August 24, 2006
News -- August 24, 2006
Bush's New Iraq Argument: It Could Be Worse - "For three years, the president tried to reassure Americans that more progress was being made in Iraq than they realized. But with Iraq either in civil war or on the brink of it, Bush dropped the unseen-progress argument in favor of the contention that things could be even worse." -- They are.
Marine call-up greeted with anger, suspicion - "There's suspicion of another kind from the group Vote-Vets-dot-org, whose chairman calls this "the last thing that happens before the draft.""
How to Avoid War over Water - "So, here's the question. Are we heading for an era of "hydrological warfare" in which rivers, lakes and aquifers become national security assets to be fought over, or controlled through proxy armies and client states? Or can water act as a force for peace and cooperation?"
The Top 10 Corporate Democrats-For-Hire - "They claim to be 'centrists,' but these D.C. Dems -- whose corporate agendas aren't too different from Bush administration policies -- are living proof that the system needs fixing."
IRS Warns Against Phony Debt Collectors - "The IRS warned taxpayers Wednesday not to be duped by scammers posing as private debt collectors the agency has hired to chase unpaid tax debts."
Home prices fall; sales plummet - "Home prices dropped everywhere in the country except the South, while sales plunged to January 2004 levels last month, in news that triggered a drubbing in the stock market yesterday on worries that a housing free fall could drag down the economy."
Pope says Revelation should be read as Christ's victory over evil - "The Book of Revelation should not be read as a frightening or enigmatic warning, but as an essentially encouraging vision of Christ's definitive victory over evil, Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope noted that Revelation, also called the Apocalypse, had come to be mistakenly identified with the idea of an "imminent catastrophe" about to befall the world. Instead, he said, the text offers a clear expression of how the Christian faith makes ultimate sense of history."
A city crackdown on saggy pants? - "Dallas school trustee Ron Price, with the backing of several City Council members, wants to prohibit pants that hang well below the waist. He wants an ordinance banning the look within city limits."
Breakthrough to solve stem cells' ethics issues? - "A Massachusetts company said on Wednesday that it has developed a way to make human embryonic stem cells without harming the original embryo, a finding it said could dispel ethical objections to promising medical research using such cells."
Rev. Falwell decries stem cell research - "However, he said Tuesday that any medical research must pass a three-part test: "Is it ethically correct? Is it biblically correct? Is it morally correct?"" -- "Biblically"?
FDA Eases Limits on Plan B Sales - "Women may buy the morning-after pill without a prescription - but only with proof they're 18 or older, federal health officials ruled Thursday, capping a contentious three-year effort to ease access to the emergency contraceptive."
China opens halfway house for Net addicts - "Mainland China has opened its first halfway house for Internet addicts, offering shell-shocked teenagers counseling, books--and the use of computers."
Mumbai's "Hitler" eatery angers Indian Jews - "A new restaurant in India's financial hub, named after Adolf Hitler and promoted with posters showing the German leader and Nazi swastikas, has infuriated the country's small Jewish community. 'Hitler's Cross', which opened last week, serves up a wide range of continental fare and a big helping of controversy, thanks to a name the owners say they chose to stand out among hundreds of Mumbai eateries."
Indian eatery drops Hitler from name - "A restaurant in India's financial hub has agreed to change its name from "Hitler's Cross" following strong protests by the country's tiny Jewish community and pressure from Israel."
What Your Freshmen Don’t Know - "Beloit College has released its latest “Mindset List,” to help academics understand what freshmen know — and what they don’t have a clue about. This list has been prepared each August since 1998 and past lists are available online. Here is this year’s list, for the Class of 2010:"
Giant nests perplex experts - "To the bafflement of insect experts, gigantic yellow jacket nests have started turning up in old barns, unoccupied houses, cars and underground cavities across the southern two-thirds of Alabama." -- Check out the picture.
The Infinite Album - "Release a traditional 13-track cd? No thanks, says Beck. Instead, he serves up a collection of songs, remixes, and videos that fans can piece together any way they want."
Pluto downgraded - "The 2006 International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly voted Thursday in Prague that Pluto, formerly known as a planet, will now be considered a "dwarf planet.""
Outer-space nurseries - "Chemistry that gave rise to life on Earth may have begun in outer space. An international research team recently reported the discovery of eight "biologically significant molecules" in two interstellar clouds."
Quote of the Day
"Where's your crown king nothing."
~ Metallica
Marine call-up greeted with anger, suspicion - "There's suspicion of another kind from the group Vote-Vets-dot-org, whose chairman calls this "the last thing that happens before the draft.""
How to Avoid War over Water - "So, here's the question. Are we heading for an era of "hydrological warfare" in which rivers, lakes and aquifers become national security assets to be fought over, or controlled through proxy armies and client states? Or can water act as a force for peace and cooperation?"
The Top 10 Corporate Democrats-For-Hire - "They claim to be 'centrists,' but these D.C. Dems -- whose corporate agendas aren't too different from Bush administration policies -- are living proof that the system needs fixing."
IRS Warns Against Phony Debt Collectors - "The IRS warned taxpayers Wednesday not to be duped by scammers posing as private debt collectors the agency has hired to chase unpaid tax debts."
Home prices fall; sales plummet - "Home prices dropped everywhere in the country except the South, while sales plunged to January 2004 levels last month, in news that triggered a drubbing in the stock market yesterday on worries that a housing free fall could drag down the economy."
Pope says Revelation should be read as Christ's victory over evil - "The Book of Revelation should not be read as a frightening or enigmatic warning, but as an essentially encouraging vision of Christ's definitive victory over evil, Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope noted that Revelation, also called the Apocalypse, had come to be mistakenly identified with the idea of an "imminent catastrophe" about to befall the world. Instead, he said, the text offers a clear expression of how the Christian faith makes ultimate sense of history."
A city crackdown on saggy pants? - "Dallas school trustee Ron Price, with the backing of several City Council members, wants to prohibit pants that hang well below the waist. He wants an ordinance banning the look within city limits."
Breakthrough to solve stem cells' ethics issues? - "A Massachusetts company said on Wednesday that it has developed a way to make human embryonic stem cells without harming the original embryo, a finding it said could dispel ethical objections to promising medical research using such cells."
Rev. Falwell decries stem cell research - "However, he said Tuesday that any medical research must pass a three-part test: "Is it ethically correct? Is it biblically correct? Is it morally correct?"" -- "Biblically"?
FDA Eases Limits on Plan B Sales - "Women may buy the morning-after pill without a prescription - but only with proof they're 18 or older, federal health officials ruled Thursday, capping a contentious three-year effort to ease access to the emergency contraceptive."
China opens halfway house for Net addicts - "Mainland China has opened its first halfway house for Internet addicts, offering shell-shocked teenagers counseling, books--and the use of computers."
Mumbai's "Hitler" eatery angers Indian Jews - "A new restaurant in India's financial hub, named after Adolf Hitler and promoted with posters showing the German leader and Nazi swastikas, has infuriated the country's small Jewish community. 'Hitler's Cross', which opened last week, serves up a wide range of continental fare and a big helping of controversy, thanks to a name the owners say they chose to stand out among hundreds of Mumbai eateries."
Indian eatery drops Hitler from name - "A restaurant in India's financial hub has agreed to change its name from "Hitler's Cross" following strong protests by the country's tiny Jewish community and pressure from Israel."
What Your Freshmen Don’t Know - "Beloit College has released its latest “Mindset List,” to help academics understand what freshmen know — and what they don’t have a clue about. This list has been prepared each August since 1998 and past lists are available online. Here is this year’s list, for the Class of 2010:"
Giant nests perplex experts - "To the bafflement of insect experts, gigantic yellow jacket nests have started turning up in old barns, unoccupied houses, cars and underground cavities across the southern two-thirds of Alabama." -- Check out the picture.
The Infinite Album - "Release a traditional 13-track cd? No thanks, says Beck. Instead, he serves up a collection of songs, remixes, and videos that fans can piece together any way they want."
Pluto downgraded - "The 2006 International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly voted Thursday in Prague that Pluto, formerly known as a planet, will now be considered a "dwarf planet.""
Outer-space nurseries - "Chemistry that gave rise to life on Earth may have begun in outer space. An international research team recently reported the discovery of eight "biologically significant molecules" in two interstellar clouds."
Quote of the Day
"Where's your crown king nothing."
~ Metallica
August 23, 2006
Bush Press Conference
Yes, he once again uses a word that is not a word, but what I found most interesting was what happened around the 2:15 mark. What do you think that is about?
News -- August 23, 2006
Number of U.S. Troops in Iraq Climbs - "The number of U.S. troops in Iraq has climbed back to 138,000, driven up in part by the need to control the escalating violence in Baghdad and the decision to delay the departure of an Alaska-based Army brigade."
Where Bush's Arrogance Has Taken Us - "An illegal war, a long list of eroded rights, and a country run by and for the benefit of corporate campaign donors -- all courtesy of the imperial presidency."
Health Care: It's What Ails Us - "An estimated 50 million Americans lack medical insurance, and a similar and rapidly growing number are underinsured. The uninsured are excluded from services, charged more for services, and die when medical care could save them—an estimated 18,000 die each year because they lack medical coverage. But it’s not only the uninsured who suffer. Of the more than 1.5 million bankruptcies filed in the U.S. each year, about half are a result of medical bills; of those, three-quarters of filers had health insurance. ... The shocking facts about health care in the United States are well known. There’s little argument that the system is broken. What’s not well known is that the dialogue about fixing the health care system is just as broken. ... And most Americans know why: the United States leaves the health of its citizens at the mercy of an expensive, patchwork system where some get great care while others get none at all. The overwhelming majority — 75 percent, according to an October 2005 Harris Poll — want what people in other wealthy countries have: the peace of mind of universal health insurance."
US to Israel: No financial aid for war - "Washington has let Jerusalem know that for now Israel should not expect any financial aid to help defray the cost of the war in Lebanon, The Jerusalem Post has learned."
Poll: Most think bin Laden planning another U.S. attack - "As the five-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, nearly three-fourths of those responding to a CNN poll said they believe Osama bin Laden is planning another significant attack against the United States." -- The real-life Emmanuel Goldstein has worked brilliantly.
Bush OKs involuntary Marine recall - "Though the initial recall is for 2,500 troops, there is no cap on how many could be called up in the future."
Lieberman secures spot on November ballot - "The certification means that Lieberman, who lost the Democratic primary to a political newcomer, will run for re-election as the candidate of the new Connecticut for Lieberman party. He will face Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Alan Schlesinger." -- Politics was never meant to be a profession.
New WTC Complex Photos Highlight Bizarre Building 7 Collapse - "Previously unseen photos provided to us by a fireman who was at ground zero on 9/11 highlight the implausible implosion of WTC Building 7 in comparison with buildings closer to the towers that sustained significantly more fire and debris damage yet did not collapse."
NY City may sue former cop over 9/11 photo book - ""He was taking pictures while on duty, at the direction of the department and while he was in the employ of the city," Singleton told Reuters."
The Fertility Gap - "But the data on young Americans tell a different story. Simply put, liberals have a big baby problem: They're not having enough of them, they haven't for a long time, and their pool of potential new voters is suffering as a result. According to the 2004 General Social Survey, if you picked 100 unrelated politically liberal adults at random, you would find that they had, between them, 147 children. If you picked 100 conservatives, you would find 208 kids. That's a "fertility gap" of 41%. Given that about 80% of people with an identifiable party preference grow up to vote the same way as their parents, this gap translates into lots more little Republicans than little Democrats to vote in future elections. Over the past 30 years this gap has not been below 20%--explaining, to a large extent, the current ineffectiveness of liberal youth voter campaigns today. Alarmingly for the Democrats, the gap is widening at a bit more than half a percentage point per year, meaning that today's problem is nothing compared to what the future will most likely hold."
It Is Easier to Be Green, but Does It Matter? - "Part of the problem is it isn't just the environment that's at stake. Green products and services, including organic foods and fashion, are among the fastest growing retail categories, putting tens of billions of dollars up for grabs."
Venezuela’s Economy Continues Booming as Growth Hits 9.2% - "This means Venezuela remains one of the world’s fastest growing economies. It has grown consistently for almost three years now."
Defaults rise in California - "Foreclosure activity in California in the second quarter jumped by 67 percent over the year-earlier period, according to figures released Monday by Foreclosures.com, a Central Valley-based real estate investment advisory firm and publisher of foreclosure property information. ... The once hot housing markets in Las Vegas and Phoenix are cooling off rapidly and defaults there are on the rise as well, she says."
Existing Home Sales Drop in July - "Sales of previously owned homes plunged in July to the lowest level in 2 1/2 years and the inventory of unsold homes climbed to a new record high, fresh signs that the housing market has lost steam."
Don't Marry Career Women - "Guys: A word of advice. Marry pretty women or ugly ones. Short ones or tall ones. Blondes or brunettes. Just, whatever you do, don't marry a woman with a career. Why? Because if many social scientists are to be believed, you run a higher risk of having a rocky marriage. While everyone knows that marriage can be stressful, recent studies have found professional women are more likely to get divorced, more likely to cheat, less likely to have children, and, if they do have kids, they are more likely to be unhappy about it. A recent study in Social Forces, a research journal, found that women--even those with a "feminist" outlook--are happier when their husband is the primary breadwinner. Not a happy conclusion, especially given that many men, particularly successful men, are attracted to women with similar goals and aspirations. And why not? After all, your typical career girl is well-educated, ambitious, informed and engaged. All seemingly good things, right? Sure…at least until you get married. Then, to put it bluntly, the more successful she is the more likely she is to grow dissatisfied with you. Sound familiar?"
Nearly half of women fear life as a bag lady - "They may have money in their purses and a decent salary, but many women fear they'll lose their income and end up a bag lady, forgotten and destitute."
