Dalai Lama ban halts conference
South Africa just canceled a peace conference instead of issuing a visa allowing the Dalai Lama to attend:
The conference was intended to discuss football’s role in fighting racism and xenophobia.‘The convenors have… decided in the spirit of peace to postpone the South African peace conference to ensure it is held under conducive conditions,’ Irvin Khoza, chairman of the South Africa 2010 Organising Committee, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
A government spokesman said on Monday that the Dalai Lama’s visit was not in the country’s best interest as it would distract attention from South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup.
Mr Khoza said the government had ‘persuaded’ the Dalai Lama to postpone his visit until after the football championship.
Archbishop Tutu has branded the government’s decision as ‘disgraceful’ and accused the government of ‘shamelessly succumbing to Chinese pressure’, a sentiment echoed in the local media.
Chinese officials in Pretoria said Beijing had warned against allowing the Dalai Lama into the country, saying it would harm bilateral relations.”
That’s quite disappointing. You’d think South Africa would be particularly eager to give a voice to a disenfranchised group of people.
India’s Tata rolls out world’s cheapest car
A $2,000 car will soon be available in India:
Potential owners of the car — which is just over three metres (10 feet) long and has a top speed of 105 kilometres (65 miles) per hour — can apply between April 9 and 25, Tata managing director Ravi Kant said.A ballot will then select 100,000 people to be the first to get the keys to the vehicle and deliveries will start in early July 2009, he added.
Even affluent Indians are eyeing up the Nano, which has a two-cylinder engine and four-speed manual transmission but no air conditioning, electric windows or power steering, although deluxe versions will be available.
‘This is a value-for-money car,’ said Hasmukh Kakadia, 39, a Mumbai investment analyst.”
I think a slightly upscale product might sell well in the United States.
The Crepes of Wrath
Here’s a highly recommended recipe blog, ingeniously titled The Crepes of Wrath.
Schilling retires
Curt Schilling announced his retirement from baseball today. Here’s a nice slideshow of his time with the Boston Red Sox. Gotta hand it to the guy — the Red Sox went out and got him in 2004 to help them win a World Series for the first time in 83 years. Then, they went out and won the World Series for the first time in 83 years.
Thanks, Curt.
David Caruso: The Secret to His Success
Sling Blog asks the tough questions: Why is David Caruso still working as an actor?
Friendly fire: NYT hits Obama
Lot of liberal voices in the NY Times are getting upset with Obama’s performance. Interesting.
More tea party protests
Lot’s more tea party protests going on this weekend. Sure does seem like a lot of people protesting relentless government spending.
2,300 years later, ‘Alexander-mania’ grips Macedonia
According to the Christian Science Monitor, Alexander the Great is making a comeback in Macedeonia:
“SKOPJE, Macedonia – As part of a stunning new homegrown ideology of history and identity based on Alexander the Great, this capital city’s main square may soon boast a huge new statue of the ancient conqueror.Two years ago, the national airport was renamed after Alexander, infuriating Greece.
In January, despite a recent Greek nixing of Macedonia’s NATO bid over the airport name, the ruling nationalists here changed the name of its main roadway to Alexander of Macedon Highway.
In Macedonia, it is becoming all Alexander the Great, all the time. Ahead of Sunday’s presidential elections, the ruling party’s Alexander ideology is seen as fantastic, even by Balkan standards.”
In case you forgot where Macedonia is, there’s always Google Maps. (Just north of Greece to the east of Italy.)
President Obama Jokes About Being a Bad Bowler: ‘It’s Like the Special Olympics’
So, Barack Obama compared his bowling skills to the “Special Olympics.”
I’m sure later today some organization will issue a press release declaring their outrage.
UPDATE: Obama’s already apologized. My goodness, that was quick.
