I forget how, but the other day we got into a conversation about globalisation and the less well advertised activities of large companies, specifically the Coca Cola corporation. I've been following events above- and under-ground about Coca Cola and other multinationals for over sixteen years now and I've frankly forgotten more than most people would dare guess or believe about the atrocities performed in their name.
We got to talking about the global domination, the human rights violations and the death squads. Charlie's reply to all of this was "It's only a bottle of Coke". She had trouble coming to terms with how an incongruous item like a bottle of Coke could really stand for all that evil.
So as she's taken to reading this blog (yes, after 18 months, she's finally started looking over my shoulder, so I'm afraid, dear reader that the juicy tales of my clandestine conquests will have to stop), I thought I'd have a quick trawl and post some links to some interesting information and news.
First off, the brandlist from Coca Cola's own site.
Note the list only goes up to "S" and only includes foodstuff brands. Bear in mind there are other markets they're involved with. But still, just read down that list and see how many Coca Cola products you have in your house right now. More than you thought, I bet.
Coca Cola is Africa's biggest employer. Have a read of this statement on their reach. Even in their own literature they come across as nothing less than vast, omnipresent and bent on expansion and domination.
Killercoke.org concentrates on Death Squad activity in Columbia, South America. The Socialist Worker has an article about Coca Cola's paramilitary activities, as does the Austrailan Green Left Newsletter.
The Coca Cola Africa Foundation professes to work with UN organisations to combat AIDS on the continent, but has come under constant criticism for not extending treatment to the families of its workers.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
It's probably a sign of my non-addiction to the Internet that I haven't heard of this despite it apparently being "all over the place", but it's compelling nonetheless:
The Postsecret project.
What would you put on your card?
The Postsecret project.
What would you put on your card?
This weekend I are been mostly watching...
I started the weekend by watching "Logopolis", Tom Baker's final story, which I ashamedly fell asleep in the middle of. After that I watched the "New Dimension" documentary on BBC1, followed by the dire but enjoyable-in-an-"I-also-like-pot-noodle"-way Paul McGann TV Movie while Graham Bloody Norton introduced his camp and crap dancing programme was on.
Then we get to the main event. The thing that British Sci-fi fans have waited sixteen years for. The twenty-seventh series began. Not with a whimper but with a dirty great, soundbite generation grabbing B-A-N-G!
I was in an IRC chatroom through the episode and a constant presence on Usenet (rec.arts.drwho) afterwards and the majority of comments were positive, with half of them being about how their kids loved it. I spent a couple of hours saying the same thing over and over to the naysayers:
"This isn't the Who you grew up with. The world has moved on and if you want Dr Who to continue, comments like 'my kids loved it' is exactly what we want to see."
I don't think the 45 minute format works. When they decided to split Colin Baker's stories into 40 minute episodes, I stopped watching. There's not enough time to tell a decent story. This is something American TV is just coming to terms with. "Enterprise" is drawing near its strongest series by producing two-and three-part serials instead of 22 individual episodes where everything gets wrapped up nicely after 45 minutes. They've learned the lesson that Russel T Davies is hopefully just about to learn.
"Rose" was great, though. It set up the new companion just right and proved that even after 42 years, with the right attention, a series can be compelling, relevant and fresh.
I started the weekend by watching "Logopolis", Tom Baker's final story, which I ashamedly fell asleep in the middle of. After that I watched the "New Dimension" documentary on BBC1, followed by the dire but enjoyable-in-an-"I-also-like-pot-noodle"-way Paul McGann TV Movie while Graham Bloody Norton introduced his camp and crap dancing programme was on.
Then we get to the main event. The thing that British Sci-fi fans have waited sixteen years for. The twenty-seventh series began. Not with a whimper but with a dirty great, soundbite generation grabbing B-A-N-G!
I was in an IRC chatroom through the episode and a constant presence on Usenet (rec.arts.drwho) afterwards and the majority of comments were positive, with half of them being about how their kids loved it. I spent a couple of hours saying the same thing over and over to the naysayers:
"This isn't the Who you grew up with. The world has moved on and if you want Dr Who to continue, comments like 'my kids loved it' is exactly what we want to see."
I don't think the 45 minute format works. When they decided to split Colin Baker's stories into 40 minute episodes, I stopped watching. There's not enough time to tell a decent story. This is something American TV is just coming to terms with. "Enterprise" is drawing near its strongest series by producing two-and three-part serials instead of 22 individual episodes where everything gets wrapped up nicely after 45 minutes. They've learned the lesson that Russel T Davies is hopefully just about to learn.
"Rose" was great, though. It set up the new companion just right and proved that even after 42 years, with the right attention, a series can be compelling, relevant and fresh.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
According to reports, recording industry profits rose by something like 3 percent last year in the UK. The US album and music DVD market is described as being "robust", the cost of CD's dropped to under a tenner thanks to high street price wars and on average, every person in the UK bought at least three CD's last year.
So tell me again how illegal downloading is crippling the industry?
So tell me again how illegal downloading is crippling the industry?
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Monday, March 14, 2005
# If you could be instantly fluent in one other language that you currently do not read or speak, which would it be?
Klingon, or Elvish
# If you could have the starring role in any film already made, what would it be?
Ford Prefect
# If you could receive one small package this very moment, who would it be from and what would be in it?
It would be from a Lottery winner who'd decided they couldn't cope with having all that money and decided to pass it on to me.
# If you could own one painting from any collection in the world but were not able to sell it, which work of art would you select?
Something of Thomas Kinkade's. There's a gallery of his not far from me and I go in there and just stare...
# If you were instantly able to play one musical instrument perfectly that you never have played before, what would it be?
Guitar. Like Clapton.
# If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be?
Shapeshifting
# If you had to choose the most valuable thing you ever learned what would it be?
Be true to yourself. Don't put on an act. Stop saying "No".
# If you could have only one piece of furniture in your house, what would it be?
One of those "L" shaped sofas.
# If you could read the private diary of someone you know personally, whose diary would it be?
There's a few people I'd like to get into their heads a little more, but I wouldn't read their diary. Do unto others and all that. Don't want mine read.
# If you could have one person you know as your well-paid and cared-for domestic labourer for one month, who would it be?
Not telling, but there is someone.
# If you could choose the way you will die, how would you want it to happen?
In a way that would secure my eternal fame.
# If you could wake up tomorrow to learn that the major newspaper headlines were about you, what would you want them to say?
Shock win for new political party, Hedgewitch moves in to number ten!
# If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
Buy a derelict farm and turn it into a kick-ass outdoor pursuits centre. Set family and friends up for life. Build a roman villa.
# If you could choose the music at your funeral, what would it be, and who would play it?
"Danny Boy" Brighouse & Raistrick colliery band.
"I will see you tomorrow" by a decent blues band.
"In my life" by someone who could do it justice.
# If you could take away the vocal cords of any person, who would it be?
Celine Dion. Or my father in law.
# If you had to describe your idea of the perfect mate, how would you do it?
Charlie, with more energy.
# If you had to have a personal friend redecorate your house, who would you pick to do it?
You've got to be kidding!
# If you had to choose the worst home you've ever lived in, which one was it?
All my homes have been quite decent. Maybe staying over at my ex's, or her mum's place in Milton Keynes.
# If you could have prevented one thing from happening between you and a friend, what would it have been?
I would notice that my friend was standing stock still in the middle of the dance floor because she actually wanted me to kiss her as well as putting a lump of ice down her back.
# If you could learn the total number of hours you have spent in your life doing one thing, what would it be?
Having sex, I think.
# If you had to describe yourself as a child in one word, what would it be?
Weird
# If you could own a single prop from any film ever made what would you choose?
A working Holodeck.
Klingon, or Elvish
# If you could have the starring role in any film already made, what would it be?
Ford Prefect
# If you could receive one small package this very moment, who would it be from and what would be in it?
It would be from a Lottery winner who'd decided they couldn't cope with having all that money and decided to pass it on to me.
# If you could own one painting from any collection in the world but were not able to sell it, which work of art would you select?
Something of Thomas Kinkade's. There's a gallery of his not far from me and I go in there and just stare...
# If you were instantly able to play one musical instrument perfectly that you never have played before, what would it be?
