Base10Blog
Monday, July 31, 2006
 
Weekend Sports Wrap
Yes, the Mets did the unthinkable. They swept the Braves. At Turner Field. Hurrah! Click for the recaps here, here and here. The boys are now 5-1 at Turner Field. Last year they were 1-8. The Mets scored a total of 27 runs in the series and got 19 hits in yesterday's contest (which I believe is a club record). Base10 has been waiting years for this momment.

In spite of some tough talk about how the Braves were going to comeback into contention for the division, these three wins bring the Mets a full 15 games ahead of the Braves in the standing. It would take a collapse of enormous proportions (sort of like the Yankees blowing a three-game advantage in the 2004 ALCS) for this to happen now.

Speaking of the Yanks, they made a big deal yesterday, although one they may live to regret. The acquired Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle from the Phillies in a surprise deal. The trade deadline is 4PM today and Base10 is waiting with baited breath to see if Omar "GM of the Year" Minaya does something at the last minute.

Don't forget football, either. Camps have started but there is precious little news on the Jets. The good news is that they have signed all their draft picks. Not much news out of Jets camp just yet, although Justin McCareins was briefly in Coach Mangini's dog house for failing an endurance test on the first day. Acording to reports, Mangini does run a pretty intense and physical camp (ulike the tea party-like atmosphere under Herm Edwards).

Remember, the Hall of Fame Game is on Sunday!
Saturday, July 29, 2006
 
Fire Island

Mr. And Mrs. Base10 copped an invite for a day trip to Fire Island. Here's a photo of the beach. More on our interesting adventure later. It sure is nice out here.



UPDATE: The photo didn't transfer for some reason. Here is is:

EPSN0881

Fire Island was interesting. There are no cars or bicycles. You must travel by foot and if you need to carry goods, you can use a little garden truck. There is one bar/restaurant, a surf shop and a food stand along with a Post Office and a marina. An interesting way to live, but Base10 thinks he would get tired of that in less than a week.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
 
Survivalist Tendencies
Glen Reynolds has a great post with a lot of links about home disaster kits and disaster planning. Base10 was thinking about this last night, spurred on by the fact that up until yesterday, one of his friends in Sunnyside still did not have power. What should Mr. and Mrs. Base10 have on hand?

I started thinking about it and realized that it's a complicated topic. Base10's not an emergency worker anymore. What disasters could happen here? Well, there's two obvious things that you couldn't do anything about. If a moderate-sized nuclear weapon were exploded in Manhattan, Base10 is less than ten miles away. If that happened, life would be nasty, brutish and short. The other thing that's an obvious threat but that's unlikely is some type of war. Assuming Base10 didn't go off to fight, I don't think this is something you need plan for.

So what do you plan for? Well, let's start with natural disasters. The most common disasters that sometimes happen in New York are hurricaine's and blackouts. In these circumstances, we would probably have to hole up in our apartment for the duration with a disruption of some or all utilities.

The other scenario is that of a terrorist attack or possibly a virulent disease outbreak. In this case, we should be prepared to get out of the city as quickly as possible if we can. This is easier said than done, however. The unfortunate thing about living on an island is that you're always potentially stuck. There are two ways to get to the mainland by foot or bike. One is to go over the Triboro Bridge directly to the Bronx. The other is to cross over to Manhattan by one of several crossings and then to cross over to the Bronx in one of the northern crossings or the George Washington Bridge. There's really no other way unless you have a row boat. That being said, if Mrs. Base10 and I had to get out, if you could ride ten miles and hour by bike and you could do sixteen hours in the first day, you could be 160 miles away. That puts you in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. If you rode ten hours a day you could be in the midwest in a week.

So this is the planning: two broad options--be able to get out and be able to hunker down without utilities for at least a week. The key is flexibilty. My disaster kit will consist of the following:

Emergency Backpack

If you literally have to run out into the street, what should you take with you? I think you should have to plan for six day's worth of food and water.


Emergency Apartment Supplies

I figure that you should have at least a week's worth of food and water, it addition to the above. Since weight isn't an issue, I figure the following:


Emergency Bike Pack

I have two paniers and a rack pack plus racks on two mountain bikes (which seem more useful than road bikes if this sort of thing should happen). I would basically tranfer food and water to the bike packs and racks, but in addition would carry extra tubes and a pump.

