Tuesday, September 26, 2006
So What's the Subject -- Or The Point?
If you have spent any time perusing this blog, you have probably noted that the subject is whatever strikes me that day. So what is the point? Ok, life is complex, polarities in thinking don't address any reality that I know of. Therefore, this blog reflects that attitude. So don't be surprised that what you may find here is whatever the muse has whispered in my ear. Until next time....
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
25 Most Censored Stories for 2005-06
Project Censored (Sonoma State University) Announces the Release of the Top 25 Most Censored Stories for 2005-06 (ie those stories that the corporate media marginalized and/or ignored last year).
You can find the entire review of these stories in "Censored 2007: 30th Anniversary Edition" from Seven Stories Press, available at: http://www.projectcensored.org/
1. Future of Internet Debate Ignored by Media
Throughout 2005 and 2006, a large underground debate raged regarding the future of the Internet. Referred to as "network neutrality," the issue has become a tug of war with cable companies on the one hand and consumers and Internet service providers on the other.
2. Halliburton Charged with Selling Nuclear Technologies to Iran
As recently as January of 2005 and a decade before Halliburton sold key components for a nuclear reactor to an Iranian oil development company in violations of US sanctions.
3. Oceans of the World in Extreme Danger
Sea temperature and chemistry changes, along with contamination and reckless fishing practices intertwine to imperil the world's largest communal life source.
4. Hunger and Homelessness Increasing in the US
The number of hungry and homeless people in US cities continued to grow in 2005.
5. High-Tech Genocide in Congo
The world's most neglected emergency is the ongoing tragedy of the Congo, where six to seven million have died since 1996 as a consequence of invasions and wars
sponsored by western powers trying to gain control of the region's mineral wealth.
6. Federal Whistleblower Protection in Jeopardy.
Special Counsel Scott Bloch, appointed by President Bush in 2004, is overseeing the virtual elimination of federal whistleblower rights in the US government.
7. US Operatives Torture Detainees to Death in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The American Civil Liberties Union released documents of forty-four autopsies held in Afghanistan and Iraq October 25, 2005. Twenty-one of those deaths were listed as homicides. These documents present irrefutable evidence that US operatives tortured detainees to death during interrogation.
8. Pentagon Exempt from Freedom of Information Act
In December 2005, Congress passed the 2006 Defense Authorization Act which renders Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) "operational files" fully immune to FOIA requests, the main mechanism by which watchdog groups, journalists and individuals can access federal documents.
9.The World Bank Funds Israel-Palestine Wall
Despite the 2004 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision that called for tearing down the Israel-Palestinian Wall-construction of the Wall has accelerated using World Bank funds.
10. Expanded Air War in Iraq Kills More Civilians
A key element of Bush's drawdown plans in Iraq includes increased uses of airpower. Expanded air strikes will likely lead to increased civilian deaths.
11. Dangers of Genetically Modified Food Confirmed
Several recent studies confirm fears that genetically modified (GM) foods damage human health.
12. Pentagon Plans to Build New Landmines
The US plans to resume production of antipersonnel landmines.
#13 New Evidence Establishes Dangers of Roundup
New studies reveal that Roundup, the most widely used weed killer in the world, poses serious human health threats.
14. Homeland Security Contracts KBR to Build Detention Centers in the US
Halliburton's subsidiary KBR has been awarded a $385 million contingency contract by the Department of Homeland Security to build detention camps in the United States for immigrations surges and "news programs."
15. Chemical Industry is EPA's Primary Research Partner
The American Chemical Council is now EPA's leading research partner.
16. Ecuador and Mexico Defy US on International Criminal Court
Ecuador and Mexico have refused to sign bilateral immunity agreements (BIA) with the US, in ratification of the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty, despite the Bush Administration's threat to withhold economic aid.
17. Iraq Invasion Promotes OPEC Agenda
The US occupation of Iraq has been used by the US to acquire access to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
18. Physicist Challenges Official 9-11 Story
Research by Brigham Young University physics professor, Steven E. Jones, concludes that the official 9/11 explanation for the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings is implausible according to laws of physics.
19. Destruction of Rainforests Worst Ever
New developments in satellite imaging technology reveal that the Amazon rainforest is being destroyed twice as quickly as previously estimated.
20. Bottled Water: A Global Environmental Problem
Consumers spend a collective $100 billion every year on bottled water in the belief-often mistaken-that it is better for us than what flows from our taps. Worldwide, some 2.7 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each year.
