Hi there,

MercatorNet passed a milestone today – we now have 2,000 fans on Facebook. Admittedly it is a very minor milestone, but we owe a big Thank You to everyone who has Liked us.

Although some of our contributors have expressed justifiable scepticism about whether Facebook helps one to become a more caring, more empathetic, kinder, wiser person, it certainly does help to promote MercatorNet. It accounts for a substantial number of hits on the site. It’s a great way to spread the message of human dignity throughout the internet.

So, if you are a Facebook user, consider Liking us so that we can reach the 3,000-fan milestone. One of my relatives works for – you are not going to believe this! – Paris Hilton, who has 1,200,000 fans. Ultimately our goal is to leave PH in the dust. Give us a hand.

Speaking of which, our fund-raising campaign is going well. It draws to a close on May 31 and I hope to give you a full report at the end of the June 30 financial year.

This week we have posted three articles. Alma Acevedo yearns for more substance in the commencement speeches which mark the end of college in the United States. There is too much fluff and comedy and too little wisdom, she contends.

From Canada, Harley J. Sims analyses Spartacus, a sword-and-sandals television series which has set new records for average number of corpses per episode -- 25 compared to HBO's Game of Thrones, with a mere 14. It’s not exactly human-dignity-friendly. And finally, I have reflected on the death of a surrogate mother in India.

Oh, and check out the dancing grandmothers from Russia who came second in the Eurovision Contest. Lots of fun. The refrain to their catchy tune is in English.

Cheers, 

Michael Cook,
Editor,
MercatorNet