Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Another vice bites the dust
Thankfully I work myself these days. In the past I was quite good at turning up for work totally pissed or massively hungover. All I had to do was either:
a) Smile a lot
b) Throw up discreetly
c) Get my work done
d) Sleep where nobody could see me (a toilet cubicle is good for this)
But now the bastards have invented a way to find out if you are a pisshead:
How long before society splits in two, into those who are goody-goods and only associate with other goody-goods - and those that are free to do what they choose as long as it doesn't harm others?
a) Smile a lot
b) Throw up discreetly
c) Get my work done
d) Sleep where nobody could see me (a toilet cubicle is good for this)
But now the bastards have invented a way to find out if you are a pisshead:
If you tend to be a little less than honest when your doctor asks you how much you drink, beware. A battery of new tests on blood, urine and hair can reveal how much someone has drunk not only in the past days, but also in the past weeks and months.
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994662
How long before society splits in two, into those who are goody-goods and only associate with other goody-goods - and those that are free to do what they choose as long as it doesn't harm others?
Listening to: Tall Dwarfs - Two dozen lousy hours
Friday, March 26, 2004
We need more women politicians
If Saddam is guilty because he used to have WMDs, and therefore would probably aspire to having them again, then how should we judge the USA in light of these new revelations?
So, if the USA military leaders (they wanted to, but JFK said no) were willing to blow up their own people to give them a reason to invade a foreign country, could 9/11 have been the same deal?
Code named Operation Northwoods, the plans reportedly included the possible assassination of Cuban émigrés, sinking boats of Cuban refugees on the high seas, hijacking planes, blowing up a U.S. ship, and even orchestrating violent terrorism in U.S. cities.ABCNEWS.com : U.S. Military Wanted to Provoke War With Cuba
The plans were developed as ways to trick the American public and the international community into supporting a war to oust Cuba's then new leader, communist Fidel Castro.
So, if the USA military leaders (they wanted to, but JFK said no) were willing to blow up their own people to give them a reason to invade a foreign country, could 9/11 have been the same deal?
Listening to: Syd Barrett - No Man's Land [Take 5]
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Pet Fat - the more loveable pet rock
I'm not usually an endorser of products - but when I do, I mean it...
What could be better to help a dieter keep the weight off, than a physical reminder of how they previously were. Introducing "My Pet Fat":
It's like a pet rock, except more rubbery. It's a permanent reminder of the extra weight you used to carry around - that you can carry around!
My Pet Fat
What could be better to help a dieter keep the weight off, than a physical reminder of how they previously were. Introducing "My Pet Fat":
It's like a pet rock, except more rubbery. It's a permanent reminder of the extra weight you used to carry around - that you can carry around!
My Pet Fat
Listening to: ALT - When the Winter Comes
Friday, March 12, 2004
Magnet
Well, after a wee week of procrastinating, 'tis time to post my thoughts on Mr Magnet:
Saw Even Johansen (aka Magnet) at a small, sweet spot in central Melbourne known as Pony.
It's quite small, maybe 50 folk in attendance. Some twat played support, direct from twiddling knobs in his bedroom. Even sat in the back, comfy couch, paying attention. I'd never seen him before, but he obviously was the guy we were here to see - he was glowing.
On stage he was unassumimg personified. He only had one album to showcase, and basically played it all, 'cept the gorgeous duet which could never live up to its rep without Gemma Hayes being present. Some drunk asked for it quite loudly, but Even dealt with him with subtle calm. Dealt with him 'tween each song actually. The joint was full of first-year uni students very drunk. One actually apologised for their drunken-ness, then got upset when I ignored his apology. Nothing worse than the wrath of a sober drunk towards drunks...
Upshot: this was one of those gigs, like seeing Ed Harcourt in a similar situation (did) or Jeff Buckley (didn't). He is the Nick Drake of the Naughties, the Radiohead for fans who like tunes, the cutest warmest jumper on the planet. I used to only have one falling asleep album (Treasure - Cocteau Twins), and now I have two. If you don't believe me, read this
Magnet Homepage
Saw Even Johansen (aka Magnet) at a small, sweet spot in central Melbourne known as Pony.
It's quite small, maybe 50 folk in attendance. Some twat played support, direct from twiddling knobs in his bedroom. Even sat in the back, comfy couch, paying attention. I'd never seen him before, but he obviously was the guy we were here to see - he was glowing.
On stage he was unassumimg personified. He only had one album to showcase, and basically played it all, 'cept the gorgeous duet which could never live up to its rep without Gemma Hayes being present. Some drunk asked for it quite loudly, but Even dealt with him with subtle calm. Dealt with him 'tween each song actually. The joint was full of first-year uni students very drunk. One actually apologised for their drunken-ness, then got upset when I ignored his apology. Nothing worse than the wrath of a sober drunk towards drunks...
Upshot: this was one of those gigs, like seeing Ed Harcourt in a similar situation (did) or Jeff Buckley (didn't). He is the Nick Drake of the Naughties, the Radiohead for fans who like tunes, the cutest warmest jumper on the planet. I used to only have one falling asleep album (Treasure - Cocteau Twins), and now I have two. If you don't believe me, read this
Magnet Homepage
Listening to: T. Rex - Mustang Ford
Friday, March 05, 2004
Haiti
All is not as it seems in Haiti. Lets put the pieces together:
11 July 1995 -
With only token opposition from the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, 400 future Haitian police officers were sent last week to a US Army base for two months of intensive instruction.... Of course, the US government already created, trained, and equipped the previous version of the Haitian army -- originally called the Garde d'Haiti (Guard of Haiti) and then the Forces Armees d'Haiti or FADH (Armed Forces of Haiti) -- from 1934 to 1994. [more...]
"Aristide may have failings in his ability to negotiate the vicious power divide between Haiti’s economic elite and its broader masses, but U.S. policy has created an environment in which it is impossible for him to succeed." [more...]
"One of the last hopes for a peaceful end to the crisis evaporated Tuesday when an opposition coalition rejected a U.S.-sponsored plan that would have allowed Aristide to serve out the remaining two years of his term in exchange for sharing power, according to diplomatic sources." [more...]
"Haiti, having the lowest wages in the entire Western Hemisphere, offers a very enticing environment to U.S. corporations intending to set up plants overseas." [more...]
11 July 1995 -
With only token opposition from the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, 400 future Haitian police officers were sent last week to a US Army base for two months of intensive instruction.... Of course, the US government already created, trained, and equipped the previous version of the Haitian army -- originally called the Garde d'Haiti (Guard of Haiti) and then the Forces Armees d'Haiti or FADH (Armed Forces of Haiti) -- from 1934 to 1994. [more...]
"Aristide may have failings in his ability to negotiate the vicious power divide between Haiti’s economic elite and its broader masses, but U.S. policy has created an environment in which it is impossible for him to succeed." [more...]
"One of the last hopes for a peaceful end to the crisis evaporated Tuesday when an opposition coalition rejected a U.S.-sponsored plan that would have allowed Aristide to serve out the remaining two years of his term in exchange for sharing power, according to diplomatic sources." [more...]
"Haiti, having the lowest wages in the entire Western Hemisphere, offers a very enticing environment to U.S. corporations intending to set up plants overseas." [more...]
Listening to: Ben Harper - I Shall Not Walk Alone
