Word-whore. I write 'em. I talk 'em. Information, politics, media, and the cybers. I drink. I use bad words. All publication is a political act. All communication is propaganda. All art is pornography. All business is personal. All hail Eris! Vive les poissons rouges sauvages!
I know Americans are insular, but this takes the biscuit. Here are the covers of Time magazine from around the world this week.
Across the planet, the cover story is The Truth About Talibanistan, a gruesome story on the rise of religious fundamentalism in Pakistan. Except in the US, where the cover story is The Case for Teaching The Bible.
Thanks to Memex 1.1 for the pointer.
The French intended to pass a law banning “happy slapping” — where people beat up someone, record it (usually on a camera phone) and distribute it for the “amusement” of their friends. Instead, the filming or broadcasting of acts of violence by people other than “professional journalists” is now a crime.
Hindsight is wonderful. When we look back at, say, World War II, TV documentaries cover the rise of Hitler in a few minutes. It’s easy to forget that Hitler was head of the National Socialist Party from 1921, fully 12 years before he became Chancellor in 1933. And it was another 6 years before WWII officially kicked off with the invasion of Poland.
I’ve often wondered what that all looked like for people living it in real-time. And oddly enough, three articles in the Sydney Morning Herald this weekend got me thinking about how that relates to the big global issues today.
A week ago I suggested it was premature to predict a landslide victory for the ALP’s Kevin Rudd in the forthcoming federal election. But this graph from The OzPolitics Blog today is certainly suggesting otherwise.
Does anyone have a parachute?
Thanks to Crikey and Red Symons, you can now download a free ringtone of Paul Keating calling John Howard “a little desiccated coconut”.
To download the ringtone, right-click on the link and then select “Save target as…” (for Internet Explorer) or “Save link as…” (for Firefox) and save it to your desktop or music library. Then follow the instructions for your particular handset to transfer it to your phone.
Since Symons currently presents the breakfast program on ABC Local Radio in Melbourne, I wonder if he’ll get in trouble with the ABC’s Howard-stacked Board?
This morning I sent the following email to Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (Liberal, NSW).
Continue reading “Access Card fears not allayed, Senator Fierravanti-Wells”