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Last Updated:
18 Jan 2001
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The Archive
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My Untold Story
Wednesday, January 24, 2001
Nader on the media and the 2000 election.
Thanks, Unknown News :)
This page will be taking a break until next month since I'm burnt out on weblogs and increasingly frustrated with the whole internet experience. Where's the love for the ferret?
Intolerance, indifference, injustice, inhumanity, ignorance.
Stop the world, I wanna get off.
I'll be back in February. Maybe.
(Don't you just love how I can't commit?)
Bush Blocks U.S. Funds for Family Planning
Tuesday, January 23, 2001
Bush Blocks Clinton's Environmental Initiatives
Gonna be a loooooong four years under King Dubya; let's hope there will be something left to fight for in 2004.
I give up. My spirit is a pancake drowned in fake maple syrup.
Climate change outstrips forecasts
Monday, January 22, 2001
King Dubya to make problem even worse.
Thanks for endangering the future of all of the little unborn babies you claim to care so much about.
Cell-phone ban in cars is uphill fight for legislator
Monday, January 22, 2001
Just because millions of people behave in an completely irresponsible manner doesn't make it right. Where's my right to be safe from inconsiderate jerks that weave in and out of lanes, don't use turn signals and cut people off while gibbering like baboons on your cell phones?
Feeding debate
Sunday, January 21, 2001
In another big corporate sellout, genetically modified foods will not require labels in the U.S. even though eighty six percent of the public want such labeling.
Shouldn't such foodstuffs at least be labeled so that the consumer can decide if they want to buy and eat them or not?
Space animals make safe return
Sunday, January 21, 2001
Shenzhou II returns critters safely to earth (or so China says).
Robert Plant - The Principle of Moments
Sunday, January 21, 2001
My love is in league with the freeway
It's passion will ride, as the cities fly by
And the tail-lights dissolve, in the coming of night
And the questions in thousands take flight
I think the only true salvation for those of us who seek true freedom in America (the holy grail of our times, alas) is the road.
Or is it just another stupid romantic dream?
Bush Nominee Defends Alaska Oil Drilling Plan
Saturday, January 20, 2001
"All those polar bears and caribou will just have to find somewhere else to live, gotta makeway for coporate welfare, environment be dammed!"
OK, she didn't say this, but wouldn't it be nice if she was at least honest about destroying the environment? Democrats to roll over like a puppy scratching it's back in the sun of course!
Also see: Senate Caves in to Congeniality
The Misunderestimated President
Saturday, January 20, 2001
"We knew that American voters had an anti-intellectual streak but they didn't have to go that far. But as George said himself 'they misunderestimated me'. Today, at the dawn of the 21st century, the global village is finally complete. At last it has a global village idiot."
Idiocy and nepotism triumph once again.
After the Ball is Over
The Unelected President
The Crackdown on Dissent
I know this is the U.S. at the dawn of the twenty first century.
We're a nation where you're supposed to have no objectionable opinions, no original thoughts, no concern for your fellow human beings and the attention span of a gnat. What you are supposed to do is go watch 'Temptation Island', bend over and take it like a good little uninvolved citizen.
I object and I will protest too much!
A Sirius View From the Fringe
Saturday, January 20, 2001
R.U. Sirius on his Revolution presidential run, Bush, etc. I never really took this guy too seriously since he seemed to be in the Wiredesque Techutopian camp, but the Revolution platform is mostly practical and intriguing.
Down Below Sound Archive for Babylon 5
Wednesday, January 17, 2001
"You wouldn't believe it, but three winecoolers, and I'm buzzed." - Londo Mollari
Next Xmas, I'm gonna sing Ivanova Got Run Over by a Vorlon.
Lego Cuthulu
Tuesday, January 16, 2001
You will submit to the Elder Gods of Lego!
what it is!
Tuesday, January 16, 2001
I haven't seen so many webloggers and credible news organizations duped so badly than by a dumb scooter project. Personally, I think the whole thing is a good example of 'viral marketing' and proves that it's a lot of fun to play with the minds of gullible people.
