The Null Device
2001/12/7
Conclusive evidence has emerged for the first time that the Indonesian invasion of East Timor was conducted with the blessing of the United States. Hardly surprising, given Fretilin's leftist leanings, and the fear that East Timor may have become a Soviet military base.
I picked up Sing-Sing's The Joy Of Sing-Sing today; so far it has failed to grab me. Perhaps it's an example of a Second-Band Effect, in which a successful artist's second band falls short of their initial project (some other cases: Violet Indiana, Mojave 3, Trembling Blue Stars). Though the jury is still out.
An interesting article about the rise and fall of Festival, Australia's oldest surviving recording company (taken from the Good Weekend, with some additions, and only up for a fortnight or so):
"[Murdoch] would take it as [charges for] advertising that we didn't get, when The Australian needed money. We'd be charged management fees and end-of-year adjustments. If you had a million dollars, they'd take $900,000; if you had $10 million, they'd take $9 million."
And the Letters to the Editor column has a tirade from FMR chairman Roger Grierson, claiming anti-Murdoch bias in the article, and ending with the accusation that journalists promote piracy and things like Napster. (thanks, Cos)