[cia] they never give up, do they

John Ullyot, a spokesman for Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner, said Monday that draft legislation was headed to Capitol Hill with "new language," for its proposal that would allow the CIA to continue alternative interrogation techniques on suspected terrorists. No details of the changes were announced. The news comes after powerful Republican senators defied President Bush last week and voted against White House backed legislation aimed at detainees held at the U.S. facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Three army men blocked it last week. Someone really, really wants this power to torture prisoners in place so the next stage can begin within the U.S.

[pope] stand by your words or don't say them

The Pope’s remarks on Islam which have caused protests and a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda to vow to kill the pontiff have caused the Vatican to backpeddle. Look, his remarks may or may not have been wise but he made them and he had to have known their consequences - anything offends a Muslim these days. If he believed what he was saying, then he must now stand by his remarks. If he didn't believe what he was saying, then he should never have said it in the first place. But appeasement under pressure is no option whatsoever.

[fish again] first defence against terrorism

San Francisco, New York, Washington and other big cities are using bluegills – also known as sunfish or bream – as a sort of canary in a coal mine to safeguard their drinking water. Small numbers of the fish are kept in tanks constantly replenished with water from the municipal supply, and sensors in each tank work around the clock to register changes in the breathing, heartbeat and swimming patterns of the bluegills that occur in the presence of toxins. More here.

[dale list again] which category would you put this person in

Iain Dale’s criteria for categorization, which revealed that to neatly place people in boxes is a fraught task caused me to present here, in point form, some views under four headings: 1] fiercely for; 2] fiercely against; 3] ambivalent towards and 4] things I love. Agree or disagree?

[sudan] too remote to concern us

The African peace force is leaving and the slaughter is about to begin again. Aid goes into the government’s pockets, 2 million people are already homeless and most will soon be dead, according to residents. A proposed United Nations force has been blocked by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who says it’s part of an effort by Western nations to "re-colonize" Sudan. Ho hum.

[singapore girl] distracting way to fly

The Singapore Girl is the epitome of beauty, elegance, and premier service. There are five rounds to the testing of each girl, once she manages to make the initial cut: 1) Self-introduction to a panel of cabin crew executives, in groups of 10 candidates each. 2) A one-on-one interview lasting about 10 minutes. 3) A written English test. 4) A 3-minute talk on any topic to a panel, in groups of 10 candidates each. 5) A swim test. Now it’s this last one which worries me a little.