This News Junkie's Recent Discoveries:

I surf a couple of news sites and these photos have been collated just this week.

This cartoon from the Seattle Post-Intellegencer referas to the debacle at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State. A 2006 flood devastated the park's infastructure and Bush's NPS chief, Gail Norton has not done too much to remind W that:

1. We indeed have National Parks
2. They are quite underfunded.
3. Not all of them have oil beneath them

Prioroties, eh. Heart-twisting to see the USA's environment tank when so much could be done to protect and steward more land, not less.

The Forbidden City Starbucks

When I was there it was told to me that the Starbucks was closed down. Lying Chinese! I had wanted to enjoy roasted, Godly caffeine while enjoying the wonders of "ancient" Beijing. Curses. Now that was the time I should have been able to speak Chinese. On a more happy note, I was able to see the slightly blotty and liquidish embalmed Mao Zedong, whose mausoleum has just closed while they see how to freshen him up for all the expected 2008 Olympic festivities.

This sign adorns some bar that probably serves overpriced drinks and lame atmosphere. Such obvious inferences did not stop Debuto, an America who indeed "I think I'll turn Japanese" decided Japan needed a white Midwesterner among its population. Debito has fought some good fights against discrimination.

But does the average foreigner really want to enter a business that claims "To enter this shop, you must NOT be Chinese, a permanent resident, partially Japanese, female or anything other than pure male Japanese blood not welcome here."

I would say, instead of pointing out the terribly small world this proprietor lives in, we should lament how sad of an angry, bitter and Hell-bound man he indeed is. More signs to denote businesses Id rather not support would save everyone time and avoid uncomfortable moments that arise when one sees people different from oneself. Hang out that shingle of hate, shopkeepers, for pride and self-inadequacy always wins over compassion and a world view...