Jeff draws a lesson from Mother Nature while steeling himself for a confrontation with a psycho. Let's hope the laws of karma work their magic on the vermin who did this.
Mamamontezz unfurls the new flag of Howard Dean's party. (Readers of the lavender persuasion shouldn't take the polychromatic theme amiss ... it's an allusion to Reverend Jesse Jackass's "rainbow" outfit.)
Auntie Cracker has a chat with her mom about a serious subject.
The Democrats have a new leader ... but what about the NAACP? Chris Muir has an idea.
2005-02-12
2005-02-11
Update
Posting will be sporadic over the next week while I get caught up on school and other stuff. Morning Report will make occasional appearances.
Morning Report: February 11, 2005
US: No talks with North Korea. The United States continues to refuse bilateral talks with the newly-declared-nuclear North Korea, according to this CNN report. 'White House press secretary Scott McClellan said North Korea would have plenty of opportunities to raise issues directly with the United States if it agreed to resume six-party talks. Those have been on hold since Pyongyang withdrew last year.' The six-party talks included the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan, and Russia. Debka says: 'White House plays down North Korea claim of nuclear weapons, calls for return to multi-nation disarmament talks but rules out concessions. DEBKAfile’s Washington sources: Administration has no real proof that Pyongyang really has manufactured nuclear bomb although it has enough plutonium. Its announcement may be bluff. No indication nuclear test ever conducted. Kremlin concurs with this skeptical view'. (CNN, Debka)
Death of a playwright. Arthur Miller, America's foremost playwright, has died. The reclusive writer died at his Connecticut home Thursday night of heart failure, at the age of 89. Miller was the author of the classics "All My Sons", "The Crucible", and "Death of a Salesman", (CNN)
Death of a playwright. Arthur Miller, America's foremost playwright, has died. The reclusive writer died at his Connecticut home Thursday night of heart failure, at the age of 89. Miller was the author of the classics "All My Sons", "The Crucible", and "Death of a Salesman", (CNN)
2005-02-10
Shahna Lax
I believe I mentioned Shahna Lax without providing a link.
I believe I'll correct that oversight now:
Shahna Lax at Tribe of the Winds
Crestone Artisans Gallery
I believe I'll correct that oversight now:
Shahna Lax at Tribe of the Winds
Crestone Artisans Gallery
Why do they hate us?
The Redhunter brings up some excellent points in this post on Condi Rice. I don't have much to add to what Tom has said (go read the post), but I especially want to highlight his observation
The BBC, of course, has it exactly backwards; Rice doesn't represent the "same old" State Department, she represents a new and tougher one, and one that's closer to the President's views. The fact that she also has more personal charisma than Powell makes her that much stronger as a stateswoman - and it is exactly this subtle strength that will be needed when dealing with the Europeans.
(Can anyone say "soft power"?)
We need to hold the Administration to their word; reform of Saudi Arabia and the various gulf states is just as important, and perhaps more so, than dealing with Syria and Iran. It is not by accident that the most pro-American population can be found in Iran, and the most anti perhaps in Saudi Arabia. The most popular explanation that I have seen is that the Iranians appreciate American opposition to their hated mullahs, while the Saudis hate the U.S. for proping up their corrupt leadership.
The BBC, of course, has it exactly backwards; Rice doesn't represent the "same old" State Department, she represents a new and tougher one, and one that's closer to the President's views. The fact that she also has more personal charisma than Powell makes her that much stronger as a stateswoman - and it is exactly this subtle strength that will be needed when dealing with the Europeans.
(Can anyone say "soft power"?)
How an Italian Blogs
This just in, courtesy of Stefania:
One of the Italians held hostage by terrorists - along with the heroic Fabrizio Quattrocchi - has started his own blog. It's in Italian, but be sure to drop by (even if your Italian is rusty) and pass on this link to your friends:
Salvatore Stefio
And don't forget to drop by Stefania's blog, which is bilingual.
One of the Italians held hostage by terrorists - along with the heroic Fabrizio Quattrocchi - has started his own blog. It's in Italian, but be sure to drop by (even if your Italian is rusty) and pass on this link to your friends:
Salvatore Stefio
And don't forget to drop by Stefania's blog, which is bilingual.
"Death To America" Day
Iranian freedom activists marked the anniversary of the islamist revolution in Iran with civil disobedience:
Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera-on-the-Thames gave its version of events:
Millions of Iranians inflicted, today, another heavy slap to the face of the shacky and unpopular Islamic regime by boycotting its "celebration of the 26th anniversary of revolution" by staying home or afar from the official gatherings.
In Tehran, the regime was not able to bring more than 70 or 80 thousands of professional demosntrators or forced employees of the government. The Capital's inhabitants are over 12 Millions.
Thousands of homes had shut off their lights from 09:00 PM on Wednesday while hundreds of maverick Iranians sized the occasion in order to get into the streets and bring down many of the regime's electrical propaganda tools in southern, western and eastern parts of the Capital and in cities, such as, Shiraz, Hamedan and Esfahan.
Slogans were shouted from roofs against the regime and its leaders by calling an end to the rule of the Islamic regime.
Iranians will be shuting off again their home's lights this evening from 09:00 PM.
SMCCDI had called for such Civil Disobeidance Actions in a statement read by opposition radios, such as KRSI, and during a NITV special program, with the presence of the Movement's Coordinator and responsibles of other opposition groups, such as, Payvand e Iranian, Marzeporgohar and Iranian Jewish Federation. The NITV special long programing took place just few hours before and ended by 05:00 PM of Wedenesday.
Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera-on-the-Thames gave its version of events:
Tens of thousands of Iranians have braved blizzards to attend rallies marking the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The government had urged people to turn out to show support for its nuclear programme amid pressure led by the US. ...
