So why do Bush supporters show such a resistance to accepting dissonant information? While it is normal for people to show some resistance, the magnitude of the denial goes beyond the ordinary. Bush supporters have succeeded in suppressing awareness of the findings of a whole series of high- profile reports about prewar Iraq that have been blazoned across the headlines of newspapers and prompted extensive, high-profile and agonizing reflection. The fact that a large portion of Americans say they are unaware that the original reasons that the US took military action--and for which Americans continue to die on a daily basis--are not turning out to be valid, are probably not due to a simple failure to pay attention to the news.
Friday, October 22, 2004
Obituary: Paul Nitze
A Walk in the Woods. Farewell to the original Cold War warrior: Paul Nitze, the college professor's son who went to Hotchkiss and Harvard and worked as investment banker before going to Washington in 1940, where he quickly became one of the chief architects of American policy towards the Soviet Union. His doctrine of "strategic stability" became its cornerstone for half a century (Nitze held key government posts in Washington, from the era of Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan's, when he was the White House's guru on arms control). By the end of 1949, Nitze had become director of the State Department's policy planning staff, helping to devise the role of Nato, deciding to press ahead with the manufacture of the H-bomb, and producing National Security Council document 68, the document at the heart of the Cold War: in it, Nitze called for a drastic expansion of the U.S. military budget. The paper also expanded containment’s scope beyond the defense of major centers of industrial power to encompass the entire world. (NSC-68 was a top secret paper, written in April 1950 and declassified in the 70's, called "United States Objectives and Programs for National Security").
Robert Wright: War on Evil
Evil has a reputation for resilience. And rightly so. Banishing it from Middle Earth alone took three very long Lord of the Rings movies. But equally deserving of this reputation is the concept of evil—in particular, a conception of evil that was on display in those very movies: the idea that behind all the world’s bad deeds lies a single, dark, cosmic force. No matter how many theologians reject this idea, no matter how incompatible it seems with modern science, it keeps coming back.
You would have thought St. Augustine rid the world of it a millennium and a half ago. He argued so powerfully against this notion of evil, and against the whole Manichaean theology containing it, that it disappeared from serious church discourse. Thereafter, evil was not a thing; it was just the absence of good, as darkness is the absence of light. But then came the Protestants, and some of them brought back the Manichaean view of a cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil.
You would have thought St. Augustine rid the world of it a millennium and a half ago. He argued so powerfully against this notion of evil, and against the whole Manichaean theology containing it, that it disappeared from serious church discourse. Thereafter, evil was not a thing; it was just the absence of good, as darkness is the absence of light. But then came the Protestants, and some of them brought back the Manichaean view of a cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil.
Earth today
THE WORLD's DAILY CONSUMPTION-O-METER
Astonishing figures, listed in tons, ohms, dollars, acres, hecktars, grams and Roman Numerals. [from LinkyDinky.com]
Astonishing figures, listed in tons, ohms, dollars, acres, hecktars, grams and Roman Numerals. [from LinkyDinky.com]
Republican Electoral Delegate Will Not Vote Bush Out of Protest
GOP mayor may use his Electoral College role to lodge protest against the president South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb said today he may vote against George W. Bush in the Electoral College, even if the president carries West Virginia's popular vote.
Robb, long known as a maverick Republican, said he is considering using his position as one of the state's five Republican electors to protest what he believes are misguided policies of the current administration."It's not likely that I would vote for Kerry," Robb said. "But I'm looking at what my options are when it comes time to cast my vote."
Robb, long known as a maverick Republican, said he is considering using his position as one of the state's five Republican electors to protest what he believes are misguided policies of the current administration."It's not likely that I would vote for Kerry," Robb said. "But I'm looking at what my options are when it comes time to cast my vote."
John Dean: The Coming Post-Election Chaos
This next presidential election, on November 2, may be followed by post-election chaos unlike any we've ever known.
Look at the swirling, ugly currents currently at work in this conspicuously close race. There is Republicans' history of going negative to win elections. There is Karl Rove's disposition to challenge close elections in post-election brawls. And there is Democrats' (and others) new unwillingness to roll over, as was done in 2000. Finally, look at the fact that a half-dozen lawsuits are in the works in the key states and more are being developed.
This is a climate for trouble. A storm warning is appropriate. In the end, attorneys and legal strategy could prove as important, if not more so, to the outcome of this election as the traditional political strategists and strategy.
Look at the swirling, ugly currents currently at work in this conspicuously close race. There is Republicans' history of going negative to win elections. There is Karl Rove's disposition to challenge close elections in post-election brawls. And there is Democrats' (and others) new unwillingness to roll over, as was done in 2000. Finally, look at the fact that a half-dozen lawsuits are in the works in the key states and more are being developed.
This is a climate for trouble. A storm warning is appropriate. In the end, attorneys and legal strategy could prove as important, if not more so, to the outcome of this election as the traditional political strategists and strategy.
Still Waiting
"The Great Disappointment" was an event in the early history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, when Jesus failed to re-appear on the appointed day of October 22, 1844 as members of the Church expected.
When Jesus did not appear, Miller's followers experienced what became to be called "the Great Disappointment". Most of the thousands of followers left the movement. A few, however, went back to their Bibles to find why they had been disappointed. They concluded that the prophecy predicted not that Jesus would return to earth in 1844, but that a special ministry in heaven would be formed on that date. From this started the modern Seventh-day Adventist Church. [from Wikipedia.com]
When Jesus did not appear, Miller's followers experienced what became to be called "the Great Disappointment". Most of the thousands of followers left the movement. A few, however, went back to their Bibles to find why they had been disappointed. They concluded that the prophecy predicted not that Jesus would return to earth in 1844, but that a special ministry in heaven would be formed on that date. From this started the modern Seventh-day Adventist Church. [from Wikipedia.com]
Govt Release 6,000 Pages of Detainee Abuse Documents; ACLU Is Posting Them
The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today said that they have received from the federal government nearly 6,000 pages of documents related to the abuse of prisoners at overseas detention facilities, including almost all of the annexes to the Taguba report concerning abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
The release of the documents follows a federal court order that directed the Defense Department and other government agencies to comply with the ACLU’s year-old request under the Freedom of Information Act. ...
A log of the records received is online at www.aclu.org/torturefoia/released and copies of the documents will be posted over the course of the next two days. [from TheMemoryBlog.org]
The release of the documents follows a federal court order that directed the Defense Department and other government agencies to comply with the ACLU’s year-old request under the Freedom of Information Act. ...
A log of the records received is online at www.aclu.org/torturefoia/released and copies of the documents will be posted over the course of the next two days. [from TheMemoryBlog.org]
*Judge: Guantánamo Detainees Can Meet Lawyers Alone
In a defeat for the government, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday that three prisoners held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba can meet with their attorneys in private.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly rejected the government's proposal for audio and video monitoring and for a review of notes taken at the meeting because it would undermine the attorney-client relationship.
"The court is acutely aware of the delicate balance that must be struck when weighing the importance of national security against the rights of the individual," she said in the 25-page ruling.
"However, the government has supplied only the most slender legal support for its argument, which cannot withstand the weight of the authority surrounding the importance of the attorney-client privilege," she concluded.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly rejected the government's proposal for audio and video monitoring and for a review of notes taken at the meeting because it would undermine the attorney-client relationship.
"The court is acutely aware of the delicate balance that must be struck when weighing the importance of national security against the rights of the individual," she said in the 25-page ruling.
"However, the government has supplied only the most slender legal support for its argument, which cannot withstand the weight of the authority surrounding the importance of the attorney-client privilege," she concluded.
