US anti-war activists hit by secret airport ban
It should surprise absolutely no one that if you've exersized your right to free speech in a way that might run contrary to the line held by the illegitimate Bush regime, you may be considered a terror threat and be summarily subjected to even further harrassment at U.S. airports because of your subversive views.
If you're asking yourself what BushCo can possibly do to further evoke the spirit of the ole Third Reich, you may be interested in watching, if not registering to trade on, the American Actions Market futures board.
The American Action Market will offer various Washington "futures" that can be bet upon and traded. Examples include:
•Which country will the White House threaten next?
•Who will be the next foreign leader to move off the CIA payroll and onto the White House's "most wanted" list?
•Which corporation with close ties to the White House will be the next cloaked in scandal?
The AAM will begin registering traders in September and plans to open for business Oct. 1 -- the same launch date proposed for the Pentagon's terrorism market, until it was shelved.
Monday, August 04, 2003
Beachcomber.org is a website for people who walk the beaches looking for interesting stuff that's washed ashore. They've even got a flotsam checklist with frequently found items to look for such as toilet seats, Japanese glass fishing floats, and cuban rafts.
Saturday, August 02, 2003
Sam Phillips: 1923-2003
Throughout his work, Phillips encouraged artists not to polish their sounds but to rely on their own natural energy and straight-ahead, unfettered performances. As the self-confident producer later told journalist David Halberstam, "I have one real gift and that gift is to look another person in the eye and be able to tell if he has anything to contribute, and if he does, I have the additional gift to free him from whatever is restraining him."
Throughout his work, Phillips encouraged artists not to polish their sounds but to rely on their own natural energy and straight-ahead, unfettered performances. As the self-confident producer later told journalist David Halberstam, "I have one real gift and that gift is to look another person in the eye and be able to tell if he has anything to contribute, and if he does, I have the additional gift to free him from whatever is restraining him."
Surfart.com has a text-rich history of surfing from its origins in ancient Hawaii to the present.
When the surf dashed over the coral head, the people swam out with their surfboards and floated with them. If a person owned a long narrow canoe, he performed what was called lele va'a, or canoe leaping, in which the surfer leaped off the canoe with his board and ride the crest of the wave ashore. The canoe slid back off the wave because of the force of the shove given it with the feet.
When the surf dashed over the coral head, the people swam out with their surfboards and floated with them. If a person owned a long narrow canoe, he performed what was called lele va'a, or canoe leaping, in which the surfer leaped off the canoe with his board and ride the crest of the wave ashore. The canoe slid back off the wave because of the force of the shove given it with the feet.
Normandie: Ship of Light chronicles the construction, service, scrap, and salvage of the 1930's ocean liner. Other good ocean liner links at Maritime Matters. Royal Regals has some great vintage photographs of early 20th century cruise ships, and Ships of State a similar collection, comparing First, Second, and Tourist class accomodations for Atlantic cruisers.
Friday, August 01, 2003
4000 Mile rubber ducky journey.
"This is a new phenomenon as a result of the melting of the ice," Proctor told Britain's Guardian newspaper.
"Things from the Pacific are appearing in the Labrador Sea coming round the top of Canada through the northwest passage."
"This is a new phenomenon as a result of the melting of the ice," Proctor told Britain's Guardian newspaper.
"Things from the Pacific are appearing in the Labrador Sea coming round the top of Canada through the northwest passage."
Canada: Hippie Nation:
Will some of their enlightenment rub off to their neigbors to the south, or is the U.S. just too over-the-edge ultra-right wing to be nudged back toward sense?
Will some of their enlightenment rub off to their neigbors to the south, or is the U.S. just too over-the-edge ultra-right wing to be nudged back toward sense?
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
RIAA will take 2191.78 years to sue everyone (via /. )
"Keep in mind suing 10,000 people is still only going to impact only one six thousandth (1/6000) of the file traders out there. And who is getting rich off of this? The lawyers. Betcha not a single musician will see a cent of this money.
