Tibet is a hot issue. Above is a picture from the Golden Gate Bridge where the Olympic torch is supposed to travel across this week. The issue is with China and their lack of human rights. Good Magazine interviewed the exiled Tibetan P.M. Samdhong Rinpoche about many facets of the China-Tibet situation. Here's what he had to say about the Olympics, specifically: tjc

Q: What is the significance of the Beijing Olympics for China and Tibet?
A: We wish that these games be successfully conducted. At the same time, we wish that a large number of free countries will participate in these games, and that that will have some kind of positive effect on the Chinese government for more transparency and more individual freedom. If these games could bring these changes, then I think they are a boon. Apart from that, there are many pro-Tibet groups and individuals who think this is an opportunity to pressure China. We do not agree with that. We are looking more to the post-Olympic era.

If you are not from the Philadelphia area and you, like most of the country, feel disenfranchised with the lack of quality radio stations to choose from, fear not. Slowly but surely the saviors at WXPN are branching across PA and hope to lead a national radio revolution. The answer isn't to add another monthly bill and sign up for Sirius or XM. It's in non-profit radio that is by the people and for the people. Donate a fraction of the satellite cost (if you wish), use the leftover resources to purchase your own music and feel apart of an ever growing musical community. Real commercial free radio that covers all genres. If you don't have anything like this in your home town then check out XPN online where they stream all their shows. You will not be disappointed. glc

Potomac, Marlyand's Chris Clark bought the domain pizza.com in the mid-nineties with hopes to get a contract with a pizza firm for his consulting company. While that never happened and has since sold his company, Mr. Clark continued to pay the $20 per year fee to keep the domain name; a pretty smart move considering he just sold it for $2.6 million in an online auction. jmj

The Irish economy, otherwise known as The Celtic Tiger, has been booming since the early nineties, resulting in Ireland going from one of the poorest countries in Europe to one the richest. John Hegarty, provost of Trinity College in Dublin, credits Ireland's commitment to higher education as a major factor in the economy's turnaround. In 1995, The Republic of Ireland eliminated tuition for undergraduates. jmj

People traditionally in Ireland placed a high priority on education. They saw it as a passport to succeeding anywhere in the world.

An old cache of Mike Wallace interviews with the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, Salvadore Dali, Aldous Huxley, Henry Kissinger. Nice find, Boing Boing. tjc

On a school class trip to Fenway Park last week, a girl was attacked by a red-tailed hawk. The student came out of the attack with a scratch on her scalp. So, what's the big deal? She's 13 years old, and her name is Alexa Rodriguez, otherwise known as A-Rod to her friends. Chalk that one up to the baseball gods having a little fun with us. jmj

Apparently, The Raconteurs dropped an undercover album. From RS: tjc

"The music business is so scared all the time, and I don't like living in fear like that," White says a few days after the album came out. "This is just a simple approach: Get it out as soon as possible."

The American Society for Velociraptor Attack Prevention gives some helpful hints in case of an attack. And to think I almost bought a house that wasn't Velociraptor safe. Silly me. jmj

A map of the U.S. carbon footprint. ¡Ay, caramba! tjc