Readers’ Responses to Our Question (51)

Доброе время суток! Привествую всех посетителей сайта newsweek.washingtonpost.com.
Я являюсь большим ценителем альтернативы. Недавно нашел вот такой сайт stagedown.com - emocore, limp bizkit, Offspring, можно скачать альтернативу и еще много чего
Там ежедневные обновления, клолекция музыки постоянно полняется большим количеством как популярных, так и очень редких альбомов.
С удовольствием хочу рассказать, о том, на всеми любимом сайте произошли очень серьезные обновлеиня.
Не так дано администрация провела интеграцию всех сервисов, которые у них появились - это онлайн видео, торрент-трэкер, новый форум, а для тех, кто кто не хочет делиться, а только качает - новые релизы с прямыми ссылками на новом ресурсе p1ay.us - trash, коллекция mp3, Newave, альтернатива, так что stagedown.com получил вторую жизнь, став флагманом сети медиа сайтов.

Сады японии
Посмотрите на эту красоту – Сады Японии на сайте http://japangarden.net/
Японские сады являются неотъемлемой частью богатой и загадочной культуры страны восходящего солнца. Они воздействуют на настроение зрителя и создают чувство единения с природой. Эти тихие уголки природы выглядят очень естественно, хотя, как правило, в их основе лежит хорошо продуманная схема.

В Японии традиции создания садов относятся к древним временам. Первое упоминание относится к 70 годам н.э. и передает впечатления императора отдыхающего в саду своего дворца. Сады того времени изобиловали извилистыми ручейками, небольшими островками и мостиками, зачастую располагались вокруг прудов.

Искусство создания японского сада испытало на себе влияние китайской культуры, возможно именно благодаря ей сады стали располагать рядом с жилищем императоров.
И многое другое на Японский сад, история, создание, философия

Вам кажется долгим и нереальным накопить на квартиру?

Вы не можете позволить себе красивую машину?

Или просто нужны хорошие карманные деньги вместо надоевшей работы?

Рекомендую новый серьезный проект KVIT-FOREX - Накопи WM на мечту! http://www.kvit-forex.ru , работающий с виртуальной валютой WMR.

Сам участвую в нем почти год, еще до старта проекта в сети, живу на одни проценты с проекта. Телефоны и аська проекта доступны, отвечают оперативно. Это не HYIP-фонд и не пирамида с обещаниями 200% за день, а серьезная работа на Forex, поэтому и процент реальный 50-150% в год. Искатели золотых тельцов могут не беспокоиться.

И небольшой секрет: при регистрации во втором квартале 2008 г. начисляют 1% к депозиту сразу.

My favourite pharma supermarket
world-pharma.pillsfm.com
WBR,
Alex

Уже 2 года общаюсь в инете и никак не думал что...
Постоянно зависал в vkontakte, аське.
Короче случайно зашел на http://rusexphone.com/
Позвонил на номерок с сайта, взяла трубочку девушка, приятно так
пообщались...
На следующий день опять позвонил, попросил позвать ее.
Пригласил в кафешку, пришла... И самое интересное, встречаемся уже месяц.
Хочу предложить жениться на мне, вот думаю стоит ли?
Как на это отреагируют близкие друзья, она ведь работает в сервисе - секс по телефону
Запутался, что делать?
У Вас было подобное?

Вот и я решила поделиться со всеми форумчанами своей историей ремонта. Наконец-то мы с мужем смогли въехать в собственную квартиру, которую довольно долго по различным причинам родителям приходилось сдавать. Обрадовавшись, мы поехали смотреть нашу будущую жилплощадь.

В небольшом коридорчике нашему взгляду открылась ужасающая картина: пожелтевшие от времени и местами вспученные обои 15 летней давности, обвалившаяся штукатурка на потолке, ободранный клетчатый линолеум и покосившаяся дверь в санузел, создавали впечатление заброшенного и ветхого жилища. За дверью санузла прятался все тот же линолеум из зеленых и синих клеточек, пожелтевший унитаз с треснувшим бачком и сплошь покрытая ржавчиной ванная, «декор» стен заключался в облупившейся краске унылого зеленого цвета. На небольшой кухонке находилась раковина, в которую размеренно капала вода из смесителя и все та же зеленая краска на стенах. Пол в смежных комнатах нашей двушки был покрыт никогда не покрывавшимся лаком паркетом грязно-серого цвета, ветхие обои, отваливающиеся у потолка, неработающие розетки и обсыпавшаяся штукатурка удачно дополняли картину.

Подумав, мы с супругом пришли к выводу, что самим нам с этой разрухой не справиться и начали искать бригаду. К нашему удивлению сразу два человека посоветовали нам обратиться в строительную компанию «Мегастрой», которая, по их словам, очень качественно осуществляет ремонт и отделку квартир, офисов, баров, ресторанов и даже производственных помещений. Друг моего мужа, который сам в прошлом занимался ремонтом, сказал нам, что там работы проводят высококвалифицированные специалисты.

