8 Ways to Sunday

FutureGlue is providing a nice alternative to those who can’t stomach shelling out $29 for NewsGator but would like to get their RSS feeds directly in Microsoft Outlook. IntraVnews is free for personal use.

In a decision that will almost certainly end up being overturned on appeal, a lower federal court in New Orleans has essentially repealed the Fourth Amendment protection against “unreasonable searches and seizures” by opening the door to police searches without a warrant. Two dissenting judges called the ruling a “road to Hell.”

This goes against over two centuries of case law and Supreme Court decisions, and I can’t imagine that it will stand up under further judicial scrutiny. Nevertheless it serves as a prime example of why we must always be diligent in defending our Constitutional rights against those who would erode them, no matter how good their intentions.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

(citations: One Fine Jay and FindLaw)

I use Mozilla Firefox, so this doesn’t really apply to me, but Pluck looks like a pretty slick little piece of software nonetheless. It’s freeware, and the authors promise no spyware or adware.