Social Justice:

• I received this chilling message from a Christian Peacemaker Team in Hebron, Palestine:
  
  
  CPTnet
  October 31, 2002
  HEBRON: "My name is Richard the Second."
  
  By Mary Yoder
  
  The Israeli Army beat three Palestinian teen boys and a CPT translator on Friday, October 25, near the Ibrahimi Mosque. CPTers Mary Yoder and Christine Caton were waiting for a tour group to arrive around noon, when they saw a Palestinian woman crying and pleading with soldiers. Next, they saw the translator who was very pale, shaking, and speaking in low whispers. Yoder and Caton called more CPTers for back up as a crowd started forming.
  
  At 6:30 AM that day, a soldier had detained a boy who was on his way to harvest olives. After two hours passed, the boy's mother found the commander-in-charge, who came to the boy's rescue and released him. A youngster watched from a rooftop as the commander reprimanded the soldier for unnecessarily detaining the boy.
  
  After the commander left, the soldier found the "roof top" boy. The soldier forced the boy to stand at a makeshift checkpoint for an hour. "This gun is my best friend," the soldier bragged, "When I handcuff you, I will move up in rank."
  
  "Please put your gun down!" the boy yelled and immediately more soldiers arrived. Soldiers took the boy into a room in the alley and beat him unconscious. The boy's brother arrived on the scene and was also beaten. Their friend arrived on the scene, called for help and then soldiers chased him into the house of the CPT translator. The translator cradled the boy's head in her arms while the soldiers attempted to beat the boy's head with their guns. They turned on the translator and beat her bent shoulders
  as well as her head and back. The boys were then taken to the police station near the Ibrahimi Mosque.
  
  The translator attempted to file a grievence report at the local police station. A police officer told her she must go to the Kiryat Arba police station to file. In extreme pain, she walked the mile, going uphill along with CPTers Kristin Anderson and Mary Lawrence. On arrival, they were told no one could see them for one hour. After the hour was up, they inquired again. "We are very busy. No one can help you," a police officer told them.
  
  "What is your name, please," Kristin Anderson inquired of the policeman in the front office. "I am Richard the Second!" the scowling policeman said, refusing to give his real name. Two and a half hours later the translator left without any police officer taking her complaint.
  
  The translator collapsed and an ambulance took her to Alia hospital. The next day, the translator told the team that soldiers took the boys to an area outside the police station and hog-tied them with their hands above their heads in the sun. Soldiers kicked them in the genitals when they asked to use the restroom and slapped them in the face numerous times when they asked for a drink. After five hours of this treatment they were released.
  
  Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and Friends Meetings that supports violence reduction efforts around the world. Contact CPT, POB 6508, Chicago, IL 60680; Telephone: 773-277-0253, Fax: 773-277-0291.
  
  
  Remember folks, this is what America's foreign policy perpeptuates. I know Israel feels it is in a tight spot security wise, but there is NEVER any justification for beating children, or the woman (a translator for CPT) who dared to try to protect these boys.
  
  Also, I know some of my readers will say, "How do you know this is true?" Well the reason I believe it is true is because I had the blessing of getting to spend some time with some of the CPT folks at Cornerstone last year. They are good folks who are willing to stand up for what is right even when it is not easy. In particular, I got to hear an Amish strawberry farmer speak of his time spent in Columbia trying to be a voice of peace in the midst of the civil war taking place there. I believe him what he would say, and I believe what the CPT folks say. I wish more folks would listen.

posted by JMB at 4:36 PM | link |

Random:

Weather here in Oklahoma is wickedly cold. Thankfully it looks like it won't freeze after all (I still have some peppers and tomatoes in my garden that I'm trying coax some more ripeness into.) but it is might close to freezing. I guess winter has arrived.

posted by JMB at 11:52 AM | link |

Oklahoma Politics:

• NewsOK: Online Video of Gubernatorial Debate at OSU - a pretty decent debate. This debate solidified my decision on why I can't vote for Largent, because he wants to consolidate rural school districts. But of course the other guys support the lottery, so my mind is not made up yet.
  
  (Look for my brother Daniel and his girlfriend Summer in the background. They are the cute couple who are sitting to the right of Brad Henry's head from where the camera angle is pointing.)
  
  
• Well we finallly have the Oklahoma Green Party Candidate Questionaire results posted online. If you're still making up your mind on who to vote for on Tuesday, check it out.
  

posted by JMB at 4:12 PM | link |

Social Justice:

The Adelaide, Australia IMC has compiled an excellent list of the various O26 protest actions around the world with links to local media coverage at http://adelaide.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3549&group=webcast

posted by JMB at 6:54 PM | link |

Social Justice:

I've continued searching internet news outlets (Indymedia.org, local and national news media, and reports from local activists) and have corrected numbers for the protest actions of the International Day of Action for Peace in Iraq (October 26ish). Here are the latest numbers. In cases where different folks gave different numbers, I sought to find the most accurate numbers possible, or if to hard to tell I either went with an average number, or gave a range between the most convservative and most optimistic reports that sounded credible.)

As to the total number's here is what I came up with:

180,000 Conservative number for US protestors
329,000 Optimistic number for US protestors
64,000 Conservative number for Non-US protestors
88,000 High number for Non-US protestors
======
244,000 Conservative number for World-wide protests
417,000 Optimistic number for World-wide protests


100,000-200,000 in Washington, D.C.
42,000-80,000 in San Francisco
15,000 in Glasgow, Scotland (on Oct 20th)
10,000 in Rome, Italy
8,000-30,000 in Berlin
3,000-10,000 St. Paul, MN
5,000 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
5,000 in Zaragosa, Spain
4,000 in Adelaide, Australia
4,000 in Chicago
3,000 in Seville, Spain
3,000 in Sydeny, Australia
2,000-5,000 in Seattle, WA
4,000 in Denver, CO (155k)
2,500 in Taos, N.M. in front of Donald Rumseld's private residence
2,500 in August, Maine
2,500 in Ann Arbor, MI
2,000 in Frankfurt
2,000 in Jerusalem (162.5k)
1,500 in Copenhagen, Denmark
1,500-2,000 in Kingston, NY
1,500 in Tucson, AZ
1,000+ in Spokane, WA
1,000 in Rotterdam, Netherlands
1,000 in Stockholm, Sweden
1,000 in Austin, TX
1,000 in Montpelier, VT
1,000 in Luxemboug (on Oct. 19th)
1,000 in Syracuse, NY (169.5k)
800 in Madison, WI
800 in Honolulu, HA
700 in Albany, NY
660 in Leper-Ypres, Belgium (peace run)
650 in Nashville, TN (the largest anti-war protest in that city since the Vietnam War)
600 in Ann Arbor, MI
500-1200 in Minneapolis, MN (correction from earlier, it turns out there were seperate marches in both of the Twin Cities)
500 in Hamburg, Germany
500 in San Antonio (SAPD cops ticketed many drivers for honking in support of the protestors)
500 in White Plains, NY
400 in Munich, Germany
400 in Fayetteville AR (police there filmed all of the protestors as a form of harrassment)
370 in Oklahoma City (confirmed correction of earlier number of 200)
350 in Bend, OR
300+ in Durango,CO
300 in Juneau, Alaska
300 in Prescott, Arizona
300 in Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California
300 in Tokyo
300 in Salt Lake City, UT
300 in East Lansing, MI
250 in Indianapolis, IN
250 in Durham, NC
250 in Palm Beach, FL
250 in Brussels, Belguim
200 in St. Louis, MO
200 in Little Rock, AK
200 in Anchorage, Alaska (corrected number)
200 in Flagstaff, AZ
200 in Portland, Maine (14 arrested & several of those beaten by the police http://maine.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=2382)
200 in Portland, OR (1 arrest at a concurrent direct action at a military recruiting station)
200 in Goshen, IN
Several hundred in Edmonton, Canada (this is my best guess based on the pictures posted online)
"Hundreds" in Stuttgart, and Bremen, Germany
"Several hundred" in Tallahasse, FL
180 in Wellington, N.Z.
150+ in Dortmund, Germany
150 in Rockford, IL
150 in Paonia, Colorado
150 in Chemnitz, Germany
150 in Fresno, CA
150 in Petoskey, MI
125 in Konstanz, Germany
110 in Colorado Springs, CO
100 in Fort Wayne, IN
100 (13 were arrested) in Des Moines, IA
100 in Houston, TX
100 in Heidelberg, Germany
100 in Milwaukee, WI
100 in Boise, ID
50-200 in Leipzig, Germany
80 in Concord, NH
80 in Columbia, SC
75 in Travese City, MI
75 in West Hartford, CT
70+ in Chattanooga, TN
70 in Montrose, CO
70 in Palatine, IL
50-75 in Sioux Falls, SD
65 in Terre Haute, IN
60 in Lewiston, ID
50 - Bad Tolz, Germany
40 - Centralia, WA
40- Bielefeld, Germany
30 - Duren, Germany
Last but not least there was a protest by Voices in the Wilderness protestors from America who are illegally in Baghdad (http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=212853#other)


Other Protests reported that I can't find crowd estimates for:

Barcelona, London, Belgium, Paris, India, South Korea, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Grand Rapids & , MI, --- Ashland, Astoria, Corvallis, Eugene, Hood River, Pendleton, McMinnville, Newport and Salem all in Oregon, Danbury, CT; Bicyclist protest in Santa Fe, NM, Calgary, Canada; Napier and Auckland, New Zealand; Adelaide, Australia; Bonn, Germany; Bowling Green, KY; Bradenton, FL; Missoula, Billings, & Butte MT; Joplin, MO; Jonesboro, AR; Glenwood Springs, CO, Hilo, HA

posted by JMB at 6:51 PM | link |

Social Justice:

I am still amazed (and thankful to God) for the tremendous response to Saturday (O26)'s response to International Anti-War day.

Regretably the media is still underreporting the numbers and breadth of these actions (the NY Times is especially guilty) So, in the interests of truth and encouragement to any peace loving readers out there, I've searched online to find the most likely numbers for the various protest actions for International Anti-war Day. Here's what I've compiled so far: (many of these numbers are estimates... when the police, protestors, and media gave disparate numbers, I either gave a range or went with what was an average number)



over 100,000 in Washington, D.C.
60,000-80,000 in San Francisco
15,000 in Glasgow, Scotland (on Oct 20th)
10,000 marched in Minneapolis-St. Paul
8,000-30,000 in Berlin
5,000 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
5,000 in Zaragosa, Spain
4,000 in Chicago
4,000 in Seattle, WA
"Several thousand" in Rotterdam, Netherlands
"Several Thousand" in Denver, CO
2,500 in Taos, N.M. in front of Donald Rumseld's private residence
2,500 in August, Maine
2,000 in Frankfurt
1500 in Copenhagen, Denmark
1,500 in Kingston, NY
1,500 in Tucson, AZ
1,000 in Stockholm, Sweden
1,000 in Austin, TX
1,000 in Montpelier, VT
1,000 in Luxemboug (on Oct. 19th)
800 in Madison, WI
650 in Nashville, TN (the largest anti-war protest in that city since the Vietnam War)
600 in Ann Arbor, MI
500 in Hamburg, Germany
500 in San Antonio
300 in Tokyo
300 in Salt Lake City, UT
250 in Durham, NC
200 in St. Louis, MO
200 in Oklahoma City (Woohoo!!!)
200 in Portland, Maine (14 arrested, with several of those beaten by the police more info on this incident can be found at http://maine.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=2382)
200 in Goshen, IN
"Several Hundred" in Anchorage, Alaska
"Several hundred" in Portland, OR (There was also a sit-in/shutdown of military recruiting station in Portland in conjunction with the march)
Several hundred in Edmonton, Canada (this is my best guess based on the pictures posted online)
"Hundreds" in Stuttgart, and Bremen
180 in Wellington, N.Z.
150 in Rockford, IL
100 (13 were arrested) in Des Moines, IA
100 in Traverse City / Petoskey, MI
100 in Houston, TX
80 in Concord, NH
80 in Columbia, SC
50-75 in Sioux Falls, SD
65 in Terre Haute, IN
Last but not least there was a protest by Voices in the Wilderness protestors from America who are illegally in Baghdad (http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=212853#other)

Protests reported that I can't find crowd estimates for:

Barcelona, London, Rome, Belgium, Paris, India, South Korea, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Grand Rapids & East Lancing, MI, Indianapolis, IN, Palatine, IL, Colorado Springs --- Ashland, Astoria, Corvallis, Eugene, Hood River, Pendleton, McMinnville, Newport and Salem all in Oregon, Danbury, CT; Bicyclist protest in Santa Fe, NM, Calgary, Canada; Napier and Auckland, New Zealand

(There are also major anti-war protest scheduled across the UK scheduled for October 30-31.)


We might well be the minority, but our number is growing. Don't lose heart. Keep speaking out for peace!

posted by JMB at 4:13 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• Ha ha!!! Fox"News" had to eat their words. Now they've turned "hundreds" into "tens of thousands" in their latest story on today's protests.. Ain't that funny?
  
