Wednesday, December 15, 2004
New music...
I'm going to make a prediction here. Bloc Party will be the band of 2005. Heres why:
The music:
Although they have released only three singles so far, the critics are already salivating over the prospect of the album. Their sound is spiky and angular, like Futureheads without the jump-cut chord changes, or Franz Ferdinand without the treble twang. The video for their July release "Little Thoughts" is here. The lead singer possesses a recieved pronunciation bark of a voice, which sounds better than it reads. The rhythm section is five star: check the bass shift in the chorus on the video, or the seamless shift into 7/4 time at the end of the song. The guitars are agile, sinuos and shimmering, and are an object lesson to bands who prefer to bludgeon their way up the charts, Oasis style.
The Look:
Bloc Party look cool. They were born for the cover of Dazed and Confused. Along with Franz Ferdinand, Libertines, and (grits teeth) Razorlight, they project an aura beyond their constituent parts, in a way that Cold Play, Snow Patrol et al don't.
The Attitude:
Refreshingly, BP manage a whole interview without talking overtly about politics. They sound intelligent, without coming across as smart-arses, and are simultaneously forthcoming and holding back. They also manage the rare feat of self mythologising in a self-depracating and not entirely serious manner. If they can keep handling the media in this fashion, 2005 is theirs for the taking.
J
I'm going to make a prediction here. Bloc Party will be the band of 2005. Heres why:
The music:
Although they have released only three singles so far, the critics are already salivating over the prospect of the album. Their sound is spiky and angular, like Futureheads without the jump-cut chord changes, or Franz Ferdinand without the treble twang. The video for their July release "Little Thoughts" is here. The lead singer possesses a recieved pronunciation bark of a voice, which sounds better than it reads. The rhythm section is five star: check the bass shift in the chorus on the video, or the seamless shift into 7/4 time at the end of the song. The guitars are agile, sinuos and shimmering, and are an object lesson to bands who prefer to bludgeon their way up the charts, Oasis style.
The Look:
Bloc Party look cool. They were born for the cover of Dazed and Confused. Along with Franz Ferdinand, Libertines, and (grits teeth) Razorlight, they project an aura beyond their constituent parts, in a way that Cold Play, Snow Patrol et al don't.
The Attitude:
Refreshingly, BP manage a whole interview without talking overtly about politics. They sound intelligent, without coming across as smart-arses, and are simultaneously forthcoming and holding back. They also manage the rare feat of self mythologising in a self-depracating and not entirely serious manner. If they can keep handling the media in this fashion, 2005 is theirs for the taking.
J
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
This post at Martini Republic and this followup at Juan Cole's site have been doing the blogosphere rounds in the past day or so. The posts relate to the Iraqi blog Iraq the Model, and the US visit of two of the writers behind it.
I don't intend to enter the fray on the merits of these postings; eric, harry's place and the rest have covered most of the relevant bases already.
I'd prefer to focus on the comments related to this post on Martini Republic. It's worth reading the thread in full, but one post stands out as a classic of the 'in all probability, the CIA is responsible' school of argument. Lets check out this gem from "Ghandi"
"I am VERY glad to see this issue getting some attention. Having posted at the IraqTheModel blog several hundred times, I am convinced it is a CIA front."
Hmmn. This guy is exhibiting all the signs of a conspiracy nut: Inappropriate use of caps, obsessive behaviour, and conclusion through sentiment rather than reason.
"I was also threatened with personal violence by people who trawled my blog for details of my name, address and ISP. I believe there are CIA agents monitoring the comments at ITM who now have this information, despite the fact that I have not made it publicly available."
Add paranoia to the list. Yeah bub, like the boys at langley haven't got better things to do with their time.
"I hope some serious attention will be brought to bear on these Fadhil brothers and reveal them as frauds."
Come on pal, your putting the cart before the horse here. Serious attention could reveal a number of things; them being frauds is just one possibility. However i get the impression that no investigation, however credible, will satisfy you unless it fits in with your preconceptions. If it doesn't then i'd imagine you'd see the investigation itself as a CIA fraud....
"In the meantime, CIA front of not, the comments section at IraqTheModel remains a disgraceful reflection of the ugly face of George W. Bush's USA."
A classic parting shot: "Even if accusation x doesn't stick, accusation y is no less important"
The thread continues in a similar vein, including several revealing exchanges regarding the bona fides of ITM and another iraqi blogger, Riverbend, but i lack the time to fisk every contribution. one last highlight from a wingnut called "bombay":
"I share the views of perhaps 48% of the American people, not 2% [of the iraqi people, his claimed ITM %age]"
Scary stuff, if true.
J
I don't intend to enter the fray on the merits of these postings; eric, harry's place and the rest have covered most of the relevant bases already.
