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Not only is the Bush administration making nice with the despots in Uzbekistan these days, but even when George Bush was a lowly governor he reached out to Karimov's torturous regime. How do I know?
Ken Lay says so, in a letter to his friend "George".
Read more from Europhobia. Been a while since I've seen that familiar Enron "E". Like, since right around the beginning of the Bush administration.
Out with the old, in with the new. Or something like that.
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Juvenile mute swans out for a Boxing Day swim on the Grand Union Canal.
These ugly ducklings are glancing at their reflections in the water, wondering why they aren't beautiful swans. Well, they should just wait another few months; meanwhile they are learning valuable life lessons.
These are probably mute swan cygnets. No, they are not quiet—they hissed loudly at the dog, who told them she was not interested in chasing them anyway, so why bother?
We were taking our Annual Boxing Day Walk, at Denham Country Park not far from London. The Grand Union Canal and the Misbourne and Colne rivers flow through the park, plus there are several lakes and ponds. A perfect place for swans.
You might want to read the story of The Ugly Duckling. I found it quite uplifting.
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If, as the administration would have had us believe, we are fighting an international war on despotism ("He gassed his own people!") then we really ought to be invading countries like Uzbekistan.
The following memos were published by Craig Murray, former U.K. ambassador to Uzbekistan, after he disagreed with British policy on supporting the U.S. policy toward Uzbekistan:
...The Economist also spoke of "the growing despotism of Mr Karimov" and judged that "the past year has seen a further deterioration of an already grim human rights record". I agree.
Between 7,000 and 10,000 political and religious prisoners are currently detained, many after trials before kangaroo courts with no representation. Terrible torture is commonplace: the EU is currently considering a demarche over the terrible case of two Muslims tortured to death in jail apparently with boiling water. Two leading dissidents, Elena Urlaeva and Larissa Vdovna, were two weeks ago committed to a lunatic asylum, where they are being drugged, for demonstrating on human rights. Opposition political parties remain banned. There is no doubt that September 11 gave the pretext to crack down still harder on dissent under the guise of counter-terrorism.
Instead, we're their greatest ally:
Last year the US gave half a billion dollars in aid to Uzbekistan, about a quarter of it military aid. Bush and Powell repeatedly hail Karimov as a friend and ally. Yet this regime has at least seven thousand prisoners of conscience; it is a one party state without freedom of speech, without freedom of media, without freedom of movement, without freedom of assembly, without freedom of religion. It practices, systematically, the most hideous tortures on thousands. Most of the population live in conditions precisely analogous with medieval serfdom.
The result:
He [the dictator Karimov]– and they [the U.S.] – are in fact creating fundamentalism. When the US gives this much support to a regime that tortures people to death for having a beard or praying five times a day, is it any surprise that Muslims come to hate the West?
For more context, read Phil E's post at The Sharpener.
Other British bloggers are all over the story, here, here, and here. American bloggers are reporting this as well. The mainstream media, however, is once again lagging behind.
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You know how when there's a nasty bug going around you stop inhaling around others, avoid touching surfaces, give snot-nosed babies the Evil Eye? Well, there are a couple of blog memes going around, and I've been treading lightly around the blogosphere hoping I wouldn't be infected. But one of Chris's spawns has coughed on me.
I was hoping I'd at least get the easier of the two, the Meme of Four, but no, I've come down with a bad case of the Meme of Seven. (Ezra was right; why aren't memes interesting these days?) Not doing a meme when tagged would be like breaking a chain letter and setting myself up for a lifetime of disappointment.
So, in order to keep my meme slate clean, here goes:
Seven Things To Do Before I Die: (Well, this is bloody depressing, isn't it?)
• Spoil my grandchildren (but not anytime soon)
• Start a new blog meme
• Publish a blockbuster novel
• See the end of factory farming
• Absorb more knowledge
• Celebrate my 100th birthday
• Decide what I want to be in my next life
Seven Things I Cannot Do:
• Write a song
• Understand networking
• Dance
• Say no
• Play basketball
• Think of more examples in this category
Seven Things That Attract Me To Blogging:
• The memes (It's okay to lie in memes, isn't it?)
