This week, we’ve got both net neutrality and the Patriot Act under fire, plus an airline sacrificing goats. Those go together seamlessly.
More on:
Justice Department says no to net neutrality here.
Federal Court rules Patriot Act statute unconstitutional here.
No peaches for the Treasurer here.
Southwest Airlines fashion police here.
Airline sacrifices goat here.
We all know about the largely reported stories this week: The GAO’s less than stellar assessment of the situation in Iraq, Nawaz Sharif’s impending return to General Mr. Musharraf’s Pakistan, and - gasp! - Burning Man’s premature burning. We even got nonstop obsession with Miss Teen South Carolina (who, by the way, is of course milking it for all she can).
But chances are you missed these stories: the first reporter is allowed inside the Terrorist Screening Center, dogs hunt down pirated DVDs, and graffiti for the blind.
More on:
NPR story on the Terrorist Screening Center here.
DVD-sniffing dogs here.
Braille Graffiti project (with video) here.
(audio clip from Dr. Strangelove)
It’s a legal roundup for this week’s Week in Review. We’ve got spies, security theater, and more.
More on:
Interview with National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell here.
More info on the Pentagon’s TALON database here. Website for the DoD’s Counterintelligence Field Activity, which uses TALON, here.
No pudding for you, here.
Teen prosecuted for recording 20 seconds of a movie here.
AltLaw beta site here.
While stories such as Karl Rove’s resignation and the conviction of terrorism-suspect Jose Padilla dominated the news this week, there are some low-reported yet interesting research studies that were recently released. They each throw a monkey wrench into the way we perceive certain issues. Namely: Iraq, military safety and the news.
More on:
Study on shifting Iraqi attitudes here.
Comparing the security danger of official military websites and millogs here. Full documentation from the Electronic Frontier Foundation here.
Gasp! Americans like hard news here.
OK, I’m the first to admit that we’re delving into less reputable topics for this week’s roundup. But at least it starts out with something you really ought to be aware of. I promise.
More on:
The Protect America Act here.
CREW’s complaint against House Minority Leader Boehner here.
Florida State Representative pleads fear of black men here.
Houston police officer trades sex for no ticket here.
Young Republican President accused of forcing sex on a sleeping man here.
This week is all about government action.
More on today’s topics:
FBI Director Michael Mueller contradicts AG Alberto Gonzales here.
UK denies extension of music copyright laws here.
San Francisco Taxi Commission ponders then defends the Devil’s Cab.
Ooh, a Friday BONUS!!
Kanye West is really Zach Galifianakis and Will Oldham! Who knew? Check the video.
This week was a good one. We’ve got dog fights, lighters on planes, and squirrels. What else could you ask for?
More on today’s stories:
Senator Byrd’s entire speech here.
In-depth and well argued criticism of Petraeus’s appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show here.
The TSA’s self-admitted “security theater” here.
High-tech squirrel spies here.
President Bush’s Executive Order threatening the 5th Amendment here. News coverage has been minimal. Analysis here.
Here’s your week in review. Only the important stuff, here.
Check out these links to items mentioned in the review:
Senator Stevens and his motorcycle
man-eating badgers
mp3 player in court
airport security bulletin
and, without further ado, enjoy:
