LEGAL WikiLeaks hearing over right to search and seize

Arguments going to the heart of a larger debate about WikiLeaks - whether the posting of the documents was free speech or a violation of national security. They also provided a high-profile test of outdated rules about what data the government can seize in the new world of social networking.

NEUROSCIENCE - Brain Rehabilitation

Giffords faces long road to help her brain rebuild itself after Tucson shooting

An OpEd "In Defense of Secrecy"

After using as an example a newspaper revelation of a satellite phone used by Osama bin Laden, the author takes the position that among the limitations on First Amendment rights, should be a requirement that classified information cannot be freely revealed.

Quoted from this article, is the rationale used by the author to support his contention that free speech limitation is justified:

The most common argument is that protecting information, and prosecuting offenders, is a violation of free speech. That is simply not true. The Supreme Court has never upheld First Amendment absolutism. There are legal and reasonable restrictions on what people are allowed to say, print, or broadcast. It is illegal to incite a mob to violence. It is illegal to libel others. It is illegal to make false claims in advertising about a product. It is illegal to utter profanity on broadcast television or radio. And it is, in fact, illegal to reveal information that would cause immediate harm to U.S. national security. This was uncontroversial during World War II, when sailors and their families were routinely trained that "loose lips sink ships."

A Wiki hornets' nest

A Wiki hornets' nest:

Eugene Robinson, from the Washington Post raises some serious conflicts arising from the recent shutdown of services by Amazon, PayPal, Visa, Master Card, and others.

There have been Denial of Service attacks on all these companies. Who should be supported as the cyber-war escalates?

Der Spiegel, among the most thoughtful of the German publications offers this contribution to the discussion.

Next, is a look at the Julian Assagne, the man in the middle of all of this.

Facebook Wrestles With Free Speech and Civility

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and chief executive of Facebook, likes to say that his Web site brings people together, helping to make the world a better place. But Facebook isn’t a utopia, and when it comes up short, Dave Willner tries to clean up.

!st Amendment gets a bit strained

Twitter tirades test limits of freedom of speech

Joking threats expressed as tweets between friends has led them to trouble with law enforcement.