…gong!*

A divided federal appeals court today dismissed a case challenging the National Security Agency’s program to wiretap without warrants the international communications of some Americans, reversing a trial judge’s order that the program be shut down.

The majority in a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in Cincinnati, ruled on a narrow ground, saying the plaintiffs, including lawyers and journalists, could not show injury direct and concrete enough to allow them to have standing to sue.

Because it is extremely difficult to show concrete injury from the highly classified program, the effect of the ruling was to insulate the program from judicial scrutiny in ordinary federal courts.

So, the case was dismissed because the plaintiffs could not demonstrate harm from the program; however, as the records of the wiretaps are considered to be state secrets, it’s nigh on impossible for anyone who is wiretapped to demonstrate such harm to gain standing for a lawsuit.

Maybe it’s me, being all rational and whatever, but I have a problem when our government looks at its citizens and says “Yeah, you just try to prove we’re watching you. Good luck with that, peon.”

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the administration was pleased by the ruling. “The court of appeals properly determined that the plaintiffs had failed to show their claims were entitled to review in federal court,” he said.

In short, any of us could be wiretapped and none of us will know it’s us until we’re whisked away in the night, classified as an unlawful enemy combatant, and tried in a secret military tribunal, never to be heard from again.

Sweet!

Not that I think we’re to that point, else we’d never hear Jose Padilla’s name in the news. However, this latest ruling - and the White House response - certainly shows a general contempt for the citizenry, for transparency, and for those ideals I would lump under “the American way.”

* Anybody get that?

Oh no!

FORT COLLINS – All those new E-85 pumps may soon pump up beer prices.

The price of corn is on the rise because it is used in ethanol-based fuel. Many farmers are ditching barley, which is used to make beer, to grow more corn. That translates into higher barley prices and could produce more expensive beer.

Doug Odell, owner of Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, paid for this year’s barley last October, when the price was relatively low.

Since then, he has been watching the price of what he calls the “backbone of every beer” skyrocket and does not know when it is going to stop.

“It’s kind of scary to think (about),” said Odell.

I choose not to think about it. Beer helps with that.

Why, this sort of thing could positively ruin Rocky Mountain Blogger Bashes!

Do you good people know how charming I am when you’ve been drinking?

Hope everyone Stateside is having a splendid Fourth of July holiday, cooking burgers on the grill; donning their finest red, white, and blue duds; shooting fireworks despite it being illegal and, say, a drought in the area; and cranking up some good, patriotic tunes by Lee Greenwood and/or Toby Keith*.

Because, really, nothing says “I love my country with a reasoned love: one that sees the shortcomings of America, but knows they are outnumbered by her virtues, and that holds firm to the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” like jingoistic pablum set to crap music.

Am I right, or am I right?

Speaking of crap music, here is the (almost) annual reposting of that celebratory masterpiece, written by yours truly and former WWRanter Tom: Patriot Act Woo.

Have a great Fourth, if that’s even possible after hearing that song.

Update: Hey, look, something worse than listening to Patriot Act Woo - why we should be progressive and hate being American on July 4th. My friend Angie, quite a liberal a lot of the time, responds:

Read the whole article and then shake your head no. Not gonna work for me. I may be left leaning, may be an atheist, but no. Still not working for me. Some people on the left, just like many on the right, are just too extreme for me to take seriously. I’m actually proud to be an American. Even at those times when bush fucks up and makes me cringe, I still am an American. Even tho I know I plan on living abroad one day, I know it will just be for the experience and I’ll be coming back home. So no. This doesn’t work for me at all.

Can I get an “Amen?”

* Oh my god, what if they did a… duet? How heavenly and sublime it would be!

So, anyone else watching the “Hooters Dream Girl Challenge” on that new MyWhatever network?

Wow. Yow. Zow.

Which Hooters do these girls call home, ’cause it sure isn’t any of the ones I’ve visited.

Of course, I go for the burgers and beer.

This is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time, even funnier than my God making rainbows for gay people shtick.

It may help if you think Jonah Goldberg’s a vacuous blowhard.

Just in case you have forgotten, this Saturday is RMBB 7.0. I don’t think this was really number seven, but given as it’s July 7 in the year of Our Lord 2007, it makes for some lovely parallelism to say it is. So, RMBB 7.0, yo.

Click the link above for all the details.

Say, did we mention the dancing girls?

No?

Well, there’s probably a good reason for that, but mystery is one of them thar spices of life, so live on the edge, young trooper.

See you there.

Let’s cut to the chive (get it? chive instead of chase? oh i slay..well, not me, not just then anyway).

Smoky Strip Steaks with Chimichurri Sauce - except I just used a sirloin, seasoned with salt and pepper, and brushed with vegetable oil before slapping it on the grill.

…and…

Sweet Potato Hash Browns - except I didn’t feel like spending $3 for fresh thyme, and then I forgot to use dried instead. I did, however, use the instructed amount of bacon, even though I halved all the ingredients since I was only feeding the fam. You can never have too much bacon (see: Kevin, “Footloose”).

The wife’s verdict: downright tasty and “the best hash browns I’ve ever had anywhere.” See, behold, bacon!

No boiled bags of biohazards or Hamburger Helper here, no sir!

UK Bishops think invisible elves make floods, and see proof of elves.

The floods that have devastated swathes of the country are God’s judgment on the immorality and greed of modern society, according to senior Church of England bishops.

One diocesan bishop has even claimed that laws that have undermined marriage, including the introduction of pro-gay legislation, have provoked God to act by sending the storms that have left thousands of people homeless.

While those who have been affected by the storms are innocent victims, the bishops argue controversially that the flooding is a result of Western civilisation’s decision to ignore biblical teaching.

I think the bishops interpretation shows a decision to ignore Biblical teaching. Let’s consult Genesis 9:9-11

9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you

10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth.

11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

And just to show he was going to make good on his offer, that he was an upright bloke, he changed the laws of the universe and gave water refractive properties it never had before, all so gay people could have a very colorful pride logo millennia hence.

Amen.

Update: Perhaps God is answering the prayers of the Governor of Alabama, but just has lousy aim and poor judgment.

Patriotism (n): Liking Lee Greenwood songs.

Note: Love of country is optional.