Month December 2004

Why does the US condone torture at all?

Justice Dept. Toughens Rule on Torture. The Justice Department has broadened its definition of torture, retreating from a memo that defined torture extremely narrowly. The Geneva Convention already defines what torture is, even though the Bushies have chosen to ignore…

How Did Animals Escape Tsunami?.

No wild animals were found dead along the Sri Lankan coastline, adding credence to the belief that beasts have a sixth sense that warns them of impending disasters.

Tsunamis, politics, and 2005

125,000 dead and rising from the tsunami, and some of them were probably getting married when it hit. What a crazy, capricious planet this sometimes is. I got married today. Everything went beautifully. Couples are getting married in Baghdad too.…

Pretend democracy in Iraq

Militant Groups Warn Iraqis Not to Vote  Three militant groups warned Iraqis against voting in Jan. 30 elections, saying Thursday that people participating in the “dirty farce” risked attack. All 700 employees of the electoral commission in Mosul reportedly resigned…

The luggage has arrived!

Our missing luggage, which disappeared when we entered the now feared and legendary Philly airport on US Airways, reaapeared at Bradley airport in Hartford, our final destination, about 30 hours late. Apparently it had been to Spain, then Atlanta, then…