Showing the Softer Side of Syria

Syrian Blogger Ammar Abdulhamid was exiled for saying on his blog that President Bashar Assad is a thug, as noted by my post in early June.

But Imad Moustapha is showing a more diplomatic view of the country, notes the Associated Press.

That would make sense. Moustapha must represent Syria as the ambassador to the U.S. as Cheney and his evil team of robots is linking Syria with Iran in a showdown in Iraq.

Moustapha's blog is mostly about his interests, his family, and living life. His vacations look like those of any well-to-do U.S. family, but only in the coastal region of Syria.

His post on changing the diapers of his newborn baby and introducing her to the sounds of Mozart make Moustapha appear much more gentle than tough-talking swashbucklers in Washington.

He speaks effortlessly on the brilliance of Syria's businesswomen as ambassadors to the world and speaks fondly of his university professor wife, Rafif, who holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science.

"I have a very, very difficult post and you need an outlet, a way of escape," Moustapha told the AP of the blog. He said he tries to steer clear of politics on the forum.

The human depth certainly challenges assumptions of the Arab world, even if there is a possibility that it is written by a "ghost blogger." U.S. foreign policy ought to take a look at who it considers an enemy, and instead seek for the underlying layers of humanity.

Even Cheney-bot has his wife and kid.

Turd Blossom resigns

Karl Rove finally gave into reality and resigned. Citing the desire to spend more time with family, the White House unsurprisingly didn't mention the pressure Rove faced over a subpoena regarding U.S. Attorney firings, allegations over the CIA leak, wiretap influence etc. etc.

Kelly O'Donnell on MSNBC called it a "big deal," calling it a "sign of the changing of the end of the Administration."

Mainly because Chief of Staff Josh Bolton said anyone in the Administration who stays after Labor Day, has gotta stay until Jan. 2009.

Rove joins an increasing number of staff to leave, including Harriet Miers, Don Rumsfeld, Deputy National Security Adviser J.D. Crouch...

Many claim to want more time with family. But with public dismay on incompetence, and the legal heat from subpoenas, it would make more sense to resign and receive a hero's goodbye from the president than to face the heat of being held accountable.

Calamitous Tunnel Accounting

Smoke and the smell of burnt metal filled the Chicago blue line subway at the Division stop Friday afternoon. Not only that, but the operator stopped 15 minutes before moving toward the Chicago stop and inching further toward the loop.

I felt sorry for the train that was behind us, having to wait in the metal coffin, doors closed, until the cars moved on.

All this as the state legislature is deciding against any increased funding to the Chicago Transit Authority in next year's budget. Talk, meanwhile, of increased $2.50-$3.00 fares in the near future has some residents rejecting the CTA altogether, choosing to pay $3.50 per gallon in gas and $15 per hour for parking downtown.

Doesn't seem to make much sense to me, either way.

New York City Transit continues to charge $2.00 per ride, though living in New York requires a %24.29 increase in income to maintain the same standard of living as in Chicago, according to bankrate.com.

CTA President Ron Huberman is pleased that the legislature didn't approve the $100 million needed to balance the Transit Authority budget, preferring to hold off for a more long-term solution, reports the Chicago Tribune. This puts him in a rather precarious position as the legislature doesn't appear to be interested in long-term CTA funding, much less creating a needed state budget without $200 million in pork spending.

All this as Gov. Rod Blagojevich threatens to veto any increase on sales tax to pay for CTA renovations, and Mayor Daley earlier this year didn't support a toll for automobiles driving to the Chicago loop.

Also in the Tribune today was London mayor Ken Livingstone, who plans a daily $50 tax for bringing SUVs downtown London. That's up from a congestion zone tax of $16 for cars between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Livingstone refers to the SUV's as "Chelsea Tractors" and their drivers as "complete idiots."

Of course, traveling in their version of the subway can range from $12-24, depending on the trip.

Suddenly, paying up to $2.50 in Chicago doesn't seem that bad... But we can do better if New York can. Paying more to ride through toxic fumes doesn't seem appealing, either.

Journalism continues to open or cheapen, depending on your view.

Google News added a feature that allows sources in the news to comment about the aggregated stories in which they are found, reports the Chicago Tribune.

What this means is that the official news story can take a different shape, receiving a steaming enema of accountability.

