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May 17, 2005
Air Force Seeks Bush's Approval for Space Arms (nytimes.com).
The US Air Force seeks to develop several frightening weapons,including one called "Rods from God," which would fire metal rods at a target from the edge of space, striking with the force of a small nuclear weapon.
With a presidential directive expected in the weeks to come, what consequences could an approval have on the global community?
posted by Tlahtolli at 9:28 PM PST - 54 comments
Dick "Two Ton" Baker is a Chicago legend who had a long career in radio, records, and children's television. He was
a child prodigy,
a beloved radio host, and
looked upon with favor by none other than Duke Ellington. He also made some
really terrifically funny music. Check out mp3 versions of
"I Like Stinky Cheese," "Civilization" (a hit for Danny Kaye), the classic
"I'm a Little Weenie," and many others, all sung in Two Ton's terrifically expressive baritone.
Go easy on this site's bandwidth, though.
Check out also the
collection of press clippings and articles about Two Ton, a lovingly compiled
discography (.PDF), and then, because you know you want 'em,
buy some CDs of the great man's music.
Oh, and did I mention that it's Two Ton's voice you hear on the classic piece of Cold War "let's make nuclear annihilation palatable to the kiddies!" Americana "Duck and Cover"? Well, it is!
posted by Dr. Wu at 8:25 PM PST - 7 comments
Is he or isn't he? Slashdot member claims to be an Apple employee and posts detailed commentary on Apple's strategy and product plans, including information about unreleased products. He speaks with authority and seems to know what he's talking about. Apple does not sue Slashdot or fire any of its employees. Slashdot members debate the implications.
posted by alms at 5:18 PM PST - 29 comments
Best laid schemes? Back in 1945 the
Bruce Plan [click on images for video footage] was a radical proposal to knock down, and then rebuild, the Victorian centre of the city of Glasgow. The city’s
slums* would be cleared;
new towns* would be established; Glasgow would rise again, triumphant, once again the second city of the
Empire*. In
1971*, there were grand visions of the Glasgow of the future; the Glasgow of tomorrow would be a bright, shining new city, and the
Clyde* would once again be something to be proud of. A fascinating film archive of the
Glasgow of the 20th century.
*All links contain embedded video goodness.
posted by Len at 5:03 PM PST - 13 comments
A high school senior has been denied valedictorian status because she wasn't enrolled in the high school on the 20th day of her junior year. Why? Because she was in a treatment center receiving help for anorexia. Only in Texas...
posted by C17H19NO3 at 4:43 PM PST - 95 comments
US 'backed illegal Iraqi oil deals' The United States administration turned a blind eye to extensive sanctions-busting in the prewar sale of Iraqi oil, according to a new Senate investigation.
A report released last night by Democratic staff on a Senate investigations committee presents documentary evidence that the Bush administration was made aware of illegal oil sales and kickbacks paid to the Saddam Hussein regime but did nothing to stop them.
The scale of the shipments involved dwarfs those previously alleged by the Senate committee against UN staff and European politicians like the British MP, George Galloway, and the former French minister, Charles Pasqua.
posted by Postroad at 5:55 AM PST - 124 comments