"Keep in mind suing 10,000 people is still only going to impact only one six thousandth (1/6000) of the file traders out there. And who is getting rich off of this? The lawyers. Betcha not a single musician will see a cent of this money.
[Bush's Fascist Police State VII] What do you know... Chuck D. was right all those years ago. The FBI will be tapping his telephone.
According to the proposal that the FCC is considering, any company offering cable modem or DSL service to residences or businesses would be required to comply with a thicket of federal regulations that would establish a central hub for police surveillance of their customers.
According to the proposal that the FCC is considering, any company offering cable modem or DSL service to residences or businesses would be required to comply with a thicket of federal regulations that would establish a central hub for police surveillance of their customers.
Has the Sea Given Up Its Bounty? (NYTimes)
More than 70 percent of commercial fish stocks are now considered fully exploited, overfished or collapsed. Sea birds and mammals are endangered. And a growing number of marine species are reaching the precariously low levels where extinction is considered a real possibility.
More than 70 percent of commercial fish stocks are now considered fully exploited, overfished or collapsed. Sea birds and mammals are endangered. And a growing number of marine species are reaching the precariously low levels where extinction is considered a real possibility.
Monday, July 28, 2003
Sunday, July 27, 2003
We're back, and not a moment too soon!
Science + Luxuriant, flowing hair = Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists
Science + Luxuriant, flowing hair = Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists
Friday, July 18, 2003
Dick Cheney was planning on divvying up Iraqi oil among his pals...
Here's a visual representation of how Cheney perceived the Iraqi war (PDF)
Here's a visual representation of how Cheney perceived the Iraqi war (PDF)
Thursday, July 17, 2003
San Fransisco cracks down on Gypsie fortune tellers.
Why didn't they see this coming?
Police say that while only 60 alleged victims have come forward over the past decade, most have lost tens of thousands of dollars. Scammers leave town after making a big score, and it's not uncommon for fortune-tellers to make $100,000 a year, said Greg Ovanessian, a San Francisco police inspector with the department's fraud unit.
"You know how many clients it can take a fortune-teller to earn that? One," Ovanessian said. "Finally, we're able to start a paper trail on these guys."
Why didn't they see this coming?
Police say that while only 60 alleged victims have come forward over the past decade, most have lost tens of thousands of dollars. Scammers leave town after making a big score, and it's not uncommon for fortune-tellers to make $100,000 a year, said Greg Ovanessian, a San Francisco police inspector with the department's fraud unit.
"You know how many clients it can take a fortune-teller to earn that? One," Ovanessian said. "Finally, we're able to start a paper trail on these guys."
Living in long-haul shipping containers ()NYTimes)
Shipping containers are design's material du jour, showing up in the work of architects all over, from a museum project made of hundreds of them by the New York firm LOT-EK to the stacked-container look seen in recent work by Zaha Hadid of London and Kazuyo Sejima of Tokyo.
Shipping containers are design's material du jour, showing up in the work of architects all over, from a museum project made of hundreds of them by the New York firm LOT-EK to the stacked-container look seen in recent work by Zaha Hadid of London and Kazuyo Sejima of Tokyo.
Early 20th century color photography using an ingenius 3 lens system. circa 1906
We know that Prokudin-Gorskii intended his photographic images to be viewed in color because he developed an ingenious photographic technique in order for these images to be captured in black and white on glass plate negatives, using red, green and blue filters. He then presented these images in color in slide lectures using a light-projection system [right] involving the same three filters.
We know that Prokudin-Gorskii intended his photographic images to be viewed in color because he developed an ingenious photographic technique in order for these images to be captured in black and white on glass plate negatives, using red, green and blue filters. He then presented these images in color in slide lectures using a light-projection system [right] involving the same three filters.
The Kerry and the media are calling Bush's woes a 'credibility gap' I suppose 'Liar' is too strong a word for headlines?
The irrational fear-based powergrab mentality is still alive and well:
The Interpol chief warns that piracy is linked to 'terrorism'. Please... Does anybody believe this shit anymore?
I believe that corrupt energy conglomerates are linked to Dick Cheney, but is anybody putting an end to them?