Jimmy Carter on Fresh Air
Former President Jimmy Carter has 18 books to his credit -- including memoirs and non-fiction -- reflecting on his work as a mediator, his life in the White House, his childhood and his spiritual life. His first book of fiction, "The Hornet's Nest," is now out in paperback.
Tenet Says Iraq War "Wrong" in Small Gathering in Michigan Town
The guest speaker was famous, and he was visiting a small town far from the spotlight of network TV cameras and the reach of big-name reporters from national newspapers. In other words: It was a perfect scenario for a local reporter to snag an exclusive. And Anna Clark, 24, correspondent for The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph, Mich., was there to grab it.
Addressing the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan Wednesday night, George Tenet, former director of central intelligence, called the war on Iraq "wrong," according to Clark's article on Thursday, although it was unclear whether he meant the war itself or mainly the intelligence it was based on.
Addressing the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan Wednesday night, George Tenet, former director of central intelligence, called the war on Iraq "wrong," according to Clark's article on Thursday, although it was unclear whether he meant the war itself or mainly the intelligence it was based on.
Ohio: Voters Instructed to Vote in Wrong Precinct
The caller interrupting a North Side couple’s dinner earlier this week said he was from the Franklin County Board of Elections.
He told the elderly woman that her voting site had changed and that on Nov. 2 she and her husband should cast their ballots at a South Side precinct. The caller even left the phone number of the board.
Her husband, who didn’t want their names published out of fear of retribution, called the board, sat through a long menu of automated options and finally spoke with an employee.
"They said there was no way in the world they would make such a call," he said. "I think it’s hankypanky and somebody in the election is trying to kill some votes."
He told the elderly woman that her voting site had changed and that on Nov. 2 she and her husband should cast their ballots at a South Side precinct. The caller even left the phone number of the board.
Her husband, who didn’t want their names published out of fear of retribution, called the board, sat through a long menu of automated options and finally spoke with an employee.
"They said there was no way in the world they would make such a call," he said. "I think it’s hankypanky and somebody in the election is trying to kill some votes."
*Senator Levin Exposes Office of Special Plans
The staff's report, based on a 15-month investigation and released yesterday by Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the committee's top Democrat, accused the office of Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith of compiling "selective reinterpretations of intelligence" that went beyond the views of American spy agencies in order to help make the case for an invasion of Iraq.
For background, see The Lie Factory which tells the story of the Office of Special Plans and the woman who quit and blew the whistle.
For background, see The Lie Factory which tells the story of the Office of Special Plans and the woman who quit and blew the whistle.
Fear and Loathing, Campaign 2004
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson sounds off on the fun-hogs in the passing lane.
OCTOBER 22 IS INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY!!!
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF CELEBRATING OUR CAPS LOCKNESS AND THEY ARE AT THIS PAGE AND THEY SUCK. THIS DUMB ASS THINK THAT A DAY IN AUGUST IS CAPS LOCK DAY BUT HE IS MISTAKEN.
Pay for play
Does radio seem bad these days? Do all the hits sound the same, all the stars seem like cookie cutouts of one another?
It's because they do, and they are.
Why? Listeners may not realize it, but radio today is largely bought by the record companies. Most rock and Top 40 stations get paid to play the songs they spin by the companies that manufacture the records.
But it's not payola -- exactly. Here's how it works...
It's because they do, and they are.
Why? Listeners may not realize it, but radio today is largely bought by the record companies. Most rock and Top 40 stations get paid to play the songs they spin by the companies that manufacture the records.
But it's not payola -- exactly. Here's how it works...
Record Labels Said to Be Next on Spitzer List for Scrutiny
According to several people involved, investigators in Mr. Spitzer's office have served subpoenas on the four major record corporations - the Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, the EMI Group and the Warner Music Group - seeking copies of contracts, billing records and other information detailing their ties to independent middlemen who pitch new songs to radio programmers in New York State.
The inquiry encompasses all the major radio formats and is not aiming at any individual record promoter, these people said. Mr. Spitzer and representatives for the record companies declined to comment.
The major record labels have paid middlemen for decades, though the practice has long been derided as a way to skirt a federal statute - known as the payola law - outlawing bribes to radio broadcasters.
The inquiry encompasses all the major radio formats and is not aiming at any individual record promoter, these people said. Mr. Spitzer and representatives for the record companies declined to comment.
The major record labels have paid middlemen for decades, though the practice has long been derided as a way to skirt a federal statute - known as the payola law - outlawing bribes to radio broadcasters.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Court: Whales Have No Standing to Sue
A federal appeals court decided Wednesday that marine mammals have no standing to sue to stop the U.S. Navy from using sonar.
In upholding a lower court decision, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the world's cetaceans - whales, porpoises and dolphins - have no standing under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act or the National Environmental Policy Act.
If lawmakers "intended to take the extraordinary step of authorizing animals as well as people and legal entities to sue, they could, and should, have said so plainly," said Judge William A. Fletcher, writing for the panel.
The Navy uses a type of sonar that helps detect quiet submarines at long range. Low frequency transmitters emit sonar pulses or "pings" that can travel hundreds of miles through the water.
"The negative effects of underwater noise on marine life are well recognized," the court said. Even the Navy acknowledged any "human-made noise that is strong enough to be heard has the potential to reduce (mask) the ability of marine mammals to hear natural sounds," according to the court.
In upholding a lower court decision, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the world's cetaceans - whales, porpoises and dolphins - have no standing under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act or the National Environmental Policy Act.
If lawmakers "intended to take the extraordinary step of authorizing animals as well as people and legal entities to sue, they could, and should, have said so plainly," said Judge William A. Fletcher, writing for the panel.
The Navy uses a type of sonar that helps detect quiet submarines at long range. Low frequency transmitters emit sonar pulses or "pings" that can travel hundreds of miles through the water.
"The negative effects of underwater noise on marine life are well recognized," the court said. Even the Navy acknowledged any "human-made noise that is strong enough to be heard has the potential to reduce (mask) the ability of marine mammals to hear natural sounds," according to the court.
75% of Bush Supporters Still Believe Iraq WMD Claims
Three out of four self-described supporters of President George W Bush still believe pre-war Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or active programmes to produce them, and that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein gave "substantial support" to al-Qaeda terrorists, according to a survey released Thursday. Moreover, as many or more Bush supporters hold those beliefs today than they did several months ago, before the publication of a series of well-publicised official government reports that debunked both notions.
Air Fresheners, Aerosols Hurts Moms and Their Babies
The daily use of air fresheners (sticks, sprays and aerosols) caused incidences of diarrhea to jump by almost a third over homes that used them just once a week.
Daily aerosol use (polish, deodorant, hair sprays) resulted in about a third more health problems for babies and their mothers.
Mothers were 26 percent more likely to suffer from depression and 10 percent more likely to have headaches.
Daily aerosol use (polish, deodorant, hair sprays) resulted in about a third more health problems for babies and their mothers.
Mothers were 26 percent more likely to suffer from depression and 10 percent more likely to have headaches.
Wal-mart refuses to sell Daily Show's "America" book
The chain canceled its order for the book after learning that page 99 features a doctored photo of nine naked bodies with the heads of the Supreme Court justices attached.
The book also contains cutout robes, and encourages the reader to "restore their dignity by matching each justice with his or her respective robe."
But Wal-Mart execs felt that the shock of full frontal nudity might be too much for the unsuspecting shopper's eyes. [from Katieweb.com]
The book also contains cutout robes, and encourages the reader to "restore their dignity by matching each justice with his or her respective robe."
