Hedgehogs
Click on this site, the International Hedgehog Association, and you can thrill to baby hedgehog photos, learn all the colors they can be, and pick up some interesting hedgehog trivia.
Friday, January 23, 2004
This Modern WorldRead Tom Tomorrow's Newest Comic, here, from Working Assets. In this installment we get to see the selfless devotion to America by the genius Karl Rove.
Thursday, January 22, 2004
More Republican Malfeasance
The Senate GOP found a way to secretly access and steal Democratic files, memos, and minutes of meetings, which they then leaked to newspapers. Orrin Hatch and other GOP Senators are of course blaming it all on "staffers" and are making public acts of shock and horror, that something so devious and shitty could happen. Read about it here, from the Boston Globe. The Republicans did not learn their lesson when Nixon hired people to spy on the Democrats back in 1972. Someone has got to swing for this!
The Senate GOP found a way to secretly access and steal Democratic files, memos, and minutes of meetings, which they then leaked to newspapers. Orrin Hatch and other GOP Senators are of course blaming it all on "staffers" and are making public acts of shock and horror, that something so devious and shitty could happen. Read about it here, from the Boston Globe. The Republicans did not learn their lesson when Nixon hired people to spy on the Democrats back in 1972. Someone has got to swing for this!
Saha To Move To Manchester United
The Fulham star striker appears all but signed to Man Utd. Their website (read about it here) reports that the diminutive Frenchman will wear the number 9 jersey, vacant since Joe Cole last donned it in 2001. Louis Saha, 5' 4", is the reason behind Fulham's strong showing this year in the English Premier League, being the top scorer. Another reason soccer is the greatest sport in the world: where else would a 5'4" player be feared by the opposing team? Do the deal, Fergie, we need Saha!
The Fulham star striker appears all but signed to Man Utd. Their website (read about it here) reports that the diminutive Frenchman will wear the number 9 jersey, vacant since Joe Cole last donned it in 2001. Louis Saha, 5' 4", is the reason behind Fulham's strong showing this year in the English Premier League, being the top scorer. Another reason soccer is the greatest sport in the world: where else would a 5'4" player be feared by the opposing team? Do the deal, Fergie, we need Saha!
E-Voting Criticized By Experts, Supported By Pentagon
The Pentagon hired a team of four computer experts to assess their Internet voting system and all four returned an unequivocal denunciation of voting online. Still, the Pentagon persists and wants their system to be used in this year's Presidential elections. Read it here, from the BBC. So let's see: the experts say there is no way to prevent fraud and manipulation or to insure free and fair elections, but the Pentagon still thinks it's a good idea. Anyone worried that you can have your country stolen out from under you without a shot fired?
The Pentagon hired a team of four computer experts to assess their Internet voting system and all four returned an unequivocal denunciation of voting online. Still, the Pentagon persists and wants their system to be used in this year's Presidential elections. Read it here, from the BBC. So let's see: the experts say there is no way to prevent fraud and manipulation or to insure free and fair elections, but the Pentagon still thinks it's a good idea. Anyone worried that you can have your country stolen out from under you without a shot fired?
Suburban Home Records In Trouble
The small indie label is awash in red ink. Now is the time to buy those CDs by Oblivion, Apocalypse Hoboken, The Adventures Of Jet, The Gamits and whoever else you dig on their label. Go here, to check it out, Suburban Home Records.
The small indie label is awash in red ink. Now is the time to buy those CDs by Oblivion, Apocalypse Hoboken, The Adventures Of Jet, The Gamits and whoever else you dig on their label. Go here, to check it out, Suburban Home Records.
Actually, That IS Warmongering!
General Peter Schoomaker discusses how the 9/11 attacks were really a good thing in disguise for America because it allows our military to focus and gives us someone to kill. Read about it here, from the BBC News. The best part is near the end, where Schoomaker says, "I'm not warmongering," sounding an awful lot like Buck Turgidson from "Dr. Strangelove."
