My most recent story is up at Shoggoth.net

The Temple of Dagon has expanded, it now includes a link to CthulhuMud, as well as an expanded Lovecraft writings page.

The latest issue of Forean Times’ cover story is all about Lovecraft. Considering the readership of this blog, I rather doubt it will inform anyone here of anything new, but its nice to see the great man receive coverage.

Ia! Ia! indeed!

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“The Senate voted Thursday to restore a ban on state and local taxation of the services that connect consumers to the Internet. ...The Senate voted 93-3 to prohibit state and local governments from imposing taxes on Internet access but to allow some states already collecting the levies to continue.” (04/29/04)

Via: Rational Review

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Nuff said!

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and its the blink of a shutter

its the hitman in the gutter

were all caught in a hidden camera show
—tom mcrae

I offer this for informational purposes only.

These disposable cameras (about $5 dollars a pop) have a capacitor that can store up to 600 volts of stopping power. When the capacitor discharges those volts, it delivers an amperage comparable to stun guns. Perfect for our shocking device.

What you need

* A glove * Some wire * A battery holder * A one-time-use camera, in our case, the Fujifilm QuickSnap camera

Via boing boing

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Well, things worked out last night, sort of…

John was rather later than planned, thanks to an uber-virus emergency. In the end, we decided that Tom was not needed for his vocals. We were able to lay down enough for a rough version of the track, complete with my vocals. Despite not having time to do several run-throughs with the grand (which encourages me to project and get volume out) we were able to get some decent vocals laid down. We have gotten to the point where I am no longer thinking about the lyrics and whether or not I am in tune. A bit more practice and I should be able to lay down a cracking rendition. We have also tweaked the chorus a bit, with yet another quick transition. All in all, considering the circumstances, a rather good evening of music. Let’s hope nothing comes up on Saturday so we can truly crack on with it.

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“The Toledo Diocese is taking another look at a woman’s previously dismissed claims of satanic sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests now that one of the clergymen has been charged with the ‘ritualistic’ slaying of a nun 24 years ago. The Rev. Gerald Robinson was arrested last week on charges of strangling and stabbing Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, 71, about 30 times during Easter weekend 1980. Her body,
covered by an altar cloth and surrounded by burning candles, was found in a hospital chapel.” (04/29/04)

Wonder if the Rev. Robinson is fan of Euronymous, Mayhem and the rest of the Norwegian Black Metal scene?

As you would expect, Pagan Prattle is all over this story.

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“The government wants to roll back the decision by a federal appeals court that the prohibition on marijuana is unconstitutional when used to prosecute people who use it medicinally. Tuesday the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Raich vs. Ashcroft. ... The government contends there should be no medical exceptions to the federal anti-marijuana laws.” (04/29/04)

Via: Rational Review

I wonder if Ashcroft believes in the “power of prayer” in healing the ill. If he does, I doubt he realises how hypocritical his stance on medical cannabis would seem to all but the ardent fundie.

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Newsnight (one of the best shows on the Beeb, period) has done another expos on the enemy within British society. And we are not talking about the BNP, though some of the left clearly believe they are bigger threat than ROPMA.

This time the main focuse was on al Muhajaroun’s efforts to target vulnerable and idiotic young men to get them into the jihadis. You get to witness a British formerly-Christian subject calling for Al Queda to attack the UK. As well, we see someone blatantly calling for the overthrow of the state to be replaced by an Islamic one. These people, if British born, are clearly traitors and should be treated as such.

And lest you say that BBC was trying to paint all Muslims with the same brush, they were able to find a group of young Muslim men who were willing to condemn extremist groups. To look in some of their eyes, you would not necessarily be sure they meant it.

It’s very good to see the Beeb keeping up the pressure on the government and Police to do something about these people. If there is an Al Queda attack, you can bet they will have something to do with it.

