Playing into my '08 predictions: Edwards a threat

Hillary's camp came out today: They admitted their fear of John Edwards.

Washington Post reports that Edward's and Clinton having been mincing words in Iowa as the caucus nears, but Clinton is not making the best case for herself. In a discussion about Edwards signature issue of poverty, Clinton began citing the success of her husband's administration in the are of economics to bolster her rep.

"People talk about poverty in this campaign," Clinton said during a crowded event [in Independence, Iowa], noting her husband's ... was an era of great progress on the issue. "Well, we lifted more people out of poverty during the 1990s than at any time in our history. We had policies that actually helped to create 22.7 million new jobs..."

Let's pick this apart for a second.

Edwards claims that no one is talking poverty, so instead of citing her own record, Hillary jumps on the I-Used-To-Run-The-White-House train. Then, she claims that more people were "lifted out of poverty" than "any other time in our history." Huh?

 

Can you say Reconstruction Era? Can you say New Deal? 

Emerging from the Great Depression the US did a 180 degree economic turn-around, and I'm sorry Hil, but you can't match the level of disparity that was reached in those days. Roosevelt raised GDP 128 percent in 1944 when the US joined World War II. In the '30s, unemployment fell 20 percent due to New Deal policies. Large families who were in poverty in 1930 rose to the top of the middle-class bracket because they had four or five workers in the labor force, all of whom were working overtime by the beginning of World War II. So, Hil, take a look at your history... you may have outnumbered the New Deal, but you - oh, I mean, your husband certainly didn't out percentage the era.

And what's with taking credit for Bill's record anyway? This is exactly what is going to kill Hillary come DNC time. She has no record of her own to call upon. Yes, she has international notoriety. Yes, she can pull on her husband for pointers. Yes, she has had White House experience. But she was the First Lady, not a politician or a bureaucrat.  

In the end, when all polls have been taken and all the primaries are down, when the chips are laid down and nomination time rolls around, the Democrats will not nominate Hillary for one simple reason: she's not electable. No more than Barack Obama or me.

The DNC will see the nomination of John Edwards for Democratic Presidential Candidate. He is the only candidate with enough national name recognition, charm, whiteness, Protestant-ness, maleness and money to get the job done in November. 

Following his nomination (and this is just a hunch) Hillary's feelings will be really hurt and 

Barack's war chest will seem a waste, so they will run independent - separately of course - massacring the Democratic vote by splintering it into three, and another Republican will become president. God willing it will not be another neo-con, but maybe someone with a little more heart and a little less passion for oil money. 

But don't practice santeria; I ain't got no crystal ball; and if I had a million dollars, well, I wouldn't bet on this outcome. It's just a hunch. 

Nominee for King of England: JoePa

Happy 81st to the King of Happy Valley, Joe Paterno, and to  the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II.

Today, both monarchs reached a landmark - Queen Elizabeth is officially the oldest ruler in the history of England, and JoePa became the first Pennsylvania native to ever be linked directly with her for any significant historical reason. So, to commemorate this day, we are launching a new Campaign in 2008: JoePa for King of England.

It may not be an elected position, but Joe would certainly make it an interesting one.

(oh, and as a side note, while we are on birthday's, Samuel L. Jackson turned 52 today, but I don't think he's the Queen's type is you know what I mean.) 

2007 Congressional session a bust

Washington Post ran the following as "Hill Highlights" for 2007:

Raising the minimum wage to $5.85 an hour.

Increasing fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles.

Overhauling ethics and lobbying rules.

Instituting most homeland security recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Tightening mental-health background checks for gun buyers.

I can't believe they call this progress.

• Unless you are 16 years old, work 65 hours per week or you live in shack in Centreville, Ky. $5.85 is nowhere near a living wage. 
  

• The fuel efficiency laws will not be entirely in effect for another 15 years. 
  

• There are no ethics in American politics, just look at the scandal record of the past - think Alan Mollohan, former House ethics committee chairman, who stepped down under the heat of an investigation into realty investments. He was later subject to an investigation into earmarks appropriated to a nonprofit run by one of his former aides, and cited for using public money to pay $220,000 to a Washington law firm to clear the whole thing up. Just a small example of business as usual in Washington - Ethics - Gawfah!
  

