Young Jews More Likely To Vote GOP Than Their Elders - Forward.com":
Young Jews More Likely To Vote GOP Than Their Elders
McCain Draws Support From Orthodox and Russians
"Washington — Comedian Sarah Silverman has gotten a lot of mileage out of the notion that older Jewish voters, especially those in Florida, need to be persuaded to support Senator Barack Obama. Yet as it turns out, those bubbes and zaydes may be the ones prodding their grandchildren to support the Democratic nominee for president."
Friday, October 31, 2008
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Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post
Former Secretary Of State Eagleburger: "I Devoutly Hope That [She] Would Never Be Tested"
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Archaeologists report finding oldest Hebrew text | Science | Reuters
By Ari Rabinovitch
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Archaeologists in Israel said on Thursday they had unearthed the oldest Hebrew text ever found, while excavating a fortress city overlooking a valley where the Bible says David slew Goliath.
The dig's uncovering of the past near the ancient battlefield in the Valley of Elah, now home to wineries and a satellite station, could have implications for the emotional debate over the future of Jerusalem, some 20 km (12 miles) away.
Archaeologists from the Hebrew University said they found five lines of text written in black ink on a shard of pottery dug up at a five-acre (two-hectare) site called Elah Fortress, or Khirbet Qeiyafa.
Experts have not yet been able to decipher the text fully, but carbon dating of artifacts found at the site indicates the Hebrew inscription was written about 3,000 years ago, predating the Dead Sea Scrolls by 1,000 years, the archaeologists said.
Several words, including "judge," "slave" and "king," could be identified and the experts said they hoped the text would shed light on how alphabetic scripts developed.
In a finding that could have symbolic value for Israel, the archaeologists said other items discovered at the fortress dig indicated there was most likely a strong king and central government in Jerusalem during the period scholars believe that David ruled the holy city and ancient Israel.
Modern-day Israel often cites a biblical connection through David to Jerusalem in supporting its claim, which has not won recognition internationally, to all of the city as its "eternal and indivisible capital."
Palestinians, saying biblical claims have been superseded by the long-standing Arab population in Jerusalem, want the eastern part of the city, captured by Israel in a 1967 war, to be the capital of the state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
"The chronology and geography of Khirbet Qeiyafa create a unique meeting point between the mythology, history, historiography and archaeology of King David," said Yosef Garfinkel, the lead archaeologist at the fortress site.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Archaeologists in Israel said on Thursday they had unearthed the oldest Hebrew text ever found, while excavating a fortress city overlooking a valley where the Bible says David slew Goliath.
The dig's uncovering of the past near the ancient battlefield in the Valley of Elah, now home to wineries and a satellite station, could have implications for the emotional debate over the future of Jerusalem, some 20 km (12 miles) away.
Archaeologists from the Hebrew University said they found five lines of text written in black ink on a shard of pottery dug up at a five-acre (two-hectare) site called Elah Fortress, or Khirbet Qeiyafa.
Experts have not yet been able to decipher the text fully, but carbon dating of artifacts found at the site indicates the Hebrew inscription was written about 3,000 years ago, predating the Dead Sea Scrolls by 1,000 years, the archaeologists said.
Several words, including "judge," "slave" and "king," could be identified and the experts said they hoped the text would shed light on how alphabetic scripts developed.
In a finding that could have symbolic value for Israel, the archaeologists said other items discovered at the fortress dig indicated there was most likely a strong king and central government in Jerusalem during the period scholars believe that David ruled the holy city and ancient Israel.
Modern-day Israel often cites a biblical connection through David to Jerusalem in supporting its claim, which has not won recognition internationally, to all of the city as its "eternal and indivisible capital."
Palestinians, saying biblical claims have been superseded by the long-standing Arab population in Jerusalem, want the eastern part of the city, captured by Israel in a 1967 war, to be the capital of the state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
"The chronology and geography of Khirbet Qeiyafa create a unique meeting point between the mythology, history, historiography and archaeology of King David," said Yosef Garfinkel, the lead archaeologist at the fortress site.
Obamism
The Lone Ranger: Is Political Activism Cool Again? - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International: "Stroke of Genius
Now the Obama campaign is taking this technique to a far higher level. Using its burgeoning e-mail lists, it figures out who might be a likely helper, and in which locations and with which voters. For instance, since we live in Washington D.C., my wife is not asked to call anyone locally because Washington is a certain victory for Obama. Instead, the e-mail asks her to call voters in the nearby swing state of Pennsylvania. A second e-mail, asks her to call, specifically, women voters. It links her, on the Web, to a list of names and phone numbers.
Tonight my wife made her first calls. “They were mostly Hispanic voters,” she surmises, from their names and their accents. “And they were mostly enthusiastic about Obama.” So her message to them was: Don’t forget to vote. (Targeting Hispanic voters has become yet another, little known stroke of genius of the Obama campaign.)
My wife actually made these calls from California, where she is traveling. That’s three hours behind East Coast time. Yet it worked. Mid-afternoon in San Diego was just before dinner time in, for example, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Using her personal cell phone during private down time, she reached all the way across the country to speak to"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Now the Obama campaign is taking this technique to a far higher level. Using its burgeoning e-mail lists, it figures out who might be a likely helper, and in which locations and with which voters. For instance, since we live in Washington D.C., my wife is not asked to call anyone locally because Washington is a certain victory for Obama. Instead, the e-mail asks her to call voters in the nearby swing state of Pennsylvania. A second e-mail, asks her to call, specifically, women voters. It links her, on the Web, to a list of names and phone numbers.
Tonight my wife made her first calls. “They were mostly Hispanic voters,” she surmises, from their names and their accents. “And they were mostly enthusiastic about Obama.” So her message to them was: Don’t forget to vote. (Targeting Hispanic voters has become yet another, little known stroke of genius of the Obama campaign.)
My wife actually made these calls from California, where she is traveling. That’s three hours behind East Coast time. Yet it worked. Mid-afternoon in San Diego was just before dinner time in, for example, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Using her personal cell phone during private down time, she reached all the way across the country to speak to"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Rabbi: Pope may freeze Pius XII sainthood process - Haaretz - Israel News
| Rabbi: Pope may freeze Pius XII sainthood process | |||
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| By News Agency | |||
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Tags: Israel NEws, Pope Pius XII  | |||
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Pope Benedict on Thursday told Jewish leaders that he is "seriously considering" freezing the sainthood process of his Nazi-era predecessor Pius XII until historical archives can be opened, a Jewish leader said. Some Jews have accused Pius, who reigned from 1939 to 1958, of turning a blind eye to the Holocaust. The Vatican says he worked behind the scenes and helped save many Jews from certain death during World War Two. Rabbi David Rosen, a leader of a Jewish delegation which met the pope on Thursday morning, said the subject came up in conversations after formal speeches were delivered.
The Vatican, however, has so far rejected Jewish groups' requests for the immediate opening of its secret archives on Pius XII's papacy. It says it will take at least six more years before scholars can consult the archives, which historians and Jewish groups have been clamoring to study. Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said the requests to see the wartime archives were understandable. But he said Thursday that cataloguing some 16 million documents is expected to take another six or seven years. Beatification is the last step before sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church. Some Jews have asked the pope to hold off on beatifying Pius until more information on his papacy can be studied. | |||
The Bintel Blog - Forward.com
The Bintel Blog - Forward.com: "Translating the Bible Into… Hebrew
Posted by Daniel Treiman, September 11, 2008, 1:52 am
Writing in Ha’aretz, Michael Handelzalts reports:
In Israel - which was established 60 years ago as the national home of the Jewish people, which “gave the world the eternal Book of Books” (according to the Declaration of Independence), and whose official languages, alongside Arabic, include that same Hebrew in which the Book of Books is written - a move is afoot to publish the Bible in contemporary Hebrew. In other words, to translate the Bible into Hebrew. To rewrite it, in the same language, using different words.
This is a private commercial endeavor launched by a veteran teacher of the Bible, Avraham Ahuvia, and publisher Rafi Mozes of Reches Educational Projects. The entire text is vocalized, and each verse appears in the original form alongside the translated version.
The writer (who divulges an interesting familial connection to the topic of biblical translation) compares the effort to an earlier translation of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” into contemporary English to make it more comprehensible to present-day audiences. He also notes that Israel’s education ministry has already banned the new translation."
Posted by Daniel Treiman, September 11, 2008, 1:52 am
Writing in Ha’aretz, Michael Handelzalts reports:
In Israel - which was established 60 years ago as the national home of the Jewish people, which “gave the world the eternal Book of Books” (according to the Declaration of Independence), and whose official languages, alongside Arabic, include that same Hebrew in which the Book of Books is written - a move is afoot to publish the Bible in contemporary Hebrew. In other words, to translate the Bible into Hebrew. To rewrite it, in the same language, using different words.
This is a private commercial endeavor launched by a veteran teacher of the Bible, Avraham Ahuvia, and publisher Rafi Mozes of Reches Educational Projects. The entire text is vocalized, and each verse appears in the original form alongside the translated version.
The writer (who divulges an interesting familial connection to the topic of biblical translation) compares the effort to an earlier translation of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” into contemporary English to make it more comprehensible to present-day audiences. He also notes that Israel’s education ministry has already banned the new translation."
The Bintel Blog - Forward.com
The Bintel Blog - Forward.com: "Lebanon to Israel: Hands Off Our Falafel Balls
Posted by Daniel Treiman, October 6, 2008, 11:16 pm
From DPA via Ha’aretz’s Web site:
The president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association Fadi Abboud, said he is preparing to file an international lawsuit against Israel for allegedly “taking the identity of some Lebanese foods” and thus violating a food copyright.
