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While the nation was distracted last month by images of Saddam Hussein's spider hole and dental exam, President George W. Bush quietly signed into law a new bill that gives the FBI increased surveillance powers and dramatically expands the reach of the USA Patriot Act. The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 grants the FBI unprecedented power to obtain records from financial institutions without requiring permission from a judge. Under the law, the FBI does not need to seek a court order to access such records, nor does it need to prove just cause. Previously, under the Patriot Act, the FBI had to submit subpoena requests to a federal judge. Intelligence agencies and the Treasury Department, however, could obtain some financial data from banks, credit unions and other financial institutions without a court order or grand jury subpoena if they had the approval of a senior government official. The new law (see Section 374 of the act), however, lets the FBI acquire these records through an administrative procedure whereby an FBI field agent simply drafts a so-called national security letter stating the information is relevant to a national security investigation. http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,61792,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1

I've been thinking I should change my avatar to Mr. Malaprop

1. Sikhism (100%) 2. Reform Judaism (91%) 3. Bahá'í Faith (88%) 4. Jainism (86%) 5. Liberal Quakers (81%) 6. Orthodox Judaism (81%) 7. Islam (76%) 8. Unitarian Universalism (75%) 9. Hinduism (73%) 10. Mahayana Buddhism (72%) 11. Neo-Pagan (65%) 12. Theravada Buddhism (63%) 13. Orthodox Quaker (58%) 14. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (56%) 15. New Age (55%) 16. Taoism (52%) 17. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (50%) 18. New Thought (44%) 19. Scientology (42%) 20. Jehovah's Witness (40%) 21. Seventh Day Adventist (37%) 22. Secular Humanism (36%) 23. Eastern Orthodox (35%) 24. Roman Catholic (35%) 25. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (29%) 26. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (28%) 27. Nontheist (20%) 40% Jehovah's witness! :hellno:

Scott- Read above. Read. Here's a hint (literacy=+, murders=-(*10^3))

No, they hate them for killing their mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters, friends and countrymen. What's next? Are you going to tell me that this did not happen? All I've said this whole argument Scott is that the same regime that taught them how to read and write, killed their mothers and fathers. The 2 are not of the same order of magnitude (one a decent positive, the other a massive negative), but both should be considered in one's assessment of the regime. Particularly when one criticizes those in the past for an infatuation with Russia, say in the 1930's, when it's plusses where in great relief (rapid industrialization, a growing economy, increase in literacy, etc) and it's negatives (dekulakisation of the Ukraine, murder, torture, etc.) were well hidden away from the world.

All those people you studied with I'm sure hated the Communists for teaching them to read. For someone who studied there your perspective is sadly lacking. Or are you against ridden as you sit in your home, and think "at what cost to the indians did I obtain this?"

Capitalism - AT WHAT COST!

Scott- It's clear you don't know that much about the Russia aside from some 2-bit horror stories. I suggest some reading, The Russian Century, B Moyhnahan to start. And then read about the conditions in Russia prior to communism. Where people were dragged off and shot for insulting the tsar. And an educated populace, that can read of the horrors of it's regime, through underground newspapers, is the beginning of the undoing of a communist society. Look at the changes beginning in China, as an increasingly affluent educated middle class begins to want more freedom.

I full well realize that. That's why the literacy rate in the causcauses went from 1% in 1920 to almost 100% - becausing eliminating a language is the first step to eliminating a culture. Because something was designed for partly ulterior motives (the interstate system as a tool of national defense) doesn't negate it's value. Literacy almost always (except in say, the cultural revolution) has been a passport to betterment for the individual, and therefore, the society.

Man I could use an apprenticeship in the Ice Climber's Guild! For the PDX side of the gorge, check out Portland Rock. Wa Ice covers (surprise!) the wa side.

Things like signs, letters to each other, you know, highbrow stuff. On a political level, a literate populace is also considered one of the requirements to maintaining a stable democracy. JayB - Russians have little business criticizing anyone in foreign policy. That you think their only accomplishments are literature and a prodigous appetite for vodka shows you ignorance (Math, Physics). Somehow I don't think Pravda is much different than CC. Everyone (including me) is talking out their ass 90% of the time.

still gonna have to call this B.S. The change in literacy rates to the current 99%? Or improvement?

Life has always been cheap in Russia. Look at the past 10 years. They've paid a pretty high price for their now stalled transition to capitalism, haven't they?

JayB- You may want to look at the change in literacy rates in Russia under the communists.(To among the highest in the world, from one of the lowest) Though it neither excuses, nor negates the horrors, they did make substantial change for the better in the lives of their population.

New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Adirondack Park

Ah PP - If their's one thing we can depend on the right for, it is righteous condscension. The article used the 400 largest tax returns - as can be seen this is a highly volatile measurement (only 21 were among the top earners ever year). As anyone knows, for tax management, you donate heavily when earning heavily. Naive idealism is far more appealing to me than naked savagery.

I live a block from the KSBW studios - they had a bottle of water set outside, to show that it would freeze The reporter was doing his gripping telecast as I skiied by

PP- A quick survey of the Forbes 400 would show it's primarily related to wealth - in particular, stock market wealth. But then, I trust you to not dig to deep.

In Portland you could try Club PDX (conveniently located close to Powells)

and the japanese guys who own and run montbell are fukers imho. Yeah, they have the boulder store. I think they were also selling some stuff through REI. The few things I've called about they didn't have (like the battery chargers). Don't know anything about the Japanese owners, but the old US crew were really nice when I stopped by the Santa Cruz shop, and the stuff was cheap (which is my main criteria for buying long underwear). Doug Robinson used to work for them doing design too.

The phrase "underdriven" comes to mind. Headed to Summit with that?

As opposed to the Cato Insitute which will price us out.

Everyone sells stuff made of it. It's a Polartec fabric. Melanzana makes some nice stuff utlizing it. As do all the heavyweights.

JayB- Hobsbawm is an acknowledged Marxist. Still. To this day. The liquidation of the kulaks was a horror. So is rounding up people in stadiums to have them disapear(Peron/Pinochet). Or having people called out of a meeting to be shot.(Saddam, on his rise to power - who was then funded by the US) And the quote is "Hell is paved with good intentions" And

And I bet people can smell you long before they see you! Capilene's nice, but it stinks. The 2 best brand of synth stuff have been discontinues (Moonstone & Montbell). The Icebreaker merino stuff's really nice - doesn't take much more care than capilene (no dryer, but I don't use that for the capilene either). It costs a fortune though.