Even more hysterical than usual commentary via The Onion:

SIMI VALLEY, CA—Slave manpower was doubled this week in an effort to ensure that erection of the gigantic Reagan Pyramid remains on schedule to be completed in time for the 40th president's mummification and ascension into the Afterworld.

Above: Builders expect the Reagan Pyramid to be ready in time for the Great Communicator's mummification and ascension into the Afterworld upon death. Among the items to be entombed with Reagan are 2,500 MX missiles, a golden chalice of jelly beans, and his beloved servant, George Bush Sr.

Swift completion of the towering structure is "of paramount priority," according to Republican Party insiders.

"Only the most gigantic tomb ever created will be worthy of the Great Communicator," former Reagan Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger said. "As his mortal subjects, it is our holy duty to provide Reagan with a burial commensurate with his stature, in order that he may enter the Realm of Death bedecked with raiments and honors so that he may take his rightful place beside the mighty Sun God, Ra."

Check out the rest of it here:

Posted at 09:21 PM in Humor, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Impressive article from the UK's Guardian on the "terrifying power of the bloggers:"

"Not only are major news organisations rolling out blogs of their own, but in the past 12 months the influence of bloggers over their print, television and radio counterparts has grown massively. Consider a decision made by organisers of this year's Democratic National Convention (DNC), next month in Boston. So keen are John Kerry's men to get their message through to the people of Blogistan that for the first time they have issued press accreditation to political bloggers. Just try to imagine any major political organisation recognising blogs in the same way this time last year and you'll realise how far bloggers have gone up in the estimation of those in power. Or, in the case of the DNC, those who will probably be in power next year. Voter fraud notwithstanding.

An even more impressive example of how web journalism has started to influence the mainstream media comes from America's newest radio network, Air America Radio. The New York based station was set up as a liberal challenge to the dominance of US rightwing talk radio in the US. Through affiliates in cities from New York to Honolulu, angry liberal voices such as Al Franken, author of the anti-Bush bible Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, and Hollywood's Janine Garofalo are finally taking on rightwing blowhards such as Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly. But unlike Limbaugh and O'Reilly who frequently replace research and reason with rage and rhetoric, Air America's hosts are armed to the teeth with hard, up-to-the second facts to support their relentless Bush bashing. Their sources? Blogs. And the blogging bloggers who blog them."

Good stuff . . .

Source:
The terrifying power of the bloggers
Paul Carr
The Guardian, Monday June 28, 2004
http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,1248609,00.html

Posted at 10:08 AM in Media | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Another installment in our continuing series: LIRR CFH. Today's version: The Cellphone Barker -- a whole new breed of rude.

After getting comfortable in my seat, I start reading my paper. A few stops later, I go to the Head in the next car.

Upon returning, I hear a voice -- somewhere between a bark and a bellow -- yammering into a cell phone -- Damn! -- in the seat right behind me!

I sit down, count to 10 (SERENITY NOW!), and the guy gets off the phone. OK, not so bad -- I can handle one phone call from an apparently impolite turd.

10 seconds later, the deep booming voice starts again. Oh, no, a serial caller! My mind flashes to an entire ride with this tawker yapping in that booming voice the whole trip. No good --Totally Unacceptable.

So I turn around, and in a voice somewhere between firm and polite -- but at a slightly lower volume than Cellphone Barker -- I say:

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to please speak lower, or take the call in the vestibule by the doors".

  The guy doesn't acknowledge me a wit -- no nod, no "I'll be right off," doesn't lower his voice -- nothing. Just completely and totally ignores me.

So 10 seconds later, in my best Police Officer voice, I repeat myself: "Sir, I'm sorry, but I going to have to ask you to keep it down, please . . ."

Cellphone Barker ignores me again -- but this time says to the other party on the phone "

Some jerk is rudely interrupting me -- If he keeps it up, I'm gonna have to knock him out

."  In a flash, I am up out of my seatyou never saw a fat bastard move this fast -- and staring down at him, yelling progressively louder. I am, in a word, unembarrassable (thats an entirely 'nother topic) -- but I see that the louder my voice gets, the more Cellphone Barker deflates:

"What? You're going to 'knock me out?' You are THREATENING me -- in FRONT OF a dozen WITNESSES? I have a cell phone too, and my next call is to 911 -- to have you tossed off this train . . . Where's the conductor?"

I storm off, calm down, find the conductor, explain the situation, drag him back to the car. As I approach Cellphone Barker, I say: "All I want is for you to keep it down." That's an opening for him to resolve the situation (if he wants).

Instead, he says: "This jerk rudely interrupted my call."

The conductor -- who has punched my ticket everyday for a year -- looks at me. I say "I asked him to tone it down -- he was bellowing into his phone."

Cellphone Barker makes the fatal play: "I was talking quietly."

Three other people on the train all pipe up -- "No you weren't" -- "This guy was yelling" -- "You were way too loud."

I suddenly become a diplomat: "You don't have to throw him off the train -- just move his seat."

The guy suddenly realizes that he's on the verge of getting tossed. "Prima-Donnas" he grumbles as the conductor moves him tot he back of the train.

Helluva way to start my day . . .

Posted at 11:07 AM in LIRR Commuter From Hell | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Since posting the 9/11 Fahrenheit Presidential Indicator, I've been thinking about what actual political impact the film might have (if any).

