Newt Gingrich's poll numbers drop.

Do we really need to hear the 911 Demi Moore call? Why are they even public records when no crime is involved? How many people are less likely to call for help if they know their call will be spread over the internet by the local fire or sheriff's dept?

Yesterday it was Google, the day before Facebook and today it's Twitter on the hot seat. Seems Twitter is going to start censoring tweets in countries that ban publishing on certain topics when they receive a takedown request. Examples: France and Germany restrict pro-Nazi content. [More...]

TalkLeft was down this morning, our hosting company had issues. It's fixed now. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome. Thanks to those of you who emailed me to let me know.

BTD -Still a very busy time for me. Maybe post tomorrow.

American Idol airs auditions in Aspen, CO tonight. Steven Tyler calls it "G-ds' Paintbrush."

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Is it time to close your Google account? Here's how.

MegaUpload read for today: MegaUpload Meet Morrison. More here. The media has gone wild with its coverage of Kim DotCom's personal life, I'm only interested in the legal aspects of the case. MegaUpload lawyer Ira Rothken is interviewed here.

I've got court today, so here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

In other news, Google announced changes to privacy, and you can't opt out.

Google said Tuesday it will require users to allow the company to follow their activities across e-mail, search, YouTube and other services, a radical shift in strategy that is expected to invite greater scrutiny of its privacy and competitive practices.

The information will enable Google to develop a fuller picture of how people use its growing empire of Web sites. Consumers will have no choice but to accept the changes.

A federal judge in Colorado has ruled that the 5th Amendment doesn't protect a defendant from being compelled to unencrypt the data on her hard drive and provide it to the FBI which had gotten a search warrant. (Background here.) [More...]

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou has been charged in federal court in Virginia with leaking information, perhaps pertaining to waterboarding, the capture of Abu Zubaydah and the interrogation of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

The Justice Department also said that the information Kiriakou supplied to journalists also contributed to a subsequent security breach at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. Kiriakou’s disclosures, according to the Justice Department, enabled defense attorneys to obtain photographs of CIA operatives suspected of being involved in controversial interrogations, pictures that were subsequently discovered in prisoners’ cells.

Mexico strikes again at the Sinaloa Cartel, killing Luis Alberto Cabrera-Sarabia, who was appointed to take over for his brother Felipe Cabrera Sarabria, after his arrest last month. 10 or 11 others were arrested and presented to the media.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

South Carolinans head to the polls. Bob Bennett signs on to defend Megaupload. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

So many things to talk about, so little time. Here'a a place for you. all topics welcome.

More DEA raids on California dispensaries.

The U.S. attorney's office press release issued today states that the raids were part of an ongoing effort to crack down on storefront dispensaries in California, and that letters "went out today to the owners and operators of currently operating or recently closed marijuana stores--nearly three dozen in Costa Mesa, and one now-shuttered store in Newport Beach. All known stores in these two South Orange County cities are now the subject of federal enforcement actions."

The Supreme Court gives a death row inmate another chance after a mailroom mix-up at his lawyer's firm caused a missed filing deadline. The opinion is here.

An alleged $62 million insider trading bust in New York. The 7 charged are accused of reaping profits on shares of Dell, Inc.

A new season of American Idol begins tonight.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

What's on your mind today? Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Another Republican debate? Is anyone here watching?

We've got snow tonight. This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

One of my favorite of Dr. King's quotes:

That old law about "an eye for an eye" leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing. (He was quoting Mahatma Gandhi who said, "An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind."

and

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.

Among my favorite long pieces: Declaration of Independence from the War in Vietnam and Letters From Birmingham City Jail.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

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