Archive for the ‘observations’ Category
Golf courses
Bristling Badger has some musings on the popular support for Chavez in comparison to Bush. He mentions in passing The mayor of Venezuela’s capital Caracas says he plans to expropriate two exclusive golf courses and use the land for homes for the city’s poor. Mayor Juan Barreto has said playing golf on lavish courses within [...]
In: observations, society
Humanitarian assistance in Darfur collapses
Eric Reeves on Darfur and Eastern Chad: “Humanitarian assistance is rapidly collapsing. Khartoum, having secured the security status quo in “negotiations†with the UN and African Union, has returned to its genocidal onslaught.”
In: observations, world
This is what you shall do
This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing [...]
In: observations, philosophy
“Privatise people” – Yes-men stunt
The Yes-men managed another wonderful stunt the other day: At a Wharton Business School conference on business in Africa, World Trade Organization representative Hanniford Schmidt announced the creation of a WTO initiative for “full private stewardry of labor” for the parts of Africa that have been hardest hit by the 500 years of Africa’s free [...]
In: humour, observations, world
Two sides of the G20 protest
The media have portrayed the anti-globalisation protests as a struggle between violent protestors and well restrained police. It’s true that the protests have been marked by violence, from at least a section of the large demonstration, but that’s only one side of the story. The other side involves both peaceful protest and police brutality.
In: observations, world
The best lack all conviction
TURNING and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. Surely some [...]
In: observations, world
Imprisonment by executive order
This week I’ve found myself by turns angry and sad about politics for the first time since the Israeli bombardment of civilians in Lebanon. This time the reason, I think, is that I had begun to believe that the right wing assault on the foundations of democracy, freedom, and human rights had ground to a [...]
In: law, observations, society
Air force ordered to stand down on 9/11
Cheney seems to have ordered the US air force not to attack the commercial airliners hijacked on September 11. The link and discussion is here
In: observations, world
Techniques of rhetoric
Mark Kaplan, 18 months ago, presented the ultimate blog argument. Titled “Notes on Rhetoric” it was a list of the phrases and techniques used in dodgy comment thread debate. It’s hilarious and very much to the point. I’ll give you a couple of excerpts: A priori – your apriori supposition is that: “I operate by [...]
In: humour, net, observations
Final failure of the occupation
Andrew Bacevich writing in the Australian today says the chickens have come home to roost in Iraq: Historians of the global war on terror will likely recall September 2006 as a pivotal moment. Throughout this month, chickens have come home to roost. Each has arrived bearing bad news for the Bush administration. First came a [...]
In: observations, world
Carnival of the Liberals
Carnival of the Liberals has bulldozed my little shanty town and set up its tents on my metaphorical village green. Some Bloodthirsty Vegetarians even took time out from a glass of Shiraz and an attempt to discover which science fiction crew they belonged to (Firefly, of course!) to put a shout out on their podcast. [...]
In: net, observations
Top 10 stories which never made the news
MarketWatch reports on Project Censored’s annual list of stories the media has ignored. It points out that censorship in the US is usually more about what the MSM chooses not to report, either because it won’t help circulation figures or because it won’t help the proprietors. The Feds and the media muddy the debate over [...]
In: observations, world
Loss of ideals
From Comment is Free a summary of Bush’s true failure: America is dedicated to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Had Thomas Jefferson never written those words, it would be hard to invent better ideals to set against the philosophy of those who attacked America five years ago. Those seduced by terrorism believe in [...]
In: law, observations, world
Nemo sibi nascitur
Christopher Alexander was interviewed recently on radio in Australia. He mentioned that several years ago he had been appointed part of the planning approvals process for Pasadena housing units. His contribution was to insist that the developers show how their proposal would benefit the larger unit – the street, suburb, or the city of Pasadena. [...]
In: environment, observations, society, world
Khartoum mounts new offensive
From Eric Reeves: On Thursday, August 31, 2006, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1706, ‘inviting’ the National Islamic Front regime in Khartoum to allow a large and robust UN to enter Darfur with the primary goal of protecting acutely vulnerable civilians and humanitarians. This force (between 23,000 and 24,000 troops, police, and Formed Police [...]
In: observations, world
China’s water crisis
From The Anthropik Network: According to hydrologists, government officers and industrial leaders, water and waste pollution is the single most serious issue facing China. Presently, one in three rural inhabitants lacks access to safe drinking water. The urban situation is not any more heartening. More than a hundred large cities are short of water and [...]
In: environment, observations, world
Disco Tex and the Sex-o-lettes
As John Allison points out so clearly here what the middle east needs is not Disco Tex and the Sex-o-lettes but for Israel to help Lebanon to casualty and hang around for 8 hours to make sure she’s alright.
In: humour, observations, world
George Galloway tells it like it is
Funny and sad. George Galloway has a few things to say to the US Senate.
In: law, observations, world
The destroyer of worlds
Sixty one years ago the human race left behind the unconscious cruelty of children to demonstrate a studied and mature capacity for evil. Seventy five thousand lives were snuffed out in an instant, and as many again died more slowly and horribly over the years. This was the penultimate act in a grinding tragedy which [...]
In: observations, philosophy
The real history of oil
Hilarious, educational. Please watch it. Link to google video 45 minutes.
In: observations, world
