Spain and Crime Rates: and how statistics are being used to mislead
When I first moved to Spain in the late 1980s, Madrid seemed like a paradise, free of violence. I remember thinking that it was amazing that you could stay out all night, and it was relatively safe.
Okay, there were certain areas in town where you knew that things could get a bit rough, but what city doesn't have those areas. There also existed a sort of "pickpocket" etiquette, where victims knew that if they went to the Post Office there was a good chance they'd find their purse or wallet, void of the cash. Pickpockets in those days after grabbing the cash, placed the items in mailboxes to be collected by postal workers. I remember once going to the Post Office, where a considerate thief had bent all of my credit cards so that they couldn't be used by anybody.
But little by little the perception of that "safe-ness" has been changing, to the point now in much of the press there has been spatterings of talk about rising crime rates, and usually linking that to immigration.
In fact, in several newspapers over this past year - perhaps as a result of France and Le Pen - there have been articles that usually read something like this: "XX% of all crimes are committed by foreigners." If that headline doesn't raise a few eyebrows, well it should, primarily because it doesn't put things in perspective. What is also needed is information on what percentage of the population is "foreign."
That said, there is no doubt that crime rates have risen, but realistic rates should also measure rises in population, and the percentage of foreigners. In other words, it does no good to say there were 1,000 more crimes committed this year than last. Instead, what is needed, is information how does that related to a percentage of the total population.
Another thing that skews any figures, are false reports. In Spain, for example, figures are often thrown out of whack by individuals who when traveling in the summer to the coast, place false claims to gain insurance money.
Still, where in the past when somebody robbed you there was little danger of physical violence, now there is a growing feeling of unease.
All of this to say, contrary to the "feeling" some people may have, Spain is still a relatively safe place to be. While the gentleman pickpockets may no longer be around, the truth of the matter is that Spain still has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe, at 67 reported crimes per 1,000 (by comparison, the U.K.'s rate is 95.6 per 1,000; Sweden 136.8 per 1,000; Germany 76.3 per 1,000; Belgium 82.9 per 1,000 and Denmark at 94.6 per 1,000).
So, the crime rate in Spain is low, then why the sense of unease? That can be explained by the growth rate of reported crime over a five-year period. The deliquency rate in Spain for the 1995-2000 period was 9.5%, well above the European average of a paltry 0.7% for the same period.
To put this all in focus, and with a bit of spin: Spain's deliquency rate is still the lowest in Europe, despite having one of the highest growth rates for the five-year period in question. And while that sharp rise is causing the "social" unease, it shouldn't be forgotten that the rate is still well below the EU average.
With respect to homicides, which are dropping throughout Europe, there is some alarming data.
In 2000, there were 1,323 murders, for a rate of 3.3 murders per 100,000, compared to the EU average of 1.7 murders per 100,000 (France 1.8; Germany 1.2; Italy 1.4; Sweden 2; Finland 2.9) , and the US rate of 5 murders per 100,000. For the 1995-2000 period Spain's homicide rate rose around 34%, while the EU average dropped close to 8%.
Why the sharp turnaround, especially with respect to violent crime? The answer is a four-and-a-half-letter word: d*r*u*g (s).
Because of its geographical position, connecting Europe with Africa and ties to the Americas, Spain is a country with a time-honored tradition of smuggling. But where under Franco and others that tradition was tolerated, in modern times its come back to haunt them. Perhaps, the biggest change came in the late 1970s, when the Galician smugglers from the northern province of Spain began to use their tobacco rings to bring in cocaine, as well as - but to a lesser extant - heroin and hashish.
Up until that time, the mafias often smuggled in tobacco that had been bought directly from the source: large American and European tobacco companies. While sometimes the reason a tobacco company may want to supply smugglers with tobacco rests no further than tax evasion, in the case of some American providers, the issue had more to do with US legislation --- tobacco has to be removed from the shelves after six months.
This meant that, rather than toss the weed, companies would sell the good to smugglers (cutting their losses), who would in turn make a healthy profit selling the goods in other countries. In Spain, it was quite easy to spot smuggled tobacco, identified with a "red" stamp, while taxed-in-Spain tobacco had a "blue" stamp.
The goods were usually brought in, often taking advantage of Spain having one of the largest fishing fleets in the world, by boat, where it was unloaded onto speed boats that then raced inland, where the tobacco would then begin its overland journey before its final resting place, usually in small pubs and cafeterias dotting the land. To this day, in the south of Spain at Gibraltar it's possible at night to hear the roar of high speed boats rushing goods across the border and into Spain.
By the 1980s though, the Spanish mafias had begun to hook up with South American drug lords - including Pablo Escobar - and the promise of even bigger financial gains. And in fact, while the US was closing down on many of the Latin American providers, many of them were slipping away to Galicia. With the introduction of the South American mafias and a new product, the "gentleman" smuggler also going the way of the dinosaurs.
Not always is the case related to drugs, but they often go hand-in-hand. A few years ago in Madrid a South American gang was broken up. They had moved to Spain with the express idea of holding up chalets, getting enough cash saved up, and then planned to head back to their homelands.
In the last few years, there have been other forms of traficking. Supposedly, there are Romanian prostitution rings, on the Southern coast there is the Russian mafia, and in the bigger cities, there are South American and Chinese rings.
Now, just let me clarify all this...and this is where I began this very long post. Has the rate of violent crime risen in Spain? Yes. Is it directly related to immigration? No. In fact, most studies show that first generation immigrants have a lower crime rate than the public at large - with the exception of Sweden.
The question isn't immigration, but rather one of drug control. But that is for another post.
Related articles:
The quota of immigrant workers for 2002
Spain's Pending Business
Europe's Immigration Quandary
Community efforts pay off
True Crime
Thursday, October 31, 2002
I love it ... Real Madrid loses at home to Rome 0-1
I mentioned last week that I was invited to attend the Champion League match up of Real Madrid versus Rome, and I also mentioned that it made me feel ill - as I am a loyal supporter of not the yuppie, Fascist-leaning Real Madrid white clad superstars, but of the everyman's team, Atletico de Madrid.
So what did I do?
Nothing. In the end I turned down the invite, and suggested that a colleague, who supports Real Madrid, attend. Of course he was excited, but I got the last laugh, as Real Madrid fell to Rome in an exhibition of how too many stars on a side not only is at the core anti-sport, but very rarely works.
Real Madrid, for those of you don't know, had the gall to hire an entire team with some of the current greatest players, in an attempt to not only stack the deck, but to garner more cash revenues from jersey sales, promotionals, and advertisments. What Real Madrid is doing really is a shame, especially for a team that has been voted the greatest football team of last century. Now, under Florentino Perez it isn't about playing classy football, but rather about money.
So how did the match go? Right from the start I have to say I didn't watch the entire match, that would be too much to stomach. Instead a few peeks at the tele during the match, and then the news highlights. But what I can tell you is that an overweight Ronaldo, who's slower than my grandma and is looking more and more like Chilavert in the last World Cup, had one nice shot at the goal. Even the ever-dangerous Raul is finding that you can't play 100 matches a year and stay young forever. Zidane and Figo, nada de nada.
Rome played typical Italian football - meaning, sitting back and waiting for the counter-attack, or what we used to call cherry-picking. Once they scored, it was just hanging out in the penalty area. Read, boring!
Somebody might also want to whisper in head coach Bosque's ear and remind him that in football, the team that makes the most goals, is the team that wins.
That little, obvious point, is going to be very important when Real Madrid travels to play Rome or any other matches, especially since this is the same Madrid team that hasn't won a single away league match in the last six months.
I mentioned last week that I was invited to attend the Champion League match up of Real Madrid versus Rome, and I also mentioned that it made me feel ill - as I am a loyal supporter of not the yuppie, Fascist-leaning Real Madrid white clad superstars, but of the everyman's team, Atletico de Madrid.
So what did I do?
Nothing. In the end I turned down the invite, and suggested that a colleague, who supports Real Madrid, attend. Of course he was excited, but I got the last laugh, as Real Madrid fell to Rome in an exhibition of how too many stars on a side not only is at the core anti-sport, but very rarely works.
Real Madrid, for those of you don't know, had the gall to hire an entire team with some of the current greatest players, in an attempt to not only stack the deck, but to garner more cash revenues from jersey sales, promotionals, and advertisments. What Real Madrid is doing really is a shame, especially for a team that has been voted the greatest football team of last century. Now, under Florentino Perez it isn't about playing classy football, but rather about money.
So how did the match go? Right from the start I have to say I didn't watch the entire match, that would be too much to stomach. Instead a few peeks at the tele during the match, and then the news highlights. But what I can tell you is that an overweight Ronaldo, who's slower than my grandma and is looking more and more like Chilavert in the last World Cup, had one nice shot at the goal. Even the ever-dangerous Raul is finding that you can't play 100 matches a year and stay young forever. Zidane and Figo, nada de nada.
Rome played typical Italian football - meaning, sitting back and waiting for the counter-attack, or what we used to call cherry-picking. Once they scored, it was just hanging out in the penalty area. Read, boring!
Somebody might also want to whisper in head coach Bosque's ear and remind him that in football, the team that makes the most goals, is the team that wins.
That little, obvious point, is going to be very important when Real Madrid travels to play Rome or any other matches, especially since this is the same Madrid team that hasn't won a single away league match in the last six months.
In the English edition of El Pais the headlines screams out...
Khatami calls on Spain to block ears to those "with hearts full of hate."
This was the first visit to Spain by an Iranian president since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Besides meeting with Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, Khatami also spoke before the Spanish Senate, where according to El Pais, he made some very interesting comments.
In the Spanish edition, you learn a few other things...
Khatami calls on Spain to block ears to those "with hearts full of hate."
This was the first visit to Spain by an Iranian president since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Besides meeting with Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, Khatami also spoke before the Spanish Senate, where according to El Pais, he made some very interesting comments.
"We in Iran are experimenting with a democracy based on religion," Khatami explained through an interpreter, "what is certain - if this is successful - is that it will have great repercussions in all political currents of the Muslim world and will create a language for dialogue between Islam and West, something we increasingly need."
While his foreign minister, Kamal Kharrazi, highlighted that Iran is the only country in the region that has managed to establish something "so fundamental for democracy" as civil society, Khatami instisted that it is neccessary to find a middle ground between the madness of Muslim radicals and the intransigence of the United States.
"It cannot be permitted and it should not happen again that violence be used in the name of religion, in the same way military forces cannot be deployed around the world in the name of human rights and democracy," Khatami declared. "Condemning one group and then ignoring the cruelty and injustice of another will only create a vicious circle of murder being committed out of vengeance and vengeance resulting from murder."
In the Spanish edition, you learn a few other things...
"But beyond the image, the Iranian president is above all a man that knows western philosophies as well as those of Islam. It's from this formation, that he speaks of dialogue, of tolerance and respect. The same as Ibn Arabi, the mystic Hispano-Muslim in whose work Khatami specialized during his studies in Islamic Philosophy. Married to a teacher, and father of three children...he insists there is no such thing as just one Islam. "We have the Islam of the Taliban, and the Islam that we are experimenting in Iran, that has accepted some freedoms and democracy," at the same time asking that they be given time to adapt."
Question: Your government not only strongly condemned the (9-11) attacks, but also provided the U.S. discreet aid in Afghanistan. However, the President George W. Bush includes Iran in his "axis of evil." What happened for him to react thusly? Did you deny the U.S. any particular petition?
Answer: You will have to ask Mr Bush that question. What is being said with respect to Iran and Afghanistan shows that there isn't goodwill on the part of the United States with respect to Iran. We have been big victims of the taliban. For many years, two million suffering Afghans have lived in our country as guests. In an attempt to stop the drug traffickers from crossing Iran, and arriving to the youth of Europe, we have lost 3,000 of our best. The damage that the Taliban have caused us is much. There is no doubt that if Iran hadn't been willing, the situation in Afghanistan wouldn't be what it is now...
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
Revisions Offered to Priest Policy
A joint American-Vatican commission has completed revisions to the U.S. bishops' sweeping discipline policy for priests who sexually abuse children, the Vatican said Wednesday....Neither the Vatican nor the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released details of the revisions, which were made with extraordinary speed for the Holy See - over two days of private meetings. Victims groups have expressed concern that the Roman Catholic hierarchy will severely weaken the strictest parts of the bishops' plan.
A joint American-Vatican commission has completed revisions to the U.S. bishops' sweeping discipline policy for priests who sexually abuse children, the Vatican said Wednesday....Neither the Vatican nor the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released details of the revisions, which were made with extraordinary speed for the Holy See - over two days of private meetings. Victims groups have expressed concern that the Roman Catholic hierarchy will severely weaken the strictest parts of the bishops' plan.
Challenger who gives Europe the jitters...eyes on Turkey
Minarets are our bayonets
Domes are our helmets
Mosques are our barracks
Believers are our soldiers.
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN was jailed in 1999 for reading aloud that century-old poem. Now he leads a party with strong Islamist roots that is expected to win Turkey’s general election on Sunday.
Minarets are our bayonets
Domes are our helmets
Mosques are our barracks
Believers are our soldiers.
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN was jailed in 1999 for reading aloud that century-old poem. Now he leads a party with strong Islamist roots that is expected to win Turkey’s general election on Sunday.
What do Ted Bundy, Kenneth Bianchi, James Kinney and John Allen Muhammad have in common?
If you said they were all serial killers, only give yourself a half-point. The answer to the above is that they all were regulars of the Waterfront Tavern in Bellingham, Washington...
Where serial killers go for a quiet tipple
Despite the guest list, people who drink at the Waterfront described themselves as warm, well-adjusted. Perhaps it was their accepting attitude that let so many notorious characters feel welcome...."Live and let live," said Pete Davis, who is unemployed. "Of course, we only know after the fact that they're bad guys. I don't know. Maybe we should name sandwiches after them."
I don't know, maybe it's something in their drink?
If you said they were all serial killers, only give yourself a half-point. The answer to the above is that they all were regulars of the Waterfront Tavern in Bellingham, Washington...
Where serial killers go for a quiet tipple
Despite the guest list, people who drink at the Waterfront described themselves as warm, well-adjusted. Perhaps it was their accepting attitude that let so many notorious characters feel welcome...."Live and let live," said Pete Davis, who is unemployed. "Of course, we only know after the fact that they're bad guys. I don't know. Maybe we should name sandwiches after them."
I don't know, maybe it's something in their drink?
This doesn't sound like too good of an idea to me...
Sleep drug boost for shift workers
Shift workers may be able to stay alert using a drug designed to treat the sleep condition narcolepsy, where people fall asleep involuntarily....More research is being done to see if it can also help tired truck drivers, medical staff and soldiers.
