A friend sent me a link to this story in The Raw Story which is about a Daily Show episode titled "'America to the Rescue' in the Middle East." Now, in true Daily Show fashion, the format determines the content, which is to say, it's like a bunch of comedic soundbites wrapped into what's meant to be important political commentary.
In essence, the episode tries to draw a line from today's Iraq back through Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan--with the basic assumption being that America has been the root cause of everything that's happened in the Middle East. This timeline assumes that world events progress in a perfectly linear fashion, that all of the actors are perfectly predictable, and that each event happens in a vacuum, untouched by other events.
Of course, none of these assumptions are valid.
Our providing weapons to the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan made perfect geopolitical sense at the time, because the last thing we wanted was another Soviet puppet government in such a sensitive spot. Osama bin Laden was a nobody then, and of course we had no idea that he would one day turn his attention from Russia to the US.
At least, we couldn't have foreseen that we would place troops in Saudi Arabia, which would so anger bin Laden--which in and of itself isn't even valid, because bin Laden's thinking goes beyond Saudi Arabia. He's fighting for a return to the glory days of the Ottoman Empire, only he's thinking globally. Everything else is incidental.
Also, the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan was one of the turning points in the downfall of what was an ideologically corrupt, expansionist enemy intent on taking over as much geography as possible. Perhaps even if we had known bin Laden's true character, we would still have proceeded as we did because, at that time, keeping Afghanistan out of Soviet hands was more important.
Next, about our providing arms to Hussein: we did so only starting in 1982, when Iran was looking more and more powerful (at least, relative to Iraq). For the period 1973 to 1990, roughly $30 billion in arms were sold to Iraq. Of that, during the period 1982 to 1988 (when American arms sales to Iraq ended), the total sold by America to Hussein was $200 million. In short, American arms sales to Iraq were negligible, with Russia, France, and China representing the bulk of the sales. This directly contradicts the point made in the Daily Show episode. (Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), via Wikipedia.)
In hindsight, of course, even $200 million was too much to sell to a government that was, two years later, to invade a neighboring country. But of course we don't make decisions in hindsight. We saw Iran about to overrun Iraq, and we made a decision to make sure that didn't happen. At the time, it was probably a good decision, and I hardly think that the 0.5% of arms that we sold Iraq (during the period 1973-1990) made much of a difference in the first Gulf War.
Finally, it might very well be possible that the Iraq War has strengthened Iran's position. Again, in hindsight that may be perfectly clear. And arguments for and against going to war with Iraq are both legion and, at this point, irrelevant. I think most people can agree that the way the war was handled was incompetent, and it's only lately that we've made any measurable progress.
But, we should also remember that Iran's position is strengthened only because we allow it to be. Iran has committed acts of war against the United States by providing arms and fighters in Iraq, acts that we have so far ignored. Had we put a halt to the influx of fighters and materials from Iran and Syria years ago, Iraq could be a stable country by now. All that is meant to show that it's been political incompetence that has strengthened Iran, and not the Iraqi war per se.
The one area where I would agree with the Daily Show is in our providing arms to Saudi Arabia. We should be doing the opposite--forcing the Saudi royal family to stop its exportation of Islamic extremism. That alone would make a significant difference in the Middle East and elsewhere.
What the Left doesn't seem to want to recognize is that, for the Islamic extremists (including Iranian President Imajihadi, or whatever is name is), this is not about geopolitics as usual. This is about a group of religious fanatics who desire to impose Islam as the world religion and to establish an Islamic caliphate.
The problem with the Daily Show's timeline is that it ignores so many other elements and singles out only those "facts" (some of which are distorted) that seem to support its position. I suppose one can only blame them for trying to cover so much in so little time. Which is part of the point of this post: that things are far more complicated than the Left (and the Right) wants to recognize, and the enemy is different than the one's we've faced in the past. For one small example, the Soviets were ideologues, but they wanted to live. Our current enemy wants to die. That makes all the difference in the world in how you deal with them.
And so, in short, while the Daily Show might make for good political humor, it's not relevant when considering past American actions or trying to determine future actions. Which is not to say that I agree with anything the Bush Administration is doing, but then my alternatives would certainly not be the same as the Left's.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Boeing and EU Firms to Help Russia Revitalize Airplane Industry
As we and the Europeans help Russia reestablish its civilian aeronautical industry, we're helping it reestablish its military aeronautical industry. To me, that makes little sense. For reasons why, read just about everything else about Russia nowadays.
Russian Su-24 Bombers Grounded
It would be a bit ironic if this crashed Russian Su-24 bomber were one of those that Putin wants to send on the old Soviet strategic routes. If so, they're all grounded, so that would put a little dent in Putin's plan. Unfortunately, those bombers are old "Bears" (prop-driven, to boot) pulled out of mothballs, and that probably wouldn't make it within 500 miles of American airspace if deemed a threat.
Ahmadinejad Once Again Calls for the Death of Israel
Here's a link to the MEMRI video of Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) specifically and unequivacably calling for "Death to Israel." MEMRI is not know for mistranslations, incidentally. And, according to this madman, it's not just Iran that want Israel destroyed, it's most of the world. Or, at least, it's Venezuela and North Korea, as far as one can tell.
Go watch the video. It's sickening.
Go watch the video. It's sickening.
Peace with Iran Through the Iranian People? I wish
I wish this piece in The Christian Science Monitor were possible. I really do. As much as I strongly support a massive military response to threats against America--to make future threats that much less likely--it would be wonderful if we could just appeal to the Iranian people and solve all our problems with Iran.
But, the idea that we could isolate the religious leadership, Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is), and the Revolutionary Guard, and that they would stand by and let it happen, is naive on a monumental scale. I imagine that the moment we started giving economic support to the Iranian people, and they responded positively to our gestures, there would be a crackdown that would make past crackdowns look like costume parties.
A relevant quote:
The internal vulnerabilities of Iran's ruling circles make this a perfect time to extend an olive branch to the people of Iran with a diplomatic initiative that involves economic incentives and development opportunities for the poor, the middle class, and the reformers. Multilateralism is a must if we want this to happen, because Europe, Russia, Japan, and others maintain good relations with Iran's business sector, the kind necessary in order to provide socioeconomic development assistance. If the Revolutionary Guard and the president block these gestures then "it is on their heads," and we will likely see them increasingly marginalized.
One can only imagine the Revolutionary Guard's response were they to be "marginalized."
But, the idea that we could isolate the religious leadership, Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is), and the Revolutionary Guard, and that they would stand by and let it happen, is naive on a monumental scale. I imagine that the moment we started giving economic support to the Iranian people, and they responded positively to our gestures, there would be a crackdown that would make past crackdowns look like costume parties.
A relevant quote:
The internal vulnerabilities of Iran's ruling circles make this a perfect time to extend an olive branch to the people of Iran with a diplomatic initiative that involves economic incentives and development opportunities for the poor, the middle class, and the reformers. Multilateralism is a must if we want this to happen, because Europe, Russia, Japan, and others maintain good relations with Iran's business sector, the kind necessary in order to provide socioeconomic development assistance. If the Revolutionary Guard and the president block these gestures then "it is on their heads," and we will likely see them increasingly marginalized.
One can only imagine the Revolutionary Guard's response were they to be "marginalized."
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 4620 Diggs, is a link to a story about a guy who lost a job because he gave too good of an answer to a question. Personally, I think it's an urban legend, and it's a big yawner no matter which.
More on Russia's Political Mental Institutions
Here's another account of Russia's politically-motivated asylum commitments. I think the story speaks for itself:
Larisa Arap has just emerged from a 46-day imprisonment in two Russian psychiatric hospitals. Pills were forced down her throat and she received injection after injection. She doesn't know what medications they were, or whether they will cause permanent damage.
"I don't feel very well, but I have a fighting spirit," Mrs Arap said yesterday, adding that sometimes she was so drugged she could barely walk or speak[.]
She was forcibly interned, not for health reasons, but over her association with the opposition group led by former chess star Garry Kasparov, the United Civil Front. Her arrest stemmed from the publication of an article entitled "Madhouse," exposing the ghoulish practices of a Russian psychiatric hospital in the Murmansk edition of his organisation's newspaper, Dissenters' March.
As far as typical methods:
Taken to a mental ward, Mrs Arap noted that many of its occupants seemed perfectly sane. "I was surprised that among them were lots of normal people," she wrote in "Madhouse". "But how they [staff] communicated with them: They shouted, they beat them up, they put them on drips, after which people became like zombies, they raped them, carried them off in the night and returned them in the morning, tormented."
One woman was threatened with the removal of organs, Mrs Arap said. Children were told that if they didn't give massages to medics they'd receive electro-shock therapy.
Read the whole thing. It says alot about where Russia's heading.
Larisa Arap has just emerged from a 46-day imprisonment in two Russian psychiatric hospitals. Pills were forced down her throat and she received injection after injection. She doesn't know what medications they were, or whether they will cause permanent damage.
"I don't feel very well, but I have a fighting spirit," Mrs Arap said yesterday, adding that sometimes she was so drugged she could barely walk or speak[.]
She was forcibly interned, not for health reasons, but over her association with the opposition group led by former chess star Garry Kasparov, the United Civil Front. Her arrest stemmed from the publication of an article entitled "Madhouse," exposing the ghoulish practices of a Russian psychiatric hospital in the Murmansk edition of his organisation's newspaper, Dissenters' March.
As far as typical methods:
Taken to a mental ward, Mrs Arap noted that many of its occupants seemed perfectly sane. "I was surprised that among them were lots of normal people," she wrote in "Madhouse". "But how they [staff] communicated with them: They shouted, they beat them up, they put them on drips, after which people became like zombies, they raped them, carried them off in the night and returned them in the morning, tormented."
One woman was threatened with the removal of organs, Mrs Arap said. Children were told that if they didn't give massages to medics they'd receive electro-shock therapy.
Read the whole thing. It says alot about where Russia's heading.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Light Blogging Today
Another light blogging day, as I take care of some personal matters. Likely be some blogging tomorrow.
MEMRI Provides Essay by Liberal Iraq Kurd on Attack on Yazida Community
Here's a piece from MEMRI providing an essay by an Iraqi Kurd, Hussein Sinjari, on the horrendous attack on the Yazidi community and on minorities in the Middle East in general. When one considers this particular attack, no sane, rational person can consider the "insurgency" in Iraq as anything but an effort to destory any semblence of freedom in that country and replace it with Islamic totalitarianism. And, none can consider that those who support such a regime would have any reason or intention to stop at Iraq.
Some quotes:
"The squalid terrorism that targeted the Yazidis in the Sinjar region is an indication of the great weakness in the political will of the Kurdish leadership. Before the latest terror attack… there were many indications that the terror cells were markedly stepping up their activities in this region and were targeting the Yazidis in particular and the Kurds in general…
"In Kurdistan, and in… Kirkuk, Sinjar, and Khanaqin, the vile terrorists are trying to reserve front-row seats in Paradise, which is becoming more crowded day by day with scum, murderers, and conscienceless, malicious fanatics. This has reached the point where it will be perplexingly [difficult] for the management of Paradise, in this state of affairs, to provide the overwhelming numbers of female angels and boy-servants to these barbaric criminals who are so hungry and thirsty for sex…
"They want to buy a ticket to Paradise with the blood and agony of innocents. What teachings, of what belief system - what verses permit all of this killing, destruction, and hellfire, with all its agony? The obscurantist suicide bombers, who hate life, hope, beauty, love, happiness, construction, and development in this life, hate those 'others' who do not resemble them in their religion, habits, customs, ways of thinking, ways of worship, and in their robes and beards.
"By targeting the Yazidis, the terrorists are saying loud and clear - and this is the correct interpretation of their criminal activities in the Kurdish regions that the Saddam dictatorship tried to Arabize and Ba'thize and separate from Kurdistan - that they have come [to carry out] raids and conquests, drawing their poison-tipped swords…"
There's so much more to quote, but I don't want to overdo it. Read the entire piece if you want to understant what the "insurgency" in Iraq is really about. If you come away still thinking it's about America's "occuption," then you must simply want to believe it--because the evidence certainly doesn't back you up.
Some quotes:
"The squalid terrorism that targeted the Yazidis in the Sinjar region is an indication of the great weakness in the political will of the Kurdish leadership. Before the latest terror attack… there were many indications that the terror cells were markedly stepping up their activities in this region and were targeting the Yazidis in particular and the Kurds in general…
"In Kurdistan, and in… Kirkuk, Sinjar, and Khanaqin, the vile terrorists are trying to reserve front-row seats in Paradise, which is becoming more crowded day by day with scum, murderers, and conscienceless, malicious fanatics. This has reached the point where it will be perplexingly [difficult] for the management of Paradise, in this state of affairs, to provide the overwhelming numbers of female angels and boy-servants to these barbaric criminals who are so hungry and thirsty for sex…
"They want to buy a ticket to Paradise with the blood and agony of innocents. What teachings, of what belief system - what verses permit all of this killing, destruction, and hellfire, with all its agony? The obscurantist suicide bombers, who hate life, hope, beauty, love, happiness, construction, and development in this life, hate those 'others' who do not resemble them in their religion, habits, customs, ways of thinking, ways of worship, and in their robes and beards.
"By targeting the Yazidis, the terrorists are saying loud and clear - and this is the correct interpretation of their criminal activities in the Kurdish regions that the Saddam dictatorship tried to Arabize and Ba'thize and separate from Kurdistan - that they have come [to carry out] raids and conquests, drawing their poison-tipped swords…"
There's so much more to quote, but I don't want to overdo it. Read the entire piece if you want to understant what the "insurgency" in Iraq is really about. If you come away still thinking it's about America's "occuption," then you must simply want to believe it--because the evidence certainly doesn't back you up.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Congressional Approval Rating at 18%
Oh my golly, just had to post this via Instapundit. According to the latest Gallup Poll, Congress' approval ratings are at 18%, with disapproval at 76%.
