From the New York Times, “Defense Lawyers in Terror Cases Plan Challenges Over Spy Efforts”: Defense lawyers in some of the country’s biggest terrorism cases say they plan to bring legal challenges to determine whether the National Security Agency used illegal wiretaps against several dozen Muslim men tied to Al Qaeda. The lawyers said in interviews that they wanted to learn whether the men were monitored by the agency and,
December 28, 2005
Winning the (viral) war
A very interesing set of comments in yesterday’s thread on warring fatwas, one of which I want to draw particular attention to (though I encourage you to go read the exchange between Ric Locke and arch, as well). This is from Nishizono Shinji: The oral tradition of the Qu’ran is based on the oral traditions of the bedouin tribes. Arabic was spoken long before it was written. It is not
December 28, 2005
Because I’m determined not to start the day off with a post on the NSA domestic “spying” story
From the Weekly Standard‘s “Scrapbook,” 12/26: Former President Jimmy Carter, in an interview for the January issue of GQ magazine, reveals how, on the recommendation of then-CIA director Stansfield Turner, he once authorized a psychic to make targeting decisions–while “in a trance”–for America’s satellite surveillance system: GQ: One of the promises you made in 1976 was that if you were elected, you would look into the [UFO] reports from Roswell
December 27, 2005
My second brief conversation with my new Xmas Sonicare Intelliclean System i8500 with Crest liquid toothpaste
Sonicare i8500: “Well…? Whaddya think?” Me: “Jesus God, baby! You make Mentos feel like a french kiss from a congested nun!”
December 27, 2005
“Some Muslims Shifting Tactics on Radicals”
From the AP: It’s becoming known as the war of the fatwas: the dizzying exchange of proclamations between Islamic moderates and militants on what it means to be Muslim. The duels have been waged everywhere from pamphlets to cyberspace. Now some Muslim leaders seek to shift tactics against radicals. Their hope rests in one of Islam’s most elemental questions: Who has the real authority to make religious rulings and other
December 27, 2005
10 Worst Americans Ever
In response to a historians’ list of the 10 Worst Britons of the last 1000 years, Alexandra of All Things Beautiful has asked for a list of the 10 Worst Americans of all time. Rather than thinking this over, I’ve decided to go with my gut and name the first 10 that come to mind: 10. Steve G*rtz A musclebound bully who spent his late teens and early twenties looking
December 27, 2005
Puzzle Palace Postures
In his commentary for RCP, Michael Barone weighs in on the NSA domestic “spying” story. From
December 27, 2005
My first brief conversation with my new Xmas Sonicare Intelliclean System i8500 with Crest liquid toothpaste
Sonicare i8500: “So. You ready…?” Me: “I think so. But be gentle, okay? This is my first time.”
December 26, 2005
The “10cc’s ‘The Things We Do For Love,’ unadorned” post (from the protein wisdom conceptual series)
1. lay your bets and then pay the price 2. walk in the rain and snow / when there’s nowhere to go / feeling like a part of you is dying 3. look for the answer in her eyes 4. think you’re gonna break up / she says she wants to make up 5. agree to disagree, but disagree to part 6. compromise
December 26, 2005
The Third Coming?
New York: A Manhattan man’s holiday spirits soared to celestial heights Friday when a judge gave him permission to change his name to Jesus Christ. Jose Luis Espinal, 42, of Washington Heights, said he was “happy” and “grateful” that the judge approved the change, effective immediately. Espinal said he was moved to seek the name change about a year ago when it dawned on him, “I am the person that