BPR Mailing List Digest: 07/24/00

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
July 24, 2000

Digest Home | 2000 | July, 2000

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Cheerios Maker Apologizes for Free Bible Software
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 08:32:46 -0400

Saturday July 22 3:38 PM ET
Cheerios Maker Apologizes for Free Bible
Software

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Mills Inc. has apologized for including a free
software version of the Bible in more than 12 million boxes of Cheerios,
Chex and other brands of breakfast cereal, the Detroit Free Press reported
Saturday.

The $10 million promotion, which included offering a Protestant version of
the Bible on a CD-ROM containing games and dictionaries, was scheduled
to kick off on Monday and run through August, the newspaper said.

``While inclusion of the Bible may be seen as added value by some, it is the
company's policy not to advance any particular set of religious beliefs.
Inclusion of this material does not conform to our policy, and we apologize
for this lapse,'' the company said in a statement.

The newspaper did not say whether the Minneapolis-based General Mills
intended to recall any of the boxes containing the CD-ROMs, some of which
were presumably en route to stores.

Company officials were not immediately available for comment.

The Detroit Free Press quoted the company as saying the Bible was
included
on the CD-ROM ``without our knowledge or consent.'' But it also published
e-mails that appeared to show the cereal-maker knew it was included.

``The fact that there are Bibles and other reference materials on the
CD-ROMs should be a great bonus to consumers,'' General Mills
spokeswoman Liv Lane wrote in an e-mail on Monday. ``But the media
could easily spin it another way.''

The cereal boxes make no mention the Bible is available on the CD-ROM.
Only after computer users select ``Home Reference'' from a variety of menu
choices would they discover it.

The founder of the software maker that helped create the CD-ROM also told
the newspaper that General Mills knew the Bible was included.

Wisconsin's Rhinosoft Interactive founder Gregory Swann said free software
of ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire'' in boxes of General Mills cereals on
store shelves now was also to have contained the Bible. But Disney
Interactive, which licensed the software version of the popular game show,
demanded it be deleted, the newspaper reported.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000722/ts/food_generalmills_dc_3.html

Link via:
http://www.newsviewtoday.com

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - American rabbis want a 'shared' Jerusalem
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 08:43:22 -0400

Monday, July 24, 2000

American rabbis want a 'shared' Jerusalem

By Nitzan Horowitz
Ha'aretz Correspondent

CAMP DAVID - As peace talks here remain deadlocked over the issue of
Jerusalem, the Jewish Peace Lobby has reiterated its call for the Holy City
to be shared.

In January, the Jewish-American organization collected the signatures of 300
leading American rabbis from various streams of Judaism on a petition
entitled "A Rabbinic Call for a Shared Jerusalem."

The organization talked with 1,200 rabbis to convince them to sign the
declaration, though no Orthodox rabbis were contacted due to time
constraints.

The president of the organization, Dr. Jerome Segal, a research scholar at
the Center of International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland
and the Peace Lobby's founder, told Ha'aretz yesterday that in light of the
growing chasm between the negotiating teams at Camp David over the Old
City, support has been increasing for an idea originally raised by King
Hussein, that the holy places be placed "under God's sovereignty." This,
says Segal, would solve the problem of the city being placed under one
state's sovereignty alone, and no side would be forced to give up its claims
to the holy sites.

Segal found that a great deal of Palestinians, and especially Hamas
supporters, supported the idea of "God's sovereignty" during research he
conducted for his recently published book "Negotiating Jerusalem." He also
believes the idea could win the backing of Israelis since, in reality, Israel has
not interferred in the autonomous operations of the Waqf (Islamic religious
trust) at the Temple Mount since taking control of the Old City in 1967.
Religious administration of the holy sites could become a solution to the
dispute.

The declaration signed by the rabbis, concluded with, "All three faiths view
Abraham as their seminal patriarch and prophet, and it is through achieving
'the Peace of Jerusalem' that humankind may aspire to lasting reconciliation
among these Abrahamic religions."

The statement asked the public whether it believed that Jerusalem had to be
under the sole sovereignty of any one faith and "whether the pursuit of both
justice and lasting peace requires that, in some form, Jerusalem be shared
with the Palestinian people. We believe that it does. We call for a shared
Jerusalem."

The document itself did not suggest how Jerusalem itself may be divided with
the Palestinians, but it does recognize that Israel cannot maintain sole
sovereignty over the city. The declaration is part of the Jewish Peace Lobby's
"Jerusalem project" with the signatories warning that failure to reach an
agreement over Jerusalem will prolong the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, making
it more bitter and bloody.

http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?mador=14&datee=07/24/00&
id=86 253

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - The car that steers away from trouble
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 08:50:51 -0400

The car that steers away from trouble

BY MICHAEL HANLON
SCIENCE EDITOR

THINKING cars that detect a possible accident a split second before it
happens, then take over from the driver and steer to safety are being
developed.

