O K -no response to algore ? For God's sake you're on the damn internet that he invented- ingrates!

No, you're right, he is "yesterday's news" as they say, but here is a piece by Jeff Goldstein on algore and the squib I posted above:

1. "No one can tell me America doesn’t deserve a national food patty!  And from where I’m standing, I can see absolutely no reason why the falafel—not the ecologically destructive hamburger - shouldn’t receive that honor, as a show of international friendship."
2. "Sure, visually, Lawrence of Arabia is a great film.  But let’s face it:  from a narrative perspective, the last thing the Arabs needed was some presumptuous white man riding around like he owned the damned desert, fighting battles that were none of his damn business.  Am I right?"
3. "In the American south, we enjoy iced tea.  But let me tell y’all:  sipping iced tea is like drinking camel piss compared to this delicious traditional sweet tea your country brews!"
4. "Ever notice—and let’s keep this between you and me—but ever notice how the current US President...well, kinda looks like a chimp?"
5. "Now, I’m as American as the next Yank, but a fact is a fact:  were we ever to allow infielders to wield scimitars or wear sandals, you Saudis would whip our butts bad at baseball.  And that’s supposed to be our national pasttime!"
6. "To be honest with ya?  Most women look better covered from head to toe in burlap.  Which, at the very least, such accomodations would keep Tipper from asking me with each new outfit she tries on if her ass looks fat..."
7. "If the Sonoma Valley could produce wine as perfect as this fermented fig juice you guys are serving up, why, we wouldn’t even need your oil!  Instead, we’d be beholden to your refreshing figgy goodness!"
8. "Heck, I don’t even watch American movies anymore—so disgusted am I by all the sex and the special effects trickery.  CGI?  The Devil’s own mirages, is what that stuff is."
9. "You know what sucks?  Pork.  Pork sucks. There, I said it!"

"We cannot allow a mine shaft gap"

How can we (the global "we" - not US "we") deal seriously with Iran when we have China doing this?

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060217/ap_on_bi_ge/china_iran_oil

"SHANGHAI, China - China and Iran are close to setting plans to develop Iran's Yadavaran oil field, according to published reports, a multibillion-dollar deal that comes as Tehran faces the prospect of sanctions over its nuclear program.

"The deal is thought potentially to be worth about $100 billion.

"According to Caijing, a respected financial magazine, a Chinese government delegation is due to visit Iran as early as March to formally sign an agreement allowing China Petrochemical Corp., also known as Sinopec, to develop Yadavaran.

"The Wall Street Journal also reported in Friday's editions that the two sides are trying to conclude the deal in coming weeks before potential sanctions are imposed on Iran for its nuclear ambitions. The report cited unnamed Iranian oil ministry officials familiar with the talks.

"The deal would complete a memorandum of understanding signed in 2004.

"In exchange for developing Yadavaran, one of Iran's largest onshore oil fields, China would agree to buy 10 million tons of liquefied natural gas a year for 25 years beginning in 2009, the Caijing report said, citing Sinopec board member Mou Shuling.".....
 

Jordan .