Saturday, October 20, 2001

 

In other news ...

Sept. 11 and its aftermath are the focus of most news organizations and, apparently, the majority of Internet users. That's understandable.

Links related to Sept. 11, terrorism, anthrax, et al dominate Blogdex and Daypop, which chronicle links that are currently popular with webloggers from around the world.

Among the links are Novel Security Measures, a newspaper story about a young man who was hassled while trying to board a plane with a novel that has a picture of dynamite on its cover.

Another popular link is
U.S. propaganda to Taliban: 'You are condemned' which details the propaganda the U.S. is sending to the Taliban. According to an English language translation posted on the Pentagon's Web site, one message gives the Taliban forces instructions how to surrender to U.S. troops.

"When you decide to surrender, approach United States forces with your hands in the air. Sling your weapon across your back muzzle towards the ground. Remove your magazine and expel any rounds. Doing this is your only chance of survival."

Then there's this: How Safe Are Your Illegal Drugs? Politicos have warned that dirt-cheap, high-potency heroin will soon flood world markets and cause an epidemic of overdoses in the wake of the Taliban evacuating opium supplies before the first bombs hit Afghani soil.

Have we forgotten that there's other news out there?

There's the O.J. Simpson road rage trial. Simpson is charged with auto burglary and battery in connection with a road rage confrontation on Dec. 4, 2000, with 55-year-old neighbor Jeffrey Pattinson. He faces up to 16 years if convicted of both charges.

The former football player allegedly blew through a red light, stopped in rage after Pattinson honked at him, then berated the man, reached into his car and snatched his glasses off his face. Simpson claims that Pattinson was the aggressor and, according to his lawyer, was looking forward to arguing his innocence.

Chandra Levy is still missing. Does anyone remember that a week before Sept. 11 A grand jury was scheduled to review allegations that Rep. Gary Condit obstructed justice when he asked flight attendant Anne Marie Smith to sign an affidavit stating they didn't have an affair?

The Emmy awards have been rescheduled. This is relevant (to me anyway)because Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are up for several awards.

Also, October is National Breast Cancer Month. We've barely heard anything about an issue that usually floods the airwaves, Internet and newspapers in October.

As I said earlier, it's understandable that Sept. 11 and its aftermath are dominating news coverage, but we need to remember there's more out there.

I suppose that finding your fairy name is #14 on the Blogdex is a sign of hope.

This is Gossamer Catweb Fairy signing off for the day. (I don't believe I did that!)

posted by Anne 10/20/2001 07:07:00 AM