A few days ago, I was listening to the radio when I heard something that made me think twice. Iraqis who fled their homes over the past 4 years are slowly but surely returning.
What has happened to Iraq over the past 6 months? When I last blogged about it, it felt like the end of days, a hell on earth, a state teetering on the edge of the chasm of outright war and genocide.
Since then, we've had September's Petraeus report, which suggested a slight improvement, speed bumps rather than U-turns on the road Iraq was heading down. An agreement with former tribal insurgents to work together in eliminating Al-Qaeda seemed too dubious to put faith in, and political progress was nil.
In fact, the Blackwater killings that month and the death of Turkish soldiers at the hands of Kurdish rebels seemed to be the beginning of the final act.
What has changed?
Could it be that the surge is actually working? If so, then that was a good call - albeit quite late in the game. The US troop presence in Iraq seems to have taken a new meaning, gaining a sense of purpose and determination that wasn't there at the start. I have to admit that I thought it would have be analagous to closing the stable door after the horse left, but it just goes to show that you should listen to veterans like John McCain, or for that matter, The Economist.
The most probable reason for the change in fortunes is the cooperation between former Sunni insurgents and the army. Foreign militias are being rooted out of previously no-go areas, which are being secured by the local tribesman.
These together seem to be working so well that Iraqis are returning en masse. In fact, too many are returning, as in this article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/12/04/MNNHTNET9.DTL&type=politics
However, despite these new successes, you can't help but stay wary. As almost everyone has noted, 2007 is still the year with the highest number of troop casualties to date. And suicide bombings and fighting still occurs regularly across Iraq.
Things look good so far, but we can only hope that they continue this way till this whole mess is sorted.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
Winning the war
Iraq weighs heavily on people's minds these days. The violence, the effectiveness of the troop surge, the earliest date for withdrawal. Since the invasion in 2003, no weapons of mass destruction have been found, sectarian divisions have grown and bombings and fighting has become more frequent. Why did we even go in?
We need to remember that it started with 9/11. Because a few dozen men managed to create such terror over the world's wealthiest and most powerful nation, the elimination of the terrorists appeared key. Afghanistan was invaded, and the oppressive regime sent into hiding. Months later, the case against Saddam Hussein was made by Secretaries Powell and Rumsfeld, Vice President Cheney and President Bush, resulting in American troops entering and toppling the dictatorship. It has later emerged that this case was about as flimsy as a sheet of paper, its inferences non-existant.
We now have a situation where two wars which have nothing to do with each other are being fought in the same region, breeding discontent and hatred.
Reading personal accounts of life in Iraq before and after the fall of Saddam, I cannot help but feel sorry. Although their lives weren't brimming with freedom and democracy, they lived securely in their homes, were able to walk the streets safely at night and do at least some of the things we would consider to be normal. Now, Iraq resembles not a bad dream, but some vicious psychotic episode.
Once peaceful neighbours are defined as 'them', while buying goods at a market in Baghdad is tantamount to suicide. With the coming of dawn is the discovery of bodies in the streets, pieces of flesh beaten and slashed like unwanted carcasses.
Watching a scene from a CNN programme on reporting the war, it was this that hit me the hardest. The daily lot of corpses collected from the area lies strewn on a courtyard, while families come along looking for missing relatives. A woman in a burkha passes by one row. She starts suddenly and lets out a terrifying, shrieking wail. Her husband's body has caught her attention.
These people are as innocent as you or I. Watching footage like that makes me wonder if there is any justice in the world.
Of course those responsible are the monstrous insurgents, an enormous cancer slowly destroying everything that is Iraq.
But there is no doubt that also to blame for this suffering are those who started this war. That there are still some members of this demonic clique still in power today is shameful.
This is not an attack on America - indeed, the same sense of sorrow that fills me when I hear of Iraqi suffering also rises when I hear of nineteen year old soldiers dying for their country. This is a call for those responsible for the situation to be stamped out of authority and be disgraced publicly.
That, at least, is owed to the newly widowed, and to the memories of those brave men.
We need to remember that it started with 9/11. Because a few dozen men managed to create such terror over the world's wealthiest and most powerful nation, the elimination of the terrorists appeared key. Afghanistan was invaded, and the oppressive regime sent into hiding. Months later, the case against Saddam Hussein was made by Secretaries Powell and Rumsfeld, Vice President Cheney and President Bush, resulting in American troops entering and toppling the dictatorship. It has later emerged that this case was about as flimsy as a sheet of paper, its inferences non-existant.
We now have a situation where two wars which have nothing to do with each other are being fought in the same region, breeding discontent and hatred.
Reading personal accounts of life in Iraq before and after the fall of Saddam, I cannot help but feel sorry. Although their lives weren't brimming with freedom and democracy, they lived securely in their homes, were able to walk the streets safely at night and do at least some of the things we would consider to be normal. Now, Iraq resembles not a bad dream, but some vicious psychotic episode.
Once peaceful neighbours are defined as 'them', while buying goods at a market in Baghdad is tantamount to suicide. With the coming of dawn is the discovery of bodies in the streets, pieces of flesh beaten and slashed like unwanted carcasses.
Watching a scene from a CNN programme on reporting the war, it was this that hit me the hardest. The daily lot of corpses collected from the area lies strewn on a courtyard, while families come along looking for missing relatives. A woman in a burkha passes by one row. She starts suddenly and lets out a terrifying, shrieking wail. Her husband's body has caught her attention.
These people are as innocent as you or I. Watching footage like that makes me wonder if there is any justice in the world.
Of course those responsible are the monstrous insurgents, an enormous cancer slowly destroying everything that is Iraq.
But there is no doubt that also to blame for this suffering are those who started this war. That there are still some members of this demonic clique still in power today is shameful.
