[ADMIN] DNS whoops
I fouled up the DNS for www.mccmedia.com earlier today for a few hours... but I think it didn't affect mail.mccmedia.com, so I believe list traffic may not have been affected. If you were trying to reach the list archives, things should be back to normal soon, if not already. Nick -- Nick Arnett [EMAIL PROTECTED] Voicemail: 408-904-7198 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Head-butts
Ronn!Blankenship wrote: How about if Dad is unable to react quickly because Dad is already holding one of the buttar's siblings? There's no excuse for letting yourself be the victim of divide and conquer. If they're doing it to you now, imagine how it will be when they're teenagers. :) Jim ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: It's a boy!
Jeroen van Baardwijk wrote: Great news, everyone! Earlier today, on Stardate 20050726.1325, or 26 July 2005, 15:25 hours local time, Sonja gave birth to our second son! Just like our first son, Tom, he will go through life with a very short name: we have named him Max. Way to go, Sonja and Jeroen! And welcome to the world, Max! __ Steve Sloan . Huntsville, Alabama = [EMAIL PROTECTED] Brin-L list pages .. http://www.brin-l.org Science Fiction-themed online store . http://www.sloan3d.com/store Chmeee's 3D Objects http://www.sloan3d.com/chmeee 3D and Drawing Galleries .. http://www.sloansteady.com Software Science Fiction, Science, and Computer Links Science fiction scans . http://www.sloan3d.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: [ADMIN] DNS whoops
At 08:15 PM Tuesday 7/26/2005, Nick Arnett wrote: I fouled up the DNS for www.mccmedia.com earlier today for a few hours... but I think it didn't affect mail.mccmedia.com, so I believe list traffic may not have been affected. If you were trying to reach the list archives, things should be back to normal soon, if not already. FWIw, messages dated yesterday are just now arriving . . . --Ronn! :) I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Head-butts
Dave Land wrote: Isn't that why people have other kids? To turn them against one another? Well, that and getting someone else to mow the lawn and take out the trash. :) Jim ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Harry Potter Discussion (Spoilers!!!) L3
Warren Ockrassa wrote: I don't believe they are like every other children's title out there. They are a mix of familiar elements from two strands of children's literature - boarding school and fantasy - that in terms of quality sit somewhere in the middle of the field. I'll wager you're more immersed in better books for kids. For that reason I'm guessing you don't live in the States. ;) I remember Reading Rainbow used to always harp on the Carnegie Award winners, and I remember teachers that also did that. Interesting to find out later in life that the Carnegie Awards are British. Odd to see such a major instance of our having to import good thinking. I find it ironic, too, that the worst player in the Franchise Books for Kids, with their awful advertising direct in our public schools, the Scholastic Corporation, also just happens to be the ones publishing the American editions of the Harry Potter series. -- --Max Battcher-- http://www.worldmaker.net/ Support Open/Free Mythoi: Read the manifesto @ mythoi.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Weekly Chat Reminder
As Steve said, The Brin-L weekly chat has been a list tradition for over six years. Way back on 27 May, 1998, Marco Maisenhelder first set up a chatroom for the list, and on the next day, he established a weekly chat time. We've been through several servers, chat technologies, and even casts of regulars over the years, but the chat goes on... and we want more recruits! Whether you're an active poster or a lurker, whether you've been a member of the list from the beginning or just joined today, we would really like for you to join us. We have less politics, more Uplift talk, and more light-hearted discussion. We're non-fattening and 100% environmentally friendly... -(_() Though sometimes marshmallows do get thrown. The Weekly Brin-L chat is scheduled for Wednesday 3 PM Eastern/2 PM Central time in the US, or 7 PM Greenwich time. There's usually somebody there to talk to for at least eight hours after the start time. If you want to attend, it's really easy now. All you have to do is send your web browser to: http://wtgab.demon.co.uk/~brinl/mud/ ..And you can connect directly from William's new web interface! My instruction page tells you how to log on, and how to talk when you get in: http://www.brin-l.org/brinmud.html It also gives a list of commands to use when you're in there. In addition, it tells you how to connect through a MUD client, which is more complicated to set up initially, but easier and more reliable than the web interface once you do get it set up. -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ This message was sent automatically using cron. But even if WTG is away on holiday, at least it shows the server is still up. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: What interrogation techniques are ethical and practical?
