their assigned desks with the instructions “touch nothing until I tell you”—they were as quiet as a mouse (which we didn’t have yet). Then I told them to raise their index finger and hold it up and when I say Go, hit the enter key. GO! And, every screen lit up at the same time with a Halloween Jack-O-Lantern with the message Happy Halloween! The kids went wild and rushed up and surrounded me with the happiest laughter and smiles on earth! What Joy! Pure Joy! I’ll wager that none of those kids ever forgot that day! That still fills me with so much pride I could burst!

Some years later when I taught computers in High School a kid ran up to me all excited and said Hey Mr. D look what I found! We had a high speed internet connection by then and he clicked on to a page called “Ask Jeeves.” He said go ahead and ask any question and there it was a real full-blown search engine and it was pretty darn good with information arranged in categories—very useful to kids doing class writing and research projects. Dangerously, plagiarism reared its ugly head and it is alive and well today. I have always encouraged students to use their own words and there are web sites that an instructor can check to see if a term paper or thesis has been plagiarized.

Trying to explain what these search engines have brought into our lives is absolutely impossible. The amount of information they can tap into and deliver to you is staggering; and the speed at which your query can be answered is as fast as the speed of light any fiber network can deliver. They are powered by banks and banks of supercomputers working at full tilt. Google got the “leg up” on this technology and the others have been playing catch-up ever since. Alas, I knew of Google’s potential early on and my only regret is that I didn’t buy Google Stock at the IPO (Initial Public Offering).

Simply, one of the ways that Google gathers income is by the arrangement of the information and paid for links and the others are by advertising and more... Their income, as reflected by their stock prices, is in the billions—I knew that Google was a winner from the first time (and it was very early on) that I searched for information. That first search turned into hours and hours of going from link to link—I became “Linky” and still am—for me there is no such thing is a simple search. Loving it!

Finally, If I have made any reference or made any errors in this story or if you want to learn more just go to Google and have some fun! I offer this advice because I guess I’m still a Teacher at heart!!!

Sam DiBernardo is a Candidate for NY City Council Dist. 32 Queens

Identity Theft in the Information Age, Part 3

THE DREADED DATABASE: Why to Keep Your Personal and Driver’s License Information Private and Safe

by Sam DiBernardo

I can remember as a younger man, in my salad years, one glorious summer day in the country traveling thru Intercourse, York and Lancaster, Pa in what is known as “Pennsylvania Dutch Country.” And, Oh Boy, I was tickled pink to send my friends post cards from Intercourse, Pa with humorous lines like “hey baby, I’m home” and “virgin no more!” It was while in a roadside curio shop buying the cards is where I saw a sign with an with an Amish saying that, like a red hot branding iron, burned it onto my mind and remembered ever since. That sign read: “TOO SOON OLD, TOO LATE SMART!”

Today, as a Senior Citizen, I know exactly what they meant! Moreover, if I did get a bit smarter and perhaps wiser at age 74, I figure that if I have a healthy body and mind, I’m ahead of the game. I think the trick is to keep your mind active—to exercise it more vigorously than an Olympic Athlete would train his body. So, in my sixties I went back to college to take advanced computer science courses and I earned enough credits to get a New York State License to teach computers.

I “Aced” every course except one and now I know why. That course was called something like “Managing Computer Databases 101” and as I got into it I saw something dark and sinister. I intensely dove into the course work—the hell with the silly & younger Prof—it was the knowledge and not the grade I wanted and was getting; so, I made up my own course work!

What I learned is that almost every thing and every bit of data in the universe is somewhere in a database and spiritually there might be one fantastic database in heaven! Face it St. Peter needs to have information about us at the “Pearly Gates” and so does Santa to know who’s naughty or nice. It’s a stretch, I know but, think of it—think of all the government agencies local and national, of all the banks, insurance companies, marketing firms etc that have collected information on you and about you. Even George Orwell couldn’t have conceived of this near critical mass of information and data about us!

