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When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

these words were first read in public at independence square in philadelphia.

thomas jefferson walked independence square while writing the declaration.

now, the national park service wants to build a “security and bathroom building” on the square, and erect an 8-foot-tall fence across it.

i guess the point is to destroy independence square in order to save it.

we don’t need terrorists. we’re doing just fine destroying what we have, all by ourselves.

stories in a few places:

Proposal Would Fence Independence Square [new york newsday]
Independence Park security proposal would fence historic square [wnep]
Independence Park security proposal would fence historic square [centre daily times]

in a moment of what is, perhaps, freudian clarity, president bush announced to top pentagon officials:

president george w. bush, august 5, 2004

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we

update: the white house press release.

following his presentation of a gore speech, bruce has made it personal and official.

in an editorial in the new york times, and available on his site, bruce explains his position, and why it’s important to get political now.

A nation’s artists and musicians have a particular place in its social and political life. Over the years I’ve tried to think long and hard about what it means to be American: about the distinctive identity and position we have in the world, and how that position is best carried. I’ve tried to write songs that speak to our pride and criticize our failures.

These questions are at the heart of this election: who we are, what we stand for, why we fight. Personally, for the last 25 years I have always stayed one step away from partisan politics. Instead, I have been partisan about a set of ideals: economic justice, civil rights, a humane foreign policy, freedom and a decent life for all of our citizens. This year, however, for many of us the stakes have risen too high to sit this election out.

go read the whole thing. don’t sit this one out.

bruce will be on the vote for change tour.

ok, i have to put this together in my head somehow….

on the 29th, we learned that selling sex toys was illegal in alabama

today, the associated press carries this…. dateline decatur, alabama….

Sex Shop Claims Job Applicant Stole Toy [ap, via abc, august 4, 2004]

A sex shop planned to file an arrest warrant for a woman who allegedly left the store without paying for a toy but who left a good lead on how to find her: She had just filled out a job application.

please tell me this isn’t some sort of botched sting operation….

obviously, the alleged shoplifter was just trying to comply with the “no sales” rule in alabama. obviously.

Is music safe on compact disc? [bbc news, august 4, 2004]

Compact discs were sold as the durable alternative to vinyl – but anyone who opens the case of an ageing CD may be in for a nasty surprise.

it’s something we drop in here periodically, partially as a recognition that despite my own pro-cd perspective, cd’s are not perfect or archival.