Welcome Dignan's visitors
After being named Dignan's number 2 visitor, combined with my co-blogger, gurufrisbee, being number 7 on the list, I've seen a real rise in visitors. It is very nice to be recognized by a Big Dawg (well,
Large Mammal anyway) of the blogosphere.
In true Dignan fashion, let me suggest a few posts so you can get a flavor of Page 132. Unfortunatley, Haloscan seems to have eaten all the comments because many of these posts had excellent discussion in the comments.
Feel free to leave any comments here and enjoy.
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He likes us, he really likes us
Earlier this week, I noted that gurufrisbee was honored as the
number 7 guest at Dignan's place. Well, today he named yours truly as the
number 2 visitor of 2005. It is an honor. I enjoy the combatative and cooperative relationship that his blog has brought to my life. Dignan had this to say, "The best visitor and commenter I have had this year to display intelligent and charitable conversation from a differing perspective is Expat Teacher," so I guess we both feel the same way. Also, if you want to see what I look like, there is a pic taken with Apple's
Photo Booth software while I was at the Apple store with MoLak-Jedi.
Might I also recommend Dignan's post from a few days ago,
"Best Reason Why the Christian Coalition is Irrelevant". Unfortunately, the world isn't hearing what Dignan is preaching.
UPDATED: A photo of the illustrious Dignan can be found at
Jollybogger.
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End of year quizzes
If you want to know how well you followed current events in 2005, test your skills with an end of year quiz. I've found a few.
The BBC has a two part test covering the news and events of the year. (
Part 1) (
Part 2). My in-laws don't have the right software to do the test. Anyone care to take it and tell us the number of questions and how hard it is? I'll play when I get back to London on Thursday.
Next is the 50 question test in the
Guardian. I got 38 out of 50. I wish I was at my home computer because I'd love to do a screen shot of questions 30 and 31. 35 might trip up gurufrisbee, hefe and others. ;-)
And if you are a lot smarter than me, King William's College on the Isle of Man has a
2005 General Knowledge Paper, a 180 question test about the year. I got 2. Anyone smarter than me?
For you business types, here is "
The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street: Year-End Quiz". It has 10 questions, but the answers aren't posted until Jan 3.
The CBC has a
pop culture quiz. I did poorly. Guess I don't care who helps David Letterman make high ratings.
Enjoy.
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Northwesterners don't tan, they just rust
I've been up in the Pacific Northwest now for about 10 days and it has done nothing but rain. I'm surprised the whole state hasnt' floated away into the Pacific at this point. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really long for
London's weather...
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gurufrisbee gets his props from Dignan
If you don't journey over to
Dignan's 75 Year Plan all too often, you should. It can be infuriating at times, but also very enlightening. gurufrisbee and I engage in debate/discussion and Dignan has recognized guru's contribution by naming him
Dignan's #7 Visitor of 2005.
Congrats to gurufrisbee. His first blogosphere honor.
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Don't give up hope on making poverty history
Let's face it, 2005 wasn't the year that "Made Poverty History". It had some excellent moments like the G8 summit at GlenEagles that came up with a plan for reducing debt payments by developing nations and increased
pledges of aid to struggling nations, but that meeting was overshadowed by the July 7th bombings.
That seem to knock the wind from the sails of the movement. Further attempts to Make Poverty History stalled or never got off the ground. The WTO meetings in Hong Kong were a failure in improving trade justice. France, unilaterally, refuses to consider dropping export subsidies and import duties. The American Congress isn't real fired up about dropping subsidies for farmers either. Luckily for both groups, that won't be required until 2012.
I was considering removing the white band from the upper right of the blog, but then read today's
editorial from Bill Center, president of the Washington Council on International Trade. He is a business man strongly defeating the myth that "wiping out poverty was a noble but impossible idea."
His editorial was a strong shot in the arm to keep the faith. The white band shall stay.
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Healthcare in Pakistan quake zone better than for 45 million Americans
On TV, I just saw a
CNN report from northern Pakistan about the last
MASH unit in the Army. It is running a free hospital and basic care facility for anyone that can get there. They are doing amazing work. Setting a bone broken 30 days previous, giving kidney dialysis, and immunizing everyone from basic diseases. The WHO believes this MASH hospital, since the October earthquake, has improved immunization rates by 10% in the area. Surgeries that used to be "elective" like to repair a hernia or
remove a goiter are being done by the MASH doctors with great success.
Yet,
45 million Americans don't get that quality of health care because they don't have insurance. Would these Americans be better off in an earthquake zone? Why aren't we providing health care for everyone? I don't begrudge the Pakistanis and I certainly salute the good works the MASH unit is doing, but I wonder why we can't do both?
I've seen it first hand. I have avoided going skiing because I don't have health care Stateside. If I blow a knee out I'd have to declare bankruptcy. I went shopping for glasses, but found out that without insurance I'd be better off buying them in the U.K., even though the
NHS doesn't offer eyeglass coverage.
We don't have to make every doctor a federal employee to offer some basic health care to every U.S. citizen. Lasvegastan works for an HMO (or just a health insurance company, I can't keep it straight) and I'm sure there are some industry driven ideas that would cover everyone and are perfectly palettable to people of all political stripes.
Abortion, death penalty and poverty are all travesties, but the lack of health care coverage (that means you can't realistically go to the doctor!) for 1/6 of all Americans is the greatest moral issue facing us today.
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In defense of gurufrisbee sorta
In the comments to my
recent post, gurufrisbee had this to say, "'Country music' isn't music, it's twang background noise for dressing up and hitting on your cousin to."
Clearly he is totally wrong on this because my cousins don't even like me. Besides country music has lyrics with funny turns of phrases (like
"My Give a Damn's Busted") or it tells a good story (like
"Three Wooden Crosses").
I was ready to rip into him with all this, but then CMT played this gem...
Honky Tonk Badonkadonk by Trace Adkins with the incredibly moving chorus of:
At that honky tonk badonkadonk
Keepin' perfect rhythm
Make ya wanna swing along
Got it goin' on
Like Donkey Kong
And whoo-wee
Shut my mouth, slap your grandma
There outta be a law
Get the Sheriff on the phone
Lord have mercy, how's she even get them britches on
That honky tonk badonkadonk
Say what? Got it goin' on like Donkey Kong? Did anyone ever play this game? Donkey Kong was a giant gorilla that stood at the top of a chutes and ladder game rolling barrels. Donkey Kong never had
anything going on.
Then, 'slap your grandma'? Why? My grandmas are very nice and sweet old women. They don't deserved to be slapped.
Finally, 'there outta be a law get the sheriff on the phone'? Doesn't Trace know how our representative government works? The sheriff is part of the executive branch. They
execute the law. Laws are created by the legislative branch. So Trace,
you should get Congress on the phone.
Yet, even with such a horrible song, country music is still better than rap, hip-hop, Top 40 stuff or the extra cheesy Top 40 rip-off pop Christian stuff.
With that I'll do as Trace said and "shut my mouth."