Итак, выбор был сделан. В начале января мы позвонили в компанию «Мегастрой» и вызвали мастера для оценки стоимости ремонта. Мастер к нам приехал, вместе мы обсудили уровень будущей отделки – мы хотели, чтобы было чисто и красиво, но без особых изысков в виду финансовых затруднений. Именно поэтому нас очень порадовало известие, что каждый клиент, подписавший договор до 1 апреля 2008 года получает скидку 7% и бесплатное страхование строительного объекта. Мы решили заключить договор, составили смету и определились кто и что будет покупать. Мы с мужем взяли на себя кафель, обои, ламинат и сантехнику, все остальное оставили на усмотрение рабочих, т.к. сами в строительных материалах плохо разбираемся.

Мы уже были наслышаны о том, что часто с ремонтом компании затягивают, поэтому мы два раза в неделю приезжали контролировать ход ремонта, который на удивление шел достаточно быстро. Наша хижина постепенно преображалась и начинала походить на уютное гнездышко: заблестел паркет, в ванной появился веселый кафель, засияла ванна и на кухне появился блестящий новенький смеситель.

К нашему удивлению ремонт был закончен в срок и мы уложились в предварительно посчитанную стоимость. Так что теперь мы счастливые обладатели небольшой уютной двушки на севере Питера и часто приглашаем гостей.

Кстати, если кому интересно оставлю координаты « Мегастроя» в Москве: тел. (495) 978-0496, (495) 728-5641, и еще у них есть сайт http://www.staratel.ru

Tom,

Ah, Vietnam is the perfect example. Wars/Conflicts lose support for a reason. The reason being people stop believing in the cause. This certainly happened in Vietnam and we lived through massive demonstrations against it. I think it's very fair to say history has proved the Vietnam war demonstrators correct and our government wrong. The Domino effect never took place with the loss of Vietnam. There are a few die hard defenders of the action who still whine about not enough troops and not being able to what was necessary to win. Although, this minority view didn't have a roadmap to win it either so it's pretty much the inability to conceive of a loss that bothers them so much. Nothing short of genocide would have won that war and even we weren't prepared to go that far. The Vietnamese would have continued the fight down to the very last breath of the last man. Look at their history and you'll get a sense of how futile our conflict with them was. Jane Fonda, Lenny Bruce, Donald Sutherland and even John Kerry should be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their stance against an unjust cause.

What did we learn from Vietnam? Apparently nothing since we're making the exact same mistakes in Iraq. I know, Iraq has a few twists Vietnam did not have, but essentially or "pre-emptive" invasions of sovreign countries remains the same.

As to the next election don't delude yourself. It makes absolutely no difference who the democrats run and who the republicans run. It will be democratic landslide. The Dems could run Snoopy against a republican and beat them. That's the legacy Bush/Cheney will leave the republican party with. I agree the general public isn't really that high on Dems. It's just they're that down on Repub's and they have numerous reasons to be.

First, we have Bush who is prosecuting a very unpopular conflict. He also mishandled Katrina and hasn't been able to pass one piece of meaningful legislation for this country. (no, I don't consider the Patriot Act meaningful). Social Security reform and Immigration went flying down the tubes.

Second, his empowerment of Cheney to the level of czar scares the hell out of people.

Third, he currently has a pathological liar as the Attorney General of this country.

Fourth, Bush has lost the faith and confidence of the majority of Americans. Most people, myself included, don't believe a word that comes out his mouth anymore.

It will take the republican party years to undo the damage bush has caused it.

PS....the ancient Greeks were jews, too.
NOT to mention the Romans.

..."because Jerusalem temple is the Father of
Planet Democracy and of it's destiny?...."
That israel and/or the jews are responsible for democracy is something few of us had heard.
We all thought of the Founding Fathers...most of whom were, what, rabbis?
Never stops.

..."because Jerusalem temple is the Father of
Planet Democracy and of it's destiny?...."
That israel and/or the jews are responsible for democracy is something few of us had heard.
We all thought of the Founding Fathers...most of whom were, what, rabbis?
Never stops.

"The Temple of Solomon could not stand on its Water Tower"
( Book on line at www.jerusalem-4thtemple.org )
BOOK TO READ FIRST AND ABOVE ALL

WHY THIS BOOK ?

Because Jerusalem Temple is the Father of Planet Democracy and of its Destiny

AND SO WHAT ?

Let Caliph Omar and Caliph Abd el-Malik build Al-Aqsa (638) and the Dome of the Rock (688) wherever they want (even on the spot of the ancient Jewish Citadel which overlooked and protected the Temple)...

But, NOW, it is the Jews' Duty to restore the Jerusalem Temple on its authentic Site indicated to David by YHWH

See at www.jerusalem-4thtemple.org
the first and unique sciewntific Study of the Jerusalem Temple Hdraulic System which has been miraculously preserved, to this very day, in the rocky underground of the Jewish Citadel (nowadays Haram) where it can be checked by anyone...
This ancient innovative Hydraulic System, installed in very meticulous cascades, had been devised to constitute the "Water Tower" which provided DOWNSTREAM the Jewish Temple with the live ever-flowing Source Waters required by Biblical Prescriptions in order to purify, day after day, the Cult of Israel.

BUT, WHERE, good God, are hidden the Israeli Archaeologists and the Israeli Rabbis ???

