BlackHat's Journal: And some filthies/And some weirdies/And some queries/Just 4u

I've ref'ed; the quote, the toon, and, more often than not, the news, with my little earworm titles. But today, I reference into a thread in my own JE's comments and continue it on into the this JE.

Next thing you know it'll be dancing hamster gifs and blink tags.

To recap tho'-- JC had twigged to yesterdays texttoon's punch line. To which I then reply "What happens when the intoxication of success has evaporated?" as acknowledgment of his correct answer and of Kerry's future. Added a side of Meat Loaf about praying [highlighted the going hell again line, heh]. Looks like I lost him on the Mott the Hoople cross ref [discography of the members are a major junction in music-space {which is much like library-space, only with more footnotes (strangely it has about the same number of discarded banana skins)}]. The HST-bat may have failed to reinforce the Kerry aspect, alas. But, none the less it came all back together via Eno & Bowie and Low. I assumed his last ref was to the Sam Butler [or Hunter, both?] quote, but sleep overtook me before I could repair the 'crash' damage and rev'up the shark[HST:FaLotCT]. Thus I continue our journey illuminated by the dash board lights [of course]. MM: You said in a recent interview that "Everything should be done to encourage more sex and violence on television".

JGB: Yes, I did say that. And I think it's true. I mean, I live in the most censored nation in the Western world. There's no question about that. Many people have said so. Film, TV videos, and art are more heavily censored here than anywhere in Western Europe or the U.S.

Censorship in England has a clear political role. It represents the fear of the established order that given any sort of imaginative freedom, or too much of it, the power structure will collapse. If people see sex and violence treated frankly, they may turn the same frank eye upon their own political situation. And start climbing up the base of the pyramid towards the apex. The people in real control sanitise the view of the world for us. Absolutely.

Down, down, at the Policemans Ball/
They're all dancing in a line/
Keep on gruntin' boys you know you're doin' fine/

You'all can play too. Just post a comment and/or sing along. Just make sure your piece of paper covers your naughty bits. Cha Cha Cha!

Quote:
The means and forms which Strategy uses are in fact so extremely simple, so well known by their constant repetition, that it only appears ridiculous to sound common sense when it hears critics so frequently speaking of them with high-flown emphasis. Turning a flank, which has been done a thousand times, is regarded here as a proof of the most brilliant genius, there as a proof of the most profound penetration, indeed even of the most comprehensive knowledge. Can there be in the book--world more absurd productions?

It is still more ridiculous if, in addition to this, we reflect that the same critic, in accordance with prevalent opinion, excludes all moral forces from theory, and will not allow it to be concerned with anything but the material forces, so that all must be confined to a few mathematical relations of equilibrium and preponderance, of time and space, and a few lines and angles. If it were nothing more than this, then out of such a miserable business there would not be a scientific problem for even a schoolboy.

But let us admit: there is no question here about scientific formulas and problems; the relations of material things are all very simple; the right comprehension of the moral forces which come into play is more difficult. Still, even in respect to them, it is only in the highest branches of Strategy that moral complications and a great diversity of quantities and relations are to be looked for, only at that point where Strategy borders on political science, or rather where the two become one, and there, as we have before observed, they [political powers,see below] have more influence on the "how much" and "how little" is to be done than on the form of execution. Where the latter is the principal question, as in the single acts both great and small in War, the moral quantities are already reduced to a very small number.

Thus, then, in Strategy everything is very simple, but not on that account very easy. Once it is determined from the relations of the State what should and may be done by War, then the way to it is easy to find; but to follow that way straightforward, to carry out the plan without being obliged to deviate from it a thousand times by a thousand varying influences, requires, besides great strength of character, great clearness and steadiness of mind, and out of a thousand men who are remarkable, some for mind, others for penetration, others again for boldness or strength of will, perhaps not one will combine in himself all those qualities which are required to raise a man above mediocrity in the career of a general.

