Rioters in the new French riots have done all sorts of terrible things -- burning cars, injuring police (so far, 82 have been hurt -- 82!), and generally creating havoc and chaos.All of this is extremely negative.  But I confess, I felt an extra

Well, Sunday.Nice day, Sunday, except that it's inevitably followed by Monday.I have a mountain of school work.  It's even bigger than usual because I'd ignored it all throughout the Thanksgiving holiday break.  But it's bac

Ah, yes!It's the day after Thanksgiving -- the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season!So, if yesterday's great sin was Gluttony, then today's sin is Greed.  And, yes, I have been sinning, sinning, sinning.Anyway, I've

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!The big day is here!Previously I linked to some nice recipes for this happy day of food, friends, and family.  Today I give you my menu for the feast.  I decided not to cook the traditional feast (turkey, cranberry sauce,

The cinema-mad Sibling has just emailed me the YouTube preview of an upcoming film starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan.Enjoy!

Yesterday Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian gave Graham Watson an award, the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon.It's only fair to ask now, if you don't know, who is Graham Watson?  He's a member of the European Parli

I found this news article to be rather surprising -- namely because the New York Times is usually an endless drumbeat of gloomy bad news.This makes me wonder, hmmm, if even the New York Times reports that the security situation in Iraq is improving a

NO MORE SCHOOL!!!!!I am free as a bird until classes start again on Monday!!!  The sense of relief is incredible, even if it's only temporary.  We all need a break.  After the turkey-fest we will have a few more days of school and

The cost in human misery and suffering is incredible and appalling.Is this the ugly underbelly of "cutting emissions"?What about cutting human misery?  I seem to remember a certain Bjorn Lomborg arguing that the gigantic efforts b

This is too silly for words.Harrods is launching a fragrance for dogs.  The name?  "Sexy Beast."  I can't make this stuff up!

Amazing.Do take a look for yourself.  Timing is everything!

What is Japan's newest growth industry?Babysitting!  And it is BOOMING.

Thanksgiving is still off in the distance, but I'm starting to DREAM about it.I'll finally get a chance to get away from school and spend a few days with my friends.  We'll have a chance to do the kinds of fun things we really want t

Long live the king! *giggle* The video clip is even better if you understand Spanish, but if you don't, the meaning is clear enough, I think!  PLUS, the king used the informal "tu" form of address (used for children, very clos

Blog friend Dignified Rant reminds us to thank those who served in military uniform and those who still serve.Take a look also at the ceremonies taking place in the UK , where November 11 is called "Remembrance Day."History buffs will reme

Are you surprised?  I'm not.Beijing says it will reject any Kyoto-like treaty that wants to limit its carbon emissions.The enviro-fantatics will probably start howling in 3...2...1...GO!Look, nobody is going to stop economic growth in favor

This is amusing!A Japanese company now has a new version of an old idea -- the piggy bank, into which you are supposed to place coins and save them.The new twist: if you don't add new coins, the bank will explode and throw coins everywhere. &nbs

Amazing advertisement!You've never seen dominoes fall like THIS.This is the best advertisement for a beverage that I've seen in a long time.  Do you think it's better than the fantastic "Big Ad," though? 

Do take a look at some ridiculous UK laws?My favorite?  Oh, it is so hard to choose just one!  I do really like this one, though:  It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament if you are wearing a suit of armour.  (Of course, a

This is the sort of thing I've been moaning about for a long, long time.  After all, I'm a student of history.  I'm absolutely convinced that we need to understand history -- and so few people (let alone students) do anymore --

Blog friend Bruce Chang has a hilarious new post that showcases two very entertaining commercials that combine advertising with the popular world of MMORPG computer games.The second one, a Chinese advertisement for Coca-Cola, is hysterical. 

I haven't posted about DVD or movie recommendations in a long time, so I thought I'd go ahead and start again with MM's Movie Madness for the weekend.The cinema recently has had NO very good films at all.  Lately it's been full o

A 600-year-old recipe for bratwurst has appeared!This is actually very interesting; I've always liked historical recipes, just to see what people in other times ate.   The medieval sausage instructions will soon go on exhibit at the Ge

Read it all. Now excuse me while I go and compose an ode of praise to capitalism. That's right: capitalism, free markets, economic freedom, and the market economy.Oh, and Dr. Sanity has a commentary of her own.

This is an amusing news story -- a report has stated that on average, each German soldier uses 10 rolls of bathroom paper per day.  10?There is a twist at the very end of the story that explains a great deal!  (Quick answer: it's not R