Episodes Three and Four- Aliens of London and World War Three- are not individual stories at all but one split into two. The outstanding feature of these episodes is the really sad schoolboy humour. Here's a hint for the writers: farting isn't funny past the age of about seven- get a life.
The story begins with Rose and the Doctor back in present day London and we get to see the effects on Rose's family and friends of her travelling with the Doctor- though they've only been away a few days a year has passed on Earth- once again the TARDIS proves to be not quite accurate enough. This family drama segment is played quite well and it doesn't distract from the main plotline- involving an alien ship crashing through Big Ben and into the Thames River. London is in a panic and we get a few scenes of news reporters following the story- as the Doctor and Rose are forced to watch on TV. It soon becomes apparent that not all is as it seems- as a body is pulled from the craft we learn that the Prime Minister and cabinet cannot be reached or found- an obscure MP finds himself catapulted to power in No. 10 and it's here that much of the action takes place.
I don't want to spoil much more of the story but too much of this episode remains rooted in pathetic schoolboy humour- again the sense is that this was an episode aimed at kid's TV, not prime time viewing on a Saturday evening. There's simply too much juvenile material in this to really enjoy it- and once more the scenes which don't involve talking heads aren't directed too well either. For a double header episode it sure isn't done very well at all- in fact, given the material and the childish way it was handled, this would have been better served as a single episode. Now, if it had been executed properly- and the direction and the writing would have needed an awful lot of work- this could have been a fantastic three or four parter. The core concept- alien infiltration at the highest levels of power- is superb, and it could have made for a suspensful, intriguing and exciting episode. This two parter just falls flat though. The final section could have been claustrophobic and scary, like something out of Aliens, but the creators of the show don't seem to understand horror or science fiction elements at all.
One other complaint- and this is not just limited to Doctor Who but most shows/films made now- is that when a special effect needs to be done, film-makers too often turn to CGI first- there are a few instances in this show when traditional effects would have been more believeable and would have given a greater sense of danger- if CGI isn't a 100% convincing then we know the actor is running away from nothing- and what's scary about that? Very disappointing indeed. Oh, I almost forgot- without giving away the actual plot, when you do discover what the aliens are up to, and remember these are aliens with interstellar craft at their disposal, you have to think- well, why did they need to do all that, couldn't they just have done it themselves? It makes the whole two episodes seem completely pointless. The writers on this show really have to improve, and start thinking about what they're scribbling.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Peaceful Religion?
Muslim rebels are reported to have detonated a grenade as children left a Christian missionary school in Kashmir, leaving two women dead and wounding fifty- twenty children among them.
The grenade was detonated at the end of the school day as the pupils left the school to return home.
It seems like the atrocities carried out at the Beslan school were not entirely an isolated incident- Muslim terrorists are prepared to attack and kill children. Remember the car bomb attack on a Stryker in Mosul when it was surrounded by children?
I don't hear of any Muslims anywhere in the world protesting these despicable acts of cowardice.
Religion of Peace my ass.
The grenade was detonated at the end of the school day as the pupils left the school to return home.
It seems like the atrocities carried out at the Beslan school were not entirely an isolated incident- Muslim terrorists are prepared to attack and kill children. Remember the car bomb attack on a Stryker in Mosul when it was surrounded by children?
I don't hear of any Muslims anywhere in the world protesting these despicable acts of cowardice.
Religion of Peace my ass.
Who did flush the Koran?
The FARK heading under which this story was filed pretty much sums it all up- "Saudi Arabia outraged at Koran desecration. Still apathetic about terrorism, Iraq beheadings".
As you may know there have been protests across the Muslim world about alleged desecration of the Koran at Guantanamo Bay. Newsweek's anonymous source said that copies of the Koran were placed on toilet seats and in at least one case actually flushed down the toilet. In Afghanistan nine people were killed on Friday and there were anti-American protests in countries as far apart as Indonesia and Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has indicated its "deep indignation" and has called for a quick investigation into the matter.
"Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God, treating each book with deep reverence... In Afghanistan and Pakistan, desecration of the Koran is punishable by death."
What many of the reports on this matter have failed to mention- no anti-American media bias surely- is that according to the US's top military officer, General Richard Myers, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "”They have looked through the logs, the interrogation logs, and they cannot confirm yet that there was ever the case of the toilet incident. He did note a log entry, which they still have to confirm, where a detainee was reported by a guard to be ripping pages out of a Quran and putting them in a toilet to stop it up as a protest. But not where the US did it."
So let's recap- terrorist bombs kill innocent Muslims in Iraq almost every day, civilians are brutally beheaded and the Muslim world says not a word- but when the Koran is "defiled" they raise such a stink that people die. I wonder if they'll apologise if it does turn out that the Newsweek report is entirely bogus and the perpetrator of this anti-Koran crime turns out not to be an American but a Muslim?
As you may know there have been protests across the Muslim world about alleged desecration of the Koran at Guantanamo Bay. Newsweek's anonymous source said that copies of the Koran were placed on toilet seats and in at least one case actually flushed down the toilet. In Afghanistan nine people were killed on Friday and there were anti-American protests in countries as far apart as Indonesia and Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has indicated its "deep indignation" and has called for a quick investigation into the matter.
"Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God, treating each book with deep reverence... In Afghanistan and Pakistan, desecration of the Koran is punishable by death."
What many of the reports on this matter have failed to mention- no anti-American media bias surely- is that according to the US's top military officer, General Richard Myers, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "”They have looked through the logs, the interrogation logs, and they cannot confirm yet that there was ever the case of the toilet incident. He did note a log entry, which they still have to confirm, where a detainee was reported by a guard to be ripping pages out of a Quran and putting them in a toilet to stop it up as a protest. But not where the US did it."
So let's recap- terrorist bombs kill innocent Muslims in Iraq almost every day, civilians are brutally beheaded and the Muslim world says not a word- but when the Koran is "defiled" they raise such a stink that people die. I wonder if they'll apologise if it does turn out that the Newsweek report is entirely bogus and the perpetrator of this anti-Koran crime turns out not to be an American but a Muslim?
Flight of Fancy
The weekend is here and what better way to celebrate than with some pirate booty from the master himself, Adam Hughes.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Outrage of the Day
I'm not an American citizen and I'm absolutely outraged by this news- God only knows how our cousins across the Pond feel about this one. Border patrol agents in Arizona, the area where the Minutemen did their sterling work helping to guard the border, have been ordered to stand down.
According to the Washington Times (and despite denials from the border patrol chief this information has also reached Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican and chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus) "U.S. Border Patrol agents have been ordered not to arrest illegal aliens along the section of the Arizona border where protesters patrolled last month because an increase in apprehensions there would prove the effectiveness of Minuteman volunteers".
It seems like the Bush administration is doing everything it can to subvert the safety of the nation's borders and right now a whole bunch of people- be they drug dealers, wannabe illegal immigrants or terrorists- now know that there is essentially a hole in the border through which they can safely pass.
According to the Border Patrol themselves while the Minutemen were in place the number of illegal aliens arrested dropped from five hundred a day to fifteen. Now that they have been ordered not to apprehend any more aliens that means that five hundred or maybe even more aliens crossing the border every day. In a week that works out at three thousand five hundred. In a month that's fifteen thousand.
Looks to me like someone knows that the Minutemen were effective- proving that someone was not doing the job assigned to them. Heads should roll and border security moved right to the top of the agenda.
Hat tip to Blog for Bush for the story.
According to the Washington Times (and despite denials from the border patrol chief this information has also reached Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican and chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus) "U.S. Border Patrol agents have been ordered not to arrest illegal aliens along the section of the Arizona border where protesters patrolled last month because an increase in apprehensions there would prove the effectiveness of Minuteman volunteers".
It seems like the Bush administration is doing everything it can to subvert the safety of the nation's borders and right now a whole bunch of people- be they drug dealers, wannabe illegal immigrants or terrorists- now know that there is essentially a hole in the border through which they can safely pass.
According to the Border Patrol themselves while the Minutemen were in place the number of illegal aliens arrested dropped from five hundred a day to fifteen. Now that they have been ordered not to apprehend any more aliens that means that five hundred or maybe even more aliens crossing the border every day. In a week that works out at three thousand five hundred. In a month that's fifteen thousand.
Looks to me like someone knows that the Minutemen were effective- proving that someone was not doing the job assigned to them. Heads should roll and border security moved right to the top of the agenda.
Hat tip to Blog for Bush for the story.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Sweden RIP?
From blogger Fjordman comes this realy scary post about life in Sweden as Muslim immigrants pour into the country almost completely unchecked.
This excerpt is just one example of how that country is rapidly becoming something altogether different-
"In Husby, a Stockholm suburb, gangs of immigrant youngsters are harassing other visitors who come to use the swimming pool. A Swedish school class was attacked and robbed by a large group of teenage boys shouting "Swedish bastards! (Svennejävlar) You don't belong here!" The police in Husby are aware of the problem, but say it is an integration problem that the police can't solve alone. In another case, some twenty youths armed with iron rods and chains smashed the Hjulsta school in Stockholm. They also threatened and attacked several of the pupils. Neither the students nor the teachers dare testify to the police about the incident. Their fears are well-founded, as threats against witnesses in Swedish court cases have quadrupled between 2000 and 2003."
There's much, much more. It all makes for similarly depressing reading.
This excerpt is just one example of how that country is rapidly becoming something altogether different-
"In Husby, a Stockholm suburb, gangs of immigrant youngsters are harassing other visitors who come to use the swimming pool. A Swedish school class was attacked and robbed by a large group of teenage boys shouting "Swedish bastards! (Svennejävlar) You don't belong here!" The police in Husby are aware of the problem, but say it is an integration problem that the police can't solve alone. In another case, some twenty youths armed with iron rods and chains smashed the Hjulsta school in Stockholm. They also threatened and attacked several of the pupils. Neither the students nor the teachers dare testify to the police about the incident. Their fears are well-founded, as threats against witnesses in Swedish court cases have quadrupled between 2000 and 2003."
There's much, much more. It all makes for similarly depressing reading.
Fake Agents On The Loose?
CNN reports that a man has been arrested after importing more than 1300 fake ID badges for such groups as NYPD, FBI, U.S. Marshals, Customs, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Treasury. When the guy is question was arrested and his apartment in New York searched, agents also seized two NYPD police uniforms, two-way radios and six firearms, including a Glock 9 mm handgun, a Beretta semiautomatic rifle and a Winchester shotgun. There was also a used casing from a shoulder-fired missile.
Thankfully this man was caught and these items seized but this only happened because a customs agent checked the package which had originally been sent to the US from Taiwan. The badges were so realistic that nine out of ten would have passed close scrutiny.
When I read about this I'm always left to think- okay, they caught this package, but how many have slipped through? Maybe if he'd been buying a smaller lot- say twenty badges- customs agents wouldn't have searched the package. How many fake but realistic IDs are out there? How many more NYPD uniforms are in private apartments, waiting to be used for....what? Was this part of a terrorist plot? Again, my advice to one and all is be alert.
Thankfully this man was caught and these items seized but this only happened because a customs agent checked the package which had originally been sent to the US from Taiwan. The badges were so realistic that nine out of ten would have passed close scrutiny.
When I read about this I'm always left to think- okay, they caught this package, but how many have slipped through? Maybe if he'd been buying a smaller lot- say twenty badges- customs agents wouldn't have searched the package. How many fake but realistic IDs are out there? How many more NYPD uniforms are in private apartments, waiting to be used for....what? Was this part of a terrorist plot? Again, my advice to one and all is be alert.
Kingdom of Heaven Revisited
On checking out visits to my site I discovered that a few hits had come through from Google on the search: "Kingdom of Heaven Facts". Strangely I seem to be the number one result for this- especially odd as this was the entry Google pointed to. If you're here because of that search then let me tell you that a much better page to go visit, one which explores the controversy around the historical facts of the film, is here. I'm assuming that zombie is the one and only LGF operative mentioned on Little Green Footballs. His page documents the facts of the film through media references. The basic thrust of the argument seems to be that Ridley Scott's film is pro-Muslim, pro-Saladin and anti-Christian. Ridley calls the Knights Templar the "the Right-wing or Christian fundamentalists of their day". That might give you an inkling of his bias.
According to Professor Jonathan Riley-Smith, Britain's leading authority on the Crusades - the story of Kingdom of Heaven is "rubbish", "ridiculous", "complete fiction" and "dangerous to Arab relations". I think I'll take my history lesson from a leading scholar than from Hollywood any day. Also, one of the main criticisms of the film is the coalition of Muslims, Christians and Jews portrayed in the film. No such group ever existed. To read all about it, go check out zombie's page.
