Beware of the Newt
"Now he's back, preaching the gospel of party moderation."
Watch out for Newt.
Rhianna's Groovy Tarot BLOG: What's in The Cards?
Blog of Rhianna, a Groovy Fortuneteller: read about political & economic rants and rambles as Rhianna reveals crystal ball forecasts and tarot card predictions with a mystical twist on celebrity gossip, fortunetelling, current events, astrology, humor, entertainment, news and advice.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Portugal Bars Dutch Abortion Ship From Docking; Defense Ministry Threatens To Use Force
Portugal Bars Dutch Abortion Ship From Docking; Defense Ministry Threatens To Use Force
"The operators of the Dutch Women on Waves ship said on Sunday that the vessel will stay outside of Portuguese waters until it is given permission to dock in the country, following an announcement by the Portuguese Defense Ministry that it would use force to bar the ship from entering its territorial water to provide abortion services and contraception, Agence France-Presse reports (Agence France-Presse, 8/30). "
Kerry's wavering on abortion
Kerry's wavering on abortion
"Kerry is trying to have it both ways. He wants to talk about being pro-life and the Bible's support for that position. Then he hopes to split the differences and somehow merge that view with the controversial Roe v. Wade decision.
That is a difficult merger. A baby is a human being in the womb, or it is just a blob of protoplasm. It can't be both at the same time. That is what the abortion debate has been all about, for 30 years.
The issue deserves debate also because the pro-abortion rights position has led to unintended consequences. Abortion is often used not to save the lives of mothers, but to avoid the inconvenience of children.
Amy Richards wrote in the New York Times magazine this summer about how she needed to abort two of the three children in her womb because of the inconvenience that three would bring"
Life is not a convenience to throw away.
Do you think that you are not affected by the abortion debates? If abortion is wholeheartedly embraced, what will stop Euthanasia?
Web addicts escape army conscription
Yahoo! News - Web addicts escape army conscription: "HELSINKI (Reuters) - A number of Finnish conscripts have been excused their full term of military service because they are addicted to the Internet, the Finnish Defence Forces says."
Why Bush is on the carpet with Hoover
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Why Bush is on the carpet with Hoover
"As Bush's term has followed the eight years of economic boom under Bill Clinton, the Hoover comparison is one that hurts.
It hands Democratic challenger John Kerry one of his strongest cards in the campaign.
It has been touch and go all year as to whether jobs growth, measured by monthly non-farm payrolls data, would be sufficiently rapid to save Bush from having to adopt the Hoover mantle.
But the low new jobs figure of 32,000 in July, compared with a Wall Street forecast of a 220,000 gain, combined with a downward revision of 50,000 to the jobs numbers of the previous two months, means Bush needs almost a quarter of a million new jobs a month between now and the end of the year to replace all the jobs lost since he took power in 2000."
Uh oh -- Both candidates are like Hoover?
Timothy Kane on John Kerry, Herbert Hoover, the Great Depression, and Economic Policy on NRO Financial
"History reminds us that presidents cannot control the economic winds. But they can change the direction of the sails.
What were Hoover’s policy responses to the Great Depression? He persuaded Congress to raise the top income-tax rate from 25 percent to 63 percent. Hoover also signed the Smoot-Hawley tariff, a 40 percent tax on imports. But aren’t higher taxes on the rich and protectionism against outsourcing Kerry’s signature issues? Every time outsourcing is mentioned in this campaign, voters should recognize Hoover’s fingerprints on the Kerry economic agenda."
Ad compares Bush to Herbert Hoover on economy | The Arizona Daily Star ?
Ad compares Bush to Herbert Hoover on economy | The Arizona Daily Star ? He sure does sound like Hoover lately.
Poverty Rates Continue to Rise Under Bush
Baltimore Times - Article - national news
"In addition to the increase in poverty, overall Census Bureau figures show that the number of uninsured Americans rose to 45 million in 2003, up 1.4 million from 2002 when 43.6 million Americans were uninsured. In 2000, the year Bush was elected, 39.8 million were uninsured.
'The year 2003 marked the third straight year that living standards have deteriorated, with poverty increasing, the number of uninsured climbing, and the income of the typical household stagnating,' says Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities."
Sound like a Candidate you know?
Herbert Hoover
The President
From Washington Merry-Go-Round (1931)"He came in on the high tide of a prosperity which he claimed was wholly the act of the Republican Party. It was a golden era that under his ministrations would be broadened and deepened in its fruitfulness. He was the apostle of the New Economic Order, promising a chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage.
A year later millions were walking the streets out of work. Thousands of factories have been shut down. Thousands of concerns and businesses have gone into bankruptcy, and hundreds of banks have crashed and failed. Agricultural prices have sunk to the lowest levels in thirty years. Exports have fallen off hundreds of millions of dollars and throughout the length and breadth of the land there is want, hunger, despair, and tragedy.
When he entered the White House he was the hero of great humanitarian exploits. In Europe and Russia he had fed millions. He had never hesitated to come before Congress and ask for vast sums for this purpose.
When disaster overwhelmed millions of his own countrymen in the city and on the farm, he suddenly developed austere scruples."
http://www.monmouth.com/~colonel/hoover.html
Monday, August 30, 2004
Yahoo! News - UPDATE: Roger Altman on Jobs Numbers Out This Week and the Bush Economy Heading Into the Election; New Time - 1 p.m. ET
The many faces of John Kerry
The many faces of John Kerry
Remember when the Daily News displayed a picture of John Kerry next to a picture of Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster? Well, Kerry's flip-flopping can be reminiscent of another scary character:
"Sounds familiar? Someone wrote a book about it in the 1800s--it’s called Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. During his 19 years as a career politician and Washington insider, Kerry has never let a little thing like principle get in his way. He’s made a career out of balancing between the Democratic Party’s conservative and the liberal wings.from http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-1/485/485_05_Kerry.shtml
That’s why, last week in Greenville, S.C., Kerry declared that he was going to "hold Bush accountable" for the war in Iraq. But just as easily, he could boast to his Republican critics, "I have voted for the largest defense budgets in the history of our country."
Kerry has taken several liberal positions during his career, only to take them back years later."
Does anyone else picture political candidates in Halloween costumes? Kerry does take the prize as Frankenstein, or another Herman Munster.
Vice President Dick Cheney would look great as Nosferatu. How about President Bush? Does President Bush look more like the Wolfman or the Devil?
No matter the outcome of Election 2004, Halloween is going to be a blast with all these scary candidates.
Bush's House of Cards
Bush's House of Cards by Dean Baker
Dean Baker is the co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
"The red-hot housing market has forced up home prices nationwide by 35 percent after adjusting for inflation. There is no precedent for this sort of increase in home prices. Historically, home prices have moved at roughly the same pace as the overall rate of inflation. While the bubble has not affected every housing market--in large parts of the country home prices have remained pretty much even with inflation--in the bubble areas, primarily on the two coasts, home prices have exceeded the overall rate of inflation by 60 percentage points or more.
The housing enthusiasts, led by Alan Greenspan, insist that the run-up is not a bubble, but rather reflects fundamental factors in the demand for housing. They cite several factors that could explain the price surge: a limited supply of urban land, immigration increasing the demand for housing, environmental restrictions on building, and rising family income leading to increased demand for housing.
A quick examination shows that none of these explanations holds water. Land is always in limited supply; that fact never led to such a widespread run-up in home prices in the past. Immigration didn't just begin in the late nineties. Also, most recent immigrants are low-wage workers. They are not in the market for the $500,000 homes that middle-class families now occupy in bubble-inflated markets. Furthermore, the demographic impact of recent immigration rates pales compared to the impact of baby boomers first forming their first households in the late seventies and eighties. And that did not lead to a comparable boom in home prices."
BW Online | August 30, 2004 | Nothing to Fear but the Election Itself
BW Online | August 30, 2004 | Nothing to Fear but the Election Itself: "Market strategist Barry Ritholtz says this election has loads of wild cards, and that's making the Street jittery "
(DV) McGovern: Swift and Intelligent Smokescreen
(DV) McGovern: Swift and Intelligent Smokescreen
" What do the president’s nomination of Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., to head the CIA and the seemingly contradictory proposal of Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., to dismember the CIA have in common with tales of Swift boats once in Vietnam? Answer: The proven potential of all three to grab the headlines and draw attention away from President George W. Bush’s most serious vulnerabilities in this key pre-election period."
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Center for Economic and Policy Research
"CEPR promotes democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives."
Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide
Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide
"Political Issue
`The Fed chairman has put out a warning that the markets ignore at their peril,'' said Christopher Rupkey, senior financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in New York. `The greying of America could force interest rates up substantially with the Fed powerless to respond.'
Social Security is a political issue in the U.S. during this presidential election year. In his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston July 29, nominee John Kerry suggested he would consider tax increases to close the funding gap. `As president, I will not privatize Social Security. I will not cut benefits,' he said.
President George W. Bush, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, yesterday, said that younger workers should be `concerned' about the fiscal stability of Social Security, and again pitched private retirement savings. `I believe younger workers ought to be able to own a personal retirement account they call their own, so they can pass it on from one generation to the next,' he said."
(DV) Mayer: History is on the Side of the Nader Candidacy
Vote your beliefs and for the candidate who is most qualified and most courageous
"Polls show that if the election were held today, Kerry would win because of his lead in the swing states. History suggests this will not be a close race. Close Presidential races come along once or twice a century and it is unlikely that we will have two in a row based on historical patterns.
If the economy doesn’t start producing more jobs, Kerry could win in a landslide. If Osama Bin Laden is captured, Bush will win in a landslide. Either of these scenarios is more likely than another photo finish like the 2000 election.
