b-
You caught that BECAUSE yous so smart!
Is it just me, or does the world seem even crazier… What’s left of normal? What was/is normal? For these definitions, Daniel Webster falls short.
I’m curious if Obama ever changes his underwear ’cause if he is changing them the same way he’s been changing government… Well, lets just say the Southern Pacific railroad probably doesn’t have as much track.
And while hunting around for a smooth quip to b, I came across the wiki for Diogenes of Sinope He’s the dude always wondering around in the daylight with a lit lamp (way, way, way, pre-Al Gore) looking for a human being.

Diogenes of Sinope was exiled from his native city and moved to Athens, where he is said to have become a disciple of Antisthenes, the former pupil of Socrates. Diogenes, a beggar who made his home in the streets of Athens, made a virtue of extreme poverty. He is said to have lived in a large tub, rather than a house, and to have walked through the streets carrying a lamp in the daytime, claiming to be looking for an honest man. He eventually settled in Corinth where he continued to pursue the Cynic ideal of self-sufficiency: a life which was natural and not dependent upon the luxuries of civilization. Believing that virtue was better revealed in action and not theory, his life was a relentless campaign to debunk the social values and institutions of what he saw as a corrupt society.
Diogenes is alleged to have gone to Athens with a slave named Manes who abandoned him shortly thereafter. With characteristic humour, Diogenes dismissed his ill fortune by saying, “If Manes can live without Diogenes, why not Diogenes without Manes?”[8] Diogenes would be consistent in making fun of such a relation of extreme dependency. He would particularly find the master, who could do nothing for himself, contemptibly helpless.
He destroyed the single wooden bowl he possessed on seeing a peasant boy drink from the hollow of his hands.
He once masturbated in the Agora; when rebuked for doing so, he replied, “If only it was as easy to soothe my hunger by rubbing my belly.”
He used to stroll about in full daylight with a lamp; when asked what he was doing, he would answer, “I am just looking for a human being.”
Diogenes looked for a human being but reputedly found nothing but rascals and scoundrels.
Many anecdotes of Diogenes refer to his dog-like behavior, and his praise of a dog’s virtues. It is not known whether Diogenes was insulted with the epithet “doggish” and made a virtue of it, or whether he first took up the dog theme himself. The modern terms cynic and cynical derive from the Greek word kynikos, the adjective form of kyon, meaning dog.[39] Diogenes believed human beings live artificially and hypocritically and would do well to study the dog. Besides performing natural bodily functions in public without unease, a dog will eat anything, and make no fuss about where to sleep. Dogs live in the present without anxiety, and have no use for the pretensions of abstract philosophy. In addition to these virtues, dogs are thought to know instinctively who is friend and who is foe. Unlike human beings who either dupe others or are duped, dogs will give an honest bark at the truth.

Woof!

Posted by: DavidS | May 15 2009 9:25 utc | 3

andrew, why all this saber rattling
did you read the end of your ‘really better’ link?

The continual harping on the Iranian threat stems from domestic Israeli politics and a desire to increase investment in the security realm, but the ramifications of this are dangerous when you analyze expected developments in Iran’s ballistics: It is impossible for Israel to ignore Iran’s capacity to hit it, and Jerusalem must shape a policy that will neutralize that threat.
In another year, or three years from now, when the Iranians possess nuclear weapons, the rules of the strategic game in the region will be completely altered. Israel must reach that moment with a fully formulated and clear policy in hand, enabling it to successfully confront a potential nuclear threat, even when it is likely that the other side has no intention of carrying it out. The key, of course, is deterrence. Only a clear and credible signal to the Iranians, indicating the terrible price they will pay for attempting a nuclear strike against Israel, will prevent them from using their missiles. The Iranians have no logical reason to bring about the total destruction of their big cities, as could happen if Israel uses the means of deterrence at its disposal. Neither the satisfaction of killing Zionist infidels, nor, certainly, the promotion of Palestinian interests would justify that price. Israeli deterrence in the face of an Iranian nuclear threat has a good chance of succeeding precisely because the Iranians have no incentive to deal a mortal blow to Israel.
Therefore, all the declarations about developing the operational capability of IAF aircraft so they can attack the nuclear facilities in Iran, and the empty promises about the ability of the Arrow missile defense system to contend effectively with the Shahab-3, not only do not help bolster Israel’s power of deterrence, but actually undermine the process of building it and making it credible in Iranian eyes.
The time has come to adopt new ways of thinking. No more fiery declarations and empty threats, but rather a carefully weighed policy grounded in sound strategy. Ultimately, in an era of a multi-nuclear Middle East, all sides will have a clear interest to lower tension and not to increase it.

thanks for the #1 link btw ..sweet.

Posted by: annie | May 15 2009 14:03 utc | 5

Annie: I formulate that phrase badly, actually. It’s the fact that those things are published on a widespread newspaper like Haaretz that makes me very perplexed about the whole thing.

Posted by: andrew | May 15 2009 17:23 utc | 7

i totally agree and se your point andrew, it was just that this particular article, once someone reads to the end actually kicks the bomb iran meme in the pants which i found surprising and unexpected.

Posted by: annie | May 15 2009 18:44 utc | 9

@10,
I love how it says ‘printed on recycled paper’ on the bottom.

Posted by: biklett | May 15 2009 19:04 utc | 11