After this story appeared in the India Times regarding kids' preference for food in McDonald's packaging rather than the same food in brand X, McDonald's spokesman Walt Ricker, who was quoted in the article gave this pestilent platitude:

"McDonald's brand has earned the trust of customers for more than fifty years. The strength of any brand depends upon its performance, every single day, and if customers decide for themselves that a brand can't be trusted then they take their business elsewhere."

Although the article went after McDonald's alleged contribution to growing obesity among U.S. kids, Ricker could respond. Whether you thought he was spewing bull or giving a good defense may determine how democratic you find this.

In my view, it's good. You can hear another side of the story or at least be amused by bland, patronizing rhetoric.

Media purists (anti-blog), however, may frown. Speaking of, a Tech Dirt posting a while back gave an interesting perspective that news agencies like Agence France Press should embrace greater traffic than whine about copywrite infringement. (Do you hear the giant volcano threatening to eat up that Brontosaurus?)

Little mammals beneath the rocks are deciding to blend with the new media, to constructively take on challenges to the original format. Many newspapers are allowing open comments at the end of stories, including blogs and forums that give easy access to the reader. News stories and organizations are including references to Facebook, Friendster and MySpace.

Such is the growing trend, notes Ragan Communications' August PR Round-up Report.

"Just because newspapers are shrinking, doesn't mean journalism will shrink," says newsman Jeff Jarvis in the Report.

Maybe just climb up a different tree?

Do You Like Having Nice Conversations?

Two New Zealanders strut into New York City in hopes of starting their Indie-folk career. Blending into their new home proves somewhat quirky as they deal with infatuation with American women and internal strife.

Such is the set-up of Flight of the Conchords, a fun look into Gen Y sensibility, or lack thereof.

My sis sent me this absolutely wonderful video. Seen here are Brit McKenzie and Jemaine Clement (glasses), attempting to hit on some filles a la cafe...

Chicago!

Kids run around, dancing and playing tag in the street as a flood of water from the fire hydrant breaks the scorching 90 degrees.

That was one of the first sights I saw as I started to move into my apartment. A block west of my 100 year old flat is a tennis court and bike trails spanning the acres of Chicago's Humboldt Park.

Thus far I've enjoyed the neighborhood. And on the job front I had a good interview with Ragan Communications for a Web-savvy reporter position. Folks there seem nice, and I could write on how employees use technology and social networking to communicate.

Not that I'm counting my chickens...

On top of that I saw the White Sox lose to the Cleveland Indians. My first trip to U.S. Cellular stadium was fun-filled, and the views were great:

Here's the Sox's only score of the evening by rookie Jerry Owens

A last promenade around Madison, for awhile...

After being in Madison, Wis. since the Clinton presidency, I've finally decided to head out and make the move to a far away, exotic city of...Chicago.

I'll miss this town, but won't be too far away from the familiarities of the Midwest. I'll be just west of Wicker Park and east of Humboldt Park. Yeah, in 2 days I'll be a FIB.

Looking Back when I started my undergrad here in 2000:

- Tuition per semester was $1,700, as opposed to nearly $3,000 today
- People whined that Clinton was too conservative. Well, that hasn't changed in Madison.
- The U.S. was not embroiled in a war.
- Al Gore was boring.
- Cafe Assisi was the popular coffee institution located above what is now the Reebok store. I miss that cafe.
- Students learned our grades via a computer-generated voice over the phone. She got pissed when C's were earned.
- I could still smoke a cigarette in dive bars.
- The world trade center was still standing.
- The U.S. had a budget surplus.
- Swing dancing was the hip thing to do, and people listened to ska.

Much has changed. In a way, Madison seems more yuppyish, and I've definitely become more libertarian. (I toyed with socialism while a freshman; it was a phase, along with philosophy classes...).

Today, in the midst of packing my things, I biked around to check out a few of my favorite things. Among them:

Memorial Union (duh)




Henry Vilas Zoo creatures



I have a fascination with the tortoise...


The Orpheum, and its decent bar




Isthmus and thedailypage.com - Having fun both reading and writing for it. Become friends on facebook!



Picnic Point




Maduro



Sunsets at James Madison Park and Lake Mendota




Not pictured: Cafe Momo, Escape Java Joint and the Capital Times.

All my best, Madison.