News -- August 7, 2006

BP shuts down Alaskan oil line - "In a sudden blow to the nation's oil supply, half the production on Alaska's North Slope was being shut down yesterday after BP Exploration Alaska Inc. discovered severe corrosion in a Prudhoe Bay oil-transit line."

Oil Prices Spike on News of Shutdown - "Oil prices jumped by more than $1 a barrel Monday following a production shutdown at an Alaskan oil field that accounts for almost 8 percent of U.S. production. The news of the Alaska shutdown caught traders by surprise, said Kevin Norrish of Barclays Capital, who added that the current ability to compensate for lost production was "severely limited.""

Investigator: Troops drank, golfed before Iraqi killings, rape - "U.S. soldiers accused of raping and murdering an Iraqi female drank alcohol and hit golf balls before the attack, and one of them grilled chicken wings afterward, an investigator told a U.S. military hearing Monday, citing a soldier's sworn statement. ... "There's nothing I've read that says what to do if your buddies have raped and murdered a family," Watt said. ... Green took the father, mother and the younger sister into the bedroom and closed the door, while the alleged victim remained in the living room with the others. Barker wrote that Cortez pushed the female to the floor, lifted her dress and tore off her underwear while she struggled, Bierce said. Cortez apparently raped her or appeared to rape her, according to Barker's statement, Bierce said. Barker then tried to rape the female, Bierce said. Suddenly, the group heard gunshots. Green came out of the bedroom holding an AK-47 rifle and declared: '"They're all dead. I just killed them,"' Bierce said, quoting Barker's statement. Green put the gun down, then raped her while Cortez held her down; Barker claims Green picked up the AK-47 and shot her once, paused, then shot her several more times, Bierce said. Barker confirms he got a kerosene lamp and poured the fuel on her, Bierce said." -- Absolutely fucking disgusting.

What if everything you believed was a lie? - "What if you woke up tomorrow and everything you had thought was true was a deception? A deception formed by people that stood to profit from your ignorance. Not just on one small area but every facet of your existence. Would you want to know? Or, would you be content with the life you had before you discovered the truth? Could you close your eyes and act as if nothing ever happened?"

For Every Action - "Are there no longer any Rules of War? What happened to the Geneva Conventions, what happened to the moral rudder of the world? Israel and its lackey, the United States of America, are defying all the rules of civilized behavior; and virtually daring the rest of the world to: "Just try and stop us now!""

Nice one, George - "Those of us who have long been supporters of Armageddon have naturally been greatly cheered by way the president of the United States has been embracing our cause. Our desire to bring chaos, death and destruction to a greater swathe of humanity has, in the past, often been frustrated by peacemakers and do-gooders of all shades of the political spectrum. ... George Bush has finally put Armageddon firmly on the political agenda, and it is likely to stay there for the foreseeable future. This means that we Armageddonists need keep to the shadows no longer. Bush and his colleagues in the White House have given us credibility and respectability. They have made our goal their goal, and death, disease, war and famine are now the most likely fate for more people in the Middle East than we Armageddonists had ever dared to hope for. ... So Armageddonists of the world! Let us unite in praise of George Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. Let us thank these men for bringing our dreams of violence and disorder to fruition. Let us hope that whatever half-baked notions fill what passes for their minds, they will continue on this irreversible path to perdition from which the whole world recoils, but seems powerless to stop."

Rice: Iraq Isn't Becoming Another Iran - ""I have no doubt that this is an Iraqi government and an Iraq that is going to be a fierce fighter in the war against terrorism, because they themselves are experiencing the effects of terror on their population,'' Rice said. "I have no doubt that this is going to be a government that is on the right side in the war on terror.''"

An Open Letter To the Good People of the Middle East From the We're Not that Stupid Americans - "We are a live and let live type of people and expect the same from others. I know you don't see that side of us in the actions of our leaders. Neither do we. ... If we had our way, we'd pass a law that forbid any two people in the same family from ever being allowed to run for President. It would prevent dyanastic rule and allow us to cut short any foolishiness that is more self serving than supportive of American ideals and our over all best interests." -- Now, that sounds like a great idea.

U.S. exports fantasies and weapons systems - "Like American entertainment, American arms are a multibillion-dollar industry that leans heavily on foreign sales. In fact, the United States exported $18.6 billion in fighter planes, attack helicopters, tanks, battleships and other weaponry in 2005. All signs point to 2006 being another banner year for exports. Just as in the movie, TV and music businesses, we dwarf the competition. Russia is the next largest arms exporter with a measly $4 billion in yearly sales. In fact, U.S. arms exports accounted for more than half of total global arms deliveries -- $34.8 billion -- in 2004, and we export more of them ourselves than the next six largest exporters combined."

Chavez accuses Israel of 'new Holocaust' - ""Israel has gone mad," Chavez said. "They are massacring children, and no one knows how many are buried," he added, accusing Israel of being guilty of a "new Holocaust" and the "terrorist" U.S. government of complicity."

Russian President Putin Slams United States - "The Russians have allegedly sold weapons to countries such as Iran, Syria, Venezuela, and other terrorist-supporting nations. After the US-led invasion of Iraq, Russian-made weapons were found."

India Bans Arab TV Channels Under Pressure From Israel - "In a country widely referred to as the world’s largest democracy, the Indian government has succumbed to mounting Israeli pressure and ordered a nationwide ban on the broadcast of Arab television channels."

9/ 11 Conspiracy Theorists Thriving - "Members of the group don't consider themselves extremists. They simply believe the government's investigation was inadequate, and maintain that questioning widely held assumptions has been part of the job of scholars for centuries."

The Hiroshima Myth - "The stark fact is that the Japanese leaders, both military and civilian, including the Emperor, were willing to surrender in May of 1945 if the Emperor could remain in place and not be subjected to a war crimes trial after the war. This fact became known to President Truman as early as May of 1945. The Japanese monarchy was one of the oldest in all of history dating back to 660 B.C. The Japanese religion added the belief that all the Emperors were the direct descendants of the sun goddess, Amaterasu. The reigning Emperor Herohito was the 124th in the direct line of descent. After the bombs were dropped on August 6 and 9 of 1945, and their surrender soon thereafter, the Japanese were allowed to keep their Emperor on the throne and he was not subjected to any war crimes trial. The Emperor, Herohito, came on the throne in 1926 and continued in his position until his death in 1989. Since President Truman, in effect, accepted the conditional surrender offered by the Japanese as early as May of 1945, the question is posed, "Why then were the bombs dropped?""

Democrats mum on 'corruption' - "Democrats have reined in their use of the "culture of corruption" mantra in their efforts to oust congressional Republicans from power, fearing the slogan would backfire after two senior members of their own party were implicated in ethical scandals."

For Gays, New Math - "Despite some early recognition of gay couples' legal rights in Hawaii and Vermont courts, the Massachusetts case seemed to spark a torrent of voter hostility. Today, 44 states have laws restricting marriage to a man and a woman, and voters have written gay-marriage bans into the constitutions of 19 states--16 since 2003." -- Because freedom in the United States means conforming to what WE believe is right. Hypocrites.

FEMME MENTALE - "Male and female brains are different in architecture and chemical composition, asserts Brizendine. The sooner women -- and those who love them -- accept and appreciate how those neurological differences shape female behavior, the better we can all get along."

Scientists: Warming triggers 'dead zone' - "Bottom fish and crabs washing up dead on Oregon beaches are being killed by a recurring "dead zone" of low-oxygen water that is larger than in previous years and may be triggered by global warming, scientists said. There are signs it is spreading north to Washington's Olympic Peninsula."

Study: Raunchy Lyrics Prompt Teens To Have Sex - "Teens whose iPods are full of music with raunchy, sexual lyrics start having sex sooner than those who prefer other songs, a study found. ... The study, based on telephone interviews with 1,461 participants aged 12 to 17, appears in the August issue of Pediatrics, being released Monday. ... "It's a little dangerous to just pinpoint one thing. You have to look at everything that's going on in a young person's life," she said. "When somebody has a healthy sense of themselves, they don't take these lyrics too seriously.""

College freshmen facing sticker shock - "Sticker shock will hit many college freshmen when they head to the bookstore this fall. With the average new text costing more than $100, the typical student can expect to spend more than $900 a year on books." -- All part of the plan to force many people to have to take out loans.

