In today’s “Have Your Say”: Is Blair’s slave trade ‘sorrow’ enough? Will Prime Minister Tony Blair’s article in the New Nation newspaper suffice as an apology for the slavery? In anticipation of the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery Mr Blair expressed “deep sorrow” in his article while Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is drafting a “statement of regret” for Britain’s involvement. The Church of England General Synod has voted

Sales of a controversial Turkish novel on a conspiracy to kill Pope Benedict XVI are on the rise ahead of the pontiff’s historical visit to Turkey beginning next Wednesday – his first to an overwhelmingly Muslim nation. ‘The Plot Against The Pope’ is a highly speculative potboiler narrating how the conservative Roman Catholic society Opus Dei, a subversive masonic lodge and the CIA collude to make the pontiff’s murder a

by other means.  JR Dunn at Real Clear Politics: The Iranians, in Dr. Kissinger’s words, believe that they are “in a position to challenge the entire world order.” They need to be persuaded otherwise, and that cannot be accomplished by negotiations, concessions, or even visits from Kofi Annan. The Iranians, as shown by every foul speech from Ahmadinejad, every threatening missile launch, every advanced, Iranian-designed bomb that goes off in

…Localized domestic terror?  Could be.  Lord knows Hillary and her pals have done their damnest to stoke the flames of anti-Wal-Mart sentiment, scapegoating a corporation that employs thousands upon thousands of people. However, the fact that the explosives were placed in the toy and pet aisles—and that the attacks happened during one of the heaviest weekends for Christmas shopping—gives me pause.  After all, domestic terrorists are generally savvy enough to

I took the following from Mark Steyn’s site.  It was the “letter of the week” from one of Steyn’s readers.  I have no idea how long the body of the email will remain on the site, but I have saved a private copy.  I didn’t want to post the whole thing because it would violate fair-use policy.  However, most of it is here. I think the author is probably spot-on. 

What the heck is up with the 1968 mythos and it’s pervasive influence upon certain Congressional members? No matter how many times you refute it, some will simply not believe that the current Armed Forces of the United States are not made up of the futureless, down-and-out of our society.

We’ve all been treated to allegory and poetry here recently, and the following is probably one of the most referenced poems on the internet, by Stephen Crane, who wasn’t known for a poet in his day: In the desert I saw a creature, naked, bestial, who, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands, And ate of it. I said, “Is it good, friend?” “It is bitter—bitter,” he

We have a homegrown hero in our midst.  I blush to report that I’ve been applying the epithet to military men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, now that semanticleo has visited the phone booth and revealed his true superhero identity, responding to a question from our host: “What do you do?” I topple giants masquerading as windmills.  I cook meaty meals of thought provocation and balance the scales of

Looking for talented librettist to help me finish my opera bouffe, Das Feingold.  Please send samples, references.

In an interesting post at Gates of Vienna, the Baron bemoans the ignorance of the American electorate and its consequences–consequences that are rapidly shaping up as tragic: We, the readers of Gates of Vienna, and other members of the VRWC live in a rarefied atmosphere. We’re relatively well-informed, and vacuum up information wherever it can be found, not relying on news filters and conventional sources. But most Americans don’t pay