WASHINGTON (AP) - Numerous federal and local law enforcement agencies have bypassed subpoenas and warrants designed to protect civil liberties and gathered Americans' personal telephone records from private-sector data brokers.

These brokers, many of whom advertise aggressively on the Internet, have gotten into customer accounts online, tricked phone companies into revealing information and even acknowledged that their practices violate laws, according to documents gathered by congressional investigators and provided to The Associated Press.

The law enforcement agencies include offices in the Homeland Security Department and Justice Department - including the FBI and U.S. Marshal's Service - and municipal police departments in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and Utah. Experts believe hundreds of other departments frequently use such services.

. . .

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06171/699567-85.stm

WAYNESBURG, Pa. -- For the past 25 years, Jeffrey Robert Martin lived on the fringes. He collected welfare, worked odd jobs, sold marijuana, consorted with thieves and harassed at least two young women with lewd phone calls.

An 11th-grade dropout, he was in trouble with the law often, but only his record for sexually explicit telephone harassment bordered on violence.

State police say Mr. Martin went over the edge last week when he encountered 12-year-old Gabrielle Miranda Bechen on the Greene County horse farm where he worked as a caretaker. By Mr. Martin's account, Gabby accused him of some sort of "misconduct," and he grabbed her by the arm.

that is loser cops, lawyers, judges and this American Congress,

How well said!

Where is that Slumbering God of this Universe, does not God understand everything?

Since both Afghanistan and Iraq were invaded under suspect circumstance( ie deliberate manipulation) they are unjust, wrongful wars. Niether were a threat to world security(any more than anyone else that is..less than many others),and since these actions were wrong, everything that has proceeded from them will be tainted by the truth. Whoever hit the world trade center on 9/11/01, neither the Iraqi people nor the Afghan people, those who bear the yoke of invasion and occupation by foreigners, did not do it.

Murtha: He's...he's in New Hampshire. He's making a political speech. He's sitting in his air-conditioned office with a big, fat backside saying, uh, "Stay the course." That's not a plan. I mean, this guy... I don't know what his military experience is, but that's a political statement. This is a policy difference between me and the White House. I disagree completely with what he's saying.

On the floor the other day -- you may have heard this -- one fella says, uh, "We're fighting this war." We're not fighting this war. One percent of the American people, these young men and women, are fighting this war with heavy packs, with seventy pounds of equipment, with helmets on in...in 130 degrees. That's who's fighting this war. And they stay, "Stay the course."

Tsar admits: we've lost the war on drugs

SCOTLAND'S drugs tsar has sparked a furious row by openly declaring that the war on drugs is "long lost".

Tom Wood, a former deputy chief constable, is the first senior law enforcement figure publicly to admit drug traffickers will never be defeated.

-snipped-

Too much of the current drug war is driven by the idea of armed drug dealers in the streets, gunning each other down and putting the public in danger. And it's true enough that some drugs make people more aggressive, and their prohibition has made turf wars all too common.

When the police go to make an arrest of a drug suspect, too often I read that the person was armed. That's one thing that bothers me a lot about some of the stories I read.

Okay, guns exist. People have them and they should have the right to defend themselves and all of that. I'm not getting into it. I'm saying it's not worth it to exercise this right if you are a cannabist.

Yeah, it sounds like I'm discriminating. Why shouldn't we have the same rights to own and carry guns as other people do? We should. But it should be socially discouraged as unacceptable.

There's a lot of reasons for this. Cannabists should never be violent people. We should never be perceived as violent people. But somehow there are those who continue to pursue money instead of love even in our own community.

Thanks.

A founding member of the venerable American musical institution, the Grateful Dead, Lesh has continued to inspire while pushing the envelope with his highly evolved musical performances.

I am thinking very seriously about building a greenhouse in my back yard for fresh vegetables and herbs. Then I think I'll buy all hemp clothing from the small businesses trying to revive the hemp market. I wear a uniform at work, so that would be easy to do. Canning and preserving food grown in the greenhouse could help me boycott the National Brands. A freezer for meat and seafood from the local meat/seafood market would leave a lot of packages on the shelves and display cases, and more business for the local folks. I just bought a new stove because I'm getting into preparing my meals from scratch, losing the preservatives in store bought. There are a lot of things one person can do to reduce the demand for Products and Services. It takes seven minutes to drive to work, I could bike it in 15.

