Huntley, Brinkley, and others
Please note: at the time of publication, all the links here were checked to be accurate and live. However, over the course of the publication run of this issue, some of the links may go dead.
San Diego council bans word 'minority' from city documents, discussions (Nando) It's disparaging, they whimper
New York mayor names art decency panel (Nando) A city "decency commission," created to judge the morality of publicly funded art, will rely on the "expertise" of three artists, three clergy members, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa and the mayor's own divorce lawyer.
L.A. moves toward partial bullet ban (MSNBC) As if their draconian laws aren't enough already, LA is really pushing things now.
Tax Revolt (CBS News) The Internal Revenue Service has taken aim at a new group of tax protestors: dozens of small business owners who have stopped withholding taxes from their employees' paychecks.
IE Hole-Finder in Odd Position (Wired) A hacker who discovered a potentially devastating security hole in Microsoft's Internet Explorer is in the undesired position of providing technical support to people who cannot install the patch that Microsoft released to fix the flaw.
Some Camera to Watch Over You (Wired) As if we don't have enough cameras here now, some folks want even more... sigh
Hackers took over dozens of government systems last year, study finds (Nando) At least 155 federal computer systems - some containing sensitive research information or personal data on Americans - were temporarily taken over by hackers last year, according to a government review. Now if only they'd disable the IRS, for starters...
Are Food Safety Rules Helping to Ban the Germs? CDC Doesn't Know (Health Network) And this is a surprise to whom?
Medical Evidence: Gun Control Won't Solve Crime (NewsMax) The gun control lobby has just received a stunning setback in a new article appearing in the spring issue of the Medical Sentinel. Written by Miguel A. Faria, M.D., the study finds that most gun violence studies of the past two decades are based on flawed methodology and unduly influenced by political agendas, leading to biased and incorrect conclusions. (No shit.)
Houston, Windows Has Problems (Wired) The new International Space Station is already suffering from computer problems similar to those experienced on Mir. The space station, which has been operational for less than five months, experiences almost daily computer glitches... (Seems the ISS is running MS Outlook... Be a shame if someone started emailing viruses and killer macros to the NASAnauts.)
German Threat Raises Infowar Fear (Wired)
The Germans are planning an attack. At least, that's the threat that Interior Minister Otto Schily has made, vowing the German government may resort to denial-of-service attacks as a way to shut down U.S. and other foreign websites that help German neo-Nazis. (Can we say censorship? Sure we can. Now imagine striking back with with a few thousand free folk voluntarily cooperating in a massive distributed denial of service attack... Not to mention possible gov responses.)
Halt cohabiting or no bail, judge tells defendants (Charlotte Observer) A federal judge in Charlotte is using a 19th-century N.C. law banning fornication and adultery, telling defendants they won't be freed on bond until they agree to get married, move out of the house or have their partner leave. As a good friend would say, "Wheah's ma rope?"
Tax rebels ratchet up rhetoric (WorldNetDaily) Some participants and sympathizers in Monday's march around the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington, D.C., have grown weary of the government's silence in response to questions about the federal income tax and have begun discussing their next move: openly advocating that citizens stop filing tax returns. Hey look: The Emperor has no clothes! :-)
DEA Gets Help Hunting Drug Couriers From Amtrak (Fox) The Amtrak office gives federal drug agents ticketing information on passengers, and Amtrak police get 10 percent of any cash agents seize from suspected drug couriers. The noose is closing on freedom of movement, folks.
IRS isn't pursuing some delinquent taxpayers, report says (Nando) The Internal Revenue Service has virtually given up trying to go after more than a million tax delinquents. Time to join the crowd?
IRS Predicts Increase in Audits (Fox)
An infusion of money and improved technology will begin to reverse the decline in Internal Revenue Service audits, which agency chief Charles Rossotti says are essential to ensure compliance. ...Maybe not. OTOH, the IRS has repeatedly proven itself incapable of handing improved technology.
State legislature to allow searching of cars, people without warrants (Asheville Tribune) Would anyone who still believes in the US Constitution please raise a hand?
Gun deaths drop more than 25 percent (Nando) Bet you won't hear that fat pig O'Donnell mention this fact.
Serbs block roads as tax protest in Kosovo (Nando) Angry over U.N. efforts to collect taxes on goods entering Kosovo, Serbs in the northern area of the province blocked several roads on Tuesday and staged a peaceful protest rally. Who the hell empowered the UN to collect local taxes and disburse the funds?? The Albanians should be protesting this shit, too.
A Virus That Leaps Platforms (Wired) A security company has identified what is believed to be the first virus with cross-platform abilities -- it can infect both Windows and Linux operating systems. A note to elitist Linux advocates: Yes, proper use of root access prevents this from trashing a complete Linux system. But it still wreaks havoc on an individual user's files. Be warned.