If one accepts that the race might not be close, then progressives might want to rethink their stance on the Nader candidacy and elevate their sense of their own importance in the political history of the country. "
Party Favors
Party Favors: "New campaign finance rules haven't stopped lobbyists from bankrolling lavish fetes at the conventions."
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Pixel2Life.com - Tutorial Index & Search Engine - Hosting Provided by ServerSeed
Pixel2Life.com - Tutorial Index & Search Engine - Hosting Provided by ServerSeed
"Pixel2Life is a Tutorial Index & Search Engine for designers and programmers. Thousands of tutorials, free image hosting, Photoship plugins & Filters, Free 3D models and much more! Tutorials, Tutorial Index, Tutorial Search Engine, Flash, Macromedia, Adobe, Photoshop, Corel, Coreldraw, Photopaint, HTML Tips and Tricks, PHP Coding, ASP, SQL, Free Image Hosting, Forums, Help, Search, Free Tutorials, Sig Files, 3d Studio Max, 3D Models, Downloads, Filters, Plug-Ins, Brushes, Meshes"
GreenvilleOnline.com - GOP 'cautiously upbeat' as delegates gather in N.Y.
GreenvilleOnline.com - GOP 'cautiously upbeat' as delegates gather in N.Y.
"Cautiously optimistic but embattled Republicans are assembling in New York today for a national convention they hope will offer enough bounce to give President Bush a second term."
If the GOP is looking for some bounce, they should just ask Britney Spears to chew some wads of pink bubble gum and then to throw pieces of it to the delegates of the Convention.
Some of the delegates were wondering whether they really wanted to go to NYC: after all, they'd have to face traffic gridlock, hot subways, and then on top of that there will be a number of protesters (There's something about NYC that brings out the protester in a person).
The delegates were giving careful consideration to all the possible obstacles, *but* then word came out that Britney Spears might be coming to the Convention. As far as the delegates were concerned, Britney's appearance would make the Convention worthwhile.
Why would Britney show up? Britney is looking for juicy tax credits and some gum.
There's a rumor that Topps Candy & Gum just might give Britney some Bazooka Bubble Gum to blow. Wow, that will really instill a sense of excitement. If Britney will be blowing bubbles, tell the delegates to be upbeat but to be cautious & watch where they step.
Winston-Salem Journal | Democratic team in New York to counter GOP convention
Winston-Salem Journal | Democratic team in New York to counter GOP convention: "A Democratic 'rapid response team' is in New York, eager to remind Americans of the many domestic problems that President Bush and his administration have not solved, Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa says."
Britney Spears at GOP Convention?
NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story
Maybe Britney will spit out a wad of gum and offer it as a campaign contribution.
Mirror.co.uk - BRITNEY'S OLD GUM SELLING ON INTERNET
Mirror.co.uk - BRITNEY'S OLD GUM SELLING ON INTERNET
"INTERNET auction site eBay was forced to withdraw a discarded lump of Britney Spears's chewing gum after boasts it contained her DNA.
Bids had already reached 280 (Pounds Sterling) when the site realised the sale contravened its Human Body Parts and Remains policy."
Alice slams anti-Bush rockers
Alice slams anti-Bush rockers
"Despite his strong insistence that rock has no place in politics, Cooper is one of just a handful of high-profile musicians who've proclaimed support for Bush.
The list of pop-culture Republicans includes Britney Spears, Toby Keith and Ted Nugent, the latter being one of Cooper's old buddies from his early days in Detroit."
Florida voters deadlocked, survey shows; Bush, Kerry at 46% each: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida voters deadlocked, survey shows; Bush, Kerry at 46% each: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
"Apparently boosted by his rapid response to the ravages of Hurricane Charley, President Bush has pulled dead even with Democratic challenger John Kerry in the presidential race in Florida.
The race is as close as it can be: 46 percent for Bush, 46 percent for Kerry, 2 percent for independent Ralph Nader and 6 percent undecided, according to a statewide poll commissioned by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Florida Times-Union."
Saturday, August 28, 2004
sundaymail - STRANGE BUT TRUE: BIZARRE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD : FORTUNE COOKIES
sundaymail - STRANGE BUT TRUE: BIZARRE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD : FORTUNE COOKIES Someone won using numbers printed on the fortunes.
Polls Continue to Predict Tight US Presidential Election
VOANews.com: "Some new public opinion polls suggest the U.S. presidential election remains very tight and that an unusually high number of voters have already decided which candidate they will support."
Ready.gov - From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Ready.gov - From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
"All Americans should begin a process of learning about potential threats so we are better prepared to react during an attack. While there is no way to predict what will happen, or what your personal circumstances will be, there are simple things you can do now to prepare yourself and your loved ones."
Moontool for Windows
Moontool for Windows: "Moontool for Windows is a Microsoft Windows application which calculates the phase of the Moon at either the current time or at any user-specified time and displays a picture of the Moon at the correct phase, either as a system tray icon or in an open window."
Your Sky -- How did the sky appear when you were born?
Predict your future skies
Your Sky
" Your Sky makes custom maps of the sky for any location on Earth and any date from 4713 B.C. into the distant future. Maps can include stars as faint as magnitude 6.5, constellation names, outlines, and boundaries, the Moon and planets, deep sky objects from a database of more than 500, and a comet or asteroid whose position is calculated from its orbital elements. A variety of display options allow customising the map for its intended use."
Javascript SkyPlanner
Javascript SkyPlanner
"Skyplanner is a tool for graphically presenting ephemeris data for astronomical objects. The data is displayed as charts to get a quick overview of the visibility etc of the desired object. Skyplanner has many uses. It is obviously of interest to lunar and planetary observers to identify good times for observation of selected objects. Deep sky observers want to know when that "irritating" Moon is well hidden below the horizon. And it is also a great tool for simply investigating the mechanics of the movements of the planets and the Moon."
Notes to Javascript SkyPlanner
Ole's Astronomy Site
Transit Kalculator
Transit Kalculator
"This Transit Kalculator allows you to look at how the planets in the sky right now are affecting the planets in your own birthchart (or any other chart, for that matter). User Instructions are after the applet and data entry form, while the Help Pages contain links to supplemental information. See the System Requirements section..."
High energy prices slow economy
Observer-Reporter
"Soaring energy prices have taken a toll on economic activity, aggravating the U.S. trade deficit as the nation's foreign oil bill swelled and making consumers less willing to spend.
The yawning trade deficit in the second quarter -- which hit a record $588.7 billion on an annualized basis -- shaved 1.4 percentage points off the GDP. That was worse than first thought."
Kerry attacks Bush on sluggish economy
Kerry outlined a plan to crack down on predatory lenders: "DALY CITY, Calif. -- John Kerry on Friday hammered President Bush for a sluggish economy and failing to protect consumers from the 'debt trap' set by predatory lenders, as the Democratic nominee prepared to retreat to Nantucket, Mass., Saturday night and cede center stage to the Republican convention for much of the next week."
Commerce Department: Economy's growth falls short of initial projections
News - theworldlink.com - Serving the Great South Coast of Oregon
"WASHINGTON (AP) - Weighed down by high energy prices, the economy was even more sluggish than initially believed during the second quarter. But Federal Reserve policy-makers believe the pace will pick up in coming months, something President Bush is counting on as the election approaches.
The Commerce Department reported Friday that gross domestic product grew at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the April-to-June quarter, down from an earlier estimate of a 3 percent pace. The new GDP reading - the smallest gain in just over a year - indicated the economy slowed considerably compared with the brisk 4.5 percent growth rate in the first quarter of 2004."
ABCNEWS.com : Kerry, Greenspan Differ on Social Security
ABCNEWS.com : Kerry, Greenspan Differ on Social Security: "John Kerry, Alan Greenspan Offer Different Perspectives on Social Security"
Son of Margaret Thatcher lead mercenaries from the former USSR - PRAVDA.Ru
Son of Margaret Thatcher lead mercenaries from the former USSR - PRAVDA.Ru: "The South African police arrested the son of the former Prime Minister of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher.
51-year-old Mark Thatcher is suspected of funding and providing technical assistance to the mercenaries who were plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea."
Rhianna's Element is Water (fitting for a Pisces!)
You're Element is Water. You are soft and serene at
most times but like Wind, you're scary when
you're mad. You proabaly have a talent is
singing and even your speaking voice is lovely.
You have an innocent type of beauty that makes
you look younger than you are and you like
close relationships with people.
What's Your Element(girls)? (PICTURES)
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Rhianna Knows Pink!
You're Pink!
Rate a 5 to see a picture of a hot
guy... Send me a message!
What is your color? (girls only... great anime pics)
brought to you by Quizilla
RU-486: Women aren't hearing all the facts
RU-486: Women aren't hearing all the facts
"'It is vital that US women understand that some international women's groups have been far more critical of chemical abortion than have their US counterparts.'
Professors Renate Klein, Lynette Dumble and Janice Raymond, self-described 'feminists' and co-authors of RU-486: Misconceptions, Myths and Morals"
Gods and Monsters
Talking apes, flying pigs, superhumans with armadillo attributes, and other strange considerations of Dr. Stuart Newman's fight to patent a human/animal chimera
"Strange as it may seem, the inventor, Dr. Stuart Newman, a soft-spoken developmental biologist and professor at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, completely agreed with Lehman that his invention defied the boundaries of human morality. It's why he filed for the patent. And it's why, six years later, as the biomedical community holds its breath, he and the Patent Office remain locked in a legal battle that may redefine what we mean by 'human.'
