NewsKing.org
NewsKing.com
neoNewton.com
HomelandInsecurity.org
Welcome to VoyageKing.com
So far this site is a blog about global politics and events, but the headings have possibilities. Below is a list of the current headings featured. Since I sometimes update earlier entries, the list includes the date of the most recent post. The most recent heading is always first, both in the blog and the list below.

- The Fall of the Berlin Wall - Nov. 11, 2009
- Russia Journeying to Martian Moon - May 10, 2009
- The 2008 Olympic Games - Updated Apr. 18, 2008
- Benazir Bhutto - Dec. 28, 2007
- EU Charter of Fundamental Rights - Nov. 24, 2007
- To Space! - Updated Nov. 26, 2007
- Iraq, Iran, & "Dough" - Updated Oct. 22, 2007
- Spies, Databases, & Phone companies - Oct. 16, 2007
- Garry Kasparov - Updated Nov. 24, 2007
- Iran - Updated Oct. 17, 2007
- Russia & China Spying - Sep. 21, 2007


This website may need a new disclaimer, but I'm not sure yet...
Blog


The Fall of the Berlin Wall - Nov. 11, 2009

I wasn't in Germany for the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. But I was there just over two years later while the reunification of Germany was taking place. I had the unique opportunity to talk to German high school students about many of the issues surrounding the reunification, and looking back now, I realize that the time I spent in Germany left a big impression on me. Germany will always occupy a special place in my heart, and I'll never forget the conversations I had - from high school student lounges to university dorms to street artists and demonstrators, the experience changed me...

Let's all join Germany in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the many "dominoes" that were set into motion...


Related:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall


Russia Journeying to Martian Moon - May 10, 2009

Russia may soon launch a probe to Phobos, the largest of the two moons orbiting Mars. The probe will collect a soil sample from Phobos and return it to Earth, making this the first mission in history to bring something back from the Martian system. The sample will not only reveal more about Mars' largest moon, it will reveal more about Mars itself, and is expected to reveal more about the formation of the solar system.

The mission may even be accompanied by a Chinese orbiter that will study the environment on Mars.

Related:
- Oberg, James. (2009, June). Discover. Magazine. "Stepping Stone to Mars." New York: Henry Donahue.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobos-Grunt
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yinghuo-1


The 2008 Olympic Games - Apr. 12, 2008

[UPDATE - Apr. 18, 2008 - The text below has been edited for accuracy]

The 2008 Olympic Games are almost here. Congratulations to all of the athletes competing this summer in Beijing!

And free Tibet! Free China, too!


Benazir Bhutto - Dec. 28, 2007

I don't think the world will ever really understand the kind of tragedy this is. Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, came out of exile in October 2007 after charges against her were dropped. She was assassinated Dec. 27, 2007.

Related:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/south_asia/2007/death_of_benazir_bhutto/default.stm
- http://topics.cnn.com/topics/benazir_bhutto


The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights - Nov. 24, 2007

I read that Poland has opted out of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (1). I also discovered information about the UK and the EU Charter, along with information about the UK and the EU Treaty (2). So I decided to read the Charter. I thought it was pretty good, and easy to read.

Then I started thinking that America should do something like a new Charter for itself, even if it wasn't binding. Because have you seen the U.S. Code? The Bible of U.S. Law (3). It's long and hard to understand. And it contradicts itself. Not to mention you might have to imagine it with real-time footnotes of the legal decisions affecting its interpretation.

Related:
- http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?storyID=7345
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6911590.stm
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6928737.stm

Notes:
- 1) There are some non-English pages on this link, but it is mostly in English. Other languages are available on the home page.
- 2) According to Article 6 of the Reform Treaty, the EU Treaty and EU Charter are related.
- 3) The U.S. also has a Constitution. I'm not sure if it is still in use, but they have it archived. (Only kidding, it is officially still in use...)


To Space! - Nov. 5, 2007

[UPDATE - Nov. 26, 2007 - The text below has been edited for accuracy]

Everyone is going to space! Europe and Japan are getting ready to launch their modules for the International Space Station, Japan and China just put satellites around the moon, and Russia is planning a trip to Mars...

This report contains additional information about China and space, as well as information about China, Russia, and Mars.

Related:
- http://www.nasa.gov/
- http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html
- http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html
- http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n615709/cindex.html
- http://www.roscosmos.ru/index.asp?Lang=ENG


Iraq, Iran, and "Dough" - Oct. 21, 2007

[UPDATE - Oct. 22, 2007 - The text below has been edited for accuracy]

What can I say about the war in Iraq? The "military-industrial complex" advertised a war after that thing came on TV about buildings falling down – 9/11. A lot of people bought into that. I only had to look at the 2002 and 2004 elections to see what a popular product the Iraq war was. "If peace works, why did the buildings drop?" What a great tagline. It sold out millions... (not that that's the whole story - or anything)

Anyway, I've gone ahead and entered the discussion about Iran. What the hell is going on? Whatever goes wrong - anything - they'll just say we need more war. That's their business - millions are employed.

Why can't we put disclaimers on these war ads?

(Please see the NewsKing Blog disclaimer after reading this.)