The Award of one Biblical Shekel will be offered by the NATAN FOUNDATION to whoever can find them.

Natan 2007 9th of Ab

"The Temple of Solomon could not stand on its Water Tower"
( Book on line at www.jerusalem-4thtemple.org )
BOOK TO READ FIRST AND ABOVE ALL

WHY THIS BOOK ?

Because Jerusalem Temple is the Father of Planet Democracy and of its Destiny

AND SO WHAT ?

Let Caliph Omar and Caliph Abd el-Malik build Al-Aqsa (638) and the Dome of the Rock (688) wherever they want (even on the spot of the ancient Jewish Citadel which overlooked and protected the Temple)...

But, NOW, it is the Jews' Duty to restore the Jerusalem Temple on its authentic Site indicated to David by YHWH

See at www.jerusalem-4thtemple.org
the first and unique sciewntific Study of the Jerusalem Temple Hdraulic System which has been miraculously preserved, to this very day, in the rocky underground of the Jewish Citadel (nowadays Haram) where it can be checked by anyone...
This ancient innovative Hydraulic System, installed in very meticulous cascades, had been devised to constitute the "Water Tower" which provided DOWNSTREAM the Jewish Temple with the live ever-flowing Source Waters required by Biblical Prescriptions in order to purify, day after day, the Cult of Israel.

BUT, WHERE, good God, are hidden the Israeli Archaeologists and the Israeli Rabbis ???

The Award of one Biblical Shekel will be offered by the NATAN FOUNDATION to whoever can find them.

Natan 2007 9th of Ab

"The Temple of Solomon could not stand on its Water Tower"
( Book on line at www.jerusalem-4thtemple.org )
BOOK TO READ FIRST AND ABOVE ALL

WHY THIS BOOK ?

Because Jerusalem Temple is the Father of Planet Democracy and of its Destiny

AND SO WHAT ?

Let Caliph Omar and Caliph Abd el-Malik build Al-Aqsa (638) and the Dome of the Rock (688) wherever they want (even on the spot of the ancient Jewish Citadel which overlooked and protected the Temple)...

But, NOW, it is the Jews' Duty to restore the Jerusalem Temple on its authentic Site indicated to David by YHWH

See at www.jerusalem-4thtemple.org
the first and unique sciewntific Study of the Jerusalem Temple Hdraulic System which has been miraculously preserved, to this very day, in the rocky underground of the Jewish Citadel (nowadays Haram) where it can be checked by anyone...
This ancient innovative Hydraulic System, installed in very meticulous cascades, had been devised to constitute the "Water Tower" which provided DOWNSTREAM the Jewish Temple with the live ever-flowing Source Waters required by Biblical Prescriptions in order to purify, day after day, the Cult of Israel.

BUT, WHERE, good God, are hidden the Israeli Archaeologists and the Israeli Rabbis ???

The Award of one Biblical Shekel will be offered by the NATAN FOUNDATION to whoever can find them.

Natan 2007 9th of Ab

BobL

Read David Ignatius' column from this morning. The Dem are leading the Iraqi people to destruction in their haste to get out of Iraq. In addition, Democrats are leaving the US no bargaining position with Iran. There are two parts to the war in Iraq - getting in and getting out. Criticize the former all you want, but to just pull out is irresponsible - a point I have been trying to get across to you for a long time.

I am well aware that you are not anti Republican (and have been aware a quite awhile) and that you believe Bush lacks leadership skills, but that is exactly the reason I am anti Democrat. No leadership. Their first time in power in several years and their approval rating is 16% (+/-) - and it's for good reason.

Hillary and Obama are the only reasons a Republican has a glimmer of a chance for election in 2008. Dennis Kusinich exhibits far more leadership ability than those two. I just wouldn't vote for him.

"...Saying one is against the war in principle is neither emboldening the enemy, treasonous or sedition....:

Please show me where Cheney or Bush said being against the war in Iraq was "treasonous". While dissenting against the war is certainly a right, anti war movements have consequences, and emboldening the enemy is one of those consequences.

"...In 2004, during the 29th anniversary celebration of the fall of Saigon, North Vietnamese General Vo "...Nguyen Giap thanked the anti-war movement for helping to force out the U.S. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, North Vietnamese Colonel Bui Tin credited the anti-war movement with being “essential to our strategy.” The visits of Kerry, Fonda, and others to Hanoi, “gave us confidence that we should hold on in the face of battlefield reverses,” he added. Col. Tin summed up the North Vietnamese victory thusly, “Through dissent and protest [America] lost the ability to mobilize a will to win.”..."

"...Of course they want their party to win, but there are lines most democrats won't cross and that simply is not true of republicans...."

If you believe that, then you are no independent....

Salamon,

Actually, I never mentioned Nancy Pelosi. That was Tom. Frankly, I supported her trip to Syria. I'm a big believer in diplomacy and I'll welcome the day when it comes back.

My position on the question I posed Tom is of course we have the right to political dissent as long as that dissent doesn't in itself cause emminent saftey issues to our citizens. An example of a no-no to me would be a reporter divulging troop positions or intended troop movements. Saying one is against the war in principle is neither emboldening the enemy, treasonous or sedition. All opposing a sitting President in time of conflict should have the right to disagree. Labeling people who disagree with you as un-American or traitorous is the dregs of political rhetoric.

