Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: Sole Man

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  • Rich Lock,

    I still don't see what's actually been achieved

    Not much.

    Although he appears to have rather neatly summarised, in an eaily digestible less than 10 second clip, the feelings of a good portion of the world outside the borders of the US towards the last 8 years of US foreign policy.

    And its possibly an interesting illustration of the depth of feeling and antipathy towards Bush in the Arab world. The US president is probably the most protected person in the entre world. All the people in that room, including that reporter, were no doubt extensively screened before being allowed in the green zone, let alone in that room. So that guy was considered 'safe'. And yet he still blew his lid.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Iran? What am I missing here? Fingering the loathsome John Banks-on-steroids Ahmedinejad in an attempt to draw some kind of moral equivalence seems to spring from the same school of thought as blaming Saddam for 9/11.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    __I still don't see what's actually been achieved__

    Not much.

    In terms of symbolism, rather a lot. Bush, you might recall, is pretty big on symbols.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Iran? What am I missing here? Fingering the loathsome John Banks-on-steroids Ahmedinejad in an attempt to draw some kind of moral equivalence seems to spring from the same school of thought as blaming Saddam for 9/11.

    Joe: I'm going to open a virtual swear box if anyone tries playing the "moral equivalence" card from the bottom of the deck.

    At great risk to himself he has expressed an appropriate level of disgust for the tyrant criminal Bush without shooting him in the face. That in itself is, I submit, quite an achievement.

    You'll excuse me if I consider the real Profiles in Courage in a part of the world where press freedoms are fragile -- when they exist at all -- Muntadar al-Zaidi is well down a tragically long list. Can you tell me who Diyar Abbas Ahmed is without recourse to Google? Adel Hussein? Shawan Dawodi? Esmail Jafari?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Can you tell me who Diyar Abbas Ahmed is without recourse to Google? Adel Hussein? Shawan Dawodi? Esmail Jafari?

    Ooh yes! Moral equivalence is so last week. Let's have a worthy dissident peeing-up-the-wall contest.

    Think I'll pass on that

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    You'll excuse me if I consider the real Profiles in Courage in a part of the world where press freedoms are fragile -- when they exist at all -- Muntadar al-Zaidi is well down a tragically long list.

    Well, maybe; not that I ever claimed the opposite. Mind you, the guy's got bigger balls than either you or me, I'd say.

    BTW, various news outlets are currently reporting Al Zaidi as having a broken hand, broken arm, broken ribs, internal bleeding, an eye injury, and signs of torture on his thighs, so excuse me if I don't feel like ranking the contenders.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Ooh yes! Moral equivalence is so last week. Let's have a worthy dissident peeing-up-the-wall contest.

    But passive-aggression never goes out of style.

    BTW, various news outlets are currently reporting Al Zaidi as having a broken hand, broken arm, broken ribs, internal bleeding, an eye injury, and signs of torture on his thighs, so excuse me if I don't feel like ranking the contenders.

    Yeah, because suggesting there's some difference being being objectively dead is so much worse than being allegedly tortured is crass moral equivalence? And I'm going to keep saying it takes a damn sight more courage to report on the activities of armed thugs who aren't going anywhere (and stand up to harassment and intimidation) than to throw a shoe at someone who is leaving the country in twelve hours, and will in all probability forget you exist.

    Let me draw an example from much closer to home. I don't think anyone would argue that Barbara Dreaver's treatment was less than absolutely appalling; but I think she'd be the first to admit that journalists who are on the ground, and trying to maintain some semblance of a free press, are subject to pressures she isn't. And an uncomfortable night in a detention center is infinitely preferable to a fatal beating in Queen Elizabeth Barracks.

    That's not "moral equivalence" or a "worthy dissident pissing match" but a simple statement of fact. And while we can all have a smug giggle, it would be nice if we at least knew the names of Iraqi journalists who have died, or been imprisioned without due process or fair trails, for doing their jobs.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    There will certainly be tales and photos galore when I get back, but you’ll forgive me if I end up waiting until then, yeah?

    Am I going to be the only one to not forgive?

    I don't expect 2000 words a day or anything. But c'mon man, isn't when you are traveling the absolute best time to be active on your weblog? What you're doing is so interesting in it's own right that just posting pictures would almost do the trick. And I'm disappointed that you didn't give us some real insider stuff when you were in Bangkok.

    Yes, travel is hard work, but isn't collecting your thoughts and booty at the end of a day at least a little therapeutic?

    The only excuse I can accept is "no access to the net". :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I guess one man's "that's far short of being treated like a human being" is another man's "that's better than being beaten to death."

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I guess one man's "that's far short of being treated like a human being" is another man's "that's better than being beaten to death."

    LOL nice one. I wonder which side this guy actually falls on?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    LOL nice one.

    Too facetious, to be honest, but I'm doing my best.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Funny excuses facetious.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    But passive-aggression never goes out of style.

