Volume 2 Issue 78
May 23, 2003
The Day Before a Holiday that Most People Are Blowing Off Anyway Edition
The Iraqi Information Minister is formally let go, can Spam save the Democrats, and the Keystone State loads up on the booze
Short pre holiday version today, no big commentary. Except, how about Annika Sorenstam? So there to all those idiots who thought she wouldn't be able to keep up. I mean, relax! It's not like she's planning on moving over, she's just trying to challenge herself, which is more than most people do in their lives. Here's hoping she makes the cut today.
Oh, check this out, the first photo of Earth from Mars, taken from one of the probes in orbit around Mars last week. It's weird to think that you can barely even make out the continents. Not a close up shot like it is from the moon. Anyway, I thought it was neat. Have a great holiday, see you Tuesday! Onto the insanity...
No! Where will our favorite Iraqi find work?! The US has dissolved the Iraqi Army, and the Information Ministry, leaving no hope for our favorite former Iraqi official to return to official duties -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-690009,00.html
Does it work? Who cares!? The Bush Administration's missile shield doesn't seem to work. Not like that's keeping us from building it or anything -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2083470/
Spam and the Democrats: Is junk e-mail a political issue ripe for the picking?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2083480/
Look Who's Voting for President: An interesting poll commissioned by Harvard shows that young people may vote in greater numbers than ever in 2004, finally being a sizable political force. Given the past history though, it's hard to believe this -
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/2003survey.pdf
Bad John Edwards Photo of the Day:
Did I leave the iron on?
Prospects for Peace: Is Israel thinking about joining the EU? One hopeful sign in this is that the EU requires its members to have no outstanding border disputes, so this is still a far way off, but the fact that they're thinking about it shows that perhaps the Peace process has a chance -
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030521-112245-2333r
Morals vs. Money: In Pennsylvania, fiscal needs have trumped the old Puritanic restrictions on booze...the state will open some jumbostores near the borders to keep people from going to other states to buy cheaper liquor. (PA has a liquor monopoly, all Wine and liquor must be bought at state run stores) -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/5924773.htm
Solutions to Government: The Division of Motor Vehicles in NJ gave poor service, was years behind the times, and full of fraud. So what did the state do? Eliminate it! A model for government everywhere, I'm sure -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/new_jer sey/5926423.htm
Taking after America: The UK has taken a page from the Homeland Security school of architecture, putting up concrete jersey barriers in front of the Palace of Westminster -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-689992,00.html
Ah, civilized America: Utah is looking for people to be on firing squads for executions this coming summer -
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-05-23-firing-squad_x.htm
Bill Bennett Vacation Destination Profile: Atlantic City, celebrating 25 years with casino's this month. The investment is finally starting to show a bit in the decrepit old town, but what I've never gotten is where the "Casino Redevelopment Authority" spends their money. Recently, I recall reading that the CRDA had paid for a social services center...for the Catholic Diocese of Camden...in Camden, 60 miles away -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/new_jer sey/5924777.htm
Oh, one correction from yesterday's rant. I was incorrect in saying that Joe Lieberman had voted for the Bush tax cuts. In fact, he has opposed them consistently, and even calls for not enacting the rest of them in his campaign platform. But he still hasn't introduced a health care plan :)
Have a great holiday! Stay dry!