This is not an attack on America - indeed, the same sense of sorrow that fills me when I hear of Iraqi suffering also rises when I hear of nineteen year old soldiers dying for their country. This is a call for those responsible for the situation to be stamped out of authority and be disgraced publicly.
That, at least, is owed to the newly widowed, and to the memories of those brave men.
Obituary: Liberty
It's come to this.
How much more? How much more before the sheer idiocy of this conflict is resolved? How many more have to die before someone realises that no one can win this? How many more painful days must grind their way past us before we can be at peace in our island paradise?
How much more? How much more before the sheer idiocy of this conflict is resolved? How many more have to die before someone realises that no one can win this? How many more painful days must grind their way past us before we can be at peace in our island paradise?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Life's best lesson
Life can be utter sh*t at times, with nothing happening, nothing going right, and nothing to reach for.
The easiest and certainly the worst way of dealing with this is to go down with the ship, falling into the deepest and darkest corridors of your mind.
Those of you who read this junk -sorry, blog - are probably familiar with my musings on that king of games (and game of kings), cricket. Cricket is a lovely sport, if only that you can draw so many analogies from it. K, here's my story:
It was a 40-over away game on an unmatted wicket - low bounce, making batting extremely tough. Our side is in, and a slow start begins to take a devastating turn: wickets tumbled left and right, till we end up 80-8 by 25 overs~slim pickins for any side. Miraculously, our 9th wicket stand lasts for the rest of the innings, and our total is 136. Respectable, yet not completely defendable.
A paltry lunch brings us to the field, with the aim of scuttling down the other side as quickly as we could. They too started slowly, but a massive 6 from the massive left-hand opener lands the ball in a canal, irretrievable. Thereafter, the batsmen opened up their shoulders - their total becomes 104-1 in around 24 overs. 33 runs to win, 8 wickets in hand (they were one batsmen short), and 15 overs left. We were surely doomed to a harsh rebuke in the dressing room.
But then, as that same opener told us he was going to go ballistic, he got out. Then another wicket fell. Then another. The next half-a-dozen overs saw maidens and wicket-maidens. On 131-8, with 6 runs and 1 wicket left, our captain took a brilliant catch to complete a remarkable turnaround.
The moral, ladies and gentlemen, was best put by Yogi Berra: it ain't over till it's over. However improbable the task you have at hand, as long as it can happen, there's no saying that it won't.
The easiest and certainly the worst way of dealing with this is to go down with the ship, falling into the deepest and darkest corridors of your mind.
Those of you who read this junk -sorry, blog - are probably familiar with my musings on that king of games (and game of kings), cricket. Cricket is a lovely sport, if only that you can draw so many analogies from it. K, here's my story:
It was a 40-over away game on an unmatted wicket - low bounce, making batting extremely tough. Our side is in, and a slow start begins to take a devastating turn: wickets tumbled left and right, till we end up 80-8 by 25 overs~slim pickins for any side. Miraculously, our 9th wicket stand lasts for the rest of the innings, and our total is 136. Respectable, yet not completely defendable.
A paltry lunch brings us to the field, with the aim of scuttling down the other side as quickly as we could. They too started slowly, but a massive 6 from the massive left-hand opener lands the ball in a canal, irretrievable. Thereafter, the batsmen opened up their shoulders - their total becomes 104-1 in around 24 overs. 33 runs to win, 8 wickets in hand (they were one batsmen short), and 15 overs left. We were surely doomed to a harsh rebuke in the dressing room.
But then, as that same opener told us he was going to go ballistic, he got out. Then another wicket fell. Then another. The next half-a-dozen overs saw maidens and wicket-maidens. On 131-8, with 6 runs and 1 wicket left, our captain took a brilliant catch to complete a remarkable turnaround.
The moral, ladies and gentlemen, was best put by Yogi Berra: it ain't over till it's over. However improbable the task you have at hand, as long as it can happen, there's no saying that it won't.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The Last Stand?
You can accuse me of many things, but calling me honest, moral, hard working and clever would be slander.
There are times in a man's life (or anybody's really) where he is called to do his best, to face his fears, and take his place in the world. Like everyone else, I've faced moments like these often in my life. It is moments like these that you train yourself for, the last wicket stand against the great fast bowler, the delivery that has to be made when you are one run away from losing, and one wicket away from victory.
Many have been called upon on occasions like these, and many have faced the moment down with a glare of steel.
I am afraid to say I don't measure up to those men.
I laugh at such events when they are located somewhere over the far away horizon of the future; I tell myself that I could do it with my eyes close; I try to believe that I savour such moments.
Sadly, I choke at the end. I don't even try to achieve it, I just want to be as far away from that moment as I can. Those occasions strike at my heart, my conscience and more than anything else, my fears; rousing the most dormant and extinct feeling of anxiety that rests in my mind.
Why am I saying this? Being the gutless coward that I am, I want to be able to tell myself 'I told you so' at the end of all this. Goodbye, and good luck. I'm sure you won't need it.
There are times in a man's life (or anybody's really) where he is called to do his best, to face his fears, and take his place in the world. Like everyone else, I've faced moments like these often in my life. It is moments like these that you train yourself for, the last wicket stand against the great fast bowler, the delivery that has to be made when you are one run away from losing, and one wicket away from victory.
Many have been called upon on occasions like these, and many have faced the moment down with a glare of steel.
I am afraid to say I don't measure up to those men.
I laugh at such events when they are located somewhere over the far away horizon of the future; I tell myself that I could do it with my eyes close; I try to believe that I savour such moments.
Sadly, I choke at the end. I don't even try to achieve it, I just want to be as far away from that moment as I can. Those occasions strike at my heart, my conscience and more than anything else, my fears; rousing the most dormant and extinct feeling of anxiety that rests in my mind.
