David was a wonderful man, and an example to live up to. I have spent most of today at David's funeral starting with his commital at the crematorium, lunch in the Pot and Glass with other friends of Davids, then a service of thanksgiving in our Parish Church. His family, friends and scouts spoke so warmly of this lovely man who gave so much, had a "can do" attitude that was infectious, and was...
Last weekend my sister came to stay. She wasn't in a good place, but although there were warning signs I wasn't alarmed enough to seek help. On Tuesday evening, whilst away at a training course, I got a call from another sister. She had been on the phone to my mother when someone had knocked on the door to say they had found Sarah very distressed in a nearby country lane. At this time it wasn't clear what had happened, but it soon became very clear. Sarah (as I explained last year) has a history of mental health problems. A ...
James Graham helpfully points out the Met Police's new online toy - interactive crime mapping for the whole of London except the City. A quick play has led me to the conclusion that I don't trust it an inch. There is the caveat that it seems only to be presenting information on robbery, burglary and vehicle crime from June this year. One might think that these are the sort of offences that people are most concerned about. But, given the extreme nature of some of the crime in London, I wonder how truthful a picture this is. Take two places ...
When I took my school exams we didn't do coursework. It was a case of all or nothing written papers in the school sports hall at the end of fifth and upper sixth form. If you didn't do very well then there was the option of re-taking in January, or even the following May, but those re-takes would be the entire exam, not just a single paper. Nowadays things have changed. A-Levels are split into AS and A2 sections and there is a large amount of coursework in both GCSEs and at A-Level. There are differences of opinion as to ...
Todays Independent has a spin-free analysis of the military events in Georgia involving Russia and the Americans. Quite refreshing to see good journalism.
The BBC News website reports the death of 'legendary' Muscle Shoals producer Jerry Wexler. I can't claim detailed knowledge of his career, but he did produce one of my favourite albums, Bob Dylan's masterpiece of bad-tempered spirituality Slow Train Coming, the first record of his born-again Christian era. The most famous story from the Wexler/Dylan encounter is told as follows: During the recording Dylan tried to interest Wexler in Biblical matters. Wexler comments: "When I told him he was dealing with a confirmed 63-year-old Jewish atheist, he cracked up." Wexler was tolerantly amused by the whole business: "I liked the ...
Norman Baker has led a campaign to end MPs having to make oaths to the Queen. 22MPs have signed a motion including 14 labour MPs, 7 libdems and 1 tory. Norman Baker is a pro-Republican, so it's no surprise he wants to get rid of it. Tony Banks a labour MP crossed his finger while making the Oath! A group has now joined mounting a legal challenge against it. I hope the campaign is successful. MPs should be making oaths to their constituents who elected them. They shouldn't be pledging alliegance to an unelected figure head. The Oath does come ...
Maoism obviously originates from the policies of Mao Zedong. He killed 44.5-72million people. The Kymer Rouge were Maoists and they killed perhaps up to or over 3.3million people. Prachanda led the Maoists in Nepal in a long civil war that killed 13,000 people, displaced tens of thousands and destroyed much of the countries infrastructure. In April the Maoists won an election and Prachanda has just become the new Prime Minister. The Maoist haven't caused to much trouble since the civil war ended. But will this last? Can Prachanda and the Maoists be trusted? Should we be worried?
The Metropolitan Police have launched a beta version of their new crime mapping website. It's a simple enough Google Maps mash up but I found it highly addictive. It could be improved - for one thing a break down of crimes by type would be useful. But it does take the figures down to sub-ward level, which is particularly handy. Overall though, my main reaction to it is probably as it should be: so what? It turns out I live in an "average" area for crime and by "average" I mean there was one recorded crime in June and three ...
Leaving Aberdeen behind us, we've continued our journey - on to Inverness today to the constituency of Danny Alexander. The drive is around 100 miles, but on mainly single carriageway road and through several towns, it's a slow journey. We stopped off for a walk around the town of Keith, something of a pilgrimage for Mark whose mother was born there. Like many Scottish towns, Keith boasts a number of famous sons ( and they usually are sons!) who went abroad and did amazing things. George Stephen and his cousin Donald Smith were, apparantly, the men behind the construction of ...
