WHERE do you go when you want to know the latest business news, follow commodity prices, keep up with political gossip, find out what others think of a new book, or stay abreast of the latest scientific and technological developments? Today, the answer is obvious: you log on to the internet.
Three centuries ago, the answer was just as easy: you went to a coffee-house. There, for the price of a cup of coffee, you could read the latest pamphlets, catch up on news and gossip, attend scientific lectures, strike business deals, or chat with like-minded people about literature or politics.
A lovely read.
This is the prime example of a gentleman's apartment. Every boy should have a study like Holmes's.
There is one clear course of action. There must be a trial, similar to the Serbian trials.
But that won't happen. The one teensy-weensy problem is that Saddam might start talking. Talking about the US support of his regime, the CIA support, his business dealings, not with Bin Laden, but Cheeny, Bush sr and Rumsfeld et al.
Now, what do you reckon the chances of that happening are? Expect a quick trial and execution in Iraq or a death in custody.
But will this stop the insurgents? No, and few are suggesting it. Indeed it may bolster them. The majority of Iraqis are anti-Saddam and anti-Bush. With Saddam out of the picture thise who want the US out, but no return to Saddam are free to fight.
It is just unbelievable that they would do something guaranteed to inflame Muslim opinion, but diplomacy is something the charmless Rumsfeld and the graceless Armitage feel is of no use to their crusade.
"A senior executive with Britain's biggest drugs company has admitted that most prescription medicines do not work on most people who take them.
Allen Roses, worldwide vice-president of genetics at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), said fewer than half of the patients prescribed some of the most expensive drugs actually derived any benefit from them.
It is an open secret within the drugs industry that most of its products are ineffective in most patients but this is the first time that such a senior drugs boss has gone public.
"The vast majority of drugs - more than 90 per cent - only work in 30 or 50 per cent of the people," Dr Roses said. "I wouldn't say that most drugs don't work. I would say that most drugs work in 30 to 50 per cent of people. Drugs out there on the market work, but they don't work in everybody."
So, this obscenely profitable business makes products that work less than half the time.....
the weblog
my life in the bush of ghosts is a ground breaking 1982 album by david byrne and brian eno, who took the title from a novel by amos tutuola.
this unique recording is a blending of world rhythms and vocal tracks, constructed from radio broadcasts and other esoteric sources, to create something ahead of it's time. the lyrics are here.
background to the weblog, on why it was started and how it was developed.
photographs
www.flickr.com
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archives
archived since november 2000.
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about quarsan
quarsan is a 45 year old from ambleside, in the english lake district national park.
now living on the eastern edge of Brussels with his partner zoe, together with coralie, tatiana and todd.
he works in mountain trail conservation. after 15 years on the lake district fells he left for tanzania to train village groups to repair footpaths ascending the rift valley. he now offers his services through a trail management consultancy.
quarsan's main interests and activities involve travel and mountains and he has climbed in the middle east and africa, including ras dashen in ethiopia and uganda's ruwenzori, the fabled mountains of the moon.
a highlight has been living in the iraqw community of bermi village in tanzania. there's nothing like the rift valley, and there's nothing better than village life.
outside of that, coffee is a major reason for living.
quarsan's sites
quarsan.net : travels and climbs in africa and
the middle east
bermi village : the only
example of an african village writing their own website
sustainable trails : mountain
trail conservation
path repair :
restoring cumbria's mountain trails
other weblogs
abraxas : an interesting and enjoyable blog
from london
i make content : incisive journal
from a london journalist
sleeve notes : some guy, some music,
some photos
enigmatic mermaid : erudite and eccentric
blog of a
brazillian translator
kooky mojo : a fun and lively read
troubled diva : funny, smart and ever so
slighly scandalous read
for no good reason : this guy makes
even leicester interesting
pop up toaster : gorgeous blog with a
healthy interest in beer and gaming
trevor wilker :
a friendly canadian with a taste for photography and english music.
barbara fletcher : lovely and
evocative writing from the shore of lake ontario
stunned.org : from dublin, all the art and
cultural news from a fresh and invigorating blog.
that elvish thang : another friendly canadian,
who writes and climbs mountains
Kiplog : superb blog about life, design and blogs from
chicago
the aardvark speaks : well designed blog from austria with great content
Politics in the Zeros : Intelligent, Political, American.
The Cartoonist : A Treasure Trove of Wonderous Things
Cheese Dog : A clear and enjoyable read
Thinking Aloud : Thoughts and ramblings from an English expat movie geek...
Skinny Legs and All : Punk and Politics from NYC
10 other sites
i ching
brussels paper trams
un lapin
nomad net
arusha times
africa confidential
