Blog Feed: Drive-by Times

'Mass trauma' in Pakistani tribal areas under threat of drone attack

Published on 2012-09-26 03:14:00

An important new report - 'Living Under Drones' - disputes the Obama administration's claim that few civilians have died in drone strikes. The report details the mass trauma caused by the ever-present threat of drone attack... 'men, women and children are subjected to almost constant trauma – including fear of attack, severe anxiety, powerlessness, insomnia and high levels of stress.' In the executive summary the report notes: ‘In the United States, the dominant narrative about the use of [..]

Tariq Ramadan on Muslim protests, Islam and the Arab awakening

Published on 2012-09-20 03:46:00

There has been so much heat and accusation lately over the protests sparked by the schlock anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims it has been hard to find measured voices that offer more than a partisan opinion. Talking points in and around the recent events seem to polarize into 'censorship versus freedom of speech' debates or more basic 'them and us' scenarios. For some perspective on the unrest in the Mideast it was interesting to hear the views of Tariq Ramadan in a DemocracyNow interview. [..]

Stephen Harper's farcical democracy award

Published on 2012-09-17 02:21:00

News that Stephen Harper has been granted an award as World Statesman of the Year for his alleged work as a "champion of democracy, freedom and human rights" is beyond farcical. Writing in the Toronto Star, Bob Hepburn was understated when he called the award a "sad joke." The organization behind the award - the Appeal of Conscience Foundation - was founded by a Rabbi Arthur Schneier in 1965. Their annointment of Harper has certainly appealed to the consciences of Canadians - in the way a misca [..]

Hip-hop less hot on Obama: Lupe Fiasco and Lowkey

Published on 2012-08-26 01:19:00

Barack Obama was famously named "America's first hip-hop president." It's a title that comes off as a little cheesy but back in 2008, the rap connection was a large part of Obama's appeal for many young fans. The candidate talked about rap, played hip-hop songs at his events, got mentioned by name or indirectly in the work of rappers such as Jay-Z, Lil Wayne Ludacris, Big Boi, Common, Nas, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes. He seemed like a candidate who was going to speak truth to power no matter what the [..]

Canada-Israel relationship: BBC survey and 'Fault Lines' report

Published on 2012-08-16 02:00:00

With discussion of a possible boycott of goods from Israeli settlements heating up this week, the question is often asked why Canada is taking such a marked pro-Israel stance. Really that is more about perceptions than reality. The majority of Canadians are far from ardent pro-Israel supporters. The face of 'pro-Israel Canada' is being steered to a large extent by opinion makers in politics and the media - some of course with a vested interest in the Canada-Israel relationship. Findings of a BB [..]

Pussy Riot members still in jail: a Russian 'witch hunt'

Published on 2012-06-27 03:09:00

Quebec protests June 22: crisis far from over

Published on 2012-06-23 02:53:00

There were large rallies in Montreal and Quebec City June 22. Students and supporters demonstrated against fee hikes, against Bill-78 and held the banners of social and political activism high. The term "student protest" needs to be revised to some extent because these protests now involve Quebeckers from all walks of life, as witnessed by the so-called "casserole protests"- and not just in Montreal, but in cities across Canada. The June 22 protests weren't as large as some of [..]

Rio+20: 'Fossil of the Day' award for obstructionist Canada

Published on 2012-06-20 01:08:00

At the Durban Climate Change Conference last year and now at the Earth Summit in Rio, Canada has been handed "Fossil of the Day" awards in recognition of its burgeoning reputation as a global leader in environmental obstructionism - not to mention its active role as trasher of environmental protections. Canada received the Rio Fossil award for "deleting wording for funding for developing countries, weakening language on fossil-fuel subsidies, and causing confusion on policies related to oceans [..]

