Monday, April 15, 2002

Bush Officials Met With Venezuelans Who Ousted Leader. Senior officials met in recent months with leaders of a coalition that ousted the Venezuelan president, and agreed with them that he should be removed from office. [New York Times: International News] Well hey, no wonder Bush seemingly supported a military coup against the democratically elected president of Venezuela. He’d already given his support to the coup leaders.   This is simply unbelievable. The leader of the strongest democracy in the world secretly helps plan a military coup to topple a legitimate, democratically elected government? Isn’t it about time to throw the lying assholes out of the people’s house?   Cheers,   Dusty 10:58:41 PM

Industry's Resistance Stalls Bill to Protect Food. Legislation on food safety that was drafted as a response to the threat of bioterrorism has stalled on Capitol Hill because of resistance from the food industry. By Robert Pear. [New York Times: National] They talk a good game, but when push comes to shove it’s the wishes of their corporate masters, not your safety or security, that matters most to Bush and his cronies. Here’s yet another example of say one thing, do another.   Cheers,   Dusty 10:55:48 PM

8 States Leave Reform Party. The Reform Party suffered a major setback on Monday when eight state chairmen critical of its leader quit and announced plans to form their own party. [New York Times: National] I was surprised to see this story. Surprised as in those brain dead goofballs are still around? What kind of stupid do you have to be to stand up in 2002 and say, “Hell yeah, I’m a Perot guy!” Sheesh.   Cheers,   Dusty 10:54:12 PM

Scientists Seek Logging Ban on U.S-Owned Land. A letter signed by 221 scientists and sent to President Bush on Monday calls for ending all logging on federally owned forests. By Jim Robbins. [New York Times: National] So a bunch of scientists are saying Bush and his corporate masters, in this case the logging industry, are completely and totally full of shit, eh? Looks pretty much like what scientists have said about every facet of Bush policy so far.   Cheers,   Dusty 10:52:26 PM

Losing Latin America. Even viewed as realpolitik, our benign attitude toward Venezuela's coup was remarkably foolish. By Paul Krugman. [New York Times: Opinion] To quote Forrest Gump, “Stupid is as stupid does.” Judging from the continual Bush foreign policy bumbles, Gump would qualify as a top intellect in the Bush administration. His latest stupid response to a military coup in Venezuela shows just how much this dumb chimp really respects democracy.   Cheers,   Dusty 9:27:05 PM

Hack a server? Win $100,000. Korea Digital Works wants to reward the first hacker to gain access to one of its servers in a 48-hour competition. The prize is a cool $100,000. [CNET News.com] All right, here’s a chance for all of you hacker wannabes to test your skills. The article gives the wrong URL. Here’s the right one:   http://www.woksdome.org/   Good luck.   Cheers,   Dusty 9:22:51 PM

Pope Summons American Cardinals to Discuss Abuse. Pope John Paul II has summoned American cardinals to the Vatican for a discussion of the recent cascade of pedophilia and sex abuse scandals. By Melinda Henneberger. [New York Times: NYT HomePage] Nice to see the Pope taking action. I don’t know why people are criticizing the Church. Seems to me they’re moving as fast as is possible. It takes a long time for news and information to travel back and forth from the 14th century, you know.   Cheers,   Dusty 9:19:15 PM

Particle accelerator database tops 500TB [IDG InfoWorld] And it's growing by 500GB/day. You thought you had it rough, imagine adminstering this puppy. Cheers, Dusty 9:17:22 PM

The Science of Pitching, Redux. In baseball, a pitcher's motion has long been the subject of scientific analysis. Now, the coach of a talented staff is getting even closer to figuring out what works and what doesn't. By Steve Kettmann. [Wired News] If we knew as much about the mechanics of sports then as we do now, I probably wouldn’t be having yet another major reconstructive orthopedic surgery this week. Then again, it’s not like I ever paid a lot of attention to my coaches, so who knows?   Cheers,   Dusty 8:31:50 PM

Mind mapping can help dyslexics. A memory technique called mind mapping is being used to help people with dyslexia improve their writing and exam grades. [BBC News: sci/tech] I’ve tried mind mapping software like The Brain. I didn’t find it to be easier or more effective for me, but I’ve seen it work wonders with other users.   Here’s an interesting article on how mind mapping can help dyslexics, though it lacks any links to mind mapping software. So here is a link to The Brain, where you can download The Personal Brain free:   http://www.thebrain.com/   Cheers,   Dusty 8:28:42 PM

Justice Dept. Backs States' Rights. The nine states suing Microsoft Corp. for antitrust violations should be allowed to continue their case, the Justice Department said Monday. [AP Tech News] Yeah, boy, the Bush administration sure is a strong protector of state’s rights. Well, unless it might cost them an election. Or if it has to do with women’s rights. Or the environment. Or…   Cheers,   Dusty 8:24:04 PM

NASA Reports Vast Hydrogen Reserves in Earth's Crust [Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matters] Here’s an interesting story. As some of you know, I’ve had an ongoing debate with a couple of real goofballs in the political groups about the potential and efficacy of a hydrogen based energy infrastructure. Here’s yet another nail in their coffin.   Original URL:   http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/story.asp?id=%7B1F54AEED-A34B-411B-B95F-972AB119DD85%7D   Cheers,   Dusty 8:20:45 PM

