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Tuesday, July 02, 2002
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July 4, 2002: Americans Celebrate Dependence Day!. The Declaration's appeal to the sovereignty of each individual has become weaker over the decades, as most of us accept the propriety of others exercising authority over our lives. We increasingly accept the proposition that we are not to be trusted with any genuine power over our lives and that, for our "own good," the state must act on our behalf. Even such limited power as is found in firecrackers, sparklers, and Roman candles, are deemed too "dangerous" to our well-being and so, on July 4th, we allow the government, with its fireworks displays, to celebrate our "liberty" and "independence" for us! [LewRockwell.com]
3:11:39 PM 
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U.S. Convoy Fired on Near Kandahar. A U.S. military convoy returning from the hospital in Kandahar was fired on late Tuesday on the outskirts of the city and one U.S. soldier was wounded, a military spokesman said. [AP World News]
The convoy had gone to see if there was anything they could do for survivors of the air attack that killed 40 people at a wedding. Although the article doesn't draw any conclusions, I rather doubt this is a coincidence. This was almost certainly a retaliatory attack by relatives of the deceased--the first case I know of where the attackers were probably Afghans and not Taliban or Al Qaida. Unless the US changes its approach in Afghanistan (which is sadly not likely), we can expect much more of this in the future.
1:52:47 PM
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Mourn on the Fourth of July: 2002. Yes, the hope has faded. For many, I suspect that it has disappeared entirely. The United States bequeathed us by the Founders and preserved, to some degree, for more than two centuries by successive generations, has met its match in a pack of hyenas: carrion eaters, their lips stained with the blood of the 3,000 whom they did not kill but whose corpses they now feast on.
The goal, if any goal is possible to us, is no longer reform or restoration: it is resuscitation or reincarnation. This Fourth of July is no longer a holiday. It's a funeral or, just possibly, a wake. [Rational Review]
12:50:00 PM
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Pakistani Cleric Warns of Upheaval. A top Pakistani Muslim cleric said Monday that the fiercely independent tribesmen living near the Afghan border may resort to violent protest if the military continues a major U.S.-backed search for al-Qaida fugitives in the mountainous area. [AP World News]
Normally I'm in favor of avoiding civilian casualties, but after reading this article I find myself thinking that if a few Pakistani tribesmen (emphasis on men) get themselves killed, the world will be a better place.
9:12:36 AM
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Staggering AIDS Report From U.N.. The AIDS epidemic is worse than was ever considered possible and isn't close to being controlled, a report from the United Nations says. Jordan Lite reports from New York. [Wired News]
This being from a UN report, the article focuses on how developed countries should steal more money from their citizens and send it to Africa. There's no mention of why the epidemic is so bad there, unfortunately. How much can it cost to hire some guy to drive around the countryside telling people how HIV is spread? It's not like it's easy to catch, and if the epidemic continues after people have been warned then "think of it as evolution in action."
9:06:01 AM
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The Tate values excrement more highly than gold. Can 004 is one of an "edition" of 90 tins of merda d'artista created by Manzoni in 1961 as an ironic statement on the art market. Each can contained 30 grams of his faeces and Manzoni sold it for the same price as if it were gold. [telegraph.co.uk]
This is indeed ironic, since the Tate has managed to totally miss the point. Of course, they were spending the money of UK taxpayers, so I suppose it doesn't matter to them. Personally, I think the idea that a government is paying for this adds considerably to the irony.
8:31:53 AM
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© Copyright
2006
Ken Hagler.
Last update:
2/14/2006; 6:50:59 PM.
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