Driving down the main drag this morning, I heard on NPR that China was making a guest appearance at the very popular Frankfurt Book Fair – “literature’s biggest event”; a place where publishers, writers, book vendors and much more, gather to exchange ideas, network, and most importantly – have dialogue.

Bottom line, some human rights activist criticized the organizers of the Book Fair for inviting a country, such as China, with a poor track record for not respecting freedom of speech, and other human rights violations.

Check out The Guardian article, written in September that focused on China wanting to bar certain individuals from participating – i.e. Bei & Dai, and books criticizing China’s domestic and foreign policies.    Nonetheless, the latest from NPR this morning – the Book Fair did not bar anyone from attending or participating.

Fiji: Spin the Bottle

I remembered a friend introduced me to Fiji Water, stating it was the best thing she had ever drunk.  So I tried it, and it clearly had a distinct taste – something other bottle waters lacked.   Nonetheless, I made a conscious decision not to purchase the import due to its high cost, and besides, my Brita continues to do a good job.  However, you be the judge.  Read the story, drink whatever water you choose, and get the facts from many different sources, and come to your own conclusions on whether Fiji Water company is for the people of Fiji or just another profit whore with great connections, wonderful looks, and great taste.  To sum it all up, the Fiji Water  company story is compelling and informative, and the final quote drives home the company’s bottom line approach to Fiji and its people.

*******

AIPAC: Still the Chosen One?

“The nation’s most formidable lobby can huff and it can puff, but if it resists, it may be its own house that gets blown down.”

The article is good.  I recommend checking out AIPAC.  Also read The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy.  Bottom-line, compromises must be meet and keep on both sides of this on-going issue.

Quote: “The lobby is kind of like the Wizard of Oz….  Behind that curtain, there’s not very much.  It’s an illusion.”

Quote: “There is still resistance to having open honest dialogue out of fear about being on the wrong side of AIPAC, but I’m not going to be driven by what one lobby says.  What I learned on my trip is that I don’t think AIPAC represents even the majority view in Israel.” (Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md.)

]]> http://mmasooga.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/fiji-water-the-israeli-lobby/feed/ 0 mmasooga http://mmasooga.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/u-n-or-tims-hot-chocolate/ http://mmasooga.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/u-n-or-tims-hot-chocolate/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:15:51 +0000 mmasooga http://mmasooga.wordpress.com/?p=411 ]]>

…hhhmm.  Getting some Canadian business done in the international arena, or sucking back hot chocolate at a local Tim’s in Oakville, ON…

…hhhmm.  Avoiding though questions on climate change or campaigning for a few more dollars at the local Tim’s.

Then again, there’s an old proverb, “if things get too hot, you stay out of the kitchen.”

…hhhmm.  After all, its only the U.N. And Montrealers I spoke too where not surprised that our Prime Minister “missed the boat, yet again.”  Someone asked, “who the hell votes for these people, I can’t understand why that idiot is still in power.”

Well. Until the opposite delivers an amazing platform of concrete changes, or slight improvements without making any promises, “idiots” like Harper – on official government business at Tim’s -  will be able to ignore the world around them, and sit back in a local, unassuming coffee house and sip on some hot chocolate.

Thumbs up for supporting Tim’s.  Thumbs down for not getting into the heat of things at the U.N.

The title is  a lot to sum up in a few words, nonetheless, I will be sharing my opinion on Iran – The Great Distracter, and adding some comments on the latest articles published by MotherJones on Fiji water & the Israeli Lobby by the end of the weekend, or later.  Stay tune.

For the record, there has been a “black-out” of new photos of Jupiter, since the July impact…so, if anyone has new images, please share with the rest of the world….many thanks!

A few weeks ago, I heard on NPR, that an amateur astronomer photographed impact marks on Jupiter.  Soon afterwards, Hubble was able to capture its own photos and then was out of commission due to lens repair.  Since then, it’s come to my attention that many people are unaware that Jupiter was impacted, yet again, this time by an unknown object.

Well – thank God for amateur astronomers, the night sky is huge, and NASA’s budget is very small.  And special thanks for Jupiter’s enormous size and chemical composition in bearing the blunt of that impact – better you, than us.  Amen!

image source: NASA

“Nearly half of voters called DPJ’s landslide victory ‘good’: poll”

The LDP lost over 52% of thier seats, the worst election performance since the party’s  founding in 1955.

image source: Joyce M.

Keeping an eye on the issue.

“No party has leg to stand on if election fought over EI”

• National Post
• Liberals

“Single [B]lack women choosing to adopt”

Dear Readers,

The boyz, Bunny, and myself, jammed (drums, guitars, vocals, and some spoken word) on Friday night in a little town south of the city.  Conversation went back and forth on the issue of who said what to whom and why. We also pontificated a bit on the White House’s response.  In summation, majority opinion was that reactions were excessive and could be considered having been overboard.  Nonetheless, open dialogue is always important for healing and moving forward.