Month: January 2004

Thanks for the Memories

January 30, 2004 Off

Thanks for the memories – a flash movie of Saddam’s involvement with the CIA. A good history of Iraq I recommend is Tariq Ali’s book Bush in Babylon. It gives a detailed review of the history of Iraqi populist struggles against imposed regimes, situating the current conflict and the insurgent movement as yet another chapter…

By leigh

Remind Us

January 30, 2004 Off

In light of the recent head of the Iraq Survey Group, David Kays revelations that he believed no weapons programs had been in operation since the end of the first gulf war, a flash movie reminding us of the White Houses claims. Thanks to Judy for the link.

By leigh

Vegan Boots

January 29, 2004 Off

Being vegan, when I finally retired a pair of 8 year old Doc Martens, I was on the lookout for an alternative to leather. Materials science has progressed to the point that we no longer need to use animals for our clothing needs. Neither do we need petrochemicals for plastics; Henry Ford built a plastic…

By leigh

Plants that detect landmines

January 29, 2004 Off

Wired has an article on a fascinating approach to landmine detection. The plant is genetically modified to react to nitrogen dioxide emitted into the soil by immediate vicinity landmines, thereby indicating their location. Hopefully such an approach lives up to it’s promise. This would not seem to address unexploded cluster bombs, which unlike landmines, are…

By leigh

Hunt for Bin Laden to restart

January 29, 2004 Off

The Chicago Sun Herald has a story on plans for the U.S. military, mainly special forces, to pursue Bin Laden into Pakistan. The main fear is the assassination of Musharef, with the two attempts blamed on Al Qaida. It wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that he’s been left alone for two years…

By leigh

Outsourcing, Monopolisation, Stagnation

January 27, 2004 Off

U.S. technology pundits, analysts and political commentators have understandably lamented the outsourcing issue, that is, the rapid transfer of technology jobs to countries such as China and India. As Robert Cringley noted, the technology industry was the last U.S. industry left that had trade surpluses. If this industry does truly transfer it’s main centre of…

By leigh

My, there are many bugs in the system…

January 23, 2004 Off

Clearly bugs are the toys d’annee for the Bush administration. First it (using the National Security Agency) partakes in bugging the offices and homes of diplomats of six undecided countries on the U.N security council as it was trying to push through it’s illegal invasion of Iraq. When Katherine Gun blew the whistle on this,…

By leigh