The International Writers Magazine- Our Eleventh Year Begins here:
Lifestyles & Opinion 2010

Lifestyles: 2010 Education to End Poverty ‘Results – The power to end poverty’ is the UK based charity awareness group intent on changing western ignorance towards international poverty Emasculation in the City Dean Borok Magpie belongs to the Sisterhood of the Cell Phone, a gang of vigilant females whose rallying cry is, “I’m gonna get the cops! The Moa Stalker Part One John M Edwards Bumbling into a Big Bird better than Popeye’s in a primary rainforest on a remote New Zealand isle, John M. Edwards raves, 'Don’t mess with dinner!' The Moa Stalker Part Two here John M Edwards Eat Your Vegetables Amanda Callendrier on dining in Rome I was sick of the guide book.  I never wanted to see the guide book again.  Screw the guide book. Summer with James Joyce Frances Burke-Gaffney Come to Dublin and study this summer Smart Travel Technology Jules Kay Travellers have long used the web as a guide when choosing a holiday destination, but recent additions to the technological landscape have made the world even smaller and more accessible Developing an Island Infrastructure Jules Kay Infrastructure issues on popular tourist islands present an increasingly difficult challenge for those in charge of holiday destinations The Cemetery Pales James D Evans discovers Brookwood 500 acres of oaks and ghosts in deepest Surrey Birthday at the Shangri-la, Harbin China Darren Skelton Down at the ice-bar One City - One Book - Dublin 2010 Chris Mills When is a book group not a book group? When it’s a month in Dublin city When is a book group not a book group? When it’s a month in Dublin city Front of House Jeffrey A Kaufman Waitress tips from the Chef Waiting for my shot at the big time Abigail George It is much more seductive to live without than to be so much hungry for more War and Peace in Taiwan Maria Ausherman Exchanging notes at the Taipei American School The Writer's Life - Our New Weekly Cartoon Wayne E Pollard Drink Now - Pay Later Faye Joice Alcohol dependancy in slowly destroying campus life Jerome David Salinger 1919-2010 James Campion The life of a reclusive American icon A Brief History of Haiti Norman Rubin A troubled country needs our help smart Ass Boy Jeannine Pitas First Encounter of the boy kind Funny Men Dean Borok Comedy is no laughing matter Empty Compliments and the Language Learner Antonio Graceffo Why you may never speak like a native I am a Camera James Morford Taking photographs of each other has suddenly become a mania Kids on a Plane Amanda Callendrier There is a little circle of hell that only those of us who travel with children know exist. A Sauna in Taipei Andrew Reece Social Customs in Taiwan steam rooms Walking Away Daniel Taverne walking reduces my problems to nothing more than whimpers The Criterion Restaurant Dine with Tracey Doxey but make sure you have a reservation Harry & Tea: A Japanese Memory David Russell we were instructed to relish the lips receiving the liquid with a pure, clear mind Her Majesty's Taxi Driver James Skinner in Vigo Who really looks after stranded Brits abroad The Other Me Tyrel Nelson Only fitting that the boy named after a book character has grown up to be a writer. Malmo Marianne de Nazareth I am here in freezing Copenhagen covering the UN Climate Change COP15. It is chaotic and literally a circus On Wind and Climates Marianne de Nazareth at Samso As we come in for the COP15 in Copenhagen, every morning from Malmo, Sweden, the sight of lines wind turbines in an off shore wind farm visible through the panes of the train window, never fail to stun me Had Enough of Celebrity Culture? Dean Borok Life has always been messy, but now, with the 24-hour media cycle, we are having it relentless pushed in our faces on a continuous basis. Country Life in France Amanda Callendrier I had lived in my small village in the middle of the French countryside for almost a year.  The honeymoon was over, and I was fed up with small-town life. Fighting in Hanoi Park Antonio Graceffo Training to fight in Vietnam I Like My English Grilled: A Video Biography of Students in Rural Cambodia David Calleja - A simple rule in Cambodia is that if lessons are not fun, students will get bored Trouble and Strife James Skinner Women's Right to Justice World-wide Wrestling with the Vietnamese Language By Antonio Graceffo Vietnamese is by far the hardest language I have ever tried to learn Fear and Loathing at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival Adam Graupe We were about 25 minutes north of the Twin Cities when my doctor and I pulled the rented Dodge Charger into the drive thru of the Forest Lake Starbucks.  