Panglossian Notes

Keeping the game clear in my mind

Too bad the soldier, posing with the dead Afghani man in the hills of Afghanistan, didn't have a pick-up on which he could strap the corpse. (h/t Wikileaks).

I must be becoming more jaded than I thought I might ever have been able to be, as I wasn't, at first, bothered by the picture. These type of photos are not too, too, good for public diplomacy - aka propaganda - I'd think.

I'm going, right away, to re-read William Vollmann's essay, in Bookforum, Seeing Eye to Eye.

Technorati Tags: A PLAN, Afganistan

Steven, Steven, Steven

I've just read the WSJ interview with our boy Steve. It's a beaut.

Who'd have known here in the frozen North that:

"Mr. Harper was once viewed as a messianic small-government reformer sent to slay monster Ottawa.

; or

"Tax cuts in 2007 softened the blow [the housing and financial meltdown in the U.S.] and kept Canada out of recession.

Wow, what you can find out when 2 ideologues sit down for a little chit-chat.

It also seems Steven is still fighting something called the "war on terror" and he's worried about Russia which explains, I guess, why he is in love with NATO, and headline grabbing, along with MacKay, about old bombers flying around outside our airspace.

Oh, and incidentally, that monstrous tax cut I got as a result of the 2007 budget, I presume Steven was mainly talking about the 1 point knocked off the GST, I think, it worth about $10 to $20 a year for me and I'm saving the pittance. The personal income tax reduction included in that budget was a shell game so I ignore it, even though it makes a great talking point when a Canadian conservative sits with the WSJ.

Technorati Tags: Canada, Delusional?

Clangers

Clangers are very visible mistakes. I like to know someone has made one but I know I'm picky, eh. I usually don't mention it when I've heard or read one.  I think I do this mainly because I privately want to assure myself that I may have heard or read what I thought I had heard or read. Also, I know what I think is a clanger, others may think is a nothing in this wonderfully complex and "fast paced" world.

Whatever, clangers, are clanger to me, eh.

I've noticed a couple over the last day or so in the broad public forum.

First, Robert Fisk dropped a beauty in his Independent article "It’s been 250 years, but war still rages on the Plains of Abraham" which is a piece about our little Canadian fiasco over celebrating, no remembering (sorry I forgot only Les Québécois se souvenir) the marking of Wolfe's victory over Montcalm in 1759 at Québec City.

In the piece, he mentions a number of other famous battles that are re-enacted in the UK, Belgium and the US, one of which is the Battle of Waterloo. In regard to Waterloo, he drops his clanger.

I wondered when I read it: Is it a clanger, or just used for emphasize maybe, or, as a tête carré (the link to the definition is a bit harsh but should give you an idea. From experience I know it is easy to slip from a mon amour to a tête carré pretty quickly) to goad the frogs?

It's  noted below:

"The re-enactment of Waterloo leaves out the scenes of carnage when the French corpses were shipped off to England as fertiliser for East Anglia.

See it? You judge!

French corpses weren't shipped back to fertilize English fields (they'd have been some ripe, eh) but bones from the battle field were. The bones could have been French ones or allies (circa 1815) ones or just horse bones.

To be clear, it is a bit of a modern phenomena to worry too much about the "the fallen"corpses of the ordinary types - i.e. the ones that scared the Iron Duke - and it seems of the remains of the dead that might have been kicking around for a few hundred years or so. The following few snippets also indicates maybe that Empires in the immediate past might have been worried about who had access to graveyards and not oil fields. Strange in a sort of nice assuring way, I think - we can all clash over any and everything.

First a clip from "The World Without Us" (Alan Weisman):

via Google books

Now a quote from the von Liebig mentioned in the above clip, incidentally it is the Liebig of OXO fame, if you were wondering. Oh those bloody empires, eh.

via Google books

To finish with this clanger a short passage from the 1830's and Fraser's Magazine notional on the Science of Burial:

via gutenberg
The Mirror of literature, amusement, and
instruction 1832 (find/search for Waterloo)

My second clanger was in, of course, Obama's pseudo-state-of-the-union last night.

