Tuesday, December 13, 2005
WAR IS FOR SUCKERS
http://warisforsuckers.com/clip.php?id=890&p=0 - watch and learn something you may not know.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Yet another "coincidence"
Investing - The Tamiflu Tug of War - FORTUNE - Page: "Among the beneficiaries of the run on Tamiflu is Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who was chairman of Gilead from 1997 to 2001 and owns at least $5 million of the stock, which has jumped from $35 in April to $47. Former Secretary of State George Shultz, who is on Gilead's board, has sold more than $7 million worth of Gilead in 2005. As the bird-flu issue heated up earlier this year, according to a senior Pentagon official, Rumsfeld considered unloading his entire Gilead stake to avoid any perceived conflict of interest. He sought the advice of the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the federal Office of Government Ethics. When those agencies didn't offer an opinion, Rumsfeld consulted a private securities lawyer, who advised him to hold on to the stock and be vocal about his earlier recusal from all matters involving Gilead, rather than sell and run the risk of being accused of insider trading. Holding on has paid off; it's made the Pentagon chief, already one of the wealthiest members of the Bush cabinet, at least $1 million richer."
Well, well. Another obscure company gets rich, which makes a current government member rich and this is all just sheer happenstance. The simple fact that Bird Flu is scarcely more than a fairy story similar to that of Saddam's weapons is neither here nor there, of course.
Well, well. Another obscure company gets rich, which makes a current government member rich and this is all just sheer happenstance. The simple fact that Bird Flu is scarcely more than a fairy story similar to that of Saddam's weapons is neither here nor there, of course.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Why America can't cope
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article10214.htm
A simply fantastic article from The New Statesman which articulates much of my sentiments about the situation. The nation has been let down by decades of erosion and governmental stagnation. Not to mention the slow starving of government of liquid cash to pour into vital projects like levees.
Katrina has taught America some valuable lessons but it's anybodies guess if the country will actually realise what they are.
A simply fantastic article from The New Statesman which articulates much of my sentiments about the situation. The nation has been let down by decades of erosion and governmental stagnation. Not to mention the slow starving of government of liquid cash to pour into vital projects like levees.
Katrina has taught America some valuable lessons but it's anybodies guess if the country will actually realise what they are.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Busy
For the 0 readers out there salivating for more posts, I'm incredibly busy at the mo. So hang tight and I will return!
zzzzzooooooooooooommmmm!
zzzzzooooooooooooommmmm!
Friday, August 05, 2005
MI5 links Iraq to terror motivations
Guardian Unlimited Special reports MI5 links Iraq to extremists in UK
Blair et al should admit how wrong they are, wouldn't you say? Ah, but then they'd have to change their rhetoric...
Blair et al should admit how wrong they are, wouldn't you say? Ah, but then they'd have to change their rhetoric...
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Former Bush aide turns critic as Iraq inspector
Former Bush aide turns critic as Iraq inspector
The tip of the iceburg. Just the tip. And the US government and its political minions tries to claim the UN is hopelessly corrupt or incompetant!
The tip of the iceburg. Just the tip. And the US government and its political minions tries to claim the UN is hopelessly corrupt or incompetant!
Monday, July 25, 2005
I name the four powers who are behind the al-Qaeda conspiracy
I name the four powers who are behind the al-Qaeda conspiracy
This article by former Tory MP Matthew Parris perfectly encapsulates and explains my motivations for my approach to the entire phenomenon of the war on terror.
This describes the situation perfectly in why I have felt uneasy from the very beginning - and by that I mean 9/11 and the reporting of that onwards.
This article by former Tory MP Matthew Parris perfectly encapsulates and explains my motivations for my approach to the entire phenomenon of the war on terror.
This describes the situation perfectly in why I have felt uneasy from the very beginning - and by that I mean 9/11 and the reporting of that onwards.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
BBC NEWS | World | Africa | World 'ignores' Niger food crisis
BBC NEWS | World | Africa | World 'ignores' Niger food crisis
Not one word in G8 about this. Just shows how full of rhetoric and bluster 1st world politicians really are.
Not one word in G8 about this. Just shows how full of rhetoric and bluster 1st world politicians really are.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Conflict 'kills 25,000 Iraqis'
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Conflict 'kills 25,000 Iraqis'
This is, if anything, an underestimation of deaths and, believe me, all insurgent deaths known to anyone at all will be reported (it serves the authorities to report them, to show how lethal and to be combatted they are) so what are we left with?
We have most deaths by disenfranchised/greedy criminals and occupation forces killing most Iraqis. And more than ever.
And, meanwhile, our leaders walk around in some deluded stupor.
We have another famine, this time in Niger, which had been warned about for months. Guess what, nothing was done and so yet more poor people are dying of nothing but hunger. Angry is not the word...
This is, if anything, an underestimation of deaths and, believe me, all insurgent deaths known to anyone at all will be reported (it serves the authorities to report them, to show how lethal and to be combatted they are) so what are we left with?
We have most deaths by disenfranchised/greedy criminals and occupation forces killing most Iraqis. And more than ever.
And, meanwhile, our leaders walk around in some deluded stupor.
We have another famine, this time in Niger, which had been warned about for months. Guess what, nothing was done and so yet more poor people are dying of nothing but hunger. Angry is not the word...
Monday, July 18, 2005
Newsday.com: 18 Killed in Clashes Near Afghan Border
Newsday.com: 18 Killed in Clashes Near Afghan Border: "Pakistani soldiers fought militants in a northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border, the military said Sunday. Eighteen people, including one soldier, died in the clash.
A military statement said some of the dead were women and children, while a military official told The AP that a majority of those killed were women and children who were believed to be members of the militants' families. "
We are really gonna burn if so many of our allies (nevermind the US) are so "clumsy" as to kill women and children of Muslim/taleban/militant fighters. This is so counterproductive.
Hunting of terrorists - whoever they may be - is entirely necessary but it's gotta be done properly. A bit less bulldozing, rocketing please and massacring has got to be avoided.
A military statement said some of the dead were women and children, while a military official told The AP that a majority of those killed were women and children who were believed to be members of the militants' families. "
We are really gonna burn if so many of our allies (nevermind the US) are so "clumsy" as to kill women and children of Muslim/taleban/militant fighters. This is so counterproductive.
Hunting of terrorists - whoever they may be - is entirely necessary but it's gotta be done properly. A bit less bulldozing, rocketing please and massacring has got to be avoided.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iran-Iraq talks heal old wounds
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iran-Iraq talks heal old wounds
Please god this sort of, as the Americans will see it, entanglement with Iran will make it politically impossible for the US to support invasion or even Israeli bombing - which the Israelis have all but threatened on more than one occasion and, in fact, performed already once.
Please god this sort of, as the Americans will see it, entanglement with Iran will make it politically impossible for the US to support invasion or even Israeli bombing - which the Israelis have all but threatened on more than one occasion and, in fact, performed already once.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Mirror.co.uk - News - EXCLUSIVE: WAS IT SUICIDE?
Mirror.co.uk - News - EXCLUSIVE: WAS IT SUICIDE?
The first couple of hours I noted the lack of Allah Akhbar cries. I would not be in the least bit surprised if they were manipulated in a clinically cold way and that they didn't expect to die.
