Updates

• The Patriot Act passed the Senate yesterday. President Obama is expected to sign it soon. Then we will continue living without our fourth amendment rights.

• Democrats and Tea Partiers have also worked together to try to block $3 billion worth of defense spending which would only serve to increase our debt and make John Boehner look good. Seems like the libertarian Tea Party candidates finally realized the republican talking point about "smaller government' is really just a false facade.

• Bahrain, a tiny middle eastern island nation, has had the most successful protests. Citizens have crowded into an important city square in a demonstration reminiscent of Egypt's protests. Earlier today, they were attacked by riot police while camping there overnight. I wish them luck in their attempts to truly change things.

• The BBC have put out an amazing interactive map of the Middle East protests, proving once again that they are far superior to US stations.

• Wisconsin has had its own protests. over 10,000 have gathered at the State capitol in order to object to the radical cuts proposed by the state's republicans. if only my state would do the same...

• Justin Beiber on general politics: “I’m not sure about the parties. But whatever they have in Korea, that’s bad.” And people wonder why I hate this kid.

• Unfortunately I have no Vlad comic for my followers this time, but here's something amusing

American Update

This is urgent. You now have a chance to stand up for your constitutional rights. It is a basic truth of politics that rights are not self-enforcing, and that sometimes you have tot take action.

Now before you try to overthrow the US government yourself, know that I'm simply talking about an online petition. But it's a really important online petition, trust me. You now have the chance to stop the extension of the worst infringement upon the fourth amendment since WW2, the Patriot Act.

This isn't a partisan issue, this is about the rights of the individual. Note that democrats in congress are attempting to form an alliance with tea party and libertarian candidates to block the extension of the bill.

Through the ACLU

Through the Electronics Frontier Foundation

Note: the ACLU and the EFF are working to block the bill. They're the good guys.

I've already contacted my senator after my idiot of a congressman voted in favor of the bill. I hope you will do the same.

Edit: If you'd like to call or email your senator, HERE's a list. I'll be calling mine as soon as my law and politics class is over.

Please, everyone take the short amount of time needed to write out a simple email regarding this rights-infringing bill. If you'd like me to write a quick copy-paste message here just let me know.