An Interpol document to be presented in Washington later on Wednesday said that a wide range of terrorist groups have profited from the production or sale of counterfeit goods, including al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Chechen separatists, ethnic Albanian extremists in Kosovo and paramilitaries in Northern Ireland, the statement said.
The Interpol chief warns that piracy is linked to 'terrorism'. Please... Does anybody believe this shit anymore?
I believe that corrupt energy conglomerates are linked to Dick Cheney, but is anybody putting an end to them?
An Interpol document to be presented in Washington later on Wednesday said that a wide range of terrorist groups have profited from the production or sale of counterfeit goods, including al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Chechen separatists, ethnic Albanian extremists in Kosovo and paramilitaries in Northern Ireland, the statement said.
Monday, July 14, 2003
Snapshots from the Bush Depression:
Teenagers are facing the worst summer job market in years, with the percentage of those holding summer jobs at its lowest in 55 years and the unemployment rate at its highest in a decade.
As Tim McCarthy, the director of the Boston Youth Fund, said: "We're closing firehouses and laying off policemen. It's difficult to hire a kid when you've fired his father."
Teenagers are facing the worst summer job market in years, with the percentage of those holding summer jobs at its lowest in 55 years and the unemployment rate at its highest in a decade.
As Tim McCarthy, the director of the Boston Youth Fund, said: "We're closing firehouses and laying off policemen. It's difficult to hire a kid when you've fired his father."
The Pixel will be turning 50 next year
Though it may seem like a more recent creation, the pixel first appeared in New Jersey in 1954, the same year that Elvis cut his first record and the transistor radio was invented. At Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, mathematicians and engineers created the first computer graphic--and the first instance of digital typography--on a computer the size of a Manhattan apartment.
Here's a pic of the display.
Though it may seem like a more recent creation, the pixel first appeared in New Jersey in 1954, the same year that Elvis cut his first record and the transistor radio was invented. At Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, mathematicians and engineers created the first computer graphic--and the first instance of digital typography--on a computer the size of a Manhattan apartment.
Here's a pic of the display.
Friday, July 11, 2003
Clear Channel's instant live sells you a CD of the concert you just saw 10 minutes ago, before you walk out the door
Bush wants a pot crackdown, which is fine, because potheads want a Bush crackdown. They never go after the real criminals...
The Bush administration, pressing its campaign against state medical marijuana laws, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let federal authorities punish California doctors who recommend pot to their patients.
The Bush administration, pressing its campaign against state medical marijuana laws, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let federal authorities punish California doctors who recommend pot to their patients.
Scientists, like criminals, peak at 30.
"I'm hoping that I'm an exception to my theory - I wrote this paper before I got married and I'm now 40 years old," quips Kanazawa. His study did not cover female scientists.
"I'm hoping that I'm an exception to my theory - I wrote this paper before I got married and I'm now 40 years old," quips Kanazawa. His study did not cover female scientists.
Thousands have their PCs hijacked for use as porn servers. (NYTimes)
The hijacked computers, which are chosen by the hackers apparently because they have high-speed connections to the Internet, are secretly loaded with software that makes them send explicit Web pages advertising pornographic sites and offer to sign visitors up as customers.
The hijacked computers, which are chosen by the hackers apparently because they have high-speed connections to the Internet, are secretly loaded with software that makes them send explicit Web pages advertising pornographic sites and offer to sign visitors up as customers.
Thursday, July 10, 2003
Right-wing disaster and McCarthy appologist Ann Coulter thinks "No serious person thinks that we are in the middle of a civil-liberties crisis."
Liberal media, my ass. Time Magazine once again unappologetically validates the jingoistic notion that it's "unpatriotic" to question the actions and motives of an unelected president.
Here's an example of Time's probing, no holes barred interviewing technique:
Q: Do interviewers try to provoke you into saying outrageous things just because you're Ann Coulter?
A: No. I do that on my own.