Computers, cameras, radar and satellite navigation will step in for the human
brain and "take command" in a dangerous situation, The on-board electronic
brain - being developed by engineers at Daimler Benz - will make a car stop,
slow down or even accelerate out of danger.

This artificial intelligence will be the ultimate in safety technology and will be
able to react much faster than a driver's brain, according to the German-US
car giant.

"Drivers need some time to react, however good they are, and electronics
need far less time," said Patricia Schmiechen at the company's
headquarters in Stuttgart.

"In about a third of accidents there is sufficient time to initiate protection
measures. These accidents happen because the human driver is not fast
enough in a critical situation - involving a fraction of a second. Electronics, on
the other hand, do not require such reaction times." The car of the future
with "pre-crash recognition" will be bristling with electronic gizmos to help it
steer clear of trouble.

A camera and radar determine the speed at which the vehicle is approaching
an obstacle. In extreme situations the airbag and brakes can be activated
immediately.

But the most futuristic part of the system being developed in the Stuttgart
labs is an artificially-intelligent object recognition system.

Cameras on the front, sides and rear of the car are in constant video
surveillance of the surroundings, and the pictures are fed into the on-board
brain.

The computer, equipped with visual recognition software, can register
stationary and moving objects like other cars and, crucially, tell when they
are getting too close or about to hit.

To avoid an accident, control of the car can be taken over completely by the
computer, steering it to safety or activating the brakes in a hundredth of a
second. Modifications to existing satellite navigation systems will warn a
driver that he or she is about to enter an accident blackspot. Data will be
supplied by a CD-rom or over the in-car radiophone Internet connection.

Top-of-the-range S-Class Mercedes Benz cars are already equipped with
rudimentary accident-avoidance electronics, including a device which
maintains a constant distance between the car and the vehicle in front.

The new pre-crash recognition system is still "in the early stages of
development" and would not appear on production vehicles for some years,
Ms Schmiechen revealed. But it should appear in motor show "concept
vehicles" in the coming year or so.

There is usually a five to 10-year gap between features like airbags,
anti-lock brakes and satellite navigation being displayed at motor shows and
actually appearing on mass-market vehicles.Pre-crash recognition will only
be offered on luxury cars at first, but the technology would filter down to
basic models once it became cheaper, the company added.

http://www.lineone.net/express/00/07/24/news/n2100car-d.html

via: isml@egroups.com

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - U.N. To Announce Major Renovations
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 08:53:12 -0400

01:48 PM ET 07/22/00

U.N. To Announce Major Renovations

By NICOLE WINFIELD=
Associated Press Writer=
           UNITED NATIONS (AP) _ In the aftermath of World War II, a team
of 11 architects from around the world came together to build a
``Workshop for Peace'' _ a home for the newly created United
Nations.
           A half-century later, their architectural gem that has helped
define the New York City skyline is in disrepair. Asbestos tiles
violate building codes. Electrical wiring is antiquated.
Inefficient windows drive up heating bills. Sprinklers to guard
against fire don't exist.
           This week, the United Nations plans to announce ambitious
proposals to overhaul its global headquarters on Manhattan's East
River _ although funding for a project that could reach $1 billion
at the cash-strapped organization has yet to be secured, diplomats
say.
           The United States, which hosts the United Nations and its
missions in New York, is expected to be asked to pay a significant
chunk of the bill.
           U.N. ambassadors were briefed last week on the ``Capital Master
Plan,'' which proposes various deadlines and price-tags for an
overhaul of the complex's main Secretariat office tower, curved
General Assembly hall, Dag Hammarskjold Library and other smaller
buildings on the U.N. site.
           U.N. administrators are believed to favor a six-year renovation
estimated at about $964 million, said the diplomats, who were
briefed on the plans.
           Other proposals include building new office space or even adding
extra floors onto the existing library or main office tower _
although the latter is not being recommended, the diplomats said.
           Undersecretary-General for Management Joseph Connor, who has
spearheaded the U.N. renovation project, estimates that the
organization would have to spend $1.6 billion including energy
costs over 25 years if the United Nations continues with its
current, inefficient ways and slowly replaces equipment as it wears
out, the diplomats said.
           Washington, which is already $1.6 billion in debt to the United
Nations, is a tough sell on new U.N. costs. The deputy U.S.
ambassador in charge of U.N. management issues, Donald Hays, said
Friday that approval of the renovation plans was not imminent.
           ``There is no doubt that many factors indicate that it's time to
be overhauled,'' Hays said in an interview. But he stressed that
Congress, the incoming administration and the General Accounting
Office would need more time and study before the United States
could commit to any plan.
           Americans were fundamental to financing and building the United
Nations. The Rockefeller family provided the site and Wallace K.
Harrison headed the team of architects in constructing its imposing
glass-encased tower and graceful curved side assembly hall.
           But the complex, which features Leger murals and a Norman
Rockwell mosaic, hasn't had a top-to-bottom renovation since
Harrison and then-Secretary-General Trygve Lie laid the U.N.
cornerstone on Oct. 24, 1949 _ and it shows.
           Connor, who is expected to make the proposals public Tuesday,
has asked the U.N. membership to endorse the six-year renovation
plan in principle and authorize an initial $8 million for a more
detailed schematic design, the diplomats said. Connor was out of
the office and unavailable for comment Friday.
           By comparison, the Pentagon building in Washington, which was
completed in 1943, announced plans last year for a $1.2 billion
renovation.
           Hays, the deputy American ambassador, said possible payment
options for the U.N. renovation included interest-free loans,
increasing the budget allotment over time for U.N. member states or
securing a bond from private firms.
           ``The United States will want to do the right thing,'' he said,
noting that the renovation was part of the U.S. campaign to
streamline and reform the United Nations' bureaucracy. ``It's part
of the reform process.''

