Evil pundit of doom!

New location

2003-09-01T02:02:00.000+10:00

This blog has moved to evilpundit.com.

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Just when you thought

2003-09-01T01:54:00.000+10:00

the campaign for Governor of California couldn't get any crazier, the feminazis and the Chicano KKK step into the picture.

“I am disgusted, appalled, revolted, sickened, disturbed and troubled,” [feminist campaigner Gloria] Allred said of Schwarzenegger’s description of one incident in particular: when, with a startling specificity of language, the Pumping Iron star told the magazine, “Bodybuilders party a lot, and once, in Gold’s — the gym in Venice, California, where all the top guys train — there was a black girl who came out naked. Everybody jumped on her and took her upstairs, where we all got together.”

As to whether all candidates’ sexual history is relevant in any election, Allred said, “The answer is absolutely. Who a person is, their character, their history, their treatment of women, matters because, although a person can change, we have a right to know what their behavior has been in the past. Arnold has not given any indication that he thinks there’s anything wrong with what he did. And if he doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with this, he thinks it would be acceptable to repeat this behavior.”

Maybe that's because there isn't anything "wrong" with that behaviour. If Bill Clinton's example is anything to go by, it's tantamount to a guarantee of election.

Democratic Party candidate Cruz Bustamante is being pressed about his ties to MEChA , a racist organisation that wants to remove white people from positions of power in parts of the United States.

"The students who are in MEChA today are just like the students when I was there, pretty much they are trying to get an education," Bustamante said during a press conference in which the first three questions related to his ties to the group.

"I think the actuality of what takes place in those organizations is to provide student leadership. For me, and many, many others, we were running for student government. That's how I got here today."

MEChA has used violence in the past to make its case. At a July 4 celebration in 1996, members of the group, who call themselves Mechistas, were videotaped attacking black and white Americans protesting illegal immigration. In 1993, students at UCLA caused $500,000 worth of damage during protests to demand a Chicano studies department. MEChA has also been associated with anti-Semitic groups like Nation of Aztlan.

This candidacy will test the Democratic Party's commitment to opposing racism.

Meanwhile, porn star candidate Mary Carey continues to offer her own unique policy initiatives.

Told you I was evil

2003-08-31T15:27:00.000+10:00

Fear me.

Going blogabout

2003-08-31T15:26:00.000+10:00

Frank J at IMAO has posted a lengthy and wonderful meditation on the nature of Hamas.

■ If you're in a cafe in Israel, and someone runs in there and indiscriminately starts shooting people, he could be a member of Hamas, so be careful.

■ Hamas is a big part of the "cycle of violence". They blow up innocent men, women, and children, and then Israel is like, "Hey, don't do that." And thus the cycle of violence continues.

■ In a fight between Hamas and Aquaman, Aquaman would like totally kick their asses. His fish friends would be like, "Hey, let us have a piece of them!" but Aquaman would say, "No! They’re mine!" And then one Hamas member would be like, "Please, have mercy, Aquaman!" and Aquaman would be like, "No!" and punch the guy through the chest and rip out his heart. Aquaman is a badass!

It's a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Middle East politics.

If a man is judged by the calibre of his enemies, I'm not quite sure what this says about me.

The Gweilo Diaries play host to a potentially controversial correlation between national IQ levels and income.

Bitchin' Monaro makes up for a short absence with an extra-large slab of bizarre and salacious goodness.

Tim Blair is bothering the BBC again.

The sad story of the space program that never was is illustrated with some fine graphics at A.E.Brain's blog.

NZ Pundit continues his useful series of Den Beste Cliffnotes.

Evil Dan has been flirting with the Dark Side.

Random Nuclear Strikes links to a T-shirt that might be considered a teensy bit politically incorrect by some.

Remindarrrrrrrrr

2003-08-31T15:25:00.000+10:00

Only twenty days be left 'til International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Get your Arts degree here

2003-08-30T10:58:00.000+10:00

For those forced to deal with the Marxist nutjobs who pass for academics in some of our prestigious learning institutions, help is at hand.

