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September 11 Web Archive Collection This is an archived Web site from the Library of Congress. |
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http://www.unknownnews.net/ Archived: Nov 26, 2001 at 23:28:54 |
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Monday, November 26, 2001
New 'Wonder Drug' makes one wonder Would the pharmaceutical industry kill to make a killing? by Cheryl Seal See the future, now Hundreds killed as U.S. bombs prison to quell alleged rioting Associated Press, via San Francisco Chronicle Thanks, John C. How the death penalty works against capturing terrorists United Press International Thanks, Anatoly I. Five Palestinian children on their way to school were killed on Thursday when an IDF booby trap exploded under them Ha'aretz (Tel Aviv, Israel) Thanks, Bailey Pakistan poised to censor dissent The International News Thanks, Zvo Report says Pakistani planes rescue Taliban fighters TruthOut Thanks, Zvo Crank and self-appointed busybody finally croaks The Guardian (London, UK) You're a terrorist ! I know you are, but what am I? Toronto Globe and Mail Thanks, Bailey Bioterror fears lead to plans for quarantine The Washington Times The alternate reality isn't deeply hidden. It's available to anyone with a modem, and some of it makes it into quality newspapers. The New York Times LOGIN as pleasebiteme PASSWORD: password Thanks, J Assisted suicide is bootleg suicide Los Angeles Times 3 out of 4 suspected rapists play football for Port Sulphur High New Orleans Times-Picayune Thanks, John C. Slavery lives on in Mauritania National Public Radio Judge discovers conscience, calls for end to Drug War Westword (Denver) Police Chief says, We don't prosecute ecstasy users London Observer, via The Guardian (London, UK) Reasonable doubt about Ohio justice Unluckiest Man on Death Row Cleveland Scene Corporations and government stifling freedom and creativity on the internet SiliconValley.com Thanks, Joel H. Will America sell out Afghan women? Toronto Globe and Mail Thanks, Bailey FCC ponders fines for ABC's broadcast of lingerie show Wired News, via Lycos News Thanks, Joel H. Afghan poppies may bloom again Christian Science Monitor Thanks, John C., Ed H. Federal officials say mustard gas pit poses no health risks Cleveland Scene Catholic gym teacher showed students porn The Hartford Courant 23 countries report incidents by priests; Pope apologizes Los Angeles Times, via San Francisco Chronicle Sunday, November 25, 2001 Not a very interesting question, apparently Inquiries into September 11's colossal failure of CIA and other spooks 'postponed' until next year The New York Times LOGIN as pleasebiteme PASSWORD: password After the Taliban, will Afghanistan's women really be free? Los Angeles Weekly 'Economic Stimulus Package,' my ass The word for this is 'kickback' In These Times U.S. tells Americans Afghanistan is unsafe Reuters, via Lycos News Thanks, John C. Let's bomb Spain next! U.S. death penalty stops Spain from extraditing suspects Reuters, via Lycos News Thanks, John C. 35 American soldiers killed in fierce firefight, sources say The International News Thanks, Zvo Complainers complain that new measures give government too much power CBC News Thanks, Zvo Resistance is futile Despite new state and federal regulations, mentally ill Texans are still dying while being restrained by the very people they turn to for help Dallas Observer Thanks, Bailey Yahoo Message Boards welcome free speech, unless your name's Abdul or somethin' else that sounds unAmerican Washington Post, via SiliconValley.com Thanks, Cheryl Christian theme park wants to be taxed like a church (not at all) Associated Press, via Salon Thanks, Jim K. Since the September 1, 2001 attack in New York city, over 800 people in Canada have disappeared into Canada's detention system without being allowed to contact family or lawyers in violation of human rights. Centre for Research on Globalisation Thanks, J When Osama bin Laden was Tim Osman by J. Orlin Grabbe Thanks, Chris and Sue Hunter's rifle discharges at Delta ticket counter Do you suppose this gentleman was Arab-American? Black? Even Hispanic? Associated Press, via Houston Chronicle Thanks, Jim K. ----No charges were filed against the man. He and his wife were allowed to board a later flight. They're asking for $1.1-trillion Florida men sue Osama bin Laden New Times Palm Beach/Broward 100 questions and answers about Arab-Americans Detroit Free Press Thanks, Bailey The Afghan war has increased hunger and banditry but will not reduce the terror threat The Guardian (London, UK) Long-standing law limiting military gets new attention after attacks Associated Press, via San Francisco Chronicle Los Alamos gets unauthorized anthrax shipment World Net Daily Thanks, Jim K., John C. Why the U.S. bombed al-Jazeera TV network World Socialist Web Site Fred Gilreath spent a third of his 63 years awaiting the executioner's arrival Creative Loafing Atlanta Thanks, Bailey FBI is building a 'Magic Lantern' Police agencies design software to monitor computer use Washington Post Thanks, Jim K. Defining Islam: 'Religion of Peace' or 'Wicked Religion'? Christian News Service, via Crosswalk Thanks, Jim K. "Megan's Law" found unConstitutional in Hawaii Associated Press, via Lycos News Thanks, John C. Saturday, November 24, 2001 National I/D card works well in Zimbabwe Associated Press, via San Francisco Chronicle Thanks, Zvo Secret Military Tribunals? When did the United States become Peru? Newsweek, via NBC News Thanks, Zvo Uh, maybe while Newsweek was looking the other way, for the past twenty-plus years Bush plays 'Spin the bottle' Which nation shall we bomb next? London Daily Telegraph Thanks, Zvo Looks like time is running out for this round, so don't forget to play our game! U.S. shuts down Somalia internet BBC News Thanks, Mars Boy Along with denying all internet access to Somalis, the closures have severely restricted international telephone lines and shut down vitally needed money transfer facilities. About those 1,000+ people you're holding without charges Ashcroft to Congress: Drop dead. United Press International, via Interest Alert Thanks, Zvo Secret links between the U.S. and the Taliban intelligence Online Thanks, Cheryl Newscasters haven't noticed Bush's definition of terrorism fits Northern Alliance like a glove Common Dreams Police ponder federal plan to interview immigrants San Jose Mercury News Thanks, John C. It's our miscount, and we're sticking to it How reductions in death toll are quietly ignored Riverfront Times (St. Louis) In the early morning hours, Gerry Larrivee heads to the production area in his garage. He chooses his letters and words carefully, then screws them onto a large piece of melamine. Then he carries the board to the back of his property. Horses look up at Larrivee with brief curiosity. ----He hoists his sign into a tree with a homemade pulley device and steps back. Now, 40,000 people a day driving at least 50 miles per hour can read Larrivee's suggestion on how to punish the World Trade Center terrorists: "Retaliate. Give 'em Booze and Porn." Reno News and Review Patriot Act makes watchdogs of firms The Boston Globe Thanks, Zvo Dispatch from Anthrackistan It's a helluva war our government has gotten us into Common Dreams Thanks, Zvo Are you a terrorist? If you don't know, you'd better find out fast. Because Uncle Sam's made a list and he's checking it twice -- "40 to 50 countries" targeted for possible "U.S. action," according to America's securely-located vice president, Dick "Chicken Hawk" Cheney. As the man says, a hard rain's a-gonna fall. The Moscow Times Thanks, J, who adds Who'd a thunk it? One of the best writers on the loss of democracy in the U.S. writes for a Russian paper. Meanwhile, most U.S. papers and all the broadcast media are cheering on the loss. U.S. plans propaganda TV network aimed at Arabs The Guardian (London, UK) Thanks, Cheryl Taliban ministers led art-wrecking raid London Times Thanks, Jim K. Today, America is being stampeded into a new undeclared war, against Iraq. Thus it is a time for truth ----Was Saddam involved in the massacres of Sept. 11? Was he behind the anthrax attacks? Is he harboring terrorist cells of al-Qaida? Is he preparing nuclear or bio-terror weapons to attack us? If the answer is "Yes," let Congress lay out the evidence before the nation and empower the president to take us to war. World Net Daily Thanks, Mars Boy Some worry innocent lives will be ruined as Bush intensifies the hunt for terrorists The Detroit News The guilty secret is that the attack on Afghanistan was unnecessary. indy media Thanks, J Warrant, schmarrant More colleges providing Feds with student info on request The Seattle Times Thanks, John C. French citizen may be first to receive new improved U.S. justice The New York Times, via Sydney Morning Herald Thanks, Zvo and U.S. may hold military trials in Guam Agence France Presse, via The Times of India Thanks, Zvo 'Never mind the bombs, wear your turbans straight' The Times of India Thanks, Jim K. The White House is closed The Smirking Chimp Thanks, J ----Imagine the thoughts that pass through the mind of the fool who leaps the White House gates and charges the Residence. A fellow named Robert Pickett did this some months ago, managing to squeeze off a few rounds at the building before getting cut down by a Secret Service bullet. ----Clearly, he was not paying attention before he bolted. When you stand outside the White House on any given day, the sense that a thousand eyes are watching is overpoweringly present. The roofs of surrounding buildings hold cameras, sharpshooters and in all likelihood stockpiles of heavier artillery. The glass bubble on the roof of the Residence is clearly occupied, and has sight lines in all directions. The lawn of the White House itself is littered with obstacles, and arranged so defenders have a sweeping field of fire. ----Getting into the White House requires a process that puts one in mind of the Biblical story describing the difficulty involved in stuffing a camel through the eye of a needle. The lead in a pencil is enough to set off the metal detectors, and all bags are thoroughly searched. Secret Service moles come in with many tours, watching everything. Men in flak jackets patrol visibly. ----The White House is in all likelihood the most secure building on the face of the earth. Yet today, it's doors are bolted. The public has been barred, we are told, to defend against terrorist attacks. Drug warriors raid rec room, find Nintendo games The Vancouver Province Thanks, John C. Friday, November 23, 2001 "These pictures would probably never appear on U.S. Media" Pakistan News Service Thanks, Zvo Judge orders teens in squirt gun attack to be proud Americans Associated Press via Salon Thanks, Joe G. No thumbprint, no rental car Wired News Thanks, John C. The great Thanksgiving hoax Sierra Times Thanks, Zvo War without end We've only just begun, says Bush, but allies urge caution Sydney Morning Herald Thanks, Zvo US targeting journalists who don't portray American viewpoint, some fear The Guardian (London, UK) via Pakistan News Service via Pak News dotcom Thanks, Mars Boy New documents raise questions about news media's findings on the 2000 presidential election Newsweek via NBC News Thanks, J, Jim K. ----It's only treason, of course. Not really newsworthy, I'm sure, will be the collective judgment of America's corporate-controlled media. ----But ... they printed the story before turning their backs, never mentioning it again, and charging $1.95 for an archival copy, which proves the media couldn't possibly be biased. ----We should all just roll over and go back to sleep, like good children. Life will be better once we learn to trust and love TimeWarner, and pledge allegiance to Dan Rather and Dow Chemical. Vitamin price fixers fined record $1.4 billion Sydney Morning Herald Thanks, Dean K. Forget the cliches, there is no easy way for the West to sort this out Z Net Thanks, Tobin C. Taking liberties A Boston Phoenix roundtable on freedom in the age of terrorism The Boston Phoenix Europeans irked, while Americans don't even know about Echelon's orbital snooping States News Service via Yahoo News Thanks, John C. What's Echelon? Innocents are going to be locked up The terror bill