Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Historical literacy
I understand he threw the records over a wall
Not in my name!
After Six Decades, No End To The Quagmire:
"PARIS (Routers) August 25, 2004
Sixty years after Paris was seized by the "Allies," and the beginning of the American occupation, France remains a failed nation, mired in political corruption and beset by vast pockets of Muslim extremism and anti-semitism, into which the gendarmerie fear to tread. The economy continues to struggle under economic policies driven by failed ideologies, and many of its best and brightest continue to flow out of the country, with only ex-dictators and their families, and hysterical movie stars willing to move there.
Sadly, history has born out the predictions of those who, in the spring of 1944, warned against invading. Many had pointed out what a poor prospect the region was for any kind of democracy, with its long history of belligerence and arrogance, and failed republics.
Noted WW II historian Robert Winthrop pointed out that the occupation got off on the wrong foot from the beginning, when the Americans freely allowed atrocities in the fall of Paris. "In the wake of all the violence and sex that the brutal 'Allies' condoned, it's not surprising that the resentment lives on six decades later.""
Etc
"PARIS (Routers) August 25, 2004
Sixty years after Paris was seized by the "Allies," and the beginning of the American occupation, France remains a failed nation, mired in political corruption and beset by vast pockets of Muslim extremism and anti-semitism, into which the gendarmerie fear to tread. The economy continues to struggle under economic policies driven by failed ideologies, and many of its best and brightest continue to flow out of the country, with only ex-dictators and their families, and hysterical movie stars willing to move there.
Sadly, history has born out the predictions of those who, in the spring of 1944, warned against invading. Many had pointed out what a poor prospect the region was for any kind of democracy, with its long history of belligerence and arrogance, and failed republics.
Noted WW II historian Robert Winthrop pointed out that the occupation got off on the wrong foot from the beginning, when the Americans freely allowed atrocities in the fall of Paris. "In the wake of all the violence and sex that the brutal 'Allies' condoned, it's not surprising that the resentment lives on six decades later.""
Etc
Circle of cliche
Dr Frank points to this brilliant list of literary review cliches. He also points out a music review comparison would include the words "my ass" far more often:
"achingly beautiful
anything-fuelled – narratives of a new, edgy type of fiction sometimes called Britfic tend to be fuelled by a range of uppers – amphetamines, caffeine, cocaine, Robbie Williams
as good as any novel – why should writers of fact aspire to the standards of novelists? Cf the truth is often stranger than fiction, infra
at its core, **** is a deeply moral work – a handy way for a critic to say that those who don't like the shocking book under review simply don't understand it
breakneck speed – no successful thriller will go any slower
bursting to get out – of novellas in vast, sprawling epics
by this stage, I was ready to hurl the book across the room
cocktail – the result of stirring one author in with another: "a cocktail of Hergé and the Marquis de Sade""
And that's quite enough - go see the rest.
"achingly beautiful
anything-fuelled – narratives of a new, edgy type of fiction sometimes called Britfic tend to be fuelled by a range of uppers – amphetamines, caffeine, cocaine, Robbie Williams
as good as any novel – why should writers of fact aspire to the standards of novelists? Cf the truth is often stranger than fiction, infra
at its core, **** is a deeply moral work – a handy way for a critic to say that those who don't like the shocking book under review simply don't understand it
breakneck speed – no successful thriller will go any slower
bursting to get out – of novellas in vast, sprawling epics
by this stage, I was ready to hurl the book across the room
cocktail – the result of stirring one author in with another: "a cocktail of Hergé and the Marquis de Sade""
And that's quite enough - go see the rest.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Total recall
JibJab had done numerous things before their brilliant "This Land" satire. The one I've linked to is their "Arnold for Governor" ad - great fun.
Amused me....
Channel 5's news report on the theft of Munch's Scream described it as "painted towards the end of the last century". Like, get with the programme and join the 21st century, dude...
Curious theory - as Cringely has rather more contact with super-brain Silicon Valley types than I, I'm inclined to take it on board:
"There's an interesting effect here that I've noticed over the years -- smart people don't make the same mistake twice while REALLY SMART people don't make the same mistake three times. Since they tend to make fewer mistakes to start with, really smart people tend to repeat the mistakes they do make because they are initially convinced that the outcome was someone else's fault or perhaps because of cosmic rays"
"There's an interesting effect here that I've noticed over the years -- smart people don't make the same mistake twice while REALLY SMART people don't make the same mistake three times. Since they tend to make fewer mistakes to start with, really smart people tend to repeat the mistakes they do make because they are initially convinced that the outcome was someone else's fault or perhaps because of cosmic rays"
WTF?
The Ewok Song:
"Ewok Version
Yub nub
eee chop yub nub
ah toe meet toe pee-chee keene
g'noop dock fling oh ah
Yah wah
eee chop yah wah
ah toe meet toe pee-chee keene
g'noop dock fling oh ah
Coatee chah tu yub nub
coatee chah tu yahwah
coatee chah tu glowah
allay loo ta nuv
Glowah
eee chop glowah
ya glowah pee chu nee foam
ah toot dee awe goon daa
Coatee cha tu goo (Yub nub!)
coatee cha tu doo (Yahwah!)
coatee cha tu too (Ya chaa!)
allay loo ta nuv
allay loo ta nuv
allay loo ta nuv
Glowah
eee chop glowah
ya glowah pee chu nee foam
ah toot dee awe goon daa
Allay loo ta nuv
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
English Version
Freedom
we got freedom
and now that we can be free
come on and celebrate
Power
we got power
and now that we can be free
it's time to celebrate
Celebrate the freedom
celebrate the power
celebrate the glory
celebrate the love
Power
we got power
and now that we can be free
it's time to celebrate
Celebrate the light (freedom!)
celebrate the night (power!)
celebrate the fight (glory!)
celebrate the love
celebrate the love
celebrate the love
Glory
we found glory
the power showed us the light
and now we all live free
Celebrate the love"
"Ewok Version
Yub nub
eee chop yub nub
ah toe meet toe pee-chee keene
g'noop dock fling oh ah
Yah wah
eee chop yah wah
ah toe meet toe pee-chee keene
g'noop dock fling oh ah
Coatee chah tu yub nub
coatee chah tu yahwah
coatee chah tu glowah
allay loo ta nuv
Glowah
eee chop glowah
ya glowah pee chu nee foam
ah toot dee awe goon daa
Coatee cha tu goo (Yub nub!)
coatee cha tu doo (Yahwah!)
coatee cha tu too (Ya chaa!)
allay loo ta nuv
allay loo ta nuv
allay loo ta nuv
Glowah
eee chop glowah
ya glowah pee chu nee foam
ah toot dee awe goon daa
Allay loo ta nuv
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
English Version
Freedom
we got freedom
and now that we can be free
come on and celebrate
Power
we got power
and now that we can be free
it's time to celebrate
Celebrate the freedom
celebrate the power
celebrate the glory
celebrate the love
Power
we got power
and now that we can be free
it's time to celebrate
Celebrate the light (freedom!)
celebrate the night (power!)
celebrate the fight (glory!)
celebrate the love
celebrate the love
celebrate the love
Glory
we found glory
the power showed us the light
and now we all live free
Celebrate the love"
A game for all the family
Keep a list of all of the promises Kerry has made and check them off if he's elected.
Of course, someone should be doing this for Bush as well (preferably retrospectively)...
Of course, someone should be doing this for Bush as well (preferably retrospectively)...