Self-harm 'most pressing health issue for teenage girls' - "One in 10 teenage girls harms herself each year according to the largest study of self-harm among teenagers in England. The problem is far more widespread than previously thought and often associated with a child being bullied at school, physically or sexually abused, or worried about being gay, say academics."
Study: Even a few extra pounds risky - "Being a little overweight can kill you, according to new research that leaves little room for denial that a few extra pounds is harmful. Baby boomers who were even just a tad pudgy were more likely to die prematurely than those who were at a healthy weight, U.S. researchers reported Tuesday."
Drivers' bad calls draw fines in Georgia - "Drivers who cause a wreck while yakking on a cellphone will face a fine of up to $500 under a law that took effect Tuesday in DeKalb County, Ga."
Calif. to hike minimum wage to $8 per hour - "California lawmakers have agreed on a minimum wage increase of $1.25, the Los Angeles Times reports."
Bush's Last Day - "Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004 was a day that surprised the 59,439,413 of us who did NOT vote for George W. Bush. Together we can minimize the damage of this administration and ensure that a positive change begins on Bush's Last Day, January 20, 2009." -- They have a countdown.
Music Makes Your Brain Happy - "A neuroscientist explains why women want rock stars to father their children, and how melodies can work like Prozac."
Dylan says modern recordings "atrocious" - "Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway.""
Miami school board wants to remove books on Cuba - "The district wants to remove "Vamos a Cuba" ("A Visit to Cuba") following a parent's complaint that it failed to accurately depict the reality of life under Cuba's communist government."
Ancient biblical waterworks discovered - "Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed an ancient water system which was modified by the conquering Persians to turn the desert into a paradise."
German 'Superpapa' Busted After Adopting Over 300 Kids - "A man known as "Superpapa" who says he took advantage of a quirk in German laws to adopt more than 300 children worldwide has been arrested on suspicion of violating laws on child rearing in Paraguay, authorities said Tuesday."
Groups urge FBI to target hotel room porn - "Pornographic movies available in the rooms of some of America's best known hotel chains have caught the attention of conservative activists." -- These "activists" need to get laid.
Quote of the Day
"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists."
~ J. Edgar Hoover
Where Bush's Arrogance Has Taken Us - "An illegal war, a long list of eroded rights, and a country run by and for the benefit of corporate campaign donors -- all courtesy of the imperial presidency."
Health Care: It's What Ails Us - "An estimated 50 million Americans lack medical insurance, and a similar and rapidly growing number are underinsured. The uninsured are excluded from services, charged more for services, and die when medical care could save them—an estimated 18,000 die each year because they lack medical coverage. But it’s not only the uninsured who suffer. Of the more than 1.5 million bankruptcies filed in the U.S. each year, about half are a result of medical bills; of those, three-quarters of filers had health insurance. ... The shocking facts about health care in the United States are well known. There’s little argument that the system is broken. What’s not well known is that the dialogue about fixing the health care system is just as broken. ... And most Americans know why: the United States leaves the health of its citizens at the mercy of an expensive, patchwork system where some get great care while others get none at all. The overwhelming majority — 75 percent, according to an October 2005 Harris Poll — want what people in other wealthy countries have: the peace of mind of universal health insurance."
US to Israel: No financial aid for war - "Washington has let Jerusalem know that for now Israel should not expect any financial aid to help defray the cost of the war in Lebanon, The Jerusalem Post has learned."
Poll: Most think bin Laden planning another U.S. attack - "As the five-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, nearly three-fourths of those responding to a CNN poll said they believe Osama bin Laden is planning another significant attack against the United States." -- The real-life Emmanuel Goldstein has worked brilliantly.
Bush OKs involuntary Marine recall - "Though the initial recall is for 2,500 troops, there is no cap on how many could be called up in the future."
Lieberman secures spot on November ballot - "The certification means that Lieberman, who lost the Democratic primary to a political newcomer, will run for re-election as the candidate of the new Connecticut for Lieberman party. He will face Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Alan Schlesinger." -- Politics was never meant to be a profession.
New WTC Complex Photos Highlight Bizarre Building 7 Collapse - "Previously unseen photos provided to us by a fireman who was at ground zero on 9/11 highlight the implausible implosion of WTC Building 7 in comparison with buildings closer to the towers that sustained significantly more fire and debris damage yet did not collapse."
NY City may sue former cop over 9/11 photo book - ""He was taking pictures while on duty, at the direction of the department and while he was in the employ of the city," Singleton told Reuters."
The Fertility Gap - "But the data on young Americans tell a different story. Simply put, liberals have a big baby problem: They're not having enough of them, they haven't for a long time, and their pool of potential new voters is suffering as a result. According to the 2004 General Social Survey, if you picked 100 unrelated politically liberal adults at random, you would find that they had, between them, 147 children. If you picked 100 conservatives, you would find 208 kids. That's a "fertility gap" of 41%. Given that about 80% of people with an identifiable party preference grow up to vote the same way as their parents, this gap translates into lots more little Republicans than little Democrats to vote in future elections. Over the past 30 years this gap has not been below 20%--explaining, to a large extent, the current ineffectiveness of liberal youth voter campaigns today. Alarmingly for the Democrats, the gap is widening at a bit more than half a percentage point per year, meaning that today's problem is nothing compared to what the future will most likely hold."
It Is Easier to Be Green, but Does It Matter? - "Part of the problem is it isn't just the environment that's at stake. Green products and services, including organic foods and fashion, are among the fastest growing retail categories, putting tens of billions of dollars up for grabs."
Venezuela’s Economy Continues Booming as Growth Hits 9.2% - "This means Venezuela remains one of the world’s fastest growing economies. It has grown consistently for almost three years now."
Defaults rise in California - "Foreclosure activity in California in the second quarter jumped by 67 percent over the year-earlier period, according to figures released Monday by Foreclosures.com, a Central Valley-based real estate investment advisory firm and publisher of foreclosure property information. ... The once hot housing markets in Las Vegas and Phoenix are cooling off rapidly and defaults there are on the rise as well, she says."
Existing Home Sales Drop in July - "Sales of previously owned homes plunged in July to the lowest level in 2 1/2 years and the inventory of unsold homes climbed to a new record high, fresh signs that the housing market has lost steam."
Don't Marry Career Women - "Guys: A word of advice. Marry pretty women or ugly ones. Short ones or tall ones. Blondes or brunettes. Just, whatever you do, don't marry a woman with a career. Why? Because if many social scientists are to be believed, you run a higher risk of having a rocky marriage. While everyone knows that marriage can be stressful, recent studies have found professional women are more likely to get divorced, more likely to cheat, less likely to have children, and, if they do have kids, they are more likely to be unhappy about it. A recent study in Social Forces, a research journal, found that women--even those with a "feminist" outlook--are happier when their husband is the primary breadwinner. Not a happy conclusion, especially given that many men, particularly successful men, are attracted to women with similar goals and aspirations. And why not? After all, your typical career girl is well-educated, ambitious, informed and engaged. All seemingly good things, right? Sure…at least until you get married. Then, to put it bluntly, the more successful she is the more likely she is to grow dissatisfied with you. Sound familiar?"
Nearly half of women fear life as a bag lady - "They may have money in their purses and a decent salary, but many women fear they'll lose their income and end up a bag lady, forgotten and destitute."
Self-harm 'most pressing health issue for teenage girls' - "One in 10 teenage girls harms herself each year according to the largest study of self-harm among teenagers in England. The problem is far more widespread than previously thought and often associated with a child being bullied at school, physically or sexually abused, or worried about being gay, say academics."
Study: Even a few extra pounds risky - "Being a little overweight can kill you, according to new research that leaves little room for denial that a few extra pounds is harmful. Baby boomers who were even just a tad pudgy were more likely to die prematurely than those who were at a healthy weight, U.S. researchers reported Tuesday."
Drivers' bad calls draw fines in Georgia - "Drivers who cause a wreck while yakking on a cellphone will face a fine of up to $500 under a law that took effect Tuesday in DeKalb County, Ga."
Calif. to hike minimum wage to $8 per hour - "California lawmakers have agreed on a minimum wage increase of $1.25, the Los Angeles Times reports."
Bush's Last Day - "Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004 was a day that surprised the 59,439,413 of us who did NOT vote for George W. Bush. Together we can minimize the damage of this administration and ensure that a positive change begins on Bush's Last Day, January 20, 2009." -- They have a countdown.
Music Makes Your Brain Happy - "A neuroscientist explains why women want rock stars to father their children, and how melodies can work like Prozac."
Dylan says modern recordings "atrocious" - "Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway.""
Miami school board wants to remove books on Cuba - "The district wants to remove "Vamos a Cuba" ("A Visit to Cuba") following a parent's complaint that it failed to accurately depict the reality of life under Cuba's communist government."
Ancient biblical waterworks discovered - "Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed an ancient water system which was modified by the conquering Persians to turn the desert into a paradise."
German 'Superpapa' Busted After Adopting Over 300 Kids - "A man known as "Superpapa" who says he took advantage of a quirk in German laws to adopt more than 300 children worldwide has been arrested on suspicion of violating laws on child rearing in Paraguay, authorities said Tuesday."
Groups urge FBI to target hotel room porn - "Pornographic movies available in the rooms of some of America's best known hotel chains have caught the attention of conservative activists." -- These "activists" need to get laid.
Quote of the Day
"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists."
~ J. Edgar Hoover
August 22, 2006
Waiting for the Comet
Make sure to check out The Fall of Humanity's new sister site Waiting for the Comet to get all the stuff that's Not News. Enjoy!
News -- August 22, 2006
Russia airliner with 171 aboard crashes - "A Russian plane with 171 people aboard crashed in eastern Ukraine Tuesday, after the pilot reported a fire on board and heavy turbulence, emergency officials said."
Bush Argues Democrats Don’t Understand Threat to U.S. - "President Bush seized today on Democratic calls for withdrawal from Iraq to make an election-year case that his political rivals did not properly understand the threats to the nation and would create a more dangerous world."
Now playing on the Net: War propaganda - "The democratization of online video through sites such as YouTube, Metacafe and Ogrish.com is allowing combatants on both sides of the battlefield to make their version of events public."
Democrats Stifle Antiwar Voices, Again - "The Democratic Party doesn’t allow dissent, and like the Republican Party, they are even willing to stifle democracy in order to ensure their ascendancy on Election Day. Here in New York the Democratic Party has willfully ignored Jonathan Tasini’s popular antiwar campaign against Hillary Clinton. Tasini, unlike Lamont, is critical of the close relationship between the US and the state of Israel."
A damning admission: New York Times concealed NSA spying until after 2004 election - "A column by New York Times public editor Byron Calame August 13 reveals that the newspaper withheld a story about the Bush administration’s program of illegal domestic spying until after the 2004 election, and then lied about it."
Putin hails the new economy as Russia wipes $22bn off its debts - "RUSSIA has finally paid off its Soviet-era debts to the Paris Club of wealthy nations in a dramatic display of the country’s new-found economic clout."
Illegal aliens linked to gang-rape wave - "Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, a Ph.D. researcher of violent crimes, told WorldNetDaily, "It appears as if there is a fear that if this is honestly discussed, people will hate all illegal immigrants. So there is silence. … But in being silent about the rapes and murders, it is as if the victims never even existed." ... "Many illegal aliens have a rape and pillage mentality toward America," he said. "The government has shown them they can break our laws on many levels without much fear of enforcement. Why should they think of rape or gang rape any differently?" Gheen said, "Illegal aliens are more likely to engage in these crimes because rapes and gang rapes are much more common in the gang-rule Third World areas they come from." ... Gheen said, "These gangs are forcing new female gang members to undergo gang rape to enter the gang and they are asking their male initiates to gang rape American women to become an official member of the gang." ... "Gang rape is a form of terrorism. It has been used throughout history as a weapon of terror," Gheen said. "Most Americans do not see the war that is already upon us in our communities and neighborhoods." Some high-profile gang rapes by illegal immigrants include:"
New teen risk behavior uncovered - "Nearly 650,000 American teens have exchanged sex for drugs or money, new research has revealed. About two-thirds of them are boys."
Is Marriage Rational? - "In the context of my own cynicism about marriage, the current fervent pursuit of the right to marriage by gays and lesbians is perplexing. But equally perplexing is the defense of heterosexual-only marriage by judges and religious conservatives. In the debate over who can marry, both sides imbue the institution of marriage with sanctity and an importance that it neither deserves nor possesses. ... But in favoring a more liberal criteria for marriage, I worry that we lose sight of the wider and weirder problem of permitting government to validate our most personal social partnerships."
Water scarcity affects one in three - "A third of the world’s population is suffering from a shortage of water, raising the prospect of “water crises” in countries such as China, India and the US. Scientists had forecast in 2000 that one in three would face water shortages by 2025, but water experts have been shocked to find that this threshold has already been crossed." -- Future wars will be over water.
Highway regulators: Car 'black boxes' can't be secret - "The government will not require recorders in autos but said on Monday that carmakers must tell consumers when technology that tracks speed, braking and other measurements is in the new vehicles they buy."
Greenland's glaciers have been shrinking for 100 years: study - " Greenland's glaciers have been shrinking for the past century, according to a Danish study, suggesting that the ice melt is not a recent phenomenon caused by global warming."
Employer advises Dumpster-diving for axed workers - "The four-page booklet, "Preparing for a Financial Setback" contained suggestions such as shopping in thrift stores, taking "a date for a walk along the beach or in the woods" and not being "shy about pulling something you like out of the trash." The booklet was part of a 150-page packet to ground workers, such as baggage handlers, whose jobs will likely be cut after their union agreed to allow the airline to outsource some of their work, Blahoski said."