The Postmodernism Generator produces reams of convincing semiotic gibberish at a mouse-click:

If one examines posttextual discourse, one is faced with a choice: either reject dialectic Marxism or conclude that the raison d'etre of the reader is significant form, but only if sexuality is interchangeable with art; if that is not the case, consciousness is capable of intention. But Sartre uses the term 'cultural theory' to denote not desublimation, but postdesublimation. Bataille suggests the use of dialectic Marxism to challenge the status quo.

It even generates footnotes.

The creator of this amusing device, Andrew C Bulhak, has written his own (evidently real) paper on the subject, engagingly titled On the Simulation of Postmodernism and Mental Debility using Recursive Transition Networks.

Webtrolling

2003-08-30T10:57:00.000+10:00

This is what happens if you fly your commercial jet through a hailstorm. (Via Dr Karl's Self Service Science Forum)

The world's second-largest camera is a converted delivery van. (Via Memepool)

Yes, Slitz is a real magazine.

I'm not sure if Islam and Marx News is for real or not. This guy was a Maoist before 9/11.

Here's the obligatory link to a website that some dweeb tried to ban, because it suggests that Islam may be connected to terrorism. Will they never learn?

Comedy puppet Basil Brush has insured his tail for One! Million! Pounds! (Via Miss Missive)

Naked women take pictures of themselves and post them on the Net. This may be the only decent website ever to feature an Indymedia logo.

Mugger flashes breasts at victim. (Via Men's News Daily)

As if al-Qaeda weren't bad enough, our society is now menaced by Molotov-tossing granny-lady poultry terrorists. (Via P&C's Daily Diatribe )

Australian bloggers are being spammed by time-travellers. UPDATE: It seems the time traveller has been getting some attention.

At last

2003-08-28T16:06:00.000+10:00

someone has invented a kinder, gentler way to smack your kids. The B-Stik™, a padded foam device, promises to deliver "nothing but the sting". It is "designed specifically to avoid harm or injury and is intended to replace the belt, strap, switch or anything that may harm or injure when physically correcting misconduct".

I'm not one of those drivelling cretins who wants to ban spanking. But there's something about marketing this product that creeps me out a bit. I don't really know why.

Mars is very close today

2003-08-28T00:59:00.000+10:00

and I wish these bastards would quit tailgating.

The lost art of correspondence

2003-08-28T00:36:00.000+10:00

It's very simple. She writes letters to people. People like Philip Adams, Margo Kingston, the "unofficial spokesman" for the North Korean Government, and of course, our generous friends from Nigeria:

On another matter: perhaps you could append a small description of yourself in your next email. I am 33 years old, 170cm high and 60kgs. I am very athletic and am often told by men that I am beautiful. I imagine that you are taller than me, very black, and have an athletic body too. I have heard certain rumours about African men. Can you confirm one specific rumour? I'm sure you understand to what I refer...

I can't wait to talk to you.

Thinking of you.

Patsy A. Newton

They write back. She posts the responses.

Animals

2003-08-27T23:23:00.000+10:00

Reader Tango, who spent some time living on Palm Island, had this to say in response to an earlier posting about cruelty to animals in the area.

The local kids are out of control. They commit horrifying acts on the horses and dogs on the island. Parents either can't or won't control the kids. Some of the adults are seriously pissed-off at the kids behaviour and talk of taking matters into their own hands but nothing ever comes of it.

The police used to spend most nights in their compound, only leaving if called out to a fight or emergency. Animal abuse doesn't qualify, apparently.

Mostly, police there are in an impossible position. If they enforce the law impartially they get accused of racism. If they do nothing, then obviously they're slack and don't care. It's not a popular posting.

Most people we had anything to do with were pretty decent. But cruelty to animals has become part of the kids' culture and it seems no-one can stop it. I won't go into the gory details ... even now it's pretty horrific to think about.

There's an online petition asking Premier Peter Beattie to do something about the issue. I've signed it.

However, the root of the problem lies in politically correct attitudes that prevent existing laws being enforced equally on all Australians, regardless of race. This is a bigger issue, and needs to be addressed on many fronts in the long term.

