My Buddy Rick. Krystin took this picture -- actually got his face on this one! Ha ha!
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
FlyDLUX Update
I got this email today >>
From: Yutkanany@aol.com
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 23:52:28 EST
Subject: flydlux
To: mailto:markhopkins@broadcast.net
DEAR MARK,
I HOPE YOU NOW KNOW WHO YOU'RE GOOD FRIEND "THE RABBI" IS
HE WOULD EVEN BURY YOU, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WISEN UP AND SPILL THE BEANS. HE DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR DEVOTION, OR PROTECTION......DO EVERYONE A BIG SERVICE AND HELP PUT HIM AND HIS FRIENDS BEHIND BARS, AND HELP EVERYONE RECOUP THEIR MONIES
I'm a bit tired of you people not understanding the concept of what is being put in front of you. There are reasons for the things that are going on. I'm going to start putting up some audio blogs if I can set this up properly tonight with full details ... but let me send you here (go to the downloads section) -- what you see here is all the documents relating to FlyDLUX's finances that I've pulled together -- it indicates that the burden of proving innocence lies not with me, or Rabbi, but with Tony. Tony is the person all this money went to. Tony is the one holding hostage all the tickets. Tony is the one who should provide an accounting. If anyone of you has ANY viable arguments to that, speak up now on this public or private forum with cogent, well designed arguments, or stop lobbing baseless accussations at me or anyone else.
As always, be well, and stay tuned here for details.
/rizzn
PS: Apparently, Paypal has once again decided to steal money from me. Again. This time fifty bucks. For no reason. I hate my life.
From: Yutkanany@aol.com
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 23:52:28 EST
Subject: flydlux
To: mailto:markhopkins@broadcast.net
DEAR MARK,
I HOPE YOU NOW KNOW WHO YOU'RE GOOD FRIEND "THE RABBI" IS
HE WOULD EVEN BURY YOU, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WISEN UP AND SPILL THE BEANS. HE DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR DEVOTION, OR PROTECTION......DO EVERYONE A BIG SERVICE AND HELP PUT HIM AND HIS FRIENDS BEHIND BARS, AND HELP EVERYONE RECOUP THEIR MONIES
I'm a bit tired of you people not understanding the concept of what is being put in front of you. There are reasons for the things that are going on. I'm going to start putting up some audio blogs if I can set this up properly tonight with full details ... but let me send you here (go to the downloads section) -- what you see here is all the documents relating to FlyDLUX's finances that I've pulled together -- it indicates that the burden of proving innocence lies not with me, or Rabbi, but with Tony. Tony is the person all this money went to. Tony is the one holding hostage all the tickets. Tony is the one who should provide an accounting. If anyone of you has ANY viable arguments to that, speak up now on this public or private forum with cogent, well designed arguments, or stop lobbing baseless accussations at me or anyone else.
As always, be well, and stay tuned here for details.
/rizzn
PS: Apparently, Paypal has once again decided to steal money from me. Again. This time fifty bucks. For no reason. I hate my life.
Thursday, November 20, 2003
What to do if your mom finds your blog!
I should have had this back in the day.
Quote of the Entry: "Bigamy: One too many wives. Monogamy: See Bigamy"
Quote of the Entry: "Bigamy: One too many wives. Monogamy: See Bigamy"
Update ...
I'm at a Kinko's. I still don't have access to any mail but my broadcast.net account, so send your mail there for the time being.
My place is actually starting to look like a place to live. On the other hand, I'm very very much missing my slimee. She is in Canada for her MA graduation. I wanted to join her up there, but I think I have too much work to do.
I wound up giving Rabbi most of his stuff back. I wanted to hold on to it for back-pay, but he was about to march into a police station and file a police report on me for holding on to the office equipment. I just don't need that right now -- so I caved and gave him most of the stuff back. I kept a desk and a few old misc. items that I could sell.
I'm very very tired. I'm going to finish the work I came up here to do and go back to sleep.
/rizzn
My place is actually starting to look like a place to live. On the other hand, I'm very very much missing my slimee. She is in Canada for her MA graduation. I wanted to join her up there, but I think I have too much work to do.
I wound up giving Rabbi most of his stuff back. I wanted to hold on to it for back-pay, but he was about to march into a police station and file a police report on me for holding on to the office equipment. I just don't need that right now -- so I caved and gave him most of the stuff back. I kept a desk and a few old misc. items that I could sell.
I'm very very tired. I'm going to finish the work I came up here to do and go back to sleep.
/rizzn
Finally, Some Sort of Victory for Privacy
Court limits in-car FBI spying
Thu Nov 20 @ 22:06 (Reads: 16) Source: Security Focus
An appeals court this week put the brakes on an FBI surveillance technique that turns an automobile driver's on-board vehicle navigation system into a covert eavesdropping device, after finding that the spying effectively disables the system's emergency and roadside assistance features. The case arose from a 2001 FBI surveillance operation in Las Vegas, in which agents obtained a court order compelling a telematics company to secretly activate the stolen vehicle recovery feature in a customer's car. The feature, designed to listen-in on car thieves as they cruise around in a stolen auto, turns on a dashboard microphone and pipes conversations out over a cell phone connection -- normally to the company's response center, but in this case to an FBI listening post. After initially complying for 30 days, the company asked a federal judge to block the order. It lost, and filed the appeal with 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals while complying with the order. The proceeding were handled in strict secrecy, and the text of the final ruling omits the name of the company. Geri Lama, a spokesperson for General Motors subsidiary OnStar, says it wasn't them.
Thu Nov 20 @ 22:06 (Reads: 16) Source: Security Focus
An appeals court this week put the brakes on an FBI surveillance technique that turns an automobile driver's on-board vehicle navigation system into a covert eavesdropping device, after finding that the spying effectively disables the system's emergency and roadside assistance features. The case arose from a 2001 FBI surveillance operation in Las Vegas, in which agents obtained a court order compelling a telematics company to secretly activate the stolen vehicle recovery feature in a customer's car. The feature, designed to listen-in on car thieves as they cruise around in a stolen auto, turns on a dashboard microphone and pipes conversations out over a cell phone connection -- normally to the company's response center, but in this case to an FBI listening post. After initially complying for 30 days, the company asked a federal judge to block the order. It lost, and filed the appeal with 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals while complying with the order. The proceeding were handled in strict secrecy, and the text of the final ruling omits the name of the company. Geri Lama, a spokesperson for General Motors subsidiary OnStar, says it wasn't them.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Quick Update
I'm in Miami -- meeting with investors in a few minutes. At Assaf's house. Super secret project looks good.
I'll be out of pocket -- not checking my email except for my broadcast.com address. If you have something important to send me, put it there.
Over and out
/rizzn
I'll be out of pocket -- not checking my email except for my broadcast.com address. If you have something important to send me, put it there.
Over and out
/rizzn
Monday, November 17, 2003
my friend rizzn
My good friend rizzn-
You seem to be going through some difficult times. I feel inclined to let you know that you are loved. Just remember the good times. Tortilla soup, walking to seven eleven, camel cash everywhere, steve petty, an emaciated joel, tons of cigarettes, tons of coffee, bologne, matthew, pedicures, hiding from robert, almost getting an apartment together, getting together at midnight to put together financial reports, farkash, farkash at georgios, shimmy-shimmy and all the danke stylings. kiss
You seem to be going through some difficult times. I feel inclined to let you know that you are loved. Just remember the good times. Tortilla soup, walking to seven eleven, camel cash everywhere, steve petty, an emaciated joel, tons of cigarettes, tons of coffee, bologne, matthew, pedicures, hiding from robert, almost getting an apartment together, getting together at midnight to put together financial reports, farkash, farkash at georgios, shimmy-shimmy and all the danke stylings. kiss
6/4/2004
RIAA SUES ARTISTS
NEW YORK -- In a surprising twist of events, the RIAA has sued the artists themselves for producing works which are pirated. This comes fresh on the heels of the MPAA filing an injuction against 4 major films studios to halt production on movies the public does not care enough about to see in the theatre, but mind-numbing enough to want to see, leading to rampant piracy. Sources close to the RIAA expect this to be the death of popular music as we know it.
And in other news the RIAA and MPAA are filing suit against employees of all of the regional phone carriers.
"These employees know of the vast amounts of illegal information flowing through the systems and have remained silent. It is whole sale conspiracy to defaud the artist of the meager rations the subsist upon, not to mention that there are undoubtably the locations of all of the terrorists and WMD secreted in these illegal communcations. And while we realize that most of these employees and employers have hidden their involvement behind a thin veil of legality, we call upon the judiciary to set aside these frivolous laws so that we might bring these criminals to justice, swiftly and profitably."
/rizzn (*grin*)
RIAA SUES ARTISTS
NEW YORK -- In a surprising twist of events, the RIAA has sued the artists themselves for producing works which are pirated. This comes fresh on the heels of the MPAA filing an injuction against 4 major films studios to halt production on movies the public does not care enough about to see in the theatre, but mind-numbing enough to want to see, leading to rampant piracy. Sources close to the RIAA expect this to be the death of popular music as we know it.
And in other news the RIAA and MPAA are filing suit against employees of all of the regional phone carriers.
"These employees know of the vast amounts of illegal information flowing through the systems and have remained silent. It is whole sale conspiracy to defaud the artist of the meager rations the subsist upon, not to mention that there are undoubtably the locations of all of the terrorists and WMD secreted in these illegal communcations. And while we realize that most of these employees and employers have hidden their involvement behind a thin veil of legality, we call upon the judiciary to set aside these frivolous laws so that we might bring these criminals to justice, swiftly and profitably."
/rizzn (*grin*)
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Brazil Moves Away From Microsoft
Kasparov Wins Game 3 Against X3D Fritz
by timothy (30% noise)
View Skip
Vulcao writes “Garry Kasparov just brilliantly won game 3 in the Kasparov vs. X3D Fritz chess match, which pits man against machine. Kasparov created a positional advantage on the queen side with a very strong pawn structure to which Fritz didn’t have an answer. The result is now 1.5 - 1.5, and the last game will be this Tuesday, Nov. 18.”
maybe Kasparov should be an Action Ranger
by dandelion_wine (Score: 5, Funny) Thread
Al Gore: You already know Stephen Hawking. Also with us is Nichelle Nichols a.k.a. Commander Uhura.
Nichols: Incoming transmission from MCI one rate department. It sounds like a limited time offer.
Gore: Tell them I’m in the tub! To my left you’ll recognise Gary Gygax, inventor of dungeons and dragons.
Gygax: Greetings! It’s a…[rolls dice.]…pleasure to meet you!
Gore: And our summer intern, Deep Blue. The world’s foremost chess playing computer.
Deep Blue: Bishop to knight 4.
Gore: Not all missions can be solved with chess, Deep Blue. Someday you’ll understand that.
Is Fritz learning?
by LostCluster (Score: 5, Interesting)
Thread
Does Fritz learn from today’s defeat… or could Kasparov repeat today’s win simply by repeating today’s move sequence on Tuesday?
[via AlterSlash]
Last Update for a While
This is my last update for a while. I'm moving out tonight or in the morning, depending on your perspective of AM/PM relationships, and until DSL or Internet of some kind gets installed, I obviously won't be able to post. If you need to urgently need to contact me, my number is, as always, 903-530-7925.
/rizzn
This is my last update for a while. I'm moving out tonight or in the morning, depending on your perspective of AM/PM relationships, and until DSL or Internet of some kind gets installed, I obviously won't be able to post. If you need to urgently need to contact me, my number is, as always, 903-530-7925.
