What's he on about now?

In case the articles, essays and opinions throughtout this site just weren't enough for you, here's my online diary (a.k.a. 'blog'). It's as close as you'll come to the inside of my head, so don't say I didn't warn you
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   Monday, March 29, 2004

OH, I GIVE UP

How, I wondered, can I have any hope for the future of the human race when today's entertainment news covered plans for a Chinese version of Maxim magazine? According to Kerin O'Connor, international licensing director for the magazine's publisher, "Guys are very similar worldwide. They have the same kind of aspirations for the way they want to live their lives, and they have the same kind of interests." And they all want Maxim magazine, apparently. Sigh.

Factor in the real news on this ongoing slander-fest between George Bush's White House and Richard Clarke, former counter-terrorism director under the previous four presidents (gee, which has more credibility?) and you've got me in a tunnel looking desperately for that light. According to Clarke, in the months preceding September 11, 2001, the Bush White House virtually ignored every small warning about al-Qaida activity in favour of slowly developing a massive inter-departmental plan with initial meetings set for September 4th. Too little, too late.

And now? Richard Clarke, the whistle-blower, is the one standing before Congress and saying, "I failed you. We tried hard, but that doesn't matter because we failed. And for that failure, I would ask...for your understanding and for your forgiveness." There's no guarantee that anything would have turned out differently if Clarke had been heeded but...well, you don't see George Bush making that speech, do you? I don't know about the rest of you but the world doesn't seem any safer after three years of Dubya in charge.

So, in the midst of such aggravating hypocrisy, I look for the little things, like Bill Mahar's attempt to find an acceptable middle ground on the gay marriage issue or Julianne Moore's attack on "insane" Hollywood facelifts. Reading stuff like this makes me realize that sane, snarky people are still out in the world, trying in some small way to fix it.

Labels: George W Bush