Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween Costumes for Couples

Happy Halloween... Are you looking for last minute Halloween costumes for couples? Here are some great ideas. Since I am such a huge fan of 30 Rock, my favorite couple has to be Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy!
If you are a Glee follower, you may want to go as Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson.
Go for the Glam, and dress up as Katy Perry and Russell Brand.
photos: glamour.com
Be safe and have a Happy Halloween...

More Entertainment and mo
re ways to follow BB&B

Saturday, October 30, 2010

October 30-31



"Our departing flesh will never abandon us."

--Line of a poem sent by a valued PDPBR subscriber; image from

VIDEO

"Vatican Protest Of Sexual Abuse Stopped By Italian Police (VIDEO, PHOTOS) ... Watch video from the protest from the Voice of America"

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Elusive hearts and minds - Huma Yusuf, dawn.com: "Washington sees bilateral foreign assistance as a way to sway public opinion and foster stability by earning the trust of elusive hearts and minds. But while the US has given Pakistan over $18bn in military and civilian aid since 2001, only 17 per cent of Pakistanis view the US favourably, according to a Pew Research Centre survey from June. These contradictory statistics suggest that the harder the US tries to improve its image by doling out bucketfuls of aid, the more suspicious of its motives Pakistanis become. ... As the debate rages about the ability of aid to win hearts and minds, the US should clarify why Pakistani public opinion matters. Is this just an egotistical concern, whereby the US cannot abide by the fact that there are some people who, despite receiving its billions, continue to hate its guts? Or is this a genuine security concern that plays directly into America’s stated goal for this region (to guarantee that Pakistan and Afghanistan are not used as launching pads for attacks against the US) and presumes that people are more likely to bomb those they hate? In the latter case, US policies face a difficult challenge.


Developmental aid may just succeed in winning over average Pakistanis in coming years. But average souls pose fewer threats to US security. The danger is increasingly coming in the form of Faisal Shahzad and Farooque Ahmed, another Pakistani-born US citizen who was arrested this week for plotting to bomb Metro stations in Washington DC. These Pakistanis are acutely aware of Washington’s schizophrenic policies in Pakistan that couple developmental aid and drone attacks. They are not likely to be won over by a sack of rice or a maternity ward. They are more interested in seeing the US alter its foreign policy with regard to drone attacks, relations with India, the conflicts in Kashmir and Palestine, and more. If it is Pakistanis like these the US aims to entice, it should focus less on winning hearts and minds and more on changing its policies." Image from article, with caption: "US special envoy Richard Holbrooke spoke in support of major, visible aid projects such as bridges that could win back the appreciation of the Pakistani people." See also John Brown, "Richard Holbrooke: Able and Insufferable," Huffington Post.

Obama's India visit will feed Pakistan's sense of insecurity‎ - Mosharraf Zaidi, dnaindia.com: "Pakistani complaints about how it is treated by the US have come to constitute the very foundation of Pakistan-US relations. The real fuel to the fire that is burning a hole in the hearts and minds of Pakistanis (the hearts and minds that US public diplomacy laboriously strives to win) is the blossoming courtship between the US and India. As fading global American power seeks anchors in an increasingly multipolar world, the growing perception that India — despite all its attendant and existential challenges — is going to be a vital economic power in the world, draws great attention in Washington DC. The US-India relationship, in the epic words of Right Said Fred has 'legs that go on for miles and miles.' India’s place in the American calculus is stable, sustainable and deep-rooted. Why? Primarily because American interest in India is driven by qualities that India wants to be known for — trade, commerce, innovation, creativity, and enterprise. The dominant narrative of India in the US is one of economic potential and hope. Pakistani envy at the strong roots of this organic relationship is understandable. America’s interest in Pakistan is not driven by qualities that any country wants to be known for — terrorism, poverty, instability and conflict. The dominant narrative of Pakistan in the US is of insecurity and fear."

