Here in Austin, we have this lil bookstore called brave new books. It's a tiny room in a basement filled with books whose subject matter could be most correctly collected as, "conspiracy theories."

I'm pretty liberal, but one can't help be a little wary of extremist groups, be it mormons, vegans, or hard-core Dallas Cowboy fans

I've only been there once and didn't buy anything, but I did have a very enlightened conversation with the stores owner. He quoted me a bunch of scary facts that I don't want to know, but should, and told me why he opened the store ('because there was a need to get this information out there... and there wasn't anything like this in Austin.' This I found very admirable.) He told me Ron Paul was the way to go, and that if Obama made Clinton his running mate, he'd be dead with in a year. He also gave me a collection of burned documentaries on all kinds of scary facts I don't want to know, but should. I shook his hand after our 30 minute conversation and walked out of that store confident in my ability to become a champion for truth, ready to sponge up all the 'real' scoop and dispense my knowledge on the masses.

A month later, and I've never seen even one of those films. I've quoted that 'Obama Assassination' theory a few times at social gatherings to look intelligent, but haven't done anything to increase even MY knowledge, let alone any masses. I kinda just did what I did before- figured yeah, there are a few things that are a lil screwed up about our government, but I don't feel like doing anything about it. But then, just right now, I read this:

U.S. agents can seize travelers' laptops: report

Fri Aug 1, 7:31 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers' laptops and other electronic devices at the border and hold them for unspecified periods the Washington Post reported on Friday.

Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, quoting policies issued on July 16 by two DHS agencies.

Agents are empowered to share the contents of seized computers with other agencies and private entities for data decryption and other reasons, the newspaper said.

DHS officials said the policies applied to anyone entering the country, including U.S. citizens, and were needed to prevent terrorism.

The measures have long been in place but were only disclosed in July, under pressure from civil liberties and business travel groups acting on reports that increasing numbers of international travelers had had their laptops, cellphones and other digital devices removed and examined.

The policies cover hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes -- as well as books, pamphlets and other written materials, the report said.

The policies require federal agents to take measures to protect business information and attorney-client privileged material. They stipulate that any copies of the data must be destroyed when a review is completed and no probable cause exists to keep the information.

AHHHH!!!

So how is that like the 4th Amendment? (Yes, I had to wiki it.)

Is it better to live in a country where you KNOW you're just a pawn with few real rights, or live in a country where you ARE a pawn with few real rights... and don't even know it.

Oy.

I think I better watch one of those documentaries. I don't think I really want to know what they know.

I think all this talk is just a way for me to avoid cleaning my room.

Word.