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That Girl Downtown
Hola my favourite meatballs :* Hope you had a great weekend!
Lately I've been quite driven to blog often, which includes waking up early, and and making the most of my day and believe me, I've never felt this productive before.
Coming to the point, I decided to put some pieces together last Friday, got hold of my very talented best friend and my camera, and created some sleek and sassy, bold and snazzzy pictures :p before the sun came out in it's full glory, literally dodging the sun like Ninjas dodging swords. Ahem.
In this post, I'm wearing Black Dungarees from StalkBuyLove and a grey knit top to balance the dark overalls. Instead of wearing sneakers with dungarees like most of us do, I wore my stilettos and threw on a hat for a very uptown yet delightful look.
I personally love dungarees; the level of comfort is raised to infinity whenever I'm in them. But hurting your toes a li'l and adding a twist to your comfy-mumfy overalls wouldn't hurt sometimes you see! 😉
Let me know what you think of this look in the comments below and I promise I'll send you some virtual hugs ❤
Hat, Shoes, Top, Sunglasses – Forever 21
Dungarees- Stalk buy Love
Boho Chic with Myntra
Hello there lovebugs! 🙂 let me begin with wishing you all a very Happy New Year!
The last year has been insanely challenging in both ways; good and bad. Although it drove me crazy, I've taken certain decisions and made a bucket full of resolutions to change a lot of things in my life. One of them being blogging regularly. So let's do this together, shall we?
Coming to what I'm wearing in these pictures, I'm a total sucker for flowy bottoms, all thanks to my pear shaped body. Love these blue palazzos from Myntra's collection : All About You by Deepika Padukone. I'm wearing them in the size medium and they fit so well, I don't have to worry about my broad lower body at all. Hallelujah!
Though wearing a figure hugging top would compliment the flowy bottoms more, I decided to get a little bohemian this time, hence the off-shoulder bardot top which I'm in love with at the moment and tied my hair into a messy bun.
Let me know in your comments below if you like the post, also let me know if you'd like me to blog something in particular.
Top & Bag- Forever 21
Shoes – Charles & Keith
Sunglasses- Rayban
Of Bindis and Bangles
Hey lovelies 🙂
Wedding season is here and the hunt for something fancy yet something that fits the budget, never ends. It's either just fancy or just reasonable. It's never both. Don't you agree?
This wedding season I collaborated with a fashion rental service online called Blinge. Blinge has outfits for all occasions from dates to club nights to weddings. Select your occasion, browse through the collection and book your dress! It's that simple. And all the garments on the website are available for less than 15% of the said price. Isn't that insane?
Here are a few pictures of the designer lehenga I wore recently to a wedding reception. I'm barely ever dressed in Indian traditional outfits, so when I get the opportunity I get a little too excited and go all the way with accessories and whatever else is required.
This has to be my personal favourite outfit from Blinge's Ethnic wear collection and I instantly fell in love with it! Hope I'm doing justice to the outfit. Let me know what you think?
Blues and Blossoms
Greetings of the day my lovely people!
Photo diary of another outfit from Missa More.
Top – Missa More
Bottoms- Melange by Lifestyle
Earrings – Globus
Sandals – Paprika
Festive Shades
It's that time of the year again, to prep yourself up for all the jazz that comes along with the Indian festive season!
I'm the kind, who in most cases, is decked from top to bottom when it's Indian traditional outfits, because I hardly ever get a chance. But this year, I decided to go minimal.
Here's how you can look great with a minimal yet sassy outfit from Missa More. I paired it with dhotis to add to the Tie Dye fun pattern of the top. What do you think of this look?
Scroll to the bottom of the post for more details
Top – Missa More
Dhoti- Global Desi (Liva)
Bracelets & Rings – Forever 21
Earrings- Globus
Sandals – Paprika
Hello my lovely readers!
Today, I have something different from what I usually do.
I paired my Missa More double slit top with olive flowy trousers from Forever 21, than just pairing it up with shorts and sneakers.
It gives quite an interesting feel by getting onto the classy & chic category, and hence I kept it minimal by balancing my black top with black sunnies and tied my hair into a low ponytail.
The kind of accessories I would chose, would add quite a twist in this attire. So I kept it to sleek gold accessories, which did it's job really well.
Overall, I LOVE this attire and would be a total head turner.
Scroll down for outfit details.
Top : Missa More
Trousers, Bag, Heels, Rings, bracelet : Forever 21
Neckjewelry : Pipabella
Purple plaids.
Have I told you guys how much I'm in love with the length of all of Missa More's dresses? It's not even a thing to be really happy about but if you had to wear leggings JUST BECAUSE your dress is TOO short to wear to work, you would totally understand me!
Love the plaid! I've always loved everything plaid! Never owned anything in purple plaids before and this piece is so gorgeous.
Scroll down for whole outfit details.
Bag,Rings, Gladiators: Forever 21


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LIU Riverhead's online bookstore is managed by the C.W. Post Campus Bookstore. Textbook requirements can be viewed via the online order system. Students may choose to purchase their textbooks through this system or take the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and purchase from a different vendor. Textbooks purchased through the C.W. Post online bookstore are delivered to LIU Riverhead at no charge. Textbook deliveries may be picked up in the Student Services Office, Suite B-4.
Visit the bookstore on the web site by clicking here.
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subset: commoncrawl


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RiboMinus™ technology is designed to enrich the whole spectrum of RNA transcripts by selectively depleting ribosomal RNA molecules (rRNA), regardless of their polyadenylation status or the presence of of a 5'-cap structure. The RiboMinus™ method has been shown to remove the vast majority of the most abundant ribosomal RNA molecules (up to 99.9%) to allow for greater interrogation of less abundant transcripts.
Working with something other than human, mouse, or plant? Contact us with your species and sequence. Simply include your FASTA sequence in *.txt file format for the ribosomal sequences you would like to verify, with the subject line titled "RiboMinus for (your organism here)", and we'll work with you to find the right probe for your RiboMinus® rRNA depletion.
RiboMinus™ Workflow
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The protocol begins with total RNA purified from culture, tissues, or blood using a method of choice (e.g., PureLink™ RNA Mini Kit, TRIzol® Reagent)
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Next, the unwanted rRNA are separated from the RiboMinus™- enriched complexes using RiboMinus™ Magnetic beads.
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Step 5
The enriched RNA fraction is now ready for downstream processing (e.g., microarray, RNA-Seq).
Brochures and Posters
Next Generation Sequencing
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.


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The Group provides a forum for over 3000 BCS members to enable the exchange of information, skills and techniques which will enhance the professional status of Project and Programme Management within the IT and related industries.
PROMS-G aims to provide BCS members with the opportunity to develop their awareness and competence in Project and Programme Management, encourage research and promote the use and development of standards. The majority of events are organised in London. However, a number of regional sub-groups offer a wider national coverage.