Linux for the masses [ActiveWin] Here’s a glowing review of the latest EZ Linux install, the Desktop/LX update of Corel Linux, including a free download link.   Cheers,   Dusty 8:16:50 PM

In defense of copyright. A top intellectual property lawyer argues that the Supreme Court's decision to review the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act is plain wrong. [Salon.com] As Netizens we are continually bombarded with opinions on a number of issues, but few more so than intellectual property rights. So far the loudest online voices are those of the simple minded, pseudo-libertarian “information wants to be free” crowd, whose main interest, seemingly, is that their ability to steal with impunity not be curtailed. Here is a reasoned, well supported POV from the other side.   This is a free Salon article and does not require a login or subscription.   Cheers,   Dusty 8:03:20 PM

U.S.: Chavez Should Respect Process. The Bush administration, which expressed no regret when the Venezuelan military ousted the country's elected president last week, advised Hugo Chavez on Sunday to make good use of a second chance to govern. [AP World News] Bush tells Israel in no uncertain terms to pull out, then *orders* them to pull out and they completely ignore him. So what’s a Shrub to do? How about try to beat up on a Latin American country? Yeah, maybe he can bully one of them! Hey, he speaks Spanish.   What makes this dim bulb think anyone anywhere in the world takes him seriously at this point? Scold Venezuela? Mr. President, scold thy self.   Cheers,   Dusty 5:52:34 AM

A Little Leg, a Little Booze, but Hardly Gomorrah. Over the past decade, Kish — a tiny coral island 10 miles off the coast of Iran — has become known as an oasis of luxury and laxity. [New York Times: International News] I don’t think Ibiza has anything to worry about.   Cheers,   Dusty 5:18:52 AM

Irish Proverb. "You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was." [Motivational Quotes of the Day] 5:17:46 AM

Adlai E. Stevenson Jr.. "Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them." [Motivational Quotes of the Day] 5:17:39 AM

Woods Captures Third Masters Crown. Facing some of the world's best players, Tiger Woods gave more evidence that a chasm remains between him and everyone else. By Clifton Brown. [New York Times: NYT HomePage] Wow. I know, it sounds like a teenager on a first acid trip, but what else can you say about this guy except, “Wow?” And he’s what? All of 27? Wow. He’s come a long way since I first saw him whacking the crap outta whiffle golf balls at 3 on the Mike Douglas show.   Cheers,   Dusty 5:17:28 AM

Paul Valery. "The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be." [Quotes of the Day] 5:13:49 AM

Senator Running on Family Values Has a Tough Race After Divorce. Sen. Tim Hutchinson's divorce and abrupt remarriage has caused voters in Arkansas to question his staunch family values position. By B. Drummond Ayres Jr.. [New York Times: Politics] From the ever growing “Hypocrisy Gene In Action” file, here’s yet another shining example of GOP family values.   Cheers,   Dusty 5:09:16 AM

Lawsuit in Texas Challenges Ban on Personal Watercraft in National Parks. A coalition fighting to allow watercraft in national parks is part of a larger movement, championed by the Bush administration, to allow more access to public lands. By Katharine Q. Seelye. [New York Times: Politics] You know, these continual stealth efforts by the Bush administration to demolish long standing, reasonable environmental policies in a bow to their petrochemical masters and some brain dead, me-go-fast, wilderness savaging yahoos really pisses me off. Who the hell do these lying assholes think they are? These are our National Parks they want to fuck with.   Why not take a minute to drop the head corporate stooge a note reminding him of who he’s supposed to be working for. Be polite. The doofus is our president, after all, and therefore deserves the respect due the office. Besides, I haven’t checked the stoplight security warning system lately. I’d hate to have one of you flame the prez and end up in front of a military tribunal.   President George W. Bush: president@whitehouse.gov   Cheers,   Dusty 5:07:27 AM

Wear Tie, Be on Time, Avoid Mideast. Former Clinton administration officials say that George W. Bush has followed an ABC Middle East policy Anything But Clinton. By Elisabeth Bumiller. [New York Times: Politics] This isn’t the first time Bush’s simplistic knee-jerk ABC policies have failed and it won’t be the last.   Cheers,   Dusty 4:53:09 AM

In a Forceful Speech, Gore Criticizes Administration. Former Vice President Al Gore re-emerged at the scene of the 2000 electoral crisis, taking on President Bush on issues ranging from tax cuts to the environment. By Richard L. Berke. [New York Times: Politics] Forceful? Yeah, you could say that. You could say Shaq is big, too.   Were the hell was this Al Gore in 2000? Sure, he beat Bush by more than a half million votes then, but the Gore I saw make this speech would have shredded Shrub. He was energized, passionate, aggressive, funny, articulate, animated – all the things he wasn’t in 2000.   It was one hell of a speech. This story doesn’t begin to tell the tale. Gore might actually have a chance in 2004. If you see a link to the full text of the speech, send it to me.   Cheers,   Dusty 4:49:52 AM

Elizabeth Cady Stanton. "The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls." [Motivational Quotes of the Day] 4:27:14 AM

© Copyright 2002 Dusty Rhodes. Last update: 4/15/2002; 4:27:17 AM.