The first couple of hours I noted the lack of Allah Akhbar cries. I would not be in the least bit surprised if they were manipulated in a clinically cold way and that they didn't expect to die.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Further thoughts...London Bombings/investigation
Ok, so things are happening.
Can I just say that I do genuinely trust the police on these kinds of matters. I think they are now so skilled in this sort of case and would be so averse to deliberately participate in any inside job or get suckered into a goose chase by some Israeli plot or any other similarly extreme explanation. So on this matter I'm gonna just believe what they say.
There were four suicide bombers, the bus bomb is believed to have been an accident. They were second generation Pakistani/British lads from Leeds.
This shows how shortsighted and simply stupid these xenophobic calls for watertight borders are. Ideas can pass through borders undetected. The affront many Muslims feel about British and American actions toward other Muslims penetrates people wherever they are regardless of how many Xray machines you have on our borders.
It also betrays the lie that they bomb us because they hate our freedoms. They have enjoyed our freedoms from birth. They know our society first hand and still they would rather blitz themselves and other people in a tunnel 120ft below the streets of London.
This must lead any sane person to ask the question, "why?". Every reason offered by received wisdom, "common sense" and unimaginative media for bomber's motivations (hatred, desperation, wanting to destroy the west, to turn Britain Muslim, poverty etc.) has never been proven to be true by the simple fact of who these bombers are.
We must also not forget that those who knew the Middle Eastern Islamic society best - namely those of that descent - never give those as key reasons. They say it is Western policy and the frustration of collusion within Mid-East governments in this policy that focuses minds enough for this terrorism. Al Qaeda represent merely a notion. It is one (poster boy) example of radicalised Muslims who want to turn to terrorism to hit back at the West. Many more small organisations exist with similar goals and philosophy but, importantly, not identical. Bin Laden's Islamic philosophy is significantly different from the Taliban's. He likes to use modern technology, like radio, video cameras, etc. but the Taliban made it illegal to use radio or listen to music in Afghanistan. The only thing that bound the two was simply the growing hatred and distrust of America. Plus the cold hard cash Bin Laden will have paid them.
We'll learn ever more details about the bombers and then I hope our country will learn that the basis for this terrorism is rooted in our behaviour. As I have said in a variety of locations, the existing members of these groups are past appeasing but it is certainly within our power to act in such a way that the cooking pot from which terrorists scoop volunteers is kept below boiling point and then reduced to a cold, congealing mass, useless to them.
Can I just say that I do genuinely trust the police on these kinds of matters. I think they are now so skilled in this sort of case and would be so averse to deliberately participate in any inside job or get suckered into a goose chase by some Israeli plot or any other similarly extreme explanation. So on this matter I'm gonna just believe what they say.
There were four suicide bombers, the bus bomb is believed to have been an accident. They were second generation Pakistani/British lads from Leeds.
This shows how shortsighted and simply stupid these xenophobic calls for watertight borders are. Ideas can pass through borders undetected. The affront many Muslims feel about British and American actions toward other Muslims penetrates people wherever they are regardless of how many Xray machines you have on our borders.
It also betrays the lie that they bomb us because they hate our freedoms. They have enjoyed our freedoms from birth. They know our society first hand and still they would rather blitz themselves and other people in a tunnel 120ft below the streets of London.
This must lead any sane person to ask the question, "why?". Every reason offered by received wisdom, "common sense" and unimaginative media for bomber's motivations (hatred, desperation, wanting to destroy the west, to turn Britain Muslim, poverty etc.) has never been proven to be true by the simple fact of who these bombers are.
We must also not forget that those who knew the Middle Eastern Islamic society best - namely those of that descent - never give those as key reasons. They say it is Western policy and the frustration of collusion within Mid-East governments in this policy that focuses minds enough for this terrorism. Al Qaeda represent merely a notion. It is one (poster boy) example of radicalised Muslims who want to turn to terrorism to hit back at the West. Many more small organisations exist with similar goals and philosophy but, importantly, not identical. Bin Laden's Islamic philosophy is significantly different from the Taliban's. He likes to use modern technology, like radio, video cameras, etc. but the Taliban made it illegal to use radio or listen to music in Afghanistan. The only thing that bound the two was simply the growing hatred and distrust of America. Plus the cold hard cash Bin Laden will have paid them.
We'll learn ever more details about the bombers and then I hope our country will learn that the basis for this terrorism is rooted in our behaviour. As I have said in a variety of locations, the existing members of these groups are past appeasing but it is certainly within our power to act in such a way that the cooking pot from which terrorists scoop volunteers is kept below boiling point and then reduced to a cold, congealing mass, useless to them.
Monday, July 11, 2005
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iraq's treasures still being looted
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iraq's treasures still being looted
If you didn't look for this stuff, you wouldn't know how little control anyone has out in Iraq. This is just one example of how the invasion has impoverished Iraq.
If you didn't look for this stuff, you wouldn't know how little control anyone has out in Iraq. This is just one example of how the invasion has impoverished Iraq.
BBC NEWS | UK | Police appeal for bombing footage
BBC NEWS UK Police appeal for bombing footage
"On Sunday, three people were arrested at Heathrow Airport under anti-terror laws, but no link to the attacks was made. They were later released without charge."
Just more examples of how terrorism continues to be played up in the media. Two sentences devoted to the releases but many more devoted to the original arrests.
My post here also contains interesting stuff I've found: http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showpost.php?p=4775076&postcount=27
The hype and jitteriness was entirely expected. But how planned was all this? If the secret service network is involved it would be so easy for them to pull the strings it's not funny.
This is a scathing article, worth reading, by John Pilger as published in the New Statesman:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9432.htm
I have noted with interest, more American commentators acknowledging that al Qaeda (and its followers/sympathizers) are not motivated by simple hatred and a desire to wipe Western civilisation from the face of the earth but simply as revenge and an extreme (and, of course, unjustified) protest at the horrors and humiliations inflicted on Muslims and Arabs directly and indirectly by the West. Western policies feed the hate that breeds terrorists. And it looks like potentially the debate is turning (at the speed of an oil tanker) in that direction. Especially as Iraq is stagnating, and indeed rotting, in a swamp of violence. The pitiful stupidity of the invasion is hitting home and the masses in America (where the majority were simply not informed enough to judge Bush's choices) are realising the spectacular poverty of Bush's foreign policies.
Bush's pathetically asinine response to a question on ITV1's Tonight show about the aid provided to murderous Islam Karimov, president/dictator of Uzbekistan, and the lack of conditions on that aid in contrast to those pressed for by Bush for African aid was completely telling. A dictator who boils people alive, merely receives "encouragement" to stop boiling people alive and still gets millions in US aid because he is "an ally in the war on terror". In short, he lets the US have an air base there and he massacres and tortures Muslims for fun.
Great. And we think that Islamic terrorists are fuming because they hate our freedoms?????!!
"On Sunday, three people were arrested at Heathrow Airport under anti-terror laws, but no link to the attacks was made. They were later released without charge."
Just more examples of how terrorism continues to be played up in the media. Two sentences devoted to the releases but many more devoted to the original arrests.
