The Long War: Laurie Lee and Alan Rickman
31 May 2008 52 Comments
in Alan Rickman, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Justice, Politics, War, YouTube, death, government, poetry
Here is everyone’s favorite velvet-throated thespian Alan Rickman, reading Laurie Lee’s poem The Long War for Peace Day, which was, apparently, September 21st. I wish they’d tell me these things ahead of time.
The Long War is a title which has been applied to any number of seemingly-endless conflicts, most recently used by the Bush administration to describe their “War on Terror” which has been the excuse for the continuing encroachments on civil liberties both within the US and around the world.
From The Long War by William S. Lind:
Long wars are usually strategic disasters for winners as well as losers, because they leave all parties exhausted. If they work to anyone’s advantage, it tends to be the weaker party’s, because its alternative is rapid defeat. The Rumsfeld Pentagon certainly does not see the United States as the weaker party in its “Global War on Terrorism.” So why has it adopted a long war strategy, or more accurately lack of strategy, unless one sees national exhaustion as a plus?
The answer is a common strategic blunder, but again one that is seldom seen up front; it normally arises as a war continues longer and proves more difficult than expected. The blunder is maximalist objectives. In a speech announcing the QDR, Secretary Rumsfeld said, speaking of our Fourth Generation opponents,
“Compelled by a militant ideology that celebrates murder and suicide, with no territory to defend, with little to lose, they will either succeed in changing our way of life or we will succeed in changing theirs.”
Guess which one won.
The Long War
by Laurie Lee
Less passionate the long war throws
its burning thorn about all men,
caught in one grief, we share one wound,
and cry one dialect of pain.
We have forgot who fired the house
Whose easy mischief spilled first blood
Under one raging roof we lie
The fault no longer understood
But as our twisted arms embrace the desert where our cities stood
Death’s family likeness in each face must show at last our brotherhood.
2 moz
31 May 2008 3 Comments
in Culture
Yet again, I tried to post, and yet again, it died. Amelia Earhart and Elvis are reading my blog posts now. I should just NEVER post on Friday. See you tomorrow?
Slimeballs!
29 May 2008 156 Comments
in Allegory, Canada, Culture, Entertainment, Etiquette, Family, Generation X, Humour, Weird, gross, humor, marketing, sad, tasteless, weddings
cross-posted from TeenyManolo, with a bit of editing
Everything old is goo again!
(I had to; it was there)
Yes, GenX’s favorite toy (besides Pong, that is) is celebrating its thirtieth birthday this year. As with everything and everyone who turns that undeniably-adult age, its tastes have changed over time to something more…sophisticated?
Say hello to Love Slime, Hot Slime, Relax Slime (?) and Elegance Slime (????).
From TrendsInJapan via Gizmodo.
Note that the company says these fragrances are “scented to appeal to adult sensitivities” rather than scented to enhance adult activities. Like that is going to stop anyone.
Speaking of which, it appears that Mrs. Bill Murray is tired of being slimed and has filed for divorce. I guess she has no tolerance for middle-aged ennui and reinvention of self? Or she could have just asked him to wear a condom.
In related news, here’s a story about some of my colourful relatives. Expect The Sister to pop up any second to deny it…
At my cousin’s wedding they had little pots of slime at the place settings. I kid you not. In the wedding colours, too. It was floral-scented. All my now-grown and dapperly be-suited cousins spent the entire wedding dinner sticking their thumbs in the little pots to make farting noises. And people wonder why I live at the other end of the country.
What Will We Do Tonight, raincoaster?
28 May 2008 27 Comments
in Chihuahua, Entertainment, Humour, Operation Global Media Domination, Pets, animals, conspiracy, humor, lol, meme
Chihuahuas are creepy. Chihuahuas in turtleneck sweaters can be up to no good. Watch your ankles!
St. Petersburg at Night
28 May 2008 14 Comments
in Allegory, Art, Christianity, Culture, Religion, beauty
Smolny Cathedral, seen against a gibbous moon. From the Guardian.
The Solution for the Zeta Male Dilemma
28 May 2008 30 Comments
in Dating, Humour, Singles, Weird, Wordpress, Work, Zeta Males, capitalism, geek, gender, humor, sad
Or is that “The Dilemma of Zetality?” Something like that, for sure.
Yes, here via SondraKiStanUSA and AgentBedhead comes the solution for the heartbreaking loneliness that is the sad fate of millions of loveless basement-dwelling males.
The girls are real. The relationship is not. When your time is up you can break up with her for whatever reason you decide, and she’ll write you a final letter begging you to take her back. Our service is easy-to-use, lots of fun, and discreet. The privacy of our customers and Imaginary Girlfriends is always protected.
And check out some of the profiles:
Jennifer
read more
Age 20
From London, England
“Our long-distance relationship will seem completely believable… the fact that it isn’t real will be our little secret! “Imaginary Girlfriend Service:
Personalized Letters
So much cheaper than the real thing! And you never have to leave Mom’s basement. Unlike an icky old RealDoll, there’s never any suspicious-looking packaging involved, nor any sticky surfaces to clean!
Except the underside of the desk, of course.
Oh, wait! They’re hiring! I think I sense an opportunity!
Writers wanted:
5PM Interactive and ImaginaryGirlfriends.com are seeking creative, fun-loving women to join us! If you’re over 18, love to write and welcome the opportunity to earn extra cash, consider joining our site as an Imaginary Girlfriend. ..
We’re looking for someone who can provide an authentic long-distance girlfriend experience with a minimum of actual interaction. [awesome; this is exactly what I always look for in a relationship!] … Of course no actual romantic relationships are involved and you will never be encouraged to be a real life girlfriend in any situation.
Seriously, this sounds like TOTALLY MY THING. I’ve been a real girlfriend, and frankly there are roles in this world which suit me better, if you must know. Like accountant.
If you turn your nose up at the very idea of a virtual girlfriend, think for a moment what happens when one of these prime specimens lumbers out of his subterranian den in search of a mate.
How a Nerd Picks Up a Girl (or if I’m any judge, how he fails to do so) from Coffee&Biscuits is a list of pickup lines going around Facebook. Now you know why I’m not Facebookish.
Some samples:
- How about I take off your cover and insert a bigger CPU?
- Nice set of floppies!
- The volume of a generalized cylinder has been known for thousands of years, but you won’t know the volume of mine until tonight.
and the probably WordPress-specific:
- You had me at “Hello World”
Samuel L. Jackson’s past as a Junior Hockey coach
27 May 2008 11 Comments
in Canada, Culture, Etiquette, Gonzo, Humour, Movies, Sports, YouTube, humor
Not many non-Canadians know, but Junior Hockey is the bloodiest. Oh, there may be less blood on the ice, but there is far more in the stands and in the parking lot. My parents, for instance, who, having two figure skating daughters, had no particular interest in junior excuse me Junior Hockey, still went out to every game. And why?
Because they were fight fans, and they watched the stands.
Hockey parents are notoriously bloodthirsty. If William Wallace were building an army now, he would choose from the stands of Junior Hockey and be assured of the bloodthirstiness of his crew. And, in Samuel L. Jackson, this crowd has at last met its match in a coach that will say, “Fuck your pussy son’s bench-warming ass, I am playing Lucifer and Fang on defence and there is fuckall he or you or any creature in Creation can do about it, you motherfucking minivan-driver!”
Can I get an “Amen!”?
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