Welcome to UNKNOWN NEWS "News that's not known, or not known enough."
Helen & Harry Highwater's cranky weblog of news and opinion.
 
Unknown News is handcrafted with love by Helen & Harry, with enormous and sincere thanks to our sponsors, our subscribers and our supporters:

Joseph D., Jim J., Cory P, Bill T., Ben S., Kari L., Sharon Rose, Amy K. Debbie H., Joe F., Timothy J., Julie C., Mrs. Price, Joan R., Anonymous in Novato, Fran R., Karen K., John M., Dmitriy S., Robert M., Alexander L., Em, Carol Rawle, Christopher D., Margrette, Michael B., Jerry S., John N., Dave, Luke W., Yomama, JC Dowler, Charles B., Daniel H., St. Luke, James O., Lawrence H., William  B., Karl N., Charles  W., Gwen C., UselessEater, Larry W., Laura E., Barbara L., Leonard M., David P., Anonymous in Texas, Joan, Roy (possibly Ray), SirDave, Craig B., Anonymous, Ronald K., Louis S., Luke W., Craig B., Debbie H., in memory of Mrs. Weiss, Kevin G., Anonymous via Amazon, Paula B., Louisa A., Carl S., Austin, Joan, Richard E., Karen K., Anonymous Tuesday, Chris J., GB, Scott C., David F., Lyle, Kevin H., Joseph A., Susan B., Jack B., Jack, Stephen K., Anonymous, Kurt J., Leonard M., Bob, Plep, Kathy, Paul A., RDLabs, Ginny N., HappySysiphus, Sarah L., Gregory H., John C., Sander, Anonymous, Tino, Larry A., Rebecca R., Robert G., Joseph D., Greg M., Lee F., Craig M., Bill T., Douglas & Linda M., Casey H., someone I'm not sure we should identify, Grace E., In honor of Herb Ruhs, Chris G., Daniel D.  (very thanks!), Sharon R., David H., George N., Avatar, E.O., spitting-image.net, Oran S., Cari Q., Bill T., Eudoro O., Nick K., Cassandra, bowlingstyles.com, Diana M., Joseph D., Dr Herb & Dr Vicki, Teresa C., Sharon W., Wayne B., Frank J., Eudoro O., Post Modern Angel, Jeanette F., Claudia T, The Warners, John D., Barbara M., David F., SirJ, Peter W., Joseph D., Nina F., Joe & the muppets, Dorothy S., Robert A., Matthew M., Aaron E., Lynne R., Bill T., KR's Computing, Joseph D., Cory P., A Government of One, Richard H., Anonymous in Novato, Vernena S., Linda M., Louisa A., John M., Bruce D., Leslie D., People of Planet Glrpfx, Marios D., Timothy J., Matt H., Christine O., Craig W., Sharon W., Richard P., Rhea W., Cassandra, Phil H., Kenneth L., Chris M., Tim M., JR Mooneyham, Mister Mxyzptlk, Marshall S., UselessEater, Madeline Z., R.R., FrauBucher, Bruce E., David B., Marshall S., Bryant K., Debra D., Linda O., Debbie B., Jonathan K., Bill T., Frederick P., Joseph D., Bruce E., Don Z., David Wiggins, Ellen H., Teresa C., Michael B., John C., Kent O., Yomama, Liberty Action News Digest, Chris D., Kathy & Leon Fisher, NWOwatcher, Robert P., Joseph D., Z.B., David Wiggins, C.C.S., Leslie B., anonymous in Kentucky, Bernise W., Ed C., Steve F., James C., Shiela B., a different James C., Bill T., Michael B., Christina A., Barry M., Yomama, W.D.A., Aaron K., R.A., Brent S., Rochelle, Tim L., Tamas, David Wiggins, Steve B., MP, Joe F., James O., Albert P., Rob C., Kevin H., DVL, Sharon R., Fenton R., Daniel L., David Wiggins, Hector H., Debbie H., SirJ, J & A F., anonymous in New