My Manifesto: The Incoherent Ramblings of a Madman

Ah Borat, Borat, Borat.....I can't wait for the movie! :)

'People's lives have been ruined by his comedy'

From Roma villagers to etiquette coaches - the victims bite back

Linda Stein Artist and feminist

In the film Borat goads her into storming off by telling her that women must walk behind men in his country and asking how he can contact Pamela Anderson. Stein boots Borat out.

She now says "He was very, very clever in the way he warmed up to his outrageous behaviour. At no point did I feel that there was an actor in the room."

Action "I'm keeping my options open," she says. "Sacha Baron Cohen should buy one of my sculptures. He owes me one."

Nicolae Todorache and Spiridom Ciorebea Villagers, Glod, Romania

In the film Todorache, who has lost an arm in an accident, was filmed with a rubber sex toy attached to the stump. Ciorebea played the "village mechanic and abortionist".

Todorache now says "Our region is very poor, and everyone is trying hard to get out of this misery. It is outrageous to exploit people's misfortune like this - to laugh at them."

Action A $30m (£15.5m) lawsuit has been filed in Manhattan's federal court.

College students Known only as John Doe One and John Doe Two

In the film On a road trip, the frat boys from South Carolina University give Borat a lift. Shown drinking together, they are contemptuous of women and tell Borat that America is ruled by minorities. They also show him the sex video Pamela Anderson made with Tommy Lee.

They now say The film caused them "mental anguish, humiliation, physical and emotional distress and loss of reputation".

Action They are suing for fraud, breach of contract, invasion of privacy and distress. A spokesman for Twentieth Century Fox has said the legal action "has no merit".

Dharma Arthur TV producer

In the film Borat appears on the lunchtime news show on the WAPT network in Jackson, Mississippi. Anchorman Brad McMullan gamely struggles to rein in Borat, who then interrupts a live weather forecast, causing the weatherman to laugh hysterically. Arthur was the producer.

She now says "Because of him, my boss lost faith in my abilities and second-guessed everything I did thereafter," she wrote in Newsweek. "I spiralled into depression, and before I could recover, I was released from my contract early. It took me three months to find another job ... How upsetting that a man who leaves so much harm in his path is lauded as a comedic genius."

Action None so far.

Bobby Rowe Rodeo manager, Tennessee

In the film Rowe is filmed venting prejudice against homosexuals and Muslims. Borat addresses the rodeo crowd, offering support for George Bush's "War of Terror". His calls for Iraq to be bombed "so only the lizards survive" are cheered; his rendition of the Kazakh national anthem to the tune of the Star-Spangled Banner is booed.

He now says "I got out there [when Borat sang the anthem]," Rowe told Newsweek, "and I say, 'Get the hell outta this dadgum building! Half the sumbucks in there are probably packin' heat, and they'll put you in front of the firing squad.' Boy, they got in their trucks and hauled boogie."

Action None.

Patrick Haggerty Public speaking and humour coach

In the film In a tutorial on American humour, Borat talks about his "retard" brother and tells a few popular Kazakh jokes, such as the one about having sex with your mother-in-law.

He now says "I think he's a comic genius. About 15 or 20 minutes into the filming I really started to smell a rat. I went up to the director and I said 'Why don't you let me in on the gag? I know there's a gag'. He said 'No, no, no, no, you misunderstand. You're doing fine. This guy needs your help'."

Action As a humour coach, Haggerty probably cannot afford to have a sense of humour failure over his appearance in Borat.

Joe Behar Bed and breakfast owner

In the film Borat is shown throwing money at computer-generated cockroaches in the bedroom, saying they are the Jewish couple who have changed shapes and become insects.

He now says "The director said I was a good actor. If they want to be equitable about it, though, I think they should compensate everyone involved in a more decent way."

Action None.

Sally Speaker Guest at Magnolia Springs Manor in Helena, Alabama

In the film Borat asks Presbyterian minister Cary Speaker whether another guest is his wife. Mr Speaker replies: "No, that is my wife", pointing at Sally. Borat says: "In my country they would go crazy for these two," pointing at the hostess Cindy Streit and Sarah Moseley. Pointing at Mrs Speaker, he says, "You ... not so much."