I ordered “two Venti non-fat lattes with a dozen chasers. Cheese making in Coonoor Marianne De Nazareth Looking out of the large French windows in Acres Wild, I woke up to an unusual phenomenon for a city dweller - big fluffy clouds had enveloped the house in a complete embrace Helmholtz Orchestra on Tour in Jordan and Syria Ibtihal Ahmad A meeting place between western classical and Arabic traditional melodies in Damascus Finding Myself Andrew Lofthouse I needed a change. The daily grind of monotony was eroding away my desire to get up in the morning, never mind in time for work. What is Cool? Aaron Falloon Can we pin point what it is to be cool? What is it that makes something in and another, which may be quite similar, out? Life and Nothing But Dean Borok My girlfriend, The Magpie, gave me a queen size piece of her mind on the way out the door. "You’re never going to get a job with all the vituperative invective you spew on the Internet, you chump!" Slam Modern Day Hal James Skinner They ran the old sci-fi movie ‘2001, A Space Odyssey’ on one of the TV channels the other night. Toronto - Desperate Times Tabytha Towe Time flies – like it’s invisible. You can’t catch it, save it, or see it, not until it’s behind you. But at least you can remember it, cherish it and hopefully learn from it. Where's That Smell? Paul Lynch "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single sniff" - not exactly the Lao Tzu quote that made the philosopher famous, but it’s close enough. Point being, do cities or countries possess a unique odour? Buying a new car Jerry Slafsky There are many "life experiences" that are rather unpleasant and that most people try hard to avoid Thoughts Whilst Shaving Norman A Rubin While lathering my lower face for the ritual of the morning shave I got to thinking on the situation in the world today, especially on my country Israel Alt Palestinian History Norman A Rubin Sheikh Tayseer Rajab Tamimi claimed that there was no evidence that the Jewish people ever lived in Jerusalem The Pot that is Hot Darren Skelton Without a shadow of a doubt the greatest culinary discovery I chanced upon on following my arrival in Harbin is Chinese Hotpot Tragedy in Savannakhet David Calleja I could sense that something was wrong but I did not have the courage to ask what was happening. Book Jacket Puffs: Judging a Book By its Cover Chris Mills The phrases must leap out at the casual browser. Review quotes are chosen to be snappy, eye catching and bold. And very persuasive. But how useful really are the quotes? Quo Vadis Spain? James Skinner Spain is in a mess and can only get worse as unemployment rises Obama, Change and the Missing Conversation Christina Baldwin How are you Barack Obama? What are you reading? Who are you listening to? Unified Berlin: 20 Years On by Nate Barron How long is twenty years? For the city of Berlin, it is both Augenblick and Ewigkeit: an instant and an eternity. Book Miles Chris Mills Have I ever considered the miles a book may have travelled before it reaches my hands The Third Pole Marianne de Nazareth 'We in Nepal recognize that Climate Change has become possibly the greatest development challenge of our times...' Ramadan Readings Marwan Asmar Ramadan is a spiritual month, serving to in-gather Muslims worldwide for a higher existential being, the one that can’t be touched or seen but is everywhere An Unbreakable Bond Marianne de Nazareth Chandra Rajendran and Neeta Dutt, a mother/ daughter duo have turned the sari into an art form, in their venture named Sakhi. Water Colored Memories Marcia Dumler "Buttercup! Stop that! You're going....." too late, the glass of water top heavy with my water color brushes had already tipped onto my therapy painting for today. Umrah 2009 – A wish fulfilled K Fatima In the first Salat Al Fajr a realization struck me: In that huge crowd of Muslims from everywhere, speaking all sorts of languages but praying together in Arabic, it felt like Yaum al Qiyama First steps to Gladrags Dean Borok There was no point to sticking around Montreal any longer. It was 1982 and the economy was in the tank. I put all my things in storage, packed up my best clothes and my design portfolio, and caught the Montrealer express train to New York Revolutionary Wrath John M. Edwards rogue ancestor, Aaron Burr, shot Alexander Hamilton with a Hoss-pistol from a mere ten paces away—and got away with it. Happening upon Hamilton’s gaudy mausoleum in New York City, Edwards says our foppish former Treasury Secretary deserved it! The Ultimate Getaway Lesley Boutilier What do you get when you combine the extreme adventure sports of whitewater rafting, riverboarding, and skydiving? Itıs called the ultimate adrenaline rush and Millinocket, Being Russian For Two Weeks David Russell in St Petersburg We had made arrangements to live with a Russian family in St. Petersburg for two weeks fostering "better understanding among people". Flaming Lips and Earthquakes: Concert Going in Chiba, Japan -Jeffrey Rambo What’s it like