In light of some of the comments and private criticisms -- including a few people I respect who termed it "the worst idea you've come up with to date" -- I've been mulling this over for a few days. Here are my conclusions

There are 3 audiences Moore may be "speaking" to, each of which could potentially impact the November elections:

1) 50% :
That astounding number is the percentage of eligible voters who didn't think it was worth their time to cast a vote in the 2000 Presidential election. That's right, half of the electorate couldn't be bothered. (So much for Democracy)

Motivating this group -- not just Independents, but Democrats and Liberal Republicans -- could certainly be part of the impact of Moore's polemic.

In the future, whenever you see this statistic, keep in mind that are many Political Scientists and theorists who posit the entire point of negative campaigning is to keep this group at home. (Call it self-disenfranchised by disgust).

If Moore gets 1 out of 10 of these people off their sofas on November 3rd, he will have effectively overcome all the votes Nader received in 2000.

2) Motivating the Base:
While hardcore Democrats are certainly going to be voting in the Fall, the borderline, "lazy" or soft party members could see their fervor wane if the polls start sliding against them. Rank & file Dems simply don't have the same religious fervor GOP partisans do.

The question is how will the party members handle an occasional setback between now and November?

3) Naderites:
The film would be politically influential -- not if it persuades the centrist or swing voter, but instead if it convinces the 4-6% of Nader voters from 2000 that a vote for Ralph is a vote for the incumbent.

I wasn't thinking in those terms when I wrote this, but considering that Moore was a Nader supporter in 2000, and then backed Wesley Clark in the '04 Democratic primaries, it makes some sense. Of course, that won't show up as part of our 9/11 Fahrenheit indicator thesis, but . . .

Here's a quote from USA Today: "Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist, says the savage portrayal of Bush "could convince some Naderites" of the need to vote for Kerry. Moore, who backed Nader's independent candidacy in 2000, says that's one goal. "I hope to have a significant impact on the 4-6% who now say they're going to vote for Ralph," he says." -'Fahrenheit 9/11': Will it change any voter's mind?

Bottom line -- the film may have an impact on the margins. In a race this tight, a 1 or 2% shift or increased participation can be the markgin of victory -- or defeat.

Posted at 07:23 AM in Film, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

There are police cars and there are police cars, and then there's the new police car being used by the Polizia Stradale of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway in southern Italy.

A Gallardo capable of 305 kmh has been given to the Italian State Police by Automobil Lamborghini SpA. It's the first time one of the luxury sportscars from the Italian car maker will be used by the Italian police.

The car will be ''liveried'' in the blue and white colors of the state police and comes with a siren and a set of flashing lights on the roof.

The Gallardo police car will be used by the traffic police during emergency situations and is equipped with apparatus to transmit and receive information and images in critical situations such as road traffic accidents, fires and other disaster situations.

Source:
Lambo police car
by Alex Law
Auto123, May 27, 2004
http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/news,view.spy?artid=24804&pg=1

Posted at 10:54 AM in Art & Design | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It was one of those odd coincidences: I came across so many separate "Presidential election indicators" in one day, I decided to gather them all in one place, for your blogging pleasure.

Assorted Indicators:
The most comprehensive grouping was in USA Today, which discusses six 'reliable' presidential-election indicators.

Unfortunately, I can't say they are all that reliable, as they are mostly in conflict with each other (at least half of them are gonna be wrong):

• Economic formula suggest Bush wins;
• Low approval-rating precedent says Kerry wins;
• War-president precedent says Bush wins;
• Ohio is a bellwether: Tossup;
• Northern Democrats don't stand a chance. Bush wins;
• Kerry is taller; Kerry wins

The Stock Market Indicator
Next, let us look at the Stock Market indicator, courtesy of CNN/Money:

"Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. That's good news for President Bush, because if past stock-market patterns hold true this year, he will lose his bid for re-election in November.

Presidential elections are usually won by the incumbent party; in the past 104 years, in 26 elections, the party holding the White House has lost it only 10 times.

Here's the market's performance prior to those 10 losing elections:

But those incumbent losses have been "heralded every time" by lackluster market performance in the four years leading up to the election (or in the last year prior to election) -- according to CyberTrader's chief market strategist, Ken Tower's research.

While this is an interesting approach, readers of my markets/economics blog are well acquainted with my disdain for the oversimplified analysis of controlling for a single variable in complex, multi-variable systems. These include the Markets, as well as Presidential elections.

Other considerations are at play here: Beyond the problems in Iraq, and issues of credibility, CNN/Money notes that "Wage growth has been slow since the 2001 recession, while prices for food and energy have lately skyrocketed. Many voters are only vaguely aware of the stock market's health at any given time, but they are constantly aware of their wages and what they have to pay for gallons of milk and gasoline."

But don't think it is all bad news for the incumbent: "There has lately been good news for the president -- the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index rose in June, and the latest weekly ABC/Money consumer comfort index also rose from a very low level, led by improving confidence among Republicans and some independents. "

Unemployment Claims Indicator
Next, consider the Unemployment Claims trend (See mnore details here).

click for larger chart
Unemployment Claims, 4 week moving average (thousands)


Source: Hays Advisory

The red circles were where the unemployment claims started getting appreciably better. The red arrows show when the elections were held. The graph suggests that Bush I lost because the election came a few months too early. Bush II doesn't appear to have the same issue as his dad, who had far worse timing when it came to the improving unemployment situation.

