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28 February 2003

 

Thought for the day
War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.
--Thomas Jefferson

posted by Lorenzo 2:47 PM

27 February 2003

 

Thought for the day
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
--Aesop

posted by Lorenzo 12:06 PM

26 February 2003

 

What's New — Posted February 21 - 25, 2003
World Events . . . Does anyone else notice a pattern here? . . . US plans total war against Kim . . . Sharon's Peace Plans Still a Mystery
U.S. News . . . President Bush should answer these 10 questions about his policy of waging war against Iraq . . . Hackers Run Wild and Free on AOL . . . Sunbathers run over by police vehicle . . . Bush Budget Will Make Him the Biggest Spender in Decades . . . Bush budget contains $10 in new spending for every dollar in tax cuts . . . When the nation is in crisis, apply duct tape as shown . . . 57 Million More Americans Expected by 2050
Peace is Possible . . . Germany, France Start New Anti-War Effort . . . Blix Says Iraq Signals New Cooperation . . . Developing World Tells U.S. to Give Peace a Chance . . . More Than 100 Women Bare All for Peace . . . Mexican officials continue to urge for peace in Iraq
Science & Health . . . DNA computer sets Guinness record
Earth News . . . Opinion: Restructuring the Energy Economy . . . Journey to Planet Earth - Important PBS Special . . Green Autos In the Showroom, But Few on the Road . . . Blair Urges 60 Percent Global Greenhouse Gas Cuts . . . Bush Eyes Public Lands For Renewable Energy
War on Drugs . . . "A Drug War Carol" -- an online graphic novel about the War on Drugs modeled on Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol."
War on Iraq . . . 13 MYTHS ABOUT THE CASE FOR WAR IN IRAQ . . . This war is immoral and unjust, with or without UN backing . . . In God he trusts - how George Bush infused the White House with a religious spirit . . . What Happened to the War on Terrorism? . . . How Did Iraq Get Its Weapons? We Sold Them! . . . Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz lobbied Clinton in '98 to start Iraq war and topple Saddam . . . Send Hans Blix to Nes Ziona: Civilians attacked with poison gas . . . Robert Higgs on War and Liberty . . . Powell Speech Does Not Justify Pre-Emptive Action . . . Faulty Justifications for War with Iraq . . . Both the military and the spooks are opposed to war on Iraq . . . U.S. Officials Say U.N. Future At Stake in Vote: Bush Message Is That a War Is Inevitable, Diplomats Say . . . Many college students against war on Iraq . . . Those Shameful Frenchmen . . . Iran, Libya, Syria are next?
Bill of Rights Under Attack . . . Big Brother is watching you - and [eBay is] documenting
War on the Phillipines . . . U.S. troops to join combat in Philippines . . . US Elite Units to Fight Philippine Rebels

posted by Lorenzo 2:19 PM

24 February 2003

 

Thought for the day
What kind of peace do we seek? Not a 'Pax Americana' enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of a slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children�not merely peace for Americans, but peace for all men and women; not merely peace in our time, but peace for all time.
--John F. Kennedy

posted by Lorenzo 12:40 PM

21 February 2003

 

Thought for the day
When people speak to you about a preventive war, you tell them to go and fight it. After my experience, I have come to hate war. War settles nothing.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

posted by Lorenzo 12:16 PM

 