attending a big summer music festival in Japan? One Sunday evening in August, I got my answer Healthcare Panic Dean Borok I am not here to debate the merits of universal health insurance. That is a given. I am complaining about the lunatic fringe of society – loudmouth sociopaths who are being bussed around the country and paid cash money by insurance companies to scream and yell Honda Dreams Marcel D'Agneau I have this reoccurring dream. I am always happy to have it but distinctly unhappy to wake up and discover it wasn't real. Vaishali and Sachin Nate Bell The first time I met Vaishali was in Madison, where my seven classmates and I took Tamil in preparation for our year in Madurai. Bass Ponds Tyrel Nelson I hadn’t been here in forever. The biting wind made my eyes water as I watched my breath drift away and disappear into the morning air. Sniffling to fight off a runny nose, a familiar feeling came over me while I listened to dead leaves dance atop the asphalt. It was definitely November in Minnesota. Goodbye Gloom & Doom James Skinner Our regional government announced yesterday with great pomp and circumstance that our city will be connected with Madrid by high-speed train no later than the year 2015. The Art of Timeshare Danielle Levanas My story starts with a sailor landing on a lush Mexican beach. He comes across a sun-bronzed Canadian cowgirl living in a palapa. The cowgirl joins the lucky sailor’s crew, and in the time it takes to down a bottle of tequila, the pair falls madly in love. Michael Jackson's Quest for Paradise Lost Michael Levy The passing of Michael Jackson played out like a Shakespearean tragedy and was a timely reflection on how not being true to ones' self ends in an early demise. Exploitation Anomaly Jones The economic recession has hit me right in the groin, and if my failed attempts at employment continue, I stand to get hit in the groin over and over again. Self Delusions Michael levy The new normal contains vast amounts of erroneousness, and it is becoming harder to know who or what to trust Aung San Suu Kyi turns 64 David Calleja On 19th June, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will turn 64 years old. Instead of being amongst loved ones and the millions of people in Burma who revere her for standing up for human and civil rights, she is in isolation Open letter to my Wife: Part Two A Continued Apology Ten Years In The Making James Campion I send this missive to press on the tenth anniversary of our marriage from a hotel in Barcelona, Spain, The Influence of Orwell on Writers Workshops Chris Roberts The following investigation and first hand experiences is into the particular practices of a single writers workshop/discussion site Reflections of a Backpacker Dan Cann in Australia I was on holiday and it really felt like it with the sun on me now feeling totally carefree. I did not have to be anywhere, go to a job, get stuck in traffic, go shopping, or keep an appointment. Drugs, Values and the World of Sport James Morford Critics never tire of pointing out the ancient Olympians exemplified the Greek ideal of mind and body. By comparison, they depict contemporary athletes as pampered money-mad celebrities elevated to God-like status Chris Flaherty documentary exposes Ethiopia’s political vulnerability - David Calleja In May 2005, the ruling Ethiopian Revolutionary Patriot’s Democratic Front won elections amid allegations of electoral fraud and a campaign of intimidation against opposition groups. The Corporate Bookshop Chris Mills The bookshop as a museum: when is a bookshop no longer a bookshop? Or bookselling the chain store way: the advent of the lifestyle destination. Reading - New York Matt Allison A couple of months ago after years of knowing of this historical novel, I had Naked Lunch in my backpack. Waiting for a subway in Queens I opened this novel and read the first few pages... Madness and the Valuation of And Chris Roberts It defies definition, deftly evades categorization and will put lastingly before the reader And’s derivative value Parting The Red Sea – in 1980 David Russell Before we agreed to take on the project, we had serious internal conversations. What we were about to embark on was a process never done before with such a limited "commercial" budget and time constraint. Being There: Sunland Racetrack and Casino Lizette Espinosa Creased wranglers paired with pointy cowboy boots, a big round belt buckle, and a matching cowboy hat, little, old ladies sitting at the tables with binoculars trying to read the TV.s with racing numbers... Hubbard's Cupboard John M Edwards I decided to enter the forbidden zone. Whence I was immediately greeted by a stunning woman with long black hair and wide friendly eyes who acted like a member of an evangelical church welcoming a walk-in with a rhubarb pie. Goodbye Mohican James Skinner ‘This is the second part of my adventure into learning all about professional writing at Falmouth College of Arts, meeting up with a whole new bunch of characters and revisiting an area of the world I had known decades ago; an event that would open up a new phase of my life. A Long Farewell to Oz 2009 Tabytha Towe Landing in Australia I knew immediately there was a special voyage ahead of me. I didn't expect myself wanting to be there longer than nine months, maximum. I already had my flight booked for home by a specific date! But that was back then.....  