York, Sara L., Darryl H., J.R.G., Sweet Wesley, M.J.T., M.P., Sukhjit S., Christopher D., David C., Marjorie L., Daniel L., S. Austin, Luke W., unsigned in New Mexico, O.P., Helen R., Alex B., Robert H., VL, Donna B. again, Dannie J., Neil R., Connie P., Marshall S., Debra H., Ali, Donna B., Bill, Donna B. again, Jeff J., someone who sent a really nice note from Florida with a not-quite-legible signature, Lou S., Jennifer S., William S., Heather G., Michael D., Gina D., Dennis M., Anonymous in Novato (meow!), Daniel L., Marianne D., R.G., Yomama, Julie C., Christopher D., Erik T., Joseph D., Steve H., Joey Jo Jo, Shashi, Mimi E., J.L., Therese P., Carol Rawle, Debra H., Teresa C., Phillip S., Monica B., The Blue Rajah, Anonymous in Novato, Clark M., Laura T., Ricardo A., Lawrence K., Sally M., John W., Ben S., Kari L., Sharon Rose, Amy K., Debbie H., Joe F., Timothy J., Julie C., Mrs. Price, Joan R., Anonymous in Novato, Fran R., Karen K., John M., Dmitriy S., Robert M., Alexander L., Em, Carol Rawle, Christopher D., Margrette, Michael B., Jerry S., John N., Dave, Luke W., Yomama, JC Dowler, Charles B., Daniel H., St. Luke, James O., Lawrence H., William B., Karl N., Charles  W., Gwen C., UselessEater, Larry W., Laura E., Barbara L., Leonard M., David P., Anonymous in Texas, Joan, Roy (possibly Ray), SirDave, Craig B., Anonymous via Amazon, Ronald K., Louis S., Luke W., Craig B., Debbie H., in memory of Mrs. Weiss, Kevin G., Anonymous via Amazon, Paula B., Louisa A., Carl S., Austin, Joan, Richard E., Karen K., Anonymous Tuesday, Chris J., GB, Scott C., David F., Lyle, Kevin H., Joseph A., Susan B., Jack B., Jack, Stephen K., Anonymous, Kurt J., Leonard M., Bob, Plep, Kathy, Paul A., RDLabs, Ginny N., HappySysiphus, Sarah L., Gregory H., John C., Sander, Anonymous, Tino, Larry A., Karl E., Mark B. (again!), Emberly (again!), Jim T., Cory P., Emberly, Doug V., Michael B., BGL, Joe M., Gino, Kurt, Anonymous on a cold day in Hell, Shirley, Carol K., Marjie H., Miguel A., Jeff C., Jim E., Tim D., M.S., Frank F., Tad G., Joseph F., Brian R., Alex L., Randolph R., Chris R., Derrick D., Jack D., Laura H., Dale S., Alan G., Adrianne F., John D., Sherri B., Marie V., Blue Raj, Em H., Willem D., Richard V., Karl E., soundbitten, Aly the Zig, Donald S., Paul N., Peter L., Nick S., John C., Blue Raj, Mark B., Steve P., Kenneth S., Carl P., Underground Panther in the Sky, Jeremy, The Blue Raj, JR Mooneyham, Heather G., Kyle, Jesus, Phil, SG in England, John C., SCD, the groomers, Angry Annie, My Left Gonad, Tyler, Terrance, Chip, Keith C., Joyfulsun, Miranda, Bartcop's Vidiot, the Mokieman, Dan L., Zvo, Ezra , John C., Zvo, R.K.M., Laurie S., Heather G., Peggy T., Steven G., The Blue Raj, Joe G., Gary S., Nonesuch, Oh God please don't print my name, K., Tom, Kenmeer L., Heather G., Jerry C., Tom D., Derrick G., Laurie S., Steve S., The Blue Raj, Brad P., Kyle E., James P., Zvo, VRH, Ben K., "No need to acknowledge", Michael H., Charles B., Annie, Pam M., Michael R., S.J. Green, the anonymi, everyone else, and everyone we've forgotten (but still appreciate!).

