News from Around the World

The worst part of this film — computer-generated wolves that escape and intend to feast on Jake Gyllenhaal and friends as they board a ship (sitting in the middle of a New York street) to find penacilin to save Emmy Rossum. In this film, we watch the Statue of Liberty swallowed by water, the Capitol Records building annhilated by tornadoes, helicopters frozen in mid-air and golf ball-sized hail dropping on China. All of that looked credible and awesome on screen. These wolves were a joke and basically ruined the credibility of the rest of the film for me. That being said, the film makes you think and it makes you gape in awe at points. I think in a disaster movie, that’s pretty much what you’re looking for.

A.Well I was originally the first one called, When Neverland was raided in nov 03, i was asked to fly to meet MJ, I had a number of discussions that day but i was preparing for the Robert Blake murder trial, another American celebrity, and I decided i couldn't accept the mj case because i couldn't ethically and professionally accommodate both cases at one time. A couple of months later Mr. Blake and I had a falling out, and 3 months after that Randy called me, who i had known for many years, asking me if i would fly to FL to meet mj,I agreed

You’d have thought this was unexceptional, and would be echoed by all people of good will. Not so. Exception was taken by the Government of Israel, who claimed that the Pope should have condemned recent attacks by Palestinians, and later asserted that the Vatican had a long standing policy of not condemning attacks on Israeli citizens, allegedly demonstrated by “the silences of Pope John Paul II”. Use of this particular wording can only be intended to recall the controversy over whether Pope Pius XII failed to speak up against the Holocaust.

Personally, I’ve always loved to spend part of my summer reading — history, biography, science fiction, politics (surprise, surprise), and more. Unfortunately, I haven’t had a lot of time to do it recently, given the combo of a) a day job, b) RaisingKaine, and c) having a life (i.e, wife, friends, family). This weekend, though, I read a great book, one of the all time classics of science fiction, called “Star Maker” by Olaf Stapledon. Here’s the book description from Amazon.com:

Moving into the realm of politics, take the case of Karl Rove, the man who - all the current evidence suggests - outed CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson in retaliation for her husband’s refusal to go along with the myth of an Iraqi nuclear threat. If a Democrat were to reveal the identity of a CIA agent or otherwise leak classified material to the press, you may be sure he or she would be tarred, feathered and suspended from a lamppost within hours of the crime. But Rove carries on with his vicarious presidency - continuing to promote Bush’s voter-repelling social security plan and playing a visible role in the selection of the new supreme court justice.

Kevin Drum at Political Animal reports that conservative bloggers are obsessing over the fear that the upcoming ABC show, Commander-in-Chief, featuring Geena Davis as president, is a liberal plot to prepare the public for the reign of Hillary Clinton.

Because today, I posted another article there, about the arrest of the leaders of the Opposition Party (Kefaya, meaning “enough”), albeit briefly. The US has been pressuring Egypt for more political reform and democratization (and indeed, Condoleeza Rice just cancelled a trip to Egypt), and within the civil society there, there has been growing calls for multi-candidate elections. During this protest over Mubarak running for his 6th term, an AP reporter saw the police beat and kick protesters, and manhandle journalists. “Greater democracy” as Mubarak’s party professes to want, might start with freedom of speech and a free press…

Today, I tip my hat to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) for breaking with President Bush and supporting stem cell research legislation (Read the article: Frist Backs More Ebryonic Stem Cell Research).

Michael Pence, republican from Indiana, had this to say on PBS regarding federal funding for stem cell research.

I’m just about to head upstairs to watch this film. It’s one of my favorites. Of course, I like weird shit like this…and it is weird. Let me give you a hint as to why that might be. It is written and directed by Jennifer Chambers Lynch. Does that name sound familiar? She’s the daugher of David Lynch, one of my all time favorite directors. In fact, he might have been the last person to hire Robert Blake (who acted remarkably close to his own persona in the film Lost Highway, I might add). LOL

Those who follow Presidential politics closely, especially second term presidential politics, are on a constant lookout for the exact time and place when the President officially becomes a lame duck, and it seems, by all reasonable accounts, that for George�W. Bush that time has come.

