As the TSA continues to violate us in every way they can, some airports are talking about getting rid of the TSA agents and switching to private security firms. The upside is that airports can hold private security agents accountable for their actions, unlike government agents who will do whatever they want. However, it doesn't change the fact that the same standards that the TSA uses now will still be required by law. In the end, only getting rid of body scanners and the enhanced groping will change anything but at least it's a step in shaking loose the TSA's grip on travel.
Most people know that threatening the President is a bad idea and is almost guaranteed to get you visited by the Secret Service. Literally. Sometimes, however, it just gets dumb. UFC fighter Jacob Volkmann was asked who he wanted to face in the ring next and said:
"Actually, Obama. He's not too bright...like the make a home affordable plan and his health care plan, someone needs to knock some sense into that idiot."
Fortunately, nothing came of the incident, as it was clearing to the agent investigating the matter that Volkmann had made no real threats against the President. Later, Volkmann found he had received an e-mail from someone claiming they were going to report him to the SS.
The censorship movement scored another major victory this week when it was announced that NewSouth Books is issuing a reprint of Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The N-word is being replaced with "slave" and a derogatory term for Native Americans has been replaced also. Just another example of how ignorance in the name of political correctness is alive and well in this country and growing! The book, along with so many other classic works, has long been removed from reading lists at schools and libraries around the country. This, however, is probably the worst of it all. Better make it a point to get an uncensored copy while you still can.
We can't ignore the economy completely, however. Foreclosures on houses are still going on despite so many people saying the economy is showing signs of improvement. It's become such an issue that the S&P has revised their shadow inventory timeline. This is a measure of how long it will take to clear out the inventory of homes in distress or foreclosure that haven't hit the real estate market yet. The updated time table is 44 months. With so many people losing their jobs, it comes down to paying the mortgage, paying the utilities or eating.
I have more TSA news but decided to hold this one until the very end. I may now be considered a "domestic extremist" by the Department of Homeland Security. A leaked memo from a meeting with Big Sister Janet Naplitano says that the TSA and DHS are to gather the identities and any information on anyone who protests the enhanced screenings at the airport. Specifically:
It labels any person who “interferes” with TSA airport security screening procedure protocol and operations by actively objecting to the established screening process, “including but not limited to the anticipated national opt-out day” as a “domestic extremist.” The label is then broadened to include “any person, group or alternative media source” that actively objects to, causes others to object to, supports and/or elicits support for anyone who engages in such travel disruptions at U.S. airports in response to the enhanced security procedures.
Isn't that fantastic? Now is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know me better and be able to claim that you are associated with a true blue domestic extremist. No posturing here. The government themselves has made the declaration.
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.