  What is even more humerous is that they didn't run a retraction but rather just stuck up an AP story instead of the one their own staff wrote. Remember folks, if the story is written by Fox "News" it likely ain't true.

posted by JMB at 5:57 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• MSNBC: Thousands protest against Iraq war
  
  I was wrong in my earlier post in criticizing MSNBC for not running a report at the time I wrote that. While they did not immediate coverage of today's world-wide protests against the war in Iraq, they now (a few hours later) have published what looks like the most accurate and comprehensive report of what happened (read the coverage on Fox"News" to see the contrast)
  
  Here are some intersting excerpts from the MSNBC report...
  
  
  This paragraph was in a photo caption: Mehdi Ghezali, father of a 23-year-old Swedish citizen detained at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for nine months, holds a placard during an anti-U.S. demonstration in central Stockholm, Sweden, on Saturday.
  
  
  This father's son is a prisoner of war, denied even the most basic of rights provided by the Geneva Convention to prisoners of War. This holding of the detainees is in itself a war crime, as it is a violation of the Geneva convention, which makes Bush, Rumsfeld, and the brass at the Pentagon war criminals. Of course, they'll never face trial since America isn't subject to international law anymore.
  
  
  THE WASHINGTON protest coincided with anti-war demonstrations from Augusta, Maine, to San Francisco and abroad from Rome and Berlin to Tokyo to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Mexico City. In Washington and many of the other demonstrations, protesters added complaints about U.S. policy toward the Palestinians.
  
  
  
  Protest organizers claimed up to 200,000 people had answered the call to challenge President Bush’s determination to force out Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Because the U.S. Park Police no longer issue crowd estimates, the size of the crowd could not be verified. As the march began, participants stretched for at least five city blocks.
  
  
  Five City blocks... that sounds like a lot more than what Fox"News"calls a disapointing showing of mere "hundreds" of protestors.
  
  
  New Englanders ventured out in snow, sleet and rain to join demonstrations in Maine and Vermont. Across the nation a couple thousand showed up at the Colorado capitol in downtown Denver, and demonstrators marched in San Francisco.
  
  
  Along with this, there were close to 200 in Oklahoma City, who knows how many in Austin, and thousands more in towns and villages across this great nation!
  
  
  In Berlin, crowds of people brandishing placards that declared “War on the imperialist war,” “Stop Bush’s campaign” and “No blood for oil,” along with a few Iraqi and Palestinian flags, converged on the downtown Alexanderplatz square and marched past the German Foreign Ministry.
  
  Police estimated that as many as 8,000 people took part in damp, windy weather, while organizers put the number at 30,000. No trouble was reported.
  
  
  At least 8,000 protested in Berlin. Read that again... at least 8,000 showed up in bad weather!!! The people of the world are speaking!!!
  
  
  
  
  Some 1,500 people turned out in Frankfurt and 500 more in Hamburg, according to police, while 1,500 rain-soaked demonstrators gathered under umbrellas outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, and more than 1,000 hit the streets in Stockholm, Sweden.
  
  Closely watched by police in anti-riot gear, a few thousand people marched in downtown Rome in a protest dominated by banners referring to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that also was attended by some opposition politicians.
  
  “We’re aware that war and terrorism feed each other,” Paolo Cento, a lawmaker for the Greens party, said of his opposition to a war against Iraq.
  
  In Baghdad itself, American anti-war activists protested in front of U.N. offices, urging the U.N. Security Council not to give Bush a blank check for war against Iraq. Six members of the Chicago-based Voices in the Wilderness raised banners including “Drop sanctions not bombs.”
  
  In Tokyo, about 300 Japanese staged a “peace walk,” holding up placards urging governments to “stop the war before it starts.”
  
  
  The world is speaking out and Americans are speaking out. We might be the minority in the US but more are changing their mind daily. Fox"News" and others who try to belittle this people's movement are misguided at best and anti-democratic at worse.
  

posted by JMB at 5:08 PM | link |

Music:

• Here's what I'm listening to today at work... (I should be working on the church bulletin right now instead of talking about music... )
  
  
• Jackson Rubio Compilation - By the people for the people, the Lo-Fi Mixes --- very old school Mid-Late Nineties music from when I first began to dig good acoustic music
  
  
• They Might Be Giants - a mix CD of songs I dig of theirs, esp their classic "Birdhouse in your soul"
  
  
• Bad Faces Clan Demo - the gritty country side project of Madison Greene bass player Bone.
  
  
• The Crossing Standing Stones and In the Court of the King
  
  
• The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - yeah, yeah, yeah, Ska will never die!!!
  

One observation is worth noting... the Christian music scene as a whole is pretty dead. I didn't realize how dead until a few days ago when I turned on KOKF (the local youth oriented Christian station). It was either garbage or it was something quality but three years old. There really is nothing that I can see in the scene that I dig, at least as far as what gets radio airplay. Even though I and tons of people always said "there shouldn't be a seperate scene, yada yada yada" I have to say I miss those days of turning on the radio and finding stuff I like, and going to C-stone and being excited by all of the different bands.

Don't get me wrong, there were tons of good bands at the festival but most of the ones I really liked play no other Christian festivals besides C-stone. And when I look at the label rosters... sheesh... Tooth & Nail has Havalina and Joy E, but otherwise nothing interests me there.

But heck, I'm pretty tired of rock music too. There's some stuff in the indy vein that is good but as a whole I connect much more with Americana music. It seems more genuine to me, and expresses the full range of at least my emotions.

While I'm talking about Americana music, I never gave my review of the bands I heard at the Austin City Limits Festival.

• The South Austin Jug Band - They were every bit as good as their name promised. Old-timey country banjo pickin' music.
  
  
• Gillian Welch - was even better than I expected and that's saying a lot. She played with David (Rallings maybe, I don't know how his last name is spelt, but my oh my that man can play the guitar). What I remember about her show the most was singing harmony with her (out in the audience, haha) on "I'll Fly Away" and her smile. She has the prettiest smile I have seen in my life!
  
  
• Nickel Creek exceeded what my excessive superlatives could describe. It was one of the most memorable concerts of my life. I like their albums a great deal but their live show was ten times better. --- Highlights of the show included their cover of the Beatle's "Tax Man" and also a song off their new album: "Spit on a stranger."
  
  
• And as I've already said here, but I'll say again... half of the fun of the ACL festival was seeing genuine hippies again! It did my soul good. --- There were of course some folks there who were not so cool (almost tempting me to discard my pacifist values in one case) but 99.9% of the folks there were wondeful people so I'll choose to remember the good ones and pray the bad apples don't come back next year.

OK, back to that church bulletin . . . ;-)

posted by JMB at 4:49 PM | link |

Social Justice:

• The OKC rally against the War with Iraq was a tremendous success. I don't know what the final numbers were, but there were 125 signatures on the anti-war petition. (I think were probably closer to 200 there.) The speakers included several pastors, State Representative Opio Toure, a man from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and the President of the OU chapter of Amnesty International. I was so blessed to get to be there. Thank you to Batch, Elderberry Bob, and of the others who organized it!
  
  
• Emergency Oklahoma City Coalition Against the War with Iraq --- the orgnanizers of today's protest are now having protests at busy OKC intersections twice weekly!!!
  
  
• Thus far the mainstream media coverage of the D.C. and world-wide protests are not very well done. Nothing at all from MSNBC.com or the NY Times (I'll give the times some leeway since they'll probably have a story in tomorrow's paper.) Here the stories I've found thus far....
  
  
  
  
  
  • Wash Post: Anti-war Activists rally in Washington
    
    
  • CNN: Global rallies protest possible US war on Iraq --- Notice how this story downplays the protests in the US. Besides the major protests in D.C. and San Francisco, there dozens of the smaller local protests across the country, from Maine to Austin.
    
    
  • BBC: US Peace marches draw thousands --- BBC places the number at 10,000 in D.C. I think that is a very, very low number.
    
    
  • NPR: Anti-War Protest in Washington Targets Iraq Debate (RealAudio)
    
    
  • FoxNews: Marchers Protest Iraq War Plans
    
    Fox News has given such a biased tilt on this story, I gotta quote this line of B.S. . . .
    
    
    WASHINGTON — Despite the lousy weather, hundreds of demonstrators flocked to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., Saturday for what organizers expected to be a loud but nonviolent protest march against President Bush's pre-emptive war policies.
    
    
    Absolute garbage. I watched the coverage of the rally on C-span and there were thousands there, not hundreds. I could see that with my own eyes, and that was only the portion of the crowd that was within camera view.
    
    Final counts are still uncertain (I'll post them once I find out something official) but there were at least tens of thousands, if not close to 100,000. (One source at DC.Indymedia.org says there were 200,000. Crowd estimating is a tricky thing, but if participants on the ground are saying there could be 200,000, then that means that there are more than mere 'hundreds') Fox News is an offense to all real journalists and has done a disservice to the American people and to our leaders who should know that many of us DO NOT SUPPORT THIS WAR! From now on, Fox News shoudn't be called Fox"News" but rather Fox"SPIN." or FoxPROPAGANDA.
  
  

posted by JMB at 4:49 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• I'm listening to Jesse Jackson right now on C-span speaking at the peace rally in D.C. I am disappointed that they asked him to speak. This is an anti-war rally, yet he has said that he thought that war in many cases, including the US Civil War, World War II, and even the first Persian Gulf War were just.
  
  I know many folks out there (including most of my readers) are moral pragmatists. I respect y'all's beliefs, but I think an anti-war protest should have true pacifists speak and not compromisers like Jackson. (and that's not even speaking to his lack of credibilitity these days, given his betrayal of his spouse and his supporters) I can think of hundreds of better qualified speakers than him... Kathy Kelly of Voices in the Wilderness, Andrew Mandell of Ballydowse and member of a VITW team to Iraq, etc.
  
  
• Jackson just got off the stage, and now former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark (served under Pres. Johnson) is speaking on the responsibilities we owe to the veterans of Vietnam to speak against the war in Iraq. He also spoke about how that over 150,000 Iraqis were killed while less than 150 Americans were killed, and what an attrocity another war of this level will be.
  
  Here's a bit of what he said... "We've got to liberate this country from militarism. We've got to liberate our country from corporate oligarchism --- we've got to liberate this nation, don't you know!? . . . Let's liberate the United State of America!"
  
  Wow!!! Now he's leading the chants of "NO MORE WAR! NO MORE WAR!"
  
  Well it's about 1p.m. so I'll be heading out to the OKC protest. I hope some of y'all will be there to speak out for peace and for civil liberties.
  

posted by JMB at 12:27 PM | link |

Social Justice:

• Today is a great day in American and in the world, as hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the street to protest Bush's war in Iraq. If you are unable to take part in a protest locally, tune into C-SPAN1 to view the live coverage of the protest in Washington, D.C. or go online to http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan_rm.asp to view the coverage live online. (I'm watching it right now at work. I am so moved by the thousands who rode buses and drove and walked to Washington to participate in this march.)
  
  
• If you're in Oklahoma City, come to the Peace In Iraq Rally & Picnic in OKC from 12-2 p.m. at Memorial Park on NW 36th St. & Classen Blvd. I'll be there on my lunch hour and if you're in OKC and reading this, I hope you'll join me there.
  
  
• If you're in Austin get off your butt and head to the state capitol for the Austin against war rally from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  
  
• More anti-war information can be found at the websites of the D.C. protest organizers: VoteNoWar.org and InternationalAnswer.org
  
  
• Last of all, I gotta share an awesome story of creative protest action from ChartAttack.com
  
  
  Anti-War Students take direct action on TRL
  
  Friday October 11, 2002 @ 04:00 PM
  By: ChartAttack.com Staff
  
  With George Bush's "with us or against us" attitude, there aren't a whole lot of anti-war sentiments leaking through into the mainstream media. That's why eight NYU students felt it necessary to crash MTV's New York studios yesterday to make their voices heard.
  
  The eight students all secured tickets to a taping of MTV's Total Request Live yesterday (October 10). Masquerading as regular pop-loving youngsters, the students arrived in two separate groups, with sweaters covering up their "No War On Iraq" T-shirts. They sat
  through a portion of the show, then one group of students tore off their sweaters and stormed the stage.
  
  "Can we have your attention, we have an urgent announcement," protest organizer Jason Rowe called out as the MTV VJ was announcing an Eminem video.
  
  "We have to tell Congress to stop the war," followed fellow protester Corey Eastwood.
  
  "We're standing with people around the world against the war," said student Luis Manriquez.
  
  The group were quickly whisked away by MTV security. Once they were gone, the second group of students attempted to make their move. NYU student Agatha Koprowski jumped up and yelled "Not in our name will you kill more people in an unjust war!"
  
  As the students were scuttled out, Fred Durst, the show's guest, reportedly shot them dirty looks and scoffed at them. Apparently El Dursto can dish out faux youthful rebellion but he can't take the real thing.
  
