National Review has a new web design, and it is busy and annoying and gives me a headache. For extra pleasure, the columns are super wide and a pain in the arse to read. Thanks, guys.
Tom Friedman, another NY Times
Tom Friedman, another NY Times columnist, on free speech:
The Saudi poet, Abdul Mohsen Musalam, in his poem “The Corrupt on Earth,” published March 10 in the newspaper Al-Madina, wrote: “It is sad that in the Muslim world, justice is suffering from a few judges who care for nothing but their bank accounts and their status with the rulers.” He then added with amazing bluntness about the judges: “Your beards are smeared with blood. You indulge a thousand tyrants and only the tyrant do you obey.”
Not only did the Saudi interior minister throw Mr. Musalam in jail for this poem, but his editor, Mokhtar al-Fal, was fired. So what’s my dilemma? I should be all for free speech – right? – especially in Saudi Arabia.
Not so fast. By accident, I met this poet on a recent trip to Saudi Arabia and I tasted some other free speech he has in him. Readers may recall that I noted in an earlier column that at one newspaper I visited in Saudi Arabia, I walked out after being told that the source of all the problems today was that “the Jews control America.”
Instructive, isn’t it? He actually admits that he may be inclined to be against free speech, if he does not agree with what is being said. Charming.
Poor Mr. Nick Kristoff gets
Poor Mr. Nick Kristoff gets Mr. Lilek’s dander up and pays the price- In other words, Lileks has a new screed up.
Kristoff = Italics, Lileks = Bold
A sample:
It also turns out that a British organization, Indict, is already pursuing an indictment against Saddam for war crimes.
And the Belgian organization Frown is already drafting plans to mount an international campaign of scowling, which will force his regime to divert precious resources to rubber chickens, joy-buzzers and Singing Telegram Gorillas to improve their standing abroad. Meanwhile, the French organization Surrender is drafting plans to cede Marseilles to whomever wants it, just in case.
Need I mention the plans of an American organization, Depose? They’re known informally as the Armed Services.
Sorry folks, but some cultures
Sorry folks, but some cultures are just inferior. Nigeria happens to be one of them. I wonder if Mr. Zogby will condemn this?
Go read this and try
Go read this and try not to be furious. I printed it out (34 pages) and read it during dinner (clam pesto), and I almost choked with anger while eating. I have not been as irritated after reading something since the Lantos report last week.
This is the best medical
This is the best medical news I have read in a long time. Via the Medpundit.
This could be the dumbest
This could be the dumbest proposed law in recent memory, and I like David Nieporent’s analysis.