Event evenings are free to PROMS-G Members and guests; bookings for event evenings must be made online prior to the event. There is a modest charge for educational events ('Schools' and conferences). Membership of the Group is free to all BCS Members.
The Group's Official Notification newsletter is contained in the magazine 'Project Manager Today' which is published monthly and is available free to all registered UK members of PROMS-G who will receive the magazine electronically.
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Republicans Turn Up Heat Over Missing IRS Emails
GOP Pushes for More Details on Lost Emails but Get Few From Former Worker
Republican lawmakers are stepping up their criticisms of the Internal Revenue Service after hearings that continued Tuesday only added to recent questions about missing emails—and failed to put others to rest.
A White House lawyer who previously worked at the IRS shed little light on the agency's loss of emails at a House hearing Tuesday morning. Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee suggested Jennifer O'Connor took part in an IRS document-collection process that put a low priority on finding all...


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Summer in the Square: Wake Up Yoga with Atmananda
Thursday, July 24, 2014
7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m.
This event repeats every week on Thursday between 6/12/2014 and 8/7/2014.
Please note: This event has already taken place. Please use the Search options on the right to find upcoming events.
Start your Thursday mornings getting centered with Atmananda Yoga Sequence's Wake Up Yoga during Summer in the Square. Atmananda Yoga Sequence was inspired by a vision of community to create a haven where people can quiet their minds. The yoga studio specializes in Vinyasa yoga, which helps to promote proper alignment, and a deeper understanding of practice and well being. Every Thursday at 7 AM, one of Atmananda's highly trained yoga instructors will lead a class on Union Square Park's South Plaza.


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Be amazed as you watch dogs jump through hoops and birds talk or fly in a synchronized show! Want the kiddos to get some interaction with animals in a petting zoo environment or learn a thing or two about some slimy and scaly reptiles? Animal shows can be both entertaining and educational at the same time, and they always get the guests engaged. So what are you waiting for? Book an animal show, pony party, petting zoo, or reptile show to watch, cuddle, or learn a thing or two about these great animals!
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The WikiLeaks Documentary: Our thanks to War in Context for sending this out via email. View their site here.
Posts Tagged 'Iraq'
Power of Information; Power of Knowledge WikiLeaks Documentary, Must SeeDecember 27, 2010
Peace Movement to Begin? Withdraw U.S. Troops from Afghanistan (Ed. note: and elsewhere)October 12, 2010
We, at Out of Central Asia Now, have been bringing you opinions from writers from throughout the world. All of the stories were used by us to show we Must End These Wars Now. Today, we bring you from CNN, the following story in full. It is time for our White Ribbons with black letters to be worn on our clothes to show that we want the war(s) over NOW. Read on please.
Withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan By Amitai Etzioni, Special to CNN October 12, 2010 10:11 a.m. EDT
Editor's note: Amitai Etzioni is a sociologist and professor of international relations at George Washington University and the author of several books, including "Security First" and "New Common Ground." He was a senior adviser to the Carter administration and has taught at Columbia and Harvard universities and the University of California, Berkeley.
(CNN) — Before I explain why I believe the time has come to start a stop-the-war movement, I should say that I am not one of those intellectuals who has never worried about the fate of their loved ones or gotten his own boots dirty.
My son completed a five-year stint in the U.S. 1st Armored Division. As an Israeli commando, I saw a lot of fighting during Israel's war for independence. My unit started fighting with 1,100 members; when the fighting stopped, 700 were dead and buried or wounded. And we killed all too many on the other side.
I abhor war and believe we should fight only when there is a clear and present danger, when all other means for resolving a conflict have been truly exhausted and to protect the innocent. Those are the three criteria of a just war. The war in Afghanistan used to meet these criteria. It no longer does.
We invaded Afghanistan to stop it from serving as a base for terrorists of the kind who attacked us on 9/11. This goal has been accomplished.
Fewer than 100 members of al Qaeda are in Afghanistan. There are many more in Yemen and Somalia, which we are not planning to invade.
Video: Karzai: Relations with Obama good
Video: Karzai: Osama bin Laden not here
Video: Failed rescue attempt probe The Taliban has no designs on us, beyond making us leave. After that, the people of Afghanistan can duke it out over which kind of regime they want. If the majority of the Afghan people don't want the Taliban to rule, they should fight for their rights, as they have shown they can when they defeated the Taliban in 2002 with limited help from us.
Some claim that we must keep fighting to secure human rights, especially women's rights, and a democratic regime in Afghanistan. However, nothing indicates that we can accomplish in this godforsaken 12th-century country what we did in Germany and Japan after World War II.
The metrics that the U.S. Army keeps inventing to show progress are pitiful. Having committed 100,000 troops and a similar number of "private" contractors against rag-tag, poorly equipped, illiterate locals, we captured a few scores of square miles, opened a few markets and a local government or two. But large and growing areas of Afghanistan are under Taliban control. We should neither die nor kill for an illusion.
Sometimes, a minor news item highlights a much greater issue.
A recent report from an embedded reporter for GlobalPost shows a 19-year-old American soldier getting shot in the head — his helmet saved him from death — as his unit traveled through Kunar Province in late August. They were surveying polling sites for the upcoming elections. Also, a homemade bomb, called an IED, damaged and set afire the lead vehicle of this small convoy and severely wounded its driver.
It seemed absurd to risk lives of Americans, our allies or Afghans to support faux elections.
In many parts of the country, ballot stations could not be opened. In others, massive fraud took place. Adding insult to injury, we congratulated the Afghan government on holding "successful" elections. That way, we did not have to admit to the world and each other that whatever the Karzai government is — one of the most corrupt governments in the world, a foundation of a new narcostate — democracy it ain't, by a long shot.
How much our entanglement in Afghanistan is turning into a sad farce became all too clear when President Obama flew to Kabul to tell Karzai that he ought to stop corruption.
When, in response, Karzai started negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban, the White House rolled out the red carpet for Karzai and announced that from now on, the U.S. will focus on low-level corruption. Moreover, it turns out that major sources of corruption are our corporations and the CIA.
It's time to bring our troops home.
To encourage our president and Congress to withdraw the troops, let's fasten to our lapels white ribbons (for peace) with black letters (mourning those who died) that read "Bring them home." The time has come to organize teach-ins and antiwar groups. Instead of another march on Washington, let there be rallies across America. Bring the troops home.
The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Amitai Etzioni.
