Democracy or hypocrisy ?

Democracy or hypocrisy? That's the question on the lips of many regarding the recent elections in Iran? It's a difficult situation, the election choice was basically between the openly anti-Western Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who made it clear he wanted to end Iran's isolation and talk to the Americans. An easy choice if you ask me, and by all accounts an easy choice if your a young Iranian, who it would seem voted for Mousavi. Only they didn't, not according to the results that is, but is it true? Was the election fixed? Is democracy in Iran hypocrisy? Is it really a dictatorship, as many have long thought? Is the civil unrest in Iran going to have any effect?

I've been told that Tehran is an interesting city to visit, although at the moment, it's probably wise to steer well clear! The coverage I've seen of the demonstrations and resulting police crack down is a little scary, the beatings the police dish out are indiscriminate and un-targeted. A lot of what we've seen has come from cell phones and that sort of thing from sources other than the traditional media, which is rather brave. Also a lot of news has come from bloggers, showing that the voice of the people will find it's way out, someway, some how. It's important that the greater world sees what going on, but equally, if not more important is that normal Iranian people see for themselves what's going on. Something I fear is not going to happen, so far there has been a crack down on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, feeds of these sites have now been stopped according to sorces inside Iran, along with other media sites, but that's not all, even the BBC's local broadcast satellite was blocked for a time, here's what the beeb said. What the future holds, we can not be sure, but what we can guarantee is the world is watching, even if normal Iranians cant!

Another story gthat been making the news over here is that of Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin's row with late night show host David Letterman and his rather 'unfunny' joke about here daughter getting knocked up by some sports personality.

Letterman quipped that the Palin family went to a Yankees game and "there was one awkward moment during the seventh-inning stretch: Her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez. Palin says it, "crossed the line. Apparently she was at the game with her 14 year old daughter and not the 18 year old, who is an unmarried mother!

Palin has revered to the joke as "sexually perverted" "a degrading comment about a young woman" and has demanded he apologise. "It's not acceptable. No wonder girls have such low self-esteem in America when we think it's funny for a so-called comedian to make such a remark as he did and to think that it's acceptable" She said, and on "This so-called humor, I don't find it humorous." On a family statement on the matter released Thursday, it said "Plus, it would be wise to keep Willow (the 14 year old!) away from David Letterman." Asked recently if she stood by her response or believed it was in any way appropriate to insinuate that Letterman could not be trusted in the company of a 14-year-old girl, Palin stood pat. "Take it however you want to take it. It's a comment that came from the heart,"

Thick skin? Profile advancement? Caring mother? Rude bitch? Darn fine correct woman? You pick the one that best suits your view, I know which one fits mine. But, is she not the same woman that held a babyshower for her daughter who at the time was 16, is she not the same woman that took her kids to political rallies, then complains when the media asks questions, is she not the same woman who is against same sex relationships, let along marriage, is she not the same woman who thinks its fine of people to carry handguns and semi automatic machine guns, is she not the same woman who said she can see Russia from her house, is she not the same woman who wants to run for President in 2012?

The price of gas has risen each day for the last 16 according to the TV reporter this morning, which is true, in many places the price for gas (or petrol if your a Brit) is around $2.77 a gallon. Which for the locals is a lot, but there's still a long way to go before it's up to the over inflated tax heavy prices we have to pay in England, which I worked out roughly would equate to $6.94 a gallon!

It's Monday morning and guess what? It's raining! For a few moments I could have been back home in England, overcast skies, rain forrcast for the day, then looking at the tempatures shakes me right back to reality, in England I aint! It's going to be around 88 today, low because of the rain!