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Pet peeve about concerts
Thanks to the wonders of satellite television, I've been able to meld my two worlds together nearly seemlessly. Tonight I watched the
BBC news and CMT. [grand sigh of contentment]
On CMT, they had a
Brooks and Dunn concert. It was an hour of them singing their favorites and greatest hits. An hour well spent, I figure. Yet, they did what all performers
have to do at concerts and it drives me crazy.
After singing all the verses to
"My Maria" and getting to the repeating chorus part, Brooks (or Dunn, I really don't know the difference) told the audience to sing and held the microphone out over the front row.
Uh NO!If I wanted to hear
me sing My Maria, I'd have saved the $50 and sat in my car with the CD on.
I paid to hear you, the performer, sing. So do your job and entertain me. Don't ask me to sing unless you are giving me a share of the gig's earnings.
Why do all performers feel the need to ask the audience to sing? Does this drive anyone else as crazy as it does me?
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Page 132 wishes you a
Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season.
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Friday Prayer Blogging - Open Thread
I haven't much time to blog today so I'm throwing open the comments to people's prayers and praises. Today I'm praying for my favorite NFL coach, Tony Dungy, and his family because his son died on Thursday from an apparent suicide. I've followed Dungy's career from a far and he is an honorable man who runs a clean organization. Even the strongest of men are shaken in times of tragedy. I'm praying that Tony's faith will sustain him and his family through this horrible time in their lives.
Also, I'm praising God because we are pulling troops out of Iraq in 2006. While the numbers aren't huge, it is probably the beginning of a long-term downward trend.
Please add additional prayers and praises in the comments
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Keep your Christmas tree up
Regular visitor
Public Theologian sent me this message as part of his role at
Christian Alliance for Progress.Wednesday, December 23, 2006
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
We have heard a lot about "saving Christmas" during the last couple of Decembers. With people whipped into a frenzy by right wing pundits, it has become all the rage among certain branches of Christianity to protest by boycotting any retailer who makes mention of "Happy Holidays" or to sue local governments who balk at manger scenes on the town square. All this is apparently done for the purpose of reminding America of the "true meaning" of Christmas. But boycotts and lawsuits are hardly the substance of the Christmas season, as anyone with only a passing familiarity with the Gospels will no doubt attest.
The meaning of Christmas transcends the culture wars in which we are now engaged. For Christmas is God's statement to all of humanity--Democrats, Republican, Christians, Muslims, Jews, blacks, whites--that God is for the world, for all of us, each and every one, and that although we have made a mess of things, God has not given up hope in our ultimate redemption and reconciliation. Despite all of our shortcomings and all our attempts to destroy God's image in our neighbor, Christmas is the reminder that God still is hopeful for us and our futures, and that we have not been abandoned, but that God will be with us until all that is wrong with the world will be made right.
And that God gave the world this wondrous sign in such an unexpected package is what is truly amazing. Poets, artists, and lyricists have strained for centuries to capture the irony of this unexpected event: how the embodiment of this hope of God came not by way of the great courts and capitals of the world, nor was it preceded by a huge public relations campaign with all of the attendant media hoopla, but rather came to the world in the form of a child born to an unwed, homeless, refugee mother and her fiancé in the humblest of shelter.
Such humility would characterize the child as he grew into manhood. He did not allow the prejudices of his day of religion, ethnicity or health to color his view of the people around him, but rather saw in each of them the image of God and therefore treated them all as neighbors, meeting their needs whatever the circumstance. Even when such associations were costly to his reputation and even his personal safety, he would not abandon a single person, even one who betrayed him. When some sought to use him for violent political purposes, he refused to become that kind of leader and instead gave up his life to make friends out of his enemies.
Whenever one gives to a person in need, whenever one repays evil with kindness, whenever one stands firm in hopeful expectation where seemingly only despair could survive, one incarnates the spirit of that first Christmas so long ago in Bethlehem. A visitor to an elderly woman's home one August brought surprise to her guest's face when she walked into the living room and saw the Christmas tree, still decorated, standing stoutly in the corner. Thinking the elderly woman to be losing her grip on her reality, her friend gently inquired as to whether she had forgotten what season it was. The elderly woman replied that she knew the season perfectly well, but needed help remembering something else. "Keeping the tree up year round reminds me every day of what Christmas really means. That's what I am in danger of forgetting."
Perhaps we should all keep our trees up this year.
Rev. Tim Simpson
Director of Religious AffairsCouldn't have said it better myself.
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A day of "yeahs!"
Usually I blog about the things that make me grumpy or upset. Yet today I was scanning the headlines, I'm pleased with several events...
Britain allows homosexuals to enter into civil unions. This should be the model America follows.
Sen. Clinton's GOP challenger quits race. While I'm no fan of Hillary Clinton for president, this means any money Hillary raises can be farmed out to good challengers and vulnerable incumbents.
Senate blocks Alaska oil drilling. While I'm not totally against oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, to drill without a comprehensive energy plan reducing our dependence on oil is unwise.
Iran agrees to more nuclear talks. I don't have a lot of faith in Iran giving up its nuclear (weapons) program, but I'd rather have them talking than being defiant.
Ok, it is technically yesterday's news, but I saw it in the paper this morning. In possibly the biggest "yeah" moment of the day,
'Intelligent design' teaching banned.
Finally, in what will show just how corrupt this Republican Congress is,
Abramoff considers plea deal.
What other stories are making you smile?
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Domestic Spying, FISA and torture
I've been watching the news lately and the reporters are driving me nuts! The reporters are trying to boil down President Bush's spying
without just cause or judicial oversight into simply spying. That is a huge difference. I support domestic spying
as long as it has judicial oversight. Law enforcement officials need to watch people they suspect of doing no good, whether that is foreign or domestic terrorists, drug cartels or racketeers. The biggest difference in this case is that President Bush has ordered spying without that judicial oversight. Anyone President Bush (or the NSA suspects) could be watched. So anti-war protestors (since
they are really anti-American) could be watched.
Friends of Hillary could be on the list. Virtually anyone could be spied upon because the Bush administration refuses to submit itself to founding principles of the Constitution!
What confuses me is why did President Bush violate
crucial principles of the Contitution and
possibly the law, to go around the secret FISA court? As Josh Micah Marshall points out
here,
here and
here, the FISA is extremely indulgent in giving the federal government warrants, only rejecting four government requests for a warrant in the last 25 years.
So we have a lenient court, but the cock-sure President won't go before it for a warrant. Why is that? Could it be that the intelligence for deciding who to spy on came from victims of torture? I can imagine that during interrogation a torture victim might cough up a name. Any court in America would dismiss that as evidence and not allow the spying. Instead the FSA now can sidestep that and spy on EVERYONE with that name. A quick vanity search on Google tells me that over 100 people have my same name. If one of us gets fingered as a terrorist by a tortured terrorist suspect, then we are all terrorists. Look at all the
problems we've had with the
no-fly list. Scary stuff.
In a potentially scarier option,
Josh Micah Marshall and
Kevin Drum have different ideas. Maybe that the federal government has a technology to filter
all communication for key words. As Josh says, "It is the definition of a fishing expedition."
Either way, it is completely unacceptable.
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Bush & Williams & some more questions
NBC's Brian Williams has been recently I
interviewing George W. Bush and some of the questions and comments caught my attention (Thanks to the Old Man for pointing out the interview at all).
