Mavericks Surf contest...Half Moon Bay; hang ten on Saturday, January 12th!

The first Mavericks surf contest in over twenty-three months is slated for Saturday January 12th at Princeton by-the-Sea in Half Moon Bay.

Last year's event was cancelled much to the chagrin of surf enthusiasts.

Jeff Clark, director of this year's event, gave the go-ahead Thursday after ideal weather conditions were met - at which point - surfers around the country jumped for joy; then, steered their delicious souped-up jalopies that-a-way to Half Moon Bay to catch the big waves come Saturday.

One surfer, resident Grant Washburn of San Francisco, excitedly noted that "...as a wave it's probably the one to measure against."

Storms in recent weeks have brought incredible swells to Bay area surf spots and beyond. In fact, waves with thirty-foot faces are expected to wash over twenty-four of the world's best most water-agile athletes. To some, it's the "Super Bowl" of surfing.

According to contest rules, the Surfers will paddle into the waves in a series of heats that could conceivably last up to seven or eight hours.

The winning Moon doggie nabs $30,000 of a $75,000 prize pool - and, with it - a bevy of product endorsements, no doubt.

The President and CEO of the Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau noted that the event would bring in much-needed revenue into the local economy.

Also, she underscored that she was happy to report that various initiatives in place this year to protect the environment have resulted in significant changes to ensure the safety of the natural wildlife community.

In previous years, overzealous contestants and onlookers trampled native plants and wildlife in the area basin, much to the dismay of the locals. However, due to the deliberate conscientious efforts of the organizers, it is doubtful this will occur again.

However, in spite of these kinds of potential problems, the organizers have expanded the sight-seeing areas. Notwithstanding, fans may still require binoculars for close-up catch-all views.

Sure, there are pricey boat cruises available for the true adventurer; but, due to the escalating costs many may be inclined to go for a precise bird's-eye view in front of a computer via the free live webcast that's being offered up.

If you want to be part of roar of the crowd, then take a jaunt down to AT & T Park where you can catch the action for $20.00 a pop on the stadium's 30 by 30 foot high-definition jumbo screen. Sure to get your juices flowin'.

Of course, there will be a big beer bust with in-and-out privileges, too.

So, party hearty, eh?

Webcast shown at: myspace.com/maverickssurf

Patriot Act...U.S. to appeal court ruling!

Last month, a Federal Judge in Oregon struck down key portions of the Patriot Act as unconstitutional.

Judge Ann Aiken, of the Oregon Federal District Court, ruled that two provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), as amended by the Patriot Act, are unconstitutional because they violate the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken noted that the act cannot be used to authorize secret searches and wiretapping to gather criminal evidence - instead of intelligence gathering - without violating the 4th Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.

"FISA permits the executive branch of government to conduct surveillance and searches of American citizens without satisfying the probable cause requirements of the Fourth Amendment", she ruled.

The 4th Amendment stipulates as follows:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

She also noted that,

"For over 200 years, this nation has adhered to the rule of law, with unparalleled success. A shift to a nation based on extra-constitutional authority is prohibited, as well as ill-advised."

She added that the Supreme Court cautioned, as follows:

"The price of lawful public dissent must not be a dread of subjection to an unchecked surveillance power. Nor must the fear of unauthorized official eavesdropping deter vigorous citizen dissent and discussion of Government action in private conversation. For private dissent, no less than open public discourse, is essential to our free society."

The legal issue arose because of a lawsuit filed by Brandon Mayfield, a Portland lawyer, whose home and office were secretly searched and bugged after the FBI misidentified a fingerprint in the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people in 2004.

The FBI apologized, and the suit was settled in Mr. Mayfield's favor, for an out-of-court settlement of $2 million.

But the illegality of the FBI's conduct is still at issue.

Lawyers for the Government have announced an appeal will be lodged in respect to Judge Aiken's findings, and subsequent ruling, which puts a major dent in FISA and the Patriot Act.