That's all.
That's all.
Ahmadinejad Threatens America Again (yawn)
More from Iranian Presidenti Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) on the MEMRI blog:
In a speech at a Tehran conference promoting Islamic studies and culture, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that "America is facing a dangerous future" and that "the Great Satan" (i.e. the U.S.) will lose the battle.
He called on Muslim clerics to invite all humanity to the true religion, Islam.
It's a short read. Check it out.
In a speech at a Tehran conference promoting Islamic studies and culture, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that "America is facing a dangerous future" and that "the Great Satan" (i.e. the U.S.) will lose the battle.
He called on Muslim clerics to invite all humanity to the true religion, Islam.
It's a short read. Check it out.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 5036 Diggs, is a link to a couple of pictures "with" and "without" flash. Hee hee.
Digg's going to change the world, the rate they're going.
Digg's going to change the world, the rate they're going.
Swedish Government Unhappy with Russian Trade Practices
Looks like the US isn't alone in having concerns about Russia joining the WTO. The Swedes also have some concerns:
Swedish Trade Minister Sten Tolgfors told Reuters he felt direct trade discussions with Russia were no longer productive and he had asked for EU help as he accused the Russians of failing to live up to promises on timber tariffs.
"This is the first time my government is really this outspoken and critical towards Russia," he said in an interview.
More specifically:
"I think simply that the highest leadership of Russia has not seen the linkage to the conditions for the WTO membership. So that's why the promises made by ministers have not been fulfilled," Tolgfors said.
"It's very hard for me to continue a dialogue when the agreements are not fulfilled. That's why it has to go back to the Commission and they have to handle this issue with urgency in the WTO negotiations," he said.
Once again, it's good to not stand alone.
Swedish Trade Minister Sten Tolgfors told Reuters he felt direct trade discussions with Russia were no longer productive and he had asked for EU help as he accused the Russians of failing to live up to promises on timber tariffs.
"This is the first time my government is really this outspoken and critical towards Russia," he said in an interview.
More specifically:
"I think simply that the highest leadership of Russia has not seen the linkage to the conditions for the WTO membership. So that's why the promises made by ministers have not been fulfilled," Tolgfors said.
"It's very hard for me to continue a dialogue when the agreements are not fulfilled. That's why it has to go back to the Commission and they have to handle this issue with urgency in the WTO negotiations," he said.
Once again, it's good to not stand alone.
Japan and Indian Partner Up Against China
Looks like Japan and India are stepping up to the plate to counter China's increasing economic and political influence in the region. Of course, it would be great it everyone was capitalist and just competed, but as long as China remains a command economy, there's probably some value to the US not having to be the only one shouldering the load.
A quote:
As Beijing’s influence in Asia and around the world has grown, their common interests have forced Tokyo and New Delhi to begin warming their historically chilly relationship and to start forging closer economic ties. “The key issue facing the whole region is how to accommodate the rise of China,” said Suman Bery, the director general of the National Council of Applied Economic Research, a New Delhi research group. Indian economists estimate that Japanese investment in India will reach $5.5 billion by 2011, compared with just $515 million in the 2006 fiscal year.
It won't necessarily be a rosy path, though:
Culturally and economically, Japan and India remain far apart, a fact that government officials and economists said could complicate building a stronger relationship. Speaking Monday during a meeting in a New Delhi hotel to discuss the Japanese prime minister’s visit, Mr. Bery, the director of the New Delhi research group, said Japan’s manufacturing is “state of the art,” which has “not been our strong suit.”
I wish them the best.
A quote:
As Beijing’s influence in Asia and around the world has grown, their common interests have forced Tokyo and New Delhi to begin warming their historically chilly relationship and to start forging closer economic ties. “The key issue facing the whole region is how to accommodate the rise of China,” said Suman Bery, the director general of the National Council of Applied Economic Research, a New Delhi research group. Indian economists estimate that Japanese investment in India will reach $5.5 billion by 2011, compared with just $515 million in the 2006 fiscal year.
It won't necessarily be a rosy path, though:
Culturally and economically, Japan and India remain far apart, a fact that government officials and economists said could complicate building a stronger relationship. Speaking Monday during a meeting in a New Delhi hotel to discuss the Japanese prime minister’s visit, Mr. Bery, the director of the New Delhi research group, said Japan’s manufacturing is “state of the art,” which has “not been our strong suit.”
I wish them the best.
Russia Warns Czechs Not to Participate in Missile Defense System
Russia has told the Czech Republic that allowing a radar installation on their property as part of the European missile defense shield would be a "big mistake." Now, one would expect rhetoric like this from Russia, if it's looking to restore the expansionist goals of the Soviet Union. One wouldn't expect rhetoric like this from a Russia who has given so many conflicting signals about participating in the missile shield and who wants to pretend it's a part of the civilized world.
Some quotes:
Russia’s military chief told the Czech Republic it would be making a “big mistake” to host a U.S. missile defense shield on its soil and urged Prague on Tuesday to delay a decision until a new U.S. president is elected.
I love the bit about waiting until a new US President is elected. That could go either way, of course, although it should give the Republican party a little bit to think about when it comes to Russian relationships, should they win the election.
The missile shield is the latest in a series of moves by Moscow’s former Warsaw Pact allies to embrace NATO, effectively moving the West’s military capabilities closer to Russia.
Baluyevsky said the Czech move was a political rather than a military decision.
“In my opinion it is a great disappointment that today’s discussion sees no change in the last four months by the Czech government. You have taken a decision to continue construction of a radar site on Czech territory,” he said.
“There are unfounded allegations that Russia is attempting to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Western Europe.”
I find "unfounded allegations" a little strong in this context. Russian's been doing plenty to "disrupt the peace and tranquility of Western Europe," and has plans for much more.
Some quotes:
Russia’s military chief told the Czech Republic it would be making a “big mistake” to host a U.S. missile defense shield on its soil and urged Prague on Tuesday to delay a decision until a new U.S. president is elected.
I love the bit about waiting until a new US President is elected. That could go either way, of course, although it should give the Republican party a little bit to think about when it comes to Russian relationships, should they win the election.
The missile shield is the latest in a series of moves by Moscow’s former Warsaw Pact allies to embrace NATO, effectively moving the West’s military capabilities closer to Russia.
Baluyevsky said the Czech move was a political rather than a military decision.
“In my opinion it is a great disappointment that today’s discussion sees no change in the last four months by the Czech government. You have taken a decision to continue construction of a radar site on Czech territory,” he said.
“There are unfounded allegations that Russia is attempting to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Western Europe.”
I find "unfounded allegations" a little strong in this context. Russian's been doing plenty to "disrupt the peace and tranquility of Western Europe," and has plans for much more.
Iraqis on Trial for "Brutal Crushing" of Shiite Uprising Following First Gulf War
As much as I'm glad to see these guys in court for their crimes against the Shiite uprising following the first Gulf War, I'm reminded as well of how we promised them support and then failed to follow through. They were wiped out because we failed to provide the air and other support we promised, and for that, we should be ashamed.
These guys should hang, there's no doubt. And there are some American leaders who should be hanging their heads.
These guys should hang, there's no doubt. And there are some American leaders who should be hanging their heads.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Cox and Forkum on Jimmy Carter
This Cox and Forkum cartoon is going to be on CNN's investigative show "God's Warriors" on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at 9pm EST. It seems it'll be part of a piece about critical reactions to Carter's book, "Palestine, Peace Not Apartheid."
Check it out. It's good, as always.
Check it out. It's good, as always.
Multiculturalism and Education - A Bad Mix
Here's a nice piece on Capitalism Magazine's site on multiculturalism and its effect on education. I experience this at least once a week when speaking with my kids about what they learned.
A quote to whet the appetite:
What these textbooks reveal is a concerted effort to portray the most backward, impoverished and murderous cultures as advanced, prosperous and life-enhancing. Multiculturalism's goal is not to teach about other cultures, but to promote--by means of distortions and half-truths--the notion that non-Western cultures are as good as, if not better than, Western culture. Far from "broadening" the curriculum, what multiculturalism seeks is to diminish the value of Western culture in the minds of students. But, given all the facts, the objective superiority of Western culture is apparent, so multiculturalists must artificially elevate other cultures and depreciate the West.
If students were to learn the truth of the hardscrabble life of primitive farming in, say, India, they would recognize that subsistence living is far inferior to life on any mechanized farm in Kansas, which demands so little manpower, yet yields so much. An informed, rational student would not swallow the "politically correct" conclusions he is fed by multiculturalism. If he were given the actual facts, he could recognize that where men are politically free, as in the West, they can prosper economically; that science and technology are superior to superstition; that man's life is far longer, happier and safer in the West today than in any other culture in history.
The ideals, achievements and history of Western culture in general--and of America in particular--are therefore purposely given short-shrift by multiculturalism. That the Industrial Revolution and the Information Age were born and flourished in Western nations; that the preponderance of Nobel prizes in science have been awarded to people in the West--such facts, if they are noted, are passed over with little elaboration.
Again, I experience this weekly (most weeks, anyways), and so have my own evidence to back this up. I spend at least a few hours undoing some of this stuff. It's worse at public schools, but private schools certainly aren't perfect.
A quote to whet the appetite:
What these textbooks reveal is a concerted effort to portray the most backward, impoverished and murderous cultures as advanced, prosperous and life-enhancing. Multiculturalism's goal is not to teach about other cultures, but to promote--by means of distortions and half-truths--the notion that non-Western cultures are as good as, if not better than, Western culture. Far from "broadening" the curriculum, what multiculturalism seeks is to diminish the value of Western culture in the minds of students. But, given all the facts, the objective superiority of Western culture is apparent, so multiculturalists must artificially elevate other cultures and depreciate the West.
If students were to learn the truth of the hardscrabble life of primitive farming in, say, India, they would recognize that subsistence living is far inferior to life on any mechanized farm in Kansas, which demands so little manpower, yet yields so much. An informed, rational student would not swallow the "politically correct" conclusions he is fed by multiculturalism. If he were given the actual facts, he could recognize that where men are politically free, as in the West, they can prosper economically; that science and technology are superior to superstition; that man's life is far longer, happier and safer in the West today than in any other culture in history.
The ideals, achievements and history of Western culture in general--and of America in particular--are therefore purposely given short-shrift by multiculturalism. That the Industrial Revolution and the Information Age were born and flourished in Western nations; that the preponderance of Nobel prizes in science have been awarded to people in the West--such facts, if they are noted, are passed over with little elaboration.
Again, I experience this weekly (most weeks, anyways), and so have my own evidence to back this up. I spend at least a few hours undoing some of this stuff. It's worse at public schools, but private schools certainly aren't perfect.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 3909 Diggs, is a link to a fake photo of what Steve Jobs's grave may look like one day. I suppose it's cute in a highly morbid sort of way, but of course, not of any importance whatsoever.
Racism on the Rise in Putin's Russia
I know from my wife (a former Soviet) that Russia has always been a racist nation. It seems, though, like it's getting worse. This post on La Russophobe brings the point home. Note that racism and nationalism are both collectivist ideas, and they tend to go hand-in-hand. And so, it should be no surprise that as nationalism is on the rise in Russia, so too is racism.
A quick quote:
Russia for the Russians. It's a phrase that I hear more and more often. One of my friends - as white as the Russian snow - was punched out for speaking English in Moscow. My wife and I were physically threatened by a group of skinheads on the metro who drunkenly told us "Yankees go home." The fact that Canada is a separate state was lost on him, so we got off at the next station even though it was nowhere near from our destination.
The Moscow police, Tolessa told me, were open admirers of the "Russia for the Russians" crowd. When an African student who was attacked called for help, the police would just as often join the beating as stop it. It wasn't just Africans. Anyone from the former Soviet republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia was liable to be targeted as chorniyy, or "black."
Read the whole thing.
A quick quote:
Russia for the Russians. It's a phrase that I hear more and more often. One of my friends - as white as the Russian snow - was punched out for speaking English in Moscow. My wife and I were physically threatened by a group of skinheads on the metro who drunkenly told us "Yankees go home." The fact that Canada is a separate state was lost on him, so we got off at the next station even though it was nowhere near from our destination.
The Moscow police, Tolessa told me, were open admirers of the "Russia for the Russians" crowd. When an African student who was attacked called for help, the police would just as often join the beating as stop it. It wasn't just Africans. Anyone from the former Soviet republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia was liable to be targeted as chorniyy, or "black."
Read the whole thing.
Ahmadinejad Invited to Visit Iraq - Yes. the Iraq He's Destabilizing
I now officially feel like I'm living in Alice in Wonderland. The Iraqi government has invited Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) for a visit. This makes me doubt the Iraqi government even more, and makes the war even more painful to endure. It also makes me wonder if there's direct collusion between the Shiite elements of the Iraqi government and Imajihadi.
Rather than handling Iraq like Japan and Germany, we've now turned Iraq into a potential Iranian ally. Our leader's pathetic and inexcusable misunderstanding of "democracy," thinking that a vote is the same thing as freedom, is a large part of why this is happening. The rest is pure altruism, thinking that our goal in Iraq was ever or should ever have been to build a better world for the Iraqi people.