Why am I saying this? Being the gutless coward that I am, I want to be able to tell myself 'I told you so' at the end of all this. Goodbye, and good luck. I'm sure you won't need it.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Love, take 2
In response to a previous post, i got a few good answers from face to face meetings. But here's a better question:
How on earth can u tell if a girl likes u?
I've got one idea:
you can't! Cos u can never tell what they're thinking!
How on earth can u tell if a girl likes u?
I've got one idea:
you can't! Cos u can never tell what they're thinking!
The Bastard Church of Scientology
Can you believe this: Editor defends Scientology report ?
The story of the exploding BBC Panorama reporter is a sad reflection on the limits, the cunning, and the utter stupidity of human kind.
Scientology is a new ... 'religion'. I am hesitant to call it that because its apparent values (technically, you're not supposed to know the full story of the aliens and volcanoes until you've coughed up a few million) seem to tend towards the absurd. Then again, believing that someone turned water into wine or heard the voice of God inside their head seems somewhat silly as well.
What I feel is wrong about Scientology is its requirement of massive amounts of cash from members in return for further revelations as to the true history of life, the universe and everything (although again, the word 'tithe' springs to mind). It seems so unscrupulous, so blatantly and perversely greedy that it calls for a great leap of faith itself.
Tom Cruise (I just had to mention him!) and the other famous members of this odd congregation bring a certain glamour and interest to this 'church'. But if it was just comprised of a bunch of hicks, red necks and loonies, would we be so enthralled? Scientology would just be another cult (note that word), unknown and uncared for. Based on a book by L. Ron Hubbard, it would probably sound like some sci-fi fan club gone wild - which it just might be.
I feel deeply sorry for that reporter. The way he shouts is suggestive of a man who is trying to reassure himself that the world is round, rotates in about 24 hours and is pulling at (and being pulled by) his centre of mass - not full of the crazies around him. The vast funds of the church means that even old Aunty can be hunted down by private detectives, harassed to the point of tears. Investigative journalism is by nature an ugly, probing thing, necessary for society as a whole. Nothing except the foundations of democracy, liberty and freedom - should stand in its way.
Oh, and by the way Mr Patriarch or Pope of Scientology: I'm an atheist. So nah na na nah nah!
The story of the exploding BBC Panorama reporter is a sad reflection on the limits, the cunning, and the utter stupidity of human kind.
Scientology is a new ... 'religion'. I am hesitant to call it that because its apparent values (technically, you're not supposed to know the full story of the aliens and volcanoes until you've coughed up a few million) seem to tend towards the absurd. Then again, believing that someone turned water into wine or heard the voice of God inside their head seems somewhat silly as well.
What I feel is wrong about Scientology is its requirement of massive amounts of cash from members in return for further revelations as to the true history of life, the universe and everything (although again, the word 'tithe' springs to mind). It seems so unscrupulous, so blatantly and perversely greedy that it calls for a great leap of faith itself.
Tom Cruise (I just had to mention him!) and the other famous members of this odd congregation bring a certain glamour and interest to this 'church'. But if it was just comprised of a bunch of hicks, red necks and loonies, would we be so enthralled? Scientology would just be another cult (note that word), unknown and uncared for. Based on a book by L. Ron Hubbard, it would probably sound like some sci-fi fan club gone wild - which it just might be.
I feel deeply sorry for that reporter. The way he shouts is suggestive of a man who is trying to reassure himself that the world is round, rotates in about 24 hours and is pulling at (and being pulled by) his centre of mass - not full of the crazies around him. The vast funds of the church means that even old Aunty can be hunted down by private detectives, harassed to the point of tears. Investigative journalism is by nature an ugly, probing thing, necessary for society as a whole. Nothing except the foundations of democracy, liberty and freedom - should stand in its way.
Oh, and by the way Mr Patriarch or Pope of Scientology: I'm an atheist. So nah na na nah nah!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Oh, the disappointment sinks in
For a few days, it seemed like Sri Lanka had a decent chance of winning the world cup. They seemed the in form side, a great line up of bowlers, a gallery of sharp fielders and useful batsmen who might outwit the Aussies when they least suspected it.
How heavily are such light hopes crushed.
It seemed inevitable that Australia would reach the final, perhaps even more so that they would win it. Four years ago it was with a determined hammering from Ricky Ponting, and yesterday Adam Gilchrist decided to attack the crowd from his position in the middle. 149 off around a 130 balls. If he had just made 30, Sri Lanka might've been in it.
What a tragic ending to an often dismal tournament. Cut short by rain, I would have thought that the World Cup Final of all cricket games would have been rescheduled for the next day. Unfortunately, the completely idiotic powers-that-be decided otherwise, and 38 overs a side it was. More rain meant that the Australian side celebrated too early due to a mistake by the match referee. Whatever the case, Sri Lanka lost by 54 runs a la Duckworth-Lewis. Or for the more sensible, Aus 281-4 (38 overs) beat SL 215-8 (36).
Australia have won the ICC Cricket World Cup for a fourth time, and for a third successive time. Cricket receives another nail in its coffin.
How heavily are such light hopes crushed.
It seemed inevitable that Australia would reach the final, perhaps even more so that they would win it. Four years ago it was with a determined hammering from Ricky Ponting, and yesterday Adam Gilchrist decided to attack the crowd from his position in the middle. 149 off around a 130 balls. If he had just made 30, Sri Lanka might've been in it.
