Blog, Censorship, Politics
Wendy Francis’ deleted article on Gay Marriage causing child abuse
After being roundly humiliated by, well, everyone on Twitter for her ignorant, unfounded and regressive ranting, Wendy Francis has deleted her blog post on the topic. Whether or not this was at the behest of Family First or if it was her own initiative is irrelevant. As Wendy will soon discover, the Internet never forgets. Thanks [...]
Blog, Censorship, Politics
Wendy Francis from Family First launches hateful rant on Twitter
Politicians have been learning, albeit slowly, that debating points of policy on Twitter is a mistake. The latest in a growing pile of gaff-destroyed political carnage is Wendy Francis, Queensland senatorial candidate for the Family First Party. *updated below Late this afternoon Wendy tweeted about a statement she’d released calling for the major parties to end the [...]
Blog, Censorship, Politics
Christian Lobby incapable of understanding ‘No’.
The Australian Christian Lobby has just released an article claiming that the Coalition’s rejection of the filter is ‘incomprehensible’. I have commented on the article at the site, though I have no trust in a Christian organisation’s desire to be fair and publish my comment, so I’ve copied it here. ******* This isn’t incomprehensible at all. Firstly, the [...]
Blog, Censorship, Politics, QUTE Magazine
My approach to censorship.
Before I go on, the QUTE magazine website is now open for business! It’d be be mighty hypocritical of me to rant and rave against censorship only to censor articles in my own publication. So I won’t. So far the only article censored in QUTE mag by the Student Guild Executive Board was an article about not letting [...]
Blog, Censorship, Politics
Internet Censorship Transparency Measures Announced: Tongue in Cheek
Stephen Conroy has been polishing shit in the hopes it will shine. Indeed, he will be remembered as the go-to guy for that kind of task. Today the DBCDE released its suite of measures to keep their website censorship policy transparent. Of the nine measures proposed only four have any real meat to them, and any [...]
Blog, Censorship
Sex Education with Websinthe
Posted on 09 August 2010
So if there’s one thing we’ve learned in the last 24 hours its that same-sex parents always abuse their kids. At least, that is, according to Wendy Francis, Family First senatorial candidate for Queensland. So I’m thinking, if all it takes to be a high-profile Senate candidate is a batshit crazy view of human sexuality, I [...] Continue Reading
QUTE Magazine
QUTE Issue 3: Theme – ‘Response’
Posted on 08 July 2010
The theme for issue 3 of QUTE magazine is ‘response’. I’m looking for responses to something current, whether it be a response to Clive Hamilton’s latest article or an interview with Mel Gibson or a government policy you dislike. Example a) You’ve just read an article called “Fighting Child Porn: thinking about the children” by Wei Tu Yung, [...] Continue Reading
QUTE Magazine
What you should be submitting to QUTE magazine
Posted on 01 July 2010
My attempts at keeping a broad scope of contributions to the magazine have failed; instead of getting a wide sweep of interesting content I get a whole lot of people not submitting anything from lack of guidance. So, instead of asking me ‘what’s the theme?’ or ‘what should I write?’, read this instead. Attack something. If you’ve [...] Continue Reading
Censorship
Just a thought: We need the worst of the worst to be better people
Posted on 27 April 2010
In the first minute of Gordon Brown’s TED talk on using the Internet to make the world a better place, he makes the greatest argument against censorship I’ve ever seen. I say ’seen’ quite deliberately, because he was talking about something completely different at the time. In his introduction he shows several images that have at [...] Continue Reading
QUTE Magazine
QUTE magazine, the grand scheme of things.
Posted on 31 January 2010
Sixteen years ago I opened a blank schoolbook and began planning a magazine. Today, I start work on that magazine in an official capacity, such is the nature of wishes. QUTE magazine is the Student Magazine for Queensland University of Technology, run by the student guild, printed by printers, edited by me. Last year’s QUTE magazine flourished [...] Continue Reading
Uncategorized
Who durst defie th’ Omnipotent to Arms
Posted on 30 October 2009
My frustration with religious prescriptions is well documented. Following my online commentary leaves one with the sense that while I don’t begrudge sommeone having their beliefs, I don’t suffer morality as a valid base for social strictures. Religion has had thousands of years to move us past the barbarism of scarcity and conflict but has [...] Continue Reading
Uncategorized
Messages to a younger Kieran
Posted on 21 October 2009
Things certainly didn’t turn out the way I thought they would. If I could go back in time to 1999 and tell my 14 year old self some of the things that I take for granted these days, I’m sure he’d have a fit. First of all, the idea of being invited to four or five parties [...] Continue Reading
Blog, Censorship, Charity
Kyle Sandilands’ and the tale of pink tickets: In defense of Sandilands
Posted on 01 August 2009
I have noticed the collective apoplexy being experienced by Australia’s dubiously educated soccer mums and under-employed social academics over Sandilands’ latest trick. I have noticed the vitriolic and panic-stricken cries of the media as they reach for the low hanging fruit of public angst. I have noticed everyone getting off on the chance to once again [...] Continue Reading
Blog
They call it ‘Speculative Fiction’ now.
