Dr. Peter Watts, Canadian SF writer, was stopped at the Port Huron (US) border crossing into Canada. He was beaten, Maced, and arrested for asking a question and then asking it again when the border guards refused to answer the first time.

Think it couldn’t happen to you? Guess again.

BoingBoing on the incident: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/11/dr-peter-watts-canad.html

Making Light’s page on the events, including further links: http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/011966.html

Needless to say, Watts needs defense funds, because he – like you and I, if we don’t want to live in a police state – must object when government oversteps its bounds. If you’ve got it to contribute, please do in the name of justice and human rights (and what's left of our personal freedoms). Contributions can be sent via PayPal to donate@rifters.com.

Take a look at this: http://markprobst.livejournal.com/15293.html

If I understand correctly, it seems that Amazon has stripped the sales rankings from a wide swath of titles available on that site - and the unifying feature of those titles affected is that they relate to homosexuality. In the comment threads on the above page, there's indication that the erotica field has been struck, as well; that the striking of data extends to academic studies of homosexuality; and that, for some odd reason those titles that are categorized lesbian apparently have not been affected.

Further to which categories are being blanked: http://community.livejournal.com/meta_writer/11992.html

Comments being tracked on Twitter at #amazonfail.

Raise the roof, folks. Make sure no one tries this shit ever again.

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ETA: jonquil's comments are worth reading, as usual: http://jonquil.livejournal.com/823622.html