As all of you know I enjoy reading. I enjoy it a lot. As an American Studies student I have to read a lot of American literature: Emerson, Thoreau, Child, Stowe, Poe, Franklin, Melville, Hawthorne, Morrisson, Faulkner, etc. are just a few on the reading-list. Besides reading 'high literature' I also enjoy reading books that are not part of the canon. In my opinion, one does not … [Read more...] about The Event
I Say, Old Chap, Isn’t That My Spare Part?
When you're the largest arms supplier in the world, sh*t happens. Like selling vital fighter jet components that end up in the hands of your adversaries. With that unpleasant likelihood in mind, the Pentagon has suspended sales of spare parts from its recently retired Tomcat F-14 fighter jet fleet pending a comprehensive review. As in looking into whether buyers for Iran, … [Read more...] about I Say, Old Chap, Isn’t That My Spare Part?
Bolton: Unified Iraq Is Not In U.S. Strategical Interest
UN Ambassador has made some comments that will likely raise eyebrows in the Bush administration, and not just because of his still-weird facial hair:Former U.S. envoy to the United Nations John Bolton said in an interview published in France that the United States has "no strategic interest" in a united Iraq. Bolton, who resigned last month from his temporary appointment as … [Read more...] about Bolton: Unified Iraq Is Not In U.S. Strategical Interest
This Just In!!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush Sends Surge of 20,000 Democratic Presidential Candidates to Iraq Army Transport Planes Arrive in Iowa Showing his determination to increase the U.S. military presence in Iraq, President George W. Bush said today that he would send 20,000 Democratic presidential candidates surging into Baghdad. In recent days, … [Read more...] about This Just In!!!
White House Accused Of Interfering On Global Warming
It's mind boggling to think that we would come to a time in our history where an administration and some of its supporters would be accused of trying to paint global warming as a mere myth -- and at the same time suppress information about it. But isn't this kind of accusation now getting to be a trend in several areas? The Christian Science Monitor:More than 120 scientists … [Read more...] about White House Accused Of Interfering On Global Warming
The Forgotten Racism in the Duke Lacrosse Case
Even if the rape charges fall apart, there is a lot standing in the way before we can justly label the players "innocent." … [Read more...] about The Forgotten Racism in the Duke Lacrosse Case
Quote of the Day
Regarding Ari Fleischer: "The longer you question Fleischer, the less knowledge you take away from the experience." The quote was referring to the cross-ex of Fleischer in the Scooter Libby trial. But, speaking from my recollections of his days as Press Secretary, the observation is significantly more....transcendent than just that one case. … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day
The little duck that could
Via Natalia Antonova, I've come across the truly amazing story of a little Floridian duck named Perky: A duck that survived being shot and spending two days in a refrigerator has now overcome major surgery -- despite briefly dying on the operating table. Florida vets working to repair gunshot damage to Perky's wing panicked when the duck twice stopped breathing. But … [Read more...] about The little duck that could
BREAKING NEWS — 13 percent of Americans are stupid ignoramuses
Alright, that may be a tad harsh. Or... no. Is that overly generous? You decide. According to a new 46-country survey, as reported by Reuters, "[t]hirteen percent of Americans have never heard of global warming even though their country is the world's top source of greenhouse gases". My reaction to this report has come in two successive stages: 1) That's terrible. … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS — 13 percent of Americans are stupid ignoramuses
The Personal Cost
The Coffeespy ponders the big issue: While I am definitely a supporter of what we are doing in Iraq, and would have been even without the arguments of WMD and terrorist links, it’s important for those defending the actions over there to remember the human cost. We pay lip service to it all the time. But I think it’s our personal responsibility to have personal knowledge … [Read more...] about The Personal Cost
On changing the course of US foreign policy
American foreign policy under George Bush and Condoleezza Rice is turning into an incubator of civil conflicts while being absent in other spheres, where it could do some good. The US is not a prime cause of internal conflicts but it is helping to turn the smoldering embers of old hatreds among local tribes and sects into blazing violence. Since World War II, US foreign … [Read more...] about On changing the course of US foreign policy
The Libby Trial Is Enough To Make Journalists Drool
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. PatHMV at Stubborn Facts explains why - as he sees it - preventive care is not necessarily cheaper than curative care. Amba published good quotes from Chesterton. Brad DeLong: Thank You for Smoking! (Max Boot/Council on Foreign Relations Edition). Libby Spencer explains that - in her opinion - the U.S. overreacted to 9/11 … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Welcome Back
I just wanted to welcome former Old War Dog John back to the blogosphere. A while ago, some of the Dogs broke with Old War Dogs as the result of some kind of internal dispute or disagreement. Glad to see that John, and some other 'Dogs' are back to blogging (although - this goes without saying - I don't always agree with them). Welcome back John et alia! Their new blog: … [Read more...] about Welcome Back
Ethics Relativity
In Dems Should Dump Ethically Challenged Harry Reid the case is made that Senator Reid has personally benefited from favors in exchange for promoting special interest legislation. I suspect that with enough investigation many legislators may be guilty of promoting self serving policy. And it would be appropriate for their constituents to vote them out of office as … [Read more...] about Ethics Relativity
Specter: There’s More Than One Decider
Senator Arlen Specter, whose flip-flops on presidential powers have been downright schizophrenic, today challenged President Bush's declaration that he was "The Decider." Said the Pennsylvania Republican during a hearing on the war powers of Congress: "I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider. The decider is a shared and joint … [Read more...] about Specter: There’s More Than One Decider
What a Drag it is Getting Old
Fans of the Rolling Stones should recognize the title of this post, from the song, "Mother's Little Helper." Of course, the Stones are now old enough to actually be the parents of the middle age mothers who are addicted to little yellow pills. And naturally, many of their fans, who once protested the Vietnam War, have aged right along with them, as freelancer Jack Langer … [Read more...] about What a Drag it is Getting Old
Kirk Cartoon on the Doomsday Clock & Terrorism
Kirk Editorial Cartoon from The Toledo Blade: … [Read more...] about Kirk Cartoon on the Doomsday Clock & Terrorism
Target: Litvinenko
Yes. Above you see a picture of Alexander Litvinenko... with bullet holes in it. Why? Russian special forces used images of Litvinenko for target practice. Read more at Michael P.F. van der Galiën. … [Read more...] about Target: Litvinenko
What’s the goal of public education?
Every time I approach the question of education or reform, I find that people respond from many different directions, with radically diverse assumptions. Thus, it appears to me that we don't have a consensus on what, exactly, we're trying to accomplish with our public education system. Perhaps I missed the mission statement. Is the goal a literate society whose citizens can … [Read more...] about What’s the goal of public education?