Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
At the Shariah court of appeals here this morning, the chief judge presiding over the case of Amina Lawal, the peasant woman sentenced to death by stoning for having slept with a man who was not her husband, refused to comment on the guilt or innocence of the defendant before him.
It is “sub juris”
Bigwig has an amusing post on French military history (and yes, pedants, I am sure he is exxagerating some things, simplifying others, and forgetting some things). It is still damn amusing:
You can hardly blame the French. France is example number one when comes to natural selection of a nation’s character.
Gallic Wars – Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian.
Hundred Years War – Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; “France’s armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman.”
Italian Wars – Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.
Wars of Religion – France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots
Thirty Years War – France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.
War of Devolution – Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.
The Dutch War – Tied
War of the Augsburg League/King William’s War/French and Indian War – Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.
Go read the whole thing.
Goodbye, Gerhard, and good riddance.
Support for Germany’s ruling Social Democrats dropped to an historic low yesterday in a clear signal to chancellor Gerhard Schr
Not since Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias or Althea Gibson has there been a female this dominant and this talented- in any sport- and her sister, Venus, is just as talented. Plus, they are attractive. Really attractive.
And for you out there carping about her sitting on the flag- lighten up. I was in the military for ten years and I know that this is not how you are supposed to treat the flag, but so what? This was no intentional slight- she isn’t burning it like some people, and there is no doubt in my mind she is proud to be an American. This is the face of the meritocracy people claim to want- this is the face of America.
*** Update ***
Before I get 500 emails, I am not implying that anyone who is mad at Serena for sitting on the flag is racist. That is how the left thinks- everything is about race. My point was that this is an innocent flap, a nothing in the big picture of things. I am sure if she knew how much it upset people (yes, I am channeling Serena), she would probably not do it again. My point about meritocracy was that given an equal opportunity- the best succeed- because they are the best. I can’t think of a better face to represent the U.S.
Welcome to the newly re–designed and relocated Balloon Juice. I want to first thank Kathy Kinsley and MommaBear, who spent an ungodly amount of time getting this thing up and running. Kathy handled the transition and the design, while Momma Bear handled the graphics. ABig thanks to Rev. Markle and Rev. Chapin, who set up the server for me.
In other words, I am a bleeding idiot who doesn’t know how to put anything together, and I was lucky enough to have these decent people to help me.
If you find a bug or a problem, please note it in the comments below. Also, I intend to re-work the links to the left, and if you are not there and should be or if your link is not working or is outdated, please let me know so I can fix it.
If you use buttons for links, here is one:
Thanks, and Welcome.
Instapundit, Spoons, The Rev. Chapin, and LGF all link to this amazing story:
Earlier there were unexplained incidents at the U.N.’s Baghdad compound when two men — one carrying three knives, the other a notebook and shouting “Save me!” — tried to enter the base.
Both men were apprehended and turned over to Iraqi authorities, U.N. officials reported. It was unclear whether the two incidents were related.
On the two incidents, U.N. officials said that one man approached the hotel’s security gate with a metal instrument, before Iraqi guards wrestled him to the ground. He was later found to have three knives, the U.N. said.
About 40 minutes later, another Iraqi man stopped a U.N. vehicle outside the headquarters pleading “Save me! Save me!” in Arabic, according to the U.N. The man, apparently unarmed, forced his way into the driver’s seat of the stopped vehicle, as an Iraqi guard struggled to pull him out, while an unfazed U.N. inspector watched from the passenger seat.
It gets better. Rather than attempting to find out what is going on, or what may be in the NOTEBOOK, our intrepid Clouseau’s allow this to happen:
Appearing agitated and frightened, the young man, with a closely trimmed beard and mustache, sat inside the white U.N.-marked utility vehicle for 10 minutes, AP reported. At first, an inspection team leader sought help from nearby Iraqi soldiers, but the man refused to leave the vehicle as the uniformed men pulled on his sleeve and collar.