I'd prefer to focus on the comments related to this post on Martini Republic. It's worth reading the thread in full, but one post stands out as a classic of the 'in all probability, the CIA is responsible' school of argument. Lets check out this gem from "Ghandi"
"I am VERY glad to see this issue getting some attention. Having posted at the IraqTheModel blog several hundred times, I am convinced it is a CIA front."
Hmmn. This guy is exhibiting all the signs of a conspiracy nut: Inappropriate use of caps, obsessive behaviour, and conclusion through sentiment rather than reason.
"I was also threatened with personal violence by people who trawled my blog for details of my name, address and ISP. I believe there are CIA agents monitoring the comments at ITM who now have this information, despite the fact that I have not made it publicly available."
Add paranoia to the list. Yeah bub, like the boys at langley haven't got better things to do with their time.
"I hope some serious attention will be brought to bear on these Fadhil brothers and reveal them as frauds."
Come on pal, your putting the cart before the horse here. Serious attention could reveal a number of things; them being frauds is just one possibility. However i get the impression that no investigation, however credible, will satisfy you unless it fits in with your preconceptions. If it doesn't then i'd imagine you'd see the investigation itself as a CIA fraud....
"In the meantime, CIA front of not, the comments section at IraqTheModel remains a disgraceful reflection of the ugly face of George W. Bush's USA."
A classic parting shot: "Even if accusation x doesn't stick, accusation y is no less important"
The thread continues in a similar vein, including several revealing exchanges regarding the bona fides of ITM and another iraqi blogger, Riverbend, but i lack the time to fisk every contribution. one last highlight from a wingnut called "bombay":
"I share the views of perhaps 48% of the American people, not 2% [of the iraqi people, his claimed ITM %age]"
Scary stuff, if true.
J
A couple of Geography tests...
"Dumb Yanks" click here.
"Euro-weenies" click here.
J
Via Mick Hartley
"Dumb Yanks" click here.
"Euro-weenies" click here.
J
Via Mick Hartley
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
The Mona Lisa of Clark County
The Guardian’s bemusing Clark County campaign has been running for a week. For those of you who didn’t catch the original article, they encouraged readers to write to unaffiliated voters in Clark County, Ohio, to persuade them to vote for Kerry.
The Guardian gave this advice to those writing:
“In formulating your letter, you will need to introduce yourself: no individual Clark County voter will have any reason to be expecting your communication. And in choosing your arguments, keep in mind the real risk of alienating your reader by coming across as interfering or offensive. You might want to handwrite your letter, for additional impact, and we strongly recommend including your own name and address - it lends far more credibility to your views, and you might get a reply.”
You seek to dominate all others by demanding access to all markets on your terms, so that local industries and small farmers go to the wall.
You have supported brutal dictators, like Augusto Pinochet, General Suharto and Saddam Hussein, who, over the years, have murdered and tortured with your administration's approval.
Now you have led an invasion in a country which was not a threat to you. You have broken international law. You have destroyed what vestige of authority the United Nations had left. The British prime minister Tony Blair and your president are seen as liars and war criminals.”
Ken Loach
The Guardian published a selection of responses from Clark County here. These are some of those most pleased at receiving this unsolicited mail:
“Please be advised that I have forwarded this to the CIA and FBI. “
“Keep your noses out of our business. As I recall we kicked your asses out of our country back in 1776. We do not require input from losers and idiots on who we vote for in our own country. Fuck off and die asshole!!!!!”
“Go back to sipping your tea and leave our people alone.”
Watching these events unfold, I wondered as to paper's motives for launching this campaign. I initally took it at face value, then I read a comment at Harry’s Place that reminded me of the Guardian's often mischievous sense of humour.
I reread the copy, and it is shot through with ambiguity. It has a knowing quality to it that is less than earnest. Yet i do think the authors are serious in their more general aims, if not this specific method.
Those participating were definitely not in on the groundfloor, and bulldozed through any intended irony. It's an unlikely thought, but i would love it if the Guardian had the balls to satirize their own readership. More realistically, it was probably someones bright idea that kept running, the real world manifestation of a dinner party quip.
The Guardian has played it straight so far, but the copy has the odour of a knowing jape. Like Da Vinci, they keep us guessing....
Update:
This piece has the inside track on the Clark County affair
The Guardian’s bemusing Clark County campaign has been running for a week. For those of you who didn’t catch the original article, they encouraged readers to write to unaffiliated voters in Clark County, Ohio, to persuade them to vote for Kerry.
The Guardian gave this advice to those writing:
“In formulating your letter, you will need to introduce yourself: no individual Clark County voter will have any reason to be expecting your communication. And in choosing your arguments, keep in mind the real risk of alienating your reader by coming across as interfering or offensive. You might want to handwrite your letter, for additional impact, and we strongly recommend including your own name and address - it lends far more credibility to your views, and you might get a reply.”
