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Welcome To The Game

2009-01-08T15:02:39+00:00

Of all the cities that you could choose to go mad in, Berlin would probably not be the best. Not that Michael had much choice. It just kind of happened. Sure, it could have been worse - he could have been in the middle of the desert, a superpub in Brighton or a Vegas tittybar. But Berlin, given it's somewhat haunted nature, does provide a rarified backdrop for a psychotic episode.

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The Police State Hacks Into All Of Your Remaining Privacy

2009-01-05T04:27:56+00:00

"Police have been given the power to hack into personal computers without a court warrant. The Home Office is facing anger and the threat of a legal challenge after granting permission. Ministers are also drawing up plans to allow police across the EU to collect information from computers in Britain."

Yet another story about the encroaching police state in the UK from the Independent

The A to Z of Blather

2008-12-02T20:19:26+00:00

Hi there! I prepared this for our About Blather page (where this poem can now be found), and there's no reason why you impassioned Zeitgeist readers can't read it too. Enjoy. Use it to browse the site, even.

The A to Z of Blather

A is for Abroad, a photographer's log,

B is for Blather, our premier blog.

C is for the Club of dev'lish Hellfire.

D is for 'Diggin' in the Dirt', a quagmire.

E is for E. Howard Hunt's death palaver,

F is for Flann, an inspiration for Blather.

G is for Globaleyes, rant of the hour,

H is for Hau-en-ted Dublin, macabre.

I is for 'I, Patrick' an' all dat,

J is for Jasper the time trav'lin' cat.

K is for Khan and his nuclear deal,

L is a Load of Blather, for sale.

M is for Music, for listenin' and buyin',

N is for North, blog hyperborean.

O is for Orang Pendek, that rogue,

P is for Plame, whose cover was blown.

Q is for Q-shaped light in the sky?

R's for Return: the Pyramid won't die!

S is for Shitegeist, our arrogant side,

T is for Tombs, from megalithic times.

U is for UFOs, which we never see,

V is for Vampires, who have emailed me.

W is for 'Waking the Dead', done with tact,

X is for Planet X (dwarf planet in fact).

Y is for Yetis, by which we're not vexed,

Z is the Zeitgeist, with which we are meshed.

The Audacity of Despair

2008-12-01T05:14:10+00:00

(Picture: Daytona Beach News-Journal, reproduced at pierretristam.com).

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time" - Barack Obama.

'U.S. policy is not about one individual, and no matter how much faith people place in President-elect Barack Obama, the policies he enacts will be fruit of a tree with many roots...the best immediate indicator of what an Obama administration might look like can be found in the people he surrounds himself with and who he appoints to his Cabinet. And, frankly, when it comes to foreign policy, it is not looking good. Obama has a momentous opportunity to do what he repeatedly promised over the course of his campaign: bring actual change. But the more we learn about who Obama is considering for top positions in his administration...' - Jeremy Scahill.

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Statistic Time Again

2008-12-01T03:13:39+00:00

About once a year, I almost gaze down from my Arctic tower to the (alleged) world below, but then I realize I don't need to do this, because my loyal servants are able to fax me statistics upon which I can pontificate (if, that is, I feel like pontificating). This year, I'll fill you in on gross national income, press freedom and higher education, three subjects you are no doubt fascinated by.

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Mashed in Plastic: the David Lynch tribute album

2008-11-27T19:11:59+00:00

We're loving this. You should too.

From mashed in plastic:

'Angelo Badalamenti: "The Pink Room" (from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me)
AC/DC: "The Jack"
Dead Can Dance: "Dawn of the Iconoclast"

'The full despair behind the story of Laura Palmer is revealed in this track: hopelessness, perverted sexual desire and heart-dropping abuse, the loss of sanity that accompanies a loss of soul. By taking a raunchy rock tune and showing up its sexually negligent side, a new (and still more vertiginous) twist is given to a dark tale. The light menace of the instrumental track is turned all the more grim . . . and the result is one of the most emotionally disturbing portraits in sound you've ever heard. '

Download full album here

Reverbiage - Best Widget Ever?

2008-11-27T13:39:21+00:00

This is how podcasting should work.