/rizzn
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 20:22:19 -0500
From: DoD News
Subject: DoD Statement on News Reports of al-Qaida and Iraq Connections
No. 851-03
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov 15, 2003
(703)697-5131(media)
(703)428-0711(public/industry)
DoD Statement on News Reports of al-Qaida and Iraq Connections
News reports that the Defense Department recently confirmed new information with respect to contacts between al-Qaida and Iraq in a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee are inaccurate.
A letter was sent to the Senate Intelligence Committee on October 27, 2003 from Douglas J. Feith, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in response to follow-up questions from his July 10 testimony. One of the questions posed by the committee asked the Department to provide the reports from the Intelligence Community to which he referred in his testimony before the Committee. These reports dealt with the relationship between Iraq and al-Qaida.
The letter to the committee included a classified annex containing a list and description of the requested reports, so that the Committee could obtain the reports from the relevant members of the Intelligence Community.
The items listed in the classified annex were either raw reports or products of the CIA, the NSA, or, in one case, the DIA. The provision of the classified annex to the Intelligence Committee was cleared by other agencies and done with the permission of the Intelligence Community. The selection of the documents was made by DOD to respond to the Committee's question. The classified annex was not an analysis of the substantive issue of the relationship between Iraq and al Qaida, and it drew no conclusions.
Individuals who leak or purport to leak classified information are doing serious harm to national security; such activity is deplorable and may be illegal.
From: DoD News
Subject: DoD Statement on News Reports of al-Qaida and Iraq Connections
No. 851-03
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov 15, 2003
(703)697-5131(media)
(703)428-0711(public/industry)
DoD Statement on News Reports of al-Qaida and Iraq Connections
News reports that the Defense Department recently confirmed new information with respect to contacts between al-Qaida and Iraq in a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee are inaccurate.
A letter was sent to the Senate Intelligence Committee on October 27, 2003 from Douglas J. Feith, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in response to follow-up questions from his July 10 testimony. One of the questions posed by the committee asked the Department to provide the reports from the Intelligence Community to which he referred in his testimony before the Committee. These reports dealt with the relationship between Iraq and al-Qaida.
The letter to the committee included a classified annex containing a list and description of the requested reports, so that the Committee could obtain the reports from the relevant members of the Intelligence Community.
The items listed in the classified annex were either raw reports or products of the CIA, the NSA, or, in one case, the DIA. The provision of the classified annex to the Intelligence Committee was cleared by other agencies and done with the permission of the Intelligence Community. The selection of the documents was made by DOD to respond to the Committee's question. The classified annex was not an analysis of the substantive issue of the relationship between Iraq and al Qaida, and it drew no conclusions.
Individuals who leak or purport to leak classified information are doing serious harm to national security; such activity is deplorable and may be illegal.
Saturday, November 15, 2003
OSINT: US helicopters downed in N Iraq
Two US helicopters have crashed in northern Iraq, US military officials have said.
Initial reports indicated that a single UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter had come down in the town of Mosul.
Minutes later a second helicopter crashed - although it is not clear if it was in the same incident.
A rapid reaction force was reported to be securing the area and investigating, but there was no confirmed reports of casualties.
Five days earlier, an American Chinook helicopter was shot down west of Baghdad, killing 16 soldiers in the deadliest single strike on American troops since the start of the war to oust Saddam Hussein.
Witnesses to the latest incident said the helicopter was in flames as it came down.
Two US helicopters have crashed in northern Iraq, US military officials have said.
Initial reports indicated that a single UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter had come down in the town of Mosul.
Minutes later a second helicopter crashed - although it is not clear if it was in the same incident.
A rapid reaction force was reported to be securing the area and investigating, but there was no confirmed reports of casualties.
Five days earlier, an American Chinook helicopter was shot down west of Baghdad, killing 16 soldiers in the deadliest single strike on American troops since the start of the war to oust Saddam Hussein.
Witnesses to the latest incident said the helicopter was in flames as it came down.
[via Mike Lee @ Saturday, 15 November, 2003, 18:13 GMT ]
[Listening to: The Silence (Radio Edit) - Mike Koglin - (03:37)]
Robin Kish - Factchecker Extraordinaire
Robin Kish - Factchecker Extraordinaire - brings you her slandereport about FlyDLUX!
Care to see the atrocious FlyDLUX report that aired on WFOR? Click Here.
Disclaimer: Just because the report is full of incorrect facts and slander does not mean it is true or I purport to believe it.
Care to see the atrocious FlyDLUX report that aired on WFOR? Click Here.
Disclaimer: Just because the report is full of incorrect facts and slander does not mean it is true or I purport to believe it.
[Listening to: LOFI Richtig by Rizzn Phitt - Rizzn and Phit - (04:19)]
// Now playing: Pi Soundtrack - Pi Soundtrack - (T03) Kalpol I //
Farscape is Back - by CowboyNeal (46% noise) View Skip
cioxx writes “FilmForce has substantiated rumors of Farscape, widely popular TV miniseries, returning as a standalone project with no new episode commitment attached, independent of Sci-Fi Channel.” Previously, some rumors had been flying around that the original series would be finished off in this way, but many Farscape fans are just happy to see more of the show on the way.
Re:“Widely popular” - by TTMuskrat (Score: 4, Informative) Thread
If it was widely popular, why does it have to be resurrected?
Because its cancellation was all about money and ownership of the show, not its popularity. (Kinda like the original Battlestar Galatica).
SciFi Channel (owned by USA networks) did not own the rights to the show as it was made by the Jim Henson company (who is owned by a German conglomerate whose name escapes me now). When the USA network changed leadership, they wanted shows that they made and produced to be shown so that all the monies from said show would go to them. Since this was not the case with Henson-owned Farscape, and the fact that the show was not cheap to make, USA (and SciFi) opted out of the 5th season. So now, all you get is USA network made crap programming on the SciFi channel as if the entire USA Network itself wasn’t bad enough
[via AlterSlash]
[ Rizzn's Note: the article makes no mention as to why we would affect such a policy. It really makes no sense at all. In a time when we are creating this nuke the moon persona for our country, why would we want to let up even a little bit to a country like Libya, where there is clear evidence they are a nation of terrorism (unlike countries like Iraq and Iran, their policies are obfuscated in the fine print of their country's legislation).]
OSINT: U.S. may ease travel ban to Libya
Ahead of an upcoming deadline, the United States may depart from its customary full-year extension of a two-decade old policy that attempts to prevent Americans from traveling to Libya, Bush administration officials say.
INSTEAD, THE OFFICIALS say a much shorter extension — possibly 90 days — is possible to reflect changed circumstances.
In the recent past, the United States has lifted prohibitions on use of U.S. passports to travel to Iran and Lebanon. Libya is now the only country where the U.S. government applies such a restriction.
[ MSNBC ]
OSINT: U.S. may ease travel ban to Libya
Ahead of an upcoming deadline, the United States may depart from its customary full-year extension of a two-decade old policy that attempts to prevent Americans from traveling to Libya, Bush administration officials say.
INSTEAD, THE OFFICIALS say a much shorter extension — possibly 90 days — is possible to reflect changed circumstances.
In the recent past, the United States has lifted prohibitions on use of U.S. passports to travel to Iran and Lebanon. Libya is now the only country where the U.S. government applies such a restriction.
[ MSNBC ]
[Listening to: Dedicated Melody - TbO&Vega feat.DRF - (04:07)]
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 is one of the forgotten wars of the United States. The war lasted for over two years, and while it ended much like it started; in stalemate; it was in fact a war that once and for all confirmed American Independence. The offensive actions of the United States failed in every attempt to capture Canada. On the other hand, the British army was successfully stopped when it attempted to capture Baltimore and New Orleans. There were a number of American naval victories in which American vessels proved themselves superior to similarly sized British vessels. These victories coming after victories in the Quasi War (an even more forgotten war) launched American naval traditions.
The following entries were taken from the War of 1812 section of the MultiEducator CD Rom entitled:"New Nation: America 1787-1820" chronicles the history of the United States from the writing of the Constitution through to the War of 1812.
In the program itself the the painting and drawings are larger, every entry is narrated. Nearly every major battle includes an in-depth battle narration that usually include animated battle maps.
oo come back proud canadians
before you had tv
no hockey night in canada
there was no cbc
in 1812 madison was mad
he was the president, you know
but he thought he tell the british where they ought to go
he thougth he'd invade canada
he thought that he was tough
instead he went to washington
and burned down all his stuff
and the whitehouse burned burned burned
and we're the ones that did it
it burned burned burned
while the president ran and cried
it burned burned burned
and things were very historical
and the americans ran and cried like a bunch of little babies
wa wa waaaa
in the war of 1812
now hillbillies from kentucky
dressed in green and red
left home to fight in canada
but they returned home dead
its only war the yankees lost
except for vietnam
and also the alamo
and the bay of... ham
the loser was america
the winner was ourselves
so join right in and gloat about
the war of 1812
and the whitehouse burned burned burned
and we're the ones that did it
it burned burned burned
while the president ran and cried
it burned burned burned
and things were very historical
and the americans ran and cried like a bunch of little babies
wa wa waaaa
in the war of 1812
in 1812 we were just sittin' around
mindin' our own business
puttin' crops into the ground
we heard the soldiers coming
and we didnt like that sound
so we took a boat to washington
and burned it to the ground
oh, oh...
we burned our guns
but the yankees kept on coming
there wasn't quite as many
as there was a while ago
we fired once more
and the yankees started runnin
down the mississippi to the gulf of mexico
they ran through the snow
and they ran through the forest
they ran throught the bushes where the beavers wouldn't go
they ran so fast that they forgot to take their culture
back to america, gulf, and texico
So, if you go to Washington, its buildings clean and nice,
Bring a pack of matches, and we’ll burn the White House twice!
and the whitehouse burned burned burned
but the americans won't admit it
it burned, burned, burned,
it burned and burned and burned
it burned, burned, burned,
now, i bet that made them mad
and the americans ran and cried like a bunch of little babies
waa waa waah!
in the war of 1812!
The War of 1812 is one of the forgotten wars of the United States. The war lasted for over two years, and while it ended much like it started; in stalemate; it was in fact a war that once and for all confirmed American Independence. The offensive actions of the United States failed in every attempt to capture Canada. On the other hand, the British army was successfully stopped when it attempted to capture Baltimore and New Orleans. There were a number of American naval victories in which American vessels proved themselves superior to similarly sized British vessels. These victories coming after victories in the Quasi War (an even more forgotten war) launched American naval traditions.
The following entries were taken from the War of 1812 section of the MultiEducator CD Rom entitled:"New Nation: America 1787-1820" chronicles the history of the United States from the writing of the Constitution through to the War of 1812.
In the program itself the the painting and drawings are larger, every entry is narrated. Nearly every major battle includes an in-depth battle narration that usually include animated battle maps.
