Breaking News: PN strike off - news updates to follow

Sunday, 26 September 2010

PN Update

Liberal Equlibrium

Meta-Comment No. 27

The David Paradox

New York Revisited

Washington in September

PN Anniversary and Prize Win!

Startling News: The PN strike that was started end of August has been put to a momentary stop today. The happy news is a result of a prize win in connection with the two year anniversary of Paradoxical News. Today PN was announced winner of the 'Still Standing Award' only given to media with exceptional staying power. The journalists welcomed the prize with a sigh of relief and have agreed to come back to work while the details of their demands are still being negotiated. The editor-in-chief of PN has nothing but gratitude in mind - for the prize, and towards the hardest working journalists in the industry.

Monday, 30 August 2010

Meta-Comment No. 26

What do you do, when everything - anything - you do is deemed wrong or out? And all attempts to pursue new directions fail? First you stop doing anything. Then you freeze to a complete stop. And then you have only one way left. To go on...

Hope In Our Time

World update: Continued wars in Afghanistan and other afar countries. US, NATO, UN, and EU troops continue their efforts to put a stop to the unrest and ensure peace in our time. The Middle East peace negociations to start this week in USA. The floods in Pakistan to diminish.

PN Strike Status

The Paradoxical News editor-in-chief has had several meetings with the striking journalists at PN this past week. The talks have been positive, but as yet with no permanent solution. The journalist claims remain the same: Permanent locations, job security, and payments in solid cash.
The editor-in-chief would continue the reportings - were it not for the solid black out of computer systems and news services. Yesterday a filed report did not manage to get through the communication barriers. The editor is sorry for any disappointments this might cause to its readers, supporters, and sponsors.

Monday, 23 August 2010

PN Update

Breaking News: The journalists at Paradoxical News have initiated a strike. Their claims are: job security, a permanent work station and job location, payments and fees for their work - and appreciation for their efforts. The editor-in-chief will revert as the situation evolves.

Sunday, 8 August 2010

PN Update

Paradoxical News once again moved HQ this week. This time to - at least! - two different locations. One for hardware, and one for software and production unit.

In addition, after the last move the computer and back-up system blacked out - this time totally, and not just as a hibernation break. The PN computers have been hacked on - and subsequently exchanged on several occasions. These new working conditions are the reason for the limited flow of paradoxical news, for which the editor-in-chief excuses.
'I feel like we are running a media centre in the middle of a train station', the editor-in-chief explains, 'but luckily I am fortunate to be surrounded by the hardest and most diligent journalists in the industry, so we well continue for as long as there is staying power,' she states.

Sunday, 1 August 2010

Paradoxical Hierarchy

Paradox of the day: A clever man puts his servant ahead of himself, if he wants to go far. A sharp man has two bosses - the one above him he chooses himself; the one below him he doesn't even know. A wise man chooses his servants well.

Nice to Know vs. Need to Know

Apart from the severe human disasters during floods in Pakistan, China and elsewhere killing hundreds of people and leaving countless people homeless - very sad events - July/August are known to be slow news periods. Because everybody is on holiday. Apparently some more than others, judging from Danish politicians being criticised for not participating in political meetings in Europe, like Danish Lene Espersen (C). Or the continuing story of opposition leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt (A) and her husband's tax case. Both subject to stories unveiled by the press as secrets exposed. Both having to stand trial in the public street court of the media.

Luckily we have the story of Chelsea Clinton marrying her love, Marc Mezvinsky, in New York. Although undoubtedly a cheerful story, also a story weighed with the same importance as a flood in Pakistan killing 800 people. In the midst of the sad loss of human lives (important), and the sensational cat fight between opposing political characters based on trustworthyness (not important in a broader perspective, since everybody makes mistakes) - paradoxically the media will give the people, what they want to know. More so than what is important to know.

For further information, please see:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/31/pakistan.flooding.deaths/index.html?hpt=T1

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/31/chelsea.wedding/index.html?hpt=C1

http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2010/06/liberal-conservative-eu-cat-fight.html

http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2010/06/to-tax-or-not-to-tax.html

Sunday, 25 July 2010

Paradoxical Diversification

Just as the print and online situation is at the lowest for Paradoxical News, this week the editor-in-chief was just offered a new position as producer for several tv features and interviews for regional tv-channels. So this week has been a slow week at PN.

The PN editor-in-chief is thrilled by the new challenges:
'It all comes as a great surprise. I've worked with television and radio before, but as a journalist. This new opening gave me the chance to explore the electronic media, to work with experienced people in the industry, and to challenge and test myself in areas that had been unexplored until now,' she explains after having produced three new tv segments for two different channels.

Until further notice, the paradoxical diversification will not change the situation for this niche publication. Paradoxical News will continue to produce news about national and international paradoxes for as long as they continue to flow - and for as long as the journalists at PN can manage to work under the strained conditions.

Saturday, 17 July 2010

Aussie Election Paradox

No sooner is Paradoxical News back from a relieving hiatus, before the paradoxical news overflow with undiminished force...