Half a million Britons set for DNA disease quest - "A project to collect DNA samples from half a million Britons to unpick the genetic basis of killer diseases including cancer got the go-ahead on Tuesday, marking the start of the world's biggest medical experiment."
New Chewing Gum Can Prevent Tooth Decay - "A new chewing gum containing good bacteria which prevent harmful bacteria from destroying our teeth has been developed by scientists working for BASF GmbH and OrganoBalance GmbH. There is also a good chance good bacteria could be added to deodorants to eliminate BO (body odour). The company says that as well as chewing gum to protect teeth, it is looking into developing toothpastes and mouthwashes which contain this friendly bacteria."
Perpetual Motion Claim Probed - "Sean McCarthy believes his small Irish high-tech company has overturned one of physics' most fundamental laws. It happened by accident, he says. His company Steorn was looking for an efficient way to power closed-circuit TVs that spy on ATMs, and instead stumbled on a technique they think produces more energy than it consumes."
Russian solves historic math problem, shuns prize - "Grigory Perelman, a 40-year-old native of St. Petersburg, was praised for work in the field known as topology, which studies shapes, and for a breakthrough that might help scientists figure out nothing less than the shape of the universe. But besides shunning the medal, academic colleagues say he also seems uninterested in a separate, $1 million prize he might be awarded for his feat. It had proved a theorem about the nature of multidimensional space that has stumped people for 100 years."
Scientists Offer Proof of 'Dark Matter' - "For decades, many scientists have theorized that the universe is made up of nearly undetectable mysterious substances called dark matter and dark energy. But until yesterday there was no proof that the subatomic matter actually exists. After studying data from a long-ago collision of two giant clusters of galaxies, researchers now say they are certain dark matter does exist and plays a central role in creating and defining gravity throughout the universe. While the scientists are still not sure exactly what dark matter is, since they have yet to identify it in a laboratory, they said that the workings of the universe cannot be explained without it."
Rap music blamed for teen pregnancy - "Rap music and hip hop, with their particular emphasis on sex and demeaning depictions of women, were blamed for encouraging early sexual behaviour, leading to the spread of disease and underage pregnancies."
Redheads 'have more sex than blondes or brunettes' - ""The sex lives of women with red hair were clearly more active than those with other hair colour, with more partners and having sex more often than the average. The research shows that the fiery redhead certainly lives up to her reputation.""
What's everybody watching? YouTube - "Watching what the networks set before them is fine. But more and more viewers want to cook as well as dine, which makes the TV story of the year the story of a Web site: YouTube."
Kids Say the Darndest Things in Their Blogs - "Unlike their parents, today's youth have grown up in the age of public disclosure. Keeping an Internet diary has become de rigueur; social lives and private thoughts are laid bare. For parents in high-profile positions, however, it means their children can exploit a generational disconnect to espouse their own points of view, or expose private details perhaps their parents wish they would not."
Psycho killer raccoons terrorize Olympia - "A fierce group of raccoons has killed 10 cats, attacked a small dog and bitten at least one pet owner who had to get rabies shots, residents of Olympia say. ... "It's a new breed," said Tamara Keeton, who with Kari Hall started a raccoon watch after an emotional neighborhood meeting drew 40 people. "They're urban raccoons, and they're not afraid.""
Quote of the Day
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."
~ Gautama Buddha
Bush Argues Democrats Don’t Understand Threat to U.S. - "President Bush seized today on Democratic calls for withdrawal from Iraq to make an election-year case that his political rivals did not properly understand the threats to the nation and would create a more dangerous world."
Now playing on the Net: War propaganda - "The democratization of online video through sites such as YouTube, Metacafe and Ogrish.com is allowing combatants on both sides of the battlefield to make their version of events public."
Democrats Stifle Antiwar Voices, Again - "The Democratic Party doesn’t allow dissent, and like the Republican Party, they are even willing to stifle democracy in order to ensure their ascendancy on Election Day. Here in New York the Democratic Party has willfully ignored Jonathan Tasini’s popular antiwar campaign against Hillary Clinton. Tasini, unlike Lamont, is critical of the close relationship between the US and the state of Israel."
A damning admission: New York Times concealed NSA spying until after 2004 election - "A column by New York Times public editor Byron Calame August 13 reveals that the newspaper withheld a story about the Bush administration’s program of illegal domestic spying until after the 2004 election, and then lied about it."
Putin hails the new economy as Russia wipes $22bn off its debts - "RUSSIA has finally paid off its Soviet-era debts to the Paris Club of wealthy nations in a dramatic display of the country’s new-found economic clout."
Illegal aliens linked to gang-rape wave - "Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, a Ph.D. researcher of violent crimes, told WorldNetDaily, "It appears as if there is a fear that if this is honestly discussed, people will hate all illegal immigrants. So there is silence. … But in being silent about the rapes and murders, it is as if the victims never even existed." ... "Many illegal aliens have a rape and pillage mentality toward America," he said. "The government has shown them they can break our laws on many levels without much fear of enforcement. Why should they think of rape or gang rape any differently?" Gheen said, "Illegal aliens are more likely to engage in these crimes because rapes and gang rapes are much more common in the gang-rule Third World areas they come from." ... Gheen said, "These gangs are forcing new female gang members to undergo gang rape to enter the gang and they are asking their male initiates to gang rape American women to become an official member of the gang." ... "Gang rape is a form of terrorism. It has been used throughout history as a weapon of terror," Gheen said. "Most Americans do not see the war that is already upon us in our communities and neighborhoods." Some high-profile gang rapes by illegal immigrants include:"
New teen risk behavior uncovered - "Nearly 650,000 American teens have exchanged sex for drugs or money, new research has revealed. About two-thirds of them are boys."
Is Marriage Rational? - "In the context of my own cynicism about marriage, the current fervent pursuit of the right to marriage by gays and lesbians is perplexing. But equally perplexing is the defense of heterosexual-only marriage by judges and religious conservatives. In the debate over who can marry, both sides imbue the institution of marriage with sanctity and an importance that it neither deserves nor possesses. ... But in favoring a more liberal criteria for marriage, I worry that we lose sight of the wider and weirder problem of permitting government to validate our most personal social partnerships."
Water scarcity affects one in three - "A third of the world’s population is suffering from a shortage of water, raising the prospect of “water crises” in countries such as China, India and the US. Scientists had forecast in 2000 that one in three would face water shortages by 2025, but water experts have been shocked to find that this threshold has already been crossed." -- Future wars will be over water.
Highway regulators: Car 'black boxes' can't be secret - "The government will not require recorders in autos but said on Monday that carmakers must tell consumers when technology that tracks speed, braking and other measurements is in the new vehicles they buy."
Greenland's glaciers have been shrinking for 100 years: study - " Greenland's glaciers have been shrinking for the past century, according to a Danish study, suggesting that the ice melt is not a recent phenomenon caused by global warming."
Employer advises Dumpster-diving for axed workers - "The four-page booklet, "Preparing for a Financial Setback" contained suggestions such as shopping in thrift stores, taking "a date for a walk along the beach or in the woods" and not being "shy about pulling something you like out of the trash." The booklet was part of a 150-page packet to ground workers, such as baggage handlers, whose jobs will likely be cut after their union agreed to allow the airline to outsource some of their work, Blahoski said."
Half a million Britons set for DNA disease quest - "A project to collect DNA samples from half a million Britons to unpick the genetic basis of killer diseases including cancer got the go-ahead on Tuesday, marking the start of the world's biggest medical experiment."
New Chewing Gum Can Prevent Tooth Decay - "A new chewing gum containing good bacteria which prevent harmful bacteria from destroying our teeth has been developed by scientists working for BASF GmbH and OrganoBalance GmbH. There is also a good chance good bacteria could be added to deodorants to eliminate BO (body odour). The company says that as well as chewing gum to protect teeth, it is looking into developing toothpastes and mouthwashes which contain this friendly bacteria."
Perpetual Motion Claim Probed - "Sean McCarthy believes his small Irish high-tech company has overturned one of physics' most fundamental laws. It happened by accident, he says. His company Steorn was looking for an efficient way to power closed-circuit TVs that spy on ATMs, and instead stumbled on a technique they think produces more energy than it consumes."
Russian solves historic math problem, shuns prize - "Grigory Perelman, a 40-year-old native of St. Petersburg, was praised for work in the field known as topology, which studies shapes, and for a breakthrough that might help scientists figure out nothing less than the shape of the universe. But besides shunning the medal, academic colleagues say he also seems uninterested in a separate, $1 million prize he might be awarded for his feat. It had proved a theorem about the nature of multidimensional space that has stumped people for 100 years."
Scientists Offer Proof of 'Dark Matter' - "For decades, many scientists have theorized that the universe is made up of nearly undetectable mysterious substances called dark matter and dark energy. But until yesterday there was no proof that the subatomic matter actually exists. After studying data from a long-ago collision of two giant clusters of galaxies, researchers now say they are certain dark matter does exist and plays a central role in creating and defining gravity throughout the universe. While the scientists are still not sure exactly what dark matter is, since they have yet to identify it in a laboratory, they said that the workings of the universe cannot be explained without it."
Rap music blamed for teen pregnancy - "Rap music and hip hop, with their particular emphasis on sex and demeaning depictions of women, were blamed for encouraging early sexual behaviour, leading to the spread of disease and underage pregnancies."
Redheads 'have more sex than blondes or brunettes' - ""The sex lives of women with red hair were clearly more active than those with other hair colour, with more partners and having sex more often than the average. The research shows that the fiery redhead certainly lives up to her reputation.""
What's everybody watching? YouTube - "Watching what the networks set before them is fine. But more and more viewers want to cook as well as dine, which makes the TV story of the year the story of a Web site: YouTube."
Kids Say the Darndest Things in Their Blogs - "Unlike their parents, today's youth have grown up in the age of public disclosure. Keeping an Internet diary has become de rigueur; social lives and private thoughts are laid bare. For parents in high-profile positions, however, it means their children can exploit a generational disconnect to espouse their own points of view, or expose private details perhaps their parents wish they would not."
Psycho killer raccoons terrorize Olympia - "A fierce group of raccoons has killed 10 cats, attacked a small dog and bitten at least one pet owner who had to get rabies shots, residents of Olympia say. ... "It's a new breed," said Tamara Keeton, who with Kari Hall started a raccoon watch after an emotional neighborhood meeting drew 40 people. "They're urban raccoons, and they're not afraid.""
Quote of the Day
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."
~ Gautama Buddha
August 21, 2006
News -- August 21, 2006
Charges Over Terror Plot - "Up to 14 suspects in the alleged UK airport terror plot have been charged with conspiracy to murder, Sky News has learnt."
Pakistanis find no evidence against ‘terror mastermind’ - "The Briton alleged to be the ‘mastermind’ behind the airline terror plot could be innocent of any significant involvement, sources close to the investigation claim." -- You read that correctly.
Bush's final gamble: giving Iraq a dictator? - "But last week the new nugget: an anonymous “military affairs expert” attended a White House briefing and reported: “Senior administration officials have acknowledged to me that they are considering alternatives other than democracy. Everybody in the administration is being quite circumspect, but you can sense their own concern that this is drifting away from democracy.”" -- It was never about bringing democracy to the Iraqi people. It was about establising a permanent presence in Iraq.
Bush: Leaving Iraq now would be a 'disaster' - "President Bush on Monday said there would be no quick U.S. exit from Iraq despite his concerns over talk of civil war in the country and the effect the war is having in American society. "If we ever give up the desire to help people who want to live in a free society, we will have lost our soul as a nation," Bush said." -- I used to just not be able to stomach listening to "words" come out of his mouth, but lately I am finding it increasingly more difficult to read his "words" as well.
Fourth defeat seals Bush’s war legacy - "But when one examines the record of the self-professed "war leader", the results are pretty dismal. As of now, President Bush is in the process of losing all four wars that he started."
Officer Called Haditha Routine - "The Marine officer who commanded the battalion involved in the Haditha killings last November did not consider the deaths of 24 Iraqis, many of them women and children, unusual and did not initiate an inquiry, according to a sworn statement he gave to military investigators in March. ... It also provides a glimpse of the mind-set of a commander on the scene who, despite the carnage, did not stop to consider whether Marines had crossed a line and killed defenseless civilians."
Three Times Three - "Do you not see what has happened to your country? Do you not realize where all of this is going? I can understand those who have walked away out of apathy and I admire those who fight on…but to think that there’s some silver lining in all of this is simply ignoring the reality. Most congressmen from both parties have been long since bought and paid for. The war is not going to end but is, in fact, priming up for the next phase."
Mutiny on Flight 613 - "British holidaymakers staged an unprecedented mutiny - refusing to allow their flight to take off until two men they feared were terrorists were forcibly removed. The extraordinary scenes happened after some of the 150 passengers on a Malaga-Manchester flight overheard two men of Asian appearance apparently talking Arabic. Passengers told cabin crew they feared for their safety and demanded police action. ... It also raised fears that more travellers will take the law into their own hands - effectively conducting their own 'passenger profiles'."
The Loose Cannon of 9/11 - "The 23-year old from Oneonta, New York returned home from two tours—one to Afghanistan; the other to Iraq—to help his best friends, Dylan Avery (director) and Jason Bermas (researcher), produce the sensational 80-minute, Web-based documentary Loose Change, which seeks to establish the government’s complicity in the terror attacks by addressing some very tough questions: Why wasn’t Ground Zero treated like a crime scene? How did both towers “freefall” to the ground “in 9.2 seconds” in just under two hours? And where are the black boxes from American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175?"
US extends credit line to Israel - "The Bush administration has agreed to an Israel demand that a loan guarantee deal be extended by an additional three years, until 2011."
