Florida city tries to block concert suicide plan
City officials in St Petersburg, Florida, passed a law on Monday banning public suicides in an attempt to prevent a rock band from carrying out a planned suicide at a concert.
The band Hell on Earth said on its website a terminally ill member of the Euthanasia Society would commit suicide at the concert at an undisclosed location in St Petersburg.
The band said it planned to show the event on its website.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
DUMB AND DUMBER
Man steals ID of sex offender
A good rule of thumb for an identity thief is not to steal the name of someone whose reputation is worse than yours -- such as a sex offender.
Police said James Perry stole the name and identity of a neighbor who turned out to be a convicted sex offender.
After being collared for disorderly conduct, arresting police officers said of Perry: "Every bit of identification in his possession labeled the suspect as 'Kowalski', but man himself was adamant that he was not a convicted sex offender."
A check of his fingerprints revealed the truth of his identity.
A good rule of thumb for an identity thief is not to steal the name of someone whose reputation is worse than yours -- such as a sex offender.
Police said James Perry stole the name and identity of a neighbor who turned out to be a convicted sex offender.
After being collared for disorderly conduct, arresting police officers said of Perry: "Every bit of identification in his possession labeled the suspect as 'Kowalski', but man himself was adamant that he was not a convicted sex offender."
A check of his fingerprints revealed the truth of his identity.
BLIND JUSTICE
Judge orders statements of Columbine shooters' parents destroyed
A magistrate has ordered the destruction of sealed statements from parents of the Columbine High School gunmen that were given as part of a wrongful death lawsuit that was later settled.
"What these people are doing is corrupt. The public should be asking themselves what possible interest could the court have in destroying documents that tell the truth about the worst school shooting in the nation's history," said Brian Rohrbough, whose son, Danny, died at Columbine.
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and a teacher on April 20, 1999, before committing suicide at the school in Littleton.
A magistrate has ordered the destruction of sealed statements from parents of the Columbine High School gunmen that were given as part of a wrongful death lawsuit that was later settled.
"What these people are doing is corrupt. The public should be asking themselves what possible interest could the court have in destroying documents that tell the truth about the worst school shooting in the nation's history," said Brian Rohrbough, whose son, Danny, died at Columbine.
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and a teacher on April 20, 1999, before committing suicide at the school in Littleton.
Monday, September 29, 2003
NEW WORLD ORDER
911: "New Pearl Harbor" jump-starts US world domination
If there's one influence that has shaped worldwide politics over the past year, as this year's list of "Censored!" stories shows, it's the extent to which the Bush administration has exploited the events of Sept. 11, 2001, to solidify its military and economic control of the world at the expense of democracy, genuine justice and the environment. But President George W. Bush hasn't simply been responding to world events. The agenda his administration has followed fits perfectly with a clearly defined plan that's been in place for more than a decade.
The neoconservative blueprint for U.S. military domination is hardly a secret. A group called the Project for a New American Century — a think tank founded by hawks who now hold prominent jobs in the White House — released a version of it three years ago. The document is shocking in its candor: It asserts that the United States should be moving unilaterally to assert military control around the globe and that all that's necessary to jump-start the effort is a "new Pearl Harbor."
If there's one influence that has shaped worldwide politics over the past year, as this year's list of "Censored!" stories shows, it's the extent to which the Bush administration has exploited the events of Sept. 11, 2001, to solidify its military and economic control of the world at the expense of democracy, genuine justice and the environment. But President George W. Bush hasn't simply been responding to world events. The agenda his administration has followed fits perfectly with a clearly defined plan that's been in place for more than a decade.
The neoconservative blueprint for U.S. military domination is hardly a secret. A group called the Project for a New American Century — a think tank founded by hawks who now hold prominent jobs in the White House — released a version of it three years ago. The document is shocking in its candor: It asserts that the United States should be moving unilaterally to assert military control around the globe and that all that's necessary to jump-start the effort is a "new Pearl Harbor."
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
Israeli airmen protest civilian bombing
The protest statement signed by 27 Israeli airmen could go a long way in unlocking the puzzle that has kept the Middle East violence from abetting. By publicly stating their opposition to air strikes against Palestinian civilian targets and their refusal to carry out such missions, these brave Israelis can make a key contribution to reaching a lasting cease fire, an important step on the way to reaching a comprehensive peace. Much regional and international support will be needed to reach this important goal but the airmen’s protest could help close a missing piece of the puzzle.
The protest statement signed by 27 Israeli airmen could go a long way in unlocking the puzzle that has kept the Middle East violence from abetting. By publicly stating their opposition to air strikes against Palestinian civilian targets and their refusal to carry out such missions, these brave Israelis can make a key contribution to reaching a lasting cease fire, an important step on the way to reaching a comprehensive peace. Much regional and international support will be needed to reach this important goal but the airmen’s protest could help close a missing piece of the puzzle.
SKY IS FALLING
Meteorite shoots across Indian sky
A huge meteorite shot across the sky this evening causing panic in coastal Orissa particularly Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Jajpur.
Villagers saw a huge ball of fire falling from the sky. For a few seconds, it appeared to be daylight. District officials received frantic messages and in some villages like Mendhakia and Kandia, the fire brigade was mobilised on information that the “ball of fire” had landed and caused considerable damage.
Three people were admitted to hospital at Kendrapara after they fell unconscious on seeing the meteorite Along National Highway No. 5 drivers said they were dazzled for a few seconds.
Shooting star triggers heart failure
The effects of the sudden and unique stellar show that occurred yesterday and brought daylight at dusk for just a few seconds in 11 coastal districts included a death, three injuries and a damaged house in different parts of the state.
Reports, which were sought from the district administration yesterday, revealed that a portion of the meteorite had hit a hut at Kaptipadar in Mayurbhanj district and three persons were injured. Three others in Kendrapara district and four in Jajpur fell sick or unconscious on witnessing the glow caused by the ball of fire.
One of the three, who fell unconscious at Kendrapara district, died today. The deceased, Mr Sukadev Singh (70), a native of Gandakia near here, suffered cardiac arrest on seeing the huge fireball and illumination.
Heavenly home wrecker hits New Orleans
Something had fallen with enough force to punch a hole through the roof and two floors before coming to rest in the crawl space beneath the house.
It was a sandy-colored rock that appeared to have been burned around its edges. Preliminary tests by scientists at Tulane University indicate this particular rock came from outer space.
A huge meteorite shot across the sky this evening causing panic in coastal Orissa particularly Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Jajpur.
Villagers saw a huge ball of fire falling from the sky. For a few seconds, it appeared to be daylight. District officials received frantic messages and in some villages like Mendhakia and Kandia, the fire brigade was mobilised on information that the “ball of fire” had landed and caused considerable damage.
Three people were admitted to hospital at Kendrapara after they fell unconscious on seeing the meteorite Along National Highway No. 5 drivers said they were dazzled for a few seconds.
Shooting star triggers heart failure
The effects of the sudden and unique stellar show that occurred yesterday and brought daylight at dusk for just a few seconds in 11 coastal districts included a death, three injuries and a damaged house in different parts of the state.
Reports, which were sought from the district administration yesterday, revealed that a portion of the meteorite had hit a hut at Kaptipadar in Mayurbhanj district and three persons were injured. Three others in Kendrapara district and four in Jajpur fell sick or unconscious on witnessing the glow caused by the ball of fire.
One of the three, who fell unconscious at Kendrapara district, died today. The deceased, Mr Sukadev Singh (70), a native of Gandakia near here, suffered cardiac arrest on seeing the huge fireball and illumination.
Heavenly home wrecker hits New Orleans
Something had fallen with enough force to punch a hole through the roof and two floors before coming to rest in the crawl space beneath the house.
It was a sandy-colored rock that appeared to have been burned around its edges. Preliminary tests by scientists at Tulane University indicate this particular rock came from outer space.
Sunday, September 28, 2003
SOLAR SYSTEM
Sprawling sunspot 15 earth diameters wide
Sunspot 464 is wider than fifteen planet earths, which means it's easy to see. Astrophotographer Robert Sandy of Roanoke County, Virginia, took this picture of the sprawling spot on Sept. 27th using a sun-filtered 3 1/2' Questar telescope and an Olympus 4040 digital camera.
Sunspot 464 is wider than fifteen planet earths, which means it's easy to see. Astrophotographer Robert Sandy of Roanoke County, Virginia, took this picture of the sprawling spot on Sept. 27th using a sun-filtered 3 1/2' Questar telescope and an Olympus 4040 digital camera.
NEW WORLD ORDER
Cheney's Halliburton ties remain
A report by the Congressional Research Service undermines Vice President Dick Cheney's denial of a continuing relationship with Halliburton Co., the energy company he once led, Sen. Frank Lautenberg said Thursday.
The report says a public official's unexercised stock options and deferred salary fall within the definition of 'retained ties' to his former company.
Cheney said Sunday on NBC that since becoming vice president, 'I've severed all my ties with the company, gotten rid of all my financial interest. I have no financial interest in Halliburton of any kind and haven't had, now, for over three years.'
Democrats pointed out that Cheney receives deferred compensation from Halliburton under an arrangement he made in 1998, and also retains stock options. He has pledged to give after-tax proceeds of the stock options to charity.
A report by the Congressional Research Service undermines Vice President Dick Cheney's denial of a continuing relationship with Halliburton Co., the energy company he once led, Sen. Frank Lautenberg said Thursday.
The report says a public official's unexercised stock options and deferred salary fall within the definition of 'retained ties' to his former company.
Cheney said Sunday on NBC that since becoming vice president, 'I've severed all my ties with the company, gotten rid of all my financial interest. I have no financial interest in Halliburton of any kind and haven't had, now, for over three years.'
Democrats pointed out that Cheney receives deferred compensation from Halliburton under an arrangement he made in 1998, and also retains stock options. He has pledged to give after-tax proceeds of the stock options to charity.
What fear is doing to our freedoms
A fearful people are the easiest to govern. Their freedom and liberty can be taken away, and they can be convinced to believe that it was done for their own good - to give them security. They can be convinced to give up their liberty - voluntarily.
Recently, the passage of the USA Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act have resulted in the most direct attacks on the Bill of Rights that I have seen in my lifetime. These acts were passed without any meaningful opposition and still have considerable public support.
A fearful people are the easiest to govern. Their freedom and liberty can be taken away, and they can be convinced to believe that it was done for their own good - to give them security. They can be convinced to give up their liberty - voluntarily.
Recently, the passage of the USA Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act have resulted in the most direct attacks on the Bill of Rights that I have seen in my lifetime. These acts were passed without any meaningful opposition and still have considerable public support.
Friday, September 26, 2003
Halliburton Creating Iraqi Secret Police At Your Expense
To explain to the American people why the U.S. is spending more on the “war on terrorism”—some $215 million a day—than it does on education, Congress should audit the profiteers that service the military, starting with the company Dick Cheney headed before he became vice president.
“Camp Freedom” is a converted Soviet-era base at Taszár near Kaposvar. American company Brown and Root Services, a subsidiary of Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) and its Dallas-based parent company Halliburton Corp., is running operations at the base from its fortress-like headquarters in Kaposvar. Brown and Root employees are forbidden from discussing what they do and see at the base.
To explain to the American people why the U.S. is spending more on the “war on terrorism”—some $215 million a day—than it does on education, Congress should audit the profiteers that service the military, starting with the company Dick Cheney headed before he became vice president.
“Camp Freedom” is a converted Soviet-era base at Taszár near Kaposvar. American company Brown and Root Services, a subsidiary of Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) and its Dallas-based parent company Halliburton Corp., is running operations at the base from its fortress-like headquarters in Kaposvar. Brown and Root employees are forbidden from discussing what they do and see at the base.
ACLU chief assails Patriot Act spin
Coming on the heels of Attorney General John Ashcroft's summer tour to promote the Patriot Act, President Bush is pushing to expand government powers with Patriot Act II. But experts say the government's assertions about what the first Patriot covers constitute outright deception of the public.
Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, speaking Friday at a conference on information technology and homeland security at the University of California at Berkeley, said the government has 'repeatedly made false statements about the Patriot Act, presumably to deceive listeners into thinking the act gives the government less unilateral power than it actually does.'
Coming on the heels of Attorney General John Ashcroft's summer tour to promote the Patriot Act, President Bush is pushing to expand government powers with Patriot Act II. But experts say the government's assertions about what the first Patriot covers constitute outright deception of the public.
Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, speaking Friday at a conference on information technology and homeland security at the University of California at Berkeley, said the government has 'repeatedly made false statements about the Patriot Act, presumably to deceive listeners into thinking the act gives the government less unilateral power than it actually does.'
SPIN MEISTERS
It's TGIF for the White House when it has bad news
The Bush administration seems to be following an axiom that guided many of its predecessors: To keep negative headlines to a minimum, release bad news on a Friday.
For at least 15 years, the Census Bureau (news - web sites) has released its annual reports on the nation's income and poverty statistics on a Tuesday or a Thursday. This year, when indicators suggest that the reports will document downward trends, they will be released Friday.