According to Professor Jonathan Riley-Smith, Britain's leading authority on the Crusades - the story of Kingdom of Heaven is "rubbish", "ridiculous", "complete fiction" and "dangerous to Arab relations". I think I'll take my history lesson from a leading scholar than from Hollywood any day. Also, one of the main criticisms of the film is the coalition of Muslims, Christians and Jews portrayed in the film. No such group ever existed. To read all about it, go check out zombie's page.
Traitor Galloway and Saddam
The story that Galloway was involved in the illegal Iraqi oil-for-food scam first surfaced over a year ago in a story published in the Daily Telegraph. He sued the paper- successfully- and that seemed to be the end of the matter. Well, not quite- Galloway has now been named by a US investigation into the scandal and the Telegraph is now appealing against the ruling.
The Times has a pretty good background piece on the oil-for-food scandal here.
Galloway has not only aligned himself with the Hussein regime, he has been pro-Arab since a 1977 visit to Beirut when he stated- “"I made a pledge . . . to devote the rest of my life to the Palestinian and Arab cause, whatever the consequences for my own political future".” When he met with Saddam Hussein in 1994 he said, “"I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability. And I want you to know we are with you until victory, until Jerusalem.” (emphasis mine) That kind of makes his assertion that he was pro-Iraqi people and not pro-Saddam pretty much a lie. The BBC bio leaves out the "until Jerusalem" part of the quote and is remarkably favourable to Galloway, painting him as a bit of a rebel. This is the man who described the fall of the Soviet Empire as the “biggest catastrophe” of his life, who describes Ché Guevara as his “ultimate hero” and receives boxes of Havana’s finest Cohiba cigars from his friend Fidel Castro. So totalitarian dictators and terrorists are okay in his book.
That Galloway has again been accused of receiving payments from Iraq, one of only two European ministers named, would seem to indicate pretty strongly that something is afoot. Particularly when he is accused by former Iraqi ministers themselves, Tariq Aziz among them.
Galloway has of course claimed that Hussein was still the real leader of Iraq and that his trial was a "sham", conducted by "stooges, collaborators, hand-picked by the military occupation of Iraq". Seems like he really likes free elections in Iraq doesn't he? He also claimed that "Iraq is not a free country. There is a government that has been put in power in Baghdad by the Americans."
He also claimed that the accusations levelled at him were from a "lickspittle Republican committee, acting on the wishes of George Bush." Strange then that the committee is question is made of up both Democrats and Republicans? As they say, methinks the lady doth protest too much.
The Times has a pretty good background piece on the oil-for-food scandal here.
Galloway has not only aligned himself with the Hussein regime, he has been pro-Arab since a 1977 visit to Beirut when he stated- “"I made a pledge . . . to devote the rest of my life to the Palestinian and Arab cause, whatever the consequences for my own political future".” When he met with Saddam Hussein in 1994 he said, “"I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability. And I want you to know we are with you until victory, until Jerusalem.” (emphasis mine) That kind of makes his assertion that he was pro-Iraqi people and not pro-Saddam pretty much a lie. The BBC bio leaves out the "until Jerusalem" part of the quote and is remarkably favourable to Galloway, painting him as a bit of a rebel. This is the man who described the fall of the Soviet Empire as the “biggest catastrophe” of his life, who describes Ché Guevara as his “ultimate hero” and receives boxes of Havana’s finest Cohiba cigars from his friend Fidel Castro. So totalitarian dictators and terrorists are okay in his book.
That Galloway has again been accused of receiving payments from Iraq, one of only two European ministers named, would seem to indicate pretty strongly that something is afoot. Particularly when he is accused by former Iraqi ministers themselves, Tariq Aziz among them.
Galloway has of course claimed that Hussein was still the real leader of Iraq and that his trial was a "sham", conducted by "stooges, collaborators, hand-picked by the military occupation of Iraq". Seems like he really likes free elections in Iraq doesn't he? He also claimed that "Iraq is not a free country. There is a government that has been put in power in Baghdad by the Americans."
He also claimed that the accusations levelled at him were from a "lickspittle Republican committee, acting on the wishes of George Bush." Strange then that the committee is question is made of up both Democrats and Republicans? As they say, methinks the lady doth protest too much.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Natalie Portman
Here's a pic of Natalie Portman with her head shaved for the part of Evey in V for Vendetta. Bit of a change from Padme and those elaborate outfits she had in Star Wars.
$1 Billion Giveaway To Illegal Immigrants
Yeah, American readers, that headline is right- one billion dollars of taxpayers money is being sent to border states to pay for the healthcare costs of illegal immigrants. One billion dollars. Of your money.
And you know what's worse? Under the rules, hospitals are NOT allowed to directly ask patients if they are "undocumented aliens". That would be "illegal alien" but undocumented sounds so much better don't you think? Bush may have been elected with a massive mandate but he seems to be intent on flushing it down the toilet- it was the Bush administration which "abandoned a proposal that would have required many hospitals to ask patients if they were U.S. citizens or legal immigrants". That was great of them wasn't it? To ignore what many Republican voters want? Dr. Mark McClellan, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said, ""In no circumstances are hospitals required to ask people about their citizenship status."
It does get even a little worse than that though. Worse than a billion dollars and no questions asked, you say? Well yes- the Department of Health and Human Services will also NOT provide information about illegal immigrants to law enforcement officials for use in "routine civil immigration proceedings." So illegal aliens are pretty much free to get all the healthcare they need and then go back to their illegal life in the USA. The policy is so screwed up that McClellan said that only in "rare cases" would information on illegal immigrants be used in criminal investigations- so no investigating the illegal activity of being an "undocumented" alien?
And you know what's worse? Under the rules, hospitals are NOT allowed to directly ask patients if they are "undocumented aliens". That would be "illegal alien" but undocumented sounds so much better don't you think? Bush may have been elected with a massive mandate but he seems to be intent on flushing it down the toilet- it was the Bush administration which "abandoned a proposal that would have required many hospitals to ask patients if they were U.S. citizens or legal immigrants". That was great of them wasn't it? To ignore what many Republican voters want? Dr. Mark McClellan, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said, ""In no circumstances are hospitals required to ask people about their citizenship status."
It does get even a little worse than that though. Worse than a billion dollars and no questions asked, you say? Well yes- the Department of Health and Human Services will also NOT provide information about illegal immigrants to law enforcement officials for use in "routine civil immigration proceedings." So illegal aliens are pretty much free to get all the healthcare they need and then go back to their illegal life in the USA. The policy is so screwed up that McClellan said that only in "rare cases" would information on illegal immigrants be used in criminal investigations- so no investigating the illegal activity of being an "undocumented" alien?
Thought Police in Australia
Seems that two pastors face possible prison time for criticising the Muslim faith in Australia. They called Islam an inherently violent religion. The judge presiding over the case said that this was, "essentially hostile, demeaning and derogatory of all Muslim people, their God, Allah, the prophet Mohammed and in general Muslim religious beliefs and practices."
Nice of him to declare that pointing out what many could argue is a fact is so awful. I wonder if during the case any evidence was provided from the Koran to show that the pastors actually had a point? Seems doubtful. Apparently the pastors made the mistake of not differentiating between extremist and moderate Muslims- don't the extremists quote from the same religious texts as the moderates? Or is there a completely separate holy book which counsels beheadings and the like?
This is so staggeringly wrong that I don't even know where to begin. I wonder if all those who mock and deride Christians or Buddhists will face similar trials? Australia has made a monumental error in passing this law.
Nice of him to declare that pointing out what many could argue is a fact is so awful. I wonder if during the case any evidence was provided from the Koran to show that the pastors actually had a point? Seems doubtful. Apparently the pastors made the mistake of not differentiating between extremist and moderate Muslims- don't the extremists quote from the same religious texts as the moderates? Or is there a completely separate holy book which counsels beheadings and the like?
This is so staggeringly wrong that I don't even know where to begin. I wonder if all those who mock and deride Christians or Buddhists will face similar trials? Australia has made a monumental error in passing this law.
Another Blow to British Politics
As if Galloway wasn't a big enough stain on the history of British politics we now also have Jenny Tonge- this is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament and LibDem "spokesperson for children"- who was sacked from her front bench role for her comments in which she said that she might become a suicide bomber if she were Palestinian. Her boss, LibDem leader Charles Kennedy, an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq- even now he's opposed to British troops helping this fledgling democracy- said at the time: “Her recent remarks about suicide bombers are completely unacceptable. They are not compatible with Liberal Democrat party policies and principles. There can be no justification, under any circumstances for taking innocent lives through terrorism."
Tonge tried to excuse her comments at the time by saying that, "having seen the violence and the humiliation and the provocation that the Palestinian people live under every day and have done since their land was occupied by Israel, I could understand and was trying to understand where [suicide bombers] were coming from." No mention of the hundreds of innocent lives which have been ended by these murderers, no understanding of the destruction caused. Does she for a moment even consider the victims of these barbaric crimes? Of course not, but Labour MP Richard Burden thought that she was right to recognise the "pain of the suicide bomber". It's enough to make you sick.
Kennedy sacked her a day after many complaints were made about Tonge's comments and his statement certainly sounded good but it fails to explain why he has now nominated her for Britain's upper chambers, the House of Lords. Is her stance on terrorism still wrong or is it now in line with Liberal Democrat policies? Do the LibDems now support the murder of innocent civilians with explosive vests? Or is it that he really does agree with her and now that the election is past he feels free to do something controversial?
Tonge tried to excuse her comments at the time by saying that, "having seen the violence and the humiliation and the provocation that the Palestinian people live under every day and have done since their land was occupied by Israel, I could understand and was trying to understand where [suicide bombers] were coming from." No mention of the hundreds of innocent lives which have been ended by these murderers, no understanding of the destruction caused. Does she for a moment even consider the victims of these barbaric crimes? Of course not, but Labour MP Richard Burden thought that she was right to recognise the "pain of the suicide bomber". It's enough to make you sick.
Kennedy sacked her a day after many complaints were made about Tonge's comments and his statement certainly sounded good but it fails to explain why he has now nominated her for Britain's upper chambers, the House of Lords. Is her stance on terrorism still wrong or is it now in line with Liberal Democrat policies? Do the LibDems now support the murder of innocent civilians with explosive vests? Or is it that he really does agree with her and now that the election is past he feels free to do something controversial?
V for Vendetta
Somehow I totally managed to miss this news- they're making a movie of the Alan Moore graphic novel, V for Vendetta. Truth be told that I can barely remember a word of Vendetta, it's just been too long since I read it. Moore's masterwork for me has always been Watchmen but I've enjoyed most things that he's written. V is something I'll certainly have to have another look at. The story involves a character known only as V (who wears a Guy Fawkes mask), a survivor of medical experimentation in a concentration camp, who undertakes a war against the totalitarian regime in post-World War Three Britain. Given our current climate, it'll be interesting to see how Hollywood handles a big budget movie whose central character is essentially a terrorist.
The screenplay has been written by the Wachowski Brothers of Matrix fame and stars Hugo Weaving as V with a shaven-headed Natalie Portman as his companion Evey. Now, as I said, I cannot remember anything about this- it just didn't stick in my mind the same way Watchmen did, or even League of Gentlemen did, so I'll need to review the source material again. Maybe post a review of the graphic novel soon.
Oh, just caught this on IMDB- they are making a Watchmen movie! No news yet on a cast, just some speculation in the comments section there.
The screenplay has been written by the Wachowski Brothers of Matrix fame and stars Hugo Weaving as V with a shaven-headed Natalie Portman as his companion Evey. Now, as I said, I cannot remember anything about this- it just didn't stick in my mind the same way Watchmen did, or even League of Gentlemen did, so I'll need to review the source material again. Maybe post a review of the graphic novel soon.
Oh, just caught this on IMDB- they are making a Watchmen movie! No news yet on a cast, just some speculation in the comments section there.
Traitor Galloway Again
Galloway, who sides with a homicidal dictator and calls on British troops to disobey their orders, gave an interview back in November 2004 in which he compares Fallujah to Stalingrad and says that the "people who invaded and destroyed Iraq and have murdered more than a million Iraqi people by sanctions and war will burn in Hell in the hell-fires, and their name in history will be branded as killers and war criminals for all time."
