It’s not often that matters solely encompassing political affairs of the British Isles make lasting impressions throughout the course of the day. The fickle nature of trending topics tends to guarantee that almost precisely at the moment we choose to tackle one in blog form, it disappears. Today, however, “BBC” and “Nick Griffin” have managed to stay afloat atop our fair list of topics. On first glance, these two seemed separate. We thought perhaps the BBC was trending because Monty Python is celebrating their 40th year of hilarity, and maybe everyone in Britain was checking feverishly to see what time a special is going to air on BBC…and not really knowing who Nick Griffin is, we figured that maybe he was a new dynamite contestant on Britain’s Got Talent. Upon further investigation this could not be further from the truth. (more…)
Archive for the ‘International Affairs’ Category
BBC Triggers Controversy Over Free Speech
10/22/09 - Posted by Evan Kessler under International Affairs, PoliticsFinland Delivers Broadband and Sunshine
10/14/09 - Posted by Abdullah Saeed under International AffairsWe often view the use of new technology as a privilege. Hell, we still say having a driver’s license is a privilege in a country where functioning without a car is practically impossible outside of a city. However, one country is taking the first step in recognizing that we live in an age of dependence on technology, not simply a time of increased ease. Today, Finland makes broadband a legal right, and the approximate 20 resulting Tweets per minute suggest that it’s a damn good idea.
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Sorry, Chicago: Rio Takes 2016 Olympic Bid
10/02/09 - Posted by Christopher Reinhard under International Affairs, Sports
Lake Placid, Squaw Valley, Los Angeles; the list of American cities who have hosted their own star-spangled version of the modern Olympic Games is longer than most nations can say, at eight. But eight it shall remain, at least for now; Chicago has been eliminated from the cast of candidates for 2016’s summer session. In fact, the city’s bid was the first to be dismissed, leading to a hefty helping of social media chatter about what could have gone wrong.
The most influential person in America—Oprah Winfrey—showed her support for Chicago’s instatement as the home of the Games in Denmark this week, but even her powers were useless when it came time for the event’s committee to vote.
Tokyo was also eliminated from contention early, leaving Madrid and Rio De Janeiro in a face off that ultimately landed in the bejeweled hands of the latter. Get ready, Rio; you’ve got six years to lay on the sparkle, lay off the caipirinhas, and let Oprah cool off. See you in 2016.
Natural Disasters Trilogy Sweeps Asia, South Pacific
9/30/09 - Posted by Evan Kessler under International Affairs
We’re not sure whether you forgot to separate the plastic from the glass last week or you decided to purchase a gas-guzzling SUV, but whatever you did, mother nature is pissed off.
Recently, the earth has unleashed a flurry of destruction upon its inhabitants unmatched since theaters worldwide made people watch The Day After Tomorrow. It all started with storms and subsequent deadly floods in the Phillippines, which then carried on to Vietnam. Next on the disaster timeline came Tuesday’s massive Samoan earthquake which sent a deadly tsunami roaring through the capital and put areas as far away as Hawaii and as near as California on watch. As if three force majeures were not enough to have us shaking in our boots, this morning we were awakened by news of a second massive earthquake near Sumatra. Now we’re not sure if this is all just a big coincidence caused by shifting clouds and tectonic plates or it’s the end of days, but whatever you might have done to irk mother earth, kindly repent or build yourself an ark.
Happy Yom Kippur
9/28/09 - Posted by Evan Kessler under Because We Feel Like it, International Affairs
We at Oneriot would like to extend a notice of solidarity to our Jewish friends on this high holy day of Yom Kippur. Our stomachs are churning and growling in unison with yours as we too - some of us, anyway - are fasting in the hopes that at sundown all of our digital transgressions of the past year will be atoned for by the Lord above. The lunch hour has become somber and reflective as we think about all of the grammatical and spelling mistakes that we’ve occasionally peppered you with since beginning this great venture and only hope that our steadfast adherence to the letter of rabbinical law will cleanse our fallible Internet-dwelling souls. We know that by denying ourselves the pleasure of that 1pm bagel or that 3:30pm bag of Cheetos our slate will be wiped clean (provided we can keep holding off those Rice Krispy treats our Pagan editor was brandishing earlier) and that whatever we eat after sundown, even if it’s from the British culinary family, will be delicious. Tomorrow we begin anew. Happy Yom Kippur.
