Ciao!

Pacifism 101

OK. I don't promote this kind of behavior. That said, this is hilarious advice from Safety Valve (via American Realpolitik):

1. Listen politely while this person explains their views. Strike up a conversation if necessary and look very interested in their ideas. They will tell you how revenge is immoral, and that by attacking the people who did this to us, we will only bring on more violence. They will probably use many arguments, ranging from political to religious to humanitarian.
2. In the middle of their remarks, without any warning, punch them in the nose.
3. When the person gets up off of the ground, they will be very angry and they may try to hit you, so be careful.
4. Very quickly and calmly remind the person that violence only brings about more violence and remind them of their stand on this matter. Tell them if they are really committed to a nonviolent approach to undeserved attacks, they will turn the other cheek and negotiate a solution. Tell them they must lead by example if they really believe what they are saying.
5. Most of them will think for a moment and then agree that you are correct.
6. As soon as they do that, hit them again. Only this time hit them much harder. Square in the nose.
7. Repeat steps 2-5 until the desired results are obtained and the idiot realizes how stupid of an argument he/she is making.

And here's something to use on those "what about Israel?" situations.

Posted by Miguel at 07:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)

Bolivia, here I come

It's official. The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has "great pleasure to congratulate [me] on [my] selection as a Fulbright student grantee in Bolivia for the 2003-2004 academic year." So starts the formal letter I received 30 minutes ago. Wow.

Now all I need is research clearance from the "host country" (shouldn't be a problem) and "satisfactory medical clearance" (I'll take up jogging).

I want to thank my fellow tax-payers for the money Congress will appropriate for my trip to Bolivia this September. You now have the right to pester me w/ questions (e.g. "so, any progress on the dissertation?"). You're entitled to a return on your investment.

OK, I'm too excited. I should get back to grading essays.

Posted by Miguel at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Bill Whittle doesn't post very frequently. But when he does, it's essential reading. His latest is no exception. He takes on the doubts about the Iraq war and its effect on history, drawing analogies to the US Civil War.

Posted by Miguel at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Miguel at 12:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The Arab media war

Went out to eat w/ friends after Simpsons. Kampus Kabob was closed, so we ended up at Ali Baba's Hookah Lounge (ex-Boogie's Café). The food is good, but the service is always exceptionally slow. I think it took them a half hour to bring my humus and pita bread.

While we chatted away, Abu Dhabi TV (ADTV) played in the background on a giant TV screen. It was really difficult to know what was going; I don't speak Arabic and there was no translation. But I was impressed by two things:

One. The programming looked very sleek and professional. You really couldn't tell the difference from it and CNN, MSNBC or other major news networks. I'm not sure if this is the product of the much-maligned "globalization" or simply the fact that presenting news media in a standard format makes for an easier way to deliver news to an audience. But it certainly beat SCOLA or the images I've seen of Al Jazeera, which often look like amateur cable access TV.

Two. There were numerous anchorwomen and some female field news reporters. I think that's quite significant. Abu Dhabi TV does broadcast out of the United Arab Emirates into the wider Arab world. It may seem like a minor thing, but watching professional, educated women broadcast the news into countries where women are denied many educational opportunities (or even the right to drive a car) is a significant step in the region's liberalization.

I have no idea what the broadcasters were saying, though it was clearly related to the Iraq war. There was a brief segment w/ Colin Powell speaking (though dubbed over into Arabic). And more than one report from an embedded reporter. Yes, ADTV has reporters "embedded" w/ American military units (oh, and so does Al Jazeera).

A significant story of this war might be that there are now two semi-independent major news networks in the Arab world. As ADTV and Al Jazeera compete for audience market share - and the financial rewards it brings - they'll have to present themselves as reliable and credible news sources. Perhaps the opening salvos of the liberalization (and subsequent democratization) of the Arab world might come from the satellites of two rival Arab news networks.

Note: I realize that there are other Arab TV stations out there. But I'm pretty sure Al Jazeera and ADTV are the only "major" players in the region on a level like CNN or MSNBC (and that aren't clearly government propaganda tools).

Posted by Miguel at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

It's 1977 all over again

Today was the grand opening party for 1977 Mopeds, Dan's new moped shop. Moped Army members from the Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Elkhart branches showed up. And, of course, Decepticons were out in force. It was great to see the whole projet come together after months of hard work (mostly Dan's hard work).

Dan made his first major sale from the store itself. He sold a TFR Kinetic off the sales floor; he'd already sold three other models before he opened. That's clearly a good sign. He'll start selling online through his website in April.

Most of us just milled around, catching up w/ each other and gorging on veggies and dip, pita and hummus, cake, soda, and other assorted treats.

The shop area looks great. Here you see Dan's Cimatti Twin Sport up on the rack awaiting a new rear wheel and other repair work. I can't wait to get my Bianchi in and worked on.

Everyone played around w/ the new mopeds, taking turns sitting on them and posing. Most of really like the Kinetic (essentially a Vespa SI). They're not quite the same as the classic vintage mopeds of the 1970s. But. They're solid bikes. I'm more impressed than I thought I'd be.

Swarm & Destroy, the Moped Army documentary film was also released on DVD tonight. It's available for sale at the shop (or online) for $16. The film took third place at the East Lansing "Michigan's Own" film festival.

All in all, it was a good day (despite the bitter cold and snow flurries). I can't wait for moped season to start for real. It'll be great having a moped shop in town where I can get all my parts and whatnots (even strawberry-scented two-stroke oil).

Posted by Miguel at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Blog Iraq

If you're interested in reading other blogs from Iraq, I'd recommend LT Smash. It's a weblog updated by a reserve officer. He has a good writing style, witty, and wonderful observations. And no, he's not a gung-ho redneck. You can also read Sgt. Stryker's Daily Briefing, another soldier's weblog.

Actually, quite a few service personnel have weblogs and access to the internet. I even read an article about a unit of the 101st that networked their tents together so they could play Warcraft III.

Posted by Miguel at 02:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Salam watch

James Lilek suggests why Salam Pax hasn't posted to his weblog lately (you can still read his old posts). The building he identified as the source of his internet access was bombed. Uruklink (Iraq's state ISP) might be down for some time. Let's hope Salam's OK. Once Iraq's liberated, we'll know who he his (in case you didn't realize, Salam Pax is a pseudonym).

Posted by Miguel at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)

Cry Havoc

No weekly guys-only poker night. Everyone was busy doing other things. That was a bit of a disappointment. So Jaakan, Dave, and I ended up watching a movie: William Shatner's Spplat Attack

Posted by Miguel at 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Iraq attacks, we must be losing

I took a day off from blogging and took a step back from the news. On the one hand, the news is now getting somewhat boring. The flash'n'dash type of operation that the CNN pundits expected hasn't come to be. It's a real war now.

Posted by Miguel at 03:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

I've been told that my site looks odd on MS Internet Explorer 6 (it should look fine on IE 5). Posts should show up directly to the right of the navigation links, not below them. I'm pretty sure it has something to do w/ the <div> tags around my search code. I use Mac OS X, and it looks fine on my browsers.

If any of you can figure out what I need to fix this, please email me. Thanks.

Posted by Miguel at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Don Enrique

Today, Enrique Centellas turns 83 years old in Bolivia. My abuelito (grandpa) is one of my favorite people of all time. He's sprite and full of life, a wise child. Each morning, he wakes up, drinks his strong coffee while chatting w/ abuelita, then heads out the door (all dressed up) to do "business" w/ a small leather attaché case.

He heads each morning to his favorite newspaper stand, where he's greeted by the other regulars. "Don Enrique, how are you this morning?" They talk politics and soccer news and catch up on the latest social gossip.

Then he goes on little family errands. He stands in line to pay the tuition bill for one of his grandchildren. Then he fights city bureaucrats meeting on behalf of a daughter-in-law. Stops for ice cream or some other sweet. Then back in line to pay the cable bill. All this before lunch, when he goes home to abuelita, who scolds him for being late. He scolds her for not having lunch ready, and retires to his study to do the crossword puzzle.

He has an uncanny ability to get information. Once, we were talking about the Chaco War. "There was a good newspaper special section on that about a month ago," he told me. Like all the requests for information or bill-paying, it got instantly jotted down in the little notebook he always carries in his shirt pocket. The next day, he came back from lunch w/ the newspaper's back issue. "I have my sources," he grinned.

When he was a young boy, abuelito followed his favorite soccer team, the San José Saints across the country. He joined the hinchas (loyal fans) traveling on train car rooftops. To this day, he heads out every Sunday to the stadium. He carries a small transistor radio w/ him. To catch the news from some other game on the other side of the country. Once, at an Oriente Petrolero game in Santa Cruz, he suddenly leapt up next to me, fist pumping in the air. His beloved Saints had scored in Cochabamba.

Each World Cup is an obsession. The refrigerator carries a game table. Minutes after each match is over, abuelito races to the kitchen to pencil in the scores.

He also collects the little sticker books put out by Coca-Cola. Each page is meticulously filled w/ the sticker for each individual player. His evenings are spent at downtown street corners, haggling w/ little children. "I'll trade you a Bebeto for a Batistuta." Each book is archived and preserved in the collection. And he usually fills four of five of them, gifts for special grandchildren.

Posted by Miguel at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Army Pink

Whatever you may think about the war, it has greatly expanded the role of women in the armed forces. Women account for 1 in 7 military personnel in Iraq.

Posted by Miguel at 01:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wind in the ears and buzzing

Spring arrived suddenly, a wonderful 72 degree day. I rode the Motron up to campus, and crossed paths w/ Dan on his Carabela. We waved as we buzzed past each other. The wind was crisp and the sun was soft. The Motron's Minarelli engine buzzed a low growl as I whipped around corners. It was great. Walking through campus, I saw a red Sachs locked to a bike rack. Moped season has officially begun.

Posted by Miguel at 06:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm trying to avoid posting about the war. In part, because I'm busy grading papers. In part, because debate is now irrelevant. The war has already began. At this point, the only option is victory. I hope it's swift and that few people are killed or injured.

Posted by Miguel at 11:47 PM | Permalink

A human shield recants

Daniel Pepper, a former volunteer human shield, has recanted. His story ran in the UK's Telegraph. Here's an excerpt recounting a conversation w/ a Baghdad taxi driver:

"Don't you listen to Powell on Voice of America radio?" he said. "Of course the Americans don't want to bomb civilians. They want to bomb government and Saddam's palaces. We want America to bomb Saddam."

We just sat, listening, our mouths open wide. Jake, one of the others, just kept saying, "Oh my God" as the driver described the horrors of the regime. Jake was so shocked at how naive he had been. We all were. It hadn't occurred to anyone that the Iraqis might actually be pro-war.

The driver's most emphatic statement was: "All Iraqi people want this war." He seemed convinced that civilian casualties would be small; he had such enormous faith in the American war machine to follow through on its promises. Certainly more faith than any of us had.

Perhaps the most crushing thing we learned was that most ordinary Iraqis thought Saddam Hussein had paid us to come to protest in Iraq. Although we explained that this was categorically not the case, I don't think he believed us. Later he asked me: "Really, how much did Saddam pay you to come?"

I respect a person who is willing to change his/her mind after confronting conflicting evidence. It's a mark of true character.

Posted by Miguel at 12:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alan at Command Post reports that Iraq's state-run ISP (Uruklink) is down. That probably best explains why Salam Pax hasn't updated his weblog (from Iraq) in over a day. Like everyone in the blogosphere, I hope he's safe and sound in Baghdad.

Posted by Miguel at 12:29 AM | Permalink

Here's a photo gallery of a clever form of protesting. Did I say clever? No. Brilliant.

Posted by Miguel at 04:04 PM | Permalink

Careful with analogies

Analogies are dangerous. They need to be valid to stand the test.

I've seen arguments comparing the 9/11 attacks w/ cruise missile strikes on Baghdad. That's not a valid analogy. Unlike 9/11, the Iraqis know the attacks are coming. They have the advantage of air raid sirens and anti-aircraft artillery. They had months of public announcements that a war might start, and that Baghdad would be a target. Unlike 9/11, the aggressors are not specifically targeting civilian buildings or installations.

Posted by Miguel at 03:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

To my Chicago friends

I don't think anti-war protests are unpatriotic. I don't think it's treason to protest the war. We're not "required" to support the president or the troops in wartime. That kind of right-wing drivel is not the kind of patriotism I recognize.