• Most Homeland Security recommendations of the 9/11 Commission... and we are giving these guys accolades? For what? They're speedy reaction to a nation crisis that occurred six years ago? Or, wait, no... It must be their ability to steal our civil liberties without anyone taking notice. Yea Free Press!!

• Tightening mental health checks for gun buyers. Now that is an important one. Just ask Michele Cossey, 46, of Plymouth Township, Pa. She bought a weapons stash for her 16 year-old son who then proceeded to plan a Columbine-style attack on a local high school. Fortunately he was found out and convicted prior to launching his plan, but I bet he sure is proud that his mom was able to pass the mental health checks. And, can you say "Black market?"
  

Let's get honest. Congress sucks, and they were especially bad in 2007.

Calif. emissions law slapped down

The chief of the Environmental Protection Agency denied the state of California's petition to enact stricter emissions regulations within its boarders today. The reason: The EPA wants to see a unilateral federal program rather than a "piecemeal" state-by-state regulation scale.

Sure, this will make things easier to regulate from a national level. Sure, it will make it easier for automakers to comply. But in reality, it is only stalling the process.

Washington Post reports: The decision set in motion a legal battle that EPA's lawyers expect to lose and demonstrated the Bush administration's determination to oppose any mandatory measures specifically targeted at curbing global warming pollution. A total of 18 states, representing 45 percent of the nation's auto market, have either adopted or pledged to implement California's proposed tailpipe emissions rules, which seek to cut vehicles' greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent between 2009 and 2016.

In a telephone news conference last night, [EPA Administrator Stephen L.] Johnson said he thinks that the higher fuel-economy standards and increased renewable-fuel requirements in the energy bill President Bush signed into law yesterday will do more to address global warming than imposing tailpipe rules in individual states.

"The Bush administration is moving forward with a clear national solution, not a confusing patchwork of state rules, to reduce America's climate footprint from vehicles," Johnson said. "President Bush and Congress have set the bar high, and, when fully implemented, our federal fuel-economy standard will achieve significant benefits by applying to all 50 states."

Congress passed an emissions regulation Tuesday aimed at reducing gasoline consumption (read about it... it's a good article), but California's rules would target total greenhouse gas emissions, including auto air conditioning units and the so-called "carbon-footprint" of cars.

California standards are seeking a miles-per-gallon average of 33.8 by 2016 in every vehicle operating within the state. The federal energy law is slightly more lax, requiring an average fuel economy of 35 mpg by 2020.

You can anticipate a battle like many California laws that have come before (cough, cough: legal marijuana) over states rights.

Refugees in limbo

Syria doesn't want them. Iraq is not safe for them. The US will not provide for them. The global community is uneducated about their situation. So where do the millions of "middle class' and impoverished Iraqi refugees turn? Less than a month ago, the government announced a plan to run free buses from Damascus to Baghdad in hopes of luring citizens back home and establishing an image of stability, but the plan was halted after only two runs. Security issues were cited as cause.

As for those who have made the return, their outlook is bleak. They return with no money, no jobs, no homes and a lingering question: "What will I do now?"

New York Times ran a piece on Maha Hashim, the widow of an Iraqi police officer, which encapsulated the problem. Read it here.

It is still my hope to pursue more stories exactly like this one in Syria. For more information on my plan, email me.

Media in media spotlight

Congress seeks end to secrecy

WASHINGTON (AP) Tuesday — Congress struck back at the Bush administration's trend toward secrecy since the 2001 terrorist attacks, passing legislation to toughen the Freedom of Information Act and increasing penalties on agencies that don't comply. ... It would be the first makeover of the FOIA in a decade, among other things bringing nonproprietary information held by government contractors under the law. The legislation also is aimed at reversing an order by former Attorney General John Ashcroft in the wake of the attacks, in which he instructed agencies to lean against releasing information when there was uncertainty about how doing so would affect national security.  

Monopoly regulations eased
Rupert Murdoch led the charge to convince the Federal Communications Commission to ease restrictions on media owners which had previously prohibited industry-moguls from owning multiple media companies on multiple media platforms in one market.

In english: Corporations can now own print, television and radio broadcasting outlets in the same American cities.

Yahoo! reported Tuesday:
There was never any doubt that FCC chair Kevin Martin, a Bush-Cheney administration appointee and acolyte, would lead the two other Republican members of the commission to a 3-2 endorsement of a move to begin dismantling the historic "newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership" ban which has long served as the only barrier to the buying by one powerful individual or corporation of newspapers, television and radio stations and other media outlets in a community.