I still have a few questions.President Bush: I think after awhile you kind of get used to it. It's part of the job. It is  you know, it's  part of living in a democracy. They're frankly smaller than they used to be, but that doesn't mean there's not intensity out there. I've made some very difficult positions. I fully understand people not liking war. I fully understand people wanting, you know, feeling that, you know, that I'm making progress. I mean, I can see that. And, on the other hand, I know we're making progress. We're winning. And it's my job to continue to try to reassure them that we are winning and the stakes are worth it. But yes, I'm fully aware of the discontent and the protests.
QUESTION #1: If you are aware of the discontent and protests, why haven't you ever addressed any of it with more than just blaming Democrats and erroneously claiming they are trying to re-write history?
Williams: We believe this is the first time in a long time we've heard you use the number of Iraqi civilian dead. It's one of the estimates out there. And Ambassador Bremer's name came up. Why was that? Any reason behind that?
President Bush: No, just  I mean, it was a factual point. What I was trying to say  or what I did say  was that there was a vacuum. We moved into it with the CPA. My point is we're constantly readjusting our strategy and the tactic  not the strategy, the strategy is clear  but the tactics to achieve a free Iraq. And that Bremer was the head of the CPA. And it was factual. So, people will remember.
Iraqis will remember. It's their neighbors, relatives, friends, and countrymen who are being murdered. (but I guess that's not technically a question)
Williams: A lot of people have seen in this series of speeches you're giving on Iraq, a movement in your position. They call it an acknowledgement that perhaps the mission has not gone as it was originally planned  three points: That the U.S. would be welcomed as liberators, that General Shinsecki, when he said this would take hundreds of thousands of troops in his farewell speech, might have been right. And third, that it wasn't a self-sustaining war in terms of the oil revenue. Do you concede those three points might not have gone as planned?
President Bush: Review them with me again.
Williams: Number one  that we'd be welcomed as liberators?
President Bush: I think we are welcomed. But it was not a peaceful welcome. There were some in society, rejectionists and the Saddamists and the terrorists that have moved in to stir them up that said, "We're going to prevent a democracy from emerging." But I think a lot of people are glad, I know a lot of people are glad we're there. And they're glad we're helping them train their troops so they can take the fight.
QUESTION #2: How does it qualify as "welcomed" when it's NOT PEACEFUL? And not that it was in question, but I certainly wouldn't show up if Bush ever invited me to his house now!
Williams: And how about the oil revenues?
President Bush: You mean on the Iraqi side?
Williams: Yes.
President Bush: Yes, they're not as great as we thought they'd be. Yet they're substantial. And the Iraqis are beginning to develop a budget, with the help of the IMF, that's a sustaining budget.
QUESTION #3: So what has actually gone like you said it would?
Williams: Do you believe this war was an elective on your part? Or did this have to come out of 9/11?
President Bush: Hmm, interesting question. Well, first of all, troops don't move unless I give the order. So, from that sense it was elective. I mean, I could have said, "No, we'll try to, you know, hope for the best with Saddam Hussein."
Remember at the time we didn't know the facts on the ground. We  everybody thought the guy had weapons of mass destruction. Everybody knew that he'd used weapons of mass destruction and had provided safe haven for terrorists. I mean, those were facts. Whether or not it had to happen is  it didn't have to happen since a human being made the decision. Whether or not it needed to happen, I'm still convinced it needed to happen.
QUESTION #4: What is going to take for you to admit you were totally wrong about WMD's? "Everyone" did not think he had them - there was a lot of intelligence out there from people like other countries and the U.N. inspectors saying he did NOT have them!
Williams: One of the Sunday commentators who you like to watch so much said that you and your administration were in the process of defining victory down, true or false?
President Bush: You know, I don't think so. I think that's an unfair characterization. We believe that Iraq will be a democracy and know that Iraq as a democracy will be a strong ally in the war on terror. One of the things that we will do is make sure that Iraq is not a safe haven for terrorist plotting. That's been pretty much the stated objective all along.
QUESTION #5: When was that a stated objective? All I heard before we went in was that he had WMDs and Iraq was connected with 9-11 - which were both lies.
Williams: Have you ever entertained the thought, Mr. President, that Iraq's natural state may be three separate pieces, three separate nations?
President Bush: No, I haven't. I think  I know it will be united based upon, you know, kind of universal principles, the ones I outlined in the speech, freedom to worship, rule of law, private property, marketplace, all bound by a constitution which the Iraqis approved, and which the Iraqis will improve upon. And, you know, we improved on our own Constitution. In other words, it's a living document. And no, that would be a disaster, by the way, if it were three separate nations.
QUESTION #6: You then, define "disaster" as the only possible way they might live in peace with each other?
President Bush: Well, John Murtha's a fine guy. And he's, you know, he served our nation admirably. I just think he's wrong. I think the idea of having a, you know, a timetable for withdrawal, does three things that would be bad.
One, it emboldens the enemy. That's precisely what they want. They want us to withdraw. And  and oh, by the way, here, we're telling them when and how. And they will adjust accordingly.
Secondly, it sends a bad message to the Iraqis. We've said to the Iraqis, "We'll help train you. We'll stand with you. And we'll get you on your feet so you can take the fight to the enemy." And if our commanders on the ground say we're not ready to, you know, stand down  a timetable would dispirit the Iraqis.
Finally, it'll dispirit our troops. Because our troops know the mission hasn't been completed. But strategy and my plans are these. I will listen to the commanders. I understand war is objective-based, not timetable-based. And we will complete this mission for the good of the country.
QUESTION #7: Is IRAQ the "enemy"? Every poll done there since before the war through now shows that the majority of Iraq wants the U.S. to not be there. And how dispirited does a troop really get when they find out that there is an actual plan and date in mind for when they can go home, be safe, be with their loved ones, and not have to be simply occasionally occassionally murdering people in another country?
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Monday's Meditation
I know that usually on Monday's I try to give you a verse or passage to meditate on. I'm fresh out of verses and passages, so I'll just share with you what I've been thinking about lately.
The hustle and bustle of Christmas has gotten to me over the past couple of years. I'm not so concerned with controversies over "Merry Christmas" and TARGET not allowing the Salvation Army to post a bell ringer as I am with the lack of peace this time of the year brings people.
Driving home as a child with my dad from Grandma and Grandpa's house one Christmas Eve, I remarked that the blinking lights on the town Christmas light didn't seem to fit in with the "Silent Night" of Christmas - that time of awe and wonder that Mary "Pondered in her heart" as the Scriptures describe. Now, as a thirty year old - my, how the years pass by! - I sit at the start of yet another Christmas week, one of travel, parties, gifts, stuff, relatives, food, drink, and who knows what else.
And yet, as I sit here, I long for something different. I want the baby in the manger and the heavenly host singing "Hallelujah!" as seekers from afar come filled with wonder and delight, seeking the one the stars told them of. I want the hope - no, the promise - of "peace on Earth and good will toward man." I wonder to sit by a fire in a candle lit room and ponder the mystery of Immanuel, "God With Us," and celebrate the God of promise and hope and listen as he whispers his plans for me while the flames cast shadows against the wall behind me and my spirit is renewed so I can once more trust and obey.
