Leah Roffman, a freshman at Tufts University closes an essay on the Patriot Act with this:
Americans fear a terrorist takeover because terrorists would repeal our rights, threaten our safety, and disregard accountability to citizens. But our current government is doing all of those things right now. I might even become a victim of the USA governmental spying team just for saying so.
’nuff said.
Well, it sure looks this way to me.
For instance,
the bill now includes a provision, supported by some opponents of spam, that directs the Federal Trade Commission to come up with a plan for a no-spam registry.
I think the off shore spammers will love this one: a list comprised of mostly good email addresses! Yea, I know that the spammers are supposed to send in their lists for scrubbing but I suspect joes p*rn shop won’t be sending in their list.
The 2nd edition of Carnival of the Capitalists is up at Jay Solo’s place.
Last week Modulator commented on Caterpillar’s attempt to block Disney from releasing George of the Jungle 2. Today a federal judge ruled against Caterpillar:
The judge said there is no sign Disney sought to “somehow poach or free ride” on Caterpillar’s trademarks to drive up sales of the movie, one of the standards for trademark infringement.
McDade also disputed Caterpillar’s argument that use of its name and logo will make viewers think the company is somehow supporting the movie. He called use of well-known trademarks a “common phenomenon” in films and television.
…..
Along with infringement, Caterpillar alleged that its trademark is diluted by the movie, which describes the equipment as “deleterious dozers” and “maniacal machinery” during a climactic final battle.
McDade countered that “it is clear to even the most credulous viewer” that the bulldozers are operated by humans and are merely inanimate implements of the villains’ “environmentally unfriendly schemes.”
It would have been much less expensive for Caterpillar to have just asked Modulator.
From The American Prospect:
Libertarians across the country are slowly beginning to question their Republican loyalties. And if they break with the GOP — or even decide to sit out the 2004 election — it could be as bad for George W. Bush as the alienation of the religious right was for his dad in 1992.
This would be a good thing even though they may not find a viable democratic candidate…of course, it must be hard for many libertarians to lend legitimacy by voting.
Via The Agitator.