Is there any better way to discourage corporations from expanding than to replace their products by growing or making your own, doing without those unnecessary "conveniences", or supporting local mom and pop "green" businesses? When the economy buckles, we'll need to know how to replace all these "convenience centers" they have built all around us, and addicted us to.

***

June 18, 2006

A U.S. judge has sentenced five Canadian native people to jail for smuggling marijuana, with the warning that other Canadian offenders can expect the same treatment in the United States.

"I want every other First Nation member in Canada — and I want every other Canadian — to understand that the sentencing laws of the United States are very, very harsh," said U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez of Seattle.

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L.A. POLICE INVADE NATION'S LARGEST COMMUNITY GARDEN Armed police stormed a community garden in South Central Los Angeles this week, arresting 25 people including actress Daryl Hannah. The 14 acre plot of land, tended by over 350 neighborhood fruit and vegetable farmers for a decade, is the largest urban community garden in the country, and a symbol of hope for the embattled South Central neighborhood. Although the highly successful garden provides affordable, mostly organic food for low-income residents in this economically depressed area, a ten-year ownership dispute over the land has led to a dramatic standoff between neighborhood residents and the powerful real estate lobby of Los Angeles. Despite massive public opposition, multi-millionaire real estate developer Ralph Horowitz obtained a court order to pave over the community garden and replace it with an industrial warehouse. After back-tracking on a proposal to sell the 14 acre plot to neighborhood residents for $16 million, Horowitz called in the police and bulldozers to clear the property of inhabitants. Neighborhood farmers and residents, along with the L.A. organic community, have vowed to keep up the struggle and save the community garden. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_756.cfm

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SUCCESSFUL LAWSUIT FORCES EPA TO PHASE OUT DANGEROUS PESTICIDE A lawsuit filed by the United Farmworkers of America against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has forced the agency to begin phasing out a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide that has contaminated food and poisoned farmworkers. The pesticide, azinphos-methyl ("AZM"), is used on a variety of food crops, including potatoes, cranberries, and peaches. AZM is a highly toxic neurotoxin derived from nerve agents used during World War II. In 2001, the EPA found that AZM posed unacceptable risks to farmworkers, but due to industry pressure, the agency kept it on the market. "This pesticide has put thousands of workers at risk of serious illness every year," said Erik Nicholson of the United Farmworkers of America. The EPA will phase out AZM over the next four years. http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_748.cfm

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TIP OF THE WEEK: MAINTAINING A HEALTHY ORGANIC LAWN

* There's no need to water more than an inch per week. Over-watering is unhealthy for lawns and invites lawn disease. Placing a tuna can under the sprinkler will help gauge water depth. Water early in the morning to avoid excessive evaporation from midday sun. * Taller grass has deeper roots, causing the plants to need less watering. Set mower height to 3 inches and cut grass when it reaches 4.5 inches. * Sharpen mower blades. Dull blades harm grass blades, inviting disease. * Return grass clippings to the lawn. Grass mulching decreases weeds up to 60% and is a natural fertilizer. * Avoid cheap grass seed, as it typically has weed seeds mixed in. Get good quality perennial rye and fescue seeds. * Each time you mow, try alternating your pattern and path. This prevents the soil from compacting. * Soil biota helps provide a stable healthy lawn. If your lawn has been treated chemically, it will take a couple of years for the soil microorganisms to rebuild.

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AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ASKS GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE SALT In an unprecedented move, the American Medical Association (AMA) voted on June 13 to call on the U.S. government to require salt warning labels on food products and to cut salt content in manufactured foods by 50% within a decade. The AMA, the largest group of physicians in the U.S., is also asking the Food and Drug Administration to revoke salt's status as a food that is "generally recognized as safe," noting there is overwhelming medical evidence that high salt intake dramatically increases risk of heart disease, hypertension and stroke. Heart disease is the nation's leading cause of death. Foods that would require warning labels would include everything from conventional hot dogs to some canned soups. The Food Products Association, a trade group for the food and beverage manufacturing industry, and one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington D.C. said the new policy is "misguided," claiming there is not enough scientific evidence tying salt to negative health effects. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_753.cfm