  The students were kicked out of the MTV building, but they weren't arrested. Before launching their attack, the activists contacted a lawyer who told them that if they obtained proper tickets to the show and didn't break anything they could not be charged for their
  outburst. MTV obviously were aware of this fact and did not call the police.
  
  

posted by JMB at 12:06 PM | link |

Social Justice:

• MSNBC: Sex slaves in Europe --- a tragic story. Europe and the world must act to free these women of such horrible oppression.
  

posted by JMB at 11:50 AM | link |

Blogging:

• MSNBC/CNET: Blog site back up after hack attack --- Attack locked users of Blogger.com out of their accounts
  
  It is amazing how fast news travels about the hacker attacks.
  
  This morning when I arrived at school around 8:30 a.m, I discovered that Torts was cancelled (actually it was cancelled long ago but stupid me didn't read the syllabus). So, I got online to post some stuff via Blogger to this site.
  
  When I attempted to login it said I had the wrong password. This didn't make sense, but I thought maybe Blogger reset the passwords or something so I hit the button for "forgot password" and entered my username. When it did this it said it was sending my password via email to hax0redbyme.!
  
  This of course freaked me out so I tried to send a help request to blogger and then proceeded to backup this entire website to disk as I was afraid the hacker who had high-jacked my account would proceed to turn JMBzine into a porn site or something.
  
  As it turns out though my paranoia was not a solitary thing but must have been happening to tens of thousands of folks around the world at the same time (read the MSNBC story above)
  
  So all iis well... or is it? My question is, how can we as a society stop hackers from doing things like this (and don't give me some romantic notions of hackers trying to destroy 'the man.' Pyra, who runs Blogger.com, is a tiny company that provides the power of free speech to hundreds of thousands of people, including oft-ignored folks like the Homeless, the elderly people in repressive nations, and even youth who need an outlet for self-expression. The folks behind this hacker attack should be found and imprisoned. ) when the need for enforcement of laws and norms of behavior is at tension with the freedom of expression and privacy that the internet is valued for?
  
  I don't know the answer but the whole situation is disappointing to me. Hackers (who we typically think of as being anti-establishment folks) attacking blogger (a bastion of free speech) makes about as much sense as a waterproof mop. These folks (along with the email spammers) may very well destroy the internet as we know it. Unless the internet community can learn to self-govern, the government will come in and do it, and we know if they do it they will stifle free speech and turn the internet into a giant AOL-like environment where speaking against authority means punishment. The day that happens is the day I unplug and do my writing offline.
  

posted by JMB at 6:07 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• MSNBC: Senator Paul Wellstone dies in plane crash --- Democrat’s wife, daughter also among eight victims
  
  Incredibly sad news. I believe America has lost a great man. I don't know about all of this positions (he is was Minnesota Senator) but I look up to him for voting against Bush's idiotic war against Iraq (the only Democrat in a closely contested race this year to do so) and also for stand against the Bankruptcy "Reform" Bill. Here's one excerpt from the MSNBC story that talks about this...
  
  
  Wellstone led crusades against bills he felt put average Americans at a disadvantage. He railed against still-to-be-enacted bankruptcy reforms that enjoy overwhelming support in Congress as benefiting only banks, credit card issuers, automobile finance companies and retailers at the expense of people who “now find themselves in brutal economic circumstances.”
  
  “Are single women with children deadbeats? This bill assumes that they are,” Wellstone said before voting against the Senate measure in July."
  
  
  America will miss you Senator Wellstone. I hope the voters of Minnesota will remember your legacy and elect a successor who will stand up as you did for the oppressed of this nation and the world.
  

posted by JMB at 5:46 PM | link |

Law School Update:

Boy I love these Immunity Days!

posted by JMB at 2:48 PM | link |

Bloging:

• The Homeless Guy - one of the most articulate blogs I've read in some time. Kevin's (a homeless guy in Nashville) thoughts are well worth reading.
  

posted by JMB at 12:44 PM | link |

Spirituality:

• MSNBC: Archaelogical evidence of Jesus? --- Scholars say ossuary’s inscription a ‘very probable’ reference (Here's another report on the find from National Public Radio
  
• Outlines of my sermons from last Sunday are now online
  

posted by JMB at 12:44 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• ZDNet: Homeland Defense--- Going too far? a creepy what-if story
  
  
• Wash Post: For Bush, facts are malleable
  
  
• NewOK.com: Drugs used to get votes, charges say
  
  
• Richardson says "Dare to be a Daniel" --- I say Richardson is off his rocker and I would like to know who this Pastor is who would write this. I would like to see one place in the Bible that says it is ok to oppress the poor and desperate with a lottery. Just one scripture! --- It ain't there and I have no idea what this pastor is saying here.
  
  Also, note that Richardson says that the lottery should be legal but sodomy and witchcraft should be against the law. --- Only in Oklahoma...
  

posted by JMB at 12:42 PM | link |

Culture:

• NPR: In praise of Slow Food
  
• I remember Ryan Adam's New York, New York video a few days after September 11th on VH1, but forgot how much I enjoyed seeing it. Maybe I am wierd this way, but for those four minutes of watching that footage shot of Manhattan from across the water (he must be singing on either the shore in Jersey or in Brooklyn, I'm not sure which) just 4 days before the attacks, I can imagine that those towers are still standing, and the people are going up and down the giant escalators in the basement after getting off the PATH train from New Jersey, and that everything is at peace. I really like the song and I really, really like the video. If you haven't seen it, you ought to.
  

posted by JMB at 12:42 PM | link |

Random:

I want to let my regular readers know that I will be slowing down on my posting a bit of these next 6-8 weeks. This is due to a couple of things, one this week I'm starting a new job preaching for a small rural church on Sundays (which I am quite excited about, but also am worried about time-wise), secondly that L-school is kicking into high gear with finals only a month away, and finally I'm not having the time to keep up with political news reading NY Times, Wash Post, etc are sadly being neglected. I am still keeping up with things as much as possible (mostly by listening to Morning Edition and All Things Considered on National Public Radio but it is harder to hunt down links for web info on radio coverage.

I will still post some though (whenever I feel moved to), especially on non-politics stuff, but it will be slowing down. Back to studying. . .

posted by JMB at 5:18 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• Peace in Iraq Rally and Picnic in OKC
  
  
  Saturday, Oct 26
  Noon to 1 pm - Peace Family Picnic BYO everything
  1 pm to 2 pm - PEACE RALLY - speakers, musicians
  
  A coalition of local citizens and organizations opposed to a U.S. war in Iraq plan a public peace rally and picnic, Saturday, October 26, in Memorial Park, at NW 36th Street and Classen Blvd. in Oklahoma City. The events are planned in conjunction with national demonstrations for peace to be held the same day in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, according to organizers.
  
  “We have grave concerns about the consequences of a war in Iraq, without more certainty that every alternative to war has been exhausted,” said Peace House director Nathaniel Batchelder. “No evidence has been shared with Congress or the media of Iraq’s real threat to the U.S. or the world, or of any links to the Al Quaida network. To the contrary, evidence suggests that Iraq is far less of a threat today than ten years ago,” he said.
  
  Events will kick off with a noon “Peace Family Picnic” on the west side of Memorial Park, according to Batchelder. Families are invited to bring their own picnic baskets and refreshments, blankets, frisbees, and kites, Batchelder said, to create a celebration of life.
  
  The Rally for Peace in Iraq will begin at 1 pm, Batchelder said. Speakers representing different religious traditions and local musicians will rally the gathering, while participants may sign peace petitions or send post cards to elected officials from tables and booths from the sponsoring organizations.
  
  Sponsors sharing expenses include the Peace House, Joy Mennonite Church, the Oklahoma City Friends Meeting (Quakers), Mayflower Congregational Church, the Oklahoma Conference of Churches IMPACT Committee, Pax Christi of Oklahoma, the Peace & Justice Commission of the Oklahoma Episcopal Diocese, the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, Social Justice Committee of the First Unitarinan Church of Oklahoma City, Soulforce in Oklahoma, United Nations Association of Greater Oklahoma City, Constructive Consulting, Priority Properties, Dan Hardt and Joe Kirk, Len and Amy Williams, Mary Sine, and Lydia Gill-Polley.
  
  Endorsers to date include Metropolitan Ministries, Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House, Church of the Open Arms - UCC, Herland Sister Resources, and Mission Service Team of the Oklahoma Conterence of the United Methodist Church.
  
  For more information, or to add names to the list of sponsors and endorsers, contact Nathaniel Batchelder at the Peace House in Oklahoma City at 405-524-5577.
  
  CONTACT: Nathaniel Batchelder @ the Peace House
  405-524-5577 batchokc@a...
  
  
  I plan on being there from 1-2 pm, so if you're one of my peace-lovin' OKC friends, look for me there. :-)
  

posted by JMB at 5:12 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• MSNBC: Iraq grants amnesty to all prisoners --- Saddam’s show of thanks after winning 100 percent of vote
  
• NY Times: Irish Vote for a Wider Union, and Europe Celebrates
  

posted by JMB at 7:51 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• MSNBC/Newsweek: There’s a Little Rick in All of Us ---Slow to anger, the hero of ‘Casablanca’ is the ultimate reluctant warrior. Why so many Americans feel the same way Op-ed by Chris Matthews
  

posted by JMB at 7:47 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• US Green Party Press Release: Greens See Hope in Palestinian Nonviolent Protests and Resistance to Israel's Occupation. But all hopes for peace will be shattered and Palestinian refugees endangered if the U.S. invades Iraq, say Greens
  
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Citing reports from the Occupied Palestinian Territories of renewed nonviolent protest and refusal to cooperate with Israel's curfews, members and candidates of the Green Party of the United States said that the hope for resolution lies in peace talks, diplomatic pressure, and Israel's withdrawal from the Territories. But Greens also warned that President Bush's plans to invade Iraq would destabilize the entire region and shatter any such hopes.
  
  "Palestinians in Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem, Gaza and Bethlehem defied curfews and poured into the streets for protests and candlelight vigils against the latest siege of Arafat's headquarters," said Justine McCabe, a Connecticut Green and member of the party's International Committee. "West Bank schools remain open in defiance of curfews, or operate via e-mail. As in the
  movement that ended South African apartheid, this renewed non-violent mass action by Palestinians requires international support
  and attention to sustain itself as the political strategy for ending the occupation." McCabe noted that most Palestinians have long
  favored nonviolent protest, ever since the First Intifada of 1987-93.
  
  "If mass civil disobedience by Palestinians and Israeli supporters of human rights for Palestinians is the best hope, the worst hope is
  Bush's intended war on Iraq," said Joe Fortunato, Green candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 8th Congressional District. " An
  invasion by the U.S. would prompt a likely missile assault by Saddam Hussein on Israel, and probably motivate Prime Minister Sharon to carry out his plan of 'ethnic cleansing' -- driving Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan, where the government would almost
  certainly collapse during a civil war, or even into a 'newly configured' Iraq."
  
  Greens, who last year endorsed the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland, call special attention to the vulnerability of
  Palestinian refugees in the regional chaos that would result from the invasion. A coalition of Israeli academics recently issued an
  urgent appeal of concern that in the "fog of war" in Iraq, Sharon would exploit the situation to expel Palestinians from their land.
  The current Israeli government includes parties that promote "expulsion" and "transfer" of the Palestinian population, especially in the Israeli occupied territories, as a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  
  According to one of the Israeli academics, Professor Jacob Katriel of Haifa University, "In a recent interview in the Israeli daily,
  Ha'aretz, Israeli Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon described the Palestinians as 'a cancerous manifestation' and equated the military
  action in the Occupied Territories with 'chemotherapy,' suggesting that 'more radical treatment' may be necessary. We call on the
  international community... to make it absolutely clear that crimes against humanity will not be tolerated, and to take concrete
  measures to prevent such crimes from taking place."
  
  Greens continue to insist that Israel and the U.S. adhere to international law, as well as the Constitution's restriction of the role of armed forces to protection of U.S. borders. (One note by JMB: While I 100% agree with the Green Party position of restricting the US military to protecting our own borders, I do not believe there is any clause in the US Constitution would require this. This might be a good policy, but it is not a constitutionally-mandated policy.)
  
  "The Bush Administration insists that Saddam Hussein be overthrown because he refuses to comply with U.N. resolutions and possesses weapons of mass destruction," said Annie Goeke, co-chair of the party's International Committee. "But the U.S. has failed to oppose Israel's disregard of over 65 U.N. Security Council resolutions, including those regarding refugee rights, the illegal occupation of territory acquired by force, the massive invasion of a sovereign nation -- Lebanon -- and 18 years of military occupation there. Such
  blatant hypocrisy is fueling the already intense antipathy toward the U.S. among people throughout the developing world, including the
  Middle East."
  
