April 30, 2004
Trojan War
Manfred Korfmann, director of the excavations at Troy, comments on whether or not the Trojan War depicted in Homer's Iliad, like, happened.
Ok, I teach this stuff and that is a pretty boring question. How about, shouldn't Helen be prettier than Achilles? And how many millihelens can Brad Pitt register anyway? I mean, wouldn't that need another unit of measurement seeing as he is a guy?
Umbrella Project
This is the sort of inventiveness that could rescue Flea Towers (via Attu).
Oil Emperor of Dune
So... George-Muad'ib riding a worm of Irraqis is supposed to be a bad thing, right?
London
Fifty reasons why I am in the wrong city (though Toronto does share some features in common with the real Big Smoke).
The color of money
And at long last for all those cracks about Canadian Monopoly money we can now examine in detail the new US $50 bill. In colour. Or rather, color.
MapMachine
National Geographic offers revamped on-line maps.
April 29, 2004
Picard Song
Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.
Grilled Sarlacc
Ok, a database of Star Wars pics might be a useful resource. Still, given the name of the site I was disappointed not to find instructions for putting one of these babies on the grill. Any tips for sarlacc marinade, Anthony?
(And speaking of sucking monsters...)
And then... I should make that last link more explicit... Visit the Meatriarchy and support Don Cherry for Greatest Canadian!
Nicosphere3000
Are you sick of being told where you can smoke?
Slavery
UNICEF releases a report on slavery in Africa and between Africa and the Middle East and Europe.
And this is interesting... UNICEF has positive things to say about its relationship with "faith based organizations."
Invisible Adjunct
For people outside the academic job market, an adjunct lecturer teaches on a course by course basis typically with limited benefits. Pay is also limited so there is a tendency to overload on courses thereby keeping tenured faculty from straining themselves and limiting an adjunct lecturer's time to finish the PhD or write the publications that lead to a full-time job. Disappointing to see one of my favourite blogs come to end and a peculiar echo of my own work circumstances just now.
The Chronicle of Higher Education notes the passing of a great blog (hat tip to Mondo Sismondo).
"What I need to do, I think, is to revise and rewrite my own script," she wrote months ago when she began to consider this jump. "Get me rewrite! I'm done with this story and I want a new script."
April 28, 2004
Tiffany Case
Ok, so Solitaire is the ideal Bond girl. Tiffany Case is my favourite. When did TBS start using the expression "Bond Women"? Much less chic.
I dare anyone to watch Diamonds Are Forever and tell me Ewan McGregor should not be the next Bond!
And now I have everyone's attention... Heroes of the Blogosphere has more than a day to go! Watch this space for updates as I move to a real computer! The best place to start is at Da Goddess who offers thoughts from bloggers who explain why they are taking time to support Spirit of America. Then report for duty at Castle Argghhh!!! where Fusileer 6 offers the latest SITREP.
Big Pants
I have almost certainly linked to this before. Possibly not work safe depending on how attentive your co-workers are to detail.
Dynamic duo
Batman and Robin are fighting crime in Reading.
“They said, ‘I’m Batman, I’m Robin’ and I said, ‘No, you’re not’ and asked them if they were going to a fancy dress party but they said they were going back to Gotham City.”
German public television
This bile is what passes for humour on NDR, a regional German public TV channel (via Frozen in Montreal).
But have a closer look at the scene with a Jew sitting laughing on the back of a Palestinian, and the one where a Jew stands next to a Palestinian who holds a sign "Doof" (Dumb).
Remember 11
This is difficult to read (via Chaos Central).
Looking downward through the wracks of steel beams you realize they are sitting upon a sea of emergency vehicles.
April 27, 2004
Hanukah or Chanukah
Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.
Bonfire 43
The finest in toasted cheese is now available at On the Fritz.
Prequel
Star Trek producer Rick Berman is dropping hints about the next film in the Trek franchise.
Trireme
Marine archaeologists are after the remains of as many as a thousand Greek and Persian wrecks from the Persian Wars. Their aim is to discover just how a trireme worked.
"That means somewhere there is a mistake," said Katerina Dellaporta, director of underwater antiquities for Greece and a leader of the project. "They were very, very steady in naval battles and very fast."
And then... Here are some photos of a contemporary - arguably not working quite right - version of the ancient real deal, the Hellenic Navy's Olympias. Something right up my street: a paper on how trireme construction was financed. Neat!
Okami
Ignore a government travel warning in a bid to help child, find yourself held hostage and this is the warm welcome you can expect back home in Japan (hat tip to Mondo Sismondo).
Beneath the surface of Japan's ultra-sophisticated cities lie the hierarchical ties that have governed this island nation for centuries and that, at moments of crises, invariably reassert themselves. The former hostages' transgression was to ignore a government advisory against traveling to Iraq. But their sin, in a vertical society that likes to think of itself as classless, was to defy what people call here "okami," or, literally, "what is higher."
And then... Googlism has the following to say on the subject.
Black Widow
I would have said I was Clea, Princess of the Dark Dimension so I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this test. Which Marvel superheroine are you?
April 26, 2004
Sk8er Boi
I don't know why I am running this. Consider it CanCon. Harry Windsor is to have a "date" with Avril Lavigne, someone who accomplished something as a result of personal talent and hard work rather than by accident of birth.
No doubt! And who cares?
Spirit of America
This is a reminder about the Flea's auction for Spirit of America. Place your bids in the post at the end of this link. The Fusileers have raised US$13k as of the last update. Sign up with the Fusileers, make a tax deductible donation and smell great at the same time with your bid for this exciting Ghost of a flea endorsed product!
And then... Almost 8000 hits at the Flea yesterday and one bid mean someone is almost certain to get a bargain! Support genuine alternative media in Iraq! Smell nice! Be ready for that special birthday or anniversary!
