After surfing the web all day in hopes of finding pictures that illustrates the atmosphere between the 3 camps: anti-Bush, pro-Bush and the Police, I was successful. This NY Newsday slideshow, though not truly reflective of the violence that I've seen on Fox 5 news here in NY, does give you a glimpse of what's going on.

Unfortunately, there are no images of the protestors beating Police Detective Sample unconcious last night. He is currently in critical condition and his assailant, which escaped with the help of other protestors, is still being sought.

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12 Nepalese Hostages Executed
BAGHDAD — Terrorists in Iraq issued a video Tuesday depicting their massacre of 12 Nepalese construction workers. The terrorists said the workers were killed for helping the United States and believing in Buddha. - USA TODAY

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This morning, I quickly discovered that my ability to move about freely and the brief sense of peace I enjoyed in the last 24hrs, were gone. They left me as soon as I had the train station in sight. At the station there was a visible police presence, which to date had not been seen or felt on this side of the river (Queens). As I sat in a near empty train, I checked the paper for the list of protests scheduled for today, I spotted nothing unusual. All the organizers are legitimate, nonviolent groups, so I just made a mental note of where they would be to make sure that I avoided those areas. I thought that was all I needed to do in order to stay safe. As w approached the Frozen Zone, my thinking changed with the ever increasing numbers of police at each station. more...

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The atmosphere at Protest City/Union Square(US) ranges from the political to the bizarre, where protestors are temporarily outnumbering skateboarders, dog walkers, tai chi lovers and kids who use the playground daily. Around 9:00am there were barely 20 protestors milling about facing the main avenue. These die hards were holding up 2 huge banners (approximately 30 ft in length and 5 ft high) which read:

- STOP THE WAR SAY NO TO BUSH
- STOP BUSH (where the S in Bush was a swastika)
more...

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Can someone please explain to me why Michael Moore is sitting in the press area at the RNC?

I'm baffled as to why such a false documentarist is sitting amongst credentialled members of the press.

Posted by: Michele at 10:19 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 He's writing a column on the RNC for USA Today. You can find his first column at http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2004-08-30-moore-gopamerica_x.htm I confess I haven't read it; I prefer my blood pressure to be at a reasonable level :~)

Posted by: Victor at August 31, 2004 09:04 AM (L3qPK)

2 Actually, I suspect it was because it made it easier for McCain to humiliate him last night... At least, I can dream that was it.

Posted by: Laughing Wolf at August 31, 2004 09:55 AM (k3fvZ)

3 I'm just surprised he was able to squeeze through the doorway. I'm guessing they had to grease him up pretty good first.

Posted by: Harvey at August 31, 2004 11:55 AM (tJfh1)

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Friday was a day of conflicting emotions. Anger at the individuals that were arrested for threatening the peace and security of New Yorkers. Worry over the safety of my mom who lives right just a few blocks away from Union Square, the epicenter of protests, and where over 200 arrests occurred that night. Frustration over how a certain number of lawless individuals can create such chaos and cause injury (several police officers were cut by a knife wielding individual as they moved in to arrest protestors).

Finally, I’m truly saddened for what this violence means for our democratic process, for it is this process that is truly being hurt by everything that’s going on. I’ve tried engaging several of these protestors in a discussion over the last week, both out of curiosity and out of genuine interest in there positions. Each one of these opportunities has resulted in me being exposed to shrill and strident opinions, and some pretty foul language, that began with “I hate Bush,” and finished without a coherent discussion or a substantial reason for their point of views. From what I gathered, they are against the war, more out of a self-centered need for peace, that on any geopolitical point of view they may have on the war on terror. Debates and stumping seem to be dead in America. Instead, it has been replaced with an anger that has finally boiled over to hostility and violence in New York City.
more...

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Newschannel 4 has learned that authorities broke up a bomb plot aimed at New York City subways, with the arrest of two men. The men, of middle eastern descent had planned to detonate a bomb in the 34th St/Herald Square train station, which is located 1 block away from Madison Square Garden.

more...

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I could begin this post by focusing on the number of marches/rallies that went on in this city yesterday (12) and the subsequent arrests (over 200) but I won't.

Instead I'm going to focus on the frustration us law abiding New Yorkers feel over those that disrupt our lives in the name of free speech. Right now I'm very tired as it took me over 3 hours just to get home, when it normally takes 45 min. What delayed me? Ajoint rally held by two groups called Critical Mass/Times Up, held a rally which turned into an impromptu ride by over 5,000 bicyclists when the permit was originally called for their membership of 2,000.
more...

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I get quite a few emails from readers who don't post comments because they don't feel comfortable being that open with their views. well this week I recieved 2 emails that particularly stand out for very different reasons.

Read on.... more...

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There are 1 million stories in this Naked City. I intend to tell only a few from the perspective of a native, who's city is currently under political siege. Starting today, I will give you a glimpse of what itÂ’s like living/working here during the Republican National Convention.

First, yesterdayÂ’s highlights: The nudes more...

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And the US wins the game! The US womenÂ’s soccer team in double overtime, manages to narrowly defeat Brazil 2-1, to attain the gold medal in Women's soccer. Congrats to O'Reilly for her Olympic performance and goal. To Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy and Kristine Lilly, I say thanks for the incredible memories these past 13 years. I was elated to the point of intoxication, knowing that you were going out in a blaze of glory! more...

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It seems that Kerry is all the there is to talk about these days. I'm rather suprised at the simplistic and sweeping generalizations I've been reading from both sides. While a rare few bloggers (Anticipatory Retaliation) examines the possible viability of a Kerry Presidency, many, many more have posted about Kerry's intellectual and experiential assets, or lack thererof, as a candidate. To some he's an insightful and intelligent choice. To others, like Mark Steyn he is downright stupid. (via BarcePundit).

