It's Happening, Reg! Somthing's Actually Happening!

Today was awesome for anyone who likes to see proper angry protest in a progressive cause. Aaron Porter might think those who smashed windows were "despicable", but as someone who's been on one too many protests where you see too many of the usual faces, a demo like this says something that 'peaceful' (let yourself get kettled by the cops and don't say so much as a bad word about it) protests don't quite so well: we're really angry. I think people in power tend to get more sleepless nights about angry protest than peaceful protest.

Always good to see a bit of people power and a progressive cause taking control of the streets, anyway. And if you wanted a demo without dickheads you might as well wish for a police force full of paragons of virtue. Just accept that people REALLY don't like Condem policies, guys.

Not that it needs stating, but just for the record: I don't think violence is to be welcomed, but if you're pushing through policies that hurt people, people can't always be relied on to wait for deliverence from a Mediator. Besides, as a revolutionary I tend to think that only the co-ordinated power of the working class can overthrow the class system itself and bring an end to the conflict inherent in class societies - and I don't expect the bourgeoisie to give up easily.

Not that I was on a demo, mind. I work for a living, me.

Cheap, Lazy Humour Predicated on Human Suffering

... is what I aim to deliver - and here's your latest sloppy ladleful!

Since I first heard about Project Natal, my curiousity has been piqued. Just what could it all be about? Well, for the one or two of you who are even further than me behind the curve of the scabbard which the bleeding edge of technology would never deign to be housed in, it's sort of Wii-mote crossed with the eye-toy and a furby: a motion- and voice-sensitive interface for the X-Box 360 released to some fanfare at this year's E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo, you Luddite).

So, that's yer context. Skynet will use it in a few scant years to make unstoppable killing machines with Austrian accents. But until that day, this detail in the Graun's coverage caught my eye:

Not a great deal is known about its origins, but is seems that the system relies on technology from two pioneering Israeli companies working on depth-sensitive cameras, 3DV Systems and Prime Sense. Those systems involve technology originally developed for use on ballistic missiles that has been reworked to make it more palatable for use in people's homes.

... and I thought the Israelis had no problem using this technology on people's homes already!

*bdm tsh*

Eyethangyewladeezangennelmen, I'm 'ere all week.

And to think, just the other day I heard a musical composition in which someone averred in response to a question on the utilisation of aspects of military action, that there were no beneficial results whatsoever!

(Yes, Raffles the Gentleman Thug is my favourite Viz character*. Would you care to raise this assertion as an issue to which some variance may be attached, and would you claim to be of requisite fortitude with which to back up your contrary aspect? You slag.)

Edit:
That reminds me though - I've got a chance to repost this vid! Yay!


*Not actually true. Jack Black is my favourite Viz character. But the opportunity to use pointlessly flowery English arose and by the gods I wasn't going to neglect it!

Police, Violence, Obfuscation etc.

It's been interesting to read the coverage of the aftermath of the G20 demos in the 'blogosphere' over the last few days. The videos and pics of cops hitting people have been causing quite a sensation, especially in the mainstream press, but interestingly some of the blogs have been outraged in a way that implies some kind of loss of innocence. There have been some exceptions to this of course.

It is odd though, that a lot of people seem to be discovering police violence for the first time. It's not like history doesn't give us enough examples, after all. Pete Dale even had a song about polis covering up their ID years ago.

I have to ask, who was ever seriously in doubt about these things? Surely anyone who's ever been on a demo has seen the neanderthals*, the ones fingering their CS gas, truncheons or submachine guns a bit too readily?

I don't mean this in that ghastly Tory way where you start blaming the victims for not expecting to be beaten up, but rather that I'm very surprised at just how much news this has all been to such a large number of people, some of them quite unexpected. I know it seems ungrateful, seeing as how now there's some mobile phone footage of what's been going on for decades something might actually be done, but sadly, as I'm sure you're aware, this really isn't anything new.

*Mixed in with some thoroughly nice people I hasten to add. I've known some lovely policepersons over the years.