this couch i'm sitting at is so uncomfortable. the cusion creates a kink in my neck. u figure it would b nice cuz its a leather but my skin sticks to the seat it sux. i need a new couch..............random thoughts is all 
How Iranians Treat Prisoners
- Thread starter Stretch
- Start date
this couch i'm sitting at is so uncomfortable. the cusion creates a kink in my neck. u figure it would b nice cuz its a leather but my skin sticks to the seat it sux. i need a new couch..............random thoughts is all
I can accept that. My high back "leather" computer chair sticks to me as well. Buy cheap===Get cheap!
'Holocaust studies must be mandatory part of curriculum'
An education official in Australia's largest state has called for Holocaust studies to become a mandatory part of the curriculum.
Posted Jul 14, 2008 02:36 PM PST
Category: ISRAEL
You know, if this were Israel, I would understand. But we are talking about Australia, and if I were an Australian (and I considered becoming one some years back) I would be very angry at the implication that the history of what happened on the other side of the world in the middle of the last century is somehow more important than the history of my own country in the present day!.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330962482&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
An education official in Australia's largest state has called for Holocaust studies to become a mandatory part of the curriculum.
Posted Jul 14, 2008 02:36 PM PST
Category: ISRAEL
You know, if this were Israel, I would understand. But we are talking about Australia, and if I were an Australian (and I considered becoming one some years back) I would be very angry at the implication that the history of what happened on the other side of the world in the middle of the last century is somehow more important than the history of my own country in the present day!.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330962482&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Outrage over US army exercise to shoot pigs
The US Army is moving ahead with plans to shoot live pigs and treat their gunshot wounds in a medical trauma exercise for soldiers destined to serve in Iraq. The army says that the exercise is critical to saving the lives of wounded soldiers. Animal rights activists have criticised the exercise as cruel and outdated.
Posted Jul 19, 2008 08:44 AM PST
Category: WAR/DRAFT
So is war. Let's stop doing that, too!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4360837.ece
The US Army is moving ahead with plans to shoot live pigs and treat their gunshot wounds in a medical trauma exercise for soldiers destined to serve in Iraq. The army says that the exercise is critical to saving the lives of wounded soldiers. Animal rights activists have criticised the exercise as cruel and outdated.
Posted Jul 19, 2008 08:44 AM PST
Category: WAR/DRAFT
So is war. Let's stop doing that, too!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4360837.ece
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Zimbabwe: UK Hypocricy Exposed[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]'The British government is building a £10 million complex for its Embassy in Harare despite its calls for foreign companies operating in Zimbabwe to pull out of the country..'[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]http://raceandhistory.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1216225778,54825,.shtml[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]'The British government is building a £10 million complex for its Embassy in Harare despite its calls for foreign companies operating in Zimbabwe to pull out of the country..'[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]http://raceandhistory.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1216225778,54825,.shtml[/FONT]
Worth a try, but probably the Cage in your circumstance. But what the hay go for it!
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The Process of Indoctrination[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]'How the public is being conditioned to accept the existence of an elite ruling class'[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]'It seems that a unique moment in human history is at last coming to an end. Just a few short years ago, anyone who dared talk about the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderberg group or the Bohemian Grove as organizations through which the financial oligarchs wielded power was dismissed with that ultimate debate-ending phrase: "conspiracy theorist". [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Now, however, these secretive organizations and the corporate moneymen who pull their strings are finally allowing the public a glimpse behind the façade of representative democracy at the way elite institutions are really shaping global geopolitics. People are at last free to talk about how world politics are shaped by a few thousand of the ultra-wealthy and well-connected … provided, of course, those people are closely tied to Henry Kissinger and tend to think that global government is the best way of organizing 21st century society.' [/FONT]
http://www.corbettreport.com/articles/20080714_the_process_of_indoctrination.htm
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Jewish woman exposing the Rothschilds[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]For more detail on what she says see The David Icke Guide to the Global Conspiracy.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Click here to watch ...[/FONT]
............................................................