Alexis Tsipras of SYRIZA: Impact of austerity on Greece 'catastrophic'

Published on 2012-05-19 02:08:00

In the current Eurozone crisis Greece has been unfairly cast as the "black sheep" of Europe. Greece isn't alone in being negatively impacted by neoliberal economic policies - policies that have precipitated a meltdown in the Eurozone and a growing gulf between classes. It isn't a Greek crisis, it's a European crisis, a crisis of capital - Greece just happens to be the stage where the drama is presently coming into sharpest focus. The Greece Solidarity Campaign recently met with Alexis Tsipras [..]

Québec student protests send a powerful message

Published on 2012-05-15 02:50:00

Québec education minister Line Beauchamp has resigned. In making the announcement she said "I am resigning because I have decided I am not part of the solution." She denies that her resignation is connected with the demonstrations and "vandalism." She has been replaced as Education Minister by Michelle Courchesne. Despite a long, arduous haul the students are showing no signs of backing down. Some critics of the student protests say that since student tuition in Québec is the lowest in Canad [..]

Argentine Olympics ad raises Falklands dispute

Published on 2012-05-04 03:50:00

Earlier this year - the 30th anniversary of the Falklands' war - Prince William arrived on the islands for military duty. His presence sparked heated debate in the media and union jack burning in Buenos Aries. The Falklands/Las Malvinas dispute can become incredibly heated with a little push and shove. A provocative new Olympics-related ad featuring Fernando Zylberberg of the Argentine men's hockey team is likely to set off another slanging match. The 90-second ad was reportedly shot by the US [..]

IDF assaults on Andreas Ias and others during Jordan Valley protest

Published on 2012-04-17 17:38:00

Andreas Ias getting smashed in the face with an M-16On Saturday when Palestinian and international cyclists attempted to bike along Route 90, the main North-South highway in the Jordan Valley, they were stopped by Israeli forces. A number of the participants in the ride were assaulted. A 20-year old Danish activist, Andreas Ias, was subjected to a particularly brutal assault at the hands of Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner, who used his M-16 to bash Ias in the face.The cyclists were demonstrating agains [..]

Jean-Luc Mélenchon: Left-Front surges in French polls

Published on 2012-04-07 01:34:00

Left-Front firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon has moved ahead of far-right Marine Le Pen to become the third placed contender in the French presidential campaign. He pulls no punches in his colorful descriptions of Le Pen and her far-right views, calling her "a dark presence" and a "filthy beast spewing out hatred."Mélenchon is sometimes misrepresented as a communist. He is a Socialist Republican with a Marxian view of the crisis afflicting market capitalism. He's also engaging... a great crowd plea [..]

English Defence League humiliated by no-show Aarhus summit

Published on 2012-04-01 00:01:00

The English Defence League (EDL) suffered a humiliation in Aarhus, Denmark, where it arrived to set the stage for the rather grand sounding pan-European anti-Islamic Movement. Problem for the EDL'ers is that they couldn't attract the numbers. The turnout was so poor in fact, anti-fascist demonstrators outnumbered EDL supporters twenty-to-one.Guardian:Estimates suggested as few as 160 defence league members from several countries gathered at the inaugural far-right summit in Aarhus for the Europe [..]

Thor Steinar store 'Brevik' sparks outrage in Germany

Published on 2012-03-07 01:36:00

A German clothing retailer popular with far-right extremists has sparked outrage in Germany with a controversial store opening in Saxony.A new Thor Steinar store in the city of Chemnitz has opened with the name "Brevik." This is considered by many Germans to be a tribute to Anders Breivik, the Norwegian mass murderer.Anders Behring Breivik has become a hero in some far-right quarters in Germany following the massacre of 77 people at a camp of the Workers Youth League (affiliated with the Labour [..]

Cardinal O'Brien's extremist rhetoric on same-sex marriage

Published on 2012-03-06 11:50:00

The leading Roman Catholic cleric in the UK, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, made the rather bizarre statement recently that acceptance of same-sex marriage would be like legalizing slavery.The Cardinal has been railing against what he rather derisively refers to as "progress" in British society. He clearly doesn't mind being in a minority position. Even high-profile conservatives differ with him on the marriage issue. Not long ago British PM, David Cameron, told his party that he supported same-sex mar [..]

