:: GussetBLOG ::

:: Sunday, February 14, 2010 ::

Link Dump

Witches and Jedis put hex on UK census

"The 2011 census is likely to be Britain’s last following concerns that the 209-year-old survey is unable to cope with the nation’s rapidly changing population — and respondents’ lies.

"When a voluntary question on faith was asked for the first time at the 2001 census, 390,127 respondents drew inspiration from Star Wars and stated their religion as “Jedi” or “Jedi Knight” — more than the number of people who said they were Jewish or Buddhist. Some 7,227 people declared themselves as witches, adherents of the pagan religion of Wicca"

I gave my religion as Jedi last time round in the hope of preventing them from asking such a stupid question again. Looks like it was more successful than I imagined. Although the transient population is a larger factor in the flaws with the current survey.

The conscience stifled by Amnesty

When Gita Sahgal questioned the human rights group’s links to Islamic radicals, it suspended her. Now she fears for her safety.

"Last week Gita Sahgal, a highly respected lifelong human rights activist and head of Amnesty’s gender unit, told The Sunday Times of her concerns about Amnesty’s relationship with Cageprisoners, an organisation headed by Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo internee.

"Since his release in 2005, Begg has spoken alongside Amnesty at a number of events and accompanied the organisation to a meeting at Downing Street last month. Sahgal felt the closeness of the relationship between Amnesty and Cageprisoners — which appears to give succour to those who believe in global jihad — was a threat to Amnesty’s integrity. “To be appearing on platforms with Britain’s most famous supporter of the Taliban, whom we treat as a human rights defender, is a gross error of judgment,” she wrote to Amnesty’s leaders following the Downing Street visit."

Interesting. It's getting into the same murky water that free speech campaigners got into when they started delivering the BNP leaflets that the posties refused to. It's also worth noting that the Times seem to have an axe to grind on this issue. I searched their website for articles about Amnesty and the first five hits were attacks on it. (Thats a live search link and will change over time.)

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics, Privacy

:: Dan 14.2.10 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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The Times today reported on how, "A former Timelord has revealed how he and left-wing scriptwriters used the series to attack Thatcher"

"Sylvester McCoy, the actor who played Doctor Who for two years in the 1980s, has revealed that left-wing scriptwriters hired by the BBC wrote propaganda into the plots in an attempt to undermine Margaret Thatcher’s premiership.

"His revelation will reinforce suspicions about antipathy within the corporation to Thatcher’s government. Norman Tebbit, then the Tory party chairman, claimed at the time that the BBC was in the hands of a “Marxist mafia”."

Hardly a surprise. It's more amazing that the Times seems so scandalised by it. In another 20 years they might suddenly notice the Gay Rights angle Russell T Davies spent his time at the helm shoe-horning into every episode.

Labels: Dr Who, News, Politics

:: Dan 14.2.10 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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It's closed again. So this Saturday's gig is cancelled. =[

I may have posted this already but I've created a Save the Black Swan flickr group, to run alongside the facebook group.

Labels: Bristol, Gigs, Gusset, News

:: Dan 20.1.10 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Forgot to pass this on a couple of days ago...

I guess its good news for those concerned about Google's presence in China. Seems things are getting worse rather than better (the official line was the hoped to improve the situation over time) so they are as good as giving up. Shame the goal of bringing information to the people wasn't reached and sad to see the extent the government (presumably) will go to to infringe human rights and prevent activism.

"Like many other well-known organizations, we face cyber attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis. In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google. However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident--albeit a significant one--was something quite different.

"First, this attack was not just on Google. As part of our investigation we have discovered that at least twenty other large companies from a wide range of businesses--including the Internet, finance, technology, media and chemical sectors--have been similarly targeted. ...

"Second, we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Based on our investigation to date we believe their attack did not achieve that objective. ...

"Third, as part of this investigation but independent of the attack on Google, we have discovered that the accounts of dozens of U.S.-, China- and Europe-based Gmail users who are advocates of human rights in China appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties. These accounts have not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on the users' computers."

Click through to read on.

Labels: Censorship, IT, Liberty, News, Politics

:: Dan 14.1.10 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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European court condemns police misuse of stop and search
The Guardian reports on "Officers using Terrorism Act against citizens on 'a hunch' means serious risk of discrimination, say judges"

"The home secretary, Alan Johnson, app­ears to be in serious trouble over a ruling today by the European court of human rights against the unlawful police use of ­counter-terrorism stop and search powers on peace protesters and photographers."

Labels: Law, Liberty, News, Photography

:: Dan 13.1.10 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Overzealous mentally-unstable worshipper" attacks Pope at Midnight Mass:

Labels: News, Religion

:: Dan 25.12.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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A team of homeless people are to begin excavating a derelict corner of Bristol which has been used by rough sleepers for more than 40 years.

"Turbo Island" in Stokes Croft is to be excavated in a project funded by the Council of British Archaeology.



"We have found evidence of homelessness in the form of drinking and drug taking paraphernalia such as ring pulls, needles and a syringe, which we are going to try and date because it doesn't look modern.

"We also found a turquoise imitation ring."

Smiler, 44, has just been re-housed in Dove Street after 20 years of homelessness, and has been helping the experts on the dig.

He said: "I am not sure how much homeless people will value the dig because they have a day to day existence – it's a shame but it's the way it is. But I do think it is worth doing because it teaches people how the homeless live.

"The most interesting thing I have found here today is a steri cup – an aluminium container people use to cook heroin. I was really surprised because people don't normally have them in Bristol."

Labels: Bristol, News

:: Dan 10.12.09 [Arc] [4 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Mr Free As In Freedom and all round, umm, interesting guy Richard Stallman doesn’t like bull shit. If you ever need something to be angry about you can find a useful summary in his notes archives. To quote some recent examples that caught my attention:

8 December 2009 (Abuse of anti-terrorist laws acknowledged by UK cops)
UK police officials told police to stop threatening photographers using "anti-terror" laws. Ending this one abuse of these unjust laws does not make them acceptable. Some of these laws make it a crime to be suspected, and others are handy for sabotaging protests of any kind. It is not enough for the authorities to be refrain from trampling the rights of people in one activity. The UK must explicitly restore human rights.

The UK police must also pass an "attitude" of their own: to respect people's rights instead of trying to intimidate people out of them. Do they still pressure pubs to set up cameras and let the police view the footage whenever they wish? It should be illegal for anyone to show security camera footage to the police without a court order.

8 December 2009 (Recording industry masters creative accounting)
A musician tells how his record company habitually lies to him about income even though it would not have to pay the band any money for many years.
http://www.toomuchjoy.com/?p=1397

6 December 2009 (Some very creepy politics)
Rom Houben, who has been in a coma for 23 years, is said to be conscious and able to communicate. But is it really he who is communicating?

6 December 2009 (Terrorists kill dozens in Russia)
Why it's a pointless annoyance to check train passengers' luggage for bombs.

4 December 2009 (Poster boy for torturers)
After the Bush regime's monsters tortured Abu Zubaydah, and took photos of his injuries, they showed the photos to other prisoners threatening to torture them the same way.

2 December 2009 (Paranoia reigns amongst London cops)
A BBC photographer was stopped by police from taking a photo of a cathedral in London.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Photography, Politics

:: Dan 8.12.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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THE IMPACT OF ENGLISH LIBEL LAW ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
A REPORT BY INDEX ON CENSORSHIP & ENGLISH PEN
9 OCTOBER 2009

BHA on BBC Consultation
"We want an end to the privileged status and position of religions and religious broadcasting by the BBC, and for some programmes about humanism or from a humanist perspective to be broadcast. In spite of legislation making clear that religions and beliefs, including non-religious beliefs such as Humanism, should be treated equally in terms of broadcasting, the BBC continues to resist doing so.
We want the BBC to fulfil its obligations and include Humanist programmes in its broadcasting!"

