---

The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream
Tang Yiwen seems to materialise from nowhere when she approaches at the agreed rendezvous outside a Beijing restaurant. She cuts a nun-like figure in a girlish dress, white ankle socks and black shoes. Tang's conversion to Falun Gong followed a familiar pattern

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: Democracy Is Everybody's Business
In the early '90s, Krist Novoselic played bass for Nirvana, one of the most popular bands of the decade. While politically active as a musician, in his post-rock-idol life he has become very involved in politics. In September, Novoselic released his first book, "Of Grunge and Government: Let's Fix This Broken Democracy," which takes on the issues of political activism and electoral reform. Novoselic is currently on a lecture tour, including a stop in Denver last month.
As far as music goes, I like to say that democracy is everybody's business. Musicians have an edge on other vocations or pastimes because people really look for meaning in music, and I believe that people look for meaning in their politics. I say in the book that it's no mistake that a political event is called a rally, because you want to rally people. I make the analogy that there is a time for a new wave in music when things get predictable and the establishment is just entrenched, and I believe the time is right for a new wave in politics. This new wave would be greatly facilitated by a change in our electoral system to have more inclusive elections and have more competition.
• Meaningful work takes time. It's going to be a colossal undertaking [ ]
• · Chris Sheil, Backpages What's that on my neck? [Don Watson: This is the danger with old enemies, especially ones your side has humiliated. One day – a day perhaps when you are gazing at your reflection in a pond – they at last get their foot on the back of your neck, and there’s no pity left in them and nothing will persuade them to take it off. All the days of your life they will make you pay.]
[Canberra defied the national trend in the federal election by swinging marginally to Labor when most of the nation swung to the Liberals: It may be that Canberrans - most of them more intimately acquainted with federal than local government - will exact some revenge ]
• · · The major media networks have been willfully ignoring alternative voices in this presidential election, focusing only on the two major parties, Democratic and Republican Michael Badnarik’s and David Cobb’s arrest last Friday
• · · · Adam Wolfson: We have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom The Two Faces of Liberalism ; [Was informing the government of the investigation into Mr Dunning before the subject was informed wrong. Is it is the Police`s role to protect the Government from embarrassment? Not when but why: Police chief 'right' to tell ministers]
• · · · · I team: Bombshell piece on voter fraud
• · · · · · They leave home with the promise of a better life in a wealthier land, but a sad and degrading existence awaits. Leonie Lamont reports on women caught in the sex trade