Rex 84: FEMA's Blueprint for Martial Law in America - "We are dangerously close to a situation where ~ if the American people took to the streets in righteous indignation or if there were another 9/11 ~ a mechanism for martial law could be quickly implemented and carried out under REX 84."
Military recruiters cited for misconduct - "More than 100 young women who expressed interest in joining the military in the past year were preyed upon sexually by their recruiters. Women were raped on recruiting office couches, assaulted in government cars and groped en route to entrance exams."
Cold War Missiles Target of Blackout - "The Bush administration has begun designating as secret some information that the government long provided even to its enemy the former Soviet Union: the numbers of strategic weapons in the U.S. nuclear arsenal during the Cold War."
The Real Thing Is Getting So Hard to Find - "It's difficult to know what's real anymore. Politicians deceive us. Corporations cover up misdeeds with frothy PR. Photoshop makes it simple to fake photographs. Breast implants and facelifts are as common as Band-Aids. This is nothing new. The pages of history are filled with stories of fraud going back at least as far as the Trojan Horse. The difference today is that high-powered technology can manipulate reality and disseminate falsehoods on a scale never before seen."
Congress Poised to Unravel the Internet - "The telecommunications reform bill now moving through Congress threatens to be a major setback for those who hope that digital media can foster a more democratic society. The bill not only precludes net neutrality safeguards but also eliminates local community oversight of digital communications provided by cable and phone giants. It sets the stage for the privatized, consolidated and unregulated communications system that is at the core of the phone and cable lobbies' political agenda."
Obey your government: Toss that killer lip gloss - "As people obediently lined up at airports across the country to throw away killer lip gloss, expensive perfume and even bottles of fine wine, an irreverent question came to mind: Is there anything the government could order the American people to do in the name of fighting terrorism that would be so ridiculous they would refuse to do it? We are all undergoing government training. And so far we are all passing with flying colors. Whether that is something we should be proud of is questionable. We could look back on it one day as the biggest mistake the citizens of a once free nation ever made. Terrorists aren't the only ones who know how to use fear as a political weapon. The current administration has shown before it knows how to use fear to win elections and maintain power."
Federal Appeals Court: Driving With Money is a Crime - "A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that if a motorist is carrying large sums of money, it is automatically subject to confiscation. In the case entitled, "United States of America v. $124,700 in U.S. Currency," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit took that amount of cash away from Emiliano Gomez Gonzolez, a man with a "lack of significant criminal history" neither accused nor convicted of any crime."
Americans Have Never Confronted 'The Real Enemy' - "And the reason freedom is here one minute and gone the next is because Americans have never really confronted its true enemy. In fact, Americans have been shadow boxing with its real foe for centuries, instead of landing a solid right punch directly in the face of the Jesuit Order and The Vatican."
Sunday school teacher dumped for being female - "The minister of a church that dismissed a female Sunday School teacher after adopting what it called a literal interpretation of the Bible says a woman can perform any job -- outside of the church. The First Baptist Church dismissed Mary Lambert on August 9 with a letter explaining that the church had adopted an interpretation that prohibits women from teaching men. She had taught there for 54 years."
Crucifix banned by school - "A TEENAGE Christian has been banned from wearing a treasured crucifix by her high school."
THE EVOLUTION OF HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS - "The first thing housing consumers should understand is that associations were never intended to benefit them. They benefit municipal governments, builders/developers and the growing industry that feeds off associations. This $30 billion annual industry includes managers, attorneys, landscape companies, pool companies, CPAs, insurance companies and now, banks as well. One of the main purposes of an association, and the reason they are required to be part of all new construction in many parts of the country, is that of a vehicle for local governments to shunt their responsibilities off onto the private sector, while still taxing the citizens at the full rate. What this means for the taxpayer, homeowner and voter, is that they are not only double taxed but also living under the auspices of another layer of government a private government one that is not bound by the protections afforded in the Constitution."
Scientists Disagree On Link Between Storms, Warming - "Academics have published a flurry of papers either supporting or debunking the idea that warmer temperatures linked to human activity are fueling more intense storms. The issue remains unresolved, but it has acquired a political potency that has made both sides heavily invested in the outcome. Paradoxically, the calm hurricane season in the Atlantic so far this year has only intensified the argument. Both sides are using identical data but coming up with conflicting conclusions. There are several reasons."
2006 Tropical Storm Season Now Below Normal - "What a difference a year makes. After the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, the 2006 season is now below normal."
Delusional Democracy Breeds Delusional Prosperity - "Contrary to popular thinking, many revolutions have not occurred because of a widespread desire for freedom or democracy. They have been driven by mass hatred and rejection of economic inequality. The poor have revolted against the rich for eons. For much of human history the lack of freedom was linked to economic inequality. Those in power limited personal freedom so they could control the economy and prevent a fair distribution of wealth, allowing a relatively few to amass riches. Things change. If there is a special American capitalist genius it is maintaining a system with considerable freedom but where economic inequality is staggering. Our freedom subverts the need to revolt against the economy. The unwritten theory seems to be that if citizens have personal freedom they will ignore economic inequality. And it seems to be working well here in the United States of Affluence. ... This new report presents powerful data on net disposable household income inequality. Data on the Gini coefficient is the most common measure of income inequality. This coefficient varies from zero – perfect equality – to one – just one household having all the income. Data for 28 OECD countries over the period 1990 to 2000 showed that the U.S. had the second highest coefficient, at 0.37. Only Mexico, at 0.49, was higher; it is the simplest measure of just how completely screwed up Mexico is and why its citizens, rather than revolting, are fleeing to the U.S (though they tried for political change in their recent election). But as the American coefficient rises, where will Americans run to? ... When will the Second American Revolution begin? How much more economic misery will it take? Maybe just a little more will bring the American population to the tipping point. We can hope."
The Rise of Shrinking-Vacation Syndrome - "Even before toothpaste could clog an airport security line and a full tank of gas was considered an indulgence, Americans had begun to sour on the traditional summer vacation. But this summer, a number of surveys show that American workers, who already take fewer vacations than people in nearly all industrial nations, have pruned back their leisure days even more." -- And we're supposed to be the bastion of freedom. Hmmm.
Pope: Don't work too hard - " "We have to guard ourselves, the saint observed, from the dangers of excessive activity, regardless of the office one holds, because too many concerns can often lead to hardness of heart," the pope said."
US facing wave of murders and gun violence - "In a shift from trends of the past decade, violent crime is on the rise, fueling criticism of Bush administration policies as a wave of murders and shootings hits smaller cities and states with little experience with serious urban violence."
The CIA-Contra-Crack Connection, 10 Years Later - "The three-part series by reporter Gary Webb linked the CIA and Nicaragua's Contras to the crack cocaine epidemic that ripped through South Los Angeles in the 1980s. Most of the nation's elite newspapers at first ignored the story. A public uproar, especially among urban African Americans, forced them to respond. What followed was one of the most bizarre, unseemly and ultimately tragic scandals in the annals of American journalism, one in which top news organizations closed ranks to debunk claims Webb never made, ridicule assertions that turned out to be true and ignore corroborating evidence when it came to light. The whole shameful cycle was repeated when Webb committed suicide in December 2004."
Experts: Sex slaves are often the girls next door - "“It’s a very overwhelming subject for a lot of people to recognize that there is slavery at this time in our country,” said Carole Angel, staff attorney with the Immigrant Women Program of the women’s rights advocacy group Legal Momentum in Washington. “It’s hard for us as humans to contemplate what this means.”"
Sir, can we do something easier? - "Chemistry and physics departments are closing. The number of A-level science students is plummeting. Why doesn't anyone want to do the hard stuff any more, asks Emma Brockes - and does it matter if they don't? ... Besides which, as anyone who has ever sat through an A-level English class on the Wife of Bath knows, "relevance" and inspirational teaching are in short supply curriculum-wide. The arts subjects, however, have no trouble recruiting. So then it comes down to a question of culture; the fact that science is under-covered in the press because most journalists are arts graduates; the fact that children can't see a clear picture of what returns studying science will deliver, in particular how it will increase their chances of getting on TV; and the fact that, so the argument goes, children are getting lazier because all they do is sit in front of computer screens all day instead of playing competitive sport and tackling equations."
I spy with my little cellphone - "What were once the tracking tools of spies and private investigators are now being offered to mainstream America, specifically parents who want to keep constant track of their kids in real time. Already, millions of families have discovered the meddlesome capabilities of their children's mobile phones. ... The most aggressive has been Disney, whose cellphone service, Disney Mobile, debuted in June. The phones' Family Locator feature allows parents to see, via their own phone or a password-protected Web site, the location of their child's phone on a map. The service allows five free Family Locator requests per month, with additional requests costing 49 cents each. ... But high-tech child surveillance goes beyond cellphones. ... That amount will get you a live tracking device that can be covertly attached to a vehicle. Parents can check online or, depending on the product, even by cellphone to see where the car is, Wilcher said. Some devices can also alert parents if a vehicle travels too far or too fast. If, say, it exceeds 65 mph at night or leaves Tarrant County, the parent can be notified instantly by mobile text message or e-mail. Such devices usually come with a monthly fee. ... "People want to know where their loved ones are. It's just a dangerous world out there," King said." -- Fear sells.
Polygamists' children rally for their families - "Calling their lives blessed, more than a dozen young women and girls from polygamist families in Utah spoke at a rally Saturday, calling for a change in state laws and the right to live their life and religion."
Study: Magic Mushrooms Can Help Depression - "A new study reveals that the hallucinogenic chemical in 'magic mushrooms' can help fight off signs of depression as well as anxiety and drug dependence."
Can taxation curb obesity? - "Food and drinks high in sugar should be taxed just like cigarettes, say economists who believe it is the only way to combat the global crisis in obesity."
Parking-lot dentistry is finding its niche - "In casino parking lots in Vegas, mobile dental offices combine technology and the American penchant for saving time."
Caught on Film: A Growing Unease in Hollywood - "“When you hear what people are afraid of, it’s that movies are not special anymore,” said Terry Press, who runs worldwide marketing at DreamWorks Animation. “It’s the single issue no one wants to think about or say out loud.”"
Dolphins are flippin' idiots - "The scientific and marine conservation communities were divided yesterday in response to a South African academic's research showing dolphins are less intelligent than lab rats or goldfish. The study, by the University of the Witwatersrand's Paul Manger, claims the large brains of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales are to help cope with being warm-blooded in cold water and not a sign of intelligence."
Quote of the Day
"Something is always happening. But when it happens, people don't always see it...or understand it...or accept it."
~ John Hobbes, Fallen
Pakistanis find no evidence against ‘terror mastermind’ - "The Briton alleged to be the ‘mastermind’ behind the airline terror plot could be innocent of any significant involvement, sources close to the investigation claim." -- You read that correctly.
Bush's final gamble: giving Iraq a dictator? - "But last week the new nugget: an anonymous “military affairs expert” attended a White House briefing and reported: “Senior administration officials have acknowledged to me that they are considering alternatives other than democracy. Everybody in the administration is being quite circumspect, but you can sense their own concern that this is drifting away from democracy.”" -- It was never about bringing democracy to the Iraqi people. It was about establising a permanent presence in Iraq.
Bush: Leaving Iraq now would be a 'disaster' - "President Bush on Monday said there would be no quick U.S. exit from Iraq despite his concerns over talk of civil war in the country and the effect the war is having in American society. "If we ever give up the desire to help people who want to live in a free society, we will have lost our soul as a nation," Bush said." -- I used to just not be able to stomach listening to "words" come out of his mouth, but lately I am finding it increasingly more difficult to read his "words" as well.
Fourth defeat seals Bush’s war legacy - "But when one examines the record of the self-professed "war leader", the results are pretty dismal. As of now, President Bush is in the process of losing all four wars that he started."
Officer Called Haditha Routine - "The Marine officer who commanded the battalion involved in the Haditha killings last November did not consider the deaths of 24 Iraqis, many of them women and children, unusual and did not initiate an inquiry, according to a sworn statement he gave to military investigators in March. ... It also provides a glimpse of the mind-set of a commander on the scene who, despite the carnage, did not stop to consider whether Marines had crossed a line and killed defenseless civilians."
Three Times Three - "Do you not see what has happened to your country? Do you not realize where all of this is going? I can understand those who have walked away out of apathy and I admire those who fight on…but to think that there’s some silver lining in all of this is simply ignoring the reality. Most congressmen from both parties have been long since bought and paid for. The war is not going to end but is, in fact, priming up for the next phase."
Mutiny on Flight 613 - "British holidaymakers staged an unprecedented mutiny - refusing to allow their flight to take off until two men they feared were terrorists were forcibly removed. The extraordinary scenes happened after some of the 150 passengers on a Malaga-Manchester flight overheard two men of Asian appearance apparently talking Arabic. Passengers told cabin crew they feared for their safety and demanded police action. ... It also raised fears that more travellers will take the law into their own hands - effectively conducting their own 'passenger profiles'."
The Loose Cannon of 9/11 - "The 23-year old from Oneonta, New York returned home from two tours—one to Afghanistan; the other to Iraq—to help his best friends, Dylan Avery (director) and Jason Bermas (researcher), produce the sensational 80-minute, Web-based documentary Loose Change, which seeks to establish the government’s complicity in the terror attacks by addressing some very tough questions: Why wasn’t Ground Zero treated like a crime scene? How did both towers “freefall” to the ground “in 9.2 seconds” in just under two hours? And where are the black boxes from American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175?"
US extends credit line to Israel - "The Bush administration has agreed to an Israel demand that a loan guarantee deal be extended by an additional three years, until 2011."
Rex 84: FEMA's Blueprint for Martial Law in America - "We are dangerously close to a situation where ~ if the American people took to the streets in righteous indignation or if there were another 9/11 ~ a mechanism for martial law could be quickly implemented and carried out under REX 84."