Dutch Idol
These Dutch idol entrants makes the Canadian pickings look good. Someone. Anyone. Please tell me this is a joke. And what is with the yellow Che shirt?
Unfinished Chamber
We travel beneath the Pyramid of Khufu thanks to the wonder that is "the internet".
Self-propelling cart
Designs from Leonardo's Atlanticus Codex have been transformed into a working model now the steering mechanism is no longer confused for the propulsion system.
The BBC's taxing case
The BBC has "turned its back" on ratings in making its case for continued access to a mandatory licence fee from the British public. Not much of a statement given that UK television viewers are already turning their backs on the Beeb. A new reason for those billions of pounds must be found. The answer...
"We're trying to say that the point about the BBC - like the NHS - is that, however much you use it, it's an asset to our society."
Someone get on the line to the CBC! Television nobody watches is a national asset on par with health care nobody can use!
April 24, 2004
Van Helsing
This one says "Flea." Kate Beckinsale discusses her latest goth vixen role.
BECKINSALE: I do think it's a bit daunting, because the opportunity to feel an idiot is quite high. If you do your homework as an actor and get yourself where you're supposed to be… Obviously, it's preferable to have another very good actor to work off because it raises your game, but if you've got a little cross of tape and a fairly fevered imagination you can get reasonably far.
I find myself thinking much the same thing. Preview pics can be found here.
Flea Market
When Rev. Donald Sensing's "One Hand Clapping" first featured BlogAds the Reverend kindly offered a week of free ad-space to the first blogger who asked.
The Flea now follows his excellent example. There is a week of free adspace on the sidebar to the first blogger who writes!
And then... We have a winner! Now let's see if we can get this BlogAds interface to work...
Gunther
Il est mou ton tra la la... (probably not work safe).
Banana Guard
The last time your squashy banana need be stored in the freezer of hypothetical banana-bread fixings. "Protect your banana!"
And then... Deb beats me to the banana!
Cards
Just my luck as the Flea is accepting over-the-top gifts at the moment (though I expect I could make a set of these myself).
Canabian
My name is none of your business because... I. Am. Canabian!
Bogus refugee claims
I posted the following comment to a post at the Shotgun. I think it is worth repeating here (as is a link to the original Globe and Mail article that started the discussion). Each concerns the possibility of people claiming refugee status in Canada claming to risk persecution for their sexual orienation.
I notice the Globe and Mail article gives two grounds for the "bogus" quality of some claims. First, the claimant may not actually be gay. Second, the claimant may come from a country where gay people are not persecuted. I hope we could agree these cases coult accurately be described as bogus.
I would further hope we could agree there are many countries - the article cites countries where homosexuality is outlawed - from which a legitimate refugee claim could be made.
Devotion
Being American in T.O. on the last full measure of devotion.
What astounds me is not how much we love our country but the lack of bold admissions from others that they love their countries. I may be a simpleton because I love my country, but they are ungrateful, shallow bastards for not honouring the blood and dedication of those who came before them.
Love of country isn't pride, people, it's humility. It's being bowed by the burden of mighty examples and, even as we enjoy the freedoms bequeathed by those who came before us, we freely accept that our heritage includes the admonition that we highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.
April 23, 2004
Pat Tillman
Someone may have to save us.
And then... nikita demosthenes comments with multiple links.
GAU-8 Avenger cannon
Ever wanted a practice round for the cannon sported by the A-10? Your wish can come true at Castle Argghhh!!! and it is all for the Fighting Fusileers' Spirit of America charity drive! "You know you want it! You know you need it!"
Jim Morrison Simulatron
Jim Morrison is with us once again thanks to the wonders of "the internet".
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
That the Jim Morrison Simulatron
was not the coolest thing ever.
Ant Run and Brain Strain
Just the metaphors for your Friday morning blahs.
6th place
Fun with motorcycles. Probably best not to try this at home (or your sun-roof).
Pilot's seat
I love this panoramic view of a Concorde cockpit in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum. But wait, there's more!
Whaling
Rock art discovered in what is now South Korea dating back as much as six thousand years depicts early whaling practices. Flea-readers interested in trying out this whale steak with herbs recipe or another for whale steak and green peas should invite me over for bbq.
The Day After Tomorrow
A movie for all your ecodisaster needs. Tech Central Station offers more on Frankenclime plots.
And then... Canadian environmental fearmonger David Suzuki comments to the effect that only his "weirdo" climate change scenarios are to be taken seriously. Heaven forbid a worst case scenario worked up by the Pentagon have the same weight as a talking head for the CBC.
April 22, 2004
The Tao of Kylie
This latest contribution to Kylie-media is an interview ranging from the question of whether we have souls (yes) to whether we will all end up with chips in our heads (maybe). Also, women's undergarments.
(With a hat tip to the much missed Sketches of Strain.)
Spirit of America
The Blogosphere challenge raised over 11 thousand dollars so far and more than half of that was from the Fighting Fusileers! Spread the word and help raise funds for alternative media in Iraq!
Facehugger
Now Flea-readers can have a stuffed facehugger for their very own.
Pink
This may put a kink in my plan to buy a pink shirt. It does not require much confidence to wear the same thing everybody else is wearing.
So You Want to Write a Star Trek Novel
I have the best idea for a Star Trek novel ever and now I know what to do about it.
Cornucopia
The shape of the universe?
IAEA
If someone at the IAEA knows why referrals from their server are now sitting at the top of my stats for this month (and that includes an Instalanche) I would be delighted if they let me in on it. Shouldn't you guys be, like, looking for nuclear weapons or something? Here's a hint: it has four letters, starts with an "I" and this year ends with the letter "N" instead of the letter "Q".
Captain Mbaye Diagne
I am republishing this post from the lost Mk. 1 version of the Shotgun. This is for everyone at the IAEA and other international organizations nominally dedicated to helping people out. Keep your eye on the ball people.
