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December 25, 2004Good News Saturdays 2004by Joe Katzman at December 25, 2004 11:59 PM
As many of you know, Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath. In that spirit, our Saturday posts to this blog have always been "good news". We share wisdom from groups like the Sufis, Hasidim and Zen Masters, highlight the acts of good and decent people, laugh at humourous events, and point to amazing discoveries that could benefit humanity. The day chosen isn't important - the idea is. Personally, I think bloggers and readers could all use more breaks like this from the (often negative) news of the week. Good News Saturdays began back in 2002, and my Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and non-religious colleagues have all graciously agreed to respect and work within this Winds of Change.NET tradition.
Tracked: October 22, 2004 3:54 AM
Better All The Time #20 from The Speculist
Excerpt: Dispatches from a rapidly changing, rapidly improving world #20 10/21/04 A question we're often asked — how can the world possibly be "getting better" when the bad news consistently outweighs the good? This is a common misunderstanding....
Comments
(Sorry, folks. Somehow the old post got deleted. Starting anew for the rest of the year, and trying to restore the comments. Thank heavens for Google, but all past coments have to happen in one post.)
If you have some good news to share, be it your own or something exceptional published elsewhere, this is the place to do it. This post will be "time shifted" forward each week, making the storehouse of good news comments into part of our blog's Saturday spirit as well.
Mars rover Spirit successfully landed on Mars. I see many happy faces at JPL on NASA TV.
Thank God for HIS Sabbath that he gave to his created beings the very first day after they were created. And we can enjoy this blessed rest in him every week
Shabbat Shalom, Joe. Just wanted to drop by and say "Hi!" Hope you and the team are having an excellent New Year.
cheers!
Shabbat Shalom Joe and all. Don't know if you've seen this already but it's good news anyway so it's worth a second look: Guardian article: Israeli - Palestinian Antarctic Expedition
Link:*Pepsi ads wink at music downloading* I thought this new pepsi superbowl ad was a bit humerous. Annie Leith, a 14-year-old from Staten Island, appears with other downloaders in the ad, which features music by Green Day. The band cut a special version of the 1966 Bobby Fuller Four hit I Fought the Law for the ad, by BBDO, New York. In the ad, Leith holds a Pepsi and proclaims: "We are still going to download music for free off the Internet." Then the announcer says how: "Announcing the Pepsi iTunes Giveaway." SBD
Owain, thanks for the link, it is indeed a fine story. See our January 17 coverage for additional material. #13026 Posted by DoaB on February 1, 2004 11:10 AM One day at dusk, Zhuang Zi dreamed he had turned into a butterfly. Flapping his wings, he felt like a butterfly and was tremendously delighted. At that moment, he forgot entirely that he was Zhuang Zi. After a while, he came to realize that the gleeful butterfly was actually himself. So was it Zhuang Zi who had changed into a butterfly in the dream or the other way around? Zhuang Zi can be the butterfly and the butterfly can be him.
Shabbat Shalom!
Shavuah Tov, (have a good week)
What if you're an athiest and curios? Are you still invited?
Gordon: Yes, of course.
Reply to Gordon: Even if your an aethiest G-d loves you anyways! §:-))
Or perhaps you say Gut Shabbos. In any case, good news Saturdays are a wonderful idea. In the hunt for good news, how about the precipitous decline in American casualties in Iraq? Only one American soldier has died in combat since February 19, a stretch of more than two weeks, and only 20 have been wounded in that period. As I have written before, the press has utterly failed to cover this. Of course we have also during that time seen the bad news (previously reported, so perhaps not a violation of the Saturday good news rule) of the devestating attacks on the Shiites. The question of, course, is what does this divergence mean?
I'm in love with a girl, but what can you say when a girl doesn't want to know and she's too far away and she makes my life a dream.
I say, wake from the dream. Dreams never match the vividness and richness of reality (vid. the excellent movie "Waking Life")... but first one must find the courage to embrace the uncertainty, surprises, and sheer imperturbable force of the world as it is. Only then can the real adventure begin, and it's usually more interesting than the stuff we dream.
You must be right. Thanks Joe, Shabbat Shalom.
Gone cold wind, gone gray sky, gone icicle Oseh shalom bimromov hu ya'aseh shalom alenu... Shabat Shalom.
