Government can Seize your Laptop at the Border
Via Reuters: U.S. agents can seize travelers' laptops: report U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers' laptops and other electronic devices at the border and hold them for unspecified periods the Washington Post reported on Friday. Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on August 1, 2008 18:43
Anthrax Suspect Commits Suicide
Via the LAT: Apparent suicide in anthrax caseA top government scientist who helped the FBI analyze samples from the 2001 anthrax attacks has died in Maryland from an apparent suicide, just as the Justice Department was about to file criminal charges against him for the attacks, the Los Angeles Times has learned. Bruce E. Ivins, 62, who for the last ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on August 1, 2008 11:32
In Case You Were Wondering…
Via Reuters: World's oldest joke traced back to 1900 BC. And let me tell you, they have unearthed some hy-larious stuff! The shocker of the day: the study "suggests that toilet humor was as popular with the ancients as it is today." The world's oldest recorded joke has been traced back to 1900 BC and suggests that toilet humor was as popular ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on July 31, 2008 15:30
More on the AKP Ruling in Turkey
Yesterday I noted the ruling regarding the banning (or not, as the case was) of the ruling AK party in Turkey. Here's a follow-up which focuses mostly on the funding cut imposed by the court.Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on July 31, 2008 15:01
AKP Escapes Ban (Barely)
Via the BBC: Turkey's ruling party escapes ban Turkey's Constitutional Court has decided not to ban the ruling AK Party, accused of undermining the country's secular system. But the judges did cut half the AKP's treasury funding for this year. That'll show 'em! (I honestly have no idea which funds or what they are used for--and the story does not elaborate.) In all ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on July 30, 2008 15:15
A Helpful Shopping Tip
If you use the self-check at Walmart, pick the Spanish language option--that way the durn thing won't talk to you and tell you every inane thing it thinks you need to do. Since what one needs to do is pretty easy to understand, the inability to read the screen doesn't matter. So see, for those who get annoyed at "Press ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on July 29, 2008 22:03
Obama’s Veepables
A little run-down at my place.Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on July 29, 2008 10:30
At Least 53 Dead in Suicide Bombing Attacks in Iraq
Via the BBC: Iraq suicide blasts cause carnageSuicide bombers have killed at least 53 people and wounded about 240 in attacks on crowds in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk. Three blasts in Baghdad killed at least 28 Shia Muslim pilgrims heading for the city's Kadhimiya shrine. [...] In Kirkuk, a suicide bomber targeted a crowd of Kurdish ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on July 28, 2008 16:34
Somehow, I am not Surprised
Via the BBC: China rights 'worsen with Games'Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on July 28, 2008 16:22
Back to Batman Foreign Policy
Two things to follow up on my post on The Dark Knight and foreign/security policy. First, in thinking more about the movie, I will say that there are two scenes/actions by Batman that could be seen to mirror part of the GWoT debate (and I will be vague so as not to spoil anything). There is an interrogation scene and ...Posted in Outside The Beltway | OTB on July 28, 2008 15:30
