tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38367722011-12-15T03:00:07.189Z"Suppose conventional wisdom to be a forest. I am chainsaw. You are squirrels." Blog on politics/music/technology/movies/whatever by Paul Moloney, a writer from Dublin, Ireland.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comBlogger1511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-66844950077813212272008-10-22T12:59:00.001+01:002008-10-22T15:19:27.935+01:00

Irish pensioners don't take too kindly to have their medical cards taken away: I didn't know that booing was allowed in churches. I was wondering why the meeting was held in a church in the first place; it turns out that the original meeting room in the nearby Alexander Hotel was far too small for the crowd that turned up (over 1,000), so the local priests kindly obliged. I'm presuming

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-58839816949699642642008-10-22T11:24:00.001+01:002008-10-22T15:28:41.588+01:00

Sarah Palin, college heavyweight: It's the funniest damn thing," Fisher [Palin's journalism instructor at the University of Idaho] said. "No one can recall her." "I don't remember her," said Roy Atwood, Palin's academic advisor at the university. [...] Indeed, interviews with a dozen professors yielded not a single snippet of a memory. Not that she treated college lightly: Palin

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-11542737996176219542008-10-21T18:01:00.001+01:002008-10-21T18:01:47.221+01:00

Hmm, about time I started this thing up again. More soon.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1147282801254831562006-05-10T18:22:00.000+01:002006-05-10T18:40:01.266+01:00

Yes, I haven't been very active lately - blame a family trip and two weddings to organise plus work-induced scriptophobia - but I thought this story about Egyptian blogger Alaa Ahmed Seif al-Islam, being jailed was worth stirring from my slumber (via Harry's):In addition bloggers are using another technique to bring Egypt and the Egyptian Government and the Egyptian Government’s human rights

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1139503138692626572006-02-09T16:27:00.000Z2006-02-09T16:38:58.703Z

The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's take on recent events.More at the Beeb:[...] across the country most of the run of 160,000 copies was snapped up by mid-morning. The magazine promised to print thousands more. Charlie Hebdo combines anarchic comic-strip cartoons with serious comment. The latest edition has a double-page spread of drawings satirising political correctness. All

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1139494826882924252006-02-09T14:17:00.000Z2006-02-09T14:20:26.893Z

Via Slashdot, a BBC report:The internet giant Yahoo has been accused of providing China with information that led to the jailing of a second internet writer. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders claims that Yahoo released data which led to the arrest of Li Zhi. The online writer was jailed for eight years in 2003, after posting comments that criticised official corruption.Technorati tags:

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1139392482970963062006-02-08T09:25:00.000Z2006-02-08T09:54:43.033Z

That's the sound of a million satirists locking their typewriters away, realising their efforts no longer match reality. Via Drink Soaked..., a story from Neandernews:Do these two photos look similiar?They should because they are the same! No, not a satire of Mohammed nor any other sacred Islamic figure but a photo of Jacques Barrot, a pig squealing contestant at the French Pig-Squealing

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1139271370845269522006-02-07T00:06:00.000Z2006-02-07T00:16:10.856Z

Yeah, has been a slow blogging week (or two). But in the meantime, just a recommendation: I caught "The Mighty Boosh" tonight on BBC2 (being repeated from BBC3) for the first time, and it's one of the funniest series I've seen in a long time. It's coming out on DVD next week, I'm tempted to buy it straight away.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1138716349971841292006-01-31T13:58:00.000Z2006-01-31T22:15:34.753Z

(Via Norm) Polly Toynbee on the idiotic Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill that looks set to be passed in the UK:It would not protect Rowan Atkinson's sketch showing men bowed down praying in a mosque with the voiceover intoning: "And the search goes on for the Ayatollah Khomeini's contact lens." Many were insulted. It would not protect Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, let alone Christ in

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1138193279571091562006-01-25T12:44:00.000Z2006-01-25T14:30:53.670Z

There's some detective work underway over at The Register as they try to work out why Google Earth appears to show a flying car in Perth:Technorati tags: The Register, Google Earth, flying car.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1138025597803710062006-01-23T14:09:00.000Z2006-01-23T14:14:06.333Z

In case you're wondering about the new button on the right-hand side, check the following links:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi_Taohttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4221538.stmhttp://www.cpj.org/news/2005/China25aug05na.htmlhttp://www.zonaeuropa.com/20050501_1.htmhttp://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/07/yahoo_china_dissident_case/Technorati tags: Yahoo would sell their mothers as

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1137982386697298862006-01-23T02:07:00.000Z2006-01-23T02:13:06.713Z

Remaining Lib Dem leadership candidates express sympathy and support:Technorati tags: Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrats, who's the next one?.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1137980567302600352006-01-23T01:36:00.000Z2006-01-23T09:28:23.943Z

