MAYBE WE ARE A NATION OF SELF-ABSORBED ASSES Last week, more Australians died in Bali than in any time outside of war. Sound familiar? It should. The tragedy in Bali has hit Australia as emotionally as the September 11 attacks hit the United States. And yet, as this brief opinion piece notes, it registers barely a glimmer for most Americans. The Miami Herald is typical of most U.S. news services, it notes: "The online paper refers to two Americans killed and three injured in the blast. As for the rest: "Most of the dead are foreigners," the article stated."

(AND I SAID TO MYSELF) What a wonderful world. After China, Iceland and Spain are neatly tucked under my belt, Africa beckons. The "A Day In The Life Of Africa" photo project shows why. What a beautiful book. "On February 28, 2002, the race was on; nearly 100 of the world's top photojournalists had 24 hours to document the entire continent of Africa. In this 24-hour journey, the photographers captured images that celebrated the incredible diversity of Africa's people, geography, and customs. Their assignments brought them from the teeming markets of Marrakesh to the windswept deserts of Namibia. They documented the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, a sultan's court in Niger, the hip Lagos music scene, and the quiet dignity of a Zambian AIDS hospice." Read the overview. Peruse the photos.

WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO TELL THE CAT They really do get snitty as they get older. Unlike old people who revert to childhood, old cats revert to being cantankerous adults.

AT WAR WITH A PEACE PRIZE The New Republic's editor, Peter Beinhart, lays out a history of the Nobel Peace Prize and lays into the nomination committee for its choice of former President Jimmy Carter as this year's recipient. I don't disagree with much of what Beinhart says -- there are better (and less well-known) choices, the committee did seek to send an inappropriate message to the Bush administration with the award, and looking at Carter through a thin lens shows a President who pandered to dictators as often as he advanced human rights. But as a national figure in the United States, Carter remains one of the more conscientiously active former Presidents in modern times, and I still believe the work of The Carter Center is valuable. Does it, or he, merit the Nobel Peace Prize? I hesitate to say. But he's certainly a better choice than one selected in the early 90s, Yasser Arafat. Far better.

ART.DOT.DEAD Arts & Letters Daily was a nice, novel site, which of course meant it was doomed from the start. Providing daily links to three or four solid cultural or arts stories, as well as hundreds of past links and links to assorted publications, A&L Daily has been tossed into the gaping maw of bankruptcy court. I'm sure countless pages of dynamic HTML is going to net a lot of cash in auction. In the meantime, the site provides some links to other online resources.

MELTING TENSION IN IRAN New polls published in Tehran last week demonstrate both the gap between the Iranian public and government, as well as the government's gradually loosening hold on opinion. According to Neue Zurcher Zeitung, "the surveys revealed that a large majority of those polled advocate dialogue rather than confrontation in the dispute with the "Great Satan" America... It illustrates three fundamental aspects of this dispute: the relative openness and intensity with which the social and political debate is being carried out in Iran today; the repression with which the conservative establishment is trying to muzzle the discussion, and the gap between the mood and opinion among the general populace and the political course which the country has inherited from the Islamic Revolution and its leader Ayatollah Khomeini." There exist huge opportunities to widen the informal dialogue between Iran and the U.S., opportunities that can do more to transition the clerical government than the current approach.

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES THEORY David Ignatius combines his sharp knowledge of economics with his deft view of Middle Eastern politics this morning as he explains why the threat of war against Iraq really isn't about oil.

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 I read General Anthony Zinni's speech to the Middle East Institute last week, and was just pointed to this Salon post that captures the Q&A that followed. I'm strongly inclined to agree with Zinni that the immediate need to deal with Iraq ranks in the medium priority range. Here's his take: "The question becomes how to sort out your priorities and deal with them in a smart way that you get things done that need to be done first before you move on to things that are second and third. If I were to give you my priority of things that can change for the better in this region, it is first and foremost the Middle East peace process and getting it back on track. Second, it is ensuring that Iran's reformation or moderation continues on track... third is to make sure those countries to which we have now committed ourselves to change, like Afghanistan and those in Central Asia, we invest what we need to in the way of resources there to make that change happen... My personal view, and this is just personal, is that I think this [Iraq] isn't No. 1. It's maybe six or seven..." Here'd be my regional shortlist: continuing efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, supporting Iran's moderation, actively stabilizing and rebuilding Afghanistan, strongly encouraging reform in Saudi Arabia, strengthening our relationships with relatively moderate states like Jordan and Qatar, and more forcibly containing Iraq while taking on these other tasks.

