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"The best weapon of a dictatorship is secrecy, but the best weapon of democracy is openness" -- Niels Bohr
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 Google Wants to Track Your Medical History -- And Your Genome
Jesse Reynolds via reed, Wednesday, Sep 19 2007, 11:51pm
In a recent review of 23 internet companies by a consumer watchdog group, Privacy International, Google was the only one to receive the lowest grade, reserved for those with "comprehensive consumer surveillance and entrenched hostility to privacy." (story and 1 image)
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other press
Reserve Banks only delay the INEVITABLE
peptide, Tuesday, Sep 18 2007, 12:51pm
The reward for misplaced faith in the faulty model of laissez-faire Capitalism is LOSS – that simple! Loss in the context of unregulated Capitalism includes everything considered of ‘value.’ It is over! The false value system that is destroying life on earth and is about to plunge the entire world into chaos is now beyond any one nation’s control or ‘managerial’ ability. In fact, to refer to today’s economic system as capitalism is erroneous – classic capitalism has d/evolved over the last few decades into ECONOMIC FEUDALISM; the resulting concentration of available wealth in the fewest possible hands is the root cause of system FAILURE! (story and 1 image)
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opinion/analysis
Failing banks, toxic bonds and mortgage laundering
Mike Whitney via rialator, Monday, Sep 17 2007, 8:03pm
“The entire global financial structure is becoming uncontrollable in crucial ways that its nominal leaders never expected, and instability is its hallmark. The scope and operation of international financial markets, their “architecture”, as establishment experts describe it, has evolved haphazardly and its regulation is inefficient — indeed, almost nonexistent. Banks do not understand the chain of exposure and who owns what: senior financial regulators and bankers now admit this.” Gabriel Kolko “An Economy of Buccaneers and Fantacists” (story and 1 comment and 1 image)
Last Commented Tuesday, Sep 18 2007, 10:46am
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Police: the APEC disgrace
finch, Monday, Sep 17 2007, 1:27pm
The ONE OUTSTANDING FEATURE of APEC was without doubt the massive and unprecedented police presence. Authorities attempted to compensate for their demonstrable LACK of policing skills by a massive (historically unwarranted) deployment of police numbers. It was hoped the sheer weight of numbers (visual presence/scarecrow principle) would carry the day! However, as was clearly demonstrated by the Chasers, SECURITY was left WANTING! Five thousand (incompetent) police do not constitute a secure environment in Australia! [Take note useless bureaucrats!] (story and 2 images)
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 The Pig grunts: songs of war and avarice
peptide, Sunday, Sep 16 2007, 4:20pm
Not a lot has changed, has it? The excuse for launching the Crusades was to protect the ‘Holy Land’ from the heathen, the truth, however, was pillage and destruction of the Eastern Orthodox church, which rivalled Rome in influence and affluence. The Byzantine Empire was rich in gold but lacking in political cunning – and so it was crushed and plundered much to the joy of the Pope and the Catholic hierarchy of the time.
