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They went and did it
The subject is alleged "ant-terrorist" legistlation, and the mood is bleak. I have a really hard time understanding how our elected representatives could so quickly lose sight of what makes this country great. How could they do this to us? Aren't they educated, historically-aware public servants? We have lost so many previously-enjoyed essential liberties that I am saddened beyond measure. The Internet could turn out to be a very different place now, too. Here's what I mean...

While some provisions of the "USA Act" -- a cynical moniker if ever there was one -- will indeed expire after 4 long years, the permanent changes in federal law passed in the name of fighting terrorism will be with us forever unless a future Congress or responsible Supreme Court (not the present one) reinstates our freedoms. According to Wired News, here are some of the things the police can now do (the following quoted exactly):

• Any U.S. attorney or state attorney general can order the installation of the FBI's Carnivore surveillance system and record addresses of Web pages visited [my emphasis] and e-mail correspondents -- without going to a judge.
• Police can sneak into someone's house or office, search the contents, and leave without ever telling the owner...
• Any Internet provider or telephone company must turn over customer information, including phone numbers called -- no court order required -- if the FBI claims the "records sought are relevant to an authorized investigation to protect against international terrorism."
• The current definition of terrorism is radically expanded to include biochemical attacks and computer hacking. Some current computer crimes -- such as hacking a U.S. government system or breaking into and damaging any Internet-connected computer -- are covered.
• Any American "with intent to defraud" who scans in an image of a foreign currency note or e-mails or transmits such an image will go to jail for up to 20 years. [This one mystifies me. The FBI wants to know what we're scanning?]

There are more, of course, some of which bear directly on the right you once had to publicly dissent. I find it especially grotesque that marching in the street to protest government policies can result in being labeled a "domestic terrorist," while groups like the Army of God and Aryan Nation -- which openly espouse bombing abortion clinics, assassinating doctors, and killing Jews -- operate with impunity. (Hello??)

Nuking the mail
It's just possible that our own homegrown goons will get their comeuppance after all: according to the U.K. Observer site, the feds have just about concluded that "Neo-Nazi extremists within the US are behind the deadly wave of anthrax attacks." Well, duh! Right-wing hate groups have been pushing books and pamphlets on how to procure and grow anthrax spores for years... and I'll bet if you search their Web sites, you can still find this information. [Ooops! I almost forgot: you may be AFRAID to search for anthrax info on the Internet now, because the FBI can see where you surf... are you getting the picture now?] Anyway, from the Observer article, whose revelations will chill you, comes the following:

"Neo-Nazi websites, including the largest umbrella organisation, the National Alliance, show support for al-Qaeda. Billy Roper, the alliance's membership coordinator posted a message within hours of the 11 September attacks, reading: 'Anyone who is willing to drive a plane into a building to kill Jews is all right by me.'"

Geez.

Well now, last Friday I wrote an article for Applelinks about how the government is pushing the idea of zapping the mail (ion beam sterilization) to kill anthrax spores. So far this is only being done to mail normally processed at several Washington, D.C. distribution centers, but you know they'll want to expand the idea (bureaucrats always do). Irradiated mail, whoopee. The ion beams (electrons, actually) can affect electronic circuits as well as destroy DNA. But what about those seeds you ordered for next year's garden? And take a look at this email I just received entitled "Irradiated Mail Will Put Me Out of Business!" Peacocks may not be a pressing issue for you, but then you probably don't have a thousand eggs to ship:

"I have been trying to get answers to what this will do the 1000 peahen (peacocks) hatching eggs I ship by the USPS every year. (I know, they will not hatch! it will kill the eggs)

100% of all my business comes off my web page and now the that government (before 9-11) banned the shipment of chicks by USPS, now this...well I have no idea what I will ever do with 1000 eggs this spring and how we will ever pay our bills???????? Scramble hatching eggs, real expensive!!!!!"

Internet news vs. the usual suspects
These days we aren't limited to Dan Rather, CNN, or our local newspapers for the latest news. And I can say with 95 percent accuracy that I have gotten almost all my news from the Internet for the last 2 years (reading intelligent analysis on a Web page beats 90 seconds of network pablum any day). Nonetheless, there are hazards associated with this method of information gathering, in particular the danger that your selection of news sites will only reflect your pre-existing bias -- at least that's what they tell me. But don't we all do this already anyway, by selecting which network to watch, which paper to buy?

But the point I want to make is that some Internet news sources can give you a very different picture from that seen at NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, Fox, etc. On the matter of that recent Special Forces raid into Afghanistan to "gather intelligence," for example: my usual perusal of CNN and the Washington Post site produced no hint that the airborne assault was anything but a great success. However: our best troops were in fact quickly routed and sustained a number of casualties, did you know that? Apparently the intruders were quickly spotted, and Taliban fighters pulled weapons out of hiding and laid down an artillery barrage on the landing zone. We "gathered intelligence," all right, to the effect that these guys fight like maniacs and we can't bomb all the Taliban artillery pieces stashed away in caves (or mosques, hospitals, schools, etc.).More geez.

So with the caveat that I AM NOT PUSHING ANY PARTICULAR POINT OF VIEW, merely making a point about unconventional Internet news sources vs. the "normal" ones, here are a few sites you may be interested in (assuming you aren't afraid of being watched, hahaha). As always, compare stories and try to see what's what. The truth is out there, all right, but you may have to hunt for it:

• Cursor.org -- An excellent media watchdog site with voluminous lists of links to mostly non-mainstream news sites.
• Smirking Chimp -- The packaging is left-of-center, but this very professional site compiles a daily selection of editorials, news items, and columns from all over, including mainstream hometown U.S.A. sources.
• CounterPunch -- If the name Alexander Cockburn makes you apoplectic, don't go here, but they have current reports from inside Afghanistan and Pakistan and very thoughtful commentary from respected journalists and scholars. Gruesome photos of dead Afghan babies may greet you as well, so be warned...
• Jane's -- The U.K. news site for all things military and globally strategic. Quite enlightening (subscription required for full articles).
• Debka -- This one is a bit enigmatic, an Israeli Web site of somewhat uneven quality that manages to cram loads of news into its awkward pages.

Body Bags-R-Us
Another sign that we are doing much of the terrorists' work for them (by terrorizing ourselves!) is that the theme of my email spam is changing. Instead of the usual hype for penis/breast enlargements or cheap Viagra, I'm getting things like this:

"Disposable Body Bags and Protective Clothing:

We invite you to visit our web site...and review our protective clothing and body bags for Emergency Medical Services, Police, Government Agencies, Industry and Hospitals. We are available to provide you with quotations and samples as needed.

Also at the request of several clients we have obtained a source for gas masks, gloves and alchohol prep pads. Please let us know what your needs are."

I say bring back the Britney Spears sex video offers! (Doing what to how many guys?!)

And finally...
Gee, maybe it was the apples. I leave you now with the title of the last email I received (at my Applelinks.com address) in the process of writing this column, and I hope it brightens your day as much as it brightened (?) mine:

Onward!

Senior Applelinks editor and columnist John H. Farr wishes this were a review of the Apple iPod, but no samples have arrived in the mail. (Probably wouldn't work after "ion beam sterilization," anyway.)

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AUDIO CREDIT: embedded 44k file, European Birds -- Sounds and Sonograms.

DESIGN CREDIT: GRACK! byline graphic by Bob Farr.

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