Databases range from a simple one that you can make with MS Excel & Dbase III and higher and the cool one you get in MS Office called “Access” just to name a few. Some programs are so large and sophisticated that they have to run on super computers and others with computers hooked up in parallel that can handle trillions and trillions bits of data or 10 to the 12 power ( or as we say in Italian “Momma mia, atsa biga number) bits per second of information ! Anyhow, whether correct or not it is like biting into ice cream and getting “brain freeze” or as the math freaks call it “number numbness!” Staggering just to think of this kind of computer speed and capacity.

Now the simple sequence is A. pick the program, B. design the program to do what you want from it and then C. tediously enter the data. Then what you do is massage or “sort” for the information you want—people who eat whatever, do whatever, have whatever—you got the point. Sort through DNA, takes time but, no problem as many criminals now know. Sorting is an interesting subject in and of itself and one can make analogies to sifting or opening and closing gates and even panning for gold (and believe me to some this information is sometimes more valuable than even diamonds).

Here’s where I’ve been leading: If someone has a grudge with you along with the knowledge to hack into and enter false information into a data base ( like the databases maintained by the New York State Dept. of Motor Vehicles) and the information is about you or even if it is a common error like listing someone as deceased in a SS database you could be in for trouble with a capital “T!” Try convincing the Social Security Administration that you are still alive. Pure Agita!

Your driver’s license has tons of critical information—speeding violations, DUI, suspensions and I’ve been led to believe even serious criminal information and more; even your social security number—and I have been laughed at for telling that to people! Now, there are laws Federal, State and Local about who and why someone can “run” your driver’s license. Look here:

[The Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), Public Law No. 103-322 codified as amended by Public Law 106-69, was originally enacted in 1994 to protect the privacy of personal information assembled by State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs). The Drivers Privacy Protection Act safeguards the personal information of licensed drivers from improper use or disclosure. It is a valid exercise of federal authority in that it seeks to protect a fundamental privacy interest. It restricts the activities of states only to the extent that it concerns the subsequent use or disclosure of the information in a manner unrelated to the original purpose for which the personal information was collected. The states should not impermissibly burden the right to travel by first compelling the collection of sensitive personal information and then subsequently disclosing the same information for unrelated purposes.]

So, this is why, aside from official use, your permission is required for somebody to gain access to the information on your driver’s license. What kind of information is stored? Here’s a list:

This information includes the driver's name, address, phone number, Social Security Number, driver identification number, photograph, height, weight, gender, age, certain medical or disability information, and in some states, fingerprints.

There are serious penalties if one chooses to illegally obtain or make false entries—these are considered Criminal Acts. Are there those with the desire and ability to get into databases, any databases including the NYS-DMV and your driver’s license?—You betcha! And, you can bet they can screw you over silly and make your life miserable and worse—they can rob you, rape you and even murder you. Heck, they know where you live! How do you like these options? This is why they enacted the law in the first place--it stemmed from a series of stalkings/murder/rapes--"Trust me, trust no one!" Sorry, I have to use my first and only oxymoron for today.

In doing the research for this story I had a conversation with the Commander of a local police precinct— this Captain is a real sharp and computer savy guy; he was easy to talk to and he’s a real cop’s cop and a leader but he wasn’t correct when he told me it’s impossible to crack “the system” and even when a license or registration is run there are restrictions and guidelines. He said something like the days when a friend who is a cop can get that information for you are gone and that if caught, they could loose their job. Sorry Captain, your knowledge and skill is why you are in a high position and why they pay you the big bucks but, I disagree. Perhaps I am a too soon old, but, now I am a much smarter chap who happens to be a computer geek. Maybe, and just maybe I know more about computers than John Law believes about probabilities and possibilities. I am also sorry to say that somewhere along the way I lost the ability to believe that there is “good” in everyone---there is in most but sadly, not in all. Keep your drivers lic in your wallet where it belongs and hopefully you never have to use it and do as your mother told you "wear clean underware in case you are in an accident!"

PS, I had the FBI come into my HS computer class and arrest a 14 year old student of mine for "hacking" into the Pentagon's Computers. I didn't tell that to the Captain--I didn't want to frost his apples (computers that is)LOL...