Protest vote

2003-08-27T13:20:00.000+10:00

It seems that some people who are upset about the political imprisonment of Pauline Hanson have been nominating her for Australian of the Year.

The Australian of the Year website provides a convenient online form for nominations, which will be closed on the 29th of this month.

Despite being nominated over a hundred times so far, Hanson has not yet appeared in the list of nominees. It is to be hoped that this oversight will soon be corrected. (via aus.politics)

News from Norway

2003-08-26T21:50:00.000+10:00

For anyone who stays up all night wondering about what's happening in the land of fjords, here's a handy executive summary:

Many Muslim girls are being told by their parents to stay off bicycle seats, on the grounds that they could lose their virginity.

An anti-advertising protest group tricked several media outlets into running stories about Bibles being printed with McDonalds logos.

Two escaped murderers who turned themselves in at a police station were told to go home.

A former rallycross star turned political candidate punched another politician in the face during a debate at a school.

Princess Madeleine is upset at being featured on a pin-up poster in the latest issue of Slitz magazine.

And that's just one week.

Oddities

2003-08-26T01:56:00.000+10:00

They are Blorg.

She is Bjorgk.

It is Frog.

He is dork.

Beneath the Underground

2003-08-26T00:01:00.000+10:00

A few years ago, coinciding with protests in Seattle against globalisation and the World Trade Organisation, a new phenomenon in media emerged from the radical left side of politics.

Christened Indymedia, this network of web forums promised to revolutionise communication with its slogan, "everyone is a journalist". In this brave world of uncensored access, anyone would be able to report on events free from the restrictions imposed by editors and advertisers.

This worthy scheme fell victim to a kind of tragedy of the commons. The system soon became a quagmire of rants, conspiracy theories, fanaticism, racism, trolling, faction fighting, and outright lunacy, with the few worthwhile posts buried in the noise.

In an effort to combat this, many Indymedia centres have adopted a policy of censorship to keep a lid on things. The booted heel of dissent-crushing moderation falls hardest on those who disagree with the views of whoever is in charge of the delete button.

But there isn't really a delete button -- in the best traditions of techno-anarchism, the designers built a system that hides censored posts from the casual observer, but leaves them available to the dedicated seeker.

This warren of hidden posts has become a community of dissent within the dissenting, the Underground's own Underground.

Curing the blind

2003-08-25T19:23:00.000+10:00

There's good news on the medical front. A blind man's sight has been gradually restored over two years by growing back damaged parts of his eye from stem cells, reports the BBC.

Having been blind for 40 years, patient Mike May is sometimes troubled by his new visions. He has difficulty recognising many of the things he sees, and is sometimes frightened by obstacles he had learned to avoid by sound or touch.

I think this is a step forward, especially for those who have lost their sight more recently. Such people would miss their eyes more, I suspect, than those who could not remember what it was to see. They would also have developed the ability to interpret the complex signals from the eyes that most of us take for granted.

It's also possible that similar technology could be used to grow back other damaged body parts. While there has been some controversy over the sourcing of stem cells from aborted foetuses, new techniques may be able to forestall this ethical problem.

Moving!

2003-08-25T14:00:00.000+10:00

The new and improved version is now working, with only a couple of minor bugs yet to be ironed out. Please visit Evil pundit of Doom! Mark II, and update your links or bookmarks.

If you have trouble connecting, it's possible the new domain name might not yet have propagated to your region, so try again in a few days.

This site will continue to be updated for about a week.

End of the world, Part 14

2003-08-25T01:26:00.000+10:00

A new doom scenario has been proposed by Gregory Ryskin, of Northwestern University in Illinois. According to Nature magazine, he suggests that "a massive methane explosion frothing out of the world's oceans 250 million years ago caused the Earth's worst mass extinction". Similar events may also have been responsible for the Biblical flood.

The oceans could easily have contained enough methane to explode with a force about 10,000 times greater than the world's entire nuclear-weapons stockpile, Ryskin argues. "There would be mortality on a massive scale," he says.

"It's a wacky idea," says geologist Paul Wignall of the University of Leeds, UK, "but not so wild that it shouldn't be taken seriously."

