News – No break for Halliburton(2/2)

Microsoft has been sending free software to government employees, but two federal agencies have warned employees to send back the gifts or risk violating federal ethics policies. The ethics offices at the Department of the Interior and Department of Defense said they have to give back the free stuff. The Department of the Army when the next step and told Gates to stop sending them free stuff. This just shows how worried MS is with the rise of free, open source software. Too many big, meaty customers are considering the big switch.

Now 18, Lee Malvo has been sentenced to life in prison on two counts of murder. John Muhammad has been sentenced to death previously. His execution is scheduled for Oct 14th.

Asbury Park, New Jersey has stopped issuing gay marriage licenses after the state’s Attorney General threatened court action, ruling the state’s laws did not allow it. The town’s officials, however, plan to take the case to court. So goes the latest in what seems a slow growing revolt of some cities.

Bush remains intent on using 9/11 in his reelection campaign. Some republicans are expressing concern for the direction taken and the perception that Bush’s administration is constantly on the defensive about something. Seems that way to me too. There is a suggestion of unease in the While House about it, but I doubt anything more than that will come out, if there is any truth in the suggestion.

Howard Dean met up with John Kerry yesterday and aides have said that Dean will make a formal endorsement of Kerry in the next few weeks. Kerry slammed on his Republican critics, calling them ‘crooked liars’. There is some irony in that statement to me. I think all politicians are crooked liars.

Diana Ross was ordered back to jail after she fell short by one hour to finish a two day prison sentence for drunk driving. One she served in spurts, being in and out of jail, never there for more than a 24 hour period. One of her attorneys, James Nesci said that she did fulfill her sentence and that there were “extenuating circumstances” that the judge would understand once he heard the whole story. I don’t know about you, but I’m curious as to these circumstances.

An assessment of billionaire George Soros. A powerful weapon for the democrats?

Slate has read through Tour of Duty, Douglas Brinkley’s account of Kerry’s “Vietnam War odyssey” so you don’t have to. Get the condensed version here. Pinpoints notes of his war heroism(page numbers for each medal) and other tidbits.

General

Mel’s movie continues to pull in the cash hand over fist. Indeed, last weekend there was still a sold out showing of the movie. One of the earlier showings, but still. That’s uncommon. And we’re still only noting domestic profits, not the potential internationally.

Roy Horn is still recovering from his near fatal tiger attack last year. His partner says he still can’t stand on his own, but he feels positive on his friends recovery.

Explainer covers the great bulk of some popular opera singers.

Today’s Papers has the LA Times conflict of interests hunt continuing, some say going too far, create a Bush poster with ANY message on it right off his site(have fun with that one folks), a Shiite militia group getting into a gun battle with Iraq police that left four dead and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Sitcom Silliness

Mark Fiore: Today’s Growth Industries

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: A saying as a Rebus. (What’s a rebus?)

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Satan popping up in unlikely places

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Truth in advertising. For example, McDonald’s: “It’ll make you fat, but damn if it ain’t real frickin’ tasty.”

Chthon

March 11, 2004

I’m surprised by how many state’s already have laws about gay marriage. I can’t think of a more useless peice of legislation. Well, I probably could think of one, but you get the idea.

Karalys

RYN: Unfortunately the biggest detriment to the company is the owner himself. He doesn’t really understand the nuances of business financing, or business management. He’s hot-headed and forgets often that the existence of the company depends on keeping the clients happy and satisfied with our work. Yes, his wife is also a liability due to her inability to get things done in a timely way,but she(c)

isn’t the largest problem. Its definitely a tightrope walk, and if things were a little different your advice would definitely be taken. 🙂

RE Diana Ross, I’m not so much curious about the extenuating circumstances as I am curious whether her sentence fit the guidelines the rest of the nation would have had to adhere to. I’m so tired of public figures getting away with murder (sometimes literally) only because of who they are. Equal protection of the laws should extend to those of us who need to be protected from drunk drivers, no?

Boxer

March 12, 2004

As one who has voted in every possible direction, but currently votes mostly Republican I can tell you that this Republican is certainly NOT concerned about Bush using 9/11 in ads the way he has. Bush has handled post 9/11 life very, very well. No one on this planet could have predicted that we would be sitting here now, without a single successful followup attack. That is a record to run on.