Get out, stupid!

Lenin on the latest numbers from Iraq:

The monthly figures for June showed the highest daily number of attacks on US troops for four years, confirming an upward trend that has been happening for the last four years. The figures also confirm an encouraging downward trend in attacks on civilians which, at any rate, still constitute a minority of such attacks: roughly 70% of attacks are directed at coalition forces, 16% at the Iraqi security forces, and 14% on civilians.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: the number one problem in Iraq is the presence of American troops. In fact I totally called this way back in January. The most embarrassing thing for Bush and Co. is that when they finally pull out (they will won't they? am I allowed to hope that it might actually occur, that the horror in Iraq might actually end one day?), there won't be chaos and civil war, but a bunch of parties who are sick and tired of dying, and want to live peaceful lives. I'm not saying that'll it'll be heaven on earth or anything, but I'd give good odds on an America-less Iraq being far more peaceful than Iraq in its current state. Dreams of a better future...

Highly Caffeinated Post

Go to this page, and CURSE EVERYONE OF THESE WRITERS except (surprisingly enough) the two from Q and the NME. Why? Because these IDIOTS have made me sleep on Daft Punk's Discovery for over SIX GODDAMN YEARS. What was I thinking? The comment section gets it's completely right, so bloody underrated, so wonderful! Just joyful dance music. And perfect for summer! Couldn't be happier listening to this right now.

Actually I've heard several critics who I highly respect describe Discovery as Daft Punk's "masterpiece" but it was just one of those albums I never got around to checking out, and I know at the time it was put out I definitely was swayed by the largely negative press it got. Actually, it's a bit odd, but it seems like some serious revisionism is going on here. Look at the pitchfork piece (written by no less a hack than pitchfork head Ryan Schrieber--someone should throw this terrible, rockist review into his smug indie-loving face). But anyway, if you look near the bottom of the page there's a link to their review of Daft Punk's last album, Human After All, which refers to the "exquisite, joyous Discovery." Kinda funny eh? But I mean, even the Onion got it wrong, and they're usually half-decent. It's interesting how group-think can affect critics sometimes, and then affect them in reverse again.


So yeah, I downloaded this last night (along with a bunch of Aaliyah and En Vogue...ummm a slightly odd stage in my musical tastes yes, but good fun nonetheless. I absolutely love Aaliyah. If this goes on much longer I'm going to have to post about her too), and I'll post the whole thing here, cuz what the hell why not. But yeah, what got me back on the daft punk front was actually this youtube clip of some girl dancing her ass off to "harder, better, faster, stronger" which made me realize how great that song was. That's another thing that I've been doing a lot of recently, oddly enough, is checking out various youtube clips of different sweet dances. There's tons of ones of kids dancing to baltimore club or detroit ghettotech, and the comments sections are filled with heated battles about d-town vs b'more and who has the dopest moves. Ah internet, you keep things fresh.


Daft Punk - Discovery


Fuck I was totally starting to do work this morning and then got sidetracked writing about daft punk! blast! Thesis oh so close to done. Mind clearly deteriorating into strange state of constant flux.