But Wal-Mart execs felt that the shock of full frontal nudity might be too much for the unsuspecting shopper's eyes. [from Katieweb.com]
*Potential Law Will Declare God the Source of Law
The neo-cons are pushing a law through Congress that would "acknowledge God as the sovereign source of law, liberty [and] government" in the United States. What's more, it would forbid all legal challenges to government officials who use the power of the state to enforce their own view of "God's sovereign authority." Any judge who dared even hear such a challenge could be removed from office. You don't believe it? It's called Constitution Restoration Act of 2004. [from MetaFilter.com]
See also http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=1644862
Q. What is the purpose of this bill?
A. The purpose of the CRA is to restrict the appellate jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court and all lower federal courts to that jurisdiction permitted them by the Constitution of the United States. The acknowledgment of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, and government is contained within the Declaration of Independence which is cited as the “organic law” of our Country by United States Code Annotated. The constitution of every state of the Union acknowledges God and His sovereignty, as do three branches of the federal government. The acknowledgment of God is not a legitimate subject of review by federal courts. The CRA also protects and preserves the Constitution of the United States by restricting federal courts from recognizing the laws of foreign jurisdictions and international law as the supreme law of our land.
See also http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=1644862
Q. What is the purpose of this bill?
A. The purpose of the CRA is to restrict the appellate jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court and all lower federal courts to that jurisdiction permitted them by the Constitution of the United States. The acknowledgment of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, and government is contained within the Declaration of Independence which is cited as the “organic law” of our Country by United States Code Annotated. The constitution of every state of the Union acknowledges God and His sovereignty, as do three branches of the federal government. The acknowledgment of God is not a legitimate subject of review by federal courts. The CRA also protects and preserves the Constitution of the United States by restricting federal courts from recognizing the laws of foreign jurisdictions and international law as the supreme law of our land.
Court Rules Theaters Must Accomodate Hearing-Impared
Judge Kessler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved a settlement between a class of deaf and hard-of-hearing plaintiffs and two movie theater chains. Judge Kessler's opinion approving the settlement is reported at 315 F. Supp.2d 120 (D. D.C. 2004). The lawsuit demanded that the theaters were violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by not providing captioning accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. In 2003, the court denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment arguing that the theaters were not required under the ADA to provide captions. That opinion is reported at 246 F. Supp.2d 17 (D. D.C.).
Documents Detail Non-Lethal Weapons Programs
The documents indicated below have been added to the Sunshine Project's online clearinghouse of information on US government "non-lethal" chemical and biological weapons research.
1) Non-Lethal Artillery Structural Firing (FY04) Purchase Order Contract In Support of the FY04 155MM Non-Lethal Artillery Projectile ProgramUS Army Picatinny Arsenal, September 2004
2) Airburst Non-Lethal Munition (ANLM) Design ImprovementsUS Army Picatinny Arsenal, July 2004
3) Non-Lethal Airburst Munition(s) for Objective Individual Combat WeaponUS Army Picatinny Arsenal, August 2001 [from TheMemoryBlog.org]
1) Non-Lethal Artillery Structural Firing (FY04) Purchase Order Contract In Support of the FY04 155MM Non-Lethal Artillery Projectile ProgramUS Army Picatinny Arsenal, September 2004
2) Airburst Non-Lethal Munition (ANLM) Design ImprovementsUS Army Picatinny Arsenal, July 2004
3) Non-Lethal Airburst Munition(s) for Objective Individual Combat WeaponUS Army Picatinny Arsenal, August 2001 [from TheMemoryBlog.org]
Are We Actually Using 80% of Our Brains?
There’s an old myth that we only use 10 percent of our brains, but researchers at the University of Rochester have found in reality that roughly 80 percent of our cognitive power may be cranking away on tasks completely unknown to us. Curiously, this clandestine activity does not exist in the youngest brains, leading scientists to believe that the mysterious goings-on that absorb the majority of our minds are dedicated to subconsciously reprocessing our initial thoughts and experiences. The research, which has possible profound implications for our very basis of understanding reality, appears in this week’s issue of the journal Nature.
“We found neural activity that frankly surprised us,” says Michael Weliky, associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester. “Adult ferrets had neural patterns in their visual cortex that correlated very well with images they viewed, but that correlation didn’t exist at all in very young ferrets, suggesting the very basis of comprehending vision may be a very different task for young brains versus old brains.”
“We found neural activity that frankly surprised us,” says Michael Weliky, associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester. “Adult ferrets had neural patterns in their visual cortex that correlated very well with images they viewed, but that correlation didn’t exist at all in very young ferrets, suggesting the very basis of comprehending vision may be a very different task for young brains versus old brains.”
*White House Opposes Provision in Senate Bill to Create Counterproliferation Center
“As the National Counterterrorism Center focuses on the customers and users of these dangerous technologies and materials (the terrorists), the NCPC [National Counterproliferation Center] will be focusing on the suppliers and brokers of these items. The NCPC will endeavor to stop these activities before they ever reach the bad guys,” Frist said in a statement earlier this month.
In a letter sent yesterday to two members of the House-Senate conference committee developing a compromise bill, the White House came out against the creation of a counterproliferation center, saying instead that it preferred to wait for the recommendations of a presidential commission established in February to examine WMD-related intelligence.
In a letter sent yesterday to two members of the House-Senate conference committee developing a compromise bill, the White House came out against the creation of a counterproliferation center, saying instead that it preferred to wait for the recommendations of a presidential commission established in February to examine WMD-related intelligence.
German Study Links Traffic Jams and Heart Attacks
A study of hundreds of heart attacks in southern Germany published in the New England Journal of Medicine's Thursday edition found nearly one in 12 attacks was linked to traffic. Traffic jams were more likely to take a toll on women and on people 60 and older. Whether the excess heart attacks were due to stress or exposure to vehicle pollution isn't known.
Florida Revisited
Within an hour after voting began in Florida, "the system collapsed in Broward County, ground zero for the 2000 fiasco in the state," comments Markos Moulitsas. He lists other allegations of election fraud and voter suppression in states including Nevada, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and South Dakota, On his Dkosopedia website, Moulitsas is hosting a "Voter Registration Fraud Clearinghouse, where people are invited to report irregularities.
*Journalists Unhappy With Election Coverage
The Committee of Concerned Journalists, a consortium of reporters, editors, producers, publishers, owners and academics, has surveyed its own membership about the quality of election campaign coverage this year, and the results aren't pretty. Nearly three quarters of respondents gave the press a C, D or F grade, and only 3% gave an A. By large majorities they felt the news media has become sidetracked by trivial issues, has been too reactive and has focused too much on campaign strategy rather than substance. They gave particularly low grades to television and much higher grades to newspapers and online coverage. The online news sites in fact got more A grades than any other medium - a notable improvement in the internet's reputation relative to other information sources. [from PRWatch.org]
Experiments Claim to See Einstein's “Frame Dragging”
By precisely calculating odd shifts in the orbit of Mercury, Einstein gained important support for his theory of general relativity, which posits that gravity arises because mass bends spacetime. By studying the orbits of two manmade satellites around Earth, scientists now say they have confirmed a much smaller effect predicted by the theory: namely, that mass drags spacetime with it as it rotates.
Astrophysicists think this “frame dragging” is a big deal for rapidly rotating neutron stars and black holes, but that near Earth it is extraordinarily small. In April, NASA launched the Gravity Probe B satellite, which carries high-precision gyroscopes designed to measure the effect with about 1 percent accuracy. Researchers writing today in Nature analyzed position measurements of two earlier satellites over an 11-year period, and determined that the 40-million-meter-long orbits of the satellites shifted by about two meters per year.
Astrophysicists think this “frame dragging” is a big deal for rapidly rotating neutron stars and black holes, but that near Earth it is extraordinarily small. In April, NASA launched the Gravity Probe B satellite, which carries high-precision gyroscopes designed to measure the effect with about 1 percent accuracy. Researchers writing today in Nature analyzed position measurements of two earlier satellites over an 11-year period, and determined that the 40-million-meter-long orbits of the satellites shifted by about two meters per year.
