More newspeak

[blamebrampton]

I am sick, and failed to phone my friend because I was asleep, and I am now also cranky with large parts of the world.

Apparently, Russia is engaged in Peacekeeping Operations in Georgia.

Clearly Vlad is a Farscape fan.

Sometimes I wonder if people read books, or, indeed, the papers. This makes me a little sad when it is people on the train, but when it is the leaders of nuclear capable nations, I despair. Vietnam redux has been horrible enough, we don't need the Soviet-Afghan war played out again. Or, you know, World War I.

When did the superpowers go completely mad? Was there a memo sent out that I missed? I have this vague idea that things were shiny for a few years around 1990, was I drunk? It's quite possible I was.

I had this vague idea  (which I admit was formed from reading books and newspapers, so is clearly not the sort of idea that we hold with in These Uncertain Times) that if you wished to regain power in former regions of influence the only certain way to do so was through economic influence. Surely that was the one part of the Reagan legacy everyone agreed on? Maybe I was drunk for that bit, too.

Back in Australia, the channel that is broadcasting the Olympics accidentally failed to screen a pro-Tibet ad that had been booked for a slot before the opening ceremony. But there was no interference from the IOC, honest. Also, I am quite tall and very blonde. And Californian. And a man.

In some happy news, a 111-year-old lizard is about to become a father,  and the Times has the best headline EVER: Dog-cloner denies Mormon sex kidnapping

Comments

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

HA! I have a pair of handmade green suede Mary Jane 1940-style shoes that I wore once before I shattered my foot. but I can't get rid of them ;-)

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

... And you wear which size ...? :p

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the UN and NATO still have some sway
Hm. I can't say I share the sentiment of NATO involvement. If I am reading this at all right, Georgia didn't start this on their own (it would be sheer blinding idiocy if they up and went against basically Russia all unaided, wouldn't it?) - in the very same week they finished some training with US forces.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

37, but I have dreams of being able to walk in them again!

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

I'm a 38 anyway, so they're safe from my clammy hands. :) You should take them to Florence and match them up with some good gloves and things, and then you'll HAVE to wear them at least one evening. Taxi to a bar and taxi back!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Alas, I literally can't walk in them. And one evening trying to manage heels usually leads to two days with my foot up on a pillow. I think it might be time for some more physio ...

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

:/ That doesn't sound good at all! If physio helps then get thither thou must go.

At least you're saving money from not buying heels all the time ...? *silver lining*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh I think it was sheer blinding idiocy, but I also don't think they expected the Russians to come rolling in like this.

And yes, they had just finished training with the Americans, but in fairness to the Americans, the Georgians have been part of the Iraq adventure, so there was a purpose to that.

Georgian President Saakashvili seems to have thought that it would be possible to remind South Ossetia that it was part of Georgia without the Russians arguing with him (and to be fair to him, the Russians have used exactly the same tactic dealing with their breakaway provinces in the last decade. Their presence in Abkhazia is basically a similar position, though it was originally built-up under the pretext of infrastructure development.)

The Russians, who are determined not to look in any way soft, seem to be viewing this as a good chance to reclaim all of Georgia. Or at least make this government so unpopular that a pro-Russian government is elected in its place.

Russia recently warned Georgia off its bid to join NATO, saying that it would destabilise the region (and legitimise the disputed territories as being a part of Georgia, I assume), it is possible that a commitment from NATO to refuse member status could ease tensions, but that sort of discussion won't happen while cease fire offers are being refused.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I am always wearing sensible shoes whenever I need to flee tidal waves!

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

but in fairness to the Americans, the Georgians have been part of the Iraq adventure, so there was a purpose to that.
Oh, I'm not saying the training was a preparation for this conflict - merely that I doubt the Georgian President kept his plans a secret.

I can't imagine he expected no argument from Russia when the great majority of the Ossetian population define themselves as Russian, and got Russian passports when they were offered to them. I think Saakashvili made an attempt to force the people who are pro-Russian away (which has succeeded to a point, all refuges head for Russia) and simultaneously claim the land, while Russia saw an opportunity to take steps to prevent Georgia from joining NATO.

