Cyber prayer
Apparently, Hindus are turning to the Internet to ask for long distance prayer rituals or "pujas" to satisfy their gods. This favor, accomplished at prayer service agencies, is performed for another people at a reasonable fee.

That God be with you cybernaut !
Computerized reality
Is our reality an illusion on some alien creature's computer? A simulation from which we can't escape? Which is the real purpose of our lives? Many of this questions are pop up in this article, which states that everything in the universe is a kind of computer, based on the "cellular automata" theory.
Med
Aids vaccine may be ready within five years.

News on Schizophrenia (disease).
Plus, new drug to spur bone growth could revolutionize back surgery.

And blindness: now a shadow from the past.
Time marvel
Technically it's possible, so in the following piece: how time traveling should work, just to let your imagination wonder …
Virtual worlds
Holograms: finally for real?. Check it out.
Meet the Mit
A digital animation program that combines artificial intelligence and videography.
The taster
An Interview to Alanis Morrisette that displays her mono-oriented life and her overacted art vocation, along with her comments on "embracing your own spirituality" and feeling "a citizen of the world".
Go to "burned out celebrities" section.

   July 15th, Monday, 2002, ip nº19
Wicked ways
Witch time


Apparently there's a whole new social group in the US. They are teens and young adults who are too bored with the world. They have little inspiration and surprise in their lives but plenty of time. They live under the "open minded" nowadays predominant style, and they are in search of something empowering that brings them all together. And they are getting into Wicca, a naïf version of witchcraft, neopaganist practices that seek natural balance through ecological conscience and solidarity with others.

So prepare those spells because your life is about to change…unless you have talked with the wrong force of nature!
Link: http://www.riorevuelto.org/site/ip/ventana.php?id_articulo=4581
All for one and one for all
Bush urges Americans to celebrate holiday


This article features the US government's praise of military service and Bush's speech in the 226th anniversary of America's independence. The latter shows the essence of hegemonic and governmental thought; Bush considers equality to be a basic moral principle: he states that we are all the same and that we are all entitled "to have the same opportunities". So it follows that ultimately our chances aren't defined by how well we develop our potentialities but for an implicit right.

And by the way, guys you should cut the "if you are hurt, then we are hurt too" out, because it's starting to sound tacky (especially after the terrorist attacks, when extremist beliefs associated individual persons with the US and all they represent).
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/07/04/bush.fourth/index.html
Here the information extended.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/05/politics/05BUSH.html?todaysheadlines
Finally, some data on the Americans' return to politics encouraged by the Internet.
Link: http://www.riorevuelto.org/site/ip/ventana.php?id_articulo=4584
Mr Waits´ freak show
Sighted alley


Here, a retrospective on Tom Waits´ career through some of his songs and life stories. A somber songwriter, a shabby guy, a fatalist and a freaks-worshiper all together, Waits grants us some reflections on time, happiness, going against the flow and being different.

Enjoy it in the following article.
Link: http://www.riorevuelto.org/site/ip/ventana.php?id_articulo=971
Commercial sense
Renault Publicity Campaign


Lately we have witnessed a significant cultural phenomenon: the perception of the approach of one's life end and its strong effect in individual attitudes, in legislation, and also in TV shows, movies and ads…

Regarding these, I've run into another couple of them that shock for their straightforward and rather dark message.

See them, next.
Link: http://www.riorevuelto.org/news/ipmail_19_4.html


Source: Eurostat, ESSPROS.

To see it enlarge, go here.



Cultural Maffia
This time it's about the monopoly of TV and Web contents and the establishment of some dangerous policies for free thinkers.
Privacy issues
The Chinese government ban several Internet sites, and launched a group of restrictive measures to control the medium.
On death penalty
A Manhattan judge finds Federal Death Law unconstitutional, introducing new valuable arguments for the appeal on death row.
Family Ads
And a women in Zambia is blaming cell phones for destroying marriages.
To read more on conceptual nods to marriage in the media, go here.
Extra News
The European Parliament favors abortion.
And England is about to legalize marijuana.

Astronomers say there could be billions of Earths in our galaxy.
More Music Industry News:
Music labels, a bit resigned to the still increasing piracy trend, are going to sell their music online sharing wireless networks with others, another kind of piracy that concerns big enterprises.
Afterwards, chips not only narrow the users' options and mess around with privacy issues, but also affect innovation.