Jon Stewart on Crossfire
STEWART: I didn't realize that -- and maybe this explains quite a bit ... is that the news organizations look to Comedy Central for their cues on integrity. ...You're on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls.
[BTW: The downloads of this have exceeded the ratings for the cable broadcast of Crossfire]
[BTW: The downloads of this have exceeded the ratings for the cable broadcast of Crossfire]
Bush Relatives for Kerry
"Bush Relatives for Kerry" grew out of a series of conversations that took place between a group of people that have two things in common: they are all related to George Walker Bush, and they are all voting for John Kerry. As the election approaches, we feel it is our responsibility to speak out about why we are voting for John Kerry, and to do our small part to help America heal from the sickness it has suffered since George Bush was appointed President in 2000. We invite you to read our stories, and please, don't vote for our cousin!
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Expert Testifies Voting System "Out of Control"
A voting expert testifying for the state agreed Tuesday with an attorney for U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler that the nation's system of electronic voting is "out of control."
The testimony came on the second day of trial in a lawsuit by the Boca Raton Democrat, who wants to force the state to create a paper trail for touch-screen voting machines when recounts are needed in tight races.
Michael Shamos, a computer scientist at Carnegie-Mellon University, told a congressional committee in July that machine makers lack industry standards, testing is inadequate and no compulsory procedures exist for fixing problems.
The testimony came on the second day of trial in a lawsuit by the Boca Raton Democrat, who wants to force the state to create a paper trail for touch-screen voting machines when recounts are needed in tight races.
Michael Shamos, a computer scientist at Carnegie-Mellon University, told a congressional committee in July that machine makers lack industry standards, testing is inadequate and no compulsory procedures exist for fixing problems.
Qatar to use robots in camel races
He said the robot was being developed by a Swiss company but would not disclose further details, citing the terms of the contract with the unnamed firm. The robots are expected to be ready in 2005.
Sheikh Hamad announced last March that robot-jockeys had been used in a camel race for the first time and the practice would be repeated.
Gulf Arab monarchies are trying to bring order to the national sport in the face of protests over the trafficking of young children from the subcontinent as jockeys.
Sheikh Hamad announced last March that robot-jockeys had been used in a camel race for the first time and the practice would be repeated.
Gulf Arab monarchies are trying to bring order to the national sport in the face of protests over the trafficking of young children from the subcontinent as jockeys.
Mindball
Mindball is an experience product, a game where two players control a ball with their brain waves. The player being most relaxed wins the game. The brain waves are detected by sensors attached to the headbands. The sensors (electrodes) are connected to a biosensor system. The biosensor system, registers the electrical activity in the brain – so called EEG. The brain waves increasing the chance to win Mindball are called Alpha- and Theta waves. They occur when we are calm and relaxed. The player´s brain activity is shown in a diagram on the monitor. The player being most relaxed makes the ball roll over to the opponent´s goal, with his brain waves as only aid, and thereby wins the game. The outcome of the game is seldom straightforward as the transition from calm to excitement and vice versa goes very quickly. Mindball is an exciting and audience friendly game where the audience can follow the game both by watching the ball on the table and the diagram on the monitor as well as watching the more or less relaxed faces of the players. The product Mindball originates from the prototype Brainball which is developed by the Smart Studio at The Interactive Institute.
Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2004
“Corruption robs countries of their potential,” said Eigen. “As the Corruption Perceptions Index 2004 shows, oil-rich Angola, Azerbaijan, Chad, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Libya, Nigeria, Russia, Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen all have extremely low scores. In these countries, public contracting in the oil sector is plagued by revenues vanishing into the pockets of western oil executives, middlemen and local officials.”
TI urges western governments to oblige their oil companies to publish what they pay in fees, royalties and other payments to host governments and state oil companies. “Access to this vital information will minimise opportunities for hiding the payment of kickbacks to secure oil tenders, a practice that has blighted the oil industry in transition and post-war economies,” said Eigen.
TI urges western governments to oblige their oil companies to publish what they pay in fees, royalties and other payments to host governments and state oil companies. “Access to this vital information will minimise opportunities for hiding the payment of kickbacks to secure oil tenders, a practice that has blighted the oil industry in transition and post-war economies,” said Eigen.
Chapter 1 of Bob Dylan's Autobiography
"You look too light for a heavyweight kid, you'll have to put on a few pounds. You're gonna have to dress a little finer, look a little sharper -- not that you'll need much in the way of clothes when you're in the ring -- don't be afraid of hitting somebody too hard."
"He's not a boxer, Jack, he's a songwriter and we'll be publishing his songs."
"Oh, yeah, well I hope to hear 'em some of these days. Good luck to you, kid."
"He's not a boxer, Jack, he's a songwriter and we'll be publishing his songs."
"Oh, yeah, well I hope to hear 'em some of these days. Good luck to you, kid."
Miiliken Endorses Kerry
Women's rights, civil liberties, the separation of church and state, the funding of family planning efforts world-wide - all have suffered grievously under this president and his administration. The truth is that President George W. Bush does not speak for me or for many other moderate Republicans on a very broad cross section of issues.
Sen. John Kerry, on the other hand, has put forth a coherent, responsible platform of progressive initiatives that I believe would serve this country well. He wants to balance the budget, step up environmental protection efforts, rebuild our international relationships, support stem-cell research, protect choice and pursue a number of other progressive initiatives that moderates from both parties can support.
Sen. John Kerry, on the other hand, has put forth a coherent, responsible platform of progressive initiatives that I believe would serve this country well. He wants to balance the budget, step up environmental protection efforts, rebuild our international relationships, support stem-cell research, protect choice and pursue a number of other progressive initiatives that moderates from both parties can support.
Bush vs. the Laureates: How Science Became a Partisan Issue
Dr. Hansen, who was invited to brief the Bush cabinet twice on climate and whose work has been cited by Mr. Bush, said he had decided to speak publicly about the situation because he was convinced global warming posed a serious threat and that further delays in addressing it would add to the risks.
"It's something that I've been worrying about for months," he said, describing his decision. "If I don't do something now I'll regret it.
"Under the Clinton-Gore administration, you did have occasions when Al Gore knew the answer he wanted, and he got annoyed if you presented something that wasn't consistent with that," Dr. Hansen said. "I got a little fed up with him, but it was not institutionalized the way it is now."
Under the Bush administration, he said, "they're picking and choosing information according to the answer that they want to get, and they've appointed so many people who are just focused on this that they really are having an impact on the day-to-day flow of information."
"It's something that I've been worrying about for months," he said, describing his decision. "If I don't do something now I'll regret it.
"Under the Clinton-Gore administration, you did have occasions when Al Gore knew the answer he wanted, and he got annoyed if you presented something that wasn't consistent with that," Dr. Hansen said. "I got a little fed up with him, but it was not institutionalized the way it is now."
Under the Bush administration, he said, "they're picking and choosing information according to the answer that they want to get, and they've appointed so many people who are just focused on this that they really are having an impact on the day-to-day flow of information."
Marijuana 'petition' actually voter registration form
Students, who last month signed a petition that was being circulated on the Blue Bell campus to legalize marijuana for primarily medicinal purposes, now are finding out that they are registered Republicans. "This is just very disheartening," said Plymouth resident Jennifer Fugo, a 24-year-old continuing education student who describes herself as a "victim of voter registration manipulation."
Robertson: I warned Bush on Iraq casualties. President's response: 'We're not going to have any'
The founder of the U.S. Christian Coalition said Tuesday he told President George W. Bush before the invasion of Iraq that he should prepare Americans for the likelihood of casualties, but the president told him, "We're not going to have any casualties."