What does this mean for the future of the media? Look for a lot more advertising driven news. Period.

Crying 'Dyke'
CBS 3's soon-to-be-former newsanchor Alycia Lane was arrested in NYC last weekend and apparently got hostile with the officer attempting to take her into custody. She allegedly assaulted the officer, punching her and calling her a "fucking dyke." Great choice of words Alycia.

The gay community in Philly has had a notably silent reaction. Though a few civil rights groups spoke out against the use of the word, most people in "the life" shrugged and said, "We use that word all the time." My favorite lesbian comicstrip Dykes To Watch Out For is a prime example.

Today, PhillyBurbs blog started calling for Lane to do a spread in Playboy. But considering a significant portion of Playboy subscribers are lesbians, somehow I find the idea, well, unlikely at best.

Chicago Trib purchase

Dec. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire investor Sam Zell completed the $8.2 billion buyout of Tribune Co., ending the newspaper publisher's 24 years as a publicly traded company. ...

"The whole newspaper industry has realized that the world is changing around them,'' said James Goss, an analyst with Barrington Research in Chicago. `It's clear that the changes are more dramatic than anybody was really envisioning and the business model revamp is going to be much greater than people were thinking.''

Look for a heck of a lot more uniformity across the board, folks. We are consolidating the industry... rapidly.

And to think I would actually consider joining the military for 'structure'

Which Pixar Character Are You?
	You are Nemo. Your are the rebel in the group. You do things differently, not because you think they should be done that way, but because your Mommy told you not to do such "bad" things. This is cool if you ask us, and we are pretty sure your friends agree.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

"Marry sexy arab women," ad says

This was too good to not share.

Perusing the volumous pages of dailies, the only thing I found worth sharing was an ad I saw on the lower rail of a European travel site:

Marry Sexy Arab Women
Meet Beautiful arab girls. Chat,
dating, marriage. Join free now
www.Arabs4Dating.com

Umm. Gross and a little bit amusing until it settles in just what exactly is being implied here.

She was too cute to be in jail.

The Washington Post reports:

Gillian Gibbons, 54, a British teacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her 7-year-old students to name a teddy bear Muhammad as part of a class project, was released Tuesday. She is seen here (right) embracing her son John after arriving at London's Heathrow airport. (Photo: Steve Parsons/ AP)

Click here to see more photos of the freed woman who reminds me of my kindergarten grade teacher.

Why Iran NEEDS nuclear energy, not weapons.

Iran holds the second largest crude oil reserve in the world after Saudi Arabia. It has the second largest gas reserve after Russia. It is geographically positioned ideally for export and has a sufficient infrastructure of pipelines, so this leaves two questions:
1. Why does Iran only supply 5 percent of the world's oil?
and
2. Why does Iran need nuclear energy?

The answers are actually much clearer than the American people like to see or the American government likes to admit.

Dirty deals for a cleaner energy source
Believe it or not, it was the US that actually sponsored the early atomic proliferation program in Iran. After the CIA-supported coup of 1953, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was brought to power and the US deemed the Iranian regime sufficiently friendly to possess nuclear technology. From a Cold War mindset, this was practical because it gave the US a nuclear-powered ally on the doorstep of the USSR and conveniently sitting atop the world's second-largest oil supply in the heart of the Middle East. Through the '60s, the Shah constructed a plan to rollout a nuclear program and, with the aid of the US, 23 nuclear facilities. He was emboldened by a firm belief that some day in the near future, the world's oil supply would be depleted and the need for energy would persist. Nuclear energy, in the Shah's mind, was the answer.

IN 1976, President Gerald Ford (with Dick Cheney as White House Chief of Staff and Donald Rumsfeld as Sec. of Defense) made an offer to the Shah to buy a US-built plutonium reprocessing facility - a nuclear reactor. The goal on both sides was to preserve the natural well beneath Iran, guaranteeing a long-term oil supply for the future, but the deal was put off by the 1979 Revolution.