Picture tubes fading into the past - "The bulky, squarish, heavy picture tube, the standard television technology for more than 60 years, is heading for the dustbin of history much faster than anyone expected."




Quote of the Day
"The evil that men do lives on and on."
~ Iron Maiden, (The Evil That Men Do)

About Ten Years Ago...

Watch and listen to the differences between then and now.

News -- August 6, 2006

Fighting intensifies, so does damage - "Israel and Hezbollah sharply intensified fighting with a blitz of air strikes, dozens of rocket attacks and brutal ground combat yesterday, each side doing a lot of damage amid international efforts to end the fighting."

Syria 'ready for possible regional war' - "He added that a US-French draft resolution to end the war "adopted Israel's point of view only." Underlining his support for Hizbullah, Moallem said, "as Syria's foreign minister I hope to be a soldier in the resistance.""

Blair, Olmert and Bush are murderers - "No one should be in any doubt which way the chain of cause and effect runs. George Bush, with Tony Blair at his heel, is backing Israel to the hilt because the US wants Hizbollah’s resistance in Lebanon smashed as a prelude to an attack on Iran. In Washington, Blair alluded to such a war."

Olmert tells Europe to stop preaching to Israel - ""European countries attacked Kosovo and killed ten thousand civilians. Ten thousand! And none of these countries had to suffer before that from a single rocket. "I'm not saying it was wrong to intervene in Kosovo. But please: Don't preach to us about the treatment of civilians.""

Iran's plot to mine uranium in Africa - "The disclosure will heighten western fears about the extent of Iran’s presumed nuclear weapons programme and the strategic implications of Iran’s continuing support for Hezbollah during the war with Israel."

Iranian scientists have visas revoked on eve of meeting in U.S. - "It was supposed to be an academic gathering about earthquakes. But a political temblor bouncing all the way from the war-torn Middle East shook a meeting of elite Iranian scientists and engineers in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday when dozens of their colleagues arrived to find their visas had been inexplicably revoked. U.S. consular officials in Washington, D.C., declined to comment on why as many as 100 people with the Sharif University of Technology Association, who carried valid visas approved months ago, were detained over the last week when they arrived at San Francisco International and other airports from Iran."

Carter: Bush Israel's 'worst ally' in D.C. - "Former President Carter, who helped broker the historic Camp David peace accord, said President Bush has pursued an "erroneous policy" that has fostered violence in the Middle East."

Reuters admits altering Beirut photo - "A Reuters photograph of smoke rising from buildings in Beirut has been withdrawn after coming under attack by American web logs. The blogs accused Reuters of distorting the photograph to include more smoke and damage."

Hong Kong Passes Controversial Spy Bill - "Hong Kong's legislature on Sunday passed a law regulating phone tapping and other surveillance measures, a move critics fear will curtail civil liberties in the former British colony now ruled by China."

Kennedy: Jury's Out on U.S. Democracy - "Kennedy, 70, said he fears many parts of the world are not yet convinced that the American form of government as designed by the framers of the Constitution guarantees a better way of life."

Absence of America's Upper Classes From the Military - "Why does it matter? Because, quite simply, we cannot remain both a world power and a robust democracy without a broad sense of ownership — particularly of the leadership class — in the military. Our military is too consequential, and the implications of our disconnect from it too far-reaching. We are on the wrong path today."

Does Big Media Need to Get Any Bigger? - "Over the last 25 years, the number of corporations that dominate television, movies, music, radio, cable and the Internet has dwindled from more than 50 to just a handful of massive conglomerates. Do we really want Big Media to get even bigger? Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin does. He just relaunched the FCC's formal review of media ownership rules. The agency's "Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking," issued July 25, is vague, but its intent is clear: to let a few giant media corporations swallow up more local television channels, radio stations and newspapers in a single market."

Lights! Camera! Incision! - "The brave new world of live surgery on the Internet. ... The Webcasts, which are aired live and later archived, combine the entertainment of TV (it's a cross between a doctor drama and a reality show) with the usefulness of the Web. And they're pulling in decent ratings."

Google puts up 'Beware of malware' signs - "People who attempt to go to a Web site that has been identified as risky by the coalition are taken to a warning page. "Warning--the site you are about to visit may harm your computer!" the page states in bold type, then suggesting users can "learn more about malware and how to protect yourself at StopBadware.org." The interrupt page suggests that users can try returning to the search page and choosing a different result, trying another search, or they can continue to the potentially malicious site."

Running Out of Money - "How's that for summer entertainment, dear reader?"

Police drop wiretap charges - "Michael Gannon was arrested June 27 after he made the videotape to record conversations among detectives who were at his door looking for his 15-year-old son, who was being investigated in connection with a mugging downtown. When Gannon brought the videotape to a police station to complain that a detective was rude to him, he was arrested on felony wiretapping charges."

2 billion years added to age of universe - "Researchers, who measured the distance to a pair of stars in a nearby galaxy, said they've identified an error in the Hubble constant that suggests the universe is 15% larger and 15% older than previously thought. ... Recent estimates by some scientists for the age of the universe have put the so-called Big Bang at 13.7 billion years in the past. Adding 15 percent to that estimate would suggest an age for the cosmos of 15.8 billion years."

Biggest ever eye could find life in outer space - "The telescope, which could cost up to $A1.7 billion, would be operational within a decade. The sharpest eye astronomers have on the universe today is the Very Large Telescope (VLT), a €500 million ($A842 million) array that sits on the 2500-metre high peak of Cerro Paranal. It has produced the first direct images of planets outside our solar system, weighed distant stars and made important observations of black holes. Because the ELT would be more sensitive, it would raise the chances that astronomers could find other Earth-like planets."

Saudi Youth Use Cellphone Savvy To Outwit the Sentries of Romance - "Cellphone technology is changing the way young people meet and date in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the most insular, conservative and religiously strict societies in the world. Calls and texting -- and more recently, Bluetooth -- are breaking down age-old barriers and giving young men and women discreet new ways around the sentries of romance. Saudi Arabia's zealous religious police can arrest and jail anyone who violates the rules of local culture, a mixture of tradition and the country's ultra-strict Wahhabi Islam that forbids most social contact between men and women who are not related. Cinemas are banned -- men and women sitting in the same dark place is considered too likely to arouse mischievous hormones. Restaurants and coffeehouses have separate, partitioned areas for "families" -- male and female relatives -- and single men. Security guards stand at the entrances to shopping malls to bar men who are not accompanied by a wife, sister or mother. University classes are segregated by sex. Unrelated men and women riding in the same car (women are not allowed to drive) can be jailed by the religious police, a government agency known formally as the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice."

Western men duped in quest for net brides - "Dozens of Western men looking for Russian internet brides have been fooled into falling for real-life Russian celebrities whose photographs were passed off as “ordinary” girls looking for love."

MTV 'SNOOP' POOP - "Media watchdogs are barking over an MTV cartoon that portrays a Snoop Dogg-like character leading two women around on leashes - before scooping up their poop."




Quote of the Day
"The structure is set; you’ll never change it with a ballot pull."
~ Zach de la Rocha, Rage Against the Machine

News -- August 5, 2006

U.S., France OK U.N. Mideast Truce Pact - "The United States and France agreed Saturday on a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for a halt to the fighting between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, but would allow Israel to defend itself if attacked."

The War on Lebanon and the Battle for Oil - "Is there a relationship between the bombing of Lebanon and the inauguration of the World's largest strategic pipeline, which will channel more than a million barrels of oil a day to Western markets?"

Israel's Marriage Ban Closes The Gates To Palestinians - "In approving an effective ban on marriages between Israelis and Palestinians this week, Israel's Supreme Court has shut tighter the gates of the Jewish fortress the state of Israel is rapidly becoming." -- No racism going on here. Move along people.

An Evolution that Would Blow Darwin’s Mind: - "Here in contemporary Kansas, many socially conservative uber-patriots fastidiously and “peacefully” adhere to an American sociopolitical system which is becoming increasingly hostile to science, peace, human rights, the environment, and minorities. Yes, the “American Way” has become rife with many of the truly vulgar and destructive aspects of humanity.""