is not needed and will lead to human rights abuses The Guardian (London, UK) 'Detain without trial' bill faces revolt by MPs Belfast Telegraph Justice by geography Washington Post UK dealers sell 'vacuum bombs' to Sri Lanka The Guardian (London, UK) Thanks, John C. ----The force of fuel-air blasts can burst eyeballs out of their sockets and crush other internal organs. Nickeled and dimed Workers with nowhere to go turn to Labor Ready Anchorage Press Warming to Big Brother NBC News Thanks, Mars Boy, J ----"It's really no different from having a super security officer who can remember all the faces walking by as you walk into the airport. Imagine a security expert flipping through a mugshot book. All you are doing is automating that," Gapter said. Ontario again nixes Fat Girl Daily Variety via Yahoo News Policeman on trial for drug charge Melbourne Herald-Sun Gone huntin' The Vice President is in a secure, undisclosed location The New Yorker Thanks, CactusPat "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ----Contained within the above words from our Declaration of Independence is a very profound concept that every American would now do well to consider. The idea that our right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is granted to us, not by any government, but by our Creator, places our need for freedom above the reach of any political entity. Online Journal Thanks, J This isn't the end of it in Afghanistan or in America In These Times Thanks, Jim K. Brazil TV host's candor stirs marijuana debate Reuters via The Alchemid Society Bay Area pot guru busted in Utah San Francisco Chronicle FBI responds to public outrage over Carnivore by changing system's name C Net Thanks, What Really Happened, Zvo FBI wants Carnivore powers for phone taps C Net Thanks, Zvo, J Few big city police chiefs have any problem cooperating with Ashcroft Raids Chicago Tribune Related article, from Wednesday: Portland Police won't cooperate with FBI's mass round-ups and interrogations The New York Times LOGIN as pleasebiteme PASSWORD: password Ashcroft silence exacerbates Hill, White House tensions The Hill (Washington, DC) Thanks, Jim K. in English translation of interview November 11, 2001 BBC News Thanks, Zvo, Jerry ----Dawn's English version quotes Bin Laden as saying: "If America used chemical and nuclear weapons against us, then we may retort with chemical and nuclear weapons. We have the weapons as a deterrent." ---- But in the Urdu version of the article, Bin Laden does not threaten to use nuclear or chemical weapons. "The U.S. is using chemical weapons against us and it has also decided to use nuclear weapons. But our war will continue," he says, according to the BBC's own translation of the Ausaf article. Bush took FBI agents off bin Laden family trail As reported by: BBC News, 11/6/01 Agence France Presse via Hindustan Times, 11/7/01 Sydney Morning Herald, 11/7/01 Ananova, 11/7/01 The Guardian (London, UK), 11/7/01 The Times of India, 11/8/01 Press Association via Sydney Morning Herald, 11/8/01 When, oh when will this news 'break' in the American media? Legal niceties aside Federal agents without subpoenas asking firms for records November 10, 2001 Washington Post Thanks, John C. ----The company's lawyer said the agents wanted to review the records right then and there. But they didn't have a subpoena, a summons, a warrant or anything else that resembled a court order. ----"They don't seem to be bothering with all that these days," said Bill Lawler, the firm's outside counsel and a partner at Vinson & Elkins in the District. "They just show up and say 'Here we are' and 'Give us your stuff.'" Surprise! New rule took effect on Halloween Ashcroft edict lets prosecutors eavesdrop on attorney/client conversations November 9, 2001 Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle Thanks, Ed H., Gundy Related article: Washington Post 11/9/2001 Social Security Admin wants to share citizens' earnings data, employment records with police November 9, 2001 Associated Press via Yahoo News ---- U.S. policy: cheap Cipro, expensive AIDS drugs November 9, 2001 San Francisco Chronicle ----Just two weeks after the administration muscled steep price concessions from Bayer AG for its anthrax antibiotic Cipro, U.S. trade negotiators in Doha, Qatar, will be fighting a bid by developing nations to ease patent protection against knock-off versions of costly drugs that treat AIDS. ----Were you aware that the attorney general of the United States now has the power to arrest someone without probable cause, hold that person without presenting evidence, and ultimately give that person a life sentence without ever having a trial? ----That's the power Congress has given to the attorney general, which is stunning because I've always believed that the United States was a nation where due process could not be voided. ----With this legislation, we've put a rule on the books that puts us on the level of evil, repressive dictators who rule by arbitrary and capricious whim and who lock people up on the authority of a king with no opportunity to challenge the order. ---- Is the attorney general the new king of the United States? November 9, 2001 Denver Post Thanks, Ed H. ---- Litmus test: Have you officially, publicly denounced terrorist groups? November 8, 2001 indymedia DC As the War On Terrorism fails to yield anyone responsible for the 9-11 attacks, the witch hunt turns on American citizens. Congress has sent a letter to various environmental organizations (Greenpeace, Sierra Club, NRDC, WWF, etc.) 'requesting' that they publicly denounce groups such as ELF and ALF, calling them terrorist cells. Bush nominees may spell beginning of the end for the Environmental Protection Agency November 7, 2001 Cheryl Seal This past week, Bush quietly nominated two people to EPA posts -- so quietly in fact that the only place you'll probably see it is here. And with good reason. These two nominees make it painfully obvious that Bush wants to convert the agency into a big hollow barrel he can fill with corporate pork. President Johnson's tapes confirm what everyone should already know 'Gulf of Tonkin' attack was a lie, pretext for Vietnam War was a canard November 7, 2001 The London Times Thanks, Ed H. Vast quarantine role advocated for states Plan would let agencies shut roads, cities during a biological terror attack November 7, 2001 Detroit Free Press Secret government Authorities who won't say how many have been "detained" now say many have been released (but they won't say how many) November 7, 2001 Associated Press via Yahoo News Pentagon lied about success of raid November 7, 2001 Sydney Morning Herald Thanks, Zvo Secret government 'Homeland' office doesn't answer to Congress November 6, 2001 Roll Call Thanks, Ed H. "We asked [Homeland Director Tom Ridge] to come and testify [before Congress], but we received word that he is not going to be made available for testimony." Illustration courtesy The New York Times LOGIN as pleasebiteme PASSWORD: password Noted ACLU attorney Alan Dershowitz comes out against civil liberties; calls for national I/D card, torture warrants November 6, 2001 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Dershowitz suggested that judges could issue torture warrants in certain cases. Americans must plan their approach to these disquieting issues carefully and not allow the basic values of the country to erode, he said. Is a promotion the proper punishment for lying to Congress? It is if you're Walter "Dan" Cadman, the INS's new Director of National Security November 4, 2001 New Times Broward/Palm Beach Pentagon says Afghan village a 'legitimate target' November 3, 2001 Cable News Network Thanks, Random Walks "We hit what we wanted to hit," a Pentagon official speaking on the condition of anonymity told CNN. "The people there are dead because we wanted them dead." That's a relief... Even if Congressional buildings are uninhabitable, Congress will go on making new laws November 3, 2001 Roll Call Critics blast Bush's move to keep secret government's secrets secret forever November 3, 2001 Associated Press via Yahoo News Thanks, J, Ghost Rocket Some historians have suspected the Bush White House is worried about what the Reagan papers might reveal about officials now working for President Bush who also worked for Reagan. Among them are Secretary of State Colin Powell, Budget Director Mitch Daniels Jr. and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card. Pentagon lied about Red Cross bombings November 2, 2001 Emperor's Clothes Thanks, Zvo Q: Also, there was an interesting case on Friday where the US--American warplanes hit a Red Cross food warehouse twice. Now initially, it was said that that was hit by mistake. However today, senior military officials tell us that that Red Cross warehouse was hit on purpose because it was seized by the Taliban, who was stealing all that food. Is that a true statement or false? A: This we can confirm is not correct Federal gov't lied about shipping radioactive waste November 2, 2001 Associated Press via The Kansas City Star Thanks, Kiwigrrrl "They did everything they promised they wouldn't do," Holden spokesman Jerry Nachtigal said. "The errors are just that much more alarming given the potential for something to go wrong" since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Do they even want to know who's responsible? Federal investigators never talked to top Anthrax experts November 1, 2001 New York Post Thanks, Kiwigrrrl The news, coming as it did just days after the terrorist attacks on the United States, outraged the nation: Three Miami-Dade County firefighters October 31, 2001 Miami New Times U.S. secret government hands more secret powers to secret court October 31, 2001 Baltimore Sun Thanks, Ed H. New laws will have lasting effects on American life October 27, 2001 Wired News The Dec. 2005 expiration date embedded in the USA Act ----After the president signs the measure on Friday, police will have the permanent ability to conduct Internet surveillance without a court order in some circumstances, secretly search homes and offices without notifying the owner, and share confidential grand jury information with the CIA. Na๏ve reporter gets a clue October 27, 2001 Sacramento News and Review "You understand sir, this is a national security measure, and we're going to have to check with the FAA to clear it," he said. "You know they might not let you back on the airplane. You make people nervous." ----"How do I make people nervous?" I asked. ----"By doing whatever you're doing." ----"What am I doing?" ----"I don't know, but whatever it is, you're going to stop doing it!" ----"OK," I said. "But what am I doing?" I wasn't getting it. He began poking his index finger at me to emphasize the point. ----"I don't know what you're doing, but you're going to stop doing it!" Nothing in so-called "Anti-Terrorism Bill" will change the landscape that made the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon so simple for the hijackers to accomplish October 27, 2001 Hartford Advocate Thanks, MementoMori Hitler would go kosher with envy Israel seeks to construct anti-Arab ethnic bomb October 25, 2001 London Times Checks and balances? Let's look at the bribes, kickbacks, and quid pro quo behind America's alliances in War on Terrorism October 23, 2001 The Guardian (London, UK) Terrorists' training camp located, but U.S. refuses to attack October 23, 2001 The News Insider FBI considers torture as suspects stay silent October 22, 2001 London Times Thanks, Erick The most important American interest in Afghanistan: Oil October 20, 2001 The Russian Issues Thanks, Zvo Bush sees 'War on Terror' lasting at least through presidential election of 2004 October 18, 2001 Reuters via Yahoo News Secret government It's becoming clear how extraordinary the authority that this new agency, the Office of Homeland Security, along with its little brother, the Office of Cyberspace Security, really has. ----Since this agency is operating under essentially National Security law, as amended 1949-1950, and not regular Title Code 18 law, it can classify all of its operations and documents. It would be immune from any public request for information. Virtually all its budget is classified. It does not have to submit any public accounting for the money it spends ----Furthermore (they are