What a tragic ending to an often dismal tournament. Cut short by rain, I would have thought that the World Cup Final of all cricket games would have been rescheduled for the next day. Unfortunately, the completely idiotic powers-that-be decided otherwise, and 38 overs a side it was. More rain meant that the Australian side celebrated too early due to a mistake by the match referee. Whatever the case, Sri Lanka lost by 54 runs a la Duckworth-Lewis. Or for the more sensible, Aus 281-4 (38 overs) beat SL 215-8 (36).
Australia have won the ICC Cricket World Cup for a fourth time, and for a third successive time. Cricket receives another nail in its coffin.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Virginia Tech University
33 dead. About as many injured. 1 gunman, 2 intermittent attacks.
Too familiar.
It takes just one student - one lonely, depressed, irrational person - to end so much life. Lives that could have changed the world one day, lives that were setting up the stage for those changes.
Why?
We should really know why by now. The apathy of society and the weight of modern life have put a strain on the human condition - place a gun within reach of a person, and you have a disaster on your hands.
Help is nearly always there for people who feel so down and angry at the world that they feel like destroying it. The concern needed to get a person to get help, and the desire to accept help, isn't always.
There is no way to ever completely stop these incidents. But the frequency of such events is alarming. The tools for such a killing may have to be kept away; people may just have to listen more; the world might just have to slow down.
Please, never again.
Too familiar.
It takes just one student - one lonely, depressed, irrational person - to end so much life. Lives that could have changed the world one day, lives that were setting up the stage for those changes.
Why?
We should really know why by now. The apathy of society and the weight of modern life have put a strain on the human condition - place a gun within reach of a person, and you have a disaster on your hands.
Help is nearly always there for people who feel so down and angry at the world that they feel like destroying it. The concern needed to get a person to get help, and the desire to accept help, isn't always.
There is no way to ever completely stop these incidents. But the frequency of such events is alarming. The tools for such a killing may have to be kept away; people may just have to listen more; the world might just have to slow down.
Please, never again.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Kurt Vonnegut, 84
Kurt Vonnegut, author of "Slaughterhouse 5" and an American soldier in the Second World War died on Wednesday, 11th April. Listening and reading radio and newspaper obituaries, I've learnt that he was a cult figure in the 60s and 70s, continuing the dark humour surrounding Billy Pilgrim's tale into his other works. A literary icon has passed away. So it goes.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Life on Mars
Why did it have to end like that? My god, Sam Tyler committed suicide to end up back in 1973!!!
I feel sick!
I feel sick!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Malinga 4 Wickets from 4 Balls
I just had to put this video up - the weirdest action in the world brings a dramatic ending to an otherwise straight-forward victory for the Proteas! I'm so glad Sri Lanka have him!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Are things beginning to crumble?
It may not seem like it at first, but skip to the middle bit or whatever, and you'll find O'Reilly screaming his lungs out! Are the neo-cons self-destructing?
That's just not cricket, Amnesty International!
There have been reports recently that AI - the human rights watchdog - has been attempting to "educate people about human rights" by handing out cricket balls at World Cup matches with comments which put the Sri Lankan government into disrepute:
Angry Sri Lanka blasts Amnesty International for human rights cricket campaign - International Herald Tribune
Normally (and I do mean normally, not just rhetorically), I would just shake my head and feel embarrassed about my country's continuing downward spiral, but AI has crossed a very thick line in my book.
Perhaps Apartheid-era South Africa deserved to be treated like a leper when it came to the world of sports, for denying a majority of their population from taking part. However much Sri Lanka is to fault though, this is uncalled for. Cricket is pretty much the only good news Sri Lanka has received over the past few years, and with our team doing rather well (if I do say so myself), it would be sinful to disrupt their concentration. Anything other than a win in the final, with the knowledge that Sri Lanka are world-beaters in one at least one avenue of life, would result in a collective state of mental depression. We're not much for effigy-burnings or big protests if we lose, just the odd letter to the editor and an aggravated pundit.
The Sri Lankan team is perhaps (crossing my fingers here) a symbol of national unity, with players from different parts of the country and different ethnic backgrounds working together towards shared goals. There are scandals of corruption, of politicising the board, of dealing with criminals - but the team is something to feel passionate about.
I'll also wager that if we weren't playing so well at the moment, and left after the group stage - like say, a certain Zimbabwe - this wouldn't be happening. I didn't seem to hear anything about the Zimbabwean team having such a campaign against them last month.
So if you're reading this, AI, this is my plea: just let us at least have a chance at trying to win this thing!
Angry Sri Lanka blasts Amnesty International for human rights cricket campaign - International Herald Tribune
Normally (and I do mean normally, not just rhetorically), I would just shake my head and feel embarrassed about my country's continuing downward spiral, but AI has crossed a very thick line in my book.
Perhaps Apartheid-era South Africa deserved to be treated like a leper when it came to the world of sports, for denying a majority of their population from taking part. However much Sri Lanka is to fault though, this is uncalled for. Cricket is pretty much the only good news Sri Lanka has received over the past few years, and with our team doing rather well (if I do say so myself), it would be sinful to disrupt their concentration. Anything other than a win in the final, with the knowledge that Sri Lanka are world-beaters in one at least one avenue of life, would result in a collective state of mental depression. We're not much for effigy-burnings or big protests if we lose, just the odd letter to the editor and an aggravated pundit.
The Sri Lankan team is perhaps (crossing my fingers here) a symbol of national unity, with players from different parts of the country and different ethnic backgrounds working together towards shared goals. There are scandals of corruption, of politicising the board, of dealing with criminals - but the team is something to feel passionate about.
I'll also wager that if we weren't playing so well at the moment, and left after the group stage - like say, a certain Zimbabwe - this wouldn't be happening. I didn't seem to hear anything about the Zimbabwean team having such a campaign against them last month.
So if you're reading this, AI, this is my plea: just let us at least have a chance at trying to win this thing!
