] Your Credit: Personal Information goes public Starting
] July 1st, 2003, the four major credit bureaus in the US
] (Equifax, etc.) will be allowed to release credit info,
] mailing addresses, phone numbers, etc., to ANYONE who
] requests it. If you do not want to be included in this
] release of your personal information, you can call
] 1-888-567-8688. Once the message starts you will want
] option #2 (even though option #1 refers to this email,
] push #2) and listen to the message. Then select the
] option to permanently remove your name.
]
] Be sure to listen closely, the first option is only for a
] two-year period. Make sure you wait until they prompt for
] the option, which opts you out FOREVER. You should
] receive their paperwork in the mail confirming the
] "opting out" in less than one week after making the call.

Federal Observer Articles - Federal Observer

,----
| Though President Bush declared an end to major combat operations in
| Iraq on May 1, scattered combat actions in the country continue, as
| evidenced by recent hostile-fire deaths, according to the commanding
| general of U.S. forces in Iraq. Lt. Gen. David McKiernan, commander of
| Coalition Joint Task Force-7, said during a Baghdad press conference
| that attacks on U.S. Soldiers are not criminal activities, but acts of
| combat, and they will be addressed with every means at the
| U.S. forces' disposal. MORE
`----

Our prez is not exactly in step with what's real. Again.

European and Pacific Stars & Stripes

Breast feed your kids in Texas? Go to jail.

Printable page

,----
| VANCOUVER - A top White House drug policy official is threatening
| retaliation from the U.S. if Canada relaxes its laws against marijuana
| possession.
|
| David Murray, right-hand man to U.S. "drug czar" John Walters, says he
| doesn't want to tread on another country's sovereignty, but warned
| there would be consequences if Canada proceeds with a plan to
| decriminalize the possession of marijuana.
`----

Oh, really? So now tell me, would that be a 'Shock and Awe' type
retaliation?

CBC News: U.S. warns Canada against easing pot laws

,----
| The Fall of the House of Saud
|
| Americans have long considered Saudi Arabia the one constant in the
| Arab Middle East?a source of cheap oil, political stability, and
| lucrative business relationships. But the government is also deeply
| corrupt, and gives succor to terrorism. Now, a former CIA operative
| argues, the Saudi royal family is on the verge of collapse?and much of
| the global economy could collapse with it
`----

This story is only available in the May issue print version. I picked
up a copy and read it in a coffee shop this morning. It's truly
arresting.

The Atlantic | May 2003 | Table of Contents

This morning, I received an email from a co-worker of long ago. Not just a any old co-worker, but my first UNIX mentor. We have managed to stay loosely in touch over the years and I have always thought him to be one who is impeccably cogent but one who does not suffer fools --just do a google groups search on his name to see what I mean by this. I've rambled enough, here's the email:

,----
| I'm not a peace monger, by which I mean I can imagine conditions in
| which I would fight or let my child fight. But I'm also quite
| against getting into fights:
|
| which we can't get out of;
|
| which are unlikely to have a clear outcome;
|
| which don't have the full support of the people;
|
| which don't seem likely to achieve their stated goals;
|
| which have a far greater potential cost than potential
| reward.
|
| I thought that there was a general consensus about all this after
| Vietnam.
|
| What Bush and crew are attempting in the Middle East seems an
| example of the kind of hubris that is likely to cause great and
| lasting damage to this country. In their argument for war, they
| pile fact upon fact in the manner of conspiracy theorists, and
| similarly leap to a conclusion that isn't supported by those facts.
|
| The president is being goaded by advisers into an adventure just as
| Lyndon Johnson was -- the parallels seem quite clear.
|
| I am sure that I am not the only one making these observations, and
| that there are many Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and
| liberals, war veterans and lifelong civilians, who are thinking
| along similar lines.
|
| If you believe that this might be a colossal mistake, please say so
| in a voice we can all hear.
|
|
| - Michael Sierchio
`----

Is it just me, or is there something darker going on
here? Is this a warning system or a heinous tool
constructed to manipulate the masses?

I submit this for your consideration: after a brief
training period (setting the indicator to high levels
when there is an actual emergency, and setting the
indicator to low levels when the populace is to be
lulled) you can begin to elicit a conditioned response at
will.

The democratic national convetion is about to meet in,
say, Atlanta then set the indicator to 'high' and put the
American populace on edge. Set the indicator on 'low' for
the Republican convention.

I'm sure that you get the idea.

Tom Ridge makes Joseph Goebbels look like a pious Sunday
school student in short pants. A-A-And the tools, nay
weapons, that Ridge has at his command --portable,
community-sized skinner boxes and video games to name
just two of them-- to manipulate the American
consciousness are hellishly frightening.

I'm afraid to say this almost. Chomsky is an optimist,
these guys are way beyond consent. Way beyond the zero.

Beyond the Zero

actually, tech and society. annalee newitz's columns are often excellent

sfbg.com