This is appalling, even by British no-privacy standards.

[WabashMX5]

If you're suspected of enrolling your kid in the wrong school district, you get tailed by spooks, while bureaucrats pore over your phone records.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/world/europe/25surveillance.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

But of course, we're just paranoid when we talk about slippery slopes and invasions of liberty here. Y'know, just right-wing propaganda....

 

[Chefcook]

from page 2...

Mr. Martin said he could not comment on her case because it was under review. But Ms. Paton said the Office of the Surveillance Commissioners, which monitors use of the law, found that the Poole council had acted properly. “They said my privacy wasn’t intruded on because the surveillance was covert,” she said.

Let me get this strait. If we surveil you and you do not know about it then we have not violated your privacy. WTF!!!! This sounds like the Ravenous Bugbladder beast from Traal in the Hitchhikers Guide. To avoid being eaten by him you simply put your towel over your head, if you cant see him then he figures he cant see you...

The Towel is perhaps the most important invention of whatever century it was invented in. The Towel is the most massively useful tool to take with you on your trips throughout the universe. It is handy for oh so many reasons: you can sleep on it, rub food and sauces on it for later consumption, use it to signal for help, wrap it around your head to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugbladder Beast of Traal, or to dry off. And most importantly, strags (non-hitchhikers) will assume if you know where your towel is you are also in possession of quite a number of other common items like a toothbrush or a space suit (which means they are more apt to lend you said items if you ask to "borrow" them).

 

[MyGlockRocks19]

Once again, I'm glad that I had the good fortune to be born an American.

 

[StarKing]

Once again, I'm glad that I had the good fortune to be born an American.

Me too . . . at least so far . . . if we can just keep America America.