Following the revolution, Iran attempted to restart its nuclear program with the same intentions as before: a need to prepare for the future. But the international community reneged on agreements signed prior to the revolution neither delivering fuels that were promised to Iran or aiding in the construction of new facilities, nor returning the billions of dollars that had been paid by Iran for the aid. This led to the tension between Iran and the West that we are still dealing with today and the placement of sanctions over Iran by the US.

US Sanctions
Now imagine for a minute that you are Iran and the West is, say, a case of Coca-Cola. Now every time you tried to deal with this case of Coke through the '80s, the cans were either empty or blew up in your face. What would you do? Switch to Pepsi maybe?

Well, that's what Iran did. Since the capitalists screwed Iran over, they turned to the Communists and began making deals with Russia and China. The US didn't like this very much, and when Iran purchased a nuclear conversion plant - much like the one they were promised by Cheney and Company twenty years before- the US (like an Amy Winehouse song) said, "No, no, no." Iran has been under official sanctions by the US for nearly two decades, but following this event, the US tightened its grip approved secondary sanctions over any country that does business with Iran. That was 1996. Since then there has been no (recorded) foreign investment into Iran - especially not by American firms.

Refineries, subsidies and a need to import energy.
No one is doing official business with Iran, but there are plenty of black market sales. Petrol is highly subsidized by Iran, which means easy access at low prices - the A-B-C of that means high consumption and a huge smuggling problem into boarding countries. And because Iran not seen a lot of capital for industry development, there aren't many refineries in the country. So lacking the ability to convert crude into a usable energy source coupled with an enormous consumption level, although Iran is one of the world's largest oil producers, it still has to import petrol.

Pipeline projects and international pressures.
Iran actually has an enormous pipeline network and because of its massive production, it would be a contender for more pipeline projects, but sanctions have prevented investment in this area as well. To add insult to injury, the US has consistently negotiated to have pipelines circumvent Iran. They are even pressuring India to move their big project through America's favorite Pakistan.

You decide
Sure Iran has lots of energy sources. Yes, a massive quantity of their primary natural resource is being wasted through corruption and smuggling. They need to regulate their borders and find ways to secure their oil. And there is little doubt that the Iranian government is hoarding an incredibly valuable international asset. But are they wrong for doing it? Really? With all of the talk about global warming and all of the concern globally about renewable energy sources, the Shah of Iran was actually ahead of in foreseeing the day that the wells run dry.

To date, there is no evidence that Iran has weaponized nuclear technology. Nor is there evidence that it is seeking to manufacture nuclear weapons. So ask yourself this, considering the magnifying glass under which the country is operating, doesn't it make sense that the people of Iran would trade oil that they can't refine for weapons rather then spend years and billions of dollars trying to figure out how to manufacture them?

Iran war rhetoric marches on.

Today, President Bush responded to an intelligence report released Monday that  

Still, Bush has maintained that Iran is still a threat and that they are operating a covert program to develop a nuclear arsenal. He says that this report is a sign that the international community needs to ramp up its efforts unearth such a program and that the responsibility lies at the door of the Iranian leadership to prove that they are willing to cooperate and cease such production.

New York Times reports, Bush said the Iranians had a "strategic choice" to make - to fully acknowledge past nuclear activities and suspend their uranium enrichment work, or to "continue on a path of isolation that is not in the nest interests of the Iranian people." He added, "The choice is up to the Iranian regime."

[Iranian President] Ahmadinejad said the intelligence report's conclusions had come about as a result of Iran's resistance to international pressure.

"This report tried to extract America from its impasse but it also is a declaration of the Iranian people's victory against great powers," Ahmadinejad said in a rally today in the western provice of Illam, the ISNA student news reported. "With the help of God, our people have resisted, are resisting and will resist until the end," he said, referring to Western effort to make Iran stop enriching uranium to make nuclear fuel. "They are disappointed that they cannot make you compromise even an iota," he added.

(Read more)

This all sounds strangely familiar. Recall the ramp up to the Iraq invasion in 2002 when the Bush administration was insistent, even after UN inspectors maintained otherwise, that Iraq was housing weapons of mass destruction. The problem with this stance is that it puts the accused in an inexorable position: You cannot disprove a double negative. How do you prove that you are not doing something without incriminating yourself?

If the US wants war with Iran, it is going to have it.

Remembering Our Troops for the Holidays

'Tis the season to be selfish and greedy for an 8 year-old, but for those of us who are worried about the price of gasoline, crude oil and the stability of our IRAs, it is the time of year to think about others, and who better than the men and women overseas who work every day to ensure our ability to continue watching 'Family Guy' without Osama bin Ladan banging on our door. There is no time in the year more difficult to be deployed in a war zone. So, here are some ways to let the troops fighting to preserve the image of infallible strength which guarantees our liberty know that they'll be home for Christmas, if only in our dreams.

Christine Fulton put together a great starter list of gift ideas for troops serving in Fort Sandbox. Check it out, click here. This list includes everything from food stuffs to headlights and knee pads.

From what I understand, Halliburton's standards for quality food have fallen over the course of the last five years, so food stuffs are always a great gift. MyGiftBasketIdeas.com

offers two sizes "Treats for Troopers." The small box is priced at $28.95, and the medium is $34.95. If you were thinking something with a little more substance than just CheezIts and M&Ms, I have had two separate requests for non-perishables such as EZ Mac or packages of beef jerky (people say Slim Jim's, but before you buy them think about it... do you like Slim Jim's? Go for the Jerky. Try Jack Link's. It's awesome.)  A few suggestions for beverages: Swiss Miss or Nestle hot cocoa, juice boxes, coffee supplies such as instant coffee, sugar packets and non-dairy creamer, or Crystal Light's On-The-Go packets. 

At E.D. Foods Inc., you can find a package of 10 instant soups free. Just pay the shipping.  

Sticking with food products, get regionally specific, and send troops a taste of normality. For example,  servicemen and women from the tri-state area will appreciate TastyKakes as a reminder of home. The company has a highly unpublicized holiday season sale for troops: Buy one case and get a second case of equal or lesser value free. They even handle the shipping for you. Just call 800.33.TASTY. 

Under Armour gear is a hot item among those stationed overseas. At Brigade Quartermaster's, you will receive 10% off all Under Amour products - including gloves, shirts and briefs - by using promotion code UA10 AND through Dec. 7, you also receive $25 off an order of $150. 

Pre-paid phone cards are a great gift. These are hard to come by online, most of the time when you purchase a "card" over the Internet, you are just buying airtime minutes with an access code. But check out BaseOps for information on international cards for troops.

Gift certificates are also good. Believe it or not, troops have a wealth of access to the Internet and can do their own shopping if they have funds. Sites like Amazon.com or Best Buy are great places to find entertainment for the idle mind such as DVD's, CD's, books or video games.

Cigarettes are always in short quantity because, let's face it, soldiers tend to be heavy smokers. Order European cigarettes and save huge. Smokin'4Free also has a variety pack with 10 brands in one carton for under $15.

Personal hygiene products are always in high demand as well. Think shampoo and conditioners, body washes, face masks (yes, apparently even GI's care about the size of their pores and acne problems), and moisturizing lotions. Help The Soldiers can put together a care package with everything from Q-tips to Advil (and that's not the expired Ibuprofen that they give to our troops).

Here's a gross, yet practical one for you. A publication in Nova Scotia ran a piece on the persistent skin problems troops face. The article recommended a product called SkinFix, a paste that treats everything from psoriasis and rosacea, ecsema and sunburns to athletes foot, fungal infections and minor burns.  

For something a little lighter that might just bring a smile, try CSL News Cartoons. They take military comic strips and put them on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs.

If you don't have anyone in particular overseas, but you still want to help, Operation Troop Appreciation takes donations, both monetary and "new or gently used" items to send to troops. 

Some Soldier's Mom has some great suggestions for gift items and how to go about shipping them as well.

How to have a Green Christmas

Green. Environmentally friendly. The style of the day. Why not apply it to the most consumer driven season of the year and try to consume with a little bit less waste. Time magazine published a list of suggestions. Newsweek published one, too. Shoot, Metro Philadelphia even made one, which of course can't be accessed via the Internet because they are technologically challenged. But when I received an email from my Cousin asking mundane Holiday questions and I found myself answering with tree-hugger flare, I decided I should come up with a list of my own. So with the assistance of Time's Maryanne Murry Buechner, here is my list of ways to make it a Green Christmas.

