Imaginary Friends
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change, Society — by George Monbiot January 30, 2012
The weather forecasters used by the Daily Mail and other papers don’t appear to exist.
by George Monbiot: journalist, author, academic and environmental and political activist, United Kingdom.
The talented line-up of weather forecasters at ‘Positive Weather Solutions’
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Earlier this month, I questioned the credentials of the alternative weather forecasters being used by the Daily Mail, the Express, the Telegraph and the Sun. I suggested that their qualifications were inadequate, their methods inscrutable and their results unreliable. I highlighted the work of two of these companies: Exacta Weather and Positive Weather Solutions (PWS).
Now the story has become more interesting: do the people from Positive Weather Solutions, making its forecasts and quoted in news articles, exist?
Comments (0)One Application Beauty Solution
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Society — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor January 12, 2012
We don’t normally get into personal beauty products on this site, but I thought this product presentation on what to buy so you can feel good about yourself — with the bonus feature of making everyone else feel inferior compared to you — might be just the thing for some. As you’ll see, you can easily bypass the ‘traditional’, burdensome personal beauty methods of outdoor fresh-air exercise, organic food, clean water and guilt-free sleep with only one application.
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Compliments of This Time of Year to All
Comedy Break, Society — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor January 2, 2012
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I wanted to send some sort of holiday greeting to our friends and readers, but it is difficult in today’s world to know exactly what to say without offending someone. So I met with my lawyer yesterday, and on advice I wish to say the following:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non addictive, gender neutral celebration of the summer solstice holiday practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious / secular persuasions and / or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all….
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2012, but not without due respect for the calendar of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great (not to imply that Australia is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the culture, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee….
By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms:
This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her / him or others and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. The wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
Reasons to Be Fearful
Alternatives to Political Systems, Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Society — by Marc Roberts November 7, 2011
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
Fear of state reaction is keeping the numbers down. Without it there might be millions.
Comments (3)A Design for Life
Alternatives to Political Systems, Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, People Systems, Society, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor October 28, 2011
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
If I wasn’t so used to such oxymoronic statements, I’d have already fallen off my chair after reading the below quote — in either hysterical laughter, or hysterical despair.
I am pleased to stand before you this morning and confirm that Europe is closer to resolving its financial and economic crisis and to getting back on a path of growth,” Mr Barroso said. — BBC
How can you resolve a financial crisis whilst getting straight back onto the path that put you there in the first place? It sounds like flogging a dead horse to me…. Dozens and dozens of cities are facing the frustrated occupy movement (see here and here), and yet despite the domino effect of growing unrest, the current president of the stuck-together-with-duct-tape European Union can’t see that the "path to growth" is and always will be a highway to hell.
Comments (7)Crashing Wall Street
Comedy Break, Economics, Society — by Marc Roberts October 1, 2011
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
What with the ongoing occupation of New York’s financial district, and City traders coming out from under their gilded rocks in full candour (see below) — Frank thought it about time to break out the D-locks and superglue again.
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Inputs and Outputs
Comedy Break, GMOs — by Marc Roberts September 27, 2011
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
How Not to Milk a Cow
Comedy Break, Livestock — by Ecofilms August 13, 2011
Sometimes things don’t go according to plan…. This is an Elisabeth Fekonia blooper from her excellent DVD on Home Cheese-Making and All Things Dairy. Used with permission from Elisabeth.
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Clicktivist
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts August 1, 2011
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
Brave Old World
Comedy Break, Economics — by Marc Roberts July 14, 2011
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
Every silver lining has a cloud.
Comments (1)Irony
Comedy Break, Society — by Marc Roberts July 9, 2011
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
This is a retread, prompted by this.
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Thought for the Day – Shooting Ourselves in the Foot
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Society — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor June 1, 2011
I think the irony to be found in the following quote will likely have been completely unnoticed by its author:
Australia’s economy is heavily reliant on exporting its natural resources. — BBC
It’s a statement nestled near the beginning of the article. The alarming thing is that we can be so fundamentally confused about our present economic trajectory that such a statement is considered perfectly normal and nothing at all to be worried about. Indeed, the only problem the article seems concerned about is that this exporting of natural resources has been slowed.
For those who are still dreamily content and feeling secure in the matrix of lies fed us by government promises and corporate and media distractions, I guess I should paraphrase the above quotation to ensure clarity:
The success of Australia’s economy is highly dependent on sending everything it has of value somewhere else.
Or:
The success of Australia’s economy is highly dependent on undermining its own viability.
We use the words ’sustainability’ so often that I think we often fail to appreciate what it really means. Ultimately, something that cannot be sustained is something that will expire.
The quote reminds me of a video clip I found a while back. Perhaps you’ve seen it too? Aren’t we just like this dog — we can’t see our own craziness?
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Recycling
Comedy Break, Society, peak oil — by Marc Roberts May 16, 2011
Editor’s Note: This cartoon reminds me of the cool vivoleum prank from the Yes Men
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
Frank is Unwell
Comedy Break, Society — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor May 13, 2011
I hadn’t heard from Frank for a while, and due to evidence of some mental instability the last time I caught up with him, I though it high time to track him down and have a good ‘ol natter. It’s tough being a cartoon, particularly a cartoon who is quite aware of our present state of affairs. Why? Well, you can feel rather helpless. What can a cartoon character really do to make a difference in a world of harsh realities?
As it happened, when I finally tracked him down, Frank had boarded up his windows and was deep into a self-pitying hedonistic binge…. It wasn’t a pretty sight. In the hope of catching a glimpse of his former glory, and perhaps reawakening some of his former environmental passion, I asked him if he didn’t have a few words to share with our readers. This is what he had to say….
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Courtesy: Marc Roberts
I’ll check in on him again soon. Hopefully he’ll snap out of this…. Given his past, it’d be a crying shame if he spent his autumn years in despondency, even if rather justified. If you have any words of encouragement for Frank, feel free to send them by way of comment below. He probably won’t admit it, but I know that during commercial breaks he’s still catching up with our site and others like it.
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