Geopol, and interests.

[zotz]

According to this article (free registration required) in the NY Times, "The White House is developing a detailed plan, modelled on the postwar occupation of japan, to install an American-led military government in Iraq if the United States topples Saddam Hussein, senior administration oficials said today."

I like the tone of this. "An American-led government" doesn't really surprise me. If they're after sticking a client government in for a bit, then they're hardly going to let China run it, are they? But "if the United States topples Saddam"? Err . . . still supposed to be maintaining the "coalition of the free peoples" line, aren't we guys? Guys? Guys . . . ?

It later points out that it four years for Germany, and six for Japan, to acquire civilian government after WWII.

In other news, I've been looking at nmg's <http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=nmg>profile. (Hi Nick. Haven't seen you in a bit, have I?) We seem to have more than the average number of shared interests, including a couple of things I can't believe I haven't listed myself (irn bru and Jan Svankmeyer are going up there sharpish), and as usual it's interesting to see what his idiosyncratic interests are, because one of them is Dave Langford.

Nobody else finds Langford interesting? many years ago I heard (from David Wingrove) a story about him which would interest a lot of people. And no, I'm not going to put it in print. Ask me when you see me.

Comments

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

Talking of interests, you're not longer my number 4 top match, you've been bumped down to 5 by lapis_lazuli.

I might find Langford interesting if I knew who he was. :}

[zotz]

Ah, the spear in my heart . . .

Dave Langford's an author (SF variety) and book reviewer. Notably he wrote a recently-republished comic novel called "The Leaky Establishment", concerning a physicist who worked at an entirely fictional atomic weapons establishment in the Thames Valley. He insists that it is in no way informed or inspired by his years working at Aldermaston.

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

:p

I think I could probably have more interests in common with you because you've listed a few that I thought about listing but decided against - although the same might be said for LL too. How many albums does one have to own from a band's oeuvre to legitimately list them as
an interest I wonder?

Ah, I found him in Google and I thought it must be that one, but there were a few different David Langfords.

[zotz]

How many albums does one have to own from a band's oeuvre to legitimately list them as an interest I wonder?

A good question. At one point the band I had most by was the Banshees (more than a dozen albums and a pile of singles as well), but I don't think I've got them listed because they're not the sort of thing I'd currently rave at people about - unlike Irn Bru or Jan Svankmeyer, frinstance. Although Budgie was very good on Never Mind the Buzzcocks the other night.

Hmmm. We've got a couple of small jets practising their aerobatics outside. There' an airshow at Duxford tomorrow.

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

I wish people would stop telling me how witty and wonderful he was. I missed it and can't find a repeat. :(

Yeah, I listed Joy Division and Big Black because although I only have a few albums, they only did a few, but I haven't listed Throwing Muses, although their first album is one of my favourites, I only have that, Chains Changed and The Fat Skier (well I've also got In A Doghouse but that doesn't count) and I'm pretty sure they did a lot more. Then again, I've put in Swans as I am very interested in them at the moment, despite only having three albums and an EP. Hmmm.

I deliberately missed out some of the old school goth bands I like too. Too many scary American deathrockers were appearing in my interest match lists as it was...

[zotz]

I missed it and can't find a repeat. :(

He didnt actually say a great deal, but he did smile and laugh a lot and seemed to be a friendly and excellent person.

and I'm pretty sure they did a lot more.

Indeed. And have another on the way, at last.

Too many scary American deathrockers were appearing in my interest match lists as it was...

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

You say that like it's a bad thing.

They were scary. Like, way out of my league scary. Substance addictions and stuff.

Anyway, can't have people thinking I'm a *cough* goth *cough*.

[jinty]

[Budgie] He didn't actually say a great deal, but he did smile and laugh a lot and seemed to be a friendly and excellent person.
Budgie is indeed a friendly and excellent person, and cute too. andypop's mum sold Siouxie a house in the Gascon region of France, and used to have dinner with them various times -- and once, A and I were there too. Siouxie was nice but Budgie was lovely.

[reddragdiva]

"How many albums does one have to own from a band's oeuvre to legitimately list them as an interest I wonder?"

I just tried to list "Jeffrey Archer is still in jail" as an interest, but it wouldn't let me. I suspect a nest of Tory conspirators at livejournal.com.

[buca.livejournal.com]

This is the guy who kept rad sources in his fridge at home yeah ? I keep meaning to ask Kenny (who may or may not work for a very similar place also in the Thames valley that of course is not Aldermaston either) about this. Kenny has (alledgedly) in the past also made reference to a book written in the Star Wars world bout 'yet another death star[tm]' that is basically a similar rip at Livermore/Los Alamos practices.