And thank you philosophically, Susan B. Anthony, Ben Best, Jesus Christ, Diogenes, Frederick Douglass, Larry Flynt, Matilda Gage, Mohandas Gandhi, Henry Highland Garnet, Emma Goldman, Mike Gunderloy, Mike Hoy, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Russell Means, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Rosa Parks, Gabriel Prosser, Ayn Rand, Mario Savio, Spartacus, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Erwin S. Strauss, Allen Thornton, Nat Turner, Malcolm X, and all others who fought and argued for freedom, and all who still do.

Correspondents: Angry Annie, Ben Legume, The Blue Raj, Bruce S. at The Urrightto Blog, UselessEater, CactusPat, Carl Pwccaman, Chris M., Claire M., The Coyote, Damon C., Daniel L., Dean Z., Don Nash, Frank in Stockholm, Grandma & Grandpa, Hal C., Heather G., Herb Ruhs, MD, Hugh Jarse, jart, Jerianne, Joan R., Kathy Fisher, Kenneth L., kikz, Madeline Zane, Marshall S., Mary Lou Seymour at Liberty Action News Digest, Phil H., Ran Prieur's weblog, Prisoner50X, Rebecca, Sgt. Rock, Siskyousis, Sir J, Stephanie, T, Tim A., Tim J., Tim M., Underground Panther in the Sky, David Wiggins at A Government of One, and Yomama. Steve B., Julie C., Cool Hand Luke, Glenn F., Greg, JFK High Volt, Lon Garm, Steve H., Ice Cream Headache, Luke, Maureen, My Left Gonad, RS, Valerie V., and Luke W.

Correspondents emeritus: Aaron A., Akua, Aly the Zig, aod318, Bailey, Ben L., bikertrash, Cat, Cheryl Seal, Chris R., Dan L., Frank S., Geoff K., George B., HurricaneCarol, irritant, J, Jesus, Joe G., Kiwigrrrl, Larry A., Laura H., lysdexic, Mark B., Mark K., marsboy, mobythor, Michael H., Naserian, Owen G., Phil D., both Phillip S.'s, Rougy, Sander D. et al, Sandra K., Sandra S., Sanj, Scott F., Sny, Steve S., SG, Squango, Tim M., Tortuga, Wiley, X-Pensive Winos, and Zvo.

Cyberhugs for everyone who's provided links for comics, factivism, graffiti, the link library, mystery links, reference links, sources, and/or of course, Unknown News, including Aberrant News, Alex and Ann, Alex K., Ben L., The Blue Raj, Bryan, butsz, Cheryl Seal, Chris and Marlene, Chris R., Christopher K., Claire M., Cliff J., daroofa, Dave, Dog Skin Report, Elliot S., Footprints, Freebear, Ghost in the Machine, Gina S., Guy S., Hal C., Heather G., Heleodorito, The Hive, HurricaneCarol, irritant, jart, Jay L., jc65, Jesus, Joe Six Pack's Heightened Anxieties Blog, Jim F., Jim S., Joan R., John, John C., Keith M., kikz, kris softbreze, Larry A., Little Owl, Little Trucker, LordofMasks, Mark B., Matthew A., Mr. Klean, mobythor, one of the Phillip S.'s, one spirit, plep, Rich, Robert and Teri H., Rougy, rupert m., Sam M., Sander D. et al, Sanjay, sassafrass, SG, Spitting Image, Squango, Steph, Steve, Steve P., stormshadow, thalmus, thoughts on the eve of the apocalypse, Tim M., TVN, Underground Panther in the Sky, West Tracy, Yomama, anyone we've forgotten (sorry!), and everyone else who's ever sent anything, even links we might not have used. Picture this grumpy dame actually smiling -- it's true -- we love ya!

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Graphics: John F. and Kalia Kraa, for these linkable graphics.

HTML paramedics:: ChemParrot, Greg at akashik.net, JimTools, Carl Pwccaman, Scott R.

Research: Heather G.

Search engine registration:: JimTools

Translation: Dean K.'s friend (Arabic), Haydn (Spanish), Mexico Doug (Spanish).

Web design (our overall look, a vast improvement from the olden ugliness): Kalia Kraa.

Big fat special thanks: For our first 14 months, server space and software was provided free of charge, free of hassle, and free of censorship, by Pitas, which still has our highest recommendation.

Extra special thanks: To everyone who's contributed needed funding.
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Like the URL says, this website is about unknown news.

Our news comes only from mainstream, professional journalists or (rarely) other sources we trust entirely, with no nuttiness and no interest in the same news you see everywhere else.

What we believe

We believe in liberty and justice for all, so of course, we oppose many US government policies. This doesn't mean we're anti-American, redneck scum, pinko commies, militia members, or terrorist-sympathizers. It means we believe in freedom, as more than merely a cliché.

We believe you have the right to live your own life as you choose, and others have the equal right to live their lives as they choose. It's not complicated.

We believe freedom leads to peace, progress, and prosperity, while its opposite -- oppression -- leads to war, terrorism, poverty, and misery.

We believe it's preposterously stupid to hate people because of their appearance, their race or nationality, their religion or lack of religion, how they have sex with other consenting adults, etc. There are far more apropos reasons to hate most people.