Indonesia Welcomes Record-Breaking Monster Baby
9/25/09 - Posted by Abdullah Saeed under International Affairs
An Indonesian couple has managed to produce a 19.2 pound baby, shattering previously held records and dwarfing the birth weights of his relatively large older siblings by almost 10 pounds. The boy, Akbar, was removed from his mother’s womb via Caesarean section by several doctors and a construction worker operating a forklift. (more…)
Dust Storm Sheets Sydney in - uh, Dust
9/23/09 - Posted by Christopher Reinhard under International Affairs
In what is being called the most photogenic natural disaster of 2009, Australian cultural capital Sydney has been blanketed with a thick coating of red dust. In the past 24 hours the city experienced a phenomenal dust storm that’s delayed public transportation and left even seasoned meteorologists stunned. It’s even been reported that visibility is down to a few hundred…wait. A few hundred meters? Isn’t that like, a mile?
Okay, so, the photos of this so-called disaster are pretty extraordinary; but when was the last time some American complained about only being able to see a mile in front of them? We’re pretty sure LA smog causes similar circumstances on the daily. But whatever—life must be tough in Australia, what with all the zorbing and kangaroo riding and baby koalas that require petting and eucalyptus treats every five minutes. Our hearts go out to you, Australia. Keep your head up, MATE.
Joko Anwar Does the Circle K No Pants Dance
9/22/09 - Posted by Evan Kessler under Because We Feel Like it, Gossip, International Affairs
The current lay of the cultural landscape is littered with several kinds of social media consumers. There are the casual users who are just trying to stay connected, the recreational who find great entertainment value in the frequent status updates and interactive nature of socializing with those you can’t be near, and then there are the wholly self-obsessed who are convinced that their every move is of paramount importance on a global scale and thus worthy of the other two group’s time.
You can count Indonesian film director Joko Anwar as a member of the latter social “me”dia generation. The director of such films as Pintu terlarang and Dead Time, Kala wielded his sword of net arrogance to more or less make convenience mart Circle K a household name for the first time since Bill and Ted traveled through time from a phone booth outside one. Anwar announced via his twitter page that once his followers topped the 3,000 mark, he would be making a rather naked jaunt to the store, assuming of course that 3,000 people wanted to see him naked buying a bottle of iced tea. The director’s challenge predictably proved the unfortunate fact that there are enough people who are more than willing to encourage such self aggrandizing, yet wholly desperate seeming behavior. Within minutes Circle K was trending all over the net and Anwar was over 3,000 followers (way over - he’s currently at 16,000).
It used to be people would do anything for a buck - now it’s just for some digital disciples and a soft drink. Unfortunately, for some Circle K employees, that meant seeing a naked film director.
Behind the scenes video coming soon to YouTube - watch Joko’s Twitter profile for updates!
Starving Populations’ Plight Worsen Amid Recession
9/21/09 - Posted by Abdullah Saeed under International Affairs
The recessions has caused many of us to scale back our lives by limiting our luxuries, which often means forgoing vacations and other luxuries. Tightening our belts has been hard, but it’s a lot harder when you’re doing it to keep hunger at bay. Turns out, we don’t know what hard is. For nations with populations that have been starving since before the global financial crisis, waiting for the ‘end of the recession’ doesn’t mean much. (more…)
We Be Countdowning: Talk Like a Pirate Day is Tomorrow
9/18/09 - Posted by Evan Kessler under Because We Feel Like it, International AffairsI don’t care where this ship’s a goin’, my M-16 says we’re headed to the shores of Mogadishu!
Ahoy mateys. Peg Leg Ev’n here, and I be tak’n over the high seas of the OneRiot blog with this here post to let you know that tomorrow, September 19th is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. So whether you’re flying on airplane en route to meet up with your old college buddy in Pittsburgh or just taking a stroll in the park with the one you love, don’t forget to throw some Pirate-isms out to your fellow swashbucklers sailin’ along Davy Jones locker of life.
Traditionally, this day has been all about sea shantys, “aaarghs,” eyepatches, and walkin’ the plank, but there are now plenty of new additions to the exciting realm of buccaneer terminology. For a modern day channeling of a marine marauder, just bust out a “I don’t care where this ship’s a goin’, my M-16 says we’re headed to the shores of Mogadishu,” or the ever so caustic, “we demand $3 million in ransom or the French captain gets a bullet to the brain.”
Whether you prefer the old timey yo-ho’s to the new fangled threat of gun violence, it’s all in play tomorrow. So change your Facebook language settings to “Pirate,” perch that Parrot on your shoulder, join an illegal free music website and fire a warning shot across the bows of all of your friends and enemies, because International Talk Like A Pirate Day is the only time everyone truly has an excuse for having a little Cap’n in ‘em.
Buddy Up