While the article describes Ryskin as a geologist, his web page says he is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering. Such abstruse distinctions are beyond my ken, but it matters not, so long as I can pundificate about doooom! (Via Dr Karl'sSelf Service Science Forum)

Political journalists

2003-08-25T00:53:00.000+10:00

They're even more partisan in North Korea than they are here. From an Associated Press report:

North Korean reporters traded punches with human rights activists Sunday as tension over the North's suspected nuclear development escalated into violence at the World University Games.

The fight erupted as the reporters tried to seize banners critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il from a dozen anti-North Korea protesters. "Down with Kim Jong Il. Rescue our Northern brethren," one banner read.

Coming soon ...

2003-08-24T10:31:00.000+10:00

I'm working on a major site upgrade, with public comments and other cool things. Postings will pick up a bit after I've learned a little more about Cascading Style Sheets and stuff. In the meantime, I'm still collecting nominations for the Germaines.

Here's another silly picture to fill up space.

UPDATE: The new blog, based on Movable Type, is up and running, though there are a few bugs that need fixing. This site will continue to be updated for a week or so after I relocate.

Bitchfest

2003-08-22T20:09:00.000+10:00

The politibimbos of Australia held one of their regular man-bashing events yesterday. Known as the Ernies and attended by 400 women, its purpose is to intimidate men into toeing the feminazi line.

Despite its blatant double standards, this all-female event is usually reported in a positive light by mainstream media in the thrall of political correctness. Only a few people, so far, have expressed objection to the rampant hypocrisy of a sexist hate-fest held in the name of combating sexism.

I think it might be interesting to start up an alternative version of the Ernies -- perhaps called the Germaines -- to honour outstanding contributions to misandry. Over the next few days, I'll be doing some research to find the most deserving recipients. Any nominations would be appreciated (email evilpundit -at- optusnet.com.au).

UPDATE: The candidates so far --

Female Nominees: Carmel Niland, Quentin Bryce, Natasha Stott Despoja, Germaine Greer (2 nominations), Pru Goward (5 nominations), Anne Summers, Pat O'Shane, Eva Cox

International Category (The Golden Dwork): Maureen Dowd

Male Nominees: Alastair Nicholson

Bits & bobs

2003-08-22T09:42:00.000+10:00

Role reversal: A nation's leader leaps to the defence of superheroes in peril!

Samizdata has a fine glossary of blogging terms. James Morrow points to a possible addition to this list, freshly coined by Gareth Parker. UPDATE: Denying responsibility for the origin of the word "margoyles", Mr Parker points the finger at Tim Blair. Others suggest Paul Bickford as the originator.

What the hell is happening to animals on Palm Island? Who is responsible, and why won't the government act?

Bitchin' Monaro points out that Queensland Premier Peter Beattie doesn't mind chumming around with his predecessor, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, despite the latter having presided over a government notorious for the corruption of its officials. Sir Joh is currently seeking compensation for more than $335 million in lost income, as well as pain and suffering caused by his trial in 1991.

Even overseas fashion models are outraged by the Hanson affair.

Cyberstalking sucks. Scroll down for the story. (Via Dissecting Leftism)

The Australian Libertarian Society blog warns that gibbering lunatics are considering whether the government should force all vehicles to be fitted with speed limiting hardware. UPDATE: Evidently an even more intrusive system of car control is being considered in the UK.

The cyborgs are coming! Japanese companies are preparing to market a motorised suit that can help aged or disabled people to walk.

The same judge who sent the politically incorrect Pauline Hanson to jail for three years over what amounts to a technical error, earlier this year sentenced a paedophile who molested an 11-year-old girl in her bed to six months. (via Yobbo)

More fun with electoral fraud.

There are claims that the legal case against One Nation party founder Pauline Hanson was pushed along by Liberal Party hatchetman Tony Abbott. Both the Liberal and Labor parties regard One Nation as unwelcome competition.

Gratuitous cuteness

2003-08-22T00:36:00.000+10:00

All this justice is getting me down. Here's a picture of a kitten with a hula hoop.

