Fourth Post

Another publication I enjoy reading is the Christian Science Monitor.
They provide the information on reasons why something is happening unlike most other media outlets.
Often, all we get from the media is this happened. CSM will give you why it happened and what could be done to prevent it from happening again.
Interesting article read there today, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/0929/Israeli-principal-summoned-over-history-textbook-that-adds-Palestinian-view
Anytime a book is banned or censored you tend to realize something is amiss. Things have been amiss in that part of the world for quite a while now. The Israeli government says it wants peace but continues to take premium lands and resources as it's own. Situation similar to that of the American Indians in our country. The overwhelming factor in most all actions is greed. People just want more. Not all of course but still a large percentage of the population. Is greed just just a genetic failure of human beings or is there some way it can be reigned in without being oppressive?

Third Post

Thought I'd take a moment to post Harper's Weekly Review. They know how to mix the news and humor. Did the Daily Show get their ideas here?

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/09/WeeklyReview2010-09-14

Big uproar, or so the media makes it out to be, over the repeal and or extension of the Bush tax cuts from some years back. Appears they are going to extend for the middle class (<250k a year) and roll back for those earning more. One question no one ever seems to ask is how much money does one need? One article had read recently stated about $75k/yr to be happy. Some countries have a "Happiness Index" to measure how well the country is doing similar to our Gross Domestic Product which is only all about money. I've argued for a while now that no one, I mean no one, needs to make more than 100k a year. Believe will result in a much more civilized society with a great jump in overall happiness which will lead to improved productivity, less crime, etc...
Unfortunately, our society is too closely geared towards the almighty dollar. More on this later.

Second Post

Some interesting links today. First, on income wealth disparity in the United States from Harper's and Slate. Used to read Slate a lot more. So much out there. Not time for everything. Am an avid reader of Harper's. Used to subscribe to the New Republic which went downhill leading up to the Bush election. Lot of tendencies to support Bush and support of the war there. Finally found Harper's after so many years.


http://www.harpers.org/subjects/WashingtonBabylon

Ken Silverstein and Scott Horton are very good as well as Lewis Latham.

How is Canada this time of year?

Another good toonist is Tom Tomorrow. His latest:

http://www.credoaction.com/comics/2010/09/if-mlk-were-alive-today/

Beck in DC on MLK anniversary of I Have a Dream Speech. Only in America?

First Post

Well, I finally decided to get in on this blog thing.
Hopefully I'll do better than my real journal with content.
Enjoy political cartoonists very much. This one is by Tome Toles of the Washington Post.
Interesting comments on 3D technology and television.
Tend to see 3D as a fad myself. Adds nothing to the movie experience except extra cost for the consumer.
Prefer to see content added in terms of life experiences rather than things blowing up. Of course, a good
combination of the two can be satisfying.
I don't watch much television myself. Mostly just PBS or C-Span. Most of what is out there is just titillation imho. I also enjoy watching movies very much albeit am very particular on my choices. My NetFlix queue probably has 200 films pulled from various sources. An excellent source for film ratings is www.metacritic.com
Am still becoming accustomed to the new twitter like (Web 2.0) layout which do not care much for.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2010/08/third_eye_blind_there_apparent.html#more