  "We join human rights groups the European Federation of Green Parties, the U.N. High Commission for Human Rights, and U.N.
  Secretary General Kofi Annan in their repeated calls for an international protection force for all civilians in the Occupied
  Palestinian Territories, " added Holly Hart, Green candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa and member of People for Justice in
  Palestine. "And we encourage Palestinians and Israelis in various peace movements, such as Gush Shalom, Women in Black, Al-Awda, and Courage to Refuse, to maintain pressure on Israel."
  
  
  posted by JMB at 9:30 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• More Registered Greens Than Republicans in Berkeley and Arcata, CA
  
  
  Greens now #2 in Berkeley, CA
  
  The Green Party of Alameda County announced that they had officially overtaken the Republican Party in Berkeley, and is now second to the Democratic Party, based on voter registration data just released by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
  
  The Green Party had had steady increase with 4,538 registered members in Berkeley, while the Republican Party had 4,431, and is
  declining. The Green Party membership is about 7% of all registered voters in this city of 103,000. This marks the first time in which
  Green Party voter registration totals have exceeded Republican party totals for any city in this major county.
  
  Berkeley is the second city in California where the Green Party has overtaken the Republican Party in voter registration totals. In
  2000, the Humboldt County city of Arcata became the first city in the state to have more registered Greens than Republicans.
  
  THE GREEN PARTY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
  Contact: 510-644-2293
  www.cagreens.org/alameda/county
  
  
  I think the Greens in Austin (or at least in Central and Southern Austin, and maybe even San Marcos) have the potential to someday match this feat if things continue the way they are goin now. Woohoo!!!
  

posted by JMB at 9:24 PM | link |

Quote:

The fate of the world will soon be decided, The dominion of evil grows stronger... I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.


(Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)



24-7

posted by JMB at 5:56 PM | link |

Music:

• Yesterday night was my church's last night to have our preacher Ernie and his family with us.
  
  It was a bittersweet night (you're happy for the new opportunity for their family, but still sad to see them go) but it was a good night for music. Since it was their last night we had a special singing night to send them off. We sang so many of the prettiest old hymns and some of the newer songs with challanging harmonies, including "O Lord, our Lord" and a medley of "Holy Ground + We are Standing on Holy Ground" (click here to hear the Linary Church of Christ sing this song in mp3 format --- more of their songs can be found here). Towards the end of the night most of the folks were crying but even then we kept singing. It was most definitely a memorable night.
  
  
• This afternoon I went hunting for some new music on mp3.com. Here's some that I found worthwhile:
  
  
  
  
  • The Misty River Band --- Here's what one reviewer said of this 4-part female Bluegrass band "When the time comes for me to walk through the pearly gates, I want to be ushered through by a chorus of angelic harmonies like this. Misty River is a four-woman collective of songstresses who have an incredible talent for precision layering of live voices ... this is music which is heavily steeped in the bluegrass, folk and country traditions. But there's also a modern edge to the music which resembles the neo-bluegrass style of Alison Krauss or EmmyLou Harris." -Minor 7th guitar webzine.
    
    
  • Melissa Webb - a bluegrass girl who sounds a lot like Allison Krause
    
    
  • Moses Guest - a country/rock/funk/jam band from Houston
    
    
  • Something Corporate - an emo band
    

posted by JMB at 3:32 PM | link |

Random:

Recent websites I've been working on are:


• NewcastleHeightsCOC.com
  
  
• OKGreens.org
  

posted by JMB at 5:09 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

I received this message today from the CPTnet:


CPTnet
October 10, 2002
COLOMBIA: CPT workers detained by Colombian authorities

Two Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) volunteers, Lisa Martens, 25 (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Ben Horst, 23 (Evanston, Illinois), were detained by officials of the Administrative Security Department of Colombia (DAS in Spanish) and by Colombian military personnel at about 10 p.m. on October 8, 2002.

Earlier in the day, Martens and Horst, both Mennonites, had accompanied a Colombian woman who was bringing the body of her husband from a nearby village to the central Colombian city of Yondo for burial. The woman had requested international accompaniment for herself and the other civilians who made the trip with her because of her fear of violence.

The detentions were a matter of major concern to Colombian and international workers because they could represent new restrictions on organizations working with people whom armed groups have threatened with death or persecution.

CPT regularly supports civilians who are in physical and emotional pain because of the ubiquitous violence in Colombia.

"To accompany a bereaved widow with her husband's body, so that it may be treated and buried with dignity, is in keeping with CPT's work wherever CPT has carried out projects," said Gene Stoltzfus, international director of CPT. Martens and Horst emphasized that none of the civilians were members of any illegal armed group, nor were any armed.

On the morning of October 9, CPT staff contacted government officials in both Canada and the United States to seek the release of Martens and Horst. Officials from both countries were in contact with Colombian officials throughout the day, and by late afternoon Martens and Horst were released without charges. Martens reported by phone, "We called to mind the great cloud of witnesses in heaven who are concerned for us and the people of Colombia," as she described their prayer times while in detention.

CPT still does not understand why the authorties detained Martens and Horst, but hopes that the Colombian government better understands the work of CPT after this event. President Uribe has stated that his government is committed to the protection of human rights. CPT hopes that Colombian and international human rights organizations will be able to continue their work of defending the human rights of unarmed civilians caught in the bloody conflict that grips Colombia.

CPT has had a violence-reduction team in Barrancabermeja, Colombia since May, 2001 at the invitation of the Colombian Mennonite Church. CPT members accompany civilians who are in danger because of the violence that has gripped Colombia for several decades. CPT does not accompany members of armed groups, nor anyone who is armed. Present team members are Ben Horst (Evanston, IL), Lisa Martens (Winnipeg, MB), Lena Siegers (Blythe, ON) and Scott Albrecht (Waterloo, ON).

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and Friends Meetings that supports violence reduction efforts around the world.

Contact CPT, POB 6508 Chicago, IL 60680; Telephone: 773-277-0253 Fax: 773-277-0291.
http://www.prairienet.org/cpt/

posted by JMB at 10:59 AM | link |

Politics and Policy:

Well it looks like the Oklahoma governor's race might be a genuine race after all. Richardson's new ads hit the airwaves this morning and my oh my...

The ad starts with the cheezy Alan Jackson song (he writes more schmatlzy songs for the Nashville psuedo-country establishment than almost anyone else) "Where were you when the world stopped turning..." with scenes from the 9-11 attack.

Then he cuts to map of the US that zooms into Idaho where then Congressman Steve Largent (now GOP governor candidate) was hunting. Then he cuts to yesterday's interview where the KOKH-25 reporter asks Largent about his 9-11 absense, and says the question is "bulls***!" in a very angry tone of voice.

(Daily Oklahoman story on the incident and Largent's apology)

I am very concerned about this incident. It is not so much the fact that Largent used an expletive (lots of folks do, including most of the Conservative types that he courts), but the fact that he did so in such a public fashion, and the fact that he seemed so out of control. It is one thing to say a bad word in private or even off-the-record. It is another thing to say it in a TV interview, especially when he must have known the question was coming.

I can't help but think this is Keating all over again. Remember Keatings remarks over the last 8 years (saying his response to the teacher's union was "homicide," insulting state legislators, etc.) that seemed so stupid and ill-thought. We don't need another govenor who will say things like this.

That said, sheesh! This race is a joke. You got Henry and Richardson both wanting to tax the poor and desperate with a lottery plus Richardson wants to give everyone free college tuition (a great idea, but how will we pay for it), sell the state lodges and do away with turnkpikes (another good idea down the road, but you gotta pay for them someway else... roads aren't free.) And the Largent, he seems to be Keating II.

Right now I think I'll be casting a blank ballot for governor unless one of them does something to pull away from the pack of sucky candidateness.

posted by JMB at 10:54 AM | link |

From the L-school blogs:

• Suasponte has a rather humerous story on his/her (not sure on Suasponte's gender) 10-01 post:
  
  
  . . . Two professors so far have shared different versions of the urban legend where a bum approaches a lawyer and says "Hey, I went to law school too!" The lawyer rolls his eyes and tries to disengage himself from the conversation. The bum continues: "No, seriously! Pennoyer v. Neff!"
  
  
  I know my non L-school readers are probably scratching their heads, but this is so funny!
  

posted by JMB at 8:52 PM | link |

Music:

• Extreme good news! --- I have been lusting for the new Six Pence None the Richer album Divine Discontent but have been poor to buy it. (I blew all of my money on The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's new album.) But the good news is that SPNTR is so kind to provide their ENTIRE NEW ALBUM on their website that you can listen to in streaming format. (and not a crummy sounding feed either, but one that sounds like mp3/cd quality)
  
  Super major thanks go out to Leigh and SPNTR! You are my new favorite band for sure (at least for this evening ;-)

posted by JMB at 8:27 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• How to Unionize -very useful practical primer on federal labor laws regarding union formation
  
  
• Labor Unions and Internet organizing
  

posted by JMB at 9:26 PM | link |

Culture:

In an earlier JMBzine posting on books I've read lately, I mentioned A Short History of the Life of Barton W. Stone, Written by Himself (1847). Since then I discovered that the entire book is online (for free as copyrights have long expired) by clicking here

If you're from a restorationist background or are interested in American religious history (most notably the revivals of the 2nd Great Awakenening) you should check it out.

BTW, for any charismatics out there, read chapter 6 of the book. It is interesting that these unusual works of the Holy Spirit happened long before Azusa Street at the Cain Ridge Revival of 1801!

posted by JMB at 4:09 PM | link |

Law Humor:

I found these nicknames for the US Supremes at Lawpside.com's fantasy Supreme Court contest website. Some are so stupid they're funny, others are just obscenely funny...





Chief Justice William "I Am Da Man" Rehnquist


Justice John Paul "Even" Stevens


Justice Sandra "Judgment" Day O'Connor


Justice Antonin "Fuggetaboutit" Scalia


Justice Anthony "Don't Call Me 'Tony'" Kennedy


Justice David "Buddy" Hackett Souter


Justice Clarence "I've Switched to Pepsi" Thomas


Justice Ruth "Darth" Bader Ginsburg


Justice Stephen "Low Fat" Breyer

posted by JMB at 10:22 PM | link |

Culture:

I haven't talked about books in awhile, so here's what I've been a readin' lately...


• The Street Lawyer by John Grisham - a quick 3 day read that tells the story of a corporate lawyer turned advocate for the homeless after being a hostage of a deranged man. The Street Lawyer was entertaining but more importantly helped to remind me of why I'm going to L-school in the first place.
  
  I had discounted Grisham in the past, but this book has me hooked. I definitely need to read more of him. (Thanks to my friend Allison from Hope Chapel in Austin for giving me this book on my last trip down there!)
  
  
• The Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic - a fascinating book, and one that will have to reread soon. (Too much to say about it. I need to write a fuller review of it for my other zine, exitzine.com, which has been sadly neglected lately) but I definitely would recommend it. I think what I like best about it is the characters that Frederic created. They are so compelling and multi-dimensional. It is one of the best books I've read from this era (late 1800's) and is much better than some of the books that are more well-known from the time (i.e. Crane's Red Badge of Courage). --- Thanks to my friend Kimberly for giving me this book! Her book recommendations always served me well.
  
  
• The Biography of Elder Barton Stone - actually most of it is an autobiography of Elder Stone, who was a revivalist preacher of the 2nd Great Awakening (early 1800's) and one of the founders of the Restoration/Stone-Campbell movement of which grew the Churches of Christ, Independent Christian Churches, and the Disciples of Christ. Stone is fascinating man. I wish his influence would have been greater than the oft-lauded (but often wrong headed) Alexander Campbell. Brother Barton is one man I intend to look up when I get to heaven. I would love to have a long talk with him.
  
  
• Currently, I'm reading a novel by Wendell Berry (one of my all-time favorite authors). I'll report on it later.
  

posted by JMB at 10:12 PM | link |

Culture:

I finally got the newly released Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. III * by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and friends.



Oh my Lord! You are so good to me giving me music this beautiful. Willie Nelson, Johnnie Cash (esp his song of remember Mother Maybelle Carter), June Carter Cash, Allison Krause, Randy Scruggs, Emmylou Harris, Earl Scruggs... ah life is good.

I haven't listened to it all (there's 2 disks with a combined total of 28 songs and almost 110 minutes of music, along with a video of the taping of "Take Me in your lifeboat," but what I've heard thus far is so, so precious... songs of love, songs of faith (and not that weak pansy faith of folks who sip warm milk, but rather the faith that has been through a few scraps and is still kicking) songs of pilgrimage and struggle, songs of grief and crying, songs of joy so inexpressible that your heart feels like its going to explode in your chest, songs of remembering those who have gone on to the great beyond, and songs of loving those who are still with us.

Best of all, there is the most heavenly harmonica music I have heard in my life. Harmonica that is everything that the good harp is supposed to be, harmonica that talks and swoons and cries and melts your heart with its goodness.

Ok, enough rhapsodizing for now. I am so blessed!

* Note: Amazon.com's editorial reviewer must be a crack smoker. WTCBU Volume III is a masterpiece. I liked O Brother... but WTCBU is much better.
posted by JMB at 9:57 PM | link |

Peace Resources:

• Voices in the Wilderness has launched a new website which includes a gallery of Alan Pogue's B/W documentary photos taken in Iraq.
  
