That’s right, vicar, let’s ban our lying, oppressive carols

Yeah you tell ‘em Rod.  

Christ, what kind of do-gooding tit wants to think about others at this time of year? Seriously, what kind of w@nker trys to spread a little love at christmas? I mean, how dare you try to draw attention to the ills of the world. Leave it up to the papers I say. God, the gall. Pious vicars. What next hey, what next?

Jesus.

Is everything going to be ok?

Is it really?

Bugger.

Back after a brief hiatus with a lazy set of links to the BBC website.  An interesting set of articles by Michael Blastland exploring the abuse of mathematics in the media.

Guess it’s fairly timely seeing as the international house of numbers is about to collapse.  Makes you glad you’re still renting and didn’t start that pension fund.

1. Surveys

2. Counting

3. Percentages

4. Averages

5. Causation

6. Final Lesson

Some people have a problem with celebrities airing there political views. I haven’t. Really. It’s good to see public debate of important issues, and encouraging to think that some of our camera friendly superiors have more than champagne and charlie floating through their minds.

It’s a shame though, that some aren’t as dedicated to their values as they’d like to appear. The BBC announced this week (BBC Sport, 28/05/08) that the face of their Olympic coverage would be provided by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewletts ‘Monkey’, star of ancient chinese legend and also of their most recent project.

It seems a little odd that given Albarns commitment to anti-war and humanitarian causes, as well as his past support of the Free Tibet movement, he’d choose to associate himself with the Bejing Olympics. Hypocritical even. Equally surprising is the manner in which the BBC has been turned into an advertising vehicle for Albarns musical (Royal Opera House, July 23rd-26th, Tickets £10 – £75).

Since the issue raised it’s ugly head in the middle of last week, the Communications Data Bill has raised very little debate. A few articles here and there questioned the move but the general level of outrage has been astonishingly subdued. Unsurprising as the Crewe and Nantwich by election has provided ample distraction from what is arguably the more important matter.

We were treated on Sunday (25/05/08)  to a fist shaking, whimsical, mom-fest from Janet Street Porter (bottom of page). The opinion piece from the Independant seemed to concern itself more with the bureaucratic nightmare such an Act would entail rather than the obvious assault on Privacy and Freedom of Speech it would represent. In all, the matter was treated fairly lightheartedly, but then, it would be a shame to worry ourselves with real issues on a pleasant sunday morning.

‘…the trial is now proceeding without the French and Italian lawyers because they have not been given Iraqi visas and it is unclear who will represent Mr Aziz.’

Probably the most interesting part of this piece, but unfortunately it’s not the main story. Funny to see that it’s buried two thirds of the way through the article too.

There was another bloke in Iraq who enjoyed show trials. His name escapes me though…

Wait…what exactly was that noise? Oh, just the sound of your privacy leaving the building. Probably nothing to worry about.

At best, the Communications Data Bill seems like a grand excuse for Civil servants nationwide to leave our personal details on the seats of trains and taxi’s. In reality it looks like an alarming emulation of the US Patriot Act. But I mean, if it helps fight the war on terrorism, who are we to argue?

What a lovely story to wake up to.

(Christ they might be watching me type this. It’s 7am and I’m naked fellas. Scrub that one from your brains!)

If the anti-globalisation movement disappeared after 9/11, its lessons have entered the mainstream…

Libby Brooks, The Guardian, 15/05/08

If we can define the last month by a running news story, then the Olympic Torch debacle is a clear contender for the title. On print, on screen and screaming through the wires of the internet, the news was largely dominated by the question “Does sport have a place in politics?”, and a hundred and one talking heads exploded as the world struggled to come to terms with the (fairly simple) question. One subject was quietly avoided however, namely the question of why the issue stretched only as far as the Olympic Games…

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