Census spokesman Lawrence Neal says the agency "picked a date out of the air." But the Bush administration has a pattern of announcing controversial or unfavorable news as the weekend begins.
The Bush administration seems to be following an axiom that guided many of its predecessors: To keep negative headlines to a minimum, release bad news on a Friday.
For at least 15 years, the Census Bureau (news - web sites) has released its annual reports on the nation's income and poverty statistics on a Tuesday or a Thursday. This year, when indicators suggest that the reports will document downward trends, they will be released Friday.
Census spokesman Lawrence Neal says the agency "picked a date out of the air." But the Bush administration has a pattern of announcing controversial or unfavorable news as the weekend begins.
THE REVISION THING
Iraq war history of lies
[All text is verbatim from senior Bush Administration officials and advisers. In places, tenses have been changed for clarity.]
Once again, we were defending both ourselves and the safety and survival of civilization itself. September 11 signaled the arrival of an entirely different era. We faced perils we had never thought about, perils we had never seen before. For decades, terrorists had waged war against this country. Now, under the leadership of President Bush, America would wage war against them. It was a struggle between good and it was a struggle between evil.
[All text is verbatim from senior Bush Administration officials and advisers. In places, tenses have been changed for clarity.]
Once again, we were defending both ourselves and the safety and survival of civilization itself. September 11 signaled the arrival of an entirely different era. We faced perils we had never thought about, perils we had never seen before. For decades, terrorists had waged war against this country. Now, under the leadership of President Bush, America would wage war against them. It was a struggle between good and it was a struggle between evil.
OIL WAR
PM misled public on Iraq war: poll
Almost 70 per cent of Australians believe Prime Minister John Howard misled them over the reasons for going to war in Iraq, a new poll reveals.
But two-thirds of those who felt deceived about the war believed Mr Howard had misled them unintentionally, the ACNielsen AgePoll found, The Age newspaper reported.
Almost 70 per cent of Australians believe Prime Minister John Howard misled them over the reasons for going to war in Iraq, a new poll reveals.
But two-thirds of those who felt deceived about the war believed Mr Howard had misled them unintentionally, the ACNielsen AgePoll found, The Age newspaper reported.
Thursday, September 25, 2003
FILM TOO HOT
Blast hits Iraqi 'sex cinema'
An explosion has ripped through a cinema in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing two people and injuring up to 20 others.
The cinema was showing a pornographic film at the time of the explosion, witnesses said.
Islamic militants are known to oppose what they call 'immoral' movies and have attacked some cinemas in post-war Iraq for showing them.
An explosion has ripped through a cinema in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing two people and injuring up to 20 others.
The cinema was showing a pornographic film at the time of the explosion, witnesses said.
Islamic militants are known to oppose what they call 'immoral' movies and have attacked some cinemas in post-war Iraq for showing them.
CLOAK AND DAGGER
Diary reveals 'steamed up' Campbell
Alastair Campbell wrote in his diary that it would 'fuck Gilligan' if David Kelly turned out to be source for the BBC reporter's allegations that the government 'sexed up' its claims about Iraq weapons.
Mr Campbell - writing on July 4, when he knew an MoD worker had come forward to deny being part of Gilligan's story - recorded a conversation with defence secretary Geoff Hoon in which they discussed the emergence of Dr Kelly.
'Says that he'd come forward and he was saying yes to speak to AG [Andrew Gilligan], yes he said intel went in late, but he never said the other stuff [that Downing Street intervened over the 45-minute claim].
[Gilligan was the journalist who has a 'source' high up in the MOD (British Ministry Of Defence) that could prove that Blair lied when he said that Iraq had WMDs. Campbell was the press secretary and Hoon is the minister of defence. Dr. Kelly was the 'source']
Alastair Campbell wrote in his diary that it would 'fuck Gilligan' if David Kelly turned out to be source for the BBC reporter's allegations that the government 'sexed up' its claims about Iraq weapons.
Mr Campbell - writing on July 4, when he knew an MoD worker had come forward to deny being part of Gilligan's story - recorded a conversation with defence secretary Geoff Hoon in which they discussed the emergence of Dr Kelly.
'Says that he'd come forward and he was saying yes to speak to AG [Andrew Gilligan], yes he said intel went in late, but he never said the other stuff [that Downing Street intervened over the 45-minute claim].
[Gilligan was the journalist who has a 'source' high up in the MOD (British Ministry Of Defence) that could prove that Blair lied when he said that Iraq had WMDs. Campbell was the press secretary and Hoon is the minister of defence. Dr. Kelly was the 'source']
EARTH CHANGES
Dr. Vincent Keipper was in the right place at the right time to get this photo of the crumbling Furtwängler Glacier on Mt. Kilimanjaro. The photo is dramatic evidence of the glacier's recession. Room-size blocks of ice tumbled across the trail Keipper had hiked the
day before.
Mount Kilimanjaro's glacier is crumbling
Keipper's photos speak for themselves, dramatic proof of a scientific near-certainty: Kilimanjaro's glaciers are disappearing. The ice fields Ernest Hemingway once described as "wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun" have lost 82 percent of their ice since 1912—the year their full extent was first measured.
If current climatic conditions persist, the legendary glaciers, icing the peaks of Africa's highest summit for nearly 12,000 years, could be gone entirely by 2020.
"Just connect the dots," said Ohio State University geologist Lonnie Thompson. "If things remain as they have, in 15 years [Kilimanjaro's glaciers] will be gone."
Largest Arctic ice shelf breaks up
The largest ice shelf in the Arctic, a solid feature for 3,000 years, has broken up, scientists in the United States and Canada said on Monday.
They said the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, on the north coast of Ellesmere Island in Canada's Nunavut territory, broke into two main parts, themselves cut through with fissures. A freshwater lake drained into the sea, the researchers reported.
Local warming of the climate is to blame, they said -- adding that they did not have the evidence needed to link the melting ice to the steady, planet-wide climate change known as global warming.
Writing in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the researcher team said the fresh water lake poured out of the 20 mile long Disraeli Fjord.
A similar trend in the Antarctic has caused the break-up of huge ice shelves there.
The largest ice shelf in the Arctic, a solid feature for 3,000 years, has broken up, scientists in the United States and Canada said on Monday.
They said the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, on the north coast of Ellesmere Island in Canada's Nunavut territory, broke into two main parts, themselves cut through with fissures. A freshwater lake drained into the sea, the researchers reported.
Local warming of the climate is to blame, they said -- adding that they did not have the evidence needed to link the melting ice to the steady, planet-wide climate change known as global warming.
Writing in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the researcher team said the fresh water lake poured out of the 20 mile long Disraeli Fjord.
A similar trend in the Antarctic has caused the break-up of huge ice shelves there.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
EARTH CHANGES
Super volcano killed the dinosaurs, say some scientists
The extinction of the dinosaurs – thought to be caused by an asteroid impact some 65 million years ago – was more likely to have been caused by a 'mantle plume' – a huge volcanic eruption from deep within the earth's mantle, the region between the crust and the core of the earth.
This theory, already supported by a significant body of geologists and palaeontologists, is strengthened by new evidence presented at an international conference at Cardiff University.
The extinction of the dinosaurs – thought to be caused by an asteroid impact some 65 million years ago – was more likely to have been caused by a 'mantle plume' – a huge volcanic eruption from deep within the earth's mantle, the region between the crust and the core of the earth.
This theory, already supported by a significant body of geologists and palaeontologists, is strengthened by new evidence presented at an international conference at Cardiff University.
UNIVERSAL BINDER
Gravity wave hunt ideal for sensitive types
Physicists in the UK are ready to start construction of a major part of an advanced new experiment, designed to search for elusive gravitational waves. They are already part of two experiments: the UK/German GEO 600 project and the US LIGO experiment (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), both in their commissioning phases. By bringing GEO 600 technology to LIGO, they and their German colleagues from the Albert Einstein Institute are now set to become full partners in Advanced LIGO, a more sensitive observatory that once fully operational should be able to detect a gravitational wave event a day.
First predicted by Einstein's Theory of Relativity, gravitational waves have never been observed, but indirect evidence of their existence has been obtained by measuring the effect of their emission by a binary pulsar system (two neutron stars orbiting each other). The observed effect was found to match predictions.
Physicists in the UK are ready to start construction of a major part of an advanced new experiment, designed to search for elusive gravitational waves. They are already part of two experiments: the UK/German GEO 600 project and the US LIGO experiment (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), both in their commissioning phases. By bringing GEO 600 technology to LIGO, they and their German colleagues from the Albert Einstein Institute are now set to become full partners in Advanced LIGO, a more sensitive observatory that once fully operational should be able to detect a gravitational wave event a day.
First predicted by Einstein's Theory of Relativity, gravitational waves have never been observed, but indirect evidence of their existence has been obtained by measuring the effect of their emission by a binary pulsar system (two neutron stars orbiting each other). The observed effect was found to match predictions.
OIL WAR
Envisat environmental satellite image of northern Iraq, acquired the same day as the media reported a fire affecting a segment of oil pipeline near the town of Hawija.
Burning oil cloud above northern Iraq
A burning oil pipeline in northern Iraq produced an immense cloud of black smoke that stretched across thousands of square kilometres, in an image acquired by Envisat’s Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer.
The dense cloud of smoke has an extent comparable to the Iranian lake Urmia (which has an area of 4700 square kilometres), seen in turquoise colour towards the top right of the image. Authorities stated it took two days to bring the fire under control.
WHITE (RABBIT) HOLES
Was the Universe born in a Black Hole?
In a new model, the Big Bang is an actual explosion within a black hole in an existing space. The shock wave of the explosion is expanding into an infinite space, leaving behind it a finite amount of matter. The universe is emerging from a white hole. The opposite of a black hole, a white hole throws matter out instead of sucking it in.
The shockwave and the universe beyond the black hole lies in our future. Eventually, the universe will emerge from the black hole as something like a supernova, but on an enormously large scale, Blake Temple, professor of mathematics at UC Davis, said.
The equations that describe a black hole were written by Albert Einstein as part of the General Theory of Relativity. Einstein's equations work equally well if time runs forward or backwards. But explosive shockwaves, which include an increase in entropy, are time-irreversible. The new theory satisfies Einstein's equations while allowing the universe to expand.
Whether the matter emerging from the white hole came from matter that previously fell into another black hole is an open question, Temple said.
In a new model, the Big Bang is an actual explosion within a black hole in an existing space. The shock wave of the explosion is expanding into an infinite space, leaving behind it a finite amount of matter. The universe is emerging from a white hole. The opposite of a black hole, a white hole throws matter out instead of sucking it in.
The shockwave and the universe beyond the black hole lies in our future. Eventually, the universe will emerge from the black hole as something like a supernova, but on an enormously large scale, Blake Temple, professor of mathematics at UC Davis, said.
The equations that describe a black hole were written by Albert Einstein as part of the General Theory of Relativity. Einstein's equations work equally well if time runs forward or backwards. But explosive shockwaves, which include an increase in entropy, are time-irreversible. The new theory satisfies Einstein's equations while allowing the universe to expand.
Whether the matter emerging from the white hole came from matter that previously fell into another black hole is an open question, Temple said.
JURASSIC PARK
Caveman evicted from US national forest
A man was evicted from an Arizona cave he had lived in for 11 years, after pleading guilty to using a national forest for residential purposes.
Thomas Crawford had a bed, books and clothes arranged on hangers, along with pots and cutlery for cooking in his cave in the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona. He was arrested Friday after a Flagstaff resident reported a suspicious camp.
Crawford -- sentenced to one year of probation and banned from the forest -- told reporters, "As you can see, I don't have a TV or anything. I've got the sky, the wind, the rain, the canyon wrens...This is a beautiful mountain. You could explore it a lifetime."
A man was evicted from an Arizona cave he had lived in for 11 years, after pleading guilty to using a national forest for residential purposes.
Thomas Crawford had a bed, books and clothes arranged on hangers, along with pots and cutlery for cooking in his cave in the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona. He was arrested Friday after a Flagstaff resident reported a suspicious camp.
Crawford -- sentenced to one year of probation and banned from the forest -- told reporters, "As you can see, I don't have a TV or anything. I've got the sky, the wind, the rain, the canyon wrens...This is a beautiful mountain. You could explore it a lifetime."
ALIEN HEALTH
Galileo spacecraft set to have a head-on with Jupiter
NASA plans to crash its Galileo spacecraft into Jupiter next week to avoid contaminating the red planet's ice-covered moon Europa with bacteria from earth. The aging probe will plunge into the planet's stormy atmosphere at a speed of nearly 174,000kph, vaporising the nearly 1350kg Galileo and any microbes that may have been stowaways on the spacecraft since its 1989 launch
Europa, a planet-sized moon, is widely believed to have the most promising habitat for extraterrestrial life within the solar system.
Were earth bugs to gain a toehold on Europa, perhaps in pools of water warmed by radioactive plutonium the spacecraft uses to generate electricity, they could compromise future attempts to probe the moon for indigenous life.