Isn't she just fab! I can almost hear the two of them giggling over their bon mots. While being serious. Because she's a serious person. Who thinks its OK to have a guy who was defeated by a corpse, and that thinks dancing is a devil's tool, and who's scared to death of a female breast as her attorney general who is perfectly capable of making sane decisions regarding her civil liberties. How cute that they play with her celebrity cache rather than her more uncomfortable slightly-to-the-right-of-Genghis Khan political agenda.
Liberal media, my ass. Time Magazine once again unappologetically validates the jingoistic notion that it's "unpatriotic" to question the actions and motives of an unelected president.
Here's an example of Time's probing, no holes barred interviewing technique:
Q: Do interviewers try to provoke you into saying outrageous things just because you're Ann Coulter?
A: No. I do that on my own.
Isn't she just fab! I can almost hear the two of them giggling over their bon mots. While being serious. Because she's a serious person. Who thinks its OK to have a guy who was defeated by a corpse, and that thinks dancing is a devil's tool, and who's scared to death of a female breast as her attorney general who is perfectly capable of making sane decisions regarding her civil liberties. How cute that they play with her celebrity cache rather than her more uncomfortable slightly-to-the-right-of-Genghis Khan political agenda.
Online Poker changes the game and the players. (NYTimes)
Gautam Rao, a well-known Canadian player, said he stopped going to casinos in 2000, not long after his daughter was born, "because of the smoke and distance.'' "I told my wife I had to find a way to play online," he said. Now, he is able to play every night between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. while his daughter sleeps in the next room.
Gautam Rao, a well-known Canadian player, said he stopped going to casinos in 2000, not long after his daughter was born, "because of the smoke and distance.'' "I told my wife I had to find a way to play online," he said. Now, he is able to play every night between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. while his daughter sleeps in the next room.
Tuesday, July 08, 2003
You've been really well-behaved all day. Hear a hefty sampling of tracks from the Beach Boys' unreleased Smile Sessions.
Articles on "Smile": [1] [2] [3]
Articles on "Smile": [1] [2] [3]
A grad student finds that his dissertation is a national security threat.
"He should turn it in to his professor, get his grade -- and then they both should burn it," said Richard Clarke, who until recently was the White House cyberterrorism chief. "The fiber-optic network is our country's nervous system."
"He should turn it in to his professor, get his grade -- and then they both should burn it," said Richard Clarke, who until recently was the White House cyberterrorism chief. "The fiber-optic network is our country's nervous system."
Monday, July 07, 2003
Teen-angst killing spree was just barely stopped (NYTimes). The gun stockpile, of course, was owned by a kid's father. Can't wait to see the pro-gun spin on this.
Mr. Sarubbi said the three teenagers had decided to carry out their plot yesterday because Mr. Lovett's parents were away at the Jersey Shore. Other plans to do so in recent months had been aborted for various reasons, he said.
Mr. Sarubbi said the three teenagers had decided to carry out their plot yesterday because Mr. Lovett's parents were away at the Jersey Shore. Other plans to do so in recent months had been aborted for various reasons, he said.
Thursday, July 03, 2003
Illegal-art.org
These films and videos appropriate others' intellectual property, whether through the use of found footage, unauthorized music, or shots of copyrighted or trademarked material. (Filmmakers and videographers now have to get permission for just about every concert t-shirt, store sign, or other piece of intellectual property that happens to appear onscreen).
These films and videos appropriate others' intellectual property, whether through the use of found footage, unauthorized music, or shots of copyrighted or trademarked material. (Filmmakers and videographers now have to get permission for just about every concert t-shirt, store sign, or other piece of intellectual property that happens to appear onscreen).
Obscure Led Zeppelin Trivia
This document seeks to draw together all the interesting, amusing, perplexing, or just plain anecdotal information that has arisen on the topic of Led Zeppelin.
This document seeks to draw together all the interesting, amusing, perplexing, or just plain anecdotal information that has arisen on the topic of Led Zeppelin.
Mixed sex human embryo created.
The team involved insists that the creation of an hermaphrodite human embryo was designed to cure illness, but critics say moral and ethical standards have been breached.
