The Best Explanation of America's involvment in the Middle East, I have ever seen.
Provided by The Daily Show; Thursday 23rd August 2007
11:19 pm
Provided by The Daily Show; 10:57 pm
Dr May I presume?
Congratulations to Brian May on passing his viva voce today. There are many PhD students who start studying, move to part time and take on a job. And before they know it, the part completed thesis ends up in the loft, never to see the light of day again. Brian is in a very lucky position whereby the day job has been done, and he can go back to his research. Fortunately, in the 36 years its been sat waiting, no one else has come along and either invalidated the findings, or done exactly the same thing so that his ... 10:54 pm
Inspirational Chinese Quote of the Day
This quotation pretty much sums up what I believe. Honorable mention on this blog to the first person to post the correct translation in the comments section. 10:15 pm
Being compared with Michael Moore !
I am honoured today to have found a blog which has linked to my article on George Bush, and also linked to Michael Moore (yes, the loud shouty fat American one who I actually quite like), with the quote "Here's a couple of people who say all this better than me." I know, some people would take being likened to Michake Moore as an insult, but as he is always on my holiday reading list I am rather pleased. So many thanks to More Chips With Gravy On My Shoulder for what I will see as a compliment. 9:42 pm
In Memoriam Siobhan Dowd
{siobhan-dowd.jpg} I was up at the crack of dawn this morning, in order to write an obituary of the writer and human rights activist Siobhan Dowd (who died on Tuesday, aged only 47) for the Guardian. Even when one has known someone for years, there’s always lots of research to do, and people to phone and email, before sitting down to craft a piece within a set number of words. Then one has to think hard what to highlight and decide the pitch at which the article should be tuned. In Siobhan’s case, this was virtually self-determined, as she had such a ... 
9:06 pm
From around the blog-o-sphere
In the laziest possible way, an unordered list: Tony Hannon tells the world what's not to like about politics. Mike Rouse serves up a Supermarket Sweep - Political Parties Edition - I had a hand in this, so the link is really just an ego thing. The Economist discusses the efficacy of torture. I'm playing around with Pageflakes at the moment, a personalised homepage service. Seems quite good and 8:48 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
It is amazing just how much has been crammed into the past few days! Leaving aside that I am burning the midnight oil with my day job (currently exceptionally busy), I chaired the TACTRAN (Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership) Board meeting on Tuesday, plus participated in two other internal TACTRAN meetings (Tuesday/today) and a TACTRAN induction session on Tuesday too, so I am all TACTRANed out! That said, find it very interesting and worthwhile working with colleagues across the Tayside and Stirling Council areas on transport and related matters. On Wednesday morning, the Lord Provost and I visited the ... 8:44 pm
Cameron calls Thatcher stupid!
"They are casting their problems at society. And, you know, there's no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look after themselves first. It is our duty to look after ourselves and then, also, to look after our neighbours." Margaret Thatcher, 23 September 1987 "To paraphrase 8:42 pm
Technology to help the elderly
Also in the news this week was the launch of Southwark's new SMART service (Southwark Monitoring and Alarm Response Team), that was launched on Friday. The team cover a range of services ranging from monitoring whether a vulnerable resident has fallen to reminding them to take medication. The right range of services to provide personal safety and support are tailored to the needs of the individual concerned, rather than being one-size fits all. It's the sort of public service that can really make a difference both to residents in need and provide reassurance to their family. 8:37 pm
Southwark wins praise on gun crime
Cross-party consensus on issues such as dealing with violent criminals is always welcome. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has praised Liberal Democrat led Southwark Council’s ‘good works’ on gang and gun crime, speaking at the start of a summit at 10 Downing Street. Our Community Safety spokesperson Jeff Hook, who was one of two local government representatives present has commented: “There appears to be a genuine desire by the Prime Minister to work co-operatively to end gang and gun violence and I am glad that he has been able to learn something from Southwark’s work in this area.” “I told ... 
7:43 pm
SexyBritain: Tory viral marketing... or nothing of the sort?
Because I'm lucky enough to receive a complimentary copy of Marketing Week I saw this story about half an hour before it appeared on Lib Dem Voice this morning. Have the Conservatives really commissioned a viral marketing campaign which uses mobile footage of a drunken girl falling over to highlight the failings of Labour's Britain? If you look at the video - allegedly posted by Youtube user SexyBritain - you can see what I'm talking about. Many YouTube users might want to watch footage of a drunken girl trying to dance seductively and then falling over. Exactly how many of ... 7:36 pm
The Daily Scum strikes again !
