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writer, singer, webwrangler, blogger, comedy tragic | about.me/vivsmythe

• Shonks and sensationalists

  By tigtog on 2008-08-07 • ( 1 )

  Andrew Funnell on today’s Radio National’s Media Report [transcript] examines the reaction to ABC-TV’s Gruen Transfer from the public and from within the industry. GT was a ratings hit, is being attributed as the source of new interest in advertising as a career from bright young things, and is also accused of doing more harm than good to the industry through the panel-members playing up to an existing image of advertisers as quipping show-ponies with a cynical streak.

  The range of opinions about the show is interesting, and the controversy obviously plays into why the show has been renewed. To me the criticisms of the show as lightweight ring a very loud bell, as I was disappointed by the lack of substantive discussion regarding the manipulations of advertising – they keep on circling the issue and backing off.

  Anyway, one line in the program caught my attention as especially well expressed:

• Contagious yawning and canine empathy

  By tigtog on 2008-08-07 • ( 3 )

  From the BBC:

  Until recently it was thought that only humans and their primate cousins displayed contagious yawning, but now it’s been shown that dogs display the behaviour as well.

  Yawning, although sometimes a response to extreme stress, is more often a sign of tiredness; but the reason for why yawning is catching is not fully understood.

• How more vile (and thick (and don’t forget vile)) can McCain possibly be?

  By tigtog on 2008-08-06 • ( 11 )

  He pimped his wife to voters as a potential contestant in a local “beauty contest” that involves skimpy swimwear, topless parades and simulated sex acts – (edited to addwhich to be fair I’m sure he didn’t know was quite so “risque”, but it’s still totally objectifying his wife). (Video here of both McCain’s “quip” and a typical night’s entertainment in the contest) As I’m sure you’ll all

• Whoydensday: when fans attack edition

  By tigtog on 2008-08-06 • ( 13 )

  NOTE: Spoiler Free Zone for later episodes of the Doctor Who 2008 Season – Australia has only just seen the Sontaran Double Episodes 4.04 The Sontaran Stratagem and 4.05 The Poison Sky. Everything prior to that is fair game. Torchwood Season 2 is entirely off limits for spoilers here too, please (We can always have another fans attack edition later in the year) – we do have a thoroughly spoiled Season 4 Finale thread still open though – feel free.

  So, it keeps on happening (the image below recurs in various adaptations all over the ihasatardis LJ community):

  

  What’s been your most jarring WTF moments? Conversely, what’s only crept up on you later, upon reflection or reading someone else’s take? On the gripping hand, what fan-attacks have struck you as totally unwarranted?

• If I’d known they were coming I’d have closed the gates

  By tigtog on 2008-08-06 • ( 19 )

  

  So, is your house shown on Google Maps Streetview?

  What about the directions to get to your place? Adequate, or rubbish? And did they have a clean lens round your way?

  Inquiring minds etc

• The gap between American justice and that of the rest of the world is enormous and growing

  By tigtog on 2008-08-05 • ( 2 )

  Xeni Jardin notes that it’s official: more than 1% of the US population is now in jail or prison. The stats one finds can be a little confusing because of that particular US distinction (between jail (a remand facility for those awaiting trial or convicted of misdemeanours) and prison (convicted criminals only)), but most studies find between 750 to 800 persons imprisoned per 100,000 US populace. Other nations treat jail/gaol and prison as synonyms, so their incarceration rates may well include those held on remand or for misdemeanours, making the difference in figures between the US and other countries even more striking.

• “For want of a transporter”

  By tigtog on 2008-08-05

  Despite several attempts, the cremated remains of actor James Doohan (Scotty in Star Trek) have not yet made it out into space.

  While the family understands that being on the cutting edge of technology can mean that things often do not go as planned, they’re not finding this easy. His son Ehrich writes:

• Note to the neighbours

  By tigtog on 2008-08-04 • ( 7 )

  THANK YOU. Whoever saw a wallet nearby, thank you so much for picking it up and putting it in the letterbox.

  As it happened, it belonged with next-door rather than us, but it has now been returned to its rightful owner. Great relief and gratitude ensued.

  I love this street

• The ever-practical female superhero strikes again

  By tigtog on 2008-08-04 • ( 2 )

  

  Marvel Fashion Show-10, originally uploaded by LJinto.

  Taken at a comicon this last weekend, apparently this “fashion parade” was actually organised by Marvel Comics.

• Photo techniques I plan to rip off at the earliest possible opportunity #1

  By tigtog on 2008-08-04 • ( 4 )

  
  Image Source: Astronomy Picture of the Day (2008-08-02: Eclipse Shirt), image by Phillip Haake

  The next eclipse of the sun visible from Australia will be in November 2012 (and only a partial eclipse over Sydney), so I’ve got a while to plan it