Grant Morrison Kills Batman

2008-11-26T17:40:22+00:00

Oft-proclaimed 'bad-boy of the comic world' and all-round genius Grant Morrison (he of The Invisibles' fame) has outdone himself this time - by killing off none other than Bruce Wayne. From the Guardian:

"This is the end of Bruce Wayne as Batman," Morrison told Comic Book Resources (CBR). "But like I say, it's so much better than death. People have killed characters in the past but to me, that kind of ends the story. I like to keep the story twisting and turning. So what I am doing is a fate worse than death. Things that no one would expect to happen to these guys at all."

Whoa. Like, holy dead franchise dude.

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

What remains to be seen is if Christopher Nolan will follow Morrison's lead (Batman Begins and Dark Knight were heavily influenced by Morrison's vision of Batman, whatever people said about Frank Miller) and end his movie trilogy with the spandex-clad one snuffing it on the big screen.

We'll wait and see.

We Celebrated No Music Day

2008-11-25T00:29:03+00:00

Yes, No Music Day came around on 21 November (this past weekend) and we put on an event to honour it. The brainchild of KLF/K-Foundation musician/artist Bill Drummond, ours was one of a number of No Music events worldwide, as listed on the17.org and penkilnburn.com, the main event being in Brazil this year.

What's No Music Day?

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Visit Ancient Rome - in Google Earth

2008-11-21T16:51:16+00:00

Quite simply one of the most wonderful things I've ever seen:

Find out how to view it.

Free album download: Repi Multimedia 'Fishing with Dynamite'

2008-11-18T20:42:59+00:00

Here's a free album from what seems to be the ultimate cult band, Repi Multimedia, from Albania. I love the song 'Repi Multimedia vs. Oum Kalsoum', especially from 1 minute into the track. They have the strangest biography on Last FM I've ever read:

"Repi Multimedia formed in 2006 in an upstairs rehearsal room on George W. Bush Street (formerly Barrikada Street) in Tirana, the capital of Albania. The group consists of ex-members of Tirana-based electronic punk band Rexhep Versus Meidani Versus Rexhep (who have been described as 'Atari Teenage Riot on herbal tea') and the Shkodra-based Albanian folk music collective Gjirocasta Cyclops. This musical clash is made obvious when you hear this unprecedented and original blend of traditional tunes from Albania, Egypt and elsewhere with hard and unpredictable breakbeats: the danciest music ever!

"The three members of Repi Multimedia are Sali Troja, credited with 'electric chiftelia and 5 other instruments' (although it is unclear whether he really plays these instruments, seeing as so much of their music is made up of ultra-modern remixes of folk artists), Petrika Berisha, sampler and sequencer (but is credited on the album as 'stereo left channel'), and Petrika's sister Roza, sampler and sequencer (but is credited on the album as 'stereo right channel').

"They run their own club night in Tirana called Oum Oum Oum Oum Oum and granted the media only one interview, when they appeared on Tirana's TAR FM radio station in January 2008, to promote their album 'Fishing with Dynamite'. In this interview, Sali and Petrika did not speak at all, and Roza, instead of answering questions, merely proclaimed 'Magnets have souls and everything is made of water' five times. That's according to the Albanian newspapers - maybe someone out there has a recording of the interview?"

Download for free at Last FM.

Media blackout: the story Canadians won't discuss

2008-11-16T23:57:22+00:00

'In a direct attack on freedom of expression, Canwest [the largest media corporation in Canada] has launched an unprecedented civil lawsuit against local activists. They are being sued for "conspiring" to produce and distribute a four-page parody of the Vancouver Sun' - the parody in question satirised Canwest's biased coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The media corporation is suing those who dare to parody or satirise them, claiming 'commercial violation of trademark'. And on top of that, the rest of the Canadian media won't report on the story. Surely it's a free speech issue that everyone should be discussing?

Full story: Seriously Free Speech - Canwest: Media Bully

Musical mavericks

2008-11-14T18:38:13+00:00

"...the British music industry has never, ever created anything, ever, in its history. It has never innovated anything. It's done plenty of good things - it's brought plenty of great innovators to light and helped to make great records and events - but nothing of any value was ever created inside the British or American music business. It always came from the outside, from outsiders created in the real world."

Read Johnny Marr's talk about musical outsiders.

Friday Choon: Tom Waits' 'Step Right Up' (1977)

2008-11-14T15:44:13+00:00

A fabulous performance from a then 30 year old Tom Waits, with a slower version of Step Right Up. Rockpalast, WDR Studio L, Köln, West Germany, April 18, 1977.