'member I'm an outsider, and I liked Paul Krugman's immediate comments on the speech via PBS and agreed with them - hey where's the meat buddy - and also knowing, I think, the purpose of the speech, and watching the faces of the GOP types in the audience, and, I guess, liking Obama, but only because I suspect he has done the dishes, cooked the bloody suppers for the kids, worried about them with fevers and ear aches etc. etc. and jesus h. Christ just struggled, sort of, eh.

But a clanger is a clanger in my picayune mind. So here it is - hey did I mention I really only like family myths and national ones I think are xxxx:

"And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.

via the Whitehouse

Do you see the clanger?

When he said it, and I did go back to read the text later, I thought: Why is he talking about that place?

Gads, my first panicked thoughts were could it be a subtle or nuanced sentence and should GM and Chrysler be worried. I am an ex-GM apprentice after all, and the company was instrumental in me going back to school in my mid-20's and thus likely partly responsible for my limited successes. There is a warm spot in my cold, cold heart for the corporation, they sent me to school one day a week in between doing my time and gave me all the tools I still have in storage, just in case I have to go back to being a millwright. Did I say I'm a bit risk averse.

Anyway, luck to Obama but stop with the clangers, eh though I think all sensible people much appreciated that your speech last night didn't mention the nonsense of your country's "wars" on various concepts. But, but - oh Christ you aren't using that idiot Canadian Frum to write your speeches, are you? - please, have your speech writers do a small bit of fact checking, say with that nice Library just down the street from you, eh.

"Exactly who invented the automobile is a matter of opinion. If we had to give credit to one inventor, it would probably be Karl Benz from Germany. Many suggest that he created the first true automobile in 1885/1886.

Via the Library of Congress

Technorati Tags: Nothing in particular,eh!, writing

Tasering, anyone?

Yesterday Canada was subject to lobbying from some of our police on the use of tasers and they did a marvelous job of trying to reach out to their employers - that's us the municipal taxpayers of the country:

"Little more than a week after the RCMP made some welcome changes to its Taser policy, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association had an opportunity to follow suit and show that they, too, are willing to be flexible in light of the public's reasonable concern about the use of conducted energy weapons.

Instead, one representative of the two national police agencies decided not only to stand his ground on Tasers, but to lob a few insults at the media and the public at a press conference announcing the release of a joint document on Taser use.

Police agencies wrong to shoot the messenger over Taser policies
February 25, 2009
Vancouver Sun

Yes, I certainly do love our chiefs.

My favourite is, of course, Ontario's own Julian Fantino. What a spokes man, eh. Everything with him is either mind-boggling or hysterical. He does love those superlatives. Such a colourful cop. His great come back to questions from some reporters was something along the lines that there have been "150 studies and no link between the taser and death" has been found.

I guess those 20, and counting, individuals who've died recently after being zapped, in this part of North America, just spontaneously expired.

Yeah, that's it, sort of like spontaneous combustion but there's no fire and your heart just stops pumping or, from another the point of view, if your a Mountie thug, you're just sleeping and snoring away 'til you're pronounced dead.

It seems to me whenever a group of police chiefs get focused on an issue and make public statements you realize why they made the career choice they did. After all, any career alternative to avoid rational thought, but one which ensures maximum opportunities for public relations buffoonery, is good and you like uniforms.

And the cause of death after the tasering of someone is? You guessed it: "excited delirium".

I could barely believe my ears hearing the audio clip of these guys actually trotting out this mysterious disorder.

Myself, I prefer the original name some vocal and media craving corners used for it: "in-custody death syndrome".

Excited delirium has a cleaner tone than death syndrome, the former judged, no doubt, to have a less disturbing ring to it for a publics' ear, I think. Though, I do understand why authorities find new jargon for old horrors, it can take the sting out of reality and keep public calm or, at least, disinterested, thus: our war dead are "The Fallen", war dead civilians are "collateral damage", torture is "enhanced interrogation" etc. etc. .

Can we finally have a real independent examination of these new weapons, or as the police refer to them as, "a use of action option, to be used in situations where imminent need for control is required" [boy where to these guys buy their wordsmiths].

