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Grumpy k
Everyone is squeeing over the James Marsters appearance in Torchwood. Having neither a past nor present interest in Torchwood, I did not watch it, so this journal is devoid of squee on that account. ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
queenspanky and I did watch episodes 6 and 7 of S1 of The Wire last night, though, and an embargo on spoilers is now in place. Anyone who spoils me for any Wire stuff will have their face fed to them. Just sayin'. :) Also - isn't it the most amazing thing ever?? It truly, truly is.
As it turns out, lost of stuff is happening in the world these days. Have some links.
1. Outrage as US accuses Britain of inexperience in Taleban conflict (The Times) OK, that headline's a little misleading, as the US accused NATO, not Britain specifically. However, this simply means that Canada and Netherlands can be just as pissed off about it as we are.
I have a couple of American friends who voted Bush both times, and are far-right Christian conservatives (with weird left-leanings like arts funding, however *shrug*), who always get called up whenever anything like this happens, and an explanation is demanded. That explanation always starts off with, "it wasn't reported properly," and then peters off. It was the same for the judge talking about extraordinary rendition of British nationals on British soil, and a few other blunders. I'm not pointing at the above to say "the cheek of them!" but to express my own personal aggrievation at the number of insults and snubs that are just thrown out there with no real aim, at allies and enemies alike. Its unseemly, and it makes average people (and I count myself among them) actively hostile to the idea of doing anything with the US, be that militarily, economically or anything else for that matter. It's like trying to be friends with the belligerent large kid in the corner who'll call you names but still demand to be invited over for tea. I am not impressed.
2. First human-animal hybrids to go ahead (The Times)
They're gonna be 99.9% human. I'm honestly OK with that. Your ethical mileage may vary.
3. Foreign Office sued for sex and race discrimination (Independent)
I am not the least bit shocked about this. Working with various PSOs and going from director to director to interview and question, it's amazing how white and male the civil service really is above a certain rank.
4. One of the last taboos: abuse of men by women (Independent)
5. Seven dead in Kenyan protests (BBC)
6. Of interest to no one but accountants and civil servants: Watchdog exposes PFI charges gap
Yeah, no kidding. Auditing them's a work of art, too.
7. Killings after the war (NY Times) 121 cases of soldiers killing people (usually members of their immediate family) after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
8. China woman in legal first over abortion case (Telegraph) A woman is suing the Chinese authorities in a legal first after being forced to have an abortion at nine months' pregnant.
This is both abhorrent and... I don't know how Chinese law works, but in some countries (and in some cases), if the infant can survive outside the body of the mother, killing it (eg in this case) means you can be charged with murder. I'll be following this case with great interest.
In non-world news, come join the fun at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ninebillion. You know you want to.
queenspanky and I did watch episodes 6 and 7 of S1 of The Wire last night, though, and an embargo on spoilers is now in place. Anyone who spoils me for any Wire stuff will have their face fed to them. Just sayin'. :) Also - isn't it the most amazing thing ever?? It truly, truly is.As it turns out, lost of stuff is happening in the world these days. Have some links.
1. Outrage as US accuses Britain of inexperience in Taleban conflict (The Times) OK, that headline's a little misleading, as the US accused NATO, not Britain specifically. However, this simply means that Canada and Netherlands can be just as pissed off about it as we are.
I have a couple of American friends who voted Bush both times, and are far-right Christian conservatives (with weird left-leanings like arts funding, however *shrug*), who always get called up whenever anything like this happens, and an explanation is demanded. That explanation always starts off with, "it wasn't reported properly," and then peters off. It was the same for the judge talking about extraordinary rendition of British nationals on British soil, and a few other blunders. I'm not pointing at the above to say "the cheek of them!" but to express my own personal aggrievation at the number of insults and snubs that are just thrown out there with no real aim, at allies and enemies alike. Its unseemly, and it makes average people (and I count myself among them) actively hostile to the idea of doing anything with the US, be that militarily, economically or anything else for that matter. It's like trying to be friends with the belligerent large kid in the corner who'll call you names but still demand to be invited over for tea. I am not impressed.
2. First human-animal hybrids to go ahead (The Times)
They're gonna be 99.9% human. I'm honestly OK with that. Your ethical mileage may vary.
3. Foreign Office sued for sex and race discrimination (Independent)
I am not the least bit shocked about this. Working with various PSOs and going from director to director to interview and question, it's amazing how white and male the civil service really is above a certain rank.
4. One of the last taboos: abuse of men by women (Independent)
5. Seven dead in Kenyan protests (BBC)
6. Of interest to no one but accountants and civil servants: Watchdog exposes PFI charges gap
Yeah, no kidding. Auditing them's a work of art, too.
7. Killings after the war (NY Times) 121 cases of soldiers killing people (usually members of their immediate family) after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
8. China woman in legal first over abortion case (Telegraph) A woman is suing the Chinese authorities in a legal first after being forced to have an abortion at nine months' pregnant.
This is both abhorrent and... I don't know how Chinese law works, but in some countries (and in some cases), if the infant can survive outside the body of the mother, killing it (eg in this case) means you can be charged with murder. I'll be following this case with great interest.
In non-world news, come join the fun at
ninebillion. You know you want to.
no subject
Yep, that's about right. But I hope you remember (and I know you do) that there are plenty of Americans who are endlessly ashamed of the fact, and who don't contribute to the U.S. bully-policy. You could argue that I'm contributing by not fight against it, but that's unfair, imo. Not everyone has to be hyper-involved in politics and world affairs, yaknow? Anyway, this comment could go on forever, but i have to run to class in the next 30 or be late. Byeeeee!
no subject
It's not the people, just the administration, always the administration. But it's the US administration wanting to be friends with the Uk administration, meanwhile everyone else spends their time being pissed off. *sigh*
Anyways, old topic, old rant on my part. I cannot wait until November. (Because you guys at least get an election. Gordon bloody Brown keeps swiping ours away every chance he gets, the bastard.)