13 Sep 2004
The Attack on Ancient Sites

I ran across the article below on the plans to build a WalMart next to the ruins of the Aztec temples in Mexico City this weekend and was suitably appalled. We in the West go somewhat spastic when zealots like the Taliban destroy ancient sites for misguided religious reasons, but apparently such desecration is OK for our corporate and economic interests at home.

In Ireland, the Hill of Tara, ancient seat of kings, is fighting off a freeway. In the UK, local citizens of Thornbourough are battling an expansion of a local quarry that threatens to submerge some of the oldest henges in the British Isles. And the White Horse Stone was recently spared the indignity of having a cell tower erected next door.

As a culture, we are in danger of forgetting where we come from, and consequently who we are. All for the convenience of a faster drive or a lower price.

Burning incense and sounding a conch shell horn, residents of an ancient Mexican city protested on Saturday at the construction of a Wal-Mart store on the edge of the ruins.

(link) [CNN]

00:00 /Asatru | 0 comments | permanent link

Man Arrested for Leaving Small Tip (AP)

Whoa! Better watch out the next time you get a snotty server - I guess tips are now mandatory!

AP - Humberto A. Taveras put his money where his mouth is and ended up arrested, accused of leaving an inadequate tip at a restaurant.

(link) [Yahoo! News - Top Stories]

00:00 /Humor | 0 comments | permanent link

Savebetamax.org National Call-in Day

I'll be dialing Washington this coming Tuesday ...

Savebetamax.org, a project of Downhill Battle, has set up a national call-in day for September 14th. They ask that on that day, each person signed up call a specific congressperson about the INDUCE act in an effort to keep a steady stream of calls all day. The "Save Betamax" nomenclature comes from the fact that the INDUCE act could reverse the decision in the 1984 Sony v. Universal case regarding Sony's Betamax VTRs and copying of copyrighted movies.

(link) [Slashdot: ]

00:00 /Copywrongs | 0 comments | permanent link

Televangelist Paul Crouch Attempts to Keep Accuser Quiet (Los Angeles Times)

I'm shocked to discover this kind of behavior ...

Los Angeles Times - Televangelist Paul Crouch, founder of the world's largest Christian broadcasting network, has waged a fierce legal battle to prevent a former employee from publicizing allegations that he and Crouch had a sexual encounter eight years ago.

(link) [Yahoo! News - Top Stories]

00:00 /Asatru | 0 comments | permanent link