James Wolcott: Second Verse, Same as the First: "And lo, I switched on the set today and by chance see the words 'Beware Hezbollah' on the screen beneath Wolf Blitzer's bearded mug. His guests were the authors of a new book called 'Lightning out of Lebanon,' about the threat posed by Hezbollah to the US mainland. The only hazy evidence of Hezbollah activity were threats against Anthony Lake which were never carried out but were 'taken seriously.' Well, hell, practically everything in this country is taken seriously as a precautionary measure. A ten-year-old can phone in a bomb scare and they'll evacuate the building. Means nothing.
Yet the authors made dark hints about Hezbollah cells in American cities, which presumably could be activated from Lebanon or elsewhere. The same talk we've been getting since 9/11 about the phantom Al Qaeda 'sleeper cells' awakening their Manchurian Candidate coded 'go' signals. "
The Power of Nightmares, Part IV.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
IRARK / monochrom
IRARK / monochrom: "1988: Retired US-Soldier John R. fights along with his former superior and side by side with islamic jihadis against a foreign occupying power in the central-asian desert.
2003: An Anglo-American coalition begins its military action in the gulf."
Whodat?!
2003: An Anglo-American coalition begins its military action in the gulf."
Whodat?!
Yahoo! News - Man Convicted of Copying Oscar Films Dies
Yahoo! News - Man Convicted of Copying Oscar Films Dies: "LOS ANGELES - A man awaiting sentencing for illegally copying and distributing movies being screened for Oscar picks was found dead in his jail cell, authorities said.
Russell Sprague, 52, of Homewood, Ill., may have died of a heart attack, the U.S. Marshals Service said. His body was discovered Monday morning and an autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.
Sprague was scheduled to be sentenced March 21 after pleading guilty last year to one count of copyright infringement. He had faced up to three years in prison.
Sprague was accused of copying 134 "screener" movies sent to members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (news - web sites) to solicit their votes for last year's Oscars (news - web sites), including "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" and "Seabiscuit." Films were made available for download over the Internet, authorities said. "
The first death of the copyright wars.
Russell Sprague, 52, of Homewood, Ill., may have died of a heart attack, the U.S. Marshals Service said. His body was discovered Monday morning and an autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.
Sprague was scheduled to be sentenced March 21 after pleading guilty last year to one count of copyright infringement. He had faced up to three years in prison.
Sprague was accused of copying 134 "screener" movies sent to members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (news - web sites) to solicit their votes for last year's Oscars (news - web sites), including "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" and "Seabiscuit." Films were made available for download over the Internet, authorities said. "
The first death of the copyright wars.
No More Kids in the Chair
Top News Article | Reuters.com: "The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday abolished the death penalty for juveniles, a major victory for opponents of capital punishment in the last country in the world that gave official sanction to the execution of people who commit crimes as minors.
By a 5-4 vote, the high court declared unconstitutional the death penalty those under the age of 18 when they committed their crimes, a decision that could affect more than 70 death row inmates who face execution for murders done when they were 16 or 17 years old. "
Woohoo, pro-lifers rejoice! The U.S. is no longer one of the backward-ass countries that executes children.
By a 5-4 vote, the high court declared unconstitutional the death penalty those under the age of 18 when they committed their crimes, a decision that could affect more than 70 death row inmates who face execution for murders done when they were 16 or 17 years old. "
Woohoo, pro-lifers rejoice! The U.S. is no longer one of the backward-ass countries that executes children.
At 9, He's Out Stumping for President's Social Security Plan
The New York Times > Washington > At 9, He's Out Stumping for President's Social Security Plan: "The battle over Social Security has been joined by an unusual lobbyist, a 9-year-old from Texas who has agreed to travel supporting President Bush's proposal.
The boy, Noah McCullough, made a splash with his encyclopedic command of presidential history, earning five appearances on the 'Tonight' show and some unusual experiences in the presidential campaign last year. He beat Howard Dean in a trivia contest at the Democratic National Convention and wrote for his local newspaper about his trip to see the inauguration.
