Tag Archives: global

Kalashnikovs

Ever since the Kalashnikov’s introduction in the Soviet Union in 1947 it has been a favorite due to its simple design. Of between 90 and 122 million assault rifles estimated to have been produced since World War II, between 70 and 100 million were Kalashnikovs. Together, these small arms have been responsible for more civilian deaths than [...]
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Osama bin Laden Not Involved in 9/11 Attacks

Is it possible that Osama bin Laden was not involved in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center? It is curious that Osama bin Laden initially denied involvement. From CNN, dated September 17, 2001: In a statement issued to the Arabic satellite channel Al Jazeera, based in Qatar, bin Laden said, “The U.S. government [...]
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End Airborne Terrorism

When Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate plastic explosives concealed in his underwear on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, I saw public outcry for greater airport security. People saw yet another terrorist show airport security ineffective. They asked, “How could this have happened?” People paid to make solutions came up with ideas like ramping up airport security, and [...]
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Institutionalized Conspiracy

CIA logoIn most of its operations, the CIA is by definition a conspiracy, using covert actions and secret plans, many of which are of the most unsavory kind. What are covert operations if not conspiracies? At the same time, the CIA is an institution, a structural part of the national security state. In sum, the agency is an institutionalized conspiracy.
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Sanctioning Iran

Last week, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a measure to put a new round of sanctions on Iran, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009. Not only are sanctions an offensive maneuver perceived as a precursor to war, but it is clear that the United States is not promoting freedom and peace in [...]
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Citrus History

Oranges are often said to be a wholesome, natural, and tasty thing to eat. But just what is “natural?” The history of the orange and it’s acidic friends is a scientific adventure through prehistoric genetic engineering and cultural trade. It is commonly accepted that there are four founding species of the citrus genus: Lime (Citrus [...]
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Pleasing Everybody

I was just reading the GNOME Human Interface Guidelines, which tell computer application developers how to make their applications integrate well into GNOME, and the internationalization section closes with a list of some common things to avoid: Pictures of flags or money Maps showing political boundaries or contentious location names Lists of countries or cities [...]
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