View From The Top, 23 October 2008

--The Nigerian government has detained a blogger, Jonathan Elendu. They're claiming it isn't an arrest, rather it's an 'invitation' to discuss his writings. Right. Here's his website Elendu Reports. This is part of a disturbing trend in Nigeria, a trend of greater repression and secrecy. Count me in with the group of bloggers demanding Jonathan's immediate release.

-- In other government-repression news, the EU gave Hu Jia the Sakharov Prize, the top EU award for human rights. I must say, given the spinelessness of Europe in re: GWoT and All-Things-Russia, they've been quite impressive in their resolute refusal to just let China move into superpower status. The EU representatives have rebuked the commands of China several times. Note the indignation of the Chinese official who said:

''We express strong dissatisfaction to the decision by the European Parliament to issue such an award to the jailed criminal in China, in disregard of China's repeated representations,'' Liu said. ''It also violates universally recognized rules in the world, which is countries should treat each others as equals and respect each other.''

I forgot about that rule! It's located between the universally recognized laws that all countries should give pots of gold to China every month and that every mention of the word "Tibet" shall be replaced with "Coming Soon: China!" Silly me.

-- They're-Not-Theological-Just-Thuggish Watch:

A Palestinian man has stabbed and killed an elderly Israeli civilian in a Jewish settlement to the south of Jerusalem, Israeli police have said.

...The man stabbed and injured one of the officers, who managed to shoot back.

The wounded attacker then grabbed an 86-year-old passer-by and stabbed him before being overpowered. The civilian later died of his injuries in hospital.

-- We all remember that one of the reasons why Iraqis came to the coalition's side was the extreme anti-smoking measures (just search for 'smoking' to save time) taken by al-Qaeda. Well, look at this story from Delhi about anti-smoking raids on citizens smoking in public. Sure, they just fine the guys rather than permanently disfigure them, but degrees-of-severity arguments only go so far. Is it really okay to argue something as just al-Qaeda Lite?

And from my neck o' the woods:

-- I'm sure someone out-of-state will think that Biden speaking to over 1,000 people in Colorado Springs is a sign of the spread of Obama-mania, but here's reality:

1.) He spoke to 1,500 people. That's not a lot, election-season wise. As the article mentions, Palin got over 8,000 earlier this week.

2.) I know that in the current climate this comment will be construed as racist, but he went to Sierra High School, which is located in the predominantly minority neighborhoods of southeast Colorado Springs (as much as a white-as-a-snow-bank city like my hometown can be). It's a smart move by Biden's staff, because it's the only place in the city that would guarantee a crowd, but it's absolutely not representative of the city as a whole. I mean, there are at least 100K within 5 miles of New Life Church, and those people aren't just drinking but keg-standing the Palin Kool-Aid.

-- In Boulder yesterday:

"Prepare to be seriously disappointed in the election of Barack Obama," Nader said, calling Obama's bid "an unprecedented upward career move."

You know, when the Right is using the same lines as Ralph Nader, perhaps its time to re-examine the strategy. I mean, when was the last time Nader was in touch with public opinion? 1965?

-- Finally, in today's installment of JapanIsCraaazy:

TOKYO (AP) - A 43-year-old Japanese piano teacher's sudden divorce from her online husband in a virtual game world made her so angry that she logged on and killed his digital persona, police said Thursday.

I don't know what's weirdest:

(a) she thought that killing his digital avatar would grievously wound him,

(b) she might've been right,

(c) the police actually got involved,

(d) she's a piano teacher. I mean, we've all taken piano lessons, right? Could any of you seriously imagine one of your teachers not only knowing what Second Life is but logging onto a jilted lover's profile just to delete it? The only topic that would arouse such passion from my teachers would have been any modifications made to the church hymnal.

To reiterate: Japan is crazy.