It’s all about ratings. Fox has shown that you get more viewers if you shovel people back a half digested version of their own prejudices and bigotries, leavened with pique and outrage. We don’t care about facts or government, we … Continue reading
The Yes-men managed another wonderful stunt the other day: At a Wharton Business School conference on business in Africa, World Trade Organization representative Hanniford Schmidt announced the creation of a WTO initiative for “full private stewardry of labor” for the … Continue reading
Mark Kaplan, 18 months ago, presented the ultimate blog argument. Titled “Notes on Rhetoric” it was a list of the phrases and techniques used in dodgy comment thread debate. It’s hilarious and very much to the point. I’ll give you … Continue reading
As John Allison points out so clearly here what the middle east needs is not Disco Tex and the Sex-o-lettes but for Israel to help Lebanon to casualty and hang around for 8 hours to make sure she’s alright.
I SPY quoted a phrase from 1984 in a comment thread and it set me thinking, not for the first time, about the similarities between our current situation and that envisaged by George Orwell. With a bit of searching I’ve … Continue reading
There’s only one way to understand this, and Douglas Adams said it best: ‘On [that] world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people.’ ‘Odd,’ said Arthur, ‘I thought … Continue reading
Colbert gives a speech at the Whitehouse press dinner which rather offends Mr Bush: Google Video. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Before I begin, I’ve been asked to make an announcement. Whoever parked 14 black bullet proof S.U.V.’S out front, … Continue reading