Posted by Miguel at 01:01 PM | Permalink

Daily Digest

Salam Pax, an Iraqi blogger in Baghdad, hasn't posted in several hours. Please email him and wish him well. If someone really wishes to express solidarity w/ the Iraqi people, here's one direct way to do it. [Update: some info from two of his friends here and here.]

Posted by Miguel at 10:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cheering Iraqis

The New York Times, which took a strong anti-war stance, reports that Iraqi civilians are cheering troops passing through their towns. Cheeering? Not to mention that all media are reporting about a 70 percent defection rate of the Iraqi military. Is it possible this really is a war of liberation?

And I wondered why we heard so little about Detroit in the period leading up to the war. More than 160,000 Iraqis live in Detroit, the largest concentration in the US. Here's a PBS NewsHour story on that - their community overwhelmingly supports the war (they cheered Bush's speech announcing the start of the campaign) and many are joining a special expat force training in Hungary that'll return to Iraq as a "reconstruction" police force. Another report from New Jersey.

I also remember reading (can't find the sources now) that the 500,000 Iraqi community in Britain also supports the war. And were very noticeably absent from anti-war protests.

Makes me wonder why the anti-war movement spent so little time actually talking to Iraqis to see what they thought. Protest organizers in London even refused to let the Iraqis speak. Interesting.

Posted by Miguel at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

An American in London

My good friend J. Edmund - an expat American in London - attended an anti-war protest. He was amused by the whole spectacle (especially the chanting). Here's an excerpt:

Posted by Miguel at 01:18 AM | Permalink

Rode the Motron to campus today to give an exam. By the time the exam was over, a thunderstorm broke and I had to ride home - w/ exams to grade - in the rain. I got some moisture in the carb, and Motron fought me all the way home.

I'm staying indoors today, flipping between CNN and FOX News on TV. I've too much work to do (grading more than 140 exams) to do much warblogging (after all, debate and speculation is pointless now that war is underway). But I'll try to put together news digests. In the meantime, read Salam Pax. He's still blogging from downtown Baghdad.

Posted by Miguel at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

A roll of the dice

People are still commenting on the fact that the UN Security did not vote for an Iraq war. Their conclusion is, of course, that the US-led coalition is acting w/o UN approval and violation of the wishes of the Security Council. That's not quite true.

I won't comment on the question of polling data suggesting support (or lack of support) for a war. On the one hand, polls are tricky things and can mean many different things. But, most importantly, appealing to the morality of a policy based on popular opinion is known as an "ad populum" logical fallacy. Policies should be judged by evidence, not their popularity. Just because something's popular, that doesn't make it right.

Posted by Miguel at 03:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The war began a few hours ago. Not remarkable. A handful of cruise missiles might have killed Hussein. I hope so - then we wouldn't have to fight much longer. I still hope.

Salam Pax is still blogging from Baghdad. He doesn't support the war (and I can't blame him), but his first-hand reporting from Baghdad is incredibly balanced. Email him and tell him you hope he's OK; I did.

Posted by Miguel at 12:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Where is the Lincoln Brigade?

Although war w/ Iraq is now inevitable, there are self-congratulatory reports from anti-war protesters that they are "waging peace" - an unprecedented event in world history. To some extent, this is true and they should be congratulated. That hundreds of thousands of people around the world are openly debating the morality of war is remarkable. I applaud that. But.

Why did it take the Iraq issue to get all those people to march in the street? Protesters make valid arguments, to be sure. War is horrible. That violence is still a tool of politics only demonstrates that we aren't as evolved as we think. But why Iraq?

I ask this because many of the anti-war movement now celebrate the emergence of a broad social movement to wage peace. They oppose human rights abuses and dictatorship - accusations thrown at Bush. Now, I don't like Bush much either. But why now?

Why didn't the same hundreds of thousands of people march against Hussein all these twelve years? Isn't he a brutal dictator? OK, let's skip Iraq. Why not Kosovo? Bosnia? Rwanda? Tibet? Congo? Burma? North Korea? Zaire? Why do we march asking for an impeachment of Bush, but not of Kim Il Jung or Mugabe. Why don't we march in such large numbers for those other causes? Consider Latin America. Why do we still protest the School of the Americas, but not Venezuela's Chávez or Peru's Fujimori?

This is why I'm skeptical of the anti-war movement. Because I have to ask myself: Why now? Why selective protesting?

I support this war - despite Bush - for the same reasons the anti-war movement opposes it. I hope that we're entering a future where brutal dictatorships - the Husseins and the Mugabes - are no longer tolerated. It may come to war. But the left isn't averse to war, not the left I grew up respecting. During the Spanish Civil war, the left didn't protest in the streets - it went to Spain and fought. Where's that left now?

Posted by Miguel at 04:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Former pacifist blogger Rick Bruner has come to support a war against Iraq. He posted a clear counter-argument to each of the reasons often given for oposing war. Read it all.

Posted by Miguel at 08:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I brought Kaneda home today. I'm pleased beyond belief. Ah, the smooth aluminum casing! Sophie's enjoying the plastic wrapping, jumping up and down in loud bursts.

Posted by Miguel at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

What unilateralism?

Despite the lack of a French-backed Security Council resolution, the US and UK will not fight alone. Yes, Canada's prime minster will pull out his nation's Gulf contingent from the upcoming war - all 30 of them. Oh, well.

At least we have troops coming from Poland, a battalion from the Ukraine, our loyal friends the Australians will be there. It's unclear how many other countries have sent troops to join the coalition - but rumors suggest more countries are involved. The Czechs and Slovaks have also sent anti-chemical weapons contingents to Kuwait. Albania and Rumania are now sending troops. Denmark is sending ships and elite troops.

[Note: News updates keep moving countries from the support but not sending troops category (below) to the sending troops category (above). I'll keep updating this post as those changes happen.]