Pat Robertson, an ardent Bush supporter, said he had that conversation with the president in Nashville, Tennessee, before the March 2003 invasion U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He described Bush in the meeting as "the most self-assured man I've ever met in my life."
"You remember Mark Twain said, 'He looks like a contented Christian with four aces.' I mean he was just sitting there like, 'I'm on top of the world,' " Robertson said on the CNN show, "Paula Zahn Now."
Pat Robertson, an ardent Bush supporter, said he had that conversation with the president in Nashville, Tennessee, before the March 2003 invasion U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He described Bush in the meeting as "the most self-assured man I've ever met in my life."
"You remember Mark Twain said, 'He looks like a contented Christian with four aces.' I mean he was just sitting there like, 'I'm on top of the world,' " Robertson said on the CNN show, "Paula Zahn Now."
FCC to Seek Internet-Based Phone Oversight
Powell told a receptive audience at an industry conference that letting states regulate Voice over Internet Protocol,or VoIP, services would lead to a patchwork of conflicting rules like those which have ensnarled the traditional phone business for decades.
To do so, Powell said, "is to dumb down the Internet back to the limited vision of government officials. That would be a tragedy."
After his speech, Powell told reporters he expected to introduce a proposal to the full Federal Communications Commission in less than a month, and definitely before a new Congress begins its session in January.
To do so, Powell said, "is to dumb down the Internet back to the limited vision of government officials. That would be a tragedy."
After his speech, Powell told reporters he expected to introduce a proposal to the full Federal Communications Commission in less than a month, and definitely before a new Congress begins its session in January.
Kerry Photo Exposé
Welcome to the John Kerry interpretive campaign official webpage.Interpreting his actions to expose the horrible "truths" about his political platform.
Fern, Thought Extinct, May Treat Alzheimer's
The bluish-grey epiphyte grows at the tops of rainforest trees and was last recorded 26 years ago.
It was widely believed to be extinct, with forest clearance seen as a major factor in its demise.
Its rediscovery could lead to medicinal benefits.
In China, another member of the species is cultivated to extract the compound Huperzine, believed to help in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
It was widely believed to be extinct, with forest clearance seen as a major factor in its demise.
Its rediscovery could lead to medicinal benefits.
In China, another member of the species is cultivated to extract the compound Huperzine, believed to help in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Documentary Claims Mozart had Tourette’s Syndrome
The Austrian composer, who lived in the 18th Century, even wrote a song called L*** Out My A******* and put it to beautiful music.
A documentary screened by Channel 4 tried to prove Mozart suffered from the brain condition Tourette’s Syndrome, whose sufferers cannot stop themselves from blurting out profanities.
In L*** Out My A*******, which he penned at 26, the composer is said to have written the shocking lyrics: “L*** out my a*******, L*** it till it’s good and clean.”
A documentary screened by Channel 4 tried to prove Mozart suffered from the brain condition Tourette’s Syndrome, whose sufferers cannot stop themselves from blurting out profanities.
In L*** Out My A*******, which he penned at 26, the composer is said to have written the shocking lyrics: “L*** out my a*******, L*** it till it’s good and clean.”
Junk Mailers Meet Ms. Brand America
Last year, former advertising executive Charlotte Beersresigned from her job as head of a U.S. State Department effort to improve America's image in the Middle East. This week she spoke to another group with image problems - direct marketers, the people who send you junk mail and other unwanted commercial solicitations. Beers gave them the same advice she gave "brand America": they should "tell positive stories about what direct marketing is about."
Public University Tuition Is Up Sharply for 2004
Tuition at the nation's public universities rose an average of 10.5 percent this year, the second-largest increase in more than a decade, according to the latest annual survey by the College Board. Last year's rise, 13 percent, was the highest and the first double-digit increase in a decade.
101 years in 101 words
We asked all you eggheads to sit down, stop doing naff all and come up with some awesome stories to illustrate that dumbing down is a thing of the past.
A study of when new words became common during the past century has had some surprising findings, such as the word "celebs" being used in 1913, the word "sex" meaning sexual intercourse being first used in 1929, and "mobile phone" dating from 1945.
Egghead (1907), wizard (1922), punk (1974), beatnik (1958), hot-desking (1991), and dumb down (1933) might also strike you as being whizzo (1905).
To mark this linguistic love-in (1967), we invited you to create a story of 150 words maximum using as many of the words from the list as possible. Special recognition was given to entries that worked as convincing stories in their own right.
...
"Dear John - It's over. I used to think you were sexy and cool with your mobile phone and bling bling. Turns out you were nothing but a chav with your cheap trainers listening to hip-hop. I found out you had a love in with an It-girl at the drive-in, and I'm pissed off. All I ever got was a cheeseburger at a fast food joint. You can keep her, with her miniskirt, wonderbra and kitten heels. I'm off to the Big Apple to find me a hip, celeb, toyboy with megabucks. We'll dance the bossa nova and he'll feed me a bagel and latte after a night of hot sex. When I return you'll go into a tailspin and get the blues, I'll be so awesome with my botox and avant garde clothing. Sorry for the text message, but I have to boogie on out of here. Cheerio. "
A study of when new words became common during the past century has had some surprising findings, such as the word "celebs" being used in 1913, the word "sex" meaning sexual intercourse being first used in 1929, and "mobile phone" dating from 1945.
Egghead (1907), wizard (1922), punk (1974), beatnik (1958), hot-desking (1991), and dumb down (1933) might also strike you as being whizzo (1905).
To mark this linguistic love-in (1967), we invited you to create a story of 150 words maximum using as many of the words from the list as possible. Special recognition was given to entries that worked as convincing stories in their own right.
...
"Dear John - It's over. I used to think you were sexy and cool with your mobile phone and bling bling. Turns out you were nothing but a chav with your cheap trainers listening to hip-hop. I found out you had a love in with an It-girl at the drive-in, and I'm pissed off. All I ever got was a cheeseburger at a fast food joint. You can keep her, with her miniskirt, wonderbra and kitten heels. I'm off to the Big Apple to find me a hip, celeb, toyboy with megabucks. We'll dance the bossa nova and he'll feed me a bagel and latte after a night of hot sex. When I return you'll go into a tailspin and get the blues, I'll be so awesome with my botox and avant garde clothing. Sorry for the text message, but I have to boogie on out of here. Cheerio. "
Man charged in vote fraud says NAACP paid him in crack
An Ohio man charged with filing fictitious voter-registration forms says he was paid in crack by a woman affiliated with the NAACP National Voter Fund. The Sheriff's Office of Defiance County arrested and charged Chad Staton, 22, of Defiance, with false registration, a felony of the fifth degree. The sheriff's office said Mr. Staton was hired by a Toledo woman, who, it said, admitted paying Mr. Staton in crack but has not been charged. She said she was working for a local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) official, who also has not been charged and could not be reached for comment. [thanks to Adam]
Review Delayed on Sale of Creationist Book at Grand Canyon
"Grand Canyon: A Different View," compiled by Colorado River guide Tom Vail, includes essays by creationists who maintain that the canyon's sedimentary strata were formed by deposits from Noah's flood and that the canyon's age should be based on a biblical rather than an evolutionary timeline -- making it just thousands of years old, not the 6 million years that geologists say.
Critics believe the creationist book should not be sold by a shop on government property because it contradicts the park's mission to teach science.
Critics believe the creationist book should not be sold by a shop on government property because it contradicts the park's mission to teach science.
'Lost' El Greco on show in Poland
The work, titled Ecstasy of St Francis, was discovered in a small church in east Poland during a routine check of historical artefacts in 1964.
But church authorities could not afford to exhibit it and also wanted to hide it from communist authorities.
It will now go on show at the church's museum in Siedlce from Friday.