'He's very patriotic and very Republican,' said Noah's mother, Donna McCullough, a former teacher and self-described Democrat. 'It's the way he was born.'"
Ahh, a budding young fascist. I dunno about this, I have to agree with these folks. When you rely on a 9-year old to change a generations old social policy, that change has definitely jumped the shark.
BTW, as to the 'fascist' remark...I mean, it's not like it's possible to go from ultra-conservative (Republican) to moderately-conservative (Democrat) when the first tenet of Modern Conservative Thinking (Neocons) is that anybody to the left of them are liberals/terrorists. There is a big jump to do even that much, and when you start out so young and so dumb, where can you go but down the road to fascism?
The boy, Noah McCullough, made a splash with his encyclopedic command of presidential history, earning five appearances on the 'Tonight' show and some unusual experiences in the presidential campaign last year. He beat Howard Dean in a trivia contest at the Democratic National Convention and wrote for his local newspaper about his trip to see the inauguration.
'He's very patriotic and very Republican,' said Noah's mother, Donna McCullough, a former teacher and self-described Democrat. 'It's the way he was born.'"
Ahh, a budding young fascist. I dunno about this, I have to agree with these folks. When you rely on a 9-year old to change a generations old social policy, that change has definitely jumped the shark.
BTW, as to the 'fascist' remark...I mean, it's not like it's possible to go from ultra-conservative (Republican) to moderately-conservative (Democrat) when the first tenet of Modern Conservative Thinking (Neocons) is that anybody to the left of them are liberals/terrorists. There is a big jump to do even that much, and when you start out so young and so dumb, where can you go but down the road to fascism?
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Canada refuses further role in missile defence
The Globe and Mail: Canada refuses further role in missile defence: "Although Prime Minister Paul Martin said Canada would "insist" on maintaining control of its airspace, U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci warned that Washington would not be constrained.
"We will deploy. We will defend North America," he said.
"We simply cannot understand why Canada would in effect give up its sovereignty - its seat at the table - to decide what to do about a missile that might be coming towards Canada.'"
Dang peace-loving Canadians. Don't they know that military might == Freedom?
"We will deploy. We will defend North America," he said.
"We simply cannot understand why Canada would in effect give up its sovereignty - its seat at the table - to decide what to do about a missile that might be coming towards Canada.'"
Dang peace-loving Canadians. Don't they know that military might == Freedom?
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Hunter S. Thompson Probably Planned Suicide
ABC News: Thompson Probably Planned Suicide: "The family is looking into whether Thompson's cremated remains can be blasted out of a cannon, a wish the gun-loving writer often expressed, Brinkley said.
'The optimal, best-case scenario is the ashes will be shot out of a cannon,' he said. "
And that, as they say, is that.
'The optimal, best-case scenario is the ashes will be shot out of a cannon,' he said. "
And that, as they say, is that.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Man Charged in Alleged Plot to Kill President Bush
The New York Times > National > Man Charged in Alleged Plot to Kill President Bush: "Mr. Ali, 23, described in recent news reports as a Houston-born American citizen and the valedictorian of his high school class in suburban Virginia, appeared in federal district court in Alexandria, Va., today. He did not enter a plea, but scores of his supporters laughed when the charges were read.
Mr. Ali's attorney, Ashraf Nubani, told Magistrate Liam O'Grady that his client was tortured while in Saudi custody, before he was returned to the United States, The A.P. said. 'He has the evidence on his back,' the lawyer said. 'He was whipped. He was handcuffed for days at a time.'"
Looks to be a curious case. I wonder if this one will be public scrutiny or is more witch hunt style stuff.
Mr. Ali's attorney, Ashraf Nubani, told Magistrate Liam O'Grady that his client was tortured while in Saudi custody, before he was returned to the United States, The A.P. said. 'He has the evidence on his back,' the lawyer said. 'He was whipped. He was handcuffed for days at a time.'"
Looks to be a curious case. I wonder if this one will be public scrutiny or is more witch hunt style stuff.