Radio 4 Front Row from Tues, available to stream for a week
"Lord Mandelson recently announced the government's plans for tackling illegal file sharing online. Under new measures, repeat offenders who ignore warning letters could have their internet connection removed. High-profile figures including Lily Allen and Radiohead's Ed O'Brien have been weighing into the debate over what approach the government and music industry should take to tackle the problem. Minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms, CEO of UK Music Feargal Sharkey and Cory Doctorow, the journalist and supporter of copyright liberalisation, discuss the issues surrounding the file sharing debate."
Plus a report on Health & Safety vs cartoon violence.

Labels: Animation, Humanism, News, P2P, Politics, Religion, science

:: Dan 11.11.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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French MPs want health warnings on airbrushed photographs
"Airbrushed photographs could be given government health warnings in France to protect women from 'false' images of female beauty."
[via constant siege]



There's an offensive joke in there about one country/area banning imagines of beautiful women from another country/area to to protect women from 'false' images of female beauty. Substitute place names at your discretion.

Labels: Art, News, Photography, Politics

:: Dan 25.9.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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I remember chess being big news during my childhood in the '80s, around the time I started playing. So it's interesting to see the biggest match, and biggest rivalry, of the era being relived.

"Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov have renewed their old rivalry in a twelve game exhibition match at Valencia. The contest will last three days with two rapid games on days one and two to be followed by eight blitz games on day three."

Channel 4 news gives a nice introduction [video link] including some explanation of the political backdrop.

The rematch so far is reported here.
"Garry Kasparov beat Anatoly Karpov in two games Tuesday at the start of an exhibition chess match marking the 25th anniversary of their first title bout, a grueling event that was eventually ended after five months."

Pierre Garon: How the game of chess lost its soul
"Yet we only know these names today because of one man: Bobby Fischer.
Before Fischer, chess in America was an intensive care unit patient on IV. The title of world chess champion belonged to the Soviets. Then Fischer rose to prominence in the Sixties, and with incredible ease dispatched all candidates to become, in 1972, official challenger to titleholder Boris Spassky."

Coincidentally, I'm currently reading one of the more accessible books about the match. David Edmonds' and John Eidinow's Bobby Fischer Goes to War.

The psychology is interesting. The authors perhaps overplay the suspicions of cheating, the chapter applying game theory to Fischer's unreasonable behaviour is perhaps a step too far, but it's a riveting read nontheless. The profiles of both players early lives make me wonder about the mindset of the grandmaster. The savant like powers of recall make me wonder about how their brains may be differently wired to some other peoples. In much the same way as Oliver Sacks considered musicians in Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain. I'd like to see chess get a similar treatment.

The "Living Chess" chapter of the Bobby Fischer book mentioned touches on this, mentioning the similarities in thinking between mathematicians, chess players and musicians. It also quotes Nabokov, who said, "There is nothing abnormal about a chess player being abnormal. This is normal." It goes on to cite some of the more extreme examples, such as Paul Morphy, the unofficial world champion in the 1850s. (The official world championship is generally regarded to have begun in 1886.) Quoting the same book at length:

"[Morphy] also despised the chess 'scene'. While only in his twenties, he descended into a state of paranoia and depression, and became a recluse. Occasionally he was seen wandering the streets of New Orleans, muttering to himself in French. A shoe fetishist, at the age of forty-seven he was found dead in his bathtub - rumour says surrounded by women's shoes."

For further accessible chess related entertainment there's always the film Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine, reviewed here.

Labels: Chess, Literature, News

:: Dan 23.9.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Síle Lane on keeping libel laws out of science
Following Simon Singh's "Beware the Spinal Trap"
"We must ask why the cost of defending a libel case in England is 140 times the European average and why 90% of cases are won by the claimant."

It's heartening to know that at the Liberal Democrat party conference yesterday there was a fringe event on Defending Free Speech: Keep libel laws out of science.

Labels: Copyright, Freedom, Law, News, Politics, science

:: Dan 21.9.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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In the latest in our occasional series on unusually specialist magazines found laying around in the office kitchen, we now present Building Sustainable Design.

Which this month includes a though provoking article on the current assumption that buildings can be built for a 25 year life span and how this can no longer stack up financially or environmentally, an interview with Lucy Pedler of Bristol based sustainable architecture practice Achipeleco on why she “had hoped that the recession would be more catastrophic,” and a brilliant article on “What termites can teach us about natural ventilation in small buildings.”



Following from this there is of course next weeks Pestival, which Stewart Lee fans will probably already be aware of from his 41st Greatest Stand-up routine. Comedy at the insect themed festival is provided by Robin Ince along with many other fasinating insect based art projects from the Termite Pavilion to broadcasts from Resonance FM and workshops from The Art of Being a Maggot to Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Sadly I can't make any of this, but I'm most upset missing out on Cross Pollination, where “Internationally acclaimed sound recordist for BBC’s Life in the Undergrowth and original member of Cabaret Voltaire, Chris Watson, curates an evening of experimental insect music.”

Due to a family wedding I was also unable to attend Chris Watson's workshop at UWE last weekend, and I forgot to blog about it in advance, but there are still some events to go on the STAGING SOUND 2.0 programme, including the Dorkbot Bristol Sound Hack followed by Guerilla Busking in Bath this Saturday.

Back on an environmental footing, various national media have picked up on the “living wall that died” in Islington. Most of the press have hung the story off of the waste-of-public-money angle rather than the technical issues with the failed watering system / learning experience / maybe the odd weather we've had? There most be an engineer somewhere mopping a sweaty brow as that one passes over. Either that or (s)he will be saying “I told you so.” A year or so ago I'd've worried that this would lead to a cut in spending on environmental projects but in the current financial and political climate I know it's going to get cut anyway regardless of previous successes or failures. Not good times.

Labels: architecture, Bending, Economy, Electronic Music, Environment, Insects, News, Politics, Sustainability

:: Dan 26.8.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Reposted in its entirety as part of a publicity effort against the chiropractic assheads trying to silence the brilliant science writer and thoroughly nice bloke, Simon Singh. Enjoy:

Beware the Spinal Trap

Some practitioners claim it is a cure-all, but the research suggests chiropractic therapy has mixed results – and can even be lethal, says Simon Singh.

This is Chiropractic Awareness Week. So let's be aware. How about some awareness that may prevent harm and help you make truly informed choices? First, you might be surprised to know that the founder of chiropractic therapy, Daniel David Palmer, wrote that, "99% of all diseases are caused by displaced vertebrae". In the 1860s, Palmer began to develop his theory that the spine was involved in almost every illness because the spinal cord connects the brain to the rest of the body. Therefore any misalignment could cause a problem in distant parts of the body.

In fact, Palmer's first chiropractic intervention supposedly cured a man who had been profoundly deaf for 17 years. His second treatment was equally strange, because he claimed that he treated a patient with heart trouble by correcting a displaced vertebra.

You might think that modern chiropractors restrict themselves to treating back problems, but in fact they still possess some quite wacky ideas. The fundamentalists argue that they can cure anything. And even the more moderate chiropractors have ideas above their station. The British Chiropractic Association claims that their members can help treat children with colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying, even though there is not a jot of evidence. This organisation is the respectable face of the chiropractic profession and yet it happily promotes bogus treatments.

I can confidently label these treatments as bogus because I have co-authored a book about alternative medicine with the world's first professor of complementary medicine, Edzard Ernst. He learned chiropractic techniques himself and used them as a doctor. This is when he began to see the need for some critical evaluation. Among other projects, he examined the evidence from 70 trials exploring the benefits of chiropractic therapy in conditions unrelated to the back. He found no evidence to suggest that chiropractors could treat any such conditions.