Well, I guess I better get cracking!

 
This is Funny
Howard Dean has accused Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki an anti-Semite.

It seems that al-Maliki was distributing literature claiming the Iraq war was caused by Republican's greed for oil and the Israeli lobby. Oh wait. It was operatives at a Democratic National Committee event who said that.

(In fairness, Howard Dean repudiated those folk).

UPDATE: WSJ's Dan Senor thinks al-Maliki's statements are an effort to keep fatboy cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
 
European Blindness
Jeffrey Gedmin has a great piece in the Weekly Standard about European journalists and politicians hunkered down in Israel. He writes:
In Jerusalem, the King David Hotel has become, once again, a center of backroom kibitzing in a time of crisis. New York Times columnist Tom Friedman passes one way through the lobby; Israeli politician and former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky, the other. E.U. foreign policy chief Javier Solana strolls down an adjacent hallway with former Mossad head Efraim Halevy. You have to wonder whether Halevy, a former ambassador to the E.U., can make any headway. In his recently published memoir, Man in the Shadows, Halevy says if you take European arguments to their logical conclusions, "then only the disappearance of the State of Israel would succeed in pacifying the insatiable desires of the Arab world." This may sound a touch extreme, but Solana lives up to the caricature. When asked by a television reporter whether the axis of Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah has been behind the current conflict, Solana replies by saying that he does "not want to mention names." In another interview, Solana is pushed in vain to admit that Hezbollah belongs on the E.U.'s terrorist list.

It's really a good read.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
 
War in Iraq
Base10 watched the Iraqi PM Nuri Kamal al-Maliki address a joint session of Congress and must admit it was touching. He repeatedly thanked the United States and assured us that they were the front line in the fight against terrorism and that we are winning. Some members of Congress boycotted the speech because Maliki refused to condemn Hezbollah. While I don't agree with him, he hasn't said anything different than those expressed by EU Foreign Minister Javier Solana.

Meanwhile, more US troops will move to Bagdhad to help increase security. Some are predicting that there will be a US showdown with radical fatboy cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
 
War in Lebanon
The news out of Lebanon seems to follow the usualy pattern. Reports on the ground of shelling, rocket fire and some ground fighting, but no discernible pattern of broad strategy. There are some developments:

Base10 once again hopes for peace, but only if it solves the long-term problems there.
 
Blogging and Sports
Base10 took a few days away from blogging, and is afraid to say that he will probably taking off a few more days after today. Anyway, this past weekend was a wonderful sports weekend, but unfortunately, most of it happened in the morning.

First, the Tour de France ended on Sunday with American Floyd Landis wearing the yellow jersey. It was great to see an American win and Base10 congratulates him and hopes his off-season surgery goes well. After last Thursday's historic comeback, Landis held on and gained a minute and a half in the individual time trial on Saturday.

Second, in the golf world, Tiger Woods successfully defended the British Open title on Sunday finishing 13 under. Tiger, who lost his father this year and has been struggling was extremely emotional after the win. Good for him. It does prove he's human and not some sort of golf-playing cyborg.

Third, in baseball, it's been an up and down ride for the Mets. Having won the series against Houston over the weekend, the Mets proceeded to drop two against the Cubs Monday and Tuesday. They are playing the rubber match right now and the game remains scoreless. John Maine is pitching and I have to say he looks like he is the real deal. It's still not time to worry, but the Mets are having some problems with their starters and there are trade rumors. Personally, I like the idea of Lastings Milledge for Dontrelle Willis, but I doubt it will happen. I have to say that it's refreshing to go into the trade deadline and be able to say, No, we don't need anybody. We're good.

Last, football is almost here--both the pro and the college flavor. Most camps start this week. Base10 is actually considering making the trip to Jets camp this summer. The NCAA opener is Thursday, August 31, but Base10 is unfortunately teaching that night. The aacrifices he must make for the academy! While the real first weekend of NCAA football starts the following Saturday and features what should be some pretty good games, no ranked teams are playing until Monday when Miami faces Florida State.
Friday, July 21, 2006
 
War in Lebanon

No links for now, but Base10 was following events again today. IDF forces are massing on the border for what appears to be a big ground incursion. Some military commentators expect a pre-dawn attack into Lebanese territory.