Monday, February 21, 2005
ABC News: Panelists Decry Bush Science Policies
ABC News: Panelists Decry Bush Science Policies: "WASHINGTON Feb 20, 2005 � The voice of science is being stifled in the Bush administration, with fewer scientists heard in policy discussions and money for research and advanced training being cut, according to panelists at a national science meeting.
Speakers at the national meeting of the American Association for Advancement of Science expressed concern Sunday that some scientists in key federal agencies are being ignored or even pressured to change study conclusions that don't support policy positions. "
In other news, priests (the ones not banging kids) are celebrating the death of science.
Speakers at the national meeting of the American Association for Advancement of Science expressed concern Sunday that some scientists in key federal agencies are being ignored or even pressured to change study conclusions that don't support policy positions. "
In other news, priests (the ones not banging kids) are celebrating the death of science.
Paris Hilton's sidekick hacked | The Register
Paris Hilton's sidekick hacked | The Register: "While Paris must by now be used to being overexposed online, many of the people in her little black book were less than pleased with the leak. According to the Drudge Report, one starlet said 'I gave her my number after we met in Miami, I did not know she f**king kept it on her cellphone!'
Reality TV star Victoria Gotti told New York Daily News that she had received over 100 phone calls in two hours. 'It's driving me insane,' she said."
Yea, well, Paris Hilton is driving us insane, so things kinda balance out. Karma's a bitch sometimes.
Reality TV star Victoria Gotti told New York Daily News that she had received over 100 phone calls in two hours. 'It's driving me insane,' she said."
Yea, well, Paris Hilton is driving us insane, so things kinda balance out. Karma's a bitch sometimes.
Friday, February 18, 2005
International news from swissinfo, the Swiss news platform
International news from swissinfo, the Swiss news platform: "The debate over whether or not there is a global warming signal is now over, at least for rational people,' he said.
The report was published one day after the United Nations Kyoto Protocol took effect, a 141-nation environmental
pact the United States government has spurned for several reasons, including stated doubts about whether global
warming is occurring and is caused by people.
Barnett urged U.S. officials to reconsider.
'Could a climate system simply do this on its own? The answer is clearly no,' Barnett said.
His team used U.S. government models of solar warming and volcanic warming, just to see if they could account for
the measurements they made. 'Not a chance,' he said.
And the effects will be felt far and wide. 'Anywhere that the major water source is fed by snow ... or glacial melt,' he
said. 'The debate is what are we going to do about it.'"
There ya go. Reason #2,134,852 Bush is a dangerous man.
The report was published one day after the United Nations Kyoto Protocol took effect, a 141-nation environmental
pact the United States government has spurned for several reasons, including stated doubts about whether global
warming is occurring and is caused by people.
Barnett urged U.S. officials to reconsider.
'Could a climate system simply do this on its own? The answer is clearly no,' Barnett said.
His team used U.S. government models of solar warming and volcanic warming, just to see if they could account for
the measurements they made. 'Not a chance,' he said.
And the effects will be felt far and wide. 'Anywhere that the major water source is fed by snow ... or glacial melt,' he
said. 'The debate is what are we going to do about it.'"
There ya go. Reason #2,134,852 Bush is a dangerous man.
Lawmaker presses White House on 'Jeff Gannon'
Lawmaker presses White House on 'Jeff Gannon': "Slaughter and other White House critics suggest, however, that the access given to Gannon to cover presidential news briefings is further evidence of the Bush administration's blurring the boundary between the news media and the government, akin to the payments the administration made to conservative columnists to promote Bush's policies and its production of video news releases that mimic the style of television news."
The Propagannon story continues to unfold.
The Propagannon story continues to unfold.
New Robots Walk Like Humans
New Robots Walk Like Humans: "WASHINGTON D.C. - In what could be described as one small step for a robot, but a giant leap for robot-kind, a trio of humanoid machines were introduced Thursday, each with the ability to walk in a human-like manner."
One step closer...
One step closer...
Monday, February 07, 2005
ABC News: Bush Sends Congress $2.57 Trillion Budget
ABC News: Bush Sends Congress $2.57 Trillion Budget: "'It is a budget that sets priorities,' Bush said after a meeting with his Cabinet. 'It's a budget that reduces and eliminates redundancy. It's a budget that's a lean budget.' "
It's also a budget that doesn't mention Social Security transition costs or any of the costs for the war. Those come in special "hey, dad, I need some money!" budget requests.
