Monthly Archives: December 2002

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2605429.stm I was pleased to read that there are still some decent people left in Afghanistan that oppose the invasion of foreign forces and the government instated by foreign nations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/25/national/25ROAD.html?todaysheadlines In a new rule passed this week, the administration has encouraged more exploitation of federal lands which until now had been protected from mining, off road vehicles, etc..

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/23/politics/23REAC.html?todaysheadlines Not surprisingly, some prominent members of the GOP have refused to change their views on race even after the stepping down of Mr. Lott.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/23/national/23PATR.html?todaysheadlines A few cities across the country have passed resolutions designed to protect the civil liberties of their residents. Even though this is a great thing, none of the resolutions were strong enough and I am not confident at all that they will do much good, if any at all. Besides, this is like window [...]

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14835 As we wait for the war on Iraq to begin, here is a good article on how Bush has yet to publicly justify his war with hard evidence.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14832 Unlike other actors who have spoken up against the administrations war on Iraq who are mere corporate tools, Sean Penn traveled to Baghdad to witness the state of things himself and speak out against the administration.

http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1459290/12242002/strummer_joe.jhtml At least there is one consoling thing about the former Clash singer Joe Strummer’s death this past Sunday: The coroner who conducted the autopsy on the 24th found that Strummer had died of a sudden cardiac arrest and not drugs as some may have suspected. Let’s hope this story isn’t revised as it was [...]

War is over – If you want it. – John Lennon Happy Christmas everyone.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/23/britain.strummer/index.html http://www.strummersite.com/TEST%20FRAMED%20PAGE.HTM http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2600669.stm Yesterday, 12/22/02, Joe Strummer, most famous as the singer of the seminal British punk group the Clash passed away peacefully in his sleep. I can’t believe another icon has passed away. It’s very sad to see so many big names go in such a short time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2592243.stm It seems I’ve been right all along. The war on Iraq will indeed happen soon. The US’ declaration of the “material breach” of the UN resolution mandating a full declaration of weapons by Iraq is only the latest installment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/international/15INTE.html?todaysheadlines In a dangerous new move, the administration has sent the CIA a list of “enemy combatants” they are allowed to kill without explicit permission from the president-select. This is a dangerous precedent as we know how fast and easily someone can be declared an “enemy combatant”.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14820 After the fortunate departure of Kissinger, Bush has chosen a better but still horrible man to head the “independent” 9/11 investigation committee. Thomas Kean is nothing more than another lapdog who won’t ask the hard questions and certainly not be permitted to find out the truth.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14794 Alternet has published a list of the 10 worst and 10 best developments of 2002. Even though the 10 worst clearly outweigh the 10 best, it’s still a good read.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig3/monahan1.html And I thought this sort of thing only happened to middle eastern men or minorities… Apparently not. Above is the story of a film maker who together with his wife was abused by airport staff for absolutely no reason.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2589317.stm Scenes from the motion picture “The Siege” are slowly becoming reality. Authorities in LA this week arrested hundreds of Muslims after they had tried to comply with new government regulations requiring them to show up for interrogation. More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2595391.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2290602.stmhttp://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=564&u=/nm/20021219/ts_nm/attack_immigration_dc_3 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2027216.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2290997.stm Also, the new laws regarding visits to the US now apply to any foreigner [...]

http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/20/lott.controversy/index.html Finally, one less racist in a top position. Let’s hope the others follow his example.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14799 Great article on the effects the abscence of sex ed from the classrooms and the silly concept of the “new virginity” can have.

http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/lawenfor/specialreg/index.htm http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-28381-filed You may have heard of AG Ashcrft’s newest game, special registration. What this involves is basically discriminating against males of certain nationalities staying in then US on visa statuses by forcing them to “register”, i.e. be fingerprinted, photographed and “interviewed” by INS officials. See the URLs above for details.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/15/gore.ap/index.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2578277.stm Like many others, I tonight breathed a sigh of relief after learning that Al Gore will not be running in ’04. He would have been too much of a liablity to the Democractic Party.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/15/lott/index.html According to En. Nickel, the GOP’s no. 2 Senator Lott may be asked to step down soon due to his recent racist remarks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/14/politics/14INQU.html?todaysheadlines In a fortunate yet surprising turn of events, Henry Kissinger has resigned from the leadership position he was chosen to occupy in the “independent” invesigation committe. I find this surprising as the threat of having to tell semi-truths usually doesn’t encourage the likes of Kissinger to resign.

http://www.froogle.google.com/ True to its tradition of making the better product, Google has started a beta run of a shopping site called Froogle. It’s a lot like other shopping sites such as Cnet, but it does not charge vendors for listing their products.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2569017.stm No world cup, as officials in Switzerland wished for a few years back, but a European cup nevertheless. I was very happy to read that the two central European nations will co-host the tournament in 5.5 years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/10/national/10PRIV.html?todaysheadlines This article proves that the legislation enacted last year as the “P.A.T.R.I.O.T.” act has already been used by several police departments across the country. Although they claim they have not yet used their new powers I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out in the near future that they did.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/08/international/middleeast/08MILI.html?todaysheadlines Judging by this report of how far along the US army is with errecting an infrastructure for war in the gulf region it seems that my theory was correct and a full scale attack on Iraq will indeed happen in the near future. The whole issue with weapon inspections and all is just a [...]

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/08/education/08AFFI.html?todaysheadlines Despite the fact that the supreme court has not yet ruled on whether or not to end affirmative action within admission processes at universities, some institutions, like Rice University, have already taken steps to eliminate race as a factor for admission. I hope the supreme court will indeed roll back the 1978 case that [...]

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14752 That the administration has hired some Hollywood studios todo some war propaganda is nothing new. This insight into the trend of not publishing movies because they’re not in line with Bush’s fake brand of “patriotism” is new(er) however.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14728 This article makes a great case for why we, the people living in America should get a list of all weapons owned, used, being developed and being envisioned by our government.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/03/04/bob.jones/ I was baffled to find out that certain Christians are still so ass backwards in the 21st century… Apparently Bob Jones University had a ban on interracial dating. (!!)

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/08/arts/music/08PARE.html To celebrate the release of their lovely new album, Round Room, the New York Times has published a small special section devoted to Phish. Well worth a visit.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14686 Here’s more on the Bush-endorsed supreme court case that aims to abolish the Miranda rights.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/03/opinion/03KRUG.html?todaysheadlines According to columnist Paul Krugman, the amount of taxes the low income citizen pays may change again – for the true worse this time. It seems some conservatives are complaining not that they pay too much taxes, but that the people in question don’t pay enough.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2532443.stm Just like Bush in recent months, Australia’s PM now wants to have the ability to carry out pre-emptive strikes as well.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14659 Henry Kissinger, widely known for his abuses of power in years past, has been chosen by president-select Bush to head the farce of a 9/11 investigation committee.

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14682 This article focusses on the fact that all the new “homeland security” department really does is create a larger buerocracy that can be funded more easily with defense funds, and not, as claimed, enhance national security.