HACKER BUGS SECRET SERVICE PHONES
"A sophisticated computer hacker had access to servers at wireless giant T-Mobile for at least a year, which he used to monitor U.S. Secret Service e-mail, obtain customers' passwords and Social Security numbers, and download candid photos taken by Sidekick users, including Hollywood celebrities."
(SECURITY FOCUS)

REPORT CHIDES US ROLE IN PROVIDING WEAPONS TO TYRANTS
Bush launched his second term as US President in January by vowing to implant democracy around the globe "with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world". This was a key neoconservative goal with overtures of regime change. Nearly six months later, the World Policy Institute in New York reveals in a study that the US is stepping up its arms sales to some of the most odious and repressive regimes in the world. "Perhaps no single policy is more at odds with President Bush's pledge to end tyranny... than the US's role as the world's leading arms exporting nation," says Frida Berrigan, co-author of the report. She adds: "Arming repressive regimes, while simultaneously proclaiming a campaign against tyranny, undermines the credibility of the US and makes it harder to hold other nations to high standards of conduct on human rights and other key issues."
(JANE'S FOREIGN REPORTS)

HISTORY OF THE MARIJUANA LAWS
Read the new Supreme Court Case which addresses the issue of medical marijuana use and the power of the federal government to prohibit states from allowing its cultivation. Its not only interesting reading on an important issue, it also contains some excellent history about marijuana drug laws.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE DISSENT

CLICK HERE FOR AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON THE WAR ON DRUGS

(FINDLAW)

OR, TAKE THE DANTE'S INFERNO TEST?
How low will you go?
(Suggested by INJUSTICE ANYWHERE)

ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN?
"Are you a Republican? Answer a few simple questions and you can find out."
(Suggested by MACONDO BLOG)

20 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT VOTING
"1 in 5 Americans believe the elections were fraudulent. That's over 41 Million Americans. You are NOT alone!"
(ANGRY GIRL, unearthed by Joe Paul)

AMAZING RIVER INCIDENT
"On April 28, 1979 tow boat M/V CAHABA, commanded by Capt. Jimmy Wilkerson, was dropping 2 barges, with coal, through the non-lifting East span of Rooster Bridge on the Tombigbee River. What happened next is truly amazing!
(Suggested by Michael Cornwell)

PORTUGUESE ARTISTS GIVE FLAGS NEW MEANINGS
A team of artists in Lisbon have produced the "flags campaign" which researches relevant global and current facts. They put new meanings to the colors of the flags using real data taken from the websites of Amnesty International and the UNO. The campaign has been running in Portugal since January 2005. There are eight flags that portray very current topics like the division of opinions about the war in Iraq in the United States, the violence against women in Africa, the social inequality in Brazil, the drug trafficking in Columbia, Aids and malaria in Angola, etc
(BOOMAN TRIBUNE)

RELIGIOUS WRONG
" I think we are teetering on the brink of theocracy and the Christian Right could conceivably use the battle over the judiciary and weakening support for reproductive rights to push us over the edge."
(SMIRKING CHIMP, unearthed by Joe Paul)

SPAM MUNCHIES!
Dealing with e-mail, instant messages, and other messaging interruptions throughout the day is more damaging to one’s IQ than either lack of sleep, or using marijuana, according to a recent study of more than 1,000 Brits conducted on behalf of Hewlett Packard.
(Aunty Spam's Net Patrol, unearthed by LockerGnome)

DRACONIAN DRUG BILL INTRODUCED BY SENSENBRENNER

The full House Judiciary Committee is set to vote as early as next week on H.R. 1528, which creates a new group of mandatory miniumum penalties for non-violent drug offenses, including a five year penalty for passing a joint to someone who's been in drug treatment.

The "Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005" (H.R. 1528) was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) on April 6, and it has already passed out of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

The bill would also create a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for a first-time conviction of distributing a small amount of marijuana to a person under 18 years of age ... and a 10-year sentence for a second offense of distributing marijuana to a person under 21.

Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) also has an action alert on this bill:

MAKES THE FEDERAL SENSENCING GUIDELINES MANDATORY

CREATES NEW MANDATORY MINIMUMS

ELIMINATES THE SAFETY VALVE FOR LOW-LEVEL COURIERS.

PUNISHES DEFENDANTS FOR "RELEVANT CONDUCT" COMMITED BEFORE THEY JOINED A CONSPIRACY

AND THERE'S MORE!
(Suggested by Joe Paul)

BEWARE, THE UNITARIAN JIHAD!
Beware! Unless you people shut up and begin acting like grown-ups with brains enough to understand the difference between political belief and personal faith, the Unitarian Jihad will begin a series of terrorist-like actions. We will take over television studios, kidnap so-called commentators and broadcast calm, well-reasoned discussions of the issues of the day. We will not try for "balance" by hiring fruitcakes; we will try for balance by hiring non-ideologues who have carefully thought through the issues.
(SF CHRONICLE, unearthed by Joe Paul)
P.S.

My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Sibling Katana of Enlightenment.

Get yours.

THE UNDOING OF AMERICA
"Gore Vidal on war for oil, politics-free elections, and the late, great U.S. Constitution"
(CITY PAGES)

SOCIAL INSECURITY
How will you fare under Bush's privatization plan? Here's a nifty site that helps you calculate the actual differences between the plan and the status quo.
(Suggested by Patti Martin)

CUBA TRAVEL GROUP SEEKS ACADEMICS FOR PETITION SIGNATURE
ECDET, a group that is organizing to confront the restrictions on academic travel to Cuba, is putting together a petition to get the US government to change the guidelines back to what they were before June 2004. There is an effort to collect faculty names across the country. The names of the faculty will be submitted to the Congress on April 25th. They are trying to get individual faculty members, departments, colleges and faculty senates to join in this effort.
At this point all they need is for people to submit their names and their university. "ECDET, coordinated by Wayne Smith of Johns Hopkins University and Les McCabe of the Institute of Shipboard Education, is working to confront and rescind these regulations. So, if you are an academic, join ECDET today. It is free; all you need to do it reply to tiana@ciponline.org with your contact information and your wish to join ECDET. Help them repel the attack on academic freedom.