5. november 2003

That "D" word The ugly word "draft" is raising its head in the US, even if no government not into political suicide is likely to issue a draft to bolster its troops in Iraq anytime soon. Yet, the US miliary is actually seeking people to sit on the local draft boards. The Selective Service System wants to hear from men and women in the community who might be willing to serve as members of a local draft board. What exactly does draft boards do when there is no draft, anyone? However, it is clear the US miliatary has a long-term problem with manpower, at least if it wants to live up to the so-called "imperial ambitions" of the neocons. It is the world's most powerful fighting force, yes, and it is extremely heavy, but it is not fat. With the Iraq war, and a few other assignments, the forces are already spread thin. Imagine what would happen now if the US was forced to fight a second full-scale war at the same time, as its doctrines demand from the armed forces. A draft means that there is a pool of significant manpower that can be quickly put into action with a minimum of training whenever an emergency occurs. With no draft, only the actual military and reserves, and former servicemen, can be called out on short notice. Instituting a draft when the crisis occurs is very late. It will take a long time, maybe a year, before you actually get soldiers who can be sent in harms way. Pentagon knows this very well. Many European countries, including Norway, but not the UK, have a draft. But I doubt anyone will take the political risk of instituting a draft in the US anytime soon. 11:52:39 PM    comment []  trackback []

Wanted: Virus maker Microsoft has announced today two $250,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the authors of the Sobig and Blaster worms, which has caused massive damage to PC systems around the world. The rewards, part of a larger scheme, were announced in joint press conference with the FBI, the US Secret Service, Microsoft and Interpol in Washington today. At the conference, Microsoft announced the creation of the Anti-Virus Reward Program, initially funded with $5 million, to "help law enforcement agencies identify and bring to justice those who illegally release damaging worms, viruses and other types of malicious code on the Internet". I am surprised this has not happened before. The creators of various computer nasties love to brag about their accomplishments. Most likely, some people will have crucial clues to the identities of these vandals. 10:23:37 PM    comment []  trackback []

Alien signal turned out to be amorous ram Analysts at GCHQ's offices in Cheltenham, England, were baffled by mysterious signals from its high tech intelligence gathering equipment. GCHQ's in-house paper, the Daily Observer, said the noises were unlike anything staff had encountered before and an investigating team initially thought they were coming from spies or aliens. Their investigation found the signal only happened in the day time, went across all the high-frequency bands and only Scarborough aerials could pick it up. Eventually, investigators discovered that a ram was rubbing its horns against the aerial masts "in between servicing some local ewes," the paper said. Nothing to be excited about, in other words, unless you're a sheep. 8:55:23 PM    comment []  trackback []

EU warns new member states The EU is warning the ten countries about to join the union, especially Poland, that they risk being punished if they don't set up the required systems before May 1, 2004. It is especially in the agricultural sector much work remains to be done. "We are going to be extremely firm on the principle," said European Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori. "Those establishments that don't meet EU standards will not be able to sell their products in the EU." On the other hand: Old members, like France or Germany, hardly receives a slap on the wrist for failing to meet EU rules. 7:53:07 PM    comment []  trackback []

You googled me Somebody googled an assertion, 'the US should be blamed for terrorism', and ironically my article saying the exact opposite came up first. I didn't know the google algorithms had good political sense, too 6:40:42 AM    comment []  trackback []

I shot my mouth off Christian Gauthier, a Canadian lawyer representing a convicted cop killer, was overheard singing Bob Marley's "I shot the sheriff" while walking out of the courtroom. The relatives and collegues of the dead police officer were not amused. He now faces disciplinary action. 5:20:27 AM    comment []  trackback []

Linux desktop weakened, Microsoft settlement criticised There are growing signs that while Linix is strengthened on the server side, major Linux players have all but given up winning over the consumers by creating strong desktop products that can compete effectively with Microsoft Windows. At the same time, the state of Massachusetts, the sole US state that didn't support the wide antitrust settlement with Microsoft, are arguing that it needs to be amended as the software giant is able to continue to "misuse" its market power. I bet nobody in the government really wants to risk making big waves in the IT business now that the economy finally starts to pick up (we hope) by going after Microsoft big time again.  3:52:30 AM    comment []  trackback []

EU sharpens knives in steel row with US The European Union is awaiting a decision from the World Trade Organization, widely expected to rule that the US steel tariffs violates free trade rules. The EU has already made a list of targets for retaliatory strikes, and then it's Bush personally they are going after: The EU drew up its $2.2 billion hit list of U.S. products with the goal of maximizing the political pain for Republicans, targeting Harley Davidson motorcycles produced in Wisconsin, textile products from the Southeast and citrus products from Florida. Obviously, if you are in favour of free trade, then you don't make excuses for steel tariffs to bribe key voters in a way that threatens a trade war that will injure everybody. Bush is in the wrong here, and while the EU's retaliation seems childish, Europe hardly has any choice but to react. Free trade only benefits everybody if nobody cheats. Both the EU and US have been long term free trade hypocrites. 1:54:44 AM    comment []  trackback []

'Obesity gene' found, sorta British scientists have found the ultimate excuse for being fat: an obesity gene. Lead researcher Professor Philippe Froguel said obesity was a complex problem, which could not be entirely explained by one factor alone. But he said GAD2 may be responsible for obesity in about one in ten seriously overweight people. He said: "Having identified this gene, it may be possible to develop a screening programme to identify those who may be at risk of becoming obese later in life and take effective preventative measures." As always, "the genes did it" is bad logic even when based on good science. The genes no doubt influences us to do many things, directly and indirectly, but they don't force us to act irresponsible. There is a reason that there is such an expression as "an healthy appetite." It is a bad thing only when you eat the wrong thing, and don't exercise. I doubt the massive surge in obesity in the western world over the last decade has anything to do with a change in the gene pool. 12:35:35 AM    comment []  trackback []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.12.2003; 12:11:54.