by kcurie
Thu Jun 14th, 2007 at 01:22:04 PM EST
The article of V. Klaus about dangerous enviromentalism as some sort of dangerous communism threatening our freedoms has generated a heated debate about how to beat back this kind of discourse which floods our public discourse.
As jerome points out, they are relentless, they know their stuff and they know how to put narratives and histories behind...we also know how to do it.. but we just do not have the media.
But beside screeaming again "buy Media for Xsakes" I would like to address here the scientific implications of this kind of articles... please follow me below and provide inputs for my answer to Klaus article
by kcurie
Mon May 28th, 2007 at 04:06:57 AM EST
Today there are elections in Spain for the all the majorships (big and small cities alike) and for all but four of the seventeen Autonomous Communities (our Länder).
This is a diary to just keep the people over here informed... if you wish
Updated results in comments: by Migeru & kcurie
From the diaries & bumped ~ whataboutbob
by kcurie
Thu May 17th, 2007 at 06:35:31 AM EST
Lately I have been feeling that I had nothing really new to say.
Today at long last I have something.
It is about nukes.. and (MAD) Mutual Assured Destruction doctrine)..and other "crazy Cheney stuff".
Go there.. and follow me if you wish.
From the diaries (with slight edit) by afew
by kcurie
Thu Mar 8th, 2007 at 06:40:19 AM EST
A short diary. A diary to start up a conversation by telling you something.
There has been a quite astounding discovery in anthropology recently. And I learned it from the New York Times magazine article about God and antrhopology. The NYT Magazine is like a jewel of journalism that I would deem as the best in the world. As long as they exist, the US Empire is worthy... somehow:)
But this discover does not matter so much really unless you ar every much into it... but the article that appears in the NYTM explains very clearly why Free market rules... without really realizing. It also explains very well what I have been trying to explain all this time about Levi-Strauss, and narratives, and mythologies... and reality...
Here I try to explain in more detail why reality does not matter or even exists..even in what one would consider the most reality-absed of our needs: our economic system.
From the diaries -- whataboutbob
by kcurie
Mon Feb 12th, 2007 at 06:41:49 AM EST
Well.. this is meta... real real real meta.
I have asked a friend to come to visit this site.. so that he could tell me what things prevent him from registering...
Let me point out that my friend is "into this kind of stuff"... and still.
Here is a list of the things he would like to see... plus some of mine.. plus some of others.
This is a heavily heavily constructive diary.. so please if you come here to just state criticism for the sake of criticism.. this is not the place. We love this site, get it? :)
Actually, that was some kind of joke since I can not imagine anyone in the community doing differently.
So go below the fold...
by kcurie
Thu Jan 18th, 2007 at 02:12:13 AM EST
This is going to be a very simple diary.
A very simple indeed.
There are great questions in the universe and our life that belittle us but that have easy explanations when you belong to the elite.
Who Am I? A congregation of souls
Where do we go? As a person to the grave, as a specie probably nowhere after a 4-million year window and as a planet to go five billion more years around a star in the outskirts of a galaxy in the outskirts of the universe.
Where do I come from? Dust of supernovas and cooperation selection.
What is the truth of existence? You just cannot know it but you can live it through your relation with others.
What can/would a pundit/plutocrat/neo-center/neolib marketista never say? That Europe goes somehow fine.
Promoted by Colman
by kcurie
Wed Jan 10th, 2007 at 11:02:36 AM EST
Ok.. this is it. The thing we were looking for. As scheduled the new energy proposal from the European Comission has appeared in press releases or even pdf documents
I will update as news come up...and please take this as a thread to discuss the proposal or append items that may be interesting.
[editor's note, by Jerome a Paris] all the documents in English can be found from here
[editor's note, by afew]The pdf of the Communication can be downloaded from the ET server here.
Press Release:
The Communication, a key element of the Commission's new energy and climate change strategy, sets out proposals for action by the EU and the rest of the international community to prevent global climate change from irrevocable consequences This means limiting global warming to no more than 2°C above the temperature in pre-industrial times.The Commission's central proposal is that, under a future global agreement, the group of developed countries should cut their emissions of CO2 and other 'greenhouse gases' responsible for warming the planet to an average of 30% below 1990 levels by 2020.
The EU should take the lead by committing autonomously to reduce its own emissions by at least 20% by 2020 – a cut that should be increased to 30% as part of a satisfactory global agreement.
In the longer term, greater emission reductions will be necessary and developing countries will also have to be part of the global effort: worldwide emissions will need to be cut by up to half of their 1990 levels by 2050.
