The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Proving that at least some freedom still exists in America, a Maryland judge rules that mooning people is not illegal. Apparently, buttocks are not "private parts". This has me wondering, would boobs be considered private parts? I think they should be considered much less indecent than asses, which people shit out of. James Maxwell, an attorney involved, said the ruling should "bring comfort to all beachgoers and plumbers" in the state.

Despite good coverage of a protest against DC's proposed smoking ban that I attended, the DC City Council is poised to approve the ban tomorrow. Libertarians get a good mention, but the enemies of freedom will win this one. You have a right to kill your unborn baby, but not to smoke in a bar? Give me a break! You're either pro-choice or you're not. I renew my call to ban tofu!

And speaking of asses and boobs, President Bush is accusing Democrats of playing politics with the PATRIOT Act and national security. Pot. Calling. Kettle. Black. And then there's this bit of news, which I'm not sure what to make of it.

the Justice Department notified U.S. District Court judges in Washington that it will seek the dismissal of lawsuits from more than 300 Guantanamo Bay detainees who are questioning the legality of their confinement, using a provision of the defense appropriations law that the Bush administration says limits existing challenges.

The new provision prevailed after a sponsor, Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), said it would not apply to pending cases. But the Justice Department said the law eliminates the jurisdiction of district courts over challenges to the legality of detentions at the U.S. naval base in Cuba.

The new law still permits detainees to appeal being classified as enemy combatants or any military-commission convictions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.