This quote says it all:
"Can it carry a load of groceries home, or climb up five flights of steps? If not, forget IT all together, it isn't going to change the world for anyone except a few BoBos who'll find themselves hospitalized with multiple hairline ankle fractures after taking on the cobblestones in New York's trendy Meat Packing District."
If this thing is ever actually mass produced, I'll eat one.
Reminds me of that Simpsons episode with the stone 'angel'.
Profile: John Ashcroft
Tuesday, January 16, 2001
The people of Missouri thought a dead man was a better choice for Senator than John Ashcroft. I quite agree.
Prediction: Lots of Democratic Senators will roll over and play dead on Ashcroft's nomination for Attorney General. That's why, when all things are equal, the Democrats will always get their asses handed to them by the Republicans. They have no solidarity and most have absolutely no backbone. Even though I don't agree with most Republicans, at least they have some spinal fortitude.
Please consider signing this petition.
If not, at least read The Ashcroft Record.
Scientists link eye cancer to mobile phones
Monday, January 15, 2001
God, I'm sooooooo upset about this!
I don't wish cancer on anyone, but having all of that radiation going into your skull can't be good for it.
Thanks, Null Device :)
China pleased with space mission
Monday, January 15, 2001
Shenzhou II completes more than sixty orbits.
Also see: Mir's Death Date Set -- March 6
Dire Straits text archives
Sunday, January 14, 2001
I used to walk for endless miles listening to Dire Straits.
It was one of the few things that kept me from suicide.
Strap hanging gunshot sound
Doors slamming on the overground
Starlings are tough but the lions are made of stone
The h2 Unofficial H. R. Giger Gallery
Saturday, January 13, 2001
The best online Giger gallery I've yet found.
I do suggest you check out some of Giger's books.
A CRT can't do his works true justice.
Advanced Propulsion Concepts (JPL)
Saturday, January 13, 2001
To move humankind into space, we'll need something better than big dumb rockets.
Also see: Basics of Space Flight
and the Earth to Orbit Transportation Bibliography
The Last War
Saturday, January 13, 2001
Ironic that this geopolitical scenario comes from a wargame, for I could see it as a blueprint for the twenty first century (if you know anything about wargames during the 1980's, this will be quite familiar). The Cold War is over, but there will still be spheres of influence as always. The U.S. is arrogant and foolish to think of itself as the last superpower. It is not (China anyone?) and history is certain to prove that so.
Harris defends Florida poll
Friday, January 12, 2001
Florida's Secretary of State Katherine Harris's testimony described as 'laughable'. Guh!
Remember, when in doubt, blame the victims!
Sproaticus!
Friday, January 12, 2001
Pages like this always make me wish I hadn't 'outgrown' my Legos and given them away (they were all chewed up though - I used to take 'em apart with my teeth for some reason).
You're never too old to play with Legos!
I prefer the nano/micro/minifigs.
There's something about the essence of form that appeals to me.
The military get mightier
Friday, January 12, 2001
Could exoskeletons turn soldiers into Steve Austin?
Believe it or not, I saw in a old Time-Life science book that the U.S. military was working on this over thirty five years ago! (You can see it - the GE 'Hardiman' in this PDF file) I guess they didn't have small motors that could produce enough power then. This will be an amazing gizmo if it can made to work. It's an extraordinarily complex engineering problem, but if anyone can do it DARPA can.
Ashcroft's nephew got probation after major pot bust
Friday, January 12, 2001
"The nephew of Attorney General-designate John Ashcroft received probation after a felony conviction in state court for growing 60 marijuana plants with intent to distribute the drug in 1992 -- a lenient sentence, given that the charges against him often trigger much tougher federal penalties and jail time. Ashcroft was the tough-on-drugs Missouri governor at the time."
Coincidence? I think not.
Hypocrisy? Absolutely.
aeclectic tarot
Thursday, January 11, 2001
I love tarot card art, even though the only deck I own is the tripadelic Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot.
Thanks, XBLOG :)
China launches animals into space
Thursday, January 11, 2001
China launches second Shenzhou spacecraft, makes progress toward manned spaceflight.
Baked Alaska?
Thursday, January 11, 2001
A good overview of Bush's war with environmentalists and where his nominees will stand.