Newman's patent application is for an intriguing biotechnological contrivance called a chimera [ki-mir-a]. According to Greek mythology, a chimera was a part-lion, part-goat, part-serpent creature that terrorized Lycia until it was slain by the hero Bellerophon. If biotech continues to run amok, warns Newman, such inventions of legend and allegory could actually be invented.
Created by injecting the embryonic stem cells of one or more species into the embryo of another species and then allowing that embryo to continue development in the womb of either species, a biological chimera is a way to hybridize two or more species that won't cross sexually. The exact results are largely unpredictable except for the certainty that the chimera will contain cells of each species proportionate to the numbers placed in the embryo. "
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2004/01/12_401.html
Catholic Health Association Denounces Continuing National 'Tragedy' of Growing Numbers of Uninsured; Numbers of Persons Living in Poverty and Lacking
Catholic Health Association Denounces Continuing National 'Tragedy' of Growing Numbers of Uninsured; Numbers of Persons Living in Poverty and Lacking Health Insurance Reveal Something is Wrong with Nation's Moral and Fiscal Priorities - - insurancenewsnet.com: "Catholic Health Association Denounces Continuing National 'Tragedy' of Growing Numbers of Uninsured;Numbers of Persons Living in Poverty and Lacking Health Insurance Reveal Something is Wrong with Nation's Moral and Fiscal Priorities"
The Catholic Health Association of the United States
Greenspan: Country may face ‘painful’ choices
"Greenspan has long been concerned about benefits programs for the elderly. Back in 1983, he chaired a commission that rescued Social Security during an earlier funding crisis.
And starting last February, he has delivered a series of warnings about the looming crisis in Social Security and Medicare, which, along with soaring budget deficits, are likely to be the biggest economic challenges in the next four years.
However, the government’s two largest entitlement programs have received little attention in the presidential race because neither Bush nor his Democratic challenger, John Kerry, wants to dwell on financing problems that present painful choices.
Bush favors giving younger workers the option of putting part of their payroll tax into personal retirement accounts. Kerry opposes the plan for partial privatization."
Greenspan blows a 'Jackson Hole' in candidates' election promises
Tarot symbol: 5 of Coins/Pentacles:
"As President George Bush and John Kerry outbid each other in rosy promises, Alan Greenspan yesterday brought the election debate on the economy down to earth: Sooner or later (and probably sooner) the US had to stop living off foreign credit, and cut back the social entitlement programmes which threaten to engulf the federal budget."
The 5 of Coins/Pentacles is a card that would symbolize the worry of the potential loss/cut-back of Social Security and other social benefits.
Greenspan critical of benefit promises
looming crisis in Social Security and Medicare has received little attention in the presidential race
"JACKSON, Wyo. -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan yesterday said the country will face 'abrupt and painful' choices if Congress does not move quickly to trim the Social Security and Medicare benefits that have been promised to the Baby Boom generation.
Returning to a politically explosive issue he has addressed a number of times this year, Greenspan said it was wrong for the government to hold out the promise of more retirement benefits than it is capable of providing."
Don't Take the Bait
E-mail con artists using trickier methods to "phish" for victims
"And the online scammers are getting creative."
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Beadmaking Education
Links about Beadmaking Education from the International Society of Glass Beadmakers
Glass Art Gallery > Its the Pinkness - Glass Artists.org
The pink glass beads are absolutely gorgeous!
See the gallery of beautiful beads to see
the topics below and more:glass art,glass artists,glassblowing,lampworking
flameworking,glass blowing,glass beads
glass marbles,glass paperweights
glass sculptures,glass jewelry,glass vessels,glass neon,
stained glass,glass pipes,glass beads,lab glass
glassblowing equipment,glassblowing studio
Monday, August 23, 2004
Projected Electoral College Vote: Swing States, 8/23/04
It will be a swinger election as the swing votes will be in focus.
Big Bets on Presidential Election
Who will win? Bush? Kerry? A 3rd party candidate?
Presidential election bets now exceed US$500 million
"It has been revealed that the current tally of political bets being placed trying to anticipate the outcome of the Bush versus Kerry election is estimated to be in excess of US$500 million. This election is generating a lot of interest, and with all predictors admitting that the outcome is a tough one to predict, punters have been responding with an increasing involvement being observed by sites which offer political wagering."
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Blogging Troubles
Wow, within the same time period Rhianna has had trouble with Blogger and even more trouble with scifi.pages.at.
When Rhianna wishes to capture another site's url with a quote, she often uses the Javascript "Blog this!" tool from her bookmarks/favorites. First, that was getting tangled.
Then a greater shock came from scifi.pages.at because scifi.pages.at/rhianna/blogger was missing...but the mystery is why didn't scifi.pages.at/rhianna disappear as well?
Come back blog, come back to your blogger! Please don't make Rhianna switch domains.
scifi.pages.at has been such a reliable & easy to use domain. Please remain Rhianna's domain.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Interactive Election Trivia Game for you to play
Combine the joys of Olympic competition with political trivia. Where does your candidate stand on the issues? You'll do cartwheels over the funny online game, "Kerry's Flip Flop Olympics" at www.georgewbush.com/olympics/
You'll need a crystal ball to get all the answers right.
Is anyone else having problems with Blogger?
I tried to blog some sites but the urls became twisted to mine.
What's wrong? I tried to use the JavaScript tool Blog This! Instead of capturing the url of the site I wanted, the url became jumbled and merged with mine. Even when I tried to edit the post, I encountered difficulty and ended up deleting a couple of posts.
Blonde
What is your Inner Anime Hair Color? (With Pictures)
brought to you by Quizilla
Rhianna was very blonde as a child; then her hair grew out to be more of a golden brown.
Results to an anime quiz
Chibbi_Yuffie
Which one of Miss_Saturn's animex friends are you? (With pretty piccies)
brought to you by Quizilla
Monday, August 16, 2004
Tarot Reading at sacred-texts.com
Tarot Reading A free Tarot reading application is presented for entertainment purposes only. Rhianna disagrees with a random significator devoid of meaningful connection to the querent; however, this is an interesting JavaScript spread based on Waite's Pictorial Key to the Tarot and is somewhat helpful in learning and applying the interpretations and Tarot philosophy of Arthur Edward Waite. The Javascript selection of the cards is well done. Kudos to J. B. Hare for the HTML and Javascript design.
The Morning Sun: What's with the Fed raising interest rates in an election year?
The Morning Sun: What's with the Fed raising interest rates in an election year? 08/16/04: "And in what is seemingly the strangest twist of all, President Bush and his economic team are not criticizing the moves [talking about the Fed raising a a key interest rate by a quarter-point], but rather are pointing to the rate hikes as a sign of economic strength. To demonstrate support for Greenspan, Bush renominated him for a fifth term just shortly before the rate increases began in June."
2theadvocate.com: News - Troops return home to battles on job front 08/16/04
2theadvocate.com: News - Troops return home to battles on job front 08/16/04: "WASHINGTON -- Increasing numbers of National Guard and Reserve troops who have returned from war in Iraq and Afghanistan are encountering new battles with their civilian employers at home. Jobs were eliminated, benefits reduced and promotions forgotten."
Bush to Order 70,000 Troops Home
Troop realignment: "U.S. officials say President Bush has decided to bring home tens of thousands of American troops from posts around the world, mostly those stationed in Europe and Asia.
The changes will have no effect on forces in Iraq or Afghanistan."
President Bush, please bring the troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan home!
France's Manaudou can't believe historic swimming gold
Reuters Olympics 2004: "ATHENS, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Teenager Laure Manaudou could scarcely believe it when she became the first Frenchwoman to win an Olympic swimming gold medal with victory in the 400 metres freestyle on Sunday."
NYMEX Crude Hits Record $46.90
Latest Business News and Financial Information | Reuters.com: "NYMEX crude oil futures soared to a record of $46.90 a barrel on Monday on concerns about possible unrest and disruption to oil supply as Venezuelans voted in large numbers on whether to recall President Hugo Chavez."
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Press Release from Blogshares
Rhianna flippantly flipped to Blogshares, not expecting to see any dramatic activity, yet what should appear but this mysterious press release:
Sage Enterprises pressured out public stock holders at a total cost of B$46,039.33 using a Senator (artefact)
Sage Enterprises: http://blogshares.com/user.php?id=15207
PRID# 92282 / Posted: 16:48 15 Aug 2004
Press Release Archive
Question: Why were public stock holders pressured out of Rhianna's groovy Blogshare stocks? Why was a "Senator" needed? Which "Senator" was used? Will this have any effect upon the upcoming 2004 election? *Laugh*
Rhianna actually prefers to leave some stock open and liquid so that more participants can participate; but before lamenting lost liquidity, it should be noted that Sage Enterprises can be classified as "Bears": they have been known to sell short.
By the way, Sage, Kudos on your new endeavor, Kudos on your profile, and I've enjoyed the beautiful lakes of Wisconsin in the past, perhaps I shall visit again some day.
Kudos on your delightful blog, Goddessing (but I must admit, that using nouns as verbs still strike me with Orwellian alarm).
Voter Registration and
Third Parties Involved in this year's Presidential Election
Rhianna looked in her crystal ball and discovered the the U.S. political system is chock full of political parties offering presidential nominees.
Gee, no wonder the political scene appears to be so blurry; here's a site that may help define the parties:
DIRECTORY OF U.S. POLITICAL PARTIES
Most people know about the 2 major parties:
the Democratic Party and the Republican Party but do people know the choices offered by third party candidates?
Hey, there's more than 3! Check out the DIRECTORY OF U.S. POLITICAL PARTIES because it truly is "The Most Comprehensive Online Guide to American Politics," well-done and nicely presented! If you're looking for a simple "laundry list" of political parties, check out the Yahoo! Directory U.S. Political Parties
Rhianna's blog aims to be political, not partisan. You will find that there is some focus on certain issues of importance. What issues are important to you?
