Over There

Watched the premiere episode of Over There on Wednesday. Still with me on Saturday. Not often does a set of characters fully grab me in the first hour of a new series.

Last summer - Rescue Me. This summer - Over There. Makes me wish I caught on to The Shield when it started.

More Good People

Supporters of Islam stress message of peace at rally against terrorism. Pointed to by Instapundit who points out that...

...if these people had blown something up, they'd be getting more press. Which suggests that if the press wants to help eliminate terrorism, it should adjust its priorities.

(via Jeff)

Real American Heroes

My favorite honoree (mp3), from a list compiled by Anheuser-Busch. (Linkage via Doc)

Doing Something

Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing."

Malaysian premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has recently declared 10 strategies to spur economic growth of his nation at the national and global levels. That's to be expected for one of the economic tigers of Southeast Asia. What isn't usually expected is a particular piece of his plan. According to Islam Online...

Badawi, chairman of the world's biggest grouping of Islamic nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, called on Muslims to prevent "militant groups" from hijacking the name of Islam to advance their violent ideology.

"The image of Islam in the eyes of the international community has been blackened since September 11," said Abdullah, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"We realize that Islam and its teachings can be used by certain groups, not only in Malaysia but also overseas, to advance their narrow agenda," he asserted.

"What we regret most is that every time, their actions bring destruction, pain and instability to human beings everywhere, including to Muslims who are innocent."

Islam is a major topic at this annual assembly of the UMNO, which promotes a moderate "Islam Hadhari" that emphasizes economic and scientific development.

"We are responsible for ensuring that the culture of extremism and violent acts in the name of Islam does not happen in Malaysia," Abdullah said.

"We are responsible for protecting Malays and the Islamic faith from becoming a means for individuals who want to advance in their narrow agenda."

Here's a national leader of a significant number of Muslim citizens willing to stand up and speak out against those who would hijack that religion. Joining a slow swell of moderate clerics and others, this is where a solution has to start - from within the larger body from which the infection has started. Now only if a few more of the leaders in the middle east would join him, despite the potential for terrible response.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi may be a politician, and his motives may be influenced heavily by economic interest, but he is sounding like one of Burke's "good men" that are starting to do something. It's past time for others to join him.

Meltdown

The Sequel to one of my favorite animated films is coming.

Dinnerbuzz - Social Guide to Dinner and Drinks

Check out a new RSS feeding site for feeding...Dinnerbuzz - Social Guide to Dinner and Drinks. Sign in and add your favorite eateries, or steer us away from mistakes you've encountered. (via Jeff at Buzzmachine)

Calling All China Hands

If there are any readers out there familiar with or living in China, I'm curious to know whether an itinerary of Beijing - Pingyao (old town) - Chengdu (Pandas) - Leshan (Big Buddha) or Lijiang (but probably too far out of the way) - and a wind down in Hong Kong would be feasible in about 14-16 days next March.

Already been to Beijing once (in 1996), as well as to Shanghai, Suzhou, Zuangzhou, Xian, and Guilin, and actually consider Hong Kong a home away from home having been there 4/5 times since 96. The wife is not too enthusiastic about mountain destinations that involve cable cars, which might also preclude Lijiang, otherwise Wutan or even better, Wulingyuan National Park (which seems like China's version of Yosemite) might have made my list.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Something new to worry about...

Unhealthy showers? -- If it ain't one thing...

The Brave Combo's philosophy - "Forget how to worry. Enjoy your fears. Cancel life insurance. (Disappear)" - is growing in appeal.

Happy Fourth!

There's also other traditional good eats for the 4th, beyond hot dogs.

[Noticed later: Strange juxtaposition of images against the previous post. But there's nothing wrong with celebrating independence as long as we don't forget our interdependence.]

Every Three Seconds

Every Three Seconds --

The Declaration of Interdependence -- We're all in this together.

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Don't Let Them Tell You It Doesn't Make a Difference (Update) -- Didn't think I'd get caught up in the Live 8 thing on TV to the extent that I did 20 years ago. But I seem to have been grabbed by it. Sir Bob just showed a picture from the original Live Aid show -- a picture of a starving, apparently dying, little girl. He then introduced a lovely young woman, who through the aid started back then, managed to survive, to get educated, and more. That woman was the little girl in the picture.

Not a dry eye in the house.

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The MTV/VH-1 Nannyism (Another Update)-- Watchin' JayZ and Linkin Park. Again, surprised at how much I'm enjoying some of these artists I don't usually pay attention to. However, MTV and VH-1 are dropping out way too much language. Annoying. Basic cable is as ballless as network in succumbing to the new nannyism protecting us from words. As if these "obscenities" compare to the obscenity of extreme poverty. [Later: I guess it's OK if you're an aging icon (like Pink Floyd) to sing about "that goody good bullshit" without being subject to an audio dropout.]

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By the Way... If you've got HBO, look for a repeat of their recently broadcast movie The Girl in the Cafe. It starts out as one of the best romantic comedies I've seen, and morphs seamlessly into a message movie regarding the G8 and the crimes of compromise without breaking down. Excellent flick. (Another movie related in subject matter is Beyond Borders, in heavy rotation on Showtime, with Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen.)

The One Campaign and Live 8