The World's Worst Internet Laws Sneaking Through the Senate - "The treaty requires that the U.S. government help enforce other countries' "cybercrime" laws - even if the act being prosecuted is not illegal in the United States. That means that countries that have laws limiting free speech on the Net could oblige the F.B.I. to uncover the identities of anonymous U.S. critics, or monitor their communications on behalf of foreign governments. American ISPs would be obliged to obey other jurisdiction's requests to log their users’ behavior without due process, or compensation."

Simulated nuclear explosion planned - "The state plans to hold an exercise in mid-August simulating the explosion of a half-kiloton nuclear device at the entrance of Honolulu Harbor, a mock blast that theoretically would result in 10,000 casualties."

Fearing U.S. Attack, Cuba Readies Troops - "Cuba government has mobilized citizen defense militias, saying it fears a U.S. attack during Fidel Castro's health crisis, even though the White House insists no such threat exists."

Mexican Electoral Court Rejects Recount - "Mexico's top electoral court on Saturday rejected a ballot-by-ballot recount in the disputed presidential election, angering supporters of leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who have kept the nation in turmoil for weeks."

The Three Energy Wars - "Contrary to the contention of the French minister, the world in fact is locked in three energy wars, not one: a price war, an investment and deals war, and a geopolitical war."

Highway Robbery - "If gas prices haven't been keeping you up at night, wait until you see Who Killed the Electric Car?, a feature documentary rolling out nationwide this summer."

Despite image, Cheney a GOP rock star - "Five and half years into the Bush presidency, Cheney's image may have taken a beating overall but "he's still Elvis to a lot of the conservatives," says Marshall Wittmann, a Democratic Leadership Council analyst. "When he comes in, money and enthusiasm flow.""

Hollywood Trio Endorses Governor - "Some of Hollywood's most reliable and generous donors to the Democratic Party — Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and media mogul Haim Saban — are endorsing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for reelection."

I Was Hired By SF to Delete Postings - "I have decided to come out and tell the public about what my company is doing because I believe it is unethical and wrong."

God Is In The Magic Mushrooms - "It's true. There's even a swell new study from Johns Hopkins University that officially suggests what shamans and gurus and botany Ph.D.s and alt-spirituality types have known since the dawn of time and Jimi Hendrix's consciousness: that psilocybin, the all-natural chemical found in certain strains of wild mushrooms, induces a surprisingly large percentage of users to experience a profound -- and in some cases, largely permanent -- revolution in their spiritual attitudes and perspectives."

Blood test finds breast cancer at its earliest stage - "A new blood test that detects breast cancer at its earliest stage could become a vital weapon in fighting the disease."

Texas School District Bans Cleavage - "The new dress code reads, in part, “The display of cleavage is unacceptable. Low cut blouses, tops, sweaters, etc. with plunging necklines are not allowed.""

Hundreds expected to come to Masturbate-a-thon - "Participants, who have to be over 18, can bring any aids they need and can take part in four different rooms -- a comfort area, a mixed area, along with men and women only areas. However, the rules on the event's Web site states there can be no touching of other participants nor are people allowed to fake orgasms."

You were right: Job stress elevates blood pressure, study says - "New study findings confirm what some office managers, senior management officials and other white-collar workers have suspected for years: Working in highly stressful jobs can increase your blood pressure."

Isolated Americans trying to connect - "It seems ironic, even to those who are affected. The nation has never been more populous, soon to reach the 300 million mark. And it has never been more connected — by phone, e-mail, instant message, text message, and on and on. Yet so many are alone in the crowd."




Quote of the Day
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."
~ Sinclair Lewis

News (Page 2) -- August 4, 2006

Blood on his hands - "I am told that the Israelis informed George W Bush in advance of their plans to "destroy" Hezbollah by bombing villages in southern Lebanon. The Americans duly informed the British. So Blair knew. This exposes as a fraud the debate of the past week about calling for a ceasefire."

A list of UN Resolutions against "Israel" - "Here is a list of UN resolutions that Israel has not complied. As far as I know they have ignored every single resolution. But the situation is far worse than would at first appear, it involves the serious distortion of the official Security Council record by the profligate use by the United States of its veto power. (See Table)"

US Watches Dreams of Transformation Dissolve - ""A fact America and Israel must understand is that as long as there is aggression and occupation, there will be resistance and popular support for the resistance," Abdullah, arguably Washington's closest Arab ally, said Thursday. "People cannot sleep and wake up to pictures of the dead and images of destruction in Lebanon and Gaza and … say 'we want moderation.' Moderation needs deeds.""

Prosecutors Face Pre-Election Dilemma - "With election season kicking into high gear, federal prosecutors investigating a handful of lawmakers may face a tough call on whether to secure indictments that could throw their congressional races into disarray. ... Investigators remain mum, but the uncertainty has raised worries among some Republicans that the wave of public-corruption cases could take on new life late this summer, hurting their chances of retaining control of the House. Others cling to the hope that prosecutors will sit tight rather than risk accusations of acting for partisan reasons. "This is a really difficult issue for prosecutors," says Randall Eliason, who oversaw public-corruption cases in the U.S. attorney's office here during the Clinton administration. "You are damned if you do and damned if you don't, and either course is going to potentially affect the election."" -- How disgusting that this conversation is taking place.

Rumsfeld Claims Insurgent Violence Increases ‘In the Spring, Summer and Fall Months’ - "Asked about the situation today, Rumsfeld admitted there was a resurgence of the Taliban, admitted Taliban fighters were “occupying safe havens” in Pakistan and other places, and admitted that violence has increased recently. Then he blamed it all on the weather:"

Lies And Propaganda - "I'm not going to go all Mel Gibson and blame all the problems in the Mid East on Israel. Religion is the main problem, since all parties involved think their religion is the one true religion and God is in their side as they senselesly slaughter other human beings in His name. But the lie comes in the first sentence."

Lieberman rival owns stock in Wal-Mart - "Connecticut millionaire businessman Ned Lamont, who sharply criticized the employment practices of Wal-Mart this week in his campaign to unseat Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Democrat primary, owns stock in the company, Senate records reveal."

A Bit of History for Global Warmers: Look at 1930 - "People sweltering from a heat wave in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. might find cold comfort in the fact that the temperatures of the past few days are not the hottest on record. That "honor" belongs to a summer 76 years ago -- decades before the controversy over "man-made global warming" began."

Jailing of Reporters Send Powerful Signal - "The jailing of a video journalist this week is turning up the heat on the growing list of reporters ordered to cough up information to federal grand juries. It also is sending a powerful signal: cooperate or face prison time." -- What better way to keep information from getting out to the public?

Vt. Weighs in on Lesbian Custody Fight - "The state Supreme Court ruled Friday that Vermont courts, and not those in Virginia, have exclusive jurisdiction over a case involving two women battling for custody of a child they had while they were in a lesbian relationship. The unanimous ruling conflicts with a series of decisions in Virginia, where courts ruled the state's anti-gay-marriage laws controlled the case."

Music industry sues LimeWire - "A coalition of major recording companies sued the operators of the file-sharing program LimeWire for copyright infringement Friday, claiming the firm encourages users to trade music without permission."

Students Double Up on Math and English - "Across the country, middle and high school students like Oakley are being required to spend more class time on English and math as officials try to raise test scores and meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law. Variations of the double-dose approach are being used in districts in such places as Kansas, Missouri, Texas, New Jersey and California. Some students attend two class periods each day of English and math, and often one of those English classes is devoted to reading instruction - something that traditionally ends when students leave elementary school. Some schools offer longer classes, or classes that meet every day instead of every other day, or classes that are offered for a full year instead of a single semester. The approach appears to pay off at test time, but some educators worry that youngsters forced to give up some of their electives are being deprived of a well-rounded education and the opportunity to explore new subjects."

Body Modification a Growing Trend - "Allen Falkner's tongue is just one of his unusual features. It is split down the middle, and when he sticks it out, it looks like a two-pronged snake tongue. The alteration - along with others - to the 36-year-old Dallas man's body might appear shocking, but they're standard for people in the underground activity known as body modification. It's a trend that has been growing steadily for about a decade, attracting more followers now that tattoos and simple piercings are more mainstream." -- Yes, there is a picture of his tongue.

