The genius from the Swiss Alps
I have a rather soft spot for Switzerland, and my admiration for that independent-minded nation has just gone up another notch due to the superb win by Roger Federer in the Wimbledon men’s final yesterday. Is there a more complete player? I haven’s seen one.
I have related thoughts over at another berth of mine, Ubersportingpundit.
Comments are off for this postSo predictable
As predictable as a wet English summer, nastiness has kicked off involving antiglobalista thugs and the Scottish police in advance of the G8 summit.
I am sure that Africans suffering in places like the war-torn Sudan or Congo will be impressed. Not.
Update: I posted this almost the same time as Andrew wrote his comment. Was he channelling me or vice versa?
Comments are off for this postGo Scottish bobbies!
The hippies are rioting again; this time they are dealing with Scottish police. Who you betting on? David reports from the battle.
Comments are off for this postLive 8 worthwhile?
Besides getting Pink Floyd together with Roger Waters is the Live 8 event going achieve anything? The Telegraph has some doubts; however, they are pleased that Geldof managed to keep the event from turning into an anti-Bush rant.
Shane Frith was kind enough to send me a link to an interesting piece about while Live 8 won’t make much difference at all. The trouble with the Make Poverty History idea is that its all sentiment and does not have any basis in reality; it’s overly simplistic. There was no talk about getting rid of Mugabe and other tyrants in Africa, merely about the plaster of “debt relief”. Overall the entire thing strikes me as “white man’s burden,” Africa can’t help itself so they want the West to do it for them.
Read more Comments are off for this post4th of July linkfest
Smell the gunpowder over at Gullyborg. There is British goodness at at Tim’s. The Symphony has another collection of at least 2 month old posts. The Storyblogging Carnival is going strong this week. We got the Carnival up better late than never.
Jay reports that people are googlebombing against Steve Milloy’s Junk Science.
Homespun Radio is up for your listening pleasure as well Silent Running’s own podcast.
The New Libertarian issue is up as well.
Comments are off for this postHappy 4th of July
Brittania Revived introduced
Prologue
Michaela was definitely surprised and not pleased when David told her that Sarkis Nash had called, and more so that he would appear there at 7p.m.
“What? When did he call?”
“There was a message left on the vid this morning, neither of us was up so the vid took his message. Before you ask, he didn’t leave a number. The vid traced the call to a pay phone in Paris. Nash must be taking an early afternoon flight out of Orly”
“I haven’t talked to that berk for at least five years. He was one of the team that I set up in Zurich, about the time I was trying to recruit Kiara. Last I heard he was a “security consultant” kicking around in South America or in Africa. I heard he worked for Executive Decisions ‘till he went solo and set up his own company.”
“So he’s a merc right, a fellow soldier of fortune?
“Actually, he’s a dog of war. Not happy unless there is a full scale war going on and he’s one without an ounce of scruples as well.”
“You mean mercs have scruples? I thought the only thing that mattered was the colour of the money…” Michaela’s eyes were now firmly focused on her husband. “Uh ha, I mean present company excluded of course!”
“That’s better. But on the whole that’s pretty accurate. Most of the men I’ve met were ejectees from the various armies round the world. The U.S. Marine Corps seemed to be the largest source back in my day. Thick arms and chest with an IQ to match. I had to kill a few of them. They can be more of a liability than an asset. Oh yes and another thing, not known for being all that keen on female COs either, especially one that could kick ass, theirs in particular. One of the guys I killed challenged me to a fight after I fired him for the rape and assault of a young girl. It was a shame I actually had to kill him to prevent him from hurting anyone else. My preference would have been to see the bastard executed by firing squad, after his trial.”
As usual, when his wife began to wax poetic about her previous life as a merc, David was shocked. Married for a year and living together for three, Michaela never ceased to amaze him. In truth, much of David’s amazement was mixed with a certain degree of fear and trepidation.