My post here also contains interesting stuff I've found: http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showpost.php?p=4775076&postcount=27
The hype and jitteriness was entirely expected. But how planned was all this? If the secret service network is involved it would be so easy for them to pull the strings it's not funny.
This is a scathing article, worth reading, by John Pilger as published in the New Statesman:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9432.htm
I have noted with interest, more American commentators acknowledging that al Qaeda (and its followers/sympathizers) are not motivated by simple hatred and a desire to wipe Western civilisation from the face of the earth but simply as revenge and an extreme (and, of course, unjustified) protest at the horrors and humiliations inflicted on Muslims and Arabs directly and indirectly by the West. Western policies feed the hate that breeds terrorists. And it looks like potentially the debate is turning (at the speed of an oil tanker) in that direction. Especially as Iraq is stagnating, and indeed rotting, in a swamp of violence. The pitiful stupidity of the invasion is hitting home and the masses in America (where the majority were simply not informed enough to judge Bush's choices) are realising the spectacular poverty of Bush's foreign policies.
Bush's pathetically asinine response to a question on ITV1's Tonight show about the aid provided to murderous Islam Karimov, president/dictator of Uzbekistan, and the lack of conditions on that aid in contrast to those pressed for by Bush for African aid was completely telling. A dictator who boils people alive, merely receives "encouragement" to stop boiling people alive and still gets millions in US aid because he is "an ally in the war on terror". In short, he lets the US have an air base there and he massacres and tortures Muslims for fun.
Great. And we think that Islamic terrorists are fuming because they hate our freedoms?????!!
Thursday, July 07, 2005
London Bombed
No surprise from me. Just anger and I feel simply sick of it all. Sick of pointless causes being used to justify evil violence.
I knew it would happen eventually, mainly because it was so easy to do and required so few people to do it that no amount of MI5 activity would pick it up.
I have said on Digital Spy that me and a mate could do it for little more than £500.
The timing was devastating and it is sad that the achievements of G8 and the Olympics have been massively overshadowed by warped idiots who somehow think terrorism has any chance at all of achieving their aims.
I used to live in London and I have ridden on the number 30 bus which was blown up and I have travelled quite a lot through Liverpool St station and Kings Cross, of course. Had my life panned out differently, I could have easily been dead today.
But I am so tired, bored and sickened by this violence. I just want it to end. But as we re-energize these fools with wars that we start and by being so close to an America that sits on its hands over Israel, it quite simply won't. As long as there are Muslims that still follow this fundamentalist ideology, it simply won't.
It is a sad, sad day.
I knew it would happen eventually, mainly because it was so easy to do and required so few people to do it that no amount of MI5 activity would pick it up.
I have said on Digital Spy that me and a mate could do it for little more than £500.
The timing was devastating and it is sad that the achievements of G8 and the Olympics have been massively overshadowed by warped idiots who somehow think terrorism has any chance at all of achieving their aims.
I used to live in London and I have ridden on the number 30 bus which was blown up and I have travelled quite a lot through Liverpool St station and Kings Cross, of course. Had my life panned out differently, I could have easily been dead today.
But I am so tired, bored and sickened by this violence. I just want it to end. But as we re-energize these fools with wars that we start and by being so close to an America that sits on its hands over Israel, it quite simply won't. As long as there are Muslims that still follow this fundamentalist ideology, it simply won't.
It is a sad, sad day.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Live8
Live8, or Live 8, is underway and I am very split on it. I hate how the combined worth of the stars performing (don't forget, Paul Mccartney's there) totals the GDP of probably the poorest 5 African countries, are performing their latest singles.
I hate how Tony Blair sees this as a fantastic opportunity to get the electorate behind him again (distracted from Iraq) and to once again cast him as a crusader.
But it would be truly great if acceptable debt relief was agreed upon. Where the rich countries opened their markets to the third world on a truly fair basis. If this works, thanks to the overwhelming publicity Geldof has generated, then all the queasiness I feel will be worth it.
The fact is that when people (50,000 a day) die from preventable, cureable diseases and plain hunger we have to act. Now I know this has been going on for the best part of 25 years but now it seems those with true, treaty signing, exchequer manipulating power are going to do something concrete to allow poor nations to end the horror - I see this word as no exaggeration.
I hate how Tony Blair sees this as a fantastic opportunity to get the electorate behind him again (distracted from Iraq) and to once again cast him as a crusader.
But it would be truly great if acceptable debt relief was agreed upon. Where the rich countries opened their markets to the third world on a truly fair basis. If this works, thanks to the overwhelming publicity Geldof has generated, then all the queasiness I feel will be worth it.
The fact is that when people (50,000 a day) die from preventable, cureable diseases and plain hunger we have to act. Now I know this has been going on for the best part of 25 years but now it seems those with true, treaty signing, exchequer manipulating power are going to do something concrete to allow poor nations to end the horror - I see this word as no exaggeration.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Bush keeps on lying
I'm watching Bush lying again on Fox. He is making his Iraq speech. He keeps claiming that the US will "leave" when the job is done. This is not true as there will be permanent US bases there whatever happens. See: http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2004/040323-enduring-bases.htm and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/21/AR2005052100611.html They include official denials, of course, but, let's be realistic, when will the "insurgents" really give up? I'd bet never.
He has just directly linked Iraq with 9/11 again. And he has said the challenge in Iraq is to defend democracy again. "Iraq is where the terrorists are making their stand". There were no terrorists there before you invaded!!!!
There really is no end to his delusion, is there.
I assume somewhere here you'll find his full remarks: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160958,00.html
Throughout his entire speech (as usual) it looks like he is reading the words for the first time. And he has just "advertised" the concept of joining the US military (I wonder why) http://www.americasupportsyou.mil - Need I say more?
Jesus. If this man hasn't done anything impeachable, I don't know who has.
He has just directly linked Iraq with 9/11 again. And he has said the challenge in Iraq is to defend democracy again. "Iraq is where the terrorists are making their stand". There were no terrorists there before you invaded!!!!
There really is no end to his delusion, is there.
I assume somewhere here you'll find his full remarks: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160958,00.html
Throughout his entire speech (as usual) it looks like he is reading the words for the first time. And he has just "advertised" the concept of joining the US military (I wonder why) http://www.americasupportsyou.mil - Need I say more?
Jesus. If this man hasn't done anything impeachable, I don't know who has.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Crucified nun dies in 'exorcism'
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Crucified nun dies in 'exorcism'Yes, folks, this sort of madness still goes on in the 21st century. Stunning.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Bush haemoraging support
Bush at all time low
So the US electorate is seeming to be seriously regretting re-electing him. It took less than a year.
Let's also not forget that GOP senators are also grumbling.
The main problem with all this is that it is all after horse has bolted and things are gonna keep going like this until 2008 (!). Iraq, Social Security and some serious leaks about Bush's approach to the invasion are damaging but I really don't think this will oust him early.
I confess, my main thought about all this is that the US public must be mainly thinking "Doh!". They elected Mr Burns when they should have elected a Lisa Simpson.
So the US electorate is seeming to be seriously regretting re-electing him. It took less than a year.
Let's also not forget that GOP senators are also grumbling.