Posted on 11 May 2009
I’ve known about this for a few months but it’s finally come out. Issue 131 of AntipodeanSF is here. I also happen to be one of the contributing authors. This is the first time I’ve published anything without a direct shot at the submit button so I’m feeling somewhat proud of myself. Have a read and [...] Continue Reading
Blog
CBD Rape Attempt and the ANZAC Tradition
Posted on 10 May 2009
An attempted rape in the early hours after ANZAC day ended in a ctizen’s arrest on a middle aged man. At 20 past midnight on the Sunday of the ANZAC day weekend residents living on the corner of Queen and Ann streets heard the terrified screams of a young woman as she was accosted by [...] Continue Reading
Blog
Greater Socio-political Context: We’re Screwed
Posted on 09 May 2009
Australians lack the identity and self-image to generate sufficient backlash to a conservative uprising that threatens to further erode our chances of a free and open society. The ACMA is still suffering little-man syndrome, The Rudd government is still distracting us with shiny objects and Clive Hamilton is still in hiding on the filter issue. What [...] Continue Reading
Blog
Stephen Hawking rushed to hospital, very ill.
Posted on 21 April 2009
He’s sick. With a body like his even a sniffle could be catastrophic. From the sounds of it this isn’t a sniffle. There’s not a single thing about Stephen Hawking that doesn’t resemble in some way the struggle, future and success of the human species. His mind has lifted our understanding of the physical world like [...] Continue Reading
Blog
Why we need more Pipe Dreams
Posted on 18 April 2009
As a society, the notion that we’re going to progress from this step to the next by thinking with today’s philosophy is dangerously myopic. The Australian government’s plan for a Nationational Broadband Network (NBN) aims to build an infrastructure that surpasses the economicly justifiable ‘next step’. Senator Minchin, the opposition’s man of tech, has labelled the idea [...] Continue Reading
Blog
Websinthe presents -
Posted on 15 April 2009
Websinthe’s favourite 10 songs of all time (to which he’s willing to admit) -or- 10 songs for a desert island. All Along the Watchtower – (Bear McReary – orig. Bob Dylan) Blood, Milk and Sky (White Zombie) Spite and Malice (Placebo) Burn (The Cure) Rocket Brothers (Kashmir) Still Alive (Jonathan Coulton) Stolen (Dashboard Confessional) Secret Crowds (Angels and Airwaves) Nessun Dorma (Puccini – 3 Tenors) In A [...] Continue Reading
Blog
Problems in corporate communication
Posted on 15 April 2009
My ability to communicate has never been in question. I pride myself on writing without needless decoration. I can be civil, friendly and even endearing. I can be trite, crass and sometimes blunt. 10 years of broad writing experience means sweet bugger all in corporate communications. If you’re looking for a writing style that blends all the [...] Continue Reading
Blog
Rudd’s NBN: Why private enterprise will hold us back… sometimes.
Posted on 07 April 2009
Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that the National Broadband Network (NBN) will be a public venture reflects a critical aspect of Australia’s economic situation. Rudd and Conroy have both stepped on the private sector submissions as not meeting government requirements. The particulars of each submission notwithstanding, there is an underlying economic reason why none of them [...] Continue Reading
-
CATEGORIES
- Blog (113)
- blogosphere (2)
- Censorship (41)
- Charity (7)
- Politics (16)
- QUTE Magazine (4)
- Uncategorized (43)
-
ARCHIVES
- August 2010 (5)
- July 2010 (5)
- June 2010 (4)
- April 2010 (1)
- March 2010 (2)
- January 2010 (2)
- November 2009 (2)
- October 2009 (2)
- August 2009 (1)
- May 2009 (3)
- April 2009 (6)
- March 2009 (14)
- February 2009 (20)
- January 2009 (17)
- December 2008 (11)
- November 2008 (15)
- October 2008 (25)
- September 2008 (41)
- August 2008 (13)
- July 2008 (1)
- January 2008 (1)