He also claimed that the "criminals who invaded.. fell like wolves upon the people of Iraq". I'm not quite clear here if he means the Americans who have worked tirelessly to free the Iraqi people, rebuild their country and provide them the means to have democracy or the foreign terrorists who almost daily are targeting Iraqi civilians in terrorist attacks. Who are the wolves George? The Americans who have freed the country or these terrorists who kill Iraqi children?
Quite apart from his appalling use of English, how he can call the liberation of Iraq destroying it is beyond me. This left-wing socialist MP (a disgrace to Britain) would rather that rich fat-cat Saddam Hussein was still in power. Remember Saddam, the guy who used chemical weapons on Iraqi civilians, the one who built palaces with all that UN money instead of give to his starving people? Yep, George the socialist would rather the downtrodden masses were kept in their place by a brutal tyrant than be free to vote and choose their own leaders. Where are his principles? Who's looking out for the man on the street in Iraq? It's certainly not the left wing anti-war activists who were quite happy to let these ordinary men and women starve, be tortured and murdered than to see them free.
He also claimed that the "criminals who invaded.. fell like wolves upon the people of Iraq". I'm not quite clear here if he means the Americans who have worked tirelessly to free the Iraqi people, rebuild their country and provide them the means to have democracy or the foreign terrorists who almost daily are targeting Iraqi civilians in terrorist attacks. Who are the wolves George? The Americans who have freed the country or these terrorists who kill Iraqi children?
Quite apart from his appalling use of English, how he can call the liberation of Iraq destroying it is beyond me. This left-wing socialist MP (a disgrace to Britain) would rather that rich fat-cat Saddam Hussein was still in power. Remember Saddam, the guy who used chemical weapons on Iraqi civilians, the one who built palaces with all that UN money instead of give to his starving people? Yep, George the socialist would rather the downtrodden masses were kept in their place by a brutal tyrant than be free to vote and choose their own leaders. Where are his principles? Who's looking out for the man on the street in Iraq? It's certainly not the left wing anti-war activists who were quite happy to let these ordinary men and women starve, be tortured and murdered than to see them free.
Doctor Who - The Unquiet Dead Review
From the get-go episode three of the new series feels 100% more like vintage Doctor Who to me; an in-the-past setting combined with apparent supernatural elements and some great sets. The effects were better than earlier episodes with the blue "ghosts"and the undead make-up looking pretty convincing. Throw in an appearance by Charles Dickens which was handled pretty well (it didn't feel too much like a "this week's famous person from the past slot"), a nicely paced story, good acting from the supporting players and, well, a great plot. This felt altogether more like it, Doctor Who back on track. According to the Mind Robber site, this was the first episode not written by the series head writer and producer Russell T. Davis. Based on this showing, it looks like Davis needs to stick to producing and leave the writing to others more suited to the task. The best episode of the series so far.
One of the great things about it was that the set-up was handled quickly, with no fuss and the TARDIS' usual hiccup- instead of travelling to Venice in 1860, they end up in Cardiff in 1869. A nice little touch. It was also darker than the first two episodes, which is exactly how I remember Doctor Who, and it seemed to take the material seriously. Compared to this the first two shows come across more as programming for a younger audience.
One of the great things about it was that the set-up was handled quickly, with no fuss and the TARDIS' usual hiccup- instead of travelling to Venice in 1860, they end up in Cardiff in 1869. A nice little touch. It was also darker than the first two episodes, which is exactly how I remember Doctor Who, and it seemed to take the material seriously. Compared to this the first two shows come across more as programming for a younger audience.
Time for a lie down
Scientists are now claiming that the human mind functions better when you lie down. Apparently it's all to do with the release of noradrenalin which, though linked to cognitive ability and attention, is believed to impair creative thinking- less is released by the brain when you are reclining.
Sounds like a great reason to go lie down for a bit of think- and if your boss happens to walk in, tell him your eyes were closed too because you were "visualising the problem". Yeah, that should work.
Sounds like a great reason to go lie down for a bit of think- and if your boss happens to walk in, tell him your eyes were closed too because you were "visualising the problem". Yeah, that should work.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Assorted Movie News
First up is the long anticipated Indiana Jones 4; no word on a plot line but progress is being made. Rumours have suggested Atlantis, but personally I can't see it, it's a bit too far out for Indy- could be that it's set in the fifties with the Communist Chinese replacing the Nazis as bad guys. No one knows for sure though, it's all just conjecture right now. Constant rewrites are bad news though- could it be that they can't find a story for Jones? I find that hard to believe given the amount of Indy books that have been written- take the plot from one of them. The other bad news is the suggestion of a younger sidekick- I don't want to see an Indiana Jones movie where the young gun gets to do the exciting stuff, I want to see Indy do it. If Harrison Ford's getting on too much for big stunts, CGI his face onto his stunt double (like they did with Christopher Lee in AOTC). Hell, give him a .45 and have the action scenes as a series of shoot-outs.
Next up is, Aliens vs Predator 2. The first film was pretty disappointing. Fans already had their story- the predators seed a remote planet with alien eggs, the aliens coming from big buffalo-type creatures. The script of this Dark Horse comic is available to read here. Better than the movie that was made. First off, the first two films tell us that the predators love the heat and only come to Earth on the hottest of summers- so AVP has them in the Antarctic. Huh? I also didn't like the whole set up- a subterranean pyramid in the Antarctic that can move and shift around like a big puzzle box? This movie did no justice to either franchise. Let's hope the sequel has an entirely original cast and a new setting- perhaps a remote outpost where the predators can seed herd animals with alien eggs?
I haven't seen xXx 2 yet, and I'm not sure if I will. The first film was okay- I enjoyed it more when I watched it for a second time on DVD recently. Yeah, it's a "hip" (I use the term loosely) James Bond and it took perhaps a little too much from that franchise (their own "Q" and gadget car) but it was fun enough. Vin Diesel was pretty good- no Riddick for sure, but not bad. I'm not exactly over the moon with the idea of Ice Cube as xXx- wasn't that Diesel's tattoo and not the codename for a super-spy anyway?- but the producers seem to be toying with the idea of a female xXx for the next film. That might be okay- at the end of the day it's another big budget action movie with a spy theme so why not? Just so long as we don't have to waste the first twenty minutes or more of each film with an origin story- if they can build that into the opening scene and titles I'm all for a rotating-door xXx series. Besides that the James Bond films could really do with some competition to perk them up a bit.
The Mummy 3- if director Sommers can not do another Van Helsing (what were they thinking? Did anyone get sacked for that travesty?) then I'm all on for this. The Mummy movies are dumb, big fun. 1 and 2 are equally enjoyable fare and a third- if it's up to the same standard- is more than welcome. Maybe it could be switched from a big action number to a creepy horror film, the sort of thing Peter Cushing would have appeared in. That would be nice but I don't think Sommers can do subtle or creepy- big, brash, and flash seems to be his forte.
Next up is, Aliens vs Predator 2. The first film was pretty disappointing. Fans already had their story- the predators seed a remote planet with alien eggs, the aliens coming from big buffalo-type creatures. The script of this Dark Horse comic is available to read here. Better than the movie that was made. First off, the first two films tell us that the predators love the heat and only come to Earth on the hottest of summers- so AVP has them in the Antarctic. Huh? I also didn't like the whole set up- a subterranean pyramid in the Antarctic that can move and shift around like a big puzzle box? This movie did no justice to either franchise. Let's hope the sequel has an entirely original cast and a new setting- perhaps a remote outpost where the predators can seed herd animals with alien eggs?
I haven't seen xXx 2 yet, and I'm not sure if I will. The first film was okay- I enjoyed it more when I watched it for a second time on DVD recently. Yeah, it's a "hip" (I use the term loosely) James Bond and it took perhaps a little too much from that franchise (their own "Q" and gadget car) but it was fun enough. Vin Diesel was pretty good- no Riddick for sure, but not bad. I'm not exactly over the moon with the idea of Ice Cube as xXx- wasn't that Diesel's tattoo and not the codename for a super-spy anyway?- but the producers seem to be toying with the idea of a female xXx for the next film. That might be okay- at the end of the day it's another big budget action movie with a spy theme so why not? Just so long as we don't have to waste the first twenty minutes or more of each film with an origin story- if they can build that into the opening scene and titles I'm all for a rotating-door xXx series. Besides that the James Bond films could really do with some competition to perk them up a bit.
The Mummy 3- if director Sommers can not do another Van Helsing (what were they thinking? Did anyone get sacked for that travesty?) then I'm all on for this. The Mummy movies are dumb, big fun. 1 and 2 are equally enjoyable fare and a third- if it's up to the same standard- is more than welcome. Maybe it could be switched from a big action number to a creepy horror film, the sort of thing Peter Cushing would have appeared in. That would be nice but I don't think Sommers can do subtle or creepy- big, brash, and flash seems to be his forte.
Star Wars Remade
Here's a not unreasonable suggestion- to remake the original Star Wars films (A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) because with the new trilogy just finished the originals look more than a tad out of place. Here we have bright shiny new technology some decades BEFORE the ships and weapons of the original trilogy. While Lucas' vision in the original trilogy was praised- his "lived in" universe- it seems like the technology of the new films is far advanced on the original, odd given that the new films take place before the old films.
I've got to say that I'd love to see the originals remade, just to see what they could be like with completely new special effects. What would be even better is if they completely ignored the designs of all the technology (Millennium Falcon, etc etc) and re-did it all from scratch. Start anew, continuing on the design style of the new movies just to see what they could come up with. My only demand would be that the damn silly Ewok battle be re-written with aliens that are just a little more dangerous than four foot tall teddy bears. Make it a planet of intelligent grizzlies or something. That would be good, because as it stands I just can't buy Stormtroopers getting their butts kicked by soft toys.
Another thing which makes me think that the originals should be remade are these pictures of Princess Leia- Carrie Fisher never did it for me, even in that gold bikini and having seen Adam Hughes' Leia, I've got to say that some recasting is in order. The second picture is taken from a Maxim calendar and is NSFW- which is why I've thoughtfully provided a link- and features glamour model Lucy Becker posing as Princess Leia.
I've got to say that I'd love to see the originals remade, just to see what they could be like with completely new special effects. What would be even better is if they completely ignored the designs of all the technology (Millennium Falcon, etc etc) and re-did it all from scratch. Start anew, continuing on the design style of the new movies just to see what they could come up with. My only demand would be that the damn silly Ewok battle be re-written with aliens that are just a little more dangerous than four foot tall teddy bears. Make it a planet of intelligent grizzlies or something. That would be good, because as it stands I just can't buy Stormtroopers getting their butts kicked by soft toys.
Another thing which makes me think that the originals should be remade are these pictures of Princess Leia- Carrie Fisher never did it for me, even in that gold bikini and having seen Adam Hughes' Leia, I've got to say that some recasting is in order. The second picture is taken from a Maxim calendar and is NSFW- which is why I've thoughtfully provided a link- and features glamour model Lucy Becker posing as Princess Leia.
Doctor Who - The End of the World Review
Episode Two of the Doctor Who series carries right on where Rose left off, with the Doctor and Rose travelling five billion years into the future to gatecrash an exclusive viewing of the destruction of the planet Earth. My main gripe with the whole episode was that even though we're five billion years in the future, technology does not seem to be that far advanced. Read an Iain M. Banks' Culture novel or a Ken MacLeod book and you'll get a pretty good insight into the possibilities. In fact, go and read some MacLeod stuff anyway- he's a great writer and his imaginings on uploaded minds, smart suits and all the rest make for superb reading. The Fall Revolution series is particularly wonderful.
Aside from the poor science element we're also left with a gathering of aliens which wouldn't look entirely out of place in Jon Pertwee's day. The BBC special effects department needs a swift kick in the arse- people in masks and make-up might be cheap but it doesn't make for any sort of spectacle. For goodness sake, get the Henson Company to make some muppet aliens if needs be. They also need to show a bit of imagination because the small assortment of aliens is not just done on the cheap, they show a distinct lack of anything special or original. What we get are some badly designed oddities. Jabe, the tree-alien lady, is the only one with any distinct personality and while her make-up is okay, putting a few flowers in her bark-hair does not a tree-alien make. My other main gripe here is with Cassandra, the last living human. She is basically a sheet of skin with a face in the middle stretched between a metal frame, her brain in a jar below. Somehow, without any lungs or vocal cords (she's translucent and no organs whatsoever are visible) she's able to speak. It might sound petty but shows like this have got to display some internal logic or they just don't work. Also, we're five billion years in the future- surely she could engineer herself an entirely new body whenever she wanted? This lame plastic surgery thing just doesn't wash.