  The pictures I found most moving were:
  • Sister Yvette shepards the 1st Communion class at Caldean Catholic Church; Basrah, Iraq. --- This scene of a minority religion freely practicing its faith would be not exist within many of America's allies, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and China. Why America chooses to invade Iraq while supporting other nationst hat do not allow their citizens to choose their own religion, is beyond me.
    
    
  • Dr. Gasim Risun, holding his son, age 3 weeks.
    He was wounded by a Dec. 1998 "Desert Fox" missile. --- Note the date... 1998. Don't ever believe anyone who says Persian Gulf War ended in 1991. It's a lie.
  
  
  Post Edited Oct 13, 2002
  
  

posted by JMB at 9:49 PM | link |

Law:

• Fantasy Supreme Court League: --- In the Fantasy Supreme Court League, "players" will attempt to predict the outcome of 9 cases that will come before the Supreme Court in its 2002-2003 "season", which will run from October 2002 through June 2003. The winner of the contest will receive a cash prize of $500 and will be named "Armchair Jurist of the Year." (Thanks to AndrewRaff.com for this.)

posted by JMB at 5:58 PM | link |

Random:

• Motorcycle touring in paradise --- Five days of Italian adventure on a rented touring bike
  

posted by JMB at 5:47 PM | link |

Science:

• Slate: Sex and Death ---- The awful existential significance of cellular suicide
  

posted by JMB at 5:47 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• NY Times/AP: FCC rejects merer of satellite TV rivals - a very good move for rural America.
  
  
• Press Release: Congressman Paul calls for congressoinal declaration of war against Iraq
  
  
  . . . "Sadly, the leadership of both parties on the International Relations committee fails to understand that the Constitution requires a congressional declaration of war before our troops are sent into battle," Paul continued. "One Republican member stated that the constitutional requirement that Congress declare war is an anachronism and should no longer be followed," while a Democratic member said that a declaration of war would be ‘frivolous.’ I don’t think most Americans believe our Constitution is outdated or frivolous, and they expect Congress to follow it."
  
  "When Congress issued clear declarations of war against Japan and Germany during World War II, the nation was committed and victory was achieved," Paul concluded. "When Congress shirks its duty and avoids declaring war, as with Korea, and Vietnam, the nation is less committed and the goals are less clear. No lives should be lost in Iraq unless Congress expresses the clear will of the American people and votes yes or no on a declaration of war."
  
  
  While don't support war at all, I have to say that I appeciate Congressman Paul's viewpoint (Paul is a former Libertarian Presidential candidate, and current Republican Congressman from Texas. I was proud to have him as my representative when I live in San Marcos.) If the US is going to do a stupid war like the eminent war against Iraq, the US should at least do the right thing and enact a lawful declaration of war.
  

posted by JMB at 5:46 PM | link |

posted by JMB at 8:45 AM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• MSNBC: Carter awarded Nobel Peace Prize
  
  
  OSLO, Norway, Oct. 11 — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”
  
  THE NORWEGIAN Nobel Committee cited Carter’s “vital contribution” to the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and his efforts in conflict resolution on several continents and the promotion of human rights after his presidency.
  
  “In a situation currently marked by threats of the use of power, Carter has stood by the principles that conflicts must as far as possible be resolved through mediation and international co-operation based on international law, respect for human rights, and economic development,” the citation said.
  
  Separately, the chairman of the Nobel committee noted the current move toward war with Iraq by current U.S. President George Bush.
  
  “It should be interpreted as a criticism of the line that the current administration has taken,” Gunnar Berge said. “It’s a kick in the leg to all that follow the same line as the United States.” . . .

posted by JMB at 8:35 AM | link |

Politics and Policy:

Today is a bittersweet day. Congress today gave their unconditional support Bush's proposed unilateral war against Iraq. As Congressman Byrd has said more eloquently than I can, the power to declare war belongs to Congress alone. It was not right for Congress to give up this power to Bush in a blank check for future agression.

But, in the midst of this horrible day, I can not focus on the evil. Partly because maintaining a heart of hatred just allows the warmongers to win, but also because I think there is good in this day too.

First, while the majority decided to follow through with the administration's war plan, a sizeable minority choose to stand up against this move. In honor of those brave men and women, I want to provide these links to the roll call vote:


• Wash Post: House Roll Call - Iraq Resolution
  
  
• Wash Post: House Roll Call - Iraq Resolution
  
  
• Also here is a more in-depth story on the vote --- Wash Post: Congress passes Iraq resolution --- Overwhelming Approval Gives Bush Authority to Attack Unilaterally
  
  
  . . . Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) voted no after learning in a military briefing this week that U.S. soldiers do not have adequate protection against biological weapons. "As a veteran, that's what hit me the hardest," Baca said. "Would you send someone, knowing they're going to be killed?" . . .
  
  Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said: "The power to declare war is the most solemn responsibility given to Congress by the Constitution. We must not delegate that responsibility to the president in advance."
  
  But in a poignant reminder of the deep divisions inside the Democratic Party, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) broke with his father and sided with the president. . .
  
  Minority House members were nearly unanimous in opposing Bush's resolution. Every Hispanic Democrat voting yesterday voted against the resolution, as did all but four of 31 African American Democrats who voted.
  
  Among the dozen most vulnerable Democrats in next month's elections, just two -- Reps. James Maloney (Conn.) and Julia Carson (Ind.) -- opposed the measure. In the Senate, Paul D. Wellstone (D-Minn.) was alone among incumbents facing tough reelections who voted against it.
  
  
  
• More commentary on this vote will come later.
  

posted by JMB at 8:34 AM | link |

(Taken from: www.micahwright.com
posted by JMB at 9:09 PM | link |

Music:

• O Sister 2, A Women's Bluegrass Collection looks like a great album. I don't have it yet, but boy do I want it.
  
  
• Other albums I'm lusting for but can't afford are Steve Earle's Jerusalem and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. III
  

posted by JMB at 9:19 AM | link |

Law Blogs

• Revenge of the Blog, a Yale Law School Presentation --- This looks interesting. (which reminds me of a saying of one of my profs... this prof says that whenever he asks us to think why this is the way it is, or get into policy dicta, it is a "Yale law school moment."
  
  Seeing this presentation makes me wish I went to Yale. (hahaha yeah, like they'd let me in ;-)
  

posted by JMB at 6:48 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• Bush's speech from last night and the news of today's congressional debates keep coming to mind. War seems more and more like a tangible reality, and not just a ghost that haunts my thoughts and fears. I am already weary of thinking and worrying about it, but I can't get it out of my mind so I'm going to vent a little bit. --- I know many Americans (and even friends and family) see this war as inevitable and even neccesary, but I just can't convince myself of that. Partly it is what one friend told me. My friend said that he could not support the war because he couldn't stand the thought of Iraqi children crying over their dead fathers, and mothers crying for the dead sons and daughters. That describes my own feelings as well.
  
  If there is a genuine threat of Saddam possessing the means of using weapons of mass destruction (the key is, can he utilize them, not just does he possess the weapons themselves), then why not just hit those specific sites? To me it would seem like a much more humane solution and would result in much fewer casulties.
  
  But invading the country out right in a preemptive invasion? That strikes me as immoral and cowardly. Certainly waiting is a risk, but to me it is one worth taking. An invasion is guarranteed to kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people, both soldiers and civilians. Most of those who would be killed would be good, honest people, who love their God and their familes. --- Believe me, I have zero sympathy for Saddamm Hussein. In my opinion, he is one of the most evil men living today. But, he won't be the one will suffer. He'll likely escape harm altogether (as Bin Laden likely has done) but his people will suffer greatly.
  
  Try to tell yourself that these girls are expendable for America's security...
  
  
  Teacher and 12 year old students at the Al-Khadihin School in Saddam City. One little girl at this school told us to tell the American children that "We are your friends!" December, 1999. Photo: Chuck Quilty.(from nonviolence.org/vitw
  
  I can't do it. I can't tell myself that these girls do not count. That is why I keep speaking against this war.
  

posted by JMB at 6:23 PM | link |

Law Blog Watch:

Periodically I'm going to summarize what some of the other L-school bloggers are talking about, and maybe respond if I feel like it. (I got the idea from Gtexts. I doubt I will do it as well or as regularly as he does though.) OK, here goes...


• Janeway is talking about ultra-competive folks in her L-school and the caddy way they treat people. (I'm glad I don't go to her school. OCU certainly has some competive folks, but over all no one gets into as a personal thing, and most of us don't even care about the competive angle.)
  
  
• Suasponte is talking about the joys of L-school scheduling and other stuff in her life.
  
  
• Andrew Raff's blog is very interesting in its discussion of recent cases before the US Supremes and VCD pirates taking to the high seas to avoid criminal prosecution.
  
  
• Garrett Moritz (one of my fav L-school blogs) is talking about the new LOTR movie (The Twin Towers), and if being anti-war is a "liberal" phenomenon.
  

posted by JMB at 2:35 PM | link |

Random:

• Micah Wright's thoughts on the currents state of comics
  
  
• Jonah, the new Veggie Tales movie is now in theatres!!! --- I am so looking forward to seeing this! I love VeggieTales!
  
  
• NY Times: Japanese masters get closer to the toilet nirvana
  
  
• Roger Ebert's review of Office Space --- a movie I saw recently on video. Very, very funny. I highly recommend it. (Also, it was filmed in Austin.)
  
  
• A list of movies filmed in Austin, TX (as of 2000) --- a good list, but I wish they would update it. Lots of movies have been filmed there since, including Miss Congeniality (featuring the Dog & Duck Pub of Austin which played a pub in NYC) and Spy Kids 2 (I saw part of its filming at McKinney Falls State Park in SE Austin)
  

posted by JMB at 2:21 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• MSNBC: Mixed news on U.S. abortions
  
  
• NY Times: The F.C.C.'s duty
  
  
  . . . By statute, good "character" is a requirement for holding a wireless license. Under F.C.C. rules, you don't have to be a criminal to lack good character. Although character issues usually have involved radio or TV broadcasters, the F.C.C. has investigated wireless common carriers as well. For example, the F.C.C. refused to license a company that concealed the fact that it started building transmitter towers before the agency approved the construction.
  
  The F.C.C. authority in monitoring the conduct of its licensees should be brought to bear on the WorldCom case. At a minimum it should issue a "notice to show cause" that would require WorldCom to demonstrate why the agency should not revoke all of its licenses and certifications. . .
  
  
  
• MSNBC: Bush targets a doubtful public --- Support for action against Iraq tepid, declining In the short term, if Bush continues his march to war the public support with improve, but I think over the long haul this war could become very unpopular, especially if there are high casualities.
  

posted by JMB at 2:21 PM | link |

Science:

• NY Times: On Medicine's Frontier --- The Last Journey of James Quinn --- A thought-provoking story on the often high human cost medical technology. I'm sure Abiomed had good intentions with their trials, but it seems to me that they didn't work hard enough at taking care of James Quinn or his family
  
  
• NY Times: Telescopes find a miniplanet at the solar system's edge a more detailed story on the discovery of Quarar.
  

posted by JMB at 2:20 PM | link |

Website News:

JMBzine was mentioned in the October 7, 2002 issue of Jusletter, an Swiss online legal journal published as part of www.weblaw.ch. The story was brief piece discussing the recent popularity of blogs by lawyers and law students.

(You can read the story translated into English by using babelfish.altavista.com and selecting "German to English" translation.

posted by JMB at 1:43 PM | link |

(Taken from: www.micahwright.com


posted by JMB at 9:41 PM | link |

Law School Update:

• L-school is kicking along. Right now is crunch time for all of the assignments in Legal Analysis and Legal Research and Writing, and as soon as that mess is over it'll be time for making the outlines for Final exams. Happy, happy, joy, joy!
  
  Classes are going ok. The regular law classes (torts, contracts, civ pro) are now much more enjoyable and I feel good about them (I'm actually understanding contracts, at least part of the time ;-) but the writing-heavier classes (LA and LR&W) are driving me nuts. I know this is stuff that is good to know, but the busy work is overwhelming. All of this blue book stuff has convinced me that I do not want to do Law Review.
  
  
• Gtexts was kind enough to throw me a link in the midst of a discussion on the universality of the L-school experience and a discussion on what Law school bloggists have been blogging about lately. (have you ever noticed how the word "blog" can be used as a noun... i.e. "a blog"; a verb.... i.e. "to blog," or even as an adjective... "that's so blog" hahaha, ok, I made that last one up. The excessive use of the word "blog" does remind me of the old smurfs show, and how "smurf" was used as a substitute for many verbs... but my questions is could it be used as a curse word, like "SMURF YOU!" hahaha, as you can see the fine art of legal citation has rotted my brain away.)
  

posted by JMB at 9:23 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• YourCongress.com --- a fun, irreverent look at the goofballs who govern us
  
  
• I listened to almost all of Bush's address to the nation tonight on the war in Iraq. Bush was very articulate for the most part and presented a decent case for action using the fact pattern he wants us to believe.
  