General Peter Schoomaker discusses how the 9/11 attacks were really a good thing in disguise for America because it allows our military to focus and gives us someone to kill. Read about it here, from the BBC News. The best part is near the end, where Schoomaker says, "I'm not warmongering," sounding an awful lot like Buck Turgidson from "Dr. Strangelove."
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Iowa And The Four Horseman
Kerry, Edwards, Dean, Gephardt. Those good folks in Iowa have knocked Gephardt out of the race, with their Monday caucusing. Read it here, NY Times. Kerry came away with a surprise win, and Dean finished a disappointing third. Now it's on to New Hampshire, where Wesley Clark will deign to participate. Why is Lieberman still running? Is he totally insane? Will Kerry or Edwards pick Dean as their running mate, if they continue winning states? Will Dean accept? Can Kerry beat Bush? Kerry looks like Droopy the dog, but then again, Bush looks like a mad little monkey. Does anyone doubt that our caucus system for selecting presidential candidates is a total farce?
Kerry, Edwards, Dean, Gephardt. Those good folks in Iowa have knocked Gephardt out of the race, with their Monday caucusing. Read it here, NY Times. Kerry came away with a surprise win, and Dean finished a disappointing third. Now it's on to New Hampshire, where Wesley Clark will deign to participate. Why is Lieberman still running? Is he totally insane? Will Kerry or Edwards pick Dean as their running mate, if they continue winning states? Will Dean accept? Can Kerry beat Bush? Kerry looks like Droopy the dog, but then again, Bush looks like a mad little monkey. Does anyone doubt that our caucus system for selecting presidential candidates is a total farce?
Supreme Court Does Our Side A Solid
The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the EPA can overrule Alaska's legislators and force a mine to use more pollution-cutting measures, even if they are more expensive. Read it here, from the NY Times. It was a 5-4 vote, hardly a consensus.
The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the EPA can overrule Alaska's legislators and force a mine to use more pollution-cutting measures, even if they are more expensive. Read it here, from the NY Times. It was a 5-4 vote, hardly a consensus.
The Phillippines, Sudan, and the USA
What do the three of us have in common? We all execute children. Read it here, from the BBC. Amnesty International reports that the USA is one of only 8 countries that have executed a child (defined as under 18) since 1990. At least in the USA you have to have been found guilty of a shockingly serious crime to be eligible for the death penalty, and I doubt Amnesty's claim that these young offenders can be "rehabilitated" in the sense that they can be released back into society. The death penalty is something from Medieval times and should be abolished, but that doesn't mean I want those offenders anywhere but inside prison. Rehabilitate their minds and souls, but we're talking about people who murder and rape and do horrible things on top of those crimes, that become death row inmates. Not exactly the sort you want to invite round for tea.
What do the three of us have in common? We all execute children. Read it here, from the BBC. Amnesty International reports that the USA is one of only 8 countries that have executed a child (defined as under 18) since 1990. At least in the USA you have to have been found guilty of a shockingly serious crime to be eligible for the death penalty, and I doubt Amnesty's claim that these young offenders can be "rehabilitated" in the sense that they can be released back into society. The death penalty is something from Medieval times and should be abolished, but that doesn't mean I want those offenders anywhere but inside prison. Rehabilitate their minds and souls, but we're talking about people who murder and rape and do horrible things on top of those crimes, that become death row inmates. Not exactly the sort you want to invite round for tea.
Monday, January 19, 2004
No Help For The Hubble
NASA was forced to cancel a mission to resupply the Hubble space telescope, thereby consigning it to an early death. Read it here, from NY Times. The space-based telescope, which operates in the visible spectrum, was scheduled to have it's batteries replaced and would have provided service until the end of the decade at least. Bush's recent "order" to divert NASA's funding into manned space missions has caused this project to get the ax. The irony is that a shuttle mission would cost $500 million. But the telescope itself cost $300 million and now NASA will have to design a project for a rocket to go up and retrieve the scope and bring it down, for a cost of $200 million. In other words, it's the same amount of money. It would be better to repair the scope and have it continue its amazing work. At a later date, a shuttle was to haul in the telescope and bring it home, where it would be placed in the Smithsonian museum. Now, it's just more roadkill. Thanks, Bush.
