My Archives: February 2003
Friday, February 28, 2003
On the Political Front:
...but, first, a touch of humor. The Monty Python's Completely Useless Web Site contains scripts, pictures, sounds, video clips, news and more information about Monty Python than anyone could ever use! I recommend it. But, as John Cleese admonishes in Fawlty Towers, "Don't Mention the War!" Of course, I *must* disobey. [more]
Posted by mac @ 05:24 AM EST [Link]
Thursday, February 27, 2003
On the Political Front:
American Airlines is still talking about bankruptcy, this time with a possible date -- as early as May. Negotiations to stay afloat are revealing an interesting trend... [more]
Posted by mac @ 10:17 AM EST [Link]
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
On the Political Front:
I have vigorous contempt for most airlines because of the rapidity and eagerness with which they embraced the totalitarian measures imposed on travellers who should be under their protection, not their oppression. [more]
Posted by mac @ 08:22 AM EST [Link]
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
I keep hammering at the domestic cost of this "war" on terrorism... [more]
Posted by mac @ 12:45 PM EST [Link]
Monday, February 24, 2003
No reporting of war today... I want to concentrate on the more positive aspects of my life. Brad and I almost resorted to the "hard stuff" last night, the last refuge of two war-weary souls who want to push reality away for a few precious hours. Yes, I *am* talking about the Marx Brothers' movie "Duck Soup" with its unbelievably funny spoof-song "We're Going to War". [more]
Posted by mac @ 11:31 AM EST [Link]
Sunday, February 23, 2003
On the Political Front:
I find it necessary to open with a bit of humor, albeit macabre, because the news is so uniformly depressing. Ready.gov is a spoof site dedicating to "helping America prepare for a fiery death." The site link comes compliments of cartoonist Tom Tomorrow -- check out his still strangely relevant cartoon on '91 Gulf War. [more]
Posted by mac @ 11:53 AM EST [Link]
Saturday, February 22, 2003
"Two Midwestern senators asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the region's soaring gasoline prices and whether consumers are being gouged at the pump." Of course they are. Consumers are being gouged by stiff government taxes on every drop they pump. [more]
Posted by mac @ 08:30 AM EST [Link]
Friday, February 21, 2003
On the Political Front:
A while back, I urged readers to visit the Prelinger Archive -- a free online resource offering well over a thousand short "films/moving images", many of which are now part of the North American psyche...e.g. famous commercials. Under the "Most Viewed" category on the right-hand side is "Duck and Cover," the Cold War clip that was shown in US schools, urging children to duck under their desks in casse of enemy attack. Well, the film has been updated to "Duct Tape and Cover" but -- never fear! -- it still features Bert the Turtle. [more]
Posted by mac @ 06:09 AM EST [Link]
Thursday, February 20, 2003
On the Political Front:
Now that millions of people are opposing the war, Democrats sense a constituency and they are doing a pre-2004 campaign push as "antiwar" candidates. [more]
Posted by mac @ 10:01 AM EST [Link]
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Some Americans are boycotting French and German products because those nations are spearheading the UN's opposition to invading Iraq. Brad and I are buycotting French and German products, which is the opposite of boycotting. Instead of avoiding a good, you actively prefer it. You put your dollars where your politics are. This evening, we tried a lovely French wine with several cheeses. Buy French. Buy German. [more]
Posted by mac @ 04:34 AM EST [Link]
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
On the Political Front:
The weekend's antiwar rallies may not prevent the invasion of Iraq -- I do not believe tbat is possible -- but they may have caused delay. "American officials had hoped to see a British resolution at least implicitly authorizing the use of force in Iraq submitted to the Council by early this week. But over the weekend US officials said that while some draft wording was being considered, no final resolution yet exists." [more]
Posted by mac @ 02:22 AM EST [Link]
Monday, February 17, 2003
On the Political Front:
For a smile, I recommend Mark Fiore's cartoon about the color coded alert system (requires Flash player). Saving the world one color at a time!