Military recruiters cited for misconduct - "More than 100 young women who expressed interest in joining the military in the past year were preyed upon sexually by their recruiters. Women were raped on recruiting office couches, assaulted in government cars and groped en route to entrance exams."
Cold War Missiles Target of Blackout - "The Bush administration has begun designating as secret some information that the government long provided even to its enemy the former Soviet Union: the numbers of strategic weapons in the U.S. nuclear arsenal during the Cold War."
The Real Thing Is Getting So Hard to Find - "It's difficult to know what's real anymore. Politicians deceive us. Corporations cover up misdeeds with frothy PR. Photoshop makes it simple to fake photographs. Breast implants and facelifts are as common as Band-Aids. This is nothing new. The pages of history are filled with stories of fraud going back at least as far as the Trojan Horse. The difference today is that high-powered technology can manipulate reality and disseminate falsehoods on a scale never before seen."
Congress Poised to Unravel the Internet - "The telecommunications reform bill now moving through Congress threatens to be a major setback for those who hope that digital media can foster a more democratic society. The bill not only precludes net neutrality safeguards but also eliminates local community oversight of digital communications provided by cable and phone giants. It sets the stage for the privatized, consolidated and unregulated communications system that is at the core of the phone and cable lobbies' political agenda."
Obey your government: Toss that killer lip gloss - "As people obediently lined up at airports across the country to throw away killer lip gloss, expensive perfume and even bottles of fine wine, an irreverent question came to mind: Is there anything the government could order the American people to do in the name of fighting terrorism that would be so ridiculous they would refuse to do it? We are all undergoing government training. And so far we are all passing with flying colors. Whether that is something we should be proud of is questionable. We could look back on it one day as the biggest mistake the citizens of a once free nation ever made. Terrorists aren't the only ones who know how to use fear as a political weapon. The current administration has shown before it knows how to use fear to win elections and maintain power."
Federal Appeals Court: Driving With Money is a Crime - "A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that if a motorist is carrying large sums of money, it is automatically subject to confiscation. In the case entitled, "United States of America v. $124,700 in U.S. Currency," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit took that amount of cash away from Emiliano Gomez Gonzolez, a man with a "lack of significant criminal history" neither accused nor convicted of any crime."
Americans Have Never Confronted 'The Real Enemy' - "And the reason freedom is here one minute and gone the next is because Americans have never really confronted its true enemy. In fact, Americans have been shadow boxing with its real foe for centuries, instead of landing a solid right punch directly in the face of the Jesuit Order and The Vatican."
Sunday school teacher dumped for being female - "The minister of a church that dismissed a female Sunday School teacher after adopting what it called a literal interpretation of the Bible says a woman can perform any job -- outside of the church. The First Baptist Church dismissed Mary Lambert on August 9 with a letter explaining that the church had adopted an interpretation that prohibits women from teaching men. She had taught there for 54 years."
Crucifix banned by school - "A TEENAGE Christian has been banned from wearing a treasured crucifix by her high school."
THE EVOLUTION OF HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS - "The first thing housing consumers should understand is that associations were never intended to benefit them. They benefit municipal governments, builders/developers and the growing industry that feeds off associations. This $30 billion annual industry includes managers, attorneys, landscape companies, pool companies, CPAs, insurance companies and now, banks as well. One of the main purposes of an association, and the reason they are required to be part of all new construction in many parts of the country, is that of a vehicle for local governments to shunt their responsibilities off onto the private sector, while still taxing the citizens at the full rate. What this means for the taxpayer, homeowner and voter, is that they are not only double taxed but also living under the auspices of another layer of government a private government one that is not bound by the protections afforded in the Constitution."
Scientists Disagree On Link Between Storms, Warming - "Academics have published a flurry of papers either supporting or debunking the idea that warmer temperatures linked to human activity are fueling more intense storms. The issue remains unresolved, but it has acquired a political potency that has made both sides heavily invested in the outcome. Paradoxically, the calm hurricane season in the Atlantic so far this year has only intensified the argument. Both sides are using identical data but coming up with conflicting conclusions. There are several reasons."
2006 Tropical Storm Season Now Below Normal - "What a difference a year makes. After the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, the 2006 season is now below normal."
Delusional Democracy Breeds Delusional Prosperity - "Contrary to popular thinking, many revolutions have not occurred because of a widespread desire for freedom or democracy. They have been driven by mass hatred and rejection of economic inequality. The poor have revolted against the rich for eons. For much of human history the lack of freedom was linked to economic inequality. Those in power limited personal freedom so they could control the economy and prevent a fair distribution of wealth, allowing a relatively few to amass riches. Things change. If there is a special American capitalist genius it is maintaining a system with considerable freedom but where economic inequality is staggering. Our freedom subverts the need to revolt against the economy. The unwritten theory seems to be that if citizens have personal freedom they will ignore economic inequality. And it seems to be working well here in the United States of Affluence. ... This new report presents powerful data on net disposable household income inequality. Data on the Gini coefficient is the most common measure of income inequality. This coefficient varies from zero – perfect equality – to one – just one household having all the income. Data for 28 OECD countries over the period 1990 to 2000 showed that the U.S. had the second highest coefficient, at 0.37. Only Mexico, at 0.49, was higher; it is the simplest measure of just how completely screwed up Mexico is and why its citizens, rather than revolting, are fleeing to the U.S (though they tried for political change in their recent election). But as the American coefficient rises, where will Americans run to? ... When will the Second American Revolution begin? How much more economic misery will it take? Maybe just a little more will bring the American population to the tipping point. We can hope."
The Rise of Shrinking-Vacation Syndrome - "Even before toothpaste could clog an airport security line and a full tank of gas was considered an indulgence, Americans had begun to sour on the traditional summer vacation. But this summer, a number of surveys show that American workers, who already take fewer vacations than people in nearly all industrial nations, have pruned back their leisure days even more." -- And we're supposed to be the bastion of freedom. Hmmm.
Pope: Don't work too hard - " "We have to guard ourselves, the saint observed, from the dangers of excessive activity, regardless of the office one holds, because too many concerns can often lead to hardness of heart," the pope said."
US facing wave of murders and gun violence - "In a shift from trends of the past decade, violent crime is on the rise, fueling criticism of Bush administration policies as a wave of murders and shootings hits smaller cities and states with little experience with serious urban violence."
The CIA-Contra-Crack Connection, 10 Years Later - "The three-part series by reporter Gary Webb linked the CIA and Nicaragua's Contras to the crack cocaine epidemic that ripped through South Los Angeles in the 1980s. Most of the nation's elite newspapers at first ignored the story. A public uproar, especially among urban African Americans, forced them to respond. What followed was one of the most bizarre, unseemly and ultimately tragic scandals in the annals of American journalism, one in which top news organizations closed ranks to debunk claims Webb never made, ridicule assertions that turned out to be true and ignore corroborating evidence when it came to light. The whole shameful cycle was repeated when Webb committed suicide in December 2004."
Experts: Sex slaves are often the girls next door - "“It’s a very overwhelming subject for a lot of people to recognize that there is slavery at this time in our country,” said Carole Angel, staff attorney with the Immigrant Women Program of the women’s rights advocacy group Legal Momentum in Washington. “It’s hard for us as humans to contemplate what this means.”"
Sir, can we do something easier? - "Chemistry and physics departments are closing. The number of A-level science students is plummeting. Why doesn't anyone want to do the hard stuff any more, asks Emma Brockes - and does it matter if they don't? ... Besides which, as anyone who has ever sat through an A-level English class on the Wife of Bath knows, "relevance" and inspirational teaching are in short supply curriculum-wide. The arts subjects, however, have no trouble recruiting. So then it comes down to a question of culture; the fact that science is under-covered in the press because most journalists are arts graduates; the fact that children can't see a clear picture of what returns studying science will deliver, in particular how it will increase their chances of getting on TV; and the fact that, so the argument goes, children are getting lazier because all they do is sit in front of computer screens all day instead of playing competitive sport and tackling equations."
I spy with my little cellphone - "What were once the tracking tools of spies and private investigators are now being offered to mainstream America, specifically parents who want to keep constant track of their kids in real time. Already, millions of families have discovered the meddlesome capabilities of their children's mobile phones. ... The most aggressive has been Disney, whose cellphone service, Disney Mobile, debuted in June. The phones' Family Locator feature allows parents to see, via their own phone or a password-protected Web site, the location of their child's phone on a map. The service allows five free Family Locator requests per month, with additional requests costing 49 cents each. ... But high-tech child surveillance goes beyond cellphones. ... That amount will get you a live tracking device that can be covertly attached to a vehicle. Parents can check online or, depending on the product, even by cellphone to see where the car is, Wilcher said. Some devices can also alert parents if a vehicle travels too far or too fast. If, say, it exceeds 65 mph at night or leaves Tarrant County, the parent can be notified instantly by mobile text message or e-mail. Such devices usually come with a monthly fee. ... "People want to know where their loved ones are. It's just a dangerous world out there," King said." -- Fear sells.
Polygamists' children rally for their families - "Calling their lives blessed, more than a dozen young women and girls from polygamist families in Utah spoke at a rally Saturday, calling for a change in state laws and the right to live their life and religion."
Study: Magic Mushrooms Can Help Depression - "A new study reveals that the hallucinogenic chemical in 'magic mushrooms' can help fight off signs of depression as well as anxiety and drug dependence."
Can taxation curb obesity? - "Food and drinks high in sugar should be taxed just like cigarettes, say economists who believe it is the only way to combat the global crisis in obesity."
Parking-lot dentistry is finding its niche - "In casino parking lots in Vegas, mobile dental offices combine technology and the American penchant for saving time."
Caught on Film: A Growing Unease in Hollywood - "“When you hear what people are afraid of, it’s that movies are not special anymore,” said Terry Press, who runs worldwide marketing at DreamWorks Animation. “It’s the single issue no one wants to think about or say out loud.”"
Dolphins are flippin' idiots - "The scientific and marine conservation communities were divided yesterday in response to a South African academic's research showing dolphins are less intelligent than lab rats or goldfish. The study, by the University of the Witwatersrand's Paul Manger, claims the large brains of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales are to help cope with being warm-blooded in cold water and not a sign of intelligence."
Quote of the Day
"Something is always happening. But when it happens, people don't always see it...or understand it...or accept it."
~ John Hobbes, Fallen
August 19, 2006
Why We Fight
You owe it to yourself to see this film. Rent it today.
Why We Fight
Then tell other people to watch it.
Why We Fight
Then tell other people to watch it.
News -- August 19, 2006
Bush's Weapon of Mass Deception - "It is a week since news broke in London about an alleged plot to blow up nine commercial jetliners and there are emerging indicators that Bush and Blair exaggerated the truth about the actual readiness of the so-called plot. And yes, I mean so-called plot. Why would Bush and Blair hype a terrorist threat? A very simple answer. The White House was on notice that Seymour Hersh's story that the Bush Administration encouraged Israel to invade Lebanon as part of a broader scheme to set the stage for war with Iran. Tony Blair, Bush's enabler, went along with the ruse. ... First, no evidence has emerged that the plotters had in hand a functioning prototype of the device they wanted to take on board a plane. That's an important point. ... I'm also struck by the fact that more then twenty people were allegedly involved in this plot. The Al Qaeda of Ramsi Yousef's day had a viable plan for blowing up 12 planes using only 5 people. Now we learn that the radical Islamic copycats need 20 folks for at least 6 planes. Is this evidence of Al Qaeda's degraded capability? Second, no evidence has emerged that the group had purchased tickets or even had passports that would allow them to board a plane to the United States. How exactly were they supposed to bomb planes that they could not even board. ... If I'm right about this latest incident, Keith Olberman has a new item to add to his list of ten."
Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible? - "Or at least that's what we're hearing, and loudly, through the mainstream media and its legions of so-called "terrorism experts." But what do these experts know about chemistry? Less than they know about lobbying for Homeland Security pork, which is what most of them do for a living. But they've seen the same movies that you and I have seen, and so the myth of binary liquid explosives dies hard."
Olmert 'suspends' withdrawal plan - "Housing minister Meir Shetreet said the plan had not been abandoned entirely."
Saddam could be tried posthumously: US official - "Ousted Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein could be tried posthumously for genocide if an Iraqi court decides to execute him for a separate accusation of mass murder."
Troops Express Worries About Iraq - "President Bush is not frustrated over the slow progress in Iraq, the White House insists. But a lot of other Americans are — apparently including U.S. troops."
Abolish the TSA, Save Lives - "The Transportation Security Administration exists not to prevent terrorists from bringing down planes but to prevent passengers from realizing the government is powerless over such catastrophes."
Teacher's radical 9/11 views raise red flags - "According to Kevin Barrett, the US government planned and carried out the 9/11 attacks, the World Trade Center imploded due to explosives set up ahead of time in the buildings, Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone's plane crash was no accident, and Osama bin Laden has probably been dead since 2001. Mr. Barrett is not a radical anarchist or a teenager peddling conspiracy theories; he's a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Madison – a fact that has outraged some state politicians."
Israel shouldn't be off-limits for criticism - "As Americans, we take pride in our Constitution and our right to freely debate the policies of our government on both the domestic and international level. This right is what separates us from many other undemocratic countries in the world. However, a disturbing trend has emerged over the years and an ideology has manifested, which somehow mandates that, when it comes to Israel, it is not only unacceptable to criticize, but it is reprehensible. The disturbing fact is that people who are justifiably critical of Israel immediately become targets of harassment."