THE TREE 
Studies have shown that live trees are actually better for the environment than fake ones. I suppose they figure that if you recycle the thing, you can at least make enough paper to wrap next years presents. But, if the idea of having a tree for two weeks and then dumping it on the curb still feels like a wast to you, go the extra mile. Here are some suggestions.
1. Buy a potted tree. You can replant it in the backyard, or if you get a small one, even keep it for indoor decoration until you decide to throw the garland back on it for next year. Get a Charlie Brown-style tree and it just might make your parents feel sorry enough for you to open up their wallets, and it won't take up any space. Murray Buechner suggests donating potted trees to your local parks department if they will take it.
2. Rent a tree. Yes, some places will actually let you borrow a tree for a fee. LivingChristmasTrees.org rents living trees to the tree-loving people of Portland, Ore., for $75 each. Friends of the Urban Forest of San Francisco rents nontraditional trees, such as Southern Magnolia and Strawberry, for $150, and upon the end of the holiday cheer, plants them on the city streets.
3. Buy a "Green Tree." If you want a regular cut tree, there are environmentally safer ones to choose from. Organic is en vogue, so now you can buy a tree grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Look for the Green Tag when shopping at lots, or check out Freshchristmastree.com, a grower that ships to 46 states and uses sustainable methods.
4. Recycle, recycle, recycle: most municipalities collect trees to mulch. So when you are done with your yule tides and ferns, search Earth911.org to find programs in your area.

LIGHTS
Everyone's going LED (light-emitting diode). LEDs use up to 90 percent less energy that traditional incandescent bulbs, and it has finally become economical to use them when decorating your tree and home. They are a bit more expensive, but the trade is that last much longer and energy efficiency means you save on your power bill. Plus, they stay cool to the touch so they won't singe the tree or your dumb kid's lips when they try to suck the red ones that look like lollipops (or, maybe that was just me). Costco has 100-bulb strands for about $8, or try HolidayLEDs.com for a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

GIFT GIVING
I would never encourage regifting, but before you buy that gift for your cousin's uncle's boyfriend's daughter, ask yourself: Do the close relatives your list really need more stuff? Murray Buerchner suggests giving more non-traditional, service-oriented gifts such as a home-cooked gourmet meal or free night of babysitting, or donate to a charity in their name. "Oxfamamericaunwrapped.com invites donors to "buy," for example, a camel ($175), cow ($75), sheep ($45), building tools ($25) or the planting of 50 trees ($30) as a way to support Oxfam's programs in developing countries (the recipient gets a card with a photo, not an actual cow)." For green gift ideas ranging from recycled champagne glasses to Radio Flyer Earth wagons go to GreenHome.com or Treehugger.com.

GIFT WRAP
Think about how much paper is wasted during the holiday's. Eight crazy nights of Hanukkah, followed by one explosion of greed on Christmas day produces enormous amounts of paper gift wrap, gift bags, tissue stuffing, ribbons and bows that end up in the landfill. Why not help eliminate some of this waste and use some creative new ways to wrap this year like using the funny pages of the newspaper that you were going to toss anyway, or using brown paper bags with a pretty bow? 

According to Murray Buechner, Danny Seo, author of Simply Green Giving recommends using old VHS and cassette tape (both curl nicely on a sharp scissors' edge), old Christmas lights, tape measures, shoelaces—really anything from the junk drawer that's long enough to tie around a box—for a vintage look. Instead of plastic bubble wrap to cushion the contents, try unshelled peanuts, dry pasta or polyester fill from old pillows. Seo also suggests using bandannas and other reusable cloths, and for bottles of wine, sleeves of old flannel shirts. Plenty of creative companies exist to aid in the gift wrap department so you can go green with style. For a few examples, Paporganics.com offers hemp stemmed poinsettias to spice things up Importica.com offers paper made from naturally shed mulberry tree bark and Smithandhawken.com sells recycled-paper wrap for $9 per 10-ft. roll.

ORNAMENTS
Artist Jeff Clapp turns discarded aluminum oxygen canisters from Mt. Everest into decorative bells for $2,400 a pop. The leftover aluminum shavings make a nice tree ornament that someone might actually buy (the "Everest" balls are $48 for four at Eco-Artware.com). You can also use that pile of holiday greeting cards you get in the mail to decorate. Use hemp twine to hang them around the house, or even use them as tree decorations if you are desperate. For those of us with slightly deeper pockets and less propensity for crafts, check out Sprig.com's Greener Holiday section for some suggestions on where to find fanciful recycled glass bulbs, red and white eco-felt birds, birch-bark trees, and reclaimed tin angels that will turn your living room into an eco-friendly winter wonderland this holiday season.