The Bush/Cheney/Rove tactic of questioning someone's patriotism is simply another example of how out of touch this administration is with reality. What I have tried (with very limited success) to impart on Tom is I'm not anti-republican in any sense of the imagination. I am anti Bush. I'm opposed to Bush because of his lack of leadership qualities. One of these qualities is building consensuses among the population. (actually, Bush has managed to build a consensus, but chooses to ignore it as it doesn't fit into his vision). Hence, what you get to witness today is hyperpartisan politics. Most republicans just hate democrats. They really don't know why they hate them so much, but the republican leadership just says all things associated with the democratic party is bad, evil and un-American. I know my republican friends are fond of saying the democrats do it to. That's true to a much lesser extent. Most democrat's aren't anti-republican. Of course they want their party to win, but there are lines most democrats won't cross and that simply is not true of republicans. We're into Bush/Cheney bashing because they deserve it and not because they are republicans. The republicans went after bill clinton solely on the premise he was a democrat and that was really in bad taste.

Jimmy Carter's great book on "our friend" Israel's APARTHEID. With US arms.
There's no escaping the growing danger that savage Israel brings to our homeland...
including a new war planned for this summer on Lebanan.
With, one supposes, the new $150 million congress just today gave Israel for new missles. Did they get more cluster bombs to use, too, to use on civilians?
IT'S SO OBSCENE.

Jimmy Carter's great book on "our friend" Israel's APARTHEID. With US arms.
There's no escaping the growing danger that savage Israel bringing to our homeland...
including a new war planned for this summeron Lebanan.
With, one supposes, the new $150 million congress justtoday gave Israel for new missles.. Did they get more cluster bombs to use, too to use on civilians?
IT'S SO OBSCENE.

Jimmy Carter's great book on "our friend" Israel's APARTHEID. With US arms.
There's no escaping the growing danger that savage Israel bringing to our homeland...
including a new war planned for this summeron Lebanan.
With, one supposes, the new $150 million congress justtoday gave Israel for new missles.. Did they get more cluster bombs to use, too to use on civilians?
IT'S SO OBSCENE.

BOBL:

I agree that political dissent should not be limited either in law or in practice. I believe that under the present Administration the freedom of political dissent is opposed in practice : Joe wilson, Treasury Secretary O'Neil among the luminaries, numerous persecutions within USA for "aleged aid for terrorists", the saga of lawyers and Gitmo, etc.

I disagree with your observation that Mrs. Pelosi oversteppped the political line in visiting Syria. She is the thrid person in case of presidential/vice presidential incapability, so, she has to be infocmed of issues in TRUTH. For her to depend on Executives spin would be fatal in the environment of pathalogical liars from Preident to Vice, to Attorney General, to Secretary Rice, the enablers of Kristol, Kagan, etc not leeaving out the likes of WP by Hiatt and his regular neo-con guests columnhists.

Iran must help the resistance in Iraq, for it is well known that were Iraq less of a fiasco, without doubt the USA armed forces would have advanced against the AXIS OF EVIL: Iran. Iran's cooperation with Shiates is not solely for religious reasons, but also as a principal effort at self-defence. Iran has far more right to "interfere" in Iraq [is a major trading partner, is dependent on Iraqi shrines for her religious sections, and is invited by the "democratically elected government of Iraq" to be of assistance] than the USA which had non.

I agree with your judgement that all in ME know that the USA's days in Iraq are numbered. It is possible that in 10 years or less USA's presence in ME will be foood for historical analysis. The USA is running out of money and WEALTH in such a dramatic way that

Robert Hormats, vice chairman of Goldman Sachs (International) The USA is on a uncorrectable downward slope in her finances [public/private] :
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/america-becoming-global-credit-risk/story.aspx?guid=%7BAE018C0F%2DA657%2D47E0%2DA53F%2DE67A522A775A%7D

On the page : http://www.itulip.com/ you will also find many interesting articles reagarding USA wealth and Finances etc. Will help you prepare for the near future.

GL

BobL

Of course, we all have the right of political dissent. Pelosi visited Syria based on that right, but she was also legitimately hammered politically for that decision. Cheney is playing politics, and so are the Democrats. That really is how are system operates. No problems from me on political dissent.

Bush/Cheney use “embolden the enemy” as a political tactic, but it does not mean that they aren’t correct. Has the anti war movement within the population, the Democratic Party (and to a much lesser extent the Republican Party) emboldened the insurgents in Iraq (as well as the Iranian government)? Common sense indicates that it does. Iran, Al Qaeda and others love our free press, and influencing American policy by bringing a brutal, seemingly unending war into our living rooms is a legitimate strategy.

Everyone in the Middle East believes that we are not in this for the long haul so they plan accordingly. The Saudis are funding the Sunni Insurgents, in part, because they believe the US is leaving and they are countering Iranian influence, and Iran is funding, training and supplying the Shiites to undermine the US and spread their influence into Iraq. Reports also indicate that Iran is supplying the Sunnis as well. Why would Iran support the Shiites and Sunnis? I think the answer is obvious. Starting a civil war was Zarqawi’s goal, and this strategy, while brutal, has been very effective in turning public opinion against the war. Iran continues the same strategy. It is a war of "will".

