Monthly Archives: July 2011

Sobering

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Michaela

I came across this break down of US Federal Taxes. So where does the tax money go ? And more importantly – how do you feel about how the money you contribute to the administration is being spent ? Many … Continue reading →

Posted in The world we live in Now | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Sacred Text

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Michaela

Qur’an, India, 16th century. Chapter 18, al-Kahf (The Cave) verse 110 to Chapter 19,  Maryam (Mary), verse 31 BL Add. MS 18497, ff. 118v–119  

3 Comments

When in Greece…

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Michaela

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Athens Katerina Sokou, 37, a Greek financial journalist at Kathimerini, a daily newspaper, told me this story: A group of German members of the Bavarian Parliament came to Athens shortly after the economic crisis erupted here … Continue reading →

Posted in The world we live in Now | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Gross National Happiness

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Michaela

‘What is the meaning of life? To be happy and useful’ (Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama) By Derek Bok, In a time of tight budgets and financial crisis, politicians look to economic growth as the centrepiece of their domestic policy programmes. Gross … Continue reading →

Posted in The world we live in Now | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Political Theatre

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Michaela

Republicans and Democrats are still debating a deal to lift the US debt ceiling in order to avoid defaulting on its payments. Congress must raise the $14.3 trillion limit on US borrowing by August 2 or the government will run … Continue reading →

Posted in The world we live in Now | Leave a comment

An old friend’s face

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Michaela

Ann Curry of NBC interviews the Dalai Lama 16 Jul 2011

Posted in The world we live in Now | 1 Comment

On the brink

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Michaela

By Nouriel Roubin The eurozone crisis is reaching its climax. Greece is insolvent. Portugal and Ireland have recently seen their bonds downgraded to junk status. Spain could still lose market access as political uncertainty adds to its fiscal and financial woes. … Continue reading →

Posted in The world we live in Now | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Look on my works….

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Michaela

By George Galloway “Look on my works, ye mighty; and despair!” So said the base of the statue of Ozymandias of Egypt – Ramasses the Great, Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt – discovered deep under the desert sands … Continue reading →

Posted in The world we live in Now | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Politics and the Media

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Michaela

2 articles from the recent New Yorker on the US Budget crisis and responsibility & Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids & responsibility Empty Wallets / Early Birds

Posted in Room to Read | Leave a comment

Getting to Crazy

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Michaela

By Paul Krugman There aren’t many positive aspects to the looming possibility of a U.S. debt default. But there has been, I have to admit, an element of comic relief — of the black-humor variety — in the spectacle of … Continue reading →

Posted in The world we live in Now | Tagged , | Leave a comment