But what about chiropractic in the context of treating back problems? Manipulating the spine can cure some problems, but results are mixed. To be fair, conventional approaches, such as physiotherapy, also struggle to treat back problems with any consistency. Nevertheless, conventional therapy is still preferable because of the serious dangers associated with chiropractic.

In 2001, a systematic review of five studies revealed that roughly half of all chiropractic patients experience temporary adverse effects, such as pain, numbness, stiffness, dizziness and headaches. These are relatively minor effects, but the frequency is very high, and this has to be weighed against the limited benefit offered by chiropractors.

More worryingly, the hallmark technique of the chiropractor, known as high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust, carries much more significant risks. This involves pushing joints beyond their natural range of motion by applying a short, sharp force. Although this is a safe procedure for most patients, others can suffer dislocations and fractures.

Worse still, manipulation of the neck can damage the vertebral arteries, which supply blood to the brain. So-called vertebral dissection can ultimately cut off the blood supply, which in turn can lead to a stroke and even death. Because there is usually a delay between the vertebral dissection and the blockage of blood to the brain, the link between chiropractic and strokes went unnoticed for many years. Recently, however, it has been possible to identify cases where spinal manipulation has certainly been the cause of vertebral dissection.

Laurie Mathiason was a 20-year-old Canadian waitress who visited a chiropractor 21 times between 1997 and 1998 to relieve her low-back pain. On her penultimate visit she complained of stiffness in her neck. That evening she began dropping plates at the restaurant, so she returned to the chiropractor. As the chiropractor manipulated her neck, Mathiason began to cry, her eyes started to roll, she foamed at the mouth and her body began to convulse. She was rushed to hospital, slipped into a coma and died three days later. At the inquest, the coroner declared: "Laurie died of a ruptured vertebral artery, which occurred in association with a chiropractic manipulation of the neck."

This case is not unique. In Canada alone there have been several other women who have died after receiving chiropractic therapy, and Professor Ernst has identified about 700 cases of serious complications among the medical literature. This should be a major concern for health officials, particularly as under-reporting will mean that the actual number of cases is much higher.

Bearing all of this in mind, I will leave you with one message for Chiropractic Awareness Week - if spinal manipulation were a drug with such serious adverse effects and so little demonstrable benefit, then it would almost certainly have been taken off the market.

Ben Goldacre of Bad Science explains the history of the legal case here and here.
Here are a couple of posts from Dave Gorman on the subject
See Jack of Kent's blog for updates on the legal case as well as many other important stories.
For example, he links to this Observer story citing mathematicians reluctance to speak out about banks in the wake of the recent crunch for fear of libel threats. If chiropractors can do it then the banks sure will.
See Sense About Science for the campaign to keep libel law out of science, including a list of places the article has been republished. Amusingly some of those are ad carrying sites which are now providing advertising for chiropractic services alongside the article.

The Skeptic website is also worth a read

Labels: Freedom, Law, News, science

:: Dan 30.7.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"A Harry Potter actor has admitted growing cannabis in his mother's north-west London home. Jamie Waylett, 19, who plays bully Vincent Crabbe in the film series, pleaded guilty to growing 10 cannabis plants in tents at the Kilburn house."

Hardly a surprise when you have so many teenage actors in the spotlight, but what's shocking about this story is this line:

"The court heard police found shots of the plants on Mr Waylett's camera after he was arrested for taking a picture of officers [my emphasis] as he and a friend drove past."

And then this:

Kent Police clamp down on tall photographers

The war on street photography

The new MET guidelines for offers is here.

Quoting the Reg:

"At the heart of the present controversy is the question of when behaviour becomes suspicious. Advice we have received suggests that the police may arrest an individual under PACE s.1 or the Terrorism Act s.44 where they have reasonable suspicion that an illegal act is being carried out.

"In other words, photography on its own is not suspicious behaviour: police suspicions need to be grounded in other evidence, and it is not reasonable to throw a blanket suspicion over the activities of all photographers.

"Yet here is the Met guidance in respect of s.44: "Officers have the power to view digital images contained in mobile telephones or cameras... provided that the viewing is to determine whether the images... are of a kind, which could be used in connection with terrorism."

"Not quite. The Met guidelines make no mention of reasonable suspicion: in effect, they duck the single issue that is at the heart of so much grief."

In other photography related news:
Flexible fabric that takes 'takes pictures'
Exploiting Collective Effects of Multiple Optoelectronic Devices Integrated in a Single Fiber
Ideal for adaptive camouflage I imagine. Future street photographers could wear outfits made out of this so that they can capture the images they want unobtrusively whilst simultaneously blending into the scenery.

Labels: Law, News, Photography, Technology

:: Dan 17.7.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Wind farm 'kills Taiwanese goats'

A large number of goats in Taiwan may have died of exhaustion because of noise from a wind farm.

How close were they? I've seen cows in the same field as turbines without issue. Maybe because they couldn't get away from it? Maybe goats are light sleepers?

I will be preparing a bid for a detailed study into this issue. It will involve me living in Asia for several months, maybe years, and access to as many goats as I could ask for. I may then move on to other animals. I expect the government grant any day now.

Labels: Environment, Humour, News, Noise

:: Dan 22.5.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Secularists claim chaplains are a waste of taxpayers' money

"Chaplaincy services are costing the NHS more than £32 million every year, according to figures obtained from hospital trusts.This money could instead be used to pay for another 1,300 nurses or 2,500 cleaning staff."

That's my money! (As a tax payer. Admittedly I'd have a greater claim if I smoked too.) Seeing it pissed up the wall by zealots leaching on to the most vulnerable is a fucking outrage.

Yes, you can have Chaplins if people want them. No, I am not prepared to pay towards them. Keep them away from me, keep them away from people not old enough to have made up their own minds, and if you have to pay these fuckwits for their "services" you can pay them through donations from other fuckwits.

Are my feelings clear enough on this?

Labels: Atheism, health, News, Politics, secular

:: Dan 8.4.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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There is a pattern to my blogging here that shows that every time I buy an actual hard copy of a newspaper I blog about half a dozen stories out of it I may otherwise never have stumbled upon. This is no exception, here are my picks from Thursday's Guardian:

British therapists still offer treatments to 'cure' homosexuality
"Survey suggests a significant minority of mental health professionals continue to provide treatments to gay men and lesbians despite no evidence they can change orientation and concerns they are harmful...One counsellor who is a member of the British Psychological Society said: "Although homosexual feelings are usual in people, their physical expression, and being a person's only way of having sexual relations is problematic. The physical act for male homosexuals is physically damaging and is the main reason in this country for Aids/HIV. It is also perverse.""
This is outrageous. It can be criticised, if not demolished, from so many different angles I don't think I need to point that out. It's like a throw back to the 50s, when our society lost great minds like Turing because of it's backwards treatment of sexuality. From some of the quotes in the article there are, to me, some scary signs of counsellors forcing their personal (probably 2000 year old religious based beliefs) on people. These practitioners should not be allowed to "help" people again.

Are women doing better or worse in IT since Ada Lovelace?

Why not let the security services spy on Twitter? It's not like they'll learn anything from it

Getty Images now licensing hand-picked Flickr photos

Google's would be watchdogs are distracted by its chew toys

Vintage sound chips? They are music to my ears
Chip tunes goes mainstream?