"Clinton's last-minute environmental moves are far from subtle, but political victories are not often won by nuanced discussion. And heading into 2002, a major campaign issue for Democrats is likely to be portraying the GOP as the party that is out to despoil Mother Nature."
Most Republicans will make that very easy.
If Gore had made the environment more of an issue in the presidential campaign, he may well have pulled enough Nader voters to win Florida by an insurmountable margin, but it's too late now.
Clinton rules out monument status for Arctic refuge
Thursday, January 11, 2001
Clinton passes on ANWR protection.
Come on Bill, how could it have hurt? Aren't you just giving Democrats wiggle room to say 'it's not our fault' and allow drilling by the Bush administration? It could be a move to make the Republicans look bad, but I'm doubtful.
Medical Marijuana Advocate: Voters Wishes Thwarted
Thursday, January 11, 2001
Nevada Attorney General tries to shaft Medical Marijuana Initiative, even though sixty-five percent of voters approved it.
Let me point out that medical marijuana has been approved by the voters of Nevada not once, but twice.
NJ Gov Whitman Employed Aliens Too
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
EPA nominee Whitman employed illegal aliens for more than three years and was deliquent on taxes for almost four years..
Not that anyone gives a shit.
Thanks, Ethel the Blog :)
NATO Ducks Uranium Ban Amid Clamor for Research
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Great Britain and U.S. insist on no problems with DU weapons.
(Yes, dear readers, I know I've gotten rabidly political on your asses again, after promising time and time again not to. I can't help it. To thy own self be true as they say. I can't be one of the legions of apathetic, indifferent types who shrug their shoulders and do nothing. I loathe those people. There is far too much at stake and I just can't roll over and play dead. It would haunt my dreams and I'd never be able to sleep well again. My nightmares are already horror enough. Please bear with me, or not, as you like.)
If it's war they want, it's war they'll get.
Damn stupid conscience!
John Ashcroft's big mistake
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Time to eviscerate Ashcroft (and hopefully Norton as well):
"As Ashcroft prepares for his own confirmation hearing, his Missouri opponents want to make sure his colleagues understand what happened to Ronnie White. To advance his extreme anti-abortion agenda, as well as his own career, a United States senator denied a federal judicial nominee confirmation by grossly distorting his record. And if Ashcroft's rejection of Justice White leads to his own rejection by the Senate, so be it, his opponents say."
Also see: Ashcroft - Out of Sight on The Right
Gale Norton: The Extreme Anti-Environmental Agenda
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Exposes Norton for what she is: a pro-corporate environmental sellout and a death sentence for U.S. wildlands.
"In 1993, Attorney General Norton failed to enforce the Clean Air Act against the Hayden coal-fired power plant in northern Colorado. This facility's pollution was so severe that it was measurably increasing acid rain damage in Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado
wilderness areas."
"Similarly, Ms. Norton failed to enforce federal or state law against operators of the Summitville Mine after a tailings pond there collapsed, sending high-acid pollution into natural streams, killing all life in them for thirty miles."
"She did not take action against Louisiana-Pacific, operators of a wood products plant near Olathe, Colorado, despite evidence from a successful citizens' lawsuit showed that the plant was intentionally dumping illegal levels of air pollution at night. Federal prosecutors had to step in, confirming 18 separate illegal dumping violations and exacting over $30 million in fines."
"Norton is also a registered lobbyist for NL Industries of Houston. NL Industries, formerly known as the National Lead Company, has been sued for children's exposure to lead paint."
Chavez to withdraw as Labor Secretary nominee
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Chavez nomination vaporizes in a puff of hypocritical smoke.
"Chavez, 53, has been a foe of affirmative action programs, an opponent of minimum wage increases, and a fiery conservative commentator -- whose targets included Zoe Baird in 1993, when she withdrew as President Clinton's nominee to be attorney general because she had illegal aliens as household help and did not pay social security taxes on their wages. Chavez said at the time that the illegal alien aspect of that case was more troubling than the tax issue."
Good riddance!
Best line of the day: Bush nominee pulls out (but not in time).
Pinochet agrees to tests
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Mass murderer Pinochet still trying to evade trial.
EU probes uranium arms
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Investigation into depleted uranium weapons begins.