Soon Rhianna will be conducting Election 2004 Countdown Tarot Card Readings and the will be some readings with a focus on the candidates.
Check out the League of Women Voters to educate yourself on issues and to register to vote!
Your vote is very important! Even if you cast a vote for a candidate who does not win the election, your vote has not been wasted because your vote is still sending out a message. If you want to be hip, you can also register at Rock the Vote, Project Vote Smart or look at the many possibilities offered by Google in answer to how you can register to vote or if you prefer, your local Department of Motor Vehicles will assist you in registering to vote. You can vote for any candidate of your choice regardless of political party affiliation. The groovy thing to do in 2004 is to get registered and vote!
Wow, look at all these 3rd parties! Are they all going to nominate candidates and be on the ballot?
Be sure to check the DIRECTORY OF U.S. POLITICAL PARTIES because there's not enough room to list them all [and some parties at this time have not clearly nominated candidates] in this post, but here's an alphabetical sample of some parties that offer choice for your voice. Only parties with nominated presidential candidates are listed below. Check the Directory for updates on nominations and for more general information. Be heard & vote!
American Independent Party
The American Party
Constitution Party National Political Headquarters
Green Party
Independent American Party
Libertarian Party
Reform Party
Socialist Workers Party
Ron Reagan’s Stem Cell Utopia
Ron Reagan’s Stem Cell Utopia
"A reasonable question is what is the source of the donor eggs? A reasonable answer is women. It only makes sense, then, to ponder what women? It is a biological fact that each woman produces a certain amount of ovum in her life. Each menstrual cycle brings a woman closer to the end of her fertility. If she has her ovum surgically removed for the sake of providing medical treatments, she further reduces her ability to conceive.
Looking into this truth is not merely an effort to induce women to consider the potential sorrow that can come from the decision to offer ovum to the advancement of medical technology. It is more offered for the sake of considering some of the questions that social scientific history should inspire such as if there have ever been cases that people groups have been targeted for elimination? Wouldn’t limiting the ability of women to procreate help to eliminate various people groups? Can such efforts arise in a modern world of tolerance and sophistication? "
Saturday, August 14, 2004
U.S. Newswire - Planned Parenthood's Question About Size Indicates the Organization Lacks Tact Says American Life League
U.S. Newswire - Planned Parenthood's Question About Size Indicates the Organization Lacks Tact Says American Life League
"Planned Parenthood is selling a 6-inch ruler that poses the sarcastic question, 'Does Size Matter?' The ruler then directs children to Teenwire.com, a web site filled with graphic sexual content that many parents find offensive. This web site was recently banned from public libraries in South Dakota.
'Planned Parenthood again shows us that they are not about helping kids, but about forcing their radical agenda on the public,' said Sedlak. 'These types of materials and the Teenwire website are an attack on the vulnerability of our youth and a vehicle for Planned Parenthood to come between parents and their children.'"
Abortion death cited in action against doctor - The Clarion-Ledger
Ala. suspends license of Jackson abortion practitioner
"A doctor who performs abortions in Jackson had his Alabama medical license suspended after one of his patients who had an abortion at a Birmingham clinic died last year.
The Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners concluded Dr. Malachy Dehenre, 53, practiced medicine in a way as to 'endanger the health of patients' and committed 'repeated malpractice.'"
Some Doctors May Be Hazardous To Your Health
Zogby Poll Asserts Majority of Americans are Pro-Life, January 23, 2004
Aborted fetuses are being dissected alive, harvested and sold in pieces to fuel a vast research enterprise
Demand for halt to grisly trade in aborted baby body parts
Germans Call for European Ban on Embryo Cloning | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 13.08.2004
Germans Call for European Ban on Embryo Cloning | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 13.08.2004
"German top doctors and political parties react to Britain's decision to allow human embryo cloning by calling for an EU ban on the practice and for Berlin to issue a more critical ethical position.
Though cloning is already illegal in Germany, medical associations and a broad roster of politicians on Friday called on the government to take a strong ethical stand on the issue and push for a binding international ban. The move came after Britain on Wednesday gave scientists the go ahead to clone human embryos for purposes of medical research. British law, however, still prohibits the actual cloning of humans."
Internet Sacred Text Archive Home
Internet Sacred Text Archive Home
"This is a quiet place in cyberspace devoted to religious tolerance and scholarship"
Tarot Card Cross-reference Index
Tarot Card Cross-reference Index
"Tarot Card Cross-reference
This portion of the site cross-references all of the Tarot Card images at sacred-texts for side-by-side comparisons."
INSITE OUT: A replacement for NotePad
If you are thinking about a test editor as a replacement for Windows NotePad, you might wish to consider DomiNOTE which is a 260KB download from www.dominocs.com/Download/freeDomiNOTE.zip
"DomiNOTE is intended to be a direct replacement for Windows NotePad. No installation is required. All you need to do is download the zipped program, unzip it, call it “notepad.exe” and place it in your C:\windows\ directory, where NotePad presumably is.This program features:
If you’re asked if you wish to replace the existing notepad.exe, you do. From then on, every time you or a program will launch NotePad it is in fact DomiNOTE that will actually be open."
Greek community in NYC celebrates Olympics
Greek community in NYC celebrates Olympics
"NEW YORK (AP) — Inside the Athens Cafe in Astoria, Queens — the neighborhood at the heart of New York City's Greek-American community — Costas Maurikis beamed as the gold-glowing Acropolis appeared on television.
"Everyone feels a little more Greek tonight," said Maurikis, 60, during Friday's opening ceremonies.
The Olympics have made their long-awaited return to their birthplace in Greece, and for Greeks an ocean away in Astoria, watching the world's eyes turn toward their native land is thrilling.
The first modern Olympiad was held in Athens in 1896 and Greek Americans say the Games' return is long overdue."
Direct Selling Association - About Direct Selling - Protecting Yourself from Pyramid Schemes
Direct Selling Association - About Direct Selling - Protecting Yourself from Pyramid Schemes
"What is a pyramid scheme?
Pyramid schemes are illegal scams in which large numbers of people at the bottom of the pyramid pay money to a few people at the top. Each new participant pays for the chance to advance to the top and profit from payments of others who might join later. "
Destructive Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Destructive Embryonic Stem Cell Research
"Dr. J. Wilke of Life Issues Institute writes, 'You can't have it both ways. You can't profess to be pro-life and support experimentation on these tiny children that will result in their deaths. As physicians we first pledge to do no harm. (Embryonic stem cell research) flies in the face of a doctor's primary responsibility.'
Some say the possible benefits justify destructive embryonic stem cell research. This 'noble use' argument is simple: the end justifies the means. But the intentional harm of a human being for the benefit of another is wrong. Stem cell research’s ultimate goal may be to heal, but countless human beings have to be killed first."
Tennessee Right to Life - Overpopulation Myths (United Against Abortion, Infanticide, Euthanasia, Human Cloning and Fetal Tissue Research.)
Newfoundland Right to Life Association: Stem Cell Research
Newfoundland Right to Life Association: Stem Cell Research
"The first, and perhaps worst misconception is that the human embryos being destroyed by this research are 'excess embryos' who would be destroyed or discarded anyway, so we might as well benefit from them even if they don't benefit from us.
Congressman Joe Pitts recently told about 2-year-old Hannah, who would beg to differ with that claim. You see, three years ago she was one of those 'disposable' frozen embryos. Now she is a toddler, and the child of loving adoptive parents. Abundant infertile couples in America stand ready to adopt embryos and raise children like Hannah. Those embryos do not have to be killed in experimentation; they can be allowed to live."
Newfoundland Right to Life Association: Fetal Tissue Harvesting
Newfoundland Right to Life Association: Fetal Tissue Harvesting: "Fetal tissue harvesting involves the procurement of organs, tissue or external body parts from aborted babies for use in research, testing and experimentation."
Harvesting the Unborn: The Ethics of Embryo Stem Cell Research
Harvesting the Unborn: The Ethics of Embryo Stem Cell Research
"Funding research that deliberately destroys one human being so another may benefit isnot only a serious moral wrong; it is unnecessary. There is no credible evidence that embryonic human beings must lose their lives in order to save ours. Contrary to what has been repeated again and again, human embryos are not the only source for cells. Startling new evidence indicates that adult cells are not only effective alternatives to destructive embryo research, but are better at battling disease. We can extract these adult cells without killing the donor. In short, the choice between medical progress and moral principle is a false dilemma. We can pursue the cure of disease in morally acceptable ways."
Why We Are Losing The Stem Cell Research Debate
Why We Are Losing The Stem Cell Research Debate
"Any minute now, everyone is going to realize that it is always a bad idea for one group of human beings to decide that another group of human beings aren’t really people."
2 GOP Senators Defend Bush on Stem Cell Research (washingtonpost.com)
2 GOP Senators Defend Bush on Stem Cell Research (washingtonpost.com)
"At a time when polls show overwhelming support for the research, Sens. Gordon Smith (Ore.) and Trent Lott (Miss.) expressed concern that Bush is not receiving his due for allowing some federally funded research to go forward while Kerry is not being properly scrutinized for supporting the more controversial 'therapeutic' cloning. That involves creating a cloned embryo for the sole purpose of research."
Pro-lifers push to stop experimentation on human embryos - (BP)
Pro-lifers push to stop experimentation on human embryos - (BP)
"Much of the controversy surrounds an order by President Bush that prohibits federal grants for stem cell research that results in the destruction of embryos. Bush's 2001 order permits funding for research on the colonies of existing embryonic stem cells in which, as he put it, 'the life-and-death decision has already been made.'
