Ephemeral Isle

Real World Intrusion

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:17:00 +0000

Today is one of those convergences of the planets that causes the postings of Time to collide with the shredder of Eternity. I have a client project to wind up, a huge glop of site maintenance to deal with, a breakthrough in a book proposal I've had on hold for six months, friends in town AND a seven-month old cattle dog puppy that needs to be exercised in between so he won't suddenly want to play at midnight again, so I'm going to be away from cyberspace today.

Back tomorrow.

Wang Chung

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 07:01:00 +0000

I'm going to be a bit busy today, so I suggest that in the meantime everybody Wang Chung tonight, as it were.

The Wizard of Speed & Time

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 07:01:00 +0000

A marvelous little gem from Mike Jittlov, an incredibly talented special effects artist with a love of cinema, but who never broke into the big time because he never could play by the rules. This one is a short piece called The Wizard of Speed & Time that he made into a semi-autobiographical feature film of the same title in 1989.

Think of it as an ode to the joys of drinking way too much caffeine.

Dying in Dhimmitude

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:54:00 +0000

Nottingham City Council is building a new £2.5 million multi-faith cemetery in Bulwell. What is noteworthy is that "multi-faith" in Nottingham means that all the graves, including the Christian ones, will face Mecca. According to Steve Dowling, services director for Environment and Public Protection,

In the first phase of development it has been agreed that the graves will face north east.

For people of the Muslim faith this fits in with a religious requirement, but it will also ensure a tidy appearance for the site as a whole.

What a great slogan: Keep Britain Tidy, Accept Dhimmitude.

Tip o' the hat to Drinking From Home.

Tesla Memorial

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:07:00 +0000

A bronze statue of Nikola Tesla has been unveiled at Queen Victoria Park, Niagra Falls, Canada.

I'd say something about it sparking new interest, but that's going too low even for me.

Bin Laden Dead?

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:47:00 +0000

According to a leaked French DGSE intelligence services report, the Saudis believe that Osama Bin Laden reverted to ambient temperature back in August due to a bout of typhoid.

We've been down this road too many times since Tora Bora, but we can always hope. One thing is for certain, the fact that he hasn't even been seen on video for a couple of years makes me suspect that he's a brain in a jar by now-- possibly awaiting installation in a new cyborg killbot.

Poll Results

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 07:01:00 +0000

Damn!

Sauron, Call Your Service

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 16:51:00 +0000

One Ring to rule them, and one Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them, and in the dark bind them.

It isn't quite like that, but the Remember Ring is a first step. Slip this on your finger and it's programmed to heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit on a specific day *cough* anniversary *cough* every hour for 24 hours-- and it runs on a thermopile that makes electricity from your body heat, so you can't hope for the batteries to run down.

My wife is fitting me up for one as we speak.

The Bishop!

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:36:00 +0000

A cleric for our times.

Introducing...

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 07:01:00 +0000

And now, may I present the newest member of the Szondy family: Carl the cattle dog. Actually, he's a cattle dog mix, but why let that ruin a good moniker?

I shall refrain from doting doggy anecdotes... For now.

Perhaps

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:15:00 +0000

Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, quoting Samuel Huntington of "Clash of Civilisations" fame:

The fundamental problem for the West is not Islamic fundamentalism. It is Islam, a different civilisation whose people are convinced of the superiority of their culture and are obsessed with the inferiority of their power.

This isn't just a problem for the West, but for moderate Muslims, who tend not to have the theological chops of the fundamentalists, as well. I sincerely hope that it isn't that bad, but we'd be fools not to consider the possibility that what is needed is not just to defeat the Jihadists in the field, but to begin an Islamic Reformation to undercut their ideological roots.

Mickey Mouse Mars.

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 07:01:00 +0000

The first trip to Mars circa 1957, courtesy of Werner Von Braun and Walt Disney.

Just Not Getting It

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:35:00 +0000

The Home Secretary Mr. John Reid was heckled by a Muslim "activist" who said he was "furious" about "state terrorism by the police" and called Mr. Reid an "enemy" of Islam.

Imagine a German immigrant doing that in Britain in 1943 and you'll see that both the government and the Muslim "community" have a very long way to go.

Anti-Terrorist Fish

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:05:47 +0000

They couldn't find any great whites, so they had to settle for blue gills instead.

Big Brother is Shouting at You

david@davidszondy.com (David) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 02:34:00 +0000

Not content with spying on the population, Middlesbrough is now equipping CCTV cameras with tannoys to shout at people when they ~~disobey party directives~~ misbehave.

If this sort of thing goes on, Middlesbrough will soon enjoy scenes like this (courtesy of George Orwell):

'Smith!' screamed the shrewish voice from the telescreen. '6079 Smith W.! Yes, you! Bend lower, please! You can do better than that. You're not trying. Lower, please! That's better, comrade. Now stand at ease, the whole squad, and watch me.'

A sudden hot sweat had broken out all over Winston's body. His face remained completely inscrutable. Never show dismay! Never show resentment! A single flicker of the eyes could give you away. He stood watching while the instructress raised her arms above her head and -- one could not say gracefully, but with remarkable neatness and efficiency -- bent over and tucked the first joint of her fingers under her toes.

'There, comrades! That's how I want to see you doing it. Watch me again. I'm thirty-nine and I've had four children. Now look.' She bent over again. 'You see my knees aren't bent. You can all do it if you want to,' she added as she straightened herself up. 'Anyone under forty-five is perfectly capable of touching his toes. We don't all have the privilege of fighting in the front line, but at least we can all keep fit. Remember our boys on the Malabar front! And the sailors in the Floating Fortresses! Just think what they have to put up with. Now try again. That's better, comrade, that's much better,' she added encouragingly as Winston, with a violent lunge, succeeded in touching his toes with knees unbent, for the first time in several years.

What happy times are ahead of us!