isen.blog

Mark Twain is reputed to have observed that history doesn't necessarily repeat, but it often rhymes. Today I'm seeing current events beat a rhyme tattoo too -- did somebody put mind-altering drugs in my toy beads?

There's massive flooding in Tabasco state in Mexico . . . and in Vietnam. But Google News search for "vietnam mexico flood" returns a mere 15 hits. [top hit] Am I hallucinating?

In Burma, the protest is led by Buddhist monks in saffron robes. In Pakistan, the protest is led by lawyers in suits. A Google News search for "monks lawyers protest" returns a mere 20 hits. [top hit]. I've been expecting to see streaks for several hours now . . .

The spur for the Pakistan crackdown was that the Supreme Court was just about to rule on the legitimacy of the president's election. This is contrapuntal, in the U.S. the Supreme Court is more docile. Google News search for "Bush Gore Pakistan Supreme-Court" -- 18 hits. [top hit]

The spur for the Burma crackdown was, supposedly, oil, reputedly Chevron and the French oil giant Total have major Burmese operations. (Wonder why Bush and Sarkosy are suddenly friends this week?) Google News search for "oil burma riot" -- 7 hits. [top hit]

The former Soviet republic of Georgia, another oil-rich country, also has riots this week. Google News search for "oil georgia riot" -- 15 hits. [top hit]

Google News search for "britney kevin lawyer" -- 3134 hits. Anybody got any Thorazine?

Technorati Tags: ClimateChange, Democracy, irony, Oil