preparing the public for this), Bush knows there will be many Supreme Court challenges when we are past this "first blush of patriotism." When the American people have taken off their rose-colored glasses and only have their normal blinders on, there will be many proceedings in the Supreme Court over the authority being given this agency. That's why Bush is saying that this ruling council, this Supreme National Security Council, has decided that its only judicial accountability will be with the National Security Court in Washington DC, a court which the administration controls. ----What does this do? It not only suspends habeas corpus, but it does so on a virtually unlimited basis. Even during the Civil War, when Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, there were still some rules. For example, you could not hold somebody for more than 90 days without charge. With this new agency, not only do they act ex post facto vis-a-vis habeas corpus, but there aren't any limits being imposed. They could literally detain people for years October 17, 2001 Al Martin Raw Pentagon admits lie Terrorists trained at U.S. bases October 17, 2001 Daniel Hopsicker Thanks, Gareth Estimated 6-million lives lost in global pursuit of U.S. "national security" October 17, 2001 rabble news Thanks, Jerry The numbers in this article add up to about six-and-a-half-million souls ----It's not exactly a mystery, why so many of the world's poor, dispossessed and downtrodden feel such anger and hatred toward the United States. Which, as I've said before, doesn't in any way excuse terrorism against the U.S. and its people ... but does help explain it. Pentagon spends millions to ensure nobody outside of Pentagon sees what's going on in Afghanistan October 17, 2001 The Guardian (London, UK) Thanks, CactusPat A question that won't go away: White House smoke on September 11? October 16, 2001 Kenmeer Livermaile U.S. government tries to silence ex-hostages October 16, 2001 Associated Press via ABC News With Iran participating in the U.S.-led coalition against terrorism, the government tried unsuccessfully Monday to block anti-Iran testimony from former American hostages held for 444 days after the U.S. embassy in Tehran was seized two decades ago. ----The move by the State Department prompted one of the ex-hostages, Barry Rosen, to accuse the government of playing "a surrogate role for Iran" in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. ----"The U.S. government ought to be ashamed of itself," Rosen, the former embassy press attach้ in Tehran, said in an interview. ----"Notwithstanding how it may appear ... we're not intervening to defend the interests of Iran," said Justice Department lawyer James Gilligan. Do you feel safer today than you did before Bush started bombing? October 15, 2001 The Guardian (London, UK) Return to top of page. |
Los Angeles Policeman of the World! ALMANAC-- ATLAS-- BLOGDEX-- IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER; NEWER EMAILS FIRST, OLDER EMAILS AFTER Write to UnknownNews at bigfoot.com The editor's favorite incoming emails are published. Please allow me to make the following points, not necessarily in any order: ----1) Saying that I'm for "censorship" is a rhetorical trick; akin to me accusing you of being in favor of mass-murder, and just as accurate. Politicians play this kind of trick all the time; I hoped for better from you. ----2) All rights have limits. Sorry to have to be the one to let you in on that little secret. With regard to freedom of speech and of the press, you can't shout fire in a crowded theater, or distribute or possess child pornography, or phone in a bomb threat, or even engage in "hate speech" in some places, for just a couple examples of the limits on our freedoms. More importantly, perhaps, is that freedom of the press and of speech accrues (sorry for repeating myself, but you seem better at talking than listening) only to those with power (who was it who said freedom of the press applies only to those who own one?), and to those who are not a viable threat to the Government. Can you say COINTELPRO? It is not the Constitution that protects Unknown News, it is only your powerlessness. So there are already limits; perhaps we are arguing only about whether those limits should exist. I say they should. If you say they shouldn't, can I then accuse you of being in favor of child pornography? ----3) I agree with your position, in general, that people should be punished for actions, not thoughts. In general--there is always a specific case where this is not true; try to look at the trees, not the forest, will you? In this specific case, as is already true of child pornography, I think this book should be suppressed (or banned, if you prefer) as far as we are able, despite the fact that, as you say, this is not very far. But we need to try, not for my sake, or yours, but for the sake of your Stephanie, and my child, too. ----4) I'm not telling you that Tobiason is a schizophrenic, he is. Are you arguing with me about an article you haven't even read? ----5) Schizophrenics do have Constitutional rights, but then, so does my eight year old. I don't give her matches; maybe we also shouldn't give them to someone like Tobiason who is admittedly mentally unstable. ----6) I'm aware of the Anarchist's Cookbook; in fact, I read the very first edition, when, about 1971? There's a difference between that and weapons of mass destruction, to use the odious phrase of our Government. Sorry, but it's a fact. There's at least one, and maybe several orders of magnitude difference between the sources you mentioned, and the material Tobiason is distributing. ----7) Your tone was "offensive" and couched in terms of "hostility". We can argue about this till the cows come home; but instead, I suggest you pick five random people, have them judge your correspondence according to that criteria, and let me know what you find out. Why won't you own (in "psychobabble" terms) your attitude? ----8) Lastly, I didn't call you "ignorant"; I'm guessing your accusation that I did means that you do subscribe to Libertarianism. I also guess that neither you nor I have time or patience to debate the fine points of that philosophy; but I certainly stand by my characterization of it as lunatic, and its adherents as ignorant. I'll be happy to be converted from my position, if you have do indeed turn out to wish to attempt to do so. ----Sincerely, Adam the Grouch, 11/26/2001 Regarding your first point: You have called for the stock of a book, Scientific Principles of Improvised Warfare and Home Defense, to be destroyed, and for the author, one Timothy W. Tobiason, to be "enjoined from distributing the information he has at hand." Reading this, I stated the obvious ----Regarding your second point: "All rights have limits," as you say, because despots always seek to take rights away, sometimes with the help of well-intentioned liberals. The Constitution does not protect Unknown News and its editors from being squelched. As for "my powerlessness" protecting us, I have no comment, for (as you may have noticed) I do not casually toss Chomskyisms about. Obviously, nothing protects this website and its editors except that Bush, Ashcroft, Rumsfeld et al are as yet unaware and/or uninterested in what we're doing. If or when that changes, this site and its proprietors will be removed and silenced immediately. If that approximates the Chomsky point you refer to, then bingo, Chomsky is right again, as he often is. ----Regarding your third point, and a holdover question from your second: You may, if you wish, accuse me of being in favor of child pornography. I'm not, of course, but it won't surprise me if you misunderstand the following points: I would not jail someone for scribbling fantasies involving sex with children in his personal journal ----Photographs and videos which show the actual rape of an actual 5-year-old are a different matter, of course. They belong in the same category as a hypothetical film of Jeffrey Dahmer killing and dismembering one of his victims, or recordings of any other acts of actual violence. Since there was no consent (and in the case of child pornography, of course, there can be no consent), any visual or audio recording of such crimes should be used to prosecute the perpetrator, and then destroyed, in deference to the victim's privacy. ----Regarding your fourth point: "Quote unquote," you say. This is how I quote people in written discussion, a usage which doesn't seem either unusual or hostile to me. I know of no other way to quote someone. ----As an aside, I have now read the article in question three times ----Regarding your fifth and sixth points: I do not decide who gets human rights, and who doesn't. Human rights rightly belong to all humans, so the author's schizophrenia is as irrelevant as his shoe size, the color of his skin, his political beliefs, or the content of his book. He has spoken his mind and written what he wanted to; it is his right to do so, as it is my right to read what he's written, if I choose. As frightening as his book may be, it is nowhere near as frightening to me as the terror of suppressing it. ----Regarding your seventh and eighth points, please read the disclaimer on the front page, in brown letters, directly above each day's mystery links. ---- If you desire a dialogue, I shall continue to address you as I would address any other adult. On matters which matter to me, such as freedom and censorship, my points may be made plainly, even passionately. If you wish to be offended, you are always free to take offense. If I wanted to offend you, however, I would do so unambiguously, using such standard indicators as "asshole," "dickwad," or "doodoohead," and thereby leaving little room for doubt. Are y'all commies or what? There's a war on, asshole. Why don't ya shut the fuck up? Mandell, 11/26/2001 Beautiful Response!!! ----You know, it took me a long time before I finally "got it" about the censorship thing ... and how, as you say, when someone decides where it should start, someone else will decide where it will end ----I totally agree! ----Anyhow, thanks for a wonderful essay. ----Love ya, Cheryl S., 11/25/2001 Donald Rumsfeld's campaign against American freedom has turned to ignoring the Posse Comitatus Act. His baffling campaign against the traditions and successes of America has been welcomed by the gutless citizenry who fear standing against anything said from a podium and broadcast on the nightly news. ----Is our attention span so short that we can't put principle above fear and above righteous ignorance? ----When I hear such contempt for uniquely American freedoms spewing from the average American, I realize how easily they are reprogrammed by media outlets on a regular basis. Does anyone remember about 10 years ago, when the idea in any legal dispute was to err on the side of protecting freedom for all? Any unconstitutional law was just a waste of the courts' time. ----I don't know how anyone can be against any uniquely American freedoms without being against George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. I'd like to ask Donald Rumsfeld which of these two he hates more, and how long he expects it will take to undo all of their achievements. Joel H., 11/25/2001 Hi, ----I stumbled upon your website by happy accident a few days ago and really enjoy seeing the news from another perspective than what is being fed to us in the mainstream. Even though I'm Canadian and our government isn't quite as scary as the Bush administration (yet!) all these new anti-terror laws and bills do little to reassure me that our true fears of losing freedom and security are actually being addressed. Not to mention the war itself is being fought against anything and everything the U.S. dictatorship doesn't like. I used to support it, because I think Al Qaida and its supporters do pose a clear and present danger, but now the States is overdoing everything - at home as well as abroad. ----With that in mind, I'd just like to say, I don't agree with an opinion expressed by one of your editors recently. This normally very intelligent person, "H.H." said that Tobiason shouldn't be stopped from publishing a book giving specific instructions on how to manufacture anthrax, because that would be a violation of his rights and abuse of