QU law students conclude US visit - thepeninsulaqatar.com: "Six students of College of Law at Qatar University (QU)


concluded a trip to the US where they visited judicial sites in Washington DC, and law schools in New York. The week-long trip was organised and sponsored by the US Embassy in Qatar. The objective of the trip was to provide the students with practical exposure and experience with the US legal system and legal education system. The trip also aimed at promoting cross-cultural understanding between Qatari and US law students. ... They were briefed by [among others] ... Patricia Kabra, Deputy Director, Office of Press and Public Diplomacy, US State Department Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs." Image from

US Agencies Team Up to Support Iraqi Universities‎ - Eoghan Cullen, NewsBlaze: "The Basra Provincial Reconstruction Team and Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment recently visited two Basra universities to increase students' awareness of various educational opportunities. Jeff Lodermeier, assistant cultural affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and three PRT members visited the north and south campuses of the University of Basra in October. 'The goal of these visits is to support the education initiatives in multiple ways,' Lodermeier said. During the visits, the PRT's public diplomacy officers spoke with students about scholarship opportunities and studying abroad in the United States."


Image: Jeff Lodermeier, assistant cultural affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, speaks to a class of students at the University of Basra-North about scholarship opportunities and study abroad programs.

Ghosts, goblins, and VOA Persian News Network detractors - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "In many languages of US international broadcasting, two stations transmit: VOA and a 'Radio Free' station. In theory, VOA limits itself to news about the United States and the world in general, and the surrogate station provides news about the target country. In reality, the theory is absurd, because it forces the audience to tune to two stations get complete news coverage. A less crazy dichotomy for US international broadcasting to Iran would be for one television channel to broadcast objective, reliable, comprehensive news. That would be VOA PNN. Another channel can devote itself to screeds that are anti-Tehran and pro whichever of the several Iranian exile factions that manages to get control of the station. This channel would be unabashedly biased. It might have content called 'news,' which is to say it's not really news. Both channels can be beamed into Iran using a comparable array of satellites. After a year or so, audience research, which can be conducted, after a fashion, in Iran, would determine which channel Iranian viewers prefer. Because it's a matter of letting the market decide, the Heritage Foundation should go for the idea."

International broadcasting and the Burmese election: "enough funds" for VOA Burmese? - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "VOA Burmese is now on a 'surge' schedule of six hours per day (includes repeats), plus 60 minutes of television per week. After the election, it will return to its normal schedule, though I'm not sure how many hours that is. In 2006, VOA transmitted only 1.5 hours a day. ... The VOA and RFA Burmese services divide and compete for scarce resources, and report on many of the same stories. To complicate things, television has become popular in Burma, and many Burmese are seeking out foreign television channels via satellite. For US international radio to Burma,


the division of resources is harmful. For US international television, it will be fatal. If US international broadcasting can be reformed, it will probably discover that it already has 'enough funds.'" Image from

Sanity Rally and Cold-War Public Diplomacy - John Brown, Huffington Post: "All of a sudden, I felt back in Central Europe during the Cold War. But this was Washington, D.C., on October 30, 2010. At the Rally to Restore Sanity in the imperial capital yesterday, the mood reminded me of my postings as a U.S. Foreign Service public diplomacy officer in Prague (1983-1985) and Krakow (1986-1990). In Prague, working with the Jazz Section, I used the small garden of my 'official' residence near the Vltava river (with its then ever-present swans) as a venue for Jazz concerts. Most of the Czechs attending these events were 'dissidents' -- a hard word to define, but meaning persons (mostly young) who looked beyond the narrow, parochial views of a dinosaur communist regime. Humor and irony were an essential part of their politics. Living in an Orwellian society in many ways absurd, they used as sanity tools gentle you-know-what-I-mean winks, and, above all, music. Least on their minds was violence. ... In Krakow, home of one of Europe's oldest universities, the Piwnica pod Baranami, a cabaret full of wit and energy, was kind (and courageous) enough to establish contact with American diplomats. Its stellar cellar performances on late-night occasions were highlighted by the singing of Anna Szałapak, with whom it was impossible not to fall in love. After the cabaret returned from the United States on a tour, a reception was held in its honor at the American Consulate in Krakow. The leader of the group, the unforgettable Piotr Skrzynecki,


