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Jesus statue taken hostage over "poopie problem"
2008-01-21 20:39:00
Michigan resident Jean Mansel has had her Jesus statue returned after an earlier abduction.A note attached alleged she did not clean up properly after her dog.We are holding Jesus ransom until you clean up the poopie from your wieners and trust us we see you take your wieners for long walks w/out picking up their poopie in our yards.Mansel now claims a family member is responsible.
More About: Statue , Problem , Hostage , Opie

Milton Keynes Citizen dispute
2008-01-21 20:24:00
Today I've been in the field.I travelled to Milton Keynes in order to cover a strike by the Milton Keynes Citizen 's NUJ chapel.Despite the best efforts of Britain's rail system, I managed to get to Auckland Park in Bletchley by 8:30am, leaving from Kenton station at 7.Bounding across the road, I was greeted by a picket line of twelve people, which grew to eighteen by eleven am.The line included General Secretary Jeremy Dear and National Newspapers Organiser Barry Fitzpatrick.Later on, NUJ President Michelle Stanistreet arrived.After introductions, I was able to talk to several of the chapel about the strike while passing cars and postal lorries hooted in support.I was told about the failure to replace staff who left the paper, as well as the 3% pay offer, which the staff claim is an effective pay cut.We also discussed journalism openings and were filmed by BBC Look East.I then took some photos before being given a lift to the Xscape, a bizarre carbuncle of leisure.There, I filed ...
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Gaza City loses power
2008-01-20 23:10:00
The only power plant in the Gaza Strip has run out of fuel.Arye Mekel, Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson, blamed the rocket attacks, which have caused Israel to shut its borders."If they stop the rockets today, everything would go back to normal," he said.More than 200 rockets and mortars have hit Israel from Gaza since an Israeli operation against militants on Tuesday which left 18 Palestinians dead, the military says. Further hardship has now come to the civilians of Gaza."We have just shut down the entire power plant," Derar Abu Sissi, a senior official at the Gaza plant, said on Sunday night."At least 800,000 people are now in darkness. The catastrophe will affect hospitals, medical clinics, water wells, houses, factories, all aspects of life." The UN is also extremly concerned.Power losses are not the only problem in Gaza.Hospitals are reporting a lack of drugs and parts for medical equipment. The price of chocolate, cigarettes and Coke has doubled, even trebled, because of...
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Terrorism and other violent crimes
2008-01-20 21:48:00
Whenever I heard a government minister talking about cracking down on terrorism, I wonder why this approach is not used for violent crime.Death by gunfire is as deadly as death by dirty bomb, the only difference is it kills more people.However, you could argue that the gunman is likely to kill as many people throughout his life as the suicide bomber does once.So, if we can agree that all forms of murder should be stamped on, why does no-one call for 42 days detention for common or garden murder suspects?Is it because terrorism is perceived to be less common, while murder can be seen as the crime of the Everyman?Is it because terrorism is only depicted in Hollywood action films, while murder is on Hollyoaks and Heartbeat and Corrie?There is a law against glorifying terrorism, why is there no law against glorifying murder?A Brighton gang remain free after officers were unable to charge them with any crime, despite the pictures being shown in the Metro.Yet three men who incited terror ...
More About: Terrorism , Crimes , Violent

Brand America 2008
2008-01-20 14:23:00
Der Spiegel carried a nice story on Friday about 2008 election memorabilia.Other sites are devoted entirely to selling toilet bowl brushes and nutcrackers crafted in the likeness of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Indeed, at cafepress.com, Clinton seems to be generating the most online commerce. Almost half a million products bear her likeness, while 333,000 feature Obama, and 60,000 promote Republican candidate John McCain.These include tank tops, mugs (one with "Hunters for Huckabee", bumper stickers and tracksuits.Maybe we should do this in the UK.How about a Gordon Brown novelty pencil sharper or a David Cameron bath mat?You could start the day in Nick Clegg pajamas, come down to breakfast in your Hazel Blears slippers, and have a bowl of Golden Gordons (prudently shaped of course).Taking the bus to work, you might glare at the man listening to David Cameron's speeches too loudly, before getting out your Alistair Darling ear muffs-the fluffy bits are made with his eyebrow...
More About: America , Brand