• The writing of others
• Writing without an editor (other than my own internal editor, BitchFace)
• Writing with an audience
• The comments
• The pie-fights
• The huge paycheck (What, they're not paying you?!)
Seven Things I Say Most Often:
• "Want to go for a walk?" (said with a lilting voice, while rattling a lead)
• "Don't step in my dirt!" (said with a glare, while holding a broom)
• "George Bush is a twat." (I don't actually say that often, but I thought it would attract interesting googlers. That's the point of this meme, isn't it?)
• "What do you mean, you need 4 dozen cookies this morning?" (muttered to my daughter in an exasperated voice)
• "I heard on BBC Radio 4..." (stated in a know-it-all voice)
• "You're a pretty little cow, yes you are!" (uttered in a baby voice)
• "I'm so sick of these damn memes!" (typed in a pissed off voice)
Seven Books That I Love:
• All the Pretty Horses
• The Rough Guide to England
• The Poisonwood Bible
• One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
• Anything by Susan E. Phillips (except her last book)
• Lamb by Christopher Moore
• Anything by Peter Lefcourt (except the ones I haven't read)
Seven Movies That I Watch Over and Over Again Twice:
(I rarely watch movies more than once.)
• About a Boy
• Sound of Music
• Fight Club (Yes, "Fight Club" and "Sound of Music" can be in the same list.)
• Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special (Technically not a movie, but I watched it twice on the plane and laughed so hard everyone was like "I want to watch what SHE'S watching!")
• new version of Pride and Prejudice (Okay, I've only watched it once, but I WOULD watch it again.)
• Life is Beautiful (in Italian)
• This category sucks. So do lots of movies. (i.e., Lost in Translation)
Seven People I Want To Join In Too:
• The first seven Chatty Kathys who read this. (You know who you are, and so do I, so don't disappoint me, or you'll get no postcards in the mail.)
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Today's must-read interview: Amy Goodman with Jane Goodall, who's written a new book called "Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating."
AMY GOODMAN: You went when you were in your twenties. Talk about the first studies you did, how you spent your time observing the chimpanzees.
JANE GOODALL: The biggest problem when I first got there was that they're very conservative. They'd never seen a white ape before, and as soon as they saw me, they would vanish silently into the forest. And although I was in my dream world and loved being there and waking up every morning with the sounds of the birds and the insects and the calls of the chimpanzees, we only had money for six months, because at that time I had no degree of any sort. It had been extremely difficult for Louis Leakey to get money, you know, this crazy idea of a young untrained girl straight from England going out into the jungle, studying animals known to be stronger than us. But eventually, yes, a wealthy American businessman gave money for six months. But I knew if I didn't see something exciting in those first six months, that would be the end of the study, and I would have let Louis Leakey down.
AMY GOODMAN: And so, what happened?
JANE GOODALL: Fortunately, a breakthrough occurred just before the six-month money ran out, and I will never forget that day going through the wet undergrowth. I was rather cold and miserable.
Read on to discover what she witnessed that's changed our thinking about animals ever since.
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Who says traditional has to be either boring or dead? Breast of Tofu with Herb Cornbread Stuffing is lively enough for the most discerning palate.
Holidays can be tricky times for vegetarians, especially inexperienced ones. There's inevitably pressure from family members to cook something "traditional" that involves dead animals. What's a committed vegan (no, that's not a tautology) to do?
As I mentioned earlier, I've experimented with a variety of large centerpiece substitutions over the years. Lately I've read a few recipes that involve pressing several pounds of tofu and stuffing it, a la Tofurkey, but they all sounded hokey and blah and, well, unfestive.
But I decided to try it anyway this year. Seitan and its main ingredient, gluten, are hard to find here, and as for tempeh, forget it. So, I loaded up my trolley with tofu and decided hokey might at least be fun. And besides, no one was invited for dinner, so if it was blah who cares?