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JohnSpencer
As
ewb in SD noted John Spencer (aka Leo McGarry)
passed away yesterday from a heart attack. He was an incredibly strong and moving actor. He will be sorely missed and The West Wing won't be the same without him.
May John Spencer rest in peace.
When we are ready to move on, let us discuss what The West Wing will do for the remainder of season 7. With 10 or so shows still to be filmed, how will the writers handle John's death? Does Leo just die of a heart attack (since he already had one at the beginning of season 6)? Who will be the new vice-presidential candidate? Will "Bingo Bob" be back?
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Friday Prayer Blogging - Wedding edition
Today Expat Teacher's younger brother and baby of the family, Herman, is marrying a wonderful woman, NotSmurf. It will be a wonderful celebration of the love these two "kids" have for each other. I'm so happy for them. Last night at the rehearsal dinner I was overcome with emotion because my little brother transformed from a punk kid into a full grown man seemingly overnight. Like all weddings and marriages these two will need all the support they can get. Will you join me in starting them off right?
Let us prayDear Father in heaven, you know the power of love. It will cause a man to leave his father and mother and join another. It will motive one another to sacrifice. It will motivate one another in moments of great courage and trepidation. May your love cover the marriage of Herman and NotSmurf. Holy Spirit remind them daily that they need you in order to make their marriage work. Daily show them the power of humility, forgiveness, and fidelity.
Jesus may you shine down upon this wedding today. May the nerves and worries disappear into celebration of love. Give the priest the right words to say. Help the guests to offer the right support and encouragement. Comfort the parents of Herman and NotSmurf as they "lose" their baby. Please ensure that today is a day that glorifies you and will be a source of many happy memories for years to come.
Amen.
As always, any additional prayer and praise can be added in the comments
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Culturespotting or Auto love
A few days ago I was in Phoenix and the
air was absolutely disgusting! A horrible brown haze hung over the entire valley. It made me sick just looking at it. That Phoenix has such a horrible smog problem didn't surprise me. We were driving on a 10-lane freeway at 70 mph. Sometimes the freeway widen to a whopping 16 lanes. It made driving an absolute joy.
Now I'm in Las Vegas and driving is so enjoyable. The surface roads are 6 lanes with a 45 mph speed limit. The intersections are massive with 2 turn lanes in each direction. The roads are straight as an arrow and if you hit the lights correctly you don't have to stop until you reach your destination. Las Vegas also has a
smog problem.
Both Phoenix and Las Vegas are trying to get people out of their cars and onto bicycles or public transit.
FAT CHANCE! Why would I take a bus in Phoenix when I can get everywhere using the freeways and going 70 mph? Who is going to bicycle in Las Vegas when the traffic is going so fast that the wind from passing vehicles can knock you off your bike?
America (and especially the West) does love the car. We've structured whole cities around the car, spent millions on roads and other infrastructure. Giving up our oil addiction is going to be more traumatic than a heroin addict going cold turkey. Heaven help us.
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What was the point?
I came across
this story about the redistricting that occurred in Texas. I understand that the Republicans pushed for this and everyone with half a brain could see it would result in more congressional seats for Republicans and everyone is up in arms over this. And since we here at Page 132 are not generally known for being overly supportive of Republicans in general, this probably seems like a topic right up our alley.
But one part of the article really caught my attention:
"University of Texas Law Professor Scot Powe said redistricting has always been a partisan battle, recalling Democrats’ effort in 1991
, but what made the 2003 redistricting debate different was its timing. States usually redraw districts right after the start of a new decade once the Census Bureau releases its latest numbers. "
Wouldn't this answer the whole debate? Answering the question about why the Texas Republicans waited until 2003 to do this, would seem to shed light on whether they have a good and reasonable justification for this or if it was just a cheap political move. I'm willing to keep an open mind on this until I hear the answer to that. Or is it just not that simple?
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Justice and Revenge
Justice. The word's been thrown about quite a bit lately here on Page 132 in the wake of Tookie being executed. I posed the question on an earlier comment, but thought maybe it was worth a post, so here it is. What is justice? Again, no Webster definitions.
Also, what is revenge? How are justice and revenge the same? How are they different? (for all you Washington State teachers - please provide three text based details to support your answer).
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Culturespotting or "Get out! Out! Out! Out!"
My father always says you can't go home again and that is probably true, but in the 48 hours or so that I've been home I had a real case of culture shock when we've got out to dinner. Americans
have to eat so fast!
We had lunch at
Famous Dave's BBQ yesterday. We were seated, orders taken, eaten, plates cleared and handed the bill in 35 minutes. Our server had stopped by twice to check on us. The manager stopped by once and the bus boy was nearly as involved in our conversation as we were.
Last night we went to
P.F. Changs. Again, seated orders taken, appetizers served, eaten and cleared away in 20 minutes. The pace of the dinner slowed down a little after that, but the server kept stopping by. Once or twice it was nice (I needed more water. The "its more sweet than spicy" Chicken was a flat out lie), but the server brought my dad his birthday cake while Mrs. Expat Teacher was still eating her duck. He took my order for coffee, returned a little later with it AND the bill. He may have said, "I'll be your cashier when you are ready," but I heard, "Don't linger over your coffee, please."
The food was all good, but why must I feel like I have to eat so fast and get out? "Turn tables, turn tables, turn tables" was almost an audible undertone in the mood music. In Continental Europe one gets a table for the whole evening. Dinner IS the event. In the U.K. the table is yours for hours. I felt like the servers were asking, "If you aren't ordering something or putting something in your mouth, why are you still here?" This eating in fast forward is a big adjustment.
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Profile of someone who deserves to be killed
The death penalty is in the news again. Is Stanley "Tookie" Williams the type of person who should be killed? There is certainly more than enough questionable evidence and circumstances around his conviction to make one wonder how in the world a jury of his peers did not come up with any "reasonable doubt".
* The testimony of several witnesses, all of whom were facing a range of felony charges, including fraud, rape, murder and mutilation. Even the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals stated in a September 10, 2002, ruling that the witnesses in Stan’s case had “less-than-clean backgrounds and incentives to lie in order to obtain leniency from the state in either charging or sentencing.”
• Fingerprints were found at both crime scenes, but they were not Stan’s. These fingerprints have never been identified.
• A bloody boot print left near the victim at one of the crime scenes was not Stan’s. This boot print has never been identified.
• A shotgun shell found at that crime scene was said to be from a gun purchased by Stan five years earlier. But the gun was, in fact, found under the bed of two people – a husband and wife facing felony insurance fraud charges and who were also under investigation for murdering their own crime partner. This husband-and-wife crime team did not serve any prison time and their murder investigation was dropped after they testified that Stan “volunteered” a confession to them.
• The “star” witness at Stan’s trial – a white man and longtime felon who was placed in a nearby cell while Stan awaited trial and was years later discovered to have been a paid police informant – also testified that Stan “volunteered” a confession to him. But nearly 20 years after Stan’s trial it was discovered that a Los Angeles police officer had left a copy of the police murder file involving Stan’s case in this informant’scell for overnight study. The next day the murder file was picked up by that same officer, and the informant informed the police that Stan had volunteered a confession to him. In return for this testimony, the informant – who himself was facing the death penalty for rape, murder and mutilation – was given a lesser sentence that allowed him the possibility of parole and freedom.
