[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE]
A very interesting animation from You Tube about the amazing pace of development in the online world. It’s probably best to let you make your own minds up about what it means, rather than pontificating about what I think it means …
It was made by a professor of anthropology in Kansas, USA – somebody who is obviously very interested in how human beings communicate.
Here is an unashamed puff piece for a great exhibition which will soon be on in London.
It’s a collaboration between five female artists about the war in the middle east. The twist is that all of them have distinct experiences of living through war – and it all makes for some fantastically powerful art.
I recommend a visit to the site, which is linked here – and do try, if you are going to be anywhere near London between April 11th and the 17th, to go along. The venue is going to be next to The Angel tube station, at the bottom of Upper Street.
Who could resist a story like astronauts in a love triangle? The joke possibilities are infinite.
Wonder of wonders, The Sun has a magnificent scoop today with the voice recording from two US planes involved in a friendly fire incident against British troops in Iraq.
Also, it has emerged that Jonathan Powell, the PM’s most senior aide, is about to be interviewed again by the Met in respect of the loans for peerages allegations.
Now, who might have an interest in making sure there was a good, big, dramatic story in the public eye today? Coroners don’t talk to the media, the US certainly are not happy about the leak – who does that leave?
An old problem has raised it’s head again – people stealing your images and then passing them off as their own work.
One of my colleagues, Andy Davey, has found people ‘borrowing’ or stealing parts of his drawings for use in their photoshopped internet mash-ups. And they’ve been appearing on popular internet blog sites, such as Guido Fawkes and Ian Dale’s Diary. The latest one turned up on Iain’s diary over the weekend.
To be fair to Iain and Guido, both have sort-of apologised for using unattributed images, but there is a serious responsibility to check where artwork is coming from if you are going to publish it on the web.
Old media had to develop a system of employing artists and creators to help decorate their products, it would be nice to think that successful web sites could start to think about doing that too. After all, the visitor benefits are obvious – everybody likes drawings which are rude about politicians.
Perhaps one simple solution would be for all artwork posted to political blog sites like these to be signed – and noted with a URL – that way, we get to know who thinks what. And also, Andy would have some chance to track down the person who ‘borrowed’ his work.
There is an interesting exchange between my colleague Morten Morland and Iain Dale about this issue at the link below.
The PM has been interviewed for the second time about the loans for lordships affair. His own personal fundraiser, Lord Michael Levy, has been re-arrested about the matter. It’s all very, very smelly.
Incidentally, the nation’s prisons are full and overflowing again.
I wonder if anyone will be able to bring themselves to offer the former prime Minister Blair the traditional lordship after he has resigned?
Editorial drawing about Britain’s first supercasino – loans for peerages – overstocked jails – catholic adoption agencies – and the Labour deputy leadership. I wish the news didn’t make you reach for so much sometimes. However, when you look at it, it does indicate a government that looks in terminal decline.
A personal project.
A story lightening the mood of the nation. I wonder where all those stories about dangerous chemicals (STAY AWAY!) went?
The PMs respect zones are being rolled out in many of our cities. This appears to be about targeting areas of low-level disorder, drunkenness and improving the behaviour of various social miscreants.
However, as my colleague Justin McKeating points out, there’s a.nother agenda at work too
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Cross-reference this list of the 40 councils designated ‘Respect Zones‘ today with this list of 312 councils facing local elections in May 2007.
All but one ‘Respect Zone’ (Hastings Borough Council) are having local elections this year.
Just saying, is all.
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