corrupt power of the police state, yadda yadda yadda. Well, I hope H.H. doesn't mind having the right to open a white-powdered envelope. Tobiason isn't just some concerned citizen expressing his opinion, as unsavory as it might be ----The line between freedom and anarchy is a thin one, and I hope we can all figure out what it is in the days to come. ----Well, thanks again for a most informative and entertaining website! Chantal B.T. (Montreal), 11/25/2001 I appreciate your kind words for the site, but couldn't disagree more with your opinions regarding some right-wing nut's book, or any other book, as a "deadly weapon." The only way a book is a deadly weapon is if you bop someone over the head with one. ----See my reply to the letter below for more about this, but here's the quick version: ----Mailing anthrax is an act of violence, and should be punished. Typing "anthrax can be mailed" is not. If you're worried about losing freedom, then please don't endorse censorship. My old Grandma used to tell me that I would catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. With age I have come to realize she wasn't talking about just flies. This is, of course, by way of saying that I'm sorry, but not surprised, that you have chosen to respond to me with hostility. ----I say I'm not surprised for two reasons: 1) there's something about the Internet that encourages this ----And please allow me to apologize in advance if you're not left-wing, but merely another lunatic libertarian, which is a political philosophy almost unique in that it is almost totally based on the ignorance of its adherents (which explains why computer geeks subscribe to it so fervently ----That having been said, I suggest you re-read my letter, instead of responding with knee-jerk First Amendment absolutism. Read your Chomsky ----Tobiason is an admitted schizophrenic, selling information likely (and more likely, with each passing day), to result in the deaths of thousands. He's Son of Sam, on a massive scale. He's shouting fire, in the worst imaginable way. There is a clear distinction between you, who is merely offensive (at least, in personal correspondence) and dissident, and this accomplice to mass murder. As to your point regarding the penalty for Tobiason: I hope he gets psychiatric help. I hope he is enjoined from distributing the information he has at hand, and I hope that his present stock of books is destroyed. Respectfully, Adam, 11/25/2001 "I hope he is enjoined from distributing the information he has at hand, and I hope that his present stock of books is destroyed." Thanks ---- My position is that people should be punished, not for their thoughts, but for actual acts of violence. Typing words is not an act of violence. Even if the words are about something scary, like germ warfare, typing enough words to make a book and then printing and selling that book are not acts of violence. ----When books are banned, authors or publishers enjoined to cease and desist, what's left is not freedom of speech. By calling for this book to be banned because it scares you, you have endorsed the precedent which will ban other books which frighten other people. ----And there is so much more for people to be afraid of ... Perhaps academic discussions of germ warfare should be suppressed as well, since they could be misused to create another book like Tobiason's. Perhaps a particularly detailed murder mystery should be banned, since it could provide a blueprint for the perfect crime. Perhaps recipes for medical-marijuana cookies should be contraband, since, after all, society has already decided that the principle ingredient is illegal. ... ----You've decided that censorship should begin; others will decide where it ends ----Timothy W. Tobiason, the author of the book you're so worried about, is an admitted schizophrenic," you tell me. I don't care. I believe schizophrenics, admitted and undercover, deserve the same human rights as you and I, including freedom of speech. ----[Tobiason is] "selling information likely (and more likely, with each passing day), to result in the deaths of thousands." Despite The New York Times' fine and successful attempt to frighten you, I simply don't believe Tobiason's book is any more dangerous than The Anarchist Cookbook, or Loompanics' How to Build Flash/Stun Grenades, or The Poor Man's James Bond: Homemade Poisons, Explosives, Improvised Firearms, or any of dozens of other books I could frighten you with. ----The above examples are perhaps not as obvious, heartwarming, and liberal-alluring as cases where irate parents want Catcher in the Rye yanked from the library, but censorship is censorship. ----I'm against censorship, and you're for it. We shall simply have to disagree. ----And in closing, I'll add something obvious: My correspondence with you has been courteous and well-mannered. I have been direct in my disagreement with you, instead of couching my reply in fluffy psychobabble, but I have not insulted you, mischaracterized your position, or replied with rudeness. ----You, not I, have assumed that our disagreement means I'm "ignorant." You, not I, have protested that a note of polite disagreement is "offensive." Your reading of "hostility" into an email which contained only a difference of opinion is, in my opinion, further evidence that you're not the one I want drawing the line where free speech should end. ----Cordially, again, Honestly, if this isn't the most frightening thing I ever read, I don't know what is. What's remarkable, too, is how it demonstrates, again, that while the Federal authorities are busy harassing probably harmless immigrants, and spending our children's inheritance on so-called defense, the real threat is within. ----Begin rant: The issue here is stupidity: since at least 1919, when Justice Holmes enunciated the "clear and present danger" standard allowing abrogation of the First Amendment; the oft-cited example of which is the person shouting fire in a crowded theater that is not, in fact, on fire, the Government has had the power to shut down fruitcakes like Timothy Tobiason. ----If there was ever a clear and present danger, by God, it must be Tobiason. But GWBush's Feds are too busy fighting in Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden is headquartered; the fact that we still have no real convincing evidence that he was behind the attacks of 9/11 interests no one. Meanwhile, Tobiason travels, and sells mass destruction. End rant. ----Oh, and by the way, if you already covered this on your excellent website, my apologies. I didn't see it, but I am having the occasional senior moment, now and then. Adam the grouch, 11/24/2001 You think Bush is spending too much time and trouble dropping bombs of foreigners, and not enough on rounding up dissidents within the nation's borders. Because, lord knows, people who write books we don't approve of should be -- what, exactly? Shut down? Silenced? Imprisoned? Tortured? Given a military trial and summarily shot? ----Well, not to worry, Adam. Bush and Ashcroft are able and willing to bomb innocent foreigners, while arresting and imprisoning homegrown dissidents at the same time. They'll probably arrest Tobiason the same afternoon they arrest me. ----I'm tickled that you think our website is "excellent," but if you don't and won't respect a person's right to write a book, or to complain about his government, please, don't imagine we're on the same side. ----We do not believe that more arrests, more laws, more people in prison, more government in general and less power for the people are somehow going to solve I greatly enjoy your web page and check it daily, sometimes 2-3 times daily. I had an incident I thought you might be interested in. Seems you're not allowed to have a sense of humor in today's age of war. I'm in a club about the atrocities of what's been going on lately. It was created after the attack on the WTC. In this club we share our pain, thoughts, anti-Bin Laden jokes, etc... Well one day I posted a joke I got in my email in it's entirety. ----My fellow friends and terrorists:----Now personally, I thought the joke was very funny. And quite a few friends did as well. But one person panicked and ran to a woman investigating pro-Osama websites for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. ----I was accused of being an Osama lover and told law enforcement had the post. I told her fine. That was ok with me. She told me I should re-post the joke and "explain myself" it was a "friendly warning" she said. I refused. According to her I would have to prove in a court of law it was a joke and not true. Come to find out she was on the phone with the RCMP the entire time of our IM conversation (which I have a copy of, by the way). ----Eventually I got an apology for her "coming on strong." I reminded her of the Salem Witch Hunts, and that sometimes panicking people lashing out can cause more panic, and the next time she wishes to accuse someone, maybe she should have her facts straight. I haven't heard anything from her promise to be more careful in the future of her accusations. We'll see I guess. ----Just thought you'd be interested in how paranoid people are becoming. Redheadisbest, 11/24/2001 Cheryl writes, "The only THEORY involved refers to global warming models -- i.e., takes on whether the current very real warming trend will level off, steadily climb, or accelerate -- leading to a runaway greenhouse effect, which will leave Earth similar in climate to Venus (yikes!). In fact, there is no Global Warming THEORY, there are several models, each with a different idea of what the anthropogenic contribution to warming is, how the atmospheric chemistry reacts to pollutants, what long-term patterns are, how El Nino interacts with other patterns, etc., etc. Only about one in one thousand takes on the situation involve a scenario in which there is "no such thing as global warming," and the "experts" espousing this view are paid plenty to spread their ideas." ----I've certainly studied the subject less than have you. To be safe, I refer to 'global warming' only as a statement of a known fact; the last century's been warm. Glaciers gone; Tuvalu underseas... ----But when it comes to climate models, I refer to Catastrophic Climate Change. For all I know (and per some models I've read about), CCC could produce an unwelcome DOWNTURN in average global temp. ----What IS certain is that we are placing CO2 in atmospheric suspension, or in absorption in sea and ground now (to be released later on), in extreme quantities, and the method we're using to do this (primarily fossil fuels) will be largely depleted when we most need artificial energy sources to survive severe climate fluctuation. ----This is my take on it: the word 'warming' is unnecessarily one-sided. ----But no matter: the world will waste its means until massive suffering gets its attention. ----'s how we refer to learn, ci? Love, The Blue Raj, 11/23/2001 You usually kick people's intellectual ass when they deserve it in the letters section, but I though you missed a golden opportunity to break through Scott B's wall of separation between patriotism and freedom. ----"When we're at peace criticizing policy is one thing," he writes, but when we're at war we're all supposed to be good patriots who support the troops, hate the enemy, follow our leaders, do what we're told, and keep our questions to ourselves. ----While we're at war. ----Well, Dick Cheney has a list of up to 50 ----So my question for Scott B. and other such deluded 'patriots' is ----If we shush all dissent for the duration of a war, and it's a war without end, then future generations will have to fight future wars to secure the freedoms Scott B. would have us give up voluntarily. ----In the name of patriotism? No, in the name of totalitarianism. Rebecca, 11/23/2001 A number of letters to your site suggest that we are at war. Are we at war cause Mr. Bush has said this is a war or has Congress officially declared the nation to be at war? ----This is important. I am thinking of joining up and I need to let my family know I am going to a war and not simply to a losing thing like the war on drugs or a police action. ----Thanks for your help. As always, you make my day. Your faithful servant, fred L., 11/23/2001 I just wanted to say thank you. I visit your site daily. Sites like these