MDA (the last incarnation of BMDO, SDI, etc) switched to Technical Readiness Levels in managing their projects, rather than just using wishful thinking. Which leaves the question on what they were doing before and why to tomorrow, but as I'm in the tech readiness biz at DoD, that's good news for me.... #15340 Posted by Joe Katzman on March 20, 2004 09:30 PM In English, Tom is saying that serious missile defense isn't ready yet, but it just took an important step forward and these projects might help save a lot of people one day.
i have two items; we are making amazing progress in iraq in one year. those whose criticize the coalition's progress are blind. for a society whose art, language, literature, music, education, governance, and religion all come out of one cradle to grave manual, the iraqis are making spectacular progress in accepting new ideas and compromises (well, most iraqis). i am filled with hope. also, i learned today that josh wheedon's Firefly series will be made into a film. i read dr.krauthammer on friday and sufi wisdom on saturday. gratititude.
Geek points here. NASA's X-43A went Mach 5+ on its second test flight.
Some fascinating and wonderful science news this week: Proposal for a *search* for Earth-like planets. Rat genome *decoded* ; third mammalian code so far.(Hey, kids, collect the whole set!) Possible *vaccine against SARS* developed. Other good news: Spring is here, sun is shining, daffodils in flower, apple buds breaking, and I'm going for a walk.
The X-Prize is within reach. Scaled Composites just obtained a sub-orbital flight license from the Feds good through the end of the year AND performed a Mach 2 test flight with a 40 second firing of their rocket engine.
Sam Tai- This is BIG NEW which of course is hardly covered in the press outside of industry pubs.
CARE Comes to the Rescue with Tremor-Proof Homes in India* Read More* [JK: Lili, Good News Saturdays are generally a day of hiatus from politics, and political discussions are especially unwelcome in this thread unless it's something positive that's making you happy. Thanks for contributing this - and I've deleted the political addendum.]
In Uzbekistan, like in much of the Former Soviet Union, the Jewish community has been hit hard by emigration. It's bittersweet to see synagogues undergoing beautiful restorations with money sent home from sons and daughters who have left for Israel and the US (I have a photo of me talking to the Rabbi in Bukhara's main synagogue on my blog. Only two of his seven children remained in Bukhara). Well, it's nice to hear some news from Passover in Uzbekistan. For those interested, here's a little more on Bukharan Jews.
A young acquaintance of mine (age 6) scored his first goal of the season in a soccer game today. A twin, neither brother could tell me the final score, nor which team had won the game. There was still a twinkle in their eyes, broad smiles, and excitement several hours after the game ended. (Each has now scored a goal. Their mother told me they have one game remaining in their six game season.) The boys had a shared happiness which may be unique in some way when siblings are twins. However that may be their shared joy struck me as something very special. Their mother also didn't know which team won.
A friend and I spent the morning clearing bags and bags of litter away from an otherwise beautiful, wooded lanscape with a brook. I kept going back all day just to marvel at the difference! Very satisfying,
[AL: Sorry, twistarella, this isn't the thread for this. As frustrating as it is for me sometimes to not post political views and news on Saturdays, I've come to appreciate it and encourage others to use it as a day to step aside from our usual partisan positions and appreciate life.]
Big Medical Research Prize Goes to 2 Pioneers in Genetics Work By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. Published: April 24, 2004 ALBANY, April 23 — Two California researchers who in the 1970's pioneered ways to splice and recombine genes, paving the way for the modern biotechnology industry, have received the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, the nation's largest award in the field. The winners of the $500,000 prize, Dr. Stanley N. Cohen and Dr. Herbert W. Boyer, made some of the most important medical advances of the last century with their work to isolate and clone genes in living cells, along with their later discovery that those genes could be reproduced in other species, the judges said Friday in announcing the selection. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/24/science/24PRIZ.html --- Hmmm—Cohen, Cohen . . . ;-)
[AL: Sorry, Andrew, this isn't the thread for this. As frustrating as it is for me sometimes to not post political views and news on Saturdays, I've come to appreciate it and encourage others to use it as a day to step aside from our usual partisan positions and appreciate life.]
[AL: Sorry, Andrew, this isn't the thread for this. As frustrating as it is for me sometimes to not post political views and news on Saturdays, I've come to appreciate it and encourage others to use it as a day to step aside from our usual partisan positions and appreciate life.]
[AL: Sorry, Jack, this isn't the thread for this. As frustrating as it is for me sometimes to not post political views and news on Saturdays, I've come to appreciate it and encourage others to use it as a day to step aside from our usual partisan positions and appreciate life.]
Sunday, 25 April, 2005 ANZAC Day was perfect this year: the weather, the crowds, the veterans waving and calling out to their friends in the crowd, everything. I clapped till my hands were too sore to do so any longer, then I waved my flag. Cardinal Pell, a case-hardened conservative (and I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing) gave a warm and very inclusive mini-sermon in honor of the patriotic dead. Everybody had the right attitude, everybody said and did the right thing.
