Blog @ MoreWhat.com

The Buck Just Stops

Washington Post, United States -
WHAT, ONE HAS to wonder, would it take for the House ethics committee to hold a lawmaker or a staff member accountable? A special …

It was noted on the only post here regarding Foley that we would not run a story on it again. So maybe that was a little optimistic. The intent then was not to encourage the domination in the news of stories that are off point in terms of the important issues of the day. Not that protecting children isn’t important, but you can serve the public interest and protect the children without bombarding scandalous headlines contiuously.

The big story here is not Mark Foley. It is the reaction and lack of appropriate action on the part of all those public officials in Washington. The GOP says they heard the people in the last election and need to change and will. Hard to believe when their first action is to shutdown the 109th and essentially let everyone off the hook for the Foley incidents.

Stanford Harris
MoreWhat.com

Nintendo’s Wii game console debuts to… nationwide

The Japan Times, Japan
By KANAKO TAKAHARA
Staff writer

Enthusiastic fans formed long lines outside electronics stores
nationwide early Saturday to be the first in Japan to get their
hands on Nintendo Co.’s new Wii video game console.

Japanese get a Wii bit cold

NEWS.com.au, Australia -
By Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo. NINTENDO’S game console, the
Wii, went on sale in Japan on Saturday, greeted by thousands of
shivering …

Nintendo Wii’s a sell-out with Tokyo retailers

Economic Times, India -
TOKYO: Nintendo’s Wii video-game console sold out at some
Japanese electronics retailers, competing with Sony’s PlayStation
3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. …

Nintendo’s Wii game console sells out on first day …

Forbes, NY -
OSAKA, Japan (XFN-ASIA) - Nintendo Co Ltd rolled out its new
video game console, the Wii, Saturday, prompting thousands of
enthusiasts to line up for hours in …

Wii console makes Japanese debut

BBC News, UK -
Thousands of Japanese video-game fans queued outside shops as
Nintendo’s Wii console went on sale. More than 1,000 people
were reported …

Pop culture, fads, phenomena and the eternal classic debate about
what is good, bad or just is, within society.  Either it is much ado
about nothing or we are really bad at imposing consumer will on
the business community.

Most would probably agree that violent movies don’t create killers,
pathetically bad music doesn’t destroy listeners and electronic games
do not corrupt or permanently damage participants.  Some people
are convinced that these items are the cause of evil and destruction.
Others would deny the possibility even if indisputable evidence
existed.  Like most choices in life there is risk.  If a person has a
predisposition toward pathological social behavior, the introduction
of these items probably increases the risk of an undesirable outcome.
Again, like most things is life, if one participates with moderation,
it is unlikely a bad outcome will come to pass.

But the marketing practices of the gaming industry, the tolerance or
neglect of parents or an individual’s decline due to over indulgence
in electronic gaming all pose problems.  Industry hype, indiscretion
by parents and undisciplined behavior by players is one more of the
many examples of practices that promote our descent to failure. The
failure to contribute adequate effort to improve, as individuals and a
society.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Republican Declared Winner in Fla. House Race

Challenger Seeks New Election, Citing Machine Malfunction;
4 Other Congressional Contests Unresolved

Associated Press
Tuesday, November 21, 2006; Page A05

TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 20 — Florida officials certified Republican
Vern Buchanan on Monday as the winner of the House seat being
vacated by Rep. Katherine Harris (R). The loser immediately sued
for a new election, arguing that touch-screen voting machines had
malfunctioned.

Just when you thought it was safe to go out and vote again, Dems
are crying foul in another election result. Imagine that. And the
location is the state of Florida. A little more humor finds it to be a
seat vacated by Katherine Harris.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

U.S. lawmakers: EU dragging heels on biotech trade

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States must pressure the
European Union to stop dragging its feet on approving new imports
of bioengineered food, senior U.S. lawmakers said in a letter
released on Wednesday.

Biotech Rice Saga Yields Bushel of Questions for Feds
USDA Approval Shortcut Emerges as Issue
By Rick Weiss, Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 6, 2006; A03
When the biotech company Bayer CropScience AG requested
federal permission in August to market a variety of gene-altered
rice, it assured itself a small, unwanted place in history: the first
to seek approval for a genetically engineered food that was
already — illegally — on the market.

