Lynsie Murley, an attractive young Amarillo woman, is another brave individual standing up for the civil rights and dignity of innocent travelers. Murley sued the Transportation Security Administration for an incident in which the TSA pulled down her blouse and publicly exposed her breasts during a pat-down at Texas' Corpus Christi airport in March of 2008.
After the humiliating incident, TSA workers joked with her about it. One TSA worker, who had missed the incident, told Murley he was sorry he had missed the event and would have to watch it later on security camera footage.
Rather than face the lawsuit, the TSA paid off the woman in a settlement. Apparently, the amount was nominal. According to the lawyer, the settlement was "way less" than $100,000.
Regardless of the cash amount, Lynsie Murley got a little justice out of the TSA. Most importantly, Lynsie Murley did not passively take the abuse TSA is routinely dishing out to innocent citizens. If more people stood up to the TSA, this out-of-control agency would not be tormenting innocent people so flagrantly.
If the TSA abuses you, consider suing. You might get a little money. You might get a little justice. You might even help preserve the civil rights of other people.
What does the TSA care? They get to feel you up, and when you sue, they will pay you off with taxpayer dollars. Think of it as a groping lottery you get to play every time you try to get on a plane.
January 13, 2011
January 9, 2011
Obama Wants Internet ID for Americans
Obama is planning to give the U.S. Commerce Department authority over a system to establish unique Internet identities for people. The National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace is a plan to create a system that will allow participants to establish who they are online through the use of some sort of identification feature. There are many systems that would allow for this identification, such as digital passcode generators, hardware keys, biometric scanners, RFID cards, voice recognition, etc.
The Obama administration is selling this as something that is voluntary and will be driven by the private sector, but the potential for future abuses must be recognized. Certainly, it would be convenient to have a single and secure Internet ID that you could use to access all of your various Internet-based accounts, but this could make you extremely vulnerable to having your entire online life hijacked in one single move.
People are probably not going to feel terribly threatened by this Internet ID program at first. We are going to be told it is for our protection, and it is completely voluntary, but that is not the way things are going to work out in reality.
If this Internet ID program takes hold, here is what is could happen step-by-step.
1) The Internet ID will be introduced. Banks will offer it to clients. People will use it and enjoy the convenience and feeling of security.
2) After a while, some banks will require users to have an Internet ID in order to access their accounts online.
3) Internet IDs will be required by all major banks for online access.
4) Mortgage companies and credit card companies will require customers to use the Internet ID system online.
5) Credit card companies will require the Internet ID be used for online purchases.
6) After several years, Internet IDs will be commonplace. Internet users may even be required to have Internet IDs to use free resources such as Web-based email accounts, social networking sites, blogging sites, etc.
Eventually, what will happen is that many Americans will have all or most of their online lives under one single Internet ID, effectively placing people's online lives under one universal account. It will be very convenient for people. People will just be able to log onto their computers and do everything without the need to worry about passwords and screen names.
Not only will this be convenient for legitimate users, it also going to be very convenient for identity thieves. We are always told systems are hack-proof, but we often find out later some hacker beat the security. Nothing is hack-proof. Right now, it is really a headache if an identity thief steals your credit card number or manages to hack your email account. Now, imagine if a hacker got hold of your Internet ID and was suddenly able to access every single one of your online accounts. Imagine if a thief had access to your bank accounts, credit cards, mortgage, driver license, cell phone, email accounts, Facebook account, Amazon account, and everything else you have. Your online life would suddenly be in the hands of someone else, and you would have very few resources available to you to correct the problem. In cyberspace, you would virtually cease to be your virtual self.
Here is an even scarier thought. Imagine if the you had your entire online life under a single Internet ID, and you had some dispute with the government. What if your tax return got lost in the mail? Imagine how easy it would be for the IRS to get hold of your Internet ID information and freeze all of your accounts until the matter was resolved. What if the Department of Homeland Security mistakenly identified you as a security threat and just decided to shut off your access to all of your online accounts during an investigation?
The potentials for abuse are tremendous. If you use the Internet ID system, know that you will be placing all of your virtual eggs in one basket. If a thief or the government decides to come along and take your basket, where is that going to leave you?
