23. januar 2003

Tony Blair: lapdog or bulldog? Tony Blair is desperate to avoid looking like he's no part of the decision-making process on war with Iraq. Most likely, though, he isn't. Mr Blair can take some comfort in the fact that in Gulf War I, it was his predecessor Margareth Thatcher who persuaded Bush senior to make Desert Shield into Desert Storm and retake Kuwait. However, even if the decision is already taken, Bush will sorely need Tony Blair's help in selling the idea of a war to very skeptical Europeans. It will be an uphill battle even to undo the damage done recently by Rumsfeld. 11:11:41 PM    comment []

Made in China, Made in USA When President Bush spoke in the heart of the midwest, it was not the right time to talk about globalisation and international trade. He delivered his message to a fake backdrop of boxes with clear markings of "Made in USA," but also surrounded by boxes where the markings had been conveniently covered up with packing tape, as you can see on the picture. Not too strange, considering that those boxes were all marked "Made in China." White House officials blamed an over-eager volunteer.  Over-eager journalists have already named the incident "Boxgate." 10:32:11 PM    comment []

He must dislike the part about shooting cats "A Dutch gay activist is fighting to outlaw the import of a U.S. computer game in which the player can shoot homosexuals, junkies, dogs and cats." (CNN) It sounds like a very non-discriminating game to me. Essentially, in Postal 2, you shoot everybody. So how can this activist claim that the game violates Dutch anti-discrimination laws? The fact is that many use such laws to discriminate. It is all too human. We don't want equal rights. We want special rights, all of us. 8:48:25 PM    comment []

Who are you going to piss off next? Rumsfeld on January 7, pissing off 1.7 million US war veterans: "And what was left was sucked into the intake, trained for a period of months, and then went out, adding no value, no advantage, really, to the United States armed services over any sustained period of time, because the churning that took place, it took enormous amount of effort in terms of training, and then they were gone" Rumsfeld on January 22, pissing off ~150 million French and Germans: "Now, you're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east" Next week should be interesting. There are still a few billion not insulted yet, but there is still a week left on January. 8:11:20 PM    comment []

That %#$& Rumsfeld "French officials reacted angrily Thursday to Rumsfeld's remarks. French Finance Minister Francis Mer said, "This comment of 'old Europe' really deeply irritated me," and French Ecology Minister Roselyne Bachelot used a regional expression for a four-letter word in reference to Rumsfeld." (CNN) Rumsfeld's job in the Bush administration is to be the resident neanderthal. He does that job admiringly. In one sentence he managed to piss off around 150 million people and at the same time demonstrating he has no knowledge whatsoever about European politics. 7:51:54 PM    comment []

'Why we know Iraq is lying' An op-ed by national security adviser Condoleezza Rice in the New York Times gives an interesting comparison between countries that have voluntarily disarmed, South Africa, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, and what Iraq is currently doing. Saddam Hussein is, Ms Rice argues, engaging in a shell-game which is a far cry from true compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. 6:52:48 PM    comment []

Powell denies US wants Iraq for its oil US Secretary of State Colin Powell (picture) addressed the question of oil in an interview with Middle East newspapers, and told that in case of a US/UN occuptaion, the Iraqi oil would be held in trust for the Iraqi people, and not be exploited for the US' own purpose. One of the most common anti-war slogans during the recent worldwide demonstrations were 'no blood for oil.' There is a a strong and definite belief among many of those skeptical to a US-lead war that the Bush administration, with its old ties to the oil industry, is really just after Iraq's massive oil reserves. Powell's guarantees, for whatever they are worth, was a necessary step in addressing those concerns. The growing international opposition to the US-lead coalition against Iraq can perhaps best be described as a backlash against Bush's immense arrogance in international affairs post-9/11. Bush and Cheney are simply not trusted internationally. Colin Powell and Tony Blair are trusted, but many wonder what they are doing in company with the two others, and how much say they really have. 6:24:03 PM    comment []

Begging for a curse "For some strange reason, celebrities who exhibit their art at the museum have been dying soon after, such as caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, who died recently at the age of 99." (NCBuy about an alleged 'death curse' at the Paterson Museum in New Jersey ) 'Strange reason' indeed! Skeptics are unlikely to have to work very hard to come up with a natural explanation for Al Hirschfeld's death. 11:20:55 AM    comment []

Al Qaeda turns to assasinations A number of developments suggest that Al Qaeda's strategy is turning from spectacular mass-murdering operations like the World Trade Center or Bali to targeted assasinations. One example is the murder of US diplomat Laurence Foley in Jordan by two men who were arrested and admitted being Al Qaeda operatives. The recent find of the poison ricin in England may well indicate that terrorists were planning a number of assasinations in Britain. It is no secret that the Islamists believe that their goals can be reached more easily by assasinating hostile leaders like President Karzai of Afghanistan and President Musharraf of Pakistan. Al Qaeda has also in the past plotted unsuccessful attempts to kill former US President Clinton and Pope John Paul II. 11:02:43 AM    comment []

