citizen journalism

Funny, isn't it, that puttiing the word 'zero' into the title of something makes it seem both achingly new and political in a non-specific way?

AssignmentZero: An Experiment in Pro-Am Journalism

politics, swearing, America

The Secrets of Our Sweary Overlords [Gawker]

The always reliable Fred U. Dicker reports that "Gov. Eliot 'Steamroller' Spitzer was at it again yesterday, in a 15-minute, expletive-laden exchange with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno that left top state officials aghast—and caused a secretary to flee the face-off in horror, insiders said yesterday." Since the "family-friendly" Post won't give you any of the good stuff, we've obtained a transcript of the call and itemized its profanities.

"Motherfucker." [13 times, including salutations.]
"Cocksucker." [7 times, six in reference to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver]
"Asswipe." [Twice, both Spitzer]
"Asslicker." [Twice, one each]
"Cunting cocksucker sonofabitch." [Bruno administrative assistant transferring call]
"Taint-raping butt-buccaneer." [Spitzer, once, in reference to 1199 SEIU President Dennis Rivera]
"Bitch daughter of a thousand whores." [Bruno, once, in reference to former Lt. Governor Mary Donohue]
"Big-cocked child molester" [Spitzer, once, in reference to Bruno]
"Gigantic-cocked child molester" [Bruno, in reference to self]
"Village fucking idiot" [Spitzer, in re former governor Pataki, seventeen times]
"Dumbass retard Frankenstein" [Bruno, also in reference to Pataki, also seventeen times]
"Big meany." [Spitzer, once, during conciliatory period]
"Anal navigator dickface" [Spitzer, once, during goodbye]

Posted on The Engine.

googlewar, jean baudrillard, captain america

Two deaths of note to geeks with internet access today, but which is more important? Google News reveals all...

• Jean Baudrillard: 36


• Captain America: 3,347

There you go. Genuine statistical fact: Captain America - almost 100 times as important as Baudrillard. When dead.

Perry Bible Fellowship, blogs, commentspam

Interesting interview with Perry Bible Fellowship creator Nicholas Gurewitch at the Daily Cross Hatch, followed by a spectacular commentspam.

Oscars, Martin Scorcese, film

It finally happened for Marty - a Best Director Oscar to call his very own. The legendary director of Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and Raging Bull (plus a number of films not starring Robert De Niro) won, after five previous nominations. (Let's take this opportunity to raise a glass to Kevin O'Connell who didn't win last night - on his 19th nom.) There's no disputing Scorcese's status as a cinema great and The Departed is a more than decent film, but it's some way short of his best. Could it be the Academy thought it best to lay on an honour before his career went all Coppola-shaped...

photos, edinburgh, graffiti



The Venue was, at points over the past ten or so years, one of Edinburgh's finest nightclubs. It was also the site of (I think) the Fourth Year Ball afterparty in high school, which holds uniquely horrific memories for me. It closed down last year and the site will probably be used for offices or apartments or some other edifice of glass walls and exposed steelwork.

So that'll be three hundred and eighty days of radio silence, then. Where to start?

This is where I work as a bar supervisor most - no, all - of the time. Knew that Film Studies degree would come in handy. I have a flat, I have broadband.

I'm fucking doomed.