WREATHS
Murray Buechner was full of suggestions in this area. "An original door hanging fashioned out of retired aluminum street signs can be ordered for $140 at Eco-Artware.com, where you'll also find step-by-step instructions for creating a "silver bell" wreath using old soda cans and fishing line," she said. "McFaddenFarm.com, meanwhile, sells handmade garlands and wreaths of fresh bay leaf (harvested from the hills of Northern California, where it grows wild) that provide more than enough herb to cook with for six months or more."

CANDLES
My mother always liked to burn candles during the holidays. She said it brought ambiance to an already flammable situation. But Murray Buechner suggested an update. "Toss the old ones—they could have lead wicks, which are toxic when burned and were banned in the U.S. only as recently as October 2003 (visit cpsc.gov for details). And choose soy, vegetable wax or beeswax—all renewable and biodegradable materials—over paraffin wax candles, which are petroleum based. Big Dipper Wax Works' 100% beeswax candles run $10 to $24 at 3Rliving.com," she said. Another place to find awesome candles is Eco-Mall, which carries incense, baskets, stationary and toys that will make decorating, carding and gift giving a greener proposition.

 
But maybe your like me and you don't really feel safe with fire at family functions. In that case, try the Sun Jar, a jelly jar that will store the sunlight for you to use at night. It's an LED light with a small solar panel that will pick up solar energy, store and provide light for up to 5-hours. It's available for $40 at Elsewares.com. Don't want to spent the $40? Learn how to make one at home at Instructables.com. They make great gifts too.

Iraq's new export: Opium

Someone once told me that, in today's world, wars are fought over three things: Land, Religion or Drugs. With that in mind, I've waited five years for this article.

A side-effect of every war is the surge of two markets fed: natural resources and the black market. Natural resources are generally an after effect - think the oil crisis of the late 1970's and the Iran/Iraq War, and cotton/textile market growth after the Civil War. As far as the black market is concerned, drug prices are an obvious reflection on business.

During the Vietnam, the US saw a surge in heroine sales, thanks in no small part to the entrepreneurial spirit of Frank Lucas, now famed through the hit movieAmerican Gangster. Today, the drug of choice is opium.

It is no coincidence that the opium crop was up 90 percent in 2006. And a report released in May in The Independent reflects the rise of the underground markets in Iraq as well. The problem that many exporters are having is getting their product out of the country, as the condition in Iraq are exceeding dangerous.

Cocaine prices maybe souring, but the heroin will be flowing by the end of next year around the globe. Expect a rise in the rate of heroine overdoses over the next six to nine months.

Buddhist traditions hang in the balance

The Associated Press reports that the Dalai Lama has agreed to hold an election among his people prior to his death to determine his successor. This is an enormous break with tradition and his religious beliefs, but the step has been taken for political reasons: to prevent China from appointing the next Dalai Lama.

Buddhists believe that when the Dalai Lama dies, he is reincarnated, and the leader is found, not chosen. For centuries, the search for the reincarnation of religious leaders, known as lamas — including the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual head — has been carried out by Tibetan monks following the leaders' deaths. For an election to be held prior to the death of the Dalai Lama is to deny their entire belief system.

China has been pressuring the monks of Tibet for years to come into line with the leadership of the Communist Republic, but the predominantly religious state has resisted. Recently, China has ramped up its efforts to secularize Tibet, and attempted to assert the atheist, communist government's iron-fisted control. The Dalai Lama has obviously resisted. By initiating elections, he has side-stepped China's ability to appoint a pro-Chinese leader in Tibet upon his death.

"If I die today, there will be some setback to the Tibetan struggle," he said "But the Tibetan spirit will not go away with my death."

Heroes do exist: Cockburn Speaks

From Antiwar.com, this is one of my heroes speaking on his ideas about Iraq.