21. Gold Mining Threatens Ancient Andean Glaciers
Barrick Gold, a powerful multinational gold mining company, planned to melt three Andean glaciers in order to access gold deposits through open pit mining.
22. Billions in Homeland Security Spending Undisclosed
More than $8 billion in Homeland Security funds has been doled out to states since the September 11, 2001 attacks, but the public has little chance of knowing how this money is actually being spent.
23. US Oil Targets Kyoto in Europe
Lobbyists funded by the US oil industry have launched a campaign in Europe aimed at derailing efforts to enforce the Kyoto Protocol against global warming.
24. Cheney's Halliburton Stock Rose Over 3000 Percent Last Year
Vice President Dick Cheney's stock options in Halliburton rose from $241,498 in 2004 to over $8 million in 2005, an increase of more than 3,000 percent.
25. US Military in Paraguay Threatens Region
South American countries are concerned that a massive air base at Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay is designed to be a US military stronghold in the region.
Contact Information:
Project Censored
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-664-2500
censored@sonoma.edu
Full reviews of the stories are available at:
http://www.projectcensored.org
You can find the entire review of these stories in "Censored 2007: 30th Anniversary Edition" from Seven Stories Press, available at: http://www.projectcensored.org/
1. Future of Internet Debate Ignored by Media
Throughout 2005 and 2006, a large underground debate raged regarding the future of the Internet. Referred to as "network neutrality," the issue has become a tug of war with cable companies on the one hand and consumers and Internet service providers on the other.
2. Halliburton Charged with Selling Nuclear Technologies to Iran
As recently as January of 2005 and a decade before Halliburton sold key components for a nuclear reactor to an Iranian oil development company in violations of US sanctions.
3. Oceans of the World in Extreme Danger
Sea temperature and chemistry changes, along with contamination and reckless fishing practices intertwine to imperil the world's largest communal life source.
4. Hunger and Homelessness Increasing in the US
The number of hungry and homeless people in US cities continued to grow in 2005.
5. High-Tech Genocide in Congo
The world's most neglected emergency is the ongoing tragedy of the Congo, where six to seven million have died since 1996 as a consequence of invasions and wars
sponsored by western powers trying to gain control of the region's mineral wealth.
6. Federal Whistleblower Protection in Jeopardy.
Special Counsel Scott Bloch, appointed by President Bush in 2004, is overseeing the virtual elimination of federal whistleblower rights in the US government.
7. US Operatives Torture Detainees to Death in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The American Civil Liberties Union released documents of forty-four autopsies held in Afghanistan and Iraq October 25, 2005. Twenty-one of those deaths were listed as homicides. These documents present irrefutable evidence that US operatives tortured detainees to death during interrogation.
8. Pentagon Exempt from Freedom of Information Act
In December 2005, Congress passed the 2006 Defense Authorization Act which renders Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) "operational files" fully immune to FOIA requests, the main mechanism by which watchdog groups, journalists and individuals can access federal documents.
9.The World Bank Funds Israel-Palestine Wall
Despite the 2004 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision that called for tearing down the Israel-Palestinian Wall-construction of the Wall has accelerated using World Bank funds.
10. Expanded Air War in Iraq Kills More Civilians
A key element of Bush's drawdown plans in Iraq includes increased uses of airpower. Expanded air strikes will likely lead to increased civilian deaths.
11. Dangers of Genetically Modified Food Confirmed
Several recent studies confirm fears that genetically modified (GM) foods damage human health.
12. Pentagon Plans to Build New Landmines
The US plans to resume production of antipersonnel landmines.
#13 New Evidence Establishes Dangers of Roundup
New studies reveal that Roundup, the most widely used weed killer in the world, poses serious human health threats.
14. Homeland Security Contracts KBR to Build Detention Centers in the US
Halliburton's subsidiary KBR has been awarded a $385 million contingency contract by the Department of Homeland Security to build detention camps in the United States for immigrations surges and "news programs."
15. Chemical Industry is EPA's Primary Research Partner
The American Chemical Council is now EPA's leading research partner.
16. Ecuador and Mexico Defy US on International Criminal Court
Ecuador and Mexico have refused to sign bilateral immunity agreements (BIA) with the US, in ratification of the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty, despite the Bush Administration's threat to withhold economic aid.