I'm now leaning in the direction of thinking the "war" is truly hopeless, because the best we'll be able to come up with is another stable Islamic dictatorship. Even carving out the Kurds and letting them setup a secular state wouldn't work, because Turkey would be all over that.
And before anyone blames Bush and his administration alone, let's not forget that it's the entire US government that plays by the same altruistic rules. Very few polititions were prepared to fight the kind of war we needed to fight, which was to root out the Baa'thist factions immediately, and more important force Syria and Iran to stay out of it. Our rules of engagement should have been like in any other war--shoot the enemy on sight, and bomb strategic and tactical targets with full knowledge that collateral damage was possible. Far fewer Iraqis would be dead today if we'd finished this as we should have years ago.
End of rant. I think I'll go empty my stomach now.
Rather than handling Iraq like Japan and Germany, we've now turned Iraq into a potential Iranian ally. Our leader's pathetic and inexcusable misunderstanding of "democracy," thinking that a vote is the same thing as freedom, is a large part of why this is happening. The rest is pure altruism, thinking that our goal in Iraq was ever or should ever have been to build a better world for the Iraqi people.
I'm now leaning in the direction of thinking the "war" is truly hopeless, because the best we'll be able to come up with is another stable Islamic dictatorship. Even carving out the Kurds and letting them setup a secular state wouldn't work, because Turkey would be all over that.
And before anyone blames Bush and his administration alone, let's not forget that it's the entire US government that plays by the same altruistic rules. Very few polititions were prepared to fight the kind of war we needed to fight, which was to root out the Baa'thist factions immediately, and more important force Syria and Iran to stay out of it. Our rules of engagement should have been like in any other war--shoot the enemy on sight, and bomb strategic and tactical targets with full knowledge that collateral damage was possible. Far fewer Iraqis would be dead today if we'd finished this as we should have years ago.
End of rant. I think I'll go empty my stomach now.
Police Sniper Shoots Gun out of Man's Hand
I had to post this: Gizmodo has video of a police sniper shooting the gun out of a man's hand as he threatened to kill himself. Amazing stuff. If you watch any YouTube video today, this has got to be the one.
What I want to know is, why isn't this sniper in Iraq? I'm sure he'd come in handy over there, as well.
What I want to know is, why isn't this sniper in Iraq? I'm sure he'd come in handy over there, as well.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Admits to Efforts Against US
And about those Iranian Revolutionary Guards: they promise to "punch" the US. Now I'm sure that's partly from translation, and I'm sure it sounds more menacing in the native tongue. But it makes me inclined to thumb my nose and go "nah nah nah" right back at them.
Some quotes:
Local press in the Iranian capital of Tehran quoted Revolutionary Guards leader Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi saying that he could understand Washington's ire towards the group because of their recent successes against the United States.
"America will receive a heavier punch from the guards in the future," he was quoted as saying in the conservative daily Kayhan.
"We will never remain silent in the face of U.S. pressure and we will use our leverage against them," he was quoted as saying.
Now, all kidding aside, what exactly Gen. Safavi mean by "successes against the United States," unless he's basically admitting to Iran's involvement in Iraq. Personally, were I President, I'd take that as admission of acts of war and go after them. But, alas, I'm not President.
Some quotes:
Local press in the Iranian capital of Tehran quoted Revolutionary Guards leader Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi saying that he could understand Washington's ire towards the group because of their recent successes against the United States.
"America will receive a heavier punch from the guards in the future," he was quoted as saying in the conservative daily Kayhan.
"We will never remain silent in the face of U.S. pressure and we will use our leverage against them," he was quoted as saying.
Now, all kidding aside, what exactly Gen. Safavi mean by "successes against the United States," unless he's basically admitting to Iran's involvement in Iraq. Personally, were I President, I'd take that as admission of acts of war and go after them. But, alas, I'm not President.
More on Iran in Iraq
More on Iran's involvement in Iraq. I ask again: why aren't we at war with Iran?
Some quotes:
American forces are tracking about 50 members of an elite Iranian force who have crossed the border into southern Iraq to train Shiite militia fighters, a top U.S. general said Sunday. The French foreign minister, meanwhile, arrived in Baghdad on a groundbreaking visit after years of icy relations with the United States over Iraq.
...
He singled out the Shiite extremists as being behind rising attacks using armor-piercing explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, which he said were largely assembled in Iraq from parts smuggled in from Iran. He also noted a marked increase in Iranian-rockets that have been increasingly effective against U.S. bases.
It's getting embarrassing that we're letting Iran get away with this.
Some quotes:
American forces are tracking about 50 members of an elite Iranian force who have crossed the border into southern Iraq to train Shiite militia fighters, a top U.S. general said Sunday. The French foreign minister, meanwhile, arrived in Baghdad on a groundbreaking visit after years of icy relations with the United States over Iraq.
...
He singled out the Shiite extremists as being behind rising attacks using armor-piercing explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, which he said were largely assembled in Iraq from parts smuggled in from Iran. He also noted a marked increase in Iranian-rockets that have been increasingly effective against U.S. bases.
It's getting embarrassing that we're letting Iran get away with this.
Income Equality - The Why and How of it
Here's a nice piece at Capitalism Magazine on "income equality" and its true meaning in a free society.
The money quote:
Criticisms of income inequality are always couched in a certain type of language. For example, it is claimed that wealthier Americans "command" an "unfair share" of our "national wealth." Such language implies that American wealth is a communal pie that belongs equally to all of us.
But it is no such thing.
The vast wealth that exists in America has been created--through the productive activities and voluntary arrangements of individuals. And individuals do not necessarily create the same amount of wealth. Compare the value brought into existence by the entrepreneur whose productivity software is eagerly bought by millions--and the checkout clerk at a store that sells it. Such vast differences in productivity--which can be caused by vast differences in ability, work ethic, interests, skills, and choices--are the root of vast differences in income.
I'm sure there are those who would attack just this quote and not read the entire essay, and of course that's fine. But reading the entire essay might be of interest to some.
The money quote:
Criticisms of income inequality are always couched in a certain type of language. For example, it is claimed that wealthier Americans "command" an "unfair share" of our "national wealth." Such language implies that American wealth is a communal pie that belongs equally to all of us.
But it is no such thing.
The vast wealth that exists in America has been created--through the productive activities and voluntary arrangements of individuals. And individuals do not necessarily create the same amount of wealth. Compare the value brought into existence by the entrepreneur whose productivity software is eagerly bought by millions--and the checkout clerk at a store that sells it. Such vast differences in productivity--which can be caused by vast differences in ability, work ethic, interests, skills, and choices--are the root of vast differences in income.
I'm sure there are those who would attack just this quote and not read the entire essay, and of course that's fine. But reading the entire essay might be of interest to some.
Boing Boing Outs CIA and FBI on Wikipedia Edits
Boing Boing reports on a Reuters story talking about the CIA and FBI making edits to Wikipedia on topics such as the Iraq war and Gitmo.
The quote:
People using CIA and FBI computers have edited entries in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia on topics including the Iraq war and the Guantanamo prison, according to a new tracing program. The changes may violate Wikipedia's conflict-of-interest guidelines, a spokeswoman for the site said on Thursday. The program, WikiScanner, was developed by Virgil Griffith of the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico and posted this month on a Web site that was quickly overwhelmed with searches.
All I can say is, "duh." And I don't see why Wikipedia bars those closely involved with something to make edits. I thought the goal was truth, and I can only imagine the untrue information that might be posted by some Leftist about anything related to the CIA and/or FBI. And so, I put this in the big "yawn" category.
The quote:
People using CIA and FBI computers have edited entries in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia on topics including the Iraq war and the Guantanamo prison, according to a new tracing program. The changes may violate Wikipedia's conflict-of-interest guidelines, a spokeswoman for the site said on Thursday. The program, WikiScanner, was developed by Virgil Griffith of the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico and posted this month on a Web site that was quickly overwhelmed with searches.
All I can say is, "duh." And I don't see why Wikipedia bars those closely involved with something to make edits. I thought the goal was truth, and I can only imagine the untrue information that might be posted by some Leftist about anything related to the CIA and/or FBI. And so, I put this in the big "yawn" category.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 3501 Diggs, is a list to some Mac utilities. It's at least of some technical value, I suppose.
Putin Attacks America with Harshest Rhetoric Yet
Putin ups the anti-American rhetoric, to what end I can only guess. There's not much more to the story, so I'll just provides some of the money quotes:
In a speech in Germany, which one U.S. senator said smacked of Cold War rhetoric, Putin accused the United States of making the world a more dangerous place by pursuing policies aimed at making it "one single master".
Attacking the concept of a "unipolar" world in which the United States was the sole superpower, he said: "What is a unipolar world? No matter how we beautify this term it means one single center of power, one single center of force and one single master."
"It has nothing in common with democracy because that is the opinion of the majority taking into account the minority opinion," he told the gathering of top security and defense officials.
Harsh words.
In a speech in Germany, which one U.S. senator said smacked of Cold War rhetoric, Putin accused the United States of making the world a more dangerous place by pursuing policies aimed at making it "one single master".
Attacking the concept of a "unipolar" world in which the United States was the sole superpower, he said: "What is a unipolar world? No matter how we beautify this term it means one single center of power, one single center of force and one single master."
"It has nothing in common with democracy because that is the opinion of the majority taking into account the minority opinion," he told the gathering of top security and defense officials.
Harsh words.
Islam as the Enemy - A Harsh Post
Now here's a no-holds-barred account of Islam, with a few reputable quotes thrown in for good measure. There's a part of me that disagrees that Islam should be "wiped out," but then again, I have no problems with the idea that Nazism and Communism should be wiped out. So why such compunctions against Islam, which by its very nature has just as inherent a potential for violence againt non-Muslims.
A quote:
This is why sanctions are not going to prevent Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. But inasmuch as such weapons would enable Iran not only to destroy Israel but also dominate Saudi Arabia and thereby control the oil on which the world’s economy depends, the Iranian regime and its nuclear facilities must be destroyed—and without being squeamish about civilian casualties.
Yet this will not suffice to win the war against Islamdom. Islam is animated by an envious hatred of the West. This envy indicates that Muslim leaders know that Islam is decadent. Two months before the Six-Day War of June 1967 a Syrian army magazine published an article referring to Islam as one of the “mummies in the museums of history.”
In The Dream Palace of the Arabs, the renowned Lebanese-born scholar Fouad Ajami of Johns Hopkins University agrees with the most prominent literati of the Arab world who sorrowfully behold the “death of Arab civilization.” Daniel Pipes sees in the Muslim world “a pervasive sense of debilitation."
Read the whole thing.
A quote:
This is why sanctions are not going to prevent Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. But inasmuch as such weapons would enable Iran not only to destroy Israel but also dominate Saudi Arabia and thereby control the oil on which the world’s economy depends, the Iranian regime and its nuclear facilities must be destroyed—and without being squeamish about civilian casualties.
Yet this will not suffice to win the war against Islamdom. Islam is animated by an envious hatred of the West. This envy indicates that Muslim leaders know that Islam is decadent. Two months before the Six-Day War of June 1967 a Syrian army magazine published an article referring to Islam as one of the “mummies in the museums of history.”
In The Dream Palace of the Arabs, the renowned Lebanese-born scholar Fouad Ajami of Johns Hopkins University agrees with the most prominent literati of the Arab world who sorrowfully behold the “death of Arab civilization.” Daniel Pipes sees in the Muslim world “a pervasive sense of debilitation."
Read the whole thing.
Russia to Sell Arms to Syria (a.k.a., Iran)
I'd complain more about these Russian arms sales to Syria if we hadn't sold arms to Saudi Arabia. I think both we and the Russians, seperately or together, will come to regret these actions.
Of course, speculation is that Syria will turn around and give/sell at least some of the weapons to Iran, which would spell the second time Russia has sold particularly sensitive arms to a nation with which we had at least a chance to go to war (read, Iraq):
A spokesman for Russia's arms export agency Rosoboronexport, contacted by Agence France-Presse, declined to comment on the newspaper report.
The report acknowledged that the delivery of the weapons, the Pantsyr-S1E self-propelled short-range missile air defence system, was particularly sensitive in light of Israeli claims last year that Russian arms sold to Syria had ended up in the hands of militant group Hezbollah.
In May, the London-based arms specialist magazine Jane's Defence Weekly reported that Syria had agreed to send Iran at least 10 of the Pantsyr units.
It's the Cold War all over again, except this time there's a third participant that nobody wants to recognize: radical Islam.
Of course, speculation is that Syria will turn around and give/sell at least some of the weapons to Iran, which would spell the second time Russia has sold particularly sensitive arms to a nation with which we had at least a chance to go to war (read, Iraq):
A spokesman for Russia's arms export agency Rosoboronexport, contacted by Agence France-Presse, declined to comment on the newspaper report.
The report acknowledged that the delivery of the weapons, the Pantsyr-S1E self-propelled short-range missile air defence system, was particularly sensitive in light of Israeli claims last year that Russian arms sold to Syria had ended up in the hands of militant group Hezbollah.
In May, the London-based arms specialist magazine Jane's Defence Weekly reported that Syria had agreed to send Iran at least 10 of the Pantsyr units.
It's the Cold War all over again, except this time there's a third participant that nobody wants to recognize: radical Islam.
Ahmadinejad Spews Out More Vitriol
Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) is up to it again, saying things that one side of the political spectrum will interpret as threatening and the other as mere opinion. The quotes:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a new verbal assault on Israel, denounced it on Saturday as the "flag of Satan" and said it may be facing disintegration, official media reported.
...
Two months ago, he said the Lebanese and the Palestinians had pressed a "countdown button" to bring an end to the state of Israel.
