Monthly Archives: December 2003

A teenage girl from a nowhere town pours her heart into prose. A risk-taking publisher turns that prose into a book. It outsells almost everything else in Italy, making its author famous. That is an accurate enough account of what … Continue reading →

David Bowie leads an impressive secret list of 300 British luminaries who have snubbed the Royal Family and refused to accept knighthoods. The list was somehow leaked to the press earlier today. Bowie declined a CBE during the Queen’s birthday … Continue reading →

With typical low-key British aplomb, the Queen has consented to allow, for the first time, holiday illumination on Buckingham Palace. In a subtle demonstration of good taste mixed with saavy business sense, the Union Jack motif appearantly alternates with an … Continue reading →

The Dowbrigade is currently reading "Counter-Clock World" by Philip K. Dick, a great piece of pretzel logic in which time has started running backwards.  In the novel, written in 1967, a 1986 discovery called the ‘Hobart Phase’ has started time … Continue reading →

Photo by Dave Winer Yesterday, along with fellow bloggers Dave Winer and Jessica the Cyber Librarian, the Dowbrigade hit the campaign trail in New Hampshire, crashing events in Manchester featuring Howard Dean and Joe Lieberman. After an engaging drive up … Continue reading →

Apparently the Dowbrigade is not the only wacko who believes that people should be allowed to marry their pets. There is nothing more loving, supportive and nonjudgmental than a pet, and who can deny these are ideal qualities in a … Continue reading →

Mainstream media doesn’t seem to know quite what to make of Howard Dean’s Internet strategy. Unfortunately, neither does Dr. Dean. Although his campaign has unlocked the digital doorway to mucho dinero, almost all of that money is being shoveled directly into … Continue reading →

LONDON, (AFP) – Saddam Hussein was captured by US troops only after he had been taken prisoner by Kurdish forces, drugged and abandoned ready for American soldiers to recover him, a British Sunday newspaper said. Saddam came into the hands … Continue reading →

NEW YORK (Reuters) – He may have beaten Saddam Hussein, but President Bush got clobbered by slinky socialite Paris Hilton when her television show got higher ratings than Bush’s exclusive ABC interview Tuesday night. More Americans watched Fox’s "The Simple … Continue reading →

The tragedy which is Colombia continues. Although the sorry oozing sores of humanity spot the globe in the pestilent puss of poverty and warfare, the Colombian situation hits close to home as this is one of the most beautiful places … Continue reading →

LONDON, Dec. 19 Europe’s first attempt to land an unmanned probe on Mars entered its final phase on Friday when a disc-shaped landing craft named Beagle II separated from the Mars Express spaceship and began a series of maneuvers to … Continue reading →

A strategicly placed anonymous source with connections high in the major media stratosphere forwards this snapshot with the rumor that the Democratic party has its crack team of image experts ready to do a major media makeover of Our Man … Continue reading →