Countries not contributing troops (at least not yet), but supporting the war include: Japan, South Korea, East Timor, and Singapore. Also Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Croatia, Portugal, Bosnia, and Montenegro (source, more on broad support for war in the majority of Europe). Add to that list Azerbaijan, Eritrea, Uzbekistan, El Salvador, Colombia, Afghanistan, Georgia, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, the Netherlands, and (ta da!) Turkey (source). Add Iceland to the list. That makes about 30, though Powell claims another fifteen will be "known in due course" (I suspect Kuwait and a few others in the "wish to remain anonymous" category, perhaps even Iran).

[Update: The list of coalition countries joining the "unilateral" attack now include Honduras, Mongolia, Marshall Islands, Uganda, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Dominican Republica, Angola, Rwanda, Netherlands, and Estonia (source).]

Of course, some Arab countries are offering "logistical" support: Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, United Arab Emirated, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Oh, and well over a month ago, the little Gulf emirates mobilized their "Peninsula Shield" joint forces into Kuwait - even as Germany and France balked at supporting ally, Turkey. At least the Arabs are honorable.

The French? They're busy unilaterally invading the Central African Republic - to protect their proxy dictator. And, no, they didn't ask the UN for permission either. Heck, they didn't even give a 48 hour warning. At least it's consistent w/ their pattern in Africa.

But wait a minute! Chirac just announced that France might still join in the war. Ah, the principled French.

Posted by Miguel at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

48 hours

The countdown to war has begun. Only a miracle could prevent war now. But I don't think Hussein will leave his country and go into exile. In part, it's because even his Arab neighbors despise him and wouldn't welcome him w/ open arms. In two days, we'll know. I hope for a swift, absolute, and stunning victory.

Not because it would vindicate Bush. I don't care about that; I don't even especially like Bush or his overall domestic policy agenda.

But because I genuinely hope for a world free of tyrants, free of madman dictators who brutalize their people, and despots who pursue weapons of mass destruction for use against his enemies - foreign and domestic. I believe in democracy and the overall values of Western civilization - pluralism, the rights of free speech and personal choice, the equality of people regardless of race or gender or ethnicity, the separation of church and state, and an open society. These things are worth defending. They're worth fighting for.

Posted by Miguel at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

As always, James Lileks is brilliant in his wit.

Posted by Miguel at 04:26 AM | Permalink

This is why Hussein must be deposed. Please read the entire article. If you turn a blind eye to the absolute, horrible oppression of the Iraqi regime, you have no right to speak about peace in the name of humanity (you reserve, of course, the right to speak on behalf of "sovereignty"). Here's an excerpt (it comes from an Iraqi witness):

"There was a machine designed for shredding plastic. Men were dropped into it and we were again made to watch. Sometimes they went in head first and died quickly. Sometimes they went in feet first and died screaming. It was horrible. I saw 30 people die like this. Their remains would be placed in plastic bags and we were told they would be used as fish food . . . on one occasion, I saw Qusay [President Saddam Hussein's youngest son] personally supervise these murders."

Posted by Miguel at 01:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Today was the season's first moped ride. I got the Motron out, turned the pedals, and listened to it roar to life. Dan, Dave, Emily, and Chris Salmonson, and I buzzed the downtown streets before ending up back at the Fourth Coast. A glorious day.

Dan's shop opens soon. I can't wait to turn Lucia, my beautiful 1977 Bianchi-Snark Eagle Deluxe, over to his care. Ah, my beautiful bright blue streak.

Spring is coming! Ride! Ride! Ride!

Posted by Miguel at 08:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A (somewhat) modest proposal

I've written before that it might be time to pull out of the United Nations (here and here). I come to this conclusion w/ great doubts. I was, after all, raised to believe in the United Nations (I was active in Model UN for five years). But I'm also an instrumentalist - institutions and organizations must serve a purpose, they're not ends in themselves. While I believe in world peace and cooperations, there are other values I hold dear - individual rights, democracy, legitimacy, and rule of law. These must be balanced together.

The current Iraq crisis demonstrates some inherent problems w/ the UN - and especially the Security Council. But there's a more pressing matter here than just the failure of the the council to enforce a resolution or act collectively to diffuse the crisis. There's also a clash of values.

Posted by Miguel at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Irish eyes are smilin'

Happy Saint Paddy's Day! I've always loved this holiday; I can't quite explain why. Mainly, I love all ethnic festivals and relish the opportunity to remake myself for a day. I've no intrinsic nationality - and I refuse to be told I must. Today, I'm Irish, dammit!

Posted by Miguel at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Peace is still possible

I support a war w/ Iraq - if it comes to that. And yet, I still believe peace is possible. But only a serious proposal will avert war now, not mere pacifist rhetoric. Like most hawks, I'm not a warmonger. We can still avoid war - if that's what Chirac and the Security Council really want. But peace now demands that they propose a real alternative.

There's plenty of blame to go around. Bush might not have handled the crisis in the best way. Granted. But neither was Chirac helpful or constructive. And the lion's share of the blame, of course, falls squarely on Hussein himself. Let there be no doubt. But. At the point where we now find ourselves - and any proposal must come from that reality, not the "what ifs" of two months ago - how do we forge peace?

Posted by Miguel at 05:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Posted by Miguel at 03:48 PM | Permalink

Soy gaucho, che

Moped Army descended on Lafayette Tap Room last night to conquer a mechanical bull. $3 a ride. Giddy up! It was more fun than I thought it'd be. It's also a lot harder than it looks. I held on for 57 seconds on my first ride. Then the black bull tossed me over its horns, crashing into a heap. But man, oh, man it's as fun as all get up.

Close to midnight, the place started to "slut" up. We were, after all, near fraternity village. So we packed up and moved on down the line. No one wants to see cheap, unatractive girls in belly shirts. Please don't wear clothes that are clearly two sizes too small; it's not an attractive look.

Tonight's John Wagner's rock'n'roll 80s birthday party. The weekend's getting good already.

Posted by Miguel at 02:21 PM | Permalink

Two consuls speak

The French and German consuls in Chicago spoke today on campus. The topic of their talk was: "France, Germany, and the United States: Friends, Allies or Foes?" I took careful notes. I'll state right now that I wasn't impressed. Alexander Petri, the German consul, was eloquent, funny, and diplomatic. Dominique Dechert, the French consul, however, tended to ramble, avoided answering tricky questions, and did his share of arrogant posturing.

