POST SCRIPTS

FISA aka the Foreign intelligence Surveillance Act, allows warrantless searches (wire taps) of domestic calls made to suspected terrorists beyond....

our national borders. It does not allow for eavesdropping on calls entirely within the USA. This is an important distinction to make, because FISA is designed for the collection of foreign intelligence by surveillance and it is set apart by Congress (in law) from the usual "probable cause" warrants that law enforcement must obtain.

Why not use the courts and get a warrant? Why does it have to be done in such secrecy?

When a warrant is obtained, the details of the warrant, i.e. the reason for surveillance that must contain the, who, what, when, how and why. The law says a warrant is only for a very specific period of time. Once the warrant time has expired the person/s being surveilled must be notified and many details of the warrant can then become known to them. This is their legal right. For an enemy combatant of the USA, this is an intelligence bonanza. It doesn't take a great leap of logic to see that such information will be used to defeat future wire taps and improve terrorist's stealthy tactics. It is just as probable that more innocent lives will be lost when the terrorists have such helpful information.

In 1978 Congress gave the President the authority for warrantless searches in section III of FISA when they said and I quote, "nothing in Title III shall be deemed to limit the constitutional power of the President to take such measures as he deems necessary to protect the United States against the overthrow of the Government by force or other unlawful means, or against any other clear and present danger to the structure or existence of the Government."

We have had three successive Presidents that invoked the powers of FISA and there's not been one case of abuse brought before the courts, let alone a case sustaining an abuse! Not one! And that is incredibly significant when you compare what has happen to us since Al Queda declared war on America. There's the real threat and there have been zero cases of abuse by FISA, yet we're dwelling on that and not the terrorists?

Fisa is limited in its focus to gather of overseas intelligence and those very same people we were spying on have done us substantial domestic harm, in 93 and 2001. They are a real and ver visible threat, on the other hand libs make up some hypothetical story showing how FISA “might� be abused! That's a far cry from the reality we've seen on 9/11.

I suspect those people are obstructing FISA for reasons that are more political than patriotic. They have attacked President Bush for using FISA exactly as his predecessors did and claim criminal wrongdoing! Several radical members in Congress have said what President Bush is doing (protecting the United States) is an impeachable offense.

Imagine if the President had information that foreign nationals inside the United States were conversing with terrorist contacts in Iran and he did nothing and as a result we were attacked and lives were lost. Now that would be an impeachable offense! Or imagine that he sought out the blessings of a federal judge who then denied the warrant to use a wiretap and the President did nothing and we were attacked. Again, one could argue that too would be an impeachable offense. Congress said in FISA, he is lawfully authorized "...to take such measures as he deems necessary to protect the United States", how much more clear could it be?

When it comes to life and death issues in national security, the buck stops with the President, not a federal judge or a member of Congress. Yet, there are some groups like the ACLU and even a few members of Congress like Nancy Pelosi, that would willingly risk another 9/11 attack by forcing this President to abandon FISA and meet the heavy burden of proof required in a court ordered wire tap. And lets not forget that by obtaining that warrant the information in it will eventually become public knowledge. It makes no sense to me that we should surrender our intel gathering tactics to Al Queda.

Since no other President was so challenged or threatened with impeachment for using FISA, one might suspect there is a hidden agenda behind all this ballyhoo, an agenda that has nothing to do with protecting your civil rights, but everything to do with gaining political advantage. An advantage I might ad, that comes at the cost of risking American lives and empowering our enemies here and abroad. Now that my friends is what I call a impeachable offense.

Posted by Post Scripts at 12:16 PM | Comments (1)

December 11, 2005

ALL TOPICS ARE FAIR GAME

Most blog sites are built upon one theme, but not here. We're a little different. I said from the begining "all topics are fair game" and true to that, uh... warning, well, you get some pretty diverse things here from smart dogs to Howard Dean in a British Red-Coat! lol

If you have been reading this column for any length of time, you've probably also noticed that I encourage you to send in your comments and even start a new thread, so don't be bashful. I like to publishing your thoughts and frequently do as main topics. This column was designed to be interactive and I can't do that without your help, so pulleeeeese feel free to write whatever is on your mind! Just keep it clean because we may have a few younger types reading your work. I know my grandson stops by once in awhile and he said some of his 8th grade friends do too. So don't try to teach my G-son any creative 4 letter words, he's doing just great on his own thank you.

On last thing, just because your work gets published here doesn't mean the Enterprise-Record or even I, (your humble blog writer) agree, support or endorse your work, but we DO respect your right to express your opinion!

Looking forward to your thoughts....

Posted by Post Scripts at 10:45 AM | Comments (1)

Season for Anger Management

Are you one of those people who think, "I'm better off to have an angry outburst because holding it in is worse." You therefore rationalize your anger as acceptable, but is it really? 
 
Medical science says no. Failure to control a "hot temper" will eventually affect your health, often in dramatic ways and it will isolate you from your friends and family members. Lets face it, when you don't have your health and you don't have friends or loved ones, you've lost almost everything that makes life worth living.

