An international literary parody contest, the competition honors the memory (if not the reputation) of Victorian novelist Edward George Earl Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873). The goal of the contest is childishly simple: entrants are challenged to submit bad opening sentences to imaginary novels. Although best known for "The Last Days of Pompeii" (1834), which has been made into a movie three times, originating the expression "the pen is mightier than the sword," and phrases like "the great unwashed" and "the almighty dollar," Bulwer-Lytton opened his novel Paul Clifford (1830) with the immortal words that the "Peanuts" Beagle Snoopy plagiarized for years, "It was a dark and stormy night."
The contest began in 1982 as a quiet campus affair, attracting only three submissions. This response being a thunderous success by academic standards, the contest went public the following year and ever since has attracted thousands of annual entries from all over the world.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
California holds a "No Hearing Hearing" on Diebold certification
"In June, over 200 people traveled to Sacramento to voice their concerns at a public hearing before a panel of advisors to the Secretary of State on voting systems. Since then, every scheduled meeting of the Voting Systems Panel has been cancelled, and now the Secretary has simply disbanded the VSP without notice, without hearings, without any type of due process." This isn't the only jurisdiction in which Diebold is attempting to circumvent legal requirements - in North Carolina they filed for and received a broad exemption from new disclosure rules recently passed into law. The EFF are now suing to force Diebold to comply with the law. As if that wasn't enough, an official Certification Test (PDF) for Diebold's Optical Scan voting machines confirms an earlier threat analysis test (PDF) that the memory cards on these machines run uncertified and arbitrary executable code, a charge that Diebold has vigorously denied. [from MetaFilter.com]
Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2005
In a speech given on November 10th, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales introduced proposed legislation [pdf] that would go one step further in criminalizing copyright infringement. The RIAA thinks its a good idea. [from Metafilter.com]
The Darwin exhibition frightening off corporate sponsors
An exhibition celebrating the life of Charles Darwin has failed to find a corporate sponsor because American companies are anxious not to take sides in the heated debate between scientists and fundamentalist Christians over the theory of evolution.
Leaving Iraq
If we say that we'll get out of Iraq when they ask us, and then they ask us, and 63% of Americans want us out, and then we don't get out...wait, I'm confused. [from Rachel Maddow]
Big Oil 'Participation' at Issue
It all depends how you define the word "participate."
While that may seem as silly as bickering over the definition of the word "is," the implications for some oil company executives who testified at a Senate hearing could be significant. Based on how the word is parsed, some executives either told the truth or did not when they were asked about their "participation" in the 2001 energy task force headed by Vice President Cheney.
While that may seem as silly as bickering over the definition of the word "is," the implications for some oil company executives who testified at a Senate hearing could be significant. Based on how the word is parsed, some executives either told the truth or did not when they were asked about their "participation" in the 2001 energy task force headed by Vice President Cheney.
Study Measures Brain Activity During TV Ads
The study was conducted at a London hospital, using a neuroscanner and a group of people aged between 18 and 34. The experiment measured activity while TV ads were screened.
It found that advertising content that is relevant to the programme environment in which it appears is on average is 24% more likely to generate brain activity in the areas of the brain commonly associated with advertising effectiveness.
The study also found that contrary to claims that viewers switch off during ad breaks, advertising generates more brain activity than the programming in which it appears, if it is relevant.
It found that advertising content that is relevant to the programme environment in which it appears is on average is 24% more likely to generate brain activity in the areas of the brain commonly associated with advertising effectiveness.
The study also found that contrary to claims that viewers switch off during ad breaks, advertising generates more brain activity than the programming in which it appears, if it is relevant.
British man who once lived in Houston has mad cow disease
A man from Great Britain who lived in Houston for four years has the human form of mad cow disease, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Monday.
The 30-year-old's case was considered the second U.S. diagnosis of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease because his symptoms began while he lived in Houston.
He returned to Great Britain this year, and he is receiving medical treatment for the fatal illness.