La. School Board Drops Single Sex Plan - "A southeastern Louisiana school board on Thursday dropped plans to segregate two middle schools by sex, six days before the start of school and one day after a 13-year-old girl and her parents took the issue to court."

News -- August 4, 2006

Is America Watching a Different War? - "American, Lebanese and Israeli Panel on How the US Media is Covering the Invasion of Lebanon. ... Earlier this week, two producers working for Fox News in Amman Jordan resigned in protest. In their resignation letter, Serene Sabbagh and Jomana Karadsheh wrote "We can no longer work with a news organization that claims to be fair and balanced when you are so far from that." They went on to write “Not only are you an instrument of the Bush White House, and Israeli propaganda, you are war mongers with no sense of decency, nor professionalism.”"

Israel severs Lebanon road link to Syria - "The Israeli attacks on the four bridges on the main north-south coastal highway linking Beirut to Syria severed the only remaining major road link between Lebanon and Syria. The 90-minute drive to the Syrian border takes at least double the time on the small coastal road that remains open."

Robert Fisk predicts another 9/11 - "And this time - like the last - there will be no way to prove for certain whether it’s aggrieved Muslims who perpetrate it or Zionists trying to set them up. Perfect cover for a nuclear holocaust in the Middle East. This holocaust in Lebanon is taking the world so quickly past the point of no return, that we won't know what hit us when it happens. If only Americans realized how fast we are ALL barreling towards self-destruction, maybe then they would do something to stop it."

Iraq civil war warning for Blair - "Civil war is a more likely outcome in Iraq than democracy, Britain's outgoing ambassador in Baghdad has warned Tony Blair in a confidential memo."

OSAMA'S EVIL SPAWN IN LEB - "A son of Osama bin Laden has gone from Iran to Lebanon with the mission to organize terror attacks against Israel, it was reported yesterday."

Illogical, illegal and ill-fated - "Doesn't the secretary know the world is not clamouring for instantaneous change? Instead it is clamouring against a US policy that is illogical, illegal and ill-fated. How so? Here is the illogical part."

Military Waste In Our Drinking Water - "The U.S. military is poisoning the very citizens it is supposed to protect in the name of national security."

Boortz: Adults earning minimum wage are "incompetent", "ignorant", "stupid", "worthless," and "pathetic" - "BOORTZ: I want you to think about this, folks. You know, most of the people that earn minimum wage are teenagers. They're in the job market for a short period of time, they're learning some job skills, they're learning workplace skills. Most of the people who aren't teenagers that have a minimum-wage job, it lasts about three to four months, and they're off making more money. I want you to think for think for a moment of how incompetent and stupid and worthless, how -- that's right, I used those words -- how incompetent, how ignorant, how worthless is an adult that can't earn more than the minimum wage? You have to really, really, really be a pretty pathetic human being to not be able to earn more than the human wage. Uh -- human, the minimum wage." -- Fucking idiot. How is it that you get a radio show?

Gallup: 55% Now Back U.S. Pullout from Iraq Within a Year - "A new Gallup poll released today revealed another upward bump in the number of Amercians who now want a complete U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq in the next 12 months. That number now stands at 55%, with 19% supporting immediate withdrawal and another 36% wanting it done by August 2007."

Bush urges freedom for Cubans - "President Bush turned up the heat on the Cuban regime yesterday, saying Washington would "take note" of any leaders who tried to block a push for freedom by the Cuban people."

Minimum wage bill stalls in Senate - "Senate Republicans Thursday night failed to advance a bill coupling a 40-percent increase in the minimum wage with a cut in estate taxes, which Democratic leaders had denounced as an election-year ploy."

Where did that video spoofing Gore's film come from? - "In the video, Mr. Gore appears as a sinister figure who brainwashes penguins and bores movie audiences by blaming the Mideast crisis and starlet Lindsay Lohan's shrinking waist size on global warming. ... Instead, the email originated from a computer registered to DCI Group, a Washington, D.C., public relations and lobbying firm whose clients include oil company Exxon Mobil Corp."

Daddy’s Feeling Lucky - "Last summer, Ben Foster quit his $110,000-a-year job as a senior product manager at eBay to play online poker full-time. In the months leading up to his decision, the 28-year-old with a degree in statistics had been tracking his winnings on a detailed spreadsheet. After checking and rechecking the numbers, he came to the conclusion that he could earn more money playing poker than working at eBay. Plus, his wife was pregnant with their second child, and he was needed around the house. Foster decided to become a stay-at-home poker dad."

Coach Accused of Being a Pimp - "According to a charging document, the girl told police that Burroughs -- who is also a Metrobus driver -- repeatedly took her to the District to engage in prostitution beginning in September. She said Burroughs, 35, also had sex with her, starting when she was 14, the document says. ... According to the document, he admitted that the two had had sex in the bus yard and on other occasions, beginning when she was 14, and that he brought her to the District for the purposes of prostitution. He also admitted to having two pounds of marijuana in his vehicle, saying he supplemented his income by selling the drug, the document says."

Same-sex classes challenged - "She said boys and girls will be taught the same curriculum but sometimes in a different manner to accommodate males’ and females’ reported learning styles."

National Survey Shows Majority of Women Unaware of Plan B - "Only 20 percent of women are aware of Plan B, and less than 8 percent really understand Plan B's mechanism and the situations in which it is medically appropriate or effective, according to a national Web survey of 300 women conducted by AllPoints Research in Winston-Salem, NC."

Designated driver says bar tossed him for not drinking - "The bar owner says he didn't tell anyone to buy drinks or leave, but a police report says otherwise."

Breast-feeding reduces anxiety into childhood - "Years after being weaned, breast-fed children cope better with stressful situations like their parents' divorce than their bottle-fed peers, researchers said on Thursday."

Vitamin tablets 'may do more harm than good' - "In fact, Vitamins C and E - compounds known as anti-oxidants - may actually cause some illnesses. While vitamins may ward off disease in the test-tube, they do little to protect in everyday life, this week's New Scientist reports."

Researchers: Dementia risk can be tested - "Researchers have for the first time developed a "risk score" to try to predict which people may develop dementia. The leading factors virtually mirror those already known for cardiovascular disease: obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, according to the study published Thursday in the journal Lancet Neurology."

Study: Earth changed after Sumatra quake - "U.S. scientists say they've determined Earth's gravity changed as a result of the giant 2004 Sumatran earthquake."

Blog feeds may carry security risk - "The problem doesn't affect only blogs--any kind of information feed using any kind of format could potentially be used to transmit malicious content to a subscriber, Auger said. People, for example, subscribe to mailing lists and news Web sites via RSS, he said, noting "this is about the entire concept of Web feeds.""

Professor wins suit against blog site - "A Chinese journalism professor has won a lawsuit against a blog hosting site that refused to remove remarks criticizing him by one of its users, state media said Friday."

FCC pushes for broadband over power lines - "If broadband over power lines, or BPL, takes off, then more Americans, particularly in rural and underserved areas, will be able to plug into high-speed Internet access, and markets dominated by cable and DSL (digital subscriber line) should be forced to lower consumers' bills, members of the Federal Communications Commission said at their monthly meeting here."

Vatican's fury over Madonna 'blasphemy' - "Rome's Catholic, Muslim and Jewish leaders have united to condemn pop star Madonna's decision to stage a mock-crucifixion when she performs in the Italian capital on Sunday a stone's throw away from Vatican City."




Quote of the Day
"This is ourselves, under pressure."
~ Queen/Bowie, (Under Pressure)

Just Maybe

I’m an atheist. Every once in awhile I get asked the question, “But what if you’re wrong?” Well, if I’m wrong, then I guess my soul resides in Hell for all eternity. But that’s my problem, not yours.

But my question is what if they are wrong? What if those who so embrace Armageddon, believing it will bring about the Second Coming, are all wrong? Well, it means the destruction of much of humanity and nature, only to leave death behind on a rock that will continue to spin throughout space. That’s now my problem as well, not just theirs.

Their misbelief can get me killed. My misbelief has no effect on their wellbeing whatsoever.

This bothers me.