The headline in todays Daily Scum underlines just what a nasty, nasty paper it is. Whilst the figures given may be correct, one set of stats was conveniently ignored. That being the 190,000 immigrants who also left the country. Why ignore this fact ? Well that would undermine the Daily Scum's xenophobic argument. 7:35 pm
The Great Chinese Human Rights Crackdown Continues
Jonathan Watts of the Guardian appears to have an exclusive tonight. Yuan Weijing, the wife of jailed Chinese dissident and human rights campaigner Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚) (who was imprisoned for exposing illegal enforced late term abortions by local government officials in his hometown of Lingyi, Shangdong) has apparently been placed under house arrest by the Chinese authorities thereby preventing her travelling to the Philippines to collect a human rights award on behalf of her husband. She hasn't broken any laws and she has all the valid paperwork apparently so there should be some serious pressure on the Chinese Government to ... 6:33 pm
Rain, rain, rain
Surgery all morning and the rain seems like it will never stop. But hurrah! Off to France for a week tomorrow! 6:22 pm
My Doughty Defence of Human Rights
Full programme over on 18DS. Share This 5:57 pm
Why has ALDC started to refer to me as Christopher?
Posted by Chris: Why has ALDC started to refer to me as Christopher? I have been a member almost since the beginning of ALC and have never referred to myself as Christopher on any forms, emails or letters. I know it is my name but only my mother calls me Christopher. Come to think of it I got an email from Ming Campbell starting with "Dear Christopher" as well. What has gone wrong with the system I ask? 5:25 pm
Is Lembit being taken for a ride?
Gabriela has been sharing her wedding plans with icWales: “I’d like a big fairytale wedding with a white dress, white horses and everything. Lembit would be the perfect groom.” 5:23 pm
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Lord Bonkers' Diary: Thursday
The week continues in logical order: Thursday A telephone call asks me to hurry to Bonkers Halt, where I find the Station Master in a state of agitation. “It’s Mr Kennedy, you lordship,” he explains. “We’ve tried everything. I’ve blown my whistle and waggled my flag at him, but he just won’t stop smoking.” English legislation does not pertain in Rutland, of course, so the celebrated Caledonian is at liberty to smoke until we reach the Leicestershire border, but he insists on smoking Golden Virginia Bottomley tobacco, which gives off the most awful acrid fumes – quite unlike my own ... 5:20 pm
Leicestershire health food
Let's hear it for the organic pork pie. 5:03 pm
Lib Dems Demand Better Bus Services for Ings Farm Estate
Liberal Democrat Councillors in West Dyke Ward are demanding a meeting with Arriva bus company bosses to discuss improving bus services to the Ings Farm Estate in Redcar. Councillors Joyce Benbow, Mike Carling and Mary Ovens recently carried out a survey to every home in the Castle Road area. This follows numerous complaints about unreliability of the 22 service, and the condition of buses. The survey reinforced the dissatisfaction of many residents, particularly the elderly. Councillor Mary Ovens said: “We had a very high number of survey forms returned, and this confirmed the view that the bus service is unsatisfactory ... 4:18 pm
The Politics of God - yet more nonsense
Mark Villa’s essay ‘The Politics of God’ (N.Y. Times mag) couldn’t be any more coherent and yet wider of the mark. He claims that there was a ‘Great Separation’ in political thought with Thomas Hobbes, which led to a separation between religion and politics. Professor Villa conveniently separates morality from religion, so that he can blame, at least in part, ‘political theology’ for obscurantism 4:14 pm
Danish Town
Back again in Tallinn where I am due to speak at a conference tomorrow- hope that I can come up with something that makes sense to the notoriously well informed and generally unresponsive Estonian audience. A real pleasure to escape the vile weather in London (only a week back and hating it already!). At least the summer still continus here, although it is in fact somewhat humid- unheardof in this generally quite chilly climate. Mind you I shall be going on to Aberdeen on Saturday, so that is set to be somewhat bracing! 4:10 pm
Tory Post
People in Sheffield can be pretty rude about the Yorkshire Post, (”Yorkshire’s National Newspaper”), basically saying that it is all about Leeds and very pro-Conservative. Unless you read the letters page which is full of pro-UKIP letter writers. But even I was surprised by how blatantly pro-Tory today’s Yorkshire Post was, with two thirds of the front page devoted to them. Under a big heading “Cameron’s Cure”, it then had two big articles about the Conservatives with the headlines “Support the family and tackle social breakdown” and “Heseltine review to put Supertram back on track”. Inside was a two page ... 3:55 pm
