In a space of just two weeks, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia have all held high-level public meetings with Israel — a rare event for Muslim countries. The president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, who had long taken an especially hardline stand against the Jewish state, even shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, in front of a host of delegates to the world summit.
Arab countries like Qatar are encouraging efforts to renew and expand peacemaking as a way to ease the Palestinian conflict and to blunt the influence of Islamic militants, who are using discontent about the Palestinians and the war in Iraq to stir up unrest worldwide.
They have also concluded that Israel is not going to be destroyed — and that it might be in the Muslim nations' best interests to be involved in the Mideast peace process.
Friday, September 16, 2005
The Greatest Athlete Ever?
Hardly.
Some people are just destined to lead interesting lives.
Kevin Mitchell was a professional baseball player. That's already a mark of distinction, enough to earn him a writeup. Moreover, he was good, winning the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1989.
But that's not what makes him interesting.
How many people strain a ribcage muscle while vomiting? How many baseball players have gotten into a brawl and punched the opposing team's owner? How many people have caught a hard line drive hit 300 feet — with his bare right hand? How many people contribute to the arrest of a friend by leaving him a comp ticket? How many people showed up late for spring training because of emergency dental work needed after eating a chocolate donut? Who allegedly beheaded a cat to solve a domestic dispute?
And how many professional baseball players have been unable to complete the Cleveland Indians' 850-yard training run for spring training?
For the last question, the answer is one: Kevin Darnell Mitchell.
Some people are just destined to lead interesting lives.
Kevin Mitchell was a professional baseball player. That's already a mark of distinction, enough to earn him a writeup. Moreover, he was good, winning the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1989.
But that's not what makes him interesting.
How many people strain a ribcage muscle while vomiting? How many baseball players have gotten into a brawl and punched the opposing team's owner? How many people have caught a hard line drive hit 300 feet — with his bare right hand? How many people contribute to the arrest of a friend by leaving him a comp ticket? How many people showed up late for spring training because of emergency dental work needed after eating a chocolate donut? Who allegedly beheaded a cat to solve a domestic dispute?
And how many professional baseball players have been unable to complete the Cleveland Indians' 850-yard training run for spring training?
For the last question, the answer is one: Kevin Darnell Mitchell.
India's Marathon Boy
He runs seven hours at a stretch, sometimes as much as 48km (30 miles). On a daily basis.
And Budhia Singh is just three and a half years old.
When Budhia's father died a year ago, his mother, who washes dishes in Bhubaneswar, capital of the eastern Indian state of Orissa, was unable to provide for her four children.
She sold Budhia to a man for 800 rupees ($20).
But the young boy came to the attention of Biranchi Das, a judo coach and the secretary of the local judo association.
Mr Das said he noticed Budhia's talent when scolding him for being a bully.
"Once, after he had done some mischief, I asked him to keep running till I came back," Mr Das told the BBC.
"I got busy in some work. When I came back after five hours, I was stunned to find him still running."
Mr Das, also the president of the residents' association of the run-down area where Budhia used to live, summoned the man who had bought Budhia and paid him his 800 rupees back.
Then started a strict diet and exercise regimen that saw Budhia adding a few kilometres to his daily marathon every few days.
In place of a few lumps of rice that he used to get at his mother's place, he now has a diet of eggs, milk, soybean and meat.
He starts running at 0500 each day and does not stop till noon.
After a few stretching exercises, he has lunch and goes for a siesta.
At 1600 it is time to run again.
Budhia is enjoying his stay at the judo hostel. "I can run and eat to my heart's content here," he says.
His speech is not yet easy to understand. Though he has yet to go to school, he has completed learning the alphabet of Oriya, the local language.
Budhia's coach has now set his eyes on a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
That, he says, will be possible when he can run for 90km at a stretch.
"I have no doubt whatsoever that he will achieve it soon", Mr Das says.
And Budhia Singh is just three and a half years old.