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Greenspan admits Iraq was about oil, as deaths put at 1.2m
Peter Beaumont and Joanna Walters via rialator, Saturday, Sep 15 2007, 9:54pm
The man once regarded as the world's most powerful banker has bluntly declared that the Iraq war was 'largely' about oil. Appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1987 and retired last year after serving four presidents, Alan Greenspan has been the leading Republican economist for a generation and his utterings instantly moved world markets. (story and 2 comments and 2 images)
Last Commented Saturday, Sep 15 2007, 11:08pm
international /
imperialism /
other press
Washington ‘die-in’ Protest
nano, Saturday, Sep 15 2007, 12:16pm
WASHINGTON Sept 15 -- Thousands of American citizens demonstrated in opposition to the criminal war in Iraq and to assaults on the Constitution and Bill of Rights by marching along Pennsylvania Avenue and staging a ‘die-in’ on the lawn of the Capitol. Approximately 200 protesters were arrested for various ‘offences;’ however, the 25,000 protesters made their point that the most heinous OFFENCE is the murder of one million innocent civilians in Iraq! (story and 1 comment and 1 image)
Last Commented Saturday, Sep 15 2007, 9:20pm
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commentary
The New Evil Empire: Google displaces Microsoft
Kismo, Friday, Sep 14 2007, 1:55pm
In today’s digital world of networking and information access, corporate interests that are able to control and manage the flow of information place themselves in immensely powerful positions – far more powerful than any State, government or traditional Corporation. Since its introduction – only two decades ago – the Internet has become an indispensable feature of our lives. In fact, if the plug was pulled on the net the world as we know it would come to a standstill, such is the importance of the flow of information today. (story and 3 comments and 1 image)
Last Commented Monday, Sep 17 2007, 1:57pm
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imperialism /
opinion/analysis
The Distinguishing Ability
finch, Thursday, Sep 13 2007, 11:35pm
We have been (erroneously) taught by science that the ability to use tools defines humans as distinct from the beasts of the field – a typically conservative scientific view! However, in its arrogance science has failed to do its research, it is now known that some birds and lower primates utilise objects as tools. Confined by its self-imposed empirical prison science has failed to see the ‘nose on its human face.’ What actually distinguishes man from the beasts (and blockhead empiricists) is ART! YES, the intuitive response and the impulse to create define the human species. (story and 1 comment and 3 images)
Last Commented Sunday, Sep 16 2007, 12:40pm
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Why tolerate a Farce?
major mitchell, Thursday, Sep 13 2007, 12:52pm
It is no secret that Bush stopped over in Iraq on his way to the APEC summit in Australia to ENSURE that Gen. David Petraeus supplied a positive report to Congress. I do not wish to draw too much attention to the fact that this administration leapt into Iraq without a proper plan or an understanding of the consequences. Statements to the effect that the Iraqi people would welcome foreign invaders with open arms or invaders would be welcomed with “bouquets of flowers” typify the insanity and dissociation of the Bush regime. It is little wonder that the then Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld, briefed the President that the war had been won in three weeks, “mission accomplished,” when in fact it hadn’t even begun! Nonetheless, in clear view of past monumental failures, today we are expected to disregard the greatest political folly/debacle of the century and take Bush and Patraeus at their shabby word – well, tell it to your grandmother because no one believes it any more! (story and 2 images)
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Oz wakes up to John Howard
peptide, Wednesday, Sep 12 2007, 4:06pm
The Oz conservative leader emerged from a challenge to his leadership today with a ‘brilliantly’ thought out plan – someone obviously doesn't have his best interests at heart! It reduces to something like this; vote for me and you also vote for the usurper Treasurer Costello, but if you don’t like him then you’re really voting for a team led by two leaders who hate each others guts. It concludes with another juicy illogic; vote for me and you vote for uncertainty, as my party will force me to retire immediately after the election – BLOODY BRILLIANT! (story and 1 comment and 3 images)
Last Commented Thursday, Sep 13 2007, 11:03am
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Living and Dying cultural icons of Our Time
budgie, Tuesday, Sep 11 2007, 2:26pm
A story by ninemsn staff reporters of a visit to Oz of fading porn ‘star,’ Jenna Jameson -- no she’s not here to cop a battering from every stray 'sav' in town; she’s buying a bloody dress in Perth. Jameson, a bovine-breasted ‘blonde’ fuck-bucket, has probably seen more dicks than most women dream of in their wildest fantasies. But bovine blondes do nothing for me – my preferences lean more toward exotic Asian dolls – which allows me ample distance for a hopefully unbiased treatment of this odd ‘news piece!’
