We seem to be in a world these days where our information is becoming more available than Mark Foley after watching The Goonies.

So be thankful there are folks out there like my pal John Aravosis of AMERICAblog (full disclosure: I contribute to AMERICAblog every Friday).

Upon discovering that people's personal cell phone records were for sale, John purchased those of General Wesley Clark (former Democratic presidential contender) to make a point about how easy it was. He also publicized the hell out of it and made it a mission, like only he can.

Well, now an effort that began with John's important political statement has paid off. Both houses of Congress have passed bills making this practice illegal.

John is to be congratulated and thanked for giving us back a little bit of privacy in a world that takes more away every day.