We've all heard of the "gaffe" US Secretary of State made while giving her Russian counterpart a wrongly-translated red button (that sounds dodgier than it was ) but less attention has been given to this:
The British media is not well pleased with the Obamas' gifts to the Browns.
Let's recap, shall we?
Browns to Obamas:
To Mr and Mrs. Obama: an "ornamental desk pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President ... the framed commission for HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to symbolise Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria ... [and] a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert"
To the Obama children: a set of clothes each from TopShop and six as-yet-unpublished children's books.
Obamas to Browns:
To Mr and Mrs. Brown: a DVD set containing 25 films, including (allegedly) the Wizard of Oz, Star Wars and E.T.
To the Brown kids: two plastic replicas of "Marine One", the Presidential helicopter.
The White House gift shop must have had a busy day, eh?
-
7.3.09
"Beware the desert heat"
So, my fellow flatmate at this gig I attended in 2006 (a 9-day teaching workshop on terrorism) worked for this chap Steven Emerson. I think he (flatmate, not Mr. E though from the article I quote from below, there is little difference between the two) pretty much inspired me to study the language of terrorism so I guess I *should* be grateful.
In "Terrorism expert to speak in Rancho Mirage", we find:
- Someone's invited Steven Emerson to speak at the World Affairs Council of the Desert Distinguished Speakers Series. ( "the desert"? All deserts? )
- He's now a "terrorism expert" ( What does it take to be one? Obviously not good analytical skills or a coherent argument )
- A direct quote from Mr. Emerson: “I want to alert them to the threat that we face because in the absence of direct violence effecting people, they don’t feel the threat"...“It’s hard to feel the threat of a hotel bombing in England.”
Actually, Mr. Emerson, hotels have not been bombed in England for quite some time. As a rhetorical move, that is what may be considered "a big fail". Also, it's probably "affect" not "effect" but I'll put that down to the reporter.
- His talk's called "the Islamic Threat" (very subtle. And please note the "the")
- Said threat is not just about violence but also threatens democratic pluralism. Since "they" can do that.
- Another quote: “Islam is a way of life. From the moment you wake up until you go to sleep it tells you what to do.”
Islam is pretty much like your mum. Except it probably has a beard.
- He has fans: “It’s amazing, the more you know about it, the more upsetting it is to the point where you don’t want to know about it,” said Ken Klein, chairman of the program committee. “Everywhere you look, the violence on an international basis from Islam is much greater than any other group.”
Really, Ken Klein? So, "Islam" is a scary monolithic group now? Resistance is obviously futile.
Full story here.
In "Terrorism expert to speak in Rancho Mirage", we find:
- Someone's invited Steven Emerson to speak at the World Affairs Council of the Desert Distinguished Speakers Series. ( "the desert"? All deserts? )
- He's now a "terrorism expert" ( What does it take to be one? Obviously not good analytical skills or a coherent argument )
- A direct quote from Mr. Emerson: “I want to alert them to the threat that we face because in the absence of direct violence effecting people, they don’t feel the threat"...“It’s hard to feel the threat of a hotel bombing in England.”
Actually, Mr. Emerson, hotels have not been bombed in England for quite some time. As a rhetorical move, that is what may be considered "a big fail". Also, it's probably "affect" not "effect" but I'll put that down to the reporter.
- His talk's called "the Islamic Threat" (very subtle. And please note the "the")
- Said threat is not just about violence but also threatens democratic pluralism. Since "they" can do that.
- Another quote: “Islam is a way of life. From the moment you wake up until you go to sleep it tells you what to do.”
Islam is pretty much like your mum. Except it probably has a beard.
- He has fans: “It’s amazing, the more you know about it, the more upsetting it is to the point where you don’t want to know about it,” said Ken Klein, chairman of the program committee. “Everywhere you look, the violence on an international basis from Islam is much greater than any other group.”
Really, Ken Klein? So, "Islam" is a scary monolithic group now? Resistance is obviously futile.
Full story here.
6.3.09
Fit (with empirical evidence)
Because I need an excuse to faff around before getting back to the dreary task of reading (UK) Parliamentary debates about terrorism. .