9/11 Fahrenheit Presidential Indicator
Lastly, consider the possible 9/11 Fahrenheit Presidential Indicator: Given how polarizing and nakedly partisan Michael Moorse's anti-Bush screed is, can we possibly garner any electoral insights from how well the film does or doesn't do at the box office (or subsequent DVD rental?)

Perhaps, or perhaps not. Some people have observed that the film only "preaches to the choir," and offers no insight into the moderate swing, voter. USA Today quoted University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato: "The savage portrayal of Bush could convince some Naderites of the need to vote for Kerry. Moore, who backed Nader's independent candidacy in 2000, says that's one goal. "I hope to have a significant impact on the 4-6% who now say they're going to vote for Ralph," he says."

Regardless, these indicators give us some ideas to ponder while the rest of the country bides its time until after both political conventions. That's when the voters really start thinking about the election . . .

Source:
Stocks point to Bush loss?
If history is any guide, Bush needs a summer rally -- but history may not be such a great guide.
June 23, 2004: 4:55 PM EDT
By Mark Gongloff, CNN/Money senior writer
http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/23/markets/election_stocks_bush/index.htm

Election-predicting tools point both ways Depending on which criteria you use, either Bush or Kerry is a lock to win in November Susan Page USA TODAY, June 24, 2004 http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040624/6314204s.htm

White House Briefing Dan Froomkin Washington Post, Thursday, Jun 24, 2004; 11:50 am http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/administration/whbriefing/

'Fahrenheit 9/11': Will it change any voter's mind?
Martin Kasindorf and Judy Keen
USA TODAY, Fri Jun 25, 6:23 AM ET
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=710&e=2&u=/usatoday/20040625/pl_usatoday/fahrenheit911willitchangeanyvotersmind

Posted at 08:29 AM in Finance, Politics | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Earlier this week, we looked at a number of "Presidential Indicators" which might provide some insight into the outcome of the November 2004 presidential election.

I'd like to, in advance, suggest yet another potential indicator: The 9/11 Fahrenheit opening weekend gross indicator.

Here are my thoughts: If this film has a blowout boxoffice for its opening weekend, that might actually be implying that the vein of, lets call it "discomfort" against the incumbent runs far wider and deeper than many moderates previously believed.

If, on the other hand, the film does rather poorly, it suggests, perhaps, that the only people really angry at the President are hardcore partisans. (Perhaps, perhaps not -- I'm thinking out loud here).

An element of truth -- or at least recognition -- of this can be seen in the way both sides have alternately promoted and dissed the film: Some Lefties have been encouraging people to go see it, while some Righties have mounted active campaigns to discourage exhibitors from showing the movie.

I cannot say what the uptake is on the encouragement, but as the Al Franken - Bill O'Reilly dispute demonstrated, orchestrated campaigns of censorship have a tendency to backfire.

(Its not just the Right which seems never to learn this, but the Left also:
Barbra Streisand learned that the hard way when she attempted to have photos of her house suppressed. She lost, and the photos became far more widely distributed than if she hadn't ever said anything in the first place).

The 9/11 Farenheit thesis is but a mere half-formed theory, and I cannot say something like this has ever been tested before. Baybe the total gross has more predictive power, or the opening month sales, or even DVD rentals will be instructive; I cannot say. This is only a thoery, so your mileage may vary . . .

UPDATE: June 26, 2004 1:05pm

A few people have pointed out that a film such as this is more geared towards the so-called base, and not really geared towards "mainstream" or "swing" voters. While I'm not sure if thats true, it certainly is a realistic possibility.

Further, some writers suggested that these same voters tend to be less involved in national elections until after both conventions -- and that also may be true. (Thats why I said this was merely a half formed thesis, and not a historically well correlated proof)

Posted at 06:40 AM in Film, Politics | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Be sure to check out the bumper sticker:

That's called "tempting the fates." For future reference: Don't.

Source:
Northwest Indiana Times

Posted at 05:39 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Ever wonder? Now you can find out!

Who does that song? via linkfilter

Posted at 05:16 AM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I hate violating my own admonitions. . . but I must.

I refer to my exhortations of neither speaking nor writing the actual name of the Shrill Blonde Harpy, lest we somehow extend her 15 minutes of fame, which are surely just about over by now, assuming there is any sort of a loving and kind and merciful God -- or at least one with some sense of humor.

So despite my own best efforts, I am compelled to bring to your attention the dispassionate, objective, zen-like observations of one Mark Ames, who has issued the following:

The Coulter Challenge

"There was a time when an appearance by Ann Coulter inspired an uneasy mixture of rage and desire. Most won't admit it, but there was something sexy about an Aryan she-villain calling on her country to conquer and Christianize the Islamic heathen. I don't think I was the only one who read that notorious post-9/11 column of hers and thought, "Damn, I bet she's a good lay."

But o, how the mighty have fallen. Last week, Ann Coulter appeared on Hannity & Colmes looking haggard and clinically insane. The Night of the Living Dead circles underneath her eyes, the lifeless hairit looks like she's been living on canned foods for the past two months. Ann looked like she should be pushing a shopping cart, not politicking for Bush. It wasn't just what she saidlike repeatedly accusing Holocaust survivor George Soros of being an anti-Semiteit was how she said it. She laughed insanely after every sentence fragment she uttered, a clear symptom of late-stage paranoid-schizophrenia.