I follow BOBL _VA's dictum, and other US papers plus the Asian Times, papers from UK, Israel, Germany, China' Russia and numerous blogs on US domestic/foreign and economic issues, I find the polarization and ignorance in the USA MSM most depressing, in the sense as the results reflect on both USA and World safety, order and good government.

In relation to this I recommend the fictionalization of the great masses' lack of VOICES in most democracies [excl Switzerland] within the power elite in Larry Niven & Brenda Cooper "BUILDING HARLEQUINS MOON.

Tom,

Here's a question for you that I don't think we've explored. It has to do with the right of political dissent.

We're all aware free speech has limits. The classic being one is not allowed to yell fire in a crowded movie theater. Public safety issues trump the rights of an individual to say anything they want. We also know the right to free speech does not include making false accusations against other people.

In the case of political dissent I would think both public safety issues (our military being part of our public) and making false accusations whether slanderous or liable should also apply.

We have witnessed 70% of the American people exercising their right to political dissent in no longer backing the conflict in Iraq. Yet on a significant number of occasions we've heard Bush and Cheney charge numerous people with emboldening the enemy for their stance against the conflict. I believe Cheney even went so far as to imply treasonous conduct on the part of many leading Democrats. Considering no onw has been charged for speaking out against their policies in Iraq do you view Bush/Cheney statements as political rhetoric or do you believe they have a point and people shouldn't be allowed to exercise political dissent during times of conflicts?

BobL

I regularly read a couple of opinion writers that focus on foreign policy. Amir Taheri is an Iranian writer that writes a considerable amount about the Middle East and especially Iran (he is not a big supporter of the Mullahs as you might guess). I also read Arnaud Borchgrave, a more or less middle of the road writer of world issues but especially the Middle East and vicinity (now 81 years old). I also read quite a bit of Charles Krauthammer.

As far as liberal writers go, I used to read Nickolas Kristoff of the New York Times regularly until the NY Times began Times Select, and I also enjoy Michael Kinsley although I haven't read him much lately.

Ecclesiastes, becasue we all deserve to be good and depressed. We keep repeating the same old mistakes and our nation is doomed to the same slde into oblivion as all of the other once great nations..and for the same reasons - greedy, small minded and self centered leaders, and everyone chasing after emphermal pleasures of the moment.

Anything by Terry Pratchett, but especially, Going Postal. This has pretty much the same message as Ecclesiastes, but you laugh out loud about our ride to hell.

Ecclesiastes, becasue we all deserve to be good and depressed. We keep repeating the same old mistakes and our nation is doomed to the same slde into oblivion as all of the other once great nations..and for the same reasons - greedy, small minded and self centered leaders, and everyone chasing after emphermal pleasures of the moment.

Anything by Terry Pratchett, but especially, Going Postal. This has pretty much the same message as Ecclesiastes, but you laugh out loud about our ride to hell.

Ecclesiastes, becasue we all deserve to be good and depressed. We keep repeating the same old mistakes and our nation is doomed to the same slde into oblivion as all of the other once great nations..and for the same reasons" greedy, small minded and self centered leaders, and everyone chasing after emphermal pleasures of the moment.

Anything by Terry Pratchett, but especially, Going Postal. This has pretty much the same message as Ecclesiastes, but you laugh outloud about our ride to hell.

To learn: I second Kiran Desai's Inheritance of Loss, and will add Gabrielle Burton's Heartbreak Hotel, a funny and fascinating look at femininity.

To escape: Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori

But in general, I'm reading books from this list:

http://www.thenounthatverbsyourworld.blogspot.com/2007/06/pool_11.html

For learning: "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah if you haven't already read it.

For fun: Re-read (or read for the first time) the Chronicles of Narnia, any of them!

Tom Wonacott,

That's easy for me. The human insight and sense of the absurd that Dana Milbank conveys wins hands down. I'm a huge fan of his work. (Sorry WP Global, but I like a little sarcasm when it's called for)

I try to read conservative columns as well as straight reporting and liberal views. However, having said that I just crossed off Kristol from my list of who I'll read for what had to be the most intellectually dishonest piece I've ever read. I am eagerly awaiting someone to write a book called, "George Bush and the Polarization of America."

How about you? Who's your favorite(s)?

I would say a great book to enjoy and learn from is "What is the What" by David Eggers...it's fantastically written and incredibly relevant today in detailing the history of the atrocities in Sudan.