The main problem with all this is that it is all after horse has bolted and things are gonna keep going like this until 2008 (!). Iraq, Social Security and some serious leaks about Bush's approach to the invasion are damaging but I really don't think this will oust him early.
I confess, my main thought about all this is that the US public must be mainly thinking "Doh!". They elected Mr Burns when they should have elected a Lisa Simpson.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Revenge of the Sith
So I've seen it and I have to say it did pretty much everything I thought it would do. It's a film that has to be viewed within the confines of the saga itself - and the foibles therein previously exhibited. All the usual faults are there; substandard dialogue and inconsistent acting (diarmid is superb but McGregor is, ahem, weak).
This, like you would hope, is very reminiscent of Empire Strikes Back. It's a sad conclusion to the first half of the saga (bar the births of what know now to be the key to the defeat of the Empire). But the feel good factor is (possibly unique in cinema) that you have witnessed all the loose ends, from both the sequels and prequels, tied up rather neatly and you are satisfied that the sinking into the dark side of Anakin is fully believable and is shown to be a far from simple decision. There is quite a complex piece of writing going on here.
I felt elated after coming out of the cinema simply because Lucas didn't cock it up. This was a big fear. But no, he embraced every aspect of modern filmic technology, regained his focus on the twelve year old target audience and answered every IV V and VI question posed in a highly satisfactory way.
I'm not going to go into content as that would spoil it but I can promise you that if you were waiting for an episode III that did what a Star Wars fan would want an Episode III to do then George has done just that.
So we can now relax, save up for a high def DVD player and for the I-VI High Def DVD box set.
Nerf Herder!
This, like you would hope, is very reminiscent of Empire Strikes Back. It's a sad conclusion to the first half of the saga (bar the births of what know now to be the key to the defeat of the Empire). But the feel good factor is (possibly unique in cinema) that you have witnessed all the loose ends, from both the sequels and prequels, tied up rather neatly and you are satisfied that the sinking into the dark side of Anakin is fully believable and is shown to be a far from simple decision. There is quite a complex piece of writing going on here.
I felt elated after coming out of the cinema simply because Lucas didn't cock it up. This was a big fear. But no, he embraced every aspect of modern filmic technology, regained his focus on the twelve year old target audience and answered every IV V and VI question posed in a highly satisfactory way.
I'm not going to go into content as that would spoil it but I can promise you that if you were waiting for an episode III that did what a Star Wars fan would want an Episode III to do then George has done just that.
So we can now relax, save up for a high def DVD player and for the I-VI High Def DVD box set.
Nerf Herder!
Monday, May 23, 2005
Revenge of the Sith
Come back soon when I'll review the final Star Wars film once I've seen it today.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
ABC News: Saudi Prince Accused of Drug Smuggling Avoids Prosecution
ABC News: Saudi Prince Accused of Drug Smuggling Avoids Prosecution
My god. The US (and the Bush family) really knows how to pick its friends, don't it.
My god. The US (and the Bush family) really knows how to pick its friends, don't it.
The Connecticut Post Online - News
The Connecticut Post Online - News
This story is interesting. Just imagine the scandal if this had happened in Britain. This sort of thing reaks of Banana Republic.
This story is interesting. Just imagine the scandal if this had happened in Britain. This sort of thing reaks of Banana Republic.
Friday, May 06, 2005
The General Election: my take...
Strange
Ah, the 2005 general election. An election where the turnout fell (if you strip out postal voting), the winner's share fell to as low as Simon Amstell's trousers and where the Tories somehow managed to gain 50 seats yet grew their share nationally by something like 0.5% (roughly the percentage of hairs on Paul Mccartney's head that are their real colour).
Strange indeed. So we now have a prime minister whom the 4th estate will be pushing out of office by rumour mongering alone and a Tory party seeking a fourth leader since Major (ah, currie shagging Mr Peas, doesn't it seem decades ago since he was PM? And it was only 1997!). I was saddened at the lack of progress from the Lib Dems but, you cannot forget that the swing to them was most probably shallow and temporary due to voters wanting merely to wag their fingers at Blair about Iraq than get close to allowing the yellow party to usurp the Tories as the official opposition.
Honest
My feeling is that the Lib Dems are at least honest. What party would not be honest whilst it pledges to add a layer of income tax for the top 1%? How credible and talented their MPs are in comparison I really don't know. It's a bit like Shaun Murphy winning the snooker World Championship, he didn't look like a world-beating professional sportsman but he turned out to be a record breaker. Is this how the Lib Dems may surprise us if they ever sniffed the Brasso of Number 10's knocker?Majority reduced
But Blair has lost 100 seats and this means he cannot assume all legislation will fly throw the Commons any longer. Which can only be a good thing. And George Galloway is still an MP. And, by god, will he make full use of this fact!
I fully expect Blair to stay as party leader and PM until the European Constitution referendum (you'd forgotten about that tedious debate hadn't you) and then, regardless of the result, resign as party leader but stay as PM. Then, the new party leader is elected and Blair hands over the reigns probably as the next election hoves into view. This is my prediction based on virtually no evidence.
Good riddance
Good riddance, Howard, by the way. The man makes my food go cold as I watch his Gollumish face contort to a friendly grandfather's in trying to explain why every problem in the nation from immigration to MRSA boils down purely and simply to discipline and law and order. In other words, his facial "velvet glove" is trying to soften the iron fist he was attempting to apply to every area of government responsibility. Of course, pretty much all of his measures have no guarantees that they will make the slightest improvement in the country. But that's the Tories for you.Now, when Israel bombs Iran, we'll see what happens and who is prime minister at the time. I only hope to god that, if Brown becomes PM, he doesn't lick cowboy arse quite as much as Blair.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Sky News : The Tough Battle To Get Into Britain
Sky News : The Tough Battle To Get Into Britain
Any Chance of the Tories shutting the hell up about this now?
Only once they lose the election, I suspect, and then move on to a new leader. Sheesh.
Any Chance of the Tories shutting the hell up about this now?
Only once they lose the election, I suspect, and then move on to a new leader. Sheesh.
XML Feed
Incidentally, if no one's noticed, I've put a link to this blog's XML/RSS feed in my links to the right. So you don't have to remember to visit every time and can be spoonfed the stories I find, the stuff I write and the other things I put into the blog that most likely 0.000 people read. Hell, an average blog probably only gets the writer as its sole reader, so this ain't out of the ordinary. Though, I have noticed some hits coming from search engines (one for gay schoolboy stories!) that never really seem appropriate for what I'm doing here.
Still, I know Monkey75 has read it. Once. Or twice. So that makes this blog ABOVE average!
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=2491
Still, I know Monkey75 has read it. Once. Or twice. So that makes this blog ABOVE average!
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=2491
CNN.com - Berlusconi under pressure on Iraq - May 3, 2005
CNN.com - Berlusconi under pressure on Iraq - May 3, 2005
There was 90% popular opposition to Italy taking part and now it looks as if those in government are crumbling. Much like the coalition in general, with Hungary and Poland and Spain withdrawing.
Of course, it's highly likely that this sort of thing will only make headlines in the US if the British did the decent thing and pulled out in time for the end of the UN mandate. I think this would reduce violence and let Iraq settle down to itself. I only want a phased withdrawal but I think it has to happen.