Technorati Tags: Canada, Confusing?, Police

Is it a crime?

No, the title doesn't refer to the rhetorical question asked by Sade in her song, but to whether criticizing Israel is, a crime that is.

Well, not really a crime, I guess, unless you live in Canada, or some other countries, where criminal codes include hate as a crime and, potentially, criticizing Israel could be construed, by a zealous Crown prosecutor, to have advocated genocide or to have publicly incited hatred.

What am I talking about?

Well I've read Howard Jacobson's piece, from last Wednesday, in The Independent, twice now, and I don't agree with him, though his article maybe a more thoughtful piece than the usual fare spilling forth from main stream "see no evil" types here in North America.

I'm frustrated with Jacobson's view that criticizing Israel is somehow "hatred" of jews and thus anti-semitism. Bull-shit.

John Caruso, at The Tiny Revolution, has a good clarification of what ultimately Jacobson's view is, I think.

Somewhere else I said that I thought if a country could be called evil - I do have problems with the whole silly idea of "evil" in regard to anything and specifically humans - than Israel likely fits the bill right now.

Why?

Oh, settlements, torture, Gaza, the West Bank, settlements, torture, Lebanon, and just endless bullshit and self pity.

Hey I know torture, bull shit and self pity just go with most countries in their ups and downs through out history, so I guess it comes down to Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and those settlements.

Have I now committed a crime or am I now an anti-semite because I don't like what Israel does to some of its neighbours.

I doubt I've committed a crime but for some I've now become anti-semitic.

How can that be?

I don't hate jews. I don't hate anyone, for that matter. Heck, I don't think I even dislike people for their religious, or racial, or cultural backgrounds.

But my sense of right and wrong now tells me that Israel, the country, is wrong, wrong, wrong, in its dealings with Palestinians and was wrong, wrong, wrong in its war on Lebanon.

So, that I think so, and that I've written so, and that I said so, now makes me an anti-semite?

So be it. Then I'm a proud anti-Semite. But I still don't hate jews. I still hope Israel survives as a democracy.

Michael Neumannn's entertaining, essay - What is Anti-Semitism? - now available in the book "The Politics of Anti-Semitism" analyzes the "modern" definition of anti-semitism, for anyone interested.

Technorati Tags: Confused, Israel, Words

Hmm, why do I think this is funny

and why don't I think it isn't just the idiot financial corporate media that does this really hilarious stuff. Anyway I enjoyed reading the article and I'm still laughing.

The Business Press and the Cult of Personality
A misplaced emphasis on celebrity over substance got us into this mess

"In times of great troubles, it is natural to look for a savior, someone who can get us out of trouble with a wave of the hand and a confident smile.

The business media is like that. It is never ceases to look for—and find!—saviors of corporations, investment banks, even the entire financial system, despite the fact that these dear leaders, one by one, invariably, inevitably, fail. In this, they remind us of members of certain Hasidic sects, who, impatient for the coming of the Messiah, are given to chanting: “We want Moshiach NOW!”

The birth and death of false idols in the business press is a strange and important phenomenon. Strange because it keeps happening. Important because it is a symptom of a serious weakness in coverage. It reflects the fact that the press is clinging to an old narrative, built around Wall Street Masters of the Universe.

...

Elinore Longobard
CJR
February 19, 2009

Celebrities, celebrities everywhere and nary a brain to play on the floor with so-to-speak?

The frivolity in ordinary life, with its focus on the nonsensical, has, in effect, shifted to even those in whom people really do need to have some trust.

Those we need to trust in our complex societies (yawn) are more concerned about visibility than simple merit. The average politician, talking head, financial wizard, you name it, is not much better that the average serial killer, pedestrian author or actor/actress in their manufacturing of fairy tales with no purpose but to massage poor egos.

Really, too, too funny, eh. I know too much moralizing.

Technorati Tags: Celebrity, Funny

God, 70 years since Black Friday

Now there is Black Saturday to add to the awful Black Friday disaster in Australia.

This time there are, however, at least 60 more deaths, so the disaster is worse, though, according to Paul Collins, author of Burn, the fires have followed approximately the same trajectory as the 1939 fires.