“In a way the Jewish state is trying to claim ownership of traditional Lebanese delicacies like falafel, tabouleh and hummus” Abboud said.
According to Abboud, the Lebanese are losing “tens of millions of dollars annually” because Israel is selling and marketing traditional Lebanese dishes.
“The Israelis are marketing our main food dishes as if they were Israeli dishes,” he charged.
Though it might be tempting, one should not dismiss Abboud’s threats as mere bluster. He’s serious, and he’s citing legal precedent — the “feta cheese precedent.” (I kid you not.)
And while we’re on the topic of lawsuits, I wonder what ever happened with that Egyptian fellow who was threatening to sue the Jewish people for making off with Egypt’s gold during the Exodus. I, for one, have yet to be served with papers."
Posted by Daniel Treiman, October 6, 2008, 11:16 pm
From DPA via Ha’aretz’s Web site:
The president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association Fadi Abboud, said he is preparing to file an international lawsuit against Israel for allegedly “taking the identity of some Lebanese foods” and thus violating a food copyright.
“In a way the Jewish state is trying to claim ownership of traditional Lebanese delicacies like falafel, tabouleh and hummus” Abboud said.
According to Abboud, the Lebanese are losing “tens of millions of dollars annually” because Israel is selling and marketing traditional Lebanese dishes.
“The Israelis are marketing our main food dishes as if they were Israeli dishes,” he charged.
Though it might be tempting, one should not dismiss Abboud’s threats as mere bluster. He’s serious, and he’s citing legal precedent — the “feta cheese precedent.” (I kid you not.)
And while we’re on the topic of lawsuits, I wonder what ever happened with that Egyptian fellow who was threatening to sue the Jewish people for making off with Egypt’s gold during the Exodus. I, for one, have yet to be served with papers."
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Trends: Racists For Obama
Racists For Obama
Misplaced Suffrage Celebration: Second-Place Citizens - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
AFP
Hillary Clinton's DNC speech falls on the 88th anniversary of women's suffrage in the US. Is this enough to mollify her disappointed supporters?
More Republican Deserters
Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post: "Shays Disappointed 'He Did Not Live Up To His Pledge To Fight A Clean Campaign'"
Hannity's antisemitism.
Fox News reportedly "now expresses regret for booking" Andy Martin -- but what about Hannity? The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz reported that Fox News Channel "now expresses regret for booking [Andy] Martin," who has a history of making anti-Semitic and racially charged comments, on Hannity's America. Kurtz wrote: "[Fox News Senior Vice President Bill] Shine says Hannity disagrees with some of Martin's past comments. 'Having that guy on was a mistake,' Shine says. " But Hannity himself defended Martin's appearance on his show and has not expressed regret on either Hannity's America or Hannity & Colmes for having hosted Martin.
Israel Set To Attend Saudi-Organized Gathering - Forward.com"
Israel Set To Attend Saudi-Organized Gathering - Forward.com": "Israel will attend a high-level interfaith meeting sponsored by Saudi Arabia that is set to be held at the United Nations in November.
The conference, formally organized by the president of the U.N.’s General Assembly, is a follow-up to another Saudi-sponsored interfaith meeting held in Spain over the summer. Israeli officials were not invited to attend that meeting.
An Israeli official told the Forward that Israeli officials would participate in the November 13 interfaith dialogue and is considering which senior official will come to New York for the event. President Shimon Peres and foreign minister Tzipi Livni are the most likely candidates though much will depend on the political situation in Israel, where elections have been called.
The Saudi King is set to attend, as is President Bush."
The conference, formally organized by the president of the U.N.’s General Assembly, is a follow-up to another Saudi-sponsored interfaith meeting held in Spain over the summer. Israeli officials were not invited to attend that meeting.
An Israeli official told the Forward that Israeli officials would participate in the November 13 interfaith dialogue and is considering which senior official will come to New York for the event. President Shimon Peres and foreign minister Tzipi Livni are the most likely candidates though much will depend on the political situation in Israel, where elections have been called.
The Saudi King is set to attend, as is President Bush."
FiveThirtyEight.com: Electoral Projections Done Right
FiveThirtyEight.com: Electoral Projections Done Right: "266 comments
Post a Comment
The Myth of the 'Lag'
One of the most bizarre but oft-repeated myths about polling is the notion that state polls 'lag' behind national polls, and particularly lag behind national trackers. This is largely a relic of a bygone era in which newspapers might commission a poll in their state, and then sit on it for several days until their Sunday editions or some other ebb in the news cycle. Thus, you might be seeing state polls that were in the field a week or so ago, whereas the national trackers were more up-to-date.
This largely is not true today, however. Rasmussen and SurveyUSA, perhaps the two most prolific public pollsters, generally release their data no later than 24 hours after it has left the field; likewise with other pollsters like InsiderAdvantage and Public Policy Polling. A couple of other pollsters like Quinnipiac and Mason-Dixon will occasionally sit on a poll for 24-48 hours, but generally not more than that. Every now and then, you'll have some small college or some fledgling marketing firm release a poll that is a couple of weeks old, but this is unusual, and it's easy to notate the exceptions. Most of the big, business-savvy pollsters recognize the importance of timeliness in this era of 24/7 news cycles.
Conversely, some of the national tracking polls are actually not all that fresh. IBD/TIPP has a 5-day polling window. Battleground also has a 5-day polling window, and they don't poll weekends, meaning that they're usually including some data that is a full week old.
Certainly, there is some mystery as to why the state polls and the national trackers seem to have diverged somewhat of late, with John McCain picking up perhaps 2 points in the tracking polls versus last week's averages, whereas the state polls haven't really budged one iota. The 'lag' effect, however, is not a valid explanation.
BONUS EDIT: Here's a fun little reality check for those of you who are sweating the trackers. Since our last update yesterday evening, I have added 34 polls to my database, including both state and national numbers. Barack Obama is ahead in 32 of those 34 polls. The two exceptions are in Arizona and Alaska, the home states of John McCain and his VP nominee, respectively."
Post a Comment
The Myth of the 'Lag'
One of the most bizarre but oft-repeated myths about polling is the notion that state polls 'lag' behind national polls, and particularly lag behind national trackers. This is largely a relic of a bygone era in which newspapers might commission a poll in their state, and then sit on it for several days until their Sunday editions or some other ebb in the news cycle. Thus, you might be seeing state polls that were in the field a week or so ago, whereas the national trackers were more up-to-date.
This largely is not true today, however. Rasmussen and SurveyUSA, perhaps the two most prolific public pollsters, generally release their data no later than 24 hours after it has left the field; likewise with other pollsters like InsiderAdvantage and Public Policy Polling. A couple of other pollsters like Quinnipiac and Mason-Dixon will occasionally sit on a poll for 24-48 hours, but generally not more than that. Every now and then, you'll have some small college or some fledgling marketing firm release a poll that is a couple of weeks old, but this is unusual, and it's easy to notate the exceptions. Most of the big, business-savvy pollsters recognize the importance of timeliness in this era of 24/7 news cycles.
Conversely, some of the national tracking polls are actually not all that fresh. IBD/TIPP has a 5-day polling window. Battleground also has a 5-day polling window, and they don't poll weekends, meaning that they're usually including some data that is a full week old.
Certainly, there is some mystery as to why the state polls and the national trackers seem to have diverged somewhat of late, with John McCain picking up perhaps 2 points in the tracking polls versus last week's averages, whereas the state polls haven't really budged one iota. The 'lag' effect, however, is not a valid explanation.
BONUS EDIT: Here's a fun little reality check for those of you who are sweating the trackers. Since our last update yesterday evening, I have added 34 polls to my database, including both state and national numbers. Barack Obama is ahead in 32 of those 34 polls. The two exceptions are in Arizona and Alaska, the home states of John McCain and his VP nominee, respectively."
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten: "Campaign Fatigue? The Real Challenge Is Yet to Come
It's been a long and hard-fought campaign, leaving many too exhausted to cheer the winner through the gates. But despite the presumed victory, warns SPIEGEL ONLINE blogger Peter Ross Range, the real battle awaits Obama on the other side of Inauguration Day. more...
* The Lone Ranger: Is Political Activism Cool Again?
* The Lone Ranger: Obamaphiles Worry About a McCain Comeback
* The Lone Ranger: Democrats Dream of Historic Realignment"
It's been a long and hard-fought campaign, leaving many too exhausted to cheer the winner through the gates. But despite the presumed victory, warns SPIEGEL ONLINE blogger Peter Ross Range, the real battle awaits Obama on the other side of Inauguration Day. more...
* The Lone Ranger: Is Political Activism Cool Again?
* The Lone Ranger: Obamaphiles Worry About a McCain Comeback
* The Lone Ranger: Democrats Dream of Historic Realignment"
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten: "Can Condoleezza Rice Emancipate Herself from Bush?
Lifting the Shadow: Can Condoleezza Rice Emancipate Herself from Bush?
As the disastrous Bush administration drags down its members, only one of them, Condoleezza Rice, has what it takes to survive politically. Ironically, the president's close confidante, who bears part of the responsibility for all of the administration's crises, is the only one who stands a chance of scoring a comeback. By Marc Hujer more..."
Lifting the Shadow: Can Condoleezza Rice Emancipate Herself from Bush?
As the disastrous Bush administration drags down its members, only one of them, Condoleezza Rice, has what it takes to survive politically. Ironically, the president's close confidante, who bears part of the responsibility for all of the administration's crises, is the only one who stands a chance of scoring a comeback. By Marc Hujer more..."