(This idea is clearly ridiculous. I wouldn't take advice from a German, a Thai or a Mexican on how to vote. And as if the average American gives a toss as to what some whiny Euro thinks, especially a whiny Euro Guardian reader?)
The paper recognized “how counterproductive this might all be, especially if approached undiplomatically”
No problem. Here are some British worthy's diplomatic efforts…
“Probably no American president in all history has been so universally hated abroad as George W Bush”
John le Carre
“First of all, if you back Kerry, you will be voting against a savage militaristic foreign policy of pre-emptive killing which has stained the great name of the US so hideously in recent times”
Antonia Fraser
“Before 9/11 gave him his big break - the neo-cons' Pearl Harbor - Bush was written off as an amiable idiot, certain to serve only one term. An idiot he may be, but he is also sly, mendacious and vindictive; and the thuggish ideologues who surround him are dangerous.”
Richard Dawkins
“You have the chance to do the world a favour. Today, your country is reviled across continents as never before.
You seek to dominate all others by demanding access to all markets on your terms, so that local industries and small farmers go to the wall.
You have supported brutal dictators, like Augusto Pinochet, General Suharto and Saddam Hussein, who, over the years, have murdered and tortured with your administration's approval.
Now you have led an invasion in a country which was not a threat to you. You have broken international law. You have destroyed what vestige of authority the United Nations had left. The British prime minister Tony Blair and your president are seen as liars and war criminals.”
Ken Loach
The Guardian published a selection of responses from Clark County here. These are some of those most pleased at receiving this unsolicited mail:
“Please be advised that I have forwarded this to the CIA and FBI. “
“Keep your noses out of our business. As I recall we kicked your asses out of our country back in 1776. We do not require input from losers and idiots on who we vote for in our own country. Fuck off and die asshole!!!!!”
“Go back to sipping your tea and leave our people alone.”
Watching these events unfold, I wondered as to paper's motives for launching this campaign. I initally took it at face value, then I read a comment at Harry’s Place that reminded me of the Guardian's often mischievous sense of humour.
I reread the copy, and it is shot through with ambiguity. It has a knowing quality to it that is less than earnest. Yet i do think the authors are serious in their more general aims, if not this specific method.
Those participating were definitely not in on the groundfloor, and bulldozed through any intended irony. It's an unlikely thought, but i would love it if the Guardian had the balls to satirize their own readership. More realistically, it was probably someones bright idea that kept running, the real world manifestation of a dinner party quip.
The Guardian has played it straight so far, but the copy has the odour of a knowing jape. Like Da Vinci, they keep us guessing....
Update:
This piece has the inside track on the Clark County affair
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Chris Morris in charge at NASA?...
The loss of the Genesis capsule has been a disappointing conclusion for all those in planetary science. Myself included; I spent a year at UCL studying Astrophysics, and still retain an interest in the fields developments . Designed to sift through micrograms of atoms during its two years orbiting the sun, it hoped to give scientists an understanding of how the star and its planets grew from the primordial gas cloud billions of years ago.
However, i am also a fan of farce, and the BBC TV report on the crash landing was an acme of the genre.
I missed the very start, but it appeared the initial plan was for the capsule to slow down with the aid of parachutes once it had broken through the atmosphere. Travelling at a leisurely pace, it would then land with a robust thunk, undamaged.
Then the scientists at NASA had a change of plan. It was imperative that the samples were not subject to any impact or disturbance, being small collections of atoms rather than solid soil samples.
They called in Hollywood. The TV pictures showed a convoy of helicopters flown by stunt pilots ascending to literally catch the capsule in mid air. The reporter explained that a hook would be deployed to catch the parachute as it fell. The detail shots could have been lifted directly from Brass Eye, with the technical details earnestly explained by the American in charge. I wondered whether the whirling blades and air disturbance risks compromised the chances of success, when events overtook me.
The parachutes had failed to open. $26om dollars of technology was now moments away from a blind date with the Utah Desert. The whirley birds hovered impotent, as the camera tracked the capsule to its impact. With impeccable pathos, the reporter said "The Genesis project is now an expensive hole in the ground."
You have to admire NASA for some truly outside the box thinking, and i truly hope they salvage something from that expensive hole. I'm just wryly amused at the tinsel town scenario, given the main actor's reluctance to follow the script. Its almost as if Genesis thought "Fuck Hollywood, I want to broaden my range....."
The loss of the Genesis capsule has been a disappointing conclusion for all those in planetary science. Myself included; I spent a year at UCL studying Astrophysics, and still retain an interest in the fields developments . Designed to sift through micrograms of atoms during its two years orbiting the sun, it hoped to give scientists an understanding of how the star and its planets grew from the primordial gas cloud billions of years ago.
However, i am also a fan of farce, and the BBC TV report on the crash landing was an acme of the genre.
I missed the very start, but it appeared the initial plan was for the capsule to slow down with the aid of parachutes once it had broken through the atmosphere. Travelling at a leisurely pace, it would then land with a robust thunk, undamaged.
Then the scientists at NASA had a change of plan. It was imperative that the samples were not subject to any impact or disturbance, being small collections of atoms rather than solid soil samples.
They called in Hollywood. The TV pictures showed a convoy of helicopters flown by stunt pilots ascending to literally catch the capsule in mid air. The reporter explained that a hook would be deployed to catch the parachute as it fell. The detail shots could have been lifted directly from Brass Eye, with the technical details earnestly explained by the American in charge. I wondered whether the whirling blades and air disturbance risks compromised the chances of success, when events overtook me.
The parachutes had failed to open. $26om dollars of technology was now moments away from a blind date with the Utah Desert. The whirley birds hovered impotent, as the camera tracked the capsule to its impact. With impeccable pathos, the reporter said "The Genesis project is now an expensive hole in the ground."
You have to admire NASA for some truly outside the box thinking, and i truly hope they salvage something from that expensive hole. I'm just wryly amused at the tinsel town scenario, given the main actor's reluctance to follow the script. Its almost as if Genesis thought "Fuck Hollywood, I want to broaden my range....."
Friday, September 03, 2004
Beslan...
I watched the storming of the school on Sky News and BBC 24 this afternoon. It seems the Russian's have learned nothing from the Moscow theatre siege. The Russian journo on the TV said no contingency plan existed, and apparently four different special forces outfits were involved in the assault. This particular detail boggled the mind of their ex SAS pundit:
"They're not wearing the same uniforms! If the bad guys are in fatigues as well, you're in real trouble telling them from your own men when it goes off."
Russian journo thought the multiplex involvement a consequence of the power struggles central to Russian politics. Everyone wants in on the action. Whatever, things clearly went badly awry. Some of the hostage takers actually escaped and holed up in a nearby house which came under fire from pursuing Russian forces.
Still, the clearest and most preventable fuck up was failing to establish a security cordon. Relatives (showing insane courage, it must be said) were ferrying out injured hostages while a firefight was in progress yards away.
The Russian government deserve some sympathy. A siege at a school full of children, terrorists who don't care if they live or die. Its a real worst case scenario. But to have no plan, and no idea beyond hitting the terrorists hard is just crazy, given their prior experiences.
On the media front, Sky win this one easily, just for getting someone in the building. Highlight - The moment when Anna Marrat, the reporter inside the gym heard that TASS had claimed the siege was under control:
"I'm inside the gym here....sounds of explosions and gunfire....and i can tell you it is utter chaos....the roof is on fire...people are fetching bodies on stretchers while this battle continues...smashing glass, gunshots...this is out of control."
I sincerely hope she wins an award for this piece of journalism. The bravest reporting i've seen in years.
Addendum
According to the BBC the death toll now stands at over 300. May their souls rest in peace.
I watched the storming of the school on Sky News and BBC 24 this afternoon. It seems the Russian's have learned nothing from the Moscow theatre siege. The Russian journo on the TV said no contingency plan existed, and apparently four different special forces outfits were involved in the assault. This particular detail boggled the mind of their ex SAS pundit:
"They're not wearing the same uniforms! If the bad guys are in fatigues as well, you're in real trouble telling them from your own men when it goes off."
Russian journo thought the multiplex involvement a consequence of the power struggles central to Russian politics. Everyone wants in on the action. Whatever, things clearly went badly awry. Some of the hostage takers actually escaped and holed up in a nearby house which came under fire from pursuing Russian forces.
Still, the clearest and most preventable fuck up was failing to establish a security cordon. Relatives (showing insane courage, it must be said) were ferrying out injured hostages while a firefight was in progress yards away.
The Russian government deserve some sympathy. A siege at a school full of children, terrorists who don't care if they live or die. Its a real worst case scenario. But to have no plan, and no idea beyond hitting the terrorists hard is just crazy, given their prior experiences.
On the media front, Sky win this one easily, just for getting someone in the building. Highlight - The moment when Anna Marrat, the reporter inside the gym heard that TASS had claimed the siege was under control:
"I'm inside the gym here....sounds of explosions and gunfire....and i can tell you it is utter chaos....the roof is on fire...people are fetching bodies on stretchers while this battle continues...smashing glass, gunshots...this is out of control."
I sincerely hope she wins an award for this piece of journalism. The bravest reporting i've seen in years.
Addendum
According to the BBC the death toll now stands at over 300. May their souls rest in peace.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Moisturising etc...
The growing number of men's cosmetics and grooming aids has left me confused. Thanks to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and Nivea ads making it clear that you won't score with a shiny (read greasy) face, it appears that the dishevelled male can forget about the ladies.