On Saturday, the official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying of Israel in a speech: "When the philosophy of the establishment and the continuation of this regime is not just, it is not unlikely that it is on the path of decline and disintegration."
Sure, that's just fine for a national leader to say about another sovereign state. He's just predicting things, right?
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a new verbal assault on Israel, denounced it on Saturday as the "flag of Satan" and said it may be facing disintegration, official media reported.
...
Two months ago, he said the Lebanese and the Palestinians had pressed a "countdown button" to bring an end to the state of Israel.
On Saturday, the official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying of Israel in a speech: "When the philosophy of the establishment and the continuation of this regime is not just, it is not unlikely that it is on the path of decline and disintegration."
Sure, that's just fine for a national leader to say about another sovereign state. He's just predicting things, right?
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Faster Than Light? Not so Fast
In case you're interested in such things, the latest claim to have exceeded the speed of light has been debunked. I won't pretend to understand everything in this Ars Technica article (and if the author did, then kudos to him), and so I wouldn't know what would be relevant to quote.
So, if you want to know what's up, go read the story.
So, if you want to know what's up, go read the story.
Hollywood Butchers Science
I agree that movies play havoc with science, in particular with physics. This Ars Technica story lists just a few, from a report by Praxis der Naturwissenschaften Physik (and no, I have no idea who they are).
Some examples:
Gravity takes a vacation in Speed: There's a gap in a freeway bridge with a relatively flat surface. A bus, traveling about 70 mph, crosses that gap, flying along an apparently horizontal path. Gravity was apparently taking a well-deserved break.
Spider-Man's military genius fails vector math: The Green Goblin cut the cables on the Roosevelt Island Tram but held the loose end to keep it from plunging into the East River. Although he was well positioned to handle the vertical component of the force, the horizontal portion of the pull from the tram car would have wrenched him sideways and into the river.
The Core rings hollow: On their way towards the center of the earth, the crew takes a break 700 miles beneath the surface. Oddly, gravity is normal, despite the fact that a significant fraction of the Earth's mass is now above them. Meanwhile, a dead crewman's body sinks into molten rock, despite the relatively low density of its primary component, water.
Read the story for more.
Some examples:
Gravity takes a vacation in Speed: There's a gap in a freeway bridge with a relatively flat surface. A bus, traveling about 70 mph, crosses that gap, flying along an apparently horizontal path. Gravity was apparently taking a well-deserved break.
Spider-Man's military genius fails vector math: The Green Goblin cut the cables on the Roosevelt Island Tram but held the loose end to keep it from plunging into the East River. Although he was well positioned to handle the vertical component of the force, the horizontal portion of the pull from the tram car would have wrenched him sideways and into the river.
The Core rings hollow: On their way towards the center of the earth, the crew takes a break 700 miles beneath the surface. Oddly, gravity is normal, despite the fact that a significant fraction of the Earth's mass is now above them. Meanwhile, a dead crewman's body sinks into molten rock, despite the relatively low density of its primary component, water.
Read the story for more.
Cox and Forkum on Chinese Product Quality
Cox and Forkum's take on the Chinese product quality question. As usual, right on target.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 4549 Diggs, is a link to a page about blocking FireFox because of an add-on--endorsed by the Mozilla organization--that allows FireFox users to block ads on Web sites.
Now, first, the Diggster who posted this mischaracterized the message, which is here. Second, I happen to agree with some points made on the linked page in general principle. I'm not sure I'd go as far as they go, but they make some valid points. And third, somewhat ironically, Digg itself has ads, and so if it is a sort of theft to make use of a Web site's resources without at least giving the advertising a chance, then Diggsters who use the Firefox add-on are stealing from their own favorite site.
Now, first, the Diggster who posted this mischaracterized the message, which is here. Second, I happen to agree with some points made on the linked page in general principle. I'm not sure I'd go as far as they go, but they make some valid points. And third, somewhat ironically, Digg itself has ads, and so if it is a sort of theft to make use of a Web site's resources without at least giving the advertising a chance, then Diggsters who use the Firefox add-on are stealing from their own favorite site.
Russia and China - Military Partners?
And to rub salt on the wounds, it really does appear that Russia and China (and the rest of the SCO, which hardly matters unless Pakistan and India join) are moving closer and closer together. Their recent and planning military exercises are unnerving to some:
President Putin of Russia and his Chinese counterpart, President Hu, will attend an unprecedented show of joint military force Friday amid fears that the Russian leader is trying to turn an increasingly powerful central Asian alliance into a second Warsaw Pact.
Although I mentioned in a previous post that the SCO isn't likely to admit Iran, it does create a dangerous situation:
Yet the SCO has wider ambitions. Pakistan, India, and Mongolia all want to join Â-- as does Iran, whose president, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, attended the summit as guest of honor, a title bound to rile Washington. Iranian membership of the SCO would pose an enormous headache for the American government. Like Nato, its treaty states that an attack on one member is regarded as an attack on all, raising the prospect that the American government could find itself aligned against both Russia and China if it invaded Iran.
In that previous post, I also optimistically predicted that the SCO would retain its largely economic agenda. That might indeed have been optimistic.
President Putin of Russia and his Chinese counterpart, President Hu, will attend an unprecedented show of joint military force Friday amid fears that the Russian leader is trying to turn an increasingly powerful central Asian alliance into a second Warsaw Pact.
Although I mentioned in a previous post that the SCO isn't likely to admit Iran, it does create a dangerous situation:
Yet the SCO has wider ambitions. Pakistan, India, and Mongolia all want to join Â-- as does Iran, whose president, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, attended the summit as guest of honor, a title bound to rile Washington. Iranian membership of the SCO would pose an enormous headache for the American government. Like Nato, its treaty states that an attack on one member is regarded as an attack on all, raising the prospect that the American government could find itself aligned against both Russia and China if it invaded Iran.
In that previous post, I also optimistically predicted that the SCO would retain its largely economic agenda. That might indeed have been optimistic.
Russia to Continue Soviet-Era Strategic Air Space Patrols
It seems that Putin has found it necessary to resume strategic air space patrolling in remote reaches of its territory, something the was ended with the downfall of the Soviet Union. This, along with wargames conducted with China and the rest of the SCO, is interesting, to say the least.
More and more, I fear that Russia is not our friend (which is fairly obvious, I think), and--worse--has no intention of becoming so. The idea that it's "American hegemony" or somesuch that pushes Putin to these measures falls flat when one considers that we've invited Russia to participate in much of what we've planned.
And America has not acted unilaterally in anything over the last few decades (although perhaps we should have), but has built coalitions for every major action we've taken. I point this out only because, despite Leftist claims to the contrary, America has not acted as an imperialist, sole world superpower. If we had, as the Soviet Union would have done (and Russia already has with Chechnya), then the Middle East would be decimated, a wasteland, turned into rubble as an example against others who might decide to take such actions against us.
No, I believe the Putin simply lusts for the "power" of the Soviet Union (false though it was, other than its nuclear deterrent), and is trying desperately to return Russia to this level of world influence. Of course, Russia has quite a ways to go before it gets there; it wouldn't last long in a shooting war against the US. But Putin likely feels, and probably rightly so, that he has plenty of time to work on it.
More and more, I fear that Russia is not our friend (which is fairly obvious, I think), and--worse--has no intention of becoming so. The idea that it's "American hegemony" or somesuch that pushes Putin to these measures falls flat when one considers that we've invited Russia to participate in much of what we've planned.
And America has not acted unilaterally in anything over the last few decades (although perhaps we should have), but has built coalitions for every major action we've taken. I point this out only because, despite Leftist claims to the contrary, America has not acted as an imperialist, sole world superpower. If we had, as the Soviet Union would have done (and Russia already has with Chechnya), then the Middle East would be decimated, a wasteland, turned into rubble as an example against others who might decide to take such actions against us.
No, I believe the Putin simply lusts for the "power" of the Soviet Union (false though it was, other than its nuclear deterrent), and is trying desperately to return Russia to this level of world influence. Of course, Russia has quite a ways to go before it gets there; it wouldn't last long in a shooting war against the US. But Putin likely feels, and probably rightly so, that he has plenty of time to work on it.
MTV's Kurt Loder Rips Into "Sicko"
I was pleasantly surprised to find a very rational and thorough review of Michael Moore's "Sicko" by none other than MTV's Kurt Loder. Now, I know it's not good to generalize people, but I wouldn't have expected anyone from the MTV staff to be so rational about such a topic. My apoligies to Kurt Loder.
But, on to the story. We all know (or should) that Michael Moore is a sensationalist who will twist any statistic or anecdote to make a particular point. His movies are not documentaries, they're fictional and based only thinly on valid evidence. He's even admitted as such in the past, and I believe this to be a fair paraphrase: he's a propagandist, not a documentarian.
In the linked review, Kurt Loder does as well as anyone I've read to show just how one-sided and misleading Moore has been with "Sicko." And, contrary to most reviews, Loder even points out that getting government out of healthcare would be the only real solution. I've pointed out in the past myself that healthcare has been on a dangerous path since the 1930's, when the Blue Cross/Blue Shield entities were first established with government blessings.
I won't quote from the review, because it's fairly well-composed. That is, there's not much that doesn't flow and so if quoted would be taken out of context. So, I recommend that you go read it yourself.
It's well worth the time.
But, on to the story. We all know (or should) that Michael Moore is a sensationalist who will twist any statistic or anecdote to make a particular point. His movies are not documentaries, they're fictional and based only thinly on valid evidence. He's even admitted as such in the past, and I believe this to be a fair paraphrase: he's a propagandist, not a documentarian.
In the linked review, Kurt Loder does as well as anyone I've read to show just how one-sided and misleading Moore has been with "Sicko." And, contrary to most reviews, Loder even points out that getting government out of healthcare would be the only real solution. I've pointed out in the past myself that healthcare has been on a dangerous path since the 1930's, when the Blue Cross/Blue Shield entities were first established with government blessings.
I won't quote from the review, because it's fairly well-composed. That is, there's not much that doesn't flow and so if quoted would be taken out of context. So, I recommend that you go read it yourself.
It's well worth the time.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Light Blogging Today
Legal issues to take care of, dontcha know. So, today's blogging will be a little light.
Oliver Stone Asks Again to Make Movie about Ahmadinejad
Celebrity Report: Two in one day, that's a first (I think). This one's about Oliver Stone making a second request to make a movie about Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is).
The money quote:
"I believe that the dialogue between the Iranian and the US people is necessary today and making this film is a contribution to meeting the need," part of the email reads.
"A wrong and inappropriate picture of Islam is drawn in the US media and this film provides an opportunity to correct the picture."
Wow. There are so many errors in those two lines that I wouldn't know where to start in identifying them. One, it's hard to imagine how a movie about Imajihadi would create a dialog between the Iranian and American people. Second, I agree that the US media paints an inaccurate picture of Islam, but only because it doesn't show the religion as oppressive, political, and inherently susceptible to violence as it really is.
That's all I'll go into for now. Stone's a wacko, I think that's fairly well know. But this takes the cake.
The money quote:
"I believe that the dialogue between the Iranian and the US people is necessary today and making this film is a contribution to meeting the need," part of the email reads.
"A wrong and inappropriate picture of Islam is drawn in the US media and this film provides an opportunity to correct the picture."
Wow. There are so many errors in those two lines that I wouldn't know where to start in identifying them. One, it's hard to imagine how a movie about Imajihadi would create a dialog between the Iranian and American people. Second, I agree that the US media paints an inaccurate picture of Islam, but only because it doesn't show the religion as oppressive, political, and inherently susceptible to violence as it really is.
That's all I'll go into for now. Stone's a wacko, I think that's fairly well know. But this takes the cake.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at a huge 8519 Diggs, is a plea for a new Digg comment system.
What a way to end the week...
What a way to end the week...
Celebrity Report: Dennis Miller on "Bourne Ultimatum" - Anti-American?
Celebrity Report: Dennis Miller was on the O'Reilly Factor (gag) the other day, and they had some fun ripping into the Bourne Ultimatum for it's being anti-American. Now I like Miller, for the most part; he's one of the few celebrities who don't lean so far to the Left that they can't hear out of their left ear.
But attacking this one movie for being anti-American is like attacking the strip club up the street because it happens to feature naked women. Come on, let's face it: most movies today are anti-American, in one way or another. I could make a list of those that aren't, but it wouldn't be a long one.
Nevertheless, here's some of the interview, just for kicks:
O'REILLY: All right. It will be interesting to see if that happens.
Now, my column this week is on the "Bourne Ultimatum," which is a huge hit. But it's so — you know, the anti-American theme is so pronounced. The evil CIA guys, you know? And Matt Damon and Julia Stiles, you know? They actually make Julia Stiles cut her own hair. And that was enough for me. I turned against the CIA immediately.
MILLER: It's brutal.
O'REILLY: Now, this movie is going to be seen in Pakistan and Indonesia and all of this. While we laugh at it and we know what it is: heroes and villains, cops and robbers. Over there, I think it has an effect. Am I wrong?
...
MILLER: Well, "The Bourne Identity," let me say this. If they were going to do a true depiction of our CIA, they would have to do it, not about them being evil and conniving. They would have to do it about them being inept. Frank Church would have to be Blofeld, because he's the one that began taking it apart.
O'REILLY: But they almost do that. They can't catch Matt Damon. They've 50 guys gone after Matt. He's punching them. He's getting them. He's kicking them. And Julia Stiles is outsmarting them. Julia Stiles is outsmarting them, Miller.