Even more justice in Queensland.

2003-08-21T23:47:00.000+10:00

The transcript of the 7:30 Report for 14 December 2000 makes interesting reading.

KERRY O'BRIEN, host: Karen Erhmann, the former ALP candidate who triggered Queensland's electoral rorts scandal and who went to gaol for her own role in it, today repeated her claims that the culture of vote rigging pervaded senior levels of the state Labor Party.

Her evidence was strongly disputed by Premier Peter Beattie, who gave as good as he got.

Ms Erhmann, jailed for forging electoral enrolment forms, gave evidence to the Federal Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters in Brisbane.

She turned into the star witness, after self-confessed Labor rorter, Lee Bermingham, failed to appear.

KAREN EHRMANN, former ALP candidate: Everyone was doing it.

It was encouraged and condoned by people at the highest level in the Queensland Parliament and the Labor Party.

This was not a small core, side group.

PETER BEATTIE, Queensland Premier: You've got to ask yourself -- why wasn't this evidence given before the Shepherdson Inquiry?

This is part of a rorters' revenge.

... SIMON ROYAL, reporter: What Karen Ehrmann told the inquiry reinforced much of what has come out of the electoral rorts scandal so far.

And that is -- how there's a culture reaching to the heights of the ALP which views the electoral roll, not as a sacrosanct public institution, but fair game in the war games of internal party politics.

Karen Ehrmann was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment.

Pauline Hanson was yesterday sentenced to three years' imprisonment without parole, for using the names of genuine party supporters to register her political party, instead of the names of formal party members.

Further information about electoral practices in Queensland can be found here and here.

More justice in Queensland.

2003-08-21T16:33:00.000+10:00

The State that has just imprisoned One Nation Party members Pauline Hanson and David Ettridge for three years over electoral fraud seems to have a different way of dealing with Labor MPs.

[Queensland] Premier Peter Beattie has softened his stance on former MP Mike Kaiser and will not block his political comeback as the Labor Party's assistant national secretary.

Mr Beattie told The Sunday Mail yesterday the ALP national executive advised him last week of its plans to appoint Mr Kaiser, who was dumped from Queensland Parliament two years ago for electoral rorting.

"I was contacted after the decision had already been made," he said. "I indicated I was not going to oppose it.

"Mike Kaiser is one of the most gifted campaigners this party has ever produced. I can understand why the federal ALP would want him."

... Mr Kaiser told a Criminal Justice Commission inquiry that he signed a false declaration in 1986 when taking part in Labor Party branch stacking. He was never charged.

According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald of January 11, 2001,

Mr Kaiser, 37, admitted to the Criminal Justice Commission's inquiry into electoral fraud that he signed a false electoral enrolment form in 1986.

He had been recalled yesterday to the inquiry which had gathered new evidence since his pre-Christmas claim that he had never been involved in electoral fraud.

The Labor Party governs Queensland, and wants to govern Australia.

On a related issue, James Morrow links to a fine and passionate essay by Bernard Slattery on yesterday's imprisonment of two members of the One Nation party, and its significance in Australian politics.

The judge in the Pauline Hanson case said it could have undermined public confidence in Australian politics. It certainly has.

Today, two committed One Nation-hating green-left voters I've known online for some time have publicly announced their sympathy for Pauline Hanson. One of them says he will donate $20 to a fighting fund for her. This is looking like a very interesting issue indeed. (From the Political Animal discussion forum, where I post under the name of AnimalMother)

But truth is so boring ...

2003-08-21T12:28:00.000+10:00

The latest conspiracy theory being floated by the tinfoil-hat Left is the claim that the White House is rewriting history:

When the White House published the text of and photos from Bush's speech announcing the supposed end of the Iraq attack, the headline read: "President Bush Announces Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended." But on Tuesday, 19 Aug 2003, the Cursor website noticed that the headline had been changed to read: "President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended." The word "major" had been added.

That sounds good ... until you actually read the first paragraph of the original story:

Thank you all very much. Admiral Kelly, Captain Card, officers and sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln, my fellow Americans: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. [my emphasis]

Gee, they changed the headline so that it accurately reflected what the President originally said. How evil can they get?

