Aidan MaconachyAidan MaconachyA non-partisan blog that discusses a wide variety of topics. These include politics, religion, secular issues, culture, news stories. The blog also features a regular cartoon strip . Articles
Jo Garcia: Cyber Girl of the Year isn't faking it
2008-05-18 04:33:00 Jo Garcia is Playboy magazine's "Cyber Girl of the Year ."It's hard not to be skeptical. Hot models who are game-challenged are often used to promote product, and Jo Garcia at first glance seems to be yet another pretty face.Turns out Garcia actually is a bona fide player. She owns a Nintendo DS and a PSP. Some of her favorite games include Xenosaga and Radiata Stories.She complains about the geek myth - the popular misconception that gamers are nerdy types who wear glasses. She's also down on gender bias and thinks women are in fact more discriminating consumers when it comes to games - not as easily sucked in by flashy promotions: " ... if a woman wants to play video games, she's going to buy it regardless of the ads."Garcia clearly wants to straighten out a few stereotypes when it comes to the gaming world. So what about the Playboy stereotype - isn't she just another hot bod in Hef's stable of lookers?Maybe the reason there are misconceptions out there about female players ...
George Bush: God talks to me
2008-05-16 17:18:00 A BBC series that will go to air later this month, includes mention of a meeting Bush had with Palestinian leaders in 2003. It was during this meeting that Bush divulged his "special" relationship with the man upstairs.In the BBC program - Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs - due to be aired this month, Palestinian foreign minister, Nabil Shaath, says he and Mahmoud Abbas were treated by Bush to the following revelation:"I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, 'George , go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan.' And I did, and then God would tell me, 'George go and end the tyranny in Iraq,' and I did."The hymn "In the Garden" that includes the lyrics "he walks with me and he talks with me" has nothing on the President's relationship with the great hypothetical. To hear Bush tell it you would think he had God on speed-dial.Bush's ill-conceived "War on Terror," launched on the back of 9/11 and a pack of lies, features an enemy that has been largely concocted... More About: George Bush
Gabriele Paolini: condom prophet jailed for offending Christianity
2008-05-16 17:10:00 Didn't Jesus tell his followers that if someone strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek for more of the same? Well apparently this lesson has been lost on Italian authorities - a country where you can be jailed for insulting the representative of Jesus Christ on earth - an offense otherwise known as insulting state religion.Gabriele Paolini, the man known as the "prophylactic prophet" and the "television polluter" has been sentenced to five months in jail for calling the late Pope John Paul ll gay.Paolini, also known as the "condom prophet," began his career as a subverter of television after a close friend died of Aids. His one-man protest, set out to up-stage television shows in order to promote safe sex and the use of condoms.He followed the reporters and would show up on TV screens around the nation wearing a chain of condoms around his neck - often making faces and gesticulating behind some journalist in the middle of a news report. His campaign was so successful that h... More About: Christianity , Prophet , Condom
Vatican: life on other planets a possibility
2008-05-15 04:07:00 Rev Jose Gabriel Funes, head of the Vatican Observatory and a scientific adviser to the Pope believes there is a strong possibility that life exists on other planets.The life forms Funes has in mind doesn't exclude humanoid types, even a race more advanced than humanity."Just as there is a multiplicity of creatures on earth, there can be other beings, even intelligent, created by God. This is not in contrast with our faith because we can't put limits on God's creative freedom."Funes sees no contradiction in belief in the existence of such beings and faith in his God. He even speculates that a good name for them might be "brother extraterrestial". No mention if they might regard such a label as sexist.It's unlikely that any alien civilization could possibly outdo the Vatican when it comes to out-and-out weirdness. The present eccentric residing on the throne of St Peter is low key compared to some of the acts that preceded him - take a glance at this list of former Popes."Sightin... More About: Life , Planets , Possibility
No cameras!
2008-05-15 03:13:00 Tags: Vatican, aliens, Pope Benedict, Vatican astronomer More About: Cameras
Albert Einstein: 'belief in God childish'
2008-05-14 06:47:00 There has been a lot of debate over the decades about Albert Einstein 's views on religion. Those who hoped to claim Einstein for the God team sometimes made reference to his quotation: "science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." On the whole however, the great man remained fairly cryptic about where he stood on religious matters - until now that is.An Einstein letter that had been in a private collection for 50 years has gone up for auction in London. The letter leaves no doubt where Einstein stood on matters of a higher power and the status of the Jews as God's "chosen people."He wrote the letter on January 3 1954. It was addressed to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, who had sent Einstein a copy of his book - "Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt."In speaking of God, Einstein was surprisingly direct:"The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legend... More About: Belief
Stephen Harper goes too far with his pro-Israel stance
2008-05-12 22:56:00 In a recent speech to mark the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel , Canadian PM Stephen Harper suggested that hatred for the state of Israel is tantamount to hatred for the Jewish people:"Unfortunately, Israel at 60 remains a country under threat - threatened by those groups and regimes who deny to this day its right to exist ... And why? Make no mistake, look beyond the thinly veiled rationalizations: Because they hate Israel, just as they hate the Jewish people."To characterize Israel as a "Jewish state" without any qualification, raises questions about Harper's Zionist sympathies and evangelical affiliations. Israel is not in fact an exclusively "Jewish state", unless you consider non-Jewish Israelis to be widgets rather than citizens. The Jewish population of Israel is around the 76% mark. There are also 16.3% Muslim Israelis, 2.1% Christian, 1.7% Druze.Furthermore, when speaking of Israeli Jews, it is important to note that not all of the 76% represent religious or even Z...
Saturday Night Live: Bob Herbert article: worth repeating
2008-05-12 03:16:00 Saturday Night Live said what a lot of people have been thinking - that Hillary Clinton is dividing America along racial lines with her ill advised comments. Behind the satire of the Amy Poehler skit there is more than a grain of truth.In an interview with USA Today, Clinton said:" ... Sen. Obama's support among hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again ... whites in both states (Indiana and N.Carolina) who had not completed college were supporting me."Clinton supporter Rep Charles Rangel described it as "the dumbest thing she could have said."On SNL Amy Poehler did a good Clinton impersonation. In giving reasons why she would make the better president, Poehler's Clinton said "I am a sore loser ... I would probably refuse to campaign for him." Another reason ... "my supporters are racist."Check out the video clip at this link.A Bob Herbert article in the New York Times - "Seeds of Destruction" - is a must read.Herbert quotes Clinton's 'white American' comment... More About: Saturday Night Live , Article
John Hagee: an endorsement America doesn't need
2008-05-10 02:26:00 When it comes to media bias there is no better example than the laser beam of attention that has been focused on Barack Obama's relationship with the Rev Jeremiah Wright. Despite Obama's public rejection of statements made by Wright, some media outlets continue to try and smear him by association.How can you make a church member an "accessory" to a pastor's rhetoric? It's a ridiculous concept. In fact, many church goers sit in pews on a Sunday and find themselves in disagreement with the statements made from the pulpit. Pastors aren't elected officials, they are free to state their opinions, and congregants are free to agree or disagree as the case may be. Sitting in the pews or having children baptized in the church certainly doesn't make congregants partisans when it comes to every word that comes out of a pastor's mouth.Outspoken though the Rev Wright may be, he isn't close to being as objectionable as the Rev John Hagee, the televangelist who endorsed John Mccain.Hagee i... More About: America , Endorsement
Me bad
2008-05-10 02:20:00 Tags: Jeremiah Wright, John Hagee, John McCain" title="Atom feed">Site Feed
Me bad
2008-05-10 01:56:00 Tags: John Hagee, Jeremiah Wright, John McCain" title="Atom feed">Site Feed
Josef Fritzl: a need to confess
2008-05-09 21:15:00 Josef Fritzl, the Austrian man accused of imprisoning and raping his daughter, has made a frank confession to Austrian prosecutors. He asked for the confession to be released to the media.Fritzl is upset. He thinks the media portrayal of him as a monster is one-sided. He claims he was driven to incarcerate his daughter for 24 years in the basement of his house because of "an addiction". The same addiction presumably that took him to Thailand for sex vacations.Not only did his daughter Elizabeth become his entombed sex slave, she became the mother of his kids, seven in all - a grand total of fourteen when you include the children he had with his wife, Rosemarie. Fritzl's patriarchal control over the women in his family, and his need to "beget" many children had something perversely Biblical about it. He even referred to the basement as "my kingdom."His wife Rosemarie went along with Fritzl's story that Elisabeth had run off to join a cult. She bought every tall tale he dreamed up, ...
Hillary Clinton: a woman of many parts
2008-05-08 08:02:00 Hillary Clinton missed her real vocation - acting. She's a natural.In the early going we were treated to the patrician-in-waiting. She looked almost like American royalty putting in time before her coronation. She said everything short of "I am the Democratic nominee - period."The condescending, even elitist side of Hillary came through as her campaign kicked into gear. We were told that Obama lacked experience, that his judgment and patriotism were suspect. There even doubts cast about his personal integrity.To Clinton's growing alarm, the upstart who had the temerity to go toe-to-toe with her began to steal the ground from under her feet. You could see on TV how badly she was stung. Her pride was wounded.When Obama dropped the "bitter" comments about white working class voters who "cling to guns or religion", Hillary seized the opportunity. Annie Oakley kicked in. With her back to the wall, Hillary grabbed the nearest flag and became the pumped up patriot. The toney senator morp... More About: Hillary Clinton , Woman , Parts , Hillary
Hillary Clinton Question
2008-05-08 07:41:00 Tags: Hillary Clinton , Democratic race" title="Atom feed">Site Feed More About: Question
Benoite Rencurel: Church says 17th century Virgin Mary sighting now approve
2008-05-07 04:19:00 Given the current pope's medieval fetish, it's hardly surprising that Marian apparitions and other "supernatural" visions are back in vogue with a growing percentage of the faithful. With Benedict's reactionary streak, crowds of chanting penitents flagellating themselves in St Peter's Square doesn't seem beyond the realm of possibility.In an effort to defeat his enemy secularism with its dread "moral relativism", Benedict appears to be prepared to let a type of spiritual relativism slip in the back door of the Church - a populist relativism derived from myths, superstitions and tall tales. The bones of the saints, bleeding Christs, weeping Virgin Mary s and other phenomena draw millions of pilgrims and generate publicity and cash. It's a way of impressing the impressionable, and on a less obvious, yet no less pernicious level, extending the influence of the Vatican.Recently we learned that the Church has decided to give its stamp of recognition to the visions of a 17 year old s... More About: Century , Virgin Mary
French Muslims: facing an uphill battle
2008-05-06 04:06:00 The Muslim community in France faces an uphill battle for recognition. Much like early Irish immigrants to America who were regarded as a faceless aggregate - "the Irish" - immigrants of Islamic background in France have suffered similar generic branding, in their case religion being the handy catch-all label - "the Muslims ".Contrary to popular perception only 10% of French Muslims actively practice their religion in the form of regular attendance at mosque. Muslim youth labeled as junior jihadists by some right wing pundits during the urban rioting, were acting out for reasons that had nothing to do with religion. Kamel Kabtane, head of the Great Mosque in Lyon, is unambiguous on that point: "The unrest in the suburbs has absolutely nothing to do with faith." Kabtane puts it down to ethnic and religious discrimination, social exclusion and high unemployment.The relegation of French Muslims to the fringes of French society makes the cry "liberte, egalite, fraternite" little more tha... More About: Battle , Facing
We don't want to be accused of discrimination
2008-05-06 04:01:00 Tags: French Muslims, employment, discrimination" title="Atom feed">Site Feed More About: Discrimination
Mayor Boris Johnson: a Tory liability?
2008-05-04 11:05:00 Not every UK Conservative is equally chuffed that Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson has been elected Mayor of London. Tory leader, David Cameron, is known to have reservations, particularly given Johnson's long track record of clownish behavior. Cameron's views of Johnson includes the characterization - an "amusing liability."The election of Johnson as Mayor was greeted rather ironically by a number of fellow Tories. One referred to him as the "accidental Mayor." When the election result was announced Johnson himself gave the impression that an accident had occurred. Apparently he wasn't expecting to win, and when reality dawned he looked shell shocked, or as one onlooker put it - "more like the loser."Eccentricity runs in the family apparently. When Johnson's father Stanley got news of the win he said that since Boris was good at Greek and Latin, he would certainly be able to run London. Daddy didn't elaborate on the esoteric connection between knowledge of classical languag...
Boris Johnson gets serious
2008-05-04 11:01:00 Tags: Boris Johnson , London, Mayor" title="Atom feed">Site Feed
Gordon Brown: dead man walking
2008-05-03 06:26:00 If New Labour in the UK doesn't want to exit into the twilight zone when voters next go to the polls, they should find any excuse possible to bump off Gordon Brown . Foreign affairs minister Miliband would at least put a new face on a party that desperately needs a face-lift and a revved up engine.Gordon Brown I'm sure is a decent human being, but unfortunately his image in the media gives the impression of someone washed up on a desert island. He looks like a beached whale. Setback after setback - the basso voice-from-the-basement rumbles on assuring Brits that he's on top of a situation that appears to require a flotation device. He is a human version of the Titanic, slowly going under, bubbles rising, while his colleagues pretend not to notice. Offering assurances to "listen and lead" won't turnaround negative perceptions of Brown as a bumbler and own-goal specialist.Part of his problem is as basic as personality. He has difficulty connecting, let alone inspiring. Tony Blair... More About: Dead Man , Walking , Dead
Gordon Brown goes to the doctor
2008-05-03 06:20:00 Tags: Gordon Brown , New Labour" title="Atom feed">Site Feed More About: Gordon Brown , Doctor
May Day mayhem in Hamburg, Germany
2008-05-02 19:59:00 On May Day vicious street battles broke between neo-Nazis and anti-fascist leftists in Hamburg . It was estimated that 1,100 right wing extremists faced off against some 7,000 leftist demonstrators, ready and willing to challenge the "ownership" of the streets of Hamburg by neo-Nazis. According to UK Indymedia it was the most intense May Day fighting seen for some 30 years.The event that led to the fighting, was a march by neo-Nazis through Hamburg to protest the newly elected city parliament - referred to by some on the right as a "gay government" - a reference to the election of an openly homosexual mayor. The demonstration featured a speech by Jurgen Rieger, a neo-Nazi attorney and the head of the extremist National Democratic Party (NDP).Prior to the demonstration, neo-Nazi thugs seized control of two cars on a commuter train, and used the loudspeaker to broadcast xenophobic messages. One of the messages issued the "order" that "Starting today, the German National Railway will tr... More About: Germany , Mayhem
Haifa Wehbe: performs in Bahrain despite a ban
2008-05-02 00:51:00 The Bahrain parliament is conservative, even by Gulf standards. The MP's have a track record of targeting entertainment they consider too liberal. Female Lebanese singers in particular have come in for close attention.Much to the annoyance of Bahrainis who like to have fun, the parliament decided to ban an upcoming Haifa Wehbe show. They claim that Wehbe's performance would be too sexually provocative and would violate Islamic conventions.It seems a little hypocritical to discriminate against Haifa Wehbe in this way. Tourists in Bahrain can go to night clubs and hotels to watch belly dancers. The belly dance, known as Raks al Sharki, has plenty of sex appeal - so much so it is even banned in countries with strict Islamic laws.The concert ban went ahead despite assurances by Tariq Al Bahhar, a media spokesperson for Ms Wehbe. He made it clear that the show wouldn't breach any of Bahrain's laws. He also said that the performer would "cover up" with the assistance of jeans and a sw...
Bill Clinton: making a killing in Canada
2008-05-01 21:23:00 Bill Clinton has paid numerous visits to Canada over the past few years.Not so long ago when there were complaints that his intrusive presence and off-the-cuff remarks were hindering rather than helping his wife's re-election chances, where does the former pres show up? Canada. I opened the Toronto Star and there was the gray mane - the distinctive jaw working overtime - as Bill C put in yet more Canadian quality time.Does he have a deep and abiding affection for Canada that he's never fully confessed? Is there a woman up here who he sees on the side? Does he find the air more bracing? Whatever it is, it keeps him coming back for more ... and more.Turns out it's more about cash than love - although love also plays into it. Love and narcissism are co-dependent in the Clinton universe, and a lot of Canadians dig Bill in the way Bill digs being dug.Clinton doesn't talk cheap. During an 18 month period, he made $2.8 million from speaking appearances in Canada. He collected close to ... More About: Bill Clinton , Bill , Killing
Ronaldo: transvestites embarrass Brazil legend
More articles from this author:2008-04-30 09:50:00 Brazilian football god Ronaldo got himself into a sticky situation on Monday night.After dropping his girlfriend off at her place in Rio, the striker figured the night was still young. He picked up three sex workers, charging $300 each, and they booked into a nearby motel.Ronaldo claimed he was shocked to discover that the "females" were in fact transvestites.Local press reports, quote one of the transvestites, Andreia Albertine, as saying that Ronaldo turned aggressive and threatened violence. Albertine also claimed he was on drugs.According to reports filed by the Rio police, Ronaldo alleged that the transvestites tried to rip him off. He accused Andreia Albertine of taking his automobile documents and demanding $30,000 - a request Ronaldo refused to comply with.Albertine and her associates took off with Ronaldo's documents. Outside one was heard yelling - "the Phenomenon doesn't want to pay".When Ronaldo made his exit from the motel Albertine videotaped him with her mobile phon... More About: Brazil , Legend 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
 |
|
 |
