Mark Steyn

Mr. Steyn has never been short of words in his effusive praise of George Bush. It is not without a tremor or two that we read Steyn's predictions for the second term. Ambitious and warlike. Scary indeed. Untitled Document (from this weeks Spectator)

How to Play the French Service Game ... and win

A wonderfully amusing piece on French waiters. Any of you who have suffered the indignities of French service will find themselves laughing out loud at this. The Observer Travel How to play the French service game ... and win

An Architect On Many Levels

Philip Johnson died this week. In many ways he defined the practice of major commercial architecture for the last century, yet it is possible that his most remembered work will be his own 'glass house'. An Architect On Many Levels (washingtonpost.com)

An Election Riven with Contradictions

The New Statesman weighs in on the subject of the Iraqui elections posing the quite real possibilty that Iraq's Shia majority (at least in these elections) will steer the country towards a strategic alliance with Iran. New Statesman - An election riven with contradictions

Safer World? Unlikely

An interesting, well-written and keenly researched piece from The Independent explores the notion of whether the world is a safer place after the United States' incursion into Iraq compared to before. The conclusion -- No. News

Winter Beauty

Jan. 24 Called Worst Day of the Year

So how was last Monday? According to seven criteria including weather, debt, days from Christmas and low motivational levels, it turns out that Janury 24 is the "worst" day of the year. Well, at least we got through it didn't we. It should be all downhill from here!MSNBC - Jan. 24 called worst day of the year

The 10 Worst Corporations of 2004

Here is a list to which hardly anyone seeks inclusion. The ten worst corporations of 2004. The list and comments are both drole and informative.AlterNet: The 10 Worst Corporations of 2004

Texas, Dull? -- Never!

DALLAS (Reuters) — Kinky Friedman, the best-selling author, country singer (remember The Texas Jew Boys) and friend of the stray dog, next week will officially toss his ten-gallon hat into the ring for the 2006 Texas governor's race, his campaign said Tuesday. 'I want to be governor because I need the closet space.' Plus, he wants 'to fight the wussification of Texas.' He knows it will be tough to win in the heavily Republican state, but he thinks he can win votes from people fed up with bland politicians. 'We hope the people of Texas are going to reject the choice of paper or plastic,' he said." Go Kinky!

Booze Boosts Brain Power

It will be tough to discipline myself to drink every day. I am willing to sacrifice however to gain the health benefits.news @ nature.com�-�Booze boosts brainpower�-�Moderate alcohol consumption protects women from cognitive decline.

Magic Seven

Booker believes that seven plot lines can describe every work of literature. However true his thesis might be, it makes for thoughtful and interesting reading.Weekly book reviews and literary analysis from the Times Literary Supplement

Da Funk Jams to Bach

Recently we discussed the question of the place of art in our pantheon of interests. We also asked why the appeal of art seems idiosyncratic to each individual. Here is a review of the astonishing dancer Savion Glover which suggests the certain art or artists trancend individual tastes and are worthy of universal acceptance. Clearly he is not the only artist to be so singled out but the article makes a case for certain, but by no means all, others. Savion the Great Hoofs Highbrow��Da Funk Jams to Bach

King George

An interesting take on the inauguration from across the pond. Interesting also are polling results which show most Americans disagree with his war and his domestic suggestions for Social Secuity and lowered taxes. The obverse? They "like" him. Europeans likely view him with 'shock and awe' News

Oh No! Not Iran Too

Have we learned nothing from Vietnam and Iraq? What is this penchant for destroying a country to save it? This article speculates about the genuine tragedy of a United States invasion of Iran. Perhaps another Israeli bombing of nuclear facilities, as illegal as it might be, would be preferable to another war.Economist.com

Iraqi Elections

Despite the best efforts of the 'insurgency', it would appear that the Iraqui elections will be conducted. An interesting article in the February Prospect - article_details, Prospect sggests that for better or worse the elections will represent an Iraqi rather than American point of view. Even at the risk of civil war, the elections ought to signal an opportunity for the Americans to leave Iraq to the Iraqis.

An interesting sidebar to this viewpoint is found in todays New York Times, on the op-ed page:


Ask Iraqi voters in a referendum six weeks after the national elections if they think foreign soldiers should withdraw immediately. Let the Iraqis debate what the absence of American forces will mean for their families and nation. Tell them we'll hold the referendum every nine months until they vote us out or we determine it's time to leave.