Talking about slavery...

Published on 2012-03-06 11:40:00

Morrissey and Roger Waters on Las Malvinas

Published on 2012-03-03 23:35:00

Morrissey and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters have both spoken out on the Malvinas issue.During a concert in the Argentinian city of Córdoba Morrissey told the crowd "The Malvinas Islands, everybody knows they belong to Argentina..." He also added "So please don't blame the British people, we know the islands belong to you."In an interview that aired on Argentine and Chilean TV Roger Waters said the islands "should be Argentine." In addressing the ongoing feud over the islands he brought up Britain's [..]

Russian ads encourage virgins to give it up to Putin

Published on 2012-02-28 15:46:00

Creepy pro-Putin ads have appeared that suggest a first vote for Vlad is like a virgin giving it up. On a website called The First Time, videos show young women consulting doctors with their concerns.One woman confesses she is rather anxious - "You know doctor, I am very scared, although my choice is one of love."The doctor is sympathetic - "Everyone is afraid the first time. The main thing is to trust your choice. Because trust is love."It becomes clear that her "first time" is about voting whe [..]

New Putin 'virgin ad'

Published on 2012-02-28 13:57:00

Rick Santorum and the other Great Satan

Published on 2012-02-28 11:01:00

Rick Santorum and the dark side seem a natural fit. Maybe it's his count Dracula look or those sweater vests that project inner darkness. So it's no surprise that the devil figures into Rick's world view.Topping the list of Santorum's bogeymen is no less than His Satanic Majesty. We're not talking some abstract spiritual principle or an allusion that is purely allegorical. When Rick says "Satan" he really does mean the legendary denizen of the deep.Like the man said - "I'm a person of faith. I [..]

Satan endorses Rick

Published on 2012-02-28 10:56:00

What the Natan Eshel affair says about Netanyahu

Published on 2012-02-26 15:39:00

Top: Eshel / Middle: Netanyahu and "Resh"Bottom: Yohanan Locker, Zvi Hauser, Yoaz HendelWomen in Israel who are sexually victimized by officials in high places prefer to remain anonymous. In the media they are sometimes identified by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In the case of one of the victims of former president Moshe Katsav, the chosen letter was Aleph. More recently in a harassment case connected with the office of Israeli PM Netanyahu, the female victim was known only by the identifier [..]

Russian band Pussy Riot flashes Moscow cathedral

Published on 2012-02-23 13:27:00

The icons and statuary in Christ the Savior cathedral in Moscow were rocked this week when all-female band Pussy Riot staged a flash gig. It was a brief, unscheduled appearance during which the band belted out the lyrics of their tune "Holy Shit."This was a gutsy move. As we know from the prison terms handed out to members of the art collective Voina, such protests are often labeled "hooliganism" by the authorities. For the cathedral gig band members wore their trademark neon balaclavas but no d [..]

Jodi Rudoren's tweets and the chill in the lobby

Published on 2012-02-20 17:49:00

A Rachel Shabi article in the Guardian's Comment is Free section titled False accusations of antisemitism desensitize us to the real thing is worth the read. It discusses the absurd targeting of New York Times Jerusalem reporter Jodi Rudoren for tweets some Zionist types viewed as problematic. Rachel Shabi: Apparently, soon-to-be bureau chief Jodi Rudoren has been sending bad tweets to the wrong people and that's enough to have Israel's rightwing defenders denounce the journalist, within hours [..]

Electronic surveillance bill: Big Bro Toews wants your data

Published on 2012-02-17 19:38:00

Canadian Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews, is pushing a draconian surveillance bill that would give police extraordinary powers to snoop on Canadians. On a different but related matter Toews wants an investigation into a Twitter account - @vikileaks30 - that has been exposing details of his marital breakdown. How does it feel Vic - having people nosing into your affairs? Not much fun eh? The Conservatives are outraged. The Twitter account allegedly links back to an IP address in the House o [..]