Vegas has new crime element: Israeli mob - "In recent months authorities have discovered that Israeli organized crime syndicates have set their sights on Las Vegas. One ranking crime figure was overheard a year ago by lawmen on court-approved wiretaps describing Las Vegas as "wide open" territory. ... And they're just as violent as the Mafia. ... But unlike the Mafia, the Israeli crime groups are far more sophisticated and have far-reaching international tentacles."
Lawyer: Clarett has ties to alleged Israeli mobster - "Maurice Clarett was bankrolled by an alleged member of an Israeli crime organization after leaving Ohio State, ESPN has learned, and Clarett's attorney said Thursday that his client may have been in possession of firearms last week to protect himself against mob activity."
MONO-Theism - It's Not Exactly a Kissing Disease - "Monotheism is divisive, warlike and ego inflating by nature. It pretends that someone is all right, and the rest are all wrong. It is us vs. them, me vs. you, we vs. they, the true people vs the false, God's people vs. the pagans, the chosen people vs. the unchosen, converted vs. unconverted, of God vs. of the Devil and on and on. It is the idea that one group of people can find the true God to the exclusion of others that is the basis for so much carnage and killing on the planet. It is why your news reads as it does, why your government acts as it does, why your Church thinks as it does and why others react as they do. For all the chosen, there are the unchosen. For all the called, there are the uncalled. For all those that just know they are right, there are those they know are just wrong. For all that understand the one true truths, there are those that understand nothing, are deceived, pagan, of the devil, rebellious, stiff necked, hard of heart and generally uncooperative when a monotheist pushes their truth in your face or endeavors to shove it so far down your throat, you choke. Everyone believes with all their heart that they are in the right religion and certainly undertand the one true God and attend the right synagogue, mosque or church. No one would say, "I am in the false church and believe bullshit, but I like it." One can in fact be in a false group, in terms of the information given being accurate to life and reality, and one can certainly believe bullshit, but while everyone else might suspect this, they are oblivious to it. If you mention that they might do a bit more homework on the topic, or lighten up a bit...well, you are of the Devil and here we go again! What's the solution? There are a few concepts which are true, but will never be admitted to being true by those that hold onto the exclusivity of monotheism. ... So here we go. Truths, and no these are not things that are "true for you", that are true no matter what one believes."
What the Devil? - "He's not the enemy of God, his name really isn't Lucifer and he isn't even evil. And as far as leading Adam and Eve astray, that was a bad rap stemming from a case of mistaken identity. ... "If Satan isn't really in opposition to God and he isn't really evil, then that means the fight between good and evil isn't an authentic part of Christianity," Kelly said. "What I'm saying will be scandalous to some people.""
Waiting for Reinforcements - "The fighting won't end: Gearing up for another wave of homeless vets."
And the award goes to... - "We tallied the votes (drum roll), and it looks like the winner of Feministing’s Second Annual Disturbing Product Poll is the misogynist monstrosity above!"
Marriage Likely To Help Depression, Study Says - "If you want help beating depression and want to find more happiness, get married."
High suicide rate for older white males - "Suicide experts are unable to pinpoint an exact cause for the higher rate but some believe white males lack the resilience and coping mechanisms that women and other ethnic groups have."
FDA approves viruses as food additive - "A mix of bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on cold cuts, hot dogs and sausages to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a year, federal health officials said Friday in granting the first-ever approval of viruses as a food additive."
Are you SURE you want to remove that? - "An Indian businessman born with two penises wants one of them removed surgically as he wants to marry and lead a normal sexual life, a newspaper report said Saturday."
Earth's moon could become a planet - ""If the Earth and moon do survive, then the barycenter will eventually move outside the Earth as the moon recedes," Laughlin told SPACE.com. "At that point the Moon would be promoted to planetary status." [What would we call it?]"
Universe has fuel for another 70bn years - "IT WILL be 70 billion years before the lights start to go out all over the universe, scientists at a Scottish university revealed yesterday."
Quote of the Day
"When will I see what you see?"
~ Blue Rodeo
Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible? - "Or at least that's what we're hearing, and loudly, through the mainstream media and its legions of so-called "terrorism experts." But what do these experts know about chemistry? Less than they know about lobbying for Homeland Security pork, which is what most of them do for a living. But they've seen the same movies that you and I have seen, and so the myth of binary liquid explosives dies hard."
Olmert 'suspends' withdrawal plan - "Housing minister Meir Shetreet said the plan had not been abandoned entirely."
Saddam could be tried posthumously: US official - "Ousted Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein could be tried posthumously for genocide if an Iraqi court decides to execute him for a separate accusation of mass murder."
Troops Express Worries About Iraq - "President Bush is not frustrated over the slow progress in Iraq, the White House insists. But a lot of other Americans are — apparently including U.S. troops."
Abolish the TSA, Save Lives - "The Transportation Security Administration exists not to prevent terrorists from bringing down planes but to prevent passengers from realizing the government is powerless over such catastrophes."
Teacher's radical 9/11 views raise red flags - "According to Kevin Barrett, the US government planned and carried out the 9/11 attacks, the World Trade Center imploded due to explosives set up ahead of time in the buildings, Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone's plane crash was no accident, and Osama bin Laden has probably been dead since 2001. Mr. Barrett is not a radical anarchist or a teenager peddling conspiracy theories; he's a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Madison – a fact that has outraged some state politicians."
Israel shouldn't be off-limits for criticism - "As Americans, we take pride in our Constitution and our right to freely debate the policies of our government on both the domestic and international level. This right is what separates us from many other undemocratic countries in the world. However, a disturbing trend has emerged over the years and an ideology has manifested, which somehow mandates that, when it comes to Israel, it is not only unacceptable to criticize, but it is reprehensible. The disturbing fact is that people who are justifiably critical of Israel immediately become targets of harassment."
Vegas has new crime element: Israeli mob - "In recent months authorities have discovered that Israeli organized crime syndicates have set their sights on Las Vegas. One ranking crime figure was overheard a year ago by lawmen on court-approved wiretaps describing Las Vegas as "wide open" territory. ... And they're just as violent as the Mafia. ... But unlike the Mafia, the Israeli crime groups are far more sophisticated and have far-reaching international tentacles."
Lawyer: Clarett has ties to alleged Israeli mobster - "Maurice Clarett was bankrolled by an alleged member of an Israeli crime organization after leaving Ohio State, ESPN has learned, and Clarett's attorney said Thursday that his client may have been in possession of firearms last week to protect himself against mob activity."
MONO-Theism - It's Not Exactly a Kissing Disease - "Monotheism is divisive, warlike and ego inflating by nature. It pretends that someone is all right, and the rest are all wrong. It is us vs. them, me vs. you, we vs. they, the true people vs the false, God's people vs. the pagans, the chosen people vs. the unchosen, converted vs. unconverted, of God vs. of the Devil and on and on. It is the idea that one group of people can find the true God to the exclusion of others that is the basis for so much carnage and killing on the planet. It is why your news reads as it does, why your government acts as it does, why your Church thinks as it does and why others react as they do. For all the chosen, there are the unchosen. For all the called, there are the uncalled. For all those that just know they are right, there are those they know are just wrong. For all that understand the one true truths, there are those that understand nothing, are deceived, pagan, of the devil, rebellious, stiff necked, hard of heart and generally uncooperative when a monotheist pushes their truth in your face or endeavors to shove it so far down your throat, you choke. Everyone believes with all their heart that they are in the right religion and certainly undertand the one true God and attend the right synagogue, mosque or church. No one would say, "I am in the false church and believe bullshit, but I like it." One can in fact be in a false group, in terms of the information given being accurate to life and reality, and one can certainly believe bullshit, but while everyone else might suspect this, they are oblivious to it. If you mention that they might do a bit more homework on the topic, or lighten up a bit...well, you are of the Devil and here we go again! What's the solution? There are a few concepts which are true, but will never be admitted to being true by those that hold onto the exclusivity of monotheism. ... So here we go. Truths, and no these are not things that are "true for you", that are true no matter what one believes."
What the Devil? - "He's not the enemy of God, his name really isn't Lucifer and he isn't even evil. And as far as leading Adam and Eve astray, that was a bad rap stemming from a case of mistaken identity. ... "If Satan isn't really in opposition to God and he isn't really evil, then that means the fight between good and evil isn't an authentic part of Christianity," Kelly said. "What I'm saying will be scandalous to some people.""
Waiting for Reinforcements - "The fighting won't end: Gearing up for another wave of homeless vets."
And the award goes to... - "We tallied the votes (drum roll), and it looks like the winner of Feministing’s Second Annual Disturbing Product Poll is the misogynist monstrosity above!"
Marriage Likely To Help Depression, Study Says - "If you want help beating depression and want to find more happiness, get married."
High suicide rate for older white males - "Suicide experts are unable to pinpoint an exact cause for the higher rate but some believe white males lack the resilience and coping mechanisms that women and other ethnic groups have."
FDA approves viruses as food additive - "A mix of bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on cold cuts, hot dogs and sausages to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a year, federal health officials said Friday in granting the first-ever approval of viruses as a food additive."
Are you SURE you want to remove that? - "An Indian businessman born with two penises wants one of them removed surgically as he wants to marry and lead a normal sexual life, a newspaper report said Saturday."
Earth's moon could become a planet - ""If the Earth and moon do survive, then the barycenter will eventually move outside the Earth as the moon recedes," Laughlin told SPACE.com. "At that point the Moon would be promoted to planetary status." [What would we call it?]"
Universe has fuel for another 70bn years - "IT WILL be 70 billion years before the lights start to go out all over the universe, scientists at a Scottish university revealed yesterday."
Quote of the Day
"When will I see what you see?"
~ Blue Rodeo
August 18, 2006
News -- August 18, 2006
The timing is political - "We should be sceptical about this alleged plot, and wary of politicians who seek to benefit. Nine days on, nobody has been charged with any crime. For there to be no clear evidence yet on something that was "imminent" and would bring "mass murder on an unbelievable scale" is, to say the least, peculiar. A 24th person, arrested amid much fanfare on Tuesday, was quietly released without charge the following day."
BY THE LIGHT OF A BURNING BRIDGE - "Now it seems the American people won’t even risk their credit ratings, student loans, the next piece of ass, or a sideways glance from people who look at them like AIDS patients for daring to deviate from the corporate, media-instilled norm. We have come a long way backward. Rodney King’s “Can’t we all just get along” has become the modern day theme song for the surrender of America’s character, and the L.A. Rebellion of 1992 was probably the last flame of will to fight injustice in American history."
Why Do We Hate Them? - "Now that the Stalinist/Maoist regimes have collapsed or evolved toward capitalism and no fascist states with imperial ambitions exist (besides the United States and its few allies), the American Empire needed to find a new "enemy” to replace Stalinists and Nazis. Much of the soft power employed by the leaders of America’s “top down democracy” stems from psychological manipulation of “the mob”. Mobilization of the masses against a common enemy “threatening the very existence of the American Way” has long been a staple in the United States’ ruling elites’ ongoing push to monopolize the world’s wealth, power, and prestige."
Politicians jousting over terrorism are missing the point, pollsters say - "Republicans and Democrats are beating each other up on the issue of terrorism in the wake of the alleged London airplane plot, but polls show that most Americans are far more worried about the war in Iraq. That's bad news for President Bush and his Republican allies because, with congressional elections less than 100 days away, most voters don't think the war was worth it and don't like Bush's handling of it. Pollsters say that any boost the president gets from the alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic aircraft isn't likely to alter negative opinions about the war. "Iraq is far and away the Number 1 issue. Nothing comes even close," pollster John Zogby said. "It's the elephant in the living room.""
The CIA Torture Loophole - "Congress and the Supreme Court have made it clear that there is a baseline standard of humane treatment below which no person can fall. If the administration gets its way with its legislative proposals, though, we will have both less clarity and possible authorization for the CIA to use techniques that do not meet even minimal humane treatment requirements. Until every agency of the U.S. government trains its personnel to the standard required by law, there will be more deaths of detainees in custody."
US says it has no plans to invade Cuba - " The United States has invaded and administered Cuba in the past, a subject of everyday political discussion by the Cuban government."
Families troubled by health care costs - "The study also found that while people are having difficulties paying for their health services, they are also unsatisfied with them. Forty-two percent of people surveyed said they had experienced poorly coordinated, inefficient or unsafe care at some points during the past two years. Their experiences included a medical error, a duplicate test or the failure to provide important test results to doctors or nurses. Three-quarters of the adults surveyed said the health care system needs fundamental change or a complete rebuilding."
AIDS attention turns to prevention - "During the 25 years of the AIDS epidemic, much of the focus has been on developing a vaccine or treatment, and prevention has sometimes seemed to take a back seat. But this week at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, the tables are turning."
AIDS a Glamorous Multi-Billion Dollar Industry - "Huge profits for pharmaceutical and condom manufacturers, bottomless grants for researchers and NGO’s, publicity and money for research foundations, six-digit salaries for advertising executives and increasing fame for big name celebrities are creating a disincentive to actually stop the disease say some AIDS activists. The “AIDS industry,” is a multi-billion dollar international enterprise now, and those who gather to enjoy lavish meals and hotels in Toronto this week, are more interested in “managing the disease” than in curing it or stopping its spread, says Martin Sempa, a leading AIDS fighter from Uganda."
Debt Education: Bad for the Young, Bad for America - "Student loans, for more than half those attending college, are the new paradigm of college funding. Consequently, student debt is, or will soon be, the new paradigm of early to middle adult life. Gone are the days when the state university was as cheap as a laptop and was considered a right, like secondary education. Now higher education is, like most social services, a largely privatized venture, and loans are the chief way that a majority of individuals pay for it."
MySpace users hit by hacker virus - "Experts believe that hackers have hit the hugely popular site and say the viruses in circulation can change settings, delete files, secretly track users' movements online and even damage computers. They believe that the hackers have hidden dangerous software on the site which means that computers can be attacked unaware to users while they are just viewing pages."