***
"Ghosts of Rwanda" represents the best of PBS' Frontline series. Anyone who thinks the barbarism in Fallujah could be assuaged by withdrawal of Coalition forces should watch this show. Anyone who thinks the word "barbarism" is more offensive than the murder and desecration of free people should be ashamed. Anyone who cannot find the word "evil" in their vocabulary may not be capable of that emotion. But that shame is nothing next to what we should all feel for standing by as genocide was perpetrated in Rwanda. Canadian General Romeo Dallaire sums it up with brutal clarity.
"I'm sure there would have been more reaction if someone had tried to exterminate Rwanda's 300 mountain gorillas," he said.
So much for the United Nations. So much for international law. So much for the international community. 800,000 people were murdered. And still the only thing that matters to so many people is marching in the streets against... against what exactly? Against civilization. Too many of those outraged by the toppling of dictators could not find Rwanda on the map.
One story stands out. A Senegalese peacekeeper saved a hundred, as many as a thousand, lives by escorting some of the few Tutsis left in Kigali away from one of many Hutu Einsatzgruppen. Captain Diagne saved these lives against the express orders of the United Nations. Remember that the next time someone suggests that parliament of dictators has the moral authority to point fingers as as it chokes back the lobster and champagne.
When plans were first discussed for evacuating U.N. personnel, the rule was that no Rwandans, staff or not, could be taken along. Colonel Balis stated that he questioned Dallaire twice about the directive and was told, “Orders from New York: No Locals.” The rules were not always followed, even by the authorities in New York or by some U.N. agencies. ... On April 7, the Senegalese Captain Mbaye Diagne and a U.N. employee named Le Moal rescued the five children of Prime Minister Uwilingiyimana, who then left the country through the efforts of a French professor, André Guichaoua, who was in Kigali at the time. Throughout the next weeks, Captain Mbaye became virtually a legend among Rwandans for his bravery and inventiveness in saving people and in deterring soldiers who sought to enter the Hotel Mille Collines at night to kill those whom he had saved during the day.
Captain Diagne was killed by shrapnel at a checkpoint and the UN could not offer him the dignity of a body bag. He deserved better.
April 21, 2004
Portrait
Analogia compares the Flea to Tim Robbins, Clint Eastwood and Scott Baio. The software took a bit longer coming up with female comparisons but eventually settled on Patricia Arquette, Andie MacDowell and Maria Callas. Ahh, la Divina! I think this software is designed to blow smoke somewhere or other (via Cup of Chicha).
Creatures
"Making the Creatures", a featurette from the forthcoming Aliens Vs. Predator film is now available. I love the mechanical mandibles!
Sexiest Vegetarians Alive
Vegans taste better, look better and feel better. Or so claim two veggie models whose names escaped me on a first (or possibly second) viewing. I assumed this piece was meant to be satirical but as it wore on the grinding realization of the utter humourlessness of these people sunk in. Nice lettuce though.
MTV
This is going to hurt you more than it is going to hurt me (probably not work safe).
Unreal
I wonder if this is a Shopped image. Great idea either way.
Torc
So as I was saying, you wouldn't happen to have the other half of this amulet...
Marshill
A stone coffin containing the body of an iron age warrior, found close to a bronze age burial, may point to a Druid holy site.
April 20, 2004
Your Disco Needs You!
The Blog-Bash to raise money for Spirit of America kicks off at noon (EST). Please come back to the Flea later today for a link to the donation site.
The latest broadside for the Fighting Fusileers is available at the Castle (along with some remarks about the arsenal of blogocracy: "Shoot girl, I'm bettin' I've got more machineguns than you have guns.")
And then... Actually, it is the donation buttons that are to arrive noonish. Donations are to be accepted starting just after midnight tonight. I will let you know in which time zone as soon as the information arrives. The Canadian Pesh Murga stand ready!
Ab urbe condita
The Flea wishes a happy birthday to Rome, founded April 21 2,757 years ago.
Distraction
Just the thing to lower the productivity of your office-mates.
Red Bull
***Dave links to an astute observation about the blogosphere (including the Flea-ish part).
Hand of God
Diego Maradona has been hospitalized with heart problems said to be related to years of drug and alcohol abuse. Sad.
Football
Two nuclear submarines have surfaced at the north pole with a game of footie in mind.
Gas tax
James Lileks responds to Andrew Sullivan on gas taxes (via She who will be obeyed!).
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff and imposed a landing-on-the-rocks surcharge, would you do it too? Get out a map. Look at, say, Belgium. Look at America. Compare. Consider the costs of trucking lettuce from Mexico to North Dakota. Discuss.
April 19, 2004
Blogosphere
I had an interesting conversation with an editor at a major national Canadian daily newspaper that is attempting to "ingratiate itself with the blogosphere." The idea is to run occasional posts from Canadian bloggers as a comments feature in the print edition. Sounds fine. Here is the catch: the paper does not intend to pay to publish that work. Why would it, the argument goes, when the blogger had already written the post for free? Hey, I have got an idea... I will reprint entire articles from the paper, put them up behind a paid subscription wall and sell ads along the way. I mean, I found a copy of the paper on the subway and was reading it for free anyway. So why should the owners of the paper care what I do with their work?
I happen to know what the per word rate used to be for this particular major national Canadian daily newspaper so no blogger should expect to get rich even if the paper does an about face. I have two observations to make. First, writers should be paid for their work. Second, it may be I was the first of twenty-five bloggers to ask for money from a business attempting to sell papers with my writing. But I still think this is no way to ingratiate the paper with the blogosphere.
And then... If you were one of those twenty-five you should send me an email. The traffic generated by twenty-five bloggers ads up to a newspaper. We should be selling our own ads not giving away our work to the dead tree media.
And then... Think of the following before giving away your work in exchange for a reprinted URL in the print edition of anything.
I remember the business head of MSNBC.com telling me sometime ago that Glenn Reynolds' column there gets more traffic from external blogs than from the internal promotional power of the meganewssite.