Big Bro Canada: Stasi redux

Published on 2012-02-17 19:23:00

Las Malvinas: Prince William should focus on polo

Published on 2012-02-16 00:26:00

Las Malvinas aka the Falklands is one of the last available theaters available to the Brits for flag waving and displays of military-style jingoism. They've been upping the ante lately. Prince William weighed in in his role as coptor co-pilot inflaming an already volatile situation that has seen angry headlines, protests and union jack burning in Buenos Aries.William Hague, the British foreign secretary, described William's unwelcome presence in the region as "entirely routine." Is he saying tha [..]

Citizen Poet project sends Vladimir Putin a message

Published on 2012-02-15 04:24:00

Increasing numbers of Russians are fed up with Vladimir Putin's power games, with rampant corruption and the slow pace of reform. After the "gap years" with Dmitry Medvedev in the presidency, Putin's orchestrated return to the Kremlin is being greeted with a heavy dose of cynicism.Where there is cynicism there is also satire. The "Citizen Poet" project has been a sensation in Russia. It features well known Russian actor Mikhail Yefremov reading poems from the Russian classics. The poems were ada [..]

Kremlin calling

Published on 2012-02-15 04:02:00

Song Byeok: N Korean artist paints Kim Jung il in drag

Published on 2012-02-12 19:46:00

What comes to mind when you mention "art" and "N. Korea" in the same sentence is propaganda - art that venerates Dear Leader, glorious military victories, joyous workers and racial purity. It seems inconceivable that a N.Korean artist who dedicated his talents to producing state propaganda could ever be responsible for works satirizing former Dear Leader Kim Jung il.Meet Song Byeok, a one time N. Korean propaganda artist. He has turned his talents to producing satirical works that are a far cry [..]

The Law in These Parts: difficult truths about Israeli justice

Published on 2012-02-08 10:36:00

The Israeli film The Law in These Parts, was awarded Best Documentary at the 2011 Jerusalem Film Festival and the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Director Ra'anan Alexandrowicz, said it was the hardest film he has ever made.It's a brilliant piece of work. The film gets behind the rigged court system in the West Bank and cleverly exposes its inner workings via the mouths of those who were in on it from the early going. What becomes evident is that "justice" was [..]

Brock U study links low IQ with racism, prejudice

Published on 2012-02-05 12:29:00

A Brock University study has come up with findings guaranteed to ignite a few fires on the net. Put in the most basic terms the research finds that people who succumb to racism and prejudice are likely to be less intelligent and drawn to right-wing ideologies.Researchers conducted in-depth analysis on data from British and US studies. One finding indicates that lower intelligence scores in childhood is an indicator of racism in later life and that racist attitudes may be compounded or 'mediated' [..]

No big surprise

Published on 2012-02-04 10:02:00

Related post - here.

P183: Russian graffiti artist draws Banksy comparison

Published on 2012-02-01 19:34:00

A Russian graffiti artist P183 aka "Bankski" to some, is behind Banksy-like murals that have been showing up in and around Moscow. The Banksy comparison though shouldn't be taken too far. P183 could as easily be linked with Blek le Rat as an influence - in the end it's about P183's work and his brave venture in Russia at a time of deep political unrest. The Banksy comparison has helped give him some profile.There is little out there about the man himself. According to reports P183's a 28-year ol [..]

Âlâ magazine: is 'Islamic fashion' un-Islamic?

Published on 2012-01-30 03:32:00

There is a degree of hypocrisy when it comes to Islam and its relationship with fashion. There has been an explosion of websites, magazines, fashion houses and events that showcase what can be described as "Islamic fashion" and yet there are those in the Islamic community who see the term as an oxymoron. They believe fashion and Islam are incompatible or an uneasy mix.A new Turkish women's magazine Âlâ - roughly translated as 'superb, excellent' - features models in headscarves wearing Islami [..]

Post status

Published on 2011-06-15 01:47:00

New posts will resume after the summer break.

Smurfs 'anti-Semitic and racist'?

Published on 2011-06-09 20:41:00

At first glance at least, there are few things as cute and inoffensive as a Smurf. The little blue guys were created back in the 50's by Belgian cartoonist, Pierre Culliford aka "Peyo."Rather like the Seven Dwarves, individual Smurfs personify human

Palin's 'One Nation' tour hits a bump

Published on 2011-06-06 11:56:00

Sarah Palin is traveling across the US on something called a 'One Nation' tour - by any other name a publicity-seeking stunt. The historical sites she is taking in during the tour reflect what she describes as "our foundation" - even if she remains c

Palin-speak

Published on 2011-06-06 11:55:00

Carbon tax debate ignites controversy in Australia

Published on 2011-06-02 08:23:00

A pro-climate change ad campaign that calls for a tax on carbon has sparked a row in Australia. The ad campaign was funded by environmental groups including Greenpeace, WWF and the Climate Change Institute.A TV ad features the actor Cate Blanchett wh

'Jobless Paddy' resists emigration trend

Published on 2011-06-02 06:37:00

With the Irish Republic in tough economic straits these days, large numbers of Irish graduates have been going abroad to seek employment opportunities.Féilim Mac An Iomaire decided to go the extra mile to avoid becoming another emigration statistic.

'Big Bro' Sarkozy calls for internet regulation

Published on 2011-05-27 09:27:00

French President Sarkozy has referred to the need to "civilize" the internet as a central issue of France's G-8 agenda. This week Sarkozy opened an 'historic' conference on the internet and the future of the "digital ecosystem." The Paris forum broug

Sarko alert

Published on 2011-05-27 09:13:00

Dove Body Wash ad sends mixed message

Published on 2011-05-27 08:17:00

A Dove ad for its VisibleCare Creme Body Wash sends a mixed message. The models in the ad feature a curvy black woman, a Latina and a slim white woman. The weight/skin color transition is emphasized - intentionally or not - with "before" above the b

The apocalypse that wasn't

Published on 2011-05-21 03:24:00

If you buy the prophetic ramblings of 89 year-old engineer-turned-preacher Harold Camping the world is scheduled to end today - Saturday, May 21, 2011. Surprising Camping is so keen to usher in end-times. His enterprises have been doing pretty well i

Viagra downside: hard... of hearing

Published on 2011-05-21 03:11:00

The use of Viagra and related drugs might make pillow talk more of a challenge. "Want to go again" might be misheard as "want a goat at ten." Passionate outbursts such as "Oh God" might come off sounding like "Oh Gord."News that Viagra and other PDE

Viagra side-effects

Published on 2011-05-21 03:10:00

Nadia Plesner win: EU court rules against Louis Vuitton

Published on 2011-05-15 20:13:00

An EU court in the Hague has ruled in favor of Nadia Plesner in the case brought against her by Louis Vuitton for including a look-a-alike Audra style handbag in her painting Darfurnika. The ruling includes the following: "the importance of Plesner (

Facebook: 'planking' pics drawing big audience

Published on 2011-05-15 19:45:00

A new internet craze called "planking" involves lying in a horizontal posture in, on or across various objects in some situation guaranteed to attract attention. Being able to simulate rigor mortis is a definite plus, along with powers of endurance w

Lisa Blue 'goddess' swimsuit makes waves

Published on 2011-05-10 19:10:00

A swimsuit that features an image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi has been making waves. The use of Lakshmi's image, emblazoned on the front and back of the cutaway design, has sparked outrage on the part of offended Hindus. The swimsuit was created by

Hindu deities: other controversies

Published on 2011-05-10 04:15:00

Slut Walks take back the power

Published on 2011-05-06 22:56:00

When police officer Michael Sanguinetti was giving York University law students tips on personal safety, he said the following:"You know, I think we're beating around the bush here... I've been told I'm not supposed to say this – however, women sho