The saddest part was when Hannity flashed the cover of Coulter's upcoming How to Talk to a Liberal . There she is, posing full-length in a tight black mini, a childless MILF-wannabe trying to pass herself off as a 40-something far-right pin-up. Ann's star is sagging, and apparently her handlers don't have the heart to tell her.

Which brings me to my challenge. I don't believe Ann is half as sexy as she wants us to believe. In fact, I'm sure that Ann has all the sexual dynamism of a carton of fax paper.

So here is my public challenge to Ann Coulter: I propose that you and I spend a night together in a four-star hotel. We will wine together, we will dine together, we will harden each other's nipples with erotic pillow talk about Sen. Joe McCarthy, and yes, Ann, we will fuck. Ann, here's the dare: I am betting that no matter how much you try, no matter what prostate-massaging tricks a John Birch Prom Queen like you possesses, you, Ann Coulter, cannot make me come.

I'll bet the ideological house on it. If she can bring me to orgasm, I hereby promise to vote for George W. Bush. Moreover, I promise that I won't see Fahrenheit 9/11 , and I promise to promote Bush's candidacy, without irony, in every article I publish between now and November.

On the other hand, if Ann fails to make me come by sun-up, all Iask is that she dress like a genuine Republican womancovering the knees, arms and neck in a Barbara Bush burqa, or dressing in McCarthy-hearings-era Pat Nixon tweeds.

Be as bland as your heroes, Ann. It's time to stop fighting Father Time, and accept the cruel workings of your Christian god.

Source:
The Coulter Challenge
Mark Ames
NY Press, Vol 17 - Issue 25 - June 23-29, 2004
http://nypress.com/17/25/news&columns/MarkAmes.cfm

Posted at 12:14 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

First off, did you even imagine there was a Pizza Weblog?

Now that you have digested that factoid, consider the "piPod:"

Slice, America's Favorite Pizza Weblog™, is very proud to bring you piPod, a field guide to pizza that takes advantage of the Notes Reader in the latest version of the iPod operating software.

The guide is organized by borough and is meant to be a quick-and-dirty on-the-go reference tool. As such, entries are brief (some not so brief), covering the basics while focusing heavily on how to get to featured pizzerias.

In version 1.0, we've included our favorite pizzerias, most of which are in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Queens, Staten Island, and (especially) the Bronx are underrepresented, we know. A couple entries are included not because we've been there but because we wanted the info in our iPods for future trips. If you see a glaring omission or factual error, send us the relevant information [adam (at) sliceny dot com] and we'll include it in future releases.

piPod Key: C = Coal-oven; P = Pies only; + = Recommended; ++ = A Slice favorite. Hence [CP]+ = Coal-oven, pies only, recommended.

This has to be something Steve Jobs never anticipated . . .

Posted at 05:55 AM in Design, Food and Drink | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Perfect for Exhibitionists - A public toilet in Switzerland that has an enclosure made of one-way glass, so that no one can see you doing your business but you could see them while you’re inside.

via Sensory Impact

Posted at 10:02 AM in Design, Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Collision Detection notes: This is the best casemod I've ever seen in my life. G-nome, an Australian dude, spent seven months hand-tooling the plexiglass, chrome, and piping necessary to produce this water-cooled desktop masterpiece. It looks like what you'd get if Ridley Scott channelled the ghost of Leonardo da Vinci and the two designed a computer together. Check out his web site -- it's crammed full of lavish pictures and specs. You really have to zoom in on the zillion different details to appreciate the stunning gorgeousity of this thing.

More proof that casemodding is the signature folk art of our times.

Bit Tech, via Collision Detection

(More photos here)

Posted at 06:14 AM in Art & Design | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The Guardian excerpts their 10 favorite banned album covers from Taboo Tunes;

Here are my two favorites

The Beatles, Yesterday and Today

When Capitol released Yesterday and Today, cobbled together from other albums including Revolver and Help! the Fab Four, reportedly outraged that their art was being "butchered", posed for this photo. Capitol released it in June 1966, but faced with rejection by distributors, they had to recall thousands of "Butcher" LPs. Panicked, they rustled up a gloomy and unflattering photo - ever since known as the Trunk Cover - and pasted them over the recalled jackets. In that process, they created one of the holy grails of record collecting.

Roger Waters, The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking

When Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters stepped out in 1984 with his first solo album, it grabbed the attention of feminist activists. After enduring charges that he was a sexist, and assertions that the graphics "encouraged rape", a new cover was issued with the offending buttocks covered by a black bar.

Source:
Taboo Tunes, by Peter Blecha, is published by Backbeat Books

The covers they didn't want you to see

via The Joint

Posted at 01:14 PM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Where ever did so many Americans get the idea Iraq was related to 9/11 ? Oh, that's right, the Presidential Letter to Congress requesting authorization to invade Iraq.

This is likely the single most important document of the Bush Presidency. It was created caregully, with incredible focus and thought placed on every word, sentence and paragraph.