brought his pet goat to the party." Skrzynecki image from article

Pambassadors in the Post - Laura McGinnis, manIC: "Flipping through the Washington Post this morning, I came across this, a news supplement 'prepared by China Daily, People's Republic of China,' in the style of Russia Today. ... The presence of the supplement was no surprise. This blog has reported on China's expanding PD efforts before. According to the website, China Daily's U.S. edition was launched in 2009 and 'its circulation includes the United Nations Headquarters, government agencies of the United States and Canada, universities, think tanks, major financial institutions and many high-tech companies.' But I have to wonder how effective these supplements actually are. The writing is about as subtle as an episode of Jackass, and it's hard to read stories about the stresses of white collar capitalism without the word 'propaganda' popping into your head. And who, exactly, are these supplements targeting? As I understand it, the Washington Post's print subscribers essentially consist of me and a few dozen Luddites scattered around the city. I attempted to call the China Daily offices in D.C. and New York for more information, but went to voice mail both times. China is nothing if not consistent."

France leaps ahead of Britain, Germany as key Kazakh partner‎ - Martin Sieff, Central Asia Newswire: France is now springing ahead of Britain and Germany as Kazakhstan’s main industrial trading partner in Western Europe. The change is due to diplomatic and financial, as well as industrial, factors. This week, French and Kazakh firms celebrated the signing of no less than $2.7 billion in lucrative new industrial and development deals. The agreements were especially welcome to embattled French President Nicolas Sarkozy. ... Indeed, Kazakh President Nazarbayev went out of his way this week to publicly endorse Sarkozy and support him on the economic austerity measures he is enforcing.


That kind of support for the domestic policies of even allied nations is unusual in public diplomacy. ... Now the Kazakhs are encouraging their major corporations to get listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the second largest in terms of capitalization in all of Asia after Tokyo. That move is widely seen as moving the main center of Kazakhstan’s financial operations halfway around the world from the City of London to be based in and focused on East Asia. And to add insult to injury, the British Consulate and the culture-promoting British Council may be evicted from the prestigious historic building they have long occupied in Kazakhstan's biggest city Almaty. BTA Bank is trying to gain control of the building. A Kazakh court last week annulled BTA's prior sale of the building to its current owners, Samal properties. If BTA regains control, there is widespread speculation in Almaty business circles that British institutions will be evicted." Image from

Buttressing Pak-Turkish linkages - Shanzeh Iqbal, pakobserver.net: "The relations between Turkey and Pakistan are entrenched deeply. Both the countries share a common vision on many regional and international issues. The relations are based on mutual respect, trust and interest. The two countries face the same challenges and a common cultural heritage. Turkey has acknowledged on many forums the sacrifices offered by the Pakistani nation and its army in waging a war on terror. Turkey has rendered an unflinching support to Pakistan. Times have proved it. ... The sectors where the [Pakistan] government has to work include increased corporate sector cooperation, greater people to people contacts, exchange of students, media and intellectuals. Along with this transport, telecommunications, energy, water, public diplomacy and other industries are the areas where the attention must be focused. We must take advantage of the existing potential of Turkey. This can be a way to avert the looming shadows of misfortune hovering over the economy of Pakistan."

Joint Senior College-Camden Conference Forum on Asia - Camden Conference: "The Belfast Senior College and the Camden Conference are pleased to announce a jointly sponsored forum on political themes related to the 2011 Camden Conference topic 'The Challenges of Asia'. The event begins with a presentation titled 'The Politics of US-China Relations' by November’s Senior College Distinguished Speaker, David Firestein. ... David J. Firestein


is EWI's Director of Track 2 Diplomacy; in this capacity, he leads EWI's China, Russia and United States initiatives, reporting to the president. A career U.S. diplomat from 1992 to 2010, Firestein is an expert in China, Russia, public diplomacy and U.S. politics. In his Foreign Service career, he served at the U.S. embassies in Beijing and Moscow. Firestein speaks near native-level Chinese and fluent Russian and has interpreted for senior U.S. officials in both languages." Firestein image from article.