In anticipation of a granted support from the electorate Australian de facto PM Julia Gillard has set a date for the next election. Welsh-born Gillard from the Australian Labour Party has announced an Australian election on 21st August. Not long ago - end of June - she took over from former PM Kevin Rudd, who stepped down. And now she will be up against opposition leader, centre-right Liberal Tony Abbott, for the upcoming election.

Now, it just might be the bewilderment of the heatstruck editor-in-chief of Paradoxical News - but isn't a generally accepted practice of good governance in democracies to ask the voters before you form government? And after an election? Or have de facto PM's become the new best practice? It certainly is an entertaining ride to watch practically all world leaders and politicians shift positions within a span of a few months to a few years. PN simply couldn't survive if it weren't for this flow of fantastic news!

For further information, please see:

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

Le Quatorze Juillet

'Allons Enfants de la Patrie.......' Today is Quatorze Juillet aka Bastille Day in France, to be celebrated with all of the pomp and circumstance that the French nation can offer - with parades, military show off, and fireworks. And naturally, the playing, singing, and eventually roaring of the French national anthem of La Marseillaise.

An ever present image of this Fête Nationale is the figure of Marianne or Liberty Leading the People in the 1830 painting by Eugène Delacroix - a depiction of the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille 14th July 1789.

The storming of the Bastille prison was to mark the end of the royal rule of Louis XVI and the establishment of the First Republique in France. Ever since it has been a tradition of the French President to pardon petty criminals on this very day - as per Article 17 in the French Constitution - although in 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy declined to continue the practice.

On 13th July 1989 - to mark the bicentenary of the French Revolution - the inauguration of the Bastille Opera took place. It was conceived by Canadian-Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott who won an international architect competition in 1983. And the Bastille Opera is one of former French President Francois Mitterand's so-called Grands Traveaux, which also include La Grande Arche in La Défense by Danish arcitect Johann Otto von Spreckelsen, Musée d'Orsay, and the Louvre Pyramid.

These 'Great Works' were initiated by Mittérand's Minister of Culture, Jack Lang - building on a French cultural and humanist tradition of former President De Gaulle's Minister of Culture from 1959, writer André Malreaux, who expanded the cultural ties between nations - in particular through the cultural institutes and centres of app. 30 nations in Paris. So there you have it, 200 hundred years of political and cultural history of France up to present day in one PN segment!

Today Paradoxical News sends all its best wishes for France - and for The Children of The Revolution!

Monday, 12 July 2010

Côte d'Azur - Part Three

Vue sur mer. Or ocean view. This is what you get at Côte d'Azur in more impressive amounts than you can handle. The cobalt blue sky, sun, sand and oceanic silver shimmer. This appears to be what Catalan artist (Barcelona-born) Jaume Plensa tries to capture and grasp in his sculpture Nomad. The nomad is situated on the pier of Antibes, overlooking the port, boats, and the ocean.

The 8 metre tall, 6 tonnes heavy metal sculpture and landmark takes the form of a human (male) sitting, knees folded under him, and is made up of letters from the Human Rights Declaration carved in metal plates, welded together in random alphabetical order. As Jaume Plensa explains, he imagines that the human skin is tatooed with letters as a communication form. One association could be the giant stone heads overlooking the ocean from remote and isolated Easter Island. Communicating to sea farers.

Another Côte d'Azur ocean view landmark are the residential holiday flats of Marina Baie-des-Anges. The complex consists of four seperate buildings with altogether some 1600 flats placed around the port, and is situated in Villeneuve-Loubet between Antibes and Cagnes-sur-Mer. Construced as swinging and swaying buildings, with tier-laid terraces in pyramidical form. They could ressemble the many tiers and levels of a giant cruise ship. So there, don't say that the shoe string traveller can't have great experiences!

For further information, please see:

Côte d'Azur - Part Two

Scent of a Woman is not only the title of an excellent Al Pacino film, based on an Italian book Il buio e il miele (Darkness and Honey) by Giovanni Arpino. It is also the theme of another book. For those who have read the odd, but welwritten, murder mystery Das Parfum (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) from 1985 by German author Patrick Süskind, a visit to the small town of Grasse is relevant. Or visit Grasse and read the book(s) after. The perfume town is nested in the mountain region some 20 kilometres from Cannes. Easily accessible by local buses on one euro bus rides from either Nice or Cannes.

The very Gothic Süskind novel tells the tale of a man who murders a woman to guard her scent. The fragrance not lasting, he has to find a way to reproduce it. Ever after having to chase the perfume in the southern part of France. Are the notes made of vanilla, or what does the scent consist of? And how do you reproduce human bodily scents? The chase goes on for some 200 pages and the detailed description of the notes of perfume, extracted oils, etc. is amazing. This book was - also - later made into a film.

In Grasse the shoe string traveller can visit perfume factories like Galimard or Fragonard for free guided tours. PN visited the oldest of the factories. Galimard was founded in 1787 and collects flowers - jasmine, rose, lavender, orange flower - or other plants and fruits and presses them to extract the essential oils to produce perfumes. It takes 500 kilos of rose petals to produce one litre of pure rose essential oil perfume. Read the book, see the film, visit Grasse!

