This piece in The New York Review of Books is worth a look. It’s about how Human Rights Watch criticized Israeli actions in Lebanon, and how a campaign against the organization and its chair have followed. Criticize Israeli policy or actions, and suddenly you’re an Anti-Semite. That defense is getting a little old, if you ask me, but what was interesting was how this response is more notable in America than in Israel itself. In Israel, the IDF took the criticisms constructively, according to HRW. In America? A campaign denouncing the respected organization. (via Dragi on Culturelist)
Month: October 2006
Metropolitician’s Been Cookin’ Lately…
Over at the blog Scribblings of the Metropolitician, Michael’s been ranting a lot lately, and I, for one, appreciate his thoughts on: Korean malenforcement of copyright and intellectual property laws, and, heck, any other kinds of laws when it comes to foreigners. The trade of sex trafficking and Korea: Part 1 and Part 2. Racist practices by two-bit newsmedia in Korea. Somewhere in one of those posts he linked to an excellent photoessay/podcast on the sex trade in Korea, which you should really check out. All of the above are very worthwhile links to follow. Go on, then…
EFF on Bloggers’ Rights
If you’ve never had a look. the EFF has some good info here on bloggers’ rights. Probably doesn’t apply so easily outside America in the legal side, but the thoughts on anonymity are probably reliably workable.
Mr. Pamuk’s Unbuyable…
Nothing like winning a big prize to make all your books suddenly hard to order, huh? Congrats to the guy, though I’ve never read him. Maybe sometime I will… if his books ever become available again…
Have I mentioned my old friend Jack?
While we’re only rarely in touch, I do look forward to the next time we connect, during some visit to Canada sometime. He’s turned out to be an excellent photographer, as the link will show you — his photostream on Flickr is enough to make anyone envious. Lately, it’s trip pics, but usually, it’s all kinds of beautiful pictures from the little islands of wildlife around Toronto and wherever else he wanders. That Jack… he’s a hell of a guy. Reminds me, I should upload some photos to my stream from Charlie’s wedding. It’s just, I keep on planning to …