are very important in these troubling times. Unlike the Gulf War, where the corporate media gave us coverage like it was the Super Bowl, the coverage "war" on Afghanistan is locked down. When have seen hardly any pictures and almost no stories about the millions of people who live there. How do you bomb a city the size of Atlanta and not have anything to report.? What the hell is really happening over there? Luckily we have sites like yours, who painstakingly gather stories so we can piece together the truth. ----On a lighter note, I have been reading the comments in the letters to the editor about your site design. I am a graphic designer and I think it works. It's not a design site, it's a news site. For what you are doing, it is fine. Here is my only comment on how you could improve. When you click on a link, it would be cool if it opened in a new window. This would make it easier for those with a dial-up connecting. They wouldn't have to reload the page by hitting the back button. The could just close the story they are reading and the Unknown News window would still be open. It should be some simple html, but I'm not sure. ----Also, if you ever need some graphics for your site, please let me know. I would be happy to donate my time. I don't know anything about html, but I can make slick graphics that load fast. ----And, did anyone notice that the "Get your war on" site is down. I hope it's not gone for good. Excellent satire. ----Thanks again and stay safe, maiku, 11/22/2001 Re: "painstakingly gathering stories." Truth be told (always a good idea), it's not really 'painstaking' work. The only pain involved is hemorrhoids from hours on end sittin' on my ass surfin', and some intellectual and emotional pain, from seeing the joy some people derive from shitting on the Constitution while standing in front of a flag. ----Re: opening new windows when you click on a link. I would love that, myself. I hesitate because, of course, I don't know how to do it, but also because I'm not sure whether it might cause problems for people with even older browsers than mine. ----Re: "graphics that load fast"? I thought that was a contradiction in terms. Our page already takes like six forevers to load, so I've shied away from even thinking about graphics, but if you can make 'em so they won't slow down the page, I might very much be interested. ----Re: "Get your war on," it's up and running now. Sounds like they had technical difficulties. Hi there, ----I just fell on your page by chance, coming far away from Germany to US-sites, just to get another impression of American media and American feelings about the war and whatever. In German TV I just see your President Bush - and his stupid face and even more stupid words, written from his rich friends who have a big personal interest in this war... ----And I can just see CNN, and you are completely right: they are professional liars. But how shouldn't they? They belong to the part of the guys who enforces the war to get more power and money. But: Don't worry, in Germany it's nearly the same: one part of the media just shows one side of the story, too. But it seems to me that there is coming up a change ... everybody suffers, that they the bomb the helpless population - I don't want to imagine how many are starving and dying right now in the mountains ... or many did die under the two month rain of two-million dollar bombs .... ----Anyway, it's so easy to find out the truth. Just switch on your computer, go into the internet, and you will be aware of the truth: It's not the rights of the women (*laughs* Hey Readers, don't be so naive! Of course, it's just Propaganda that you appreciate the war!), it's the oil, the interest of the Bush-family and Cheney's stock options or whatever (the guys are worth plenty of million dollars .... uuuh! How can they be presidents? They just work for themselves!). Actually, they wanted to fight Afghanistan's Taliban before the 11th September, just to get their will, that means to get access to the oil in the Caspian sea (= 4 trillion dollar worth) .... So, it's the money, that makes the world around, not freedom or human right or some of their false talking. ----And my heart is bleeding, too, when I hear our Chancellor talking bullshit to us in Germany, trying to convince us, that the war is the only way to fight against terror. Excuse me? War is the only way to enforce the hate, the frustration and the injustice all over the world. Sure! How nice is it that the richest countries bomb the poorest country in the world? That's really cowardly for my understanding. The attacks were an attack on the American politics, not on the American population. If the terrorists wanted to attack freedom or whatever, they would have destroyed the liberty of freedom, wouldn't they? ----So, it doesn't matter, I just wanted to express to you my appreciation for your will and intensive work to show the other side of the propaganda machine. That's real work on liberty! Free your mind! Never believe anyone of these guys up there who are rhetorical genius! And don't start to hate "the" terrorist - obviously, they have good reasons to hate the American (and future European) politics. (And you are right, it's like under the Hitler regime ... same signs and ways to convince the population....) Hugs and kisses, Jasmine, Hamburg (yes, I know, some of the terrorists came from this town. Actually, I am waiting for some bombs, too. Would be logically, right? It's so stupid ... ), 11/22/2001 Great site. One of my favorites along with prorev.com and copvcia.com. Keep up the good work as long as you can. We love ya! ----I agree with you that the situation is pretty hopeless: democracy is finished and the coup about complete (how ironic I write this on the JFK assassination anniversary). But, think how you would feel if you were one of those "honest cops" (public officials--cops, soldiers, etc.) who swore an oath to uphold the US Constitution and now realize that the Bushites are traitors. ----So, this message is directed at those cops and soldiers ----Sincerely, Tomas N. Pain, 11/22/2001 To the editor: ----I would like to respond to a couple of points that Cheryl Seal puts forth in her article, "The Assault on Science and the American Public by the Corporate Propaganda Machine." Let me make it clear that I am in no way trying to refute the premise of the piece. However, I feel that, if our true aim is truly truth (like that?), we must strive for the utmost accuracy. ----Firstly, I must state that I am not a climatologist. I do, however, have a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and have kept myself fairly well-informed on the subject of Global Warming. Personally, I believe that we are in the midst of a man-made, or "man-enhanced", warming trend, but this is just a belief, not fact. Here is where my objection lies. ----The Greenhouse Theory is just that, a theory. A theory is just a set of ideas used to explain observable phenomena. A valid theory can neither be proven nor disproved. Generally, a theory earns its salt in its predictive powers. Because the Greenhouse Theory is predictive only of long-term climatic trends on the scale of centuries, and given that we've only been taking detailed climatic measurements for about 1 century, it follows that we must still hold this theory in question. However, I think it is telling that it has not been definitively refuted. ----Unfortunately, for the Greenhouse Theory to be shown to be valid, we must wait to see if the predicted catastrophic global warming occurs. This is something that I would prefer to avoid. Personally, I think that even the possibility of the predicted consequence is more than enough to initiate a major change in public policy. The thing that gets me is that we "choose" to use technology that has many negative effects (not just Global Warming), while there are superior alternatives. Granted, things can't change overnight, but we're not even trying. ----The other point I would like to highlight is when Ms. Seal states, "As the self-acclaimed protectors of the "common man," we should make it a primary goal to insure that misinformation campaigns and any re-education schemes are exposed to the light of day." First, I believe she meant "self-proclaimed." Second, this statement sounds very elitist. I am not against the proposed goal, just the tone of the statement itself. I am a "common man." I drive a rusty '89 Honda Civic. I eat pre-packaged macaroni-and-cheese. I work for a living. I pay taxes. Granted, I probably have an above-average aptitude for science, but that doesn't qualify me for a separate class. My point is that we are all in this together. ----Sincerely, Aaron P., 11/22/2001 Boy, the right-wingers just love science folks with your attitude: the "well the Greenhouse theory is just a theory" take. They will, in fact, probably copy your letter and circulate it widely (as they often do with such "proofs" against us "radical environmentalists). ----I am afraid your degree in biology and ecology, though very valuable (I congratulate you and hope you do more with them than lend indirect support to the "dark side"), these are not the sciences most directly involved in the study of global warming/climate change. Geophysics, climatology, meteorology, computer modeling, theoretical mathematics (chaos theory), quaternary studies, dendrochronology, atmospheric science, oceanography, and (yes, it's true!), astronomy are the fields that today represent the core of climate science, with biology and ecology playing contributory but not primary roles. ----By the way, the terms in which you state your case make me, I fear, quite suspicious. Are you REALLY a "concerned biologist/ecologist" or are you one of those folks called upon by the rightwing to send "letters of rebuttal" to the editors of papers printing materials like mine? For example, you refer to the "Greenhouse theory." A scientist would know this should be the "greenhouse effect." You say you keep up on the latest info on climatology. If this is true (unless you read Greening Earth Society dogma as your source), you would know that researchers are NOT relying on just one century's worth of data. Thanks to ice and sediment core studies, argon isotope dating, advanced spectroscopic analyses, advances in molecular biology (making it possible to determine the conditions to which a pollen grain embedded in ice were exposed thousands of years ago), and geothermal bore holes (which can reveal the surface temperature of Earth WAY back), data now extends back thousands ----So, I must say, first and foremost, I am skeptical of your credentials and motivation. ----For the record, the greenhouse effect is not a theory ----This "wait and prove the theory" approach is the cornerstone of the corporate strategy. Translated, it means, let's rake in as much profit as we can before we are FORCED to operate differently. ----The only THEORY involved refers to global warming models ----The Baltic Sea in Scandinavia has been hailed as one of the great (and few) environmental success stories of modern times. How, many people have asked, in the face of so much shipping, fishing, industry, etc., has the Baltic ----As to the alternative technologies ----As to the part about "self-acclaimed protectors of the common man," that line was in my original essay, written as an appeal to the Democratic Party (it ran in Democrats.com last spring), who do indeed heap themselves with undeserved "acclaim" for being "protectors of the common man." To my great disgust and disappointment, the Dems are largely just as interested in preserving the status quo as most Republicans. So your suggestion that the phrase in anyway tried to push you and your Honda and macaroni and cheese into a "separate class" was way off the mark. ----If you really want to keep "up to date" on climatology I suggest (just for starters) reading articles from the following journals on a regular basis (I do myself): ----Geophysical Research Letters ----Nature ----Science ----Journal of Physical Oceanography ----Journal of Climate ----Journal of Applied Meteorology ----Ambio (Swedish science journal) ----There are dozens of others, of course, but these are a good start. ----All the best and happy reading! Who is the "We" you keep stuttering about in the "Unknown Newshounds" section? You're