Well, we're at the end of 2004. I've had my blog for almost four months now. I know I don't have too many regular followers, except my loyal faithful Sanguine and The Local Superhero. Thanks, you guys rock!
Anyway, for 2005, Edmond resolves to continue to comment on politics and world events to inform you and entertain you. Edmond would also like it if more people discovered and liked his blog.
Thanks to you all for your support, and Happy New Year!
Edmond the Hun
Friday, December 31, 2004
Current Events: Aid $ Keeps Rising
The death toll from the earthquake/tsunamis keeps growing at about 30 to 40 thousand per day. But the money pledged by other countries in aid keep growing, too. And some of it's just really cool!
You have Britian collecting $39 million in a day from their top 12 charities. You have Finns lining up to give money --- raising about $4 million, and they only have a population of 5 million. You hvae Microsoft and employees donating $5 million. You have Amazon.com shoppers donating $5 million. You have the American Red Cross collecting $18 million. You have Italians donating $17 million. You have at least four European countries donating over $50 million each. The World Bank, whatever that is, is offering $250 million. When you add it all up from all the various sources, it's over $500 million.
Isn't that just so cool how everyone's coming together to give money to aid the unfortunate survivors of the tsunamis?
And then you have the United States government, which has only pledged $35 million. Now I know there's only so much in certain funds, and you have to go through Congress and all that, but come on! We shelled out $80 billion for the war in Iraq! And we're only giving 35 million! Finland's individual giving amounts to about eighty cents a person. The US government's pledge is more like an average of fourteen cents a person. I agree with those who say our initial pledge was "stingy." Come on, government, join the rest of the world!
But aside from our poor government, I still think it's really awesome how people all over the world are giving money to help their fellow man. To slightly misquote a famous line, "There's (still) some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth giving for."
'Tis better to give than receive. Kudos to the world.
Edmond the Hun
You have Britian collecting $39 million in a day from their top 12 charities. You have Finns lining up to give money --- raising about $4 million, and they only have a population of 5 million. You hvae Microsoft and employees donating $5 million. You have Amazon.com shoppers donating $5 million. You have the American Red Cross collecting $18 million. You have Italians donating $17 million. You have at least four European countries donating over $50 million each. The World Bank, whatever that is, is offering $250 million. When you add it all up from all the various sources, it's over $500 million.
Isn't that just so cool how everyone's coming together to give money to aid the unfortunate survivors of the tsunamis?
And then you have the United States government, which has only pledged $35 million. Now I know there's only so much in certain funds, and you have to go through Congress and all that, but come on! We shelled out $80 billion for the war in Iraq! And we're only giving 35 million! Finland's individual giving amounts to about eighty cents a person. The US government's pledge is more like an average of fourteen cents a person. I agree with those who say our initial pledge was "stingy." Come on, government, join the rest of the world!
But aside from our poor government, I still think it's really awesome how people all over the world are giving money to help their fellow man. To slightly misquote a famous line, "There's (still) some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth giving for."
'Tis better to give than receive. Kudos to the world.
Edmond the Hun
Monday, December 27, 2004
Current Events: Huge Quake, Tsunamis in Indian Ocean
Early Sunday morning (or late Saturday night, USA time) an incredibly devasting 9.0 earthquake went off in the Indian Ocean, a hundred miles or so off the coast of Indonesia. It caused enormous tidal waves to hit the coasts of several countries, including ones in southern Asia and all the way to the eastern coast of Africa. The death toll is 22,000 and constantly rising. Millions are homeless.
The United States and other countries are offering assistance and aid, although I haven't actually seen any of them do anything yet.
So, as you're enjoying your Christmas presents, be thankful that you didn't drown in the Indian Ocean or that your home wasn't destroyed by the huge tsunamis.
Edmond the Hun
Palestine Politics: Replacing Arafat
Elections for the replacement of Arafat are on January 9, and this could mean a lot for the future of Israel and Palestine as states. Recently, about 600 leaders of various positions signed a petition that called for an end to violence against Israel in order to boost the credibilitiy of their cause for statehood. In other words, stop attacking Israel, cuz it makes us look bad. Mahmoud Abbas is the champion of this peaceful policy, and he is supposedly in some sort of majority. On the other hand, there is a group named Hamas, who is overtly anti-Semetic and would never want to stop attacking the Jews. They don't have anyone going for prime minister, but the group did suprisingly well in local polls (I don't understand it entirely - I guess the polls were for a legislative body of sorts).
So we have two major groups: One that wants to abandon violence, and one that never will. Has a desire of most Palestinains for statehood finally replaced their desire of the to kick the Jews out of the Middle East? The elections may give us an answer.
But there is also a subtle revelation of motives in this petition from the leaders. Perhaps I am reading too much into this. But listen: The leaders did not say they want to stop violence because they no longer hate the Jews and want to kill them all. They said they want to stop violence because it makes them look bad internationally. Does this mean that they still hate the Jews? That if they finally achieve statehood, they will then return to their original plans of attacking and killing Jews, which they have been doing ever since Jews starting fleeing from Europe to join the small pockets of Jews that were already in Palestine? Only time will tell.