The president's policy does not ban federal funding of adult stem cell research, nor prohibit privately funded embryonic stem cell research."
Will Companies Hold Control of Life Made in a Petri Dish?
Will Companies Hold Control of Life Made in a Petri Dish?
"What does this portend for the future?
To begin with, the granting of a patent for cloned human embryos raises a formidable political question. In the 19th century, we fought over the question of whether human beings after birth could be held as commercial property; eventually, every nation abolished slavery.
Now, however, we have technology that allows companies like Geron to claim human beings as intellectual property between conception and birth. The question of whether commercial enterprises would be allowed to own human beings as property before birth will likely be one of the seminal political issues of the Biotech Century."
Friday, August 13, 2004
An Echo, Not a Choice
An Echo, Not a Choice
"Critics complain that President Bush, after bungling his job in the Iraq war, has stubbornly refused to admit he was wrong. The same goes for John Kerry."
Opening ceremony begins with tribute to Greek mythology
The Seattle Times: Sports: Opening ceremony begins with tribute to Greek mythology
"The entire night took on a fairy-tale quality, from the moment that a pyrotechnic comet splashed down in the middle of the 'sea of life.' It took six hours to fill the center of the performance field with 571,100 gallons of water. Later, it took just about three minutes to drain it, so that the athletes could take their places beneath a cascade of fireworks.
In between was a phantasmagoria of symbolic history. A small boy sailing across the seas in a paper boat, waiving a blue and white Greek flag.
A human panorama, circling the sea, depicting the legends of the Greek gods Athena and Zeus and Hera et al."
AP Wire | 08/13/2004 | Greek Windsurfer Lights Olympic Flame
AP Wire | 08/13/2004 | Greek Windsurfer Lights Olympic Flame: "ATHENS, Greece - The Greek athlete who lit the Olympic cauldron to open the Athens Games is a three-time world champion windsurfer who won a gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 and carried his nation's flag in Sydney four years ago. Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, who turns 36 next week, won the gold in the windsurfing Mistral class at Atlanta and placed sixth in Sydney.
The world champion in 1999, 2000 and 2001, he competes in Athens starting Sunday."
Guardian Unlimited | Online | Internet buyers find it's cheaper by the dollar on Eurostar
Guardian Unlimited | Online | Internet buyers find it's cheaper by the dollar on Eurostar: "The savings arise when a customer opens the Eurostar homepage and selects a country of residence. From then on timetable and price information is given in the local currency."
Olympics: Athens opening ceremony offers history and hope to conflict-weary world
Channelnewsasia.com
"The field of the 72,000-seat Olympic stadium was transformed into a 'sea' containing 2.16 million litres of water, representing the source of life. A boy sailing on the lake symbolised Greece as a small place with big ideas.
For the next hour, an enthralled capacity crowd witnessed the best of Greek culture and history, including a magical parade of figures brought to life from Greek frescoes, sculptures, mosaics and paintings.
Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos opened the Games, 108 years after the first modern Games were held in Athens, standing under an olive tree, the branches of which are a global symbol of peace."
What use is a discus-thrower?
Review of Ancient Greek Athletics
by Stephen G Miller
288pp, Yale, £25
"As with politics, literature, medicine, philosophy and much else, the Greeks may not have been the original exponents of regulated sport. But they were the proto-organisers: the first to talk it through and set it up. Miller's handbook redeems the sheer scale of that enterprise. In doing so, he provides us with a reliable measure by which to assess the well-meaning distortion of antiquity that propelled Baron Pierre de Coubertin to reinvent the Olympic Games as an international celebration of peace, goodwill and athletic amateurism."
Olympics Return to Birthplace of Athens
Coeur d'Alene Press: "'Greece is standing before you. We are ready. ... We have waited long for this moment,' said the games' chief organizer, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, standing under a model of an olive tree in Olympic Stadium.
International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge urged athletes to 'show us that sport unites by overriding national, political, religious and language barriers.'"
Games Opening Ceremony Full of Spectacle
AP Wire | 08/13/2004 | Games Opening Ceremony Full of Spectacle
"ATHENS, Greece - With the five Olympic rings ablaze in the middle of a manmade sea, the Summer Games returned to their birthplace Friday in an epic homecoming that joined the gods of ancient Greece and modern sport.
The biggest parade of nations in the games' history began with an announcer's cry of 'Welcome back to Greece!' and culminated with a Greek windsurfing champion lighting the Olympic cauldron, which rose slowly at the end of a slender 102-foot arm to burn brightly above the stadium."
KAKLAMANAKIS lit the cauldron
KAKLAMANAKIS lit the cauldron
"ATHENS, 14 August- Nikolaos KAKLAMANAKIS, made history tonight when he carried the torch through the field of play of the Olympic Stadium, as the last bearer to lit the cauldron and get the Games underway.
Atlanta's gold medallist in the Mistral class of Sailing received the torch from Ioannis MELISSANIDIS, a fellow gold Olympic medallist in 1996 Floor Exercises of the Gymnastics Artistic. Legendary basketball player Nikolaos GALLIS entered the Stadium with the flame and run the first leg passing the torch over to another Greek sporting hero, veteran Football player Dimitrios (''Mimis'') DOMAZOS."
Thursday, August 12, 2004
The Clock Is Ticking and Athens Is Ready
Sports News Article | Reuters.com: "ATHENS (Reuters) - Athens put the finishing touches to its first Olympic Games for more than a century on Thursday as the final countdown began for the greatest extravaganza in sport."
Terror scare paves way for police-state measures
"Over the past several months, as the situation facing the US in Iraq has deteriorated and the crisis of the administration intensified, raising the prospect that Bush could lose the 2004 election, government officials have mounted a relentless propaganda campaign on the theme of a terrorist attack occurring on or near election day. Less than a month ago, the administration leaked reports to the press that it was conducting internal discussions on the possibility of canceling the elections outright in the event of a terrorist act.
The new terror hysteria being mounted by the government and the media must serve as a warning that the danger of an election-period provocation is very real."
Kerry: "I would still have voted for Iraq war"
Kerry: "I would still have voted for Iraq war"
"Whatever the campaign rhetoric, the reality is that the war is the outcome of a consensus policy within the US ruling elite. In the wake of the Soviet Union’s dissolution, both parties embraced a strategy based on the use of Washington’s unrivaled military power to secure dominance over the world’s markets and critical raw materials—first and foremost, oil. Control over the petroleum reserves in the Persian Gulf was seen as a means not merely of assuring US energy supplies, but of dictating terms to American capitalism’s principal economic rivals.
Kerry’s statements of support for the Iraq war...He is directing these comments to the ruling elite, assuring it that a Kerry administration would continue the US drive for global hegemony, but would more competently manage the policy’s execution.
The US war will continue, whether it is conducted by a Republican or Democratic administration. Both parties are committed to a protracted bloodbath aimed at crushing the resistance of the Iraqi people and consolidating a puppet regime—one that hands control over the country’s oil wealth to American corporations and banks."
Current recovery blind to education attainment
Current recovery blind to education attainment: "When asked to testify on labor market problems in the current economy last March, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan emphasized the importance of higher educational attainment. Unfortunately, higher education has not been providing the cushion against economic shocks that it once did."
Job growth stalls in last two months, underlining failure of tax cuts as job creation strategy
JobWatch
"Job growth stalls in last two months, underlining failure of tax cuts as job creation strategy
Job growth has stalled in the last two months. Payroll jobs increased by only 78,000 in June and a meager 32,000 in July, after rising 295,000 a month the previous three months. The Bush Administration called the tax cut package, which was passed in May 2003 and took effect in July 2003, its 'Jobs and Growth Plan.' ...Thus, it projected that 3,978,000 jobs would be created over the last 13 months. In reality, since the tax cuts took effect, there are 2,565,000 fewer jobs than the administration projected would be created by enactment of its tax cuts."
Open Debates | The Issue
Open Debates | The Issue: "The Presidential debates -- the single most important electoral event in the process of selecting a President -- should provide voters with an opportunity to see the popular candidates discussing important issues in an unscripted manner. But the Presidential debates fail to do so, because the major party candidates secretly control them."
Green Party of the United States
Green Party of the United States
"The Green Party of the United States and Green presidential nominee David Cobb have called for an end to the occupation of Iraq and the rapid return of U.S. troops. The party, citing a list of deceptions by the Bush Administration, endorsed a resolution in July 2003 urging impeachment of President Bush.
Many Greens will participate in antiwar rallies in New York City during the Republican National Convention, and will attend an event titled 'A Green World Is Possible: A Festival of Non-Violence, Ecology, Democracy, Social and Economic Justice' on August 28 in Washington Square"
Festival of Non-Violence, Ecology, Democracy, Social and Economic Justice
Saturday, August 28th 2004 - New York City Washington Square Park
A Green World is Possible!"If you or your organization is interested in participating, volunteering, or donating to A Green World is Possible Festival, please contact us the Green Party Office in Manhattan at 212-240-0501 or via email: info@greenpartyoffice.org.
Please plan your logistics with A Green World is Possible in mind. We are committed to finding housing for all Green Party members and groups. If you need housing please email greenpartynyc@hotmail.com."
The Peace Action Committee (PAX) of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS)
greenpartyoffice in NYC
Kerry Fails Iraq Test
Kerry Fails Iraq Test
"Kerry comes off looking like 'Bush lite' on Iraq, rather than as a candidate with better values and a sounder program. He seems weak. Muddled. Has he learned nothing from a slew of American investigations that have exposed the sloppiness of U.S. intelligence and the shabbiness of the rationale for war?