And then, as far as the CIA goes, they're always the bad guys. If anyone can think of a single movie where the CIA was depicted as anything but evil, I'd love to hear about it.
But attacking this one movie for being anti-American is like attacking the strip club up the street because it happens to feature naked women. Come on, let's face it: most movies today are anti-American, in one way or another. I could make a list of those that aren't, but it wouldn't be a long one.
Nevertheless, here's some of the interview, just for kicks:
O'REILLY: All right. It will be interesting to see if that happens.
Now, my column this week is on the "Bourne Ultimatum," which is a huge hit. But it's so — you know, the anti-American theme is so pronounced. The evil CIA guys, you know? And Matt Damon and Julia Stiles, you know? They actually make Julia Stiles cut her own hair. And that was enough for me. I turned against the CIA immediately.
MILLER: It's brutal.
O'REILLY: Now, this movie is going to be seen in Pakistan and Indonesia and all of this. While we laugh at it and we know what it is: heroes and villains, cops and robbers. Over there, I think it has an effect. Am I wrong?
...
MILLER: Well, "The Bourne Identity," let me say this. If they were going to do a true depiction of our CIA, they would have to do it, not about them being evil and conniving. They would have to do it about them being inept. Frank Church would have to be Blofeld, because he's the one that began taking it apart.
O'REILLY: But they almost do that. They can't catch Matt Damon. They've 50 guys gone after Matt. He's punching them. He's getting them. He's kicking them. And Julia Stiles is outsmarting them. Julia Stiles is outsmarting them, Miller.
And then, as far as the CIA goes, they're always the bad guys. If anyone can think of a single movie where the CIA was depicted as anything but evil, I'd love to hear about it.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Chinese Company Counterfeits Glucose Monitoring Strips
Counterfeit DVD's and CD's are one thing, China, but counterfeit glucose monitoring strips? Thanks to the diligence of American company Johnson & Johnson, however, the counterfeiter has been discovered. Of course, such things could kill people, and the Chinese company making the things had make about a million of them.
I know this isn't the same as the other Chinese quality issues, but it still puts China in a very bad light. They've tolerated counterfeiting for so long that things like this are bound to happen.
I know this isn't the same as the other Chinese quality issues, but it still puts China in a very bad light. They've tolerated counterfeiting for so long that things like this are bound to happen.
My Second California Earthquake
On a personal note, I've now experienced my second California earthquick, albeit a tiny one--3.5. The ominous thing, though, is that the quake was centered in almost the exact same place as last week's 4.2 quake, north of Chatsworth, CA (which, again, is about 7 miles or so north of me).
I haven't studied earthquakes, but that does seem of some concern.
I haven't studied earthquakes, but that does seem of some concern.
Boing Boing Publication of Web Site That Gives Out Sensitive Information - 404
This is odd (or maybe a hoax or inside joke), but Boing Boing has an RSS feed about a Web site that publishes highly sensitive information--information like the identities of intelligence agents which could, of course, get people killed. It's just like Boing Boing to post such a topic, because of course they love to stick it to the Man whenever they can (damn the consequences).
But, the Feedburner link in the RSS feed isn't live. Error 404. The Web site it references seems live, and is just as bad as I thought it would be (and no, I won't provide the link, nor the Boing Boing RSS feed that contains the link). Odd, though, that it's the only Boing Boing feed that hasn't resolved for me.
I wonder if they pulled it, or if it's just a strange coincidence.
But, the Feedburner link in the RSS feed isn't live. Error 404. The Web site it references seems live, and is just as bad as I thought it would be (and no, I won't provide the link, nor the Boing Boing RSS feed that contains the link). Odd, though, that it's the only Boing Boing feed that hasn't resolved for me.
I wonder if they pulled it, or if it's just a strange coincidence.
Microsoft Using Government Against Competitors - Joining the Club, I Suppose
Microsoft long ago lost my respect as an organization (and, incidentally, Bill Gates as an individual). But, as this story in Ars Technica points out, Microsoft isn't opposed to using the same tactics that have been used against it for so long: lobbying government to use force against a competitor.
In this case, Microsoft is lobbying against the Google/Doubleclick merger. To see Microsoft using antitrust as a weapon against a competitor is nauseating. Those who don't like large companies should keep in mind that they only have power, beyond their own economic power (i.e., their ability to make a product or provide a service someone wants to buy), through their relationshiop with government.
It's the mixed economy, the perverted mixture of political power and economic power, that causes such sordid displays. And to think that I once imagined Microsoft to be above such things.
In this case, Microsoft is lobbying against the Google/Doubleclick merger. To see Microsoft using antitrust as a weapon against a competitor is nauseating. Those who don't like large companies should keep in mind that they only have power, beyond their own economic power (i.e., their ability to make a product or provide a service someone wants to buy), through their relationshiop with government.
It's the mixed economy, the perverted mixture of political power and economic power, that causes such sordid displays. And to think that I once imagined Microsoft to be above such things.
Russian Region Holds "Conception Day," Woman has Caesarian to Win Prize
Here's a Boing Boing article that I'm not going to attack: it seems that the Ulyanovsk region of Russia has been experiencing such a population decline that it's holding a "Conception Day" where prizes are handed out to new parents.
There was even a special prize for... Hell, I'll just quote:
The 2007 grand prize went to Irina and Andrei Kartuzov, who received a UAZ-Patriot, an SUV made in Ulyanovsk. They told reporters they were planning to have another child anyway when they heard about the contest.
Irina Kartuzova had to have a Caesarian section to deliver the baby and it was scheduled for June 12.
The selection committee chose the Kartuzovs from among the 78 couples because of their ``respectability'' and ``commendable parenting'' of their two older children, a spokesman for the governor said.
Of all the reasons to have a Caesarian section, this one takes the prize. Literally.
There was even a special prize for... Hell, I'll just quote:
The 2007 grand prize went to Irina and Andrei Kartuzov, who received a UAZ-Patriot, an SUV made in Ulyanovsk. They told reporters they were planning to have another child anyway when they heard about the contest.
Irina Kartuzova had to have a Caesarian section to deliver the baby and it was scheduled for June 12.
The selection committee chose the Kartuzovs from among the 78 couples because of their ``respectability'' and ``commendable parenting'' of their two older children, a spokesman for the governor said.
Of all the reasons to have a Caesarian section, this one takes the prize. Literally.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at a heavy 5014 Diggs, is a link to a picture of a flyer that says it shouldn't be taken down. It's quite silly, and not really worth the time.
I do find it interesting, though, that this particular flyer is placed over the signage of a Jewish temple. I won't assume that's on purpose, because I don't know where else such flyers might have been placed. But I do find this flyer's placement curious.
I do find it interesting, though, that this particular flyer is placed over the signage of a Jewish temple. I won't assume that's on purpose, because I don't know where else such flyers might have been placed. But I do find this flyer's placement curious.
Giuliani Understands a Little about the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Presidential hopeful Giuliani seems to have a firmer grasp of the Israeli/Palestinian situation than many politicians, as this story demonstrates.
The money quote:
Israel National News reported that "former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani has bucked the party line of successive US administrations and come out against the establishment of a Palestinian State." They added that he "warned against the push by President George Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to establish a state in Judea & Samaria ruled by Fatah."
These comments by Giuliani were made in the September/October issue of the journal Foreign Affairs. Giuliani also said that "it is not in the interests of the United States at a time when it is being threatened by Islamist terrorists, to assist in the creation of another state that will support terrorism." Giuliani said Palestinians must show "a clear commitment to fighting terrorism, and willingness to live in peace with Israel." He argued that the problem for Palestinians was not a "lack of statehood" but good governance and that too much emphasis had been placed on Israeli-Palestinian talks which just brought up the same issues "again and again."
Until the Arab/Muslim world in general, and the Palestinians in particular, are willing to acknowledge the existence of Israel as a sovereign state, and stop calls for Israel's destruction, then the Palestinians cannot possibly be formed into a legitimate country. Giuliani seems to understand this.
Update: More on Giuliani's statements thanks to Little Green Footballs.
The money quote:
Israel National News reported that "former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani has bucked the party line of successive US administrations and come out against the establishment of a Palestinian State." They added that he "warned against the push by President George Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to establish a state in Judea & Samaria ruled by Fatah."
These comments by Giuliani were made in the September/October issue of the journal Foreign Affairs. Giuliani also said that "it is not in the interests of the United States at a time when it is being threatened by Islamist terrorists, to assist in the creation of another state that will support terrorism." Giuliani said Palestinians must show "a clear commitment to fighting terrorism, and willingness to live in peace with Israel." He argued that the problem for Palestinians was not a "lack of statehood" but good governance and that too much emphasis had been placed on Israeli-Palestinian talks which just brought up the same issues "again and again."
Until the Arab/Muslim world in general, and the Palestinians in particular, are willing to acknowledge the existence of Israel as a sovereign state, and stop calls for Israel's destruction, then the Palestinians cannot possibly be formed into a legitimate country. Giuliani seems to understand this.
Update: More on Giuliani's statements thanks to Little Green Footballs.
Ahmadinejad Seeks Iran's Entry into SCO
According to this International Herald Tribune story, Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) wants Iran to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an organization created just over a decade ago to deal with security issues and religious extremism in the region. The SCO currently consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Iran, Pakistan, and Mongolia joining as observers.
In general, the SCO wants to increase its ability to counter America's influence around the world. But, they're apparently in no hurry to openly confront the US.
Iran's take on the SCO:
At last year's summit in Shanghai, the Iranian president called on the SCO to become "a strong, influential economic, political and trading institution" that could act to "prevent the threats of domineering powers and their aggressive interference in global affairs."
The SCO's position on Iran is mixed:
Although the SCO has welcomed Ahmadinejad, accepting Iran as a full member will not be on the table any time soon, said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of the Russia in Global Affairs journal. "Making Iran a member would be seen as an open challenge to the United States, a call for confrontation," he said.
My (optimistic?) take: the SCO will be an organization seeking economic influence, not military. By itself, that's not a bad thing. The US either already has or could easily create such a relationship with the EU that would sweep aside any such SCO aspirations.
Imajihadi, though, and Iran's influence on the group would make it more militaristic, and so one hopes the SCO maintains its current position.
In general, the SCO wants to increase its ability to counter America's influence around the world. But, they're apparently in no hurry to openly confront the US.
Iran's take on the SCO:
At last year's summit in Shanghai, the Iranian president called on the SCO to become "a strong, influential economic, political and trading institution" that could act to "prevent the threats of domineering powers and their aggressive interference in global affairs."
The SCO's position on Iran is mixed:
Although the SCO has welcomed Ahmadinejad, accepting Iran as a full member will not be on the table any time soon, said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of the Russia in Global Affairs journal. "Making Iran a member would be seen as an open challenge to the United States, a call for confrontation," he said.
My (optimistic?) take: the SCO will be an organization seeking economic influence, not military. By itself, that's not a bad thing. The US either already has or could easily create such a relationship with the EU that would sweep aside any such SCO aspirations.
Imajihadi, though, and Iran's influence on the group would make it more militaristic, and so one hopes the SCO maintains its current position.
Ahmadinejad on the State of the World
Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) has delivered a morals lesson to the world. A short quote:
"Islam is the religion that can connect us together and can meet the needs of humanity," he said.
President Ahmadinejad said those who deviate from path of God and refuse to follow monotheism are unbelievers.
Those who have ignored God and His prophets, has turned the world into a hell, destroying ethics, human's dignity and world security, he pointed out.
Thanks for the lecture, Imajihadi. Given the generally uneducated, poverty-stricken, and oppressed nature of the Muslim world (except in rare instances where oil money isn't closely held by the ruling class or in secular Muslim-majority states), I'm sure that you're the one whose advice we should be taking.
"Islam is the religion that can connect us together and can meet the needs of humanity," he said.
President Ahmadinejad said those who deviate from path of God and refuse to follow monotheism are unbelievers.
Those who have ignored God and His prophets, has turned the world into a hell, destroying ethics, human's dignity and world security, he pointed out.
Thanks for the lecture, Imajihadi. Given the generally uneducated, poverty-stricken, and oppressed nature of the Muslim world (except in rare instances where oil money isn't closely held by the ruling class or in secular Muslim-majority states), I'm sure that you're the one whose advice we should be taking.
Bible Studies in Public Schools
At the Rule of Reason blog, Edward Cline embarks on a tremendous discussion of the Bible as teaching tool in public education. He makes an ironclad case that such "Bible study" classes cannot be tolerated Constitutionally, and have no place in academics. I agree with Mr. Cline completely, and could probably think of other reasons why teaching the Bible (even ostensibly as an "academic" pursuit) is wrong on many levels.
In discussing the particular topic of Bible study in public schools, Mr. Cline attacks the generally irrational nature of public education, which I've experienced on numerous occasions with my two children.
There's so much there (it's a bit of a long read) that I'll quote a few particularly interesting parts, but leave the rest for you to discover for yourself:
So, it was with great interest and with not a little surprise that I opened the Sunday, August 12th Newport News, Virginia Daily Press and on page 3 found an article reprinted from the Los Angeles Times under this headline: “How do you teach the Bible without preaching?”
My snap mental answer was: Well, you don’t – unless you are Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, and then you are not so much teaching the Bible as exposing it as pure balderdash and bunkum.
It was a long article about the controversy of Bible studies in public schools.
In public schools?? Bible studies? Apparently, public schools are not as "Godless" as many parents assume.
“Exact numbers are unavailable, but experts agree that the number of Bible classes in public schools is growing because of new state mandates, increased attention to religion in public life, and the growing prominence of two national Bible curricula.”