I had interesting photos in my email inbox today. It seems that three of my young grandsons captured a baby cottontail rabbit early in the week. After their parents used the opportunity to teach them to be gentle towards the small creature it was released. This upset the boys of course as they are far too young to understand the reason for not keeping a baby rabbit, even though they learned something of the need for gentleness. As compensation their parents allowed them to "adopt" two baby kittens a neighbor had, all but on their way to a local shelter. They are small creatures but old and strong enough to survive the inadvertant roughness of young boys. The photos are delightful. It is always a good day for me when I see yet another example of how my daughter and her husband are teaching the basic things that children need to learn. Children have to be taught how to hate. It pleases me when I see them taught gentleness and responsibility instead. I hope that when they become young men there is no need for warriors in our world. But if there is the lessons learned by them from the baby rabbit and two kittens will still be of value.
Spring! The perfume of jasmine floats through the back yard. Pecan, birch, maple, oak are all stretching themselves after their nap, casting shadow dances on the lawn. Squirrels Gone Wild airs every morning. Cardinals flitter through the camellias, ALL the camellias, lest they reveal their secret. Back and forth, here and there, where's the nest? We know not where. Bold red Amaryllis bursts like ruby stars through the front yard. Crinum Lilies have shot three feet toward the sky only to become top heavy and exhausted from blooming, gracefully lying down, as if from a joyous dervish dance. The Satsuma tree just dropped her diminuative blossoms to reveal the tee-tiny green promise of juicy autumn fruit. And the Magnolia...Oh, that stately, beautiful, greengoddess of a tree...she slowly opens her huge flowers, one by one, and lets the lemony sweet fragrance ooze down on us from pink flushed velvet petal bowls like open hands offering, graciously, generously. Such lovely reward after a long dreary winter! Spring!
Moderate Muslims March in Phoenix http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=13209 Only 30 to 100 out of a community of 50,000—but, hey, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. . .
cbk, that was lovely. Thank you (c:
Bush pauses to comfort teen In a moment largely unnoticed by the throngs of people in Lebanon waiting for autographs from the president of the United States, George W. Bush stopped to hold a teenager's head close to his heart. Lynn Faulkner, his daughter, Ashley, and their neighbor, Linda Prince, eagerly waited to shake the president's hand Tuesday at the Golden Lamb Inn. He worked the line at a steady campaign pace, smiling, nodding and signing autographs until Prince spoke: "This girl lost her mom in the World Trade Center on 9-11." Bush stopped and turned back. "He changed from being the leader of the free world to being a father, a husband and a man," Faulkner said. "He looked right at her and said, 'How are you doing?' He reached out with his hand and pulled her into his chest." Faulkner snapped one frame with his camera. "I could hear her say, 'I'm OK,' " he said. "That's more emotion than she has shown in 21/2 years. Then he said, 'I can see you have a father who loves you very much.' " "And I said, 'I do, Mr. President, but I miss her mother every day.' It was a special moment." Special for Lynn Faulkner because the Golden Lamb was the place he and his wife, Wendy Faulkner, celebrated their anniversary every year until she died in the south tower of the World Trade Center, where she had traveled for business. The day was also special for Ashley, a 15-year-old Mason High School student, because the visit was reminiscent of a trip she took four years ago with her mother and Prince. They spent all afternoon in the rain waiting to see Bush on the campaign trail. Ashley remembers holding her mother's hand, eating Triscuits she packed and bringing along a book in case she got bored. But this time was different. She understood what the president was saying, and she got close enough to see him face to face. "The way he was holding me, with my head against his chest, it felt like he was trying to protect me," Ashley said. "I thought, 'Here is the most powerful guy in the world, and he wants to make sure I'm safe.' I definitely had a couple of tears in my eyes, which is pretty unusual for me." The photo has been circulating across the country, Faulkner said. Relatives have passed it on to friends, bosses and acquaintances. As they tell the story, they also share in Wendy Faulkner's legacy, which her family continues through the Wendy Faulkner Memorial Children's Foundation. "I'm a pretty cynical and jaded guy at this point in my life," Faulkner said of the moment with the president. "But this was the real deal. I was really impressed. It was genuine and from the heart."
Er? But Joe, it's only Thursday evening, May 20 BST at time of writing this. Or is this a radical form of time travel? Never mind. Thanks for giving me the day off work tomorrow. Cheers
No time machine. I'm flying out to see the girfriend outside of Santa Cruz, where bandwidth and connections are sparse. So I tried to set this post up for fast publishing... need to flip the bit back to "Draft" now.