E-government survey urges councils to free data

"Never mind the recession - Lego is now so popular that there are 62 little coloured blocks for every person on the planet. Yet only five years ago this family business was on the brink of ruin. Jon Henley reports from the Danish town where it all began"

Labels: Electronic Music, Feminism, Flickr, gay, Google, IT, Lego, News, Photography, Politics, Retro, Secuirty, web 2.0

:: Dan 28.3.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Pope tells Africa 'condoms wrong'...and eats babies. Or something.



Atheists call for 'debaptism'



National Secular Society - Debaptise Yourself!

What next, jews and skin grafts?

Labels: Atheism, News, Religion

:: Dan 18.3.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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I posted about the free-for-all at the Bookbarn a couple of weeks ago. The opening of the doors at the Bristol book warehouse made national news.

The capitalist past of me was offended that all of those books, some of which were mine that I had taken there for them to sell on my behalf, were just being given away. I felt better about this once I'd visited and made up for my losses.

The anarchist past of me loved the idea of the free distribution of knowledge.

The liberal part of me loved the fact that all sections of society were represented, from charities, to students, to squatters with dogs, to opportunistic wheeler dealers, to pensioners with walking sticks, all picking through the mess.

The English part of me loved how polite everyone was. There was no barging, no shouting, no fighting over anything. Just a melancholic air of acceptance of the literary post-apocalyptic feeling that pervaded.

If ever anyone wanted to stage an intellectual coup d’état in the UK all they would need to do would be to spray all the books in a warehouse like this with legionnaires, open the doors to the public and leak the story to the press. You would wipe out every free thinker in the area. I'm sure there's a book in that.*

* Idea published under a non-profit creative commons licence, thank you very much.

Labels: Books, Bristol, Flickr, Literature, News, Photography

:: Dan 10.3.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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The God Botherers Strike Back. And there's no probably about it.



Let there be adverts: Christians hit back at the atheist bus

Labels: Atheism, News, Religion

:: Dan 10.3.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"A RANGE of Lego-style fighting figures — including an al-Qaeda terrorist — has been slammed by religious leaders."



Added to my Christmas list!

Labels: Lego, News, Politics, Religion

:: Dan 4.12.08 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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How is the recent increase in piracy going to affect global temperature?


Piracy Map 1
Originally uploaded by bldgblog.


The link is proven by the Church of Flying Spaghetti Monster:



Are all these new pirates followers of His Noodly Appendage?

Labels: Atheism, Environment, Humour, Maps, News, Pirates, Religion

:: Dan 24.11.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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BNP membership list leaks online

The British National Party has lost its membership list - the whole thing has been published online.

The list includes names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of all members up to September 2008. It also includes some people's ages, especially those under 18 - the BNP offers family membership for £40. Many entries also contain more personal comments about jobs or hobbies. That's how we know that that BNP members include receptionists, district nurses, amateur historians, pagans, line dancers and a male witch.

Members have unsurprisingly reacted with outrage. One commenter said: "I'm also on the list, what the f#ck is going on? I could lose my job." Another: "The most shocking thing is some of the comments by the names! God help anyone who is in the army, the pison [sic] service, health care, police officer or a teacher." Several professions in the UK are expected to refrain from party political activities. ...

More

Edit 1:
bnpmemberslist.blogspot.com
Edit 2:
wikileaks.org.uk/leak/bnp-membership-list.txt
www.bnpmemberslist.co.uk/

Labels: News, Politics

:: Dan 18.11.08 [Arc] [7 comments] [links to this post] ::
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I have had to cancel my appearance at the Oxjam gig tonight due to the technical failure of my laptop. I will be reinstalling my OS when I should be parting for charity, unfortunately.

This is the first time I've ever cancelled a gig and I feel terrible about it.

If you do still go along I'm sorry I'm not there. I have left a box of free CDs at the venue for people who turn up. Please donate to Oxfam if you take one.

Labels: Gigs, Gusset, News

:: Dan 15.11.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Obey Shepard & Vote Obama
Originally uploaded by HabitForming.

Obama victory caps five-decade civil rights struggle for blacks

Great news!
Even I'm struggling to be cynical today.

Although Scott Adams still manages it:

Cartoon Lounge: We are doing nonstop election coverage this month. Any thoughts on whether there will be an election?

Scott Adams: There will be an election, followed by rioting, the complete unraveling of society, and, I assume, a zombie problem. And everyone will agree it’s an improvement.

Labels: News, Politics

:: Dan 5.11.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Nazi
Originally uploaded by gusset.


Artists models pose in the window of a Bristol stationers.
'Neo-Nazi invasion' terrifies villagers
Gloucestershire Uni Investigates 'Nazi' Students

Labels: Art, Bristol, Flickr, News, Photography, Politics

:: Dan 1.11.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Betraying the fact that I bought a Sunday Observer a few weeks ago and circles half a dozen articles for blogging, then put it aside until now, here's a link dump I should have published a month ago.

Alex James on making cheese

Plea to save vanishing art of the pub sign
(I notice The Victoria in St Wurbergs replaced their Victoria Beckham pub sign with Vicky Pollard last month, perhaps a couple of years too late.)

Warning to advertisers on 2012 cash-in

Einstein fridge design can help global cooling
"Scientists relaunch a 1930 invention that uses no electricity and would reduce greenhouse gases"


Isle of plenty
"In the past 10 years, one Danish island has cut its carbon footprint by a staggering 140%. Now, with a simple grid of windfarms, solar panels and sheep, it's selling power to the mainland and taking calls from Shell. ... 'Shell heard about what we were doing and asked to be involved - but only on condition they ended up owning the turbines. We told them to go away. We are a nation of farmers. We believe in self-sufficiency.'"

Labels: Advertising, Art, Environment, Food, News, Physics

:: Dan 17.10.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Dilbert Survey of Economists Democratic Economists Favor Obama. Republican Economists Favor McCain. Independents Lean Toward Obama

Part of the press release:

Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip, commissioned a survey of over 500 economists to find out which candidate for President of the United States would be best for the economy long term.

Says Adams, “I found myself wishing someone would give voters useful and unbiased information about which candidate has the best plans for the economy. Then I realized that I am someone, which is both inconvenient and expensive.”

When asked which candidate for President would be best for the economy in the long run, not surprisingly, 88% of Democratic economists think Obama would be best, while 80% of Republican economists pick McCain. Independent economists, who in this sample are largely from the academic world, lean toward Obama by 46% compared to 39% for McCain. Overall, 59% of the economists say Obama would be best for the economy long term, with 31% picking McCain, and 8% saying there would be no difference.

The economists in the survey favor Obama on 11 of the top 13 issues. But keep in mind that 48% are Democrats and only 17% are Republicans. Among Independents, things are less clear, with 54% thinking that in the long run there would either be no difference between the candidates or McCain would do better.

Follow link for more information and full survey data. Also, see the story on CNN.

Labels: News, Politics

:: Dan 17.9.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Priest to hold nun beauty pageant

"An Italian priest says he is organising the world's first beauty pageant for nuns to erase a stereotype of them as being old and dour. Antonio Rungi says The Miss Sister Italy online contest will start on his blog in September. "Nuns are - above all - women, and beauty is a gift from God," he told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper. Internet users will be able to choose their favourite nun from photographs."

This could only happen in Italy.

Update: Seems this wasn't considered such a good idea after all so you'll have to get your nun based kicks some other way.

I went looking for a suitable image to add here, as the fetish scene is rife with nun obsessed lapsed Catholics, but even so I wasn't expecting to find Nun of the Week! NSFW

Labels: News

:: Dan 27.8.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Fox News Caught Flashing Subliminal John McCain Image

Labels: Media, News, Politics, psychology

:: Dan 12.8.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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I wondered how long it would be before we saw this...