Base10 thinks there are a lot of questions. First, to what extent did IAF air attacks degrade Hezbollah capabilities? Hezbollah, of course denies any damage. Israeli forces claim they have reduced their operational capacity by 50%. It is certain though, that Hezbollah's capabilities surprised the Israelis. They have much more sophisticated longer-range munitions than previously thought.

Second, what are Israel's intentions. Are they seeking to destroy Hezbollah or merely see it defanged? It is easy for Western pundits to say "destroy" but it would be much harder to caRry that out and it would risk the Lebanese government and a wider-ranging conflict with Syria and maybe Iran. Don't get me wrong. It may indeed be the time to do this. But let's all make sure we're on the same page.

Third, assuming Israel would be satisfied containing Hezbollah behind a twenty-mile buffer zone (as they did before), who would control this zone. The Lebanese military--50% shiite--may not be up to the task and UN peacekeepers usually bring nothing but. Israel has also signalled that it doesn't wish to remain there long-term. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.


Thursday, July 20, 2006
 
This is Disturbing
Note this picture from Yahoo News. This was a protester outside of the Israeli Embassy. Please note that the caption appears to be from the Islamic Thinkers Society, a truly odious and inappropriately named organization that Base10 has observed operating in Jackson Heights from time to time.

Base10 wrote about the ITS here.
 
This May Explain Why Europeans are Such Sissies
Third of male fish in rivers are changing sex

By FIONA MACRAE, Daily Mail

A third of male fish in English rivers are changing sex due to 'gender-bending' pollution, alarming research shows.

Experts say female hormones from the contraceptive pill and HRT are being washed into our rivers and causing male fish to produce eggs.

The problem - which is country-wide - has raised fears that the pollutants could also be contaminating our drinking water - and even be affecting the fertility of men.


 
Mideast Crisis
It is interesting to watch UN inefficiency at work in the Middle East. Kofi Annan addressed the Security Council today and gave what seemed to me a grossly one-sided description of the events in Lebanon. We have come to expect this, but it's funny that when he grudgingly conseeds Israel's right to defend itself against rockets being launched into population centers within its territory, the media portrays this as "balanced." I suppose given the UN's history condemning Israel, it is. But frankly, a ceasefire that does not change the status quo does nothing but delay this conflict.

What is Hezbollah's justification for retaining their arms? Interestingly, it is a largely unpopulated patch of desert called Sheba Farms. Israel withdrew from the UN defined border--the so-called blue line--the remained in a border area called Sheba Farms. Hezbollah claims that Sheba Farms belongs to Lebanon and that Israel is illegally occupying it. Interestingly, the UN considers Sheba Farms to part of Syria. The Lebanon's legislative majority leader declared that the only way the Lebanese government will have troops occupy the southern border is if they vacate Sheba Farms:
Hariri also sent a clear message to Israel. He responded to a question on Israel’s demand that UN resolution be enforced, saying, “If Israel wants the UN decision to be implemented, they must withdraw from Shaba Farms, as the decision establishes that foreign armies must leave Lebanon. Regarding Palestinian weapons and Hizbullah (ed. – the resolution requires their disarmament), we discussed the issue in the framework of national talks.” He added that an overall agreement would require the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel.

Interestingly, Walid Jumblatt, leader of Lebanon's opposition Druze party disagrees and has said so publicly in unprecedented fashion:
In an interview with al-Arabiya television, Jumblatt said the Shaba Farms area is not Syrian land and that “we must end this game that is meant to serve different interests."

Jumbaltt, the Druze leader of the Progressive Socialist Party and head of the Lebanese Democratic Forum, said if Syria would adhere to the claim that the Shaba Farms belong to Lebanon, then Lebanon would demand the implementation of U.N. Resolution 452, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese areas.

“But we are tired of this political game that nobody believes in anymore and is designed to preserve the tense atmosphere,” he said.