BUMPER STICKERS: TO TAUNT YOUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS
1. Bush: End of an Error
2. That's OK, I Wasn't Using My Civil Liberties Anyway
3. Let's Fix Democracy in this Country First
4. If You Want a Nation Ruled By Religion, Move to Iran
5. Bush. Like a Rock. Only Dumber.
6. If You Can Read This, You're Not Our President
7. Of Course It Hurts: You're Getting Screwed by an Elephant
8. Hey, Bush Supporters:
Embarrassed Yet?
9. George Bush: Creating the Terrorists Our Kids Will Have to Fight
10. Impeachment: It's Not Just for Blow Jobs Anymore
11. America: One Nation, Under Surveillance
12. They Call Him "W"
So He Can Spell It
13. Whose God Do You Kill For?
14. Jail to the Chief
15. No, Seriously...Why Did We Invade Iraq?
(Oh, never mind...you just sound like a broken record of
misinformation!)
16. Bush: God's Way of Proving Intelligent Design is Full Of Crap
17. Bad President! No Banana.
18. We Need a President Who's Fluent In At Least One Language
19. We're Making Enemies Faster
Than We Can Kill Them
20. Is It Vietnam Yet?
21. Bush Doesn't Care About
White People, Either
22. Where Are We Going?
And Why Are We In This Hand Basket?
23. You Elected Him.
You Deserve Him.
24. Dubya, Your Dad
Shoulda Pulled Out, Too
25. When Bush Took Office,
Gas Was $1.46
26. The Republican Party:
Our Bridge to the 11th Century
27. What Part of "Bush Lied"
Don't You Understand?
28. One Nation Under Clod
29. 2004: Embarrassed
2005: Horrified
2006: Terrified
30. Bush Never Exhaled
31. Pray For Impeachment
(Nooooo!!! Scratch that!
Who wants Cheney for Prez??!!!)
32. At Least Nixon Resigned
2. That's OK, I Wasn't Using My Civil Liberties Anyway
3. Let's Fix Democracy in this Country First
4. If You Want a Nation Ruled By Religion, Move to Iran
5. Bush. Like a Rock. Only Dumber.
6. If You Can Read This, You're Not Our President
7. Of Course It Hurts: You're Getting Screwed by an Elephant
8. Hey, Bush Supporters:
Embarrassed Yet?
9. George Bush: Creating the Terrorists Our Kids Will Have to Fight
10. Impeachment: It's Not Just for Blow Jobs Anymore
11. America: One Nation, Under Surveillance
12. They Call Him "W"
So He Can Spell It
13. Whose God Do You Kill For?
14. Jail to the Chief
15. No, Seriously...Why Did We Invade Iraq?
(Oh, never mind...you just sound like a broken record of
misinformation!)
16. Bush: God's Way of Proving Intelligent Design is Full Of Crap
17. Bad President! No Banana.
18. We Need a President Who's Fluent In At Least One Language
19. We're Making Enemies Faster
Than We Can Kill Them
20. Is It Vietnam Yet?
21. Bush Doesn't Care About
White People, Either
22. Where Are We Going?
And Why Are We In This Hand Basket?
23. You Elected Him.
You Deserve Him.
24. Dubya, Your Dad
Shoulda Pulled Out, Too
25. When Bush Took Office,
Gas Was $1.46
26. The Republican Party:
Our Bridge to the 11th Century
27. What Part of "Bush Lied"
Don't You Understand?
28. One Nation Under Clod
29. 2004: Embarrassed
2005: Horrified
2006: Terrified
30. Bush Never Exhaled
31. Pray For Impeachment
(Nooooo!!! Scratch that!
Who wants Cheney for Prez??!!!)
32. At Least Nixon Resigned
France Eurovision 2007 entry - Les Fatals Picards
Honestly, these guys are just incredible - the video here is just hilarious. For those readers in Europe, you have to vote for them.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Germany
I've been in both Bonn and Berlin over the past two weeks which is why I've been away from the keyboard. However, it does give me something to write about, so that's what the next few entries are gonna be about. Take this picture for instance, of Berlin's 'traditional dish', the curryworst (a curried sausage), which I have to say is absolutely delicious. I had one from a stall somewhere near Kurfurstendamm, where the guy took a red sausage like I asked, and proceeded to chop it up into equal pieces and sprinkling curry powder all over it and lastly, adding curry sauce. Mmmm! 
Thursday, March 15, 2007
F1 for help
Take a look at this article: Wired News: The World? Your Oyster? Why Not?
It's something that I have to wonder about - we have all this damn information floating around "a series of tubes" and yet it seems to have achieved far less than what it potentially could.
What could it do? We should be able to know more about everything than we do now. The knowledge of all people, including Americans, should have vastly increased as a result. From this new knowledge, people should be more able to solve long-term problems such as poverty.
Are we solving poverty? Perhaps. However, either the media's focus on it is increasing or Africa appears to growing poorer and poorer. Does more knowledge mean more solutions? Or just more **** to wade through? Who knows. But something more should be happening as a result of the internet - it does have that power.
It's something that I have to wonder about - we have all this damn information floating around "a series of tubes" and yet it seems to have achieved far less than what it potentially could.
What could it do? We should be able to know more about everything than we do now. The knowledge of all people, including Americans, should have vastly increased as a result. From this new knowledge, people should be more able to solve long-term problems such as poverty.
Are we solving poverty? Perhaps. However, either the media's focus on it is increasing or Africa appears to growing poorer and poorer. Does more knowledge mean more solutions? Or just more **** to wade through? Who knows. But something more should be happening as a result of the internet - it does have that power.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Lenses
Got contact lenses last Saturday!
These are brilliant - feel like an entirely different person. Well, not entirely, but you know, I feel able to do things that I normally couldn't, due to the fragile nature of glasses.