Mr. Alonso, here, is "fit" in all senses of the term:
A recent pic (sad after scoring an own goal)
With music:
Mr. Alonso, here, is "fit" in all senses of the term:
A recent pic (sad after scoring an own goal)
With music:
Midnight Movies and Clive Owen
The local cinema here (well, one of them) is having a midnight movie showing on weekends. Its program:
Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park • Mar 6 & 7
The Rocky Horror Picture Show • Mar 13 & 14
Fight Club • Mar 20 & 21
Ghostbusters • Mar 27 & 28
Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Apr 3 & 4
The Rocky Horror Picture Show • Apr 10 & 11
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Apr 17 & 18
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Apr 24 & 25
Well, obviously they don't expect the Mamma Mia fans to be around at midnight.
In other news, this pretty much made my Friday:
“It was the same when I met [Liverpool and England midfielder] Steven Gerrard. I had an opportunity to have a conversation with him and I was tongue-tied. I’ve met the biggest actors and actresses in the world and I’m easy and comfortable but give me Gerrard and I’m in trouble.“
-- Clive Owen in the April 2009 issue of GQ magazine.
Ah, there are oh-so-many ways that last bit can be read, aren't there?
Via Kickette.
Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park • Mar 6 & 7
The Rocky Horror Picture Show • Mar 13 & 14
Fight Club • Mar 20 & 21
Ghostbusters • Mar 27 & 28
Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Apr 3 & 4
The Rocky Horror Picture Show • Apr 10 & 11
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Apr 17 & 18
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Apr 24 & 25
Well, obviously they don't expect the Mamma Mia fans to be around at midnight.
In other news, this pretty much made my Friday:
“It was the same when I met [Liverpool and England midfielder] Steven Gerrard. I had an opportunity to have a conversation with him and I was tongue-tied. I’ve met the biggest actors and actresses in the world and I’m easy and comfortable but give me Gerrard and I’m in trouble.“
-- Clive Owen in the April 2009 issue of GQ magazine.
Ah, there are oh-so-many ways that last bit can be read, aren't there?
Via Kickette.
5.3.09
Hail our Dalek overlords
"Doctor Who's Nemesis Found in Pond" tells us about the frightening possibility of there being loads of Daleks hiding underground, just waiting for the right moment to take over the world.
Read all about it here.
Read all about it here.
4.3.09
In which I learn something new about "Tool"
I've spent the last two days (not just one but two) sat on my chair, contemplating *how* I can revise my "why this methodology?" section of my thesis. The problem with this is I really don't think it needs revision*, the powers-that-be think it does so we're at, what is politely called, an "impasse". Which is a word that doesn't make much sense at all in my version of English.
Rather like "tool". Over the weekend, I was flipping through the TV and came across a show called the Tool Academy. Since, like many of us (right? right??) I have a strange fascination for people using tools, I thought it'd be fun to watch a show where people-presumably-are taught to use tools. So, I left it on, and continued engaging in my recently favourite task of staring at my computer, waiting for inspiration to strike (though it was Max Weber, I believe, who said it'd strike when walking, not while at the computer. Or, the paper in his case).
Then, I was confused--nothing remotely involving tools seemed to be occurring at said academy. Instead, a few blokes wandered about, some scantily-clad young ladies heaped abuse at said blokes and there was not a tool in sight. This went on until it became clear that expecting tools of any sort to appear was a fairly remote possibility.
I reckoned I'd got the wrong show. Or that the station had put on some other show instead of Tool Academy. I changed the channel and forgot about it.
Then, today, while doing another of my (sure to be famous) impressions of staring at the computer, hoping it would write why discourse analysis is useful, I thought of Googling Tool Academy.
Turns out it really hadn't anything to do with implements but was about "douchebags". In fact, Google pointed me towards this informative (and thought-provoking) piece: "How many douchebags from Tool Academy would you hit?"
Huh. Who knew? Tools = wankers (in old-fashioned English). Hit = get it on (with). And to think that sentence could be read quite differently. As Ludwig W said it best: if we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.
It's too bad I just can't use this as my justification for methodology.