Party moves up another gear in general election preparations
Liberal Democrat Voice has learnt that the party’s planning for an early general election stepped up another gear this week with the return to Cowley Street of Alastair Reed as General Election Planning Manager. Alastair worked for Chris Rennard in the 2005 campaign and after a year off studying in Leiden, he was seconded to Scotland [...] 3:21 pm
President's comments show more than a hint of despair
Responding to George Bush’s comparison of the Iraq War with Vietnam, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell said: “The President’s efforts to derive support for America’s position in Iraq from its experience in Vietnam show more than a hint of despair. “Likewise his references to Japan are equally inept. His analysis fails to acknowledge that, in defeating Japan, the allies were acting wholly in accordance with international law and responding to Japanese aggression. “Things must be getting pretty desperate when an American President feels it necessary to rely on the bruising and never to be repeated experience in Vietnam.” 3:20 pm
Bad Days, Good Days.
Yesterday started well enough. A nice run along the river to Malpas, in the Cornish sunshine, what better way to start the day?. Then pay a few bills, not fun but necessary and off to a meeting to discuss negotiations for the new Unitary Council. That's when things started to go downhill. A really grim meeting. The gulf between District Councillors and County Councillors is huge and a great deal of bitterness exists. It doesn't help that County hoards information and can't bear to tell anyone anything. A nice guy had come down from Portsmouth to give us the benefit ... 1:50 pm
Lawrence killer in Italy? Why not?
It is because I take murder very seriously that I find utterly disgraceful the recent tabloids’ hysteria and the government’s jumping on the ‘Lawrence killer’ bandwagon. Learco Chindamo is now 26, he was 15 when he was jailed for life for killing Philip Lawrence back in 1995. He moved to the UK when he was 5, he has no links to Italy whatsoever. When he was arrested, he didn’t even know how to 1:41 pm
Patsy Calton award
A while ago I nominated a colleague in Garston and Halewood for the national Patsy Calton awards being run by Women Liberal Democrats. They are producing a booklet about the nominees and today I had to provide a 100 word piece about the person I have nominated - Councillor Barbara Collinge. Almost impossible to cut things down to that length. I hope I have at least done her some justice in what I have written. We won't know who has won until the Wednesday of party conference. Barbara definitely deserves to win though. 1:38 pm
The New Wembley - my first experience
This was the second England match I’d seen live, but my first time to the new Wembley. In actual fact my first England match was the friendly with Australia held at Upton Park, memorable only for Wayne Rooney’s debut, oh and a fully deserved 3-1 defeat. The Journey There Fantastic. A short bus ride from Bearwood and a direct train from Snow Hill (or Moor St) to Wembley Stadium station, pretty much right outside. If only getting home was as easy, but I’ll come to that later. Outside The Stadium Approaching the stadium it looks incredible. I never liked the ... 1:36 pm
International hockey
All this week all we can hear from the office when we open the window is the sound of stick hitting stick and the occassional ball hitting backboard. The University is currently hosting the International Masters Hockey tournament, and there is a vast array of countries and age groups taking part. It's quite nice to pop out the office at lunchtime to sit and watch some international sport. 1:31 pm
Stealing from the poor and giving to the rich
Our dear leader mayor Ken ‘capitalism kills’ Livingstone and his bosom buddy Hugo ‘I 1:26 pm
Labour's attitude to by-elections 2
A couple of weeks ago I blogged about Labour's attitude to by-elections and the battle of Trimdon Green. Many people will have heard of the death in July of long standing councillor (and personal friend) Chris Gaster. What disturbs me is that I am hearing increasing reports of at least one Labour councillor out canvassing on the streets of Crystal Palace shortly before Chris's death after his 1:09 pm
RE: 'Keeper returns to the net'
Ok, maybe I spoke too soon before - Cameron is a berk. Well done Ming on the flooding story, not as forceful as it could've been though. 12:53 pm
Don’t Destroy Digbeth
