(Associated Press) Bunnatine H. Greenhouse, who had been the Corps of Engineers' top procurement official since 1997 and publicly criticized the Pentagon's decision to award Halliburton Co. a no-bid contract for work in Iraq, has been demoted. "Her removal will send a message to all concerned that if they dare stand up to corrupting influences within the Army contracting world their careers will be destroyed," her attorney, Michael D. Kohn, wrote in the letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Kris Kolesnik, executive director of the National Whistleblower Center, which is advising Greenhouse on contacts with members of Congress and the news media, said in an interview that Kohn was informed by the Pentagon's Inspector General's office that it is still preparing a report based on Greenhouse's allegations.
Source: MSNBC
August 29, 2005
August 28, 2005
Ariel Sharon's Son Indicted
Omri Sharon, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son and close adviser, is to stand trial in the "shell companies" campaign funding affair, following the filing of an indictment against him Sunday morning at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court.
One of the intriguing questions the trial will illuminate is whether any new evidence against Ariel Sharon might arise that could persuade Mazuz to indict him as well. This is theoretically possible.
Sources: Haaretz, CNN
One of the intriguing questions the trial will illuminate is whether any new evidence against Ariel Sharon might arise that could persuade Mazuz to indict him as well. This is theoretically possible.
Sources: Haaretz, CNN
August 24, 2005
File FCC Complaint Against 700 Club
The FCC has defined profanity as including language that "denote[s] certain of those personally reviling epithets naturally tending to provoke violent resentment or denoting language so grossly offensive to members of the public who actually hear it as to amount to a nuisance." Using this test, Pat Robertson's broadcast clearly violates the community standards issue.
If you are outraged about Pat Robertson's broadcast where he advocated using international political assassination and want to file an FCC complaint against Mr. Robertson and/or the Christian Broadcasting Network, go to the Christian Broadcasting Network web site and get the broadcast information for your area for the 700 Club and then visit the Federal Communications Commission's web site to lodge an actual complaint.
You may also file a complaint via e-mail at fccinfo@fcc.gov or by calling:
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or
1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY.
If you are outraged about Pat Robertson's broadcast where he advocated using international political assassination and want to file an FCC complaint against Mr. Robertson and/or the Christian Broadcasting Network, go to the Christian Broadcasting Network web site and get the broadcast information for your area for the 700 Club and then visit the Federal Communications Commission's web site to lodge an actual complaint.
You may also file a complaint via e-mail at fccinfo@fcc.gov or by calling:
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or
1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY.
August 23, 2005
Pat Robertson Advocates Assassination
In a recent US television broadcast, Christian extremist Pat Robertson advocated international terrorism to assassinate a foreign head of state, Hugo Chavez. In the past, Mr. Chavez has repeatedly accused U.S. President George W. Bush of backing efforts to topple his government, a charge the U.S. denies. "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability," Robertson said.
In October 2003, Robertson, criticizing the State Department during an interview on the 700 Club, said "maybe we need a very small nuke thrown off on Foggy Bottom to shake things up," referring to the nickname for the department's headquarters in Washington. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called the remark "despicable."
Sources:
Los Angeles Times
CNN
USA Today
Washington Post
700 Club
In October 2003, Robertson, criticizing the State Department during an interview on the 700 Club, said "maybe we need a very small nuke thrown off on Foggy Bottom to shake things up," referring to the nickname for the department's headquarters in Washington. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called the remark "despicable."
Sources:
Los Angeles Times
CNN
USA Today
Washington Post
700 Club
August 20, 2005
They Burn Books Don't They?
This happened long ago, far away, in a land no one remembers...
The Harvest Assembly of God Church (Butler County, PA.) gathered to burn their own possessions that they felt were disloyal to God. Among the "objectionable material" was music from artists such as REM, Bruce Springsteen, and Foreigner. Disney movies and Harry Potter novels were destroyed for promoting sorcery. Additionally, Mormon and Jehovah's Witness materials were burned for not being truly Christian since they promoted several gods.
Sources:
The File Room
Theocracy Watch
American Library Association
The Harvest Assembly of God Church (Butler County, PA.) gathered to burn their own possessions that they felt were disloyal to God. Among the "objectionable material" was music from artists such as REM, Bruce Springsteen, and Foreigner. Disney movies and Harry Potter novels were destroyed for promoting sorcery. Additionally, Mormon and Jehovah's Witness materials were burned for not being truly Christian since they promoted several gods.
