Political linky dinks

A 7-year old student was sent to the principal's office because he "sed bad wurds". The bad words were "gay is when a girl likes another girl," in response to another student asking about his two moms. And now the teacher who punished the student is suing the student's mom for defamation. Click the link to see the contract the child was forced to sign, stating he should have "cep my mouf shut." (If he had, he "wud be at riyses.")

Some federally funded abstinence programs are saying some things that aren't, technically speaking, true. Like the assertions "that abortion can lead to sterility and suicide, that half the gay male teenagers in the United States have tested positive for the AIDS virus, and that touching a person's genitals 'can result in pregnancy.'" That "HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be spread via sweat and tears." Additionally:

Some course materials cited in Waxman's report present as scientific fact notions about a man's need for "admiration" and "sexual fulfillment" compared with a woman's need for "financial support." One book in the "Choosing Best" series tells the story of a knight who married a village maiden instead of the princess because the princess offered so many tips on slaying the local dragon. "Moral of the story," notes the popular text: "Occasional suggestions and assistance may be alright, but too much of it will lessen a man's confidence or even turn him away from his princess."

Political Linky Dinks: Boyle-ing

Good news, Torquemada: now we're allowed to use evidence gained through torture! E.g., "Boyle replied that the United States never would adopt a policy that would have barred it from acting on evidence that could have prevented the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks even if the data came from questionable practices like torture by a foreign power." How very reassuring that statement is—everything's fair game, as long as it prevents terrorist attacks! Whew. Close one!

An uppity federal judge questioned the government's right to detain people for years without lawyers or evidence. But "government lawyers, who are asking Green to dismiss the claims of 54 Guantanamo detainees who have challenged their imprisonment, said yesterday that a federal court should not micromanage the president's war on terrorism."

"If a little old lady in Switzerland writes checks to what she thinks is a charitable organization for Afghanistan orphans, but it's really supporting...al Qaeda, is she an enemy combatant?" the judge asked. Boyle said the woman could be, but it would depend on her intentions. "It would be up to the military to decide as to what to believe," he said.

Yup. That's how the justice system works in the US: it's all up to the military to decide.

Elrod imprisoned

I just found out—from the Usenet group rec.arts.movies.current-films, of all places—that Paul Elrod was sentenced to six months in jail today. It's weird to think that I had such an effect on this man's life. What would he be doing today if I hadn't decided to follow him? How would Jamin Eisenbach's life be different? Ripples...ripples are weird. I don't think of myself as making ripples.

The story made national news; Google for +"paul elrod" +"ann arbor" to find a whole lotta hits. For my take on the saga, collected in one place for my sake as much as anyone's:

• Written during the initial period of shock.
  
• The news hounds scent me.
  
• I am bleeped, and Elrod calls me to apologize.
  
• Trial 1, which wasn't.
  
• Trial 2, which didn't have a jury.
  
• Trial 3, which did.
  

Coincidentally, Katrina called from the State Theater tonight, to ask a question about the air conditioners. Oddness.

Get on the stick, you terrorists!

Another cabinet post is changing hands: Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson stepped down today. On his way out, he said:

"For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply because it is so easy to do. We are importing a lot of food from the Middle East, and it would be easy to tamper with that."

"Got that, everybody? Huge vulnerability. Massive. Thought I'd point it out. Next guy's problem."