(Image used under: Creative Commons 3.0 [SRC])

Just wanted to cover some recent protests against the cult of Scientology.

Note that the article references one of my recommended movies, "V for Vendetta", which was an excellent movie about resisting an oppressive totalitarian government.

(Image is in the Public Domain)

I talked last week about how the TSA has opened a blog and allowed the public en masse to attack them outright through comments blasting them for all their varied foibles.

Well it turns out that it's working well! The TSA has changed a policy that at least one airport put into effect that required passengers to remove all their electronics. It seems that the TSA didn't know it was happened, but stopped the practice.

George W. Bush

(Image used under: Fair Use doctrine)

The new law requiring better compliance with the Freedom of Information Act has been effectively neutered by a sneaky move from Bush.

"Bush proposed shifting a newly created ombudsman's position from the National Archives and Records Administration to the Department of Justice. Because the ombudsman would be the chief monitor of compliance with the new law, that move is akin to killing the critical function, some members of Congress and watchdog groups say." "Justice represents the agencies when they're sued over FOIA . . . It doesn't make a lot of sense for them to be the mediator,"

Yeah America.

(Image is in the Public Domain)

Several states are still using e-voting despite the disastrous security they provide. Because of that, voting advocacy groups have labeled six of the 24 states in the primary as being high risk for miscounts due to tampering or malfunction. Best of all, these miscounts would be undetectable due to lack of a paper record for audit or recount.

FTC

(Image is in the Public Domain)

According to their annual report to congress, the Federal Trade Commission recieved over 69,000 complaints that debt collectors were violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (the law that prevents them from harassing you or using dirty tactics to try and get you to pay a debt). In response, the FTC filed against 3 debt collectors.

Thanks FTC!

(Image is in the Public Domain)

In what appears to be an attempt to counter the black hole that is their reputation, the TSA has launced a blog called "Evolution of Security". Like most things Bushian, it starts out by inflating their viewpoint somehow implying that they are right about everything they do just in the title.

And their tagline:

Terrorists Evolve. Threats Evolve. Security Must Stay Ahead. You Play A Part.

George W. Bush

(Image used under: Fair Use doctrine)

In a new law that passed that contains a provision barring any funding for permanent bases in Iraq, Bush's signing statement shows that he plans to break the law by ignoring it. Will anything be done about it? Probably not.

(Image source is unknown)

It should be no surprise to anyone that enterprising scumbags everywhere are using the hopes of the economic stimulus package to scam people out of their information.

"They're calling people on the phone and asking for their personal information, and the people are thinking they're going to get some money quicker than they normally would," Special Agent Jeff Lanza, spokesman with the FBI Bureau in Kansas City, told WDAF-TV.

Remember simple safety: don't give out information over the phone especially to someone who calls you.

Say what you want about Arnold, but there has been some really good laws and policies to come out of California since he became governor. Getting rid of payday loan scammers is another great ideal from the "Governator". (H/T to Public Citizen for the link)

(Image used under: Creative Commons 3.0 [SRC])

I'm putting out the call for all people who get money unexpectedly to take the unpopular route and use it to pay down some debt rather than spend it. The very idea that you are in a position to spend new money while you're in debt at all is why Americans and America is in so much trouble right now.

Embrace the philosophy of a total-money-makeover and work towards it. Even if it violates the implanted logic that businesses and the credit industry have forced upon you, work your way out of debt before starting new ones and learn to live debt free.

Now realistically, I will probably spend some of the money on something nice like going out to dinner or a small gift for my wife. Psychologically, many of us will need to spend at least some of the money, but I'm OK with doing that if you still apply the vast majority to outstanding debts.