Apple uncover harsh conditions at Chinese iPod factory - "Apple Computer Inc.'s investigation into claims of poor conditions at a Chinese iPod factory found no forced labour but revealed that labourers were exceeding the company's limits on hours and days to be worked per week, the company revealed."
Spying an intelligent search engine - "While Google has set the standard for Web search, some technologists are promising a new age of search tools that are much more powerful because of advances in artificial intelligence."
Scientists: Ozone layer recovery will take longer - "Scientists said Friday it would take until 2065, instead of 2050 as previously expected, for the ozone layer to recover and the hole over the Antarctic to close."
Our cities are killing us - "Think of it as a vast experiment in human biology. Put millions of people in a limited space, then crank a few levers: increase the hours they work, and increase the distance they have to travel; tempt them with material goods but undermine their sense of security about the future; allow them almost unlimited access to food, but subtly direct their choice by making grease and sugar most accessible. See what happens. ... The population's physical health is starting to degrade."
Ford to slash production, shutter plants - "Ford Motor Co. on Friday announced sharp cuts in its North American production that would force it to partially shut down plants in the United States and Canada in the fourth quarter."
God Bless This Lube - "Christians sometimes get a bad rap in sex-positive writing. Some of them deserve it, considering how loudly they protest the existence of any type of sex-tech, from vibrators to online pornography to the Plan B emergency contraception pill. ... Those are the customers that Book22 seeks to attract. Book22, named for the twenty-second book in the Bible, "Song of Solomon," is a new adult novelty store positioning itself as a Christian source of intimacy products for married couples."
'Themepark Venice' to charge for entry - "Venice may soon become the first city in Italy to charge tourists for the pleasure of visiting it as authorities look to introduce an "entrance charge" to offset the damage done to the unique architecture by hordes of holidaymakers."
Quote of the Day
"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it."
~ Andre Gide
BY THE LIGHT OF A BURNING BRIDGE - "Now it seems the American people won’t even risk their credit ratings, student loans, the next piece of ass, or a sideways glance from people who look at them like AIDS patients for daring to deviate from the corporate, media-instilled norm. We have come a long way backward. Rodney King’s “Can’t we all just get along” has become the modern day theme song for the surrender of America’s character, and the L.A. Rebellion of 1992 was probably the last flame of will to fight injustice in American history."
Why Do We Hate Them? - "Now that the Stalinist/Maoist regimes have collapsed or evolved toward capitalism and no fascist states with imperial ambitions exist (besides the United States and its few allies), the American Empire needed to find a new "enemy” to replace Stalinists and Nazis. Much of the soft power employed by the leaders of America’s “top down democracy” stems from psychological manipulation of “the mob”. Mobilization of the masses against a common enemy “threatening the very existence of the American Way” has long been a staple in the United States’ ruling elites’ ongoing push to monopolize the world’s wealth, power, and prestige."
Politicians jousting over terrorism are missing the point, pollsters say - "Republicans and Democrats are beating each other up on the issue of terrorism in the wake of the alleged London airplane plot, but polls show that most Americans are far more worried about the war in Iraq. That's bad news for President Bush and his Republican allies because, with congressional elections less than 100 days away, most voters don't think the war was worth it and don't like Bush's handling of it. Pollsters say that any boost the president gets from the alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic aircraft isn't likely to alter negative opinions about the war. "Iraq is far and away the Number 1 issue. Nothing comes even close," pollster John Zogby said. "It's the elephant in the living room.""
The CIA Torture Loophole - "Congress and the Supreme Court have made it clear that there is a baseline standard of humane treatment below which no person can fall. If the administration gets its way with its legislative proposals, though, we will have both less clarity and possible authorization for the CIA to use techniques that do not meet even minimal humane treatment requirements. Until every agency of the U.S. government trains its personnel to the standard required by law, there will be more deaths of detainees in custody."
US says it has no plans to invade Cuba - " The United States has invaded and administered Cuba in the past, a subject of everyday political discussion by the Cuban government."
Families troubled by health care costs - "The study also found that while people are having difficulties paying for their health services, they are also unsatisfied with them. Forty-two percent of people surveyed said they had experienced poorly coordinated, inefficient or unsafe care at some points during the past two years. Their experiences included a medical error, a duplicate test or the failure to provide important test results to doctors or nurses. Three-quarters of the adults surveyed said the health care system needs fundamental change or a complete rebuilding."
AIDS attention turns to prevention - "During the 25 years of the AIDS epidemic, much of the focus has been on developing a vaccine or treatment, and prevention has sometimes seemed to take a back seat. But this week at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, the tables are turning."
AIDS a Glamorous Multi-Billion Dollar Industry - "Huge profits for pharmaceutical and condom manufacturers, bottomless grants for researchers and NGO’s, publicity and money for research foundations, six-digit salaries for advertising executives and increasing fame for big name celebrities are creating a disincentive to actually stop the disease say some AIDS activists. The “AIDS industry,” is a multi-billion dollar international enterprise now, and those who gather to enjoy lavish meals and hotels in Toronto this week, are more interested in “managing the disease” than in curing it or stopping its spread, says Martin Sempa, a leading AIDS fighter from Uganda."
Debt Education: Bad for the Young, Bad for America - "Student loans, for more than half those attending college, are the new paradigm of college funding. Consequently, student debt is, or will soon be, the new paradigm of early to middle adult life. Gone are the days when the state university was as cheap as a laptop and was considered a right, like secondary education. Now higher education is, like most social services, a largely privatized venture, and loans are the chief way that a majority of individuals pay for it."
MySpace users hit by hacker virus - "Experts believe that hackers have hit the hugely popular site and say the viruses in circulation can change settings, delete files, secretly track users' movements online and even damage computers. They believe that the hackers have hidden dangerous software on the site which means that computers can be attacked unaware to users while they are just viewing pages."
Apple uncover harsh conditions at Chinese iPod factory - "Apple Computer Inc.'s investigation into claims of poor conditions at a Chinese iPod factory found no forced labour but revealed that labourers were exceeding the company's limits on hours and days to be worked per week, the company revealed."
Spying an intelligent search engine - "While Google has set the standard for Web search, some technologists are promising a new age of search tools that are much more powerful because of advances in artificial intelligence."
Scientists: Ozone layer recovery will take longer - "Scientists said Friday it would take until 2065, instead of 2050 as previously expected, for the ozone layer to recover and the hole over the Antarctic to close."
Our cities are killing us - "Think of it as a vast experiment in human biology. Put millions of people in a limited space, then crank a few levers: increase the hours they work, and increase the distance they have to travel; tempt them with material goods but undermine their sense of security about the future; allow them almost unlimited access to food, but subtly direct their choice by making grease and sugar most accessible. See what happens. ... The population's physical health is starting to degrade."
Ford to slash production, shutter plants - "Ford Motor Co. on Friday announced sharp cuts in its North American production that would force it to partially shut down plants in the United States and Canada in the fourth quarter."
God Bless This Lube - "Christians sometimes get a bad rap in sex-positive writing. Some of them deserve it, considering how loudly they protest the existence of any type of sex-tech, from vibrators to online pornography to the Plan B emergency contraception pill. ... Those are the customers that Book22 seeks to attract. Book22, named for the twenty-second book in the Bible, "Song of Solomon," is a new adult novelty store positioning itself as a Christian source of intimacy products for married couples."
'Themepark Venice' to charge for entry - "Venice may soon become the first city in Italy to charge tourists for the pleasure of visiting it as authorities look to introduce an "entrance charge" to offset the damage done to the unique architecture by hordes of holidaymakers."
Quote of the Day
"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it."
~ Andre Gide
August 17, 2006
News (Page 2) -- August 17, 2006
King endorses ethnic profiling - "Declaring that airport screeners shouldn't be hampered by "political correctness," House Homeland Security Chairman Peter King has endorsed requiring people of "Middle Eastern and South Asian" descent to undergo additional security checks because of their ethnicity and religion."
US to move quickly on Iran sanctions - "The United States intends to move very quickly in early September to impose UN sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend its enrichment of uranium, a senior State Department official said Thursday."
N. Korea Appears to Be Preparing for Nuclear Test - "There is new evidence that North Korea may be preparing for an underground test of a nuclear bomb, U.S. officials tell ABC News."
Hatch says Demo win could help terrorists - "Sen. Orrin Hatch, who continuously decries the bitter partisanship in Washington, implied this week that Democratic success in November's election could result in terrorist attacks on America." -- Ah, the politics of fear. Shut up Orrin.
Terror concerns bother both parties - "Thirty-five percent of those surveyed say they are very concerned that a Democratic takeover of Congress would weaken the fight against terrorism, according to the poll. But 46 percent say they are very concerned that if Republicans retain control, they will get the country involved in too many military missions." -- We have been brainwashed to believe we only have two choices for the presidency.
Great movie, pity about the Big Lie - "When World Trade Center ended, I left the theater tense, my muscles aching. ... I suddenly realized that Oliver Stone's movie reinforces the Big Lie - endlessly repeated by Vice President Dick Cheney, echoed and amplified by the right-wing media - that the attacks of September 11 were somehow linked to Iraq or supported by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein."
UN probes child prostitute ring - "The United Nations is investigating allegations that some of its peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have used child prostitutes."
California on brink of global warming breakthrough - "California is forging ahead with the most aggressive U.S. program to reduce global warming -- a plan that pits Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger against fellow Republican George W. Bush. ... State politicians still are hammering out differences over the proposed Global Warming Solutions Act. If passed, it is likely to play a role in November's vote for governor and in national politics for years to come."
Judge: Tobacco firms deceived smokers - "A federal judge ruled Thursday that the nation's top cigarette makers violated racketeering laws, deceiving the public for years about the health hazards of smoking. ... The government had asked the judge to make the companies pay $10 billion for smoking cessation programs, though the Justice Department's own expert said $130 billion was needed. That reduction in remedies led to accusations that Associate Attorney General Robert McCallum, a Bush administration political appointee, tried to weaken the case. However, an internal Justice Department cleared him of wrongdoing, saying he was supporting a figure he thought could be sustained on appeal."
Monks brawl at peace protest - "Protesters calling for an end to recent violence in Sri Lanka found themselves brawling with hardline Buddhist monks Thursday, after a rally dubbed a "peace protest" turned unexpectedly violent."
US criticised for HIV aid effort - "US policy is undermining the efforts of African countries to fight the HIV epidemic, a leading UN figure has said. Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy on Aids, said President George Bush's $15bn Emergency Plan for HIV/Aids was too focused on promoting abstinence. He said Washington was practising "incipient neo-colonialism" by telling African nations how to fight Aids. ... The Bush administration backs an "ABC" plan to fight Aids: Abstinence until marriage; Being faithful to one sexual partner; and if those conditions are not practised, the use of Condoms."
Judging Needle Exchange - "Government opponents of syringe access programs say that such programs condone drug use. The scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that such programs do not encourage drug use—they actually save lives by reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS. In the face of this data, one can only conclude that the government's failure to broadly implement such programs is based not on a reluctance to condone “immoral” activity, but on an immoral refusal to save the lives of people who engage in activities of which the government does not approve."
TV found to be a painkiller for children - "Researchers confirmed the distracting power of television — something parents have long known — when they found that children watching cartoons suffered less pain from a hypodermic needle than kids not watching TV. Especially disturbing to the author of the scientific study was that the cartoons were even more comforting than Mom. While it's good to have a powerful distraction for children getting painful medical procedures, it is also troubling "because we have demonstrated the excessive power of television," said chief author, Carlo Bellieni, a father of three and a neonatologist and pediatrician at the University of Siena in Italy."
Breast implants linked to suicide, but not cancer - "A large Canadian study adds to evidence that women with breast implants do not face a higher risk of cancer or other major diseases, but they may have a higher-than-average rate of suicide."
US to move quickly on Iran sanctions - "The United States intends to move very quickly in early September to impose UN sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend its enrichment of uranium, a senior State Department official said Thursday."
N. Korea Appears to Be Preparing for Nuclear Test - "There is new evidence that North Korea may be preparing for an underground test of a nuclear bomb, U.S. officials tell ABC News."
Hatch says Demo win could help terrorists - "Sen. Orrin Hatch, who continuously decries the bitter partisanship in Washington, implied this week that Democratic success in November's election could result in terrorist attacks on America." -- Ah, the politics of fear. Shut up Orrin.
Terror concerns bother both parties - "Thirty-five percent of those surveyed say they are very concerned that a Democratic takeover of Congress would weaken the fight against terrorism, according to the poll. But 46 percent say they are very concerned that if Republicans retain control, they will get the country involved in too many military missions." -- We have been brainwashed to believe we only have two choices for the presidency.
Great movie, pity about the Big Lie - "When World Trade Center ended, I left the theater tense, my muscles aching. ... I suddenly realized that Oliver Stone's movie reinforces the Big Lie - endlessly repeated by Vice President Dick Cheney, echoed and amplified by the right-wing media - that the attacks of September 11 were somehow linked to Iraq or supported by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein."
UN probes child prostitute ring - "The United Nations is investigating allegations that some of its peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have used child prostitutes."
California on brink of global warming breakthrough - "California is forging ahead with the most aggressive U.S. program to reduce global warming -- a plan that pits Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger against fellow Republican George W. Bush. ... State politicians still are hammering out differences over the proposed Global Warming Solutions Act. If passed, it is likely to play a role in November's vote for governor and in national politics for years to come."