But church authorities could not afford to exhibit it and also wanted to hide it from communist authorities.
It will now go on show at the church's museum in Siedlce from Friday.
Fridge-free vaccines on the way
Vaccines that do not have to be refrigerated could help protect millions more children in poor countries from major diseases. The “stable liquid” technology could also be used to produce vaccines that can be stockpiled in case of pandemics.
At the moment $200 to $300 million a year is spent in poor countries on the "cold-chain” – a process to keep vaccines refrigerated and protect them from extreme temperatures.
...The key to the technique is encasing the active ingredients in a vaccine in a sugary coat that preserves them at temperatures of up to 60°C. The coating is made from simple natural sugars such as raffinose and an amino acid, typically glutamine.
At the moment $200 to $300 million a year is spent in poor countries on the "cold-chain” – a process to keep vaccines refrigerated and protect them from extreme temperatures.
...The key to the technique is encasing the active ingredients in a vaccine in a sugary coat that preserves them at temperatures of up to 60°C. The coating is made from simple natural sugars such as raffinose and an amino acid, typically glutamine.
Iran Endorses Bush
The head of Iran's security council said Tuesday that the re-election of President Bush was in Tehran's best interests, despite the administration's axis of evil label, accusations that Iran harbors al-Qaida terrorists and threats of sanctions over the country's nuclear ambitions. Historically, Democrats have harmed Iran more than Republicans, said Hasan Rowhani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security decision-making body.
Newly Declassified: The Origins of the National Security Agency, 1940-1952
From the foreword:
It is a masterfully researched and documented account of the evolution of a national SIGINT [signal intelligence] effort following World War II, beginning with the fragile trends toward unification of the military services as they sought to cope with a greatly changed environment following the war, and continuing through the unsatisfactory experience under the Armed Forces Security Agency. ...
Mr. Burns has identified most of the major themes which have contributed to the development of the institutions which characterize our profession: the struggle between centralized and decentralized control of SIGINT, interservice and interagency rivalries, budget problems, tactical versus national strategic requirements, the difficulties of mechanization of processes, and the rise of a strong bureaucracy. These factors, which we recognize as still powerful and in large measure still shaping operational and institutional development, are the same ones that brought about the birth of the NSA.
From the introduction:
This study traces the evolution of the military structures from the early 1930s to the establishment of a unique agency to deal with COMINT [communications intelligence] - the National Security Agency - in 1952.
It is a masterfully researched and documented account of the evolution of a national SIGINT [signal intelligence] effort following World War II, beginning with the fragile trends toward unification of the military services as they sought to cope with a greatly changed environment following the war, and continuing through the unsatisfactory experience under the Armed Forces Security Agency. ...
Mr. Burns has identified most of the major themes which have contributed to the development of the institutions which characterize our profession: the struggle between centralized and decentralized control of SIGINT, interservice and interagency rivalries, budget problems, tactical versus national strategic requirements, the difficulties of mechanization of processes, and the rise of a strong bureaucracy. These factors, which we recognize as still powerful and in large measure still shaping operational and institutional development, are the same ones that brought about the birth of the NSA.
From the introduction:
This study traces the evolution of the military structures from the early 1930s to the establishment of a unique agency to deal with COMINT [communications intelligence] - the National Security Agency - in 1952.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Newspaper Reporters Suspended For Attending Concert
The St. Paul Pioneer Press suspended investigative reporters Chuck Laszewski and Rick Linsk for three days each after they attended the Oct. 5 "Vote for Change" political fund-raising concert by Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M. and other artists at Xcel Energy Center. The Newspaper Guild is contesting the unpaid suspensions. Pioneer Press editor Vicki Gowler wrote in a Sept. 27 memo to staff that the paper's ethics policy bars them from activities that would conflict with their employment, including "concerts that are held as political fundraisers." Several other newspapers had issued similar warnings to reporters.
US Wealth Gap Grows for Ethnic Minorities
An analysis of US census data by the Pew Hispanic Center revealed that the 2001 economic downturn deepened a legacy of economic discrimination, with Hispanics and African-Americans harder hit and taking longer to recover.
By 2002, that produced a further deterioration of the economic divide, where minorities own only a fraction of the wealth enjoyed by whites. The median net worth of white households was $88,651, or 11 times greater than Hispanic families ($7,932) and 14 times greater than African-American families ($5,988.)
"We have always known about the wealth gap, but what is new and disturbing is that the gaps are increasing," said Roderick Harrison, a demographer at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. "What you are seeing here are the historic disadvantages of black and Hispanic populations from generations ago being carried over."
By 2002, that produced a further deterioration of the economic divide, where minorities own only a fraction of the wealth enjoyed by whites. The median net worth of white households was $88,651, or 11 times greater than Hispanic families ($7,932) and 14 times greater than African-American families ($5,988.)
"We have always known about the wealth gap, but what is new and disturbing is that the gaps are increasing," said Roderick Harrison, a demographer at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. "What you are seeing here are the historic disadvantages of black and Hispanic populations from generations ago being carried over."
Terror fears don't trump Constitution, court rules
A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously Friday that protesters may not be required to pass through metal detectors when they gather next month for a rally against a U.S. training academy for Latin American soldiers [the center formerly known as the School of the Americas].
Authorities began using the metal detectors at the annual School of the Americas protest after the terrorist attacks, but the court found that practice to be unconstitutional.
Authorities began using the metal detectors at the annual School of the Americas protest after the terrorist attacks, but the court found that practice to be unconstitutional.
Oregon TV emits distress signal, triggers search
An Oregon man discovered earlier this month that his year-old Toshiba Corp. <6502.t> flat-screen TV was emitting an international distress signal picked up by a satellite, leading a search and rescue operation to his apartment in Corvallis, Oregon, 70 miles (110 km) south of Portland. The signal from Chris van Rossmann's TV was routed by satellite to the Air Force Rescue Center at Langley Air Base in Virginia.
On Oct. 2, the 20 year-old college student was visited at his apartment in the small university town by a contingent of local police, civil air patrol and search and rescue personnel.
"They'd never seen signal come that strong from a home appliance," said van Rossmann. "They were quite surprised. I think we all were."
On Oct. 2, the 20 year-old college student was visited at his apartment in the small university town by a contingent of local police, civil air patrol and search and rescue personnel.
"They'd never seen signal come that strong from a home appliance," said van Rossmann. "They were quite surprised. I think we all were."
Pentagon Rewards Generals, Corporations Tied to Abu Ghraib Scandal
Instead of reprimands or dismissals, one general tied to the torture and abuses at Abu Ghraib prison will probably receive a promotion and another has been recommended for a new command position. At the same time, both US corporations with direct ties to the abuse scandal have been rewarded with lucrative contracts valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
California Pollworkers Told to Withhold Information from Voters
Pollworkers in Santa Clara County are being trained not to offer voters a chance to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has learned. California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley mandated in May that all polling places offer a paper ballot option, which would allow people concerned about e-voting machine reliability a chance to vote on paper ballots at the polls. But pollworkers in Santa Clara County are being instructed not to tell voters that this option is available. Instead, they will make paper ballots available only if voters specifically request them. [from EFF.org]
The Multimedia Election
"Hardly a day goes by without someone sending me a link to a video, Flash animation, or MP3 file related to the U.S. political campaign," obsserves Steve Yelvington. "It's the first time that multimedia files have been so thoroughly woven through the national political conversation. JibJab's hilarious animations, "This Land" and "Good to Be in D.C.," have been widely covered, but there's much more. PBS has placed its excellent biodocumentary, "The Choice 2004," on the Web for online viewing. Jon Stewart's skewering of CNN's Crossfire is posted all over the Web (although not at CNN.com). The polemic "Stolen Honor: John Kerry’s Record of Betrayal," which is at the center of the Sinclair Broadcasting controversy, is available for pay-per-view downloading. There's widespread use of video in user-generated content, too, led off by entries in a contest earlier this year sponsored by the political action group MoveOn.org. [from PRWatch.org]
U.S. Has Contingency Plans for a Draft of Medical Workers
The Selective Service has been updating its contingency plans for a draft of doctors, nurses and other health care workers in case of a national emergency that overwhelms the military's medical corps.
