Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts

The New York Times says:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 - Months after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for evidence of terrorist activity without the court-approved warrants ordinarily required for domestic spying, according to government officials.

Under a presidential order signed in 2002, the intelligence agency has monitored the international telephone calls and international e-mail messages of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people inside the United States without warrants over the past three years in an effort to track possible "dirty numbers" linked to Al Qaeda, the officials said. The agency, they said, still seeks warrants to monitor entirely domestic communications.

( Lefty liberal rant beneath the cut )

Ushpizin

Got a call Wednesday night from my friend G (whom I don't see enough), asking if I wanted to go see the Israeli movie "Ushpizin" (which means, roughly, "The Guests"). I've wanted to see this film since I saw a trailer for it probably well over a month ago for several reasons, the first being that it's the first film ever to be made inside the Chasidic community featuring Chasidic actors working in concert with a secular production company. So I was delighted to get the call. We made plans to go to the Varsity to catch the movie after work.

To set the stage: At the holiday of Succoth, Jews set up temporary huts called succahs in which to live as part of holiday observance. If one receives guests during this time, it's customary to extend one's hospitality. This film, set in contemporary Jerusalem, tells the story of Moshe and Malli, two Chasidic Jews celebrating the holiday, and what happens when two old friends from Moshe's (secular, not very wholesome) past turn up at their (unknown to them) stolen succah. It's a charming film, funny and insightful. The film has met wide acclaim in Israel and internationally, and with good reason.

My nits were minor, mainly that there were a couple of points that weren't as clearly explained as they might have been with regard to how and why things worked the way they do. ( Spoilers here )

This didn't bother me particularly, because I knew who to ask and where to look to find out more, but the casual viewer without any background might not have those resources.

Nits aside, this is a lovely little film and I recommend it. Rumor has it that it may be chosen for the Seattle Jewish FIlm Festival and if it is, do take the chance to see it. For those of you not in the Seattle area, the film seems to be making the circuit of art film houses like the Landmark chain. Check it out.

Boing

One bounce from Realms of Fantasy: exactly four months. Editor said some lovely things about the story ("...really, really loved the setting and the society ...") but ultimately seemed to think that my intention for the story's end was other than what she thought it was and hence rejected it. I disagree. Story goes out again tomorrow.