    Wait, Craig is having a go at other people for being passive-aggressive? Umm, OK.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    I don't expect 2000 words a day or anything. But c'mon man, isn't when you are traveling the absolute best time to be active on your weblog? What you're doing is so interesting in it's own right that just posting pictures would almost do the trick. And I'm disappointed that you didn't give us some real insider stuff when you were in Bangkok.

    When I was in Bangkok? I think you misread me - I'm not in Bangkok until Friday - of course I would've blogged if I'd been in the thick of that. I was sitting here in NZ watching the situation there, wondering if I'd get to Bangkok (this Friday)...

    Yes, travel is hard work, but isn't collecting your thoughts and booty at the end of a day at least a little therapeutic?

    When you write for a living, no, not really. Well maybe a little, but not as therapeutic as say, checking out the local bars. :)

    The only excuse I can accept is "no access to the net". :-)

    The main issue will be access to the internet I suspect, yes. And a small, boring, but important technical point, because I shoot pics in RAW format rather than JPG, and won't be taking my laptop, it's quite hard to get pics off my camera at a netcafe or whatever, and then be able to open them. But if I can, I certainly will!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    . . . it would be nice if we at least knew the names of Iraqi journalists who have died, or been imprisioned without due process or fair trails, for doing their jobs.

    Tying yourself into a hopelessly convoluted knot of pretension over your squeamishness at the lèse-majesté shown to the aging boy-emperor should remedy that.

    And passive aggression? It's called sarcasm. Just so you know.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    The main issue will be access to the internet I suspect, yes.

    I think you'll find most cafes, internet or not, have free wi-fi. It's pretty standard in Asia.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Iran? What am I missing here?

    Yeah. Craig, care to explain that sidestep?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Iran vs Iraq, I mean. Just hit reload and found all the intervening stuff but my questions sitll stands.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Soz Damian, I must have misread your Bangkok comment. I retract disappointment.

    I take your point about it being nice to leave your day job behind. When I travel, I write to everyone. But I sure don't pull out my laptop and start hitting the code (my day job).

    On the other hand, everything about traveling makes coding harder. Whereas everything about traveling makes writing easier. I say this from personal experience. There's just so much to talk about.

    I'm pretty sure your technical difficulties are not insurmountable. You could put a RAW->JPG converter on a USB stick or memory card, for instance. I'm presuming RAW is a digital format, not film. Or you could have a backup camera for digital snaps that are in JPG.

    But hey, if you just want to chill out on holiday, go for it. I'm just here to say that at least one reader would have considerable interest if you were still working part-time. Sue me for enjoying your work!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Not wishing to be called a liar, I just tried putting IrFanView on my camera's SD card, by just copying the installed folder off my C drive. It ran fine straight from the .exe file, and did a batch conversion from RAW to JPG straight from one directory on the SD to another. Takes up 1.3 MB on the stick. So you wouldn't have to carry anything more than you already are, weight-wise.

    IrFanView is a freeware image viewer/manipulator. There are naturally quite a few similar ones.

    The only question will be whether net cafe's computers will be locked down to disallow running your own apps. If they are, I doubt it would take much money to convince the administrator to log you in as an admin for the time it takes to do a batch conversion.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    the weather may be a bit chillier here than in Vientiane.

    Bring some woolies.
    We're not talking Great Lakes cold by any stretch, but sultry it is not. 8 degrees and raining today, not so good for sightseeing (or getting out of bed to face the obligatory crowded train commute). But tomorrow is down for 16 degrees and sunny. woohoo!

    anyway, your dollar would have bought 80+ yen six months ago, but only about 50 today, so the cheap shopping might have to go on hold, but at least the restaurant prices are reasonable here, unlike certain South Pacific countries with particularly embarrassing foreign ministers who double up as "Minister of the Rugby World Cup" and "Minister of Very Dodgy Facial Hair" or something like that.

    good luck. oh, and buy or borrow a Suica or Pasmo card for the trains. saves hassles of buying tickets.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    I take your point about it being nice to leave your day job behind. When I travel, I write to everyone. But I sure don't pull out my laptop and start hitting the code (my day job).

    And I missed the line from Damien about leaving his laptop behind. How anyone could do that confuses me. I pack the laptop before underwear or a toothbrush.

    I've got 5 hours at the modern but dull KLIA later today and it's rather more exciting than riding the train back and forth between terminals.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Yeah. Craig, care to explain that sidestep?

    No, because I've got my doubts you're really interested in the answer.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Thought maybe there was some connection that wasn't obvious to me, is all. I'll be fine if you don't want to address it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    How anyone could do that confuses me. I pack the laptop before underwear or a toothbrush

    I'd take my PDA as the very minimum, which reads my camera cards, has a functional keyboard, and wifi. Also GPRS for such low bandwidth tasks as reading the news or blogs, and making posts. So far the only place that has been useful is whilst traveling. Sitting in a bar or cafe, typing up the day's thoughts and going over my snapshots and reading the news was quite a pleasant way to rest my feet. Or a book, if I was stuck on a bus or a train. Or a million games. How did I ever live without one before?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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