Goodyear Tires, the mainstay of tires for both Nascar and NHRA racing is moving more and more of it's production to China with 42cents an hour labor unfairly competing against American labor union, Steelworkers Union members. Currently many Goodyear union members are on strike, replaced by nonunion workers while more production is being sent to China. It seems to be a major union busting effort.
Goodyear claims this has moved the company towards better profitablity, however it is just another trend more high paying union jobs flowing from the U.S. Yet the all-American reputation of some sports such as NASCAR, seems at stake when so many low wage imports begin to replace former American made goods.
One hand, countries like China have greatly improved their economy by economic coups such as getting big contracts to produce formerly American made goods. On the other hand, it is only another squeeze on America's declining middle class, as the country becomes more polarized into a large pocket of working poor and a small wealthy class.
Selasa, 05 Desember 2006
Hugo Chavez Lacks A Pragmatic Will
Confrontational President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez was unfortunately re-elected this weekend. Rather than being a true reformer for the social and economic inequity in Venezuela, Chavez is likely to maintain the economic status quo where the poor will not fare much better than they have in the past two terms of this leader who is increasingly becoming a new Fidel Castro. Like Castro, little economic gain among the poor comes from this confrontational form of leftism that solves little of the domestic problems at home of poverty and social inequity, but instead relies on blaming the U.S. at every turn.
Leftist governments like the Chinese and Vietnamese Communists are pragmatic by comparison. Cooperation with the U.S. has resulted in large and expanding trade that has dramaticly improved the economy of both states. By comparison , Castro's Cuba has lost out on a huge possible tourist trade with the U.S., and Chavez threatens the status of the state -run Citgo Oil to operate in the U.S. South American leftists don't seem to realize that Asian Communists are still Communists, but want respect in the world community, and want decent relations with large economic markets such as the U.S. to sell goods to improve their own standard of living. The Chinese and Vietnamese Communist Parties have reaped respect for the improving living conditions in their lands. But some like Hugo Chavez promise economic improvement that just never seems to come.
Castro's brother, Raul seems to be opening the door a little bit to better relations with Cuba, although the Bush Administration is unlikely to effectively act on this like President Nixon who sought to open up previously hostile and secretative China to the world. Chavez should look to these Asian examples of leftist governments that are pragmatic and take a clue. With the immense oil wealth of his nation, a product that the U.S. needs, Chavez is missing a major opportunity to improve his nation by better cooperation with the U.S.
Leftist governments like the Chinese and Vietnamese Communists are pragmatic by comparison. Cooperation with the U.S. has resulted in large and expanding trade that has dramaticly improved the economy of both states. By comparison , Castro's Cuba has lost out on a huge possible tourist trade with the U.S., and Chavez threatens the status of the state -run Citgo Oil to operate in the U.S. South American leftists don't seem to realize that Asian Communists are still Communists, but want respect in the world community, and want decent relations with large economic markets such as the U.S. to sell goods to improve their own standard of living. The Chinese and Vietnamese Communist Parties have reaped respect for the improving living conditions in their lands. But some like Hugo Chavez promise economic improvement that just never seems to come.
Castro's brother, Raul seems to be opening the door a little bit to better relations with Cuba, although the Bush Administration is unlikely to effectively act on this like President Nixon who sought to open up previously hostile and secretative China to the world. Chavez should look to these Asian examples of leftist governments that are pragmatic and take a clue. With the immense oil wealth of his nation, a product that the U.S. needs, Chavez is missing a major opportunity to improve his nation by better cooperation with the U.S.
Senin, 04 Desember 2006
Cable TV Offers Some Highlights And Lowlights This Week
Cable TV is offering some real highlights and some real lowpoints this week. One if the best promises to be the 2 hour season opener for THE CLOSER. This excellent police drama is more than well acted and well written. It's cable TV at it's very best. This is a must see event.
