From a government website:
Antiboycott Compliance
The Bureau is charged with administering and enforcing the Antiboycott Laws under the Export Administration Act. Those laws discourage, and in some circumstances, prohibit U.S. companies from furthering or supporting the boycott of Israel sponsored by the Arab League, and certain Moslem countries, including complying with certain requests for information designed to verify compliance with the boycott. Compliance with such requests may be prohibited by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and may be reportable to the Bureau.
Boycott Alert
U.S. companies continue to report receiving requests to engage in activities that further or support the boycott of Israel. U.S. companies may receive similar requests in the future. If you have questions, please call (202) 482-2381 and ask for the Duty Officer or you may contact us by email.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Atheist buses in UK
(The organization) unveiled its advertisements on 800 buses across Britain.
“There’s probably no God,” the advertisements say. “Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
this one's for you, TGIA.
“There’s probably no God,” the advertisements say. “Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
this one's for you, TGIA.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Deborah Orr: There wouldn't have been Gaza rockets without the blockade
Supporters of Israel's action are fond of reiterating Israel's narrow justification for its action. Who else would put up with regular rocket attacks from a neighbour, it asks? No one suggests that they would be happy to. It is accepted that Israel has the right to defend itself, and so it should be. Yet few would acquiesce without protest to a swingeing two-year blockade by a neighbour either, though no Western leader ever seems seriously to ask that highly pertinent question.
We welcome the Franco-Egyptian initiative
Ahmed Yousef is deputy to the ministry of foreign affairs in the Hamas government of Gaza, based in Rafah, Gaza. He has also acted as a political adviser to the former Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh
In recent days, we have witnessed a lot of global activity at the political level, aimed at bringing about a ceasefire but none of the major players has attempted to enter Gaza to access the situation. Nevertheless, Hamas welcomes the Egyptian-French initiative. We recognise that it contains many positive elements, but also elements that need more careful consideration. We want an immediate ceasefire agreement to end the suffering caused by the present violence and the economic blockade. To achieve this, we need an honest broker who will guarantee that Israel will respect the terms of the agreement.
In recent days, we have witnessed a lot of global activity at the political level, aimed at bringing about a ceasefire but none of the major players has attempted to enter Gaza to access the situation. Nevertheless, Hamas welcomes the Egyptian-French initiative. We recognise that it contains many positive elements, but also elements that need more careful consideration. We want an immediate ceasefire agreement to end the suffering caused by the present violence and the economic blockade. To achieve this, we need an honest broker who will guarantee that Israel will respect the terms of the agreement.
Pakistan acknowledges Mumbai link for first time
Pakistan's government acknowledged Wednesday that there is a connection between November's attacks in Mumbai, India, and elements inside Pakistan.
From the UN
The total number of casualties as of 1400 hours today has risen to at least 683 Palestinians killed and more than 3,085 injured since 27 December. The latest toll from the shelling of the UNRWA school in Jabalia is 43 killed and about 100 injured. UNRWA has rejected Israeli claims that the school was being used to fire mortars at the Israeli army.
Rare bit of good news
Over a third of American millionaire households said they lost at least 30% of their net worth since September,
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Dispossession and genocide are much larger and serious crimes than "terrorism". 800,000 Palestinians were dispossessed from their homeland in 1948, and are still being dispossessed, more slowly, and insidiously, today. And the genocide is also a slow one. When I wrote this, someone asked me what the definition of genocide was and how was it different from the sporadic fighting that has gone on between the parties for the past 60 years. I don't know exactly, but when was side is dying in disproportionate numbers, doesn't that seem like genocide? I once wondered how many Palestinians have been killed over the past 60 years, and when even the Angry One didn't know, I thought someone should chronicle it, and why not me? I think someday I will.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Do Israel pilots feel happy killing innocent women and children?
"I visit the main hospital in Rafah. There are so many injured people, most of them children. In one ward, I meet four children aged five or six. They are in deep shock. They can't speak, they just look at you.
Only one child could say his name: "Abdel Rahman". That's all he can say. Otherwise, he just stares. He's five. His ear was wounded by shrapnel, his head is covered by bandages."
Can you imagine this headline in a US newspaper? Just to bring home how occupied we are here. ZOG used to be talked about by white supremacist groups, and I used to laugh about it, but it certainly seems true now.
Only one child could say his name: "Abdel Rahman". That's all he can say. Otherwise, he just stares. He's five. His ear was wounded by shrapnel, his head is covered by bandages."
Can you imagine this headline in a US newspaper? Just to bring home how occupied we are here. ZOG used to be talked about by white supremacist groups, and I used to laugh about it, but it certainly seems true now.
35 pilgrims killed by suicide bomber
At least 35 Shia pilgrims have been killed by a female suicide bomber at a shrine in Baghdad, Iraqi officials say.
At least 65 people were injured in the blast, in the Kadhimiya area of the Iraqi capital, where pilgrims were gathering for a religious ceremony.
Most of the casualties were from neighbouring Iran. There are fears the death toll will rise.
Processions of Shia pilgrims across Iraq have been targeted by Sunni insurgents in the past.
--Imagine the outrage, the worldwide outrage, if 35 Palestinian worshippers were killed by Israel.
At least 65 people were injured in the blast, in the Kadhimiya area of the Iraqi capital, where pilgrims were gathering for a religious ceremony.
Most of the casualties were from neighbouring Iran. There are fears the death toll will rise.
Processions of Shia pilgrims across Iraq have been targeted by Sunni insurgents in the past.
--Imagine the outrage, the worldwide outrage, if 35 Palestinian worshippers were killed by Israel.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Suicide bomb kills many in Iraq
Up to 30 people have been killed in a suicide bombing in a town south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, police say.
