Wednesday, March 31, 2004

VOANews.com

VOANews.com: "Afghanistan is seeking nearly $28 billion in development aid at an international conference on the country's future being held in Berlin.

Afghan President Harmid Karzai told the opening session of the conference that Afghanistan has made significant progress since the fall of the Taleban, but it needs more aid to tackle problems that threaten its future, like the illegal drug trade."

So we could have fixed 4 Afghanistans for what it's costing for 1 Iraq.

Who should I vote for?

Who should I vote for?

A definitive Bush Primer.

Row over Iraq spills to Aussie Parliament - (United Press International)

Row over Iraq spills to Aussie Parliament - (United Press International): "Labor leader Mark Latham has said if his party wins elections, scheduled for later this year, he will withdraw Australian troops from Iraq. He said he had received extensive briefings from intelligence agencies on Australia's role in Iraq.

Prime Minister John Howard released letters from defense officials that apparently contradicted Latham's claims. The government suspended Question Time in Parliament to attack Latham, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported."

And so the tension builds in Aussia land.

Thursday, March 18, 2004

Mercury News: Bay Area news, technology, jobs, cars & real estate

Mercury News: Bay Area news, technology, jobs, cars & real estate: "Shortly into a Tuesday news conference that felt more like a Super Bowl celebration, Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid made the mistake of calling his new savior Ter-RELL.

Sitting next to Reid, perhaps for the last time, Terrell Owens interrupted his new scapegoat -- sorry, coach. ``It's TERR-ell,'' said Owens, playfully slapping Reid on his back."

Don't like doing it, but I gotta agree with Bayless on this one. Owens is going to screw up Philly. Big-time.

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Made it to level 32



Level 32, but no more. I think that one is impossible. And I've already spent too much time trying to prove it isn't.

Monday, March 15, 2004

Brussels Sprouts a Microsoft Ruling (TechNews.com)

Brussels Sprouts a Microsoft Ruling (TechNews.com): " In less than two weeks, barring a last-minute settlement, the European Commission is expected to declare Microsoft an abusive monopolist, impose a fine of $100 million to $1 billion and order the company to make fundamental changes to the way it sells software in Europe. ... Such a ruling would be a significant setback for Microsoft after it overcame its most serious legal challenge by settling a sweeping antitrust case in the United States in 2001. And it would be the defining moment in the"

Looks like having a couple of economic heavyweights can have some advantages.

Saturday, March 13, 2004

Contra Costa & Alameda News Sports, Jobs, Cars, and Real Estate

Contra Costa & Alameda News Sports, Jobs, Cars, and Real Estate: "The crucifixion of Jesus has become a hot topic in the hallways of East Bay high schools, thanks to Mel Gibson's blockbuster film 'The Passion of the Christ.'

Despite its R rating and super-gory special effects, teenagers are flocking to see the movie. The buzz has gotten so strong that even nonreligious teens are intrigued.

'I want to see it,' said Erin Duncan, a junior at Clayton Valley High School. 'I've heard that everyone cries during it, and the whole room is silent.'"

And so many of them will be.

Except for those that don't get it.

"Although some of his friends were deeply moved by the film, "I felt sort of the opposite," said Jack, who describes himself as "a fairly liberal Catholic."

"I walked out of the theater feeling pretty ambivalent about the whole thing," he said. "Even spiritually -- my favorite movie is 'The Royal Tenenbaums,' and I get more out of that spiritually."

After all, he asks, "What does that say about my faith if I need to see a man in red makeup to really believe in Christ?"

Heck of a question really. Having 'faith' in Christ's suffering is no longer necessary for any Christian that endorses the film as accurate.

Top News Article | Reuters.com :: Game Time in Iran

Top News Article | Reuters.com: "VIENNA (Reuters) - The head of Iran's delegation at the U.N. atomic watchdog said on Saturday Tehran suspended U.N. inspections partly because of a resolution criticizing it for withholding information.

Speaking to reporters after the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) governing board approved the resolution, Amir Zamananinia, head of political affairs at Iran's foreign ministry, said the suspension was also partly due to Iran's New Year's holiday that begins next week. "

I'm sure the solidifying of political will through the last crooked elections had very little to do with this latest move. /sarcasm

Thursday, March 11, 2004

BBC NEWS | Technology | Internet browsing patent annulled

BBC NEWS | Technology | Internet browsing patent annulled

It might be good for Microsoft, but it's still good for the rest of us. More stupid software patents that get annulled the better.