NASA was forced to cancel a mission to resupply the Hubble space telescope, thereby consigning it to an early death. Read it here, from NY Times. The space-based telescope, which operates in the visible spectrum, was scheduled to have it's batteries replaced and would have provided service until the end of the decade at least. Bush's recent "order" to divert NASA's funding into manned space missions has caused this project to get the ax. The irony is that a shuttle mission would cost $500 million. But the telescope itself cost $300 million and now NASA will have to design a project for a rocket to go up and retrieve the scope and bring it down, for a cost of $200 million. In other words, it's the same amount of money. It would be better to repair the scope and have it continue its amazing work. At a later date, a shuttle was to haul in the telescope and bring it home, where it would be placed in the Smithsonian museum. Now, it's just more roadkill. Thanks, Bush.
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Mystikal Gets New Deal
Rapper Mystikal just got sentenced to 6 years in prison. Details involve him and his 2 bodyguards forcing a hairstylist to "perform sexual acts" because they said she stole money from them. The bizarre part is that the 2 bodyguards videotaped the whole thing, which was used as evidence against them! Remember that Simpsons episode where the teenagers videotape their crime spree? Doesn't anyone learn? Read it here. I wonder if his song "Shake Ya Ass" will be popular with his new friends?
Rapper Mystikal just got sentenced to 6 years in prison. Details involve him and his 2 bodyguards forcing a hairstylist to "perform sexual acts" because they said she stole money from them. The bizarre part is that the 2 bodyguards videotaped the whole thing, which was used as evidence against them! Remember that Simpsons episode where the teenagers videotape their crime spree? Doesn't anyone learn? Read it here. I wonder if his song "Shake Ya Ass" will be popular with his new friends?
Hope Of The States
Guitarist for Hope Of The States, Jimmi Lawrence, died by suicide at the band's recording studio in Bath, England. This band is going to seriously blow up when their full-length comes out in the spring, so it's a double tragedy. Here we have real bands in mental anguish, and on our side of the pond we have total phonies like AFI making videos about killing themselves ("Silver And Cold"). Suicide isn't rad, Davey, pull your head out of your ass.
Guitarist for Hope Of The States, Jimmi Lawrence, died by suicide at the band's recording studio in Bath, England. This band is going to seriously blow up when their full-length comes out in the spring, so it's a double tragedy. Here we have real bands in mental anguish, and on our side of the pond we have total phonies like AFI making videos about killing themselves ("Silver And Cold"). Suicide isn't rad, Davey, pull your head out of your ass.
Hand In Glove / Cock In Mouth
Showing unbelievable conflict-of-interest, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spent part of last week duck hunting with Dick "Dick" Cheney---and this just three weeks after the Supreme Court had agreed to hear Cheney's appeal lawsuits over his Energy Task Force. Read it here, The Boston Globe. We all found out that the Supreme Court was a partisan joke in the 2000 Election, but this is a bit much. Anyone remember the separation of the government into co-equal branches? Shit! Cheney is the litigant here, and if he prevails, all of the evil shit he did writing the Energy Policy on his knees with Big Oil right in front of him, will forever be kept from the public review.
Showing unbelievable conflict-of-interest, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spent part of last week duck hunting with Dick "Dick" Cheney---and this just three weeks after the Supreme Court had agreed to hear Cheney's appeal lawsuits over his Energy Task Force. Read it here, The Boston Globe. We all found out that the Supreme Court was a partisan joke in the 2000 Election, but this is a bit much. Anyone remember the separation of the government into co-equal branches? Shit! Cheney is the litigant here, and if he prevails, all of the evil shit he did writing the Energy Policy on his knees with Big Oil right in front of him, will forever be kept from the public review.