In US, I saw another type of censoring. Not censoring for 'harmony' or 'good of the country,' but censoring what people do not understand, or is incoherent with what people already understood. In this event, CNN censored the entire interview with Putin regarding the events in Georgia. Contrary to previous reporting, and American image of a good-evil world, Georgia's relationship with Russia may be more complex then you think. Perhaps CNN felt that the sympathetic genes of Americans should not be activated to avoid complications.
See the actual interviews from Russia TV with English subtitles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrQJz3NhcTg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye-W3pL8SAw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqwxqjBb-u0&feature=related
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
US politics turn into a dirty game
"John McCain says he's about change too," Obama told a crowd. "So I guess his whole angle is: Watch out, George Bush -- except for economic policy, healthcare policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics, we're really going to shake things up in Washington."
"That's not change. That's just calling the same thing something different. But you can put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, and it's still going to stink after eight years."
For that, John McCain says Obama is calling Palin a pig, referring a Palin's joke that the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull was lipstick.
(excerpt from http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-campaign10-2008sep10,0,311675.story)
For some reasons, feminism in US has a foothold of deep hurting proportion. And McCain and his campaigners are playing dirty game to buy the hearts of these women. I do not know what Palin can bring to the table and make gender rights fairer, but beyond that, McCain is trying to get sympathetic votes, which is as pathetic as the war in Iraq.
From my point of view, it is sad to see 'democracy' degenerating into a dirty game. To me democracy represents one thing - fairness. Therefore, every individual has equal rights and opportunity to win and become the better man. For US or the world, I think we are better off to retain the form of democracy we started out with, than to degenerate into a dirtier like of it.
"That's not change. That's just calling the same thing something different. But you can put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, and it's still going to stink after eight years."
For that, John McCain says Obama is calling Palin a pig, referring a Palin's joke that the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull was lipstick.
(excerpt from http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-campaign10-2008sep10,0,311675.story)
For some reasons, feminism in US has a foothold of deep hurting proportion. And McCain and his campaigners are playing dirty game to buy the hearts of these women. I do not know what Palin can bring to the table and make gender rights fairer, but beyond that, McCain is trying to get sympathetic votes, which is as pathetic as the war in Iraq.
From my point of view, it is sad to see 'democracy' degenerating into a dirty game. To me democracy represents one thing - fairness. Therefore, every individual has equal rights and opportunity to win and become the better man. For US or the world, I think we are better off to retain the form of democracy we started out with, than to degenerate into a dirtier like of it.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Calming a pool of ripples
The ten days retreat was a month behind me. After spending sometime in Slovenia and Italy, the mind is again full of ripples. It is such an irony that makes practice so difficult. That the society has invented many ways of causing ripples, such as economics, fun, and competition. They aren't bad if we did not take them so seriously. But we can't. So we walked in every step with a company of dips and indulgence, causing ripples all over.
So to calm these ripples down, we meditate. And an important revelation today (though its not the first time) is I got to meditation more consistently.
So to calm these ripples down, we meditate. And an important revelation today (though its not the first time) is I got to meditation more consistently.
Monday, September 01, 2008
A month away from Irvine
Away for a month. Found myself in a place between Singapore and US: Italy - a place with a long history, so long that ruins stood unnoticed.
The thought of going to Italy wasan exotic one. It is also a popular Americans destination, judging from the number we saw in Venice and Lake Como. Beautiful to see in picture, but the journey wastiresome. I haven't spent so many days tasting hunger, thirst, and tiredness. If you think that the 15% tips 'required' in US restaurants is questionable, then you would find the 'Caputo,' or cover charges in Italy ridiculous. Our first encounter waswith a Chinese restaurant in Venice, where $24 euros order turned into $36.
So we walked to find cheaper food. We walked to find stairs to sit. We walked to find toilets. Not those that charge 0.80 - $1 per entrance. But free ones rarely exist. A subway trip costs $1 euro regardless of distance. So we kept walking. It is hard to imagine in Europe where it is supposedly social heaven, that basic needs cost so much. The obvious solution was to drink less, eat less, and just keep moving. Perhaps this is why Europeans walk a lot, and they seemingly like streets friendly to pedestrians. But I developed lesser desire to be among the gods.
Me hiding from the hot sun.
Walking, we pretended the hardships weren't there, and also invisible were the million tourists. We turned our attention to the interesting - the monuments. Endless of them. Most interesting to me is the rich history stretching up to about 2500 years ago, at the time of creation of Roman empire. You witnessed the size of the Roman city and sophistication of the arenas, baths, market place, aqueduct, and churches. As you walk, you can imagine how the people lived (your imagination supplemented by movies, books, etc).
Arena at Verona
Best of Italy? Gelato, Pasta, Pizza, and Cappuccino! I haven't know what they mean, until I tasted them there. The Gelato (real ones) are thick and tasty (not creamy). Pasta is favorful (not cheesy or tomato--eey). Pizza is thin and even, and a sip from Cappuccino catches your attention. Nothing makes your walk worth more than finding a good cafe or restaurant in Italy. When we tasted the ice cream, pasta, pizza, and coffee on our Delta flight back, we knew we are leaving Italy.
Irvine - Home sweet home.
The thought of going to Italy wasan exotic one. It is also a popular Americans destination, judging from the number we saw in Venice and Lake Como. Beautiful to see in picture, but the journey wastiresome. I haven't spent so many days tasting hunger, thirst, and tiredness. If you think that the 15% tips 'required' in US restaurants is questionable, then you would find the 'Caputo,' or cover charges in Italy ridiculous. Our first encounter waswith a Chinese restaurant in Venice, where $24 euros order turned into $36.
So we walked to find cheaper food. We walked to find stairs to sit. We walked to find toilets. Not those that charge 0.80 - $1 per entrance. But free ones rarely exist. A subway trip costs $1 euro regardless of distance. So we kept walking. It is hard to imagine in Europe where it is supposedly social heaven, that basic needs cost so much. The obvious solution was to drink less, eat less, and just keep moving. Perhaps this is why Europeans walk a lot, and they seemingly like streets friendly to pedestrians. But I developed lesser desire to be among the gods.
Me hiding from the hot sun.Walking, we pretended the hardships weren't there, and also invisible were the million tourists. We turned our attention to the interesting - the monuments. Endless of them. Most interesting to me is the rich history stretching up to about 2500 years ago, at the time of creation of Roman empire. You witnessed the size of the Roman city and sophistication of the arenas, baths, market place, aqueduct, and churches. As you walk, you can imagine how the people lived (your imagination supplemented by movies, books, etc).
Arena at VeronaBest of Italy? Gelato, Pasta, Pizza, and Cappuccino! I haven't know what they mean, until I tasted them there. The Gelato (real ones) are thick and tasty (not creamy). Pasta is favorful (not cheesy or tomato--eey). Pizza is thin and even, and a sip from Cappuccino catches your attention. Nothing makes your walk worth more than finding a good cafe or restaurant in Italy. When we tasted the ice cream, pasta, pizza, and coffee on our Delta flight back, we knew we are leaving Italy.
Irvine - Home sweet home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)