Some New Concept of Home Megan Welch We ended up together in Madrid from different schools, for different reasons. Some of us to escape our university campuses, some to seek adventure, others to find a place away from America, away from the familiar and banal. Sessions with Sigmund James Morford It was to Freud’s Vienna home/office that in October of l934, a 28 year old American psychiatrist, Doctor Joseph Wortis, came to begin a 4 month "didactic psychoanalysis" (teaching analysis) with the 77 year old Freud. Humanity or Bust: Why the Carbon Footprint Threatens More Than Just the Future Benjamin Frew Before I get to the nub of this article, I would like to declare that it is a statement of personal opinion and not a carefully deducted and objectively reached conclusion. That Kid could sure eat David Russell We were headed from Los Angeles to Islamabad, Pakistan, with a planned stop in Manchester, England, to share a long weekend with our daughter Mara The Bodyguard of Aung San Suu Kyi David Calleja Since I know injustice takes place in Burma every day, I know that I am safe in Australia, but I cannot forget what has happened to me. Should the Aid plug to Africa be pulled out? A critical response Ronald Elly Wanda Lately in the African literary and development circle, Dambisa Moyo with her new book Dead Aid: How Aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa, has become a 'star'. Putting in Earth Time Christina Baldwin      It’s the night after Easter weekend, and while we started off Friday evening enjoying an amazingly professional concert of sections of the Brahms Requiem performed by the local Methodist church choir and island musicians, my main spiritual practice this past weekend has been largely focused on gardening.     How to make sense in the Caribbean John M. Edwards The next day I spotted the General wearing only shorts running down the beach like an Olympic athlete on steroids, closely pursued by two policemen, who tackled the General and handcuffed him. As they hauled him away, he bawled out, "I’m innocent!" Learning History Through Martial Arts David Calleja " I look at myself as a martial arts anthropologist, and if we lose it, we’re losing one more aspect of the culture," declares creator of the web TV show Martial Arts Odyssey, Antonio Graceffo. Redcloud and Sunshine Floyd Frank The woods have always been my playground. When I went to college in Colorado the Rocky Mountains were a natural extension for my love of the outdoors The Sky Is Not Blue in Burma David Calleja Although more than 6,000 individuals in Burma's prisons have been released as part of a "goodwill gesture" by the military junta, let's not kid ourselves. The Hyphernate David Russell Today, at most ad agencies, you're either a Writer or a Producer. But, in my days, being a Hyphenate was not unusual. Viva Espana James Skinner The trouble is that no Spanish government official has dared to mention the forthcoming financial Tsunami despite the warnings from the tour operators and travel agencies Last of the Mohicans James Skinner I asked my wife if she thought going back to college in the UK was a good idea. ‘Send me a postcard,’ she answered without hesitation. On President Barack Obama Lois Tietzel Hope is still there. Are we going to let our fire get put out by this Recession, Depression or whatever Financial Crisis? I say, hell no. Lisbon’s Praça de Dom Pedro IV Georgi Dagnall The lovely square called Praça de Dom Pedro IV has for centuries been one of the most popular squares in Lisbon and the center of much of Lisbon's activity. Balkan Parties Rob Rigney Balkan parties reflect the new face of a city which is more and more stamped by its immigrant populations, and they offer something techno can’t: soul, pathos and hot-blooded Balkan wildness. Bringing Aung San Suu Kyi Into a Cambodian Classroom David Calleja Raising awareness of the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi among students through music in rural Cambodia leaves a song in their heart. The Maid Amanda Callendrier She must wonder why I look like this.  