Saturday, February 07, 2004
The New York Times and astrology
It turns out someone's done the obvious thing, and found out what the NYT's birthdate says about it...
1. PRIMARY SCOOP: "ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO PRINT" AND MORE.
Like other Americans, we at What's New follow the Presidential Primaries closely. But where could we turn to get beyond campaign rhetoric to the very character of the candidates? The New York Times, of course, the venerable "gray lady" of newspapers. We hear they've had some problems at the Times lately, but they sure scooped the competition with this one. It was on the op-ed page, which is not easy to get on. "The Stars Have Voted" by Erin Sullivan, relies on astrological charts of Democratic candidates. Did you know you can learn all about people if you just know
their birthdays? It turns out the paper, then called the Daily Times, began on 18 Sep 1851.
That makes the New York Times a Virgo, the only zodiacal sign represented by a woman. She is somewhat older and intelligent, but she can be rather pedantic and spinsterish. Yeah, that's the New York Times all right. But what if it's not true that a person's character is determined by their birth date? Wouldn't that mean the story was made up?"
1. PRIMARY SCOOP: "ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO PRINT" AND MORE.
Like other Americans, we at What's New follow the Presidential Primaries closely. But where could we turn to get beyond campaign rhetoric to the very character of the candidates? The New York Times, of course, the venerable "gray lady" of newspapers. We hear they've had some problems at the Times lately, but they sure scooped the competition with this one. It was on the op-ed page, which is not easy to get on. "The Stars Have Voted" by Erin Sullivan, relies on astrological charts of Democratic candidates. Did you know you can learn all about people if you just know
their birthdays? It turns out the paper, then called the Daily Times, began on 18 Sep 1851.
That makes the New York Times a Virgo, the only zodiacal sign represented by a woman. She is somewhat older and intelligent, but she can be rather pedantic and spinsterish. Yeah, that's the New York Times all right. But what if it's not true that a person's character is determined by their birth date? Wouldn't that mean the story was made up?"
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Show Your Solidarity With World Jewry! http://www.AMIAJUSTICE.org
On July 18, 2004, the people of Argentina will commemorate the tenth
anniversary of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos
Aires. This tragedy took the lives of 85 people and injured over 300
others. TEN YEARS have passed and no one has been convicted of this
crime -- the largest anti-Semitic catastrophe since World War II.
Recently declassified documents indicate that members within Argentina's
own government and police force may have collaborated with the
terrorists in this heinous act.
Please read and sign this petition to President Nestor Kirchner
requesting that JUSTICE be served. This petition will be presented to
President Kirchner at the 10th anniversary commemoration ceremony this
summer. President Kirchner, as well as the Argentine government, is
very conscious of world opinion and your signature will contribute
significantly to the wave of support for action on this matter. After
signing, it is very important you forward this to your family, friends
and colleagues.
The petition can be found at http://www.AMIAJUSTICE.org
IT TAKES ONE MINUTE. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Please note that after signing you will be sent a confirmation e-mail
for verification purposes. Only after clicking on the link will your
online signature be authenticated as a new entry.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
On July 18, 2004, the people of Argentina will commemorate the tenth
anniversary of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos
Aires. This tragedy took the lives of 85 people and injured over 300
others. TEN YEARS have passed and no one has been convicted of this
crime -- the largest anti-Semitic catastrophe since World War II.
Recently declassified documents indicate that members within Argentina's
own government and police force may have collaborated with the
terrorists in this heinous act.
Please read and sign this petition to President Nestor Kirchner
requesting that JUSTICE be served. This petition will be presented to
President Kirchner at the 10th anniversary commemoration ceremony this
summer. President Kirchner, as well as the Argentine government, is
very conscious of world opinion and your signature will contribute
significantly to the wave of support for action on this matter. After
signing, it is very important you forward this to your family, friends
and colleagues.
The petition can be found at http://www.AMIAJUSTICE.org
IT TAKES ONE MINUTE. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Please note that after signing you will be sent a confirmation e-mail
for verification purposes. Only after clicking on the link will your
online signature be authenticated as a new entry.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Tee-hee
From Best of the Web (Wall St Journal):
"Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party is crusading against fast food, reports the Daily News of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The paper quotes Irene Healy-Vihant, "a dietitian and nutritionist who teaches at Mount Saint Vincent and Dalhousie Universities": "What we've done with Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man, can we not do with Ronald McDonald?"