U.S. war ads from various wars (plus one "War on Terror" ad from the U.K.)...

World War One



World War Two



The Cold War
Click HERE to watch this video on YouTube. Click HERE to watch this video on YouTube.



The War on Terror
I created this in response to the video above...

Click HERE to watch this video on YouTube.
Click HERE to watch this video on YouTube.


Spies, Databases, & Phone companies - Oct. 16, 2007

[UPDATE - Oct. 9, 2007 - The text below has been edited for accuracy]

I read this article on some U.S. protesters that tried to visit Canada, and were turned away because of information on an FBI database. I agree with the article in the sense that it seems like the FBI is trying to interfere with the freedom of protestors. I have traveled to Canada a number of times to visit friends, and like the protestors mentioned in the article, I was detained and interviewed one time (although they let me enter after the interview). I'm not sure how it all works, but it seemed like they could just refuse to let you in for nearly any reason at all. The FBI probably knows this, so I guess the question is why the type of record mentioned in the article appears on such an FBI database.

I'm also wondering what is stored on the databases of the NSA. According to this article, the NSA has made arrangements with phone companies to allow wiretapping that should not be allowed. As someone who has been a victim of wiretapping, I think the kind of activities mentioned in the article should not be going on, and encourage people to stand up to the government and help put a stop to it, including the people at the phone companies who are unknowingly being abused by the government.

Related:
- This article provides some information about the records released to the government by phone companies.
- More information related to the linked article I posted below. [EDIT: on Oct. 12]
- I couldn't help but notice "secret contracts" with the government, and "insider trading." What an interesting story! (and it relates to the last two blog entries)
- I have some more information - knowledge - to share related to the previous blog above. I just wanted to update readers.



Garry Kasparov - Oct. 1, 2007

Chess champion Garry Kasparov has entered the race for the Russian Presidency as the opposition candidate. Click HERE for the article.

UPDATE - Nov. 24, 2007: Garry Kasparov has been arrested by Russian police at a poltical protest just days before the election.


Iran - Sep. 26, 2007

[UPDATE - Oct. 17, 2007 - The text below has been edited for accuracy]

Why has Iran been in the U.S. media so much? Why are there reports related to tensions between the U.S. and Iran that may mention considerations of armed conflict with Iran? I decided to ask the U.S. Defense Department and U.S. State Department.

TO:
1. http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/questions.aspx
(You have to do a "search." After the results are displayed, you have to click the "Ask a Question" tab, and then you can send your email.)
2. http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php

CC:
iranemb@salamiran.org
I think Iran's website is http://www.iran.ir/, but it isn't yet available in English. So, I emailed http://www.salamiran.org/, the Canadian Embassy of Iran, which seemed to be a popular choice.

------EMAIL------

To Whom It May Concern:

There have been reports that the U.S. may consider a war with Iran. A number of reports cite various reasons for considering such a war. If considering a war with Iran, would the [Defense (or) State] Department cite specific reasons for such a consideration, and what might those reasons be? How are such reports related to the [Defense (or) State] Department? Are any such reports true?

Sincerely,
T.J. Newton
NewsKing.org

P.S. If the reports are true, the chances of war with Iran should be reduced, which may or may not include the cessation of marketing such considerations in the media.

------------------
Related:
- This article had a lot of information about Iran's nuclear program.



Russia and China Spying - Sep. 21, 2007

I am outraged to learn that spying by Russia and China on the U.S. has returned to Cold War levels. In an effort to get more information about all of this, I sent the following emails to the governments of Russia and China.

(I used the best email addresses I could find on their respective official home pages - http://eng.kremlin.ru and http://english.gov.cn.)


-----RUSSIA EMAIL-----

Aleksey Alekseevich
agromov@prpress.gov.ru

Dear Sir:

It has been reported that spying on the U.S. by Russia has returned to Cold War levels. It has been rumored that this increase may be related to the U.S.'s domestic spying program. Can you provide direction for research on any of this information?

Sincerely,
T.J. Newton
NewsKing.org

P.S. If these reports are indeed true, you should not spy on the people of the United States.


-----CHINA EMAIL-----

Hu Jintao
english@mail.gov.cn.

Dear Sir:

It has been reported that spying on the U.S. by China has returned to Cold War levels. It has been rumored that this increase may be related to the U.S.'s domestic spying program. Can you provide direction for research on any of this information?

Sincerely,
T.J. Newton
NewsKing.org

P.S. If these reports are indeed true, you should not spy on the people of the United States.
Feedback
Feedback will remain anonymous unless you specify your email address here:
email (optional)
How did you like the presentation?
I liked it.
I thought it was okay, not great.
I didn't like it.
Was the presentation clear and understandable?
It was crystal clear.
It was a little hazy.
It was covered with a dense fog.
Comments:
Image verification
(To reload the image without Javascript, use the Reload button in your browser instead.)

Enter the Security Code displayed above:
Feedback, including comments entered above, will remain anonymous unless you specified your email address.
THANK YOU!
© 2009 by T.J. Newton.
All Rights Reserved.
A more detailed copyright policy should be forthcoming. It will probably be similar to this one.
About This Site/Disclaimer