The team involved insists that the creation of an hermaphrodite human embryo was designed to cure illness, but critics say moral and ethical standards have been breached.
[Spread the Gospel] A nice piece in the Guardian about weblogging as a political voice in the U.S. (Thanks, Pat)
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
8goodpeople.com
We want you to meet 8 good people. Though they live in different states, have different family situations and life experiences, and represent different generations, they have a few things in common:
• They support their local libraries, vote, pay taxes and love their families.
• They’re all college-educated, highly skilled professionals with years of experience and excellent references.
• They’re all writers, of sorts, who’ve enjoyed success in the past and have been lucky enough to fulfill at least part of the American dream and buy a home.
• They all need to work to cover living expenses and help support their families.
• They’ve been unemployed for more than a year, exhausted their unemployment benefits and are scraping by on odd-and-end jobs and/or using up savings to cover their living expenses.
And oh yes: they’ve tried everything you’re supposed to try when looking for work - tapping into their network of friends and former colleagues, keeping daily tabs on local classified and online job boards, applying for dozens (and in a few cases, hundreds) of jobs, and marketing their skills and services to anyone who will listen.
We want you to meet 8 good people. Though they live in different states, have different family situations and life experiences, and represent different generations, they have a few things in common:
• They support their local libraries, vote, pay taxes and love their families.
• They’re all college-educated, highly skilled professionals with years of experience and excellent references.
• They’re all writers, of sorts, who’ve enjoyed success in the past and have been lucky enough to fulfill at least part of the American dream and buy a home.
• They all need to work to cover living expenses and help support their families.
• They’ve been unemployed for more than a year, exhausted their unemployment benefits and are scraping by on odd-and-end jobs and/or using up savings to cover their living expenses.
And oh yes: they’ve tried everything you’re supposed to try when looking for work - tapping into their network of friends and former colleagues, keeping daily tabs on local classified and online job boards, applying for dozens (and in a few cases, hundreds) of jobs, and marketing their skills and services to anyone who will listen.
Tuesday, July 01, 2003
More car-free places: Carfree.com has a list of car-free towns, cities, and areas worldwide.
Christiania, Denmark: (NYTimes) Ever since a group of squatters took over an abandoned military fortress in the heart of this intimate, orderly city 32 years ago, their "Free Town," Christiania, has caused the government untold heartburn.
"Official" Site, Christiania.org, another article, and a cool cart-trike bike company started in the car-free town.
"Official" Site, Christiania.org, another article, and a cool cart-trike bike company started in the car-free town.
"This kind of treatment would never be tolerated in the U.S., so why here? Aren't we supposed to be showing them a different way?" Hamoudi, who eventually made it to Jordan, says the American soldiers who arrested him stole two wristwatches. An old man in the house where Hamoudi was arrested asked the soldiers if he could use the bathroom and was told, Hamoudi says, to "piss in his pants."
Monday, June 30, 2003
Orwellian computing (NYTimes)
"It's like having a little safe inside your computer,"
Microsoft always did make it simple. It's not the little paperclip guy talking - it's a Microsoft marketing guy hipping us to their latest Big Brother shovelware.
Here's a differing view:
"Microsoft's use of the term `trusted computing' is a great piece of doublespeak," said Dan Sokol, a computer engineer based in San Jose, Calif., who was one of the original members of the Homebrew Computing Club, the pioneering PC group. "What they're really saying is, `We don't trust you, the user of this computer.' "
"It's like having a little safe inside your computer,"
Microsoft always did make it simple. It's not the little paperclip guy talking - it's a Microsoft marketing guy hipping us to their latest Big Brother shovelware.
Here's a differing view:
"Microsoft's use of the term `trusted computing' is a great piece of doublespeak," said Dan Sokol, a computer engineer based in San Jose, Calif., who was one of the original members of the Homebrew Computing Club, the pioneering PC group. "What they're really saying is, `We don't trust you, the user of this computer.' "
An economist says music piracy should be hurting the recording industry, but it isn't -- and he doesn't know why.