The Obama administration is selling this as something that is voluntary and will be driven by the private sector, but the potential for future abuses must be recognized. Certainly, it would be convenient to have a single and secure Internet ID that you could use to access all of your various Internet-based accounts, but this could make you extremely vulnerable to having your entire online life hijacked in one single move.
People are probably not going to feel terribly threatened by this Internet ID program at first. We are going to be told it is for our protection, and it is completely voluntary, but that is not the way things are going to work out in reality.
If this Internet ID program takes hold, here is what is could happen step-by-step.
1) The Internet ID will be introduced. Banks will offer it to clients. People will use it and enjoy the convenience and feeling of security.
2) After a while, some banks will require users to have an Internet ID in order to access their accounts online.
3) Internet IDs will be required by all major banks for online access.
4) Mortgage companies and credit card companies will require customers to use the Internet ID system online.
5) Credit card companies will require the Internet ID be used for online purchases.
6) After several years, Internet IDs will be commonplace. Internet users may even be required to have Internet IDs to use free resources such as Web-based email accounts, social networking sites, blogging sites, etc.
Eventually, what will happen is that many Americans will have all or most of their online lives under one single Internet ID, effectively placing people's online lives under one universal account. It will be very convenient for people. People will just be able to log onto their computers and do everything without the need to worry about passwords and screen names.
Not only will this be convenient for legitimate users, it also going to be very convenient for identity thieves. We are always told systems are hack-proof, but we often find out later some hacker beat the security. Nothing is hack-proof. Right now, it is really a headache if an identity thief steals your credit card number or manages to hack your email account. Now, imagine if a hacker got hold of your Internet ID and was suddenly able to access every single one of your online accounts. Imagine if a thief had access to your bank accounts, credit cards, mortgage, driver license, cell phone, email accounts, Facebook account, Amazon account, and everything else you have. Your online life would suddenly be in the hands of someone else, and you would have very few resources available to you to correct the problem. In cyberspace, you would virtually cease to be your virtual self.
Here is an even scarier thought. Imagine if the you had your entire online life under a single Internet ID, and you had some dispute with the government. What if your tax return got lost in the mail? Imagine how easy it would be for the IRS to get hold of your Internet ID information and freeze all of your accounts until the matter was resolved. What if the Department of Homeland Security mistakenly identified you as a security threat and just decided to shut off your access to all of your online accounts during an investigation?
The potentials for abuse are tremendous. If you use the Internet ID system, know that you will be placing all of your virtual eggs in one basket. If a thief or the government decides to come along and take your basket, where is that going to leave you?
December 25, 2010
TSA Gate Rape Resistance Gets Claire Hirschkind Arrested
On December 22, 2010, Claire Hirschkind, a 56-year-old rape victim was arrested at Austin-Bergstrom Airport in Texas after refusing a TSA pat-down. Claire Hirschkind could not pass through the full-body scanner due to safety concerns about a pacemaker-type device imbedded in her chest.
Hirschkind told a female TSA agent not to touch her breasts during the pat-down. The TSA agent insisted she would touch the rape victim's breasts. When Hirschkind refused to have her breasts touched by the federal employee, she was forced to the ground and arrested.
The story probably has a few more details that will certainly add to the reasons behind this woman being pushed to the ground. Logic says there must have been some sort of additional resistance, but this is the TSA, so logic is not necessarily applicable. Thee fact remains, however, that an innocent, law-abiding rape survivor with a pacemaker-type device was humiliated, inconvenienced, and tormented because she did not want a federal employee to touch her breasts.
How many more places can you imagine this going on? Imagine trying to walk into Grand Central Station and an NYPD cop stops you and says, "I am going to have to feel your breasts and crotch before I let you in the building."
Don't worry. This sort of thing will not be happening for at least another few weeks. If it makes us feel a little safer, it's perfectly okay, right?
Hirschkind told a female TSA agent not to touch her breasts during the pat-down. The TSA agent insisted she would touch the rape victim's breasts. When Hirschkind refused to have her breasts touched by the federal employee, she was forced to the ground and arrested.
