Here's a thoughtful take on the recent uproar surrounding the aquisition of several U.S. ports by a firm owned by the UAE.
"The anxiety is that America is losing its place at the forefront of the global economy. We're suffering, experts say, from a bad case of economic insecurity that is rooted in America's long-standing inclination toward isolationism."
2.27.2006
2.18.2006
2.10.2006
Don't Despair Over Hamas Gains
Forbes has a summary of a meeting held yesterday at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars with the Israeli and Egyptian Ambassadors as well as the PLO representative to the U.S.
To me, the central issue for the United States is how to reconcile support for "free and fair" elections in Palestine--observed by the U.N. and the National Democratice Institute--with the coming to power of a political group the U.S. has labeled a terrorist organization. How do we allow citizens to choose their own leaders and then reject the outcome? If the U.S. chooses to decrease or cutoff aid to Palestine, which is currently being discussed on Capitol Hill, we are sending a hypocritical message to the Palestinian people. It would seem to me that in so doing we would only be fostering further resentment toward the U.S. and its foreign policy.
This brings me to another point. For all of Bush's talk on bringing democracy too the Middle East and focusing on U.S. national security, Iran's position continues to get stronger. First we took out their religious and political opposition in Iraq, then we facilitated the coming to power in Palestine of an organization whose stated objective--the destruction of Israel--coincides directly with President Ahmadinejad's own interests. Obviously, U.S. government officials had no way to predict the outcome of Palestinian elections, yet it's hard for me to see how these recent developments have furthered U.S. interests in the region.
To me, the central issue for the United States is how to reconcile support for "free and fair" elections in Palestine--observed by the U.N. and the National Democratice Institute--with the coming to power of a political group the U.S. has labeled a terrorist organization. How do we allow citizens to choose their own leaders and then reject the outcome? If the U.S. chooses to decrease or cutoff aid to Palestine, which is currently being discussed on Capitol Hill, we are sending a hypocritical message to the Palestinian people. It would seem to me that in so doing we would only be fostering further resentment toward the U.S. and its foreign policy.
This brings me to another point. For all of Bush's talk on bringing democracy too the Middle East and focusing on U.S. national security, Iran's position continues to get stronger. First we took out their religious and political opposition in Iraq, then we facilitated the coming to power in Palestine of an organization whose stated objective--the destruction of Israel--coincides directly with President Ahmadinejad's own interests. Obviously, U.S. government officials had no way to predict the outcome of Palestinian elections, yet it's hard for me to see how these recent developments have furthered U.S. interests in the region.
2.09.2006
Will Globalization Make Hatred More Lethal?
An interesting essay by Robert Wright, Schwartz Senior Fellow, discusses the implications of new developments in technology on the ability of terrorists to plan and carry out attacks.
Here's an excerpt (italics added):
"Why has terrorism become public enemy number one? The most common answer--the rise of a brand of radical Islam that uses terror as its weapon—-is true insofar as it goes. But the reason this weapon is so scary is that something deeper has changed: technology now makes it possible for clusters of intensely hateful people to cause thousands, even millions, of deaths without using the political or military machinery of a state. Yes, the hateful people most likely to exploit this fact today are radical Muslims, but even if this threat subsides, the generic threat will remain: hatred is more lethal than it used to be. And the underlying technological trends will persist over the next three decades, making it more lethal still."
Here's an excerpt (italics added):
"Why has terrorism become public enemy number one? The most common answer--the rise of a brand of radical Islam that uses terror as its weapon—-is true insofar as it goes. But the reason this weapon is so scary is that something deeper has changed: technology now makes it possible for clusters of intensely hateful people to cause thousands, even millions, of deaths without using the political or military machinery of a state. Yes, the hateful people most likely to exploit this fact today are radical Muslims, but even if this threat subsides, the generic threat will remain: hatred is more lethal than it used to be. And the underlying technological trends will persist over the next three decades, making it more lethal still."
2.05.2006
Here we go Steelers
Michael Imbroscio has a great article in today's Post:
"Because of its proximity to Pittsburgh -- four hours by car-- Washington and its suburbs are a hotbed of transplanted "Yinz-ers" -- a name derived from a quirk of the Pittsburgh dialect in which other people are referred to not as "you" or even as "you all," but as "yinz." Thousands of Yinz-ers, now in their thirties and forties -- such as myself -- call the Washington area home."