Remember, paper does not support hyperlinks.
Hammy Hamster
This weekend I was reminded of Hammy Hamster... and a surreal moment living in England when a Brummie colleague broke into a rendition of the title theme for The Littlest Hobo. Now I wonder how far afield Hammy Hamster lore has travelled.
And then... Ok, that's enough with the hamster lore. You can let it out. Sing along now. You know you want to!
There's a voice that keeps on calling me.
Down the road. That's where I'll always be.
Oh, every stop I make, I make a new friend.
Can't stay for long. Just turn around, and I'm gone again.
Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down.
Until tomorrow, I'll just keep movin' on.
So, if you want to join me for awhile,
just grab your hat, and we'll travel light. That's hobo style.
Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down.
Until tomorrow, I'll just keep movin' on.
Until tomorrow, the whole world is my home.
Necronomicontest
Now is the time for all good Flea-readers to come to the aid of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society (with a hat tip to the Flea's whisky expert).
Panoramas
Panoramas for every occasion. I like this view from the Monument.
Communicator
Vocera makes a Next Generation-style lapel communicator (via Venomous Kate).
Geiger
b3ta points out having your own Geiger counter "would be fantastic device for making yourself utterly paranoid." Great idea!
Capitalism in Amsterdam
It is possible the liberal terms offered to Parma to induce the surrender of towns in the southern provinces may have enabled citizens of those towns who were resolved not to return to their Spanish and Catholic allegiance to send or take with them other countries capital assets of substantial value.
So claims Violet Barbour in Capitalism in Amsterdam in the 17th Century (University of Michigan Press, 1966). This fifth sentence on the twenty-third page of the nearest book to hand comes to you courtesy of Blog Treatment and in the tradition of surrealist party games (via Argghhh!!!).
Reporting
Sadly, this is how most media works (via the Melbourne Truth of blogs).
Pentagon
Democracy, minority rights, an independent judiciary and (above all?) the rights of women, these are the foundations of Paul Wolfowitz' vision of an alternative to despotism in the Middle East. My favourite part of this Australian article is an architectural metaphor (via A&L Daily).
It stood, co-equal with New York's World Trade Centre, as the supreme symbol of the US for Osama bin Laden to attack but, unlike the World Trade Centre, it survived the attack and has been hitting back since.
1990s
| I'm A 1990s Geek |
| Cool, confident, and very powerful, you're the sexiest geek ever! Buckle in, your decade is one hell of a ride. |
| find your geek decade at spacefem.com |
The accuracy of my result matches those of She Who Will Be Obeyed!
Blogger section
The Campblog proposes the next stage in the Bloggish Enlightenment, a blog section at the magazine rack (and that thing about the InstaCar is true).
April 17, 2004
Clueless
So. Ok. Here is some more, like, oratory.
Origins
This database of band name origins is a great idea. ZZ Top's choice follows a parallel logic to "A" blogs wanting to sit at the top of all those blogrolls.
Necklace
A truly ancient necklace may "present absolute evidence for perhaps the earliest storage of information outside the human brain." Adorning ourselves is a symbolic act and this necklace pushes back estimated dates for the appearance of modern human behaviours.
Kensington Runestone
The "smoking gun" proving the Kensington Runestone to be a hoax may lie in the particular runes in which it is written. It seems Olof Ohman's find uses a rune system rather more recent than the supposed Norse expedition of the year 1362.
The scholars contend that parts of his documents seem to be written in a secret runic alphabet used by tradesmen in Sweden in the late 1800s, rather like codes that tramps have used over time to leave secret messages for one another.
Sith Lord
Hmm, looks like I've got some 'splaining to do (thanks to the philosopher of Classical Values).
Nehemiah and the Mausoleum
Which Old Testament Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
This Biblical insight arrives courtesy of the philosopher of Classical Values. And, no big shock here, it turns out I am the Mausoleum.
You are the Tomb of King Maussollos!
Private and reclusive, you just want to be left
alone. Although you do enjoy good
conversation, you tend to avoid confrontations
and keep an emotional distance. As the Tomb of
Maussollos, you are very precise in your work
and daily living and strive to keep out of
other peoples business. Youre a good listener,
and you strive to find logical solutions to
your own and other persons problems. Very
indecisive, you tend to analyze yourself into
inactivity.
What Wonder of the Ancient World are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
April 16, 2004
Maximus Decimus Meridius
Today's lesson in rhetoric and oratory is dedicated to a hero, Fabrizio Quattrocchi. Fratres!
InstaPundit
And don't forget Ghost of a Flea!
The BlogFather offers a kind word. Thanks! InstaPundit readers curious about Canadian life and politics should check out my fellow Shotgunners at the Western Standard...
Block clock
Another intriguing on-line time-keeping device.
Iso-phone
A heightend telephonic experience.
Mountain Dew
Steven Segal can't believe it's him either.
Aruba
Ghostly chains are rattling in welcome to a Flea-visitor from Aruba. The CIA world fact website points out the island is "slightly larger than Washington, DC." The Flea would have said, small but perfectly formed.
Minuteman III
Test launch.
Impacts
Calculate your next local asteroid impact effects thanks to the miracle of "the internet."
April 15, 2004
War movies
James Lileks asks why there have been no war movies about the current war (via InstaPundit, but I like the following quote better than the one he chose).
Expecto patronum!
The Sister of a Flea points to a new, longer trailer now available at the Harry Potter website. Kudos to Hermione for clocking that guy and the Dementors are suitably creepy. One thought: this is supposed to be the third year of our heroes' progress through Hogwarts... It might be an idea to speed up film production because at this rate Harry and friends are going to be a bit long in the tooth by the time school finishes. Sort of a reverse effect to the one experienced by the children of Genoa City sent off to boarding school in Switzerland.
Eggs
My favourite part of this egg toss game is the bunny with the bicycle helmet. Good idea!
