Q. Why are we susceptible to the food industry's message?

A. Well, why wouldn't we be? The message is attractive. The food tastes good. The message about healthy eating is very boring.

This is from this, which requires a free registration.

Look at the communities in this state that wage war on their youth. You've got Vergennes, kicking kids out of the park. You've got Woodstock banning skateboarding." The detective grew more heated as he spoke. "What I'm seeing in recent years is the total and complete alienation of youth," he said. "And it is not coming from them; it's coming from the adults who aren't bothering to reach out to them. And it is terrifying. Straight hedonistic drugs and music and misogynism. I walk Church Street in Burlington and I see kids that are walking dead and know it. And that is the biggest change of my lifetime in Vermont."

In this Atlantic article, a new breed of vicious teenager is discussed. Normally I pooh-pooh such things, but this guy has decided that the incidence of violent teen-on-parent crime is caused by the fact that it sucks to be a teenager now...and we all know I think that.

I'm stunned:

Network computer maker Sun Microsystems Inc. (news/quote) (SUNW.O) said this week it planned to offer a new line of lower-cost computer servers based on the upstart Linux operating system rather than its own software.

But I'm sure it's a good thing for Sun. The problem is that Solaris seems to get farther and farther away from being "standard" the more popular Linux gets. GiantMediaCo has gone in heavily for HP machines, which are as far from standard as one can get, and they are replacing them with Compaq Proliants runnin Linux. God knows those machines are easier to compile shit on that HP or Sun, and I know many of the tricks of the trade for Solaris.

Well, anyway, good for them. I wish I'd bought their stock last fall when I thought it might be a good idea.

"WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 — The Central Intelligence Agency has no evidence that Iraq has engaged in terrorist operations against the United States in nearly a decade, and the agency is also convinced that President Saddam Hussein has not provided chemical or biological weapons to Al Qaeda or related terrorist groups, according to several American intelligence officials. "

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Today, the NYTimes reports that "Convict's DNA Sways Labs, Not a Determined Prosecutor".

I'm so glad that it's not my state ignoring DNS evidence this time.

Apparently, what's in for spring is miserable cotton blazers, much like what floor traders wear. Maybe men will adopt awful ties with them, further extending the trend. Uh.

Wow.

"a professional association for film-makers in Iran called Sunday for a boycott of US films in protest at US President George W. Bush's accusations against Tehran" (exerpted from Agence France-Presse)

That'll teach us to include Iran in our "Axis of Evil." They already don't allow many of our movies in, and they are known as a major consumer of bootlegged, outlawed American movies, so I think this is actually a very funny statement.