In what must be one of the strangest discoveries of an archaeological object in recent times, a fantastic early medieval brooch has turned up, quite unexpectedly, in the range of a north Kerry house.

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Posted by ender at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A 30-minute ethnographic documentary about a colony of gypsy artists in New Delhi, India by Jennifer Rosen.

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Posted by Damien at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(image by David Basanta, used under a CC license)

Little Green Footballs, the American site which tracks (amongst other things) what seems like the increasingly more moonbat trajectory of the American right's thinking, has posted results of a poll of Republicans voters on everything from Obama's motives to the inclusion of Creationism in schools. The results are... well, you can see for yourself. But should we be surprised? Is there anything new here? Or is this just the latest manifestation of a narrative which has been growing and replicating this last sixty years or so, only now brought to a head by the presence of an African-American in the West Wing?

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Posted by Damien at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In May of 2010, Blather.net will be thirteen years old. That's thirteen. Puberty, ladies and spambots, is imminent and the wearing of short trousers will no longer be tolerated. In light of this disturbing turn of events (and the increasingly litigious, cut-throat monitoring of general web-activities by THEM), we have felt it necessary to update our Terms and Conditions to reflect this momentous period of change.

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Posted by blather at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(image by ragesoss, used under a Creative Commons license)

There's an old joke about Irish politics: that the second item on the agenda of any new political movement's first meeting is the split. The Tea Party, the notional emerging third party of American politics, already seems to be heading in the same direction.

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Posted by Damien at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Via Roighters:
The Irish government today announced that it would immediately align itself with Venezuelan president Victor Chavez in blaming the United States for Everything That's Ever Gone Wrong in History of the Planet, in particular the recent 'cold' weather in Ireland

In a surprise briefing to reporters on the steps of Leinster House, Taoiseach Brian Cowen grimaced into the cold February wind, before launching into a tirade against the current US administration.

"Now in fairness, I think it's a bit of coincidence how the winters have suddenly gotten colder since Mr Osama took over in the White House", said Mr Cowen. "It was bad enough that we had all those desperate wet summers that Bush man was in charge, but this, quite frankly, is taking the mickey".

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Posted by Dave at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(image by Que Comuniso!, used under a Creative Commons license)

[CARACAS] Presidents Chavez and Ahmadinejad blame Obama administration for the Haiti earthquake, conflict in Israel, 13th century plague, the Crusades, the sinking of the Titanic and the clogging of Kim Jong Il's toilet.

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Posted by Damien at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(image by Thristian, used under a CC license)

Alfred Korzybski said that 'the map is not the territory'. That said, sometimes a 'notional map' might help us visualise that which defies classification.

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Posted by Damien at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(image from the UN Development Programme, used under a CC license)

Would-be ethnographers of the web such as ourselves are often advised to try to take a neutral stance on conspiracy theories, seeking to take a position of 'negative capability', resulting in the publication of posts which take a reasonable, balanced and calm approach to the issue at hand.

This is not one of those posts.

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Posted by Damien at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

.... with photographs by Dave Walsh, music by Dacianos.

There is something unnerving about watching reality bend before one's eyes. There is what one "knows" to be true, and that which one can see through a telephoto lens or binoculars - with Fata Morgana, the two are difficult to reconcile. Something is happening on the horizon. Icebergs twist and change shape, move, disappear, elongate. Islands rise from the sea. The earth warps.

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Posted by Dave at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)