Will Iraq's mess be cleaned up overnight if the Iraqis vote for us to withdraw? No, but our withdrawal after a referendum telling us to go would signal a willingness to engage with Iraq as an ally rather than an occupier, a perception that January's elections are unlikely to correct.

George

The title refers to George W. Bush, but I can't help thinking of the late John Kennedy and his venture into political periodicals called GEORGE. En tout cas, despite the fact that I did not support him in the last election, I do wish the president the best for the next four years if only because he carries with him the future of our country. I can only hope that rather than being a lame duck, he will show some enlightened leadership. Well, one can dream can't one. Anyway here is a bit from the Onion which I found amusing. Good Luck George!


Caged Saddam To Be Highlight Of Inaugural Ball WASHINGTON, DC—

Attendees at the Independence Ball, one of nine officially sanctioned galas celebrating President George W. Bush's second inauguration Thursday, will be treated to a viewing of a caged Saddam Hussein, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Monday. "What better way to honor the president than with a physical symbol of his many first-term triumphs?" McClellan said as Hussein rattled the bars of a cage already suspended above the ballroom where the event will be held. "And I must compliment the planning committee. Outfitting Gitmo detainees with iron collars and forcing them to serve appetizers was an inspired stroke." Ball attendees will also be awarded door prizes, including a basket of nuts, 20 yards of cloth, and a barrel of crude oil.

Prophets in the West's Secular Temples

We all like Art don't we? What is it about art that appeals to us? I don't think that beauty is the sole reason. Great Art, or the most appealing art, strikes something deep in our psyche. Good art also engenders as many opinions as there are people who view it. (or read it or listen to it). The Financial Times has a fascinating piece on the subject. I have previosly recommended the Saturday FT Arts section. It is always marvelously written and unpredicably good. FT.com / Arts & Weekend / Art, music & theatre - Prophets in the west's secular temples

FILMS

To all my friends who are film buffs and even to tose who are not, I reccomend Million Dollar Baby quite strongly. It is pretty heavy stuff. It does, however, leave on in awe of Clint Eastwood's talent as a Producer/Director/Actor and Composer. See it and post your comments.

God Redux

While I by no means wish to trivialize the enormous suffering caused by the recent Tsunami, I am intrigued that is has engendered much discussion on the subject of God supernaturally intervening in the natural process of life. Those of you who read this journal know my view on that subject. If God wants to intervene in my life, let me suggest that he/she/it commence by removing the excess weight from my otherwise beautiful body. After that God may luxuriate me with a cornucopia of various material goods. Alas I think not, but here Paul Johnson gives his own wisdom to the subject.Untitled Document

How U.S. Might Disengage in Iraq

During the Vietnam War, Senator Aiken from Maine was famously heard to request that the United States declare a victory in the war and go home. It is a pity that his advice was ignored then. Now we face a similar conundrum. How do we disengage from the unbelievable mess in Iraq? The New York Times leads a discussion. The New York Times > Washington > Washington Memo: Hot Topic: How U.S. Might Disengage in Iraq

THE WORLD QUESTION CENTER 2005

What do you know to be true but can't prove? It is worthy of some thought and also interesting to put your thoughts together with one hundred of the world's top intellectuals. THE WORLD QUESTION CENTER 2005

The Celestial Kingdom

China continues its almost perpetual role as the conundrum of the world. It's economy hurtles forward in truly remarkable fashion. While we fret over the role of democracy in the middle east, far more important may be our relations with the far east. As Francis Fukyama noted in this week's New York Times, it is time that the United States evaluated its role in the that region in light of Russia's increasing bent toward facism, South Korea's angst to re-unite with the North, Japan's flirting with military power and China's persistant obsession with Taiwan. Here the Spectator weighs in. The Spectator.co.uk

Epiphany

Today is the Christian feast of the Epiphany. It is celebrated as either Christmas or the Twelfth Day of Christmas in some countries. Anyway it marks the end of the Christmas season.