Yesterday there was a meeting of young people interested in a skate park in the area. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend, but fellow Prestwich Lib Dems Cllr Vic D'Albert and Cllr Ann Garner did go. By the sounds of it the young people put up an excellent set of potential ideas, and a range of options for the type of facility that would suit them and the location it could go in. I have heard some very positive feedback from the meeting, and people there were especially impressed that the young people themselves continue to play such a pivotal ...
It was reported on Compass FM that that the recent week of action in East Marsh has paid dividends once again. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage have both reduced dramatically and positive activities have helped to promote community spirit. The East Marsh was the first of three areas in Grimsby to benefit from a range of Safer Communities-backed measures aimed to cut anti-social behaviour and target the causes of crime. The spotlight fell on the area between July 28 and August 3. Organisers from North East Lincolnshire Council and Humberside Police hope consecutive weeks of action in West Marsh and ...
Todays news that a third Soccer referee has been caught for benefit fraud gives a little amusement . A Little stunt by the Department of Work and Pensions to get some publicity for themselves and there Labour government that they hope will stay in power but will most certainly not. To send a man to jail for this is reprehensible. Was he a burglar or an armed robber or did he commit a violent attack? No he did not. He refereed a Footie match and got 19 quid. Footie players need ref's. They cannot be trusted to referee it themselves. ...
{The One Ring - as found in Lord of the Rings Risk} Alix's announcement that the boardgame War on Terror has been seized by police worried that people might use the "EVIL" balaclava included in it for nefarious acts has got me wondering: what other subversive components lurk within my boadgame sets? I would suggest the following; if the Metro Police would care to raid my house and confiscate them they are welcome to as long as they don't mind me mocking them mercilessly: Lord of the Rings Risk contains a replica of The One Ring. Invisibility would be very ...
An Italian Catholic magazine has strongly criticised the right-winged Government of Italy. It suggested fascism was resurfacing in the Italian Government. Criticising the disgusting actions of the government to the Roma community, including how the government has blamed crime on the community. The article was accompanied with a famous image of a Jewish child being searched at the Warsaw Ghetto. This is in comparison of how the Italian Government are to put Gypsy children's finger prints on a DNA database! Unicef has condemned this. The Government has fought back. A junior minister said "You are fascists, with your bludgeoning tone". ...
From The First Post ("The online daily magazine"): While Russian tanks rolled into Georgian territory on August 8, a simultaneous 'cyber-attack' was turning Georgia's government web pages into a tangle of broken links.Malicious technological mischief is something of a feature of Eastern European diplomatic relations. But the scale and, particularly, the timing of this cyber-attack, and the existence of a mysterious 'practice attack' a month earlier, pose important questions about the lead-up to the Russia-Georgian conflict.
{lambrini.jpg} {alcoholpops.jpg} Ask for ID - or lose your licence. That is the warning to traders from police and trading standards officers after six shops sold alcohol to underage customers. The off-licences all failed test purchases which were carried out during recent weeks of action in the East Marsh, West Marsh and People's Park areas. Police say selling alcohol to those under 18 can lead to the problems which the weeks of action attempt to solve - such as anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. North East Lincolnshire Council has released the names of the six shops which failed, to warn ...
This blog could do with a bit of light relief, so I will take up James Graham's suggestion in a comment at Liberal Democrat Voice that: Maybe we should do a list of the top 100 minor celebs that Lib Dems have vaguely met in pubs? This is a bit like the 'Anyone for Tenuous' feature that used to run in Viz comic. Anyway, here are my top five: 1. England women's football player Kelly Smith, 'the best player in the world' used babysit for my stepchildren (she lived just down the road from us). 2. I was taught French ...
Commenting on the 24% rise in repossession orders in the past year announced today by the Government, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said:"These figures confirm the very worrying trend on actual repossessions which were published last week. "The level of growth of repossession orders suggests that we are on track for a repossession crisis very similar to the early 1990s. "It is absolutely vital that the Government should intervene and require a proper code of conduct to be implemented by mortgage lenders. This should not just apply to the big banks but to the large number of secondary lenders ...
It's good to see African nations begin to turn their backs on Mugabe. It also shows which countries are led by Governments that may genuinely believe in democracy. It was good to see very strong language from the Kenyan PM at the AU summit. Now Botswana will boycott the SADC summit because Robert Mugabe has been invited.