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]These are the '25 points' she talks about listed by [/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Mayer Amschel Bauer (Rothschild) in 1733:[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Now, however, these secretive organizations and the corporate moneymen who pull their strings are finally allowing the public a glimpse behind the façade of representative democracy at the way elite institutions are really shaping global geopolitics. People are at last free to talk about how world politics are shaped by a few thousand of the ultra-wealthy and well-connected … provided, of course, those people are closely tied to Henry Kissinger and tend to think that global government is the best way of organizing 21st century society.' [/FONT]
http://www.corbettreport.com/articles/20080714_the_process_of_indoctrination.htm
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Jewish woman exposing the Rothschilds[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]For more detail on what she says see The David Icke Guide to the Global Conspiracy.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Click here to watch ...[/FONT]
............................................................
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]These are the '25 points' she talks about listed by [/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Mayer Amschel Bauer (Rothschild) in 1733:[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] 1. Use violence and terrorism rather than academic discussions.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]2. Preach “Liberalism” to usurp political power.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]3. Initiate class warfare. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]4. Politicians must be cunning and deceptive – any moral code leaves a politician vulnerable. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]5. Dismantle “existing forces of order and regulation.” Reconstruct all existing institutions.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]6. Remain invisible until the very moment when it has gained such strength that no cunning or force can undermine it.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]7. Use Mob Psychology to control the masses. “Without absolute despotism one cannot rule efficiently.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]8. Advocate the use of alcoholic liquors, drugs, moral corruption and all forms of vice, used systematically by “agenteurs” to corrupt the youth.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]9. Seize properties by any means to secure submission and sovereignty.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]10. Foment wars and control the peace conferences so that neither of the combatants gains territory placing them further in debt and therefore into our power.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]11. Choose candidates for public office who will be “servile and obedient to our commands, so they may be readily used as pawns in our game.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]12. Use the Press for propaganda to control all outlets of public information, while remaining in the shadows, clear of blame.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]13. Make the masses believe they had been the prey of criminals. Then restore order to appear as the saviors.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]14. Create financial panics. Use hunger to control to subjugate the masses.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]15. Infiltrate Freemasonry to take advantage of the Grand Orient Lodges to cloak the true nature of their work in philanthropy. Spread their atheistic-materialistic ideology amongst the "Goyim" (gentiles).[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]16. When the hour strikes for our sovereign lord of the entire World to be crowned, their influence will banish everything that might stand in his way.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]17. Use systematic deception, high-sounding phrases and popular slogans. “The opposite of what has been promised can always be done afterwards... That is of no consequence.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]18. A Reign of Terror is the most economical way to bring about speedy subjection.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]19. Masquerade as political, financial and economic advisers to carry out our mandates with Diplomacy and without fear of exposing “the secret power behind national and international affairs.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]20. Ultimate world government is the goal. It will be necessary to establish huge monopolies, so even the largest fortunes of the Goyim will depend on us to such an extent that they will go to the bottom together with the credit of their governments on the day after the great political smash.” [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]21. Use economic warfare. Rob the "Goyim" of their landed properties and industries with a combination of high taxes and unfair competition.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]22. “Make the 'Goyim' destroy each other so there will only be the proletariat left in the world, with a few millionaires devoted to our cause, and sufficient police and soldiers to protect our interest.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]23. Call it The New Order. Appoint a Dictator.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]24. Fool, bemuse and corrupt the younger members of society by teaching them theories and principles we know to be false.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]25. Twist national and international laws into a contradiction which first masks the law and afterwards hides it altogether. Substitute arbitration for law. [/FONT]
http://www.spingola.com/before_rockefeller.htm
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]2. Preach “Liberalism” to usurp political power.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]3. Initiate class warfare. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]4. Politicians must be cunning and deceptive – any moral code leaves a politician vulnerable. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]5. Dismantle “existing forces of order and regulation.” Reconstruct all existing institutions.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]6. Remain invisible until the very moment when it has gained such strength that no cunning or force can undermine it.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]7. Use Mob Psychology to control the masses. “Without absolute despotism one cannot rule efficiently.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]8. Advocate the use of alcoholic liquors, drugs, moral corruption and all forms of vice, used systematically by “agenteurs” to corrupt the youth.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]9. Seize properties by any means to secure submission and sovereignty.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]10. Foment wars and control the peace conferences so that neither of the combatants gains territory placing them further in debt and therefore into our power.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]11. Choose candidates for public office who will be “servile and obedient to our commands, so they may be readily used as pawns in our game.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]12. Use the Press for propaganda to control all outlets of public information, while remaining in the shadows, clear of blame.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]13. Make the masses believe they had been the prey of criminals. Then restore order to appear as the saviors.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]14. Create financial panics. Use hunger to control to subjugate the masses.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]15. Infiltrate Freemasonry to take advantage of the Grand Orient Lodges to cloak the true nature of their work in philanthropy. Spread their atheistic-materialistic ideology amongst the "Goyim" (gentiles).[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]16. When the hour strikes for our sovereign lord of the entire World to be crowned, their influence will banish everything that might stand in his way.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]17. Use systematic deception, high-sounding phrases and popular slogans. “The opposite of what has been promised can always be done afterwards... That is of no consequence.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]18. A Reign of Terror is the most economical way to bring about speedy subjection.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]19. Masquerade as political, financial and economic advisers to carry out our mandates with Diplomacy and without fear of exposing “the secret power behind national and international affairs.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]20. Ultimate world government is the goal. It will be necessary to establish huge monopolies, so even the largest fortunes of the Goyim will depend on us to such an extent that they will go to the bottom together with the credit of their governments on the day after the great political smash.” [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]21. Use economic warfare. Rob the "Goyim" of their landed properties and industries with a combination of high taxes and unfair competition.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]22. “Make the 'Goyim' destroy each other so there will only be the proletariat left in the world, with a few millionaires devoted to our cause, and sufficient police and soldiers to protect our interest.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]23. Call it The New Order. Appoint a Dictator.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]24. Fool, bemuse and corrupt the younger members of society by teaching them theories and principles we know to be false.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]25. Twist national and international laws into a contradiction which first masks the law and afterwards hides it altogether. Substitute arbitration for law. [/FONT]
http://www.spingola.com/before_rockefeller.htm
this couch i'm sitting at is so uncomfortable. the cusion creates a kink in my neck. u figure it would b nice cuz its a leather but my skin sticks to the seat it sux. i need a new couch..............random thoughts is all
Use a fuzzy throw ... or wear clothes (but please feel free send pics of the stick for closer examination of the problem)
lol i do wear clothes (shorts, its freaking hot here) and throws are expensive here. i'm gonna have to cut back on the chocolate fix to save up, damn...
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]IBM, Verichip and the Fourth Reich [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A must watch [/FONT]
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4040930009676933149&hl=en
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A must watch [/FONT]
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4040930009676933149&hl=en
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]US candidates practise their 'U-turns' (new lies to replace the old ones) [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]'In order to pass their political driving test, successful politicians need to be masters of one tricky manoeuvre in particular - the U-turn. The contenders in this year's US presidential election are no exceptions - both John McCain and Barack Obama have engaged in some nifty repositioning.'[/FONT]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7474558.stm
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]'In order to pass their political driving test, successful politicians need to be masters of one tricky manoeuvre in particular - the U-turn. The contenders in this year's US presidential election are no exceptions - both John McCain and Barack Obama have engaged in some nifty repositioning.'[/FONT]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7474558.stm
BAYER SPREADS AIDS HIV SEX Hemopheliac medicine children
Bayer Corporation put live H.I.V. Virus in their hemopheliac medicine for children- and shipped it all over the world.
Posted Jul 23, 2008 07:48 AM PST
Category: SCIENCE/HEALTH
'If you want to get wealthy, invest in drugs. If you want to be healthy, don't take them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS3mhjt7TrY&search=Bayer
Bayer Corporation put live H.I.V. Virus in their hemopheliac medicine for children- and shipped it all over the world.
Posted Jul 23, 2008 07:48 AM PST
Category: SCIENCE/HEALTH
'If you want to get wealthy, invest in drugs. If you want to be healthy, don't take them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS3mhjt7TrY&search=Bayer
I remember seeing pics of us soldiers ripping the gold off of the doors of the museums looted in Iraq.........
Persia: Ancient Soul of Iran - National Geographic Magazine
One of the great crimes committed against the people of Iraq was the looting of the Baghdad Museum and the destruction of many important ancient sites inside Iraq.
