If we’re going to have bilingual signs and all, I vote for more of this. Excellent!
We’re doing so well in Iraq, right? That must be why “al-Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni Arab insurgent groups declared a new Islamic republic in the western and central parts of the country.” Nice.
Disturbing! “Internal military documents released Thursday provided new details about the Defense Department’s collection of information on demonstrations nationwide last year by students, Quakers and others opposed to the Iraq war. The documents, obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, show, for instance, that military officials labeled as ‘potential terrorist activity’ events like a ‘Stop the War Now’ rally in Akron, Ohio, in March 2005. The Defense Department acknowledged last year that its analysts had maintained records on war protests in an internal database past the 90 days its guidelines allowed, and even after it was determined there was no threat.” What’s the gist? If you’ve ever said anything against the war in Iraq, it appears you’ve been labeled a possible terrorist and are now in the largest database ever seen that contains nothing but illegal government information about American citizens.
China’s preparations for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing were halted by the discovery of an ancient tomb at a construction site that may date from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE).
As usual and as one would expect under Dubya’s form of despotic government, the feds are interfering in Colorado’s ballot measure to legalize marijuana. “A Drug Enforcement Administration agent has asked political campaign professionals for help defeating a statewide ballot issue that would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana…” The original report has the e-mail from a DOJ account, has the name of the agent in question, and has his offer of $10,000 for assistance in defeating the vote. How’s that for allowing the states to manage their own business? [via Andrew Sullivan]
Some new photos of Paula the cat as well as an update that her health is taking a major turn for the worse. I don’t have the strength to say more about it other than she should not be allowed to suffer unnecessarily.
John Scalzi gives his view of the Ohio anti-gay marriage amendment that is now being used to protect those guilty of domestic violence. Just go read it. It’ll entertain you while it pisses you off as you come to understand who’s supporting the move and how it works according to that state’s constitutional amendment.