Good morning sunshine The weather has been alternating between cold and mild & wet the last month, and darkness is part of the season. A bit of morning sunshine today felt good. Weather forcasts suggest it may not be such a common sight. From the webcam of local newspaper Bergens Tidende. Picture from Mt Fløyen over Bergen, Norway. If you stepped a bit too far forward from the position of the camera, you may have tumbled all the way down to by doorstep. 10:42:46 AM    comment []

From Germany with love The German intelligence agency Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) has seen the need to beef up its image lately, and a part of the campaign is showing the audience some of the spicy life of the spy, in the particular form of the exotic food recipes its agents have picked up around the globe. Along with each dish comes a tale from the cloak and dagger world of international espionage. If this didn't wet your appetite, what about BND's own range of clothing, including y-fronts with "Top Secret, Keep Contents Private" and "Only for Authorised Personnel" stamped on the front? Offical spy merchandise will also include t-shirts, scarves, ties and blouses. If you're serious about a PR campaign, guys, how about changing the name of your agency first? I am sorry, but there is not much schwung over Bundesnachrichtendienst. 10:09:02 AM    comment []

Happy Birthday to... Amanda at EverythingThatSucks, who is 26 years old today! Her daughter Emmie spilled water on the keyboard last night, so it may take a bit of time before she's updating her blog again. If you wonder what the water did to her keyboard, well, this is how it looked like when she tried to IM me about it: 3emmi3e splli3ed wa4t3er on i4t las4t nigh4t Amanda is actually a great typist, so obviously the water left its mark. I suggested a hairdryer, a very necessary repair tool whenever keyboards and liquids have become too intimate. Update: Do not miss the comments to this entry! 3:08:44 AM    comment []

Clonaid will have to answer questions about 'Eve' "A judge Wednesday ordered the head of Clonaid to appear in court next week to answer questions on whether the alleged first human clone really exists. " (CNN) It is perhaps ironic that what I believe is a clone sham from the raelians may finally be disclosed thanks to an absurdly overgrown court system. This case aside, what right do a local judge in Florida have to order people in other countries to appear in front of him? 2:57:02 AM    comment []

The banana, the atheist's worst nightmare Supposedly, this is a genuine creationist site, and it is not intended as a parody to the best of my knowledge (it is hard to know, as we've discussed a few times here). This good Christian argues that the banana is designed by God to be eaten by humans, like a Coca-Cola can is designed, and that this obvious fact is baffling for atheists. Observe: The banana-the atheist's nightmare. Note that the banana: Is shaped for human hand Has non-slip surface Has outward indicators of inward content: Green-too early, Yellow-just right, Black-too late. Has a tab for removal of wrapper Is perforated on wrapper Bio-degradable wrapper Is shaped for human mouth Has a point at top for ease of entry Is pleasing to taste buds Is curved towards the face to make eating process easy To say that the banana happened by accident is even more unintelligent than to say that no one designed the Coca Cola can. I admit myself baffled, but not for the same reason that this creationist probably intended. Richard Dawkins was targeted by a creationist tract with the above text, and he writes about it briefly in Climbing Mount Improbable. He also draws a brilliant comparison to an episode in his friend Douglas Adams' The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Since the banana is designed to be eaten, couldn't the same be said about the ox? Would it not at least be a good idea? And what will happen as animals are constantly bred to be eaten? Adams answers with this episode: "A large dairy animal approached [our friends'] table, a large fat meaty quadruped of the bovine type with large watery eyes, small horns and what might almost have been an ingratiating smile on its lips. "Good evening," it lowed and sat back heavily on its haunches, "I am the main Dish of the Day. May I interest you in parts of my body?" It harrumphed and gurgled a bit, wriggled its hind quarters into a more comfortable position and gazed peacefully at them. Its gaze was met by looks of startled bewilderment from Arthur and Trillian, a resigned shrug from Ford Prefect and naked hunger from Zaphod Beeblebrox. "Something off the shoulder perhaps?" suggested the animal, "Braised in a white wine sauce?" [...] "A very wise choice, sir, if I may say so. Very good," it said, "I'll just nip off and shoot myself." He turned and gave a friendly wink to Arthur. "Don't worry, sir," he said, "I'll be very humane." I wonder if the creationist behind the banana argument would appreciate the humour. Or if he'd slip on the peel, so wonderfully designed for that purpose. 1:44:05 AM    comment []

Music of the moment Foo Fighters: Everlong. Just an awesome song! I actually am playing an acoustic version now, but the CD version does the job too. Sometimes I play music from my collection more or less at random, and a specific song just matches my mood so perfectly. Like this, now. 12:50:05 AM    comment []

Blog Day for Venezuela   12:14:46 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.02.03; 00:37:17.