Hi All~
Seems some interesting exchanges have ensued in my absence. I must correct your inferrence, Byron, regarding my 'prod' at NPR as being a "name-calling" "label". On the contrary, I doubt the academics on NPR would be anything but proud of being 'left wing'; a majority of teachers and professors in universities here are openly socialist. (The 'whinging' description may have been the prod that pricked!) Many academics have an irritating habit of declaring how a particular thing (i.e. a political, social, economic or environmental situation) is wrong, without the realistic, practical or empirical knowledge to know how or why (or even if). Lacking this prerequisite, any offers of viable
solutions are conspicuous by their absence. That is not to say they can't be helpful and necessary in pointing out inequities, injustices and other problems overlooked by mainstream media outlets. Remember, I said '
too much' is not good. Steep yourself constantly in hand-wringing 'ain't it awful', 'the sky is falling' stuff, and you will start to see nothing but what is 'wrong', instead of what is
becoming right.
However, when NPR steps out of their helpful 'public service' territory to blatantly ambush and (attempt to) smear a truly Independant truth-teller like Bill O'Reilly, they lose credibility with me. (Shame there's no emoticon for one Vulcan-style raised eyebrow)
Now, apart from that, the 'prod' had a different purpose entirely. If you want to reveal a person's complex, just push the 'button' (use a buzz-word) of their neurosis. Voila! So, the '2 lines' Kush was puzzled about?....not so difficult to recognize the
affect now.
Paula ~ You are right that racism is a double-edged sword. It is used, and abused, by both sides to claim inequity and injustice. (Please tell us what the BNP is about,... and what have they done with St George's flag??) I'm somewhat bemused by your referring to me as "smug". If it is meant to be derogatory I can't see it that way. If unashamed confidence in one's knowledge and abilities, without pretence, is perceived as 'smug'...so be it. If I have not been diplomatic enough or feigned humility, it is simply an aversion to dishonesty.
Tony ~ Good question about the "poetry" here, beats me. You'd have to ask Paula H, who started this thing about Muffins or War, maybe she was trying for 'Poetic Justice'. I tried to make it a War on Muffins (carbs), but that one 'died in the bun'.
Heretic ~ You have been missed! And not just by me either.
Byron ~ Your intimation that British papers owned by "friends of Tony Blair" are not telling the truth, needs serious explication. Unless you have inside knowledge of the administration, management and the motives and intentions of the editors and journalists of those papers, on what do you base such assumptions/suspicions? Since there must be some opposition papers, do you mean that unless
all the papers assert your view, the ones which don't are 'untrustworthy'? Here in the US, the newspapers are overwhelmingly partisan
against Republicans. To the point of telling lies, and smearing any way they can. It became so scandalous in California recently, subscribers to the offending newspapers were cancelling their subscriptions in droves as a protest. The New York Times and LA Times are a bad joke here now.
I Love this country, and its people; it has no problems that cannot be overcome. So long as good people continue to do what they Know to be right, all will be well.
Truth & Light
~Makera
"Let there be Peace" is also a beautiful idea 
] ~
yourself to learn that NPR actually did give it more thorough coverage than I excerpted, for what I mistakenly thought might be of simple interest to you, if you didn't already know ~ just a bit of sharing, y'know, here on the corner. It came quite without value judgements on the humour aspect. Guess you leave your sense of humour on the job, though. [Of course, now that I've seen your blatantly-cavalier response, I see where your own, environmental concerns may quite possibly lie, i.e. Prozac'd out at the bottom o' the lake, lookin' up at the bluegills.]
. 