A far weaker entry is THE LIBRARIAN: RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES, an obvious RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK ripoff starring former ER star, Noah Wyle. Wyle is one of few high points in this blatant ripoff, with his usual pleasant and engaging personality caught up in a story not as nearly as good as INDIANIA JONES sagas by any means. Some silly special effects, that seem like childish HARRY POTTER ripoffs like a flying sword and harp only add to the silly nature of this so-so adventure drama that caught me fighting sleep by 45 in. Another computer-generated sequence with ghosts appeared to be the worst cheap re-enactment of another scene from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK that was memorable by comparison. Why attempt a scene so similiar to another in a far better film with a far smaller budget was only to invite a losing proposition comparison. Watch this if you wish, but be warned. Like the first LIBRARIAN from 2004 this film is disappointing, and only a little better than the first if that's saying much.
Two other cable TV comedies offer a little promise including the cruely funny comedy 10 ITEMS OR LESS, a tasteless grocery store comedy on at 11PM , and MY BOYS, another interesting comedy featuring the great comic Jim Gaffigan. This looks promising enough to watch at least once.
A far weaker entry is THE LIBRARIAN: RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES, an obvious RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK ripoff starring former ER star, Noah Wyle. Wyle is one of few high points in this blatant ripoff, with his usual pleasant and engaging personality caught up in a story not as nearly as good as INDIANIA JONES sagas by any means. Some silly special effects, that seem like childish HARRY POTTER ripoffs like a flying sword and harp only add to the silly nature of this so-so adventure drama that caught me fighting sleep by 45 in. Another computer-generated sequence with ghosts appeared to be the worst cheap re-enactment of another scene from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK that was memorable by comparison. Why attempt a scene so similiar to another in a far better film with a far smaller budget was only to invite a losing proposition comparison. Watch this if you wish, but be warned. Like the first LIBRARIAN from 2004 this film is disappointing, and only a little better than the first if that's saying much.
Two other cable TV comedies offer a little promise including the cruely funny comedy 10 ITEMS OR LESS, a tasteless grocery store comedy on at 11PM , and MY BOYS, another interesting comedy featuring the great comic Jim Gaffigan. This looks promising enough to watch at least once.
Minggu, 03 Desember 2006
The Muslim World Population Bomb And The Rising Faith And State Issues
Very quietly, the world community has ignored that cultural differences within the Muslim community have encouraged this community to have disportionately large familes if sometimes seven or eight children, while other groups have either nearly replacement or declining birth rares. The steady rise in Muslim populations has eventually increased the populations so much, that traditional religious or ethnic group rule of the past has been gradually challenged.
In countries such as France and Great Britain, not only the increase in immgrants from MidEast Muslim states has created large ethnic Arab communities, but now presents a future wrest for political power in France and parts of Europe. Britain wrestles with a balance between the traditional Protestant dominated culture and a rising population with traditions in Islam.
In Turkey, the increased fundamentalist Muslim population threatens the more secular form of the government of Turkey, as Muslim fundamentalism creeps more into education and impacts what kind of NATO member or EU member Turkey could become. After the postWWI upheaval that eliminated centuries of Ottoman Empire rule that twice attempted to overrun Vienna by the sword to spread the Muslim faith as well as the WWI axis of Turkey with Germany, the more secular government of modern Turkey's declining influence as Muslim fundamentalism rises creates new challenges as how the Western world should view Turkey.
In Israel, the steady increase of the Palestinian population since the 1948 war, not only increased Palestinian political clout, but also evoked an Israeli backlash of fears of becoming a minority of the population of Israel at some point in the future and losing control of Israel to an Arab Muslim majority. This long feared, "Palestinian Population Bomb" by some in Israel only helped to fuel political negotiations on one level, but has also fueled fear and violent confrontation on the other hand.
