I'd heard a brief mention of this last night on Matt Drudge's radio program as I was running to the store, but didn't see it running prominently on any Web site until this afternoon.

Here's the big story that once again proves the utter contempt for privacy that the Chimpy McBushHitler administration holds: The Department of Homeland Security is opening mail coming into the United States from abroad.

What a shocker!

Who do we have to thank for this revelation exposing Big Brother and his evil ways? Retired history professor Grant Goodman.

Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old retired history professor, drew attention to the policy after a letter he received from a colleague in the Philippines was opened and resealed by Customs and Border Protection, and only then sent on to him.

He said he was shocked and amazed that the letter -- which he received last month from another retired history professor with whom he has corresponded for 50 years -- had been screened.

"It was a big surprise," Goodman, who taught at the University of Kansas, told Reuters. "The public should know that this is being done. Nobody whom I know had any idea that this was going on. And as far as I know, it's never been announced. It's never been revealed that this is being done."

When you enter the country from Mexico they can pull you off to the side and practically take your car apart looking for drugs, illegal immigrants stuffed in the dashboard or whatever else they suspect you might be trying to bring into the country illegally. And Goodman is surprised that the government has the right (not to mention the duty) to check the mail that comes into the country?

This is not news -- even if Reuters describes it as a "little-known practice" -- it's only little-known if you haven't thought about the issue. If you've simply put your brain in first gear, then this is obvious.