Justice in Queensland.

2003-08-20T21:39:00.000+10:00

Iconoclastic politicians Pauline Hanson and David Ettridge of the One Nation party have been sentenced to imprisonment, seemingly on a technicality. I would be surprised if there were no other candidates who have done similar things.

In this context it is interesting to consider the case of Scott Balson. He was One Nation's webmaster, and was prosecuted for contempt of court after he revealed the name of the subsequently convicted paedophile Bill D'Arcy.

The local Courier-Mail newspaper also revealed his name, but was not prosecuted.

UPDATE: A.E.Brain has posted a more detailed analysis of the Hanson case.

Culture corner

2003-08-20T19:06:00.000+10:00

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission now reckons that people need its approval to create art inspired by Aboriginal motifs. This pronouncement has inspired me to make some art of my own.

Odds & sods

2003-08-20T14:00:00.000+10:00

Amber Pawlik explains why feminists hate Condoleeza Rice and love Andrea Yates.

Good news on the media front. The Fairfax rags are bleeding readers. I guess that's what happens if you push the line that Australians are redneck scum, in newspapers selling to the Australian market. (Via NZ Pundit)

At last, a message board without flamers. Perhaps there is hope for the human race, after all. UPDATE: Darn, looks like someone's gone and spoilt it.

The Premier of West Australia has the effrontery to suggest that Aborigines should stop blaming white Australians for all their problems, and that parents ought to take some responsibility for their own children. Representatives of the blame industry are outraged.

In view of Richard Butler's appointment as Governor of Tasmania, perhaps it's time to revisit this opinion piece at Crikey.

New Internet regulations proposed

2003-08-20T12:18:00.000+10:00

The Australian government is planning to introduce new laws that would make it an offence to use the Internet to "advocate or facilitate violent protests, for example by spreading information on methods of violently disrupting international meetings and attacking police officers protecting such gatherings". This would severely curtail the operations of radical left-wing sites such as Indymedia, which are used to organise protests and often contain incitements to violence.

The proposed legislation would also provide "criminal penalties for placing material on the Internet that would be regarded by reasonable persons as being, in all the circumstances, offensive". There's a lot of room for interpretation here, and how this proposal might affect Oz blogs, newsgroups and message boards is uncertain.

I don't like incitement to violence, but it's not the same thing as actual violence. Such legislation could easily be extended to cover right-wing death beasts who might express the opinion that certain terrorists could be improved by the addition of a little cerebral ventilation. Overall, I don't think extending the reach of censorship is a good thing.

Free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The once-chained people whose leaders at last lose their grip on information will soon burst with freedom and vitality, but the free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master. -- Pravin Lal

Bits and pieces

2003-08-19T13:02:00.000+10:00

Extending the frontiers of human stupidity, some child care centres in Melbourne have decided to ban superhero costumes. This spasm of political correctness was brought on by a perception that the costumes encourage "wham-bam aggressive behaviour". The subtext here is that the rough-and-tumble games boys like to play are bad, yet another subtle example of new-age sexism in action.

I think these guys could be taking the notion of a "Party Whip" a bit too literally.

The BBC has a story about discrimination against asylum seekers in Africa, as well as a selection of comments from Africans about the issue. The discrimination seems partly rooted in racism, and that bad behaviour by immigrants is also a factor. Quite a few of the intra-African migrants are motivated by economic opportunities rather than oppression. Unwanted immigrantion is a worldwide issue, and is not just restricted to the most affluent countries.

According to Professor Brian Sykes, men are doomed. His thesis is that the sex-determining Y chromosome is damaged beyond repair, and that consequently male humans will cease to exist in 125,000 years. He's flogging a book on the subject, and proposes that the human race could survive by using artificial fertilisation to produce only females. This seems somewhat misandrist to me, since if we're still around that far in the future, our genetic tecnology will probably be good enough to produce humans of any sex, or even new sexes that don't exist yet. (Via Men's News Daily)

The "traditional" Islamist hijab headgear for women is neither Islamic nor traditional, writes Middle East expert Amir Taheri. Invented in the the 1970s by an Iranian Mullah, its wearing was made compulsory in 1982 on the grounds that "scientific research had shown that women's hair emitted rays that drove men insane". (Via Tim Blair)

Australia's unions are relevant and not going backwards, according to ACTU secretary Greg Combet. In other news, there are no American troops in Baghdad.