Star Wars
Anthony, rib master and Meatriarchy author, editor and publisher has never seen Star Wars.
Esther
Esther, the artist formerly known as Madonna, has decided to observe Shabbat and avoid Friday concert gigs on her forthcoming tour.
But this is the first time she has let her faith play such a huge part in a career decision. A friend of the star says: “This shows just how much Madonna is influenced by Kabbalah. “She is completely focused on following her beliefs, no matter what lengths she has to go to.”
Perception
Serenity's Journal posts on the undue privilege accorded to matters of perception in contrast with matters of fact (via Argghhh!!!).
Preconceptions
The people of Belgium, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden and Romania ask what the world thinks of them.
Culture:I don't know
Religion:I don't know
Language:Swedish
Food:I don't know
Industries:fish
Famous people:Zlatan
Music: I don't know
Clothing:I don't know
Climate:sea climate
Name: Ruby
Weazell
The remains of a merchant schooner turned up in 2001 may be the oldest such wreck to be found in the Great Lakes.
Two halves
Say, do you have the other half of this amulet I have carried with me since I was a child? No? Ok, how about this lion's head?
April 14, 2004
Begin
The Flea School for Wayard Expats presents a continuing series in rhetoric and oratory. Today we are addressed by Canadian alumnus, Neo.
RGB
Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (and swallow our tongues).
Test and Commandments
My only objection to this 100% accurate Gay Test is that it is perfectly possible for gay people to be familiar with the lyrical oeuvre of AC/DC.
Straight Flea-readers wondering why they are getting misleading test results should refer to the Men Commandments for pointers.
Millenium Falcon
INTERIOR: MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT -- DOCKING BAY 94
Chewbacca leads the group into a giant dirt pit that is Docking Bay 94.
Resting in the middle of the huge hole is a large, round, beat-up,
pieced-together hunk of junk that could only loosely be called a starship.
LUKE: What a piece of junk.
Internet Traffic Report
Another source of data courtesy of "the internet."
U.S. Air Force Academy
A 3D panorama of the Academy including the attractive Cadet Chapel.
April 13, 2004
Roy Batty
The Flea School for Wayward Expats continues its series in rhetoric and oratory. Today's speaker is Nexus 6 Replicant, Roy Batty.
Taters
Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (warning: this one is catchy).
Vodka Cranberry Magnum
I would have thought vodka was relatively flavourless. Must be an Australian thing.
Tetra Vaal
This one takes a while to download but is visually stunning. Also, I think this is the direction technology is headed. I have this image in my head of a skeletal metal leg stomping on a human skull.
Hunley
Archaeological investigation of Civil War submarine, H.L. Hunley reveals details about her crew days before their remains are to be laid to rest.
Lucky Gold Coin Dixon, so the story went, had a beautiful young sweetheart in Mobile, Alabama, named Queenie Bennett. She gave him a U.S. $20 gold piece, which Dixon had in his pocket at the bloody Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee in 1862. A bullet that could have killed Dixon struck him in the thigh, but the gold coin stopped the slug. The legend said that Dixon had this lifesaving coin from his sweetheart with him the night he went down with the Hunley.
Bennett had a photograph supposedly of Dixon that was published many times after the Civil War. A bent gold coin, inscribed "Shiloh April 6, 1862 My life Preserver G.E.D" was found in the Hunley near Dixon's remains. At least part of the legend was true.
Red Ken
The Telegraph reports on the intemperate words of London's Mayor regarding "key British ally" and customer of UK arms industry products, "Saudi" Arabia (via InstaPundit).
April 12, 2004
Tyler Durden
The Flea School for Wayward Expats present the third in a continuing series on rhetoric and oratory. So 9/10.
Club: [laughter]
Durden: Shut up! Which means a lot of you have been breakin' the first two rules of Fight Club. Man, I see in Fight Club the strongest and smartest men who have ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see it squandered. Goddammit, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables, slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy s*** we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man; no purpose or place. We have no Great War, no Great Depression. Our Great War is a spiritual war. Our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised by television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars. But we won't; and we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very p***ed off.
Spiderman 2
The second trailer. Some shaky cgi but you have to love the Carl Orff soundtrack (via ***Dave).
Shake Your Blood
Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (Probably not work safe for most. Lemmy rules!).
Omarosa Manigault Stallworth
It turns out Omarosa has had some experience being fired. She is reported to have been fired four times in two years in her much vaunted work experience with President Clinton's administration.
Saint-Exupéry
The wreckage of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's plane has been found (via Merde in France).
Intent
I am trying to work through my thoughts about Canadian laws concerning incitement to hatred and genocide.
Let us say a man is attacked and killed by someone who had planned the attack and stated plainly the attack was meant to kill. This would be first degree murder under Canadian criminal law. Obviously, intent is not always so clear but this is a thought-experiment so suspend your disbelief on that issue for the moment. Now let us say the man was Jewish and that the murderer had stated plainly the attack was motivated by the intent to either kill a Jewish man or to kill the man because he was Jewish. This intent would be grounds under Canada's hate crimes legislation to consider a harsher sentence. My more libertarian colleagues in the blogosphere have argued this second intent should not be considered as a factor in the murder. From that libertarian viewpoint, it is only the intent to kill and not the reason for that intent which should be taken into account in criminal charges or sentencing following a criminal conviction.
Now let us say the attacker was a member of al-Qaeda, an organization with the repeated, plainly stated intent to murder Jewish people (and a list of others). Let us say both the murderer and the victim are Canadian citizens for the sake of keeping this thought-experiment simple. Should we treat this crime like any other murder? Or does its status as an act of terror transform the act from one of simple murder to something that needs to be treated much more forcefully? If not, why not? If so, why would the identity of the victim matter in this instance and not in others? Or is the intent to cause "terror" another instance in itself?