[Listening to: Arrogant Worms - The War of 1812 - - (04:00)]
oo come back proud canadians
before you had tv
no hockey night in canada
there was no cbc
in 1812 madison was mad
he was the president, you know
but he thought he tell the british where they ought to go
he thougth he'd invade canada
he thought that he was tough
instead he went to washington
and burned down all his stuff
and the whitehouse burned burned burned
and we're the ones that did it
it burned burned burned
while the president ran and cried
it burned burned burned
and things were very historical
and the americans ran and cried like a bunch of little babies
wa wa waaaa
in the war of 1812
now hillbillies from kentucky
dressed in green and red
left home to fight in canada
but they returned home dead
its only war the yankees lost
except for vietnam
and also the alamo
and the bay of... ham
the loser was america
the winner was ourselves
so join right in and gloat about
the war of 1812
and the whitehouse burned burned burned
and we're the ones that did it
it burned burned burned
while the president ran and cried
it burned burned burned
and things were very historical
and the americans ran and cried like a bunch of little babies
wa wa waaaa
in the war of 1812
in 1812 we were just sittin' around
mindin' our own business
puttin' crops into the ground
we heard the soldiers coming
and we didnt like that sound
so we took a boat to washington
and burned it to the ground
oh, oh...
we burned our guns
but the yankees kept on coming
there wasn't quite as many
as there was a while ago
we fired once more
and the yankees started runnin
down the mississippi to the gulf of mexico
they ran through the snow
and they ran through the forest
they ran throught the bushes where the beavers wouldn't go
they ran so fast that they forgot to take their culture
back to america, gulf, and texico
So, if you go to Washington, its buildings clean and nice,
Bring a pack of matches, and we’ll burn the White House twice!
and the whitehouse burned burned burned
but the americans won't admit it
it burned, burned, burned,
it burned and burned and burned
it burned, burned, burned,
now, i bet that made them mad
and the americans ran and cried like a bunch of little babies
waa waa waah!
in the war of 1812!
[Listening to: Arrogant Worms - The War of 1812 - - (04:00)]
Rough set of few days -- real rough. Laura and I took it semi-easy today. I didn't answer the phone much. Just couldn't take it anymore. I shut down all the phones and turned on some music, and did relaxing things. As a consequence, I'll be up until daylight doing my work, but damnit, it was worth it.
Oh, and all you people in Miami afraid of this FTAA stuff might be interested in learning about the Anarchist Movement.
/rizzn
One more day, and I reveal a secret.
Oh, and all you people in Miami afraid of this FTAA stuff might be interested in learning about the Anarchist Movement.
/rizzn
One more day, and I reveal a secret.
[Listening to: Rocked By Rape - The Evolution Control Committe - 7" single (04:30)]
Friday, November 14, 2003
OSINT: CIA sounds new warning on North Korea missile that could hit US
The CIA is sounding a new alarm that North Korea may be ready to flight test a nuclear capable multi-stage missile capable of reaching parts of the United States.
[ Space Daily ]
The CIA is sounding a new alarm that North Korea may be ready to flight test a nuclear capable multi-stage missile capable of reaching parts of the United States.
[ Space Daily ]
From FuzzOnWall:
What does a kiss taste like? One day a teacher had a taste test with her students. She picked a little boy to do the first test. She blindfolded him, put a Hershey kiss in his mouth and asked, "Do you know what it is?"
"No, I don't," said the little boy. "Okay, I'll give you a clue. It's the thing your daddy wants from your Mom before he goes to work."
Suddenly, a little girl at the back of the room yelled, "Spit it out! It's a piece of ass!"
What does a kiss taste like? One day a teacher had a taste test with her students. She picked a little boy to do the first test. She blindfolded him, put a Hershey kiss in his mouth and asked, "Do you know what it is?"
"No, I don't," said the little boy. "Okay, I'll give you a clue. It's the thing your daddy wants from your Mom before he goes to work."
Suddenly, a little girl at the back of the room yelled, "Spit it out! It's a piece of ass!"
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Feelings on the FlyDLUX Report
I really don't like how they portrayed me as a liar -- FlyDLUX piece portrays me as some sort of a crook -- I'm not a crook.Neither is Rabbi. I'm faxing, this evening, a list of the customers we actually flew, and maybe a photocopy of my genitalia. I'm a little perturbed by her unbalanced report.
Okay -- I've had time to think about this report, and soak it in, and watch it a second time. I really feel insulted. There are a number of facts that were completely wrong and reported incorrectly. First of all, we issued a refund to Yoram Maimoni (the jeweler in the report) if memory serves. Second of all, from the time of the report until it's airing (a time span of several months) we have issued no tickets, nor have we sold any. This is because we knew we couldn't deliver. We couldn't deliver because a man by the name of James Anthony Wimmer took all our money, and never delivered tickets we could sell. We have paid Mr. Wimmer right around a million dollars -- and we haven't recieved this fabled block of "3500 tickets" he was supposed to deliver to us to sell.
I am hurt and afraid this will permanently damage my reputation as a businessman -- look at my bio. I'm a respectable fellow. I've got a lot of big accomplishments. This report is almost purely slander. If I come up with the time to think about dealing with this, it will be more widely and publicly addressed.
/rizzn
FlyDLUX Grand Send-Off
The FlyDLUX.com, Inc Grand Send Off
Well, I really don't have a minute to do an update, but I'm going to do one anyways. I'm taking a break (as the picture indicates) from the rigors of moving. Yes folks I'm moving. Don't get excited, I'm not moving to Texas just yet (although I will be coming back for a visit during the holidays). Well, down to what this update is about.
FlyDLUX is being featured tonight on Miami's CBS4 tonight -- the lead video showed Rabbi going into his apartment. I'm watching the news now -- they haven't gotten to the segment yet, but I'm sure they'll be using part of the segment where they interviewed me, and we'll see how badly they twist my words. The lady who interviewed me was very cordial and presented it as if she was going to present a balanced report, but that's already not panning out as the title of the report indicates that it won't. I'll post an addendum to this post after the report airs.
Where am I moving to? I'm moving within the area. If we were such a fraud, how come I don't have money to pay rent? Simply put, because we aren't a fraud. I haven't been paid by FlyDLUX.com since the third week I've been in Florida. As to the cause of this problem, pay attention to this website. We are going to the FBI and the appropriate DA's and AG's offices this week.
I just know our phones will be ringing off the hook this evening. I hope this doesn't ruin my reputation. I'm as much a victim of this as all these purported victims interviewed by Robin Lish or Dish or whatever her name is.
/rizzn
Well, I really don't have a minute to do an update, but I'm going to do one anyways. I'm taking a break (as the picture indicates) from the rigors of moving. Yes folks I'm moving. Don't get excited, I'm not moving to Texas just yet (although I will be coming back for a visit during the holidays). Well, down to what this update is about.
FlyDLUX is being featured tonight on Miami's CBS4 tonight -- the lead video showed Rabbi going into his apartment. I'm watching the news now -- they haven't gotten to the segment yet, but I'm sure they'll be using part of the segment where they interviewed me, and we'll see how badly they twist my words. The lady who interviewed me was very cordial and presented it as if she was going to present a balanced report, but that's already not panning out as the title of the report indicates that it won't. I'll post an addendum to this post after the report airs.
Where am I moving to? I'm moving within the area. If we were such a fraud, how come I don't have money to pay rent? Simply put, because we aren't a fraud. I haven't been paid by FlyDLUX.com since the third week I've been in Florida. As to the cause of this problem, pay attention to this website. We are going to the FBI and the appropriate DA's and AG's offices this week.I just know our phones will be ringing off the hook this evening. I hope this doesn't ruin my reputation. I'm as much a victim of this as all these purported victims interviewed by Robin Lish or Dish or whatever her name is.
/rizzn
OSINT: CIA Rejects Claim It Sought Osama Deal Before 9/11
The CIA rejected as fantasy claims in a new book that it tried to negotiate a non-aggression pact with Osama bin Laden just two months before the September 11, 2001 airliner attacks against the United States.
[ Reuters ]
The CIA rejected as fantasy claims in a new book that it tried to negotiate a non-aggression pact with Osama bin Laden just two months before the September 11, 2001 airliner attacks against the United States.
[ Reuters ]
BBSmates is a place to search for members of all y ...
BBSmates is a place to search for members of all your old BBSes.
[ Rizzn's Note: More on this later why it is relevant to my life -- in other words, big news a'brewin'! ]
Internet Radio To Have Global License
According to Reuters, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has come up with a single license agreement that Internet radio broadcasters can sign to gain the right to broadcast music around the world.
Previously, online radio broadcasters, or Webcasters, had to secure approval from an alphabet soup of national collection agencies.Broadcasting a single song online to European listeners across the continent, for example, would require a Webcaster to obtain dozens of licensing contracts. . . .
Rechardt added that while the approval process has been streamlined, the old fee structure is still intact. Webcasters will still have to pay a national body a fee for songs broadcast into each individual country.
While the license has yet to be finalized, it promises to be a good private solution to the morass of global copyright law. Read the article here.
[via LawMeme]
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
OSINT: Arab experts desperately needed in Iraq
US intelligence is desperate to find Arab speaking experts it can trust enough to help in the interrogation of accused terrorists and to crack codes that indicate a looming attack.
[ Middle East Online ]
US intelligence is desperate to find Arab speaking experts it can trust enough to help in the interrogation of accused terrorists and to crack codes that indicate a looming attack.
[ Middle East Online ]
OSINT: Taliban form 4 bodies
Remnants of the ousted Taliban regime, said to be regrouping in Afghanistan, have formed four committees to make their resistance against the collation forces more effective, sources privy to the development told Daily Times on Wednesday.
[ Daily Times ]
Remnants of the ousted Taliban regime, said to be regrouping in Afghanistan, have formed four committees to make their resistance against the collation forces more effective, sources privy to the development told Daily Times on Wednesday.
[ Daily Times ]
OSINT: Intelligence Experts Comb Web for Terror Clues
Cyber investigators are scouring the World Wide Web for clues on any future suicide bomb attacks, deploying satellites and other high-tech wizardry to hone in on suspicious Web surfing activity.
[ Yahoo! (Reuters) ]
Cyber investigators are scouring the World Wide Web for clues on any future suicide bomb attacks, deploying satellites and other high-tech wizardry to hone in on suspicious Web surfing activity.
[ Yahoo! (Reuters) ]
From the Can-He-Do-That Department:
OSINT: US wants ban on protests during Bush visit
Anti-war protesters claim that US authorities have demanded a rolling "exclusion zone" around President George Bush during his visit, as well as a ban on marches in parts of central London.
[ Belfast Telegraph ]
OSINT: US wants ban on protests during Bush visit
Anti-war protesters claim that US authorities have demanded a rolling "exclusion zone" around President George Bush during his visit, as well as a ban on marches in parts of central London.
[ Belfast Telegraph ]
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES DETAINED
Supreme Court Justices Detained
November 11, 2003 Washington, D.C. (KaKa) Minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that it would hear the issue of whether Guantanamo Bay detainees have any legal rights under the United States Constitution, masked military teams raided the judges' chambers and whisked the justices off to waiting helicopters.
Citing national security concerns, the Pentagon declined comment on the operation.
The White House, citing national security concerns, declined comment on the operation.
Homeland Security, citing national security concerns, declined comment on the operation.
The Justice Department, citing national security concerns, declined comment on the operation.
Dodohead, however, has learned that the justices were hogtied, had hoods placed over their heads, and were taken to a nearby military air base where they were put on a military jet and flown to a location outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. courts. Unreliable sources say that the justices were taken to Israel for questioning.
Republicans praised the operation as a patriotic use of governmental resources.
Meanwhile, attorneys for top level U.S. officials say that they had expected that their clients would be indicted for war crimes related to the Guantanamo Bay detentions, but now are uncertain what action will be taken against their clients in that their clients have all been promoted and received "combat zone" wage increases.
November 11, 2003 Washington, D.C. (KaKa) Minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that it would hear the issue of whether Guantanamo Bay detainees have any legal rights under the United States Constitution, masked military teams raided the judges' chambers and whisked the justices off to waiting helicopters.
Citing national security concerns, the Pentagon declined comment on the operation.