Thai school offers transsexual toilet



The headteacher, Sitisak Sumontha, estimates that in any year between 10% and 20% of his boys consider themselves to be transgender - boys who would rather be girls. "They used to be teased every time they used the boys' toilets," he said, "so they started using the girls' toilets instead. But that made the girls feel uncomfortable. It made these boys unhappy, and started to affect their work."

Labels: News

:: Dan 31.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Despite the arguments that the Olympics would help bring China's human rights standards up to scratch, despite the introduction of "free speech zones", despite the US playing down China's human rights record, Amnesty report that Chinese authorities’ broken promises threaten Olympic legacy. It seems, things are getting worse.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Olymipcs, Politics

:: Dan 29.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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weston 3
Originally uploaded by gusset.

I happened to be working in Weston yesterday so had a look at the pier. These were taken around 10am and the blaze was under control by then.

I was listening to GWR **shudder** as I was driving towards Weston. (My excuse for listening to it was that the hire car was already tuned to it and the Weston story hooked me in as I was heading there.) The reports were ridiculous. They compared the loss of the structure to the Twin Towers and compared the outpouring of grief to when Diana died! Twats. Then some troll phoned in to try and give them a dose of perspective and told them it was a good thing it was gone as it needed modernising. Then the death threats for this guy started. It was hilarious. Exactly what shitty local radio is for.

I am sad to see this go, mainly because I fear some hideous new monstrosity may take its place. What I like about Weston is the air of grotty melancholy that surrounds all Victorian seaside towns. It's just not the English seaside without it.

Labels: Bristol, Flickr, News

:: Dan 29.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Dozens of black-clad emo music fans protested Saturday in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk against plans by Russian lawmakers to ban their dark style from the country's schools [and government buildings].

Russian authorities are considering legislation aimed at heading off the "dangerous teen trend" of emo culture.

"The document states that emos are aged from 12 to 16, wear black and pink, and have long, black hair which may "cover half the face". Other characteristics identified include black fingernails, black belts with studs and pins, and ear and eyebrow piercings."

Hmm, I think I'm safe. I may be wearing some pink but I'm too old and don't have enough hair to cover half my head let alone my face.

It's as ridiculous as the Commie witch hunt in the US in the '60s, where the list of signs to look out for included 'may carry a guitar.' (I can't find an online reference for that. I think I'm quoting a Bob Dylan documentary.)

Are musical sub-cultures really as dangerous as oppressive states make out? Maybe so. It's claimed that Rock and Roll brought down communism in Hungary, so maybe there is something in it.

And that's all the more reason to encourage it. It's not really about the way someone might dress or what music they choose to listen to, it's about controlling the way people think, and that is never acceptable.

I may not identify myself that strongly with either goth or emo culture, but I love to see people setting themselves outside of the norm. (Although I worry that in both cases what is considered outside of the norm in the West is just as prescribed and marketed as the norm itself. Just have a look around a branch of Clare's accessories to see that.) But in some countries if you don't even have the freedom to choose which harmless subculture to belong to, that's a worrying state of affairs.

As one of the protestors placards said, "Why Do We Have To Think The Same?"

Labels: Goth, News, Politics

:: Dan 25.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Interesting responses from the papers to the Max Mosley vs the News of the World case. For those who don't know, the News of the World [NotW], a UK gutter-press tabloid fond of kiss and tell stories, secretly filmed and published stories about F1 boss Mosley, accusing him of partaking in an orgy with six prostitutes that had Nazi overtones.

Mosley claimed for libel, on the grounds there weren't any Nazi overtones. He didn't deny any of the rest of it, that was his own private business. He won a record £60k damages.

The Guardian editorial this morning sums up the case:

Judges and journalists might disapprove of all sorts of unconventional sexual behaviour but - so long as it was between consenting adults in private - it is not the business of the state, the courts or the media to intrude. "It is not," said Eady, "for journalists to undermine human rights, or for judges to refuse to enforce them, merely on grounds of taste or moral disapproval."

In a great piece on Channel 4 news [skip 14min into this video] last night the NotW's legal expert was interviewed about how the paper felt the case had gone. They felt that the ruling had severe implications for freedom of speech and maintained that knowing what sexual acts a person in power gets up to in their own time, between consenting adults, is in the public interest, whilst glossing over the fact that they embellished the story to make it sell better. At the end of the interview John Snow challenges him to name a previous story that may no-longer be publishable because of this ruling, although he dodged the question it is a very good one.

Most of the press are quick to the defensive, The Telegraph reporting Judge has hampered freedom of expression, for example. Then, in classic right wing press tradition, they go on to blame the Human Rights Act in just the same was the NotW blamed Europe (see video).

Why has Human Rights become a dirty word? The press hate it. This irritates me every time I see an example of it, which is almost daily. They are convinced it has done nothing but harm to their right to print whatever they like and acting as self-appointed judge and jury themselves. Even the Guardian editorial, above, spins the case for using the Press Complaints Commission rather than the courts. True, this may be easier in many cases, but I can't see the PCC handing out landmark rulings and record compensation.

The Times, on the other hand, spins a conspiracy theory about missing evidence: Max Mosley orgies and missing emails.

The New York Times, bless them, completely misses the point by putting the wrong word in inverted commas in their headline: British Tabloid Loses Suit Over Nazi ‘Orgy’ Article.

The Irish Times has the sense to point out Mosley ruling does not appear to threaten public interest defence.

"The implication of yesterday's judgment by Mr Justice Eady," The Independent reminds us, "is that people who have sexual habits others might find bizarre or unpalatable have the same right to privacy as anyone else." And that's a very good thing.

Labels: Fetish, News, Politics, Privacy

:: Dan 25.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Ingrid Betancourt, freed from captivity and humiliation in the jungles of Colombia, returns to her beloved France and a hero's welcome Friday in the gilded halls of the presidential palace. ... [she] was freed Wednesday in a daring Colombian operation involving military spies who tricked FARC rebels into handing over Betancourt and 14 other hostages without firing a shot."

"[she] described their ecstasy with unforgettable vividness. 'The helicopter almost fell. We started jumping, we screamed, we cried, we hugged - we couldn't believe it. God carried out this miracle.'"

No he didn't. Fuck God.
Try thanking your rescuers.
Ungrateful bitch.

Um, apart from that this is a good thing, obviously.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics, Religion

:: Dan 4.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Urban explorer pays for his hobby with his life

"To urban explorers, it's known simply as Hearn, one of Toronto's top destinations for camera-toting adventurers with a fondness for abandoned buildings. From now on, they will also know it as the place where a fellow enthusiast died after a three-storey fall into a coal hopper on the weekend. ...
Now that there's been an accident, he expects things to change at Hearn, and if that comes at the expense of [the] hobby, so be it."

RIP

Labels: News, RIP, Urban Exploring

:: Dan 23.6.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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'A psychology researcher has controversially claimed that stupidity is causally linked to how likely people are to believe in God. ...

That professional skeptics don't believe in a creator is perhaps not all that surprising. [University of Ulster professor Richard] Lynn argues, however, that it is their intelligence that directly gives rise to the boffinated classes' non-God-bothering tendencies. He said: "Why should fewer academics believe in God than the general population? I believe it is simply a matter of the IQ. Academics have higher IQs than the general population."

Lynn pointed out that most children do believe in God, but as their intelligence develops they tend to have doubts or reject religion. Similarly, as average IQ in Western societies increased through the 20th century, so did rates of atheism, he said.'