Some would say that the contacts' labourious and tedious cleaning process would be a major drawback, but I don't think so. It is a careful, delicate ritual that I perform at dawn and after sunset, one that makes me feel like a master surgeon or technician, and allows me to practice staying as calm as I can.
These are brilliant - feel like an entirely different person. Well, not entirely, but you know, I feel able to do things that I normally couldn't, due to the fragile nature of glasses.
Some would say that the contacts' labourious and tedious cleaning process would be a major drawback, but I don't think so. It is a careful, delicate ritual that I perform at dawn and after sunset, one that makes me feel like a master surgeon or technician, and allows me to practice staying as calm as I can.
The Swiss are a-coming!!!
Apparently, the Swiss recently managed to invade their aggressive, barbarian neighbour of Liechtenstein.
A few Swiss soldiers, doing their traditional long walks across the countryside managed to lose their way and enter the principality accidentally. This was not, as one would so dearly love to believe, an act of aggression by a nation deeply frustrated at its neutrality and its recognition as a clean, tidy, democratic,tax-haven.
The joke that's doing the rounds now is that, unlike their US counterparts, the Swiss managed to realise their mistake, retreat gracefully, and apologise to the ruler of the invaded nation.
A few Swiss soldiers, doing their traditional long walks across the countryside managed to lose their way and enter the principality accidentally. This was not, as one would so dearly love to believe, an act of aggression by a nation deeply frustrated at its neutrality and its recognition as a clean, tidy, democratic,tax-haven.
The joke that's doing the rounds now is that, unlike their US counterparts, the Swiss managed to realise their mistake, retreat gracefully, and apologise to the ruler of the invaded nation.
Conservapedia
Check out this website:
Main Page - Conservapedia
Conservapedia defines itself as the antithesis to that bastion of knowledge, Wikipedia. It makes the very observant note that Wikipedia is unwholesome and un-Christian, and is overwhelmingly controlled by those darned liberals.
Okay - let's take a look at this thing. It's a bit sparse, obviously due to those leftist pop-up propaganda windows that appear when you surf the net. It's got a nice list of the US Presidents - take a look at this segment from GWB's own page:
Hey, not too far from the truth right? I mean, the fact that executive salaries have increased means that ordinary people are doing well, doesn't it? And Bush did ... try to help ... suggested ... passed ... allowed the Democrats to pass ... never mind.
To be fair, it is changing - the article on Clinton has improved over the one week I've been looking at it. And they eventually got an article on Kennedy, though that is quite short.
But the thing is, will it match Wikipedia? And is the whole user-created, crowd-controlled content just stupid, like Alex Beam says in the NY Times?
Well, as I said to a friend in an email:
Believe Wikipedia. It is based on the theories of economics: the same unseen hand described by Adam Smith that drives markets controls Wikipedia. People's own individual interests in making sure information about what they like and know about is correct will, when such a vast group of people are involved, produce a net force of correct, unbiased information. It is comparable to the idea that you get your bread to the highest quality and cheapest price not because the baker is kind enough to do so: it is because the baker wants to earn a living and edge out competitors.
Anyways, if you do get the chance to edit something, just don't try to be a complete idiot and give out false info, cos you're ruining the essays and projects of a whole generation of school children.
Main Page - Conservapedia
Conservapedia defines itself as the antithesis to that bastion of knowledge, Wikipedia. It makes the very observant note that Wikipedia is unwholesome and un-Christian, and is overwhelmingly controlled by those darned liberals.
Okay - let's take a look at this thing. It's a bit sparse, obviously due to those leftist pop-up propaganda windows that appear when you surf the net. It's got a nice list of the US Presidents - take a look at this segment from GWB's own page:
Economic issues
Though the liberal media continues to disparage Bush's handling of the economy, they often neglect to report the many aspects of the economy that Bush has improved. For example, during his term Exxon Mobile has posted the largest profit of any company in a signle year, and executive salaries have greatly increased as well [5]. This is due to changes in the stock market that lead to a record high in 2006, recovering from the Clinton years which lead to the lowest point of the stock market in January 2000 AD since the great depression of 1929 AD, and "Companies are churning out double-digit profit growth" currently.[6] Even the working class is benefiting from the Bush economy, as unemployment hits an all time low in March 2007.[7] Bush worked with Democrats to raise the minimum wage to a more livable level.[8]
Hey, not too far from the truth right? I mean, the fact that executive salaries have increased means that ordinary people are doing well, doesn't it? And Bush did ... try to help ... suggested ... passed ... allowed the Democrats to pass ... never mind.
To be fair, it is changing - the article on Clinton has improved over the one week I've been looking at it. And they eventually got an article on Kennedy, though that is quite short.
But the thing is, will it match Wikipedia? And is the whole user-created, crowd-controlled content just stupid, like Alex Beam says in the NY Times?
Well, as I said to a friend in an email:
Believe Wikipedia. It is based on the theories of economics: the same unseen hand described by Adam Smith that drives markets controls Wikipedia. People's own individual interests in making sure information about what they like and know about is correct will, when such a vast group of people are involved, produce a net force of correct, unbiased information. It is comparable to the idea that you get your bread to the highest quality and cheapest price not because the baker is kind enough to do so: it is because the baker wants to earn a living and edge out competitors.
Anyways, if you do get the chance to edit something, just don't try to be a complete idiot and give out false info, cos you're ruining the essays and projects of a whole generation of school children.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Eyes
Having worn glasses since the tender age of 8, I thought it would be time to get contacts. So I went to an opticians today. I knew my eyesight was bad, but I didn't know it was this bad. I have myopia, and the glasses I wear have around strength -4 or so. But as I had my eyes tested, I was told I could see 30% of what I should be seeing. It ain't funny at all. For years, I've slowly been getting eyes that seem to weaken in their focusing ability. Just one more step downward I guess.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Is anyone listening?