It's all a major propaganda war in the media, but I have to say some brutal truths were said in the UN. Things I've only heard muttered before, and never by official representatives. The Cold War might have ended in the form it had twenty years ago, but it's a delusion to think old alliances and objectives have been buried and forgotten. Dressed up for the sake of PC, yes, but never too deep under the surface.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

but I have to say some brutal truths were said in the UN. Things I've only heard muttered before, and never by official representatives. The Cold War might have ended in the form it had twenty years ago, but it's a delusion to think old alliances and objectives have been buried and forgotten. Dressed up for the sake of PC, yes, but never too deep under the surface.

The whole thing really is a flashback to the 80s. I'm not liking it.

I preferred the other week when exploding ferraris were the worst thing on the horizon.

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

I preferred the other week
You won't find me arguing that. :/

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

That does work for me. Oh yes.

[thisgirl-is.livejournal.com]

Sadly, you were drunk. (Clicking the map brings up a graphic you can zoom in on.) The Cold War was technically not over when Iraq invaded Kuwait (1991), Africa was a mess (Battle of Mogadishu 1993, Rwandan Genocide 1994), and Eastern Europe went to pieces, particularly Yugoslavia, which had only ever been held together with PVA and duct tape in the first place.

And the superpowers have been crazy since there were superpowers - I give you the Habsburgs, who were neither the first nor the last crazy superpower, but perhaps among the most spectacularly crazy. There's something about having that much power that leads nations to think they are invincible. This never works out well. Especially for the poor bastards who aren't actually in charge.

Have I mis-read the stuff about the latest bit of former-USSR snafu? There seems to be a semi-autonomous region called Ossetia, which sits across the Russian/Georgian border but has more or less been left to its own devices. Georgia decided it didn't want them to be autonomous anymore, semi or otherwise, and sent troops in. Russia told them both to pull their woolly heads in, and when Georgia refused Russia sent troops in. Y/N? Because in this case Russia seems to be... not entirely in the wrong, but also seems to be getting smacked for picking on Georgia, which is confusing me.

And then Dubya weighed in: "I said this violence is unacceptable," Mr Bush said, adding: "I was very firm with Vladimir Putin. Hopefully this will get resolved peacefully." I'm sure Putin took that very seriously George, and will resolve the situation immediately. *eyeroll*

[drgaellon]

That Times story is outrageous...

[blindmouse.livejournal.com]

Back in Australia, the channel that is broadcasting the Olympics accidentally failed to screen a pro-Tibet ad that had been booked for a slot before the opening ceremony.

Oh. I hadn't heard about that. God damn.

[daybreaq.livejournal.com]

Well, there is a bit more to the story than that. I must admit I looked it up and it's one of those huge Britney-level, ongoing dramas being played out in Western European tabloids. One of the commentators in the US though *seemed* to put give a subtle implication that it was some deliberate plot of the Italian swim team to destroy the French swimmer which is a load of crap. Court of public opinion does currently appear to be leaning heavily in favor of the French swimmer though I don't think the Italians are all the villians they are made out to be. The Italian male swimmer boyfriend does appear to be a lout; but I think the Italian female swimmer just got caught up in a scandal and probably should just date someone else and the coaches just want to train promising swimmers who have the maturity to work hard and listen to them and just ... you know ... swim.

Here's the soap opera as I understand it (I must admit it *is* pretty juicy tabloid fodder!):

1.) 17 year old French girl wins a Gold medal in a swim event in the 2004 Olympics. She instantly becomes a huge celebrity in France.

2.) Newest French media darling starts dating hot but not so famous Italian swimmer.

3.)France's favorite daughter announces she's leaving France and her coach of 6 years to train in Italy to be close to her boyfriend because it's "true love."

4.)French swimming sensation's new Italian coach announces he doesn't want to work with her anymore because of "attitude problems." Interviews with the swimmer indicates she felt the coach wanted her to practice more than she needed or wanted to.

5.) Meanwhile, the French/Italian swimming supercouple become known for very public, screaming arguments which culminates in her throwing the ring he gave her IN THE POOL while at a competition!

6.) Hours after the ring in the pool incident privately taken nude photos and sex video of the French swimmer are released on the internet. The Italian ex-boyfriend claims he has no clue how they got there.

7.) The Italian ex-boyfriend starts dating an Italian female swimmer next, the one who happened to have broken the French swimmer's world record probably because she was practicing a lot at the time like those mean coaches seem to like their swimmers to do.