Petri's presentation was concise and eloquent. He started w/ a fairly accurate assessment of the situation: "Friends, yes. Allies, yes. Foes, no." He downplayed the transatlantic rift, pointing out our shared values. The problem, he argued, was a misunderstanding between our leaders. He did see some differences between America and Europe. These problems were always there - patched over during the Cold War, now resurfacing - as product of our different social, cultural evolution.

Still, Petri emphasized that Saddam must be disarmed and that he's a danger to international peace.

Dechert, on the other hand, rambled for a lengthy period of time - almost incomprehensibly. He argued that attacks on French policy are "of course, a game in the media." He framed the three-part question in this way:

Friends: Does the US still need Europe? Allies: Should the world be unilateral? Foes: Is the "clash of civilizations" inevitable?

The view that the US might no longer "need" Europe is wrong, Dechert argued. There were reasons for American involvement in Europe during the Cold War beyond the military alliance. We have shared values and should stick together.

"Does the United States need allies?" Dechert asked. "Or should we have a unilateral empire under one leader?" The world, he argued, should be guided by common rules and institutions. At this point, he began drifting off ("blah, blah, blah") into an accusation of American imperialism and unilateralism.

Then he addressed the question of the "clash of civilization" - which is odd, since Huntington's class of civilization thesis has little to do w/ US-European relations. Here, Dechert ignored the issue of whether the US and France were "foes" and instead spoke about preventing a West v. Islam "clash." [But isn't that clash already underway?]

In the end, Dechert outlined France's official position on Iraq and why they voted for S.C. 1441: "We cannot envision Iraq disarmed and still a dictatorial regime." In short, France also wants Iraqi regime change and disarmament [silence on how they propose doing that].

And then Dechert took a step into the abyss. "The Middle East is our backyard in Europe," he emphatically stated. "Africa and the Middle East is our Mexico." [What?! This sounds like a justification of neo-colonialism and carving out a French sphere of influence.]

In the end, he concluded w/ the typical statement: France will refrain from military action until it's absolutely necessary, as a last resort. [OK, but when are we down to the "last resort"?]

Then came the question and answer period:

Posted by Miguel at 06:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)

Daily Digest

The Palestinian Arab Liberation Front (PALF) boasts its Iraqi support. Hussein donates $25,000 to families of suicide bombers - $35 million in two years. So, Iraq has no ties to terrorism? Oh, and Iraq might be about to launch scud missiles at Israel.

Posted by Miguel at 11:15 PM | Permalink

The French and German consuls in Chicago will be on campus tomorrow (Friday 1-3pm) to give a presentation: "France, Germany, and the United States: Friends, Allies or Foes?" The panel discussion is at 1010 Fetzer Center.

I'll be there w/ my digital camera and Moleskine notebook. Expect a comprehensive report.

Posted by Miguel at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Has it come to this?

I recognize that there are good reasons to not go to war in Iraq. Still. Try as I might, I can't understand the reluctance of Security Council members to support the American position on Iraq. After all, the council voted unanimously in favor of S.C. 1441. That resolution, like the seventeen previous, demanded Iraq disarm or face "serious consequences."

I readily agree that war should be the last recourse, after all diplomatic efforts have failed. But. At some point, that line is crossed. At some point, the last diplomatic recourse has failed and war — as Clausewitz argued — becomes the "realization of politics by other means." Each of the eighteen resolutions detailed exactly what steps Iraq needed to meet. No one — not even the French — argue that Hussein is not in material breech.

Twelve years of failed diplomacy. The world decries a lopsided embargo that only hurts Iraqi civilians and doesn't hinder the cause of their suffering — Hussein. Twelve years. And a resolution — unanimously passed — gives Iraq one last, final chance to comply.

At what point do you admit diplomatic failure? At what point do you accept that, yes, perhaps it has come to this: war.

Posted by Miguel at 09:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Daily Digest

Blogger Nick Denton suggests a great way to punish France: support democratic oppositions to French-backed African dictators (like Mugabe).

Posted by Miguel at 11:26 PM | Permalink

Oops, server troubles

My remote server went down yersterday - even their second backup system failed. I lost most of my weblog from 28 February to 11 March. It totally sucks.
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Update: Simon's a lifesaver. I can rebuild everything to about 10 March, which means I only lost a day or so of posts. I'll also rebuild as many comments as I can. But many are lost forever. Of course, my permalinks are screwed up.

Posted by Miguel at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Half a world away

Ali called this afternoon from San Francisco. It's been a while since we talked on the phone. She's the first ex-girlfriend I've actually been friends w/ afterwards - and I'm really happy about that.

And definitely one of the best relationships I've ever been in. Ironic, since we did have our ups and downs.

She just returned from a trip to Santa Cruz (California) and is now on her way to Mexico. I've always admired her independent, traveling spirit. And soon she'll be back on a moped. Too bad it's German, not Italian.

Posted by Miguel at 09:23 PM | Permalink

Daily Digest

Rebuilt from yesterday

I couldn't ignore Lee Harris' lengthy post describing the current crisis as a Hegelian "world-historical" turning point - one that breaks with an earlier epoch and opens a new one. A must read.

Spain criticizes France's economic motives for balking and Portugal doesn't consider an alliance w/ France is worth much:

"If we were attacked, is that what they would offer to defend us? How curious is this: in Bosnia, when we were called to send soldiers urgently to that region, the U.S. had C-17 and C-130 planes, and France leased ferry boats, which during the summer are employed in tourist services to Corsica.

Josh Marshal considers the costs of backing down on Iraq:

I don't say these are in themselves justifications for war. But it is not enough simply to say you oppose war. That statement brings with it a responsibility to say what the proper policy is or would be. If you think Saddam is contained now then it's incumbent on you to say how you imagine perpetuating that state of affairs into the future. And what the costs will be to your policy.

John Stremlau's column in Johannesburg's Business Day argues that the Security Council must enforce its own mandates. Otherwise, it's as irrelevant as the League of Nations:

Unanimous passage on November 8 of Security Council Resolution 1441 declaring Iraq in "material breach" of prior UN disarmament requirements is unambiguous. So was the call for immediate, full and unconditional compliance, with the threat of "serious consequences" should Iraq fail to meet this "final" demand.

Yves Roucaute comes to our defense (original in Le Monde).

