h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not my favorite Buffet tune, but it'll do

I really like the verse I quoted earlier about beaming me somewhere. I often find it going through my head, semi-subconsciously. I also like the part about going to St. Somewhere.

Here's another Buffett verse I really like - I've felt this way lots of times:

So when I finished the last line
I put the book by itself on the shelf
With my heart in it
Never wasting time, takin' the right way home

Or how about this:

I've read dozens of books about heros and crooks
and I've learned much from both of their styles.

*Looks around at the deserted campfire.*


IT'S OK. YOU CAN COME BACK NOW. I'VE STOPPED SINGING.

My life is so empty
Nothing to live for
My mind is all confusion
Cos I defied the law

When you weren't there to help me
I lost my mind and ran
I never had no trouble
Before this all began

Garius, you are a son of a son of a something...

They say I killed a woman
They know it isn't true
They're just trying to frame me
And all because of you...

Delia
Oh Delia
I've loved you all my life
If I hadn't shot
Poor Delia
I'd have her for my wife

Delia's gone
One more round
Delia's gone

Sadly, this is one of the more popular forums in H2G2 at the moment...

This one's dedicated to Ioreth, who participated in a Washington D.C. Protest that made MTV News, and (more importantly) the Arizona Daily Wildcat. It's an old Phil Ochs song about the Chicago protest he was arrested at:

Where were you in Chicago?
You know I didn't see you there
I didn't see them crack your skull
Or breath the teargas air
Oh where were you in Chicago
When the fight was being fought?
Where were you in Chicago?
'Cause I was in Detroit!

(may Phil Ochs Rest in Peace)

~Irving

Ooh, ooh, Phil Ochs!
"Always the old who lead us to the wars
Always the young who fall
Look at all you've won with a saber and a gun
Tell me was it worth it all..."
I Ain't Marching Anymore

Why thank you, Irv.

And now that I'm here, Ani DiFranco:

In a coffee shop, in a city (which is every coffee shop in every city)
On a day, which is every day,
I picked up a magazine, which is every magazine
Read a story, then I forgot it, right away.
And they say goldfish have no memories -
I guess their lives are much like mine.
And the little plastic castle is a surprise every time...

What was the protest about?

So far as I can tell, it was about the World Bank and the IMF...

~Irving

?

Ask Ioreth

It was against globalization of the economy (or at least that part of it which screws over the poorest countries.)

As far as I can see, there are good things and bad things about Globalization, depending on how we go about it. Could you explain the details of screwing over the poorer countries? Just so that we all know what's going on.

Fair enough

The IMF and World Bank (I'm not quite sure how they're related to each other, but I know they're close friends) are two REALLY big lending organizations. They give billion dollar loans to various countries. And nowadays you have show them what you plan to do with the money and whatnot. But a few years ago, they just gave out loans. What happened was that dictators would get millions of dollars, and spend it on themselves and their circle of friends. And then, after the people of these countries finally got rid of the dictators, they had HUGE debts to pay off for money they never benefitted from. The protesters wanted these debts released.

You may think that's a tad bit unfair - they deserve their money back, right? The thing is, it's not the same government anymore in these countries - AND, the people of the countries never saw any of that money. They do, however, see the effects of paying back these debts - in Liberia, for example, 25 cents of every dollar the government spends goes to debt repayment. 4 cents goes to health care - which means people in Liberia aren't getting basic medical care. They die of diseases we got the vaccines for fifty, a hundred years ago - because the money that should be paying for basic immunizations goes to repay the people who gave their former dictator money to build a palace without a second thought.

Sorry if that was a bit long-winded and one-sided - but it fits with most of the things I have read on the subject.