Sam DiBernardo, Candidate for NY City Council, Dist. 32 Queens

Help Me To Collect Signatures

The Pen Is Mightier...

A Letter to the Editor They Were Afraid To Publish

by Sam DiBernardo

Dear Editor, when someone slashes your tires, eggs and keys your car and does the most horrific things to one and is unseen, hiding behind the cloak of stealth and darkness; perhaps captured on camera and quickly erased so that even though they certainly know who the criminal/criminals are, the proof needed to make an arrest is lacking; and the criminal acts condoned or even ordered-- What do you do? YOU FIGHT BACK!

I don’t believe in acts of criminal mischief but, that doesn’t mean I can’t fight back with all the weapons at my disposal; my talents as a poet and writer! Yes, I can fight back with my most dangerous weapon MY PEN!!!
So, Mister, this might be a first, it is A Poem to the Editor with a note that all people are NOT hopeless and some fight back against all odds and against horrific autocratic rule and this is how! It matters not you refused its publication for this is a new age and a new time—it is THE AGE OF THE BLOG!!!

The Co-Op Board

After oozing forth
Out from under a dark rock
The slime is formed and becomes
The Ambrosia of Gore
Like the snake
That sheds its putrid scaled skin
it slithers
And it creeps into power
scratching clutching grabbing holding on to corrupt
More and board power it craves
To fill his spiteful clawing paws
to spawn dissent and enmity
and line his purse made of sow’s ear
Yo be it, he vilifies all that is good and pure
Corrupting corruption beyond hell
And to keep a strangulating grip
on the throat of the goddess of truth
it forms the cadre
The blind and muted co-op board
the mindless and easily led few
that suckle at puss laden teats
to curry his favor and gain ill gotten rewards
The treasured member is he who sucks up
this scum of mutts
the juice of his ignorance
the putridification of many years
to suffer his poison
To suffer his rule
But know he is truly cursed
with sickness of mind and filth filled soul

So good men, women and ye of courage
In its Eye
Poke it with stick and arrow
As the gods have done
To suffer no more
To suffer no more

Sam Di Bernardo, Candidate for City Council Dist 32, Queens NY

Identity Theft in the Information Age, Part 2

The Painful Lessons I learned That Can Spare You...

by Sam Di Bernardo

Protecting your Social Security Number and Personal Information

You have probably heard over and over ad infinitum “be careful and guard your Social Security Number and don’t as the street hood’s say, during a robbery, “give it up!”

Your identity is, or should be, one of your most precious possessions! I don’t want to be overly intellectual about this but, if you are a drama and literature lover, see to what extent the importance a name and an identity was to Arthur Miller’s character, John Proctor in “The Crucible” you would see “it was to die for!”

Nowadays, you might not want to die to protect your name and identity but, you might wish you were dead when your “money in the bank” is no longer “ your money in the bank” and when your credit is massacred and you are in a mess that might take years to untangle; when bill collectors become so familiar they call you by your first name and when it takes countless phone calls and being put “on hold” for eternities it is then it becomes a living hell!

You can’t protect yourself totally but, there a few prudent steps to take to safeguard your Social Security Number. For instance, make sure who you are providing that number to has the right to see and use that number. Don’t put it on so called “junk mail” or solicitations –those mailing lists are bought and sold and you just might as well advertised it on TV. If you are filling out an application for employment you don’t have to “give up” that number until you are employed. I know it’s on many older application but leave that line blank. If the Interviewer gives you grief about this (as once happened to me)it will give you a hint about how working for that employer will be. You’ll get that job if they like what you have to offer; you can then give it to the human resources officer and gladly give that information to the folks that write your paycheck! Ouch, there’s a deduction in that salary check for it but, pray tell, you’ll get it back if you live long enough and I hope you do!

Make sure you shred all old paper work that contain that kind of information—shredders are cheap much cheaper than the garbage picker with an eye for a “quick score!” Also, make sure that if your social security number is being verified for a purchase or account that ONLY THE LAST FOUR NUMBERS ARE GIVEN!!! Finally, if someone calls and asks for your Social Security Number, hang up or they will hang you! Thieves have become so clever and scams so sophisticated and enticing that you have to ask yourself “is this too good to be true then, say to yourself, forgeddaboudit!

