Brother Nail Gun of Reasoned Discussion

2004 Job Creation Is Best in Five Years

By LEIGH STROPE, AP Labor Writer

WASHINGTON - U.S. employers added 157,000 workers overall to their payrolls in December, bringing the year-end total of new jobs to 2.2 million, the best showing in five years. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.4 percent.

The Labor Department reported Friday that the 2.2 million new jobs created in 2004 were the most in any year since 1999, when employers added 3.2 million positions, based on a government survey of businesses.
( Read more... )

Dollar Surges Against Euro in Reversal

By Kevin Plumberg

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar quickly reversed course to rise against the euro on Friday, shrugging off losses sparked by lower-than-expected U.S. jobs growth, as traders continued to unwind bets against the U.S. currency.

By late morning, the euro slipped to a six-week low at $1.3044, down 0.9 percent compared with prices late Thursday in New York and well off the record high hit last week of $1.3667. Against the yen, the euro fell over 1 percent to a session low of 136.58 yen .

"There's been a meaningful shift in sentiment on the dollar. ... A few months ago it seemed like the dollar could do no right and it traded lower on everything whether the data was positive or negative," said Sophia Drossos, currency strategist at Morgan Stanley.

Drossos said comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow on the dollar helped to accelerate the currency's gains.
( Read more... )

Mr. Gonzales's Testimony

Friday, January 7, 2005; Page A18

ALBERTO R. GONZALES missed an important opportunity yesterday to rectify his position, and that of President Bush, on the imprisonment and interrogation of foreign detainees. At the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on his nomination to be attorney general, Mr. Gonzales repeatedly was offered the chance to repudiate a legal judgment that the president is empowered to order torture in violation of U.S. law and immunize torturers from punishment. He declined to do so. He was invited to reject a 2002 ruling made under his direction that the infliction of pain short of serious physical injury, organ failure or death did not constitute torture. He answered: "I don't have a disagreement with the conclusions then reached." Nor did he condemn torture techniques, such as simulated drowning, that were discussed and approved during meetings in his office. "It is not my job," he said, to decide if they were proper. He was prompted to reflect on whether departing from the Geneva Conventions had been a mistake, in light of the shocking human rights abuses that have since been reported in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Guantanamo Bay prison and that continue even now. Mr. Gonzales demurred. The error, he answered, was not of administration policy but of "a failure of training and oversight."

The message Mr. Gonzales left with senators was unmistakable: As attorney general, he will seek no change in practices that have led to the torture and killing of scores of detainees and to the blackening of U.S. moral authority around the world. Instead, the Bush administration will continue to issue public declarations such as those Mr. Gonzales repeated yesterday -- "that torture and abuse will not be tolerated by this administration" -- while in practice sanctioning procedures that the International Red Cross and many lawyers inside the government consider to be illegal and improper.
( Read more... )

On one wall of my office I have framed film posters (not full size) for The Searchers, Singin' in the Rain, Bullitt, and The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer. I also have film postcards (lobby cards?) for several other movies, like The Son and The Battle of Algiers.

Almost daily it seems someone will come into my office, and the subject of movies will come up, at which time the person will say, "Oh, I didn't know you liked movies." I'll motion to the wall of posters and they'll say, "Oh yeah, I guess you do. I hadn't noticed." Maybe I shouldn't expect such powers of deduction from a group of Ph.Ds and Ph.D candidates.

Vijay Singh is a fucking machine.

"Guy Maddin continues to bowdlerize silent cinema for a sham cognoscenti. Antique pop culture still has more mystery and surprise than Maddin's drab campiness. In all, he distorts pop history" - Armond White

Looks like chaptal has deleted his account. He was one of my first LJ friends, and I'll miss him.

Apparently, Oliver Stone is convinced that the reason Alexander didn't have good box office numbers in the States is because Americans are a bunch of religious homophobes. That, or it sounds good in the British press. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that he makes long, boring, preachy movies, could it? Nah, I didn't think so.

Bush Eyes Plan Using Bulk of Payroll Taxes
By LEIGH STROPE, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush is expected to unveil his plan for a Social Security overhaul in late February, with administration officials eyeing investment accounts that would hold two-thirds of workers' annual payroll taxes.

An administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the size of the private accounts could be similar to those in a proposal by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and the main plan from Bush's 2001 Social Security commission.

The White House cautioned Tuesday that Bush had not decided on a specific plan.

But the administration is leaning toward letting workers divert 4 percentage points of their 6.2 percent in payroll taxes — almost two-thirds — into investment accounts, up to $1,000-$1,300 a year, the official said. The remainder of the workers' payroll taxes would continue going into the system.

Graham's plan calls for annual contributions to be capped at $1,300, while the commission proposed a $1,000 cap.
( Read more... )

Britney quits pop music to become a forensic scientist
January 4, 2005, 12:55:25

Britney Spears is reportedly set to quit pop music - to become a forensic scientist.

The sexy star has allegedly told friends she is considering swapping her singing career for student life and enrolling at university to study for a degree after being motivated by a TV series.

A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "It sounds ridiculous but she's been inspired by TV's 'Crime Scene Investigation', which shows scientists solving crimes.