The White House, citing national security concerns, declined comment on the operation.
Homeland Security, citing national security concerns, declined comment on the operation.
The Justice Department, citing national security concerns, declined comment on the operation.
Dodohead, however, has learned that the justices were hogtied, had hoods placed over their heads, and were taken to a nearby military air base where they were put on a military jet and flown to a location outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. courts. Unreliable sources say that the justices were taken to Israel for questioning.
Republicans praised the operation as a patriotic use of governmental resources.
Meanwhile, attorneys for top level U.S. officials say that they had expected that their clients would be indicted for war crimes related to the Guantanamo Bay detentions, but now are uncertain what action will be taken against their clients in that their clients have all been promoted and received "combat zone" wage increases.
Paris Hilton sex tape Paris Hilton sex tape
Paris Hilton may want to go back to that farm on her reality show and never return. Her ex-boyfriend Rick Solomon 
From WordSpy
time porn
(TYM porn) n. Television shows and other media that portray characters as having excessive amounts of spare time.
Example Citation:
Starbucks became the market leader in an American coffee-shop explosion, and now has 1,500 sites across the States. It benefited from what the social commentator Faith Popcorn has identified as the search for a "third place", somewhere that isn't home or work, where people can meet and relax. With their tasteful furnishings, calming music and free newspapers, the new places were less threatening than alcohol bars, cheaper than restaurants, and the ideal environment in which to find a life partner. The phenomenon was validated when coffee bars provided settings for two of the great modern situation comedies, Frasier — which features the fictional Cafe Nervosa in Seattle — and Friends. Both are leisure-time porn, providing busy viewers with a tantalising glimpse of a world in which witty, attractive people spend all their time hanging out and drinking coffee.
—Cole Moreton, "How to make a �49 million cup of coffee," The Independent, May 17, 1998
Earliest Citation:
Call it time porn. Just as sexual pornography titillates us with images from a forbidden world in which casual sex is there for the taking, do modern images, on television shows and in advertising, show us free time, a thing we covet but cannot have?
The characters of "Seinfeld" wallow obscenely in unscheduled time, as did the characters on "Cheers," probably the mother of all time-porn shows.
—Colin McEnroe, "Admit it — you want it," The Hartford Courant, May 16, 1994
Subject Categories:
Culture - Pornography
Culture - Time
Added to the database on August 5, 2002
time porn
(TYM porn) n. Television shows and other media that portray characters as having excessive amounts of spare time.
Example Citation:
Starbucks became the market leader in an American coffee-shop explosion, and now has 1,500 sites across the States. It benefited from what the social commentator Faith Popcorn has identified as the search for a "third place", somewhere that isn't home or work, where people can meet and relax. With their tasteful furnishings, calming music and free newspapers, the new places were less threatening than alcohol bars, cheaper than restaurants, and the ideal environment in which to find a life partner. The phenomenon was validated when coffee bars provided settings for two of the great modern situation comedies, Frasier — which features the fictional Cafe Nervosa in Seattle — and Friends. Both are leisure-time porn, providing busy viewers with a tantalising glimpse of a world in which witty, attractive people spend all their time hanging out and drinking coffee.
—Cole Moreton, "How to make a �49 million cup of coffee," The Independent, May 17, 1998
Earliest Citation:
Call it time porn. Just as sexual pornography titillates us with images from a forbidden world in which casual sex is there for the taking, do modern images, on television shows and in advertising, show us free time, a thing we covet but cannot have?
The characters of "Seinfeld" wallow obscenely in unscheduled time, as did the characters on "Cheers," probably the mother of all time-porn shows.
—Colin McEnroe, "Admit it — you want it," The Hartford Courant, May 16, 1994
Subject Categories:
Culture - Pornography
Culture - Time
Added to the database on August 5, 2002
OSINT: Israel and Iran going nano
Hebrew University in Jerusalem has opened a new Nanoscopic Characterization unit. For more background on Israel and nanotech, take a look at these posts here. And pick up the latest issue of Small Times magazine for correspondent Juan del la Roca's interview with Nobel laureate and nano believer Shimon Peres.
Hebrew University in Jerusalem has opened a new Nanoscopic Characterization unit. For more background on Israel and nanotech, take a look at these posts here. And pick up the latest issue of Small Times magazine for correspondent Juan del la Roca's interview with Nobel laureate and nano believer Shimon Peres.
Meanwhile, Iran's president says it's time to devote more resources to nanotechnology.
[via Howard Lovy's NanoBot]
Monday, November 10, 2003
[Excerpt:Rising defaults on its auto loans in the U.S. have stalled the recovery of the Tokyo-based company from record losses in the year to March 2001. Efforts to reduce risky lending left it with fewer incentives, prompting a 22 percent drop in U.S. sales in the January-October period this year as customers deserted for the showrooms of Nissan Motor Co. and other Japanese automakers.]
Mitsubishi Motors Posts 1st-Half Loss on U.S. Loans (Correct)
(Corrects dateline.)
Nov. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp., 37 percent owned by DaimlerChrysler AG, reported a loss of 80.2 billion yen ($737 million) in the first half as it took a charge for U.S. customers missing loan repayments. It forecast a full-year loss of 11 billion yen.
Mitsubishi Motors' group loss in the first six months ended Sept. 30 totaled 54.07 yen per share, compared with net income of 6.64 billion yen, 4.52 yen a share, a year earlier, it said in a statement. The company had been expected to lose 80 billion yen, according to three analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.
Rising defaults on its auto loans in the U.S. have stalled the recovery of the Tokyo-based company from record losses in the year to March 2001. Efforts to reduce risky lending left it with fewer incentives, prompting a 22 percent drop in U.S. sales in the January-October period this year as customers deserted for the showrooms of Nissan Motor Co. and other Japanese automakers.
Sales dropped 25 percent in the half year to 1.21 trillion yen, compared with 1.619 trillion yen a year ago.
Last Updated: November 10, 2003 23:10 EST
Mitsubishi Motors Posts 1st-Half Loss on U.S. Loans (Correct)
(Corrects dateline.)
Nov. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp., 37 percent owned by DaimlerChrysler AG, reported a loss of 80.2 billion yen ($737 million) in the first half as it took a charge for U.S. customers missing loan repayments. It forecast a full-year loss of 11 billion yen.
Mitsubishi Motors' group loss in the first six months ended Sept. 30 totaled 54.07 yen per share, compared with net income of 6.64 billion yen, 4.52 yen a share, a year earlier, it said in a statement. The company had been expected to lose 80 billion yen, according to three analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.
Rising defaults on its auto loans in the U.S. have stalled the recovery of the Tokyo-based company from record losses in the year to March 2001. Efforts to reduce risky lending left it with fewer incentives, prompting a 22 percent drop in U.S. sales in the January-October period this year as customers deserted for the showrooms of Nissan Motor Co. and other Japanese automakers.
Sales dropped 25 percent in the half year to 1.21 trillion yen, compared with 1.619 trillion yen a year ago.
Last Updated: November 10, 2003 23:10 EST
[ Rizzn's Note: This was grabbed directly from a only mildly disturbing story on Slashdot about the UN ending up with jurisdiction over the internet. What inevitably ensues with such flamebait news stories is a flamewar of patriotism and sovereignty. Interestingly, on SlashDot, being populated by mostly inteligentia, it didn't degenerate into mindless drivel (at least not with my moderator settings turned on). Below is the culmination of the end of the discussion, edited and pasted together at my whim. ]
God Bless America, with the worst crime levels in the first world
Where even criminals have civil rights. (UK exceeds the US in all crime areas, except murder)
God Bless America, where "democracy" means a rich, white male as President
Unlike Europe, where "democracy" means a rich, white male as Prime Minster.
God Bless America, so happy to violate international laws
When those laws are put together by the dictator's club called the UN, you bet. You know, the place that puts Syria and Libya on the "human rights committee"?
God Bless America, where "freedom of speech" means race-hate groups like KKK
Where freedom of speech applies to EVERYBODY, even the ones with unpopular causes. Hint: popular causes don't NEED freedom of speech.
God Bless America, with barely 300 years of dire history and culture
Hint: we're still on our first Republic. France is on their fifth, with intervening Reigns of Terror, anarchy, kings, emperors, and Nazi collaborationist regimes.
Hint: our popular culture dominates the world. Deal with it.
God Bless America, with the highest obesity levels in the developed world
Where food is so cheap that even the poorest can (over)eat.
God Bless America, wasting billions to attack foreign countries
They're ours to "waste", Saddam-lover.
God Bless America, and its massive and ever-growing poverty gap
You can't earn your money while sitting on the couch. Your unemployment benefits won't make you rich.
God Bless America, because corporations should be allowed to run amok
If your definition of amok is "without crippling restrictions" then yes, God Bless America.
God Bless America, with the worst crime levels in the first world
Where even criminals have civil rights. (UK exceeds the US in all crime areas, except murder)
God Bless America, where "democracy" means a rich, white male as President
Unlike Europe, where "democracy" means a rich, white male as Prime Minster.
God Bless America, so happy to violate international laws
When those laws are put together by the dictator's club called the UN, you bet. You know, the place that puts Syria and Libya on the "human rights committee"?
God Bless America, where "freedom of speech" means race-hate groups like KKK
Where freedom of speech applies to EVERYBODY, even the ones with unpopular causes. Hint: popular causes don't NEED freedom of speech.
God Bless America, with barely 300 years of dire history and culture
Hint: we're still on our first Republic. France is on their fifth, with intervening Reigns of Terror, anarchy, kings, emperors, and Nazi collaborationist regimes.
Hint: our popular culture dominates the world. Deal with it.
God Bless America, with the highest obesity levels in the developed world
Where food is so cheap that even the poorest can (over)eat.
God Bless America, wasting billions to attack foreign countries
They're ours to "waste", Saddam-lover.
God Bless America, and its massive and ever-growing poverty gap
You can't earn your money while sitting on the couch. Your unemployment benefits won't make you rich.
God Bless America, because corporations should be allowed to run amok
If your definition of amok is "without crippling restrictions" then yes, God Bless America.
OSINT: FBI on look-out for foreign government hackers
How seriously does the U.S. government take computer intrusion? Seriously enough for the threat of foreign hacking to take a prominent role in new rules governing the FBI's national security investigations issued by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft this week.
[ The Register ]
How seriously does the U.S. government take computer intrusion? Seriously enough for the threat of foreign hacking to take a prominent role in new rules governing the FBI's national security investigations issued by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft this week.
[ The Register ]
[ Rizzn's Note: Sheesh! This guy ain't died yet? What happenned to the "natural causes" death he was supposed to suffer soon? ]
OSINT: Arafat condemns suicide attack
PALESTINIAN leader Yasser Arafat condemned the "terrorist" suicide bombing in Riyadh, in messages to Saudi King Fahd and the country's crown prince, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
[ Herald Sun ]
OSINT: Arafat condemns suicide attack
PALESTINIAN leader Yasser Arafat condemned the "terrorist" suicide bombing in Riyadh, in messages to Saudi King Fahd and the country's crown prince, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
[ Herald Sun ]
[ Rizzn's Note: I found the latest issue of Voice of Jihad, their e-mag. I put it here, and as soon as I translate it, I'll do a summary of what it says. I'm sortof interested in what propaganda they are putting out. ]
Al-Qaida e-mag circulates terror agenda
Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network has begun publishing a biweekly Internet magazine trumpeting the terror group's victories, a newspaper reported Monday.