Politicker WA | Inside Politics for Political Insiders
Politicker WA | Inside Politics for Political Insiders: "Politico: Boeing keeping McCain at arm's length in Washington
By Bryan Bissell, PolitickerWA.com Reporter
Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is facing a political headwind from the breath of Boeing here in Washington state, according to a report from Politico.com's Jeanne Cummings.
She cites the relative success of Dino Rossi (R-Sammamish) in his race to unseat Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, and Rep. Dave Reichert's (R-Auburn) ability to keep his race a tossup in the 8th Congressional District.
Both Republicans have held polling leads during the campaign, although their opponents are currently on top.
Similar races across the country have been riding a strong wave behind Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to lean Democratic.
McCain has taken many legislative stands against Boeing, and has even mentioned them during presidential debates this fall."
By Bryan Bissell, PolitickerWA.com Reporter
Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is facing a political headwind from the breath of Boeing here in Washington state, according to a report from Politico.com's Jeanne Cummings.
She cites the relative success of Dino Rossi (R-Sammamish) in his race to unseat Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, and Rep. Dave Reichert's (R-Auburn) ability to keep his race a tossup in the 8th Congressional District.
Both Republicans have held polling leads during the campaign, although their opponents are currently on top.
Similar races across the country have been riding a strong wave behind Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to lean Democratic.
McCain has taken many legislative stands against Boeing, and has even mentioned them during presidential debates this fall."
Playbook 24/7 - Politico.com
Playbook 24/7 - Politico.com: "6 days - SIREN: Arizona PBS poll finds McCain's home state 'too close to call' -- Arizona Republic: 'Struggling in his own backyard'"
Pointing to Wright, an Orthodox Pol Supports McCain - Forward.com"
Pointing to Wright, an Orthodox Pol Supports McCain - Forward.com": "Dov Hikind, an influential Orthodox Jewish Democrat and New York State assemblyman, is crossing party lines to endorse John McCain just eight days before the election, pointing to Barack Obama’s ties to a controversial Chicago pastor.
Hikind, who represents a heavily Orthodox area of Brooklyn, has drawn criticism from fellow Democrats for breaking party lines in past elections. Although he endorsed the runs of Bill Clinton and Al Gore, Hikind threw his weight behind President Bush in 2004, pointing to Bush’s approach to Israel. Hikind said he had been in touch with the McCain campaign before making his choice this week."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Al Jazeera English - GENERAL - We the People: America's mission?
| We the People: America's mission? |
| |
| |
Joe the Plumber, Jose the builder, Dan the Assasin?
Skeptical Brotha: "Hat Tip: Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Law enforcement agents have broken up a plot by two neo-Nazi skinheads to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and shoot or decapitate 88 black people, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Monday.
In court records unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Tenn., federal agents said they disrupted plans to rob a gun store and target a predominantly African-American high school in a murder spree that was to begin in Tennessee. Agents said the skinheads did not identify the school by name.
Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of ATF’s Nashville field office, said the two men planned to kill 88 African Americans, including 14 by beheading. The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community."
One of the worst aspects of Rovism is the spin that flattens. McCain and Palin have both promoted hatred, sometimes explicitly, and then claimed that Obama-Biden have sometimes done that too. Of course this is nonsense, but the worse effect is to make this sort of thing .. the Nazi with the sniper rifle, somehow OK.
Of course Dan does nto represent McCain, yet McCain does nto express the outrage he should that might help us all put such barbarians beyond our borders of decency,
Hat Tip: Associated Press
In court records unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Tenn., federal agents said they disrupted plans to rob a gun store and target a predominantly African-American high school in a murder spree that was to begin in Tennessee. Agents said the skinheads did not identify the school by name.
Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of ATF’s Nashville field office, said the two men planned to kill 88 African Americans, including 14 by beheading. The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community.
WASHINGTON - Law enforcement agents have broken up a plot by two neo-Nazi skinheads to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and shoot or decapitate 88 black people, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Monday.
In court records unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Tenn., federal agents said they disrupted plans to rob a gun store and target a predominantly African-American high school in a murder spree that was to begin in Tennessee. Agents said the skinheads did not identify the school by name.
Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of ATF’s Nashville field office, said the two men planned to kill 88 African Americans, including 14 by beheading. The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community."
One of the worst aspects of Rovism is the spin that flattens. McCain and Palin have both promoted hatred, sometimes explicitly, and then claimed that Obama-Biden have sometimes done that too. Of course this is nonsense, but the worse effect is to make this sort of thing .. the Nazi with the sniper rifle, somehow OK.
Of course Dan does nto represent McCain, yet McCain does nto express the outrage he should that might help us all put such barbarians beyond our borders of decency,
Science News / The First Sound Bites
The presidential campaign, 1908-style. Hear early phonograph recordings.
Race for the White House in 1908View our special presentation, including audio of early phonograph recordings.(Flash Required) A. Nandy
When
His is the strange composite voice
Of many million singing souls
Who make world-brotherhood their choice
— Vachel Lindsay, American poet, 1915
William Jennings Bryan was rarely at a loss for words. His impassioned oratory spellbound congressmen during his two terms in the U.S. House and thrilled thousands of voters during the presidential campaigns of 1896 and1900. But during his third run for the White House, 100 years ago,
World's fattest man weds on TV | Weird True Freaky | News.com.au
World's fattest man weds on TV | Weird True Freaky | News.com.au: "MEXICAN Manuel Uribe, the world's fattest man, has married his friend's widow in a televised ceremony the US Discovery Channel dubbed My Big Fat Mexican Wedding.
Despite shedding 230kg from 590kg earlier this year, Mr Uribe, 43, had to be carried by a crane on his bed, where he has been confined for years, to the makeshift altar at a venue 30 minutes from his home."
Despite shedding 230kg from 590kg earlier this year, Mr Uribe, 43, had to be carried by a crane on his bed, where he has been confined for years, to the makeshift altar at a venue 30 minutes from his home."
Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel, Israeli News Source
Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel, Israeli News Source: "Jewish Arab aide to Moroccan king urges Israel to adopt Saudi peace plan
Andre Azoulay: Arab public views Israel as the party responsible for preventing peace, not the Arabs. 23:56"
Andre Azoulay: Arab public views Israel as the party responsible for preventing peace, not the Arabs. 23:56"
Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel, Israeli News Source
Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel, Israeli News Source: "Arab peace initiative has Barak backing, but Livni still cautious
Support for 2002 plan brings ex-rivals Peres, Barak together; FM says Palestinian track must come first. 08:46"
Support for 2002 plan brings ex-rivals Peres, Barak together; FM says Palestinian track must come first. 08:46"
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Muslim Martin Luthers: The Theologians Working Towards a Euro-Islam - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
Muslim Martin Luthers: The Theologians Working Towards a Euro-Islam - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News: "The Theologians Working Towards a Euro-Islam
By Dieter Bednarz and Daniel Steinvorth
Leading Muslim scholars are laying the theological foundations for a 'Euro-Islam' which would reconcile their religion with the challenges of modernity. But just how compatible is Islam with secular Western values?"
By Dieter Bednarz and Daniel Steinvorth
Leading Muslim scholars are laying the theological foundations for a 'Euro-Islam' which would reconcile their religion with the challenges of modernity. But just how compatible is Islam with secular Western values?"
Monday, October 27, 2008
Ferrari F430 | Wired.com Product Reviews
Ferrari F430
$186,925 • ferrariusa.com
In the hood ... a young driver and a passenger survived this accident today in which a $250,000 Ferrari was left wrapped around a pole in a quiet Adelaide street. 
Pictures | More
Pictures | MoreWhilw Bush Fiddled, the Earth Burned
Arctic ice thickness 'plummets'
| By Mark Kinver Science and environment reporter, BBC News |
 The data proves that overall volume of sea ice is decreasing, say researchers |
The thickness of Arctic sea ice "plummeted" last winter, thinning by as much as 49 centimetres (1.6ft) in some regions, satellite data has revealed.
A study by UK researchers showed that the ice thickness had been fairly constant for the previous five winters.
The team from University College London added that the results provided the first definitive prPoliticker WA | Inside Politics for Political Insiders
Politicker WA | Inside Politics for Political Insiders: "Washington Poll finds support for every major ballot initiative
By Bryan Bissell, PolitickerWA.com Reporter
The four major ballot initiatives up for a vote this November, I-1000, I-985, I-1029 and Prop. 1, all have positive support according to the latest Washington Poll.
I-1000, which would legalize assisted suicide based upon the same legal constraints as a similar Oregon law, leads its opponents 56-38." No surprise.
By Bryan Bissell, PolitickerWA.com Reporter
The four major ballot initiatives up for a vote this November, I-1000, I-985, I-1029 and Prop. 1, all have positive support according to the latest Washington Poll.
I-1000, which would legalize assisted suicide based upon the same legal constraints as a similar Oregon law, leads its opponents 56-38." No surprise.
Meanwhile I-985, which seeks to reduce traffic congestion by coordinating red lights and opening up HOV lanes, leads narrowly with a 45-43 count among voters statewide.
I-1029, requiring more training for certain health care workers, leads handily, 65-20.
Prop. 1, which would increase taxes $17.9 bullion dollars to pay for mass transit, leads 50-43. Prop. 1 is certainly the most divisive measure on the ballot. It has 68 percent support among Democrats in the Puget Sound corridor, and 80 percent opposition among Republicans.
