From the NY Times:

Canada Overrides Patent for Cipro to Treat Anthrax - I understand the reluctance of the US to overide a patent (It would discourage drug companies to invest in research.), but I think this would fall into an "eminent domain" issue. The government should take the patent from the company that holds it because of the national security issue, BUT pay the drug company the fair market value of the patent. This would cost billions of dollars, but I think it would be worth it. (and the US could recoup some of the cost by licencing the patent back to the original patent holder and the generic drug manufacturers at a reasonable price)

Bill to Alter Bankruptcy Seems to Stall: A bill that would have made it more difficult for consumers to dismiss their debts by filing for bankruptcy has effectively been pushed aside in Congress. - I'm glad to see this happen. The Bankruptcy laws as they were being rewritten, were a bad, bad situation for the poor and middle-class in America.
posted by J.M. Branum at 4:56 PM | link

Reminder to self to use span commands from now on. span class=quote and span class=from.
posted by J.M. Branum at 6:15 PM | link

My friend Aaron has posted a very thoughtful piece on the bombing on his blogger at ajy.net/blogger.asp. While I have disagreed with him some on how justice should be carried out, I do think the second half of the post that talks about toleration (and draw parallels from the "prime directive" of the Star Trek universe) is very good. (The post is from October 4th.)
posted by J.M. Branum at 6:13 PM | link

From the NY Times:

On Death Row, China's Source of Transplants - Can someone explain to me why Bush is in China right now acting as if everything is A-OK when horrible human rights abuses like these are happening?!?!
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:09 PM | link

MSNBC reports that United Airlines may go out of business next year.

Also in MSNBC, U.S. plans to increase smallpox vaccine stocks: Health secretary to seek $500 million; Homeland Security chief says vaccination campaign possible
posted by J.M. Branum at 4:10 PM | link

Hey, sorry to be begging for money like everyone else and their monkey, but keeping this site running and updated takes lots of time. If you like what you see and want it to continue feel free to send donations to me at:

James M. Branum
1008-B Columbia
San Marcos, TX 78666

Also, if you shop at Amazon.com for books, music, or other stuff, do me a big favor and buy your stuff through our links to
Amazon. (I got a % of all sales made through the links.)

Thanks!
posted by J.M. Branum at 1:48 PM | link

From the NY Times:

Court says individuals have right to bear arms

Athrax mailed to Senate

From MSNBC:

Ashcroft seeks to limit info requests - Atty General John Ashcroft seems to be hellbent on taking away freedom. Our FOI rights are integral to open government and effective democracy.

House to close for anthrax sweeps
posted by J.M. Branum at 1:37 PM | link

Via BLOGGER I discovered an interesting site, truthwithin.com. I found it be interesting in its approach to looking at all religions. However, I do question some of the author's statements on the "mission" page:

TRUTH WITHIN is dedicated to the idea that almost every religion, world view or philosophy contains some aspects that are true, and that we posess the ability to recognize those truths within ourselves. We do not promote any one religion or organization above another, and likewise, we will not support any group or submission that supports hate, violence, or bigotry against anyone.


We support the idea that there is a greater something beyond ourselves that no one person can explain or control.


We support the idea that each person has a responsibility to themselves to go out and experience life, to discover what they truly believe about themselves, their morality, their goals and dreams.


We support the idea that each person has the power to decide what is true for them, and that no one else has the right to decide what is true for you.


We support the idea that fear, hatred and discrimination come from not being able to see that all people have qualities that make them worthwhile, useful, important, and equal. No one has the right to decide that someone else is less important that themselves simply because that other person does not share their religious or personal views, sexual orientation, racial heritage, or marital status.


We support the idea that one must fight for the "right things" in this world, such as peace, freedom and tolerance - but that by educating the public, your weapons are words and understanding.


We support the idea that physical violence is always the last resort.

My question is this...how can you make statements like "physical violence is always the last resort" or that "peace, freedom, and tolerance" are the "right" things in the world, if you believe that all truth is relative to the individual. I agree with both of these statements that I quoted in this paragraph, but the reason I agree with them is that they are truth for everyone, not just the individual. I don't understand how Truthwithin thinks that some truth is relative and some truth is absolute. Either truth is truth, or it's not truth at all.
posted by J.M. Branum at 1:30 PM | link

It looks like the Austin Police Department doesn't see rape as a serious crime worth investigating.
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:06 PM | link

From the NY Times:

• Young Japanese Breaking Old Salaryman's Bonds - It is so ironic to me that Japan is now discovering the joys of the American slacker culture, while America has accepted the old Japanese spirit-killing work ethic.

posted by J.M. Branum at 4:37 PM | link

Yahoo Internet Life has a very good column by Roger Ebert on whether its time for a celebration or obituary for the internet.

posted by J.M. Branum at 2:02 PM | link

Well my most avid reader, "Bob Jones" has posted a very thoughtful response to an earlier post (one concerning the networks censorship of bin Laden's video clips) on my guestbook. Most notably, Bob said I needed to read a story on MSNBC.com on this. After reading it, I think I should clarify a few things....