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Culture Club: Reston Salon offers eclectic mix of conversation, culture - Alex McVeigh, connectionnewspapers.com: "Reston residents don’t have to go far to find interesting conversations. The Chez Nous Salon, hosted by Najwa Saad, offers residents from all over Northern Virginia the chance to explore art, culture, science and other topics as explained by experts from all over the world. ... This month’s salon featured a presentation from Virginia Shore, the curator and acting director of the Art in Embassies Program of the Department of State. Her presentation was titled 'The Role of Art in Cultural Diplomacy' and she described her department’s role in collecting and displaying American art all over the world. 'Art plays an important role in all of our diplomatic facilities, it is a powerful tool of American diplomacy,' Saad said. 'Art for art’s sake is powerful, it stimulates gathering and exchange and bridge building wherever it happens.' Shore spoke of helping ambassadors find art to decorate their embassy, and the various levels of involvement.


'Some ambassadors are very involved, wanting to pick just the right pieces to reflect certain aspects of culture, and some are just concerned with matching color swatches,' she said. She also noted the various styles of various presidential administrations, and how it affected their collecting of arts. She said that George W. Bush’s administration was marked by a fondness for Western-style art, while Bill Clinton’s was big on abstract impressionism. ... More information about the Chez Nous Salon can be found on Twitter at twitter.com/CNRSalon, or at cheznousreston.blogspot.com. Image from article: Kathi Robinson, realtor, Reston, pictured with Najwa Saad

Looking East: Real J-info for fans in Japan and around the world - Takamasa Sakurai - The Yomiuri Shimbun: "In addition to my work as Japan's pop culture ambassador, I work as chief executive editor for Tokyo Kawaii Magazine, a digital magazine app for the iPhone. Toshihiro Fukuoka, who is chief executive editor of weekly magazine Shukan Ascii, is responsible for the actual editing as editor in chief; I'm more of an advisor, but I've been involved in the publication since its inception. In summer and autumn 2008, I realized we are amid a world kawaii revolution; I heard girls in Europe talking about how they wanted to be Japanese, or that Japanese high school uniforms symbolize freedom. Fukuoka was the first person to truly recognize the meaning and significance of the movement. While visiting a number of countries through my cultural diplomatic efforts, I have come across several magazines with 'Japan' as part of their name. But the Japan-related information in these magazines was often unsatisfactory for the local fans of Japanese pop culture. I began to see the potential in producing a Japanese pop culture magazine in Japan for readers in other countries and felt the first edition should be in English. Fukuoka, who--like me--attended the Japan Expo in Paris in July 2009 and Salon del Manga in Barcelona in October 2009, felt the same way. The time had come. While I toured Russia, Brazil, South Korea and China for my cultural diplomacy programs, Fukuoka proceeded with preparations for the launch of Tokyo Kawaii Magazine. To make it possible for people around the world buy it at the same time it is released in Japan, we decided to make the magazine an app for the iPhone. We started with the English version, and are planning to release it in Spanish, and then in French."

Seattle Peace Chorus Wine Tasting - Lift Your Glass for Peace!‎ - press release, WebWire: "In June 2011, a delegation of singers will travel to Israel and the West Bank continuing the Seattle Peace Chorus’ 26 year tradition of spreading a message of peace and justice through song.