1.29.2006
Project Implicit
Project Implicit is a fascinating method for associating an individual's preference between two concepts. The test I just took was between imprisonment and capital punishment for example. The results of the test are often surprising.
The project was recently discussed on Slate and in Malcolm Gladwell's book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
The project was recently discussed on Slate and in Malcolm Gladwell's book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
1.24.2006
Securing the Middle East with a Nuclear Iran?
The Globalist's Thomas P.M. Barnett suggests that a nuclear armed Iran may be a stabilizing force in the region. His "Blueprint for Action" presents a number of interesting possibilities in a development that has so brought about few new perspectives.In the recent increase in tensions between Iran and the West it is important to distinguish between the Iranian government and the Iranian people. With this in mind, one can better analyze Iranian political maneuvering from a domestic and international perspective.
Current efforts by U.S. and E.U. officials to seek a referral of Iran to the U.N. Security Council provides little hope for an acceptable outcome. China's tremendous thirst for energy makes an oil and gas embargo improbable. It also remains to be seen if such an embargo would damage Iran or the world economy more. It seems officials are seeking a Security Council referral without plans for a successful end-game. With this in mind, one must be willing to consider alternative perspectives.
"In many ways, the Shiite revolutionary spirit died a long time ago in Iran, leaving behind a cynical political order where the mullahs pretend to rule, the citizens pretend to obey and the government pretends to reform.
Iran is a frightfully young society, full of ambition for a better life and chafing under what the majority of the population consider to be the rather idiotic rule of the religious fundamentalists, one that offers them no future worth pursuing in an increasingly globalized world that demands far more rational rule sets."
1.23.2006
Rice Reshaping USAID
Condoleezza Rice recently remarked on the creation of the position of director of Foreign Assistance within the State Department. This new director will also serve as the USAID administrator.
Rice believes this will allow for the better coordination of U.S. development efforts while others are concerned that this will allow State Department concerns to subsume USAID objectives.
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security was also heralded as an important effort to allow various government entities to work more closely with one another, yet the failure of the U.S. government to respond adequately to the Hurricane Katrina disaster called into question such logic. It remains to be seen whether aligning agencies into one organizational structure produces a more effective system.
Rice believes this will allow for the better coordination of U.S. development efforts while others are concerned that this will allow State Department concerns to subsume USAID objectives.
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security was also heralded as an important effort to allow various government entities to work more closely with one another, yet the failure of the U.S. government to respond adequately to the Hurricane Katrina disaster called into question such logic. It remains to be seen whether aligning agencies into one organizational structure produces a more effective system.
1.19.2006
Build, therefore, your own world
Here's a quote by Emerson I recently encountered:
"So shall we come to look at the world with new eyes. It shall answer the endless inquiry of the intellect, - What is truth? and of the affections,— What is good? by yielding itself passive to the educated Will. ... Build, therefore, your own world. As fast as you conform your life to the pure idea in your mind, that will unfold its great proportions. A correspondent revolution in things will attend the influx of the spirit."
"So shall we come to look at the world with new eyes. It shall answer the endless inquiry of the intellect, - What is truth? and of the affections,— What is good? by yielding itself passive to the educated Will. ... Build, therefore, your own world. As fast as you conform your life to the pure idea in your mind, that will unfold its great proportions. A correspondent revolution in things will attend the influx of the spirit."
Saving the world isn't easy
A new set of television ads by the Red Cross seems to suggest that since saving the world is so difficult we should just donate some blood instead. Curious.
1.18.2006
Glenn Beck gets his own show on Headline News
FAIR reports that "CNN’s Headline News has hired radio talkshow host Glenn Beck to host a one-hour primetime show, according to a Daily Variety report (1/17/05). Variety quotes CNN Headline News president Ken Jautz's description of Beck: 'Glenn’s style is self-deprecating, cordial; he says he'd like to be able to disagree with guests and part as friends. It's conversational, not confrontational.'"
Beck's comments suggest a personality far more violent and incendiary than Jautz lets on.
In one instance, he explained his disdain for the relatives of the September 11 victims by saying, "'Oh shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining. And we did our best for them."
