2005

Just north of the city centre in Singapore is a park on a hill. The hill is the site of Fort Canning, the first seat of British colonial power there. In that park is the place where the biggest military defeat in British history was mismanaged, the Malaya Command Battle Box. This headquarters was created…

1) The Kurd who’s been made President – really as a side payment for not declaring independence – just said he wants the Shia prime minister to quit, the same week as it turns out they’ve cut a deal to get out their oil without everyone else. 2) The Shia just (as good as unilaterally)…

Step one: Don’t call Vodafone customer service when you find that the thing was delivered without GPRS access settings. Step two: Don’t assume that the settings are on your SIM card. Step three: Don’t believe the Vodafone propaganda that they have a “GPRS Helpline” – your call goes through to the generic helpline in the…

One field where Singapore keeps up with its reputation for barely concealed dictatorship is the use of mass surveillance technology. You can’t use the new tube system, nor the older light rail system, without being issued a reuseable plastic card as a ticket that triggers the barriers at a distance. (You are strongly encouraged to…

Guess who’s got their US Department of Defense jet fuel credit rating back? Our old friends Irbis Air Company! Check out the PDF, here: issued on the 23rd of September, DODAAC contract no. TBKZ01. Surprise, surprise, surprise.

Given that I landed in the UK from Singapore this morning, you wouldn’t think I’d have any difficulty coming up with a good Orwell or two. After all, the place has built up a hell of a reputation for being, ah, Orwellian – corporative state in all but name, puppet press, caning, hangings every time…

Right – I know this is slightly late, but whilst at least something of the post-Basra Jailbreak atmosphere of debate about Britain’s role in Iraq is hanging around, I thought I’d dig into this a bit. For a start, there’s “that” John Reid “withdrawal plan” that was quietly sent to what the army calls File…

Whilst I’m away, I think I’ll pick up on this meme that’s been floating about. If you’re a regular TYR lurker – that is, one of those who read this but don’t comment, why not make yourself known? The usual channels are open.

You may have noticed a lack of blog lately. This is because I’m currently in Singapore on business, covering the 3GSM Asia Congress – blog fodder, perhaps, but I have been extremely busy so far, despite the T1 in our office, and have little opportunity to bloviate here. I will, however, attempt to produce something…

Right. I think it’s time to say that this is indeed the Iraqi civil war. After this post on the 9th of September, I was criticised fairly savagely by a commenteer over at the Fistful of Euros for being insufficiently optimistic about the situation in Iraq, and not giving enough credit to supposed progress in…