30. november 2002

School bans cameras in fear of paedophiles Paedophilia panic reaches new heights as an English village schools bans cameras from a children's nativity play, fearing pictures taken could end up on the Internet and be distributed to paedophiles. In such a climate of irrational fear, one can wonder what chance of a fair trial a person accused of child abuse would have. 6:36:22 PM    comment []

I think I know how I would idle away the hours... "Bees trap shoppers in liquor store" (CNN) 2:39:12 PM    comment []

Henri Matisse Museum Reopens One of the founders of modern art, Henri Matisse, founded a museum in his birth town Le Cateau-Cambrésis in Northern France before his death. Now that museum has been reopened, and even though most of his most famous works are exhibited elsewhere, this museum still gives a unique glimpse into the art and life of Matisse. Unlike some other artists, Matisse was not a wunderkind born to become a great painter. More, it was coincidences that lead the lawyer to dedicate his life to create a new movement in painting while pursuing impulses from around the world. His 'wild' (aka fauvist) use of colours at first annoyed the critics, but Matisse was one of those artists who lived to enjoy his own success. Picture: La Musique, 1939. 2:26:41 PM    comment []

Early morning shock Some wacko has made a cover of a song I had hoped was a distant, evil memory, Opus' "Live is Life." Some other wacko decided to play it on the radio right now. Aaargh! 10:26:07 AM    comment []

Blogs for Breakfast Blogging about politics, current affairs and even sex is yesterday's news. Food blogging is the killer app that will drag blogging kicking and screaming into the mainstream until it chokes on its own cholesterol. We've had a taste of it for some time in the form of the Julie/Julia project and Paul who does what my mother told me not to, but that was just the vanguard, folks. We're in for an army of bloggers who will teach us to enjoy the finer cuisines, whether we want to or not. You may never have a hamburger in the rest of your life if you indulge in extensive blogging. Leah is actually not struggling in a bungalow kitchen, she just loves the word 'bungalow' after exposure to it courtesy of Nancy Drew at an impressionable age. What she will share, however, is a mystery as she never trusts a recipe she finds on the internet. Should we? Just when you think you're in safe territory where you can enjoy your sandwich without feeling guilty - and where else if not at Rayne's? - you are instantly ambushed with a recipe of chestnut and sausage dressing. Be strong! If we dare look outside the cosy neighbourhood here at Salon blogs, it is even worse. Is not even the kitchen holy? What happened to the innocent time when bloggers, like all geeks, were sustaining themselves on coke and pizza? I am making breakfast. Trust me not to write about it. Update: The food blogging mafia is out to get me! Just after I posted this, my mobile phone rang. "Hello it's from the dairy. Where should we deliver those five sandwiches?" "Uhhh, WTF?" "Sorry wrong number."  I am not making this up! Hiding under my bed. 9:09:54 AM    comment []

Big Bang for Dummies Not really, but this explanation by Alan Guth of "Big Bang" cosmology and what scientists today think about the early development of the universe is the best I've seen. I am always thankful when some top scientists take the time to put the ideas into words that can be understood by those of us who are a bit uneasy about heavy math. 8:31:50 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2002 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.12.02; 02:52:39.