Dept. of We Report You Decide

Wherein we juxtapose two items from today's news and allow you to draw your own conclusions.

From Reuters today:

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Sectarian violence has displaced more than 30,000 Iraqis -- victims of gunmen who warn them to leave or die -- since a Shi'ite shrine was bombed last month, the government said on Wednesday.

George Bush speaking before the Freedom House organization in Washington, DC today:

Yet, despite massive provocations, Iraq has not descended into civil war. Most Iraqis have not turned to violence.

We imagine most Americans didn't turn to violence during the, um, War of Northern Aggression either. We also wonder who is qualified to define precisely what a "civil war" is, and who is similarly qualified to determine to what scale "sectarian violence" must escalate before one can legitimately employ the aforementioned descriptor.

Sorry, sorry. We report, you decide.

Wherein I Heart Madeleine Albright

From her LA Times op-ed "Good versus evil isn't a strategy":

It is sometimes convenient, for purposes of rhetorical effect, for national leaders to talk of a globe neatly divided into good and bad. It is quite another, however, to base the policies of the world's most powerful nation upon that fiction. The administration's penchant for painting its perceived adversaries with the same sweeping brush has led to a series of unintended consequences.

Madeleine Albright for President! (Too bad, she was born in Prague. We need to pass that damn amendment.)

It's Not Too Late

Run, Katie, run.

That is all.

Phew!

Jerry Fallwell a couple of weeks ago:

Earlier today, reports began circulating across the globe that I have recently stated that Jews can go to heaven without being converted to Jesus Christ. This is categorically untrue.

Thanks for clearing that up Jerry!

You have to love the title of his piece: "A gracious correction of the Jerusalem Post." Is anyone keeping track of these clangers? I think there's a quote book in the making.

(Via Crooks & Liars)

Dying Breed

This would be funnny if the guy weren't serious.

For example:

Prof. Harvey Mansfield: There are certain things that haven't changed. For example, in New York City, the doormen are still 98 percent men.

Deborah Solomon, NYT interviewer: Yes, but fewer jobs depend on that sort of physical brawn as society becomes more technologically adept. Physical advantages are practically meaningless now that men are no longer hunter-gatherers.

I disagree with that.

When was the last time you did something that required physical strength?

It's true that nothing in my career requires physical strength, but in my relations with women, yes.

Such as?

Lifting things, opening things. My wife is quite small.

What do you lift?

Furniture. Not every night, but routinely.

The guy wrote a whole book called Manliness and lifting furniture occasionally is the best he can come up with? I'm with the interviewer: Physical advantages are practically meaningless now that men are no longer hunter-gatherers. Of course, boors like him are no likely still earning more than their equally talented female competitors, so the battle continues.

St. Paddy's

From The Teaching Company, here's a free lecture on the history of St. Patrick, you know, the bloke who drove the snakes out of Ireland (expect for Ian Paisley). Presented by Prof. William R. Cook, Distinguished Teaching Professor of History at the State University of New York at Geneseo.

YHOO SUKS

The good folks at Amnesty International detail Yahoo's involvement in the jailing of Chinese journalist Shi Tao.

Visit the site to tell Yahoo what you think about their actions. You can also petition the Chinese government to release Shi. And, if like me, you use Yahoo to host your site, why not throw a few bucks Amnesty International's way while you're at it. Even out your karma.

Buymi Origami

Here's a sneak peak at Microsoft's new Origami thingmibob. If it does have as much as they show in this clip, I want one now. Lot of trash talking about it already, of course. Prolly from Mac owners. Well, thbbbppt! Some folks have also complained about the casing looking kinda cheesy: I suspect that's just an early demo version, especially since I think Microsoft has said the video's outdated.