Sources:
The File Room
Theocracy Watch
American Library Association
August 19, 2005
Web Site of the Week
Waiting For Bigfoot
San Francisco-based American artist Jill Miller is participating in Norwich Gallery's EAST 05 international exhibition, July 2 - August 20, 2005. Although she will exhibit a performance work, she will not appear in the gallery. At least not in the flesh. Miller's durational performance-installation, "Waiting for Bigfoot," will be located in a remote Northern California forest ("Bigfoot Country"). A live video feed will be delivered to the Norwich Gallery as real-time video via satellite uplink, 24 hours a day. The artist will live at the campsite, situated in the epicenter of Bigfoot sightings, for the duration of EAST 05.
San Francisco-based American artist Jill Miller is participating in Norwich Gallery's EAST 05 international exhibition, July 2 - August 20, 2005. Although she will exhibit a performance work, she will not appear in the gallery. At least not in the flesh. Miller's durational performance-installation, "Waiting for Bigfoot," will be located in a remote Northern California forest ("Bigfoot Country"). A live video feed will be delivered to the Norwich Gallery as real-time video via satellite uplink, 24 hours a day. The artist will live at the campsite, situated in the epicenter of Bigfoot sightings, for the duration of EAST 05.
August 17, 2005
Jews Plan Mass Suicides
Teen surfers from a number of communities in Gaza's Gush Katif settlement bloc are threatening to take their surf boards out to sea on evacuation day and commit mass suicide by drowning, according to The Jerusalem Post.
A threatened mass suicide was prevented by the movement’s late leader Meir Kahane during the evacuation of the Yamit settlement in Sinai in 1982.
Members of a New York-based ultra-Orthodox Jewish movement were threatening to commit mass suicide on Wednesday in protest at the Gaza Strip pull-out, security sources and associates said.
Sources:
Ha'aretz
New York Jewish Week
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem
News24, South Africa
A threatened mass suicide was prevented by the movement’s late leader Meir Kahane during the evacuation of the Yamit settlement in Sinai in 1982.
Members of a New York-based ultra-Orthodox Jewish movement were threatening to commit mass suicide on Wednesday in protest at the Gaza Strip pull-out, security sources and associates said.
Sources:
Ha'aretz
New York Jewish Week
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem
News24, South Africa
August 14, 2005
US Lowers Hopes For Iraq
The Bush administration no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry or a society in which the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges, U.S. officials say.
"What we expected to achieve was never realistic given the timetable or what unfolded on the ground," said a senior official involved in policy since the 2003 invasion. "We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning."
"We set out to establish a democracy, but we're slowly realizing we will have some form of Islamic republic," said another U.S. official familiar with policymaking from the beginning, who like some others interviewed would speak candidly only on the condition of anonymity. "That process is being repeated all over."
Source: Washington Post, MSNBC
"What we expected to achieve was never realistic given the timetable or what unfolded on the ground," said a senior official involved in policy since the 2003 invasion. "We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning."
"We set out to establish a democracy, but we're slowly realizing we will have some form of Islamic republic," said another U.S. official familiar with policymaking from the beginning, who like some others interviewed would speak candidly only on the condition of anonymity. "That process is being repeated all over."
Source: Washington Post, MSNBC
August 12, 2005
Dr. James Dobson's Obsession with Gays
Earlier this year, Dr. James Dobson (founder of a conservative Christian group called "Focus on the Family") once claimed that SpongeBob promotes homosexuality. More recently, Dr. James Dobson published an white paper which attempts to answer the question we've all been asking ourselves; Is My Child Becoming Homosexual?
According to Dr. Dobson, when a boy has "a strong preference to spend time in the company of girls" or exhibits the much more elusive quality of "thinking effeminately" he may be homosexual. If your child is facing this danger, Dr. Dobson suggests that you "call to make an appointment with a professional therapist who believes change is possible. Work patiently with that therapist in redirecting your child’s prehomosexual behaviors."
Source: MSNBC, Focus On The Family
According to Dr. Dobson, when a boy has "a strong preference to spend time in the company of girls" or exhibits the much more elusive quality of "thinking effeminately" he may be homosexual. If your child is facing this danger, Dr. Dobson suggests that you "call to make an appointment with a professional therapist who believes change is possible. Work patiently with that therapist in redirecting your child’s prehomosexual behaviors."
Source: MSNBC, Focus On The Family
August 05, 2005
Judge John Roberts ... Gay Activist?