It's also a budget that doesn't mention Social Security transition costs or any of the costs for the war. Those come in special "hey, dad, I need some money!" budget requests.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL: Alabama Lawmaker Wants To Ban "Gay" Books
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL: Alabama Lawmaker Wants To Ban "Gay" Books: "Alabama State Representative Gerald Allen is on record as wanting to ban gay marriage, but now he's turned his attention to the state's libraries--both public and school. Allen wants to pass a law to ban books with gay characters. He also wants textbooks that suggest homosexuality is okay out of state schools."
Since when did book burning become a "moral value"?
Since when did book burning become a "moral value"?
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
The Globe and Mail: Is it final Jeopardy for Jennings?
The Globe and Mail: Is it final Jeopardy for Jennings?: "With $2.5-million in his back pocket, the 30-year-old Jennings has earned the title of highest-earning player ever on a syndicated quiz show.
Yesterday, a two-minute audio clip was circulated on the Web, including the question that is reported to have stumped this king of quiz. Sudbury, Ont.-native Alex Trebek, Jeopardy!'s host, can be heard saying, 'The category is business and industry, and here is the clue, ladies and gentlemen: Most of this firm's 70,000 seasonal, white-collar employees work only four months a year?'"
The King has fallen.
Yesterday, a two-minute audio clip was circulated on the Web, including the question that is reported to have stumped this king of quiz. Sudbury, Ont.-native Alex Trebek, Jeopardy!'s host, can be heard saying, 'The category is business and industry, and here is the clue, ladies and gentlemen: Most of this firm's 70,000 seasonal, white-collar employees work only four months a year?'"
The King has fallen.
Monday, November 29, 2004
BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN plan demands more intervention
BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN plan demands more intervention: "The UN should be reformed to make intervention in failing states easier, a commission is set to recommend.
The panel, which has examined how the UN could respond better to global threats, also calls for the Security Council to be enlarged, the BBC has learned."
The blueprints for the NWO.
The panel, which has examined how the UN could respond better to global threats, also calls for the Security Council to be enlarged, the BBC has learned."
The blueprints for the NWO.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN plan demands more intervention
BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN plan demands more intervention: "The UN should be reformed to make intervention in failing states easier, a commission is set to recommend.
The panel, which has examined how the UN could respond better to global threats, also calls for the Security Council to be enlarged, the BBC has learned."
The blueprints for the NWO.
The panel, which has examined how the UN could respond better to global threats, also calls for the Security Council to be enlarged, the BBC has learned."
The blueprints for the NWO.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN plan demands more intervention
BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN plan demands more intervention: "The UN should be reformed to make intervention in failing states easier, a commission is set to recommend.
The panel, which has examined how the UN could respond better to global threats, also calls for the Security Council to be enlarged, the BBC has learned."
The blueprints for the NWO.
The panel, which has examined how the UN could respond better to global threats, also calls for the Security Council to be enlarged, the BBC has learned."
The blueprints for the NWO.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN plan demands more intervention
BBC NEWS | Middle East | UN plan demands more intervention: "The UN should be reformed to make intervention in failing states easier, a commission is set to recommend.
The panel, which has examined how the UN could respond better to global threats, also calls for the Security Council to be enlarged, the BBC has learned. "
The panel, which has examined how the UN could respond better to global threats, also calls for the Security Council to be enlarged, the BBC has learned. "
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Burning Cross Left at Home of Interracial Couple on Long Island
The New York Times > New York Region > Burning Cross Left at Home of Interracial Couple on L.I.: "wakened by a loud bang and the ring of their doorbell, an interracial couple peered out the front window of their Long Island home at 3 a.m. yesterday and saw a cross burning on the front lawn.
They said they immediately called the Suffolk County police, but by the time officers arrived, rain had doused the fire. The police removed the cross, which was three feet tall and made from the slats of a picket fence. By yesterday afternoon, the only remaining trace was a charred circle of grass outside the building, a two-family house in the southwest corner of Lake Grove."