“I am unjustly treated!” he shouted.
Then U.N. security men arrived, and they and Iraqi police carried the man by his feet and arms into the fenced compound, journalists said. The man was turned over to Iraqi authorities at a government office adjacent to the compound, U.N. officials said.
Iraqi officials said they had no information on the incidents.
The Instapundit wants to know if the inspectors can be charged with “material breach.” I would recommend accessory to murder.
*** Update ***
Go read the idiots at Metafilter.
I am not sure how they manage it, but the NY Times seems to work overtime to find the wrong viewpoint on almost every issue. Today’s offering, Don’t Pester Europe on Genetically Modified Food by Clyde Prestowitz, is no exception.
Mr. Prestowitz’s reasons for not pushing the issue are as follows, and I quote:
– Europeans are scared to death of genetically modified food.
– There may be no good scientific reason for concern, but to consider eating something that has resulted from some laboratory manipulation is felt by many Europeans as a kind of denial of the true self. For Americans to insist that the union accept genetically modified products is bound to be felt in Europe as another exercise in American cultural and economic imperialism.
– The administration will argue that it wants only to give the consumers a choice. But as one who spent years selling to European supermarkets and consumers, I can say with confidence that such a move by the United States would very likely result in a European campaign against all American food.
–We have already caused great resentment among our European allies by rejecting the Kyoto Protocol on global warming and the International Criminal Court, both of which were championed by the European Union. Given that we will want European support for whatever actions we eventually decide to take in the Persian Gulf or in North Korea, is this really the time to mount what is bound to be a bitter, high-profile case in order to sell genetically modified potatoes?
Got that? Europeans have an irrational fear of GM foods, despite any scientific evidence, and we may upset them. Not only that, we already upset them by withdrawing from Kyoto. That is the logic behind cowering away from scientific breakthroughs that could feed billions- European fear and European resentment.
Norman Borlaug, a true Nobel Peace Laureate (Instapundit has discussed him here, here is his foundation), debunks many of the myths and much of the hysteria surrounding GM foods in a guest editorial for the Opinion Journal, aptly titled Science vs. Hysteria. An excerpt:
Current genetically modified crop varieties that help to control insects and weeds are lowering production costs and increasing harvests–a great potential benefit to all Third World farmers. Future products are likely to carry traits that will improve nutrition and health. All of these technologies have more benefits to offer poor farmers and consumers than rich ones.
For example, Kenya is ready to field-test virus-resistant sweet potatoes that should yield 30% to 50% more of this important food staple. Virus-resistant bananas and potatoes have already been bred, but are being barred in African countries where people urgently need their higher yields. Indian researchers are developing a vaccine against the epidemic livestock disease, rinderpest, which can be genetically engineered into peanut plants. African farmers would be able to protect their draft animals simply by feeding them the peanut plants–again if biotech is allowed.
The needless confrontation of consumers against the use of transgenic crop technology in Europe and elsewhere might have been avoided had more people received a better education in biological science. This educational gap–which has resulted in a growing and worrisome ignorance about the challenges and complexities of agricultural and food systems–needs to be addressed without delay. Privileged societies have the luxury of adopting a very low-risk position on the issue of genetically modified crops, even if this action later turns out to be unnecessary. But the vast majority of humankind does not have such a luxury, and certainly not the hungry victims of wars, natural disasters, and economic crises.
Without adequate food supplies at affordable prices, we cannot expect world health, prosperity, and peace. Responsible biotechnology is not the enemy; starvation is.
At least Mr. Borlaug and Mr. Prestowitz agree on one thing, as Mr. Prestowitz noted:
It is, indeed, appalling that some countries would rather starve than accept donations of genetically modified corn.
Appalling, indeed. Do you ever get the feeling that if the South hadn’t received such a bad reputation for secession that the NY Times would be circulating petitions for New Yorkto become part of the EU?