Life is never as simple as it seems.
I'm one of those people who's always unsure of themselves. Whatever situation I'm in, I'm usually testing myself to see if I can respond in some predefined universally perfect manner to some stimulus. I know for the most part that this is ridiculous, that one's actions should always be something natural and sound based on the reasoning at the time and your own instinct. But I still do it, though more covertly.
Why? Why do these things have to be? Why can't I trust myself?
Life is never as simple as it seems.
I'm one of those people who's always unsure of themselves. Whatever situation I'm in, I'm usually testing myself to see if I can respond in some predefined universally perfect manner to some stimulus. I know for the most part that this is ridiculous, that one's actions should always be something natural and sound based on the reasoning at the time and your own instinct. But I still do it, though more covertly.
Why? Why do these things have to be? Why can't I trust myself?
Life is never as simple as it seems.
Worms of death
Have you ever read a Nicolas D. Kristof column? Usually (at least for me), it's pretty depressing stuff: genocide, hunger, suffering. And the one I last read, 'Torture By Worms' is right up there.
But however much other people's pain makes you cringe, or however much it doesn't, you cannot escape the fact that what he writes isn't some stuff out of a Stephen King novel. Sadly, it does actually happen to be reality.
Well, that particular column describes what must be one of the most horrible things I can imagine. Guinea worms, parasites that find their way inside you, before finding their way out again, are probably something you wouldn't want to find within a hundred miles of you. In fact, the sight of this torturous affliction moved Jimmy Carter to tears according to Kristof.
Even more sadly, something which I use and sometimes ignore on a daily or hourly basis, clean water, is what one needs to have in order to avoid the disease (the worm is spread in contaminated water according to Wikipedia).
I just like to say that I don't think anyone should have to go through that. Ever.
But however much other people's pain makes you cringe, or however much it doesn't, you cannot escape the fact that what he writes isn't some stuff out of a Stephen King novel. Sadly, it does actually happen to be reality.
Well, that particular column describes what must be one of the most horrible things I can imagine. Guinea worms, parasites that find their way inside you, before finding their way out again, are probably something you wouldn't want to find within a hundred miles of you. In fact, the sight of this torturous affliction moved Jimmy Carter to tears according to Kristof.
Even more sadly, something which I use and sometimes ignore on a daily or hourly basis, clean water, is what one needs to have in order to avoid the disease (the worm is spread in contaminated water according to Wikipedia).
I just like to say that I don't think anyone should have to go through that. Ever.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
War!...again?
In recent days, it appears that the US and Iran are edging ever closer to war. At least, that's what it said in the New York Times. Or at least what I thought it said. Or at least, something of the sort was mentioned. Whatever.
Well, here's a pot shot - I say they won't. Not inside of 6 months from today. Why?
How on earth can this administration wage one more war? It is pretty rare for an elected government to wage two wars at the same time and not be ousted in elections (and no, I don't think they count as the same war on terror). A third would be tough even for someone with 85% ratings, let alone for a President who has less than 50%.
And fighting a war against a country as large as Iran and as influential in the region is probably not a good idea. The only way that someone could justify it, as was mentioned somewhere in the Times, is if the White House says that the Iranians are already fighting against them in Iraq, so it wouldn't be much of a difference. Boy, if America falls for that, I don't think an apology from 50% of Americans would suffice, as was the case in 2004.
Anyways, jumping on this anti-War band wagon feels good. But then again, why should I care about what happens? I see people dying on TV, US mothers wanting sons back, but that's it. You don't have to listen to what I say, but I guess I'd like to say it.
Well, here's a pot shot - I say they won't. Not inside of 6 months from today. Why?
How on earth can this administration wage one more war? It is pretty rare for an elected government to wage two wars at the same time and not be ousted in elections (and no, I don't think they count as the same war on terror). A third would be tough even for someone with 85% ratings, let alone for a President who has less than 50%.
And fighting a war against a country as large as Iran and as influential in the region is probably not a good idea. The only way that someone could justify it, as was mentioned somewhere in the Times, is if the White House says that the Iranians are already fighting against them in Iraq, so it wouldn't be much of a difference. Boy, if America falls for that, I don't think an apology from 50% of Americans would suffice, as was the case in 2004.
Anyways, jumping on this anti-War band wagon feels good. But then again, why should I care about what happens? I see people dying on TV, US mothers wanting sons back, but that's it. You don't have to listen to what I say, but I guess I'd like to say it.
Obituary
17 month old, tragic circumstances
It is with great sorrow that I must inform the general public of the demise of my hard disk. At 74GB, or 80GB as he proudly displayed on himself, his melodious hum was a true joy to his user, the occasional whir not withstanding.
He was my rock, the base of a complex system, the accumulator of all my carefully compiled packets of information. I took care to avoid tampering in his affairs, his delicate nature was always of great concern. Whatever others might say, I believe he never, never managed to hold more than 25 gigs of data.
In his last few days, it was felt that he needed to undergo major surgery, adding one more primary partition to his virtually untouched self. He sought freedom from the complexities and burden of Microsoft and detoxify himself with Ubuntu, a Linux based remedy. Unfortunately, complications arose after the operation, performed by an inexperienced surgeon, ending in tragedy.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, silicon to sand. Amen.
It is with great sorrow that I must inform the general public of the demise of my hard disk. At 74GB, or 80GB as he proudly displayed on himself, his melodious hum was a true joy to his user, the occasional whir not withstanding.
