U.S. Sets Missile Defense Plan, Threatening 1972 ABM Pact. Contrary to Dubya’s ignorant and absurd assertion, the arms race is alive and well; it’s just been exquisitely balanced by just such international agreements in the face of mutually assured destruction (“MAD”) as we are about to abrogate irrevocably. New York Times In that context, as I mention each time I discuss further developments down the path to NMD, I still see no reason (if we truly believe our threat is from ‘rogue states’ and not our former Cold War adversaries) not to preserve MAD and prevent the next escalation in the arms race by sharing the missile defense technology with Russia and China so that they can implement it without delay as we do.

From Cuba with Tension “After the rousing success of the Buena Vista Social Club, its

backers debate what’s next for the music of Havana… The era

of old-timers doing recycled Cuban standards may be over…” LA Times

Shark Victim Off Ventilator. Jessie Arbogast is breathing on his own and responding to voice commands. As someone said, “Go, Jessie!”

Ira Einhorn Cuts Throat in Bid to Beat Extradition. Long saga appears to be drawing to a close with the extradition decision; Einhorn fled the US in 1981 when just about to go on trial for the 1977 murder of his girlfriend Holly Maddux, whose bludgeoned body was hidden in a trunk for eighteen months before its discovery. He was since convicted in absentia and received a life sentence; he was located living in France in 1997. Einhorn maintains his innocence, saying he was framed for the murder because of his political activism. Maddux’s sister says, “It’s vintage Einhorn. I did not think he would go quietly. But I must admit, I never thought of this one.” Yahoo/Reuters

Naked Man with No Product Waggles his Dotcom: ‘A fictional brand that offers no product has managed to fool more

than 1,500 people into responding to its ads… The ad showed a naked man leaping around in a black rubber ring,

surrounded by the words “sing, laugh, drive, sleep, eat, breathe, cry,

but do it with joy”.

Nothing else was offered by way of explanation as to what the

company offered apart from a URL, http://www.withjoy.co.uk, and a phone

number.

But this wasn’t part of a dotcom scam, rather an “experiment” by UK

newspaper The Guardian to demonstrate the scary power of

branding.’ The Register

Senate Backs Ban On New Drilling, Mining In National Monuments: “The Democratic-led Senate voted

Wednesday to bar coal mining and oil and gas

drilling on pristine federally protected land in

the West, dealing a fresh blow to President

Bush’s energy production plans. The 57-42 roll

call aligned the Senate with the House, which voted last month to ban

mineral extraction from the monuments after Democrats there won

support from moderate Republicans.: