Jezero

Strange as it can seem to some, Martians don't speak English, and English is not the official language of Mars. So, when International Astronomical Union named the crater bearing traces of an ancient lake after the Bosnian town of Jezero (meaning "lake" in many Slavic languages), it is decent to try and pronounce it in a way somewhat resembling the original. Doing otherwise is parochial.

So, dear Americans, try saying YEZ-ə-roh  ("y" as in "you", more or less, and no traces of "oo" at the end).

For those who are not IPA-challenged, it is  /ˈjɛzəɹo/ - 'y' in 'yes', 'e' in 'dress', 'z' in 'zoom', 'er' in 'letter', 'o' in 'code', approximately. But just switching that first consonant from "jazz" to "yes" will do.

BTW, Neretva delta that used to feed the Martian lake billions of years ago is named after a river also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, flowing briefly through Croatia before emptying into a lush, fertile delta and then Adriatic.

Incidentally, one of the hosts of NASA webcast of the Perseverance (nee Mars 2020) landing is named Marina Jurica. That last name is almost certainly from somewhere in former Yugoslavia (it is pronounced "'Yoo-ri-tsa", to use "English respelling" - stress on the first syllable, short vowels), so she should know the correct pronunciation. The fact she did not use it means that NASA official policy is to pretend that English is the only language in the world, indeed in the Solar system, if not the Universe.

Some would call this "American exceptionalism", Again, I call it parochialism, and not only Americans are guilty of it.

It could have been worse, but...

 A very good YouTube video on Capitol riots attempting a farcical coup d'état in efforts to install Agent Orange as benevolent dictator for life or something got me thinking. Nothing good will come out of this. Well, Biden is a great improvement over the clown preceding him, as his first weeks in office show, but one of the results will be (are, actually) more of surveillance state and less freedom of expression and other personal freedoms.

There is no good authoritarianism. Beware of this!

Food, Oil and Words

Mr. George Galloway, a rogue British ex-Labour PM, testified before US House Committee on Unameric... oops, no, this was Senate sub-committee, on his alleged role in scams around Iraq oil for food program. Well, the guy simply destroyed poor clueless senators (you see, no use of lobbyist-prepared statements in a real debate). Excerpts, CNN comment, BBC comment and full video.

The guy is probably generally not blameless, but this is a gem, if only for entertainment value of its brilliant rhetoric.

Yes, 'Daily Mirror', sadly, ...

... 59 million people really can be so dumb! (Go here, look for Nov 4 2004 at the bottom if it fell off the page.) It's not so simple, of course, and it did help that Karl Rove is clearly a genius, but still....

So, it is over now, and no post can change anything (as if anybody reads this), but I will nevertheless post the list of Dubya's accomplishments that I got (via multiple forwards) from one of Democrats' "flying lawyers". Some on the items are slightly tongue-in-cheek, some might not even be completely true, and some, most frighteningly, will be considered real accomplishments by those 59 million. But at least they won't be able to say in four years that somebody else screwed them...

Anyway, here it goes:

• I attacked and took over 2 countries.
• I spent the U.S. surplus and bankrupted the US Treasury.
• I shattered the record for the biggest annual deficit in history (not easy!).
• I set an economic record for the most personal bankruptcies filed in a 12 month period.
• I set all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the stock market.
• I am the first president in decades to execute a federal prisoner.
• In my first year in office I set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president. (Tough to beat dad's, but I did).
• After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, I presided over the worst security failure in US history.
• I set the record for most campaign fund raising trips by any president in US history.
• In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their jobs.
• I cut unemployment benefits for more out-of-work Americans than any other president in US history.
• I set the all-time record for most real estate foreclosures in a 12-month period.
• I appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in US history.
• I set the record for the fewest press conferences of any president, since the advent of TV.
• I signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than any other US president in history.
• I presided over the biggest energy crises in US history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.
• I cut health care benefits for war veterans.
• I set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind.
• I dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.
• I've made my presidency the most secretive and unaccountable of any in US history.
• Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. (The poorest multimillionaire, Condoleezza Rice, has a Chevron oil tanker named after her.)
• I am the first president in US history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously struggle against bankruptcy.
• I presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud in any market in any country in the history of the world.
• I am the first president in US history to order a US attack AND military occupation of a sovereign nation, and I did so against the will of the United Nations and the vast majority of the international community.
• I have created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States, called the "Bureau of Homeland Security"(only one letter away from BS).
• I set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any other president in US history (Ronnie was tough to beat,but I did it!!).
• I am the first president in US history to compel the United Nations remove the US from the Human Rights Commission.
• I am the first president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the Elections Monitoring Board.
• I removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.
• I rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant. I withdrew from the World Court of Law.
• I refused to allow inspectors access to US prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.
• I am the first president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors access during the 2002 US elections.
• I am the all-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.
• The biggest lifetime contributor to my campaign, who is also one of my best friends, presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).
• I spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.
• I am the first US president to establish a secret shadow government.
• I took the world's sympathy for the US after 9/11, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).
• I am the first US president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.
• I changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.
• I set the all-time record for the number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling their huge investments in corporations bidding for gov't contracts.
• I have removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.
• I entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.
• RECORDS AND REFERENCES:
• I have at least one conviction for drunk driving in Maine (Texas driving record has been erased and is not available).
• I was AWOL from the National Guard and deserted the military during time of war.
• I refuse to take a drug test or even answer any questions about drug use.
• All records of my tenure as governor of Texas have been spirited away to my fathers library, sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
• All records of any SEC investigations into my insider trading or bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
• All minutes of meetings of any public corporation for which I served on the board are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
• Any records or minutes from meetings I (or my VP) attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public review.

(Update from 2020's: we thought we saw it all. And then came Agent Orange...)

The Incompetent or the Incoherent?

That's The Economist's cover story title. OK, the incompetent is easy; but I was a bit surprised at the magazine labeling Kerry incoherent.

Perhaps is has something to do with a world according to a conservative talk-radio host featured on CNN:

There are not many liberal talk-radio hosts. They are not interesting. They see everything in shades of gray. We see the world black and white, as all conservatives tend to do.

In other words, a talk show host must be an opinionated moron, because his audience is. And, apparently, so should a presidential candidate, at least American one. Sad.

Bin Laden Jumps Into Campaign

The new Bin Laden's tape appeared some three days before American presidendial elections. Bin Laden look almost academical, sitting at the lectern, "clean shaved, as far as these folks get", as Walter Cronkite put it at CNN. Naturally, Bin Laden attcked Bush. Also naturally, this helped Dubya (although just slightly, judging by polls). Again, in paraphrased Cronkite's words, "this is as if Karl Rove got him to reappear". One can draw one of two conclusions:

1) Bush is actually better for Bin Laden that Kerry. OK, no surprises there, we knew that.

2) Now, the other possibility is too terrible to contemplate, because it would mean that the most radical conspiracy theorists were right. I refuse to even think about it.

Dr. Hebrang, Everything is Forgiven

I read another day an article (I lost the link) about more and more US veterans not having health insurance. The article also complained that those who are covered through VA enjoy less than stellar level of care. An VA official retorted along these lines:

Veterans insured through VA enjoy approximately same level of service as general population on a HMO plan: for example, they rarely wait for a primary care physician appointment for more that 30 days.

I felt that systematic destruction of Croatian health care system done during last decade by our homegrown right-wing morons put as at something like 189. place among world nations. However, there seems to be long way to go to catch the most powerful country in the world. Dr. Hebrang, everything is forgiven, you weren't so effective.

War's a Bitch!

Some American reservists are discovering that war is, generally speaking, dangerous, and that military discipline on the frontline is not always a pleasant thing. Perhaps their parents, friends and relatives will have that in mind before being too gung-ho about going to the next war. (See, for example, here, or Google for 'Iraq mutiny' or something like that - it will be all over the Web.)

Supreme Revenge

As you probably know, a country cannot be a member of Council of Europe (not to be confused with European Council) if it practices capital punishment; the organization is meant only for relatively civilized nations. (Admidetly, savages such as USA (see further) are sometimes granted observer status.)

Curently in the USA there are 73 people on 'death row' who commited their crimes when under 18 years old. 'The Boston Globe' has an article on Supreme Court's recent deliberations on constitutiality of death penatlies for minors (who are deemed not mature enough to have a beer or consent to sex). According to the article, one of the Justices, "Anthony Kennedy, appeared to be skeptical about banning death sentences for 16- and 17-year-olds, citing ''chilling" examples of gruesome murders committed by 17-year-olds." Obviously, the Justice (and not only he, alas) does not comprehend the difference between justice, penalty and Old Testamen-style revenge.

Deliberations were witnessed by Chinese Chief Justice. He was pleased to anounce that the People's Republic has renounced this barbaric practice (Somalia did that some time ago), leaving the USA the last country in the world to institutionally kill people for crimes they commited as children (they gave up on retarded criminals two years ago).

Let me also remind you that more than 100 death row inmates were recently exonerated by DNA tests. If you are USA citizen due to vote soon, please also remember how your half-wit extremely poor excuse for President gloated describing how a female Texan awaiting lethal injection begged for mercy, which he, as a Governor, naturally denied. He found it very funny. (Speaking of injections, AFAIK a physician has some role in conducting death penalty; have they forgotten their Oath of Hippocrates?)

The Worst Mexican President Ever

Rafael Barajas (El Fisgón) writes:

The typical Mexican political boss has an inclination toward violence and cruelty; he despises legality and intellectual activity, has a personal history of alcoholism and dissipation and lies systematically. Sound familiar?

He goes on to note how in this age of globalization one of truly global-impact processes, that of American presidential elections, is, regretably, not globalized.

I kind of feel similar: I am affraid I will be thoroughly affected by the result of what passes for elections in the US of A. That's why you will probably find several more posts here on the topic geographically over an ocean, but potentially almost as important for everyone as our own elections.

Who Gets Hit on the Head

'Forbes' has an article on steroids being more harmful than useful in treating head injuries. While mildly interesting as kind of medical trivia I like to read about, what makes the article appearing in the blog is this:

In general, Roberts said, "there is little clinical research in brain injuries. Most treatments for brain injuries are unproven. They may be useless or harmful as well."
Roberts contended there is a lack of interest in head injury research because "the people who suffer these injuries tend to be poor." Many of the injuries are caused by person-to-person violence, he said, and "there is a strong relationship between pedestrian injuries and poverty. Poor people are the ones who walk around, and they are the ones most likely to by hit by an automobile."

In other words, better to spend research money on something important, like liposuction.

Living in Harmony with Nature

Can somebody please explain to me why don't Americans build proper houses, at least in hurricane-prone areas? I mean, I understand Japanese houses made of bamboo sticks and paper: nothing heavy to fall on one's head when the next earthquake decides to make face of the earth wart-free. But that is appropriate. This Florida stuff is anything but.

I am watching on CNN some poor soul boarding up his windows for the fourth time in six weeks. Hasn't it occurred to him to install solid hinged blinds like those used in the Mediterranean? Does his roof have to be made of light shingle or sheet aluminum? How about flat concrete, or (again Mediterranean-style) ceramic tiles or slate embedded in hard mortar?

People hit by a hurricane (or snowstorm or freezing rain, for that matter) are likely to be without power and telephone for days, sometimes weeks. Is putting power and telecom cables underground (as is done everywhere in Europe, for example, except sometimes for 110kV+ transmission lines) so far from reason (and so expensive, compared to recurrent repairs and cost to consumers)? Perhaps consumers should start requiring service level agreements from their utilities (without 'act of God' clauses)...

(Update: more on this here. In short, where we have regular strong katabatic winds, we build houses as below:)

Breaking news

I read on CNN teletext, as one of about ten top news from the world, about several American students punished for installing in their on-campus apartment a 'stripper-pole' and holding a dance competition among their (clothed) female colleagues. Somehow, I dont think there were only nine more important things happening in the world at the moment. Or did CNN publish this as an illustration of the state of citizen rights in the USA (in which case it would be important, but very old news)?

Inervention

Sickening images of hurricane survivors in Haiti fighting for food and water reminded me that USA does not tend to intervene in situations like this quite as easily as when a little regime change is called for. Then again, considering the track record (say, in Somalia), this is perhaps as well....

Real Stuff

I saw another day on one satelite Travel channel or another an ad for something called "RealTV". It goes like this:
In a dirty alley two policemen, hunkered behind a squad car, are exchanging fire with a young 'bag guy'. The guy runs out of ammunition, reloads, wounds one of cops, and then the third policeman appears with a machine gun and cuts the 'bad guy' down. The twist is that the machine gun is a broom or something, sidearms are fingers, and people go "pow, pow, ratatata, ka-pow" at each other. After the "battle" is finished, a voice-over says: "It is better when it's real, isn't it?" over the cut to quick succession of scenes of cars crashing, shootouts filmed from a chopper, bungee jumps with the cord too long... You get the idea.

My late friend Darko used to call this kind of programs the most morbid pornography. Sickening.

Imagine this insider trading

From Slate:

"Just a day after two Democratic senators reported the existence of the Policy Analysis Market, the Pentagon pulled the plug on it. The PAM was intended to be a kind of turmoil exchange. Investors would place bets on events in the Middle East occurring by a certain time—say, a biochemical attack on Israel before June 2004—and collect real money if they happened."

The only predictive power markets have by themselves (if any at all) is that of self fulfilling prophecy. Imagine "investors" on PAM trying to "influence" events they have bet on by subtle persuasion of campaign cotributions and old boys networks (a'la "reconstruction" of Iraq). Absolutely scary!

Family Values

I recently found this article on Bush administration health information policy that is (policy, not article) either formulated by utter morons or intended to facilitate spread of AIDS and other STDs, teenage pregnancies and abortions. While this is something to be expected by Dubya and his handlers, the source of the article is surprising: CONSCIENCE, A Newsjournal of Catholic Opinion. I would certainly be glad to find similar open-minded publication by Croatian Catholics, but I am not holding my breath....

Is It Vietnam Yet?

Although I stole this title from a cartoon by Slate's political cartoonist Daryl Cagle, there is nothing to laugh about. GWII is transforming from a three-day cakewalk to another Vietnam, one bridge at a time (an article by Mark Franchetti of The Times; not for faint of heart or stomach). Everybody except Cheney/Wolfowitz/Perle cabal and their imbecile puppet expected (or at least feared) that, of course, but there is little satisfaction in 'I told you so' at the price like this.

If I happened to be religious, I would say 'God help us all!'.

A Presidential Candidate I Could Vote For

I have often read posts by Americans rejecting UN right to influence USA policy, since 'they did not elect them [UN]'. A friend of mine turned the argument upside down: if a country pretends to be a global power or 'influence', the whole world should have a say in choosing its leadership.

Well, should I be given such a right to vote for American president, Dennis Kucinich, Democratic member of Congress from Ohio, is a candidate I would vote for. His presidency would offer hope for internally strong and cohesive America, not the one stumbling from crisis to crisis and covering them up by bullying everybody else, America more respected and less resented, more cooperated with and less plotted against. There is much more to building a great nation than likes of Mr. Wolfowitz can imagine, and Rep. Kucinich looks as if he might have what it takes.

Since I don't have a say in it, I can only hope our American friends will see past hollow propaganda of best politicians money can buy and finally vote for a guy who seems to genuinly have their collective interest in mind. Besides, his last name sounds as if his familly might have roots on these shores :-)

I will not miss the opportunity to turn your attention to another fine publication, the one where I found the article on Mr. Kucinich.

Some Thoughts on Prospect of Gulf War II (not mine)

One I did not quite expect:
John le Carré: The United States of America has gone mad

This one is a bit more expected.