Discovery Channel :: CO2 Wreaking Havoc with Amazonian F

Discovery Channel :: CO2 Wreaking Havoc with Amazonian F: "March 11, 2004 � Carbon dioxide (CO2) disgorged by fossil fuels is silently causing a dramatic change in the composition of tree species in the Amazonian forest, the world's most precious wildlife haven, a study says.
The CO2 is causing some tree species to grow faster and dominate in the forest and this in turn is forcing other species into decline, a long-term change which is bad news for biodiversity and the fight against global warming. "

Not so good.

SciScoop || New Photos From Dying Hubble Suggest Universe May Live Forever

SciScoop || New Photos From Dying Hubble Suggest Universe May Live Forever

More reading for deep space post

Monday, March 08, 2004

dmusic.com - Call To Action: Time to reach others.

dmusic.com - Call To Action: Time to reach others.: "Over the past few weeks, myself and several others have been outreaching our message to others on John Kerry�s forum located here http://forum.johnkerry.com//index.php?showtopic=6490. While we�ve been active on the site we�ve only had one troll but 4000+ reads of the RIAA/P2P thread there. We have had new people posting on the thread that have become aware of the situation the RIAA have placed our country in and hopefully they will mosey on over here. I have received a number of e-mails a lot of them asking for more information (some with yummy virus-filled creamy centers) which I have quickly directed to this site and hope to see them post or hear from them again, personally. We have made a difference there and it feels good."

Got to use the flip-flopping to advantage.

Haiti Update II: The Original Sin of Haiti's Democracy

Haiti Update II: The Original Sin of Haiti's Democracy: "Jean-Bertrand Aristide is gone� and blaming the US for a coup d'etat. Haiti teeters on the edge of anarchy, armed gangs roam the streets of Port-au-Prince and US and French military forces finally arrive; meanwhile, in Washington, President Bush declares a 'new chapter' in the history of Haiti."

Cynicism? nah...

Friday, March 05, 2004

Islam Online- News Section

Islam Online- News Section: "PARIS, March 5 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Amid a flurry of Middle East initiatives, France and Germany unveiled a new joint initiative for reform in the Middle East, stressing that Islam is compatible with modernity and making the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict a cornerstone of the new initiative.

It was revealed ahead of a meeting Friday, March 5, in Paris between French President Jacques Chirac and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak who renewed his fierce criticism of a U.S. initiative for reform in "The Greater Middle East".

The French-German Initiative - unveiled Thursday, March 4 - distances both Paris and Berlin from the U.S. reform proposal, which has drawn a hostile response as it was seen as a high-handed attempt to reshape the region and serve the interests of Washington and Israel."

And so the stage is set for another round of international position staking.

The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail: "One commercial begins with Mr. Bush strolling toward the camera. A moment later, the wreckage of the World Trade Center appears on the TV screen, followed by firefighters and grieving victims.

Then come some U.S. flags, and the motto: 'Safer. Stronger. President Bush: Steady Leadership in Times of Change.'
The juxtaposition drew angry responses from several groups connected to relatives of victims of the attacks.

'I find it offensive that he has used 9/11 as a pretext for the election,' said Colleen Kelly, whose brother, Bill Kelly Jr., died in the World Trade Center and who has become a leader of the victims' movement. For her, '9/11 was a failure of this President to act.'"

Ahh, come on, as a U.S. citizen I paid good money for that aircraft carrier landing, surely they won't miss out shouting 'Mission Accoplished" from the rooftops. After all, we caught the guy that started the war.

SCO Confronting Its Creation

SCO Confronting Its Creation: "'The real reason why people don't like SCO, and Darl McBride in particular, is that he is so dishonest,' [Linus] Torvalds, 34, said in an e-mail."

And there ya have it.

Top News Article | Reuters.com

Top News Article | Reuters.com: "U.S. officials have said they want to announce the initiative formally in June when the Group of Eight leaders from the world's industrial powers hold their annual summit. The G8 does not include any Arab countries.

'If the American reform plan is not studied very carefully, we could plunge into a spiral of violence and anarchy which will not only affect us...and then it's goodbye to any glimmer of democracy in the Arab world,' Mubarak said.

He also stressed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was at the heart of the region's troubles and attention should not be diverted.
'Making reforms but ignoring the Palestinian issue, which is at the center of everything, will not produce the desired stability...whether you like it or not,' he said. "

More plans in the making. Glad to see we aren't acting like an Imperial power.