THE WAR ON FARM PHOTOGRAPHY

ITEM: A bill in Florida proposed by state senator Jim Norman (R-Tampa) would make it a first-degree felony to photograph a farm without first obtaining written permission from the owner.

The rationale for this, apparently, is to keep other farmers from stealing yr trade secrets. Or prevent PETA from posting embarrassing videos about yr operations.

Because wouldn’t that be just awful for America’s farmers?

The worry, of course, is that the bill is so vaguely worded that it would make even taking photos from the side of a road or in the air a felony. And as Judy Dalglish, executive director for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, points out, there are already trespass laws to cover unauthorized people on yr property whether they’re taking photos or not.

Which is why it sounds more to me like another instance of the general Fear Of Photography that has swept certain parts of America (and the UK) since 9/11 when politicians and law enforcement officials were terrified into believing that taking pictures of things (bridges, buildings, police officers, fish, etc) was potential reconnaissance for a terrorist attack or some other criminal activity, which is why so many people already believe it’s illegal to take pictures of things in public, even though in most cases it isn’t.

Fear will do that.

You’ll never pay for the farm,

This is dF

WELCOME TO THE MADISON STATE CAPITOL: NOW SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP

Okay. I know I said I wouldn’t post anything else about the Battle of Wisconsin.

But I did want to pass on this amazing list of new rules issued by the Madison State Capitol Police prohibiting certain items and activities in the capitol building.

Such as:

— No signs or public displays, reading of books or newspapers, tobacco products, or food and beverages.

— No backpacks or large bags.

— No eating, drinking, smoking, talking, use of mobile phones, laptop computers, video cameras, still cameras, newspapers, bags, briefcases, signs, posters, placards, or hats.

— No clapping, cheering, jeering or stomping.

— No animals (except service animals), balloons, coolers, crockpots and other cooking appliances, easels, extension cords, large bags, boxes, or storage containers for food or other items.

— No massage chairs/beds, mattresses, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, musical instruments, noisemakers (air horns, buckets, drumsticks, trash can lids, vuvuzelas), portable PA systems, signs or flags on sticks.

— No tables, chairs, furniture, tape (masking, painter's, duct, transparent, etc.)

I’d love to know how much of this list was compiled from actual things protesters have been bringing with them (massage chairs?) and how much was the product of some imaginative civil servant tasked to cover as many bases as possible.

Anyway, I’m sure the Capitol Police should have no trouble enforcing all that – especially now that it looks like Scott Walker will get his way.

As for that …

Well, you know what’s coming. I don’t know how much longer the protests will continue once this is a done deal, but no reasonable person would expect the pro-union protesters and the Demos to have a sense of humor about it – not least because of the way in which it was done, to say nothing of State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald bragging on Fox News about how defunding unions will hurt Obama’s re-election chances in Wisconsin in 2012.

Which is not only ballsy, but also an interesting insight into his (and presumably Walker’s) ideas on how to win elections – i.e. it doesn’t matter how badly you piss people off so long as you can outspend them.

We’ll find out how true that is in the next election. Possibly sooner.

Meanwhile, you can just forget about bringing massage chairs to the Capitol building.

Now or never,

This is dF

LET’S INVESTIGATE THE ISLAMS BECAUSE THEY ARE ISLAMS

Today is the day Rep. Peter King kicks off his Congressional Islam hearings which seek to determine why Muslims aren’t doing enough to stop Muslims from committing terrorism.

As you might expect, I have issues with this.

As usual, Jon Stewart explains why better than I can.

King of the Hill,

This is dF