this is just the decision we are facing here in the US

Fiscal austerity or deficit spending?

The Independent's Johann Hari makes the case against austerity. Moreover, he adduces that most unusual of elements in modern fiscal policy debates--actual real-world evidence, shockhorror!

The Conservatives' (and, if they keep gaining influence, the GOPs') plan to cut government spending in the face of recession is not only a bad idea, it's exactly the opposite of what governments should be doing. Deficits are a critical issue, but they're an issue we can't deal with until *after* the economy improves. And the economy is going to get WORSE if we impose austerity measure son government.

*sigh* this is the great friendly democracy we're supposed to support, the light to the nations?

New Israel Fund article on the recent destruction of a Bedouin village by Israeli authorities, which notes that "In Israel, 93 percent of the land is owned by the Israeli government or quasi-governmental agencies like the Jewish National Fund. Few Israelis own the land they live on; instead, private dwellings are granted 99-year leases by the government. ... Since Israel's founding, almost every new development, town, neighborhood and even city constructed for the growing population has been reserved for Jews. ... Arab Israeli and Bedouin citizens have no other options but to build illegally as they are routinely denied building permits."

also coverage in

Ha'aretz newspaper

BBC news

Another story from Ha'aretz describes how, "Since 1967, Israel has prevented the growth of Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley by cutting off their water supply or declaring large areas as live fire zones."

Gosh, I have no idea why Israel is best with hostile enemies that want to destroy it...

is it Clifton you're lookin' for... or Clifton?

I'm reading about the skirmish of Clifton Moor, a rear-guard action during the 1745-1746 Jacobite Rising. A footnote to several articles I've read (all cribbed from the same source, I suspect) recounts that a skeleton clad in tartan found in the 1920s at Stanhope is thought to be the remains of a casualty from this battle.

Stanhope is, indeed, not far from Clifton.

The Clifton in County Durham.

But the skirmish at Clifton took place at Clifton in Cumbria.

Which is the other side of the Pennines, about 70-80 miles away.

What doesn't help matters any is that if you put "Clifton, Cumbria, UK" into Google's map search... you get Clifton in Cty. Durham.

I can't help thinking that Liam and Donal must be "helping" Google...