In secret cabal, Edwards debates Reed

In the New York Times' background story on the Kerry-Edwards pick, this reference to a "secretive and exclusive conference," a "gathering of powerful figures in business and politics" caught my eye. This group, Bilderberg, is a favorite of conspiracy theorists and often appears, along with the Illuminati and Opus Dei, in lists of shadowy trans-national cabals.

I love the way the Times just sort of mentioned it in passing -- like, "Oh, you know -- that secret and exclusive gathering of powerful figures." What's scary is that they let Ralph Reed in (18th paragraph).

Meanwhile, in Utah, things were a little more grassroots. There several organizations declared "War on Pornography." But can they be effective if they don't understand how to use such common tools as capital letters and quotation marks?

Just as in the NYT story on Edwards, there's a small detail that just sort of slips by:

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and his staff are developing an online child-protection registry that is scheduled to be up and running next year. Utahns will be able to register for the service, which will place their e-mail addresses on a list that prohibits companies from sending pornographic material. Wielding a golden sword, Shurtleff warned any violators that his office will prosecute them.

A golden sword?? Is that standard issue for lawmen in Utah?