In the latest development, Israeli troops have been making incursions across the border and faced heavy fighting.

UPDATE: The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the Lebanese Defense Minister has stated that should the IDF deploy in Southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army will fight them alongside Hezbollah. I'm sure the Israeli reaction to this is: so what.
 
Greatest Stage Ever
In what Phil Liggett described as the greatest stage of the Tour de France ever, Floyd Landis, the American with the bum-hip, won today's stage and made up an eight-minute deficit to come within thirty seconeds of the overall lead. If you've been following, Landis bonked on the stage yesterday and lost the yellow jersey and over eight minutes. Base10 sort of counted him out then, but he showed a lot of heart today. With tomorrow's relatively flat stage, most riders will try to conserve their strength for Saturday's time trial. Remember, that Landis came in second in the first individual time trial--and only came in second because of a mechanical.

And Lance Armstrong thinks that Landis must win to keep the sport popular in the US.

In baseball, the Mets lost last night's game 7-4 in spite of being ahead 2-0 before a long, long rain delay. The boys are currently playing the rubbr match in a get away game and are ahead 2-0.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
 
Havin' a Heat Wave

It is brutally hot in Gotham again today, so Base10 is doing his part and conserving electricity by--well, going to a gin mill to watch the Met game. Oh, the sacrifices Base10 is willing to make for the common good! Tomorrow should be slightly better, but it is still wacky hot.

In any event, Base10 watched the Peloton today and he must say that it was the most exciting stage he's seen in the post-Lance era. Floyd Landis, bum hip and all, was in the first chase group and gained more than his minute and a half deficit with the yellow jersey which he will now wear. It is entirely possible that he will wear that until the end. Don't get me wrong, it is still pretty open. If another team makes a successful attack tomorrow (in what Base10 thinks is the most difficult stage in the tour) they could put someone within striking distance ready for Saturday's time trial, but the maillot jeune is now Landis' to lose. And he looks like he wants to keep it. Considering that Landis is a time trial specialist, if anyone makes a move, it will be tomorrow. Base10 can't wait.


Monday, July 17, 2006
 
Administration Pursues Black Magic Initiative--Voodoo Doll to Follow
"Bush Curses Hezbollah Attacks" - WAPO.
 
They Have A Festival for That?
Actually, it sounds interesting.
 
Poo-Pooing the Terrorist Threat
John Derbyshire thinks we give too much credit to the jihadis. This is not WW IV, he claims. Comparing the ware against Islamic fascists to the Cold War is absurd:
The U.S.A. is not threatened with destruction by jihadists. Our “entire security as a nation” was indeed threatened by the U.S.S.R, by their vast armies, by (later) their ICBMs, and indeed by the social and economic system they promoted which, though it seems absurd to us now, was taken to be seriously competitive with our own at the time Kennan was writing. Our security as a nation is not threatened by jihadis, unless we are such fools as to let them get hold of a nation with some modern industrial infrastructure, and embark on a program of nuclear weapons development. Even then they would threaten us only to the degree they felt inclined to an act of certain national suicide.

Islamofascism is a nasty thing. It will kill many more of us before we see the back of it. It will bring down some nations, too: Chad, perhaps, possibly even Egypt, or Saudi Arabia. These are not consequential nations, though, neither militarily, nor economically, nor culturally, and they pose no threat to us.

We should hunt down and kill jihadis wherever we can find them. If they get their hands on a nation, we should strive to help them keep that nation at the dust-bowl level of development, and free of training camps or major military capability. Those are simple matters of national prudence. To speak of these commonplace exercises in gunship diplomacy as Norman Podhoretz (echoing [George F.] Kennan) does, in terms of a sacred mission assigned to us by Providence, is to engage in gross and absurd flattery of some small gangs of lunatics who have no appeal outside the most backward parts of the world, and whose very beliefs disqualify them from creating any state competitive with us in any way.

Links added.


I'm not sure I agree with Derbyshire, the jihadis are dedicated to the destruction of Western values every bit as much as their Communist grandparents. While he may be right about the West being ultimately able to defeat them, the real question is whether the West has the will to fight. Of that, I'm not sure.