It is unimaginable that the placement of 9/11 into the 2nd half of this authorization request was anything but a conscious, deliberate act:

Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate

March 18, 2003

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Consistent with section 3(b) of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), and based on information available to me, including that in the enclosed document, I determine that:

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither (A) adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed byIraq nor (B) likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

(2) acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH

Oh, and just in case it ever disappears from WhiteHouse.gov, heres a pdf:

Download file

Presidential Letter (HTML)

Posted at 07:18 AM in War/Defense | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack

click for larger graphic

via San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/asmussen/

Posted at 06:26 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"Nous sommes desoles que notre president soit un idiot. Nous n’avons pas vote pour lui."

This translates to:
"We are sorry that our President is an idiot. We did not vote for him."

The French "Easter egg" began as a joke on Tom Bihn, President of TOM BIHN.

(Yah, sure it was. Nice try . . .)

All profits will go to the Seattle Vet Center to benefit the Homeless Vet Program

via linkfilter

Posted at 05:20 AM in Art & Design, Current Affairs, Humor, Politics | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

"Toyota has axed its controversial series of online ads for its Scion tC model after the company concluded that drug-induced hallucinations may not be the most politically-correct way to promote its youth-oriented brand. In the cartoons, called "303 Caliber", a young man's face, gestures and voice alter (in the time-honored Hollywood fashion) after eating a magic mushroom. His hallucinations then form the basis of the continuing plot of the following ads.

Toyota officials initially argued the hallucinations sprang from the character's dehydration. There was no comment on whether the lack of adequate air conditioning in the Scion B might create the same mind-bending effect."

via The Truth about Cars
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news.html#story4

Posted at 06:45 AM in Art & Design, Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

BBC News Online looks at some of the contrasting views held by senior US officials and organisations over claims of a link between Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

US President George W Bush - 17 June 2004:

"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al-Qaeda is because there was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda."

9/11 Commission - 16 June 2004:

"We have no credible evidence that Iraq and al-Qaeda co-operated on attacks against the United States."

US Vice-President Dick Cheney - January 2004:

"There's overwhelming evidence... of a connection between al-Qaeda and Iraq".

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - January 2004:
"The most intensive searching over the last two years has produced no solid evidence of a co-operative relationship between Saddam Hussein's government and al-Qaeda."

US Secretary of State Colin Powell - January 2004:

"I have not seen smoking gun, concrete evidence about the connection, but I do believe the connections existed."

US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice - September 2003:

"Saddam was a danger in the region where the 9/11 threat emerged."

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld - November 2002:

"Within a week, or a month, Saddam could give his WMD to al-Qaeda."

Posted at 06:41 PM in Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

NORAD Commander: 9/11 Planes Could Have Been Stopped

Truth Out Editor's Note:

"The release of the 9/11 Commission report on the terror attacks of September 11 has sent an earthquake rolling through Washington D.C. Beyond the repudiation of the Iraq-al Qaeda connections so often touted by the Bush administration as a proper cause for war, the panel has opened a bright window into the actions of the administration on the day the attacks unfolded.

For three years now, many have wondered how it was possible for four commercial airplanes to pierce the most formidable air defenses in the history of the universe. Now, we hear from the commander of NORAD that, indeed, those planes could have been stopped had there been order within the chain of command. For three years, we have been told that George W. Bush was absolutely in command on that day. Now, we hear that Bush sat reading a story about goats as the second plane struck the Towers. Most shockingly, we now hear that it was Cheney who wound up giving the too-late shoot-down order, an order that should have been given by the President himself."

Sources:
• Air Defenses Faltered on 9/11, Panel Finds
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48471-2004Jun17.html

• Cheney Authorized Shooting Down 9/11 Planes    
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50745-2004Jun17.html

• Questioning Nearly Every Aspect of the Responses to Sept. 11    
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/18/politics/18assess.html

• Panel Says Chaos in Administration Was Wide on 9/11  
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/18/politics/18PANE.html

Presidential Classroom Videos:
Below, you will find links to videotape of George W. Bush sitting in the Florida classroom described in our lead article. You will see White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card come forward to inform Bush that the attacks were underway. You will see George W. Bush do absolutely nothing in response.

Note: Depending upon traffic, you may have to go either here or here to see the videos.

Choose your preferred video program For direct download of the QuickTime file Click Here

Posted at 06:16 AM in Politics, War/Defense | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

As if you need another reason to dislike Cablevision's ruling family, the Dolans, comes this news item:

"Marv Albert, who has done play-by-play for the New York Knicks and Rangers since 1967, has not renewed his contract with the MSG Network.

MSG, hell-bent on cutting costs, wanted to slash Albert's low-seven-figure yearly salary and also expressed displeasure at his vocal criticism of the Knicks while calling games. The Knicks had a[nother] mediocre year, squeaking into the playoffs but losing in the first round to rivals the New Jersey Nets. Recent seasons have been even worse."

"Albert felt he could report only what he saw; his superiors, going up as high as James L. Dolan, chairman of Madison Square Garden and president of Cablevision, saw an announcer who harped on negatives and did not seem to like the team.

Dolan embraced the belief that MSG announcers should call games with a more positive, upbeat approach than those who have national assignments. In this case, two industry executives said, Albert angered Dolan by providing the same type of objective, somewhat critical call on MSG that he did for his National Basketball Association assignments on TNT and used to do on NBC.

