Why did someone give Pope Benedict 30,002 shoes? "Pope Benedict last year made headlines in the fashion media after reports that some of his shoes were designed and donated by top Italian fashion houses such as Prada but the Vatican has never confirmed this. "The Pope's footwear, usually red or burgundy, is called the 'shoes of the fisherman' since popes are the … [Read more...] about Pope Gets Gift of 30,002 Shoes!
The Unintended Consequences of Term Limits
I’ve never been a big fan of term limits. After all, isn’t that what elections are all about. Now this article in the Washington Post today: Jo Ann Davidson remembers feeling optimistic that term limits would land more women in Ohio's legislature, where 32 of the 132 seats were held by women in the mid-1990s. Yet in the seven years since the law took effect, the … [Read more...] about The Unintended Consequences of Term Limits
Giuliani’s Immigration Plan: Good, Realistic and Humane
Interesting: where Giuliani, as mayor of New York, championed the cause of legal immigrants and often defended illegal immigrants, ‘he now talks of penalties for people […] illegally [in the US] and requirements for them to wait at the back of the line. And while he once pushed policies like providing schooling for the children of illegal immigrants by saying, “The … [Read more...] about Giuliani’s Immigration Plan: Good, Realistic and Humane
Israel Says: ‘No Thank you, General Musharraf!’
It seems General Musharraf, President of Pakistan, has all the time in the world to mediate in the Israel-Palestine crisis...While his own country is in the throes of a bigger crisis. Some gallantry, social service and sacrifice this!!! Maybe Israel should ask the General to take leave without pay and come over to Israel, as an adviser, after he has handed over the power to … [Read more...] about Israel Says: ‘No Thank you, General Musharraf!’
Don’t Tease the Crocodiles
Missing child found in shot croc - CNN.comThe child, surnamed Liu, disappeared Friday after Liu and three other children climbed over the fence around a pool in the park that had been used to stage crocodile shows, Xinhua said. "The children shot the animals with catapults and beat them with wooden sticks," the agency said. "One of the irritated crocodiles bit Liu's clothes … [Read more...] about Don’t Tease the Crocodiles
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Jeff Jarvis writes that the criticism of NBC's decision to show excerpts of the Cho videos is misguided. They shouldn't be criticized for showing them, they should be criticized for sanitizing them. Money quote from the opening sentence of his post: "It is not … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Bush: I’m Telling You Fo(u)r Years Already – We’re Making Progress
I have to admit that I get a bit tired of US President George W. Bush claiming that the situation in Iraq is improving. President Bush yesterday said his strategy to send more troops to Iraq is turning the tide in favor of U.S. and Iraqi forces and rebutted claims by a top Democrat that the war is lost. "The direction of the fight is beginning to shift," Mr. Bush said in a … [Read more...] about Bush: I’m Telling You Fo(u)r Years Already – We’re Making Progress
Tommy Thompson Believes in What He’s Doing
George Will wrote an interesting column about Republican candidate Tommy Thompson. He highlights Thompson's resumé and describes Thompson's 'plan of attack'. In short: no Republican candidate is going to win Ohio. Instead, the Republican nominee should focus on carrying Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. So, Republican voters should consider who, of all the Republican candidates, … [Read more...] about Tommy Thompson Believes in What He’s Doing
The Dutch Way or the Highway
Reuters has an interesting article up about a Belgian auto parts supplier who has forbidden his employees to speak another language than Dutch while at work. If they ignore the rule, they can be fired. "We have people from Italy, India, Poland, Algeria here. It's to avoid cliques forming here and there," said Geert Vermote, human resources manager of HP Pelzer in the town of … [Read more...] about The Dutch Way or the Highway
Day of Silence?
Should the blogosphere declare 30 April to be a Day of Silence "to remember the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre and to stand united with the families"? Lisa Sabin says no: silence is part of the problem. Tim Worstall describes it as "a silly idea." I think that the ones who took the initiative mean well, but I think it would be wiser to wait a while and use a day, … [Read more...] about Day of Silence?
It’s Lip Sync Time Again
Who cares what it means? This is funny: … [Read more...] about It’s Lip Sync Time Again
Iraq Civilian Killings: Who Is Reponsible?
I wonder how long the United Nations and the world leaders go on looking the other way despite mounting evidence during the past four years of the crimes being committed against the civilian population in Iraq, directly attributable to the occupation of the country by the US forces. Are we living in 18th or 19th century when the masters were allowed to do whatever with their … [Read more...] about Iraq Civilian Killings: Who Is Reponsible?
Those Terrible Virginia Tech Cartoons
Those Terrible Virginia Tech Cartoons By Daryl Cagle When a lunatic killed 32 people at Virginia Tech University earlier this week I knew what to expect from political cartoonists, who don’t react well to tragedy. Some of the cartoons seemed insensitive, as today’s generation of jokesters struggled to respond to a story with no lighter side. I have some sympathy … [Read more...] about Those Terrible Virginia Tech Cartoons
Al Gore’s Campaign Team Readying To Ride Again
Is former Vice President and Oscar Winner Al Gore getting ready to ride the campaign trail again or isn't he? It sounds like a distinct possibility, if this story in the Telegraph is any indication: Friends of Al Gore have secretly started assembling a campaign team in preparation for the former American vice-president to make a fresh bid for the White House. Al … [Read more...] about Al Gore’s Campaign Team Readying To Ride Again
Kids, Media and Virginia Tech
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Kids, Media and Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech: Mourning, Prayers & Beyond
The following leader in The Economist is likely to raise the hackles (yet again) of the gun lobby in the US. "In the aftermath of the massacre at Virginia Tech university on April 16th, as the nation mourned a fresh springtime crop of young lives cut short by a psychopath's bullets, President George Bush and those vying for his job offered their prayers and condolences. … [Read more...] about Virginia Tech: Mourning, Prayers & Beyond
Oil in Iraq: ‘So Near Yet So Far’ For Bush & Co
A guard keeps watch over the al-Shiaaba oil refinery near Basra, in southern Iraq. Photo: AP The Economist Intelligence Unit quotes a study that suggests that Iraq's oil reserves could be almost as large as those of Saudi Arabia, the world's leader. But these findings come amid fresh evidence of the monumental difficulty of realising that potential, as bombs in Baghdad … [Read more...] about Oil in Iraq: ‘So Near Yet So Far’ For Bush & Co
Climate Change: Australia Faces ‘Epic Drought’
Australia has warned that it will have to switch off the water supply to the continent's food bowl unless heavy rains break an epic drought - heralding what could be the first climate change-driven disaster to strike a developed nation, reports The Independent. "The Murray-Darling basin in south-eastern Australia yields 40 per cent of the country's agricultural produce. But … [Read more...] about Climate Change: Australia Faces ‘Epic Drought’
Bhutan Kingdom’s Tryst With Democracy
The isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, situated between India and China, began a big experiment towards ending a century of absolute monarchy and ushering in democracy. The country held a 'mock election' on Saturday, to be followed by the real thing in 2008. One of the ironies in Bhutan is that it was the king himself, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who pushed for democracy -- … [Read more...] about Bhutan Kingdom’s Tryst With Democracy
A Song Dedicated To Families Of The Virginia Tech Massacre
Composed and sung by NanaKojo Adu: … [Read more...] about A Song Dedicated To Families Of The Virginia Tech Massacre