The 10 day trip will be an opportunity to learn some of the realities and challenges facing the people- Jewish, Palestinians, and Muslim; an opportunity to do compassionate listening; to offer encouragement thru song and to visit various historical sites. The chorus was started during the cold war. For the past 26 years they have been doing citizen-to-citizen cultural diplomacy through trips to the former Soviet Union, Chile, Cuba, and Venezuela." Image from

"India: Asian Sub-Continent Giant" - Press Release, PRLog: "Meera Shankar, India’s ambassador to the United States, will discuss India: Asian Sub-Continent Giant on the November 17 at the Stamford Yacht Club. ... Ambassador Shankar served as Director in the Prime Minister's Office from 1985 to 1991; was posted to Washington DC and served as Commerce Minister from 1991 to 1995. Thereafter, she headed the Indian Council of Cultural Relations in New Delhi overseeing India's cultural diplomacy. Subsequently she moved to the Ministry of External Affairs. After promotion to the rank of Additional Secretary in 2002, she held the responsibility for the United Nations and International Security. Her last assignment was as Ambassador of India to Germany from December 2005 to April 2009. Ambassador Shankar has been posted to Washington since April 2009."

RELATED ITEM

One of Those Fabulous Flights: How a scrawny Italian kid from Jersey learned to feel the words and redefined the Great American Songbook - Eddie Dean, Wall Street Journal: You can go anywhere in the world, the saying goes, and if you can find yourself a nice, classy place where civilized people are gathered, it's a sure bet you will hear a Frank Sinatra song. It doesn't matter what language is spoken.


Everybody understands at least a line or two of Lingua Frank, and who knows how many have ditched their Berlitz tapes to instead tackle English to the immaculate phrasing of 'Time After Time' or 'Young at Heart'? A classic Sinatra song defines that elusive quality 'class' as much as any other American cultural export, and it's no small irony that it's what Sinatra aspired to and yet so often felt he lacked." Image from

MORE QUOTATIONS FOR THE DAY

The smell of America says, ‘Come in and buy.’ The smell of Russia says, ‘Ladies and gentlemen: Russia!’ ”


Ian Frazier, Travels in Siberia

"The French love to hate American food."

--Renée Kaplan, "Très français: An American at the table," Princeton Alumni Weekly (November 3, 2010), p. 33

AMERICANA


From Boing Boing

Best of the Week on BB&B

It's the weekend... and Halloween weekend at that! What are you going to be?
We want to see where you "hang out"...
bare legs vs hose
Enjoy these links from this week on BB&B and around the web.
Are you a BB&B Facebook Fan?
Color Inspiration: Black and White and
Holiday Entertaining: Candy Apple Red or Black
Bright Ideas: Using Mirrors and Fall Foliage ~ a new watercolor painting
A very exciting new line up for BB&B
DIY fun projects for this weekend...
and the year's biggest pumpkin set world record ... You have to see this!
For fashion inspiration: sequins and gunmetal
a vintage little owl.. and cool fingerless gloves in black...
Fun from the archives: Are you a salty or sweet lover? Bare legs or hose?

More ways to follow BB&B

Friday, October 29, 2010

Ideas con adornos de cristal


Usted puede encontrar una gran cantidad de objetos de vidrio en diferentes tiendas por lo que es buena idea usarlo para decorar su hogar.

Usted puede poner flores diferentes de otoño, velas, frutas y hojas de los árboles y llenar su hogar con estos artículos de decoración.
Espero que estas fotos sirvan de inspiración:








Lindos diseños de cuartos de baño - Inspiring Bathroom Designs

El cuarto de baño representa mucho más que un lugar para mantener una buena higiene. Si se diseñan correctamente, nos puede proporcionar un lugar tranquilo y privado para relajarse de la tensión estresante del día.
A continuación se presentan algunos ejemplos de diseños que inspiran para rejuvenecer el alma.










Modernas cocinas de estilo italiano por Scavolini - Modern Style Italian Kitchens from Scavolini

¿Qué es exactamente una cocina italiana? Bueno, si tiene alguna idea de Scavolini, puedes ver las fotos que están abajo de sus diseños de cocina donde todos ellos se manifiestan como una obra de arte.









Beautiful Living : Favorite Cozy Spot

October 29



"We sipped Beer beer. That isn't a typo, the beer is called 'Beer.' The slogan is 'Beer na beer,' Beer is beer. That's simple marketing I can respect."