"Jim felt all broadcasters had to be cheerleaders and sell tickets," said one of the executives, who also said that Dolan was also unhappy with Walt Frazier, Albert's former MSG partner, and John Davidson, the Rangers' longtime MSG analyst.

Last season, according to a confidant of Albert's, his superiors conveyed their belief that he was too negative and sought to have him minimize remarks about the Knicks' losses, turnovers and subpar shooting. He was told not to build up opponents and to refrain from speaking extensively about the firings of Don Chaney as coach and Scott Layden as general manager. There was even joking by the Knicks' production crew about not giving the final score if the team lost, the confidant said.

The confidant also said that Dolan reprimanded Albert for saying that management had "tortured and embarrassed" Chaney by dragging out his dismissal."

Monopolists, and assholes to boot . . .

Sources:

Forget Salary, Albert's Honesty Cost Him the Job
RICHARD SANDOMIR
New York Times, June 17, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/17/sports/basketball/17albert.html


No more 'Yes!'
John Dempsey, STAFF
Variety, Tue Jun 15, 8:00 PM ET
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1944&e=1&u=/variety/20040616/va_ne_al/no_more__yes

Posted at 06:16 AM in Sports | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

via Yahoo!

Posted at 05:51 AM in Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Here is a timeline of events leading to the Sept. 11 attacks based on research released by the 9/11 Commission June 16, 2004.

Mid-1996: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed meets with Osama bin Laden and another al Qaeda leader, Mohamed Atef, to pitch several plans for attacking the U.S., including one that was a larger version of what would become the Sept. 11 attacks. Mr. bin Laden wouldn't commit to take part.

Early 1999: Mr. bin Laden summons Mr. Mohammed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, to tell him that he is ready to back Mr. Mohammed's plan to use airliners as weapons for an attack on the U.S.

Spring 1999: Messrs. bin Laden, Mohammed and Atef meet in Kandahar and develop an initial list of targets: the White House, the Pentagon, the Capitol and the World Trade Center. A smaller version of the plot also is planned for Southeast Asia.

Fall 1999: Four recruits for the suicide mission begin training at the Mes Aynak camp in Afghanistan. Mr. Mohammed teaches three of them basic English phrases as well as how to read the phone book, use the Internet and make travel reservations. Later, one of the three manages to smuggle a boxcutter on to a flight to Hong Kong. The four travel to Kuala Lumpur.

November-December 1999: A separate group of four recruits -- from Hamburg, Germany -- travel to Afghanistan to begin training. They pledge allegiance to Mr. bin Laden and one of them, Mohamed Atta, is chosen as the leader of the group, which will become the core set of pilots in the plot.

Jan. 15, 2000: Two of the four original recruits from the fall of 1999 -- Nawaf al Hazmi, Khalid al Mihdhar -- become the first of the 9/11 operatives to reach the U.S., when they travel to Los Angeles.

March 2000: The Hamburg recruits return to Germany and research flight schools there. They find that training in the U.S. would be cheaper and faster. Mr. Atta, Marwan al Shehhi and Ziad Jarrah get U.S. visas but Ramzi Binalshibh is rejected. He will stay behind and help coordinate between Mr. Mohammed and the other conspirators.

Spring 2000: Mr. bin Laden cancels the Southeast Asia part of the plot, which would have involved the two other original recruits from the fall of 1999. Mr. bin Laden was concerned about the difficulty of coordinating the two operations. One of the two recruits, Walid Muhammad Salih bin Attash, also known as Khallad, is later involved in the bombing of the USS Cole.

May-June 2000: Messrs. Atta and Shehhi arrive in the U.S. through Newark Airport in New Jersey. They travel to Venice, Fla., where they meet up with Mr. Jarrah and attend flight classes.

Mid-August 2000: Messrs. Atta and al Shehhi pass the Private Pilot Airman test. Flight instructors describe them as aggressive and rude.

Sept. 25, 2000: Hani Hanjour, another recruit who had studied in the U.S. intermittently for years, gets a U.S. student visa. He had been in Afghanistan, where he was identified by al Qaeda as a pilot and recruited into the plot. He arrives in San Diego on Dec. 8, 2000.

December 2000: Mr. Hanjour reaches the U.S., arriving in San Diego and later moving to Mesa, Ariz., where he meets up with Mr. Hazmi. Mr. Hazmi had been alone. Mr. Mihdhar, the other of the two original recruits to reach the U.S., had departed from the U.S. and would remain overseas for a period of time.

By year-end 2000: The three Hamburg pilots -- Messrs. Atta, Shehhi and Jarrah -- have begun to train on jet aircraft simulators.

January 2001: Mr. Atta makes a trip to Germany to meet with Mr. Binalshibh. He reports that the pilots have completed their training and are awaiting instructions.

March-May 2001: Messrs. Hanjour and Hazmi drive cross country to the East Coast. They are stopped for speeding in Oklahoma on April 1. After spending time in Virginia, they settle in New Jersey.

April 2001: Additional "muscle hijackers," charged with storming the cockpits and controlling passengers while the pilot hijackers flew the planes, begin to arrive in the U.S. In all, 13 muscle hijackers arrive, joining Messrs. Hazmi and Mihdhar, who also would plan that role.

