Aussie Bagel

Monday, 27 August 2007

Beyond all measures of decency
Despite agreeing previously to its removal
Another Hitler Billboard is erected

Beyond all measures of decency

An advertising executive has described Adolf Hitler as "almost the poster boy for the Jewish people" after complaints about a controversial Christchurch billboard for Hell Pizza.

Cinderella advertising executive Kirk MacGibbon said he had received complaints from Jewish people on the Hitler billboard but none from Catholics on the use of the Pope in a Hell Pizza advertisement now on display in the city.

"Isn't it interesting how only the Jews complain?" he said.

MacGibbon said Hitler was still "persona non grata".

"He's almost the poster boy for the Jewish people. Don't forget – but don't look when we invade Palestine," he said.

In an apparently provocative bid for more publicity, the pizza chain has gone back on its commitment to remove a poster depicting Hitler saluting with a slice of pizza.

MacGibbon said on Thursday that the Auckland-based agency would "back down".

Hell Pizza appeared to be bowing to public pressure on Thursday, removing the controversial Hitler poster from Lincoln Road, Addington, only for it to reappear in St Asaph Street, in central Christchurch, yesterday morning.

The billboard – carrying the quote "It is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell" – has drawn widespread condemnation from the Jewish community.

The New Zealand Jewish Council yesterday lodged an official complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority, while Israel's honorary consul to New Zealand, David Zwartz, described the advertisement as "distasteful" and "insensitive".

The Lincoln Road ad was taken down yesterday and replaced with one of Pope Benedict XVI saying "Hell is real and eternal".

The Hitler poster was transferred across town and re-erected in St Asaph Street.

MacGibbon said the Hitler billboard had been moved as part of its natural rotation around city billboard sites and had been re-erected before the message could get through to the contractor who put them up.

He said the billboard would come down on Tuesday.

Zwartz said MacGibbon's suggestion that the Holocaust was used as an excuse for Israel's present-day actions was a "very warped attitude".

"It's as distasteful as using Hitler in their advertisements," he said.

Catholic Communications spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said the ads had been "talked about" in Catholic circles.

"They are hell-bent on kicking up merry hell," she said.

Any complaints would be lodged by individuals, she said, as "the last thing we want to do is give publicity to Hell".

Christchurch woman Linda Williams, who spotted the new Hitler billboard, said she did not like the ads.

"I don't agree with their principles," she said.

MacGibbon said the ads were successful and were not in danger of turning off customers.

"I am always sceptical of people who say they are going to change behaviour on the basis of one ad. The danger is in trivialising the brand and being seen as naughty little boys," he said.

If you would like to express you distate at this vile marketing please email Hell Pizza

If you live in New Zealand then:
Make a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority
Postal Address: P O Box 10 675, Wellington
Physical Address: Ground Floor, 79 Boulcott Street, Wellington
Phone: 04 472 7852
Fax: 04 471 1785
Email: asa@asa.co.nz
Form: http://www.asa.co.nz/complaint_form.php

References:
Stuff.co.nz: New site for Hell Pizza poster

OtherLinks:
Hell Pizza Website

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$84 Million dollars down the drain?

Student cracks Government's $84m porn filter

A MELBOURNE schoolboy has cracked the Federal Government's new $84 million internet porn filter in minutes.

Tom Wood, 16, said it took him just over 30 minutes to bypass the Government's filter, released on Tuesday.

Tom, a year 10 student at a southeast Melbourne private school, showed the Herald Sun how to deactivate the filter in a handful of clicks.

Parents easily fooled

His technique ensures the software's toolbar icon is not deleted, leaving parents under the impression the filter is still working.

A former cyber bullying victim, Tom feared a computer-savvy child could work out the bypass and put it on the Internet for others to use.

Tom, who spoke to Communications Minister Helen Coonan about cyber safety during a forum in May, said the Federal Government should have developed a better Australian made filter.

"It's a horrible waste of money," he said.

Full Story Here: Student cracks Government's $84m porn filter

Bagelblogger: I've got to say, I provided the link on this blog to download this free software, and I've already downloaded versions of Apple and PC for my own families need, on the very first day.

My children are preschool and early school aged, they aren't going to be trying to crack filter software any time soon.