Labels: News, Religion, science

:: Dan 16.6.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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The City of London Police are prosecuting a teenager for calling the Church of Scientology a "cult" during a demonstration

I've been umming and ahhing about whether to post this story. It is ridiculous and an insane erosion of the right to protest obviously, but Scientology is such an easy target I can't get myself worked up about the campaign against it. So lets start with the facts. Scientology was started for a bet. Its mere existence, and the fact that any idiot follows it at all, demonstrates the ease of forming a religion and the gullibility of people to accept what they are told without asking questions. The question I ask every time I hear something about Scientology is, 'Why do people take religion seriously, what evidence is there to accept what any of them say?'

As null device links, Charlie Stross of antipope steps in here:

The difference between a "cult" like Scientology and a "respectable" religion such as Christianity is not in the plausibility of their beliefs. ... IMHO, religions and their believers should be judged on their actions, rather than on the respectability of their particular brand of mythology. (As Voltaire wrote, there is nothing more respectable than an ancient evil.) And religions shouldn't be automatically entitled to be handled with kid gloves and reverential deference, or, indeed, to impose restrictions on those who do not adhere to them (such as the proposed bans on embryo research), just because their organisations are founded on supernatural or unprovable beliefs.

Labels: News, Politics, Religion

:: Dan 25.5.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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What is it about John de Groot and goats? Why should a probate lawyer in Brisbane want to open the world's first goat museum?

"I think very few people realise the incredible contribution that goats made to the life of outback Australia," he says. "They were relied on as a source of milk and meat. They pulled wagons and carted loads. They were wonderful pets, and a great source of entertainment, through the racing, which reached its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s."

In that era, most people kept a goat in their yard. In the morning, they would open the back gate and the goats would troop off to the town common to feed. At nightfall the animals would return in packs of up to 50, with each goat turning off at the house where it lived.

Bless.

[Dr de Groot] is writing a book, Goat Racing in Australia: The Definitive Guide. The book features "Top Tips for Successful Goat Racing", including "tail trembling" (shaking the goat's tail), "tail rotation" (either clockwise or anti-clockwise), "under-tail tickling" (with a cane), "pebble powering" (placing a sun-warmed pebble under the animal's tail) and "hairy leg syndrome" (pulling the hairs on the goat's leg). All are designed to foster acceleration.

Ouch.

Labels: Goats, News

:: Dan 20.5.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Einstein letter shows disdain for religion 'Albert Einstein regarded religions as "childish" and "primitive legends", a private letter he wrote a year before his death has revealed.' - Glad that's cleared up. I'm sick of religious people telling me Einstein believed in God.

Vatican says aliens could exist and may be free from sin! Only decades rather than centuries late to the band wagon now.

Sweet Dreams Security
"An outfit named Sweet Dreams Security is making designed objects for a more paranoid age; from spiked railings, barbed wire and CCTV camera covers in the shape of cute animals to heart-shaped chains and (perhaps more practically) lace curtains shaped like anti-burglar grilles."
[via null device]

"Over the last 50 years, Syd Mead has created startling pictures for clients all over the world. His technique infuses finished scenarios with a vivid reality, allowing the viewer to gain a look into many visions of future worlds. He has designed and illustrated for corporations, motion pictures, themed entertainment, and a wide range of transportation projects. Syd's combination of recognition and creative imagination has graced scores of films, books, and other exhibits. His film work includes Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Blade Runner, Tron, 2010, Aliens, Short Circuit and other films."
[via Jen]

Labels: News, Politics, Religion

:: Dan 16.5.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Turnkey / Sound Control goes bust
"Sad (-ish) news for British music gear buyers - Sound Control group, who own a string of enormo-shops and Turnkey, the UK distributors for Moog, DSI, Jomox and more, have appointed administrators after failing to find a buyer: "Following a review of the Group’s operations the Administrators have today made the difficult decision to close 10 of the Group’s trading locations and bring to an end its telesales and internet sales activities. These changes to the Group’s operations have resulted in 163 redundancies with immediate effect." The group has a turnover of £50m and employed 338 people across Britain. Obviously their competitors, like Dolphin Music, are delighted."

Sad news.
Look out for bargains!

Labels: Instruments, News

:: Dan 2.5.08 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Two teenage boys have been jailed for life for the murder of a woman who was killed for dressing as a Goth
I can't remember whether I've commented on this case before or not but I have been following it.

Passing sentence at Preston Crown Court, Judge Anthony Russell QC described the attack as "feral thuggery" which raised serious questions about the "sort of society which exists in this country".
He added: "This was a terrible case which has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it.
"At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food.
"You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself."

Strong words, totally justified. It's a sad, sad society we live in. Any form of prejudice grieves me but this one in particular stands out as she was so beautiful and caring and it is such a pointless waste of a young life. My heart goes out to her boyfriend, whom she was trying to protect, and to all her friends and family. RIP

Labels: News, Politics, RIP

:: Dan 29.4.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Irwin fans 'in revenge attacks'
"Dead stingrays with their tails cut off have been found in Australia, sparking concern that fans of naturalist Steve Irwin may be avenging his death."
Once again I am astounded by human stupidity.

Labels: Ecology, News

:: Dan 22.3.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Seven new deadly sins: are you guilty?

Fewer confessions and new sins

According to the (American) Catholic priest interviewed about this on BBC News 24 this evening (unfortunately the video isn't online) this shows how the Vatican is using reason. When did they ever worry about that?


[image source]

Labels: News, Religion

:: Dan 10.3.08 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Tibetans launched the Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay in Olympia today under intense scrutiny and harassment from Greek police and 15 to 20 Chinese government officials."

"Despite the excessive police resence, the twelve Tibetans carried out the lighting ceremony in frontof the ancient archaeological site of Olympia, Greece, pre-empting hina’s Olympic Torch Relay launch there later this month. The TibetanFreedom Torch represents the hopes and aspirations of the Tibetan people or freedom and justice and will be carried to more than 20 countriesworldwide, reaching Tibet on the eve of the Beijing Games. The Freedom torch also highlights Tibetan opposition to the Chinese government’s politically motivated plan to carry the Olympic Torch through Tibet"

Edit: 14.03.07 Website linked above has been taken down already. Hopefully this reuters link will last longer.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Olymipcs, Politics

:: Dan 10.3.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Noise more important than environment says NAT

Labels: Acoustics, Environment, News, Noise, Politics

:: Dan 21.2.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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China feels heat as activists take their cue from Spielberg. 'Focus on Darfur as human rights campaigners salute film director and vow to target main sponsors of the games'

"The director stepped down from his role as artistic adviser to Beijing late on Tuesday, citing his opposition to China's support for the Sudanese regime responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. He accused China of not doing enough to press Sudan to end the "continuing human suffering" in the troubled region. China imports two-thirds of Sudan's oil and in return is said to be the African country's biggest arms supplier."

Well, it's been a long time coming. It's a shame that it took the Darfur situation to prompt it rather than an objection to China's human rights record in general and the crack down on free-speech and peaceful protest that is directly related to the games themselves. However, it's a step in the right direction and he should be applauded for that. [2006 Amnesty report: China: The Olympics Countdown - Failing to keep human rights promises. There are plenty more up to date sources on specific issues if you search.]

Athletes too are raising awareness

"For the last 20 years team members have been obliged to sign a contract as a condition of taking part in the Games. But for the first time a clause had been inserted into the Team Members Agreement stating athletes must not comment on politically-sensitive issues during the event in Beijing." [BBC news]

The IOA deny this is a problem, as the events should be "about sport" and nothing else. But shouldn't sport be about something? Isn't it about bringing people together? Former British Olymipic swimmer Duncan Goodhew made a good point about how pivotal the Moscow Olympics was in bringing about change in Russia [I think the comment has been edited out of the above article since] but that doesn't mean we should take a back seat and just wait for things to change. Putting on more pressure will speed up the process and now is the perfect opportunity.

