Neurosis Nation!

Neurosis nation -- where everybody acts like Monk.

Take a look at this little geographical/psychological survey of (supposedly) the most neurotic states in the US. I didn't look at the methodology, though! Still, the map of results says that my state is definitely neurotic, and I believe it! Is yours?

Snarky comment: I now expect the government to launch a new federal program of free shrinks for everybody.

(Well, actually, one of the department Nerd Lords a while back was actually pushing all of us grad students to seek counseling. Really? He said this at a meeting, and, needless to say, we all started backing away slowly...)

Cool Video of the Day: Coming To America, 1820-2007

Take a look at this neat video! My family is one of the little yellow dots during the 1960s. (Hmmm, who thought of using yellow dots for Asian immigration? I'm OFFENDED! *giggle*)



Immigration to the US, 1820-2007 v2 from Ian S on Vimeo.

A Kind Word from Down Under

I'm so used to hearing hateful anti-American rants that when someone from a foreign country says something nice about my own country, I'm pleasantly surprised. Take a look at this bit of Australian appreciation.

It is indeed a wonderful thing for the US to have its first black president. No African-American child need ever fear there is any limit to what they can achieve. Whatever you think of Obama's policies and capacity to govern well -- and I have my doubts -- his election is a powerful symbol of America's inclusiveness and opportunity. Which other big, rich, predominantly white society has elected a member of a racial minority to be its head of government? Not Australia.

So as we salute Obama, let's salute America as well.

The left liberal caricature of America was always nonsense. The militarism of American society is vastly overstated, just as its profound willingness to make sacrifice for other people's freedom is under-appreciated.

Thanks, mate!

RELATED POST: Brit Stephen Fry looks at the US of A.

One Briton Looks at America

(Link via Tigerhawk.) This is a charming little piece by Stephen Fry -- and so different from the usual sneering, condescending anti-American screeds.

Here is a blurb:

I have often felt a hot flare of shame inside me when I listen to my fellow Britons casually jeering at the perceived depth of American ignorance, American crassness, American isolationism, American materialism, American lack of irony and American vulgarity. Aside from the sheer rudeness of such open and unapologetic mockery, it seems to me to reveal very little about America and a great deal about the rather feeble need of some Britons to feel superior. All right, they seem to be saying, we no longer have an Empire, power, prestige or respect in the world, but we do have ‘taste’ and ’subtlety’ and ‘broad general knowledge’, unlike those poor Yanks.

What silly, self-deluding rubbish! What dreadfully small-minded stupidity! Such Britons hug themselves with the thought that they are more cosmopolitan and sophisticated than Americans because they think they know more about geography and world culture, as if firstly being cosmopolitan and sophisticated can be scored in a quiz and as if secondly (and much more importantly) being cosmopolitan and sophisticated is in any way desirable or admirable to begin with. Sophistication is not a moral quality, nor is it a criterion by which one would choose one’s friends. Why do we like people? Because they are knowledgeable, cosmopolitan and sophisticated? No, because they are charming, kind, considerate, exciting to be with, amusing … there is a long list, but knowing what the capital of Kazakhstan is will not be on it.

. . . There is one phrase I probably heard more than any other on my travels: Only in America!If you were to hear a Briton say ‘Tch! only in Britain, eh?’ it would probably refer to something that was either predictable, miserable, oppressive, dull, bureaucratic, queuey, damp, spoil-sporty or incompetent - or a mixture of all of those. ‘Only in America!’ on the other hand, always refers to something shocking, amazing, eccentric, wild, weird or unpredictable. Americans are constantly being surprised by their own country. Britons are constantly having their worst fears confirmed about theirs. This seems to be one of the major differences between us.

Taiwan: White House Opposes Bill to End Arms Freeze

Here's the follow-up to last week's post:

The administration of US President George W. Bush said it “strongly opposes” a bill approved by the US House of Representatives last week aimed at prodding the administration into ending its freeze on arms sales to Taiwan, saying the bill would impose unconstitutional requirements on the executive branch and harm the president’s foreign policy-making authority.

In letters to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman sent on Tuesday, the departments of state and justice criticized the bill’s provisions requiring the administration to give regular detailed briefings to Congress on its plans for arms sales to Taiwan and any discussions with Taiwan officials. The letters were sent the same day the House approved the bill by a voice vote without objections.

Meanwhile, prospects that the sales could get through the necessary congressional notification process this year appeared to die on Friday, which was to have been the final day of the two-year 110th Congress’ term, with congressional sources saying the administration had yet to begin the first steps in the process, which must precede the formal notification.

Of course, as I did say previously, this bill is really symbolic and had virtually no chance of actual success as a bill. But the point remains: it's a reminder, a jab, and a critique of the current stalling on arms to Taiwan, and I think it was necessary as a message.

In a "through-the-looking-glass" sort of twist, the KMT and Ma say they are resolved to acquire defensive arms from the US.

Is this a sign of the Apocalypse? I'm tempted to say yes! I mean, really, do the KMT and I actually -- for once -- declare that we actually want the same thing? OMG! But, as long as Taiwan gets its full complement of missiles, submarines, helicopters, etc. and gets them while they may still be of use, I can live with the weirdness.

Taiwan: New Resolution in US Congress to End Arms Freeze (Updated with a Rant)

Via Taipei Times and Michael Turton is the latest news. (Xie-xie, Congressman Tancredo and everyone else who was part of this!) The resolution is mainly symbolic, but still, it is something.

Previous posts about freezing arms to Taiwan here and here.

I'm too tired and busy to post extensively about Taiwan's defensive situation and its ramifications, so I leave it up to you to do your homework. You can *insert MM rant here.*

Here's probably the quote of the day as quoted in the Times piece: "Obviously, the White House does not understand the Taiwan Relations Act." -- Representative David Scott (D-GA).

I also leave you with this blurb via Turton's post:

The Formosan Association for Public Affairs applauds introduction of this resolution and urges Congress to act on it before adjournment. FAPA President Bob Yang, Ph.D. stated: "The US Administration's stalling on the arms sales to Taiwan is both bad strategy and a direct violation of the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances: delaying the arms sales is playing into China's hands, which wants the sales stopped altogether, so Taiwan has increasingly less leverage in its negotiations with China."

Yang adds: "To those who have worked hard and sacrificed to help make Taiwan a free and democratic country, the American hesitations to move forward with these sales are undermining US credibility as a proponent of democracy in East Asia."

Well, DUH! Besides, somewhere in Beijing, the CCP is smiling.

PS: A thought occurred to me. Perhaps it's unfair (even very unfair) for me to make this comparison, but I'm tired and angry and headachy and therefore feeling reckless. (Is this usually when I write the most interesting posts, I wonder? Or when I make my stupidest mistakes? Both?)

Let's talk about a tale of two arms freezes, shall we? After the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, the EU slapped an arms embargo on China: no selling weapons to Beijing. I'll even opine that no matter what China-apologists say, these arms are mainly de facto offensive arms: who, seriously now, is going to be assaulting China militarily so that it needs mountains of strictly defensive arms? It hasn't even had any reason to uncork its current arsenal in any meaningful defensive way: if memory serves, the Chinese had been busy using its firepower on dissident students and, more recently, on Tibetans.

Now here's the other arms freeze. The Untied States, under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, has certain obligations to the defense of Taiwan. These have included sales of defensive armaments to Taiwan, and this isn't new. Hell, if one party in the cross-Strait situation needs actual and meaningful defenses, it's Taiwan. Which location has 1000+ missiles constantly aimed at it? By a nation that threatens violence? that has actually used violence on its own people in a spectacular fashion in 1989 and is still censoring and imprisoning dissidents even now? So here is the upshot: a fresh set of arms to Taiwan has been approved, but the actual transaction has been frozen. Critics are stating that this looks like wavering on the commitment to the TRA and Taiwan or, even worse, currying favor with Beijing. Meanwhile, we're all wasting time, and time is something Taiwan doesn't have as Beijing keeps spending more and more on its own military budget.

So look at the weird juxtaposition of two arms freezes: the EU's to China and the current de facto American one to Taiwan. One of these freezes makes sense. The other does NOT.

Note: please do not hassle me about previous internal Taiwanese political wrangling between KMT and DPP over the military budget. I *know.* I know and I've spent plenty of time slamming the internal dissension. This time, though, I'm slamming the US's wishy-washy stalling. It looks bad. It *IS* bad. It ultimately weakens the democratic elements involved and emboldens the autocrats. I don't buy the arguments that the stalling is prudent statecraft that somehow mollifies Beijing and/or defuses the tensions in the Taiwan Strait. (Hey, if you want me to buy that, are you going to throw the Golden Gate Bridge in too? Pfffft.)