I have no problem with people who practice their chosen religion (although I believe many on the planet have no choice in which religion they practice). Many of my friends are religious, some more so than others. But if it brings you peace and solace, then practice all you want. I agree it can be hard to find solace with the world the way it is. Some people need religion to attain this solace, others do not.

What bothers me is the current cheerleading for Armageddon. I’m sure End Times cheerleaders have existed throughout history, but humans have never had the capability to make it happen until fairly recently. This is why End Times cheerleaders are more dangerous today than ever before. And End Times politicians should be considered the most dangerous as they have the power to make it happen, all with one direct order.

So, this brings me back to my original question: What if they are wrong?

Some, the elite, will survive in underground cities while those of us remaining on the surface (both the religious and nonreligious) struggle to survive in a Hell of their making.

Maybe that’s the Rapture?

Maybe that’s Heaven and Hell?

All because maybe, just maybe, they were wrong.

--Randy Anderson
August 3, 2006

News (Page 2) -- August 3, 2006

Lobbying for Armageddon - "Some influential evangelical leaders are lobbying for an attack on Iran. But it's not about geopolitics -- it's about bringing about the End Times."

America will attack Iran, Syria in October: Gul - "The former chief of ISI, Maj. Gen (R) Hameed Gul has "predicted" that America would definitely attack Iran and Syria simultaneously in October."

From Yarun to Philadelphia: Staying Alive in Lebanon - "I call the U.S. Embassy once more asking what their evacuation strategy is for the over 200 us citizens stuck along me in Yaroun. They gave me the fuck yourself answer of "our plan is that you get to Beirut on your own and then watch TV until we come up with a solution." This plan would be great if not for the small fact that ALL THE FUCKING ROADS HAVE BEEN BOMBED TO HELL AND ANY CARS THAT ATTEMPT TO LEAVE THE AREA ARE BEING BLOWN UP. I really have to hand it to our government — it's nice to see my tax dollars at work. My only consolation is that there are many more Americans and Australians stuck in the same predicament as I am. I honestly have stopped fearing for my life. There are 6 young children with us and every time a shell hits near us they cry and hide. There is no way l will be the same if we ever get through this. One of the kids has lost control and just wets himself — he is 9 years old. ... We can only take a few more days of this. Pretty soon our drinking water will run out. Add to the fact that not many people have food and living essentials to weather out a prolonged war. ... I have promised myself to stop using the phrase "it cannot get much worse than this." ... You know its bad when you start writing your will. I have written that along with copies of this journal, and all my personal information into two separate memory cards. If anyone finds this , I hope they are kind enough to send it to my family." -- Submitted by a reader. Thank you.

Iran warns oil could reach $200 on sanctions - "Global oil prices could hit $200 per barrel if the United States pursues international sanctions against Iran, an Iranian official said on Thursday, although analysts passed the comment off as saber rattling."

Burn Job - "Israeli leader Olmert asked a federal judge to give a break to Brooklyn arsonist. ... Last Wednesday, a throng of supporters from Williamsburg's Orthodox community traveled to the federal courthouse in Central Islip, on Long Island, to show support for a powerful Brooklyn businessman named Nat Schlesinger, who was facing criminal sentencing, having been convicted last year on charges of arson, mail fraud, and—a particularly tough count under federal law—using fire to commit a felony. In addition to showing up in the courtroom, Schlesinger's supporters sent dozens of letters to U.S. District Judge Arthur Spatt urging lenience and describing Schlesinger as a generous and community-minded man. One of the letters was from Israel's current prime minister, Ehud Olmert, who wrote the judge that he had known Schlesinger for years."

Blair 'must go and go now' as pressure mounts - "Tony Blair has become increasingly isolated as his handling of conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon has been called into question. Sir Rodric Braithwaite, a former ambassador to Moscow and ex--chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, called for Mr Blair to resign immediately."

Was 9/11 an 'inside job'? - "More than a third of the American public suspects that federal officials assisted in the 9/11 terrorist attacks or took no action to stop them so the United States could go to war in the Middle East, according to a new Scripps Howard/Ohio University poll. The national survey of 1,010 adults also found that anger against the federal government is at record levels, with 54 percent saying they "personally are more angry" at the government than they used to be. ... The survey also found that people who regularly use the Internet but who do not regularly use so-called "mainstream" media are significantly more likely to believe in 9/11 conspiracies. People who regularly read daily newspapers or listen to radio newscasts were especially unlikely to believe in the conspiracies."

Heat makes Pat Robertson a global warming "convert" - "Conservative Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson said on Thursday the wave of scorching temperatures across the United States has converted him into a believer in global warming. "We really need to address the burning of fossil fuels," Robertson said on his "700 Club" broadcast. "It is getting hotter, and the icecaps are melting and there is a buildup of carbon dioxide in the air.""

State Department Condemns Rice Cartoons - "I guess it’s only freedom of the press when you’re making fun of the other guy."

Media With No Guts, No Grace - "Sometimes the press enjoys scaring itself or pretending it is about to be made into a bunch of martyrs. This is not one of those times. We are under full attack now, and it is time to fight. I am not infuriated by the performance of the press so far, but I am disgusted. Bob Novak is the most notable traitor, but others are leaping for political favors as they rush to insist The New York Times shouldn’t print the news (and occasionally, quite old news at that). I fail to see how Fox News and other right-wing outlets have so little imagination they cannot picture themselves in the same corner come a Democratic administration. What goes around comes around and all that good stuff, but to set it up so that payback is hell for yourself is tragically, deeply dumb. I have watched the D.C. press corps play courtier to Bush since he openly insulted Helen Thomas, who is not only a first-rate journalist but a lady as well. Shame on you all. No principle, no guts, no grace."

What happens when the Dream dies? - "The ultimate question -- mostly unaddressed by politicians, pundits, sociologists, and psychologists -- is how will we behave when it dawns on us that the glory of the American Dream hath departed? Will we conduct a search for strong, visionary leaders within the democratic process who will refashion the Dream in line with reduced expectations? When dreams fall apart, humans often respond with rage, hysteria, hopelessness, and fear. How many more will find false comfort in the preachments of dangerous demagogues, who offer certitude by finding scapegoats? How many will seek solace in radical religious frenzy, pronouncing wrathful judgment on America while rooting out "the godless"?"

News -- August 3, 2006

Generals raise fears of Iraq civil war - ""I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I have seen it," he said, adding that the top priority in Iraq is to secure the capital, where factional violence has surged in recent weeks despite efforts by the new Iraqi government to stop the fighting."

G.I.’s Say Officers Ordered Killing of Young Iraqi Men - "Four soldiers from an Army combat unit that killed three Iraqi men in a raid in May testified Wednesday that they had received orders from superior officers to kill all the military-age men they encountered."

Guantanamo detainees may remain indefinitely: Gonzalez - ""We can detain any combatants for the duration of the hostilities," said Gonzales, speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee. "If we choose to try them, that's great. If we don't choose to try them, we can continue to hold them," he said."

We're All Enemy Combatants Now - "Administration testimony before Senate and House committees reveals the White House’s concern with issues of larger dimension: They are quietly looking for Congress’ seal of approval on a system of expansive military detention for both citizens and non-citizens. Most American residents would be shocked to hear that the military has power to lock them up without an opportunity to prove their innocence before an independent judge. Indeed, a 1971 law, pushed by a former federal judge and survivors of the Japanese internment, actually bars executive detention without any statutory authorization. Yet drafts of the government’s proposed military-commission legislation slyly concede precisely this unchecked lock-up power to the executive branch despite the caution embodied in the 1971 law. The leaked draft—admittedly, one that is likely to reflect the final version only imperfectly—does state that only “enemy combatants” can be hauled before a military commission, which offers less due process than the regular criminal courts or the military’s courts-martial. In other litigation, however, the administration has taken the position that an “enemy combatant” can also be detained until the end of the conflict, even if they are found to be innocent in a military commission. That conflict, moreover, is defined as a war “between the United States and international terrorist organizations,” to use the language of the leaked draft. For all practical purposes, this entails detention without end."

Iran working with N.Korea on missiles: Institute - "North Korea has been working closely with Iran to develop its long-range ballistic missiles, possibly using Chinese technology, and is building large bases to prepare for their deployment, a South Korean state-run think tank said."