I remember a great line in an old movie-- I believe it was spoken by Melvin Douglas or Paul Newman—trivia buffs would know but, the line was “someday a gent will bet you any amount that he can make the jack of clubs jump out of a deck and spit in your ear and son, if you take that bet you’re going to end up with an earful of spit” I don’t think spit was the word he used or intended! ROTFL (As your kids know is roll on the floor laughing).

Remember, when is the last time someone gave you something for nothing. I’m seventy four and I don’t recall ever receiving such manna! When someone knocks on my door or calls me on the phone it is as sure, as God made little green apples, they are asking for something! Come on now, I don’t have to tell ya you don’t get something for nothing on this planet.

Why did I mention my age? I did because we Senior Citizens who have worked, sacrificed, scrimped and saved all our lives to enjoy our so called “golden years” are the biggest targets! Why? We grew up in simpler times—when a man’s word was as good as his bond and a deal in the millions of dollars could be consummated with a handshake. If you shake somebody’s hand today you better check and see if it’s still attached to your arm…

Finally, An old friend of mine, who lives in a neighborhood in Florida with so many New Yorkers’ that it’s called “the sixth borough” sent me this email after reading my last article and although I believe he is being overly cautious (we differ about buying on the Internet) this 14th Cavalry Vet, is right on target. He writes:

“Hi Sam, I agree with you 100 % about the problem of identity theft! It's a serious issue here in Fla. and it's discussed almost every month in our Sheriff Dept. meetings. I try to protect mine by NEVER buying anything on the internet and, never listing any personal or financial info on the computer-- not that I have any substantial secret funds that some smart hacker can gain access to but, I try my best to hang on to anything that I do have.”

“I keep one credit card with the minimum allowable line of credit and I'll use that to buy gas or if it's a purchase that insists on a credit card like booking an airline or hotel reservation. I try to pay cash for everything else. Your article was excellent, I hope someone publishes it; or at least reads your blog”



Protecting Your Driver’s License Information and Age Discrimination to follow.

Sam DiBernardo, Candidate for NY City Council, District 32 Queens

Identity Theft in the Information Age

What is Identity, In a Word:

A MUST READ!
by Sam DiBernardo

I love Andy Rooney and Charles Osgood and when I grow up, I want to be just like them. There are many reasons for my admiration but, what I like the most is how they tell a story. Story telling seems to be disappearing lost art, but, was once a major form of communication and even the way one generation passed its knowledge and values, and much more, to the next and succeeding generations. What story telling demands is time, patience and a willingness to listen and that seems contrary to the way we get our information today with “sound bites” emails, faxes and computer data transmission –broadband, fiber optics and the like. It seems like the faster information travels the shorter our attention span.

I don’t know who first dubbed this time in human history as the “Information Age” but it does seem to be the best definition and description of the times we live in but, let us not color all we do 21st Century in monochromatic bits and bytes. These are some of the most pregnant ideas and thoughts I have had since reading Marshall McLuhan’s thoughts that “The Medium is the Message!”

I remember, I believe it was in the movie “Network” that Peter Finch as newsman Howard Beale cries “go to your nearest window and yell as loud as you can, I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” I’m sure we all feel that way sometimes.

Where am I going with this and why am I bringing this up? It is because I want to broaden the definition of “Identity Theft” to include the insidious theft of “Our Humanity!” (Remember you heard it here first!)

Ok, so someone steals your Social Security number and credit cards—creates a new identity or uses yours for his or their gain not giving one fig what happens to you. Costly, troublesome but you can recover and recover all the wiser. Gee, “I won’t be that stupid again you say to yourself!” But, what if you were libeled, slandered and or discriminated against—doesn’t that scalpel go to the core of who and what you are—isn’t that your true identity they are trying to steal?

Every single race, religion and group of people in America has been discriminated against at one time on another. Some discrimination and prejudice are constant and will seemingly never end and some, it seems, “morph” into different shapes and appearances depending on the prevailing mood of the day.