No recriminations yet, but, after awhile maybe a re-look at some of the Stretton Royal Commission recommendations, least for personal protection a simple cheap one.

I think the 2 or 3 guys that survived the Mann Gulch fire, which came up on the fire crew fast, did so by getting into a very hastily dug trench, though I can't, right now, find any specific reference to it in Norman MacLean's book, on that incident, Young Men and Fire. [In the movie, made about the incident, Richard Widmark playing the role of the fire foreman, dug a very shallow trench and survived, so that's maybe what I'm remembering]

Anyway an awful situation for Victoria and a terrifing way to go for those killed.

Sarcasm to follow: Ah for the return of the days when heads were on pikes

then maybe ordinary people might think there was some change a coming?

'til I see some grimaced smiles on disjointed heads, I'm not going to be a believer in any change stuff, eh, so my money stays in my pocket but give me a tax break, my pockets are really big.

I would, however, pay cash, out of my really large pocket, are you listening politicians leaders, for a front seat at some figurative public beheadings. A modest tongue lashing by Obama doesn't qualify for me to pay anything. Describing arrogant robbery as irresponsible and shameful somehow just doesn't cut it.

All the above finally prompted by this: Delusional in Davos.

Time for certain heads on pikes, I think - screw the "invisible hand" lets have a change in who is on the horse welding the whip.

Technorati Tags: Sarcasm

Chlorine rots brains!

I'd thought this must be the case when I'd had the misfortune to see the advertisement Michael Phelps had made for Rosetta Stone (the language hocker corporation).

I must be pretty picky, 'cause I know some found the spot funny (?) while I only had that phrase "chlorine rots brains" in my head and sort of felt sorry for the guy after seeing it.

The recent nonsense with the picture likely cements my impression that brain rot sets in after too much time in a swimming pool or, maybe, it could be just a new leg on the way to completing the "american dream".

If this latter possibility is the case than maybe the the full Phelps' confession unearthed by Dennis Perrin, of "Savage Mules: The Democrats and Endless War" fame, is the real dope so-to-speak:

""I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.

"I've come to see how immoral marijuana truly is. Next to flag burning, it is without doubt the biggest corrupter of American youth today. When you smoke marijuana, you're telling the world that you hate America. I'm a proud American. Therefore, I renounce this demonic drug, this gateway to crystal meth and selling your body for heroin on the bad side of town. I will never, never, ever smoke it again. I won't even look at pictures of marijuana. That's a gold medal guarantee. 

continued

Technorati Tags: blogging, Photos, Shnoring? In a strange way?

A priceless character recommendation (updated for reality)

Update: Tom goes but under his own steam.

________________

Everyone knows that unless Tom Daschle flies to Ottawa and is photographed screwing a moose in Confederation Square, while singing O'Canada, his US Senate club buds will give him the nod as the new Obama Health and Human Services Secretary.

Some people, not in the US Senate club, are concerned that he is a chiseling, two-bit, petty, amoral, income tax cheat who, just for example, has difficulty understanding that driving around in a chauffeur driven limo provide by a sponsor is a benefit: I.[fing]E. income, subject to income tax. None of these income considerations apply, of course, in banana republics [are there any still friendly to the US] where a US ex-senator would feel safe or right-wing replications of democracies that have rendition contracts with the US CIA.

All that aside, Hunter S. Thompson's reincarnation or bastard child, maybe, Matt Taibbi, wrote a short character assessment of Tom, back at the beginning of the December just past, on his blog at Rolling Stone, which, I think, should be more widely shared because it helps with insight into Obama's assessment ability?

Once Matt had recovered, I hope, from the mandatory soiling of oneself on hearing some of Obama's announcements of potential cabinet buddies and buddites, he penned this succinct and perfect appraisal:

"Tom Daschle would suck off a corpse for a cheeseburger ... .

Matt Taibbi
The Whore factor
December 2 2008
Taibbi Unbound
RollingStone

Boy oh, could that be reformulated into a question to be asked Tommy boy?

Likely not, but it would be interesting if someone might have the nerve.

Technorati Tags: Health Care, Sarcasm, Shysters, Sleaze?