He went on to vent his hatred for the victims of Hurricane Katrina:
"When you are rioting for these tickets, or these ATM cards, the second thing that came to mind was--and this is horrible to say, and I wonder if I'm alone in this--you know it took me about a year to start hating the 9/11 victims' families? Took me about a year.... But the second thought I had when I saw these people and they had to shut down the Astrodome and lock it down, I thought: I didn't think I could hate victims faster than the 9/11 victims.... And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones we're seeing on television are the scumbags--and again, it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention."
He also fantasized about killing Michael Moore:
"I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out--is this wrong?"
I wonder if these recent attempts by MSNBC and Headline News to appeal to the Fox News crowd will actually cause a backlash among more mainstream (and sensible) Americans. Do they realize the level of vulgarity being spread in the name of conservatism?
Beck's comments suggest a personality far more violent and incendiary than Jautz lets on.
In one instance, he explained his disdain for the relatives of the September 11 victims by saying, "'Oh shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining. And we did our best for them."
He went on to vent his hatred for the victims of Hurricane Katrina:
"When you are rioting for these tickets, or these ATM cards, the second thing that came to mind was--and this is horrible to say, and I wonder if I'm alone in this--you know it took me about a year to start hating the 9/11 victims' families? Took me about a year.... But the second thought I had when I saw these people and they had to shut down the Astrodome and lock it down, I thought: I didn't think I could hate victims faster than the 9/11 victims.... And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones we're seeing on television are the scumbags--and again, it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention."
He also fantasized about killing Michael Moore:
"I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out--is this wrong?"
I wonder if these recent attempts by MSNBC and Headline News to appeal to the Fox News crowd will actually cause a backlash among more mainstream (and sensible) Americans. Do they realize the level of vulgarity being spread in the name of conservatism?
1.15.2006
Broadband in the U.S. sucks
Sorry I've been a bit slow on the posts lately. I promise to pick things up as the new year gets going in fully swing.
Lawrence Lessig provides an apt critique of U.S. broadband policy and conveys the daunting proposition that we are slowly falling behind the rest of the world in internet infrastructure. If only policymakers could set aside special interests and develop an innovative policy to ensure America's youth will have access to cutting edge internet technologies.
This is no time to be complacent.
You know, I thought our 5 mbs for $50 was a decent deal. We did get that introductory $19.95 rate from Comcast for the first three months, but that's long gone. But then I find out that in France you get 20 mbs (four times as fast!) for $36 a month. What the hell is going on here?
"Today, in the world where the duopoly increasingly talks about returning us to the world where innovation is as the network owners says, broadband in the US sucks."
Lawrence Lessig provides an apt critique of U.S. broadband policy and conveys the daunting proposition that we are slowly falling behind the rest of the world in internet infrastructure. If only policymakers could set aside special interests and develop an innovative policy to ensure America's youth will have access to cutting edge internet technologies.
This is no time to be complacent.
You know, I thought our 5 mbs for $50 was a decent deal. We did get that introductory $19.95 rate from Comcast for the first three months, but that's long gone. But then I find out that in France you get 20 mbs (four times as fast!) for $36 a month. What the hell is going on here?
"Today, in the world where the duopoly increasingly talks about returning us to the world where innovation is as the network owners says, broadband in the US sucks."
1.09.2006
Let There Be Wi-Fi
"Broadband is the electricity of the 21st century--and much of America is being left in the dark."
An article from the Washington Monthly encourages American policy makers to close the digital divide in the U.S. or risk falling behind Asian innovators in technological expertise.
An article from the Washington Monthly encourages American policy makers to close the digital divide in the U.S. or risk falling behind Asian innovators in technological expertise.
12.28.2005
Should the UN control the internet?
A recent Foreign Policy interview with Lawrence Lessig expounds on the debate between U.S. and international interests on the future of the internet.
Top 10 List of Best Top 10 Lists of 2005!
At long last, here is my top ten list of best top ten lists for the end of 2005.