Shabbat Shalom! Brian
Good News! As violent and uncivilized as this world remains, we are making some progress in recognizing that other creatures have a right to be here and to be treated humanely— just as much as mankind. As a life-long animal lover I have always destested circuses, making wild animals do tricks for food is abhorrent and cruel. That is not to say animals (like children) should not be taught to behave if they are domesticated. The Lipizzaner stallions or well trained dogs are a sight to see. However, the wild should remain wild and not be trained to "perform" for the vanity of man. I am pleased to see that the "trend" continues of the stopping the vanity cropping of canine ears and the docking of tails. Now, if we would just do something about puppy mills, bull and cock fighting as well as factory farming. That of course, would require the meat loving Austrian Teutons and the rest of us Western porkers to eat differently. Which would not be a moment too soon, given Western obesity and self inflicted disease rates due to gluttony. Time to walk with the dog. :-D ------ Tough animal rights laws enacted in Austria Regulations protect a range of creatures from hens to dogs VIENNA, Austria - Hens will be free to run around barnyards, lions and tigers will vanish from circus acts, and Dobermans will sport what nature intended — floppy ears and longer tails — under a tough animal rights law adopted Thursday in Austria. The anticruelty law, one of Europe’s harshest, will ban pet owners from cropping their dogs’ ears or tails, force farmers to uncage their chickens, and ensure that puppies and kittens no longer swelter in pet shop windows. Violators face steep fines
This is good news for math geeks. Professor R. F. Arenstorf from Vanderbilt University has submitted a paper for review claiming to have proved the Goldbach conjecture. I've read the paper, and although the math is beyond me, the gist of the proof seems sound. If the proof holds up under review, this would be on a par with the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem.
My mistake, not the Goldbach conjecture, which states that every even number greater than 2 is the sum of only two primes. This is a weaker but necessary condition that there are an infinite number of twin primes.
Great news. Dick Rutan will try for a full sub-orbital test flight on 21 Jun. After that, he'll undoubtedly submit the formal paperwork to attempt the X-Prize carrying 2 passengers on 2 separate flights within 3 weeks.
I had always though that the Sabath began at sunset on Friday, but then again theology isn't my greatest strength. Good news, hmmm. The risk of drought in Jiangxi province has been aleviated by late spring storms.
[JK: SBD, stuff about finding Iraqi WMD may be good news of a sort, but it really isn't what I intended for Good News Saturday comments. Here's the rule: unless you've found some personal action by one of your political enemies that is worthy of your praise, I don't want to hear it today.]
HEAR! HEAR! We need a lot more Good News days. Yes, the bad stuff needs to be reported and discussed, but we need more of the good stuff. People need to know that in the midst of the chaos the media loves to magnify, incredible strides have been made in rebuilding Iraq and preparing for a representative government. For links to news, views, politics, and government, bookmark All Things Political.
There is nothing wrong with being gay! #24070 Posted by Samuel Tai on July 10, 2004 04:16 AM Here's some good news which we can all enjoy. An airline in Florida has received FAA approval to offer "vomit comet" rides to the public. You too can float weightless.
Have to respond to Lili's comments. I too am an animal lover. I'm grateful to see that my spaniels with their cropped tails and with dewclaws removed can run or work all day in heavy brush without injuring themselves. I personally know of several dogs who broke tails that never really healed afterwards or ripped dewclaws off. I'm glad my own dogs, and the handful I've bred over the years, won't be faced with the continual pain and bleeding others with uncropped tails have endured. On a lighter note, our young Whippet puppy caught her first rabbit yesterday. We've had a huge bunny population this year and many of them persist in coming into our fenced property ... don't know why, maybe our grass is tastier than the neighbor's. Goldie, like most Whippets, is born to run and to course game. She's sweet tempered, a lap cuddler and a joy to watch as she catches toys, tosses them in the air and chases them at full gallop. It took my breath away to watch her course that rabbit yesterday (on her own initiative, not mine) - the athletic grace and laser-sharp intent was awesome. Her mom's a dual champion (show and coursing) and has caught jackrabbits in open field coursing ... more challenging than our eastern cottontails ... and the breeding shows in this pup. I take the same delight in watching the songbirds raise their chicks in the crab apple tree next to our patio, and in the hawks that soar on the thermals next to the Shaumgunk mountains nearby. And in the delicate lupine we saw in the White Mtns of NH a few weeks ago, and the water rushing through a rocky gorge nearby. May you all be refreshed by Nature this weekend!