He was my rock, the base of a complex system, the accumulator of all my carefully compiled packets of information. I took care to avoid tampering in his affairs, his delicate nature was always of great concern. Whatever others might say, I believe he never, never managed to hold more than 25 gigs of data.
In his last few days, it was felt that he needed to undergo major surgery, adding one more primary partition to his virtually untouched self. He sought freedom from the complexities and burden of Microsoft and detoxify himself with Ubuntu, a Linux based remedy. Unfortunately, complications arose after the operation, performed by an inexperienced surgeon, ending in tragedy.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, silicon to sand. Amen.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Guess who's back?
Hey folks, I'm ... still ... breathing.
I've had a few things to sort out, but here we go. The dark days of winter are soon to be gone as our sun rises ever higher in the blue sky.
Meanwhile, enjoy a few classic pictures of snow I took. Apologies for the lack of people.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Dude with Bush T-shirt stopped from boarding
What is the world coming to these days? What happened to the libertarians of old, those who cry out and risk their lives to safeguard the freedoms of others?
We are in great need of young, energetic people who fight for freedom of expression in an age that is becoming evermore controlling. An age where a guy wearing an item of clothing to express his views on the current occupant of the Oval Office is restricted from boarding an airplane.
It gets better folks - the airline stated the reason for this restriction as a measure against offending other passengers on the plane. Is their anyone in this planet, apart from his mother, who would feel offended by a mockery of Dubya? If their is, well, what on earth do they feel on those rare incidents in which he choses to make a fool of himself?
We are in great need of young, energetic people who fight for freedom of expression in an age that is becoming evermore controlling. An age where a guy wearing an item of clothing to express his views on the current occupant of the Oval Office is restricted from boarding an airplane.
It gets better folks - the airline stated the reason for this restriction as a measure against offending other passengers on the plane. Is their anyone in this planet, apart from his mother, who would feel offended by a mockery of Dubya? If their is, well, what on earth do they feel on those rare incidents in which he choses to make a fool of himself?
Deja vu - I've already seen it!
Okay, perhaps the pun was a tad, say, crappy. I'm trying, alright? Anyways, the flic: not bad.
I've got to admit that I wanted to see it ever since I watched the rather dramatic and somewhat audacious trailer - I mean, having the opening sequence repeat itself? Pure genius!
Wandering back to point, I found Deja Vu to be deliciously full of suspense and action.
The plot of the movie centres around a terrorist attack in New Orleans. Denzel Washington as Agent Doug Carlin from the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives?) becomes involved in the police investigation and joins a rather special team who attempt to catch and (trying to induce suspense here!) stop the twisted psychopath who carries out attack.
And here we come to the dodgy bits. The plot is perhaps overly complicated, not really aided by the rather bizarre science. Yes, I do get the gist of Einstein's general theory of relativity (not really mentioned by the brainiacs in front of the screen) but sometimes the movie tilts towards the utterly weird. One notable scene comes to mind, where Washington drives down the bridge looking at nearby traffic with one eye, and traffic from 4 days, 6 hours ago in the other.
On the whole, a brilliant piece of screenplay, very exciting, very fast and reaches out to the humanity of the audience at times with a setting that is relevant to today's world.
(PS - apologies for the (lack of) accents you frogs!)
I've got to admit that I wanted to see it ever since I watched the rather dramatic and somewhat audacious trailer - I mean, having the opening sequence repeat itself? Pure genius!
Wandering back to point, I found Deja Vu to be deliciously full of suspense and action.
The plot of the movie centres around a terrorist attack in New Orleans. Denzel Washington as Agent Doug Carlin from the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives?) becomes involved in the police investigation and joins a rather special team who attempt to catch and (trying to induce suspense here!) stop the twisted psychopath who carries out attack.
And here we come to the dodgy bits. The plot is perhaps overly complicated, not really aided by the rather bizarre science. Yes, I do get the gist of Einstein's general theory of relativity (not really mentioned by the brainiacs in front of the screen) but sometimes the movie tilts towards the utterly weird. One notable scene comes to mind, where Washington drives down the bridge looking at nearby traffic with one eye, and traffic from 4 days, 6 hours ago in the other.
On the whole, a brilliant piece of screenplay, very exciting, very fast and reaches out to the humanity of the audience at times with a setting that is relevant to today's world.
(PS - apologies for the (lack of) accents you frogs!)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The real Ocean's Eleven
These guys were amazing - they tried to rob a casino buy using tiny cameras, microphones and a computer in a van parked outside the building.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6263795.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6263795.stm
A platter of desert shrimp?
Check out this interesting delicacy in West Africa.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/africa_desert_shrimps/html/1.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/africa_desert_shrimps/html/1.stm
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
IT IS HERE!
The Apple iPhone - $500-$800 - is here at last. Can they still call it an iPhone though?
(I found these pics on Wired at http://blog.wired.com/wiredphotos16/2007/01/the_iphones_int.html
who got them courtesy Apple)
(I found these pics on Wired at http://blog.wired.com/wiredphotos16/2007/01/the_iphones_int.html
who got them courtesy Apple)
Monday, January 08, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Enhance XP if you don't want Vista
I just spent a few minutes checking out a few bookmarked sites I hadn't seen in a while, and went on to Metacafe, and found an interesting video. If you think Vista is currently overpriced and/or can't be bothered to rush for an update, you might as well as update your XP system to compete with the new ones.
Check out this link for help:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
And here's the video (the link above goes here btw):
Four Desktops In One! - video powered by Metacafe
Check out this link for help:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
And here's the video (the link above goes here btw):
Four Desktops In One! - video powered by Metacafe
Those who chose to forget history are doomed to repeat it
I don't think that Bush is like Nixon, even if he wiretaps citizens and has (or rather, HAD) a carbon copy of Dick's administration, but hey, what the hell?
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