For further information, please see:

Côte d'Azur - Part One

Paradoxical News spent a week travelling the French Riviera - or Côte d'Azur - Nice, Monaco, Cannes, Antibes, Grasse. Although several places like Nice and Monaco were revisited, new experiences were made in some of the Alpes-Maritimes towns.

PN again found that to have fun in Monaco and Cannes, you have to be loaded. The places are all about extravagant living, big boats, gambling, and fashion. This time around PN was travelling as yours truly on a shoe string budget - so looks and views were what could be brought back. And they weren't bad. A walk to the tip of the castle in Monaco to see the change of guards at noon. And a shortlived stay in the Casino to see a few euro notes disappear - fast.

One of the traditions of this southern region of France is the trompe d'oeil mural paintings, seen in Nice, Cannes, Cap d'Ail, etc. With fake windows, flowers, plants, cats and other animals painted on the house walls. The one shown here is from the Cannes bus station, with make-believe people enjoying life on fake balconies, a man hanging from a giant clock, a film crew at work, etc.

Paradoxical Update

Paradoxical News spent one week of hiatus providing news for the travel and culture sections. PN regrets to its followers the discontinued flow of updates, but will revert soon with the latest.

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Fourth of July

Today is Fourth of July, Independence Day. On this date in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was debated and approved in the US Congress - creating legal independence from British rule.

Paradoxical News has done everything in its power to make a trip possible to celebrate this Glorious Fourth in the United States, but is hindered by simple cash flow. So here's to all Americans, at home or abroad: Happy Fourth of July!

Saturday, 3 July 2010

One Giant Boat Ride

Octopus is the name of the giant private yacht owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen (co-founded with Bill Gates). Paul Gardner Allen is ranked as the 37th richest person in the world according to Forbes. He has founded several non-profit organisations. And created cancer and medical research foundations.

The yacht is 127 meters/414 feet long with submarines, speedboats, joyrides, helicopters - and what have you - on board. And this giant Octopus is currently anchored in the habour of Copenhagen, right next to the Royal palace of Amalienborg.

On several occasions, PN tried to get permission from the staff to board the yacht - in order to cover this story. But accreditations are sadly hard to come by. So the coverage will have to be from the board walk. With one giant gee-wizz!

To Keep the Taxi Drivers Happy

Trains on Time is the DSB (Danish railway system) mantra. This week Paradoxical News discovered, that Trains on Time really means Taxis on Time.

PN spoke with a DSB train driver, whose job it was - every other day or so - to drive a train from one part of Southern Denmark to another late at night. Since he couldn't get to and from the initial point without making use of a taxi, this was the solution for DSB. The ride would amount to just above 1.400 Danish kroner (almost 300 US dollars) one way - the same amount or a little less back from his ending station. When he was not on guard, someone else would be. So according to our DSB man, this kind of taxi trip is taking place every day, year round, to an app. cost for DSB of one million Danish kroner per month - or 12 million Danish kroner per year.

PN wondered if it wouldn't be easier to get someone else in the staff, who lived closer by, to make the train drive - instead of this overuse of taxi rides on the DSB budget. And since 100 percent owned by the state, on tax payer money. He just shook his head - go figure!

Now, perhaps 12 million Danish kroner doesn't sound alarming to an approximate DSB turn over of 11 billion Danish kroner. But still, since the tax payers are paying - wouldn't that be an obvious area to make cutbacks? And perhaps in reality ensure Trains on Time. By simply planning the staffs on guard to fit the rides a little better? Or is DSB just trying to keep the taxi drivers happy?

Not For Lack of Trying

Against all odds news flash: Media accreditations are hard to come by for niche publications such as Paradoxical News. This past week PN tried to get accredited to cover the infamous Roskilde Festival, a children's volcano themed arrangement in the southern part of Denmark - and several other events. Not for lack of trying. Financing is one thing, but when you can't even get through the door, coverage becomes impossible. Yet, somehow PN manages to survive, due to diligent and dedicated journalists. Against all odds.

Monday, 28 June 2010

Gee Twenty Wizzards

What can the Group of Twenty (G20) accomplish that the Group of Eight (G8) couldn't at this weekend's summit in Toronto? Well for one thing, they bring the money with them. Finance Ministers and central bank governers take part in G20 as opposed to G8 for state leaders.

The United States Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, (who served as an international affairs advisor for the Clinton administration, and later worked with The Federal Reserve Bank/FED in New York and later the International Monetary Fund/IMF) said that progress was being made on new capital standards, although disagreements remained.

'We’re narrowing those differences, but we’re still some ways apart,' he said according to The New York Times.

The US Financial Stability Board is also working on rules in order to tighten regulation of hedge funds and debt rating agencies; to set restrictions on executive pay to discourage excessive risk-taking; and to push trading of derivatives onto open markets. The Congressional legislation, which is expected to be handled by President Obama next week, includes similar provisions in those areas.

So major banks are to face tougher regulation in Washington, after the Obama administration's regulatory means, but will not have to face a new set of global rules on capital and liquidity anytime soon, following the agreements at the present G20 summit in Toronto. So the G20 members will reunite in Seoul, South Korea, in November to lay down the rules for the banking industry.

