Not sure how to categorize this one, but here’s a recent travel photoessay from the wilderness of Idaho and Montana, that reminds me of why I miss the American west. Sounds like my kind of road trip.
Warning, not for the bandwidth challenged.
Misplaced Priorities
We’re going to have to make a choice as to which war in Afghanistan is the more important one, the war against the Taliban, or the war against (some) drugs.
In the past two years, the drug war has become the Taliban’s most effective recruiter in Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s Muslim extremists have reinvigorated themselves by supporting and taxing the countless peasants who are dependent one way or another on the opium trade, their only reliable source of income. The Taliban is becoming richer and stronger by the day, especially in the east and south of the country. The “War on Drugs” is defeating the “war on terror.”
We can’t do both, and (as the piece points out) the latter is a hopeless enterprise everywhere, not just in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the drug warriors continue to allow their misbegotten war to take precedence over the real one.
[Late Monday afternoon update]
Let Afghan poppies bloom:
In a bold move some years ago, Britain tried to buy up the poppy crop, spending more than
Crikey!
An Australian rancher survived almost a week of being treed by crocs.
When I read some of the other survival stories in the article, I wondered if I would have made it myself under similar circumstances. I hope I never have the opportunity to find out.
Makes Sense To Me
Don’t make biofuel–burn oil and plant forests. Wow, is that politically incorrect (but probably correct). Saint Al would have a fit.
“Intemperate”
The more I hear from James Hansen, the less impressed I am with him as a supposedly objective scientist.
“Intemperate”
The more I hear from James Hansen, the less impressed I am with him as a supposedly objective scientist.
“Intemperate”
The more I hear from James Hansen, the less impressed I am with him as a supposedly objective scientist.
Katrina, Take Two?
OK, only one model has it going to New Orleans. Let’s hope that the consensus of the other models is right, and it’s heading for Mexico.
Or maybe Karl Rove is just revving up his black-killing weather machine one more time, for old time’s sake.
Risk And Adversity
Katherine Mangu-Ward compares and contrasts NASA’s safety approach to that of private industry.
Don’t Know Much About ‘Rithmatick
…at the New York Times.