(no subject)

[bubosquared]

Yesterday was one of those days when I wish I drank tea. Unfortunately, I'm not quite that assimilated yet. (Besides, I think they'll get me into drinking Irn Bru before I succumb to tea. Heh.)

Friendslist and metaquotes are filled with musings on the difference between the US reaction to 9/11, and the London reaction to yesterday's boms. I feel the need to point out that part of that is simply because of the difference in number of deaths, and also in material damage--I don't think even Londoners would have sprung back quite that fast if there'd been a sudden huge gap in the skyline where, say, Big ben used to be. (Although, on the other hand, if that pinapple building or the London Eye got boomed, that might have actually sped up the healing process. Snarf.)

But a lot of it does indeed have to do with the simple fact that Londoners/Brits (and mainland Europe, though not to quite the same extent¹) are just kinda used to this kinda shit. TheBritish reaction to terrorism is gallow's humour, tea, and lots of grumbling about pesky terrorists and how dare they interrupt our days, mutter mutter pish posh. And you know, in the end, I think that's better than chest-beating and vows of bloody vengeance. Not that I think those who did this shouldn't be caught and brought to justice, obviously, but I see terrorists as not unlike toddlers throwing a temper tantrum. If you pay attention to them, they'll just get louder, but if you shrug and go make yourself a cuppa, they'll see that tactic isn't working and try something more constructive.

And in completyely and utterly unrelated² news, according to this website, which is absolutely brilliant, if I take a shortcut, I could walk to/from work in about 3.3 km (that's a bit over two mile for you USAians stuck in the Imperial Stone Age. :P) That'd take me about 40-50 minutes to walk. And the weather's been nice, lately. Hm. *ponders*

¹ I think the Belgian reaction to this sort of attack would contain more panick, but also a lot more beer, for example. :D
² Well, not entirely, as I did get that link through the london07072005 community.

I got tagged for this by carelessmemory ages ago, and finally getting around to it:

List five songs that you are currently digging... It doesn't matter what genre they are, whether they have words, whether or not they're your favorites, or even if they're any good. They must simply be songs you're really enjoying right now.

1. U2 - One (Live at Live 8)
2. Nic Jones - Canadee-I-O
3. Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River
4. Irish Rovers - Puff The Magic Dragon
5. Blind Boys of Alabama - Amazing Grace (House of the Rising Sun)

I'm not tagging anyone because everyone else has already done this, I think.

Comments

[perhael.livejournal.com]

heh. read this sentence again: Not that I think those who did this should be caught and brought to justice

see anything wrong with it? ;)

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

*furtive glance, fixes* YOU SAW NOTHING!

thank you!

[perhael.livejournal.com]

I saw nothing. There was nothing to see. *waves hand* these aren't the droids you're looking for.

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

Bloody right!

[kroki-refur.livejournal.com]

I also feel unpatriotic for not drinking tea on days like this, and I'm actually proper British, like. I can manage the gallows humour though! *furtively sneaks diet Coke into teacup*

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

*has coffee, pretends it's really strong tea* (I don't drink any kind of sweet bubbly drink, either, which is my main excuse for not drinking Irn Bru.)

[kroki-refur.livejournal.com]

My excuse for not drinking Irn Bru is it tastes like shit. And now that I nolonger live in Scotland I can get away with saying that! *grins wildly*

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

You're bad, and I'm telling on you so you'll never be allowed in again. :P

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

There was a different reaction to the London bombings on Israel tv news stations than the UK ones.

That sentence is a problem.

What I mean is, Israel stations reacted the way they do to the bombings here [which happen all the time and I never once get people caring or giving me their 'thoughts and prayers' or whatnot, but nevermind that], which is hysterical and noisy. While at the same time with the same images, UK stations seemed calmer about it.