| |
|
8. februar 2003
|
|
Cable chided over WWII internment of Japanese-Americans
 US Representative Howard Cable (picture) has created quite a bit of controversy by his public statement that he agreed with the decision to put Japanese-Americans behind barbed wire during WWII. According to Cable, it was "not safe for them to be on the street." By drawing the similarity between Japanese-Americans during WWII and Arab-Americans now, Cable managed to offend both groups, and quite a few others.
Cable (R, NC) heads a homeland security subcommittee, which is particularly disturbing to some minority organisations, who calls on Cable to apologise for the remark.
Filchyboy directed me to a law professor with a blog who debunks Cable's claim with some historical evidence.
9:26:04 PM 
|
|
Tough choices for Saddam's cannon fodder
Guardian journalist Luke Harding interviews Iraqi defector Abass Shomail, an ordinary private in Iraq's underequiped army. Iraq's armed forces are even worse equipped today than in Gulf War I, and the morale of the ordinary army could hardly be lower.
The soldiers, many of which seem to welcome an American attack to be liberated from Saddam Hussein, just hope they are not killed by their superiours or the American missiles before they have a chance to surrender.
9:09:27 PM
|
|
Best chat up line is...
"The simplest of chat up lines, "Can I buy you a drink?", is the most successful, according to a new survey." (Ananova)
But also one of the most expensive.
8:36:13 PM
|
|
War of words in Munich
Rumsfeld can not be accused of shying from controversy, at least. He is currently in Munich, Germany, facing a rather hostile audience and trying to avoid, I should hope, riling up the Germans even more. I guess the following should be interpreted as an attemp to put a humourous spin on earlier gaffes:
"When I spoke a few days ago of the old Europe I caused quite a stir, but if you take my age into consideration, then I think that could be pretty friendly."
Good try, Donald. Alas, the Germans are more famous for their sense of national pride than their sense of humour.
5:20:35 PM
|
|
Van Gogh sold for $550,000
The Van Gogh that was recently identified, previously supposed to sell for $80, eventually went for $550,000 at a Japanese art house.
Quite a bit more than the estimate. It's amazing what a name can do.
4:34:12 PM
|
|
What would Jesus play?
Check out Jesus Inspirational Sports Statues from Catholic Shopper. Hilarious scenes of Jesus kicking a football (aka soccer) as above, and also helping kids play baseball, ballet, martial arts and hockey. All for $20 a piece. So what would Jesus be playing? My suggestion is he would kick the money chargers out of the temple, as before!
PS: Good grief. They also have a homeland security t-shirt.
4:17:09 PM
|
|
Fallacy of the day
Argumentum ad novitatem "the fallacy of asserting that something is better or more correct simply because it is new, or newer than something else."
Just thought I'd let you know this is a fallacy in a rational debate, Mr Rumsfeld.
3:34:03 PM
|
|
PETA asks Arafat to stop harming animals with bombs
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written a letter to President Arafat protesting an attempt to blow up an Israeli bus with explosives strapped to a donkey. No humans were killed, which is not the concern of PETA president Ingrid Newkirk anyway, but she wrote a very nice letter asking Arafat,
"If you have the opportunity, will you please add to your burdens my request that you appeal to all those who listen to you to leave the animals out of this conflict?"
She adopted the polite tone because PETA tries to "ask nicely" the first time, according to a spokesman.
I am convinced that Arafat is shivering in his bunker right now, fearing what PETA will do to him when they stop asking nicely.
3:13:54 PM
|
|
North Dakota found to be harboring nuclear missiles
"The stage was set for another international showdown Monday, when chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix confirmed that the remote, isolationist state of North Dakota is in possession of a large stockpile of nuclear missiles." (Read the rest in The Onion!)
1:00:12 PM
|
|
Bush administration plans Patriot Act II
Ashcroft's Justice Dept is drafting a new, comprehensive sequel to the USA Patriot Act, giving the government sweeping new powers in domestic surveillance and law enforcement.
2:48:45 AM
|
|
|
© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland.
Last update: 01.03.2003; 00:14:41.
|
|
|