--Gastrodiplomat Paul Rockower, writing from the Philippines; see also; image from

DOCUMENT

The Israel Project’s 2009 Global Language Dictionary. Includes "The 25 Rules for Effective Communication" (Chapter 1); "Poster that Work" (Appendix IV)

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Pakistan Descends - William R. Hawkins, frontpagemag.com: "The delegations led by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met in Washington Oct. 20-22 for what was the third ministerial-level meeting of the Strategic Dialogue. ... The war against terrorism was only mentioned twice in the joint statement issued on Oct. 22 . ... Afghanistan was never mentioned. 'Counter-terrorism' was mentioned once, as part of a laundry list of issues which included agriculture, communications, public diplomacy, defense, energy, finance, economic cooperation, health, law enforcement, water, and women’s empowerment." Below image from


Our Foreign Minister's questionable conduct - Saida Fazal, brecorder.com: "Overwhelmed by the importance he received in the US during the 'Strategic Partnership Dialogue' (which is not something to be proud of, for it is about American officials micromanaging our domestic affairs in almost every field of national endeavour, from security to economy, and from energy to agriculture and health care), Qureshi [Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi] thought it fit to give unsolicited advice to Iran on how it should conduct its relations with Washington. Said he, 'this administration has been extending the olive branch; make use of it. Engage the world.' In other words, Iran is behaving badly and needs to mend its ways. The Foreign Minister certainly needs an intensive course in public diplomacy etiquette. Friendly nations' government officials are not supposed to criticise one another in a third country - especially a hostile one."

Washington Must Take a Stronger Stand on Russia-Venezuela Nuclear Deal - ‎Jonathan Pearl, Huffington Post: "A good first step might be for the Obama administration to privately urge Russia to make construction of nuclear plants in Venezuela contingent upon Caracas signing an Additional Protocol agreement with the IAEA. This agreement would grant Agency inspectors broad latitude to investigate Venezuelan nuclear activities and, thus, provide an important buffer against diversion of civilian nuclear material for military purposes.


Washington's behind-the-scenes push could be accompanied by a public effort to emphasize the Iran-Venezuela connection, particularly in the context of U.S., EU, and UN Security Council sanctions. If the Obama administration is able to frame the debate in this way through deft public diplomacy, it would raise the political stakes and give greater currency to its entreaties to Moscow. Simply put, the United States cannot afford to sit on the sidelines in a world where states have often pursued nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian programs, least of all when it comes to Venezuela and its friends in Tehran." Image from

U.S.-India People to People Conference in Washington DC - Tabitha Berg, posted at enewschannels.com: "The U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with the Indian American Leadership Council and the American India Foundation, will hold the U.S.-India People to People Conference in the Department’s Loy Henderson Auditorium October 28, 2010 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.


In anticipation of President Obama’s visit to India, this event seeks to highlight the crucial role of Indian Americans in the ever-strengthening U.S.-India relationship. ... The People to People Conference represents the shared belief of the United States and India that through a multitude of people-to-people connections between our two countries, the U.S.-India partnership will continue to flourish." Image from

An interaction with Editor, American Libraries - Partners In Public Diplomacy: A Blog from The Participants Of The LVLP Program 2009 Organized by Department of State: "As Lincoln Corner Karachi Coordinator, I had a welcome meeting with Mr. Leonard Kniffel, Editor ALA American Libraries Magazine. To welcome Mr. Kniffel to Karachi, and discussed different issues and scenarios in Pakistani Libraries and Librarians, I was accompanied by Chief Librarian, Institute of Business Administration IBA Library, Director Sindh, Pakistan Library Automation Group and AIRC Director. ...


