Archive for October, 2006
Busy Weekend
Sunday, October 8th, 2006It’s the Thanksgiving long weekend in Canada, and I am too busy with my family to be blogging about Cheney’s latest fearmongering, the connections between private industry and counter-terrorism, excellent mockings of the crazy christian lobby, fine insults, or the lessons of Soviet history.
Instead, I’m spending my time on stuff like this:
(Yes, that is her [...]
She has jeans?
Friday, October 6th, 2006I know what you’re thinking: that’s a bit “not safe for work”, isn’t it?
Well, you can’t blame me on that one–I’ve got it on good authority that it’s fine. At least for Australians:
Controversial Lee Jeans Ad Declared Acceptable by the Board
In an astonishing development Lee Jeans’ controversial ‘Lolita’ advertisement campaign for spring-summer 2006, has been [...]
Signing Statements
Friday, October 6th, 2006So, once again Bush has declared himself above the authority of the legislative branch:
Bush says he can edit security reports
President Bush, again defying Congress, says he has the power to edit the Homeland Security Department’s reports about whether it obeys privacy rules while handling background checks, ID cards and watchlists.
In the law Bush signed Wednesday, [...]
Recommended Listening: Absolute Power
Thursday, October 5th, 2006This week’s listening material in the car has been the BBC Radio 4 series Absolute Power. The series stars Stephen Fry and John Bird as former BBC executives who lose their BBC jobs and start up a “government media relations” firm. The core conceit is that they take on “image relaunches” and media campaigns for [...]
A Portrait of the Blogger As A (Very) Young Man.
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006My mom recently sent me some photographs from my childhood, and they are amusing the hell out of me–not least because having now made it through the first two years of parenthood the notion that I was once a baby has some more visceral meaning for me.
Anyway, I present Mr. McLaren, age six weeks:
And, the [...]
Man, Nightshade makes some pretty books
Monday, October 2nd, 2006Nightshade has always published quality fiction, but I’ve got to say lately they have also been incredibly pretty physical objects. Let’s look at a couple of examples that have showed up here over the last few days.
Take, for example, Liz Williams‘ new one, Demon And The City, which arrived today. It’s so pretty that it [...]
Still allowed in America… so far
Monday, October 2nd, 2006Ananova - Police hunt farting dissident
Police in Poland have launched a nationwide hunt for a man who farted loudly when asked what he thought of the president.
Although, I suppose His Highness could just declare such activity a “purposeful and materially support of hostilities against the United States”.
Irony: Textbook definition.
Sunday, October 1st, 2006Torture anywhere is an affront to human dignity everywhere. We are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law.
Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right. The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, ratified by the United States and more than 130 [...]
Mission Accomplished
Sunday, October 1st, 2006I have been avoiding writing this post for a couple of days. I haven’t been this depressed since the last U.S. Presidential election, and I had to get away for a few days and not think about it.
I’m still too angry and upset to write about this clearly, but I can quote a whole bunch [...]
Ben