UNITED NATIONS (CNN) — The U.N. Security Council voted overwhelmingly Friday in favor of a U.S.-backed resolution implicitly threatening to impose sanctions if the government of Sudan does not stop atrocities in the Darfur region within 30 days.

Thirteen members of the council voted for the resolution, with China and Pakistan abstaining.

After the vote, French President Jacques Chirac announced France would send some humanitarian troops to Darfur. [From CNN]

You don’t hear about the ‘old Africa hands’ anymore, especially now that colonialism isn’t politically correct, but as one it’s time to point out some current problems.

There’s a genocide going on! Thousands of people are dying at the hands of people commiting crimes against humanity. But now, if those murderers don’t stop in thirty days, the UN is going to hit them with *gasp* economic sanctions. Now that we’re past the mirage that humanitarian concerns and democratic principles can motivate governments to act internationally, will someone either give these people some WMDs or some oil so that civilized troops can step in and restore order, not to mention save lives? Nothing big or even dangerous; maybe just a converted Winnebago bio-lab.

Scary to think that once again I’d be respecting French use of force. Despite my problems with their obstructionism when it comes to the U.S. and the Middle-east, they usually step up to the plate when it comes to stability in Africa.

And as a reminder, the attempted genocide in Rwanda is over ten years past now and many of the guilty are still awaiting justice.

I’ve been a big fan of space exploration, man and unmanned, for as long as I can remember. There are lots of reasons, but it can probably be boiled down to the fact that, as Nala says, I’m a geek.

But I ignored the 35th anniversary of the Tranquility landing. It was embarrassing. A few token speaches to honor a technological capability we’ve lost as a nation. I’ve looked at Bush’s plan to take manned space flight on a great leap back to the ’70s with the cynicism and disgust it deserves.

Maybe NASA did finally achieve the impossible: they made exploration and discovery boring.

Enter the private sector. A space race! The X Prize. The next sixty days could be the most exciting time for space travel since I was five.

The big guy’s spent the whole day (or at least since our walk and brunch with his friends) nearly nekkid laying in different positions in front of different fans. Sometimes he’s on the floor. Sometimes he’s on the chair. Sometimes he’s on the bed. He still doesn’t have the flexibility to lick himself where it matters, but at least he’s finally accepting the zen of constant napping. I think I heard him use the word lethargy. It only took nine years, but I guess age 40 (nearly six if you mature like I do) isn’t too old for training to finally take hold.

Yep, it was a great Saturday at the convention with some great friends. Geekiness everywhere. Lots of schwag, especially refrigerator magnets. There defintitely seemed to be more booths and exhibitors then there were last year. Not even sure where to start. Sure, some of the lines and crowds were a little excessive – I guess news was being made. Unfortunately, cell phones were not being confiscated at the door, leading the same people who shouldn’t be driving and talking to demonstrate that walking and talking can be as difficult. But the exhibitors and other guests overall were great. Talking with the artists is always fun, and the energy and enthusiasm these people have talking about their art is absolutely infectious. It’s tough not to love someone’s work when they’re so obviously proud of their accomplishments.

Took the morning off for my first visit to a dentist in at least five years. X-rays a check-up and a lot of cleaning and now I can actually say I have a local dentist. No real excused for why I procrastinated so long. When I had the time I didn’t have the money; when I had the money I didn’t have the time. Now I have insurance and an extreme desire to be out of the office on a sunny Friday. I actually did pretty good – I’ll have to get two cavities filled but nothing more serious.

I will have to say the ultimate irony of the morning was when they draped me with the leather smock during the x-rays: Is that to protect my privates from your silly little machine or protect your silly machine from the radiation in my privates? Actually, from my weak understanding of particle physics, the isotopes should be down to about 3% of their original strength based on a roughly sixty-day half life.

Now time for a nice convalescing swim before the weekend officially starts.

As I sit here mixing some procrastination with pre-meeting chronicide, just want to welcome visitors surfing in from the San Diego Blog. Answering the one big question from Leah’s interview of me: yes, I really am that boring.

Which candidate for President of the United States said the following (or at least signed his name to the press release)?

Politicians don’t get to decide whose baby can get baptized, who can receive Holy Communion or who can get bar mitzvahed — and they shouldn’t get to decide who gets married, either.

(more…)

When the most significant accomplishment of a weekend is giving the Pongo a bath, I guess I have to say it was a pretty slow weekend.

It’s just been too hot here to do much. I did re-pot a new houseplant. And went swimming. But other than that I’ve been very lethargic. Besides, I have to rest up for next weekend. Comic-con is a big event here, and while I’ve gone in the past and called it “marketing” for the law practice (i.e., I dropped a lot of business cards in fishbowls), this year I get to go just for the fun of it. Time to geek out.

It’s Friday. I’m not exactly sure where the week went, but I have it on good authority that it did, in fact, go. I guess I’m happy for that.

Government terror warnings in their proper context. Go here.