The story probably has a few more details that will certainly add to the reasons behind this woman being pushed to the ground. Logic says there must have been some sort of additional resistance, but this is the TSA, so logic is not necessarily applicable. Thee fact remains, however, that an innocent, law-abiding rape survivor with a pacemaker-type device was humiliated, inconvenienced, and tormented because she did not want a federal employee to touch her breasts.
How many more places can you imagine this going on? Imagine trying to walk into Grand Central Station and an NYPD cop stops you and says, "I am going to have to feel your breasts and crotch before I let you in the building."
Don't worry. This sort of thing will not be happening for at least another few weeks. If it makes us feel a little safer, it's perfectly okay, right?
December 24, 2010
Sacramento Whistleblower Pilot Being Intimidated
A Sacramento pilot who used YouTube to expose serious security problems regarding the TSA is being intimidated by federal and local law enforcement. Click here to read the story from NEWS10 ABC.
December 23, 2010
United States Government Will Use Mexico Violence to Expand Gun Control
As the drug cartels continue to war with the Mexican government, a group of innocent people have found themselves in the crosshairs. The governments of the United States and Mexico are claiming that many of the weapons used by the cartels (maybe 80%) are being smuggled into Mexico from America.
The governments are alleging United States citizens who are using their clean records to purchase guns and transfer them to traffickers who smuggle guns into Mexico. Of course, many of these guns end up being used in crimes.
As you may have guessed, the governments of the United States and Mexico have decided to fix this problem by infringing on the Second Amendment. These governments want to put more intensive controls and supervision on gun purchases by innocent Americans. The U.S. government could go after the smugglers, but they are choosing to cast a wide net and go after general gun purchasers. Those who legally purchase two or more guns in a five-day period and live near Mexico are being placed under special scrutiny.
Instead our rights being violated, why can't Mexico do more to control their borders? We in America, have to deal with all of those drugs and aliens pouring across our borders. Why can't Mexico handle their own business and keep the guns out?
By the way, Mexico keeps complaining about how their cops are outgunned by the cartels, but we keep seeing these videos of Mexican government employees, destroying AK-47s, AR-15s, etc. that were seized from the cartels. If the Mexican cops are so outgunned, why don't they just use the weapons they seize from the raids on cartels? Better yet, why don't the Mexican cops just capture those weapons at the border and use the guns while they are all shiny and new?
The solutions are pretty obvious. It is insane that law-abiding U.S. citizens should be asked to sacrifice their Constitutional rights to make things easier on cops in a foreign country.
The governments are alleging United States citizens who are using their clean records to purchase guns and transfer them to traffickers who smuggle guns into Mexico. Of course, many of these guns end up being used in crimes.
As you may have guessed, the governments of the United States and Mexico have decided to fix this problem by infringing on the Second Amendment. These governments want to put more intensive controls and supervision on gun purchases by innocent Americans. The U.S. government could go after the smugglers, but they are choosing to cast a wide net and go after general gun purchasers. Those who legally purchase two or more guns in a five-day period and live near Mexico are being placed under special scrutiny.
Instead our rights being violated, why can't Mexico do more to control their borders? We in America, have to deal with all of those drugs and aliens pouring across our borders. Why can't Mexico handle their own business and keep the guns out?
By the way, Mexico keeps complaining about how their cops are outgunned by the cartels, but we keep seeing these videos of Mexican government employees, destroying AK-47s, AR-15s, etc. that were seized from the cartels. If the Mexican cops are so outgunned, why don't they just use the weapons they seize from the raids on cartels? Better yet, why don't the Mexican cops just capture those weapons at the border and use the guns while they are all shiny and new?
The solutions are pretty obvious. It is insane that law-abiding U.S. citizens should be asked to sacrifice their Constitutional rights to make things easier on cops in a foreign country.
December 22, 2010
DC Metro Bag Searches Are Unconstitutional
On December 21, 2010, random bag searches began for those wishing to board the DC Metro system. Passengers are selected at random to undergo searches of their private property. Those who choose not to be searched are not allowed to board a train. This is unconstitutional, and here is why.
The DC Metro, like all public transportation, is funded by the taxpayers; therefore, the DC Metro is public property, which belongs to the taxpayers. Barring innocent taxpayers from public property without just cause is a violation of civil rights and a misuse of public property.