CASHING OUT David Eggers has done something rare and noble and certain to pay-off: he's self-published his second novel and made it available exclusively through McSweeney's and some small, independent bookstores. But apparently, "You Shall Know Our Velocity" is one fine novel. Read all about it, courtesy of the Philadelphia City Paper.

ARE WE READY FOR NEW URBANISM? The Magic Eightball says, "Not likely." But Metropolis Magazine sees a sliver of hope in a Yale School of Architecture exhibit by Dutch firm MVRDV, which looks at how to add population density to cities. That, obviously, is a bit contrary to the American approach to public planning, which has a tendency to ask how we can thin out our living zones, burn more acreage and encourage people to buy larger homes for their emptier lives. Ick.

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE HALL OF JUSTICE Yesterday was the start of two days of open debate at the U.N. Security Council as members of the Non-Aligned Movement took to the floor to state their opinions and perspectives in the Iraq deadlock. Scroll down to the statements to get a snapshot of where member nations publicly stand, though bearing in mind that there usually is a gulf between most government's public and private positions.

PROPAGANDA, URDU STYLE It's clear from this poster, which outlines all the reasons why global corporations are bad for people, that Central Asian propagandists are a spirited lot. It also explains the level of heated, irrational hatred for America that you stumble upon every now and again as you roam the Third World (it being different from a fair amount of rational hatred you sometimes find).

FAKERS ROCK I was stunned, awed and a wee bit disgusted when Bob sent me this link. It leads to the dark cavernous hallways of the Rocklopedia Fakebandica, which describes itself in this way: "Behold the glory that is the ROCKLOPEDIA FAKEBANDICA, seventh revised, unabridged edition! Finally, all the fictional bands and singers from TV and movies listed in one convenient, scarily obsessive place. Why? It's the Internet, stupid! The Internet was created for such things as this!" Over 400 bands and all the sordid details your pop-crazed mind can absorb.

LET'S BEGIN AGAIN A thoughtful and knowledgeable online discussion with Post reporter Jefferson Morley, who spent three days at a conference in Havana that brought together key surviving figures (American, Russian and Cuban) from the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear conflict 40 years ago this past week. Timely and intelligent.

THE COALITION IS THE MESSAGE The White House floated its plan for a post-war Iraq last week, and shades of Douglas MacArthur, it's calling for the installation of a U.S. general to manage the country until things stabilize. Because we know how freakin' stable things are in the Middle East. The Post's lead editorial gets right to the problem: an "American proconsul could also galvanize anti-American feeling in Iraq and throughout the Middle East; it would appear to confirm the suspicions of Arab nationalists -- already widely broadcast around the region -- that the real purpose of the Bush administration is to colonize Iraq and seize control of its oil supplies." As much as I'd like to see Bush & Co. fix what they break, I'm not sure they have the right idea on this one. Maybe they could just turn the country over to Shell or Exxon.

ALL HANDS ON THE BAD ONE Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein lets loose (in a familiar, relaxed way) on The Boss, the evolution of her band and how Corin's new son has turned America's punk rock icons into a nurturing clutch of tub thumpers. Well, not quite. They're making their East Coast swing following the release of their new CD on the Kill Rock Stars label. Catch them Saturday in Richmond, Sunday in DC or in Baltimore the following week.

HMM. SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS ONE COMING. A stunned Bush administration now has another opportunity to apply its new doctrine of pre-emptive action. Does this sound familiar: a corrupt dictator who represses, starves and brutalizes his own people, threatens his neighbors and is pursuing weapons of mass destruction? Welcome to the Axis of Evil, North Korea. If we're really lucky, Bush will get us into a half dozen regional conflicts by the time he leaves office. That'll do wonders for the economy, our reputation in the world and presidential historians. For once, I'd like to see this administration actually manage a crisis, rather than throw gasoline on it.

THE NINE PLANES OF DINING Rosecrans Baldwin's excursion to Daniel should probably be on anyone's short list of things to experience before they pass on -- and if not a lavish meal at one of New York's finest restaurants, then somewhere particularly stellar. I've managed it twice -- though the last included $200 just for wine and port (which stops tasting like varnish when you're paying $30 a snifter). Rosecrans offers a tastier tour in his Morning News piece.