GMO ban ordinance eyed
Visayan Daily Star, Philippines - Nov 12, 2006
Oriental Negros Vice Gov. Jose Baldado said he will work for
the passage of an ordinance banning genetically-modified
organisms in the province. …

Cognis launches 3 natural, non-GMO health ingredients …
SpiritIndia, India - Oct 30, 2006
… West trade show is expected to be brisk as dietary supplement
and functional food manufacturers discover the benefits of three
new, non-GMO natural health …

Seems to be a great deal of quiet discussion on GMO foods. What
is the upside? What do we really know about GMO foods? Is it
reasonable to blindly accept GMO as healthy without valid data on
long term probability or potential of future health problems? What
about causing unexpected changes in natural food sources? Is the
United States the only country promoting GMO foods? There is a
large enough reference to reports around the world that suggest an
uneasy climate toward these foods. Why is it the job of government
officials to influence or intimidate other countries to comply with the
US government’s agenda? Especially when it appears to merely be
on behalf of corporate America and not based on the well-being or
benefit of all affected parties.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Some of the people pushing for the EU to accept US GMO:

Tom Harkin

Collin Peterson

Saxby Chambliss

Bob Goodlatte

Susan Schwab USTR

Canice Nolan

It is bipartisan. It is international. And it is suspicious. There are too many countries opposed to believe that accepting GMO without proof of concept is not right.

U.S. Commerce Secretary urges China to open markets
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China must open its motion picture, financial services and other markets to foreign investors, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said on Wednesday during a visit to drum up business for U.S. firms.

34 years ago President Richard Nixon achieved a first. There, of course, would be a few more. However he must still hold some kind of record for opening China from a self-imposed and long standing isolation. Some in this country may regret that now but these demands countries try to place on each other must be for show. They can’t be serious. With the situation in our financial markets, if China owns a majority stake in U.S. debt instruments this may be our quaint way of hollering uncle.

Pressing flesh and developing photo ops. Do you suppose this is entirely an American invention? Maybe not but we may use it more often if not more effectively than others. It makes for a nice picture and a touch of human interest in an otherwise murky realm of foreign policy. Not like domestic policy deserves an applause in comparison. Whatever happened to the term statesman. There once was a distinction between politicians and statesman. The statesman category was preferred by most sincere people. It would be refreshing to use the benefits of statesmanship to genuinely solve critical and delicate differences within the species. The other species on the planet might enjoy that too. For now deceptive “game on” may be the only strategy employed.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Mexico City approves gay civil unions
Houston Chronicle, United States - 1 hour ago
… It passed by a vote of 43-17, with all the opposition coming
from the National Action Party of President Vicente Fox and
president-elect Felipe Calderon. …

Good!! Now get rid of it in the U.S. and let the flow
head to Mexico!!
C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Sir Howard Stringer, Sony’s chairman and chief executive, on Monday
broke his public silence over the electronics group’s technical problems
and consequent profits warning, saying the setbacks were a natural
consequence of making “cutting-edge” products.
More like burning edge and the excuse is exactly that…. an excuse and
a lame one at that.

U.S. yanks Web site with reported nuclear secrets
POSTED: 8:58 a.m. EST, November 3, 2006 WASHINGTON (AP) –

The top U.S. intelligence official took down a government Web
site with captured Saddam Hussein-era Iraqi documents after
questions were raised whether it providedtoo much information
about making atomic bombs.

In a statement Thursday night, a spokesman for National Intelligence
Director John Negroponte said his office has suspended public access
to the Web site “pending a review to ensure its content is appropriate
for public viewing.”

What exactly is too much information about making nuclear bombs?
Most people would probably agree this type of information serves no
productive purpose when distributed to the general public. Regardless
of your opinion of nuclear weapons, there remains the other matters
that will enter the discussion relative to rights, responsibilities and other
political considerations common to news like the report listed above.

The ever-present Rush Limbaugh mentioned today the obvious irony
that the New York Times is credited for bringing to light the fact that
Iraq was in pursuit of building a nuclear bomb according to some of the
information available in the documents of the site in question. Probably
the irony is viewed by Rush as more fodder for his kook fringe babble
rather than simply for the humor. Lest you forget, the New York Times
was recently accused by more than one commentator as committing the
crime of treason for earlier reports this year that are better left alone to
die a natural death.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Senator Obama for President, along with Hillary, Sen. Kerry and
whoever else the Dems can enlist. Saying the Dems don’t have a
clue or have no direction or strategy or plan makes some kind of
sense now. These announcements appear to be their way of testing
the water on who they should have for their next sacraficial lamb.
C. Harris
MoreWhat.com staff

Sen. Obama mulls bid for White House in 2008

Reuters
Sunday, October 22, 2006; 1:27 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Barack Obama on
Sunday said he has thought about running for president in
2008 and will give it more serious consideration after the
mid-term congressional elections on November 7.

