MYANMAR/BURMA — If Myanmar’s faux election in November does take place, I predict that it actual voter turn-out (if the bloggers are able to somehow verify a number) will be a record low, so low that the general’s themselves may just nullify the results themselves and continue business as usual.

From Mizzima:

The Committee Representing the People’s Parliament in Burma announced today it would boycott the junta’s planned elections on November 7.

The National League for Democracy on September 16, 1998 formed the committee comprised of ethnic parties that won seats in the 1990 general election and the NLD, which won more than 80 per cent of available seats. The move came after the Burma’s ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council, failed to answer renewed calls to recognise the results of the 1990 polls and step down.

The boycott resolution was passed in the CRPP meeting last Friday at NLD party vice-chairman Tin Oo’s residence attended by nine of the committee’s members. The resolution urged the public to exercise its right to abstain from voting in the elections as per the provisions of junta’s electoral laws by shunning polling booths on the election date.

“The boycott means the people can use their right not to vote in the election if they feel it will not benefit to the people, country and themselves, in accordance with the electoral laws”, CRPP general secretary Aye Thar Aung told Mizzima.

Could the election come down to the generals siting around the table and responding to a call from Than Shwe for a show of hands?

Make this morning a good morning, Myanmar.

MYANMAR/BURMA — International relations, even between close allies like the United States and Canada — are tricky and rationals and agendas can be buried under layers of history. Myanmar’s leader of the State Peace and Development Council (aka, Myanmar’s military dictators) Than Shwe is traveling to China for talks in advance of the faux election touted for 7 November.

In preparation, Reuters assembled a short list of background information to help readers understand the diplomatic dance between China and Myanmar.

1. In 1949, Burma, as Myanmar was then known, was one of the first countries to recognise the People’s Republic of China. But relations soured in the 1960s following anti-Chinese riots in Rangoon (now called Yangon).

2. Following a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1988, the West imposed broad sanctions on Myanmar. China stepped into the void, providing aid and weapons and ramping up trade. Beijing has continued to provide broad diplomatic support for Myanmar’s military government, though the ruling generals remain wary of their powerful northern neighbour.

3. China has pumped $8.17 billion into Myanmar in the current fiscal year, accounting for two-thirds of its total investment over the past two decades, Myanmar’s state media reported last month. Energy projects formed the bulk of the investment, with $5 billion in hydropower and $2.15 billion in the oil and gas sector of the resource-rich nation. However, analysts say official investment data for Myanmar is notoriously unreliable. Bilateral trade grew by more than one-quarter in 2008 to about $2.63 billion, according to Chinese figures. Chinese firms are also heavily involved in logging in Myanmar.

4. Myanmar gives China access to the Indian Ocean, not only for imports of oil and gas and exports from landlocked southwestern Chinese provinces, but also potentially for military bases or listening posts. Two Chinese warships made a port call in Myanmar last month, the Chinese navy’s first visit to the country. In October, China’s state energy group CNPC started building a crude oil port in Myanmar, part of a pipeline project aimed at cutting out the long detour oil cargoes take through the congested and strategically vulnerable Malacca Strait.

5. The relationship has had rocky patches of late. In August 2009, refugees flooded across into China following fighting on the Myanmar side of the border between rebels and government troops, angering Beijing. Myanmar has since promised to maintain stability on the border.

I am particularly interested in No. 4. As a former U.S. Navy sailor who served in the 7th Fleet during the Cold War, I understand the need for access to deep water ports. Hong Kong is a wonderful commercial harbor, but much less so a military harbor because it suffers from many of the drawbacks our own Pearl Harbor.

An Chinese naval base on the Indian Ocean, able to interdict the crucial Straits of Malacca would not be good for the free world.

Make this morning a good morning, Myanmar.

MYANMAR/BURMA — In an agricultural nation like Myanmar, the farmers and their families toil from can’t see to can’t see growing food for themselves and perhaps a bit more to sell on the market to buy manufactured goods they want but can’t make themselves. Rural people worry much more about the weather than they do the goings on in politics. In Myanmar, that is a problem.

From The Irrawaddy:

While weeding at a farm 20 miles from Meikthila in central Burma, Khin Mar Tin said she has no idea about any political developments in Burma and has zero knowledge about the political parties in the November election.

Khin Mar Tin is one of 30 million eligible voters whose vote could change the political landscape of the country when the first election in 20 years is held on Nov. 7.

A mother of four, she admits she and her friends who live in the area have very little knowledge about recent political developments in the country and no access to journals and newspapers.

“I am not interested in politics and don’t know which party to vote for,” she said, toiling furiously in the 35-degree (95 degrees F) heat.

I have to wonder how many rural voters went to the polls in 1990 to vote for Aung San Suu Kyi only to have their vote nullified by the generals? Farmers may be short on academic scholarship, but they have long memories.

Make this morning a good morning, Myanmar.

From 1730 today until 1830 tomorrow, I will be off-line. There will be no new posts during this time, nor will I be checking email. Go for a walk. Have coffee with a friend. Read a book.

I came across the above video at JonathanFields•Awake@TheWheel. Jonathan’s comment was:

Create an immersive experience that defines your own genre. And, devote yourself to mastery on a level that, along with your unique take, makes you remarkable.

Then share your abilities with the world…

I have two thoughts.

First, only someone who deeply understands guitar could truly appreciate Andy McKee’s playing by just hearing it. If Mckee didn’t have access to YouTube where we could see his playing, he might not have the acclaim he deserves. (This is also a really good argument for live performances, anyone can sound good out of the studio, but performing live, without a net, makes all the difference.)

Second, there was a time when someone became a Master at their craft by producing a Masterpiece that was judged worthy by the other Masters of that craft. You were a master carpenter when your work impressed master carpenters. We’ve lost that.

As a writer I’ve impressed the hell out of people who can’t really write. That is no great feat. I long ago stopped showing my work to people who don’t meet one of two criteria: either they are in a position to cut me a check for my work, or they are writers whose work blows me away.

All else is fluff.

It’s been a busy week in Wally World: the Universe’s source of cheap plastic crap. On The Writing On The Wal — the blog USA Today says should be on its readers’ radar — Jonathan Rees and I continue our work dedicated to drawing back the curtain on the Bentonvile Behemoth’s corporate disinformation and other flackery.

DEADLY WALMART DELI MEATS RECALLED.. Unlike Jonathan, I still eat a bit of meat, not every day, but enough to put me squarely in the omnivore category. If the only place that I could buy meat was Walmart, however, I would be devoted to my vegetables, fruits and nuts in no time. Keep reading…

WALMART NEEDS ANOTHER TAXPAYER BAILOUT… Free-market enthusiasts tend to sputter when asked to explain why, in a free market, their favorite business needs to suck at the public teat. Politics is not about stopping redistribution of wealth, its about deciding where you think the money should go. Keep reading…

LYLE DENNISTON ON DOCKET NO. 10-277… There is no one covering the Supreme Court whose words I trust more than those of Lyle Denniston. His decades-long record as a journalist is untouchable, his clarity of delivery at time enough to make me wonder I bother writing. Keep reading…

WALMART, CARREFOUR, TESCO IN CHINA RACE… The numbers are not all that close, but retailers Walmart, Carrefour and Tesco are in a race to grab as much of the lucrative Chinese retail market. The Communists have stolen a march on the Capitalists, playing catch-up is a race for second place. Keep reading…

WALMART AS THE HOMELESS ALTERNATIVE… Walmart has a long history of promoting its acres of parking lot as free stops for RVers. The policy builds good will and guarantees sales to travellers who need to stock up on all manner of foods, beverages and cheap plastic craps from China. Keep reading…

HIGHER MORALS, COST OR FEAR, YOU PICK… What caused New York state senate democrats to return a check for $15,000 to Walmart. Did someone grow a pair and say no to corporate influence? Was a decision made that the check wasn’t big enough? Or, my choice, was the grief just not worth it? Keep reading…

WALMART WILL DOMINATE NA$CAR… I really haven’t paid attention to stockcar racing since the days of Junior Johnson and Fireball Roberts, but I do understand the attraction and it amazes me that anyone could imagine that Walmart won’t be all over NASCAR in a very big way. Keep reading…

Via The Mother of All Grizzlies…

From 1730 today until 1830 tomorrow, I will be off-line. There will be no new posts during this time, nor will I be checking email. Go for a walk. Have coffee with a friend. Read a book.

[Updatge @ 0818:

Happy — Remembering my camera AND remembering to use it… Sad — Realization that coffee houses in Cleveland need to to go to the Sarah Wilson Jones School of Coffee House Marketing. With the exception of Civilization, traffic in the coffee houses I’ve visited on my Tm Russo In 2010 Coffee House Tour has been all but dead. They have good facilities, good barista and good coffee but, atleast in the mornings, no customers. What’s up with that?]

This morning on the Tim Russo 2010 Coffee House Tour I’ll be drinking espresso at Lucky’s Café at 777 Starkweather. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop in, introduce yourself, mention this blog post and the coffee is on me.

I hope to see you there.

My schedule for the rest of the tour is:

06 August at 7:30 a.m., Moko Coffee at 1505 Euclid Avenue;
9 August at 7:30 a.m., Steve’s Family Restaurant at 4457 Broadview Road;
11 August at 7:30 a.m., Gabe’s Family Restaurant at 2044 Broadview Road;
13 August at 8 a.m., Phoenix Coffee at 1700 East 9th Street;
16 August at 8 a.m., Artefino at 1900 Superior Avenue East;
18 August at 8 a.m., Phoenix Coffee at 1300 West 9th Street;
20 August at 8 a.m., Civilization Coffee House at West 11th Street and Kenilworth Avenue;
23 August at 8 a.m., Loop Coffee House at 2180 West 11th Street;
24 August at 7:30 a.m., Shipley’s Coffee House at 3664 E. 65th;
25 August at 8 a.m., The Coffee House At University Circle at 11300 Juniper Road;
26 August at 9 a.m., Algebra Tea House at 2136 Murray Hill Road; and finally
27 August at 8 a.m., Lucky’s Café at 777 Starkweather.

I won’t be hard to find, I’ll be the blogger with the bright yellow Why Vote Russo For County Council sign on the back of his laptop screen.

And the very special bit was that after I closed up my laptop and stepped outside I saw all the wonderful sunflowers planted in the outdoor section of Lucky’s; truly a special part of Tremont.

More photos after the jump… Continue Reading »

How Ralph got here…

Previously…

Personally? I’m on the side of Team Evil.

Via Mano Singham…

[Update @ 0911:

Sad — Algebra was closed and had no sign saying at what time it would open… Happy — Presti’s Bakery was open…

Sad — Presti’s has no wifi… Happy, Presti’s had a large table of older Italian gentleman enjoying their morning coffee and pastry who excitedly began talking about Russo, Russo, Russo the moment I stepped in door…

Sad — I could only allow myself to buy one pastry when I wanted to eat the whole case… Happy –One of the Italian gentleman had spoken with Tim and remembered with good humor Tim’s “not related to Frank,” line.]

This morning on the Tim Russo 2010 Coffee House Tour I’ll be drinking espresso at Algebra Tea House at 2136 Murray Hill Road Presti’s Bakery, 12101 Mayfield Road in Little Italy. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop in, introduce yourself, mention this blog post and the coffee is on me.

I hope to see you there.

