Book Meme

Since I got tagged by silk_noir I'll play along (partly). :)

1) Pick up the nearest book.
2) Go to page 123.
4) Find the 5th sentence.
5) Post the next 3 sentences.
6) Tag 5 people and acknowledge who tagged you.

The closest real book is "Mega Manga: The Complete Reference to Drawing Manga" by Keith Sparrow.  That's really not appropriate.  I'll instead pick the next one which is "Toxic Sludge is Good For You!: Lies, Damned Lies and the Public Relations Industry" by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton.

"Silent Spring also created a crisis -- a PR crisis -- for the powerful agricultural chemical industry which had emerged after World War II based in large part on the military's widespread use of DDT and its development of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T herbicides. The agrichemical industry hit back at Carson with the PR equivalent of a prolonged carpet bombing campaign. Even before her book was published, Velsicol chemical company tried unsuccessfully to intimidate the publisher into changing it or canceling publication."

That's the first three but here's a bit more.

( More PR fun with pre-GMO Monsanto . . . )

Book Meme

Since I got tagged by silk_noir I'll play along (partly). :)

1) Pick up the nearest book.
2) Go to page 123.
4) Find the 5th sentence.
5) Post the next 3 sentences.
6) Tag 5 people and acknowledge who tagged you.

The closest real book is "Mega Manga: The Complete Reference to Drawing Manga" by Keith Sparrow.  That's really not appropriate.  I'll instead pick the next one which is "Toxic Sludge is Good For You!: Lies, Damned Lies and the Public Relations Industry" by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton.

"Silent Spring also created a crisis -- a PR crisis -- for the powerful agricultural chemical industry which had emerged after World War II based in large part on the military's widespread use of DDT and its development of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T herbicides. The agrichemical industry hit back at Carson with the PR equivalent of a prolonged carpet bombing campaign. Even before her book was published, Velsicol chemical company tried unsuccessfully to intimidate the publisher into changing it or canceling publication."

That's the first three but here's a bit more.

( More PR fun with pre-GMO Monsanto . . . )

Leukaemia and Nuclear Materials in Scotland

The beat goes on in yet another country on this issue. Not only on the specific issue of disease and nuclear material but on the issue of "we're from the govmint and we will do as we like even if our original excuse is in tatters.". Three years on from the original demand and counting.

Leukaemia and Nuclear Power: What's the Secret? - Sunday Herald - 04 May 08

"The saga can be traced to a freedom of information request lodged in January 2005 by the Scottish Greens for a breakdown of leukaemia statistics for under-15s in Dumfries and Galloway. Michael Collie [a researcher for Green MSP Chris Ballance], the applicant, wanted to know whether there were cancer clusters next to the Chapelcross power station and the Dundrennan military firing range. However, the Common Services Agency (CSA), a Scottish NHS body, blocked release on the grounds of patient confidentiality.

Kevin Dunion, the Scottish information commissioner, then ruled in favour of the applicant by backing publication of the data. He said the CSA could prevent identification of patients by using a method of statistical makeover called 'Barnardisation'. A subsequent appeal by the CSA in the court of session centred around the public body's view that Barnardisation fell outwith the scope of Collie's request.

Leukaemia and Nuclear Materials in Scotland

The beat goes on in yet another country on this issue. Not only on the specific issue of disease and nuclear material but on the issue of "we're from the govmint and we will do as we like even if our original excuse is in tatters.". Three years on from the original demand and counting.

Leukaemia and Nuclear Power: What's the Secret? - Sunday Herald - 04 May 08

"The saga can be traced to a freedom of information request lodged in January 2005 by the Scottish Greens for a breakdown of leukaemia statistics for under-15s in Dumfries and Galloway. Michael Collie [a researcher for Green MSP Chris Ballance], the applicant, wanted to know whether there were cancer clusters next to the Chapelcross power station and the Dundrennan military firing range. However, the Common Services Agency (CSA), a Scottish NHS body, blocked release on the grounds of patient confidentiality.

Kevin Dunion, the Scottish information commissioner, then ruled in favour of the applicant by backing publication of the data. He said the CSA could prevent identification of patients by using a method of statistical makeover called 'Barnardisation'. A subsequent appeal by the CSA in the court of session centred around the public body's view that Barnardisation fell outwith the scope of Collie's request.