Those who have already surrendered their rights to the TSA in order to get on a plane will cynically reply, "This is no different from the airport. We have surrendered our rights there, so we should surrender them on the DC Metro."
This is a flawed argument. Commercial airplanes are private property. Taxpayers do not own the airplanes, but they do own the trains. Yes, it is wrong that innocent people get violated when attempting to board planes, but the plans are private property, so the owners of the planes do not have to allow people to board. The DC Metro trains are different. The taxpayers own the trains, and they are intended for public use, so the taxpayers have a right to ride the trains. Making people subject to searches before being allowed to board a DC Metro train is barely different than making people subject to searches before allowing them to walk down a public sidewalk.
The DC Metro, like all public transportation, is funded by the taxpayers; therefore, the DC Metro is public property, which belongs to the taxpayers. Barring innocent taxpayers from public property without just cause is a violation of civil rights and a misuse of public property.
Those who have already surrendered their rights to the TSA in order to get on a plane will cynically reply, "This is no different from the airport. We have surrendered our rights there, so we should surrender them on the DC Metro."
This is a flawed argument. Commercial airplanes are private property. Taxpayers do not own the airplanes, but they do own the trains. Yes, it is wrong that innocent people get violated when attempting to board planes, but the plans are private property, so the owners of the planes do not have to allow people to board. The DC Metro trains are different. The taxpayers own the trains, and they are intended for public use, so the taxpayers have a right to ride the trains. Making people subject to searches before being allowed to board a DC Metro train is barely different than making people subject to searches before allowing them to walk down a public sidewalk.
December 21, 2010
Monitoring America
The Washington Post is running an excellent, in-depth article about extensive surveillance of ordinary Americans. The article, "Monitoring America," by Dana Priest and William M. Arkin details a vast network of databases, computers systems, and information-sharing programs used by law enforcement to watch and track virtually everyone in a broad variety of ways such as facial scans, license plate scans, cellphone tracking, civilian reports, undercover infiltrations of activists groups, FBI files, etc.
December 20, 2010
Waste Watch Gets Your Garbage Man to Spy on You
Depending on where you live, your garbage man probably comes by your home once or twice each week or so. While you are inside sleeping, showering, or eating breakfast, your garbage man is out by the curb handling your trash. What you may not know is that your garbage man may be spying on you.
A program know as Waste Watch trains garbage men how to observe suspicious behavior on their routes and report this behavior. Authorities can then investigate the reports and see if a crime is about to be committed.
Sure, Waste Watch sounds like a practical enhancement to law enforcement, but having civilians actively spy on other civilians is a scary proposition. Do you really want the man who visits your home early in the morning and has access to virtually every discarded document, container, item etc. that leaves your residence to be reporting things about you and your property to the government? Think, for a moment, about all of the things you throw out. When you throw them out, do you intend for them to just go away, or do you anticipate they could possibly scrutinized by someone?
When the garbage man is observing your residence from the curb, what sort of things might he be noticing? If you have some bags of fertilizer stacked on the side of your house, will he report that you could be making bombs? If your friend parked a car in front of your house and the garbage man notices some political bumper stickers on the vehicle, will he report a potential radical? What if he notices you are discarding some boxes for high-end electronics, will you be reported as a thief?
Keep in mind that, if your garbage man is spying on you, he will be at your residence once or twice per week looking at your property and everything you discard. Do not do anything suspicious within view of the garbage man. You just might find yourself under investigation.
Civilian spying was one of the most effective tools of the Nazis. It is really becoming fashionable in America these days.
A program know as Waste Watch trains garbage men how to observe suspicious behavior on their routes and report this behavior. Authorities can then investigate the reports and see if a crime is about to be committed.
Sure, Waste Watch sounds like a practical enhancement to law enforcement, but having civilians actively spy on other civilians is a scary proposition. Do you really want the man who visits your home early in the morning and has access to virtually every discarded document, container, item etc. that leaves your residence to be reporting things about you and your property to the government? Think, for a moment, about all of the things you throw out. When you throw them out, do you intend for them to just go away, or do you anticipate they could possibly scrutinized by someone?
