We are nearing the end of the age of nation-states. One of the chief signifiers of this change is the decline of nationalism, as people find new sources of loyalty and, as states transform, they look for new sources of legitimacy. It’s interesting to look at events in Europe through that lens. […]

Europe, World | 6 Comments »

Background
Sri Lanka’s Liberation Army of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers, are one of the most capable non-state armed groups. They aren’t state-supported, their main funding comes from Tamils in southern India and the Tamil diaspora around the world (including New Zealand). They have been fighting since 1976, succeeding in maintaining autonomy for the rural parts […]

Black globalization, Suicide, Terrorism, 4GW, Non-state actors, South Asia | 2 Comments »

Thanks Mark of ZenPundit for adding me to the blogroll - and posting about it, comparing our blog to the excellent Coming Anarchy. Also, welcome ZenPundit readers, I hope you enjoy the blog, and take some time to look at the archives.
For those of you who’ve never read ZenPundit, Mark is a true intellectual […]

Meta | 1 Comment »

Heh heh.

FP Passport: “Miami plans Castro death party”
CNN: “When Castro dies, Miami will party like its 1959″

As I’ve said before, the passing of a dictator is an occasion for celebration, but some in the committee are getting a bit defensive:
“Basically, the only thing we’re trying to do is have a venue, a giant venue ready […]

US, World | 1 Comment »

MikeE writes about an interesting story brewing in New Hampshire: Ed and Elaine Brown, who don’t believe in income tax and haven’t paid it since 1996, have been convicted of $625,000 worth of tax evasion. Now Ed is vowing to fight police when they come to arrest him - and he is in a […]

US, Politics | No Comments »

From the FSDT Top 100 list, via Not PC - I’ll pick out some highlights…
Occam’s Razor prize for missing the blindingly obvious

“I am a bit troubled. I believe my son has a girlfriend, because she left a dirty magazine with men in it under his bed. My son is only 16 and I really don’t […]

Religion, US | 1 Comment »

The trailer for a documentary film called The Bridge begins with shots of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge glowing at sunset, birds flying nearby, people driving and walking on the bridge. And then, in one heartstopping moment, someone begins to swing their leg over the side.

For The Bridge, a film crew trained cameras on […]

US, Suicide, World | No Comments »

You still can’t beat Wellington on a good day …

Photo taken by Phil on Northland Road.

Holidays, Wellington, Personal, New Zealand | No Comments »

To a libertarian, dictators and their supporters are among the lowest lifeforms we have the misfortune of living on the same planet as. Their deaths should be marked by celebration, not mourning or protest. As Bernard has pointed out, December was a good month for dictator-deaths. November wasn’t bad either, and January […]

Politics, World | 7 Comments »

Foreign Policy, “Why Hawks Win” - are we hardwired to be warlike?
“We will create an army of Saddam Husseins!” - the Boys from India?
How cellphones have transformed the world’s poorest countries, and offer a chance for freedom.
“State of the Jihad” - how the Islamists are faring in dozens of wars around the world.
Sealand for sale, […]

Linkage, Technology, World | No Comments »