Last Call on the UK Elections (Green Perspective)

Nice synopsis of the last election cycle from the perspective of one of the victorious Norwich Greens, Rupert Read [his blog]. Interesting observation on the confusion over the ranked choice voting used in London. Seems like San Francisco, by comparison, had few problems with the ranked choice voting they've implemented.

Local Elections: Media Squeezes and Political Styles - OurKingdom.OpenDemocracy.net - 03 May 08

"In terms of the Greens’ performance in the London elections: Sian Berry has made a superb impact, establishing the Green Party clearly in the minds of the public and the media as the fourth Party of British politics. A real highlight of the campaign for me was the Polling Day endorsement by the Indy of her for Mayor. And we have easily held onto our two Assembly Members - just rewards for the estimable Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson."

"Too bad that the media typically didn’t trouble to inform voters that the electoral system (both for the Mayor, with two preferences, and moreover for the Assembly, with the List system) in London of course should have meant that there was no need for such a squeeze. People had the chance to vote for whoever they wished. But my experience was that many voters didn’t grasp this, unless it was explicitly explained to them, in person."

"Turning to happier news: I was privileged to be present at a historic moment at Thursday night’s count, here in Norwich. The Green Party has become the first ever Official Opposition on a Principal Authority Council in Britain. I feel exhausted, my feet hurt from pounding the pavement: but the exhilaration and the pride remain. For a political animal, there is little to rival the ecstasy of an election well won."

Last Call on the UK Elections (Green Perspective)

Nice synopsis of the last election cycle from the perspective of one of the victorious Norwich Greens, Rupert Read [his blog]. Interesting observation on the confusion over the ranked choice voting used in London. Seems like San Francisco, by comparison, had few problems with the ranked choice voting they've implemented.

Local Elections: Media Squeezes and Political Styles - OurKingdom.OpenDemocracy.net - 03 May 08

"In terms of the Greens’ performance in the London elections: Sian Berry has made a superb impact, establishing the Green Party clearly in the minds of the public and the media as the fourth Party of British politics. A real highlight of the campaign for me was the Polling Day endorsement by the Indy of her for Mayor. And we have easily held onto our two Assembly Members - just rewards for the estimable Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson."

"Too bad that the media typically didn’t trouble to inform voters that the electoral system (both for the Mayor, with two preferences, and moreover for the Assembly, with the List system) in London of course should have meant that there was no need for such a squeeze. People had the chance to vote for whoever they wished. But my experience was that many voters didn’t grasp this, unless it was explicitly explained to them, in person."

"Turning to happier news: I was privileged to be present at a historic moment at Thursday night’s count, here in Norwich. The Green Party has become the first ever Official Opposition on a Principal Authority Council in Britain. I feel exhausted, my feet hurt from pounding the pavement: but the exhilaration and the pride remain. For a political animal, there is little to rival the ecstasy of an election well won."

YouTube Pulls Areva Anti-Nuke Parody

I just found a new and free tool for finding things in my free version of LiveJournal. Turns out there's a LJ database program that downloads your postings and sets them up on your computer's hard drive as a searchable database. Very nice. It is called ljArchive.

As I was paging though the back posts, I noticed that the sudotone parody of the Areva "Funkytown" ad had been removed from the YouTube site for some form of policy violations. I thought parody was pretty well protected as a free speech issue but perhaps not in the world of YouTube. Took a bit but I found it on a French YouTube-like site called dailymotion.com. They also have a nice clip on wind energy development in France (gasp!).

( Videos behind cut . . . )

YouTube Pulls Areva Anti-Nuke Parody

I just found a new and free tool for finding things in my free version of LiveJournal. Turns out there's a LJ database program that downloads your postings and sets them up on your computer's hard drive as a searchable database. Very nice. It is called ljArchive.

As I was paging though the back posts, I noticed that the sudotone parody of the Areva "Funkytown" ad had been removed from the YouTube site for some form of policy violations. I thought parody was pretty well protected as a free speech issue but perhaps not in the world of YouTube. Took a bit but I found it on a French YouTube-like site called dailymotion.com. They also have a nice clip on wind energy development in France (gasp!).

( Videos behind cut . . . )