This is a letdown for American voters who yearn for a real alternative, and a healthier direction. It is not good news for the world, either."
Kerry withdrawal pledge sharpens Iraq debate
Yahoo! News - Kerry withdrawal pledge sharpens Iraq debate
"WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites)'s pledge to slash US troop levels in Iraq (news - web sites) by next August has sharpened a debate over the war that had produced bitter exchanges but no hint of an exit strategy."
The pledge to bring the troops home within six months is the best campaign promise yet. Kudos to Kerry for bringing a troop reduction plan into the debates. Why does Sen. John McCain suggest that more troops might be needed? Ralph Nader offers a perspective: Nader asked: "Is there no end to John Kerry's me-too-ism on the Iraq War?" How long will the troops remain? Throughout the first term of the presidency? More? Less? Which is it? Why?
GIs in Iraq are asking: Why are we here?
GIs in Iraq are asking: Why are we here?
"RAMADI, Iraq Four months into their tour of duty at one of the most dangerous American bases in Iraq, young marines say the slow pace of progress is shaking their faith in their mission.
Playing cards one recent evening while on call to respond to any sudden outburst of violence, Lance Corporal David Goward and the rest of his squad voiced two growing concerns: that the U.S. military would linger here indefinitely and that the troops' very presence was provoking the fighting it was meant to stop.
They are ready for any battle, they said, but a pervasive sense that Iraqis do not want their help has killed their enthusiasm for the larger goals of introducing democracy and rebuilding the country."
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Allies cool to Kerry's exit plan - 08/10/04
Democratic hopeful fails to sway foreign leaders to broaden international troop involvement in Iraq
"WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry has staked much of his campaign on a proposal he hopes will convince voters that he can extricate the United States from Iraq more quickly and at less cost than President Bush.
But Kerry’s plan, which promises to effectively shift much of the Iraq war burden from America to its allies, so far is failing to receive the international support the proposal would need to succeed."
LJWorld.com : Campaign ads turn to mush
LJWorld.com : Campaign ads turn to mush
"But here's my beef. The country's been through a lot. The 9-11 attacks, the war, the economy. National leadership is more important now than at any time since World War II. This campaign shouldn't be like any other campaign.
Put the platitudes, pretty pictures and empty rhetoric aside. Let's hear some specifics, some detail on actual issues. I mean other than both sides saying they'll cut the federal deficit in half within four or five years without saying how.
Come on. Let's see some evidence of respect for voters.
Otherwise? That Ralph Nader person might start to look good."
CBS News | 'King Kong' Actress Fay Wray Dies | August 9, 2004?23:27:45
CBS News | 'King Kong' Actress Fay Wray Dies | August 9, 2004?23:27:45: "(AP) Fay Wray, who won everlasting fame as the damsel held atop the Empire State Building by the giant ape in the 1933 film classic 'King Kong,' has died, a close friend said Monday. She was 96. "
Pagans for Life - Links
Pagans for Life
The Pagans for Life site has an excellent Links page with links to:
Pro-life Pagans' Journal
Pro-life Pagans' Journal
Are you a Pagan? You can still be Pro-life. If you like to participate in livejournal communities, you can participate in the Pro-life Pagan' Journal...or just read it.
Jews for Life: Pro-life issues and Politics
Jews for Life: Pro-life issues and Politics
"Partial Birth Abortion or legal infanticide is the grisly procedure in which a baby is delivered in the breech position, and then brutally murdered in the name of 'choice.' To gain public support for partial birth abortion, deception is a prerequisite."
CLONING AND EUTHANASIA: WALKING HAND IN HAND
CLONING AND EUTHANASIA: WALKING HAND IN HAND
"Dutch law reveals a grim picture of what happens when government-sanctioned euthanasia replaces methods of preventive and palliative hospice care. Doctors are encouraged, via cooperation with the Dutch Voluntary Euthanasia Society and the Royal Dutch Medical Association, to facilitate death as a means of 'compassionate' care. The immediate family (exhausted by the high costs and psychological commitment to long-term care) is dissuaded from exploring other options. The patient does not make a fully informed autonomous decision, and is pressured to sign the consent forms so that ‘the death process’ can proceed. Often, the victim is feeble and incapacitated, and unable to respond quickly enough to questions about the procedure to which he is submitting. In such instances, consent is not given by the terminally ill patient."
STEM CELL RESEARCH... FACTS VERSUS MYTHS
STEM CELL RESEARCH... FACTS VERSUS MYTHS
"Then there's the myth now being promoted by the media and the proponents of embryonic harvesting that in order to go forward, the federal government must step in and shovel tons of taxpayer's money into research that concentrates on taking stem cells from living human embryos, thereby killing them. Corollary to that argument, is the myth that these embryos are the only effective source of stem cells - that adult stem cells are a poor substitute.
That is simply untrue."
Monday, August 09, 2004
MSNBC - Bush's message on economy takes beating
MSNBC - Bush's message on economy takes beating: "Weak job growth, high oil prices, slumping stocks seen aiding Kerry"
Many election variables outside control of parties
Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.: "WASHINGTON - With the race so tight, the presidential election could turn on events beyond the control of either candidate: a terrorist attack on American soil, a setback in Iraq, a further surge in oil prices or other economic calamity."
Kerry's big idea? There isn't one
Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | Simon Tisdall: Kerry's big idea? There isn't one: "On Iraq, as the Republicans rightly say, Kerry is disingenuous.
Apart from a more consultative approach, he offers no clue as to why US allies should suddenly change their minds about contributing more troops and money.
While he is right to make an issue out of America's addiction to foreign, especially Middle Eastern, oil, he offers no clear cure."
Level with us about real costs of adequate health care
Level with us about real costs of adequate health care: "But the debate will miss the real issue. Right now, we probably can't afford our existing Medicare system, especially with the new prescription drug entitlement thrown in. The debate should be on how to ensure that Medicare is solvent in 20 years. If either candidate would level with the American people he'd tell us that we'll probably need reform or new taxes or both."
Kerry, if you had all those questions
why didn't you vote against authorization?
Kerry stands by vote authorizing force in Iraq: "Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, voted in October 2002 to give Bush authority for using military force to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein."
Candidates courting the average voter, not the average American
Observer-Reporter: "According to a recent article by Cheryl Russell, editorial director of New Strategist Publications, the average voter is very different than the average American, which she said accounts for 'many of the antics of the Silly Season.'"
From Ike to Bush: Web tour of presidential ads
See the exhibit "The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-2004" produced by the American Museum of the Moving Image.
Greenwich Time - From Ike to Bush: Web tour of presidential ads
"The site provides a comprehensive look at television's vast impact on presidential elections since 1952. The general messages over the years seem to remain the same: Democrats stress domestic social reforms, while Republicans emphasize strength on defense and an eagerness to keep down taxes."
Color Perception Is Learned, Not Innate
Color Perception Is Learned, Not Innate: "Researchers say the findings suggest that color perception is an acquired skill rather than an innate one. Previous studies have also shown that early childhood experiences are vital to the development of other visual skills, such as depth perception."
Should you be wary of diethanolamine in shampoos?
News Channel 9: Losing your Memory to Shampoo
" D.E.A., or diethanolamine, is an ingredient in many shampoos and soaps, causing it to lather. but new research suggests that the chemical can actually seep through the skin, and rob the brain of its ability to generate memory cells."Great hair is groovy but debar the toxic.
Curls are the order of the day for stylish hair
The Monitor - McAllen, Texas
The Jessica Simpson Sexy Beach Look
"For girls who have straight hair, they need to dampen hair, braid and secure into sections, Bumble and Bumble stylist Allison Luongo said in the August issue of Teen Vogue.
Thinner hair requires just a few braids. Girls with thicker-textured hair should add more braids.
Medium hair texture is the desired texture for the look. For thinner hair types, we try to give it more of the tousled curls"
Hair braider's suit reveals tangle between ancient trade, modern laws
Hair braider's suit reveals tangle between ancient trade, modern laws
"A Senegal-born hair braider who learned that traditional trade from her grandmother is challenging Washington laws she says could drive her out of business, or out of the state.
Attorneys representing Benta Diaw, 36, filed suit yesterday in King County Superior Court, seeking to exempt Diaw from having to be licensed as a cosmetologist or a barber to continue operating Touba African Hairbraiding, her one-person Belltown salon."
Campaign 2004: Election likely to alter make-up of top court
Campaign 2004: Election likely to alter make-up of top court: "WASHINGTON -- It may not loom as large for voters as Iraq or the economy, but the direction of the U.S. Supreme Court -- and how it rules on everything from abortion to the treatment of suspected terrorists to whether schoolchildren can be asked to pledge their allegiance to 'one nation under God' -- could depend on who is elected president in November."
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Stem cell issue opens campaign divide
Boston.com / Your Life / Health & Fitness / Diseases & Treatments / Stem cell issue opens campaign divide
"Douglas Johnson, the legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, agreed with Wright, suggesting that if the Democrats mount a major offensive on the stem cell issue, Republicans will fight back by making it clear that the GOP favors research using stems cells harvested from adults, instead of embryos, and opposes only research that could lead to human cloning experiments and ''embryo farms.'
''We will do what we can to get across these facts that the president is for stem cell research, and we're for it, just not the kind that requires creating and killing human embryos,' he said."
Grand Forks Herald | 08/08/2004 | VIEWPOINT: Televised debates will decide the presidency
Grand Forks Herald | 08/08/2004 | VIEWPOINT: Televised debates will decide the presidency
"There, the candidates will face - all at once - a national audience comprising loyal supporters, hostile opponents, undecided swing voters and borderline apathetics pondering whether to vote at all. At no other point in the campaign - except, perhaps, when confronting the occasional heckler - are the nominees forced to present themselves to supporters and skeptics simultaneously.