About 110 people were also injured in the attack at a gathering of Sunni Muslim tribal leaders in Yusufiya, 20km (12 miles) from Baghdad.
Police said the bomber had entered the home of a sheikh as a Sunni council meeting was being held.
The area was once an al-Qaeda stronghold but local Sunnis turned against the group from 2007.
A number of the tribal leaders, or sheikhs, are reported to be among the casualties.
The council meeting was part of an initiative by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, a Shia, to reach out to Sunnis to aid national reconciliation.
About 110 people were also injured in the attack at a gathering of Sunni Muslim tribal leaders in Yusufiya, 20km (12 miles) from Baghdad.
Police said the bomber had entered the home of a sheikh as a Sunni council meeting was being held.
The area was once an al-Qaeda stronghold but local Sunnis turned against the group from 2007.
A number of the tribal leaders, or sheikhs, are reported to be among the casualties.
The council meeting was part of an initiative by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, a Shia, to reach out to Sunnis to aid national reconciliation.
Arabic music recommendations
Souad Massi
Trio Joubran
Mounir Bashir
Simon Shaheen
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Fairuz
Rachid Taha
Khaled
El Funoun
Gilad Atzmon (he plays Arabic music)
These are some of my favorites. Anyone else have any recommendations?
Trio Joubran
Mounir Bashir
Simon Shaheen
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Fairuz
Rachid Taha
Khaled
El Funoun
Gilad Atzmon (he plays Arabic music)
These are some of my favorites. Anyone else have any recommendations?
Religion May Have Evolved Because Of Its Ability To Help People Exercise Self-control
Self-control is critical for success in life, and a new study by University of Miami professor of Psychology Michael McCullough finds that religious people have more self-control than do their less religious counterparts.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
My ex-colleague, who I had been arguing with just sent me this:
This is hard for me to write, but it's true:
You're a bully.
Your tactics are indistinguishable from those of the Zionist ideologues whom you despise. The only difference is the content of your ideology -- the methods are identical.
And I don't want to be bullied. I refuse to be bullied.
And you will NEVER bully me into adopting your position.
The background is he (Jewish) doesn't "want to take sides" in the conflict because "both sides' hands are dirty".
this is what upset him: he asked me why I wanted to argue with him about it and I said:
because I wanted you to take a side, beside I regard those who won't take a side in this issue as either callous or cowardly. And I didn't want to think of you as either. I take that back, one could be brainwashed.
This is hard for me to write, but it's true:
You're a bully.
Your tactics are indistinguishable from those of the Zionist ideologues whom you despise. The only difference is the content of your ideology -- the methods are identical.
And I don't want to be bullied. I refuse to be bullied.
And you will NEVER bully me into adopting your position.
The background is he (Jewish) doesn't "want to take sides" in the conflict because "both sides' hands are dirty".
this is what upset him: he asked me why I wanted to argue with him about it and I said:
because I wanted you to take a side, beside I regard those who won't take a side in this issue as either callous or cowardly. And I didn't want to think of you as either. I take that back, one could be brainwashed.
Iron Maiden found in Uday's playground
A bad day on the field for a player on the national soccer squad could result in savage retribution: Players had their feet scalded and toenails ripped off for failing to win tournaments. Allegations of torture had even resulted in investigations by international sports governing bodies, most notably soccer's FIFA, but these had failed to produce conclusive evidence — hardly surprising, since no player would dare admit to suffering such abuse, for fear of even worse...
Around 7 feet tall, three feet across and deep enough to house a grown man, the sarcophagus-shaped device is essentially a large, metal closet with long spikes on the inside door that closes to impale its victim. Its name derives from its mummy shape and the beatific woman's face depicted on its headpiece. The one found in Baghdad was clearly worn from use, its nails having lost some of their sharpness. It lay on its side within view of Uday's first-floor offices in the soccer association.
Around 7 feet tall, three feet across and deep enough to house a grown man, the sarcophagus-shaped device is essentially a large, metal closet with long spikes on the inside door that closes to impale its victim. Its name derives from its mummy shape and the beatific woman's face depicted on its headpiece. The one found in Baghdad was clearly worn from use, its nails having lost some of their sharpness. It lay on its side within view of Uday's first-floor offices in the soccer association.
The Evil Behind the Smiles
As in many brothels, the torture of choice was electric shocks. Sina would be tied down, doused in water and then prodded with wires running from the 220-volt wall outlet. The jolt causes intense pain, sometimes evacuation of the bladder and bowel — and even unconsciousness.
Zimbabwe doomed to another failed harvest
The land is fertile, the rain is falling, but the agricultural system has been destroyed by Robert Mugabe.
Sderoters(?) sign petition
Some 500 Sderot residents have recently signed a petition calling to stop the IDF operation in the Strip and renew the truce with Hamas.
Arik Yalin, 43, from Sderot told Ynet that over 1,800 Israelis and Palestinians have already joined the petition. "About a month ago we realized that the situation was about to deteriorate into total chaos," he explained.
"It's important for us to voice an opinion that represents quite a few residents who live within the rocket range but who believe that we can, and should try to resolve this ongoing conflict in a peaceful manner.
From Jews Sans Frontieres
Arik Yalin, 43, from Sderot told Ynet that over 1,800 Israelis and Palestinians have already joined the petition. "About a month ago we realized that the situation was about to deteriorate into total chaos," he explained.
"It's important for us to voice an opinion that represents quite a few residents who live within the rocket range but who believe that we can, and should try to resolve this ongoing conflict in a peaceful manner.
From Jews Sans Frontieres
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