A few links for anyone following the urban regeneration of Digbeth, firstly Keep Digbeth Vibrant, where you can find a copy of the “New Digbeth Whisperer” - well worth a read! Secondly, our old friend The Stirrer has organised a summit at the Spotted Dog on Thursday 6th September, with someone representing the new Connaught Square development and some local Councillors to be in attendance. Digbeth is much loved not only for its Irish pubs but also for its gig venues, ranging from small pubs (Spotted Dog, Rainbow) up to the Barfly which attracts major acts. Add to this a ... 12:34 pm
The Wilted Rose
I have a new website that has an interesting take on the Government and the Labour Party. It describes itself as "An almost daily selection of serious stories and humour revealing the sham that is the 'LABOUR' Government" and largely uses video clips catching them (the Labour Party) out in their own words. Its at: http://thewiltedrose.wordpress.com/ 12:29 pm
Day Care Surgery in Selly Oak
I can confirm from personal experience now that the minor surgeries unit at Selly Oak does a good job. I left home at about 7.40 and left the hospital (having rested for the required 30 minutes after a minor operation) at 10.20. The doctors attending were a very competent Italian doctor and one from The Sudan who was watching. 12:09 pm
minding my own business at 30mph
I was trundling along at about 30mph in a 30mph zone yesterday (I may have hit 51kph so may have been at 32mph). And the chap following me was hooting his horn at me to get past. What I haven't mentioned is that I was on my cycle, and it was a car following me. Of course this would never happen if I'd been in a car doing 30mph in a 30 zone. Why do car drivers expect cyclists to hug the curb when there are a number of blind driveways, and some extremely well marked potholes awaiting repair (the ... 11:15 am
Are we out of step on Europe ?
Gordon Brown has rejected calls for a UK referendum on the replacement for the EU constitution, despite it being called for this time by labour supporting Unions. There was one important quote in the BBC report which led me to think the party is out of step on Europe and needs to get its message across loud and clear. The line was ; " The GMB and RMT had joined the Tories and UKIP in demanding a vote by tabling motions for the TUC annual conference. " If this is correct, we in the Liberal Democrats are not calling for ... 10:44 am
How not to campaign on YouTube
From this week’s Marketing Week: Conservative frontbench MPs are being forced to distance themselves from rebel Tory backbenchers who have commissioned an online viral campaign that uses real mobile phone video footage of drunkenness and “happy slapping” in a bid to encourage young people to vote Conservative in the forthcoming General Election … Asa Bailey, founder [...] 10:30 am
Oh dear Paul Walter, what have you done
Paul Walter on his Liberal Burblings blog has made a posting that I could comment on for hours. More to the point he has called his post "Is this the most obscure and useless fact on the internet?" No Paul it isn't a useless fact! It is a fundamental fact of life that all people should know. I spent 18 years pushing faders up and down. Initially at BBC TV News, then in ITV, then freelance, then 10:19 am
Government has failed to learn from floods
Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell has criticised the Government for failing to learn the lessons of the summer’s floods. He was in Gloucestershire visiting a fire brigade control room that is facing closure. As the BBC reports: He said: “The government is compromising safety and could be putting lives at risk by introducing regional fire and rescue control centres. “Closing down locally based centres will severely undermine a community’s ability to cope with emergency situations such as flooding, while regional centres will lack crucial local knowledge.” He added: “It is high time that the government realises that a one-size-fits-all approach ... 8:47 am
GP contracts
If the coverage on Radio Wales is anything to go by then the Auditor General for Wales, Jeremy Coleman, seems to have put the cat amongst the pigeons this morning with a report on the new GP contract. He reveals that the NHS was forced to raid other budgets to pay for the new GP contract, which cost 44% more than expected in Wales. He says that the extra costs amount to tens of millions of pounds and that as a result local health boards were drained of money that should have been used to develop community services in the ... 8:42 am
You must read this blog: it's official
I learn today in the press that this blog is a 'must-read'. That's according to a shady character known only as The Insider, the political gossip columnist of The Oxford Mail. I'll take approbation from anywhere. What particularly caught the eye of The Insider -- who, by the way, I imagine to be a debonair and suave femme fatale (you can tell just from prose style) -- was my poll. But more of that another time. Considering it's been over a fortnight since I've found a moment to scribble here, I'd say the message is less a 'must-read' to everyone ... 8:40 am