Neither candidate can be considered an odds-on debate favorite, which only raises the stakes and adds to the drama."
Unsettled Season Leaves Presidential Race in Air
FOXNews.com - You Decide 2004 - Unsettled Season Leaves Presidential Race in Air
"WASHINGTON — With the race so tight, the presidential election could turn on events beyond the control of either candidate: a terrorist attack on American soil, a setback in Iraq, a further surge in oil prices or other economic calamity."
Michael Feinstein was destined to be an interpreter of American song -- a psychic predicted it early on.
Analyst says Bush needs 'miracle' to win re-election
Gadsden Times
"The war is the biggest factor hurting Bush's re-election chances, he said, noting that if the president hadn't ordered the U.S. invasion of Iraq last year, he likely would be leading in 45 states and heading toward a landslide victory."
The war is hurting Bush's popularity, but he is slow to withdraw the troops in a similar way that a previous president timed the pullout.
eBay: Caveat Emptor (still)
Beware eBay's Arthur Daleys: "It's a case of buyer beware. Read the description fully before placing* a bid. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.'"
G.K. CHESTERTON: THE EVERLASTING GOD
G.K. CHESTERTON: THE EVERLASTING GOD
"If the passage from heathenry to Christianity was a bridge as well as a breach we owe it to those who kept that heathenry human. If, after all these ages we are in some sense at peace with paganism, and can think more kindly of our fathers, it is well to remember the things that were, and the things that might have been. For this reason alone we can take lightly the load of antiquity and need not shudder at a nymph on a fountain or a cupid on a valentine."
G.K. CHESTERTON: THE EVERLASTING GOD
G.K. CHESTERTON: THE EVERLASTING GOD
"Our history is stiff with official documents, public or private, which tell us nothing of the thing itself. At the worst we only have the official posters, which could not have been spontaneous precisely because they were official. At the best we have only the secret diplomacy, which could not have been popular precisely because it was secret. Upon one or other of these is based the historical judgment about the real reasons that sustained the struggle. Governments fight for colonies or commercial rights; governments fight about harbors or high tariffs; governments fight for a gold mine or a pearl fishery. It seems sufficient to answer that governments do not fight at all. Why do the fighters fight? What is the psychology that sustains the terrible and wonderful thing called a war? Nobody who knows anything of soldiers believes the silly notion of the dons, that millions of men can be ruled by force. If they were all to slack, it would be impossible to punish all the slackers."
G.K. CHESTERTON: THE EVERLASTING MAN
G.K. CHESTERTON: THE EVERLASTING MAN: "Mysticism conceives something transcending experience; religion seeks glimpses of a better good or a worse evil than experience can give. "
G.K. CHESTERTON: THE EVERLASTING MAN
G.K. CHESTERTON: THE EVERLASTING MAN: "We know the meaning of all the myths. We know the last secret revealed to the perfect initiate. And it is not the voice of a priest or a prophet saying 'These things are.' It is the voice of a dreamer and an idealist crying, 'Why cannot these things be?"
Prince Charles: wind farms are horrendous
Telegraph | News | Prince Charles: wind farms are horrendous: "The wind farm issue is becoming increasingly contentious. The Government is committed to their spread because it has promised to raise the share of Britain's energy coming from renewable sources to 10 per cent in 2010 and then to 20 per cent in 2020. Renewable sources produce less than four per cent of energy needs at the moment."
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Cloning: In whose image?
Cloning: In whose image? Catholic teaching
"The book of Genesis tells us we are made in the image and likeness of God. Hence we are creatures. At the same time history teaches that we want to be the sole creators of ourselves. It is no longer the forbidden fruit we grasp after but the enormous power of technology we seek in trying to become like God. We want to fashion human beings in our own image.
The brave, and anxious, new world is upon us. We have the capacity to design various life forms according to our desires. The race is on to make the next generation of human beings in our own image. We want to engineer those who come after us according to what we find desirable."
Aldous Huxley - Brave New World and other works - Extensive information including online texts, discussion forum, links and articles.
Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | What the terror alerts really tell us
Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | What the terror alerts really tell us: "There is a vacuum at the heart of Bush's second-term programme. "
Are Kerry and Europe on the same keel?
Remember when Kerry promised to recruit allies to help rebuild Iraq? They might be a bit hesitant:
Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | Let's rock the boat
Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | Kerry boost as economy hints at slide
Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | Kerry boost as economy hints at slide
"For the Republican campaign team the grim spectre of the electoral fate of Bush's father is beginning to haunt the campaign. The elder George Bush was ousted in 1992 after just one term by Bill Clinton, as Democrats coined the now famous taunt: 'It's the economy, stupid.'
To drive home the point Kerry's campaign has released a new ad that accuses Bush of sacrificing US jobs in favour of tax breaks for companies that move overseas.
Since Bush took office in January 2001, the US economy has lost a net 1.1 million jobs. In response, Bush's campaign has centred far more on highlighting the issue of national security. "
The Observer | Comment | Why Bush could be a fan of terror
The Observer | Comment | Why Bush could be a fan of terror: "
America won't turn against its President this November, not as long as al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden stay on the front pages "
alt.lang.jre: Feeling Groovy
A scripting language so cool, they've named it Groovy...
alt.lang.jre: Feeling Groovy: "Groovy is a work in progress. Developers accustomed to working with Ruby and Python (or Jython) might miss the convenience of such features as mixins, script import (although it's possible to compile the desired importable script into its corresponding Java class), and named parameters for method calls. But Groovy is definitely a language on the move. It will likely incorporate these features and more as its developer base grows."
groovy.codehaus.org
"Groovy is a new agile dynamic language for the JVM combining lots of great features from languages like Python, Ruby and Smalltalk and making them available to the Java developers using a Java-like syntax."
The trend is toward more modest, preppy looks for back-to-school fashion: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Stiletto Heels: Stiletto Heels the Ultimate Sex Appeal Item
Stiletto Heels: Stiletto Heels the Ultimate Sex Appeal Item: "Wearing high heels alters a girls posture pushing her hips forward and her bum out, as well as emphasising her figure, and causing her to develop a sexy wiggle as she walks. With a bit of practice it is guaranteed to drive a bloke crazy."
Truth on stem cells
The Times Record Opinion: "The scientific community is well aware that no human clinical trials are being conducted using embryonic stem cells because of their unpredictability and the lack of treatment success when used in animal testing. So why is this 'science' being so aggressively pushed? Because the researchers who champion it want to get their hands on federal money and the media have taken their advocacy at face value."
Nader fails to collect enough signatures to make Calif. ballot
Nader fails to collect enough signatures to make Calif. ballot: "SACRAMENTO, Calif. Ralph Nader didn't gather enough signatures to get his name on the California ballot."
FDA/CFSAN What's New--Recent additions to the CFSAN web site
FDA/CFSAN What's New--Recent additions to the CFSAN web site
FDA/CFSAN - Tattoos and Permanent Makeup
FDA/CFSAN - Tattoos and Permanent Makeup
"Another concern is the increasing variety of pigments and diluents being used in tattooing -- more than fifty different pigments and shades, and the list continues to grow. Although a number of color additives are approved for use in cosmetics, none is approved for injection into the skin. Using an unapproved color additive in a tattoo ink makes the ink adulterated. Many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all. Some are industrial grade colors that are suitable for printers' ink or automobile paint."
Temptress
Find out what anime girl you are.
Ydoc Nameloc Interactive - the best source for quizes
Ydoc Nameloc Interactive - the best source for quizes Anime quizzes
Bush challenges Kerry for decision on Iraq
Bush challenges Kerry for decision on Iraq ByTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS: 8/ 7/ 2004: "With persistent violence and climbing casualties, Iraq has become a problem for Bush, turning what once was believed to be an asset for his re-election campaign into a vulnerability. Only about four in 10 Americans support the president's handling of Iraq, polls show, and just a third say he has a clear plan to deal with the situation. Nevertheless, Bush tried to put Kerry on the defensive. "
Both Bush & Greenspan need a crystal ball
Stalled economy puts pressure on Bush to refine message - 08/07/04
"Recent economic news has ratcheted up the pressure on Bush to be bold. The economy generated a paltry 32,000 jobs in July, far short of economists’ expectations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 324 points this week to the lowest point of the year, closing Friday 772 points below its position when Bush took office.
Payroll jobs remain 1.5 million short of where last winter the White House said they would be by now. To avoid being the first president since Herbert Hoover to preside over a net job loss, Bush must hope for 372,000 new jobs a month in August, September and October.
Friday’s jobs report took administration and Bush campaign officials by surprise [because Bush does not have a crystal ball]. Bush’s close aides had been expecting a number that several called “decent.” Bush officials had been reveling in Kerry’s failure to make notable gains in polls after last week’s Democratic convention. The jobs number abruptly ended the celebration. "
Bush, 3rd-generation Yale man, opposes 'legacy' admissions for college - 08/07/04
Bush, 3rd-generation Yale man, opposes 'legacy' admissions for college - 08/07/04"WASHINGTON -- President Bush, who followed his father and grandfather to Yale University despite an undistinguished academic record, said Friday that colleges should get rid of “legacy” admission preferences that favor the sons and daughters of alumni."
Gay marriage issue could tip some black votes to Bush
The Jackson Sun News - Gay marriage issue could tip some black votes to Bush: "The Republican president finds himself in the unlikely position of winning more black votes because African-Americans oppose same-sex marriage proportionally more than most Americans. Bush wants to ban it through constitutional amendment, while Democratic nominee John Kerry opposes such an amendment."