And none of that matters that much to me. It matters, and certainly things like that should be part of the death penalty debate, both in general and in this specific case, but it's not what rings as the most important of issues regarding this. Tookie helped start one of the worst gangs in American history. He committed crimes. He wasn't always a model prisoner either. But the prison system should be about incarceration and rehabilitation. How does Tookie fit those terms?
* While on death row, Stan has written 9 highly-acclaimed children’s books that educate young people to avoid gangs, crime and incarceration.
* He has also worked to end gang violence through his peace protocol and Internet Project for Street Peace, an international peer mentoring program. Stan has saved the lives of over 150,000 youth, as reported by them, their parents, teachers and law enforcement officials in their emails to Stan(
tookie@tookie.com).
* His work has resulted in multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace and Literature prizes. This summer Stan’s work was even recognized by the President of the United States when he received a presidential award for his volunteer work to help youth.
That's right! This man is a multiple time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize - and they want to murder him! He is doing more to stop crime and violence and save lives than 99.9% of the world and people are still claiming the right thing to do, the BEST thing to do, is to execute him. The death penalty doesn't make any logical sense in the first place when it's a bad, evil, deserving murderer ("you killed someone and that's wrong, so we're going to kill you to show you how wrong it is to kill people"), but this is unfortunately the logical path supporting that takes you on - you get to the point of killing people who have had a total life change and are doing more good than the harm they ever caused (if they caused any at all).
Expat can think I am taking it out of context all he wants, but I absolutely envision Jesus being the first one to stand up to Tookie's execution happy death penalty supporters and telling them - "
Whoever among you is without sin, insert the first needle."
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Monday's Meditation
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
- John 1:14
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I'm leaving on a jet plane and I'll be home for Christmas
| Mr. and Mrs. Expat Teacher are leaving for America at 10:05 GMT today. They will be there until Jan 4. They will be visiting family and friends in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. The day planner is chock-a-block with committments and visits. Therefore blogging from Expat Teacher will be sporatic for the next month. Expat is leaning heavily on gurufrisbee and MoLak-Jedi to keep Page 132 up and running with new and interesting blog posts. |  |
But this blog is a group effort! If you don't usually comment, consider dropping a line to keep the Page 132 community involved and interested. If you are a usual commenter, why not bring new and interesting items to the table? Who knows? If you prove yourself, maybe we'll extend you a week of guest blogging like we've done with
Hefe Week 2006 and
The Old Man February posts. :-)
Til I blog again...
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The Oppression of Christmas
Expat and I have been discussing the "oppression" of Christianity felt by many in this country lately - especially as Christmas approaches.
I haven't read any great experts' opinion on this topic, but I've done some observing and reflecting and have come to some conclusions.
This week, on the whiteboard in my staff room, a message read, "The dress patrol will be enforcing a strict Christmas dress code on Wednesday and Friday." Now, this is a rather cheeky way of encouraging the staff to wear Christmassy garb on the assigned days - and I recognized it to be such. However, even as a celebrant of the Christmas holiday, I felt a little bombarded by this message. First of all, I don't have any Christmassy clothing. Second of all, what if I were Jewish? An atheist (which I was at one point)? A Muslim? A Jehovah's Witness? I realize that my fellow teachers were just trying to spread some holiday cheer. I'm all for that. But could it be done in a more sensitive manner? Could I (and the above litany of non-celebrants)be a little less sensitive?
What I'm getting at, in a rather round-about manner, is that the "attack" on Christmas and other Christian traditions and displays - and there have been some - may be the result of Christian America's inability to realize that not everyone wants to celebrate Jesus, and that's okay. No one has ever benefited from being forced to be a part of Jesus' community of followers. In fact, many have been worse off as a result of their involuntary participation.
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Great News
We had just returned from the grocery store last night and were preparing to sit down to a movie (
Herbie Fully Loaded) and dinner when our twenty month old turns to me and says, "Da-da, poo-poo, pahty. Poo-poo, pahty." The message was quite clear - "Dad, I've got to go poop, so get me to the toilet RIGHT NOW!" After scooping her up and running down the hall, I managed to get her overalls off, unbuttoned her onesie, literally ripped her diaper off - dangerous move, I know - and plopped her onto her training seat where she proceeded to sit. And sit. And sit.
Finally, a familiar odor climbed its way to my nose. She had done it! There, beneath her bare little butt, sat a large-green poopie in the plastic trainer bowl!
When the deed was done, she stood, turned around to admire her work only to be surprised by the hideous appearance of poop. The Phantom Poopie had struck and filled our little girl's heart with terror. Mrs. Jedi wrangled the bowl out of the seat, tossed the poo into the toilet, and flushed while our little girl watched on saying, "Bye-bye, poopie. Bye-bye, poopie."
It's been a huge twenty four hours in the Jedi household. Since then, we've had one false alarm and one more successful deposit. We are nearing the end of the diaper tyranny. Restored, balance will be, to the home once again.
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The Left v Lieberman or Why DailyKos is wrong
There is a movement afoot to unofficially expel Senator Joe Lieberman from the Democratic Party. It started with general hatred for the "ideologically impure" Lieberman by folks over at
DailyKos. They have never liked Lieberman's hawkishness and his willingness to straddle that all important center of American politics. Then Democracy for America has started a
"Let Joe Know" campaign to tell Senator Lieberman that his views on Iraq War are wrong and he should shut up.
This got picked up by
Chris Cillizza's The Fix and has since made into ABCNews - "
Lieberman's Pro-War Views Concern Dems"- and The Washington Post - "
Lieberman Wins Republican Friends, Democratic Enemies With Support for War." There is even discussion of running an anti-war candidate against Lieberman in 2006.
This is stupid in every way. Anyone who follows politics and/or watches
The West Wing knows that the Democratic Party has
The Mommy Problem. The Democratic Party is who you run to when you skin your knee or need something to eat, but when you need someone to defend you, run to the Republicans. Democrats are seen as weak on national security and public safety. Lieberman flies in the face of the Mommy Problem. He is the face that can change public opinion. The World is a scary place. If Democrats ever want to live in the White House again, they need to project an image of safety and security. Rather than saying let's get out of Iraq, we need to harshly critique the Bush administration for being so incompetent and propose how we'd make America stronger. Advocating withdrawal from Iraq so it can plunge into a civil war, requiring us to go back in a few years is not an encouraging alternative.
Let Lieberman speak. Encourage him take the Secretary of Defense job, as the rumor mill says in going to happen after the New Year.
Wear Lieberman as a badge of honor. Say "Democratic Secretary of Defense" every time you use his name. The Democrats have a strong tradition of being strong on national security going back to JFK and FDR. Letting idealistic peaceniks run the ideological purity test for the Democratic Party will doom America to Republican incompetence and corruption for a generation to come.