An act of collective worship
It was e-mailed yesterday to ask my views on the requirement on schools to provide for all of their pupils a daily assembly in which they participate in an act of worship. This has traditionally been interpreted as a Christian act of worship but for some years now restrictions on accomodation has meant that such a provision has not been practical for many schools. It is also the case that it does not meet the needs of the multi-cultural Britain we now live in. This is my response and, as it is intended to be circulated via the West Glamorgan ... 8:34 am
Camilla Cavendish's article re baby Brookes
The link is to Camilla Cavendish's article about baby Brookes in Calderdale. Note the use of the phrase "appalling vista". The judges accept the system as it stands because they refuse to see that it is very badly broken. This is much like Lord Denning refusing the criminal appeal of the Birmingham 6 because he could not accept the "appalling vista" that the police had lied. The number of 7:55 am
Britain set to miss climate change targets
That’s the bad news from a new report released today: Our forecasts show that the government is set to miss not only its 20 percent carbon reduction goal by 2010, but also its declared target of obtaining 10 percent of UK electricity supply from renewable sources … by 2010 and 15 percent by 2015. Instead it will [...] 7:53 am
Is this the most obscure and useless fact on the internet?
It is amazing what useless facts you can find on the internet. I was musing away the other day and half-remembered a fact from my short-lived "braodcasting career". I worked fleetingly in commercial radio. When we sat down to broadcast with all the faders, switches etc in front of us, we used to push the fader away from us to open the audio channel it controlled. I remember a wise old bird 1:49 am
More Google privacy invading outrage!
Seriously, do you think Google has given any thought to space aliens’ right to privacy? Sure, no doubt they’ll be allowed to opt out, but what if ET doesn’t have access to a phone? Does anyone think about them? Honestly! Is there nowhere in the universe safe from these snoopers? Share This 1:20 am
Tooth Review: 1551 (obligatory spoiler warning)
Spoilers below… (more…) Share This 12:10 am
Day 2423: Self-Inflicted Balloons
Monday: Another day, another re-launch for Mr Balloon. Ways NOT to start a local campaign for local hospital services: Sit in LONDON (in your chilled shoes, freshly delivered by air-conditioned Lexus); pick 29 hospitals at random; tell them you are going to save them whether they want you to or not. Or indeed whether they EXIST or not. You see the thing is, lending your support to local campaigns ought to be a GOOD thing. That is why Liberal Democrats do it all the time. In fact we launched OUR OWN NHS SOS website in June (so it has taken ... 12:07 am
Day 2422: Joe and the Cat Monsters
Sunday: Daddies' lunch guest on Sunday had to leave early because he was going back to feed Joe's pet cats. Joe could not feed his own cats because he was busy super-gluing himself to the front door of the Shouty Sheep People BAA. The Camp for Climate Protest has gone off without too much of a fuss, Sunday's climax being a day of COLOURFUL PROTEST, in spite of the HYSTERICAL whinging from certain quarters that a collection of students, hippies, grannies and local residents might somehow bring about the END OF MODERN CIVILISATION. As though shutting down an airport is ... 12:04 am
Day 2421: Darling Alistair Says Don't Panic – Now I'm REALLY Worried
Saturday: "World Shares Crisis" that is what the headlines read, and I thought: "Oh, well, at least we are all joining in together!" Money makes the world go 'round, or at least it does according to Daddy's record collection (I suspect that it is something to do with gravity and perturbation myself). But this week it is going round like a circle in a SPIRAL, a spiral of DESPAIR, as money gurgles round and round and down the PLUG HOLE! What IS going on? I asked the BBC's answer to BRAINS from THUNDERBIRDS, Evan Davis, to give me his analysis ... 12:00 am
Do the Conservatives want to exempt MPs from Freedom of Information rules after all?
You may recall the fuss over attempts by Conservative and Labour MPs to exempt MPs from the Freedom of Information Act. This would have allowed all sorts of things to be kept secret in future, but the supporters of the move claimed it was necessary to protect correspondence with constituents. Now, one of the arguments (rightly) [...] 