Thursday, June 26, 2003
The use of color and pigment through the ages
Just as orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow, so violet is red withdrawn from humanity by blue. But the red in violet must be cold, for the spiritual need does not allow of a mixture of warm red with cold blue. Violett is therefore both in the physical and spiritual sense a cooled red. It is consequently rather sad and ailing. It is worn by old women, and in China as a sign of mourning. In music it is an English horn, or the deep notes of wood instruments (e.g. a bassoon).
Just as orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow, so violet is red withdrawn from humanity by blue. But the red in violet must be cold, for the spiritual need does not allow of a mixture of warm red with cold blue. Violett is therefore both in the physical and spiritual sense a cooled red. It is consequently rather sad and ailing. It is worn by old women, and in China as a sign of mourning. In music it is an English horn, or the deep notes of wood instruments (e.g. a bassoon).
The only way to stop the RIAA is to stop buying products from companys that associate with them. Magnetbox has an RIAA Radar that lets you check to see if an album you're interested in buying is issued by a label that supports these thugs.
When news media stays quiet in deference to the interest of their parent companies. (NYTIMES)
If allowed to stand, this surrender to media giantism would concentrate the power to decide what we read and see — in both entertainment and news — in the hands of an ever-shrinking establishment elite.
If allowed to stand, this surrender to media giantism would concentrate the power to decide what we read and see — in both entertainment and news — in the hands of an ever-shrinking establishment elite.
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
War Profiteers card deck.
The War Profiteers Card Deck exposes some of the real war criminals in the US’s endless War of Terror. This is no Sunday bridge club. These are individuals and institutions that stack the deck against democracy in the rigged game of global power. Exposing their place in the house of cards illuminates the links among corporations, institutions, and government officials that profit from endless war. The US War of Terror is not about liberation, democracy, or UN resolutions. Plainly put, the War of Terror--whether in Iraq, Colombia, Afghanistan, or the USA--is about subjugation, resource extraction, and opening markets: a practice once referred to more honestly as colonialism.
The War Profiteers Card Deck exposes some of the real war criminals in the US’s endless War of Terror. This is no Sunday bridge club. These are individuals and institutions that stack the deck against democracy in the rigged game of global power. Exposing their place in the house of cards illuminates the links among corporations, institutions, and government officials that profit from endless war. The US War of Terror is not about liberation, democracy, or UN resolutions. Plainly put, the War of Terror--whether in Iraq, Colombia, Afghanistan, or the USA--is about subjugation, resource extraction, and opening markets: a practice once referred to more honestly as colonialism.
An entire island off the coast of Maine is up for sale on ebay.
Ram Island is comprised of fields of grasses, an elevated "grassy knoll" 60 feet above the ocean and a giant rock the size of an office building laying on its side. It features a mile of ocean coastline surrounded by deep salt water.
Ram Island is comprised of fields of grasses, an elevated "grassy knoll" 60 feet above the ocean and a giant rock the size of an office building laying on its side. It features a mile of ocean coastline surrounded by deep salt water.
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Monday, June 23, 2003
Cheers to the kind-hearted people over at Coca-Cola. They sacked a toiling truck driver just for drinking Pepsi.
Eww. Poland Springs ain't from Maine.
"Consumers purchase Poland Spring thinking they are getting a higher-quality natural spring water, but our suit will show that Poland Spring is neither natural nor spring water, and in fact comes from sources of a lesser quality than some tap water,"
"Consumers purchase Poland Spring thinking they are getting a higher-quality natural spring water, but our suit will show that Poland Spring is neither natural nor spring water, and in fact comes from sources of a lesser quality than some tap water,"
Incas coded in binary?
Gary Urton, professor of anthropology at Harvard University, has re-analysed the complicated knotted strings of the Inca - decorative objects called khipu - and found they contain a seven-bit binary code capable of conveying more than 1,500 separate units of information.
Gary Urton, professor of anthropology at Harvard University, has re-analysed the complicated knotted strings of the Inca - decorative objects called khipu - and found they contain a seven-bit binary code capable of conveying more than 1,500 separate units of information.
