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No random bag search today. I was prepared to decline the search and walk elsewhere if necessary. That may sound crazy, but people are way too eager to sacrifice their rights to “feel safe.” So I departed Grand Central station at 10:00 this morning, and there were zero cops in sight. Does anyone else not perceive how ridiculous the new policy is? Random search only during rush hour. Imagine if airport baggage screeners only x-rayed during peak travel times.

I am not saying that enforcement needs to be tougher. To the contrary, things need to go back to the way they were. Automatic rifles in subway stations and airport terminals make me uneasy as hell, not to mention that locking down every entrance to GCT just isn’t feasible. Politicians love to say that everything changed after 9/11, which I find to be rubbish. Unfortunately, people here tend to react to events instead of analyzing underlying causes.

Venezuela Condemns U.S. Push to Broadcast. If the U.S. so concerned about press freedoms, we should take this initiative to China instead of interfering with a democratically elected government. Er, isn’t Judith Miller still in prison? Hypocrisy… Incidentally, I don’t particularly mind that she is locked up, given her role in selling the war in Iraq. Reap it.

The U.S. House approved a measure this week authorizing the government “to initiate radio and television broadcasts that will provide a consistently accurate, objective, and comprehensive source of news to Venezuela.” It must still be approved by the Senate.

President Hugo Chavez, frequent critic of Washington, has vowed to jam the signals.