Read This

This article discusses the high crimes of US officials with information from a former translator, Sibel Edmonds. The article claims that US officials sold nuclear information/access to nuclear information to Pakistan and Turkey. I don't know why we haven't heard more on this. Two more articles are on this blog, which also contains an interview with Sibel Edmonds.

Whose Missile?

Al Jazeera reports 12 dead in Pakistan's tribal region North Waziristan early today. The dead are thought to be pro-Taliban. Pakistani Intelligence personel say a missile struck the region, and the residents of the region reported seeing two drones fly over the attacked area last night. Two drones and a missile... the attack had to be compliments of either Pakistan or Coalition forces from neighboring Afghanistan.

The NY Times had an article commenting on the failing Pakistani policy towards Taliban in its tribal areas. Washington has been debating possible options and solutions to create greater security in Pakistan; as the Times article pointed out two days ago, "The administration is also debating whether to strengthen covert operations by the Central Intelligence Agency."

Even if the missile attack was the doing of US/Coalition forces, Pakistan would not admit this. The Pakistani government realizes that they cannot afford to seem like they do not have firm control over operations in their nation. The Pakistani Army/Gov. can not allow the appearance that Pakistan's sovereignty is threatened; that the tribal areas and other rebellious and separatist regions threaten the current administration installation. Which is why on January 9, Musharraf publicly refused the appeals of both Michael Hayde (CIA Director) and Mike McConnell (Director of National Intelligence) to allow greater CIA freedom in operations within the tribal regions.

Two drones and a missile killing Taliban supporters? It wasn't Pakistan.

Earmark Reform

According to WhiteHouse.com, the President will issue an executive order sometime today reforming earmarks. This reform would force Congress to include their pork barrel-earmarks in the regular text of a bill, therefore ensuring that Congress would debate each allocation and vote on all of the earmarks. Bush has also pledged to veto any budget that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half.

A Human Rights Benchmark?

The Saudi Arabian government permits the first civilian social group, Ansar Al-Marah, dedicated to women's rights in the Kingdom. This seems to be a step in the right direction, though it is hard to tell the direction of Al-Marah when its leader, Suliman Al-Salman, denies the historical bias against women in Saudi Arabia.

The formation of this organization comes among a wave of recent modernization efforts: the science and technology University under construction, women finally getting to enter the business sector, the King's pardon of the formerly-linked rape victim, even two women allowed to be elected to the chamber of commerce. Women are gaining more human rights, but Saudi Arabia has a lot of ground to make up in the human/civil rights arena. At least now women and human rights advocates have a medium by which they can (sometimes and very politely) voice their disappoval of Saudi Arabian abuse.

Gaza Blockade Legitimizes Hamas

The Christian-Science Monitor reports today that, "Hamas did allow scarce goods to flow into the territory and shown itself capable of forcing an alternative economic lifeline open," due to Israel's border-wall. I don't know how they could have seen that coming... The same article includes a comment from a professor at Hebrew University predicting that as a result, there could be four way negotiations between Egypt, Israel, Hamas, and Fatah; if the Israeli government is set on delegitimizing Hamas' movement and calming some of the extremism of it's followers, then including Hamas in government and official decisions is the way to do it. If Hamas operates with the government, it will have to make sacrifices on some of its extreme positions, with a negotiations compromising its radical agenda, creating watered-down issue stances. This turns away the extremists from the group, but since Hamas is a network form insurgent group (no real heirarchy present, collection of individual cells) the extremist cells will break off to form different groups (which is how Hamas got started after Fatah was legitimized with a truce with Israel-- Lost many dedicated individuals to its suicide missions, mostly less dedicated administrators left, had to hire more legitimate adminstration officials with its negotiations and role in regional government, then it became corrupt and extremists abandoned the group). This would more than likely happen with Hamas, but it just depends if Hamas appears threatening enough to the Israeli dominance of Gaza+West Bank. In a sense it's a gamble, since most insurgent groups are not successful, there is a chance that if Hamas splintered no dominant insurgent group could form, though with the rise of PLO (organization of smaller groups dedicated to the formation of a Palestine state), despite the differing dogma between the allied groups, more minor groups are organizing and becoming more relevant. For the record, I'm quite in favor of a Palestinian state; I am just analyzing the conflict.