  If you trust everything the administration says, then I guess it is a slam dunk deal.
  
  I personally do not have that trust. Right now, I don't want to say it is a "wag the dog" deal. It is certainly not on the level of what Clinton pulled when he bombed the Aspirin factory, but the political timing is at least suspect. But, that is really only in the back of my mind. I genuinely do think (or at least want to think) that Bush's motives are good and that he has the nation's best interest at heart.
  
  But I still think he is wrong. If there is credible proof (by that I want to see pictures, not just unverified statements that some informant supposedly told them) that there is a serious nuke or biological threat, then take that threat out. But don't invade the country. During the last war, over 100,000 people died. This war I think will be worse. I just can't see any justifiable reason to kill that many people.
  
  If the issue is regime change, then why aren't we invading Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a much more repressive regime than IRaq. Or what about North Korea? Why aren't we marching on Pyongyang right now? Or even China, who has the capability to launch nuclear armegeadon on every inch of our territory west of the Rockies?
  
  Maybe Bush means well, but his war is still wrong.
  
  
• One thing that is sad to me is that none of the major broadcast networks except FOX ran the Presidential address. Bush as President deserved to have the chance to make his case to the American people, and the American people deserved to decide for themselves after hearing him. It's too bad ABC, CBS and NBC don't think so.
  

posted by JMB at 9:14 PM | link |

Spirituality:

• Boundless.org: Christianity or Cult? --- a sad story concerning an encounter with an ICC member.

Thanks go out to AJY and Scott for several of today's links.
posted by JMB at 6:21 PM | link |

The Judiciary:

• MSNBC: Red light runners can e-mail judge --- New system lets minor transgressors skip drive to court
  

posted by JMB at 6:21 PM | link |

Science:

• MSNBC: Frozen world of Quaoar found beyond Pluto --- This is a fascinating discovery.
  
  
• Boundless.org: Score one for politics
  
  
  First, they make observations about the world; they inquire, measure and record, all in an appallingly objective manner. Then they have the audacity to construct theories in order to explain the facts. As if this weren’t bad enough, they then report their findings to the rest of us, heedless of any political consequences.
  
  Take Dr. Robert Spitzer. Dr. Spitzer is a Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University who has been conducting psychiatric research for more than 30 years. One of his major fields of interest is human sexuality; in particular, sexual orientation. Over the years, he has conducted numerous studies to explore how orientation is determined, the degree of its fluidity and various relationships between heredity and the environment in determining sexual feelings.
  
  Naturally, one group Spitzer became curious to investigate were "ex-gays," people who had previously identified themselves as homosexual, but now claimed to have become heterosexual. Who better, he thought, to provide evidence for the fixity or fluidity of sexual orientation than those who claim to have changed?
  
  Accordingly, Spitzer conducted more than 200 telephone interviews with just such people. Each 45-minute interview contained 60 questions about the subjects’ feelings and behavior before and after their efforts to change orientation. They discussed their motives for change; their strategies, which included counseling, support groups, prayer and mentoring; and their current relationships with the opposite sex.
  
  Spitzer found that approximately 66 percent of the men and 44 percent of the women he interviewed had achieved, over the course of many years, a level of "good heterosexual functioning." His conclusion, in his own words: "Some highly motivated people can change from gay to straight." . . .
  
  
  I find two things interesting about this story.
  
  First, this study showed that a sizeable number of people (a majority of men and a minority of women surveyed) who identified themselves as former homosexuals, did in fact achieve a "good heterosexual functioning." This would seem to fly in the face of what many homosexual advocates would express.
  
  Secondly, at the same time a sizeable number of the pool (in this case, a minority of the men, but a majority of the women) who identified themselves as former homosexuals, do not (in the eyes of this study) achieve a "good level of heterosexual functioning." This would seem to contradict what many in the homosexual conversion ministries would express.
  
  Finally, it seems strange to me that both sides of this debate didn't simply look at the study itself instead of jumping to conclusions. Certainly the study would seem to indicate that some folks with a homosexual orientation can change to a heterosexual orientation, while others who desire to make this change are unable to. This to me would seem to not be a victory for either camp, and I personally think the hype from both perspectives are excessive. The author of this article was right to call the PC folks for their stupid fear of scientific inquiry, but it also goes both ways. I don't think this study should be trotted out by the ex-gay ministries as "proof" that their ministries are 100% successful. I'm glad those ministries are out there, but also know that many homosexual people who sincerely do not want to be gay and want to change, are turned off by the lack of humility in some of these ministries. (I'll have to share a story at a later time of an encounter that I had with a struggling gay man when I was a student at SWOSU.) It's great that some do change, but those ministries should not make it sound like that everyone will have an easy time of it, because many will not.
  
  Also, before I get hate mail on this... I don't mean to sound like any of this is an easy answer.
  
  Sexuality is a mystery to me. I, myself believe in the Bible and its expression of the ideal of human sexuality, but know I do not live up to it often, and really most... no, I should say all of us do not live up to it. Why sex is so hard to do right, I don't know. It is frustrating to me that God created in us such an uncontrollable force, but He did. I get mad when folks shortchange the ideal by denying that there is an standard that men and women should strive for, but I also get mad when people put down those who struggle. The truth is that we all struggle with sin. Homosexuality is not a struggle I deal with, but I have other struggles. We all do. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar.
  

posted by JMB at 6:20 PM | link |

Random:

• Why would Klingons accept Christ?
  

posted by JMB at 6:11 PM | link |

Politics and Policy

• MSNBC/Reuters: Small webcasters get royalty break
  
  
• Boundless.org: How to buy the culture of your choice
  

posted by JMB at 6:11 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• MSNBC: Brazil elects a new president --- leftist ‘Lula,’
  a former union boss, is the front-runner This is very interesting news.

posted by JMB at 4:22 PM | link |

Spirituality:

• NY Times: In China, Catholic Churches Flourish, but Under Controls

posted by JMB at 3:22 PM | link |

Random:

• IC Wales: The World's Funniest Jokes, as picked by different countries
  
  My favorite one was...
  
  
  Two weasels are sitting on a bar stool. One starts to insult the other one.
  
  He screams, "I slept with your mother!"
  
  The bar gets quiet as everyone listens to see what the other weasel will do.
  
  The first again yells, "I SLEPT WITH YOUR MOTHER!"
  
  The other says, "Go home dad you're drunk."
  
  

posted by JMB at 11:29 PM | link |

Culture:

• Salon: Use the blog, Luke --- The collective future of blogs lies not in dethroning the New York Times -- but in becoming a force that can make sense of the Web's infinity of links.
  
  
• Rambling Round: The Life and Times of Woody Guthrie
  

posted by JMB at 5:58 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• Yahoo/Reuters: Thousands flock to Anti-War Rallies across Italy
  
  
  ROME (Reuters) - Waving banners and ringing church bells, thousands of Italians flocked to peace rallies across the country on Saturday to protest against a possible U.S. military strike on Iraq.
  
  Anti-war groups said demonstrators in 100 cities from the financial hub of Milan to the tip of the Italian boot participated in the protests.
  
  
  
• Chicago Tribune: Perils of capitalism? Think water distribution --- Oped by Molly Ivins
  
  
• Salon: Verizon faces down music industry over file-swapping
  
  
• NY Times: Hundreds are tracked by F.B.I. on theory of quiet Qaeda cells
  
  
  WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is trying to make an open book of the lives of hundreds of mostly young, mostly Muslim men in the United States in the belief that Al Qaeda-trained terrorists remain in this country, awaiting instructions to attack.
  
  Senior law enforcement officials say the surveillance campaign is being carried out by every major F.B.I. office in the country and involves 24-hour monitoring of the suspects' telephone calls, e-mail messages and Internet use, as well as scrutiny of their credit-card charges, their travel and their visits to neighborhood gathering places, including mosques. . .
  
  The bureau's surveillance campaign has depended heavily on wiretaps obtained under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the government to conduct electronic surveillance of terrorism suspects at a far lower standard of evidence than in normal criminal cases.
  
  Law enforcement officials said the bureau had worked closely with the National Security Agency in attempting to monitor telephone calls and other communication between suspects in the United States and telephone numbers abroad that are known to be used by Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
  
  The bureau's dependence on the surveillance act in the search for sleeper cells helps explain why the Justice Department has so aggressively defended its request to expand its authority under the law, passed in 1978, which has been the subject of a recent court battle involving the secret court in Washington that reviews the bureau's surveillance requests.
  
  "The terrorists don't know it, but we're listening in all the time," said a senior law enforcement official, noting that there had been extensive electronic surveillance of the six men charged near Buffalo, including reviews of e-mail messages that had passed back and forth between some of the men as they traveled in the Middle East in recent months.
  
  
  Welcome to Pax Americana/"Big Brother"'s America.
  
  
• a humerous letter on buying votes by Woody Guthrie
  
  Post edited Oct 5, 2002
  

posted by JMB at 5:56 PM | link |

Culture:

• NY Times: Sex and the College Newspaper --- an interesting phenomenon. Not sure what I think about it.
  
  
  Post edited Oct 5, 2002

posted by JMB at 7:23 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• NY Times: China Seizes Entrepreneur Named to Run North Korea Enclave
  
  
• NY Times: Warren Buffett Moves to Help Group Trying to Reduce Nuclear and Biological Threats - a laudable step by America's second richest man.
  

posted by JMB at 7:22 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

This is the rough draft of the candidate questionaire that the OK Green party is sending out to the state-wide OK candidates this year.

If you have a moment and want to post any suggestions on them, please email me with your thoughts. (I need any responses by Tuesday, Oct. 7th as we're putting together final drafts then.)

BTW, if you're unfamiliar with "Green" values, the questions are based on The 10 Key Green
values.

Thanks for taking a look at it for me!



Governor and Lt. Governor:
1. How would you work with the federal government to improve environmental conditions in Oklahoma, with situations like the Tar Creek superfund site in Oklahoma?
2. Would you support decriminalization of marijuana and/or legalize the medical use of marijuana?
3. Would you support a temporary moratorium on the death penalty in Oklahoma similar to that of Illinois?
4. Would you support the effort to decrease the number of signatures required for independent or third parties to run in state elections?
5. How will you support public transportation, especially rail travel within Oklahoma (Tulsa to OKC corridor) and among neighboring states?
6. Would you enforce and expand regulation of corporate polluters?
7. What will you do to support Oklahoma’s family farmers?

U.S Senate and House races:
1. How do we assure protection of civil liberties during a time of war?
2. Do you support the elimination of the Selective Service?
3. Would you support a requirement that broadcasters provide free air time to candidates, on an equal access basis?
4. Would you support equalizing sentences for crack and cocaine possession/distribution?
5. Would you support increasing US cooperation on accords such as the Kyoto accord, the elimination of land mines, Rights of the child, etc?
6. What would you do to encourage the use of alternative fuels?
7. What will you do to support Oklahoma’s family farmers?

Superintendent of Public Instruction:
1. What is your position on school vouchers?
2. How do we work to lower the student-teacher ratio in public schools?

Attorney General:
1. Would you support a temporary moratorium on the application of the death penalty in Oklahoma similar to that of Illinois?
2. Would you support an Oklahoma do-not-spam (email) list, similar to the current state “Do not call” list?
3. How would you work to protect our state’s environment through the enforcement of existing environmental and natural resources law?

Labor Commissioner:
1. Would you support repealing the Right-to-Work law?
2. How can the state of Oklahoma help to assure rights of immigrant workers, such as those at the Pickle factory in Tulsa?
3. Would you support the living wage proposal?

Insurance Commissioner:
1. Please explain if, and how you would reduce the cost of insurance for Oklahomans?

Corp. Commissioner:
1. Please explain if, and how you would reduce the cost to rate payers in Oklahomans?

State Auditor and Inspector:
1. How will go about improving the performance and accountability for state and county governments in Oklahoma?

posted by JMB at 7:07 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

Thanks go out to my readers for sending me some of these stories. Keep 'em coming!


• PBS: Stories from US ground forces in Afghanistan
  
  
• LA Times/Seattle Times: Schools gear up technology to promote safer campuses
  
  
  
  To 66-year-old grandfather Jerry Parli, the answer is moot. Lingering at the entrance of West Hills, Parli sits patiently in the hot August afternoon, waiting to pick up his two sophomore granddaughters.
  
  "It's about time they do something like this," he said. "It's a terrible thing, but it's time to embrace Big Brother."
  
  
  No. It is never time to embrace Big Brother.
  
  Jerry Parli needs to read 1984 again. When you embrace Big Brother you sell your soul to tryanny. I understand his fear for his granddaugters but what he should really fear is the world they will one day live in if everyone caves into the forces of evil by giving up their freedoms of privacy, free thought and free expression.
  
  
• NY Times: Who says we never strike first?
  
  An interesting Op-ed piece by a pro-war commentator on the history of America's past actions in war.
  
  
• A press release from the OK Attorney General's Office : States settle music antitrust suit
  
  
  A group of 43 attorneys general settled an antitrust lawsuit with five of the nation's largest distributors of prerecorded music CDs and three large retailers, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said today.
  
