Tiananmen Massacre Map

Tiananmen Mothers has created a map showing the location of death for 176 victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. While Catholicgauze hopes these Olympics open the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the world so freedoms may rush in, the Communist Party members who are responsible for the massacre should be punished. What better way for the PRC so show its globalized ways than justice?

Heat Burst

At 4:15 am on August 3rd Sioux Falls, South Dakota was experiencing a summer night with temperatures around seventy degrees Fahrenheit (about twenty-one degrees Celsius). Thirty minutes later it was one hundred one degrees Fahrenheit (thirty eight degrees Celsius). Those unfortuente enough to be outside during the night oven reported strong hot winds that knocked down power lines and trees. South Dakotans knew what happened when they heard the news. A heat burst occured.

A heat burst is not fully understood but what it is believed to be caused by air from higher parts of the atmosphere being forced down to Earth. They are extremely rare and most cases in the United States are found in the interior middle.

Ukraine and Russia Fight over Europe versus Eurasia

Ukraine and Russia recently celebrated the Christianization of the 1020th year anniversary of the Kievan Rus, the kingdom which both Russia and Ukraine claim common lineage to. The anniversary was attended by first among equals Patriarch of Constantinople and the Russian Orthodox Patriarch among others. Rather than it be the odd yet only happens once 1,020 year anniversary of a baptism, the party became a front on the battle between Ukraine and Europe versus Russia and Eurasia.

TDAXP and others have covered the anniversary events but a short recap first. First, the president of Ukraine refused to hug the Russian Patriarch like he did Bartholomew I of Constantinople. Then Russian Patriarch Alexius II announced his belief that the Ukraine Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarch and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church are illegitimate while only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarch is valid. The party later ended and everyone went home miffed.

This incident is the latest in a long running battle between Russia and Ukraine over the fate of the former Soviet Republic so closely tied to the Motherland. The self-fighting former Orange Alliance of mostly ethnic Ukrainians favors European Union and NATO integration while the ethnic Russians and other groups in the eastern half favor somesort of alliance/union with Russia.

The first major public battle was the 200 election of Viktor Yushchenko as president of Ukraine. Yuschenko was poisoned by the Russians and had the election stolean with his lost to the pro-Russia candidate. International outcry allowed a revote and Yuschenko's victory. In 2007, Russia's state-owned oil company out off Ukraine when the Ukrainians announced intent to join NATO. Then during the NATO conference, Russia stirred up Russians in the Crimea to demand more independence. Ukraine decided to fight back on this account by telling Russia to start moving its fleet out of the Crimea so NATO can one day move in.

Russia has always seen itself apart kind of like the English. Geographical distance from the center of Europe, strong cultural influence by non-Europeans, and being the standard bearer of Orthodoxy for 500 years has created a unique identity. Add on to this that while European countries kept the colonies influence outside the homeland, Russia just absorbed more tribal and Muslim territory into Russia proper. The result is an odd mish-mash of Eastern Rome meets the Khans where strong man tactics carries the day a la Belarus. Ukraine on the other hand wishes to be part of a European system of liberal rights and freedoms. Where the buzz words are "cooperation" and "alliances."

Ukraine is a front in the Europe versus Eurasia war. Other places like Georgia and Estonia are battlegrounds also. The European alliance is not united though. Countries like Germany play realpolitik and see appeasing Russia as best for everyone. Time will tell us a victor, for human rights sake let us hope its a European Ukraine.

Europe's Roma and Europe at a Crossroads

The integration of Europe along with its open borders was seen as a step towards European progress. Intellectuals and most people believed that there would be little to no problems with like minded Europeans of similar cultures moving among the various countries in the pact.

The Europeans, both leaders and regular citizens, failed to fully realize the cultural give-and-take necessary when they overlooked the Roma (Gypsies). Roma form the largest stateless minority in Europe. Many Roma are in the process or have already fully integrated into the popular culture of their respective nations but some continue to live the nomadic and sometimes beggar lifestyle. The latter group keeps itself seperate from mainstream European culture.

The end of border control within parts of the European Union has allowed many of the latter group to enter Western Europe. Europeans do not know what to do with the latter group. Some proposals are reasonable while others come straight out of the 1930s. Denmark sought to put Roma kids in special classes that focus on cultural integration but the move was declared illegal, Finland has threatened to take children away from Roma who make the kids beg, and Italy has fingerprint enforcement of Roma. With the Jews mostly gone, either killed during World War II or left for Israel, Europe is not handling its minority issue well.

The problem is that even progressive Europe cannot deal with a culture so foreign to it. Similar problems exist with radical Muslims who use Europe's freedom but do not share its classical liberal ideals.