For further information, please see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/business/global/28bank.html?hp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Geithner

Play for Win-Win

Gamers like the thrill of a good game. Most often these games consist in a battle between the old opponents of Good and Evil. Simple. Relatable. Thrilling. During the FIFA World Cup games, it also appears to be very simple - 'either you're with us, or you're against us.'

Games are all good and fine. But are you an ultimate gamer and gambler? Do you gamble with other people's lives and health? There is only one way to stop yourself from doing that: yourself. If you turn the game around an put yourself in the place of the game figure, you're trying to destroy. In real life, would you still click the same button? Or would you want others to push it? The game looks an awful lot different when you are the game figure to be destroyed, doesn't it? Don't play the ultimate game, if you wouldn't want it played to yourself. Play for life. Play for win-win.

Pope In Action Against Child Abuse


The Pope has repetedly spoken up against child abuse within the Catholic Church. But during his Sunday Angulus prayer yesterday he deplored the methods of investigation carried out by the police raids during investigations in Belgium, which he finds invasive.

The sex abuse cases against the Catholic Church comprise at least half a dozen countries, including the pope's native Germany, as well as Belgium, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands and the United States. And the Vatican issued a statement about their 'strong condemnation of any sinful and criminal abuse of minors by members of the Church.' However, the suggested procedure to deal with the sex abuse cases is to be held within the Church. As the Vatican maintains 'the need to repair and confront such acts in conformity with the law and teachings of the Gospel.'

For further information, please see:

Mexican Mourning

This morning is sad for Mexicans. Not only did Argentina beat Mexico 3-1 yesterday during the World Cup, but Mexico also just lost a singer. Mexican singer Sergio Vega, aka El Shaka, was killed by gunshots on his way in his red cadillac to a concert in Sinaloa state. The odd circumstances around his death is that at first he was reported dead. Then he issued a statement, saying that he wasn't.

'It's happened to me for years now, someone tells a radio station or a newspaper I've been killed, or suffered an accident,' Mr Vega said to Mexican internet media La Oreja, and according to BBC World. Just hours before he was actually killed by gunmen riding by him in a truck.

Sergio Vega first formed the band Los Hermanos Vega (The Vega Brothers), later to change name into Los Reyes del Norte (Kings from the North). As a singer he performed so-called narcocorridos, songs celebrating the lives of drug barons. He was born in Sonora in Mexico, but later emigrated to the United States. So Mexico has more than soccer to worry about this morning. This Mexican Mourning.

For further information, please see:

Sunday, 27 June 2010

US Supreme Justice Hearings

Hearings for the candidate as the next US Supreme Court Justice, Elana Kagan, will begin Monday. The hearings are expected to dig into Kagan's background of not being an experienced practicing lawyer, but having served as dean at Harvard Law School and as an advisor to the Clinton administration.

Other issues expected to be raised is her views on controversial areas like gun rights, same sex marriage, and abortion. Republicans hold up the Roberts standard as one Ms. Kagan must embrace to win their support, reffering to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Junior, nominated by the Bush administration in 2005. According to Ed Whelan, the president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative research organization, the Kagan hearings may come down to the standards for judging set forth by the president and the chief justice. It will be, Mr. Whelan said, 'the battle between the empathy standard and the umpire analogy,' according to The New York Times.

In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions.

For further information, please see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/us/politics/27kagan.html?hp

Brits Will Redraw from Afghanistan

According to the Danish daily Politiken, British PM David Cameron has stated that Britain will redraw troops from Afghanistan before 2015. Before the next election. Since they have already been there for nine years. He stresses the importance of the Afghans being able to take over the security in the country themselves. This requires stability in the country before the pull out can come into effect. This comes after the replacement of US Gen. Stanley McChrystal with Gen. David Petreaus - who has stated that he wants the mission in Afghanistan to be open-ended. Britain has 9.500 troops in Afghanistan - although being the second largest ally, it only amounts to one tenth of the US troops.

For further information, please see:
http://politiken.dk/udland/article1004514.ece
http://whitehouse.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/06/23/obama-taps-petreaus-who-saved-bush-in-iraq-to-save-war-effort-in-afghanistan/

Meta-Comment No. 25

Which way is the right one to the goal? It takes an awfully talented navigator to bring home the success. World leaders meet in Canada this weekend to reach a goal. They fight for a solution at the top of their abilities. But they cannot accomplish it without a little help from countless invisible hands. From the people who rule the world. Advisors. Mothers. Teachers. Servants. Navigators.

Saturday, 26 June 2010

The Magnificent Eight

The Magnificent Eight or Group of Eight (G8) which include USA, Canada, Russia, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, are joined at the G8 summit in Toronto this weekend. Later to be joined by emerging economies like China, India, Australia, Argentine, etc. at the following G20 summit. Brazil's President Silva has announced default because of floods. The participating nations are there to set the ground rules for economic growth and stability accross the major economies, following the financial crisis.