8.) So, fast forward to yesterday: The French woman and the Italian woman both make the finals for THE event where the French swimmer won Gold in 2004 and the Italian swimmer later broke her record and the medals are won by .... two Brits (Gold and Bronze) and an American (Silver) ... probably because they practice a lot and don't have hot Italian boyfriends and don't make tabloid news yet.

On the "best headline EVER" the only thing that tops it is the actual story itself! Very bizarre story ... though I feel a bit guilty reveling in the strangeness of the story when a young man was kidnapped and raped. The similarities between the two women are an interesting ... coincidence ... yeah, it's JUST a coincidence! In general, I think keeping a distance from people who clone pit bulls is probably a good idea.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Sick? WTF? Woman, are you trying to outdo my illnesses of doom? :(

When did the superpowers go completely mad? - you mean there was a time they weren't?

There was a brief break in the clouds around the early 90s, but then it got a blow job and everything went pear shaped.

Cherry and I were discussing the world etc, the other night, and I explained my 'new' theory that society has had a history of progressing much like a slinky someone has driven over - it's a series of flat spirals, where each loop is only marginally further forward than the previous. In each cycle there's this long period of clawing for improvement socially (as opposed to technologically or financially), a brief shining moment when we genuinely move ahead a tiny fraction, and then we spiral back down again for various reasons before trying to claw our way ahead once more.

Each cycle is fairly long, and I suspect that the early 90s were one of the rare 'pinnacle' moments and we will unfortunately now have to live our lives out on the downslope.

btw? Also, I am quite tall and very blonde. And Californian. And a man - I think you used to be my best friend on the internet. *sigh*

I am boycotting the Olympics. Does that make me an old grouch?

[violetage.livejournal.com]

I personally believe certain parties in office, not naming names, will do anything - including starting ww 3 - to stay in office beyond their allotted term. *sighs*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The great tragedy is that this can be said for pretty much everyone involved.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

No ;-) Just virus. Fighting it off well, but it gave me earache and toothache. Oh the daftness!

BTW, I am traipsing through your itinerary and trying to think of cool, cheap suggestions, seemed more useful than general squeeage ;-)

I think it could have been 1990 that was the good year. Berlin was reunified, Solidarity won the Polish elections, the Singing Revolution happened in the Baltics and was not shot down, Nelson Mandela was freed, the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of diseases, Tim Berners-Lee came out with the World Wide Web, Mary Robinson became the first president of Ireland, Margaret Thatcher resigned and the Chunnel opened.

Admittedly there were still the odd poll tax riots, the fucking IRA, John Major, a few political assasinations in north and west Africa and Iraq did invade Kuwait, but that was dealt with by the UN at the time and only went postal at the US's behest in early '91, but still, not a bad year on the whole.

I think your old best friend on the internet might be Shiv's perfect man. And you and I can grouch together!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Channel 7 vs GetUp, Media Watch did a good wrap-up which will be repeated late tonight. Sigh.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Poor darling - have a scotch. Have two. ;)

Traipsing through my itinerary is almost a trip in itself. Cal is currently consulting maps and driving distances - I am vaguely hopeful, and flattered that she'd look. Cool, cheap suggestions would be awesome! I found the Llanthony Priory Hotel today, which is near where we need to stay one night - we're hoping they might waive their two night requirement, because a night in a four poster bed in a medieval tower in a ruined abbey sounds like fun, even if I do have to womble down ancient spiral staircases to find the loo (which may be a hole in a wall over a pit). We're going to be phoning them in a sec.

Ooh, Grand Designs is about to start on 2 - I LOVE that show.

And, Russia is ceasing its peacekeeping in Georgia, or so the news snippets tell me.

We shall cling to our brief shining moment. I was still slim in 1990, it was a good year.

*pulls up grouching chair and settles in*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I'm watching Grand Designs right now!

Yes, cease fire ... I wonder exactly where the borders are now. And I can't help doubting Putin's claims that there was a Georgian-led genocide over the last two days when the Georgian troops seem to have spent them Running Away. It's like Poland! Argh!

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Even when I hate what's being done, like last week (and I thought they were a right pair of pillocks) I love that he doesn't really pull punches, and as a mad obsessive designer, I adore watching what people do and what they achieve.

This place tonight? What amazing spaces! Incredible expense and extravagance, but also some truly fascinating concepts exquisitely executed.

Obviously the Georgians were following a well set example, and are now standing outside the gates discussing the cunning plan with the large timber rabbit and nightfall. Then they will do some more Running Away.