In the News.
Jul. 31st, 2007 09:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sechan19It's only Tuesday, but it's already been a good week for news.
On the art front, Italy and the Getty museum have reopened their talks about disputed works of ancient art. The key point of contention, a 4th century BCE bronze statue, has been taken off the table for the time being while a new inquiry is conducted. The statue was apparently found in international waters by an Italian fisherman who later sold it, but for some reason some people believe that because he stored his property in Italy for a while before selling that it rightfully belongs to Italy, and that's a viewpoint that just makes no sense at all. Things found at sea are the property of the salvager and theirs to do with as they please. Period.
At any rate, it's in Italy's best interest to go back to talks with the Getty as in the past several years they've received more than they've given in their relationship with the institution. So we'll see what comes of their latest bickering. No offense intended at all to either Italy or the Italians (I like both very much), but the Italian government is delving into the realms of the ridiculous with a number of its various claims and suits.
Getty, Italy Reopen Talks on Antiquities (LA Times)
In American politics, two stories of interest.
The first, that Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (R) has had his house raided by the IRS and FBI on suspicion of corruption, is a welcome breath of fresh air. This is the man who has repeatedly approved oil drilling in Alaskan wildlife refuge areas, who refused to force oil company representatives to testify under oath about their strange and sudden profit margins during a year of astronomical gas price hikes, and whose list of grievous and self-serving policy choices on behalf of himself and his cronies goes on and on. I really, really hope they nail his ass this time, but - of course - I'm not holding my breath.
The second, that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts suffered a minor seizure, is somewhat less exciting. The chief justice is doing fine now, but he has had a history of seizures and this could work to the American people's advantage in the future. Ordinarily I wouldn't wish anything bad on anyone, but in the current political climate we need some of those supreme court justices to move on. If Roberts or any other of his conservative counterparts could kick off after January 2009 (though not before and maybe not even then if another conservative gains the white house), I confess that I wouldn't cry unduly over their passing.
Alaskan Senator's Home is Raided (Washington Post)
Chief Justice Suffers Seizure (Washington Post)
And finally, moving into Asia, I was interested to learn that Abe Shinzo's party was completely routed in the recent upper house elections. The changing of the guard will effect all kinds of policies - must notably those controversial policies dealing with Japan's increasing militarization and change of constitution. Even though basic economic concerns were the main motivations for the Japanese to vote against the ruling government party, the ripple effect should be fascinating.
The US, in particular, has been looking to Japan to step up their military and reduce some of the strains on our military. This will probably gum the works considerably.
Abe Vows Not to Quit After Loss in Upper House (Washington Post)
Japan's Abe to Reshuffle Cabinet (Yahoo! News)
On the art front, Italy and the Getty museum have reopened their talks about disputed works of ancient art. The key point of contention, a 4th century BCE bronze statue, has been taken off the table for the time being while a new inquiry is conducted. The statue was apparently found in international waters by an Italian fisherman who later sold it, but for some reason some people believe that because he stored his property in Italy for a while before selling that it rightfully belongs to Italy, and that's a viewpoint that just makes no sense at all. Things found at sea are the property of the salvager and theirs to do with as they please. Period.
At any rate, it's in Italy's best interest to go back to talks with the Getty as in the past several years they've received more than they've given in their relationship with the institution. So we'll see what comes of their latest bickering. No offense intended at all to either Italy or the Italians (I like both very much), but the Italian government is delving into the realms of the ridiculous with a number of its various claims and suits.
Getty, Italy Reopen Talks on Antiquities (LA Times)
In American politics, two stories of interest.
The first, that Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (R) has had his house raided by the IRS and FBI on suspicion of corruption, is a welcome breath of fresh air. This is the man who has repeatedly approved oil drilling in Alaskan wildlife refuge areas, who refused to force oil company representatives to testify under oath about their strange and sudden profit margins during a year of astronomical gas price hikes, and whose list of grievous and self-serving policy choices on behalf of himself and his cronies goes on and on. I really, really hope they nail his ass this time, but - of course - I'm not holding my breath.
The second, that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts suffered a minor seizure, is somewhat less exciting. The chief justice is doing fine now, but he has had a history of seizures and this could work to the American people's advantage in the future. Ordinarily I wouldn't wish anything bad on anyone, but in the current political climate we need some of those supreme court justices to move on. If Roberts or any other of his conservative counterparts could kick off after January 2009 (though not before and maybe not even then if another conservative gains the white house), I confess that I wouldn't cry unduly over their passing.
Alaskan Senator's Home is Raided (Washington Post)
Chief Justice Suffers Seizure (Washington Post)
And finally, moving into Asia, I was interested to learn that Abe Shinzo's party was completely routed in the recent upper house elections. The changing of the guard will effect all kinds of policies - must notably those controversial policies dealing with Japan's increasing militarization and change of constitution. Even though basic economic concerns were the main motivations for the Japanese to vote against the ruling government party, the ripple effect should be fascinating.
The US, in particular, has been looking to Japan to step up their military and reduce some of the strains on our military. This will probably gum the works considerably.
Abe Vows Not to Quit After Loss in Upper House (Washington Post)
Japan's Abe to Reshuffle Cabinet (Yahoo! News)
