Can someone please explain what penis pumps have to do with national security?

Penis enlargers and constricting rings to maintain erections can be
seized at U.S. borders, U.S. regulators said Thursday, citing
inadequate safety labels.

So watch out all you Wisconsin-Canadian border crossers!

$382,000 of anti-terrorism grants allocated for gambling shuttlebus.

The pork was requested by ... you guessed it! A conservative republican.

Here's a fabulous new twist on U.S. relations with China, fresh from the U.S. Justice Dept. this week! 

If you ever questioned why the U.S. stopped shining a light on Chinese human rights violations during trade or economic talks, here's an answer, and a terrific reminder of the types of torture being done in your name.

U.S. Soldiers Do Dirty Work for Chinese Interrogators

Get Uppity! Contact people who represent you and tell them what you think about this.  Maybe something will change. 

Update: Freedom can't blog itself.

I read an article this morning by the respected security expert Bruce Schneier. Our "War on Terror" has descended into a series of incidents where people report anything that is out of the ordinary.  There was a time when things that were unusual could be a pleasant surprise, or amusing, or fun. Now in many people's minds, a behavior they haven't seen before is a sure sign of terror. Read the article, follow the links - it's a great lesson in how many resources we have wasted over-reacting to normal incidents, which leaves precious little for actual intelligence and protection.

This is an outgrowth of the shameless manipulation of the American people by the Bush administration. It has been politically advantageous to keep everyone in a constant state of fear - after all, it's the current administration that has done such a wonderful job of protecting us - you're still alive, right?  Bush and Cheney are the only thing that has protected you from the boogeymen. How can that argument keep on working, anyway?