Well, you could have knocked me over with an edamame pod. The result was not only delicious, but sophisticated enough to serve to your most gastronomically discerning guests. Of course, instead of calling it "tofurkey" I suggest the above title.
The recipe made plenty for four people at two sittings, plus enough left over for my husband's lunchbox the next day. It sounds like a lot of tofu, but the expense is still less than anything bearing the name "Butterball". Next time I'll try giving it a more upmarket appearance, by surrounding it with homemade cranberry sauce and garnishing it with a few sizzled sage leaves.
And I'll invite the Queen.
Continue reading "Wednesday Food Blogging: Breast of Tofu with Herb Cornbread Dressing" »
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UPDATE: On August 25, 2007 I visited Sasa Thai again, and they were now serving meat dishes. No longer is it my favorite restaurant.
I inadvertently discovered my new favorite restaurant in London yesterday, when I tried to go to Red Veg, a vegetarian fast-food restaurant I'd read about. They were closed, despite the fact it was after noon on Tuesday, December 27. (Many businesses here are closed, not just on Boxing Day but on Boxing week, the days between Christmas in New Years. Commerce here is not quite as enthusiastic as in the States.)
I considered leaving an inappropriate note, something to the effect that if they'd bother coming to work they might actually build a customer base, but instead I just gave the storefront a good glare and walked away, toward Soho Square. Just beyond, on Greek Street, we noticed welcoming lights at Sasa Thai. Not only were they open, but as we gazed in the window at the loaded buffet a server popped her head out the door and handed me a coupon. I asked if they indeed had vegetarian food, like it said on the window.
"Yes, everything vegetarian." Music to my ears.
I went in, and asked again just to be sure—the buffet looked to be filled with meat-based dishes. But they were all meat-analogs. Curries, stir-frys, pad thai, fried mushrooms (and fried potatoes, for some reason). Even fake crab legs. Four kinds of sauces, each deserving an ode to goodness. Plenty of steamed rice. Friendly service. Pleasant ambiance, with incense faintly flavouring the air. (Better than the dirty mop water smell of the last vegetarian restaurant I was in.)
I was entranced. I filled my plate and went back for seconds. All-you-can-eat, for £5. That's possibly the best deal in London. My daughters enjoyed their food too, and when the younger one joined us the server rushed to pull up another table and chair—unheard of behaviour in London's crowded, attitude-heavy restaurants.
What was I talking about, unenthusiastic commerce? This place knows how to win a loyal customer base. You'll find Sasa Thai in Soho, at 6 Greek Street, just behind Foyles on Charing Cross Lane. If you exit via their side entrance, and go down a little street called Manette, it's just on the corner.
Good books and good food in the same block. Long live commerce!
(From their website, it appears there are two sister restaurants in London, Chi Chi Thai on St. Martin's Lane and in The City, Zen Garden, on Leather Lane. I will check them out as well. Could be I have found three favorite restaurants in London!)
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Has anyone seen Barbara or Jenna Bush lately? Is it possible they've been kidnapped by West Wing-inspired terrorists?
Because their dad sure seems to be doing the bidding of the terrorists:
One wonders if Osama bin Laden didn't win after all. He ruined the America that existed on 9/11. But he had help.
If, back in 2001, anyone had told me that four years after bin Laden's attack our president would admit that he broke U.S. law against domestic spying and ignored the Constitution -- and then expect the American people to congratulate him for it -- I would have presumed the girders of our very Republic had crumbled.
Had anyone said our president would invade a country and kill 30,000 of its people claiming a threat that never, in fact, existed, then admit he would have invaded even if he had known there was no threat -- and expect America to be pleased by this -- I would have thought our nation's sensibilities and honor had been eviscerated.
I suggest we immediately begin wiretapping the phones in the East Wing. No doubt there've been communications between the distraught Bushes and the terrorists holding the twins. Somewhere in the list of demands must be "destroy your infidel constitution and forbid your women from seeking abortions and sexy outerclothing that drives us mad with desire."