On my end, I shared with Mr. Kniffel, about my initiatives at Lincoln Corner, and its marketing as a model American Library here in Karachi and how we remain successful to win the audience in our programs in this digital age." Image from article

Listen Up! - Laura McGinnis, manIC: "The idea that Iraqis -- or anyone, for that matter -- would appreciate having an opportunity to address their leaders and help shape the narrative of their day-to-day lives, is hardly surprising. What is surprising is how little U.S. public diplomacy does to contribute to initiatives like this, particularly in the realm of broadcasting. ... While some aspects of U.S. engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan are collaborative, U.S. radio broadcasts are often not. As the almost exclusive generator of messages in this context, the United States reinforces existing power dynamics, treating radio audiences, for the most part, as passive recipients of information and not co-creators."

NATO Integration, Kosovo Top Agenda of Parliamentarians' Visit to Serbia - defpro.com: "Serbia’s Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations, Kosovo, and the situation in South Serbia, were the key themes of the visit of a delegation of 8 members of Parliament from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Democratic Governance to Serbia on 22-23 October. ... Realism and pragmatism were at the heart of the current government’s approach to NATO, the delegation heard. Serbian parliamentarians and defence officials


alike emphasized how the NATO debate in Serbia was still very emotional, marked by the 1999 Kosovo air campaign, which left Belgrade with scars still visible today. ... In the meantime, the current government favoured a progressive approach, aimed at using, to the fullest extent possible, the opportunities provided by the Partnership for Peace, including through the conclusion of an Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO in 2011. Public diplomacy was seen as the biggest problem at the political level." Image from

Failing memory, false hope: In his final Knesset address, Rabin rejected two-state vision, return to ’67 borders - Martin Sherman, ynetnews.com: "Israel is still accused of intransigence - not only by its foes but by those who feign friendship. Still it is pressed for ever more far-reaching concessions - now not even to reach a permanent settlement, but merely so the Palestinians might deign to resume negotiations. This situation clearly reflects catastrophic defeat for Israel's public-diplomacy and a scathing indictment of those responsible for conducting it."

Government's Public Diplomacy Division gets prestigious e-governance award for 2010 - Calcutta News.Net: "The Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs was on Thursday given the prestigious India eGov 2.0 Awards 2010 for the most innovative use of social media and Web 2.0 tools in government. ... In the last six months, the division has launched a series of digital diplomacy initiatives that have made it one of the first Government of India organisations to tap into the potential offered by social media and Web 2.0 tools. These include (a) A Twitter page (www.twitter.com/indiandiplomacy) that has already acquired close to 3500 followers and provides regular information and updates on foreign policy issues; (b) A YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/indiandiplomacy) that hosts 21 documentary films and will increasingly provide access to activities organised by India's diplomatic missions; (c) A blogspot account (www.indiandiplomacy.blogspot.com) that provides a platform for discussing issues raised in the popular MEA Distinguished Lecture Series on India's foreign policy; (d) A Facebook page (www.facebook.com/indiandiplomacy) that flags upcoming events and shares information on a


range of foreign policy related issues; (e) Accounts on online publishing sites like Issu and Scribd to make the ministry's flagship India Perspectives magazine accessible to the online community; (f) A new website (www.indiandiplomacy.in) that, inter alia, seeks to build a positive narrative about India in terms of its development partnerships with various countries, about the reach and impact of India's soft power and about activities of India's diplomatic missions." Image from

India to partner African resurgence, denies China rivalry - sify.com: "[A] day-long seminar, organised by the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank, focused on the economic resurgence of Africa and explored different models of engaging the resurgent continent that boasts of some of the fastest growing economies in the world. ... Navdeep Suri, joint secretary (public diplomacy) in the MEA, [was] among those who participated in the discussions."

