So, as I outlined in an earlier post, I'm extending my Dry July into a whole year, one charity per month, right up to August 2012. Each month I'll be remaining dry, though under Dry July rules I can obtain a golden ticket, at a minimum donation of $25, for one day back off the wagon. August's charity of choice is The Black Dog Institute Mental health, especially depression, is something I've had my share of brushes with, and the work that BDI do has a genuine impact. If you agree, give them some money. In return, I'll stay off the booze. Or,...

... what exactly? No, seriously. This is basically what a fundie christian on twitter has just used as some kind of sterling rebuttal to the fact that there's no good evidence for the indistinguishable-from-fiction little-j jesus* It's not entirely uncommon for this kind of response, which is essentially a variant of Tu Quoque, to come mewling from the keyboards of believers, especially the ones lightly marinated in a thin stew of post-modernist nonsense. All that @FXMikey has really done is make a weak attempt to turn back the burden of proof and the problem of a lack of evidence onto the questioner. And he's done...

Over at Mike Stuchbery's blog, a comment fight is going on over Peter Garrett's letter to Evonne Paddinson, head of ACCESS Ministries and self-admitted winner of souls for christ through the NSCP. Garrett, of course, is a stealth christian, as I've pointed out previously, but oddly enough so are many of his defenders around the blogosphere. Take, for example, Philip Brookes. Philip is a prolific commenter over at Mike Stuchbery's blog, and in fact anywhere the NSCP is mentioned. Philip avoids any reference to christianity in his posts, and cultivates an outward image of the unbiased onlooker, all the while accusing opponents of the...

I would like to create a product. The product takes the form of a game, and can be summed up as follows "a steampunk-themed mobile device and XBox360 arcade hybrid platformer game starring Tom Waits as the gravelly-voiced gangling protagonist. Control Tom as he trieds to get back home to see his baby, through myriad levels of freakshow carnival nights, ironclad whales' bellies, dust-clouded Cadillac drives past Burma Shave signs, deranged late-night diner nightmares and deranged vaudevillia, all to a hammering soundtrack of overdriven barrel organ and prison bar percussion." Fund me, and I'll totally make it. I just need a part-time steampunk writer, a couple of programmers, a graphic artist, a...

My little tune "Things You Can't Say in Victoria", aka "Things You Can't Say In Melbourne" featured on Episode 21 of Mitch Benn's Comedy Music Podcast. It's by far the least spectacular offering of the week, I think (check out the first track, for instance), but I'm just glad to be in such good company. If you're not familiar with Mitch, well, you're missing out. He's certainly the most prolific of Britain's current crop of Musical Comedians, appearing as he does on BBC's Now Show, usually accompanied by two topical songs and providing at least a couple of voices per...

So, it seems that our esteemed activist-musician-in-chief has cleared Access Ministries of any wrongdoing over proselytisation to children in schools. So that's all right then. But wait a minute. Let's just recap. Evonne Paddinson, CEO of Access Ministries, has clearly stated on more than one occasion that her mission, and that of her organisation, is to pass the good news to school children. As @askegg notes here, this message is rife throughout Access materials and public statements, and has been repeated on numerous occasions, by Paddinson herself, by her chaplains and by other Access employees. There are plenty of reports from students making...

As I've mentioned before, I'm currently doing Dry July, in support of the Prince Of Wales Hospital's Cancer Unit. I'm doing this as part of the Vinocast team, along with m'colleague Dave The Happy Singer. A small battle has, of course, ensued. First, a recap. I am abstaining from alcohol, aside from Golden Tickets, of which more anon, for the month of July, the upshot of which is meant to be that people give money to my nominated cancer charity. This is a biggie. Read the title at the top of the blog. I really quite like a drink now and again. So I...

What do you mean, other skills? Please join me in declaring today,...

... in that I did a Tom Waits cover and The Reverend Doktor Bob gave it a stamp of approval. Tango Till They're Sore by StopThatAstronaut Let me tell you. Half Man Half Biscuit covers are easy. I've been toying with Tom Waits material for an absolute age and haven't ever got one I'm even remotely happy with. Tom is too distinctive in writing, lyricism and delivery. And his choice of musicians and instruments (and of course his own playing style) makes it shockingly hard to take something of Tom's and not end up with a...