Archive for September, 2007
- Burma: Gambari Meets Aung San Suu Kyi
According to Reuters, when asked whether U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari would meet with Burma’s military junta leader Senior General Than Shwe, one diplomatic source answered, “Mr. Gambari remains in the country.” In what some are calling a surprise, Mr. Gambari met for more than an hour with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but […]
30 September 2007- The Porn Star and the Tree Fort
Joanna Angel: she’s tattoed, sports two-toned burgundy on black hair, was raised an Orthodox Jew, and now works as an “alt-porn” performer and entrepreneur. In an interview with the British Bizarre magazine, she talks about Christmas trees and Sukkot “Jew forts” (the Bizarre interviewer’s term, not mine — a link to the article is available at Ms. […]
30 September 2007- Dining Alfresco in New York City
Occasionally the New York Times publishes a tongue-in-cheek, slyly humorous, somewhat snarky review that rings a bell in me and makes me think, “Yeah, they’ve still got it.”
This weekend Frank Bruni turns his gaze on alfresco dining in New York City, with sometimes delightful results. Among his observations is this:
On the narrow and sometimes cobbled […]
30 September 2007- Misunderestimated
Without a doubt my all-time favorite comic strip is Berkeley Breathed’s now defunct “Bloom County.” To this day its characters resonate with me and can set me chuckling when nothing else works.
Mr. Breathed’s new strip, the weekly syndicated “Opus,” may not be Bloom County in all its glory, but it more than makes up for […]
30 September 2007- Monks Are Source of Burma’s Power
It is a symbol repeated time after time in the media lately: Saffron robed monks holding black, enameled begging bowls upside down before military representatives of the junta’s authority. The scene has become iconic of recent protests in Burma. For Buddhists, it is a powerful gesture, one filled with karmic consequences. But for many in […]
30 September 2007- Bill O’Reilly Vents Homicidal Tendencies
Media Matters is going after Bill O’Reilly with a vengeance over comments he made on September 19 about his visit to Sylvia’s restaurant in Harlem. Included in their coverage is a great clip of Keith Olbermann’s interview with Washington Post columnist and associate editor Eugene Robinson and a clip debunking Mr. O’Reilly’s claim that, “…we […]
30 September 2007- God Exists: Newt Won’t Run in ’08
There is now proof — irrefutable, scientific evidence — that God exists and God likes humankind. Former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich will not seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
Okay, so it won’t be irrefutable proof until the rest of them fall by the wayside, but we’re well on the way.
Let us pray. Thank you, God, for […]
30 September 2007- Waiting for Mr. Gambari in Burma
Like most around the world who have been watching the situation in Burma over the past month, I am now holding my breath, waiting for the meeting between leaders of the military junta and United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari. As I read stories of preparations taking place in anticipation of the visit, I worry that, […]
29 September 2007- Rangoon Is Quiet in 3rd Day of Crackdown
Both Mizzima News and The Irrawaddi are functioning again. Both report that the situation in Myanmar is much quieter in preparation for the arrival of United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari. Mizzima says the differences between junta leader Than Shwe and his second, General Maung Aye, have to do with Mr. Aye’s opposition to shooting into […]
29 September 2007- Coup May Be Occurring in Myanmar
The First Post is reporting that soldiers in Rangoon may be refusing to fire on protesters. The aid organization Helfen ohne Grenzen (Help without Borders) says “Soldiers from the 66th Light Infantry Division have turned their weapons against other government troops and possibly police in North Okkalappa township in Rangoon and are defending protesters. At […]
29 September 2007