PBS’s Frontline has a fascinating 2003 interview with Eamon Duffy, author of The Stripping of the Altars (see right sidebar) , which I’m in the middle of right now. The discussion was about Pope John Paul II, and contains some amazing insights about JP the Great, and the impact he has had on the Church and the world. The entire interview is “excerptable”, but here’s a wee comment that set the hairs up on the back of my neck:

The following questionnaire plays a very special part in the history of the Salon Des Grands Geeks, and our site would hardly be complete without it. During a visit to Washington at which Kiri, Trey, Iain and myself were in attendance, we found this quiz on a greeting card in Politics and Prose. Although the card was entirely in French and spelled poor Marcel’s surname “Poust” in places, we overlooked these small flaws and spent the entire afternoon and much of the next day answering it, and it has figured in one form or another in several salons since then. I have some of our answers written down from salons past, but rather than post these quite personal responses, I leave it to you to decide how much you would like to discuss online, and perhaps we can get a livelier discussion going about it once the site is read-protected. More information about the origins of the questionnaire and its famous madeleine-nibbling responder can be found here.

My co-worker Matt showed me this comic from PVP. It asks the question about Hillary Clinton starting making a deal about of Grand Theft Auto’s Hot Coffee sex mod coming out.

It is a good thriller with a controversial look at Global Warming and Eco Terrorism. It is a work of fiction but Michael spent three years researching, and provides foot notes for, a vast body of research on the topics the characters in the story deal with. No matter what your position on these issues I hope you check out the book, keep an open mind while reading it, and then begin asking some real questions about how “scientific” information is presented. Both sides of the argument distort the true data to suit their view and if you are any kind of conspiracy theorist, the State of Fear is surly no joke.

President George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice had been pushing for a full restoration of all military ties to Indonesia

Stygius usefully provides both Joe Biden's letter to Condoleeza Rice noting this unfortunate lapse or memory, and also provides the precise text of the question in response to which Bolton displayed this regrettable yet seemingly spreading symptom of growing neurological deterioration:

Senator Joe Biden addressed the failure by Bolton in a letter to Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice and, mirabili dictu, the State Department has thus confirmed that Bolton falsified information provided to the Senate for purposes of reviewing his nomination as U.N. ambassador.

And in which heroes Sean Hannity, Oliver North, and G. Gordon Liddy are cyborgs who broadcast from a pirate radio station.

It has been 9 years since Bill Clinton sold out poor women and children in return for a little political capital with the Republicans. I haven't forgotten. I haven't forgiven. I still have stories from the aftermath of welfare reform, stories that I collected for years after he signed the welfare reform bill.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a rare break with President Bush, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Friday endorsed legislation that would expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research.

Senate Majority Learder Bill Frist (R-TN) announced today that he will back legislation to fund embryonic stem cell research. I am very disappointed in Senator Frist. Here's what Frist said (hat tip: ProLifeBlogs.com):

Belfort is a place of great military importance and a leading industrial center. As a fortress it distinguished itself in the Franco-Prussian war in which it successfully withstood the German bombardment in 1870-71. The siege is commemmorated by an imposing citadel on the summit of a rock 220 feet high, in front of which is the colossal Lion of Belfort, 36 feet high and 72 feet long, carved in red sandstone by Bartholdi, the celebrated French sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty, in New York Harbor, France’s gift to America.

I have to admire this site and the reasoning behind it. Matt set out from the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge, and took a photo for each mile along the way.

The New York logo was very lively and vibrant. The use of merging the Statue of Liberty with an athlete was also clever. However, it seems like a very American logo. It gives off the impression that Americans are winners, which may be a good idea to promote given the Word Trade Centre attacks. Nevertheless, it doesn’t seem to encapsulate the international nature of the Olympics. To me, as well, the use of the olympic colours in the words is a bit overused. That being said, where’s the black in the word “NYC2012″ and where’d the light blue come from?

What is happening to the black family in America is the sociological equivalent of global warming: easier to document than to reverse, inconsistent in its near-term effect—and disastrous in the long run.

According to the Drudge Report Sen. Hillary Clinton is going to support President Bush’s nominee John Roberts. No surprise there. She is just gearing up for the 2008 presidential election. God help us all if she wins. CONDI in 2008!

In the Unites States, the Human Rights Campaign has called for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to condemn the executions.