(UPDATE, WASH POST REPORTS) Mass Assassinations Lie at the Heart of America's Military Strategy in the Muslim WorldSeptember 17, 2010
UPDATE: U.S. covert paramilitary presence in Afghanistan much larger than thought Written by By Craig Whitlock and Greg Miller,Washington Post Staff Writers,Wednesday, September 22, 2010. Our story below outlines the further extent of the use of paramilitary forces to assassinate "terrorists, insurgents, and others that are against U.S. policies". This is not new news, but it is new to our Media. Where's the reporting? It's time to stop printing government press releases and begin "reporting" again. Read on:
The following interview of Ex-CIA Operative, Duane Clarridge "Defends the Empire", Oct. 16, 2008. If it is in our National Security Interest, we can eliminate the threat anytime we wish, do you belive that? This video was taken from the article below the video. View this:
Mass Assassinations Lie at the Heart of America's Military Strategy in the Muslim World
By Fred Branfman, AlterNet
Posted on August 24, 2010, Printed on September 15, 2010
Read the full story here, click this link.
"[General McChrystal says that] for every innocent person you kill, you create 10 new enemies." — "The Runaway General," Rolling Stone, 6/22/10
The truth that many Americans find hard to take is that that mass U.S. assassination on a scale unequaled in world history lies at the heart of America's military strategy in the Muslim world, a policy both illegal and never seriously debated by Congress or the American people. Conducting assassination operations throughout the 1.3 billon-strong Muslim world will inevitably increase the murder of civilians and thus create exponentially more "enemies," as Gen. McChrystal suggests — posing a major long-term threat to U.S. national security. This mass assassination program, sold as defending Americans, is actually endangering us all. Those responsible for it, primarily General Petraeus, are recklessly seeking short-term tactical advantage while making an enormous long-term strategic error that could lead to countless American deaths in the years and decades to come. General Petraeus must be replaced, and the U.S. military's policy of direct and mass assassination of Muslims ended.
The U.S. has conducted assassination programs in the Third World for decades, but the actual killing — though directed and financed by the C.I.A. — has been largely left to local paramilitary and police forces. This has now has changed dramatically.
What is unprecedented today is the vast number of Americans directly assassinating Muslims — through greatly expanded U.S. military Special Operations teams, U.S. drone strikes and private espionage networks run by former CIA assassins and torturers. Most significant is the expanding geographic scope of their killing. While CENTCOM Commander from October 2008 until July 2010, General Petraeus received secret and unprecedented permission to unilaterally engage in operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, former Russian Republics, Yemen, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, the Horn of Africa, and wherever else he deems necessary.
Never before has a nation unleashed so many assassins in so many foreign nations around the world (9,000 Special Operations soldiers are based in Iraq and Afghanistan alone) as well as implemented a policy that can be best described as unprecedented, remote-control, large-scale "mechanized assassination." As the N.Y. Times noted in December 2009: "For the first time in history, a civilian intelligence agency is using robots to carry out a military mission, selecting people for killing in a country where the United States is not officially at war."
This combination of human and technological murder amounts to a worldwide "Assassination Inc." that is unique in human affairs.
The increasing shift to direct U.S. assassination began on Petraeus's watch in Iraq,where targeted assassination was considered by many within the military to be more important than the "surge." The killing of Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was considered a major triumph that significantly reduced the level of violence. As Bob Woodward reported in The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008:
"Beginning in about May 2006, the U.S. military and the U.S. intelligence agencies launched a series of top secret operations that enabled them to locate, target and kill key individuals in extremist groups. A number of authoritative sources say these covert activities had a far-reaching effect on the violence and were very possibly the biggest factor in reducing it. Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) responsible for hunting al Qaeda in Iraq, (conducted) lightning-quick and sometimes concurrent operations When I later asked the president (Bush) about this, he offered a simple answer: 'JSOC is awesome.'" [Emphasis added.]
Woodward's finding that many "authoritative sources" believed assassination more important than the surge is buttressed by Petraeus' appointment of McChrystal to lead U.S. forces in Afghanistan. McChrystal's major qualification for the post was clearly his perceived expertise in assassination while heading JSOC from 2003-'08 (where he also conducted extensive torture at "Camp Nama" at Baghdad International Airport, successfully excluding even the Red Cross).
Another key reason for the increased reliance on assassination is that Petraeus' announced counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan obviously cannot work. It is absurd to believe that the corrupt warlords and cronies who make up the "Afghan government" can be transformed into the viable entity upon which his strategy publicly claims to depend — particularly within the next year which President Obama has set as a deadline before beginning to withdraw U.S. troops. Petraeus is instead largely relying on mass assassination to try and eliminate the Taliban, both within Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The centrality of assassination to U.S. war plans is revealed by the fact that it was at the heart of the Obama review of Afghan policy last fall. The dovish Biden position called for relying primarily on assassination, while the hawkish McChrystal stance embraced both assassination and more troops. No other options were seriously considered.
A third factor behind the shift to mass assassination is that Petraeus and the U.S. military are also determined to attack jihadi forces in nations where the U.S. is not at war, and which are not prepared to openly invite in U.S. forces. As the N.Y. Times reported on May 24, "General Petraeus (has argued) that troops need to operate beyond Iraq and Afghanistan to better fight militant groups."
The most significant aspect of this new and expanded assassination policy is President Obama's authorizing clandestine U.S. military personnel to conduct it. The N.Y. Times has also reported:
In roughly a dozen countries — from the deserts of North Africa, to the mountains of Pakistan, to former Soviet republics crippled by ethnic and religious strife — the United States has significantly increased military and intelligence operations, pursuing the enemy using robotic drones and commando teams, paying contractors to spy and training local operatives to chase terrorists (Military) Special Operations troops under secret "Execute Orders" have conducted spying missions that were once the preserve of civilian intelligence agencies.
Read the rest of the story here, click this link.
Fred Branfman, the editor of "Voices From the Plain of Jars: Life Under an Air War" (Harper & Row, 1972), exposed the U.S. secret air war while living in Laos from 1967 to 1971.
© 2010 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/147944/
From the Ground: Carnegie Endowment for Peace reports "Afghanistan Strategy has all ready Failed"September 11, 2010
A special Thank You to Rethinkafghanistan for their review of Giles Dorronsoro's reporting for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, read their review here. Please support RethinkAfghanistan, visit their site here.
The latest report from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Giles Dorronsoro has a stark warning for the U.S.: the counterinsurgency strategy has already failed. The Taliban, he says, are solidifying a shadow state across Afghanistan, and the longer the U.S. waits to begin negotiations in earnest, the less likely the Taliban will be to make concessions. His report confirms what we've said for months: the U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan isn't working, and it's not worth the costs.
The full Question and Answer session with Mr. Dorronsoro is presented below for your review. But first, watch Rethinkafghaistan video entitled "General Petraeus' "Progress" Spin on Afghanistan: We've Heard It Before":
Worsening Outlook in Afghanistan
Gilles Dorronsoro
Q&A, September 9, 2010
Even with the surge of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the coalition's position continues to erode as the Taliban gain strength. Ahead of the July 2011 date to start pulling troops out of Afghanistan, the Obama administration approaches a strategic review of the war in December and will have to decide whether to maintain course or change direction. Meanwhile, American public support for the war is waning.
