22-Aug-02

History of tea. History of coffee. via: plep comment [] 2:00:04 PM | permalink

Why? Here's Why.. Some libertarians have a lot of trouble with the notion of attacking Afghanistan, Iraq, or other obvious and immediate threats... [Dailypundit] comment [] 1:55:48 PM | permalink

Morons in the News: Catholic League: Censor those who Offend Us. First, let's get a few things straight. Going into someone's cathedral to have sex isn't cool. It's rude, and it's probably trespassing among other things. The Catholics have a legitimate complaint against that couple that went to their cathedral to boink... [Morons Dot Org] comment [] 1:53:58 PM | permalink

Jealousy Trouble? Measure Your Lover's Ears Thu Aug 22, 6:37 AM ET - (Reuters) If you are worried about jealousy ruining your love life, here's the latest scientific advice: try measuring your partner's ears. Or feet.   French Mayor Bans Residents from Dying Thu Aug 22,10:25 AM ET - (Reuters) The mayor of a French Mediterranean town, faced with a cemetery "full to bursting," has banned local residents from dying until he can find somewhere else to bury them. comment [] 1:45:50 PM | permalink

Letters A dead firefighter's mother, a union activist and other readers respond to Eric Boehlert's "Too Hot to Handle" Ordinary people, extraordinary evil. What kind of person can attack, mutilate and kill a total stranger or even a neighbor? A scholar talks about the dark potential in all of us. La FDA américaine autorise le premier test au niveau national d'un médicament contre le virus du Nil 23h44 WASHINGTON (AP) - La Food and Drug Administration (FDA) américaine, chargée de réglementer la distribution et les conditions de délivrance des biens d'alimentation et des médicaments, a donné son accord à un test au niveau national d'un médicament contre le virus du Nil, qui s'est étendu dans la moitié du pays et a déjà tué 31 personnes depuis sa première détection aux Etats-Unis il y a trois ans.  Mais oui, but of course I speak français But there's always the silence, a seeming eternity, when I fear there might be a comeback, a sort of ad lib in French that I won't be quick enough on my feet to respond to excerpt from The National last night: Rex Murphy REX MURPHY: The first thing to remark is that it is a concession. A concession from a man and a Prime Minister who has earned a fierce reputation for never conceding. The Prime Minister has conceded that the leadership review was not his for the winning, that Paul Martin has a stronger grip on the apparatus of the Liberal party and more tellingly on the good opinion of its members. It was a concession also that no amount of prime ministerial arm twisting, loyalty lists, taunts about a snap election, none of these or all combined were enough to give him the threat that facing his party in full review the Prime Minister would lose and taste all the humiliations that a proud leader would endure at such a moment. The second thing to remark is that it is the right thing for him to, right for him, right for his party and right for anyone. For now it's many more than just Paul Martin who has the ambition or lust to replace him. The deepest mystery of the fracas that's overtaken the Liberal party is why it was ever necessary in the first place. The Prime Minister has had a bounty of success and a career that touches 40 years. What more was he expecting? What more was there to be earned? By this combination of teasing and stubbornness, about making a dignified and necessary farewell. That said, I think it was an announcement extorted by reality, that without the challenge from Martin and the evidence of certain numbers and polls, Mr. Chretien would still be in the I may run next time mode. Does today's announcement mean that the Liberal party is now a sweet pool of calm and serenity? A garden party of good will and harmony? Hardly. This is a graduation from undeclared war to full combat. The dynamic has changed utterly. But now the other contenders - Manley, Copps, Rock, perhaps Brian Tobin will have another and an early Christmas epiphany - are called into open play. Some of them or one of them, most likely Mr. Manley, will be the Prime Minister's surrogate in the great feud with the ex-Finance Minister. This time, all sides know it's for real. Mr. Martin has shown all he has into the scales already - the full career, the mini coup of the last months and something of his family's honour are all tied up in the drive to be Prime Minister. And the others know that they have to break the Liberal party's most popular front man to have a chance. The Prime Minister may have conceded. This is not the same thing as saying he has forgotten. This contest will make the Alliance struggles of last year look like a healing marathon put up by congenital Oprah-holics. But the Liberal party will look like at the end of this, is anyone's guess. For The National, I'm Rex Murphy. comment [] 8:51:12 AM | permalink