NDP looking strong on eve of Canadian election

Published on 2011-05-02 04:10:00

A recent EKOS-iPolitics poll indicates that the gap between the NDP and front-running Conservatives has narrowed to just 3 points. The poll has the Conservatives with 34.6% of support of decided and leaning voters - the NDP is at 31.4%. The Liberals

Superman questions the American way

Published on 2011-04-29 16:27:00

Some Superman fans want the Man-of-Steel to remain resolutely American in an uncomplicated defender-of-the-American-way fashion. The same caped patriot defending the same set of values more or less - even though we live in a world that is more comple

Superman: other ways to enrage the right

Published on 2011-04-29 14:53:00

Police arrest three anti-royal wedding protesters

Published on 2011-04-29 14:36:00

Before the royal wedding at Westminster Abbey, British police arrested three anti-capitalist activists who were planning a street theater event.Guardian:Three anti-capitalist activists who were planning a mock execution of Prince Andrew with a guillo

Henry Mintzberg: Harper majority? Think twice

Published on 2011-04-25 10:02:00

On the surface at least, you would think McGill's Henry Mintzberg - one of Canada's leading business scholars - would be happy with the prospect of a Harper majority. Harper is about business after all... corporate tax cuts, right? So what's Mintzber

Say it ain't so

Published on 2011-04-25 10:00:00

Dancing Dmitry: Medvedev steps out

Published on 2011-04-25 08:51:00

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has been making a few moves of his own of late - and not only on the dance floor. The more independent stance by Medvedev suggests he is at odds with Putin on a number of issues. However as is often the case with Kr

Dancing Dmitry and 'action man' Vlad

Published on 2011-04-25 08:48:00

Confession by app: 'sin' goes digital

Published on 2011-04-25 08:28:00

The Catholic Church's Sacrament of Penance allows those who have been baptized to confess their "sins" to a duly ordained priest. The cleric then recites prayers of absolution to obtain divine forgiveness for the penitent's wrong doings.Confession pr

Focus magazine's Venus insult triggers lawsuit

Published on 2011-04-21 15:26:00

A cover of the German magazine Focus that shows the Venus de Milo holding up a middle finger accompanied by the words 'Cheater of the Euro family' continues to provoke outrage in Greece. The cover and accompanying article in Focus triggered a dissing

Serrano's Piss Christ smashed by Christian extremists

Published on 2011-04-19 15:19:00

Top: gallery damageBelow: Piss Christ/Andres SerranoOver the weekend Andres Serrano's controversial work Piss Christ was smashed by Christian extremists wielding hammers. The attack occurred during a so-called anti-blasphemy campaign in Avignon, Fran

Vatican reacts to Piss Christ attack

Published on 2011-04-19 15:06:00

Marilyn Davenport's chimp mail: calls Obama smear 'a joke'

Published on 2011-04-18 13:22:00

Marilyn Davenport, an Orange County Republican Party central committee member with Tea Party connections thought it was a hoot to mail around a photo of Obama as a chimp. The image included the tagline - "Now you know why - no birth certificate."The

James Frey's bisexual dope smoking 'Messiah'

Published on 2011-04-16 08:59:00

James Frey is best known for his memoir of addiction and recovery - "A Million Little Pieces." It wasn't the memoir that garnered public notoriety for Frey, so much as the negative fall-out from the book. The website Smoking Gun did some digging and

James Frey's 'Messiah' performs first miracle

Published on 2011-04-16 08:57:00

Birther Trump has good relations with "the blacks"

Published on 2011-04-15 08:17:00

Donald Trump is considering running in 2012. Given the baggage he would bring to the race, you have to wonder if he's even electable - that's of course assuming anyone takes his recent soapbox rhetoric seriously. As a candidate he would certainly sta

Soapbox Donny digs 'the black people'

Published on 2011-04-15 08:11:00

'The Conquest': Sarkozy biopic makes waves

Published on 2011-04-14 15:30:00

French president Nicolas Sarkozy isn't the most popular guy in France. His disapproval rating stands at 74 per cent. He is badly in need of a political make-over. A new biopic of Sarkozy titled La Conquête (The Conquest) may add to the negative perc

Jean Wharf's yoga button and the transit cops

Published on 2011-04-11 18:44:00

Ride the subway in any major city and the odds are high you will encounter the fuck word. It crops up on T-shirts, in tunes, conversations. Variants of the word even compete for attention... for example the FCUK brand. The F-word word is ubiquitous.