Labels: Amnesty, China, News, Politics, Sport

:: Dan 14.2.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Wonder even sang a little dittie, with a harmonica, that was sung as if he were reciting the musical scales in ascending and descending order to the name of “Ba-rack O-ba-ma.”"
Stevie Wonder sings for Barack... and it sounds awful. What was he doing?

In my mind it works best sung to the tune of Long Distance Clara from Pigeon Street. He should have tried that.



[That wonderful example of Alan Rogers artwork is available as a print from easyart.com. Thanks for the bandwidth!]

Labels: Animation, Art, Humour, Music, News, Politics

:: Dan 6.2.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Clockwork - Stokes Croft
Originally uploaded by Kristie....

Bristol's most fabulously orange venue is to close in May. =[

Labels: Bristol, Clubs, Flickr, News

:: Dan 5.2.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Afghan journalism student sentenced to death for reading about women's rights

"A young man, a student of journalism, is sentenced to death is by an Islamic court for downloading a report from the internet. The sentence is then upheld by the country's rulers. This is Afghanistan – not in Taliban times but six years after "liberation" and under the democratic rule of the West's ally Hamid Karzai.

"The fate of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh has led to domestic and international protests, and deepening concern about erosion of civil liberties in Afghanistan. He was accused of blasphemy after he downloaded a report from a Farsi website which stated that Muslim fundamentalists who claimed the Koran justified the oppression of women had misrepresented the views of the prophet Mohamed."

Sign our e-petition at www.independent.co.uk/petition

______________________________

Is a Small Island in the Indian Ocean Holding Prisoners in the War on Terror?

"MPs and human rights group have accused ministers of a cover-up over government knowledge of rendition flights and the use of British military bases to hold suspects after the United States launched its war on terror more than six years ago.

"Now ministers have blocked an attempt by an influential parliamentary committee to secure the release of secret military papers which they believe will reveal whether the British island territory of Diego Garcia was used as a detention center for rendition prisoners."

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics

:: Dan 4.2.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Morning. I am offline at the moment. My PC died last Friday (power surge wrote off the power supply and mother-board and due to age rendered processor and RAM useless) so only have internet access in work, which I obviously try to minimise. Webmail is blocked. Should anyone really want to contact me for some reason, I can still pick up Flickr and Murdockspace messages, but not Facebook. I bought a new PC from yoyotech last night. Thanks to Spoksey for specing that up for me. Normal service will resume soon.

News

From Sunday's Independent:
"At present, Britain does not routinely fingerprint airline passengers (see page 3 for the US attitude). But starting two months from tomorrow, several million travellers each year will have their fingerprints, and photograph, taken twice before being allowed aboard a domestic flight."
The referenced article about the US attitude is here.
I mailed this to a security consultant friend to find out how it came about. Apparently it's down to commercial reasons, so every one gets to access one set of shops. Wooo.

Rambert Dance Company's ‘Britney Breakdown’
(I did some acoustic work for Rambert a couple of years ago. Lovely people.)
"Rambert Dance Company's ever-popular Season of New Choreography is an exciting opportunity to see brand new work created by some of Rambert's versatile dancers. The company has a track record of nurturing young choreographers. One of these is Hubert Essakow, who has commissioned a new work from Richard Thomas for Adey to sing live with the dancers. You won't be surprised to know that she gets to sing the word "arse" quite a bit."
(You may remember Richard Thomas from sitting behind the piano on TMWRNJ and as the person who provided the music for and co-wrote Jerry Springer the Opera with Stewart Lee.)

Spotted

Filthy, muck-strewn white van on the M5 on whose back door a mischievous passing finger had scrolled, "Cleaned by the NHS."

Busses

Chatting to "That'll be the Day: The Musical: The Fleece woman" on the bus stop yesterday morning. Tells me about her job then asks what I do. I say I work for an engineering practice in the centre. "Is that an admin role?" she asks. What!? Look at me. Glasses. Beard. Carrying laptop bag. I'm an engineer you cheeky cow.

I sat on the bus today, reading The God Delusion, next to someone reading the Bible. Book II of Psalms to be precise. What a wonderfully secular society we live in.

Labels: Art, Literature, News, Personal, Secuirty, Spotted, Travel

:: Dan 31.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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You don't expect to see the phrase "widespread gusset anxiety" in the Guardian everyday, but it was there yesterday, when quoting Jeremy Paxman nonetheless.

Paxman raises smalls problem with M&S [full text]

Quote:

Jeremy Paxman, the Newsnight anchor famous for grilling cabinet ministers and airing his robust opinions on subjects as diverse as the future of broadcasting and the latest entries in Who's Who, has now voiced his dissatisfaction on another matter of importance to the nation: Marks & Spencer underpants.

The broadcaster is so concerned about the declining standards of men's underwear that he has written to Sir Stuart Rose, the chief executive of M&S, detailing his "anxiety" about its gussets, which he said no longer offered "adequate support".

"Like very large numbers of men in this country, I have always bought my socks and pants at Marks & Sparks," he wrote. "I've noticed that something very troubling has happened. There's no other way to put this. Their pants no longer provide adequate support. When I've discussed this with friends and acquaintances it has revealed widespread gusset anxiety. I do feel that someone should take up this mighty battle.

I have to say I'm with him on this, on two counts:
1. I also buy my underwear in Mark's and its quality has been declining over the years, and
2. It gets the word 'gusset' in the broadsheets.

[via lmg]

Labels: Fashion, Gusset, Humour, News, Politics

:: Dan 23.1.08 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Sony has become the last of the four majors to agree to release its music DRM free

Labels: Copyright, DRM, FOSS, Music, News

:: Dan 19.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Americans seek international database to carry iris, palm and finger prints



"Although each participating country would manage and secure its own data, the sharing of personal data between countries is becoming an increasingly controversial area of police practice. There is political concern at Westminster about the public transparency of such cooperation."

Labels: ID, News, Politics

:: Dan 15.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"America has told Britain that it can “kidnap” British citizens if they are wanted for crimes in the United States. A senior lawyer for the American government has told the Court of Appeal in London that kidnapping foreign citizens is permissible under American law because the US Supreme Court has sanctioned it." read more

This story was published a month ago but I missed it at the time. Found on Hijack.

Labels: Amnesty, Freedom, News, Politics

:: Dan 11.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has lost money after publishing his bank details in his newspaper column. The Top Gear host revealed his account numbers after rubbishing the furore over the loss of 25 million people's personal details on two computer discs. He wanted to prove the story was a fuss about nothing. Clarkson published details of his Barclays account in the Sun newspaper, including his account number and sort code. He even told people how to find out his address. "All you'll be able to do with them is put money into my account. Not take it out. Honestly, I've never known such a palaver about nothing," he told readers. Clarkson admitted he was "wrong" after he discovered a reader had used the details to create a £500 direct debit to the charity Diabetes UK."

Labels: ID, News

:: Dan 7.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"The fun-loving Burmese regime has apparently found a non-violent method to restrict satellite TV access to foreign news services - hiking the cost of a licence by 16,700 per cent from 6000 kyat (£2.50) to 1m kyatt (£400, or "three times the average annual salary", as the BBC explains)."
[via The Register]

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics

:: Dan 3.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Playing a musical instrument is better exercise than having sex (but not as good as chopping trees)"

Labels: News

:: Dan 3.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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That's one hell of a fuckin' headline.

I impulse bought the News of the World for the first time in my life yesterday. I have scanned it for news content but have found nothing but hierocracy and footballers sex lives. (The "England ace" referred to btw is a footballer apparently.)