[ Highmark Funds (UPI) ]
Al-Qaida e-mag circulates terror agenda
Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network has begun publishing a biweekly Internet magazine trumpeting the terror group's victories, a newspaper reported Monday.
[ Highmark Funds (UPI) ]
Information Overload
At some point we all thought that the Internet would be the ultimate solution for learning everything about everything we ever had an interest in. Guess again. The amount of information being added every year is far beyond what we could keep up with.
UC Berkeley has completed a project to determine how much information is added to the world's data stores every year. The ability to store written material on hard drives instead of paper has greatly increased the amount of information we store.
Print, film, magnetic, and optical storage media produced about 5 exabytes of new information in 2002. Ninety-two percent of the new information was stored on magnetic media, mostly in hard disks. [...]How big is five exabytes? If digitized, the nineteen million books and other print collections in the Library of Congress would contain about ten terabytes of information; five exabytes of information is equivalent in size to the information contained in half a million new libraries the size of the Library of Congress print collections.
I didn't read this in it's entirety, but a quick glance presents some very interesting numbers. Considering 1GB drives were considered LARGE just a few of years ago, trying to comprehend an exabyte of data is mind boggling.
Via Rebecca's Pocket
[via Gadgetopia]
US Military In Iraq Plagued By Intelligence Shortcomings
US Military In Iraq Plagued By Intelligence Shortcomings
 They "simply cannot fly fast enough," and as a result "the daily mortar and rocket attacks on bases and convoys became virtually undetectable to the UAVs," the report acknowledged. (Image of UAV for illustration purposes only) |
US operations in Iraq (news - web sites) are being plagued by serious shortcomings in the military's ability to collect and process intelligence, with specially trained reconnaissance teams delivering barely a quarter of their planned output, according to the latest US Army assessment.
The undated report, prepared by the Center for Army Lessons Learned in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, came amid intensifying guerrilla attacks on US forces in Iraq that have brought the US death toll to at least 347 troops since the beginning of the war.
It is based on observations by two US Army investigative teams that toured Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan (news - web sites) in late May and early June to assess the needs of units on the ground.
They found that troops hunting down sympathizers of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and foreign Islamic militants often receive outdated information, which gets held up in processing and communications channels, and because of command flaws.
As many as 69 tactical reconnaissance teams have been deployed in the country since the beginning of the war, according to the report.
They were expected to deliver at least 120 intelligence reports a day, but are able to actually produce about 30.
"The lack of reports was not because of the lack of activity, but because of the lack of guidance and focus provided" by headquarters, the document said.
A high-tech communication system between units that relied on a string of top-notch laptop computers actually "hindered operations in Iraq" because "connectivity between the terminals was non-existent," the teams concluded.
Many reconnaissance units have ruined their crucially important relations with the local populations by joining so-called "door-kicker teams" that conduct searches for Baathist supporters and al-Qaeda sympathizers.
And if intelligence were available, commanders "at every echelon" had trouble figuring out how to make the best possible use of it, according to the report.
Intelligence collection is being further hindered by the lack of qualified interpreters described in the report as "a big problem" throughout the theater of operations.
"Laugh if you will, but many of the linguists with which I conversed were convenience store workers and cab drivers, most over the age of 40," observed one of the investigators, who chose to remain unidentified. "None had any previous military experience."
Their skills are so low that most are capable only "to tell the difference between a burro and a burrito," the teams pointed out.
There are also doubts about interpreters' loyalty.
The investigators noticed that interpreters often uttered no more than yes or no when the person under interrogation delivered a 10-minute diatribe.
"Who knows what agenda the interpreter has?" The report asks.
The suspicion echoes those voiced recently by US officials at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the military is re-checking all translations after two interpreters, who worked with al-Qaeda suspects held at the base, had been arrested on charges of espionage and mishandling classified documents.
The Army also expressed disappointment with the performance on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that received rave reviews during the war in Afghanistan.
They "simply cannot fly fast enough," and as a result "the daily mortar and rocket attacks on bases and convoys became virtually undetectable to the UAVs," the report acknowledged.
[via SpaceWar.com: UAV News]
Sorry Folks
I have been much much busier than even normal. I have not been answering the phones or instant messages at all so I can simply get my work done. I'm sleeping around 6 hours a night if I'm lucky, and I've got so many things piled on my head right now that I don't think I'll ever get done. I've got a few new projects that will yield immediate money, so that's a bonus. More on this as it develops. Just letting everyone know that I'm alive.
/rizzn
I have been much much busier than even normal. I have not been answering the phones or instant messages at all so I can simply get my work done. I'm sleeping around 6 hours a night if I'm lucky, and I've got so many things piled on my head right now that I don't think I'll ever get done. I've got a few new projects that will yield immediate money, so that's a bonus. More on this as it develops. Just letting everyone know that I'm alive.
/rizzn
OSINT: Shocking images shame US forces
[Rizzn's Note: I'm sure this actually does cause international outrage -- but consider the source, Americans. This is coming from Al-Jazeera, aka the Bin Laden Network. My guess is the story that goes with these pictures is not the one told in the article.]
[Mike Lee's Note: This latest series of pictures was sent to US military headquarters Centcom in Florida for a comment. Major David Farlow warned Aljazeera.net not to publish the pictures on this site......."It would be irresponsible. I can't second guess what has happened here without knowing all the facts but US forces operating in Iraq have to use the appropriate level of restraint to the mission. Story accompanied by photos of U.S. soldiers in full battle gear, tying the hands of a 3 ft. tall girl, a 4 ft. tall boy, a woman. Caption really should have been: "U.S. GI's, with the IQ of small barnyard animals, pose for Islamist propaganda photo." ]
A series of shocking pictures revealing US soldiers tying up Iraqi women and children in their own home has provoked international outrage.
[ Al Jazeera ]
[Rizzn's Note: I'm sure this actually does cause international outrage -- but consider the source, Americans. This is coming from Al-Jazeera, aka the Bin Laden Network. My guess is the story that goes with these pictures is not the one told in the article.]
[Mike Lee's Note: This latest series of pictures was sent to US military headquarters Centcom in Florida for a comment. Major David Farlow warned Aljazeera.net not to publish the pictures on this site......."It would be irresponsible. I can't second guess what has happened here without knowing all the facts but US forces operating in Iraq have to use the appropriate level of restraint to the mission. Story accompanied by photos of U.S. soldiers in full battle gear, tying the hands of a 3 ft. tall girl, a 4 ft. tall boy, a woman. Caption really should have been: "U.S. GI's, with the IQ of small barnyard animals, pose for Islamist propaganda photo." ]
A series of shocking pictures revealing US soldiers tying up Iraqi women and children in their own home has provoked international outrage.
[ Al Jazeera ]
Partial Birth Abortions
Less than an hour after President George W. Bush signed the bill banning partial birth abortions, U.S. District Judge Richard G. Kopf blocked the law, as did judges in two other circuit courts. One was in California, one in New York. Those were to be expected. But Kopf is in Nebraska. Then I figured out the reason.
A common nickname for Richard is "Dick."
The word kopf means "head" in German.
You do the math.
posted by Diane S 7:43 PM [edit]
Less than an hour after President George W. Bush signed the bill banning partial birth abortions, U.S. District Judge Richard G. Kopf blocked the law, as did judges in two other circuit courts. One was in California, one in New York. Those were to be expected. But Kopf is in Nebraska. Then I figured out the reason.
A common nickname for Richard is "Dick."
The word kopf means "head" in German.
You do the math.
posted by Diane S 7:43 PM [edit]
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| 18 | 1 | 3.57% | timeline of george bush and 9-11 |
| 19 | 1 | 3.57% | yahoo's bonanza buddy |
[Rizzn's Note: Good Lord you people are weird. I mean -- bonanza buddy? What is that? Seigfried and Roy? When have I mentioned them, even in passing? I don't remember. Who the heck is Wendy Gottlieb? How is my site associated with her? Also, hello to the new Military and US GOV regular visiters we have now!]
[Rizzn's Note: Happy Birthday Lish!]
quarter-century girl my birthday is in two weeks. celebrate with me remotely!
[via lish]
UAV Market to Top $10 Billion over Next Decade
Newtown - Oct 29, 2003
The market for unmanned air vehicles that perform reconnaissance and surveillance missions is expected to be worth $10.6 billion over the next 10 years, according to Forecast International's "The Market for UAV Reconnaissance Systems."
US military actions around the world have helped spark interest in unmanned air vehicles. US-operated unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) have seen action in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Yemen and most recently in Iraq.
"Each military operation has helped to push interest in UAVs up another notch," said Larry Dickerson, Unmanned Systems Analyst for Forecast International. "While interest may not stay at this level, it will remain higher than it was before these operations were launched," he said.
U. S. companies, including Northrop Grumman which makes the Global Hawk and Predator manufacturer General Atomics, will be the leading providers of unmanned air vehicles, controlling more than 50 percent of this market's total value.
These and other American companies can attribute their dominance to the Pentagon's growing demand for UAVs. Indeed, Forecast International expects the Pentagon to award U.S. companies about $5.4 billion worth of UAV-related contracts in the coming 10 years.
Still, this market is open to new entries. "Some $1.3 billion worth of new requirement contracts are up for grabs, with large and small companies from around the world expected to vie for a piece of this action," said Dickerson.
The UAV market is expected to see a slow but steady rise in its value and the number of systems produced annually. Dickerson does caution that over-enthusiasm on the part of UAV supporters could damage the long-term future of this market. "People are predicting growth trends, sometimes tens of billions of dollars higher than our own, which are simply beyond this market's ability to achieve" said Dickerson.
Although the U.S. fielded UAVs in 1960s, this market remains in its infancy. The truly massive expansion in UAV procurement will probably not occur until 2010 or later.
[via SpaceWar.com: UAV News]
[Rizzn's Note: I happen to wholeheartedly disagree with the final conclusion reached by the quick commentary quoted below.
"Without getting too religious on you, life is more than a calculation. Life is more than A plus B equals C. There's an angle to life that we'll never be able to explain, much less code."
This isn't quite true. Life itself consists of what are essentially ones and zeros. Decisions that are made can be quantified on a yes/no or case statement type decision making process. Emotions can be simulated, and the effects of hormonal and other chemical imbalances accounted for by randomizing elements.
Theoretically, I can come up with a way to code anything in life. Do I have the time to do it by hand or singlehandedly? Does my processer stack up with a human brain's capacity to learn, process, or store? Sadly, the answer to this question is no on both counts. This will change in the future. If I can pseudo-code it, I can real code it. If I get a few programmers working for me, and a computer on the order of 10 or 50 times better, we can talk.
As it stands, though, we are already there as far as simulating small parts of the human experience. All we need to eventually do is start incorporating 'this' ai with 'that' ai. There are a million different intelligent programs out there. Some create art. Some creat conversation. Some crunch numbers. Some replace minimum wage workers. The point is, there are a hundred thousand different little semi-intelligent, yet not yet self-aware AI's out there. Once they are all brought together to work together, a singular consciousness has the potential to arise.]
The Semantic Web, Syllogism, and Worldview: Clay Shirky gets medieval on The Semantic Web.
"In an echo of Richard Gabriel's Worse is Better argumment, the Semantic Web imagines that completeness and correctness of data exposed on the web are the cardinal virtues, and that any amount of implementation complexity is acceptable in pursuit of those virtues. The problem is that the more semantic consistency required by a standard, the sharper the tradeoff between complexity and scale. It's easy to get broad agreement in a narrow group of users, or vice-versa, but not both."
