IRREGOLARE (Irregular) a #cyberpunk science fiction novel #geekgirl

IRREGOLARE (Irregular) a cyberpunk science fiction novel by the young Italian writer VINCENZO BOSICA

Irregular is a cyberpunk novel, a dystopian sci-fi noir, with a strong personality, which leaves no roads to the benevolence and traps the readers with his adrenalinic speed. The work revive the legendary Blade Runner locations in futuristic thriller / detective story. The technological implications are extremely detailed and based on careful research, while the protagonists are complex and imperfect, always on the Razor’s Edge. The plot unfolds through a murky and dangerous investigation of a brutal murder, which ends to interweave events and personalities at a dizzying pace, in a world polluted by violence and corroded over limits, where the average life expectancy has surpassed the century through advances medical and cybernetic implants.

In this plausible and not so distant future, the demographic collapse was averted through a rigid birth control managed by a permanent identification for each person who does not allow a new life without a previous death. In this claustrophobic scenario, the detective Shaun Morrison, awaiting a promotion to sergeant and always on fighting with his superiors for his unorthodox action, investigating the case with all technological means available arriving at what seems an illegal trade of cybernetic parts. But the survey escapes completely out of hand when is discovered someone who goes beyond the law, beyond the normal, beyond the rules: an irregular.

Thus began a hunt relentlessly, which accompanies the reader until the end of the novel, through reversals of scene, never trivial. Irregular is a “one breath book” despite the constant and massive technological presence. It is a book for everyone, not just for sci-fi fans, which offers dazzling action interludes, a plot worthy of the best yellow story and above manages to give a breath of freshness to the Italian narrative.

http://irregolare-sf.blogspot.com/
IRREGOLARE by Vincenzo Bosica

Japan to ignore bluefin tuna ban

While we’re not sure just how Japan will ignore it, Japan’s vice minister for fisheries has said that if  Atlantic bluefin tuna exports are banned at an upcoming CITES-related vote later this month, then Japan would not
comply with the ban. The problem for Japan is that the U.S. has come out in support of the ban, meaning that Japan will not have any major allies when the 175-nation vote comes up in Doha, Qatar.

So what does “not comply” mean? We presume that Japan might try to send its own fishing boats into the Atlantic high seas and see if anyone challenges them. Do we get the sense that the whale hunt confrontation in the Southern Ocean was just Act One for a bigger showdown yet
to come? ** (Source: TT commentary from upi.com)

Whale chef may be convicted #whales #badchef

It’s a strange world when you can be a whale chef in the middle of Shibuya and make a pile, but do it in the U.S. and you wind up busting a pile of rocks. That’s what Santa Monica sushi chef Kiyoshiro Yamamoto has found out to his dismay when he was arrested for serving up Sei whale meat to diners at his restaurant, which is suitably named “The Hump.” Yamamoto may be fined up to US$100K and face a year in prison, while his restaurant could be fined up to US$200K. (Source: TT commentary from japantimes.co.jp)

Duck Season – stop these lame shooters from killing our waterbirds #fb

DUCK SEASON

Despite much opposition to Victoria’s recreational duck shooting season it is still going ahead opening on the weekend of March 20th/21st (2010) across Victoria.

You still have time to write to John Brumby and let him know how you feel about it.

Please write, email or phone
Premier John Brumby
john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au
Level 1, 1 Treasury Pl, Melbourne 3002
Tel: 9651 5000

Primarily politicians need to hear from Victorians (provide your address) saying that this brutal activity must be stopped.  Interstate and overseas supporters could say that Victoria should follow the other Labor states which have banned duck-shooting and that the issue is now one of national environmental significance.

Thank you from the Coalition Against Duck Shooting CADS

Oceanic Protection Society busts LA restaurant serving endangered #whale meat

Oscar winning The Cove Movie team undertake covert mission to expose “The Hump”.

The target: Los Angeles sushi restaurant “The Hump”, suspected of serving meat from the endangered Sei Whale. The act is a rare occurrence in the US, but underscores the illegitimacy of Japan’s scientific whaling program.

Armed with hidden cameras and microphones, the OPS team worked with federal agents to uncover the illegal activity.

Louie Psihoyos, director of the Cove broke the story to The New York Times just hours after accepting the Academy Award® for The Cove. Read more [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/us/09sushi.html] about how the sting operation was carried out.

John Waters #Melbourne show

Brilliantly entertaining filmmaker, writer and shock auteur supremo , John Waters will perform his glorious one man show,’ This Filthy World’ in Melbourne.  America’s royal raconteur and director of cult film classics such as Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, Cry Baby and Polyester, Waters is famous and infamous as the “Pope of Trash”.  Focusing on Waters’ fascination with true crime, exploitation films, fashion lunacy and the extremes of the contemporary art world, this joyously devious monologue elevates all that is trashy in life into a call to arms to “filth followers” everywhere.

