America The Beautiful

""Here's a surprise ruling. For many years we've written about how troubling it is that Homeland Security agents are able to search the contents of electronic devices, such as computers and phones at the border, without any reason. The 4th Amendment only allows reasonable searches, usually with a warrant. But the general argument has long been that, when you're at the border, you're not in the country and the 4th Amendment doesn't apply. This rule has been stretched at times, including the ability to take your computer and devices into the country and search it there, while still considering it a "border search," for which the lower standards apply. Just about a month ago, we noted that Homeland Security saw no reason to change this policy. Well, now they might have to. In a somewhat surprising 9th Circuit ruling (en banc, or in front of the entire set of judges), the court ruled that the 4th Amendment does apply at the border, that agents do need to recognize there's an expectation of privacy, and cannot do a search without reason. Furthermore, they noted that merely encrypting a file with a password is not enough to trigger suspicion."

Not very bright File

"Ars Technica reports that the Obama Administration has filed a brief in support of a Maryland photojournalist who says he was arrested and beaten after he took photographs of the police arresting two other men. The brief by the Justice Department argues that the U.S. Constitution protects the right to photograph the actions of police officers in public places and prohibits police officers from arresting journalists for exercising those rights. Context: 'Garcia says that when Officer Christopher Malouf approached him, Garcia identified himself as a member of the press and held up his hands to show he was only holding a camera. But Malouf "placed Mr. Garcia in a choke hold and dragged him across the street to his police cruiser," where he "subjected him to verbal and physical abuse." According to Garcia's complaint, Malouf "forcibly dragged Mr. Garcia across the street, throwing him to the ground along the way, inflicting significant injuries." Garcia says Malouf "kicked his right foot out from under him, causing Mr. Garcia to hit his head on the police cruiser while falling to the ground." Garcia claims that Malouf took the video card from Garcia's camera and put it in his pocket. The card was never returned. Garcia was charged with disorderly conduct. In December 2011, a judge found Garcia not guilty.'"
 Federal Government Argues That Americans Have A Constitutional Right to Record the Police in Public

 Why?TIL: America spends $34mil a year of taxpayer money to broadcast TV and radio to Cuba from Miami, FL. These broadcasts reach less than 1% of Cuba's 11million residents. Broadcasted signals are jammed regularly by the Cuban government.

 "In politics, health, and academia, there are plenty of detractors that say daylight saving might not be worth saving. One vocal opponent is Missouri State Representative Delus Johnson, who wants to end the watch and clock switchery altogether. In short, he says we should spring forward this one last time, without ever falling back. He wants Missouri – and other states willing to join a pact – to permanently adopt daylight saving time and call it Standard Time. He's sure that it'll increase economic development in the later part of the year; giving people a little more daylight to do their Black Friday shopping. Matthew J. Kotchen and Laura E. Grant at the National Bureau of Economic Research have argued that DST has had adverse effects on energy spending. They calculate some extra $10-16 million spent by Indiana due to time changes. Their research concluded it's probably a much bigger loss in other states. A year ago, Motherboard's Kelly Bourdet reported on a health study that concluded DST might actually kill you. Chances of heart-attack were stated to increase by 10 percent on the days following the spring change, and to decrease by 10% after gaining the hour in the fall."

 It's diet. TIL kangaroos barely emit any methane. Scientists want to harvest the bacteria from their colons so they can transfer this "skill" to cows, thereby reducing greenhouse gases.
Feed em chili and Pizza and out goes the long chain hydrocarbons. Duh!

 Army suspends tuition assistance program for troops

 EXCLUSIVE: TSA screeners allow fed agent with fake bomb to pass through security at Newark Airport

Chef Gordon Ramsey  Where Were You?

Young Chef Ramsey Caught On Film

World's Highest Spiral Staircase Is In China And Only The Patient Among Us Ever Use It 

China Evil, Trapped Live Animals Used As Lucky Charms.

New Roman Empire?

• The US is responsible for 41% of global military expenditures. That's right the US is responsible for almost half of the world's military expenditures.
• The US has the second largest active military in the world after China. This is complimented by the US's air and naval forces. Speaking of which:
• The US has the most aircraft carriers in the world BY FAR at 10. Second place is Italy with 2. The US has as many carriers in service as the rest of the world. Think of each one as a mobile air force base. These are all Nimitz-class carriers, meaning they are a class of super-carriers that can hold about 90 planes each, travel at around 30 knots, and house 2 nuclear reactors for propulsion. These (curseword deleted here...cut and paste error fixed) can go over 20 years without refueling! That means the US has 10 mobile air force bases that essentially never rests. The US is the undisputed Queen (curse word deleted) of the seas.

And that's only the carriers. Globally, there are 28 Cruisers and 150 Destroyers. The US owns 22 of those Cruisers and 62 of those Destroyers.

• The US has the biggest air force, bar none. Technologically, the Russians have come out with an almost equivalent air fighter but the US has a much larger air force and the logistical capability to fight anywhere efficiently.
• As if all these conventional weapons aren't enough, the US's nuclear capabilities are mind-boggling. Everyone knows the US and Russia generally have the same amount of nuclear weapons (around 5,000) but the US's delivery systems are unparalleled. The US holds 71 of 134 total nuclear powered submarines in the world.

Out of these 71, 18 are Ohio-class. These are capable of holding 24 Trident SLBM missiles that each hold up to 8 MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle) nuclear warheads. Each of these MIRV warheads hold a firepower of 100 kilotons of TNT. That means each of these subs could hold 24 missiles that can each separate into 8 nuclear warheads, totaling 192 warheads, each with a range of 4,600 miles. That means a sub off of NYC could hit Anchorage. You read that right. We essentially have 18 mobile nuclear launch bases that can move underwater.

" ---many conservative radio talk show hosts, although there are many good ones.  These radio talk show hosts do realize that their message is stale and repetitive. Without realizing it they have become clichés of themselves. If they are not careful, they are going to lose their ability to educate and motivate the masses. I have essentially stopped watching what used to be called conservative television shows, because with the exception of a very tiny minority, they are brainless talking heads who don’t have a clue what they are talking about and that is why they have been given the job. But since they don’t think, they have not figured that out yet. But you can’t fool the audience; the audience knows exactly what is happening."
 An American Prophet