Darth Ambiguous say "Relax"

Just saw an appalling “statistics infograph” stating that US deaths in 2011 included 323 by semi automatic guns, 496 by hammer, 690 by knife, 12,000 by drink drivers, and 195,000 by medical malpractice. Ergo they should ban Obamacare, not guns.

God bless NRA rednecks.

Funnily enough, the stats aren’t 100% true. Whether the medical deaths are correct or not, they aren’t homicides.

The FBI stated that murders in 2011 were broken down as follows:

Firearms: 67.8%
Knives or other cutting instruments: 13.4%
Personal weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.): 5.7%
Blunt objects (clubs, hammers, etc.): 3.9%
Other dangerous weapons: 9.2%
(source: http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/baseballbats.asp)

In other words this is another piece of NRA propaganda.

Yes, the world needs better hospitals and better control of drink drivers, but every country with strict gun control laws have significantly lower murders by firearms.

I implore you, the next time you see one of these inflammatory support pieces (whether for guns, asylum seekers, or hot-topic-of-the-day), just do a quick google search using the main facts listed.

The resulting information will confirm or deny the issue, and help you decide if you want to share it or not.

22 December 12 (Permalink)

Comments | 1 note

My Top 25 Songs for 2012

Madness - Muse
Smoke and Mirrors - Gotye
Secret Fear - Daniel Bedingfield
Put Your Hands Up - Nerina Pallot
Everything Means Something - Pet Shop Boys
Intergalactic Rockit (Beastie Boys vs Herbie Hancock) - 2ManyDJs
Survival - Muse
Nightfall - PVT
Six Months in a Cast - The Trouble With Templeton
Why Don’t We Do Something? - Hey Geronimo
Nineteen - Millions
Devo Was Right About Everything - The Attery Squash
O.V.E.R. U. - Daniel Bedingfield
All I Know (Triple Kit Extended Mix) - Eagle and the Worm
Extraloveable - Prince
Easy Way Out - Gotye
Skyfall - Adele
Jesse - Mia Dyson
Timebomb - Kylie MInogue
Spare Change - Ingrid Michaelson
Invisible - Pet Shop Boys
Girl Gone Wild - Madonna
Don’t Stop (St Lucia Remix) - Foster the People
Slut Like You - P!nk
You’re Mine - Devin

Honourable mentions:

Go Right Ahead - The Hives
Unashamed Desire - Missy Higgins
See and Don’t See - The Afghan Whigs
Horse Named Regret - Mojo Juju
Dreamboat Jack - Hey Geronimo
50 Years of Bond Mini Mix - A.Skillz & Krafty Kuts
Sound Off - The Basics
The Summer Place - Fountains of Wayne
Home Again - Michael Kiwanuka
Get Free - Major Lazer feat. Amber

12 December 12 (Permalink)

Comments | 3 notes

The News on the Death of CDs Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Contrary to rumours and whispers across the web, there is no way CDs will be phased out by the major labels in 2013.

Why? Take a look at the current ARIA sales charts - the #2 album on digital (Ed Sheeran’s +) is #11 on the overall album chart, while the 2nd highest selling album overall (One Direction’s Take Me Home) is only #13 on the digital sales chart.

Over the pond, the Billboard Digital #5 album is The Lumineers eponymous LP, but it only ranks #20 on the overall sales chart.

You see, there’s this little thing that record companies like, and that’s money. If a format is still selling, and obviously outselling a different format, it’s not going the way of the dinosaur just yet.

CDs are here to stay. For the 2013 at least.

10 December 12 (Permalink)

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Why the Media are reporting on Jacintha Saldanha’s death incorrectly

Why is the world’s media focussing on blame and recriminations in their reporting on the death of British nurse Jacintha Saldanha instead of using their influence to help avert this happening again?

A search of UK, USA, Indian & Australian news websites predominantly put the focus firmly on the two Australian DJs whose prank call is being identified as the reason this poor woman committed suicide.

But suicide is a complicated matter, and even if this poor taste joke was the primary reason Mrs Saldanha decided to end her life, the glaringly obvious issue in this situation is not who to blame, but how can this be avoided in the future?

Mrs Saldanha was “highly traumatised” by this prank call, felt “very lonely and confused”, and “expressed her anxiety to her husband”, which appear to be natural reactions for someone who is passionate and committed in their role as a caretaker.

What it also shows is that warning signs were evident, but with depression and anxiety being taboo issues, it appears no-one took the time to help her overcome her mental trauma.

This is the news story that the media should be running with: nothing is so bad that you should ever consider ending your own life, and if you know someone who is displaying symptoms of anxiety or depression there are things you can do to help them.

Sadly this is not so. Searching major media websites reveal each have published multiple stories focussed on retaliation, with minor by-lines promoting mental health websites.

BBC News - 16 articles
The Independent - 16 articles
The Daily Mail - 17 articles
The Hindu - 17 articles
The Guardian - 18 articles
The Telegraph - I lost count at 20
Sydney Morning Herald - 36 article. 36!

There are some articles with a main focus on mental health being published, but not on the front page. All I hope for is that the editors gain some perspective and position them where they can actually do some good.

7 November 12 (Permalink)

Comments | 2 notes

Why There Will Never Be Another Doctor Who Movie

A tasty little article by yours truly.

Agree? Disagree?

16 October 12 (Permalink)

Comments | 6 notes

There’s a time and a place for everything.

Except black holes.

11 October 12 (Permalink)

Comments | 5 notes

My friends, it is up to us to stop the new One Direction album from debuting at No.1

This will be easy.

In the week beginning November 9, just buy multiple copies of John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John’s Christmas album (and be sure to encourage your friends).

That will ensure we have an appalling album at No.1 instead of an awfully appalling album.

Thanks for your time.

24 September 12 (Permalink)

Comments | 3 notes

iOS 6 Call Response Tip

Love the new Reject Call with Text feature on your iPhone but want to personalise it?

Easy.

Go to Settings / Phone / Reply With Message.

Apple have provided you with three messages: “I’ll call you later”, “I’m on my way”, and “What’s up?”. You can change all three. Just type your standard responses into the fields and away you go.

“Bite my shiny metal ass.”
“I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food-trough water.”
“Hey, you just called me, And this is crazy, But I’m on the toilet, So I’ll call you back, maybe?

20 September 12 (Permalink)

Comments

Ginger Bill Comprehensively Defeated

The House of Representatives today rejected the Private Member bill to allow redheads to marry each other, despite the majority of Australians supporting the concept.

“People are people” said Raymond Fullcroft, “it saddens me that we’re still discriminating against people because of their genes.”

“I truly believed the extremists in the conservative party would support this bill after they finally recognised blue-eyed people’s rights last year. I suppose we can take a positive from the Labor Party allowing a conscience vote on this issue.”

Prime Minister Gillard was visibly upset by the vote, lambasting naysayers for denying her the equal rights that all Australians cherish.

The Parliament then closed for a recess to participate in a stoning of a raped woman and a couple of pooftas.

Themed by Hunson. Originally by Josh & tweaked like crazy by Darth Ambiguous