MSNBC’s Jeff Jarvis is linking to me as an example of a ‘British blog’ sticking up for Prince Charles. I love the idea of some American saying ‘British blog’ in that slighly perjorative way Americans talk about anything British. I’d try and type what I mean fone-etical-ee, but I don’t think I’d get very far. So if you get what I mean, you’re on the same wavelength as me, and should be very worried for your sanity. Just a shame he didn’t avail himself of the trackback facilities.

The President has kindly recorded a tour of the Oval Office for the White House website. I don’t think it was intentional, but it had me in stitches inside thirty seconds: “The windows… er… ah… are magnificent… er… er… they… ah… erm… let in the sunlight”.

Priceless.

A couple of weeks ago, I provided you with a reason for Americans to feel smug. By which I meant citizens of the USA, not everyone from the North and South American continents, but I’m not going to stop using that shorthand, so please don’t complain.

Now, however, I’ve found definitive proof that being an American isn’t so good, simply because you have to put up with sickening patriotism. There are so many things ideologically wrong with that video that I don’t even want to start down that path. But what amused me was the statement on the website:

America We Stand As One and Dennis Madalone did not authorize or assist in the production, creation, or concept behind alternative “spoof” videos of America We Stand As One.

The whole thing looks like one big spoof. It’s embarrassing to watch. And, more than that, it’s just bad. It almost makes me feel sorry for them. Almost.

I’ve just spent the last twenty minutes or so with Ian’s Shoelace Site, relearning how to tie my shoelaces with the Ian Knot and Ian Secure Knot. And, believe it or not, I actually think it was time well spent. So thank you, Ian, for making such an interesting site, and teaching me the world’s fastest shoelace knot.

An extract from a typically hilarious piece from little.red.boat:

Why would I buy sausages? Because if I buy sausages, there is growing evidence that beginning to cook them will summon the vigilante CGI deathdog, who will perform some random act of humilation-based sado-sexual act on me, while my loved ones stand idly by.

Click here to read the full post.

Some people would say that stories like that of Laura Krishna are cruel and unnecessary (indeed, some of the people commenting on that post appear to think so), but if these cases help in the fight against internet plagiarism then it can only be good news… though it’s not something that I’d do, personally, and perhaps it was not helpful to paste her full name and university on the internet, since this can only lead to over-zealous netizens causing undue unhappiness. Laura’s saga continues here, and ends here.

Update: 17th April 2006
It’s a little over a year since I posted this, but anyway…
The pages have moved, so I’ve updated the links above. Also, since the above was posted, A Week of Kindness have done three further follow-ups: Here, here, and here. Hope this helps someone!

Introducing my country, a small nation in the Pacific. As I tackle various challenging issues raised by my citizens, the country will develop, and you can monitor its progress via the link on the sidebar.

Today, for example, I was asked to legislate in response to the following:

In response to a slow news week, certain highbrow newspapers have stirred up the debate over voluntary vs compulsory voting.

I don’t like the idea of compulsory voting because it removes a degree of freedom. If people wish to express the view that they do not wish to express a view, then they should be allowed to do so. The democratic process should be open to all, not forced upon people. Refusal to engage with the democratic process is just as important a standpoint as being all gung-ho in support of a political party.

Whether or not people should be forced to express their view, as under the Aussie system, is a more contentious issue, but I’m still against it as I don’t think it’s necessarily right to force people to express their views. Plus, it would cause chaos for those who would have difficulty doing so.

I, therefore, decided that voting should be voluntary, and so my government will enforce this law overnight. I will be presented with a new dilemma tomorrow. And so the country will develop.

It made me laugh…

Censorship of TV programmes around the world is always interesting to read about. But this seems a little harsh:

The Swedes can settle down with Helga And Heidi Do The Vacuuming Inexplicably Naked III safe in the knowledge that they are unlikely to be put off their stroke by a commercial for My Little Pony – all television advertising aimed at children under 12 is banned in Sweden (except if the programme is on so late that no children are likely to be watching).

At the other end of the scale:

A country as repressive as Saudi Arabia has to do something pretty special in the censorship department to attract attention, and they cracked it in 2001 by banning all manifestations of the Pokémon craze, including the television programme, on the grounds that the symbols used by the mono-dimensional creatures included the Star of David… The mind boggles at what they must have made of Teletubbies.

Though
Plough
Through
Thorough
Enough
Cough
Lough
Middlesbrough

You have to feel sorry for people trying to learn English.