It may be the worst news yet for the Burmese military cabal which continues to refuse to relinquish power despite democratic elections voting them out of power in 1990... The first bad news for the cabal: It can no longer keep its thuggery a worldwide secret... tiny electronic eyes with seven thousand-league reach, are upon them Equally bad news for the cabal: the … [Read more...] about Burma: Cyber Treasure of Burma, Identifying Thugs by Face Photos (UPDATED)
Bill Clinton On MoveOn Ad Controversy
Dear Mr. Clinton: Next time please tell us what you REALLY think: … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton On MoveOn Ad Controversy
This Just In!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Ahmadinejad Invites U.N. Inspectors to Search for Homosexuals Permits Use of Advanced Gaydar Just days after asserting that there are no homosexuals in Iran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today invited United Nations inspectors into his country to search for homosexuals. “We have nothing to hide,†Mr. … [Read more...] about This Just In!!
Myanmar crackdown
Tab, The Calgary Sun … [Read more...] about Myanmar crackdown
Ripken Diplomacy
Our illustrious public diplomacy guru at the State Department, Karen Hughes, is at it again. This time, she plans on sending Cal Ripken Jr. around the world (first stop: China) to act as a cultural liaison for the United States. The video sort of tells it all, but I have a few comments which I'll include below. Honestly, it's not that this latest initiative is that absurd, … [Read more...] about Ripken Diplomacy
Has Rush Limbaugh Dug His Own Grave?
If he really said this, he's gone. During the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh called service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq "phony soldiers." He made the comment while discussing with a caller a conversation he had with a previous caller, "Mike from Chicago," who said he "used to be military," and "believe[s] that … [Read more...] about Has Rush Limbaugh Dug His Own Grave?
War, politics, oil and gas
Iraq is not the only oil war at this time. New political battles for oil and gas are emerging as tensions rise between Western oil and gas conglomerates and the governments of non-Western countries, which are major future suppliers of these vital resources. The latest shock to the Western oil majors came from new measures begun this week in Kazakhstan to unilaterally … [Read more...] about War, politics, oil and gas
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Toward A More Perfect Constitution
Larry Sabato's Ideas to Revitalize America's Governing Document Like almost all Americans, I grew up believing in the Constitution--every bit of it. But having chosen American politics as my primary passion in life, over decades of daily thinking about the issues that confronted the nation, I gradually began to see that parts of the system were no longer working very well, … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Toward A More Perfect Constitution
Navarrette on Bilingualism, Citizenship & Politics
Ruben Navarrette Jr. Commentary: Mixed messages on Hispanics - CNN.com Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) gives all Americans the chance to gain insight into the nation's largest minority. You might as well give it a try. There are more than 44 million Hispanics in the United States, and the Census Bureau estimates that -- by 2050 -- we'll represent one in … [Read more...] about Navarrette on Bilingualism, Citizenship & Politics
A Digital Dying
Randy Pausch is a man of his time, a popular computer-science professor who lectures about time management and has done pioneer research in robotics and virtual reality. He is 46 years old, happily married and has three young children. A year ago, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and now has only months to live. For almost everybody else, dying is the most private … [Read more...] about A Digital Dying
‘Stunning’ Is Not the Word For It
REPRESSION IN MYANMAR
Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune … [Read more...] about REPRESSION IN MYANMAR
“You most likely know it as Myanmar, but it will always be Burma to me.”
(So says Mr. Peterman to Elaine in "The Foundation," the first episode of Season 8 of Seinfeld.) ********** We have been following the situation in Burma closely in recent days, tracking the monk-led protests against one of the most brutal regimes in the world, a totalitarian military junta. The protests were getting larger and louder. As many as 100,000 people marched in … [Read more...] about “You most likely know it as Myanmar, but it will always be Burma to me.”
The Transhumanism Movement: A Primer
From Wikipedia: Transhumanism (sometimes symbolized by >H or H+) is an international intellectual and cultural movement supporting the use of new sciences and technologies to enhance human mental and physical abilities and aptitudes, and ameliorate what it regards as undesirable and unnecessary aspects of the human condition, such as stupidity, suffering, disease, aging and … [Read more...] about The Transhumanism Movement: A Primer
Bin Laden’s Mentor Condemns Terrorism
Interestingly, while this story has been all over the Arab press, few English papers have picked up on it. Salman al-Oadah, bin Laden's mentor, wrote a letter recently that harshly condemned the use of violence. He sought to remind bin Laden that Islam does not even condone the killing of a sparrow, let alone “innocent people, regardless of what justification is given.†… [Read more...] about Bin Laden’s Mentor Condemns Terrorism
Center of Attention
A round up of recent posts by various bloggers who either attempt to strike a balanced note on heated debates and controversial issues, or improve our ability to find our own sense of balance by exposing us to new information and different points-of-view. -------------------------- McQ examines the possible resurgence of Stalinism in Russia. Sameer Lalwani looks at … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
All In The Translation: Leaked Spanish Memo Does NOT Show Bush “Planned To Invade Iraq No Matter What”
Yesterday we carried a post on reports about leaked Spanish memo that reportedly showed that in a private conversation President George Bush indicated he wanted to invade Iraq no matter what to take out Saddam Hussein. But a new translation indicates that was a bad translation and that was not the case. The Spain-based Barcepundit reports: MUCH IS BEING MADE of the … [Read more...] about All In The Translation: Leaked Spanish Memo Does NOT Show Bush “Planned To Invade Iraq No Matter What”
Ahmadinejad
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Ahmadinejad
$934,892,570 and Counting
That's the amount that you and I have spent since 2004 to create a public-relations disaster in Iraq that threatens to eclipse the Abu Ghraib scandal. That disaster is run-amok Blackwater USA contractors, some of whom happen to be outright mercenaries who have transformed duties guarding diplomats and senior U.S. civilians, escorting convoys, protecting military bases and … [Read more...] about $934,892,570 and Counting
Take A Peek
...at nationalplatforms.com a political webtool that is a MUST for Election 2008. Make sure you bookmark it -- since it could be highly useful in the months and years to come. Basically, National Platforms is a kind of clearing house where campaigns of all parties can have their stands on issues available without any kind of media (or blog) bias. Its homepage states: We … [Read more...] about Take A Peek