Let's see, companies wanting their employees to take drugs to allieviate sleeping orders brought on by working hours that are not natural. Sounds pretty dehumanizing to me. But hey, anything for a buck...
Sleep drug boost for shift workers
Shift workers may be able to stay alert using a drug designed to treat the sleep condition narcolepsy, where people fall asleep involuntarily....More research is being done to see if it can also help tired truck drivers, medical staff and soldiers.
Let's see, companies wanting their employees to take drugs to allieviate sleeping orders brought on by working hours that are not natural. Sounds pretty dehumanizing to me. But hey, anything for a buck...
Raid uncovers black magic meat
A crocodile head for use in black magic fertility rituals, and giant African snails, were among more than two tonnes of bushmeat found on sale at a supermarket in north London.
A crocodile head for use in black magic fertility rituals, and giant African snails, were among more than two tonnes of bushmeat found on sale at a supermarket in north London.
Is it PC gone wild, or totally insensitive businesses out to make a buck?
Unmasking Hate at Halloween
Some costume manufacturers have decided to forgo the typical fright, blood and gore this Halloween, choosing instead to market culturally insensitive and racially offensive masks as their new hot ticket items.
Unmasking Hate at Halloween
Some costume manufacturers have decided to forgo the typical fright, blood and gore this Halloween, choosing instead to market culturally insensitive and racially offensive masks as their new hot ticket items.
According to this article, sounds like a "test" group of soldiers were used in Moscow gassing...
Putin pledges terror crackdown
The first Russian commandos who stormed the theatre where 700 people were being held hostage first received an antidote to counter a gas used to incapacitate the hostage takers....Somehow, a second wave of commandos never got the injections and became ill
Putin pledges terror crackdown
The first Russian commandos who stormed the theatre where 700 people were being held hostage first received an antidote to counter a gas used to incapacitate the hostage takers....Somehow, a second wave of commandos never got the injections and became ill
Now this is a strange twist to the US sniper case...
Psychic Made Stunning Sniper Predictions
According to this story, Elizabeth Brown, the mother of seven children and widow of a former Chicago-area police chief, is a "self-described" spiritualist from Charleson, SC who made several "predictions" about the snipers, and which NewsMax, claims, "some of them were recorded on radio before the snipers were captured, making her claims more than credible."
So what were these predictions?
- That there would be an Islamic connection to the killings
That one sounds like a pretty easy guess to me.
- Contrary to the many "profilers" that the killings were being conducted by more than one individual.
I seem to remember quite of few bloggers saying the same thing, and given some of the incidents involved, seemed pretty logical.
- A group of as many as five individuals were involved, although all did not do the killings themselves
That would be a logical progression from the the above ideas, etc.
- She insists that an unidentified woman is involved.
Well, if you've got five people involved the odds are one of them could be a woman, or is this the Tacoma woman who was murdered?
- She may have had a premonition of the attacks in April of this year. At that time she faxed a letter to a friend close to the FBI, indicating that Maryland was in danger and needed to be protected.
I seem to remember there were quite of few terrorist alerts around that time, and Maryland for the proximity to Washington DC would be a logical place to "need" protecting.
- Days before the shooting of the man at the Ponderosa steak house in Ashland, Va., Baron said she had received the message "They will surrender in Richmond...Ashland is a suburb of Richmond. According to press reports police have said that they almost captured Muhammad and Malvo at a pay phone in Richmond soon after the Ashland shooting.
You got me, maybe because so many of the killings took place near there?
- She penciled a sketch of a very young man she believed was black or Hispanic.
Well, if she had already said there were Islamic connections, maybe ...
- She received a message: The man is with another man and they are driving a blue car.
If it's not a white van - which many bloggers were suggesting - then it could be any car, or color...what percentage of cars are painted blue?
Anyway, still pretty strange... Here are a few other tidbits:
I think, maybe I'm wrong, but those two places were always considered on the high list of possibilities? As is the next...
Well thank goodness she's not telling anybody how it could happen...But what I want to know is, what about those anthrax attacks...
It would be interesting to hear from some of the St. Blogs people and their take on this "psychic." Is it possible? What's the Church's view?
Mark Shea, where are you? Especially, since Mr. Shea has been recently posting on "Supernatural" experiences.
Psychic Made Stunning Sniper Predictions
According to this story, Elizabeth Brown, the mother of seven children and widow of a former Chicago-area police chief, is a "self-described" spiritualist from Charleson, SC who made several "predictions" about the snipers, and which NewsMax, claims, "some of them were recorded on radio before the snipers were captured, making her claims more than credible."
So what were these predictions?
- That there would be an Islamic connection to the killings
That one sounds like a pretty easy guess to me.
- Contrary to the many "profilers" that the killings were being conducted by more than one individual.
I seem to remember quite of few bloggers saying the same thing, and given some of the incidents involved, seemed pretty logical.
- A group of as many as five individuals were involved, although all did not do the killings themselves
That would be a logical progression from the the above ideas, etc.
- She insists that an unidentified woman is involved.
Well, if you've got five people involved the odds are one of them could be a woman, or is this the Tacoma woman who was murdered?
- She may have had a premonition of the attacks in April of this year. At that time she faxed a letter to a friend close to the FBI, indicating that Maryland was in danger and needed to be protected.
I seem to remember there were quite of few terrorist alerts around that time, and Maryland for the proximity to Washington DC would be a logical place to "need" protecting.
- Days before the shooting of the man at the Ponderosa steak house in Ashland, Va., Baron said she had received the message "They will surrender in Richmond...Ashland is a suburb of Richmond. According to press reports police have said that they almost captured Muhammad and Malvo at a pay phone in Richmond soon after the Ashland shooting.
You got me, maybe because so many of the killings took place near there?
- She penciled a sketch of a very young man she believed was black or Hispanic.
Well, if she had already said there were Islamic connections, maybe ...
- She received a message: The man is with another man and they are driving a blue car.
If it's not a white van - which many bloggers were suggesting - then it could be any car, or color...what percentage of cars are painted blue?
Anyway, still pretty strange... Here are a few other tidbits:
Baron has been issuing warnings about Islamic terrorism for several years. Since 1996, she has been saying that several nations, including Iraq and Iran, were helping to plan a major terrorist attack in lower Manhattan, specifically noting the New York Stock Exchange and the World Trade Center as targets
I think, maybe I'm wrong, but those two places were always considered on the high list of possibilities? As is the next...
In recent months, Baron says she has received some warnings about President Bush and Vice President Cheney, which she has passed on to federal authorities. She wouldn’t disclose the full details of these revelations publicly.
Well thank goodness she's not telling anybody how it could happen...But what I want to know is, what about those anthrax attacks...
Asked if Steve Hatfill had anything to do with the anthrax attacks, she said, "It’s an absolute lie." Still, she added, the FBI is trying to find something on him to justify its investigation and actions against him.
It would be interesting to hear from some of the St. Blogs people and their take on this "psychic." Is it possible? What's the Church's view?
Mark Shea, where are you? Especially, since Mr. Shea has been recently posting on "Supernatural" experiences.
American GIs to get same drugs as Gulf War Vets...
But Pentagon says they're safe now, because, well they've been "tested."
And a little bit more on those "FDA Standards..."
And this isn't just conspiracy stuff, as the article points out...
But Pentagon says they're safe now, because, well they've been "tested."
The Pentagon has assured Congress and military personnel that only FDA-approved drugs will be used, FDA dosage and administration requirements will be met and proper records will be kept.
Critics remain unconvinced. They claim Gulf War GIs were dosed with unapproved compounds responsible for chronic and sometimes fatal ailments. And they contend that the Pentagon's standard operating procedures and attitudes regarding drug administration are the antithesis of good medical practice.
And a little bit more on those "FDA Standards..."
to Nicolson, there are several forms of FDA approval. For example, pyridostigmine bromide, injected into Gulf War soldiers to protect them from the nerve gas sarin, was FDA approved only as an "investigational new drug." It was not certified as safe for general administration as a nerve-gas antidote.
"You must use only FDA-approved vaccines in an FDA-approved manner (of administration) ... standard approval, not approval under an experimental waiver," Nicolson continued. "You must administer the vaccinations under a normal schedule ... not give 20 or 30 vaccines within two or three days."
Nicolson said the Department of Defense method for monitoring potential drug side effects also fails the "proper-practice" test.
"The military uses passive-surveillance monitoring," he said. "In civilian life this works.... If people feel ill they go to a doctor. In the military there's a lot of pressure not to report anything unusual.
"And if you're not hospitalized within 48 hours after inoculation, the DOD assumes that whatever happens to you afterward has nothing to do with the vaccines."
And this isn't just conspiracy stuff, as the article points out...
Riley has a point. Under congressional prodding, the Defense Department in October reversed four decades of denials regarding nerve gas and other toxic material testing in the 1960s. Among its admissions:
* At least 14 open-air tests of the lethal nerve gas VX were performed at Maryland's Edgewood Arsenal.
* Soldiers were exposed to VX to test unproven protective suits.
* Bacillis globigii, a bacteria closely related to anthrax, was sprayed airborne in Alaska and Hawaii.
* Hallucinogenic chemicals were tested on unsuspecting soldiers.
* E. coli was deliberately released during chemical-dispersion testing on Oahu, Hawaii.
* Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense serves as an umbrella term for at least 40 and possibly over 100 open-air tests of biowarfare agents at its now-closed Desert Test Center in Utah.
* Infectious bacteria was released into the air above San Francisco.
* A two-year test was executed in which artillery shells and bombs filled with sarin and VX were exploded near Fort Greeley, Alaska.
* Military barracks in Oahu were sprayed with a biological agent shown to cause infections in individuals with diminished immune-system capacity.
* A benzilic-acid derivative known to cause hallucinations and confusion was sprayed under the jungle canopy near Hilo, Hawaii, in two separate series of tests.
US weapons secrets exposed
Respected scientists on both sides of the Atlantic warned yesterday that the US is developing a new generation of weapons that undermine and possibly violate international treaties on biological and chemical warfare. The scientists, specialists in bio-warfare and chemical weapons, say the Pentagon, with the help of the British military, is also working on "non-lethal" weapons similar to the narcotic gas used by Russian forces to end last week's siege in Moscow.
Hey, is that why maybe they knew what the gas was? That said, and besides the ironic note, there are also these interesting tidbits:Mr Dando believes Washington's motive for torpedoing the deal, which had the support of its allies, was to maintain secrecy over US research work on biological weapons. He said that work includes:
Respected scientists on both sides of the Atlantic warned yesterday that the US is developing a new generation of weapons that undermine and possibly violate international treaties on biological and chemical warfare. The scientists, specialists in bio-warfare and chemical weapons, say the Pentagon, with the help of the British military, is also working on "non-lethal" weapons similar to the narcotic gas used by Russian forces to end last week's siege in Moscow.
Hey, is that why maybe they knew what the gas was? That said, and besides the ironic note, there are also these interesting tidbits:Mr Dando believes Washington's motive for torpedoing the deal, which had the support of its allies, was to maintain secrecy over US research work on biological weapons. He said that work includes:
· CIA efforts to copy a Soviet cluster bomb designed to disperse biological weapons
· A project by the Pentagon to build a bio-weapon plant from commercially available materials to prove that terrorists could do the same thing
· Research by the Defence Intelligence Agency into the possibility of genetically engineering a new strain of antibiotic-resistant anthrax
· A programme to produce dried and weaponised anthrax spores, officially for testing US bio-defences, but far more spores were allegedly produced than necessary for such purposes and it is unclear whether they have been destroyed or simply stored.
Publication of updated New Catholic Encyclopedia
Publishers in the US last month released the first update since 1967 of the 15 volume New Catholic Encyclopedia....The publicity states that the work is recognised by Library Journal as one of the top 50 reference sources of the millennium. Since 1967, it has been a standard in public, academic and high school libraries worldwide.
Publishers in the US last month released the first update since 1967 of the 15 volume New Catholic Encyclopedia....The publicity states that the work is recognised by Library Journal as one of the top 50 reference sources of the millennium. Since 1967, it has been a standard in public, academic and high school libraries worldwide.
Obvious news story of the day...
U.S. military building database of terror suspects' fingerprints, faces, voices
U.S. military building database of terror suspects' fingerprints, faces, voices
Pope John Paul II Praises Two Ugandan Martyrs
Pope John Paul II has described the young Ugandan catechists Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa, killed because of hatred of the faith in 1918, as "examples of holiness, virtue and models" for the Christian community, writes John Kakande.
Pope John Paul II has described the young Ugandan catechists Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa, killed because of hatred of the faith in 1918, as "examples of holiness, virtue and models" for the Christian community, writes John Kakande.
I just don't know about this study...but still very interesting...
Religious beliefs spur economy
According to the study, conducted by the Harvard University Economist Robert Barro and Political Scientist Rachel McCleary, the countries where the belief in hell is strong, growth of gross domestic product runs about 0.5 per cent higher than average. These countries include Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey..."The Muslim belief in hell is often stronger than in Christianity. Punishment from hell is vivid and clear-cut and apparently has more effect on behaviour than the idea of heaven," says the study.
Still don't get it...last I knew these countries weren't the real economic driving forces (possibly with the exception of Malaysia) in their regions...maybe I'm missing something, besides the fact that this study is published by an website out of ... Pakistan
Religious beliefs spur economy
According to the study, conducted by the Harvard University Economist Robert Barro and Political Scientist Rachel McCleary, the countries where the belief in hell is strong, growth of gross domestic product runs about 0.5 per cent higher than average. These countries include Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey..."The Muslim belief in hell is often stronger than in Christianity. Punishment from hell is vivid and clear-cut and apparently has more effect on behaviour than the idea of heaven," says the study.
Still don't get it...last I knew these countries weren't the real economic driving forces (possibly with the exception of Malaysia) in their regions...maybe I'm missing something, besides the fact that this study is published by an website out of ... Pakistan
Indonesian Police Find Bomb at University
Indonesian police on Wednesday defused a bomb and were searching for two others at one of Jakarta's biggest Christian universities
Hmm, now who would target Christian universities?
Indonesian police on Wednesday defused a bomb and were searching for two others at one of Jakarta's biggest Christian universities
Hmm, now who would target Christian universities?
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Senior Chechen envoy held
Ahmed Zakayev, an envoy of Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov and the region's deputy prime minister, was detained in Copenhagen where he was attending a world congress of Chechens
Ahmed Zakayev, an envoy of Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov and the region's deputy prime minister, was detained in Copenhagen where he was attending a world congress of Chechens
You got to laugh at this...spammers upset there's too much spam!
