Author Archives: Harry Katz
Thomas Friedman: The Oil-Addicted Ayatollahs
In his February 2, 2007 New York Times column, The Oil-Addicted Ayatollahs (registration required), Tom Friedman argues that oil addiction can be just as bad for the selling nation as it is for the buying nation. He traces the influence of … Continue reading
Prayer over IP
Over at CNET, Leslie Katz (no relation) blogs about an Israeli start-up that allows you to broadcast your prayers over speakers in Webcams at various holy sites like the Western Wall in Jerusalem, all without leaving the comfort of your … Continue reading
Status quo in motion
In the January 8, 2007 edition of The New Yorker, Milan Kundera writes a lengthy and somewhat wandering article titled Die Weltliteratur. Towards the end of the article, he quotes Polish noveliset and dramatist Witold Gombrowicz on tha acceleration of … Continue reading
Knowing the Enemy
George Packer’s article, Knowing the Enemy, published in the December 18th, 2006 issue of the New Yorker is a fascinating account of recent work by an Australian lieutenant colonel named David Kilcullen for the US State Department. Kilcullen’s career has … Continue reading
Thomas Friedman column: 10 Months or 10 Years
I’m a big fan of New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman. I think his articles are must-reading for anyone interested in world affairs. However, his November 29, 2006 column, Ten Months or Ten Years (registration required), … Continue reading
Pope calls on religious leaders to reject violence
On his four day trip to Turkey, Pope Benedict XVI has called upon religios leaders to reject violence. According to the report here: The Pope called on all religious leaders to reject attempts to wield political power and called on them … Continue reading
Book Review: Freakonomics
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner Harper Collins, New York, 2005 The authors of Freakonomics, University of Chicago economist Steven D. Levitt and writer and journalist Stephen J. … Continue reading
ZD Net article: U.N. debate swirls around domain name power
Interesting ZDNet article here from the Internet Governance Forum meetings in Athens this week. The article cites concern in the international community about the sway held by the US governemnt over certain key aspeInteresting ZDcts of the Internet. It seems … Continue reading
Protests continue over Pope’s remarks on Islam
Despite a not-quite-full apology by Pope Benedict XVI, protests by offended Muslims continue around the world. If the Pope intended to highlight ambiguities or tensions within Islam around the issue of violence, then ironically, some of the protests and reactions … Continue reading
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