NASA plans to crash its Galileo spacecraft into Jupiter next week to avoid contaminating the red planet's ice-covered moon Europa with bacteria from earth. The aging probe will plunge into the planet's stormy atmosphere at a speed of nearly 174,000kph, vaporising the nearly 1350kg Galileo and any microbes that may have been stowaways on the spacecraft since its 1989 launch
Europa, a planet-sized moon, is widely believed to have the most promising habitat for extraterrestrial life within the solar system.
Were earth bugs to gain a toehold on Europa, perhaps in pools of water warmed by radioactive plutonium the spacecraft uses to generate electricity, they could compromise future attempts to probe the moon for indigenous life.
OIL WAR
Cheney denies helping old firm to land Iraqi contracts
US Vice-President Dick Cheney has denied helping his former oil services company get multibillion-dollar US Government contracts in Iraq.
Democrats have questioned the role of Mr Cheney's former firm, Halliburton, in rebuilding Iraq. The company, headed by Mr Cheney before he became Vice-President, has contracts worth nearly $2 billion.
Mr Cheney bristled at the suggestion that his connection influenced the awarding of the no-bid contracts to Halliburton.
"Since I left Halliburton to become George Bush's Vice-President, I've severed all my ties with the company," he said. "And as Vice-President, I have absolutely no influence of, involvement of, knowledge of . . . contracts let by the US Corps of Engineers or anybody else in the federal government," he spluttered.
Asked why Halliburton did not have to compete with other firms for the contracts, Mr Cheney said: "I have no idea. Go ask the Corps of Engineers."
US Vice-President Dick Cheney has denied helping his former oil services company get multibillion-dollar US Government contracts in Iraq.
Democrats have questioned the role of Mr Cheney's former firm, Halliburton, in rebuilding Iraq. The company, headed by Mr Cheney before he became Vice-President, has contracts worth nearly $2 billion.
Mr Cheney bristled at the suggestion that his connection influenced the awarding of the no-bid contracts to Halliburton.
"Since I left Halliburton to become George Bush's Vice-President, I've severed all my ties with the company," he said. "And as Vice-President, I have absolutely no influence of, involvement of, knowledge of . . . contracts let by the US Corps of Engineers or anybody else in the federal government," he spluttered.
Asked why Halliburton did not have to compete with other firms for the contracts, Mr Cheney said: "I have no idea. Go ask the Corps of Engineers."
PATRIOT FACT
Ashcroft rips into anti-Patriot Act 'hysteria'
Attorney General John Ashcroft denounced as 'hysteria' the contention by some librarians and civil liberties groups that the FBI can use a new anti-terror law to snoop into Americans' reading habits.
In a speech Monday to an American Restaurant Association conference, Ashcroft said people are being wrongly led to believe that libraries have been 'surrounded by the FBI,' with agents 'dressed in raincoats, dark suits and sunglasses. They stop everyone and interrogate everyone like Joe Friday.
[The Patriot Act in fact does make it illegal for librarians to tell users if computers are being monitored by Federal agents. Technically legal signs for display in US libraries provide some kind of loophole :)]
IMPERIAL ASPIRATIONS
'There is tranquility in Ignorance, but servitude is its partner'
In America we are dealing with a level of illiteracy downright frightening. Political literacy, on foreign affairs, war and peace issues, we are absolutely a stupefied muddle of illiterate dopes. The entire world holds Americans in, well, shock and awe, if you will: shocked by our stupidity -- awed by our own disbelief in that fact. Americans arrogantly believe they are the smartest, best and most moral people on earth.
It is these Volk that will believe everything, anything, no matter how absurdly untrue, George Bush the Smaller says. Many if not most on the Christian right think what we are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan have biblical overtones. Some, let us guess about half that figure, even believe "this is the END TIMES" and they will come out of all this secular war-making sitting to the right, that would be the very far-right, hand of God.
In America we are dealing with a level of illiteracy downright frightening. Political literacy, on foreign affairs, war and peace issues, we are absolutely a stupefied muddle of illiterate dopes. The entire world holds Americans in, well, shock and awe, if you will: shocked by our stupidity -- awed by our own disbelief in that fact. Americans arrogantly believe they are the smartest, best and most moral people on earth.
It is these Volk that will believe everything, anything, no matter how absurdly untrue, George Bush the Smaller says. Many if not most on the Christian right think what we are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan have biblical overtones. Some, let us guess about half that figure, even believe "this is the END TIMES" and they will come out of all this secular war-making sitting to the right, that would be the very far-right, hand of God.
JACKBOOT MENTALITY
The glittering edge of the boot
The three women soldiers who detained an old Palestinian on the main street of the German Colony in West Jerusalem didn't hit him; they didn't spit at him or kick him or shove him against a wall with the butt of a rifle, but there was something in the behavior of these three girls, border policewomen in uniform, detaining an old Palestinian on a narrow stretch of a main street in Jerusalem that made me pause, look at them for a moment, go on walking, then retrace my steps. There was something I couldn't overlook and then go about my business.
The three women soldiers who detained an old Palestinian on the main street of the German Colony in West Jerusalem didn't hit him; they didn't spit at him or kick him or shove him against a wall with the butt of a rifle, but there was something in the behavior of these three girls, border policewomen in uniform, detaining an old Palestinian on a narrow stretch of a main street in Jerusalem that made me pause, look at them for a moment, go on walking, then retrace my steps. There was something I couldn't overlook and then go about my business.
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
WALK THE DOGMA
Journal axes gene research on Jews and Palestinians
Jews and Palestinians in the Middle East share a very similar gene pool and must be considered closely related and not genetically separate, gene researchers have found.
However their keynote research paper showing the genetic kinship has been pulled from a leading science journal because its conclusions offend religious dogma.
Such a drastic act of self-censorship is unprecedented in research publishing and has created widespread disquiet, generating fears that it may involve the suppression of scientific work that questions Biblical dogma.
In common with earlier studies, the team found no data to support the idea that Jewish people were genetically distinct from other people in the region -- thus challenging claims that Jews are a special, chosen people and that Judaism can only be inherited.
Jews and Palestinians in the Middle East share a very similar gene pool and must be considered closely related and not genetically separate, gene researchers have found.
However their keynote research paper showing the genetic kinship has been pulled from a leading science journal because its conclusions offend religious dogma.
Such a drastic act of self-censorship is unprecedented in research publishing and has created widespread disquiet, generating fears that it may involve the suppression of scientific work that questions Biblical dogma.
In common with earlier studies, the team found no data to support the idea that Jewish people were genetically distinct from other people in the region -- thus challenging claims that Jews are a special, chosen people and that Judaism can only be inherited.
MARTYR SOURCE
Suicide mars WTO talks in Cancun
South Korean Lee Kyung-hae, a 54-year-old farming leader stabbed himself to death during a protest against the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its policies on the first day of world trade talks in the Mexican resort of Cancun.
A fellow protester wept as she spoke about Lee's life and his devotion to helping impoverished farmers. "Yesterday he slashed his chest, showing his strength against the WTO. Today he is dead," she said, her voice quivering with emotion.
South Korean Lee Kyung-hae, a 54-year-old farming leader stabbed himself to death during a protest against the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its policies on the first day of world trade talks in the Mexican resort of Cancun.
A fellow protester wept as she spoke about Lee's life and his devotion to helping impoverished farmers. "Yesterday he slashed his chest, showing his strength against the WTO. Today he is dead," she said, her voice quivering with emotion.
Monday, September 15, 2003
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
Did secret HAARP test cause US blackout?
A scientist who wishes to remain anonymous says the secret government project HAARP was behind the recent Northeast power blackout. He thinks it might have been a test to see how HAARP could be used as a military weapon, as well as how the U.S. would cope with a terrorist attack on our power grid.
He became suspicious when he noticed that the blackout conveniently started a few minutes after the Wall Street closing bell, so the stock markets were not disrupted. Then he discovered that HAARP (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Project) was turned that afternoon.
A scientist who wishes to remain anonymous says the secret government project HAARP was behind the recent Northeast power blackout. He thinks it might have been a test to see how HAARP could be used as a military weapon, as well as how the U.S. would cope with a terrorist attack on our power grid.
He became suspicious when he noticed that the blackout conveniently started a few minutes after the Wall Street closing bell, so the stock markets were not disrupted. Then he discovered that HAARP (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Project) was turned that afternoon.
COLD BLOOD
Anna Lindh's killer may be caught on camera
As the hunt for the killer of Swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh intensified as the country's tabloid newspapers published a CCTV pic ture of the man who has emerged as the main suspect, enraging the police who claimed the move might prejudice potential witnesses.
Police appear to have no idea who the man in the photo is and admit they have been unable to pull any usable fingerprints from the knife used.
Analysts said that Lindh, the leading pro-euro campaigner, was perceived by many in Sweden to be a martyr to the single currency despite the fact that the identity of her assassin, and his motives, remains unknown.
Sweden voted no to the Euro today.
[The local version of "Wanted" says the perpetrator is most likely a lone guy, psychopath or similar, that for some reason didnt' like Anna and did it because he "happened" to have an opportunity.
On the other hand, the man had many layers of jackets (some of which were discarded in doorways as he ran away; the trail of him is dead after he leaves the store), a cap to hide his face from cameras, no fingerprints were left on the knife, and he managed to hit pretty much every part of the human body that pumps large amount of blood. In other words, a professional hit can not be ruled out.]
Sunday, September 14, 2003
IN GOOD SPIRIT
Dalai Lama finds hope in 9/11, says war in Afghanistan may have been justified
The 14th Dalai Lama told a packed audience at the National Cathedral yesterday that even the worst tragedies in life can be used for 'spiritual growth.' During an interfaith prayer service to honor those who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Dalai Lama said there's no point getting demoralized over past events. 'Use them for personal, spiritual growth and most of all, forgiveness'.
The 14th Dalai Lama told a packed audience at the National Cathedral yesterday that even the worst tragedies in life can be used for 'spiritual growth.' During an interfaith prayer service to honor those who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Dalai Lama said there's no point getting demoralized over past events. 'Use them for personal, spiritual growth and most of all, forgiveness'.
IN GOOD SPIRIT
Experiment to investigate out of body experiences
Scientists probing the paranormal say they hope to set up a major experiment in Britain trying to find out once and for all whether the mind can step outside the body at the brink of death.
The proposed study would involve interviewing people who had survived cardiac arrest to see if they had had an out of body experience while on the operating table, neuropsychiatrist Peter Fenwick told reporters at the annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
The researchers plan to ask 25 hospitals to place special objects and pictures around their cardiac units.
Each survivor who then claimed to have an out of body experience -- where they typically hover near the ceiling watching the resuscitation process -- would be asked if they had noticed any of the objects.
"If they do notice them when the brain is not functioning then it makes the case for the mind being separate from the brain," he said.
Fenwick also said there had been several scientific studies showing efficacy of prayer, including one in which the number of women in a clinic in Seoul who conceived after being implanted with fertilised eggs doubled when groups elsewhere prayed for them.
Scientists probing the paranormal say they hope to set up a major experiment in Britain trying to find out once and for all whether the mind can step outside the body at the brink of death.
The proposed study would involve interviewing people who had survived cardiac arrest to see if they had had an out of body experience while on the operating table, neuropsychiatrist Peter Fenwick told reporters at the annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
The researchers plan to ask 25 hospitals to place special objects and pictures around their cardiac units.
Each survivor who then claimed to have an out of body experience -- where they typically hover near the ceiling watching the resuscitation process -- would be asked if they had noticed any of the objects.
"If they do notice them when the brain is not functioning then it makes the case for the mind being separate from the brain," he said.
Fenwick also said there had been several scientific studies showing efficacy of prayer, including one in which the number of women in a clinic in Seoul who conceived after being implanted with fertilised eggs doubled when groups elsewhere prayed for them.
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
NASA releases near-Earth object search report
NASA has released a technical report on potential future search efforts for near-Earth objects after a year of analysis by scientists working on this issue. This Science Definition Team was chartered to study what should be done to find near-Earth objects less than 1 kilometer in size. While impacts by these smaller objects would not be expected to cause global devastation, impacts on land and the tsunamis resulting from ocean impacts could still cause massive regional damage and still pose a significant long-term hazard.
NASA has released a technical report on potential future search efforts for near-Earth objects after a year of analysis by scientists working on this issue. This Science Definition Team was chartered to study what should be done to find near-Earth objects less than 1 kilometer in size. While impacts by these smaller objects would not be expected to cause global devastation, impacts on land and the tsunamis resulting from ocean impacts could still cause massive regional damage and still pose a significant long-term hazard.
SKY IS FALLING
Sonic boom likely caused by meteor
A sonic boom heard over Nanaimo, Canada, earlier this week was likely a small meteor, says an astronomy professor at Malaspina University College.
Prof. Bill Weller says his analysis of the seismic data from Wednesday afternoon shows a meteor about the size of a toaster could have been responsible for the blast.
A sonic boom heard over Nanaimo, Canada, earlier this week was likely a small meteor, says an astronomy professor at Malaspina University College.
