Thanks, and good luck. (PS There was a run of 5 6's in the comment number of your post; I notice these things, likely some impact of the Asperger's... :)

Actually that would be good for some exercise. What the FBI is doing here seems like it would be better left not done.

I believe the first amendment covers that.

I'm sorry, I just don't see what possible "event" could warrant making the populace unable to communicate with each other, unless said "event" was created by the people who are turning off communications.

Uh, no, it was "way to be challenged on the spot". I really wanted to be on that jury, actually, not because of the issue but because I am interested in learning our civic processes. (I'm also slightly afflicted with Asperger's so do not always function correctly, socially.) And, no, I didn't think, when I was on-the-spot, that the question was related to evidence-less claims, I took the question at face value and attempted to answer it as best I could. Next time I will ask for clarification.

They've always removed me from the jury pool, by asking a question designed to show whether I was intelligent or not. Last time it was, "How believable is a police officer compared to a member of the public?" My response included that the officer had training in observation and recollection, so would likely be a slightly better recording device than a common human, so perhaps 55%, or 60%, instead of 50/50? The judge said, and I quote, "Next."

Exactly! Just like he threatened a veto on NDAA, and said he would close Gitmo.

Reminds me of the test for cops, that kicked applicants out for being too intelligent. "If you can see through our shit, then you're not good enough for us!"

Perhaps not directly; however: how am I to pursue this happiness when I keep running into security checkpoints?

Reading comprehension much? I realize there's only one letter difference, but he wasn't talking about which administration created it; he was talking about the terrorists, and how they're winning. We are now less free than we were last millennium. But still, project your rage.

Currently no mod points; I read the parent because of your post, and am glad that I did, so I'm echoing the sentiment.

Many of us are witness to what the mainstream media has been doing and continues to do regarding the Ron Paul campaign. He just won at least half the delegates in both Iowa and Missouri; the only way I know about this is from reading the comments in "hit piece" articles about Ron Paul's "failing campaign".

During these past few months, my relationship with the television has been changing as well. I'm no longer really interested in the stories that it has to tell me; reality is much more interesting (like that Chinese curse).

Put me on that jury, and I will accept exactly that. Touching someone in their "private" area uninvited is definitely close to rape, and is physical harm. I agree with the rest of what you wrote.

What's weird is to think that these people are the result of unfunded federal mandates like No Child Left Behind...

Why ethanol? It seems like renewable forms would be much better and would not disrupt the food supply (and pricing). If you're talking about automobiles, we should move towards the new IBM "breathable" batteries, which weigh much less because they get some of their power from the atmosphere. Batteries in cars make the most sense, because it decouples "power generation" from "power usage"; the batteries can be filled from energy produced via water, wind, sun, nuclear, coal, fusion, and whatever the next quantum-based energy source is. (Siblings said similar statements, albeit with much more vitriol...)