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Bush Tries to Use “State Secrets” to Block SWIFT Suit

And in other news, the sky is blue and the sun is expected to rise tomorrow. Seriously, is this a surprise to anyone? Of course Bush is going to try to keep details of this out of court. He can't risk people starting to back off of supporting his mania by abandoning them to the rule of law. (H/T to privacyorg for the link) Tags:

Gonzales Steps Down, But Gets Off Scott Free?

So he's finally gone. He didn't get prosecuted yet, but will he? That's the question.
Gonzales's resignation is the latest in a series of high-level departures that has reshaped the end of Bush's second term. Karl Rove, another of Bush's close circle of aides from Texas, stepped down two weeks ago.
On this, all I have to say is that the rats are leaving… hopefully that means we'll see a sinking ship soon. Tags: ,

Proof That Telco’s Aided Illegal Spying

It's so nice that our spy chief slipped up and released this information. If it helps the lawsuits against AT&T and the like go forward, all the better. One comment about something McConnell said:
McConnell also said telecom firms should have immunity from lawsuits. "If you play out the suits at the value they're claimed, it would bankrupt these companies," he said.
…. Your point? Typicall of the Bush administration to cite allowing lawbreakers to continue in their positions because, gosh, it would be bad to have consequences for illegal actions. Tags:

FISA Gets Feisty – Orders White House to Justify Spying to ACLU

Now that’s justice! Bush avoids the courts with his illegal program, but he’s eventually forced to follow the law. Even after convincing the brain dead members of congress to pass a law FURTHER expanding his powers in this area, the FISA court slaps him upside the head by ordering him to release information to the ACLU. I wonder if he’ll just ignore the order as he’s done with the Congressional subpoenas? Tags: ,

FISA Changes Outrage the Country

I’ve been holding back on covernig this because it’s just so damned depressing. But the story is that Bush managed to shove a “FISA modernization” bill down congress’s throats and the witless saps passed it. Understandibly, this has a lot of privacy and consumer advocates in a tizzy. I’ve heard some people say that this could legalize the illegal spying program. My question is, how many times do people have to openly agree that the program is and has been illegal before someone puts Bush in jail for this? So it’s (allegedly) legal now, but “Sure I was speeding, but I’m going the speed limit NOW officer” has never been a defense. Tags: ,

American Witch Hunt – Shhhh…. We’re Hunting Leakers

The FBI raided the home of a former justice department lawyer in order to discover any information they could about the leak of details on the illegal spying program. Nice to know that Bush followed through on persecuting anyone and everyone that exposes his embarassing and illegal exploits. Tags:

Bush, “I Need MOR POWA!!!” Wants to Revise FISA

Bush is pressuring congress to give him more authority by amending FISA. I just can't take this anymore. Someone please tell me that even if congress won't impeach him, he'll see the inside of a jail cell sometime after his "presidency". JTAG ERROR: No privacyorg_ht index defined Tags:

The State of Airline Security From the Pilot’s Perspective

Almost six years after 9/11, it is inexcusable that — in an environment where TSA misses more than 90% of weapons, RON [aircraft left unattended and unlocked at night] aircraft are not secured, and ground employees are not screened — fewer than 2% of our airliners have a team of armed pilots aboard, fewer than 5% have air marshals, and the flight attendants have no mandatory tactical or behavioral assessment training. $24 billion dollars later, we are not materially safer, except in the areas of intelligence that prevent an attack from getting to an airport. Once at the airport, there is little reason to believe the attack won’t succeed.
Well said. Be sure to read the full thing which has a stinging review of the TSA's failed efforts to make airlines more secure. Keep in mind that this guy is the president of the Airline Pilots Security Alliance and he knows what he's talking about. JTAG ERROR: No schneier_ht index defined Tags: ,

Bush is at it Again – Issues Order Allowing Asset Freeze With No Trial

Because of the new presidential order allowing for the freeze of assets of anyone that "interferes with Iraq policies", some people are getting nervous and even predicting a police state. Most importantly, here's a bit of logic I didn't have the political black heart to think of myself:
Roberts said that because of Bush's unpopularity, the Republicans face a total wipeout in 2008, and this may be why "the Democrats have not brought a halt to Bush's follies or the war, because they expect his unpopular policies to provide them with a landslide victory in next year's election."
That would explain a lot. And this one too:
"Americans think their danger is terrorists," said Roberts. "They don't understand the terrorists cannot take away habeas corpus, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution. ... The terrorists are not anything like the threat that we face to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution from our own government in the name of fighting terrorism. Americans just aren't able to perceive that."
Wow. This guy really says it straight. Remember kids, your real enemy isn't the faceless terrorist, it's the big eared guy in the big white house. JTAG ERROR: No digg_ht index defined Tags: ,

Bush Beats Down Science – Silenced Surgeon General

This is hardly surprising, but it's nice to see more of this kind of story surface. Bush has been pressuring the surgeon general to not do his job.
Carmona, whose four-year term as surgeon general expired in 2006, told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last week that he was constantly at odds with Bush administration political minders. They told him not to speak out on stem cell research, emergency contraception or sex education. They delayed release of a report on the dangers of secondhand smoke. They admonished him to mention the president frequently and favorably in public and not to address a group associated with the Special Olympics - a cause championed by the Kennedy family ... That's no way to treat a professional whose main job is to help the president, the Congress and the American people make intelligent health decisions. But it's not surprising that in a nation polarized on so many fronts, a president is going to expect any appointee to sing from the administration-approved hymnal.
I can't stand this kind of politics. Tags:

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General Safety

Avoid fake and nasty websites with my search engine trick.
Watch out for online addiction. Getting lost in fun online activities can be just as addiction as any drug.
So you want to write, publish, or share information online? Be careful. Things you say may be lost or forgotten, but things put on the Internet never are.
Don't fall for the well-known (or the new scams either) bad guys use to trick you into give away data or money.

Account Protection

Want to make an account with some online service? Read this first!
The newest, biggest risk online? Account hijacking! Don't become a victim by allowing your account to be taken over and learn to recognize when someone else has been.
Be sure transmission security is active before entering a name, password, credit card number, or other important information online.

... or check out any of my other guides and tutorials by clicking here!

How to Avoid Bogus Websites

There are bogus websites out there hoping you'll hit them by accident or using phishing to trick you into coming to them. Learn my simple trick to avoid these sites!

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Online Addiction

Concerned about online addiction? You should be. Learn the types, the signs, and the preventions.

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The Consequences of Posting Online

It's fun to post online. What you think, what you feel. But words typed and posted on the Internet can come back to bite you more than anything you could say with your mouth.

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Tricks and Scams

Just because you won't willing give up data doesn't mean that I can't trick you out of it. Don't fall for these well known tricks!

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Account Creation Tips

When you create an account with an online site, you should know a few things first.

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Account Hijacking

One of the newest threats we face is the risk of someone getting control of your online account and using it against you and the people you know. Do everything you can to prevent that from happening!

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Using HTTPS For Secure Login and Payment Online

Making online accounts is useful and fun, but doesn't mean much if someone can capture your login information and use it against you. Make sure to use this simple trick to prevent that from happening.

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