The 30-year-old's case was considered the second U.S. diagnosis of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease because his symptoms began while he lived in Houston.
He returned to Great Britain this year, and he is receiving medical treatment for the fatal illness.
"Congress had access to the same intelligence"
Republicans keep telling us that Congress had the same prewar intelligence as the White House, but that's demonstrably false. In fact, the White House is still withholding prewar intelligence! [from Rachel Maddow]
PDB Showing No Link Between Iraq and 9/11 - Withheld from Congress
Ten days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, President Bush was advised that U.S. intelligence found no credible connection linking the attacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein, or evidence suggesting linkage between Saddam and the al-Qaida terrorist network, according to a published report.
The report, published Tuesday in The National Journal, cites government records, as well as present and former officials with knowledge of the issue. The information in the story, written by National Journal contributor Murray Waas, points to an abiding administration concern for secrecy that extended to keeping information from the Senate committee charged with investigating the matter.
In one of the Journal report's more compelling disclosures, Saddam is said to have viewed al-Qaida as a threat, rather than a potential ally.
The report, published Tuesday in The National Journal, cites government records, as well as present and former officials with knowledge of the issue. The information in the story, written by National Journal contributor Murray Waas, points to an abiding administration concern for secrecy that extended to keeping information from the Senate committee charged with investigating the matter.
In one of the Journal report's more compelling disclosures, Saddam is said to have viewed al-Qaida as a threat, rather than a potential ally.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Did Texas Just Ban Marriage?
HJR No. 6 passed in Texas yesterday, supposedly to ban gay marriage. But read the text closely.
Sec. 32Is it egg-heady coastal elitism to point out that Texas just defined marriage and then made it illegal for everybody, even heteros?
(a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.
(b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.
Congresswoman's "Coward" Remark
Three days after Rep. Jean Schmidt was booed off the House floor for saying that "cowards cut and run, Marines never do," the Ohioan she quoted disputed the comments.
Danny Bubp, a freshman state representative who is a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, told The Enquirer that he never mentioned Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., by name when talking with Schmidt, and he would never call a fellow Marine a coward.
"The unfortunate thing about all of that is that her choice of words on the floor of the House - I don't know, she's a freshman, she had one minute.
Danny Bubp, a freshman state representative who is a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, told The Enquirer that he never mentioned Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., by name when talking with Schmidt, and he would never call a fellow Marine a coward.
"The unfortunate thing about all of that is that her choice of words on the floor of the House - I don't know, she's a freshman, she had one minute.
10 most dangerous toys
The Splatmatic Pistol Splat Paintball Shooter, which fires paint balls at a high velocity, also made the list because of its potential for eye, face and other impact injuries, as did Hasbro's Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith Energy Beam Blaster, which comes with pressurized "energy-beam string canisters."W.A.T.C.H. also said The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King Uruk-Hai Crossbow set, which catapults arrows at high velocity, is dangerous because of its potential to cause eye injuries.
Geospace International's 38" Air Kicks Kickaroos Anti-Gravity Boots, which fit over shoes and help children bounce around, also made the list. The manufacturer instructs users to "always remain in control of your motions," but that directive is unrealistic, W.A.T.C.H. said, citing the toy's potential for head or other impact injuries.
Iraqi Leaders Find Agreement on US Leaving
Iraqi politicians wrapped up an Arab League-sponsored reconciliation conference yesterday with a statement of principles calling for the eventual withdrawal of foreign troops, condemning terrorism and affirming a right of "resistance".
The statement was a rare, if vaguely worded note of consensus from the country's bitterly divided ethnic and sectarian blocs.
Although there remains room for disagreement regarding the details of the statement, it is virtually unprecedented for the range of representatives present at the Cairo meeting - from members of the Shia- and Kurdish-dominated government to supporters of the Sunni Arab insurgency - to meet publicly under the same roof, let alone issue a joint statement.
The statement was a rare, if vaguely worded note of consensus from the country's bitterly divided ethnic and sectarian blocs.
