Archive for June, 2002
‘Masters of Death’: Himmler’s Willing Executioners
“When most of us think of the Holocaust we think of Auschwitz. But the industrialized, largely hands-off method of killing Jews at Auschwitz and the five other gassing centers in Poland was developed to a great extent because of what the German leadership saw as the too hands-on experience of the Einsatzgruppen in the Soviet […]
Indian Leader Names Hindu Nationalist As Deputy
“Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today appointed a hawkish Hindu nationalist as the country’s deputy prime minister, a move analysts said was meant to position the man to lead Vajpayee’s party in elections scheduled for 2004.
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"Advani’s elevation is a clear hint by the BJP that its Hindu nationalist ideology is alive and well," said […]
As curfew bites, a handful of men bring hope to the trapped
“By some peculiarity or whim of the Israeli military commander, the city’s fire brigade alone was granted dispensation from the curfew that has turned Hebron and six other cities of the West Bank into open air prisons: 700,000 Palestinians, men, women and children trapped in their homes for the better part of a week after […]
Textbook Publishers Learn to Avoid Messing With Texas
“Textbook battles are legendary in Texas, where conservative critics frequently complain of liberal bias, and liberals counter with charges of censorship. The latest round, on July 17, when the board begins public hearings on which history and social studies books to adopt, promises to be particularly fierce. Nine conservative organizations have formed a coalition, recruiting […]
Fortuyn’s successor ‘is security plant’
“The future of the political party left behind by the murdered Dutch libertarian Pim Fortuyn was thrown into doubt last night when his successor was accused of being an establishment infiltrator, working for either the defence ministry or the intelligence service.”
Guardian
The Supremes Pledge Allegiance to God. - Praise the Lord and pass the vouchers to the churches! By Dahlia Lithwick
An interesting article, although it would be more interesting if it addressed the union-busting aspects of switching funds from state to religious schools.
“The hysteria over yesterday’s 9th Circuit decision to ashcan the Pledge of Allegiance quieted today when the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, proclaiming that there’s still a place […]
Our Secret Pledge
“Turns out that the Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by a Christian socialist, Francis Bellamy — first cousin of Edward Looking Backward Bellamy — a hater of capitalism whose sermons about
FBI checking out Americans’ reading habits / Bookstores, libraries can’t do much to fend off search warrants
“For the first time since the Cold War, the FBI is visiting public libraries to keep tabs on the reading habits of people the government considers dangerous.
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Unlike other search warrants, the FBI need not show that evidence of wrongdoing is likely to be found or that the target of its investigation is actually involved is […]
Magnetic wood blocks mobile phone signals
“Magnetic wood could be a major plank in the battle against noisy cellphone users. The high-tech material absorbs microwave radio signals, making it impossible to use a mobile phone in any room lined with it. Or a radio for that matter. So theatres and restaurants, for example, can stop people using cellphones on their premises […]
Afghanistan: Former Women’s Minister Intimidated
“Afghan President Hamid Karzai should put a stop to the intimidation of former Women’s Affairs minister, Dr. Sima Samar, Human Rights Watch said today. A formal charge of blasphemy against Dr. Samar was dismissed by a Kabul court on Monday, but future charges are still possible.”
Afgha.com
An anthropologist and documentary filmmaker, 