'We are poised to create the toughest financial reform since the one we created in the aftermath of the Great Depression. Early this morning the House and Senate reached an agreement on a set of Wall Street reforms, that represent ninety percent of what I proposed, when I took up this fight. Let me be clear, our economic growth and prosperity depend on a strong and robust financial sector,' US President Obama stated about the US efforts, according to BBC World.

Although German Kansler Merkel is in favour of a more restrictive regulation based on cut backs, she found much common ground among the G8 nations.

'I have made it clear that we need sustainable growth and that growth and intelligent austerity measures don't have to be contradictions,' Mrs Merkel told journalists.

British PM David Cameron agreed that different measures could compliment each other.

'I want to get the right outcome for the world economy, and that means that those countries, like our own, with budget deficits have got to move faser. Other countries with surpluses can afford to do other things,' Cameron explained to the press at the G8 summit.

The original G7 included Russia in 1997 on invitation by US President Bill Clinton, changing its name into G8. G20 or The Group of Twenty, comprises Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

US Economist Paul Krugman writes about the topic for the New York Times. He calls for stimulus to the economy. On 14th June he writes:

'...But we can’t afford it, say the advocates of austerity. Why? Because we must impose pain to appease the markets.

There are three problems with this claim.

First, it assumes that markets are irrational – that they will be spooked by stimulus spending and/or encouraged by austerity even though the long-run budget implications of such spending and/or austerity are trivial.

Second, we’re talking about punishing the real economy to satisfy demands that markets are not, in fact, making. It’s truly amazing to see so many people urging immediate infliction of pain when the US government remains able to borrow at remarkably low interest rates, simply because Very Serious People believe, in their wisdom, that the markets might change their mind any day now.

Third, all this presumes that if the markets were to lose faith in the US government, they would be reassured by short-term fiscal austerity. The available facts suggest otherwise: markets continue to treat Ireland, which has accepted savage austerity with little resistance, as being somewhat riskier than Spain, which has accepted austerity slowly and reluctantly.'

It all depends - on the situation, the economic nation, and the eyes that see - seems to be the paradox here.

For further information, please see:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/10416895.stm

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/the-bad-logic-of-fiscal-austerity/?scp=2&sq=paul%20krugman&st=cse

Merchants of Doubt

The American science historian Naomi Oreskes visited Copenhagen University on Thursday to give a lecture on what she refers to as Merchants of Doubt (entitled after her book) or Doubt Mongers - scientists who are in the industry of creating doubt about scientific research. And who are responsible for turning away the attention from the focal point.

This, she claims, can be seen in areas like the doubt created by the tobacco industry and lobbyists regarding the health hazards to smoking, even though numerous scientific results for years had documented that there were hazards. Other areas of doubt-mongering include topics like acid rain, the ozon layer, global climate change, etc.

PN made an interview on camera, to be edited in another connection. Among the questions were, if her point didn't have the liking to and could be perceived as a conspiracy theory?

Naomi Oreskes' response was that it isn't - but that caution should be taken when a scientist in one area of expertise acts as a government advisor in an entirely different area of expertise. She mentions American scientist Frederick Seitz, who worked with the development of the nuclear bomb as a young physicist. Later a headmaster at the Rockefeller University, and chairman at the US National Academy of Sciences (NSA) in the 1960'ies. He was hired by the tobacco industry to stimulate scientific research that showed no health hazards to smoking. Later, scientific research has been worldwide accepted, that there is a connection between smoking and the development of various lung diseases, including cancer.

Another more recent example she gives, is Danish scientist Bjørn Lomborg, who advises the government on global climate change - even though his background is economic. PN tried in vain to get in touch with Bjørn Lomborg several times for a comment/response to this critique.

More Students at Large

Students are coming out in huge numbers - and yesterday Paradoxical News joined a group on their truck a bit of the way to the north of Copenhagen. Singing, shouting, drinking beer from their student caps, and roaring 'Skååålålål-skååålålål' - a slightly fuddled variation over the Danish drinking salutation of Skål/Cheers. The truck received showers of beer thrown from other bypassing trucks with students, only adding to the entertainment.

PN had the rare chance of sitting next to a couple of twin sisters, Charlotte and Camilla, who had just graduated - after drawing the exact same exam question, and finishing with the exact same grade! What are the odds? 'Skååålålål-skååålålål'!

Outdoor Entertainment

Yesterday Paradoxical News stumbled accross a small group of outdoor entertainers at the local amusement park of Bakken. The members of the troup were preparing acts of snake charming, joggling, acrobatics, sable swallowing, etc. for a big Bakken parade today Saturday at two o'oclock.

Wednesday, 23 June 2010

Clear As McChrystal

General Stanley McChrystal, the top US commander in Afghanistan, will probably ask to be resigned voluntarily after his meeting today with President Obama. Not because he wants to, but to relieve the President of this decision. This comes after his overtly critical remarks on President Obama and the Obama administration in the handling of the war in Afghanistan, according to CNN.

The big question is how Obama will handle the dilemma: a highly valued top professional strategist versus public display of discontent by a top ranking officer. McChrystal has harvested widespread critique for voicing his dissatisfaction publicly. He has made it crystal clear that he wants more support and resources for the effort in Afghanistan. And Obama wants to pull out from the summer of 2011.

