“The popularity of the do-not-call list unleashed a demand for other opt-out lists. A consumer can now opt out of the standard practice of their banks or loan companies selling their information to others. Other opt-outs stop credit card companies from soliciting consumers or end the flow of junk mail and catalogs.

While most of the opt-outs are intended to make life less annoying, they can also have the side effect of protecting personal information that can be misused by identity thieves or unscrupulous merchants.

“Over the years, it has gotten so much easier to opt out,” said Ari Schwartz, deputy director of the Center for Democracy and Technology, a public interest group that lobbies Congress on privacy issues. “There are still gray areas.”

While financial companies have to provide an opportunity to opt out of sharing personal information, other kinds of companies do not. Some that tell you they will share the information do not offer the option to protect personal information (other than not doing business with the company).

For those who just can’t take it anymore, here is a master list of where you can take control…” (New York Times )

“In case you’re wondering, such a wholesale firing of prosecutors midway through an administration isn’t normal. U.S. attorneys, The Wall Street Journal recently pointed out, “typically are appointed at the beginning of a new president’s term, and serve throughout that term.” Why, then, are prosecutors that the Bush administration itself appointed suddenly being pushed out?

The likely answer is that for the first time the administration is really worried about where corruption investigations might lead.” — Paul Krugman

“Emerging from the White House and his first encounter with Bush since taking the U.N. helm, Ban was asked of his impression and replied, “I found him a great leader.”

This was quickly added to the perceived litany of faux pas the new secretary-general has generated.” (World Peace Herald)

Dan Froomkin: “Over much of the course of the war Bush has incrementally made concessions that things are not going well in Iraq. Yesterday’s admission was just the latest. And while it suggests a dawning acceptance of some aspects of reality, it doesn’t speak to the quality of his decisions, or to any learning.

Bush has never said: I made a wrong decision in this case, here’s why, and here’s what I learned from it, which is why you can have greater faith in me this time.

So why should he be trusted now? Bush is constantly being asked that very question these days, but he can’t come up with a persuasive answer. He simply says that he believes we can succeed.” (Washington Post)