[more]
Posted by mac @ 04:55 AM EST [Link]
Sunday, February 16, 2003
On the Political Front:
The antiwar outpouring around the globe was too massive for the mainstream media to ignore. The protest in London was estimated at two million by the organizers, at 750,000 by police. [more]
Posted by mac @ 04:16 AM EST [Link]
Saturday, February 15, 2003
On the Political Front:
I am heartened to see that Prime Minister Jean Chrétien is reaffirming Canada's reluctance to support the invasion of Iraq without UN backing. [more]
Posted by mac @ 09:13 AM EST [Link]
Friday, February 14, 2003
On the Political Front:
Later today, UN weapons inspector Hans Blix will deliver a key report on Iraqi compliance. [more]
Posted by mac @ 01:19 AM EST [Link]
Thursday, February 13, 2003
On the Political Front:
TIA -- Total Information Awareness -- continues to be developed for speedy implementation. The most expensive, extensive surveillance program in the world would allow the US government to sift through the personal and hitherto private records of all citizens and residents for evidence of terrorism and other illegal activity. [more]
Posted by mac @ 02:53 AM EST [Link]
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
On the Political Front:
Reaction to my FOX/ifeminist column this week has been a bit disturbing. The column examines the puzzling phenomenon of mainstream feminism's silence on the mistreatment of Iraqi women under Saddam. [more]
Posted by mac @ 06:33 AM EST [Link]
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
On the Political Front:
NATO was thrown into disarray yesterday after France, Germany, and Belgium refused to fulfil their treaty obligations to Turkey, a fellow member, in the event of war against Iraq. Rumsfeld declares, "it won't delay the war."
[more]Posted by mac @ 04:34 AM EST [Link]
Monday, February 10, 2003
On the Political Front:
...political commentary was delayed today so that I could convoy with Brad up to and provide a drive home back from "our" garage -- the only one in the county with a mechanic whose honesty and competence we trust -- in order to have the truck checked out. The driving conditions were horrendous. Near home we passed an accident that (from the appearance of the smashed car) was probably the hotrodder hellbent to pass us a few miles prior. Tronnies never learn. Tronnies = Toronto residents.
But, now... on to the "war." [more]
Posted by mac @ 03:00 PM EST [Link]
Sunday, February 9, 2003
On the Political Front:
Tensions are rising...According to an article in the BBC, "The former Taleban regime of Afghanistan has issued a rare statement urging Afghans to take part in a jihad (holy war) against US-led coalition forces based in the country." [more]
Posted by mac @ 04:18 AM EST [Link]
Saturday, February 8, 2003
On the Political Front:
The Australian Senate has passed an historic no-confidence motion against the prime minister over his handling of the crisis in Iraq. It is the Senate's first vote of no-confidence in a serving leader in its 102-year history. The vote is in reaction to Howard's deployment of troops in the gulf region, presumably to support a US invasion of Iraq. [more]
Posted by mac @ 05:24 AM EST [Link]
Thursday, February 6, 2003
On the Political Front:
The Libertarian Party's weekly press release is a good tho' brief analysis of Bush's faux tax cuts. Cato Institute provides a bit more detail on how Bush has proposed nearly $100 billion more in non-defense discretionary spending than Clinton. The upcoming war is not factored into this mad money-spending. And, yet, there are still people who argue that Republicans are for "small government." [more]
Posted by mac @ 08:24 AM EST [Link]
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
On the Political Front:
A brief break from monitoring the imminent war with Iraq and on to civil liberties instead... Alexander Cockburn -- one of my fav commentators despite the fact that he leans to the left on a slew of issues -- co-edits a dynamite political newsletter, CounterPunch. [more]
Posted by mac @ 09:22 AM EST [Link]
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
On the Political Front:
Bush's announced budget involves deficits of more than $1.084 trillion over next 5 years -- *excluding!* war in Iraq. [more]
Posted by mac @ 11:39 AM EST [Link]
Monday, February 3, 2003
Brad and I add our voices to the expression of grief over the death of the Columbia crew.
More on the cost of war: [more]
Posted by mac @ 08:57 AM EST [Link]
Sunday, February 2, 2003
The social theorist Friedrich A. Hayek believed that unintended consequences were among the most powerful forces at work in society. That was why he described social institutions as being the result of human action but not of human design. "Unintended consequences" was a cornerstone of his argument against social engineering. [more]
Posted by mac @ 10:18 AM EST [Link]
Saturday, February 1, 2003
A blog reader reproves me. I referred to Laura Bush as the "POTUS-spouse" when I should have called her the FLOTUS -- First Lady Of The United States. I sit corrected.
Now on to the Political Front.... [more]
Posted by mac @ 04:44 AM EST [Link]