"Brit has been growing tired of all the media attention and is thinking about taking a break from it all. Insiders have revealed that the 23-year-old star, who launched her music career aged just 16, has even consulted 'Star Wars' beauty Natalie Portman - who graduated from prestigious Harvard University two years ago after studying psychology - about her plans to return to education.

And friends claim the pop babe's second husband, Kevin Federline, who she wed in a surprise ceremony last year, is also backing her decision.

The source added: "She's taking this university idea quite seriously." "She's happy with Kev and he'd support her in anything she wants to do. If she decides she wants to study then he'd be fine with that."

Hannigan 'Game' for ABC Sitcom
Wed Jan 5, 1:28 AM ET

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "American Pie" star Alyson Hannigan is set to join Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ed O'Neill on ABC's upcoming comedy series "In the Game."

Hewitt plays an up-and-coming producer who unwillingly becomes an on-camera reporter on a sports TV show. Hannigan will play the reporter's best friend. O'Neill co-stars as the show's executive producer.

Hannigan co-starred on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and most recently starred as Sally in the London stage version of Rob Reiner's 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally... ."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Current Needs Outweigh Advances in Technology

By Jonathan Weisman and Renae Merle
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 5, 2005; Page A01

Rising war costs and a stubborn budget deficit have forced the Pentagon to propose billions of dollars in cuts to advanced weapons systems, as the military refocuses spending from its vision of a transformed fighting force to the more down-to-earth needs of its ground troops.

An internal defense budget document for fiscal 2006 shows a vivid shift of emphasis from procuring the weapons of the future to fighting the wars of the present, numerous defense analysts said yesterday. The Air Force and the Navy -- once favored by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld -- would have to sacrifice some of their high-tech weapons development for the humble needs of the Army, such as tank treads and armor.

The internal budget document was approved by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz.

"The Air Force and the Navy are paying the bills to fix the Army's shortfall in resources," said Loren B. Thompson, defense industry analyst with the Lexington Institute.
( Read more... )

Monumental blunder sparks call for video decisions
Wed 05 Jan, 12:17 PM

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Three of the English Premiership's leading managers united in a call for the introduction of video technology to help referees after Tottenham were denied victory over Manchester United by an astonishing blunder by officials.

Spurs boss Martin Jol was left almost speechless after watching a speculative stoppage time shot from Pedro Mendes bounce out of United goalkeeper Roy Carroll's arms and cross the line by as much as a yard.
Advertisement

Carroll clawed the ball back into play but even the Northern Ireland international looked shocked when referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on to deny Tottenham what would have been a decisive goal in a match that finished 0-0.

Replays of the incident clearly showed that a goal should have been awarded and Jol reacted by saying the case for using video tape to review such decisions was now unanswerable.

"Before the game we would have taken this result because we had a few key players injured and this was our fourth match in nine days," Jol said after the match.

"But after the game you have to say that technology needs to be introduced because we feel robbed - and rightly so."

Even United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Spurs had been dealt a harsh blow. "It just adds weight to the point about technology being brought in.

"I don't think you can blame the referee or the linesman because I wasn't sure myself that the ball had crossed the line."

Ferguson said he would back a system where video evidence could be consulted provided it allowed for a decision within 30 seconds of an incident taking place.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger weighed into the debate. "When the whole world apart from the referee has seen there should be a goal at Old Trafford, that just reinforces what I feel - there should be video evidence," he said.

"It's a great example of where the referee could have asked to see a replay and would have seen in five seconds that it was a goal."

Jol refused to condemn the officials for their error. "It was hard for both the referee and linesman to see what had happened which makes it even more important for changes to be introduced," the Dutchman said.

"We talk about new technology all the time but nothing seems to happen yet it would be so easy to put something there on the line to help the game.

"But I'm pleased with the way we played. We made it difficult for United to score.

"The ball was definitely over the line. I thought it was from where I was standing and I suppose it has cost us the game.

"Looking at the incident now the ball was 2ft over the line. We are in the year 2005 and shouldn't have to be having these discussions. Where is the technology?

"I'm proud of my team. We got a point but should have had all three."

The result left United 11 points adrift of Premiership leaders Chelsea and Ferguson knows his side face an uphill battle to overhaul their London rivals, not least because Ryan Giggs will miss the next three weeks of the season with a damaged hamstring.

"I sometimes think this is when the season starts in earnest because there is an added pressure as you reach the point of no return," said Ferguson.

"I think we are better under pressure because there is a great sense of urgency in the team as they realise that they will have to grind out results now.

"It is consistency in terms of results that wins league championships and I've told the players this is the most relevant quality now."

GOP Abandons Ethics Changes
Dissent in Party Halts House Move

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 4, 2005; Page A01

House Republican leaders last night abandoned a proposal to loosen rules governing members' ethical conduct, as they yielded to pressure from rank-and-file lawmakers concerned that the party was sending the wrong message.

The proposal would have made it more difficult for lawmakers to discipline a colleague for unethical behavior and would have allowed Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) to keep his post if he is indicted by a Texas grand jury that is looking into his campaign finance practices.