First they came for the camels, and I did not speak out because I was not a camel. Then they came for the cowboys, and I did not speak out because I was not a cowboy. Then they came for the clowns, and I did not speak out because I was not a clown. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me."
"Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party is crusading against fast food, reports the Daily News of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The paper quotes Irene Healy-Vihant, "a dietitian and nutritionist who teaches at Mount Saint Vincent and Dalhousie Universities": "What we've done with Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man, can we not do with Ronald McDonald?"
First they came for the camels, and I did not speak out because I was not a camel. Then they came for the cowboys, and I did not speak out because I was not a cowboy. Then they came for the clowns, and I did not speak out because I was not a clown. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me."
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Wow
What I could have been doing if I'd stayed in philosophy: from a friend
"Hello, sorry for the group nature of this email, I have just found out
that an abstract I wrote for a paper has been accepted for the
forthcoming volume "James Bond and Philosophy". This is to be the 4th
book in the "Philosophy and Popular Culture series" (Vol 3, "Buffy the
Vampire Slayer and Philosophy", a must for every bookshelf). My paper
is on moral psychology - Plato, Dostoevsky, and JAMES BOND.
I cannot tell if this makes me very cool or very sad.
Will let you know if they give me Pierce Brosnan's contact details."
"Hello, sorry for the group nature of this email, I have just found out
that an abstract I wrote for a paper has been accepted for the
forthcoming volume "James Bond and Philosophy". This is to be the 4th
book in the "Philosophy and Popular Culture series" (Vol 3, "Buffy the
Vampire Slayer and Philosophy", a must for every bookshelf). My paper
is on moral psychology - Plato, Dostoevsky, and JAMES BOND.
I cannot tell if this makes me very cool or very sad.
Will let you know if they give me Pierce Brosnan's contact details."
Sunday, February 01, 2004
An on-going tale - an interview with Andre Watson, the ref of the World Cup Final, on the ongoing Watson vs Clive Woodward controversy....
Current affairs meets the super bowl:
"Patriot Act Permits Search of Panthers Playbook
(2004-01-31) -- A little known provision of the so-called Patriot Act allows federal authorities to confiscate the Carolina Panthers' playbook and carry out sneak-and-peek inspections of the team's pre-Super Bowl strategy sessions.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said, "This is nothing that we couldn't do with any other combatant against the finest American Patriots. There is no privacy issue here. Of course, I can't comment further on this ongoing case, but let me just say this: take the points."
"Patriot Act Permits Search of Panthers Playbook
(2004-01-31) -- A little known provision of the so-called Patriot Act allows federal authorities to confiscate the Carolina Panthers' playbook and carry out sneak-and-peek inspections of the team's pre-Super Bowl strategy sessions.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said, "This is nothing that we couldn't do with any other combatant against the finest American Patriots. There is no privacy issue here. Of course, I can't comment further on this ongoing case, but let me just say this: take the points."
Welcome to the house of fun
Tyler Cowen links to an interesting story about whether you can fake mental illness (unclear - you can con doctors, but not the mentally ill, it seems).
"Once in the admissions unit, Rosenhan was led to a small white room. "What is the problem?" a psychiatrist asked.
"I'm hearing a voice," Rosenhan said, and then he said nothing else.
"And what is the voice saying?" the psychiatrist questioned, falling, unbeknown to him, straight into Rosenhan's rabbit hole.
"Thud," Rosenhan said, smugly, I imagine.
"Thud?" the psychiatrist asked. "Did you say thud?"
"Thud," Rosenhan said again.
The psychiatrist probably scratched his head. He could have been confused, bemused."
"Once in the admissions unit, Rosenhan was led to a small white room. "What is the problem?" a psychiatrist asked.
"I'm hearing a voice," Rosenhan said, and then he said nothing else.
"And what is the voice saying?" the psychiatrist questioned, falling, unbeknown to him, straight into Rosenhan's rabbit hole.
"Thud," Rosenhan said, smugly, I imagine.
"Thud?" the psychiatrist asked. "Did you say thud?"
"Thud," Rosenhan said again.
The psychiatrist probably scratched his head. He could have been confused, bemused."
More cheap topics
Amazingly, Gregg Easterbrook, American football writer extraordinaire, ignores the Superbowl, and focuses on the developing market for strippers and nude waitresses in Vegas. A key topic, I'm sure you'll agree.
Highlights - rooms for big rollers with strippers poles installed, and a strip club with sky-boxes....
Highlights - rooms for big rollers with strippers poles installed, and a strip club with sky-boxes....
