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Saturday August 6, 2005

Can we trust Iran? The Beeb? The UN?

Anglosphere

I'm not going to state that the Iran crisis over nuclear facilities is escalating, but diplomacy is reaching a stalemate and that's never a good sign in a crisis. A quick update from the Beeb:

Although Iran justifies fuel enrichment by saying this is allowed under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and that the IAEA would monitor all activities, the IAEA says Iran has already broken the rules by hiding an enrichment programme over a period of 18 years.

That is the reason why it could be reported to the Security Council.

Why bother? Because uranium enrichment can be used to create nuclear weapons and let's face it, Iran hasn't been on the best of terms with every nation in the world or even region. Nor will they improve under the newly "elected" hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As predicted by the US, talks with the EU3 have failed. So what happens when Iran goes on with its nuclear programme?

If so, it could face UN sanctions in due course and one day even a military attack on its facilities by Israel or the United States.

Ah, good old BBC bias. Aren't we describing a situation where the UN agrees Iran is in violation of international agreements and a possible threat? If we are, why single out Israel and the US? Has it become that unlikely other UN members would actually enforce the body's decisions?

Your own avatar

Software

I've decided to post technical web site updates and ideas under "Software" because it bloody well is software that makes this site do its thing (in fact, it's Kiki CMS).

I am considering adding avatars to the site: registered users would have one displayed next to their comments, as happens on many forums. However, instead of using plain images, I will draw inspiration from Gaia Online. Users would compose their own character and add personality to their avatar by selecting the right clothing and accessories.

It will take time and a lot of work to create such a system, which ranges from drawing template figures and clothing layers to creating a workable market system to trade and purchase items that personalise an avatar. It might not even work too well on a site with two dozen registered users of which only a few are actually active.

So what's my motivation to do all that? Well, it would be fun. And more importantly: it could serve as a prototype for a community-based site I am considering to build, heavily focused on the rock scene and gig culture. MySpace meets Gaia meets Ticketmaster meets Mapquest, sort of. But that's a future plan, right now I'm just interested in personalised avatars.

Please leave a comment and tell me if you think I should waste some time on such a feature. I would need a few people to at least play with the system to have it can evolve properly, if that's not going to happen I might as well not bother with avatars at all.

Update: well, the profile site is here. No avatars yet, but there's progress..

Who's behind the 'tan ban'?

European Union

Apparently I'm not the only one who frowned upon the EU 'tan ban', as Democracy Project has a few words of it itself (via ZachtEi) and also displays some excellent remarks by Laurie Morrow of True North Radio, which I'd like to spread around:

French & German EU members interested in learning more fashion tips concerning the protection of women needn't go beyond their own borders. Time-tested ideas as to how women can protect themselves from the sun's blazes and unwelcome male gazes can be readily obtained from radical Islamicist fashion mavens, whose pieds-à-terre are French and German immigrant neighborhoods.

Perhaps the impetus behind this legislation is the appeasement of this segment of French and German citizenry.

Whatever the motives behind the dirndl ban, a lady's dirns are her own business -- not Wolfgang's. Thank God the British still allow mad dogs, Englishmen, and even their barmaids to go out in the noonday sun.

I hadn't thought of the appeasement theory and I think it's a long stretch radicalists are indirectly behind this awful proposal, but I like the comparison with them anyway. Why? Because I couldn't agree more with the message the EU is somewhat radical in its harmonisation efforts.

Next day: Monday August 8, 2005 Previous day: Friday August 5, 2005

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