After Bush's denouncements of "Activist Judges" and purposefully drawing attention to the record of Judge John Roberts as an example of his character, it's a little surprising to hear that Judge Roberts helped Gay Activists win a landmark decision in 1996.
John Roberts wasn't paid for his work - it was provided pro bono (free of charge) - so he must've had his heart in his work, or felt that it was a moral issue he felt strongly about. At the time, Roberts was a lawyer specializing in appellate work for Hogan & Hartson, a large D.C.-based law firm.
Sources:
Los Angeles Times
Washington Blade
John Roberts wasn't paid for his work - it was provided pro bono (free of charge) - so he must've had his heart in his work, or felt that it was a moral issue he felt strongly about. At the time, Roberts was a lawyer specializing in appellate work for Hogan & Hartson, a large D.C.-based law firm.
Sources:
Los Angeles Times
Washington Blade
London Bombing Mastermind Goes Free
The July 21, 2005 London bombers have all been rounded up along with 18 others currently under questioning - yet the so-called "mastermind" has been allowed to go free, and is being protected time and time again by MI5, MI6, FBI and CIA.
Apparently, this isn't anything new...
Former Justice Department Prosecutor John Loftus claims that British Intelligence and the US Department of Justice had protected Haroon Rashid Aswat: "Back in 1999 he [Haroon Rashid Aswat] came to America. The Justice Department wanted to indict him in Seattle because him and his buddy were trying to set up a terrorist training school in Oregon. We've just learned that the headquarters of the US Justice Department ordered the Seattle prosecutors not to touch Aswat; apparently Aswat was working for British intelligence."
Source: Fox News
Apparently, this isn't anything new...
Former Justice Department Prosecutor John Loftus claims that British Intelligence and the US Department of Justice had protected Haroon Rashid Aswat: "Back in 1999 he [Haroon Rashid Aswat] came to America. The Justice Department wanted to indict him in Seattle because him and his buddy were trying to set up a terrorist training school in Oregon. We've just learned that the headquarters of the US Justice Department ordered the Seattle prosecutors not to touch Aswat; apparently Aswat was working for British intelligence."
Source: Fox News
August 01, 2005
Manichaean Sect Found in China
An Armidale researcher has helped unearth an active Manichaean sect in southeast China. During their third annual expedition to the Fujian Province of the People's Republic of China in April, University of New England religious history Professor Majella Franzmann and a team of Australian experts discovered evidence of a living Mani cult in a family's home in a small village near Jinjiang. The discovery is documented in a paper recently published in the international journal Rivista di storia e letteratura (Review of Religious History and Literature).
Manichaeism was an authentic Gnostic world religion. The record is often confused because medieval writers used the term Manichee as a synonym for heretic. The name Mani is mainly a title and term of respect rather than a personal name; this title was assumed by the founder himself and so completely replaced his personal name that the precise form of the latter is not known.
Mani was raised in a Jewish environment. In the years 220-240 he lived in a Jewish community in the south of Babylon, near present-day Bagdad in Iraq. He founded his own world church, which was inspired by Gnostic-Christian thought, in reaction to the strict nomistic circles in which he grew up. His church, which eventually spread to the Atlantic Ocean in the West and the Pacific Ocean in the East, existed for many centuries, with millions of adherents and even producing its own typical art. Manicheism may also have been an influence on the medieval Cathars; it is certain that Augustine, one of the greatest of Church Fathers, once belonged to Mani's church. It is mainly through Augustine that the gnosticism of Mani's teachings exerted a substantial influence on Western spiritual and intellectual history.
Source: Armidale Press
Manichaeism was an authentic Gnostic world religion. The record is often confused because medieval writers used the term Manichee as a synonym for heretic. The name Mani is mainly a title and term of respect rather than a personal name; this title was assumed by the founder himself and so completely replaced his personal name that the precise form of the latter is not known.
Mani was raised in a Jewish environment. In the years 220-240 he lived in a Jewish community in the south of Babylon, near present-day Bagdad in Iraq. He founded his own world church, which was inspired by Gnostic-Christian thought, in reaction to the strict nomistic circles in which he grew up. His church, which eventually spread to the Atlantic Ocean in the West and the Pacific Ocean in the East, existed for many centuries, with millions of adherents and even producing its own typical art. Manicheism may also have been an influence on the medieval Cathars; it is certain that Augustine, one of the greatest of Church Fathers, once belonged to Mani's church. It is mainly through Augustine that the gnosticism of Mani's teachings exerted a substantial influence on Western spiritual and intellectual history.
Source: Armidale Press
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