As the drums beat for more war in Iran, there is a valid concern that Iran's ancient archeological sites face risk of destruction. I agree. And more to the point, I think that destruction of ancient sites is deliberate policy.
Egypt is literally littered with the ruins of the ancient temples and palaces of her rulers. As much as has been found, it is estimated that only 1/3 of Egypt's archeological wonders have been uncovered. A newly discovered temple was uncovered while digging a sewer line, and a cache of finely preserved mummies was literally stumbled over by a cow in a pasture.
Iraq's ancient heritage was enshrined in its ancient sites and museum. As a result of the war, many of those sites have been damaged or destroyed. Part of the ancient city or Ur now lies underneath a US air base runway. The treasures of the museum have only partly been recovered. The treasures from the looted archaeological sites have been scattered to the world.
Now we take aim at Persia, and as the illustrations in this National Geographic article show, there is a rich cultural heritage of artifacts and ancient sites facing the bombs.
All of this wealth of archaeological treasures must of course annoy Israel. We are raised from birth with Old Testament tales of the greatness of the ancient Israelites, of the powerful kingdoms of Solomon and David and the first temple. Yet Israel, while rich in antiquities, is almost totally devoid of artifacts from this supposedly glorious time in her history. The existence of the fabled First Temple was supported with just two artifacts, a carved staff ornament in the shape of a pomegranate and the Jehoash tablet. Both of these artifacts have been exposed as frauds. We are told that once there was a magnificent temple on that hill, but it "all went away." The wonders emerging from the soil of Egypt, Iraq, and Iran serve as a constant reminder that ancient buildings of such a scale as we are told the First Temple was simply do not vanish without a trace.
There is considerable reason to suspect that the tales told in the Old Testament are just that; tales. The Bible is not science, it is the collected stories of a primitive tribal people telling each other how important they are. And like fishermen talking about the won that got away, or Ramses with his temple carvings of the did-not-really-happen victory over the Hittites at Kadesh, the writers of the ancient testaments assumed that the people they were telling stories to had no way to verify the claims for themselves. So "embellishment" was a low-risk activity.
We do know from the available archaeological evidence that the Exodus probably actually happened to the Hyksos, not the Israelites. We know that the story of Moses is suspect because no Egyptian princess would hide a Hebrew child inside Pharaoh's household, then give the kid a Hebrew name ("Moses" is actually an Egyptian title meaning "Prince" and is included in the names of many Pharaoh's names such as Tut-Moses, Ah-Moses, Ra-Moses (Ramses) etc.) But a good story is a good story and the writers of the ancient texts were probably not thinking much further into the future than the guys who pen the "Celebrity dates space alien" stories you see at supermarket checkout lines. The fact that the celebrity is a real person does not prove the space alien exists. It's just a story.
But, over time, entire religions with attendant wealth and power structures have been built on the premise that these stories really happened exactly as written. And today, here in the 21st century world, technology has started to catch up with these ancient legends and call many of them into doubt.
So, for a nation that justifies its existence on the writings of the Old Torah, the plethora of sites and artifacts confirming the ancient histories of Egypt, Iraq, Iran, etc. etc. etc. must seem a dire political threat for a nation whose own ancient history seems to have left little if any traces. In that context, the strange behavior of the US military which posted guards around the Iraq oil ministry while leaving the Baghdad museum unguarded suddenly starts to make sense, if the supporters of a very insecure nation decide that leveling the archaeological playing field is preferable to allowing the obvious disparity in archaeological proofs of claimed ancient histories to stand clear in the world's view!
Posted Jul 23, 2008 10:30 AM PST
Category: IRAN
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/08/iran-archaeology/del-giudice-text
Persia: Ancient Soul of Iran - National Geographic Magazine
One of the great crimes committed against the people of Iraq was the looting of the Baghdad Museum and the destruction of many important ancient sites inside Iraq.
As the drums beat for more war in Iran, there is a valid concern that Iran's ancient archeological sites face risk of destruction. I agree. And more to the point, I think that destruction of ancient sites is deliberate policy.
Egypt is literally littered with the ruins of the ancient temples and palaces of her rulers. As much as has been found, it is estimated that only 1/3 of Egypt's archeological wonders have been uncovered. A newly discovered temple was uncovered while digging a sewer line, and a cache of finely preserved mummies was literally stumbled over by a cow in a pasture.