I am not wearing matching pajamas, a robe, or even slippers Ballet Without a Programme Eric D. Lehman Some would argue that ballet and opera are no longer living arts. That is, they do not affect the cultural landscape in the same way films or other media do. The Peter Pan Wannabe My So Called Life Rosanne Stewart I wish tomorrow wouldn't come. I just need today to last that little bit longer because today is just about right. Tomorrow is dripping with negative connotations The gift of tears Jeannine Pitas She kept them in her eye. There were a few of them, six who stayed always, about eleven who came and went. Loi Tailang Tigers David Calleja For the hundreds of orphans residing within the male dormitories at Loi Tailang Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Shan State, Burma, football is the fantasy escape from the memories of conflict The Consul and the Serpent Part 1 James Skinner ‘It’s been two years now since I resigned as Honorary British Consul in this north-western part of the Iberian Peninsula The Consul and the Serpent - Part 2 A Lighthouse Mourns James Skinner ‘The storm was in full swing; the sea as rough as ever. It was that time of the year. Dawn was about to break on another bleak November morning in the north-western coast of Galicia, Spain Single Fathers Advice: The At Home Dinner Date Chef Jeffrey Allen Kaufman Its not just about food What Restaurant Owners Should Know Chef Jeffrey Allen Kaufman The one thing that can slip in and destroy your image, and customer base is a food born illness of any kind. Tabitha Towe Goes Detox 12 Days to get a clean liver Will she make it

Opinion: 2010 Health Care Summit? Death Rattle With Suits James Campion The forty-fourth president of the United States appears to be as possessed by a doomed agenda as the last one Save the P.I.G.S. James Skinner on the Eurozone finance crisis Never mind Greece, what of Spain and the deficit? Generation F: Decoding the 21st Century Rosanne Stewart ‘Cause people read status updates, not books’ ... this is a slogan for our generation Caution: Tuna Melts Chef Jeffrey Allen Kaufman Before you open that can of Tuna, or bake off a Salmon Fillet, take a little moment here and think about what exactly you are putting into your body. The Independents Sweepstakes Jamess Campion Tea Party to Green Party to Reform Party The Robin Hood Tax Gemma Roxanne Williams Turning a crisis into a worldwide benefit Musin: To Live or Not, To Leave Lakunle Jaiyesimi The absence of law in Nigeria On Retardation in US Politics Dean Borok I am suffering in mute, nostril agony as I examine correspondence that recounts a scenario of insurance companies denying claims We The People James Campion Did I miss something? Are the Russians running our banking system? Coffee for Everyone James Skinner A town called Vic and Immigration Law in Spain Chile's Leap of Faith with the New Right David Calleja Piñera’s immediate focus will be the economy. He has pledged strong growth through the creation of one million jobs Mr Brown Goes to Washington James Campion How The Bluest State Threw Up The Red Stop Light On Health Care Last Man Standing Dean Borok Major Sea Change in US Politics Olive Picking in Palestine Gemma Roxanne Williams He said that the only way for them to fight back was to continue to exist Barack Obama's America: Year One James Campion The moment Barack Obama raised his hand to swear his oath as leader of the free world, there was change 2010: Year of the Faux Revolution James Campion This year we will separate the wheat from the chaff and see who is on board for a steaming bowl of unflinching reappraisals Conquistadors Invade Europe James Skinner on Zapatero's Presidency of Europe 2010 Somalia, Land of Angry Men and False Ideals Norman A Rubin Things to know about Africa's poorest country The Ghost of Free Market Past James Campion How Ayn Rand's Individualist Orthodoxy Spirits The New Right Health Care Finale James Campion The Clock is ticking for Democrats. Can they get something done? Saving Nigeria Adewale T. Akande What must be done to save Nigeria from itself? Minaret phobia Saleem Ayoub Quna The Sound of Music and Moslem Prayer Why We Care About Tiger Woods James Campion Can a tarnish hero recover his saintly status? Algeria v Eygpt: Soccer Madness Saleem Ayoub Quna Tensions rise in World Cup qualifying Collectivism on Parade James Campion Forget National Health Care and bailouts or Cap & TRade laws sending us into a tyrannical existence. We're already there suckers Fort Hood Sociological Backlash James Campion Here we go again: Crazy person runs amok, kills randomly, & society scrambles to explain it. Foul Nectar of the Beatdown New Republicanism & The New York Yankees Carry The Day - James Campion November can be a cruel month for some. Turkeys would not describe it as a "fine time". A Healthcare Pledge for Conservatives Larry S. Rolirad As a Conservative who DOES NOT have Health Insurance: I do hereby pledge to refuse all health care paid for by the government... Burma VJ David Calleja There are very few movies or