(For those of you too young to remember....)(Hat tip: Harry's)Technorati tags: My eyes, my eyes, dear God, my eyes!,Galloway.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1137767686169972852006-01-20T14:24:00.000Z2006-01-20T14:34:46.180Z

Coming back along Liffey Street last night, I passed a woman, wearing a cowboy-type outfit, with a chicken mask, dancing while filming herself with a camcorder. Honest:After a few minutes, she packed up and left. I presuming it was just a student art project or something, but it would be great if it was actually due to some rare form of insanity.Technorati tags: The dancing chicken woman of Old

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1137750659783172902006-01-20T09:46:00.000Z2006-01-20T09:50:59.793Z

Item! Watch out Jackie, you have a rival:http://socialdublin.blogspot.com/I thought fawning gossip columns had gone out of fashion since the arrival of the likes of PopBitch and Holy Moly, but maybe it's postmodern or something.Technorati tags: Dublin, gossip.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1137357871087180362006-01-15T20:43:00.000Z2006-01-17T14:26:10.640Z

You are a Social Liberal (75% permissive)and an... Economic Moderate (50% permissive)You are best described as a: Democrat Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online DatingAlso: The OkCupid Dating Persona TestI did another one of these quizzes a while back and my answer then was similar with this. Of course, possibly that just means that they're all biased in

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1137086201266557812006-01-12T17:08:00.000Z2006-01-12T17:40:35.366Z

Quote from Galloway on Celebrity Big Brother:"I want Michael [Barrymore] to win and come back to this country and entertain the nation".George, your mate Saddam has more of a chance of a comeback.(And I'm including either coming back as President of Iraq or getting his own quiz show on ITV.)Technorati tags: George Galloway, Big Brother.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1136980469928510462006-01-11T11:52:00.000Z2006-01-11T11:54:29.940Z

From tommytwotimes in the PopBitch forum:"You haven't lived until you've seen the Daily Express TV ad where typical readers talk about what they believe in. It's like the BBC Perfect Day ad redirected by Oswald Moseley[sic]."Technorati tags: PopBitch, quotes.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1136909877825810712006-01-10T16:00:00.000Z2006-01-10T16:24:16.836Z

Not one hairy fantasy genius, but two:Marcus at Blackwells wrote to let me know that I thought I'd let you know that Alan Moore has agreed to host the Moorcock event we have on the 18th January. Blackwell Charing Cross Road present an evening with Michael Moorcock, in conversation with Alan Moore. Wednesday 18 January at 7pm.Tickets £6, concessions £4, from the shop during opening hours (9.30 -

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1136845519829455792006-01-09T21:52:00.000Z2006-01-10T00:15:31.016Z

Who would have thought that George Galloway entering the Celebrity Big Brother house would lead to a reappraisal of that lowbrow cultural pastime, television? Not since the broadcast of Kenneth Clarke's Civilisation have so many bien-pensants been rushing to reverse their opinion of this previously ridiculed cloaca of hyper-capitalism and objectification. The audacity of Galloway attempting to

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1136728997112000002006-01-08T13:46:00.000Z2006-01-08T14:24:41.986Z

Whatever happened to the Jetfoil?The Cu na Mara was eventually bought by a shipping broker who sold it on to the Sado Steam Ship Company Ltd. In 1986, it was re-named the Ginga (Milky Way) and still sails the calmer waters between Niigata and the Sado Islands of Japan to this day. Nick Cohen on Cameron's recycling policies:Nor should it be a surprise that a son of the corporate aristocracy is the

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1136595624120922432006-01-07T00:27:00.000Z2006-01-07T01:00:24.133Z

Charles Kennedy has broken into the Celebrity Big Brother house to hide from his front bench, and has climbed onto the roof with a large bottle of Glenfiddich. Sir Menzies "Rhymes with Fish Fingers" Campbell is outside with Davina, pleading with Charlie to come back down for the sake of the party. Speaking of Big Brother:George Galloway's agent sought to quell ongoing rumours this morning

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1136411897056373862006-01-04T19:11:00.000Z2006-01-04T21:58:17.066Z

I've blogged about Neil Clark before and his efforts at unintentional humour, but he's managed to outdo even himself. On his own comments page, he got into a conversation with a spam bot.Nadim said... Thanks for letting us post comments - very cool of you. I work online with my own used college books website. (Last words link to college book site -PM) Check it out if you get the chance. Thanks

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1135899535323994792005-12-29T23:09:00.000Z2005-12-29T23:40:49.996Z

Proving that there is such a thing as too much money, via Norm:An unusual wedding ceremony was held in the southern resort town of Eilat on Wednesday, as Sharon Tendler, a 41-years-old Jewish millionaire from London married a 35-years-old dolphin...Are you sure no-one misheard her, and she simply wanted to spend the rest of her life with Charles V of France?After a years-long romance, Tendler

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1135336684048143892005-12-23T09:57:00.000Z2005-12-23T11:35:11.840Z

