This piece from the Wall Street Journal by Brian C. Anderson is a must-read, whether you're interested in the threats to freedom of expression in the United States or those in Spain. It's long but worth it.  And this one by Brendan Miniter is about why the Bush administration isn't one of those threats to civil liberties. Here's Jonah Goldberg from National Review on why Dick Cheney isn't watching you.  And this is Urban Legends Reference Pages on an urban myth going around saying that Homeland Security has a plan to seize everyone's safety deposit box. Rest easy. And here's Christopher Hitchens in Slate explaining why Al Qaeda is losing.

On a completely different note, this is Gregg Easterbrook, earth's best sports columnist, on last weekend's NFL action.