j jackson, editor-at-large
(nope. they haven't caught me yet.)
HELL OF AN ARGUMENT One Texas man killed another with a shotgun over an argument about which one was going to heaven and which was going to hell. [CNN] {Guess that settles that argument.}
DERAILMENT Micromechanical Flying Robots modeled after insects and hummingbirds will one day compete with the real thing for your annoyance. 'They" say that their purpose is to "surreptitiously spy on enemy troops, explore the surface of Mars or safely monitor dangerous chemical spills." [CNN] {Or spy on citizens. And, if we swat one of them, will we be arrested for interfering with an ongoing investigation?}
WEST NILE NEAR WEST WING A crow tests positive for the West Nile virus after being discovered dead on the White House grounds. [CNN] {The angel is targeting the seat of government? It makes you wonder. Why would they think to test an old dead crow for the West Nile virus? Do they know more than they're telling us?}
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH Bruce Willis and George W. are hooking up to recruit adoptive parents for the hoards of emotionally battered kids in foster care. [Yahoo] {How noble of them. So how many kids have Bush and Willis adopted?}
WEIRD SCIENCE (FICTION) A snakehead fish species from China with razor sharp teeth that eats everything in its path and has primitive lungs that allow it to walk across dry land for up to three days is now found in seven states. [CNN] A new species of giant squid is found washed up on a shore in Tasmania this weekend, after reports last month that one was observed in the ocean. [CNN] {If these aren't signs of the tribulation, I don't know what is. They're thinking about poisoning a lake in Maryland where the snakehead was found. If that doesn't work, I suggest electricity or freezing. They always work in the movies.}
MAP CASE TV HOW THE WEST WAS LOST USE THEM OR LOSE THEM Time Warner Cable will offer a segment of its subscribers a TiVo-like device that'll pause and digitally record programs for later viewing. [CNN] {Wake up, people. They'd rather you recorded your shows in this way. This way you can't make permanent copies. If DVD recorders become as ubiquitous as VCRs, then someone is going to lose a lot of revenue--again.}
THE PRES. BILL SHOW A SAFER SOCIETY? THE RIGHT TO SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT I VANT TO SUCK YOUR SERUM? NO HIV MUPPET IN U.S. THEY'RE SORRY The Post Office decides it will not participate in the government's plan to enlist your friends and neighbors to spy on you. [CitizenCorps] [YahooNews] {"If mommie is a commie, then ya gotta turn her in."}
BUSINESS IS UBIQUITOUS Democratic senators fly in corporate jets to Nantucket from Washington to attend a weekend "schmoozefest" hosted by 250 campaign contributors. (NY Daily News) [article] [Thus exploding the myth that it's only Republicans who are in bed with big business.]
TEENS THINK SUICIDE A survey by The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration concludes that in 2000, 3 million 14 to 17 year olds in America seriously considered or attempted suicide, with only 36% receiving treatment or counseling. Charles Curie (SAMHSA) said that depression is the main cause of suicide. (CNN)[article] [Depression and a resultant propensity toward suicide is just nature's way of weeding out the unfit among the population, those kids who have difficulties dealing with a crazy postmodern world. "Mental health treatment or counseling" addresses only the symptoms of the problem. If you want to help these kids in a real and permanent way, change this fucked-up world.]
BUSH BOO, CLINTON YEA Bush cabinet member gets shouted down by protestors at the International AIDS Conference in Barcelona while the crowd likes everything Bill Clinton has to say. (HotWired) [article] [Go-get-em Bill on the comeback trail?]
BIN LADEN SPOTTING "As yet another intelligence report surfaces, alleging that Osama bin Laden may still be alive, his very elusiveness may only be adding to the mythic quality of his reputation." (CNN) [article] [I swear I saw bin Laden with Elvis down at the Post Office last week buying the new Sinatra stamp.]
GREEN GRASS HEALTH RISKS? "Experts are split on whether chemically treated lawns can be harmful to the health of pets and people, prompting many lawn keepers to make a difficult choice during the summer months between organic lawn care or using chemicals." (CNN) [article] [Are we in some kind of a time warp disconnect here? I remember my ex-wife (who was green years before it became pc,) telling our next door neighbor about this health risk to her kids nearly thirty years ago.]
NOT ANTI - U.S. George Michael, accused of being anti-American because his new single lampoons President Bush and the War on Terror, says he is not anti-American." [MSNBC.com ] Now, let's see if I got this right. If you criticize administration policy, you're anti-American? Is that the way it works?
PHOTOGRAPHY IN PUBLIC PLACES As the Eqyptian shooter lay dead near the El Al ticket counter at LAX, cops prohibited, on several occasions, photographer Paul Parkus from taking pictures, and they even tried to confiscate his film, unsuccessfully, because he had earlier handed it off to someone from the LA Times. [Why should any cop or government agent be permitted to tell people not to take pictures in public places? This reeks of abuse of authority. If what they did was legal, it shouldn't be. If what they did was legal, why aren't they going after the LA Times to get the film? Why, after the film reaches a legitimate news source, is it all of a sudden okay? Is it because, more often than not, the mainstream media is in cahoots with the government? Or is it just because they are powerful enough to withstand the bullying tactics when individuals cannot? If either, abuse is suggested. Just a few questions and comments off the top of my head.]
"DO YOU KNOW WHERE HIS KEYS ARE? One man's attempt to learn how to use a Web server turned into a giant, obsessive Web project: He has documented and photographed the entire contents of his house for all the Web's surfers to see." (Wired News) [article] [I may be obsessive compulsive, but at least I'm not this bad. (I would be, but I'm too lazy.) The more time that goes by and the more I see of other people and how they live, the more normal I come to think I am (he thinks).]
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