There is also a tendency among those in the left to stereotype women as 'emotionally driven', peace loving & anti-war. The major feminist organization, such as NOW & Feminist Majority, always lobby against any defensive military actions taken by the United States government. One can imagine the shock of the DNC upon the discovery that, the Soccer Moms, who paved the way for both of Bill Clinton's victories, have become Security Moms, in the post 9/11 era. These women ensured the victory of George Bush over John Kerry. The astonished reaction to this shift is indicative of the poor understanding of the true nature of women.

46. All New Jersey natives: Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Mer yl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm.Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia and, of course, Francis Albert Sinatra and "Uncle Floyd" Vivino, Kelly Ripa.

I believe it would be a wash, nationally. What it would do is remove abortion as an issue, which would generally relieve some of the tendentiousness and avarice in the partisan politics in Washington.

"Democratic Mayor Michael Coleman will get help for his campaign for Ohio governor next year when Sen. Hillary Clinton and other party heavyweights share the stage Monday at a meeting of Democrat centrists in his city."

But his story became rather important to our little group. We all wanted to come up with our own story that had the word "World" in the title. One of my friends had to the foresight to think up a story called "Water World" where the whole world was submerged under water because of global warming. My blatant rip off of this was called "Land World" where, for some reason I couldn't think of at the time, all the earth's water evaporated.

In Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's visit to Israel and in meetings with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and PA leader Abbas, she called on the PA to act on ending terrorists attacks against Israel. This is the response.

Read what our late, beloved Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, wrote in his 1998 encyclical, "Dies Domini: On Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy": "The custom of the ‘weekend’ has become more widespread, a weekly period of respite, spent perhaps far from home and often involving participation in cultural, political or sporting activities which are usually held on free days. This social and cultural phenomenon is by no means without its positive aspects…. Unfortunately, when Sunday loses its fundamental meaning and becomes merely part of a ‘weekend’, it can happen that people stay locked within a horizon so limited that they can no longer see the heavens…. The disciples of Christ, however, are asked to avoid any confusion between the celebration of Sunday, which should truly be a way of keeping the Lord’s Day holy, and the ‘weekend’, understood as a time of simple rest and relaxation."

Those words were like Viagra to a White House press corps that has been flaccid since Bill and Hillary Clinton moved out of the White House. McClellan had told them it was “ridiculous” to think that Rove had anything to do with the leak, that if anyone in the administration did have anything to do with the leak they would “no longer be in this administration,” and that Rove, Elliott Abrams and Lewis Libby had personally assured him they had nothing to do with the leak (as indeed they may have done).

Looking down, I admired my new adornment. Embossed on the soft caramel leather band were the words "Stop Global Warming." Almost immediately, I was aware of wearing a bracelet. I was also aware of an unfamiliar warmth. Not the global sort, but that which radiates from one's Inner Virtue.

Oh, and for those of you who are hoping the end is in sight, check out the graphic below from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. Yes, all the red means its going to be hot for a while. God bless SUV's and global warming.

So I get up Saturday, veg about and catch up with my Mum and Dad, and then pop off to Gloria’s sister’s wedding in Kinsealy, where I finally get to meet the infamous J and realise that the man she’s been raving about for the past 7 months does ACTUALLY exist and is very cool indeed. The ceremony was lovely, Audrey looked fab - although myself, Deirdre and Glo kept messing and making Matthew (their son) pull faces. Was hilarious, the priest completely messed up at one point and said Pope John Paul, then attempted to cover it by faking a coughing fit before continuing on with Pope Benedict! LOL I graciously declined heading on to the dinner and afters as I knew I would never escape (although I did miss the dancing with lots of bows on my head, boo). So I come home, have a few hours to kill, change into my slouchy gear and started teaching Mum how to rip and burn cds - she discovered that she likes 2 Many DJs - and then Dad says we’re going to the Pavillions and I have to come. So we head down and he buys me the cutest ever 6MB Turquoise mini iPod!!! I was giggling like an escaped monkey, it was sooo class! And of course my darling sister gave us discount, heehee. Unfortunately, I couldn’t play with it til Monday as all my music is on my iMac in work, so I just had to content myself with stroking it lots and messing with the games etc…

I was actually scared when I took the picture. All I could think was, “If this freak sees me snapping pics of his ghetto shit, I’m going to have to confront him, and I’d be better off meeting Michael Jackson…”.

George W. Bush seems to be placing personal loyalties and political loyalties over his Presidential obligations and image. Bush promised the American people publicly repeatedly that he would fire anyone responsible at the White House who was involved in revealing the identity of the CIA operative married to former Ambassador Wilson.

According to reports, Condoleeza Rice’s entourage of aides and press personel were roughed up by Sudanese security forces at the gate of and inside the presidential compound in Khartoum. Part of her motorcade was held up at the gate and then finally let in. Once they were inside the compound guards wouldn’t let them in the building. Finally they got in and during the press conference reporters were manhandled yet again and prevented from asking questions.

Condoleeza Rice put on an award-winning performance of indignance after being manhandled by Sudanese officials during her recent visit. So a government involved in mass genocide shoved her around a little bit when she visited with video cameras in tow? Big fucking deal. If she were Muslim, the Janjaweed would’ve raped & killed her. Hey Condi, let’s try putting things in perspective.

I haven't been this upset about a news story for a very long time. I've actually surprised myself with how angry I am right now. But that's beside the point. The way Andrea Mitchell and Condoleeza Rice were treated in Sudan is completely unacceptable. It is unacceptable that the U.N. and the U.S. are not doing more.

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice had high praise for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement from Gaza. She said his decision will lead to better security for Israel and a better chance for lasting peace. She said she would encourage the PA to take action against terrorists. She also said she was encouraged by the PA's statement against "gunmen" and that she would encourage Mahmoud Abbas in that work.

I always wondered whether or not the left really believes that the terror will suddenly end if we would only cut and run? Did that tactic reduce terrorism when Bill Clinton cut and ran out of Somalia? How would cutting out of Iraq be any different?

Looks like it’s on the people of America to show leadership on preserving our future in the face of global warming….

>The Rolling Stones will deliver a musical attack on George W. Bush

I guess Secretary of Condoleeza Rice's upcoming visit coupled with the threat of IDF forces rolling into Gaza has had some effect on the unholy "warriors" of Hamas. BBCNews is reporting that Hamas and the PA have reached an agreement. Hamas has agreed to withdraw from the northern streets of Gaza. Palestinian cabinet minister Sufian Abu Zaida said that both sides have agreed to stop all clashes and violence between the two groups.

I’m proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in U.S. history. My “poorest millionaire,” Condoleeza Rice, has a Chevron oil tanker named after her.

The issue of stem cell research apparently will suffer from a symptom of the disease it might ease - the dementia of Alzheimers. Oddly, while some Republicans are quietly opposing the bill, they are still willing to profit from what they call a crime. Of course, some Republicans are wind-up dolls for business activism. I prefer the term "mouthpiece".

Now that President Bush has nominated Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court, the MSM has fresh meat to go after. Interestingly, on the San Francisco Chronicle's website, the lead article admits that Judge Roberts has a brilliant legal mind. And the fact that he has "sterling legal credentials," according to the article. That won't stop the MSM and the rest from trying, I suppose. Judge Roberts is also a Catholic (wonder if he was an altar boy, too?), so expect attacks on his position on abortion, end-of-life issues, and embryonic and therapeutic cloning stem cell research. Oh, and, of course, gay marriage.

Elwes will star in the CBS miniseries “Pope John Paul II,” playing the younger Karol Wojtyla in the four-hour film about the late pontiff’s life, CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler said Tuesday (July 19) at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. He joins Ian Holm, who will play the pope as an older man.

When it comes to abortion, I tend to take the Bill and Hillary Clinton view: it should be safe, legal, and rare. Partial-birth abortion bothers me unless it’s necessary to preserve the health or life of the mother; should it be illegal? I don’t know.

When the choices are Clinton and Rice, thankfully Hillary Clinton comes out ahead.

Go back all the way to the year 2000, when Republicans scathed Clinton’s “nation-building” activities and Condoleeza Rice mocked a president who was willing to use American troops to escort children to school. They were talking about Bosnia, and adopting campaign platforms (as Dole did in ‘96) that opposed any U.S. support for UN peacekeeping activities.