I always have hated Schipol. For one, it is, in great many areas, rather filthy. I note this because Smith noted that carpeting in non-essential; I would say at least the carpet gives the illusion that there isn't filth covering everything (Carpets can also be useful padding for sleeping, in transit, passengers -- My nap on the hard dirty floor at Schiphol was not pleasant.)

Additionally, theye use a dual identification system for where you check in and what gate you depart from. WHY?? This would make sense if there was some variation... but they are invariably the same locale. You might be directed to check in a Sec 3 and depart Gate D7... althought Sec 3 always serves gates D-F. Why not just use one system? The signage is often misplaced or poor.

The airport also is like a mall, and they do indeed have internet... however on half of the computer terminals you cannot pay right on that computer terminal and you have to track down an IT booth... invariably located on a lower level and no where near any of the computer banks. Something about the place reminds me of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Ridiculous. Ms Hayek clearly feels the need to be in the limelight. How about this: she could have bought the family goods and food and not been so utterly demonstrative in such a clearly egotistical way. Any humanitarian mission is equipped with available baby food, and Ms Hayek is welcome to increase that amount with her ample money rather than increasing her public noteriety with her own ample breast milk. All the more appalling is that she should know full well that the mother of the child couldn't say no. This is the height of the imperial arrogance.

I am not getting into this particular discussion, or at least haven't... but as an aside isn't your Center of the Universe schema applicable in either direction on this matter?

"True, men murder wives and girlfriends in many cultures but the fact that it was a beheading and in a public place screams Arab-Muslim patriarchal nonsense."

You seem to be well informed about these matters and 'arab-muslim' culture... odd, then, that you might miss the obvious item that the couple were Pakistani -- hence not Arabs.

Oops... no one is perfect.

Aye, but cases of paternalism exist well outside these boundaries. To specifically target those of the Islamic faith, is, on it's face, a willful exclusion of bald facts. Conservatism and radical instinct towards moral policing has been on the rise worldwide lo the past decade or two. 'Honour killings' for lack of a better word, or assult in the name of moral cleanliness have been disturbingly frequent in the sub-continent, specifically, since the rise of the BJP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7yg-bdlmko

http://theseoultimes.com/ST/?url=/ST/db/read.php?idx=7929

To specifically accuse Islam is tantamount to bigotry inasmuch as such a claim willfully excludes other cases.

Obama's White House is bound to resist. I have always had mixed feeling about Ms Pelosi, but here I think she is showing incredible forsight and honorable intentions; the effects of the precident would be applicable to Democrat as well as Republican executives.

There is the additonal downside to appearing to bait that old canard that Democrats are weak on National Security by attacking Rumsfield. To that extent, Pelosi and Reid expose the weak-knees they have beofre in taking on such serious matters.

Nonethless, she is to be admired for her bursuit here, even if she is bound to be failed by her Democratic collegues (as she probably knows... and hence this is all for show?)...

"branded as sex offenders for life" <-- the crime

Rarely happens. Ought never happen. like abortion.

Not ot lend credence to the jerk-offs, but you are actually and factually (thank you TLC) incorrect. If one is born abroad BOTH parents need be citizens.... this according to the Constitution.

I guess I was thinking of the language in one of the Naturalization Acts. At any rate, the certificate [ http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/Polarik/BO_Birth_Certificate.jpg ] is completely valid. I am not sure what people were claiming about it being 'abbreviated'... looks pretty similar to my certificate.

I have read through this several times and and cannot make heads or tales of it. I don't even understand why the topic of 'WTF' comes up.... because well, you don't explain your reasoning at all. I can only conclude you were very hungover when writing this.

As for me, I think Dark Knight wasn't even a good movie.... a dull action movie no more fit for Best Picture than, say Terminator 2. moreover the first half hour is terrible from any standpoint of character development and scene coherency. I concur with the post stating that Slumdog will be remembered for years to come whereas Dark Knight will be relegated to Saturday afternoon movie-and-a-nap territory.... a nap, I at least, will have no trouble achieving before 20 minutes has expired.

She is a good looking woman I suppose, but I don't think 'sexy' when I see or hear her. A better question is: why does Salon and the supposedly feminist Broadsheet continue to sexually objectify women of high education and stature such as Maddow and Michelle Obama?

"he is a Native American"

I can only assume this is an attempt to be clever and play on "Native American"/"Indian" inasmuch as Mr Jindal is of the subcontinental diaspora -- specifically, his parents were from Punjab. If I recall, he was raised Hindu and converted to Catholicism in High School... so is 100% Desi.