Obama is intelligent and empathic. Therefore he is likely to weigh McChrystal's demand in relation to his own policy, but he cannot afford to lose some of the best people in his crew either. How long time will it take for Obama to build the same amount of knowledge of the local conditions in Afghanistan? McChrystal has been very demanding, and has been in luck to get practically everything he has asked for. Why change horses in midstream - just one year before the pull out is scheduled to begin? And why would Obama make enemies for his future? He will probably voice his support to the hard working troops. Then ask McChrystal to be clear about his support for the Obama administration, and to voice it as publicly as his dissatisfaction. And then ask for positive results and solutions. As tangible and solid as rock. Worded in a headline as clear as McChrystal.

For further information, please see:

Liberal-Conservative EU Cat Fight

Danish member of the European Parliament for the Liberals (V), Jens Rohde, now criticises Foreign Secretary Lene Espersen for suggesting an abolishment of farm subsidies in the European Union. Always a hot and difficult topic to tackle, because the European Union was initiated and based on trading coal and steel, and later primarily farmed products and it has a large farming lobby.

In particular, he finds the statement and the signals it sends to the European countries troublesome up to the Danish chairmanship to begin in 2012. Now adding to the critique of Foreign Secretary Espersen for her cancellation of an important Arctic forum with US Foreign Secretary Clinton in Canada end of March. Lene Espersen has responded by stressing the importance of a more market oriented economy in this area and in general.

For further information, please see:

http://www.information.dk/237108

A Tax Loop Hole Fixed

A Danish Supreme Court ruling overrules prior rulings in the regional and revenue courts. According to the Supreme Court and the Inland Revenue Department, the company Jet Trade drives illegal business to avoid the Danish VAT.

Jet-Trade is not at liberty to sell jet boats, jet ski and boat trailers in the city of Aarhus - and then have the customers pick up the traded goods in Germany - for the sake of avoiding Danish VAT. Several companies speculate in this loop hole business tactic, profitting on the VAT differences between Germany and Denmark (19 and 25 percent, respectively). Jet-Trade lost their case in a principle ruling in the Danish Supreme court. All nine of nine Supreme Court justices backed the claim made by the Inland Revenue Department.

'Merchants are creative minds, but there are limits as to how creative you can be in the attempt at avoiding Danish VAT,' says Troels Lund Poulsen, Minister for the Inland Revenue Department. He now plans to look further into the rules and regulations of trade across boarders.

Jet-Trade's delivery, cf. the Danish revenue law article § 4. no. 1, 2. paragraph, originally happened to the customer and not to transporter Fleg­gaard. Since the boat was in Denmark at the time of delivery, when the transport to Germany started, the place of delivery is defined as Denmark, cf. the revenue law article § 14, no. 2, 1. paragraph, and for that reason the VAT was to be paid in Denmark.

For further information, please see:
http://www.domstol.dk/hojesteret/nyheder/Afgorelser/Pages/Momsoggraensehandel.aspx
http://www.skm.dk/presse/pressemeddelelser/ministeren/8201.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_added_tax

To Tax or Not to Tax

Latest: A political pursuit - and yes, it is trivial - of Social Democrat (A) opposition leader Helle Thorning-Scmidt's husband, Stephen Kinnock, CEO for World Economic Forum, is in motion in Denmark. Kinnock works and spends a major amount of his time in Switzerland - so he doesn't pay taxes in Denmark. Some tax experts and auditors will have him pay taxes in Denmark, others will have him taxed under a double tax regulation in Switzerland. So now the media are asking its readers. Paradoxically now the experts to top the experts.

For further information, please see:

Break Up Interpretations

Yesterday, Paradoxical News was invited to yet another press showing at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art to the north of Copenhagen. In connection with the opening of an exhibition with internationally acclaimed French photo artist Sophie Calle. Her works from the 70'ies on have sparked a lot of debate, because of her artistic methods. For instance in the 1979 Suite Venitienne, where she virtually stalked a man she had met at a party through Venice, photographing him in all sorts of situations without his knowing. Other works of art have focussed on the same theme of exposing privacy. Until a man, whose personal note and phone book she found, copied, and exposed artistically. His response was to demand a photo of her in the nude published a the newspaper.

This time around, she exposes herself and a personal relationship with a man who breaks up with her. In the artistic experiment Prenez Soin de Vous/Take Care of Yourself, the ending phrase of a break up letter from her partner, she invited a long range of people from all walks of life to interpret his e-mailed break up letter - from their point of view and profession. For instance a lawyer, a semantic, a physicologist, a proof reader, several artistic performers, etc. Very different direct interpretations, variations, and comments come out of this experiment.

She once inspired American author Paul Auster to base the character Maria in his novel Leviathan on her. But he added fictitious elements. Which she later took up - as an artistic passing of batons - and evolved into the character he described. As an artistic dialogue. A very interesting experiment would now be to see what the exposed break up man would get out of interpreting her and her latest artistic merit. For now, go see this paradoxical artist and her break up interpretations.