It may sound strange, but for all who know War in this respect it is a fact beyond doubt, that much more strength of will is required to make an important decision in Strategy than in tactics. In the latter we are hurried on with the moment; a Commander feels himself borne along in a strong current, against which he durst not contend without the most destructive consequences, he suppresses the rising fears, and boldly ventures further. In Strategy, where all goes on at a slower rate, there is more room allowed for our own apprehensions and those of others, for objections and remonstrances, consequently also for unseasonable regrets; and as we do not see things in Strategy as we do at least half of them in tactics, with the living eye, but everything must be conjectured and assumed, the convictions produced are less powerful. The consequence is that most Generals, when they should act, remain stuck fast in bewildering doubts. --Carl von Clausewitz

I would expect that many of you have already noted the, often quoted, small catch phrases, of Carl's, bare little resemblance to the whole cloth. Many critics have said he avoids the true political questions and sticks to the battle field in 'On War'. It is true his view of nations and the political layer is from the military position. He, none the less, tells you, right out, that there is a join of the camps and the effect it has. As I note in this section with the insert comment above.

In this run I have tried to present enough quotes to put forward the idea that --Nationalism is neutral. Neither a good idea nor a bad idea. Where we have seen the problems, so far, has been in the expectations and application layer. With that in mind the next few quotes will be on some created nations and their timelines. Until then.

News divided on non-ethnic lines:
In the wall. Barbed wire fences up to six feet (1.83 metres) high were put up during the night, and Berliners woke this morning to find themselves living in a divided city. ...if you won't eat your MEEEEAT!!! MR. KASHIYAMA: My first question (inaudible) Constitution, Article 9 issue. The other day you met with Mr. Nakagawa. He explained that you mentioned Article 9 was some obstacle for the U.S.-Japan security alliance. I really want to know what exactly you said and what is your idea about that issue?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Yes, and I, not only did I meet with Minister Nakagawa, I also met Mr. Okada of the DPJ, Minshuto.

MR. KASHIYAMA: Yes.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: And I answered this question for him. I said, first of all, that Article 9 is a matter for Japanese to decide. It's the Japanese constitution. But I said to him further, and this is what I had written in the Nye-Armitage Report, that it is clear that Article 9 is a constraint on alliance cooperation. But having said that, I said we do respect the nature of Japanese democracy, and we respect the outcome of the democratic process, "full stop."

Then I went on to say that, however, the United States fully supports Japan in its desire to have a seat on the UN Security Council. I also made the point that it is the UN Security Council which is the executive decision-making organization in the United Nations, who makes decisions about deployments of (inaudible) overseas. Pass the wasabi, thanks. Who invited no-neck GI-joe? He's ruining the at-moss.

Anti-Chavez march. Hundreds of thousands of opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have been taking part in a final rally for Sunday's referendum. Voters are to decide whether President Chavez should stay in office. The opposition marched from six starting points in the capital Caracas before converging on a motorway junction in the east of the city. Earlier President Chavez told journalists he would easily win the vote. Palast's 2c.

Kenyan novelist Ngugi wa Thiong'o and his wife were attacked in his home by armed men late on Wednesday night in the capital, Nairobi.

Real Haiti. Genuflecting to Washington was not exactly a problem for Trinidad and Tabago's prime minister Patrick Manning, who had no honor to lose when he said, "What has happened in the past we consider very unfortunate, we don't like it at all. However, we think the time has come to move on." Equally strange is the conduct of Barbados' Owen Arthur, who has been all but silent on the issue. Barbados' seemingly compromised position is reminiscent of the late Tom Adams' role in the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada, when Barbados' then Prime Minister closed the island's airport to prevent U.S. medical students from fleeing Grenada, thus removing Washington's pretext to invade the island.

"I just want you to know how hard I've been working for you here in California. I've been organising Republicans for Bush-Cheney. I've been organising Austrian-born body builders for Bush-Cheney. I have even been organising girlie-men for Bush-Cheney..."

OYAITJ: 42491 -- Live on TV, broken Yahoo news links[bastards!!!], Newsnight reporter Susan Watts's evidence to the Hutton inquiry today offered little comfort to her colleague Andrew Gilligan and employer, the BBC. Not only did she deny that David Kelly had told her that Alastair Campbell had been involved in "transforming the weapons dossier" but she also accused BBC bosses of attempting to "mould" her stories so they collaborated Mr Gilligan's Today programme reports., and Friends may be electric... but 200 only.

Texttoon:
Fumetti: Stock photo of George W Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger looking at the crowd. Overlayed speech bubble for Arnold has; "Look at all those suckers." George replies; "Bee-yuta-ful ain't it?"