  "Oklahoma will receive about $602,000 for consumer restitution," Edmondson said. "The state also will receive almost 67,000 CDs, valued at more than $914,000. The CDs will be distributed to Oklahoma libraries and will be a mix of all types of music, including classical, pop, jazz, gospel and rock."
  
  The states accused the distributors and retailers of entering into illegal conspiracies to increase the prices of prerecorded music and reduce price competition among retailers. The states filed the lawsuit in August 2000 in New York's Southern District Court.
  
  The settlement is valued nationally at more than $142 million, with the defendants agreeing to pay $67.375 million in cash and $75.5 million in free CDs. About 5.5 million CDs will be distributed nationally. The consumer restitution and CD distribution will be handled by an independent settlement administrator. Edmondson said Oklahomans will be notified about the procedure to apply for restitution at a later date.
  
  Oklahoma, 39 other states and three territories named music distributors Bertelsmann Music Group, Inc., EMI Music Distribution, Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corporation, Sony Music Entertainment, Inc., Universal Music Group and retailers Transworld Entertainment Corporation, Tower Records and Musicland Stores Corporation in their lawsuit.
  
  "The defendants also agreed to an injunction preventing them from engaging in sales practices that artificially inflate the prices of music CDs," Edmondson said. "These companies forced consumers across the country to pay inflated prices for CDs. They got caught. Now they are facing the music."
  
  
  Ironic isn't it?
  
  Those poor record companies bellyache all of the time about how they are being hurt by file downloaders and as it turns out they were in fact really taking advantage of music buyers through illegal monopoly actions. I say the corporate record labels deserve what they're getting.
  
  Post edited Oct 5, 2002
  

posted by JMB at 7:00 PM | link |

The Judiciary

• Wash Post: Supreme Discomfort --- More than a decade after his bitter confirmation battle, African Americans are still judging Clarence Thomas guilty. Is that justice? --- A fascinating story about Thomas. I like the story because it fleshes him out, makes him a real person. Reading about him brings about many of the emotions I have of the President. I can't help but like him as a person, but yet can't fathom some of his actions.
  
  I guess that is one lesson that I keep learning and relearning, to not dehumanize your enemy. This is so hard in politics, especially in this era, but it is a lesson we all need to return to.
  
  Whether you're a fan of Thomas or not, you should read the story. I think you'll understand him a little better if you do.
  
  
  Post edited Oct 5, 2002
  

posted by JMB at 6:01 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

This is something I've been thinking on for awhile. I banged this out today, but will likely edit it more over time. I would appreciate any and all comments on it!


My political Philosophy (beta version)

More than a few of you have questioned my political beliefs and have wondered why I have changed so much over the years. So, here’s my defense and explanation for my ever-evolving political philosophy.

I developed my earliest political ideas as a child in the 80’s. My parents were typical Southern Conservative Democrats (voting for Reagan and conservatives on national races, but still voting for local democrats). As a child though I didn’t understand the complexities of politics and focused my thoughts on the big offices like the Presidency and the Governorship.

While I vaguely remember Carter, the first President who stirred my imagination was Ronald Reagan. He was the first politician I ever wrote to and was the first person I “campaigned” for, by trying to persuade my second grade teacher into not voting for Mondale in ’84. I told her “Why don’t you like Reagan? He’s going to cut taxes?” but she said “yes, but that will raise the deficit.” I gave up then because I didn’t understand what a deficit was. What I remember most about Reagn was that he was strong against the Soviets and cut taxes. He also made you feel proud to be an American.

As the Reagan years became the Bush years I had grown into a strident Republican. I credited all that was good with Republicans and all that was bad with those “commie pinko democrats.” Occasionally issues would come up that Republicans didn’t see eye to eye with me on (especially the environment) but I did my best to stifle my doubts and hold to the approved petition.

When I turned 18 I proudly registered as Republican and plunged into three years at Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a driving desire to shake the world for conservativism.

During my freshman year I began writing an extremely vitriolic ultra-conservative column (where I said attrociously inflamatory things like “President Clinton, the blood of unborn babies is on your hands”) entitled first The Other Side, later The Right Side (after the Republican Revolution of 1994) and finally One Clear Voice. Looking back on those days, I am amazed that I could say some of the things that I said then.

By my sophomore year I was the Chairman of the local College Republican chapter (and State Secretary by my Junior year) and was getting more involved with local politics (including being a state convention delegate one year), and finally during my last year there, I worked as the Campaign manager for a friend who was running for State Rep (and was later hired part-time by his primary opponent, after my intial man dropped out of the race) in 1996. During that race, I pulled out all of the stops in fighting for my candidate. We ran a clean race and I was certain that we would prevail, but in the end didn’t make it.

This was a pretty crushing blow for me and made me seriously question the value of politics. I thought that if you did the right thing and fought hard you were guaranteed to win, but was very disappointed to discover otherwise. This defeat, along with many personal issues going on at the time in my spiritual walk caused me to leave SWOSU and transfer to the Institute for Christian Studies in Austin, TX in the fall of 1997.

When I first arrived in Austin I avoided politics but soon got involved with the Travis County Republican party as a precinct chairman and later as a State convention delegate.

(Interestingly enough when I was chosen as a delegate, the convention delegate selection committee asked me to complete a lengthy questionnaire on my views to prove I was conservative enough. By this point I had become anti-death penalty, but they let me on since I was stridently pro-life. (I think they thought I was a Catholic and tolerated my soft views on the death penalty because they thought I was a lock on abortion.)

They also asked if I supported Texas’s anti-sodomy law. I had never heard of it before so I said “sure” without giving it much thought. In retrospect, I don't think I did the right thing. Today I do not support homosexuality, but also think that just because I do not believe in something doesn't mean there should be a law against it. Freedoms exist to protect everyone's rights, even the ones you might not see eye to eye with.

In 1998 though I began to have more questions on traditional GOP views and went as far as to speak at state convention (very scary experience, as it was at the Ft. Worth convention center in front of 18,000 people!) in favor of a proposed amendment to legalize medical marijuana. Of course the amendment was shot down by most of the folks, including most of my fellow Travis County delegates who glared at me.

By the fall of 1999, I began to feel more and more estranged from the GOP and began to be more and more attracted to the Libertarian party. The Libertarian philosophy seemed very rational to me, and I appreciated the consistency the Libertarians showed in their advocacy, as compared to the wishy-washiness of the Republicans.

So, in Dec. of 1999 I officially submitted my resignation to the Travis County Republican party, and became a Libertarian. I also at that same time registered as a candidate for Travis County Constable for Precinct 5 on the Libertarian ticket.

The next year was thrilling politically. I ran a low-budget campaign (only raised $200) that was focused on promoting the party and the issues I cared about. I saw several of my letters to the editor published in Austin newspapers, posted signs, and even appeared on Cable TV and non-profit microradio stations to promote my candidacy. In the end, I received about 18% of the vote.

(On a side note, on election night after attending the Libertarian watch party, I stayed up all night with my friends Kimberly and Aimee in the freezing drizzle to see Dubya at his downtown watch party. Bush of course didn’t dare show his face that night (they finally told us to go home at 5 a.m.) which I thought was pretty shabby.

Towards the end of that election cycle, I began to question more and more of the Libertarian philosophy. I generally supported them on issues of personal liberty (drug decriminalization, free speech, etc) but not on issues of economic regulation (esp with regards of the supposed rights of corporations). I continued as a member of the Libertarian party because of the friends I had in the party, but when I moved to San Marcos (in neighboring Hays County) I changed my party affiliation to the Green party and have remained a Green party member ever since.

Since then I have solidified my political philosophy more clearly. Generally, I would say that my views line up well with the 10 Key Green values, but to a lesser extent with some of the views held by the Green party mainstream.

As far as the issues, here’s where I stand… (more to be added later on)

War: 100% opposed to it, as I am to all forms of violence. (I derive my views from my faith in Jesus and His teachings on non-violence.)

Capital Punishment: Opposed to the death penalty for the same reason that I am opposed to war.

Realistically, I know that the death penalty is very popular in America right now, so I advocate as an interim step a temporary moratorium on future executions until society can insure that there can be no chance an innocent person would be killed. (Which would be a practical prohibition, as that guarantee will never be made. ;-)

Abortion: a more touchy issue with some folks. I respect those who see things differently, but my personal belief is that it is wrong, as it is a form of killing.

As to the practical ramifications of this belief, I don’t think that the pro-life movement is on the right track. Sadly, the culture has changed and even if Roe was overturned tomorrow little would change.

Overturning Roe would mean that abortion law would revert to being a concern of state governments. Some states in the South and Midwest would likely outlaw or restrict the practice, while most others would allow it.

Most women in the states where it is prohibited would simply travel to states where it would be legal, so the only real consequence would be that poor women would be less likely to get them and/or they might wait until later in their pregnancy to get them due to the need to save enough funds for travel costs.

Given the circumstances, I think Pro-lifers would be better off to focus on persuasion and support for mothers than on trying to overturn Roe.

What I find ironic and revolting is Republicans who say their pro-life, yet want to cut welfare. That makes zero sense to me. If you’re really pro-life then you should be willing to dramatically increase welfare payments to indigent pregnant women.

We also need to see churches do more to help and support pregnant women (this is happening some, but not near often enough) and new mothers as well.

Economics: I support community-based economies and oppose the WTO, NAFTA, and other policies that destroy local communities around the world.

Environment: I support organic farming practices, a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and the preservation of the remaining wilderness places. I also support preserving more green spaces in cities.

Civil Liberties: I passionately believe in the Bill of Rights and accept no compromise on those concerns, be it freedom of religion, speech and press, to the rights of criminal defendants.

Foreign Affairs: I believe the US should refuse to support nations that oppress their people, including many of our current allies such as Saudi Arabia, China, et Al. The US should also support debt relief for third world countries and invest more heavily in infrastructure, health, and education in third world countries, particularly in our own hemisphere.

Drugs: I support drug decriminalization. Possession and distribution of small amounts of illegal drugs should be punished by only a civil penalty. I also believe that the racist federal penalties for crack and power cocaine possesion/distribution should be equalized.

Local Oklahoma Issues: I oppose the lottery and would rather see taxes raised to support education.



Ok, that's all for now. Let me know what issues I left out that should be included.


Post edited Oct 5, 2002

posted by JMB at 5:29 PM | link |

Culture:

• NY Times: Globalization of Beauty Makes Slimness Trendy
  
  
  . . . "The judges had always looked for a local queen, someone they considered a beautiful African woman," Mr. Murray-Bruce, 38, said. "So I told the judges not to look for a local queen, but someone to represent us internationally."
  
  The new strategy's success was immediate. The Most Beautiful Girl of 2001, Agbani Darego, went on to clinch the Miss World title in Sun City, South Africa, last October. She became the first African winner in the contest's 51-year history.
  
  Her victory stunned Nigerians, whose country had earned a worldwide reputation for corruption and fraud. Now, all of a sudden, Nigeria was No. 1 in beautiful women. Ms. Darego, who was 18 at the time, instantly became a national heroine.
  
  But soon pride gave way to puzzlement. In a culture where Coca-Cola-bottle voluptuousness is celebrated and ample backsides and bosoms are considered ideals of female beauty, the new Miss World shared none of those attributes. She was 6 feet tall, stately and so, so skinny. She was, some said uncharitably, a white girl in black skin.
  
  The perverse reality was that most Nigerians, especially those over 40, did not find the new Miss World particularly beautiful.
  
  The story does not end there, though. In the year since her victory, a social transformation has begun to take hold across this nation, Africa's most populous.
  
  The change is an example of the power of Western culture on a continent caught between tradition and modernity. Older Nigerians' views of beauty have not changed. But among young, fashionable Nigerians, voluptuousness is out and thin is in. . .
  
  
  Such a sad story in my book. This sentence says it all: The judges had always looked for a local queen, someone they considered a beautiful African woman..." What is wrong with picking a beautiful African woman? Why do we Westerners think our values are so superior that we convince other people adopt them?
  
  I hate to see a culture disregard its own views of beauty (which are supported by thousands of years of tradition and culture in their society) to adopt a Western view which is unhealthy and will lead to serious self-esteem issues for future generations of Nigerian women.
  
  Furthermore, our so-called Western values of beauty are rather recent. Go back 100-200 years (or for that matter even 20 years) and see what women were looked up as beautiful. They would not even get a second glance by the folks who seem to decide these things today.
  
  I for one don't buy it. I'll tell you what makes a woman beautiful in my book... being herself. I think about last weekend at the Austin City Limits festival. I saw thousands of beautiful women. Some voluptious, some slender, some tall, some short, every body shape imaginable. The ones that I thought were most beautiful though, seemed to be at home in their own skin, to be happy with who they were.
  
  And most of all, if they play an instrument (!) ahh... I am smitten. The two women who wowed me most were Gillian Welch (she has the prettiest and genuinenest smile I have seen in my life) and of course Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek. I could so fall in love with her!
  
  Ok, while I'm talking about her, here is a picture of her. (from www.nickelcreek.com)
  
  
• NY Times: War, Murder and Suicide: A Year's Toll Is 1.6 Million

posted by JMB at 4:41 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• Yahoo/UK Reuters: Small asteroid could be mistaken for a nuclear blast --- Here is a frightening scenario that says illustrate why I believe that all peace-loving people should be working towards the eventual aboltion of nuclear weapons from the face of this planet...
  
  
  Even small asteroids that never hit Earth could have deadly consequences, because they might be mistaken for nuclear blasts by nations that lack the equipment to tell the difference, scientists say.
  
  One such asteroid event occurred June 6, when U.S. early warning satellites detected a flash over the Mediterranean that indicated an energy release comparable to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, U.S. Brig. Gen. Simon Worden told a congressional hearing.
  
  The flash occurred when an asteroid perhaps 10 meters in diameter slammed into Earth's atmosphere, producing a shock wave that would have rattled any vessels in the area and might have caused minor damage, Worden said.
  
  Little notice was taken of the event at the time, but Worden suggested that if it had occurred a few hours earlier and taken place over India and Pakistan, the outcome might have been horrifying.
  
  "To our knowledge, neither of those nations have the sophisticated sensors that can determine the difference between a natural NEO (Near Earth Object, such as an asteroid) and a nuclear detonation," Worden said.
  
  "The resulting panic in the nuclear-armed and hair-triggered opposing forces could have been the spark that ignited a nuclear horror we have avoided for over half a century," he told a committee investigating the risk posed by asteroids and other objects that might collide with Earth.
  
  
  
• I received several icq messages from a reader in criticism of yesterday's post concerning my views on criminal sentencing of drug dealers and white collar criminals.
  
  After reading the response, I think I oversimplified the issue in my earlier post. So, let me give some more details from my recollection of the presentation... (bear in mind I'm not a lawyer, and not that good of a law student so take all of this with a big grain of salt)
  
  The federal sentencing guidelines are extremely comprehensive, and set penalties based upon the base offense (using a points system) with points added for things like carrying a gun during the crime, discharging the gun during the commission of the crime, being a leader in the crime, prior criminal record, etc; while points are taken off if the convicted person accepts responsibility for the crime.
  
  The good thing is that this does help to differentiate between low-level street dealers (most of whom are non-violent, and sell to support their own addiction) and high-level drug bosses who are living the good life off of the misfortunes of others.
  
  The bad deal is that the differences are not big enough, and that for someone who has committed a string of non-violent offenses (i.e. prostitution, petty theft, etc) that sentence can be unjustly accelerated.
  
  At the same time, a white person with no prior criminal record, who through the job that she has at a bank, embezzles over $100,000 from the United Way (an actual case discussed at the seminar) would receive what I would consider a fairly light sentence (likely 2-5 years if I remember right).
  
  While at the same time, a prostitute who has been busted a few times for his "profession" who is caught with 50 grams of crack (less than an ounce) but is NOT carrying a weapon will get the book thrown at him, facing at least 10 years due to the mandatory min sentence.
  
  That is wrong. The bank embezzler likely has hurt hundreds, even thousands of people in her community... those who gave to the United Way, those would receive help from the charities they fund, the bank that employed her, etc. She may even have caused the death of a homeless person who froze to death in the winter from not having proper shelter, or the premature death of an AIDS patient who didn't receive the care he needed.
  
  On the other hand the street dealer will sell his crack to 2 or 3 addicts. Certainly not a good thing, but if he wasn't there they would get it elsewhere. Maybe someone would OD on it, but more likely not. The worst thing he does is buy his crack from someone else, who buys the goods from someone higher up, where the money goes to pay off corrupt border guards and likely other government officials both in the country and in Columbia, and finally the money goes to the murderous cartels there. But on the other hand, America's drug laws have created the black market in illegal drugs and as such has at least indirectly brought the cartels to power. Since we all (or at least most folks) pay taxes to the feds, we indirectly support the cartels too.
  
  The dealer obviously has committed a wrong nevertheless. Our society as a rule has laws against selling harmful products and preying on the weak and vulnerable. The should undoubtably be sanctioned in some way; but more importantly he should receive treatment for his adictions, so that he'll no longer have the desperate need to fund his drug habit.
  
  In my book the embezzler is a much worse criminal I personally think the embezzler should do at least 10 years. She has committed a serious breach of trust for personal gain, not for desperation (as in the case of the crack dealer)
  
  But let me also return to the other kinds of dealers. Those are involved in the wholesale distribution of drugs, who are involved in the higher escelons of the drug trade are a different creature all together. I don't support the death penalty for them as provided for by current US Federal law (but I don't support it for any body) but I do think life in prison is appropriate. These people have caused so many to die, so many lives to be ruined. They are the ones who have made virtual slaves out of the street level dealers, prostitutes (who do what they do often to support their drug habit) and users.
  
  These folks however are extremely rare. Most drug criminals are not in this class.
  
  Ok, I've rambled on and on enough. One last thing that I want to share with y'all from www.sentencing.org
  
  
  Supreme Court Justice Stevens, dissenting in U.S. v. Christopher Lee Armstrong, et. al.:
  
  Finally, it is undisputed that the brunt of the elevated federal penalties falls heavily on blacks. While 65% of the persons who have used crack are white, in 1993 they represented only 4% of the federal offenders convicted of trafficking crack. Eighty percent of such defendants were black. Id. at 39, 161. During the first 18 months of the full guideline implementation, the sentencing disparity between black and white defendants grew from pre guideline levels: blacks on average received sentences over 40% longer than whites. See Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sentencing in the Federal Courts: Does Race Matter? 6-7 (Dec. 1993). Those figures represent a major threat to the integrity of federal sentencing reform, whose main purpose was the elimination of disparity (especially racial) in sentencing. The Sentencing Commission acknowledges that the heightened crack penalties are a "primary cause of the growing disparity between sentences for Black and White federal defendants."
  
  
  America's drug laws are in the spirit of the old Jim Crow laws. They are intended to keep people of color down. This is unjust and wrong and must end.
  
  Post edited Oct 5, 2002
  

posted by JMB at 2:15 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• NY Times: G.O.P. Looks to Supreme Court for Delay in Torricelli Ruling
  
  
• The decision of the NJ Supreme Court (in PDF format)
  
  Here's a choice excerpt...
  
  
  And the court being of the view that [it] is in the public interest and the general intent of the election laws to preserve the two-party system and to submit to the electorate a ballot bearing the names of candidates of both major political parties as well as all other qualifying parties and groups. Kilmurray v. Gilfert, 10 N.J 435, 441 (1952)
  
  
  Two things are disturbing in this decision.
  
  1. That the NJ Supremes wrote such a short decision... A case of this magnitude deserved much greater explanation than the court provided, especially when the court decided to ignore statutes
  
  2. That the court has affirmed a previous decision from the 1950's that stated the policy of the state of New Jersey is the preservation of the two-party system.
  
  Think about it people! Most states try to discourage third parties (I think unconstitutionally but that is another issue) but most don't come right out and tell you that they intend to limit the choices of the people.
  
  The US Supremes need to smack this down hard. The NJ Supreme Court has shown that they do not respect the law and do not respect the rights of third party candidates.
  
  I (like I think many Americans) do not want to see the Repubs get control back of the Senate, but I not at the cost of the rule of law. If the NJ demos had any character at all they wouldn't have done this and instead would have encouraged their members to vote for one of the third party candidates.

posted by JMB at 11:05 AM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• Here is a transcript of an ICQ conversation with my friend Scott on the NJ situation. I thought he made some good points so I'm quoting here with his permission...
  
  
  Scoota@OU: one of the justices in NJ (she had sounded like a democrat) dismissed offhand one argument.... the justice said the voters would be deprived of a choice, but the republican said there are six people on the ballot and she said get real we are only talking about the two major parties
  
  JMB: no way! Oh, I'm going to go off on that.
  
  
  Scoota@OU: they had a libertarian give arguments before the court yesterday too..... very good
  makes me want to be a lib
  
  
  Scoota@OU: i read the court's opinion last night
  
  
  JMB: I will have to read that.
  
  
  Scoota@OU: "the Court being of the view that it is in the public interest and the general intent of the election laws to preserve the two-party system"
  
  
  Scoota@OU: I would say the two-parties destruction would be more in the public interest
  
  
  JMB: amen to that.
  
  
  Scoota@OU: the libertarian made a really good point that we are a nation of law, and that it really seemed not to be an issue of choice, but the fact that the NJ Democratic Party was very willing to pay the $800,000 or more to put their person on the ballot showed that it was a issue of maintaining power in fact
  
  
  JMB: the democratic party of NJ does not respect the rule of law. --- I truly hope the demos keep control of the Senate, but not so much that we sacrifice the rule of law. The demos should not have tried this, as a matter of principle. If they hated the repub so much they should have endorced the Green party candidate or something.
  
  
  Scoota@OU: yeah they said the voters need a choice, yet there are 6 people on the ballot for senator there the real question NJ Dems and general voters need to be asking is "can we trust a party that does not respect the law, and a party that when the going gets tough, they run?"
  
  
  

posted by JMB at 10:50 AM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• This Modern World: The Bush Administration Guide to achieving consensus
  
  
• SF Chronicle: No-fly blacklist snares political activists
  
  
• Democratic Underground: Auntie Pinko talks about drug decriminalization --- one of the best thought out discussions I've found on why drug possession and distribution should be sanctioned through civil law but not through criminal penalties.
  
  
• On the subject of drug decriminalization, I was struck with something I heard from Judge Cauthron's presentation on federal sentencing guidelines at OCU law school (sponsored by the The American Constitution Society) concerning the penalties for embezzling from a charity compared to drug dealing.
  
  For instance, if a bank official embezzeled over $100,000 from the United Way's account, that person will likely get less than 5 years in the slammer, while a person who was caught with 50 grams of crack with intent to distribute could get 30 years (I may be wrong on these exact numbers, but the ballpark is right). This is so whack! In the big picture, the embezzler has hurt many, many more people than the drug dealer might have. In general, I think white collar crimes and violent crimes should be much more harshly punished, and drug "crimes" should be only misdemeanors with minor consequences.
  
  
• I haven't read the decision from the NJ Supreme Court today on replacing the demo candidates, but I'm real curious what logic they used to toss out the statutes involved. I hate to see the Repubs get that seat, but I hate more to see the rule of law circumvented.

posted by JMB at 9:15 PM | link |

Politics and Policy:

• The Onion: Bush seeks U.N. support for "U.S. Does Whatever It Wants" plan --- what is both funny and sad is that this satrical article is mighty close to being the truth under the new world of Pax Americana.

posted by JMB at 1:02 PM | link |

Austin Trip Account - Part 1:

Ok, I promised more details about my Austin trip so here we go...

I left Newcastle around 6 a.m. on Friday morning. It was still dark as I left, but the sun slowly climbed as I drove southwest on the turnpike. By the time I passed by the Wichita Mountains the sun was casting a coppery glow over the countryside, which was rather striking against the unseasonally green grass. I continued on south, crossing the Red River into Texas.

After a quick pit stop in Wichita Falls, I continued on US 281 to Windthorst, TX to see the Grotto and St. Mary's Catholic church (pictures to be added later once I can afford to get them developed) and then continued into the Cross Timbers region (aka the Northern Texas Hill Country) south of Windthorst. As I continued southward the predominant trees were first Post Oaks but later Live Oaks.

(to be continued...)

posted by JMB at 7:57 PM | link |

Random:

I got back from Austin around 1 a.m. on Monday. It was a great weekend, but much too short. (I'll post more about it later this afternoon maybe... especially my reviews of some of my favorite performers at the Austin City Limits Festival. Overall though, it was nice to be around hippies again even if I'm not much of one (There were so many of them at the ACL Festival!) and to enjoy being with old friends, both human and non-human (more on this later this afternoon...).

But it is also very good to be back home in Oklahoma. My time in Austin was good and brought back tons of good memories, but it has changed and I have as well. Warts and all, my home is in Oklahoma. My home state is not always friendly (especially when you don't think that killing is the answer to much of anything) but even the redneck "kill em all" types are still my folk. I understand them, even if I sometimes loath their sentiments. Most of all though, it is the land that I am connected with. The sky is more beautiful here than on any place on earth, and I know the soil, rocks trees, plants, bugs, and all of the other wonders of God's creation in this place like friends.

I will always be bound up to some extent with Austin and the Texas Hill Country (esp sacred places like Mount Bonnell, the Congress Avenue bridge at 1 a.m. the bonechilling waters of the Barton Springs pool and the Frio River out west and especially the peaceful San Marcos River). That country changed me and made me part of what I am today, but it also led me back to Oklahoma.

Ok, enough throwing words on the blog. I gotta write a stupid memo for a class (ok, it's not really stupid, I'm just not in the mood to write it) so I'm off like a dirty shirt.

posted by JMB at 11:55 AM | link |