Prof. Bill Weller says his analysis of the seismic data from Wednesday afternoon shows a meteor about the size of a toaster could have been responsible for the blast.
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Mobiles 'make you senile'
Mobile phones and the new wireless technology could cause a 'whole generation' of today's teenagers to go senile in the prime of their lives, new research suggests.
The study - which warns specifically against "the intense use of mobile phones by youngsters" - comes as research on their health effects is being scaled down, due to industry pressure. It is likely to galvanise concern about the almost universal exposure to microwaves in Western countries.
Previous studies proved radiation could open the blood-brain barrier, allowing a protein called albumin to pass into the brain. This latest work goes a step further, by showing the process is linked to serious brain damage.
Meanwhile, Mays Swicord, a scientific adviser to Motorola told New Scientist magazine that governments and industry should "stop wasting money" by looking for health damage.
Mobile phones and the new wireless technology could cause a 'whole generation' of today's teenagers to go senile in the prime of their lives, new research suggests.
The study - which warns specifically against "the intense use of mobile phones by youngsters" - comes as research on their health effects is being scaled down, due to industry pressure. It is likely to galvanise concern about the almost universal exposure to microwaves in Western countries.
Previous studies proved radiation could open the blood-brain barrier, allowing a protein called albumin to pass into the brain. This latest work goes a step further, by showing the process is linked to serious brain damage.
Meanwhile, Mays Swicord, a scientific adviser to Motorola told New Scientist magazine that governments and industry should "stop wasting money" by looking for health damage.
SYCOPHANTS 'R' US
It's official, Australian PM is an "a***-licker"
In June this year the Bulletin magazine reported Federal Labor frontbencher Mark Latham describing Prime Minister John Howard as an arse-licker while the PM was visiting the US.
But now it's official. During the Parliamentary sitting of 9/11 this year the PM said during a memorial speech that:
"The reality is that, whatever people may think of the United States, it has always been a force for liberty, decency, freedom and openness in the affairs of the world. ...[I]f the world is to have a superpower, would we wish it to be other than a country that aspires to and endeavours to practise the values of the United States?" [Hansard transcripts]
The speech was memorable for a verbal threat from the public gallery. On the televised session of parliament that night, the disturbance was heard to be a man who could be heard to repeatedly say "I warned you Howard". Mr Howard casually turned the disturbance around -- as Hansard reported:
An incident having occurred in the gallery—
The SPEAKER—Order! Remove that man from the gallery.
Mr HOWARD—One thing can be said: the terrorists have not denied this country free speech. It is a remarkable thing and it is something that is worth preserving and defending, consistent with taking all necessary steps to protect ourselves against attacks. The other thing I want to do, particularly on behalf of the Australian people, is to extend our very warm thoughts towards our friends in the United States.
In June this year the Bulletin magazine reported Federal Labor frontbencher Mark Latham describing Prime Minister John Howard as an arse-licker while the PM was visiting the US.
But now it's official. During the Parliamentary sitting of 9/11 this year the PM said during a memorial speech that:
"The reality is that, whatever people may think of the United States, it has always been a force for liberty, decency, freedom and openness in the affairs of the world. ...[I]f the world is to have a superpower, would we wish it to be other than a country that aspires to and endeavours to practise the values of the United States?" [Hansard transcripts]
The speech was memorable for a verbal threat from the public gallery. On the televised session of parliament that night, the disturbance was heard to be a man who could be heard to repeatedly say "I warned you Howard". Mr Howard casually turned the disturbance around -- as Hansard reported:
An incident having occurred in the gallery—
The SPEAKER—Order! Remove that man from the gallery.
Mr HOWARD—One thing can be said: the terrorists have not denied this country free speech. It is a remarkable thing and it is something that is worth preserving and defending, consistent with taking all necessary steps to protect ourselves against attacks. The other thing I want to do, particularly on behalf of the Australian people, is to extend our very warm thoughts towards our friends in the United States.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
New light transmission device
If every house in Australia were to replace a 60 watt light bulb with a new sunlight transmission device for just three hours a day, that could save about half a million dollars worth of energy costs and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by about half a million tons throughout the whole year.
This is the claim of some fresh Australian scientists.
If every house in Australia were to replace a 60 watt light bulb with a new sunlight transmission device for just three hours a day, that could save about half a million dollars worth of energy costs and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by about half a million tons throughout the whole year.
This is the claim of some fresh Australian scientists.
Thursday, September 11, 2003
NEW WORLD ORDER
Pentagon targets Latinos and Mexicans for war on terror
With the casualty rate in Iraq growing by the day and President George Bush's worldwide "war on terrorism" showing no signs of abating, a stretched United States military is turning increasingly to Latinos - including tens of thousands of non-citizen immigrants - to do the fighting and dying on its behalf.
Senior Pentagon officials have identified Latinos as by far the most promising ethnic group for recruitment, because their numbers are growing rapidly in the US and they include a plentiful supply of low-income men of military age with few other job or educational prospects.
With the casualty rate in Iraq growing by the day and President George Bush's worldwide "war on terrorism" showing no signs of abating, a stretched United States military is turning increasingly to Latinos - including tens of thousands of non-citizen immigrants - to do the fighting and dying on its behalf.
Senior Pentagon officials have identified Latinos as by far the most promising ethnic group for recruitment, because their numbers are growing rapidly in the US and they include a plentiful supply of low-income men of military age with few other job or educational prospects.
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
Occupation bill could pay for total health cover ... twice over
Billions spent on US military occupation operations could pay for every man, woman and child to have free health care twice over, according to a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate.
Howard Dean said the spending of dollars earmarked for Iraq and Afghanistan - most of it for military operations rather than reconstruction - could accomplish much more beneficial projects in the United States.
"So far, 80 billion has already been spent on the war and its aftermath. The president is now asking for 87 billion more," Dean said in a statement.
[Ramsey Clark, former US Attorney General, responds to Bush's television address:
President Bush told the American public and the world to expect more of the same from his administration. More crimes against peace and humanity, more deaths and destruction, more debts and poverty. He wants everyone to help...
That means more wars of aggression. More summary execution and assassinations. More arbitrary arrests, more illegal detentions and disappearances. Guantanamo is a symbol to the world of President Bush's contempt for human rights: torture, suicides, secret detention, military trials, an execution chamber waiting. ]
Billions spent on US military occupation operations could pay for every man, woman and child to have free health care twice over, according to a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate.
Howard Dean said the spending of dollars earmarked for Iraq and Afghanistan - most of it for military operations rather than reconstruction - could accomplish much more beneficial projects in the United States.
"So far, 80 billion has already been spent on the war and its aftermath. The president is now asking for 87 billion more," Dean said in a statement.
[Ramsey Clark, former US Attorney General, responds to Bush's television address:
President Bush told the American public and the world to expect more of the same from his administration. More crimes against peace and humanity, more deaths and destruction, more debts and poverty. He wants everyone to help...
That means more wars of aggression. More summary execution and assassinations. More arbitrary arrests, more illegal detentions and disappearances. Guantanamo is a symbol to the world of President Bush's contempt for human rights: torture, suicides, secret detention, military trials, an execution chamber waiting. ]
NEW WORLD ORDER
Greenpeace obtains smoking-gun memo: White House/Exxon link
Did conservative elements in the White House provoke an Exxon front group to sue EPA to suppress a report on climate change? That's the question that two State Attorney Generals have asked US Attorney General John Ashcroft to investigate, after Greenpeace uncovered a routine email in a Freedom of Information Act request.
Myron Ebell of the Exxon-funded Competitive Enterprise Institute writes to Phil Cooney, a senior official at the White House Council for Environmental Quality to describe his plans to discredit an EPA study on climate change through a lawsuit.
Did conservative elements in the White House provoke an Exxon front group to sue EPA to suppress a report on climate change? That's the question that two State Attorney Generals have asked US Attorney General John Ashcroft to investigate, after Greenpeace uncovered a routine email in a Freedom of Information Act request.
Myron Ebell of the Exxon-funded Competitive Enterprise Institute writes to Phil Cooney, a senior official at the White House Council for Environmental Quality to describe his plans to discredit an EPA study on climate change through a lawsuit.
CONSPIRACY THEORIES
9/11 conspiracy theories gaining ground
A stack of books rushing off the shelves:
France's Thierry Meysson has found success with '9/11: The Big Lie', which argues that the attack on the Pentagon was an attempted coup d'etat by US military officials to justify future wars.
Frankfurt-based publishing house Zweitausendeins boasts the runaway success of Mathias Broecker's book 'Conspiracies, Conspiracy Theories and the Secrets of September 11'.
A former journalist with a leftist daily argues that dozens of 'unanswered questions' about the September 11 attacks in the US point to a spectacular cover-up on the part of the US administration.
A former federal research minister in Germany, Andreas von Buelow, argues the planes were piloted into targets in New York and Washington not by Islamic extremists but rather by remote control.
And 'Operation 9/11' by public television reporter Gerhard Wisnewski, claims that the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were wired with explosives.
Social psychologist Heiner Keupp says conspiracy theories served a basic human need, leading to the remarkable success of such books. "People have the feeling after reading them that they understand something about this complicated and inscrutable world."
[MILITARY JETS FAIL TO SCRAMBLE should have been the page-one headline in newspapers around the world. But it wasn't...
Most mainstream reporters are basically in a mind-controlled state, says John Rappoport. When they approach a hot story that obviously implies a plan or a conspiracy or a wanton intentional failure by the authorities -- and when that story brushes up against a major propaganda op by, say, the government -- these reporters suddenly develop a blind spot.]
A stack of books rushing off the shelves:
France's Thierry Meysson has found success with '9/11: The Big Lie', which argues that the attack on the Pentagon was an attempted coup d'etat by US military officials to justify future wars.
Frankfurt-based publishing house Zweitausendeins boasts the runaway success of Mathias Broecker's book 'Conspiracies, Conspiracy Theories and the Secrets of September 11'.
A former journalist with a leftist daily argues that dozens of 'unanswered questions' about the September 11 attacks in the US point to a spectacular cover-up on the part of the US administration.
A former federal research minister in Germany, Andreas von Buelow, argues the planes were piloted into targets in New York and Washington not by Islamic extremists but rather by remote control.
And 'Operation 9/11' by public television reporter Gerhard Wisnewski, claims that the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were wired with explosives.
Social psychologist Heiner Keupp says conspiracy theories served a basic human need, leading to the remarkable success of such books. "People have the feeling after reading them that they understand something about this complicated and inscrutable world."
[MILITARY JETS FAIL TO SCRAMBLE should have been the page-one headline in newspapers around the world. But it wasn't...
Most mainstream reporters are basically in a mind-controlled state, says John Rappoport. When they approach a hot story that obviously implies a plan or a conspiracy or a wanton intentional failure by the authorities -- and when that story brushes up against a major propaganda op by, say, the government -- these reporters suddenly develop a blind spot.]
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
CLASSIC v QUANTUM
Biomolecule behaves like a wave
Physicists at the University of Vienna in Austria have observed wave-particle duality in a biomolecule for the first time. The team also reports observing wave-like behaviour in the most massive molecule yet - a fluorinated 'buckyball'. It is twice as large as the previously biggest molecule known to exhibit quantum wave-like behaviour.
Researchers have seen wave-particle duality in electrons, atoms and small molecules but it has never been seen in the macroscopic world. This is because the quantum - or de Broglie - wavelength is so small for large objects that we cannot detect their interference in a practical experiment.
In 1999, Anton Zeilinger's group at the University of Vienna observed wave properties in carbon-60 molecules - buckminsterfullerenes or 'buckyballs' -- and in their larger counterparts, carbon-70 molecules. At the time, these were the largest objects ever to have exhibited de Broglie wave behaviour but with a diameter of about 1 nm they were still over 6 orders of magnitude smaller than real macroscopic objects.
The Vienna team has performed a new experiment on tetraphenylporphyrin molecules. These biological molecules are present in chlorophyll and haemoglobin. They have a diameter of about 2 nm, which is over twice as big as a carbon-60 molecule.
Physicists at the University of Vienna in Austria have observed wave-particle duality in a biomolecule for the first time. The team also reports observing wave-like behaviour in the most massive molecule yet - a fluorinated 'buckyball'. It is twice as large as the previously biggest molecule known to exhibit quantum wave-like behaviour.
Researchers have seen wave-particle duality in electrons, atoms and small molecules but it has never been seen in the macroscopic world. This is because the quantum - or de Broglie - wavelength is so small for large objects that we cannot detect their interference in a practical experiment.
In 1999, Anton Zeilinger's group at the University of Vienna observed wave properties in carbon-60 molecules - buckminsterfullerenes or 'buckyballs' -- and in their larger counterparts, carbon-70 molecules. At the time, these were the largest objects ever to have exhibited de Broglie wave behaviour but with a diameter of about 1 nm they were still over 6 orders of magnitude smaller than real macroscopic objects.
The Vienna team has performed a new experiment on tetraphenylporphyrin molecules. These biological molecules are present in chlorophyll and haemoglobin. They have a diameter of about 2 nm, which is over twice as big as a carbon-60 molecule.