Lots of things I meant to blog about but didn't, what with Xmas deadlines and all:Not rocking in the not-free world:Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran's radio and TV stations, reviving one of the harshest cultural decrees from the early days of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.Earlier he had revealed himself as a Zionist:If the Europeans are honest they should

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1135248507127631472005-12-22T10:18:00.000Z2005-12-22T10:48:27.140Z

"I mean, the level of religious fundamentalism in the United States is beyond any country I know." - quote from Noam Chomsky from interview in the One Arab World blog."And yet calling Lee's film a "gay cowboy movie", as I've heard it described, would not exactly be a way into the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of, arguably, the most homophobic nation on earth."- quote from American writer Rick

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1134651289770135062005-12-15T12:41:00.000Z2005-12-15T12:57:02.930Z

Yellow Peril writes about UK Liberal leader Charles Kennedy's woes, and who might be responsible. Quoting Iain Dale:A few days ago [UK journalist/presenter] Andrew Neil announced to the nation that he had it on very good authority that Charles Kennedy would resign in March next year. Strange that this happened the night after Menzies Campbell was reportedly the only LibDem present at Andrew

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1134138020823204352005-12-09T14:11:00.000Z2005-12-09T14:37:48.003Z

Hitchens on Ramsey Clark:He has now twice said in public that, given the war with the Shiite republic of Iran, Hussein was entitled to take stern measures. "He had this huge war going on, and you have to act firmly when you have an assassination attempt," he told the BBC. To this he calmly added that he himself had more than once been shoved aside by Secret Service agents eager to defend the

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1134124185236172752005-12-09T10:23:00.000Z2005-12-09T10:29:45.246Z

Via Aileen - a quality piece of property's being sold on eBay. No, not the Hollywood sign:Constructed in the 13th century as a solution to the theological conundrum of what happened to babies who died before they were christened, Limbo has been home from home to millions of top quality souls. Liberation of Limbo by one P. Benedict (IVI) has brought this top quality theological space to the open

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1134122226000187422005-12-09T09:35:00.000Z2005-12-09T10:17:54.180Z

That's how much it cost to run. The strange tale of Webdiary, a blog set up by Australian journalist Margo Kingston. It was originally hosted by her ex-newspaper the Sydney Morning Herald. Then from last August, it went independent for no apparent reason.Yesterday she announced that the blog was closing down, after having spent AU$44,000 (€28,000). How do you spend that amount, roughly AU$400 a

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1133775842411926142005-12-05T09:42:00.000Z2005-12-05T09:48:51.733Z

Via Singabloodypore:Singapore has ordered a theater director to remove all references to the death penalty in a play to be staged on Saturday, a day after the city-state executed an Australian drug smuggler, a Singapore newspaper said.The government's Media Development Authority (MDA) demanded that "Human Lefts," a play about the hanging of Singaporean drug courier Shanmugam Murugesu in May, make

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1133286242131857772005-11-29T17:41:00.000Z2005-11-29T17:44:45.946Z

Of course, this quiz assumes you are a humanist.... click on the graphic or link to take it yourself, and add your result to my comments! (Hat tip: Norm)HaymakerYou are one of life’s enjoyers, determined to get the most you can out of your brief spell on Earth. Probably what first attracted you to atheism was the prospect of liberation from the Ten Commandments, few of which are compatible with a

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1133175807433513542005-11-28T11:01:00.000Z2005-11-29T17:45:09.183Z

Today, I will be mostly eating this:

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131964031510472292005-11-14T10:02:00.000Z2005-11-14T10:27:11.576Z

More trouble for Sony; now everyone has read the EULA that you are forced to accept before listening to their CDs (yes, now even CDs have licence agreements). The Electronic Frontier Foundation lists the conditions, which include:If your house gets burgled, you have to delete all your music from your laptop when you get homeYou can't keep your music on any computers at workIf you move out of the

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131729867911644222005-11-11T17:11:00.000Z2005-11-11T17:24:27.923Z

From CNN:A computer security firm said Thursday it had discovered the first virus that uses music publisher Sony BMG's controversial CD copy-protection software to hide on PCs and wreak havoc.Under a subject line containing the words "Photo approval," a hacker has mass-mailed the so-called Stinx-E trojan virus to British email addresses, said British anti-virus firm Sophos.Wonderful. But, hey,

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131706173218954762005-11-11T10:38:00.000Z2005-11-11T10:49:33.233Z

I just accessed the Irish version of the Google web site to find this logo on it:Anyone Irish or familiar with Ireland will know that the Remembrance Day red poppy is seen as a rather controversial symbol here. Some would argue it's simply used to commemorate those - many Irish - who died in WW1. However, others would argue it's an British imperialistic symbol, and that commemorations attempt to

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131641477236086902005-11-10T16:48:00.000Z2005-11-10T16:53:49.956Z

An old villain is updated for the new series of Doctor Who:I quite like the skull motif. Technorati tags: Doctor Who, television, Cybermen.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131615291470000692005-11-10T09:29:00.000Z2005-11-10T09:34:51.483Z

Via Slashdot:"The Inquirer has an interesting piece about a new Sony Patent on a technology that may possible prevent DVD disc media users from using their purchased disks in other machines after they have used them on a specific reader. Great. At the very least, this would mean that kids couldn't bring a copy of a game to their friend's house. Of course, it would also mean that if their games

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131543252108976142005-11-09T13:31:00.000Z2005-11-09T13:35:54.430Z

(via Harry's)Reminds me of the Bill Hicks' routine about the L.A riots:"Today, Officer Coon, Officer Nigger-Hater and Officer Keep-Darkie-Down were acquitted on all racist charges. Here's Tom with the Weather...." "Hi Suzy, it's 420 degrees farenheit here in South Central L.A. right now. Probably a good time to get out of the fucking city, Suzy. There's gusts of lead coming up Sunset."

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131471788012368842005-11-08T16:54:00.000Z2005-11-08T17:43:08.056Z

It would be comforting to label this story as "incredible", but in today's Ireland, it doesn't seem that incredible at all:Gardaí and the Department of the Marine are investigating the circumstances under which 13 eastern Europeans had to be rescued from an island off Skerries in north county Dublin at the weekend.Having completed their work they were due to be picked up again later that evening.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131464501607090972005-11-08T15:48:00.000Z2005-11-09T11:07:30.476Z

Sony continues to obfuscate. Their President of Global Digital Business, Thomas Hesse, has come up with the ingenious excuse that, if their customers don't know what a rootkit is, they're not entitled to complain about it being installed secretly on their computer. (I wonder if Union Carbide could use the same excuse about the Bhopal disaster? I'm sure the 600,000 casualties didn't really

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131382193344727012005-11-08T15:45:00.000Z2005-11-08T15:42:08.510Z

Hopefully the intention behind this gesture isn't forgotten soon:The parents of a Palestinian boy who died from his wounds in a Haifa hospital on Saturday said that they have decided to donate his organs for implants “for the sake of peace between the two people..."YNet now reports that Sharon would like to meet with them to offer his personal apologies...It's a pity it took that act on the

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131028471528052122005-11-03T14:16:00.000Z2005-11-03T14:34:31.540Z

The schizophrenia that results from Sony being both a hardware provider and a content provider has led to it deliberately handicapping itself over the years. Look at the MP3 farce, where the company that invented the personal music player allowed Apple and other company to dominate the MP3 market while Sony stuck to pushing MiniDisc and ATRAC3 players. Over about 15 years I bought nothing but

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1131018651778489072005-11-03T11:43:00.000Z2005-11-03T11:50:51.790Z

Despite the recent brohah over his wacky "let's nuke Israel" comments, it looks like the Iranian president is really a soulmate of Bush, at least in their attitude to appointees:Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad has nominated a man with little experience of the energy business to be his country's new oil minister. [...]Mohsen Yayhavi, a board member of Iran's National Oil Company (NIOC) and

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130941445595238722005-11-02T22:16:00.000Z2005-11-02T22:18:13.156Z

The latest PC Gamer UK has an article about the very original indie games Darwinia and Psychonauts, essentially a plea to buy them and support original games in the face of the usual corporation-produced sequels and movie tie-ins. I'll add my voice to those pleas; I played the demo for both, they're great, and it would be an crying shame if small developers producing games like this go out of

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130935984927350502005-11-02T12:35:00.000Z2005-11-02T13:00:30.123Z

Emma Brocks: "Do you regret supporting those who say the Srebrenica massacre was exaggerated?"Chomsky: "My only regret is that I didn't do it strongly enough"Chomsky has of late been voted the world's greatest intellectual. We all know the accepted narrative: great linguistic scientist is also an uncompromising ascetic moral giant who shames corrupt Western governments and the liberal mind-set.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130868802858268802005-11-01T18:07:00.000Z2005-11-01T23:56:51.056Z

...according to Saint Exupery's 'The Little Prince' Quiz: And if you don't know what or who The Little Prince is, shame on you. Go here, then here.(via Polly Pixie)Technorati tags: The Little Prince, quiz.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130861513988654802005-11-01T14:35:00.000Z2005-11-01T23:57:24.723Z

Harry's Place has a piece on today's Guardian, where a columnist argues for the reintroduction of the Caliphate.This comes just after Madeleine "supporters of Enlightenment values are old-fashioned and imperialistic" Bunting's hagiography of Sheikh al-Qaradawi over the weekend, a man who, according to that well-known neo-conservative Peter Tatchell, advocates:Executing homosexuals to keep society

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130790333056730592005-10-31T20:21:00.000Z2005-11-01T23:58:23.236Z