Youtube:Harry Hill on Shergar
2008-01-20 13:26:00
Hilarious clip from Harry Hill 's TV Burp on a documentary on the Shergar horsenapping.
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The 8:55 to Baghdad: Travel writing at its best
2008-01-20 13:11:00
Agatha Christie journeyed from London to Baghdad on the Orient Express in 1928.Hearing of this fact in Syria, Andrew Eames decides to discover more in The 8:55 to Baghdad.Charity shops are often good for cheap books, and for £1 I managed to obtain this awesome and funny tome.The book flits between Eames and Christie, telling the reader wonderful details about the places Eames visits and intriguing tit-bits about Agatha Christie's life.Christie's domestic life is well documented, as are her experiences traveling.In fact, Eames seems knowledgeable enough to write a full biography of Agatha Christie, being well acquainted He meets with her acquaintances, such as Slovenian journalist Janez Čuček, who interviewed her in Bohinj back in 1928. Eames also discovers plenty about the country he visits. He paints a vivid portrait of Serbia-one of many places I have never been, but would love to someday visit.Clearly well versed in history, Eames spends several pages explaining the Balkland...
More About: Travel , Writing

Journalism in Kenya
2008-01-20 12:50:00
Narobi's Standard reports on the difficulties faced by journalists in Kenya .In Kibera, paramilitary police officers threw a teargas cannister to drive photographers away from an attempted arrest.Medianetwork also has a transcript of a Standard story covering the Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation radio, which has been forced to suspend transmission.Yesterday, the area regional controller of programmes, Mr Ntenga Arori, said that the station had suffered acts of arson, looting and damage to its equipment, forcing them to switch off radio broadcasting. Consequently, communities in western Kenya have been denied medium wave radio programmes in Gusii, Luo, Kalenjin, Luhya, Teso, Kuria, Suba and Pokot languages .It seems Kenyan police are keen to disrupt the media, given accusations they are killing unarmed protesters.Indeed, the police paramilitary units are often known by Kenyans as Fanya Fujo Uone, meaning ""Mess around and see what we will do to you".Report from a BBC News reporter on ...
More About: Journalism

Benzair Bhutto suspect arrested
2008-01-19 22:28:00
A fifteen-year old was arrested by security officials this Thursday for the murder of Benzair Bhutto .Aitezaz Shah told investigators that he was one of five suicide bombers sent by pro-Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud to carry out the murder.He was detained, along with his alleged handler, in Dera Ismail Khan.Shah said that two of the attackers, Akram and Bilal, were to target Bhutto first. If they failed the other three were to carry out the operation. He said Bilal killed Bhutto by shooting her and detonating an explosive vest as she was leaving an election campaign rally on December 27.This will come as a relief to Pakistan's government, as Aitezaz Shah's comments support their theory that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda were responsible.The CIA also support this claim.Meanwhile in Pakistan, five men have been arrested for planning to attack Shia processions in Karachi.
More About: Arrested , Suspect , Hutto

Facebook Carrot Panic Buying Group Popular
2008-01-19 22:10:00
Yesterday I blogged the group "On May 15th 2008, everybody needs to go out and panic buy CARROTS." and mentioned it had over 18,000 members.Today, I see it has 24,323.Eight of my friends on Facebook have now joined it. One invited me, which was nice, but I have no desire to spend my dwindling cash on excess carrots.Instead, I'll stick to nights out, the Tube, food and David Bowie CD's as reasons for my cash to flow.Some people are losing morale already, the Captain Blackadders of the carrot fight.I worked (briefly) in Sainsburys over Christmas - we were running out of carrots nearly every day! Supermarkets aim to have barely enough short-shelf-life stock on the shelves to keep the customers happy - there's no point in having a week's supply of carrots on the shop floor if they'll all go mouldy in three days.There are some very random photos uploaded.What the blue Boobar and carrots have in common I do not know.
More About: Buying , Popular , Carrot , Group