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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, 29TH APRIL 2004

WELCOMING THE TEN ACCESSION STATES

The Bruges Group welcomed the former Communist states ten years ago, when they re-joined Europe in the way it really mattered: by throwing off the Communist yoke and establishing liberal democracies. We have consistently welcomed and supported their efforts to develop both political and economic freedom and advocated that Western Europe should follow their example and liberalise the stagnant economy of dirigisme. We have criticised the European Union for its continuing refusal to reform its own ideas and to create a free-trading area with the countries that needed our support.

We take no pleasure at all in welcoming the countries that more than ten years ago courageously defeated Communism into another, though not so oppressive, supranational, centralised, over-regulated, over-bureaucratized state.

It is clear from the low turn-out in most of the referendums in the East European countries that many of the people there have little real regard for what they have been forced to enter by a combination of political circumstances and blatantly applied pressure on the part of the rich West.

Mr Blair writes in Le Monde that the new entrants will energise the European Union and help it to modernise. Mr Blair should be asking himself why he needs countries that suffered for fifty years under an oppressive political and economic regime and have had only ten years of real freedom, to modernise and energise the sclerotic European Union. And he should ask himself whether the constitution he is so determined to push through, which is the opposite of everything that is modern, dynamic, free and liberal is the way forward for Britain, for the EU or for its new entrants.

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People are less than enamoured with the new Iraqi flag, so Allah’s been busy whipping up some alternatives. This one cracked me up.

You can view the others here and here.

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The Left has never met a terrorist it didnt want to cuddle up to.

Any discussion on Iraq must include a Liberals insipid comment on how we won peace in Northern Ireland by negotiation (i.e. not like those dumb-ass Americans shooting everything in sight). Yes we did, when they were rotting in gaol, looking forward to release in time to see their grandkids graduate.

The story of sweet-talkin Mr Clinton hammering out a peace agreement before a round of Guinness and a Saxophone jam has entered the realm of diplomatic Urban myth. Untrue, and oft repeated.

The IRA and UDA leadership negotiated from Prison after 11 years of crushing defeat under Mrs Thatcher who, George W style, instructed her security forces to use any means to round up, imprison, and thwart any terrorist who threatened Britain.

Her role has been airbrushed out of history, naturally, to be replaced with a Socialist fantasy story of peace through negotiation with terrorists.

On the IRA’s Brighton attack:

The bomb attack … was an attempt not only to disrupt and terminate our Conference. It was an attempt to cripple Her Majesty’s democratically elected Government. That is the scale of the outrage in which we have all shared. And the fact that we are gathered here now, shocked but composed and determined, is a sign not only that this attack has failed, but that all attempts to destroy democracy by terrorism will fail.

The British Pickle

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Things G.o.D.-ly are gathering together at a rather good pace, and our lead singer is behaving like one at times. This Saturday saw a gathering of the major players in the band at John’s. Despite a barbyque next door and d.i.y. upstairs we managed, after a few hours of pool in the pub, to rehearse the first single multiple times. At first it was grand piano, Tom, and me singing it through. Then later that evening Brian showed up to add guitar to the rehearsal. The grand piano and guitar (w/amp) gave the song a much fuller sound and made it much easier to envision the final product. Tom left about 7 to go off to dinner in London. We, and more especially I, were able to transition to solo singing rather well.

I can tell you there was no bigger thrill for me than hearing my song being played by others. Not only did they finalise the song’s musical parts (which have since been recorded) but the two musos managed to jam some jazz and work on parts of our next song as well. Once Brian left, John and I were able to work on a bit more for the next song to give us a head start. We were all very pleased with the rehearsal. Not only did we get what we needed to do done, but we managed to have fun at the same time.

It was a bit disappointing that we were unable to record; however we shall endeavor to do that tonight.

Monday night saw the management team, a producer, a video director, and half of the core gather for discussions. It was of great interest and reinforced the idea that the band is striving forth at a pretty good clip. It was only marred by the lead singer getting rather arseholed after a combination of too little food and attempting to drink whiskey &diet coke at the same rate he drinks beer. Apologies the next day were accepted, although there was grumbling from some quarters that he did not have any hang-over at all.