{annette-brooke-mp.jpg} Commenting on the announcement that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has ended its contract with ETS to mark future SATs papers, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson, Annette Brooke said: "ETS demonstrated pure incompetence when it came to marking this year's SATs. "Many children are still waiting for their results, which are now nearly six weeks late. "Ministers must confirm that ETS will not receive a penny for this year's fiasco. "I hope that instead of finding another company to mark future Key Stage 3 papers, the Government will now scrap these expensive and unnecessary tests altogether."
Transport for London are currently consulting over a trial period for a "no right turn" out of Fentiman Road, in the middle of Oval Ward. The trial period would, if supported, last for three months. This is a radical step which some people strongly oppose, and others support. It would be very helpful if local residents let us know their views - asawdon@lambeth.gov.uk, rbanks@lambeth.gov.uk or fgray@lambeth.gov.uk. But of course you should write to : Fentiman Rd/South Lambeth Rd - Trial Project Centre Saffron Court 14b Cross Street London, EC1N 8XA with your opinions. There is also a plan to have ...
Well done to the Oval House Theatre and all participants for their open air performance of some of Grimm's Fairy Tales in Kennington Park this weekend - it featured some excellent performances from local children, and included a wise-talking frog and even an environmentally conscious princess! The flower garden in the park was also an excellent backdrop for this.
On Saturday 16th August tune into BBC1 at 6.15pm and watch the last Choir standing. Watch the boys from Bath sing and record the voting phone number of The Bath Male Choir on a piece of Paper and at the end of the Show vote for the boys from Bath. Come on Bath Male Choir the whole City is behind you
I have been told today to "look at religion and my belief in it" so i thought i would do a post about it. Islam is my religion and i might have been brought up as a Muslim but that doesn't mean that i don't know anything about it. I have studied a lot about Islam and let me tell you Islam has given me more then anything else in the world has ever given to me. I am a Sunni Muslim and the group i follow are the largest group of Muslims in the world and also the group ...
I was going to put this post up months ago but go sidetracked on to other things. But here it is. When we were on holiday in December last year we met a lady called Wendy Graham. She is an artist and painted the two pictures below. The first one was based on a photo of a chameleon I took when we were in Madagascar. I emailed her the photos after the holiday. Rather good pictures.
The Perth Road/Nethergate "official re-opening" with the Lord Provost this morning went extremely well, with good media interest including the Evening Telegraph, local radio stations and STV. You can read tonight's article in the Tele by clicking on the headline above. Many thanks to the Lord Provost, other city councillors, local businesses and residents, Scotland Gas Networks, Turriff and Stagecoach Strathtay for their assistance and participation - here's a few photos! Above : At the vintage bus! Above : The Lord Provost at the vintage bus. Above : Conductor, driver and me at Seabraes Above : Me with representatives from ...
An argument between bullies is never pleasant. This is how I view the recent dispute between Georgia and Russia. While there is no doubt that that Russia has shown it's usual sneering, crass and chauvinistic side in it's response there is also little doubt that the intervention of Georgia into South Osseita was heavy-handed and could have potentially resulted in allot of civilian deaths. No doubt it was designed to deter any willing South Osseitians from exercising their democratic right to determine their own future. It may be speculated that the Georgian's, had they been allowed free rein in Tskhinvali ...
{Horizcol} There will be a advice surgery in the Hexham road community centre (1a Bamburgh Close) from 10-11.30 am, on Saturday 16 August 2008. No need to book: you're more than welcome to just drop in and see us. We are in the back room so from the door walk down the corridor to the right and keep going to the end. Myself, Kirsten and Daisy look forward to seeing you :D P.S. If you can't make this surgery the next one will be on 20 September 2008, we'll be in "The Readibus" in Cintra Avenue.
ETS Europe, part of US firm ETS has finally had its contract to do school SATS tests administration and marking withdrawn. The question ought to be though why the government failed to look in to the history of ETS in the US before awarding such a large contract to them. ETS were the firm that failed 4,000 student teachers in America by marking an examination incorrectly. Yes, that meant 4,000 student teachers were told they did not qualify as teacher when in fact they did pass the test. The other side effect of removing the contract from EDEXCEL, the previous ...
The difficulties of settling back into normality after a lifetime of political service were highlighted in the Glamorgan Gazette this week with a touching tale about the mistrust that still exists between the current Labour administration on Bridgend County Borough Council and a former colleague. The paper reports that former Council Leader, Jeff Jones applied to become a governor of the new Maseteg Comprehensive School only to be rejected by the Council's Labour Cabinet on the basis that he did not meet the criteria. Mr. Jones, who is a regular contributor to this blog, is a university graduate with a ...
I'm really, really angry and upset. We've just heard that the application to build 7 houses on the site on 30-32 Somerset Ave (plus the garden next door) has been permitted on appeal. Last month I wrote about the appeal hearing. 73 local people turned up to object! Now their views, and the professional opinion of Kingston's planning experts, have been overturned by the Government's...
For once the Government have bitten the bullet and terminated the contract of a supplier who has not delivered. ETS Europe was contracted by the Government to deliver assessments of pupils taking their SATs but has failed to deliver with many papers unmarked and concerns about the quality and reliability of assessments that have been made. According to the BBC the contract was worth £39.6 million in 208 and £156 million over five years. Predictably the government is trying to hide behind QCA's skirts in dodging responsibility for this debacle. "Nothing to do with me, Govn'r" seems to be the ...
Cutting the cake into 100 trillion pieces.
We in the People's Republic do not fancy mainstream morality much. We prefer inappropriate humour and stuff that is a bit daft. It looks as if War on Terror - The Boardgame, handmade by a couple of techies from Silicon Fen and described by A Customer as "Risk + Monopoly + political satire" is just [...]
It has been widely reported in recent days that Russian military attacks have continued to take place in Georgia irrespective of the "cease fire" claimed by the Kremlin. Several blogs and websites are offering updated information on such attacks, including the following claims made in the last few hours: 16:10 Russian soldiers kidnapped 4 member of Namgalauri family from village Ghogheti of Kareli district. Kidnapers moved towards Znauri.15:30 Russian helicopters are overflying Bordjomi-Tsemi forests and dropping fire setting engines. There are already from 12 to 15 fire locations. Russian military confirmed of flying helicopters over this territory without further comments. ...
Saying that many Conservatives are viewed as "unreformed and grumpy" whilst talking about how David Cameron is a PR man probably isn't the best of ways to go about giving an interview if you are a leading Conservative yourself, as Michael Gove has discovered today. Ah well, makes a change from the questions over the source [...]
{under-the-hammer.jpg} Commenting on the 24% rise in repossession orders in the past year announced today by the Government, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "These figures confirm the very worrying trend on actual repossessions which were published last week. "The level of growth of repossession orders suggests that we are on track for a repossession crisis very similar to the early 1990s. "It is absolutely vital that the Government should intervene and require a proper code of conduct to be implemented by mortgage lenders. This should not just apply to the big banks but to the large number of ...
Yet another father has been desperately demonstrating his pain from not seeing his child. He has climbed a gantry on the M25 and hung up a banner causing chaos. He is protesting for all fathers who want justice. But is it the fathers that need the justice? In my opinion it is not, it is the children that deserve the justice. Children are, mainly, born into families of two...
{annette-brooke-mp.jpg} Commenting on the announcement that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has ended its contract with ETS to mark future SATs papers, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson, Annette Brooke said: "ETS demonstrated pure incompetence when it came to marking this year's SATs. "Many children are still waiting for their results, which are now nearly six weeks late. "Ministers must confirm that ETS will not receive a penny for this year's fiasco. "I hope that instead of finding another company to mark future Key Stage 3 papers, the Government will now scrap these expensive and unnecessary tests altogether."
Preparing the corn and grain in The Gambia was really hard work - but this gathering of women, sort of singing and extensively chatting was a ritual gathering by the shore in Bintang Bilong. I joined in and it was easy to see how it was exhausting, intense and highly necessary - it wasn't long after that the vultures gathered to hoover up the remnants. But it's this sort of activity that is so taken for granted - in an age when I can just go and buy virtually any food, pre-prepared and eat immediately or microwave it to completion, ...
