• Another "free-market" lie exposed—that deregulation of electricity has been good for consumers. "If we trace the long road of electricity deregulation to its source, we find the main culprit is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). For nearly two decades, this little-known executive agency has been steadily and stealthily undermining the consumer-friendly electricity regulatory framework built during the New Deal."

• It looks as if the Army has been lying to Congress again. They don't want to buy Israel's Trophy, a high-speed interceptor that can shoot down rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), which could be mighty useful in Iraq. No, they want Raytheon to build a system from scratch "as part of the biggest procurement program in Army history, the $200 billion Future Combat System (FCS)." Well, the generals will need a place to park their butts when they retire. I would recommend jail, but they'll probably end up at Raytheon.

• The Vermont secessionist movement is growing—slowly. Fourteen percent now want to form an independent republic.

• Former Republican Congressman Joseph McDabe, charged with exposure of sexual organs, has entered a plea of "not guilty." There was a misunderstanding perhaps. "'He walked up and he exposed himself and started to masturbate. I couldn't believe that this gentleman, who looked like a kindly older gentleman was doing this,' said one victim, who asked to remain anonymous." [Previous post here.]