There was 90% popular opposition to Italy taking part and now it looks as if those in government are crumbling. Much like the coalition in general, with Hungary and Poland and Spain withdrawing.
Of course, it's highly likely that this sort of thing will only make headlines in the US if the British did the decent thing and pulled out in time for the end of the UN mandate. I think this would reduce violence and let Iraq settle down to itself. I only want a phased withdrawal but I think it has to happen.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Gallup: 50% of Americans Now Say Bush Deliberately Misled Them on WMDs
Gallup: 50% of Americans Now Say Bush Deliberately Misled Them on WMDs
And yet the fool was re-elected!
Go figure...
And yet the fool was re-elected!
Go figure...
Proof Blair was told war could be ruled illegal
Proof Blair was told war could be ruled illegal
Blair didn't want to hear it.
Blair didn't want to hear it.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Some scripts
Just posting some material from last month that didn't get performed in the end. I like them, though.
"Making Thinroads"
RACHEL HUNTER COMES ON STAGE.
HUNTER: Hello there, I'm Rachel Hunter and welcome to “Make me a Supermodel”. This is the show where young, thin, young, female, thin and...thin ladies compete for a lucrative modelling contract. We're going to be at least as strict as we would be in the real modelling world so watch out ladies! Ok, first up is Daisy.
A WIRE COATHANGER WITH A BLOUSE HANGING ON IT COMES ON STAGE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE COATHANGER IS HANGING FROM ITSELF BUT SOMEONE DOES HAVE TO CARRY/PUSH THIS ON.
HUNTER: OK, Daisy. Now you've been on a photo shoot with the rest of the girls and we've had a look at the results. I've got to say, the camera does seem to add a few pounds on to you. One too many cafe mochas, would that be?[PAUSE] Ah, the enigmatic type. Fine. Well, what I'd suggest if you really want to be a supermodel is watch that weight, get some discipline with what you eat and..for god's sake try to avoid the fate of so many hopefuls; of ending up as just another quick fix replacement car aerial.
LIGHTS OUT.
END.
Song spoof:
TO THE TUNE OF TONY CHRISTIE'S AMARILLO.
(Verse)
Went to get a new phone,
It's got that crazy frog ringtone,
I can play some games and,
Listen to songs by my fav'rite band,
I can email my mum,
I can text rude words,
But there's just one problem,
I think is so absurd,
(Chorus)
Show me the way the make a phone call,
The bloke in Carphone Warehouse knows fuck all,
Just wanna make a bloody phone call,
To sweet Marie who waits for me,
Show me the way the make a phone call,
Customer services made me bawl,
Crying cos I simply can't call,
My sweet Marie or anyone,
(MAYBE SHOUT “3G” WHEN MUSIC DOES THE BAH BAH AT THE END OF THE BELOW “LA LAS”)
Sha la la la la la la X3
How the hell does this thing work?
(Verse)
Look my phone is ringing,
That sweety chick is singing,
When I try to pick up,
I will always get the same hiccup
It can open tin cans,
Show my Horoscope,
But the flaw in this plan,
Makes me lose all hope,
(Chorus)
Show me the way the make a phone call,
The bloke in Carphone Warehouse knows fuck all,
Just wanna make a bloody phone call,
To sweet Marie who waits for me,
Show me the way the make a phone call,
Customer services made me bawl,
Crying cos I simply can't call,
My sweet Marie or anyone,
Sha la la la la la la X3
How the fuck does this thing work?
Sha la la la la la la X3
What's so great about 3G?
(End)
"The BBCheap"
V/O ANNOUNCER: and now on BBC 1, Strictly Dance Fever!
A BIT OF MUSIC AND THEN A MAN IN A BROWN OVERCOAT SHUFFLES ON STAGE, HE IS QUITE OLD. STRONG COCKNEY ACCENT.
MAN: Alright? Dave's the name. I knows you were probably wanting that glittery bloke off Channel 4 but we've had some cutbacks y'see. Thousands of jobs gone and they thought Mr..Mr Norton was a bit pricey. They got the freebees off 'im on Comic Relief, though, eh. Heh heh...Yeah, so this is Strictly Dance Fever. Like the set, eh? Bloody marvellous. Amazing what you can do with a used birthday card and a stuffed womble toy. Cor! Now we were gonna have 12 contestants on the show but we could only afford two. And they're me mates. Come on Smithy, you an'all, Sandra.
SMITHY AND SANDRA COME ON STAGE. THEY'RE PRETTY SKANKY.
MAN: Now these two are gonna compete to see who you like the best. Now we were gonna have a series of this shit but we thought, nah, no point, so we're gonna have 10 minutes dancing and then you lot vote on £2 a second premium rate number to vote for the best. Gotta pay for me taxi home, y'know.
THE STAGE LIGHTS FLICKER THEN GO OUT.
MAN: Oh, bloody 'ell! Anyone got shrapnel for the meter?
END.
"Making Thinroads"
RACHEL HUNTER COMES ON STAGE.
HUNTER: Hello there, I'm Rachel Hunter and welcome to “Make me a Supermodel”. This is the show where young, thin, young, female, thin and...thin ladies compete for a lucrative modelling contract. We're going to be at least as strict as we would be in the real modelling world so watch out ladies! Ok, first up is Daisy.
A WIRE COATHANGER WITH A BLOUSE HANGING ON IT COMES ON STAGE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE COATHANGER IS HANGING FROM ITSELF BUT SOMEONE DOES HAVE TO CARRY/PUSH THIS ON.
HUNTER: OK, Daisy. Now you've been on a photo shoot with the rest of the girls and we've had a look at the results. I've got to say, the camera does seem to add a few pounds on to you. One too many cafe mochas, would that be?[PAUSE] Ah, the enigmatic type. Fine. Well, what I'd suggest if you really want to be a supermodel is watch that weight, get some discipline with what you eat and..for god's sake try to avoid the fate of so many hopefuls; of ending up as just another quick fix replacement car aerial.
LIGHTS OUT.
END.
Song spoof:
TO THE TUNE OF TONY CHRISTIE'S AMARILLO.
(Verse)
Went to get a new phone,
It's got that crazy frog ringtone,
I can play some games and,
Listen to songs by my fav'rite band,
I can email my mum,
I can text rude words,
But there's just one problem,
I think is so absurd,
(Chorus)
Show me the way the make a phone call,
The bloke in Carphone Warehouse knows fuck all,
Just wanna make a bloody phone call,
To sweet Marie who waits for me,
Show me the way the make a phone call,
Customer services made me bawl,
Crying cos I simply can't call,
My sweet Marie or anyone,
(MAYBE SHOUT “3G” WHEN MUSIC DOES THE BAH BAH AT THE END OF THE BELOW “LA LAS”)
Sha la la la la la la X3
How the hell does this thing work?
(Verse)
Look my phone is ringing,
That sweety chick is singing,
When I try to pick up,
I will always get the same hiccup
It can open tin cans,
Show my Horoscope,
But the flaw in this plan,
Makes me lose all hope,
(Chorus)
Show me the way the make a phone call,
The bloke in Carphone Warehouse knows fuck all,
Just wanna make a bloody phone call,
To sweet Marie who waits for me,
Show me the way the make a phone call,
Customer services made me bawl,
Crying cos I simply can't call,
My sweet Marie or anyone,
Sha la la la la la la X3
How the fuck does this thing work?