The guy who posted this to Metafilter, however, sums it up better:
"The most damning part of the essay is the part about languages and categories being deeply intertwined with worldview and with culture — if there's no good definition for the word 'bachelor', how can there be an encoding of 'friend', 'lover' ... or anything else that isn't zipcode?"
Computers and information architecture is very rigid, and The Semantic Web strikes me an attempt to cram every bit of...life into some kind of framework. But, sadly, life is more complicated than that. This is the same way I feel about artificial intelligence and "self aware" machines. It's not going to happen. I don't care how fast your machine is — life is too complicated.
Without getting too religious on you, life is more than a calculation. Life is more than A plus B equals C. There's an angle to life that we'll never be able to explain, much less code.
[via Gadgetopia]
Disney Does Digital, Ditches Drawings
Disney Does Digital, Ditches Drawings - by simoniker (39% noise) View Skip |
Disney Digital? Dangerous. - by Dominic_Mazzoni (Score: 5, Funny) Thread |
[via AlterSlash]
OSINT: Latest Attacks Seen as Proof Al-Qaida Determined to Unseat the Saudi Royal Family
Saudis blamed al-Qaida militants Sunday for the suicide car bombing of a Riyadh housing complex, declaring it proof of the terror network's willingness to shed Muslim blood in its zeal to bring down the U.S.-linked Saudi monarchy.
TBO (AP) [ http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGALMWWITMD.html ]
Saudis blamed al-Qaida militants Sunday for the suicide car bombing of a Riyadh housing complex, declaring it proof of the terror network's willingness to shed Muslim blood in its zeal to bring down the U.S.-linked Saudi monarchy.
TBO (AP) [ http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGALMWWITMD.html ]
Sunday, November 9, 2003
This is lengthy, but I'm sure you'll enjoy, as I did!!
Let's say a guy named Roger is attracted to a woman named Elaine. He asks her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves.
They continue to see each other regularly, and after a while neither one of them is seeing anybody else. And then, one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Elaine, and, without really thinking, she says it aloud: "Do you realize that, as of tonight, we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?" And then there is silence in the car. To Elaine, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: Geez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he's been feeling confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him into some kind of obligation that he doesn't want, or isn't sure of.
And Roger is thinking: Gosh. Six months.
And Elaine is thinking: But, hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship, either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space, so I'd have time to think about whether I really want us to keep going the way we are, moving steadily toward... I mean, where are we going? Are we just going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together? Am I ready for that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?
And Roger is thinking: So, that means it was... let's see...February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's, which means...let me check the odometer... Whoa! I am way overdue for an oil change here.
And Elaine is thinking: He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship, more intimacy, more commitment; maybe he has sensed, even before I sensed it, that I was feeling some reservations. Yes, I bet that's it. That's why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. He's afraid of being rejected.
And Roger is thinking: And I'm going to have them look at the transmission again. I don't care what those morons say, it's still not shifting right. And they better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. What cold weather? It's 87 degrees and this thing is shifting like a garbage truck, and I paid those incompetent thieves $600.
And Elaine is thinking: He's angry. And I don't blame him. I'd be angry, too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure.
And Roger is thinking: They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty... scumballs.
And Elaine is thinking: Maybe I'm just too idealistic, waiting for a knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting right next to a perfectly good person, a person I enjoy being with, a person I truly do care about, a person who seems to truly care about me. A person who is in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl romantic fantasy.
And Roger is thinking: Warranty? They want a warranty? I'll give them a warranty. I'll take their warranty and stick it right up their... "Roger," Elaine says aloud. "What?" says Roger, startled. "Please don't torture yourself like this," she says, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. "Maybe I should never have... Oh God, I feel so... (She breaks down, sobbing.) "What?" says Roger. "I'm such a fool," Elaine sobs. "I mean, I know there's no knight. I really know that. It's silly. There's no knight, and there's no horse."
"There's no horse?" says Roger. "You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Elaine says. "No!" says Roger, glad to finally know the correct answer. "It's just that...it's that I...I need some time," Elaine says.
There is a 15-second pause while Roger, thinking as fast as he can, tries to come up with a safe response. Finally he comes up with one that he thinks might work. "Yes," he says. Elaine, deeply moved, touches his hand. "Oh, Roger, do you really feel that way?" she says.
"What way?" says Roger. "That way about time," says Elaine. "Oh," says Roger. "Yes." Elaine turns to face him and gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves a horse. At last she speaks. "Thank you, Roger," she says. "Thank you," says Roger.Then he takes her home, and she lies on her bed, a conflicted, tortured soul, and weeps until dawn.
When Roger gets back to his place, he opens a bag of Doritos, turns on the TV, and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match between two Czechoslovakians he never heard of. A tiny voice in the far recesses of his mind tells him that something major was going on back there in the car, but he is pretty sure there is no way he would ever understand what, and so he figures it's better if he doesn't think about it.
The next day Elaine will call her closest friend, or perhaps two of them, and they will talk about this situation for six straight hours. In painstaking detail, they will analyze everything she said and everything he said, going over it time and time again, exploring every word, expression, and gesture for nuances of meaning, considering every possible ramification. They will continue to discuss this subject, off and on, for weeks, maybe months, never reaching any definite conclusions, but never getting bored with it, either.
Meanwhile, Roger, while playing racquetball one day with a mutual friend of his and Elaine's, will pause just before serving, frown, and say, "Norm, did Elaine ever own a horse?"
And that's the difference between men and women!
Let's say a guy named Roger is attracted to a woman named Elaine. He asks her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves.
They continue to see each other regularly, and after a while neither one of them is seeing anybody else. And then, one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Elaine, and, without really thinking, she says it aloud: "Do you realize that, as of tonight, we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?" And then there is silence in the car. To Elaine, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: Geez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he's been feeling confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him into some kind of obligation that he doesn't want, or isn't sure of.
And Roger is thinking: Gosh. Six months.
And Elaine is thinking: But, hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship, either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space, so I'd have time to think about whether I really want us to keep going the way we are, moving steadily toward... I mean, where are we going? Are we just going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together? Am I ready for that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?
And Roger is thinking: So, that means it was... let's see...February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's, which means...let me check the odometer... Whoa! I am way overdue for an oil change here.
And Elaine is thinking: He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship, more intimacy, more commitment; maybe he has sensed, even before I sensed it, that I was feeling some reservations. Yes, I bet that's it. That's why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. He's afraid of being rejected.
And Roger is thinking: And I'm going to have them look at the transmission again. I don't care what those morons say, it's still not shifting right. And they better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. What cold weather? It's 87 degrees and this thing is shifting like a garbage truck, and I paid those incompetent thieves $600.
And Elaine is thinking: He's angry. And I don't blame him. I'd be angry, too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure.
And Roger is thinking: They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty... scumballs.
And Elaine is thinking: Maybe I'm just too idealistic, waiting for a knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting right next to a perfectly good person, a person I enjoy being with, a person I truly do care about, a person who seems to truly care about me. A person who is in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl romantic fantasy.
And Roger is thinking: Warranty? They want a warranty? I'll give them a warranty. I'll take their warranty and stick it right up their... "Roger," Elaine says aloud. "What?" says Roger, startled. "Please don't torture yourself like this," she says, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. "Maybe I should never have... Oh God, I feel so... (She breaks down, sobbing.) "What?" says Roger. "I'm such a fool," Elaine sobs. "I mean, I know there's no knight. I really know that. It's silly. There's no knight, and there's no horse."
"There's no horse?" says Roger. "You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Elaine says. "No!" says Roger, glad to finally know the correct answer. "It's just that...it's that I...I need some time," Elaine says.
There is a 15-second pause while Roger, thinking as fast as he can, tries to come up with a safe response. Finally he comes up with one that he thinks might work. "Yes," he says. Elaine, deeply moved, touches his hand. "Oh, Roger, do you really feel that way?" she says.
"What way?" says Roger. "That way about time," says Elaine. "Oh," says Roger. "Yes." Elaine turns to face him and gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves a horse. At last she speaks. "Thank you, Roger," she says. "Thank you," says Roger.Then he takes her home, and she lies on her bed, a conflicted, tortured soul, and weeps until dawn.
When Roger gets back to his place, he opens a bag of Doritos, turns on the TV, and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match between two Czechoslovakians he never heard of. A tiny voice in the far recesses of his mind tells him that something major was going on back there in the car, but he is pretty sure there is no way he would ever understand what, and so he figures it's better if he doesn't think about it.
The next day Elaine will call her closest friend, or perhaps two of them, and they will talk about this situation for six straight hours. In painstaking detail, they will analyze everything she said and everything he said, going over it time and time again, exploring every word, expression, and gesture for nuances of meaning, considering every possible ramification. They will continue to discuss this subject, off and on, for weeks, maybe months, never reaching any definite conclusions, but never getting bored with it, either.
Meanwhile, Roger, while playing racquetball one day with a mutual friend of his and Elaine's, will pause just before serving, frown, and say, "Norm, did Elaine ever own a horse?"
And that's the difference between men and women!
Hash: SHA1
We just released the below Intelligence Note.
- Ben Venzke
IntelCenter
Intelligence Note
"Possibility of Another Major Attack in Near Future"
9 November 2003
Classification: FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
http://www.intelcenter.com
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There is a high possibility of another major al-Qaeda operation occurring in the coming weeks that is designed to follow the 8 Nov.attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, there is also a high threat of low-level al-Qaeda operations and major operations from al-Qaeda affiliates occurring during the same period.
ASSESSMENT
Prior to 9-11 al-Qaeda successfully executed major operations at a rate of about one every 1-2 years and conducted little or no low-level attacks of significance. In the post-9-11 period, the rate of attack has more than doubled. With two major attacks in 2002 and three major attacks so far in 2003. In addition, the group has initiated a second-tier of low-level operations such as the shooting in Failaka, Kuwait against US Marines and the crashing of a fuel
truck into a synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia. Al-Qaeda affiliates have also stepped up their operational activity to a level never before seen. We can no longer expect 12-month periods to pass between attacks.
In 2002, there were only 53 days between the attack on the French-flagged oil tanker, The Limburg, and the SAM attack and vehicular bombings that occurred in Mombasa, Kenya. During May 2003, there were only three days between the vehicular bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the suicide bombings in Casablanca, Morocco.
Speaking about its operational tempo in a book released on 3 September 2003, entitled "The Attack of 11 Rabi 1: The Operation of East Riyadh and Our War with America and Its Allies", al-Qaeda wrote, "It is necessary to realize that the al-Qaeda organization in its war with Americans relies on strategically expanding the domain of the battle and the exhaustion of the enemy, which imposes its interests over the world, with successive and varied attacks. The rate of attacks before 9-11 was one operation every two years but after the blessed Manhattan attack the rate increased to more than two operations per year and the battlefield expanded, priceless advantages. So the enemy that needed only to protect its own land now needs to protect its vast interests in every land. Every time the rate of attack changes their exhaustion grows."
There is a high possibility of another major al-Qaeda operation occurring in the coming weeks that is designed to follow the 8 Nov. attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, there is also a high threat of low-level al-Qaeda operations and major operations from al-Qaeda affiliates occurring during the same period.