My schedule for the rest of the tour is:

06 August at 7:30 a.m., Moko Coffee at 1505 Euclid Avenue;
9 August at 7:30 a.m., Steve’s Family Restaurant at 4457 Broadview Road;
11 August at 7:30 a.m., Gabe’s Family Restaurant at 2044 Broadview Road;
13 August at 8 a.m., Phoenix Coffee at 1700 East 9th Street;
16 August at 8 a.m., Artefino at 1900 Superior Avenue East;
18 August at 8 a.m., Phoenix Coffee at 1300 West 9th Street;
20 August at 8 a.m., Civilization Coffee House at West 11th Street and Kenilworth Avenue;
23 August at 8 a.m., Loop Coffee House at 2180 West 11th Street;
24 August at 7:30 a.m., Shipley’s Coffee House at 3664 E. 65th;
25 August at 8 a.m., The Coffee House At University Circle at 11300 Juniper Road;
26 August at 9 a.m., Algebra Tea House at 2136 Murray Hill Road; and finally
27 August at 8 a.m., Lucky’s Café at 777 Starkweather.

I won’t be hard to find, I’ll be the blogger with the bright yellow Why Vote Russo For County Council sign on the back of his laptop screen.

0627: 11:30-12:30pm The Inaugural The Pulse of Pepper Pike Live-Chat!

0617: We had a great planning/training session…

It’s been a busy week in Wally World: the Universe’s source of cheap plastic crap. On The Writing On The Wal — the blog USA Today says should be on its readers’ radar — Jonathan Rees and I continue our work dedicated to drawing back the curtain on the Bentonvile Behemoth’s corporate disinformation and other flackery.

DEBORAH SHANK: 1955-2010… Deborah Shank has died. According to the Southeast Missourian, Shank died of natural causes. Jim Shank said he was grateful for the support his family received throughout the years. “I want to thank all of the friends that came forward and helped.” Keep reading…

THE WILDERNESS IS HALLOWED GROUND TOO… People get all out of joint over a house of worship opening in Manhattan, but not enough get pissed over a Walmart next to a Civil War battlefield. 3,000 and religion v. 30,000 and shopping. Our priorities are so screwed up.
Keep reading…

THE POWER OF YARD SIGNS… I’m presently part of a local election campaign supporting Tim Russo in Cuyahoga County Council District Seven and yard signs are part of the battle. Putting them up and then replacing them when opponents steal them is all part of the political game. Keep reading…

THE NOT-A-WALMART-SHOPPER CREDO… While reading Zen Habits I followed a link to mnmlist blog where I found articulated a particular peeve of mine: that we are not consumers and that if we think of ourselves as consumers the corporations have won. All those people at Target? So not consumers. Keep reading…

WEIRD WALMART HAPPENINGS IN CHINA… OK, so maybe not weird, but definitely worthy of head scratching. Chinese workers are loosing fingers and hand working at foot pedal-powered equipment and a group of students and scholars is demanding that Walmart fix the problem. Huh? Keep reading…

HA! HA! FOOLED YOU…! Back in July while I was at my writer’s retreat I needed a bowl to put popcorn in. The only place to go was to the local Walmart in Spruce Pines where I bought the bowl pictured above for $1. When I washed it the first time I made an amazing discovery. Keep reading…

ANOTHER ANGLE ON RUSSIAN WALMARTS… My coverage of Walmart in Russia is perhaps the most noise about nothing. I first wrote about a Walmart invasion way back in January 2007, it has been one long bit of Macbeth’s sound and fury. Now we have a ménage à trois with Walmart, X5 and Kopeika. Keep reading…

UPDATE: CONSUMER VS. PEOPLE CITIZEN… Normally if I have an update for a story, I simply add it to the post, but last Friday I wrote about what I labeled the Not-A-Walmart-Shopper Credo and this morning I found a similar piece written by my friend Mano Singham.
Keep reading…

SETTING UP A WALMART WIN IN DUKES… While I, and others here, maintain a tight focus on Dukes v. Walmart, the case will almost certainly go before the Chief Justice Roberts’ version of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the players are positioning themselves for that final showdown. Keep reading…

DANG… THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG… To hell with appeals and district courts. Walmart need to squash the Dukes bug as quickly as it can lest it actually be held responsible for its alleged reprehensible behavior in a court of law. No, Walmart believes in going right to the Supremes. Keep reading…