In truth, it is not reason but passion that is guiding our pacifists. And the hateful ones, who ally themselves with the far Left, the far Right and archaic nationalist elements, deny this ad absurdum.

Posted by Miguel at 09:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lessons from Kosovo

The precedent for US-led "unilateral" intervention was set by Clinton in 1999 when NATO intervened militarily to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Kosovo. It followed on the heels of UN inaction in Rwanda and Bosnia - both w/ catastrophic results. A series of US-led NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia, then ground forces to secure Kosovo, and only then was the situation handed over to the United Nations.

Posted by Miguel at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I spent most of the day helping Dan paint his new moped shop. It's exhausting work. Cold, rainy March afternoons don't help much.

Posted by Miguel at 07:25 PM | Permalink

A world without the UN?

What would a world w/o the United Nations look like? Rumors suggest that the US might walk out of the UN - permanently even - if the Security Council fails to act on Iraq. I've posted on this topic before here. While some take the UN for granted, it's worthwhile to at least consider the possibility of it not existing. Would the world be much worse off?

Current technologies make it possible for world leaders to communicate almost instantly. Heads of state and foreign ministers routinely travel and speak to their counterparts face to face. Very little real diplomacy actually happens at the UN, at least between major powers. I'm sure this trend would continue.

Even w/o the UN, the US would no doubt still consult major players on any decision - as it does now. That means Russia and China for sure. Probably also Japan and the EU. But also local powers. Before acting in Afghanistan, the US consulted Pakistan, India, and Iran. The UN wouldn't involved itself in Kosovo, despite urgent requests from the US. Instead, the US intervened "unilaterally" after consulting w/ its NATO allies, Russia, and even Albania.

But would the end of the UN make the world harsher? I don't think so. Not in terms of democracy, at least. After all, the UN doesn't care whether a government is ruled by an elected representative body or a padisha emperor. Sovereignty is sovereignty. That's why no one bats an eye when Libya heads the UN Human Rights Commission.

Posted by Miguel at 07:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

$3 chickens

Woke up early today to meet my parents and my brother Sam for breakfast at Klein's Bagels. They were on their way to Chicago to visit Novalí. I was glad to see my mom looking chipper, despite eating a cupful of pills for breakfast.

As always, we talked about everything, laughing most of the time. Sam and I talked computers, drooling over the new Apple product line. My parents are two kids, constantly interrupting each other and laughing at their own stories. Every anecdote comes complete w/ voice impersonations, frantic gestures, and punctuated by laughter. In short, a good time.

According to Mom, I need to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding (my parents through it was funny) and For Love or Country (the story of a Cuban trumpeter who defected to play w/ Dizzy Gillespie). My parents also walked out on Gods and Generals - which was too religious even for their taste (they walked out on it, too!). My mom's been watching more movies lately, which is amusing, since she used to hardly know anything about pop culture.

Dad's a big movie buff and usually goes to the movies alone (once all his sons left home). My mom's taste in entertainment has traditionally been, well, um, plain (she really likes A West Side Story). But she's gotten much more hip lately - which just goes to show that drugs aren't all that bad. Her lack of attention to pop culture, however, does have its problems. I call attention to the Mel Gibson episode. My dad's been a huge Mel Gibson fan since Mad Max (he likes gritty action movies). A while back, Dad casually mentioned that he was going to see the new Mel Gibson movie. That perked Mom's attention; she was familiar w/ the just-released What Women Want. It's important to point out at this time that my mom does not like action movies, is very squeamish, and disapproves of "spicy" language. Of course, Dad instantly whisked her away to the movie theater to see Payback. They recently reconciled w/ Signs.

And so, the conversation quickly flowed from tangent to tangent. Until. Mom got suddenly excited about the recent National Geographic issue. My parents couldn't contain themselves and had to take turns telling Sam and I about it. Ready? There's a giant zoo, in China, for safari expeditions. The kind where you drive through and see zebras and lions and giraffes. In China. You can buy chickens for $3. And toss them to the lions from your car window.

"You just roll your window down and toss it to the lions!" my dad's wonderstruck as he speaks. "You just roll down your car window right there!" He makes the universal hand gesture for rolling down a car window.

"Oh!" Mom frantically interrupts. "And lambs. You can toss them lambs, too. Right out your window!"

"They cost $37, though." Dad's a little disappointed.

"But you see the lions right out your window!" And my mom just turns into all smiles imagining what that must be like.

"It's in China," my dad explains.

Oh, yeah. They definitely should go.

Posted by Miguel at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Pax Americana?

The war punditry went off the charts after Bush's speech last night. Here's the freshest rumor: The US might walk out of the UN. Britain's Telegraph carried a single paragraph alluding to this in a story about the war on terrorism's "big picture" (which includes Iran). Here's an excerpt:

Well-connected advisers tell me that if, as now seems likely, the UN refuses to back action against terror, Mr Bush will announce a "temporary" suspension of America's membership, to be accompanied by an offer: if the UN gets its act together and carries out long-overdue reforms, America (and its money) will return. But if there is no reform, the temporary withdrawal will, de facto, become permanent.

I'm not sure how credible those rumors are. But. If the US leaves the UN - even if only for a prolonged period of time - the UN will essentially cease to exist. Period. And not just because we pay one quarter of the UN budget. At that point, the US would exercise its raison d`État w/ impunity as the lone superpower. The long-hailed Pax America will have officially begun in earnest.

Posted by Miguel at 08:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Lansing's NOISE magazine profiled Swarm and Destroy, the Moped Army documentary. Here's the full article. Check it out.

Posted by Miguel at 03:43 PM | Permalink

Let's keep bluffing

Britain's Tony Blair is proposing a compromise resolution to the Security Council. Hoping to gather support from a reluctant France, Russia, and China (all veto powers), the plan gives Iraq a firm deadline to disarm — two weeks. The plan is both unnecessary and potentially disastrous.

As others have suggested (Matt Welch's original National Post column is no longer online), I think Dubya's bluffing. If you look at the record, I think that's as good an assessment as any. The White House has consistently refused to set a deadline for Iraqi compliance; war plans get pushed back from January, to mid February, to early March, and now to April. We're ready to go any moment now. Seriously, we mean it. But the hammer never falls — we just keep gathering more troops, tanks, aircraft, ships.