Relevent to this thread:
Ahmed Ressam, the Algerian who was arrested in 1999 with materials and a
plan to bomb LAX airport on New Year's 2000, was sentenced today to 22 years
in prison
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_072705WABressamSW.14d92a55.html
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_072705WABressamSW.14d92a55.html
. He was useful for a while in providing information, but has refused to
assist the US any further in recent months.
It's important that he was caught by our border guards (yay us!), and that
he's locked away. But what's more important is the way his trial was
handled. He is no less a terrorist than Mohamed Atta - just less successful.
And he's much more of a terrorist than Jose Padilla US citizen 3+ years
without charges, who has not and likely will not see an attorney because
he's an enemy combatant. 9/11 didn't change who or what these people are,
it only seemed to change who we are, and that makes me sad.
It seems to make the judge in the Ressam case sad, too. His incredibly
powerful words while sentencing Ressam are below, with no further comment
from me.
The message I would hope to convey in today's sentencing is twofold:
First, that we have the resolve in this country to deal with the subject of
terrorism and people who engage in it should be prepared to sacrifice a
major portion of their life in confinement.
Secondly, though, I would like to convey the message that our system works.
We did not need to use a secret military tribunal, or detain the defendant
indefinitely as an enemy combatant, or deny him the right to counsel, or
invoke any proceedings beyond those guaranteed by or contrary to the United
States Constitution.
I would suggest that the message to the world from today's sentencing is
that our courts have not abandoned our commitment to the ideals that set our
nation apart. We can deal with the threats to our national security without
denying the accused fundamental constitutional protections.
Despite the fact that Mr. Ressam is not an American citizen and despite the
fact that he entered this country intent upon killing American citizens, he
received an effective, vigorous defense, and the opportunity to have his
guilt or innocence determined by a jury of 12 ordinary citizens.
*Most importantly, all of this occurred in the sunlight of a public trial.
There were no secret proceedings, no indefinite detention, no denial of
counsel.* {emphasis switzer's}
The tragedy of September 11th shook our sense of security and made us
realize that we, too, are vulnerable to acts of terrorism.
Unfortunately, some believe that this threat renders our Constitution
obsolete. This is a Constitution for which men and women have died and
continue to die and which has made us a model among nations. If that view is
allowed to prevail, the terrorists will have won.
It is my sworn duty, and as long as there is breath in my body I'll perform
it, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. We will be
in recess.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/27/151137/048
On 7/11/05, Deborah Harrell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Dan Minette [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
If torture were used on people who have a real
chance of providing a lead in a genuine ticking
bomb circumstance, by those who _know_ both quoted
conditions are true, it would meet my 'practical
idealism' requirements. I also factor in 'what would
*I* be willing to do' in that situation -- is the
potential payoff (in terms of saving lives) worth the
stain on my soul (or spirit, or heart, for the List's
Unsouled ;} )? I am reasonably sure that I am
capable of killing or even torture if I was certain
(1)that lives would be saved (2)the targeted person
was not an innocent (to the best of my knowledge)
(3)the conditions in quotes above exist. I am quite
sure that I'd vomit to the point of bleeding dry
heaves afterward, and have nightmares for a very long
time, if not the rest of my life.
and she replied
The season finale of 24 addressed just exactly that
scenario (nuclear device stolen by terrorists, one of
whom Jack has his hands on -- and tortures).
The interesting thing about *24* is that torture was used in several
instances for the reasons Dan believes it could be justified but really did
not give accurate information. There are many problems with torture and once
you justify it for one case you will find it used for a great many. (I
finished moving out - not really moved in yet.)
