Thus is what happens when people have either too much time on their hand or are conceived and raised near nuclear power stations:

http://www.atlantium.org/

Anyone, who is anyone, knows of the tale that led to our beloved Wikipedia page being deleted (with well fought arguments and a stir of controversy I wish to add) without just cause. However, these whack-jobs are allowed to have their continue?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantium

Double standards I tells ya! Though they appear to be mistaken as the Conglomerate State and Union of Desk, Bed, Shelves and Wardrobe, otherwise known as my room, is the smallest empire, state, nation, whatever they call their apartment, and not their imaginary empire.

Thomas.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21811,19901080-663,00.html

Of course the good ol' United States wouldn't want to stop the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Bush probably woke up the day Israel stepped up and probably thought he was still dreaming. Here was a war in the oil-ridden Middle East that he didn't have to start! Oil prices skyrocket, gold prices head upwards, the real American "leaders" (leading the country with their own hip-pocket) are getting richer by the missile launch. And they get to keep their hands clean and don't have to face the negative public backlash. All the while, it isn't their people dying over there is it? Nor is it their son or daughter on the front line in Iraq or in Afghanistan. Whether it's justifiable or not is a separate discussion, but in good ol' America's eyes (and their chum England's) why not let the two fight it out. At least England have said the U.N. needs to intervene, though, much good that will be without unanimous backing, or even with, how could they stop it all?

Thomas.

My reply from the always polite Samuel Gordon-Stewart:

Hi Clayton,

It was my pleasure to read your email, and I'll keep this one on hand for the next episode.

Regards,
Samuel

Clayton Northcutt.

From here follows my feedback to Samuel's Persiflage #6.

Samuel,

Thank-you for your mention of our correspondence pertaining to the discussion we had about Samuel's Persiflage #5 in Samuel's Persiflage #6.

I would like to re-iterate the competency and quality of the program Avast! that you endorsed in the same episode. It is an extremely apt and capable anti-virus software.

Further, I would like to echo your sentiments on the "stupid" people who choose to call 1900-numbers after returning the supposed "missed call" on their mobile phone. One must be particularly daft to not realise this phone-scam, as it is only the mobile version of the land-line scam that has been doing the rounds for a few years prior. I believe we need to clean-up this 'scam-based' society for the ill-informed youth and the naive adults that carry mobile phones; those people who are susceptible to this scam. If yourself and your legions of listeners send in messages to Telstra, to Optus, to Senator Helen Coonan containing a voice of complaint and the 'offending' number, with your support, this endeavor could very well be achieved.

Clayton Northcutt.

Clayton Northcutt.

Though (supposedly) a berating that my email was, I am famous! Young Samuel did, in fact, recall our emails and read out my initial email on his latest Samuel's Persiflage. He acquitted himself quite well, accepting that we were both right in respects to the situations raised. Huzaa to Samuel!

Clayton Northcutt.

Prayers and dreams answered: Samuel's Persiflage is being updated! Young Samuel's memory will be put to test here to see if he remembers to mention the email concerning his comments on a new techonology that he mentioned (and subsequently did not like) in his latest audio commentary. If Sammy does recall, my brush with E-Grade fame will have happened!

Clayton Northcutt.

Just what soccer needs more of: people head-butting other people. I can honestly say I've never seen a charging head-butt on the soccer pitch, but I certainly want to see more.

One thing I do wish to see less of it Italian success in the sport. Bunch o' cheats.

Thomas.

I happened to have an argument about the "credibility" of such shows as Today Tonight and A Current Affairs. Those with long memories may very well remember how A.C.A. reported how the drug Roaccutane, a drug treatment for acne, was, not the was, causing suicide among those on the trial here in Australia, and beyond trial in the United States. I happen to be on this drug, but only after this argument had it's way. That who I was arguing against stood firm that A.C.A. couldn't be wrong, possibly because it was on T.V., or because their argument was so convincing.

I, on the other hand, hate, despise and meet each advert (because I refuse to watch such pathetic shows) with utter contempt, and would take anything they supposedly "report" on with a pound of salt, much less a grain. I did watch this Roaccutane segment, as they drug had come up, without judgment of the suicidal type, prior in conversations with doctors. I watched this and laughed as I thought "Who would be so foolish to believe such drivel". Unfortunately, someone, at the time, who would be responsible for allowing me to get on the drug, did. Each time it came up that I'd need to go to the next step of treatment, Roaccutane was always put down. Well, time passed and I finally became old enough to make the call myself. Turns out that I do get it, and no problems, no increase in suicidal thoughts or depression etc.

But this isn't about me, it's about the crap shows that pass themselves off as conveying facts and "true" reporting. I did a year of Psychology at Uni, and though I eventually decided it wasn't really 'for me', I did take a lot from it and would consider finishing out the degree at a later time, because it is very applicable. But, like I said, I took a lot out of it, and a rule I now live my life by is, and everyone should remember this little saying:

Correlation is not causation

That is to say, because results correlate together does not mean any of those means measured are the actual causes. This statement proved the fallacies of the pre-scientific theory, the sexist and racist societies of, well, the pre-1960s (and such a late date itself is appalling, but wait, it gets later), and for the "freedom lands" of America, the pre-1970s. The statement manages to apply to, pretty much, any stereotype, prejudice and pre-conceived notion, good and bad, for all people. And generally, with the reports that the A.C.A. and Today Tonight shows put forward, that's one thing you need to keep in mind.

The second thing is that, as with all T.V. shows, all around the world, they are competing for ratings. Pure and simple, they are creating stories, yes, creating, that they hope is more interesting than the other channels and, thus, hope that you tune into them. That's why you will see something about diets, a supposed 'tear-jerker', something to get you mad and then how the government is screwing you over somehow. It's generally safe to say that each show will contain at least one of those, if not more. And it's a sad state of affairs that people are actually watching and believing these shows when all they are doing is showing one side of an argument, hiding facts, or portraying people in certain lights for public opinion and to attract viewers.

Pure and simple: these shows are rubbish. They hardly convey items of news or real interest. A shonkey and dishonest builder versus, say, a war raging in Iraq: the shonkey builder gets air-time. This is what Australian television has succumb to: absolute drivel. And why no one is actually speaking out against it is well beyond me.

Clayton Northcutt.