Database Nation, a different look from Reason Mag.

U.S. agencies collect, examine personal data on Americans, “I didn’t know you cared what color my car was, how sweet”.

Latest terror alert surprises Homeland Security officials (shouldn’t Homeland Security know about terror alerts by Ashcroft and the FBI?) Something is messed up.

Went to LA last night with Anna to see Madonna. A friend was supposed to go with her, but the concert was delayed a day and he could not make it. I ended up going in his place. I am not a big fan of hers, but she put on a good show. She definitely knows how to hire the right people, the dancers, multimedia, and effects were very good.

I was amazed at the prices. The tickets were 300 bucks each (Anna got hers on eBay for a lot less), then they have the nerve to try to charge you 20 bucks to park and 50 bucks for a t-shirt. Unbelievable. We got to the parking lot, found out it was 20 bucks and found a spot on the street to park. The messed up thing is it was probably about the same distance away as the parking lot.

Wow. Crash Testing: MINI Cooper vs Ford F150 Interesting article here: Big and Bad

New Information Indicates Attacks in U.S.

Nice: Five days into the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, with the superpowers on the brink of confrontation, President Nixon was too drunk to discuss the crisis with the British prime minister, according to newly released transcripts of tape recordings.

The NY Times fesses up to being taken in on false claims by ex-Iraqis.

Richard Perle was one of the architects for the war in Iraq. Now he says the U.S. war policy is a ‘grave error’.

The “war on terror” led by the US is behind a surge of human rights abuses around the world, according to a report by Amnesty International.

This is disturbing: While serving as a member of the 438th Military Police company in Guantanamo Bay during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was ordered to pose as the enemy for a training exercise. Baker said he received a severe brain injury because of the subsequent beating he received.

All done with the mini-vacation. The drive up the coast (San Diego to San Fran) in the convertible was quite nice, really could not have asked for better weather. As usual, the view on the coast highway was spectacular. One thing I really enjoyed was the olfactory experience of the convertible. Driving through you could smell people cooking breakfast, eucalyptus trees, sage, redwoods and cedars, the ocean, etc. Driving in a convertible is an experience, rather than just travel.

Mark was a gracious host and the trip out to the SF bay was great. It was an impressive fireworks show (kaboom), and well worth the trip.

Update: Photos of the trip are here.

President Bush has installed more than 100 top officials who were once lobbyists, attorneys or spokespeople for the industries they oversee.

Videotape shows revelers at celebration – Survivors of May 19 airstrike cast doubt on U.S. account

Alan Greenspan, the social butterfly.

Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, the Bush administration thought so highly of Zinni that it appointed him to one of its highest diplomatic posts — special envoy to the Middle East. But Zinni broke ranks with the administration over the war in Iraq

2k pages missing from prisoner abuse report sent to the senate from the pentagon.

Ahmad Chalabi may go down as one of the great con men of history. But his powerful American friends are on the defensive now, and Chalabi himself is under attack. How could it be that the men who run the most powerful military in the world could not know that their own troops were about to run a raid on a man once regarded as the hope of free Iraq?

Organic Food: Outcry Over Rule Changes that Allow More Pesticides, Hormones

Sipping on some jasmine pearls Anna bought for me. They are quite nice.

Heading up to Big Sur tomorrow for a bit of camping overnight. Then it is up to the bay. We are going to hitch a ride on Mark’s (Anna’s brother) boat to see the fireworks in the SF bay. Should be fun.

Database Measured ‘Terrorism Quotient’ – authorities apparently acted on the list of 120,000 people. I am waiting for ratemyterroristquotient.com…

U.S. Soldiers Raid Chalabi’s Home in Iraq. Probably part of the oil for food scandal, but lets hope they had some good evidence, this won’t be looked at kindly.

The Bush administration violated two federal laws through part of its publicity campaign to promote the drug changes in Medicare.

Nice one: House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) lectured McCain (R-Ariz.) — an outspoken opponent of Bush’s tax cuts — over war sacrifices, drawing a blistering retort from McCain, who nearly died of war wounds in a North Vietnamese prison camp.

McSweeney’s daily reasons to dispatch Bush.

Flames will play for Stanley Cup, wow.

Top 10 Dirtiest Foods Will Make You Sick. Start public panic… now.

Researchers hail dyslexia breakthrough. Too easy to make up a funny headline for this.

Internet guide to freighter travel.