The World's Plaidiest News Source

Punished Pianist a Sign of Turkish Shift?

• Middle East
• European Eurasia

A Turkish court just sentenced a concert pianist 10 months of jail time for ‘insulting religion.’ Say what? I thought Turkey was a total secular society and well established democracy where such things are unheard of? Indeed! Thus my interest in the story! Is this ruling a sign that Turkey’s ruling AK Party is moving to make the country “more religious”….or is it just an example of a typical conservative issue that occurs in societies the world over? Hmmm…maybe a little of both, but in Turkey’s case the outcome of such a shift will have influence in other Islamic states across the region, and the world.

Related Stories:
Turkish pianist Fazil Say convicted of insulting Islam
Opinion: Turkey's Shameful Prosecution of Pianist Fazil Say
A whole paper on the subjecT: MUSLIM POLITICS WITHOUT AN “ISLAMIC” STATE: CAN TURKEY’S JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY BE A MODEL

Keywords: Turkey, AK Party, pianist, secular, democracy, free speech, conservative, liberal, Arab Spring, Muslim, Islam, Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt

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Geography of Pope-Picking

• World
• European Eurasia

Holy Ghost! We got a new Pope in the Vatican Cit-izzle! And he ain’t an old white European dude! How the heck did that happen, and why? WHere are the Catholics at, and what is the future of the geo-location of the faith? The Professor aims to explore the mysteries and methods behind the picking of this new Papa, one Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina aka Pope Francis….the first leader of the Catholic Church from the New World! In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

Related Stories:
Cardinals Pick Bergoglio, Who Will Be Pope Francis

Keywords: Pope, Catholic, Christianity, Vatican City, Bergoglio, Argentina, Latin America, Africa, Europe, Byzantine Empire, Roman

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Is the EU becoming E-Useless? The EU-3 on Diverging Paths….

• World
• European Eurasia

While the main stories out of the European Union center on the economic and financial fiasco that the block has been suffering through for years, the Professor actually sees a much bigger issue forming behind the scenes: a true ideological division of the EU, epitomized by the diverging roles of the 3 biggest players in the bunch…the EU-3! France suddenly has a new-found military leadership prowess; the Germans remain the bank and fiscal boss of Europe; and the Brits (who have never had a leadership role in the EU) are seemingly ready to bail out of the union altogether! This is much more than the standard disenchanted disagreements….this smells more like a devolution!

Keywords: EU, European Union, France, Germany, UK, US, Mali, devolution

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A Return of Rochambeau? Hollande Getting Hard Core!

• European Eurasia
• Sub-Saharan Africa

In another 2013 world leader update, the Professor focuses on France, where a surprising turn of events has suddenly shown French President François Hollande as a force to be reckoned with, nationally and internationally no less! With his political party and allies commanding a majority of the government, he has the power to make things happen, and he is now riding that train for all it’s worth here at the onset of the new year. From tax policy to labor contracts to social policy, Hollande is moving forward with clarity and resolution that is enviable in most of the other grid-locked democracies.  And the final kicker? Hollande has now thrust France back into the international power regime by sending troops to take back Mali from radical Islamist and terrorist groups! France leading the way militarily? How the hell did that happen? Who knows, but this Hollande guy is one to watch as he brings France back into contention as a significant global player.

Keywords: France, taxes, austerity, social policy, gay rights, labor reform, Germany, Europe, US, Mali, Islamist, terrorists, colonial power, West Africa, war on terror

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A pre-election raging rant on the US economy is in order!

• World
• European Eurasia
• The Americas

A pre-election raging rant on the US economy is in order! What sparked the Professor’s prolific and pugnacious prattle on this topic? 1)A story on the powerhouse manufacturing sector in Germany combines with 2)the total lack of any serious debate on this topic by the two wanna-be presidential contenders, as usual. Would love to hear your opinions on the state of the US economy and the US workforce in comparison to Germany’s….and your thoughts on how the US as a society should be fixing it’s sorry state of affairs.

Related Stories:
Germany's secret to staving off the eurocrisis? Manufacturing.
WORK IS NOT THE ENEMY

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