Due to some database related surgergy, afoe might experience temporary circulation problems tonight. If all goes well, no one will notice anything and the patient will be happily awake within minutes of the operation, only with a stronger heart… (one that allows to more efficiently control comment spam).

The extraordinary nature of the disaster and the suffering caused by the Tsunami that hit East Asia are obviously calling for extraordinary measures. I’m not sure this is the first time the entire EU felt the need to jontly commemorate, but I’m not aware of any previous instance.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Union [held] [...]

Christmas time is traditionally a period of religious tension and social stress, and the first Christmas since the advent of “laïcité républicaine” has not spared France. Last month, students in Lagny-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne, e.g. outer Paris) had to give up their Christmas tree after a group of students (from what I’ve read, the principle won’t [...]

I have to confess to having had a fairly sucky 2004. Most of the causes are personal, and frankly not very interesting. But, as an example, my plan to spend the holiday season in Tunisia was abruptly cancelled because my wife got chicken pox. So, needless to say, I’ve been looking [...]

I should wish our readers a belated happy new year.
I noticed that last year Nick and a few of our commenters were bold enough to offer up predictions:
I?m predicting that the Irish presidency (which begins today) will make progress on the Constitutional talks, though maybe not on the Constitution itself (at least on the Giscard [...]