What's New — Posted February 18 - 20, 2003
World Events . . . Behind the Great Divide [Europe and the U.S.] . . . An American Apology To The World . . . Cast your vote in the TIMEeurope.com: Poll -- Who Is The Biggest Threat To Peace . . . What Mr Bush has in mind is nothing less than a reshaping of the world . . . THE FREE PRESS OR ELSE! MEDIA BOYCOTT . . . UK Stop the War Coalition . . . Photos from Peace Demonstrations Around the World
U.S. News . . . Anti-war Ohioan may run in 2004: Rep. Kucinich tests presidential bid . . . what the war on Iraq will cost YOU as a TAXPAYER . . . Wolfowitz Cabal' Is an Enemy Within U.S. . . . More nonesense from Little Bush, our village idiot . . . GW Bush Went AWOL - Home Page . . . Terror Alert Partly Based on Lies
Peace is Possible . . . Greece: EU has 'mandate' to seek peace in Iraq . . . Saddam Says Iraq Wants Peace, Dignity . . . Bahraini peace delegation sets sail for Iraq . . . Peace Rallies May Impede Push for War . . . U.N. Nations Urge U.S. to Choose Peace in Iraq . . . China Says Peace Options Not Exhausted on Iraq . . . EU reiterates call for invigorating Mideast peace process in statement on Iraq . . . Pope's Iraq Envoy: Peace Still Possible . . . Mexico's Fox prays for peace in Iraq, asks Bush, Fox to resolve conflict peacefully
Science & Health . . . Global Consciousness Project -- Peace Demonstrations Register in the Noosphere Activity . . . Who should explore space? Man or machine?
Palestine & Israel . . . False witnesses ... misleading coverage of Israel's terrorist activities
War on Iraq . . . Democracy in the new Iraq is a myth . . . Mighty in Pink: Women Against the War . . . Rumsfeld 'offered help to Saddam' . . . Anti-War Resolutions Passed in 64 Cities and Now, in One State: Hawaii . . . Call to Conscience for Veterans to Active Duty Troops and Reservists . . . Costs of war already coming in
Free Speech . . . Patriotic Posters from TheWhitehouse.org . . . Digital TV Project: Who Controls the Media . . . Take Back The Media! Who Owns The Media? . . . DEMOCRACY CANNOT WORK WITHOUT A FREE PRESS

posted by Lorenzo 12:14 PM

20 February 2003

 

Thought for the day
The protest [in NYC] remained peaceful because the crowd itself wanted to protest for peace peacefully, and because people tacitly agreed to respect the authority of the police and not challenge that control. That tacit agreement rests on the people�s belief that in some way the authority in question is legitimate. In a democracy, legitimate authority stems from the people, not simply from possession of the might and means to apply brute force. A small elite might gain control of the weapons, the money, the police and the military, but the more it resorts to brute force to keep control, the more it loses legitimacy. I saw that happen, over and over again, on the streets of New York. Every person denied access to a legal rally, every person shoved or bullied lost a bit of that belief.

Belief in the legitimacy of the authorities is the etheric glue that holds the social system together. That glue can dissolve. In New York, it held, barely, but next time it might not. The authorities don�t much fear the mere expression of dissent. And they don�t truly fear small factions engaging in more extreme acts that marginalize and isolate them.

But they would be wise to fear the loss of their own legitimacy in the eyes of the masses. The Bush administration was not elected, and its authority has been shaky from the beginning, propped up only by the shock and fear unleashed by the attacks of September 11. What may finally constrain the warmongers is simply the possibility that the people will become ungovernable if the government continues to disregard our will. If, against such huge opposition, the Bush administration goes ahead with its aggressive, pre-emptive war, they will destroy the legitimacy they depend on for control and unleash the kind of social unrest that makes governments fall.
--Starhawk

posted by Lorenzo 12:53 PM

19 February 2003

 

Are you a creator or a destroyer?
On pages 27 & 28 of Theodor Landscheidt's excellent book, "Sun-Earth-Man, A Mesh of Cosmic Oscillations," there is an interesting discussion of what he calls "borderline phenomena." He says:

"The years that followed 1789, 1823, 1867, 1933, and 1968 were periods of radical change and revolution, a break-down of old structures and the emergence of new forms and ideas. . [examples from each period] . . The next major instability event will start about 2002 and last till 2011. This is an exceptionally long period. It is impossible to predict the details of its historic effects. But the basic quality of all boundary functions will be evident: the years past 2002 will prove to be another turning point, a period of instability, upheaval, agitation, and revolution, that ruins traditional structures, but favours the emergence of new patterns in society, economy, art, and science."

[So what role do you intend to play in this period? Are you going to waste your energy tearing things down, or will you be focusing on building a better world? . . . This book, by the way, was written in 1988 and first published in 1989.]

posted by Lorenzo 4:41 PM

 

Thoughts for the day
They that can give up essential liberty for a little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
--Benjamin Franklin

Stay calm. Don't panic. Buy more duct tape.
--Little Bush the Terrified

posted by Lorenzo 1:07 PM

18 February 2003

 

What's New — Posted February 13 - 17, 2003
World Events . . . Ramsey Clark's Letter to the United Nations . . . Edward Said: America is a monument to hypocrisy . . . From Lisbon to Ljubljana, San Francisco to Manhattan, protesters gather to stop the bombs . . . 10 million join world protest rallies . . . Rattled by an outpouring of anti-war sentiment, Britain Reworking Iraq Resolution . . . India won't support U.S. attack on Iraq . . . Millions Join World Protests Against Iraq War . . . Feb 15 Marks an Historic Day of Protest! . . . Blair to defy anti-war protests . . . A New Power in the Streets
U.S. News . . . Even in Wartime, Stealth and Democracy Do Not Mix . . . George W. Bush Must Answer to the People . . . Retailers begin taxing online buys . . . Panel approves ban on cloning . . . Teen shot by DEA agents dies in hospital . . . Get Up, Stand Up and Be Counted . . . Vote To Impeach Bush . . . US Senator Robert Byrd: We Stand Passively Mute . . . Latest terror alert proves government has failed at its most basic mission . . . Playing the "Terrorism" Card . . . March 5th National Student Strike ... Books Not Bombs! . . . New York Protest Approached 1,000,000 . . . Caligula and Bush: Two Wild and Crazy Guys
Peace is Possible . . . UNITED NATIONS: Diplomatic Solution . . . U.N. refugee chief urges Europeans to seek peace in Iraq . . . Japanese musicians head for Iraq to hold peace concert . . . Millions Expected for Global Iraq Peace Protests . . . South African official leaves Iraq hopeful after peace mission . . . Call for peace comes from all walks of life . . . Schroeder favors peace resolution in Iraq . . . Human Shields' Gathering in Baghdad . . . At least 150,000 protest in Melbourne against possible war with Iraq . . . African-Americans raise voices for peace . . . Thousands in Asia protest possible U.S.-led war on Iraq . . . UK anti-war campaign stepped up
Earth News . . . U.S. Industry Pledges Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Cuts . . . Kinkos Invests in Green Energy . . . Canadian Colleges to Teach Renewable Technologies
War on Iraq . . . Hysteria runs riot; networks fuel the fear . . . Mark Twain: Grotesque Self-Deception . . . Russia Military See U.S. Iraq Attack in February . . . Britons See U.S. as Biggest Threat to Peace - Poll . . . Lawsuit Challenges Bush Authority on Iraq . . . The War on Iraq IQ Test
War on Venezuela . . . Chavez tries to steady the ship as strike peters out
Free Speech . . . Arthur Miller to lead anti-war poetry reading . . . The Bush Family and the Nazis . . . The Free Press or Else Campaign . . . Millions vs. Thousands of Protesters

posted by Lorenzo 12:59 PM

 

Thought for the day
Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.
--Haile Selassie

posted by Lorenzo 12:38 PM

17 February 2003

 

Thought for the day
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
--George Orwell

posted by Lorenzo 3:39 PM

13 February 2003

 

Participating in the murder of innocent people
In 1967, I served on board a U.S. ship off the coast of Viet Nam. At times we participated in shore-bombing operations to support our troops on the ground. I can still remember how my stomach always turned in knots each time our shells killed what we were told were enemy combatants. To this day I still have the sick feeling that I was a "part of a team" that took innocent lives. The nightmares never go away. I can only imagine the night-time horrors that are going to visit our service men and women who participate in the carnage Little Bush and his gang of bloodthirsty oil men have planned for the innocent people of Iraq. If it is true that the first 48 hours of the U.S. attack will include 800 missiles, then it is also true that years from now those involved in these war crimes will still be pursued and brought to justice.

posted by Lorenzo 4:45 PM

 

Thought for the day
The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.
--Joseph Conrad

posted by Lorenzo 10:46 AM

 

What's New — Posted February 10 - 12, 2003
World Events . . . Robert Fisk: You wanted to believe Powell – but it was like something out of Beckett . . . Mandate for war will fail, predicts Germany . . . MoveOn.org: Open Letter to Europe . . . Make a difference . . . The widening Atlantic: Iraq split points to far deeper divisions
U.S. News . . . Christian Right Calls Peace Movement Anti-American . . . SMALLPOX AND FORCED VACCINATION: WHAT EVERY AMERICAN NEEDS TO KNOW . . . Corporations, War, and You . . . If You Want To Win An Election, Just Control The Voting Machines . . . Why the U.S. terror alert level was raised . . . Son of the Patriot Act ... Little Bush Expands His Terrorist Activities . . . Kurt Vonnegut: Little Bush Is Destroying the U.S. . . . Even in Wartime, Stealth and Democracy Do Not Mix . . . George W. Bush Must Answer to the People . . . Retailers begin taxing online buys . . . Panel approves ban on cloning . . . Teen shot by DEA agents dies in hospital
Peace is Possible . . . UNITED NATIONS: Diplomatic Solution [Korea]
Science & Health . . . NASA unveils new picture of universe
Earth News . . . Utilities Push for Huge Fee Increases On Solar Energy Users in California
War on Drugs . . . Most Teens Don't See Trying Ecstasy as 'Great Risk' . . . Angry Rosenthal Pot Jurors Call For New Trial . . . ATTENTION JURORS, you do NOT have to follow a judges instructions
Palestine & Israel . . . Sharon And Settlers Destroy Palestinian Infrastructure . . . Israeli Parliamentary Members Call for Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians
War on Iraq . . . Bush Plans to Murder Large Numbers of Iraqi Civilians . . . Revealed: the truth behind US 'poison factory' claim . . . How catastrophe threatens the 12 million children of Iraq . . . Arabs Shrug Off Bin Laden Call for Holy War on U.S. . . . 77,000 body bags . . . Britain's Intelligence Dossier on Iraq was Plagiarized from a Grad Student . . . Baghdad Back Flip: Colin Powell is a Liar! . . . Hysteria runs riot; networks fuel the fear
Free Speech . . . Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly Threatens Physical Assault On and Ejects a 9/11 Family Member From His Show . . . ‘Madness of George Dubya’ a hit: British farce mocks President Bush, Tony Blair . . . House, Senate agree to prohibit citizens' e-mail surveillance . . . Arthur Miller to lead anti-war poetry reading
Bill of Rights Under Attack . . . Official Terror Worse than 'Night and Fog'

posted by Lorenzo 10:17 AM

12 February 2003

 

VIVE LA FRANCE!
I think peace-loving people all around the globe should show our appreciation for France's bold anti-war stand by increasing our purchases of their products and boycotting the products of countries that support the war . . . including products of the USA! Buy French, German, Belgian, and Russian goods and services . . . . boycott companies and countries that support this criminally insane war.

Duct Tape and Cover
In the weeks after the events of September 11th, Little Bush�s mantra was �Stay calm, be alert, and keep shopping.� Now he�s added a new twist by telling us what to shop for . . . Duct Tape! When I was a boy, our schools held �duck and cover� drills in a very successful attempt to keep us all terrified that at any moment �the Russians� were going to nuke us. Since that fake threat has been unmasked, the power elite has had to come up with something new, thus a never-ending, world-wide war on terror. . . . and they are succeeding again, as I am terrified that my own government might actually perpetrate controlled acts of terror on its own citizens in order to keep us in line.

posted by Lorenzo 4:19 PM

 

Thought for the day
Our generation is the first ever to have made the search for self-awareness a crime.
--Sasha Shulgin

posted by Lorenzo 12:25 PM

11 February 2003

 

bush Is A Four-Letter Word
It is time to become more efficient in the way we curse. Instead of having dozens of four-letter words to select from, why not just use the single, universally disparaging word �bush.� No more �fuck it,� not when you can say �bush it� . . . or �I�ve got to take a bush� . . . �bush you� . . . and my personal favorite, �bush Bush.�

posted by Lorenzo 7:07 PM

 

Thought for the day
The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge, while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or as a curse.
--Carlos Castaneda

posted by Lorenzo 5:28 PM

10 February 2003

 

Thought for the day
Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war. That is understood. But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a communist dictatorship ... Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.
--Hermann Goering
Nuremberg Trials after World War II

posted by Lorenzo 12:56 PM

 

