Vatican upbeat on Pope's health
Like the PA's assertion that Arafat was fine, when he went to Paris the last time?
Monday, February 28, 2005
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Boys, Girls Are Faring Equally, Study Finds
Take this, you gender mongers!
If you're on one side or the other of the gender-wars debate, you could pick a specific indicator to buttress your case," said Kenneth C. Land, a professor of demographic studies and sociology at Duke University, senior author of the study. "But if we take a step back a little and look at what the data say overall, we find that the two genders have tracked pretty closely.
Just try, try, saying this at Harvard. How far would you get? Not very. The cult of the victim women is strong enough to blow your house down, little piggy.
If you're on one side or the other of the gender-wars debate, you could pick a specific indicator to buttress your case," said Kenneth C. Land, a professor of demographic studies and sociology at Duke University, senior author of the study. "But if we take a step back a little and look at what the data say overall, we find that the two genders have tracked pretty closely.
Just try, try, saying this at Harvard. How far would you get? Not very. The cult of the victim women is strong enough to blow your house down, little piggy.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Taiwan
Japan will announce on Saturday
a joint agreement [with the US] that Taiwan is a mutual security concern, according to a draft of the document. Analysts called the move a demonstration of Japan's willingness to confront the rapidly growing might of China...
...Japanese officials said that the official position advocating a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue has not changed. They said the constitution limits the level of assistance that Japan could offer in the event of a U.S. confrontation with China over Taiwan. But the joint statement on Saturday could help lay the groundwork for the Japanese to extend as much cooperation as they legally can, including logistical support such as transportation and medical rescue operations behind the lines of combat, officials said.
"We consider China a friendly country, but it is also unpredictable," a senior Japanese government official said. "If it takes aggressive action, Japan cannot just stand by and watch."
I know a few people who fear China like an ugly girl fears a mirror. But should be care if Taiwan goes back to China? Why? Another way to ask the question is, shouldn't everyone have the joy of a Chinese jail open to them at some point in their life?
a joint agreement [with the US] that Taiwan is a mutual security concern, according to a draft of the document. Analysts called the move a demonstration of Japan's willingness to confront the rapidly growing might of China...
...Japanese officials said that the official position advocating a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue has not changed. They said the constitution limits the level of assistance that Japan could offer in the event of a U.S. confrontation with China over Taiwan. But the joint statement on Saturday could help lay the groundwork for the Japanese to extend as much cooperation as they legally can, including logistical support such as transportation and medical rescue operations behind the lines of combat, officials said.
"We consider China a friendly country, but it is also unpredictable," a senior Japanese government official said. "If it takes aggressive action, Japan cannot just stand by and watch."
I know a few people who fear China like an ugly girl fears a mirror. But should be care if Taiwan goes back to China? Why? Another way to ask the question is, shouldn't everyone have the joy of a Chinese jail open to them at some point in their life?
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Robot Army
Military planners say robot soldiers will think, see and react increasingly like humans. In the beginning, they will be remote-controlled, looking and acting like lethal toy trucks. As the technology develops, they may take many shapes. And as their intelligence grows, so will their autonomy.
The robot soldier has been a dream at the Pentagon for 30 years. And some involved in the work say it may take at least 30 more years to realize in full. Well before then, they say, the military will have to answer tough questions if it intends to trust robots with the responsibility of distinguishing friend from foe, combatant from bystander [your daughter from the enemy's daughter, ed].
Cool.
The robot soldier has been a dream at the Pentagon for 30 years. And some involved in the work say it may take at least 30 more years to realize in full. Well before then, they say, the military will have to answer tough questions if it intends to trust robots with the responsibility of distinguishing friend from foe, combatant from bystander [your daughter from the enemy's daughter, ed].
Cool.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Syria
I was wrong yesterday when I said it was anti-Syrian forces angry that Hariri didn't stand up to Syria strongly enough. Apparently Syria thought that Hariri stood up to them too much, and represented the strongest domestic proponent of Lebanese independence. Obviously, if the strongest proponent of independence is silenced, then the probability of such declines.
So, does this mean that Syria killed Hariri? Not necessarily, but it increasingly looks likely (although I wouldn't be surprised if the assasination was carried out by proxy since Syria knows of and has relationships with almost all local militias there).
BTW, have you seen the size of the bomb crater?
So, does this mean that Syria killed Hariri? Not necessarily, but it increasingly looks likely (although I wouldn't be surprised if the assasination was carried out by proxy since Syria knows of and has relationships with almost all local militias there).
BTW, have you seen the size of the bomb crater?
Monday, February 14, 2005
Saudi Arabia -- Even Holier
'Islamist win' in key Saudi poll
Islamist-backed candidates have taken a commanding lead in Saudi Arabia's first municipal election, in Riyadh, according to preliminary results.
In case you missed it.
Islamist-backed candidates have taken a commanding lead in Saudi Arabia's first municipal election, in Riyadh, according to preliminary results.
In case you missed it.
Boom
Car bomb kills former Lebanese PM
Wow. No one in modern Lebanese politics has done as much as Hariri to rebuild Beirut. Let the speculation about motives begin.
I can think of three:
1) under Hariri, Lebanon regained its status as the liberal playground of the middle east that it had porior to the civil war. Fundamentalist Sunnis might object to this.
2) Elections are coming. Nothing says "I hate you, your party and everthing you stand for" like a car bomb.
3) Anti-Syrian forces who were unhappy that Hariri was not more forceful about asserting its independence during his tenure.
I am leaning to explanation number two.
Wow. No one in modern Lebanese politics has done as much as Hariri to rebuild Beirut. Let the speculation about motives begin.
I can think of three:
1) under Hariri, Lebanon regained its status as the liberal playground of the middle east that it had porior to the civil war. Fundamentalist Sunnis might object to this.
