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.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's like being back in the 80s. GAH! I suppose the one upside is that the US can't keep posturing at Iran while this is going on.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You know, as soon as I hit post, I thought: aside from the accent, that would do nicely for Shiv. I think next year we ought to have a European meet-up in Oslo, handy for Pingrid, rich pickings for you.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I suspect they are a bunch of illiterate bullies, which was bad enough when it was an anti-politician prejudice, but is fucking terrifying when it seems to be an accurate assessment.

I became confused about the swimmers, due to being sick and having spent the afternoon napping, and thought it was the men's final, which was even funnier.

I've managed to avoid most of the coverage here because I just cannot get into these Olympics. However the Australian coverage seems to be all to do with either Australians (or Kiwis or Brits, which are nearly as good as Australians for Olympic purposes) winning medals, preferably against Americans.

And I have developed an unreasonable hatred of Michael Phelps after watching his posturing after the relay. I should just avoid the television.

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

Great idea. If all you foreigners starts saving now maybe you'll have enough money for at least two meals a day. It may be a tricky guess to hit the weekend with the good weather, though. ;)

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be so sure! It helps to have a few separate conflicts to merge together if you're making a quality world war.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Excellent point. ESTONIA IT IS!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Surely four fronts is too many even for Dick Cheney?

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

I can't see any real evidence that he's handling even one very well, so why not add one more if they're not going to actually deal with them properly anyway?

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

Ha! And why not! :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

We have a goal, Ms Pingrid!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be nice if they concentrated on Afghanistan so that women could stop dying for the crime of being women? I give up.

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

I've been considering Azkatraz next year, though. I hope they don't elect McCain... I don't know if I could go the the US in good conscience if they do.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Estonia's nice and cheap from Norway, though. And yes, I've been considering SF, too, though looking at Terminus photos, I think I may be Too Old ...

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

Never! And I say this with the absolute confidence of one who hasn't seen a single photo. ;)

It would be really cool to go to SF, though. And maybe do a week's roadtrip before or after. I haven't been to the States in. Uh. 23 years.

Maybe I'm Too Old too. :p

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

No one is too old for San Francisco ... and Berkley is a quickish BART ride away if you start to feel you are ;-)

I will argue with my other about the money she owes me, it is getting beyond a joke.

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

It's the wrong way for money to flow, isn't it! But if you start now maybe there'll be a windfall in a few months' time, and then you'll be filthy rich for a while. Until you spend it all on shoes and gloves.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Heh! You know me too well. Happily, we have a tiny house, so I can only have so many pairs of each ...

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

My flat is about 50m2, and although it's very efficiently furnished it's getting to be too small. I'm looking to buy a bigger flat, of course - fewer shoes is NEVER the answer! ;)

[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:

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I hear you, but you know I'll just claim lameness, stick to my sensible shoes and buy more books in the end ;-)

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

Oh, but you don't have to wear them, you just have to have them so that, when that perfect occasion pops up, you can go out and buy a new pair anyway. ;)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You're sadly right. Though Russia is a far scarier prospect than Serbia. I would be less worried if there were not Russian forces already in Abkhazia. Hopefully the UN and NATO still have some sway.