"There's absolutely no proof that there's a connection"
So says Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Court Limits Clean Water Act Scope
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Supreme Court gives middle finger to Clean Water Act.
Also see: Old Growth Trees To Be Preserved
and Clinton Urged to Add More National Monuments in West
Arctic NWR not on list.
SUV Rollover Ratings Released
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
As expected, SUVs score poor to terrible on rollover ratings released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"The data also shows that people are far more likely to die in SUV rollovers than passenger car rollovers. The single-vehicle rollover death rate for SUVs is nearly five times the rate in the largest cars (123 deaths per million vehicles, compared to 26)."
I'll let that little statistic speak for itself.
GM calls results "simplistic" and "misleading to consumers".
Homer makes kids fat: nutritionists
Monday, January 8, 2001
Mmmm. . . Sixty four slices of American cheese
Kids are getting fatter from a lack of exercise. Duh!
Do kids even play outside anymore? I remember roaming through miles and miles of woods with my dogs when I was about seven or eight, before suburbia took over that part of the world.
Ten Years for Ex-Louisiana Gov. in Corruption Case
Monday, January 8, 2001
Former Democratic governor gets ten years for racketeering and corruption. Consider me delighted, even though he'll probably end up playing golf at 'Club Fed'.
Scientists locate planets that can sustain life
Monday, January 8, 2001
Another in a long series of misleading article titles, but scientists may have discovered Earth sized planets orbiting CM Draconis, some fifty seven light years from our solar system.
Bush defends embattled nominee
Monday, January 8, 2001
Bush nominee for Secretary of Labor employed a illegal immigrant. How ironic. Hopefully, she'll be the first of many appointees to go down in flames.
I doubt it since Democrats are a bunch of wussies.
Woman Who Bit Off Testicle Is Jailed
Monday, January 8, 2001
Woman bites off testicle through a guy's jeans. Ouch!
Traffic Ties Up Cordelia
Monday, January 8, 2001
Sprawl, commuting pinheads lay waste to small town.
"Trisha Loos, who lives off Cordelia Road in the old town, the only part of Cordelia that is still unincorporated, says when backing out of her driveway in the morning, cars speed down her country street of 12 homes at a minimum of 45 mph. Recently, her dog was killed on the road, and a neighbor has posted a sign that reads: 'This is not a commuter route. Please drive cautiously and slowly.'"
Thank god I live on a dead end street. If some speeding idiot ran over my dog, I'd track them down and hurt them badly.
Hot Spots!
Sunday, January 7, 2001
Remember last January when every other ad was for a dot.com?
Before the industry turned into a bloated, worm ridden corpse?
"Stevens passes on another spot involving a male student who politely offers to carry a woman's books - then runs off to sell them to ecampus.com. 'A year ago you'd remember that spot - but not now,' Stevens says. He does like the one involving an axe murderer, and he's partial to the one with two women in bed together."
Oooh, classy!
"How crazy is it that Budowski is spending four times his company's annual revenue in one day? Venture capitalist George Zachary, a general partner at Mohr, Davidow, says a herd mentality has seized both the ad-struck entrepreneurs and the money people. 'Many of those investors are going to feel like idiots when these huge marketing campaigns prove ineffective,' he says. But for every George Zachary, there's a Dan Nova. A VC at Highland Capital Partners, Nova says the standard measures are no longer standard. 'We're in the middle of a revolution,' he adds, 'and logic doesn't always apply.'"
Where's your revolution now, see?
Art goes on to a hire plain
Sunday, January 7, 2001
Instead of buying art, why not just rent some?
Thanks, Arts Journal :)
Congress Officially Makes Bush President-Elect
Saturday, January 6, 2001
Congress certifies Bush theft of 2000 election.
Gore rules objections of black House members 'out of order'.
Also see: Bush's brother to face vote inquiry
The U.S. press won't touch this story with a ten foot pole.
Depleted uranium: Safety doubts grow
Saturday, January 6, 2001
NATO insists that depleted uranium weapons don't pose a health hazard even as possible cancer cases increase in number.
Hmm, didn't the Pentagon say that about Agent Orange?
Also see: Tests needed for 'Balkans Syndrome'
Expect a widespread cover up.
