If Europe can have it why not Asia? The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently revived a six-year-old idea for a common Asian currency and the matter came up at a meeting of "Asean + 3" finance ministers on the sidelines of the Asia Development Bank (ADB) meeting at Hyderabad in India early this month. The theme was that Asian leaders should create a new framework of … [Read more...] about Towards A Common Asian Currency?

..."the good die young"? … [Read more...] about Who Ever Said

God has talked to Pat Robertson again. … [Read more...] about And Now More From Pat Robertson

It seems that way due to these voting results. And read this. Did anti-Lieberman blogs (who have been backing challenger Ned Lamont) play a role? Lieberman's whole political saga has been a fascinating one. He was considered something of a moderate to conservative Democrat — until Al Gore picked him to run as Vice President. Then some former supporters in Connecticut … [Read more...] about Will Joe Lieberman Face A Primary In Connecticut?

Unlike the term "judicial activism", which is simply meaningless, "legislating from the bench" seems to imply a relatively clear type of activity. Which is not striking down legislation. Legislating generally means passing laws. Judges don't pass laws, they nullify them. As Ambrose Bierce said in another context, "whoever drew the meaning from this excellent maxim and … [Read more...] about “Legislating from the Bench”: Not Meaningless, Just Wrong

President George Bush strode, head-up-high into the controversy over English being declared the United States's second language — and took both sides of the issue, the AP reports.The White House took both sides in a dispute over English being the national language Friday as a broad immigration bill moved toward a final Senate vote next week with one conservative … [Read more...] about Bush Takes Both Sides In English As Official Language Dispute

That's what Alan Stewart Carl is asking today, given the pointless "English is America's language" bills the Senate passed yesterday. And that's right. They actually passed two bills on this. Find out more here. … [Read more...] about Se Hable Ingles?

In a vote that's sure to generate much debate outside of Congress, the U.S. Senate has voted to make English the United States' "National Language." Question: will it matter? And, if so, how much? The Washington Post:After an emotional debate fraught with symbolism, the Senate yesterday voted to make English the "national language" of the United States, declaring that no one … [Read more...] about Senate Votes For English As USA’s “National Language”

Iranian law would force Jews and other religious minorities to wear identifying badges. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seems determined to provoke as many Hitler comparisons as possible. UPDATE: There are now questions about whether this story is true. Some even wonder whether it's disinformation. … [Read more...] about This Sounds Vaguely Familiar

It has been 31 years since Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa disappeared — and the hunt goes on. Only this time, FBI officials sound quite hopeful as they act on the latest tip in a story where the tidbits known so far sound like a "whack" right out of HBO's The Sopranos. The Detroit News:The FBI is mounting one of its biggest searches to date for the remains of former … [Read more...] about FBI Hopeful In New Jimmy Hoffa Hunt

As I commented earlier about DaVinci Code: "It's very interesting that many Christians are far more upset about this movie than they were about Mel Gibson's "The Passion," a film which grossly misrepresented the origins of both Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism." I have seen some opinion articles which see Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories ala Protocols of the Elders of Zion in … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Movies

Jerusalem Post: Plot to down El Al jet in Geneva foiled Islamic terrorists planned to shoot down plane using RPG missile. … [Read more...] about Terrorists Foiled, Thank God!

(Victory cartwheel in Kathmandu - photo by KIRAN PANDAY) It is celebration time at Himal Southasian magazine in Nepal. Over the years this monthly magazine has evolved as a truly South Asian magazine. The May-June issue of Himal has not gone overboard about the historical changes in Nepal. Even its editor, Kanak Mani Dixit, who was in detention for defying the royal regime … [Read more...] about Nepal’s “Himal” celebrates People’s Victory

I'm basically out of pocket since I am staying in bed most of the time. If I can tomorrow, I'll offer some short pointer posts. I'm hoping to be back to normal by Sat or Sunday latest.' Pleas check back since our bloggers will likely have some things to day. UPDATE: I may try to do a few short ones today since I am at least able to get out of bed today (so far). … [Read more...] about TMV Unable To Post Today And Possibly Tomorrow

Mayor tapped water customers for sex. I love how "tapped" has at least three reference/meanings here. … [Read more...] about Great Headline Alert

A racial harassment plaintiff named Candy? And she's White. And she's right. And she's wrong too. Oy vey, this one's causing a headache already. … [Read more...] about A Porcupine Named Fluffy?

Yale Law School has just hired away Tracy Meares from the University of Chicago law school. Congratulations to Professor Meares. 62 years after Brown v. Board, she is Yale's first female Black law professor. … [Read more...] about Chicago Professor Tracy Meares To Yale Law School

Two photos of King Gyanendra of Nepal Nepal’s powerful Shah dynasty’s powers ended on Thursday (May 18) with Parliament unanimously okaying a proposal by the government to axe the king’s prerogatives, bring him under law, select his heir and transform the world’s only Hindu kingdom into a secular state, says India's The Economic Times This change would affect … [Read more...] about Nepal King’s Political Powers Taken Away

People are getting helped, but it's either "too little too late" or "not even close to being enough." Read some sad stories here and then take action. … [Read more...] about For Those Whom FEMA Has Left Behind

The Da Vinci Code was on Thursday (May 18) cleared by the India's film censor board without any cuts and will be screened only for adult audiences with disclaimers meant to assuage Christian groups that had opposed its release. The censor clearance came after Christian leaders, who watched the movie with India's Broadcasting Minister Dasmunsi on Thursday, suggested that … [Read more...] about The Da Vinci Code is for Adults in India!!!