On the general state of public education, Mr Cline says:
But I do not think these courses are merely “academic” or that the motive behind them is so innocent or blameless. And I had to laugh when I read this sentence in the article:
“High school English teachers and university professors say this lack of exposure to Bible tales has led to an education gap.”
It is an education gap evident in the Western canon being discarded in favor of Third World literature and the scribblings of “minority” writers, in students who think that George Washington helped found the United Nations, or that the Triple Entente is either an ice cream flavor or a video game, and in math and science test scores that are among the lowest in the world. These teachers and professors imply that such a “gap” can be compensated or corrected by a study of the Bible (or the Koran, or Buddhism, or American Indian mythology). Which is as absurd a notion as claiming that one can master calculus by a close study of numerology.
The “gap” in American education can be ascribed to the complete absence of the advocacy of reason in public school philosophy – except when reason is being attacked by nihilists or sabotaged by multicultural subjectivists.
Read the whole thing if you care at all about public education. And, incidentally, if you do, visit and join the growing community at http://www.publicschoolzone.com/, which seeks to bring students, parents, teachers, staff, and politicians together to resolve some of the issues in our public school system.
In discussing the particular topic of Bible study in public schools, Mr. Cline attacks the generally irrational nature of public education, which I've experienced on numerous occasions with my two children.
There's so much there (it's a bit of a long read) that I'll quote a few particularly interesting parts, but leave the rest for you to discover for yourself:
So, it was with great interest and with not a little surprise that I opened the Sunday, August 12th Newport News, Virginia Daily Press and on page 3 found an article reprinted from the Los Angeles Times under this headline: “How do you teach the Bible without preaching?”
My snap mental answer was: Well, you don’t – unless you are Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, and then you are not so much teaching the Bible as exposing it as pure balderdash and bunkum.
It was a long article about the controversy of Bible studies in public schools.
In public schools?? Bible studies? Apparently, public schools are not as "Godless" as many parents assume.
“Exact numbers are unavailable, but experts agree that the number of Bible classes in public schools is growing because of new state mandates, increased attention to religion in public life, and the growing prominence of two national Bible curricula.”
On the general state of public education, Mr Cline says:
But I do not think these courses are merely “academic” or that the motive behind them is so innocent or blameless. And I had to laugh when I read this sentence in the article:
“High school English teachers and university professors say this lack of exposure to Bible tales has led to an education gap.”
It is an education gap evident in the Western canon being discarded in favor of Third World literature and the scribblings of “minority” writers, in students who think that George Washington helped found the United Nations, or that the Triple Entente is either an ice cream flavor or a video game, and in math and science test scores that are among the lowest in the world. These teachers and professors imply that such a “gap” can be compensated or corrected by a study of the Bible (or the Koran, or Buddhism, or American Indian mythology). Which is as absurd a notion as claiming that one can master calculus by a close study of numerology.
The “gap” in American education can be ascribed to the complete absence of the advocacy of reason in public school philosophy – except when reason is being attacked by nihilists or sabotaged by multicultural subjectivists.
Read the whole thing if you care at all about public education. And, incidentally, if you do, visit and join the growing community at http://www.publicschoolzone.com/, which seeks to bring students, parents, teachers, staff, and politicians together to resolve some of the issues in our public school system.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Iranian Revolutionary Guard to be Designated as "Global Terrorist" Organization
This is a first: the US is about to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a military unit that operates outside of the rest of Iran's military establishment, as a "global terrorist" organization. This would be for such actions as supplying arms to terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The significance:
The move would be the first such designation of a foreign government entity and would cut the designees off from the U.S. financial system and freeze assets that it, its members or subsidiaries have in U.S. jurisdictions. It would also allow the Treasury to move against firms subject to U.S. law that transact with the group.
The reasoning:
It remains unclear when the step will be formally announced but officials said it has been weighed for months as the United States has lost patience with Iran amid charges the guard corps is supplying weapons to Shiite insurgents in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan and as international efforts to shut down the Iranian nuclear program have bogged down.
The designation will mean that Rice has found that the Revolutionary Guard Corps “has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States,” according to the executive order.
My thoughts? It's about time. and it brings us that much closer to the Iranian regime itself. In my dreams, it's the first step toward answering the war that Iran started against the US back in 1979.
The significance:
The move would be the first such designation of a foreign government entity and would cut the designees off from the U.S. financial system and freeze assets that it, its members or subsidiaries have in U.S. jurisdictions. It would also allow the Treasury to move against firms subject to U.S. law that transact with the group.
The reasoning:
It remains unclear when the step will be formally announced but officials said it has been weighed for months as the United States has lost patience with Iran amid charges the guard corps is supplying weapons to Shiite insurgents in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan and as international efforts to shut down the Iranian nuclear program have bogged down.
The designation will mean that Rice has found that the Revolutionary Guard Corps “has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States,” according to the executive order.
My thoughts? It's about time. and it brings us that much closer to the Iranian regime itself. In my dreams, it's the first step toward answering the war that Iran started against the US back in 1979.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 3368, is a link to a scan of the "world's most disturbing children's book," as titled by the Diggster.
Actually, although I don't particularly like such books, it does handle a delicate topic with some tact. I hardly think it merits anything close to this sort of treatment.
Actually, although I don't particularly like such books, it does handle a delicate topic with some tact. I hardly think it merits anything close to this sort of treatment.
Municipal Wi-Fi Projects Failing - Good for Them
I just love this Businessweek story about failing municipal Wi-Fi projects, because I believe such projects to be one of the worst examples of government expropriation of wealth. The idea of government taking money from taxpayers so that some Internet users can have constant Wi-Fi access is astounding.
If the public wants such a service enough, a private company would be more than willing to provide it. And if it's not economically viable, then it shouldn't happen.
What's most interesting to me, though, is what appears to be the primary reason the projects are failing: lack of public demand. I was afraid that people would latch onto the free services, cancel their private Internet connections, and thus hold back the development of new and better connectivity solutions.
Instead, something different is happening. Wherever municipalities try to establish services, or announce their plans to do so, private Internet providers (telcos, cable, etc.) are lowering their prices. And, their customers are staying with them.
Don't misunderstand me. It's a bad thing that government is engaging in activities that forces private companies to lower their prices and lose profits. It's wrong morally, and its wrong practically, because lower telco and cable profits means that there's less money to invest in upgrading the countries infrastructure.
Notice that at the end of the story, it's noted that the private companies who've been in partnership with the various municipalities are saying that the governments need to chip in to pay more of the costs. Meaning they're not profitable enterprises, and so taxpayers--whether they would ever use the service or not, and involuntarily--will be taxed more to pay for the service.
How anyone can see this kind of program as a good thing astounds me. It really does.
If the public wants such a service enough, a private company would be more than willing to provide it. And if it's not economically viable, then it shouldn't happen.
What's most interesting to me, though, is what appears to be the primary reason the projects are failing: lack of public demand. I was afraid that people would latch onto the free services, cancel their private Internet connections, and thus hold back the development of new and better connectivity solutions.
Instead, something different is happening. Wherever municipalities try to establish services, or announce their plans to do so, private Internet providers (telcos, cable, etc.) are lowering their prices. And, their customers are staying with them.
Don't misunderstand me. It's a bad thing that government is engaging in activities that forces private companies to lower their prices and lose profits. It's wrong morally, and its wrong practically, because lower telco and cable profits means that there's less money to invest in upgrading the countries infrastructure.
Notice that at the end of the story, it's noted that the private companies who've been in partnership with the various municipalities are saying that the governments need to chip in to pay more of the costs. Meaning they're not profitable enterprises, and so taxpayers--whether they would ever use the service or not, and involuntarily--will be taxed more to pay for the service.
How anyone can see this kind of program as a good thing astounds me. It really does.
Web Tool Shows Wikipedia Edits by CIA, Dems, and Vatican
A new Web tool traces the IP address of Wikipedia editors back to their organizations of origin. Some of the perpetrators of edits in this BBC story: the CIA, the Democrative Party, and the Vatican. Now, before everyone gets their anti-CIA shorts in a bunch, note the edits made:
By the CIA:
On the profile of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the tool indicates that a worker on the CIA network reportedly added the exclamation "Wahhhhhh!" before a section on the leader's plans for his presidency.
So, some CIA employee got bored. Big deal.
So, what about the Democratic Party?
The site also indicates that a computer owned by the US Democratic Party was used to make changes to the site of right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
The changes brand Mr Limbaugh as "idiotic," a "racist", and a "bigot". An entry about his audience now reads: "Most of them are legally retarded."
A little more serious, but again, probably a rogue employee acting on its own. I doubt the Democratic Party itself would stoop this low.
Now, here's the Vatican's:
The site also indicates that Vatican computers were used to remove content from a page about the leader of the Irish republican party Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams.
The edit removed links to newspaper stories written in 2006 that alleged that Mr Adams' fingerprints and handprints were found on a car used during a double murder in 1971.
The section, titled "Fresh murder question raised" is no longer available through the online encyclopaedia.
Of all three, I'd say the Vatican's the worst, by far. They materially changed Wikipedia by removing information, rather than adding obviously false information.
There are some others listed. It's worth a read.
By the CIA:
On the profile of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the tool indicates that a worker on the CIA network reportedly added the exclamation "Wahhhhhh!" before a section on the leader's plans for his presidency.
So, some CIA employee got bored. Big deal.
So, what about the Democratic Party?
The site also indicates that a computer owned by the US Democratic Party was used to make changes to the site of right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
The changes brand Mr Limbaugh as "idiotic," a "racist", and a "bigot". An entry about his audience now reads: "Most of them are legally retarded."
A little more serious, but again, probably a rogue employee acting on its own. I doubt the Democratic Party itself would stoop this low.
Now, here's the Vatican's:
The site also indicates that Vatican computers were used to remove content from a page about the leader of the Irish republican party Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams.
The edit removed links to newspaper stories written in 2006 that alleged that Mr Adams' fingerprints and handprints were found on a car used during a double murder in 1971.
The section, titled "Fresh murder question raised" is no longer available through the online encyclopaedia.
Of all three, I'd say the Vatican's the worst, by far. They materially changed Wikipedia by removing information, rather than adding obviously false information.
There are some others listed. It's worth a read.
Ex-Soviet Dissident to Return to Russia to Run for President
This is one brave guy, a former Soviet dissident who's returning to Russia to run in the Presidential elections there. Check out some quotes:
In an interview, Mr. Bukovsky, a 64-year-old retired neurophysiologist, said: "I am not scared, but Russian society is very scared. You need to boost people's morale. If they really want to change things --if they take to the streets in their millions -- they can. But that requires determination."
Given his history, though, I'd say he has reason to be scared:
Forty years ago the Russian authorities tried to execute Mr. Bukovsky on false charges of planning a Gulag mutiny. Having spent 12 years imprisoned in psychiatric and labour camps for "anti-Soviet activities," he was eventually deported in 1976, in an historic prison exchange with the Chilean communist leader Luis Corvalan Lepe, before seeking asylum in Britain.
And I fear something might happen to him:
His return to Russia follows the death of his close friend Mr. Litvinenko. He and other expatriate Russians claimed Mr. Litvinenko was murdered on the Kremlin's orders. Andrei Lugovoi, another former spy, is wanted in Britain to stand trial for Mr. Litvinenko's murder.
As a pallbearer at the London funeral last December, Mr. Bukovsky told mourners: "Sasha [Litvinenko] died as a soldier, a warrior, fighting his enemies to the very end, looking straight into their eyes. He fought for his brothers." Mr. Litvinenko's death, he added, was a sign that "Russia has been given a licence to kill, an invitation to murder anyone it wishes."
Putin's already created an atmosphere of fear around the upcoming elections, and is gaming things as well as he can so that his chosen one will become his successor. For this man to return to Russia and campaign in this environment makes him one brave soul indeed.
In an interview, Mr. Bukovsky, a 64-year-old retired neurophysiologist, said: "I am not scared, but Russian society is very scared. You need to boost people's morale. If they really want to change things --if they take to the streets in their millions -- they can. But that requires determination."
Given his history, though, I'd say he has reason to be scared:
Forty years ago the Russian authorities tried to execute Mr. Bukovsky on false charges of planning a Gulag mutiny. Having spent 12 years imprisoned in psychiatric and labour camps for "anti-Soviet activities," he was eventually deported in 1976, in an historic prison exchange with the Chilean communist leader Luis Corvalan Lepe, before seeking asylum in Britain.
And I fear something might happen to him:
His return to Russia follows the death of his close friend Mr. Litvinenko. He and other expatriate Russians claimed Mr. Litvinenko was murdered on the Kremlin's orders. Andrei Lugovoi, another former spy, is wanted in Britain to stand trial for Mr. Litvinenko's murder.
As a pallbearer at the London funeral last December, Mr. Bukovsky told mourners: "Sasha [Litvinenko] died as a soldier, a warrior, fighting his enemies to the very end, looking straight into their eyes. He fought for his brothers." Mr. Litvinenko's death, he added, was a sign that "Russia has been given a licence to kill, an invitation to murder anyone it wishes."
Putin's already created an atmosphere of fear around the upcoming elections, and is gaming things as well as he can so that his chosen one will become his successor. For this man to return to Russia and campaign in this environment makes him one brave soul indeed.
Russia Holds Vast Mineral Resources - Problem? Probably Not Yet
I know that Russia holds vast natural resources, and could use them as political weapons, as this short story implies. I think they will, to some extent, but ultimately they need to sell the stuff for it to be worth anything to them. Their basic economic infrastructure is so weak that they need to sell raw materials to stay afloat.