Judge: Tobacco firms deceived smokers - "A federal judge ruled Thursday that the nation's top cigarette makers violated racketeering laws, deceiving the public for years about the health hazards of smoking. ... The government had asked the judge to make the companies pay $10 billion for smoking cessation programs, though the Justice Department's own expert said $130 billion was needed. That reduction in remedies led to accusations that Associate Attorney General Robert McCallum, a Bush administration political appointee, tried to weaken the case. However, an internal Justice Department cleared him of wrongdoing, saying he was supporting a figure he thought could be sustained on appeal."
Monks brawl at peace protest - "Protesters calling for an end to recent violence in Sri Lanka found themselves brawling with hardline Buddhist monks Thursday, after a rally dubbed a "peace protest" turned unexpectedly violent."
US criticised for HIV aid effort - "US policy is undermining the efforts of African countries to fight the HIV epidemic, a leading UN figure has said. Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy on Aids, said President George Bush's $15bn Emergency Plan for HIV/Aids was too focused on promoting abstinence. He said Washington was practising "incipient neo-colonialism" by telling African nations how to fight Aids. ... The Bush administration backs an "ABC" plan to fight Aids: Abstinence until marriage; Being faithful to one sexual partner; and if those conditions are not practised, the use of Condoms."
Judging Needle Exchange - "Government opponents of syringe access programs say that such programs condone drug use. The scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that such programs do not encourage drug use—they actually save lives by reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS. In the face of this data, one can only conclude that the government's failure to broadly implement such programs is based not on a reluctance to condone “immoral” activity, but on an immoral refusal to save the lives of people who engage in activities of which the government does not approve."
TV found to be a painkiller for children - "Researchers confirmed the distracting power of television — something parents have long known — when they found that children watching cartoons suffered less pain from a hypodermic needle than kids not watching TV. Especially disturbing to the author of the scientific study was that the cartoons were even more comforting than Mom. While it's good to have a powerful distraction for children getting painful medical procedures, it is also troubling "because we have demonstrated the excessive power of television," said chief author, Carlo Bellieni, a father of three and a neonatologist and pediatrician at the University of Siena in Italy."
Breast implants linked to suicide, but not cancer - "A large Canadian study adds to evidence that women with breast implants do not face a higher risk of cancer or other major diseases, but they may have a higher-than-average rate of suicide."
News -- August 17, 2006
Former Teacher Claims He Killed JonBenet - "A former American school teacher said publicly Thursday he was with JonBenet Ramsey when she was killed and called the 6-year-old's death "an accident," a stunning admission that should help answer 10 years of questions in the unsolved murder case. "I am so very sorry for what happened to JonBenet," he told The Associated Press." -- Well, I guess this will keep the other issues of the world off the front pages for a few days. How fortunate for the Bush administration.
NSA eavesdropping program ruled unconstitutional - "A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government's warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it." -- Take this story for example.
US to have behaviour officers at airports - "Taking a page from Israeli airport security, the US transportation agency is experimenting with new squads whose members do not look for bombs, guns or knives but keep an eye on anyone with evil intent. These specially trained officers are working in about a dozen airports nationwide and they represent just a tiny percentage of the transportation agency's 43,000 screeners. But the New York Times quoted agency officials as saying that after the reported liquid bomb plot in Britain, they want to have hundreds of behaviour detection officers trained by the end of next year and deployed at most of the nation's biggest airports."
Authorities Warning Women Not to Wear Gel Bras As Worries of Possible Female Bombers Increase - "U.S. authorities are advising women not to wear gel bras on airplanes as information developed in the foiled London plot points to an expanding role for women in smuggling explosives on to an aircraft."
Attorney General: Terrorists are in our neighborhoods - "In a few weeks, we will mark the five-year anniversary of those attacks. During this period, our way of life has changed so much. Our children and grandchildren will grow up in a world much different than ours. With advances in technology, such as the Internet, change is natural, of course, among successive generations. But the most dramatic change is the nature of the enemy our country today faces -- a stateless enemy sometimes hidden and nurtured here in our neighborhoods, taking advantage of the very laws they mock with their killing and destruction, as a shield from detection and prosecution. Much has changed, but the threat remains and so much our determination to prevent terrorism." -- You won't prevent terrorism with this band-aid approach.
The Money Pit - "Drawing on the Defense Department's own data, the GOP staffers conclude that, over the coming decade, the military will fall drastically short of the money it needs to buy, operate, and maintain all the weapons systems churning through the pipeline. And though the newsletter doesn't say so explicitly, the main sources of this crisis are clear: the service chiefs' extravagant taste for more, new, complex weapons; the Pentagon managers' failure to set priorities; and Congress' tendency to pile on even more money than the military requests in order to swell the payrolls of local arms manufacturers."
'Last Days on Earth' - "Watch "Last Days on Earth," a special 2-hour edition of "20/20," Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 9 p.m. For thousands of years, different religions have warned Earth about Armageddon and the final days.
We are now living in an age where scientists are adding their voices and their evidence in support of end-of-the-world possibilities."
NYC releases new 9/11 tapes - "Most of the calls involved firefighters and dispatchers. The voices of 10 civilians calling from inside the World Trade Center were edited out because of privacy concerns."
A's fans unknowingly pass scientists' sniff test - " As fans marched into McAfee Coliseum to see the Oakland A's play the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels, scientists working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were sniffing them — their popcorn, their cigars, hairspray and after-shave. The scientists, sent from Sandia National Laboratories, wondered whether they could catch a whiff of a terrorist chemical attack in this morass of smells."
Pictures that lie - "This photo isn't exactly what it appears to be--nor are the other images that follow in this photo gallery. All were manipulated beyond straightforward cropping of edges or lightening shaded areas. Often they have a key element inserted or deleted."
Team Finds Gene Separating Brains of Man and Monkey - "About 2 million years ago, the brains of ancient humans and chimpanzees began to diverge from each other. Humans got smarter, chimps didn't, and scientists now say they may have found out why."
Billions Face Water Shortages, Crisis Looms: Agency - "A third of the world is facing water shortages because of poor management of water resources and soaring water usage, driven mainly by agriculture, the International Water Management Institute said on Wednesday."
Four-Fifths of U.S. High School Graduates Not Ready for College - "Almost four-fifths of U.S. high school graduates failed to pass this year's standard examinations designed to show their readiness for college, test designer ACT Inc. reported."
"Elite" HIV patients mystify doctors - "As many as one in 300 HIV patients never get sick and never suffer damage to their immune systems and AIDS experts said on Wednesday they want to know why."
Staph skin infections on rise in U.S. - "Many victims mistakenly thought they just had spider bites that wouldn't heal, not drug-resistant staph bacteria. Only a decade ago, these germs were hardly ever seen outside of hospitals and nursing homes."
Researchers Repair Retinas With Stem Cells - "University of Washington researchers say they've used stem cells to help repair mouse retinas in the lab. That could help people with macular degeneration."
Occasional Cup Of Coffee May Trigger Heart Attack - "They found that the highest risk was among those with light or occasional coffee intake, as well as those who have other risk factors for coronary heart disease. People who lead a sedentary lifestyle may also have a higher risk of heart attack after consuming a cup of coffee."
Skin test diagnoses Alzheimer's early - "Scientists have designed a "painless" skin test that they say is the first screening tool to accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease in the first one to two years of its progression."
'Hybrid Mutant' Found Dead in Maine - "It was charcoal gray, weighed between 40 and 50 pounds and had a bushy tail, a short snout, short ears and curled fangs hanging over its lips, he said. It looked like "something out of a Stephen King story." "This is something I've never seen before. It's an evil-looking thing," he said."
David Copperfield says he's found Fountain of Youth - "Master illusionist David Copperfield says he has found the "Fountain of Youth" in the southern Bahamas, amid a cluster of four tiny islands he recently bought for $50 million.
Fishermen survive months at sea eating birds - "Three Mexican fishermen have been rescued after drifting for about nine months across thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean in a small boat, an ordeal they survived by eating raw birds and fish and drinking rain water."
A Nation Divided Over Piracy - "The Pirate Bay survives, and politicians and entertainment lawyers confront a youth movement that embraces file sharing. Who would have thought Sweden would end up the internet's free-content haven?"
Security 'bad news for sex drive' - "A woman's sex drive begins to plummet once she is in a secure relationship, according to research."
Quote of the Day
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. "
~ Nelson Mandela
NSA eavesdropping program ruled unconstitutional - "A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government's warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it." -- Take this story for example.
US to have behaviour officers at airports - "Taking a page from Israeli airport security, the US transportation agency is experimenting with new squads whose members do not look for bombs, guns or knives but keep an eye on anyone with evil intent. These specially trained officers are working in about a dozen airports nationwide and they represent just a tiny percentage of the transportation agency's 43,000 screeners. But the New York Times quoted agency officials as saying that after the reported liquid bomb plot in Britain, they want to have hundreds of behaviour detection officers trained by the end of next year and deployed at most of the nation's biggest airports."
Authorities Warning Women Not to Wear Gel Bras As Worries of Possible Female Bombers Increase - "U.S. authorities are advising women not to wear gel bras on airplanes as information developed in the foiled London plot points to an expanding role for women in smuggling explosives on to an aircraft."
Attorney General: Terrorists are in our neighborhoods - "In a few weeks, we will mark the five-year anniversary of those attacks. During this period, our way of life has changed so much. Our children and grandchildren will grow up in a world much different than ours. With advances in technology, such as the Internet, change is natural, of course, among successive generations. But the most dramatic change is the nature of the enemy our country today faces -- a stateless enemy sometimes hidden and nurtured here in our neighborhoods, taking advantage of the very laws they mock with their killing and destruction, as a shield from detection and prosecution. Much has changed, but the threat remains and so much our determination to prevent terrorism." -- You won't prevent terrorism with this band-aid approach.
The Money Pit - "Drawing on the Defense Department's own data, the GOP staffers conclude that, over the coming decade, the military will fall drastically short of the money it needs to buy, operate, and maintain all the weapons systems churning through the pipeline. And though the newsletter doesn't say so explicitly, the main sources of this crisis are clear: the service chiefs' extravagant taste for more, new, complex weapons; the Pentagon managers' failure to set priorities; and Congress' tendency to pile on even more money than the military requests in order to swell the payrolls of local arms manufacturers."
'Last Days on Earth' - "Watch "Last Days on Earth," a special 2-hour edition of "20/20," Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 9 p.m. For thousands of years, different religions have warned Earth about Armageddon and the final days.
We are now living in an age where scientists are adding their voices and their evidence in support of end-of-the-world possibilities."
NYC releases new 9/11 tapes - "Most of the calls involved firefighters and dispatchers. The voices of 10 civilians calling from inside the World Trade Center were edited out because of privacy concerns."
A's fans unknowingly pass scientists' sniff test - " As fans marched into McAfee Coliseum to see the Oakland A's play the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels, scientists working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were sniffing them — their popcorn, their cigars, hairspray and after-shave. The scientists, sent from Sandia National Laboratories, wondered whether they could catch a whiff of a terrorist chemical attack in this morass of smells."
Pictures that lie - "This photo isn't exactly what it appears to be--nor are the other images that follow in this photo gallery. All were manipulated beyond straightforward cropping of edges or lightening shaded areas. Often they have a key element inserted or deleted."
Team Finds Gene Separating Brains of Man and Monkey - "About 2 million years ago, the brains of ancient humans and chimpanzees began to diverge from each other. Humans got smarter, chimps didn't, and scientists now say they may have found out why."
Billions Face Water Shortages, Crisis Looms: Agency - "A third of the world is facing water shortages because of poor management of water resources and soaring water usage, driven mainly by agriculture, the International Water Management Institute said on Wednesday."
Four-Fifths of U.S. High School Graduates Not Ready for College - "Almost four-fifths of U.S. high school graduates failed to pass this year's standard examinations designed to show their readiness for college, test designer ACT Inc. reported."
"Elite" HIV patients mystify doctors - "As many as one in 300 HIV patients never get sick and never suffer damage to their immune systems and AIDS experts said on Wednesday they want to know why."
Staph skin infections on rise in U.S. - "Many victims mistakenly thought they just had spider bites that wouldn't heal, not drug-resistant staph bacteria. Only a decade ago, these germs were hardly ever seen outside of hospitals and nursing homes."
Researchers Repair Retinas With Stem Cells - "University of Washington researchers say they've used stem cells to help repair mouse retinas in the lab. That could help people with macular degeneration."
Occasional Cup Of Coffee May Trigger Heart Attack - "They found that the highest risk was among those with light or occasional coffee intake, as well as those who have other risk factors for coronary heart disease. People who lead a sedentary lifestyle may also have a higher risk of heart attack after consuming a cup of coffee."
Skin test diagnoses Alzheimer's early - "Scientists have designed a "painless" skin test that they say is the first screening tool to accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease in the first one to two years of its progression."
'Hybrid Mutant' Found Dead in Maine - "It was charcoal gray, weighed between 40 and 50 pounds and had a bushy tail, a short snout, short ears and curled fangs hanging over its lips, he said. It looked like "something out of a Stephen King story." "This is something I've never seen before. It's an evil-looking thing," he said."
David Copperfield says he's found Fountain of Youth - "Master illusionist David Copperfield says he has found the "Fountain of Youth" in the southern Bahamas, amid a cluster of four tiny islands he recently bought for $50 million.
Fishermen survive months at sea eating birds - "Three Mexican fishermen have been rescued after drifting for about nine months across thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean in a small boat, an ordeal they survived by eating raw birds and fish and drinking rain water."
A Nation Divided Over Piracy - "The Pirate Bay survives, and politicians and entertainment lawyers confront a youth movement that embraces file sharing. Who would have thought Sweden would end up the internet's free-content haven?"
Security 'bad news for sex drive' - "A woman's sex drive begins to plummet once she is in a secure relationship, according to research."
Quote of the Day
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. "
~ Nelson Mandela
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