Mid-morning closet-cleaning
As the world waits breathlessly to see how the tight-panted Dutch will vote on the European Union constitution - bet your Euros on "nee, dank u zeer" - who will benefit from France's "non" vote? French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy writes in the Franfurter Allgemeine that it's the Islamists and Vladimir Putin. And in a letter to Le Point from Sarajevo, he says it's:
not only absurd, frivolous and suicidal," but also "shocking and outrageous. This perfume of national egoism, this fearfulness on the part of the well-off who cling to all they have, this church-spire politics, this renunciation of the universalism that once made the noble greatness of the Left! Seen from Sarajevo, the navel-gazing attitude with which the French discuss a constitution they brand as 'social dumping', without ever having listened to the 'other Europe', is especially shocking and outrageous. We held the carrot out to this 'other Europe' and now we are indebted to it.
Here's a UK-centric blog on the EU referendum. Der Spiegel thinks the Dutch are saying, yes to an economic league, no to a political union.
Those Scrappleface has unearthed a new draft of the constitution, one that should please the French.
That annoying Crazy Frog song that elbowed Coldplay off the top of the UK charts? It's here. I can't figure it out. Well, I can figure out why Coldplay was so easily dislodged. But what's the appeal of this, an animated amphib leaping to the tune of that Beverly Hills Cop song?
Clearly more talented is Wang Newton. Straight outta Taiwan, the Bad Boy of Karaoke and self-styled bastard child of Connie Chung gives great lounge lizard.
Via The Long Cut and the Smedley Log, come this endearing scatological kiddie song. Recommended only for those with young children or strong stomachs.
Improv Everywhere does "missions." Odd Dada moments, such having a guy impersonate Anton Chekov in NYC's Washington Square or selling fake celebrity trash. (The trash is fake; the celebs presumably real.) This team of actors, comedians and scenesters blogs its latest -- a fau-U2 rooftop show.
A site to save the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, now set to be downscaled into an Army Reserves base, via Blonde Sagacity.
Phillies second-baseman-of-the-future Chase Utley by the numbers. (from A Citizen's Blog, which concludes: "I'm impressed by Chase's development this season and dearly wish the Phillies would junk the platoon and play him full-time.")
"Seen from Sarajevo, the navel-gazing attitude with which the French discuss a constitution they brand as 'social dumping', without ever having listened to the 'other Europe', is especially shocking and outrageous." Funny how the French are obstructionists now - but they were principled when they tried to block the Iraq War. I guess it just depends on whose ox is getting gored.
Chase Utley has to play, period. He's clearly got the stuff to stick around. Already the Phillies have soured the relationship by promising him everday status in spring training and then yanking it back. Anybody think he won't remember that when he's eligible for free agency?