March 19, 2008
On Iraq
Dan Lehr has a monster-sized post up at Vote08 discussing the failures and successes of the current conflict in Iraq, which, as of today, has been ongoing for five years. (Do you realize, between...Posted by joe lance on 12:48 PM | Comments (1)
February 19, 2008
Fidel Castro
A big news item today is the resignation by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, whom many undoubtedly expected to only leave office upon dying. I wish the best for the people of Cuba, and for...Posted by joe lance on 11:45 AM | Comments (3)
December 04, 2007
Civilization a misnomer?
This is one of those strange synchronicity days. One of my first thoughts this morning, just as the caffeine had begun to work, was about the word "civilization," and how history shows that this...Posted by joe lance on 11:13 AM | Comments (1)
November 20, 2007
Corker recaps first year as Senator, faces tough questions
U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) spoke to a hometown crowd estimated at over 500 today at the Chattanoogan hotel's main ballroom. The event was a luncheon organized by Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and...Posted by joe lance on 10:45 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2007
Gore shares peace prize with UN group
The New York Times: "[Al Gore] is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted," the Nobel citation said. [snip] Mr....Posted by joe lance on 07:31 AM
September 29, 2007
Lawyers who will bleed for a cause
There is not only unrest in Myanmar, but in Pakistan as well. The US-approved Musharraf government is cracking down on protesters from the country's legal rank and file, according to this report by Time.com....Posted by joe lance on 09:16 PM
September 14, 2007
Are we lucky, or am I paranoid?
Maybe it was just me, but it kinda made me nervous having Ramadan, Rosh Hashanah, September 11, and a presidential address on Iraq all in the same week. Maybe the New Moon kept everything...Posted by joe lance on 02:08 PM
August 16, 2007
My Disillusionment Is Complete
Well, not just now, because it's been that way for a while. But I'm big enough to admit that, when Hugo Chávez first became the popularly elected President of Venezuela, I excused his past...Posted by joe lance on 12:26 PM
June 30, 2007
Let's Go to My Parents' House and Play "Fort"
Am I the only one who finds it mildly amusing that this weekend's talks between two of the world's reportedly most powerful leaders are being held at one of said leaders' dad's house? No,...Posted by joe lance on 02:10 PM
June 01, 2007
Bonjour, Mauritius; Tudo Bem?
A visitor locale I have never before seen on the Statcounter got my attention: the Indian Ocean isle called Mauritius. I knew a couple from there, years ago. They described it as a place...Posted by joe lance on 01:30 PM
May 01, 2007
Punxsutawney Fidel
So if Castro doesn't see his shadow, does that mean that the spring of Cuban-American detente is just around the corner? Just asking....Posted by joe lance on 01:28 PM
February 22, 2007
What Did You Think Iran Would Do?
Okay, the UN deadline passed, and reports are in that Iran has continued enriching uranium, some say at a faster rate than before the sanctions were announced. Put aside your prejudices and ask yourself:...Posted by joe lance on 05:07 PM
February 16, 2007
Obligatory Post on the Iraq War Debate and Votes
Let's have a little contest, shall we? Here's what I propose as the game: Whose Congressperson has said the most embarrassingly unenlightened thing regarding the war during this debate? Leave your thoughts in the...Posted by joe lance on 12:24 PM
February 12, 2007
Barack Obama & the Thunder Down Under
While many eyes were focused on the frigid American Midwest, peering at a certain U.S. Senator from Illinois, and wondering if, hoping perhaps, his refreshing rhetoric is not just another carefully prepared mask, eyes...Posted by joe lance on 11:03 PM
January 12, 2007
Pace and Gates
I'm watching C-SPAN's rebroadcast of the Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing held today on the new plan for Iraq. Words are a difficult means of expressing just how much of a mess this thing...Posted by joe lance on 10:47 PM
January 01, 2007
Transylvania Joins EU
честита нова година! Un An Nou Fericit! Happy New Year! Two former communist nations are proud new members of the European Union today. I first became interested in Bulgaria when cast as Nicola in...Posted by joe lance on 11:12 AM