April 10, 2004
A matter of justice
Canada has had a law on the books banning incitement to hatred and genocide since 1970. That act placed discriminatory speech under the aegis of Canada's Criminal Code including colour, race, ethnicity or religion as protected categories. In 1996, this definition was broadened to identifiable groups. The wider defintion influenced sentencing in criminal convictions where "evidence that the offense was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on the race, nationality, color, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability or sexual orientation of the victim or similar factor shall be deemed an aggravating circumstance." It is more than three decades since hate propaganda legislation was passed and it is only now with Bill C-250 that sexual orientation may enjoy the same explicit protection under the law.
Hate propaganda is defined in this way:
Clearly, Canadian law differs from American law where much of the preceding would enjoy protection under the First Amendment of the Constitution. I have expressed my reservations about limitations of freedom of speech here and elsewhere. Such limitations strike me to be wrong-headed. In fact, the selective enforcement of such limitations can itself be an ironic reflection of the very discrimination it was meant to oppose. Take the case of Little Sisters Bookstore in Vancouver. Canada Customs has systematically barred the importation of lesbian reading materials from the United States citing legal precedents that had been intended by feminist legal scholars to protect women from degrading pornographic representations. Of course, there may be many feminist legal scholars who find lesbian porn to be just as degrading to women as that produced for other audiences. But it makes for a telling instance of the circularity of left-wing firing squads.
There are those who oppose Bill C-250 because they fear it will be used to curtail the speech of people opposed to "homosexuality" on religious grounds. It seems to me they have cause for concern given the case of a printer taken to court for refusing to publish materials he opposed. If there is any case where a person's freedom of religious expression is in conflict with the amendment I would take the issue very seriously indeed. The Mennonite Church in Canada expresses such concern in eloquent, thoughtful terms.
But here is the simple fact of the matter. Religion is already a protected category under the law and has been since 1970. I have yet to hear a single voice of the religious right opposed to that legal protection. Instead, I have read far too much that suggests not only an opposition to specific social change (gay marriage being far and away the biggest example) but a thoroughgoing prejudice against "homosexuality" and "homosexuals" as people.
You know what? There are many people who hate Christians and Christianity too. Some of them are trying to kill or convert us all. And there are plenty of Christians, myself included, who think that prejudice runs directly counter to the teaching and example of Christ. I know many of my academic colleages find my faith disconcerting, even a cause to doubt my intelligence. I suppose it is possible writing about these issues publically could influence some future (or present) hiring decisions. I have decided being true to my perception of the world is more important than worrying other people will take me for an idiot because of it. But I have never been targeted for ridicule, let alone hatred, by my secular friends for my peculiar Quaker opinions. By contrast, I have seen some real bile directed at "liberal" Christian faith and practice by people claiming to speak for "orthodox" Christianity. That kind of talk irritates me. It may even offend me. But mainly it is a cause for pity. A post at Belmont Club astutely described religious fanaticism as the "final gathering of shadows before the real dawn."
Fanaticism, someone observed, is always the product of doubt: never faith; the grasping of the doubter after the certainties of youth.
So whose point of view wins? If this fight is only to be a yelling match about the motes in each other's eyes I am not interested in participating. There are people who believe it is wrong for women to be seen in public unescorted by a male relative. Their belief is based in profoundly held religious and cultural conviction. That does not mean they are right. It certainly does not mean they get to tell my sister she needs me to walk her to the grocery store. So you regard "homosexuality" to be an abomination? Fine. But frankly, so what? Your particular religious views do not get to trump those of secular, or religious, views in opposition to your own.
This is why I support Bill C-250. There are cases where I would rather intent was not a consideration in assessing a crime directed at a person or property. After all, breaking a window is a prosecutable act under the law regardless of the reason the stone was cast. Yet intent is important. Intent is the difference between a charge of manslaughter and a charge of first degree murder. Intent is the difference between criminal culpability and an inability to understand the criminality of an act due to age or (legal) insanity. It is also the reason President Bush is taking war to the jihadis and not relying on the police to charge the wrong-doers with 3000 counts of murder, extensive damage to private property and a parking ticket or two. Intent matters.
Whether that intent should be reflected under Canadian law as it currently stands is another question. Whether we can rely on our criminal justice system to equitably enforce such law is another question again. Unless and until that happens it is a simple matter of equity that gay people should be afforded the same protection as other groups subject to systematic hatred. There was a reason sexual orientation was not included under the act in 1970. At that time, such discrimination was so widespread, so accepted that it was not considered worthy of protection. I am sorry to say all too many people calling themselves Christians still believe this to be the case.
Many Christians disagree. Former Conservative Prime Minister Joe Clark cited a letter sent to him by the Anglican Bishop of Calgary, Rt. Rev. Barry Hollowell.
He went on:
It goes without saying that the “freedom to express moral views” is a freedom which must not be undermined in a free society. But, the freedom to live without fear or presence of hate harassment targeting individuals and minorities is also a freedom that must not be compromised. I believe that hate propaganda targeting gay and lesbian people must be stopped. ...these individuals remain the target of many hate-motivated crimes--including the tragic murder of Aaron Webster. It is not fair or just to protect some minorities from hate propaganda, but to deny that same protection to gay and lesbian people.
Bishop Hollowell concluded:
I wish to add my voice to those in support of Bill C-250...It is a matter of justice.
It is a matter of justice. Bishop Hollowell is not alone in supporting the amendment. Bill C-250 is supported by all of Canada's provincial Attorneys General, the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association, representing 28,000 police officers.
And then... I meant to write "noted radicals, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police." Then I could have added, "and obvious nancy-boys, the Canadian Auto Workers."
And then... The philosopher of Classical Values lends an American perspective to the debate and provides a link to a USNews opinion piece suggesting offensive speech will be banned under the new legislation. I reproduce my comment in response to Eric's post:
Greetings, esteemed blogfriend!
"You should have the right to insult me, hate me, and even tell me I deserve to die."