The sudden reversal came amid growing indications of dissension within the GOP. Just before House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's office announced that the measures were being dropped, the chairman of the House ethics committee issued an unusual statement denouncing the leadership's plan.
( Read more... )

DeLay, Republicans Reverse Indictment Rule Change
Mon Jan 3,11:06 PM ET
By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas got fellow Republicans on Monday to reverse a recent rule change that would have allowed him to keep his leadership post even if indicted.

They also moved to make it more difficult for the House ethics committee to investigate a complaint against any member.

Republicans applauded behind closed doors as they approved on a voice vote DeLay's motion to revert to their decade-old rule that requires a leader indicted of a felony to step aside, said spokesman Jonathan Grella.

Three of DeLay's associates were indicted by a Texas grand jury in September in connection with illegal fund raising. The prosecutor has said the investigation is not finished.

"Tom spoke from the heart," said Grella. "He said he wanted to put the focus on the Republican agenda (and such matters as education and health care) -- not him."

"He also expressed his long-standing confidence that he does not expect to be indicted," Grella said.

Democrats accused Republicans of lowering the ethical bar for leadership when House Republicans on Nov. 17 changed their rules to allow DeLay to keep his post if indicted.

Democrats earlier on Monday changed their rules to require any Democratic leader indicted of a felony that carries two or more years in prison to step down, and said Republicans should do the same.

Before Democrats could make an issue of it when the new 109th Congress convenes on Tuesday, DeLay got Republicans to change their rules.

"Once again, Tom DeLay outsmarts Democrats," Grella said.

The action came as House Republicans rejected objections by Democrats and public interest groups and approved another proposed rule change that would allow either party to stop the House ethics committee from investigating a complaint against a member.

The measure will come up for a vote before the full House on Tuesday, and Republican leaders said they expect to have the votes to adopt it.

Under the measure, a complaint before the ethics committee -- composed of five Democrats and five Republicans -- would die after 45 days if no action was taken on it. Currently, if no action is taken within 45 days, the complaint automatically goes to an investigative subcommittee.

While Republican proponents said the proposed change would "restore the presumption of innocence," critics said it would undermine the policing of members.

"We just weakened the ethics rules," said Rep. Christopher Shays, a moderate Connecticut Republican who opposed the proposed change.

"We just said, 'We aren't going to investigate a Democrat unless Democrats agree to it, and we aren't going to investigate a Republican unless Republicans agree to it,"' Shays said.

The ethics committee last year admonished DeLay on three matters: a 2002 fund-raiser that it said gave the appearance of donors getting special access; enlisting the help of a federal agency in a Texas political spat, and offering a political favor to a member in an effort to win passage of a bill.

House Republican leaders on Monday, after some members said publicly they opposed lowering ethics standards, withdraw another proposed change that would have required a violation of a specific rule for any finding of wrongdoing.

'I'm Going to Learn'
First, the blame. Then, the healing. In a new book, NEWSWEEK talks exclusively with John Kerry about why he lost—and looks at his plans for another run

By Evan Thomas

Jan. 10 issue - It was a little after 7 p.m. on election night 2004. The network exit polls showed John Kerry leading George Bush in both Florida and Ohio by three points. Kerry's aides were confident that the Democratic candidate would carry these key swings states; Bush had not broken 48 percent in Kerry's recent tracking polls. The aides were a little hesitant to interrupt Kerry as he was fielding satellite TV interviews in a last get-out-the-vote push. Still, the 7 o'clock exit polls were considered to be reasonably reliable. Time to tell the candidate the good news.

Kerry had slept only two hours the night before. He was sitting in a small hotel room at the Westin Copley (in a small irony of history, next door to the hotel where his grandfather, a boom-and-bust businessman, shot himself some 80 years ago). Bob Shrum, Kerry's friend and close adviser, couldn't resist the moment. "May I be the first to say 'Mr. President'?" said Shrum.

The others cringed. Kerry did not respond, at least in any memorable way. In the dark days after the election, he tried a joke: "Until about 7 p.m. that night, it felt great to be the 44th president of the United States." Ever since election night, John Kerry has been trying hard to learn from his mistakes, to cheer his disappointed followers, to avoid sinking into the inevitable depression—and to plot his own comeback.
( Read more... )

The Filmgoer's Guide to God is an elegant exploration of how film, the dominant art form of the 20th Century, has treated religious themes. Against the turbulent backdrop of a century of total war, of genocide, of utter cynicism, Tim Cawkwell outlines how the new medium of film mirrored and shaped these troubled narratives and offered fresh perspectives on the crisis of faith.

Tim Cawkwell's study takes in a wide range of European and American cinema and focuses in detail on the particular contributions of four film-makers: Bresson, Dreyer, Rossellini and Tarkovsky. Films discussed include 'Diary of a Country Priest'; 'Night of the Hunter'; 'Brighton Rock'; O Brother, Where Art Thou?'; 'Open City'; 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' and 'Babette's Feast', among others, and concludes with a chapter on the films of the gospel, calling for a radical engagement with this 'story of stories'.

Tim Cawkwell is Chapter Clerk of Norwich Cathedral and was a film-maker. He is co-author of 'The World Encyclopedia of Film'.