OK. I guess this is now officially a Rant. I said I wasn't going to rant. I guess I lied. Maybe I should go into politics or diplomacy.

Upcoming: US-Taiwan Defense Conference

The dates are Sept. 28-30 for the next US-Taiwan defense conference. Here's a glimpse at what's on tap in terms of speakers and sessions:

Confirmed U.S. speakers include Paul Wolfowitz, former U.S. deputy secretary of defense, now chairman, U.S.-Taiwan Business Council; Randy Schriver, Armitage International; Mark Hall, director, Information Assurance Policy & Strategy, U.S. Department of Defense; Capt. John Figuerres, chief, Northeast Asia Policy Division, Strategic Planning & Policy Directorate, U.S. Pacific Command; and John Anderson, chief, Technical Section, American Institute in Taiwan (the de facto U.S. Embassy).

Nongovernmental Taiwan speakers will include Fu S. Mei, director, Taiwan Security Analysis Center; Alexander Huang, professor of strategic studies and director of American studies at Tamkang University; Lin Chen-wei, director, Department of International Affairs, of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party; and Michael Tsai, former minister of national defense, now honorary deputy chairman, Institute for Taiwan Defense and Strategic Studies.

Session topics this year include long-range planning for Taiwan's future military needs, military modernization and the drive toward an all-professional force, and indigenous production and industrial cooperation.

Breakout session topics include the implications of the weaponization of space and China's space program, as well as Taiwan's current and future space programs; network and information security challenges and cyber-war preparedness from both a U.S. and a Taiwan perspective; and the implications the U.S. presidential election could have for Taiwan.

What's In A Name? -- Georgia the US State and Georgia the Country

In case you were wondering why the American state and now-beleaguered country have the same name, here's the explanation! Kind of cool, actually. Did you know that Georgians (from the nation) don't actually call the place "Georgia"? Who knew?

Also, FYI, for the actual usage of the name "Georgia" in both cases, you can blame the Brits.

Oh, one thing more: as McCain just said, we are all Georgians. Hm, that didn't clarify matters much -- at least not on the linguistic front.

UPDATE: Since Georgia the state is in the American South, I found this really amusing: In the CIA World Factbook entry for Georgia the nation, its size is described as "slightly smaller than South Carolina."

In a Generation, US Minorities Will Form Majority?

Does this new demographic projection mean that the race-baiters and minority-grievance merchants will eventually be out of a job? A girl can hope.

Back to the Moon: Buzz Aldrin on Lunar Landings, the Chinese, and the Americans

Buzz Aldrin wants the US to get back to the moon -- before the Chinese do.

May I remind you of this old satire?

US Versus UK on Airline Taxes

Call in the lawyers? Interesting.

Take a look: the proposed UK increase in airline taxes on UK-to-US flights seems rather excessive to me.

Ministers are planning to sharply increase the amount of money raised from airline taxes in a move that will net an extra £520 million annually. Airlines - already struggling to deal with record fuel prices - calculate that the tax per person on a flight to America or other long-haul destinations will rise from £40 to about £100 from next year. The levy will be passed on to passengers.

That's a LOT. And I'm not liking the endless stream of enviro-pious news and measures coming out of the UK. What's going on over there?

Oh, I'm just LOVING this bit from the 6-page letter of complaint sent by the US Embassy to the British government:

"The Treasury's proposal, although cast as an environmental measure, appears in reality to constitute nothing more than a device for generating additional revenue from the airline community."

Another instance of possible green-tinged overreach? Quelle surprise.

Africa, the US, and China

Interesting piece here for you to read.

Blurb here:

As things stand, the United States, with its emphasis on good government, democracy and rights has positioned itself to be the friend of African peoples, while China positions itself as a friend of African governments.

Interesting indeed.

It's a little odd how the media hasn't been covering Bush's visit to Africa very well -- or talking much at all about his policies in Africa either that have been beneficial.

Must rush off to the library -- sorry for the lapse in blogging!

US Olympic Athletes Will Pack Their Own Lunches in Beijing

This may be rude, but it's one way to make sure that nobody ends contaminated food . . . The US Olympic team now says that it will take its own food to Beijing this summer.

The discourtesy is overridden, I think, by the endless reports of unsafe Chinese food products. Heck, I don't blame the athletes one bit. In fact, I will also suggest that maybe they should consider wearing surgical masks when competing outside in Beijing's deplorably bad air pollution.