In Today's Guardian, Peter Wilby, the former editor of the new Stateman, sets out the Pacifists' case against WWII in Europe (with which he does not agree btw) by paraphrasing some of the points made by Nicholas Baker in his book "Human Smoke".

The whole point of the exercise is to destroy the last *effective" leg of the Iraqi war supporters who claim that eliminating Saddam Hussein was like eliminating Hitler prior to the Second World War.  

Well, it's not as hard as one might think.

Here is a friendly hand to get you started.

Are you ready to learn your first (simplified) Chinese character?

Well, here it is:

人   means  person

Speech row rocks multi-ethnic Canada
By Henri Astier
BBC News

More than half-a-million Muslims live in Canada
Canada is often thought of as a land of bland consensus and multicultural harmony - the last place where you would expect to see a religious minority up in arms, and journalists accusing the state of gagging freedom of speech.

and to the innocent observer, it seems like a rather neutral account of a difference of opinion between two interested parties.   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7273870.stm

The territory was allowed to keep its capitalist economy, British-style legal system and civil liberties, though critics say media self-censorship is common. But China - like Britain - hasn't allowed Hong Kong people to directly elect their leader and entire legislature.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2007/06/23/4284794-ap.html

German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern Friday about Russian opposition activists having problems in traveling to the site of a planned demonstration in the Volga River city of Samara.

"I'm concerned about some people getting problems in traveling here. I hope they will be given an opportunity to express their opinion," Merkel said at a news conference wrapping up an EU-Russia summit at a resort near Samara following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

One of the Kremlin's biggest detractors, chess great Garry Kasparov, was barred Friday from boarding a flight from Moscow to Samara.

Meanwhile, in Germany:

Earlier this week police launched a series of raids on anti-globalisation campaigners across northern Germany which prompted demonstrations by left-wing protesters on the streets of Hamburg and Berlin.

Police impounded computers and documents during the raids, which were part of two separate probes into anti-globalisation militants

Why are protesters good for them, but bad for us, unless we assume a priori, that they need reforming, and we don't?

from the diaries. -- Jérôme

First, Tony Blair today:

But, while admitting that other aspects of his premiership - such as the decision to join the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 - remained "bitterly controversial", Mr Blair said: "Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right."  

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/the_blair_years/article1771045.ece

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070508/CPINSOLITE/70508017/5406/CPINSOLITE

(in French)

I posted a comment about May Day riots happening in my neighbourhood on well, May Day and mentionned that there had been no word of it on Swiss television.

Later that evening, there were brief stories about the May Day riots in very proper Zurich, but other people noticed a lack of coverage of this story as well.  Please see the following Daily Kos diary:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/5/3/0419/04720