Sayeth Forbes writer Tim Ferguson: “Any modern economy that does not produce at least one huge fortune is, almost by definition, not creating the kind of wealth that is the earmark of a prosperous society.” (emphasis added) The article goes on to earmark the twelve largest countries which, as of yet, have “failed” to produce […]
P.S. Mueller…
…has an uncanny sense of the absurd, which is something I’ve known for a long time. He also has a website, which is something I haven’t known. Until now. You should probably check it out; you’ll thank me later. (Or, if you prefer, you may thank me now and take your chances.)
Posted by Ben on March 10, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/ps-mueller/
LEWISITE smells like GERANIUMS
Mmm-mm-mmmm. The Otis Historical Archives over at the National Museum of Health and Medicine has a somewhat curious collection of images (and a couple interesting posters) relating to military medicine, e.g., WWI and WWII photos. Not that military medicine is inherently interesting, but for what it’s worth, this collection has a couple interesting images (as […]
Posted by Ben on March 9, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/lewisite-smells-like-geraniums/
Headline: A pot in every chicken
“Frozen chickens and marijuana — a combination that put the driver of a tractor-trailer rig in jail.” Now there’s something you don’t hear every day. (via BoGlo: A pot in every chicken?)
Posted by Ben on March 8, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/headline-a-pot-in-every-chicken/
Sweet Dreams Massacre: Another Fragment
When I first met Elvis we were standing, half-dazed, by the smoldering wreckage of a fire truck, our faces caked with blood and dappled with dirt. We both refrained from obvious jokes, I’m not sure why. Moon was there, too; she’d been riding with me in my car. All three of us were witness. To […]
Posted by Ben on March 8, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/sweet-dreams-massacre-another-fragment/
Der Krieger und die Kaiserin
(English title: Princess and the Warrior) (2000) – Tom Tykwer – Franka Potente, Benno Fürmann, usw. Synopsis: Franka is Sissi. Sissi works in a psychiatric clinic. She has her problems. Benno is Bodo, who doesn’t work. He… does things to get by. (Okay, so he robs gas stations, but there’s a reason behind it; it’s […]
Posted by Ben on March 7, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/der-krieger-und-die-kaiserin/
Lost?
Above, one of the many curiosities to be glimpsed over at Found Magazine. This item consists of a group of Iraqi passport photos found in a desk drawer, the faces scribbled over for who-knows-what reason (a couple possibilities come to mind, though of course you can’t know for sure). The site has an interesting assortment […]
Posted by Ben on March 6, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/lost/
Newsflash: Reality TV shows portray their targets with “utmost respect and decency”
On one hand, maybe everyone should be allowed the privilege of ridiculing themselves on national television, no matter what their ethnic background, socioeconomic standing, gender, etc. Hey, if they want to do it, why stop them? On the other hand, this is disgusting, particularly this part re: CBS’s upcoming effort to make an ‘Amish in […]
Posted by Ben on March 5, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/newsflash-reality-tv-shows-portray-their-targets-with-utmost-respect-and-decency/
Cultivating a bandit-friendly atmosphere
“Bank robbers once needed to take hostages, wield guns, or crack safes to get their loot. Now the job often requires little more than a pair of dark sunglasses and a menacing note.” … “‘Banks, which used to be structured like vaults, with armed guards, and all kinds of imposing structures that said, ‘Don’t mess […]
Posted by Ben on March 5, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/cultivating-a-bandit-friendly-atmosphere/
Haven’t you heard?
…about the ‘people’s war’ in Nepal? You know, the one where villages are caught in crossfire of the conflict, where about 17 people are killed every day, where Maoist rebels conscript children, where both sides (and those caught in-between) suffer torture and gang rape? No, me neither. (via World Press Review: War Without Ends)
Posted by Ben on March 5, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/havent-you-heard/