Sha la la la la la la X3
What's so great about 3G?
(End)
"The BBCheap"
V/O ANNOUNCER: and now on BBC 1, Strictly Dance Fever!
A BIT OF MUSIC AND THEN A MAN IN A BROWN OVERCOAT SHUFFLES ON STAGE, HE IS QUITE OLD. STRONG COCKNEY ACCENT.
MAN: Alright? Dave's the name. I knows you were probably wanting that glittery bloke off Channel 4 but we've had some cutbacks y'see. Thousands of jobs gone and they thought Mr..Mr Norton was a bit pricey. They got the freebees off 'im on Comic Relief, though, eh. Heh heh...Yeah, so this is Strictly Dance Fever. Like the set, eh? Bloody marvellous. Amazing what you can do with a used birthday card and a stuffed womble toy. Cor! Now we were gonna have 12 contestants on the show but we could only afford two. And they're me mates. Come on Smithy, you an'all, Sandra.
SMITHY AND SANDRA COME ON STAGE. THEY'RE PRETTY SKANKY.
MAN: Now these two are gonna compete to see who you like the best. Now we were gonna have a series of this shit but we thought, nah, no point, so we're gonna have 10 minutes dancing and then you lot vote on £2 a second premium rate number to vote for the best. Gotta pay for me taxi home, y'know.
THE STAGE LIGHTS FLICKER THEN GO OUT.
MAN: Oh, bloody 'ell! Anyone got shrapnel for the meter?
END.
Monday, April 18, 2005
MediaGuardian.co.uk | Broadcast | Row as BBC cuts Bafta speech
MediaGuardian.co.uk | Broadcast | Row as BBC cuts Bafta speech
Must say I was very pleased to see this excellent documentary win major TV awards. I am also not in the least bit surprised that this speech was cut entirely. But his point is entirely correct. When journalists, especially broadcast journalists, extrapolate consequences and expand ideas from slivers of fact that is when irresponsibility creeps in and we get a very warped message of the true threat to "the nation".
Must say I was very pleased to see this excellent documentary win major TV awards. I am also not in the least bit surprised that this speech was cut entirely. But his point is entirely correct. When journalists, especially broadcast journalists, extrapolate consequences and expand ideas from slivers of fact that is when irresponsibility creeps in and we get a very warped message of the true threat to "the nation".
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Saturday, April 02, 2005
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Pope John Paul II dies in Vatican
A shining example of pure religious zeal
My assessment of the pope.
He was a shining example of pure religious zeal. And a marvellous example of the deep flaws the church has never really rooted out.
He naturally spoke out forcefully against atheist communism, but only once he was safely in Rome as Pope was anything more than an agitant.
Catholic doctrine rather than Christianity
He allowed the scandalous cover up of paedophile priests which cost the church money and incalculable damage to its reputation. He pushed Catholicism into Africa and (perhaps relative to its anti-contraception rule) witnessed the fastest spread of AIDS anywhere in the world in that wretched continent.
He did not so much stick rigidly to Christianity as to Catholic doctrine. The abortion, contraception, the unmarried/celibate priests, the anti-gay stuff, the canonisation of Mother Theresa (who didn't attempt to treat the sick, merely gave them a place to die - a commonly misunderstood fact) and other such highly objectionable stances were sourced from Catholicism in large part.
A man of peace
For my particular theological position, you can read it in the Anada archive and in Digital Spy (quick google search should do it). In short, I'm a fully paid up atheist.
That all said, he was, without question, a man of peace - although, his affect on the real world to establish peace cannot exactly be described as profound. During his time in office, more Catholic countries than ever before have been embroiled in wars (civil and cross-border) and turmoil (such as brutal dictatorships). Italy, itself, was wracked with corruption for at least a decade of his office but then we have Guatamala, Columbia, Ecuador, Panama, the Philipines, Argentina, Chile and so on all suffered despite the Pope's countless windowsill speeches.
But no, he was a man who passionately loved peace and sought to keep peace at the top of the world agenda - as do I (although, he had a bit more clout than I). He was a man who inspired his Catholic followers in clear ways but whether this was simply because he turned up rather than sipping wine in his golden palace is another matter.
What good did he do?
In the real world, and I think this is the only angle from which a non-Catholic can have any interest in judging him, I still have to ask what good did he actually do?
The sole answer I can conjure is in inspiring Solidarity in Poland. This was a Catholic-driven grass routes workers movement which formed just months after the new Pope's first visit to his homeland. It slowly reached a critical mass whilst the Polish communist government simultaneously withered and eventually, a bloodless handover of power from the communists to democracy (and a Solidarity government) took place. Now, this was good but how fundamental was Solidarity's (and, therefore, the Popes inspiration) existance to the tearing down of Poland's Red government? Had this happened out of the blue and in absolute isolation then I would have said "very". But, let's face it, Communism was doomed from the mid-80s and the Iron Curtain was due to fall anyway. Communism had eaten itself alive - the Communist (not Marxist) experiment had been shown to have a finite lifespan, more finite than even the West had guessed - and so Solidarity, it could be argued, was simply there to fill the vacuum. This in itself was good too, as many Eastern Bloc states did not have this comfy sofa of a back-up government to fall into, post-Communism. So for this, the Pope could rightly be given credit.
He was more Catholic than all the clergy put together and doubled
I am never one for eulogies of someone given simply because they are recently deceased. Just because they are dead, their faults and achievements survive still in equal measure.
One thing you cannot criticise him for is any kinks in his faith. The man was cut through with Catholicism. He was more Catholic than all the clergy put together and doubled. And in many ways he was the perfect example of a head of a church. Dedicated, passionate, intelligent, energetic and driven by faith and nothing else.
I have already outlined where this clashed with the real world but that is an argument not so much with the man as with the doctrine. He was not the first and he won't be the last to follow it so what I take issue with is the doctrine itself.
So I listen to many people spreading messages on radio such as "without John Paul II the map of Eastern Europe would be very different today" - nonsense. And we hear various representatives of other faiths paying their respects. Fine. And we hear hours and hours of coverage of this long expected event. I now look forward to seeing who the next Pope will be. Until then, what else is there to say?
Thursday, March 31, 2005
New Torture Memo Implicates Top US General + Powell sort of apologises
New Torture Memo Implicates Top US General
Colin Powell only now feeling uneasy about the US's pre-war behaviour. Bit late, mate.
General suggesting techniques that, shock horror, we saw in US prison camps but yet he claims he never gave permission for them to be used. Hmmm.
Colin Powell only now feeling uneasy about the US's pre-war behaviour. Bit late, mate.
General suggesting techniques that, shock horror, we saw in US prison camps but yet he claims he never gave permission for them to be used. Hmmm.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
FOXNews.com - Politics - Fifty-Nine Ex-U.S. Diplomats Oppose Bolton
FOXNews.com - Politics - Fifty-Nine Ex-U.S. Diplomats Oppose Bolton
It virtually goes without saying that this plea (as sensible as it is) will go unheeded. It's not like it's the first time a collective if experts has proclaimed abhorrence at a Bush policy or decision.