10. All Songs Considered Best Music of 2005
9. The Globalist Top Ten Books on Globalization in 2005
8. Top Ten Web 2.0 Moments of 2005
7. Top Ten Google Searches for 2005
6. Wired News Biggest Discoveries of 2005
5. National Geographic's Top Ten News Photos of 2005
4. The New Republic's Top Ten Overlooked Movies of the Year
3. Wired's 10 Best Tech Moments of 2005
2. NPR's Top 10 Public Opinion Trends of 2005
And the #1 Top 10 List of 2005:
1. America's Top Ten Pest Control Problems in 2005
10. All Songs Considered Best Music of 2005
9. The Globalist Top Ten Books on Globalization in 2005
8. Top Ten Web 2.0 Moments of 2005
7. Top Ten Google Searches for 2005
6. Wired News Biggest Discoveries of 2005
5. National Geographic's Top Ten News Photos of 2005
4. The New Republic's Top Ten Overlooked Movies of the Year
3. Wired's 10 Best Tech Moments of 2005
2. NPR's Top 10 Public Opinion Trends of 2005
And the #1 Top 10 List of 2005:
1. America's Top Ten Pest Control Problems in 2005
12.27.2005
The future is here - and it works
There's a thought-provoking editorial in today's Financial Times that addresses the impact technology has on multiple facets of our lives. In particular, it highlights the common human mistake to underestimate the power of the exponential advancement of technology.
"We tend to project the past on to the future. Yet accelerating rates of change are bringing the future racing towards us...Had it been around as recently as 1998, the latest Xbox games console, available for $399, would have ranked as the world's fastest supercomputer."
"We tend to project the past on to the future. Yet accelerating rates of change are bringing the future racing towards us...Had it been around as recently as 1998, the latest Xbox games console, available for $399, would have ranked as the world's fastest supercomputer."
12.24.2005
Gapminder
Check out this fantastic website.
"Gapminder is a non-profit venture for development and provision of free software that visualise human development. This is done in collaboration with universities, UN organisations, public agencies and non-governmental organisations. Gapminder is a Foundation registered at Stockholm county administration board (Länstyrelsen) (reg. nr. 802424-7721). It was founded by Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund and Hans Rosling on 25 February 2005, in Stockholm. Gapminder Foundation will advance software development that have been done earlier by the non-profit company Gapminder Ltd. Funding has been and is mainly by grants from Sida for the Trendalyzer project. Being a producer of global public goods Gapminder benefit from free and creative inputs from pilot-testers and other end-users in many institutions and organisations."
Very cool.
"Gapminder is a non-profit venture for development and provision of free software that visualise human development. This is done in collaboration with universities, UN organisations, public agencies and non-governmental organisations. Gapminder is a Foundation registered at Stockholm county administration board (Länstyrelsen) (reg. nr. 802424-7721). It was founded by Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund and Hans Rosling on 25 February 2005, in Stockholm. Gapminder Foundation will advance software development that have been done earlier by the non-profit company Gapminder Ltd. Funding has been and is mainly by grants from Sida for the Trendalyzer project. Being a producer of global public goods Gapminder benefit from free and creative inputs from pilot-testers and other end-users in many institutions and organisations."
Very cool.
12.22.2005
Early returns reveal that Shiites and Sunnis opted for religious parties.
It seems the Bush administration has been so focused on successful elections in Iraq that the consequences of an Islamist majority have not been fully considered.
A Christian Science Monitor article provides a preliminary assessment of the outcome.
"With more than three-quarters of the country giving a vote of confidence to Islamist parties, last Thursday's vote raises the prospect of Iraq being more overtly religious than ever before."
A Christian Science Monitor article provides a preliminary assessment of the outcome.
"With more than three-quarters of the country giving a vote of confidence to Islamist parties, last Thursday's vote raises the prospect of Iraq being more overtly religious than ever before."
12.15.2005
The future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed
An article in yesterday's Financial Times discusses the inevitability of the next five years of tech development. It all seems so matter of fact.
"In emerging markets, consumers can look forward to simple $100 or pay-as-you-go computing machines helping them access vital data. They might just need a weather forecast or the price of wheat, says Phil Hester, chief technology officer at AMD, whose 50x15 initiative aims to provide affordable internet access and computing capabilities for 50 per cent of the world's population by 2015. Only 15 per cent have access at present."
"In emerging markets, consumers can look forward to simple $100 or pay-as-you-go computing machines helping them access vital data. They might just need a weather forecast or the price of wheat, says Phil Hester, chief technology officer at AMD, whose 50x15 initiative aims to provide affordable internet access and computing capabilities for 50 per cent of the world's population by 2015. Only 15 per cent have access at present."
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