In terms of an escape book, I agree that Harry Potter is great. However, one of my favorite books of the summer so far has been "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. Not exactly an escape book, but an incredibly compelling and well-written work about the condition of women in Afghanistan.

i will recommend u "THE SHADE OF SWORDS" by M.J.AKBAr for knowing the reality of world tussle and wars and for escapism then read "HARRY POTTER"

The genocidal war and occupation of Somalia by the criminal regime of Meles Zinawi will fail on its own. Today, no Somali or foreign actor, be they the criminal TFG tribal collaborators (whose usefulness has now expired), the sham UN or the occupied Somali people themselves can influence the course of Ethiopia’s defeat in Somalia.
This is because this defeat is both structural and inevitable. Structural, because it is built on the faulty premise that anarchy and genocidal war can be normalized in Somalia and made productive for the colonizing Ethiopian power. Inevitable, because the Ethiopian occupation is built solely on looting and genocidal war and thus cannot sustained itself for long under its own greed and the unremitting desire for freedom by the oppressed.

Background:

Zinawi’s Western-backed invasion and occupation of Somalia was to serve dual purposes, one for the West and one for himself:

For the West, the explicit and sole aim of Ethiopia’s occupation was and is to ensure permanent stateless-ness and chaos in Somalia. So that private American, European and Asian firms can engage in illegal dumping of hazardous waste for their governments and in return exploit Somalia territorial waters as they see fit.

This is the stated policy to keep Somalia in violent anarchy, something that the Warlords had failed to adequately do, despite large handouts of cash and guns. The game is: Control through the Ethiopian proxy. Historically, the “Somali threat” has been characterized, both figuratively and literally in the pre-invasion Mogadishu economy (unregulated and therefore wealth out of Western control) and the birth of peace and government in the Islamic Courts Union (as independence, therefore a threat to the geo-strategic layout of the Horn).

The West’s policy towards Somalia remains-- as it is self-evident today— revolved around the need to eliminate, thwart and dismantle a peaceful, prosperous and independent Somalia. This policy was used to justify the arming of the Barre dictatorship for the sole aim of destroying Somalia by targeting the independent-minded Muslim Somalis whose cultural-religious and economic independence was seen as the underlying threat since the days of Imperialism.

In this vein, the later arming of the uneducated tribal warlords over Mogadishu and the targeted genocide against industrious and entrepreneurial Ceyr community there; as well as, the facilitating of the overall colonial invasion by Ethiopia in 2006 is but a continuation of this centuries old stance by the former Colonial powers who unsurprisingly today are the main financial and military backers legitimizing the occupation and genocide against Somalia.

For himself, Zinawi’s personal objective was and is to loot and feed off the Mogadishu economy as a bloodsucking leech feds off a body. He was counting on the ICU built airport and seaport (now closed due to the incompetent, corrupted and violence of his mercenary forces) and the business savvy of Mogadishu residents to finance his brutal occupation over Somalia and give him a fat cushion to live off from.

Reality Today: Occupation’s Failure!

Since Ethiopia’s invasion and occupation was never meant to create even the semblance of a puppet regime or order, but rather to ensure chaos and looting its failure is imminent: there is order to destroy and nothing more to loot. Rather, then work to peacefully exploit Somalia as they had done before, the colonial powers( namely, the US, Europe and their mouthpiece the UN) have instead chosen— through the mercenary Ethiopia dictator Zinawi— to violently solidify and make permanent anarchic condition as the norm in Somalia. As Dr. Michael Weinstein has observed after the 2006 invasion:

“Having eliminated the possibility of an Islamic state on its eastern border and having sidelined its regional rival Eritrea, which had supported the I.C.C., Ethiopia would, in the best case, like to have Somalia as a client state. Addis Ababa, however, is convinced that this is impossible and is therefore content to leave the country weak and divided. Indeed, on January 10, Zenawi remarked that the elders and residents of Mogadishu "can pacify the city" by themselves -- a judgment that is shared by no other actor.”(‘‘Somalia’s Political Future Appears to be its Pre-Courts Past''17 January 2007 www.pinr.com ).

Dr. Weinstien furthermore says Addis Ababa's position has been described succinctly and precisely by Canadian journalist Jonathan Manthorpe writing in the Vancouver Sun on January 11: "A return to factional instability will be a happy outcome for Ethiopia, which has a host of historic disputes with Somalia and does not want to see a united and effective government."( ''Somalia's Political Future Appears to be its Pre-Courts Past''17 January 2007 www.pinr.com).

here can be no doubt that Somalia constitutes the African venue for the testing of the Neo-colonialist order, namely, the instituting of war in the place of peace; Occupation in the place of sovereignty; National destruction in the place of national development; displacement of people in the place of security and permanent statelessness within the confines of continual exploitation. The fact that Somalia as a nation- state has been wiped out completely from the world map, does not mean that it has been wiped out from the consciousness of the world’s people. Along with Iraq and Afghanistan, Somalia may serve as the third testing ground for this new variant of neo-colonization and war imperialism in the 21st century, but it will undoubtedly fail to bring any fruits to its engineers. Unlike the previous colonization, this is one is marked by the explicit goal of creating anarchy and mayhem where there is order as a preferred method of long-term colonial control and exploitation.

But such schemes wherever they are do not factor in the desire of all people who have tasted justice and freedom such as in Somalia to resist. The creeping failure of Ethiopia and its Western backers to mask the occupation of Somalia and the concomitant desperate situation they find themselves in, especially forcing them to resort to fake terror bombings, fake conferences, crude disinformation and kidnappings for ransom speaks volumes about the folly of this adventure to No-Where.

The ignorance of the Ethiopian colonizers and their backers, who it seems have not learned anything about recent failed attempts at human subjugation and genocide haunts them today irrevocably. Somalis be they occupied or in the Diaspora, demand an end to the bogus occupation and call the right for self-determination of their affairs, it will not and can not be denied for long!

For Learning:
"Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny" by Amartya Sen, the Nobel laureate, to understand the root cause of most of the ills and sufferings of the world - religious fundamentalism linked terrorism, sectarian strifes, ethnic cleansing, ... and learn to make our planet a better place to live!

Well, to Escape: (should or can anybody escape?!) ... the obvious current choice would be "Harry Porter and the Deathly Hallows". But I recommend everybody to read "The Great Indian Novel" by Shashi Tharoor, an accomplished author and the former Under-Secretary-General of the UN, and escape to "Incredible India" - a country which had attained incredible levels of advancement in various fields approx 5500 years ago when, perhaps, most of the humanity was still in caves! For company during that incredible journey of "Discovery of India", I suggest some of his other books on India: 'Nehru: The Invention of India", "India: From the Midnight to the Millennium", "Show Business".

PG

An interesting theory of the global jihad is addressed in "Terror and Liberalism" by Paul Berman. I escape more by foot than book, so I don't have any to recommend in that category.

BobL

Who are your favorite columnist?

To learn, I recommend "Afflicted Powers: Capital and Spectacle in a New Age of War" by the SF-based collective Retort. While some sections are stronger than others, it does an admirable and insightful job in exploring 9/11, Iraq, Israel, and revolutionary Islam from the perspective of the spectacle and military neoliberalism.

To escape, the book I always recommend is one of the first great books I read, "The World According to Garp" by John Irving.

I have no particular books to recommend. I am doing some reading right now--Fernand Braudel's history of civilizations--but the far more important thing is to recognize the general trend around us which will point us to the correct books (if answers can be found at all in books). The general trend I mean--the most important one for the West certainly--is the increased linking up with the Islamic world to the point now that we are in something of the middle ages again but intensified--as if a replay and intensification of the process of the West having emerged from the Middle ages into the scientific revolution. Of course from the Islamic perspective and from the perspective of political correctness it would be better to call the conflict one of a comparison of relatively equal and just differing civilizations, but I find the problem one of the West not really having emerged from the Middle ages because the West did not take into account the Middle ages still remaining to its south...In other words the West has emerged from the middle ages in the West, but the Islamic world is the middle ages still remaining and now increasingly coming into contact and conflict with the West thus virtually making it from the perspective of the West its own middle ages remaining to be converted to the scientific revolution and modern world...And in fact things are even worse than that: Islam is a particularly virulent form of the same religion which overswept the Roman empire and from which the West had to emancipate itself to give birth to the scientific revolution. This is not to say Islam is a type of Christianity but one of the three monotheistic religions founded on the Bible and the most intractable and southerly one which has not really been overcome by the scientific revolution. The work of the scientific revolution is not over! It has not really secured itself against monotheism! Of course science has challenges from Christianity still in the West, but the really grave challenge is from the Islamic world and we really have to wonder if the threat from the Islamic world--coupled with many other challenges--will reduce the West to having been merely an extended Renaissance destined to be squashed by the general thrust of brute civilization--civilization pre-science. Books examining this issue are in order. I finished recently H. Floris Cohen's book on histories of the scientific revolution.

Harry Potter for escapism.

For learning and or reality read the front page pages and editorial sections of the WP and NYT each day. Nothing out in the book world can compare to the daily dosages of Dumb (Bush) and Dumber (Cheney) making a mockery of the US Constitution, Federal Agencies, International Law and World Diplomacy. 546 days left and counting until there will be any possiblity of sanity returning to 1600 PA AVE.

Hello. I would have to agree with Miklos Vamos, in refernece to what type of book to read on summer vacation. I also agree with his reasoning as to why on earth would you want to read a book about a celebrity, or why you would read a detective story. Boring. If you would read a book purely for pleasure, which is the effect that most reading has on me, I would recommend, to an audience interested in American/Western prose, or subject matter, Mark Twain's Puddn'head Wilson. For a more international perspective, I would recommend the Indian writer, Rohinton Mistry and his book A Fine Balance. Twain's book is entertaining and would satisfy the "detective story"-type reader, in addition to being a fascinating commentary on the very idea of race. As to Mr. Mistry's novel, this will entertain as well as inform a Western reader as to the political, social (class relations), and religious clash that took place in India during the 1970's under the rule of Indira Ghandi; a most interesting read.

To start off, what better escape than Harry Potter? But if you're not into that then for the summertime I like to get back into the "classics," those books that I was suppose to read in high school but never got around to. 1984 changed my life last summer, but I really love pop lit too.

To be educated... I like to puruse the History section of my local Borders. We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families is an amazingly written book about the genocide in Rwanda. In Retrospect by Mcnamara is also another excellent book. But it's summer, read whatever makes you happy.

Your question gives me the possibility to give you a short answer.

To learn, I suggest to read 'God Delusion' by R. Dawkins
To escape, one should read 'The world is flat' by T. Friedman

Good reading.