Promoted, and edited a little by Colman
by kcurie
Fri Dec 29th, 2006 at 09:20:03 AM EST
Important and very relevant article about the China (or US) justification of his Pentagon budget.
You can go directly to Washington Post Report for the China version or follow me below with relevant transcripts of the article in the US version (adapted by myself).
by kcurie
Mon Dec 11th, 2006 at 04:54:49 AM EST
It is all over the airwaves in Spain now.
In Spain he was indeed an important figure. Probably, after Chile, Spain is the country where Pinochet had more.. let's say relevance.
It was a spanish judge, B. Garzon, the one that started the prosecution against Pinochet and ordered the arrest in England.. the now oh-so fmaous arrest...
I guess a lot of you have a lot to say about his death.. at least I have.
From the diaries -- whataboutbob
by kcurie
Sat Nov 25th, 2006 at 10:23:16 AM EST
I know I know.. I owe you a diary about my computer world. You may know that my computer at work still does not work properly.. yeah... lucky I have my laptop.. It will be hilarious..
I also know that I must do a diary about transport of goods in Spain and the Spanish dependence on oil... to start-up the public communications campaign in Spain about it (well at least some kind of draft we will be able to send around.. and pass around).. I google it on my free time. Promise.
But today it is time for something completely different. We and polonium...
by kcurie
Wed Aug 9th, 2006 at 03:51:39 PM EST
Bienvenidos...bienvenidos a este diario sin acentos y sin enye!!!! viva el teclado ingles!!!
Supongo que estabais por escolar.net y habeis entrado en la discusion sobre la OTAN y ASNAR.. y luego pues ale habeis decidido pasearos por aqui..mirar que cosas hay y tal. Bien bien. La verdad es que esta pagina web es un poco mas compleja de lo habitual..asi que os tengo que dar la bienvenida formal.
Esta pagina web es..como decirlo...como una ciudad...si si una ciudad, bueno.. una ciudad o un pagina web con un software muy especial. Si quieres saber como funciona nuestra ciudad sin tener que leer todo el rollo del user guide ...sigueme debajo
by kcurie
Sat Jul 29th, 2006 at 03:50:36 AM EST
Zapatero is here to stay. These are not my words but the words of the Economist article about Spain and PM Zapatero. It seems that The Economist may be right for a change. Frankly, it seems we have ZP "para rato". They argue that ZP has modernized the civil society (gay marriage) and kept a very good economist at the head of the important stuff- yeah if P. Solbes can convince me, Migeru and the Economist that he is good, it means that he is damned good. Of course, they go on to say, actually repeat P.Solbes warnings, the problems of the spanish economy are that too much of it is based on construction, too few high tech around and too much of a house bubble. It is becoming a mantra...but it is painfully true. Of course, they use the lack of competitivity and high tech to warn ZP that he should not improve too much the salaries (although he already agreed to reform the job market...but with employers and employees agreeing on it)
(...) Since the economists is behind subscription wall, I will try to justify it myself. Let me guide you to one day of typical news in Spain..today:
From the diaries (with small text edit) ~ whataboutbob
by kcurie
Thu Jun 29th, 2006 at 08:51:48 AM EST
Just five minutes ago PM of Spain Zapatero has announced the beginning of talks with the terrorists group ETA.
In a press conference that will probably hit international media quite soon (you read it here first), Zapatero announced that they will open talks with ETA given that the police and secret sevice have corroborated a complete lack of activity by ETA.
Some extra information you may not find in the international press under the fold...and please..come in with comments..the feeling is that this time is for real.
Promoted by Colman
by kcurie
Thu Jun 8th, 2006 at 06:16:12 PM EST
Today I waked up a little bit late...I had to go shopping (sounds like weird..not at all!!!). But of course I took a look before at the spanish newspapers of record. Actually, there is only one I think as "of record" and excellent at the same time La Vanguardia. But not this time. This time El Pais , the center-left newspaper (also the one with more readership), came with a big surprise. A detailed, large report on the economy section about peak oil...
You probably may know most of the issues...but again it will be an interesting take about the way newspapers of the center-left are pushing/going to push the concept of "peak oil" in the public arena.
Follow me..if you like.
by kcurie
Thu Jun 1st, 2006 at 08:49:24 AM EST
You may not know it yet...but there is a guy people call Densha Otoko (Man in/of the train in Japanese). You may have heard about him (in Spanish I, Spanish II English,or japanese).
