Since he won the Iranian presidential election in 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been an object of fear, vilification and ridicule in Washington DC. I said from the beginning that there was no evidence Iran had a nuclear weapons program under his presidency, and 8 years later he went out of office without one. I was […]
Archives for August 2013
Tens of Thousands Rally to support Fundamentalist Government in Tunisia
Since the assassination of leftist leader Mohamed Brahmi of the Popular Front on July 25, Tunisia has been thrown into a new round of political turmoil. Thousands have gone to the streets to demonstrate against the center-right, religiously inflected government Ali Larayedh for not cracking down hard enough on Muslim extremists. The left and the […]
“Capturing football fields” of power – Offshore Wind-Wave Energy Farms in Japan and California
For the real-world project, look to Japan: “The world’s first hybrid power generation system is due to be installed off the coast of western Japan later this year. The offshore facility is designed to draw power from the wind and waves.” Here’s the video on the Japan Wind-Wave facility: And, for the theoretical basis for […]
Oil Spills blacken Today’s Environment from Alberta to Thailand: Wind and Solar are Way Better!
1. High pressure steam injection as a technique of getting oil out of the ground has gone very wrong in Canada: Canadian First Nations protest massive Alberta oil spill (CBC): 2. A leaking pipeline in Thailand is the 4th worst oil spill in that nations history. ITN reports: “The oil spill from a leaked pipeline […]
The Burka Avenger stands up to Male Chauvinist Taliban on Pakistani TV
The Burka Avenger is a children’s cartoon about a mild-mannered female school teacher in Pakistan who has an alter ego. As the black-clad Burka Avenger, she takes on oppressive and intolerant Taliban types with the power of education and books. The concept, by rock star Haroon, is full of reversals and appropriations. Thus, the full […]
How a Bill Becomes Law (George Carlin)
George Carlin explains how the United States really works. Warning: some profanity (as is appropriate to the subject). The Clip
Putin as America’s Frenemy: The Snowden Paradox
Russia’s decision on Thursday to grant NSA leaker Edward Snowden asylum for one year and allow him freely to live and work in the Russian Federation hit Washington like a hydrogen bomb. Angry politicians called on President Obama to cancel talks in Moscow with Putin scheduled in September. Russia Today covered the decision rather breathlessly: […]
Syrian Regime takes Key Homs Neighborhood in advance against Rebels
The Syrian military has taken an important Homs neighborhood that had been in the hands of the rebels for over a year, as part of its counter-offensive in the strategic center of the country. With the help of the Lebanese militia, Hizbullah, it recently took al-Qusayr, a town near Homs. And now it is taking […]
Red Baraat makes NYC Music with a Punjabi Beat (Video)
Blurb: “New York City’s multicultural population is fertile ground for fusions in art and music. VOA’s Carolyn Weaver reports on Red Baraat, an eight-member band from Brooklyn blending Northern Indian bhangra – a high-energy dance music – with jazz, hip-hop, and other genres.” VOAnews reports:
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