Guitar. Like Clapton.
# If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be?
Shapeshifting
# If you had to choose the most valuable thing you ever learned what would it be?
Be true to yourself. Don't put on an act. Stop saying "No".
# If you could have only one piece of furniture in your house, what would it be?
One of those "L" shaped sofas.
# If you could read the private diary of someone you know personally, whose diary would it be?
There's a few people I'd like to get into their heads a little more, but I wouldn't read their diary. Do unto others and all that. Don't want mine read.
# If you could have one person you know as your well-paid and cared-for domestic labourer for one month, who would it be?
Not telling, but there is someone.
# If you could choose the way you will die, how would you want it to happen?
In a way that would secure my eternal fame.
# If you could wake up tomorrow to learn that the major newspaper headlines were about you, what would you want them to say?
Shock win for new political party, Hedgewitch moves in to number ten!
# If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
Buy a derelict farm and turn it into a kick-ass outdoor pursuits centre. Set family and friends up for life. Build a roman villa.
# If you could choose the music at your funeral, what would it be, and who would play it?
"Danny Boy" Brighouse & Raistrick colliery band.
"I will see you tomorrow" by a decent blues band.
"In my life" by someone who could do it justice.
# If you could take away the vocal cords of any person, who would it be?
Celine Dion. Or my father in law.
# If you had to describe your idea of the perfect mate, how would you do it?
Charlie, with more energy.
# If you had to have a personal friend redecorate your house, who would you pick to do it?
You've got to be kidding!
# If you had to choose the worst home you've ever lived in, which one was it?
All my homes have been quite decent. Maybe staying over at my ex's, or her mum's place in Milton Keynes.
# If you could have prevented one thing from happening between you and a friend, what would it have been?
I would notice that my friend was standing stock still in the middle of the dance floor because she actually wanted me to kiss her as well as putting a lump of ice down her back.
# If you could learn the total number of hours you have spent in your life doing one thing, what would it be?
Having sex, I think.
# If you had to describe yourself as a child in one word, what would it be?
Weird
# If you could own a single prop from any film ever made what would you choose?
A working Holodeck.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
| English Genius You scored 93% Beginner, 86% Intermediate, 81% Advanced, and 88% Expert! |
| You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!
|
| |
Damn right, too.
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on Ok Cupid |
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Next time you're slagging off the government or the police for their attitude to terrorism consider this:
We haven't suffered an attack lately. Why is that? Is it perhaps because they're biding their time, making their plans and picking a venue? Are they waiting for a major gathering to blow up?
Or maybe, just maybe, the authorities are actually doing their job.
For months, the press has been howling for proof that we're under threat from terrorism. For months, we've been told by the government that the threat, although it probably won't happen tomorrow, might happen soon. I'm a cynical sort and as a rule, I don't believe a thing that comes out of a politician's mouth, but I have to believe the evidence of my own eyes. We haven't been blown up.
Despite all these alerts and heightened states of emergency and marathon sessions of parliament and airport and seaport closures, we still haven't been blown up. I feel quite cheated. Why can't we have a vast monument to the honoured dead, like Manhattan? Where's our garden full of trees planted in memory of the victims, like Madrid? Why don't I have to walk past the sombre building site where there was once a nightclub and where my friends died , like Kuta, Indonesia?
Let's face it, we don't need all these heightened security measures, do we? Nobody's attacked us, so obviously they're not gonna bother. So let's push for an end to all this anti-terror legislation. Disband the Anti-terror squad, open the ports to all and sundry. We haven't been attacked because there's so many terrorists living here, they're scared of blowing their own people up. Yeah, just like they were on Sept 11th 2001. Just like they are in Iraq every day when someone else straps on their high-explosive waistcoat and goes for a walk.
More than 200 terrorists living in Britain. According to "Spearhead Online" we're becoming the terror haven of the world. They're apparently flooding into the country because we don't lock them up and throw away the key. Because we don't care. We love terrorists here, don't we? We're inviting them all here because our friends in Afghanistan and Iraq can't organise things freely over there, so they'd better come here where the vast islamic networks run unchecked, recruiting like mad and making their plans.