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Iraq war intelligence linked to coercion
Here is the most frustrating part of the national conversation on torture. Assuming you can get over the ethical/moral problems of torture and don't care about the many international treaties America has signed, you can't get past the truth that
TORTURE DOESN'T WORK. When you are pulling someone's fingernails out, threatening to kill their family or waterboarding them, the prisoner/victim will say whatever they think will get the torture to stop.
That appears to the case with
Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, who told Egyptian interrogators (because America doesn't torture anyone, we just transport them to be tortured...) there were ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda included training in explosives and chemical weapons. It was those claims that caused much concern in Congress. Unfortunately, they were all made up. Complete lies.
So, let's look at the cycle. America tortured a suspect to get information. That (false) information led us to war in Iraq. In Iraq, we tortured suspects to get information about the insurgency. That insurgency is emboldened when the torture at Abu-Ghraib comes to light. We have another (type of) war on our hands. What is the solution? Torture more individuals to get the dirt on the insurgents....
Where is this all going? Notice the cycle - torture causes a war which causes more torture, which causes a war, which causes more torture.
Can we stop the ride now and get off? We must pass some laws that make it categorically clear that America will not sponsor torture, help other countries to do so, or use information obtained from torture!
Even the Isreali's recognize this.
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US draw in the World Cup this summer
Well that didn't go as well as planned. The
USA drew Group E along with Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is ranked #2 in the world. The USA is number 8. Italy is 12th and Ghana is 50th. Only the top two teams make it through. This may be the toughest Group in World Cup 2006. Right now
William Hill is giving 100 to 1 odds for a US win. Maybe I should go place a fiver on our boys from the home of the brave...
Go
Red, White, and
Blue!
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Friday Prayer Blogging - Prisoner edition
I've been struck lately by the number of prisoners in the news. Generally, we just lock 'em up and forget about them. No wonder Jesus calls all Christians to
visit prisoners.
The news in the U.K. is all about the 4 Christian men (Norman Kember (UK), Tom Fox (USA), James Loney (CA), and Harmeet Singh Sooden (CA)) who travelled to Iraq as a "gesture of solidarity" with Canada-based international peace group Christian Peacemaker Teams, but were taken hostage. Many folks have appealed for their safe release, including a
former Gitmo prisoner, a
current terrorism detainee in the UK, and the
Muslim Brotherhood.
Also, a sort of cause celebré has broken out around
Stanley Tookie Williams. He is a co-founder of the Crips. He has a horrible past, but has since done many good works from inside the prison. He is scheduled to die on December 13, 2005 by lethal injection. Governor Schwarzenegger has heard requests for clemency. I don't know all the facts in this case, but since I'm strongly anti-death penalty, I want to pray for Mr. Williams as well.
Let us pray for these men.
Lord Jesus as these five men face the real possibiity of their imminent death, we ask your Holy Spirit to envelope them in a peace that surpasses all understanding. Let these men settle their accounts with you and realize how lacking they are. Thank you that the grace of Jesus covers over all their sins. I ask that those with the power of life and death will choose life. In the case of the Christian Peacemaker Team, I ask that these men be freed without harm immediatley. May these men display the Gospel in their actions and words every day. Strengthen them every moment to turn the other cheek when they are struck and love their enemies. Jesus please allow some way for these men to be freed. With You all things are possible.
Father may you guide Gov. Schwarzenegger as he tries to administer justice in the case of Mr. Williams. May the reformation inside Mr. Williams be truthful and honest. If he is granted clemency Lord, please remind him daily that it is because of your hand and that he owes you everything. May Mr. Williams life and subsequent change glorify You. Let the world see the power You have in changing a murderer to a peace activist.
Amen.
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State-Building by Francis Fukuyama
| A couple of weeks ago, ConflictedFundraiser gave me Francis Fukuyama's newest book, State-Building: Governance and World Order in the 21st Century, to read as something to do on my Ryanair flight to Italy.
It is three lectures he gave put into a book. They are extremely interesting and he has plenty of points about state-building. His first point is that the Bush administration's efforts in Iraq have created most of the problems with building the state governance we are experiencing now. Under the Provisional Coalition, America stamped a heavy footprint on the new Iraq. That footprint didn't fit the situation on the ground and increased resentment toward Americans and other ethnic/sectarian groups. |
Instead, Fukuyama advocates the approach taken by the world community in Afghanistan as a better way to strengthen state infrastructure and the rule of law. A very lightly, lightly approach. A strengthening of the executive office (maybe a propping up of the Karzai government), so that the legislative and judicial branches of government can develop without influence from the president. (i.e. If Karzai starts messing with the elections/parliament or judges, the Western powers will withdraw their security support of him and his government. Karzai oversteps his bounds at his own peril.)
ZenPundit has a deeper analysis on this point.
However, one thing that stopped me dead in my tracks was the unintended consequences of international help for starving Africans (or genocide in Darfur). I am a strong advocate for international intervention when there are major natural disasters or violations of human rights. Yet, Fukuyama points out that as other nations, or more commonly, NGOs step in to do the job of the local government, they unintentionally undermine the local government. While Western government have been trying to build public institutions in developing nations
AND provide essential services, Fukuyama argues that those two are in direct contradiction. By supplying the local population with what they need, an NGO directly undercuts efforts to make local government legitimate in the eyes of the populace. The local population turns to the NGO and the local government simply becomes a way for corruption to flourish and the enrichment of a few.
The result is a bloated government that does nothing for the people they govern. Fukuyama sites some stats that the Office of the President of Kenya balloons about 500% during a 10-year period (these are off the top of my head, can't find the exact figure). The World Bank and IMF solution is to reduce the scope of the state, but that also weakens their capacity to do the things we expect of the state including law and order, national defense, property rights, individual rights and fighting corruption.
It is a vicious cycle. As a progressive and Christian that believes strongly in the Good Samaritan principle, what am I to do? Helping hurts over the long term and not helping hurts right now.
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No good news here
Bad and
worse.
Updated - Strange, but I like it.
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ROTFL
Had a good
LOL over some of the suggestions. The caption about the pollack jokes had me ROTFL and even after leaving
Purgatorio I CSL.
Help with the shorthand.
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$1,000,000,000 to elect the next president
In a blog entry about how The Democracy Alliance (big money donors to the liberal causes) is unraveling,
Hotline reports, "And in 2008, prospective presidential candidates will blow through state spending limits and might raise $1 billion between them."
$1,000,000,000? Are you kidding me? Talk about an absolute waste of money. Other than burning it, can you think of a worse way to use America's resources? Imagine if we invested that
billion dollars as a nation or if people donated it to help feed, clothe, or medicate those in need. Instead we are going to pay "consultants" to tear down the other guy and divide our nation. We don't need terrorists to destroy our way of life, we are trying to do it ourselves.
It is time for real leadership to step up and put forth some real proposals for election reform.
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The Youngest Profession
This
article gave me a similar feeling to the movie Traffic - disgust, sadness, and finally a gut wrenching feeling that can only be described as the hopelessness of those involved.
I don't know why I get this way with this topic, but child/teenage prostitution - prostitution as a whole - breaks my heart and leaves my anger (dare I say, hatred?) at the perpetrator outweighed only by my compassion for the victim.
