That China is a glorious civilization in no need of democracy is what we hear from their leaders today, as always. Why the Olympic Freedom Torch from Athens?

Chinese antiques were carefully created over eons. Modern China makes cheap goods with dollar an hour labor, beats monks, pollutes. 1936 Berlin Olympics?

The recent actions of Japanese against the Chinese Olympic torch run through Japan shows a nation closer to the civilized world; brave people shaming China.

An international magazine outlined a rail network that could virtually encircle the globe. It could cut those kerosine jet trails of pollution, with enough dirty coal plant shut downs, to allow us blue skies.In whose life time?

The lifetime of Leonardo of the town of Vinci was a time of turbulence and violence, yet also the flowering of the great enlightenment of the Renaissance, which began all around where ever Leonardo seemed to be.

The world is changing daily. The two old empire building enemies, Britain and France are closer friends, while Asia ascends. The French President just had a sleep over at Windsor Castle. Each have common enemies, they see.

Alexander the Great was having his people create the greater new Athens at the mouth of the Nile. But his men worried that he wandered west for a holy man and almost died in the sand. They met at an oasis,blessed each other.

The recently released television actions by Chinese police seen beating fallen Tibetan monks in their sacred city makes the blood boil of millions of us around the world.

The amazing stories of Greek Amazon women warriors have always seemed as of legend. However, scientists have shown that there exists today golden haired blue eyed Mongol peoples with DNA matches to these Amazon women. They hold an amazing story of ancient survival against all odds.

The wisdom of Abraham Lincoln in contrast to the rather rash use of power and self interest to favor the rich and punish the poor of the incumbent: sharp contrast. This letter from Lincoln to Grant indicates how.

In American history it has never come to this. The richest man in the world finds his America walls off his newest hired employees. What to do? Set up plants in Canada and Mexico and India, for starters.

There is much irony of a protester from Tibet stealing the show, if only for a moment, while the man from China spoke about harmony and brotherhood. This spoke loudly, as did the criticism of China about poor security.

Healthy lifestyles seem so unlikely for so many people in places that seem on fire: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, Darfur. The world is nearing a boil with the weather and the politics. Time to cool down.

This is a journey of what if, that dos exist in many places, some of which we know, some not. This year more Chinese will use cellphones than in America. Where is the nerve center to monitor those calls, Tibet from grandma?

There is such contrast between the wiser elder Bush, like a wise Greek philosopher with wise advisers, who had to undo the Reagan voodoo economics that his predecessor,and his son, have blundered into again.