Some of this advice is welcome. But a line must be drawn. A good haircut and cool garments is common sense for any man. And the monobrow should be a badge of shame. But pedicures? Eyeshadow and tinted lip gloss? (As the guy who tried this out for the Daily Mail said, isn't that lipstick?) Chest waxing? Your 'aving a larf, mate.
Mea Culpa. I bought a pot of men's moisturising cream a couple of months ago. Why? I was talking with friends; they admitted using it. There were adverts featuring cool guys with funky hair slapping it on. I tried it a couple of times. A greasy film lingered on my face for an hour, until i washed it off. I realised. I don't have dry skin! I have no need of this! The pot still lingers at the back of the cabinet.
I suspect a plot by cosmetics companies to break the male market. The girlie portfolio is saturated; females can't apply more than one layer of that face firming crap at a time.
So the propaganda starts. Open a mens mag, and amongst the deformities and monster trucks are page on page of skincare ads. Girls have put up with idealised images grinning back at them for years. Now its our turn. A suave man, with a girl, modestly claiming his success was due to extra sensative shaving balm. Some are unintentionally comic:
One featured Keith Richards. The tagline was, "Moisturise, or you'll end up like him. Its your choice." Reality check. Keef is a god: a Rolling Stone who's shagged his way around the world for the last thirty years. Not the worst person to be. Also, i doubt Keef's lack of a skincare regime seriously contributed to his weathered visage. I'm no doctor, but i'll bet his intravenous drug use played a part in his current facial cragginess.
FHM also takes on a lot of advertorial content for these firms. For anyone unfamiliar with this concept, companies pay for ad space, which is filled by what appears to be editorial copy. The faint capitals saying "FHM Promotion" puncture this illusion only when one reaches the bottom of the page. The copy itself usually revolves around a group of lads, one of whom fails to appreciate the value of the product. He is swiftly shown the error of his ways.
FHM also reward these sponsors with their Grooming Awards. How have we come to this pass? I always thought that one of the best things of being a man was being allowed a certain leeway beyond the basic hygienic requirements. Stubble or clean-shaven, a personal choice. Exfoliants, nice but expensive. If your skin is that bad then the prescription cure should be the first choice. Manicures: nice in theory (my fingernails being bitten and worn), but who can be arsed? Life is too short.
Besides, what do you think the wife is up to when you're out for a facial? Probably looking up hairy handed plumbers in the yellow pages, in her search for a real man....
Addendum:
Pity this girl's man. Making him wear a "man-bag"....
The growing number of men's cosmetics and grooming aids has left me confused. Thanks to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and Nivea ads making it clear that you won't score with a shiny (read greasy) face, it appears that the dishevelled male can forget about the ladies.
Some of this advice is welcome. But a line must be drawn. A good haircut and cool garments is common sense for any man. And the monobrow should be a badge of shame. But pedicures? Eyeshadow and tinted lip gloss? (As the guy who tried this out for the Daily Mail said, isn't that lipstick?) Chest waxing? Your 'aving a larf, mate.
Mea Culpa. I bought a pot of men's moisturising cream a couple of months ago. Why? I was talking with friends; they admitted using it. There were adverts featuring cool guys with funky hair slapping it on. I tried it a couple of times. A greasy film lingered on my face for an hour, until i washed it off. I realised. I don't have dry skin! I have no need of this! The pot still lingers at the back of the cabinet.
I suspect a plot by cosmetics companies to break the male market. The girlie portfolio is saturated; females can't apply more than one layer of that face firming crap at a time.
So the propaganda starts. Open a mens mag, and amongst the deformities and monster trucks are page on page of skincare ads. Girls have put up with idealised images grinning back at them for years. Now its our turn. A suave man, with a girl, modestly claiming his success was due to extra sensative shaving balm. Some are unintentionally comic:
One featured Keith Richards. The tagline was, "Moisturise, or you'll end up like him. Its your choice." Reality check. Keef is a god: a Rolling Stone who's shagged his way around the world for the last thirty years. Not the worst person to be. Also, i doubt Keef's lack of a skincare regime seriously contributed to his weathered visage. I'm no doctor, but i'll bet his intravenous drug use played a part in his current facial cragginess.
FHM also takes on a lot of advertorial content for these firms. For anyone unfamiliar with this concept, companies pay for ad space, which is filled by what appears to be editorial copy. The faint capitals saying "FHM Promotion" puncture this illusion only when one reaches the bottom of the page. The copy itself usually revolves around a group of lads, one of whom fails to appreciate the value of the product. He is swiftly shown the error of his ways.
