This is getting ridiculous.  Denmark is facing a nasty economic boycott in the Muslim world because of the much-blogged-about cartoon jihad.  In a nod to Salman Rushdie, ought we to call them the "Satanic Doodles"? 

Her name is Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and she seems like quite an interesting person indeed.  (She used to be a professor too!)  Here is a fascinating report on her by a British journalist.  A preceding speaker at the EU meeting in Salzb

This hilarious headline is far too good to ignore: "Police take on pirates in fake alien frog showdown" Here's what all the fuss is about: Sergeant Keroro!

Yes, the headline really does read: "Humuhumunukunukuapuaa who?"  (I challenge you to say that 5 times in a row, in a hurry!) And yes, of course this is a British headline.  I really must say, the Brits do come up with the most c

Well-known British professor Niall Ferguson has just written that he misses the Cold War. His reasons are fascinating, and I think he has a point. Do go read the whole thing. (And no, he doesn't really miss the Cold War.)

It's Chinese New Year, and now it is the Year of the Dog! Have a wonderful lunar new year's day, with all my best wishes for the Year of the Dog ahead! I am delighted also to report that I just got ang pau (or hong bao) in the mail from my parents,

I haven't blogged much on China's offer of pandas to Taiwan, but I will say that I don't like it.  I *love* pandas. But pandas from China come with strings attached. Taiwanese vice president Annette Lu has just opined that Taiwan should reject

The Times of London just reported that Chinese is the fastest growing ethnic group in England. I quote the numbers from the report:  "the Chinese community in England grew at 11 per cent a year between 2001 and 2003, faster than any other

Two very good Taiwan-focused bloggers have recently been out and about attending lectures and forums on Taiwanese topics, and they've been kind enough to post their notes and reports.  I haven't time to add my own analyses, but please, gentle re

Right on the heels of the Google censorship announcement come two more reports of the unfree press in China. One: a newspaper has been shut down.  Take a look at the response from its editor as he denounced this action:

G'day!  It's Australia Day today Down Under, a day set aside to celebrate that great nation. Here's a message for the occasion from Aussie Prime Minister John Howard.  I love this bit here: "The best traditions of tolerance, decency,

Here it is, right off CNN: "Google to censor itself in China." Internet search engine Google has rolled out a China-based version of its popular Web site -- one that bows to Beijing's censorshi

I can't believe I missed this story, but I was a bit caught up in the Canadian election results yesterday. Portugal has just dumped the Socialists and elected a center-right president.  This is the first time this has happened since 1974, and h

Kiss goodbye to 12 years of Liberal rule in Canada, as voters bid adieu to Paul Martin and his scandal-ridden party. The Canadians voted instead for change.  And change in this case is good!  For full voting stats, see here. Say hello inst

No, I'm not making it up! There are real, live pink dolphins in Hong Kong.  The CNN news story comes complete with a photo of a dolphin that is as pink as a rose. Amazing! I would also like to point out, though, the rather offensive beginning

Finally, an end to the whaling mayhem (one can hope). The Australian news reports that Greenpeace is quitting its attempt to obstruct the Japanese whale hunt. Not with a bang but a whimper, eh?  The Japanese Fisheries Agency has expressed its

Blog pal Dignified Rant has an interesting post on a recent news story about Taiwan's defensive capabiities. What really made him (and me too) snort with derision was the reporter characterizing Taiwan as some kind of aggressor against China.&n

The newest Osama tape both threatens new attacks and proposes a truce. Donald Sensing has the funniest analysis on this -- Monty Python style!

Well, we've been watching a whole lot of mayhem over Japnese whaling. But this is why I have no respect for radical conservationists: Greenpeacers have dumped a 20-ton dead whale in front of the Japanese embassy in Berlin. Absolutely disgusting beh

I am not making this up! A German company has actually banned complaining in the office.  Employees can be dismissed -- sacked -- fired -- if they are caught whining! I always knew Europe had too many rules and regulations.  Usually I thi

Hillary Clinton's recent comment comparing the U.S. House of Representatives to a slavery-era plantation has been causing a great deal of talk lately. My response is in the form of the latest Mad Min satire, "Historians Accuse Hillary Clinton o

Here's more follow-up on an already prolonged conflict between Japanese whalers and Greenpeace. Blogger Riding Sun has a link-filled post on dirty tactics by extreme environmentalists, which have included ramming their ships into the Japanese vessel

I don't know what Ray Nagin's problem is, but he should either think before he speaks or get better speechwriters. This is the same man who earlier caused offence with a disparaging comment about Hispanics.  In that case, he had stated that the

The Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. will host a book forum on January 25 with author Ted Galen Carpenter.  The forum wil be web-cast on RealVideo and RealAudio.  If you are unfamilar with the Cato Institute, it's basically a think tank f

No, I didn't bother watching the Golden Globe awards because I've got better things to do! But this morning I came across this rather amusing observation by the Times of London (lately one of my favorite papers): "The Golden Globes Awards