If not..the history of his recent life is easy to explain. According to several sources he is an otaku in Japan...a very important thing/freak to be (if you take it seriously of course). As a standard otaku, he had not had any relevant relation with a woman in his 23 years-old life ...until...he helped a upper-class lady in the underground of Tokio when she was harassed by a old drunk guy. As standard practice among the elite of Japan, the upper-class lady, allegedly 25, asked for his address so that she could send a present of compensation. I said compensation, I mean gratitude, this is, gratitude...(what I was thinking?...sur le donnes?)
What did our otaku do when he received the present with a cell phone on the delivery company receipt??? well..since he did not have any experience, he logged on a thread in one of the famous community areas/boards in Japan (channel2)..of course in the single-men group. There he asked for help. Among a lot of porn and sex comments he atually got very good advice from a growing set of fans...
You may be wondering what happened next...
UPDATE: If by the end of this diary you do not have any fuc-ing clue what I am talking about.. welcome to the club...I have made a clear clarification which is crystal clear in one of my comments down there...
by kcurie
Mon May 22nd, 2006 at 02:49:08 PM EST
Ok Let's see.
Macedonia election checked.. ups Macedonia.. I mean Montenegro. Macedonia is another thing. Montenegro independence. Checked
Cyprus election Checked.
Dumb letter to the FT. Checked
Wonderful pictures of the ET meeting. Checked
DeAnander I am slightly not for it nuclear debate with my wonderful I am slightly for it comments. Checked
Thanking Jerome. Checked.
Zapatero becoming the best president in Europe with long comments about the peace process and the labor reform. Checked
What else is missing???
Poetry and music!!!!
UPDATE: THis is a poem-song in honour of the ET meet-up and the people over there...I particualrly like the piece selected by afew ...(are we some kind of twins orsomething??) but you may love and react to other parts!!!!!! ( the master and commander, afew, recall me that it might have not been clear...this is for all you guys!!!)
by kcurie
Wed May 17th, 2006 at 01:40:08 PM EST
The final gets closer.. and I am going to a pub in Tel-Aviv to watch it...Barcelona-Arsenal...geee
As you may guess I am rooting for Barcelona...
And I am also nervous...very nervous
I have to release the stress..so follow me for a second..I am going to make fun of pundits
UPDATE:
I am back...we won we won!!!!! amazing....what a game!!!
I am still shaking my head!!!!! my body is shaking...eveything is shaking!!!!!
Yepppaaaaa.......
Keep on reading..let's have some fun!!!! please!!!!
by kcurie
Sat May 13th, 2006 at 02:51:22 AM EST
The first left-wing government in more than 60 years in my little beatiful Catalonia is in disarray...and I hate to say it: another left-wing government is going to hell. If there is any place where this should interest someone is here.
Surprisingly enough nobody seems to care about it outside of Spain. It has gathered all the headlines of Spain : La Vanguardia El Periodico or El Pais talk about it. But barely a blip outside the borders.
Since it has deep implications for the Catalan Statute (the law fixing the relations between Catalonia an Spain) and for the future coalitions of PM Zapatero, it is the only thing people are talking about..... in Spain.
From the diaries ~ whataboutbob
by kcurie
Wed May 10th, 2006 at 05:40:54 PM EST
Sevilla has won for the first timeinhistory the UEFA cup.
Right now Sevilla is full with and in joy...well not all Seville. Actually, all Betis supporters must be absolutely devastated by the Sevilla win. Sorry mates.
Wonderful final....
and since we are short of diaries.. or so Bob says.. and whenever he says something one must listen... it is time to...watch the match...I introduce this beatiful diary instead of putting a comment because maybe some one also saw the game...and want to rewatch the match...
by kcurie
Sun May 7th, 2006 at 11:11:25 AM EST
Do you want a break? Good news once in while...
Well..good news, excellent news below the fold...about Spain of course.
Today has been one of these weird days where all the good news come one after the other (And I am not only talking about Barcelona winning the National League with the best football seen in years).
On the first round of good news, the economic growth of Spain reaches 3.5 % as reported in El Pais. Growth quite balanced among different sectors. A little bit more than expected in construction but other than that quite balanced.
The same day the employment suffered the most dramatic increase seen in an April month in the last...well EVER. Actually, it was the largest reduction of unemployment in April since statistics are compiled (it started in 1980) according to El periodico. Reduction of unemployment strongly felt among women in particular (40.000 less). According to the same sources the number of people employed increased by 200.000 reaching the 18.5 million. Amazingly high for Spanish standards.
But that's not all...
From the front page (with format and title edit) ~ whataboutbob