GWB Greeting cards from Trailer park creations
Idiotic musings from the fortunate-son-in-chief, delivered with all the delusional self-confidence you've come to expect!
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's come kind of federal program."
Q: What would the unelected buffoon think of my Japanese links?
A: "For a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times."
Damn straight, George! Now go get yourself some rest!
Idiotic musings from the fortunate-son-in-chief, delivered with all the delusional self-confidence you've come to expect!
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's come kind of federal program."
Q: What would the unelected buffoon think of my Japanese links?
A: "For a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times."
Damn straight, George! Now go get yourself some rest!
Strange Japanese Advertising... for things like the Shape Horny-Remover (Horny-B-Gon would be better, no?). Some Japanese Ad Slogans, and (I can't believe I missed this for all these years) Engrish.com. Who's up for some Bourbon Pickle Ex Lemon Milk?
"When I'm president, we'll have executive orders to overcome any wrong thing the Supreme Court does tomorrow or any other day," said Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri.
I'm not sure that there's any common voice in the Democratic party, but at least they're starting to push back on Bush's illegitimate regime and its cronyism, special-interest favoritism, warmongering, and corruption.
I'm not sure that there's any common voice in the Democratic party, but at least they're starting to push back on Bush's illegitimate regime and its cronyism, special-interest favoritism, warmongering, and corruption.
Sunday, June 22, 2003
[Government+Big Media vs. Citizens] New bill injects FBI into P2P battle
"It's doing a bunch of things to get the FBI more involved with private enforcement of intellectual-property rights," said Wendy Seltzer, staff attorney for the EFF. "It gives them a chance to scare a lot of users into thinking the government is after them."
"It's doing a bunch of things to get the FBI more involved with private enforcement of intellectual-property rights," said Wendy Seltzer, staff attorney for the EFF. "It gives them a chance to scare a lot of users into thinking the government is after them."
Thursday, June 19, 2003
Are you a windows user who is curious about eventually switching to Linux? Try Knoppix - a complete Linux environment that runs from a single CD-ROM.
This website is about Knoppix, a Free and Open Source Live Linux CD. Knoppix is a GNU/Linux distribution that boots runs completely from cd. It includes recent linux software and desktop environments, with programs such as OpenOffice.org, Abiword, The Gimp, Konqueror, Mozilla, and hundreds more quality open source programs.
This website is about Knoppix, a Free and Open Source Live Linux CD. Knoppix is a GNU/Linux distribution that boots runs completely from cd. It includes recent linux software and desktop environments, with programs such as OpenOffice.org, Abiword, The Gimp, Konqueror, Mozilla, and hundreds more quality open source programs.
More Bush scorn for environmental issues: Report by the E.P.A. Leaves Out Data on Climate Change (NYTimes)
The editing eliminated references to many studies concluding that warming is at least partly caused by rising concentrations of smokestack and tail-pipe emissions and could threaten health and ecosystems.
Among the deletions were conclusions about the likely human contribution to warming from a 2001 report on climate by the National Research Council that the White House had commissioned and that President Bush had endorsed in speeches that year. White House officials also deleted a reference to a 1999 study showing that global temperatures had risen sharply in the previous decade compared with the last 1,000 years. In its place, administration officials added a reference to a new study, partly financed by the American Petroleum Institute, questioning that conclusion.
The editing eliminated references to many studies concluding that warming is at least partly caused by rising concentrations of smokestack and tail-pipe emissions and could threaten health and ecosystems.
Among the deletions were conclusions about the likely human contribution to warming from a 2001 report on climate by the National Research Council that the White House had commissioned and that President Bush had endorsed in speeches that year. White House officials also deleted a reference to a 1999 study showing that global temperatures had risen sharply in the previous decade compared with the last 1,000 years. In its place, administration officials added a reference to a new study, partly financed by the American Petroleum Institute, questioning that conclusion.
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
What Is Happening in America?
It is unquestionably the most radical government in modern American history, one whose ideology and actions have become so pervasive, and are so unquestionably mirrored by the mass media here, that the population seems to have forgotten what "normal" is.