She now says "Lives have been ruined by his comedy. I realise some people will watch the movie and find it funny, but for the people who were duped into appearing, what happened was anything but humorous."

Action No plans to sue.

Cindy Streit Etiquette coach and host of Magnolia Springs Manor dinner party

In the film Borat gives her a bag of excrement after a visit to the bathroom. She shows him how to flush it down the toilet. He is asked to leave when he invites a black prostitute - played by an actress - to the dinner.

She now says She claims that her business, Etiquette Training Services, has been ruined.

Action Has asked California's attorney general to investigate possible violations of the Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Patrick Barkham

1am they started jack hammering near my place the other night. 1am! Till 3am! Who in the hell let's them get away with that? Do they think no one actually lives in the city? God damn!

My flatmate today:

I just love the fact that we are now being tested on things we didnt cover in lectures, that arent in our text, and that we need to learn from the examples provided by the lecturer which are full of mistakes....

what a quality education i am paying for.

I might as well come up with my own answers.

Question 1: Why doesnt this Truss bridge fall down?

Answer: Cause Harry, the resident Troll is holding it up on one side, and his cousin Brian is on the other. As long as no more than 5 billy goats cross the bridge at any one time, it should be ok, provided Brians dodgy knee doesnt give out.

It's almost majestic right now looking out over Brisbane. Barely a car on the road. Too early for the trains to have started. Barely a breeze in the air. Fine and sunny. Four (4) hot air balloons float along the river.

Bono rejected by Howard - AAP

"I don't accept preconditions from anybody," Mr Howard told reporters.

"I don't commit in advance to businessmen in this country and I certainly don't do it to - much in all as he's high grade - Irish entertainers."


Personally, I don't blame John Howard for not giving him an audience. Well meaning or not, he should first make an appointment to see the Prime Minister and it should be on the Prime Minister's terms. It is disrespectful for any such meeting to be any other way.

Even dodgy Prime Minister's from an unimportant country deserve some respect.

Speaking of respect, if I hear another fucking countrys' representative that does not support the death penalty come out and say "Saddam got everything he deserved" i am going to yell at my tv news segment/or newspaper for no apparent reason! You either support the death penalty or you do not support the death penalty - you cannot have it both ways!

The death penalty? Fuck-me! Saddam gets the death penalty for sentencing others to death. Irony? or some sick twist of fate? Would it not be better to have him put in prison for life where everyday he wakes up regretting what he was meant to have done wrong and wishing he had lead differently? There are far better punishments than death. Death is the easy way out for someone who has truly wronged.

Love Saddam (if that's actually possible) or hate him he at least deserved a fair trial! In all of our wisdom we have not even afforded him that. It is sad when one finds they cannot lead by example. I just hope that Bush at least asks him for advice on how the hell to fix up the hell-hole that is now Iraq before they hang him and lose all knowledge.

The vaccuum cleaner is madly sucking away here making me sea-sick as the monitor bobs up and down.

Spears upbeat after filing for divorce - Associated Press

Damn straight I'd be upbeat too after filing for divorce from a wacko white trash dude.

I'm in the beginnings of something. I feel flat, tired, run down. I've been drinking coffee all day trying to pick me up, but to no avail. This will probably just speed up whatever illness i'm getting.

Now I'm sitting here exhausted and all caffeine jittery - either that or i'm showing new symptoms. Between watching too much House MD, the medical drama, and having access to Google, I have now self diagnosed everything from HIV to Gulf War Syndrome to leprosy. Too much information is a bad thing.

She, who shall remain nameless: "Brisbane is *beep* terrible! I can't *beep* go to kickboxing because I can't *beep**beep**beep**beep* wipe the soap out of my *beep* crack because the *beep* Brisbane water doesn't wash the *beep* soap off properly! And your *beep* shower doesn't work properly!" "I'll end up *beep* half lifting my *beep* leg up and the *beep* soap will *beep* grab hold of my *beep* leg and pull it back in some type of *beep* gumby motion!" "*beep* Brisbane is *beep* terrible!"

Me: "You can't blame Brisbane because you don't know how to wash yourself"