The old way of doing politics is increasingly leaving a lot of people disenchanted and disengaged. Low election turnouts and the apathy of voters often comes down to the conviction that it makes little difference who you elect because the mainstream parties play the same old game by the same
Continue readingAuthor: Jay Cables
Drive-by Planet: Ouch! Nike launches ‘Black and Tan’ trainers ahead of St Patricks Day
Limited edition Nike SB Dunk Low trainers were rolled out recently to a bit of an outcry. Nike unveiled the new trainers ahead of this years St Patrick’s Day. The name chosen by Nike for the trainers – “Black and Tan” -is beer themed, evoking a pint of Guinness mixed
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: ‘Doonesbury’ abortion strip sparks controversy
Part of an earlier Doonesbury strip in abortion-related series A Doonesbury strip due to run next week that addresses the harsh realities of the Texas abortion law may be rejected by some U.S. newspapers. Others may opt to put it in the editorial page rather than the comic section. Given
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Meir Dagan: Iran ‘a very rational regime’
The increasingly strident calls for military action against Iran evokes the hyped-up threat rhetoric prior to the invasion of Iraq. As we now know, despite all the “expert” opinion, the alleged threat posed by Iraqi WMD turned out to be a crock. A chimera. Fear mongering about Iranian nukes is
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: UK study finds hardcore far-right support for ‘armed conflict’
An important new study out of the UK suggests that a hardcore of far-right supporters believe conflict between ethnic, racial and religious groups is unavoidable. Guardian: The study, From Voting to Violence? Rightwing Extremists in Modern Britain (pdf), by Matthew Goodwin, of the University of Nottingham, and Jocelyn Evans, of
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Thor Steinar store ‘Brevik’ sparks outrage in Germany
A German clothing retailer popular with far-right extremists has sparked outrage in Germany with a controversial store opening in Saxony. A new Thor Steinar store in the city of Chemnitz has opened with the name “Brevik.” This is considered by many Germans to be a direct tribute to Anders Breivik,
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Cardinal O’Brien’s extremist rhetoric on same-sex marriage
The leading Roman Catholic cleric in the UK, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, made the rather bizarre statement recently that acceptance of same-sex marriage would be like legalizing slavery. The Cardinal has been railing against what he rather derisively refers to as “progress” in British society. He clearly doesn’t mind being in
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Morrissey and Roger Waters on Las Malvinas
Morrissey and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters have both spoken out on the Malvinas issue. During a concert in the Argentinian city of Córdoba Morrissey told the crowd “The Malvinas Islands, everybody knows they belong to Argentina…” He also added “So please don’t blame the British people, we know the islands
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Did dirty tricks help Stephen Harper to a majority?
Stephen Harper denies the Conservative Party of Canada had anything to do with robo-calls and other misleading phone calls made during the 2011 federal election. The calls sent some Canadian voters on a wild goose chase, hunting for “relocated” polling stations that didn’t exist. A disposable cellphone registered to a
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Russian ads encourage virgins to give it up to Putin
Creepy pro-Putin ads have appeared that suggest a first vote for Vlad is like a virgin giving it up. On a website called The First Time, videos show young women consulting doctors with their concerns. One woman confesses she is rather anxious – “You know doctor, I am very scared,
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Rick Santorum and the other Great Satan
Rick Santorum and the dark side seem a natural fit. Maybe it’s his count Dracula look or those sweater vests that project inner darkness. So it comes as no surprise that the devil is in fact a large part of Rick’s larger world view. Topping the list of Santorum’s many
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: What the Natan Eshel affair says about Netanyahu
Top: Eshel and NetanyahuBottom: Yohanan Locker, Zvi Hauser, Yoaz Hendel Women in Israel who are sexually victimized by officials in high places prefer to remain anonymous. In the media they are sometimes identified by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In the case of one of the victims of former
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Russian band Pussy Riot flashes Moscow cathedral
The icons and statuary in Christ the Savior cathedral in Moscow were rocked this week when all-female band Pussy Riot staged a flash gig. It was a brief, unscheduled appearance during which the band belted out the lyrics of their tune “Holy Shit.” This was a gutsy move. As we
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Jodi Rudoren’s tweets and the chill in the lobby
A Rachel Shabi article in the Guardian’s Comment is Free section titled False accusations of antisemitism desensitize us to the real thing discusses the absurd targeting of New York Times Jerusalem reporter Jodi Rudoren for tweets some Zionist types viewed as problematic. Rachel Shabi: Apparently, soon-to-be bureau chief Jodi Rudoren
Continue readingDrive-by Planet: Electronic surveillance bill: Big Bro Toews wants your data
Canadian Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews, who is pushing a draconian surveillance bill that would give police extraordinary powers to snoop on Canadians wants an investigation into a Twitter account – @vikileaks30 – that has been exposing details of his marital breakdown. How does it feel Vic – having
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