Here are the current top five stories on the website:
EXCLUSIVE: England ace in sex video shame ("New shocking video reveals two players in vile orgy")
WINEHOUSE: Gangsters threaten to kidnap Amy ("Pay £100,000 or we kidnap Amy" - Have they not seen Ruthless People? I'd not pay you 100 quid for her. In fact, I might pay you that to take her away.)
ROONEY: Tranny cousin wants to be bridesmaid ("The plump relative... He's been pictured tarted up as a SCHOOLGIRL on a night out—sporting short skirt, red knickers, long nails and a blonde wig... he'd turn the big day into a joke." Not passing judgement on transgender behaviour there then.)
BEER: 2008 will be year of the £4 pint
SEX: Daughter snapped mum cheating with her fella

And my favourite quote from the cover article:
"The film of Richards' roasting — a sick act which involves one man having sex with a woman from behind while she gives a second oral sex — was passed on to friends' mobiles by the swaggering pair."

They don't even seem to have the balls to print the term Spit Roast in full. Note the use of the worlds 'vile' (in headline) and 'sick' (in the copy). Moralising on group sex. Yet elsewhere on the site we find videos of "Brian's temptation: The arrival of sexy blonde au pair Helga" and "Dear Jane Episode 2: Sexy behind-the-scenes video with lesbian storyline." It seems that lesbianism and affairs with au pairs are not so ill judged.

The main article goes on to talk about several alleged rape cases and to speculate that "...Richards might care more when he realises how the scandal will put his budding England career at risk under new coach Fabio Capello — a renowned disciplinarian who demands the best behaviour from his players." So forget the law taking care of such matters. Let's moralise on it ourselves, trial them in public, and only worry about the image of the beautiful game. Without even passing comment on current proposed rape law reforms or that "less than six percent of reported rapes currently result in a conviction, down from 33 percent in 1977."

It's a sad state of affairs that this is the state of reporting in "Britain's biggest-selling newspaper."

Labels: Media, News

:: Dan 24.12.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
...

A business trust is looking at sites for a Christian showplace to challenge the theory of evolution

"The 5,000-capacity park will be the first of its kind in Britain, but not in the world. In Orlando, Florida, hundreds of thousands of visitors make pilgrimages to the Holy Land Experience, where they can see a bloodied Jesus forced to carry his cross by snarling Roman soldiers."


[source msnbc]

"By producing its own films, the trust believes it will be able to provide an antidote to modern culture. It says on its website: 'On television today there is so much sex and violence, it is no wonder our youth are binge drinking ... '"

I fail to see the logic there. And I'm not taking the quote out of context. (Unless the Observer have done that already, but I doubt they would need to.)

"'Evolution has falsely become the foundation of our society and we need the television studio to advocate Genesis across this land in order to remove this falsehood, which presently is destroying the church foundation.'

"The theme park's anti-evolution bias and its emphasis on Genesis has raised eyebrows among planning officials, according to Jones, who originally wanted to build the park at the site of an old B&Q store but was refused permission by the council.

"'Wigan council slammed the door in our faces. You mention the C [Christian] word, and people don't want to know,' Jones said."

Go Wigan!


[originally a b3ta image, sourced here, worth a read for a laugh]

Labels: News, Politics, Religion

:: Dan 17.12.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
...

Man hurt using gun to change tyre
A US man has injured himself in both legs after attempting to loosen a stiff wheel-nut by blasting it with his gun. Shooting at the wheel from arm's length with his 12-gauge shotgun, he was peppered with buckshot and debris. He sustained injuries from his feet to the middle of his abdomen, with some pellets reaching as high as his chin, police said.

If only he'd hit himself in the nuts he'd have qualified for the Darwin awards.


[thanks weyheyhey for the image]

Labels: Humour, News

:: Dan 14.11.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Great news!
Graffiti prison terms overturned
[via natali]
Previous post on the subject.

Labels: graffiti, News

:: Dan 30.10.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Quick, someone tell the American's about this. It could bring them record levels of friendly fire with someone else to blame!

Labels: News

:: Spokesy 19.10.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Somethings are best left unsaid."

[thanks ana]

Labels: News, Video

:: Dan 26.9.07 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Dotcom
Originally uploaded by _saturnine.

In sharp contrast to the M.E.N.s impartial journalist approach to the Krek and Mers case, Bristol Evening Post has jumped hard to the right today and is outraged as "£200,000 VANDAL SPARED JAIL"
*Sigh*
Although, he was already on a suspended sentence and broke the terms, so to an extent he probably should be expecting a sentence. What this highlights though, and my reasons for bring it up, are the huge differences in sentencing between magistrates and the partisan reporting in local press.

Labels: Art, News

:: Dan 22.9.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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The UK media are applauding the fashion industry's announcement for London Fashion Week that under 16yo models will be banned and that models will have to prove that they don't have an eating disorder.

It’s the lamest cop out solution the industry thought it could get away with. All they have done is shift the burden of dealing with it onto the models themselves rather than deal with it sensibility but not picking stick thin models.

As Bob Carlos Clarke put it, "the female fashion editors have colluded in the demise of their own sex by going along with the ludicrous charade of supermodels. Fashion poses a far greater threat to modern woman than pornography, with its wild demands that she conform to that freakish body shape."

Labels: Fashion, News

:: Dan 14.9.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Amnesty has infuriated the Vatican by expanding its definition of human rights to include access to abortion for rape victims and women whose health is at risk from giving birth. And about time too. The linked article explains the reasoning behind it well as well as giving some background behind the organisations soul searching of the last couple of years. There was more detail on this in the last issue of their magazine although I can't find the copy on line at the moment. I'll update this post if I find it.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics

:: Dan 13.8.07 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"If someone left an envelope with a crisp 10,000 yen ($80) note in it, would you:
A - get on the phone to your favourite restaurant and find out if they have a spare table
B - get down to the bank and deposit it
C - take it down to the nearest policeman and hand it over intact?
If you live in Japan the answer, it would seem, is C."

This story, about the mysterious appearance of envelopes containing nothing but cash and a hand written note requesting that something worthwhile is done with it, caught my attention on PM on Radio 4 yesterday.

Unfortunately I cannot claim to be as socially minded, as previous evidence would attest. I found 20 Euros on the floor just outside the toilets in Bristol "International" Airport a couple of years ago and pocketed it as I walked past. Mrs P, who would have seen me pick it had she been looking in the right direction, chose to ignore this explanation and ever since has accused me of earning it in exchange for services rendered to some unknown third party. My "whorish" tendencies are still frequently referenced when it helps her cause in an argument. At least I know what I should do next time now.

Labels: Humour, News

:: Dan 3.8.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Ashton Court organisers expected to announce bankruptcy in next few days once they emerge from their counting room. The loss of the expected revenue from Sunday's washout [cancelled due to weather], to the tune of at least 250 grand, plus the costs already incurred, will lead to a bankruptcy announcement shortly.
Full article
Sad, if not surprising, news. R.I.P.

Labels: News

:: Dan 17.7.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ban the sale and use of recorded music containing ultra low frequency bass."

Noise nuisance is a serious problem, but you can't just ban music with bass. And especially "ultra low frequency bass." I hazard a guess they don't no what they are referring to there. What I'd call ultra low frequency would be well outside of the audible range.

They then get a bit delusional and imply there is some sort of conspiracy to irritate them: "It is created by the selfish actions of those who enjoy inflicting it upon the population by purchasing special loudspeakers (whoofers[sic]) to transmit the noise at large volumes through the open windows of their houses and vehicles. Such noise is deliberately recorded by the industry in order to encourage this behaviour.."

Among the first few signatures on the petition you'll notice, "U. Should Fuckoff",
"you fucking loser."

[via parasite]

Labels: Acoustics, Humour, News

:: Dan 12.6.07 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
...