This will worry me in 10 years, if Putin manages to turn things around (which part of me doubts), but for now I think we'll see a great deal of saber rattling but a fair amount of selling as well.
This will worry me in 10 years, if Putin manages to turn things around (which part of me doubts), but for now I think we'll see a great deal of saber rattling but a fair amount of selling as well.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Digg Report
Digg Report: Todays #1 Digg, at 3627 Diggs, is a bit of the ol' pot calling the kettle black. It's a link to a cartoon depiction of commentors on YouTube. The commentors on YouTube.
Cox and Forkum on Karl Rove's Resigation
Cox and Forkum on the resignation of Karl Rove. As always, worth a visit.
I'll not comment on the whole affair, because it would require me to dive too deeply into the cesspool that is election politics. I know people who study such things and whose analyses I trust; I'd rather take their recommendations than get that dirty.
I'll not comment on the whole affair, because it would require me to dive too deeply into the cesspool that is election politics. I know people who study such things and whose analyses I trust; I'd rather take their recommendations than get that dirty.
Russian Man Denied Claim to Russia's Worst Serial Killer
Just a little ditty about a Russian serial killer (admits to 62 victims, police found 49), for those folks who think that only America creates people like this. And, apparently, since the police failed to find the other 13 victims, the guy lost his chance to be known as Russia's worst.
Chinese Toymaker Boss Kills Himself over Recall
Man, but these Chinese take things seriously. Mess up as a manager, and the government either executes you or you kill yourself, as in the manager of the plant that made the million or so toys that Mattell was required to recall.
There's something pathological going on with China, I believe. Its communist government is trying so hard to turn China into an economic powerhouse (while utterly destroying the country's environment, executing incompetence, essentially utilizing slave labor) that it's pushing that nation to the brink of some sort of explosion.
If China makes it through a transition to a freer society and true capitalist economy, I'll be shocked. As it is, I'd predict that the entire nation will commit suicide one day.
There's something pathological going on with China, I believe. Its communist government is trying so hard to turn China into an economic powerhouse (while utterly destroying the country's environment, executing incompetence, essentially utilizing slave labor) that it's pushing that nation to the brink of some sort of explosion.
If China makes it through a transition to a freer society and true capitalist economy, I'll be shocked. As it is, I'd predict that the entire nation will commit suicide one day.
Is "Bioshock" For or Against Objectivism? Remains to be Seen
This gentleman has played the "Bioshock" demo (which I haven't had time to play), and came away confused as to whether the game's developer, Irrational Games, is for or against Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. From everything I've read, I'm uncertain myself.
Even the company's name says nothing, because an Objectivist might come up with such a name just for some irony. I suppose we'll have to wait until the game is released, but I fear that even then we might not know. Not unless the developer tells us, of course.
Even the company's name says nothing, because an Objectivist might come up with such a name just for some irony. I suppose we'll have to wait until the game is released, but I fear that even then we might not know. Not unless the developer tells us, of course.
"Punative Psychiatry" Returning to Russia?
The Soviets had a tendency to put dissidents into asylums (along with the gulags and wherever else, including the dirt), which I can only imagine was an unpleasant experience. That practice was supposed to have died along with the Soviet Union, but this story suggests that it might be returning.
Some quotes:
But the treatment of one critic of the Putin Government has raised fears among Russia's human rights community that the Kremlin is preparing to incarcerate a new generation of dissidents in asylums.
Naked and with her hands and feet bound to the corners of a metal bed, Larisa Arap eyed with quiet defiance the doctors who wanted to declare her mad.
It was a futile gesture. The men in white coats standing over her were bitter adversaries. Enraged by the allegations that she had levelled against them, they also knew that, as an open Kremlin critic, the state would do little to help her.
And it's apparently not just a change in practices, but rathe a change in Russian law that makes it possible:
Mrs Arap's allegations come as no surprise to those who have followed psychiatry in Russia in recent years. In 2001, the law was quietly changed to remove the rights of sectioned patients to seek an independent assessment. And dozens of incidents suggest Russia's psychiatric system is rapidly becoming as unsavoury as it was in Soviet times.
Andrei Fedorovich, for example, was held in a clinic for 43 days last northern autumn after his neighbours, who had powerful connections in the Moscow police force, reported him as being mad, in an attempt to seize his apartment.
Alexei Shuralyov tells a similar story — although this time his antagonists came from the FSB, the feared domestic spy agency that employed his wife. Such stories are common.
Read the whole thing.
Some quotes:
But the treatment of one critic of the Putin Government has raised fears among Russia's human rights community that the Kremlin is preparing to incarcerate a new generation of dissidents in asylums.
Naked and with her hands and feet bound to the corners of a metal bed, Larisa Arap eyed with quiet defiance the doctors who wanted to declare her mad.
It was a futile gesture. The men in white coats standing over her were bitter adversaries. Enraged by the allegations that she had levelled against them, they also knew that, as an open Kremlin critic, the state would do little to help her.
And it's apparently not just a change in practices, but rathe a change in Russian law that makes it possible:
Mrs Arap's allegations come as no surprise to those who have followed psychiatry in Russia in recent years. In 2001, the law was quietly changed to remove the rights of sectioned patients to seek an independent assessment. And dozens of incidents suggest Russia's psychiatric system is rapidly becoming as unsavoury as it was in Soviet times.
Andrei Fedorovich, for example, was held in a clinic for 43 days last northern autumn after his neighbours, who had powerful connections in the Moscow police force, reported him as being mad, in an attempt to seize his apartment.
Alexei Shuralyov tells a similar story — although this time his antagonists came from the FSB, the feared domestic spy agency that employed his wife. Such stories are common.
Read the whole thing.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Cox and Forkum on the Clinton as Presidential Candidate
Cox and Forkum handle the Dem's concerns that Hillary Clinton as Presidential Candidate would have a negative impact at the bottom of the party. They usually have some good quotes and commentary, but I usually just go there for the illustration.
To quote, though, a little tidbit:
A strategist with close ties to leaders in Congress said Democratic Senate candidates in competitive races would be strongly urged to distance themselves from Clinton.
"The argument with Hillary right now in some of these red states is she's so damn unpopular," said Andy Arnold, chairman of the Greenville, S.C., Democratic Party. "I think Hillary is someone who could drive folks on the other side out to vote who otherwise wouldn't."
Golly, but politics sure are fun.
To quote, though, a little tidbit:
A strategist with close ties to leaders in Congress said Democratic Senate candidates in competitive races would be strongly urged to distance themselves from Clinton.
"The argument with Hillary right now in some of these red states is she's so damn unpopular," said Andy Arnold, chairman of the Greenville, S.C., Democratic Party. "I think Hillary is someone who could drive folks on the other side out to vote who otherwise wouldn't."
Golly, but politics sure are fun.
Boing Boing Doesn't Understand Why 9/11 Was Important
I simply can't stand the revisionist history surround the Iraqi war. Beforehand, everyone believed that he had WMD's, he'd broken the cease-fire that ended the first Gulf War on multiple occasions, and he was know for giving money to the family of suicide bombers. That's a little venting.
This Boing Boing story, though, seems to demonstrate their absolute ignorance of the significance of 9/11. Everything really did change that day. The first WTC bombing was just a harbinger of what was to come (and about with Clinton did absolutely nothing), the USS Cole, the African Embassy bombings, etc., etc., were all bad enough.
But 9/11 changed the rules. It showed that we're no longer just batting at flies, that these Islamic fundamentalists can and will do some real damage if given half the chance. And so, of course, 9/11 should have changed everyone's opinion on what war might be worth fighting.
Just because Bush chose to focus on all the wrong reasons for removing Hussein from power, doesn't mean it wasn't the right thing to do. Even if he wasn't an immediate threat, he was a future one.
This Boing Boing story, though, seems to demonstrate their absolute ignorance of the significance of 9/11. Everything really did change that day. The first WTC bombing was just a harbinger of what was to come (and about with Clinton did absolutely nothing), the USS Cole, the African Embassy bombings, etc., etc., were all bad enough.
But 9/11 changed the rules. It showed that we're no longer just batting at flies, that these Islamic fundamentalists can and will do some real damage if given half the chance. And so, of course, 9/11 should have changed everyone's opinion on what war might be worth fighting.
Just because Bush chose to focus on all the wrong reasons for removing Hussein from power, doesn't mean it wasn't the right thing to do. Even if he wasn't an immediate threat, he was a future one.
According to Study, the Mainstream Media's Losing It
This story at Ars Technica confirms what I've always believed about the mainstream media (MSM): it's biased, unprofessional, uninformed, anti-American, and no longer serves its mission as protector of America's Constitutional Republic. At least, as a recent Pew study shows, most Americans would agree with me.
Some interesting items:
This, however, doesn't mean that the public isn't keeping up with drinking a tall glass of press "hatorade." Pew notes that, since 1985, the public generally sees the mainstream press as doing an increasingly bad job at remaining moral, protecting democracy, and avoiding bias. Only 39 percent of Americans surveyed felt that the media managed to get the facts straight, compared to 46 percent in 2001 and 55 percent in 1985. "As a consequence, the believability ratings for individual news organizations are lower today than they were in the 1980s and 1990s," writes the report. Americans also feel that the press is less professional than it was in 1985, with 66 percent of survey respondents describing the press as professional compared to 72 percent (although there was a particularly low dip to 49 percent in July of 2002).
The Internet crowd feels even more strongly:
The Internet news audience is even more critical of news organizations as a whole. "The internet news audience is particularly likely to criticize news organizations for their lack of empathy, their failure to 'stand up for America,' and political bias," reads the report. "Roughly two-thirds (68%) of those who get most of their news from the internet say that news organizations do not care about the people they report on, and 53% believe that news organizations are too critical of America." Comparatively, only 53 percent of the general public believes that news organizations don't care about the people they report on, and 43 percent believes that they're too critical of America.
And then, of course, there's the partisan line:
But there's another set of data lurking below the surface that is taking its toll on these numbers. It's no secret that Republicans and Democrats feel differently—and, in some cases, very strongly—over exactly how biased and accurate the mainstream media is, and Pew's data reflects this. For example, almost three times as many Republicans (63 percent) say that the press is too critical of America compared to Democrats (23 percent), "and there is virtually no measure of press values or performance on which there is not a substantial gap in the views of partisans," Pew found.
This is an important study. I wonder how well the MSM will cover the Pew results.
Some interesting items:
This, however, doesn't mean that the public isn't keeping up with drinking a tall glass of press "hatorade." Pew notes that, since 1985, the public generally sees the mainstream press as doing an increasingly bad job at remaining moral, protecting democracy, and avoiding bias. Only 39 percent of Americans surveyed felt that the media managed to get the facts straight, compared to 46 percent in 2001 and 55 percent in 1985. "As a consequence, the believability ratings for individual news organizations are lower today than they were in the 1980s and 1990s," writes the report. Americans also feel that the press is less professional than it was in 1985, with 66 percent of survey respondents describing the press as professional compared to 72 percent (although there was a particularly low dip to 49 percent in July of 2002).
The Internet crowd feels even more strongly:
The Internet news audience is even more critical of news organizations as a whole. "The internet news audience is particularly likely to criticize news organizations for their lack of empathy, their failure to 'stand up for America,' and political bias," reads the report. "Roughly two-thirds (68%) of those who get most of their news from the internet say that news organizations do not care about the people they report on, and 53% believe that news organizations are too critical of America." Comparatively, only 53 percent of the general public believes that news organizations don't care about the people they report on, and 43 percent believes that they're too critical of America.
And then, of course, there's the partisan line:
But there's another set of data lurking below the surface that is taking its toll on these numbers. It's no secret that Republicans and Democrats feel differently—and, in some cases, very strongly—over exactly how biased and accurate the mainstream media is, and Pew's data reflects this. For example, almost three times as many Republicans (63 percent) say that the press is too critical of America compared to Democrats (23 percent), "and there is virtually no measure of press values or performance on which there is not a substantial gap in the views of partisans," Pew found.
This is an important study. I wonder how well the MSM will cover the Pew results.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 4462 Diggs, is a predictable celebration over Karl Rove's resignation. The vitriol present in the comments is something to behold.
More on Russian Politics
This summary of the Russian political situation posted on the Free Republic is pessimistic but, I believe, too close to the truth. Putin is already a shoe-in for the 2012 election, and there's some certainty that whomever is "elected" in between will be merely a temporary fill-in.
Put another way:
Back in early June on WAMU's Diane Rehm talk show, Andrei Sitov, the Washington-based representative for Russia's government-owned and controlled ITAR-TASS news service (and himself a government spokesman pretending to be a correspondent), portrayed the Russian election as analogous to the U.S. race. "There are two frontrunners now," he stated, "the two First Deputy Prime Ministers [Sergei Ivanov and Dmitri Medvedev]. An intriguing possibility is that [Putin] will say 'I endorse both--you choose'--the Russian people choose." Sitov went on to explain how these two would be promoting themselves to the Russian electorate just as American presidential candidates would do after the two parties have completed their nomination process.
At which point the U.S. commentators cried foul, explaining that Medvedev, a St. Petersburg lawyer and former head of Putin's administration, and Ivanov, the former defense minister and an old KGB crony of Putin's, are members of the same ruling cabal that has been progressively tightening its grip on Russia.
A comparable situation in America, clarified Stanford's Michael McFaul, would be "if George W. Bush decided that Karl Rove and Condoleezza Rice would be the two candidates and all opposition Democratic candidates would not be allowed to run. Second, all of the television stations from which Russians get their political news are either owned or controlled by the state. These are the reforms that Putin has instituted as president of Russia."