Aside from the basic lack of understanding that five billion years of technological development would make this setting look really alien (we do get a space station filled with bundles of wires, ridiculous Oompa-loompa maintenance staff and a computer that probably runs on Windows 95, while we don't get DNA computers, an organically grown platform, nanotechnology, aliens that don't look like actors in gowns or any feeling at all that- you know- five billion years have passed) what this episode lacks is a real plot. We do get a few insightful moments from Rose on how witnessing the destruction of her world affects her, but aside from that the story involves some bad-CGI metal bugs carrying out some sabotage. Again, the feeling is this should have been a story arcing over several episodes. Back in Tom Baker's day this would have been a dark, claustrophobic tale of intrigue and conspiracy as the inhabitants of the station are killed off one by one. There would have been some sleuthing, some out-of-the-box thinking from the Doctor. Instead we get about a third of the episode dedicated to the set-up and then the rest of the story is rushed. Maybe it could even have been Die-Hard-ed up a little as the Doctor fought to save the platform but the danger elements don't work. Again, we need to feel that the Doctor is facing a real threat. We do get some insight into the Doctor's background, some nice flirtation with Jabe (who is very well acted indeed- maximum impact with minimum screen time) but it's all let down with the denouement- and even that's further spoiled by the disappointing way in which the Doctor tracks down the culprit. It's a bit of a cop out. The writers on the show really need to up their game. If their speciality is sci-fi and they want to do a bit of a mystery at the very least they need to consult a mystery writer on the plot elements.
Having said all that, it's not a complete disaster, it just feels like they weren't really trying. This is supposed to be a flagship BBC show and yet we seem to be stuck with the same low production values which marked the original series. The aliens just felt like the designers were being a bit silly, there's no feeling that a lot of thought went into it. As with episode one there was one great stand out moment with the Doctor- I don't want to include any more spoilers but if you see the episode you'll know which bit I mean. All in all, it's not bad- a bit of character development from Rose and proof that Piper can act, not quite so many silly grins from Eccleston and a good supporting act in the tree-lady. Watchable but not great. The main benefit is that Eccleston feels like the Doctor this time around. You get the sense that he's made the character his own.
Aside from the poor science element we're also left with a gathering of aliens which wouldn't look entirely out of place in Jon Pertwee's day. The BBC special effects department needs a swift kick in the arse- people in masks and make-up might be cheap but it doesn't make for any sort of spectacle. For goodness sake, get the Henson Company to make some muppet aliens if needs be. They also need to show a bit of imagination because the small assortment of aliens is not just done on the cheap, they show a distinct lack of anything special or original. What we get are some badly designed oddities. Jabe, the tree-alien lady, is the only one with any distinct personality and while her make-up is okay, putting a few flowers in her bark-hair does not a tree-alien make. My other main gripe here is with Cassandra, the last living human. She is basically a sheet of skin with a face in the middle stretched between a metal frame, her brain in a jar below. Somehow, without any lungs or vocal cords (she's translucent and no organs whatsoever are visible) she's able to speak. It might sound petty but shows like this have got to display some internal logic or they just don't work. Also, we're five billion years in the future- surely she could engineer herself an entirely new body whenever she wanted? This lame plastic surgery thing just doesn't wash.
Aside from the basic lack of understanding that five billion years of technological development would make this setting look really alien (we do get a space station filled with bundles of wires, ridiculous Oompa-loompa maintenance staff and a computer that probably runs on Windows 95, while we don't get DNA computers, an organically grown platform, nanotechnology, aliens that don't look like actors in gowns or any feeling at all that- you know- five billion years have passed) what this episode lacks is a real plot. We do get a few insightful moments from Rose on how witnessing the destruction of her world affects her, but aside from that the story involves some bad-CGI metal bugs carrying out some sabotage. Again, the feeling is this should have been a story arcing over several episodes. Back in Tom Baker's day this would have been a dark, claustrophobic tale of intrigue and conspiracy as the inhabitants of the station are killed off one by one. There would have been some sleuthing, some out-of-the-box thinking from the Doctor. Instead we get about a third of the episode dedicated to the set-up and then the rest of the story is rushed. Maybe it could even have been Die-Hard-ed up a little as the Doctor fought to save the platform but the danger elements don't work. Again, we need to feel that the Doctor is facing a real threat. We do get some insight into the Doctor's background, some nice flirtation with Jabe (who is very well acted indeed- maximum impact with minimum screen time) but it's all let down with the denouement- and even that's further spoiled by the disappointing way in which the Doctor tracks down the culprit. It's a bit of a cop out. The writers on the show really need to up their game. If their speciality is sci-fi and they want to do a bit of a mystery at the very least they need to consult a mystery writer on the plot elements.
Having said all that, it's not a complete disaster, it just feels like they weren't really trying. This is supposed to be a flagship BBC show and yet we seem to be stuck with the same low production values which marked the original series. The aliens just felt like the designers were being a bit silly, there's no feeling that a lot of thought went into it. As with episode one there was one great stand out moment with the Doctor- I don't want to include any more spoilers but if you see the episode you'll know which bit I mean. All in all, it's not bad- a bit of character development from Rose and proof that Piper can act, not quite so many silly grins from Eccleston and a good supporting act in the tree-lady. Watchable but not great. The main benefit is that Eccleston feels like the Doctor this time around. You get the sense that he's made the character his own.
Mufti shows his true colours
On the one hand we have groups like Free Muslims Against Terrorism, but on the other we have the Mufti of Australia proclaiming his support for the jihad in Iraq; "we value your jihad and your efforts." Now, he has called for the terrorists to release Australian hostage Douglas Wood but to do so in the same breath that he shows his support for their "holy war" is unbelievable.
I can't in all honesty say what I would do if it were a member of my family being held hostage by terrorists but I know that I'd be furious about "support" like this. And I'd want nothing to do with it. Of course, the President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, who was present when the utterance was made, explained that the term jihad is, of course, misunderstood- they're only fighting a war of self-defence don't you know. He doesn't explain how blowing up Iraqis and assassinating democratically elected officials helps "free the country from foreign occupation".
I can't in all honesty say what I would do if it were a member of my family being held hostage by terrorists but I know that I'd be furious about "support" like this. And I'd want nothing to do with it. Of course, the President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, who was present when the utterance was made, explained that the term jihad is, of course, misunderstood- they're only fighting a war of self-defence don't you know. He doesn't explain how blowing up Iraqis and assassinating democratically elected officials helps "free the country from foreign occupation".
Monday, May 09, 2005
Airsoft Glock 17
I'm not much of a photographer but for what it's worth, here's a snap of my Glock 17. Sadly it's not the real McCoy, being an airsoft replica. It's a gas-powered full blowback model meaning that each shot give the weapon a little bit of a kick. Range isn't great but for plinking in my backyard it's perfect. This airsoft replica is accurate enough that you can even mount rail lights made for the "real steel", complete with all the usual Glock markings. Airsoft guns are also useful for practising drills that you couldn't otherwise do with a live weapon, such as indoor training. Ideal for training to fight off goblins in your own home.
The background is my DPM (Disruptive Pattern Material) SAS smock.
The background is my DPM (Disruptive Pattern Material) SAS smock.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Doctor Who Review - Rose
I finally got round to watching episode one of the new BBC Doctor Who series, entitled Rose. This is our first glimpse of Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Doctor and it's a tricky one- there's no set up to show his transformation from the previous Doctor. He simply turns up in the life of Rose (former pop star Billie Piper) and saves her from death at the hands of the Autons. If you're not a huge geek-fan of Doctor Who, the Autons are simply shop dummies come to life. I loved Doctor Who when I was a kid and back then there was no easy way to see episodes so I had a massive pile of paperbacks- even at that I don't think I came across the Autons once. From watching the episode the Nestene/Auton consciousness is able to bring plastic objects to life. Here's my first complaint- we see Rose in a department store, with a mass of mannequins coming at her; surely the obvious thing to do is create the same sense of dread and horror that you would with zombies. Shop dummies twitching forward robotically, faces blank and lifeless, a mass of blind destruction. The horror of the Autons was missed here and then later in the episode in a big "come to life" scene. Doctor Who used to have a reputation as being a scary programme. Sure it had lousy production values but that was because of a tight budget. With the new Doctor a little too much of it was light-hearted and tongue in cheek and that grated a bit- the way to bring a successful franchise, whether it's a comic or a classic show like this, to life and to keep it successful is to do it seriously. There are some faintly comic moments in the episode and the dialogue with the Doctor and Rose is well done but the sense of threat and danger is somewhat lacking- the Autons are supposed to be coming to Earth to suck the planet dry and destroy everything on it but the threat is confined to a couple of autons here and there. They could really have taken a cue form Shaun of the Dead were we see odd things happening in the background as Simon Pegg's character travels to and from work.
As it is I spent the first half of the show wondering if this news series was going to be an astonishing flop but by the time the second part came around I was beginning to slowly warm to Eccleston's slightly manic portrayal of the Doctor- he has a stupid smile plastered across his faced just a little too much of the time but he's a good enough actor that he can switch from weirdly jolly to intense in the blink of an eye- and his "I can feel the planet moving through space" speech was very well done. I wasn't too sure about Piper either, but she seems like she could be a good companion. A really tiny bit of action (note to the show's producers, the pilot episode should have been longer to allow time to introduce the characters and have a cracking story) and a curious intimacy with the Doctor early on- holding hands as they run- indicate that there's an odd attraction between the pair and the chemistry seems to work. I'm hoping that as the series goes on the writers will take the subject matter seriously and not try to spoof it too much. The big Millenium episode with Paul McGann as the Doctor was played straight down the line so I don't see why this one can't be one the same way.
No doubt more reviews will follow as I watch the rest of the episodes I've recorded.
As it is I spent the first half of the show wondering if this news series was going to be an astonishing flop but by the time the second part came around I was beginning to slowly warm to Eccleston's slightly manic portrayal of the Doctor- he has a stupid smile plastered across his faced just a little too much of the time but he's a good enough actor that he can switch from weirdly jolly to intense in the blink of an eye- and his "I can feel the planet moving through space" speech was very well done. I wasn't too sure about Piper either, but she seems like she could be a good companion. A really tiny bit of action (note to the show's producers, the pilot episode should have been longer to allow time to introduce the characters and have a cracking story) and a curious intimacy with the Doctor early on- holding hands as they run- indicate that there's an odd attraction between the pair and the chemistry seems to work. I'm hoping that as the series goes on the writers will take the subject matter seriously and not try to spoof it too much. The big Millenium episode with Paul McGann as the Doctor was played straight down the line so I don't see why this one can't be one the same way.
No doubt more reviews will follow as I watch the rest of the episodes I've recorded.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Kylie Minogue
Just for a little change of pace, I decided that pop poppet Kylie Minogue should brighten things up around here tonight. She's been in the charts in the UK for years now but like a fine wine, she seems to improve with age and she possesses a certain grace which seems to be lacking with some of the newcomers to the music scene these days. As well as being an actress and singer, the tiny Aussie also has her own range of lingerie which she models here for your delight.
Another Terror Attack Looming?
I hope I'm wrong about this, I really do.
The more I think about it, the more it seems to be that we're building towards another terrorist attack or series of attacks. In the message left by the Islamic group claiming responsibility for the British Consulate bomb they state that the attack was "the beginning of war inside and outside of America". They go on to claim that they "will not hesitate to hit the parties and coffee shops, the hotels and the churches, with the help of Allah.” Finally they call on “our cells in America to start battles in the streets.” This group Jund al-sham also claims responsibility for the Texas oil refinery blast, the one the FBI said had no connection to terrorism eight days before they went to see the site themselves. There was also the pipe-bomb making factory raided in New York recently, the one with no connections to terrorism despite pictures of Bin Laden and beheadings in Iraq on the walls.
At the same time we also have a message from Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia calling on Bin Laden to help them by attacking America immediately. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it seems like there's an awful lot more of this sort of activity going on now than before. Is it building towards something? I really hope not but I'd advise everyone to pay a little more attention to their surroundings. It can't do any harm to be a bit more wary.
The more I think about it, the more it seems to be that we're building towards another terrorist attack or series of attacks. In the message left by the Islamic group claiming responsibility for the British Consulate bomb they state that the attack was "the beginning of war inside and outside of America". They go on to claim that they "will not hesitate to hit the parties and coffee shops, the hotels and the churches, with the help of Allah.” Finally they call on “our cells in America to start battles in the streets.” This group Jund al-sham also claims responsibility for the Texas oil refinery blast, the one the FBI said had no connection to terrorism eight days before they went to see the site themselves. There was also the pipe-bomb making factory raided in New York recently, the one with no connections to terrorism despite pictures of Bin Laden and beheadings in Iraq on the walls.
