News (Page 2) -- October 18, 2006

Website Warns Of Attacks At NFL Games This Weekend - "A website is claiming that seven NFL football stadiums will be hit with radiological dirty bombs this weekend, but the government on Wednesday expressed doubts about the threat. ... Officials were made aware of the Web posting on Oct. 16. The threat was timed to be carried out on Sunday, Oct. 22, marking the final day in Mecca of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. "The death toll will approach 100,000 from the initial blasts and countless other fatalities will later occur as result from radioactive fallout," according to a copy of the posting that was obtained by The Associated Press."

Ashcroft: Bush should be trusted not to abuse new powers - "In the following MSNBC video, former Attorney General John Ashcroft says that President Bush should be trusted not to abuse new powers granted to him by Congress." -- America can not possibly sink lower. Unfortunately, I'm sure they will find another abyss to throw the country in.

Iraq reality check: The cost in lives lost - "Early in the Iraq conflict, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dismissed insurgents as "dead-enders." In 2004, President Bush said the battle against these fighters was "turning a corner." In 2005, he described a "turning point," and Vice President Dick Cheney said the insurgency was in its "last throes." Now, those descriptions lie buried beneath thousands of bodies -- U.S. troops, Iraqi police, and everyday citizens tortured and killed simply because of their religious sect."

McCain jokes about suicide if Democrats win Senate - ""I think I'd just commit suicide," McCain told reporters, to accompanying laughter from Republicans standing with him. "I don't want to face that eventuality because I don't think it's going to happen."" -- He should be held to his remarks if the Democrats win. Idiot.

A loaves & fishes/Holy Ghost victory for the GOP in November? - "It will take just two Biblical fixes for the GOP to keep the Congress, and thus solidify their power in this country, possibly forever: a loaves and fishes vote count, a Holy Ghost turnout. We coined the phrase "loaves and fishes vote count" to describe the tally in Gahanna, Ohio, 2004. This infamous precinct in suburban Columbus registered 4258 votes for George W. Bush where just 638 people voted. The blessed event occurred at a fundamentalist church run by a close ally of the Reverend Jerry Falwell. These numbers were later "corrected." But they reflect a much larger reality: the 2004 election was stolen with scores of dirty tricks for whose second coming the Democrats have yet to fully prepare."

Don't Put Your Eggs In One Basket - "In short, the Democrats are just as much a part of the corporatocracy as the Republicans. It was a Democrat controlled congress that repealed the act that called for equal time on America's airwaves, which has led to the proliferation of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity-types to permeate our airwaves. And it was a Democrat controlled congress that passed NAFTA, which was signed into law by a Democrat president, against the desires of a majority of American, that has allowed a mass hemorrhaging of manufacturing jobs out of this country. And while I would agree with most people's assessment of the Democrats as being the lesser-of-two-evils, the lesser of two evils is still evil."

Fighting the 'Imperial' Internet - "Corporate media are looking to use the "free market" to add the internet to their empire. But we can't let them dominate the 'net and undermine our democracy."

Sentimental Education: Academia Signs Up for Tracking Down Dissent - "Why is the United States government spending millions of dollars to track down critics of George W. Bush in the press? And why have major American universities agreed to put this technology of tyranny into the state's hands? ... But beyond these grubby realities, there are many other disturbing aspects of this new program - which is itself only part of a much broader penetration of American academia by the Department of Homeland Security."

Foreign students begin to look away from US - "The report, by the American Council on Education, an industry research group, said that while the country is still the most popular destination, other countries – namely Japan, France and Germany – are outpacing US growth in that market."

Vaccine protects mice against deadly 1918 virus - "Researchers trying to find quicker and better ways to make flu vaccines said on Tuesday they had formulated a vaccine that protected mice against the deadliest influenza virus known -- the one that caused the 1918 pandemic."

'Female subject is idle and ready for test sequence' - "Can something reek and be tasteless at the same time? ... Message: Women are sexbot automatons you control with your manly scent (among other things)."