Prepaid Phones and Privacy, Too (Wired)
On Tuesday, San Francisco startup Telespree said it will sell sub-$30 disposable cell phones later this year. The company says it believes the market for low-cost phones with prepaid service plans will be at least as large as today's market for disposable cameras. YES!! And once you've MIJI'ed the GPS portion of the gadget...
Officials object to space tourist, recommend trained astronauts (Nando) Life forbid that people should ever figure out that real, ordinary people can survive the exaggerated hazards of space. Why... We might even begin to question the States' monopolies on space access...
Mormon town puts party ordinance on Provo (Nando) Provo, home to Brigham Young University and 30,000 Mormon students, has only one dance club, and it is smoke- and alcohol-free. Next month, a new ordinance will require Club Omni to install surveillance cameras, metal detectors and security guards. The ordinance applies not only to Club Omni but to organizers of dance parties open to the public - even those held in students' homes. Violators can be get up six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. How Orwellian. Remember, black paint and .22LRs are cheaper than surveillance cameras. Although with a city council like this, a larger caliber may be in order.
Bug infests Microsoft firewall software (Nando) A Microsoft security product... Talk about oxymorons.
Cybercops arrest online liberty (BBC) Civil liberties are already being eroded by efforts to tackle computer crime, MPs and cyber-liberty campaigners have warned.
Privacy advocates confront attorney general (Nando)
IRS: Protector of the People? (Wired)
The IRS has earned a reputation of being staffed by humorless agents, merciless auditors, and a perceived commitment to civil liberties that ranks somewhere just south of Ghengis Khan's. So why is it winning applause as the most privacy-sensitive agency in the United States? Because the applauders are idiots?
Euros Continue Echelon Probe (Wired)
A European Parliament committee studying U.S. surveillance technology Echelon is about to take a field trip to the National Security Agency. Hey, somebody besides us freedom-lovers remembers Echelon...
Coming: bigger US role in schools (CSM) One - compound - word: HOMESCHOOL!
Buy a Shot, Wave to the Camera (Wired) The next time you drop by the corner watering hole to grab a drink, mind your manners: The world may be watching.
Hackers' plan to dodge netwatchers (Guardian Unlimited) heh heh heh. The thought police everywhere are having nightmares over this one
IRS slapped with $500 billion suit (WND) We'd prefer to see the IRS hit hit with something more substantial than a lawsuit--one which will be dismissed almost immediately as a matter of gov course. It is the "just-us" system, after all.
MS Gets Privacy-Happy With New IE (Wired) This looks like a decent attempt to get cookie security under control. If it actually works as advertised, privacy-minded folks could finally use IE.
Smell? What Smell? Cops Get Skunked in Florida (ABC) A mound of sand on the beach with a sign saying a baby was buried inside turned out to contain a box holding a skunk that sprayed police and animal sanctuary officers who dug up the container. Hee hee hee hee!!! Can you say "copycat pranks?" Suuuuure you can!
Cheese beats crackers (BBC)
A helpful virus is making its way around the web, checking computers for vulnerabilities and closing them. Apparently benign in intent, this worm program is still something to worry about: it continues the growing trend of 'viruses' targeting Linux, and it does alter the user's system without permission.
U.S.'s Defenseless Department (Wired)
Instead of becoming a highly-sensitive nerve center that responds to computer intrusions, congressional investigators have concluded that the NIPC has turned into a federal backwater that is surprisingly ineffective in pursing malicious hackers or devising a plan to protect electronic infrastructures. Surprising to who besides idiot pols and 'crats?
Japanese mourn children killed in school attack (Nando)
Residents in Ikeda struggled to contain their shock after a man with a history of mental problems carried a kitchen knife into the school Friday and slashed at children, killing eight and wounding fifteen other people, including two teachers. But you notice the gun-control crowd here are silent on this tragedy; after all, it doesn't fit their "it's for the children" bleating.
Floating abortion clinic sets sail for Ireland (Nando) Whatever your position on abortion, at least this puts the decision where it belongs--with the individual involved, and out of the meddling reach of gov snoops and busybodies. Too bad they have to go to such lengths to accomplish that.
California utilities consider lowering voltage to save electricity (Nando)
Utilities in California are considering cutting the voltage of electricity delivered to homes and businesses in order to save megawatts. It is an idea which could ease the state's energy crisis, energy experts say. Experts, my ass. The money LOST due to all the lawsuits stemming from damage to electrical equipment - those power supplies are going to burn out trying to compensate for deliberating maladjusted voltages - ought to more than make up the energy savings. And then there's the resistive losses in high tension lines due to the lower transmission voltage. The 'experts' need to meet a gent named Ohm.
Bush Pushes Character Education (CNS) Character Education = Indoctrination. At most, this is nothing more than a shift in the direction of schoolkid programming. Homeschool, homeschool, homeschool, homeschool!