The cultural conflict in an open society serves as a warning that culture must be dealt with even today. Those who propose other open border pacts like a North American Union can point to the economic benefits for all, but they also must realize that there will be so-far unsolved trouble when different cultural groups come into contact.

National Geographic Music Store

National Geographic is in a long running civil war between those who see it as an educational foundation and those who think it is a business. When I was there I favored, and still do, the educational side. However, once in a while the pro-business side comes up with a good idea.

One of those good ideas is Nat Geo Music. Nat Geo Music is an online store like iTunes but it caters to music around the world. One can browse the music selection by continent (though there seems to be issues with getting the right results) or by the much better way of genre. There are plenty of genres to select from including Ethiopian pop, Persian classical, Israeli folk, Flamenco, and much much more.

A sixty second preview is available for music as is a short description of the artist. All songs are ninety-nine cents. There even is code, below, to embed album information in a blog. Finally, there is no extra software to download. Now, go virtually travel the world of music.

Islamic-light Ruling Party in Turkey Survives its Court Day, Turkey Ponders What Next

The ruling, Islamic-light Justice and Development Party (AKP) has survived a court challenge that sought to ban the party and forbid its leaders, including the prime minister, from politics for five years. The party was nearly banned as six judges voted to ban it while seven needed to for it to be outlawed.

The AKP has been controversial since it won a 2006 election for Turkey's leadership. The party has sought to ease restrictions on display of Islam in public and even allowed headscarves to be worn on state college campuses until the Constitutional Court reinstated the ban.

The AKP's main competitor is the Republican People's Party (CHP). The CHP is nominally socialist but in reality is a military-backed, secular, non-evil fascist personality cult of Mustafa Ataturk.

Both parties favor European Union integration while the AKP is seen as more business friendly and "open minded" on a variety of issues. During the court case the AKP showed its political cunning by charging 86 military and CHP members of coup plotting.

Now that the case is over the AKP can focus on leading while being wary of futher court cases or coups, the court sent a clear warning by limiting party funding. Markets were relieved at the news and Turkey is going through the best two days of its stock market in a long time. Europe is also relieved at derailing of the prospect of a "judical coup." The AKP will probably placate the CHP by allowing it to remain in control of the nomination process for army generals. The CHP will draw lines in the sand; however, like protecting relations with Israel or preventing any further openly pro-Islamic moves.

Turkey has always between East and West. While sometimes that has benefited it in cultural and politics, today it is caught between secular vs. religious, military vs. civilian, pro-West and Islamist.

Green and Red of Mayo

The song "Green and Red of Mayo" is preformed by the Saw Doctors. The song describes in beauty a county in Ireland and the longing people have had for it. The lyrics are below and an unofficial music video is above. After you listen to song, scroll down for a discussion on the meaning and place.

Oh the Green and Red of Mayo
I can see it still
It's soft and craggy bog lands
It's tall majestic hills
Where the ocean kisses Ireland
And the waves caress its shore
Oh the feeling it came over me
To stay forever more
Forever more

From its rolling coastal waters
I can see Croagh Patrick's peak
Where one Sunday every Summer
The pilgrims climb the reek
Where Saint Patrick in his solitude
Looked down across Clew Bay
And with a ringing of his bell
Called the faithful there to pray
There to pray

Oh take me to Clare Island
The home of Gráinne Mhaol
Its waters harbour fishes
From the herring to the whale
And now I must depart it
And reality is plain
May the time not pass so slowly
'fore I set sail again
Set sail again

The Green and Red of Mayo
I can see it still
Its soft and craggy bog lands
Its tall majestic hills
Where the ocean kisses Ireland
And the waves caress its shore
The feeling it came over me
To stay forever more
Forever more

County Mayo is in western Ireland along the coast of the Atlantic. Many of the former residents emigrated to England and the United States. Many songs of Mayo are nostalgic while taking pride in its wonders.

The geography of Mayo is filled with bogs, mountains, hills, and green landscape. The cultural landscape is Gaelic Catholic. The county is beautiful.

Croagh Patrick is a mountain in Mayo where legend has it Saint Patrick fasted for forty days. At the end of the fast he threw a bell down the hill and banished all snakes from the island. Today pilgrims climb the hill every summer solstice in honor of Saint Patrick.

Clare Island is along the Atlantic coast and is homed to the female pirate Grace O'Malley who remains one of the heroes of Ireland. The pirate led raids against the English occupation of the Ireland.

The Saw Doctors song ends with them leaving Mayo like the emigrants before. But like those of old, there is pride and the happy desire to return.