The Occult Court

I just read this:
"As the New York Times reported on its front page on Sunday, “In more than a dozen classified rulings, the nation’s surveillance court has created a secret body of law giving the National Security Agency the power to amass vast collections of data on Americans.” The court, which was originally set up to just approve or deny wiretap requests, now “has taken on a much more expansive role by regularly assessing broad constitutional questions and establishing important judicial precedents,” with no opposing counsel to offer counter arguments to the government, and rulings that cannot be appealed outside its secret structure. “It has quietly become almost a parallel Supreme Court,” reported the Times."


I have a friend who says, "If I have nothing to hide, why should I be concerned?"
This is "micro thinking." Yeah, we don't have anything to fear if we are good citizens.
"Good citizens", willing to do what the government tells you is okay.
A "non-public knowledge court" or as I say, an "Occult Court" is set up, so bad guys don't find out that the NSA is watching.

I'm not a bad guy, but I do have a different belief than many Americans about the 2nd Amendment.
My belief is that the 2nd Amendment is in the Constitution to allow citizens to protect the Constitution from politicians/government agencies abuse of power. The 2nd Amendment is in part, about the right to bear arms against a corrupted government, in essence, to revolt against a government that has gone power hungry and is attempting to thwart my rights, afforded to me by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Now, I blog this belief, and some government agency says, "Hey, he might be a bad guy." So, I go on a watch list, because I suggest the possibility of revolting against my government. This "free speech / blogging" is afforded to me by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. 
NSA, has set up a private and unopposed (no debate) court. This court has now given permission for the NSA to spy on all of us, which is completely counter to the 4th Amendment. 

Now, instead of asking for a specific warrant wiretap/surveillance for a bad guy or a terrorist cell, NSA has asked for surveillance on all citizens, because they have a way of sifting through all the data and find a bad guy, "a needle in a hay stack." 

Asking for the warrant for all, without probable cause of all, is not constitutional.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

The NSA has searched my "papers and effects." My emails and personal phone calls without probable cause. These are warrantless searches and seizures.

This unopposed court, this "occult court," is outside the 3 branches of government that is supposed to set and oversee laws for the citizens. I'm concerned because what started out as a defense against bad guys has morphed into a secret government court who has unleashed a government agency to do what they want without public scrutiny.

Cell Phones on Planes....

Using a cell phone on an airplane isn't unsafe.

It can't be. You can't even carry nail clippers on board. If it was dangerous, you wouldn't be allowed to bring it onboard.

So what's up, with this restrictions?

Airlines don't want people talking on their phone?

I'd like the truth.

You got the truth?

Bikers/cyclists

I can understand getting out and riding my bike for exercise and for fun. My big problem is when cyclists ride in a group and take up the road. Yes, they wave me bye, but often I can't see the head-on traffic. I applaud getting outside and riding, I just wish cyclists would get in line when cars approach them.