Year Of Debauchery: Prague Awaits

PRAGUE AWAITS and our Year Of Debauchery is almost at an end, unfortunately. SusiQ is hitting the big 40 in the coming weeks so as a treat I decided to swish her off to Prague for a long weekend. Thankfully I just about managed to drag my ass out of work in time and I’m looking forward to a few days R&R in Prague.

I’ve done the usual thing of booking some luxurious establishment with all the trimmings so I’m really looking forward to some late nights and long morings. Everyone tells me Prague is a great spot, although I’m apparently as likely to be handed a leaflet for a string quartet recital as I am for a strip club… should make things interesting indeed.

I haven’t planned anything other than the accommodation, so as usual it will be a case of wandering into and out of all kinds of trouble along the way. The only downside is the early flight and the unbearable airport queueing and security shite we now consider ‘normal’ these days.

Still – with a bed like this one waiting for me at the far end, who cares right? No idea what the local dishes or drinks are and I don’t even have any currency sorted out; all that can wait until we get there. One way or another this weekend is going to be a blast. So – as a result of my impending R&R updates at the site here are going to be low and slow over the next few days.

Try to behave yourselves, while I’m away, misbehaving

Europe: A Politically Stagnant & Morally Stunted Windbag

YET ANOTHER report has emerged from the EU about the complicity of certain European states in either direct or indirect support and facilitation of the illegal detention of EU (and other) citizens as part of the CIA’s “Rendition” programme. This time around it’s the turn of the European Parliament, and more specifically Claudio Fava, an Italian MEP who has been responsible for the production of this report.

This is not the first such report it must be noted. I’ve written about this topic on many occasions in the past, most notably the following pieces entitled “Europe’s Complicity: A Web Of Detentions & Transfer” which charted the routes and destinations of the CIA rendition flights within Europe and “A Happy Hunting Ground For Foreign Security Services” which explored the complicity of certain European states in facilitating the CIA and their programme of illegal activities within European borders and then there was a piece entitled “Council Of Europe Confirms CIA Rendition Flights” which – as the title suggests – offered proof of the existence and support for these so-called rendition flights.

It’s actually quite depressing that here – yet again – we have another report, from another European body (although still in draft form at this point) which seems to validate all the allegations and suspicions thus far about the USA’s policy of detention in Europe. It’s just one more useless nail in a seemingly impenetrable coffin for USA because no matter how many sodding reports are produced, nothing is ever done about it.

So for anyone who hasn’t followed this saga to date here is a quick summation of the reality of living in Europe and dealing with the completely illegal activities of the CIA:-

Numerous European sources, reports, government bodies, human rights agencies and I dare say private punters have confirmed that the CIA operated illegally within European borders citing such activities as kidnapping, illegal detention and torture.

US President George W Bush admitted in September that the CIA had used prisons abroad for the secret detention of terror suspects, but he did not specify where the prisons were.

Several EU member states were directly complicit in the facilitation of these illegal activities

Other member states simply looked the other way when it suited them.

Nothing has been done about it, unless of course you count the seemingly endless commissioning of additional reports into the affair.

And what does this teach us? It basically confirms that Europe is a toothless, half blind (when it suits) politically stagnant and morally stunted windbag which seems more interested in hearing it’s own opinions about the problems than actually doing anything to fix them.

I’ve never been a particularly huge fan of Europe as a federated state, and I’m certainly opposed to any form of common European defence force, but I will admit to being bowled over by the success of the Euro as a currency thus far (although the removal of some trade barriers and the implementation of tax harmonisation wouldn’t hurt!)… but based on all this waffle and inaction over what is clearly a violation of human rights by the CIA on European soil, I just don’t see what the benefit of European membership is.

They talk a good fight, but when you get right down to it… they do fuck all about the issue.

50% To 80% Of EU Email Is Actually Spam!

I GET A FAIR AMOUNT of spam in my inbox, but there is no way it’s 50% spam. Although lately it does seem to be growing. Still, according to a recent European Commission report over 50% of all emails in Europe are actually spam. In some cases people are reporting as much as 80% of their email as being spam. That’s a staggering statistic when you think about the volume of mails floating around the ‘net.

Of course regular readers will already know how I feel about spam and spammers. Since we already know who they are and where they live, I really don’t see what the problem is with funding a quick and dirty solution.