Marijuana Vending Machines

Today the BBC reports that California will now be operating marijuana vending machines. The new vending machines will be accompanied by a security guard, and require a prescription, fingerprints, and will take your photo at the machine to make sure that it is actually the patient purchasing the medicine.

This is a great step in civil rights for those who need medicinal marijuana as a pain killer or hunger stimulant, like Angel Raich, who sued the federal government for the 1970 Controlled Substance Act, which outlaws marijuana (among other substances) in any medical. According to the BBC, Mrs. Raich's doctor, "testified that she could die if she stopped taking marijuana," but her trial, decided in March 2007, denied her the right guaranteed by California (not to mention as a human being) to medicinal marijuana.

My beef with the vending machines is the photo aspect. With prescriptions come doctor-patient confidentiality, but I doubt that the photo taken at the vending machine would be covered by such a protection. With the already established dominance of federal law on this issue (reasserted in Mrs. Raich's case), I fear that the feds have the power to obtain the photos and prosecute the customers.

It blows my mind that the American electorate continues to elect officials with a record of, and declaration to commit to future, human rights abuses. This usually takes the form of politicians opposed to medicinal marijuana use (any in general, but there no grounds to deny medicinal use), opposed to homosexual marriage, and those who want to make abortions criminal (though I usually classify that as more civil rights, most abortion discussion devolves into a winless argument).

The Donner Party

The White House just released the names of who will be sharing Mrs. Bush's box during her husband's State of the Union speech tonight. On the list of political volley include: Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush, Lynne Cheney, Lori Ball (homemaker- hurt, by mortgage crisis, later saved by a social program supported by Bush), James Barnard (small business owner from Michigan), a Staff Seargent injured in the war... and etc. As you see, such an elite guest list has more to do with politics than anything else. Administrations play politics with guest lists, as they spell out certain stances on relevant issues by who gets invited to share such an elite spot on the First Lady's guest list.

Ok...is it just me or a lot of teenagers randomly turning up behind both of the Clintons during their concession speeches today? Here, This is the washingtonposts video player, it might show up as Obama's speech, but look at his and then look at bill's and hillary's...

We're all going to die.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080126/ap_on_go_ot/dead_satellite

Real, or all part of their plan?

Web Editing for Dummies

Not saying anyone's a dummy or anything, but I'm a nerd and a couple people have said they didn't know how to do certain things that are actually pretty easy. Here's some simple coding.

To create a link somewhere in your post or comment, make sure you are in the "Edit HTML" tab instead of the "Compose" tab, and type:
<a href="http://www.PENISENLARGEMENTPILLS.com"> DESCRIPTION FOR PENIS PILLS, ETC. </a>

To post a picture from somewhere on the internet, right click on it and open in a new window, copy the URL from the address bar, then put it in this code:
<img src="http://www.PANDASEX.com/weirdpicture.jpg">
(You can also use an image as a link by surrounding it with the link code from above and replacing the "DESCRIPTION FOR PENIS PILLS" with the image code.

Bolding Text:
<B> Text goes here </B>

Italicizing Text:
<I> Text goes here </I>

Underling Text:
<U> Text goes here </U>

There are a lot of websites that offer free HTML advice and have more extensive info than I put up here. That's how I learned to be the Skeezix that I am today. I'll add a link to this tutorial in the bottom of the links on the side of the page. Also, if anyone has an idea for making the blog better, let me know... Dig it.

I didn't think newspapers were supposed to do this.

Who knew?

Attention: If you are from North Carolina and are a Ron Paul supporter...

...you have one more week to register as a republican so that you can vote for him in the primaries.

Just thought I'd make a little announcement.

I got dat neocon fever

If you get a chance check this op-ed piece I found in al-jazeera today. Its funny that the author simplifies our condition so easily, but I can't find much to disagree with him on. Neocons are dangerous, they do control a lot, and they are about to win another four years of control. And though it seems like a conspiracy theory to Americans, it is reality to the people that our foreign policy affects. Here's a little excerpt for you:

"So, if the early political handicapping holds up, the neocons could find themselves in the enviable position next fall of having a super-neocon Republican versus a neocon-lite Democrat. Then, whoever wins, the neocons can expect their policies in the Mideast to continue."

*edit* I found this on youtube shortly after I posted. It's Tucker arguing the point that Hillary is a neocon.

I would like 300 dollars...

Here we go, a new economic stimulus package...and here I thought we were trying to cut down on steroid use...

"Firemen are getting pussy for the first time in the history of fire or pussy."

DHS has been experimenting with a program in New York City aimed at training firefighters to gather intelligence while working, or as the AP describes "identify material or behavior that may indicate terrorist activities."



As the article notes, firefighters need no warrant to access private homes, buildings or institutions. By training this independent force, firefighters don't really need to respond to anyone, but have virtually unchecked power. Well that's not true, because after they gather the information they have to respond to DHS.

...digression...



The top contractor hired by the federal government in fy2007 is Akal Security, bringing in $103,986,622. About $63.5 million of that was earned from contracts that went without compeition. This does not mean that it was a particular industry that doesn't allow competition (Guard services by the way), there is a separate designation for money on uncompetable contracts, that 63.5 mil. was just from not allowing competition for contracts. but don't expect any sort of Democrat contention... Madame Speaker's district brought in $7,602,829, as a result of this one contractor.

Kerry calls for a new kind of politics...

Kerry calls for a new kind of clean politics in an effort to end the smear campaigns against Obama that have been spreading via email and other media. It's sadly surprising to see anyone showing any kind of decency to a candidate with opposing views, especially considering the recent efforts to kill Ron Paul votes by smearing him the day before a primary. Apparently, Obama is a big target of the other candidates. If only our major candidates could act like adults and try to win an election based on honesty, but the fact is, they are out for the money and know they could never win that way.

Also... ruh-roh

The Fourth Amendment is like Wayside Elementary School's Nineteenth Floor

"Each year since 1997, the US-based Electronic Privacy Information Center and the UK-based Privacy International have undertaken what has now become the most comprehensive survey of global privacy ever published. The Privacy & Human Rights Report surveys developments in 70 countries, assessing the state of surveillance and privacy protection. "

That's a quote from the overview of Privacy International's 2007 Privacy Rankings, where the US has achieved a black designated status of "endemic surveillance society." This is the lowest ranking possible. The US enjoys the company of Russia, UK, Thailand, China, Burma (Myanmar)... etc. This survey, completed by the above mentioned groups, ranks things like constitutional protection, statute protection, privacy enforcement, identity cards, government access to data, visual surveillance, communication interception, and other such criteria.

Last year the US was only in the pink designation of "extensive surveillance socieity," the second lowest classification.

It's the aliens, man, they're in my head!

Holy shit, guys, an alien on Mars!
This is crazy. While taking a break from crying about world events, which, the more I look at them, resemble the start of a scary time for us all, I saw a BBC article that got me excited. Either some Photoshop work, not so crafty at that, or a figure of what looks like Copenhagen's mermaid has been found by our Roven on Mars. Since it's not the beginning of April, I can't call this a big NASA joke, but i's crazy to think about.
With so much going on in the news lately, I'll definitely be clogging your minds with more stuff today. More later

non-profit study into pre-Iraq War

Two non profit groups did a study counting the lies told by administration officials leading up to the invasion of Iraq... the total count is (appropriate drumroll if you will) 935 lies. So the age-old question of how many lies does it take to invade a country is answered with ninehundred thirty-five. There is so much to say on this, but nothing that everyone isn't already thinkings, so feel free to post if you'd like, but I doubt I have any unique analysis.

George Clooney keeps swaths of machetes and rocket launchers in his LA flat

We all know about the crisis in Nigeria, but now the rebels want none other than the ... self-proclaimed father of the civil rights movement..., George Clooney, to help in peace negotiations. Nigeria rebels want Clooney's help. I don't want to make light of the situation, but that is the funniest title I've ever seen. It's an effective tool to bring attention to certain situations by allowing a celebrity to highlight injustices. George Clooney's a great actor. I have no qualms... just a funny title.

The Gaza blockade, embodied in an actual fence (embarassing), which can only be interpreted as an effort to radicalize even more Palestinians and sympathizers, fell in certain sections (well it was destroyed by masked militants) allowing deprived, poverty stricken Gazans to go to Egypt to get basic supplies that they need for survival. Blockades are great for holding down minorities and poor people; regional leaders and the wealthy elite have enough supplies to live comfortably enough, the people who suffer are the working poor, who cannot afford the rise in prices that arise from a shortage of supplies.

Here is why a blockade of this nature will not work: extremist groups get the allegiance of communities by providing services for them, and when no legitimate services are provided for, or when they are unobtainable for a whole class of people, the insurgent groups and their connections expand their network and power within individual communities. Neighborhoods and families form allegiances to these groups, and the imposing authority (Israelis in this case) is delegitimized even further. So, yes, the blockade complies with the Israelis goose-stepping in line with the US' struggle against (those in) poverty. An effective strategy to would be to prevent groups from providing services, but it a team of masked men can blow holes in the fenced border, the blockade can do nothing to prevent non-state actors from providing services to the people.

and check this from the Lede (NY Times blog). The Motion Picture Association of America, who previously claimed that college students, due to incessant downloading, were responsible for a 44% drop in movie industry profit, now says that they were lying. Oh, no, my bad, actually it was just a "human error" in miscalculation of percentages. The MPAA now claims that college students are only responsible for 15% revenue loss... thats a big difference for a bad math, maybe the industry should hire college students to compute percentages for accurate propogandist numbers. I'm a big fan of films, but the MPAA needs to keep it real.

Everything Iran

On Thursday Israel carried out missile tests which, according to New York Times speculation, "was part of a program to develop longer-range weapons which could act as a deterrent against Iran." Israeli radio said that the missile could deliver an "unconventional payload", or in other words, a nuke (which they have). This is another threat in a sea of recent conflict between the seemingly inseparable American-Israeli alliance and Iran. We all remember the speed boat incident a few weeks ago and the video that very obviously shows Iran being aggressive... right?

To understand the increasing militancy between Iran and America, we have to look back at the infamous 2002 State of the Union speech.

"States like these [Iraq, Iran, and North Korea], and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic. We will work closely with our coalition to deny terrorists and their state sponsors the materials, technology, and expertise to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction."

Imagine being in Iran and hearing that the most powerful country in the world just classified you as a threat to world peace -- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected in 2005 for being tough on defense. And the rhetoric only steepened as Bush and Cheney continually let it be known Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or even the "know-how" (as if that was a word). It reached its pinnacle in October 2007, around the time Bush threatened World War III. All the while knowing, at earliest in August, that “Iran does in fact have a covert weapons program, but it may be suspended.” The National Intelligence Estimate showing that Iran halted it's nuclear program was released to the public December 3rd and seemingly eased tensions between our two countries, at least for a month.

With this embarrassment behind him, Bush continues his campaign to attack Iran with a new, more familiar approach: repetition of the false. He continues to declare nuclear Iran a threat to the stability of the world while leading the charge on a new set of sanctions, which were drafted yesterday. While Bush may only hurt Iran economically, last Monday Israel President Olmert stated "All options" are on the table for force:

"Israel clearly will not reconcile itself to a nuclear Iran," the meeting participant quoted Olmert as telling the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. "All options that prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capabilities are legitimate within the context of how to grapple with this matter."

Incidentally, on the very same day Bush was in Saudi Arabia selling $20 Billion in arms to the major Sunni power in the region while systematically ranting about Iran being a threat.

So, the response to this Israeli missile test came from Iran on Thursday as well:

"The Zionist regime ... would not dare attack Iran," Ahmadinejad told Al Jazeera television in remarks translated into Arabic, referring to Israel. "The Iranian response would make them regret it, and they know this."
"It knows that any attack on Iranian territories would prompt a fierce response," he added.

If Israel starts fighting with Iran, the United States will undeniably become involved. Only blind speculation can go from there, but I just wanted to bring this worsening confrontation to the spotlight. It feels inevitable at this point with Iran saying that they refuse to halt their nuclear program and Israel saying that if Iran doesn't stop they will be attacked and if attacked Iran will retaliate. Of course Israel has full and unquestionable support from the U.S. in everything they do. Does anybody else see this happening? It almost seems like Bush and Cheney are in full kamakaze mode with Iran. They are even able to fend off clear evidence! I would like to hear what everybody else has to say on this issue because it scares me to no end.

More China

As I was browsing the Fed stuff I came across CFR stuff, which led me to Foreign Affairs. On the main page is a blurb for an article about China as a hegemonic contender entitled, "Changing China." I thought that was a funny find, having just posted about that issue.

So peep this China graphic from the unpopular Foreign Affairs mag. The graphic should be there until Feb., but I can't access a private page with it, but I wanted to concentrate on the language within it:

"Changing China. As China is rising it is evolving. But how far will its political liberalization go? And can its economic and military power be successfully integrated into the existing liberal international order?"

At least one of the articles within examines China's rising power, and argues that China won't necessarily reinvent the international order, but will fall in line with the international organizations set up by post-war America. It is just a possibility that China won't turn over the International system, but it is definitely possible. The author, John Ikenberry, notes that in order for this to even have a chance, the US must validate these international institutions by complying more with International Organizations, which in turn means abandoning its post-9/11 departure from international cooperation to unilateral action. The US empire will end sooner or later, the question is if its legacy will be impressed on the global system in lasting, formidable, cooperative international groups, or if it will be scorned for its unilateral tyranny. I know CFR is a popular opponent, but Ikenberry's ideas in this article are down (well as far as I've read he's down). The values framed in the constitution are best protected if impressed in these organizations, as they currently are, though the organizations need more teeth... more legitimacy. International Organizations will only be validated once the US falls in with its own premises and orgs. A broad international base will be more apt to contend with challenges to our adopted value system.

Designing with the customers best interests in mind......

If you have ever read the book Cradle to Cradle written by architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braunart then you are no stranger to the design paradigms of our country. They speak primarily of designating the designer, any designer, with the sole responsibility with the life off their product. If you put poison in, then poison will come out. The first step to fixing the environmental problems in our country is to understand the problem and where it originates. They take even the most common household products, for example the television and display it for what it really is; a box with enough chemicals inside it to kill a small army, alongside an explosive glass tube at eye level with you and your friends. There is no product untouched by improper and dangerous designing. The speech presented by McDonough touches on many of the issues in the book, but it is no substitute. I would recommend reading Cradle to Cradle if you ever get the chance. You will really think twice the next time you buy anything. If you want to listen to the speech, it is about 45 minutes long (just click on the link above marked "speech").

I know I've been blowing up the page, but...

Sorry, I've posted a lot today, but I came across the bill that Pres just signed into law. It's called the Protect America Act of 2007, and, as the White House reports, it has four basic provisions:

1. Allows the intelligence community to gather intel- phones, internet, etc- without needing court issued warrants.

2. Provides for FISA courts to review intelligence procedures to ensure the target is actually overseas.

3. "The Act Provides For The FISA Court To Direct Third Parties To Assist The Intelligence Community In Its Collection Efforts. The Act permits the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to direct third parties to provide the information, facilities, and assistance necessary to conduct surveillance of foreign intelligence targets located overseas."

4. "The Act Protects Third Parties From Private Lawsuits Arising From Assistance They Provide The Government."

"To direct third parties to provide the information." I was cool with the first two provisions, though I find it unjust, it concerns a law better suited for regulation by an international organization. The last two, however, force a private company to comply with NO WARRANT. I understand forced compliance with a warrant, but without? poppycock. absolute poppycock. And the name? The Protect America Act? Come on... We had enough after the "aptly" named Patriot Act. I know it's a technique that will probably never die, because it is so effective in rallying the bowtied troops, but stop.

A Quickie

President Bush Announces President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, or how to get into trillion dollars of debt in three short years.

Your house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it...

Story of Stuff
This flash video in the link above is awesome! A professor showed it in class today, and it deals with our culture of waste, essentially. The video is really well-made, concise, informative, and the website that hosts it is full of info to help you figure out what to do about all this STUFF!!!

And for a lighter take on it all, George Carlin talking about stuff. (or is it "shit?") While you're at it, this Carlin skit "Owners of this country," is fucking excellent. I have always loved this man!

Also, the Fed cut interest rates in an emergency decision last night (doubtlessly stemming from worldwide market troubles evidenced yesterday when our domestic markets were closed) in an effort to jump start our dwindling economy. Thanks Fed, that should fix it all (sarcasm)

If you don't know about this, the general idea is that the Federal Reserve is the private bank (owned by private investors, many of them foreign, and run, with little government oversight, by a presidentially appointed board of governors) that prints and through that and other measures, controls the value of our currency here in the United States. The rate at which they lend this money that they create to banks that in turn lend it to the people is called the discount rate. Also lowered today was the federal funds rate, defined as the rate at which banks make overnight loans to one another, and just like the name of the bank itself, there is nothing "federal" about it. We shall see what happens...
Also, if some kind of aversion to private banks is ringing a bell in your head, you'll remember that indeed maybe the largest reason for the American Revolution was to get away from the Bank of England, a private bank that has a not so cheery history with regards to our forefathers. As stated by someone you may have heard of, Thomas Jefferson, "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation then by deflation, the banks and the corporations will grow up around them, will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."
Please guys, read about this system that we're all a part of so that one day we can abolish or reform it so that we can really be free.

Some guy with opinions,
Cory

China reminds us that they stepped in the ring two decades ago

Danger Room via Aviation Week and Space Technology reports that China's air defense system is gaining potency by employing both cheap and stolen electronic defense parts (courtesy of the United States). For some reason Russia is the measuring stick for technological air defense by an adversary-thank you Reagan- so it is noted that the threat of China's system is much greater than that of the poor, "democratic" Russian system. This serves as a blaring reminder of the relevance of Chinese policy to international affairs.

This essay by Wayne Bert does a good job outlining Organski's power transition theory and China's possible challenge to US hegemony in the future. Organski argues that international order is established not in anarchy, as neo-liberals and realists alike assume, but in a heirarchical structure with one dominant nation that establishes international norms and even sometimes culture (i.e. US and democracy, freedom, international institutions; Britain and industrialization). Organski made a prediction in the '60s that China poses the most likely threat to US dominance and that once China's markets expand they could supersede the US in global dominance. China's markets are predicted to surpass the US by 2020. Not to mention that the US has borrowed billions from China. Yet most international sources of news and scholar neglect this situation, but that will probably change once China is powerful enough to be more boisterous.

Links

My bad, I don't know what I'm doing with this newfangled internet thing, but God Bless Al Gore anyhow.

DHS press release:

NY Times article on the Supreme Court case concerning Indiana polling stations:

Indiana:

Digimarc's lobbying -Boston.com:

and here are the final regulations (compliments of DHS):

Project for a New American Century, furthering the American Empire

PNAC Statement of Principles

As stated on its website, "the Project for the New American Century is a non-profit, educational organization whose goal is to promote American global leadership." If you take a look around the rest of the info available on their site, you'll understand that they're talking about the same kind of global leadership that has locked us into a festering war in Iraq (and possibly, a very volatile one in Iran soon to come) and that has allowed our country to lose its once enviable standing in the world.

Check that site out, there's a lot to read. Also of interest in this area would be the website of the Council on Foreign Relations. I won't even get started on them right now, but you can even find and read an online copy of their book Building a North American Community on Google Books. Google the North American Union, Security Prosperity Partnership for more info.

I hope this finds you all well, I think we're going to learn a lot from eachother.
Peace

"You stay with me, always in my head..."

January 11, 2008 the US Department of Homeland Security released the final security regulations for REAL ID regulation. The REAL ID act strips the American people of even more civil liberties, as the federally mandated regulations for state id's will be required to access any federal institutions or programs.
As if that weren't bad enough, Indiana's state legislator recently passed a law requiring voters to produce identification (drivers licenses) in order to complete their polling procedures. This obvious assault on the already disenfranchised poor will probably be held up in the Supreme Court, as it is currently being tried as a "facial challenge" (No one has been rejected yet from a polling station in lieu of this act, a case based on principle and hyptothetical-- though that shouldn't take away from this cases legitimacy, because as Justice Souter points out, “...one of the vices would be that it would be after the election, and the entire matter would be academic for another two years.”)
Digimarc Corporation, the tech business that won the right to produce the federally mandated technology (after a $350,000 lobbying effort), have been adding the same technology/security features to Indiana's id's since June 2007. So, in Indiana, if one desires to drive, vote, or buy alcohol and cigarettes he or she has no choice but to operate with the REAL ID program. The requirement of id at polling stations is audacious and reverses almost fifty years of civil rights since the courts rightly struck down poll taxes.

Note: I'm not sure if I put the links on right, but if they don't show I'll repost them.

Be Afraid...

Cloned Food is Uber safe. Don't Question it.

This Affects Everyone and Everything. Much like GMO's, this cloned product does not have to be labeled, so we will never know weather or not what we are eating is safe or from a sci-fi movie. There are many reasons why we should be alerted to these actions, namely because no one has any idea what this can do the human body.

Huckabee is nuts

Huckabee says amend US Constitution to be in "God's standards"
You guys may have seen this one, but this guy thinks nothing of the separation of church and state. Right now, a lot of people are calling him the front runner, but in my humble opinion, saying things like this is simply unacceptable. The only thing he's got it right with is the Fairtax but Ron Paul's got it, too.

This blog exists...

"This institution will be based upon the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it" -Thomas Jefferson, 1820

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