Just back from another trip to Afghanistan, Gilles Dorronsoro details in a Q&A the deteriorating security situation on the ground in Afghanistan, analyzes U.S. strategy, and makes the case for negotiations with the insurgency. Dorronsoro argues that Washington's approach is failing and talking with the Taliban—through the Pakistani military establishment—is the least-bad option available. The best hope for exiting the war is to Afghanize the conflict and establish a coalition government that includes Taliban leaders.
■How is the situation changing on the ground?
■How strong are the Taliban?
■How important are the parliamentary elections in September?
■Is the current U.S. strategy on course? Did the influx of U.S. troops change the war?
■Has the arrival of General Petraeus altered the U.S. war strategy? Will the policies be rethought this year?
■How should the United States shift its current policy?
■What role is Pakistan playing in the war in Afghanistan? Can the United States trust the Pakistani government and military?
How is the situation changing on the ground?
Security in Afghanistan is clearly deteriorating. When I arrived in Afghanistan this summer, I didn't anticipate a major change in the safety conditions since my last trip in April. Even with the surge of U.S. troops, I expected things to have stayed mainly the same within the short window of time between trips. I was wrong. There was a palpable regression.
The conditions have only gotten worse since the new U.S. counterinsurgency strategy was rolled out. While the coalition is talking about progress in a few districts, the general picture is quite different.
In Helmand, where the coalition has used its best troops, progress will take at least five years to materialize, according to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, James T. Conway. With an aggressive counterinsurgency campaign in Marja, coalition troops have been working to suppress the local insurgency. But months after the offensive started, Marja remains unstable and insecure. The lack of progress in Helmand delayed plans to move onto Kandahar, the second largest city in Afghanistan, and forced the United States to rethink its ambitious agenda.
Operations in Kandahar will be even more difficult because the insurgents enjoy strong popular support west of the city and this is where the most severe fights will take place in the next few months. The fighting is currently strongest in a small district north of Kandahar city where there are a series of military bases. While this is a strategically important location for controlling the city, U.S. forces have been unable to extend control beyond their bases—it takes hours to go just hundreds of meters outside on patrol. And they have failed to build a local militia or strong ties with influential people. The Taliban are too powerful in the south to defeat.
Things are also going badly in the north. The Taliban are in charge in many places and, even where they are not, the Afghan government has no real support. Of course it's not a situation where areas wholly support the government or the Taliban, it's more complicated than that as there are locations with local commanders who are not dependent on Kabul.
In the east, the United States is trying to implement a political strategy, but these efforts are unlikely to change the course of the entire struggle. Special forces have been able to build a tribal shura, or leadership council, in the Chamkani district in the east and according to early indications this has been received positively. While it's too early to tell how these efforts will progress, minor progress in the east won't have any concrete impact on the overall direction of the war itself.
How strong are the Taliban?
The Taliban are trying to take the fight to every part of Afghanistan and are successfully gaining control as the group becomes more of a national movement. The strategy is working as the conflict spreads across the country. Without many more troops than would ever be feasible for the United States or NATO to supply, the coalition will be unable to face all the threats at once, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to gain a tactical success in a single location that could have wider tangible implications for the war. The progress of the insurgency is now irreversible as the Afghan government is too weak to roll back the insurgents.
The presence of the Taliban can even be felt in Kabul. They are progressively surrounding the capital and tightening their control in adjacent areas. With the center of the city remaining safe, even to foreigners, there are fewer and fewer places outside the city that are reachable by car. The Taliban have placed checkpoints on the roads out of Kabul in the north and south. It's dangerous to drive as government employees risk being killed and foreigners are in danger of being captured. The isolation of Kabul is putting further strain on the government and coalition as they cannot easily travel outside the capital.
In the south, the Taliban are successfully holding their ground with low levels of casualties in Kandahar and Helmand, despite concerted American campaigns. And the Taliban have successfully discouraged local partners from working with the coalition.
In essence, the Taliban are building a shadow state. Right now, the Taliban are the only effective force in many areas. The services provided are limited, but efficient. A clear indication is that international nongovernmental organizations are beginning to deal directly with the Taliban as they need their support to operate effectively. The process has become so formalized, for example, that international groups can now expect to receive a paper that is stamped and sealed by the Taliban to work in some Taliban-controlled areas.
How important are the parliamentary elections in September?
The parliamentary elections scheduled for September will in many ways be a rerun of last year's presidential campaign. The political process will be extremely corrupt and the international community won't be able to monitor the election on the ground. President Karzai will marginalize progressives and use the elections for his own political gain.
Still, the elections will not be a major development in determining Afghanistan's fate. Karzai is increasingly going around parliament and through a jirga—a tribal gathering of leaders—to establish new policies. If Karzai wants to do something, he simply marginalizes the parliament.
Is the current U.S. strategy on course? Did the influx of U.S. troops change the war?
The United States has a failing strategy in Afghanistan. Since last year there has not been one serious element of progress and the situation will not improve without a strategic recalculation.
Washington wants to weaken the Taliban by beefing up the counterinsurgency campaign to the point where the Taliban will be forced to ask for amnesty and join the government. But the Taliban are growing stronger and there are no indications that U.S. efforts can defeat the insurgents.
So far, additional troops have not translated into a tactical victory. Despite arguments to the contrary, the higher levels of casualties in the coalition do not equal progress on the ground. The coalition has not been successful in Marjah and is fighting without clear political objectives in Kandahar because it's not able to reform the local administration. The idea that the coalition can win the hearts and minds of the people is too optimistic without concrete results. And even if the situations in Kandahar and Marjah improve—two big ifs—the Taliban will remain a strong movement across Afghanistan, while the United States would have to use a large portion of its forces just to hold them.
Complementing the additional forces was a civilian surge. The idea behind providing more money for development was that it would improve the lives of the local population and marginalize the Taliban. The concept, however, is not proven as there is no empirical data to support the theory.
It's quite the opposite in fact. When billions of dollars are dumped into the local economy, it destabilizes the population and society. The provincial reconstruction team poured $80-90 million into Kunar province in east Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009, but the local economy wasn't able to absorb the cash. It fed corruption and reinforced a war economy where beneficiaries are interested in perpetuating a low level of conflict.
In a year, the Taliban will not disappear as a political force or even be weakened militarily—the longer it takes for negotiations to begin, the harder it will be for the coalition to carry out the best possible exit strategy. Negotiations are the least bad option.
Has the arrival of General Petraeus altered the U.S. war strategy? Will the policies be rethought this year?
General Petraeus has not yet fundamentally changed U.S. strategy, but he wants to change the rules of engagement slightly so U.S. forces will be less restricted and more able to respond to the Taliban attacks.