CLAY-TASTIC Wallace and Gromit return, courtesy of the BBC, in a series of new shorts. You can watch one of them -- "Soccamatic" -- or follow the links for more Wallace and Gromit madcap fun.

GETTING ON WITH YOUR WAR It strides that tepid line between being eye-rollingly stupid and trite (that's one side of the line) and being clever and trite 9the other side of the line), but "Get Your War On" is pretty bold. Plus, it comes in brilliant 3D-style red with the edgy use of the word "fuck" tossed in just to get its point across. The last strip on this page says it all (the linked one, that is... the one you're going to when you click the link in this paragraph).

EUROPEAN FOOD FACISTS The Greeks and the Danes are at it again. Well, maybe they're at it for the first time. Regardless, the European Union has declared that feta cheese belongs to Greece. All others need not apply. "Feta ... will no longer face illegal competition from other white cheeses in brine," the Greek Dairies Association said in a statement.

DAY OF THE SUGAR DEAD Yes, it's almost that time again -- as le bleu blog kindly reminded me. Time to order your Mexican Sugar Skulls to better celebrate the Day of the Dead! And if you've an aversion to skulls and would prefer to have a Day of the Dead Skeleton Dog, well, they have those, too! Woo. Check out the colors...

IN WHICH SARAH GOES MAD Fitting that Miss Hatter is all over the place these days, what with her name and waistcoat and all. But after months of glancing at her site, sighing with the barest ounce of sadness at her lethargy and moving on, I was startled by the energy behind the Sarah Hatter Lifestyle Change Project. Maybe she'll get lethargic again if she just visits South Carolina and realizes what a bad option #1 is.

AVAIL YOURSELF OF THIS BAND Sheesh, after reading this TD profile of international punk stars Avail, I feel like I should refer to them as America's Sweethearts. But maybe it's because the profile was penned by lanky Mark Holmberg, one of the finest reporters in Virginia. Of course, it could just be because the bandmembers are just so damned lovable: "A sign on the wall at the old Metro nightclub: "Capacity 333, except when Avail plays." Their new CD is out, and they're getting ready to pogo with the Italians again.

ECO, ECHO In Europe, everywhere I looked were copies of Umberto Eco's new novel, "Baudolino" -- in French, German, Spanish, Italian. Gnashing my teeth, yet secretly pleased that the American publishing empires were standing in line for this one, I chose to wait (rather than actually have more than a passing command of any of those languages). And now, here it is. Eco will be speaking at five cities around the country, including at Folger Theatre in D.C. this Friday.

GET ON THE GROOVY TRAIN This will be beaten into your head by January: The Nitrate Hymnal is going to be amazing. Sign up for their email announcements to stay current with what is shaping up to be one helluva hip ensemble, debuting a multimedia, punk opera in just three months. Here's the latest: "It's rehearsal every weekend through December 22, with a few public performances thrown in. All of the workshop events are free, so please come out and say hi if you're in DC. The first will be at Punk Not Rock, at the Warehouse Theater on 10/21 at 7.30 p.m. Also appearing that night is the Cypress String Quartet, (courtesy of Washington Performing Arts Society)... The Warehouse is located at 1021 7th Street, NW, between NY Ave and L. The second performance will be at Art-O-Matic on 11/24 at 5 p.m.(you can also check out www.artomatic.org). Art-O-Matic is at the old EPA building, 401 M Street, SW (formerly Waterside Mall).

BOOK CLUBBING The Post's Book Club archives contains links to all of the Post's Book Club selections over the past few years, along with editor's notes and transcripts of online discussions with either the author or the Book Club editor. This month's selection is the new book by Shusaku Endo, "Silence."

DEMOCRATIC SPARK The plausible defeat of Jeb Bush in the Florida gubernatorial debate is perhaps the only outcome of the national elections that stands to inject energy into the Democratic Party. And if McBride wins, it will be by being disingenius and fuzzy -- pretending to be an aw-shucks kinda fellow with a lot of feel-good, general ideas for making the world a better place. Which is a shame for the party, as it speaks volumes about the quality of candidates and the quality of issues that are in play this year.