Cameron is off to Georgia in a couple of days and he is saying that "the British government had been slow to respond to the crisis, which flared up while the prime minister and foreign secretary were on holiday". Well we hope he can put some influence on the Government to start being a bit more serious and to try and speak out against Russia and the bullying they are doing to Georgia. On all issues except this one i have to support George Bush on the fact that Russia are Bullying the Georgians as they can see it is ...
This is an open Debate on who MP's should swear oath to should it be: The Monarchy The Constituents or anyone else... Please leave your comments!
The Conservatives think tank that is closely linked with David Cameron is going to get sued by a Muslim Group for accusing the Muslim group of distributing extremist literature. For Full information Please visit the INDEPENDENT
The University now has 100TB (100,000GB) of storage on our Storage Area Network, and Dot Hill (our SAN supplier) gave us this cake to celebrate.
I've had a bit of a shock. Either someone has cocked up somewhere or maybe, just maybe, someone has been listening and realised that censorship is not really on!? This is my first post ever from Shenyang, China and the first time I have ever been able to read my blog here.
{university-college-hospital-london.jpg} {millenium-hotel-mayfair.jpg} Today the sun's shining and it actually feels like summer; or is it the lull before the storm! I really I hope not because this weekend sees the Victorian Summer's Day in the Fabulous People's Park, and we've ordered some true Victorian Summer atmosphere. I remarked to some close friends rather nervously on Tuesday that I could start driving again if I wanted, but I would have to apply for my license back from Swansea. And, before you jump to conclusions; no I wasn't I naughty boy! It just a fact that I have now gone a year ...
Under the Tsars, Russian government was "autocracy, mitigated by assassination". Even after the State Duma was established in 1906, there was little restraint upon executive power. After the Bolshevik revolution, the dictatorship of the Communist Party was even less a government of laws. Untrammelled executive power under the psychotic Josef Stalin led to the Terror of the Purges and the creation of the camps described so powerfully by Aleksander Solzhenitsyn. Unlike the efficient German Nazis, few records were kept of the numbers involved, but millions were killed and tens of millions imprisoned under exceptionally harsh conditions. The 1980s saw an ...
Politics isn't just about getting the frames; it's about moving them too. If you can't win on the issues being talked about, change the subject, and fast. Framing Science explains this week how John McCain's campaign has successfully framed "the economy" as being about "energy". They quote one pollster as saying: "The Republicans' biggest problem in this election is that they are viewed as lessable to fix the economy. When the economy is defined as job loss, mortgage foreclosures, high health care costs, that's Democratic territory. Obama wants to play on that field. "McCain wants to define it as being ...
Yeah the Brits finally have put three men on the top of a medal podium in the Beijing Olympics on the first day of the track cycling as Team GB exploded unto the velodrome. Jamie Staff got the qualifying round off to a flyer with the fastest opening 250 metres ever in the team sprint, allowing Jason Kenny to lead out Chris Hoy for the final 250 setting a World Record 42.950 secs to set the
4 days after the controversial 'Cities Unlimited' report was released by Policy Exchange, the media continues to assail the report's author over statements such as "It is time to stop pretending that there is a bright future for Sunderland". Initial responses to the report - which said that regeneration in many Northern cities "will not happen, because it is not possible" - included David Cameron calling the report "insane" (City report 'insane', says Cameron), Labour MP Peter Kilfoyle describing it as "utter nonsense" (Move the Scousers on, says Tory think tank), and the report's own author, Dr. Tim Leunig, conceding ...
A week on from the news of Ian Oakley's conviction being reported in the local press, and we still have no official comment from anyone speaking on behalf of Watford Conservatives - no formal expression of regret, apology, or sympathy for Mr Oakley's victims. There is, however, a letter in today's Watford Observer (letters are not available online) from Gary Ling, former Conservative councillor and former Mayoral candidate, who might reasonably be considered a senior Conservative figure in the town. His comments are forthright indeed. He describes the episode as 'a concerted form of collective retribution', 'truly disgusting', a 'smear', ...
Regular readers may know that I've got a bit of a thing for Fatima Bhutto. She's written a superb piece in the Guardian reminding us not to pin high hopes of Sharif, Zardari, the PML-N, or the PPP. Read it.
Read Ben Judah's post about the ongoing conflict between Russian and "Western" military technology which continues around the world.
My friend George Allan has started a blog. George is a man of many parts - lawyer, conservation campaigner, cyclist, runner and advocate of greener living; and long-standing Lib Dem councillor for Clerkenwell. So if you're in Clerkenwell too, check out George's blog.
So far all the commentary has either been that Russia is evil and aggressive, or that Georgia doesn't really deserve all the sympathy and support. Benny Austwick came up with this analogy: "Imagine Charlie, a popular but scrawny man was married to Julie. Julie had been having an affair for ages with giant bodybuilder Tyson who had anger issues. Charlie then attempted to stop Julie's affair with Tyson by beating her up. Tyson then retaliated, beating the hell out of Charlie." Let's get beyond that. All analysis has been mainly directed towards Russia, its motives, and its newly re-found assertiveness ...
I finally went to see Mamma Mia last night, I still can't decide if it was any good of not. Some bits were brilliant and some bits were truly dire. If it wasn't for Meryl Streep it would have been a complete flop.
Interesting piece on Liberal Conspiracy by Chris Dillow. He suggests that in fighting for/attaining freedom irrationality has it's place alongside rationality. This is, of course, true; to be irrational sometimes is human nature and it has played a progressive role too in humanities development. This is especially true when it comes to challenging established orthodoxies. Often any challenges to the established order are dubbed 'irrational' and even 'insane'. However, for some the freedom to be irrational is part of the essence of freedom itself; others need a structure around which to build their lives so naturally they baulk against this ...
Bath MP Don Foster is continuing his call for 20mph zones to be implemented in the city's most residential streets. Liberal Democrats across Bath have been pushing for safer speeds on these roads to provide safer communities. Residents have also been calling for these limits, as evidenced by recent campaigns in Weston, Greenway Lane and Walcot Street. Commenting, Don said,...
In my Guardian blog this week, I referred to the traditional view that sport has taken the place of war between democracies (so where does that leave Russia vs Georgia?). Now it looks as if we may have e-war, with reports that Russia's first attacks on Georgia were online. Apparently, Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs [...]
Oh my goodness! So the Government now plan to give themselves even more powers to stop us knowing what they've got up to. The provisions, under a clause in the Counter-Terrorism Bill, allow the Home Secretary to stop a jury being summoned, replace the coroner with a government appointee and baring the public from inquests. I do sometimes have to pinch myself . Sadly - it's the real deal. I think it all stems from the deepest of insecurities and the psychotic state Labour has got itself into in terms of believing that it must always have the most macho ...
I have spent the last two years trying to persuade one of my best friends that he doesn't really need a car in Camden. 'Alex' uses his car about twice a month - usually to go to Brent Cross or to visit a relative elsewhere in north London. He uses the tube or his bicycle to get to work. He gets his groceries delivered. When he leaves London he goes by train, and either takes his bike or rents a car at the other end. In my opinion, Alex has absolutely no need to own a private car. But it ...
{Lynne Featherstone with Inas Himedan, Taimmy Hango and Janet Kanyange outside Greig Academy} Popped into Greig Academy - the school next door my constituency office - just to see how results were going. There were three girls there (Inas Himedan, Taimmy Hango and Janet Kanyange) who had just received their results. The Deputy Head came out to say hello and overall - congrats definitely to Greig who have hugely improved results. I always feel hugely sorry for the students now - as each year so much of the media coverage isn't about celebrating their (and their teachers and families) success ...
Rhondda Cynon Taff UA, Cilfynydd Lab 331 (43.5; +5.0) LD Stephen Powell 252 (33.1; -19.8) Ind 85 (11.2; +11.2) PC 67 (8.8; +0.2) Green 14 (1.8; +1.8) Con 12 (1.6; +1.6) Majority 79 Turnout 35.5% Lab gain from LD Percentage change is since May 2008
Well that's kind of what they're really saying with their convoluted pronouncements on Swindon's Gay Pride march. On their website they support going back to a `don't ask, don't tell` policy - ie `shut the fuck up and don't tell me about your boyfriend, mooch`. Perhaps they want a society based on the US military? They obviously [...]
