This Is What Annoys Me About The “War On Terror”

This lovely article in the Washington Post describes how it is the Department of Homeland Security’s policy to not require suspicion to take your laptop, camera, mp3 player, etc. away from you and keep it for an unknown amount of time.  Literally, if you are entering the country, U.S. citizen or not, they can take your stuff and examine it away from you for as long as they want for no reason at all.  They can do this because they claim it helps fight terrorism.

I have no idea how this cannot be in violation of the Fourth Amendment:

Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

There is no probable cause.  None.  Entering the country is only probable cause if over 50% of the people entering the country are bringing in illegal things.  Show me a scientific study that proves this true, and I will eat my words.  Until then, you can try and seize these words.

This Is A Fun Gadget I Would Not Mind Owning

The Chumby:

This Week’s Netflix

We had a bit of an eclectic mix arrive from Netflix the other day.

First up is the first disc of the first season of Sex And The City.  The first few episodes really annoyed me.  The ladies have such a bleak outlook on love, it is no wonder to me they cannot find anyone.  I would not want to date any them.

Then we get to Oldboy.  It is a Korean movie and a bit twisted.  A Korean business man is imprisoned for 15 years and then mysteriously awakens out in the real world again.  He starts seeking vengence on those that imprisoned him and reveals a few dark (and twisted) secrets along the way.  It is good, but it takes a little nerve to watch.

Finally we watched the first disc of the first season of Jericho.  It is about a small Kansas town that survives a series of nuclear strikes around the country, the closest being in Denver.  They are isolated and have to figure out how to survive in this brand new world.  There are also a few mysterious people that have recently arrived in the town.  The first episode did not really grab me until almost three quarters of the way through, but then I was hooked.  I know at least one reader of this blog will be happy to hear Shoshannah Stern, the deaf girl from Weeds, is one of the stars.

The next batch of DVDs is already on the way.

My Mom

Today my mom had four growths removed from her liver.  She is resting comfortably.  She is in the ICU, but that is standard procedure after this surgery at this hospital, so it is nothing to worry about.  I cannot wait to talk to her on the phone.

Getting Ready For The Party

In June I turned 30.  We were going to have a big blow-out the day of my birthday, but that was so soon after we returned from Greece we never had a chance to plan it.  So, we are finally getting everything lined up.

The e-vite has been sent, and we have somewhere around 11 people attending.  Today I bought booze.  $120 did not go as far as I thought it would.  I keep looking at the bottles telling myself that 11 people are not going to drink 4 liters of liquor, but the host side of me keeps thinking we should get more booze.  We may break down and buy more.

The menu has been nearly finalized, and since we have some vegetarians coming, most of it will be meat-free.  I think only one dish will be meaty.

Now we just need to shop and clean.

Something That Made Me Feel Bad

Yesterday my friend Chris and I had a wonderful Indian buffet at Sangam.  We had a great time, talking about everything from Luc Besson to the Nintendo Wii to political action committees.  He is a great lunch buddy.

However, that is not what made me feel bad.  That happened as I was walking into the apartment building, and I see the Hispanic lady that is the complex’s maid on her hands and knees scraping something out of the grout between two of the floor tiles.  It just looked so demeaning.  I hope the complex is paying her more than I assume we pay her.

I think what bothered me the most about it was I had just gorged myself on this decadent buffet, and then I am smacked in the face with a lady doing a menial job for possibly less than I make working retail.  The juxtaposition made it all the more poignant.

Inappropriate Questions In The Workplace

I have been known to ask the odd question at work.  For instance, I once asked a co-worker if she had a rough night last night, because she looked tired.  It was not completely kosher, but it also was not overly terrible.

Now for a doozy that was unleashed yesterday.  A little background:  we have a girl working for us who is home for the summer from college.  One of the stock crew has had a bit of a crush on her.  Yesterday he asked her if she was going to be pregnant next year.

Yeah, you got me.  I think he was trying to flirt with her, but I really do not understand how that was supposed to entice her to go on a date with him.

Blogging From My iPod

So, I can now write blog posts on my iPod. This post is my first. I think I prefer a real keyboard, though.

An Update On Stupidity

So, yesterday the unnamed government agency I was complaining about decided to extend the deadline for turning in proposals by two weeks.  Great, more time.  Yippee!  However, what they did not do is actually answer the questions people had asked.  So, people have two more weeks to put their 200+ page proposals on hundreds of 3.5″ floppy discs.

Government Stupidity Hard At Work

There is a request for proposals out from the U.S. Government right now that has a fair amount of stupidity included in it.  First of all, the request specifies that the proposal must be submitted in hard copy (which is normal) but does not state how many hard copies are required.

Second, the electronic version of the proposals must be submitted on 3.5″ floppy discs.  No CD-ROMs allowed.  Proposals are 200+ page documents including charts and scanned documents.  It would literally require hundredes of floppy discs for each proposal.  I do not know whose bright idea it was to forbid CD-ROMs, but that person obviously has no idea about computer file storage technology.

Finally, the companies submitting proposals have asked questions about the first two problems and whatever other problems they have encountered.  There is an amendment coming soon explaining everything.  That does not sound stupid, right?  Well, the proposal is due in five days.  So, the government agency that put out the request is waiting until the last minute to amend the request.

Congratulations unnamed U.S. Government agency.  You win today’s Stupid Award.