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aberrantangelsAgain, a somewhat oblique theme links today's items. (Well, that and the fact that they're both from Aberrant: Year One.)
Actually, that's the airdate, so the taping may have been days or weeks ago. The interview took place in Lagos, which Sango restored to capital status when he took power eight years ago. It took three more years for the UN to recognize his government as legitimate, at which point Utopia gave him financial and technological aid.
They're regretting it now, as Nigeria's prosperity has brought an expanded military and a lockdown on information coming into the country. (Apparently, the OpNet doesn't treat censorship as damage to be routed around, or maybe it just doesn't help if removing the filtering software will get you deported if you're lucky, imprisoned if you aren't.) Sango insists that
In fact, while Sango isn't selling proscribed technologies, somebody in his government is, and when he finds out who, it will go hard with them. Matthews, unaware of this, asks what Utopia has to gain from starting these rumors:
Sango insists that "Utopia would have to make the first overtures toward peace. I have already made several that they have ignored." The text of the entry on the city of Lagos says that he has "continuously disregarded attempts to compromise".
Some time ago, Joaquin Rivas perfected the hydrogen fuel-cell technology that's still being discussed in OTL, or at least made it economical to implement for the consumer market. Thus, it counts as an advancement, not an innovation.
Jock's sales pitch, on the other hand, is just new twists on some old standards:
Yeah, that's the clincher.
January 17
[Aberrant] Nigerian dictator Alafin Sango does an exclusive interview for NewsNet's Harold Matthers Presents.
Actually, that's the airdate, so the taping may have been days or weeks ago. The interview took place in Lagos, which Sango restored to capital status when he took power eight years ago. It took three more years for the UN to recognize his government as legitimate, at which point Utopia gave him financial and technological aid.
They're regretting it now, as Nigeria's prosperity has brought an expanded military and a lockdown on information coming into the country. (Apparently, the OpNet doesn't treat censorship as damage to be routed around, or maybe it just doesn't help if removing the filtering software will get you deported if you're lucky, imprisoned if you aren't.) Sango insists that
I have done nothing to my neighbors expect prove that I am a competent leader...
Did I buy weapons? Yes. My country must be strong, especially in light of the novas used by the UN forces and Project Utopia alike to enforce their will upon the world....
I do not deal in illegal weapons. If I have devices to protect my own country, that is one thing, but why would I then sell those weapons to another who could be my enemy? No, these are ugly rumors started by Utopia.
In fact, while Sango isn't selling proscribed technologies, somebody in his government is, and when he finds out who, it will go hard with them. Matthews, unaware of this, asks what Utopia has to gain from starting these rumors:
They hope to make me look like a monster, in the belief that they can then overthrow me without regard for the laws of the world around us. [But the question comes back again, why?] They have been offended by my unwillingness to let them run my country as they are running [a]ll those affiliated with the United Nations.
Sango insists that "Utopia would have to make the first overtures toward peace. I have already made several that they have ignored." The text of the entry on the city of Lagos says that he has "continuously disregarded attempts to compromise".
In a Topeka car dealership, a salesman named Jock sells a middle-aged customer on the fuel-celled Sunstorm.
Some time ago, Joaquin Rivas perfected the hydrogen fuel-cell technology that's still being discussed in OTL, or at least made it economical to implement for the consumer market. Thus, it counts as an advancement, not an innovation.
Jock's sales pitch, on the other hand, is just new twists on some old standards:
Hydrogen stations might not be common yet, but remember this: You can drive the Sunstorm for more than 1,000 miles before you need to fill up again! [...] Buy two fuel blocks, and by the time you exhaust the second you've had plenty of time to recharge the first. You'll never have to buy a third block. [...]
Fuel cells are safer, too. Say 'hydrogen' and everybody thinks 'Hindenburg,' but once the gas is absorbed into the fuel block, it's perfectly safe. You'd need a blowtorch just to set it on fire and even then it'd burn slowly. With [a hypercombustion] car, you still have gallons of gasoline or alcohol under your hood. Gallons of explosive rocket fuel. You get in a wreck, God forbid, that fuel leaks out and your car is in a pool of fire. You want your kids in a situation like that?
Yeah, that's the clincher.
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Date: 2008-01-17 09:39 pm (UTC)We got trouble
Right here in Kansas City
With a capital T and that rhymes with G and that stands for Gas
Yessir we got trouble
Right here in Kansas City
So buy yourself a fuel cell car and ride in class
But we'll solve your trouble
With 'Merican ingenuity
Home of baseball, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule
'Cause there's no trouble
When you drive on hydrogen
With a capital H two steps from F and that stands for fuel!
(Never mind the only American ingenuity involved, if it can be called that, is squeezing "American ingenuity" into a song not designed for that many syllables at that particular point. }:-{D )
(No, I don't follow the game at all, but this particular entry of yours inspired me to play on the subject.)