The National Budget On A Poster

Have you ever wondered what comprises the federal budget. After all, it's taxpayers like you who fund the budget.

Exactly, where does the money get spent? Who has the time to wade through the paperwork?

Jesse Bachman did and created a graphical representation for taxpayers to see. You can click around the graph to see what programs get less money and which get the lion's share (hint: defense, or is it offense?),

Alcohol Bracelets Clamp Down On Booze Hounds

In South Dakota, according to the Associated Press, the state's attorney general will be testing alcohol detecting bracelets to monitor repeat drunken drivers.

I found a couple of interesting tidbits in the story. First, the story says this product is being used in 37 states. Has anybody out there experienced this technology?

Second, this seems to be a scarlet letter of sorts. While I don't advocate that repeat offenders should be allowed to drink and drive, I'm wondering what type of fall out occurs when a person shows up at work with one of these things on. Yes, it's fitted around your ankle, but wouldn't this be noticed? A judge is quoted in the article saying he feels the bracelets are "an excellent tool to keep them (offenders) sober, keep them employed."

How well does this technology work and what do attorney's think? What happens if the technology doesn't work properly?

Also, since the bracelet monitors vapors from your skin, does this mean you'll get a visit from the police if you're at home drinking a few beers and watching a football game?

One more thing. How does an unemployed person pay for the daily monitoring fee? Does the state run up a tab and put the person into perpetual debt?

Ten Big Stories The Media Ignores

Project Censored has published it's list of twenty five most ignored/censored stories. Like every year, you have to shake your head and wonder why these type of stories don't get more attention.

I guess recent media frenzy over the arrest/hoax of Jon Benet Ramsey's alleged murderer certainly rates more importance than Halliburton allegedly selling nuclear technology to Iran. Considering the wild eyed rhetoric and war drumbeat concerning Iran, you'd think the media would have plenty to write about.

Where Did The Katrina Foreign Aid Go?

Whenever a disaster happens elsewhere in the world, there seems to be a certain percentage of people who declare, "why should I give another country money, what do they do for us?"

The Katrina disaster brought hundreds of millions in aid from other nations.

What? You didn't hear about that?

Did you hear about where the money went? Me, either. Foreign Policy has answers. Read on, Garth.