I'm not of the thinking that Kerry is either. With credentials like his (several degrees, including one from Harvard Law School), he could be called slimy, a liar or even an opportunist, but never inept or stupid. Let me explain why. more...

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Perhaps a better way to pose this question is: Does humor have to be culturally relevant to be funny?

When I lived in HK and the Philippines, one thing that struck me was that when I made an innocent joke I often laughed alone. Similarly, when they laughed, it was usually a self-conscious laugh over something silly they had done. I never really found those situations funny, but I smiled nonetheless.

That never stopped me from using my humorous wit for my personal amusement whenever I could. Actually I still do this. So, wishing to conduct yet another social experiment, I submit for your consideration 2 excerpts from email items I received this morning. Please let me know if you find either of them funny.
more...

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In the extended entry you'll find interesting facts and Convention logistics that I've compiled. These will be updated as more information is culled/copied from various sources.

The economic and gastronomic facts will probably come after the convention is over, and I'll post these then.

So as New Yorkers leave, the Republicans and Media move in. more...

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Well, the mass exodus by NYC residents has begun. Last night and this morning I saw lots of people with carry-on luggage being wheeled about, before the influx of visitors begins. Today the subway trains were so empty I could have sprawled out in any number of them. I'll be coming into Manhattan every day to work and will be posting throughout the day on any interesting developments as they happen.

There are already police officers on every corner in full riot gear. But so far the only thing they've been busy with is handing out lots of tickets and making a few arrests of protestors who insist on breaking the law. They must be confusing this administration with the pre-Giuliani administrations of David Dinkins and Ed Koch.

On a different note, the anarchists organizing group held a press conference last night. I thought this was very ironic considering they are against any form of establishment in general, and against the media and government in particular.

Just as with United for Peace and Justice Committe, these anarchists have vowed to march where they please. Their stated position is that this city is theirs and no gov't or court can impose a ruling on where they can march.

Au contraire, mon frere! You are about to find out why they call the NY Police Department NY's Finest. You'll see whose city this is soon enough! Our police and security forces are not going to allow terrorists, foreign or domestic, to hold us hostage and take over our beloved city!

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Dear Mike
Last night, I had yet another one of my rough sleepless nights. The kind of night where surfing helped me remain grounded in the present and not let me descend into the quick sand of emotional turmoil. I read until exhaustion set in and I surrendered to the comfort of my bed. While there, I stared at the glow in the dark stars I glued to the ceiling. ItÂ’s one of the things that I miss of living overseas, looking up to see a blanket of stars light up the night sky. I remember as a little girl spending hours looking out the window identifying constellations and seeing what other figures I could make out in that brightly lit sky. more...

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The news from Sudan today was very disturbing and brought back for me many, many memories. ABC-TV in NY reported in it's evening news that they expect over 100,000 men, women and children to die before year's end if enough aid and protection is not given to the 1.2 million refugees already in Darfur. The situation has been critical for a number of months.

more...

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I was doing a bit of catch-up with my favorite European bloggers last night. Two which I read faithfully are: Barcepundit and NO PASARAN!.

This week, both have powerful stuff up on their site... more...

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While doing my daily catch-up with fellow bloggers last night, I saw that Bravo Romeo Delta’s blog – Anticipatory Retaliation – had an incredible post sparked by Alexander Tytler’s essay entitled “Terrorism and Elections”.

This is the same portion of Tytler's essay that _Jon of We Swear wrote his post on Tytler's pronouncement of "The Death of Democracy." Inspired by both _Jon and Tytler I wrote "The Great Democratic Experiment" in which I pronounce Democracy alive and well, thank you very much. Until yesterday when I went to lunch and was caught in the middle of protestors struggling with Police, who had managed to bring them down off the side of a sky scraper after they defaced private property. Thus, I wondered as I stood there watching their struggle, could this scene be a metaphor for democracy in the event of a terrorist attack?

This was a question Bravo Delta Romeo felt up to the task in answering through his post. There he examines the very life blood of Democracy -Elections- in the event of a terrorist attack, and elaborates as to “Al Qaeda’s objectives and ... what might be affecting their current operational mindset”. However, before reading this insightful essay, you must sit down with a nice beverage, as his post is chock full of intriguing and thought provoking assumptions that will get your spinning wheels turning at greater velocities. more...

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1 Interesting point that Al Qaeda would be willing to impoverish the entire world if it would give them the chance to rule the crumbling, starving remnants. "It's better to rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven" Who's the Great Satan now?

Posted by: Harvey at August 20, 2004 10:18 AM (tJfh1)

2 If we continue to play by our rules your concerns might have validity. But the more the terrorists are successful the less we will adhere to our civil mandates. Eventually those pleading civilized restraint will be silenced(ignored) and the war will be fought as a war. This would include special ops. In about 50 years we might decry our conduct, but we will do so from a point of stablity and freedom.

Posted by: Mike H. at August 20, 2004 11:08 PM (ib/bd)

3 YOu know, Michele, I do all my weekly visits on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. I realized I hadn't changed your address Done-neighbor P.S. Thanks for the prayers for my dad.

Posted by: Rae at August 21, 2004 05:16 PM (0p0a3)

4 boy are you guys deep! you all write mad long essays, in a way they paint a scary picture. I hope Mike is wrong and it doesn't come to that. my hope is for no acts of terror.

Posted by: melissa at August 21, 2004 06:19 PM (beN4P)

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Thanks to the dear Elder from Fraters Libertas
for helping to uncover the truth and helping to spread the news around the blogosphere.

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