(no subject)

[katsaris]

It's been way too long since I last updated my journal... So on various topics:

Politics:
Head over to bellatrys (aka Philosopher at Large) ' livejournal for a perspective on the war in Iraq that's at the same time deeper and much more detailed, informed, comprehensive and multi-aspected than mine has been. Just on the last few days she's included a comparison between real-life and fictional orcs (the latter are much nicer characters all around), conspiracy theories on what's been happening with Chalabi, and a view on Fallujah which has actually managed to make me just a tiny bit more hopeful of the situation on Iraq.

Speaking of politics, I partook in an exceptionally exhausting flamewar over at Rantburg, on Sunday. I think it's the first time in my life that I've ever been called a goatfucker. Or a communist for that matter. But even more annoying than that were the two-three times that people were asking me questions and were assuming in advance (and wrongly for that matter) that I wouldn't be able to answer.

I think my participation at Rantburg is swiftly approaching its end. It was useful as a source of hard information, but the fanatical idiocy there is way too rampant, and seems to be becoming worse with each passing week.

Fandom:
Check out www.jkrowling.com -- it used to be a boring thing about publishers, I believe, but last few days she's updated it to be this huge Flash experience, with delightful pieces of info, hidden items if you dig in deep enough, so forth.

I've already gotten three such items, and I'm sure there must be atleast one more, if I could figure out how to open the door that says "do not disturb". :-)

Trips:

I have seen the bellybutton of the world.

It is an outie.

And for those of you who don't know what the bellybutton of the world is -- shame, shame on you! ;-) You'll just have to wait for a more detailed post one of these days. Cheers.

Comments

you're brave

[greenbaron.livejournal.com]

I just read that rantburg stuff. You're rave to go in there...it would be like me going into a Michael Moore chat room.

I'm a conservative libertarian hawk who considers Attila the Hun a personal hero and I was taken aback by how irrational the comments can be. Most of my snide comments are insensitive humor (like SJ), but thsoe guys are serious in their attacks.

I am surprised you put up with it for that long, and people (especially Americans) need some basic ettiquette. On the other hand I wish my blog was big enough to merit a flame war.

BTW, Jen almost won an award for most annoying right-wing blogger and I can see why.

Re: you're brave

[katsaris.livejournal.com]

I don't think it has much to do with bravery -- I think it has to do with frustration, anger and annoyance instead. The frustration and anger of letting idiotic asshole commentators pass undisputed in their fanatical ignorance, versus the quite predictable frustration and anger of trying to argue with the equivalent of a brick wall.

Most of the time the first frustration is bigger, and so I comment and intervene -- until eventually the second frustration grows big enough and I drop out of the forum, because of the futility of the whole exercise. I won't comment again in Rantburg.

[evilstorm.livejournal.com]

...No comment. Rantburg is crazy. I'll check it frequently, but not sure about posting.

If you know any saner forums, I'd be much obliged if you could pass'em along.