Lemmings online
Why is it that I always find these games when I should be studying?

Take a look at it, it's a classic: Lemmings

[Escuchando: Rumors Of My Demise Have Been - Rise Against - Siren Song Of The Counter Cult (4:14)]

The truth in Presidential Radio Address speeches
This post is not mine, in fact I only reproduce what I heard on January 18th in OffTheWall. Well, I downloaded the program to my Zen and heard it today.

They took two key Radio Adresses the Whitehouse broadcasted just before the invasion of Iraq began (I'm sure you remember them when you read their title) and deleted the lies he said in them, making them shorter but, at least, true.

I have just grabbed both editted speeches and upped them so you don't need to download the whole program to hear it. I also posted the full transcripts of both addresses and changed the font to red of all the lies he say. Press the '[+]' link to see it, it's impressing.

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Index:
President's Radio Address concerning Iraq Weapons, March 22, 2003 - Audio stream
Hear the radio address without lies - redirection (Click on 'Download/show the hosted file')

President's Radio Address concerning the Beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 22, 2003 - Audio stream
Hear the radio address without lies - redirection (Click on 'Download/show the hosted file')

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>> I bet the same could be done with a 80% of his Radio Adresses. I don't understand why there's still people out there who hesitate calling him and his crew of prevaricators.

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President's Radio Address concerning Iraq Weapons, March 22, 2003 - Audio stream

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Powell briefed the United Nations Security Council on Iraq's illegal weapons program, its attempts to hide those weapons, and its links to terrorist groups.

The Iraqi regime's violations of Security Council Resolutions are evident, they are dangerous to America and the world, and they continue to this hour.

The regime has never accounted for a vast arsenal of deadly, biological and chemical weapons. To the contrary, the regime is pursuing an elaborate campaign to conceal its weapons materials and to hide or intimidate key experts and scientists. This effort of deception is directed from the highest levels of the Iraqi regime, including Saddam Hussein, his son, Iraq's vice president and the very official responsible for cooperating with inspectors.

The Iraqi regime has actively and secretly attempted to obtain equipment needed to produce chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Firsthand witnesses have informed us that Iraq has at least seven mobile factories for the production of biological agents -- equipment mounted on trucks and rails to evade discovery.

The Iraqi regime has acquired and tested the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction. It has never accounted for thousands of bombs and shells capable of delivering chemical weapons. It is actively pursuing components for prohibited ballistic missiles. And we have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons -- the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have.

One of the greatest dangers we face is that weapons of mass destruction might be passed to terrorists who would not hesitate to use those weapons. Saddam Hussein has longstanding, direct and continuing ties to terrorist networks. Senior members of Iraqi intelligence and al Qaeda have met at least eight times since the early 1990s. Iraq has sent bomb-making and document forgery experts to work with al Qaeda. Iraq has also provided al Qaeda with chemical and biological weapons training. And an al Qaeda operative was sent to Iraq several times in the late 1990s for help in acquiring poisons and gases.

We also know that Iraq is harboring a terrorist network headed by a senior al Qaeda terrorist planner. This network runs a poison and explosive training camp in northeast Iraq, and many of its leaders are known to be in Baghdad.

This is the situation as we find it -- 12 years after Saddam Hussein agreed to disarm and more than 90 days after the Security Council passed Resolution 1441 by a unanimous vote. Saddam Hussein was required to make a full declaration of his weapons programs. He has not done so. Saddam Hussein was required to fully cooperate in the disarmament of his regime. He has not done so. Saddam Hussein was given a final chance. He is throwing away that chance.

Having made its demands, the Security Council must not back down when those demands are defied and mocked by a dictator. The United States would welcome and support a new resolution making clear that the Security Council stands behinds its previous demands. Yet, resolutions mean little without resolve. And the United States, along with a growing coalition of nations, will take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves and disarm the Iraqi regime.

Thank you for listening.

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President's Radio Address concerning the Beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 22, 2003 - Audio stream

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. American and coalition forces have begun a concerted campaign against the regime of Saddam Hussein. In this war, our coalition is broad, more than 40 countries from across the globe. Our cause is just, the security of the nations we serve and the peace of the world. And our mission is clear, to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people.

