http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Tue, 20 Sep 2005 17:12:37 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/09/20/171237.php MinimusWith the current political climate and "war on terror" going on at the moment, most people wouldn't dream of travelling to Pakistan. A Pakistani friend of mine, living here in London, recently told me he wouldn't go back there now as he thinks it's too dangerous.But I spent just over three weeks in Pakistan on my way to India last autumn and I will always have fond memories of it. I was backpacking independently and only once did I feel insecure, when in the tribal town of Quetta. There I didn't encounter any other westerners and was get some hard stares from some of the locals, but I suppose you should expect considering many members of the Taliban used to be based there.From Quetta I took the train to Lahore, right near the Indian border. Lahore was a vibrant, hectic city full of life and colour, with plenty to see and do, from colonial forts to bustling markets. After a few days the fast pace of the city, as well as the pollution, got to me, so I headed up north, travelling the Karakoram highway into the western Himalayas. Even being half-Swiss and well used to mountains, the sheer magnitude of the landscape was breathtaking. Things were a lot more laid back in the valleys, and I spent many days taking in the view of the 7000 metre-(21,000ft) high peaks. I missed out on some trekking as the winter was closing in, but it was definitely something to go back for. One of my most memorable experiences was while taking the 24-hour train from Quetta to Lahore, during which I was befriended by a 52-year-old mechanic named Bilal who proved to be an excellent companion. He proved an invaluable source of local knowledge and wanted to make sure I enjoyed his country as much as possible. When the food arrived he refused to let me pay for it and insisted that as I was his "guest", it was his duty to pay. It was a matter of pride for him so I let it go and for the rest of the journey he paid for my food, to my slight embarrassment. I couldn't imagine the same happening back in London. Ed/Pub:NB Culture36532@blogcritics.org Tue, 20 Sep 2005 17:12:37 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/08/09/153007.php Minimus"A controversial Islamic cleric has left the UK for the Middle East, his spokesman has said, amid speculation he would be investigated for treason." the BBC news site revealed last night.Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed is one of those clerics who had been preaching militant anti-Western views in the UK. Obviously he is one of many radicals here who praise and encourage atrocities such as 9/11 and 7/7, and spread hate within our British-born Muslim youth. They hate the Western Culture and way of life, but many of them are happy to live here, often on government benefits. For years the government ignored them and let them be, rather than stir up trouble in the Muslim community. But now they don't have a choice after being attacked. These Preachers of Hate are the instigators of the bombings, brainwashing the youth into becoming "Martyrs". They are shown videos of Innocent Muslims suffering under "Western Oppression" around the world and taught how to make bombs. Their motives are understandable, but their methods wrong and evil. I get very angry myself about the US's foreign policy and the fact that our British government support it at any cost. Both the UK and US have done some sick things in our histories, and our pasts our catching up with us. But to encourage young, disillusioned people to blow themselves up in order to murder, maim and to spread fear is wrong. And in the same country that you live in and get benefits from!That's why I think the treason charge should be bought against these extremists living and preaching in this country. 7 years ago treason still carried the Death Penalty, now life imprisonment. It's time the government did some good and gets tough on these people who don't give a fuck about human life! Politics33845@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Aug 2005 15:30:07 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/07/29/140143.php MinimusLast Monday, the 18th of July, Magic Mushrooms, whether fresh, dry or prepared, were made a Class A Drug. Previously you had been able to buy and consume them fresh, legally, from over 400 stores in the country. They also grow wild during the autumn in our countryside and can be easily found if you know where to look. They were available legally before due to a loophole in the law that only deemed them illegal if they were prepared and dried."The law has not been clear with regard to the status of fresh magic mushrooms and some have tried to exploit this apparent loophole" said Home Office Minister Paul Goggins in a statement.My local Hydroponics shop had a statement on their wall from the Home Office saying that they had permission to sell fresh shrooms and that it drew people away from more dangerous, illegal drugs. In the last 2-3 years as mushrooms have come more available use of LSD has dropped. Now isn't that a good thing??? I've had two close friends who've been sectioned in mental health hospitals due to excessive use of Acid as well as other drugs. Now that Mushrooms are Class A just like LSD, Heroin and Crack, people will rather take the acid as there are the same legal risks involved.You could now get locked up for 7 years of your life for picking a few wild mushrooms from a field. Crazy! Where is the logic in that? Who goes out commits crimes while tripping out? When have you ever heard of violence or robbery done by someone high on the fungi? Who the hell even wants to leave the comfort of their home and wander into the general public whilst on a trip? Yeah crack and smack heads commit crimes to feed their addictions, but magic mushrooms are not addictive. So why class them as the same?"Obviously I would not suggest someone with schizophrenia took magic mushrooms but nor should they probably take alcohol," said Chris Bovey, owner of online retailer Potseeds, based in Totnes, Devon. "Our customers feel patronised by the government, victimising them for doing something harmless and enjoyable in their own homes, just because they need to sound tough on drugs." This I totally agree with. Instead of making shrooms totally illegal, they should be properly regulated. But it's all too late now; the government rushed the legislation through and by the time anyone noticed, it was too late. Another little freedom we've had snatched away from us.Anyone got anything to say about the subject, I'm all ears. Culture33334@blogcritics.org Fri, 29 Jul 2005 14:01:43 EDT