I try to write about what I know and about my experience and just hope what I do write hits on some universality, some truth. If you have read some of my pervious columns you will know that I am 74 and very much a Senior Citizen. I have mentioned that I wanted to deal with “Age Discrimination” as a form of Identity Theft and I did write about Seniors as being one of the most vulnerable groups in our society---an elderly person sitting alone at home and lonely can fall prey to every known con man and scam. Some know better and know how to and will fight back! But this is not that kind; this is more harmful. I hope I have laid down a nice base coat for the story I am about to tell. It’s about how and what and I did to fight back in the hopes of inspiring others…

Since this is a true story and not a fairy tale I won’t start with “Once upon a time,” but, what happened, what this story is about, still angers me. Some years back, while in my sixties, I applied for a position as a Lab Assistant/Instructor in Graphics Arts at a New York City Technical College. It was a position that I was eminently qualified for and eager to get because I thought I would lead to my goal of someday becoming a College Professor.

I was one of three applicants called in for an interview and only later did I find out that it fell under the NY City Dept. of Personnel guidelines as “the one-in-three rule!” That meant that they, the College had to have three candidates to comply with the law. But, what I didn’t know was that they had already chosen; they had made their choice and that this was just a ruse that was going down just for appearances. I wasn’t going to get that job even if my name was Matthew Brady or Steiglitz. To further compound the unfairness I was interviewed by a panel consisting of the Dept. Chairman and 6 professors seated in a semicircle shooting, rapid fire, questions at me and this is when it happened!

One of the professors said: “I know I’m not supposed to ask, but, how old are you?” The question was like a thunderclap! I heard an audible gasp from the group and saw the Chairman roll his eyes and shake his head! Inside I fumed and thought Damn it, if you’re not supposed to ask, THEN DON’T ASK! How in sam’s hill could I answer that question? Whether intentional or not, he just screwed me! The clammy faced Chairman broke in and with some gratuitous words, ended the interview—but the damage was done and he knew it. He followed me out of the room, into the hall, down the elevator and right to the building’s entrance trying to blow smoke with the stench of false flattery up my, for politeness I’ll say, nose—telling me how qualified I was and what a great resume and how wonderful my interview was and that they would call me. He was, I’m sure, hoping I would forget about it and do nothing—WRONG!

The minute I got home I went into action! Out came my trusty laptop and I Google’d and Yahoo’d and searched for everything I could find about the College and Staff and found that Mr. Big Shot Chairman was a phony who got most his credentials by mail order courses! Then I scoured the web re “Age Discrimination and set out to contact every Fed, State and City Gov’t agency I could find and, they were contacted.

It was with the Fed’s EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) that I got my sought after justice. Sorry, it was my well deserved revenge that I got. The College had to put six attorneys to work—letters and documents flew back and forth and when I saw them through the “Freedom of Information Act” I ended up with a file as thick as a telephone book and the knowledge they ended up with condemnation, sanctions and a hefty fine—I collected not a dime but ended with the satisfaction that I didn’t think they would ever do that to anyone ever again; at least not at anytime soon—but, you have to know that even college professors are not immune to stupidity!

I am, after all, glad that I didn’t become a professor; at least not one like them! I became a High School Computer Teacher—loved every moment and never looked back. In my lesson plan books I always wrote: “Don’t forget to give a lesson to all the jerks in the world that some people will fight to the bitter end to uphold their integrity and self esteem” and I never heard one supervisor or principal complain…



Sam DiBernardo is a Candidate for NY City Council District 32 Queens

My Committment and Where I Stand...

Whether, I Sam DiBernardo, win this election or, not, is in God’s hands!

As the acknowledged underdog will do all I can do to win and do this because I feel I am the best candidate!

I am a “grounded and common sense person” with a great sense of humor and I possess the wisdom, knowledge and experience that age brings! I firmly believe that a good education is the key to a happy and successful life and will do my best to see that all New York’s school children get the best schools, teachers and materials necessary to inspire them to reach for the stars…