http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2568331872-9c2

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - ACLU Targets 'Choose Life' Plates
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 08:58:24 -0400

ACLU Targets 'Choose Life' Plates

By BRETT MARTEL, Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - With more than 100 specialty license plates in the
state, new designs brought before the Louisiana Legislature don't grab
much attention.

As a result, civil rights attorneys and women's reproductive rights
advocates only recently learned about new anti-abortion ``Choose Life''
license plates that won approval from state lawmakers and are headed for
the streets.

``We missed this one because we saw the title and said: 'Oh, more stupid
license plate legislation,''' says Joe Cook, director of the Louisiana
chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU is now considering legal action to remove lawmakers' authority to
approve specialty license plates altogether.

``If they're going to allow this kind of political message on a
state-sanctioned license plate, then they're going to have to allow for
KKK and Gay Pride plates and all kinds of messages people may want,'' Cook
said. ``This license plate entangles the state with religion.''

The sponsor of the 1999 bill creating the new plate, state Rep. Shirley
Bowler, said opponents should have noticed ``Choose Life'' in the bill's
title.

She does not disagree with Cook that any group should be allowed to have a
specialty plate - if they can get the votes.

``There are a lot of prestige plates that I don't think anybody would
suggest Louisiana is 100 percent behind,'' Bowler said. ``They're there to
permit people who have common bond to exercise it.

``The black bear plate is fine, but that's an environmentalists versus
landowners issue and you can't tell me that's not political. If we can
save black bears we can save babies.''

No other state has an abortion issue license plate on the road, although
several have had proposals.

In Florida, Choose Life plates were approved, but a pending lawsuit is
blocking motorists from obtaining them. Opponents claim the plates are a
state-sanctioned political statement against abortion; supporters say they
are only meant to promote adoption.

At least 150 people in Louisiana have already ordered the Choose Life
plates, which depict a baby wrapped in a blanket carried by a pelican, the
state bird. A minimum of 100 orders are required to start a run.

The plates costs $25 in addition to registration fees, and the money
generally goes to support the organizations depicted. The Choose Life fees
go to organizations that provide counseling for expectant mothers.

Bowler sponsored the Choose Life plate bill at the request of the American
Family Association, a conservative Christian group based in Tupelo, Miss.

If the ACLU attempts to block the plate, American Family has a team of
constitutional lawyers prepared to intervene, said spokesman Allen
Wildmon.

``We'll see 'em in court,'' he said.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000723/us/choose_life_plates_3.html

via: Third_Watch@egroups.com

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Torah readings
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 17:26:39 -0400

One year cycle of Torah Readings:

Jul 15, 2000 Balak - Num 22:2-25:9/Micah 5:6-6:8
Jul 22, 2000 Pinchas - Num 25:10-30:1/1 Kings 18:46-19:21
Jul 29, 2000 Mattot - Num 30:2-32:42/Jer 1:1-2:3
Masei - Num 33:1-36:13/Jer 2:4-28
Aug 5, 2000 Devarim - Deut 1:1-3:22/Isa 1:1-27
Aug 12, 2000 Va-Ethannan - Deut 3:23-7:11/Isa 40:1-26
Aug 19, 2000 Ekev - Deut 7:12-11:25/Isa 49:14-51:3
Aug 26, 2000 Re'eh - Deut 11:26-16:17/Isa 54:11-55:5
Sep 2, 2000 Shofe'tim - Deut 16:18-21:9/Isa 51:12-52:12
Sep 9, 2000 Ki Tetze - Deut 21:10-25:19/Isa 54:1-10

For more on the significance of the Torah Readings please see:
Chronology of the Book of Revelation?
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/Misc_Studies/ms036.htm

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Carnivore on C-SPAN
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 19:47:59 -0400

C-SPAN PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
(All Times are Eastern)

TONIGHT, July 24, 2000

On C-SPAN Following the U.S. House:
-- Gov. Zell Miller (D-GA) for Paul Coverdell's Senate Seat
-- News Conference on Protests at the Republican Convention
-- Hearing on the "Fourth Amendment Issues Raised by FBI's 'Carnivore'
Program"

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

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