At the same time we also have a message from Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia calling on Bin Laden to help them by attacking America immediately. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it seems like there's an awful lot more of this sort of activity going on now than before. Is it building towards something? I really hope not but I'd advise everyone to pay a little more attention to their surroundings. It can't do any harm to be a bit more wary.
Terror Attacks on Hospitals?
I wrote at some length about the dangers that terrorism pose to life in America yesterday- if Al Qaeda and their associates decide not to try and take high-profile targets, there is a vast amount they can do simply to spread fear in the United States. I think to that a few bombings in small towns in, for example, Oregon or Utah would do more to spread the kind of fear that residents of Washington felt when the Beltway snipers were at large. Imagine the effect random attacks like this could have on the population at large- no longer would it be a matter of New York or Washington DC being threatened, it would be anywhere in the country.
Bearing this in mind, this story of small groups pretending to be doctors and inspectors to check out hospitals in New Jersey, Boston, Detroit and Indiana becomes much more ominous. What their intent was is difficult to say, although given the terrorist's predilection for the use of the bomb- be it remote detonated or in an explosive vest- I'd rate that fairly high on the threat-meter. Could be that this sort of reconnaissance, the likes of which has apparently being going on for some time on America's airlines, has been happening for months. The advantage to the terrorist is always that they can strike anywhere- for them a shop in Colorado has the same value as a target as a military base. A man on a terror watch list was arrested recently and it turns out he'd been working on the George Washington Bridge.
Stay alert people, keep your eyes open for suspicious behaviour and packages. The British Consulate bomb didn't do much harm but the same thing detonated next to a school bus-stop could. Don't think the terrorists would do that? Palestinian terrorists fired an anti-tank rocket at a school bus packed with children. Stay safe.
Bearing this in mind, this story of small groups pretending to be doctors and inspectors to check out hospitals in New Jersey, Boston, Detroit and Indiana becomes much more ominous. What their intent was is difficult to say, although given the terrorist's predilection for the use of the bomb- be it remote detonated or in an explosive vest- I'd rate that fairly high on the threat-meter. Could be that this sort of reconnaissance, the likes of which has apparently being going on for some time on America's airlines, has been happening for months. The advantage to the terrorist is always that they can strike anywhere- for them a shop in Colorado has the same value as a target as a military base. A man on a terror watch list was arrested recently and it turns out he'd been working on the George Washington Bridge.
Stay alert people, keep your eyes open for suspicious behaviour and packages. The British Consulate bomb didn't do much harm but the same thing detonated next to a school bus-stop could. Don't think the terrorists would do that? Palestinian terrorists fired an anti-tank rocket at a school bus packed with children. Stay safe.
Kingdom of Heaven Facts
I'm not sure if I'll even bother to go watch Kingdom of Heaven- the reviews are pretty lousy so far and CAIR seems to think that it's great. That's one recommendation that instantly put me off. Medieval history is certainly not one of my strong points but if this movie is suggesting that it was Christian crusaders who spoiled centuries of Muslim peace and harmony then I think I'll skip it. I'm fairly sure that's not how it happened. If you're interested in a bit of background on the events in question then check out this article over at The American Thinker.
BTW, Orlando Bloom's not exactly my idea of a leading man- he was great as Legolas and acceptable in Pirates of the Caribbean but he's not my idea of a sword-wielding leading man. In Troy he was appropriately wimpy and I'm afraid that image of him is going to stay with me for some time. Maybe if he were able to grow a proper beard things would be different.
UPDATE 12/05/2005- Because of the number of Google searches for this article I've added another post to say more about the actual facts of the movie Kingdom of Heaven. Thanks for stopping by.
BTW, Orlando Bloom's not exactly my idea of a leading man- he was great as Legolas and acceptable in Pirates of the Caribbean but he's not my idea of a sword-wielding leading man. In Troy he was appropriately wimpy and I'm afraid that image of him is going to stay with me for some time. Maybe if he were able to grow a proper beard things would be different.
UPDATE 12/05/2005- Because of the number of Google searches for this article I've added another post to say more about the actual facts of the movie Kingdom of Heaven. Thanks for stopping by.
Free Muslims Against Terrorism
I seem to spend a lot of time detailing the atrocities carried out by Islamic terrorism- and on more than one occasion have noted that the Muslim community has been maddeningly silent on the matter. Seems like we never hear condemnations of the violence from them. Well, today I'm glad to announce that next Saturday a group called Free Muslims Against Terrorism are holding a rally in Washington DC to support freedom and democracy in the Middle East.
The Free Muslims Against Terrorism (FMAT) are a group of Arabs and Muslims who feel that "religious violence and terrorism have not been fully rejected by the Muslim community in the post 9-11 era". It's so refreshing to see a group like this come out against terrorism that I believe they deserve all the support they can get. Their voice is the one people seem to talk about when they mention "moderate Muslims"- yet as LGF points out many of the major Muslim groups in the US are not endorsing the rally. Hopefully, this rally will draw large numbers. A quick browse through their website shows that they are in favour of modernising Islam and in doing so bringing many Muslims out of a third world/medieval existence, are opposed to blaming the Jews for the problems faced by Muslims, and are in favour of secular democracy in the Middle East. Let's hope that this group gains some widespread support from the Muslim community.
The Free Muslims Against Terrorism (FMAT) are a group of Arabs and Muslims who feel that "religious violence and terrorism have not been fully rejected by the Muslim community in the post 9-11 era". It's so refreshing to see a group like this come out against terrorism that I believe they deserve all the support they can get. Their voice is the one people seem to talk about when they mention "moderate Muslims"- yet as LGF points out many of the major Muslim groups in the US are not endorsing the rally. Hopefully, this rally will draw large numbers. A quick browse through their website shows that they are in favour of modernising Islam and in doing so bringing many Muslims out of a third world/medieval existence, are opposed to blaming the Jews for the problems faced by Muslims, and are in favour of secular democracy in the Middle East. Let's hope that this group gains some widespread support from the Muslim community.
High-Tech Map Making
Another new development in technology funded by the US military, this time a method of creating a virtual 3D map of a city within an hour. With this new system troops will be able to obtain an accurate 3D model of a city created either by plane and truck or another new development- a swarm of drone aircraft which can carry out a recce at speed, equipped with co-operative software which allows them to respond to some of their number being shot down.
The 3D maps will be photo-realistic and the aim is to be able to update the maps as each patrol moves through the city, registering buildings destroyed or roadblocks, etc. It's absolutely startling to think that a city could be mapped down to each doorway and window in such a short time but this ability will give US troops a huge advantage in battle.
Total spectrum domination indeed.
The 3D maps will be photo-realistic and the aim is to be able to update the maps as each patrol moves through the city, registering buildings destroyed or roadblocks, etc. It's absolutely startling to think that a city could be mapped down to each doorway and window in such a short time but this ability will give US troops a huge advantage in battle.
Total spectrum domination indeed.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Carmen Electra
Carmen Electra was in the gossip columns lately when she said that she can't stand her stomach, that it can't be flat enough for her. Apparently when she gets in one of these moods she can't even bear to be touched. All I can say is, that's crazy talk- she's obviously in great shape. Women don't seem to understand that guys like curves, and Carmen is obviously serveral large meals away from being a really curvaceous woman.
Thinking About the War on Terror
This started life as a reply to a comment left on my "Don't You Like These Big American Breasts" post. It might make more sense to read that first. This is a longer than usual post but I hope you'll read it through to the end, particularly my American readers.
As far as using the Geneva Convention to govern the treatment of terrorist prisoners the Justice Department has already ruled that these rules do not apply. Further details are here.
The reason the Geneva Convention does not apply- quite apart from the fact that these terrorists do not fight for any state, they do not act themselves by these standards and have never signed the convention- is that the Convention was created as a set of rules to define how war should be fought. These terrorists do not wear uniforms, they hide amongst the crowd, they hide their weapons, they deliberately target civilians. This is one of the major reasons why I do not believe that they should be accorded the same standard of treatment as a civilian prisoner in a police cell- when soldiers go to war, they do so knowing full well what to expect and they have volunteered to undertake this dangerous job. Civilians doing their weekend shopping or going to work or playing with their children have not- and they do not deserve to be deliberately targeted by terrorists with bombs or bullets. It's this very activity which I believe means that extra measures should be taken when questioning them. Measures which I believe are morally acceptable.
I do believe the techniques used at Gitmo are entirely acceptable when it comes to the treatment meted out to our own troops captured by the enemy. First rate medical care, decent food and a complete lack of violence. Keeping someone in a stress position, for example, might make them uncomfortable but I certainly do not categorise it as torture. There's a vast difference between making someone lean against a wall for a few hours or offending their religion, and beating them with batons, or punching and kicking them. Likewise shackling and hooding prisoners to prevent them killing their guards is not torture- it's a sensible safety measure.
As a resident of Northern Ireland I've lived in a society which became more than used to bombings and shootings. Nationalist terrorists targeted not just soldiers (who were originally put on the streets to protect the nationalist community) but also off-duty police officers and civilians. Even builders or painters working in police stations have been murdered here. The United States has a long way to go before it gets to the state Ulster has been in for the past thirty years, but if the terrorist problem is not stopped overseas then measures will be put in place which every citizen of the US will no doubt despise- can you imagine having your bags searched by private security guards before you enter a shop?
The simple fact is that groups exist which are determined to destroy the US and everything it stands for. Freedom, tolerance, rights for all- these are the standards which I'm sure Patient Voice of Reason and the war supporters on the other side of the aisle both admire and cherish. These are also the very things that the terrorists wish to destroy. Can you imagine a time when a policeman has to check his car to make sure that there isn't a bomb attached to it before he gets in each morning to drive to work? Can you imagine what it's like to go to the mall and wonder if the next terrorist bomb is going to be planted there? The one big difference between the IRA and the enemy we face is that the IRA never had suicide bombers- how much harder is it going to be to stop a man with a few pounds of explosives strapped to his body, or women with Semtex in their bras? Think on the campaign waged against the civilians of Israel for a moment- people blown up on buses, restaurants demolished by car bombs, people attacked as they drive. Now transplant that to the US and just think about how the authorities could fight that war.
The problem here is that the enemy has proven that he will stoop as low as possible to inflict casualties- flying planes into buildings, strapping explosive vests to children, leaving bombs by the side of the road, driving car bombs into a crowd of children clustered around an American vehicle, murdering hundreds of children at school. Islamic terrorism is a threat not just to American soldiers in Iraq- it's a threat to everyone everywhere. Beslan wasn't on any front line, neither was the Madrid train. To fight men like these, who are willing to kill anyone, takes extra steps. I'm not for one moment advocating that detainees are ruthlessly beaten or anything like that, but if a little pressure is applied then I do find that acceptable. And the pressure the American interrogators are using is something that I do think is acceptable to be used against "our guys"- in fact, I think that the troops would agree with me that they'd rather be in a prison run along the lines of Gitmo than one controlled by al-Zarqawi. If a man has his faith insulted in the process of preventing more deaths, that's not torture. There's a difference between name-calling and torture. The men at Gitmo do have the protection of law and decency- sure, it's not the same as a civilian prisoner, but they are not civilian prisoners, they were captured trying to kill American and Allied troops. Offending someone's religion might strike you as harsh, but it's not as harsh as someone being shot or blown up, and that's exactly what the troops as Gitmo are trying to stop. Put it this way- someone in court for an unpaid parking ticket shouldn't be shackled hand and foot, but it's a reasonable precaution to do the same to a multiple murderer. The men at Gitmo are enemy combatants, some with terrorist training, so surely it's reasonable to afford them extra attention in their questioning and imprisonment.
I can appreciate the point Patient Voice of Reason was trying to make, that everyone deserves the full protection of the law but these men are protected, there are rules in place governing how they are treated. It might not be exactly the same as in a police station, but that's because this is a different set of circumstances. At most I'd call their treatment 'stern' but it's not torture.
I believe deeply and passionately in freedom and that was why I joined the military some years ago- I'm sure that that's the one thing the pro- and anti-war sets can both agree on, it's merely in the methods by which it is secured that they disagree.