Tom Waits

If you prefer the more familiar, faster version, you can watch this instead. The great song has finally found it's true home - put to knife combat in the game Battlefield 2142.

Friday Choon: Tracker05' s 'Mad on her'

2008-11-07T07:23:38+00:00

Damned clever little video.

Enslavement of the UK is Ahead of Schedule

2008-11-06T19:10:49+00:00

'Some ID cards will be handed out to the public by the end of next year, the Home Secretary said today. Jacqui Smith [RIP] said "small volumes" of cards will be available months ahead of schedule... The cards... will store copies of two fingerprints and a facial scan.'

Story from The Independent.

Witch-hunter General Michele 'McCarthy' Bachmann re-elected!

2008-11-06T12:45:55+00:00

I hesitate to use the word 'evil'...

'I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out, are they pro-America or anti-America? I think people would love to see an expose like that' said Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on 17 October.

And now she's been re-elected!

"Ralph Nader speaks on an Obama presidency"

2008-11-06T02:14:29+00:00

If you think it's more than about Obama, I mean, I know a lot of you watched John McCain's concession speech, I know you did, so there's no excuse not to watch this interesting discussion with Ralph Nader and others. Video from the Real News.

The American Empire in 2008

2008-11-06T00:36:10+00:00

"...there's never been a nation on earth that saw its economy decline and continued to maintain its primacy as a military power" - Barack Obama.

Can they afford this empire?

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Hug an American

2008-11-05T22:21:19+00:00

(photo by DigitalKatie)

On the occasion of the election of Barack Obama to the office of President of the United States of America, this is a Message from Blather.net High Command to our European brethern: it's time to let the Americans out of the shit-house. 8 years. 8 agonizing years we've been giving Americans abuse. But no more. We hereby announce the commencement of Blather.net's Hug an American Campaign.

Go find an American. Any American. Hug them. Say thanks. Go home and sleep properly for the first time since 2001.

Photographic evidence and reports of American Hugging can be posted in the comments below. That is all.

Black Market Nukes! Part five: Naming Names in Pictures

2008-11-03T20:51:09+00:00

[photo: the Brad Blog]

Those of you who have been following this series will know that Sibel Edmonds (pictured) had her FBI contract terminated when she discovered evidence of wrongdoing in her workplace. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the US Department of Justice later investigated, and concluded that 'many of Edmonds's core allegations relating to the co-worker had some basis in fact and were supported by either documentary evidence or witnesses other than Edmonds' [1]. I'm quoting there from an unclassified summary, but the actual OIG report remains classified. Also there is a State Secret Priveleges gag order on Sibel Edmonds to prevent her speaking about her work at the FBI (on national security grounds), but she says it's not so much national security that is being protected as corrupt U.S. officials she has overheard on wiretaps, who are in the business of stealing and selling American nuclear secrets and technology.

Who are these officials?

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US Vote Theft: Mike Connell testifies today in Ohio

2008-11-03T15:40:30+00:00

'Order For Republican 'High-Tech Forrest Gump' to Testify Under Oath... to Answer Questions on 2004 Election Scheduled Just 24 Hours Prior to Election 2008...'

Story at The Brad Blog.

Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey has problems voting.

Andy Burnham says something I agree with!

2008-11-02T21:33:35+00:00

Well, colour me turquoise. British politician Andy Burnham, minister for culture and other things the UK government does not respect, who wants noise in libraries and gyms and restaurants in churches, has now actually said something I agree with! I've always thought that the publicly-funded broadcaster the BBC shouldn't be wasting millions on 'star' presenters, who should really be on commercial television. At last the Jonathan Ross bubble has burst, and the BBC 'has been urged by ministers to end the culture of "fat cat" pay for top presenters or risk cuts to its £3.4 billion a year of public funding. Andy Burnham, the culture secretary, has issued a warning that the seven-figure contracts given to stars such as Jonathan Ross are undermining licence fee payers' confidence in the broadcaster.' This from the Independent. Now, I hope the Irish are paying attention and have a slip of paper with question marks over the top RTE earners who are actually paid as contract companies, not as individuals:

€849,139 Pat Kenny Media Services (Kat Penny)
€558,990 Balcom Management (Gerry Ryan)
€455,190 Montrose Services (Marian Finucane)
€367,804 Claddaghgreen (Joe Duffy)
€346,667 Trocity Productions ('Gerry' Ryan Tubridy)

The highest pay to an actual RTE employee is €242,408 !

