The Guitar

And now for some great guitar solo work. First the short version:



Then the longer version:



Both are great if you like guitar solos.

Obama on Iraq, Gonzales etc.

Here's a good interview by Sen. Barack Obama. We need political, not primarily military solutions in Iraq. I think part of the reason for Gen. Petraeus' (new US commander) recent success in Iraq is his focus on some of the political issues (getting Prime Minister Maliki to meet with Sunnis, for example). Why do we need a culturally sensitive General to be the one coming up with the political solutions? Where are the diplomats and beurocrats?

Maher's Rules

This is a great edition of New Rules.

Rumors of another world

Going back to one of my favorite online talks from one of my favorite authors/speakers. I've read a number of Philip Yancey's books but don't often get to hear him speak. Here he engages a post modern crowd like CS Lewis reached out to atheists.

Obama's AIPAC speech

Palestinian activist, Ali Abunimah gives a fascinating analysis of Barack Obama's recent speech to the America Israel PAC -- fascinating because he has observed Obama for about 10 years in Chicago politics. He talks about Obama's history interacting with Arab American constituents and his ultimate move to support Israel. I think Obama needs to address and explain this history, lest he look like an opportunist playing the political game like everyone else.

Abunimah essay is: "How Barack Obama learned to love Israel".

UPDATE: Apparently Obama's position is a little more nuanced than his earlier speech might indicate. M.J. Rosenberg offers up some commentary.

UPDATE 2: An article in The Jewish Week provides a more extensive background than Abunimah's article. It includes interviews with some of Obama's neighbors and Professor Rashid Khalidi, who hosted a fund raiser for Obama back in the state senate days. (This is going to be a great election season!)

Nigeria 4.0

Just 8 years into her fourth attempt at democracy, it looks like Nigeria has moved forcefully into the internet age, complete with email campaigns, campaign websites, online donations, interactive sessions and you tube ads. I got this email from a candidate for Governor of Lagos:

Dear concerned citizen,

In the eight years ending May 2007, about Six Billion dollars, or two thirds of a trillion Naira (N600,000,000,000) would have been spent by the Lagos State Government.

My name is Jimi Agbaje, visit my website, www.jimiagbaje.com, and find out how I would spend that sort of money. While on the website you can join in our campaign, and personally take the first step to make Lagos Work!

Alternatively join me, at an interactive session on a New Thinking for a New Lagos, at 4.00 pm at The Lagoon, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday, the 4th of March, 2007. Alternatively watch me live on AIT at 4pm local Nigerian television and DSTV satellite television.

Jimi Agbaje

And here is his you tube ad video:

Stop the presses

How is it that despite my effort to strive for high academic excellence, Jenna Bush (we're the same age) is going to be a published author before I am? (OK, technically my Masters thesis was published and there is (was) even a copy on Amazon.com -- but that's not being reported by the AP is it?)

Nasal Irrigation

No this is not a new degree at Texas A & M. Its an increasingly popular way to clean out your sinus and fight the cold. I should get this so I breathe fresher and gross out my friends. I can't watch the model in this demonstration video without laughing:

Dobson goes after Cizik

If you have never heard of Rev. Richard Cizik, Vice President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), you should look him up. At a time when many Evangelicals leaders were marching in lock step with the Republican party on issues of global warming and the Iraq war, it was refreshing to hear him speak for the rest of us. Cizik argues that stewardship of the earth is an important mandate for Christians. Some great Cizik interviews are at NPR's speaking of faith and fresh air programs.

Now James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and others are tired of hearing such a prominent figure in the NAE speak out against global warming. Christianity Today reports: they want him gone. They don't want him being the voice for Evangelicals. I guess they are worried the world will start to think Evangelicals are tree huggers. Here is a comment from a reader of the CT article:

It is a little hypocritical for Dobson and others to raise the alarm that Cizik's views might be construed as the views of all evangelicals. How often have Dobson and Falwell positioned themselves as the spokepersons for evangelical Christians? ... As an evangelical Christian opposed to Bush and concerned about global warming, I'm glad to *finally* hear the voice of someone with whom I can identify!

Well said!

Cooking this week

This week, I treat the guys to Romagna Roast Potatoes. Nothing exciting. I chose it cause it looked simple enough. I wonder why it says "blend in tomatoes and garlic". Should that just be "add" tomatoes and garlic to the potatoes? "Blend in" conjures up images of a blender, which is confusing to a simple bachelor like me.

Nigeria stamps out guinea worm

According to this NPR story, Nigeria is close to stamping out the guinea worm. Guinea worm is a pretty gross disease. (Imagine a 2 ft parasitic worm living in your body, and eventually coming out slowly.) The thought of it always terrified me as a kid though I never had it. The Carter center is to be commended for the significant role it played in this.

Obama on Faith and Politics

This has been around for a while. A great speech on Faith and Politics last year here in DC.