A round up
I have a long and tedious post in the works about The Euston Manifesto and just why it’s a dangerous pro-capitalist tract dressed up as a harmless load of wet western wank (to borrow a phrase from my erstwhile lecturer in political philosophy). While I’m finishing it, you should head on over to Larry’s site and take part in the Tampon Teabag: Which Wing Are You? quiz. Work out where you stand politically prior to reading my piece so you’ll know whether to nod sagely – mostly (a) – or harumph in annoyance – mostly (b) – while doing so.
David Byrne discusses the CIA, Camp X-Ray and Michael Winterbottom’s new film, The Road to Guantanemo Bay.
Over at Bristling Badger, Merrick gives details of the The Camp For Climate Action being organised in England this August / September. Also check out his article on the subject at Head Heritage.
This post at The Curmudgeon had me grinning from ear to ear. Though I suspect many would find it offensive.
I’d also like to point you towards this Flash animation from the US Union of Concerned Scientists regarding current attempts to develop tactical nuclear “bunker buster” weaponry.
Meanwhile in Venezuela, Chavez continues to confound me… I love his anti-capitalist policies, but am rather sceptical about his “changing the constitution to allow him to remain president for a term of 25 years” initiative. On balance though, I still think he’s a positive force. Viva Chavez!
And finally, in entertainment news, this story of Werner Herzog being shot in the leg with an air-rifle by a deranged fan during a BBC interview caught my eye. As did the outcome of this copyright dispute over silence.
Serves Herzog right for pulling Joaquin Phoenix out of that car crash.
May 9th, 2006 | 12:56pm
by Philip Challinor
Cheers for that. Some good stuff there – I like the “corpse sues womble over nothing at all” story.
May 9th, 2006 | 1:20pm
by Larry Teabag
Just to set the Chavez story straight see: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1723
May 11th, 2006 | 8:05am
by Pisces Iscariot
PI: despite the (predictable) mischievous reporting, I still think that term limits, especially in countries with histories of authoritarianism, are a *good thing*. The fact that Chavez doesn’t, I find worrying, just as I will do when Putin tries something similar in the next couple of years. If he was so sure his Bolivarian Revolution was a good thing, rather than just dressed up caudillismo, he’d be quite happy to see it led by someone else. (I should add that thus far, on balance, I think he’s probably been a positive force, though compared to recent Venezuelan history, he didn’t have much competition…)
May 11th, 2006 | 8:33am
by Jarndyce
I agree in the most part with the above – many who start off doing good end up undoing it all as they are corrupted by power.
My point was that the reporting on the original article that you read was misleading (almost certainly deliberately given the US’s loss of influence in the area) and it is that which we have to be wary of.
Never mind, I’m sure the Emperors Tony and George won’t last that long.
May 11th, 2006 | 6:50pm
by Pisces Iscariot