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Senate Passes Patriot Act Renewal
IAmTheDave writes "The Senate has passed a renewal of the Patriot act, 89-10, after two extensions caused by months of negotiations. The only thing standing in the way of a full renewal is a House vote, expected to pass next week. The renewal comes with some privacy protections attached, however, some worry they are only cosmetic. Some lawmakers who voted for the package acknowledged deep reservations about the power it would grant to any president. "Our support for the Patriot Act does not mean a blank check for the president," said Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who voted to pass the bill package. Certain lawmakers supported passing the bill even though they were still wary about it - Arlen Specter urged his colleagues to pass it even as he promised to introduce a new measure and hold hearings on how to fix it. Terrorism aside, the bill also includes new legislation that has almost nothing to do with terrorism, like one measure, which would make it harder for illicit labs to obtain ingredients for methamphetamine by requiring pharmacies to sell nonprescription cold medicines only from behind the counter. I know that people like Arlen Specter promise further hearings - but why pass what you know is flawed?"
Think of it as the beta release.
Ha! Gotcha. I meant you, over there burning that DVD torrent you've been downloading for 6 hours. And YOU, you SOB. Stop moving those CD's to your Ipod, thief. Oh, and not to mention YOU, who told you that it was fine to tamper with that TiVo? You say you learned to do it at the Library? NO, NOT THE LIBRARY!!!
All of the crap when purchasing certain cold meds makes me want to start a methlab just out of spite.
The USA: Just another corrupt government controlled police state.
To bad that sentence is not moddable as "FUNNY".
-Digital-Madman
A bullet sounds the same in every language. So stick a fucking sock in it...
...the Senate rules you!
Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
TV Watches You!
Oh! Oh! I know! I know!... because Spain and England aren't subject to US Legislation?!?!
"It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance." - Thomas Sowell
Some nerds have been on WOW all night and haven't heard this. Thankfully, they're smart and will catch on quick - we'll probably only have to dupe this story once.
welcome our old Overlords
The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
Well, I think that the part about banning butter knifes to prevent impressionable youngsters from flipping out and committing seppuku is a bit pointless; they'll just use frisbees instead. Also, the part where dropping a spoon in the restaurant is considered as legally same as killing the whole town might be just a little over-pumped.
I guess Bush now has the real ultimate power in the US.
Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.
Quizzes. Don't forget quizzes. Anyone who scores too badly gets replaced.