FHM also reward these sponsors with their Grooming Awards. How have we come to this pass? I always thought that one of the best things of being a man was being allowed a certain leeway beyond the basic hygienic requirements. Stubble or clean-shaven, a personal choice. Exfoliants, nice but expensive. If your skin is that bad then the prescription cure should be the first choice. Manicures: nice in theory (my fingernails being bitten and worn), but who can be arsed? Life is too short.
Besides, what do you think the wife is up to when you're out for a facial? Probably looking up hairy handed plumbers in the yellow pages, in her search for a real man....
Addendum:
Pity this girl's man. Making him wear a "man-bag"....
Friday, August 27, 2004
War Games...
Tomodachi over at Susurration is a bit of a war buff. Not of the Soldier of Fortune or Sealed Knot ilk, more as a student of history. Countless times he has saved me from ignorant statements with a reminder of the wider context. He also enjoys playing the armchair general when he's not otherwise engaged.
So it was on his advice that i started playing Shogun: Total War, the prequel to his much enjoyed Medieval: Total War. I've been round at his place for a few beers a number of times, and watched him play Shogun. It didn't look so hard. I'm a fan of the more cerebral PC game. Championship Manager has devoured my time over the last five years. So i was confident of meeting this new challenge.
The initial tutorials presented no serious difficulty. The last exercise was a different matter. I was taking on an equal force of cavalry and samurai spearmen and archers. I would pass through the training school if i could send them limping back to Kyoto; they would then use the points of their swords as seating arrangements to absolve their shame in the sight of the Emperor. At least, that was the plan.
The initial feeling of alarm arose when the enemy moved forward before i'd clicked the mission accept button. This mass advancing unbidden by me was clearly not cricket. Then it hit me: they didn't have cricket in 16th century Japan. Damn.
I tried to think of a plan, but all the previous lessons evaporated from my brain like rain on a hot tin roof. Panic set in. I gaped and dithered like Lt Gorman in Aliens. The enemy had covered half the ground by now, and my archers were still on the flanks of the hill. Then my spearmen broke ranks and started moving towards them at the double. I could see the enemy cavalry prepared to swoop on the unformed infantry. "You silly sods!" i shouted. Of course, it did no good. Withered by archer fire, my spearmen were easy quarry for the enemy horsemen. I watched what remained of the contest peeking through clasped hands.
I'm sure i'll get an aptitude for this game at some point. But the feeling of powerlessness was horrible. The best troops can be laid low by incompetence further up the command chain. Tomodachi has a favourite quote on this subject, something about lions and donkeys. I can guess which catergory i fall into....
Tomodachi over at Susurration is a bit of a war buff. Not of the Soldier of Fortune or Sealed Knot ilk, more as a student of history. Countless times he has saved me from ignorant statements with a reminder of the wider context. He also enjoys playing the armchair general when he's not otherwise engaged.
So it was on his advice that i started playing Shogun: Total War, the prequel to his much enjoyed Medieval: Total War. I've been round at his place for a few beers a number of times, and watched him play Shogun. It didn't look so hard. I'm a fan of the more cerebral PC game. Championship Manager has devoured my time over the last five years. So i was confident of meeting this new challenge.
The initial tutorials presented no serious difficulty. The last exercise was a different matter. I was taking on an equal force of cavalry and samurai spearmen and archers. I would pass through the training school if i could send them limping back to Kyoto; they would then use the points of their swords as seating arrangements to absolve their shame in the sight of the Emperor. At least, that was the plan.
The initial feeling of alarm arose when the enemy moved forward before i'd clicked the mission accept button. This mass advancing unbidden by me was clearly not cricket. Then it hit me: they didn't have cricket in 16th century Japan. Damn.
I tried to think of a plan, but all the previous lessons evaporated from my brain like rain on a hot tin roof. Panic set in. I gaped and dithered like Lt Gorman in Aliens. The enemy had covered half the ground by now, and my archers were still on the flanks of the hill. Then my spearmen broke ranks and started moving towards them at the double. I could see the enemy cavalry prepared to swoop on the unformed infantry. "You silly sods!" i shouted. Of course, it did no good. Withered by archer fire, my spearmen were easy quarry for the enemy horsemen. I watched what remained of the contest peeking through clasped hands.
I'm sure i'll get an aptitude for this game at some point. But the feeling of powerlessness was horrible. The best troops can be laid low by incompetence further up the command chain. Tomodachi has a favourite quote on this subject, something about lions and donkeys. I can guess which catergory i fall into....
Balance of probability...
I have a lot of respect for Naomi Klein. No Logo was a classic of its kind, a well researched and accessable polemic against global capitalisms excesses. I didn't agree with all of it's conclusions, but it was never less than thought provoking in it's analysis.
However, her radar has been knocked off point recently. Like many commentators on Iraq, she has filtered the situation through her own ideology. Aside from her ludicrous demand (given the security situation, and difficulties in even registering voters) that reconstruction should have been an FDR New Deal affair rather than a private one, she's also been sticking her oar in over the Najaf Situation.
