Podcast Hosted from the Shire

edit Tom Paine, Brian of London and others 2008-05-21 20:57 UTC 8 comments  ·  ·  ·

Shire Network News is so called because the man who started it, "Tom Paine" hails originally from New Zealand, which did such a great job of looking exactly like Tolkein's Shire in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings.

This week's show is hosted from New Zealand by well known Kiwi blogger Murray, whose work you can find at Hitting Metal With a Hammer. And no, he is not related to Gimli. As far as we know. Gimli's just nowhere nearly as aggressive and warlike as Murray.

This week's guest is Dr Walid Phares, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Middle East history and politics, global terrorist movements, democratization and human rights.

He speaks to us about the Hizbollah intimidation of the government of Lebanon, and whatever happened to the amazing disappearing Bush doctrine.

In Blog News this week, Muslim radicals show maximum respect to the fearsome UK constabulary, is Barak Obama's mysterious middle name actually "Neville", we ask why Londoners are confused as to why some guy can get stabbed to death in broad daylight in Oxford St, what length the Yorkshire Ripper's sentence ought to be (and should it be measured in years or length of rope) and Murray tells the rest of the world why they should use New Zealand as a horrible example of what happens when a government actually believes in global warming and signs Kyoto.

We have our regular chat with Evan Sayet and you can pre-order his new book on Amazon.

And Meryl Yourish is along to make fun of someone's name. But he deserves it.

Comment #1dhimmitude suks

2008-05-22 21:39:14

SNN is (usually) my weekly antidote to MSM - thanks for the show. Lot's of great stuff again this show, but if SNN has been bundled in the back of a van this week, I'm hoping you get let out of the van next week.

I think the message is put across more powerfully by Tom or Brian's usual blend of straight talking, rational argument and ironic humour. Plus emotional honesty and occasional strong language.

By comparison, I think the tone of some of this weeks show was disappointing at the beginning. For example, well done for getting that audio of the police intervention with the muslim lunatic on the PA out into the public domain - people need to be confronted with the reality of what is going on.But if you want to reach more than a fringe, your response has to be better than suggesting a 'bullet in the head' is a good way to calm down Islamic radicals on the streets of Britain.

That's too much like sinking to the level of the imams on C4, who urged followers to throw gays off mountains. Likewise the treatment of the Yorkshire ripper story this week.

I think you guys are better than that.

I think more people need to hear the message that you are putting out, and I want SNN to be something that your listeners can feel comfortable to share with others. The tone of this weeks presentation made that task more difficult.

Looking forward to next weeks show. Hope it returns to it's usual standards and style.

Comment #2Beth George

2008-05-23 20:50:49

Excellent interview with Dr Walid Phares. It is a great geopolitical analysis.

Comment #3Roland McKie

2008-05-24 11:19:08

Good show Murray, whatever people say.

I agree that Tom and Brian are probably more moderate and incisive but I think that Murray should consider doing his own podcasts on his own site - I'd listen. I haven't giggled so much for a long time!

Comment #4Steven

2008-05-25 03:40:22

Ooo, nice commenting tool! :)

I was wondering, how can I get access to the older archived podcasts?

Comment #5Roland (Citizen of a once proud Britain)

2008-05-26 16:14:15

Look further down the right hand side of this page and you will see a list of years. CLick on these and this opens a new page. CLick on the dated headlines and then scroll down a bit to find the links which you can open and save as.

...I know...click this link to straight to 2007 archive:

http://podcast.shirenetworknews.net/:year:2007/?:t=summary

 Brian: how did you manage to escape from the leftist Republic of Britain. Surely the thought police must have been only one step behind you as you made your bid for freedom in the new world?

Keep up the good work. I am doing my best to circulate your site to all the common-sense Britons I can find.

Regards to anti radical-islamists.

Comment #6Andrew Ian Dodge

2008-05-28 09:48:21

I enjoyed Murray's ott delivery. Its a good antidote to the normal MSM...not every SNN but an occasional stint is good for the angst that ails you.

Comment #7Imshin

2008-05-31 14:59:30

In the name of countless friends and relatives of mine called Dudu and/or Dudi, popular Israeli abbreviation for David (Remember David? As in King David? As in ancestor of future Messiah?...) I protest the merciless mocking of poor Doudou Dienne!

Comment #8Rick Giles

2008-06-01 22:17:51

Hells bells!

Great going Murray. You'd be a great regular contributor.

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