It virtually goes without saying that this plea (as sensible as it is) will go unheeded. It's not like it's the first time a collective if experts has proclaimed abhorrence at a Bush policy or decision.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
USATODAY.com - Bush approval slips to 45%, lowest of his presidency
USATODAY.com - Bush approval slips to 45%, lowest of his presidency
It took twice as long to get this unpopular in his first term. Hmmm...America regretting its decision?
It took twice as long to get this unpopular in his first term. Hmmm...America regretting its decision?
BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | US to sell fighters to Pakistan
BBC NEWS World South Asia US to sell fighters to Pakistan
Of course, the US is not really selling them to Pakistan, it is buying them from the arms industry for Pakistan. The US is providing over $3bn dollars in aid to this dictatorship which has already wriggled out of blame for its top scientist providing nuclear technology to Iran.
In many ways it has echos with Iraq and Iran and how they were played by the US. Saddam was considered and ally and helped militarily. Then he turned bad. Admittedly, India is far from an enemy from the US but clearly has little respect from Bush, otherwise this decision may, at the very least, have been arrived at in consultation with them. Musharaf is a dictator, an ally and is recieving more in military aid than some countries' entire GDP.
I hope that this repetition of such a risky and purely pragmatic strategy does not end up in yet more blowback for the US and the world.
Like all dictatorships, we see plenty of this - for more detail you should click here.
Still, as with Saudi, Kuwait, Panama (in the 80s) and Uzbekistan, the US says good words but you can always tell a lot about someone by who their friends are. And what they do with people in Guantanamo Bay, of course.
Of course, the US is not really selling them to Pakistan, it is buying them from the arms industry for Pakistan. The US is providing over $3bn dollars in aid to this dictatorship which has already wriggled out of blame for its top scientist providing nuclear technology to Iran.
In many ways it has echos with Iraq and Iran and how they were played by the US. Saddam was considered and ally and helped militarily. Then he turned bad. Admittedly, India is far from an enemy from the US but clearly has little respect from Bush, otherwise this decision may, at the very least, have been arrived at in consultation with them. Musharaf is a dictator, an ally and is recieving more in military aid than some countries' entire GDP.
I hope that this repetition of such a risky and purely pragmatic strategy does not end up in yet more blowback for the US and the world.
Like all dictatorships, we see plenty of this - for more detail you should click here.
Still, as with Saudi, Kuwait, Panama (in the 80s) and Uzbekistan, the US says good words but you can always tell a lot about someone by who their friends are. And what they do with people in Guantanamo Bay, of course.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Wow, I'm writing!!
I'm actually writing again! It just happened. I sat down and in two days I have about 6 sketches, which have already gone to the Treason Show. The script editor just invited me to send stuff to the Newsrevue as well, so we'll see where that takes me. I really love writing and it is ball crushingly frustrating when I can't get ideas flowing.
So, I'll put some of the better scripts up here once they've been picked out by the editors. Even if they don't get used (I'm up against something like 60 writers) then I'll still put the best ones up.
Bit stuck now for a sketch but I do wanna write something tonight. Better go, having a ding dong on Digital Spy forums with Monkey75 (what a pro-war card he is, very droll, but not so often with me, for some reason).
So, I'll put some of the better scripts up here once they've been picked out by the editors. Even if they don't get used (I'm up against something like 60 writers) then I'll still put the best ones up.
Bit stuck now for a sketch but I do wanna write something tonight. Better go, having a ding dong on Digital Spy forums with Monkey75 (what a pro-war card he is, very droll, but not so often with me, for some reason).
Monday, March 21, 2005
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Israel confirms settlement growth
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Israel confirms settlement growth
The simple truth is that if Israel had the slightest interest in peace where both sides win they would not be doing this. It's insanity of the most inexcusable kind.
The simple truth is that if Israel had the slightest interest in peace where both sides win they would not be doing this. It's insanity of the most inexcusable kind.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Friday, March 18, 2005
What I don't know...
Hmm, I sometimes forget that I can have opinions, opine until I start repeating myself, but I am shamefully low in a lot of knowledge many I look up to take for granted.
Sure, I had a brief bit of Latin at school, I have a smattering of Spanish, I know something of history, geography and sociology. I have a deep interest in psychology and communications media. I have a passive interest in cosmology and physics.
But I know very little about the technical nitty gritty of computers, HTML, classical literature, political history, art, poetry, anthropology, biology and many other topics.
In non-UK and US current affairs I really feel undone. I really know nothing of what goes on in South America, the Far East, Africa or..or..well you get the idea.
It boils down to the fact I am not the fastest reader in the world and I work about 70 hours a week. I don't mean my lips move when I read, I mean I simply read in such a way that means I don't need to reread it (it all goes in).
I am also so skint that buying a broadsheet paper on a daily basis is impossible and reading that sort of stuff on the internet is much much more time consuming.
So I'm left with simple gut reactions to things. I try to be detached but I largely rest my responses to subjects on the principle I outlined in earlier posts.
What set this little...thing off? I saw an "around the world in 80 seconds" segment on Fox News!! I, in my smug little way, thought typical Fox, devoting 80 pitiful seconds to non-American stories, how ill informed is the American public? But then they reported on protests in South Korea against Japan because there is some longrunning Falklands-style dispute between the two countries over some islands. Didn't know that. I would probably never have known that if I hadn't tuned into Fox News at that time. Scary. This sort of incident is a wakeup call and no mistake. If I need to tune into Fox News to fill in some knowledge blanks I REALLY need to get me some reading done, urgently.
I've also notice my spelling has drifted to the depths of a 10 year old. I don't know why, I just find myself totally unable to spell words I know for a fact I have used before. If it was CJD I would not be surprised. I was something of a cheeseburger addict 10 or 15 yearsago...
So, aside from this lack of varied knowledge, an everdiminishing spelling facility and a lack of creative juices (see, used lack twice in one sentence, similies are too much to generate!) this blog should be crammed to the rafters with insightful, high quality writing. Enjoy!!
Ah..christ.
Sure, I had a brief bit of Latin at school, I have a smattering of Spanish, I know something of history, geography and sociology. I have a deep interest in psychology and communications media. I have a passive interest in cosmology and physics.
But I know very little about the technical nitty gritty of computers, HTML, classical literature, political history, art, poetry, anthropology, biology and many other topics.
In non-UK and US current affairs I really feel undone. I really know nothing of what goes on in South America, the Far East, Africa or..or..well you get the idea.
It boils down to the fact I am not the fastest reader in the world and I work about 70 hours a week. I don't mean my lips move when I read, I mean I simply read in such a way that means I don't need to reread it (it all goes in).
I am also so skint that buying a broadsheet paper on a daily basis is impossible and reading that sort of stuff on the internet is much much more time consuming.
So I'm left with simple gut reactions to things. I try to be detached but I largely rest my responses to subjects on the principle I outlined in earlier posts.
