Newsies

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Infinite Regression to shamelessly promote their own product. A distinct possibility I suppose. Anyway, what it comes down to is this: I think the site is incredible cool and helpful. What is it, you demand (with eyebrows upraised)? Of course, they explain themselves better than I ever could…

Buzztracker is software that visualizes frequencies and relationships between locations in the Google world news directory. Buzztracker tries to show you how interconnected the world is: big events in one area ripple to other areas across the globe. Connections between cities thousands of miles apart become apparent at a glance.

Not only is the site incredible, their widget is my absolute favorite.

In other (far more important) news I’m sure that by now everyone is familiar with the specifics in regard to the terror attack in London yesterday morning. I’ve had the opportunity to read a great deal about Islamic militancy from both Historical and PolySci perspectives. The latter perspective is what informs my confusion as to why London, of all places, was chosen as a target. One particular text, which I highly recommend [Jihad: The trail of Political Islam by Gilles Kepel], came to mind in the aftermath of the tragedy. Kepel notes that London has been a safe haven for many Islamic extremists. The UK has left Muslims alone for the most part; and because of Britain’s relaxed attitude, London, and the UK in general, has been viewed as a “hands off” zone by Islamic militants. France, home of the headscarve controversy and antagonist in the Algiers crisis, seems a much more likely target.

The reasoning behind yesterday’s attack, if an Islamic Jihadist group really is responsible for the London terror strikes, seems indelibly flawed. Though of course, flawed reasoning and foolish, eradic behavior is exactly the pattern Kepel describes in his excellent examination. The primary symbol of Muslim extremism is the fearless (and heartless) Suicide Bomber; such an Icon holds double meaning, for actions such as yesterday’s are the precursors to a greater suicide–the self-destruction of a tragically flawed ideal.