Take a few moments and imagine this though- really think on it- military helicopters fitted with cameras patrol your skies, armed soldiers the streets, and the police move about in armoured vehicles. Innocent people are regularly murdered by terrorist guns and bombs, so much so that it barely registers on the news any more. Car bombs are left outside army barracks, police stations, shops, people's homes. That's what life here was like up to a few years ago when the terrorist gangs quietened down a little. Now imagine Islamic terror too- jihad against the infidels in which everyone is a target. Imagine Northern Ireland at its worst crossed with Israel at the height of the Intifada. Now put that in your local American town. Al Qaeda might have been thwarted in attacking America since 9/11 but maybe they'll begin to change their tactics soon and forget about high profile targets. Maybe your local Gap or Walmart will be the target on a busy Saturday afternoon. Maybe they'll switch to poisoning water supplies, destroying power sub-stations or bringing down power lines, randomly leaving car bombs in town and city centres to disrupt businesses and destroy property, calling in bomb threats which close down airports or highways for hours on end while police search for the threat. I've seen Belfast brought to a complete standstill with nothing more than a phone call- this War on Terror is currently being fought overseas but it could just as easily come to America's shores. The IRA operated for thirty years while the British Intelligence service- surely one of the best in the world- fought them, and yet still the bombings and shootings continued. Terrorists can be sophisticated operators and preventing them carrying out atrocities can be nigh on impossible. America's borders are not secure, terrorists are most likely already in the country. It's a matter of understanding the scale of the threat and then asking yourself- how far am I prepared to go to ensure the safety of my country? Rubbing ink on a prisoner's face is a small price to pay to stop another airliner crashing into a building.
As far as using the Geneva Convention to govern the treatment of terrorist prisoners the Justice Department has already ruled that these rules do not apply. Further details are here.
The reason the Geneva Convention does not apply- quite apart from the fact that these terrorists do not fight for any state, they do not act themselves by these standards and have never signed the convention- is that the Convention was created as a set of rules to define how war should be fought. These terrorists do not wear uniforms, they hide amongst the crowd, they hide their weapons, they deliberately target civilians. This is one of the major reasons why I do not believe that they should be accorded the same standard of treatment as a civilian prisoner in a police cell- when soldiers go to war, they do so knowing full well what to expect and they have volunteered to undertake this dangerous job. Civilians doing their weekend shopping or going to work or playing with their children have not- and they do not deserve to be deliberately targeted by terrorists with bombs or bullets. It's this very activity which I believe means that extra measures should be taken when questioning them. Measures which I believe are morally acceptable.
I do believe the techniques used at Gitmo are entirely acceptable when it comes to the treatment meted out to our own troops captured by the enemy. First rate medical care, decent food and a complete lack of violence. Keeping someone in a stress position, for example, might make them uncomfortable but I certainly do not categorise it as torture. There's a vast difference between making someone lean against a wall for a few hours or offending their religion, and beating them with batons, or punching and kicking them. Likewise shackling and hooding prisoners to prevent them killing their guards is not torture- it's a sensible safety measure.
As a resident of Northern Ireland I've lived in a society which became more than used to bombings and shootings. Nationalist terrorists targeted not just soldiers (who were originally put on the streets to protect the nationalist community) but also off-duty police officers and civilians. Even builders or painters working in police stations have been murdered here. The United States has a long way to go before it gets to the state Ulster has been in for the past thirty years, but if the terrorist problem is not stopped overseas then measures will be put in place which every citizen of the US will no doubt despise- can you imagine having your bags searched by private security guards before you enter a shop?
The simple fact is that groups exist which are determined to destroy the US and everything it stands for. Freedom, tolerance, rights for all- these are the standards which I'm sure Patient Voice of Reason and the war supporters on the other side of the aisle both admire and cherish. These are also the very things that the terrorists wish to destroy. Can you imagine a time when a policeman has to check his car to make sure that there isn't a bomb attached to it before he gets in each morning to drive to work? Can you imagine what it's like to go to the mall and wonder if the next terrorist bomb is going to be planted there? The one big difference between the IRA and the enemy we face is that the IRA never had suicide bombers- how much harder is it going to be to stop a man with a few pounds of explosives strapped to his body, or women with Semtex in their bras? Think on the campaign waged against the civilians of Israel for a moment- people blown up on buses, restaurants demolished by car bombs, people attacked as they drive. Now transplant that to the US and just think about how the authorities could fight that war.
The problem here is that the enemy has proven that he will stoop as low as possible to inflict casualties- flying planes into buildings, strapping explosive vests to children, leaving bombs by the side of the road, driving car bombs into a crowd of children clustered around an American vehicle, murdering hundreds of children at school. Islamic terrorism is a threat not just to American soldiers in Iraq- it's a threat to everyone everywhere. Beslan wasn't on any front line, neither was the Madrid train. To fight men like these, who are willing to kill anyone, takes extra steps. I'm not for one moment advocating that detainees are ruthlessly beaten or anything like that, but if a little pressure is applied then I do find that acceptable. And the pressure the American interrogators are using is something that I do think is acceptable to be used against "our guys"- in fact, I think that the troops would agree with me that they'd rather be in a prison run along the lines of Gitmo than one controlled by al-Zarqawi. If a man has his faith insulted in the process of preventing more deaths, that's not torture. There's a difference between name-calling and torture. The men at Gitmo do have the protection of law and decency- sure, it's not the same as a civilian prisoner, but they are not civilian prisoners, they were captured trying to kill American and Allied troops. Offending someone's religion might strike you as harsh, but it's not as harsh as someone being shot or blown up, and that's exactly what the troops as Gitmo are trying to stop. Put it this way- someone in court for an unpaid parking ticket shouldn't be shackled hand and foot, but it's a reasonable precaution to do the same to a multiple murderer. The men at Gitmo are enemy combatants, some with terrorist training, so surely it's reasonable to afford them extra attention in their questioning and imprisonment.
I can appreciate the point Patient Voice of Reason was trying to make, that everyone deserves the full protection of the law but these men are protected, there are rules in place governing how they are treated. It might not be exactly the same as in a police station, but that's because this is a different set of circumstances. At most I'd call their treatment 'stern' but it's not torture.
I believe deeply and passionately in freedom and that was why I joined the military some years ago- I'm sure that that's the one thing the pro- and anti-war sets can both agree on, it's merely in the methods by which it is secured that they disagree.
Take a few moments and imagine this though- really think on it- military helicopters fitted with cameras patrol your skies, armed soldiers the streets, and the police move about in armoured vehicles. Innocent people are regularly murdered by terrorist guns and bombs, so much so that it barely registers on the news any more. Car bombs are left outside army barracks, police stations, shops, people's homes. That's what life here was like up to a few years ago when the terrorist gangs quietened down a little. Now imagine Islamic terror too- jihad against the infidels in which everyone is a target. Imagine Northern Ireland at its worst crossed with Israel at the height of the Intifada. Now put that in your local American town. Al Qaeda might have been thwarted in attacking America since 9/11 but maybe they'll begin to change their tactics soon and forget about high profile targets. Maybe your local Gap or Walmart will be the target on a busy Saturday afternoon. Maybe they'll switch to poisoning water supplies, destroying power sub-stations or bringing down power lines, randomly leaving car bombs in town and city centres to disrupt businesses and destroy property, calling in bomb threats which close down airports or highways for hours on end while police search for the threat. I've seen Belfast brought to a complete standstill with nothing more than a phone call- this War on Terror is currently being fought overseas but it could just as easily come to America's shores. The IRA operated for thirty years while the British Intelligence service- surely one of the best in the world- fought them, and yet still the bombings and shootings continued. Terrorists can be sophisticated operators and preventing them carrying out atrocities can be nigh on impossible. America's borders are not secure, terrorists are most likely already in the country. It's a matter of understanding the scale of the threat and then asking yourself- how far am I prepared to go to ensure the safety of my country? Rubbing ink on a prisoner's face is a small price to pay to stop another airliner crashing into a building.
Girl Murdered by Terrorists
This picture of a US solider comforting a fatally wounded Iraqi girl following a suicide bomb attack in Mosul, has already appeared on LGF and Head's Bunker. Thanks to both those sites for linked to the photographer's own blog. According to Michael Yon's report a group of some twenty children where swarming around a Stryker when a terrorist drove his car bomb into the vehicle. The terrorist could just have easily waited until the Stryker was further down the road before carrying out the attack- proving once and for all how little disregard these "insurgents" and "militants" have for the lives of the Iraqi people themselves. Their battle is not for the Iraqis, it is against their freedom and democracy- and their lives mean nothing to the terrorists waging this revolting campaign.
Yon's report goes on to point out that when the US troops returned to the neighbourhood the next day, they were welcomed back by the Iraqis- and their children raced out to see them. Perhaps those on the Left who seem to think that America is the bad-guy, that these terrorists are some sort of freedom fighters, should think on that.
Yon's report goes on to point out that when the US troops returned to the neighbourhood the next day, they were welcomed back by the Iraqis- and their children raced out to see them. Perhaps those on the Left who seem to think that America is the bad-guy, that these terrorists are some sort of freedom fighters, should think on that.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Wonder Woman
Another great example of an all-American girl, this time Wonder Woman's Lynda Carter. There's talk of a new movie helmed by Joss Whedon but I think they'll find it hard to find a woman to fill Lynda's costume. A few names are mentioned on IMDB but of the bunch none really stand out- Jessica Biel would probably be best suited, particularly if she's in her Blade:Trinity shape with those muscular shoulders.
Muslims killing Muslims
From Strategy Page comes this optimistic assessment of the current effects of terrorist attacks in which Muslims are being killed by Muslims. Author James Dunnigan cites statistics, which show a reduction in the number of attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan and even Chechnya, and concludes that the effect of Muslim attacks which kill other Muslims is reducing support amongst Muslims for these various terrorist groups.
However, when it comes to his analysis of Iraq he seems to miss the point- Shi'a Muslims are not happy with the terrorist/Al Qaeda activity there in which they seem to be coming off worst, but Dunnigan claims that Sunnis outside of Iraq are not best pleased either- odd given that it's mainly been Sunni terrorists causing all the trouble in the first place. Are these Sunni Muslims protesting the violence? I haven't seen any evidence of this yet so it's hard to see how Dunnigan reaches this conclusion. And for any who don't want to see the link between the terrorism in Iraq and Islam I point you towards any of the videos made of hostages having their heads brutally hacked off- Allah is mentioned once or twice.
I'll be more convinced that Muslim terrorists killing women and children in Iraq is losing Muslim support when people like the Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia's Supreme Judicial Council stop encouraging men to go to Iraq to wage war. Or when the apparent tolerant non-fundamentalist majority of the Religion of Peace begins to speak out against these attacks. So far they're been oddly silent.
However, when it comes to his analysis of Iraq he seems to miss the point- Shi'a Muslims are not happy with the terrorist/Al Qaeda activity there in which they seem to be coming off worst, but Dunnigan claims that Sunnis outside of Iraq are not best pleased either- odd given that it's mainly been Sunni terrorists causing all the trouble in the first place. Are these Sunni Muslims protesting the violence? I haven't seen any evidence of this yet so it's hard to see how Dunnigan reaches this conclusion. And for any who don't want to see the link between the terrorism in Iraq and Islam I point you towards any of the videos made of hostages having their heads brutally hacked off- Allah is mentioned once or twice.
I'll be more convinced that Muslim terrorists killing women and children in Iraq is losing Muslim support when people like the Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia's Supreme Judicial Council stop encouraging men to go to Iraq to wage war. Or when the apparent tolerant non-fundamentalist majority of the Religion of Peace begins to speak out against these attacks. So far they're been oddly silent.
Improvised Immigration Control
Immigration is not just a major feature of the British elections taking place today, it's also a hot topic in the States, where the Republican administration seems to be doing its level best to avoid doing what it's supporters want- controlling the porous borders and securing the country. This isn't about being racist- typically the term applied to anyone in the UK who wonders if vast numbers of unchecked immigrants into the country is a good thing- it's a security issue, above all else. There are estimated to be somewhere in the region of 10 million illegal immigrants in the US- and among that number could be any amount of enemies of the USA.
As well as the noted failure of Bush to do something about the issue, there is the stunning inefficiency of the Immigration Service, which is highlighted in this article about a police chief taking immigration control into his own hands. Nine illegals from Ecuador and eleven from Mexico were handed over to immigration control who refused to do anything about them. Seems like a number of people are not doing their job and need to be summarily sacked. I'd like to see how many other jobs you'd get to keep if you were handed some work to do and just said, "no".
Anyway, a police chief in New Hampshire came across a guy stopped by the side of the road who turned out to be in the US illegally. Immigration officials refused to take him into custody and so the police took the only action left to them- they charged the man with trespass, defined as a person, "knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or remains in any place." Amazingly a spokesperson for Immigration Control accused the police chief of grandstanding, adding that they do arrest illegal immigrants that are violent or who pose a threat to public safety.