Technorati tags: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Anti-Zionism, Iran.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130539835120708832005-10-28T23:34:00.000+01:002005-11-01T23:59:09.146Z

Pat Kenny had George Galloway as a guest on the Late Late Show tonight, something I was unfortunate enough to catch. As usual, Galloway did his bluff straight-talking Scots schtick and the one or two semi-difficult questions that Pat threw at him slid off his Teflon exterior. (Even today's news was perfunctorily dealt with.) The show was accepting questions via SMS, so I sent three in, none of

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130519053481842352005-10-28T17:53:00.000+01:002005-11-01T23:59:51.120Z

Now, the Irish Star newspaper is hardly reknowned for its great journalism, and we should probably expect even less from its columnists. But the most gob-smacking response to the death of Liam Lawlor came from Moira Hannon, someone best described as a Roisin Ingle-lite (dear God). She says she has "more reason than most to feel sympathy" for the family. Why? Perhaps she has some inside knowledge

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130509740893594022005-10-28T15:27:00.000+01:002005-11-02T00:00:28.096Z

This purports to be Bono's warm-up tape, stolen from his dressing room.(via the Holy Moly mailing list)Technorati tags: Bono, U2, music, Ireland, humor.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130488565107532172005-10-28T09:24:00.000+01:002005-10-28T09:36:05.143+01:00

By crikey, Tony Benn was right:Three Irish companies are on the bribery list. Nycomed Imaging AS paid $759,000 on sales of $8.7m and Pentag Power Transmission Systems Limited paid $59,000 on sales of $2.9m. Bula Resources, which was chaired by former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, sold €4,925,580 of Iraqi oil and paid kickbacks to the Iraqi government of €251,961. The report says that Bula

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130281894662006792005-10-26T00:10:00.000+01:002005-10-26T00:11:34.663+01:00

An applet "which computes and displays your blog's worth using the same link to dollar ratio as the AOL-Weblogs Inc deal". My blog is worth $3,951.78.How much is your blog worth?

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130257588478944782005-10-25T17:19:00.000+01:002005-10-25T17:31:30.096+01:00

On Sunday I, and some newspapers, gave the impression that Liam Lawlor was being pleasured by a young prostitute when his Mercedes underwent sudden deacceleration in Moscow and he went to the Great Tribunal in the Sky. I truly apologise for this. It is unforgiveable that Mr. Lawlor, who was jailed 3 times for refusing to comply with an investigation into corruption, should have his name slandered

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130250207041159732005-10-25T15:18:00.000+01:002005-10-25T17:33:24.120+01:00

(Nope, nothing to do with politics.)Uwe Boll, the German director of the finest video-game adaptations, has yet another film out, hurrah. Ben Kingsley's participation can only be because of a large mortgage to pay; he is truly this decade's Michael Caine, since the man himself seems to be a little more picky lately than he used to be. (Of Jaws: The Revenge, he once said "I have never seen it but

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130165503252547142005-10-24T15:50:00.000+01:002005-10-25T17:34:14.563+01:00

(Inspired by a friend's comparison between Liam Lawlor and Diana's methods of expiration)Goodbye Dodgy LiamThough you resembled a shaven ape,You had the grace to obfuscateWhile those around you gapedThey crawled out of the law schoolsAnd they tried to wreck your brainThey put you in the tribunalAnd they made you defend your nameAnd it seems to me you lived your lifeLike a handler on the lamNever

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130164433752645412005-10-24T15:29:00.000+01:002005-10-25T17:36:36.136+01:00

As a technical writer, one of my unofficial job roles is Microsoft Word guru, a grandiose title for what mainly consists of people asking me why their numbering doesn't work, and me replying "it's broken, use fields instead". One of my other warnings is never ever send out Word documents to customers if you don't want them to know:how long a document took to write, how many people wrote it, or

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1130067915136257452005-10-23T12:31:00.000+01:002005-10-23T13:11:05.366+01:00

Liam Lawlor, the utterly corrupt ex-politician/councillor, has managed to expire in a rather sensational fashion: in a car crash in Moscow with a young hooker, like a sort of black-comedy version of Princess Diana's exit. There are lots of mealy-mouthed tributes in the Irish press today; our own Taoiseach comes out with the quote:The Taoiseach said Mr Lawlor was “never afraid to express his

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129893329095434272005-10-21T12:05:00.000+01:002005-10-21T12:15:29.100+01:00

There seems to be a spate of hyper-intelligent dogs around lately. From the Yorkshire Evening Post:"A drunk who claimed he had been raped by a dog was yesterday jailed for 12 months by a judge. Martin Hoyle, 45, was arrested by police after a passing motorist and his girlfriend found a Staffordshire bull terrier, called Badger, having sex with him at the side of a road in Huddersfield, West

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129807402887609432005-10-20T12:22:00.000+01:002005-10-20T12:23:22.893+01:00

You Should Learn JapaneseYou're cutting edge, and you are ready to delve into wacky Japanese culture.From Engrish to eating contests, you're born to be a crazy gaijin. Saiko!What Language Should You Learn?