What's New — Posted February 1 - 9, 2003
World Events . . . Mandela: "Bush can't think properly" . . . Trading our privacy for security
U.S. News . . . Carter Says Bush Has Not Proven Case for Iraq War . . . Bush's church vs. Bush . . . Bush Approves Nuclear Response . . . Davis may back Internet tax plan . . . Korean threat to shell Capitol Hill . . . A Critical Analysis of Bush's 2003 State of the Union Address . . . Bill aims to thwart identity thieves . . . Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C) agrees with Internment Camp idea . . . White House Seeks 9.3 Percent Funding Increase . . . Justice Dept. Drafts Sweeping Expansion of Anti-Terrorism Act
Peace is Possible . . . Greenpeace cuts military supply chain to war in Iraq . . . Department of Peace - A conceptual Framework
Science & Health . . . Scientists take step to growing human-compatible pig organs . . . Bioengineered pigs might be in food supply . . . U.S. Orders Resistance Warnings on Antibiotics
Earth News . . . Bush Hydrogen Initiative Faces Many Obstacles
War on Drugs . . . US Judge Railroads Ed Rosenthal in Fed's War on Medical Marijuana
War on Iraq . . . Holes in Bush's cover story for the war . . . Big Oil pushes the White House for a war with Iraq . . . The Unasked Questions About Iraq and Saddam Hussein . . . The Peace Amendment . . . The Incident . . . North Dakota Found To Be Harboring Nuclear Missiles . . . Bush Uses Space Shuttle Disaster, Religious Ritual And Quotes From Sacred Writings To Build Support For War . . . TruthAboutWar.org . . . The Real Reasons for the Upcoming War with Iraq:A Macroeconomic and Geostrategic Analysis of the Unspoken Truth
Free Speech . . . MORE INFO ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE "REFORM" . . . Liberty for Citizens -- or only for Incumbent Politicians and the Media? . . . Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly Threatens Physical Assault On and Ejects a 9/11 Family Member From His Show

posted by Lorenzo 12:53 PM

01 February 2003

 

What's New — Posted January 22 - 31, 2003
World Events . . . British Muslims warn of 'conflict for generations' . . . The US Media: A Weapon of Mass Deception . . . A Rising Tide of Anti-American Feeling . . . Bush approves nuclear response
U.S. News . . . Rumsfeld Claims Vietnam-era Draftees were of "No Value" . . . Office of Strategic Influence: The United States of Apathy . . . Total Information Awareness funds blocked . . . Hillary assails Bush on readiness 'myth' . . . USA Oui! Bush Non! . . . God shed dis-grace on thee: Will that be our new national anthem? . . . Bush Is Losing It . . . Is It Time to Move to Canada? . . . Embattled Bush now faces trouble on many fronts . . . All He Left Unsaid by William Rivers Pitt . . . The Looters are Loose . . . The Great Internet Shakedown . . . The Truth We Can't Face - America As A Third Rate Nation . . . Vets Filed Court Appeal Against Loss of Medical Care Benifits
Science & Health . . . 10.20GHz Intel Nehalem slated for 2005 . . . Chromosome Study Links Telomere Length to Survival
Earth News . . . New Map Helps Protect Ten Million Acres Of Rainforest . . . India Plans Cloning to Revive Extinct Cheetah
War on Drugs . . . And now for a little tongue-in-cheekiness . . . The Arrogance of Power
War on Iraq . . . Germany To Oppose Iraq War in U.N. . . . Inspectors fail to find smoking gun . . . U.S. Intends to Plunder Iraqi Oil Reserves . . . An engineered crisis . . . Leaflets Urging War On U.S. Forces Flood Pakistani Border Town . . . U.S. Says It Could Pursue Attackers into Pakistan . . . Pakistan Rejects U.S. Military Claim to Cross-Border Raid Rights
War on Venezuela . . . Venezuelan businesses may reopen as strike against Chavez weakens
Free Speech . . . Dan Rather: Mainstream US Media Are Frightened and Timid . . . Comcast says no to anti-war ads of group
Bill of Rights Under Attack . . . Prying Eyes: The End of Medical Privacy

posted by Lorenzo 12:41 PM

 

Heading for the coast
I'll be mostly off-line for the next 10 days, as we head back to California, but our other bloggers will keep posting news of interest for you in other sections of this website.

Take a look at our World Events page. We are testing a control that tells you how many other people are looking at that same page just then. If you like, you can click on the Chat button and chat with whomever joins you. Later this month we plan on adding a voice feature to our designated MeetingPages also.

posted by Lorenzo 9:31 AM

 

Stranger than fiction
What kind of an omen is this? . . . The U.S. space shuttle, carrying the first Jewish astronaut, explodes over Palestine, Texas.

posted by Lorenzo 7:08 AM