Petraeus wants time to implement the counterinsurgency tactics and win the war. Debate over the future of the war will liven in the run-up to the December review by the Obama administration. The evaluation of U.S. strategy, however, will be about politics, not about the situation on the ground. All sides will try to manipulate public opinion. At the end of the day, President Obama will essentially have two possibilities—he can either maintain the current course or begin negotiating with the insurgents.
Advocates of a continued push will argue that only now are the resources in place for the counterinsurgency strategy to be effectively carried out and more time is needed to assess results. But this line of reasoning ignores reality that the strategy has already failed on the ground and there is no evidence that the situation can be reversed in strategically decisive ways. This is dangerous because the Taliban are less likely to talk in a year.
Moreover, the growing strength of the insurgency, combined with the withdrawal of Canadian and Dutch forces, means that reinforcements will be needed in the next few years. Not only will the United States not be able to begin a withdrawal next summer, but more troops will be needed just to slow the Taliban's forward momentum.
Instead, the White House can take the situation into its own hands and admit that the American-led coalition is not going to win the war. Recognizing the deteriorating conditions, the United States can lead the effort to negotiate with the Taliban through the Pakistani military.
How should the United States shift its current policy?
While the interest in a calm, secure, and stable Afghanistan is widespread, the longer the United States waits to begin negotiations the smaller chance they will have to succeed. The United States needs to Afghanize the war. Instead of a global war pitting the United States against jihadis, the future needs to be in the hands of Afghans and only then will they find local solutions to the war.
The way forward is apparent. In the coming months, the American-led coalition needs to declare a ceasefire and begin talking to the Taliban. While negotiations could be an extremely long and fraught process, the sooner they begin the more likely they are to achieve results.
Negotiations must include the United States, Taliban, Pakistani military, and members of the Afghan government and Northern Alliance. It needs to be relatively small at first as bringing in too many regional powers would only complicate negotiations.
The idea of negotiating only through President Karzai is not a good idea. He is both too weak and surrounded by influential advisers who oppose the United States. He is no longer a partner of Washington and it would be irresponsible to leave the talks in his hands. Plus, neither the Taliban nor Pakistan wants to negotiate with Karzai because he can't deliver results. The United States must play a leading role as it would be dangerous not to.
The talks will need to establish a coalition government in Kabul—that includes Taliban leaders—and security guarantees for the Western alliance that al-Qaeda will not return and use Afghanistan as a base to mount terrorist attacks abroad. As negotiations proceed, there will need to be a political agreement detailing the withdrawal of coalition forces. Ideally, 10,000-20,000 troops will stay in the country to defend against external threats, but this would depend on how the talks are going.
After a broad-based government is set up, a larger international conference will be needed to garner global support for the new body. This certainly must include India, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. It could perhaps be under the auspice of the UN, which might provide some of the important outside powers more incentive to cooperate than if the United States were driving it alone.
If the United States starts now, it can work. If the international community waits too long, the Taliban will be too strong and will be unwilling to make concessions.
What role is Pakistan playing in the war in Afghanistan? Can the United States trust the Pakistani government and military?
It's clear that the Pakistanis are still supporting the Taliban. This was known well before WikiLeaks disclosed secret documents detailing supposed links between the Pakistani military and Taliban.
In February, the Taliban's operational commander, Abdul Ghani Baradar, was arrested in Karachi. As the second-ranking Taliban official after Mullah Muhammad Omar, the arrest was heralded as Islamabad's new devotion to eradicating the Taliban and fighting terrorism. But the arrest was not a change in strategy, it was designed to cut off secret peace talks between Kabul and Baradar that left out Pakistan. The Taliban's connections with the Pakistani military persist.
U.S. policy on Pakistan, however, is disconnected from reality. Washington continues to funnel money to the Pakistani government to move against the Afghan Taliban—but this is yesterday's policy. It's far too late for the Pakistani army to reverse course. And even if Washington got what it wanted and high-level Taliban leaders were arrested, it would not kill the insurgency. The Taliban are too strong and the remaining players in Afghanistan will refuse to negotiate.
In fact, if Islamabad loses influence over the Afghan Taliban, it will be a loss for Washington. Instead of trying to disconnect the Pakistani government from the Taliban, the United States should use the links to start talking. The United States must start using the situation to its own advantage.
Ed. Note: It is time to stop war funding. Give the same amount of funds for the next two years to a Muslim Based Charity to do the reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq (and Pakistan). End the bloodshed, it is only making more "terrorists/insurgents/patriots", whichever definition of those fighting against us may be.
The wars go on, as we take a VacationAugust 28, 2010
Dear Readers: We're off on Vacation, returning in early September. Is there a war or wars going on? Do you feel it in any way? Besides the job losses and the state budgets all underwater?
In the meantime, the People of Pakistan have been hit with the worse flooding ever. Can you imagine what it is like to have whole villages washed away, all livestock gone, all crops gone? Many will die due to the lack of food and drinking water. And from diseases carried by the contaminated flood waters. Send a few bucks to the Red Cross or Red Crescent if you can.
And the United States still uses Assassination Drones to hit targets in Pakistan. Today. Read it here.
We're off to visit relatives and relax. We wish the People of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan (Somalia, Yemen, and many other places) could go on a vacation and not have war around them. It is time to End the Wars. We are accomplishing nothing except making more "terrorists".
60% of Americans say "End the War Now". What are we fighting for?August 24, 2010
What are we fighting for? What are we using our treasure and our young soldiers for? How many are suffering because we are present in Central Asia? From our friends at "Voters for Peace", here's two good articles from them today. read it in full, click here.
Substitute "Afghanistan" for Viet Nam, and substitute "Commies" for "Taliban", and if we had a DRAFT, this war would be over. Country Joe and the Fish at Woodstock says it all:
Opposition to Afghanistan conflict not just a liberal issue anymore
North Carolina Senate candidate Elaine Marshall (D) opposed the surge of troops to Afghanistan and wants American forces to withdraw from the country in an orderly fashion.
"We're spending billions to train a corrupt police force there, and here at home we're laying off policemen and firefighters," she said in a statement. "We're hiring teachers over there, and here we're sending teachers to the unemployment lines. If there's a country we need to rebuild, it's America."
And, More:
Liberal Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who faces a tough reelection fight, has been outspoken about a timetable for Afghanistan. He reiterated that stance Thursday.
"Rather than send more troops to Afghanistan, where there is no military solution, the president should lay out a timetable for ending our military involvement there so we are better able to combat al Qaeda's global network without needlessly risking American lives and spending dollars we don't have," he said in a statement.
Poll: Nearly 6 in 10 oppose war in Afghanistan
by GLEN JOHNSON
Associated Press Read the full story, click here.
LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) — A majority of Americans see no end in sight in Afghanistan, and nearly six in 10 oppose the nine-year-old war as President Barack Obama sends tens of thousands more troops to the fight, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
With just over 10 weeks before nationwide elections that could define the remainder of Obama's first term, only 38 percent say they support his expanded war effort in Afghanistan – a drop from 46 percent in March. Just 19 percent expect the situation to improve during the next year, while 29 percent think it will get worse. Some 49 percent think it will remain the same.
"Pakistan, Failed State #10,"; now Noah's Flood washes away a generation's hope for improvement; and the war goes onAugust 18, 2010
Kunwar Iris writes today in Dawn.com an analysis of why nations that could help flood victims are hesitant to do so, and he blames the corrupt government that rules Pakistan. This story is a Must Read to understand the underlying problems of "partnering" with Pakistan by the U.S. to have the Taliban stop fighting. The story follows:
Saving Pakistan from itself By Kunwar Idris
Sunday, 15 Aug, 2010
The response of the political leaders, the government and civil society as a whole to the country's worst-ever natural disaster has been both delayed and mean. It is a kind of save-Pakistan-from-itself situation.
Even the army that comes to the people's rescue when the civil administration falters or fails was late this time in coming and its presence was felt much less than in earlier, lesser crises. The world response matches domestic indifference. Only the 'hated' American soldiers with their helicopters are there to save lives. Don't we need to look at our 'friends' more closely?
The pledges made are small and much of the money promised would be available after the suffering has taken its toll. Well into the second week of the calamity, the donations received in the prime minister's relief fund remain a pittance. Among a few large donors is a rags-to-riches politician who only a week earlier had spent, perhaps, an equal sum on a wedding feast at a plush Dubai hotel. Thus he has come to represent the rich of Pakistan as they are known to the world — charitable and vainglorious at the same time.
The rains and floods, the prime minister says, had put the country back by a generation. That sounds like an exaggeration only to forestall the criticism of his government's extravagance and incompetence. The damage to the infrastructure would surely cost a great deal but repaired — sooner or later. It is the nation that seems to have lost its soul.
Its chosen representatives do not now have a dictator to curse nor can they blame 'obstructing' judges. They indulge in harangues but lack the moral strength to inspire a nation in crisis. Helping the people in distress are only the soldiers and some jihadis. The liberal or mainstream parties are nowhere to be seen.
For the failure of the political leadership and civil administration to deal with the day-to-day problems, much less with a crisis of this magnitude, the blame lies not with this or that individual or party but with the politics of vengeance and retribution that has marked the national scene almost for four decades now. There may have been moments of personal triumph here and there but the moral and institutional decline has been continuous and, barring a revolution, looks irreversible.
A quick reckoner of this decline is Bangladesh which is now poised to grow at twice the rate of Pakistan. A more tempting comparison, however, would be with Egypt which has been ruled by more strongmen and longer than Pakistan. In human development and social services starting from the same base in the middle of the last century, the literacy level in Egypt has risen to 85 per cent against ours at 54 and an average Egyptian expects to live eight years longer than a Pakistani. But, more amazingly, 99 per cent of Egyptian homes now have electricity and 97 per cent have piped water supply.In South Asian terms Pakistan shows up poorly and Southeast Asia (is altogether a different story. The old-timers can recall a time when the Koreans came to Pakistan to study our development model. Today an average South Korean is 30 times richer than his Pakistani counterpart.
In Pakistan the failure has been collective but the rot began with the political leadership. It travelled down the line to hit the bureaucracy and then spread across the national spectrum to undermine all other spheres. The causes are numerous and remedies are often recounted but relevant in the current context is the need to curtail government expenditure to save money for the rehabilitation of flood victims and modernisation of the physical infrastructure.
The size of the government calls for a drastic reduction. A smaller size would increase efficiency. One often wonders that if the province of West Pakistan (one unit) could make do with 13 or so ministers and as many secretaries why must each province now have three to four times that number? West Pakistan's secretariat had just five cars for everybody to share; the number now defies a count.
The chief minister then had but one office room and that too in the main secretariat along with all other ministers and officials. The Punjab chief minister now hardly ever goes to the secretariat. A palace-like structure that Chaudhry Parvez Elahi built for himself is now occupied by an assortment of freeloaders who are a burden on a government that runs on bank overdraft.
Then come cash handouts or subsidies. Rs70bn set aside for payment to the poor selected by parliamentarians under a programme named after Benazir should be diverted to the flood victims. Putting the poor on dole, even if honestly chosen (which appears unlikely considering the political channel of distribution) is a bad idea. The same applies to the sum set aside for Punjab's two-rupee sasti roti which even the rich can buy.
Though late, the Punjab chief minister has sensibly decided to stop this waste and divert the saved Rs500bn to flood relief. The Sindh government is now contemplating a similar subsidy in wheat flour through the millers for sale in the open market. Given our proven inability to control the market forces, this subsidy is unlikely to reach the poor just as the subsidy on fertiliser, pesticide or other commodities did not. It too will get lost in the long channel of bribe and profit.
The savings in these and other subsidies and a heavy cut in spendings by a mélange of political coalitions that have no policy or direction should make up somewhat for the lack of local and foreign donations. The saddest of all thoughts however is that the donors are being cagey or wary not because they do not realise the gravity and scale of the problem. It is Pakistan's reputation for corruption and mismanagement that holds them back. And there we are stuck. (You can write to Kunwar:firstname.lastname@example.com)
What would George Orwell say about the Withdrawal from Iraq?; 14 Million Pakistani's caught in the Flood; (Update) Wikileaks to release 15,000 more documents very soonAugust 13, 2010
What would George Orwell say about the US withdrawal from Iraq? By Hannah Gurman on August 13, 2010… From our friends at War in Context. Please visit their site and sign up for their email alerts, click here.
- As the Second World War drew to a close, George Orwell looked back on the various prognoses of war and peace that had emerged in recent years:"All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way," he observed. "People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome."Over the next several years, Orwell would elaborate a dystopian vision of the emerging Cold War, a vision in which warring superpowers would use distorted and self-serving political rhetoric to battle each other and their citizens.
In recent weeks, we have reached another historic juncture. The Iraq War, or at least the American military's role in it, is drawing to a symbolic close. To mark this moment, the U.S. Ministry of Information has put its spin machine in high gear. Orwell would have had a field day with this one. He could not have invented a more Orwellian tale than the actual story of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
Here is the official version, championed in its earlier moments by Bush, Petraeus, and other congressional hawks, and now trumpeted almost as loudly by the White House and State Department: Violence is down. Iraqis are finally (it's about time, guys) taking responsibility for their own security. The March elections were a great step forward. Iraq, we can safely say, is on the path to a brighter future.
This story marks the last chapter in the surge narrative that took root in 2006, a narrative in which General David Petraeus is credited with turning the war around. Proponents of this story know better than to declare victory, a word that has largely fallen out of the official lexicon. But the word success, which has taken its place, is everywhere. And while it doesn't quite afford that nationalist sense of superiority to which Americans have long been accustomed, success does provide a certain contentment and satisfaction over a job well done. It allows for that perennial optimism that never quite goes out of fashion in the American way of war.