Meanwhile, someone should tell George Bush the script has him stepping aside, but only after Cheney resigns. We'll be left with Speaker Dennis Hastert, who bears an uncanny resemblance to John Goodman.
I sincerely hope Osama and his friends are treating the girls all right. No waterboarding, guys. That's not playing fair, even if they do think it's a new form of water sport involving snowboards and mondo waves.
And by next season's opener they should be released unharmed, otherwise the ratings will suffer.
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One day I'll share my Russ Feingold story, but for now I want to share this piece that appeared over the weekend. It demonstrates why Senator Russ Feingold is the best president we could possibly hope for—because he doesn't care:
Political watchers such as University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato point out that while Feingold's recent stands on civil liberties and the Iraq war may please liberal activists, they may well hurt his chances later on with moderate Democrats and conservatives.
The senator had a blunt answer.
"I don't care," he said. "Whatever political considerations I have are absolutely irrelevant to the decisions I make having to do with people's civil liberties and something as weighty as Americans risking their lives overseas. The day that I start think politically about those things is the day I should leave politics."
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When I was home the other week, I did a lot of shopping. Things are cheaper in the States than here, so I took advantage of the exchange rate and picked the malls clean. I was careful to keep all my receipts—all except one, apparently.
I got my daughter a pair of jeans at American Eagle. They fit, but the shop clerk left the anti-theft device on. It says if you remove it yourself, ink will squirt everywhere. If I had the receipt, I would send them back or ask my older daughter to exchange them when she returns to the States. But of course that's the one I lost.
So, are there any shoplifters out there with experience removing the ink-squirting tags? Is there a special tool available and would I have to go into a dodgy part of the city to get it? Or should I convince my daughter to start a new trend by wearing jeans with the cute anti-theft accessory on the waist?
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Dear Santa:
For Christmas this year I'd like Vice President Cheney's impeachment. I know I mentioned socks, and a ring mold, but please, you gotta get me the Articles of Impeachment instead.
The New York Times editorial board explains why.
Sincerely,
KathyF
PS I've been a very good girl.
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Cranberry Orange Cookies with Drippy Orange Icing
It's not Wednesday, but here's some bonus Christmas Eve food blogging.
These used to be my favorite Christmas cookie, ever since my mom brought me some recipes that were in her local paper—the Monroe, Louisiana News-Star. She didn't make them; she liked to bake about as much as I like to change the oil in my car, but I did, and loved them.
This year I decided to veganize them, and the results are fantastic. As I suspected, the loss of an egg or two didn't affect the results at all—many times eggs are included in recipes because of tradition rather than taste or texture. I did use my flax egg substitute: 1 tablespoon of flax whisked with 1/4 cup water, then left to sit for 5 or 10 minutes while the rest of the ingredients are prepared. The cranberries are easily chopped in a food processor—a couple of whizzes and they're done.
So, if you have leftover cranberries or haven't yet made your Christmas cookies, try these. They're really as good as my daughter's photo makes them look. (And thanks to her for helping me out with the photography. What's the use of sending your daughter to the number two photo school in the country if she can't help you with your food pictures?)
Continue reading "Christmas Eve Food Blogging: Cranberry Orange Cookies" »
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King's College Chapel in Cambridge rises above the surrounding spires.
Question: How do you get to Cambridge? Answer: Study very, very hard. Or else take the M11.
We chose the M11 and arrived in less than 2 hours, quite a bit easier than bothering with A-levels and such. We even got to bring the dog, which inevitably puts a different slant on your vacation. You spend a lot of time viewing parks and outdoor things since the colleges still don't allow dogs. Not even in their gardens, which is a shame. They look like very fine gardens, at least from the other side of the River Cam.
There is no university campus; instead the colleges are scattered throughout the town of Cambridge. Started by some Oxford students in 1209 who were running from riots there, the university is made up of 31 separate colleges, the oldest being Peterhouse. (The newest, Robinson, was established by a multi-millionaire in 1977.)