MAJOR ATTACKS BY AL-QAEDA (Does not cover low-level al-Qaeda Ops or Affiliate Ops)
- - 7 August 1998 - Vehicular Bombings - US Embassies in Kenya & Tanzania
- - 12 October 2000 - Vehicular Bombing - USS Cole - Aden, Yemen
- - 11 September 2001 - Piloted Vehicular Assaults - WTC, Pentagon, US Capitol (failed) - US
- - 6 October 2002 - Vehicular Bombing - The Limburg (French oil tanker) - Mukalla, Yemen
- - 28 November 2002 - Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Attack - Israeli Arkia Flight 582 - Mombasa, Kenya
- - 28 November 2002 - Vehicular Bombing - Kikambala Paradise Hotel (Israeli-owned) - Mombasa, Kenya
- - 13 May 2003 - Vehicular, Suicide Bombing - Jedawal Compound -Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- - 13 May 2003 - Vehicular Bombing - al-Hamra Compound - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- - 13 May 2003 - Vehicular, Suicide Bombing - Cordoval Compound - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- - 13 May 2003 - Bombing - Saudi Maintenance Company (Siyanco) - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing - Restaurant (Israeli ownership) - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing - Spain House (Spanish social club/restaurant) - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing/Vehicular Bombing (unconfirmed) - Israeli Alliance Circle Club - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing - Farah Maghreb Hotel - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing - Jewish Cemetery - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 8 November 2003 - Vehicular Bombing - Muhaya Housing Compound - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Copyright 2003 IntelCenter/Tempest Publishing, LLC, All Rights Reserved - Permission to redistribute this report is granted as long as it appears in its complete form, including this notice, with
proper attribution to IntelCenter (http://www.intelcenter.com).
We just released the below Intelligence Note.
- Ben Venzke
IntelCenter
Intelligence Note
"Possibility of Another Major Attack in Near Future"
9 November 2003
Classification: FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
http://www.intelcenter.com
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There is a high possibility of another major al-Qaeda operation occurring in the coming weeks that is designed to follow the 8 Nov.attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, there is also a high threat of low-level al-Qaeda operations and major operations from al-Qaeda affiliates occurring during the same period.
ASSESSMENT
Prior to 9-11 al-Qaeda successfully executed major operations at a rate of about one every 1-2 years and conducted little or no low-level attacks of significance. In the post-9-11 period, the rate of attack has more than doubled. With two major attacks in 2002 and three major attacks so far in 2003. In addition, the group has initiated a second-tier of low-level operations such as the shooting in Failaka, Kuwait against US Marines and the crashing of a fuel
truck into a synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia. Al-Qaeda affiliates have also stepped up their operational activity to a level never before seen. We can no longer expect 12-month periods to pass between attacks.
In 2002, there were only 53 days between the attack on the French-flagged oil tanker, The Limburg, and the SAM attack and vehicular bombings that occurred in Mombasa, Kenya. During May 2003, there were only three days between the vehicular bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the suicide bombings in Casablanca, Morocco.
Speaking about its operational tempo in a book released on 3 September 2003, entitled "The Attack of 11 Rabi 1: The Operation of East Riyadh and Our War with America and Its Allies", al-Qaeda wrote, "It is necessary to realize that the al-Qaeda organization in its war with Americans relies on strategically expanding the domain of the battle and the exhaustion of the enemy, which imposes its interests over the world, with successive and varied attacks. The rate of attacks before 9-11 was one operation every two years but after the blessed Manhattan attack the rate increased to more than two operations per year and the battlefield expanded, priceless advantages. So the enemy that needed only to protect its own land now needs to protect its vast interests in every land. Every time the rate of attack changes their exhaustion grows."
There is a high possibility of another major al-Qaeda operation occurring in the coming weeks that is designed to follow the 8 Nov. attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, there is also a high threat of low-level al-Qaeda operations and major operations from al-Qaeda affiliates occurring during the same period.
MAJOR ATTACKS BY AL-QAEDA (Does not cover low-level al-Qaeda Ops or Affiliate Ops)
- - 7 August 1998 - Vehicular Bombings - US Embassies in Kenya & Tanzania
- - 12 October 2000 - Vehicular Bombing - USS Cole - Aden, Yemen
- - 11 September 2001 - Piloted Vehicular Assaults - WTC, Pentagon, US Capitol (failed) - US
- - 6 October 2002 - Vehicular Bombing - The Limburg (French oil tanker) - Mukalla, Yemen
- - 28 November 2002 - Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Attack - Israeli Arkia Flight 582 - Mombasa, Kenya
- - 28 November 2002 - Vehicular Bombing - Kikambala Paradise Hotel (Israeli-owned) - Mombasa, Kenya
- - 13 May 2003 - Vehicular, Suicide Bombing - Jedawal Compound -Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- - 13 May 2003 - Vehicular Bombing - al-Hamra Compound - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- - 13 May 2003 - Vehicular, Suicide Bombing - Cordoval Compound - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- - 13 May 2003 - Bombing - Saudi Maintenance Company (Siyanco) - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing - Restaurant (Israeli ownership) - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing - Spain House (Spanish social club/restaurant) - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing/Vehicular Bombing (unconfirmed) - Israeli Alliance Circle Club - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing - Farah Maghreb Hotel - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 16 May 2003 - Suicide Bombing - Jewish Cemetery - Casablanca, Morocco
- - 8 November 2003 - Vehicular Bombing - Muhaya Housing Compound - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Copyright 2003 IntelCenter/Tempest Publishing, LLC, All Rights Reserved - Permission to redistribute this report is granted as long as it appears in its complete form, including this notice, with
proper attribution to IntelCenter (http://www.intelcenter.com).
Saturday, November 8, 2003
When Is 'The Matrix'?
Timeline: When Is 'The Matrix'?
Nov 4, 2:17 PM EST
What is the Matrix?
That's an old question. The real head-scratcher is:
When is the Matrix?
Using background culled from the three movies and "Animatrix" shorts, The Associated Press compiled an estimated timeline of the war between men and machines:
2010-60 — Humans create humanoid drone robots with Artificial Intelligence to fill jobs as construction laborers and servants.
2069 — The hovercraft transport ship Nebuchadnezzar, later to be captained by Morpheus, is constructed in the United States.
2075 — AI programs evolve and some robots began to resent their human overlords.
2077 — In the first case of a machine rising up against its owners, the butler robot B166ER slaughters two humans, leading to B166ER's eradication and a backlash against robots and artificial intelligence.
2080-85 — Rioting and violence against machines prompts robots to flee major cities and establish their own community — known as Zero One — in a remote part of the Middle East.
2085-2095— Zero One thrives, creating superior vehicles, computers and weaponry and decimating the economies of many human nations, which now lack the machine-based labor that made them strong.
2096— United Nations officials refuse to accept the robot civilization of Zero One as a sovereign nation. A trade blockade of robot goods leads to war.
2097 — Zero One survives a nuclear attack — its inhabitants are impervious to the heat and radiation and casualties are quickly replaced. Counterstrikes launched against humans.
2098 — As cities fall beneath the might of mechanized forces, desperate military leaders attempt to block the main source of energy for the robot city: the sun. The plan destroys the atmosphere and fills the sky with choking black smoke — but does not stop the machines.
2099— Machine forces overtake human armies and capture survivors and civilians for experimentation, determining that human bio-electricity can be harnessed to replace the sun's energy.
2100 — Machines create the Matrix, a dream-like world set in 1999, to extend the lives of the comatose human batteries.
2105 — The first human known as The One, locked in bondage inside the Matrix, learns he can manipulate the world through thought and manages to break free. Seeks sanctuary in the underground human stronghold of Zion.
2105-2150 — Zion resistance movement created, although The One later dies under unexplained circumstances.
2161 — Morpheus born in a Matrix womb; freed in childhood.
2167 — Trinity born in a Matrix womb; freed in early childhood.
2175 — The Oracle prophesizes that Morpheus will discover the second coming of The One.
2199 — Trinity and Morpheus discover Neo, a hacker in the Matrix. They free him and do battle with Agent Smith, a program designed to rid the Matrix of humans who detect its flaws.
2201 — The Osiris, another human rebellion ship, discovers machines drilling through the Earth above Zion. Crew members send a message through the Matrix to their compatriots shortly before being destroyed.
2201 — Now living in Zion and working with the rebellion against the machines, Neo encounters The Architect, the artificial intelligence program that created the Matrix.
2201 —The Architect reveals that the Matrix places rebellious humans in Zion, which it then targets for destruction, thus eradicating "bugs" in its system. He states that Zion has been destroyed five previous times — suggesting the Matrix may be much older than he thinks.
Nov 4, 2:17 PM EST
What is the Matrix?
That's an old question. The real head-scratcher is:
When is the Matrix?
Using background culled from the three movies and "Animatrix" shorts, The Associated Press compiled an estimated timeline of the war between men and machines:
2010-60 — Humans create humanoid drone robots with Artificial Intelligence to fill jobs as construction laborers and servants.
2069 — The hovercraft transport ship Nebuchadnezzar, later to be captained by Morpheus, is constructed in the United States.
2075 — AI programs evolve and some robots began to resent their human overlords.
2077 — In the first case of a machine rising up against its owners, the butler robot B166ER slaughters two humans, leading to B166ER's eradication and a backlash against robots and artificial intelligence.
2080-85 — Rioting and violence against machines prompts robots to flee major cities and establish their own community — known as Zero One — in a remote part of the Middle East.
2085-2095— Zero One thrives, creating superior vehicles, computers and weaponry and decimating the economies of many human nations, which now lack the machine-based labor that made them strong.
2096— United Nations officials refuse to accept the robot civilization of Zero One as a sovereign nation. A trade blockade of robot goods leads to war.
2097 — Zero One survives a nuclear attack — its inhabitants are impervious to the heat and radiation and casualties are quickly replaced. Counterstrikes launched against humans.
2098 — As cities fall beneath the might of mechanized forces, desperate military leaders attempt to block the main source of energy for the robot city: the sun. The plan destroys the atmosphere and fills the sky with choking black smoke — but does not stop the machines.
2099— Machine forces overtake human armies and capture survivors and civilians for experimentation, determining that human bio-electricity can be harnessed to replace the sun's energy.
2100 — Machines create the Matrix, a dream-like world set in 1999, to extend the lives of the comatose human batteries.
2105 — The first human known as The One, locked in bondage inside the Matrix, learns he can manipulate the world through thought and manages to break free. Seeks sanctuary in the underground human stronghold of Zion.
2105-2150 — Zion resistance movement created, although The One later dies under unexplained circumstances.
2161 — Morpheus born in a Matrix womb; freed in childhood.
2167 — Trinity born in a Matrix womb; freed in early childhood.
2175 — The Oracle prophesizes that Morpheus will discover the second coming of The One.
2199 — Trinity and Morpheus discover Neo, a hacker in the Matrix. They free him and do battle with Agent Smith, a program designed to rid the Matrix of humans who detect its flaws.
2201 — The Osiris, another human rebellion ship, discovers machines drilling through the Earth above Zion. Crew members send a message through the Matrix to their compatriots shortly before being destroyed.
2201 — Now living in Zion and working with the rebellion against the machines, Neo encounters The Architect, the artificial intelligence program that created the Matrix.
2201 —The Architect reveals that the Matrix places rebellious humans in Zion, which it then targets for destruction, thus eradicating "bugs" in its system. He states that Zion has been destroyed five previous times — suggesting the Matrix may be much older than he thinks.
OSINT: Iraqi Scientist Not Working on Bombs
An Iraqi scientist killed in the U.S. invasion and now linked by arms hunter David Kay to possible nuclear weapons research was working on an advanced gun, not atomic bombs, fellow physicists say.
Yahoo! (AP) [ http://story.news.yahoo.com/ ]
An Iraqi scientist killed in the U.S. invasion and now linked by arms hunter David Kay to possible nuclear weapons research was working on an advanced gun, not atomic bombs, fellow physicists say.
