What's with all the torture?

Okay this really gets my goat, or however the expression goes.

We know it happened, we know it was authorised. So prosecute someone already. I can't believe people aren't more pissed off about this.

Look it's like this - Obama's not gonna do anything cos he's got so much more shit to push through in this administration, and he wants some Republicans to support it. In my view he's wasting his time since they have opposed every major piece of legislation he's proposed so far, but I get it - spirit of bipartisanship and all that malarkey.

The only way to guarantee things get done in government, is for people to get so pissed off about something that it will cost votes to oppose it. So the American people need to get angry about this. Ok I get that it's a shameful thing, and people in this country (and the West in general) don't like talking about shameful things (re: slavery, annihilating indigenous populations, exploiting the third world), but this is not something that you can brush under the carpet - it's not going away. People died.

It's like the whole Iraq war thing. People were all gung ho about it when it kicked off, like "USA USA" shit, and then when it was costing thousands of lives, and $10B a month, people started getting all antsy. Even Obama opposed it only as a strategic blunder. That's not the point! No-one has a right to invade a sovereign nation except in self-defence.

Empires rise and fall and I think this one's falling right now. You just have to look at the facts, all the indications that are being indicated by the indicator, or whatever that Bush guy used to say. But there's an opportunity to strengthen the framework that makes sure the next empire (China) doesn't completely fuck you over when they snatch the baton. These are embodied in the UN and the Geneva convention, so start playing by the rules and you'll be able to call someone out if they break them too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4E0UtxI7b0

Wise Words / Guiding Principles

So the older I get, the more I seem to notice myself using the phrases that my Nan and Grandad used to say to me when I was a bairn visiting them in Norfolk. So here's my take on a few:

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"
Total understatement - a bird in the hand is worth a gazillion in the bush! They say you never know what you have until it's gone, and man when it's gone, it blows.

"Actions speak louder than words"
SO true. What people say and what they do are often 2 different things. Language is often used to communicate your conception of something that you will make happen in the real world. So make it happen! I know this guy who is always talking about what he will do but he only folllows through on it about 50% of the time. So whenever he tells me something I simultaneously believe him and not believe him - very 1984. I get it - you're a dreamer - it's like a play, you're playing a role and even you think it's real - that's why it's so convincing. But please don't get pissed off when people call you out on it.

"A stitch in time saves nine"
Also true. I'm totally guilty of ignoring this one in my professional life. Maybe that's why I am where I am in my career and not "higher" despite being a total ninja. I do the things I take pleasure in and neglect the things that require a little bit of forethought, hoping that they will all take care of themselves, or someone else will do it. Of course they usually go tits up and then I end up steeling myself against the inevitable backlash of why I didn't do such and such. And you know what? I couldn't care less. I'm very selfish in that if I don't want to do something, you'll probably never get me to do it, or I'll do it really badly just to piss you off, smiling sweetly all the way.

"You can't see the wood for the trees"
This ones a zinger. Life's forest is a very bewildering place, and sometimes you don't know you were in a situation until you're out of it. Going home always gives me a better perspective about what I'm doing in this country. It's true that "there's no place like home", but at the end of the day you've got to make your own life wherever it has lead you. So while this year there was a promotion with no pay raise, and my engineer wage totally sucks compared to the bean counters on the hill, I'll take solace in the fact that I kind of like what I do, and that I'm in this totally unique country with my own apartment, have enough money do go out pretty much whenever I want, an accent and good enough looks not to scare women off too fast!

"All that glitters is not gold"
Birds love shiny things. I'm always amazed at the high correlation between whether a girl likes something and how shiny it is. But all that glitters is not gold. Anyway I sort of get this one - I guess it's trying to say that things that have the characteristics of something very valuable are not always that valuable after all. No shit Sherlock, there's SO many fake people out there (I hate that word but I can't think of a better one). I saw this dude walking down Fulton Street a couple of weeks ago with a HUGE fake gold chain on. Who are you trying to kid, man? You're not rich, and even if you were I wouldn't respect you - people earn my respect or they don't get it - full stop. Anyway that's why I wear zero bling on my person, apart from my watch which works pretty much every time - thanks Grandad!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR_YtF9uFpA