Perhaps they have some special telepathic powers which enables them to know which illegal immigrants might at some time in the future break another US law. Perhaps the current staff should be sacked and the Minutemen hired to replace them?
As well as the noted failure of Bush to do something about the issue, there is the stunning inefficiency of the Immigration Service, which is highlighted in this article about a police chief taking immigration control into his own hands. Nine illegals from Ecuador and eleven from Mexico were handed over to immigration control who refused to do anything about them. Seems like a number of people are not doing their job and need to be summarily sacked. I'd like to see how many other jobs you'd get to keep if you were handed some work to do and just said, "no".
Anyway, a police chief in New Hampshire came across a guy stopped by the side of the road who turned out to be in the US illegally. Immigration officials refused to take him into custody and so the police took the only action left to them- they charged the man with trespass, defined as a person, "knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or remains in any place." Amazingly a spokesperson for Immigration Control accused the police chief of grandstanding, adding that they do arrest illegal immigrants that are violent or who pose a threat to public safety.
Perhaps they have some special telepathic powers which enables them to know which illegal immigrants might at some time in the future break another US law. Perhaps the current staff should be sacked and the Minutemen hired to replace them?
Head's Bunker
Head's blog has been on my links list for a long time and his posts are always good- but take the time to go beyond the blog, particularly to his gallery where you can see a range of weapons very expertly photographed. There are some awesome images there and I for one think it's high time some high resolution pictures were made available for use as wallpapers.
Hint hint.
Hint hint.
Good news
The US Marine who shot a terrorist during the battle of Fallujah who had pretended to be dead will not face a court martial. Frankly, I'm surprised that the Marine Corps had an investigation into this incident as in the middle of a battle anyone not actively trying to surrender should surely still be considered a threat. Also remember that during this battle Marines were killed and wounded by terrorists feigning death who then detonated explosive devices.
Chalk this one up as another victory for the good guys.
Chalk this one up as another victory for the good guys.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Backwards Diet
I'm not one for diets of any description whatsoever, I merely try to cut down on junk food when I'm trying to lose weight. This woman however, went another route and created a 'backwards diet' in which she eats dinner for breakfast and breakfast at dinner time. By this method she has gone from a size 22 to a size 1. Those figures are pretty meaningless to me but it works out at 172 lbs and is mighty impressive. She has also kept all that weight off for five years.
One curious thing about her diet is that for breakfast she usually eats oatmeal with shredded wheat in orange juice instead of milk. This might work for her but that sounds like it would be enough to make me sick. Gah!
One curious thing about her diet is that for breakfast she usually eats oatmeal with shredded wheat in orange juice instead of milk. This might work for her but that sounds like it would be enough to make me sick. Gah!
Catwoman Review
Catwoman is a bad movie, a real stinker, and everyone knows it. I resisted seeing the flick for a time because such universal condemnations of turkeyness are usually correct, but occasionally they're wrong. Hudson Hawk is a prime example. A pet-project of Bruce Willis', I loved it, but it was pretty much dismissed by everyone else. Maybe now is the time for a Hawk re-appraisal. If you haven't seen it, go check it out. Sure it's silly, but it's a comedy, it's supposed to be a bit silly. But anyway, I'm getting side-tracked- Catwoman, everyone said it was bad but I had to see for myself, just to be sure. Sadly, everyone was right. But why does it reek so bad?
The first and most apparent problem with Catwoman is that it's not really Catwoman at all. Even if you've never read a Batman comic this will be obvious. Catwoman, as we all know, is Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns. If you want to see a good Catwoman movie, get Batman Returns and then fast forward it to every scene Pfeiffer is in- there's your good movie. Instead, in this turkey, we get the "differently talented" Halle Berry playing someone called Patience Phillips- strange, since Catwoman's name is Selina Kyle. This is a strong hint that the pretentious one-name director, Pitof, should never have been allowed to make this film. It also shows that DC Comics needs to keep a tighter grip over the creative control of their characters. Catwoman = Selina Kyle. Simple. I was also a little thrown by the casting of Berry, as Selina Kyle's character is white, but I'm prepared to overlook that. There was talk of casting a black actor to play James Bond and it just doesn't seem right- if you want to have a black spy character, or a black Catwoman, why not create your own instead of changing a character that's been around for so long? No doubt accusations of racism will be levelled at me for thinking that white actors should play white characters and black actors, black characters. Wouldn't it have been equally stupid to cast a white actor as, say, Blade?
Okay, so we have a Patience Phillips character. We also have a movie that takes between 40 and 50 minutes to actually introduce us to Catwoman. That's way too long for a set-up. Twenty minutes is tops to set-up the story. When we do get to see this strange character called Patience (not Selina), she's wearing a costume that, at best, can be described as ridiculous. Again, it's not Catwoman's costume by any stretch of the imagination. You want to play with the costume a little, fine- Tim Burton did it in Batman Returns to superb effect, giving the traditional outfit a slight twist- but you don't go and change the outfit completely for something so stupid. When Catwoman does get going she turns out to not be a cat-burglar at all (did anyone involved with this movie even know who Catwoman is?) and she has these weird super-powers. Luckily for her, her Cat-god given powers involve being able to play basketball really well. Obviously, we all know how fantastic cats are at shooting hoops.
Aside from the horrible butchering of a well-known character (maybe movie makers need to remember that there's a reason why these characters have lasted decades in comics- there's nothing wrong with the way they've been written up to now) the movie suffers from some pretty shoddy CGI, even when none is required. One scene involves Catwoman sliding down a narrow gap between two buildings, her claws scratching the walls to slow her descent. Seems like a fairly easy stunt to set up with some basic wirework but Pitof instead opts for unrealistic CGI. The same can also be said for an acrobatic fight-scene between Catwoman and some pump-action wielding burglars. Yeah, she scurries around the room and up and down walls and generally leaps around avoiding getting shot- but it's all computer animated. A couple of fight choreographers from Hong Kong and some wire-work and you'd have the beginnings of a fabulous action sequence- we get a bad cartoon instead. Bad CGI is one of the things that really brings this film down- a lousy plot, wooden acting and awful dialogue are things that can be excused if the action-quotient is sufficiently high, but former Visual Effects Supervisor Pitof lays on the bad effects thick and heavy when there's absolutely no need for it. We get a fair bit of Halle Berry's avatar leaping around the rooftops like a cat when what we really should have had was Halle Berry or her stunt double on wires leaping through the city. Strangely in her anti-climatic battle with Sharon Stone at the end of the movie, Catwoman's amazing agility seems to desert her and we're left with a yawn-inducing fight. A bit of girlish hair-pulling would have livened the battle considerably. The one place in the movie where CGI might have been preferable, even the cheap CGI in this film, is to replace Berry's appalling hip-swinging walk. She might have been trying to move like a slinky cat, but she actually looked like a cheap hooker.
So, let's catch up- Catwoman has the wrong name, the wrong costume, is the wrong colour, doesn't do what comic-Catwoman did, she has super-powers where Catwoman had none and the effects are poor indeed. The thing I cannot understand is why this was even called Catwoman- it's patently not a film about the Catwoman character. Feline-Chick or Cat-Girl sure, but not Catwoman. What this is, is a completely unengaging snoozefest with no zip or zing to it. Go see Batman Returns instead.
BTW, this is what Catwoman looks like.
The first and most apparent problem with Catwoman is that it's not really Catwoman at all. Even if you've never read a Batman comic this will be obvious. Catwoman, as we all know, is Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns. If you want to see a good Catwoman movie, get Batman Returns and then fast forward it to every scene Pfeiffer is in- there's your good movie. Instead, in this turkey, we get the "differently talented" Halle Berry playing someone called Patience Phillips- strange, since Catwoman's name is Selina Kyle. This is a strong hint that the pretentious one-name director, Pitof, should never have been allowed to make this film. It also shows that DC Comics needs to keep a tighter grip over the creative control of their characters. Catwoman = Selina Kyle. Simple. I was also a little thrown by the casting of Berry, as Selina Kyle's character is white, but I'm prepared to overlook that. There was talk of casting a black actor to play James Bond and it just doesn't seem right- if you want to have a black spy character, or a black Catwoman, why not create your own instead of changing a character that's been around for so long? No doubt accusations of racism will be levelled at me for thinking that white actors should play white characters and black actors, black characters. Wouldn't it have been equally stupid to cast a white actor as, say, Blade?
Okay, so we have a Patience Phillips character. We also have a movie that takes between 40 and 50 minutes to actually introduce us to Catwoman. That's way too long for a set-up. Twenty minutes is tops to set-up the story. When we do get to see this strange character called Patience (not Selina), she's wearing a costume that, at best, can be described as ridiculous. Again, it's not Catwoman's costume by any stretch of the imagination. You want to play with the costume a little, fine- Tim Burton did it in Batman Returns to superb effect, giving the traditional outfit a slight twist- but you don't go and change the outfit completely for something so stupid. When Catwoman does get going she turns out to not be a cat-burglar at all (did anyone involved with this movie even know who Catwoman is?) and she has these weird super-powers. Luckily for her, her Cat-god given powers involve being able to play basketball really well. Obviously, we all know how fantastic cats are at shooting hoops.
Aside from the horrible butchering of a well-known character (maybe movie makers need to remember that there's a reason why these characters have lasted decades in comics- there's nothing wrong with the way they've been written up to now) the movie suffers from some pretty shoddy CGI, even when none is required. One scene involves Catwoman sliding down a narrow gap between two buildings, her claws scratching the walls to slow her descent. Seems like a fairly easy stunt to set up with some basic wirework but Pitof instead opts for unrealistic CGI. The same can also be said for an acrobatic fight-scene between Catwoman and some pump-action wielding burglars. Yeah, she scurries around the room and up and down walls and generally leaps around avoiding getting shot- but it's all computer animated. A couple of fight choreographers from Hong Kong and some wire-work and you'd have the beginnings of a fabulous action sequence- we get a bad cartoon instead. Bad CGI is one of the things that really brings this film down- a lousy plot, wooden acting and awful dialogue are things that can be excused if the action-quotient is sufficiently high, but former Visual Effects Supervisor Pitof lays on the bad effects thick and heavy when there's absolutely no need for it. We get a fair bit of Halle Berry's avatar leaping around the rooftops like a cat when what we really should have had was Halle Berry or her stunt double on wires leaping through the city. Strangely in her anti-climatic battle with Sharon Stone at the end of the movie, Catwoman's amazing agility seems to desert her and we're left with a yawn-inducing fight. A bit of girlish hair-pulling would have livened the battle considerably. The one place in the movie where CGI might have been preferable, even the cheap CGI in this film, is to replace Berry's appalling hip-swinging walk. She might have been trying to move like a slinky cat, but she actually looked like a cheap hooker.
So, let's catch up- Catwoman has the wrong name, the wrong costume, is the wrong colour, doesn't do what comic-Catwoman did, she has super-powers where Catwoman had none and the effects are poor indeed. The thing I cannot understand is why this was even called Catwoman- it's patently not a film about the Catwoman character. Feline-Chick or Cat-Girl sure, but not Catwoman. What this is, is a completely unengaging snoozefest with no zip or zing to it. Go see Batman Returns instead.
BTW, this is what Catwoman looks like.
Kettlebell
I'm a huge fan of Kettlebell training and if you've ever wondered what the KB or girya looks like, here's one. This particular example is from powerseekers.com where I bought both of mine. Good build quality, great value and fast delivery.
As I've said before KB training is highly effective and with the girya you don't need anything else in your home to train with- the girya can burn fat and build strength like nothing else I've tried. It's as simple and reliable as the Kalashnikov.
As I've said before KB training is highly effective and with the girya you don't need anything else in your home to train with- the girya can burn fat and build strength like nothing else I've tried. It's as simple and reliable as the Kalashnikov.
Big American Breasts
It seems like a pretty good idea to keep posting pictures of "big American breasts" so here's another today- this time model Kim Smith, who hails from Texas. You might know her from appalling movie Catwoman as the 'face' that was replacing Sharon Stone.
The rage for women in tight sweaters might have been fashionable way back in the fifties, but looking at this picture, it seems to me that it's a look that should be back in vogue. Sexy without being sleazy.