And after each new round of Texan cowboy bravura, Hussein makes another concession. Suddenly, Iraq agrees to destroy its Al Samoud 2 missiles. Even though days previously Hussein himself denied their existence to a dumbfounded world. Hans Blix gets to announce to the UN that Iraq is cooperating just a bit more (but never quite enough). The world gives an anxious sigh of relief.

Posted by Miguel at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I had dinner w/ my friend Moataz last night. We drove out to Shawarma King, which Moataz swore was better than Aladdin Palace. He was right. Oh, and they're open to 4am (Wed-Sat).

We mostly just caught up on life in general. He's looking for work and recently interviewed for a tenure track position at Central Michigan - he's a Middle Eastern specialist. But his wife's also applying to PhD programs in economics, and that's a major consideration. His children are doing well, happy and independent as always (Moataz can't bring himself to be a disciplinarian since his children are "sovereign entities").

We talked politics, of course. We don't agree on everything - which is fine - but agree Iran's not so bad (certainly not in the axis of evil), Hussein's a brutal tyrant, and we both hope he's removed w/ as few civilian deaths as possible.

Later, Dr. Hauptmann (she's on both our dissertation committees) joined us. Moataz was entertained to no end that she's been taking dance classes at Wellspring. All in all, it was a tremendously pleasant evening.

I went home and watched Amélie (one of the best movies ever) w/ Cat on my brand new DVD player. And I woke up before noon, which is a major accomplishment.

Posted by Miguel at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ash Wednesday

I went to Ash Wednesday mass this afternoon w/ a bit of trepidation, since I've not been to church in some time. My nervousness increased when Marian asked me to help distribute the ashes. I flipped through The Little Black Book in my seat, thinking.

Religion, for me, is more an intellectual exercise, rather than a spiritual one. I was attracted to Catholicism (I converted from Protestantism) more by its rationally consistent theology and its political philosophy. But Protestant individualism is still strongly ingrained in me. Everyone's religious experience and relation to the universe (or "the divine") is unique. Which is why there are so many religions. I'm not arrogant enough to believe I have religion - let alone my religion figured out. And perhaps that's all I can offer in defense of my faith - a desire to be honest and true to my own conscience. I hope that's enough.

In the final analysis, I go to mass because I like the people. They're some of the most loving and honest people I've ever met. They do good things for the community - both locally and worldwide. And it's good to be reminded about these things.

Posted by Miguel at 10:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Give the Devil his due

Today is Ash Wednesday. I'm going to the 5:30pm mass at St. Tom's (my parish). I'll admit that I've not been to mass very regularly this winter. I could blame the weather (it is hard to make that trek in the bitter cold). But it's mostly been my own laziness and lack of care. I guess that's what Lent is for.

Posted by Miguel at 09:46 AM | Permalink

There's an article about The Space closing in the Western Herald.

Posted by Miguel at 11:48 PM | Permalink

Sit back and relax

The latest episode of The Shield was pretty good, though not quite as "intense" as previous episodes. There's a reason for that; it was Day One - a prequel episode of our motley team's first day in action. Dutch starts out a chump, a wannabe superstar detective. Aceveda knows he's swimming in a pool of sharks and is very leery of Vic. But Vic and his team are, well, they're not tough.

The first shot we have of Vic and Shane, they're wearing nice blue detective suits. Mackey in a suit and tie? Begging to be allowed to lead a strike team? Kissing his wife? But he's pushed to get results. Fast. So, in the end, he decides to cut some corners. Just this once. And it was easy, too easy.

The best part about watching The Shield tonight? Hosting it at my own apartment w/ my brand new 24" TV. Oh, and watching Mackey drag a perp through a barbed wire fence.

Posted by Miguel at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Goodbye, gentle sir

Dr. William A. Ritchie died last Friday night. He was one of my favorite people in the political science faculty; the department was never the same after his retirement. Now it never will be.

I remember first meeting Dr. Ritchie in a classroom. He was several minutes late and we never got a syllabus. But he was brilliant. He could speak extemporaneously about the subtleties of J. S. Mill or Rousseau or Marx. He personified the Anglophile gentleman scholar in every way. Always polite, w/ a dry piercing wit, a vocabulary beyond measure, wrapped in an English-cut blazer.

He introduced me to Robert Dahl and steered me towards my research interest - modern democratic theory. And yet he was intellectually honest. Though we both subscribed to a minimalist definition of democracy, he kept me reconsidering other angles.

He'll surely be missed.

Posted by Miguel at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

They make great ice cream

A reader pointed me to a Washington Post article I missed. It seems independent workers' cooperatives are saving Argentine businesses. As you (hopefully) know, Argentina's economy collapsed months ago. Some workers refused to give up after their employers went bankrupt. In the process, some businesses have improved under worker management. Here's an excerpt:

Posted by Miguel at 11:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Has the war already started? And has Iran joined in? And North Korea?

Posted by Miguel at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Because it's Saturday

Freelance journalist Gerald Posner argues that many anti-war protesters may come to regret their current position, as he did. Here's an excerpt:

Posted by Miguel at 03:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Until forever

I hate being sick. The simple flu turns me into such a wuss. I slept in until about 3pm, w/ a burning throat and sore everything. I dragged myself — after much meowing — out of bed earlier to feed Annie and Sophie. But then I crawled right back. It's 6:30pm and I'm still in my pajamas. I'm really glad I have a TV and computer in my bedroom.

Sickness makes me über lazy. I still have laundry and dishes to do. I've not eaten yet, and I'm almost hungry enough to drag myself away to eat something. Chicken noodle soup, perhaps? After Simpsons, I'm crawling back into bed until forever. Or Monday morning. Whichever comes first.

Posted by Miguel at 06:33 PM | Permalink

O'Keefe's merry pranksters

Blogger Tim Blair comments on Iraq's famous volunteer "human shields". Most are leaving and those remaining are disappointed - primarily because the Iraqi government put them at "strategic" (not "civilian") sites:

Posted by Miguel at 03:59 PM | Permalink

The last rock'n'roll show

The last show at The Space was packed. Of course, Makoto shows are amazing. This was no exception.

