Miscellania

Yahoo News has a disturbing report that Lucas is going to have N'Sync have a cameo role in the next Star Wars movie. That is so pathetic and sad.
posted by J.M. Branum at 12:46 AM | link

Links:

Here a couple of random links on the St. Martin's Cross at Iona:

• Photo 1
  
• Photo 2
  
• St. Columba and Iona
  
• Photo 3
  
• A paragraph on the meaning of the St. Martin's Cross
  

posted by J.M. Branum at 6:57 PM | link

Latest news of note:

• NY Times: Rumsfeld Says Afghan Prisoners Might Be Brought to U.S. Bases - Like it or not, Mr. Rumsfeld... if you bring these folks on U.S. soil there is no doubt from a Constitutional question that they are protected by the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights guarantees that "no person" (not "no citizen") shall be deprived of a fair trial. There was a question where those rights were granted to all folks under US custody overseas, but there is no question if it applies to persons on US soil. If Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, and Bush deny this and use kangaroo courts (a.k.a. "secret military tribunals") to try this accused criminals, they are spitting on the Constitution and the freedom that Americans hold dear.
  

• MSNBC: Clintons' dog Buddy dies - a sad news item. One thing that is interesting though is found at the bottom of the story: a listing of all of the pets that each President owned. I think it is noteworthy that all of the Presidents had one or more pets, a few had a small zoo.
  

posted by J.M. Branum at 5:26 PM | link

Latest news of note:

• MSNBC: U.S. denies errant-bombing report
  

• NY Times: A frustrated A.C.L.U. tries to guide consulates through a thicket
  

• MSNBC: Monsanto hid decades of pollution
  

• NY Times: Bloomberg sworn in as mayor of New York
  

• NY Times: The Euro takes visible shape: pocket change
  

• NY Times: From coast to coast, the states ring in a raft of new statues
  

posted by J.M. Branum at 10:51 PM | link

Personal Note:
New Year's has come and passed. While it's certainly a time for partying and the like, I always try to take some time out to do some soul searching. It seems like a good milestone to look at your life and to ask the tough questions. Overall, I do think New Year's was a good turning point for me.

On the subject of New Year's, I heard a new song for New Year's on NPR. The song is "New Lang Syne: Thank God's it's over" (free mp3 download) and it's by the Boston-based DIY band Jim's Big Ego. The song seemed very, very appropriate for the year.

Talking about music and New Year's, P.O.D.'s performance at Times Square on MTV was killer! The played just moments after Midnight (EST) with the Bob Marley classic "Step up, stand up" followed by a song off their new album "Youth of the Nation." What an awesome way to bring in the New Year. I wish I was there, certainly to see P.O.D. but more importantly as act of definance and hope. I love New York City (almost as much as I love the country) and I am so proud that the city is not only surviving but thriving as only true New Yorkers. I know the NY Times told stories about people bailing on NYC, but what they didn't tell were the millions who are staying there. (If either of my two NYC friends happen to read this, I'm proud that you're staying and going forward with your life. You're always kick*** in my book.)

Last, I got a digital camera! (Woohoo!) Ok, it was a super-cheap one (Polaroid Photomax FunFlash 640) on sale at Wal-mart (the evil killer of small town businesses who seduces me in with cheap prices. I leave feeling so dirty after spending money there, but I guess that's the cost of cheap prices. Anyway, I've taken a few pictures at the farm. You can see them at my other blog, The Pine Ridge Journal.
posted by J.M. Branum at 10:49 PM | link

Personal Note:

It's about 5 minutes before the end of 2001 Central standard time. I watched NYC changed over a few minutes ago and I'm awaiting the New Year here at the farm. I post some thoughts on the turnover next year. Thanks to all of my regular and occasional readers for checking out JMBzine.com in 2001.
posted by J.M. Branum at 11:56 PM | link

Links:

Watching world music videos on World Link TV, I saw the most hillarious video by the The Night Losers from Romania. Checking their website, it looks like they have a couple of mp3s available for download.

On another subject, here are few special features from the NY Times.

• Scenes From Around New York City Before and After September 11th - (special 3D photographs)
  
• Portraits of Grief - updated daily with short paragraph length bios and pictures of the victims of the WTC attack

Latest news of note:

• NY Times: Rules Will Allow Airport Screeners to Remain in Jobs
  
  
  After stoking high expectations that the federal takeover of airport security would lead to a new breed of airport security screener, one who was better educated and more qualified to assume a position of increased responsibility, the Department of Transportation has decided not to impose rules that would displace thousands of current screeners.
  

  Most significantly, the department will not insist that screeners be high school graduates, a requirement that would have disqualified a quarter of the present work force of 28,000.

  
  

• State Supreme Court Finds Death Penalty Is Misused in Kansas
  

• NY Times: Once heralded bi-partisanship fades in Texas House
  

• NY Times: Alaska Panel Has Suggestions for Improving Race Relations
  
  JUNEAU, Alaska — The videotape showed Eskimos in downtown Anchorage flinching and shielding their faces as they were shot at with paintball guns by three young white men in a car, who laughed as they cruised the streets and filmed their search for victims.
  

  Out of that incident, which occurred last January and sparked discussion in Alaska about bigotry in a state where about 16 percent of the residents list themselves as Indian or Alaska Native, has come a new report by Gov. Tony Knowles's Commission on Tolerance, which listed nearly 100 recommendations for improving race relations.

  
  

• NY Times: Giuliani Looks Back With Just One Regret
  

• NY Times: Opening Jan. 1: Mayor Bloomberg, Unedited
  

• NY Times: Recession, Then a boom? Maybe not this time
  

• NY Times: Taking on the Republicans, but not their leader
  

• MSNBC: At least 260 perished in Peruvian fire
  

• MSNBC: Under pressure, Pakistan arrests top militant --- After days of rising tension between nuclear rivals, move may help lower heat
  

• MSNBC: Americans plan low-key New Year’s --- New York ready for crowds in special Times Square gala
  

• MSNBC: Viewing platform opens at WTC site
  

• MSNBC: Web clues by Shoe-Bomb suspect

Opinions worth noting

• Washington Post: Vengeance Did Not Deliver Justice by Stehen B. Ives, Jr.

posted by J.M. Branum at 9:16 PM | link

Good news!!! I (finally!) have internet access from the farm! Thanks to an inline filter given to me from my friend Tim Burger, I am able to get dial-up access at the blistering speed of 14.4! --- That's the only bad thing about rural areas is that the phone service is pretty bad. Right now though I'm happy to be connected at all.

More coming soon...
posted by J.M. Branum at 3:25 PM | link