Last week I read the book Torture Team by Philippe Sands. The book concerns an investigation into the use of torture at Guantanamo Bay through interviews with those who were blamed or had a role in authorising the use of torture on prisoners. While a fascinating read in and of itself, the part that particularly struck me was the connection made between those who were performing the acts of torture and their fascination with the show 24.

At the time the documented torture took place, Fall 2002 – Spring 2003, the show was in its second series and the ‘ticking time bomb’ scenario was first presented. The series thus opened with the use of some sort of chemical or biological torture being performed on a ‘terrorist’ who then moments later confirmed that he indeed know of a massive terrorist attack that would take place in America and thus kick started an investigation and saving of the country. What’s fascinating, and scary, to me is that it was this type of mentality that created the culture of torture within our military facility; the notion that torture works and that by applying techniques we will be saving lives. All of this took place despite the actual evidence of torture being known by the FBI to be ineffective, damaging and counter-productive. Despite the facts, however, somehow people were able to have their opinions and convictions changed by the imagery presented in a fictional representation of events that have never actually taken place.

But the issue of 24 opening up the doorways to torture is nothing new; we have long since seen politicians and commentators referring to “Jack Bauer” justice as being something needed in the ‘war on terror’. It was just surprising to me that the methods of torture, and their associated permissibility for the individual carrying out the measure, were extremely similar to those portrayed in the series. In other words, the tactics invoked were inspired by fictional portrayal of necessity and outcomes.

I think it is certainly safe to say that this type of activity, the internalisation and processing of entertainment media into the mutation of cultural norms, takes place every day... but this particular issue seemed to strike at the core of so many individuals that they consciously altered and circumvented the legal review and normal procedures that they should have followed because they believed so strongly that what they were doing was right. A conviction that could only be reached by the assurance that the actions employed are accepted by their peers.

Does anyone I know use twitter?

Just checking... :)

I never knew such things existed

I just got back from a week long holiday in Wales with Ilana and a couple of friends. We went for a canal boat holiday, meaning you spend your holiday in a canal boat puttering along a canal once used for transferring minerals, chemicals, and other valuable trade, through the English and Welsh countryside.

While cruising along some of the most beautiful countryside I've ever seen we ultimately ended up at one of those things that rarely seems to occur to me these days where you just look at it and go "blimey, I did not know such things existed". This was one of those times. Now I'm all

for planning, and I usually read up on some things before I go to a place, but for some reason when Ilana plans a trip I just go with it and am just always pleasantly surprised at what wonderful things she can find.

She, was not as surprised as I, therefore, when behold in front of us the worlds longest steel aqueduct in Wales. This thing is massive and has just a single walk way and a single narrowboat canal resting upon it's massive support columns to travel over the valley floor.

Crazy.

Age of Stupid

I just got back from my latest business trip to the States. Every time I go I always feel extremely guilty for the flights and know that my carbon impact has just ballooned beyond all reason. Since I started my position I have always returned and purchased half an acre of rainforest as a way of mitigating my impact, but I know this isn't enough.

This past trip has just reinforced my continual hopelessness of how the world will continue. How can things proceed when there are people with flying so ingrained into their lives that they will actually commute on a short haul flight to get to the office. I am not sure if they know exactly what they are doing, but it is disgusting either way. It is becoming repulsive for me to even think that people will get on an aeroplane for a holiday... to the point that I will now be looking for another position, that will in all likelihood be outside my field, simply because I no longer want to be responsible for these outrageous crimes against the planet. The first time that I even started thinking about air impacts on aviation, and my own responsibilities for it, was only in 2006, but it has solidified in my actions now to the point that I will not take a non-emergency flight... but even that may be too much.

Tonight I went to go see a new 'documentary' called "The Age of Stupid" (www.ageofstupid.net), a film that presents only facts, as accepted by 99% of scientists, and takes an interesting approach of showing a man in 2055 reviewing media archives, which are really documented tales of six people on six continents interspersed with small facts and media footage, from 2008 and asking why we knew what we know and did nothing to change course. The film was the premier and they showed it consecutively in like 65 locations around the UK and was endorsed by the Met Office as an accurate portrayal, as well as the UK Environment Minister for Energy and Climate. Finally we have a film that gets to the heart of everything... our species, while not the first to cause mass extinctions or harm the planet, is the first to consciously commit suicide by destroying our habitat for short term gains. It is more than an inconvenient truth, our species and the planet will not survive unless a massive change happens in the next six years... a massive change.

Taxes and gifts

Taxes make sense.  I don't really know why people are opposed to them?  I've never really understood the tax system until this year and I've always kind of assumed that if you were in X tax bracket then you payed Y taxes... but that's not it at all over here.  I pay the same taxes as everyone else in a tax bracket until my actual income goes into the next tax bracket and then ONLY that additional money is taxed at the higher amount.  How can people argue with this?  It is simply saying that everyone gets a certain amount to like on and is taxed equally.  Then, when you earn more than that basic amount, you get taxed more because you are in the "luxury" zone.  

So what does this money go towards?  Well, schools, fire departments, security, roads, infrastructure, health care and all the other good things that are covered under proper governance.  Why would people not want to give back to society in this way?  I think this desire for not paying for such things stems from this individualistic society that has so clearly gone to far.  I am all for personal expression and certain rights to privacy and responsibility, but the culture of the day is rooted so much in oneself that it completely removes the notion of the whole.  American's seem to feel that they can unite behind the might of military power and "no man left behind", but then not want their taxes to actually take care of their neighbours through the provision of health care, social services, or even proper care when soldiers return from battle.  How does that make sense?  How can a government CUT taxes during a time of supposed war?    

However, as much as I do not mind paying taxes, there is no point in double taxation... and that appears to be what the US would like to do to me.... and what the UK does when I import nice gifts for people.  Buggers.

EMS

I spent the afternoon working on my company's EMS.   i really should have been working on client documentation, but i also really want to get this stuff done.  i have this idea that as soon as the management system is established then it will be easy to maintain... but who knows.  it is a bloody pain in the ass figuring out what to do with some things; like dead single use batteries.  some people still put them in the bin!!!!! but for such small quantities they are a pain to get rid of in a reasonable cost framework...

i want pizza.