Football, Robben Island & the Relativism of Political Cruelty

Well, the World Cup’s over and the teams and visitors have all gone home, but the afterglow of achievement hasn’t entirely faded for South Africans. The people of this struggling “rainbow nation”, especially its new president Jacob Zuma, can be deservedly proud of having successfully hosted this tremendous international sporting event. Over forty years ago …

Funeral Games*

Few pleasures can beat the funeral of someone you loathe. It is not, I admit, a very Buddhist sentiment, but I think karma (the hardcore, not the new age version) will, this once, overlook my rancor, when I add that the someone in question is the late…

The Great Earthquake at Jyekundo

To read something insightful about this terrible tragedy, and also respectful of Tibetan history and culture, readers should to go to http://www.rangzen.net/2010/04/16/to-die-with-dignity-in-your-own-land/ Webmaster Christophe also compiled a high-resolution satellite image of Jyekundo City prior to the earthquake of April 14, 2010, from around one hundred Google maps screenshots. This image of 12212 x 5596 pixels …