When Budhia's father died a year ago, his mother, who washes dishes in Bhubaneswar, capital of the eastern Indian state of Orissa, was unable to provide for her four children.
She sold Budhia to a man for 800 rupees ($20).
But the young boy came to the attention of Biranchi Das, a judo coach and the secretary of the local judo association.
Mr Das said he noticed Budhia's talent when scolding him for being a bully.
"Once, after he had done some mischief, I asked him to keep running till I came back," Mr Das told the BBC.
"I got busy in some work. When I came back after five hours, I was stunned to find him still running."
Mr Das, also the president of the residents' association of the run-down area where Budhia used to live, summoned the man who had bought Budhia and paid him his 800 rupees back.
Then started a strict diet and exercise regimen that saw Budhia adding a few kilometres to his daily marathon every few days.
In place of a few lumps of rice that he used to get at his mother's place, he now has a diet of eggs, milk, soybean and meat.
He starts running at 0500 each day and does not stop till noon.
After a few stretching exercises, he has lunch and goes for a siesta.
At 1600 it is time to run again.
Budhia is enjoying his stay at the judo hostel. "I can run and eat to my heart's content here," he says.
His speech is not yet easy to understand. Though he has yet to go to school, he has completed learning the alphabet of Oriya, the local language.
Budhia's coach has now set his eyes on a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
That, he says, will be possible when he can run for 90km at a stretch.
"I have no doubt whatsoever that he will achieve it soon", Mr Das says.
Nooooooooooo!!!
"The A-Team" may or may not ever take its place in the pantheon of classic TV shows, although viewers of a certain age (that'd be about 28 to 36, men in particular) tend to remember it fondly.
One of the show's stars, though, may soon make it onto classic-TV network TV Land. Mr. T has signed a deal to star in a pilot for the channel called "I Pity the Fool," in which he'll dole out advice and try to help people in difficult situations. Lions Gate TV is producing the project.
It's presumed that in the course of helping people get their lives right, no jibba jabba will be allowed.
"We are very excited to work with Mr. T and Lions Gate on 'I Pity The Fool,'" says Sal Maniaci, head of development for TV Land. "By putting Mr. T in an unfamiliar environment, viewers will have the experience of seeing him back up his famous words and attitude with concrete actions."
"I Pity the Fool" will find Mr. T acting as a "motivational guru" helping people improve their personal and professional lives. Mr. T will use his own varied life experience as basis for his strategy to help others.
The pilot is set to go into production in October. Stephen Belafonte ("Thank You for Smoking"), Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver ("Growing Up Gotti") will serve as executive producers.
One of the show's stars, though, may soon make it onto classic-TV network TV Land. Mr. T has signed a deal to star in a pilot for the channel called "I Pity the Fool," in which he'll dole out advice and try to help people in difficult situations. Lions Gate TV is producing the project.
It's presumed that in the course of helping people get their lives right, no jibba jabba will be allowed.
"We are very excited to work with Mr. T and Lions Gate on 'I Pity The Fool,'" says Sal Maniaci, head of development for TV Land. "By putting Mr. T in an unfamiliar environment, viewers will have the experience of seeing him back up his famous words and attitude with concrete actions."
"I Pity the Fool" will find Mr. T acting as a "motivational guru" helping people improve their personal and professional lives. Mr. T will use his own varied life experience as basis for his strategy to help others.
The pilot is set to go into production in October. Stephen Belafonte ("Thank You for Smoking"), Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver ("Growing Up Gotti") will serve as executive producers.
The Wisdom of 50 Cent
Rapper 50 Cent has criticised Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt for refusing to confirm whether or not they are a couple, because he believes the press would leave them alone if they behaved openly.
The In Da Club star insists too much privacy can be dangerous for celebrities, as the media will go to great lengths to dig out any secrets.
He says: "If you're a celebrity, people want to go on that journey with you. If you try to hide it, eventually the public's curiosity forces them to find out what's in your garbage can. When you don't allow people to have that information, they start to dig harder."
