(no subject)
The news tonight filled me with an urge to write a rant about politics and current events. I then got caught up in a book and the urge has safely faded. I can remember the first paragraph's worth, which was mostly crappy introduction about why I don't like to talk about politics, but the rest is gone. It's probably better that way.
Oh yeah, it was about the latest reports about suspected American abuse of prisoners. The thing it most reminds me of is the song I'm listening to right now. He makes some comments about the effect of the modern media on high-profile crimes, like terrorism - in short, criminals can play directly to the media and create a response far out of proportion to their effort and actions.
Modern warfare is really not all that different. It's shaped and driven by the media, in a vicious cycle. For instance, I'd wager that the media are primarily responsible for the sharp declines in recruiting numbers for the last several months - that's not quite the same as responsibility in a blame sense, mind you. Which of course gave the media a story. Funny how that works.
In other news, I find Mrs. Bush much less aggravating than I find her husband. Probably because she sounds less stupid, and because she is fortunate enough that she can take vocal positions only on things which are fairly uncontroversial domestically. But I don't wince when I hear her speak on the news :-)
In other other news, I got a library card yesterday. The Squirrel Hill branch of the library has finally reopened - very pretty, very library-like, not much of a fiction collection. But it did let me pick up a copy of Archform: Beauty by L. E. Modesitt Jr. It was a glorious read; to anyone who likes science fiction which makes you think about society, I recommend it. The main branch in Oakland has his latest book so I'm going to have to make my way down there this week.
In other other other news eternal_fish is now back in range of the crappily NIH American cell phone network so I got to talk to her today. This makes me happy.
Oh yeah, it was about the latest reports about suspected American abuse of prisoners. The thing it most reminds me of is the song I'm listening to right now. He makes some comments about the effect of the modern media on high-profile crimes, like terrorism - in short, criminals can play directly to the media and create a response far out of proportion to their effort and actions.
Modern warfare is really not all that different. It's shaped and driven by the media, in a vicious cycle. For instance, I'd wager that the media are primarily responsible for the sharp declines in recruiting numbers for the last several months - that's not quite the same as responsibility in a blame sense, mind you. Which of course gave the media a story. Funny how that works.
In other news, I find Mrs. Bush much less aggravating than I find her husband. Probably because she sounds less stupid, and because she is fortunate enough that she can take vocal positions only on things which are fairly uncontroversial domestically. But I don't wince when I hear her speak on the news :-)
In other other news, I got a library card yesterday. The Squirrel Hill branch of the library has finally reopened - very pretty, very library-like, not much of a fiction collection. But it did let me pick up a copy of Archform: Beauty by L. E. Modesitt Jr. It was a glorious read; to anyone who likes science fiction which makes you think about society, I recommend it. The main branch in Oakland has his latest book so I'm going to have to make my way down there this week.
In other other other news eternal_fish is now back in range of the crappily NIH American cell phone network so I got to talk to her today. This makes me happy.