John Pilger "The War You Don't See"

Originally broadcast on ITV1 last Tuesday, here's a brilliant documentary by the veteran journalist John Pilger about pro-war bias in the mainstream media. Watch the heads of BBC and ITV news squirm as they are confronted with the facts of their own unbalanced coverage - these people come off just as bad (if not worse) than the politicians they love to skewer. I don't have a TV anymore, so I don't have the pernicious influence of mainstream news reportage in my life (thank God) but if you still swallow the myth that our TV news outlets are un-biased, read this interview with Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, where he calls for impartiality regulations to be dropped, and for TV news to become "more biased".

Sofabet.com predicts the X Factor

As much as I hate it (and hate to admit it), I have been drawn into this year's X Factor competition. Not for any particular reason other than it has been on, I have caught few episodes, and been sucked in. And, you know, sometimes it feels good to participate in the huge cultural happenings that bring us together as a nation. Sometimes.

The whole programme feels so scripted that it brings out my Fortean interest in conspiracy, in those dark and sinister forces controlling everyone's movement from behind the scenes. Bwahahah! So I went on a little internet search using terms like "x-factor" "Illuminati" "Fix" etc. Surprisingly there are very few "exposing the subliminal Illuminati symbolism of the X-Factor" type posts (my guess is that those people have been baited by Kanye West's "Power" video) but I have found one site that is incredibly canny at predicting X-Factor outcomes.

No, it's not a conspiracy site, it is a betting site that specialises in reality TV show competitions, how their odds work, and how you could make a bit of money from them. Ah, money. The root of all evil. Sofabet.com also cover those other well known hives of Masonic brainwashing called Strictly Come Dancing, Britain's Got Talent and the Eurovision Song Contest. Oh how our evil overlords cackle in our faces!



By following and focussing on,the money, Sofabet can give us a clearer picture of the interests at stake in X-Factor than practically anyone else. They are aware that the public vote can change outcomes in a show like this, but also that the producers of X-Factor have a very real agenda and they will do their best to see it come true. And that agenda has nothing to do with Baphomet or the Eye of Horus, and all to do with making their bank accounts expand.

Way back at the end of the summer, Sofabet drew out a series of rough guidelines of how to read the show. They have formulated a pretty simple set of factors that can help or hinder the contestant, and that can be relatively easily manipulated by the judges. So if you are serious about predicting the X Factor, or if you wanna try your luck at making a bit of money, start here, and learn about the importance of the contestants' running order, the reverse-psychology of the judge's comments. and the "sympathy bounce".

Sadly I think Wagner will go tonight, as he has served his purpose and can't be allowed to reach the final. While I would like to see him there, and even win outright, it's not going to happen as the "Vote Wagner" campaign is just not strong enough. Wand Erection will win the series, and join the ranks of JLS and The Wanted at the top of the charts, while the obviously talented Matt Cardle will come second. I'm still not sure as to whether Cher or Rebecca will come third, but I am guessing Cher, as Rebecca has not bloomed enough over the last few weeks to truly fit the "ugly duckling" narrative she was chosen for. She has a strong following though, so who knows.

If there is to be a repeat of last years "Killing In The Name" Xmas Number One campaign, I don't think Wagner is the one to do it. Neither is John Cage, sadly - the only hope of toppling a Wand Erection Xmas number one this year is if the Gamu campaign really takes off, but as she is quickly fading from public consciousness, I doubt that will happen either. And what of that Twitter leak? Making public the results of the phone vote? Well, Sofabet has an interview with the source of the leak, and it is very interesting. Follow the money folks...

The End of Technics?

Yesterday Panasonic announced that it was going to stop production of the Technics 1200 turntable. It seems like a sad news day for djs and dance music in general. At the start of the last decade turntables (presumably mostly Technics, as they are the industry standard and most recognisable name) were outselling guitars. Well, it seems it may be a little premature to sound a death knell for turntables as a whole just yet - according to Gizmodo, the site that originally broke the story it is only the Technics 1200Mk6 that is going to stop being produced. And I hear nothing about the 1210 series, which is possible even more popular than the 1200s. Still, it's a shame and a sign of the times, but hey, in 10 years we will all be djing on touch screen displays anyway.

Make the Malcolm X look work for YOU

From "Out", an American gay lifestyle magazine. This is totally beyond satire:



This will bring the gay community and the Nation of Islam closer together, what?

Bono = Massive Knobend (Part #3,694)

Proof, if proof be need be, that Bono is a massive twat.



He's just spent shedloads of money on delivering costly goods to some journalists in New York, each package (being one of FOUR) having to be delivered individually by a messenger. Apparently it's to get them to cover his ONE foundation/charity/tax write off thingy, but instead looks like a pr move that's going to back fire with donors asking "why didn't you give our money to the poor?".



"Another container held the oversized cookie and water bottle in an odd pitch for funds for clean water and "sustainable sources of food."

Poverty-stricken African kids live on less than $1.25 a day -- "about the cost of the cookie in this box," ONE contended.

The leather-bound journal and ruler urged education funding in sub-Saharan Africa."



But here's the real kicker:

"ONE gives only a pittance in direct charitable support to its causes -- something Borochoff said the average donor might not realize.

The Bono nonprofit took in $14,993,873 in public donations in 2008, the latest year for which tax records are available.

Of that, $184,732 was distributed to three charities, according to the IRS filing.

Meanwhile, more than $8 million was spent on executive and employee salaries."

DICK.

Story in full here - thanks to Joe Muggs for the tip off.