9/11 Live: The NORAD Tapes - "This report, received from Colin Scoggins at Boston Center, will set off a major escalation in the military response to the attack, resulting in the launch of additional armed fighter jets. But 20 months later, when the military presents to the 9/11 commission what is supposed to be a full accounting of the day, omitted from the official time line is any mention of this reported hijacking and the fevered chase it engenders. ... Cheney echoed, "The significance of saying to a pilot that you are authorized to shoot down a plane full of Americans is, a, you know, it's an order that had never been given before." And it wasn't on 9/11, either. President Bush would finally grant commanders the authority to give that order at 10:18, which—though no one knew it at the time—was 15 minutes after the attack was over. But comments such as those above were repeated by other administration and military figures in the weeks and months following 9/11, forging the notion that only the passengers' counterattack against their hijackers prevented an inevitable shootdown of United 93 (and convincing conspiracy theorists that the government did, indeed, secretly shoot it down). The recordings tell a different story, and not only because United 93 had crashed before anyone in the military chain of command even knew it had been hijacked."

NORAD Tapes Only Intensify Implausibility Of 9/11 Official Story - "How could Cheney know exactly what was heading for Washington and give clear orders for its path to remain clear, while the very people mandated to defend the skies of America scrambled desperately to make sense of the chaos and get fighters in the positions they needed to be? ... These guys are smart? Contrast this statement with those of the flight instructors when describing the skills of the alleged hijackers. ... The NORAD tapes, far from dissolving so-called "conspiracy theories," only serve to support the weight of evidence that points directly towards a deliberate plan on September 11, 2001 to make the air defenses of the United States impotent and to enable the planes to find their targets."

U.S. Prepares for Showdown in Cuba - "The White House and Congress, caught unaware by Fidel Castro's illness, prepared Wednesday for a possible showdown in Cuba as lawmakers drafted legislation that would give millions of dollars to dissidents who fight for democratic change."

Senate votes to fund the fence - "The Senate did an abrupt about-face yesterday, voting overwhelmingly to begin paying for 370 miles of fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border, just three weeks after voting against the same spending."

Mexico vote protests cripple capital - "Street protests led by the leftist candidate in Mexico's presidential election plunged the capital into chaos for a second day, raising fears of a long and increasingly nasty fight over vote fraud claims."

`Hourglass Economy' Divides Americans, Defines U.S. Politics - ""It bothers me,'' former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker said in an interview. ``I tell you, I don't know why there hasn't been more discussion and more unhappiness about this because it's become quite distinct. For a long time now, if we believe the statistics, the average working guy does not have an increase in income.''"

And Skeletons Won't Dance - "Since the beginning of the human species and the development of even the most rudimentary brain, blame for humankind’s failures or weaknesses had to be blamed on something or someone external of the self, hence, god. ... Humans are an insecure lot you see, and believe they should not die. Humans, down deep in their egos, can’t imagine that such sophisticated and bright creatures should die and decompose. How can that be? How could such marvelous creatures be no different then a dead squirrel? Religion was born out of insecurity and ignorance of the world around us. Humans must have hope for a hereafter; it’s innate, yet illogical. Most people require a god to explain their existence. It is indeed the silver bullet or explanation for this one-way trip through life. Christians are afraid atheism is the real truth. They hate the non-believers (a form of fear) for this reason. Atheism is the wake-up call they don’t want. Atheism places humankind on the same level as all creatures. When they die, they decompose, there is no rainbow at the bottom of their grave, and skeletons won’t dance their way to the Pearly Gates."

The great man's answer to the question of human survival: Er, I don't know - "In the long term, Prof Hawking says, humans will only survive if they can leave the rock they call home and spread out into space, to transform and occupy planets around our own sun and then around other suns. Failing that, he adds, perhaps our best bet is to use genetic engineering to tinker with the human species and make us less prone to fighting war."

War, violence in Iraq taking toll on United States' wealth - "The Soviet Union crumbled because the Kremlin couldn't afford the arms race with Washington. The Soviets didn't have the American economic engine to sustain the drain on its national economy that its massive standing Red Army and missile production demanded. Is there a lesson in the Soviets' demise that the U.S. needs to heed in the global war on terrorism, given the record national debt and the alarming condition of the nation's military?"

What's the real federal deficit? - "The federal government keeps two sets of books. The set the government promotes to the public has a healthier bottom line: a $318 billion deficit in 2005. The set the government doesn't talk about is the audited financial statement produced by the government's accountants following standard accounting rules. It reports a more ominous financial picture: a $760 billion deficit for 2005. If Social Security and Medicare were included — as the board that sets accounting rules is considering — the federal deficit would have been $3.5 trillion. Congress has written its own accounting rules — which would be illegal for a corporation to use because they ignore important costs such as the growing expense of retirement benefits for civil servants and military personnel."

Hackers Clone E-Passports - "A German computer security consultant has shown that he can clone the electronic passports that the United States and other countries are beginning to distribute this year."

Prostitution ring run by illegals, for illegals - ""The organization recruits females ... and arranges for them to be smuggled into the United States. The aliens are held in indentured servitude and forced into prostitution," an arrest affidavit said, according to the Austin American-Statesman."

Ohio Man Claims Right To Have Sex With Boys - "A suburban Cleveland man accused of sexually assaulting nine disabled boys told a judge Wednesday that his apartment was a religious sanctuary where smoking marijuana and having sex with children are sacred rituals protected by civil rights laws. The admitted pedophile offered a surprising defense Wednesday to 74 charges of rape, drugs and pandering obscenity to minors. Appearing in an Ohio court for a pretrial hearing, Phillip Distasio, 34, of Rocky River, Ohio, said he was a pedophile. He told the judge, "I'm a pedophile. I've been a pedophile for 20 years. The only reason I'm charged with rape is that no one believes a child can consent to sex. The role of my ministry is to get these cases out of the courtrooms.""

The cloud with a dangerous secret - "Atmospheric beauty is becoming more common - and that is bad news for the environment."




Quote of the Day
"Am I evil. Yes, I am. I am man."
~ Tatler/Harris (Am I Evil?)

News (Page 2) -- August 2, 2006

Israeli soldiers march towards Lebanon.
AP Photo/Oded Balilty

Mideast war rages with no end in sight - "With fighting in its fourth week and diplomatic efforts stalled, the region braced for a bitter and long war."

'You go a bit crazy when you see little body after little body coming up out of the ground' - "What is obvious to everyone covering this conflict is that children are bearing the brunt of it. The few official figures collated so far seem to support this. Unicef says that 37 of the 60 dead in Qana on Sunday were children, and everywhere you go, it seems that it is the children who are being killed, injured and displaced. Yesterday the Lebanese government said that of the 828 of its civilians killed in the conflict so far, around 35% have been children - that's around 290. Unicef also estimates that about a third of the dead have been children, although it bases that figure on the fact that an estimated 30% of Lebanon's population are children, rather than any actual count of the dead. There are no official figures yet for the number of wounded children, but they will certainly exceed the number killed; as for those displaced, Unicef says that 45% of the estimated 900,000 Lebanese to have fled their homes are children."

Banking on War - "There is a simpler answer, however, one that lands right in our back yard here in America. Why so much war? Because war is a profitable enterprise. George W. Bush and his people can hold forth about the wonders of democracy and peace, and can condemn worldwide violence in solemn tones. Until the United States stops being the world's largest arms dealer, these words from our government absolutely reek of hypocrisy."

Is This Really What You Want? - "In a speech yesterday in Los Angeles, Tony Blair issued a warning to Iran and Syria:"come into the international community and play by the same rules as us." And what rules would those be, Mr. Blair? Pre-emptive strikes? ... Regime change? ... Political assassinations?"

We'll All be Rewarded when the Shit Hits the Fan. - "I am so very, very ashamed of the rank and file of humanity and even more ashamed of those who are in the public eye and positions of power who have closed their eyes to what is taking place. ... I guess I’m on the wrong side. I love the truth and that makes me on the wrong side whatever the side. I’m for the little guy- unless the little guy is behaving in the manner explained earlier. I’m for the greatest good for the most people- that’s my idea of how the world should work. I’ve never stopped being a hippie. I’ve always believed in peace and love. I admire Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. I think Cindy Sheehan is wonderful. I’ve got no guns and no fortune and no public forum that adds up to much. I’m pretty much nobody in the present scheme of things. I could just shut up and hide until this all blows over but I don’t want to look like the rest of you. My life may never amount to much, during, or after the fact. But it is important to me that I lived for some kind of a principle. It is important that I didn’t sit on my hands, or bow my head to a demagogue, or mouth stupidity and lies… or GO ALONG WITH THE PROGRAM. Fuck the program. I’m going to do everything I can to change the channel."

