Rabble.ca is a Canadian based alt-news source.
posted by J.M. Branum at 7:18 PM | link

Hahaha, I'm at Scholtzky's cyberterminal right now, but their cybernanny/censor now won't let folks see www.jmbzine.com now that I posted the last post on gun control.

posted by J.M. Branum at 7:08 PM | link

A recent column by Molly Ivins, whom I ussually agree with has taken a pretty hardline in favor of gun control. I agree with you Molly, with one caveat... ban all the guns, starting with the ones the cops carry. I for one don't like the thought of a world where only the cops have guns.

Until the cops lay down theirs, not a chance.

(BTW, while I support gun owner rights I personally would not use a gun against another human being. I only believe in gun use for recreation/hunting.)
posted by J.M. Branum at 7:07 PM | link

Forbes.com reports that Austin resident, Michael Dell is #15 on its top 400 richest Americans list at 9.8 Billion dollars. OK, think about this... 9.8 billion dollars divided by 1 million (my guess of the Austin metro population) is $9,800 per person! This is whack that there is this kind of gap between the rich and poor in this city to say nothing of the rest of the country.
posted by J.M. Branum at 4:21 PM | link

USA Today has broke the story that small units of US and UK special forces are engaged in a secret manhunt for bin Laden in southwestern Afghanistan.

ABC News has an interview with a defector from the al Queda organization.

The Washington Post has a on the last minute spiritual and practical directions for the hi-jackers.

posted by J.M. Branum at 3:52 PM | link

A45. Ponder it.
posted by J.M. Branum at 6:30 PM | link

This is rather disturbing, Christian Guide to Small Arms
posted by J.M. Branum at 6:28 PM | link

Listening to Phil Ochs' song I ain't marching anymore. Such a powerful song, especially in these times.
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:07 PM | link

I found this from a NY Times story:

Mr. Jackson, 59, said in an NBC television interview today that he had discussed the matter with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and the national security adviser Condoleeza Rice, who he said were ``not at all hostile'' to the proposed mission,


But Mr. Powell's deputy, Richard Armitage, also speaking on NBC television, said today: ``We're not interested in a dialogue. We're interested in action and no negotiation. The demands are not subject to dialogue.''

The first paragraph is intrigueing, but the second one is more troublesome. Even if Jackson is able to negotiate some kind of settlement, it looks like the US is not willing to accept anything but total aqcuience by the Taliban. And that is unlikely to happen.

Now, more than ever is the time to pray for peace.
posted by J.M. Branum at 3:51 PM | link

From MSNBC:

US Diplomats to leave Indonesia, Arab league says its member-states will not participate


Afghan opposition vows to support ousted King

From The NY Times:

Jesse Jackson may head to Afghanistan on peace mission - Thank God for Jesse Jackson. We all need to be praying that he is successful in this mission.

Cell phones banned for election day in Bangladesh - sure sounds fishy to me.
posted by J.M. Branum at 2:10 PM | link

posted by J.M. Branum at 9:49 PM | link

Cowardly companies like Sears, and FedEx have convinced ABC to cancel Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" TV show. For more info on what happened, read this column by Arianna Huffington. Also the complete transcript of the show from ABC and a CNN story on Sears and FedEx pulling their ads.

If you feel that this kind of censorship is wrong, then go to the Support Bill Maher website to sign the petition.
posted by J.M. Branum at 9:44 PM | link

Last night stayed up late watching two very good movies.

The first one, Bulworth is one that I've seen before, but it is even better than I remembered. When I first saw it, I thought it was a good story, but too "liberal." Today though, I would gladly cast my vote for Bulworth for President. (I'd settle for Warren Beaty though.)

The second one, Save the Last Dance was much better than I expected. I thought it might be cheezy, but I decided to take a chance on it since Doug Van Pelt of HM Magazine recommended it. As the commercials hyped, the dance moves were "slamming" and the sexual energy portrayed between the bi-racial couple was kick***. I also thought that this showed very accurately the anxieties that both black and white Americans have concerning inter-racial dating. Overall, I loved it. (and I don't care if you think it is a chick flick. I dare you to watch it and see if you're not impressed too.)

My only criticism of it was that there portrayal of the effects of sex. It didn't make sense to me that the main character could get it on and not have the slightest concern about getting laid up, while her best friend already had a child. Somehow the movie made it seem like only the black girls get pregnant, which is silly at best, racist at worst.
posted by J.M. Branum at 9:44 PM | link

http://www.wx.com/link/
posted by J.M. Branum at 9:29 PM | link

From Newsweek: Voices of Dissent Amid Calls for War

It is true that many pacifist activists have been lying low, but that time should be past. It's now time that we speak out for peace and speak out to save the country that we love from another Vietnam.
posted by J.M. Branum at 8:45 PM | link

From MSNBC: “I AM RETURNING as a player to the game I love,” said Jordan, 38 and more than three years removed from what seemed to be a storybook ending to his career.

