h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'Most Americans do not accept the theory of evolution. Instead, 51 percent of Americans say God created humans in their present form, and another three in 10 say that while humans evolved, God guided the process. Just 15 percent say humans evolved, and that God was not involved.'


http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20051024100409990019




An American on a forum on another site remarked: 'Wow, the rest of the world is right, we are f***ing stupid. ' http://forum.newshounds.us/viewtopic.php?t=3048

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4417024.stm

US using phosphor based weapons?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4500878.stm

just seen this, probably on the news all round the world, but just in case.

Russia says it has sold/is selling surface to air missiles to Iran for 'defensive purposes'.

I do get the impression that Putin has decided to make a bit more of a splash on the world stage. I mean, this will definitely antagonise western countries, especially the US and UK. I wonder if he is trying to make a point? And if so, how far he will go to make it?

I think I glimpsed that the other day and sort of wandered on feeling that it was of little importance.

I mean, seriously, if there ever was a country that has a reason to seek self-defense, it is Iran. They've watched the countries on their borders be attacked, invaded and occupied by the country that has seen Iran as a sworn enemy for decades. And why shouldn't they be allowed to defend themselves? Elections in Iran are every bit as clean as those in such bastions of democracy as Iraq, Mexico, or the U. S.

Oh I can see that. My thought's were more about what Putin was up to, knowing fine well that doing this would annoy the US (and the UK to some extent too). Given that, and various other events ov er the last year or so (as far as I can remember) I think Putin is kinda saying 'Hello, we're still here, and we're still a force to be reckoned with'. I just wonder where he is going with it.

It is so nice to see that loud voices are beginning to speak the truth in the U.S.: http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/cl-et-goldstein6dec06,0,4970377.column?coll=la-tot-promo

This week-

US voted down the total renewel of the Patriat act

Added language to stop torture

Two impressively high Republicans under indictment.

The Texas redistricting is being herd by the Supreme Court

The death penalty is becoming more of a topic in ways needed.
IMO it should not exist but they are trying to get closer to some standards they have not been keeping universal. The DNA is starting to be done routinely.

There is still an open investigation into leaks from high up.

Bushs approval rating is still low.

The General in charge of training made sure the congress knew there is one or one and a half units ready not nearly the 200 assumed to be nearing readiness.

The sunni have voted this time in Iraq

More mainstream movies are coming out about the loss of freedoms of the average person verses the freedoms of those few at the top.

Several large churches are under investigation under the tax laws about collecting money for political persons and holding rallies. The IRS is the scariest of investigators.

**************
The worst things I have heard lately;

The funds for Katrina went *first to the Museum of Core of Civil Engeneers Mississipi River project. This includes the levys that failed. BEFORE housing, clean-up or rebuilding money was given out by the fund. The past Prez fund has not released the money collected by Americans due to the inappropriate uses of what they already have.

Second off the top of my head;
All the money spent for National security at the local levels has still not assured communications. Ironic with those companies beng in the top 10 worldwwide. It seems like the number one safety first defense! In our state and most others the multi levels of emergency help cannot speak to one another on the same line. The money was given without instructions or even priorities or a report of what it was spent on.Throwing money at problems without any accountability is absurd, and all too American.

Jib Jab has a great New Years- Holiday review of all that has come to the surface. All we need now is a picture of the prez getting a **** job and he is outta here!
I really have more trouble than ever understanding the grounds for impeachment.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1682208,00.html

one to watch.

I was going to precis it here but I'd end up just repeating the main text of it! So if the link doesn't work, let me know.

Whether this is coincidence or not is so far unclear. Hopefully we'll get some follow up on this.

Here's a double

I just don't know where to put this, but I'd like to shout it from the rooftops. US school kids are coming up on their mandatory test under the No Child Left Behind act, but look at the test questions. They are profoundly skewed to favour the wealthy.

"Most young tennis stars learn the game from coaches at private clubs. In this sentence, a club is probably a "F baseball bat "G tennis racquet "H tennis court "J country club"

http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=476&row=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/science/04climate.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

An interesting bit on how White House appointees to NASA are trying to contorl and alter the scientific output from NASA to coincide with Mr. Bush's aims and beliefs.

Here's a fun one, too. From Pravda:

'Ms. Rice's criticism can be explained with the politician's personal peculiarities. Why is Condoleezza Rice so fond of her "strict teacher" role? Is it her technique that she follows to stay in the center of political attention? The leader of the Liberal and Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Vladimir Zhirinovsky, expressed his opinion on the matter in an exclusive interview with Pravda.Ru.

"Condoleezza Rice released a coarse anti-Russian statement. This is because she is a single woman who has no children. She loses her reason because of her late single status. Nature takes it all.

"Such women are very rough. They are all workaholics, public workaholics. They can be happy only when they are talked and written about everywhere: "Oh, Condoleezza, what a remarkable woman, what a charming Afro-American lady! How well she can play the piano and speak Russian! What a courageous, tough and strong female she is! "'

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/politics/11-01-2006/9488-condoleezza-0

I seem to remember the name Zhirinovsky for some reason . . .

Oh,yeah . . .

'Zhirinovsky also made statements regarding re-acquisition of Alaska through the use of military force, invading and occupying Iran, and constructing large fans to blow Russia's nuclear waste into Germany. He has also praised Adolf Hitler's rule and encouraged the use of nuclear weapons against possible adversaries. He has been known to make public anti-Semitic remarks.

Zhirinovsky allegedly praised the success of American presidential candidate Pat Buchanan during Buchanan's 1992 Presidential bid. Buchanan refused Zhirinovsky's endorsement.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Zhirinovsky

Wow. That's what you call no holds barred opinion reporting isn't it?

Can't say I agree with it but going into an international political arena and telling one of the combatants that what they really need is a good hard sh*g dousn't really come that high in political sophistication either, does it?

For the sheer gall of it, and the imagined response of Rice et al, it is quite amusing!

It's refreshing (but not very reassuring) to see that it's not just the in the American political system that the strange ones rise to the top.

Yes, the old stereotypes about those in power. The mad fool, the total fool, and, in Putin's case, the Grand High Vizier.

Still, I have heard that there's a bit of a handbasket shortage in Dis.

ot really a link this one. I was re-reading 'Mother Tongue' by Bill Bryson and came acroos the following. IU think it fits into the 'repeating history' category:

"in the late 1970s, President Jimmy Carter...when he said 'The government of Iran must realise that it cannot flaunt, with impunity, the expressed will and law of the world community'.
Admittedly, Mr. Bryson's point was about the misuse of the word 'flaunt'.
Does it mean anything? Probably not. But hey.

so. . .

which country are you suggesting is flaunting (or whatever) the will and law of the world community at this time in the repetetive cycle of history?

Now now, be nice.

Meanwhile, seen this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4694314.stm

"Lt Col James Hopkinson said that as Iraqis take greater control of their country "it becomes more and more difficult for ourselves to be here".

"You almost move from being part of the solution to becoming part of the problem," he added."

My impression is that they will be seen as moving from being part of the problem to being a departing part of the problem.





I guess I'm not being nice.