beginning to sound like Corporate America. Anonymity, my ass. I print my name, address, and phone number on every letter-to-the editor I send. If your "editors" have got reason to be fearful or concerned, tell us damn naive readers why. I want to be able to judge if you are paranoid, bluffing, or truly threatened. Chris H., 11/21/2001 'We' are my husband and I, the duo behind this website, along with a looseknit network of volunteer newshounds. I'll add a line to that section of the page, to clarify that. ----Since September 11, when the world changed, four threats of physical violence have arrived via email, along with two admonishments that the FBI had been notified of our existence. ----We're not particularly concerned about threats from strangers who don't know where we live and can barely type, and we're pretty sure that the FBI already had a file on each of us. So to answer your cutting question of whether we're paranoid, bluffing, or truly threatened, the most honest answer, at present, would be none of the above. Looks MUCH MUCH better. :) Content is more important than form, but it looks good now. Seth G., 11/21/2001 It's not "treason," it's just un-American what you do. ----The country is at war. Wives have kissed their husbands goodbye, not knowing whether they'll ever kiss them again. Parents have hugged their sons and daughters, families are worried about their loved ones, and they need to know that the whole country is pulling together. That we all want to see our American fighting men and women return in one piece. ----Can you imagine the pain it would cause a soldier's wife if she happened upon your site, spitting on everything her husband is fighting for? ----That's what I mean when I say you're un-American. ----When we're at peace criticizing policy is one thing, but when we're at war every decent man woman and child prays and hopes for the best. Scott B., 11/20/2001 I am at peace, not at war, so I shall go right ahead and criticize any policy I damn well decide needs criticizing. Ain't it grand to be an American, and have the freedom to disagree with me, as I disagree with almost everything you said. ----Meanwhile, just imagine the pain it causes a soldier's wife, or a teacher's husband, or a farmer's daughter, or a doctor's son, when their innocent loved ones are charbroiled to death by an American "daisy cutter." ----Have a nice Thanksgiving. I've been so frustrated, disgusted, outraged and feeling impotent and alone -- the early morning hours I spend reading your site really help -- I want to hold out hope but the cynic and the idealist are just warring each other these days... Catherine "Cat" W., 11/20/2001 If you're feeling blue, here's a little pep talk: ---- One person can make a difference, they tell us, but that's mostly bullshit. The way the system is rigged, it's close to impossible for one person to make a difference unless that one person is a multi-millionaire. ----But ----I appreciate your help with the shoutin'. ----Hey, I didn't say it was going to be a good pep talk. ----Have a terrific holiday, Editors: ----I have to agree with those who have called your site "cluttered" and "hard to read after a couple of beers." I have a few suggestions for your consideration (coming from an architect with an appreciation of, but no expertise with, web and graphic design): ----1. The fewer columns, the better. It is annoying to read text that's stacked up in a single-word column. I would suggest breaking the letters out onto another page (maybe a small link to "discussion" from a story to a letter that discusses it would streamline the interactivity). ----2. It would be helpful to strive to be concise on the main page (enough to let one know what the link goes to, with the bulk of commentary moved to another place (perhaps that "discussion" link I thought up before)). I do appreciate the snide commentary that y'all enjoy so much and which gives this site its flavor and spice (and pisses off those who are conditioned to take their information bland and watered-down) ----3. Using different font colors is helpful in distinguishing different types of entries (without necessarily needing separate columns). You already do this, and it's helpful enough that it can take the place of some other formatting clutter. ----In the end, though, content is always going to be more important and ----As for the debate on "bias" in journalism, I just have two cents to throw in: Holding a bias toward factual information, even at the cost of any dearly held point of view, will always be a service to the public. ----Thanks, Dystopos, 11/19/2001 I shall ponder all of the above. Thank ye, D. Hello, ----I'll make this brief, as I am exhausted and I imagine you are too. Absolutely love your site, been visiting every day since I found it a few weeks ago. Your headlines really give me a good chuckle. ----I just want to address a letter you posted previously: So, one of the other traitors think you're a hero. Not surprising. But the real heroes and patriots out there know you're nothing but a traitor.----I'd like to ask Charles N., and everyone who agrees with him, to please define freedom. I have asked at least a dozen similarly-minded people to define "freedom" and not a one of them has answered me. It's not even that they answered me in a way I disagree with; they just blew me off. No response at all. ----It's happened so many times that I am truly dying to know what they think freedom is. ----Okay, that's all I had to say. Keep up the good work; your efforts are genuinely appreciated. Paula in Portland, 11/19/2001 Still chuckling about the absurd complaint from a few of your readers that you're not as fair and impartial as, say, the professional liars at CNN Headline News. If I wanted fair and impartial I'd plunk down a quarter for the Tribune and finish reading it in ten minutes flat. Some of us prefer reading that challenges rather than reinforces the status quo. ----I've been reading your site for more than a year, since the old address before you got your own domain, and I'm still surprised at the breadth of your source material. You cite libertarian, socialist, and redneck conservatives at least as often as you cite the progressives at The Nation, and to my way of thinking that's fair and balanced. But I think a lot of people are more comfortable seeing what they want to see, rather than what's really there. John Fitz, 11/18/2001 If this story makes you jump to your feet and curse the Northern Alliance, better sit back down. The same hideous atrocity was committed by U.S. troops during Desert Storm according to many eyewitness accounts of soldiers from both sides. We just seem to be spreading goodness and light everywhere, don't we? Cheryl, 11/18/2001 Dear Editor, ----I would like to extend my appreciation for your dedicated site. I would challenge your vocal critics to find another site which provides links to so much current news that would normally go unnoticed, despite any following 'slant.' Besides, what did Jesus say, 'Remove the slant from your own eye before you removed the slight bent from your neighbors'? Something like that, but then we aren't all Christians, thank the Lord. Nevertheless, your site provides a necessary buttress for people who think patriotism comes in buttons and flags to vent their frustrations about their helplessness, and we might be equally guilty given our own helplessness. Our government considers us helpless too, but that's beside my point. ----The birth of my own dissent came while listening to a radio interview in my car following 'the Attack on America(TM)'. NPR was interviewing a steel worker who was working in the rubble, and my heart went out to the man, who had obviously seen horrors not witnessed by an American since Viet Nam. But as he talked, he started talking about our enemies, and how we needed to kill the next generation, their children, as well, 'pull them out by the roots', he said, in order that they don't grow into our future enemies. I found myself yelling "oh-kay.......NAZI!" to myself in my car. ----Truly, I remember hearing the exact same bit of advice quoted of Adolf Aichman (sp?) during his trial for crimes against humanity in Israel. But beyond the fact that this steel worker's experience had moved him beyond my own West Coast sensibilities regarding vengeance, I began to ponder. How many times have we wondered how people could descend to such disturbing heights as the Nazis during World War II? Is this some clue, in this man's testimonial born of suffering and loss and fear? As History has unfolded and time has shed light upon the complicity of Western nations in setting the stage for World War II, and the demonization of the German state as scapegoat for all the world's sins, are we really so certain such evil does not exist in every person when driven by suffering, loss and fear? ----Thank you for listening. Popcorn Hicken, 11/18/2001 I appreciate your words of encouragement, perhaps as much or perhaps more than you appreciate the site. In the past several days, the ratio of incoming compliments vs. insults has completely switched, after running a fairly consistent 2:1 against my continued existence for the past couple of months. I don't know the reason for the sudden change, but it's welcome. ----As for the Nazis and their unique brand of hatred, it's my belief that such intense hatred and the accompanying will to kill isn't really all that unique. When the subject is genocide, Hitler gets the worst press, but Stalin killed more people. Movies, mini-series, and documentaries about the Holocaust of the Jews are a popular genre, and understandably so, but the sad, mournful cry of the politicians, philosophers and editorialists Excerpt Number 1: "ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: United States' aerial strikes on Kandahar hit the compound of United Nations Mine Action Programme's sub-office on Thursday, leading to an estimated loss of $2 million, UN officials said on Friday. Asked if the UN had given information to the US about the location of its buildings in Afghanistan, the spokesperson said that all the sites of the programme were well marked. " ---- Another story: 11 CIVILIANS KILLED: "Heavy US bombing of Kandahar on Thursday night and Friday destroyed a mosque and the Taliban's foreign ministry building and killed 11 civilians, adds AFP." ----Just out of curiosity, is there a rule limiting the number of times we can claim we didn't mean to bomb buildings used by the UN [and others] for humanitarian purposes? ----Keep up the good work in these increasingly depressing times. Steve M., 11/18/2001 No limit at all, apparently. Have you noticed that the U.S. wanted no part of the U.N. or any other group except a coalition it could put together to get the job it wanted done by the means it decided to use but now, things going its way in the war, and a mess and chaos created by Northern Alliance, suddenly voices call for UN to be put in place? ----Sort of like I had my desert but I spilled some so you clean it up for me. fred Lapides [sic], 11/17/2001 Re: new format. ----I LOVE IT, I LIKE IT, PERFECT! ----Have a very good day, Lucille, 11/17/2001 "In the book 'Bin Laden, la verite interdite' ('Bin Laden, the forbidden truth'), that appeared in Paris on Wednesday, the authors, Jean-Charles Brisard and Guillaume Dasquie, reveal that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's deputy director John O'Neill resigned in July in protest over the obstruction." I'm wondering when the English translation will be available in the "land of the free." Do you know of any way I can find out? Regards, Sam H., 11/17/2001 Well, let's see Amazon in France will let you read the first chapter online, in French, at this web address. Or, if you don't read French, you can get a clunky, barely intelligible, mechanical translation into English by going to this address, but you're probably better off just pestering the publisher for an English edition as soon as possible. A recent letter to the Unknown News editor said: "I feel sorry for you. You'll never know what it is to have a homeland you love."