Following on the recent George R.R. Martin recommendation here is a sci-fi series with a similar feel. Piers Anthony, better known for his light Xanth fantasy series, spins an emotional yarn with twists that are difficult to predict. One novel will end leaving you distraught while another ends on glorious upbeat note. Be prepared to have your heart strings tugged as you are sucked into a space opera with serious plot twists.

[ Note - Apparently this is out of print! Hustle on down to your local used book store! -Rek ]

Refugee (Bio of a Space Tyrant, Vol 1) by Piers Anthony

What an amazing author! I have never read anything like this before.. Tolkien move over! Unlike many fantasy series' out there, this one is totally unpredictable and very 'in your face'. Go forth and read!

[ I'm not sure I can quite go with the 'Tolkien move over', but without a doubt George R.R. Martin spins one of the most impressive fantasy (and even Sci-Fi) tales I've ever read. It's definite must read. -Rek ]

George R. R. Martin

Awesome. Build your own authenticating, bandwidth-throttle-able 802.11b Access Point!

Sputnik's Latest Satellite (802.11b/WiFi News)

"We're going to have something in the way of a major nuclear event in this country," said Buffett, the firm's chief operating officer. "It will happen. Whether it will happen in 10 years or 10 minutes, or 50 years ... it's virtually a certainty."

[ {Originally from Decius}. If you haven't figured this out yet, then you aren't paying attention. I'll admit I was shocked, outraged, and mad when the planes hit the WTC towers, but I wasn't surprised. U.S. foreign policy has created a lot of really pissed off people. The ability to make nukes has been around for 50 years and there is plenty of information on the subject. Even a 10kt h-bomb should be relatively easily produced by someone. Honestly, I thought it would be a nuke first, not planes.

It's going to be very messy around here unless we start addressing core issues/causes and stop playing footsie with the symptoms. --Rek ]

CNN.com - Buffett: Nuclear attack 'virtually a certainty' - May 6, 2002

Business as usual. The U.S. is not to be held to account for its actions while it has free reign to haul in whomever it likes and try them in its own secret military courts. Perhaps a harsh way of putting it, but it rings true. If the U.S. conducts itself as righteously as it claims what is the problem with an international criminal court.

Yahoo! News - Powell: U.S. Will Disengage From World Criminal Court

Kasky v. Nike Inc., 02 C.D.O.S. 3790, began when Marc Kasky filed a private attorney general action claiming that Nike violated California laws prohibiting unlawful business practices and false advertising by issuing press statements refuting claims that workers in Nike's Southeast Asian factories toiled in slave-like conditions. Kasky said those statements were deliberately deceptive. "

[ Nike Sucks. -Reknamorken ]

PR Campaigns Lose Speech Protection

Will the RIAA please wake up?

The band Wilco defies experts as their `Foxtrot' gallops

This is so terrifying, I'm not sure what to say.

Sharon’s final solution

This article speaks for itself. Ask yourself: "Does or does not the U.S. support peace and freedom for all?" Or only for itself and its citizens?

The cycle of violence will not end unless the big boys work towards reducing that violence and the means for performing it.

ZNet | Foreign Policy | Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Who's The Biggest Rogue Of All?

Cool. I'm feeling nostalgic. I'm a "Chaotic Good Human Ranger Bard." What are you?

Drizzt's Grove - Test