In a confidential report this summer, a contractor hired by the agency described how such a draft might work, how to secure compliance and how to mold public opinion and communicate with health care professionals, whose lives could be disrupted.
In a confidential report this summer, a contractor hired by the agency described how such a draft might work, how to secure compliance and how to mold public opinion and communicate with health care professionals, whose lives could be disrupted.
A.C.L.U. Rejects Foundation Grants Over Terror Language
The American Civil Liberties Union has rejected $1.15 million from the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, saying their effort to ensure that none of their money inadvertently underwrites terrorism or other unacceptable activities is a threat to civil liberties.
The organization has also returned to Ford $68,000 that it accepted in April and that was governed by the same restrictions as those on the two grants the board decided to decline at a contentious meeting on Sunday.
Anthony D. Romero, the A.C.L.U.'s executive director, said the language of the contracts governing the Ford and Rockefeller grants was broad and ambiguous, leaving them open to interpretation that could impede free speech and limit advocacy work not only at his organization but also at other nonprofits.
The organization has also returned to Ford $68,000 that it accepted in April and that was governed by the same restrictions as those on the two grants the board decided to decline at a contentious meeting on Sunday.
Anthony D. Romero, the A.C.L.U.'s executive director, said the language of the contracts governing the Ford and Rockefeller grants was broad and ambiguous, leaving them open to interpretation that could impede free speech and limit advocacy work not only at his organization but also at other nonprofits.
Google's New PC Search Tool Poses Risks
People who use public or workplace computers for e-mail, instant messaging and Web searching have a new privacy risk to worry about: Google's free new tool that indexes a PC's contents for quickly locating data.
If it's installed on computers at libraries and Internet cafes, users could unwittingly allow people who follow them on the PCs, for example, to see sensitive information in e-mails they've exchanged. That could mean revealed passwords, conversations with doctors, or viewed Web pages detailing online purchases.
If it's installed on computers at libraries and Internet cafes, users could unwittingly allow people who follow them on the PCs, for example, to see sensitive information in e-mails they've exchanged. That could mean revealed passwords, conversations with doctors, or viewed Web pages detailing online purchases.
CERN to Hunt for Higgs Boson
It has revolutionized physics, made Nobel Prize winners and given birth to the World Wide Web -- now its successor looks set to answer some of the natural world's most fundamental questions.
...Among the particles they hope will be scattered in the colossal explosions will be the sought-after Higgs boson, the so-called God particle, which according to the Standard Model of particle physics is responsible for generating mass.
Other questions the LHC may help answer include the nature of "dark matter," which scientists say makes up some 95 percent of the universe but which has not yet been detected.
...Among the particles they hope will be scattered in the colossal explosions will be the sought-after Higgs boson, the so-called God particle, which according to the Standard Model of particle physics is responsible for generating mass.
Other questions the LHC may help answer include the nature of "dark matter," which scientists say makes up some 95 percent of the universe but which has not yet been detected.
White House Removes Page & Link From Website
Immediately after the VP debate, when the question of which countries comprise the "Coalition" to invade Iraq became an issue, the White House removed the webpage listing members of the Coalition. When people wrote the webmaster to point out that the page had gone 404, the White House reponded--not by putting the page back online--but by removing the link to the now-missing page.
As has happened before during inept website-scrubbing, a webmaster had removed a page but had forgotten to erase the link to that page. The link (titled "Who are the Coalition members?") to the list remained for a while in the sidebar on this page, directly under the heading "DOCUMENTS." As you can see, it's now gone as well. (For now, the original version of the page with the link remains in Google's cache here. Since that will eventually be written over, we're mirroring the cached page here.)
But again, as with other incompetent attempts to erase webpages, different versions of the page escaped the webmaster's notice and, thus, still exist on the site. They can be found with a Google search. In a classic type of screw-up, the "text only" version of the page remains on the White House website here. The Memory Hole has created a mirror just in case this page disappears, too.
Also, a press release with a slightly earlier version of the list (March 21 as compared to the missing March 27) can still be found here. (The Memory Hole mirror is here.)
For more info about this, including before-and-after screenshots of the missing link, see "White House Scrubs Website" at the Brad Blog. [from TheMemoryHole.org
As has happened before during inept website-scrubbing, a webmaster had removed a page but had forgotten to erase the link to that page. The link (titled "Who are the Coalition members?") to the list remained for a while in the sidebar on this page, directly under the heading "DOCUMENTS." As you can see, it's now gone as well. (For now, the original version of the page with the link remains in Google's cache here. Since that will eventually be written over, we're mirroring the cached page here.)
But again, as with other incompetent attempts to erase webpages, different versions of the page escaped the webmaster's notice and, thus, still exist on the site. They can be found with a Google search. In a classic type of screw-up, the "text only" version of the page remains on the White House website here. The Memory Hole has created a mirror just in case this page disappears, too.
Also, a press release with a slightly earlier version of the list (March 21 as compared to the missing March 27) can still be found here. (The Memory Hole mirror is here.)
For more info about this, including before-and-after screenshots of the missing link, see "White House Scrubs Website" at the Brad Blog. [from TheMemoryHole.org
*Days Before Iraq Invasion - No Reconstruction Plan
In March 2003, days before the start of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, American war planners and intelligence officials met at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina to review the Bush administration's plans to oust Saddam Hussein and implant democracy in Iraq.
Near the end of his presentation, an Army lieutenant colonel who was giving a briefing showed a slide describing the Pentagon's plans for rebuilding Iraq after the war, known in the planners' parlance as Phase 4-C. He was uncomfortable with his material - and for good reason.
The slide said: "To Be Provided."
[This is around the same time they were comparing our ambitions to the Marshall Plan. -- ed.]
Near the end of his presentation, an Army lieutenant colonel who was giving a briefing showed a slide describing the Pentagon's plans for rebuilding Iraq after the war, known in the planners' parlance as Phase 4-C. He was uncomfortable with his material - and for good reason.
The slide said: "To Be Provided."
[This is around the same time they were comparing our ambitions to the Marshall Plan. -- ed.]
Karl Rove in a Corner
Karl Rove is at his most formidable when running close races, and his skills would be notable even if he used no extreme methods. But he does use them. His campaign history shows his willingness, when challenged, to employ savage tactics. [from the Atlantic Monthly]
Sicko
Now that Michael Moore's chosen to look at the American healthcare industry for his next film, Big Pharma is apparently on red alert for any of his trademark guerilla tactics. On his pre-election tour, Moore has been reading out a company-wide memo that he attributes to Viagra- and Vioxx-pushers Pfizer, warning employees to be prepared (and keep their gobs shut) in case of an inpromptu visit. Pfizer denies the memo exists, but in response, Moore says that the 'non-existent' memo also includes a Pfizer office number to report sightings. Perhaps we should call +1 212 733 2323 during New York office hours tomorrow and find out for certain? Or, alternatively, just mention that a large, unshaven man in a baseball cap has been lurking around any of these locations? [from MetaFilter]
Monday, October 18, 2004
Supreme Court to Review Texas Redistricting
The U.S. Supreme Court gave opponents of Texas's new federal voting districts a new chance to argue against the plan, which may add as many as six Republicans to the state's congressional delegation in the Nov. 2 election.