--
Gary Denton
http://www.apollocon.org June 23-25, 2006
Easter Lemming Blogs
http://elemming.blogspot.com
http://elemming2.blogspot.com
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Shuttle Likely Grounded Again
Can't find a link on-line yet, but the lead story on the evening network news was that the photos of the external tank yesterday showed that a piece of foam broke off (but did not hit the orbiter), so it appears that it will be back to the drawing board for the engineers and that the fleet will have to be grounded indefinitely after this flight until the problem is fixed . . . --Ronn! :) I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Shuttle Likely Grounded Again
Can't find a link on-line yet, but the lead story on the evening network news was that the photos of the external tank yesterday showed that a piece of foam broke off (but did not hit the orbiter), so it appears that it will be back to the drawing board for the engineers and that the fleet will have to be grounded indefinitely after this flight until the problem is fixed . . . Perhaps it's time to cut our losses and look at developing other surface to orbit vehicles...? Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum. http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.0/50 - Release Date: 7/16/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Shuttle Likely Grounded Again
On Jul 27, 2005, at 4:18 PM, Damon Agretto wrote: [Ronn!] Can't find a link on-line yet, but the lead story on the evening network news was that the photos of the external tank yesterday showed that a piece of foam broke off (but did not hit the orbiter), so it appears that it will be back to the drawing board for the engineers and that the fleet will have to be grounded indefinitely after this flight until the problem is fixed . . . Perhaps it's time to cut our losses and look at developing other surface to orbit vehicles...? TTBOMK the US shuttle will be scrapped in 2010 and there're replacements in the works now: == Russia Unveils Model of New Clipper Space Shuttle Created: 01.12.2004 17:37 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 17:38 MSK MosNews Russia’s spacecraft building corporation Energia has unveiled a life-size model of the new Russian space shuttle, the Itar-Tass news agency reports. The Clipper spacecraft will replace the disposable Soyuz which is currently used to man the International Space Station. http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/12/01/newshuttle.shtml Russia and Europe tout new space plane By Lucy Sherriff Published Tuesday 5th July 2005 09:25 GMT Russia and Europe are in talks to build a new a space plane that will fly missions to the International Space Station once Shuttle's final flight is over in 2010. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/05/russian_spaceplane/ NASA Picks Contractors For New Space Shuttle NASA today announced the selection of Lockheed Martin Corp. and the team of Northrop Grumman Corp. and The Boeing Co. that will lead to an award to build the agency's Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). The selection is part of NASA's plan to have two contractors compete in the design and production process for the Space Shuttle's replacement. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/06/14/174604.php == The shuttle design was innovative for the late 1970s, but they're heavy, clunky and don't hold up well under stress. There's no facility for mass production, and just about every damn tile on every damn ship must be made and fitted by hand. Hundreds of the things need replacing after each mission. The project represented a *huge* step forward from the liquid-fueled booster design, of course, and that's great -- but you know, those machines never really were put together with long-term service in mind. I suspect if you told a NASA engineer, in 1979, that the ships would still be flying in 2005, he would have laughed himself into an aneurism. -- Warren Ockrassa, Publisher/Editor, nightwares Books http://books.nightwares.com/ Current work in progress The Seven-Year Mirror http://www.nightwares.com/books/ockrassa/Flat_Out.pdf ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
JAG memos opposing interrogation guidelines released
The memos are extraordinary. They are written by JAGs from the Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines. As Senator Graham put it on Monday, these folks are not from the ACLU. These are not from people who are soft on terrorism, who want to coddle foreign terrorists. These are all professional military lawyers who have dedicated their lives, with 20-plus year careers, to serving the men and women in uniform and protecting their Nation. They were giving a warning shot across the bow of the policymakers that there are certain corners you cannot afford to cut because you will wind up meeting yourself. A bit of context, for those who may not have been following my (perhaps interminable) series of posts: From the mid-1960's until February 2002, military interrogations were governed by the (relatively) non-coercive