----It is curious how people claim to read ones heart like others read the daily news. "You," says Jack R.," (will) never know what it is to have a homeland you love." What else does he know? Maybe my wife has had her last triple orgasm? Perhaps I will never know what it is to laugh at spurious chauvinism disguised as patriotism without wanting to cry? ----And perhaps youll never know what it is to know what you know without confusing it with ludicrous claims like the one above? ----Prophecy is difficult, said Yogi Berra, especially about the future. Likewise, telepathy is difficult, especially reading others thoughts. I suggest you first learn to express your own thoughts before attempting to read others'. ----Your neglectful servant, The Blue Raj, 11/17/2001 P.S. No zing, I know. I'm tapped out of a sudden. I notice, however, a renewed zing in your ripostes and replies, headline commentaries et cetera. Must be the start of Ramadan. Hey kids, ----When I come across a website or article that returns me to my new sense of hopelessness, I think of you. 'Twas the case today and before I offer my submissions, a ponderous intro: ----The dissent coming from the right and left continues to commingle and rub shoulders, and is the one show I'm enjoying and trying to extract some positive emotion from, though their final conclusions separate in a murky area of oil, corporate greed, dictatorship, world trade and the UN. ----I grew up in a right wing home, not the Rush Limbaugh type, but the conspiracy type. Not the head-for-the-woods conspiracy type, but the let's-write-letters-and-untangle-ourselves-from-foreign-aid-and-foreign-wars type. It was the reason for my first contact with you endorsing your inclusion of articles from lewrockwell and the New American. ----I ended up some type of libertarian and entered my political puberty during Waco. Since then, and far more so since 9/11, I've watched as a lot of the things my father warned me about unfold in plain sight. Which is more than unsettling, since I'd hoped to figure things out for myself. In that spirit I offer the following quote and link: ----Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government."----Next, the link (not the source of the above quote): ----It's an article by Ed Griffin, longtime critic of the UN and terrorism expert. It includes some very pertinent definitions of what terrorism actually is through historical perspective and in the words of some of the past terror "greats". ----It was also written on September 14th, and includes 13 predictions about how the events would unfold, some of which have already come true. ----Thanks for your indulgence, and keep up the fantastic work on this blessing of a site. Matt B., 11/17/2001 Thanks. ----I have been trying to figure out what to say to ya'll for some time now. (yeah, I happen to live in Texas at the moment, but I learned to ya'll in Virginia ----Anyway, I overdo spontaneous punctuation, and tend to wander about in various trains of thought, but just keep doing what you do. I check in every a.m. and folks who call you "traitor" should just be beat about the head with the constitution and declaration of independence (sorry I didn't capitalize those, but I'm sure you'll forgive me...) until they actually understand what the hell it is that they are invoking when they talk about "the United States" ----To whit: ----In case some of you who would call us traitors have not read this lately, the following is from The Declaration of Independence (the stuff in parentheses is mine, however I have emphasized a few things because some seem to have missed a couple of important points....)---- We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator (note that there is nothing about God in here) with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.----And this, friends, traitors and ignorant masses, is why the Revolution went down ----More from the same document: ----A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.----Ok, sorry to have gone off and I know I'm mostly "preaching to the choir" by ranting here (even our damn cliches are pissing me off these days), but please send all of the hate mail you get to me. If anyone wants to argue something intelligent, I'm all for it, but I won't stand by and let ya'll be called traitors ----While you're at it, try the constitution too (that's another rant though) ----Want to invite you to my ideal "dinner party" ----Meanwhile, a dog barks, my hat is off to you, though I don't have a hat... don't go away!! Thanks! Catherine "Cat" W., 11/16/2001 Yeah! What she said! I just stumbled onto your site a couple of weeks ago, and I find that I'm hooked. I'm not impressed by everything you link to or print, but I'm impressed by most of it, and it gives me hope to see that not quite everybody is marching in step. ----Hang in there! Informed dissent is far more patriotic than flag-waving. Bearpaw , 11/16/2001 Thanks for the encouragement. If you were impressed by everything on the site, well, you'd be me. That whoosh sound you just heard was the whole thing passing over my head. ---- :) whoops. ----It's all clear to me now. Thanks a ton! John G., 11/16/2001 Hey I love the site, I read it every day. But with the complaints about the look I can only offer you my suggestion. The site looks cluttered and is hard to read (especially after some beers). I don't want to tell you how to run your stuff and I have absolutely no experience doing a website , but I do have some training in publishing and in typography and from that perspective it looks pretty bad. Imagine the format of say Weekly World News , lots of stuff boxed in and crammed in to save as much space as possible. Effective but it looks shitty. With all the links and such it may be a little neater to just try two columns instead. But personally it doesn't bother me , I'm here for the content not the look. Justin M., 11/16/2001 I'm open to suggestion. Design and layout are not my strong suits, and I do want the site to be readable after a few beers. ----My only aesthetic requirements are that the news column and 'credits' column both start near the top of the page. With that caveat, we could go with as few as two columns across, or as many as six or seven. I'll put the matter to a vote: you tell me, dear readers! Looking for earlier letters to the editor? Return to top of page. PRESS RELEASES, TRANSCRIPTS, ETC. Please let us know if a link is broken. American war crimes during so-called 'Gulf War' LINK ADDED Nov. 23, 2001 Thanks, Zvo, J White House will be closed for Xmas LINK ADDED Nov. 22, 2001 Thanks, John C. Pacifica Board resigns LINK ADDED Nov. 21, 2001 Does this sound vaguely familiar? LINK ADDED Nov. 20, 2001 Thanks, What Really Happened and Zvo Letter to booksellers re 'anti-terrorist' law LINK ADDED Nov. 20, 2001 Thanks, Moby New South Wales Internet Censorship Bill 2001 LINK ADDED Nov. 18, 2001 Thanks, John C. Sen. Leahy's most important complaint LINK ADDED Nov. 18, 2001 Thanks, Ed H. Feds decide "leaderless resistance" best for extremist groups LINK ADDED Nov. 18, 2001 Thanks, Kill your TV BBC interview with Taliban leader LINK ADDED Nov. 18, 2001 Thanks, Jim K. A constitutional coup d'etat LINK ADDED Nov. 18, 2001 Thanks, Doug S. ----Since September 11th, we have seen one blow against the Constitution after another, after another. Recently, weve had Ashcroft saying that he had, unilaterally, instituted monitoring of attorney-client communications without even informing anyone ----I wont go through all the [recently promulgated] measures here, but this is one of the more outrageous and dangerous. ... A correction, from The Economist LINK ADDED Nov. 17, 2001 ----In the issues of December 16th 2000 to November 10th 2001, we may have given the impression that George Bush had been legally and duly elected president of the United States. We now understand that this may have been incorrect, and that the election result is still too close to call. The Economist apologizes for any inconvenience. Definition of martial law LINK ADDED Nov. 15, 2001 "1. Temporary rule by military authorities, imposed on a civilian population especially in time of war or when civil authority has broken down. 2. The law imposed on an occupied territory by occupying military forces." The American Heritageฎ Dictionary of the English Language; Fourth Edition, 2000. The New McCarthyism: Silencing dissent LINK ADDED Nov. 15, 2001 Thanks, CactusPat Front and back of FBI anti-terrorist flyer, intended for distribution to police officers LINK ADDED Nov. 15, 2001 White House authorizes military trials LINK ADDED Nov. 14, 2001 Thanks, Cheryl, who adds If you left all of the names of places and persons blank in this document, you would have a great working template for any fascist regime that ever besmudged the face of the planet, from the Romans to the Conquistadors right down through the Nazis and Stalinist Russia. Guess G. W. has penned the document for which he will be most remembered Most of the bombing of Afghanistan features cluster bombs, which Human Rights Watch has asked be banned for humanitarian reasons LINK ADDED Nov. 14, 2001 Thanks, Ed H. Field guidance on new authorities enacted in the 2001 anti-terrorism legislation LINK ADDED Nov. 10, 2001 Memo from management orders newspaper to skew the news LINK ADDED Nov. 9, 2001 ----"DO NOT USE photos on Page 1A showing civilian casualties from the U.S. war on Afghanistan. Our sister paper in Fort Walton Beach has done so and received hundreds and hundreds of threatening e-mails and the like. ----"Also per Hal's order, DO NOT USE wire stories which lead with civilian casualties from the U.S. war on Afghanistan. They should be mentioned further down in the story. If the story needs rewriting to play down the civilian casualties, DO IT. The only exception is if the U.S. hits an orphanage, school or similar facility and kills scores or hundreds of children. See me if there are any special situations. " Concerned Women for America says homosexual conference is "perverse" event advocating sadomasochism and pedophilia LINK ADDED Nov. 9, 2001 Thanks, Cheryl Boulder Weekly is so proud of itself for censoring ads it deems undesirable ... just like the major media does LINK ADDED Nov. 4, 2001 Prayers for the persecuting church LINK ADDED Nov. 3, 2001 Thanks, Cheryl "It seems that Satan has launched a hail of fiery darts at dad recently," writes Jonathan Falwell ... LINK ADDED Nov. 3, 2001 Thanks, Ed H. Smoke a joint, and you're tokin' with Osama bin Laden LINK ADDED Nov. 3, 2001 Full page ad in The New York Times, 11/2/2001 LINK ADDED Nov. 2, 2001 Summary of Lone Gunman episode, aired 3/4/2001 LINK ADDED Oct. 31, 2001 ... They realize that the airplane will be remote controlled, just like Bert's car was. Talking by phone to the Gunmen's office, Byers asks Langly and Frohike to hack into the aircraft controls. They do and discover that the plane is programmed to crash into the World Trade Center. ... Military Police Internment/ Resettlement Operations LINK ADDED Oct. 31, 2001 Thanks, Jerry 'Freedom of Information Request' regarding individuals "arrested or detained" since 9/11/2001 LINK ADDED Oct. 30, 2001 Drugging or torture of 9/11 suspects breaks Constitution, law, and treaties LINK ADDED Oct. 30, 2001 How the Anti-Terrorism Bill converts dissent into broadly-defined "terrorism" LINK ADDED Oct. 28, 2001 Looking for more of our official papers? Return to top of page. WORLD LEADERS, IN THEIR OWN WORDS "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." "If any government sponsors outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers." "I want to assure the American people that in taking this action, we're acting based on clear evidence "We're likely to experience more restrictions on our personal freedom than has ever been the case in our country." "When you carefully consider FOIA requests and decide to withhold records, in whole or in part, you can be assured that the Department of Justice will defend your decisions unless they lack a sound legal basis or present an unwarranted risk of adverse impact on the ability of other agencies to protect other important records." "For the first time in our history, we will probably suffer more casualties here at home in America than will our troops overseas." "The fact that it could last several years, or many years, or maybe our lifetimes would not surprise me." U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff "Our objectives are clear. Because the Taliban have chosen to side with al-Qa'ida, [we have