So, it’s off to studio tonight to do a couple of run-throughs and lay down my vocals.

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“A Southern California college professor who received wide media attention when she claimed that racists had vandalized and defaced her car with ethnic slurs was charged on Monday with filing a false police report and insurance fraud. Kerri Dunn, a professor of psychology at Claremont McKenna College, east of Los Angeles, portrayed herself as a victim of racists angered by her message of tolerance at a campus forum when she reported the vandalism on March 9. She then put in a claim with her auto insurer for damages to her car. ... But police and FBI agents who investigated the incident began suspecting Dunn of a hoax after witnesses came forward to say they had spotted the 39-year-old professor vandalizing her own car.” (04/26/04)

Let’s hope this incident of abuse of the hate-crime industry results in her being sacked. This comes via Rational Review.

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The Liberty Alliance needs you! It may be the smallest grouping but it certainly is the pluckiest. There are several auctions going on to raise funds including Cook or Forkum and Chief Wiggles amongst others.

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I think we can all get behind this:

Poop For Peace Day is not about protest or partisanship or politics. Poop For Peace Day is about acknowledging the fundamental basis of shared humanity: black or white, liberal or conservative, Christian or Muslim or Jew, we are all united in struggle against the tyranny of the bowel.

Via Memepool

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Accusations of Arabist bias in the Foreign office have been floating around for decades, Mrs Thatcher continuously battled its defeatist instincts. Perhaps it is natural for this inert, privileged hierarchy of pen pushers to fear action, become condescending and cowardly, and feel more comfortable confronting America than Islamism.

The ex-diplomat’’ letter makes riveting reading.

Our dismay at .. abandoning the principles which for nearly four decades have guided international efforts to restore peace in the Holy Land

Only an unsophisticated hick like George W could fail to understand the logic in continuing, Haig-like, the failed policies that have provided Palestinians with 40 years of poverty, dictatorship and Islamism.

All those with experience of the area predicted that the occupation of Iraq by the coalition forces would meet serious and stubborn resistance.

Americans certainly faced stubborn resistance in Nazi Germany, Japan, the Philippines, Afghanistan and other liberated countries. What warped view of politics sees enemy resistance as anything but normal, or cause for concern.

The utter moral corruption prevalent in the UN and EU has found a home in our own elite administration. That upper class school boys prefer French style collaboration to American desire to defeat fascism is hardly surprising, it merits similar contempt.

The British Pickle

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“Shagger” Norris, a man known for having 8 mistresses on the go and the bloke who tried to pull both my dates in my prescence, has launched a campaign to make women safer in London. If he is really concerned about their safety, it might be a good idea that he leave London. No hope, Norris has about as much chance of winning the race for mayor as the Monster Raving Loony Party candidate.

Might I suggest he isn’t the best choice for this campaign?

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Head over to Dean’s and give until it hurts!

The Bonfire is crackling away over at On the Fritz.

The Carnival is up html"”>as well. Go have a look at the best of the best.

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I would like to publically congratulate my dog Vera on getting into a very exclusive overnight-stay kennel. From all reports she did rather well at her interview. She made me very proud.

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“In the shadow of 9/11, with a palpable disquiet running through immigrant communities nationwide, a grass-roots movement to give legal immigrants the right to vote in local elections is gaining a foothold from New York to Chicago to San Francisco. The goal is to counter the increasing sense of alienation among America’s newcomers, advocates, it’s a restoration of a right that was taken for granted in Colonial times and as the country expanded westward. But to opponents, this renewed effort to enfranchise immigrants is a misguided shortcut that will undermine the process and importance of becoming a full American citizen.” (04/27/04)

Via: Rational Review

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lord, take this makeup off of me.

i said, “lordy, lordy, lordy, take this makeup offa me.”
—yoko ono

Darn. Couldn’t find Yoko, but lordy, lordy, lordy, here’s Babs Streisand

among others at the shocking Celebs Without Makeup site.

Warning: images might be frightening for small children or animals.