RUMSFELD'S EMPTY BOWL Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld keeps a glass bowl in his office, and encourages people to drop a coin in it when he says something nice. It's empty. Apparently, Rumsfeld's tendency to speak his mind and micromanage decisions is beginning to haunt the halls of the Pentagon. In fact, rumors are swirling that much of the top brass is beginning to look outside the Pentagon for their next career moves. This in-depth Washington Post article cites dozens of military insiders who claim that "there is a huge discrepancy between the outside perception of Rumsfeld -- the crisp, no-nonsense defense secretary who became a media star through his briefings on the Afghan war -- and the way he is seen inside the Pentagon. Many senior officers on the Joint Staff and in all branches of the military describe Rumsfeld as frequently abusive and indecisive, trusting only a tiny circle of close advisers, seemingly eager to slap down officers with decades of distinguished service. The unhappiness is so pervasive that all three service secretaries are said to be deeply frustrated by a lack of autonomy and contemplating leaving by the end of the year."

OUCH. HIT ME AGAIN. Aaron MaGruder continues to slap the President around. One day soon we're going to hear that the cartoonist is penciling from an undisclosed safehouse...

ALL ATTITUDE William Arkin, a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies, sounded a little pissed last month when he spoke at the U.S. Naval War College. He hammered a few points in his talk, but the one that resonated most with me was his discussion about attitude and the Bush administration. In regards to the administration's reluctance, or unwillingness, to provide facts, details, information about Iraq, al Qaeda and other threats: "The answer I think is not that the Bush administration fears heading down a slippery slope of answering too many questions or feels like it needs to protect intelligence sources and methods; it is more again the mindset of the administration that it just doesn't have to, and won't, justify its actions." It's not that the facts don't exist, Arkin argues. It's simply that the nature of the Bush team's psychology circumvents any ability on their part to understand why anyone not making the decisions need to know the facts. It's called arrogance, I think.

KATE HUGS GROHL You know, that drummer fellow from Nirvana. Or Scream, if you're East Coast and slightly older. He must've been 14 when he was drumming for them. Kate echoes a conversation about the new Nirvanna single I had last night with a friend who's leaving town (relax, we spent all of one minute on this over a four hour dinner). The key line of that moment: "It's just totally beaten and tired sounding. Old."

MAASS LINKS Peter Maass provides links to a Washington Post article, a NYTimes piece and two slices of Slate.com under the header: "Four Arguments Against Invading Iraq." There are pros and there are cons and between the two lies the ability to make up your own mind. Of course, for the majority of us, that has little influence on whatever decision the administration makes, but it never hurts to know your own mind.

CREEPY OR AMUSING? Take one government agency focused on surveillance technologies, mix well with a former Iran-Contra figure, a really bad logo design team and a slogan with a literal translation along the lines of "We'll do whatever we want." You've got the Information Awareness Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

D'LOVELY "Spirited Away" is another recent gem, as the reviews snagged by metacritic.com indicate. A surreal, colorful journey through a Wonderland-esque landscape, it highlights storytelling and animation talents not often found in American animated film. And the collision between the ethereal and beautiful landscape and the grotesque (the Radish Spirit, the projectile vomiting No Face) is sublime. The last ten minutes feels a bit pasted-on and sacharine, but the creepy, unbelievable aspects of the story more than make up for the "true love defeats all evil" message.

BOOK DU JOUR On a misty mountaintop, I started and finished "The Distant Land of My Father," a first novel by Californian Bo Caldwell that tells the story of six-year-old Anna Schoene's magical childhood in Shanghai. The book retains much of the magic even as Schoene's world crumbles, and her father allows his love for Shanghai to consume him at the expense of his family. I'll strongly recommend the book to three of you; the rest of you are encouraged to think about it. More detailed reviews can be perused at amazon.com's site. It's perked my interest in the opportunity to spend a month in China this spring, even if it involves being paralyzed with fear in the air for 14 hours (twice) and knowing that I'll smell more trash than eucalyptus in the streets of Beijing.

A PIN IN THE EYE Liz always points me in the direction of interesting sites drifting amidst the refuse of the global dot.sea. Wrote should appeal to all of you retro hipsters, especially those of you who clambered aboard the 6 this morning like an aged Isadora Duncan only to narrowly avoid a swarm of angry hat pins.