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31. oktober 2002
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Quake Devastates Kindergarten on Sicily
 So far, four children are found dead, and there is a frantic search going on in the ruins of the kindergarten after the region was hit by a 5.4 quake Thursday morning. Voices could be heard from the rubble.
The rescue effort is hampered by the remote location of the area, and the damage to a bridge.
11:20:31 PM 
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Happy Birthday to Jan Vermeer
 The famous Dutch painter Jan Vermeer was born on this date in 1632.
Vermeer is perhaps most famous for his paintings of women in various situations (like The Lacemaker on the right). Vermeer's sensitive use of light and colours has inspired countless artists since.
Update: A comment directed me to the Metropolitan's collection of Vermeer art. Have a look! MET has great web pages, which is some comfort for those of us who can't get there in half an hour.
9:24:28 AM
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Labour out of Israeli Government
 Ariel Sharon's 'national unity' coalition government is brought down by Labour's decusion to leave over disputes regarding the Jewish settlements in the occupied territories.
Sharon will now be forced to seek support from ultra-conservative and religious parties to save the budget.
My take: It is actually hard to imagine Israel's government being more extreme right than it already is.
9:07:46 AM
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Canadian Travel Advisory against the US
"Because of tightened border controls in America, Canadians born in some Middle Eastern countries should now think carefully before entering the United States, Ottawa says." (BBC)
6:54:03 AM
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Does this mean I have to see it?
 Lots of the movie fans I know online are going gaga over The Ring. Last time that happened, was over The Blair Witch Project, and I was frankly a bit disappointed with that one. But it seems that even the most ardent horror film fans are sleeping with their lights turned on these days, after having seen The Ring.
Or perhaps I should see the Japanese original instead? Choices, choices.
4:55:45 AM
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Trendwatch!
It's a major trend to be offended. People are willing to cross the street to have their sensibilities hurt, so they can scream and whine about it for weeks. The media loves a victim, and people love being victims. Even if nothing in the world happened to them, they can at least claim to be victims because someone hurt their sensitivities in some way. Some people are hysterically senstive about their nationality, their gender, their religion, their race, their sexual preferences, and they are willing to go to any length to be offended so they can whine about it. It's a worldwide craze.
Remember: You read it here first. Or maybe you didn't.
1:09:02 AM
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How Putin Outmaneuvered Bush in 'War on Terror'
 The International Herald Tribune has an insightful article on the can of worms opened by Bush's decision for an open-ended war on terrorism. Vladimir Putin has come on board in force, eager to crush all resistance in Chechnya under the anti-terror umbrella, and this may just be the beginning.
We have seen the 'war on terror' argument used in numerous regional conflicts. To repressive governments, the simple rhetoric of Bush has been a godsend, allowing them to brand any armed opposition as part of a 'global terrorist network.' And, as happened to Milosovic in Kosovo, we know that projecting an enemy strong enough may serve to create the enemy even where it did not previously exist.
12:51:01 AM
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Swedes Drop Hijack Charges
Kerim Sadok Chatty, who was arrested in Sweden when he tried to board a Ryanair plane to London with a gun in his luggage, is no longer charged with attempted hijacking. He was on his way to an Islamic conference, he was armed, he had been taking flying lessons in the US, but still the Swedish prosecutors have been unable to find evidence he actually intended to hijack the plane. Chatty claims he brought the gun along by mistake, and now only faces gun charges.
12:25:05 AM
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© Copyright 2002 Jan Haugland.
Last update: 01.11.02; 00:17:44.
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