This is not quite what the existing Canadian legislation prohibits and the right to insult and hate people on the basis of their sexual orientation will still be broadly protected under Canadian law. And remember, religious belief is already a protected category under the same legislation.
It is, rather, * incitement * to hatred or genocide that is at issue. Even under the First Amendment, speech that constitutes provocation or incitement to, or advocacy of, crime, violence, riot or public disorder does not have the same protection as speech that is merely offensive. In fact, obscenity, typically defined by something as vague as "community standards", is also a form of expression that is regulated inspite of the Constitution.
That said, Americans make a different calculation than your neighbours north of the border. Where you have truth, justice and the American way our constitution speaks of peace, order and good government. "Pleasantly authoritarian" is probably a fair description. Like you, I have reservations about legislation restricting freedom of speech... even that which might be construed to incite violence. But a state of affairs where the group most subject to being singled out for violence is uniquely not protected by the law is a manifest injustice.
And then... This article points to legislation in liberal hot-bet North Carolina that makes ethnic "intimidation" a misdemeanor. I am not surprised to learn sexual orientation is not a protected category.
Renton's Choice
The Flea School for Wayward Expats presents the second in a continuing series in rhetoric and oratory. Choose life.
Tron
The Flea's latest foray into gentlemen's haberdashery features a great outfit for cycling at night.
Crazy Train
Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (but wait, there's more!).
Illuminati
First we get the news that cats and humans may have been living together for considerably longer than has been thought. Then the secret of the true world conspiracy is revealed at Castle Argghhh!!!
And then... Other details of the impending revolution have been leaked at Baltic Blog.
And then... And now our overlords show their power at the very heart of the blogosphere!
Modern Ruins
Intriguing photo essays speak for themselves. Rather a lot of commentary by the photographer as well.
April 09, 2004
Dancing chicken
Take the quiz: "What kind of chicken are you???"
You are the dancing chicken.
You just wanna shake your tail feathers. You tend to dance around questions and not answer them directly, but you're oh so damn fun!
This chicken-lore arrives courtesy of the philosopher of Classical Values, a Golded Mis-Proportionate chicken. For the record, I was also a Grammar God but gave up trying to post it because the graphic failed to load!
And then... And here is my American city. I would have said Manhattan (and I am also partial to Atlanta).
Take the quiz: "Which American City Are You?"
San Francisco
Liberal and proud, you'll live your lifestyle however you choose in the face of all that would supress you.
Henry V
The Flea School for Wayward Expats presents the first in a continuing series in rhetoric and oratory. To begin: the St. Crispin's Day speech.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Band of bloggers
We few. We happy few! And Jay Currie heralds the formation of the Kylie Party.
Battle Pong
Just the thing for a Friday afternoon (if you are better at Pong than I am, that is).
Feed the Models
A small donation will make a world of difference.
Throbbing Gristle 2004
A celebration of Industrial music in the 21st Century from May 14-16 suggests that once again I am in the wrong country.
Macallan Scotch
It could be the single malts I have had have been unrepresentative. Is this stuff supposed to taste like it was strained through socks? Give me an Irish blend anyday. Then again, this Macallan deal would tempt me in the $50 range.
Corporate ethnography
Life beyond teaching beckons for the enterprising anthropologist.
No joke. The "girl" is Emma Gilding, corporate ethnographer at Ogilvy & Mather, one of the world's top advertising agencies. Her assignment is to hang out in bars across the country, watching guys knock back beers with their friends. And wipe those smirks off your faces. This is research.
April 08, 2004
Condi
National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice is testifying before Congress as I type these words. Let's have a look at that bio, shall we. And here is something to look forward to.
And then... Once again The Meatriarchy and the Flea are reading off the same page.
And then... Man, that guy is totally cruising for links. But it is all in a good cause. Here is a possible Demi Moore look for Dr. Rice. And here is a Matrix outfit to consider.
Age of Horus
One hundred years ago today, British occult philosopher Aleister Crowley began the first of three days through which he received "The Book of the Law" at Cairo, Egypt. Crowley believed his revelation ushered in a new Age of Horus and signalled the end of the last two-thousand years or so of the Age of Osiris. This is the "new age" referred to by subsequent exponents of the Age of Aquarius and all its attendent book and incense sales.
93 93/93
Hittites
Rollerskates only increase the mystery of the ancient Hittites.
Perperikon
"...When Octavian, father of Augustus, at the head of his army, came upon the Holy Mount of Dionysus, he consulted the oracle about his son, and the prophets said to him that his son was to rule the world, for as the wine was spilt onto the altar, the smoke rose up above the top of the shrine and even unto heavens, as had happened when Alexander the Great himself had sacrificed upon that same altar".
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus
A place for rituals of wine and fire written of by Dion Cassius and Suetonius may have been found.
Odd Objects Gallery
Biggles has made some odd objects. My wardrobe could certainly use a pair of Brogued Wellingtons.
April 07, 2004
007 Kylie
Evil Bond girl, please! But let's face facts... Kylie is bound to be a good Bond girl.
And then... Though news via Anthony suggests Kylie might have other matters to attend to first.
Scooby Doo Cthulhu
The Mythos origins of Scooby Doo are discussed. At length.
St. Peter's
This is a new Flea-favourite. I particularly like the bottle.
McGurk
The McGurk effect demonstrated thanks to the wonders of "the internet."
Shotgun wedding
It could be that libertarians and social conservatives will not be able to make a home together in the new Conservative Party of Canada. A spat over at The Shotgun between people "dissenting" from the "homosexual agenda" and those of us who are not obsessed with other people's sex lives is not promising. I quote Stephen Harper after the recent dismissal of an MP expressing creepy, bigoted sentiments: these are "unacceptable" and "do not reflect party policy in any way, shape or form."