I sometimes wonder as to why we, humans , have become so segregated. If you look from outer-space our earth is one beautiful globe- green, blue and azure- a heavenly combination of colours and hues. We, humans have created countries, communities and castes and barriers between whites and blacks, catholics and jews and muslims - why? If we were to visit - www.tsl.org and learn that the ascended masters- jesus christ, st germaine, sanatkumara, etc were all so universal in their outlook that we feel somewhat depressed by the state of the world. The UNO is the most ineffective world body. Five countries have been given veto powers. Why? just because they had nuclear weapons. India - with its one billion people is like an impotent juggernaut that is treated like dirt on the world stage just because the hindus are a docile lot and many of the indians live under the poverty-line. These glaring inequities seem strange in this world. Americans have tremendous wealth and lord jesus Christ to bless them in many ways, but why are they basically unhappy. They have taken the risk of invading iraq and being considered as unlawful oppressors. I think america and the world can achieve much by joining together in a peaceful rethinking of their inner urges. A spiritual soul-searching exercise should be undertaken by the americans based on the holy teachings of jesus christ. My guru- jogi sain babaji- a hindu mystic had a muslim pir- hazrat sainji nasir mohammed saheb fakir sufi al qadiri, r.a.- (www.sufijalalani.com) who taught us that the world community can prosper and create miracles of more happiness, more money, more wealth, greater wellness if they only take the name of god constantly. This name of god initiation is a powerful yogic method to attain ultimate salvation. The name of god could be either jesus christ,rama, krsna, siva , allah, buddha, elohim etc. The purpose of this initiation is to have peace of mind and prosperity for all the peoples of the world - so that we can be taken ultimately for eternal heavenly life in krsnaloka, sivaloka,goloka vrindavana, manidwipa,jannat, etc. regards- hiro bachani- om namoh shivai !!!
I sometimes wonder as to why we, humans , have become so segregated. If you look from outer-space our earth is one beautiful globe- green, blue and azure- a heavenly combination of colours and hues. We, humans have created countries, communities and castes and barriers between whites and blacks, catholics and jews and muslims - why? If we were to visit - www.tsl.org and learn that the ascended masters- jesus christ, st germaine, sanatkumara, etc were all so universal in their outlook that we feel somewhat depressed by the state of the world. The UNO is the most ineffective world body. Five countries have been given veto powers. Why? just because they had nuclear weapons. India - with its one billion people is like an impotent juggernaut that is treated like dirt on the world stage just because the hindus are a docile lot and many of the indians live under the poverty-line. These glaring inequities seem strange in this world. Americans have tremendous wealth and lord jesus Christ to bless them in many ways, but why are they basically unhappy. They have taken the risk of invading iraq and being considered as unlawful oppressors. I think america and the world can achieve much by joining together in a peaceful rethinking of their inner urges. A spiritual soul-searching exercise should be undertaken by the americans based on the holy teachings of jesus christ. My guru- jogi sain babaji- a hindu mystic had a muslim pir- hazrat sainji nasir mohammed saheb fakir sufi al qadiri, r.a.- (www.sufijalalani.com) who taught us that the world community can prosper and create miracles of more happiness, more money, more wealth, greater wellness if they only take the name of god constantly. This name of god initiation is a powerful yogic method to attain ultimate salvation. The name of god could be either jesus christ,rama, krsna, siva , allah, buddha, elohim etc. The purpose of this initiation is to have peace of mind and prosperity for all the peoples of the world - so that we can be taken ultimately for eternal heavenly life in krsnaloka, sivaloka,goloka vrindavana, manidwipa,jannat, etc. regards- hiro bachani- om namoh shivai !!!
You could be dead. Taken in context any news is good news.
