That is, it doesn’t actually care about the well-being of the Palestinian people. After all, in a region of intense historical conflict along sect and ethnicity, why would a Persian, Shiite Iran care about an Arab, predominantly Sunni Palestine? The only possible reason is for utilitarian purposes, as feigning concern for Palestinian nationhood establishes credibility among Muslims. Still, it would not be enough motivation for Iran to make a nuclear bomb (as there are plenty of existing... Read Full Story

I was at a lunch and was told about all the exceptions to China’s one-child policy. Given the absence of a strong social welfare system since the reforms, most Chinese consider themselves lucky if they can have another child to act as a provider in their old age. Apparently: - If you are from the country, you may have two kids. This applies if your wife or mother is from the country as well. - If you belong to an ethnic minority, you may have two kids. The former didn’t make sense... Read Full Story

1. You would think, with 115-100 male to female ratio ie. a looming demographic and social crisis, that the Chinese authorities are providing every safe outlet possible for their men to release their sexual frustrations. Not so - pornography is heavily censored. Yes, I checked. 2. Who said the Chinese weren’t entreprenurial? I was in E-City, the electronics mega-center in Beijing, and let me tell you: walk in, and a salesperson from every booth in the store swarms you. Perfectly competi... Read Full Story

Like my colleague Luke Savage, I am disappointed that the Harper Government not too long ago barred George Galloway from entering Canada. I say this not because I share Galloway’s views (they are reprehensible and misguided) or find him to be an admirable person (he is a pathetic and disgusting human being), but because I believe in the right to free speech and movement. Yes, there are limits to both - I endorse restrictions on incitements to violence and persons with criminal records... Read Full Story

A great read. But professional sports will never behave like the free market. Back to your point about arrogance and sports leagues: Please tell me you’re following the current officiating debacle. The two most-watched regular-season games (both Celtics-Lakers games) were ruined by officials. Game 7 of a classic Boston-Chicago series was ruined by officials. The Mavs’ season was ruined by officials. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to flagrant fouls and how they ... Read Full Story

Megan McArdle: Yet while the stimulus package will provide some modest boost to aggregate demand, it in no way addresses the central problems the Obama administration faces. The Medicare and Social Security systems are about to start draining the budget, rather than contributing to it. The “stress tests” are starting to tell us what we already knew: Large parts of the banking sector need more capital, which won’t be easy to raise in the current economic environment. The rece... Read Full Story

There are two ways to grade Obama. You can use the media’s metrics and essentially assign all the weight to one issue: the recession. Or, you can evaluate his presidency holistically, and look at the long-term consequences of his policies.  If we use the media’s metrics, then Obama’s performance has been nothing short of heroic. He is hailed as courageous because he can produce spending bills of enormous proportions really quickly. The media stands in awe (and shock) at his ... Read Full Story

Jim Cramer was prophetic. But he was prophetic in a doomed, tragic way. Like Bruce Willis in Twleve Monkeys, fruitlessly trying to warn the present of the future he has seen. Then Brad Pitt’s character - ie. David X. Li - unleashes a radical virus/risk formula and we are all doomed. And then Bruce Willis’s character dies trying to save us ie. Jim Cramer becomes Jon Stewart’s sacrificial lamb. ShareThis Read Full Story

“You know, I wish someone would just come out and say ‘Jon Stewart is a pompous jerk’”. - Tucker Carlson. Jon Stewart is a pompous jerk. But more to the point, Jon Stewart is a coward. He is a coward because he relishes in asking tough questions and sanctimoniously lecturing his guests, but when they dare disagree with him he hides behind humor and brushes away their points. It’s the old routine, “You suck, but don’t you dare make a legitimate counte... Read Full Story

Admittedly Obama is already facing much criticism for his handling of current affairs, but I think one irritating aspect of his presidency needs to be pointed out. U of T celebrity prof Mark Kingwell writes in the Walrus: And yet you don’t buy that really, do you, even if you do think you’re the right answer for right now? That idea of the transcendental telescope, the possession of the ultimate truth. That was not the command you claimed. You were not a philosopher king, even if some people... Read Full Story