Lost Worlds

And the fires of the dead are burning always

(1) 655,000 Iraqis are estimated to have died since the British/American invasion of Iraq, an undeclared war of dubious legality at best.

(2) Some 750,000 British servicemen (excluding colonials) died in the whole of World War I, a formally declared war legitimate under international law.

(3) 388,000 British servicemen and civilians (excluding colonials) died in World War II, a formally declared war legitimate under international law.

We regard World War I as an unmitigated horror. The death toll in Iraq has already reached almost 90 per cent of the WWI total. We also regard one of the great horrors of that war the number of maimed, who would never lead a normal life again. We do not have figures for the maimed of Iraq.

We regard World War 2 as exacting a terrible toll in a just cause; the fallen (we believe) surrendered, or were deprived of, their lives to preserve the freedoms we now enjoy. The death toll in Iraq has only to rise by around two per cent to reach double the number of British dead in WW2.

Nobody has even noticed the comparative figures. But it's all worth while. It is. Really. It's really all worth while. Really it is. It's what they would have wanted. Really. It is. It's really what they'd have wanted.

Naaa naaa NOT LISTENING naa naa. . .

One of the worst products I have ever tried to use on my Mac is something called faxSTF which, essentially, doesn't work. If you want to experience hell without actually dying, try getting tech support — or any support — from its makers, Smith Micro. You don't believe me? Check here or here. See? It's not just me.

Smith Micro has something called a Bruce Quigley who is Vice President of Business Development and Investor relations. Here's Bruce (they all wear blackshirts on the executive web page):

Bruce got a degree in sociology from The College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. Here's how Bruce speaks to potential investors:

The company does not respond to email or written questions. If you have an investor question, call 949-362-5800 and ask for Investor Relations.

This is the Platonic statement of modern business, of which all others are mere imperfect copies.

Now, Bruce must be able to read and write. Perhaps Bruce is too busy developing business and relating to investors to answer letters saying things like "Dear Bruce, I would like to invest $120,000,000 in your company. Would that be okay?" Presumably Bruce says "Nah. Fuck 'em. Let 'em ring. That's how we did it at The College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, and that's how we do it at Smith Micro now."

But, you know, I think Bruce is onto something. I think I may make this my new business model: sell something useless and refuse to respond to email or written questions. Oh - and when they ring up, put them through Phone Menu Hell then dump them onto a non-existent number. Yup. That, and buy a blackshirt. (Cheaper than faxSTF, and a blackshirt at least works.)