The rage for women in tight sweaters might have been fashionable way back in the fifties, but looking at this picture, it seems to me that it's a look that should be back in vogue. Sexy without being sleazy.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Rise
Animal Rights At War
Okay, this is an odd one- to protect a rare fox found only on this one island, conservationists are going to slaughter 3,000 pigs on said island. Seems the pig population has only existed there since the 1850s and it's not cute and fluffy so it can kiss its ass goodbye. Another group of animal rights types, however, is trying to protect the pigs.
Foxes or pigs? I'd say that there's good hunting to be done with both. Or maybe man could keep out of it and let, you know, nature decide.
Foxes or pigs? I'd say that there's good hunting to be done with both. Or maybe man could keep out of it and let, you know, nature decide.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Pamela Anderson
I saw Pamela Anderson interviewed recently and she sure is ditzy, but there's something likeable about her. Also, she's a great example of "big American breasts". Take that, Islamists!
Nazis on the rise?
Like many others before me, I've often wondered how the horrors of the Holocaust ever came about- how could an entire nation go along with a genocidal madman like Hitler and cause the deaths of so many? What sort of madness gripped the German nation?
Well, it seems like British university lecturers are showing us how easy it is for anti-Semitism to rear its ugly head. As you've probably read, the British union of university lecturers has approved a motion to stop working with scholars from Israeli universities. As appalling as this is I thought nothing more of it than the Left's ridiculous love affair with the Palestinian terrorist movement. What it is about these idiots' fascination with so-called revolutionaries is beyond me. Perhaps they don't have the mental capacity to comprehend that what these apparent "freedom fighters" actually do is commit crimes like the murder of a pregnant woman and her children. Her name was Tali Hatuel and she was eight months pregnant. The Palestinian butchers also murdered her daughters- Hila, 11; Hadar, 9; Roni, 7 and Merav, 2. This wasn't done at long range either, it was no accident. They fired on her car and when Tali lost control and crashed they closed in and carried out their murders- by shooting the children twice each in the head.
That British university lecturers would align themselves with people like this - and that's what they're doing- is disgusting and absolutely unforgivable. And it wasn't until I read this article that I realised that it's behaviour like this which made Hitler's accession to mass-murdering dictator possible. I don't have to wonder how it all started in Germany any more- I can see the same prejudice on the rise right here in the UK.
Well, it seems like British university lecturers are showing us how easy it is for anti-Semitism to rear its ugly head. As you've probably read, the British union of university lecturers has approved a motion to stop working with scholars from Israeli universities. As appalling as this is I thought nothing more of it than the Left's ridiculous love affair with the Palestinian terrorist movement. What it is about these idiots' fascination with so-called revolutionaries is beyond me. Perhaps they don't have the mental capacity to comprehend that what these apparent "freedom fighters" actually do is commit crimes like the murder of a pregnant woman and her children. Her name was Tali Hatuel and she was eight months pregnant. The Palestinian butchers also murdered her daughters- Hila, 11; Hadar, 9; Roni, 7 and Merav, 2. This wasn't done at long range either, it was no accident. They fired on her car and when Tali lost control and crashed they closed in and carried out their murders- by shooting the children twice each in the head.
That British university lecturers would align themselves with people like this - and that's what they're doing- is disgusting and absolutely unforgivable. And it wasn't until I read this article that I realised that it's behaviour like this which made Hitler's accession to mass-murdering dictator possible. I don't have to wonder how it all started in Germany any more- I can see the same prejudice on the rise right here in the UK.
Don't You Like These Big American Breasts
Oh, the inhumanity! Cry torture! Or just be disgusted that the media circus around Guantanamo Bay continues to try and paint the Americans as the enemy and terrorists as oppressed, badly treated innocents. F**k but this enrages me!
Here's the story- a former Army translator at Gitmo has- surprise, surprise- written a book about his experiences. Of particular note is his tale of a female interrogator questioning a terrorist who had received fight training- remember 9/11? The interrogator unbuttoned her shirt to reveal *gasp* a T-shirt, and she then touched her breasts and uttered the classic line- "don't you like these big American breasts?". Now, I've never been interrogated, or even tortured, but what's being described here is as far removed from my idea of torture as you can possibly go. In fact, I'm sure many people would pay good money to see a woman touch her breasts right in front of them.
But wait, it gets worse- she later unbuttoned her trousers and put her hand down them! I know this probably makes for hard reading, hearing the unbearable horrors that have been perpetuated against these poor defenceless terrorists, but bear with me. As she circled around the terrorist, who could have been planning on murdering another 3,000 innocent people, she pulled her hand out and it was red, covered in- brace yourselves- ink. She told the prisoner- "I'm actually menstruating right now, and I'm touching you. Does that please your God? Does that please Allah?" To add insult to injury she then wiped the red ink on his face, saying, "How do you like that?" My God, it's horrific, isn't it? To think that a man, captured on the battlefield fighting and trying to kill American soldiers could be treated like this? Well, the translator went to bed that night feeling, and I quote, "dirty and disgusting".
I wonder if these absolutely barbaric "torture" activities are known to the enemy we're fighting? I mean they only brutally murder their captured prisoners, sawing their heads off on video while they scream "Allahu akbar". Perhaps if they knew what was happening at Guantanamo Bay, where some prisoners were kept in stress positions for up to 24 hours at a time, were some even had their thumbs bent back, were one poor terrorist even had- I can barely write it- duct tape wrapped around his head, they too would change their tactics. I mean, cutting a man's head off with a small knife can't even compare to putting tape around his head can it?
The author of this catalogue of "atrocities"- you just know that's the term the media is going to use to describe this- goes on to say that out of the 600-odd prisoners there, he "thought" only a few dozen were dangerous. This must be the same few dozen that threatened to kill the guards before they left, or is it the same few dozen that have been released and have gone back to fighting against American troops in Afghanistan? He's not too clear on this point, but I guess that if he gave any indication that the men at Guantanamo were in fact dangerous terrorists out to destroy the United States and that they were being treated more than fairly, his book might not sell so well to the usual crowd of America-haters.
Here's the story- a former Army translator at Gitmo has- surprise, surprise- written a book about his experiences. Of particular note is his tale of a female interrogator questioning a terrorist who had received fight training- remember 9/11? The interrogator unbuttoned her shirt to reveal *gasp* a T-shirt, and she then touched her breasts and uttered the classic line- "don't you like these big American breasts?". Now, I've never been interrogated, or even tortured, but what's being described here is as far removed from my idea of torture as you can possibly go. In fact, I'm sure many people would pay good money to see a woman touch her breasts right in front of them.
But wait, it gets worse- she later unbuttoned her trousers and put her hand down them! I know this probably makes for hard reading, hearing the unbearable horrors that have been perpetuated against these poor defenceless terrorists, but bear with me. As she circled around the terrorist, who could have been planning on murdering another 3,000 innocent people, she pulled her hand out and it was red, covered in- brace yourselves- ink. She told the prisoner- "I'm actually menstruating right now, and I'm touching you. Does that please your God? Does that please Allah?" To add insult to injury she then wiped the red ink on his face, saying, "How do you like that?" My God, it's horrific, isn't it? To think that a man, captured on the battlefield fighting and trying to kill American soldiers could be treated like this? Well, the translator went to bed that night feeling, and I quote, "dirty and disgusting".
I wonder if these absolutely barbaric "torture" activities are known to the enemy we're fighting? I mean they only brutally murder their captured prisoners, sawing their heads off on video while they scream "Allahu akbar". Perhaps if they knew what was happening at Guantanamo Bay, where some prisoners were kept in stress positions for up to 24 hours at a time, were some even had their thumbs bent back, were one poor terrorist even had- I can barely write it- duct tape wrapped around his head, they too would change their tactics. I mean, cutting a man's head off with a small knife can't even compare to putting tape around his head can it?
The author of this catalogue of "atrocities"- you just know that's the term the media is going to use to describe this- goes on to say that out of the 600-odd prisoners there, he "thought" only a few dozen were dangerous. This must be the same few dozen that threatened to kill the guards before they left, or is it the same few dozen that have been released and have gone back to fighting against American troops in Afghanistan? He's not too clear on this point, but I guess that if he gave any indication that the men at Guantanamo were in fact dangerous terrorists out to destroy the United States and that they were being treated more than fairly, his book might not sell so well to the usual crowd of America-haters.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Schoolkid Group Sex?
I thought that the story about a group of schoolkids, aged 12-17, making a sex video was bad enough, but this made my jaw hit the ground. According to school nurses in England (and usually when people over here hear a story like this they mutter to themselves, "only in America"- not this time) teenagers are taking part in group sex "swinger" sessions. The practice seems to involve older teenagers (I guess this means 16-18 but the article doesn't specify that) going to someone's house and then having sex with multiple partners. I don't even know of any adults doing that.
One of the most worrying things about this is the nature of coercion involved, with some teenagers feeling compelled to provide sexual favours as a result of some sort of gang culture. When I was a kid our parents worried about peer pressure making us smoke or drink- I don't think group sex even crossed their minds as a possibility. The article goes on to mention kids prostituting themselves for money. That sounds like something that might happen in some deprived inner city area but I heard that a fourteen year old girl from the village where I live was doing just that, for the ridiculous amount of fifty pence (that's about 95 US cents).
What is the world coming to? I think my kids just got grounded until they're thirty. Just to be safe.
One of the most worrying things about this is the nature of coercion involved, with some teenagers feeling compelled to provide sexual favours as a result of some sort of gang culture. When I was a kid our parents worried about peer pressure making us smoke or drink- I don't think group sex even crossed their minds as a possibility. The article goes on to mention kids prostituting themselves for money. That sounds like something that might happen in some deprived inner city area but I heard that a fourteen year old girl from the village where I live was doing just that, for the ridiculous amount of fifty pence (that's about 95 US cents).
What is the world coming to? I think my kids just got grounded until they're thirty. Just to be safe.
Dragunovs in US Hands
Murdoc Online hits the mark yet again with a post on Dragunov SVD sniper rifles in the hands of US troops in Iraq. Seems that the weapons were seized in raids and put to good use by the American Forces in a counter-sniper role. So far in Iraq we've heard of US troops ditching their M16s in favour of AKs for house to house fighting and there's even been a picture of a US Marine packing a WW2-era PPsh-41.
When a modern Army finds its troops ditching their issue-weapon in favour of one dating back to WW2 then I think it's time that they took a long and serious look at the demands of the battlefield and the equipment they're issuing.
When a modern Army finds its troops ditching their issue-weapon in favour of one dating back to WW2 then I think it's time that they took a long and serious look at the demands of the battlefield and the equipment they're issuing.
FHM Top 100
My Other Half has already blogged on the FHM American Top 100 Sexiest Woman list. If you're in the States and are interested in the selection made by us Brits, here's the UK Top 100. I'm sure that a lot of names in the UK list will not be familiar at all to readers outside the UK- helpfully, Yahoo has linked each name to an image search.
Comparing the two lists I've got to say that the American one makes more sense to me. Cheryl Tweedy listed above Angelina Jolie? Please. But Monica Bellucci comes in at 89 on the US list compared to 54 in the UK? That's just silly. Surely she should be at number two, right behind Angelina?
One thing I will say is that UK FHM has the most bizarre, twisted photographers/make-up people in the world. For some reason they tend to take the most unflattering photos of the celebrities- and then put the worst of each set into their Top 100 supplement. Weird. Anyway, I haven't been able to find a link to the actual UK photos yet, but you can see the US list in two parts here and here. Enjoy the photos and then have fun complaining about the list- I know I do.
Cool Bike Design
This is a great idea- a tricycle that becomes a bicycle when you cycle faster. Sounds a bit screwy, but the design is aimed at kids (and adults) who are learning to ride a bike for the first time. The tricycle design allows them to just hop on and start riding while the ingenious concept of the rear wheels slowly coming together to form a single wheel means that they can go at their own speed and not have to worry about Mum or Dad holding onto the back of the saddle as they peddle. If they start to feel a bit unsteady all they have to do is slow down a little and the bike will return to the stable tricycle formation. Manufacturers are already interested in the concept so expect to see this in the shops before long.
Ant Ambush
Most kids are fascinated by ants and I was no exception- particularly after my brother and I sat up late one Saturday night to watch Them! when we were kids. Even now if I see ants scurrying about their business I have to crouch down to have a look. Our local ants have nothing on this Amazon species though- they not only build fibreglass-tough nests, they also create lots of little tunnels on the surface and use these to ambush larger prey. When the bigger insect lands on the surface the ants break out of their little foxholes and grab a hold of the nearest extremity, holding the prey down all over its body. With the big insect immobilised the ants bite and sting it into submission and, finally, either cut it up into pieces there and then or simply transport it back into their nest.
Impressive.
Impressive.
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