Dang liberals.
They said they immediately called the Suffolk County police, but by the time officers arrived, rain had doused the fire. The police removed the cross, which was three feet tall and made from the slats of a picket fence. By yesterday afternoon, the only remaining trace was a charred circle of grass outside the building, a two-family house in the southwest corner of Lake Grove."
Dang liberals.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iraqi parties request poll delay
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iraqi parties request poll delay: "A group of leading Iraqi political parties has called for the 30 January national elections to be delayed.
More than 15 groups - representing mostly Sunnis, Kurds and secular Iraqis - urged a six-month postponement for the planned vote. "
Yea, well, there ya go.
More than 15 groups - representing mostly Sunnis, Kurds and secular Iraqis - urged a six-month postponement for the planned vote. "
Yea, well, there ya go.
Hobbits locked away as scientists argue - Science - www.theage.com.au
Hobbits locked away as scientists argue - Science - www.theage.com.au: "They may be tiny, but the hobbits - the extinct one-metre-high human species whose discovery rocked the palaeontology world last month - are provoking a giant barney among Australian and Indonesian scientists.
One of Indonesia's leading palaeontologists, Professor Teuku Jacob of Gadjah Mada University in Jakarta, has grabbed the hobbit remains and locked them away in his safe, refusing to let other scientists study them."
I think this is going to be curious when they find out *why* he is hiding them...
One of Indonesia's leading palaeontologists, Professor Teuku Jacob of Gadjah Mada University in Jakarta, has grabbed the hobbit remains and locked them away in his safe, refusing to let other scientists study them."
I think this is going to be curious when they find out *why* he is hiding them...
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
The Volokh Conspiracy - Sokal is an Id10t
The Volokh Conspiracy -: "Alan Sokal and the Social Text Parody:In 1996, physics professor Alan Sokal published a parody article on the social construction of physics in the journal Social Text. It turns out that Sokal's website has copies of the original article, the Lingua Franca article in which he came clean about his spoof, and other writings about the controversy both by Sokal and others."
This is the reason, a big part of it, why our society is so lost. Those 'in the know' about the closest details of the nature of the Universe, absolutely refuse to speak on it in any concrete terms. This allows the charlatans to step in and make all sorts of whacky claims while the physicists scratch their heads and say, "Hmm, I guess it is all energy...but that doesn't mean anything."
Ugh, and thus the need for people like myslef to do a bit of metaphor drawing.
This is the reason, a big part of it, why our society is so lost. Those 'in the know' about the closest details of the nature of the Universe, absolutely refuse to speak on it in any concrete terms. This allows the charlatans to step in and make all sorts of whacky claims while the physicists scratch their heads and say, "Hmm, I guess it is all energy...but that doesn't mean anything."
Ugh, and thus the need for people like myslef to do a bit of metaphor drawing.
Kevin Sites Blog
Kevin Sites Blog: "Since the shooting in the Mosque, I've been haunted that I have not been able to tell you directly what I saw or explain the process by which the world came to see it as well. As you know, I'm not some war zone tourist with a camera who doesn't understand that ugly things happen in combat. I've spent most of the last five years covering global conflict. But I have never in my career been a 'gotcha' reporter -- hoping for people to commit wrongdoings so I can catch them at it. "
This is the future of media folks.
This is the future of media folks.
International News Article | Reuters.com
International News Article | Reuters.com: "KIEV (Reuters) - Up to 200,000 protesters rallied outside an emergency session of Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday demanding authorities admit they cheated in a presidential poll which showed the country's Moscow-backed prime minister had won.
Parliamentary deputies began the session in response to calls from supporters of West-leaning liberal challenger Viktor Yushchenko, who says he was robbed of victory in Sunday's second-round run-off. "
This is what MoW is all about.
Parliamentary deputies began the session in response to calls from supporters of West-leaning liberal challenger Viktor Yushchenko, who says he was robbed of victory in Sunday's second-round run-off. "
This is what MoW is all about.
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