I just finished reading this CSM story about a US filmmaker who pretends to be a cop and sets up a roadblock in Afghanistan. But, instead of soliciting bribes from people, he gives them money. The story explains that McClatchy reporters bought police uniforms and equipment ($13) and then set up the roadblock. Once there, they gave drivers $2 each and apologized for the fact that police officers normally take bribes. Some drivers refused. The story says that at the end, the reporters had about $8 left, which when the real cops asked for it, they gave them.
This strikes me as a pretty silly stunt and a useless one at that: doing this kind of thing is supposed to help how exactly? I really don't get what they hoped to accomplish. We know Afghan cops are corrupt, underpaid, that their work is dangerous, and that they suffer a disproportionate amount of casualties.
On a different note, for the duration of the World Cup, I've given up my French citizenship. Seriously--between the coach (incompetent and crazy) and the players (selfish idiots), they don't deserve to move to the next round.
Monday, June 21, 2010
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In the most professional terms, that filmaker is an assclown who is lucky to have lived to tell the story.
ReplyDeleteAs for the French, Putain qu'est-ce, sur?
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ReplyDeleteI can't type--that last one was full of typos...
ReplyDeleteOn va commencer par le plus facile: l'equipe de de France de foot: quelle bande de cons.
As for the filmmaker, you're right. Something could have happened to him and then there would have been a big to-do, despite the fact that it was an idiotic stunt.
Je ne comprendrai jamais la metrosexualness, l'apitoiement sur soi, et l'ego. Mon ancien patron a expliqué que tous les vrais hommes français sont morts pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Maintenant, seuls les faibles peuvent se reproduire.
ReplyDeleteAs for the reporter, he was probably hoping to tell another dashing story about how he survived Taliban capture. While he would neglect all the ISAF resources wasted in finding and helping him, he was more concern about the visual story that could win him some prize and empathy.
Je suis dégoûté de tous.
As Le Monde puts it:
ReplyDelete"Au football, tout est compliqué par la présence de l'équipe adverse, expliquait Jean-Paul Sartre. Avec les Bleus, pas forcément besoin d'adversaire, ils ont prouvé qu'ils étaient capables de se saborder tout seul ..."
http://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2010/06/22/le-calvaire-des-bleus-prend-fin-sur-une-defaite-contre-l-afrique-du-sud_1377073_3242.html#ens_id=1371076
'Nuff said ... Now I only hope that Germany avoids another Red Card and sends Ghana packing ...
Mike--Tu as raison (on se dit tu sur un blog, c'est plus simple). C'est degoûtant.
ReplyDeletePositroll--bien joué. And I have to agree with you on Germany. I will be cheering with you. Though please, no revenge playing just a good winning game.
Off topic, but I recently saw an article about the start-up of an Indian call center in Burkina Faso. I immediately thought of your posts, Lil, and SNLL's comments.
ReplyDeleteAn Indian call center in Burkina Faso??!! can you send the link? wow.
ReplyDeleteI first saw it at the WSJ, but here is a link to the story. Don't know how true it is.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-119193.html
"Incidentally, Burkina Faso is also part of India's flagship project - Pan African e-network project.
ReplyDeleteThis was not the first line of credit to the west African nation. India has already extended lines of credit of over USD 50 million for rural electrification and construction of the national post office in Burkina Faso.
Recently, India also approved the setting up of a tomato processing factory through a line of credit of USD 15 million.
Burkina Faso was also chosen as the partner country in the CII Conclave in March 2009."