Insty led me to this Lessig book, Free Culture, which is being offered for free download by Amazon. I’ll be spending the rest of the night reading it, though forty pages into the book I can say that there is not much I can add to it in terms of commentary.

I’m taking a break from the news today. Subhuman lowlifes have overrun Fallujah (here’s the CNN article I got home to) and though I would like to strike the fear of mannequin shredders into their hearts, last time I checked they’re the ones that strike that fear into their fellow countrymen.

As far as my short, snarky, “insightful” op-eds might go, this is not one of them. Outrage sure can be a deterrent to insight.

Found from Chris Lawrence, this piece by Robby Tagorda. In it he notes an article about a Republican voter survey that includes The Philippines and Thailand as nations that “harbor and aid terrorists,” joined by such lovely champions of the free world as Syria and Somalia. Too bad they left out Iran, and Afghanistan doesn’t count anymore since we took care of the Taliban regime.

I’ll admit this much. The Philippines has a vermin problem and it has some really big rats. However my old country does not coddle these animals. Considering how the Philippine government has foiled a “Madrid-level” — and how loathsome it is to have benchmarks such as this in this new world we live in — attack on Manila, I suppose the GOP can play “Odd Man Out” and take out the Philippines from that list.

Robby T. marks is merely as idiotic. Is there anything else I can add to this without parrotting him? Doubtful, and unnecessary.

First, Greg wonders why his closest blog-friends are all Bush-Loving Communist Pig Dogs, since he does say he’s a Democrat, but when was the last time I heard a Democrat say something like this:

I’m seeing a bad trend in education of relaxing the standards. In the local high school here in Petaluma, there was a requirement instituted by the county that students had to pass standardized testing to graduate. So, what happens? 15% of the seniors don’t pass. Do they go to summer school? Do one more year in high school? No, the country drops the requirement.

This is just another example of the failure of society to uphold personal responsibility. What kind of a message is the county sending to these high school students? We were just joking about requiring you to learn a certain amount of information before we give your a high school degree? Do these kids expect college to be just as gentle? [Emphasis added. --- Ed.]

He’s not predictable by any means, and that is a more important measure of a blog’s worth to me than ideologically pure ones where I could expect the response to an article in a heartbeat. People are complex and surprising, and that is what keeps blog-reading enjoyable.

Jess seems to have a fixation on CNN’s coverage of Condi Rice’s piercing gazes. I for one would use this picture to tell someone I’m upset with him. No words necessary, although depending on the context of a conflict, her gaze could be construed as a death wish…

The seventh edition of the Carnival of the Bush Bloggers is up at Blogs for Bush, where my post about the humorless fiends is featured. There’s plenty more links to go through there. A lot of it is about our favorite self-contradicting vulture, Dick Clarke, where even my post takes a quick jab at him.

Fun reading, dear friends.

The Fifth Circus Court has just struck down the Fourth Amendment.

NEW ORLEANS — It’s a groundbreaking court decision that legal experts say will affect everyone: Police officers in Louisiana no longer need a search or arrest warrant to conduct a brief search of your home or business.

Leaders in law enforcement say it will provide safety to officers, but others argue it’s a privilege that could be abused.

The decision was made by the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Two dissenting judges called it the “road to Hell.”

The ruiling stems from a lawsuit filed in Denham Springs in 2000.

New Orleans Police Department spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo said the new power will go into effect immediately and won’t be abused.

The good faith of men does not assure the erosion of our rights as written into law. Once the door has been opened in black and white, no promise by any human being, goodness incarnate that he may be, will prevent the elements who wish to use abuse this privelege from doing so.

The legal opinion, in PDF, is here. (Thanks to Howard Bashman.) I’m trying to wrestle with the opinion since I’m no lawyer, but with what I’m reading so far with the affirming opinions, I’m feeling abit queasy.

(Link courtesy of Paul, guest posting at Wizbang.)

Trey Givens has converted to WordPress and is having a ball.

Greggy is feeling the effects of time today. Go over there and give him a heads up for the first anniversary of his 25th birthday.