Just think about this, whatever your child or your niece, nephew and some strangers kids are feeding their eyes with is likely attached to a clown or maybe a cynical conglomerate that knows social media and children fed algorithms will make them rich. Those little eyes looking for comfort, or simplistic entertainment and viral content are creating the future millionaires, perhaps billionaires given inflation. In the past television had dedicated time spots and channels for children, then the internet and the many devices gave us access to so much media that ignorance should be impossible....
Tyson vs Paul- We all Run out of Time
Netflix put on its first boxing event, it’s content was plugged from Squid Games to Cobra Kai and Mike Tyson, 58 years of age, fought Jake Paul, 27 years of age. A battle of nostalgia versus the modern celebrity culture that has used boxing well as a promotion platform, and to show that the combat sports are trapped in an identity miasma. Despite MMA for the past three decades being touted as the ‘fastest growing sport’ and the UFC becoming a brand synonymous with the sport itself, the big money is still in boxing. The more mature sport can still give former MMA stars a better payday inside...
Libertas Defiant
Footage of a young Persian woman in a public space in just her underwear has circulated into a meme. Her name is Ahoo Daryaei, and she was defiantly protesting the recently imposed additions to the Iranian hijab laws. There is a dignity in her near nudity that transcends the casual sharing of her actions on social media; she likely knew full well what her punishment would be and despite that, she shredded herself free of the repressive symbolism of the theocratic state. Though not as iconic as the 1989 Tank Man, it is a moment where we, the digital voyeur, are able to peer with distant and...
Anti-War Blog – Remember
The 11th of November, specifically at 11AM is a sacred time that has taken on a religious observance among the victorious of World War One. A time to officially remember those who died in that war and the many others since, often with the observation of silence for a minute of more. It is when a nation is supposed to fall silent, stand still and dip it’s head for those who died in the service of King, President, Empire Or Government. It is to remember the millions who died in war that ended ancient dynasties and gave rise to new ones, a war that was supposed to be so terrible that it should...
Censorship Down Under
The Australian parliament pushes through a bill that will now control access to social media. Like most censorship and prohibition acts it is done under the guise of child protection, the fear mongering used has been constant. Children can be groomed, manipulated and infected with information and contacted by predators if only not for these measures. We are told, again. What does it likely mean? Given that social media will now be banned by anyone under the age of sixteen, it will require a proof of ID to access. The digital ID that has been avoided and rejected by most people is now a...
The Winner Is…
Donald Trump did it, he is the most famous person in the world. His ambitions have been realised. He won and to him that is all that matters. He also just happens to be the next US president, again. Harris was never going to win, she was terrible. She had been the VP under another terrible person, Biden. The election was more about them not winning and the Neocons being denied direct power again than it was about Trump, himself. He just happened to not be another politician. But Donald Trump, the celebrity tycoon who has been famous for over forty years. Remember how last time he became...
Activist-cide
I recently attended an Australian Friends of Palestine charity fundraiser. It was a run-walk on a warm Sunday afternoon at Glenelg. Merchandise was sold, donations taken, and those entering paid to help raise money and awareness about the genocide in Palestine. In the end, twenty thousand Australian dollars were raised. The event was friendly and well meaning, and in line with the organizer's speech that "Today we put our anger aside," there was no indignation present. I spoke to a handful of people about Palestine. One lady responded, "Can we talk about something else, as it’s not...
The Girl in the Mall
She could be anywhere from sixteen to her early twenties, a strewn mess of hair rests tangled above and over her face. A regular at the Seaford Shopping Centre, she watches families walk by, smiling at children and when no one is nearby she talks to herself. In the winter her bare feet purple from the cold and as summer approaches her skin showing bruises, cuts and debris that clings to her youth. Pacman, the man mountain who works security tells me that she is nice, keeps to herself and the mall management and local shop owners don’t mind her being inside. Though it’s not the weather that...