Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Earl Ofari Hutchinson: New Orleans Flood Conspiracies Fanned by the Paranoid Fringe"The aim of the plot, depending on who spoke, was to kill blacks, protect the white, upper income areas from flooding, gut political strength in New Orleans, or grab black homes and land at fire sale prices and dump pricey condominiums, townhouses, upscale malls and gallerias in their neighborhoods. To prove their point, the conspiracy theorists cited random remarks made by a handful of tired, distraught and bitter evacuees camped in the Houston Astrodome. They claimed to have heard explosions immediately before the levees broke, and they lambasted Bush and the federal government for their inaction ... The levees broke because of age, poor maintenance, and the millions that Bush slashed from the 2005 budget earmarked for their repair. Experts also note that explosions and sudden noises can occur during maximum force hurricanes. They attribute it to the tremendous build up of water pressure, high winds, and power outages ... A near textbook example of that was the theory spun by an Idaho meteorologist. He claimed that a Japanese Yakuza crime group used a Russian Cold War era generator to trigger Katrina. This supposedly was punishment for the Hiroshima atom bomb attack. The theory was fantastic nonsense, but the Associated Press and USA Today took it seriously enough to treat it as a legitimate news item, with quotes from experts to refute it." Crackpots. AlterNet: Chasing a Katrina Conspiracy
posted by Jimbo Trout @ Thursday, September 29, 2005
Karen Hughes Middle East Voyage has turned into a fiasco
"Put the shoe on the other foot. Let's say some Muslim leader wanted to improve Americans' image of Islam. It's doubtful that he would send as his emissary a woman in a black chador who had spent no time in the United States, possessed no knowledge of our history or movies or pop music, and spoke no English beyond a heavily accented "Good morning." Yet this would be the clueless counterpart to Karen Hughes, with her lame attempts at bonding ("I'm a working mom") and her tin-eared assurances that President Bush is a man of God (you can almost hear the Muslim women thinking, "Yes, we know, that's why he's relaunched the Crusades") ...
Back in the days of the Cold War, the U.S. Information Agency ran a vast, independent public-diplomacy program in embassies all over the world—libraries, speakers' bureaus, concert tours by famous jazz musicians, and broadcasts of news and music on the Voice of America. Together, they conveyed an appealing image of a free, even boisterous, America in the face of an implacable, totalitarian Communist foe."
Karen Hughes, Stay Home! - What?on earth is she doing in the Middle East? By Fred?Kaplan
posted by Jimbo Trout @ Thursday, September 29, 2005
Beware of the National ID System
A witty, humorous flash movie that will make you think.
AdCritic Interactive
posted by Jimbo Trout @ Thursday, September 29, 2005
Halliburton Watch
I knew I should have gotten in on that Halliburton stock after the supreme court picked our president. It obviously pays to perform due diligence on the croney capitalists who will next be in power.
And remember, kids, for every US soldier killed in Iraq, thats one point more to cash in on. Just look at the charts. Way to go, Military Industrial Complex!
Halliburton Watch
posted by Jimbo Trout @ Thursday, September 29, 2005
FBI to get veto power over PC software?
"According to the three-page document, to preserve the openness that characterizes today's Internet, "consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement." Read the last seven words again.
The FCC didn't offer much in the way of clarification."
FBI to get veto power over PC software? | News.blog | CNET News.com
posted by Jimbo Trout @ Thursday, September 29, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
DeLay FINALLY Indicted
The charge relates to a campaign finance scheme in which two of Mr DeLay's associates also stand accused. Mr DeLay, the second-highest ranking member of the house, said he would step down temporarily to answer the charges. He is a key fundraiser for President Bush and is seen as yielding immense political influence. Three of Mr DeLay's former aides had already been charged with illegal fundraising.
BBC NEWS | Americas | Jury indicts top US congressman
posted by Jimbo Trout @ Wednesday, September 28, 2005
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