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Impaired?
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.

23 Comments

  1. golfwidow Identicon Icon golfwidow on 05.10.2008 at 17:16 (Reply)

    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.

    1. Adam Identicon Icon Adam on 05.10.2008 at 17:29 (Reply)

      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…

    2. Melanthios Identicon Icon Melanthios on 26.10.2008 at 17:05 (Reply)

      …This is the best advice ever. I’m going to quote you on this for all eternity. :D

      Now I can explain clothes to aliens…

      …or my future son.

      Whomever comes first.

  2. Chris Identicon Icon Chris on 06.10.2008 at 01:04 (Reply)

    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.

    1. Adam Identicon Icon Adam on 06.10.2008 at 12:14 (Reply)

      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?

      1. Melanthios Identicon Icon Melanthios on 26.10.2008 at 17:04 (Reply)

        Genetically-engineered cockroaches.

  3. Brandy Identicon Icon Brandy on 06.10.2008 at 07:20 (Reply)

    You say spy, I say research.

    1. Adam Identicon Icon Adam on 06.10.2008 at 12:15 (Reply)

      And that’s why we’re all a little bit scared of you… just a little bit.

      1. Brandy Identicon Icon Brandy on 06.10.2008 at 12:17 (Reply)

        Fear is a powerful motivator.

        1. justine Identicon Icon justine on 07.10.2008 at 14:09 (Reply)

          adam, youre absolutely sure she cant get our personal details off this site?

          1. Brandy Identicon Icon Brandy on 07.10.2008 at 16:32 (Reply) (Comments won't nest below this level)

            No, no- I’m just here to enjoy the conversation and comics. The listening devices in your homes are for the spying.

  4. Joseph Hewitt Identicon Icon Joseph Hewitt on 06.10.2008 at 12:04 (Reply)

    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.

    1. Adam Identicon Icon Adam on 06.10.2008 at 12:17 (Reply)

      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.

      1. Roo Identicon Icon Roo on 06.10.2008 at 13:52 (Reply)

        Ah, the barbarian refuge. It’s in Finland, I think. They have a traveling show to raise funds; it’s quite good.

    2. Brandy Identicon Icon Brandy on 06.10.2008 at 12:17 (Reply)

      I’m hoping for barbarian ninjas.

      1. Maura Identicon Icon Maura on 07.10.2008 at 05:02 (Reply)

        Ninja suits made of the hide of your enemy. That’d actually be a rather effective ninja.

        1. Chris Identicon Icon Chris on 07.10.2008 at 06:18 (Reply)

          Alternatively nude ninjas could possibly be more effective as their enemies are likely to be easily distracted.

  5. Philippa Identicon Icon Philippa on 07.10.2008 at 09:45 (Reply)

    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.

    1. justine Identicon Icon justine on 07.10.2008 at 14:11 (Reply)

      ‘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…

      1. Melanthios Identicon Icon Melanthios on 26.10.2008 at 17:03 (Reply)

        So much style, Justine. SO MUCH.

        In 1910 I was so handsome and so strong….my moustache was stiffy waxed and one foot long….

  6. Maddie Identicon Icon Maddie on 07.10.2008 at 20:33 (Reply)

    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.

    1. Ben Identicon Icon Ben on 10.10.2008 at 13:40 (Reply)

      The number she wanted is two. Atleast all my math teachers would have said that. But they were idiots.

  7. Melanthios Identicon Icon Melanthios on 26.10.2008 at 17:02 (Reply)

    …Wow, you’re right!

    Sorry I haven’t been here.

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