Why is the number of those who feel restless increasing? Why do people lose their temper so fast? Why is it that despite leading a very moderate life a person becomes a victim of a sudden stroke or kidney failure? "The numbers are a shock: Almost 1 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure, and over half a billion more will harbor this silent killer by 2025," says … [Read more...] about Why Is World Getting Angrier? …Rising Blood Pressure?
Pakistan: ‘U.S. Media Wakes Up (Finally!)’
"The violence (in Pakistan) has meant that the US media have finally begun paying attention, with CNN, ABC and others covering the AP story after a drought of weeks while this crisis has been brewing," says Cernig at The Newshoggers. Read more... I had earlier mentioned about extensive Pakistan coverage in another blog. Please click here... … [Read more...] about Pakistan: ‘U.S. Media Wakes Up (Finally!)’
If You’re A Blog Reader Take A Few Minutes For This
I did...and it was an eye-opening experience (it didn't take too long and it was all multiple choice). CLICK HERE to take a survey of blogs and blog users that is being conducted for academic purposes by researchers at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. A MUST DO. … [Read more...] about If You’re A Blog Reader Take A Few Minutes For This
Is A Bloomberg-Hagel Independent Ticket In The Offing For 2008?
Will New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg run as an independent candidate for President or won't he? He absolutely insists he won't, but some believe he is still sending out feelers that he's not ruling it out. Is this a case of "hope springs eternal" -- or actual analysis? Will the Republican Senator Chuck Hagel run as an independent candidate for President, or won't he? Some … [Read more...] about Is A Bloomberg-Hagel Independent Ticket In The Offing For 2008?
BBC Reporter Loses Temper To Scientologist
I was a reporter and I MUST admit there were times I would have liked to do what BBC reporter John Sweeney does here in talking to a Scientologist. But I didn't (it would not have enhanced job security at the newspapers for which I worked). Scream therapy, BBC style: … [Read more...] about BBC Reporter Loses Temper To Scientologist
Nouri al-Marionette
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Nouri al-Marionette
Did Pakistani Soldier Kill American Soldier?
An American soldier was killed inside Pakistan yesterday after an attempted peace meeting on one of the world’s most sensitive borders erupted in gunfire, write Anthony Lloyd (from Kabul) and Zahid Hussain (from Islamabad) in The Times. "Several other Nato troops were wounded amid sensational claims that Pakistani forces were responsible. Pakistan said that one of its … [Read more...] about Did Pakistani Soldier Kill American Soldier?
Death Squads on the Rise Again
General Petraeus is a smart man. I've read and used his counterinsurgency manual thoroughly for a class I taught on comparative guerrilla conflict. His statements up to now regarding the progress of the "surge" have been measured and largely accurate. He refuses to highlight progress when there is none. He refuses to speak of lights at the end of the tunnel when he - more than … [Read more...] about Death Squads on the Rise Again
Heads are Rolling
MSNBC Breaking News: AP: Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty resigning, Justice Dept. officials say Washington Post: Deputy A.G. McNulty Announces ResignationMcNulty is the latest Justice official to announce his departure amid the swirl of controversy over firings last year of nine U.S. attorneys.Resignation Letter Sent to Attorney General (PDF) … [Read more...] about Heads are Rolling
The War on Terrorism
I posted the following comment in the comment section of my Three Turks planned to attack US Germany bases post. I agree completely with you when you say that this part of the war on terrorism is going well. Note, I am not saying, I never said, that the war against terrorism is lost. Far from it. We just started fighting that war: it will be a 20 year, probably even 50 year … [Read more...] about The War on Terrorism
USA & Iran: Crazy Diplomacy?
While the US administration is openly seeking Iran's support to sort out the bloody mess in Iraq, it also keeps throwing mysterious spanners that may yet again stall the delicate diplomatic moves that are afoot to make any progress. Nasser Karimi of the Associated Press writes: "The U.S. and Iran said Sunday they will hold upcoming talks in Baghdad about improving Iraq's … [Read more...] about USA & Iran: Crazy Diplomacy?
CBS Evening News… Brought Down By Couric?
The NYT's Bill Carter writes: The numbers are stark. Eight months into Katie Couric’s job as the first woman to anchor a network newscast on her own, her “CBS Evening News†has not only settled back into its long-held position of last among the evening news broadcasts, but also regularly falls short of the newscast that Ms. Couric replaced. In the latest week’s … [Read more...] about CBS Evening News… Brought Down By Couric?
Renewable Energy
"Captain" Ed Morrissey live blogged a speech by Norm Coleman at the University of Minnesota about renewable energy (and more), at Heading Right. It's an interesting topic, one, I am afraid to admit, I do not know that much about. All I 'know' is that the West has to become less dependent on countries in the Middle East: we have to find our own energy resources. The means / … [Read more...] about Renewable Energy
Center of Attention
Brad DeLong: The "Parthenon Sculptures should be returned, if anywhere, to... Turkey." Marc Schulman: "Retired General Batiste Speaks Out." Go check out Booker Rising's Quote of the Day and while you're at it, Central Sanity's quote of the day as well. Andrew Sullivan has a video up of Mitt Romney on Iraq: "Brutal about the Bush record, still with the surge, but with … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Outrageous
These teachers should be ashamed of themselves and should be fired immediately. What a bunch of idiots. Staff members of an elementary school staged a fictitious gun attack on students during a class trip, telling them it was not a drill as the children cried and hid under tables. It was, according to the teachers, meant as a "learning experience." Good, lets turn this … [Read more...] about Outrageous
The Event: The End
I have exciting but also sad news: Mick LaSalle published the last chapter of The Event. Exciting? Because I couldn't wait to see how it would all end. Why, then, sad? Because The Event quickly became part of my weekly reading material. I am going to miss it, that's for sure. So: be sure to read the last chapter: it's a great ending, I won't say too much, because I don't … [Read more...] about The Event: The End
A Clarification of “A Clarification of Standpoint Theory”
Since it was so popular the first time around.... … [Read more...] about A Clarification of “A Clarification of Standpoint Theory”
The Dishonorable Kristol
From The Raw Story, here's neocon Bill Kristol bashing Republican dissenters yesterday on Fox News Sunday: "The idea that they will get credit for deserting the war at this point, they voted for the war, they voted to fund the war, now they're going to what? Vote for withdrawal, for surrender... It's a ridiculous political calculation, as well as dishonorable one. The Democrats … [Read more...] about The Dishonorable Kristol
The Giuliani Halo Is Tarnished (Again.)
Rudy Giuliani will not be the Republican presidential nominee for a number of reasons (too moderate, too many sleazy friends and anger-management problems, to name but three), but the biggest reason is that he is a one-trick pony and the harder you look at his post-9/11 leadership as New York City mayor, the more cracks appear. The New York Times opens up a canyon of a crack … [Read more...] about The Giuliani Halo Is Tarnished (Again.)
Guess Who Seems Poised To Enter The GOP 2008 Republican Nomination Sweepstakes?
It sure sounds like he will -- and he'll make it lively... … [Read more...] about Guess Who Seems Poised To Enter The GOP 2008 Republican Nomination Sweepstakes?