In defence of cynicism (BBC): “The First World War was fought with the utter trust and unquestioning support of the British people, and eight and a half million soldiers died in the four years of futile, indefensible butchery. The 2003 Iraq War was fought with less public trust than any other modern war, and about 6,000 combatants have died. Even if there are no winners in war, that arithmetic must in part suggest a small victory for cynicism.”

“There are countries where you can go and suck away for all you are worth“. Ahh, the decadent West.

Only in England would a request for a topless models-free workplace be attacked as “political correctness gone mad“. Though if no-one there is offended by it (and not just feeling obliged to say they’re not), and customers don’t have to see it, it could be different, but is it really going to kill them to put it away?

Fame or possessions – any good at all?

There are days when you just need the largest collection of ADO and ADO.NET connection strings on the Internet.

I thought everyone assumed that Amazon reviews were by the publishers (Amazon reviewers brought to book).
I wouldn’t buy a used car from Lisa Jardine, if she really said this: “Professor Lisa Jardine, who was an adviser on the setting up of the site’s British edition, Amazon.co.uk, said she had no objection to Rechy, Eggers and other clandestine reviewers. ‘There’s nothing immoral about it. This is a marketing website. You might as well say putting your own stuff on e-Bay and plugging it is immoral.’ ”

It’s time for guerilla queer bar to kick off properly in London – Friday, March 5, King’s Cross.
Speaking of queer, I liked this piece in Sunday’s Observer Magazine: “The Lifestyle Accessories act, passed by US president Sarah Jessica Parker in the mid-21st century, clearly states that gay pets are for talking about fashion, crying at the Sound of Music, giving you acidly funny relationship tips, and dancing to disco records. What had sex with other men got to do with it?”

If I had a moment to spare, I think I’d have a browse around art and leisure.

I think I’m going to splurge and buy a proper digital compact camera when I’m in Hong Kong. A friend who’s recently researched cameras looked at the Pentax Optio S4, the Canon Ixus and the Casio Exilim EX-Z4U. What do you think?

Just saw Crave, very bloody good. I’d love to read the script so I could give all the lines the consideration they deserve. But then I might be tempted to quote them in conversation, giving people the impression they were mine.