WTF?

UNITED NATIONS – The United States has refused to join 85 other heads of state and government in signing a statement that endorsed a 10-year-old U.N. plan to ensure every woman’s right to education, health care, and choice about having children. President Bush (news – web sites)’s administration withheld its signature because the statement included a reference to “sexual rights.” U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kelly Ryan wrote to organizers of the statement that that the United States was…

Eight female Muslim students were the victims of a hate crime Thursday night when three males threw water on them and screamed derogatory statements, police said. The UC Berkeley students were stargazing from the Vista Parking Lot at the Lawrence Hall of Science when they were confronted by three white males in a black car about 10:30 p.m., said UC police Capt. Patrick Carroll. The males sprayed the victims with water and threw water bottles at them before driving off,…

From Boing Boing: WASHINGTON (AP) — A London-to-Washington flight was diverted to Maine on Tuesday when it was discovered passenger Yusuf Islam – formerly known as singer Cat Stevens – was on a government watch list and barred from entering the country, federal officials said. United Airlines Flight 919 was en route to Dulles International Airport when the match was made between a passenger and a name on the watch list, said Nico Melendez, a spokesman for the Transportation Security…

Ed: I was in the band from August 1995 to June 1997 and from August 1998 to June 2000. As far as everyone I knew was concerned, Dr. Carl Hammer was something of a no-nonsense teacher, but overall was a good trombone player and cared deeply about the marching band. I’m really shocked. Surf Santa Monica ; August 18 2004 By Olin Ericksen Staff Writer August 17 — For the second time in two months, a Santa Monica High School…

Jenna Bush Sticks Tongue Out at News Photographers The Associated Press Tuesday, July 20, 2004; 10:28 PM When first lady Laura Bush counseled her twin daughters on how to behave while campaigning with their father, she may have skipped the part about not sticking your tongue out at the media. That’s what Jenna Bush did Tuesday after President Bush arrived at St. Louis’ Lambert International Airport. Jenna and sister Barbara, traveling together for the first time with their father, had…

For all of you who were searching for Bobby Fischer, call off your search party: While incognito, Fischer intermittently gave interviews with a radio station in the Philippines, often digressing into anti-Jewish rants and accusing American officials of hounding him. In the radio interviews, he praised the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, saying America should be “wiped out,” and described Jews as “thieving, lying bastards.” His mother was Jewish. He also announced that he had abandoned chess in 1996 and…

Right Hook, Salon.com May 19, 2004 The sentiments speak for themselves, but what is perhaps most disturbing is their reach. “Savage Nation’s” syndicated radio host Michael Savage, already infamous for telling a gay caller to “get AIDS and die” (MSNBC fired him for that), boasts 6 million American listeners per week, according to the nonprofit watchdog group Media Matters.org. On May 11, while repeatedly calling Abu Ghraib “Grab-an-Arab” prison, he launched into this little tirade: “I think there should be…

Dan Gillmor points to the latest addition from the WTF Dept.: ACLU: WASHINGTON Ð A member of the military, a retired Presbyterian minister and a college student are among seven U.S. citizens who have joined the first nationwide, class-action challenge to the government’s ÒNo-FlyÓ list filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union.

[Via Dan Gillmor] No joke. You are bidding on an auction who’s sole purpose is to offer nothing. Bidders will recieve absolutely nothing upon winning this auction, save the usual emails alerting them that they have won and instructions for payment. Despite this auction being for nothing, winning bidders are still expected to pay. Buyers who do not submit payment in a timely fashion will get negative feedback. It is requested that winning bidders submit payment along with an email…

“In San Francisco, it is license for marriage of same sex. Maybe the next thing is another city that hands out licenses for assault weapons and someone else hands out licenses for selling drugs, I mean you can’t do that,” [Gov.] Schwarzenegger said Sunday on NBC. As quoted in the LA Times today.