Say it with Me…

…”Al Gore’s Academy Award Winning Film.” Man that’s strange. Never in my life did I think I’d ever see those words together. Just wait a few months and maybe we’ll be uttering “Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore.” I still think the Democratic ticket for `08 is his if he wants it.

The Devil Went Down to Australia

Clashes have broken out on the streets of Sydney between police and anti-war campaigners protesting against the visit of US Vice-President Dick Cheney.

It’s nice to see that Americans aren’t the only ones who disapprove of the Puppet-master.

[BBC]

Vaccinating Against Wal-Mart

A visit to India by Wal-Mart executives has sparked protests by small shopkeepers worried about its plans for a tie-up with Bharti Enterprises.

“Good for the Indians”, I say. I’d like to be able to go somewhere on this planet without running into a Wal-Mart and that f*cking smiley face. Grrr.

[BBC]

Egyptian Blogger Jailed

An Egyptian court has sentenced a blogger to four years’ prison for insulting Islam and the president.

Truly sad. If this doesn’t make people appreciate the freedoms that we enjoy in this country, then nothing will. Could you imagine the millions of people that would be jailed in this country if we weren’t allowed to criticize Bush? You’d have 70% of the population behind bars. Poor Jon Stewart, he’d probably get the death sentence.

[BBC]

Le Petit Prince Goes to War

Yesterday, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that the 7,100 troops in Iraq would be cut to 5,000. Today, the BBC is reporting that it is highly likely that Prince Harry, or Troop Commander Wales, will be getting a chance to experience Messopotamia first hand.

From Harry the Nazi

To Harry the Pongo

[BBC]

Fatal Coulrophobia

Two circus clowns have been shot dead during a performance in the eastern Colombian city of Cucuta, police say.

Looks like someone took their fear of clowns a little too far.

[BBC]

ASU and the Peace Corps

As someone who plans to join the Peace Corps once I finally finish my B.A., I found this little tidbit of interest.

Thanks to alumni, recently ASU has risen to “No. 19 on the list of the top 25 large schools with graduates serving as volunteers.” While 19th out of 25 is no big deal, the fact that ASU has moved up 16 places from 35th to 19th is quite impressive in my mind. It is also worthy to note that ASU is the “No. 45 producer of volunteers of all time” with 757 alumni having joined the Peace Corps since its inception in 1961.

[ASU]

Happy Presidents Day

Happy Presidents Day, a day to observe the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. George turns 275 this year and Abe turns 198. It might be a federal holiday but, school is still in session. Oh well, I only have one class this evening.

Stereo Eros

Today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day is a special one. Get out those red/blue glasses and check out asteroid 433 Eros in full stereo-tastic vision. This is the asteroid that NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft touched down on, a few years back.

In other asteroid news, the UN has drafted a treaty in order to figure out what to do if a near-Earth object (NEO) were to to get a little too close for comfort. I say they build a spaceship capable of launching nuclear missiles and then hold a worldwide Asteroids tournament to see who is worthy of piloting said craft.

[BBC]

Xin nein kuai le!

Happy Chinese New Year! Not only is it the Year of the Pig, it’s the Year of Golden Pig, which only comes around once every 60 years. Pigs symbolize good luck but, they can also symbolize turbulence. Hopefully it’s good luck for me since my surname is Hams.

[BBC]