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Some domestic political news
in the U.K. that is. ;-)
Today the
Conservative Party elects its new leader. This is the guy that would be Prime Minister, but will have to wait another 4 years for an election (except in special circumstances). The Conservative Party
will probably crown David Cameron as their new leader. He is young, vibrant and incredibly photogenic. He looks a lot like a young Tony Blair (still my favorite politician of the 21st century). It won't really matter. The Conservative Party is bankrupt of ideas. They have no new policy or visons for the U.K. A shame really because I think David Cameron is a very good politician, but he is going to be sunk by the lead weight of his own party.
That brings me to a larger topic that I've been meaning to address, the downside of the Parliamentary system. The parliamentary system is set up differently in each country, so not each criticism will work across the board. The biggest downside is that the voters in a parliamentary don't directly elect their head of government. Each voter in Britain votes on their local representative. The MPs (minister of parliament) of the majority party then select the head of government. In the last U.K. election, Labour voters weren't fans of Tony Blair because of his support of George Bush and the invasion of Iraq, but they liked their local MP. Voters were in a bind. They could vote against their local MP and ensure Tony Blair is put out of power, but also put their party in the minority. Or they could vote for their MP, but that means Tony Blair would be the Prime Minister. Labour got around this objection by promising that Blair would step down for Gordon Brown, a more acceptable leader to the Labour rank and file.
Also, since the parliamentary system combines the
executive branch and the
legislative branch, the majority party can get through whatever legislation it wants. When President Bush gives his State of the Union speech, he will
request Congress to pass the legislation he wants. When the Queen gives her annual address, she is
telling the public what laws WILL be passed. If America had the parliamentary system, we'd have a national health care system (under Clinton), but also privatized social security (under W. Bush). I like the deadlock that the presidential system brings. While it can cause major headaches, legislation only passes when it has strong public support (or at least no public outcry).
Finally, in parliamentary systems that allow proportional represenation a small minority of the population can become the king-makers and can hold the rest of the population hostage for their demands. Let me site a fictitious example- in the 2000 election, Ralph Nader captures Oregon with 34% of the vote. That means Bush and Gore both fall short of the needed electoral count. That means that rather than the majority of America deciding the President, it falls to the 34% of Oregonians who voted for Nader. I don't know about you, but I don't want Ralph Nader deciding who is president.
The
presidential system isn't perfect, but I think it better than the parliamentary system. Of course, any political system can be thwarted by men who lust for power over public service.
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41 percent of bowl teams miss academic standards
Completely unacceptable!
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They write letters....
My incredibly eloquent wordsmith-in-residence, Mrs. Expat Teacher has written a
letter to the editor at the Guardian expressing her frustration with Ms. Toynbee. Feel free to copy and paste and send your own.
Ms Toynbee,
Re: 'Narnia represents everything that is most hateful about religion'
I respect your right to express your disbelief in the Christian faith. I respect your right to express your inability to comprehend the main tenets of the Christian faith. I even respect your right to use derogatory language when expressing such sentiments. However, with regard to the latter, I cannot stand by and let you do it without commenting. I realize reading your article that the only thing you have against the movie is the faith it represents. The acting is fine, the action scenes well put-together. And it even ‘makes sense’ up to a certain point. However, since you find ‘repugnant’ the basic tenet of the Christian faith that Jesus voluntarily took it upon himself to die for humanity and take responsibility for the sins of the world, and embarrassing that you may have to answer a child’s query about the subsequent resurrection, you have to smear the film as it glorifies these mysteries.
Your use of the word ‘repugnant’ and subsequent explanation of it just shows your misunderstanding of the Christian faith. Christianity celebrates the freeing from guilt, among other things; it does not specialize in inflicting it. Also, it need not be embarrassing to answer the child’s query. All this requires is a simple explanation of that part of the Christian faith. You don’t have to believe it yourself to explain it. If had to believe everything you explained, you would never be able to share the ins and outs of Greek mythology.
As someone who does believe this amazing story, I respectfully request that you refrain from making such derogatory comments about the Christian faith. It is when people cannot respect others’ differing beliefs that conflict breaks out. I’m not asking you to subscribe to any faith, let alone mine, but you can disagree without name-calling and cutting down. Empty and inflammatory rhetoric does no one any good.
Kind regards,
[Mrs. Expat Teacher]
London, UK
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Polly Toynbee hates Narnia
There is no nice way to say this. If Polly Toynbee dies tonight, she
is going to hell. Political Journalist of the Year 2003, Polly Toynbee, thinks Jesus' sacrifice is "repugnant".
Too bad she has to trash
Jack and
his books to prove it.
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Monday's Meditation
Immanuel...God with us
God with us as a homeless baby wrapped in rags and put down for the night in a cows' trough.
God with us as a boy playing in the shadows of Egypt's pyramids with the neighbor kids along the banks of the Nile.
God with us as a man amongst friends celebrating the marriage of lovers by bringing, of all things, barrels of wine!
God with us weeping at the tomb of a dead friend, comforting loved ones in their time of grief.
God with us in so many ways and in so many ways to come. God with us to show us how to live, to perfect our imperfections, to lead us in our day to day lives and on into eternity. God with us... Immanuel.
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Sunday Article round-up
A very busy week around Expat Teacher's house this week. Even with 3 posts on Thursday, I still missed a lot of blogworthy articles. Here are some...
Global TradeIn a meeting with G7 leaders, the
U.K. pushes plan to stop all subsidies to EU farms. At the same meeting,
Britain, U.S. Put Focus on Trade at G7. Unfortunately, this effort is
the noble crusade that ended up as a lost cause because France is unilaterally rejecting any reduction in trade subsidies and supports. In related news,
France vows to help cut African poverty, which is difficult because Africa won't ever get out of poverty if they can't export their goods to EU customers. Some EU leaders get it, but others don't, which is why the
EU splits over offer of tariff reductions.
Women and Men inside the ChurchIn the only
MUST READ story in the article round-up, Sarah Sumner writes about
Bridging the Ephesians 5 Divide. Pretty earth-shaking stuff about how husbands and wives should interact. Did you know that "spirtual leader" never appears in the Bible? Kristen offers this blog entry,
Female Headship Awaits Us In the Flaming Fires of Hell, or Women Probably Don't Have Souls, Part II, in response to a press release by the Southern Baptists. In a different press release, the
Southern Baptists ban tongues. Are the Southern Baptists creating God in our image?
Death PenaltyKathy has an excellent blog entry
from the gut about the 1000th death penalty in America and the Australian hanged for smuggling drugs into Singapore. At the same time, declares
White House: Death Penalty Deters Crime. There is some concern that
An innocent man among 1,000 executed? Finally,
Illinois death penalty case back in court that may overturn Ilinois' death penalty moratorium.
War on Christmas!?!?One blessing of living in London is that I don't have to listen to Bill O'Reilly bloviate about the war on Christmas. But if I did I might be partial to conversations like the one about
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SPEND. I Am a Christian too wonders, "
War Against Christmas, Or Just Good Manners?" Wade Hodges has an excellent post about the
Christmas Prophet at his local mall. Finally, if you convinced that there is a war on Christmas, you need to read this -
'Tis the Season to find out the true history of the December 25th holiday. Happy Saturnalia!