Classic Videogame Ads
Friday, January 5, 2001
Massive deja vu courtesy of gmtPlus9.
I had a subscription to Electronic Games when I was a kid.
Remember the great Intellivision vs. Atari debate? I do.
Did you know that there was a China Syndrome videogame?
I had a Vectrex because my mom thought if you hooked up a videogame to the TV it would somehow catch fire or explode. I had the Light Pen and most of the games Damn, I wish I still had that thing! Funny that the market collapsed and you couldn't give the Vectrex away (I remember seeing games for two bucks at the local toy store), but now I hear they are something of a collector's item.
Wildlife groups ready for Bush battle
Friday, January 5, 2001
Bush nominees a who's who of corrupted anti-environmentalists.
One example, Bush's nominee for the DOE:
"He sponsored legislation to repeal the federal gas tax, a fact that critics link to his status as the recipient of $729,677 in campaign contributions -- the most of any member of the Senate -- from what the non-partisan Environmental Working Group calls 'dirty money' from industrial political action committees."
Also note at the bottom of the article the same 'we can drill without affecting the environment' pack of lies.
Bush Urged to Roll Back Clinton Environmental Rules
Friday, January 5, 2001
Now for the bad news.
Repubs, you wanna let your corporate masters rape and pillage?
Not on my watch, bub!
Clinton Set to Protect Vast Areas of Forests
Friday, January 5, 2001
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
Too bad you can't see me doing my naked treehugger dance.
What continues to baffle me is why politicians from the most beautiful states in the Union are so rabidly anti-environment. If you destroy all of the natural resources, then all of the related jobs are going to disappear anyway.
Sizzling skies
Friday, January 5, 2001
Can meteors and auroras produce sound or it just a perceptual error? I like the bit about Eskimo folklore calling these sounds "whispers of souls of the dead". That's poetry.
Nuclear Fuel Could Take Man To Mars In Just Two Weeks
Thursday, January 4, 2001
For all of us upset that our manned presence in space doesn't live up to 2001: A Space Odyssey, this propulsion concept sounds strikingly similar to Clarke's nuclear powered USSC Discovery.
Alien Collectors Homeworld
Thursday, January 4, 2001
I've never been into collecting but I like this stuff.
(Possessions are a prison, man!)
Love the Super-Deformed Queen. Scary, but cute.
The Gallery - Expressionism
Wednesday, January 3, 2001
A terrific page on Expressionist art.
Paul Klee is one of my all time favorite painters.
Truth be told, I like all of the Expressionists.
Relapsed Catholic
Wednesday, January 3, 2001
"Where the religious rubber meets the pop culture road"
One of the more interesting weblogs I've come across recently. You might think from my own scribblings here that I'm anti-religion. Nothing could be further from the truth. What gives me pause about organized religion is the constant "I worship the one true God" propoganda and subsequent hypocrisy and bloodshed that lies beneath. Religion is one of the greatest ideals and yet one of the the greatest failures of human society.
Top Cryptozoological Stories of the Year 2000
Tuesday, January 2, 2001
Strange critters afoot, most noted by yours truly.
Another good link: Millennium Madness
West battles to stem high suicide rates
Tuesday, January 2, 2001
Suicide rates in Mountain West double that of New England.
To me, this seems obvious. Isolation (less stuff to occupy the mind), long winters (for those vulnerable to SAD) and lack of available mental health care equals more suicides.
I'm an oddball though.
Isolation and long winters make me less, not more depressed.
I have very little need to be around other people.
Hemp Car TransAmerica
Tuesday, January 2, 2001
Another common sense reason to legalize hemp.
Be sure to note: Pollution: Petrol vs Hemp.
Sacrificial Sheep Shoves Man to His Death
Tuesday, January 2, 2001
Ironic, huh? Don't underestimate rams.
A elderly couple was killed by one near here a few months ago.
Lots of other weird animal news:
Elephant Tramples Man And Keeps the Corpse
Two Die, 23 Huts Razed in Spat Over Goat
The Curse of the 'Devil' Monkey
Runaway Tiger Snarls Traffic
Dirty Pig Slaughter Report Hits Gourmets
(December entries here, the rest here.)
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