But the one area in which the Muslim population bomb may have the greatest impact is in Russia. Th ethnic Russians are currently involved in declining birth rate cycle for many reasons, while the Muslim population of Russia is on a sharp increase cycle because of many families with seven or eight children. By the year 2050, some estimates claim that Muslims in Russia may be in the majority. If somewhat free elections still exist in Russia despite the antidemocratic nature of Putin and others, than Russia could become a Muslim dominated government with a vast nuclear weapons inventory by 2050. Depending on the nature of this government, this could mean a dangerous trend towards support for MidEast governments such as Iran or the proliferation of nuclear weapons if not open MidEast war that threatens Israel or beyond.
Cultural differences that have helped to dramaticly increase the Muslim world population is creating new political realities across the globe. Even in the U.S., the first Muslim was elected to Congress, who is now challenging that he be sworn in on a Koran and not the Bible. But then again some very flawed leaders such as Richard Nixon or Tom Delay were sweared in by the Bible, so the lpyalty of anyone to defending the values of this nation cannot be so easily defined by the book that they take the oath on. But the increasing world Muslim populations are creating new political realities the world over, and presenting new questions about the role of some with faith and state.
In countries such as France and Great Britain, not only the increase in immgrants from MidEast Muslim states has created large ethnic Arab communities, but now presents a future wrest for political power in France and parts of Europe. Britain wrestles with a balance between the traditional Protestant dominated culture and a rising population with traditions in Islam.
In Turkey, the increased fundamentalist Muslim population threatens the more secular form of the government of Turkey, as Muslim fundamentalism creeps more into education and impacts what kind of NATO member or EU member Turkey could become. After the postWWI upheaval that eliminated centuries of Ottoman Empire rule that twice attempted to overrun Vienna by the sword to spread the Muslim faith as well as the WWI axis of Turkey with Germany, the more secular government of modern Turkey's declining influence as Muslim fundamentalism rises creates new challenges as how the Western world should view Turkey.
In Israel, the steady increase of the Palestinian population since the 1948 war, not only increased Palestinian political clout, but also evoked an Israeli backlash of fears of becoming a minority of the population of Israel at some point in the future and losing control of Israel to an Arab Muslim majority. This long feared, "Palestinian Population Bomb" by some in Israel only helped to fuel political negotiations on one level, but has also fueled fear and violent confrontation on the other hand.
But the one area in which the Muslim population bomb may have the greatest impact is in Russia. Th ethnic Russians are currently involved in declining birth rate cycle for many reasons, while the Muslim population of Russia is on a sharp increase cycle because of many families with seven or eight children. By the year 2050, some estimates claim that Muslims in Russia may be in the majority. If somewhat free elections still exist in Russia despite the antidemocratic nature of Putin and others, than Russia could become a Muslim dominated government with a vast nuclear weapons inventory by 2050. Depending on the nature of this government, this could mean a dangerous trend towards support for MidEast governments such as Iran or the proliferation of nuclear weapons if not open MidEast war that threatens Israel or beyond.
Cultural differences that have helped to dramaticly increase the Muslim world population is creating new political realities across the globe. Even in the U.S., the first Muslim was elected to Congress, who is now challenging that he be sworn in on a Koran and not the Bible. But then again some very flawed leaders such as Richard Nixon or Tom Delay were sweared in by the Bible, so the lpyalty of anyone to defending the values of this nation cannot be so easily defined by the book that they take the oath on. But the increasing world Muslim populations are creating new political realities the world over, and presenting new questions about the role of some with faith and state.
Sabtu, 02 Desember 2006
Britney Spears Turns 25 Today; Nation Braces For More Hard Core Partying
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Right Wing Blogs That Attack The Free Press, Limit Comments And Contrary Opinions On Their Sites
Some far right blogs that have been recently falsely claiming that AP makes up news about Iraq, curiously use various ways to limit comments and contrary statements including facts by others to challenge their outrageous one sided opinions.
