Fuel prices and well-being

According to a recent Gallup survey 32% of Americans would buy a more fuel-efficient car if gas prices kept rising. This pretty obvious finding highlights two facts that may not emerge in full clarity at first glance. First, the tax policy of the US government effectively encourages the use of bigger vehicles. Second, and more importantly, this is also a government policy that does not maximize its citizens well-being, in fact in many ways it reduces it. Let's look at the two issues in detail.

Click to read more ...

How Civilized are You?

How different are we than other, less civilized, cultures. Like Syria, for instance, The home of Hamza Ali al-Khateeb – the 13 year old martyr whose story has rocked my faith in humanity and civilization. When I read about Hamza yesterday it hurt so much that I haven't even been able to address the topic for 2 days. I tried recounting the tragedy to someone this afternoon and had to take breaks to compose myself. Other than being highlighted on Anderson Cooper last night, I haven't seen this story anywhere, except for the one mention on Facebook where I first learned about it. I was on the treadmill at the gym today facing TWENTY televisions showing a variety of news and entertainment. Hamza's sweet round face was nowhere to be seen, overshadowed by Weinergate, yet another Republican announcing the announcement of his run for POTUS, and the fact that Trump and Palin ate pizza together using plastic forks.

Click to read more ...

Apologize To Your Abuser

After much deliberation, it was finally ruled in the Canadian courts this month—May 2011—that a woman cannot in fact consent to sexual activity if she is unconscious. I repeat: this happened in May 2011.

I was shocked to hear about this development, considering how late it comes. Stories like this are a scary reminder of how male-dominated the idea of “justice” continues to be, even when it comes to reprehensibly violent crimes.

Click to read more ...

Egypt: A Post-Revolution Critique

Hey, remember the Egyptian Revolution? The one that brought Mubarak down from his 30 year reign? It's funny how the lack of media coverage, post-revolution, creates an illusory sense of a revolution ever taking place. In other words, the lack of follow-up news of what is happening belittles the gravity of the situation that is happening.

Click to read more ...

No ideal democracy for Burma

Burmese history shows us a series of complex transformations. The government has changed its name and approach multiple times, from socialism to economic liberalisation, from isolation to engagement, and most recently from outright political suppression to something that they hope is democratic in the eyes of the world.

Click to read more ...

HOSNI MUBARAK’S FALL: A REMINDER TO ALL SIT-TIGHT AFRICAN LEADERS

The essence of this article is to draw the line between service and overstay, you see sometimes the things we most cherish and treasure more often than not turns out to be our downfall, take Absalom for example he wanted to be king at all cost and lost his life in the process. To say Mr. Mubarak’s fall was a cataclysmic event, would be against the ‘Law of Gravity’, because what happened to him started a long time ago but I bet you he wasn’t aware of it, or was aware and disregarded it as a facade, as every elastic substance has its break point so also is dictatorship and autocracy.

Click to read more ...

Kissing Coppers Head For America

Kissing Coppers, the work of anti-establishment street artist Banksy, is to leave Brighton and head for America. Originally created on the side of the Prince Albert Pub, the artwork had to be removed because of vandalism. The artwork belongs to the Pub and after several attacks, the owner decided to remove the image in order to protect it. The original was transferred to canvas, and a replica put in it's place.

Click to read more ...

Budget Crisis Averted! Are We Supposed to Grateful?

The bitterness and political vitriol espoused by both sides of the debate over recent weeks has seen political and fiscal discourse in one of the world’s great democracies reduced to a soap drama.

Click to read more ...