I had planned on writing about my weekend, including my much anticipated company holiday party, but I am instead compelled to write about the events of this evening. You see, I managed to lock my keys in my car.

Already home for the night, I returned to the car, entered on the passenger side to access the glove box and somehow both left the keys in the seat and pushed the lock button before closing the door. Unable to locate a spare and unwilling to pay for the services of a locksmith to come and remedy my stupid mistake, I decided to try the next best thing: break into my own vehicle.

My first thought was to try using a straightened-out coat hanger slipped between the weather seal and glass in an attempt to "pop" the lock. I did not hold high hopes for this method and abandoned it rather quickly. I instead decided to acquire some tools and try to pick the lock itself.

As a child, I used to pick small padlocks for fun and had become pretty decent at it. Of course, I am sure those locks were rudimentary as far as real security is concerned. With a set of dental picks and a few small flathead screwdrivers, I went to work. I decided to attempt my lock picking in order of the locks I felt most prone to tampering and simultaneously of least usefulness to me should I inadvertently cause damage. The passenger door was first, followed by the trunk. No luck. The last chance for my easy out was the driver's door.

I kneeled next to my car working the tools with my hands and holding the flashlight with my legs, all the while mindful of the cars driving past most certainly thinking twice about what they saw. Then, just as I was contemplating surrender, the pins of the lock and the universe aligned.

Needless to say, I am fairly amused by all of this. When all was said and done, I had successfully broken into my car in just over thirty minutes.

US airport security loses 'bomb'
[original article]

Security screeners at a US airport lost track of a bag containing fake explosives and allowed to be loaded on a flight to Amsterdam.

The "bomb" was planted in luggage for training exercise at Newark Liberty International Airport.

A scanning machine raised the alarm, but the bag was not searched and airport staff lost track of it.

"At no time did the bag pose a threat and at no time was anyone in danger," said a transport security spokeswoman.

Only two weeks ago, Paris airport staff lost plastic explosives slipped into a random bag for sniffer-dog training.

France was forced to alert dozens of airlines to warn them the explosives might be aboard after the hold-all was loaded on to any one of 90 flights.


Detonator and clock

In Newark, the bag containing the fake device - complete with wires, a detonator and a clock - was not found despite an hour-long search.

It was later recovered by security officials in Amsterdam.

The airport near New York City was one of three used by the 11 September hijackers.

A spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration, the agency responsible for screening baggage and passengers, said the incident showed the importance of training exercises.

Airport screening in the US has been stepped up since the 11 September attacks but undercover inspections have revealed some weaknesses.

If you have not seen for yourself the new counter-AOL adverts NetZero has launched, check them out. They are brilliant.

God bless them, every one
[original article]

The granddaddy of downtown office holiday parties brought out hundreds of the Orlando business and political crowd to the Gray-Robinson law firm Thursday night.

All three floors of the power firm were filled with cuisine representing every region of the country, from Boston bacon-wrapped scallops to New York cheesecake. You couldn't throw a Texas-style pepper-and-cheese quesadilla without hitting a politician, judge or lawyer.

Demonstrating true holiday spirit was Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who pecked Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty's chief of staff, Elizabeth Gianini, on the cheek. Considering the way Dyer and Crotty have been fighting lately, any gesture of kindness between the two offices seemed like a minor holiday miracle.

I did not see Gianini, but did say hello to Dyer and to Orange County Clerk of Courts Lydia Gardner. They were both much shorter than I had imagined. As were many judges with whom I had previously done business with during the course of my law days.

The entire event was catered by the Hyatt and I must admit to having been fairly impressed by the entire spread they put out. Not to mention the open bar stations throughout the event. I kept returning to the martini bar where pre-mixed versions of vodka and gin martinis, apple martinis and cosmopolitans were being generously poured.

I had a great time and hope I have the opportunity to attend next year.

The Patriot Act Now Applies To Blogs Too
[original article]

Ominous indeed - are blogs really under Patriot Act FBI powers?

An article in the Village Voice highlights a win for American values and liberty as a particularly heinous part of the Patriot Act has been struck down by a Federal District Judge. But it is also offers a chilling reminder of just how far reaching and anti-American this act really is.


"The provision we challenged [that the judge struck down]," says Jaffer, "allows the FBI to issue NSLs against 'wire or electronic service communication providers.' Telephone companies and Internet service providers [are included.]"

Federal District Judge Victor Marrero, who made possible an historical legal victory against the Bush Governement just recently, when on September 28, 2004, a decision he personally took in New York in John Doe, American Civil Liberties Union v. John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Judge Marrero struck down as unconstitutional on Fourth and First Amendment grounds section 505 of the Patriot Act that had greatly increased the government's capacity to secretly get large amounts of personal information by sending out National Security Letters, which do not require a judge's approval.

Source: Village Voice


He also noted that the FBI could also use an NSL "to discern the identity of someone whose anonymous web log, or 'blog,' is critical of the Government."

According to the Village article what is even more disturbing is the fact that each and everyone of these NSLs (National Security Letters) come with a full gag order.

The recipients of the NSLs are in fact prohibited from ever disclosing that the FBI has demanded information from them, and they cannot even inform their lawyers of such requests. According to judge Marrero all such gag orders are issued in perpetuity, and "with no vehicle for the ban to ever be lifted from the recipient."

Please notice also that NSLs are sent out without the requirement of a judge previous approval.

Read that again.

This an issue affecting directly all bloggers, and not just the ones that deal with political issues. If you believe that the right for bloggers to maintain full freedom of speech and to manifest their ideas without fearing censorship is vital don't sit back after reading this.

If you are a blogger make a post about it.

If you are not, place a comment on your favourite blogs and please suggest your favourite writers to raise everyone awareness on such issues.

Or are you going to let this one go to?