For children older than them and especially boys, I think the challenge to crack this software, and find 'ways around it' will be very tempting indeed.

I fully expect theres a chance the federal government may wake up from its slumber of stupidity one day and decide not to issue any more licenses.

I can't believe the federal government could be so stupid to spend 84 Million dollars on software over three years.

They could have easily had an Australian owned and based software writer produce better software for less than 5 million dollars, whilst generating a swathe of jobs in a rural city for its call support.
It makes me think if Communications Minister Helen Coonan is so incompetent when it comes to obtaining software at a reasonable price, then why are we trusting her and her personal vendettas to decide a multi billion dollar layout of 'high speed internet'?

Her incompetence with regard to her support of a vastly inferior broadband network is going to affect Australia's opportunities for a generation to come.

References:
Herald Sun: Student cracks Government's $84m porn filter

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Saturday, 25 August 2007

Qantas Airlines involved in antisemitic incident

From AJN
Qantas to probe antisemitic slur

QANTAS, the Spirit of Australia, will conduct a full inquiry into an antisemitic incident witnessed by a Jewish passenger.

Daniel Moses was flying first class from Singapore to Sydney earlier this month when a flight attendant made a number of antisemitic and insensitive remarks.

He logged a series of complaints with the airline soon after and following two weeks of inaction, finally received a response.

Qantas will examine both the in-flight incident and the poor response Moses initially received from the national carrier. Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon also telephoned Moses to personally apologise for the incident.

Moses was on his way home from a holiday in the Maldives when he overheard another passenger speaking to a flight attendant and after settling the woman’s issue, the flight attendant allegedly turned to Moses and said, “Jews”.

When Moses, a 35-year-old businessman from Sydney, asked her what she meant, she replied, “That’s what you get when you deal with Jews.”

Even after Moses revealed that he himself was Jewish, the flight attendant continued her slur.

“Well, you better go and tell her [the elderly French lady] that she is letting your team down,” before adding that South African Jews were the “worst”.

In his complaint, Moses wrote, “In 35 years, I have never been subjected to such racist comments, and not only of an antisemitic nature. I mean about any race or religion.”

He told the AJN that even though he is Jewish, he is adamant he would have filed a similar complaint if he had heard a Qantas staff member talking about any faith or race in a derogatory manner.

Moses said the call from Dixon showed how seriously Qantas was taking his allegations and said he wouldn’t hesitate to fly with the carrier in the future.

“I am satisfied that they are doing what they can to prevent it but I am not exactly sure how they can do it,” Moses said. “You can never be 100 per cent sure that it won’t happen again.”

In a brief statement, the airline assured customers that it “will not tolerate any forms of racial discrimination”.

Bagelblogger: Whilst the response from Mr Dixon shows the seriousness that he considers this complaint, the obvious question still remains unanswered. Is the Flight attendant still working for Qantas and what if any management action will be taken towards this member of staff?

References:
AJN: Qantas to probe antisemitic slur

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Friday, 24 August 2007

Downer declares Wikipedia 'anti-government'

Less than a week ago I reported on Mr Bagel that corporations were altering Wikipedia entries and deleting parts they didn't think towed their corporate line.

Now from our own darlings of the political world we find the Liberal Party has been caught with its hand in the cookie jar. Liberal staff have been busy editing entries on Wikipedia, this follows revelations staff in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet had made 126 edits on various subjects.

But, now the biggest news comes out, Alexander Downer has shared his vast wisdom and insight on the matter. According to the latest news report Downer declares Wikipedia 'anti-government', hmmm maybe Mr Downer is on to something!

Since Wikipedia is written by 'people' for the people, maybe they are anti government?

Especially if its a government whose major claim to fame seems to be in rewriting facts and spending vast amounts telling us how good it is.
Don't worry its not children overboard this time, its just the truth that is drowning or is that Downering?

References:
News.com.au: Downer declares Wikipedia 'anti-government'

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Monday, 20 August 2007

Free internet filter for Australian House holders

If you live in Australia and you would like to filter the internet content on your computer due to your children using it, then the Federal government is supplying free internet filter programs.

