BuzzMachine

Alert

: We’re all alert these days. I walk to the PATH train in Jersey City and see a Port Authority employee leading a cop quickly to the edge of a plaza. Reporter — and idiot — that I am, I follow. The PA guy says, “It seems to have a homemade antenna.” He shrugs, not wanting to sound paranoid, only alert. He points to a parking lot behind the station, a real run-down stinky place. Turns out he’s pointing to a big, red suitcase that’s abandoned. The cop tiptoes up to it. I decide I’d be an idiot to stick around. As our President says, once burned is…

I come back hours later and there are the remnants of a police line up at spot. The big, red suitcase is now ripped open and in a dumpster just there.

I wish I’d thanked that PA employee. False alarms are better than no alarms. This is life in — as the New York Post called Jersey City — Terror Town.

Cell crimes

: So I was listening to Al Franken’s Air America show the other day and he got a call from a guy in New Jersey who, in the middle of the call, is obviously pulled over by a cop for talking on his cell phone while driving, which is now illegal in my fair state. The guy starts protesting. Al gets all excited with this historic moment: Man arrested for calling talk show! But the guy hangs up. Al’s disappointed (would have made great radio: police state, free speech, technology, all that).

A democracy is born

: The news from Afghanistan: 90 percent of eligible voters have registered to vote in this October’s elections, the country’s first elections in history for its president.

Compare this with America, where (according to the latest figures I could find), less than two-thirds of eligible voters are registered and just over half of eligible voters actually vote.

Now I don’t want to hear any snobs, snots, jackasses, and self-important Western fools tell me that Afghanistan or Iraq or Iran or any nation and any people are either “not ready for democracy” or “do not want democracy.” Crap. Give the people an opportunity to speak and the people will speak.

Next, they’ll put their sister on eBay

: Jason Calacanis is shocked and disappointed to find that the content on Fark is for sale.

: UPDATE: As Ken Layne points out in the comments here, Drew Curtis responds in the comments on Calacanis’ site; says it’s a sales rep who doesn’t speak for Fark policy.

O, Canada

: It’s merely coincidental that there’s a terror alert on today and I’m going to be in Toronto tomorrow.

I’m going for a jouranalism educators’ conference (don’t laugh, Layne & Welch) and I’ll be on a couple of panels about, well, you can guess what.

I’m looking forward to finally meeting Hoder and Kathy Shaidle and others. Will blog from over the border.