Unseen Courage in Reprican Call Center
Call Center Workers Walk Out En Masse Over Anti-Obama Script
A Tale of Two Palestines
Le Monde diplomatique - English edition | October 2008: "West Bank and Gaza, Fatah and Hamas
Palestinians: divided we fall
by Amira Hass
Two locations, two rival political powers. Solidarity against Israel is gradually disintegrating as both regimes, and many individuals living under them, begin to see the future only in terms of their personal survival."
Palestinians: divided we fall
by Amira Hass
Two locations, two rival political powers. Solidarity against Israel is gradually disintegrating as both regimes, and many individuals living under them, begin to see the future only in terms of their personal survival."
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten
Financial Crisis Exposes German Leader's Weaknesses
The financial crisis and the threat of recession are revealing German Chancellor Angela Merkel's weaknesses and could contribute to a dramatic change in her party's prospects in next year's election. The Social Democrats, sensing an opportunity, are already planning their attack. By Roland Nelles and Ralf Neukirch more...
Truthiness McCain Claims Whitman 'Founded' eBay; Actual Founder Is Obama Supporter Pierre Omidyar
McCain Claims Surrogate Meg Whitman 'Founded' eBay; Actual Founder Is Obama Supporter Pierre Omidyar: "John McCain continued his string of gaffes this morning by claiming that Meg Whitman, a national co-chair for his campaign and potential pick for Treasury Secretary, had 'founded' eBay with five employees.
In fact, Whitman joined eBay as CEO in 1998, three years after it was founded by Pierre Omidyar, a Barack Obama supporter."
In fact, Whitman joined eBay as CEO in 1998, three years after it was founded by Pierre Omidyar, a Barack Obama supporter."
Dilettante Chocolates
Dilettante Chocolates: "Come visit us at our NEW Dilettante Mocha Martini Bar on Broadway. Located one block north of the original Broadway store. On the corner of East Mercer and Broadway at the Brix Building.
Our Menu Features Dilettante's famous Cakes and deserts, an updated food offering or Sample one of our all new featured Chocolate Martini's"
Tail Feathers
Science News / Shaking Its Tail Feathers: "There’s a new dinosaur at the base of the bird family tree. It lived between 152 million and 168 million years ago in what is now northern China. A previously unseen type of feather covered the body and limbs of this pigeon-sized creature, says Fucheng Zhang of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. Those structures were too short and of the wrong design to have functioned as flight feathers, he says. The creature also sported four long, ribbon-like feathers on its tail, Zhang and his colleagues report in the Oct. 23 Nature. Because those tail feathers probably wouldn’t have served as flight feathers or as insulation, these researchers dubbed the creature Epidexipteryx hui, whose genus name comes from the Greek words for “display feather.” The newly described reptile lived at least 2 million years before Archaeopteryx, the first known bird. — Sid Perkins Credit: Z. Chuang and X. Lida"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
VIRGINIA
FiveThirtyEight.com: Electoral Projections Done Right: "Five separate polls of Virginia have been released within the past 48 hours. Zogby has Obama ahead by 7 points there, the Washington Post by 8, SurveyUSA by 9, Public Policy Polling also by 9, and Virgnia Commonwealth University by 11.
Virginia, with 13 electoral votes, is a bit more electorally potent than Colorado; Obama could afford to lose either New Hampshire or New Mexico if he won there (though not both), which is not true about the Rocky Mountain state. We are currently projecting Obama to win every John Kerry state, except New Hampshire, but plus Iowa, by double digits. If Obama wins all of those states plus Virginia, he's at 268 electoral votes, meaning that any more electoral votes anywhere in the country would win him the election."
And Georgia is at -4.
Virginia, with 13 electoral votes, is a bit more electorally potent than Colorado; Obama could afford to lose either New Hampshire or New Mexico if he won there (though not both), which is not true about the Rocky Mountain state. We are currently projecting Obama to win every John Kerry state, except New Hampshire, but plus Iowa, by double digits. If Obama wins all of those states plus Virginia, he's at 268 electoral votes, meaning that any more electoral votes anywhere in the country would win him the election."
And Georgia is at -4.
Palin's off-script comments irk McCain aides - CNN.com
Palin's off-script comments irk McCain aides - CNN.com: "A Palin associate, however, said the candidate is simply trying to 'bust free' of what she believes was a damaging and mismanaged roll-out.
McCain sources say Palin has gone off-message several times, and they privately wonder whether the incidents were deliberate. They cited an instance in which she labeled robocalls -- recorded messages often used to attack a candidate's opponent -- 'irritating' even as the campaign defended their use. Also, they pointed to her telling reporters she disagreed with the campaign's decision to pull out of Michigan.
A second McCain source says she appears to be looking out for herself more than the McCain campaign."
McCain sources say Palin has gone off-message several times, and they privately wonder whether the incidents were deliberate. They cited an instance in which she labeled robocalls -- recorded messages often used to attack a candidate's opponent -- 'irritating' even as the campaign defended their use. Also, they pointed to her telling reporters she disagreed with the campaign's decision to pull out of Michigan.
A second McCain source says she appears to be looking out for herself more than the McCain campaign."
Is McCain the Manchurian Candidate?
Hmmm ..Maybe McCain IS the Manchurian candidate?"
Does this bird look like the dinosaur just found in China?
Sorry, Senator. Let's Salvage What We Can. - washingtonpost.com
NOT EVEN CLOSE
Sorry, Senator. Let's Salvage What We Can.
Sure enough, the base has responded. After months and months of wan enthusiasm among Republicans, these last weeks have at last energized the core of the party. But there's a downside: The very same campaign strategy that has belatedly mobilized the Republican core has alienated and offended the great national middle, which was the only place where the 2008 election could have been won.
Why Gays Want to be "Married"
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan: "'Welcome To The Family'
A reader echoes what I discovered about the m-word:
I met my first partner on October 20th 1978 and met his relatives shortly after. 19 wonderful years later, after a short illness, he died.
I don't wear jewelry but he had worn the same chain round his neck since the day we met. Impulsively I decided to wear it in his honor. His mother saw it and awkwardly asked me to give it to her - 'Because we want it to stay in the family'. She said it thoughtlessly but without malice and, later that week, kindly returned it to me saying that 'the family' wanted me to keep it.
Bear in mind that we saw one or more of his relatives at least once a week throughout our relationship and, on each of the the last ten years of his life, I'd served Christmas dinner for them all at our house.
Shortly after my first partner's death I met another wonderful guy. We have now been together for 11 years. During that time I've met all his relatives too - Mother, Brother, Sister, Sister-in-Law, Nieces - and we've also had many happy times together. We've vacationed at his brother's cabin, taken his sister on vacation several times and been to his mother's house countless times. Any time we stay over my partner and I sleep together in the same bed, as always."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
I have blogged a lot about why gays should NOT be married. The center of my argument is that the relationship we call marriage is different from other relationships .. different because of the biological and traditional interaction between the sexes but not different in the contractual sense usually argued by the gay marriage community. I have always fully supported pairing laws that allow any two people to designate each other as next of kin and have the same rights we accord married people.
Is pairing enough?
This letter says "no." The author is saying that he wants his relationship to be recognized by society, not merely as contractual but as familial. The post is compelling, it tells us of someone who wants to be part of family .. a central and traditional role we have called marriage.
I am moved by this but am also concerned that the writer confuses law with culture. There is an almost Orwellian assumption here that by redefining "marriage" in a legal sense we will also make gay pairing a normal social institution.
There is evidence that the writer could be correct ... look at how far we have come in abolishing racism. What was once unthinkable as interactions between white and black is now largely "normal." "Miscegenation" has been replace by "marriage." Would legalizing gay marriage achieve the same thing?
I do mot think so. The barriers between races were, we now believe, largely cultural. After all there are many societies where intermarriage is normal. Modern genetics tells us that often the distinction we call race is only superficial .. as it were, "skin deep." People with different skin colors can be very much of the same culture. The presence of African Americans in the Jewish community may be one example of culture transcending race.
So, I see a dilemma, why can not a pair be accepted as family? "Why" indeed. The cowboy movie image of the blood brother is and was real. In many societies, including Judaism, there is a procedure for adopting others into a family and tribe. Here in the Northwest, there is a long tradition of Euroes becoming members of one of the local peoples, even given traditional rights to roles in the tribe.
The question is does redefining marriage serve the familial purpose? Gender is more than skin deep. I remain in the pairing camp.
A reader echoes what I discovered about the m-word:
I met my first partner on October 20th 1978 and met his relatives shortly after. 19 wonderful years later, after a short illness, he died.
I don't wear jewelry but he had worn the same chain round his neck since the day we met. Impulsively I decided to wear it in his honor. His mother saw it and awkwardly asked me to give it to her - 'Because we want it to stay in the family'. She said it thoughtlessly but without malice and, later that week, kindly returned it to me saying that 'the family' wanted me to keep it.
Bear in mind that we saw one or more of his relatives at least once a week throughout our relationship and, on each of the the last ten years of his life, I'd served Christmas dinner for them all at our house.
Shortly after my first partner's death I met another wonderful guy. We have now been together for 11 years. During that time I've met all his relatives too - Mother, Brother, Sister, Sister-in-Law, Nieces - and we've also had many happy times together. We've vacationed at his brother's cabin, taken his sister on vacation several times and been to his mother's house countless times. Any time we stay over my partner and I sleep together in the same bed, as always."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
I have blogged a lot about why gays should NOT be married. The center of my argument is that the relationship we call marriage is different from other relationships .. different because of the biological and traditional interaction between the sexes but not different in the contractual sense usually argued by the gay marriage community. I have always fully supported pairing laws that allow any two people to designate each other as next of kin and have the same rights we accord married people.
