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The United Nations' Security Council is such a joke. I know I already harped on this, but reading all the press this weekend about how this "diplomatic approach" is much more effective than the "warmongers" who just want to kill people, makes me ill. So I took solace in reading USS Clueless' fine entry on the behind-the-scenes action with the UN - here is a snippet, but the whole article is worth the read:
There's enormous difference of opinion in the news reports from commentators and the statements made by various politicians about whether the resolution just passed would require a second action by the UNSC before hostilities begin. My opinion on that is twofold:
1. It does not require a second UNSC resolution, but
2. When the time comes, we'll ask for one and get it. Rapidly.
I think that this is the deal that was worked out in private between Bush and Chirac in the phone call which led to passage of the resolution. Bush said he'd consult the UNSC again if and only if Chirac promised not to obstruct the process next time, and Bush made it clear that if there was any sign whatever of obstruction that he'd kiss off the UN entirely. With a congressional authorization for war in his pocket and a major electoral victory just behind him, this was no empty threat. Chirac, anxious to encourage at least the appearance of American multilateralism, has decided that it's better to give America what it wants than to try to stand up to us and by so doing prove that France and the UN are unimportant.
The US is going to do what it wants to do, but France can make it look multilateral by agreeing to American plans ahead of time. Any hope that France could actually alter American plans died Tuesday.
The reason why we'll ask when the time comes, and why we'll get what we want (a second resolution almost immediately authorizing war) is because it will be less important to us than to France and Russia. In reality, we'll be doing them a favor by asking, and everyone knows it."
As Andrew said to me last week, "Now you know why [the Brits] can't stand the French."
All right, enough hostility for now - they'll be plenty of that around Baghdad soon. Here is an idea from Amish Tech Support on how to deal with junk snail mail:
"One thing that has worked for me in the past to get rid of some marketing paperspam is to send back all "No Postage Necessary" begging for money letters with a single penny in it and a strip of paper asking that I be removed from their mailing lists. As the cost of postage goes up, so does the cost of their continuing to annoy me every few weeks. When they don't put on free stamps or No Postage Necessary meter postage, well, I send back the penny anyway with no return address. Almost all of the time, the Post Office delivers it postage due.
This petty penny behavior has worked for me, despite the fact that it only costs these places maybe thirty cents for their error. Three or four pennies after a few months gets their attention more than nothing at all."
[Now I just need to find electronic pennies to send back with my e-spam.]
Here's a good Advertising-Politics juxtaposition. With pets:
In Charlestown, West Virginia, the West Virginia Ethics Commission ruled that two state-owned bloodhounds, as public servants, cannot serve as pitchdogs in television ads for dog food.
Buckeye Feed Mills Inc. of Dalton, Ohio, provides free food for the Division of Forestry's bloodhounds. But the commission ruled Thursday that allowing the dogs to appear in the company's ads would violate the state Ethics Act, which bars public servants from using their public positions for their own private financial gain or the gain of others.
In this case, the dogs' public office would be used for the company's private gain, the commission said.
Forestry officials had wanted the dogs to appear in the ads to promote public awareness of the agency's bloodhound program. The dogs are used in investigations of arson-related forest fires.
OK, so the bold emphasis was mine, but still. Once again, politics are rampant cesspools of graft and corruptions. I hope both bloodhounds are soundly defeated the next time they run for office.
And now for something completely different, the I Can't Believe It's Not The Advertising Slogan Generator. A site that comes up with randomly-generated advertising slogans. Today's blog caption is a result, along with these tasty nuggets:
The World's Favourite Diddakoi.
When You've Got Diddakoi, Flaunt It.
Diddakoi Is Good For You.
Don't be vague. Ask for Diddakoi.
Say It With Diddakoi.
Obey Your Diddakoi.
Is It Live, Or Is It Diddakoi?
G'head - knock yourself out.
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Quote du jour:
"Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions."
-- Edward R. Murrow (1908 - 1965)
US broadcast journalist
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