Yahoo! (AP) [ http://story.news.yahoo.com/ ]
OSINT LIBERIA: Security Council wants review before sanctions can be lifted
ABIDJAN, 7 November (IRIN) - The United Nations Security Council has called for "a more thorough and more comprehensive review" of the fragile security situation Liberia before sanctions that were imposed in 2001 can be lifted.
Two years ago, the United Nations banned illicit diamond sales by Liberia, imposed an arms embargo and blocked travel by key officials of Liberia's former government led by Charles Taylor. The measures were taken in response to Liberia's alleged support for rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Taylor's government was angered by the decision. It said the Council decision was "puzzling, unfair, wrong and double standards targeted at destroying Liberia."
A rebel assault on the capital Monrovia and mounting international pressure forced Taylor to resign and leave Liberia for exile in Nigeria on 11 August. The rump of his government signed a peace agreement with two rebel movements a week later and a broad-based transitional government was sworn in on 14 October, with a mandate to organise elections in 2005.
To restore security in the war-ravaged country, the UN approved a 15,000-strong peacekeeping force. So far, about 5,000 troops have arrived in the country. These are mostly deployed in and around the capital, Monrovia.
A UN spokesman in New York, Stephane Dujarric, said on Thursday that while the overall security situation in Monrovia was stable and improving, the situation in other parts of the country, particularly in the areas still controlled by the two major rebel groups, remains volatile.
"UNMIL is still not in a position to deploy troops throughout Liberia," Dujarric said.
ABIDJAN, 7 November (IRIN) - The United Nations Security Council has called for "a more thorough and more comprehensive review" of the fragile security situation Liberia before sanctions that were imposed in 2001 can be lifted.
Two years ago, the United Nations banned illicit diamond sales by Liberia, imposed an arms embargo and blocked travel by key officials of Liberia's former government led by Charles Taylor. The measures were taken in response to Liberia's alleged support for rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Taylor's government was angered by the decision. It said the Council decision was "puzzling, unfair, wrong and double standards targeted at destroying Liberia."
A rebel assault on the capital Monrovia and mounting international pressure forced Taylor to resign and leave Liberia for exile in Nigeria on 11 August. The rump of his government signed a peace agreement with two rebel movements a week later and a broad-based transitional government was sworn in on 14 October, with a mandate to organise elections in 2005.
To restore security in the war-ravaged country, the UN approved a 15,000-strong peacekeeping force. So far, about 5,000 troops have arrived in the country. These are mostly deployed in and around the capital, Monrovia.
A UN spokesman in New York, Stephane Dujarric, said on Thursday that while the overall security situation in Monrovia was stable and improving, the situation in other parts of the country, particularly in the areas still controlled by the two major rebel groups, remains volatile.
"UNMIL is still not in a position to deploy troops throughout Liberia," Dujarric said.
OSINT: 'New Taliban Tape' Preaches ANTI-U.S. Message
An audiotape, purportedly from a top Taliban spokesmen, urged
Muslims around the world to use the Islamic holy month of Ramadan
to pray for the success of battles against United States forces
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Scotsman [ http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2154475 ]
News 24 Houston [ http://www.news24houston.com/content/headlines/?ArID=18337&SecID=2 ]
An audiotape, purportedly from a top Taliban spokesmen, urged
Muslims around the world to use the Islamic holy month of Ramadan
to pray for the success of battles against United States forces
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Scotsman [ http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2154475 ]
News 24 Houston [ http://www.news24houston.com/content/headlines/?ArID=18337&SecID=2 ]
PENTAGON CONFUSED BY MUNITION THAT MAKES 2" HOLE IN M1A1 ABRAMS TANK IN IRAQ
Shortly before dawn on Aug. 28, an M1A1 Abrams tank on routine patrol in Baghdad "was hit by something" that crippled the 69-ton behemoth. Army officials still are puzzling over what that "something" was.
As it passed through the interior, it hit enough critical components to knock the tank out of action. That made the tank one of only two Abrams disabled by enemy fire during the Iraq war and one of only a handful of "mobility kills" since they first rumbled onto the scene 20 years ago. The other Abrams knocked out this year in Iraq was hit by an RPG-7, a rocket-propelled grenade.
Experts believe whatever it is that knocked out the tank in August was not an RPG-7 but most likely something new - and that worries tank drivers. Mystery and anxiety. Terry Hughes is a technical representative from Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., who examined the tank in Baghdad and wrote the report.
In the sort of excited language seldom included in official Army documents, he said, "The unit is very anxious to have this 'SOMETHING' identified. It seems clear that a penetrator of a yellow molten metal is what caused the damage, but what weapon fires such a round and precisely what sort of round is it? The bad guys are using something unknown and the guys facing it want very much to know what it is and how they can defend themselves."
HERE'S WHAT THE ARMY SAID:
[ http://www.rense.com/ ]
[ http://secure.sovietski.com ]
(CONTRIBUTOR'S NOTE: Here's what you can buy on the internet! Take a look at the VERY last Warning! Go to the Web Site above and you will see a munition that is about 1.5 inches across and 18 inches long. Somebody is shooting our own crap at us! And they bought it from the Pentagon! Please vote for me! I Swear to GOD, I'm a "c" student, never graduated from Yale and I'm 62.6 times smarter than the Boy King on a "good" day, I used to drink like an absolute fish (up to 17 Jack n Cokes in Fernandina Beach), I never found jesus several years ago because I never really lost in the first place but the ONLY disqualifier for replacing the Boy King, (I never got arrested for a DUI-Controlled Substance!) Crap, if I had ONLY been more irresponsible the Pentagon could have chosen me!)
(ACTUAL INTERNET AD COMPLETE W PHOTO:)
$75.00
Special offers:
Tell a friend!
He certainly doesn't have one of these! Armor-piercing missiles were built during the Cold War for the M1-A1 Abrams tank (America's primary battle tank). Dubbed "tank busters," they were designed to take out heavily armored Warsaw Pact tanks on the European battlefield. Tens of thousands of these missiles were destroyed under the Department of Defense's "crush rule." By our wits, some luck and a connection in the Pentagon, we rescued a few practice rounds. Made in the USA of inert materials. Each stands 18" tall and weighs a whopping 8 lbs.! Some engraved with the D.O.D.'s item number (GI M-735). Displayed on your desk or mantel, they'll serve as a reminder of our Cold War past and a talisman for future peace. These make awesome bookends, too!
This item cannot be shipped across international borders.
AL GORETEX
[via Memes.org]
OSINT: LYNCH SAYS PENTAGON USED HER FOR PROPAGANDA
Jessica Lynch, the US soldier who was captured by Iraqis and held
as a prisoner of war, has hit out at the Pentagon for using the
story of her rescue as propaganda.
Special Broadcasting Service [ http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=72514®ion=4 ]
Al Jazeera [ http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3106399C-1DA5-4135-B57F-2C27444C634E.htm ]
Space Daily [ http://www.spacewar.com/2003/031107172925.ivt37acp.html ]
Jessica Lynch, the US soldier who was captured by Iraqis and held
as a prisoner of war, has hit out at the Pentagon for using the
story of her rescue as propaganda.
Special Broadcasting Service [ http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=72514®ion=4 ]
Al Jazeera [ http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3106399C-1DA5-4135-B57F-2C27444C634E.htm ]
Space Daily [ http://www.spacewar.com/2003/031107172925.ivt37acp.html ]
OSINT: CIA Says N.Korea Already Has 'Validated' Nuke
North Korea appears to have built one or two nuclear weapons it
could be confident would work even without a test nuclear blast,
the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has told Congress.
Reuters [ http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3780709 ]
North Korea appears to have built one or two nuclear weapons it
could be confident would work even without a test nuclear blast,
the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has told Congress.
Reuters [ http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3780709 ]
OSINT: N. KOREA: READY TO NUKE YOU
Fanatical North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il upped his nuclear
tough talk yesterday - claiming the rogue nation has an atomic
weapon that it's ready to use against America.
New York Post [ http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/10202.htm ]
Fanatical North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il upped his nuclear
tough talk yesterday - claiming the rogue nation has an atomic
weapon that it's ready to use against America.
New York Post [ http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/10202.htm ]
Wednesday, November 5, 2003
AUSA: Trend Is Towards Rotary Wing UAV
23/10/2002 02:17
Army aviation officials prefer a rotary wing type of UAV to be the companion for the Comanche in the new Objective Force.
‘We would favour that,’ said Col Bob Birmingham, Comanche program manager. ‘I think it will be a rotary wing one,’ concurred Maj Gen Mark Curran, head of the Army Aviation Center at ft Rucker, Ala.
Meanwhile, sources say the ATI/SAIC Vigilante UAV is likely to win the nod as a concept test bed for the new unmanned/manned team asset. The Vigilante – demonstrated successfully in public last week (see item on rotorhub.com , Oct 9) – is proving stable and to have necessary payload for such a mission. That’s not to say a fixed wing UAV is ruled out, warns Curran. However, he said, ‘it has to live with us, be down in the weeds, and operate the way we operate.' The views were expressed during the recent Association of the U.S. Army convention in Washington DC.
-David S. Harvey
[End]
23/10/2002 02:17
Army aviation officials prefer a rotary wing type of UAV to be the companion for the Comanche in the new Objective Force.
‘We would favour that,’ said Col Bob Birmingham, Comanche program manager. ‘I think it will be a rotary wing one,’ concurred Maj Gen Mark Curran, head of the Army Aviation Center at ft Rucker, Ala.
Meanwhile, sources say the ATI/SAIC Vigilante UAV is likely to win the nod as a concept test bed for the new unmanned/manned team asset. The Vigilante – demonstrated successfully in public last week (see item on rotorhub.com , Oct 9) – is proving stable and to have necessary payload for such a mission. That’s not to say a fixed wing UAV is ruled out, warns Curran. However, he said, ‘it has to live with us, be down in the weeds, and operate the way we operate.' The views were expressed during the recent Association of the U.S. Army convention in Washington DC.
-David S. Harvey
[End]
From: Hen Solo
Subject: [GP] SG on Brak Show
Well, I figured somebody should comment on SG's appearance on "The Brak Show" Sunday. I thought it was pretty funny and in-character for SG. I guess we now know what he's been doing during his talk show hiatus.
Between programs they also showed pics from a Williams Street webcam party that they apparently had the week before, although I didn't know about it. And then there was Andy's weird little puppet show!
Less than two weeks to the SGC2C DVD release! WooHoo! (According to DVDpricesearch.com, DVDSoon.com has the best price. Anybody used them? I've always been happy with DeepDiscountDVD.com but they're three bucks higher for this DVD.)
And one more thing. According to that announcement way back in the summer we're supposed to get some new C2Cs pretty soon. So far the posted schedule only goes to Nov. 16 so keep your pincers crossed!
Subject: [GP] SG on Brak Show
Well, I figured somebody should comment on SG's appearance on "The Brak Show" Sunday. I thought it was pretty funny and in-character for SG. I guess we now know what he's been doing during his talk show hiatus.
Between programs they also showed pics from a Williams Street webcam party that they apparently had the week before, although I didn't know about it. And then there was Andy's weird little puppet show!
Less than two weeks to the SGC2C DVD release! WooHoo! (According to DVDpricesearch.com, DVDSoon.com has the best price. Anybody used them? I've always been happy with DeepDiscountDVD.com but they're three bucks higher for this DVD.)
And one more thing. According to that announcement way back in the summer we're supposed to get some new C2Cs pretty soon. So far the posted schedule only goes to Nov. 16 so keep your pincers crossed!
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