"Moqtada al-Sadr and his followers are not just another group of generic terrorists out to kill Americans: their opposition to the occupation represents the overwhelmingly mainstream sentiment in Iraq."
"Before Sadr's supporters began their uprising, they made their demands for elections and an end to occupation through sermons, peaceful protests and newspaper articles. US forces responded by shutting down their newspapers, firing on their demonstrations and bombing their neighbourhoods. It was only then that Mr Sadr went to war against the occupation."
No disrespect to Klein, but here she's writing about matters beyond her competence. I cannot retort directly, as i'm not expert on Iraqs politics and culture. But neither is she, and it shows. Her article makes no reference of the Medhi Army's intimidation of the residents of Najaf, or the possibility of Iran's involvement in his uprising as mentioned by The Mesopotamian and Iraq the Model, two widely read Iraqi blogs.
I suspect Klein ignores this or is wilfully ignorant of it, because she has no interest in Najaf beyond the fact that US forces are facing resistance, which is axiomatically a good thing. But then she is little different to many columnists who project their private fantasies on to real events.
The following extracts contradict Klein's story.
From The Mesopotamian:
"Who are the desecrators of the holy shrine and who are the defenders? Who are the aggressors and who are the saviors? Who will hear the real voice of the people of Najaf? - The poor crucified people of Najaf. Does anybody really know what is happening in that ravaged city?"
"Those occupying and desecrating the holy shrine are almost all completely alien to the city and with faces unseen before by the real locals. Some are not even Iraqi and do not even speak the Arabic language. I tell you this is the truth. Vicious aliens, whether foreigners or criminals and thugs from other provinces, have invaded the great Imams’ resting place. Heinous crimes have been perpetrated against the Najaf people including murder, mutilation, kidnapping and arrest of ordinary people policemen and religious leaders; and please note that this was not done by the Americans, or by the IP or the IDC. That is the truth as God is my witness"
"They say the Americans are desecrating the holly place. No and a thousand times no. The Americans are helping the people of Najaf, they are now truly defending the shrine and attacking a murderous gang, attacking the desecrators and coming to the rescue of the holy shrine. Glory and blessings will descend on these valiant fighters, they may not know it but they are going to be blessed and aided by invisible forces. Now I think that the voices of the politicians and cowards should be completely ignored and the great alliance that has been forged between the people of Najaf and their American friends, which is one of most solid than anywhere else in Iraq, should be the basis of one great effort that will clean the town and liberate the shrine of our great Imam. This will raise them high in the eyes of the Lord and the Iraqi people and send the right message to all the terrorists and criminals
From Iraq the Model:
"It’s well known, and as the minister stated that the Mehdi army (or people saying that they are members of Mehdi army as the minister said) stole many priceless ancient artifacts from the safes inside the shrine, as well as huge amounts of cash"
"The minister asked his host to broad cast some pictures from the latest press conference for the minister of defense where he showed pictures for guns and ammunition boxes (made in Iran) smuggled to Iraq and confiscated by the IP and the ING. With pictures for some Arab and non-Arab fighters. The minister confirmed also that those foreign fighters together with gun men from Muqtada’s militias released hundreds of criminals and suspects from some prisons in Iraqi southern cities and supplied them with guns and money to use them as paid fighters."
"The host, together with many Iraqis who called, showed disappointment in the government’s performance. The host went as far as saying, “We understand that people of Najaf and Basra are afraid to speak their minds and oppose Sadr in public fearing revenge from his followers, but are you, officials of the government afraid of him too? Or are you afraid of Iran? I say this because most Iraqis seem to think that Iran is moving Sadr behind the scene”. Then he added, “When are you going to get the minister of defense and the minister of interior out of the fridge? When are they going to do their job?”
In the end, and despite all the worries and fears, I felt optimistic when I saw a TV channel and many Iraqis support their government’s effort to go on with the democratic process, yet they were so critical of the way it (the government) has been dealing with Sadr’s issue. There’s a sense of enormous impatience among the majority of Iraqis especially those who live in areas were Mehdi Army is functioning."
Granted, neither of these Iraqi bloggers has sold millions of books (although ItM gets over 100,000 hits a month). But then Naomi Klein has never lived in Iraq and speaks no Arabic. So on the balance of probabilities, who are you going to believe?...
Addendum
I always laugh when i hear the description of Moqtada al-Sadrs legitimacy amongst Iraqis stemming from his father and his stand against Saddam Hussein. Sounds like someone else we know....
I have a lot of respect for Naomi Klein. No Logo was a classic of its kind, a well researched and accessable polemic against global capitalisms excesses. I didn't agree with all of it's conclusions, but it was never less than thought provoking in it's analysis.