And what do we have to look forward to?
Even worse, the new man will be trying to show that, like Putin, he can rule with an iron fist. This means belligerence and a search for scapegoats bordering on the irrational will be the order of the day. For a taste of things to come, ponder the anti-U.S. tirade from TASS's Sitov towards the end of the WAMU broadcast. It would have done the Russian ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky proud: "The Putin course will continue," Sitov declared. "He is saying this to the future U.S. president's administration. You need to know that the good old days when you could lie to Russia and steal from Russia, when you could trample on Russia--all those days are over."
It's a quick read, and worth it.
Put another way:
Back in early June on WAMU's Diane Rehm talk show, Andrei Sitov, the Washington-based representative for Russia's government-owned and controlled ITAR-TASS news service (and himself a government spokesman pretending to be a correspondent), portrayed the Russian election as analogous to the U.S. race. "There are two frontrunners now," he stated, "the two First Deputy Prime Ministers [Sergei Ivanov and Dmitri Medvedev]. An intriguing possibility is that [Putin] will say 'I endorse both--you choose'--the Russian people choose." Sitov went on to explain how these two would be promoting themselves to the Russian electorate just as American presidential candidates would do after the two parties have completed their nomination process.
At which point the U.S. commentators cried foul, explaining that Medvedev, a St. Petersburg lawyer and former head of Putin's administration, and Ivanov, the former defense minister and an old KGB crony of Putin's, are members of the same ruling cabal that has been progressively tightening its grip on Russia.
A comparable situation in America, clarified Stanford's Michael McFaul, would be "if George W. Bush decided that Karl Rove and Condoleezza Rice would be the two candidates and all opposition Democratic candidates would not be allowed to run. Second, all of the television stations from which Russians get their political news are either owned or controlled by the state. These are the reforms that Putin has instituted as president of Russia."
And what do we have to look forward to?
Even worse, the new man will be trying to show that, like Putin, he can rule with an iron fist. This means belligerence and a search for scapegoats bordering on the irrational will be the order of the day. For a taste of things to come, ponder the anti-U.S. tirade from TASS's Sitov towards the end of the WAMU broadcast. It would have done the Russian ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky proud: "The Putin course will continue," Sitov declared. "He is saying this to the future U.S. president's administration. You need to know that the good old days when you could lie to Russia and steal from Russia, when you could trample on Russia--all those days are over."
It's a quick read, and worth it.
Putin Continues Harsh Rhetoric
Putin continues to turn up the heat. He just doesn't like the West infringing on former Soviet states. This story in the Financial Times basically summarizes what's been going on now for some time.
Relevant quotes:
Washington insists the anti-missile system is to deal with “rogue” states, but Mr Putin has said the installations would risk turning Europe into “a powder keg” and has threatened to retarget Russian missiles on Europe if the US goes ahead with the plan, opening the most serious rift in Moscow’s relations with Washington since the cold war.
Regarding moves back towards a command economy:
Mr Putin said fulfilment of plans to double Russia’s annual production of military aircraft by 2025 would require a radical shake-up of domestic aircraft engine manufacturing capacity. “The competitiveness of aircraft engines produced in our country today is, unfortunately, low, extremely low.”
The government plans to consolidate aircraft engine manufacturing companies into a large, state-controlled holding similar to Oboronprom, the helicopter monopoly, and Rosoboron export, the state arms export company.
And Putin sounds a little like Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) when it comes to announcing weapons that can't be defeated:
The Navy also announced that Russia was ready to launch serial production of its new Bulava submarine launched intercontinental nuclear missile which Putin has said can penetrate any defence system.
However, military experts said testing of the Bulava was incomplete and that the Navy chief was sabre rattling.
Read the whole thing.
Relevant quotes:
Washington insists the anti-missile system is to deal with “rogue” states, but Mr Putin has said the installations would risk turning Europe into “a powder keg” and has threatened to retarget Russian missiles on Europe if the US goes ahead with the plan, opening the most serious rift in Moscow’s relations with Washington since the cold war.
Regarding moves back towards a command economy:
Mr Putin said fulfilment of plans to double Russia’s annual production of military aircraft by 2025 would require a radical shake-up of domestic aircraft engine manufacturing capacity. “The competitiveness of aircraft engines produced in our country today is, unfortunately, low, extremely low.”
The government plans to consolidate aircraft engine manufacturing companies into a large, state-controlled holding similar to Oboronprom, the helicopter monopoly, and Rosoboron export, the state arms export company.
And Putin sounds a little like Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) when it comes to announcing weapons that can't be defeated:
The Navy also announced that Russia was ready to launch serial production of its new Bulava submarine launched intercontinental nuclear missile which Putin has said can penetrate any defence system.
However, military experts said testing of the Bulava was incomplete and that the Navy chief was sabre rattling.
Read the whole thing.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Boing Boing on US-Built Chinese Surveillance System
I'm sure that Boing Boing is implying something really bad here in the creation of a Chinese human-tracking system by a US-financed company. Although, I'd be hard-pressed to tell whether it was the tracking system they're against, or just the fact that it's being built by a US company?
Now, I would vehemently oppose any such system in the US. And I don't like it when US companies engage in this sort of work. But such systems exist in Europe, and are being expanded there as we speak. And I'm not sure I remember Boing Boing making a big deal out of those. Which, of course, would lead me back to the US-built theory.
Now, I would vehemently oppose any such system in the US. And I don't like it when US companies engage in this sort of work. But such systems exist in Europe, and are being expanded there as we speak. And I'm not sure I remember Boing Boing making a big deal out of those. Which, of course, would lead me back to the US-built theory.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 4518 Digg, is a link to some suspended account that says something about Bill Nye quoted the Bible regarding the Moon reflecting light from the Sun.
Not sure what that's all about, but since the link is down, can't really comment on it.
Not sure what that's all about, but since the link is down, can't really comment on it.
China to Limit Access to Foreign Companies
Bad news for all those foreign companies that want a part of the Chinese market. China's doing everything it can to protect its state-owned enterprises, including creating barriers to entry.
This won't last forever. At some point, China's going to have to realize who their customers are.
This won't last forever. At some point, China's going to have to realize who their customers are.
Putin Youth - Scarier and Scarier
More on the Putin Youth, the Nashi, at the Boston Globe's Web site. The more I read about this phenomenon, the more it continues to remind me of the Hitler Youth. Some quotes:
I thought of that young woman when, shortly afterward, I read alarming reports about a new force in Russian public life: a youth movement called Nashi. The word is typically translated as "Ours," but that doesn't quite capture the nationalist, triumphalist overtones of the Russian name. "Nashi," in Russian idiom, means "Our Guys" or "Our Kind"; it's the "us" in us versus them.
"Them," for Nashi, includes everyone from Americans to former Soviet republics that bristle at Russian diktat to Russians who don't subscribe to Putin's authoritarian vision of "sovereign democracy."
As far as its size, it seems to be growing:
Nashi claims to be over 100,000 strong; according to some reports, it has a core of 10,000 activists ages 17 to 25, with another 200,000 or so who regularly attend its events.
And their methods?
Propaganda is not the only weapon in Nashi's arsenal. The movement offers paramilitary training that prepares members for breaking up opposition rallies (under the guise of combating "fascism") and intimidating those who run afoul of the Putin regime.
...
In April, the group's protests against the Estonian government's decision to relocate a memorial to Soviet soldiers turned violent: Hundreds of Nashi goons besieged the Estonian embassy in Moscow, unmolested by the police as they threw rocks, blocked traffic, and tore down the Estonian flag.
And finally, in a nod to a sort of Russian "Aryan purity":
Perhaps more aptly, some Russian liberals refer to Nashi as "Putinjugend." The movement's brownshirt tactics certain evoke shades of Hitler Youth, as does the emphasis on physical fitness, clean living, and procreation for the Motherland. (At the Nashi summer camp, sex was encouraged as an answer to Russia's demographic crisis, and 40 couples were married.)
Read the whole thing.
I thought of that young woman when, shortly afterward, I read alarming reports about a new force in Russian public life: a youth movement called Nashi. The word is typically translated as "Ours," but that doesn't quite capture the nationalist, triumphalist overtones of the Russian name. "Nashi," in Russian idiom, means "Our Guys" or "Our Kind"; it's the "us" in us versus them.
"Them," for Nashi, includes everyone from Americans to former Soviet republics that bristle at Russian diktat to Russians who don't subscribe to Putin's authoritarian vision of "sovereign democracy."
As far as its size, it seems to be growing:
Nashi claims to be over 100,000 strong; according to some reports, it has a core of 10,000 activists ages 17 to 25, with another 200,000 or so who regularly attend its events.
And their methods?
Propaganda is not the only weapon in Nashi's arsenal. The movement offers paramilitary training that prepares members for breaking up opposition rallies (under the guise of combating "fascism") and intimidating those who run afoul of the Putin regime.
...
In April, the group's protests against the Estonian government's decision to relocate a memorial to Soviet soldiers turned violent: Hundreds of Nashi goons besieged the Estonian embassy in Moscow, unmolested by the police as they threw rocks, blocked traffic, and tore down the Estonian flag.
And finally, in a nod to a sort of Russian "Aryan purity":
Perhaps more aptly, some Russian liberals refer to Nashi as "Putinjugend." The movement's brownshirt tactics certain evoke shades of Hitler Youth, as does the emphasis on physical fitness, clean living, and procreation for the Motherland. (At the Nashi summer camp, sex was encouraged as an answer to Russia's demographic crisis, and 40 couples were married.)
Read the whole thing.
Ayn Rand Supported Israel - You Should Too
Just for the record, Ayn Rand supported Israel. As Yaron Brook said in a story in the International Jerusalem Post:
“We view what happens in Israel as an indicator of what will happen in the rest of the world. To the extent America abandons Israel, it abandons itself Israel is a beacon of civilization in a barbaric, backward area,” Brook said on a recent trip here to visit family with his wife, also an Israeli expatriate, and their two children.
“Israel represents, despite its flaws, the values of the West; individual rights, free speech, freedom of the press, equality before the law and the rule of law.” Objectivism upholds values generally associated with Western culture — individualism, reason, and science - but its distinctive development is a moral ideal of “selfishness,” whereby someone’s own happiness is a moral responsibility.
Anyone who can't see the difference between Israel and the rest of the Middle East either isn't looking or is blinded by an agenda (or proselytizing for it).
“We view what happens in Israel as an indicator of what will happen in the rest of the world. To the extent America abandons Israel, it abandons itself Israel is a beacon of civilization in a barbaric, backward area,” Brook said on a recent trip here to visit family with his wife, also an Israeli expatriate, and their two children.
“Israel represents, despite its flaws, the values of the West; individual rights, free speech, freedom of the press, equality before the law and the rule of law.” Objectivism upholds values generally associated with Western culture — individualism, reason, and science - but its distinctive development is a moral ideal of “selfishness,” whereby someone’s own happiness is a moral responsibility.
Anyone who can't see the difference between Israel and the rest of the Middle East either isn't looking or is blinded by an agenda (or proselytizing for it).
Ahmadinejad Speaks Truth to Power
Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) on terrorism:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Algiers on Tuesday outlined Iran's policies on regional and global developments. On issue of terrorism, he said, "Terrorism is the ugliest phenomenon which has roots in discrimination, pressure, occupation and trampling on rights of others, deviation from the lofty humanitarian values and mismanagement of certain powers who seek to meet their own interests by imposing their own policies on the world and plundering the wealth of other nations."
Umm, okay.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Algiers on Tuesday outlined Iran's policies on regional and global developments. On issue of terrorism, he said, "Terrorism is the ugliest phenomenon which has roots in discrimination, pressure, occupation and trampling on rights of others, deviation from the lofty humanitarian values and mismanagement of certain powers who seek to meet their own interests by imposing their own policies on the world and plundering the wealth of other nations."
Umm, okay.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 3018, is about the "general strike" being called for on 9/11/07. To me, calling a general strike like this is ludicrous and hopelessly ineffective, even if one's cause were legitimate--and this one seems to have a baker's dozen Leftist causes.
Calling for the strike on the anniversary of the worst attack on American soil, by enemies against which we're still fighting, is immoral and despicable. I predict a complete failure, and I hope for a backlash against this disgusting proposition.
Calling for the strike on the anniversary of the worst attack on American soil, by enemies against which we're still fighting, is immoral and despicable. I predict a complete failure, and I hope for a backlash against this disgusting proposition.
Chinese Autos - Really Unsafe at Any Speed?
Oh. My. God. Those Chinese are sure getting blackeyes lately when it comes to product safety (and as I've always believed, you get what you pay for). Now, it seems their new automobiles are complete deathtraps. Go to Gizmodo to watch a video of a Chinese-made Cherey Amulet positively crushing its driver in the 40mph front-end crash. It's literally the worst crash result I've ever seen.
They're being sold in Russia for a US equivalent $9,000. I don't think there's enough savings there to virtually guarantee being killed in an accident that with other autos would like result in mainly a few bruises.
China better clean up its act soon, or its position as global manufacturer is going to be irreparably damaged.
They're being sold in Russia for a US equivalent $9,000. I don't think there's enough savings there to virtually guarantee being killed in an accident that with other autos would like result in mainly a few bruises.
China better clean up its act soon, or its position as global manufacturer is going to be irreparably damaged.
The Future of Ballistic Weapons?
Go watch this video if you want a look into the future of ballistic weapons. Incredible stuff, in the right hands. Even has some peaceful applications, for those of you who abhor the weapons of war.
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