Hypothetical news reporter Ifit Wereso reports on the recent announcement by the global peace movement PRMAZ on how it will refer to Israel in future commentary and dialogue. Since the October 7 flare up in the decades long war between Israel and Hamas, the BBC has found itself compelled to mention that Hamas is designated …
Category archives: Uncategorized
Kier Starmer Delivers Rousing Call for Public Support in Rail Worker Strike
Hypothetical News Correspondent DPC Ed Sir Kier Starmer delivered an impassioned plea to the British public to support the RMT in it’s bid for better pay and work conditions. “I urge the British public to stand by our Rail workers,” Sir Kier said when visiting the RMT headquarters today. “It is in our interests as …
Continue reading “Kier Starmer Delivers Rousing Call for Public Support in Rail Worker Strike”
Perversity of Modern War: Russia and West poised for war while we all watch Netflix
In a July 2020 interview on the rounding up and imprisonment of the Uighur people in China, BBC journalist Andrew Marr showed a clip of the human rights abuses to the Chinese ambassador to the UK, clearly uncomfortable at the scenes before him. “Can I ask you why people are kneeling blindfolded and shaven and …
Climate Change: A Short Experiment in Politics
Climate change can be viewed as a handy, planetary scale, natural experiment whose outcome will cast new light on the politics of left and right. In amongst the gathering climate disaster and impending catastrophe of unchecked climate change there is an uncounted blessing. Small comfort though it is, we might finally have a test that …
Continue reading “Climate Change: A Short Experiment in Politics”
La Brutta Figura
An Italian institution that is unique among the people of Earth. Fare una brutta figura – (literally “to make an ugly figure”) is best translated by the English phrase “to cut a bad image” in public, or perhaps being “caught with your pants down“. Every Italian lives in mortal fear of this terrible social stigma, …
Murphy’s Law, Entropy, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
Only entropy comes easy – Anton Chekov In a quaint BBC Radio 4 short, comedian Robin Ince (co-presenter Infinite Monkey Cage) provides an entertaining insight into Murphy’s Law. After a review of Murphy’s Law (and a brief mention of Sod and his law), Ince tells of an equation that purportedly actually computes the probability of …
Continue reading “Murphy’s Law, Entropy, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics”
Donald Trump’s Deeds Consistent With Character
[Former acting president] Donald Trump’s abuse of copyrighted music in the face of artists’ repeated protestations seems consistent with the character of someone under allegation of sexual assault and rape: he goes ahead and does it even when you say you don’t want him to. Though far less serious, using copyrighted material against the express …
Continue reading “Donald Trump’s Deeds Consistent With Character”
Thoughts Not Beliefs
I am prepared to be shown where I am mistaken and made aware of where I may perhaps be prejudice even without intending, or simply ignorant of facts. I enthusiastically invite correction if it is to advance an honest argument in good faith. But please do so only if your reasons are genuine and not …
Fear of the Doctor
After setting up a place where stray thoughts can be collected and contemplated, they have all of a sudden vanished. Therefore the secret to vibrant contemplation is never to try and write it down. Just as the secret to good health is to always consult your doctor.