SITUATIONS VACANT
Thailand's machine gunning executioner to retire
Thailand's executioner says he is looking forward to hanging up his machine gun when the country changes its method of capital punishment to lethal injection next month.
Chaovarej Jaruboon, who has gunned down 55 prisoners since he became an executioner in 1984.
''It's a good opportunity for me to stop, when the new law goes in effect. I may have had to execute my former subordinate which would have made me very uneasy,' Chaovarej said, adding that he considers the condemned man as 'a brother'.
Lethal injections are to be introduced on October 19.
Thailand's executioner says he is looking forward to hanging up his machine gun when the country changes its method of capital punishment to lethal injection next month.
Chaovarej Jaruboon, who has gunned down 55 prisoners since he became an executioner in 1984.
''It's a good opportunity for me to stop, when the new law goes in effect. I may have had to execute my former subordinate which would have made me very uneasy,' Chaovarej said, adding that he considers the condemned man as 'a brother'.
Lethal injections are to be introduced on October 19.
RIGHTS TRASHED
Jail alert for revealing nuclear waste shipments
The government is seeking to introduce laws which would jail anyone - including journalists - who flagged the shipment of radioactive waste in Australia, Greens leader Senator Bob Brown warned today.
The laws also would jail any journalist who reported on the shipment in advance, he said.
The nuclear non-proliferation bill had serious ramifications for democracy in Australia, Senator Brown said.
The government is seeking to introduce laws which would jail anyone - including journalists - who flagged the shipment of radioactive waste in Australia, Greens leader Senator Bob Brown warned today.
The laws also would jail any journalist who reported on the shipment in advance, he said.
The nuclear non-proliferation bill had serious ramifications for democracy in Australia, Senator Brown said.
PROPAGANDA WORKS
Bring us the head of Osama bin Laden
Unlike single individuals, organizations can be everywhere all at once, constantly threatening, faceless and incognito yet highly visible and ominous at the same time. Like corporations, al-Qaeda is able to transcend the inherent weaknesses and limitations of the mortal human form. Like multinational corporations, it is possible for al-Qaeda to live a long and productive life scaring the hell out of our children and grandchildren. Unlike Osama, al-Qaeda is capable of mutating into many forms, of showing up in Kenya or Bali and, at the same time, lurking in the alley beyond your bedroom window.
Of course, if al-Qaeda is going to be the ultimate bogeyman, its CIA and US military intelligence handlers are going to have to get it together. It's time to show some professionalism around here.
Unlike single individuals, organizations can be everywhere all at once, constantly threatening, faceless and incognito yet highly visible and ominous at the same time. Like corporations, al-Qaeda is able to transcend the inherent weaknesses and limitations of the mortal human form. Like multinational corporations, it is possible for al-Qaeda to live a long and productive life scaring the hell out of our children and grandchildren. Unlike Osama, al-Qaeda is capable of mutating into many forms, of showing up in Kenya or Bali and, at the same time, lurking in the alley beyond your bedroom window.
Of course, if al-Qaeda is going to be the ultimate bogeyman, its CIA and US military intelligence handlers are going to have to get it together. It's time to show some professionalism around here.
CLOAK AND DAGGER
Bin Laden's 'freedom fighters' were CIA assets
If Osama bin Laden is responsible for the tragic terrorist acts of Sept. 11, it's worth remembering who helped train and arm him in the first place. Bin Laden's 'Freedom Fighters' were funded, trained and armed by the CIA.
Read this Counterpunch article on Bin Laden and the CIA
If Osama bin Laden is responsible for the tragic terrorist acts of Sept. 11, it's worth remembering who helped train and arm him in the first place. Bin Laden's 'Freedom Fighters' were funded, trained and armed by the CIA.
Read this Counterpunch article on Bin Laden and the CIA
BAATH TIME
Saddam key in early CIA plot
US forces in Baghdad might now be searching high and low for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, but in the past Saddam was seen by U.S. intelligence services as a bulwark of anti-communism and they used him as their instrument for more than 40 years, according to former U.S. intelligence diplomats and intelligence officials.
United Press International has interviewed almost a dozen former U.S. diplomats, British scholars and former U.S. intelligence officials to piece together the following account. The CIA declined to comment on the report.
While many have thought that Saddam first became involved with U.S. intelligence agencies at the start of the September 1980 Iran-Iraq war, his first contacts with U.S. officials date back to 1959, when he was part of a CIA-authorized six-man squad tasked with assassinating then Iraqi Prime Minister Gen. Abd al-Karim Qasim.
[Another TALE of the US being willing to back (anti-communist) bloody thugs.]
US forces in Baghdad might now be searching high and low for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, but in the past Saddam was seen by U.S. intelligence services as a bulwark of anti-communism and they used him as their instrument for more than 40 years, according to former U.S. intelligence diplomats and intelligence officials.
United Press International has interviewed almost a dozen former U.S. diplomats, British scholars and former U.S. intelligence officials to piece together the following account. The CIA declined to comment on the report.
While many have thought that Saddam first became involved with U.S. intelligence agencies at the start of the September 1980 Iran-Iraq war, his first contacts with U.S. officials date back to 1959, when he was part of a CIA-authorized six-man squad tasked with assassinating then Iraqi Prime Minister Gen. Abd al-Karim Qasim.
[Another TALE of the US being willing to back (anti-communist) bloody thugs.]
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Military barracks blocks web site: censored editor vows First Amendment fight
A freedom of speech battle is brewing over a decision by Carlisle Barracks leaders to block access to an internet site that purports to uncover military corruption.
The move to bar Army post workers from logging onto militarycorruption.com was taken to 'preserve morale, good order and discipline,' barracks spokeswoman Lt. Col. Merideth Bucher said.
"The government cannot suppress speech just because it is unfavorable to the government. That is exactly what's happening here," said Robert Richards, founding co-director of Penn State University's Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment.
A freedom of speech battle is brewing over a decision by Carlisle Barracks leaders to block access to an internet site that purports to uncover military corruption.
The move to bar Army post workers from logging onto militarycorruption.com was taken to 'preserve morale, good order and discipline,' barracks spokeswoman Lt. Col. Merideth Bucher said.
"The government cannot suppress speech just because it is unfavorable to the government. That is exactly what's happening here," said Robert Richards, founding co-director of Penn State University's Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment.
MINISTRY OF TRUTH
Bush's speech on the situation in Iraq
Good evening. I have asked for this time to keep you informed of America's actions in the war on terror.
Nearly two years ago, following deadly attacks on our country, we began a systematic campaign against terrorism. These months have been a time of new responsibilities and sacrifice and national resolve and great progress. ...
[The sacrifices are the jobs, income and standard of living of most Americans. Bush and his oil-soaked mates and cronies at Haliburton and in the arms industries have only seen profits and revenues increase.
And, speaking of responsibilities: the Bush Reich refused all calls for an official investigation into 9/11's many disturbing facts including: why the Air Force stayed on the ground; who did the trading in airline stocks in the days prior to 9/11; how did a commercial airliner fit through a ten foot hole in the side of the Pentagon; why were Israeli nationals seen rejoicing at the destruction of the Twin Towers; why were Israeli "art students" whisked out of the US without a question; what kind of links are there between the Bush family and the bin Laden family -- aside from having had common interests in the Carlisle Group; how is it that the supposed "terrorist" pilots had been training in Florida at an airport well-known for its connections to the CIA and that the supposed "leader" of the "terrorists", Mohammed Atta, had been trained in the mid-nineties at a US military base in Alabama as part of a delegation from Saudi Arabia. ]
Michael Meacher -- former UK environment minister -- sparked fury after suggesting the Bush administration may have purposely ignored warnings of the September 11 attacks.
Good evening. I have asked for this time to keep you informed of America's actions in the war on terror.
Nearly two years ago, following deadly attacks on our country, we began a systematic campaign against terrorism. These months have been a time of new responsibilities and sacrifice and national resolve and great progress. ...
[The sacrifices are the jobs, income and standard of living of most Americans. Bush and his oil-soaked mates and cronies at Haliburton and in the arms industries have only seen profits and revenues increase.
And, speaking of responsibilities: the Bush Reich refused all calls for an official investigation into 9/11's many disturbing facts including: why the Air Force stayed on the ground; who did the trading in airline stocks in the days prior to 9/11; how did a commercial airliner fit through a ten foot hole in the side of the Pentagon; why were Israeli nationals seen rejoicing at the destruction of the Twin Towers; why were Israeli "art students" whisked out of the US without a question; what kind of links are there between the Bush family and the bin Laden family -- aside from having had common interests in the Carlisle Group; how is it that the supposed "terrorist" pilots had been training in Florida at an airport well-known for its connections to the CIA and that the supposed "leader" of the "terrorists", Mohammed Atta, had been trained in the mid-nineties at a US military base in Alabama as part of a delegation from Saudi Arabia. ]
Michael Meacher -- former UK environment minister -- sparked fury after suggesting the Bush administration may have purposely ignored warnings of the September 11 attacks.
SUFFER THE CHILDREN
Boy sold for spare parts by his grandmother
Andrey should be dead, and he knows it. Ask Andrey what was meant to happen to him and he will gesture at his legs, making a cutting motion. He mimes a knife slicing open his chest and his heart being pulled out, and then he draws his finger across his throat.
It was his grandmother, Nina Tkacheva, who came up with the plan. Abandoned by his mother, Andrey, 5, was living in an orphanage outside the town of Ryazan, about 130 miles south of Moscow.
Then one day, three years ago, Tkacheva turned up to collect him. She had arraAnged for a wealthy friend to take him to Disneyland Paris, she said.
In fact Tkacheva had sold Andrey so that he could be taken out of Russia, killed and his organs used for transplants in a foreign clinic.
[This story differs from those of thousands of other children in that it ends happily -- he was saved and is now living with adopting parents in Scotland.]
Remember the urban myth about travellers waking up in a bathtub full of ice with one of their kidneys missing? Well read this. Surgeons in Moscow hospitals are removing kidneys from patients who are not yet dead in order to supply the lucrative transplant market, according to a public television report.
Andrey should be dead, and he knows it. Ask Andrey what was meant to happen to him and he will gesture at his legs, making a cutting motion. He mimes a knife slicing open his chest and his heart being pulled out, and then he draws his finger across his throat.
It was his grandmother, Nina Tkacheva, who came up with the plan. Abandoned by his mother, Andrey, 5, was living in an orphanage outside the town of Ryazan, about 130 miles south of Moscow.
Then one day, three years ago, Tkacheva turned up to collect him. She had arraAnged for a wealthy friend to take him to Disneyland Paris, she said.
In fact Tkacheva had sold Andrey so that he could be taken out of Russia, killed and his organs used for transplants in a foreign clinic.
[This story differs from those of thousands of other children in that it ends happily -- he was saved and is now living with adopting parents in Scotland.]
Remember the urban myth about travellers waking up in a bathtub full of ice with one of their kidneys missing? Well read this. Surgeons in Moscow hospitals are removing kidneys from patients who are not yet dead in order to supply the lucrative transplant market, according to a public television report.
SOUND REASONING
Soundless music shown to produce weird sensations
Mysteriously snuffed out candles, weird sensations and shivers down the spine may not be due to the presence of ghosts in haunted houses but to very low frequency sound that is inaudible to humans.
British scientists have shown in a controlled experiment that the extreme bass sound known as infrasound produces a range of bizarre effects in people including anxiety, extreme sorrow and chills -- supporting popular suggestions of a link between infrasound and strange sensations.
'Normally you can't hear it,' Dr Richard Lord, an acoustic scientist at the National Physical Laboratory in England who worked on the project, said Monday.
BBC: Many churches and cathedrals have organ pipes that are so long they emit infrasound which at a frequency lower than 20 Hertz is largely inaudible to the human ear. But in a controlled experiment in which infrasound was pumped into a concert hall, UK scientists found they could instil strange feelings in the audience at will.
Mysteriously snuffed out candles, weird sensations and shivers down the spine may not be due to the presence of ghosts in haunted houses but to very low frequency sound that is inaudible to humans.
British scientists have shown in a controlled experiment that the extreme bass sound known as infrasound produces a range of bizarre effects in people including anxiety, extreme sorrow and chills -- supporting popular suggestions of a link between infrasound and strange sensations.
'Normally you can't hear it,' Dr Richard Lord, an acoustic scientist at the National Physical Laboratory in England who worked on the project, said Monday.
BBC: Many churches and cathedrals have organ pipes that are so long they emit infrasound which at a frequency lower than 20 Hertz is largely inaudible to the human ear. But in a controlled experiment in which infrasound was pumped into a concert hall, UK scientists found they could instil strange feelings in the audience at will.
Monday, September 08, 2003
EXPLODING BUM
Firecracker stunt backfires
A firecracker accident which left a 26-year-old man incontinent and unable to have sex has prompted warnings from police and health authorities about imitating stunts from the cult prankster film Jackass.