Elections, the 2003 Constitution and Rwanda’s Democratic Deficit - rwandinfo.com: "The 2003 elections [in Rwanda] formally established what some political scientists would term an 'illiberal democracy.' Shortly after the 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections, the RPF replaced the 1991 Rwandan constitution. The new constitution made 'denial' and 'minimalization' of the 1994 genocide a crime punishable by law. It also set forth the crime of inciting 'divisionism,'


which is often leveled against dissidents and political opponents who talk about or talk in terms of ethnicity in Rwanda. These terms are all very vaguely defined, allow for a great deal of subjectivity, and provide a potential soft power tool of oppression for the regime. These laws were legitimized through public diplomacy as part of the regime’s national reconciliation strategy and, they claimed, to help prevent another genocide from taking place." Image from

Radio without borders turns 81 - english.ruvr.ru: "In 1929 Radio Moscow, currently known as the Voice of Russia, aired its first programme for listeners abroad. ... Now The Voice of Russia is going through many changes, coming up with new series of programmes, building new studios and newsrooms, and putting to use new technologies.


The broadcaster is achieving a more advanced technological level." Image from article

A surprising public diplomacy win - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us: "Yesterday I flew to San Francisco to apply in-person for a visa to Russia. ... The encounter with [a] twenty-something Russian official changed my opinion for the better. Of course, there was no where to go but up: any negative attitude would have been taken in stride, something that was expected. Overall, despite wasting nearly an entire day (much of which was my fault, not Russia’s), Russia scored a public diplomacy win."

Event – The Future of American Diplomacy – A Conversation at Belmont (Nov 9) - tnwac.org: "How ready is the United States to deal with its many global challenges through the exercise of diplomacy? That’s the question being posed at a town hall meeting on America’s 'Foreign Affairs for the Future,' featuring U.S. Ambassador George Staples. The program, hosted by Belmont University and the Tennessee World Affairs Council, is set for 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9 . ... Staples served a 25-year Foreign Service career and is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy, or AAD, which works to improve the quality of diplomatic representation aboard.


As part of that mission, the AAD undertook a major study to determine what is needed 'to enable the State Department and the Foreign Service to accomplish their missions in classic diplomacy, public diplomacy, development diplomacy, and reconstruction and stabilization,' according to the Academy. The next step is to bring the results on the future of American diplomacy to the public through nationwide briefings like the one in Nashville." Staples image from article

RELATED ITEMS

The wars we've left behind - Michael Gerson, Washington Post: Among the most striking developments of the 2010 campaign season is the vast silence on matters of war and peace. President Obama seldom raises the topic on the campaign trail, and his Tea Party critics have no discernible foreign policy. Reacting to a list of public issues, fewer than 10 percent of Americans rank the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as their top concern. When Gallup recently asked voters an open-ended question about their main priorities, war in general was brought up by 3 percent and Iraq by 1 percent. Afghanistan was an asterisk, mentioned by less than one-half of 1 percent of respondents.

Intelligence spending at record $80.1 billion in first disclosure of overall figure - Walter Pincus, Washington Post: The government announced Thursday that it had spent $80.1 billion

on intelligence activities over the past 12 months, disclosing for the first time not only the amount spent by civilian intelligence agencies but also by the military. The so-called National Intelligence Program, run by the CIA and other agencies that report to the Director of National Intelligence, cost $53.1 billion in fiscal 2010, which ended Sept. 30, while the Military Intelligence Program cost an additional $27 billion. Spending on intelligence for 2010 far exceeded the $42.6 billion spent on the Department of Homeland Security and the $48.9 billion spent on the State Department and foreign operations. Image from


AMERICANA

"Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta may not sound famous, but the University of South Carolina is offering a course next spring devoted to her — and the sociology of fame.

Apparently one secret to becoming famous is to change your name. Ms. Germanotta now goes by Lady Gaga.

What else accounts for the soaring popularity of the 24-year-old global phenom? The question has intrigued and inspired Mathieu Deflem, 48, a sociology professor at the University of South Carolina at Columbia, who plans to teach a course called 'Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame.' He believes it is the only such full-time college course in the country.


He wants to explore what makes a person famous and what being famous means in today’s culture. Or, as the course description puts it: 'The central objective is to unravel some of the sociologically relevant dimensions of the fame of Lady Gaga.'”

--Katharine Q. Seelye, Beyond ABCs of Lady Gaga to the Sociology of Fame, New York Times; image from

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From Boing Boing