Day December 30, 2005

Hawaii

1) Friday morning, today, we go flying in a private plane, down the Hana Highway, then to the Big Island to view, among other things, lave flowing from a crater, and out of a cliff into the ocean. I should…

The fast rise and steep fall of Jack Abramoff

This lengthy WaPo article details Abramoff’s life of fixing and sleaze quite admirably. A few tidbits: The nonprofit Capital Athletic Foundation, for example, allowed him to schmooze with Washington’s movers and shakers at charity affairs. The foundation was ostensibly created…

IMF approves loan for Iraq:

Let the oil drilling begin The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $685 million loan for Iraq on December 24. Now the country’s war torn economy will be fully integrated into the global economy—indefinitely. The reconstruction of Iraq will soon…

India’s water supplies

Are we to decide the importance of issues by asking how fashionable or glamorous they are? Or by asking how seriously they affect how many? – Nelson Mandela. This two-part article explains in depth the problem of poor water supply…