One of the worst of these sites, FLOPPING ACES, uses a process where site operator "Curt", personally chooses which comments will appear. Contrary views do not seem to be allowed by him on the main site that challenge his outrageous claims, although on the Blogger operated FLOPPING ACES BACKUP, some contrary opinions seem to have been allowed without removal recently. It is also interesting that "Curt" uses this alais to hide his real identity and does not use his real full name, yet for days has made an issue about the identity of Iraqi police office Captain Jamil Gholaiem Hussein. Hypocrisy seems to show no limits. Other more credible left and right leaning website and blog operators use their real full name because they can stand behind their stories and features, and are more responsible journalists. It is trash journalists like "Curt" that stand behind an alais and print outrageous smear journalism.
Wild eyed journalist, Michelle Malkin, who always seems unduly angry about something, completely limits comments on her site. They simply don't appear. Her word is absolute, no matter how absurd her claims.
Another far right blog, NEWSBUSTERS, which is an antifree press blog solely devoted to attacks on what is claimed to be the "Liberal Media Bias", appears to be a hydralike multiheaded beast of many right wing bloggers who appear to use their real names, but use a registration proces to limit contrary comments. The site claims to oppose "media bias", yet bias is exactly what this site seems to practice, a one-sided biased attack on the free press, raising unfair doubts about mainstream press reporting.
While many other smaller examples of irresponsible right wing blogs exist, these are just three of the worst offenders. These three blogs all seek to "expose" what they claim to be problems in the press, yet limit freedom of speech, or hide behind an alais, or some other antidemocratic or antifree press means. These sites don't want facts posted that debunk their absurd claims against AP or other main media sources. Blogs may allow anyone to publish that wants to. But not everyone is responsible with this freedom it seems.
One of the worst of these sites, FLOPPING ACES, uses a process where site operator "Curt", personally chooses which comments will appear. Contrary views do not seem to be allowed by him on the main site that challenge his outrageous claims, although on the Blogger operated FLOPPING ACES BACKUP, some contrary opinions seem to have been allowed without removal recently. It is also interesting that "Curt" uses this alais to hide his real identity and does not use his real full name, yet for days has made an issue about the identity of Iraqi police office Captain Jamil Gholaiem Hussein. Hypocrisy seems to show no limits. Other more credible left and right leaning website and blog operators use their real full name because they can stand behind their stories and features, and are more responsible journalists. It is trash journalists like "Curt" that stand behind an alais and print outrageous smear journalism.
Wild eyed journalist, Michelle Malkin, who always seems unduly angry about something, completely limits comments on her site. They simply don't appear. Her word is absolute, no matter how absurd her claims.
Another far right blog, NEWSBUSTERS, which is an antifree press blog solely devoted to attacks on what is claimed to be the "Liberal Media Bias", appears to be a hydralike multiheaded beast of many right wing bloggers who appear to use their real names, but use a registration proces to limit contrary comments. The site claims to oppose "media bias", yet bias is exactly what this site seems to practice, a one-sided biased attack on the free press, raising unfair doubts about mainstream press reporting.
While many other smaller examples of irresponsible right wing blogs exist, these are just three of the worst offenders. These three blogs all seek to "expose" what they claim to be problems in the press, yet limit freedom of speech, or hide behind an alais, or some other antidemocratic or antifree press means. These sites don't want facts posted that debunk their absurd claims against AP or other main media sources. Blogs may allow anyone to publish that wants to. But not everyone is responsible with this freedom it seems.
Jumat, 01 Desember 2006
Some Right Wing Blogs Become Modern Day "Holocaust Denyers"
If anything is upsetting about the outrageous right wing attacks on the press reports of the murder of six Sunni citizens by a Shiite mob during the last few days, it is their unwitting efforts to become modern day Holocaust denyers, whe seem to be defending Shiite violence in Iraq, while denying reports of violence against Sunni Iraqis.