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Poor Terry McAuliffe, Dem. chairman ! He’s whinging, again, about the “Republican ‘attack dogs’ ” dissing Kerry, as though the Donks never uttered an unkind word, ever, about Bush or Cheney.

A spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign, Steve Schmidt, responded that McAuliffe has “a staggering lack of credibility” on the issue.

Pot meet kettle; kettle meet pot! That’s what pols the world over do: attack the opposition.

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Far Right Frenchy Le Pens UK visit to the British BNP has caused quite a stir.

But, only the Far Right can say what most Brits think; they want mass immigration stopped. With the Conservative party a mess (timid, confused and without spine), the BNP looks set to follow Le Pens lead.

Sixty years of radio&TV dominance by the BBC has created a bizarre Socialist fantasy world; now mainstream opinion is racist, only to be uttered by outsiders.

Brits now face the question put to French voters.

Should the current political elite remain, with mass immigration, rising crime, and the takeover of an EU superstate, or should a bunch of racist thugs take over promising border control, law and order and the right to govern our own country.

Looks like good times ahead for the BNP.

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“The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws was only hours into its convention Friday when the group’s executive director made an announcement to the 80 or so people awaiting a seminar. ‘Let me remind you that this is Washington, DC, and not San Francisco,’ Keith Stroup said. ‘There are some people out front taking their medicine and the hotel is threatening to call the police … there are rules and while we don’t have to like them, we have to play by them at this time.’ It was a nutshell message that addressed the three-decade battle that NORML has waged on behalf of marijuana smokers nationwide by lobbying Congress, defending arrested users and advocating changes in national laws regarding marijuana use.” (04/25/04)

This and the following piece are from Rational Review.

“In a move that has shocked and angered patients, doctors and other supporters of medical marijuana, the House Health and Welfare Committee has scheduled a third day of testimony on the medical marijuana bill, S. 76, with a witness list headed by Andrea Barthwell, M.D., deputy to the White House drug czar. The committee already heard an extensive list of witnesses in two days of testimony, April 14 and 15. ‘This appears to be a stalling tactic to assist the White House in killing the medical marijuana bill,’ said Nancy Lynch, outreach coordinator for the Vermont Marijuana Policy Project. ‘The committee has already heard from patients, doctors and legions of other experts, including Gail Kelsey, who runs Colorado’s medical marijuana registry. They also have the report of the study committee created by the legislature two years ago, which endorsed the effort to protect medical marijuana patients under state law. It is hard to see what this accomplishes except to aid the Bush administration in prolonging the suffering of people fighting cancer and AIDS.’” (04/23/04)

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Radley went to an anti-IMF/World Bank protest and took his digital camera. You might enjoy the varied collection of people who attended…the least popular, of course, were the pro-capitalists.

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The Jews are behind every disaster or terrorist act. Is this from some neo-Nazi White Supremicist sitting in a bunker in Idaho?

No, actually its from a leading Egyptian journalist neo-Nazi Islamic Supremicist.

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After inventing Pot Noodle, the Japanese have gone on to tackle poetry.

Unwelcome

He
suddenly
appears
in my
room

and
I am
trapped
in fear

Why
are you
here?

I
ask

We are
everywhere
on this
planet
says
the
roach

and
disappears

Yuichi Takasu

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So where is the bottle

I held in the battle

of mind against soul?
—misc

These are interesting. (Don’t bother installing the Japanese font.) Stare at them for a few moments and you’ll swear they’re moving.

Stare for a few more seconds and you get the uncanny impression that insects are crawling on your flesh.

No, wait. That’s just delirium tremens. Never mind.

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Why do the words for AC/DC’s TNT come to mind right now?

The lovely Tabitha has gone a long way to inspiring the best out of me during rehearsal and recording today. After all, it’s women like that inspire us to start bloody bands in the first place.

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Several members of the Dodgeblogium team, Samizdata, and Growing Old Disgracefully, plus assorted guests, will be hitting a private members club this evening to raise a glass to ole’ St. George. I am sure pictures will follow on the requisite blogs.

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