2) Elections are coming. Nothing says "I hate you, your party and everthing you stand for" like a car bomb.
3) Anti-Syrian forces who were unhappy that Hariri was not more forceful about asserting its independence during his tenure.
I am leaning to explanation number two.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Architecture becomes political
For some people architecture has always been political (see Soviet Realism). As a person with a strong affinity for modern architecture but with roots in an ueber-classical collegiate environment, I do sometimes struggle with pinning down my taste precisely. I don't know how many New Repub's think abou this at all, so I'll keep this brief...
The NYT has an article that discusses how the re-emergence of classicism is drawing interest -- and some of the interest is coming from committed lefties who believe it signals a return to a class dominated society that is anathema to the Great and the Good.
He [the director of this new classical movement] is not, he said, a fan of many modern houses. 'They are much better photographed than lived in,' he said. 'I get mad at architects who overemphasize how something looks rather than how something works as a home.'
But others are quick to point out that nostalgia for 18th-century buildings may have more to do with unspoken nostalgia for the 18th century than for the building. 'Reviving the classical forms is not the same thing as reviving the culture,' said Terence Riley, the chief curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A 2000 Georgian mansion might be impossible to differentiate from an 1800 one, but the social climates that created the two are two centuries apart.
Thoughts?
The NYT has an article that discusses how the re-emergence of classicism is drawing interest -- and some of the interest is coming from committed lefties who believe it signals a return to a class dominated society that is anathema to the Great and the Good.
He [the director of this new classical movement] is not, he said, a fan of many modern houses. 'They are much better photographed than lived in,' he said. 'I get mad at architects who overemphasize how something looks rather than how something works as a home.'
But others are quick to point out that nostalgia for 18th-century buildings may have more to do with unspoken nostalgia for the 18th century than for the building. 'Reviving the classical forms is not the same thing as reviving the culture,' said Terence Riley, the chief curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A 2000 Georgian mansion might be impossible to differentiate from an 1800 one, but the social climates that created the two are two centuries apart.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
The Dems May be Right Here
and that hurts...
But the fact is that you can't submit a budget that is missing some of the largest spending in the whole document. For me though, unlike the Dems, it makes more sense to cut government spending even further, rather than scream about what has been cut.
Like it or not, the US will continue to exist without corn subsidies, but not without its military. Logical conclusion: social programs will lose to military programs in almost all cases.
But the fact is that you can't submit a budget that is missing some of the largest spending in the whole document. For me though, unlike the Dems, it makes more sense to cut government spending even further, rather than scream about what has been cut.
Like it or not, the US will continue to exist without corn subsidies, but not without its military. Logical conclusion: social programs will lose to military programs in almost all cases.
Bush and the French
The French have to wonder if the next four years will be anything like the last four.
Ms. Rice is now America's top diplomat, and American-organized elections have taken place in Iraq. So for France, a new era of political realism is beginning.
Let me add that Rummy is still SecDef, the US's assertions about French involvement in the UN Oil for Food scandal have some basis in fact and, as of now, no amount of chummy diplomacy with the Iranians or the North Koreans have dislodged their nuclear ambitions.
I don't have to conclude that the US is correct about everything always to notice that we are correct enough times that the French may have to deal with us as (at least) more correct in our foreign policy actions than the world, led by France, seems willing to admit.
Ms. Rice is now America's top diplomat, and American-organized elections have taken place in Iraq. So for France, a new era of political realism is beginning.
Let me add that Rummy is still SecDef, the US's assertions about French involvement in the UN Oil for Food scandal have some basis in fact and, as of now, no amount of chummy diplomacy with the Iranians or the North Koreans have dislodged their nuclear ambitions.
I don't have to conclude that the US is correct about everything always to notice that we are correct enough times that the French may have to deal with us as (at least) more correct in our foreign policy actions than the world, led by France, seems willing to admit.
Bad Apples
The only reason that I'm blogging this is that it is a rare day (in my experience) when evil is used to describe people these days. Well, from moderates and not crazy righties and lefties about each other. For the rest of us, what do you call someone who commits acts of violence so heinous that words fail? Is it evil?
Friday, February 04, 2005
The U.N. and Oil
I don't know how many righties have speculated about this, but I distinctly remember it being an old story. Well, now it is out again -- but with a different author: the UN. In this version, the UN's oil for food program with Iraq was not systematically breaking laws, though abuses did occur [passive voice used by me intentionally, ed].
First Iraq's successful elections and now this. All we righties need now is OBL's head on a stick and we can return to talking taxes, no?
First Iraq's successful elections and now this. All we righties need now is OBL's head on a stick and we can return to talking taxes, no?
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
North Korea -- the end is nigh...
Read!
The death of Kim’s favourite mistress last summer, a security clampdown on foreign aid workers and a reported assassination attempt in Austria last November against the leader’s eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, have all heightened the sense of disintegration.
The Japanese intelligence agency, in an unclassified report issued on December 24, referred to “signs of instability” inside the political establishment and predicted a feud among the elite as they strive to seize power from Kim.
The death of Kim’s favourite mistress last summer, a security clampdown on foreign aid workers and a reported assassination attempt in Austria last November against the leader’s eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, have all heightened the sense of disintegration.
The Japanese intelligence agency, in an unclassified report issued on December 24, referred to “signs of instability” inside the political establishment and predicted a feud among the elite as they strive to seize power from Kim.
Needed Changes
I advocated this at various times to various people -- and now this article restates it. To really fight the Islamic militants, it is likely that the best means of doing this is to create and fund Islamic charities and pseudo-organizations that appeal to exactly the kind of people who want to blow us up.
Read the article and let me know what you think.
Read the article and let me know what you think.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