The man suffered a fractured pelvis and severe burns to his genital area after a firecracker exploded between the cheeks of his buttocks.
A firecracker accident which left a 26-year-old man incontinent and unable to have sex has prompted warnings from police and health authorities about imitating stunts from the cult prankster film Jackass.
The man suffered a fractured pelvis and severe burns to his genital area after a firecracker exploded between the cheeks of his buttocks.
SKIN GAMES
Beaver Falls to host nude volleyball tournament
As many as 1,700 spectators and participants were expected to gather this weekend as volleyball buffs play in the buff.
The 105-acre White Thorn Lodge nudist park in South Beaver Township, Beaver County, will host the 33rd annual Volleyball Superbowl on Saturday and Sunday. Nude & Natural magazine once called it "the most unique event in nudism".
As many as 1,700 spectators and participants were expected to gather this weekend as volleyball buffs play in the buff.
The 105-acre White Thorn Lodge nudist park in South Beaver Township, Beaver County, will host the 33rd annual Volleyball Superbowl on Saturday and Sunday. Nude & Natural magazine once called it "the most unique event in nudism".
KING HIT
It's good to be the King
Tens of thousands of bare-breasted young maidens danced in front of Swazi King Mswati on Friday -- hoping to become his next wife.
The 35-year-old king, sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch, now has 10 wives and one fiancee -- a royal luxury that has drawn criticism as his small southern African kingdom battles poverty and a raging AIDS epidemic.
Lined up in rows, the girls danced topless before the king for three hours, undeterred by blustery winds or last year's controversy surrounding Mswati's choice of three teenage reed dancers as his latest queens -- the mother of one dancer charged that her daughter was abducted from a schoolyard by palace aides and forced to join the royal household.
"I want a limousine, and a house like they give the queens. I want my children to school in England," said 14 year-old Phindile Thwala, one of this year's dancers.
Tens of thousands of bare-breasted young maidens danced in front of Swazi King Mswati on Friday -- hoping to become his next wife.
The 35-year-old king, sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch, now has 10 wives and one fiancee -- a royal luxury that has drawn criticism as his small southern African kingdom battles poverty and a raging AIDS epidemic.
Lined up in rows, the girls danced topless before the king for three hours, undeterred by blustery winds or last year's controversy surrounding Mswati's choice of three teenage reed dancers as his latest queens -- the mother of one dancer charged that her daughter was abducted from a schoolyard by palace aides and forced to join the royal household.
"I want a limousine, and a house like they give the queens. I want my children to school in England," said 14 year-old Phindile Thwala, one of this year's dancers.
PROPAGANDA WORKS
Most Americans think Saddam had role in September 11 attacks
Seven in 10 Americans continue to believe that Iraq's Saddam Hussein had a role in the 11 September 2001 attacks, even though the Bush administration and congressional investigators say they have no evidence of this.
Democrats and some independent experts say Bush exploited the apparent misconception by implying a link between Saddam and the 11 September 2001 attacks in the months before the war with Iraq.
Americans have more tolerance for war when it is provoked by an attack, particularly one by an all-purpose villain such as Hussein. 'That's why attitudes about the decision to go to war are holding up,' said Andrew Kohut, a pollster who leads the non-partisan Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
Seven in 10 Americans continue to believe that Iraq's Saddam Hussein had a role in the 11 September 2001 attacks, even though the Bush administration and congressional investigators say they have no evidence of this.
Democrats and some independent experts say Bush exploited the apparent misconception by implying a link between Saddam and the 11 September 2001 attacks in the months before the war with Iraq.
Americans have more tolerance for war when it is provoked by an attack, particularly one by an all-purpose villain such as Hussein. 'That's why attitudes about the decision to go to war are holding up,' said Andrew Kohut, a pollster who leads the non-partisan Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
MINISTRY OF TRUTH
Britain and US will back down over WMDs
Britain and the US have combined to come up with entirely new explanations of why they went to war in Iraq as inspectors on the ground prepare to report that there are no weapons of mass destruction there.
Now it is not weapons, or actual programmes, but "the capability that Iraq sought to have ... WMD programmes".
The 'current and serious' threat of Iraq's WMD was the reason Tony Blair gave for going to war, but last week the Prime Minister delivered a justification which did not mention the weapons at all. On the same day John Bolton, US Under-Secretary of State for arms control, said that whether Saddam Hussein's regime actually possessed WMD 'isn't really the issue'.
Britain and the US have combined to come up with entirely new explanations of why they went to war in Iraq as inspectors on the ground prepare to report that there are no weapons of mass destruction there.
Now it is not weapons, or actual programmes, but "the capability that Iraq sought to have ... WMD programmes".
The 'current and serious' threat of Iraq's WMD was the reason Tony Blair gave for going to war, but last week the Prime Minister delivered a justification which did not mention the weapons at all. On the same day John Bolton, US Under-Secretary of State for arms control, said that whether Saddam Hussein's regime actually possessed WMD 'isn't really the issue'.
Sunday, September 07, 2003
ALMOST NORMAL
Swedish university interviewing for its first ghost professor
Sweden's Lund University, one of the oldest seats of learning in Scandinavia, will take a leap into the unknown by appointing northern Europe's first professor of parapsychology, hypnology and clairvoyance.
Utrecht University in the Netherlands and Scotland's Edinburgh University also have chairs in parapsychology.
Sweden's Lund University, one of the oldest seats of learning in Scandinavia, will take a leap into the unknown by appointing northern Europe's first professor of parapsychology, hypnology and clairvoyance.
Utrecht University in the Netherlands and Scotland's Edinburgh University also have chairs in parapsychology.
NEW WORLD ORDER
War on terrorism is bogus
Could US air security operations have been deliberately stood down on September 11? If so, why, and on whose authority? The former US federal crimes prosecutor, John Loftus, has said: 'The information provided by European intelligence services prior to 9/11 was so extensive that it is no longer possible for either the CIA or FBI to assert a defence of incompetence.'
Could US air security operations have been deliberately stood down on September 11? If so, why, and on whose authority? The former US federal crimes prosecutor, John Loftus, has said: 'The information provided by European intelligence services prior to 9/11 was so extensive that it is no longer possible for either the CIA or FBI to assert a defence of incompetence.'
Friday, September 05, 2003
TRUST IN GOD
'Killer' Christ icon is removed from Hermitage display
An ancient icon depicting Christ has been removed from display at the Hermitage museum in St Petersburg after claims that its 'energy field' is killing staff.
The icon is said to have 'a negative bio-field' and has led to the deaths of several supervisors, an official at Russia's foremost art museum, on the banks of the River Neva, said yesterday.
ON THE NOSE
Airport inspectors find 2000 baboon noses
Two thousand baboon noses have been found in a suitcase by inspectors at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. Baggage handlers had noticed a "putrid smell" from an unaccompanied suitcase believed to have come from Lagos, Nigeria, and apparently destined for the US. Inspectors said the 30kg suitcase was filled with rotting baboon noses.
Esther Naber, of the Worldwide Fund for Nature, said: Baboons are on the second-most-endangered list and can be killed only under exceptional circumstances and with a licence.
Two thousand baboon noses have been found in a suitcase by inspectors at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. Baggage handlers had noticed a "putrid smell" from an unaccompanied suitcase believed to have come from Lagos, Nigeria, and apparently destined for the US. Inspectors said the 30kg suitcase was filled with rotting baboon noses.
Esther Naber, of the Worldwide Fund for Nature, said: Baboons are on the second-most-endangered list and can be killed only under exceptional circumstances and with a licence.
EXPANDING COSMOS
Hubble images provide confirmation: Universe grows faster than we thought
The story written in the light of exploding white dwarf stars already has thrown modern cosmology into tumult. It is the history of the universe, and by the time scientists finish reading it, they're likely to come to a new understanding of gravity, particle physics and a mysterious energy comprising three-fourths of the cosmos.
The Astrophysical Journal, Lawrence Berkeley lab's Saul Perlmutter and colleagues report new confirmation from the Hubble Space Telescope of the 1998 discovery that the universe is, in fact, expanding faster and faster every second.
Suddenly, the universe became a strange and unknowable place, where ordinary matter -- the stuff of stars, planets and people -- is less than 5 percent of the total. Another 20 percent or so is an unseen substance, dark matter, that contorted the birth and distribution of galaxies. The last 75 percent is "dark energy," a repulsive energy pushing more and more space between stars and galaxies.
The story written in the light of exploding white dwarf stars already has thrown modern cosmology into tumult. It is the history of the universe, and by the time scientists finish reading it, they're likely to come to a new understanding of gravity, particle physics and a mysterious energy comprising three-fourths of the cosmos.
The Astrophysical Journal, Lawrence Berkeley lab's Saul Perlmutter and colleagues report new confirmation from the Hubble Space Telescope of the 1998 discovery that the universe is, in fact, expanding faster and faster every second.
Suddenly, the universe became a strange and unknowable place, where ordinary matter -- the stuff of stars, planets and people -- is less than 5 percent of the total. Another 20 percent or so is an unseen substance, dark matter, that contorted the birth and distribution of galaxies. The last 75 percent is "dark energy," a repulsive energy pushing more and more space between stars and galaxies.
OLD PEOPLE
Skulls found in Mexico suggest link to aboriginal Australians
An analysis of 33 skulls found on the Mexican peninsula of Baja California suggests that the first Americans were not north Asians who crossed to the American continent about 12,000 years ago.
The skulls more closely resemble the present-day natives of Australia and the South Pacific, suggesting that there might have been an earlier movement to America across the Bering Strait separating modern Russia from Alaska.
Dr Gonzales-José and his colleagues analysed the shape and dimensions of 33 skulls of a tribe of people who lived near the western Mexican coast of Baja California between 2,500 and 300 years ago.
These relatively long and narrow skulls share a closer affinity to the skulls of the present-day inhabitants of south Asia and the southern Pacific Rim.
The ancient people who lived on the long peninsula of Baja California probably became isolated from the rest of the north American population. This meant they retained the much older ancestral trait of a long and narrow skull.
An analysis of 33 skulls found on the Mexican peninsula of Baja California suggests that the first Americans were not north Asians who crossed to the American continent about 12,000 years ago.
The skulls more closely resemble the present-day natives of Australia and the South Pacific, suggesting that there might have been an earlier movement to America across the Bering Strait separating modern Russia from Alaska.
Dr Gonzales-José and his colleagues analysed the shape and dimensions of 33 skulls of a tribe of people who lived near the western Mexican coast of Baja California between 2,500 and 300 years ago.
These relatively long and narrow skulls share a closer affinity to the skulls of the present-day inhabitants of south Asia and the southern Pacific Rim.
The ancient people who lived on the long peninsula of Baja California probably became isolated from the rest of the north American population. This meant they retained the much older ancestral trait of a long and narrow skull.
RUN COWS RUN
Approval sought for slaughter of 620,000 cattle
Some Canadian beef producers want the federal agriculture minister to approve a mass slaughter of 620,000 cattle.
Terry Hildebrandt, the president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, says the size of the Canadian herd needs to be reduced by 12 per cent immediately to prevent further damage to the sagging beef industry.
Hildebrandt says the cull is necessary so cattle producers "don't compound the situation in the future by having these cows (continuing) into the breeding program."
Some Canadian beef producers want the federal agriculture minister to approve a mass slaughter of 620,000 cattle.
Terry Hildebrandt, the president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, says the size of the Canadian herd needs to be reduced by 12 per cent immediately to prevent further damage to the sagging beef industry.
Hildebrandt says the cull is necessary so cattle producers "don't compound the situation in the future by having these cows (continuing) into the breeding program."
BIG BROTHER
Young webmaster heads to prison for political website
Sherman Austin heads to jail today for a one-year term. He was charged with “distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction” after someone posted bomb-making information on his political website, raisethefist.com. Once he is is released he is banned from associating with anyone who wants to change U.S. government ‘in any way.’
The US government wanted ‘to make an example out of me’, said Austin.
Sherman Austin heads to jail today for a one-year term. He was charged with “distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction” after someone posted bomb-making information on his political website, raisethefist.com. Once he is is released he is banned from associating with anyone who wants to change U.S. government ‘in any way.’
The US government wanted ‘to make an example out of me’, said Austin.
NEW WORLD ORDER
UK troops ready to take to streets at home
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens said the threat of a major attack had taken a "quantum leap" forward since the bombs in Saudi Arabia and Morocco earlier this year.
Sir John, who has previously warned of the possibility of London being targeted by Islamic terrorists, issued the strongest warning yet of a possible suicide bombing. He said he would not hesitate to put troops on the capital's streets if he thought it necessary.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens said the threat of a major attack had taken a "quantum leap" forward since the bombs in Saudi Arabia and Morocco earlier this year.
Sir John, who has previously warned of the possibility of London being targeted by Islamic terrorists, issued the strongest warning yet of a possible suicide bombing. He said he would not hesitate to put troops on the capital's streets if he thought it necessary.
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
GUT REACTIONS
One cosmic question, too many answers
Recent progress in string theory seems to leave physics further than ever from that dream of a unique solution to the theory's tangled equations -- a Grand Unified Theory.