If you have limited time in Cambridge, I suggest spending it at the King's College Chapel, a truly awe-inspiring piece of architecture. Begun by Henry VI, who also built Eton, it wasn't finished until four kings later. Quite a chunk of English history is embedded in the walls here. (The kings were Edward IV, who usurped the throne from the pious Henry and imprisoned him; Richard III, Edward's brother; Henry VII, who beat the snot out of Richard at the Battle of Bosworth; and Henry VIII, who even history-challenged Americans recognize.)
Despite its intricate fan vaulted ceiling (which puzzled the genius Christopher Wren), its dramatic stained glass, and its stunning exterior, King's College Chapel remains a place of calm reflection. Our voices automatically lowered as we entered, our footfalls deliberately silent upon the floors. (No photos were allowed inside, and I found only a few on the web.) At one end of the chapel the Adoration of the Magi, by Reubens, awaits adoration itself. An interpretive exhibition informs visitors of the history and construction of the chapel, an element that increases one's appreciation for the difficulty of the building as well as the turbulent history that halted progress at times.
We missed the choir at Evensong, as it was after term, but their Christmas Eve Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is televised. (If you arrive during term, I'm told Evensong, held at 5:30, is a must-hear experience.)
Other colleges at Cambridge are worth a visit as well, and most accept visitors (hours and fees are posted at the entrances). A walk down King's Parade will expose you to several, and if you'd prefer to view the backs, simply cross the river to The Backs, a green expanse of land bordered by college gardens on one side and busy Queen's Road on the other.
I expected this to be a wonderful place for dogwalking; however, the public strip of land was too narrow to allow a proper run, except for one point, where she ignored the inviting grass and jumped in the dirty River Cam.
A better place for dog lovers and their dogs is Jesus Green. We had many come-to-Jesus-walks during our stay in Cambridge. Fortunately, our B&B was only a five minute walk from Jesus.
A few punters were drifting along the River Cam, which isn't very deep should you fall overboard. The streets were mostly blocked off to traffic. (Though do keep an eye out; adjustable bollards let in certain vehicles and buses.) Keep an eye out, too, for the odd Tudor building and the Round Church (actually the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, modeled after the one in Jerusalem.)
Good food was a little harder to find in Cambridge, though I did notice a smoke-free Italian restaurant I want to try next time. The vegetarian café disappointed, but then I was foolish ordering tacos with "Texas chilli," wasn't I? The fudge next door was an even bigger disappointment; a wallet-sized piece literally emptied my wallet and was crumbly and bland. I won't even discuss the Chinese food, but I should know by now not to order Chinese in Britain either.
How does Cambridge compare to "the other place", known elsewhere as Oxford? It's greener, for one, with great expanses of green areas. A plus for me. Possibly it's the more scientific of the "Oxbridge Unis"; on the outskirts of Cambridge were several modern buildings devoted to scientific research. (I suspect Oxford would challenge that assertion, and I have no wish to debate an Oxford don.)
All in all, the dog prefers Cambridge—forget science, she's all about Jesus these days. I shall be attending Oxford however, in January when term begins. (As a continuing ed student, which is how they make their pin money no doubt.)
I just hope I can take the motorway rather than the study route.
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A shepherd guards his flock on the walls of Ely Cathedral.
East Anglia is known for its farmland, its cathedrals and colleges, but not its cows. There were a few sheep though, beautifully depicted in the stained glass of Ely Cathedral, one of the most impressive of all England's cathedrals.
A close look at the late-Victorian glass revealed a few cows as well as a sweet lamb being rescued by a shepherd, demonstrating the true meaning of "spare the rod".
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No, it was not me who was arrested for reading a list of names at the Cenotaph in London. But it could have been:
A peace campaigner has been convicted under a new law banning unauthorised protests from taking place within half a mile of Westminster.
