October 5th, 2008
Impaired?
Espionage didn’t start with the Cold War… the Romans were at it, as were the Elizabethans, and it was rampant in feudal Japan too. The only difference is that they did it without all the technical gadgetry – the things that make spying fun… perhaps with the exception of the Japanese, since ninjas have always had a soft-spot for technology.
Of course, these days most of the technology from the Cold War and onwards is in civilian hands. GPS, phone taps, data dots… you can buy all this stuff on ebay. Then again, with social networking, and the Internet in general, it’s a little easier to find out things about people anyway.
I think it’s because, deep down, we all want to be spies.
Ben on 
Ty on
Playing spy is the best way to figure out if you’re dressed correctly for an occasion. Pretend you need to infiltrate the area and blend with the other participants in order not to be conspicuous. It works for everything from cocktail parties to nightclubs to job interviews.
Other than that, I have no desire to be a spy; I just like not to be out of the loop.
Denying being a spy? You’re definitely one… sleeper agent perhaps… or a double agent… we’ll only find out when the geese fly south for winter…
…This is the best advice ever. I’m going to quote you on this for all eternity.
Now I can explain clothes to aliens…
…or my future son.
Whomever comes first.
Cold War spy gear was pretty nifty and it’s awesome we can buy it on Ebay now, but think about the kind of gear spies get to use now, that stuff has got to be wicked cool.
That’s true… My friend Steve has always held the opinion that the really cool stuff you see today will be available for free, in skips within a decade. He said that ten years ago to me about flat-screen monitors, and bless him, he was right. I saw one next to a pile of rubbish bags just the other week.
Soon we’ll all have uber-spy fun… but then what will the spies be using?
Genetically-engineered cockroaches.
You say spy, I say research.
And that’s why we’re all a little bit scared of you… just a little bit.
Fear is a powerful motivator.
adam, youre absolutely sure she cant get our personal details off this site?
No, no- I’m just here to enjoy the conversation and comics. The listening devices in your homes are for the spying.
In the first decade of the 21st century it’s been all about ninjas and pirates, spies and robots. Where are the barbarians? I’m hoping for a barbarian revival, myself.
Barbarians have struggled since fur went out of vogue… that and the fact that the price of axes has risen so sharply.
They’re a bit like a protected species… there’s a reserve somewhere in Scandanavia.
The B3 (Bring Back Barbarians) campaign starts here.
Ah, the barbarian refuge. It’s in Finland, I think. They have a traveling show to raise funds; it’s quite good.
I’m hoping for barbarian ninjas.
Ninja suits made of the hide of your enemy. That’d actually be a rather effective ninja.
Alternatively nude ninjas could possibly be more effective as their enemies are likely to be easily distracted.
Everyone, without fail, sees themselves as an ameteur sleuth.
I love that! We all have a need to find things out.
Also, you can now get stylable false moustaches. In my experience, they make excellent birthday presents.
’stylable’ false mustaches? don’t get me wrong, it could work, i’m just not sure how much style you can get from a false mustache…
So much style, Justine. SO MUCH.
In 1910 I was so handsome and so strong….my moustache was stiffy waxed and one foot long….
Adam, I just wanted to say, you helped me win an argument today. Well, it wasn;t an argument, but still.
My friend said “Think of a number between one and ten”
“four”
“That isn’t even”
“seven?”
“or odd….or a decimal…or one. or ten.” (She’s this kind of person, see)
and so I went to my drawer, I got out my copy of the Flowfield Unity book, I found the correct page and showed her a certain strip, in which a number is discovered between 3 and 4, sometime in the 2200’s.
Needless to say, she was rendered speechless.
It’s good to be queen.
The number she wanted is two. Atleast all my math teachers would have said that. But they were idiots.
…Wow, you’re right!
Sorry I haven’t been here.