Patriot Act information

Cruising the web for hometown information (hey,I gotta get my Red Wings Fix) I stumbled on this: http://www.detnews.com/specialreports/2003/liberty/index.htm
It's a series of editorials by the Detroit News on the effects fo the Partiot Act, and how is's being used (abused?) in the war on terrorism. No matter where you stand, it's an interesting read.
I have to admit though, I'm still not sure how giving *back* to the FBI the powers that J. Edgar Hoover abused for 30 years is patriotic . . .isn't that just letting the fox back into the hen house?

Color me curious

Patriot Act information

Cruising the web for hometown information (hey,I gotta get my Red Wings Fix) I stumbled on this: http://www.detnews.com/specialreports/2003/liberty/index.htm
It's a series of editorials by the Detroit News on the effects fo the Partiot Act, and how is's being used (abused?) in the war on terrorism. No matter where you stand, it's an interesting read.
I have to admit though, I'm still not sure how giving *back* to the FBI the powers that J. Edgar Hoover abused for 30 years is patriotic . . .isn't that just letting the fox back into the hen house?

Color me curious

What have we become?

*Nothing* can be made fun of anymore, (humor is illegal don'tcha know) and *everything* is sacred. Remember when SNL was actually funny -- because nothing was sacred? Remember when you could make a comment or a joke without fear of a lawsuit from some self-righteous a$$hole who just didn't get it? We are so focused on making ourselves look good and coming out on top (thanks mom & dad, this is the end result of the 'me' generation) that we've lost all perspective. Every little thing is a personal insult; the smallest slight (real or perceived) is grounds for wholesale retaliation.
Look, I'm not saying that I'm any different -- those of you who know me know that I'm an a**hole. I rant, I retaliate, and I'm generally one of the first to respond to verbal potshots with a verbal broadside. However, I at least make an effort to see what might be funny to the other guy -- hell, I'm usually my own best source of humor (anybody remember the sliding rose delivery across the asphalt floor?). If I couldn't laugh at myself I'd miss a *lot* of chuckles -- and so would everybody else. Really, I'm a walking pratfall, ask anybody who's spent a bit of time with me -- I usually end up rolling on the ground holding my ribs *howling* over some stupid thing. And I welcome anybody in the area to join right in -- we could all use a laugh now & then.
So next time somebody catches you unawares witha one-liner, or walks past just as you hit a slick spot and fall on your ass, join in the chortles. Then pounce 'em ;-)

What have we become?

*Nothing* can be made fun of anymore, (humor is illegal don'tcha know) and *everything* is sacred. Remember when SNL was actually funny -- because nothing was sacred? Remember when you could make a comment or a joke without fear of a lawsuit from some self-righteous a$$hole who just didn't get it? We are so focused on making ourselves look good and coming out on top (thanks mom & dad, this is the end result of the 'me' generation) that we've lost all perspective. Every little thing is a personal insult; the smallest slight (real or perceived) is grounds for wholesale retaliation.
Look, I'm not saying that I'm any different -- those of you who know me know that I'm an a**hole. I rant, I retaliate, and I'm generally one of the first to respond to verbal potshots with a verbal broadside. However, I at least make an effort to see what might be funny to the other guy -- hell, I'm usually my own best source of humor (anybody remember the sliding rose delivery across the asphalt floor?). If I couldn't laugh at myself I'd miss a *lot* of chuckles -- and so would everybody else. Really, I'm a walking pratfall, ask anybody who's spent a bit of time with me -- I usually end up rolling on the ground holding my ribs *howling* over some stupid thing. And I welcome anybody in the area to join right in -- we could all use a laugh now & then.
So next time somebody catches you unawares witha one-liner, or walks past just as you hit a slick spot and fall on your ass, join in the chortles. Then pounce 'em ;-)