Today might mark the closure of Ivory Coasts civil war. But somehow, I sense that their arguments will continue for awhile as well. Have fun sorting it out, France. We've been there and done that, it rarely turns out well.
Personal Note: In case anyone's been wondering as I had been, Former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo's name is pronounced BOG-bo. Thanks NPR!
The Japanese nuclear disaster is now rated at the same level of severity as Chernobyl. In wonderfully Japanese fashion, an official continues to keep things low-key:
“We deeply apologize for tremendous concerns and inconvenience we are causing the residents in the neighboring areas of the power plant as well as people of [Fukushima] prefecture, and further, to the people of” Japan."
Inconvenience? It sounds like he's describing a water main break.
With so many troubling developments in the world, at least the Chinese can rest assured that they will no longer suffer the scourge of time travelers. Not to mention, old-timey religion.
In other crackdown news; Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, is coming down hard on protesters as the 38th anniversary of the banning of all political parties approaches. Not only have they arrested the heads of opposition groups but have deployed their feared and notorious mens choir:
The BBC's Nomsa Maseko saw a group of riot police marching up the street singing: "You will get arrested if you dare."
As long as we're discussing absolute monarchies, it might as well be noted that North Korea is getting hungry. I guess it takes quite a bit to keep those giant soldiers fed.
Pakistan has demanded that the US sharply cut CIA activities in the country. This certainly marks a low point in relations between the two countries. That said, I don't know that demands to remove spies have ever been treated all that seriously. I believe the whole point of them is that nobody is supposed to know that they're in country.
It seems as though the majority of Americans would like to have a word with Congress concerning the near shutdown of government.
I mentioned some time ago, that one of my favorite bloggers, Radley Balko will be joining the Huffington Post. Unfortunately, it might be a diabolical, internet sweatshop! Or not. Balko has his own take on it.
Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward continues to do well on Dancing With the Stars. Let's check in with a notable participant from last season. No news on whether he'll ever be allowed to own another TV as part of his sentencing requirements.
In the event that there is not a 2011 football season, I've been looking into alternatives. In the event that Chess Boxing isn't enough of a mish-mash of disciplines for you, perhaps you might consider Kronum?
In which a political talking head learns the hazard of clashing with a musical talking head.
I had presumed that people had stopped making money off of holy relics after the Protestant Reformation. Evidently, I thought wrong. A documentary claims to have uncovered the nails used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This brings to mind a legend I once read: In the myth, the Gypsy people are nomadic because their forbear crafted the nails used in the crucifixion and they've been pursued by them ever since. Since we're talking about magical relics whose value is squarely within the realm of legends, I would propose that the only way to test their authenticity must be mystical as well: For me to accept them as valid, they must demonstrate a capacity for Gypsy chasing. Otherwise, they're just old junk.
I was not aware! Happy 50th Birthday, Manned Space-Flight!!!
But just to be a jerk, here's a gallery of doctored propaganda photos of cosmonauts.
That voice in your head has a name. Pretty creepy article if you ask me. I am (illogically but definitely), uncomfortable with the idea of my body being an ecosystem, particularly with regards to what it means in terms of my identity as an individual.
I swear by whatever powers may be, that if ANY OF THESE PEOPLE DARE TO SHOW UP ON MY DOORSTEP ON A SATURDAY, I will take a bat to them!
Ahem... presidential behavior?
No comments:
Post a Comment