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129733726004124652005-10-19T15:54:00.000+01:002005-10-19T15:55:26.010+01:00

(from B3ta.com)

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129635585297883962005-10-18T12:18:00.000+01:002005-10-19T13:50:40.980+01:00

From Google News:Number of articles which contain "Pinter" & "Iraq": 553Number of articles which contain "Pinter" & "Milosevic": 7EDIT: On a faint tangent, fellow Milosevic apologist and pro-Serbian crank Neil Clark now has his own blog. An article from him on the above site, which I originally saw in the Guardian, gave me one of the best (unintentional) laughs ever:I always remember my first

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129632497002383402005-10-18T11:46:00.000+01:002005-10-18T11:48:17.006+01:00

(from Jest.com)

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129553663895498292005-10-17T13:22:00.000+01:002005-10-17T13:58:50.343+01:00

"But down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid... He is a relatively poor man, or he would not be a detective at all." - Raymond ChandlerInteresting article on Indymedia, though not exactly par for the course (is the new definition of a conservative "a liberal who's had their bike stolen"?). A sort of Raymond Chandeleresque of bicycle theft

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129220030066762402005-10-13T17:11:00.000+01:002005-10-13T17:13:50.073+01:00

Title and content stolen from the PopBitch mailout: Trinny and Susannah agreed to support the Breast Cancer campaign recently by performing a makeover for a breast cancer patient for The Sun newspaper. Two willing subjects were located, and photos sent over to the pair so they could choose which one to do. They replied to The Sun asking instead for "someone with

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129206054108225702005-10-13T13:11:00.000+01:002005-10-13T13:20:54.116+01:00

From the New York Times (use BugMeNot to get a temporary login):"You are the best governor ever - deserving of great respect," Harriet E. Miers wrote to George W. Bush days after his 51st birthday in July 1997. She also found him "cool," said he and his wife, Laura, were "the greatest!" and told him: "Keep up the great work. Texas is blessed."[...]A few days later, Ms. Miers wrote to thank the

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1129033805998360322005-10-11T13:23:00.000+01:002005-10-11T13:30:31.656+01:00

"Has anyone seen my cats around here? My cats? Oh, and a maid?

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1128675485361103332005-10-07T09:55:00.000+01:002005-10-07T09:58:05.366+01:00

From Gawker (via Chase Me Ladies):According to this pleasant little report, incredithug rapper 50 Cent recently decided to give back to the New York community as much as possible in as little time as necessary: By merely handing out cash to kids. Alas, the man who made his name getting shot 5267 times was none too careful when counting his dollar bills. Instead of handing out $1800 as he intended

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1128601728386059242005-10-06T13:26:00.000+01:002005-10-06T13:28:48.393+01:00

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1128589701674569852005-10-06T09:59:00.000+01:002005-10-06T10:08:21.680+01:00

Simple instructions on how to upgrade an iPod nano to 200GB: I think the article is meant to be satirical. However, it's hard to tell; after all, Slashdot has a whole section devoted to useless articles about installing Linux on toasters/watches/vibrators.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1128342623608133992005-10-03T13:15:00.000+01:002005-10-03T16:43:43.433+01:00

Coming back from a Toasted Heretic gig on Saturday, me and the missus were walking down Ship Street, a cobbled street behind Dublin Castle in what is the heart of the city. And saw a fox. Yes, a fox. Like this:It was sniffing around a car, then went behind the gate to a building site, where it sat staring at us. It didn't seem the least bit concerned, even when we stood on the other side of the

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1128332099581864242005-09-30T11:47:00.000+01:002005-10-03T10:34:59.633+01:00

In the frappuchino-drinking Wi-Fi-surfing Nu Ireland of today, it's easy to remember the old days, when everything in Ireland was black and white (when you see RTE clips from the 70s, they look like British TV clips from the 50s), a "condom" was an American apartment, Playboy was banned, and priests in heat roamed the streets pouncing on young children. We all thought those days are gone, and

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1127991355676889002005-09-29T11:55:00.000+01:002005-09-29T14:00:23.460+01:00

Stewart: On Saturday, a 100,000 strong peace march descended on Washington seeking to crystallize America's dissatisfaction with the war into one single idea.Clip of young male speaker: Peace!Stewart: Okay.Clip of male speaker: Justice!Stewart: (pause) Fine.Clip of male speaker: Environmental protection!Stewart: (pause, confused look on face)Clip of male speaker: No racism!Stewart: (dumb-founded,

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1127989022794832782005-09-29T11:06:00.000+01:002005-09-29T11:17:02.800+01:00

"I’m not here to apologize for the regime of Saddam Hussein,” she begins,”...but the streets were clean, the water was running, there was no crime, no homelessness, and everyone was educated." - Nadia Keilani, The San Diego Coalition For Peace And Justice march, reported by Indepundit