Lets take a look at some of the common physical effects from anger and see if they apply to you:

Headache
Digestion problems, such as abdominal pain
Insomnia
Increased anxiety
Depression
High blood pressure
Skin problems, such as eczema
Heart attack
Stroke
Respitory problems.

Anger always works against your body. Every anger event causes blood platelets to attach themselves to the walls of your heart and blood vessels temporarily raises your blood pressure and skin temperature. Adrenaline and other stress hormones flood into your body. In some cases, the adrenaline causes dangerous hearet arrhythmias, leading to a sudden and often fatal heart attack.
 
Here are some tips to managing anger:

Try to see the situation in the best possible light. 

Step away from the situation until you have a chance to cool down.  

Try to pinpoint the exact reasons why you feel angry; is it logical or is it something you've projected?

Once you have identified the problem, consider coming up with different strategies on how to remedy the situation.

Remember, a good deal of anger is generated by your own thoughts. People who quickly snap at others tend to think in the negative. It follows then, the first step to diffusing your anger is to learn to see things differently and using your brain instead of your emotions.  "While angry feelings frequently surprise us and come upon us automatically, it is our “self-talk� that makes us more angry. Change what you tell yourself about what is going on, and you can drastically change your feelings about it." Betterhealth.vic.gov.au   

One of the reasons I choose to write this article is this winter/holiday season. Thanks to the short days and long nights people tend to suffer more from depression, we call this "seasonal affective disorder." Then there is the pressure from the holidays and all the expectations and disappointments that it may bring.

Families are probably never more challenged than this time of year and the suicide and physical abuse rates, confirm it. So, if you feel you have an anger problem, I urge you to get some help. There is a plethora of great articles about managing anger on this net, but if that's not enough then for your sake and those you love, please seek out professional help. You might just have a better life if you do.

I suggest the following reading for more information....

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/familyworks/anger-01.html

http://mentalhelp.net/psyhelp/chap7/chap7b.htm

http://coolnurse.healthology.com/webcast_transcript.asp?f=mentalhealth&c=mentalhealth_anger2&spg=FIP

Posted by Post Scripts at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)

December 10, 2005

Need More Gas Mileage?

We're all feeling the pinch with high fuel prices, but there is something we can do to fight back. Here's 10 good tips how you can reduce your vehicle's operating costs by as much as 35%. That's like paying $1.50 a gallon instead of $2.30, sound good?

1. All your engine's air is sucked through an air filter. If the filter element is dirty the flow of clean air is impeded, making your engine work harder. A dirty filter is the most common cause of bad mileage, thus it's number 1 on my list of tips! Most filters can be replaced for less than $10.

A high performance filter allows clean air to flow into your engine with less resistance, thus improving mileage. One of the most popular high flow filters on the market is the K&N filter which sells for around $40, but it's a lifetime filter, you need only wash it out with soap and water periodically to maintain it's performance.

2. Properly inflate your tires, typically this is anywhere from 28-35 lbs, but it depends on the tire. The suggested tire pressure is printed on the side wall.

I like to run about 3-5 lbs. more pressure than the advertised range because this reduces the sidewall flex, it corners slightly better and it makes the tires roll with less resistance while not noticeably reducing your tire mileage and this definitely adds to your fuel economy! If you want to try this, check with your tire dealer first and see what he says.

3. When starting from a stop, let your vehicle roll forward slightly before applying the gas, then accelerate slowly and smoothly. Try this exercise to see if you are accelerating properly, but don't do it in traffic, please! Hang a tea bag from your rear view mirror with a 12-15" string. Now practice accelerating without noticeably jerking the teabag more than a few inches off center.

4. For those determined to drive even more efficiently, I suggest using a vacuum gauge. The gauge will usually have a "green" zone that shows you are driving with the optimum peddle pressure for your vehicle. A vacuum gauge costs about $15 and can be self installed with a minimum of mechanical experience or a shop can do it for about $45-$65. It's a good investment if you are really serious about your mileage!

5. On the other end of the spectrum from a clean, free flowing air filter is a free flowing exhaust system. Obviously, a car without any mufflers will be the most free flowing and efficient, but for all practical purposes we can't do that! However, low back pressure mufflers can greatly help improve mileage. In most cases you will have to consult a muffler shop for this and it could cost you around $100 for a single muffler, but it will help definitely your mileage.

While you are under there, don't forget about the "catalytic converter." This looks like a small muffler, but in fact it is part of your cars emission control system. The catalytic converter can begin to fail early on poorly tuned cars almost anytime or they can begin to fail at about 90,000 miles on up. Gas mileage and performance can be severely impacted if your catalytic converter becomes clogged! Check with a certified smog shop if you suspect this might be a problem.

6. Don't waste your money on buying premium fuel if your car manufacturer doesn't call for it. It is a myth that your car will run better and last longer if you burn premium gas. However, using a premium motor oil is a good thing and its money well spent. Just make sure it is the right grade. Oil grades may vary according to type of driving and climate, consult a professional for what works best for your driving and yes, using the right oil can improve your gas mileage because your engine is running more efficiently with less drag.