When the garbage man is observing your residence from the curb, what sort of things might he be noticing? If you have some bags of fertilizer stacked on the side of your house, will he report that you could be making bombs? If your friend parked a car in front of your house and the garbage man notices some political bumper stickers on the vehicle, will he report a potential radical? What if he notices you are discarding some boxes for high-end electronics, will you be reported as a thief?
Keep in mind that, if your garbage man is spying on you, he will be at your residence once or twice per week looking at your property and everything you discard. Do not do anything suspicious within view of the garbage man. You just might find yourself under investigation.
Civilian spying was one of the most effective tools of the Nazis. It is really becoming fashionable in America these days.
November 28, 2010
TSA Sees Your Maxi-Pad with Full-Body Scan
If you are menstruating when you go through a full-body scanner, the TSA can see your sanitary napkin. The sight of your sanitary napkin may even inspire a thorough hand search around your vagina.
In one infamous, but unconfrimed, incident, an unnamed sexual assault victim and Army veteran was menstruating when she went through a full-body scan. An agent spotted her sanitary napkin and called for an extensive groping of the woman's crotch.
In one infamous, but unconfrimed, incident, an unnamed sexual assault victim and Army veteran was menstruating when she went through a full-body scan. An agent spotted her sanitary napkin and called for an extensive groping of the woman's crotch.
November 27, 2010
Homeland Security Seizing Domains Without Trial
The Department of Homeland Security has chosen to seize many domain names with little or no warning. The site seized by the Department of Homeland Security include sites that help people download torrents for copyrighted material, such as movies and music. The seized sites also include those that deal in suspected counterfeit designer goods like purses and watches.
The sites were simply seized without a trial, and this should horrify business owners. Apparently, if the Department of Homeland Security thinks your business aids people in acquiring counterfeit or pirated goods, Homeland Security can simply take your domain, essentially putting you out of business.
There is something even more terrifying to consider here. The practice of seizing domain names without a trial could be used to infringe on the First Amendment. Imagine if an online news site posts a video, photo, audio clip, or passage of text and the Department of Homeland Security thinks the owner of the domain posted the copyrighted content without proper permission. What is to stop the Department of Homeland Security from simply seizing the domain of the suspected site?
Imagine if the Department of Homeland Security decided to shut down sites that are critical of the government. All they would have to do is browse the site, find some piece of copyrighted content that appears to be used without proper permission, and seize the domain without a trail. This would allow the Department of Homeland Security to effectively shut down almost any site. Even if a site had proper permission to display every piece of its content, it would not matter. Since there does not need to be a trail, the owner of the Web site would not get a chance to defend itself, and the Department of Homeland Security could simply shut it down. The Department of Homeland Security effectively now has the power to eliminate free speech on the Internet.
When the Department of Homeland Security was created, we were told it was to protect us from terrorists and foreign invaders. How exactly is shutting down suspected torrent trackers and sellers of counterfeit goods protecting us from terrorists? The Department of Homeland Security is completely out of control. Today it is torrent trackers and counterfeit purse sellers. Who will be next?
For your reference, below is a list of the domain names currently known to have already been seized by the Department of Homeland Security. Certainly, many, many more will follow.