Apparently the UK government wants to put the DNA of every newborn baby on a database. There could be medical advantages to such a database, but the potential for abuse would be enormous. This is a bit like wanting to fingerprint everyone in the whole country at birth, only more intrusive. I'm not sure where I stand on this idea, but I don't really feel comfortable about it. (Via Human Nature Daily Review)

Yobbo reports a rumour that Robert Mugabe will soon be writing for the Sydney Morning Herald. I saw it on the Internet, so it must be true.

Giant gerbils invade China!

Comic relief

2003-08-18T12:36:00.000+10:00

Inspired by Steven Den Beste's post a few weeks ago, I thought I'd recommend some online comics. If you like science fiction and comedy as much as I do, check these out.

Sluggy Freelance is a long-running Web strip that follows the misadventures of a couple of geeks, their homicidal pet bunny, and assorted aliens and demons. It's worth reading from the beginning.

In the self-parody department, Astounding Space Thrills lovingly recreates the world of thirties sci-fi adventure as it should have been.

If you're interested in the classics, you can read a complete scanned version of the very first Superman comic.

Finally, for sheer graphic genius it's hard to go past the short but brilliant on-line episode of Scott McCloud's Zot!

Boy trouble

2003-08-18T10:42:00.000+10:00

The continuing decrease in academic performance amongst boys is now growing so great that even the Guardian is questioning the left-wing feminist doctrine that girls are disadvantaged by the system:

White working-class boys are falling behind other pupils at such an alarming rate that they are in danger of becoming the worst educated group of children ...

Some 55 per cent of girls achieve the national standard of five or more GCSEs at grade A to C. Only 44 per cent boys do.

'Looking at those statistics it is clear that white, working-class boys are not doing as well as their brains and their skills and talents suggest they should do,' [Schools Minister] Miliband said.

'Here is a group that is too often being short changed by the system.'

This is not news to the Australian Parliament's House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training, which last year released a report titled Boys: Getting it Right. The report demonstrated a clear and consistent trend of boys' outcomes falling behind those of girls at school over the last three decades:

It is no coincidence that this increasing gender gap has coincided with the rise of feminist influence in government policy-making. Far from a movement promoting equality of the sexes, feminism has become a social institution devoted largely to furthering the interests of its professional promoters and political beneficiaries at the expense of males.

The means of achieving this ideological end are many and varied. In the field of education, one of the most effective tactics has been steady pressure on male teachers, gradually pushing them out of the system.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the ratio of male to female primary school teachers has decreased by 38% in the last twenty years. The decrease in high schools was smaller, but still significant.

This deprives young boys in school of positive role models, as well as reducing the influence of teachers who know from experience what it is like to be a young male with a short attention span.

Why have these numbers swung so dramatically towards an even greater imbalance, when government policies supposedly promote gender equality?

Whale gas and ninja monkeys

2003-08-16T13:10:00.000+10:00

After years of oppression, it seems Nature is fighting back.

Australian scientists have announced another technological triumph -- the world's first photograph of a whale in the act of farting. However, such research is not without its risks, according to participant Nick Gales. "We got away from the bow of the ship very quickly ... it does stink," he reportedly gasped.

On the subcontinent, Indian security forces have hired a monkey catcher to protect the Prime Minister from hostile primates. In the meantime, innocent Australians continue to be targeted in deadly magpie raids.

My own studies indicate the emergence of yet another threat to humanity -- the rise of the Swiss Army Ant.

Scrolling problem

2003-08-16T00:16:00.000+10:00

I've just been informed by Ilyka that some versions of Internet Explorer won't let you scroll past the bottom of my sidebar. If you can't see the pretty pictures further down, here is a quick fix suggested by Captain Mojo: Hit the "F11" key twice.

