The World According to Z

Nothing makes me happier than this street art! Gaddafi Loves...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:34:05 -0500

Nothing makes me happier than this street art!

Gaddafi Loves Leeza (by Karon)

Amazing! A poster sized bubble wrap calendar that you can pop...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:18:01 -0500

Amazing!

A poster sized bubble wrap calendar that you can pop each day.

The Muppets Are Communist, Fox Business Network Says

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:25:13 -0500

The Muppets Are Communist, Fox Business Network Says:

It must be hard being the Onion these days. Pretty hard to beat the “real” news.

U.S. and Europeans clash over Syria strategy at Human Rights Council | Turtle Bay

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:46:07 -0500

U.S. and Europeans clash over Syria strategy at Human Rights Council | Turtle Bay:

…And once again U.S. policy on Israel gets in the way of the rest of our foreign policy agenda. Let’s get this straight: We can’t use the imprimatur of an international organization to clamp down on Syria’s gross violations of Human Rights… because that might give international organizations a way to crack down on Israeli’s violations of Human Rights?

How ‘bout Israel just refrains from violating Human Rights?

Nope, better to just let Assad keep killing his on people. I can’t imagine why the Arab World doesn’t trust us..

Global Witness pulls out of blood diamond scheme | Reuters

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:14:09 -0500

Global Witness pulls out of blood diamond scheme | Reuters:

The road to hell is paved with good intentions…

News Desk: “Oops”: The Debates Quiz : The New Yorker

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:35:06 -0500

News Desk: “Oops”: The Debates Quiz : The New Yorker:

Good quiz if you want your head to explode.

Egypt imports 21 tons of tear gas from the US, port staff refuses to sign for it - Bikya Masr

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:21:30 -0500

Egypt imports 21 tons of tear gas from the US, port staff refuses to sign for it - Bikya Masr:

The “Brave Five” indeed. If only their efforts could have sent this all back from where it came.

A zillion man hours of diplomatic effort flushed down the drain by 7.5 TONS of tear gas.

It appears that globally ‘tis the season of pepper spray and tear gas. What a world.

Global Warming Hates Beer | ThinkProgress

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:12:16 -0500

Global Warming Hates Beer | ThinkProgress:

Perhaps the most compelling reason yet to worry about climate change.

Jon Kyl’s search-and-destroy mission - The Washington Post

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:33:27 -0500

Jon Kyl’s search-and-destroy mission - The Washington Post:

Early morning blood boil: Success!

This makes me so angry. I can’t fathom why this man has hijacked our country to no discernible end. If it isn’t for his own political future, why derail so many important conversations? For a few senate seats? For spite?

It isn’t even that he feared losing the argument. He didn’t even allow the conversation to start.

In a word, despicable.

Iowa GOP caucusers are the real elite - The Washington Post

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:53:43 -0500

Iowa GOP caucusers are the real elite - The Washington Post:

One of the many reasons our political system is so paralyzed is the requirement that all presidential aspirants have to pander to a very small number of Iowans. Are they the real .05%?

Fight To Stop ‘Automatic’ Defense Cuts Starts In 5… 4… | Danger Room | Wired.com

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:24:03 -0500

Fight To Stop ‘Automatic’ Defense Cuts Starts In 5… 4… | Danger Room | Wired.com:

As @attackerman writes, the deficit panel’s “Automatic” defense cuts are, perhaps, more negotiable than advertised.

AKA: nothing gets done, as usual.

"And for the most expected and generally pathetic news alert of the day: NEWS ALERT Monday, November..."

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:14:00 -0500

“

And for the most expected and generally pathetic news alert of the day:

NEWS ALERT Monday, November 21, 2011 5:00:04 PM

The congressional supercommittee has failed to reach an agreement over how to cut $1.2 trillion from the U.S. budget deficit, the group said in a statement released Monday afternoon.

”

- Washington Post

…is part of the UK? US Education, FAIL. h/t @Max_Fisher

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:41:00 -0500

…is part of the UK?

US Education, FAIL.

h/t @Max_Fisher

Germany: Damned if you do, damned if you don't

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:58:00 -0500

Germany: Damned if you do, damned if you don't:

Just when you thought the political discourse in the US was singular in its ability to jump from zero to Nazi in .4 seconds….

Fear of a German Europe | FP Passport

British MEP Nigel Farage, of the U.K. Independence Party, got up in Herman Van Rompuy’s face last week with an epic rant on the floor of the European Parliament that was also something of a victory lap for the longtime euroskeptic:

While Farage’s speech probably provides some catharsis for fed-up Europeans, the non-subtlety of his anti-German remarks was striking:

We are now living in a German-dominated Europe. Something that the European project was supposed to stop. Something that those who went before us actually paid a heavy price in blood to prevent. I don’t want to live in a German-dominated Europe and nor do the citizens or Europe.

Farage’s comments are the latest manifestation of the recent bout of Germanophobia that’s been provoked by Angel Merkel’s government’s new status as Europe’s lender of last resort.

More at Foreign Policy, including video:

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/11/21/fear_of_a_german_europe