2009jerseys.com
51607.com
amoyhy.com
b2corder.com
bishoe.com
borntrade.com
borntrade.net
boxedtvseries.com
boxset4less.com
boxsetseries.com
burberryoutletshop.com
cartoon77.com
cheapscarfshop.com
coachoutletfactory.com
dajaz1.com
discountscarvesonsale.com
dvdcollectionsale.com
dvdcollects.com
dvdorderonline.com
dvdprostore.com
dvdscollection.com
dvdsetcollection.com
dvdsetsonline.com
dvdsuperdeal.com
eluxury-outlet.com
getdvdset.com
gofactoryoutlet.com
golfstaring.com
golfwholesale18.com
handbag9.com
handbagcom.com
handbagspop.com
icqshoes.com
ipodnanouk.com
jersey-china.com
jerseyclubhouse.com
jordansbox.com
lifetimereplicas.com
louis-vuitton-outlet-store.com
lv-outlets.com
lv-outlets.net
lv-outletstore.com
massnike.com
merrytimberland.com
mycollects.com
mydreamwatches.com
mygolfwholesale.com
newstylerolex.com
nfljerseysupply.com
nibdvd.com
odvdo.com
oebags.com
onsmash.com
overbestmall.com
rapgodfathers.com
realtimberland.com
rmx4u.com
scarfonlineshop.com
scarfviponsale.com
shawls-store.com
silkscarf-shop.com
silkscarfonsale.com
skyergolf.com
sohob2b.com
sohob2c.com
storeofeast.com
stuff-trade.com
sunglasses-mall.com
sunogolf.com
tbl-sports.com
throwbackguy.com
tiesonsale.com
timberlandlike.com
topabuy.com
torrent-finder.com
usaburberryscarf.com
usaoutlets.net
The sites were simply seized without a trial, and this should horrify business owners. Apparently, if the Department of Homeland Security thinks your business aids people in acquiring counterfeit or pirated goods, Homeland Security can simply take your domain, essentially putting you out of business.
There is something even more terrifying to consider here. The practice of seizing domain names without a trial could be used to infringe on the First Amendment. Imagine if an online news site posts a video, photo, audio clip, or passage of text and the Department of Homeland Security thinks the owner of the domain posted the copyrighted content without proper permission. What is to stop the Department of Homeland Security from simply seizing the domain of the suspected site?
Imagine if the Department of Homeland Security decided to shut down sites that are critical of the government. All they would have to do is browse the site, find some piece of copyrighted content that appears to be used without proper permission, and seize the domain without a trail. This would allow the Department of Homeland Security to effectively shut down almost any site. Even if a site had proper permission to display every piece of its content, it would not matter. Since there does not need to be a trail, the owner of the Web site would not get a chance to defend itself, and the Department of Homeland Security could simply shut it down. The Department of Homeland Security effectively now has the power to eliminate free speech on the Internet.
When the Department of Homeland Security was created, we were told it was to protect us from terrorists and foreign invaders. How exactly is shutting down suspected torrent trackers and sellers of counterfeit goods protecting us from terrorists? The Department of Homeland Security is completely out of control. Today it is torrent trackers and counterfeit purse sellers. Who will be next?
For your reference, below is a list of the domain names currently known to have already been seized by the Department of Homeland Security. Certainly, many, many more will follow.
2009jerseys.com
51607.com
amoyhy.com
b2corder.com
bishoe.com
borntrade.com
borntrade.net
boxedtvseries.com
boxset4less.com
boxsetseries.com
burberryoutletshop.com
cartoon77.com
cheapscarfshop.com
coachoutletfactory.com
dajaz1.com
discountscarvesonsale.com
dvdcollectionsale.com
dvdcollects.com
dvdorderonline.com
dvdprostore.com
dvdscollection.com
dvdsetcollection.com
dvdsetsonline.com
dvdsuperdeal.com
eluxury-outlet.com
getdvdset.com
gofactoryoutlet.com
golfstaring.com
golfwholesale18.com
handbag9.com
handbagcom.com
handbagspop.com
icqshoes.com
ipodnanouk.com
jersey-china.com
jerseyclubhouse.com
jordansbox.com
lifetimereplicas.com
louis-vuitton-outlet-store.com
lv-outlets.com
lv-outlets.net
lv-outletstore.com
massnike.com
merrytimberland.com
mycollects.com
mydreamwatches.com
mygolfwholesale.com
newstylerolex.com
nfljerseysupply.com
nibdvd.com
odvdo.com
oebags.com
onsmash.com
overbestmall.com
rapgodfathers.com
realtimberland.com
rmx4u.com
scarfonlineshop.com
scarfviponsale.com
shawls-store.com
silkscarf-shop.com
silkscarfonsale.com
skyergolf.com
sohob2b.com
sohob2c.com
storeofeast.com
stuff-trade.com
sunglasses-mall.com
sunogolf.com
tbl-sports.com
throwbackguy.com
tiesonsale.com
timberlandlike.com
topabuy.com
torrent-finder.com
usaburberryscarf.com
usaoutlets.net
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