BTW, G, the Hasselblad was well wicked to play around with - its absolutley gorgeous. Tibs had a Rolei 6x6 Medium format unit there also which is in one of the photos we took (I'll post em up once the scannage etc is done next week). He also has a Rolei 35T that he picked up in August (I obtained a Rolei 35B yesterday to play with also, but the light meter seems 'stuck' - slight scratch on lens also but will have a fart about with it methinks). A cool evening playing with old black boxes.

[zotz]

Hmm. It was one very particular one, if the story is to be believed.

I remember Kenny saying that the Leaky Establishment is cult reading at his (entirely unrelated) place of work. And that parts of the book are said to be unvarnished truth.

its absolutley gorgeous.

You completely fail to surprise me.

He also has a Rolei 35T that he picked up in August (I obtained a Rolei 35B

Mine's a 35LED, which my dad got new twentyish years ago. I've had it for more than half that. The top of the case isn't entirely firm, and at some positions of wobble (I think that's the correct technical term) the shutter release misbehaves. Probably just something needing tightening.

A cool evening playing with old black boxes.

Lovely.

[hirez.livejournal.com]

... And brother to John Langford, of Three Johns, Mekons, Waco Brothers, Chuck Death (etc, etc) fame.

(Who is a splendid fellow and didn't laugh too hard when I was struck with fanboyish gibbering on being introduced to him in the boozer opposite the Legendary TJ's some years ago.)

[zotz]

Okay, you've floored me. I'm stunned.

[hirez.livejournal.com]

Which, the Three Johns connection or that John-boy Langford is a Splendid Fellow?

http://www.ansible.demon.co.uk/raq.html

[zotz]

The former. I had no idea.

[damerell.livejournal.com]

If we're really lucky they'll create an economic monolith that will crush them, like Japan. :-)

I read 'Ansible' monthly, and of course used to see Langford's "Critical " book review columns in now defunct British roleplaying magazines.

[zotz]

And in one one wishes were defunct?

[damerell.livejournal.com]

I can't think of a non-defunct prozine - I think counting Valkyrie as active these days is rather optimistic, given that AFAIK it still has not managed more issues than Arcane in spite of starting publication before it.

Er. But perhaps you had something else in mind? Ah, perhaps you mean White Dwarf; I regard WD as effectively defunct as a roleplaying magazine.

[zotz]

WD indeed. Still going strong.

[zotz]

Incidentally, it was good to see you again last night. It's been too long.

[damerell.livejournal.com]

Well, if Sexbat gets his act together and does it again, it may be less long next time. But yeah, it was nice to see you, too. I might be up in Cambridge for a bit this Christmas; I'll let you know.

[zotz]

Cool. We seem to be having a Christmas Eve Calling, you know.

[damerell.livejournal.com]

I doubt I'll actually be around on Christmas Eve, alas.

Langford

[swisstone.livejournal.com]

Indeed, this is clearly wrong. I have therefore spread the word to the fannish LJ community I'm in (many of whom are personal friends of Dave's) to have this corrected.

Re: Langford

[zotz]

It seems to have worked. Good to see you also. Sorry I missed you leaving.

[nmg.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it has been a while (post-Edinburgh, I think that I last bumped into you at the Slime in the late Cretaceous, or possibly early 1998). Really need to put a bio snippet on here at some point. In a nutshell, I managed to finish my PhD, but I haven't yet escaped academentia..

Of course, living (or in my case, having lived) in Cambridge is worth a couple of degrees of separation, as is knowing isolated people from the Cambridge goth scene (kboyd,damerell) or CUSFS-escapees (damerell again).

The coincidence of interests goes further than you think. I only found your journal when I added 'the grauniad' (sic) as an interest, you apparently being the only other Guardian-reading, LJ-writing person who enjoys mocking the proofreaders of that fine publication.

(as an aside, I'm amazed that you of all people didn't know about the Dave/Jon Langford connection. 3/10, must try harder!)

[zotz]

possibly early 1998

Sounds plausible.

I haven't yet escaped academentia

I haven't yet escaped Cambridge. Plans are afoot, though.

mocking the proofreaders

I think the reputation was originally acquired when they were sending stuff down the wire from the old editorial offices in Manchester to the new
printers in London on a state-of-the-art analogue system.

3/10, must try harder!

Mea Culpa. I've been given three Hail Marys and two nightshifts on the steam hammer.

[nmg.livejournal.com]

I think the reputation was originally acquired when they were sending stuff down the wire from the old editorial offices in Manchester to the new printers in London on a state-of-the-art analogue system.

Yes, they don't really deserve their reputation any more. On the downside, they seem to have passed the mantle of shoddy proofreading to the CND; the press release that they issued early this year on the Trident refurbishment programme spoke of Britain's "nuclear detergent".

Priceless.

(so what's this about leaving Cambridge?)

[zotz]

Priceless

*cough*

Looks like a spellcheck job.

(so what's this about leaving Cambridge?)

I'm sick of the place.