So here's the situation: The Government is playing fast and loose with the democratic process in order to bully legislation through Parliament that means they can lock innocent people up in their own homes at the megalomaniacal whim of the home secretary. Regular people have their civil liberties walked all over every day when they have to stop and open their bags for the fascist police pigs. The country's gone mad. The goverment's paranoid and they're all trying to scare us into believing that we need draconian measures in order to deal with a threat that doesn't exist.
But there's hundreds of Bin Laden trained operatives in the country. Every street seems to have its own terrorist cell. They're flooding into the country daily. They're hatching their plans and gathering supplies.
But something doesn't gel. We still haven't been blown up. Why is that? Are they really scared of hurting their own people? After all, that's the reason Birmingham only got bombed once. Is there such a huge ultra-devout muslim community in Britain that nowhere at all, no nightclub, no football stadium, no train station, no airport, no office building is completely free of Al Quaeda activists, to the point that it would be counterproductive to plant a bomb and kill 'em all?
Perhaps they're worried about the bad press. Yes, that's got to be it. If they blow a load of Brits up, the backlash would be huge wouldn't it? I mean, everyone in Britain would think that "Muslim" immediately meant "terrorist". The result of an attack in Britain would be rampant xenophobia and they can't afford that, can they?
So of course they're not attacking us, they're not going to attack us because we love them. We embrace our terrorist brothers in this strict Islamic state. Bin Laden loves us because we're all such good Muslims, aren't we?
Or maybe, just maybe the laws and legislations being passed, the safeguards being put in place and the alerts being announced are actually working. Hands up who would prefer to have the shit blown out of them before we start doing something about it.
We haven't suffered an attack lately. Why is that? Is it perhaps because they're biding their time, making their plans and picking a venue? Are they waiting for a major gathering to blow up?
Or maybe, just maybe, the authorities are actually doing their job.
For months, the press has been howling for proof that we're under threat from terrorism. For months, we've been told by the government that the threat, although it probably won't happen tomorrow, might happen soon. I'm a cynical sort and as a rule, I don't believe a thing that comes out of a politician's mouth, but I have to believe the evidence of my own eyes. We haven't been blown up.
Despite all these alerts and heightened states of emergency and marathon sessions of parliament and airport and seaport closures, we still haven't been blown up. I feel quite cheated. Why can't we have a vast monument to the honoured dead, like Manhattan? Where's our garden full of trees planted in memory of the victims, like Madrid? Why don't I have to walk past the sombre building site where there was once a nightclub and where my friends died , like Kuta, Indonesia?
Let's face it, we don't need all these heightened security measures, do we? Nobody's attacked us, so obviously they're not gonna bother. So let's push for an end to all this anti-terror legislation. Disband the Anti-terror squad, open the ports to all and sundry. We haven't been attacked because there's so many terrorists living here, they're scared of blowing their own people up. Yeah, just like they were on Sept 11th 2001. Just like they are in Iraq every day when someone else straps on their high-explosive waistcoat and goes for a walk.
More than 200 terrorists living in Britain. According to "Spearhead Online" we're becoming the terror haven of the world. They're apparently flooding into the country because we don't lock them up and throw away the key. Because we don't care. We love terrorists here, don't we? We're inviting them all here because our friends in Afghanistan and Iraq can't organise things freely over there, so they'd better come here where the vast islamic networks run unchecked, recruiting like mad and making their plans.
So here's the situation: The Government is playing fast and loose with the democratic process in order to bully legislation through Parliament that means they can lock innocent people up in their own homes at the megalomaniacal whim of the home secretary. Regular people have their civil liberties walked all over every day when they have to stop and open their bags for the fascist police pigs. The country's gone mad. The goverment's paranoid and they're all trying to scare us into believing that we need draconian measures in order to deal with a threat that doesn't exist.
But there's hundreds of Bin Laden trained operatives in the country. Every street seems to have its own terrorist cell. They're flooding into the country daily. They're hatching their plans and gathering supplies.
But something doesn't gel. We still haven't been blown up. Why is that? Are they really scared of hurting their own people? After all, that's the reason Birmingham only got bombed once. Is there such a huge ultra-devout muslim community in Britain that nowhere at all, no nightclub, no football stadium, no train station, no airport, no office building is completely free of Al Quaeda activists, to the point that it would be counterproductive to plant a bomb and kill 'em all?