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It’s 9/11 – it’s SLOGAN Time: leave your minds at the door!
abacus, Monday, Sep 10 2007, 8:58pm
Americans love a slogan and what better slogan to typify our times than Rumsfeld’s, now infamous “shock and awe!” Please note we do not attribute authorship of that slogan to him; the lunacies that issued from his mouth were many and varied. However, on the anniversary of 9/11 we are all reminded of the power of slogans and the events associated with them! (story and 1 image)
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Hard Reality
nano, Monday, Sep 10 2007, 1:57pm
As America continues to sink deeper and deeper into a military and economic quagmire of its own making (who needs enemies?) Most Americans continue to prefer denial to the incriminating reality of one million dead civilians (John Hopkins study) and a failed intervention in Iraq. However, reality poses no problems for winners, the competition is purring along as America, paralysed by its own fear and timidity, continues to pursue incompetent government and the consequences that pursuit entails.
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opinion/analysis
“Bonsai” Howard vows to lead his party to annihilation!
yarra, Monday, Sep 10 2007, 11:34am
I am informed that savvy Americans have labelled our little Aussie war criminal, “Bonsai!” How perfectly appropriate; like all rodent species John Howard is incapable of understanding anything beyond personal survival, to hell with consequences for the party I will/must survive, squeal, squeal! (story and 1 image)
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The Great Divide: not an Oz geographic feature!
Kwang zi, Sunday, Sep 9 2007, 12:57pm
Most Australians are familiar with the Great Dividing Range, erroneously referred to as the mountains, which run north-south along the East Coast. As of this week Australia has become a divided, authoritarian police state, with no discernible checks or balances whatsoever. Legislators simply pen new laws as required by conservative governments and authoritarian Premiers and centuries of democratic freedoms are lost! The tight ideological relationship between conservative Prime Ministers (John Howard) and State Premiers (Morris ‘il Duce’ Iemma) is now plain to see as is the slow death of traditional Australia and its unique character and culture. (story and 2 images)
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APEC Chess, your move!
Captain, Saturday, Sep 8 2007, 4:40pm
As is usual in political summits it is that which remains unsaid that delivers the ‘loudest’ message. The absurdity of it all is verified by the FACT that we live in absurd times! Ignoring the usual dull business deals of uranium, gas, various other resource sales and especially the ridiculous pretence of ecological concern sold to the public as “aspirational” pollution reduction goals (bunk) we couldn’t help but notice, with some mirth, new ‘temperate’ war strategies occurring among the superpowers. (story and 1 comment and 2 images)
Last Commented Sunday, Sep 9 2007, 12:10am
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APEC: Sydney’s message to the World, “STOP BUSH!”
Kingfisher, Friday, Sep 7 2007, 1:38pm
Sydney has sent a clear and hopeful message to the world during the APEC summit. Today, amid unprecedented police presence (oppression) and draconian tactics, usually characteristic of dictatorships, the people of AUSTRALIA demonstrated in steel-fenced Sydney and made known their sentiments regarding war crimes and terrorist States. The peaceful “STOP BUSH” march in Sydney has shamed the police state tactics of John Howard’s conservatives and Premier Iemma’s fascist ‘blue shirts.‘ (story and 2 images)
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When is a journalist a joke?
dingo, Friday, Sep 7 2007, 12:56am
An exclusive interview conducted by national security correspondent to the (Oz) ABC, Ms Leigh Sales with US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice was without doubt the most wasted journalistic opportunity I have ever witnessed. Rice was allowed to literally get away with MURDER! Sales seems to have forgotten it is a journalist’s job to DIG for the TRUTH, not allow an opportunity to slip through her very wet fingers. (story and 2 images)
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mass media /
opinion/analysis
Only in Australia: APEC ‘security’ easily breached
barra, Thursday, Sep 6 2007, 12:57pm
Following the embarrassing oversight of NOT securing the foyer of the InterContinental Hotel during Bush’s arrival – two unauthorised civilians were found to be in immediate proximity to Bush as he entered the Hotel – came the very bold, extremely brazen, larrikin demonstration of how easily two hundred million dollar security arrangements could be breached. (story and 3 images)
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