'Tough times ahead for RTE but not for its stars', Irish Independent, 10 August 2008.

Update: 'BBC to trim massive pay deals for big stars', Irish Independent, 3 November 2008.

Van Morrison to perform Astral Weeks live

2008-11-02T21:05:07+00:00

He will be performing with original album players Richard Davis and Jay Berliner.

There's a good story about it in the Observer.

"It's about the world of creation and of the imagination: That is what a song is, a little movie with melodies and music built around it, poetry in moving pictures in the mind... In the 60's and 70's the record companies did not support the music, so I never got to take these songs on tour, and I certainly did not have the money to do it. These songs are as timeless and fresh right now as the day they were written and I am happy about taking them to the Hollywood Bowl." So says Van on the official site.

UK government secrets found in pub car park

2008-11-02T19:54:01+00:00

"An inquiry was under way today after a memory stick with user names and passwords for a key government computer system was discovered in a pub car park. The Mail on Sunday said ministers had ordered the emergency shutdown of the Gateway website - which covers anything from tax returns to parking tickets - while experts checked to ensure people's private details were not compromised. The loss of the memory stick is another embarrassment for the Government in a long series of data mishandling incidents which began with the loss of the entire child benefit database."

Full story in the Independent.

See also the Times article, in which Gordon 'ID Card' Brown admits 'we cannot promise that every single item of information will always be safe because mistakes are made by human beings. Mistakes are made in the transportation, if you like in the communication, of information.'

Previously on Blather.net.

UK government cannot be trusted with data of any kind:

Intelligence files about Al Qaeda and Iraq left on a train.
Loss of data drive containing personal information of 100,000 serving in armed forces.
Biometric identification can be forged.
CDs containing entire child benefit database lost.
Obviously stupid plans for identification cards.
Evil and absurdly expensive scheme to collect more personal data.

Ireland is no better:

380,000 social welfare files on stolen laptop.

Stayin' Alive with Masselys in Berlin

2008-11-01T20:21:19+00:00

Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'!

I was in Berlin for a whirlwind overdrive week in late October with the Norwegian band Masselys. This is the band Bjarne, Jomba and Kjell-Olav formed earlier this year when Salvatore split up. The band also consists of Jonas (from 120 Days) and a singer called P.A. with no previous records. I was with them to play on the album they were recording with German producer Boris Wilsdorf, who famously records and mixes Einstürzende Neubauten. andereBaustelle Tonstudio was a studio with a difference, as you can see from the metal hanging behind the drumkit. During the week I also got to see much more of Berlin, so I've revised my opinion of the city from last time. Come join me on this musical travelogue...

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Friday Choon: Johnny Cash's 'Thunderball'

2008-10-31T09:53:29+00:00

In honour of James Bond returning to our cinemas this weekend, here's a forgotten Bond theme from the movie Thunderball by old gravel-throat himself, Johnny Cash. The track was ditched at the last moment for the Tom Jones' number.

Read more about the other forgotten Bond themes at the Guardian.

Black Market Nukes! Part four: The Tinner Circle

2008-10-30T16:42:18+00:00

[passport of Urs Tinner, picture released by the Malaysian police]

Previously in this series, Friedrich Tinner and his sons Urs and Marco, a family of engineers, were mentioned as part of the A.Q. Khan nuclear proliferation network. The Tinners had a factory in Malaysia producing centrifuge parts [1]. When A.Q. Khan's international activities were exposed in 2003, so were the Tinners, who were based in Switzerland. They were taken into custody there, and expected to (eventually) stand trial. But the Swiss President made a rather shocking announcement on 23 May 2008...

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UNiK

2008-10-29T19:17:58+00:00

You may remember that back in April and May 2007 I reported on the plight of small businesses in my part of Oslo (Grünerløkka). Since then, over 70 of these businesses - including Sound of Mu (pictured) - have banded together to form an organization called UNiK, which even has a discount card for sale.

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Haunted Dublin: Dave Walsh on Newstalk 106 with Tom Dunne

2008-10-29T09:32:38+00:00

Quick announcement:
I'll be on Newstalk 106 this morning at 11am (Ireland), talking about my new book, Haunted Dublin, with Tom Dunne. Will see if I can get the mp3 to post up here...

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