Bad language crackdown

Published on 2011-04-11 14:58:00

Voina: art group backed by Banksy wins Russian state prize

Published on 2011-04-08 19:01:00

Earlier this year funds raised by Banksy went toward bail for two jailed members of the Russian art collective Voina (WAR). Leonid Nikolayev and Oleg Vorotnikov were charged with 'aggravated hooliganism' following a Voina action named "Palace Revolut

Awish Aslam: Facebook pic prompts ejection from Harper event

Published on 2011-04-06 10:52:00

The run-up to a Canadian election that Stephen Harper describes as "unnecessary" has already produced a few insights into undemocratic tactics on the part of Tory campaign staffers. If you want to attend a Conservative event to hear Great Leader spea

Stephen Harper addresses new Canadians as 'you people'

Published on 2011-04-03 19:35:00

When Canadian PM Stephen Harper was addressing a gathering of new Canadians in the Toronto-area on Sunday he referred to them at one point in his speech as "you people." Liberal leader Michael Ignattief criticized Harper for his use of the term and a

Stephen Harper: 'man of the people'

Published on 2011-04-03 19:33:00

Julian Assange: dance moves in Reykjavik

Published on 2011-04-01 00:49:00

A video of Julian Assange doing a freaky dance became available recently.When DJ Seth Sharp spotted the silver haired dude in a Reykjavik club back in 2009 he couldn't resist recording the action. At the time Sharp had no clue that the dancer was non

US military sock puppets to target social media

Published on 2011-03-28 12:18:00

In an apparent effort to win hearts and minds in unfriendly cyber territory, the US Central Command aka Centcom has plans to launch an army of patriotic sock puppets.Centcom has awarded a $2.7 million contract to LA based Ntrepid with the aim of crea

Centcom sock puppet offensive

Published on 2011-03-28 12:09:00

Berlusconi and Gaddafi: no more 'bunga bunga'?

Published on 2011-03-23 02:17:00

Muammar Gaddafi says he feels betrayed by Europe. He told the Italian newspaper Il Giornale that he feels especially dismayed by the defection of Silvio Berlusconi. They were back slapping buds back in the day with a few things in common. The colonel

IKEA ad featuring gay couple slammed in Italy

Published on 2011-03-19 19:04:00

The Italian paper Il Giornale, owned by scandal-tainted PM, Silvio 'bunga bunga' Berlusconi, has slammed an IKEA ad that shows a gay couple holding hands. At the top of the ad are the words "Siamo aperti a tutte le famiglie" which translates as "We

Ark Music Factory's awfully great YouTube sensation

Published on 2011-03-19 04:34:00

LA based vanity label Ark Music Factory represents a depressing trend in popular music. The Factory is a magnet for rich parents who are eager to promote their wannabee-pop-star teens. It puts out casting calls, makes low-budget videos (a number of t

Friday song amnesia spreading

Published on 2011-03-19 04:24:00

'Air Miles Andy' under fire

Published on 2011-03-14 19:15:00

What's most surprising about Prince Andrew's questionable judgment calls in his role as British trade envoy is that anyone is surprised. Much like his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, duke-junior has a tendency to put his foot in it. A few people saw

Prince Andrew revelations: 'Air Miles Andy' under fire

Published on 2011-03-13 19:16:00

What's most surprising about Prince Andrew's lousy judgment calls in his role as British trade envoy is that anyone is surprised. Much like his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, duke-junior has a tendency to put his foot in it. A few people saw it comin

Air Miles Andy in the big house

Published on 2011-03-13 19:05:00

Usama Hasan: views on evolution targeted by fanatics

Published on 2011-03-08 14:16:00

Religious fanatics of any stripe are off-putting - doesn't matter whether they happen to be Christian, Muslim, Jewish or any other species of flinty-eyed dogmatist. It's one thing when they preach, but another when they ostracize those who disagree w

Is the fashion industry soft on racism?