Instead of a single answer, the equations of string theory seem to have so many solutions, millions upon millions of them, each describing a logically possible universe, that it may be impossible to tell which one describes our own.
String theorists and cosmologists are confronted with what Dr. Leonard Susskind of Stanford has called "the cosmic landscape," a sort of metarealm of space-times. Contrary to Einstein's hopes, it may be that neither God nor physics chooses among these possibilities, Dr. Susskind contends. Rather it could be life.
Only a fraction of the universes in this metarealm would have the lucky blend of properties suitable for life, Dr. Susskind explained. It should be no surprise that we find ourselves in one of these.
BIG OIL
Putin promises Shell a smooth ride
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday Russia should provide a favorable investment climate for Royal Dutch/Shell as the oil giant confronts hurdles in its oil project in western Siberia.
Shell became one of the biggest foreign investors in Russia when it got the green light this year for a $10 billion project on the remote eastern island of Sakhalin, where it will build the world's largest liquefied natural gas plant by 2006.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday Russia should provide a favorable investment climate for Royal Dutch/Shell as the oil giant confronts hurdles in its oil project in western Siberia.
Shell became one of the biggest foreign investors in Russia when it got the green light this year for a $10 billion project on the remote eastern island of Sakhalin, where it will build the world's largest liquefied natural gas plant by 2006.
CLOAK AND DAGGER
Egyptian Government press: US behind Najaf bombing
While some members of the so-called transitional Governing Council, such as Ahmad Chalabi, blamed some of those who belong to the former Iraqi regime [for the Najaf bombing], the popular demonstrations seen in the Iraqi streets following this criminal act were all in agreement that the occupation forces were responsible for this incident, as part of their effort to provoke conflict among the Shiites and between the Shiites and the Sunnis.
This is a [policy] of 'divide and rule,' which occupation forces have used throughout history to rip apart the unity of peoples in countries under occupation.
While some members of the so-called transitional Governing Council, such as Ahmad Chalabi, blamed some of those who belong to the former Iraqi regime [for the Najaf bombing], the popular demonstrations seen in the Iraqi streets following this criminal act were all in agreement that the occupation forces were responsible for this incident, as part of their effort to provoke conflict among the Shiites and between the Shiites and the Sunnis.
This is a [policy] of 'divide and rule,' which occupation forces have used throughout history to rip apart the unity of peoples in countries under occupation.
WAR IS PEACE
Needed: an inquiry into a slaughter
By John Pilger
The warning of Jonathan Powell, the Prime Minister Blair's Chief of Staff, not to 'claim that we have evidence that [Saddam] is a threat', points directly to Blair's lying. However, that was exceptional. What is emerging is a pattern of protecting Blair, who is being subtly spun as a restraining influence, a peacemaker, even a guardian of Dr Kelly. A criminal abuse of power is not on any charge sheet: it is not within Hutton's brief, yet the British people and the memory of the thousands of innocent lives cut short in Iraq deserve nothing less.
Credible research shows that up to 10,000 civilians were killed in the attack on Iraq , together with perhaps 30,000 Iraqi soldiers, many of them teenage conscripts. A slaughter. These people were killed by weapons designed to reduce human beings to charcoal or to shred them. The British Army littered urban areas with cluster bombs, while the Americans did the same and in greater quantity, adding uranium-coated munitions, whose radiation poison is ingested with the desert dust.
By John PilgerThe warning of Jonathan Powell, the Prime Minister Blair's Chief of Staff, not to 'claim that we have evidence that [Saddam] is a threat', points directly to Blair's lying. However, that was exceptional. What is emerging is a pattern of protecting Blair, who is being subtly spun as a restraining influence, a peacemaker, even a guardian of Dr Kelly. A criminal abuse of power is not on any charge sheet: it is not within Hutton's brief, yet the British people and the memory of the thousands of innocent lives cut short in Iraq deserve nothing less.
Credible research shows that up to 10,000 civilians were killed in the attack on Iraq , together with perhaps 30,000 Iraqi soldiers, many of them teenage conscripts. A slaughter. These people were killed by weapons designed to reduce human beings to charcoal or to shred them. The British Army littered urban areas with cluster bombs, while the Americans did the same and in greater quantity, adding uranium-coated munitions, whose radiation poison is ingested with the desert dust.
NEW WORLD ORDER
Who controls the European Union and the United Nations?
Judging by the news coming from the United Nations and from the European Union, it is self-evident that these two world bodies are not independent at all or self sustaining or even self-governing, in spite of the propaganda that they are and, that they are growing more and more anti-USA and its ambition of word domination.
There are even some suggestions to change the name of the United Nations Organization, to be called in the near future the UNITED STATES ORGANIZATIONS!
Judging by the news coming from the United Nations and from the European Union, it is self-evident that these two world bodies are not independent at all or self sustaining or even self-governing, in spite of the propaganda that they are and, that they are growing more and more anti-USA and its ambition of word domination.
There are even some suggestions to change the name of the United Nations Organization, to be called in the near future the UNITED STATES ORGANIZATIONS!
BIG OIL
EPA won’t list carbon dioxide as air pollutant
Following its controversial Clean Air Act exemption for industry, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday rejected a petition that carbon dioxide — a gas that many scientists fear is warming the Earth — be categorized and regulated as an air pollutant.
During the Clinton administration, the EPA said it had the necessary authority to regulate CO2 as a global warming pollutant. But the EPA on Thursday stated that "Congress has not granted EPA authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases for climate change purposes".
Following its controversial Clean Air Act exemption for industry, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday rejected a petition that carbon dioxide — a gas that many scientists fear is warming the Earth — be categorized and regulated as an air pollutant.
During the Clinton administration, the EPA said it had the necessary authority to regulate CO2 as a global warming pollutant. But the EPA on Thursday stated that "Congress has not granted EPA authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases for climate change purposes".
EARTH CHANGES
Modern global warming more damaging than in the past
Some people will tell you that the planet has warmed in the past and that species always managed to adapt, so there's no cause for alarm. Unfortunately that's not the case,' said Johannes Foufopoulos, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. Foufopoulos says new research illustrates major differences between global warming today and past natural climate fluctuations as they relate to species extinctions.
Some people will tell you that the planet has warmed in the past and that species always managed to adapt, so there's no cause for alarm. Unfortunately that's not the case,' said Johannes Foufopoulos, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. Foufopoulos says new research illustrates major differences between global warming today and past natural climate fluctuations as they relate to species extinctions.
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
Huya is probably a spherical planetoid much like Saturn's moon Mimas, above (NASA)
New planetoid named after rain god
A new 'planetoid' orbiting between Neptune and Pluto has been named 'Huya' after the mythical rain god of the Wayuu people of Venezuela, astronomers announced.
The minor planet was found in March 2000 by Venezuelan and U.S. astronomers using a powerful telescope located at the Centre for Astronomical Studies observatory in Merida, Venezuela.
The team was led by Professor Ignacio Ferrin, an astrophysicist at the University of the Andes in Colombia, and was provisionally dubbed 2000 EB173 when it was first discovered.
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
CROP CIRCLES
Astronomical crop formation, the so-called 'asteroid' glyph at Tichborne, Hampshire, which appeared on June 20, 1995 depicts the Sept 6, 2003 planetary alignment ... and a mysterious object near Venus.
Are English crop circles being covertly suppressed?
There have been no new crop circles in England since August 10, 2003 -- unusual since the season generally lasts a week longer -- which begs the question 'why?'.
In the last few days, an article that recently appeared on the Swirled News web site has caused a real buzz on the Internet – especially it seems among the usual suspects predicting an apocalyptic event for Earth.
The design shows all the inner planets surrounded by a ring of ‘beads’, which appear to show significant positions of Mars over an eight-year period – in other words, the exact period between the appearance of the formation and the 2003 date predicted. Interesting to note that Mars is currently at its closest position to Earth for many years (peaking a week before the date shown in the formation) and is very bright in the sky at the moment.
Could it be that the anomalous object in the glyph represents the current position of Mars' erstwhile companion Phobos.
[Phobos (an alien base??) is persistently rumoured to have left Mars orbit. It hasn't appeared in any publicly-available Mars probe photos for some years now. Read about the mystery surrounding the 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura flyby of Mars on June 5, 2000.]
BIG BROTHER
MIT to uncork futuristic bar code
"Put tags on every man woman and child, and suddenly the world changes," boasts the web site of the Auto-ID Center, the research group at MIT leading the charge on a new ID project.
"No more wasted time and money on traditional surveillance. No more costly undercover operations. No more guessing which citizens are likely to vote for which particular presidential candidate, who they associate with, or how effective the brainwashing is going..."
A group of academics and business executives is planning to introduce next month a next-generation bar code system, which could someday replace with a microchip the series of black vertical lines found on most merchandise.
The electronic product code or EPC Network, which has been under development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for nearly five years, will make its debut in Chicago on Sept. 15, at the EPC Symposium. At that event, MIT researchers, executives from some of the largest global companies, and U.S. government officials intend to discuss their plans for the EPC Network and invite others to join the conversation. The attendee list for the conference reads like a who’s who of the Fortune 500.
The EPC uses a 96-bit format -- large enough to generate a unique code for every grain of rice on the planet -- and under EPC, every individual item (not just each product type) on the shop shelf would have a one-of-a-kind identifier.
"Put tags on every man woman and child, and suddenly the world changes," boasts the web site of the Auto-ID Center, the research group at MIT leading the charge on a new ID project.
"No more wasted time and money on traditional surveillance. No more costly undercover operations. No more guessing which citizens are likely to vote for which particular presidential candidate, who they associate with, or how effective the brainwashing is going..."
A group of academics and business executives is planning to introduce next month a next-generation bar code system, which could someday replace with a microchip the series of black vertical lines found on most merchandise.
The electronic product code or EPC Network, which has been under development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for nearly five years, will make its debut in Chicago on Sept. 15, at the EPC Symposium. At that event, MIT researchers, executives from some of the largest global companies, and U.S. government officials intend to discuss their plans for the EPC Network and invite others to join the conversation. The attendee list for the conference reads like a who’s who of the Fortune 500.
The EPC uses a 96-bit format -- large enough to generate a unique code for every grain of rice on the planet -- and under EPC, every individual item (not just each product type) on the shop shelf would have a one-of-a-kind identifier.
EARTH CHANGES
Not just warmer: it's the hottest for 2000 years
The earth is warmer now than it has been at any time in the past 2,000 years, the most comprehensive study of climatic history has revealed.
Confirming the worst fears of environmental scientists, the newly published findings are a blow to sceptics who maintain that global warming is part of the natural climatic cycle rather than a consequence of human industrial activity.
Prof Philip Jones, a director of the University of East Anglia's climatic research unit and one of the authors of the research, said: 'You can't explain this rapid warming of the late 20th century in any other way. It's a response to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.'
The earth is warmer now than it has been at any time in the past 2,000 years, the most comprehensive study of climatic history has revealed.
Confirming the worst fears of environmental scientists, the newly published findings are a blow to sceptics who maintain that global warming is part of the natural climatic cycle rather than a consequence of human industrial activity.
Prof Philip Jones, a director of the University of East Anglia's climatic research unit and one of the authors of the research, said: 'You can't explain this rapid warming of the late 20th century in any other way. It's a response to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.'
MONEY TALKS
Prime Sydney real estate rents for $70 a year
One of Australia's biggest insurance companies is renting an entire Sydney CBD block from taxpayers for just $70 a year.
The GIO deal is among thousands of cases of State Government property being leased at peppercorn rentals to private business, clubs and rich individuals.
The State Government's Department of Lands rents back the building - paying the insurance giant an undisclosed amount.
Meanwhile The Age reports that big business and some of Australia's wealthiest people are renting taxpayer-owned land for peppercorn payments that effectively subsidise their operations.The paper reported that total rents collected by the NSW Lands Department of $60 million a year contributed less than $2 per hectare to the public purse.
One of Australia's biggest insurance companies is renting an entire Sydney CBD block from taxpayers for just $70 a year.
The GIO deal is among thousands of cases of State Government property being leased at peppercorn rentals to private business, clubs and rich individuals.
The State Government's Department of Lands rents back the building - paying the insurance giant an undisclosed amount.
Meanwhile The Age reports that big business and some of Australia's wealthiest people are renting taxpayer-owned land for peppercorn payments that effectively subsidise their operations.The paper reported that total rents collected by the NSW Lands Department of $60 million a year contributed less than $2 per hectare to the public purse.
BIG BROTHER
Anger at plan to add fluoride to water supplies
Fluoride could be added to the drinking water of another 13 million Brits by next summer under plans by Ministers to supply major cities with the chemical.
Opponents have condemned the moves, accusing Ministers of mass medication by stealth and a 'nanny state' mentality. They also claim fluoride has been linked to adverse health affects including cancer, brittle bones and thyroid disease and can cause teeth to mottle.
