Monthly Archives: August 2007

Breathless (1960)

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Godard has done much better than this film — Breathless is definitely not his best work.

It was very stereotypical of a lot of his work, having a lot of the characteristics of everything Godard — all of the signature dialog and cinematography. For a first film it is not bad though it is definitely not up to par with the rest of his films. However, I do not regret having invested some time in it.

The storyline is trite and the female lead is slightly annoying.

I cannot say a lot about the film other than in some degrees it was disappointing though it was not completely worthless.

North Korea: Off The Terror List?

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A ridiculous idea is being toyed with in Washington:

U.S. chief negotiator Christopher Hill told reporters Wednesday that his country and North Korea will discuss removing the North from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism in talks between the two countries in Geneva over the weekend. “We are going to have a discussion about things that they need to do… how far we are going to expect to see denuclearization go” in order to remove Pyongyang from the list, Hill said. The working talks on normalizing U.S.-North Korea relations arise from a Feb. 13 six-nation agreement on the denuclearization process in North Korea. Continue reading →

No Consensus On Global Warming

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This is a really interesting bit for the Al Gores of the world:

Survey: Less Than Half of all Published Scientists Endorse Global Warming Theory
Michael Asher (Blog) – August 29, 2007 11:07 AM

Comprehensive survey of published climate research reveals changing viewpoints

In 2004, history professor Naomi Oreskes performed a survey of research papers on climate change. Examining peer-reviewed papers published on the ISI Web of Science database from 1993 to 2003, she found a majority supported the “consensus view,” defined as humans were having at least some effect on global climate change. Oreskes’ work has been repeatedly cited, but as some of its data is now nearly 15 years old, its conclusions are becoming somewhat dated. Continue reading →

When The Retarded Die Is Cast

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So I am probably in trouble. Again. I am in a lot of trouble lately, partly due to reckless behavior and partly due to nonsensical, bureaucratic laws; however, this time (which must be measured independently of all other times, simply because it is) I am not to blame.

Having objectively weighed all of the options that face me I am split. There is a good chance it will all blow over or amount to something very small, and a small chance that I will be raped over the issue.

It is just another saga in the epic of my failed career in the military.

Yesterday, I believed, was the day we could begin consuming alcohol again as the exercise which caused its prohibition had ended. However, though two different people of high rank let me know that the exercise was over, but the one major stickler for the rules was present in my barracks last night. There was probably roughly a 1 in 75 chance that he would be there… And roughly five feet from my door he smelt me and now the retarded die has been cast.

Outcomes range from scott free, never having it mentioned again to loss of rank and other punishment.

I could worry about it further but there is nothing left to do but tell the truth when the question arises, and if the truth does not speak for itself what can I do?

I can only suffer with dignity.

I have already learned a lesson from this — whence the die is cast, there is nothing left to do but stick to the way of a righteous man and let it play out.

There is no point in anxiety — there is only a point in anticipating the play the way a batter anticipates the pitch.

But regardless, I know what is going to happen given all of the options and now I am waiting it out and I am going to smile widely about it whatever the outcome because there is nothing that bothers your enemies more than your smile and your happiness.

I have a history with the person getting me in trouble… And he is a pathetic creature whom I pity.  I consider this just another opportunity to stab him with my happiness — I will hold out the garlic that is my happiness to his Vampyric presence.

The retarded die has been cast and now I sit and anticipate it with dignity that I would not have had in this situation a year ago.

Philippine Generals On Root Of Terror

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We have had a lot of reports to come out concerning the fighting of terrorism and how it cannot be handled by one-sided, hard charging. Rather, we need to understand the roots of things further and be informed on why things occur:

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Rebellion and terrorism can’t be solved by military force alone, two generals here said. Continue reading →

India Creates Prestigious Anti-Terror Force

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They are getting more serious:

With the city becoming a repeated target of terror attacks, Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy on Tuesday announced the setting up a special force to deal with terrorist and extremist threats.

At a high level meeting in the evening, which reviewed the law and order situation in the wake of the twin blasts on Saturday, senior bureaucrats and policemen were told to take the help of national security agencies and international police organisations to draw up a blueprint within a week, including estimates of how much it would cost.

Andhra Pradesh already has an elite force, the Greyhounds, set up in 1986 to combat Naxalite terror. The Greyhounds have notable successes to their credit. The new force will be along similar lines.

“The organisation will be world class, at par or even above the level of the Research and Analysis Wing, and other top intelligence organizations,” said Reddy after the meeting. Those inducted into the new force will get higher salaries and perks. “Funds will never be a problem.”

 Hindustan Times

The key to success in combating terror is having the aggression to nip it at the bud and destroy those associated with it through penetrating them at every opportunity — continuous investigation and monitoring will be enough to root out each organization as it appears.

Let’s hope for total success.