Although there remains room for disagreement regarding the details of the statement, it is virtually unprecedented for the range of representatives present at the Cairo meeting - from members of the Shia- and Kurdish-dominated government to supporters of the Sunni Arab insurgency - to meet publicly under the same roof, let alone issue a joint statement.
Leak: Bush wanted to bomb Al-Jazeera TV station in Qatar
A civil servant has been charged under Britain's Official Secrets Act for allegedly leaking a government memo that a newspaper said Tuesday suggested that Prime Minister Tony Blair persuaded President Bush not to bomb the Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera.
The Daily Mirror reported that Bush spoke of targeting Al-Jazeera's headquarters in Doha, Qatar, when he met Blair at the White House on April 16, 2004. The Bush administration has regularly accused Al-Jazeera of being nothing more than a mouthpiece for anti-American sentiments.
[From MetaFilter.com:]
In 2001 America destroyed the Kabul offices of al-Jazeera with two smartbombs; officials said it was an accident. In 2003 America destroyed the Baghdad offices of al-Jazeera with missiles; officials said it was an accident. Now, two British civil servants are on trial for leaking a memo revealing that Bush intended to bomb al-Jazeera... at their headquarters in allied Qatar.
The Daily Mirror reported that Bush spoke of targeting Al-Jazeera's headquarters in Doha, Qatar, when he met Blair at the White House on April 16, 2004. The Bush administration has regularly accused Al-Jazeera of being nothing more than a mouthpiece for anti-American sentiments.
[From MetaFilter.com:]
In 2001 America destroyed the Kabul offices of al-Jazeera with two smartbombs; officials said it was an accident. In 2003 America destroyed the Baghdad offices of al-Jazeera with missiles; officials said it was an accident. Now, two British civil servants are on trial for leaking a memo revealing that Bush intended to bomb al-Jazeera... at their headquarters in allied Qatar.
EFF Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Sony BMG
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), along with two leading national class action law firms, today filed a lawsuit against Sony BMG, demanding that the company repair the damage done by the First4Internet XCP and SunnComm MediaMax software it included on over 24 million music CDs.
EFF is pleased that Sony BMG has taken steps in acknowledging the security risks caused by the XCP CDs, including a recall of the infected discs. However, these measures still fall short of what the company needs to do to fix the problems caused to customers by XCP, and Sony BMG has failed entirely to respond to concerns about MediaMax, which affects over 20 million CDs -- ten times the number of CDs as the XCP software.
EFF is pleased that Sony BMG has taken steps in acknowledging the security risks caused by the XCP CDs, including a recall of the infected discs. However, these measures still fall short of what the company needs to do to fix the problems caused to customers by XCP, and Sony BMG has failed entirely to respond to concerns about MediaMax, which affects over 20 million CDs -- ten times the number of CDs as the XCP software.
Was Innocent Man Executed in Texas?
"Ruben Cantu had nothing to do with the murder, attempted murder and robbery of the two men at 605 Briggs Street. I should know," Garza wrote in a sworn statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
Protest at the School of the Americas
[M]ore than 15,000 SOA Watch protesters gathered outside the main gate of Fort Benning. For the 16th consecutive year, the protesters demanded the closing of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of the Americas.
More than 40 people were believed to be arrested by military police and federal marshals for crossing over onto Fort Benning. Columbus Police made at least one arrest. "We ain't going away," said Father Roy Bourgeois, the Catholic priest who founded the movement. "We have our hands on the plow; and our eyes on the prize. We'll all go away when they shut that school down."
More than 40 people were believed to be arrested by military police and federal marshals for crossing over onto Fort Benning. Columbus Police made at least one arrest. "We ain't going away," said Father Roy Bourgeois, the Catholic priest who founded the movement. "We have our hands on the plow; and our eyes on the prize. We'll all go away when they shut that school down."
Number with HIV 'at highest yet'
UNAids says there are an estimated 40.3m people currently living with the virus across the world, with almost 5m infected in 2005.
And it warns there are growing epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central and East Asia.
And it warns there are growing epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central and East Asia.
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