As we speak (write or read) in Nepal.
Elections in Palestine are important, elections in Iraq are a sing of democratic victory. In the middle of political turmoil, Nepal is preparing for elections. The Monarchy has called for parliament elections, after they dissolved the parliament in October 2002. The opposition candidates have been jailed and the Maoist guerrilla has killed candidates from the mayoral political parties. “The election is a farce and it has no meaning at all,” Madhav Kumar Nepal, secretary general of the United Marxist-Leninist Party, said. “It is designed to legitimize the autocratic regime.” Read more about the history and situation in Nepal here.
Filed Under Politics
I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment.
Okay. Here’s just another example of why this is the best freaking time to be alive. Beer bots. That’s right. Japanese brewery Asahi is giving away 5000 personal bartending bots.
Each beer bot can store a six pack in its refrigerated belly and at the push of a button this little guy will open a can and pour delicious Asahi beer into a glass for its owner.
I know what you’re thinking. How do I get one?
It’s not that easy, my friend.
Beer bots cannot be bought. Only won.
In a promotion for Asahi’s new low malt beer, contestants must collect 36 tokens found on the specially marked beers.
It’s like Wonka’s golden ticket. Only tokens. In beer cans. To win robots. That get you drunk.
I wish I was Japanese.
Asahi: Chairman Shigeo Fukuchi and Presdient Kouichi Ikeda… genius.
Filed Under Research
The Heart is Deceitful. Period.
Two books: Sarah, and The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things.
One author: troubled, child prostitute junkie JT LeRoy.
Oh, and just one more thing: there is no JT LeRoy.
While Sarah was published six years ago, it has only now come to light that indeed the “author” known as JT LeRoy is merely the creation of author Laura Alpert and played, brilliantly and subtly, in public by Alpert’s stepdaughter, Samantha Knoop.
And all this news before Asia Argento’s film adaptation of The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things hits theaters.
From what I can tell people are all in a hissy over this. I mean, not in a James Frey kind of way, but still… no one likes to be tricked and manipulated.
Excpet me. I think it’s hot. You go, Laura! And Samantha! Whatever. You’ll always be JT to me. And hey, just because you’re caught doens’t mean you’re guilty. Not in America it don’t. Especially when you’re a writer. Or a liar. Same difference.
Filed Under Media & Society
Role Models
Iraqis pumping iron inspired by Arnold. This is the ultimate victory of the US, never mind the resistance and the ongoing number of casualties for the US and the Iraqi people, there is a foreseeable victory when people build their bodies to look like Arnold. Saif Ayman is a visionary and an entrepreneur, he opened a modern gym after the US led coalition liberated Iraq from the Hussein regime. Nothing will ever be the same. Read more in Pumping iron more than a sport in Iraq
Filed Under Politics
Hamas victory: the chaos continues…
Two days ago, an unexpected result in the palestinian elections changed all the Middle East situation: Hamas won 76 sits in the Parliament, clearly defeating Al Fatah. The Israeli government said he won’t negotiate with this integralist group that claimed responsibility for 58 terroristic attacks in the last 5 years. So did the United States. The former Al Fatah premier Abu Ala dismissed from his position.
It’s early to evaluate how this change will affect the peace process.
What I would like to underline is the chaos that keeps on dominating this part of the world: a region where Ariel Sharon, under process for having massacred 2000 palestinian refugees in Sabra e Chatila, suddenly becomes the worst enemy of Israele extremists; a region where a medieval wall is supposed to divide two people; a region where 15 years of peace process are wasted in one night.
Israeli writer Amos Oz said that more than a Shakespeare end, with the scene full of dead bodies, for the Israeli-palestinian conflict he would prefere a Cecov one, with the scene full of unhappy, puzzled but alive people. I often think we will never see an end like this for Israeli and Palestinians.
International Herald Tribune article about Palestinian elections
Israeli newspaper Haaretz
Electronic Intifada
Filed Under Politics
Looking better
Before considering a breast implant or some surgery that might deform you for ever, consider getting a new bra. According to a recent study, at least 85% of women use the wrong size of bra, causing a bad image or mal formation of the breasts, including “sagginess”. So this is no real health advise, just a piece of information worth sharing.
Next time you find yourself in front of the mirror and think: “ I don’t like them that much, I might get an OP”. Just go to your trusted bra store, get measured, get some advice in terms of bra and buy the right one. You will certainly look better and feel better, your breast will also thank you.
Shopping - Lingerie - Fashion - New York Times
Bra Size Calculator
Filed Under Modern Life
DO U REMEMBER HARVEY KEITEL IN “SMOKE”…?
Maci, a friend of mine, today send me this link:
It’s a very interesting project about photograpy that remember me that super romantic story on “Smoke”, the film by Wayne Wang, where Harvey Keitel, the tobacconist, every morning, at eight o’clock was taking a picture of the same part of the street on which his shop was.
Harvey Keitel wasn’t the first one in doing this kind of things…
Filed Under Media & Society