What set this little...thing off? I saw an "around the world in 80 seconds" segment on Fox News!! I, in my smug little way, thought typical Fox, devoting 80 pitiful seconds to non-American stories, how ill informed is the American public? But then they reported on protests in South Korea against Japan because there is some longrunning Falklands-style dispute between the two countries over some islands. Didn't know that. I would probably never have known that if I hadn't tuned into Fox News at that time. Scary. This sort of incident is a wakeup call and no mistake. If I need to tune into Fox News to fill in some knowledge blanks I REALLY need to get me some reading done, urgently.
I've also notice my spelling has drifted to the depths of a 10 year old. I don't know why, I just find myself totally unable to spell words I know for a fact I have used before. If it was CJD I would not be surprised. I was something of a cheeseburger addict 10 or 15 yearsago...
So, aside from this lack of varied knowledge, an everdiminishing spelling facility and a lack of creative juices (see, used lack twice in one sentence, similies are too much to generate!) this blog should be crammed to the rafters with insightful, high quality writing. Enjoy!!
Ah..christ.
A battle the Neo-cons lost...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4354269.stm
This report tells a very important story. Nevermind that Big Oil won out over "mental neo-cons" just look at who the neo-cons are and what they wanted to do. It really is scary.
This report tells a very important story. Nevermind that Big Oil won out over "mental neo-cons" just look at who the neo-cons are and what they wanted to do. It really is scary.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
All Change - stay tuned
Well, I'm finding it increasingly hard to write, especially now that I have become a freelance photographer. So, with that in mind, I doubt I shall add any posts to this blog for around six months. Once I do, I shall reveal who I am and start publicising my work - Pets and kids portraits welcome, sort of thing - and showing my favourite pics on this blog.
Should I ever write anything else - and hopefully, once I'm established, I will - I'll put it up here.
So, to the reader of this blog (I can't believe there's any more) hold tight until I'm settled down.
I may add thoughts on events here, so don't assume this blog will be blank for six months.
Should I ever write anything else - and hopefully, once I'm established, I will - I'll put it up here.
So, to the reader of this blog (I can't believe there's any more) hold tight until I'm settled down.
I may add thoughts on events here, so don't assume this blog will be blank for six months.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
A catch up on events
It seems I have to be tanked up on spirits and cola to have any writing impulse these days so, as I am currently half cut on said concoction, here I am.
You can't imagine how creatively constipated I have been. I have been so busy that I have been unable to concentrate on anything long enough to even be passionate enough to comment on huge stories. It also makes me slightly uneasy at the vague potential prospect that I have to be drunk to be creative. I see so many alcoholics and see how tired and wasted they are. I don't want to have to be fucked up to write.That would be more than depressing.
I'll get on to the tsunami in a second. Blunkett's affair really seems minimal now but it has been event I was never particularly animated about even before we lost a further 124,000 poor people in the tsunami. I don't really feel Blunkett had a serious upward route in politics left and he was really nicking ideas from America most of the time in his role. Although, I think the fact that the US hasn't even seen it fit to create an ID card scheme shows how relatively pointless it is. If the US (the bullseye of terrorist targets) hasn't even begun to countenance it that why should we? I don't have a principalled stand against ID cards I just want to have a damn fine argument why they are essential.
OK, I think I can move on to the tsunami. It is a disaster that would not have been as bad had these countries been richer than we allowed them to be. The psychological damage done to individuals must be huge and this is what affects me most. The random and sudden death, largely based on chance and the heart breaking "what if"s that produces (what if I'd held on to her/him, what if I'd not missed the bus etc.) really gets to me.
I hope this historical disaster has a real effect on the soul of the rich world. I hope it (in dreadful ironic pun) causes a seachange in the developed world's thinking of how the world works. I just hope it doesn't smother the larger poverty campaign being co-ordinated this year. I hope those behind it are astute enough to use this disaster as a tool to push this broader agenda. I want to wish them the best of luck.
A interesting thing to do is look at coverage of the disaster on TV and see that all 24 hour news channels have virtually wall to wall coverage except Fox. Surprise surprise, Fox was all about Iraq, Bush and Law and Order. As I type, Fox is adjudicating the biggest News Stories of 2004 as being the election and Iraq above the tsunami. They have said that basically, the tsunami "may" beat the latter two as the biggest story!!! Come On!. This beats 9/11! This should be called the Boxing Day disaster and be referred to it as such like 9/11 is refered to. Then again, the commentator on Fox just said that Reagan was one of the "seminal thinkers of the 20th century". Jesus H Christ. John Kasich on Fox just tried to imply that the Florida hurricanes and the tsunami were possibly hinting at the end times. Jesus H Christ!! It really is staggering such tossers get on to mainstream TV in America. But the fact that CNN, ABC and NBC news are really looking at the Boxing Day Disaster so intensely is heartening.
Happy New Year.
You can't imagine how creatively constipated I have been. I have been so busy that I have been unable to concentrate on anything long enough to even be passionate enough to comment on huge stories. It also makes me slightly uneasy at the vague potential prospect that I have to be drunk to be creative. I see so many alcoholics and see how tired and wasted they are. I don't want to have to be fucked up to write.That would be more than depressing.
I'll get on to the tsunami in a second. Blunkett's affair really seems minimal now but it has been event I was never particularly animated about even before we lost a further 124,000 poor people in the tsunami. I don't really feel Blunkett had a serious upward route in politics left and he was really nicking ideas from America most of the time in his role. Although, I think the fact that the US hasn't even seen it fit to create an ID card scheme shows how relatively pointless it is. If the US (the bullseye of terrorist targets) hasn't even begun to countenance it that why should we? I don't have a principalled stand against ID cards I just want to have a damn fine argument why they are essential.
OK, I think I can move on to the tsunami. It is a disaster that would not have been as bad had these countries been richer than we allowed them to be. The psychological damage done to individuals must be huge and this is what affects me most. The random and sudden death, largely based on chance and the heart breaking "what if"s that produces (what if I'd held on to her/him, what if I'd not missed the bus etc.) really gets to me.
I hope this historical disaster has a real effect on the soul of the rich world. I hope it (in dreadful ironic pun) causes a seachange in the developed world's thinking of how the world works. I just hope it doesn't smother the larger poverty campaign being co-ordinated this year. I hope those behind it are astute enough to use this disaster as a tool to push this broader agenda. I want to wish them the best of luck.
A interesting thing to do is look at coverage of the disaster on TV and see that all 24 hour news channels have virtually wall to wall coverage except Fox. Surprise surprise, Fox was all about Iraq, Bush and Law and Order. As I type, Fox is adjudicating the biggest News Stories of 2004 as being the election and Iraq above the tsunami. They have said that basically, the tsunami "may" beat the latter two as the biggest story!!! Come On!. This beats 9/11! This should be called the Boxing Day disaster and be referred to it as such like 9/11 is refered to. Then again, the commentator on Fox just said that Reagan was one of the "seminal thinkers of the 20th century". Jesus H Christ. John Kasich on Fox just tried to imply that the Florida hurricanes and the tsunami were possibly hinting at the end times. Jesus H Christ!! It really is staggering such tossers get on to mainstream TV in America. But the fact that CNN, ABC and NBC news are really looking at the Boxing Day Disaster so intensely is heartening.
Happy New Year.
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