Spam is reaching such epidemic proportions that even the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), which has staunchly opposed any federal anti-spam bills in the past, now plans to seek help from Washington in the form of legislation designed to slow the proliferation of "unsolicited and untargeted" e-mail.
Spam is reaching such epidemic proportions that even the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), which has staunchly opposed any federal anti-spam bills in the past, now plans to seek help from Washington in the form of legislation designed to slow the proliferation of "unsolicited and untargeted" e-mail.
American Graffiti In Scotland
IN a dank vault in Edinburgh Castle, a captured American revolutionary carved a symbol of defiance against Great Britain....The graffiti version of the Stars and Stripes is one of the earliest known depictions of the American flag in Britain and is to be one of the highlights of a new tourist attraction being created as part of a £3.5 million revamp of the Castle.
IN a dank vault in Edinburgh Castle, a captured American revolutionary carved a symbol of defiance against Great Britain....The graffiti version of the Stars and Stripes is one of the earliest known depictions of the American flag in Britain and is to be one of the highlights of a new tourist attraction being created as part of a £3.5 million revamp of the Castle.
Coming soon to your TV..."Left Behind," being billed as Christian X-Files?
Left Behind Aims For TV
The series will follow the development of Nicolae Carpathia's global command center and chronicle the Tribulation Force's efforts to undermine and expose the man they believe to be the biblical Antichrist, the company announced. Cloud Ten production head André van Heerden will serve as the series' show runner.
Left Behind Aims For TV
The series will follow the development of Nicolae Carpathia's global command center and chronicle the Tribulation Force's efforts to undermine and expose the man they believe to be the biblical Antichrist, the company announced. Cloud Ten production head André van Heerden will serve as the series' show runner.
Too much, first we had dog-shoot-man, now a pig? Is this a revolution in the making?
Man shot, killed in bizarre hog-butchering accident
The animal initially fell backward but then jumped forward, knocking the shooter down and causing the rifle to discharge. The bullet struck John Matson, 55, of Frazee.
Just imagine in this story if the hens would have fought back...
Man shot, killed in bizarre hog-butchering accident
The animal initially fell backward but then jumped forward, knocking the shooter down and causing the rifle to discharge. The bullet struck John Matson, 55, of Frazee.
Just imagine in this story if the hens would have fought back...
Well, it was too be expected...Fred Phelps to show all "Christ's love..."
Anti-gay group plans protest at local church
An anti-gay group that pickets gay people's funerals and celebrates hate-crime killings will gather in front of the Cathedral of Christ the King next month to protest the recent baptism of a gay couple's quadruplets there....Fred Phelps, the pastor of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., said 12 to 15 members of his congregation will travel to Lexington for the Nov. 24 protest.
Anti-gay group plans protest at local church
An anti-gay group that pickets gay people's funerals and celebrates hate-crime killings will gather in front of the Cathedral of Christ the King next month to protest the recent baptism of a gay couple's quadruplets there....Fred Phelps, the pastor of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., said 12 to 15 members of his congregation will travel to Lexington for the Nov. 24 protest.
Remember folks: Make sure to send your e-mails to: press.uruklink.net and tell Saddam hello
I wonder what sort of "spambot" protection Saddam uses ...
I wonder what sort of "spambot" protection Saddam uses ...
Interesting Article On Plight Of Gypsies In India
A large number of people in the state are not able to avail the fundamental right to vote. The reason: their names do not exist in the voters’ lists. They are gypsies belonging to the Nat community.
Reminds me of when I first moved to Spain, and people would always tell me how much prejudice and discrimination in the States. But when I'd ask them about the gypsy situation, I would invariably get the response. "That's different. The gypsies like to live that way."
A large number of people in the state are not able to avail the fundamental right to vote. The reason: their names do not exist in the voters’ lists. They are gypsies belonging to the Nat community.
Reminds me of when I first moved to Spain, and people would always tell me how much prejudice and discrimination in the States. But when I'd ask them about the gypsy situation, I would invariably get the response. "That's different. The gypsies like to live that way."
Quote Of The Day
"You know the difference between Russian roulette and Israeli roulette?" asked an officer, Captain Dan Ravitz, 21, putting aside his spy novel. "In Russian roulette, you choose your bullet. Here, you just pick a bus."
"You know the difference between Russian roulette and Israeli roulette?" asked an officer, Captain Dan Ravitz, 21, putting aside his spy novel. "In Russian roulette, you choose your bullet. Here, you just pick a bus."
Afghans tell of Guantanamo ordeal
Basically, wrong place, wrong time...and it took somebody 11 months to figure that out
The men, two of whom are believed to be in their 70s, are the first former detainees to describe the harsh conditions inside Guantanamo Bay
Basically, wrong place, wrong time...and it took somebody 11 months to figure that out
The men, two of whom are believed to be in their 70s, are the first former detainees to describe the harsh conditions inside Guantanamo Bay
Guide For The Paranoid Businessman Visiting Spain
(UPDATE...also check out John and Antonio at Iberian Notes for more on the subject)
I got this idea while reading John Bono's site, Big S Blog. In the comments section for one of his postings there was a discussion about how Americans stand out when they travel. Despite, one person saying he's able to blend in when travelling, I'd have to say I disagree … Americans do stand out.
So with that in mind, here's a guide for that Paranoid Businessman who's visiting Spain, and while some of it might just seem like a dress code it must be understood that people here do in general tend to dress more formal. And yes, there are Spaniards that do "break" the following rules, but if your goal is to blend in, well...
So here you go…
- Rule 1: Don't wear white socks
- Rule 2: Don't wear sneakers or tennis shoes, and if you do, don't wear them with white socks (see Rule #1)
- Rule 3: Don’t wear penny loafers, instead go for a wingtips
- Rule 4: When "dressing down" with chinos, don't wear sneakers, or penny loafers (see Rules #1 and Rule #3)
- Rule 5: Don't wear sweat or track suits, and DON'T wear a baseball cap
- Rule 6: Don't worry about traffic signals, because nobody else is. Go by the rule, if I can get across the street, then do it...but watch out for those cars!
- Rule 7: When out in the street, always wear a jacket or blazer, even if you're "dressed down."
- Rule 8: If you smoke, do so in public, while walking down the street, in lobbies, basically ignore any signs that say smoking isn't allowed
- Rule 9: When wearing suits, in winter prefer dark navy blue suits, with a discreet herringbone or birdseye patterns, pinstripes can also be acceptable, but not if "loud." Suit cuts should run conservative, and also don't wear any pins in lapels. In summer, lighter weaves (but avoid linen, unless you want to look like a British "Colonist"), and some colors can be worn....
- Rule 10: Don't wear button down, Oxford-style shirts, instead choose shirts of a large collar cut, firmly fitting around neck, and preferably, with French cuffs. Cufflinks should be a simple design, medium large, in either gold or silver. Avoid polyester like the plague! Always 100% cotton, and avoid white shirts, instead go with blue, or a subtle plaid pattern. Monograms are okay, but should be limited to three initials, and over the "left breast," never on the cuff or collar!
- Rule 11: Ties should be of a double weave, and wider cut. Always tie your ties using a double Windsor knot (creating a large knot) - a dead give away is a tie that forms a small knot. Tie patterns should be conservative, leave out the floral, etc. prints, and instead go for solid colors, or small print patterns. Avoid the typical Yale school style striped patterns. And never wear a black tie, or you'll be asked all day who died!
- Rule 12: Wear over the calf socks, avoid thick weaves, and loud patterns, and best without any. Stick to thinner (viewed more elegant) 100% cotton socks, of a dark color, and which, in the summer get to looking pretty similar to nylons.
- Rule 13: Suit jackets should be with three-button, and only button the middle one, leaving top and bottom button open, lapels should be medium width.
- Rule 14: Don't have a big, or thick wallet - not only will it call attention to thieves, but it creates a bulge in your jacket - and don't wear it in back pocket of trousers , very unseemly!
- Rule 15: When wearing a topcoat, avoid a dark blue Burberry's, as with the rest of your wear you'll like like US secret service. Instead go for a classic look, avoid double breast …. Think Jimmy Stewart in a 1940s flick!
- Rules 16: Don't wear any flannel shirts, or coats - in fact, leave those ski-jackets and winter jackets home!
- Rule 17: In winter do wear a scarf, and think conservative, women should think of Channel rip-offs.
- Rule 18: Do wear braces (suspenders), but not clips! And never wear a belt with those suspenders!
- Rule 19: If you're going to wear jeans, then don't wear Levi 501s,or similar. Also, have the legs hemmed and iron them.
- Rule 20: When greeting women, greet with a "kiss" on both cheeks. When greeting a man, don't give him a "kiss" - a handshake is just fine.
- Rule 21: When going out to lunch, don't talk business unless others bring it up….and when eating out, don’t leave your hands in your lap, unless you want people to think that you are playing with yourself. Instead, hands above the table!
- Rule 22: While we're at it, when eating out, cut with your right, while holding with your left, and then lift food to mouth with your left hand…it's a bit tricky at first, but watch and you'll quickly catch on. Always wipe your mouth before taking a drink of wine…there's nothing more unsightly than food crumbs left on a wine glass. When eating bread, the bread is on the plate on your left, only tear a bite size amount, and place the rest of the bread back on that plate. If you want butter, only put butter on that bite size piece, don't butter the whole thing!
- Rule 23: If you feel like smoking, you usually can between plates, but just ask "permission," which is almost always granted, since it would be bad manners to refuse you a smoke.
- Rule 24: When eating the first plate, this is often shared, and is a series of first plates, could be something like slices of ham, salad, cheeses, etc. Don't eat the last piece, and don’t pick up items with your hands, but it's A-OK for all to share the same plate. Of course, you don't share your main plate...
- Rule 25: Always hold the door open for others, including men (this becomes kind of an honour question) and when women are present, don't enter before them - even if it means you miss the lift.
- Rule 26: Don't try to pick up on women who wear rings on their RIGHT hand! In many parts of Spain, the engagement ring worn on the left hand, and then switched to the right hand when married.
- Rule 27: If there is sun and it's hot, never walk in the sun.
- Rule 28: Never wear sandals, and if you do, never wear socks, especially white socks (see Rule #1)
- Rule 29: Never wear shorts, but if you do, make sure they are longer Bermuda-chino style cuts…and that they are pressed.
- Rule 30: Don’t hang out in Irish Pubs, and McDonalds…and if you do hang out in Irish Pubs, don't try to talk with a fake British accent.
(UPDATE...also check out John and Antonio at Iberian Notes for more on the subject)
I got this idea while reading John Bono's site, Big S Blog. In the comments section for one of his postings there was a discussion about how Americans stand out when they travel. Despite, one person saying he's able to blend in when travelling, I'd have to say I disagree … Americans do stand out.
So with that in mind, here's a guide for that Paranoid Businessman who's visiting Spain, and while some of it might just seem like a dress code it must be understood that people here do in general tend to dress more formal. And yes, there are Spaniards that do "break" the following rules, but if your goal is to blend in, well...
So here you go…
- Rule 1: Don't wear white socks
- Rule 2: Don't wear sneakers or tennis shoes, and if you do, don't wear them with white socks (see Rule #1)
- Rule 3: Don’t wear penny loafers, instead go for a wingtips
- Rule 4: When "dressing down" with chinos, don't wear sneakers, or penny loafers (see Rules #1 and Rule #3)
- Rule 5: Don't wear sweat or track suits, and DON'T wear a baseball cap
- Rule 6: Don't worry about traffic signals, because nobody else is. Go by the rule, if I can get across the street, then do it...but watch out for those cars!
- Rule 7: When out in the street, always wear a jacket or blazer, even if you're "dressed down."
- Rule 8: If you smoke, do so in public, while walking down the street, in lobbies, basically ignore any signs that say smoking isn't allowed
- Rule 9: When wearing suits, in winter prefer dark navy blue suits, with a discreet herringbone or birdseye patterns, pinstripes can also be acceptable, but not if "loud." Suit cuts should run conservative, and also don't wear any pins in lapels. In summer, lighter weaves (but avoid linen, unless you want to look like a British "Colonist"), and some colors can be worn....
- Rule 10: Don't wear button down, Oxford-style shirts, instead choose shirts of a large collar cut, firmly fitting around neck, and preferably, with French cuffs. Cufflinks should be a simple design, medium large, in either gold or silver. Avoid polyester like the plague! Always 100% cotton, and avoid white shirts, instead go with blue, or a subtle plaid pattern. Monograms are okay, but should be limited to three initials, and over the "left breast," never on the cuff or collar!
- Rule 11: Ties should be of a double weave, and wider cut. Always tie your ties using a double Windsor knot (creating a large knot) - a dead give away is a tie that forms a small knot. Tie patterns should be conservative, leave out the floral, etc. prints, and instead go for solid colors, or small print patterns. Avoid the typical Yale school style striped patterns. And never wear a black tie, or you'll be asked all day who died!
- Rule 12: Wear over the calf socks, avoid thick weaves, and loud patterns, and best without any. Stick to thinner (viewed more elegant) 100% cotton socks, of a dark color, and which, in the summer get to looking pretty similar to nylons.
- Rule 13: Suit jackets should be with three-button, and only button the middle one, leaving top and bottom button open, lapels should be medium width.
- Rule 14: Don't have a big, or thick wallet - not only will it call attention to thieves, but it creates a bulge in your jacket - and don't wear it in back pocket of trousers , very unseemly!
- Rule 15: When wearing a topcoat, avoid a dark blue Burberry's, as with the rest of your wear you'll like like US secret service. Instead go for a classic look, avoid double breast …. Think Jimmy Stewart in a 1940s flick!
- Rules 16: Don't wear any flannel shirts, or coats - in fact, leave those ski-jackets and winter jackets home!
- Rule 17: In winter do wear a scarf, and think conservative, women should think of Channel rip-offs.
- Rule 18: Do wear braces (suspenders), but not clips! And never wear a belt with those suspenders!
- Rule 19: If you're going to wear jeans, then don't wear Levi 501s,or similar. Also, have the legs hemmed and iron them.
- Rule 20: When greeting women, greet with a "kiss" on both cheeks. When greeting a man, don't give him a "kiss" - a handshake is just fine.
- Rule 21: When going out to lunch, don't talk business unless others bring it up….and when eating out, don’t leave your hands in your lap, unless you want people to think that you are playing with yourself. Instead, hands above the table!
- Rule 22: While we're at it, when eating out, cut with your right, while holding with your left, and then lift food to mouth with your left hand…it's a bit tricky at first, but watch and you'll quickly catch on. Always wipe your mouth before taking a drink of wine…there's nothing more unsightly than food crumbs left on a wine glass. When eating bread, the bread is on the plate on your left, only tear a bite size amount, and place the rest of the bread back on that plate. If you want butter, only put butter on that bite size piece, don't butter the whole thing!
- Rule 23: If you feel like smoking, you usually can between plates, but just ask "permission," which is almost always granted, since it would be bad manners to refuse you a smoke.
- Rule 24: When eating the first plate, this is often shared, and is a series of first plates, could be something like slices of ham, salad, cheeses, etc. Don't eat the last piece, and don’t pick up items with your hands, but it's A-OK for all to share the same plate. Of course, you don't share your main plate...
- Rule 25: Always hold the door open for others, including men (this becomes kind of an honour question) and when women are present, don't enter before them - even if it means you miss the lift.
- Rule 26: Don't try to pick up on women who wear rings on their RIGHT hand! In many parts of Spain, the engagement ring worn on the left hand, and then switched to the right hand when married.
- Rule 27: If there is sun and it's hot, never walk in the sun.
- Rule 28: Never wear sandals, and if you do, never wear socks, especially white socks (see Rule #1)
- Rule 29: Never wear shorts, but if you do, make sure they are longer Bermuda-chino style cuts…and that they are pressed.
- Rule 30: Don’t hang out in Irish Pubs, and McDonalds…and if you do hang out in Irish Pubs, don't try to talk with a fake British accent.
Google Search Time
Somebody looking for a job...and no this isn't the place to help you...
makeup cosmetic job in dallas,Tx
Somebody looking for trouble...
chinese museum child sexual preference tablet
Somebody checking out the conspiracy angles...
"John Allen Mohammed" + "jew"
Somebody who's a history buff...and I've got something related here...
quetzlcoatl legend
Somebody looking for a job...and no this isn't the place to help you...
makeup cosmetic job in dallas,Tx
Somebody looking for trouble...
chinese museum child sexual preference tablet
Somebody checking out the conspiracy angles...
"John Allen Mohammed" + "jew"
Somebody who's a history buff...and I've got something related here...
quetzlcoatl legend
Monday, October 28, 2002
You Want To Send Saddam An E-mail?
It's not clear whether Saddam uses e-mail or even knows how to operate a personal computer. But scores of people write to him each week at press@uruklink.net, the e-mail address listed on the official homepage of the Iraqi presidency since at least October 2000....
Messages sent to the account, Iraq's version of president@whitehouse.gov, run the gamut from fawning solicitations for autographed photos and media interviews to obscene death threats.
And then there's this item, which sounds suspiciously "familiar," in light of Moscow theater "situation."
It's not clear whether Saddam uses e-mail or even knows how to operate a personal computer. But scores of people write to him each week at press@uruklink.net, the e-mail address listed on the official homepage of the Iraqi presidency since at least October 2000....
Messages sent to the account, Iraq's version of president@whitehouse.gov, run the gamut from fawning solicitations for autographed photos and media interviews to obscene death threats.
And then there's this item, which sounds suspiciously "familiar," in light of Moscow theater "situation."
On the afternoon of July 17, a self-proclaimed expert in biochemistry composed an e-mail message to Saddam Hussein....The message, sent from an MSN Hotmail account on a computer in China, recommended the use of methyl bromide, an agricultural pesticide, as an effective chemical weapon against the U.S. Army...For weapon use, have function: no color, no smell, will let person dead in a few second," wrote the e-mail's author, who provided the phone number and address of a distributor in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from which the toxic chemical could be purchased "in cylinder or in can."
Now this is an interesting detail about the Moscow hostage situation
The Telegraph has learned that a number of Arab fighters, believed to be of Saudi Arabian and Yemeni origin, were among the group that seized control of the theatre.
But I thought they were our allies?
The Telegraph has learned that a number of Arab fighters, believed to be of Saudi Arabian and Yemeni origin, were among the group that seized control of the theatre.
But I thought they were our allies?
Spanish King greets President Khatami at his royal palace
Spanish King Juan Carlos officially welcomed Iranian President Mohammad Khatami at his royal palace, some ten kilometers away from Madrid, on Monday.The Iranian and Spanish authorities forwent the usual gala evening banquet for a private dinner and reception to head off any protocol gaffes with a view to Khatami's adherence to Islamic law.
Spanish King Juan Carlos officially welcomed Iranian President Mohammad Khatami at his royal palace, some ten kilometers away from Madrid, on Monday.The Iranian and Spanish authorities forwent the usual gala evening banquet for a private dinner and reception to head off any protocol gaffes with a view to Khatami's adherence to Islamic law.
Reckless Driving Is a Sin?
Reckless driving is prohibited by the fifth commandment because it is not lawful to expose oneself or others to the probable risk of death," the bishop of the small island of Gozo also wrote in an opinion piece in Malta's The Times newspaper
Reckless driving is prohibited by the fifth commandment because it is not lawful to expose oneself or others to the probable risk of death," the bishop of the small island of Gozo also wrote in an opinion piece in Malta's The Times newspaper
More details on US sniper case
In a separate development Monday, authorities in Washington state said that they had linked Muhammad to the Tacoma shooting death of a 21-year-old woman whose aunt once worked for Muhammad's auto repair business....Muhammad also is linked to a shooting last spring at a Tacoma synagogue in which no one was injured, Tacoma police said....Tacoma Police Chief David Brame said a citizen contacted the FBI last week and said he'd allowed Muhammad and Malvo to borrow his weapons, including a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
See yesterday's post for related.
In a separate development Monday, authorities in Washington state said that they had linked Muhammad to the Tacoma shooting death of a 21-year-old woman whose aunt once worked for Muhammad's auto repair business....Muhammad also is linked to a shooting last spring at a Tacoma synagogue in which no one was injured, Tacoma police said....Tacoma Police Chief David Brame said a citizen contacted the FBI last week and said he'd allowed Muhammad and Malvo to borrow his weapons, including a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
See yesterday's post for related.
Miracle attributed to Perth statue tears
Oil from Perth's weeping statue is producing miracles, according to parish priest Fr Henry Walsh, who said a Sydney colleague told him last week about a cancer sufferer "cured" after witnessing the statue's "tears".
Oil from Perth's weeping statue is producing miracles, according to parish priest Fr Henry Walsh, who said a Sydney colleague told him last week about a cancer sufferer "cured" after witnessing the statue's "tears".
Brazil's Lula seeks to reassure markets
Speaking a day after his convincing victory in the presidential run-off, the left-wing politician best known as Lula pledged fiscal austerity and sustainable growth.
For more, see yesterday's post.
Speaking a day after his convincing victory in the presidential run-off, the left-wing politician best known as Lula pledged fiscal austerity and sustainable growth.
For more, see yesterday's post.
US identifies deadly Moscow siege gas
The sleep inducing substance was not a nerve gas as previously suspected, but an opiate which dulls the senses
The sleep inducing substance was not a nerve gas as previously suspected, but an opiate which dulls the senses
So not it comes out that they did know...
Bishop Knew Boston Priest Endorsed Man-Boy Sex
During the deposition, MacLeish showed Daily documents indicating the archdiocese knew in 1979 that Shanley had attended a meeting of North America men who were involved in sexual relationships with male youngsters....The lawyer also showed Daily letters sent to the archdiocese in the summer of 1983 from people who were concerned by reports that Shanley had been present at the founding conference of NAMBLA, the North American Man-Boy Love Association
I have to admit, I'm starting to think some people need to step down...
Bishop Knew Boston Priest Endorsed Man-Boy Sex
During the deposition, MacLeish showed Daily documents indicating the archdiocese knew in 1979 that Shanley had attended a meeting of North America men who were involved in sexual relationships with male youngsters....The lawyer also showed Daily letters sent to the archdiocese in the summer of 1983 from people who were concerned by reports that Shanley had been present at the founding conference of NAMBLA, the North American Man-Boy Love Association
I have to admit, I'm starting to think some people need to step down...
Cleric suspected of Bali bombing taken from hospital for questioning
Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of the Islamic extremist group suspected of carrying out the Bali bombing, was taken out of hospital for questioning by Indonesian police yesterday....Hundreds of his supporters clashed with police as the radical Muslim cleric was wheeled out of the hospital in Solo, central Java. His brother, Umar Baradja, claimed that police smashed down the door of his hospital room and dragged him out of bed before flying him to Jakarta
Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of the Islamic extremist group suspected of carrying out the Bali bombing, was taken out of hospital for questioning by Indonesian police yesterday....Hundreds of his supporters clashed with police as the radical Muslim cleric was wheeled out of the hospital in Solo, central Java. His brother, Umar Baradja, claimed that police smashed down the door of his hospital room and dragged him out of bed before flying him to Jakarta
Harrods boss exposed as fake old boy at Eton of East
The Observer can reveal that this month Fayed received a frosty reception when he telephoned the Old Victorian Association in Alexandria to enquire about the jamboree...Armand Khahill, its long-time secretary, said he was dumbstruck when he received the call, not least because it was he who appeared on ITN in 1988, to reject publicly Fayed's claim in Britain that he had attended Victoria College.
The Observer can reveal that this month Fayed received a frosty reception when he telephoned the Old Victorian Association in Alexandria to enquire about the jamboree...Armand Khahill, its long-time secretary, said he was dumbstruck when he received the call, not least because it was he who appeared on ITN in 1988, to reject publicly Fayed's claim in Britain that he had attended Victoria College.
Hey, it's not just happening in Spain...
More babies needed to save Scotland
The population of Scotland is plummeting faster than previously feared and is set to dip below five million by 2010...It was initially thought the declining number of people living in Scotland would fall below that psychologically crucial level in 2018. But new projections from the government's official statistician show there are 50,000 fewer people in Scotland than previously thought, and so the country will fall beneath that mark only eight years from now.
I've got a solution...give all of the scattered Scot descendants a passport that identifies their Scottish heritage, and some incentives - maybe tax breaks - to "immigrate" back ...
More babies needed to save Scotland
The population of Scotland is plummeting faster than previously feared and is set to dip below five million by 2010...It was initially thought the declining number of people living in Scotland would fall below that psychologically crucial level in 2018. But new projections from the government's official statistician show there are 50,000 fewer people in Scotland than previously thought, and so the country will fall beneath that mark only eight years from now.
I've got a solution...give all of the scattered Scot descendants a passport that identifies their Scottish heritage, and some incentives - maybe tax breaks - to "immigrate" back ...
Norther Australia To Become Next Muslim State?
Terrorist group 'targets our north'
THE Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) has targeted northern Australia to form part of an Asian Islamic superstate, according to a secret intelligence report....The report, to be detailed on tonight's ABC Four Corners program, comes from the Philippines, chosen by al-Qaeda as its first base in South-East Asia in 1988.
Terrorist group 'targets our north'
THE Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) has targeted northern Australia to form part of an Asian Islamic superstate, according to a secret intelligence report....The report, to be detailed on tonight's ABC Four Corners program, comes from the Philippines, chosen by al-Qaeda as its first base in South-East Asia in 1988.
Another Goldilocks and Bear story...
While he was in the bathroom I could hear him getting into the shower stall and wiggling around and then I heard him drink out of the toilet," she said. "And after he was done drinking out of the toilet, he wiggled into the shower some more and turned on the shower. Later on, when I had gone in after he left the house, I realized he wiped his face on my husband's bathrobe
While he was in the bathroom I could hear him getting into the shower stall and wiggling around and then I heard him drink out of the toilet," she said. "And after he was done drinking out of the toilet, he wiggled into the shower some more and turned on the shower. Later on, when I had gone in after he left the house, I realized he wiped his face on my husband's bathrobe
Teen Sniper Suspect Possible Shooter in One Attack
I suggested as much, last Friday, that chances were the "nice kid" might have pulled the trigger on a few of the killings. It just made sense, from the standpoint that if the two were running around, there was probably a pretty high chance the "kid" wanted to join in on "the fun."
So it's not too much of a surprise to see this news out today:
And in a related story...
That last article, has this little tidbit about the famous photo of the two sitting on a sofa...
Now the question is, will the press retract all of those silly "nice kid" headlines?
I suggested as much, last Friday, that chances were the "nice kid" might have pulled the trigger on a few of the killings. It just made sense, from the standpoint that if the two were running around, there was probably a pretty high chance the "kid" wanted to join in on "the fun."
So it's not too much of a surprise to see this news out today:
John Lee Malvo, the 17-year-old suspect in the Washington-area sniper attacks, may have been the shooter in at least one of the 10 murders, a Virginia prosecutor is quoted as saying in Monday newspaper reports.
And in a related story...
John Lee Malvo seized his chance after being left alone by FBI interrogators....He leapt on a table and quickly smashed the flimsy ceiling tiles with his fists—then began hauling himself up into a ventilation shaft...Agents dashed into the room, grabbed his flailing legs and wrenched the struggling teenager back down...
Last night the FBI refused to comment on the embarrassing incident at the "secure" and secret federal centre in Baltimore, Maryland.
That last article, has this little tidbit about the famous photo of the two sitting on a sofa...
The pair—who killed ten and wounded three in a 21-day spree— could also be charged with an unsolved murder on America's west coast....Keenya Cook, 21, was killed in February with a single head shot as she opened her front door in Tacoma, Washington State, where Muhammad and Malvo were living at the time....The assassins were friends with her family—and even posed for the now infamous picture together on their sofa...But ex-Army marksman Muhammad, who changed his name from Williams because he converted to Islam, fell out with the Cooks when they befriended his ex-wife.
Now the question is, will the press retract all of those silly "nice kid" headlines?
Sunday, October 27, 2002
UPDATED: 20 Years Ago Today, Socialists Won Spanish Elections & Brazilian Elections
Twenty years ago, Felipe Gonzalez and the Spanish Socialist Party won the general elections. While there were many problems with their government, especially in later years, there were some positive things that happened also. Spain joined NATO, the EU, held the '92 Olympics, had a World Fair, and the economy boomed. While official unemployment was high, nobody believed the figures. Indeed opposition member Cristobal Montoro told me years ago, that while official figures were over 20%, the "real" rate of unemployment was closer to 6%. In other words, if unemployment were around 20% there would have been social unrest. That figure has since come down to around 10% under the Partido Popular government, primarily by making it not so advantageous to remain on the dole and working on the side.
I relay this quick recap, to suggest that some of the fears over Luis Inacio Lula da Silva's victory in Brazil may be a bit overdone. Is his government left-leaning? Certainly. But it must be remembered that Lula's hands are to a tied by the World Bank and IMF, and promises garnered to assure that Brazil won't follow in Argentina's footsteps. Not to mention, that it's not a straight victory. Lula's party must work with other parties, including Cardoso's defeated Brazilian Social Democratic Party.
I would also suggest that not too much be given to the fact that the government is supposedly a "left government." As it stands now, in Brazil there is a vast difference between a very small percentage of the population that hold most of the wealth, and the vast amount of the population that are, well, poor.
And another thing, just as in Spain with the changing tides, from one political party to another, so in Brazil these elections show that their democracy is coming of age.
Financial markets are now saying the risk of a debt default was frankly, overblown. The country is on its way toward posting a record trade surplus of over $10 billion, and its current account deficit is rapidly shrinking to around $11 billion, which represents around 2.3% of its GDP, as compared to 4.5% in 2001. Add to that G7 bond yields are higher with moderately higher oil prices, meaning Brazil doesn't have as high a risk premium, and the country is also a net importer of oil.
If anybody still has questions, it should also be remembered that Brazil only has debt needs of around $5 billion in the first quarter of 2003.
And some of Lula's agenda looks even tougher than what the IMF had first exacted. It's widely expected that Lula will not only confirm his adherence to the IMF targets, but possibly even aim for a larger budget surplus than the agreed upon 3.75%. He's also seen increasing the central bank's independence.
Of course, a lot of this will depend upon who are the people that Lula bring in to help him...and which it appears many may be from Cardosa's party.
Here's a wrap up of related press:
Can Peace and Love Last in Lula's Brazil?
Consensus and cautious policies, analysts say, will be pillars of a transition while Lula's number one priority will be to pull Brazil out of its deep financial crisis...
Analysis: the challenges ahead
In order to meet IMF requirements, the government has to run a large budget surplus (minus debt repayments) for at least the next year and probably for longer....The crisis has been caused partly by the prospect of a Lula victory....So the first thing he has to do is to reassure financial markets and businesses that he intends to stick to fiscal austerity.
Last of all. an apology to Mark Byron, who's comment is for some reason not attached to a different link...
Twenty years ago, Felipe Gonzalez and the Spanish Socialist Party won the general elections. While there were many problems with their government, especially in later years, there were some positive things that happened also. Spain joined NATO, the EU, held the '92 Olympics, had a World Fair, and the economy boomed. While official unemployment was high, nobody believed the figures. Indeed opposition member Cristobal Montoro told me years ago, that while official figures were over 20%, the "real" rate of unemployment was closer to 6%. In other words, if unemployment were around 20% there would have been social unrest. That figure has since come down to around 10% under the Partido Popular government, primarily by making it not so advantageous to remain on the dole and working on the side.
I relay this quick recap, to suggest that some of the fears over Luis Inacio Lula da Silva's victory in Brazil may be a bit overdone. Is his government left-leaning? Certainly. But it must be remembered that Lula's hands are to a tied by the World Bank and IMF, and promises garnered to assure that Brazil won't follow in Argentina's footsteps. Not to mention, that it's not a straight victory. Lula's party must work with other parties, including Cardoso's defeated Brazilian Social Democratic Party.
I would also suggest that not too much be given to the fact that the government is supposedly a "left government." As it stands now, in Brazil there is a vast difference between a very small percentage of the population that hold most of the wealth, and the vast amount of the population that are, well, poor.
And another thing, just as in Spain with the changing tides, from one political party to another, so in Brazil these elections show that their democracy is coming of age.
Financial markets are now saying the risk of a debt default was frankly, overblown. The country is on its way toward posting a record trade surplus of over $10 billion, and its current account deficit is rapidly shrinking to around $11 billion, which represents around 2.3% of its GDP, as compared to 4.5% in 2001. Add to that G7 bond yields are higher with moderately higher oil prices, meaning Brazil doesn't have as high a risk premium, and the country is also a net importer of oil.
If anybody still has questions, it should also be remembered that Brazil only has debt needs of around $5 billion in the first quarter of 2003.
And some of Lula's agenda looks even tougher than what the IMF had first exacted. It's widely expected that Lula will not only confirm his adherence to the IMF targets, but possibly even aim for a larger budget surplus than the agreed upon 3.75%. He's also seen increasing the central bank's independence.
Of course, a lot of this will depend upon who are the people that Lula bring in to help him...and which it appears many may be from Cardosa's party.
Here's a wrap up of related press:
Can Peace and Love Last in Lula's Brazil?
Consensus and cautious policies, analysts say, will be pillars of a transition while Lula's number one priority will be to pull Brazil out of its deep financial crisis...
Analysis: the challenges ahead
In order to meet IMF requirements, the government has to run a large budget surplus (minus debt repayments) for at least the next year and probably for longer....The crisis has been caused partly by the prospect of a Lula victory....So the first thing he has to do is to reassure financial markets and businesses that he intends to stick to fiscal austerity.
Last of all. an apology to Mark Byron, who's comment is for some reason not attached to a different link...
Iran's President Khatami to Spain to Boost EU-Tehran Ties
Iran's President Mohammad Khatami arrives on a three-day visit today that Spain views as critical both to boost EU-Tehran ties, revived this year under Spain's EU presidency.
Iran's President Mohammad Khatami arrives on a three-day visit today that Spain views as critical both to boost EU-Tehran ties, revived this year under Spain's EU presidency.
Church is braced for election of gay bishop
I guess "adultery" doesn't enter into the equation either...
The Anglican Church could soon have its first openly homosexual bishop despite warnings by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, that the issue could provoke schism....Canon Gene Robinson, who left his wife and children to move in with his male lover, is almost certain to stand for election as the next Bishop of New Hampshire in America.
I guess "adultery" doesn't enter into the equation either...
In two previous attempts to become a bishop, Canon Robinson lost by seven votes in Rochester, New York, in 1999, and came third in Newark, New Jersey, in 1998.
Divorced from his wife, with whom he has two daughters, he lives with Mark Andrew, a manager for the New Hampshire department of health and human services. He said recently: "My being gay is rarely alluded to by me or the congregation."
Israel OKs export license for burial box linked to Jesus
Israel said Sunday it has granted a four-month export license for an ancient burial box that may be the oldest archaeological link to Jesus. The limestone box, or ossuary, bears the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" in Aramaic....
The export license was granted before Israeli officials understood the nature of the find, and to examine it they will now have to wait until the ossuary returns to Israel by the end of February....The Israel Antiquities Authority, or IAA, will then examine it for up to 90 days and, if deemed authentic, may try to buy it from the collector
And here's a related story...
Is this true? Has archaeology conclusively refuted a 2000-year teaching of the Catholic Church?...Not at all. At the very most, it'll help us to refine our apologetics.
Israel said Sunday it has granted a four-month export license for an ancient burial box that may be the oldest archaeological link to Jesus. The limestone box, or ossuary, bears the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" in Aramaic....
The export license was granted before Israeli officials understood the nature of the find, and to examine it they will now have to wait until the ossuary returns to Israel by the end of February....The Israel Antiquities Authority, or IAA, will then examine it for up to 90 days and, if deemed authentic, may try to buy it from the collector
And here's a related story...
Is this true? Has archaeology conclusively refuted a 2000-year teaching of the Catholic Church?...Not at all. At the very most, it'll help us to refine our apologetics.
Church Backs Anti-Smacking Campaign
A damning report published earlier this month by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Children, called on the Government to drop the Victorian defence of “reasonable chastisement” to excuse smacking a child, a loophole campaigners say has led adults to escape prosecution for child abuse....A number of European countries including Germany, Sweden, Austria and Norway have already passed legislation to protect their children.
A damning report published earlier this month by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Children, called on the Government to drop the Victorian defence of “reasonable chastisement” to excuse smacking a child, a loophole campaigners say has led adults to escape prosecution for child abuse....A number of European countries including Germany, Sweden, Austria and Norway have already passed legislation to protect their children.
Russia's not too happy with some EU countries...
Denmark vows to hold moot on Chechnya
Defying furious Russian warnings of reprisals, Denmark vowed on Sunday to go ahead with an international conference on Chechnya only days after a bloody end to a mass hostage-taking by Chechen rebels in Moscow....Moscow accused Denmark - the current European Union president - of "solidarity with terrorists" and said if the two-day meeting went ahead the Kremlin would boycott a Russia-EU summit planned for next month. ... Russia also protested to France for having allowed what it called a "support meeting for Chechen terrorists" to take place in a Paris theatre on Saturday.
Denmark vows to hold moot on Chechnya
Defying furious Russian warnings of reprisals, Denmark vowed on Sunday to go ahead with an international conference on Chechnya only days after a bloody end to a mass hostage-taking by Chechen rebels in Moscow....Moscow accused Denmark - the current European Union president - of "solidarity with terrorists" and said if the two-day meeting went ahead the Kremlin would boycott a Russia-EU summit planned for next month. ... Russia also protested to France for having allowed what it called a "support meeting for Chechen terrorists" to take place in a Paris theatre on Saturday.
Just the latest gimmick from Condomi...
Students Asked to Test-Run Condoms
British students are being recruited to test condoms, rating them for their pleasure, comfort and performance qualities.
Students Asked to Test-Run Condoms
British students are being recruited to test condoms, rating them for their pleasure, comfort and performance qualities.
Russians admit 115 hostages were killed by gas poisoning
Dr Seltsovsky said: "In standard situations, the compound that was used on people does not act as aggressively as it turned out to do. But it was used on people who were in a specific [extreme] situation for more than 50 hours." Moscow's chief anaesthesiologist, Yevgeny Yevdokimov, said he was unable to identify the gas but suggested it was a "narcotic substance similar to a general anaesthetic in surgery". It can paralyse breathing, cardiac and liver functioning, and blood circulation....According to other sources, the gas, so powerful that it caused the Chechen gunmen to fall unconscious even before they could pull the triggers on their bombs, was developed by the FSB security service. But the agency, the successor to the KGB, is refusing to tell doctors the identity of the gas or provide an antidote. The gas was secretly pumped into the theatre at about 5.30am after two hostages had been killed.
Relatedly, this from the BBC
A number of Western experts have already pointed the finger at BZ, a hallucinogenic drug developed by the American military and used, briefly, during the Vietnam war....It is not designed to kill, but like almost all chemical weapons, including the relatively mild tear gas, its effects, in large doses and confined spaces, can be catastrophic.
Dr Seltsovsky said: "In standard situations, the compound that was used on people does not act as aggressively as it turned out to do. But it was used on people who were in a specific [extreme] situation for more than 50 hours." Moscow's chief anaesthesiologist, Yevgeny Yevdokimov, said he was unable to identify the gas but suggested it was a "narcotic substance similar to a general anaesthetic in surgery". It can paralyse breathing, cardiac and liver functioning, and blood circulation....According to other sources, the gas, so powerful that it caused the Chechen gunmen to fall unconscious even before they could pull the triggers on their bombs, was developed by the FSB security service. But the agency, the successor to the KGB, is refusing to tell doctors the identity of the gas or provide an antidote. The gas was secretly pumped into the theatre at about 5.30am after two hostages had been killed.
Relatedly, this from the BBC
A number of Western experts have already pointed the finger at BZ, a hallucinogenic drug developed by the American military and used, briefly, during the Vietnam war....It is not designed to kill, but like almost all chemical weapons, including the relatively mild tear gas, its effects, in large doses and confined spaces, can be catastrophic.
Wacky Job Interview Cases
Johnson had a candidate who didn't need to go through the interview process because he just knew the poolside bartending job was his, and he said as much to the interviewer..."He said he was psychic and knew he was going to get the job by the waterfall even before he came here," she said. "Needless to say, he never got the job." ... There was the candidate that appeared on a Monday as "Randy" and on Tuesday as "Rhonda," and completed an identical resume. Neither got the job.
Johnson had a candidate who didn't need to go through the interview process because he just knew the poolside bartending job was his, and he said as much to the interviewer..."He said he was psychic and knew he was going to get the job by the waterfall even before he came here," she said. "Needless to say, he never got the job." ... There was the candidate that appeared on a Monday as "Randy" and on Tuesday as "Rhonda," and completed an identical resume. Neither got the job.
A European diary of disillusion?
ANOTHER week, another set of lessons on the uncomfortable realities of Britain's relations with the EU. Day after day, there have been developments that should give pause even to the most starry-eyed europhile....Consider what can fairly be described as a diary of disillusion....SUNDAY: Ireland votes Yes to the Treaty of Nice, a result hailed by pro-Europeans as a triumph, paving the way for 10 new nations to join the EU....But the truth is that Ireland, like Denmark before it, was bullied and browbeaten into a second referendum, after giving the 'wrong' answer - No - first time round....Such are the ways of democracy, EU-style. Voters can reach any decision they like, so long as it is the one approved by Brussels.
ANOTHER week, another set of lessons on the uncomfortable realities of Britain's relations with the EU. Day after day, there have been developments that should give pause even to the most starry-eyed europhile....Consider what can fairly be described as a diary of disillusion....SUNDAY: Ireland votes Yes to the Treaty of Nice, a result hailed by pro-Europeans as a triumph, paving the way for 10 new nations to join the EU....But the truth is that Ireland, like Denmark before it, was bullied and browbeaten into a second referendum, after giving the 'wrong' answer - No - first time round....Such are the ways of democracy, EU-style. Voters can reach any decision they like, so long as it is the one approved by Brussels.
Canadian court defines a chicken
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has laid down the law: a chicken is a chicken no matter how it is raised....The trial court rejected an organic farmer's claim that he did not need a production license from the Canadian province's chicken marketing board because, he said, it had authority only to regulate conventional, non-organic chicken farms....Justice Lynn Smith ruled on Thursday there was nothing in the law that established the British Columbia Chicken Marketing Board that would "exclude organically raised chicken from the meaning of the word 'chicken'."
For some strange reason, this reminds me of the Vatican's decision a couple of hundred years ago that the 130-pound Venezuelan rodent, the capybara, wasn't meat...In that story, the local's appetite for capybara came head-on with the church's ban on eating meat during Lent. The Vatican was asked to reconsider the status of the world's biggest rodent, and graciously gave it the status of fish. Who says the Roman Catholic Church is rigid?
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has laid down the law: a chicken is a chicken no matter how it is raised....The trial court rejected an organic farmer's claim that he did not need a production license from the Canadian province's chicken marketing board because, he said, it had authority only to regulate conventional, non-organic chicken farms....Justice Lynn Smith ruled on Thursday there was nothing in the law that established the British Columbia Chicken Marketing Board that would "exclude organically raised chicken from the meaning of the word 'chicken'."
For some strange reason, this reminds me of the Vatican's decision a couple of hundred years ago that the 130-pound Venezuelan rodent, the capybara, wasn't meat...In that story, the local's appetite for capybara came head-on with the church's ban on eating meat during Lent. The Vatican was asked to reconsider the status of the world's biggest rodent, and graciously gave it the status of fish. Who says the Roman Catholic Church is rigid?
Sniper Suspect May Be Part of Religious Sect
The letter left at the scene of a sniper shooting contains phrases often associated with a group that believes the black man is God and spreads its message through prison recruitment and popular hip-hop music....An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment Saturday on whether authorities were looking into the possibility that the writer used the language of the Five Percent movement, which teaches that education and family are of central importance. It rejects drinking, drugs and fornication, as well as most accepted history, authority and religion....The 39-year-old movement started as an offshoot of the Nation of Islam, but Five Percenters say they are not Muslims. The group teaches that black men are to be called "God" and black women "Earth," and that only 5 percent of the population is enlightened.
The letter left at the scene of a sniper shooting contains phrases often associated with a group that believes the black man is God and spreads its message through prison recruitment and popular hip-hop music....An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment Saturday on whether authorities were looking into the possibility that the writer used the language of the Five Percent movement, which teaches that education and family are of central importance. It rejects drinking, drugs and fornication, as well as most accepted history, authority and religion....The 39-year-old movement started as an offshoot of the Nation of Islam, but Five Percenters say they are not Muslims. The group teaches that black men are to be called "God" and black women "Earth," and that only 5 percent of the population is enlightened.
An Old Story, Retold
Once there was an old woman who died, but before being allowed into Heaven had to have the "big" interview with St. Peter.
While the woman was all excited to enter Heaven, St. Peter had to tell "to hold her horses." It seems, St. Peter told her, that while he was reviewing her life, he noticed that while she had never done anything bad, well, she hadn't done anything good either.
"I'm sorry," St. Peter told the old woman, "But to get into heaven, you have to have done something good."
And with that, the woman was sent to Hell.
While there, she was obviously quite sad, not to mention uncomfortable, and daily thought back through her entire life, for she was sure that she must have done at least one kind, good act.
Finally, one day, she did in fact remember such an act and called out to St. Peter, who approached within listening distance...
Upon seeing St Peter, the old woman shouted out that she could indeed remember one good act that she had done, and when asked by St Peter, she related that once, when a cold, hungry man came to her house asking for food, she had given him an onion.
Well, St. Peter was a bit surprised by this, and not wanting to say anything regarding her "gift," conceeded that there had in fact been some grain of kindness in her granting the hungry man the onion. So he told the old woman, "Fine, you can come up here to Heaven, but you have to understand, that I can't go down there to Hell to get you. But this is what I'll do, I'll lower my hand down, with this onion in it, and all you have to do is hold onto that onion, and I'll pull you out."
Of course the woman agreed.
So St. Peter lowered his hand down, and the old woman grasped tightly upon the onion, as St. Peter began to slowly pull her out.
Well, it appears that one of the condemned souls next to the old woman saw what was happening, and figured that this was a good way to escape Hell also, so he latched on to her leg. Before the woman could shake off the poor soul, another soul who was watching from a distance came running and caught her other leg. And before you could say "Bob's your uncle," the word got out through all of Hell that the old woman was about to escape, and pretty soon there was a big gaggle of souls all grasping and clutching onto her as St. Peter continued to steadily pull her higher and higher.
Soon, there wasn't a single soul in Hell that wasn't in some way holding on to the old woman, all with the same intent to escape. The old woman looking down could see thousands and thousands of souls holding on to her, all of them seeking to escape Hell, just as she.
And then something just cracked inside the woman.
She became angry, even though St. Peter was still able to pull her higher. And in a fit of rage, looking at all these souls latched on to her, the old woman shouted, "Let go! This is my onion!"
And, St. Peter, hearing these words let go of the onion, and the old woman fell back into Hell.
Once there was an old woman who died, but before being allowed into Heaven had to have the "big" interview with St. Peter.
While the woman was all excited to enter Heaven, St. Peter had to tell "to hold her horses." It seems, St. Peter told her, that while he was reviewing her life, he noticed that while she had never done anything bad, well, she hadn't done anything good either.
"I'm sorry," St. Peter told the old woman, "But to get into heaven, you have to have done something good."
And with that, the woman was sent to Hell.
While there, she was obviously quite sad, not to mention uncomfortable, and daily thought back through her entire life, for she was sure that she must have done at least one kind, good act.
Finally, one day, she did in fact remember such an act and called out to St. Peter, who approached within listening distance...
Upon seeing St Peter, the old woman shouted out that she could indeed remember one good act that she had done, and when asked by St Peter, she related that once, when a cold, hungry man came to her house asking for food, she had given him an onion.
Well, St. Peter was a bit surprised by this, and not wanting to say anything regarding her "gift," conceeded that there had in fact been some grain of kindness in her granting the hungry man the onion. So he told the old woman, "Fine, you can come up here to Heaven, but you have to understand, that I can't go down there to Hell to get you. But this is what I'll do, I'll lower my hand down, with this onion in it, and all you have to do is hold onto that onion, and I'll pull you out."
Of course the woman agreed.
So St. Peter lowered his hand down, and the old woman grasped tightly upon the onion, as St. Peter began to slowly pull her out.
Well, it appears that one of the condemned souls next to the old woman saw what was happening, and figured that this was a good way to escape Hell also, so he latched on to her leg. Before the woman could shake off the poor soul, another soul who was watching from a distance came running and caught her other leg. And before you could say "Bob's your uncle," the word got out through all of Hell that the old woman was about to escape, and pretty soon there was a big gaggle of souls all grasping and clutching onto her as St. Peter continued to steadily pull her higher and higher.
Soon, there wasn't a single soul in Hell that wasn't in some way holding on to the old woman, all with the same intent to escape. The old woman looking down could see thousands and thousands of souls holding on to her, all of them seeking to escape Hell, just as she.
And then something just cracked inside the woman.
She became angry, even though St. Peter was still able to pull her higher. And in a fit of rage, looking at all these souls latched on to her, the old woman shouted, "Let go! This is my onion!"
And, St. Peter, hearing these words let go of the onion, and the old woman fell back into Hell.
Is Berezovski The Hand Behind Chechen Terrorists?
There's been some speculation that the hand behind the Chechen terrorists is none other than Boris Berezovski, an exiled Russian multi-millionaire who has gone head-to-head with Putin in the past ... and has contacts with the Chechen "rebels."
It should be remembered that Berezovski was blamed for the round of violence in September 1999 in those countries.
Relatedly, the death toll being reported by Spanish press is closer to 150, of which the majority were killed by the still-to-be named gas. Press is also highlighting how the Russian commandos later posed the dead terrorists next to bottles of alcohol as a slight...
Here's a toned down story from the AP
90 Hostages Killed in Moscow Siege
And this from Reuters..
Secrecy surrounds gas in Moscow siege
There's been some speculation that the hand behind the Chechen terrorists is none other than Boris Berezovski, an exiled Russian multi-millionaire who has gone head-to-head with Putin in the past ... and has contacts with the Chechen "rebels."
It should be remembered that Berezovski was blamed for the round of violence in September 1999 in those countries.
Relatedly, the death toll being reported by Spanish press is closer to 150, of which the majority were killed by the still-to-be named gas. Press is also highlighting how the Russian commandos later posed the dead terrorists next to bottles of alcohol as a slight...
Here's a toned down story from the AP
90 Hostages Killed in Moscow Siege
And this from Reuters..
Secrecy surrounds gas in Moscow siege
Prostitition Ring Forcing Abortions Via Hits To Stomach
That's one of the horrible details of an article on illegal immigration in Spain published in the Sunday edition of the Spanish daily ABC. According to the article, young girls, some of them as young as 15, are promised work in Spain, however, once they arrive here the are forced into prostitution. The majority of the girls are from eastern Europe.
This past week, the police busted a ring consisting of 18 Rumanos that brought to Spain their fellow compatriots with the false hopes of making it rich, only to find once here that paradise doesn't exist. Forced into prostitution, the girls were brutally raped and beaten, and then "farmed" out to various brothels.
If that wasn't enough, when some of the girls became pregnant, they were subjected to beatings to provoke abortions.
The world truly can be a sick place sometimes...
That's one of the horrible details of an article on illegal immigration in Spain published in the Sunday edition of the Spanish daily ABC. According to the article, young girls, some of them as young as 15, are promised work in Spain, however, once they arrive here the are forced into prostitution. The majority of the girls are from eastern Europe.
This past week, the police busted a ring consisting of 18 Rumanos that brought to Spain their fellow compatriots with the false hopes of making it rich, only to find once here that paradise doesn't exist. Forced into prostitution, the girls were brutally raped and beaten, and then "farmed" out to various brothels.
If that wasn't enough, when some of the girls became pregnant, they were subjected to beatings to provoke abortions.
The world truly can be a sick place sometimes...
Spanish Internet Law Kicking In
A couple of week ago I wrote about the new Spanish internet law, LSSI, and some of its consequences. Well, news today is that Terra Lycos, the Spanish internet provider, has decided that it will no longer permit anonymous users. That means, if you believe local press, such as an article in ABC, that its 300,000 users here in Spain must provide the company not only their identity, but also banking details.
The official reason, according to Terra Lycos, is that this will make it more difficult for those individuals that are involved in child pornography, claiming that they receive information of around 150 cases per week of individuals using their services to traffic in child pornography.
A couple of week ago I wrote about the new Spanish internet law, LSSI, and some of its consequences. Well, news today is that Terra Lycos, the Spanish internet provider, has decided that it will no longer permit anonymous users. That means, if you believe local press, such as an article in ABC, that its 300,000 users here in Spain must provide the company not only their identity, but also banking details.
The official reason, according to Terra Lycos, is that this will make it more difficult for those individuals that are involved in child pornography, claiming that they receive information of around 150 cases per week of individuals using their services to traffic in child pornography.
Saturday, October 26, 2002
I received this e-mail from Matthew Collins
I think it has some very interesting things to say about leadership....what do you think?
Archbishop Chaput on What's Eating Away at U.S.
Leadership and the Deeper Problem in American Life
DENVER, Colorado, OCT. 24, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver gave this address at a gathering of the Denver Rotary Club earlier this month. The text has been slightly adapted for ZENIT.
* * *
Renewing Our Public Life
Archbishop Charles Chaput
Denver Rotary Club gathering at the Denver Athletic Club
Oct. 10, 2002
Let me start with two quick stories and some brief comments, and then I look forward to your questions and some time to talk.
Here's the first story: A friend of mine has a mentally disabled son. Part of her son's condition is that he has a lot of physical problems that go along with the mental disability. So she's always bringing him to the doctor, which means she spends a lot of her time arguing with her HMO [health maintenance organization] about what is and what isn't covered by her medical insurance.
She earns about $30,000 a year. She told me once that while it made her tired and angry to bicker with her insurance company about an unpaid $20 or $70 charge, what really set her off -- what really enraged her -- was reading about the $1 million annual salary for the HMO's chief executive officer. The distance between her flesh-and-blood hardships on the ground, and HMO executives cruising at 40,000 feet, was so huge and so insulting that it became an even bigger injury than her unpaid bills.
Here's the second story: Over the past eight months, I've met and talked with hundreds of Catholics who are very rightly upset about the abuse scandal in the Church. A lot of our people are angry -- especially parents -- that a priest they trust might be capable of a terrible sexual crime against children. But what really incenses Catholics, what really enrages them, is the feeling that bishops who knew better did nothing to protect the faithful they were entrusted to lead. A lot of Catholics are far angrier at the American bishops than they are at the priests who actually committed the crimes.
Now I know a lot of successful business leaders, and most of them are good, decent men and women. I also know a lot of bishops, and none of them is indifferent or callous to the people he leads -- in fact, all of the ones I know are men I also admire for their dedication.
But in the wake of Enron, Arthur Andersen, WorldCom, Adelphia, Tyco and a national sex abuse scandal, I think it's fair to say that we've got two big problems. The first is a problem of leadership in all our public institutions, not just business and religion. The second is a much deeper problem in American culture at large, a crisis in personal moral character at the grass-roots level.
Let's talk about leadership first. What makes a good leader? Two things: character and competence. You need the professional skills necessary to the task; that's competence. And you need the moral conscience to use those skills properly; that's character.
A good leader creates a vision that other people can believe in and build together. And a good leader always acts honestly. Year after year, in almost every professional study, people rank honesty as the single most important quality in a leader. In 32 years, first as a priest and now as a bishop, I've seen again and again that people will accept almost any hardship or bad news if they know you're being straight with them.
Even more importantly, a good leader will put the needs of his people before his own. Being a pastor is very much like being a parent. If a father really loves his children, they'll know it, and they'll forgive him almost anything. And if a father doesn't love his children, they'll know that too, and they'll forgive him nothing. People followed Jesus of Nazareth because he lived for them, he died for them and he created hope for them. That's what a real leader looks like. And I think we don't see enough of that anywhere today in American public life.
Talented people who work honestly and creatively deserve to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Making a lot of money is not a moral problem for Catholics. But how much is too much, in the face of other people's poverty? And what do we do with the money we earn, in the face of other people's needs? The flaw in American leadership in 2002 is that, too often, it's disconnected from the people it serves, focused on short-term gain, and blind to the links between public behavior and personal moral integrity. And it's a flaw that's been growing for decades. Nixon and Watergate and Clinton and Lewinsky are different symptoms of the same illness.
The philosopher Hugo Grotius once said that, "A man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a city; he cannot govern a city if he cannot govern a family; he cannot govern a family unless he can govern himself; and he cannot govern himself unless his passions are subject to reason." And I'd add that a man's reason can't truly serve himself or anyone else until he roots it in a moral conscience.
As a citizen, I think one of the worst moments in recent political history was when John F, Kennedy promised a Texas audience that he'd keep his Catholic faith out of his public service. I think all Americans -- not just Catholics -- have been paying for that mistake for 40 years. It's one of the turning points in our community life where this unhealthy fracture between public behavior and personal belief began to grow.
I want my elected officials to inform their actions with their religious and moral beliefs, even if I don't agree with them. I want them to do it prudently and in a spirit of reasonable compromise -- but on the hard issues, I want them to act on their principles, because then I can respect them. I can't respect and I can't trust an elected official, or any other leader, who claims that he or she personally believes one thing, but then publicly does another -- whether the issue involves abortion or the death penalty or prescription medicines for the elderly or affordable housing for the poor.
One of the most interesting stories I've seen in the past decade was a little news item in the Denver Post back in December 1993. I was a bishop in South Dakota then, but I often read the Denver papers, and I've never forgotten this story. If you go to the parade ground at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, you'll see carved into a wall, in large letters, the academy honor code: We will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate among us anyone who does. The Post reported in 1993 that because of the inadequate ethical formation of incoming cadets, the academy had established a sort of Morality 101 program to bring the cadets up to speed. These incoming cadets were the cream of American high schools, the cream of a generation that will run the country in 20 years -- and many of them needed a remedial class in basic ethics.
Now that's a potential problem for every aspect of our national leadership, but it also points to the deeper problem in American life that I mentioned at the beginning. Americans now live in a country where marketing and entertainment run our popular culture. Every hour of every day we're sold the ideas that no matter how much we have, we need more right now; that freedom is the absence of commitments; that nothing lasts -- especially relationships with other people; that "choice" is good even if the choices don't mean anything; and that authority is hypocritical.
I'm overstating things, but not by much. Just spend a couple of nights watching MTV or even the "adult" shows on network television. Or watch the car commercials for Mitsubishi or Nissan -- they're really a kind of product worship.
When Adam Smith praised the rise of commerce two centuries ago, he did it in the context of a moral order that limited and guided the market. That moral order is much, much weaker today, and that's why Christopher Lasch and others have talked so critically about the market invading every aspect of our lives. We're very close to becoming what Lasch called a "culture of narcissism." We're living in an environment where the traditional American ideal of community -- a group of people united in mutual concern around shared principles and hopes -- is being replaced by a collection of individual appetites that are kept more or less constantly dissatisfied. Our marketing is too effective for our own good. It's teaching our young people to be permanently ungrateful and permanently self-centered. We have a lot of material things, but Americans are not a happy people.
John Adams once wrote, "Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue."
I want to quote Adams as I conclude my remarks because it's not enough to know we have a problem. The point is, what can we do about it? Well, if you do nothing else after our discussion today, go read David McCullough's terrific biography of John Adams. Adams was a founder of our country, and therefore we owe him for much of the freedom we enjoy today. But he also found a way to perfectly combine public service, moral character and religious faith. Adams always argued against slavery, and he did so because he felt that it violated human dignity, ignored the Gospel and was unworthy of a religious people. But I think the most revealing fact about Adams was his relationship with his wife Abigail. Adams loved his wife and his children with a tenderness and fidelity that spanned a lifetime. St. Augustine once said, "to be faithful in little things is a big thing." Adams never allowed the big demands of his public life to eclipse the seemingly "little" things that were really the important things -- a devotion to his wife, his children, his friends and his God.
Devotion to family sounds like a simple thing, and it is. Gratitude, humility, faithfulness -- these all are simple things. They're also very difficult. It's easy to talk about fixing the problems of American society with big national programs and policies, because we can always blame somebody else when they don't work.
Personal change, personal moral integrity, personal fidelity to people and principles -- that's much harder work, because we're stuck with the clay of who we are, and there's nobody to blame but ourselves if we fail. But in persisting in these little things, we accomplish a big thing. We affect others. A reporter once asked Mother Teresa the secret of her success. She answered that she wasn't called to succeed, but only to try. Success was God's business. Trying was her business. She wasn't called to find big solutions to poverty, but to live the little solution of personal love that would become a good infection in the hearts of other people.
We each have that same vocation, especially all of you here today, because each of you in his or her own way is a leader. Our lives matter. We're here for a reason. One life, lived well, can begin to change the world.
So lead well, with honesty and vision and moral character and unselfishness. Lead well, not only with what you say, but with what you do -- and in your example, that's where the renewal of American public life will begin.
I think it has some very interesting things to say about leadership....what do you think?
Archbishop Chaput on What's Eating Away at U.S.
Leadership and the Deeper Problem in American Life
DENVER, Colorado, OCT. 24, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver gave this address at a gathering of the Denver Rotary Club earlier this month. The text has been slightly adapted for ZENIT.
* * *
Renewing Our Public Life
Archbishop Charles Chaput
Denver Rotary Club gathering at the Denver Athletic Club
Oct. 10, 2002
Let me start with two quick stories and some brief comments, and then I look forward to your questions and some time to talk.
Here's the first story: A friend of mine has a mentally disabled son. Part of her son's condition is that he has a lot of physical problems that go along with the mental disability. So she's always bringing him to the doctor, which means she spends a lot of her time arguing with her HMO [health maintenance organization] about what is and what isn't covered by her medical insurance.
She earns about $30,000 a year. She told me once that while it made her tired and angry to bicker with her insurance company about an unpaid $20 or $70 charge, what really set her off -- what really enraged her -- was reading about the $1 million annual salary for the HMO's chief executive officer. The distance between her flesh-and-blood hardships on the ground, and HMO executives cruising at 40,000 feet, was so huge and so insulting that it became an even bigger injury than her unpaid bills.
Here's the second story: Over the past eight months, I've met and talked with hundreds of Catholics who are very rightly upset about the abuse scandal in the Church. A lot of our people are angry -- especially parents -- that a priest they trust might be capable of a terrible sexual crime against children. But what really incenses Catholics, what really enrages them, is the feeling that bishops who knew better did nothing to protect the faithful they were entrusted to lead. A lot of Catholics are far angrier at the American bishops than they are at the priests who actually committed the crimes.
Now I know a lot of successful business leaders, and most of them are good, decent men and women. I also know a lot of bishops, and none of them is indifferent or callous to the people he leads -- in fact, all of the ones I know are men I also admire for their dedication.
But in the wake of Enron, Arthur Andersen, WorldCom, Adelphia, Tyco and a national sex abuse scandal, I think it's fair to say that we've got two big problems. The first is a problem of leadership in all our public institutions, not just business and religion. The second is a much deeper problem in American culture at large, a crisis in personal moral character at the grass-roots level.
Let's talk about leadership first. What makes a good leader? Two things: character and competence. You need the professional skills necessary to the task; that's competence. And you need the moral conscience to use those skills properly; that's character.
A good leader creates a vision that other people can believe in and build together. And a good leader always acts honestly. Year after year, in almost every professional study, people rank honesty as the single most important quality in a leader. In 32 years, first as a priest and now as a bishop, I've seen again and again that people will accept almost any hardship or bad news if they know you're being straight with them.
Even more importantly, a good leader will put the needs of his people before his own. Being a pastor is very much like being a parent. If a father really loves his children, they'll know it, and they'll forgive him almost anything. And if a father doesn't love his children, they'll know that too, and they'll forgive him nothing. People followed Jesus of Nazareth because he lived for them, he died for them and he created hope for them. That's what a real leader looks like. And I think we don't see enough of that anywhere today in American public life.
Talented people who work honestly and creatively deserve to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Making a lot of money is not a moral problem for Catholics. But how much is too much, in the face of other people's poverty? And what do we do with the money we earn, in the face of other people's needs? The flaw in American leadership in 2002 is that, too often, it's disconnected from the people it serves, focused on short-term gain, and blind to the links between public behavior and personal moral integrity. And it's a flaw that's been growing for decades. Nixon and Watergate and Clinton and Lewinsky are different symptoms of the same illness.
The philosopher Hugo Grotius once said that, "A man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a city; he cannot govern a city if he cannot govern a family; he cannot govern a family unless he can govern himself; and he cannot govern himself unless his passions are subject to reason." And I'd add that a man's reason can't truly serve himself or anyone else until he roots it in a moral conscience.
As a citizen, I think one of the worst moments in recent political history was when John F, Kennedy promised a Texas audience that he'd keep his Catholic faith out of his public service. I think all Americans -- not just Catholics -- have been paying for that mistake for 40 years. It's one of the turning points in our community life where this unhealthy fracture between public behavior and personal belief began to grow.
I want my elected officials to inform their actions with their religious and moral beliefs, even if I don't agree with them. I want them to do it prudently and in a spirit of reasonable compromise -- but on the hard issues, I want them to act on their principles, because then I can respect them. I can't respect and I can't trust an elected official, or any other leader, who claims that he or she personally believes one thing, but then publicly does another -- whether the issue involves abortion or the death penalty or prescription medicines for the elderly or affordable housing for the poor.
One of the most interesting stories I've seen in the past decade was a little news item in the Denver Post back in December 1993. I was a bishop in South Dakota then, but I often read the Denver papers, and I've never forgotten this story. If you go to the parade ground at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, you'll see carved into a wall, in large letters, the academy honor code: We will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate among us anyone who does. The Post reported in 1993 that because of the inadequate ethical formation of incoming cadets, the academy had established a sort of Morality 101 program to bring the cadets up to speed. These incoming cadets were the cream of American high schools, the cream of a generation that will run the country in 20 years -- and many of them needed a remedial class in basic ethics.
Now that's a potential problem for every aspect of our national leadership, but it also points to the deeper problem in American life that I mentioned at the beginning. Americans now live in a country where marketing and entertainment run our popular culture. Every hour of every day we're sold the ideas that no matter how much we have, we need more right now; that freedom is the absence of commitments; that nothing lasts -- especially relationships with other people; that "choice" is good even if the choices don't mean anything; and that authority is hypocritical.
I'm overstating things, but not by much. Just spend a couple of nights watching MTV or even the "adult" shows on network television. Or watch the car commercials for Mitsubishi or Nissan -- they're really a kind of product worship.
When Adam Smith praised the rise of commerce two centuries ago, he did it in the context of a moral order that limited and guided the market. That moral order is much, much weaker today, and that's why Christopher Lasch and others have talked so critically about the market invading every aspect of our lives. We're very close to becoming what Lasch called a "culture of narcissism." We're living in an environment where the traditional American ideal of community -- a group of people united in mutual concern around shared principles and hopes -- is being replaced by a collection of individual appetites that are kept more or less constantly dissatisfied. Our marketing is too effective for our own good. It's teaching our young people to be permanently ungrateful and permanently self-centered. We have a lot of material things, but Americans are not a happy people.
John Adams once wrote, "Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue."
I want to quote Adams as I conclude my remarks because it's not enough to know we have a problem. The point is, what can we do about it? Well, if you do nothing else after our discussion today, go read David McCullough's terrific biography of John Adams. Adams was a founder of our country, and therefore we owe him for much of the freedom we enjoy today. But he also found a way to perfectly combine public service, moral character and religious faith. Adams always argued against slavery, and he did so because he felt that it violated human dignity, ignored the Gospel and was unworthy of a religious people. But I think the most revealing fact about Adams was his relationship with his wife Abigail. Adams loved his wife and his children with a tenderness and fidelity that spanned a lifetime. St. Augustine once said, "to be faithful in little things is a big thing." Adams never allowed the big demands of his public life to eclipse the seemingly "little" things that were really the important things -- a devotion to his wife, his children, his friends and his God.
Devotion to family sounds like a simple thing, and it is. Gratitude, humility, faithfulness -- these all are simple things. They're also very difficult. It's easy to talk about fixing the problems of American society with big national programs and policies, because we can always blame somebody else when they don't work.
Personal change, personal moral integrity, personal fidelity to people and principles -- that's much harder work, because we're stuck with the clay of who we are, and there's nobody to blame but ourselves if we fail. But in persisting in these little things, we accomplish a big thing. We affect others. A reporter once asked Mother Teresa the secret of her success. She answered that she wasn't called to succeed, but only to try. Success was God's business. Trying was her business. She wasn't called to find big solutions to poverty, but to live the little solution of personal love that would become a good infection in the hearts of other people.
We each have that same vocation, especially all of you here today, because each of you in his or her own way is a leader. Our lives matter. We're here for a reason. One life, lived well, can begin to change the world.
So lead well, with honesty and vision and moral character and unselfishness. Lead well, not only with what you say, but with what you do -- and in your example, that's where the renewal of American public life will begin.
There's been talk that Moscow hostage situation could mean backing for US in Iraq
Look for behind the scenes (is that possible?) talks to bring a trade off. US backing for Russian's fight against Chechen "rebels," in turn for Russia's okaying US military intervention in Iraq...That's why I find this news story interesting...
Moscow siege could end Chechen peace hopes
But it left the chances for peace in the southern frontier region seemingly as distant as ever after eight years of war...."I see no change in Russian policy in Chechnya, maybe even it will be more tragic," said Pavel Felgenhauer, an independent political and military analyst. "The rebels will get more entrenched, that means there will be new terrorist attacks, maybe much bloodier than this one, maybe also in Moscow."
Look for behind the scenes (is that possible?) talks to bring a trade off. US backing for Russian's fight against Chechen "rebels," in turn for Russia's okaying US military intervention in Iraq...That's why I find this news story interesting...
Moscow siege could end Chechen peace hopes
But it left the chances for peace in the southern frontier region seemingly as distant as ever after eight years of war...."I see no change in Russian policy in Chechnya, maybe even it will be more tragic," said Pavel Felgenhauer, an independent political and military analyst. "The rebels will get more entrenched, that means there will be new terrorist attacks, maybe much bloodier than this one, maybe also in Moscow."
Now this isn't being a good witness
A power struggle at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral has caused what's believed to be the first cancellation of Sunday services in its 79-year history...The fight pitting longtime members of one of the city's most prominent churches has grown so rancorous that police have been called twice and lawyers have been hired.
A power struggle at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral has caused what's believed to be the first cancellation of Sunday services in its 79-year history...The fight pitting longtime members of one of the city's most prominent churches has grown so rancorous that police have been called twice and lawyers have been hired.
Swiss Teacher's Suspension Highlights Religious Tension
Ramadan was suspended from teaching by the canton of Geneva following complaints from parents that they did not want someone with extremist views instructing their children.Although Switzerland is an overwhelmingly Christian country, Islam is now in third place behind the Catholic and Protestant churches....Despite that, sensitivities toward Islam have hardened since the September 11 attacks on the United States and the global fight against Islamic fundamentalist terrorism....Earlier this month, the canton of Valais denied a residence permit to a Muslim cleric from Macedonia, citing his extreme views.
Ramadan was suspended from teaching by the canton of Geneva following complaints from parents that they did not want someone with extremist views instructing their children.Although Switzerland is an overwhelmingly Christian country, Islam is now in third place behind the Catholic and Protestant churches....Despite that, sensitivities toward Islam have hardened since the September 11 attacks on the United States and the global fight against Islamic fundamentalist terrorism....Earlier this month, the canton of Valais denied a residence permit to a Muslim cleric from Macedonia, citing his extreme views.
I said yesterday that videogames were the reason for the sniper attacks
Of course, I was only slightly joking...but now there's this news that Wal-Mart to pull from it's shelves some games
Of course, I was only slightly joking...but now there's this news that Wal-Mart to pull from it's shelves some games
The video games that are being recalled feature snipers targeting and killing innocent people. Wal-Mart officials said they pulled at least seven video games off store shelves, including Terminator, Dawn of Fate, Tribes Aerial Assault and Rainbow Six, and Rogue Spear.
"If the snipers didn't have violence in their life, I don't think they'd be as violent as they are. I agree wholeheartedly with Wal-Mart in taking the video games off. And I think they should stay off," said Bobbie Harkey, a Tierrasanta resident and Wal-Mart customer
God's Banker Was Murdered!
That's the headline in an article in Spanish newspaper, El Pais - the links don't work and will dissappear in a bit, hence no link.
For those of you who don't know who God's Banker is, or more accurately stated, was, we're speaking here of Roberto Calvi, the Italian head of Banco Ambrosiana, who was found dead around 20-years ago, hanging underneath the Black Friars bridge in London. At the time, the police said that Calvi, involved in financial scandals with the Church, the P2 and Mafia, committed suicide. His family never accepted that version.
Well, Calvi's family was able to get the case reopened in 1998, and his body exhumed. Don't ask me why it's taken them four years to make the decision now that, hey, it wasn't suicide, it was murder!
The decision was based on the "stunning" fact that his backbone didn't show the distress, that it should have (read if he had hung himself the bricks in his coat should have jerked his body).
Now the question is, "who killed Calvi?" Sounds like one for the conspiracy buffs.
That's the headline in an article in Spanish newspaper, El Pais - the links don't work and will dissappear in a bit, hence no link.
For those of you who don't know who God's Banker is, or more accurately stated, was, we're speaking here of Roberto Calvi, the Italian head of Banco Ambrosiana, who was found dead around 20-years ago, hanging underneath the Black Friars bridge in London. At the time, the police said that Calvi, involved in financial scandals with the Church, the P2 and Mafia, committed suicide. His family never accepted that version.
Well, Calvi's family was able to get the case reopened in 1998, and his body exhumed. Don't ask me why it's taken them four years to make the decision now that, hey, it wasn't suicide, it was murder!
The decision was based on the "stunning" fact that his backbone didn't show the distress, that it should have (read if he had hung himself the bricks in his coat should have jerked his body).
Now the question is, "who killed Calvi?" Sounds like one for the conspiracy buffs.
I feel like a prostitute...
Well, maybe that's a bit strong...but as many of you regular readers know, I am a die-hard fan of Atletico de Madrid. Yesterday, I received a call to invite me to sit in the palco for the Champion's League match this Wednesday...the only problem is that it's the Real Madrid match!
Everybody at work of course gave me a bad time, as it's well known that I - as a true hincha of Atleti - am quite anti-Madrista. My wife, also knowing my sympathies, suggested I give the invite to one of the reporters in my team. I'd do it, but the problem is I should go to the match to meet the other "sources." Life is so difficult, right?
Well, obviously I'll have to go, but I wonder if it would be okay to wear at least an Atleti pin when I shake the hand of Real Madrid's president Florentino Perez and ask him for an interview?
Well, maybe that's a bit strong...but as many of you regular readers know, I am a die-hard fan of Atletico de Madrid. Yesterday, I received a call to invite me to sit in the palco for the Champion's League match this Wednesday...the only problem is that it's the Real Madrid match!
Everybody at work of course gave me a bad time, as it's well known that I - as a true hincha of Atleti - am quite anti-Madrista. My wife, also knowing my sympathies, suggested I give the invite to one of the reporters in my team. I'd do it, but the problem is I should go to the match to meet the other "sources." Life is so difficult, right?
Well, obviously I'll have to go, but I wonder if it would be okay to wear at least an Atleti pin when I shake the hand of Real Madrid's president Florentino Perez and ask him for an interview?
A big welcome to readers of Craig Shamp's site.
Just a quick explainer. I'm a U.S. citizen, who lives Spain, an ex-pat for over 13-years, a journalist, married to a Peruvian and with three little "Gils", a Catholic convert from the Anglican church, an ex-freelance bullfighing photographer, bla, bla and bla. All to say, I seek to find a little different twist to some of the news, mix it in with some "cultural notes" of what it's like to live in Spain as a truly multi-cultural family, as well as sprinkle that with some off-beat stories, news, and religious items. Trust you enjoy.
Just a quick explainer. I'm a U.S. citizen, who lives Spain, an ex-pat for over 13-years, a journalist, married to a Peruvian and with three little "Gils", a Catholic convert from the Anglican church, an ex-freelance bullfighing photographer, bla, bla and bla. All to say, I seek to find a little different twist to some of the news, mix it in with some "cultural notes" of what it's like to live in Spain as a truly multi-cultural family, as well as sprinkle that with some off-beat stories, news, and religious items. Trust you enjoy.
Late Start, Navy League Ball
Very late start today, Saturday, as we had a very late night.
Last night was the kick-off of the Madrid autumn-winter Ball season. No not "ball" as in games, but as in gala, or formal dance. The first ball of the season, usually is the Navy League, to which Mrs. Gil and I went - she dressed in black-dress affair, with plenty of feathers, and myself with the tradional tuxedo.
The evening's event this year was celebrated in the Palace Hotel, where in the midst of tight security - at least 10 packed police vans - various US and foreign military dignitaries gathered for an enjoyable evening of drink, food, plenty of speeches and dance. And dance we did, until 4 am.
While the Navy League is a military affair, it's also a "lobby" group that seeks to improve, or maintain, business conduits between Spain and the U.S. That means, there were also attending various executives from US and Spanish companies - including Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, etc. - as well as venture capitalists, as well as an attorney or two. After all these years, I'm still trying to figure out how I figure in all this, since I've never been in the military - although when I was a young boy I did have a fascination with the Navy uniform - nor am I one of the rich and famous.
As said, the evening kicks-off the ball season. Under normal circumstances (read pre-9-11), the next would be the St. Georges' Ball, sponsored by the local Anglican church, the St. Andrew's Caledonian Ball in November, followed by various Christmas galas, to the Burns night at the turn of the year, then Carnival festivities, and usually ending with St.Patrick's Ball sponsored by the English speaking Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady of Mercy.
Last night was also very enjoyable for a very pleasant surprise. I was able to meet up with a friend of mine from years ago, who had moved away from Spain and was a member of St George's where I used to attend. What to my surprise, to find him back in Spain, also converted to the Roman Catholic Church, and like us with three children. Curious how life turns out sometimes.
Very late start today, Saturday, as we had a very late night.
Last night was the kick-off of the Madrid autumn-winter Ball season. No not "ball" as in games, but as in gala, or formal dance. The first ball of the season, usually is the Navy League, to which Mrs. Gil and I went - she dressed in black-dress affair, with plenty of feathers, and myself with the tradional tuxedo.
The evening's event this year was celebrated in the Palace Hotel, where in the midst of tight security - at least 10 packed police vans - various US and foreign military dignitaries gathered for an enjoyable evening of drink, food, plenty of speeches and dance. And dance we did, until 4 am.
While the Navy League is a military affair, it's also a "lobby" group that seeks to improve, or maintain, business conduits between Spain and the U.S. That means, there were also attending various executives from US and Spanish companies - including Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, etc. - as well as venture capitalists, as well as an attorney or two. After all these years, I'm still trying to figure out how I figure in all this, since I've never been in the military - although when I was a young boy I did have a fascination with the Navy uniform - nor am I one of the rich and famous.
As said, the evening kicks-off the ball season. Under normal circumstances (read pre-9-11), the next would be the St. Georges' Ball, sponsored by the local Anglican church, the St. Andrew's Caledonian Ball in November, followed by various Christmas galas, to the Burns night at the turn of the year, then Carnival festivities, and usually ending with St.Patrick's Ball sponsored by the English speaking Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady of Mercy.
Last night was also very enjoyable for a very pleasant surprise. I was able to meet up with a friend of mine from years ago, who had moved away from Spain and was a member of St George's where I used to attend. What to my surprise, to find him back in Spain, also converted to the Roman Catholic Church, and like us with three children. Curious how life turns out sometimes.
Friday, October 25, 2002
But he was such a "nice kid..."
Father of teen suspect in sniper case says he was "nice kid," though he hadn't seen him for years
And this...
Maybe one of the reasons he turned out to be such a "nice kid," was because he had such a "close" relationship with his father.
I know I shouldn't judge - and I'm trying not to - but this makes me angry ... how dare people bring children into this world, and then treat them so carelessly. I know that there may be circumstances that sometimes lead to a divided family, and I know sometimes it's not the parents fault. But these comments seem, and I hope it's the reporter or editor's fault, a bit callous, if not trite. I guess that's what this quote from a stepbrother is supposed to tell us...but then, I guess some of that blame should also lie with the mother, which at this moment nobody seems to know where she is.
And of course there's the obligatory comments from former schoolmates telling us what a super chap he was...
So what made this sweet, cool kid turn into a death machine? My guess? Don't be surprised if somebody starts to point the finger at us video game players, especially if it's shown that some of the shots came from the "nice" kid...
But in the meantime, brace yourselves for a slew of "sniper was a nice kid" stories, and what better way than to look at the headlines, which, incidentally, are almost all using in the body of their texts the same AP copy.
Teenager remembered as a 'nice kid' ,
Sniper suspect 'a nice kid',
Father of Jamaican teen suspect says he was 'nice kid,' though he hadn't seen him for years,
Malvo's father: `He was a nice kid'
Teenage suspect's father tells of shock at arrest
This headline tries to breakout of the mold...keep trying...
Teen an enigma to those who met him
The most boring headline is this one from the Washington Post...
John Lee Malvo
although they do better on the jumphead...
Smuggled Into This Country, A Transient Life in Shelters
Like the others articles, this uses the AP copy, but notice the slight change in the headline's tone:
A 17-Year-Old's Strange Life
You can almost feel tones of Halloween
And this headline, doesn't tell us much, we pretty much knew he left Jamaica. NOTE: Get a new editor
Sniper Suspect Left Jamaica as Teen
But, my favorite is this one:
Malvo's Jamaican Relatives Shocked, which not surprisingly is from Fox, and the same story as the others, but, hey a little sensationalism doesn't hurt anybody...
Father of teen suspect in sniper case says he was "nice kid," though he hadn't seen him for years
A man identified as the father of a 17-year-old arrested in the U.S. sniper shootings said his son was a "nice kid," though he hadn't seen him in four years and didn't know he was in the United States....Leslie Malvo, a 55-year-old building contractor, said Thursday that his son moved away with his mother when he was 13, and he heard they had gone to another Caribbean island...."He was a nice kid so I don't know how he got mixed up in this," Malvo told The Associated Press at a street corner near his home in Kingston's working-class Waltham Park neighborhood...."I feel bad, I can't feel anything else." ...
And this...
Leslie Malvo said he last saw his son in 1998...."He was a happy kid, good kid, liked school, never got into any trouble," he said.
Maybe one of the reasons he turned out to be such a "nice kid," was because he had such a "close" relationship with his father.
I know I shouldn't judge - and I'm trying not to - but this makes me angry ... how dare people bring children into this world, and then treat them so carelessly. I know that there may be circumstances that sometimes lead to a divided family, and I know sometimes it's not the parents fault. But these comments seem, and I hope it's the reporter or editor's fault, a bit callous, if not trite. I guess that's what this quote from a stepbrother is supposed to tell us...but then, I guess some of that blame should also lie with the mother, which at this moment nobody seems to know where she is.
It was all right growing up in that part of Kingston," he said. "It's a rough neighborhood but our father raised us right. He tried his best to put the food on the table. He was there for us." ... Rohan Malvo said Lee was 5 or 6 years old when his mother moved from the neighborhood.
And of course there's the obligatory comments from former schoolmates telling us what a super chap he was...
Classmates who remember Lee Malvo from a three-month attendance at Bellingham High School said he was studious, polite and well-dressed — but did not make any friends...."He would speak up and he would tell his opinion. You don't get that from many high school students," said Chrissie Greenawalt, who went to a writing class with Malvo. "I thought that was cool."
So what made this sweet, cool kid turn into a death machine? My guess? Don't be surprised if somebody starts to point the finger at us video game players, especially if it's shown that some of the shots came from the "nice" kid...
But in the meantime, brace yourselves for a slew of "sniper was a nice kid" stories, and what better way than to look at the headlines, which, incidentally, are almost all using in the body of their texts the same AP copy.
Teenager remembered as a 'nice kid' ,
Sniper suspect 'a nice kid',
Father of Jamaican teen suspect says he was 'nice kid,' though he hadn't seen him for years,
Malvo's father: `He was a nice kid'
Teenage suspect's father tells of shock at arrest
This headline tries to breakout of the mold...keep trying...
Teen an enigma to those who met him
The most boring headline is this one from the Washington Post...
John Lee Malvo
although they do better on the jumphead...
Smuggled Into This Country, A Transient Life in Shelters
Like the others articles, this uses the AP copy, but notice the slight change in the headline's tone:
A 17-Year-Old's Strange Life
You can almost feel tones of Halloween
And this headline, doesn't tell us much, we pretty much knew he left Jamaica. NOTE: Get a new editor
Sniper Suspect Left Jamaica as Teen
But, my favorite is this one:
Malvo's Jamaican Relatives Shocked, which not surprisingly is from Fox, and the same story as the others, but, hey a little sensationalism doesn't hurt anybody...
I would just like to say...this is a different Jesus Gil!
Have you tried Googlism?
jesus gil is described by his opponents as 'despotic and xenophobic' and is also accused of mafia links
jesus gil is strong
jesus gil is facing charges of spending $800
jesus gil is prosecuted
jesus gil is online
jesus gil is taking no chances
jesus gil is quoted as saying they are going for jimmy but they are wasting their time
jesus gil is the president of atletico madrid
jesus gil is a bright boy
jesus gil is god
jesus gil is a controversial figure
jesus gil is found guilty of fraud and needs to raise money
jesus gil is gisteren met spoed in het ziekenhuis opgenomen met
jesus gil is in custody on embezzlement and fraud charges
Have you tried Googlism?
Caught in the sniper's nest: Gulf veteran and the teenager
It was revealed that while in the army Mr Muhammad won a marksmanship award for use of the M16 assault rifle. The rifle found in the boot of the car was a Bushmaster, the civilian equivalent of the M16....Mr Muhammad was described by a fellow soldier as "clean-cut" and "very compet itive". "He was just an altogether 100% soldier," Randy Lyons, who served with Mr Muhammad at Fort Lewis in Washington state, said in a TV interview.
It was revealed that while in the army Mr Muhammad won a marksmanship award for use of the M16 assault rifle. The rifle found in the boot of the car was a Bushmaster, the civilian equivalent of the M16....Mr Muhammad was described by a fellow soldier as "clean-cut" and "very compet itive". "He was just an altogether 100% soldier," Randy Lyons, who served with Mr Muhammad at Fort Lewis in Washington state, said in a TV interview.
Bordeaux Mayor hands church over to Lefebvrists
Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe (pictured), a former French prime minister, awarded the 12th-century St Elois Church to the traditionalist Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.
Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe (pictured), a former French prime minister, awarded the 12th-century St Elois Church to the traditionalist Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.
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