documentaries that show just how severe life is for civilians in Burma. It is only fitting that a group of committed local Burmese reporters from the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) fill this void Roman Captured Dean Borok Exposing Roman Polanski to the wrath of the U.S. criminal justice system would be the equivalent of a death sentence for the 75 year-old film director. Rob Astorino: in the land of Scum James Campion Not one hour ago I received a link to a story that turned my stomach, something that rarely happens to cynical old hacks who've not only seen but done it all twice. Solution for National Health Care James Campion + Readers Responses There is little chance anything resembling a pittance of national health care reform will be constructed much less passed through the legislative branch of our government any time soon A lack of urgency in Bangkok? Marianne de Nazareth How much more death and devastation does the world need to sit up and realise that the catastrophic effects of Climate Change are already upon us? Letterman Dean Borok I don’t much like David Letterman’s comedy act, but I certainly don’t have anything against the guy personally. Afghanistan: The Original Quagmire -James Campion The United States must leave Afghanistan now. Not in eleven months or after careful discussion and continued study to determine an undisclosed time, but now. Soon after, it must leave Iraq The Race Illusion James Campion Jimmy Carter, America's political equivalent of Liz Taylor, who emerges every so often to stammer out the most insane gibberish known to freethinking man... Hopeville in Autumn James Campion This past Wednesday, Barack Obama proved his political pedigree, unleashing his thus far unforeseen feral side in an historic address to congress upon its autumnal reconvening. Burma Terror "We do not understand why the military is doing this to us" - David Calleja An exiled monk living in fear poses the one question that nobody can truthfully answer. Edward Moore Kennedy 1932-2009 James Campion + Readers Letters It is a good thing Ted Kennedy is Irish Catholic. He is going to heaven. That's how it works. No matter what kind of sham your life is Deep blue in trouble Shivani Historically, the oceans were an endless supply of resources. For long, it was assumed that this resource could be exploited and used as a dumping ground. But, no more. Make Drugs legal? James Skinner on the reality of drug crime The worldwide campaign against drugs is just not working and hasn't been for decades. Millions in the Western world continue to indulge ‘secretly’,whynot make it legal and tax it? Clunker Bonanza ends Dean Borok The government’s "Cash for Clunkers" program expired yesterday like a Looney Tunes auto breathing its last gasp, even as frantic buyers were still banging down the door. Is Health Care a Right? James Morford Near the axis of the current tumult and shouting over universal health care, lies a philosophical question: is health care a right that should be guaranteed by the State, yes or no? Last Temptation of Obama James Campion Joe Cool Must Rally To Save Progressive Movement - Barack Obama is, as stated more than once in this space for over a year, the yin to Reagan's yang Un-American is Un-American James Campion the Speaker of The House and its Majority Leader decided it would be a good idea to deftly illustrate how arguments can be utterly bereft of reason while simultaneously driving home the point of their opponents. Crisis? What Crisis? Joe Swain As the world continues to reel from the after-effects of macro economics' version of Hurricane Ha-Ha, Joe Swain sifts through the wreckage for survivors, lessons, and scapegoats Stupidly, Stupidly, Stupidly James Campion Life Is But A Dream The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated Michael Jackson 1958-2009 James Campion From the start, Michael Jackson was the bread-winning, bacon-hauling strength and breath of the Jackson Five The Allah Stomp How The Streets Of Iran Are Burning The Fumes of the '79 Revolution James Campion Thomas Jefferson, one of history's most articulate dreamers, saw uprisings as a kind of spiritual right of passage for the human spirit, a Jesus/Mohammad king-hell joust with tyranny Iran Stands Up Against Tyranny Dean Borok What is happening in Iran, with mass street demonstrations and civil unrest over the stealing of the election that should have gone to Moussavi, is an indication of the more comprehensive cultural values that the Persian people enjoy as a result of their ancient civilization and culture. The New Oil Bubble Michael Levy Sadly, the lessons of the past few years has not taught the financial markets anything other that more of the same Tiananmen - Twenty years On Dean Borok China still detains up to 30 democracy protestors who were given the life or death