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In response to Finke: Michelle at Oscars 'unnecessary and inappropriate': According to Clear Channel’s Steven Gregory on Twitter:

A new change in Verizon's privacy policy grants it the right to track user browsing habits, app usage and physical location.Like the Eye of Sauron watching over the lands of Middle-earth, Wednesday Verizon Wireless announced that it is now tracking the location of subscriber devices, recording search terms and websites they visit via the wireless network, and recording their app and device feature usage. This information will supposedly be used to make mobile ads more relevant to subscribers, and to be used for "certain business and marketing reports." In a statement announcing its privacy policy changes, Verizon said that it...

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has extended the jurisdiction of her sprawling department to the Internet. The "Homeland Security Investigations" division of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized control of 82 websites last week. Considering the mess Ms. Napolitano has made of airport screening, it's a bad idea to let Big Sister decide which websites will be allowed to exist in the future.In announcing the latest confiscation, ICE officials staged a press conference showcasing counterfeit goods allegedly sold by some of the websites. Highlighting this clearly illegal activity was intended to overshadow the fact that other affected websites may...

Last Thursday I was flying to LA on the Midnight flight. I went through security my usual sour stuff. I beeped, of course, and was shuttled to the "toss-em" line. A security guy came over. I assumed the position. I had a button up shirt on that was untucked. He reached around while he was behind me and grabbed around my front pocket. I guess he was going for my flashlight, but the area could have loosely been called "crotch." I said, "You have to ask me before you touch me or it's assault." He said, "Once you cross that...

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has crossed the line. As if subjecting millions of Americans to X-rated x-ray scans and public groping sessions weren't bad enough, the agency now threatens $11,000 in fines against anyone refusing to submit to humiliation at the airport. Oceanside, Calif., resident John Tyner found this out after he posted on YouTube a video of his degrading encounter with TSA screeners. Mr. Tyner's catchy phrase, "If you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested," spread quickly, thanks to attention provided by the Drudge Report. TSA was not amused, and an official announced Monday that Mr. Tyner...

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Thursday ranked Chicago’s Big Brother network of well over 10,000 public and private surveillance cameras as one of the nation’s most extensive and integrated — and Mayor Daley wants to make it even bigger.

Ever since the election, I have been writing, here, in comments and on my blog. I started my blog right after the election in November. I have not been real active on my blog of late, I have been deeply involved in some political activities in other venues. Tonight, I was looking at the logs on my server and I ran across an entry for a visit and it had an address I could trace back so I decided to check this one entry out. It sent a chill down my spine until I remembered who we are dealing with...

She led a charge to restrict the word "terrorism," instead urging government employees to refer to the phenomenon as "anti-Islamic activity." She had been labeled a "pocket dictator," with some of her practices referred to by media critics as "truly Big Brother stuff." She attempted to introduce a giant government database to track all citizen e-mails, phone calls and Internet activity. Meet Jacqui Smith, the British home secretary who today made public a list of individuals banned from the U.K. since October, including radio superstar Michael Savage. She announced she decided to release the list so others could better understand...

Worth a million words.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday she favors stricter home loan standards, clearer mortgage documents and better counseling for borrowers to stave off delinquencies and foreclosures. The Democratic presidential candidate proposed more leniency for borrowers in a financial crisis, allowing them a grace period from mortgage payments. She also called for more selectivity when screening people for loans to ensure they are qualified. "The loans need to be legitimate so people aren't strung out," Clinton told a group of about 20 people at a community center. The New York senator said borrowers should have more access to...

Keying off a couple of liberal blogs, Patrick Ruffini challenges the official story on the Hillary 1984 ad. Pat asks: Did Phil de Vellis just cop to a “crime” he didn’t commit, or had only a minor part in committing, to advance his career (it’s working) or cover for the real perps? And then quoting Buckeye State Blog: Also, where was De Vellis’ “Big Sister” ad of the Brown campaign. Where’s that one piece that hinted at Phil’s creativity? Where is something - anything - that shows a high level of technical skill with video editing/manipulation. If you’re still looking,...