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

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

Vietnam redux has been horrible enough, we don't need the Soviet-Afghan war played out again. Or, you know, World War I.

No, that's thinking too small. Let's go for WWIII right away.

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

The world is scary right now. I often have the sense that the world leaders are using playground tactics in the place of actual political understanding. Honestly, I try not to think too often about how precarious it is.

Okay, you'll appreciate this. As I'm typing, Olympics is on - women's swimming, 400 m freestyle - and they have a whole story on how the french swimmer was dating this italian guy and they broke up and now one of the other swimmers is dating him so the french girl has to swim AGAINST THE WOMAN WHO IS DATING HER EX-BOYFRIEND!!! *complete with dramatic music* Tell me they would even be mentioning this if she was a man. So pathetic.

Also that is the best headline EVER! lol

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

You really ought not to tease people with a blond fetish in quite that way.

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

I must say after the push-and-poke that was Kosovo, it doesn't surprise me much that other analogous conflict zones around the world have stirred. Listening to the flying sparks in the Security Council of UN, though, I can only hope this doesn't as horrible as it has the potential to. :fingers crossed:

[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.

[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*