Is pairing enough?
This letter says "no." The author is saying that he wants his relationship to be recognized by society, not merely as contractual but as familial. The post is compelling, it tells us of someone who wants to be part of family .. a central and traditional role we have called marriage.
I am moved by this but am also concerned that the writer confuses law with culture. There is an almost Orwellian assumption here that by redefining "marriage" in a legal sense we will also make gay pairing a normal social institution.
There is evidence that the writer could be correct ... look at how far we have come in abolishing racism. What was once unthinkable as interactions between white and black is now largely "normal." "Miscegenation" has been replace by "marriage." Would legalizing gay marriage achieve the same thing?
I do mot think so. The barriers between races were, we now believe, largely cultural. After all there are many societies where intermarriage is normal. Modern genetics tells us that often the distinction we call race is only superficial .. as it were, "skin deep." People with different skin colors can be very much of the same culture. The presence of African Americans in the Jewish community may be one example of culture transcending race.
So, I see a dilemma, why can not a pair be accepted as family? "Why" indeed. The cowboy movie image of the blood brother is and was real. In many societies, including Judaism, there is a procedure for adopting others into a family and tribe. Here in the Northwest, there is a long tradition of Euroes becoming members of one of the local peoples, even given traditional rights to roles in the tribe.
The question is does redefining marriage serve the familial purpose? Gender is more than skin deep. I remain in the pairing camp.
David Axelrod, Long by Obama’s Side, Fills a Role That Exceeds His Title - NYTimes.com
Long by Obama’s Side, an Adviser Fills a Role That Exceeds His Title
Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times
“He’s not just a client, he’s a very good friend of mine,” David Axelrod, right, said of Barack Obama. “We share a worldview.”
Sunday, October 26, 2008
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Dalai Lama giving up on China | World Breaking News | News.com.au
Dalai Lama giving up on China | World Breaking News | News.com.au: "Dalai Lama giving up on China
From correspondents in Dharamshala, India
Agence France-Presse
October 27, 2008 04:55pm
THE Dalai Lama is considering a major policy shift towards China following a complete lack of progress in talks on Tibetan autonomy with Beijing, a senior aide said.
The Tibetan leader's spokesman Tenzin Taklha said all options would be on the table at a meeting scheduled next month of exiled Tibetan leaders involved in the campaign for greater autonomy for their Himalayan homeland.
'The only non-negotiable aspect is that the movement will still be non-violent. Everyone is agreed on that,' Mr Taklha said."
From correspondents in Dharamshala, India
Agence France-Presse
October 27, 2008 04:55pm
THE Dalai Lama is considering a major policy shift towards China following a complete lack of progress in talks on Tibetan autonomy with Beijing, a senior aide said.
The Tibetan leader's spokesman Tenzin Taklha said all options would be on the table at a meeting scheduled next month of exiled Tibetan leaders involved in the campaign for greater autonomy for their Himalayan homeland.
'The only non-negotiable aspect is that the movement will still be non-violent. Everyone is agreed on that,' Mr Taklha said."
McCain's hypocrisy?
Global Voices Online: "In 1985, a U.S. Congressman named John McCain traveled to Chile and met with dictator Augusto Pinochet. The previously unreported meeting was revealed by journalist John Dinges, who published the findings in two blogs, and which were especially timely because of the current Republican nominee “who has harshly criticized the idea of sitting down with dictators without pre-conditions, appears to have done just that.”"
Endorsements
The Arena - Politico's daily debate with policymakers and opinion shapers | Politico.com: "Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform:
On November 4, 2008 I will be voting for Senator John McCain. He has laid out an economic program that would increase jobs, wealth and economic growth. He has promised to veto any tax hike and to fight for lower taxes on all Americans."
On November 4, 2008 I will be voting for Senator John McCain. He has laid out an economic program that would increase jobs, wealth and economic growth. He has promised to veto any tax hike and to fight for lower taxes on all Americans."
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan: "The Kristol-Palin Pincer
You can see where this is headed:
Next Sunday, McCain and Palin could divide up the talk shows. Sarah Palin live! Lots of people would tune in.
Kristol is preparing the way to argue that Palin is actually a genius, great on her feet, honest and transparent - and was destroyed by the McCain people. As he always does, because he cannot actually concede error, he is doubling down. He even wants her to have her own moment on prime time television to address the nation:
Palin could speak first, reprising her fine recent speeches on women’s issues and special needs kids — speeches that got almost no press coverage. She could then introduce her running mate, reminding people of his heroism, and pointing out, as she does on the stump, that he is the only candidate “who has truly fought for America.”
Palin is Kristol's creature; and they now go down or rise together."
You can see where this is headed:
Next Sunday, McCain and Palin could divide up the talk shows. Sarah Palin live! Lots of people would tune in.
Kristol is preparing the way to argue that Palin is actually a genius, great on her feet, honest and transparent - and was destroyed by the McCain people. As he always does, because he cannot actually concede error, he is doubling down. He even wants her to have her own moment on prime time television to address the nation:
Palin could speak first, reprising her fine recent speeches on women’s issues and special needs kids — speeches that got almost no press coverage. She could then introduce her running mate, reminding people of his heroism, and pointing out, as she does on the stump, that he is the only candidate “who has truly fought for America.”
Palin is Kristol's creature; and they now go down or rise together."
McCain On Nuclear Power Safeguards: "Blah, Blah, Blah"
McCain On Obama, Nuclear Power Safeguards: "Blah, Blah, Blah":
During a rally in Northern Iowa University this morning, John McCain made a strange remark that only serves to cement the notion that he does not respect Barack Obama:
When I'm elected president We're going to stop spending $700 billion to buy oil from countries that don't like us very much,' John McCain said at Northern Iowa University this morning.
'You know, the other night in the debate with Senator Obama, I said his eloquence is admirable, but pay attention to his words. We talk about offshore drilling and he said he would quote, consider, offshore drilling. We talked about nuclear power, well it has to be safe, environment, blah, blah, blah.'
While McCain is targeting Obama's eloquence as empty words with his 'blah, blah, blah' comment, it's curious why he would use safeguards for nuclear power as the vehicle for this attack. The line makes McCain seem not only callous but also dismissive of a very real concern regarding nuclear power. It recalls the moment during the third presidential debate when McCain used air quotes while discussing a woman's health as a factor in her having"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
During a rally in Northern Iowa University this morning, John McCain made a strange remark that only serves to cement the notion that he does not respect Barack Obama:
When I'm elected president We're going to stop spending $700 billion to buy oil from countries that don't like us very much,' John McCain said at Northern Iowa University this morning.
'You know, the other night in the debate with Senator Obama, I said his eloquence is admirable, but pay attention to his words. We talk about offshore drilling and he said he would quote, consider, offshore drilling. We talked about nuclear power, well it has to be safe, environment, blah, blah, blah.'
While McCain is targeting Obama's eloquence as empty words with his 'blah, blah, blah' comment, it's curious why he would use safeguards for nuclear power as the vehicle for this attack. The line makes McCain seem not only callous but also dismissive of a very real concern regarding nuclear power. It recalls the moment during the third presidential debate when McCain used air quotes while discussing a woman's health as a factor in her having"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
FT.com / Comment & analysis / Editorial comment - Obama is the better choice
FT.com / Comment & analysis / Editorial comment - Obama is the better choice: "Obama is the better choice
Published: October 26 2008 19:31 | Last updated: October 26 2008 19:31
US presidential elections involve a fabulous expense of time, effort and money. Doubtless it is all too much – but, by the end, nobody can complain that the candidates have been too little scrutinised. We have learnt a lot about Barack Obama and John McCain during this campaign. In our view, it is enough to be confident that Mr Obama is the right choice.
At the outset, we were not so confident. Mr Obama is inexperienced. His policies are a blend of good, not so good and downright bad. Since the election will strengthen Democratic control of Congress, a case can be made for returning a Republican to the White House: divided government has a better record in the United States than government united under either party."
Published: October 26 2008 19:31 | Last updated: October 26 2008 19:31
US presidential elections involve a fabulous expense of time, effort and money. Doubtless it is all too much – but, by the end, nobody can complain that the candidates have been too little scrutinised. We have learnt a lot about Barack Obama and John McCain during this campaign. In our view, it is enough to be confident that Mr Obama is the right choice.
At the outset, we were not so confident. Mr Obama is inexperienced. His policies are a blend of good, not so good and downright bad. Since the election will strengthen Democratic control of Congress, a case can be made for returning a Republican to the White House: divided government has a better record in the United States than government united under either party."
Jesus vs. Dinosaurs
Pharyngula: "I get remarks on my student evaluations (last year, a group of students must have collaborated, because there were a half dozen evaluations that said exactly the same thing: 'This class taught me to love Jesus even more!', which they may have thought would hurt my feelings, but I just laughed.) I've had some students who talked to my colleagues about this evolution stuff — they were apparently afraid to confront me. I do get some forthright creationists, but they don't respond with tears…they try to argue with me, which is just fine. But otherwise, the only screams I get are when I return exams."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
At the U.N., Many Hope for an Obama Win
At the U.N., Many Hope for an Obama Win: "Obama supporters hail from Russia, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Indonesia and elsewhere. One American employee here seemed puzzled that he was being asked whether Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was even a consideration. 'Obama was and is unstoppable,' the official said. 'Please, God, let him win,' he added."
