Bits and pieces...

Why they fought: Update 02.24: The Strib more or less confirms Indymedia's reporting. Thanks to the local chapter of the American Legion, a Bloomington, Minnesota, high school has banned peace activists from setting up counter-recruitment tables, while military recruiters get unfettered access to the school's students, according to TC Indymedia. The activists had planned their tabling for weeks, going through official channels, but superintendent Gary Prest allegedly changed his mind when Legion representatives threatened to stop donations if the school allowed such a brash display of free speech.

AARP on USA Next: After looking into USA Next--that's United Seniors Association, a group led by neo-con direct-mail guru Richard Viguerie --the AARP blog offers a reasonable response to that group's attacks: "judge critically the motivations behind statements made against AARP."

Civility, due North: Newswired runs the full text of Canadian prime minister Paul Martin's support for the Civil Marriage Act. His sensible thinking debunks the main arguments used in this country to decry same-sex union. "The Charter was enshrined to ensure that the rights of minorities are not subjected, are never subjected, to the will of the majority. The rights of Canadians who belong to a minority group must always be protected by virtue of their status as citizens, regardless of their numbers. These rights must never be left vulnerable to the impulses of the majority," he said. "We embrace freedom and equality in theory, Mr. Speaker. We must also embrace them in fact."

eBooks on iPods: Engadget reports that a New York state library is offering iPod Shuffles pre-loaded with audio books. It's almost as good as free--which is what it'll cost you to download Kembrew McLeod's new book (if you agree to the terms of a Creative Commons license, that is), a new look at intellectual property by the University of Iowa professor who trademarked the term "freedom of expression." (Don't miss Kembrew's "pranks" page.)