Patrick Cockburn, discusses “The Surge: A Special Report” which he wrote for the Independent, where he is Middle East correspondent: the split between the Sadr and Hakim factions; American propaganda that Iran is behind Sadr and the Mahdi Army and the “new” EFP bombs; the widespread humanitarian catastrophe; the occupation and sectarian war it has created; divisions in Kurdistan; the crisis in Kirkuk; predictions in the event of an eventual withdrawal; the redirection toward the Sunni insurgency; the unimportance of Allawi, Maliki or anyone else America installs in power; the danger to U.S. soldiers in Iraq if Cheney bombs Iran; predictions for the short and long term

Visit the site for the MP3. The audio is long, 43 minutes to be exact, but well worth it to get some perspective on what is going on inside of Iraq from a journalist who spent two years in Baghdad both leading up to, and post-invasion. After leaving the country in 2006, Cockburn authored a book,The Occupation: War and Resistance in Iraq that has inspired me over and over again to be educated and open-minded in preparation for becoming a foreign correspondent.

Riots in France: Night 2

You can mute you computer if you don't speak French, the visuals are compelling enough.

For the second consecutive night, riots broke out in Villiers les Bel, 12 miles north of Paris. The riots are in response to the deaths of two African-born youths which occurred after their motorbike collided with a police car.

Though police attempted to revive the 15- and 16-year-old boys using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the primarily poor, immigrant population of Villiers le Bel has risen up with a violent response as seen in the video above. Seventy-seven police officers have been injured so far, many vehicles and several business have been torched, and the rioters continue to elude police in pursuit by use of the labyrinths within local project apartment houses.

These images are nothing compared to what I found earlier on YouTube, but most of the private party produced posts have been removed due to "violent content."

This is reminiscent of the LA riots in 1992, following the Rodney King verdict. The police felt they were unjustified, and the people destroyed their own neighborhoods.

Check beck for better footage.

Bush Admin: Iraq "ready to stand up on its own"

Violence is increasing. Infrastructure is still in disrepair. The whole world feels that the current government is merely a puppet of the United States. But according to President Bush's senior adviser on Iraq, Lt. Douglas E. Lute, "Iraq is increasingly capable of standing on its own."

Lute's statement came in response to a vague, ambiguous, non-binding agreement negotiated between Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, which effectively guarantees relations between the US and Iraq post-Bush. The declaration calls for the U.N. mandated control of Iraq, a condition that has been in effect since sanctions were put into place in 1990, to be extended one year. It will then replaced at the end of 2008 with bilateral governing the of economic, political and security aspects of the US/Iraq relationship - in other words, the US-led occupation will continue without a UN mandate.

It's dealings like this that make it clear the Bush Administration is looking to save face and abandon ship prior to his departure from office. Though there are no moves to leave Iraq militarily, politically the US is not making clear commitments to reconstruction.

Violence is continuing to increase and there is less support for the reconstruction effort.

Mideast peace talks breed stupidity

“We meet to lay the foundation for the establishment of a new nation: a democratic Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and security.” - President Bush

Appearing in the United States Naval Academy’s Memorial Hall, flanked by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel and Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, President Bush announced today that peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will resume by the end of 2008.

New York Times reports that Bush was insistent of a commitment to a return to the negotiation table because he believes peace in this conflict is central to the "broader struggle against extremism in the MIddle East."

It never ceases to amaze how out of touch this man really is with reality. Forty-nine countries in the world still do not recognize the Nation of Israel. Palestinians will not settle for a country "side-by-side" with Israel if it does not include the return of their land, especially Jerusalem, a city that the Israelis will not concede. And the issue in the Israel/Palestine conflict is neither extremist, nor does it have to do with terrorism. It is a fundamental struggle over land rights.

What history books are in the Oval Office anyway?

Verizon's expanding options

Long-time dedicated Verizon Wireless customer are in for a pleasant surprise with their contract renewals: any phone will now work on the network. According to New York Times Technology, Verizon announced today that that they will make their network compatible with all phones on the market. The move will put Verizon on the forefront of the industry and prepare them for the release of iPhone competitors. (Read more.)
Interesting questions remain however, and anyone who has been with Verizon long enough to lose a phone is already asking: What about sim cards? Verizon has notoriously maintained a policy of not carrying phones equipped with sim cards as a "theft deterrent." It will be interesting to see how the company incorporates sim card-ready phones into their network.

Also, domestic Verizon phones have historically not been internationally compatible. If you wanted to take your Verizon Network with you across the ocean, you had to purchase a new phone. Does this new announcement mean that Verizon is officially going global? We shall have to wait and see as the details on today's announcement are ironed out.