[The fluoride chemical added to water is an unprocessed, industrial waste-product from the pollution scrubbers of the phosphate fertilizer industry.]
Fluoride could be added to the drinking water of another 13 million Brits by next summer under plans by Ministers to supply major cities with the chemical.
Opponents have condemned the moves, accusing Ministers of mass medication by stealth and a 'nanny state' mentality. They also claim fluoride has been linked to adverse health affects including cancer, brittle bones and thyroid disease and can cause teeth to mottle.
[The fluoride chemical added to water is an unprocessed, industrial waste-product from the pollution scrubbers of the phosphate fertilizer industry.]
TRUST IN GOD
School drops Muslim girl for wearing traditional scarf
A 17-year-old Muslim girl, about to begin her senior year at a Cleveland area Catholic school, has been dismissed because of a head scarf.
Amal Jamal was informed that she violated her Catholic school dress code by wearing a Muslim headscarf, or hajib, and thus was no longer welcome at Regina High School.
'I was in shock; I didn't understand,' the soft-spoken Amal told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. 'All along, they gave me a room to pray in. They asked me questions about Islam. They always accepted me for who I was. Now they have decided it is against school policy to wear my hajib.'
A 17-year-old Muslim girl, about to begin her senior year at a Cleveland area Catholic school, has been dismissed because of a head scarf.
Amal Jamal was informed that she violated her Catholic school dress code by wearing a Muslim headscarf, or hajib, and thus was no longer welcome at Regina High School.
'I was in shock; I didn't understand,' the soft-spoken Amal told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. 'All along, they gave me a room to pray in. They asked me questions about Islam. They always accepted me for who I was. Now they have decided it is against school policy to wear my hajib.'
TRUST IN GOD
Preaching white supremacy in South Africa
South African reverend Willie Smith founded the church of Lewende Hoop (Living Hope) five years ago and preaches that Afrikaners are God's chosen people.
He says he now has 30 congregations, and thousands of followers all over the country.
The majority of South Africans find the message of this church deeply offensive. But for a minority of Afrikaners it provides reassurance in a country that is changing so fast all around them.
'We know that we are God's people, he forbid us to mix with other nations, to marriage with other nations, to live on the same level as they are. We see this ANC government as punishment [for abandoning apartheid],' says Reverend Smith.
South African reverend Willie Smith founded the church of Lewende Hoop (Living Hope) five years ago and preaches that Afrikaners are God's chosen people.
He says he now has 30 congregations, and thousands of followers all over the country.
The majority of South Africans find the message of this church deeply offensive. But for a minority of Afrikaners it provides reassurance in a country that is changing so fast all around them.
'We know that we are God's people, he forbid us to mix with other nations, to marriage with other nations, to live on the same level as they are. We see this ANC government as punishment [for abandoning apartheid],' says Reverend Smith.
NEW WORLD ORDER
US attacked over green card soldiers
British MP George Galloway, one of the fiercest critics of the invasion of Iraq, has accused the US of using its 'green card' troops as cannon fodder.
Many of the troops on duty in Iraq do not count English as their first language and would prefer to take orders in their native tongue ... usually Spanish.
[Keep in mind the guy who sent in this 'cannon fodder' went AWOL from the National Guard when it was his turn to defend his country.]
CULTURAL HEGEMONY
Chaos, despair reign in Iraq; go unreported by mainstream
"Desperation" and "chaos" are words frequently used to describe the living conditions in which most of Iraq’s 25 million people struggle to survive after the Anglo-American invasion.
What is meant by "chaos," however, and what it means in human terms, and how it came to Iraq is apparently a non-story for the US's plutocratic media.
"Desperation" and "chaos" are words frequently used to describe the living conditions in which most of Iraq’s 25 million people struggle to survive after the Anglo-American invasion.
What is meant by "chaos," however, and what it means in human terms, and how it came to Iraq is apparently a non-story for the US's plutocratic media.
'ELVIS' HUSSEIN
Saddam-spotting a national pastime in Iraq
Sightings of ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Washington's most-wanted man, have him dressed in an Arab robe, bearded and in sunglasses moving from hideout to hideout using three cars. Others, equally dubious, have him sitting on the floor of a humble Bedouin home eating a meagre meal with the family. He's even said to have visited a Mosul doctor.
'This guy's Elvis,' said Gen. David Patraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, in northern Iraq.
Claims of Saddam spottings, most of them absurd, flood a hot line the U.S. army has set up for tips on Saddam's whereabouts and weapons caches. The enthusiasm is no surprise, as someone eventually will earn the $25-million US bounty offered for his capture.
Sightings of ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Washington's most-wanted man, have him dressed in an Arab robe, bearded and in sunglasses moving from hideout to hideout using three cars. Others, equally dubious, have him sitting on the floor of a humble Bedouin home eating a meagre meal with the family. He's even said to have visited a Mosul doctor.
'This guy's Elvis,' said Gen. David Patraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, in northern Iraq.
Claims of Saddam spottings, most of them absurd, flood a hot line the U.S. army has set up for tips on Saddam's whereabouts and weapons caches. The enthusiasm is no surprise, as someone eventually will earn the $25-million US bounty offered for his capture.
BIG BROTHER
Claim: RFID tags will stop terrorists
Facing increasing resistance and concerns about privacy, the United States' largest food companies and retailers will try to win consumer approval for radio identification devices by portraying the technology as an essential tool for keeping the nation's food supply safe from terrorists.
The companies are banding together and through an industry association are lobbying to have the Department of Homeland Security designate radio frequency identification, or RFID, as an antiterrorism technology.
In addition, they are asking members of Congress and other influential figures to portray RFID in a favorable light.
Facing increasing resistance and concerns about privacy, the United States' largest food companies and retailers will try to win consumer approval for radio identification devices by portraying the technology as an essential tool for keeping the nation's food supply safe from terrorists.
The companies are banding together and through an industry association are lobbying to have the Department of Homeland Security designate radio frequency identification, or RFID, as an antiterrorism technology.
In addition, they are asking members of Congress and other influential figures to portray RFID in a favorable light.
TRUST IN GOD
Is Bush getting apocalyptic advice?
Is the Bush administration turning to a televangelist doomsayer for political predictions? Apocalyptic preacher Jack Van Impe is claiming that he was contacted by Condoleezza Rice’s office and the White House Office of Public Liaison for an "outline" of his take on world events.
Van Impe is the author of such books as "Israel’s Final Holocaust" and "The Great Escape: Preparing for the Rapture, the Next Event on God’s Prophetic Clock". He has predicted that the end of the world will strike somewhere between 2003 and 2012 and one reviewer has called his TV preaching show with wife Rexella “a fantastically loopy apocalyptic take on the week’s news".
Is the Bush administration turning to a televangelist doomsayer for political predictions? Apocalyptic preacher Jack Van Impe is claiming that he was contacted by Condoleezza Rice’s office and the White House Office of Public Liaison for an "outline" of his take on world events.
Van Impe is the author of such books as "Israel’s Final Holocaust" and "The Great Escape: Preparing for the Rapture, the Next Event on God’s Prophetic Clock". He has predicted that the end of the world will strike somewhere between 2003 and 2012 and one reviewer has called his TV preaching show with wife Rexella “a fantastically loopy apocalyptic take on the week’s news".
BIG BROTHER
Matrix, the privatized version of Poindexter's TIA
Matrix, short for Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange, "enables investigators to find patterns and links among people and events faster than ever before, combining police records with commercially available collections of personal information about most American adults.
It would let authorities, for instance, instantly find the name and address of every brown-haired owner of a red Ford pickup truck in a 20-mile radius of a suspicious event.
Matrix was developed by Hank Asher, the Seisint Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida, who donated it to the state. The database, according to the Post, has been in operation for more than a year and some 135 state police departments have signed up for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's service.
The Washington Post reported, "At least a dozen states -- including Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan -- said they want to add their records."
Asher has an interesting history, according to the Post: "In 1999, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI suspended information service contracts with an earlier Asher-run company because of concerns about his past, according to law enforcement sources.
The Chicago Tribune reported in 1987 that court documents in a federal drug case said defense lawyer F. Lee Bailey, who identified Asher as a pilot and onetime smuggler, offered him as an informant." James "Tim" Moore, former Florida Department of Law Enforcement commissioner, told the Post that the department was aware of Asher's background, but "we were also aware he had never been arrested or charged."
Seisint's coffers will be swelled by $1.6 million from the Florida legislature. In addition, the US Justice Department has kicked in $4 million to expand Matrix nationally and the Department of Homeland Security has pledged $8 million to the project of tracking citizens' every move.
Matrix, short for Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange, "enables investigators to find patterns and links among people and events faster than ever before, combining police records with commercially available collections of personal information about most American adults.
It would let authorities, for instance, instantly find the name and address of every brown-haired owner of a red Ford pickup truck in a 20-mile radius of a suspicious event.
Matrix was developed by Hank Asher, the Seisint Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida, who donated it to the state. The database, according to the Post, has been in operation for more than a year and some 135 state police departments have signed up for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's service.
The Washington Post reported, "At least a dozen states -- including Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan -- said they want to add their records."
Asher has an interesting history, according to the Post: "In 1999, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI suspended information service contracts with an earlier Asher-run company because of concerns about his past, according to law enforcement sources.
The Chicago Tribune reported in 1987 that court documents in a federal drug case said defense lawyer F. Lee Bailey, who identified Asher as a pilot and onetime smuggler, offered him as an informant." James "Tim" Moore, former Florida Department of Law Enforcement commissioner, told the Post that the department was aware of Asher's background, but "we were also aware he had never been arrested or charged."
Seisint's coffers will be swelled by $1.6 million from the Florida legislature. In addition, the US Justice Department has kicked in $4 million to expand Matrix nationally and the Department of Homeland Security has pledged $8 million to the project of tracking citizens' every move.
Monday, September 01, 2003
BUSH JUNTA
Can the US save itself from fascism?
All the rights and ideals embodied in our constitution—the glue that has held us together as Americans—are being rapidly stripped away by a criminal gang that has finally succeeded in seizing power and is bent on holding on to it at all costs.
To our criminal rulers not only are our constitutional rights legal fictions, but they have stood the constitution on its head to grant themselves powers denied them by the framers. So much for their nonsensical palaver about being strict constructionists.
Whether the presidential election of 2000 was the first to be stolen we'll never know, but we do know it was the first stolen election to receive the blessing of the US Supreme Court. In any other country—those lesser nations all that must be brought under the heel of the American Empire, one way or another—what happened in 2000 would be called a bloodless coup d'état.
All the rights and ideals embodied in our constitution—the glue that has held us together as Americans—are being rapidly stripped away by a criminal gang that has finally succeeded in seizing power and is bent on holding on to it at all costs.
To our criminal rulers not only are our constitutional rights legal fictions, but they have stood the constitution on its head to grant themselves powers denied them by the framers. So much for their nonsensical palaver about being strict constructionists.
Whether the presidential election of 2000 was the first to be stolen we'll never know, but we do know it was the first stolen election to receive the blessing of the US Supreme Court. In any other country—those lesser nations all that must be brought under the heel of the American Empire, one way or another—what happened in 2000 would be called a bloodless coup d'état.
NEW WORLD ORDER
New Mexico town prepares for anti-terror training
The eerie silence in this once-bustling mining town won't last long. Soon, helicopters and planes will zoom overhead, and the buzz among locals will be of bio-weapons, agro-terrorism and suicide bombings.
Playas - population about 60 - is destined to be bought up by a New Mexico university and transformed into a sprawling classroom for lessons in anti-terrorism.
The eerie silence in this once-bustling mining town won't last long. Soon, helicopters and planes will zoom overhead, and the buzz among locals will be of bio-weapons, agro-terrorism and suicide bombings.
Playas - population about 60 - is destined to be bought up by a New Mexico university and transformed into a sprawling classroom for lessons in anti-terrorism.
NEW WORLD ORDER
Patriot Act: US Feds use fear create a police state
Opposition to the USA Patriot Act has reached such a high level that Attorney General John Ashcroft has had to launch a road show to defend it. In June he met with editors and media executives in Aspen, Colo., to solicit their assistance in "portraying accurately" the act, which places unprecedented restrictions on the rights and freedoms of people in this country — both citizens and noncitizens. The Justice Department has also asked that law enforcement officials write commentaries supporting the act.
Unfortunately, the arguments used by the Justice Department fail to convince. That is partly because many are deceptive, if not outright lies; and partly because the manipulation of fears and the lack of self-consistency are apparent in those arguments.
Opposition to the USA Patriot Act has reached such a high level that Attorney General John Ashcroft has had to launch a road show to defend it. In June he met with editors and media executives in Aspen, Colo., to solicit their assistance in "portraying accurately" the act, which places unprecedented restrictions on the rights and freedoms of people in this country — both citizens and noncitizens. The Justice Department has also asked that law enforcement officials write commentaries supporting the act.
Unfortunately, the arguments used by the Justice Department fail to convince. That is partly because many are deceptive, if not outright lies; and partly because the manipulation of fears and the lack of self-consistency are apparent in those arguments.
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