AAMP!itude

mystery machine

Last weekend I was goin' up the highway (I-95) and passed by this tractor-trailer combo. Couldn't exactly figure it out.
The front of the trailer seemed to have these roller bristles on the top.
There were also some black particles falling out of open doors.
My impression was that of some kind of mechanical chimney sweep.
But brushing what?

articles I'm reading

The Sixties generation in Iraq; the Arab cultural manifestation of a worldwide movement
by Fadhil al-Azzawi
Art & Thought / Fikrun Wa Fann, #88 (#13), Apr-Jul 08
(published by Goethe Inst.)

A question of leadership: What's age got to do with it?; why it's an issue in Campaign '08
by Marie Cocco
AARP Bulletin, Jun 08, V49, N5

Looking beyond the Lost Generation
by Suzuki, Kensuke
Japan Echo, V35, N3, Jun 08

=- =- =- =- =-

The last one requires a little explanation. It's written by someone born in the 70's, who's of the post-Boomer generation. (Is that Generation X?). He talks about how demographics have influenced job opportunities and political attitudes in Japan and Korea.

Some of it explains why the demonstrations in Korea against President Lee over US beef have been so big. It's more than fears over mad cow disease (BSE). The US media headline coverage of the issue hasn't delved into the background of the protests.

Suzuki's article seems to suggest that there's a Left vs. Right backdrop to the issue, that Leftists want to slam Lee and his rightwing party.
They've certainly succeeded...

(addendum: Actually, the article doesn't really examine the protests against President Lee, but more into socio-political attitudes and debate between the Korean and Japanese equivalents to Generation X and Y.
Meanwhile, how have Lee's political opponents managed to rally public opinion? Here's a comentary that suggests that extreme nationalism might be involved.

incommunicado

It's weird. I don't have dial tone at home nor work.
Must be a conspiracy.

fancy Italian wheels

Over the past 2 weeks, I've noticed some fancy cars parked outside a house down the street from me.

There's never more than one fancy auto at a time. Today it was a bright metallic blue Maserati. Before that was a cream colored Maserati. And before that a black Lamborghini. And the first one I noticed was a Ferrari (whose color I don't recall).

While I can appreciate such expensive cars, I don't think I'd ever want to own one. Too expensive to maintain. (And you can bet the gas mileage is prohibitive.)

Of course, if you could afford buying such a car, you probably wouldn't care how high gas prices were or the cost of upkeep and repair.