I missed the first band, Säh (essentially Trocar minus Miles). But I got there in time for Charlevoix, which I've always liked. They rocked harder and tighter than ever. All the bands did; they played their hearts out and kept applauding Space volunteers for their efforts. They were followed by Casket Lottery and Small Brown Bike. Casket Lottery really impressed me; Small Brown Bike was explosively amazing - as always. What a great show.

It was great to see so many people there - even the melée of high schoolers. It made me realize how much The Space will be missed. Where will these kids go for music? Or just to hang out? The Space gave them a safe, alcohol- and drug-free environment. Now it's gone.

And the rest of us now also have to wonder where we'll see great bands again. Basement shows just aren't the same. And there really aren't any venues that bring amazing bands regularly - maybe the WIDR "new music" nights at Club Soda will take over. Maybe. The Space is where I met Manplanet, Sixty Stories, Aina, Carissa's Weird, 90 Day Men, Mile Marker, Mates of State, Kinski, Check Engine, Denali, Radio 4, and so many others.

Most of the volunteers where there. And I suddenly realized that people I've gotten used to seeing on a regular basis - Gillian, Chris More, Alyson, Brian Frain, Anders, and others - won't be around much anymore. I underestimated the sense of community that was there. I'm sure something new will come up - something has to - but it'll take time.

Until then, goodbye Space. I'll miss you.

Posted by Miguel at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

A champion again

My mom just emailed me. Some good and bad news.

Good news first: My dad won his racquetball tournament. He's extremely proud, and extremely sore (he's been using lots and lots of Bengay). Dad's played racquetball for as long as I can remember - though in Bolivia he played mostly fronton (a Basque game more like squash than racquetball).

It was my dad who taught me to play raqueta on long, late nights in Santa Cruz. I started playing in the traditional long fronton court (there's no back wall) and with the heavy ball. The return must also hit above a specific line (one meter up) - which makes the game very difficult. I made it my goal to someday beat my father, throw my racket in the air with a two fisted howl in triumph.

That day finally came, years ago. We sealed ourselves inside a comparatively tiny glass-walled racquetball court. The bounce of that light blue ball echoed as I prepared for that first serve. "This is it," I thought. "I'm young, sprite. He's old, slow." I was so wrong. I needed my speed and agility in that small court, chasing each blue blur as the echoes boomed and the glass walls shook. Dad was slower, more graceful, and the years of experience meant each return, each shot was deadly accurate.

I knew my father wouldn't let me win. He never let me win at anything. I had to earn it. My dad was old, but he was a contender. He'd been captain of his champion team in Bolivia. He had game. I threw my body - literally - into every serve, every return. Shoulder crashing against the wall to hit those tight shots my dad loves so much. Knees burning from sliding, naked, across the hard floor. And all the while, my chest bursting for air.

I won that game. Barely. There was no victory howl. I was too tired. I gazed at my father from under my sweat-soaked hair, gasping for breath. He, too, was tired. And incredulous. Our eyes met for a moment, and then he spoke: "You played well."

Well, now my dad's a champion again - at 54. I'm sure he'll want a rematch soon. I hear he has a new racket. And I've not played in over a year.

The bad news: My parents' untrusty computer fried, literally. My mom heard a noise and then smelled something burning. After years of limping through viruses, bad hard drive configurations, a Windows operating system, it finally died a typical wintel death. I've been asking them to buy an Apple for a while, and I almost have my dad convinced.

Posted by Miguel at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two dinners, two nights

I'm having dinner w/ Cat in an hour; then we're off to the show at The Space. She's going to cook and I'm looking forward to it (the last few times I've cooked). Last night we went out for a late dinner at District 211. I'd never been there before, but heard good things. The food was quite good and well presented (though nothing beats Cosmo's). The Shawn "Thunder" Wallace jazz ensemble was playing (Cat manages his PR). I'm not really into jazz, but it was a fun time nevertheless.

Later, we watched a very outdated Batman Forever. The movie made me realize a few things: the early 90s displayed very poor use of color (i.e. neon), the science of fonts (as in opening credits) was in its infancy, cheesy acting was still the norm, and CGI animation still had a long, long way to go. That said, it was a fun movie to watch, especially since Val Kilmer's portrayal of Batman was the worst ever. Same for all the villains. Only Kim Basinger's Dr. Chase Meridian was even slightly believable as a real human being.

I thank J Edmund most of all for teaching me about comics. Thanks to him I know how poorly this movie represented the Batman franchise (Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns is still my favorite comic ever).

OK, I'm off to shower before my evening out. But before I go - I now have a LiveJournal weblog as well (thanks to Bay Jo). I'll still be posting here; but now I don't have to post as "anonymous" to my friends' LJ blogs.

Posted by Miguel at 06:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Work, then play

I'm off to help Dan work on his new moped shop, 1977 Mopeds. We're tearing out the old carpet and other assorted work. Should be fun.

Also, tonight there's a show at The Space ($6, doors at 8pm). Charlevoix and Small Brown Bike are playing - along w/ Casket Lottery (whom I know nothing about). Should be a good show. The Space is open from noon today, so drop by and pay your respects. And if you've never been there before: it has the best coffee in town, I highly recommend the Organic Ethiopian.

The Space will soon be gone, here's what's left of its music calendar.

Posted by Miguel at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Emperor Palpatine, reclining

Friday's Bleat discusses - among other things - why few call Hussein "evil":

[M]any people are hesitant to put Saddam in Pandemonium's echelon - why? Possibly because he has the characteristic of a comic figure, a cliché, a ridiculous man whose most visible crimes seem to be sins against our notions of good taste. He builds gilded gaudy palaces; he wears silly hats; he fires rifles in the air; he does the obligatory dictator-swimming-in-cold-river bit to prove his virility. He looks almost goofy when he smiles. His rhetoric is larded with mythic grandiosity that amuses the jaded Western ear. Simon from "American Idol" would cut him to shreds: "first, lose the moustache; we're not shooting a porno movie and it's not 1979. Second, I don't believe your gestures. I believe you believe them, but that hardly counts. I don't hear passion. I don't hear hate. I sense hate, but I don't feel hate."

Perhaps this is why so many oppose his ouster by military means - why, it's like bombing a McDonald's to get the Hamburglar.

Posted by Miguel at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)