For further information, please see:

The Only Way Is Up

Danish politics has been very strange in the first half of 2010 - if not estranged. With de facto PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen striding through one political test and trial to the next. With impopular ministers. An not personally popular, with polls falling to a minimum for the government parties of Liberals (V) and Conservatives (C) in the recent three years. Pressured from the outside challenges or threats. If visiting the American or Afghan presidents, it hasn't helped much. And pressured from the inside trials and tribulations. When faced with internal politics and dissatisfied Danes, it has only added to his troubles.

Welcome to the world of politics, to the political game - and to your personal Hamiltonian, Wilsonian, Jeffersonian, and Jacksonian all at once! (see link below) The paradox of which is: Down is the best possible vantage point. From here it all looks a lot brighter, because there is only one way to go from here. The only ways is up.

For further information, please see:
http://jp.dk/indland/indland_politik/article1144387.ece
http://politiken.tv/nyheder/politik/politiskanalyse/article1001937.ece
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/walter-russell-mead-in-town.html

Students At Large

These days Copenhagen and all cities and small towns are swamped with students after their final exams. In Denmark, they celebrate it with considerable amounts of beer and funny looking caps with either red or blue rims, if not graduating as in international baccalaureate with flags from around the world along the rim. Driving around singing in buses or all sorts of odd transportation. And we celebrate them with cheers.

This morning I was up very early, and so were groups of students - not having been to bed, coming out to see the light of day in the local neighbourhood. Students at large, all smiling and partying. Very life affirming.

Sunday, 20 June 2010

Saturday, 19 June 2010

World Cup Challenge







Tonight is the match between Denmark and Cameroon. Major soccer teams have surprisingly been beaten or playing to a draw during the 2010 World Cup, Germany vs. Serbia (0-1), England vs. Algeria (0-0), Spain vs. Switzerland (0-1), France vs. Mexico (0-1), Denmark vs. Holland (0-2, was a sad event with one own goal on the Danish side). With USA playing to a draw with both England and Slovenia (1-1, and 2-2, respectively).

This major-minor paradox caught the attention of Paradoxical News. Obviously Denmark winning over a major soccer nation like Holland, would take a lot - and could therefore not be expected. But an own goal doesn't help the cheering crowds of supporters.

Denmark is fortunate to have some of the most peace loving, cheering, joyful supporters - the so-called Roligans (derived from the Danish word for peaceful, quiet, easy tempered). They even have 10 commandments of good conduct. And they do all they can to support the Danish soccer team around the world. They use singing in stead of horns. They ban fighting over games with competitor supporters and others. They show respect when competitor national songs are played. And one of their commandments is to give full support, even when things look the bleakest.

What is needed for the upcoming match of Denmark vs. Cameroon is a win. That win will not be ensured going black over the first loss. But to beat it up a notch and staying with the life affirming, joyful, loving spirit - on the bright side. And it will work out. Remember that Danish teams will gain support from many other countries against Cameroon.

Help is close at hand for the Danish soccer team. And its own supporters. There is an unwritten law that ensures Danish players automatic support from its Nordic neighbours - Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland - whenever and whereever they participate in international competion. As is the case of the World Cup, the European Cup, the European song contest, etc. Nordic neighbours will simply root for each other, when not in play themselves - against any international competitor. So that's one place the support will come from.

Another will be based on simple identification. This principle that is so important for the journalist in any kind of story - news, features, sports. Idenfication will save the day. Sports is as honours game. Friendships, alliances, tradition, and very importantly - the flag - will influence sympathies and support. So it will also come to Denmark from other European countries, and other overseas allies (like USA, Australia, New Zealand).

And due to identification, it will most likely come from other nations both participating in other games, and not participating, but watching. And rooting. Other nations that share the same colours of the flag - the Danish Dannebrog, with the colours of red and white - either one of them, or both. So chin up, the rooting and support will also come from an unseen place. The colours of the flag will cheer and root Danes to a win. If you stay on the bright and life affirming side.

For further information, please see:
http://www.fifa.com/
http://www.roliganklubben.dk/

Sorry, the Magic Word

'I want to speak directly to the people who live and work in the Gulf region: I know that this incident has had a profound impact on your lives and caused great turmoil, and I deeply regret that,' BP CEO Tony Hayward stated to the US House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on Thursday.

Referring to the tons of oil that affected the livelihood of millions of Americans, devasted natural life, affected the ecology in the Mexican Gulf region. After President Obama on several occasions showed intent and responsibility over the natural disaster. The next step for Obama will be to ensure the clean-up, to call for renewed focus on renewable energy, and to create new jobs in the region.

The BP CEO didn't just take responsibility on behalf of his company – CSR style (Corporate Social Responsibility). In this way, he simultaneously soothed the people of the Mexican Gulf region. With one statement to let them know he was sorry. Sorry, the magic word. Followed by the magic action.

