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Saturday, October 05, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:34 AM:
N.J. Race Causes National StirState officials across the U.S. join the fray over Senate ballot snafu
Apparently one person contesting the ballot change already cast his absentee ballot. There's a reason why firm rules were established about the last day to change, and if you dump them, then what prevents a party from walking in and eventually demanding their nominee be changed the night before an election? On its face, it looks like the NJ Supremes tried to accomodate a party with a problem. But they also set a scary precedent for Secs. of State accross the country: Election rules designed to allow time to finalize ballots, get them printed, make sure requirements for candidacy are met - that's all out the window. Secs. of State - if the NJ ruling holds - will be obliged to ignore state law any time anyone feels their party needs a chance to get organized.
Had someone died, we might have felt a little sympathy for the case, at the very least. But what's worst of all is this is happening because the Torch tried to hang on to his Senate seat in spite of a laundry list of questionable actions and the Democratic party that is now screaming that its interests are threatened ignored those interests a couple months ago and stood by the crook until it looked like he couldn't pull it off.
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posted by gbarto at 11:25 AM:
D.C., Maryland Shootings LinkedPolice: Sixth sniper death is connected to killings of five in Maryland; same rifle used to kill at least four
Yikes! Glad I'm not in those parts - though statistically it's probably no worse than a really bad driver being out there. Still, it's just no damn fun thinking there's someone out there killing for the hell of it.
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posted by gbarto at 2:24 AM:
Matt Welch has some stuff on American Saudi-boosters. All you really need to know is that they're bad people. But if you want details, look at his write-up on Wyche Fowler.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:18 AM:
Says Steve Den Beste,I fear Tom Daschle more than I fear Saddam Hussein.It's worth reading why.
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posted by gbarto at 2:12 AM:
Here's LGF on McKinney.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:05 AM:
French news round-up:Big news on the EU Front: "Brussels is proposing ten new members," leads Le Monde. Those countries are Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta and Slovakia. Still nothing definitive on Turkey.
Le Figaro has Brazil up top: "Lula favored on the eve of the election..." That's the opposition Workers' Party candidate; he's way ahead of the Social Democratic candidate.
Libé, meanwhile, is "In search of representatives of Islam." Actually, it's the French government making the search and finding itself baffled by the divisions within the community - just who represents Islam anyway?
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posted by gbarto at 1:48 AM:
Voters File Suit to Invalidate McKinney ElectionA month ago, we were hearing about how racist Jews kept her out - replacing her with another black woman (nobody said conspiracy theories had to make sense). Now the charge is that crossover Republicans are responsible for her 58%-42% (!) defeat. Still no word on what impact the Congresswoman's foot-in-mouth disease might have had to do with it.
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posted by gbarto at 1:43 AM:
Powell, Blix Agree on InspectionsU.N. won't search for weapons in Iraq until tough new rules are set
Bravo to Powell. There's no point in sham inspections - except to justify not really dealing with Saddam and the threat he poses. With any luck, the UN will figure out that however much it would like to let one more thug off, declare victory and go home, it now has no choice but to back up what it claims to stand for with real action.
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Friday, October 04, 2002
posted by gbarto at 9:39 AM:
The British Association for the Advancement of Science has scientifically determined the funniest joke in the world. Here it is, translated from Libé (where I found it):Two hunters find themselves in the forest when one of them collapses. He seems to have stopped breathing and his eyes are glassy.Don't like it? Well scientifically you just don't have much of a sense of humor.
His panicked friend calls 911: "My friend is dead! What can I do?"
The operator calmly responds: "Calm down. I can help you. First make sure he's really dead."
A moment of silence, then a shotgun blast.
The hunter comes back on: "O.K. Now what?"
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posted by gbarto at 9:32 AM:
India, Pakistan Fire Test MissilesTensions on border running high
Uh oh. I joked about our exercises in Kuwait being a demo of what's coming or a chance to suddenly move. But I don't like thinking about military exercises in that way here...
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posted by gbarto at 9:31 AM:
Man Tries to Crash Bus3 Greyhound passengers subdue man who threw himself onto driver
So much for taking the bus to avoid the airports. Bravo for the passengers, though.
How many more of these stories, though, before every lunatic in the country knows to go Greyhound if you're tripping out.
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posted by gbarto at 9:29 AM:
'Skilled Shooter' on the LooseFive killed in public by single bullets in suburban Maryland; possible connection to D.C. shooting last night
So the story continues with another shooting last night. I was hoping it would be over by now.
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posted by gbarto at 12:36 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "France: waiting for things to pick up." INSEE, an organization somewhere between a polling institute and a think tank, warns that France won't see better than 1% growth this year and things could get worse if any new problems (like a mess in Iraq) surface.
Le Figaro leads with "Sarkozy's 44 articles for security," an exclusive peek at the Interior Minister's proposal for interior security. Main points: more things criminalized, broader range of penalties, broader authority for police, all in an effort to permit a crackdown on offenses large and small that are upsetting public order. A fair number of questions are being raised about whether it all goes too far, but Chirac ran on taking back the streets of France from youth violence and his Interior Minister wants to make it happen.
Libé says (roughly) "The Right takes out its old scissors." This in reference to the Interior Ministers threatening noises about two art works considered to have pedophilic content. Libé wonders, in worried tones, if this will bring back "moral order," a phrase that can be legitimately associated with a police state: The moral order of the Second Empire got the likes of Flaubert hauled into court.
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Thursday, October 03, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:17 AM:
House, Senate Near Iraq DealDems, GOP begin closing ranks
Says the story, even critics are deciding to just let Bush have his way now, since he'll have it sooner or later. Could they be worried about carrying the "Save Iraq" banner to close to the Nov. elections?
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posted by gbarto at 11:13 AM:
U.S. Begins War Games in KuwaitNavy, Marines take part in exercises
Do you suppose there might be incursions into the country to the north?
Probably just sending a message though.
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posted by gbarto at 11:07 AM:
Louisiana lucks out: Lili's down to a category 1. Here's FNC's story.* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:57 AM:
Axis of evil? Or just one messed up country?TEHRAN, Iran Oct. 2 — A cultural official has been arrested for allowing an Iranian actress and the young actor she publicly kissed on the cheek walk away free, in violation of strict Islamic laws, Iranian media reported Wednesday.So much for the great public rehabilitation of Iran in the Western world. (via Den Beste)
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posted by gbarto at 1:50 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "Government: Meeting the Social." Yes, friends, there's a budget on the table and privatization in the air. And so the unions are out in force to make it clear - forgive the editorializing - that the direction of France is to be set not by the people through the democratic process but by the unions based on their ability to sabotage the functioning of both public and private sector enterprises. And there are usually just enough radicals around with foggy memories of the mob knocking everything to hell in May '68 to keep the pressure on till the government buckles. Will it work? History says yes. Sadly for France.
Le Figaro leads with "The Hidden Stake: Iraqi Oil." But no, it doesn't seem to be conspiracy theory time, just a look at all the angles involved in the dispute with Iraq, as the US tones down talk about explicitly replacing Saddam but insists as firmly as ever that Iraq will disarm.
Libé has the same lead as Le Monde, but under the heading "Public Servants March to Remain So" (which flows more elegantly in French).
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posted by gbarto at 1:31 AM:
Confessions in Milwaukee Beating DeathHere's the mother of a thirteen year-old involved:
"Don't take a baby away," she said. "He hasn't seen even half of his life."Too bad her 13 year-old wasn't practicing that thinking when he ran across Young.
Here's the news on another "angel":
A 16-year-old described how he jumped back each time he struck Young with a shovel handle so blood wouldn't get on his clothes. Eventually, the shovel handle split in two as he bashed Young over the head.Bastard.
He said he stopped on his way home to dump his blood-soaked shoes into a sewer manhole.
I'm sure we'll soon be hearing statements about "good kids" who got caught up in this; I'm even sure the statements will in some cases be heartfelt. That said, these kids are danger to society and need a damn sight more than a slap on the wrist in exchange for promises not to do it again. The charge should be murder.
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posted by gbarto at 1:24 AM:
Too bad:Dems Get New Senate Candidate
N.J. justices rule party can replace Torricelli on ballot with Lautenberg
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Wednesday, October 02, 2002
posted by gbarto at 9:33 AM:
Hurricane Lili Hits Category 3Louisiana residents brace for much stronger storm than Isidore
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posted by gbarto at 9:32 AM:
Youth Mob Beats Man to DeathAuthorities arrest 10 Milwaukee kids, seek six others
The neighbors say the kids were acting like it was a game, like they didn't actually realize they were going to kill the guy. But when he tried to take refuge in a person's house, the kids broke windows to get into the house and finish the job.
I'm sorry, but when you're that damn savage, the possibilities are two: you're a murderer or you're an animal. In either case, there is no reasonable way to argue for "understanding" or the usual "they're just kids" bull. They need to go away for a long time - in some cases forever - so that "kids" who think this good sporting fun can't threaten any more lives.
Btw, the confrontation started after the guy punched a kid who had thrown an egg at him. How long until someone emerges to say that if he'd just let them ruin his jacket, he'd have been ok so it's his own fault?
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posted by gbarto at 9:20 AM:
GI Killed in Philippine BlastSixteen people hurt as bar in southern islands bombed
Hmm... Wasn't it the bombing of a German nightclub that ultimately prompted Reagan to bomb Libya?
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posted by gbarto at 1:32 AM:
Says Cicero on the Democrats:Any law that's bad for the Democrats is ipso facto bad for democracy. Anyway, that's their story and they're sticking to it.Which is to say that Toricelli's exit was not about getting crooks out of NJ's electoral process, just finding less conspicuous ones.
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posted by gbarto at 1:26 AM:
French news round-up:Says Le Monde, "The Iraq-UN agreement: The US wants more." Some may be hailing the UN-Iraq accord and snickering at the US not getting its wishes; Le Monde's sub-headlines would seem to counsel against that line of thinking. The two biggies are: "Bush will not soften his Iraq policy" and "Bagdahd prepares for an attack."
We'll translate Le Figaro's lead headline as "France Telecom: Thierry Breton in command." Says France's leading general interest financial paper, "After several weeks of liars' poker, Thierry Breton, president of Thomson Multimedia, will be enthroned tomorrow morning..."
Libé also has FT up top, under the headline "The State puts its bosses under pressure." France Telecom, of course, is mostly owned by the French government; not so long ago, its former PDG (president/director-general) got the boot and now Breton slides into his place. Wonders Libé, who's next?
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posted by gbarto at 1:12 AM:
Getting Tense Over YogaSome claim technique is a religion, should not be taught in schools
If they don't want to teach the kids to say "Om mani padme hum" or concentrate on their kundalini (am I getting that right?), that's one thing. But dumping the anti-stress breathing and relaxation techniques yoga offers in the midst of a religious debate is like refusing to tell kids not to steal because it would be repeating the Bible: a bit of idiocy that keeps addled religious or anti-religious zealots entertained but denies kids things that could really help them.
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posted by gbarto at 1:06 AM:
Dems: 'Torch' Out, Lautenberg InN.J. high court to decide if his name will appear on ballot for Senate
Hope not. It'd be nice to see the Dems take the maximum hit for the way they defended Toricelli; if a Republican had his rap sheet, Tommy Daschle would've been on the move to clean up the Senate.
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posted by gbarto at 1:02 AM:
Poor Louisiana:U.S. Hurricane Watch Over Lili
Residents in South Louisiana face their second evacuation in a week as Lili steadily gains strength and speed as it heads their way
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Tuesday, October 01, 2002
posted by gbarto at 12:14 PM:
Fettered AccessVienna meetings end in U.N, Iraq agreement on renewed weapons inspection - but Saddam's palaces are off-limits
Soon to be heard in Iraq:
... This "baby milk factory" the US bombed in the early '90s, claiming it was a munitions depot - what's in it?... That's not a "baby milk factory" anymore, now it's a presidential palace...
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posted by gbarto at 4:02 AM:
Common Sense and friends are picking on the UN. To which we offer a hearty "bravo!"* * *
posted by gbarto at 3:51 AM:
"Run, Jesse, run!" National Review said famously some years back. But, reports Ken Layne, we're down to "Slam us, Jesse, slam us," with movie producers getting a little free publicity from Jackson's protestations.* * *
posted by gbarto at 3:42 AM:
Beware the Mean Green Meme! Den Beste will tell you why.* * *
posted by gbarto at 3:28 AM:
Says A Dog's Life:Short of Mr. Torricelli murdering a differently-abled African-American lesbian, the Democratic party was willing to overlook anything he did in order to retain control of the Senate.How's this for a slogan for the Dems?
The Democratic Party: We only tolerate crooks who can win.
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posted by gbarto at 3:21 AM:
Nicely put:France really isn't a member of the Axis of Evil. The French are obnoxious family to us.That's Cicero in response to France's help getting our kids to safety in the Ivory Coast.
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posted by gbarto at 3:15 AM:
Hee hee.Torricelli Pullout May Shift Power in Senate
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posted by gbarto at 3:14 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "Opening of trial in 1995 bombings." The trial concerns three (of six) bombings in Paris in 1995 by an Algerian Muslims group. It involves 200 civil parties; one of the defendents, however, is absent since Britain won't comply with the extradition process.
Le Figaro: "Procuring (of prostitutes): The first trial for networks from the East." In judgment are two Bulgarians who ran a prostitution network based on "modern slavery."
Libé: "Ugly times for world markets." I think most of us are familiar with this one.
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Monday, September 30, 2002
posted by gbarto at 1:00 PM:
Earthquake at Finistère. Here's Le Monde. Centered near Lorient. No injuries or major damages.* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:53 PM:
More Fun for Not Much LongerGerman researchers: Blondes will be extinct in another 200 years
Where's Al Gore on this?
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posted by gbarto at 12:52 PM:
The Torch goes out?Torricelli May Drop Out
Source: N.J. Democratic senator considering ending re-election bid
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posted by gbarto at 12:51 PM:
'We're Moving Along Nicely'Weapons inspectors report that talks with Iraqis about providing unfettered access progressing well
Jolly good, sir. Steady as she goes...
It would be nice if Iraq did fully comply and we could just remove Saddam's weapons, one by one, even from the presidential palaces. Anything less than that is, of course, a joke as far as the idea of the UN making or keeping the world safe. But it's a joke at which the sort of people who think negotiations can always solve everything will heartily chuckle. Let's hope that Bush doesn't.
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posted by gbarto at 2:39 AM:
Inspectors, Iraqis Meet TodayU.N. weapons monitors will lay down demands about getting back into Iraq, may not get the unfettered access demanded by the United States
And if the negotiating boils down to "we'll let you look everywhere but here where we keep the WMDs," what is the UN going to say? I think we already know. I hope Bush knows better than to listen because this guy needs to be dealt with, whether that august body of the U.N. (=useless nonsense?) is prepared for it or not.
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posted by gbarto at 2:34 AM:
French news round-up:Tonight: The Ivory Coast
Le Monde leads with "An African force in the Ivory Coast." A group of West African nations met in Accru, Ghana, and have sent a peacekeeping force into the country.
Le Figaro, meanwhile, tells us: "France is engaged in the Ivory Coast." Same story, but Le Figaro emphasizes French actions present and future and plays the West African force as a development France welcomes, rather than the main story.
Libé, as usual, has its own particular angle: "What drives the rebels in the Ivory Coast?" Says Libé, the rebels are mostly old military types driven into exile by the current regime who have no real ideological or political aim.
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Sunday, September 29, 2002
posted by gbarto at 12:16 PM:
Turkey Seizes UraniumFrom two Turks trying to smuggle it. Funny, isn't it? If the headline said "Iraq seizes uranium," there'd immediately be a different guess about what was going on.
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posted by gbarto at 12:14 PM:
Iraq Rejects Disarmament PlanBaghdad says no to inspections
This really only leaves the U.N. one choice, doesn't it? (I'm obviously speaking of simpering retreat; you don't think I'd even consider the possibility of the U.N. standing up for something, do you?)
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posted by gbarto at 12:12 PM:
Israelis Leave RamallahIsrael withdraws troops from Arafat's compound but vows to find wanted militants; U.S. applauds move
Unfortunately, there wasn't a hell of a lot for them to do there. Arafat can't control the monster he created anymore and is only relevant to the extent that he gets to play martyr when Israel takes out its frustrations on him. Which means they should ignore him. In a few months, he'll be begging them to raid his compound, even take a shot at him, anything to convince his people he's still enough in the game to get reelected (if he actually goes through with the election). The Israeli actions are understandable: Whatever his irrelevance now, he was part of the cause of the mess we see now and he's easy to find when one wishes to symbolically express one's anger. But better to leave him alone now, go after Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and his own Fatah movement's Al-Aqsa with renewed vigor and challenge him to support Israel's efforts "to reestablish his authority as the only voice for the Palestinian cause" or admit that he doesn't want to be a peacetime leader, only mouth platitudes when the war goes poorly for him.
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posted by gbarto at 2:22 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "Two years of Intifada." Notes Le Monde, the bottom line for those two years ain't pretty: more than 2500 dead, among them nearly 1900 Palestinians. Thousands of Palestinians turned out to mark the anniversary but Yassir Arafat wasn't among them. He's still trapped in his headquarters.
Oh yeah, and there were "Demonstrations against war with Iraq" across Europe.
Libé and Le Figaro are, as usual, essentially dormant this Saturday night.
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posted by gbarto at 2:15 AM:
Lest those who read the TurkeyBlog's review of "In praise of love" think he dislikes all movies, I'd like to offer a few words of praise for "The Secretary," a strange and sadistic half-comedy/half-melodrama that hit theaters yesterday. The film is not quite what I expected, but it was sweet and charming in its own way and if it steps out of bounds in places, the light touches here and there (a deliberately misspelled "Sincerelee" comes to mind) make it clear that it's all (well, most of it any way) in good fun.That said, if you haven't seen Possession or Mostly Martha yet, I'd pick one of the two for weekend viewing.
The TurkeyBlog, meanwhile, is waiting for a better pick (and pic) from the French, Luc Besson's Wasabi.
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