We on the sufi path are really blessed. Our guru- jogi sain babaji- a hindu mystic - gave us the name initiation- that is we were asked to breathe in and out the name of god- constantly. The name could be rama, krsna, jesus christ, siva, buddha, elohim, allah etc whichever best resonates eith our heart and soul. This yogic breathe control with the name of god helps us to experience tremendous miracles of manifesting whatever we wish to have. The name of god has to be given by the guru personally. After fulfilling our worldly responsibilities peacefully we might be taken to krsnaloka, sivaloka, etc for eternal heavenly pleasures. Details on www.sufijalalani.com. Regards- hiro, sharad, rohit, rajni, harchandrai bachani
This should put a smile on your face. I haven't laughed this much in a long time. This Land from JibJab.com SBD
SBD, Normally, I delete political posts to this comments section. I'll make an exception for this - in fact, it just became its own Sunday post, with credit The reason I'm letting it stand is because (a) it's very funny; and (b) it satirizes both sides, and does so in a way that gives us all food for thought while making us laugh. Thanks for posting this. #25293 Posted by JC on July 24, 2004 08:02 AM Life's little victories - I took a beautiful woman out to my favorite Indian restaurant. Living in SF, I can walk there, and did so with her. We had Matter Paneer, and Kofta, and drank Mango Lassi. The owner had just come back from Punjab, in India, having married his son. Congratulations were given all around. And, of course, the food was marvelous. On the walk back up to the house (in Russian Hill above the Broadway tunnel) we walked to one of those steep streets, that seem to go straight down, and we spent time, watching the fog roll in, and the glistening of the waters, and the bright lights of Fisherman's Wharf. We stood, quiet, for 10 minutes, with my arms wrapped around her waist, gazing out. Quiet, mysterious, open, serene, chilly, yet comfortable. My good news Saturday.
1,000 loose chickens create highway chaos
Last night, our little boy came back. He'd been staying with his biological father in Florida for the last several months due to a sudden housing crisis my fiancee and I had. We finally got our own apartment again, saved up the money to fly him out here, and he arrived around 10pm. He's gotten so /big/. And a part of our lives that had been missing is no longer.
I've read the paper, and although the math is beyond me, the gist of the proof seems sound. If the proof holds up under review, this would be on a par with the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem.
Only then can the real adventure begin, and it's usually more interesting than the stuff we dream.
Hi Joe, I know it's good news Saturday, but does that really mean I can't post the story of the capture of Al-Zarqawi? How could there be any better news than this? Report: Al-Zarqawi captured near Syria SBD #26081 Posted by Peter on August 2, 2004 11:25 AM Crinum Lilies have shot three feet's toward the sky only to become top heavy and exhausted from blooming, gracefully lying down, as if from a joyous dervish dance.
Iraq & Afghanistan at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece...with womenfolk too! A lady from Afghanistan carried the flag during the parade of nations. AND did every see the smile on that beautifully huge lady weightlifter from Egypt?
For the Star Trek geeks out there, this is good news. 3M has figured out how to make transparent alumina glass in bulk.
The claimed proof of Goldbach's Conjecture linked above has been retracted (see original link). (I suppose this is good news for the ex-colleagues of mine who are working on it…)
Over and over the air comes into our lungs and is expelled. I am listening to J.S. Bach.
The Iraqi soccer team is kicking major tushy in the Olympics. They beat Portugal 4-2, overcoming an initial own goal. Today they beat Costa Rica 2-0. They are 1 of the only 2 unbeaten teams in the first round. Go Iraq!
L'or Manaudou!!!! L'or Manaudou!!!! L'or Manaudou!!!! L'or Manaudou!!!! Gold for France!!!! Also, congratulations to Hugues Duboscq for his swimming and all Olympians!!!
Moore/Bush 04 Similar to This Land SBD
It looks like Shaukat Aziz is likely to be promoted from finance minister to prime minister of Pakistan. Why is this good news, you ask? Because Aziz is a member of the international banking cartel. Now much of the banking cartel are scum, for a laundry list of reasons best told elswhere. But one thing members of the cartel aren't likely to tolerate is the use of nuclear weapons near major financial centers. Hence any extra influence Aziz gets decreases the odds that NYC, Dehli, Tel Aviv, etc. go up in a fireball as a result of the Pak arsenal. And if that isn't good news I don't know what is.
To quote a respected MIT professor: [extract from funny computer-generated leftist rants program redacted - let's stick to the theme of the day, shall we]
by LiberalBlogger on August 22, 2004 05:12 AM Sounds like your quoted professor was part of this group!! `Devil' of a lawsuit: MIT lab worker claims colleagues persecuted him for being Christian [ JK: No, it was computer generated. I'm leaving this URL up so I can forward it to hatewatch, but after that I'm taking it down. These kinds of discussions have a place here 6 other days of the week, but not Saturdays.]
SBD, Actually, LiberalBlogger is using a humourous "Leftist Cant Generator" program at Spinline.NET: http://www.spinline.net/cy/lefterator.pl - I vivdly recall an "MBA Phrase Generator" that was similarly convincing. But that isn't a Good News Friday subject, and picking it up with the MIT example only contaminates the thread further. So, I'm going to have to redact both posts. RE: political satires generally, the best thing to do is EMAIL me a link, here windsofchange.net (joe...). Let's leave this thread free of them.
