I liked this comment from Chris “Chris” Williams regarding Arthur C. Clarke: What future? A better one than we’ve got: a worse on than we’d have had without him. Several million fanboys and girls grew up exposed to clear prose, opposition to nationalism, scepticism about organised religion, faith in technology, faith in humanity, and some…
Read More Appreciating ClarkeOK, so professional War On Terror bullshitter Alexis Debat worked for super-War On Terror bullshitter Amir Taheri. Those of you who use this blog’s Updated category to check corrections will have noticed that I have corrected some posts about Pakistan that used material from his writings. But I’m struggling to make out the pattern; Debat’s…
Read More Cunning tricksterI’ve been tagged with a Gordon Brown-related meme by Tom “The Green Ribbon” Griffin. 2 things Gordon Brown should be proud of A sensible monetary policy, based on rules rather than “judgment”.A sensible fiscal policy, based on rules rather than “judgment”. 2 things he should apologise for Supporting the war in Iraq, while pretending that…
Read More Meme timeThe Falklands War represents a big part of the Thatcher mythos, to the extent that it’s become part of the media’s operational code that you can’t divide the two. This is founded on a couple of facts, and more myths. The fact is that it undoubtedly helped her win re-election from a fairly ugly starting…
Read More Myths of the Falklands 2: Thatcher’s War25 years ago, there was a war on, too. Everyone knows the story – fascist dictator invades forgotten colony in middle of nowhere, stalwart soldiery and jolly Jack Tar kick him out, patriotic rejoicing, vague guilt, and kajillions of words of editorialising ever since. The Falklands War remains an event that badly needs good history,…
Read More Myths of the Falklands: Number 1, CommandI’ve been thogged by the Ministry. Thogged? Well, it’s a meme going around..name five bloggers who make you think, hence thinking bloggers, hence (thanks to Chris Dillow) thoggers. I don’t usually do these things, partly because obviousness is hard to avoid. But on this occasion, I’m a-thogging the following bethoggen. die Stiftung Leo Strauss, for…
Read More ThoggedOK, so there’s a memetracker web service called Visibility Index that claims to monitor “positive” and “negative” Internet activity about your company. Seems either Caterpillar, Inc. or someone with an interest in them is using it. On Sunday, I used a metaphor and described Thomas Barnett as being like a Republican caterpillar beginning to stretch…
Read More When Memetrackers Attack