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1127740180145249002005-09-26T13:37:00.000+01:002005-09-26T14:09:45.333+01:00

After a 4 year gap, I'm finally cycling to work again. Not all the way, since the 25 km puts me off a little. But I picked up a Brompton, a rather fancy little bike that folds up on itself like a Transformer robot, as the following graphic shows:This means I can take it on the train and cover most of the distance that way, still leaving me about 5 miles to cycle at either end of the route. Even

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1127471220532658682005-09-23T11:27:00.000+01:002005-09-23T13:51:27.806+01:00

The Vatican is hiding a war criminal. Of course, this would be the perfect tabloid story if the war criminal turned out to be an elderly Hitler hiding in Pope “honestly, I didn’t shoot down any Allied planes, my finger was sore” Benedict’s closet, but unfortunately, it’s “only” a Croatian general accused of murdering Serbian citizens:Carla del Ponte, chief prosecutor for war crimes in the former

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1127324885494529812005-09-21T18:22:00.000+01:002005-09-21T18:48:05.503+01:00

So a while ago I did a blog entry about the Irish Times and how bad it is these days. As one of the examples, I mentioned a cringing article about Antonia Campbell Hughes. I wasn't even having a go at her, but the guy writing about her. Anyway, summer turned to fall, and I was amazed when a friend mentioned that Antonia, or someone pretending to be her, posted the following comment today: hello

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1126794821234374362005-09-15T15:30:00.000+01:002005-09-15T15:33:41.240+01:00

Skinny overpaid waif model with junkie boyfriend does drugs shocka. Well, I never.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1126698214087667572005-09-14T12:43:00.000+01:002006-01-25T17:16:36.336Z

It's funny:http://roisinbungle.blogspot.comEDIT: The above link is dead, but it's archived forever at http://www.boards.ie/wiki/index.php/The_Roisin_Bungle_Blog

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1125031638650172132005-08-26T05:36:00.000+01:002005-08-26T05:47:18.656+01:00

Hello from the Coffee Bean in Mid-Valley Shopping Centre near Kuala Lumpur, where I have been abandoned by 'Er Indoors with nothing more than a Sony Vaio and wireless internet for my amusement (she's off getting a pedicure, her cousin's wedding is tomorrow). Things wot I have seen in Kuala Lumpur this time around:A woman in full burka vibrating in a massage chair in a massage shop. I'm not sure

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1124096503999348052005-08-15T10:00:00.000+01:002005-08-15T10:01:44.006+01:00

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1123664778949027672005-08-10T10:03:00.000+01:002005-08-10T10:06:18.956+01:00

From Penny Arcade:

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1123070399330185132005-08-03T12:59:00.000+01:002005-08-08T16:43:53.043+01:00

From FemaleFirst.co.uk (I originally saw it in the Fortean Times):Malaysian women got a sneak preview of Darth Vader's 'lightsaber' when they were flashed by a 'Star Wars' fan.The flasher dressed in the famous black costume before exposing himself to women in the country's industrial area of Bandar Baru Nilai.Priscilla, 33, a factory supervisor, said the man got out of his car, strutted about

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1122329130944469052005-07-25T23:04:00.000+01:002005-07-25T23:05:30.950+01:00

From Slashdot:Vardan Kushnir, notorious for sending spam to each and every citizen of Russia who appeared to have an e-mail, was found dead in his Moscow apartment on Sunday, Interfax reported Monday. He died after suffering repeated blows to the head.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1120656913962741352005-07-22T13:20:00.000+01:002005-07-22T13:58:27.486+01:00

Now, I don't want it to seem I'm joining in the general campaign of vilification being waged again X-Men 3 director Brett Ratner, but, well, I am. I've been Googling for comments about him, and thought I would blog a piece on the choicest morsels. First from lowculture.com, a piece on "What Makes Ratner Run?":Brett Ratner's talent, such as it is, is bullshit.The comments section has the following

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1122032304252886162005-07-22T12:19:00.000+01:002005-07-22T14:00:01.796+01:00

Two world wars, with 7 million dead. Its reputation of civilisation tarnished by wartime atrocities. A ailing economy. And now, Michael Jackson wants to build a new Neverland in Berlin.Tags: Michael Jackson, Germany

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121939472550658222005-07-21T10:09:00.000+01:002005-07-22T14:02:26.636+01:00

Interview with Ian McEwan at Der Spiegel:I don't think terror needs a breeding ground. I don't buy the arguments in the Iraq war. What keeps getting forgotten here is that the people committing massacres in Iraq right now belong to al-Qaida. We're witnessing a civil war that's taking place in Islam. The most breathtaking statement was the one of al-Qaida claiming responsibility for the London

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121854356486660982005-07-20T11:11:00.000+01:002005-07-22T14:03:02.306+01:00

(from Chrenkoff)Tags: United Nations

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121693076944157932005-07-18T14:21:00.000+01:002005-07-22T14:04:28.290+01:00

Storm around a teacup in Malaysia:Arsonists have attacked the base of a small inter-faith sect in Malaysia called the Sky Kingdom. The sect is noted for building a giant teapot to symbolise its belief in the healing purity of water, and is accused of luring Muslims away from Islam. On a more serious note:Earlier this month, the group was raided by police, and 21 followers were arrested for

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121689972469147382005-07-18T13:21:00.000+01:002005-07-22T14:06:14.086+01:00

So you've been kidnapped by fundamentalists, kept tied up and blindfolded for 47 days, occasionally kicked in the head, had two colleagues murdered, made to beg for your life, and then had several other prisoners shot in front of you.In my book, this probably gives you a little leeway. Oh, say, to call the people who did this to you "assholes". Even Gandhi could be forgiven for such language.But

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121642781704202102005-07-18T00:14:00.000+01:002005-07-22T14:10:01.516+01:00

Went to the ArtBots part of the Save the Robots exhibition in the old Ss. Michael & John's Church on East Essex Street today. My favourite part was Watschendiskurs, a whimsical exhibit consisting of two crudely animated stuffed toys, who have a high-pitched intellectual argument (supposedly on language theory, though I couldn't make out the words) and occasionally slapping each other. (The pink

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121538590747626262005-07-16T19:09:00.000+01:002005-07-22T14:11:00.336+01:00

I did one of my annual internet searches for any new info about the 90s Irish band Toasted Heretic - and not only do they now have an official site, but they're gigging together again and have a CD of their first 2 albums coming out on September 16th. So far only a gig in Galway announced which I can't make, but hopefully they have one in Dublin. Great news since I never did get to see them live,

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121176095545755912005-07-16T01:09:00.000+01:002005-07-22T14:13:43.953+01:00

Scientology and movie starlets, it's a crazy mix:According to a report in The Telegraph, Katie [Holmes] (26) responded to every question with gushing positives as her Scientologist "minder" looked on approvingly [...] But Jessica Rodriguez (29) a senior member of L Ron Hubbard's Church of Scientology, denied that she was "working" with Holmes: "Oh no, we're just best friends."When asked how long

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121442874027915962005-07-15T16:05:00.000+01:002005-07-17T12:44:41.160+01:00

More on that jiving Jimmy Olson of Jihad, Dilpazier Aslam, who I mentioned earlier, again from Scott at the Daily Ablution:It will come as no surprise to many Ablution readers that our favourite Guardian cub reporter, the irrepressibly sassy Dilpazier Aslam, was working for [Hizb Ut Tahrir, a group that "promotes racism and anti-Semitic hatred, calls suicide bombers martyrs, and urges Muslims to

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121434668448568262005-07-15T14:35:00.000+01:002005-07-15T14:37:48.453+01:00

cruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruisecruise(from You Can't Make It Up)

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121359408636168092005-07-14T17:15:00.000+01:002005-07-14T17:43:28.643+01:00

Scott Burgess and Harry's Place blog on the "trainee journalist" Dilpazier Aslam at the Guardian who is actually an enthusiastic contributor to a site where he writes stories dedicated to restoring a dominant Islamic caliphate:[...] we will have to run an Islamic state which must lead the world, economically, militarily and politically.The establishment of Khilafah is our only solution, to fight

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121272060264804312005-07-13T17:24:00.000+01:002005-07-16T01:17:43.056+01:00

From that bastion of right-wing consumerism pro-war propaganda:At least 26 Iraqis, almost all of them children, have been killed by a suicide car bombing in south-eastern Baghdad.[...]A car drove up to a US army vehicle and blew up as troops gave sweets to the children, a witness said.Children. Sweets. For fuck's sake."The StWC reaffirms its call for an end to the occupation, the return of all

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121173689372845892005-07-12T13:59:00.000+01:002005-07-12T14:08:09.376+01:00

There was a fatwa by Spanish muslim clerics against the Madrid bombers, so I was curious if the same would happen in London - it turns out that is indeed the case:Britain's top Muslim scholars are to issue a "fatwa" which will condemn the terrorists behind Thursday's bombings, in an unprecedented move to repudiate the Islamist militants suspected of the atrocities.

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836772.post-1121164357728287292005-07-12T11:16:00.000+01:002005-07-12T11:32:37.733+01:00

At the Daily Ablution blog, Scott Burgess discusses what's on the mind of Independent readers:Bob Banks, from Grindleford, Derbyshire, has a rather simpler explanation of root causes. Recalling the impoverishment in which bin Laden grew up, and the destitution in which the 9/11 bombers lived, Mr. Banks informs us that "poverty and injustice create the conditions for terrorism to grow." I think

Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084090447418815452noreply@blogger.com