Its not the decision to not air the tapes which bothers me. If I was an editor for MSNBC or one of the other networks, I could very easily make the same decision. However, what does bother me is the way that the Bush administration was "leaning" on the network executives to make the decision. The issue is whether the media is truly independent or is merely a lapdog for the government. I should have made this point more clear.

Now, as to another issue brought up in the MSNBC story, I do think it is wrong for news broadcasters to wear flag lapel pins. If they are editorializing, fine they can wear red, white, and blue underwear if they want, but if they're presenting straight news, wearing flag pins is showing their bias.

The "patriotic duty" of the press is to be truly independent, to question what the government is doing, and to be the watch-dog for the people. There have been plenty of examples of this happening (read my last post on the LA Times story for example) which I am very proud of.

Thanks again Bob for posting your thoughts. Also, for you and anyone else who wants to tell me what you think about my posts I've added a new comment link for each of my posts. Please feel free to post what you think in the comments area.
posted by J.M. Branum at 1:19 PM | link

The LA Times is reporting horrible human rights abuses that are being perputrated against the 700+ folks the FBI has "detained" after the terrorist attacks.

Here are some excerpts from the article:

• In Mississippi, a 20-year-old student from Pakistan said he was stripped and beaten in his cell by other inmates while jail guards failed to intervene and denied him proper medical care. The FBI is investigating the incident.
  

• In New York, prosecutors are investigating an Egyptian detainee's courtroom allegations of abuse by a guard, and the Israeli Consulate is concerned about five Israeli men who say they were blindfolded, handcuffed in their cells and forced to take lie detector tests.
  

• In Denton, a man from Saudi Arabia initially was denied an attorney and was deprived of a mattress, a blanket, a drinking cup and a clock to tell him when to recite his Muslim prayers, his lawyer said.
  

  (later on in the article...)
  

  Dallas attorney Paul Zoltan is representing a Saudi man being held in Denton. The lawyer declined to identify his client, except to say that he is in his 20s, works as a sales representative and faces only minor immigration charges.
  

  "He was kept in leg irons when meeting with his family," Zoltan said. "They didn't give him a drinking cup. They didn't give him a mattress. They didn't give him a blanket. He had to ask what time of day it was so he could pray toward Mecca, and they wouldn't tell him. He's very frightened."
  

• Judges are denying bond, closing hearings and sealing documents. Prosecutors are refusing to divulge what is occurring behind closed doors in jails and courtrooms. Even defense attorneys often do not know what is happening to their clients, or they refuse to discuss them.
  

  Because of the extraordinary level of secrecy surrounding the investigation, it is impossible to ascertain how many individuals may have been mistreated.
  

  Federal authorities refuse to disclose even the number of people in custody.
  

  In an attempt to find out who is detained and how they are being treated, the Los Angeles Times contacted more than 20 defense lawyers and civil rights monitors. In every case, the lawyers complained that their clients were being held too long, and almost all said their clients had suffered some kind of mistreatment or undue hardship.
  

• Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller insist there has been no disregard for the rights of detainees.
  

  "This Justice Department will never waver in our defense of the Constitution nor relent in our defense of civil rights," Ashcroft told the House Judiciary Committee last month. "The American spirit that rose from the rubble in New York knows no prejudice and defies division by race, ethnicity or religion."
  

• There have been numerous allegations of people being kept from their attorneys. According to the law, defendants charged with a crime are entitled to an appointed attorney if they cannot afford to hire their own. In immigration court, detainees are told they may hire a lawyer but that one is not automatically assigned.
  

• Abdulsalam Achou, a Syrian bread salesman living in Jersey City, N.J., has been detained since Sept. 15 for staying in this country 19 days past his visa permit, a minor infraction, said his lawyer, Lamiaa Elfar.
  

  "His wife is close to nine months pregnant, and she has a 1-year-old daughter who was born here," Elfar said. "She has nobody here except him. She doesn't even know how she's going to get to a hospital. She has no one to take her."
  

It's time that we reign in facists like Attorney General John Ashcroft. Contact President George Bush and tell him we demand that human rights be respected for all!
posted by J.M. Branum at 12:24 PM | link