It is telling though not surprising that Obama chose a military audience to deliver his official remarks on the nominal end of America's seven-year occupation of Iraq. Like all American, and especially all Democratic presidents, Obama rarely misses a moment to pay tribute to the troops — perhaps the only thing that no loyal American can question regardless of how unjust the wars America fights may be. "As we mark the end of America's combat mission in Iraq," President Obama declared, "a grateful America must pay tribute to all who served there."
There is nothing fundamentally new in this story. It is just the latest version of a longstanding nationalist narrative in which, no matter how the story begins, the U.S. always ends up on the right side of history. For the most loyal devotees of this narrative, even Vietnam is not an exception. Were it not for that cheap congress, those pesky journalists, and those traitorous anti-war activists, they insist, we would've won that war too. Never mind that we had allied ourselves with a corrupt government that cared little about the people of Vietnam. Never mind that the enemy saw this as just the latest in a decades-long war against foreign occupiers. Never mind that, as Daniel Ellsberg has said, we were not just "on the wrong side" of this war. "We were the wrong side."
For the rest of Hanna's story, go to War in Context, click here.
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From Dawn.com, read the rest of the following story, click here:
- SIGULDA, Latvia: World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Friday that the worst floods in Pakistan in decades were likely to have destroyed crops in the country worth around $1 billion.The floods, triggered by torrential monsoon downpours, have swamped Pakistan's Indus river basin, killing more than 1,600 people, forcing two million from their homes and disrupting the lives of about 14 million people.
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(Update) Wikileaks "will not be threatened" "by Pentagon, read it here.
WikiLeaks preparing to release more Afghan files
By RAPHAEL G. SATTER and ANNE FLAHERTY – 21 hours ago
LONDON — WikiLeaks spokesman Julian Assange said Thursday his organization is preparing to release the rest of the secret Afghan war documents it has on file. The Pentagon warned that would be more damaging to security and risk more lives than the organization's initial release of some 76,000 war documents.
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45+ Afghans die during air raid, NATO, U.S. deny it happenedAugust 7, 2010
The NATO command and the U.S. Forces are lying to us, the public. They can not be trusted. These wars must end. What is to be gained by continuing? What is Victory? Our friends at Rethink Afghanistan have produced this video of the deaths of 45+ innocent civilians in a small Afghan Village. This has been denied by NATO and the U.S. Forces. What would you do if this were your village? After viewing the video, go to Rethink Afghanistan and send a letter to your Members of Congress.
Pakistan President Zardari says "Coalition losing Afghan war"; 43% Americans feel US made mistake by sending troops to Afghan; Enough Dying, End the Wars NOWAugust 3, 2010
PARIS: Coalition forces "are losing the war against the Taliban" in Afghanistan, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said in an interview published in France on Tuesday. "The international community, to which Pakistan belongs, is losing the war against the Taliban. This is above all because we have lost the battle to win hearts and minds," he said, in comments published in French by Le Monde. Read the whole story here.
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WASHINGTON: After Wikileaks released the leaked classified documents on the Afghan war, 43 per cent of Americans now feel that the US made a mistake by sending troops to the war-torn country, according to a latest poll. This is slightly up from just before the release of the leaked documents last week, which was 38 per cent, Gallup said in its latest poll.
"While Americans are still more likely to support than oppose the war, the percentage who say it was a mistake to get involved is at a new high," Gallup said in a statement. Read the whole story here.


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ALSF Board Adopts 2013 Workplan and Budget, Reviews Achievements of Past Year
The Management Board of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) met on November 19, 2012 at the Temporary Relocation Agency of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) in Tunis. The objective of the meeting was to discuss, among other issues, the Work Plan and Budget for 2013 and the progress made since last meeting.
The Management Board that is responsible for defining the ALSF strategy and overseeing its work also reviewed the achievements of the Facility over the past year. The Board adopted the Work Plan and Budget for 2013, taking into account the Medium Term Strategy (MTS) adopted in 2012 that provides a five-year roadmap (2013-2017).
The ALSF has sensitized Regional Member Countries (RMCs) on legal issues related to key sectors relevant to their economic development. As a result of contacts made and identification missions conducted during 2012, the ALSF has faced an increased demand from the RMCs for technical assistance and over 20 projects are now in the pipeline.
In line with the MTS and in order to respond adequately to the needs and expectations of its stakeholders, the ALSF is implementing nine projects approved by the Board in 2012 in addition to six other projects already approved. The Facility is providing technical assistance to African countries to strengthen their legal expertise and negotiating capacity in matters pertaining to vulture funds litigation, debt management, natural resources and extractive industries management, and contracting, infrastructure and public and private partnerships.
The countries that have so far benefited from the ALSF's direct support are Djibouti, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Zambia and Guinea. In addition, projects from Mali, Niger, Tanzania, Senegal, Chad, Burundi, Ghana, The Gambia, Malawi, Togo, Mauritius, Djibouti, São Tomé and Mozambique are under consideration. At least 50 of the 54 RMCs have also benefited from the capacity-building efforts of the Facility.
Currently the Board consists of Chairperson and Tunisian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Moufida Jaballah Srarfi; Serge Zoniaba, former AfDB Executive Director and Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic of the Congo and current Congolese Minister Responsible for Technical Education, Vocational Training and Employment; Ndoumbe Lobe, AfDB Director for Governance, Economic and Financial Management; Aboubacar Fall, lawyer; and José Manuel de Morais Briosa e Gala, former Portuguese Minister of Cooperation and current Personal Representative and Special Advisor for Africa to the President of the European Commission.


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Dear sponsors,
We, at the Barquisimeto project, welcomed with special affection our dear friends, Bob and Cristina Hentzen. Their presence among the Venezuelan sponsored members is a solid witness of faith and hope. This movement is being called Walk2gether: together in our joys, together in our sorrows, together in good times, together in bad times.
Therefore, to us, Walk2gether means:
Creating links of unity and brotherhood.
To be witness to life among our sponsored members.
To recognize in each sponsored member their dignity and their right to a life full of opportunities.
To empower all who bring life to the sponsorship program so they may bear faithful witnesses to their own growth and development.
Through these meanings we join in solidarity with Bob when he says, ìBy walking with the poor, we are telling them they are not alone.î
Walk2gether represents a way of faith, solidarity and hope for all of us that are a part of CFCA in Venezuela.
Walk2gether encourages us to see with kind eyes the needs of our people.
