LOCAL HEROES: MAINE TAKES STAND AGAINST REAL ID
DECLAN MCCULLAGH, CNET - Maine overwhelmingly rejected federal
requirements for national identification cards, marking the first formal
state opposition to controversial legislation scheduled to go in effect
for Americans next year. Both chambers of the Maine legislature approved
a resolution saying the state flatly "refuses" to force its citizens to
use driver's licenses that comply with digital ID standards, which were
established under the 2005 Real ID Act. It asks the U.S. Congress to
repeal the law. The vote represents a political setback for the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security and Republicans in Washington, D.C.,
which have argued that nationalized ID cards for all Americans would
help in the fight against terrorists.
"I have faith that the Democrats in Congress will hear this from many
states and will find a way to repeal or amend this in the coming
months," House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat, said in a
telephone interview after the vote. "It's not only a huge federal
mandate, but it's a huge mandate from the federal government asking us
to do something we don't have any interest in doing.". . .
The votes in Maine on the resolution were nonpartisan. It was approved
by a 34-to-0 vote in the state Senate and by a 137-to-4 vote in the
House of Representatives. Other states are debating similar measures.
Bills pending in Georgia, Massachusetts, Montana and Washington state
express varying degrees of opposition to the Real ID Act.
http://news.com.com/Maine+rejects+Real+ID/2100-7348_3-6153532.html
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GREAT MOMENTS IN ANAL RETENTIVENESS
LETTER TO LANCET - I wish to bring to your attention difficulties one of
my patients recently encountered when entering the USA. He is a
48-year-old man with a fistula-in-ano managed with a long-term seton to
control perianal sepsis.
A seton consists of a length of suture material knotted to form a loop
which lies in the fistula track. It passes through the fistula, out of
the external opening beside the anus, into the anus, and re-enters the
fistula through the internal opening. Various different materials can be
used; in this case the seton was made of a turquoise braided synthetic
suture. Many fistulas are treated with setons in the short term, and, in
those that are high or associated with Crohn's disease, this management
can be long-term.
On arrival in New York in August, 2006, for a holiday, the patient was
interrogated by immigration officials, then examined and searched. The
presence of the seton gave rise to much concern, I assume because of a
suspicion that a drug package or terrorist weapon was in some way
attached to it. A rectal examination was done, during which the
examining official pulled very hard on the seton, causing severe pain,
but fortunately not damaging the anal sphincter muscles encircled by it.
The patient was refused entry into the country unless the seton was
removed. Given the somewhat stark choice, he chose removal of the seton,
which was done by a doctor at the airport who claimed never to have come
across one before. The patient now requires an examination under general
anaesthetic to insert a replacement.
I thought I should highlight this rather bizarre manifestation of
"homeland security" because I suspect that it might become a more
frequent problem. I suggest that any patient with a seton who is
planning to travel to the USA or any other country where they are likely
to be searched in this manner should carry a letter from their
specialist explaining the nature of their condition and treatment.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607601913/fulltext
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LIKE TRAINS AND THE TERRORISTS WIN
ABC NEWS - Train enthusiasts are outraged at a new report jointly issued
by the FBI and DHS, which states that "trainspotter" Web sites, where
commuter rail system details beyond maps and schedules are posted, may
prove valuable to terrorists conducting pre-operational activities.
"Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of enthusiasts take photos and monitor
trains for their enjoyment, but Homeland Security and some officials put
up miserable restrictions and claim it's for homeland security," said
Richard Eichhorst, President of the American Association of Railroaders,
Inc., in St. Louis, Mo.
The report recommends authorities should monitor the "trainspotter"
sites but also states that information on these sites can help to
further develop system security. . .
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STATES DISCRIMINATE AGAINST NON-RELIGONISTS
Arkansas State Constitution, Article 19 Section 1: No person who denies
the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of
this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court.
Maryland's Declaration of Rights, Article 36: Nor shall any person,
otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on
account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence
of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally
accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefore either
in this world or in the world to come."
Massachusetts' State Constitution, Article 3: Any every denomination of
Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the
commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law: and no
subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be
established by law."
Mississippi State Constitution. Article 14: Section 265 No person who
denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this
state.
North Carolina's State Constitution, Article 6 Section 8: The following
persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall
deny the being of Almighty God.
South Carolina's State Constitution, Article 4 Section 2: No person
shall be eligible to the office of Governor who denies the existence of
the Supreme Being. . . .
Tennessee's State Constitution, Article 9 Section 2: No person who
denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments,
shall hold any office in the civil department of this state."
Texas' State Constitution, Article 1 Section 4: No religious test shall
ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in
this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account
of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a
Supreme Being."