May-June 2001: The pilot hijackers take surveillance flights and get more aviation training. Mr. Shehhi took the first cross-country flight, from New York to San Francisco, on May 24. Mr. Jarrah flew from Baltimore to Los Angeles on June 7 and Mr. Atta from Boston to San Francisco on June 28.

Early June 2001: In training test flights, Messrs. Jarrah and Hanjour seek to fly the "Hudson Corridor," a low-altitude route along the Hudson River that passes landmarks including the World Trade Center.

Mid-July 2001: Mr. Atta travels to Spain to meet with Mr. Binalshibh and tells him he would need five to six more weeks before setting a date for the attack. Mr. Atta said they determined that the best time to seize airliners was 10-15 minutes after takeoff, when the cockpit doors typically were opened for the first time. He said the hijackers planned to crash the aircraft if it appeared they would be unable to reach their targets. He planned to crash his plane on the streets of New York, in such a case.

July 20, 2001: Mr. Hanjour rented a plane for a practice flight from Fairfield, N.J., to Gaithersburg, Md., a route that would allow him to fly near Washington. He and Mr. Hamzi had been asked by Mr. Atta to assess the feasibility of targeting the White House. Mr. bin Laden and Mr. Mohammed had disagreed over whether to strike the Capitol or White House. Mr. Atta was concerned that the White House would be too difficult a target.

Summer 2001: Disagreements between Messrs. Atta and Jarrah flared partly over the latter's involvement in plotting the attack. Mr. Jarrah had spent much of his time in the U.S. alone and had made frequent trips out of the country to visit his girlfriend. Messrs. Mohammed and Binalshibh discussed replacing Mr. Jarrah as a pilot with Zacarias Moussaoui, who had arrived in the U.S. in February 2001 and had been training as a pilot in Oklahoma and Minnesota.

Aug. 16, 2001: Mr. Moussaoui is arrested.

Aug. 26-Sept. 5, 2001: The conspirators purchase their airline tickets over the Internet, by telephone and in person.

Sept. 9-10, 2001: The conspirators move into position near the airports from which they will launch their attacks. On Sept. 9, Mr. Jarrah received a speeding ticket in Maryland while traveling to the United Airlines Flight 93 staging point in New Jersey. The American Airlines Flight 77 group stayed in hotels in Laurel, Md., and then Herndon, Va., where they spend time working out at a nearby gym. The Flight 175 and Flight 11 groups met in Boston. On Sept. 10, Mr. Atta drove from Boston to Portland, Maine, with one of the muscle hijackers. Early on Sept. 11, they took a commuter flight back to Boston to connect with Flight 11.

Sources:
9/11 Commission
Timeline: Origins and Execution Of the Plot for the 9/11 Attacks
WSJ, June 16, 2004 2:30 p.m.
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108740275860338787,00.html

Posted at 05:54 AM in War/Defense | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Cool idea; Wonder if it actually works?

engadget: First, to become your own pirate broadcast station you’ll need to increase the range and signal of your iTrip mini. Turns out, there is an antennae built inside the iTrip mini. All you need to do is remove the top sticker-like protection which hides the antennae and then using tweezers or your fingernail, pull the antennae out. We’ve found a 20% to 30% increase of range on average. This likely voids the warranty, so there, we said it.

Next up, if you’re using the iTrip mini, then you know that you can install all the stations on the dial to broadcast on. At first we we’re really sure we’d ever use them, but now we have good reason. So make sure you’ve installed all the stations, on the go you might need them to switch to. Remember, the iTrip is a FM broadcasting device, intended to broadcast 10 to 30 feet to a FM radio.

Next, choose your broadcast, it can be any song or a spoken word MP3, don’t worry we have a few suggestions. A lot depends on the situation you’re in.

via engadget

Posted at 02:14 PM in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

This is the web-home of a
group of skyscraper enthusiasts.

You'll have to look around to fully appreciate
the massive amount of artwork they have assembled,
but this link goes to an interesting launch point.

Engineers will definitely enjoy the site,
as will any architecture fans.

They have assembled a historical diagram of skyscrapers
of which have been the tallest, since 1890.

There are also graphics of the World's 10 Tallest Buildings

Lastly, check out their Frequently Asked Questions

via linkfilter

Posted at 01:10 PM in Design | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Via Kirktoons

Posted at 06:45 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

100,000 Hits!

The fact that this side of the blog is primarily "effluvia" has not stopped people from seeing 100,000 page views over the past 7 months . . .

e&e is running about half the views of the main page (Big Picture)

Pretty cool.

Posted at 08:07 AM in Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Jolly ole Portugal?' . . .

"ENGLAND fans will be allowed to smoke dope before Sunday’s crunch clash with France — to keep them calm.

Cops in Lisbon plan to crack down on drunk supporters while turning a blind eye to those spotted puffing on a spliff. Pot-smoking fans have been assured they will not be arrested, cautioned — or even have their drugs confiscated.

Last night experts said the Portuguese police’s “Here We Blow” policy would reduce chances of a punch-up between rival fans.

Alan Buffry of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance said: “If people are drinking they lose control, if they smoke cannabis they don’t. “Alcohol makes fans fight. But cannabis smokers will be shaking hands and singing along together.”