Iraq's ancient heritage was enshrined in its ancient sites and museum. As a result of the war, many of those sites have been damaged or destroyed. Part of the ancient city or Ur now lies underneath a US air base runway. The treasures of the museum have only partly been recovered. The treasures from the looted archaeological sites have been scattered to the world.
Now we take aim at Persia, and as the illustrations in this National Geographic article show, there is a rich cultural heritage of artifacts and ancient sites facing the bombs.
All of this wealth of archaeological treasures must of course annoy Israel. We are raised from birth with Old Testament tales of the greatness of the ancient Israelites, of the powerful kingdoms of Solomon and David and the first temple. Yet Israel, while rich in antiquities, is almost totally devoid of artifacts from this supposedly glorious time in her history. The existence of the fabled First Temple was supported with just two artifacts, a carved staff ornament in the shape of a pomegranate and the Jehoash tablet. Both of these artifacts have been exposed as frauds. We are told that once there was a magnificent temple on that hill, but it "all went away." The wonders emerging from the soil of Egypt, Iraq, and Iran serve as a constant reminder that ancient buildings of such a scale as we are told the First Temple was simply do not vanish without a trace.
There is considerable reason to suspect that the tales told in the Old Testament are just that; tales. The Bible is not science, it is the collected stories of a primitive tribal people telling each other how important they are. And like fishermen talking about the won that got away, or Ramses with his temple carvings of the did-not-really-happen victory over the Hittites at Kadesh, the writers of the ancient testaments assumed that the people they were telling stories to had no way to verify the claims for themselves. So "embellishment" was a low-risk activity.
We do know from the available archaeological evidence that the Exodus probably actually happened to the Hyksos, not the Israelites. We know that the story of Moses is suspect because no Egyptian princess would hide a Hebrew child inside Pharaoh's household, then give the kid a Hebrew name ("Moses" is actually an Egyptian title meaning "Prince" and is included in the names of many Pharaoh's names such as Tut-Moses, Ah-Moses, Ra-Moses (Ramses) etc.) But a good story is a good story and the writers of the ancient texts were probably not thinking much further into the future than the guys who pen the "Celebrity dates space alien" stories you see at supermarket checkout lines. The fact that the celebrity is a real person does not prove the space alien exists. It's just a story.
But, over time, entire religions with attendant wealth and power structures have been built on the premise that these stories really happened exactly as written. And today, here in the 21st century world, technology has started to catch up with these ancient legends and call many of them into doubt.
So, for a nation that justifies its existence on the writings of the Old Torah, the plethora of sites and artifacts confirming the ancient histories of Egypt, Iraq, Iran, etc. etc. etc. must seem a dire political threat for a nation whose own ancient history seems to have left little if any traces. In that context, the strange behavior of the US military which posted guards around the Iraq oil ministry while leaving the Baghdad museum unguarded suddenly starts to make sense, if the supporters of a very insecure nation decide that leveling the archaeological playing field is preferable to allowing the obvious disparity in archaeological proofs of claimed ancient histories to stand clear in the world's view!
Posted Jul 23, 2008 10:30 AM PST
Category: IRAN
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/08/iran-archaeology/del-giudice-text
U.S. Rushes to Change Workplace Toxin Rules
Political appointees at the Department of Labor are moving with unusual speed to push through in the final months of the Bush administration a rule making it tougher to regulate workers' on-the-job exposure to chemicals and toxins.
Posted Jul 24, 2008 08:46 AM PST
Category: SCIENCE/HEALTH
You just have to love how expendable US workers have become under Bush's watch. This is more of his true "legacy" for this country, and its people.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/22/AR2008072202838.html
Political appointees at the Department of Labor are moving with unusual speed to push through in the final months of the Bush administration a rule making it tougher to regulate workers' on-the-job exposure to chemicals and toxins.
Posted Jul 24, 2008 08:46 AM PST
Category: SCIENCE/HEALTH
You just have to love how expendable US workers have become under Bush's watch. This is more of his true "legacy" for this country, and its people.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/22/AR2008072202838.html