"If Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were open, they wouldn't have paparazzi following them."
The In Da Club star insists too much privacy can be dangerous for celebrities, as the media will go to great lengths to dig out any secrets.
He says: "If you're a celebrity, people want to go on that journey with you. If you try to hide it, eventually the public's curiosity forces them to find out what's in your garbage can. When you don't allow people to have that information, they start to dig harder."
"If Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were open, they wouldn't have paparazzi following them."
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Say What?
Here's a howler from the AP:
The era of big government is back. President Bush is presiding over what is sure to be the most expensive government relief and reconstruction operation in U.S. history.
With estimates of the federal tab ranging up to $200 billion for rebuilding New Orleans and other storm-ravaged Gulf Coast cities, Bush and his Republican allies in Congress are casting aside budget discipline.
"Casting aside budget discipline"? How do you cast aside something you never possessed.
The era of big government is back. President Bush is presiding over what is sure to be the most expensive government relief and reconstruction operation in U.S. history.
With estimates of the federal tab ranging up to $200 billion for rebuilding New Orleans and other storm-ravaged Gulf Coast cities, Bush and his Republican allies in Congress are casting aside budget discipline.
"Casting aside budget discipline"? How do you cast aside something you never possessed.
Look Out Big Brothers
We're coming for your SUV's:
Eight in 10 people say it's important for Americans now driving sport utility vehicles to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce the nation's dependence on oil, a poll found.
With gas prices hovering around $3 a gallon nationally and the price of natural gas rising sharply, six in 10 said they are not confident President Bush is taking the right approach to solving the nation's energy problems, according to the survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
What's funny, though, is that gas prices are "outrageously" high, yet our consumption continues as is. There has been no drop in demand. In fact, a recent survey I saw showed that our demand has actually increased a bit over the past few months.
What does this mean: It means $3 a gallon for gas must not be outrageously high.
Eight in 10 people say it's important for Americans now driving sport utility vehicles to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce the nation's dependence on oil, a poll found.
With gas prices hovering around $3 a gallon nationally and the price of natural gas rising sharply, six in 10 said they are not confident President Bush is taking the right approach to solving the nation's energy problems, according to the survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
What's funny, though, is that gas prices are "outrageously" high, yet our consumption continues as is. There has been no drop in demand. In fact, a recent survey I saw showed that our demand has actually increased a bit over the past few months.
What does this mean: It means $3 a gallon for gas must not be outrageously high.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
This Sounds Like A Good Idea
Some public-spirited folks in Bozeman, Montana, have come up with a wonderful idea to help Uncle Sam offset some of the $62 billion federal cost of Hurricane Katrina relief. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that Montanans from both sides of the political aisle have petitioned the city council to give the feds back a $4 million earmark to pay for a parking garage in the just-passed $286 billion highway bill. As one of these citizens, Jane Shaw, told us: "We figure New Orleans needs the money right now a lot more than we need extra downtown parking space."
Which got us thinking: Why not cancel all of the special-project pork in the highway bill and dedicate the $25 billion in savings to emergency relief on the Gulf Coast? Is it asking too much for Richmond, Indiana, to give up $3 million for its hiking trail, or Newark, New Jersey, to put a hold on its $2 million bike path?
Which got us thinking: Why not cancel all of the special-project pork in the highway bill and dedicate the $25 billion in savings to emergency relief on the Gulf Coast? Is it asking too much for Richmond, Indiana, to give up $3 million for its hiking trail, or Newark, New Jersey, to put a hold on its $2 million bike path?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
When Is It OK For Men To Cry?
I just came across this list, and it's pretty exhaustive:
- Birth of a child
- Death in the family (including a pet)
- When the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team beat the commies
- While watching "Field of Dreams" (only the last scene when he's playing catch with his Dad)
- While watching "Brian's Song"
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