Dutch police used a similar policy in Euro 2000 and England’s hooligan element were too stoned to fight. A Lisbon police spokeswoman said: “If people cause a problem through drugs and become a menace then police will take action. But when this doesn’t happen why should the police be the ones making the fuss?”

More than 600 officers will be on duty for England’s opening group game at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light. Fans who seem to be drunk may be breath-tested and refused entry."

Source:
Police to let England fans smoke dope
NICK PARKER in Portugal
On Line Sun, June 11. 2004
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004270693,00.html

Posted at 06:06 AM in Humor, Sports | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Via Anybody but Bush 2004

Posted at 09:03 AM in Politics, War/Defense | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Here's a neat idea: You can actually put the full text of the U.S. Constitution on your iPod.

Smart use of technology . . .

ACS Law

Posted at 06:31 AM in Current Affairs, Design | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

String Wear maker Sloggi has a cheeky new ad campagin in the UK:

Adrants:

"In there continuing attempt to stir controversy, international undergarment maker Sloggi has placed two billboards showing four models with their G-string-clad asses facing outward above the slogan, "It's String Time" near two England Mosques knowing full well they'd get press for doing it. If you live in England and want to check them out, the two mosques are located near Rochale Road in Bury, Lancashire and near Harehills Road in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

England's Advertising Standards Authority has received several complaints to date and issued a wrist slap telling Sloggi to, "take more care with the placing of similar posters." As tantalizing as this tactic is, it's almost boring. Sloggi has done this several times before. It's a basic strategy of theirs - place barely dressed hot women in locations where they will offend and get tons of press coverage.

Sloggi via Adrants

Posted at 06:19 AM in Art & Design | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

This War just keeps getting weirder and weirder:

SOLDIER IN IRAQ FINDS POT PLANT, GRACES COVER OF HIGH TIMES’ GROW AMERICA

Specialist Carlos Arellano was on patrol in Baghdad’s Green Zone on April 23 when he discovered a pot plant growing innocently on the street. He asked one of his fellow soldiers to snap a photo of him kneeling next to the plant. The photo was forwarded to High Times’ Grow America by a friend of Arellano’s via email.

“I was stunned by the photo,” says editor-in-chief Steve Bloom. “I immediately called Carlos’s friend and started to make arrangements to publish it.”

Bloom quickly learned that Arellano was not only a soldier, but he was also a rapper named “Singe,” who’s first CD, The Epidemic, was released on StashBox Records several months before Arellano, in the Army Reserves, was called up to active duty and sent to Iraq.

Sources:
High Times’ Grow America
“Singe’s Story”
June 22
June/July
http://www.hightimes.com/mainsite/home/

SOLDIER IN IRAQ FINDS POT PLANT, GRACES COVER OF HIGH TIMES’ GROW AMERICA
2004-06-03
http://www.420.com/420site/grow/content.php?bid=252&aid=4

Posted at 10:09 AM in Current Affairs, Humor, War/Defense | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Season 4 of Coupling returns -- the original, funny British version, not the pimped up, watered down, abridged U.S. imitation.

There's some good news and some bad news: The good news is the writing is still funny, delightfully absurd. Innovative story telling structures are still in place. Episode one of the 4th season tells the same story 3 times -- Go style -- from each couple's perspective. The producers have retained their fearlessness, and are as provocative, even over the top, as ever.

The bad news? I could tell you the pacing is a little off, or that the characters seem to have leapt far ahead of you in their relationships. But really, the big problem so far is that it looks as if Richard Coyle (Jeff Murdock) has left the show . . .

As the BBC site reveals (see graphic above), Coyle's Jeff Murdock character is not in the show's Who's who on Coupling bios, and he's missing from the Episode guide. 

Sigh. In such a tight ensemble, its tough to imagine the show not suffering from the loss of a beloved character. Imagine Seinfeld if it lost Kramer. . . .

For some fun with the Jeff Murdock character, see this collection of Quotes and Clips (parts 2 and 3 are here). He will be tough to replace.

See also:
'Coupling' Relationships Take on New Colors
Tuesday, June 01 12:02 AM)
By John  Crook
http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,274%7C88394%7C1%7C,00.html

Posted at 06:16 AM in Humor, Television | Permalink | Comments (20) | TrackBack

Tom Toles wicked wit (via Yahoo!) has very effectively been puncturing the sanctimony at the White House.

Today, he takes it up a notch, moving from witty to nasty.

When political cartoons transition that way, I wonder they are more or less effective. Remember, the goal is not convincing the partisans on either side -- their minds are made up already.

Rather, where the greatest impact occurs is the middle swing voter who will likely (ahem) determine the outcome of this election.

Is too nasty ineffective? What's over the line?

Discuss:

Posted at 07:08 AM in Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"Opsound is a record label and sound pool using an open source, copyleft model, an experiment in practical gift economics, a laboratory for new ways of releasing music. Visit the Opsound Open Pool for free copyleft music downloads. Musicians and sound artists are invited to add their work to the pool."

Opsound

Posted at 06:16 AM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Xhifi's XDC-1: Are these not bitchin' computer speakers, or what?

"Today as never before, we use our computers for entertainment. With CD/DVD drives, broadband links to music and gaming, and bright hi-def flat panel displays, many of us find we do our most critical listening at our desks. That's a problem if you have a standard 'multi-media' speaker system. All of them, even the big name brands, sound terrible.