Silk Road

Here is an engaging review of the catalogue for an exhibit at the British Museum, of art, articles an artifacts realting to the Silk Road. It is truly a fascinating and largely unexamined phenomona. Weekly book reviews and literary analysis from the Times Literary Supplement

God (or Not), Physics and, of Course, Love: Scientists

This is for my friend Mo. But all are welcome to further discuss what used to be called Science vs. Religion. True to my deist roots I believe that faith in some higher power can be reconcilled with the experience of the natural order of things. I believe that if god caused the Tsunami, then he/she/it ought to be voted off the island. No such god is worthy of belief. But I also believe that human existence has some origin in a power beyond ourselves. Sorry, I can't define it further but that is where faith comes in. The New York Times > Science > God (or Not), Physics and, of Course, Love: Scientists Take a Leap

Too Good to be True

Here is a thoughtful piece from this morning's Independent, really a conversation about whether the Tsunami disaster might provide an opportunity for the First World to tackle the world's poverty.News

A Vengeful God? -- I Think Not.

Professor Hart addresses the issue of the religious conundrum of the cause of such disasters as the East Asian Christmas Tsunami.

On Nov. 1, 1755, a great earthquake struck offshore of Lisbon. In that city alone, some 60,000 perished, first from the tremors, then from the massive tsunami that arrived half an hour later. Fires consumed much of what remained of the city. The tidal waves spread death along the coasts of Iberia and North Africa.
Voltaire's "Poëme sur le désastre de Lisbonne" of the following year was an exquisitely savage--though sober--assault upon the theodicies prevalent in his time. For those who would argue that "all is good" and "all is necessary," that the universe is an elaborately calibrated harmony of pain and pleasure, or that this is the best of all possible worlds, Voltaire's scorn was boundless: By what calculus of universal good can one reckon the value of "infants crushed upon their mothers' breasts," the dying "sad inhabitants of desolate shores," the whole "fatal chaos of individual miseries"?
Perhaps the most disturbing argument against submission to "the will of God" in human suffering--especially the suffering of children--was placed in the mouth of Ivan Karamazov by Dostoyevsky; but the evils Ivan enumerates are all acts of human cruelty, for which one can at least assign a clear culpability. Natural calamities usually seem a greater challenge to the certitudes of believers in a just and beneficent God than the sorrows induced by human iniquity.
Considered dispassionately, though, man is part of the natural order, and his propensity for malice should be no less a scandal to the conscience of the metaphysical optimist than the most violent convulsions of the physical world. The same ancient question is apposite to the horrors of history and nature alike: Whence comes evil? And as Voltaire so elegantly apostrophizes, it is useless to invoke the balances of the great chain of being, for that chain is held in God's hand and he is not enchained.

As a Christian, I cannot imagine any answer to the question of evil likely to satisfy an unbeliever; I can note, though, that--for all its urgency--Voltaire's version of the question is not in any proper sense "theological." The God of Voltaire's poem is a particular kind of "deist" God, who has shaped and ordered the world just as it now is, in accord with his exact intentions, and who presides over all its eventualities austerely attentive to a precise equilibrium between felicity and morality. Not that reckless Christians have not occasionally spoken in such terms; but this is not the Christian God.
The Christian understanding of evil has always been more radical and fantastic than that of any theodicist; for it denies from the outset that suffering, death and evil have any ultimate meaning at all. Perhaps no doctrine is more insufferably fabulous to non-Christians than the claim that we exist in the long melancholy aftermath of a primordial catastrophe, that this is a broken and wounded world, that cosmic time is the shadow of true time, and that the universe languishes in bondage to "powers" and "principalities"--spiritual and terrestrial--alien to God. In the Gospel of John, especially, the incarnate God enters a world at once his own and yet hostile to him--"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not"--and his appearance within "this cosmos" is both an act of judgment and a rescue of the beauties of creation from the torments of fallen nature.
Whatever one makes of this story, it is no bland cosmic optimism. Yes, at the heart of the gospel is an ineradicable triumphalism, a conviction that the victory over evil and death has been won; but it is also a victory yet to come. As Paul says, all creation groans in anguished anticipation of the day when God's glory will transfigure all things. For now, we live amid a strife of darkness and light.
When confronted by the sheer savage immensity of worldly suffering--when we see the entire littoral rim of the Indian Ocean strewn with tens of thousands of corpses, a third of them children's--no Christian is licensed to utter odious banalities about God's inscrutable counsels or blasphemous suggestions that all this mysteriously serves God's good ends. We are permitted only to hate death and waste and the imbecile forces of chance that shatter living souls, to believe that creation is in agony in its bonds, to see this world as divided between two kingdoms--knowing all the while that it is only charity that can sustain us against "fate," and that must do so until the end of days.
Mr. Hart, an Eastern Orthodox theologian, is the author of "The Beauty of the Infinite" (Eerdmans).