Indian Ocean .. We need a Treaty
Moscow News - News - Silvio Berlusconi: Russia should join EU: "Russian warship en route for anti-piracy mission off Somalia
15:02 26/10/2008 |A missile frigate from Russia's Baltic Fleet arrived at the port of Aden in Yemen on its way to join an international naval group fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, the Russian Navy said."
Since Britain ledt Diego Garcia to the uS, the sole naval power in the Indian Ocean has been the USA.. This no longer makes strategic or economic sense. Strategically, the real danger is Iran or Pakistan taking a sizable naval role. This would require responses by India and Daudi Arabia and perhaqps even by some African states .. the latter via new alliance. OTOH, for the forseeable future, the health of China and Europe ride on a peaceful Indian Ocean.
The obvious answer is some sort of new treaty or even a UN naval force, relieving the US of a burden that does not serve us and averting the complications inherent in local naval conflicts.
The uSwouyd lostr little in such an arrangement. China and India have no reason to obstruct our use of the Indian Oceanh to project power and actually might then have an incentive to join us.
15:02 26/10/2008 |A missile frigate from Russia's Baltic Fleet arrived at the port of Aden in Yemen on its way to join an international naval group fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, the Russian Navy said."
Since Britain ledt Diego Garcia to the uS, the sole naval power in the Indian Ocean has been the USA.. This no longer makes strategic or economic sense. Strategically, the real danger is Iran or Pakistan taking a sizable naval role. This would require responses by India and Daudi Arabia and perhaqps even by some African states .. the latter via new alliance. OTOH, for the forseeable future, the health of China and Europe ride on a peaceful Indian Ocean.
The obvious answer is some sort of new treaty or even a UN naval force, relieving the US of a burden that does not serve us and averting the complications inherent in local naval conflicts.
The uSwouyd lostr little in such an arrangement. China and India have no reason to obstruct our use of the Indian Oceanh to project power and actually might then have an incentive to join us.
blatherWatch: Al Franken fights from behind in minnesota
blatherWatch: Al Franken fights from behind in minnesota
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Franken's situation in Minn. may bode poorly for Burner here. A lot of her support two years ago was based on the eblief that we all needed to out the Repricans. BUT. if that is no longer the issue, if BHO is gonna be Prexy, then Eastsiders may decide they are comfortable enough with the sheriff.
My bottom line is that for Burner to win she needs to differentiate herself from Reichert in more ways than just opposition to Bush's war.
More on the local press.
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Franken's situation in Minn. may bode poorly for Burner here. A lot of her support two years ago was based on the eblief that we all needed to out the Repricans. BUT. if that is no longer the issue, if BHO is gonna be Prexy, then Eastsiders may decide they are comfortable enough with the sheriff.
My bottom line is that for Burner to win she needs to differentiate herself from Reichert in more ways than just opposition to Bush's war.
More on the local press.
Merck Closing Seattle’s Rosetta Research Center, Cutting 300 Jobs | Xconomy
Merck Closing Seattle’s Rosetta Research Center, Cutting 300 Jobs | Xconomy: "Merck is leaving Seattle, and cutting 300 local jobs. The Whitehouse Station, NJ-based drug giant said today in its third-quarter earnings report that it is shutting down its Rosetta Inpharmatics research site in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood as part of a global cost-cutting plan to eliminate 7,200 jobs and save as much as $4.2 billion over the next five years.
The shutdown marks the end for one of Seattle’s most promising biotech companies of the late 1990s. Rosetta was founded in 1996 by Institute for Systems Biology president Leroy Hood, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center president Lee Hartwell, and “Hutch” researcher Stephen Friend. The company was sold for more than $620 million to Merck in July 2001, and a year later Merck decided to move the Kirkland, WA-based company to become one of the early biotech tenants to support Paul Allen’s vision for growth in South Lake Union, as described in this story I wrote for The Seattle Times.
It’s ironic that Merck says it’s dumping Rosetta now because it needs to cut costs. When it bought Rosetta’s technology in 2001, it integrated it throughout the company, to make the parent more efficient. Rosetta’s technology was used to analyze which genes are"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
MORE:
The blow to Seattle's hopes of developing a biotech presence is immense. Merck's purchase of Rosetta and construction of the facility in SLU did a lot more than bring credibility to Seattle biotech in 2001. The unbique nature of Rosetta waqs in many ways more like an acadecmic center with its own possibilities for generating off shoots. Moreover, Merck/Rosetta played very well into a scenario where the strong computer science department at UW, along with Microsoft, might have led to a triangl within which a lot of other technology might have grown.
Finally, with Merck's departure, the likelihood of Seattle ebcoeing a center and a magnet for other large pharma seems very unlikley. These birds tend to flock together and are already well roosted in Pennsylvania/NewJersey. Tendrils to Bostonj are beomng strong roots as well as trees grwoing in San Francisco. With Merck gone and ICOS closed, Seattle's only nationally important activity is the local presence of Amgen in the former Immunex labs.
Will Amgen survive here? It is hard to predict. Amgen knows very well that it needs to grow new products at a high rate to remain competitive and its other campus in California is not close to an academci community. On the other hand, I have always wondered whether the rreal estate value of the AMGEN propertie's amazong location might not someday outweigh the vlaue of a presence in Seattle. Adding to this, inlike many other biotechs in Seattle, AMGEN does not have the traditions fo local collaboration that could engender difficult to break ties to our fair city.
Jews for Obama
Tzvee's Talmudic Blog: "
Great video. Watch it! Here's what they say:
We are Israelis and Israeli-Americans who believe Barack Obama will be good for America and good for Israel. In such dramatic times a leader who is able to employ intelligent diplomacy hand in hand with a strong defense is crucial to our future. We urge the Jewish community to hear our voices.
The video was made with the support of The Jewish Alliance for Change. Visit their web site for more info: http://www.jews4change.com/"
Great video. Watch it! Here's what they say:
We are Israelis and Israeli-Americans who believe Barack Obama will be good for America and good for Israel. In such dramatic times a leader who is able to employ intelligent diplomacy hand in hand with a strong defense is crucial to our future. We urge the Jewish community to hear our voices.
The video was made with the support of The Jewish Alliance for Change. Visit their web site for more info: http://www.jews4change.com/"
A Christian Shema?
Home » History » SCOTT MCKNIGHT is interviewed on Beliefnet regardi...: "What Jesus Believed
New Testament scholar Scott McKnight wants Christians to say 'the Jesus Creed' and recommit to love.
Interview by Paul O'Donnell
Amid the continuing debate over who Jesus was, New Testament scholar Scott McKnight asks what Jesus did to revolutionize religious thought. Placing Jesus firmly in the Jewish tradition, McKnight identifies Jesus' key innovation as his modification of the Shema: to the ancient Jewish commandment to 'you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,' Jesus appended a relatively obscure dictate from Leviticus: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' In a new book, McKnight argues that Christians must reexamine their commitment to love, and offers 'the Jesus Creed' as an essential guide to spiritual formation. We spoke to him recently about Jesus the Jewish prophet and revolutionary Christian."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
New Testament scholar Scott McKnight wants Christians to say 'the Jesus Creed' and recommit to love.
Interview by Paul O'Donnell
Amid the continuing debate over who Jesus was, New Testament scholar Scott McKnight asks what Jesus did to revolutionize religious thought. Placing Jesus firmly in the Jewish tradition, McKnight identifies Jesus' key innovation as his modification of the Shema: to the ancient Jewish commandment to 'you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,' Jesus appended a relatively obscure dictate from Leviticus: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' In a new book, McKnight argues that Christians must reexamine their commitment to love, and offers 'the Jesus Creed' as an essential guide to spiritual formation. We spoke to him recently about Jesus the Jewish prophet and revolutionary Christian."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Did God Clone Eve?
Life in Israel: cloning and stem cell research in the parsha: "cloning and stem cell research in the parsha
NOTE: the following should not be taken as a halachic decision or be used for halachic guidance. I do not know what the halachic and/or rabbinic position on these matters is. I consulted no rabbis when writing this, and the following words are simply my thoughts on the subject.
We say that we are supposed to emulate the ways of Hashem. 'מה הוא חנון, אף אתה חנון וכו' - 'Just as He is slow o anger, so to you should be slow to anger. Just as He is merciful, so to should you be merciful, etc.' so the gemara says.
In parshas Breishis, which we just read, Hashem decided there was a need to create a woman to be with Adam. He could have snapped His fingers, so to speak, and said 'Let there be woman', and created her just llike He created man. But He did not.
He put Adam through surgery, with a general anesthesia (ויפל תרדמה), and then cut Adam open, removed a rib (or whatever bone or piece you might define צלע to be), and then formed the flesh and the whole woman around that bone.
To me that sounds like God preferred to not go through the process of creation again onc"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Another Obamican
American Thinker Blog: Fried Brains: "Add another 'Republican' to the list of Obama voters. This one was Charles Fried, Reagan's Solicitor General, Harvard Law professor and supporter of John McCain until at least last January. Per The New Republic ,
He said that chief among the reasons for his decision 'is the choice of Sarah Palin at a time of deep national crisis.'"
He said that chief among the reasons for his decision 'is the choice of Sarah Palin at a time of deep national crisis.'"
American Thinker Blog: Shocker: Star-Tribune endorses Norm Coleman
American Thinker Blog: Shocker: Star-Tribune endorses Norm Coleman: "Shocker: Star-Tribune endorses Norm Coleman
Thomas Lifson
There's a good reason why the normally left Minnesota paper endorses the Republican senatorial incumbent. Editorial: Norm Coleman for Senate
Count this newspaper among the Minnesota voices that long for a lessening of partisan polarization and a return to constructive problem-solving in Washington. If demonization of the partisan opposition continues to be the political coin of this realm, effectiveness of American democracy will be diminished.