techniques described in Army Field Manual 34-52, which (in theory) describes only techniques that would be permissible to use on POWs under the Geneva Conventions, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and other federal laws. Generations of military personnel were trained in the specifics of Geneva and the Field Manual. In February 2002, however, the President determined that the principles of the Geneva Conventions would apply to detainees at GTMO only to the extent appropriate and consistent with military necessity, thereby deviating from more than a half-century of U.S. policy and practice of adhering to at least the minimum protections afforded under Common Article 3 of the Conventions (which forbids outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment). And in late 2002, Secretary Rumsfeld approved for use, on at least one GTMO detainee, several interrogation techniques that went beyond what the Field Manual had recognized. General Miller and others at GTMO construed this authorization to permit treatment that the military itself now concedes is abusive and degrading, but which the military to this day insists does not result in any violation of a U.S. law or policy. In December 2002, career attorneys and others at the Pentagon raised serious legal, policy and practical objections to what the Secretary had approved, and, heeding the outcries, in January 2003 Rumsfeld suspended his approvals and ordered a review of military interrogation techniques by a DoD Working Group. As is now confirmed by these JAG memos, from the outset the Working Group's extensive legal analysis was crafted almost entirely by the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice—by Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo, in particular—and it largely tracked the extremely, shall we say, novel and forward-looking analysis contained in the now-notorious OLC Torture Memo of August 1, 2002. In particular, these memos eloquently warn of the grave harms that could result from such a radical shift in policies and legal understandings—harms not only to the prospects for nation's efforts to stop terrorism, but also to military interrogators and officers who could face domestic and international prosecution for engaging in such conduct, and, most importantly, to U.S. forces who are themselves detained in this and future conflicts. (One of the memos stresses, almost despairingly, that because OLC does not represent the services, concern for servicemembers is not reflected in their opinion.) These memos reveal the JAGs as the real heroes of this story. Indeed, it's uncanny how prescient these memos were. As Senator Graham said on Monday, the JAGS were telling the policymakers: If you go down this road, you are going to get your own people in trouble. You are on a slippery slope. You are going to lose the moral high ground. This was 2003. And they were absolutely right. ... If the Yoo analysis were truly a repudiated thing of the past, an unfortunate historical anomaly, why would the Administration hold up—and threaten to veto—the vitally important defense authorization bill, for fear of being saddled with extremely modest requirements that, as the JAGs explain, had served us very well for many decades? Much more including the text of six memos. http://balkin.blogspot.com/2005/07/heroes-of-pentagons-interrogation.html Gary Denton http://www.apollocon.org June 23-25, 2006 Easter Lemming Blogs http://elemming.blogspot.com http://elemming2.blogspot.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
No comment.
http://www.mosnews.com/commentary/2005/07/26/spamassassin.shtml Russian Media Hails Spammer’s Murder [...] Russian-language media, both online and offline, has made little effort to conceal one central thought when dealing with the spammer’s demise: that somehow the late Mr. Kushnir got what he deserved. “The Spammer Had it Coming”, one headline reads. “Spam is Deadly”, “Ignoble Death Becomes Russia’s Top Spammer”, “An Ultimate Solution to the Spam Problem” - 84 Russian-language news captions on Kushnir’s murder, retrieved by the Yandex News search engine within a day of the event, seem to share the general feeling. -- Warren Ockrassa, Publisher/Editor, nightwares Books http://books.nightwares.com/ Current work in progress The Seven-Year Mirror http://www.nightwares.com/books/ockrassa/Flat_Out.pdf ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: It's a boy!
-Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Sloan Sent: Wednesday, 27 July 2005 9:58 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Brin-L Killer Bs Discussion Subject: Re: It's a boy! Jeroen van Baardwijk wrote: Great news, everyone! Earlier today, on Stardate 20050726.1325, or 26 July 2005, 15:25 hours local time, Sonja gave birth to our second son! Just like our first son, Tom, he will go through life with a very short name: we have named him Max. Way to go, Sonja and Jeroen! And welcome to the world, Max! Yes, congratulations ! And a long and happy life to you all Andrew ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