Tony Parsons Update
2008-01-19 22:01:00
The Daily Mirror's response to PCC complaints about Tony Parson's 29th October article on Madeleine McCann and the Portuguese Ambassador:Further to our article of October 29 "Oh, up yours, Senor" by Tony Parsons , we are happy to make clear that whilst the contrary impression was given by the comments of the Portuguese Ambassador to the Times on October 27 we can confirm that the Ambassador Antonio Santana Carlos did not, and has not, said that the Madeleine McCann case has seriously damaged relations between Portugal and this country.Original Article, transcribed by a blogger from the Daily Mirror site in Portuguese and English.From the article:And I would respectfully suggest that in future, if you can't say something constructive about the disappearance of little Madeleine, then you just keep your stupid, sardine-munching mouth shut."What a tool Tony Parsons is.I cannot find the article on the Daily Mirror site!Given that it got 485 complaints, not really shocking.The next high...
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Richard Littlejohn's Reviews.
2008-01-19 21:24:00
Richard Littlejohn is a columnist for the Sun and Daily Mail.He's not someone whose views I agree with.If he ever stood for political office, he'd be the worst candidate since Caligula's horse.When five women were murdered in Ipswich,Littlejohn got stuck in.They weren't going to discover a cure for cancer or embark on missionary work in Darfur. The only kind of missionary position they undertook was in the back seat of a car.Anyway, last year he wrote a book called Littlejohn's Britain.That book, which had Littlejohn straddling the British Isles (though not in THAT way) was not his first foray into literature.In 2001, he wrote the bizarre To Hell In A Handcart, which I bought from Whsmiths for 90p that same year when I was more naive.Back then I didn't know who Richard Littlejohn was, though I should have.To Hell In A Handcart was a Daily Mail reader's wet dream about left-wing police officers teaming up with criminal asylum seekers to burgle the homes of right-wing police o...
More About: Reviews , Richard

Fairtrade Fortnight Countdown
2008-01-19 20:57:00
The Fairtrade Foundation will launch Fairtrade Fortnight in five weeks.It will start with a Fairtrade Fairground in Coin Street, Southbank on the 24th February, from 11am-4pm.A Fairtrade Bus will be touring the country while children can get involved with the Fairtrade Schools scheme, which has five goals.A petition has also been set up online to stop the Economic Partnership Agreements.
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Article 19: Philippines Media Threats
2008-01-19 20:26:00
The Philippines Government could interfere with media freedoms, according to Article 19.A new media advisory by the Philippines Department of Justice warns media workers to obey "lawful orders" during emergencies.Article 19 notes that this can only be seen as a threat, as everyone must obey the law, so no other advisory is needed.“We reiterate our call for the Philippines to honour its constitutional and international obligations to respect freedom of expression, in particular by amending emergency legal powers and by ceasing practices, such as mass arrests, which exert a chilling effect on the media,” said Dr Agnès Callamard, Executive Director, ARTICLE 19.Information on journalism and access to information in the Philippines, as well as the dangers.Aquiles Zonio, correspondent of the 'Philippine Daily Inquirer' in General Santos City, was the most recent recipient of a death threat through his mobile phone.Zonio received a text message shortly before noon last Saturday, war...
More About: Media , Threats

NUJ work experience: NEC meeting
2008-01-18 22:54:00
I've been a busy bee, albeit one with a union card.Today I attended part of a meeting of the NUJ's National Executive Committee.I also managed to complete my story on Conrad Quilty-Harper, and submit it with a jpg to Tim Gospill.Yesterday I interviewed Campaigns and Communications officer Steve Pearse, who also gave helpful advice for student journalists.This morning I wrote the first 150 words of that story up.I am also writing a story about the discrepancy between figures for journalists killed in 2007.I've contacted several organisations, but some are taking their time. On Monday, I will be reporting from the field (Milton Keynes).I am covering a strike at the Milton Keynes Citizen, and will have to use this "London Overground" service, which seems very new.NUJ Meeting :Increasing membership was one of the items on the agenda.One way to increase membership would be to go through all the journalism-related Facebook groups and message anyone in a UK network.Some (but nowhere near...
More About: Work , Experience

Strange Facebook Groups
2008-01-18 22:32:00
Five of my friends have joined the group:On May 15th 2008, everybody needs to go out and panic buy CARROTS.Basically, a few nights ago, when I was very very drunk, I came up with the idea that everybody should go out and panic buy a certain product on a specific day.I'm not quite sure what the reason behind this is is, other than the fact that a global shortage of carrots would be quite a laugh.So, what I'm asking everybody to do, is on the 15th May, 2008 go out and buy a load of carrots. IF EVERYBODY DOES THIS, WE CAN MAKE THIS GLOBAL SHORTAGE OF CARROTS HAPPEN!So far the group has over 18,000 members.How many people are needed to panic buy I have no idea.Assuming each person could carry two shopping bags/canvass bags full of carrots, it would take dozens to empty one supermarket.What will be done with the carrots?My aunt said that on the 16th they should be randomly (I hate that word) placed on different modes of public transport/at the cinema/in cafes etc, which I thought was p...
More About: Facebook , Strange , Groups

How the NUJ can recruit more students
2008-01-18 14:34:00
I've been doing work experience at the NUJ for almost a week now, and I've been considering why more students don't join the NUJ.£25 isn't much for the whole of your course, and if you wish to avoid a contempt of court or defamation action, the NUJ can give advice.1. Most student papers are now online. Find out the address for the letters page and write a letter telling students why they should join the NUJ.2. Type in "journalism" and the names of universities. Many journalism students have blogs and you'll be able to e-mail them through that. 3. NUJ students should be promoting the union.Why is there no NUJ Students 2007 or 2008 blog?Inviting NUJ officers to speak to media students and leaflet drives are two ideas.I should "put my money where my mouth is" and be more active in promotion myself.4. Some courses have Facebook groups, so join social networking sites and look for students there.5. E-mail tutors for media courses asking them to promote the NUJ. Most are former/curr...

Neil McIntosh on blogging for journalism students
2008-01-18 11:25:00
As part of my research for an article on Conrad Quilty-Harper, I e-mailed Jemima Kiss, a new media writer at the Guardian. She very kindly sent me a link to this article along with her answers, as I'd mentioned my blog in the e-mail (and of course linked to it).When I ask groups of student journalists who keeps a blog, only a few hands go up.I’ve no idea where the rest of them plan to work, but it’s hard to imagine a branch of journalism where some kind of understanding of new media isn’t going to help.And, even if there were such a branch, blogs are only the vehicle for enthusiasm - no journalism student could lose out from showing some, either generally or around a niche subject.Happily, our class was all encouraged to blog by our online tutor, David Dunkley Gyimah.I would be interested to hear from students on other journalism courses if they are encouaged to blog.More thoughts on the subject from journalism student and election correspondent for MTV Alex Parker
More About: Journalism , Students , Blogging , Neil

Rwanda still suffers from the horrors of 1994
2008-01-17 22:11:00
A BBC News report reveals that Rwanda still suffers from the ideology that inspired the 1994 genocide.Last month's parliamentary report said old books "distorting history" had been found in libraries.Some claimed, for instance, that Tutsis should not be considered Rwandan. Happily, 6000 teachers are being taught by the Education ministry how to stamp out "genocide ideology in Rwanda.The training, which comes on the back of a recent damning parliamentary report, was last month during the school holidays. Schools re-opened countrywide last week.The Kenyan Daily Nation has some harrowing reports:Some students are reported to have developed a habit of writing to each other anonymous genocide-fuelling letters. One of the letters presented as evidence said, “… ni inzoka, baraturambiye kandi tuzabica”, which is literally translated to mean “… they are snakes. We are fed up with them and we will kill them”.The report says that at the Institute Prespyterien de Kirinda, Karongi D...
More About: The Horrors , Wanda

Spending and misery
2008-01-17 16:13:00
Today the BBC have an article about how owning too much makes us miserable.It suggests that this is more prevalent among English-speaking nations.Perhaps that's a reason why some see the UK as lacking in culture.In the past, having a TV was seen as an indicator of wealth and class. Now, according to a study carried out by marketing and information group CACI, the average UK home has 4.7 television sets. A study by Lloyds TSB found that seven out of 10 children have a TV in their rooms and half of them have a DVD player too. Don't get me wrong, having a television is a good thing.You can keep up the the news, intelligent drama such as Life On Mars, or documentaries.Why would you need 4 televisions though?One in your bedroom and one in the lounge is surely enough.We've only got two televisions in our house, and to be honest the guinea pigs hog one of them and the gerbils dominate the other.If it was up to them, they'd be watching nature programs all day long, with a pile of vegeta...
More About: Spending

NUJ Extra
2008-01-17 14:19:00
The charity NUJ Extra helps full NUJ members who have fallen on hard times, as well as dependents and former members who have left journalism.It's got a new website, with gift aid forms on the site and an online donation form.A worthy cause if any visitor to this blog can spare some pounds.A similar organisation is the Journalists' Charity.

Cornmarket Street pedlars must be stamped out
2008-01-17 12:07:00
I do hope Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police do not lose heart when tacking illegal street peddlers.They will be put under seven-day surveillance to collect evidence.This will cost licenced traders: fees will be increased from £4,140 to £6,105.I haven't been back to Oxford for a few weeks, and it would be nice to have a hawker-free zone.Oxford is crowded enough on the weekends as it is. The concentration of the more popular and "everyday" shops down Cornmarket means that it's often a fight to get from one end to another.Illegal pedlars don't respect passers-by or the council. They dump their stalls in various parts of the pavement, creating a zig-zag line.An example of the mess they cause.Add in street artists and leaflet distributors, and it's mayhem, like an Oxford re-make of Blade Runner, with me as a grim-faced Rick Deckard picking off bargains as I weave past pedlar stalls from shop to shop.Crowds gather round these stalls, and as Oxford has a high percentage of...
More About: Street

Alicia Erian: Towelhead
2008-01-16 22:10:00
Alicia Erian's first novel,Towelhead, is a warped take on coming of age.It's told through the eyes of Jasira, an abused thirteen year old girl.Beaten by her father, raped by a neighbour and rejected by her mother, Jasira has a hard life.Yet she is also naive enough not to understand how sad her situation is.While this frees her from despair, it also prevents her from breaking free of her parents.By the end of the book, it is as if Jasira's life has looped.Jasira has no control over her body.She is banned from wearing tampons by her father, and banned from shaving her pubic hair by both parents.Even the loss of her virginity is exploitative.She is raped by a neighbour and then embarks on sex with her friend to "prove" she is not a racist.Still, Jasira provides hope. She never succumbs to the venality and self-centered nature of those that surrond her, and is always able to seek out a decent person when things get too much.Towelhead is well written and strangly reassuring, if only ...
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StrategyEye: Web 2.0 search engine
2008-01-16 15:14:00
Der Spiegel showcases BusinessWeek's report on StrategyEye, a search engine that scans blogs and social networks for market search companies.Anyone who is involved with a company can test the site for free for a fortnight.Sadly I therefore cannot test the site as I do not fit any of the categories in the search engine. This seems a drawback - won't media outlets have to commission a company worker to review it?However, it's obviously taken the market research world by storm.Developers MarketClusters have been named as a finalist for the CNET Networks UK Business Technology Awards 2007 as a result of StrategyEye.The site lists AOL, Benchmark Capital and Ask.com among its clients.It also lists BskyB and BBC- so no doubt journalists will be using it in two years' time.The site itself:This automated information is further enhanced with commentary from a dozen in-house StrategyEye analysts, who examine mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and partnership deals involving digital...
More About: Search , Search Engine , Engine

Bonn Square supporter arrested
2008-01-16 12:51:00
A student who tried to throw Gabriel Chamberlain a bottle of water was arrested by police and charged with littering on Sunday.Mr Leighton said: "The police need to be held accountable for their actions. I feel their actions were completely over the top and unnecessary. There was absolutely no need to arrest me."Even if I don't pursue legal action, I will still be reporting the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. I think the whole thing has been ridiculous."Police refused to comment:Chief Supt Brendan O'Dowda confirmed a man was arrested for littering in Bonn Square and was released without charge.He added: "I can't go into the whys and wherefores of the arrest itself."He said he was not aware of an official complaint to Thames Valley Police about the arrest, but said there was a robust process for dealing with complaints.Meanwhile Gabriel Chamberlain and two others have been bailed.
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Postal Grinch Steals Christmas
2007-12-16 14:48:00
Canada's National Post and CTVreport on someone sending obsence and sometimes hateful messages to children who wrote to Santa.One letter alleges that "Santa is bad, he hates kids and even hates David Beckham".Canada Post are keen to stress that "We firmly believe there is just one rogue elf out there."So many good things in the world have been destroyed by commerce and spite. Let's hope Canada Post catch this person so the letters can resume.
More About: Christmas , Postal , Steals

BookMooch
2007-12-16 13:32:00
Today the Observer's digest of the New York Times had an article on BookMooch.Joanne Kaufman reports on the creation of BookMooch by John Buckman.And what an appropriate name. Mr Buckman managed to sell Lyris Technology (which he co-founded) for $29.5 million.How BookMooch works:After joining (for free), you then create a list of books you wish to give away.Members are also notified by e-mail when a book is listed that is on their wish list.The more books you give away, the more points you receive.You can use these books to recieve books from others.A forum adds to the interactivity, enabling members to recomend their inventory to check other.The site also has links to Amazon, enabling members to buy from there if the book cannot be found.According to Mr Buckman, the site generates $30,000 for Amazon yearly.BookMoocn has arond 750,000 titles and is global.

Sorry for the lack of posts yesterday.
2007-12-15 09:14:00
Things have gone a little off.Hopefully my flurry of posting makes up for it.
More About: Yesterday , Posts , Lack , Sorry

Visions of 2000: Villemard: Utopie
2007-12-15 09:05:00
Here are some illustrations from 1910 of how life might be in 2000.They are currently in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which in English means the National Library of France.
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Enrique Marty's McCann Pictures
2007-12-15 08:46:00
Artist Enrique Marty has painted five pictures of Madeleine McCann and its showing them in Barcelona.The Sun are furious.
More About: Pictures , Mccann