The world would soon forget?

“The lesson so far is that sanctions alone are not enough,” said Michael Green, an expert on Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “They must be part of a larger strategy, and it’s not clear yet that the United States or the international community is prepared to put that effort into the diplomatic side.”

He added: “There is always the danger that the indignation you see could fade. The junta may have calculated that this is like pulling a scab off. A brief pain, but the world would soon forget.”
...
Already China has said it considers the protests in Myanmar an internal affair, and it insisted on muting the language of a United Nations Security Council resolution last week that “strongly deplores” the crackdown.
Although China has joined international criticism of the violence, a Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing told reporters last week, “Sanctions or pressure will not help to solve the issue in Myanmar.”
India, which has dropped its condemnation of Myanmar in favor of economic competition there with China, sent its strongest signal not through words but through actions. At the height of the protests, India’s oil minister traveled to Myanmar to sign a deal to explore for offshore gas.
Myanmar’s neighbors in Southeast Asia, who have been abandoning their policy of “non-interference” in favor of strong words, issued a statement saying they were repulsed and appalled by the use of violence against demonstrators. But none has made a move to cut back on extensive economic ties with Myanmar.
...
Excerpts from U.N. Envoy Says Myanmar Must Halt Arrests

In other Burma news: Rolls-Royce Pull Out of Burma

“We welcome the fact that Rolls-Royce have finally done the decent thing, and cut their ties with this brutal regime,” said Myo Thein, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “Companies should not be helping to fund a regime that slaughters its own population. We call on companies such as Total Oil, Chevron, Daewoo, Orient Express and Hutchison Whampoa, owners of 3 Mobile, to follow their example.”Rolls-Royce featured on the ‘Dirty List’ of companies directly or indirectly funding the regime in Burma. The full list can be viewed at: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list.php Rolls Royce have now been removed from the list.

Breaking News UPDATE via Edgar: CHOKEPOINT!The Geopolitical Stakes of the Saffron Revolution
Still not sure what to make of this perspective.

Junta Restores Internet Access in Burma

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's (mee-an-MAWRS') military government has restored Internet access and relaxed a nighttime curfew, a partial easing of its crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

In related news...

The Global Internet Freedom Consortium (GIF)- an organisation created to help people in China bypass Government censorship of the Internet, says that Burmese web surfers have discovered its facilities and are using them to circumvent Internet censorship amid the recent crackdown by the Myanmar military junta.

The Global Internet Freedom Consortium was formed in 2006 as an alliance of organisations developing and deploying anti-censorship technologies for Internet users in oppressive regimes. The Consortium says it partners "have contributed significantly to the advancement of information freedom in China."

According to GIF, two of its member companies - UltraReach Internet Corp (UR) and Dynamic Internet Technology received over 120,000 average daily hits from IP addresses originating from Burma in September, a sharp increase from less than 40,000 back in August.

Excerpted from Burmese bloggers and surfers discover anti-censorship web technologies


The National's slow drone song.

Oops! Regroup Trout Rescue Project for Koi's Sake!

"Science happens."

After Possible ‘Oops,’ a Trout Rescue Project Regroups

Werner von Trapp dies!

Werner von Trapp, a member of the family made famous by the legendary Hollywood film The Sound of Music, has died aged 91 in the US.
The film was loosely based on a 1949 book by Mr von Trapp's stepmother Maria and changes some details. He was depicted by the character named Kurt.

Mr von Trapp died on Thursday at his home in Waitsfield, Vermont.

The Sound of Music opened on Broadway in 1959. The Julie Andrews film version in 1965 won five Oscars.

ts eliot fragments shored tattoo stomach

letting go by ~0odarkangelo0

If you're wondering about the title of this post, it is one of the more intriguing search terms that recently brought someone to this blog. Others include:

zaporozhye adoption
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The Freak, Nerd, and Hopeless by ~bianmisplaced

BTW, Zillow Book's aren't nearly so interesting today (although sometimes they're pretty bizarre too):

lovely nudes
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girls in fishnets porn Moth Mask by *artandghosts

sal sulfur mercurius by ~Sena8

Fishnet Fridays update:

ORIGINAL SIN by ~ladyRuin

Speaking of Original Sin, in case you missed FMW's Vomit Series comment, check this out.

Nancy Pelosi's Front Yard

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in a determinedly good mood when she sat down to lunch with reporters yesterday. She entered the room beaming and, over the course of an hour, smiled no fewer than 31 times and got off at least 23 laughs.

But her spirits soured instantly when somebody asked about the anger of the Democratic "base" over her failure to end the war in Iraq.

"Look," she said, the chicken breast on her plate untouched. "I had, for five months, people sitting outside my home, going into my garden in San Francisco, angering neighbors, hanging their clothes from trees, building all kinds of things -- Buddhas? I don't know what they were -- couches, sofas, chairs, permanent living facilities on my front sidewalk."

Unsmilingly, she continued: "If they were poor and they were sleeping on my sidewalk, they would be arrested for loitering, but because they have 'Impeach Bush' across their chest, it's the First Amendment."

Excerpted from Washington Post via Hullabaloo


In other Buddha-related news:
"The government of Myanmar will continue to implement the seven-step roadmap together with the people,” the statement said, referring to the junta’s plan that promises a new constitution and an eventual transition to democratic rule.

I'm not sure if I want to know what exactly their "seven-step roadmap" involves.

Casey Serin has 2759 unique creditors

And the 6 Degrees of Casey Serin to Than Shwe winner is...

Ogg the Caveman!

These were the award-winning entries:

Ogg the Caveman said...
1. Than Shwe's birthday is February 2.
2. Than Shwe was the head of the Burmese government during the crackdown of 2007.
3. Than Shwe became deputy minister of defense in 1985.
4. On Than Shwe's orders, a constitutional convention began on January 9, 1993.
5. Casey Serin has 2759 unique creditors.
October 5, 2007 5:58 PM

Ogg the Caveman said...
Ok, one more:

1. Than Shwe is dictator of Burma.
2. Burma Shave used a distinctive form of advertising involving a series of roadside signs.
3. I've seen the same approach used to advertise rental hot tubs.
4. A hot tub is similar to a jacuzzi.
5. In a recent post on sweet derivative blogger Akubi's porn venture, property flipper Anya appears in a jacuzzi. (NSFW, obviously)
6. Casey Serin is a failed property flipper.
October 6, 2007 5:31 PM

This week's prize is an encore presentation of Marketa the Cavewoman (NSFW) brought to you by Zillow Book™!
Woohoo!