C'mon, Alan, the "economy hit a soft patch?"
Economy close to a standstill
"Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, appearing before Congress last month, acknowledged the economy hit a “soft patch” in June. But he expressed confidence that it would be short-lived. Friday’s payroll figures, however, indicated that the June slowdown wasn’t an aberration.
.
“Clearly the economy is stuck in a soft patch. It is longer than we anticipated,” said Wells Fargo’s chief economist Sung Won Sohn. Sohn said his projection for economic growth in the July-to-September quarter, now at a high of a 4.5 percent annual rate, will need to be lowered."
July jobless figures debunk claims of US economic recovery
July jobless figures debunk claims of US economic recovery
"The figures are a further indication of the hollowness of the supposed economic recovery touted by the Bush administration. Working people have been particularly hard hit in recent weeks, as wages and employment have stagnated and inflation has begun to rise.
Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James, responded to the figures, noting, “It’s a huge disappointment... It implies a very sharp revision to the overall outlook for the economy.”
U.S. economy sideswipes Bush
The Globe and Mail: "With Mr. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry running neck and neck in opinion polls, the Bush campaign has been counting on a burgeoning economy and a feel-good factor from rising payrolls to blunt the impact of prolonged war in Iraq.
Instead, he now faces a recovery short on jobs, record world oil prices and a sagging stock market."
Greenspan could use a crystal ball
FXA Column - Greenspan Growth Story Unstable: "Greenspan is as good as any at reading data, recalling it, and estimating it. But he does not have a crystal ball."
Top Bush Health Adviser Stands to Gain Personally from Candidate's Medicare Plan
Public Citizen | Congress Watch | Congress Watch - Top Bush Health Adviser Stands to Gain Personally from Candidate's Medicare Plan: "Gail Wilensky holds shares and options in health care companies valued at $10.5 million; another Bush adviser, lobbyist Deborah Steelman, collected $6.5 million in fees from health care special interests "
The Bush Administration’s Malpractice Misdiagnosis
The Bush Administration’s Malpractice Misdiagnosis: "President Bush has endorsed a 'framework for addressing the medical liability crisis' with six elements. The written outline released by the White House on January 16 lacks specificity, but in his speech he endorsed legislation from the last Congress, H.R. 4600. That bill shows the proposal to be a framework of unfairness."
Public Citizen | Congress Watch | Congress Watch - Bush's Medical Malpractice Disinformation Campaign: A Rebuttal to the HHS Report on Medical Liabili
Dream of all you can eat Chloramphenicol? (It's in the shrimp)
Public Citizen | Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program | Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program - Action Alert! Tell the FDA to Inspect Shrimp Imports!
"Action Alert! Tell the FDA to Inspect Shrimp Imports!
Take Action: Tell FDA to Inspect Shrimp Imports!
Shrimp is currently the number one seafood choice for American consumers. Approximately 80% of the shrimp consumed in the United States is imported, over half of which is farmed raised. Some chemicals, such as chloramphenicol and nitrofurons, are used around the world to raise shrimp in coastal farms for exportation to the United States.
Chloramphenicol is linked to human aplastic anemia, intestinal problems, and neurological reactions; while nitrofurons have been found to be carcinogenic. Both are widely used to produce shrimp, but both are also banned in the United States."
Friday, August 06, 2004
Job growth weaker than expected - Aug. 6, 2004
Job growth weaker than expected - Aug. 6, 2004: "NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Hiring by U.S. employers slowed significantly in July, according to a government report Friday, as the number of new jobs added to payrolls came in far below Wall Street expectations."
CNN.com - 'Super Freak' Rick James dead - Aug 6, 2004
CNN.com - 'Super Freak' Rick James dead - Aug 6, 2004
"James, 56, was a musical icon of the early 1980's and credited with helping to create the 'punk funk' style of music that was characterized in his 1981 album 'Street Songs.'
'Street Songs' was widely acclaimed as a masterpiece upon its release and featured such hits as 'Super Freak,' 'Give it To Me Baby,' and 'Fire and Desire.'"
What Are You Smiling At, Traveler?
Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com: "The UK Passport Service (UKPS) said Friday it would forbid open-mouthed smiles on passport pictures, one of several rules introduced to comply with strict new U.S. standards. Smiles are forbidden -- along with sunglasses and hair slanting across the eyes -- because they may confuse security cameras used to scan faces and verify the passport is authentic."
What the world needs now
It's time to ban unsolicited toe-licking now!: "AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch Labour party wants to pass a law making unsolicited toe-licking an offence after police were unable to prosecute a would-be Casanova with a taste for female toes because he had committed no crime."
Bush Lauds Economy Despite Employment Data
Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | Bush Lauds Economy Despite Employment Data
"STRATHAM, N.H. (AP) - President Bush told New Hampshire voters Friday that the nation's economy is improving, even as the latest unemployment report shows weakness in the creation of jobs.
On his way to the picnic, Bush's motorcade passed opposing groups of demonstrators on the way to the picnic, one group shouting ``Four more years!'' the other shouting, ``Three more months!''
Risk Assessment for Cosmetics and Potential Contamination With
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Agent; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has information so that you may assess the risks of cosmetics made with contaminated cattle materials.
"Cosmetics may be made from a variety of cattle-derived ingredients.
These ingredients include: Albumin, brain extract, brain lipid,
cholesterol, fibronectin, sphingolipids, collagen, keratin, and tallow,
and tallow derivatives. Tallow derivatives, particularly fatty acids
and glycerin, are the predominant cattle ingredient used by the
cosmetic industry. Cattle-derived ingredients serve many functions and
may be used as skin conditioning agents, emollients, binders, and hair
and nail conditioning agents.
[[Page 42192]]
There are several routes through which cosmetics contaminated with
the agent that causes BSE could transmit disease to humans.
Transmission of the BSE agent to humans through intact skin is not
likely; however, cosmetics may be ingested or applied to cut or abraded
skin or to mucosal tissues, particularly in the eye, which could
provide direct routes for infection."
The risk assessment is available electronically at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov
AlterNet: Election 2004: Ditching the Lipstick-and-Panties Pitch
AlterNet: Election 2004: Ditching the Lipstick-and-Panties Pitch: "If Democrats want to inspire single women to vote in November, they need to lose the cutesy marketing slogans and talk about the issues."
Latest Business News and Financial Information | Reuters.com
Latest Business News and Financial Information | Reuters.com
"Signs of economic weakness could prove troubling for Bush, who is locked in a close battle for the White House with Democratic Sen. John Kerry in which the economy -- particularly labor-market weakness -- is a primary voter concern.
While the Bush administration could point to the creation of 1.5 million jobs in 11 straight months of hiring gains, Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry could accurately claim the economy is still down 1.1 million jobs since the president took office."
U.S. Payroll Growth Slows Dramatically
WLFI: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's payroll growth slowed dramatically in July with a paltry 32,000 jobs being added- a potentially troubling sign that the rough patch the economy hit in June was no aberration."
Fight Mercury Emissions from US Power Plants
Waterkeeper Alliance
"Our nation’s precious natural resources and our communities are being threatened by an imminent ecological calamity - mercury contamination of our air, soils and water is reaching epidemic proportions. "
AlterNet: War on Iraq: Why Bush Went to War
AlterNet: War on Iraq: Why Bush Went to War: "Intelligence was not used to make a decision for war, it was manipulated to mislead Americans into backing a war already planned."
AlterNet: Raise the Economy Threat to "High"
AlterNet: Raise the Economy Threat to "High": "The bad July news now makes three months running that the administration has failed to produce the robust job growth promised its $1.6 trillion in tax cuts. Trickle-down has, as it did under Reagan, only produced chuck-full reservoirs at the top and drought at bottom. If anything should trickle down it's only because someone's reservoir sprung a leak."
50,000 people enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry
50,000 people enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry
"More than 50,000 people from New York City and all 50 states have enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry, according to the City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), which urged those who are eligible to sign up before the August 31st deadline.
People can enroll in the Registry by calling 1-866-NYC-WTCR (1-866-692-9827) and answering a 30-minute survey over the phone. All information provided is strictly confidential. For more information on the Registry, New York City residents may call 311; people living outside New York City can call (212) NEW-YORK.
Dr. Williamson said, 'Many people from beyond the New York City area were present in lower Manhattan on 9/11, or came to aid in the rescue, recovery, or clean-up efforts in the months following. With less than a month left, it is vitally important that all people who are eligible - even those who reside outside New York City - to enroll in the World Trade Center Health Registry.'"
More young men are feeling randy
More young men turning to viagra: "A new study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research has shown that more young men are turning to viagra as an enhancement or recreational agent."
What is your candidate's position on healthcare? Vote!
Nearly half (48%) of all uninsured children have not had a well-child visit in the past year: "A new analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that nearly half (48%) of all uninsured children have not had a well-child visit in the past year."
MSNBC - Out to Create a Two-Man Race
MSNBC - Out to Create a Two-Man Race: "Who's afraid of Ralph Nader? The Democrats sure are -- and they're fighting hard to keep him off state ballots"
BW Online | August 6, 2004 | Modest Gains, but Beware the Bear
BW Online | August 6, 2004 | Modest Gains, but Beware the Bear: "That's view from Kenneth Shea of S&P, which has lowered some of its targets. Among the stocks still in favor: PepsiCo and Avon "
Nader expects 40-plus ballots
Nader expects 40-plus ballots - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - August 06, 2004: "In a poll released Wednesday by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, Mr. Kerry has the support of 45 percent of voters nationwide to President Bush's 44 percent, while Mr. Nader has 3 percent. "