decided] to remove them." "The objectives are clear, and the one about the removal of the Taliban is not something we have as a clear objective." "They [the American people] still do not understand why exactly we were attacked and what precisely it is that we are supposed to do." and noted war criminal "The president said this is going to be a long war. He said this may be one year, it may be several years, it may be more than one administration. He's been very clear about that from the beginning, and that is what we are seeing." CONTRIBUTORS' GUIDELINES ----If you'd like to be an Unknown Newshound, just start barkin'. We offer no pay, no fringe benefits, and no prestige, but also no meetings, no bosses, and only one litmus test: Are you interested in the kind of news you find on this page? Then go fetch! ----My husband and I (we're the duo behind this website) probably don't read your local paper ----Just make sure the link you're sending is apropos: "Pet ferret saves owner's life" and "Sophomore dies in kiln explosion" are wacky, but wackiness is never enough for us ----We're not interested in • the same stories all the daily papers and TV newscast are covering; we want news that's unknown • pundits analyzing polls, primaries, and political consequences • the latest revelations on who shot JFK (we just assume everyone shot him) • fake news (unless it's really, really funny) • links to stories we've already linked to (we like to imagine you're actually reading this page, so please don't burst our bubble) • Zionist, Anti-Zionist, or other racist screeds (we believe intelligence and stupidity vary between individuals, not between ethnic or religious groups). ----We're highly skeptical and probably not interested in • self-serving columns written by politicians or celebrities • pious petitions for politicians to ignore • anything about the latest trends in pop culture • things you've heard second- or third-hand • conspiracy theories • anonymous or undocumented exposés of cover-ups • unconfirmed rumors and/or wild guesses • emails from your in-box • things your co-workers and drunken friends told you • et cetera, et cetera, ad nauseam. ----We're picky. Some days the page may feature only half a dozen stories; other days we may have fifty. But every day, each and every story is selected because we believe it contains the very highest quality news, opinion, and/or writing.Don't expect every story you send us to be prominently featured at Unknown News, especially if you send us lots of links. ----You may if you wish (and we encourage you to) suggest an altered headline for any news story you send in. If your new improved headline helps reveal what's really going on, chances are we'll go with it. ----You may also include a few words of commentary, but please keep it brief, to the point, and not overly preachy. We usually prefer our news cryptic and curt (even if it leaves some readers scratching their heads), rather than over-explaining exactly what people should think. If you have strongly-held opinions about a particular item in the news, something you can't possibly boil down to a few words or sentences, we'd welcome it in the form of a column or letter to the editor for the Op/Ed page. ----We like links to stories that are credible, which means reputable sources are citing verifiable facts, not rumors or wide-eyes speculation. If you're sending a story from a mainstream journalistic source, we'll assume they've checked their facts, since their reputation is on the line with every story they run. If you're sending a story from a site with an obvious axe to grind, or an article you've written yourself, or news you heard from someone in the subway, then it's our reputation at Unknown News that's on the line, so we're going to request and require specific and credible documentation. Yes, it may be vaguely possible that Osama bin Laden is Ronald Reagan's love child, but if you want to interest us in the story, you'll have to prove it to our satisfaction. ----We welcome "think pieces," provided there's some thought behind them. We're especially pleased when the author says something you wouldn't hear on The McGlothlin Group, or read in any corporate-controlled newspaper. In other words, something interesting. ----We're eager for original submissions from amateur writers ----Still confused? Are you scratchin' your head bald, trying to understand the difference between Jay Leno's weird news headlines and Unknown News? We recommend you read our mission statement, which should clear everything up. And if it doesn't, hey, send your material in anyway. If we're not interested in it, we'll let you know. Sometimes, we'll even let you know courteously. ----A loving memo to all writers: Do you know when editing is needed? When the editor says so. Period. Please keep your ego out of the way. ----We welcome your ideas for features and changes that might make Unknown News more informative or enjoyable. All suggestions will be seriously considered, but no suggesters should be angry or surprised if the considered answer is a cordial no. ----We don't publish fiction, poetry, pictures, pretentious crap, but we love publishing literate, thoughtful writing related to the news (or to what should be news). Again, since we're looking for "unknown" material, the more famous the author, the less likely we'll link to his or her opinions. ----When we add a link, we prefer to link to the original source, with proper etiquette. Please include the original URL when suggesting we add a link of any kind. ----We'd also love to know about it when you find a reliable source we're unfamiliar with for under-reported news. See "Daily" and "Weekly," for the sites we already visit regularly to piece this page together. ----And lastly, we're sorry, but we can't be electronic pen-pals. Our obsession with Unknown News, along with living lower-middle class lives that pass for normal, family, social, and political obligations, and working for a living at shitty jobs that actually pay the rent, doesn't leave a lot of time for long, leisurely letters or chatty communications. We work on this page 365 mornings a year, usually starting at about 4:00 AM, rarely finishing before 7:30, and often returning at random hours, as time and real-world work allows, during the late morning, afternoon, and evening as well. That's why our replies will almost always be brief, not much more than "Thanks" ----To contact Helen and Harry Highwater, proprietors of Unknown News, please email unknownnews at bigfoot.com. ----Missions were established by Jesuits in California beginning in 1769, and were a key component in the genocide of indigenous peoples. Many thousands of natives were "converted" to Christianity, herded onto mission grounds, forced into backbreaking labor, underfed, malnourished, and eventually killed. ----At Unknown News, we believe missions are not a good idea. ----Times are tight. How's that for a 'financial statement'? ----Unknown News is not a corporation, not a foundation, not tax-deductible, and not a subsidiary of anything that is. We get no grants and certainly we make no profit. We're just her and him, husband and wife, living happily ever after and raking the muck while we're at it. ---- The time and work involved in this project have increased a lot since September 11, and our hit-counter is exploding. We're up by 4:00 in the morning (often earlier) seven days a week, working our shiny hineys off to find what's newsworthy, update this page, and get it all on-line before we're off to our Monday-thru-Friday work at full-time, low-paying jobs (and often taking short-term temp gigs on the weekend to help make ends meet). And we're way past our monthly maximum hits, setting new records every week, so every visitor every day adds a little more to our monthly bill. ---- In short, yes, we'd welcome any help you'd care to offer. ---- A subscription to Unknown News costs $10 per year (more if you can afford it, less if you can't). We impose no guilt trips on those who can't or don't pay, only big ol' happy hugs for those who can and do. Subscribers get nothing that non-subscribers can't get for free, except the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing they've helped. We receive a lot of obscene emails and the occasional death threat, so it's reassuring to know that a few sane people appreciate our work enough to support it. Checks should be made payable to Stephanie Webb, and sent to the address below. ---- Advertising on Unknown News is now available. Text-only ads of up to twenty words are ten bucks for six months, additional words a buck each, for six months' exposure. Banners and images start at $15 for six months (inserted between news articles, not at the top of the page). Ads are not "rotated"; they're simply there, every time anyone clicks to this page. At present, about 2,000 people are clicking here every weekday, and about half that many on the weekends. I've been told our rates are low, but of course I don't know whether an ad here will garner any responses; we'll figure that out together. ----Inquiries are invited at unknownnews at bigfoot.com; checks should be made payable to: Stephanie Webb PO Box 32185 Kansas City MO 64111 U.S.A. Anyone wishing to hassle or harangue us might want to know: Stephanie Webb is not the author of this page. She cashes the occasional check for us, allowing this site's editors the anonymity |
PEOPLE WE LOVE First and foremost, ultimate thanks to Stephanie love of my life For the kind contributions which help keep us within shouting distance of meeting our on-line expenses, we give enthusiastic, heartfelt thanks to our subscribers Michael H. in Massachusetts THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! Charles B. in Phoenix THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! Annie in New York City THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! Pam M. in Virginia THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! Anonymous in New Jersey THANK YOU SO MUCH, WHOEVER YOU ARE !!! Michael R. in Gay Paree! THANK YOU ! S.J. Green in beautiful Britain THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! For their unpaid work, scouring the major and minor media, we offer rib-crackin' cyberhugs to our Unknown Newshounds, Aaron Anatoly I. Bailey The Blue Raj bmb Bob CactusPat Catherine "Cat" W. Cheryl Chris Chris and Sue Chris E. Chris H. Dan M. Daze Reader Dean K. Doug S. Ed H. Erick fred L. [sic] Gareth Gary K. Geoff Gundy Heather G. J James Jan R. Januario A. Jerry C. Jim K. Joe G. Joel H. John C. Judy G. Kenmeer L. 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Snotverjeppie! Peter Snow Social Retard Spankling Spirit of Rebellion Spy News Startpoint Ted Stelle tangled things and stuff this handsome fellow Tortuga Tory Prince View from the Heart The Virtual House of Ed and Linda Freeman Walter Ego Waterloo Wide Web the web today Weird Links the westerby report whereismyhead.com the Wibbly Weblog of John Vincent Keogh Williac wood s lot Wordforge A World of Fraud X-Ray Net Yggdrasil.net and Craig Young Catering In-N-Out Burger Costumes Edith Head and St. Vincent RuPaul Counter Site Meter Search engine registration JimTools Special thanks to Greg at akashik.net for banging the dents out of this site, and including a wash and wax at no extra charge. For our first 14 months, server space was provided free of charge by Pitas, which has our highest recommen- dation. Unknown News is handcrafted with love by the Partnership for a Free America, with nimble assistance from viewers like you, who send helpful hints and hot tips! Our email address is UnknownNews at bigfoot.com, and we'd love to hear from you. Writing a term paper? An article or novel? Whatever you need to write, isn't it worth writing it right? If you'd like your writing to be as effortlessly informative and compellingly readable as this website, please drop me a line: the-editor at bigfoot.com. We'll both be glad you did. WISH LIST would be nice Cash always comes in handy unusual T-shirts in 2XL (hers) Rumors of War by Peggy Tibbetts Spam (the lunchmeat, not the advertising) because, obviously, it's God's greatest gift Stickers, posters, and/or T-shirts featuring the complete text of the Bill of Rights giving people a symbol that says something, instead of the far-too-ambiguous American flag. |
