DON’T FORGET BURMA NO. 105…
0230 by Jeff Hess
26 February 2008
26 February 2008
TIME POWER: TODAY…
0001 by Jeff HessToday, as I go about my tasks, I’ll think about Selections from One-Hundred-One Time Management Goals:
100. In setting out to achieve my goals, apply William James” four rules for changing habits.
101. In working toward my goals, seek evidence of the efficacy of faith.
25 February 2008
GOOD MORNING MYANMAR…
2030 by Jeff Hess
Remember the news that Russia was sending a military delegation to Myanmar? Today Irrawaddy reports on an infamous military connection between the two countries: of all the nations of the world, according to the Landmine Monitor Report 2007: Toward a Mine-Free World, only Myanmar and Russia used anti-personnel mines in 2007.
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines said there were 232 landmine casualties in Burma in 2006 and 231 in 2005. Among them, at least four non-military persons, including two children, were killed. There were 10,605 landmine survivors in 2006, increasing from 8,864 in the 2005 data.
The organization said Burmese military forces continue to use antipersonnel mines extensively, as they have every year since “Landmine Monitor” began reporting in 1999. Mine use was recorded in Karen, Karenni and Shan states, as well as Tenasserim Division, in 2006 and 2007.
Burma is also one of 13 landmine-producing countries in the world, along with China, Cuba, India, Iran, North Korea, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
Blast mines based on the US M-14 design are being manufactured by Myanmar Defense Products Industries at Ngyaung Chay Dauk, in western Bago Division, according to the report.
These are the weapons that military dictators use against their own people.
Weapons that kill indiscriminately are the least defensible in any nation’s arsenal.
How do you ban or control such weapons?
25 February 2008
MUCKING OUT THE BLOGPILE…
1400 by Jeff Hess
I’m constantly tossing interesting websites into what I call my blogpile. Some of them find their way here in the form of regular posts, but more often than not they languish and get buried deeper in the pile. The end result is that I have to go back and do a bit of shoveling. Today’s item is Drinking songs.
25 February 2008
25 February 2008
FROM THE SANDBOX…
1200 by Jeff Hess
Teflon Don: (Frequent Sandbox contributor Teflon Don* recently returned to Iraq, this time as a photojournalist accredited by Public Multimedia. Proceeds from the sale of high-quality prints of his photographs help support TD’s independent journalism.) I caught up with Bandit troop”s Red platoon on a dusty road within sight of PB Meade. They were…
25 February 2008
25 February 2008
FROM MY DAD… ANIMALS WEEK PART II…
0800 by Jeff Hess
I could never bring myself to forward all the email jokes, cartoons and other Internet comedy that land in my inbox. But then I started posting the ones my dad sends me. Judging from my comments and emails, my dad has become one of my greatest blogging assets. This week he brings you some amazing animal photography: From My Dad.
25 February 2008
GOOD AFTERNOON MYANMAR…
0430 by Jeff HessBlogger Nay Phone Latt was arrested at the end of January. Now 30 days later he remains imprisoned at Insein Prison along with other political prisoners. Other bloggers in Myanmar have gone underground and international support continues to grow, pressuring the generals to free all political prisoners and step on to a true road to democracy.
From Global Voices:
Earlier this month it came out that Latt is formally being charged under article 32 (b) of the Video Act, which brings with it up to six months and/or a fine of approximately 85USD; according to one blogger at Burmese Bloggers Without Borders, Latt”s crime was possession of a recording of a Thee Lay Thee performance, described by the BBWoB blogger as “[something] like comedy show.. making fun of SPDC and bad situations in burma…the video is the banned video in Burma…if anyone is found possessing any censored materials, they can be jailed or fined or both.”
As the generals increasingly seek to close their borders to all sources of information, Burma Sitmone is calling for a return to a 20th century technology to thwart the dictators: radio.
This blogger has posted variety and numerous posts in this web-log. Almost all were telling readers how bad was the Military Junta of Burma, how Burmese people suffers under the Dictatorial regime, and statements of the pro democracy movements and news of ongoing campaign against the Military Junta.
However, this blogger feels that it would be very lucky if these posts are read by one percent of Burmese people staying inside the country. This blogger who is a Burmese, however unable to type in Burmese language fast enough to create a post.So, What are the numbers of my own countrymen received this blogger”s message? It will be very insignificant.
There are wonderful young and energetic Burmese bloggers who have been posting very relevant and interesting opinion in Burmese language. Continue Reading »
25 February 2008
FROM MY CHAPBOOK…
0400 by Jeff Hess
My name is Jeff Hess and I’m a biblioholic. I own hundreds of books. Not valuable books, mostly Science Fiction paperbacks and text books, tomes rescued by the bag from library book sales. A few years ago, in the interest of not burying myself, I began reading more books from the library and taking notes. My electronic chapbook was born.
This is a passage I copied from Midrash and Literature edited by Geoffrey H. Hartman and Sanford Budick.
Anagogic : interpretation of a word, passage, or text (as of Scripture or poetry) that finds beyond the literal, allegorical, and moral senses a fourth and ultimate spiritual or mystical sense- anagogic \9a-n0-8g-jik\ or anagogical \-ji-k0l\ adjective- anagogically \-ji-k(0-)lÃŽ\ adverb [Hebrew: Sod] [165]
25 February 2008
25 February 2008
TIME POWER: TODAY…
0001 by Jeff HessToday, as I go about my tasks, I’ll think about Selections from One-Hundred-One Time Management Goals:
89. Handle papers only once.
91. Clean my desk every afternoon before leaving work.
96. Have subordinates bring me answers instead of problems.
24 February 2008
GOOD MORNING MYANMAR…
2030 by Jeff HessAnna Pagnacco is an Italian photographer who’s photographic series, I Dreamt Of Burma, has captured the attention of bloggers Nyein Chan Yar, Lillian and I’m sure, many others. The images are extraordinary, but there are times I write way too many words here. This is one. Now stop reading and just go see.
24 February 2008
MUCKING OUT THE BLOGPILE…
1400 by Jeff HessI’m constantly tossing interesting websites into what I call my blogpile. Some of them find their way here in the form of regular posts, but more often than not they languish and get buried deeper in the pile. The end result is that I have to go back and do a bit of shoveling. Today’s item is Keep your tax documents organized.
24 February 2008
24 February 2008
FROM THE SANDBOX…
1200 by Jeff HessJP: Here”s a picture of me celebrating Ash Wednesday shortly before going out on mission. The Catholic Priest also blessed all of our Gun Trucks. You can”t ask for much more protection than that when doing Convoy Security. Unless of course, I painted a picture of a unicorn on the side of my Gun Truck. I don”t know anyone who could hurt a unicorn. Especially one…
24 February 2008
FROM MY DAD… ANIMALS WEEK PART II…
0800 by Jeff HessI could never bring myself to forward all the email jokes, cartoons and other Internet comedy that land in my inbox. But then I started posting the ones my dad sends me. Judging from my comments and emails, my dad has become one of my greatest blogging assets. This week he brings you some amazing animal photography: From My Dad.
24 February 2008
24 February 2008
GOOD AFTERNOON MYANMAR…
0430 by Jeff HessThe leaders of China have a vision of the nation fulfilling the goal of becoming the most important superpower in the 21st century. To do that, the Chinese need energy sources far beyond what its coal mines provide; China needs oil. It’s getting a great deal of that from Sudan. And there’s a slight problem there.
From the Daily Nation:
Becoming a major player on the world stage is not for the faint-hearted or the paranoid. For centuries, China kept itself isolated, afraid of contamination from the barbarians.
In recent decades, however, China has struggled not just for acceptance into the international community, but for recognition. First as the spokesperson for the developing world and more recently, as a power in its own right.
But what role exactly does China wish to play on the global stage, a stage that has seen entities like the former-USSR disintegrate and fade away into oblivion as the Cold War drew to an end?
China sees itself filling in a void that yawns wider by the day as both Russia and the European bloc of nations fail to provide a credible countervailing force to America”s hegemony.
But how well prepared is China for the sort of prominent role that super-powers crave? China might well enjoy economic prowess that shatters one record after another, from biggest this to fastest that.
However, respect from the rest of the international community doesn”t come from creating super-multinational firms, having the fastest growth rates, or being the largest consumer of resources and hence the world”s largest polluter. Respect, credibility and acceptance come from a morally-sustainable position that relates to global leadership, social justice, peace and goodwill.
The first real test for China has to be Africa, in particular its handling of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, as well as its handling of the strongmen in Myanmar. China buys a third of Sudan”s oil exports and is a major investor in neighbouring Myanmar.
Trade pragmatism taking precedence over everything else might be good for economic statistics, but it raises questions about a country”s sensitivity to the plight of those who suffer repression in the hands of rogue regimes.
Will China fail the Genocide Olympics test?
24 February 2008
FROM MY CHAPBOOK…
0400 by Jeff HessMy name is Jeff Hess and I’m a biblioholic. I own hundreds of books. Not valuable books, mostly Science Fiction paperbacks and text books, tomes rescued by the bag from library book sales. A few years ago, in the interest of not burying myself, I began reading more books from the library and taking notes. My electronic chapbook was born.
This is a passage I copied from Midrash and Literature edited by Geoffrey H. Hartman and Sanford Budick.
Allusion: A passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication. [33]
