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Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 04:56
Although lobbying is integral to democratic representation, there are concerns regarding the secrecy and unfair influence of professional lobbyists, which may ultimately lead to corrupt conduct by lobbyists and/or officials. As the OECD has observed: “[l]obbying is often perceived negatively, as giving special advantages to “vocal vested interests” and with negotiations carried on behind closed Continue reading »
Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 04:54
What the present moment reveals, once again, is that Western aggression during the “Cold War” was never about destroying socialism, as such. It was about destroying movements and governments in the periphery that sought economic sovereignty. Why? Because economic sovereignty in the periphery threatens capital accumulation in the core. This remains the primary objective of Continue reading »
Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 04:53
Twelve months since the launch of the Albanese Government’s new cultural policy, REVIVE, it’s time we promoted Australia’s heritage of folklife. In 1976, America’s Bicentennial Year, President Gerald Ford signed into law the American Folklife Preservation Act, which established the American Folklife Centre in the Library of Congress. The aim of the Centre is to Continue reading »
Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 04:52
Cooking time: 30-35 mins.Preparation time: 6-7 mins.Main cooking utensil: Shallow casserole with lidOven temperature: 350-375°F.Oven position: above center For 2 servings you need:2 hake steaks3 tablespoons butter1 onion6-oz. can tomatoesseasoning2 teaspoons capers Garnish:lemonparsley TO SERVE: In the casserole with wedges of lemon and parsley. TO VARY: Lift the fish onto a serving dish. Sieve the […]
Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 04:51
By stopping short of 200 seats, the electorate sent a message that both ruling and opposition lawmakers to make more use of dialogue and negotiation. Only 108 — that’s how many seats the People Power Party won in Korea’s general elections this month, the worst showing of any ruling party since the country enacted its Continue reading »
Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 02:32

Originally published April 15, 2022

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Wow, guys, this is deeply uncool. After all these years, I finally make it to a Passover Seder, only to find you polished off the only cup of wine specifically intended for me. I mean, it had my name engraved all over it, in two different languages. Kind of hard not to take that personally, you know?

I realize I’m thousands of years late to this shindig, so maybe it’s uncouth of me to point this out. But back when I was first invited, I distinctly remember Boaz saying he was making a liquor run, and asking everyone to write down what they wanted on a piece of parchment. I wrote, “One cup of red wine for Elijah the Prophet. Please don’t drink till I get there or until I announce the messianic redemption (whichever comes first!) I have to pick my nephew up from school, so I’m going to be late.” Super rad to see how you respected my wishes.

Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 02:07
In our latest briefing, Open Rights Group raises the alarm over changes in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (DPDI Bill) that could open the floodgate for the abuse of data analytics and new technologies for electoral manipulation. Information is power, and new technologies amplify governments and corporations’ ability to collect, use and weaponise […]
Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 02:04
April 22, 2024, marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Immanuel Kant, one of the greatest philosophers in the history of philosophy.  Kant’s ideas of the Enlightenment are still relevant, despite the numerous criticisms that have been levelled against them. The Enlightenment was characterized by a spirit of exploration that led to new discoveries […]
Created
Tue, 23/04/2024 - 02:00
David Pecker to take the stand Opening arguments in Donald Trump’s criminal trial are scheduled to begin today and Trump isn’t taking it well. He was posting late into the night on Sunday railing against well, everything, clearly feeling the stress of what he’s about to face. And he may know more about what he could be facing than we do at this point. The NY Times reports that the prosecution’s first witness is going to be David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer and owner of its parent company AMI — and former close confidante of Donald Trump. Evidently, the two men, who’ve known each other since the 1980s, have not spoken since Pecker was given immunity by federal prosecutors in the Michael Cohen case back in 2018 and testified that Trump was involved up to his neck. And yet, while Trump has crudely insulted everyone involved in that case, and his current one, he’s never said a word against Pecker. That’s curious, don’t you think?