FROM GODLESS GEEKS
http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm
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DECLAN MCCULLAGH, CNET - Maine overwhelmingly rejected federal
requirements for national identification cards, marking the first formal
state opposition to controversial legislation scheduled to go in effect
for Americans next year. Both chambers of the Maine legislature approved
a resolution saying the state flatly "refuses" to force its citizens to
use driver's licenses that comply with digital ID standards, which were
established under the 2005 Real ID Act. It asks the U.S. Congress to
repeal the law. The vote represents a political setback for the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security and Republicans in Washington, D.C.,
which have argued that nationalized ID cards for all Americans would
help in the fight against terrorists.
"I have faith that the Democrats in Congress will hear this from many
states and will find a way to repeal or amend this in the coming
months," House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat, said in a
telephone interview after the vote. "It's not only a huge federal
mandate, but it's a huge mandate from the federal government asking us
to do something we don't have any interest in doing.". . .
The votes in Maine on the resolution were nonpartisan. It was approved
by a 34-to-0 vote in the state Senate and by a 137-to-4 vote in the
House of Representatives. Other states are debating similar measures.
Bills pending in Georgia, Massachusetts, Montana and Washington state
express varying degrees of opposition to the Real ID Act.
http://news.com.com/Maine+rejects+Real+ID/2100-7348_3-6153532.html
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GREAT MOMENTS IN ANAL RETENTIVENESS
LETTER TO LANCET - I wish to bring to your attention difficulties one of
my patients recently encountered when entering the USA. He is a
48-year-old man with a fistula-in-ano managed with a long-term seton to
control perianal sepsis.
A seton consists of a length of suture material knotted to form a loop
which lies in the fistula track. It passes through the fistula, out of
the external opening beside the anus, into the anus, and re-enters the
fistula through the internal opening. Various different materials can be
used; in this case the seton was made of a turquoise braided synthetic
suture. Many fistulas are treated with setons in the short term, and, in
those that are high or associated with Crohn's disease, this management
can be long-term.
On arrival in New York in August, 2006, for a holiday, the patient was
interrogated by immigration officials, then examined and searched. The
presence of the seton gave rise to much concern, I assume because of a
suspicion that a drug package or terrorist weapon was in some way
attached to it. A rectal examination was done, during which the
examining official pulled very hard on the seton, causing severe pain,
but fortunately not damaging the anal sphincter muscles encircled by it.
The patient was refused entry into the country unless the seton was
removed. Given the somewhat stark choice, he chose removal of the seton,
which was done by a doctor at the airport who claimed never to have come
across one before. The patient now requires an examination under general
anaesthetic to insert a replacement.
I thought I should highlight this rather bizarre manifestation of
"homeland security" because I suspect that it might become a more
frequent problem. I suggest that any patient with a seton who is
planning to travel to the USA or any other country where they are likely
to be searched in this manner should carry a letter from their
specialist explaining the nature of their condition and treatment.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607601913/fulltext
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LIKE TRAINS AND THE TERRORISTS WIN
ABC NEWS - Train enthusiasts are outraged at a new report jointly issued
by the FBI and DHS, which states that "trainspotter" Web sites, where
commuter rail system details beyond maps and schedules are posted, may
prove valuable to terrorists conducting pre-operational activities.
"Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of enthusiasts take photos and monitor
trains for their enjoyment, but Homeland Security and some officials put
up miserable restrictions and claim it's for homeland security," said
Richard Eichhorst, President of the American Association of Railroaders,
Inc., in St. Louis, Mo.
The report recommends authorities should monitor the "trainspotter"
sites but also states that information on these sites can help to
further develop system security. . .
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STATES DISCRIMINATE AGAINST NON-RELIGONISTS
Arkansas State Constitution, Article 19 Section 1: No person who denies
the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of
this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court.
Maryland's Declaration of Rights, Article 36: Nor shall any person,
otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on
account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence
of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally
accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefore either
in this world or in the world to come."
Massachusetts' State Constitution, Article 3: Any every denomination of
Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the
commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law: and no
subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be
established by law."
Mississippi State Constitution. Article 14: Section 265 No person who
denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this
state.
North Carolina's State Constitution, Article 6 Section 8: The following
persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall
deny the being of Almighty God.
South Carolina's State Constitution, Article 4 Section 2: No person
shall be eligible to the office of Governor who denies the existence of
the Supreme Being. . . .
Tennessee's State Constitution, Article 9 Section 2: No person who
denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments,
shall hold any office in the civil department of this state."
Texas' State Constitution, Article 1 Section 4: No religious test shall
ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in
this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account
of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a
Supreme Being."
FROM GODLESS GEEKS
http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm
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