Day August 9, 2008

Pipelineistan destabilizes

Image from Asia Times in 2005 who has useful background on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that supplies the US, EU, and Israel. The pipeline was bombed in Turkey just a few days ago. The PKK, a Kurdish separatist organization, has claimed…

War in South Ossetia

Georgia declares state of war yet calls for cease-fire. Is this due to muddled reports from the fog of war or someone bit off more than they can chew? By all accounts, Georgia started it by shelling South Ossetia. But…

Southwest water wars

Asymptotic Life has the details on the latest battles in the water wars. State against state. City against country. Town against town. It’s the wild west all over again.

Panama Esmeralda Gesha Auction Lots 2008

Sweet Maria’s has an ultra-scarce super-quality Panama – for the eye-popping price of $125 a pound for green coffee beans (for home roasters.) In fairness, it must be said that most of their excellent quality beans are $5-7 a pound!