Independent judgment, exercised on behalf of the best interests of the country....
He showed good judgment most recently when, despite a tide of constituent opposition, he voted to authorize spending $700 billion to inject capital into banks and thaw a credit freeze."
Thomas Lifson
There's a good reason why the normally left Minnesota paper endorses the Republican senatorial incumbent. Editorial: Norm Coleman for Senate
Count this newspaper among the Minnesota voices that long for a lessening of partisan polarization and a return to constructive problem-solving in Washington. If demonization of the partisan opposition continues to be the political coin of this realm, effectiveness of American democracy will be diminished.
Independent judgment, exercised on behalf of the best interests of the country....
He showed good judgment most recently when, despite a tide of constituent opposition, he voted to authorize spending $700 billion to inject capital into banks and thaw a credit freeze."
American Thinker Blog: The public must never see this tape
American Thinker Blog: The public must never see this tape: "The public must never see this tape
Thomas Lifson
Gateway Pundit avers that Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times confirmed to him in a telephone call that his newspaper has a videotape of Barack Obama at an event with Rashid Khalidi at which Israel-bashing takes place.
According to Wallsten the evening not surprisingly turned into a classic Jew-bash:
'During the dinner a young Palestinian American recited a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism in its treatment of Palestinians and sharply criticizing U.S. support of Israel. If Palestinians cannot secure their own land, she said, 'then you will never see a day of peace.' One speaker likened 'Zionist settlers on the West Bank' to Osama bin Laden, saying both had been 'blinded by ideology.'
Barack Obama also praised the former PLO operative during the event.
So the public will be denied access to this information that could damage Obama. But don't ever accuse the LAT of bias. There are studies proving there is no media bias, after all."
Thomas Lifson
Gateway Pundit avers that Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times confirmed to him in a telephone call that his newspaper has a videotape of Barack Obama at an event with Rashid Khalidi at which Israel-bashing takes place.
According to Wallsten the evening not surprisingly turned into a classic Jew-bash:
'During the dinner a young Palestinian American recited a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism in its treatment of Palestinians and sharply criticizing U.S. support of Israel. If Palestinians cannot secure their own land, she said, 'then you will never see a day of peace.' One speaker likened 'Zionist settlers on the West Bank' to Osama bin Laden, saying both had been 'blinded by ideology.'
Barack Obama also praised the former PLO operative during the event.
So the public will be denied access to this information that could damage Obama. But don't ever accuse the LAT of bias. There are studies proving there is no media bias, after all."
Saturday, October 25, 2008
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National Journal Magazine - Obama Swinging For The Fences
National Journal Magazine - Obama Swinging For The Fences: "Obama Swinging For The Fences
By every metric, the Democrat's presidential campaign looks as if it is headed for the upper deck.
by Charlie Cook
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
For a political analyst, the normal posture this time of year is much like a baseball umpire's: hunched over, peering carefully as the ball approaches the plate, watching for whether it breaks left or right, whether it's coming in high or low. But, these days, we analysts are more like outfielders, watching in awe as a ball seems on a trajectory to not only clear the fence but very likely land in the upper deck.
By every metric, Barack Obama's presidential campaign appears headed for the upper deck. Polls (both national and state-by-state), organization, money, and momentum are all running strongly in Obama's favor. At this point, one wonders whether Obama's winning margin could be greater than Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's 5.6-point win over President George H.W. Bush in 1992, more than Bush's 7.7-point win over Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988, or more than Clinton's 8.5-point win over Sen. Bob Dole in 1996. Even higher on the landslide roster is California Gov. Ronald Reagan's 9.7-point victory over President Carter in 1980 and Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's 10.9-point win over Adlai Stevenson in 1952.
Certainly, the 2008"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
By every metric, the Democrat's presidential campaign looks as if it is headed for the upper deck.
by Charlie Cook
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
For a political analyst, the normal posture this time of year is much like a baseball umpire's: hunched over, peering carefully as the ball approaches the plate, watching for whether it breaks left or right, whether it's coming in high or low. But, these days, we analysts are more like outfielders, watching in awe as a ball seems on a trajectory to not only clear the fence but very likely land in the upper deck.
By every metric, Barack Obama's presidential campaign appears headed for the upper deck. Polls (both national and state-by-state), organization, money, and momentum are all running strongly in Obama's favor. At this point, one wonders whether Obama's winning margin could be greater than Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's 5.6-point win over President George H.W. Bush in 1992, more than Bush's 7.7-point win over Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988, or more than Clinton's 8.5-point win over Sen. Bob Dole in 1996. Even higher on the landslide roster is California Gov. Ronald Reagan's 9.7-point victory over President Carter in 1980 and Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's 10.9-point win over Adlai Stevenson in 1952.
Certainly, the 2008"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
World News - International Coverage - AOL News
The Center for Whale Reseach / AP
27 photos 
Scientists are troubled by seven orcas, or killer whales, who are missing and presumed dead in Puget Sound. It's the largest number of lost whales in 10 years and brings the area's endangered population to 83. Here, a female orca and her 3-year-old fish the waters in 2006. Click through the photo gallery for more animals in the news.
First Virtual Murder
World News - International Coverage - AOL News: "Woman Jailed for 'Killing' Virtual Spouse
A Japanese woman could face jail time in real life for something that happened in a virtual reality game. Police say the woman became angry when her virtual husband divorced her in the game, so she logged on with his password and 'killed' his digital persona."
A Japanese woman could face jail time in real life for something that happened in a virtual reality game. Police say the woman became angry when her virtual husband divorced her in the game, so she logged on with his password and 'killed' his digital persona."
Obama
Google News: "McCain can't make attacks stick to Obama
Reuters - 2 hours ago
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent - Analysis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican accusations against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama have come fast and thick, from palling around with terrorists to being a tax-loving ...
Boisterous Biden full of potshots, punch lines Dallas Morning News
In Colo. swing, McCain takes swipes at Obama's tax plan Boston Globe
The Capital Times - Voice of America - Financial Times - Examiner.com
all 864 news articles »
Voice of America
Obama Widens Lead Over McCain Nationally and in Battlegrounds
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Christopher Stern Oct. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Democrat Barack Obama widened his lead over Republican John McCain in most national polls and surveys of key states as the US election contest heads into its final full week.
While McCain Looked Away, Florida Shifted New York Times"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Reuters - 2 hours ago
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent - Analysis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican accusations against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama have come fast and thick, from palling around with terrorists to being a tax-loving ...
Boisterous Biden full of potshots, punch lines Dallas Morning News
In Colo. swing, McCain takes swipes at Obama's tax plan Boston Globe
The Capital Times - Voice of America - Financial Times - Examiner.com
all 864 news articles »
Voice of America
Obama Widens Lead Over McCain Nationally and in Battlegrounds
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Christopher Stern Oct. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Democrat Barack Obama widened his lead over Republican John McCain in most national polls and surveys of key states as the US election contest heads into its final full week.
While McCain Looked Away, Florida Shifted New York Times"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Friday, October 24, 2008
‘John McCain was never tortured in my jail’, says Tran Trong Duyet - Times Online
‘John McCain was never tortured in my jail’, says Tran Trong Duyet
Tran Trong Duyet, a former jail director, says that John McCain received good medical care
Tran Trong Duyet, a former jail director, says that John McCain received good medical care
Leo Lewis in Hanoi
Image from Swedish broadcaster SVT of John McCain as a former POW during a prisoner exchange in Hanoi on March 14, 1973.
..................
For even if the cold, barely conscious US Navy officer did not know it at the time, says Le Van Lua and the other Vietnamese whose lives entwined with Mr McCain’s that day, this little spot of Hanoi is undoubtedly where pilot turned politician. If fury had prevailed, it is a transformation that might never have happened, says Mr Lua, 61, a factory worker who was the first on the scene after the crash and swam out to retrieve the battered, politically valuable prize.
...........
Mr Lua’s account of that day – along with Vietnamese accounts of the five and a half years that Mr McCain spent as a prisoner of war – differ significantly from the presidential candidate’s own record. Mr Lua speaks of quickly getting Mr McCain to the safety of a police station (now the aerobics studio) before any harm was done. Mr McCain writes of mob attacks on his shoulder, ankle and groin with rifle-butt and bayonet.
Where the accounts differ most starkly is in the period of Mr McCain’s long incarceration as a PoW – first at the prison known as the Hanoi Hilton, then at The Plantation.
Tran Trong Duyet, the former prison director who now surrounds himself with caged birds in a house in Hai Phong, first met Mr McCain a year after he had been shot down. He recalls a defiant rule-breaker, the patriotic son of an admiral and a fervent believer in the war. What he does not recall, however, is a victim of torture or violence.
..................
Nguyen Thi Thanh, now a chirpy 81-year-old who is following the US election closely, also briefly had power of life and death over the brash young pilot. As the nurse who first attended to him after he was dragged from the lake, Ms Thanh describes the agonising choice of whether or not simply to kill him in revenge for the destruction that his bombs had rained on her city.
“As a nurse I had to help him. As a Vietnamese I just wanted to kill him. Everyone around me wanted him dead too but we had to follow the Ho Chi Minh ideology. As I walked home from the nurse station, people were furious — screaming at me for saving his life.”