 
Politicizing the War
Powerline has a great post about the recent political statements made by Howard Dean and Christopher Dodd blaming the Bush administration for current Mideast crisis. To quote:
In an obscene attempt to obtain political mileage, the Democrats are claiming that President Bush is responsible for the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Howard Dean claims that the war would not have occurred if the Democrats had been in power because the Dems would have worked the past six years to prevent it. And Sen. Dodd has made basically the same assertion. Meanwhile, Rep. Jane Harman contends that the Bush administration is to blame for our poor to non-existent relations with Syria and Iran which, she says, prevent us from using diplomacy to end the crisis.

Once again, the Democrats are taking partisan politics to a previously unknown low. No past opposition party has attempted to blame the outbreak of an Arab-Israeli war on the party in power. Unless I'm mistaken, the Republicans didn't blame President Johnson for the war in 1967; the Dems didn't blame President Nixon for the war in 1973; nor did they blame President Reagan for the hostilities in Lebanon that occurred on his watch. Moreover, it is especially reprehensible for the Dems to be taking such a low road now, when unlike before, the U.S. is in the middle of essentially the same war as Israel -- the war on terrorism.

Very true. Generations of foreign policy realism--perhaps once justified by the Cold War--espoused by both Democrats and Republicans have led us to the current situation. Base10 caught Dodd on Fox News Sunday, and I have to say his anti-Bush rant was both disgraceful and insulting.
 
War in the Middle East
Base10 hasn't posted anything about the current war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel but he has been following closely. In the latest news, Israeli forces made a limited ground incursion into Lebanese border territory and say they have destroyed an Iranian-manufactured long-range missile capable of hitting Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Hezbollah rockets have hit the Israeli city of Haifa destroying a building and causing several injuries (and possibly casualties once the rubble is cleared). The international community--such as it is--is even talking about deploying UN forces to southern Lebanon to broker a cease-fire.

The crisis has even driven President Bush to use salty language. (It is ridiculous that this story is getting coverage in the national media).

Some observations:

Base10 hopes the soldiers are released unharmed and the crisis ends, but it cannot go back to the situation as it was. Hezbollah has to be taken out--with Syria and Iran next on the list.

UPDATE: Michael Oren makes the case (and a pretty good one) for an Israeli war against Syria. Ralph Peters questions Israel's will to fight. Joe Klein just doesn't get it.
 
Weekend Sports
Mets fans were rewarded with a series victory against the Cubs over the weekend. Last night, the Mets spanked their Chicago rivals 13-7 scoring two grand slams and eleven runs in the sixth inning. To quote from Ben Stein: Wow! The Boys are off tonight and begin a three game series against Cincy starting tomorrow. Fans will get to see another start from phenom-rookie Mike Pelfrey Tuesday night, as well. The Mets pitching looks to be pretty good for the second half. Whether or not Pelfrey gets sent down, Maine is back (albeit relegated to a reliever role) and Brian Bannister may be back by the end of the month.

In peloton news, American Floyd Landis still has the inside track for winning the Tour de France, although truth be told, it's still anybody's race. Landis is 1:29 off the yellow jersey as the tour starts the Alpine stages tomorrow with a vicious climb up l'Alpe d'Huez. And Base10 thinks Wednesday's stage is even harder. Interestingly, there is no team time trial this year, with the final individual time trial occurring on a flat stage Saturday, the day before the race ends. If no leader emerges from the Alps this week, this time trial may decide the race.

In other sports news, the British Open starts on Thursday.

Finally, the New York Jets are starting training camp on July 28--that's next week folks. Many questions remain and SI's Don Banks doesn't give them much of a chance this year, but this is still the part of the year when fans can dream before reality sets in. But hey, that's why we watch, right?
 
Barry Manilow: Crime Fighter
This is just weird.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
 
Peloton News
Base10 knows there are important events going on in the world, but he spent the morning watching the tour ride through the first big mountain stage. When all was over after four monstrous climbs, Floyd Landis wears the maillot jeune and now looks like the guy to beat. The best thing about it is that an American cyclist with a bum hip can still beat the French!

Base10 has been rooting for George Hincapie, but the Discovery Team seems to have lost its way without Lance. Hincapie is now more than 15 minutes behind the leader along with the rest of the pack. This could change, of course, when the Peloton reaches the harder mountain stages in the Alps next week, but Landis has been in it from the begining.
 
Allah Lays an Egg
This is just too funny.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
 
Afghanistan Doomed?
Maybe not.

Read Ann Marlowe's piece in the the New York Post about how Afghanistan may be doing better than anybody in the media gives it credit for:
In a June 27 Daily Telegraph piece on the "Afghan crisis," Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid wrote that "people are being killed at a rate not seen since the 2001 American-led invasion." The Taliban are returning, he continues, while riots in the capital show the failure of economic development.

And the "failure of economic development" is that . . . some people are getting rich. As Rashid himself reported in the Herald Tribune, he told a British soldier as they walked past some big new houses in Kabul, "These houses are why the riots took place . . . If you were a slum dweller living amid such ostentation, you would riot, too."

Almost all of this picture is misleading.

Take those "people" being killed. Of 1,100-some combat deaths so far in 2006, only 44 were coalition soldiers, about half of them American. Another 100 were Afghan civilians - some targeted by the terrorists, some in the wrong place at the wrong time. Most of the other 1,000 or so killed are insurgents - which is good news.

As for the Taliban, it's questionable whether there is an organized fundamentalist movement at all any more. The real problem (mainly in the south) is a heroin mafia whose vast fortunes depend on ensuring that the people of the poppy-growing provinces stay poor, uneducated, dependent and fearful.

The May 29 riot in the capital? Yes, 1,000 hooligans looted in Kabul - but the rest of the city's 3 million people didn't: They wanted to go to work, not destroy their neighbors' property. Unlike Rashid, they see that a country where some people get rich is a country where they can get rich, too - and a lot better than a country where everyone is poor.

Ordinary Afghans are doing better every year. Per-capita income has doubled in the last three years, the inflation rate is down from 48 percent in 2002 to 16 percent in 2005 to 91/2 percent today. Two million Afghans own mobile phones, and cars and other consumer goods are exponentially more plentiful.

 
Peloton Update
The flats are over for now and the tour heads into the first mountain stage in the Pyrenees. It is still really anybody's race. Base10 is very impressed with Floyd Landis who is currently number two and is racing in spite of the fact that he will be getting a hip replacement after the race due to painful arthritis. Amazing!

Base10 is going to try to wake up extra early tomorrow to catch it (although the first real test should be on Thursday). I'll watch it even if it's pretty boring. Base10 does admire how Phil Liggett can make even the most boring shit sound interesting:
Base10 entered this house painting competition with high hopes to take it all and it looks as if this stage is going to be the key. He has switched from the brush to the roller and is proceeding with fantastic speed! He's covering square feet so quickly that none of the other painters are possibly able to keep up. Oh! He's spilled paint on the moulding! What a disaster! Base10 has started this day with such high hopes, but his run has ended with tragedy!


Base10 went out for a bike ride today, as well. Roughly twenty miles, but I didn't bring the odometer. I took a ride through the neighborhood in which I grew up. It was interesting. Everything is different, but oddly similar. Base10 wanted to get photos but his cell phone would not cooperate so that will have to wait for another time. It was kind of interesting, but more on this tomorrow.
 
All-Star Game
Mr. and Mrs. Base10 are lying back with a nice bottle of pinot grigio enjoying the All-Star Game. Right now, the NL is leading 2-1, but we all know anything can happen. In any event, David Wright scored on a solo homer and Beltran scored on a wild pitch. Decent game, so far--maybe the National League can exorcise some demons and actually win one of these.
Monday, July 10, 2006
 
The Real History of the Exclusionary Rule
Matthew Scully has a fascinating article in NRO about the history of the exclusionary rule in criminal prosecutions. For those not familiar with it, the exclusionary rule prohibits illegally obtained evidence from being used against a criminal defendant at trial. There are many exceptions to the rule and the term "illegally obtained" often does not mean police use of coersion, etc., but rather violation of technical rules. Scully looks at the recent SCOTUS case involving the "knock and announce" rule in Hudson v. Michigan.

Scully goes on to describe the beginnings of the exclusionary rule in Weeks v. US and Mapp v. Ohio. The true history of these cases is not as described in law school text books and may cause you to loose some faith in integrity of the Supreme Court.
 
Japan To Go Nuclear?
The Korean missile situation seems intractable, but remember, the Japanese may be more willing to resurrect their military past when endangered than their European allies. China is really the key to the whole thing. They have an interest in propping up the North Korean regime and avoiding the chaos that would ensue at their borders should Kim fall. South Korea, of course, is more than willing to appease its unstable neighbor.

What's Japan's alternative? It seems to me, faced with the inability of the UN to do anything, Japan should threaten to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The US could say it was "regrettable" that Japan would be forced to do this but could otherwise block any Security Council action, much like the Russians and Chinese are doing in this case. Besides, with the third largest economy in the world, it seems unlikely that the UN could act against Japan and not against North Korea. A nuclear Japan would certainly get China's attention and possibly make it rethink their long-term strategic interests in the Korean peninsula. China would also certainly see the writing on the wall. If Japan goes nuclear, South Korea and Taiwan would certainly go too. This may be exactly the way that Japan is going. Maybe proliferation in this case would be more stabilizing.
 
This Looks Like Good News
Russian authorities have apparently blown up thier worst terrorist. Good riddance. AP reports:
Chechen rebel leader dies in truck blast

MOSCOW - Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, responsible for modern Russia's worst terrorist attacks, was killed Monday when a dynamite-laden truck exploded in his convoy, Russian officials said.

Federal Security Service head Nikolai Patrushev told President Vladimir Putin that Basayev had been killed overnight in Ingushetia, the area of southern Russia that borders Chechnya. Patrushev's meeting with Putin was shown on Russian state television.

Basayev, 41, was behind some of Russia's worst terror attacks, including the seizure of a Moscow theater in 2002 in which dozens of hostages and militants died, the 2004 school hostage taking in Beslan that killed 331, and the seizure of about 1,000 hostages at a hospital in Budyonnovsk that killed about 100.

 
Weekend Sports Wrap
For a non-football (American football, that is) weekend, these past two days have had some great sports action. The Mets won yesterday 7-6 last night after a three-run homer be David Wright in the bottom of the eigth. The rest of the series was not as good. The Mets lost the first game of a doubleheader 3-2. Better was the long awaited debut of Mike Pelfrey on the mound. That game was won by an lopsided 17-3. Anyway, the Mets went .500 in the series and go into the All-Star break on a two-game winning streak.

Unfortunately, the All-Star Game, which looked like a matchup between the Mets and the Yankees/Red Sox last week, will not have Jose Reyes, Tom Glavine or Pedro Matrinez playing in it. David Wright will be in Home Run Derby, though.

In the other football game, Italy beat France in penalty kicks yesterday. Base10 has said before that this is a completely lame way to end a major sporting event, but at least we won't have to listen to the looney soccer fans for another four years.

Wimbledon concluded this weekend as well. In the men's final, Roger Federer beat Raphael Nadal and took his fourth Wimbledon title in a great match from what Base10 caught of it. On the women's side, Amelie Mauresmo won in a remarkable comeback against Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Finally, the flats are nearly over in the Tour de France. The field in contention for the overall winner is still completely up in the air. Today is a rest day, but then the riders go into the Pyrenees a little later in the week. Thursday's climb in particular looks scary hard. Of course, even this pales in comparison with stage 16 in the Alps. It is actually more interesting to watch without a clear front runner.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
 
Break From Blogging
Base10 is taking a break from blogging this week and using the Fourth of July holiday as an opportunity to do some stuff around the house. (Base10 has already had plumbers in to do repairs, he has bought handyman tools, installed new air conditioners and a new fridge and is, in general, spending an unhealthy amount of time watching HGTV for home decorating tips--click here for his description of his hand truck).

In addition, I want to make some changes to the blog's format and possibly direction.

Just to tide over my dear readers, there's this story. Unfortunately, this means the prediction Base10 made back in December, '04 will not come true--but it did come mighty close.

Anyway, I'll be back blogging for the All-Star break by the latest. (Mrs. Base10 does have this strange fascination with Home Run Derby).

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