So - where to start? I have several things to write about today... Shakespear, Ancient Rome and M. Moore.

Let us start with the cloests in time - last night was the Oscars (or the Academy Awards as they are actually
called) - and Bowling for Columbine got the "best documentary". And the man who just can't keep quiet - Mr Moore - had quite a bit to say about fact vs fiction and Bush

I am reading the "stupid white men" book right now (international paperback recently released here) - and it reminds me of an old saying: out of sight, out of mind. It's been two years since all the debacle regarding the presidential election - and I for one have hardly spent a second reflecting on the how and why of the event since then.

To quote the old bard - was it really "much ado about nothing"? Did it all boil down too just so many headlines and interviews - and then the world (and the media) moved on? But they didn't - not really - the media went in and counted the votes - just to add another nail to the coffin when the time comes for writing the history books...

And that brings us to Ancient Rome - and the phrase "memento mori" (remember death...[X-files used it as an title...]) - traditonnaly whispered into the ear of a victorious commander during his victory parade - in order to remind him of his mortality and keep him on the ground.

Why? Because it puts things in perspective - everything we do will one day be measured. Be it by the scales of God - or by the prying eyes of those that come after us - or simply by our biographers. We are constantly focusing our attention and effort on the here and now - the next show on TV, what to make for dinner tomorrow, who will win the next football match.

Time is accelerating - or at least our focus on instant moments is. During the first Gulf War it was "enough" with daily briefings with videotapes. This weekend I saw "live" action from the battlefield, filmed and relayed by reporters on the scene - "embedded" with the troops. But what does this mean for our understanding of the war - or life in general? Is it turning into a spectator sport - with journalists at hand to give play-by-play commentary and analysis? Have we lost the will or the ability to see the bigger picture - not to mention the reasons behind and the results after the war?


Blogging from the laptop only - some "challenges" at home with XP - anybody have the same?