Deciding to continue doing business with someone even though you disagree with their political aims is a political decision: a decision to wimp out and fail to pursue your own political goals. A decision to support your political enemy because money is more important to you than your principles.

Mind you, I fail to live up to my own high-sounding rhetoric.

I faced an ethical dilemma. I discovered that one of my clients is run by members of Hillsong Church — an organisation which worries me. Did I stop working for them? No. Or at least I haven’t yet. However I have turned down a project which would have been working directly with the Church’s own business interests.

On the other hand, can I be accused of religious discrimination? Perhaps. How would it have sounded if I said “I don’t work for Jews”?

It’s presumably OK to say “I don’t work for the baby-sacrificing Turnip Cult”, though, so where does one draw the line?

I think Apple’s greatest error in getting Randy Newman to perform is that Randy Newman is crap. Maybe it’s all because Al Gore is on Apple’s board.

The ethical dilemma you face is plainly an obstacle that you have to get over in order to do business. But the key thing is this is the result of mixing business with politics (or religion).

Put it another way. You, like I, probably had no ethical dilemma walking into a Gloria Jeans to buy coffee before you found out they were closely bound to the Hillsong Church. Now of course it’s a different story (they worry me too). But the point is that ignorance is bliss, and in this case, conducive to doing business. The wonderful thing (yes I really think it is) about commerce is that in general you don’t need to know the ownership of a company in order to do business with them.

But as soon as I know, it becomes impossible to leave that knowledge “at the door”, as you put it.

Obviously, though, all business involves compromise…

(I tended to avoid Gloria Jean’s before that, but that’s only because I like variety and will always choose the unknown corner café over the high-profile franchise.)

straight-out entertainment

Next thing you know, he’ll be making self deprecating guest appearances on tribute videos designed as YouTube viral marketing, Oh hang on …. no … wait … I’m so confused ….

Well, what did you expect from I-Poddies? (Not to be confused with “Gladies & Poddies”, who can been seen furtively disguising their IP addresses when downloading the latest offering from their favourite ABC commie.)

I was rather surprised at how unsubtle Randy Newman’s effort was, but then, we in the other world have spent the last 8 years looking through the glass darkly. They are just awaking from their slumber. The alarm clock needs to be somewhat rauckus to cut through all the bling and whistles.

I tended to avoid Gloria Jean’s before that,

‘LOL: I always wondered why I never (and I mean Never) was tempted in the slightest, to sup a Latte in a GJs. Now I know why!