May 2005

Obviously Schapelle Corby has a fight on her hands.

So too, I might add, has the Australian government because people are legitimately saying why are we giving a billion dollars in tsunami aid, and why have 9 of our helicopter pilots giving their lives for a country which so transparently cares little about the humanity of individuals.

- Alan Belford Jones, Today Show, Channel Nine, 30.5.05

C-Span has the full 45 minute testimony by George Galloway to the US Senate Committee online now. But it's worth revisiting the UK election night. First, the declaration of the poll in Bethnall Green and Bow and Galloway's victory speech, in which he goes on to tip the bucket on the competence of the electorate returning officer.

What a week for the Brits! If it wasn't enough for that rude George Galloway being so impolite to those nice gentlemen from the US senate, we had British troops defiling Iraqi soil by miming a video of a catchy but best-forgotten 1971 hit single.

I've moved. I'm back. I'm online again. More about the reasons why later.

The world is different.

I'll be offline for short period while I am moving house. During that time this site won't be updated by me, although all the dynamically-generated content will carry on regardless. See you hopefully no later than the 19th!

The United Nations' Department of Public Information has released its second annual list of Ten Stories The World Needs To Know. These should be compulsory topics for media coverage and national debate... and asking the question What Are We Going To Do About Them?

The ten stories for 2005 are:

Dave Podmore: Think bigger, Schoey. Sue 12 counties
(Christopher Douglas and Andrew Nickolds/The Guardian, 30.4.05)

Dave Podmore on the successful unfair dismissal suit against Lancashire by former England two-Test wonder Chris Schofield.

I was prepared to give Channel 9 in Sydney the TV cockup of the year award for showing a pre-recording of Saturday's lotto draw in place of Monday's live lotto draw by mistake a few weeks ago, but I can't help thinking Channel 4 in the UK has gone one-up on them.

On Thursday night, Channel 4 showed a Green Party election broadcast. The subtitles, however, were of the election broadcast for the rather right-wing UK Independent Party.

Friday's Guardian picks up the story.