However, her radar has been knocked off point recently. Like many commentators on Iraq, she has filtered the situation through her own ideology. Aside from her ludicrous demand (given the security situation, and difficulties in even registering voters) that reconstruction should have been an FDR New Deal affair rather than a private one, she's also been sticking her oar in over the Najaf Situation.
"Moqtada al-Sadr and his followers are not just another group of generic terrorists out to kill Americans: their opposition to the occupation represents the overwhelmingly mainstream sentiment in Iraq."
"Before Sadr's supporters began their uprising, they made their demands for elections and an end to occupation through sermons, peaceful protests and newspaper articles. US forces responded by shutting down their newspapers, firing on their demonstrations and bombing their neighbourhoods. It was only then that Mr Sadr went to war against the occupation."
No disrespect to Klein, but here she's writing about matters beyond her competence. I cannot retort directly, as i'm not expert on Iraqs politics and culture. But neither is she, and it shows. Her article makes no reference of the Medhi Army's intimidation of the residents of Najaf, or the possibility of Iran's involvement in his uprising as mentioned by The Mesopotamian and Iraq the Model, two widely read Iraqi blogs.
I suspect Klein ignores this or is wilfully ignorant of it, because she has no interest in Najaf beyond the fact that US forces are facing resistance, which is axiomatically a good thing. But then she is little different to many columnists who project their private fantasies on to real events.
The following extracts contradict Klein's story.
From The Mesopotamian:
"Who are the desecrators of the holy shrine and who are the defenders? Who are the aggressors and who are the saviors? Who will hear the real voice of the people of Najaf? - The poor crucified people of Najaf. Does anybody really know what is happening in that ravaged city?"
"Those occupying and desecrating the holy shrine are almost all completely alien to the city and with faces unseen before by the real locals. Some are not even Iraqi and do not even speak the Arabic language. I tell you this is the truth. Vicious aliens, whether foreigners or criminals and thugs from other provinces, have invaded the great Imams’ resting place. Heinous crimes have been perpetrated against the Najaf people including murder, mutilation, kidnapping and arrest of ordinary people policemen and religious leaders; and please note that this was not done by the Americans, or by the IP or the IDC. That is the truth as God is my witness"
"They say the Americans are desecrating the holly place. No and a thousand times no. The Americans are helping the people of Najaf, they are now truly defending the shrine and attacking a murderous gang, attacking the desecrators and coming to the rescue of the holy shrine. Glory and blessings will descend on these valiant fighters, they may not know it but they are going to be blessed and aided by invisible forces. Now I think that the voices of the politicians and cowards should be completely ignored and the great alliance that has been forged between the people of Najaf and their American friends, which is one of most solid than anywhere else in Iraq, should be the basis of one great effort that will clean the town and liberate the shrine of our great Imam. This will raise them high in the eyes of the Lord and the Iraqi people and send the right message to all the terrorists and criminals
From Iraq the Model:
"It’s well known, and as the minister stated that the Mehdi army (or people saying that they are members of Mehdi army as the minister said) stole many priceless ancient artifacts from the safes inside the shrine, as well as huge amounts of cash"
"The minister asked his host to broad cast some pictures from the latest press conference for the minister of defense where he showed pictures for guns and ammunition boxes (made in Iran) smuggled to Iraq and confiscated by the IP and the ING. With pictures for some Arab and non-Arab fighters. The minister confirmed also that those foreign fighters together with gun men from Muqtada’s militias released hundreds of criminals and suspects from some prisons in Iraqi southern cities and supplied them with guns and money to use them as paid fighters."
"The host, together with many Iraqis who called, showed disappointment in the government’s performance. The host went as far as saying, “We understand that people of Najaf and Basra are afraid to speak their minds and oppose Sadr in public fearing revenge from his followers, but are you, officials of the government afraid of him too? Or are you afraid of Iran? I say this because most Iraqis seem to think that Iran is moving Sadr behind the scene”. Then he added, “When are you going to get the minister of defense and the minister of interior out of the fridge? When are they going to do their job?”
In the end, and despite all the worries and fears, I felt optimistic when I saw a TV channel and many Iraqis support their government’s effort to go on with the democratic process, yet they were so critical of the way it (the government) has been dealing with Sadr’s issue. There’s a sense of enormous impatience among the majority of Iraqis especially those who live in areas were Mehdi Army is functioning."
Granted, neither of these Iraqi bloggers has sold millions of books (although ItM gets over 100,000 hits a month). But then Naomi Klein has never lived in Iraq and speaks no Arabic. So on the balance of probabilities, who are you going to believe?...
Addendum
I always laugh when i hear the description of Moqtada al-Sadrs legitimacy amongst Iraqis stemming from his father and his stand against Saddam Hussein. Sounds like someone else we know....