We believe in questioning ourselves, our assumptions, each other -- and we especially believe in questioning authority (the more authority, the more questions). We believe obedience is a fine quality in dogs and young children, but not in adults.

Like America's right-wingers, we believe in individual responsibility, hard work to get ahead, and stern punishment for serious crimes. We believe big government should not be blindly trusted.

But unlike most right-wing leaders, we mean it.

Like America's left-wingers, we believe in equal treatment under law, war as a last (not first) resort, and sensible stewardship of natural resources. We believe big business should not be blindly trusted.

But unlike most left-wing leaders, we mean it.

Like libertarians, we believe it's wrong and reprehensible to arrest people for what they think, believe, look like, wear, eat, smoke, drink, inhale, inject, or otherwise do to themselves.

But unlike many libertarians, we're not obsessed with the gold standard, we don't believe incorporation is humanity's highest achievement, and we don't believe everything in life comes down to dollars and cents. We've read and enjoyed Ayn Rand's novels, but we understand that they're works of fiction.

We're skeptical, and we're sick of so-called 'journalists' who aren't skeptical at all.

A reader asks, what are our solutions?

We propose no solutions except common sense, which is never common. We like the principles of democracy, and the ideals broadly described as 'American'. The US Constitution is a fine and workable framework for solutions, when it's actually read and thoughtfully understood by intelligent statesmen and women. So, no manifestos from us. We don't dream that big, and if there's one thing the world doesn't need it's yet another manifesto.

Our suggestion is: think.

A fact-based instead of faith-based approach leads to solutions for most of the recurring issues of our time, from abortion to global climate change, pollution to universal health care, careful but real regulation of industry and economy, hunger, war, terror, human rights for humans not for corporations, science not religious doctrine in public schools, equal protection and prosecution under law, etc. Approach problems without glorifying stupidity, without demonizing intelligence, and answers usually come into focus.

These pages are published by Harry and Helen Highwater, happily married low-income nom de plumes and rabble-rousers from Madison, Wisconsin (with a few friends scattered around the world helping out).

We try to spotlight news that hasn't gotten enough (or appropriate) attention in American media, along with our opinions and yours.

We bang our keyboards against the wall, because it doesn't hurt as much as banging our heads.



If you're new to Unknown News,  here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the site, and answers to questions we wish you'd ask instead. Here's our RSS feed, and here's some unknown news you might have missed. If you'd like to say hello or add a comment, here's our email address. And yes, we do sell bumper stickers and other odd stuff.

We assume our readers are well-informed before they click here, so we focus on news that's generally unknown or under-reported. We're generally disinterested in such non-news as reports on what politicians might do, may do, or should do, and we don't usually mention the murders, kidnappings, house fires, auto wrecks, celebrity crap, wacky fluff, and other nonsense that's pushed real news right out of the newscasts.


Disclaimer for dummies:  Our front page is free from nudity, but we make no promise on profanity. If your surfing is monitored this site might not be safe for work, and you may be shocked, offended, or in trouble with your boss. A link doesn't imply that we agree with every sentence and every sentiment on every site we link to. We use our noggins, and suggest you use yours.

We always welcome comments from readers, and we're especially interested in hearing and considering different perspectives, so please don't be shy. All we ask is that you conduct yourself sanely and civilly, so consider yourself invited to speak your mind. Our email address and other info is on our contact page.

Please don't email us unless you're sending an original communication that you're not sending to anyone or everyone else. If you add us to your mailing list or chat group without asking us first, or if you send "Dear friend" newsletters, or "link exchange" form letters, or if you send a press release every time you add a post to your blog, you're a spammer and we'll soon block your emails. Also, as a matter of security, we don't open emails from strangers which include attachments or have any kind of programming imbedded, and we recommend a similar policy for others. If you're sending us an email, please send it in plain text only.

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(Enormous and eternal thanks to Doug at mistersquirrel.net, for setting up our RSS feed.)

Our privacy policy  has a page of its own, but the short and sweet version is: We're in favor of privacy. We make no effort to track or identify anything about visitors to our website. We never share, trade, or sell email addresses. We never send spam. We never send email, except in response to readers' queries. We never send (or open) attachments of any kind, and we delete un-opened any emails received with attachments.

Anything sent to Unknown News may be published. If you don't want it published, say so plainly. When we publish incoming emails, we edit out the sender's last name and email address — if we slip up (or if you want your full name and email address published) please let us know. Of course, if your email is unambiguously intended only to annoy, insult, or threaten us, we'll publish it with all the details and leave it on-line forever.