LibDem Blogs - Archived!

Only recently I learned how to send text from my flash mobile. I was given one of those small 'latest' models as a present because of my eyes. Age is catching me - the bright colours are wonderful in the dark. I'm supposed to be a computer wiz but for the life of me, except simple words I could fathom how to send text with all the shortcuts. Kept receiving long messages which I couldn't answer (how to make the space and full stops eluded me). Humbly ask my daughter-in-law Nats to give me a lesson in the basics - ...

Matters relating to this part of the constituency were on the agenda when I met with the Chief Exec of Eastleigh Borough Council and Andy Milner (neighbourhood co-ordinator) this afternoon. As well as discussing some local initiatives and planning applications we chatted about the admin of the elections, the Beatrice Royal Gallery and facilities for older people.

Local initiative to encourage older people to use the internet so went along to see how it was going. Was surprised to find a predominately female group and most had been prompted to come along because "the family have a spare computer". Good initiative and nearly everyone I spoke to said that they had really enjoyed themsleves and wanted to take things further.

Nice morning at Mottisfont Abbey yesterday - so nice it didn't feel like work. They had decided to invite some "stakeholders" along to talk about what they are doing plus give a quick tour of house and gardens. Learnt a lot but would advise people to visit in a couple of weeks time when the stunning shrub roses will be at their best. Also learnt that it is not from to "mention the G word". G

Today's House Points column from Liberal Democrat News:Feigned praiseSammy Wilson, the new MP for East Antrim, gave the best guide to maiden speeches. His leader Ian Paisley had told him to say nice things about his constituency, pay tribute to his predecessor and not be controversial.Wilson hymned the beauties of Ulster, but found it hard to be too kind about the previous member. He had spent years trying to get rid of him. Worse, they are neighbours: “In fact, he is only a stone’s throw away – I pick them out of the garden every morning.”And controversy? He was doing ...

The DTI claim the UK will be a net importer of oil by 2010. Using the figures from my answer of 2004 having 88 MTOE production and 82 MTOE consumption and taking the figures from the DTI website (see link) of 22.6 production in Q1 2005 as opposed to 25.5 production in Q1 2004 one would presume that the UK already is a net importer of oil in Q1 2005.

I asked where the SureStart centres would get the funding from after the government's 6 years funding stopped and the answer is: "Centres would also be able to generate additional revenues by charging parents for some of their services such as childcare." I have also heard today that I now have an office. They have avoided the question on cuts in hospital beds. I have done a graph following the

The reaction of Professor Theresa Rees to the resolution of the Assembly to oppose top-up fees for Welsh domiciled students gets curiouser and curiouser. In this article she is quoted rather patronisingly as asking "I wonder how many AMs know the fees are deferred?".Obviously she is upset that the nine months of work that she and her commission has put into their report seems to have gone down the swanney. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. The report contains some valuable recommendations on part time students and a National Bursary Scheme that I am sure we will be ...

Thank you to the Guardian: Kitchen knife ban sought

Watching the special 'EU Constitution Question Time' last night left me saddened. The vote in France is going to be worryingly close - and France has had a very open and public debate, with a serious attempt to bring awareness of the issues to a wide audience. Despite the information overload, French voters seem willing to destroy the treaty for one of three reasons: They see the constitution as 'Thatcherite' in it's economic outlook They are sceptical about the accession of Turkey They don't like Chirac and want to give him a bloody ...

Ki-linYou scored 54% Esotericism, 34% Power, and 24% Malevolence! A mythical being of Chinese mythology, comparable with the Western unicorn. Ki-lin personifies all that is good, pure, and peaceful. It lives in paradise and only visits the world at the birth of a wise philosopher. The unicorn, which can become one thousand years old, is portrayed as a deer with one horn, the tail of an ox, the hooves of a horse, and a body covered with the scales of a fish. It is one of the four Ling. My test tracked 3 variables ...