And it would seem the Republicans only have one choice thus far
who has not made an announcement and does not give any indication
one is forthcoming. The traditional two choice presidential race may
be another “who cares” proposition for anyone not tied to either party.

Romney’s 2008 Bid Faces Issue of Faith

Massachusetts’ GOP governor has political promise,but voters may
not embrace a Mormon.

DES MOINES — In seeking a presidential candidate for 2008, why
would Republicans look further than the governor of Massachusetts?

Tall and urbane, Mitt Romney has a prime political pedigree, an
unblemished personal life and the cool confidence of a CEO. He
is a conservative Republican who won easy election in a fiercely
liberal state — then streamlined Massachusetts’ government and
enacted the country’s most sweeping healthcare overhaul.

Genetically modified organisms or GMO do not seem to be making
much noise in the mainstream media. Some may find it boring or
inconsequential. At least one point raised by environmental types
is not knowing the ultimate consequence to the biosphere if we are
to modify organisms without benefit of understanding the results.

So much flack was generated not long ago on cloning or stem cell
research methods that you might expect more controversy in the
press over similar activities with other living things. The ethics of
it may not be at issue but certainly food safety and the effects of the
modifications should at least provoke questions. You could make the
case that if the WTO is involved it is worth a look. When has the
WTO not caused controversy in most of what they do?

>

EU set to decide on compulsory tests for GMO rice
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Oct 16
EU regulators will decide this week whether to force testing of
all U.S. long-grain rice imports to prove the absence of a
genetically modified (GMO) strain not allowed in Europe, an
official said on Monday.

USDA verifies 2nd test for unapproved GMO rice
Reuters - Sep 15, 2006
Dr. Manfred Schneider is a former Chairman of the Management Board,
Bayer AG. Full Bio. WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The US Agriculture …

Consumer group urges USDA not to approve GMO rice
Truth about Trade & Technology, IA - Sep 18, 2006
Washington (Reuters) - A controversial genetically modified rice strain found
in commercial supplies last month should not be approved by the US Agriculture …

WTO Sides With US in GMO Dispute With EU
AgWeb - Sep 29, 2006
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled in favor of the United States,
Argentina, and Canada in their WTO case against the European Union (EU) over its …

EuropaBio welcomes ’science-based’ hearing on GM food
FoodNavigator.com, France - Oct 10, 2006
… Furthermore, the WTO ruled earlier this year that the EU and six member … United
States, Argentina and Canada that an effective moratorium on GMO imports between …

Jamal Simmons: Why do Republicans Think Don King’s Endorsement Matters to African Americans?

Jamal SimmonsTue Oct 17, 11:49 AM ET

I have been wondering about this since 2004. Who are the black people that look to Don King for political advice? This is not my joke but this was too funny not to let others know about it. This morning, my favorite morning comedian, Huggy Lowdown ripped Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Michael Steele apart for his recent endorsements by Boxing Promoter Don King and (very) former Heavyweight Boxing Champ Mike Tyson. “The Republicans know black people hate George W. Bush so much that Michael Steele would rather (be endorsed by) a convicted murderer and a convicted rapist than President Bush.” Huggy Lowdown appears on the Donny Simpson show on WPGC-FM in Washington DC.

Scandals affect 2 Ohio House races, leave others in doubt

Contra Costa Times - Oct 17, 2006 AP.

Gov. Bob Taft had pleaded no contest to failing to claim gifts, fundraiser Tom Noe was convicted of funneling illegal contributions to President Bush and Rep. Bob Ney admitted that he accepted trips, meals …

We could certainly use more of this. When so much of the news is focused on death and the endless stream of tragedy throughout the planet, it would reassure the world that there is a chance to make things right, if only we would listen.

For the skeptics, providing there is no follow up story to blemish this flawless effort by an individual, this could be the best story of the year.

Stanford Matthews

Richly deserved prize for banker to the poor
Chicago Tribune, United States - 13 hours ago
LONDON — It would have been more charitable–and certainly a lot
easier–just to give the poor woman the money. But instead, Muhammad
Yunus lent her $27. …

Banker wins Nobel Peace Prize
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 14 hours ago
By staff writers and wires. A BANGLADESHI banker and the institution
he founded have been jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for …

Banker changed a nation by lending a hand
Toronto Star, Canada - 15 hours ago
Being a poor woman in Bangladesh stood for nothing before the Grameen
Bank came along. “They had no status in society. Traditionally …