Israel’s Dependency on the Drug of Militarism - "For too many pundits and politicians, bombing just seems so much simpler — until, as happened in Qana, Lebanon, on Sunday, those bombs blow up to your nation’s disgrace, slaughtering scores of innocents, whose only crime was to be in the crossfire. The alternative to such excessive violence—an authentic peace process—had been supported by every American president since Harry Truman. Yet it was abruptly abandoned, indeed ridiculed, by the Bush administration, which bizarrely believes it can re-create the Middle East in a more U.S.-friendly form. The president has framed this process with a simplistic good-versus-evil template, which has the Christian West and Jewish Israel on an unnecessary collision course with the Muslim world."

Is US the World's Policeman or an Empire? - "Are we the world's policeman? Or are we an empire? The rest of the world has already made up its mind about us. The president of the Pew Research Center, whose latest poll of foreigners finds they hate the United States more than ever, says: "Obviously, when you get many more people saying that the U.S. [is as much of] a threat to world peace as...Iran, it's a measure of how much [the war in Iraq] is sapping good will to the United States." But we Americans remain deeply divided over American values and intentions, and it's high time that we got our story straight. ... If we're so nice, why do they hate us so much?"

Washington Traffic Jam? Senators-Only Elevator - "In addition to lofty issues of war and peace, the Senate is grappling with another urgent matter: the senators-only elevators at the Capitol are being overrun by the unelected. ... Add the elevator problem to the litany of senatorial hardships, somewhere between flying coach and the high costs of barbering. At times, senators even find themselves on public elevators, an ordeal fraught with the possibility of having to push their own buttons (the senators-only elevators usually have attendants). Worse, senators sometimes share their moving sanctums with staff members, lobbyists and T-shirt-clad tourists who apparently missed (or ignored or cannot read) the senators-only signs. Or, double-worse, with reporters." -- Disgusting elitists.

Child online safety card unveiled - "A virtual ID card designed to improve children's net safety has been launched in the UK, US, Canada and Australia. The NetIDMe card can be swapped by children online when using chatrooms, instant messaging and social networks. Parents and children can apply for the card using credit card details and a form countersigned by a professional who knows the child concerned. It is hoped that the card will make it harder for adults to pose as children when online."

China intellectuals decry closure of Web site - "Dozens of Chinese writers and dissidents have decried the closing of a Web site they said was one of the few refuges for relatively unfettered views in their censorship-bound country."

Manatee spotted near NYC - "A manatee has been seen in the Hudson River near Manhattan. The gentle behemeth, estimated at 10 feet long and close to 1,000 pounds, is far from home. Most manatees live in Florida and sightings even in Virginia are considered rare."

Japan aims for manned moon station in 2030 - "Japan's space agency has set a goal of constructing a manned lunar base in 2030. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed its ambition to an international conference in Tokyo this week but has not yet been alotted the budget for the ambitious project."

X-rays reveal Archimedes secrets - "A series of hidden texts written by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes are being revealed by US scientists. Until now, the pages have remained obscured by paintings and texts laid down on top of the original writings. Using a non-destructive technique known as X-ray fluorescence, the researchers are able to peer through these later additions to read the underlying text."

Colleges Warn About Networking Sites - "But students are also hearing stories about those who came to regret postings to other online venues, from party photos on sites such as Webshots.com to comments about professors in blogs."

Rock Your Body With The UltimateMusic Player Acsexsory! - "The OhMiBod vibrator is a whole new way to enjoy your iPod® or any other music player. Everyone loves music. Everyone loves sex. OhMiBod combines music and pleasure to create the ultimate acsexsory™ to your iPod." -- Because I can't make this shit up.

News -- August 2, 2006

Israel Widens Scale of Attacks in Lebanon - "Thousands of Israeli soldiers streamed into southern Lebanon on Tuesday, clashingwith fighters in at least half a dozen towns as Israel intensified its ground campaign to dislodge Hezbollah strongholds that have withstood three weeks of aerial bombardment."

Israeli envoy: US will not stop operation in Lebanon - "At end of long day of discussions with US government officials, Israeli ambassador to US says that American government not intending to pressure Israel to stop military operation."

Report to Suggest Marines Shot Iraqis - "Evidence collected on the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supports accusations that U.S. Marines deliberately shot the civilians, including unarmed women and children, a Pentagon official said Wednesday."

Advocating Massacre: An Insight Into The NeoCon Mind Set - "It has come to the point now where we can write articles saying bombing the life out of tiny babies and innocent children is wrong and there will be people in America who disagree."

The United States of Israel - "When was the last time you read or heard anything in the mainstream media or from the Washington politicians that seemed unfavorable to Israel? You have not, and you will not!"

President: Iraqi forces to take over by year's end - "Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Wednesday he foresees Iraqi forces taking over security in all 18 Iraqi provinces by the end of the year."

It's the Stupidity, Stupid - "The president's ignorance would be hilarious if it weren't so dangerous."

Will Bush and Gonzales get away with it? - "The pilot and Vietnam POW -- a staunch Republican -- who pushed through the War Crimes Act of 1996 is appalled that the Bush administration, facing possible prosecution for war crimes, is devising a legal escape hatch."

9/11 Panel Suspected Deception by Pentagon - "Some staff members and commissioners of the Sept. 11 panel concluded that the Pentagon's initial story of how it reacted to the 2001 terrorist attacks may have been part of a deliberate effort to mislead the commission and the public rather than a reflection of the fog of events on that day, according to sources involved in the debate."

US court overturns convictions in Enron case - "A federal appeals court has overturned most of the convictions against four former Merrill Lynch bankers concerning a bogus deal with Enron Corp."

Evidence of Election Fraud Grows in México - "As the U.S. media distorts the aftermath of the July 2 election, evidence suggests there may be an attempted theft in progress."

China's military looks to outer space - "The analysis, authored by a group of unnamed researchers at the National Defense University, listed space as an area where the People's Liberation Army must be equipped and prepared to defend the nation's interests."

Anti-evolution forces lose power in state primary - "Conservative Republicans who pushed for criticism of evolution in Kansas classrooms lost control of the state school board as moderates scored a narrow victory in a primary election on Tuesday."

Senate approves drilling in Gulf - "The Senate yesterday voted to open up 8.3 million acres of ocean floor in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and natural gas exploration, but that sets up a tough negotiation with the House, which wants to expand exploration to an area almost 100 times that size."

Media Firms Counted As Small Businesses - "Some of the nation's largest news media companies, including The Associated Press, were counted last year by the government as small businesses for contracting purposes, inflating the Bush administration's record of help to small companies."

Major world cities team up to fight global warming - "Los Angeles, London, New York, Seoul and 18 other cities joined forces on Tuesday in a global warming project aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Cell phones: A new tool in the war-zone blogosphere - "Pundits and political junkies may have put blogs on the map. But now individuals all over the planet are using new blogging tools to share gritty, uncensored information."

Wash your hands, caller. Your mobile's dirtier than you think - " Your mobile phone could be a major health hazard, research shows. ... With tens of thousands of microbes living on each square inch, they harbour more bacteria than a lavatory seat, the sole of a shoe or a door handle. Microbiologists say the combination of constant handling and the heat generated by the phones creates a prime breeding ground for all sorts of bugs that are normally found on our skin."

Fla. Man Sentenced For Having Sex Slave - "A North Fort Myers man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in harboring a 13-year-old girl kept as a sex slave and housekeeper."

Survey: Most obese claim to eat healthy - "More than three-quarters of obese Americans say they have healthy eating habits, according to a survey of more than 11,000 people. About 40 percent of obese people also said they do "vigorous" exercise at least three times a week, the telephone survey found."

A girl's best friend? Try plasma - "Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend, according to a new U.S. study finding that three-fourths of women would prefer a new plasma TV to a diamond necklace."