sentences that were commuted to life imprisonment for their activities of 20 years ago Dinosaurs on Sixth Avenue James Campion A rainy, windswept late-spring evening on Manhattan Island ruined by a dismal assignment to "cover" the final brain flatus of two dying breeds, Karl Rove and James Carville Siberia USA Dean Borok I never believed in the durability of the previous economic bubble when I saw the quality of the knuckleheads who were getting rich The Sins of Pakistan James Campion How Sovereignty & Absinthe Will Defeat The Taliban A victory in the fight against terrorism is in fact a guarantee for the security and protection of our coming generations. - Pakistani Prime Minsiter Yusuf Raza Gilani Power Grab Dean Borok The U.S. press corps is pathetically myopic. They have the depth and consistency of processed cheese slices, knowing nothing of American history and even less than nothing about the lessons of world history Who's afraid of History? Rama Varma The other day, as I was idly surfing channels, I chanced upon a historical film about the British invasion of Zululand. The Century Mark Joe Cool's Honeymoon Epilogue James Campion on Obama's 100 days We have ten fingers and ten toes, therefore we make its denominations our benchmark; a decade, a century, a millennium, etc. But it wasn't until FDR that we are now expected to judge the honeymoon period of a new president by his first 100 days. Last Words on the United States of Torture James Campion As usual, everyone has this torture thing wrong. The Right conveniently paints it as "special tactics to ensure security" and The Left predictably sees it as "indefensible war crimes" Latin Love Dean Borok One thing I particularly enjoy is reminding people of inconvenient things that they have done that they would prefer to ignore. Everybody screws up, but they shrug it off in the interest of "going forward". What is news? James Campion This is a subject I talk about incessantly with colleagues: What is news? In other words, what should be something we know about nationally... New York People Dean Borok New York City has got the loudest, pushiest women in the world Serfdom USA Andy Carloff The economic, buyout plan of the United States government is made with the thought that the New Deal of Roosevelt ended the depression; but the unemployment during the "New Deal" only worsened during this period Anarchy in the UK James Campion G-20 Summit Sends The Euro-Masses A-Riotin' Nothing jacks my adrenaline like a good old-fashioned protest riot. Mexican Standoff Dean Borok A lot of people are very unhappy about our border with Mexico. A couple of years ago the complaint was about Mexicans sneaking into the U.S. in search of jobs. Now there are no jobs. Feel better? Outrage Squared Pitch Forks & Torches, La Spring Chic James Campion Outrage is cheap currency these days. It's a full-out poll-to-poll pogrom on both the rich and powerful and the poor and disenfranchised. Bankers to welfare moms, stockbrokers to inside traders are all on the block. CDOs - The Other Shoe 21.03.09 Dean Borok If you believe that this is the end of endlessly shoveling money into the AIG black hole, think again. The other shoe has yet to drop Send in the Clowns 14.03.09 James Campion Satire & Bluster For two consecutive weeks, the shenanigans of a radio talk show commentator and a Comedy Central satirist infused their will on the vox populi. End of the capitalist error in East Africa? Ronald Elly Wanda You can almost smell the fear. Collapse, catastrophe and calamity this time round seemed to be dominant of all subjects financial. The Great leap of Faith James Campion After a mere month in office, the president of the United States placed his nearly two-year, almost robotically orchestrated rise to power on the slimmest of reeds Economic Update - New York Dean Borok The solution advanced by Obama is akin to a blood pumping machine that replaces the heart and pumps energy to the rest of the body until a new banking system can be constructed and grafted on Where have you gone Muhammad Ali? - James Campion I miss Muhammad Ali. I miss his defiance, elegance and grit. Vox Stimuli James Campion What is transpiring throughout the world economy is about survival now. It is not about ideology or theory or political one-upsmanship. There is no longer room for heroes, only villains What the dickens...it's Mr. Dickens Colin Fisher Am I saying that whereas English has evolved throughout the centuries, adapting itself to changes within society, renewing itself constantly, Spanish has remained static? The Change Express James Campion The Obama Presidency Under The Microscope What Barack Obama walks into now is beyond anything Jack Kennedy had to experience Writers and Progress in East Africa Ronald Elly Wanda The history of contemporary political ideas of Africa is a neglected field in