* To clarify: not because I think my writing is brilliant (as regular FA readers, yous know it isn't) but because, if I were doing game theory (for example), no one would ask "why game theory"? It would be taken for granted that, of course, game theory is the way to go. So, I think my justification (because, in short, my methodology directs attention to areas not much studied in this particular topic; because it asks--and attempts to answer--questions of identity-construction and legitimation) should be enough.
Rather like "tool". Over the weekend, I was flipping through the TV and came across a show called the Tool Academy. Since, like many of us (right? right??) I have a strange fascination for people using tools, I thought it'd be fun to watch a show where people-presumably-are taught to use tools. So, I left it on, and continued engaging in my recently favourite task of staring at my computer, waiting for inspiration to strike (though it was Max Weber, I believe, who said it'd strike when walking, not while at the computer. Or, the paper in his case).
Then, I was confused--nothing remotely involving tools seemed to be occurring at said academy. Instead, a few blokes wandered about, some scantily-clad young ladies heaped abuse at said blokes and there was not a tool in sight. This went on until it became clear that expecting tools of any sort to appear was a fairly remote possibility.
I reckoned I'd got the wrong show. Or that the station had put on some other show instead of Tool Academy. I changed the channel and forgot about it.
Then, today, while doing another of my (sure to be famous) impressions of staring at the computer, hoping it would write why discourse analysis is useful, I thought of Googling Tool Academy.
Turns out it really hadn't anything to do with implements but was about "douchebags". In fact, Google pointed me towards this informative (and thought-provoking) piece: "How many douchebags from Tool Academy would you hit?"
Huh. Who knew? Tools = wankers (in old-fashioned English). Hit = get it on (with). And to think that sentence could be read quite differently. As Ludwig W said it best: if we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.
It's too bad I just can't use this as my justification for methodology.
* To clarify: not because I think my writing is brilliant (as regular FA readers, yous know it isn't) but because, if I were doing game theory (for example), no one would ask "why game theory"? It would be taken for granted that, of course, game theory is the way to go. So, I think my justification (because, in short, my methodology directs attention to areas not much studied in this particular topic; because it asks--and attempts to answer--questions of identity-construction and legitimation) should be enough.
1.3.09
The terrible terrorist tornado
I couldn't resist: From today's Guardian "Treat bad weather like terrorism, say assembly" Full story here.
Of course, it makes perfect sense. I wonder what else we can treat as terrorism?
Of course, it makes perfect sense. I wonder what else we can treat as terrorism?
Comic book people
I'm surprisingly busy, despite being unemployed and realising that "social life" is something that people-who-are-not-me enjoy. So, I'm going to direct yous to this:
Wired's feature on "Secret Lives of Comic Store Employees". It has pictures of nine (or ten? I can't count, obviously) comic store employees, at home and at work.
They're mostly (well, all except one) men and keen on telling us that they do have a girlfriend :)
Most of them are a bit too much: "oh, I like sports and that's not nerdy" or "I've got a girlfriend and that's the least nerdy thing about me".
I felt like patting them on the head and saying: oh, it's okay, mates. It's all right these days (2009) to say: hey, comics aren't nerdy (or, rather "nerdy" doesn't really exist anymore).
Or, I like sports AND comics (I do, actually ). The 18-year old's answer: "there's nothing not nerdy about me" is the best.
Funnily enough, I've been to all the shops (except Cosmic Comics, New York and Amazing Fantasy, SF) profiled in the article.
Wired's feature on "Secret Lives of Comic Store Employees". It has pictures of nine (or ten? I can't count, obviously) comic store employees, at home and at work.
They're mostly (well, all except one) men and keen on telling us that they do have a girlfriend :)
Most of them are a bit too much: "oh, I like sports and that's not nerdy" or "I've got a girlfriend and that's the least nerdy thing about me".
I felt like patting them on the head and saying: oh, it's okay, mates. It's all right these days (2009) to say: hey, comics aren't nerdy (or, rather "nerdy" doesn't really exist anymore).
Or, I like sports AND comics (I do, actually ). The 18-year old's answer: "there's nothing not nerdy about me" is the best.
Funnily enough, I've been to all the shops (except Cosmic Comics, New York and Amazing Fantasy, SF) profiled in the article.
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