‘This Filthy World’ is an essential experience for anyone interested in how not  to make a movie, how to become famous (read infamous) and how to shock and make people laugh.

John Waters “This Filthy World”
Saturday 27 February @ 8.30pm
the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, Melbourne
bookings  1300 182 183  or www.theartscentre.com.au

Check out Mozo’s Vice Calculator and become Australia’s first vice president.

It’s on the search for Australia’s first “vice” president using the quirky Vice Calculator. The “vice” calculator shows how much you will spend on vices in your lifetime.

Here’s a chance to figure out your vices, either giggling heartedly or nervously at the results! Mozo is asking people to post their “vice score” and a campaign pledge on Facebook to win $5,000. Perhaps a great way to bring some levity to the excess of the silly season and fuel for a New Year resolution!

Check out the campaign landing page and maybe find out your vice score:

• http://mozo.com.au/vice-calculator

Suggested gift, Dominick Dunne’s – Too Much Money.

By JANET MASLIN
Published: December 13, 2009

Excerpt:
When Dominick Dunne died on Aug. 26, an online guest book was set up so well wishers could leave condolence messages for his family. The site assured visitors “that the tears of millions of loyal readers were dried by a sudden wind.” The gust was said to be caused by “the collective sigh of rich and famous bullies on multiple continents” because Mr. Dunne’s nonpareil society-crime reporting and his glaringly fact-based fiction would bedevil them no longer. Not so fast, globe-trotting bullies. Mr. Dunne left behind one last, stinging roman à clef. And he most assuredly used it to settle scores.

“Too Much Money” pits his autobiographical character, Gus Bailey, against the New York nouveau riche types of its title. And it keeps Gus constantly aghast at their gall. It commemorates Mr. Dunne’s favorite obsessions — crime, wealth, status, backbiting and power — into a story with a distinctly valedictory flavor, to the point where some of it unfolds at New York’s most elite funeral home. And it includes a line that can serve as Mr. Dunne’s own epitaph, delivered by Gus as a slap to the book’s most moneyed and graceless social climber. She has just made a donation large enough to get her name plastered onto New York’s most important library. Reminding her that libraries exist not just as sites for cocktail parties but as places to house books, Gus tells her: “I don’t have to buy my way in.”

More from the New York Times article

Still Settling the Score, Even Beyond the Grave

Oppose proposed new Victorian laws. Write to politicians today before new law is passed. #Youthlaw needs your help!

On Tuesday 8th December the Upper House of Victorian Parliament will debate and vote on proposed new laws that give invasive powers for police which will impact on the everyday life of tens of thousands of Victorians.  On 26 November (2009) the Government and the Opposition members in the  Lower House of Parliament passed the proposed laws despite acknowledging they breach fundamental human rights.

Youthlaw seeks your urgent support to oppose this proposed law and request voting be deferred until  politicians properly investigate and consult with community rather than rush it through Parliament.

The proposed ‘Summary Offences and Weapons Control Amendment’ Bill introduces new ‘move on powers’ for police that enable them to order any one to move away from public spaces even if they haven’t committed any crime. Interstate experience indicates these laws will target young people in particular.

The Bill also allows the police to conduct random searches including strip searches of children under 18 in certain circumstances. Similar proposed legislation in WA has been sent off for investigation by an upper house Committee due to the public uproar about the impact of these invasive powers on the community.

If you don’t want laws that have proven to be ineffective, unfairly target young people and create unnecessary conflict between community groups and police then please send an email such as the one below, to the Government by Tuesday 8th December 2009.

SUGGESTED EMAIL MESSAGE
I AM WRITING TO URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THE ‘SUMMARY OFFENCES AND WEAPONS CONTROL AMENDMENT ACT’ BILL OR AT LEAST DEFER PASSING THE BILL UNTIL THERE HAS BEEN A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS SUCH A LAW. THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD PARTICULARLY ENABLE CONSULTATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE, HOMELESS PEOPLE AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE EFFECTED BY THESE LAWS.

Please email to:

john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au
Premier, Leader of the government, ALP
ted.baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.au
Leader of the Opposition, Liberal party
rob.hulls@parliament.vic.gov.au
Attorney General, ALP
bob.cameron@parliament.vic.gov.au
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, ALP
peter.ryan@parliament.vic.gov.au
Leader of the National party
sue.pennicuik@parliament.vic.gov.au
Greens, Australian Whip

Please forward to all your friends and networks.
Please email me if you are interested in further information about this issue.
Tiffany Overall
Youthlaw

Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki face 10 years in prison for defending #whales, you can do something to help.

Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki are two Japanese activists who have found compelling evidence of corruption within the Japanese whaling program last year. Instead of investigating the whaling industry, Japanese authorities responded by arresting Junichi and Toru. They have been denied their liberty for over 6 months, awaiting trial later this year.

Show solidarity with Junichi and Toru – ask the Japanese Government to free the Tokyo Two and put whaling on trial instead.

SIGN THE PETITION