It's just been released tonight so go and get your free Program...
http://www.netalert.gov.au/

SMH tech has more...Cyber safety hotline goes live

Bagelblogger: If you think this free offering is not an attempt at buying your Federal election vote then Mr Bagel also have some waterfront land for sale which is viewable at certain times.

If only you could get software that would block election mail in your letterbox!

References:
SMH: Cyber safety Hotline goes live

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Update on Assault near Glicks Balaclava

[from the Age]

Jewish community on alert after race bashing

JEWISH community leaders have expressed outrage over a brutal anti-Semitic attack in Balaclava on Saturday night in which a 17-year-old was attacked repeatedly with a baseball bat.

The incident began when two men shouting racial slurs assaulted Jewish teenagers outside Mister Glicks takeaway shop on Carlisle Street, near the corner of Orange Grove, about midnight.

Ephraim Manshari, 17, was ending his shift at the shop and had sat down at a footpath table with a friend when he saw a man he believes was a Sikh sprinting down the other side of the street.

"Then we saw these two guys walking up the street after him screaming "f---ing Arabs … Aussie pride … we have to kill them all," Mr Manshari said.

One of the men then crossed the road and walked up to the teenagers, asking them if they wanted to fight.

Mr Manshari tried to defuse the tension by saying he and his friend were going inside, but the situation quickly escalated. "I got up out of my chair and dialled 000, then he grabbed the chair I was sitting in and started smashing (shop) windows; he turned round to my friend and punched him in the face, then (the attacker's) friend ran from across the road and started smashing windows as well," he said.

The men ran off before police arrived, but they returned 45 minutes later with baseball bats and beat Mr Manshari's friend Alon Tam, 17, who had come running from his nearby home when he heard about the first attack.

"They pulled out two baseball bats and started whacking me from either side calling me a f---ing Jew," Mr Tam said.

He was helped by a Jewish security guard who happened to be in the area.

The two men were later seen hiding in some bushes but had disappeared before police returned.

A spokesman for the Jewish Community Council and the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Council condemned the "senseless" attack and urged the men to hand themselves over to police.

In a joint statement the spokesman said: "We are outraged at this violent anti-semitic attack which was perpetrated in the heart of the Jewish community … Members of the Jewish community should not be subjected to these sorts of attacks under any circumstances."

Mr Tam, who will have X-rays today, said that the Jewish community was "quite shocked" by the attack but that some people saw violent anti-Semitism as a routine occurrence.

"I guess when you're living in this area, most people see it as a thing you get used to and you just move on. Anything that can't kill you can only make you stronger," he said.

"A lot of people don't go to the police because some people think of it as normal and people have to realise that it's not."

Bagelblogger: That these attackers returned a mere 45 minutes later and preceded to club Alon Tam with base ball bats is of great concern, are these crimes being taken seriously enough by the Victorian Police?

References:
The Age: Jewish community on alert after race bashing

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Jewish leaders report anti-Semitic attack

from ABC..
Attack outside Glick's Balaclava

Witnesses say two men armed with baseball bats were involved in a racially motivated attack at a kosher bakery in Melbourne last night.

Jewish leaders have released a statement saying there were two incidents at Glick's in Carlisle street in Balaclava last night.

In the first incident around 11:30pm AEST, Glick's staff allege two men yelled anti-Semitic abuse, damaged cars and smashed part of the restaurant's shopfront.

Orthodox Jew Alon Tam was assaulted half an hour later while walking home from the restaurant.

"They started hitting me with a baseball bat, and they called me an f-ing Jew and they were telling me that I deserved to die," he said.

"They hit me seven, eight, nine times, and then I ran back down to the restaurant Glick's, and everyone was here and I was totally shocked."

Jewish Community Council of Victoria spokesman Anton Block says those who experienced and witnessed the violence are shaken up.

"We're not talking about adults as such, we're talking about teenagers who were having a night out with their friends on a Saturday night, to go to their local haunt as it were," he said.

"To be having to experience this sort of abuse is just extraordinary."

Police are investigating the alleged incidents.

Bagelblogger: Each year there seems to be an ever increasing number of anti semitic based attacks in Victoria. The lack of prosecutions of these crimes and of anti semitic hate crimes in general has to be a worrying statistic.

References:
ABC News: Jewish leaders report anti-Semitic attack