In the meantime, I present the latest international wildlife conservation campaign for your edification.

UPDATE: This problem should now be fixed, courtesy of a solution found by WizbangTech and passed on via Anticipatory Retaliation.

Pages made with the latest version of Blogger may be affected. If you want to know more, go here.

Stick figure video

2003-08-15T21:17:00.000+10:00

One of the creative geniuses on B3ta just made this -- the Flash video, that is, not the song.

This is the latest example of a growing artform on the Internet -- homemade music videos. Using commonly available Web tools, a new generation of artists are putting their own visual interpretations on the music they love.

Predictably enough, some such pages have already fallen foul of copyright laws -- but others have gone on to generate real jobs for their creators.

As technology improves and its availability increases, we are seeing what could amount to a new Renaissance in the arts. A field once dominated by megacorporations catering to the mass market and government-granted performers pleasing tiny niche audiences is now seeing the emergence of a third force.

Already, small groups of fans operating on insignificant budgets have created professional-grade mini-movies, aided by advanced and inexpensive computer graphics. Some makers of such fan films have even been lauded by the producers of the real thing.

Beyond the fans, there are those who create their own musical and visual worlds from scratch, either alone or in groups.

Of course, the issues of copyright and intellectual property will cloud this area for some time. Some of the world's most lucrative industries are facing the unwelcome entrance of new competitors into their markets. Many people who have worked hard for their money are seeing their profits diminished by the ease with which their creations can be distributed illegally at negligible cost. Telecommunication and technology companies and media consumers are reaping a huge bonus at the expense of content providers.

However, despite the complaints of lost profits from content producers, and the protests over heavy-handed intellectual property laws from the file swappers, the cultural world is not about to end. If history sets any precedent, it's about to get a whole lot better.

Strike a light

2003-08-15T18:47:00.000+10:00

I Was Hitler's Cat

2003-08-14T23:11:00.000+10:00

Surely this must be the book of the year.

During the chaotic final months of the Second World War, a Machiavellian cat plots to get between Adolf Hitler and his beloved German shepherd, Blondi. Nearly two decades later, the bitter feline sets the historical record straight with a story that is at once absurd, hilarious, and heart-breaking.

With irresistible appeal to both historians and feline fanciers, how can it fail?

The Herd mentality

2003-08-14T19:27:00.000+10:00

The politics of hatred is an ugly thing.

The very word Australian has been damned
I fucking hate myself - take Aussie from my name
Erase this endless shame, forever casting blame

Sydney hip-hop band The Herd is not ashamed of its loathing for the bloke and sheila in the street.

77 percent of Aussies are racist
And if you're here - i'll say it to your faces

The catchy beats of 77 per cent, frequently played on the ABC's national youth network Triplejay, help the lead singer belt out a message of contempt and barely restrained violence.

I'll buy ya a beer - with an arsenic chaser
Better off dead? Is that what i've said?
Tempting to take for all the blood you've shed

Well, maybe not all that restrained.

At least this fine example of yoof culture doesn't commit the ultimate hypocrisy of promoting racism under the banner of tolerance ...

Enough is enough - whiteys pack your stuff

I just don't understand it. Why aren't Australians absorbing this gentle message of social harmony?

Prehistoric pyros

2003-08-14T17:35:00.000+10:00

Despite being portrayed by some on the Left as ecological angels who have always lived in perfect harmony with pristine Nature, the continent's earliest inhabitants have had a profound impact on the environment. A recent study reported in New Scientist magazine has found new evidence concerning the extinction of the unique giant marsupials that once roamed the land.

According to this research, the most likely cause of death for many species was the large-scale destruction of their habitat by fire -- which just happened to coincide with the arrival of Homo sapiens on our shores some 50,000 years ago.

It seems Australia's Aborigines may not be very different from us decadent Westerners.

Ahoy!

2003-08-14T16:04:00.000+10:00

Yarrrr mateys ... September 19th be
International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Ye'll not be fergettin' it, lest ye be keelhauled!