George Bush is the first unelected President of the United States, installed by a right-wing Supreme Court in a kind of judicial coup d'etat. He is the first to actively subvert one of the pillars of American democracy: the separation of church and state. There are now daily prayer meetings and Bible study groups in every branch of the government, and religious organizations are being given funds to take over educational and welfare programs that have always been the domain of the state.
It is unquestionably the most radical government in modern American history, one whose ideology and actions have become so pervasive, and are so unquestionably mirrored by the mass media here, that the population seems to have forgotten what "normal" is.
George Bush is the first unelected President of the United States, installed by a right-wing Supreme Court in a kind of judicial coup d'etat. He is the first to actively subvert one of the pillars of American democracy: the separation of church and state. There are now daily prayer meetings and Bible study groups in every branch of the government, and religious organizations are being given funds to take over educational and welfare programs that have always been the domain of the state.
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Bad Movie Planet hooks you up with all the films that are so bad they're good. Just browsing the titles in the 'unknown movies' section is fun ('Shootfighter', 'Pink Nights', 'Give Me My Money').
Believe me, there's a lot to savor about Nail Gun Massacre, both in a genuine sense and unintentional. Well, there's a few faults, I guess, so I'll get them out of the way first. First, the movie's score consists of a few bars played over and over by what seems to be one of those cheesy Casio keyboards, in the "electronic piano" mode. When a character is speaking, sometimes a couple of notes will play after every sentence.
"What you have here is an apparent epidemic." DUM DUM!
"Seems we've been losing a lot of men at that construction site." DA DA!
Believe me, there's a lot to savor about Nail Gun Massacre, both in a genuine sense and unintentional. Well, there's a few faults, I guess, so I'll get them out of the way first. First, the movie's score consists of a few bars played over and over by what seems to be one of those cheesy Casio keyboards, in the "electronic piano" mode. When a character is speaking, sometimes a couple of notes will play after every sentence.
"What you have here is an apparent epidemic." DUM DUM!
"Seems we've been losing a lot of men at that construction site." DA DA!
Monday, June 16, 2003
Holy Smoke! Brian Wilson to perform the long lost Beach Boys record Smile in concert.
Abandoned early in 1967, Smile would have been a psychedelic landmark had it ever seen release, and in the years since, its status has become positively legendary. Reams of bootlegs circulate in collectors' and online file-trading circles, and more discussion and writing has been devoted to it than to most albums that have been released.
Abandoned early in 1967, Smile would have been a psychedelic landmark had it ever seen release, and in the years since, its status has become positively legendary. Reams of bootlegs circulate in collectors' and online file-trading circles, and more discussion and writing has been devoted to it than to most albums that have been released.
Hollywood couldn't come up with a better Gamma Sphere, so they used the real one in the Hulk
Down and out in white collar America
"I've been in this business for over 20 years, and it's the worst I've ever seen," says David Hoffmann, CEO of DHR International, a Chicago-based recruiting firm. "Nothing even comes close to this."
"I've been in this business for over 20 years, and it's the worst I've ever seen," says David Hoffmann, CEO of DHR International, a Chicago-based recruiting firm. "Nothing even comes close to this."
Thursday, June 12, 2003
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
There has been some good news at Fantagraphics. Fans responded to their open letter, and they're out of immediate trouble.
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Time on the Republican hatred of the poor.
So the Republicans decided that the working poor, who pay little or no income taxes — families with incomes from $10,500 to $26,625--should not receive the expanded child tax credit. Almost 12 million children were effectively denied stipends of up to $400. This saved an estimated $3.5 billion, or 1% of the final bill.
At least the destitute, unemployed, and disenfranchised won't have to pay taxes on their stock dividends.
So the Republicans decided that the working poor, who pay little or no income taxes — families with incomes from $10,500 to $26,625--should not receive the expanded child tax credit. Almost 12 million children were effectively denied stipends of up to $400. This saved an estimated $3.5 billion, or 1% of the final bill.
At least the destitute, unemployed, and disenfranchised won't have to pay taxes on their stock dividends.