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Odds 'n Sods:

Trent H. forwarded us this: Government Land-Grab Moved Forward

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SurvivalBlog's Editor at Large Michaelll Z. Wiiamson sent this: FTC plans to monitor blogs for claims, payments. Gee, you don't suppose that TPTB are starting to see the new Internet media as a threat, do you? Oh, and for the sake of full disclosure. I do make money from advertising. So do most magazines and newspapers. I also have an Amazon store, so when you follow one of my links and order anything thee, I get a little piece of the action. But that hardly makes me a shill for Amazon. Also, rest assured that I have never accepted cash or gifts in exchange for a positive product review. The threat of a revived Fairness Doctrine was already cause for concern. But at this rate, there will soon be umpteen Federal alphabet soup agencies seeking to scrutinize, tax, and even exercise editorial control of blogs. If this gets too oppressive, then I'll just vote with my feet, most likely to someplace tropical. Just give me a reason...

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The latest canard from Lautenberg, Schumer, & Co.: More than 800 gun buyers on terrorist list. This use of the "no fly" list would be laughable, if they weren't so serious about doing this. First, terrorists don't often buy their guns at gun stores. Second, the No Fly list is horribly mismanaged, has opaque oversight, and results in countless "false positives." Parenthetically, I have an acquaintance that by an accident of birth has nearly the same name as someone on the No Fly list. And, FWIW, it isn't even an Islamic-sounding name! Since he is a Naval Reserve officer that lives in a different state than his unit, he is a frequent flyer. He has told me that he has to allow an extra three hours before each flight for "the usual harassment". He has petitioned to have his name removed from the list, to no avail. Essentially, there is no proper system for redress. Clearly, expanding the use of the TSA's troublesome list as a "No Gun Buy " list would be a travesty.

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Paul B. and Jasper both sent us the link to this Arizona newspaper article: Survivalism grows popular in Valley Jasper's comment: "Well, I guess there are worse things to be called other than, 'educated professionals (that) understand the huge potential crisis that could come from economic collapse', but who still 'recognize their eccentricity.'" That's funny, I feel well rounded."

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