17. Iraq Invasion Promotes OPEC Agenda
The US occupation of Iraq has been used by the US to acquire access to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
18. Physicist Challenges Official 9-11 Story
Research by Brigham Young University physics professor, Steven E. Jones, concludes that the official 9/11 explanation for the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings is implausible according to laws of physics.
19. Destruction of Rainforests Worst Ever
New developments in satellite imaging technology reveal that the Amazon rainforest is being destroyed twice as quickly as previously estimated.
20. Bottled Water: A Global Environmental Problem
Consumers spend a collective $100 billion every year on bottled water in the belief-often mistaken-that it is better for us than what flows from our taps. Worldwide, some 2.7 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each year.
21. Gold Mining Threatens Ancient Andean Glaciers
Barrick Gold, a powerful multinational gold mining company, planned to melt three Andean glaciers in order to access gold deposits through open pit mining.
22. Billions in Homeland Security Spending Undisclosed
More than $8 billion in Homeland Security funds has been doled out to states since the September 11, 2001 attacks, but the public has little chance of knowing how this money is actually being spent.
23. US Oil Targets Kyoto in Europe
Lobbyists funded by the US oil industry have launched a campaign in Europe aimed at derailing efforts to enforce the Kyoto Protocol against global warming.
24. Cheney's Halliburton Stock Rose Over 3000 Percent Last Year
Vice President Dick Cheney's stock options in Halliburton rose from $241,498 in 2004 to over $8 million in 2005, an increase of more than 3,000 percent.
25. US Military in Paraguay Threatens Region
South American countries are concerned that a massive air base at Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay is designed to be a US military stronghold in the region.
Contact Information:
Project Censored
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-664-2500
censored@sonoma.edu
Full reviews of the stories are available at:
http://www.projectcensored.org
Saturday, June 03, 2006
If you haven't seen this blog....
Go here, fellow-writer-seeking-to-be-published:
http://misssnark.blogspot.com/
Miss Snark, agent extraordinaire shares her vast knowledge. Warning - nitwits and nitwittery thoroughly skewered.
http://misssnark.blogspot.com/
Miss Snark, agent extraordinaire shares her vast knowledge. Warning - nitwits and nitwittery thoroughly skewered.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
A Long Break
Got a wonderful hand-written note from the agent. Unfortunately, ".. the agency is not right for the manuscript." So, hey, there's got to be an agency right for the manuscript somewhere. Ok, I'm an optimist. It's actually past time to send out a new batch of queries. Teaching two new courses got me behind a bit. That was my last excuse to avoid rejection. Well, I'm getting a thicker skin. The semester is almost over and I have no excuses not to send out queries and get back to work on the next book.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Seeking an Agent
Have sent out queries seeking an agent. My novel is a 107,000 word science fiction fantasy. So we will see what happens.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Respect
Now we have idiots questioning Murtha's purple hearts. This has got to end. No one questioned them until he used his constitutional right of free speach -- in particular when he critized the administration on our actions in Iraq. You're not a patriot unless you tow the party line? When did the Bill of Rights become an unpatriotic piece of paper?
Bottom line - Murtha put his life on the line, multiple times, in defense of his country. What have his detractors done?
Bottom line - Murtha put his life on the line, multiple times, in defense of his country. What have his detractors done?
Friday, January 13, 2006
Monday, January 09, 2006
Back to College
It's been a week of working on syllabi for classes. It occured to me that the days of student excuses for late or non-existent work like 'the dog ate my paper' are over. Here are a few questions/comments I've heard in recent years. These are the ones that come easily to mind. I may add more later. Feel free to add your own, if you wish.
1. I missed last class. Did I miss anything important? (or) Did you say anything important?
(Nah, I recited the pledge of allegiance and the entire multiplication table - backwards, for three hours)
2. I forgot that the paper was due today. I forgot to read the syllabus.
3. What chapter are we covering tonight?
(Hello! You just admitted to me that you're not prepared for class.)
4. What you said isn't true! I heard on XXXXX's talk show that...
(okaaaay)
1. I missed last class. Did I miss anything important? (or) Did you say anything important?
(Nah, I recited the pledge of allegiance and the entire multiplication table - backwards, for three hours)
2. I forgot that the paper was due today. I forgot to read the syllabus.
3. What chapter are we covering tonight?
(Hello! You just admitted to me that you're not prepared for class.)
4. What you said isn't true! I heard on XXXXX's talk show that...
(okaaaay)
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