A new attraction in Darwin, Australia -- swimming with the crocs!! From the Daily Mail of the UK. See the Crocodile Nugget below.
For Once, Hope in the Middle East (Martin Indyk) from the New York Times
"NOW that President Obama has finally succeeded in bringing the Israelis and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table, the commentariat is already dismissing his chances of reaching a peace agreement. But there are four factors that distinguish the direct talks that will get under way on Sept. 2 in Washington from previous attempts — factors that offer some reason for optimism."
Settlements versus Negotiations in the Middle East (Paul Pillar) from the National Interest
"For whatever reason, whenever George Will addresses any topic related to Israel the sharp logic, and even basic respect for historical fact and for fairness, that characterize most of his work mysteriously desert him. It is as if his columns on this subject were ghost-written by AIPAC, with Will coming in only at the final stage to copy-edit the prose to make it consistent with his writing style."
Globo-Cop (Doug Bandow) from the National Interest
"China is becoming a regional power. It is a decade or more away from being a genuine global power. And it will be years if not decades beyond that before the PRC is a peer of America, capable of matching U.S. power on a world scale. That should be seen as good news, at least in America. However, some Washington policymakers see no meaningful difference between the ability to defend American and the ability to attack China. Yet that difference is critical."
Estimates Say Fewer Jobs, Larger Deficits If Republicans Were in Charge (Andrew Romano) from Newsweek
"There's only one problem with Boehner's message: so far, the things that Republicans have said they want to do won't actually boost employment or reduce deficits. In fact, much the opposite."
Behind the Scenes of Gulf Oil Spill, Acrimony and Stress from the New York Times
"Interviews with BP engineers and technicians, contractors and Obama administration officials who, with the eyes of the world upon them, worked to stop the flow of oil, suggest that the process was also far more stressful, hair-raising and acrimonious than the public was aware of."
Building a Nation of Know-Nothings (Timothy Egan) from the New York Times
"Take a look at Tuesday night’s box score in the baseball game between New York and Toronto. The Yankees won, 11-5. Now look at the weather summary, showing a high of 71 for New York. The score and temperature are not subject to debate.Yet a president’s birthday or whether he was even in the White House on the day TARP was passed are apparently open questions."
Waiting for the Mavrick (Jacob Heilbrunn) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"John McCain may have survived a right-wing insurgency in the Arizona primary, but the moderate leader pundits loved isn't coming back. "
International Adoption: From a Broken Bond to an Instant Bond (Michael Gerson) from the Washington Post
"Scott Simon -- the sonorous voice of NPR's "Weekend Edition" -- has written a short, tender book about the two most important people in the world. At least to him. "Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other" recounts the arrival of his two daughters, Elise and Lina, from China, while telling the stories of other families changed by adoption. Simon describes himself as skeptical of transcendence but as taking part in a miracle."
PAINTING NUGGET!!
World Bodypainting Festival in Austria (PHOTOS) from the Huffington Post
"The painting is almost impossibly elaborate and intricate, and the styles range from the glamorous to the strange to the downright scary."
DOG NUGGET!!
More Than Man's Best Friend from Archeology Magazine
"Today there are some 77 million dogs in the United States alone. But as late as 20,000 years ago, it's possible there wasn't a single animal on the planet that looked like today's beloved (at least in some cultures) Canis lupus familiaris. Just how and when the species first became recognizably "doggy" has preoccupied scientists since the theory of evolution first gained widespread acceptance in the 19th century."
VACATION NUGGET!!
Eleven Most Secluded Beaches in the US from the Huffington Post
"Seeking out sun, surf, and sand is an easy enough task, but is it possible to stir seclusion into the mix, too? ShermansTravel.com editors say "shore"! They've dug deep into their arsenal of secret sands to present their top picks for secluded U.S. beaches, where quiet coasts invite in-the-know sunbathers to savor their relative solitude."
CROCODILE NUGGET!!
How to Make a Crocodile Smile from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"Inspired by the popularity of cage shark-diving, a tourist attraction has opened that allows adrenalin junkies the chance to swim with killer crocodiles. And, as these incredible pictures show, participants can get up close and personal with one of the worlds deadliest creatures."
Why, those crocs look pretty friendly to me. Who needs a cage?!
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