20. juli 2003

Want a piece of the Devil's roadsign? The road signs along US 666, a stretch of asphalt in New Mexico nicknamed "The Devil's Highway" are suddenly hot property, after authorities announced it is changing its name. Now, not a single sign remains. "Since the reports that we were changing the name, we virtually had everything stolen. It was a feeding frenzy," said S.U. Mahesh, spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The states applied for the change because of superstition. Officials of all three states applied for the number change because of what some saw as the old number's satanic connotation. In the Bible, the Book of Revelation says 666 is the "number of the beast," usually interpreted as Satan or the Antichrist. I am impressed the journalist actually knew that the Bible itself doesn't at all associate 666 with the "antichrist." The idea that the "antichrist" is a specific apocalyptic individual is a later invention. Most Bible scholars today agree that "666" was a cryptic referrence to the hated Roman emperor Nero. 11:40:58 PM    comment []

Idi Amin in coma Idi Amin, who was the brutal dictator of Uganda between 1971 and 79, is reportedly in coma and is unlikely to survive. Idi Amin fled to Libya after his bloodthirsty regime was ended by a Tanzanian invasion, but has spent the last ten years in Saudi Arabia. The only sad thing is he never were brought to answer for his crimes. 11:24:19 PM    comment []

BBC admits Kelly was source BBC today issued a statement confirming that Dr David Kelly, who tragically committed suicide, was the source behind the controversial reports alleging, among other things that the weapons dossier on Iraq had been "sexed up" and that the famous 45-minute claim had been put in on the insistence of Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's communications director. Immediately after Dr Kelly's death was made known, a lot of the usual suspects begun screaming for Tony Blair's blood. What is now clear is that Dr Kelly was the source for controversial claims about the government, and he directly denied the same to a parliamentary committee. When someone has slashed their wrists, there seems to be some unwritten rule that they can have done nothing wrong. If we accept Dr Kelly's words, then the controversial BBC report by Andrew Gilligan was dishonest. Otherwise, Dr Kelly lied to the committee. I am sure the criticism of the Blair government will continue, but since Dr Kelly is officially beyond criticism, being dead at his own hands, there is little doubt that BBC is in for a beating. Dr Kelly is unlikely to be the last victim of this conflict. 9:54:42 PM    comment []

Salon blogs poll results Robert's virtual soapbox has conducted an opinion poll among Salon bloggers about who they'd like to become US President in '04. Considering the political orientation of Salon magazine itself, it is not a surprise that Dems won by a landslide. This is simply not republican territory. Howard Dean (picture) was the supreme winner with 29 votes (40.3%) He was followed by John Kerry (14 votes, 19.4 %), Dennis Kucinich (8 votes, 11.1%) and finally President George Bush receiving 2 votes (2.8%) and John Edwards with one (1.4%). Braun, Gephardt, Graham, Lieberman and Sharpton received no votes whatsoever. Eighteen (25 %) of those polled were undecided. 5:08:55 PM    comment []

A day that will live in infamy Going out tonight, I was told that my watering hole, the English Pub here in Bergen, is closing. The regulars, me included, are in deep shock. It is, essentially, the end of the world as I know it. 2:55:05 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.08.2003; 01:52:02.