Patrick Stewart

I didn't like Ricky Gervais in The Office but I decided to give him another go with his other show, Extras. This scene had me kacking myself for hours.

There's just something about Shakespearean actors that lends gravitas to any situation. I can't wait until the episode with Sir Ian McKellan (though I doubt it could beat this).

Jesus Camp

This is the full movie. You can even download it for free.

I was so shocked when I saw the woman and her home-schooled kids pledging allegiance to the Christian flag. I thought "one nation under God" would have been enough for them!


The Christian flag scares me. The first time I saw it was on the episode of John Safran vs God when he visits the KKK. Since then I've seen it flying outside a church in southern Bloomington, very worrying.

The First Rule About Censorship is "You Don't Talk About Censorship"

Apparently the Australian Federal Government's Australian Communications and Media Authority is threatening to fine Australian ISPs for hosting so much as a link to a site on their blacklist. Fines are reportedly up to $11,000 per day!

But the worst thing is that the list is secret. That's right, you can be fined for linking to a site on the list but you can't check to see whether the site you want to link to is blacklisted! Reminiscent of the Inquisition. Of course, the list has been leaked: you can see it here.

Most of the stuff is porn but there are some things you definitely wouldn't want blocked, like individual MySpace pages and YouTube account pages and the blacklists of other countries.

Underpants Gnome

Disgusting
Originally uploaded by tigitogs

Smoking

This recent Herald article got me thinking.

Cindy likes to say that she's "racist" against smokers. I agree that, in general, they are subhuman filth.

But, like all modern racists, I'm occasionally forced to admit, 'But some of my best friends are!' I'm starting to think that this approach is not entirely consistent. Would it be better to use "love the sinner, hate the sin" rhetoric? The former simply claims exceptions to the rule, which could add up. The second is far more insulting, when you think about it.

I want to retain the most punchy approach, so I think I prefer the second - 'I love you qua person [agape]. I only hate you qua smoker.' Anything to use "qua" in a pub setting.

Update
I got a chance to use this line at a party. I then realised that Cindy and I make a good deadpan comedy duo because Americans don't understand either of us. I explained, 'Smoking pains me deeply; I hate the sin but love the sinner. But Cindy's racist against them, she thinks they're sub-human filth.'
Not knowing how serious I was being, our guest asks, 'What? Not really?'
But Cindy replies, 'Well, yes, more or less. I do hate smokers with a passion. The more I get to know them the more I despise them...'