Reknamorken wrote:
] Domain disputes are a dime a dozen, but legal experts say
] Visa's recent win over a one-man website is the first time a
] corporate trademark has prevailed over a word in the
] dictionary.
]
] [ Remember kids, Corporations have more rights than people.
] --Rek ]

I'd clarify that you get as much justice as you can afford, no matter who you are. (A small corporation would loose to a rich individual.)

This is a particularily bad judgement. I don't think it will be upheld on appeal. This is a straight forward instance of a judge not upholding the law. I'd love to read the decision. I can't imagine what sort of word smithery lead to the idea that Visa "owns" the word visa regardless of the context. Really a precident there. :-/

RE: Visa Suit: Dictionary Discredited

] "Republicans consolidated their hold on the U.S.
] government on Wednesday after a historic sweep of both
] chambers of Congress gave President Bush (news - web
] sites) new power to enact his agenda."

I found this fairly surprising. I would have preferred the dems holding a card.

Republicans Seize Control of Congress

"Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters circled the White House on Saturday after Jesse Jackson and other speakers denounced the Bush administration's Iraq policies and demanded a revolt at the ballot box to promote peace."

Large anti-war protests this weekend.

Marchers in Washington, elsewhere protest plans for war against Iraq

Abe Lincoln:

"Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose - - and you allow him to make war at pleasure. Study to see if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect, after you have given him so much as you propose. If, to-day, he should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada, to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say to him, 'I see no probability of the British invading us' but he will say to you 'be silent; I see it, if you don't.'

The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress, was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons. Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us. But your view destroys the whole matter, and places our President where kings have always stood."

What I'm linking here is Barlow's thoughts on the matter. You are reading Tom Cross quoting John Barlow quoting Sen. Robert Byrd quoting Abe Lincoln. How is THAT for a memestream? The thing you want to do now is click on the word 'recommend.'

BarlowFriendz 8.8: Pox Americana

"The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says the probability of Iraq initiating an attack on the United States without provocation in the foreseeable future was "very low." But the CIA said that if attacked, the likelihood Iraq would respond with biological or chemical weapons was "pretty high."

Iraq: CIA Says Unprovoked Strike By Baghdad Unlikely

The White House scorned an Iraqi leader's suggestion that President Bush and Saddam Hussein could resolve their differences in a duel, calling it an "irresponsible statement" that did not justify a "serious response."

Now wait a minute.... hear me out on this one... they might be on to something here...

"A president against a president and vice president against a vice president, and a duel takes place, if they are serious," the Iraqi vice president said. "And in this way we are saving the American and Iraqi people."

You know... it's just so crazy it might work! ;-)

CNN.com - W.H. rejects Bush-Saddam duel offer - Oct. 3, 2002

The new resolution, which was introduced in both the House and the Senate, enjoys the support of at least two-thirds of both houses, say Congressional aides, and includes only a few modifications to a sweeping draft submitted by Bush almost two weeks ago.
"

This story is being under-reported.

POLITICS-U.S.: Democrats' OK on Resolution Marks Big Step to War

Although I have serious problems with the "Statement of Conscience" issued here I would show up for one of these if there was one in my town. I hope these go off well and I hope the black bloc kiddies leave their weapons at home.

Not in Our Name Bay Area

Barlow mentions an Al-Q website in his rant. Most of the related sites are gone, but this one in Pakistan is still running.

Al-Muhajiroun Pakistan Branch

"I'm not a pacifist. I have fought in a war before and I will fight in a war again, if the security of the United States is put at risk. But as of yet, no case has been made, based upon substantive fact, that shows that Iraq represents a threat to the United States or to the international community worthy of war."

I think this story is interesting both because of the credibility of the demonstrators interviewed (such as a former UN weapons inspector) and also because of the impotence the English feel about the demonstration.

I wish the lefties in the US had held an anti-war rally HERE this weekend instead of staging more anti-IMF violence.

I'm also somewhat miffed about the fact that CNN doesn't have their story on this front and center. Americans NEED to be thinking about what Europe is saying. Thanks Ted. The power of Google's democratic editorial system is evident here. They've got the story up front and center thanks to the bloggers who are out there voting with their links on the coverage. Blogging matters.

150,000 protest war with Iraq