Jordan will donate his entire salary for the upcoming season to relief agencies working with the victims of the terrorist attacks on Washington and New York, said Estee Portnoy, a spokeswoman for SFX, Jordan’s management agency. [Read more]
posted by J.M. Branum at 8:43 PM | link

Over the last couple months I've been dabbling with watercolor painting. (Thanks to the encouragement of my friend Tim Burger.) So, I thought I would share a few of my recent paintings. I know that I am very much a beginner, but you got to start somewhere...

Summer Day in Central Park in NYC	Hope (excerpt)	Scene from the Ozarks of my memory
tree painted in my interpretation of a Japanese style		Abstract experiment with watercolor

posted by J.M. Branum at 8:14 PM | link

I am not Catholic, but I love The Pope. He has shown more courage and statesmanship than any political leader in the last decade.
posted by J.M. Branum at 7:37 PM | link

I found another very blog by an Austinite, Patchworkgirl.
posted by J.M. Branum at 7:12 PM | link

According to MSNBC the "U.S. Air Force has frozen nearly all discharges and retirements for at least the next 30 days . . . The move came as the Pentagon proceeded with its biggest mobilization since the 1991 Persian Gulf War, with bombers, fighter jets and support aircraft in the forefront."

If you're thinking of joining the service, think twice. This last news item is proof that recruiters lie to meet their quotas! Think you're only enlisting for four years? Think again. That's four years of active duty, but if you read the fine print they have your butt for four more years in the reserves, which means they might decide to "delay your discharge" if there is a war going on. Suddenly the four years turns into eight and you don't have any say about it. (If you find yourself in this situation, talk to the folks at The Center for Conscience and War as they have trained counselors who may be able to advice you on getting out of your military hitch by going through the proper channels.)
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:54 AM | link

I saw Pedro the Lion tonight at Emo's in Austin. Excellent performance but too short. (I was spoiled by last year's two-hour+ show.)
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:41 AM | link

US Attorney General John Ashcroft wants to take away your rights. Here's the latest from a story in MSNBC.com

ASHCROFT ISSUED his warning in testifying before the House Judiciary Committee in favor of far-reaching measures to ramp up the war on terrorism, telling lawmakers, “Every day that passes with outdated statutes and the old rules of engagement is a day that terrorists have a competitive advantage.”


Ashcroft urged quick passage of new police powers sought by the Bush administration, including the authority to detain aliens suspected of ties to terrorists indefinitely and without the right to appeal. The administration also wants wiretap evidence obtained in other countries in violation of the Fourth Amendment to be admissible in court.

In addition, the administration is asking for secret court authorization for wiretaps, longer jail terms for terrorists, access to users’ Internet information without a court order and authority to review telephone voice-mail messages with only a search warrant.


Some of the measures raised red flags for Democrats and advocates of civil liberties. Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the committee’s ranking Democrat, said he and others were “deeply troubled” by the constitutional implications.


“Past experience has taught us that today’s weapon against terrorism may be tomorrow’s law against law-abiding Americans,” Conyers said.


Ashcroft said he was sure the bill would pass constitutional muster. “We are conducting this effort with a total commitment to protect the rights and privacy of all Americans and the constitutional protections we hold dear,” he said.

John Ashcroft is full of ****. How can he say this effort is made with a "total commitment to hold the rights and privacy of all Americans and the constitutional protectioncs we all hold dear," when he is proposing suspending the forth amendment with regards to overseas wiretaps?

OK, let me get this straight. Suspending the forth Amendment of the BILL OF RIGHTS is "respecting ... the constitutional protections we all hold dear." Yeah, if you think that's true then I got some oceanfront property in Oklahoma that I'll see you at a real cheap price.
posted by J.M. Branum at 9:11 PM | link

Things keep sinking lower and lower. I just read at MSNBC.com that bin Laden has released a letter addressed to his “Muslim brothers in Pakistan” urging them to “deter with all their capabilities the American crusaders from invading Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

Why did Bush have to use the word "crusade" to describe his war of vengenace? Things were bad enough as it was, but now he has stirred up a millenium of old hurts over the evils done by the Crusaders when they "liberated" Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the "infidels."
posted by J.M. Branum at 3:34 PM | link

Download Issue #1 of Campus Peace Bulletin - PDF File
posted by J.M. Branum at 3:02 AM | link

If you're in the mood for a laugh, do a search with your favorite file sharing program for "The Ballad of Ronald Reagan" by The Austin Lounge Lizards
posted by J.M. Branum at 12:26 AM | link