Edmond the Hun
Ukraine Politics: Yush Wins (Maybe?)
Millions of Ukrainians came out to vote yesterday. With 99% of the votes counted, Yushchenko was up 52%-44%. Apparently the Ukrainians really want to head in a deomcratic direction and break off their ties with Russia. The only question is whether the corrupted government will allow it or not. The opposition vows to challenge the results, filing complaints to the Central Election Commission. Ukraine's voting issues makes Florida and Ohio look like nothing! If the government tries too hard to retain power, I smell the beginnings of a revolution.
Edmond the Hun
Sports: Manning (Humbly) Breaks Record
Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Peyton Manning has finally broken the record for single-season touchdown passes. Dan Marino threw 48 in 1984, and Manning threw two yesterday to bring his total to 49 in an overtime win over San Diego.
The funny thing is, Manning doesn't really care. At least that's what he says. In the weeks leading up to this record-breaking moment, Manning kept saying things like "I just can't get into it" and "I just want to win and get our team in the playoffs." In an age where you have players dancing around the endzone, players mocking other players dancing around the endzone... this guy is incredibly humble!
Even when he threw the passes that tied and broke the records, he wasn't celebrating because of the record --- you could tell he was only celebrating the fact that the team had scored. They were both important scores too, because the Colts were losing, and they needed both touchdowns to tie the game to go into overtime, where they got a field goal. The game was an important one to win, too, because the Colts and the Chargers were both 11-3 and fighting for the third seed in the playoffs.
Maybe it's all a facade, and he really is excited about breaking one of the oldest and biggest records of the NFL. But unless he's a really good faker, he's sure not proud or haughty about it. He just wants his team to win!
And that makes him a likable, cool guy.
Edmond the Hun
The funny thing is, Manning doesn't really care. At least that's what he says. In the weeks leading up to this record-breaking moment, Manning kept saying things like "I just can't get into it" and "I just want to win and get our team in the playoffs." In an age where you have players dancing around the endzone, players mocking other players dancing around the endzone... this guy is incredibly humble!
Even when he threw the passes that tied and broke the records, he wasn't celebrating because of the record --- you could tell he was only celebrating the fact that the team had scored. They were both important scores too, because the Colts were losing, and they needed both touchdowns to tie the game to go into overtime, where they got a field goal. The game was an important one to win, too, because the Colts and the Chargers were both 11-3 and fighting for the third seed in the playoffs.
Maybe it's all a facade, and he really is excited about breaking one of the oldest and biggest records of the NFL. But unless he's a really good faker, he's sure not proud or haughty about it. He just wants his team to win!
And that makes him a likable, cool guy.
Edmond the Hun
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Politics: Donald's Signatures
Donald Rumsfeld sends out letters of condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones in Iraq. He also signs them personally.
Or so we thought.
Recently, it was revealed that the signatures were made by a machine. Rumsfeld did not take the time to personally sign all the letters. Democrats are quick to pounce on this as saying that this shows he doesn't really care about the dead soldiers. They tell stories of families (with names and ages!) who are appalled by the news and don't think Rumsfeld cares about them.
Republicans, on the other hand, produce stories of families (with names and ages too!) who say the letter didn't matter at all to them, it was his personal visit to them that showed them he really does care.
So, do I condemn or defend this guy?
I think it's apparent that Rumsfeld (and Bush) really are very concerned about the war and about the loss of life involved. Rumsfeld and Bush make personal visits to the families of loved ones, which takes more time than it does to write a name. And what does it really matter whether Rumsfeld actually signs his signature or not? Shouldn't we worry about more important things, like the war itself?
The only problem is if people were given the impression that he really did sign them. Then it's like lying. But I don't know if they had that impression in the first place. And overall, I don't think it's really a big deal. If he signs them or not -- it's just a letter. He really does care.
Edmond the Hun
Or so we thought.
Recently, it was revealed that the signatures were made by a machine. Rumsfeld did not take the time to personally sign all the letters. Democrats are quick to pounce on this as saying that this shows he doesn't really care about the dead soldiers. They tell stories of families (with names and ages!) who are appalled by the news and don't think Rumsfeld cares about them.
Republicans, on the other hand, produce stories of families (with names and ages too!) who say the letter didn't matter at all to them, it was his personal visit to them that showed them he really does care.
So, do I condemn or defend this guy?
I think it's apparent that Rumsfeld (and Bush) really are very concerned about the war and about the loss of life involved. Rumsfeld and Bush make personal visits to the families of loved ones, which takes more time than it does to write a name. And what does it really matter whether Rumsfeld actually signs his signature or not? Shouldn't we worry about more important things, like the war itself?
The only problem is if people were given the impression that he really did sign them. Then it's like lying. But I don't know if they had that impression in the first place. And overall, I don't think it's really a big deal. If he signs them or not -- it's just a letter. He really does care.
Edmond the Hun
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