Thursday was William Wilberforce's 245th birthday. Who was Mr. Wilberforce, you may ask? Well, here's his inscription in Westminster Abbey (emphasis added): For nearly half a century a member of the House of Commons, and, for six parliaments during that period, one of the two representatives for Yorkshire. In an age and country fertile in great and good men, he was among the foremost of those who fixed the character of their times. Because to high and various talents to warm benevolence, and to universal candor, he added the abiding eloquence of a Christian life. Eminent as he was in every department of public labor, and a leader in every work of charity, In the prosecution of these objects, he relied, not in vain, on God; but in the progress, he was called to endure great obloquy and great opposition. He outlived, however, all enmity, and, in the evening of his days, withdrew from public life and public observation to the bosom of his family. Yet he died not unnoticed or forgotten by his country: the peers and Commons of England, Let us remember this day the efforts of this noble paladin of the elder days.
T.J. Madison, Not to rain on your parade, but Wilberforce is fairly notorious for sweeping abolitionism under the rug when Pitt the Younger asked to do so. Pitt's rationale was that the abolitionist movement was a threat to domestic security during the Napoleonic wars and that Wilberforce needed to silence what portion of the movement that he could. Pitt silenced the rest via repressive domestic security laws. Wilberforce also put his stamp of approval on Britain's disasterous attempt to invade and re-enslave the population of St. Domingue (Haiti). Finally, its also clear that Wilberforce's notion of abolitionism was not directed so much towards individual freedom, but the sort of paternalism that is oh so commonly found in "reformist" circles. No, for my money, I am far more impressed by the generation of abolitionist figures that followed Wilberforce's than with Wilberforce.
Sure Wilberforce wasn't as cool as Lysander Spooner, but it's not Spooner's birthday yet. And for a 18th century politician and Christian fundamentalist, one could do a hell of a lot worse.
A bit late but thought you might not have heard the background to the story of the British athlete that won 2 gold medals after a career blighted by injuries at the wrong time. A true inspriration and signal that never giving up IS the right thing to do. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3605014.stm
OK, here's some good news. My dad went into the hospital this week and we were all thinking he was going to die, but he didn't. They fixed him up! He's making a grocery list for me right now and I was thinking I'd be spending today planning his funeral. Yahoo!
On the walk back up to the house (in Russian Hill above the Broadway tunnel) we walked to one of those steep streets, that seem to go straight down, and we spent time, watching the fog roll in, and the glistening of the waters, and the bright lights of Fisherman's Wharf. #30326 Posted by Andrew J. Lazarus on September 24, 2004 09:30 PM Gamar Hatima Tova. It is earlier here, but soon I too will not be posting until Sunday.
#2 from Glen Wishard at 7:58 pm on Oct 02, 2004
Paul Johnson on William Wilberforce (Birth of the Modern, p. 325): "The success of the antislavery lobby lay in its ability to operate simultaneously at a number of levels ... [Wilberforce] possessed extraordinary powers of sarcasm and vituperation but was too good-natured to use them except in rare and provoking circumstances. At the same time, Wilberforce was both snobbish and deferential and always treated authority with respect. He had none of the self-righteous incivility of the zealot and always prefered conciliation and diplomacy to hectoring. Thus, he often persuaded ministers to go farther along the path of reform than they originally intended." "It is a striking tribute to the regard in which politicians held him that, when he finally got a second reading for his anti-slave trade Bill, the whole House of Commons, including many who had voted against him, cheered the little man, who sat 'bent in his seat, his head in his hands, the tears streaming down his face'."
#3 from David Blue at 11:48 am on Oct 09, 2004
9th October has been the perfect election day in Australia: blue skies, sweet weather, civility everywhere, no bad incidents that I've heard of anywhere. People were coming in to vote it seemed at an even pace through the day, making everything as easy as possible for the volunteers - no gaps or long queues, no frowns or unhappy children, just the ritual of democracy conducted in an atmosphere of neighbourly good cheer. That rocks! And they're voting in Afghanistan too: double woo-hoo! It feels like democracy's rockin' all over the world. It's not, but here today it feels like it. (grin) - (Feel free to delete this if it's too political.)
#4 from Alice at 2:01 pm on Oct 09, 2004
It's a cool, foggy, and gorgeous fall morning in Raleigh. The farms and fields are almost totally enveloped and little spider webs everywhere are covered with dew drops.