Maya Anne Evans, 25, a vegan cook from Hastings, was found guilty of breaching Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.
Chicken Yoghurt has the transcript of a delicious interview by John Humphrys of Lord Falconer the other day on BBC Radio 4.
I wonder, if she had been reading a recipe for vegan Tomato Bombs, would she have been arrested?
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So we can attribute the rising dollar to Katrina...the pound has softened due to the UK's rising deficit, thanks partly to insurance losses suffered by insurers of Katrina damage.
New Mexico state senator Dede Feldman has a blog, and she has a pretty good wrap-up of what the "Medicare Wild Rumpus" is costing the state. If you're trying to decide how to handle the multitude of options under the new 2006 Medicare rules, check this out. She has some advice.
Arianna Huffington shares my concerns. About apostrophes, I mean.
10 things you didn't know about Brussels sprouts. (You will want to read this, even if you can't stand them. Especially if you can't stand them.)
A really good article in the LA Times about who really is responsible for taking Christ out of Christmas. I told y'all this a couple of weeks ago, and my post is still getting lots of google hits (but no more hate mail).
Howard Fineman has a prediction for 2006, and it's pretty scary. But we've been through this before, and we came out just fine. So let's use that I-word more often.
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Think again. All the electronic eavesdropping this administration is fond of didn't save us from one of the biggest explosives heists in recent history. (via DFNM)
But you'll be glad to know there's no chance the Brooklyn Bridge will be dismantled by blow torches.
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Did you hear there was a PDB entitled "Vegans Determined to Strike in U.S."? Apparently there was, because the Bush administration has been spying on us vegans:
One F.B.I. document indicates that agents in Indianapolis planned to conduct surveillance as part of a "Vegan Community Project." Another document talks of the Catholic Workers group's "semi-communistic ideology." A third indicates the bureau's interest in determining the location of a protest over llama fur planned by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
I guess our high fibre diets are considered weapons of mass destruction. Yep, we can take out Miami faster than a case of Metamucil. Homeland Security is no doubt on the alert for vegans who travel internationally; we are easy to spot by our vegetarian meal requests.
In fact, there was one on the same row as me when I flew to the U.S. a couple of weeks ago; we both enjoyed the pasta and butter-less rolls. I'd have been scared if I'd known about that memo; he looked clean-cut but was probably carrying dangerous soy explosives in his vinyl shoes.
A few years ago one of my brothers-in-law told me he suspected PETA was behind the foot and mouth disease outbreak. I looked him straight in the eye and said: "I can assure you we had nothing to do with it." He's been scared of me ever since. (Possibly he ratted us out; he does work for the government in a law-enforcement capacity.)
Now would probably not be the time to admit I submitted a few recipes for this book.
This will have to do for Wednesday Food Blogging. I'm wiped out. Too much bad food in Cambridge. Yes, even the vegetarian restaurant there was bad. (I suspect they are working undercover for MI6. Cambridge is a known hotbed of spy activity.)
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Not much time left...the shortest day of the year, almost over, etc. etc. But this has become a tradition here at WDIK?...
7:00 a.m. (on the dot) The dog wakes us up. Sun has not risen yet, but she is having so much fun on her vacation she is determined not to miss a single minute.
10:30 a.m. After leaving the B&B in Cambridge we stumble about the roadways until we find the American Cemetery. I remember there was a time when my heart quickened at the thought that American might could save the world from evil. The sacrifice was tremendous, as seen here, but worth it.
11:00 a.m. We tilt our camera at some windmills we see along the roadside.
11:30 a.m. We go to Ely Cathedral, take a quick look around, determine the outside view is more magnificent than the inside view. Awesome place to spend a pagan holiday, though.
12:30 p.m.We then go to Little America, where no photos are taken due to security reasons. They let me in, even though I am a known vegan.
3:45 p.m.We watch the sun set while driving through East Anglia.
6:00 p.m. Arrive home in total darkness. There are carolers roaming the neighborhood, celebrating the Pagan holiday of Winter Solstice.
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