Published on 2011-03-04 11:48:00

The racist comments ex-Dior designer John Galliano has been accused of making has raised a few questions not only about Galliano as a person but about the fashion industry in general. While there's no direct link between Galliano's abusive comments i

Iran sees 'Zion' word in 2012 Olympic logos

Published on 2011-03-01 04:00:00

Look very hard at the London 2012 Olympic logos and try to figure out how to spell the word "Zion" with the assemblage of shapes that make up the design. I suppose if you were really inventive or possibly dyslexic you might see a "Z" in the bit with

Mayor of London spotted in Olympic logos

Published on 2011-03-01 03:58:00

Blog awards: 2010

Published on 2010-09-11 05:37:00

Drive-by Times has been listed as one of the top 45 atheism blogs for 2010 - here.Thanks to those who nominated/voted for the blog, much appreciated.

Blog status update

Published on 2010-06-29 03:58:00

Moving to a new site/server. No new posts on this blog in the interim. Some posts may be taken down to avoid duplication issues, but the archive will remain open and accessible.

Joseph Stalin statue in Gori unceremoniously removed

Published on 2010-06-26 03:45:00

Georgia's pro-western government has taken down a statue of Joseph Stalin from the central square in Gori. The six-meter bronze statue will likely end up in the courtyard of Gori's Stalin museum.The take-down was unannounced and was carried out by a

Jack Abramoff hired by kosher pizzeria in Baltimore

Published on 2010-06-24 12:15:00

Former Washington lobbyist and con artist extraordinaire Jack Abramoff was released this month to a halfway house after serving 31/2 years of a six year sentence.He has been hired by Tov Pizza, a kosher pizza restaurant in Baltimore. He will reported

Pizza with extras

Published on 2010-06-24 12:12:00

Greencoat Boy pub: LGBT Labour group refused service

Published on 2010-06-07 14:07:00

Top: The Greencoat Boy pub Below: Labour LGBT groupAround 50 members of the British Labour Party's LGBT group showed up at the Greencoat Boy pub in central London following the group's annual general meeting.According to reports it was a quiet Saturd

Birmingham: hundreds of surveillance cameras in Muslim areas

Published on 2010-06-06 20:44:00

Top: UK surveillance cameras / Below: A CCTV camera beside anautomatic numberplate recognition camera in Sparkbrook, Birmingham.British deputy PM, Nick Clegg, has expressed concerns about Britain's 'surveillance society' in the past, and has promise

Every move you make

Published on 2010-06-06 20:38:00

German sewage plant plays Mozart to speed up biomass breakdown

Published on 2010-06-04 11:31:00

Mozart and random sewage plant image.A German sewage center in Treuenbrietzen, south-west of Berlin, pipes music by Mozart into the plant - allegedly to speed up the rate at which microbes breakdown waste material. The sound system is quite elaborate

Israeli pundits on flotilla attack: 'siege becoming Israel's Vietnam'

Published on 2010-06-01 17:58:00

Protests worldwide: From top left to right: Belgium,Netherlands, Turkey, UK, Lebanon and IsraelShortly after the Israeli commando attack on the aid flotilla, the new British foreign secretary William Hague said: "The closure of Gaza is unacceptable a

Minister wants Ulster Museum to promote creationism

Published on 2010-06-01 17:57:00

Top right: Nelson McCausland / Middle right: Mervyn Storey Bottom: Ulster Museum in Belfast, N. I.A Darwin-versus-creationism row has been making the news in Northern Ireland.Minister of Culture, Nelson McCausland, recently made a request of the Ulst