Nobel Prize Winner Yunus Revered by Poor
Houston Chronicle, United States - 15 hours ago
By BETH DUFF-BROWN AP Writer. © 2006 AP. — Walking alongside rice
paddies and water buffalo on the outskirts of Dhaka with Bangladeshi …

Yunus brings cheer to Bangladesh
Times of India, India - 15 hours ago
DHAKA: The news of economist Mohammad Yunus winning the Nobel Peace
prize has brought cheer and joy in Bangladesh with President Iajuddin Ahmed
leading the …

Brace Yourselves post at Shakespeare’s Sister
If it quacks like a duck…… or a PC term by any other name….. I’m sorry
was that supposed to be a rose? My apologies to Shakespeare’s Sister but
I take offense at a post that characterizes anyone who is not diversity
happy with a term like anti-multiculturalism. If it was not intended to be a
polite turn of phrase to substitute anti-multiculturalism for racist, then again
I apologize. Being opposed to unrestrained immigration, uncontrolled
borders and lax national security should not earn one the title racist. Which
is the feeling one gets whenever expressing their preference for anything
other than let everyone come, let everyone do what they want, don’t worry
about a thing.

There is a cost associated with every social change. There is a way to lessen the unpleasant outcomes that can occur. If people would approach diversity as a result rather than the objective it would likely happen naturally and not be met with much opposition. Gradual change for any reason is less disruptive than an expeditious campaign touted to be the right thing to do.

As for Mr. Putnam’s research, who knows? It may make sense, it may not.
How often are results of learned authors’ works refuted by later data or the
competing paper of another equally qualified individual? Your are probably
right about Putnam’s premature announcement and wanting to see the data.
But please, enough with the insults already. Those not fond of unrestrained
immigration are tired of the slams. We have a valid point or points also. Any
one merely wanting immigration control to deny people of any particular
ethnic or racial heritage the ability to come to America is simply wrong. But
it is also wrong ignore the need for controlled immigration. That’s what gives
diversity a bad name, not those of us urging sensible control.

You might notice the following links are from Belgium, Ireland, Australia and
elsewhere. Is the U.S. the only country where such stories are popular?

Stanford Matthews & C. Harris
Tribes in Europe and the Disappearance of Trust
Brussels Journal, Belgium - Oct 12, 2006
… This week Robert Putnam, Harvard professor and author of … told The
Financial Times (“Harvard study paints bleak picture of ethnic diversity”)
that “the …

Harvard study paints bleak picture of ethnic diversity
Financial Times, UK - Oct 8, 2006
A bleak picture of the corrosive effects of ethnic diversity has been revealed
in research by Harvard University’s Robert Putnam, one of the world’s most …

Harvard University’s renowned political scientist Robert Putnam …
FinFacts Ireland, Ireland - Oct 9, 2006
Harvard University’s political scientist Professor Robert Putnam, author of … a
bleak picture of the corrosive effects of ethnic diversity, revealed in …

Harvard prof says diversity not an unqualified good
Hot Air, MD - Oct 10, 2006
Not just any Harvard prof … Robert Putnam, who argued famously in “Bowling
Alone” that Americans … preparing to tie that phenomenon somehow to ethnic
diversity? …

Ethnic diversity ‘breeds mistrust’
Daily Telegraph, Australia - Oct 9, 2006
… The worrying findings about the effects of ethnic diversity were developed by
Robert Putnam, a Harvard University political scientist whose previous research …

More Diversity, Less Civility [John Derbyshire]
National Review Online Blogs, NY - Oct 10, 2006
… Curiously, Harvard University political scientist Robert Putnam has recently
published bleak findings of his research showing how the ethnic diversity passions …

Diverse communities trust less
Washington Times, DC - Oct 9, 2006
A Harvard University political scientist said people in ethnically … Robert Putnam
said his research shows that the … “In the presence of diversity, we hunker down …

Research shows disturbing picture of modern life
MSNBC - Oct 8, 2006
… The Harvard Professor was making a point about “social … The second kind, says
Putnam, can “lead to Bosnia … His diversity research reveals not just that bonding …

Scorsese crime drama “Departed” leads box office

Reuters - Oct 8, 2006

By Dean Goodman. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Martin Scorsese’s first contemporary crime drama in 11 years blew away its rivals at the weekend box office in North America and scored the best opening in the director’s career.

from MoreWhat.com staff:
Good for you Mr. Scorsese! Alice doesn’t live here anymore and the number of things you can count on in your lifetime seem to dwindle as the years pass. But Martin Scorsese is a constant.

The best opening in the director’s career, with a list of more than forty films. It is a tribute to a fine career and a loyal public who appreciates good work.