President George W. Bush meets with his war council at Camp David, Saturday morning, March 22, 2003. Present at the table are, from left, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard B. Myers, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, Chief of Staff to the Vice President Lewis Libby, Chief of Staff Andy Card, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, CIA Director George Tenet, and Chief Counsel to the President Alberto Gonzalez. White House photo by Eric Draper The future of peace and the hopes of the Iraqi people now depend on our fighting forces in the Middle East. They are conducting themselves in the highest traditions of the American military. They are doing their job with skill and bravery, and with the finest of allies beside them. At every stage of this conflict the world will see both the power of our military, and the honorable and decent spirit of the men and women who serve.

In this conflict, American and coalition forces face enemies who have no regard for the conventions of war or rules of morality. Iraqi officials have placed troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for the dictator's army. I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm.

A campaign on harsh terrain in a vast country could be longer and more difficult than some have predicted. And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable, and free country will require our sustained commitment. Yet, whatever is required of us, we will carry out all the duties we have accepted.

Across America this weekend, the families of our military are praying that our men and women will return safely and soon. Millions of Americans are praying with them for the safety of their loved ones and for the protection of all the innocent. Our entire nation appreciates the sacrifices made by military families, and many citizens who live near military families are showing their support in practical ways, such as by helping with child care, or home repairs. All families with loved ones serving in this war can know this: Our forces will be coming home as soon as their work is done.

Our nation entered this conflict reluctantly, yet with a clear and firm purpose. The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder. Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force. This will not be a campaign of half-measures. It is a fight for the security of our nation and the peace of the world, and we will accept no outcome but victory.

Thank you for listening.

[Escuchando: Deshacer el mundo - Heroes del silencio - Para Siempre (5:23)]

Good old movies
I know I'm supposed to be studying as I have exams in ten days, but I'm bored to the max and none of the movies/games I have around seem to be interesting enough, so I decided to take a look at the Internet Archive and I'm gonna to watch (again) 'Night of the Living Dead'. I know it's not as funny as the porn parody that appears in 'Double Feature!', but I'll spend some nice time watching a bit of outdated terror.

[Escuchando: Mirando al cielo - Fito & Fitipaldis - A puerta cerrada (4:12)]

The Church approves the use of condom ... at least in Spain

The Spanish conference of bishops made public today, in a press conference right after the meeting with the Health Minister, their opinion about the use of condoms to stop the spreading of AIDS.

This oficial point of view is a slap in the face of the conservative sectors in the Vatican that still claim that condoms are not a good way of stopping AIDS.

Though unusual, it's not the first time catholic priests promote the use of condoms as the best tool to avoid the disease. In fact the Spanish Church has joined a group of institutions that already endorsed the abecedary (ABC -Abstain, Be faithful/reduce partners, use Condoms) on World AIDS Day that was published by 'The Lancet' one month before.

Read full news: in Spanish - translated by Babelfish

[Escuchando: Voy a pasarmelo bien - Hombres G - Peligrosamente Juntos (0:-1)]

Mother at ... 67?

Doctors said a 66-year-old Romanian woman became the world's oldest woman recorded to give birth when she delivered a daughter by cesarean section. The child's twin sister was stillborn, they said.

Is it fair to bring a baby to life when you know that her mother won't probably live enough to see her grow up? I'm not talking about diseases or accidents, sometimes life can be cruel and steals the life of our parents earlier than we had wished, but in this case both the the mother and the father life expectancy is just a few years (Bulgaria's life expectancy is 70.5 years).

Full news: CNN

Posted at Spitting-Image too.

[Escuchando: Cd1 - Extremoduro - Gira 2002 DVD (44:56)]

Alexander overdose

I went to the cinema yesterday night to watch this movie. The proyection room was huge, in fact one of the bigger ones I've ever watched a movie in and the screen was extremely big too. You might think that this could be the best place to see an action movie like this one, I thought the same, but things are seen different from the first row of seats.

I got tired of the three hour movie, I got tired of hearing Alex's decaffeinated conversations with his 'friend' Hephaistion, I got tired of the guys sitting inmediately behind me making gay jokes all over the movie, ... fuck, I even got tired of the 9 meters tall face of Angelina Jolie. In fact it is kinda scaring to see her beautiful eyes stare directly at you when they are bigger than you.

