Today, two teams of doctors in London will explain that – with some psychological and moral issues pending – face transplants are now possible. And no, there doesn’t seem to be any connection to President Bush’s state visit to the UK… Sueddeutsche Zeitung outlines some of thequestions involved.
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William Safire, once again.
I should really stop reading William Safire’s columns, I suppose. Yesterday, the Ny Times provided the world with another marvel. He’s writing about “The Age Of Liberty”, the new Bush foreign policy theme song, after ensuring the reader that he has indeed read, and re-read “the serious speech in its entirety.”
That’s good news, I suppose, as it implies that even the Republican spokesperson at the NYTimes (if only by accident) acknowledges that “seriousness” is something worth mentioning when President Bush is speaking…
He’s also explaining that, apparently, a rethoric Europeanization is going on in the White House speechwriting offices, one that is, unfortunately, so subtle it has to be explained even to the readers of the NY Times… – “He chose “influential” rather than “powerful” to stress our democratic example.”
But he’s right about one thing: Instead of reading summaries, including his own, one should proceed to reading the real thing. Well, where he’s right, he’s right.
George Soros
finally found a reason to live after making money. Not surprisingly, this development involves politics – today he told the Washington Post that defeating President Bush in the 2004 Presidential elections has become “the central focus of [his] life”, as those elections were “a matter of life and death.” So in order to put his money where his mouth is, he already donated 5 million US Dollars to the liberal pressure group moveon.org. (from the Washington Post).
Chaos Theory Field Study.
“The very technology that has for years allowed fire trucks, ambulances and police cars to reach emergencies faster – a remote control that changes traffic signals – is now much cheaper and potentially accessible to civilians.” (from autonet.ca)
Emancipation.
Talk about supression of women in Islamic countries… “A Turkish woman locked her rich industrialist husband naked in the bathroom for three years, claiming he was mentally disturbed, press reports said after the man was released.” (via Drudge report)
Girl Power.
Ladies, remember that guy you met last weekend? The disgusting one that drooled in your décolletée while trying to impress you by pretending not to stare too much? Turns out, he wasn’t that guilty after all – according to a study conducted at the University of Chicago and published in the journal Evolution And Human Behaviour male saliva undergoes dramatic changes during small talk with women. And there goes another quality that might have differentiated human men from their counterparts in the animal kingdom. Ladies, please be kind in the future and have a doggy biscuit ready just in case. (from the Evening Standard, London’s Tube Newspaper)
Afghani Draft Constitution.
Check out the Afghani Draft Constitution to read a paper that is hopelessly trying to balance the demands of an essentially tribally organised country with those of a concerned international community. Words do matter, and so do constitutions. But there’s no way 46 pages of good intentions can speed a development that will take decades at best. Believe me, none of the warlords is having trouble sleeping after reading it…
Sue Britney!
All of you who still had some doubts regarding the insanity of the American legal system, get this: A Japanese business man, and a stalker of Ms Spears, is suing her for – get this – emotional cruelty in New York. And the lawsuit was apparently accepted by the court. Why? Because her bodyguards did their job and once told the man in no unclear words to leave her alone (at gunpoint, he claims)… Can I sue too? I would like to sue Kim Wilde for not making out with me when she was young, and popular, and I was 12. That was certainly some kind of emotional cruelty ;) (from Spiegel Online)
Karaoke. With A Twist.
Don’t we all know that a trend is born when two journalists happen to meet at a particular place? Well, I guess that’s how AFP came up with this report about Porn Karaoke becoming a “trend” in Germany. But then again, I guesss I know what most people over here would do when asked to describe their favorite scene from “When Harry met Sally”…
Stupidity.
If you ever wondered why crime doesn’t pay, read this:
“Police in Germany are searching for a burglar who they say is the most stupid they have ever come across.” (from Ananova)