Parker's review of N.A.M. Rodger's "The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain, 660-1649". From the New York Times Book Review.

Emma Daly in Madrid. The famous Iberian fighting bull is threatened by mad cow disease, although no case has ever been found among these privileged animals, which spend their first four years running wild and feeding on grass, hay and vegetable proteins. UK.…

The University of Chicago Cultural Policy Center has assembled scholars of policy, education, law, and the arts along with experts from the nonprofit and corporate sectors to discuss the social impact of video games and ways of encouraging innovation and development in positive s…

Court findings that Microsoft unlawfully protected its monopoly for personal-computer software can be used in a suit by California computer owners seeking billions of dollars in damages. Bloomberg News report printed in the Seattle Times.…

The US demands that Osama Bin Laden be handed over to "responsible authorities", rejecting an apparent Taleban compromise move.

The BBC's Islamic affairs analyst, Roger Hardy, examines the significance of the clerics' decision to ask the Saudi-born radical to leave the country.

A senior US diplomat says Russia may not oppose a strike against Afghanistan from Central Asia, as he continues to argue for missile defence.

Offers the latest news, indepth reports and analysis, audio and video files, external links.

April 2003 report on the challenges of maintaining law and order in postwar Iraq.

Musings on a need for a dictatorship, white power, the environment, the supernatural and afterlife, and the American electoral system.

Article on British proposals to resolve the conflict with Spain over Gibraltar.

How to determine what is in the public domain in the US after the Copyright Term Extension Act. Discusses trademark and right of publicity issues that may burden otherwise "rights-free" materials.…

"San Francisco-based attorneys for [JK Harris] have convinced a federal judge to temporarily stop [taxes.com] from manipulating search engine results to confuse consumers." By Shannon Lafferty. [The Recorder]…

Judicial activism gave us a stealth Equal Rights Amendment

Personal information, likes, dislikes, games, and links.

Hearne, Texas USA. A Masonic Lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Meets on the 2nd Thursday; September through June. Lodge information, calendar and links.

The text, how to apply it, and consumer information about it.

Violent sex offenders in Scotland face lifelong supervision by the police and social services in an overhaul of the country's criminal justice system unveiled today.

Progressively-focused group provides reviews of media, suggestions for grassroots outreach, calendar of local actions and meetings, links to related groups, and message board.