7. Use your cruise control at highway speed. Generally, if you run just 5 mph. under the posted limit you are not going to noticeably add to your trip time, but you can increase fuel economy as much as 3-5 mpg! For every 5 mph above 60 mph, it's like paying an additional 17 cents per gallon, because your vehicle's mileage is falling off. Note: In California if 5 or more vehicles collect behind you, you must yield or you could be cited regardless of your speed.

8. Make sure your vehicle is properly tuned!

9. Keep windows rolled up at highway speed, this reduces drag. At slower speeds turn off the AC and roll down windows instead. Using the AC tends to reduce mileage by 2-3 mpg.

10. Avoid excessive idling at the drive up windows. Turn it off and go inside instead. Also, instead of starting up your vehicle for a very short errand, try walking. Short hauls are the hardest on your engine and walking is good for you, but you know that.

For more information may I suggest the following sites....

http://www.knfilters.com/

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/103164/article.html

http://www.sdt.com.au/FUELECONOMY.htm

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/tech/9912scc_ssbbpart2/

Posted by Post Scripts at 05:15 PM | Comments (1)

December 09, 2005

DOGS GETTING SMARTER

Are dogs getting smarter? Some studies suggest they are. Which raises the question will we some day be sharing the planet with other animals? Canadian scientists recently proved that old dogs can learn new tricks, at least their cognitive functions can resist declines in age related functioning, if vitamins E and C were added to their diet through certain vegitables. "Dr. Milgram's year-long study involved the testing of 48 beagles, ages 9 to 14, owned by the military."

Other studies have shown dogs can be taught to count and they can learn up 700 or more words, including several hundred commands. Will this increased brain activity and better diets lead to a new breed of smart dog? Well, scientists believe something triggered higher brain functions in humans some 6 million years ago and so began our long journey. What exactly transformed the earliest humans known as Hominidae, is uncertain, but it is believed diet played a major role. Hominidea... "were not like apes; they had bigger brains, different teeth, and walked upright." Based on this theoretical time line, don't expect Rover to be asking to borrow the car anytime soon.

For more information on this subject may I suggest....

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769752.html
http://www.twis.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Neuro-sci;action=display;num=1025056632

The featured dog is our boy "Hub." And he is way too smart for his own good.

Posted by Post Scripts at 08:47 AM | Comments (0)

December 08, 2005

Dec. 7th, 1941 - Pearl Harbor

On Dec. 7th, 1941 almost 3000 Americans died in the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. On Dec. the 8th, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan and Germany.

Over 600,000 Americans were killed or wounded during the following 3 1/2 years of war. It was a fight to the bitter end; there was no time limit, there were no politicians saying we can't win, we just saw what had to be done and did it until it the war was over.

Posted by Post Scripts at 03:35 PM | Comments (3)

December 07, 2005

Howard Dean Responds!

HOWARD DEAN...appeared at a small rally of democratic supporters to denounce those who called him "a Benedict Arnold" The insult came after Dean said, "the idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong!" during an on air interview at San Antonio radio station, WOIA.

Dean quipped to his dozens of supporters...

"Oh, c'mon, do I look like a "Benedict Arnold" to you?"

Meanwhile, many well known Republicans have called on Dean to step down from his position of Leader of the DNC over his what critics term was an outrageous, almost treasonous comment done at the worst possible time to undermine our military moral.

Posted by Post Scripts at 06:34 PM | Comments (4)

Doug LaMalfa Sets Example for Political Integrity

Our political hero of the month is Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa-R, from Butte County. He refused to accept the 12% pay raise that goes into effect January. LaMalfa says he is going to donate the raise to local charity.

That gesture says a lot about the farmer from Richvale and the 16 others who also refused the raise. So far, 103 Senators and Assembly members accepted the raise, including our own Assemblyman Rick Keene-R from Chico and Sen. Sam Aanestead-R from Grass Valley.

Our lawmakers were already the highest paid in the nation and this latest raise extends their lead by more than $30,000. In addition to their lavish pay they also receive about $27,000 in cushy benefits.

What do we (the voters) get in return? Not much. It seems that every attempt by the republicans and independants to fix problems, from fiscal responsibility to improving our failing educational system, has been met by incredibly stiff resistance by democratic partisans who would rather complain than compromise. The performance of this democratic controlled legislature has been the worst in decades, with zero fixes and zero cooperation with the minority party. And for those zero's they all get a 12% raise? That's like saying my kid got all F's and now he's on the honor roll.

Our elected government was never designed to be a career move, rather it was designed for citizens to step forward, do their patriotic duty in public service and leave. Thanks in part to the high cost of running for office and political opportunists seeking a lucrative career, we've slowly devolved our [electorial system] into a [special club for the rich and powerful], and a whole new class of professional politicians has emerged; albeit for a very few, like Doug LaMalfa, who have choosen a different path.

I suppose we can take some consolation that at least one local lawmaker has taken a stand for personal ethics, even though it's going to cost him a fat 12% raise. Kudos' to Asssemblyman Doug LaMalfa!

Those other lawmakers have until Dec. 16th to follow Doug's lead.

Posted by Post Scripts at 10:06 AM | Comments (4)

More on Tookie Williams....