#5 from SBD at 6:20 pm on Oct 09, 2004
"Good to Be in D.C.!" Jib Jab, the creators of "This Land" have followed up with a sequel to their big summer hit. The sequel is called "Good to Be in D.C.!" set to the tune of "Dixie". To view Good to be in D.C. From the Chicago Sun-Times SBD
#6 from tonecluster at 12:17 am on Oct 10, 2004
"1,000 loose chickens create highway chaos" TLA, comments about the chickens' lack of morality isn't really necessary, but hey.. that's just me I guess. ;) Good news? The gift of humor (or an attempt thereof) in a crazy world! Nu? Of course. Here's my bit of good news-- at the Pair Pace today, I got to meet my friends' adopted 15-month-old Chinese baby girl. I didn't just meet her, I got to watch her while her mom and dad rode in the E pace, 'cause I had finished my ride. The weather was perfect, aspens and scrub oak blazing gold and scarlet, brilliant sunshine but not too hot for the horses. I tied an orange ribbon in her black black hair (for Halloween!) and took her around to meet all the horses.
#8 from Robin Burk at 12:03 pm on Oct 23, 2004
A year ago I placed a dog with an older woman a few hundred miles from me. I thought this girl would do better having her own person to cuddle with rather than be one of the pack of half a dozen or so here. Part of the agreement was that if for any reason the new owner could't or didn't want to keep her, she would call me and I'd come get her immediately. When I place a dog I always hold my breath and cross fingers. I try to screen homes carefully, but breeders know that people are often embarassed, or can't be bothered, to honor agreements. Or, their families won't do so, in case of illness or death. Sometimes despite our best efforts, the dogs get dumped in shelters, who often then won't release them to us, the breeders. That's heartbreaking. This Wednesday I got a call from the new owner. She has to give up Fancy due to medical problems - her own and a sister-in-law who is battling advanced cancer. The owner is widowed and cannot walk the dog regularly any more. I'm so grateful that this gracious older lady not only gave Fancy a loving home for a year, she also kept her promise to call me. I'm driving the 600 miles round trip today to bring Fancy back here and I trust she will be in excellent shape. I'm also glad that this little dog provided affection and companionship to a widow this past year.
#9 from abdul haq at 6:13 am on Nov 21, 2004
Abraham, Jesus and Mohammad are friends in heaven. Peace
#10 from Let Freedom Ring at 12:09 pm on Nov 21, 2004
[LFR, This kind of political comment is something we do the other 6 days of the week, but not on Saturdays. I'm removing it for that reason, but sending it to you. For what it's worth, I agreed with the sentiment.]
#11 from Lurker at 1:54 pm on Nov 23, 2004
This is good news...
#12 from conelrad at 5:30 am on Nov 27, 2004
Good news from Columbia:
#13 from JFarr at 1:21 am on Nov 29, 2004
Sunday November 28, 1:21 PM Yahoo News
#14 from kstreetfriend at 10:03 am on Dec 04, 2004
[text deleted by A.L.] This is wonderful news for me-- from Freeman Dyson's article
#16 from nikita at 2:49 am on Dec 13, 2004
Some good news - new discoveries from Israel: Israeli-made device helps restore use of paralyzed hands Israeli fruit hybrid lowers cholesterol The end of bad breath - Israeli scientist discovers cause and cure Shabbat shalom! There is always the good news that, in all manner of increments, the love of freedom and peace continues to grow.
#18 from nikita at 1:54 am on Dec 20, 2004
Scientists have come up with a tasty formula to lengthen your life expectancy by an average of five to 6.6 years and ward off heart disease for eight to nine: I'd like to add my profound thanks to all of the commenters here who have stepped up, stepped in, and shared their good news over this past year. The number of people who participated here, each adding their own mote of brightness to the thread, surely qualifies as good news by any standard.
#20 from first_real_online_law_student@yahoo.com at 10:32 am on Jan 25, 2005
kstreetfriend comment: According to the New York Times: Recently, a number of for-profit colleges have faced inquiries, lawsuits and other actions calling into question the way they inflate enrollment to mislead/increase the value of their parent company’s stock. In the last year, the Career Education Corporation of Hoffman Estates, Ill., has faced lawsuits, from shareholders and students, contending that, among other things, its colleges have inflated enrollment numbers. The company acknowledged that it was under investigation by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission. In February 2004, F.B.I. agents raided 10 campuses run by ITT Educational Services of Carmel, Ind., looking for similar problems. Kaplan is wholly own by the Washington Post Company. I provided the S.E.C., Department of Education, and federal courts information that appears to prove Kaplan inflated the Concord School of Law enrollment, telling investors that the “flagship” of its higher education division has as many as 600 to 1000 or more students. Why didn’t the Justice Department and S.E.C. included Kaplan with their investigation? Posted by first_real_online_law_
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