I have a TV in the new place, and Freeview so I’ve got basic cable. No doubt I’ll get over-excited and blog a bit about the shows I’ve watched.
I really enjoyed the dark humour of “The Thick of It” on Monday night. It’s like an updated version of “Yes, Minister” or “Yes, Prime Minister”. I think these shows fundamentally affected my view of politics. It would be interesting to know how it affected my generation as a whole – if your first introduction to politics is deeply cynical, are you doomed to eternal cynicism?
Anyway, with that in mind, I bring you, 2005 Top Ten Tactics to Influence Negative News and Seventeen Techniques for Truth Suppression.

I have the urge to do a self-indulgent reminiscing post, so do excuse me. 2005 flew by, it’s hard to realise how I could have fit so much in.
I presented a paper at my first ever big proper conference, and had two papers published. I worked on major projects at work, moved twice, went to lots of festivals and gigs, plays, galleries and museums.
I went to Poland, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Russia, Turkey (for work), Ireland (twice), Wales, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
There were two deaths – one unexpected, the other not unexpected, but still devastating at the time. But there were also lots of weddings and engagements, and babies! Lots of babies!

Belated Christmas card from Banksy. Well, I’m the belated one, not him. Hope you had a wonderful New Year’s, too.

“A court in the US has ruled against the teaching of “intelligent design” alongside Darwin’s theory of evolution.” (BBC)

Send a ‘Make Poverty History’ Christmas card to Tony Blair.
Bush forced to accept torture ban
“The White House has caved in to overwhelming domestic and international pressure by accepting tough new rules for the treatment of prisoners by US forces.” (Age)
Of course, it might not mean much, given they way they’ve redefined ‘torture’.

I got a comment/hate mail on the Princess Di advice page from a random American, who emailed ‘Di‘ to say, “your not relly talking”. This reminded me of the whole Ya Rly thing, so I posted about this somewhere, and a friend made me an image of Princess Di going ‘Ya Relly’.
So, now I have a snazzy new picture and it inspired me to update the page and add twenty new questions to Princess Di.

I’d heard a random track I really liked on my iPod, but because it was the shuffle I couldn’t see what it was called.
I googled some of the lyrics, and in the process came across tinyman which had some good music/gig reviews and put me onto some music I hadn’t heard before… I left a message on their messageboard and they posted a reply, so finally I have an answer. I [heart] the internet.
It turns out the band is called ‘On Inc.’ and the song is called ‘Am What I Am’. Oddly, despite lyrics like ‘miles of styles like Melbourne weather’, they’re from Newcastle. Through googling them, I found Australian Music Online which might be a good place to catch up with new Australian music.

Brilliant Exploitation Poster Art at Christies.

Came across Londonist today via a post about dodginess in the NME album chart, and it lead me onto this F word article about gender differences in ads.

Depressing article about Guantanamo Bay. I fail to see how we can claim to be the civilised West when we stoop so low. It’s not just the torture, it’s tricks like this:
“Talking to my clients is draining. Even gaining their trust is not easy. After the right to counsel was won, the military tried to outflank us by sending interrogators in pretending to be lawyers.” (New Statesman)