24. juli 2003

Terror trial collapse Slate's Dahlia Lithwick gives Attorney general John Ashcroft a beating for the butchered trial of the alleged 20th hijacker Zacarias Moussaoui. Now, the case is deadlocked as the prosecutors refuse to follow Judge Leonie Brinkema's order to allow Moussaoui to question captured al-Qaeda official Ramzi Binalshibh. 11:26:05 PM    comment []

Scientists conclude Kansas is flatter than a pancake Geographers have, somewhat tongue in cheek, used scientific methods to confirm that Kansas is not only flat as a pancake, it is indeed much flatter. The research is published in the science humour journal Annals of Improbable Research. 8:34:40 PM    comment []

Microsoft goes on the offensive Microsoft has decided to add as many as 5,000 jobs worldwide and increase its r&d budget by 8 per cent in the current fiscal year. The software giant also announced a number of structural reforms. If other businesses follow suit, it will go a long way in fighting back the recession. 8:02:46 PM    comment []

Guantanamo Bay Many have expressed grave concerns about the Bush administration's decision to keep suspected terrorists indefinately in legal limbo on the military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Even more criticism has mounted over the decision to try the suspects in front of military tribunals. Personally, I also think this should have been handled differently. However, like so many other issues in the war on terror, I think this has been blown up beyond all reasonable proportions. To those that argue that these miliatary tribunals are a gross violation of the detainees' human rights, I have one question: Will you also argue that all the military personell in the western world, who can face military tribunals if they are accused of wrongdoing while in service, also have their fundamental human rights violated on a regular basis? In fact, the military legal system is set up to handle crimes among men and women who put their lives on the line every day, including soldiers hailed as great heroes and protectors of our democracies. If the military tribunals are good enough for them, why is it not good enough for brutal terrorists and other thugs who have been supporting an immoral and murderous system devised to destroy our civilisation? 6:59:17 AM    comment []

Bambi paintball hunt is a hoax Remember the uproar from women's groups over men paying to hunt naked women with paintball rifles? The story was picked up by media and blogs worldwide. Now the famous urban legends and hoax debunking site Snopes.com reveals it was all a publicity stunt. No naked women were injured during the production of this hoax. 5:18:55 AM    comment []

Gambian president says three wives enough When Gambian President Yahya Jammeh announced a ban on men having more than three wives until 2007, his audience burst into laughter. Gambia is 90% Muslim, and most people are very serious about their religion. The president has now angered religious leaders. 4:16:46 AM    comment []

Not so different Women want beauty over brains when seeking out a partner. 12:20:24 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.08.2003; 01:52:10.