Bill Maher Puts Things in Perspective

There are so many reasons we should have not gone to Iraq, even if we want to protect ourselves against terrorists. Here is another.

Click on the title to go to YouTube to see this clip.

Star Simpson gives her side of the story

You may remember the incident at the Boston airport when a young lady was taken to jail after she showed up at the airport wearing a sweatshirt that had blinking lights. Many of the news reporters commented that she was "really dumb" to wear such an outfit to the airport and that airport security had every right to arrest her in the interest of airport safety and security.

As Star says in her comments, it was all theater. The huge inconveniences we have to put up with these days at the airport are just to make us feel safe. It has little to do with actually making us safe.

It is just too bad that Star basically had to deal with the after effects of her misadventure that day for a whole year later.

NSA Snooping on Cell Phone Calls

From CNet: A recent article in the London Review of Books revealed that a number of private companies now sell off-the-shelf data-mining solutions to government spies interested in analyzing mobile-phone calling records and real-time location information. These companies include ThorpeGlen, VASTech, Kommlabs, and Aqsacom--all of which sell "passive probing" data-mining services to governments around the world.

More proof that privacy is dead.  We now need laws that require that any organization using this software be disclosed to the public including their purpose for using the software and whom they intend to "probe".

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U.S. Government Policy for Seizing Laptops at Borders

Amazing. The U.S. government has published its policy: they can take your laptop anywhere they want, for as long as they want, and share the information with anyone they want.

This needs to be squashed and fast.  The U.S. does have a Constitution, though it seems to be ignored more and more.  And part of the Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.  By ANY reading of that provision, the seizure of a person's laptop is prohibited.

A laptop becomes an extension of the person and the person's mind.  This is the equivalent of taking a portion of a person's brain for government inspection.

Here's the actual policy:

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Legislators aim to snuff out penalties for pot use

The U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users, Rep. Barney Frank said Wednesday, announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance. "The vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government's business," Frank said.  This proposal probably won't get any traction, but one can always hope.  Rep. Frank should at least be applauded for his effort.

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Library confrontation points up privacy dilemma

AP - Children's librarian Judith Flint was getting ready for the monthly book discussion group for 8- and 9-year-olds on "Love That Dog" when police showed up.  Her courageous stand needs to be cheered by all who cherish our basic rights.  The police, however, were eventually able to gain access to the library's computers.  Which still leaves the questions about what information did they gather and what did they do with it.  We must demand transparency of our government officials.  There must be procedures in place which allow overseers to monitor what our police do with the information they are gathering on us.

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Harassment and Lawyers

Harvey Silvergate makes a reasonable exposition in his article, If I Ran the Zoo XI concerning the proper definition of harassment, and the role lawyers are playing these days in "advising" colleges and universities on the policies and procedures they should adapt to deal with harassment.

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