For a compelling and prescient read on the future of the global environmental sustainability, pick up Lehman Brothers' "The Business of Climate Change," which you can actually download (www.lehman.com/press/pdf_2007/TheBusinessOfClimateChange.pdf) at no charge.

While at times dry and technical, the nature of the piece will inspire-, and the substance equip you to discuss and take action on our century's greatest challenge.

To abate the tinge of foreboding that Lehman delivers, try Thomas Pynchon's novel, "The Crying of Lot 49." Lovers of the company of genius will enjoy it, and surely be moved to read Pynchon's other, much more dense, novels.

Mr. Ignatius, can you second that?

I will recommend just one book, Leo Tolstoy’s “Hadji Murad” (first published in 1912). Apparently this propaganda of accusing victimized & oppressed freedom seekers as terrorist has been going on for quite some time. Tolstoy's "Hadji Murad" is educative as well as entertaining and sheds some perspective on today's headlines.

To learn:

Chris Hedges, "War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning", for its depth and breadth in debunking the Myth of War, and for this unique sentence: "And there are times when remaining human is the only victory possible." That is the fundamental wisdom to be found in Chuang Tzu's "Works".

To escape:

Ray Bradbury, "The Stories of Ray Bradbury". Meet first delightful Miss Hillgood, in "The Day It Rained Forever", and complete your Bradbury journey, at the end, with a reminder of what you learned above, in "A Piece of Wood".

P.S. To those casual travelers who, in between learning and escaping, follow Amar Bakshi's journey and have come to know Amar's grandmother, I would further recommend:

Jhumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake".

Mustafa Khan, Malegaon, India
The two books I want anyone to read are, one, Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss on the plight of people in their craze for migration and pelf; the second, Where the Red Fern Grows of Wilson Rawls to go back to pristine beauty and simplicity and biological diversity while we escape from the world of earning and spending that is too much in the summer haze.

The two books I want anyone to read are, one, Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss on the plight of people in their craze for migration and pelf; the second, Where the Red Fern Grows of Wilson Rawls to go back to pristine beauty and simplicity and biological diversity while we escape from the world of earning and spending that is too much in the summer haze.

Mustafa Khan, Malegaon, India

The two books I want anyone to read are, one, Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss on the plight of people in their craze for migration and pelf; the second, Where the Red Fern Grows of Wilson Rawls to go back to pristine beauty and simplicity and biological diversity while we escape from the world of earning and spending that is too much in the summer haze.

I will suggest four, two in each category, one older and one newer.

For learning:

Old: _Song of the Dodo_ by David Quammen

An excellent primer on the evolution of Evolution, the history of island biogeography, and its two unsung heroes, MacArthur & Wilson. It is written in such an engaging journalistic style that I daresay even the most ardent intelligent designer may learn a thing or two. Global climate change may well be the least of our environmental concerns.

New: _Infidel_ by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

The remarkable story of a rare and remarkable woman. The events surrounding the death of Theo Van Gogh were lightly reported on the other side of the Atlantic and this memoir introduces us to the brains behind the brawn: a young Somali woman on her journey from submission to freethinker. It made me wonder why all muslim women do not regard the hijab and burqa with the same revulsion that African-Americans regard the confederate flag... a question for which I am still searching an answer.

For escape:

Old: _Bel Canto_ by Ann Patchett

This book is about connections, however unlikely, and fragile. Evocative and beautiful.

New: _Guitar - An American Life_ by Tim Brookes

An ode to the Great American Male Midlife Crisis and a fine history of some important musical instruments--and the passion and precision required to build them. Pleasant and diverting.

--FIUS

To learn I would recommend Vali Nasr's "The Shia Revival" that fills in the lack of knowledge we have about a form of religion we know next to nothing about and for escapism Donna Leon's " Suffer the Little Children" part of her Commissario Guido Brunetti mysteries set in Venice if you have never read her then you are missing a truly wonderful experience.

To learn, I recommend "The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global" by Gerges, Fawaz. I found it most helpful in understanding the complexities of and correcting many misconceptions about jihad.

To escape, I recommend "The Pearl Diver" by Jeff Talarigo for a glimpse into the life of a leper in 1846 Japan, and an interesting perspective on coming of age and finding strength. The imagery is often shocking and always beautifully written.

I recommend reading The Devil in the White City by David Larson. It's a non-fiction book that reads like fiction, an amazing story of the a serial killer who lured and murdered his victims in Chicago as the country was celebrating the world fair held few blocks down from his house.

http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/devilinthewhitecity/home.html

Oh a lighter - yet equally enchanting - note, The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is a breathtaking read about, well, a timetraveller and his wife.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Traveler's_Wife

Maya

The best political memoir of the year:

Eyes Shut Tight

Review by James M. Naughton (formerly White House and national political correspondent for the New York Times) on B. Kenneth McGee's .....“Eyes Shut Tight”:

"As a reporter in Cleveland in the 1960s, I knew a lot about what was going on behind the scenes in politics. But Ken McGee's revelations blew me away. His journey through dark corridors of politics, gambling and alcoholism is bluntly honest."