Good Bye 2004

Arianna Huffington -- never a great favorite of mine has nonetheless put together a list best forgatten about the last year. While I don't necessarily agree with her list, it is at least thought provoking.

While so many year-end publications focus on what we should remember about the year now grinding to a close, I'd like to continue this column's contrarian tradition of pointing out the things we'd all be better off never having cross our minds again.
Here then is a list of all the things I'd like to forget, circa 2004:
Bernard Kerik's nanny. Bernard Kerik's Ground Zero love nest. Bernard Kerik.
That the woman who dismissed a presidential briefing entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." as a "historical" document is going to be our next Secretary of State.
That a man who finds the Geneva Conventions "quaint" is going to be our next Attorney General.
Janet Jackson's briefly exposed right boob.
That it took 14 months and public protests from the victims' families before the president okayed the 9/11 Commission, but only 2 weeks before the first hearings were held on Janet Jackson's boob.
That the media thought "Don't be economic girlie men" was a great line.
Scott Peterson's love of golf. And that his lawyers thought it was a reason he shouldn't be sentenced to death.
Paris Hilton's new perfume. Paris Hilton's new album. Paris Hilton's new book. Paris Hilton.
"Surviving Christmas," "Jersey Girl," J-Lo: Ben Affleck goes 0-for-2004.
Madrid, Spain, March 11, 2004.
Beslan, Russia, September 3, 2004.
That the Federal budget deficit hit $413 billion this year, and two-thirds of it is the result of Bush's tax cuts.
That Dick Cheney is talking about another round of tax cuts.
What Colin Powell did to his credibility. "You break it, you live with it for the rest of your life."
"I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."
That picture of Lindy England holding the leash.
The way the administration tried to sweep Abu Ghraib under the rug.
William Hung, recording artist.
Ashlee Simpson, lip synch artist.
Bob Dylan, lingerie salesman.
That George Tenet, who knew that the intel on Iraqi WMD was thinner than Lara Flynn Boyle on Dexatrim, turned into the Dick Vitale of WMD: "It's a slam dunk, baby!"
That George Tenet was subsequently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
That a ten-year-old grilled cheese sandwich allegedly bearing the likeness of the Virgin Mary sold for $28,000 on eBay.
The 10,000 Web remixes incorporating The Dean Scream.
That of the roughly 550 enemy combatants held captive in Guantanamo Bay only four have been formally charged.
The Pistons/Pacers basketbrawl.
The looks on George and Laura Bush's faces when Dr. Phil asked them about the "epidemic levels of oral sex" in America's middle schools.
That Osama is still on the loose – and releasing tapes.
That the Kyoto Protocol was ratified – and we aren't part of it.
That Ken Lay has still not gone to trial or served a minute in jail.
That 35.9 million Americans live below the poverty line – 12.9 million of them children.
That 42 percent of Americans still think Saddam Hussein was "directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out" the 9/11 attacks.
That, thanks to presidential cutbacks, we actually have fewer police and first responders on the streets today than we had on 9/11.
Star Jones' wedding.
The Movie Multiplex From Hell: Alexander, My Baby's Daddy, Thunderbirds, Sleepover, Around the World in 80 Days.
The iPod Party Mix From Hell: Jessica Simpson's "Take My Breath Away," William Hung's "She Bangs," Britney Spears' "Toxic," Britney Spears' "My Prerogative," Britney Spears' "I've Just Begun Having My Fun".
That Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld couldn't find time to personally sign letters of condolence to the families of troops killed in Iraq.
That Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz couldn't remember the number of soldiers who'd lost their lives in Iraq.
Drilling for oil in ANWR (I've been desperately trying to forget this one since 2001 but the White House just won't let me!).