the continent and more so outside of it. Activating Your Foreign Language Antonio Graceffo Now that I am a teacher, I understand what the nuns were saying back in grade school. They were saying, “Children learn by listening, not by speaking." So long Captain Shoo-In: Our Bedeviled Boy Howdy James Campion The final epitaph to the tenure of our 43rd president is that he was far more adept at procuring the job than actually performing it Blind Faith Michael Levy How many people ruin their lives by blind faith in one way or another? Mr Burris Goes to Washington James Campion Remember the case of Roland Burris the next time some prickless dink prattles on about Founding Fathers and the almighty Constitution, or God given freedoms and the law-abiding exquisiteness of The System. The Meaning of Social Justice Punkerslut The whole is more valuable than the sum of all the parts. Social organization always drives back to this original concept. Transmetropolitan - A Spirit of our Times Steven Stemp The New Year is a unique time, it allows us to gaze longingly back into the past, and to look hopefully to the future. To leave behind the mistakes of the old, and get ready to make entirely new ones 0h-Nine: The Year of the Guilty James Campion + Readers letters Two-thousand nine will be the year of The Guilty. Exoneration is in the air. Free rides. Hard promises. Credentials for all; particularly those who don't deserve them The Bogus Battle for Christmas James Campion This just in: Christmas has nothing to do with religion. Around here, and by around here I mean America, it is the granddaddy of consumer holidays Curioser and curioser! Annie Lalla The forces of curiosity and imagination pull us towards pleasure, expansion and integration with the rest of the world. Together they form a character profile in each of us. The Nationality of Hot Dogs In Defence of German Culture Lois Tietzel After endless discussions and lots and lots of hours spent churning and burning inside about all the terrible torturous things in U.S. history you begin to see the points of the very analytical, drilling and more than direct German students and their criticism of the U.S. and its role in the world The Thomas Hobbes School of Driving Like a Carioca Brynn Barineau My husband and I almost died the other day.  Again.  We were driving a car in Rio de Janeiro, so near death experiences are just one of the costs like gas and wiper fluid.  Muay Lao, the forgotten art of kickboxing Antonio Graceffo “You can gain extra power on your kicks by throwing your kicking arm down, but you need to protect your face with a cross arm defense.” Explained Adjarn Ngern, at the national kick boxing stadium in Vientiane, Lao. Troubled Times Dan Crossen is looking for a Hero Heroes is a television show that that uses this fear of the unknown to entertain and to explore the human mind Entropy Jeannine Pitas I can’t stand it when someone yells at me. It really doesn’t matter who it is- Career Choices in '09 Sam North A student asked me what jobs will go in this recession. I’m still thinking about it. It's not just the recession is it. That's too easy. This is all about the digital revolution. Big changes are coming Bad Trips: The Art of Travail in Travel Writing John Edwards Our writer surveys the New Travel Writing field and finds the only good trips are bad trips, especially when even our guidebooks are “survival kits.” My First Kiss Katie Tatela Curiosity. Why are boys so drooly? I never wanted a boy to kiss me my entire life. The Death Road Biking the World’s Most Dangerous Route J. Malcolm Garcia "It’s not compulsory that you die today, okay?" Breakfast at Manny’s (New York City) John M. Edwards Anyway I flubbed my audition recently @ Manny’s, the legendary guitar shop on 48th "Avenue" (a bit more famous abroad really than even Sam Ash!)—not that anyone was really listening Growing Old Alas one reaches the ‘countdown’ age. According to statistics, I’ve got about 8 years to go The '78 Revolution in Afghanistan Larry Clinton Thompson “I believe,” Pat said calmly, as the tanks rumbled by. “We should take cover inside.” Now and Then Neha Mehta How life changes. You think you've got it all figured out but you haven't. Modern Caravanserai Rachael Pettus in Turkey For security, convenience, and economy, not to mention more than a touch of the colour and camaraderie, time and again we found that highway fuel stations were the best places to sleep. Cell Culture Dean Borok Everywhere I go, everybody’s got his face stuck in a cell phone. The Masterly Art of Stupidity Michael Levy We live in a stupid world, filled with oceans of stupidity    Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind   Site search Web search

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Lifestyles 3 2003-2007

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