The interesting thing from this report (according to an article over at the Inquirer entitled “EU Plagued By Foreign Spam” is that the vast majority of this spam is generated from outside the EU, and in particular from the USA and China. The USA is generating around 21.6% of spam and China is following close behind at 13.4% – all aimed at Europe.

So I guess Orwell was right after all, in a warped kind of way

Still, the Chinese are amazing at taking something and making it better, cheaper and faster. I wouldn’t be surprised if they turned out to be the biggest spammers on the planet within a year or two at the rate they are growing. There is a history locally in China of cloning things and making them so good that the originals look like fakes.

I still prefer my direct solution to these spammers though; the bastards don’t deserve anything better. I don’t care which nationality, colour or religion they are, I’m an equal opportunist problem solver

The F Word & Japanese Crash Weirdness

REGULAR READERS will know I’ve been playing around with a Firefox extension known as StumbleUpon, which is essentially a random site thingy. I’ve already written about some of the little gems that I’ve stumbled upon previously, but today I came across two absolutely surreal items which I just have to let you know about.

First up is the F Word. If you’ve ever wanted to know how to use the most flexible word in the English language, then this little animation will prove most instructional, and amusing. Enjoy – but make sure the kids aren’t around when you try this one.

Then there is a very weird (but strangely addictive) Japanese game which seems to revolve around running over someone on a bicycle, and then seeing how far you can throw the body based on angles and velocities and all sorts of crazy shit. It’s mad – I grant you that, and called Nanaca – Crash, but for some reason it’s also particularly addictive as you try to best your previous distance. My record is 3006.23 meters so let me know if you manage to do any better!

No Language Barriers On The ‘Net

I HAD A WONDERFUL experience last night. No – not that kind of experience – wash your mind out; I’m referring to an email I picked up from the site. A complete stranger from France had found my site, gone to the trouble of spending a few days reviewing it and then took some time to make contact with me and let me know what they thought, but here’s the kicker – they didn’t speak / write much English so the majority of the mail was in french.

Enter the Internet to save the day

A quick search of free online translator tools ensued and within seconds I was able to completely understand the email, and indeed (and more importantly from my perspective) I was able to construct a response in English, and then get the translator to craft some readable french from it.

I know this may be old hat to some of you, but for me it’s just a wonderful by-product of the net which I haven’t actually used much as yet, mostly because I haven’t had a need to. In general I’m absolutely delighted to receive comments and feedback about the site, but now I can even get ‘em in a foreign language and it makes no difference – I can still understand it. It’s stupid but I love the fact that the Internet is just soooo good at breaking down barriers between people.

For anyone who doesn’t speak/write french but can use a search tool – here is an extract from the email I received from this reader. Go find a translator and enjoy and to anyone else out there who likes the site but doesn’t have English as a main language – send me anything you want in any language you want, I’m all ears

Vraiment très interessant de lire tous ces articles et contribuer à se changer les idées sur la vision qu’on a depuis la France, des américains. Je me suis instruit, j’ai ri, je me suis révolté. Merci beaucoup pour ces moments.

Sister, Daughter, Mother, Grandmother… Suicide Bomber

I WROTE A DISTURBING piece back in April this year entitled “Mother, Daughter, Suicide Bomber” which explored the origins of and recent growth in suicide bombings being carried out by women. At that time I felt that we had crossed over some invisible line, that we (as a species) had simply lost our way based upon the fact that young Palestinian women now felt they had no recourse but to strap bombs onto themselves and go hunting Israeli soldiers.

In that particular instance the suicide bomber was pregnant when she carried out her attack. Today I am absolutely horrified to discover that another invisible line has been crossed. Not only are the young women of Palestine throwing their lives on the funeral pyres, but now the oldest of them are joining the ranks of suicide bombers.

A 64-year-old grandmother became the oldest Palestinian suicide bomber when she blew herself up near Israeli troops. She was later identified as Fatma Omar An-Najar. Her relatives said she was 64 – by far the oldest of the more than 100 Palestinian suicide bombers who have attacked Israelis over the past six years.

She lived in Jebaliya town, next to the refugee camp where she tried to blow up Israeli soldiers. An-Najar took part in a women’s demonstration to divert Israeli troops while Hamas militants escaped from a mosque earlier this month, reflecting increased involvement by Gaza women in the struggle. Today she committed suicide and tried to take out as many Israeli soldiers with her because recently as a result of Israeli attacks one grandson was killed and another has had his leg amputated and is now wheelchair bound.

When will this insanity stop? At what point is enough, enough?

Caution Is Advised!