Today marks the 125th anniversary of the eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia. The volcano released so much ash that it affected climate as far as Europe (some people say it was so loud, that it also inspired Edvard Munch's 'Scream').

Quoted: Krakatau (aka Krakatoa) had been rumbling and sending up puffs of ash since May 1883. The eruption turned deadly on the afternoon of Aug. 26, with the first explosion coming at 1 p.m. A column of black ash soon rose 17 miles into the sky above the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

There were definitely indications of this in her biography, but nothing forthright... She really was such an interesting lady - full of surprises.

Quoted: Before Julia Child became known to the world as a leading chef, she admitted at least one failing when applying for a job as a spy: impulsiveness.

An important article from Slate about the strings that are attached to IMF loans and the corner into which they back a lot of small countries & their economies.

Quoted: Question: The International Monetary Fund often attaches strict conditions to its loans, hoping to help the economies of the recipient countries grow and become stable. For example, in order to tamp down inflation, countries have been required to limit expenditures for education, social services, and health.

Truly an amazing life...

Quoted: The world statesman will celebrate his 90th birthday on Friday. And after a lifetime as a freedom fighter, he has shown the world the true power of forgiveness.

I've always thought the United States has gotten a lot right in the past when it comes to immigration and tolerance of different ethnic/religious groups (Fareed Zakaria from Newsweek theorizes that's why you haven't seen homegrown attacks in the U.S. like you have in Europe). Let's hope we move forward rather than screwing it up.

Quoted: Europe's low birthrates pose a serious threat to its economic security, making immigration crucial to its survival.

Eek, what was The New Yorker thinking?! I think the intended satire is totally lost in this cover... I'm curious to read more analysis of this in terms of race (for example, what's up with Michelle Obama's hair?)

Quoted: Barack Obama's campaign sharply rebuked the New Yorker magazine for its cover this week.

My International Examiner review of Raj Patel's book about the global food crisis!

Quoted: The global food crisis certainly isn’t starved for media attention. Turn to any news organization and rising food prices are making headlines alongside the rising cost of gas. With all the recent coverage, it seems like a problem that came out of left field.

I agree with this article - I find it tiresome how the European media harshly covers racism and immigration issues in the U.S. when it might serve them well to do a little more introspection (especially when it comes to immigration)...

Quoted: "Will Americans vote for a black man?" I think I've been asked this question by foreigners of various origins a dozen times since the U.S. presidential campaign began in January. But contrary to European newspaper reporting, racism is not unique to the United States.

Fascinating!

Quoted: There are two dominant modes when it comes to the study of cross-cultural procrastination. The first takes the form of the international managerial missive—an ancient narrative that delineates the work and business practices of people from one culture, so that a person from another culture can do business with them. The second mode seeks to quantify, in scholarly terms (i.e., with percentages), just who in the world procrastinates and for how long.