February 8, 2007
By John Galt
I find the situation in history we are at fascinating yet troubling. For the last 25 plus years, it seems like America has been on a 24 hour bender, partying like there's no tomorrow. Then I watch our government and think, hmmmm. To quote one of my favorite talk show hosts "I'm not a politician, but I am a thinker." So what does our government know that we don't? Why spend like there's no tomorrow unless there isn't one?
It's a metaphysical impossibility to pay off our national debt as it sits now. Disregard the reported crap and look deep into the numbers. Using the formula that we did for decades we are now over $50 trillion in debt to the world. But we keep spending and partying. Why?
Then you watch the behavior of yourself. Your neighbor. The idiotbox shows and people in celebrity positions. Party on Wayne, party on Garth. No self-respecting person who believes in personal responsibility, self-sufficiency, or planning for the future would behave the way we are now as a nation. I drive all over our fine state down here and you would think that by now, the hurricanes would have prompted some people to prepare.
Nope, the government will take care of them is the mentality. Of course that's gambling that a 2x4 doesn't impale them at 150 kts, but hey, tap the keg and watch the wind. And America is in the eye of the storm and the kegs are pouring nightly. What are we thinking as individuals? What is the reason for this "not my problem" attitude. Why?
Could it be a pole reversal is approaching and I missed the news? That we're going to have a major earthquake to destroy half the country so no one cares? That the big nuclear war is already programmed and the Terminator movies were a documentary and not entertainment?
Nah.
But if you watch those in the know, you watch those with survival instincts, you listen to what they say and watch what they are up to, what do you notice? That's right, secret (to a point), massive preparations for something. But what? Nuclear War? It would explain the sudden spread of television shows like "Heroes", "24", and "Jericho" to partially condition the masses. Earth changes? That would explain the non-stop PSAs about having 3 day kits, vaccinations, etc. It would also explain the panic when you say the words "bird flu" to a local Emergency Responder.
I'm not sure what's coming, but it's big. Big enough for D.C. insiders to actually buy homes in the boonies. To stock up on foodstuffs, water, etc.
And all the meanwhile, keep on partying to keep the masses from getting excited.
Hmmm. I'm not a D.C. insider, but I am a thinker. And a prepper.
Guess I'll buy more food and ammo this weekend.
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Action: Congress wants to monitor all emails, IMs, etc.
The Seminal | February 13, 2007
A bill introduced last week by Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) is beginning to raise eyebrows.
[It] would require ISPs to record all users' surfing activity, IM conversations and email traffic indefinitely . The bill, dubbed the Safety Act by sponsor Lamar Smith, a republican congressman from Texas, would impose fines and a prison term of one year on ISPs which failed to keep full records. (emphasis mine)
This is a terrifying development and it must be stopped before it gains any significant momentum. Background, Action items and contact information below the fold.
Under the guise of reducing child pornography, the SAFETY (Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today's Youth) Act is currently the gravest threat to digital privacy rights on the Internet. Given the increasing tendency of people, especially young people, to use the Internet as a primary means of communication, this measure would affect nearly all Americans in ways we are only beginning to understand. Also, given the fact that the Act requires all Internet Service Providers to record the web surfing activity of all Internet users, this amounts to the warrantless wiretapping of the entire Internet.
Amazingly, although the bill was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday Feb. 6, it has been virtually ignored by both the corporate media and major blogs alike. By combining such draconian legislation with several child pornography measures, Smith is trying to pull a fast one on the Judiciary Committee and on the democratically controlled Congress as a whole. I say we don't let this happen. So, first, a little background information. Then below, I've outlined a few actions you can take if you'd like to spread the word on this.
Background :
The original SAFETY Act, introduced in June of 2006 by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), was shot down due to free speech concerns over aspects of the bill other than the ones I've focused on here. At the time, the Center for Democracy and Technology wrote that the bill “would undermine First Amendment free speech protections and do nothing to protect children on the Internet.”
So what was Lamar Smith's response, you ask? He added the misguided measures discussed above in an attempt to fulfill the demands of the FBI. In an October 2006 conference of police chiefs, FBI Director Robert Mueller made the following statement :
Terrorists coordinate their plans cloaked in the anonymity of the Internet, as do violent sexual predators prowling chat rooms. All too often, we find that before we can catch these offenders, Internet service providers have unwittingly deleted the very records that would help us identify these offenders and protect future victims.
Mueller was signaling to Congress that he would like to see measures put in place that would require ISPs to store records of all Internet usage so he could access it when he felt it was neccessary. But, as has been pointed out :
The thing about retention laws is that they require all data to be maintained, not simply the data from child pornographers and terrorists. This means that such laws are usually favored by other, unrelated groups who would like access to such log files. Groups like the music labels. In Europe, where retention rules are already in place, the entertainment industry has already stated its belief that the data should be available for use in the investigation of any crime, even copyright infringement.
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7,000 Iraqi Refugees To Be Permitted Into U.S.
FOX ^ | 02/14/07 | Unknown
Posted on 02/14/2007 9:06:40 AM PST by Froufrou
The Bush administration is planning to allow about 7,000 Iraqi refugees into the country over the next year, compared with 463 Iraqis who have been allowed to enter the U.S. since the war began, the State Department is announcing.
The United States has been working with international organizations to aid Iraqi refugees who have been resettling in neighboring countries of Jordan and Syria. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is asking for $60 million in aid from nations around the world. The U.S. will pledge $18 million in new funding.
Thousands of translators, aides to Americans and others fleeing religious persecution and violent reprisal have been seeking escape from Iraq since the sectarian violence picked up a year ago.
Last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced a new task force to coordinate assistance for refugee assistance to be spearheaded by Undersecretary of State Paula Dobriansky.
In fiscal year 2005, the United States made available 70,000 slots for refugees worldwide; 53,000 of those slots were filled, but only 202 Iraqis were allowed into the United States. Another 50 Iraqis and Afghans were admitted through a limited Pentagon program for translators who have worked with U.S military.
