Can your capitalism do this?

North Korea shows why they don't need to bow to Western pressure that insisits they abandon thier nuclear ambitions.

German's make another big stink

A German politician, whos name I can't remember now, is making a large stink about the need to amend the constitution to allow the military to shoot down a passenger plane were one to be used in a terrorist attack. This seems pretty speculative, but it's causing quite a furor, as german policy prevents the government from killing some in a utilitarian attempt to save others. The german politician is a guy in a wheelchair who survived an assasination attempt. Germany and Japan both seem to be chafing from the post WWII restraints still in place.

New Poll Question.

Anonymous, to stay or not to say; that is the question?

Black Water’s constitution is murky at best.

Black Water’s legal boundaries are so undefined that it’s difficult to delineate an image of the injustice surrounding the many cases of inappropriate procedure (which for most of us are immediately recognizable as murder). It appears as though the focus at this point is fixated on Black Waters finances (no doubt due to the fact that the oversight committee was instructed to steer clear of the two most highly publicized incidents involving reckless and excessive conduct). However, I’m pleased to see that Chairman Waxman simple explicated the fact that the state department is clearly the “enabler” of a corporation like black water and justifiably should be partly held accountable for Black Water’s operations in Iraq. There is no doubt that Black Water carries out its ‘intended’ goals effectively. However the question still remains whether or not Black Water, in its neglect of all of the nasty unforeseen avenues that it creates, is undermining and destabilizing key diplomatic components necessary for success in Iraq

(I use ‘success’ begrudgingly)?

Is Erik Prince correct when he talks about the necessity of a private agency (like Black Water with all of its perks) to accompany the military services in their endeavor to stabilize Iraq?

If Black Water (or anything like it) doesn’t buckle under the impending and almost certain ‘state-department protecting’ litigation that seems inexorably directed at it, what sort of legal boundaries could we create (with good conscience) for a private entity such as this?

The War

Did anyone watch the final episode of "The War" on PBS. I feel I'm pretty hardened and emotionally dead, but the archival footage is the most shocking thing I've ever seen. They show concentration camp footage followed by images of the atomic bombs and thier surivivors that make you ashamed to be human. What do you think is worse? A concentration camp or the dropping of an atomic bomb on civilians? Don't include strategic considerations in your moral diagnosis (strategic considerations being the necessity of dropping the bomb to end the possibility of a ground invasion of Japan).

It's That Day Again!

The major question: Pizza or Microwave (w/ cocoa)?

Another question: Why does the leader of the little one's leader keep invoking President Bush?

Just because

Flight of the Conchords season finale song. It's got Demetri Martin and Todd Barry. I think it's pretty funny.

Tommy Cruise as Col. Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg

Interesting. I don't know what it is about this photo, but there is something weird about ol' Tommy in full nazi garb, even if he is playing a famed anit-nazi hero. That's all I really have to say.

The "McSubway" Project

Hopefully, Jared has not thrown away all of his big pants, he may be needing them. This article may make you think twice before you order that Italian sub-sandwich and decide to go with chips and a non-diet soday. The Big Mac is back baby, "I'm lovin' it!". Congrats Don-Don's.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-09-30-mcsubway_N.htm?csp=34

Smoking Ban reaches the Great Health State of Minnesota

The day of reckoning is upon us. Today, thousands of Minnesotans will make the voyage to the land of Packers, Cheese, and townships to get their after work beers. Why must they make this trip? In businesses around greater Minnesota that enjoy a 90% smoking clientele, they must hang up the "NO SMOKING" sign and tell their customers to head off to Wisconsin. In contemplating this great, progressive step forward for the land of 10,000 lakes, I must ask "What ever happened to private property rights?"

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1455207.html

You know what, bring back the Marlboro Man. "Truth.org" is some adolescent sham that targets 12 year olds. To all you brave smokers out there, worrying about this impending move and shake up in our beloved after-hours hangouts, stay strong homies.

Ongoing: You're not safe anywhere!

(This is the first in an ongoing series of pieces to promote fear-mongering) Nope, not even in the family pool or the lake at the cabin. Apparently, six people have died this year from a microscopic organism that EATS THE BRAIN! Yes, that's right, a parasite that enters the cranium through the nasal or ear passages, devours brain cells, causing headaches, delirium, and hallucinations followed shortly by death. Scientists are calling this mischevious 'lil stinker Naegleria fowleri, and it typically inhabits warm, stagnant waters. Apparently in an effort to make my task (i.e. the promotion of constant, vigilant fear) easier, biologist Michael Beach reminds us that with the onset of global-climate-warming-change we'll only see more of this little guy.

Ongoing: You're not safe anywhere!