Quote of the Day
"See in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
~ President George W. Bush

News (Page 2) -- August 1, 2006

Abortion under siege in Mississippi - ""Islam is the same thing as abortion and homosexuality," he said. "It's the black-colored glove covering the same fist, which is the fist of the devil." ... Benham then produced a rainbow gay flag. As he lamented the way homosexuals "stole the colors of the rainbow," several men in attendance grabbed pieces of it and ripped it to shreds. Then he held up a paperback copy of the Koran and said, "We have one more issue that we must deal with. With this issue we have three choices. We can either kill them, be killed by them, or we can convert them to Christ." Several cheers went up in the crowd, and then, after several more minutes of preaching, Benham began to tear the Koran apart. He offered pieces of the book to the men in the crowd -- hands seemed to reach out from all directions to take them -- and they destroyed the pages further, throwing the scraps onto the grill." -- These people are fucking whacked.

America Struggles With Its Own Evangelical Taliban - "At this late stage of the Bush rapture, American evangelism is a lot like the Exxon Valdez: Massive, sloshing with oily energy and not a little drunk on its power as it steers through hazards of its own designs. The moment evangelicals began tearing down the church-state wall, the rubble became their shoals. The wreck will be ugly. It will take years to mend because, as one of their own, Minnesota's Rev. Gregory Boyd, recently put it: "Never in history have we had a Christian theocracy where it wasn't bloody and barbaric. That's why our Constitution wisely put in a separation of church and state.""

WWIII: Whose Side Are You On - "This is a more easily accessible framing of the forces of evil unleashed in the world. "World War III" is a world war on children and the citizen soldiers in all locations, conducted with psy-ops propaganda using blame, excuses, and the insistence that the world remain an impotent silent witness of religious- and state-sponsored terrorism."

Israel backed by army of cyber-soldiers - "Israel’s Government has thrown its weight behind efforts by supporters to counter what it believes to be negative bias and a tide of pro-Arab propaganda. The Foreign Ministry has ordered trainee diplomats to track websites and chatrooms so that networks of US and European groups with hundreds of thousands of Jewish activists can place supportive messages."

Gibson forgot Rule # 1: Public criticism not permitted for some - "Imagine for a moment that Mel said: "Fucking Americans... The Americans are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you an American?" Yeah, I know. Big Whoop. Tell me something I don't know, right?"

Who Will Save Us - "It will not be Al-Qaida, the immigrants, or the bird flu that will destroy us. It will be negligence and the lack of participation by our government, and our communities. Do not look for help from your city, or your state, or your national government in times of crisis. You are on your own."

Illegal, violent teen fight clubs face police crackdown - "This year, authorities in Texas, New Jersey, Washington state and Alaska have discovered more than a half-dozen teen fight rings operating for fun — or profit. These illegal, violent, often bloody bouts pit boys and girls, some as young as 12, in hand-to-hand combat. Some ringleaders capture these staged fights with video or cellphone cameras, set them to rap music, then peddle homemade DVDs on the Internet. Other fight videos are posted on popular teen websites such as MySpace.com and YouTube.com. Some bouts are more like bare-knuckle boxing matches, with the opponents shaking hands before and after they fight. Others are gang assaults out of ultra-violent films such as A Clockwork Orange, with packs of youths stomping helpless victims who clearly don't want to fight. "When you watch the video, you're appalled by the savagery, the callousness, the lack of morality," says James Hawthorne, deputy police chief of Arlington's West District, who's leading a crackdown on fight clubs. "This is an indictment of us as a society. It's not a race issue or a class issue. It's a kids issue."" -- This is just fucked up. Humans are a sad, violent species of animal.

Scientists take step toward obesity vaccine - "A vaccine that slows down a key hunger hormone kept rats from gaining weight, even when they over ate, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. The team at The Scripps Research Institute in California cautioned that such a vaccine is a long way from being tested in human volunteers, and that it may not work in people."

News -- August 1, 2006

'There is no ceasefire. There will not be any ceasefire' - "Israeli PM Olmert issues grim warning as US blocks moves for immediate cessation of hostilities."

Israel Plans Deeper Push Into Lebanon - "In a major expansion of its ground offensive, Israel has decided to send troops deeper into Lebanon to clear out Hezbollah fighters and secure the territory until a multinational force is deployed there, senior officials said Tuesday."

Americans stand fast with Israeli ally - "Spot checks across the country found that sympathy for Israel is still strong. Those sentiments are consistent with the results of a New York Times/CBS News poll released late last week, before the Qana incident, that found that 48 percent of respondents characterized Israel's response as "about right," while 9 percent felt it had not gone far enough. Twenty-six percent said they think Israel has gone too far." -- Who are these people who love murder and destruction?

Jimmy Carter: Stop the Band-Aid Treatment - "It is inarguable that Israel has a right to defend itself against attacks on its citizens, but it is inhumane and counterproductive to punish civilian populations in the illogical hope that somehow they will blame Hamas and Hezbollah for provoking the devastating response. The result instead has been that broad Arab and worldwide support has been rallied for these groups, while condemnation of both Israel and the United States has intensified."

Bush's Enemy du Jour - "Hezbollah is a convenient way for Bush to shift focus from the escalating tide of gruesome violence in Iraq."

Key Republican breaks with Bush on Mideast - "Urging President Bush to turn all U.S. efforts toward "ending this madness," a leading Republican senator Monday broke with the Bush administration and called for an immediate cease-fire in the Mideast."

Key Democrats united on Iraq pullout - "House and Senate Democratic leaders have joined together to urge President Bush to start bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq this year. The move is part of an effort to shake the notion that Democrats are split on the Iraq war and keep the focus on what they see as a winning issue against Republicans."

Primary interest growing - "In a possible harbinger of a larger-than-expected turnout for next week's primaries, 6,715 unaffiliated voters have switched their political status from unaffiliated to Democrat in the past three months."

We Can't Make It Here -- In case you have not heard this James McMurtry song, it's a free download in two versions: acoustic and with the band.

Castro hands power to brother temporarily - "Fidel Castro has temporarily handed over power to his brother Raul due to intestinal surgery, Cuban television reported, the first time the communist leader has ceded control of the island nation in 47 years."

Gingrich continues to warn of World War III - "Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia) painted a grim picture for a group of young conservatives Monday, telling them that unless terrorism is defeated overseas then the United States will be fighting this war on the home front."

C-Span Firestorm: 9/11 Truth Symposium Gains Momentum - "Judging by the reaction on the web to C-Span's airing of the American Scholars Symposium, the 9/11 truth movement has been afforded another jolt of momentum in its quest to bring criminal proceedings against those complicit in the attack and its subsequent cover-up. C-Span repeated the show Sunday and set to re-air it again Tuesday at 6:10PM EST, 5:10 CST. The show is currently archived on C-Span's website and you can watch it for free here."

Thousands Face Expulsion From France - "The French government is poised to expel about 20,000 illegal immigrants, mostly Sub-Saharan Africans, campaigners say. The French move runs contrary to the trend across Europe."

Bird Flu Continues To Be Difficult to Spread - "Scientists failed in multiple attempts to make a more contagious form of the H5N1 bird flu, suggesting the virus may have to undergo massive change to cause a human pandemic."

Nitrogen a gas for better mileage - "Many motorists seeking to improve their mileage as gas prices soar this summer are examining everything, right down to the air in their tires. And for a growing number, plain old air isn't good enough. George Bourque of Fairfield, Maine, is one of those who is driving around on tires filled with pure nitrogen, the same stuff that NASCAR racers use."

Thousands of microbes in one gulp - "One litre of seawater can contain more than 20,000 different types of bacteria, scientists have found."

It's Alive (ish) - "Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology figured they could learn more from neuron clumps that acted more like real brains, so they've developed "neurally controlled animats" -- a few thousand rat neurons grown atop a grid of electrodes and connected to a robot body or computer-simulated virtual environment."

Scientists Spot Chronic Pain 'On/Off' Switch - "U.S. researchers say they've identified a protein in nerve cells that acts as a kind of gatekeeper for chronic pain."




Quote of the Day
"Violence is as American as apple pie."
~ H. Rap Brown