Walk2gether is an activity that holds up humanity at all times, above all else. It gives special meaning to CFCAís statement that ìto be moreî is more important than ìto have more.î
Sunilde PÈrez
Project Coordinator
Barquisimeto, Venezuela


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She is smoking hot and a super stylish diva, but also a talented singer and designer, and she has two adorable kids with husband Gavin Rossdale. Stunning Gwen Stefani lands on the cover of InStyle's November 2011 issue. The 42-year-old beauty looks amazing in a Marchesa dress and Lorraine Schwartz bangles. In the interview with the magazine, Gwen sits down for a chat and dishes about music, fashion, family, but also about her hair color and her trademark red lips. The No Doubt singer has some important projects on the works as she ... Read More


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Get a free audiobook
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook)
Publisher's Summary
Where do we come from? Who created us? Why are we here? These questions have puzzled us since the dawn of time, but when it became apparent to Jon Stewart and the writers of The Daily Show that the world was about to end, they embarked on a massive mission to write a book that summed up the human race: What we looked like; what we accomplished; our achievements in society, government, religion, science, and culture - all in a lavishly produced audiobook of approximately 200 minutes.
After two weeks of hard work and nights in the recording studio, they had their audiobook. Earth (The Audioook) is the definitive guide to our species. With their trademark wit, irreverence, and intelligence, Stewart and his team will posthumously answer all of life's most hard-hitting questions, completely unburdened by objectivity, journalistic integrity, or even accuracy.
Read by Jon Stewart, the Daily Show correspondents, and featuring a special performance by Sigourney Weaver.
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- Andrew
- 2019-01-11
Funny but awkward format
The visual and textbook format don't quite work in audio book form, but when the bits do land, they take you back to the Daily Show in its prime and that's worth it for me. I'd recommend it as a fan of the show, or for hardcore Jon Stewart fans.
- Lee
- 2010-09-23
Good book, not great. But let me explain.
The first thing you should know is that I gave this book four stars instead of five because it just didn't live up to how good the first Daily Show book [America: The Book] was. In fact, if you haven't listened to that one, do it first. It's funnier.
This book really is great. The "new" Daily Show cast never phones it in and every personality leaps into your ears. The book is whimsical, angry, funny, politically crazy, and everything else we look forward to from Jon Stewart and his gang. Listen to this one and America: The Book. you won't be too disappointed.
46 of 49 people found this review helpful
- Hawkeye
- 2012-02-12
Like Earth, it warms the longer you stay with it.
The premise of the book is quite simple and Jon Stewart works it well. The target listener is an unknown alien race which stumbles upon the book (in some format) sometime after the demise of mankind. In our wake, this (audio) book is what we've left to guide them and a candid guide to who we were, how we lived, what we did and how we did it.
This one is a slow starter. I was a little harsh on this aspect at first, but the book gets much better after the first hour and it's enough to pull it up to five stars. The beginning is a bit out of the realm of where Jon Stewart does his best stuff and it sort of slogs along discussing geographical formations and nature in as humorous a way as you can do it. The good news is that it ultimately pulls out of its stall and makes the day.
Nice transition from print to audio. Once we get into the politico-social humor, Stewart shines. And this is classic Jon Stewart, which saves the day. His poignant, honest and sarcastic commentary had me laughing out loud during my jogs. It's on par with what you would expect from The Daily Show.
A nice, leisurely mind-candy listen that you can stop and start during your drives or runs and not miss a beat. Well worth a credit and on par with a David Sedaris or comparable work. Very entertaining and well worth the money.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
- Rick
- 2012-10-28
A Treat for Daily Show Fans
Presented as an introductory guide to a vanished human race for the benefit of visiting aliens, "Earth" is a perceptive, tightly written, awfully clever survey of mankind's whole history. It's especially good at leaving unsaid the best punchlines, which immediately form in the listener's mind. With help from others, it is nonetheless mostly the voice of Jon Stewart who--freed from the rather more frantic persona of his TV show--is a skilled and expressive narrator. It's a joy to hear.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
- Amazon Customer
- 2010-09-23
Buy the hardcover
Okay, first off, the reason for my low rating is not on the quality of the book (it deserves 4.5 stars), but rather to steer people away from the audible version and to purchase the actual book. The jokes are funny in the audible version, but are MUCH better in the actual book! This book is designed to be viewed not heard.
With that said, I did enjoy listening to the book, although I did read the copy I bought for my wife. I do think the price is rather steep for less than 4 hours of content, but this is John Stewart, and I feel he was worth it.
26 of 32 people found this review helpful
- David
- 2010-09-23
Great listen but...
This book is Jon Stewart at his best, almost. As a fan of the Daily Show I came to Earth with high expectations and found it a little flat. All the wit that makes the show great is in this book, but Earth made me realize just how necessary visual cues are to Stewart's comedic style. He's also great with banter which is difficult in book form. So three stars for a great comic team working in the wrong medium.
15 of 19 people found this review helpful
- Eric
- 2011-04-20
Hilarious and Intelligent
This was a great listen. The content was fresh and funny. They really mix it up with the narration and Jon Stewart is easy to listen to anyway.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
- James
- 2011-03-08
Fun Waste of Time
It's a good audiobook for a road trip where you are not really paying attention but there are a few laughs that are worth it.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
- Carroll
- 2015-11-10
Destined to be classic review of us!
A witty, hilarious book, that packs in tuns of informative science facts most folks probably don't know... I laughed out loud at some of John Stewart's unique spins and answers of our history... Highly recommended!!!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
- zenabuff
- 2013-01-02
Earth by Jon Stuart is a lot of fun!!
Would you listen to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook) again? Why?
The Audio has Stewart and some of his stuff from his show plus S. Weaver that read it. It's funny like his show and I think I will listen to it more than once. The only down side is I had to order a cheap book to look at the pictures from the book. Still listening is enjpyable and I laughed out loud a few tiimes while I worked on computer. It really was a fun look at the Earth.
What other book might you compare The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook) to and why?
I think if I had to compare it to another book I would have to go back to an old audio I have of the Hitchhikers to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. And yes it has that weird kind of humor while still passing alone information. Douglas would of loved Steward.
Have you listened to any of the narrators's other performances before? How does this one compare?
Hitchhakers to the Galaxy or a Big Finnish production, Sorry I am a Sci Fi geek. But it's not science Fiction, It's a like his show.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The parts where he explained things to a aliens set to invade the Earth, I was amuzed
Any additional comments?
It well done audio book.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
- Andrew A. Barzyk
- 2012-12-01
Earth People: Don't take yourselves too seriously!
This is a non-threatening review of all the quirks and ironic constructs of human beings diluted with comedy. The book is a narrator (Jon Stewart himself), speaking from a recording, greeting aliens who arrive to find a long lost civilization -- our civilization. The narrator and various members of the Daily Show go into hilarious apologies of various human staples and institutions, which are explained to the aliens like quirky family stories to strangers, making one realize how silly they are from a 3rd person perspective. Great book to explore on a rainy day!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful