US Hegemony

A major part of the "war on drugs" has been the attempted eradication of primary crops like poppy and coca that have been grown by farmers for thousands of years. Instead of bombing banks in Miami or New York or prosecuting the financial elite in the hemisphere the poorest have been under chemical and tactical attack by the US military and their surrogates particularly in places like Bolivia, Columbia and Peru. Here's a good sign on this front. Finally a government has sided with the poor and said this is not a crime.

Why and How Earthquakes Occur

Cool graphic on plate tectonics and earthquakes.

Pentagon Psy-Ops

Here's Tom Tomorrow on a shady propaganda outfit run by the Pentagon.

Economy of Scale?

The new A380 from Airbus sets up the differing long views of Boeing and Airbus, the world's two most important and largest passenger jet builders. Airbus's A380 an 880 passenger Super Jumbo (a 747 seats a max of 416) exemplifies the idea that the industry will want to jam lots of passengers in for long flights (it also can fly farther because of the efficiemcies of the engines) and hopefully this will create cost savings. Boeing on the other hand has a new plane, the 787 Dreamliner, that has a max seating of 400 and is designed for shorter flights.

I think Airbus has made a mistake here. In a world that is moving towards increased inequality at the same time there is overall growth more and more yuppies and firstworlders like myself will have money to travel and we like Midwest Airlines type service and space. I think regional airlines will make a run for the market and do fairly well.

The only way I can see the A380 doing well is if state run airlines, a dying breed, in Asia, Latin America and Europe buy them and make sure they fill them up before they take off.

I agree... but 7 hours?

"During his [Hugo Chavez's] programme on Sunday, which lasted more than seven hours, Mr Chavez said Latin American countries were moving towards socialist economic models instead of US-style capitalism."

Beware leaders with 7 hour TV programs!

Sleep

You are feeling very sleepy.

New Editions

The Mirror Project.

Big Happy Fun House.

Terra Fly.

"Chameleon" Exposed

"Bourdin was jailed in the US in 1997 for posing as a couple's long-lost son.
The Texas couple's 14-year-old blue-eyed son had disappeared three years earlier and they travelled to the US embassy in Spain to meet "Nicholas Barclay".
Bourdin convinced them that he was their son, despite his brown eyes and strong French accent.
He lived with them for three months before his deception was exposed by a journalist and confirmed by a DNA test. He was jailed for six years."

And how exactly would you not recognize your own son?

Surprise Results in Lebanon?

If you listen to NPR, certainly.

Bush and Terrorism

The case of Pasado Carrilles. This guy admits blowing up tourists in Varadero (a Cuban tourist ghetto like Cancun).

Hugo Chavez on the Bolivian Crisis

I think this guy reads Fidel?

900 Million Left Out

Thomas Friedman's imaginery world.

Mama's Boy

US defector91 to visit mom in the Carolinas this week. If he's 91....?

Female Orgasm: It's in the Genes

"The findings also suggest that women who orgasm easily may be satisfied with mates who are less skilled in bed." No comment.

Listen Now!

If anyone checks in now listen to this DJ, NOW! Awesome. Why do I have to go to San Antonio to listen to great music on the radio?

25,000

GM plans 25,000 layoffs. Part of this is ineptitude on GM's part, putting all of their eggs in the SUV basket. But the other major component is US industrial policy, or lack there of.

Poder Al Pueblo!

Bolivian President resigns as masses take to the street.

Botero Does Abu Ghraib

One of my favorite painters, Fernando Botero has a new set of work on Abu Ghraib. Check it out.

Leadership

This Sunday Daniel Schorr chimed in on the votes on the EU constitution. For DS we need to go back to the "greatest generation" of Europe in the post war era and transport some "leadership." Its not that people don't want to lose their health care systems, vacations, high wages, its that they need to listen to their enlightened leaders because they know better. Sickening.

Split on the French Left

French Socialist Party splits after tops encourage yes vote on EU corporate friendly constitution. "Are we left or not" say the rank and file. This is a good sign.

The Human Impact on the Planet in Pictures

A new atlas shows, in pictures, how much the human virus has altered the planet. Amazing visuals.

Work Harder You Slaves!

Both David Brooks and Thomas Friedman of the Times have weighed in on the rejection of the EU constitution, thier considered wisdom, Europeans are lazy and they need to work harder! They need to get rid of the 35 hour week and start working the 35 hour day (TF), they need to get rid of regulations like 6 week vacations, laws that favor unions and dreaded regulation (DB). These two yuppies are liberal propogandists that have suckered many many people. They need to be exposed for what they are, running dogs, and talked about widely because the Indian model is what they have in mind. Scary.

The Best News Ever!

Curvy women live longer!

The Democratic Position

Here's Democratic lead man in the House for the Democrats on Israel, Nancy Pelosi, before AIPAC:
"There are those who contend that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is all about Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. This is absolute nonsense. In truth, the history of the conflict is not over occupation, and never has been: it is over the fundamental right of Israel to exist.
"The greatest threat to Israel's right to exist, with the prospect of devastating violence, now comes from Iran. For too long, leaders of both political parties in the United States have not done nearly enough to confront the Russians and the Chinese, who have supplied Iran as it has plowed ahead with its nuclear and missile technology....
"In the words of Isaiah, we will make ourselves to Israel 'as hiding places from the winds and shelters from the tempests; as rivers of water in dry places; as shadows of a great rock in a weary land.'
"The United States will stand with Israel now and forever. Now and forever."

Don't worry Palestinians pressure from the "left" is right around the corner. Oy!

Bolivians Gain Promises of Radical Change

The Bolivian government has promised autonomy and a referendum on constitutional change after thousands of leftists and indigenous movements have mobilized over the last few years.

Neo-liberalism No!

This week we see that forces who reject the idea of concentrating more and more power in the hands of capitalists and undemocratic institutions are striking back. First the French said no to the EU constitution, now the Dutch and it looks unlikely that Tony Blur will even call a vote now.

All of the no votes are not anti-capitalist, some are racist (anti-immigrant and integration with Turkey), some are ultra-nationalist, but many are against the idea of the race to the bottom that has become the hallmark of these schemes.

The Bolivians are also not giving up easily.