Republican incompetenceAnother week and further evidence of Republican incompetence, the
Military Says It Paid Iraq Papers for News and the Department of
Justice Staff Saw Texas Districting As Illegal - Map Pushed by DeLay.
Republican corruptionNot only incompetent, but also corrupt. In the pay for space in Iraqi papers, the
Propaganda Company Founded by Major Republican Donor. Also, Republican Senator Conrad
Burns did about-face after cash from lobbyist.
MiscFollowing major concerns about voting problems,
US welcomes move on elections by court in Azerbaijan.
Tens of thousands of
Marchers demand Hong Kong democracy.
A craigslist contributor with tongue firmly in cheek, post has an oldy-but-goody list of
10 reasons why gay marriage should be illegal.
Because Focus on the Family is calling shots with this administration,
Porn domain faces further delays, even though it is probably the best long term way to help parents protect their kids from internet porn.
Is Dick Cheney vice-president of China too? The UN has found out that
Torture in China Still Widespread.
In a cool use of technology,
Acts, audience connect via text messaging.
It ain't all bad news out there. We are
Safer than ever before.
At the best blog you still aren't reading, Purgatorio, they have a photo essay entitled "
You Might Be Emerging If...". MoLak-Jedi, do you qualify?
So what do you think? Which article is the most eye-opening? Any articles I missed that should be highlighted?
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Fun with camera phones - Hodgepodge edition
Have several shots in my Flickr account that I can't seem to categorize, so today's post is a hodgepodge of things I've taken with my mobile phone. Again, the quality stinks with my Sony Ericsson Z600. Sorry.
The
Red Cups are here. So now we've got some Christmas comfort and joy.
Snowmen in lights. Sorry about the quality. In the local leisure centre where I go to the gym, buy my books, and shop for groceries, they had a "tree lighting" last night. The tree is rather sad, but the snowmen look cool.
An artsy shot from my local pub last night. Mmmmm
Guinness.
An added bonus - A montage of photos taken with our digital camera on Guy Fawkes Day.
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Friday Prayer Blogging - First Week of Advent edition
As we sit on the cusp of the 2nd Sunday of Advent, might I suggest we use today's Prayer Blogging as a chance to reflect on the Christmas season and how we should respond to the best gift ever given. Today's words are care of
CAFOD.
Today's format is a little different. Imagine I'm speaking the non-bold parts. Then say out loud the bold responses.
Let us prayLord, we wait with eager expectation for the coming of your kingdom
when the humble will be exalted and the hungry fed.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done. Lord, we prepare for your advent with searching minds and contrite hearts,
trusting in your healing spirit and redemptive love.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done. Lord, we watch with those who wait and weep,
longing to see the rule of justice and the reign of peace.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done. Lord, we seek you amongst the despised and rejected,
knowing that there we will find your light shining in the dark.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done. Lord, we proclaim sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed,
trusting in your tender mercy and passion for justice.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done. Lord, we work with you to proclaim your truth,
challenging the mighty and raising the meek.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done. Lord, we wrestle with our hopes and our fears, our struggles and our joys
labouring with creation to come to new birth.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
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The biggest story you aren't hearing about - WTO talks in Hong Kong
Because global trade is difficult to digest into soundbytes and simple phrases, they don't get reported on enough. Therefore you are off the hook for not knowing
that the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference will be held in Hong Kong, China, 13–18 December 2005. In general, ministerial conferences are the WTO’s highest decision-making body, meeting at least once every two years and providing political direction for the organization. Some background on global trade and the WTO can be
found here.
This is the first meeting after the failed Cancun talks in December of 2003. The biggest sticking point, then and now, is the HUGE subsidies that America, Japan, Canada, and Europe give their farmers. These subsidies keep more efficient and cheaper produce from developing countries from your supermarket. In Cancun the G20, headed by Brazil, China and India stopped efforts by the EU, Japan and the USA from enshrining those subsidies in global law. Two years on and where are we?
First,
France and Japan have refused to budge on reducing subsidies. The EU is led by Britain for these 6 months and trade negioator, Peter Mendelson, has been pushing hard for a reduction in subsidies. Europe has offered to
reduce its tariffs on incoming produce by 60%. Even with that reduction, foreign produce would still be more expensive than European produce. The US countered with a drop in 60% of farming subsidies and an eventual phase-out. It still isn't enough for the G20. Time has an excellent article on the
"Farm Fight."I couldn't agree more with Al Blinder who wrote
Progressives should be for progress on this exact subject. Yet, headlines like these,
Free trade loses steam concern me.
Free and fair trade opens the door for millions of people to get out of extreme poverty. America can't possibly send a check to every single person living on one dollar a day, but trade allows those folks to contribute, make something worthwhile and earn a fair way. It provides independence, economic freedom and a road to social justice. All the thing I hold so dearly.
So please make
One Big Noise and tell President Bush to keep up the good work on opening the barriers to free trade. Don't allow the special interests of certain agricultural states to keep millions in poverty!
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Bush's withdrawal plan and bombing civilians
I'm glad to see that President Bush
has a plan for declaring victory and getting out of Iraq. (It looks strangely like
John Kerry's plan from October). Unfortunately the incompetence in the White House and Secretary of Defense office has left America with no good options. I suppose the "Americans will stand down as Iraqis stand up" is the best of all the bad options.
Yet, I have a major concern. Americans will continue to support Iraqis with logistical and air support. That means Iraqi commanders will be calling in air strikes. Considering the well documented sectarian strife and score settling, does America really want to give that kind of power to the newly-formed Iraqi army? What happens when
Ahmed Chalabi says, "Flatten that village. It is home to the terrorists." Our bombs are extremely accurate and deadly. Are we ready for the Al-Jazeera footage of a flattened school and tens of children's bodies lying bloodied and lifeless in the streets?
It won't be Iraqi commander Ibrahim Al-Baghdad (what is the Arabic form of John Doe?) being held responsible. It will be the Americans.
Do I have a better proposal? No, but I've got plenty of concerns.
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Evidence of an intelligent designer?
Please indulge me a little meta-blogging about Page 132.
I belong to the
TLLB ecosystem. It tracks part of the blogosphere and does so in an evolutionary order from "Higher Beings" to "Insignificant Microbes". Blogs move up (or down) the evolutionary chain based on the number of inbound links. It has been recently revamped and Page 132 fell from a "Slithering Reptile" to "Multicellular Microorganisms". Heck of a devolution. I'm a little disappointed. What to do?
A friend of mine suggested a
little blogwhoring, but I think we'll just keep doing what we've always done. Write about stuff we care about and hope others care, too. We have earned our links the hard way, by having people add Page 132 to their blogrolls. We don't belong to any groups that automatically display Page 132 on all member sites and therefore earn cheap inbound links. If you find us on another blog it is because that blogger likes us.
But on the flipside, Page 132 is now averaging 50+ hits a unique hits a day. That moves our average up 10 unique hits in November alone. Not bad. I hope you are enjoying what we have on offer. Feel free to comment. No comment too strange or off-topic!
Finally, doing a
vanity Google search brought
this to my attention.
Semicolon nominated Page 132 for best liberal blog. I can honestly say that we are just honored to be nominated. ;-)
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