As the United States congress debates the FISA bill, or more importantly - the retroactive immunity for telecom companies currently under consideration, the surveillance society is continually strengthened and a police state expanded. And while it seems that the government and telecoms are immune from law, above law, and therefore sovereign - a study released last week says that 1% (actually 1 in 99.1) of their subjects [Americans] are in fact in violation of law and currently in prison.

In Prague 1968  was an eventful year starting on January 5 when reformist Alexander Dubček was elected leader of the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia. His ascension to power marked the beginning of a period of political liberalization known as the Prague Spring. The reforms introduced by Dubček distributed institutional power and established new rights for citizens. Among the new liberties was a loosening of media restrictions, freedom of speech and travel.