The press reports all examples of violence in Iraq with no political agenda and in a clearly impartial manner. By contrast when about 200 Shiites were killed and another 250 wounded by car bombs in the massive Sadr City slum area last week, the right wing blogs in America had no problem accepting this as probable acts of Sunni violence against Shiites. But when AP reported a mere six Sunni wordshippers were set on fire and the Sunni Mustata Mosque was badly damaged by blast damage, then some right wing blogs such as FLOPPING ACES, MICHELLE MALKIN and others began a concentrated effort to deny this Shiite mob violence against a mere six Sunni citizens, but accepted the killing and wounding of 450 Shiites as fact. Why such a proShiite extremist bias?
And this bizarre proShiite extremist bias by the far right has not abated in several days. The political right seems to be urging on Shiite extremists such the militia group dominated Iraqi Interior Ministry to crack down on press reporting of incidents against Sunni citizens. This same Interior Ministry has been implicated in running a torture chamber, planning crimes and violence against Sunni citizens, and possiby implicated in the planning and execution of the kidnappings and assault on the higher education offices recently. Some elements such as the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are hoping to rid Iraq of more secular based education, and turning Iraqi education into a fundamentalist Muslim controlled entity much like the Taliban control of education in Afghanistan. Many professors have fled Iraq or have been murdered, with some of this violence possiby linked to the Iraqi government Interior Ministry, perhaps the most corrupt, violent and Shiite militia group dominated part of the official Iraqi government.
Why are some right wing blogs becoming mouthpices for the Shiite extremists and militias? Any encouragement of the Iraqi Interior Ministry to "crackdown" on press reporting of crimes against Sunni citizens will only encourage Iraq to slip into a worsening state of civil war, genocide and Shiite extremism with close ties to Iran. Why are some right wing bloggers encouraging this Shiite violence and acting like modern day "Holocaust denyers"? Why are some on the political right waging an attack on the media when they impartially report violence in Iraq? This defense of the Shiite violence against Sunni citizens is hardly in the best interests of Iraqi peace and healing. This modern day "Holocaust denial" right wing extremism on some American right wing blogs is both irresponsible and disgusting.
The press reports all examples of violence in Iraq with no political agenda and in a clearly impartial manner. By contrast when about 200 Shiites were killed and another 250 wounded by car bombs in the massive Sadr City slum area last week, the right wing blogs in America had no problem accepting this as probable acts of Sunni violence against Shiites. But when AP reported a mere six Sunni wordshippers were set on fire and the Sunni Mustata Mosque was badly damaged by blast damage, then some right wing blogs such as FLOPPING ACES, MICHELLE MALKIN and others began a concentrated effort to deny this Shiite mob violence against a mere six Sunni citizens, but accepted the killing and wounding of 450 Shiites as fact. Why such a proShiite extremist bias?
And this bizarre proShiite extremist bias by the far right has not abated in several days. The political right seems to be urging on Shiite extremists such the militia group dominated Iraqi Interior Ministry to crack down on press reporting of incidents against Sunni citizens. This same Interior Ministry has been implicated in running a torture chamber, planning crimes and violence against Sunni citizens, and possiby implicated in the planning and execution of the kidnappings and assault on the higher education offices recently. Some elements such as the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are hoping to rid Iraq of more secular based education, and turning Iraqi education into a fundamentalist Muslim controlled entity much like the Taliban control of education in Afghanistan. Many professors have fled Iraq or have been murdered, with some of this violence possiby linked to the Iraqi government Interior Ministry, perhaps the most corrupt, violent and Shiite militia group dominated part of the official Iraqi government.
Why are some right wing blogs becoming mouthpices for the Shiite extremists and militias? Any encouragement of the Iraqi Interior Ministry to "crackdown" on press reporting of crimes against Sunni citizens will only encourage Iraq to slip into a worsening state of civil war, genocide and Shiite extremism with close ties to Iran. Why are some right wing bloggers encouraging this Shiite violence and acting like modern day "Holocaust denyers"? Why are some on the political right waging an attack on the media when they impartially report violence in Iraq? This defense of the Shiite violence against Sunni citizens is hardly in the best interests of Iraqi peace and healing. This modern day "Holocaust denial" right wing extremism on some American right wing blogs is both irresponsible and disgusting.
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