If Science was an Olympic Sport… « O’Really? at Duncan.Hull.name
If Science was an Olympic Sport…
Filed under: Science, sport — Duncan @ 10:42 am
Tags: arxiv, phd, Douglas Kell, Olympics, London 2012, medal, publishing, Beijing 2008, Boris Johnson, IOC, personal best, world record, Joel Rosenbaum, impact factor, H-index, peer review, Olympia, DPhil, Team GB, thought experiment, Zoe Corbyn
Olympic Rings by JL08A fictional scene from the future: The Olympic games, London 2012. A new candidate sport is on trial, joining skateboarding, rugby and golf at their debut Olympic games. It is challenging discipline called Science, a sport more ancient than Olympia itself. The crowd awaits eagerly in the all new Boris Johnson Olympic stadium. It has taken more than 2000 years just to convince the International Olympic Committee that Science is worthy of being an Olympic sport. The big day has finally arrived but the judges are still arguing about how to award the medals to scientists. Despite all the metrics involved, it’s all very very subjective. The games go ahead anyway, and there are lots of exciting new events:
1. Triple-jump grant-writing A massive run-up, then a big hop, huge step, followed by a colossal jump. Longest triple-jump wins, not a medal, but often a large cash prize, which makes this event extremely popular (and very over-subscribed).
2. Experiment wrestling and judo Contestants wrestle and fight with poorly understood but state-of-the-art technology in order to test hypotheses and perform experiments. Only the most determined contestants get results, the winner is the person with the most interesting discoveries.
3. Impact factor boxing, a barbarically macho, gruesome and bloody event. Competing scientists try to publish their results in the journal with the highest impact factor but of dubious scientific value [1]. This event often has many casualties and opponents are often beaten until they are unconcious, fall over or even die. Publishers are often the main benefactors of this event, rather than scientists. Impact factor boxing is closely related to citation gymnastics where the scientist with the largest h-index wins.
4. Invention javelin Contestants try to invent the sharpest new things at the cutting edge of science and technology. Best invention is judged to be the longest throw of the invention javelin.
5. The 200m peer-review hurdles: contestants have to run as fast as they can clearing all the hurdles laid down by their peers and publishers. First to cross the finishing line wins the publication.
6. The lonely long-distance marathon research run. Scientists develop expertise by running a single course for several years or even decades. Trainee scientists are recruited by running a special marathon called a PhD or DPhil. Any competitors left standing after the allotted time are given the title “Doctor”, for passing the gruelling initiation and endurance test.
7. Presentation fencing. Contestants publicly present their work to other scientists and colleagues often using a blunt instrument called “PowerPoint”, opponents seek weak points in presentation using sharp instruments. Touché!
8. Student shot put. Contestants throw cumbersome, heavy and almost inanimate objects (called “students”) as far as they can. The winner is the person who can throw a student the furthest.
9. Weightlifting with citations Contestants write long review papers. The person who can cite the most papers in a single publication wins. Current world-record unknown but 2,184 references in a single paper is a pretty high score [2,3]. If you’ve ever written a scientific paper, what is your “personal best”?
10. The multi-disciplinary decathlon professorship: a real test of a wide range of abilities, combining all of the above with another team event called laboratory football management, into a single contest. Winner is the Professor with the most points accumulated during the contest.
SurveyUSA
Whites in Pennsylvania Drift Slightly Back to McCain; Meaningful? Too Soon To Say
SurveyUSA Breaking News - 16 hours ago
In an election for President of the United States in Pennsylvania today, the contest tightens, but Democrat Barack Obama still defeats Republican John McCain 53% to 41%, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for WCAU-TV Philadelphia, KDKA-TV Pittsburgh, WNEP-TV Scranton, WHTM-TV Harrisburg, and WJAC-TV Johnstown. Compared to a SurveyUSA poll 9 days ago, McCain is up 1, Obama is down 2. There is movement to McCain among white voters, where McCain had been down 7, today is down 3.
PA tracking
SurveyUSA Breaking News - 16 hours ago
In an election for President of the United States in Pennsylvania today, the contest tightens, but Democrat Barack Obama still defeats Republican John McCain 53% to 41%, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for WCAU-TV Philadelphia, KDKA-TV Pittsburgh, WNEP-TV Scranton, WHTM-TV Harrisburg, and WJAC-TV Johnstown. Compared to a SurveyUSA poll 9 days ago, McCain is up 1, Obama is down 2. There is movement to McCain among white voters, where McCain had been down 7, today is down 3.
PA tracking
Global Voices Online » Religion
Arabeyes: Mickey Mouse Must Die..or Maybe Not
A small portrait of the translator Amira Al Hussaini · 16:48 · Middle East & North Africa
lingua → bn · es
Mickey Mouse must die, declared a Saudi cleric in a television interview. Or perhaps that is not exactly what he said. Regardless, the interview found its way to television screens and newspaper headlines around the world and bloggers are at loggerheads with the issue. Did the cleric literally mean that Mickey Mouse must die or was it just another ploy to sensationalise and poke fun of anything an Arab and a Muslim utters?
A small portrait of the translator Amira Al Hussaini · 16:48 · Middle East & North Africa
lingua → bn · es
Mickey Mouse must die, declared a Saudi cleric in a television interview. Or perhaps that is not exactly what he said. Regardless, the interview found its way to television screens and newspaper headlines around the world and bloggers are at loggerheads with the issue. Did the cleric literally mean that Mickey Mouse must die or was it just another ploy to sensationalise and poke fun of anything an Arab and a Muslim utters?
Global Voices Online
Nigerian Blogger Arrested For Sponsoring a ‘Guerilla News Agency'
A small portrait of the translator Ndesanjo Macha · 11:05, October 24th, 2008 · Sub-Saharan Africa
Nigerian blogger, Jonathan Elendu, has been arrested by the State Security Service (SSS), the federal security enforcement agency in Nigeria. Jonathan Elendu created Elendu Reports in 2005. It is an online news site focusing on federal corruption, economic mismanagement and government inefficiency. 0 comments · read »
A small portrait of the translator Ndesanjo Macha · 11:05, October 24th, 2008 · Sub-Saharan Africa
Nigerian blogger, Jonathan Elendu, has been arrested by the State Security Service (SSS), the federal security enforcement agency in Nigeria. Jonathan Elendu created Elendu Reports in 2005. It is an online news site focusing on federal corruption, economic mismanagement and government inefficiency. 0 comments · read »
Palin Disses Flies
Sarah Palin: Ignorant and anti-science
This is too much. Sarah Palin gave a policy speech today in which she claimed that she wanted more support for children with disabilities, more tools to test for disorders, and while also decrying the expense of scientific research.
Where does a lot of that earmark money end up anyway? […] You've heard about some of these pet projects they really don't make a whole lot of sense and sometimes these dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not.
I am appalled.
The End of Arrogance: America Loses Its Dominant Economic Role - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International
The End of Arrogance: America Loses Its Dominant Economic Role - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International: "America Loses Its Dominant Economic Role
By SPIEGEL Staff
The banking crisis is upending American dominance of the financial markets and world politics. The industrialized countries are sliding into recession, the era of turbo-capitalism is coming to an end and US military might is ebbing. Still, this is no time to gloat."
Troubled Times for Tacheles: Landmark Berlin Squat Battles Eviction - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International
Landmark Berlin Squat Battles Eviction
By Rachel Nolan in Berlin
It is a classic Berlin faceoff: the squatters against the investors. Usually the latter win, but property at the landmark Berlin art squat Tacheles is under receivership and the fate of the site is uncertain.
DPA
The future of the Tacheles squat in central Berlin is uncertain.
Frozen Jews in Alaska
Jewish News, Jewish Newspapers - Forward.com: "Frozen Chosen Democrat Is Unlikely Frontrunner for Alaska’s Seat in Congress
Brett Lieberman | Thu. Oct 23, 2008
As a Jewish Democrat, Ethan Berkowitz would seem the least likely candidate Alaskans would send to Congress. There are fewer than 3,500 Jews in the state today, and Republicans have a huge electoral advantage in registration and political power. Read more"
Brett Lieberman | Thu. Oct 23, 2008
As a Jewish Democrat, Ethan Berkowitz would seem the least likely candidate Alaskans would send to Congress. There are fewer than 3,500 Jews in the state today, and Republicans have a huge electoral advantage in registration and political power. Read more"
DRUDGE REPORT 2008®
HALT: NASDAQ, S&P 500, DOW FUTURES DOWN BY DAILY LIMIT; DROPPING MORE THAN 6%...
EUROPE INDICES...
THE FEAR
BBC NEWS | News Front Page: "Shares plummet on recession fears
European stocks fall sharply on recession fears as the UK economy starts contracting and Opec cuts oil output."
EUROPE INDICES...
THE FEAR
BBC NEWS | News Front Page: "Shares plummet on recession fears
European stocks fall sharply on recession fears as the UK economy starts contracting and Opec cuts oil output."
China ... the dark side.
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten: "Chinese Dissident Hu Jia, 'A Model of Moral Integrity'
The European Parliament awarded its top human rights prize to Chinese dissident Hu Jia on Thursday in defiance of warnings from Beijing. Most German papers think these were empty threats and that in reality China is seeking further cooperation with the EU in light of the global financial crisis. more..."
The European Parliament awarded its top human rights prize to Chinese dissident Hu Jia on Thursday in defiance of warnings from Beijing. Most German papers think these were empty threats and that in reality China is seeking further cooperation with the EU in light of the global financial crisis. more..."
World Looks to Beijing for Financial Crisis Help
Dozens of world leaders are gathered in Beijing for the Asia-Europe summit this week. The question on everyone's mind is: Will China cooperate in facing down the global financial crisis? By Andreas Lorenz in Beijing more...
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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