We will see if he means it. And despite the incompetence, cynicism and cheap nationalism of the current federal government it will be five more years of Liberal rule in this country if Mr. Harper cannot prove he is serious.
And then... Canada's best political blogger comments.
April 06, 2004
Vegetarian gladiators
The protein deficiency could explain the aggressive temperament. That and the smart remarks about form-fitting armour.
Legend of Zelda
Now is the time at the Flea when we dance (quite work safe, actually, unless your work has something against Japanese elves).
A girl's best friend
Margot Knight has a peculiar pet.
Armor of the Witchking
The Flea reported on an impressive pair of Witchking gauntlets in January. I am pleased to provide an update courtesy of Mr. Jeffrey Stelter, creator of an off-the-rack Witchking of Angmar costume.
Clueless
Remember: these people can vote (courtesy of Fred Kiesche).
Researchers found that many of the 2,069 adults questioned could not tell fact from fiction. More than one in 20 thought the sci-fi classic War of the Worlds, in which Earth is invaded by Martians, was a historical event. Some even believed the Battle of Helm's Deep from the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Battle of Endor from Return of the Jedi actually took place.
April 05, 2004
Blacklist
It takes a village to raise a blog!
The Flea is now MT-Blacklist protected thanks to the patient advice of blogospheric savants ***Dave and Eric Scheie and the skills of Dean Esmay, a blogger and a gentleman. Thanks guys!
Akira
Akira, contender for most over-rated film of all time (up there with Blue Velvet), neverthess featured a kick ass motocycle. One for me, please.
Bad for education.
Zombies: friend or foe?
Some say people are worse than zombies. Perhaps. I still say we must organize before they rise!
Holy ---, Batman!
A compendium of phrases from the camp version of the story of the Batman.
Meantime, someone has noticed Superman in all those Seinfeld episodes...
Hovercraft with Motorycle
Yes, I love the U.S. of A. The spirit of invention lives on!
Maize
Duke University plant geneticist, Mary Eubanks argues DNA evidence demonstrates corn is the result of a serendipitous cross between teosinte and gamagrass rather than a simple evolution from, and selective breeding of, teosinte.
April 03, 2004
Say Mail
Read my lips... no more boring emails.
Skull and bones
Start your own collection of fossil hominids. I like the idea of a Piltdown Man skull sitting on my desk. What an ice-breaker!
Transylvania
Yet another unilateral action by Western imperialists as a ruse to gain access to Transylvanian oil reserves (via Merde in France).
Schwinn Sting-Ray
Add this to the shopping list.
Astute Design and Build
I am sorry to learn the next-generation UK hunter-killer submarine program is having problems. I am almost embarrassed to learn it is £1 billion over budget (and counting). I am surprised to learn BAE Systems has brought in management from Electric Boat to help sort out the problem. Finally, I am a bit alarmed to learn how detailed is the information made public on engineering processes that are both sensitive from commercial and security perspectives. It is not the release of specifications that concerns me but publishing the names of senior members of the design and build team.
Leather boots
Leather Boots- sleek, trendy, and popular, you are
always dressed right. You sometimes seem fake
to people that don't know you. You enjoy
shopping and hanging out with your many
friends. [please vote! thank you! :)]
What Kind of Shoe Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
This obviously correct answer comes via the barefoot Classical Values and Sketches of Strain who has a big stompy pair of boots really.
what number are you?
this quiz by orsa
This numerical insight comes courtesy of the philosopher of Classical Values (who is infinite).
April 02, 2004
Lucky
As much as it pains me to reprint this Herald Sun photo, it pains me more to say news reports of Kylie's betrothal have been greatly exaggerated. Crown Prince Frederick loses out too.
Let us assure you that Kylie is NOT quitting her music career - far from it! Dannii did not confirm that Kylie is getting married (she is not); and Kylie is not and never was performing at the wedding of Danish Crown Prince Frederick!
The Shotgun
Canada's new media voice features a group-blog: "The Shotgun has fired!" This northern answer to The Corner features the cast of the Western Standard and blogosphere supporting cast Colby Cosh, Damian Penny and Your Friendly Neighbourhood Flea.
I want to thank Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant for making the conversation possible. This country is in desperate need of an alternative to our state-sponsored Ministry of Truth. The Shotgun should help provide it.
They will have to pry this blog from my cold, dead hands!
Zombie zombie zombie
Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.
And then... I found the zombies!
Slayage
Romanian villagers are up in arms at police interference in long-standing vampire slaying activities.
That's often the way here with vampires. Quiet lives, active deaths.
Street Climb
My parkour links have proved unreliable so I post this mirror to David Belle's Spiderman routine. And while I am at it, here are variations on the theme.
Cicada
Seventeen years are up. Prepare for the invasion!
When twilight of their emergence day hits, the one-inch-long (2.5-centimeter-long) nymphs crawl out of their holes and up just about anything vertical—trees, barbecues, walls, tombstones.
A little Latin. Less Greek.
The Spectator mourns the passing of Latin in the UK (despite a modest Harry Potter-inspired renaissance). Minor quibbles about Gibson's Passion are made along the way.
Cute. But surely that alpha beta would have been earned for a course in Greek rather than Latin or Aramaic? Now, repeat after me: Romanes eunt domus...
April 01, 2004
Bra brawl
Kylie claims housework is a favourite hobby! It seems odd she should choose to announce the news in Elle given her recent "bra brawl" with the publication. Oh wait, not that Elle. That Elle.
Fun, fun, fun
Something odd in the Flea's referrals. Is this one of those parallel invention stories?
Via Ghost of a Flea
Condensed
Sarah Davis has produced a condensed version of The Lord of the Rings as an animated gif file. Very clever!
1954 Ford FX-Atmos
Another contender for the Fleamobile may be found in a page of concept cars. There are plenty more where that came from. Flea-readers everywhere can pick there own (though we know what Paul is after). I will also be giving serious thought to this bad boy when my archaeological riches start to roll in.