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NATION'S LARGEST DAIRIES TRYING TO AVOID MONSANTO'S BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE The largest retailers and distributors of milk and dairy products in the U.S. are considering eliminating rBGH from their products. According to the trade journal Dairy Food and Market Analyst, Wal-Mart and Dean Foods have begun pressing suppliers for a larger supply of milk produced without rBGH, in response to increasing consumer demand. The synthetic hormone rBGH is a genetically engineered drug designed to make dairy cows produce more milk. The controversial hormone has been banned in Europe and Canada due to its links to increased risks for cancer and antibiotic resistance. Despite these bans, 18% of U.S. dairy cows, especially those on factory-style farms, continue to be injected with the drug. Over the past few years, millions of consumers have switched to milk and dairy products from organic farms, which ban the use of rBGH and antibiotics. Starbucks, by the way, is still serving up coffee drinks across the country that are laced with rBGH--another good reason to patronize local independently owned coffee shops that offer organic and Fair Trade alternatives. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_747.cfm

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SOME MAJOR U.S. DAIRIES ELIMINATING rBGH OVER THE PAST YEAR

* April, 2005 - Tillamook's cheeses: The second largest producer of block cheese in the U.S. * June, 2005 - Eberhard Dairy: Central Oregon's largest dairy processing plant. * Nov., 2005 - Alpenrose Dairy in Portland * Feb. 2006 - Darigold's yogurts: A large western U.S. dairy. * June 2006 - Garelick: A large East Coast dairy processor, producing 45 million lbs. of milk per month. * June 2006 - Meadow Gold and Darigold Farms: Montana's largest milk producers.

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QUICK TIDBITS

COFFEE PROTECTS DRINKERS' LIVERS: A study published in the journal "Archives of Internal Medicine" indicates that coffee may greatly reduce the risk of liver damage in those who consume alcohol regularly. Every daily cup of coffee reduced the incidence of cirrhosis, a condition that destroys liver tissue, by 22 percent, according to researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. However, Dr. Arthur Klatsky, the leader of the study, said the results "should not be interpreted as giving a license to drink without worry, because of all the other problems connected with drinking." adding, "the only proper advice is to drink less." Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_751.cfm ---------------------- BEER INGREDIENT REDUCES PROSTATE CANCER RISK: A new study from researchers at Oregon State University reveals that a natural ingredient found in beer may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The ingredient, found in the hops used to brew beer, is xanthohumol, and belongs to a group of plant compounds called flavonoids that can trigger the death of cancer cells along the surface of the prostate gland. Researchers are quick to point out the amount of xanthohumol in beer is far too low to be of any benefit, estimating it would require consuming a case of beer per day to activate the positive effects. German brewers have already responded by creating a beer with ten times the amount of xanthohumol, marketing it as a "healthy beer." Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_761.cfm

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the worst of times

mAY YOU prosper and receive wholeness

Have you seen, the flesh of the lost?

terribly, hauntedly, construct the pieces

of your life.

well, enjoy.

This dark comedy of a war on drugs has reached new heights,

While the drug warriors strut around in brand new cars,

On my hard earned dollar,

It does seem to me,

That the drug warriors have succeeded,

Convincing Mr and Mrs America

That the mere 1 percent of people

Who are addicted to drugs,

Yes that is illegal substances,

Is worth paying these donkey fools,

Billions of our tax dollars,

So that they can save this world.

Daddy's in a cage

For the children

Happy Fathers' Day

Daddy's in the joint

For a joint

Happy Fathers' Day

Daddy's on the run

Policeman's got a gun

Happy Fathers' Day

--afterburner

&&&

"For all who are moved by the Spirit of God are sons of God. The Spirit you have received is not a spirit of slavery leading you back into a life of fear, but a Spirit that makes us sons, enabling us to cry 'Abba! Father!' In the cry the Spirit of God joins with our spirit in testifying that we are God's children; and if children, then heirs. We are God's heirs and Christ's fellow-heirs, if we share his sufferings now in order to share his splendour hereafter." Romans 8:14-17

Happy Father's Day, God, Abba, Father!

"Jesus called them to him and said, 'You know that in the world the recognized rulers lord it over their subjects, and make them feel the weight of authority. That is not the way with you; among you, whoever wants to be great must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the willing slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom for many.'" Mark 10:42-45

For is this not the way out from under the foot of dirty oil?

***

By Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune

Sunday, June 18, 2006

He isn’t losing his hair, although the color seems to be an issue.

He does have grandchildren but no Vera, Chuck or Dave.

He is known to do a little gardening — "digging the weed," so to speak.

One of his several marijuana busts, in fact, involved growing the stuff on his Scotland farm in the early 1970s.