[Escuchando: Rats In The Cellar (Bonus) - Aerosmith - You Gotta Move (8:36)]

So simple, so clever

It's difficult to gather the necesary amount of people to make it really noticeable on TV, but it would be a historical 'in your face' protest in case lots of people turned their backs when the presidential motorcade arrives to their location.

^{Action found in: Bouillabaisse}

[Escuchando: Galleguita (tango) - Carlos Nunez - Carlos Nunez & Amigos En Casa (3:23)]

I agree with Creative


Correct me if I'm wrong but I feel the Apple guys have made a mistake launching their new iPod Shuffle (labeled as a tampon with buttons by several magazines). That's why I agree with everything this Creative CEO that openly talks about this new iPod.

Full interview here
Another source here. Thanks mmulibra for the link

Note: This is a pic of my Zen Touch, which I know isn't as snob as an iPod but it's cheaper, lighter and batteries run for several more hours.

[Escuchando: Ciudad De Los Gitanos - Marea - 28000 Punaladas (0:-1)]

Weapon inspectors fly out of Iraq


It seems the US has finally accepted what everybody already knew: Sadam didn't have any weapons of massive destruction or was trying to make them when the country was invaded.

The US inspectors sent to the country to verify evidence of Iraq's WMD program have finished their two years search with no results.

Read the article on CNN
News excerpt in Spanish

>> If we still believe the coalition force that invaded Iraq began the war because of this fake proofs, shouldn't someone be held responsible for sending so many guys to death under false statements?

[Escuchando: Lágrimas de plástico azul - Joaquin Sabina - Dimelo en la calle (3:45)]

The problem is underwater too


The first news I had about the devastation the tsunami caused in the underwater habitat was just one day after the tsunami when a TV station interviewed one Spanish survivor in his hospital bed at Phuket. He works, or used to work before the quake, as a scubba teacher at Khao Lak and he pointed out that the NGO's should also keep an eye to the damage the tsunami caused to the coral reefs that surround the coasts of the countries afected by the disaster as they where the mean of life of the inhabitants of these areas, either tourist or fishery dependant.

I must say that I stored it in some hidden place of my head and didn't think about it until Prentiss said something about it in his comment.

I have researched a bit more into the subject and have found what I expected, the studies say that the devastation caused to the underwater marine life can affect near shore fishery for decades, just the time the ocean floors will take to recover from the damage received and the diseases a massive alteration bring to an ecosystem.

According to this article it seems that the natural underwater walls coral reefs are have saved thousands of lives. Just another reason that should make us give a bit of our time to recover the lost underwater habitat.

More news: here

Note: As the ocean floor has changed significantly, global maps like sediment thickness or some maritime routes as several naval channels have completely changed.

Note2: I just heard a UNESCO report on the radio advising that some Han and Tang dinasty wreckages might have been lost or severely damaged. It's bad news for archeology too then.

[Escuchando: I wanna be your dog - Sid Vicious - Vive le Rock Live (3:10)]

Remapping the Maldives

Historically, cartographers had problems to locate and correctly draw the Maldives until a century ago, and their hard work must be redone again.

The government has asked some cartographic organizations to help redrawing the more than 1200 islands the country has. According to the comments and photos some tiny islands lost several meters of shore, others disappeared under the water and a few of them even moved.

Reuter's press message in plain text
Full report with pictures - Translated by Google

Satellital images of the tsunami's effects in other countries.

Edit: seeking for info about the now sunk islands I have found that some of them, like the Hulhumale, were refloated some years ago. Take a look at it here.

[Escuchando: Armagideon Tenoreko Aztarnak - Fermin Muguruza - Kontrabanda (0:-1)]

1625 euros
Some friends and I have saved a few euros this Christmas to help the NGOs and NPOs that have moved to South East Asia to provide help to the tsunami victims. Most of the money will go tomorrow to the Spanish Red Cross and Medicos Sin Fronteras accounts, the rest will be sent to smaller organizations.

It's not a great amount of money, but most of us are still studying so we don't have too much money.

[Escuchando: Jamas - Reincidentes - Acustico (4:07)]