North Korea Says It Has Nukes
CNN reports:
More on this as it develops.
World leaders expressed concern on Thursday that North Korea will quit six-party nuclear disarmament talks and will "bolster its nuclear weapons arsenal."
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said North Korea is risking further world isolation "because everyone in the international community, and most especially North Korea's neighbors, have been very clear that there needs to be no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula in order to maintain stability in that region."
More on this as it develops.
Bush's Mystery Bulge: Hearing Device or Defibrillator?
Emily at Strangechord cites an article about the unidentified bulge in President Bush's jacket during the television debate. Robert Nelson, an imaging specialist, told the New York Times he thought the pictures of Bush looked suspicious, and offered to help the Times investigate. The Times ultimately dropped the story, saying it could not take the story beyond "speculation".
I think it's pretty clear that there is something under Bush's jacket, and I wish the White House had been more forthcoming with its explanations. For my part, I think the "hearing device" theory is a bit farfetched, partly because it would be foolish for Bush to do something so rash (and risk exposure), and partly because the President's lackluster performance during the debate didn't give the impression that he was getting any kind of expert help. But I would like to know the story behind that bulge.
Another possibility - and I think a more plausible one - is provided by this thread, citing (of all things) Indymedia. This scenario has the President wearing something called a LifeVest portable defibrillator. Look at the photographs of the LifeVest and at the pictures of President Bush - especially the one taken at Crawford in 2002, where the President is wearing a T-shirt and is nowhere near a debating podium. (By comparison, the shape of the hearing device shown in the other story is a poor match for the shape of the bulge under the jacket.)
While I'll be glad to concede Emily's contention that the New York Times is hopelessly biased in favor of Bush, I think they made the right decision in holding off on the story. There does seem to have been something under the President's jacket in that famous photo, and Bush's critics were justified in asking questions - but as even the Fair piece tacitly acknowledges, there's very little to suggest that the bulge was caused by a listening device.
In fact, I think the Indymedia report is probably true ... and no, I never thought I'd find myself saying those words either.
I think it's pretty clear that there is something under Bush's jacket, and I wish the White House had been more forthcoming with its explanations. For my part, I think the "hearing device" theory is a bit farfetched, partly because it would be foolish for Bush to do something so rash (and risk exposure), and partly because the President's lackluster performance during the debate didn't give the impression that he was getting any kind of expert help. But I would like to know the story behind that bulge.
Another possibility - and I think a more plausible one - is provided by this thread, citing (of all things) Indymedia. This scenario has the President wearing something called a LifeVest portable defibrillator. Look at the photographs of the LifeVest and at the pictures of President Bush - especially the one taken at Crawford in 2002, where the President is wearing a T-shirt and is nowhere near a debating podium. (By comparison, the shape of the hearing device shown in the other story is a poor match for the shape of the bulge under the jacket.)
While I'll be glad to concede Emily's contention that the New York Times is hopelessly biased in favor of Bush, I think they made the right decision in holding off on the story. There does seem to have been something under the President's jacket in that famous photo, and Bush's critics were justified in asking questions - but as even the Fair piece tacitly acknowledges, there's very little to suggest that the bulge was caused by a listening device.
In fact, I think the Indymedia report is probably true ... and no, I never thought I'd find myself saying those words either.
2005-02-09
They shoot journalists, don't they?
While some in the American MSM fantasize about being the targets of assassinations, for Iraqi journalists this threat is all too real.
Abdul Hussein Khazaal was gunned down by masked terrorists on Wednesday - along with his three-year-old son. Khazaal was a television correspondent for al-Hurra ("The Free"), the US-backed, Arabic-language voice of freedom in the Middle East. Although some islamist clerics have denounced the station as "propaganda", President Bush sees the station as a way to "cut through the hateful propaganda that fills the airwaves in the Muslim world".
The name of Abdul Hussein Khazaal should be rememberd among the rolls of freedom's martyrs.
CNN: Abdul Hussein Khazaal
Abdul Hussein Khazaal was gunned down by masked terrorists on Wednesday - along with his three-year-old son. Khazaal was a television correspondent for al-Hurra ("The Free"), the US-backed, Arabic-language voice of freedom in the Middle East. Although some islamist clerics have denounced the station as "propaganda", President Bush sees the station as a way to "cut through the hateful propaganda that fills the airwaves in the Muslim world".
The name of Abdul Hussein Khazaal should be rememberd among the rolls of freedom's martyrs.
CNN: Abdul Hussein Khazaal
The Doctor and the Greedy Chief
Many thanks to Jeff Strang, and old Green Party comrade of mine and a Peace Corps veteran, for forwarding this story.
Read the rest here: Club Ghana.
Then go here: Wolongope.
His name intrigues people, his story inspires them.
Introducing 'Doctor' Abio Ayeliya, 23, an Eastern Oregon University freshman from Ghana.
His is a story of perseverance and the selfless concern of a former teacher Izaak Edvalson, a 1998 graduate of EOU.
Ayeliya attends Eastern because Edvalson, a former teacher in the Peace Corps, has given him the chance of a lifetime. Edvalson donated $15,000 of his own money and has raised another $10,000 to cover Ayeliya's first two years of expenses at Eastern.
It is a remarkable story, one that started when Edvalson met Ayeliya while working in the Peace Corps in Ghana from 1999 to 2001. There, in the northern village of Chiana, Edvalson received the type of attention he was not used to.
As a teacher Edvalson was bothered by students who were constantly asking him for things. They did so because they think Americans have everything, Edvalson said.
Villagers nicknamed him Wolongope. Translation: the greedy chief.
Ayeliya was among those who came around. However, he was different. ...
Read the rest here: Club Ghana.
Then go here: Wolongope.
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