Perhaps they're worried about the bad press. Yes, that's got to be it. If they blow a load of Brits up, the backlash would be huge wouldn't it? I mean, everyone in Britain would think that "Muslim" immediately meant "terrorist". The result of an attack in Britain would be rampant xenophobia and they can't afford that, can they?
So of course they're not attacking us, they're not going to attack us because we love them. We embrace our terrorist brothers in this strict Islamic state. Bin Laden loves us because we're all such good Muslims, aren't we?
Or maybe, just maybe the laws and legislations being passed, the safeguards being put in place and the alerts being announced are actually working. Hands up who would prefer to have the shit blown out of them before we start doing something about it.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Taken from Digital Spy:
Jordan has spoken about her disappointment after losing out on the chance to represent the UK in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.
Former Popstars contestant Javine was picked by viewers of the BBC's Making Your Mind Up showdown last night.
However, Jordan is insisting that she was the best performer on the night, and is blaming "bitching" from her rivals for the result.
She told the News of the World, "I know I'm the best performer of the lot but there's been so much bitching about me from the other contestants the country's been swayed to vote against me.
"Javine said I shouldn't enter because I'm pregnant and Gina G has been just as bitchy, going on about my boob job as if having big boobs is a crime. She's obviously just ridiculously jealous.
"It made me even more determined to win so naturally I'm disappointed. But I'm a fighter and I always get what I want. I'd love to fly the flag for the UK. And if I can't do that I'll just have to wear it!"
***
Yes I can see how she could think that she's a better singer than a trio of classically trained opera singers, two almost-were popstar contestants and a previous Eurovision winner.
And oh the bitchiness! Was it ever proved that her last kid didn't turn out blind because of her drug taking and boozing during her last pregnancy? Yes, I can see why it would be bitchy to suggest she doesn't go to Kiev - irradiated, leukemia ridden Kiev - while eight months pregnant to sing live on stage during a five hour live event she's got no hope of winning.
For god's sake woman, you're crap, now get over it!
Jordan has spoken about her disappointment after losing out on the chance to represent the UK in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.
Former Popstars contestant Javine was picked by viewers of the BBC's Making Your Mind Up showdown last night.
However, Jordan is insisting that she was the best performer on the night, and is blaming "bitching" from her rivals for the result.
She told the News of the World, "I know I'm the best performer of the lot but there's been so much bitching about me from the other contestants the country's been swayed to vote against me.
"Javine said I shouldn't enter because I'm pregnant and Gina G has been just as bitchy, going on about my boob job as if having big boobs is a crime. She's obviously just ridiculously jealous.
"It made me even more determined to win so naturally I'm disappointed. But I'm a fighter and I always get what I want. I'd love to fly the flag for the UK. And if I can't do that I'll just have to wear it!"
***
Yes I can see how she could think that she's a better singer than a trio of classically trained opera singers, two almost-were popstar contestants and a previous Eurovision winner.
And oh the bitchiness! Was it ever proved that her last kid didn't turn out blind because of her drug taking and boozing during her last pregnancy? Yes, I can see why it would be bitchy to suggest she doesn't go to Kiev - irradiated, leukemia ridden Kiev - while eight months pregnant to sing live on stage during a five hour live event she's got no hope of winning.
For god's sake woman, you're crap, now get over it!
A little thing that's getting passed around the blog circuit.
I read about it at Mark's Blog
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
Kudos to anyone who can name the book this comes from:
If it wasn't for rule 5, I probably would have plumped for the Christopher Marlowe poetry book a bit further away. Great writer, taught Shakespeare everything he knew.
I read about it at Mark's Blog
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
Kudos to anyone who can name the book this comes from:
'Anti-muggle pranksters,' said Mr Weasley, frowning. 'We had two last week, one in Wimbledon, one in Elephant and Castle. Muggles are pulling the flush and instead of everything disappearing - well, you can imagine.'
If it wasn't for rule 5, I probably would have plumped for the Christopher Marlowe poetry book a bit further away. Great writer, taught Shakespeare everything he knew.
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