June 23, 2004

Next to a cure for cancer announcement, this is really big news: Caffeine-free coffee tree is discovered Independent - A naturally caffeine-free coffee plant has been found growing wild in Ethiopia, heralding the prospect of a cup of freshly-ground arabica that will not keep you awake. 6:11:07 PM

RatherBiased.com has received official confirmation from an ad executive at CBSNews.com that if you buy the former presidents book by clicking on the "Buy the book" link at the CBS News Web site, CBS News will get a cut. This in itself is not really news, but is only a big deal because CBSNews.com sales director David Ghiraldini was denying the Amazon/CBS News association in a very "CBS 60 Minutes" target kind of way. When asked what part of the RatherBiased.com story was incorrect his answer sounded very similer to what an errant CEO on the 60 Minutes hotseat would have said when caught with his hand in the cookie jar: "I don't think I should have to tell you, I'm just telling you it's not correct. I just don't think I can discuss this. Maybe I can call you back if I ever want to talk about it."   4:15:51 PM

30 years ago Latin America was wall-to-wall dictatorships, and is now overwhelmingly democratic.    Mark Steyn explains how this might be a direct result of "the oppression and poverty inflicted on Central America as a direct result of US foreign policies”. Nice result, and very relevant to what is happening in the Middle East.  The Dictators, and "Presidents-for-Life" in the region might have to see their statues toppled, but toppled they will be. 2:55:53 PM

Arthur Chrenkoff puts together another great posting:  Good news from Iraq. 2:15:23 PM

Egypt Gives Arafat Deadline to Meet Reform Pledge Reuters -  Egypt gave Yasser Arafat two months to make good on promises of reform if Cairo is to help Palestinians keep order in Gaza after an Israeli pullout, officials said on Wednesday. 12:50:15 PM

Iran Freeing British Sailors New York Times - Iran declared today that it was releasing the eight British sailors and marines it arrested early Monday, after they entered Iranian territorial waters of Shatt Al Arab. UPDATE: Looks like this was not quite true.  Iran is now holding these officers for television 'confessions'. 11:57:32 AM