For further information, please see:
http://www.google.dk/url?q=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/17/tony.hayward.profile/index.html&sa=X&ei=z2scTLupIcqlOOTRtKAM&ved=0CA0QzgQoATAA&usg=AFQjCNFvarX-lL7bhZ1d8Q_2NPFMO2MbaA

Blockade - To Lift or Not to Lift

The Israeli blockade on the Palestians in the Gaza strip is going on its third year, but as of this week, the Israeli government decided to ease the blockade - allowing more goods into Gaza. A giant relief for everyone involved. But shouldn't the blockade be lifted by now? Following the massive international protests towards Israel after the Free Gaza ship was attacked by Israeli forces, killing civilians, in international waters. The demand was clear from international side (UN, USA, EU, Israel friendly Turkey, etc): There should be a thorough and impartial investigation, chaired by a non-partisan investigator.

So the paradoxical question is, why does it end up with Israel conducting its own investigation, merely overseen by international monitors - and not with an impartial international body of investigation? The paradox that PN would like to propose to Israel is this (admittedly the example is worn, but easily understandable): Following the war crimes after World War II - would Israel have allowed the German government to investigate itself? The example is horrible, because we all share the condemnation of the magnitude of the horrid events, but the German government and the German people didn't think they were doing anything wrong either. While a majority of countries in the international community condemned the actions. This is also the situation we have right here - a widespread international condemnation. PN is not talking magnitude, but principle alone.

The bold paradoxical question in general is this simple one: Can an internationally condemned action by one party - taking place in international waters or territory - be investigated by that very same party? It takes an awful lotta love. An unreasonable lotta love.

The next question is about the blockade itself. To lift or not to lift. It's all about security for Israel. But the blockade itself provides the tensions and the insecurity. So when in doubt, lift. The international community will stand further by Israel if the blockade is lifted. Ensuring its security.

For further information, please see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/world/middleeast/18mideast.html
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2010/06/ultimate-love-test.html

The Soothing Word of Sorry

'What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong,' PM David Cameron told the House of Commons on Tuesday. In Britain, the long awaited Saville report (12 years, the inquiry was initiated and chaired by lord Saville in 1998) with the findings after British paratroopers opened fire killing 13 civilians during a civil rights march - the event widely known as Bloody Sunday on 30th January 1972 in Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The event fueled the violent methods adopted by Northern Ireland and troubled the political debates with Sinn Fein. The public apology is historic, and must have been hard for a unionist Conservative to express. But necessary for the peace of mind of the relatives of the victims, and for easing relations between Northern Ireland and England. This is the paradox of the soothing word of 'Sorry'.

For further information, please see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/15/bloody-sunday-report-saville-inquiry
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/northern_ireland/10291990.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1972)

Whale Watching


In Denmark, a fin whale has stranded in Vejle fjord this week, after having swimmed around the Island of Funen for some weeks. It's the world's second largest living animal (seen upto 27 meters/88 feet) after the blue whale (upto 33 meters/108 feet). For days emergency rescuers have tried to push it back to sea, and last night a sudden overflow of water after flow shook it loose. Just one of those paradoxical news stories, that keeps everybody on their toes, whale watching, and holding their breaths to see what will happen next.


For further information, please see:

http://www.dr.dk/nettv/update/?video={55492515-d5a0-41b5-8cc0-8f407c8fe0f5}

Local Jubilee

The balloons came out. The colourful streamers came out. And about 2.000 children came out dressed in festive clothes and with self-produced colourful paper hats. The reason was the 875 year jubilee on Tuesday for the local Zealand town of Næstved. They all cheered, singing song for their local mascot, the dragon of Næssie (perhaps a relation to the Scottish fable monster of Nessie?) - so called because the town is shaped in the form of a dragon, seen from the sky.

They all marched through town to the main square, where several thousand citizens had come to see the internationally acclaimed Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard join the Minister of the Interior and the mayor of Næstved, Henning Jensen, at the revelation of a new sculpture and fountain portraying a local mythical figure who keeps away evil spirits and evil people - with life giving water flowing from her chest. The local citizens debated the sculpture, some had to get used to it - but most liked it after a walkabout around it. The paradox of most art.

Meta-Comment No. 24

'Money!' British band Pink Floyd yawn on their brilliant album The Dark Side of the Moon from the 70'ies. The Swedish pop group Abba shouts it out no less than three times in their hit song Money, Money, Money! All the things I could do, if I just had a little money...Even Julia Roberts raises her brows to Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, suggesting the most direct way to ease the tension between them: 'You know, you could pay me'.

Now, why would Paradoxical News make all these references? Could it be for the simple reason that everything - everything - in this world revolves around money? You cannot provide sufficient food and drink, you cannot ensure your livelihood and accommocation, and you simply cannot move an inch without it. PN has now survived for several years without money in own pocket to maneuvre. So a little credit in hand for the effort would solve it all.

Saturday, 12 June 2010

The Magic of Magenta

Magenta. A pinkish colour between blue and red. Right in the middle. Magenta is to mark the new logo of The Danish Social-Liberal Party (B). The paradoxical party that calls itself and its members the 'Radicals' - but is anything but radical in views. The party in the middle where every other major Danish political party - i.e. the Social Democrats (A) and the Liberals (V) - wants to be for more votes, but is paradoxically one of the smallest parties in the Danish parliament. The party right between the blue block and the red block. As is the colour of magenta. This is the magic of magenta. And the paradox of the Social-Liberals.

For further information, please see: