Rock on. Build your own Macintosh. This is cool, but I really want a laptop.

MacOpz: Build Your Own G4

"Integration means adopting Western secular values in lieu of Islamic values - values which are from a foreign and different ideology to Islam."

Islamic conference in London argues (amoung other things) that it is not possible for Muslims to live in peace with western people because Islam does not beleive in the separation of church and state. CNN showed posters at the conference which read "WE WILL DOMINATE THE WORLD." This group is viewed as LESS radical then Al Qaeda because they do not openly praise 911 terrorists nor are they claiming the moral right to kill 4 million people. However, Al Qaeda seems more open to dialoge then these people, at least in terms of the content of their rhetoric.

CNN also showed footage of speakers at this conference who offer the common deceit that Islamic government is better then other sorts of government because government designed by god is obviously better then government designed by people.

Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | Muslims Hold Conference in London

"Larkin Community Hospital president Dr. Jack Michel said Saturday he was requesting the students transfer somewhere else after receiving numerous threats because of the incident."

The stupidity and racism continue at breakneck speed.

CNN.com - Threats made against Alligator Alley detainees - September 15, 2002

"America is the head of heresy in our modern world, and it leads an infidel democratic regime that is based upon separation of religion and state and on ruling the people by the people via legislating laws that contradict the way of Allah and permit what Allah has prohibited. This compels the other countries to act in accordance with the same laws in the same ways...and punishes any country [that rebels against these laws] by besieging it, and then by boycotting it. By so doing, [America] seeks to impose on the world a religion that is not Allah'…"

By calling secular democracy a "religion" the speaker closes the listener's mind to the idea that it is possible to separate church and state.

I'm interested in comments like these because there is a perception that "solution" to the problem with conflict between the US and radical Islamic countries is to increase economic interdependence (and therefore communication). I'm not convinced that a long term resolution of this sort of problem is possible without the rise of a secular form of islam which observes the separation of church and state. The reason I beleive this is that when you put God on the throne you eliminate the possibility of questioning the government. If citizens cannot question their government then their government will inevitably become violent and oppressive.

Statement by Al'Qa'ida

The dossier is also expected to disclose that the Iraqi leader has reconstructed three plants to manufacture biological and chemical weapons, it said.

This is what the world has been waiting to see. It is interesting to note that the UK is releasing this information. Show me the information!

Yahoo! News - Saddam Hussein Trained Al Qaeda Fighters - Report

"Powell, who favors international coalition-building and multilateral action, has made new allies for America. He has been the principal voice in this administration arguing against the long-term efficacy of military solutions either to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis or to our own ''war on terrorism.'' Neither Rumsfeld nor Cheney possesses Powell's diplomatic skills or the larger worldview required to win friends among nations whose populations look different and think differently than they do."

I don't agree with the author's oped about Powell's future. Removing the elder perspective from the White House will leave the idealism of the boomers unchecked, and will needlessly accelerate the descent into chaos. The chaos is inevitable, but it must be put off at this point. The country is not ready.

Yahoo! News - Public responsible for foreign policy

"This is a chance", he said, "for the United Nations to show some backbone and resolve as we confront the challenges of the 21st century."

CNN.com - Bush challenges U.N. to 'show some backbone' - September 14, 2002

In an interview with CBS MarketWatch, 'gonzo' journalist Hunter Thompson talks about how Friday's live TV reports of a Florida highway shutdown because of a suspected terrorist threat shows what's wrong with today's media and political climate.

...

:) HUNTER! HUNTER! Nice to hear a voice of sanity cutting through the fray these days. Live long and prosper Mr. Thompson. Two part audio interview available in Real and some other format...

Hunter Thompson is still all-Gonzo

"Federal sources involved in the investigation said they believe the three men - all U.S. citizens - were playing a stupid joke on another restaurant patron who gave them a suspicious look."

You're sitting in a restaurant with your buddies on a road trip. Some idiot redneck walks in and starts looking at you like you must be a terrorist. You make fun of her. She calls the cops. 12 hours later you're being held in a van southern Florida while the FBI pulls your car apart with a robot.

The worst part of this is that the stupidity hasn't stopped yet. They are still holding them. They are looking to charge them. They still have the road closed. Gotta blame someone for our stupidity. God this is ridiculous...

Miami terrorist scare caused by stupid redneck.

Lucent blamed the lower forecast on the declining revenue and charges associated with a significant customer that defaulted on financing terms earlier this month. "

Worldcom?

Lucent warns on fourth quarter, cites lower sales. - Sep. 13, 2002