Site of the Week 14

The Religious Policeman is a must read, his recent comments on Charles and Islam are funny.

He has many interesting insights into Saudi society.

So Site of the Week award goes to: The Religious Policeman

Drinking to Microsoft's demise

The release of WINE to beta marks the first of many nails in Micro$oft's coffin.

Drink up and enjoy, it works: run Win32 apps under Linux without the hassle.

Misunderstanding?

Lisa is always refreshing to read and her latest tale is no different:

"..We Jews and Arabs, we live side-by-side and we watch each other and we interact (sometimes) but we don't really know each other. We think we do, but we don't. Ignorance leads to fear, and too often fear does lead to loathing."

Stolen Money?

The Union of Democratic Mineworkers and the claims handling of coal miner's injuries were the subject of Radio 4's You and Yours today.

Basically, money was set aside by HMG to pay the claims for the coal miner's injuries and the solicitor's fee, separately.

However, many miners were charged for the claim services, effectively paying twice and they have started a High Court action against those profiteering from their injuries: solicitors and the UDM's claims company.

The history of the UDM and their role in the mid-1980s miner’s strike, speaks volumes and their current activity should come as no surprise to anyone.

7 July bomber on Radio

Radio 4's File on 4 had an interesting piece on Mohammed Sidique Khan:

"Viewers and listeners to Tuesday night's programmes will also hear criticism from experts and academics about how radical clerics have "recruited openly" in Britain.

Academic researcher Dr Gunaratna said: "The radical clerics have radicalised young British and European Muslims and have done al-Qaeda's work for them."

And Sir Paul Lever, the former head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, which advises the prime minister on intelligence threats, said there had been a "failure to understand the significance of allowing these clerics to recruit openly"."

Shot Workers

The sad news of another shooting in Iraq has brought into view the response of many western-based nihilists and the pro-insurgence crowd.

The pro-insurgence crowd seem to function on the discredited notion "that my enemies enemy is my friend", and as they posture people in Iraq are killed by quasi-fascist murderers.

Britney's Neo-Nazi clones?

Britney Spears has competition from Lamb and Lynx Gaede. According to ABC News, the sisters who have been indoctrinated, by their mother, to believe in neo-Nazi/white nationalism:

"Known as "Prussian Blue" — a nod to their German heritage and bright blue eyes — the girls from Bakersfield, Calif., have been performing songs about white nationalism before all-white crowds since they were nine."

"We're proud of being white, we want to keep being white," said Lynx. "We want our people to stay white … we don't want to just be, you know, a big muddle. We just want to preserve our race."

Songs like "Sacrifice" — a tribute to Nazi Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy Fuhrer — clearly show the effect of the girls' upbringing. The lyrics praise Hess as a "man of peace who wouldn't give up."

Their views on Hitler, etc are equally repugnant.

Banning Jokes

The Scotman reports on Rowen Atkinson's opposition to the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill. Atkinson writes:

"My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen

Those of us who have opposed this measure since its introduction in 2001 have never had a problem with its alleged intent, viz. to counter the expression of racial hatred under the disguise of religious hatred. Rather, our problem was always the legislation’s breathtaking scope and reach far beyond that intent.

The prime motivating energy for the Bill seemed to come not from communities seeking protection from bullying by the British National Party but from individuals with a more aggressive, fundamentalist agenda.

Those who have sought, from the very day of the publication in 1989 of Salman Rushdie’s book The Satanic Verses, to immunise religions against criticism and ridicule – or at least to promote legislation that is so sinister and intimidating, it can provide that immunity without even the need to prosecute anyone. In other words, to impose self-censorship."

Out of the Office?

Tired of MS's bloated Office products? then try OpenOffice
OpenOffice.org 2.0 has been released, enjoy!

Site of the Week 13

I take an interest in the Middle East and am concerned at the bias, shabby reporting that passes for informed coverage.

Therefore, I welcome sites that provide a counter balance to the stream of anti-Israel rubbish.

So with great pleasure that I present the site of the week:
Snapshots, a CAMERA blog

Agitated at Nick

Some people have got fairly agitated at Nick Cohen for his recent article on anti-semitism in the New Statesman

He said what needed to be said.

Anti-imperialism of fools

Some articles still have relevance, even years after they were first published, so it is with “Anti-imperialism of fools” by Steve Silver at Searchlight.

Rehab with Judge Hitar?

BBC reported on a scheme in Yemen to "convert extremist prisoners to more moderate views" and listen to it here

Advertising Executives Lead the Charge?

See Judeosphere for his considered comments on www.standup4israel.org.

I would tend to agree that passivity, and in particular at the moment, does not help at all. I think there needs to be a concerted effort against anti-Semitism, nihilism and the notion that all problems in the world and Middle East are caused by Jews.

Site of the week 12

Engage was started to campaign against the ludicrous AUT blacklist of Israel and has metamorphised to Engage Online

"Engage challenges left and liberal antisemitism in the labour movement, in our universities and in public life more generally. Antisemitism here, manifests itself mainly as anti-Zionism."

Great place!

Claptrap

Claptrap is consuming our lives, so enjoy this post-modernist delight.

Changes are a Comin

The news that the Zimbabwe’s army can not feed it sown troops is death knell of Robert Mugabe. He won’t be around for long eitherway.