Today's action leaves the districts in place for the election two weeks from tomorrow. The justices told a lower court to reconsider its decision upholding the districts in light of the justices' April ruling that examined partisan gerrymandering in a Pennsylvania case.
Today's action leaves the districts in place for the election two weeks from tomorrow. The justices told a lower court to reconsider its decision upholding the districts in light of the justices' April ruling that examined partisan gerrymandering in a Pennsylvania case.
Without a Doubt - NY Times Magazine Reprint
The aide said that guys like me were "in what we call the reality-based community," which he defined as people who "believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality." I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. "That's not the way the world really works anymore," he continued. "We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality - judiciously, as you will - we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."
According to "el Mundo" Bin Laden is in China
During the home stretch of the Northamerican elections, Osama bin Laden could prove to be the ace in the sleeve of president Bush. As we speak, Washington is negotiating a highly secretive agreement with Beijing, the Chinese capital, for the eviction of bin Laden from his sanctuary in the turbulent Muslim provinces of China, in the Northwest of the Great Wall nation.
More than five million people, many of them fanatic followers of Osama, live in that region, which can be called one of the most volatile regions of Earth. Thousands of them work for the mafias who specialize in the trafficking of humans and drugs to the West. Last summer, Bin Laden sealed an agreement with the authorities in Beijing, in which he was granted asylum in return for his guarantees that the guerilla war of the Muslim Chinese against the Chinese nation would end.
Over the years, tens of thousands of troops of the Popular Liberation Armee had been sent to the region with the intent to squash the insurgents.
More than five million people, many of them fanatic followers of Osama, live in that region, which can be called one of the most volatile regions of Earth. Thousands of them work for the mafias who specialize in the trafficking of humans and drugs to the West. Last summer, Bin Laden sealed an agreement with the authorities in Beijing, in which he was granted asylum in return for his guarantees that the guerilla war of the Muslim Chinese against the Chinese nation would end.
Over the years, tens of thousands of troops of the Popular Liberation Armee had been sent to the region with the intent to squash the insurgents.
Transistor Radio Turns 50
The first transistor radio hit the consumer market on October 18, 1954. The Regency TR-1 featured four germanium transistors operating on a 22.5-volt battery that provided over twenty hours of life. Several colors were initially offered in the 3" x 5" x 1 1/4" plastic case: black, ivory, mandarin red, cloud gray, mahogany and olive green. Radio collectors covet the limited number of units with swirl colors. "Very chi-chi" fashion iridescent colors were offered later and rare clear plastic cases also were made. CLICK ON color palette to see 10 TR-1 choices. The unit weighed eleven ounces and cost $49.95.
See also the excellent site Transistorized! The History of the Invention of the Transistor
See also the excellent site Transistorized! The History of the Invention of the Transistor
Ketchum Rated Reporters on "No Child Left Behind"
The U.S. Education Department paid $700,000 to the Ketchum public relations and marketing firm, to produce two video news releases and to rate newspaper coverage according to how favorably reporters described the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind law in 2003. Democratic Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Edward M. Kennedy have criticized the Ketchum contract as "an illegal use of taxpayer funds. ... A comprehensive, nationwide media study identifying journalists and news organizations writing favorable stories on President Bush and his political party's commitment to education has only a political purpose." from PRWatch.org
Jailed for Blogging
Juan Cole reports that Omid Memarian, an Iranian writer, journalist, weblogger and social activist has been arrested, making him the fourth journalist to be arrested in an apparent Iranian crackdown on reformist journalists and webloggers who are seen as enemies of the regime. Cole urges people to complain to the Iranian government or their interests section in Washington, DC.
Diebold Pays Damages to Free Speech Advocates
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) capped its historic victory in a copyright abuse case against electronic voting machine manufacturer Diebold today. The corporation agreed to pay $125,000 in damages and fees. The settlement, a win for free speech advocates, comes after a California district court found that Diebold had knowingly misrepresented that online commentators, including Indymedia and two Swarthmore college students, had infringed the company's copyrights.
Electronic Voting: Get the word out
While those of us who pay attention to such things know that there's a simple way to use Diebold voting machines to wipe out and replace entire blocks of votes without leaving an audit trail, most of the public isn't aware how incredibly fragile our "democracy" is.
My friend Ed Ericson, a journalist at the Baltimore City Paper, has put together a flyer on electronic voting to help get the word out.
Page One of Flyer (PDF)
Page Two of Flyer (PDF)
[from Katieweb]
My friend Ed Ericson, a journalist at the Baltimore City Paper, has put together a flyer on electronic voting to help get the word out.
Page One of Flyer (PDF)
Page Two of Flyer (PDF)
[from Katieweb]
Fox moves to fire accuser
Scandal-hit Fox News moved yesterday to fire an employee who says she was sexually harassed by Bill O'Reilly - but wants a judge to declare the canning isn't retribution.
Andrea Mackris, 33, said she was served legal papers about her termination by a man lying in wait for her at her Manhattan apartment building.
The documents said Fox had asked a judge to let the TV station dump her from a $93,200-a-year job as associate producer on "The O'Reilly Factor" - and to rule that the firing was not in retaliation for her accusations about the show's host.
Andrea Mackris, 33, said she was served legal papers about her termination by a man lying in wait for her at her Manhattan apartment building.
The documents said Fox had asked a judge to let the TV station dump her from a $93,200-a-year job as associate producer on "The O'Reilly Factor" - and to rule that the firing was not in retaliation for her accusations about the show's host.
The Glenn Gould De-Vocalizer 2000
Most vocal removing processors simply aren't designed to handle the frequencies in Glenn Gould's vocals. The GG-DV2000 Glenn Gould De-Vocalizer 2000 is optimized to remove only the humming and singing of Glenn Gould and leave the piano sound intact. No special CD's are needed. Just try that with any old vocal processor!
Now you can listen to Glenn Gould recordings without the extraneous humming and singing OR add your own with the included microphone. Great for dinner parties!!!
Order your GG-DV2000 now for the introductory price of $4999.95 and we'll throw in the bodily function noise module at no extra charge. This module effectively removes breathing, coughing, knuckle cracking, and farts from most live performances. No other vocal processor on the market can make that claim.
Now you can listen to Glenn Gould recordings without the extraneous humming and singing OR add your own with the included microphone. Great for dinner parties!!!
Order your GG-DV2000 now for the introductory price of $4999.95 and we'll throw in the bodily function noise module at no extra charge. This module effectively removes breathing, coughing, knuckle cracking, and farts from most live performances. No other vocal processor on the market can make that claim.
"Protect Our Civil Liberties" T-Shirts, get Tsachers Thrown out of Bush Rally
The women got past the first and second checkpoints and were allowed into the Jackson County fairgrounds, but were asked to leave and then escorted out of the event by campaign officials who allegedly told them their T-shirts were "obscene."
Operation Clark County - Brits Giving Advice to American Voters, Americans Respond
"In the spirit of the Declaration of Independence's pledge to show "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind", we have come up with a unique way for non-Americans to express your views on the policies and candidates in this election to some of the people best placed to decide its outcome. It's not quite a vote, but it's a chance to influence how a very important vote will be cast. Or, at the very least, make a new penpal.
...Writing to a Clark County voter is a chance to explain how US policies effect you personally, and the rest of the world more generally, and who you hope they will send to the White House. It may even persuade someone to use their vote at all."
KEEP YOUR F*CKIN' LIMEY HANDS OFF OUR ELECTION is among the American responses.
...Writing to a Clark County voter is a chance to explain how US policies effect you personally, and the rest of the world more generally, and who you hope they will send to the White House. It may even persuade someone to use their vote at all."
KEEP YOUR F*CKIN' LIMEY HANDS OFF OUR ELECTION is among the American responses.
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