Tuesday, May 06, 2003

Sars death rate higher than thought. A study of the spread of the Sars virus in Hong Kong discovers the death rate is much higher than previously estimated. [BBC News | Front Page | UK Edition] The "news" media has finally noticed what various people have been pointing out on the Internet for weeks now. 6:32:27 PM    comment () * IL: Charges expected in guns seizure. Federal charges are expected to be filed against a man who was detained Saturday after law enforcement officials found hundreds of guns in his North Riverside home in one of the largest weapons seizures in recent years, authorities said. The man, who is a former police officer, was being held Monday in Broadview, where he had been detained after authorities raided his 6th Avenue house, said Special Agent Tom Ahern, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. [FirearmNews.com] The original article requires registration to read, but I notice this excerpt doesn't mention this guy being charged with any actual crimes. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't really do anything wrong--although I am surprised that even a "former police officer" is being treated like a peasant in Chicago. 1:34:01 PM    comment () Iraq: Without laws, guns are order of day. Gun merchant Odai al-Rubbai would like to thank the US-led coalition - not for Iraq's liberation from Saddam Hussein, but for the maelstrom of civil disorder that followed. ''Business is booming!'' said Rubbai, 32, who does brisk business selling stolen weapons to a panicked citizenry in the capital city. ''It is the law of the jungle out there now.'' Guns, whether AK-47s nabbed from looted armories or Berettas heisted from private collections, have flooded Iraq in recent weeks, stolen by thieves, resold to gun dealers, and then purchased by anxious families seeking a way to protect themselves. The weapons provide a measure of security in a land where thieves and looters still stalk the streets. But the flood of unlicensed guns has also created problems for US forces and Iraq's newly emerging local authorities as they seek to reestablish order. [FirearmNews.com] And nearly everyone in Baghdad wants a gun. About 10 percent of those buying them in this conservative society are women, including Enaam al-Samaraee. Good for them! That will do more to improve the status of women in Iraq than all the hot air ever spewed by American politicians. 1:29:40 PM    comment () MO: Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Concealed Guns. The state Legislature has voted to let Missourians carry concealed guns. The House voted overwhelmingly today to send the legislation to Governor Holden, who has threatened to veto it. The Senate passed the legislation Friday. Today's vote comes about four years after statewide voters narrowly defeated a proposal allowing concealed guns. Supporters of the measure say times have changed. This year's bill would not go to the ballot. The legislation would let people age 23 and older apply to their county sheriffs for a permit to carry concealed guns. They would have to undergo training and could not have been convicted of violent or felony crimes. [FirearmNews.com] Unfortunately this story does not contain the most important piece of information--will the supporters of the bill be able to override the Governor's veto. It also doesn't mention that in the statewide vote four years ago it was actually St. Louis voters who defeated the proposal, which passed in the rest of the state. 12:03:24 PM    comment () Ashcroft: Museums in Iraq Looted by Pros [AP World News] Perhaps Ashcroft should look closely at Ahmad Chalabi. When there's a well known international fugitive guilty with a history of "organized crime" skulking about the country, it makes sense to suspect him of involvement. Of course this is also the reason why the US won't do anything of the sort. 11:47:22 AM    comment () The push toward decentralization. Infoworld : The battle for decentralization For now, you can try to keep your employees on a cluster of centrally managed Lotus Notes servers for "collaboration," but once they take 10 minutes to download and install Groove Workspace, they will ultimately self-organize within "shared spaces" that require no server -- and your role as collaboration traffic cop will quickly become irrelevant. [Jeroen Bekkers' Groove Weblog] This article seems to be waving a red flag in front of IT people, who can simply ban users from installing Groove and block the ports it uses if they are so inclined. 8:38:00 AM    comment ()

© Copyright 2006 Ken Hagler. Last update: 2/15/2006; 1:54:10 PM.