First things first: endless_psych in brilliant defence of British Sci-fi. And he doesn't even MENTION HG Wells or John Wyndham. Secondly, today's xkcd_rss is awesome: Speaking of teachers, Teachers teach to the test shock. Via Chicken Yoghurt, What are your a-levels worth? 3 As and a D for me. This means Jaiesh 4 As is smarter than me? Tory Party Election Slogans. - "Tories: because money-grabbing opportunists are STILL better than well-meaning psychopaths." - "Tories: We're marginally less likely to march the whole country down the slow road to becoming Airstrip One." - "Tories: Because you want to believe there's ...
According to The Guardian, the United Nations has recognised something we have all known for a long time; that this government is severely curtailing everybodies freedom. The report of it's human rights committee calls for the reform of libel laws and controls on the application of anti-terror legislation. The UN says that the: · Terrorism Act 2006 provisions covering encouragement of terrorism are too broad and vague, and should be amended so that their application does not lead to "a disproportionate interference with freedom of expression". · Libel laws should be reformed to end so-called "libel tourism", whereby wealthy foreigners ...
We now have the date for the planning meeting at which the Melbreck Road takeaway application will be considered. It is on Tuesday August 26th at Liverpool Town Hall. The committee is going on a site visit first, so the actual decision making meeting won't start until 11 am at the earliest. The planning committee was due to decide on this earlier this month, but the objections and disagreements meant they decided to have a look at the site (down near the roundabout and shop) for themselves. Any member of the public is entitled to attend planning committee. You can ...
Went to my second Corporate Services Select Committee earlier this week. I am one of the three Executive Members reporting to this (although it would be fair to say that the areas covered by the other two - Flo Clucas and Steve Hurst - take up more than two thirds of the items). A few things relevant to me though - the work on relationships between members and officers and other parts of the "ethical governance" work. At one point we were talking about the ethical side of financial investments. I have asked for a report in future about this ...
Ask for ID - or lose your licence.That is the warning to traders from police and trading standards officers after six shops sold alcohol to underage customers. The off-licences all failed test purchases which were carried out during recent weeks of action in the East Marsh, West Marsh and People's Park areas. Police say selling alcohol to those under 18 can lead to the problems which the weeks of action attempt to solve - such as anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.North East Lincolnshire Council has released the names of the six shops which failed, to warn traders of the consequences ...
Oliver Marc Hartwich, editor of the report on urban regeneration which caused such a storm, has written an explanatory piece on Conservative Home's platform. I do have great sympathy for Tim Leunig. He has been receiving abusive emails after his address was published in the local press in Liverpool. I hope he is able to get back to normal life soon. The report is an earnest and academically valid
Three Men from Lancashire have been arrested under the terrorism act but no one is giving any information for the reason behind the arrests. Manchester Airport where two of them were arrested haven't said a lot except that the incident hasn't effected anything. Well we all wait in hope to see what has really happened.
Wednesday night saw an informal Scottish Leadership hustngs in Dunfermline. It was extremely well attended from members all across Mid Scotland and Fife. What struck me most about Ross was how much he is thriving on this campaign - you can just tell that he is really enjoying meeting and talking to members all over the country. It was a very lively meeting with lots of questions, ably chaired by Dunfermline South councillor Tony Martin. Members were concerned that we are not doing as well as we should be, when there is a real need for a liberal point of ...
You're an American politician. You do a leaflet about your support for America's armed forces. You feature a photo of an army veteran. All sounds so good ... until it turns out the photo you used was actually of a former Soviet soldier. Oops.
Labour Deputy Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council has been cautioned by the police after reportedly telling a the mother of a rival councillor, "shut up you f***ing fat dyke" and "go back to the farmyard". (Via Duncan Borrowman's blog) The police are investigating death threats from right-wing extremists made against Manchester Labour councillor John Taylor. [...]
I think it is well-established by now that this Labour Government has no shame, that it will persist with flagship projects despite over-whelming evidence which undermines their raison d'etre and that its judgement has failed due to an obsession with being seen as tough on terrorism and crime. However, even Gordon Brown must realise by now that his ID card scheme is a busted flush. So as to help him make up his mind today's Guardian provides even more evidence of its unworkability. They report on a warning from the government's top scientific advisers that the quality of fingerprints from ...
At some stage we have all been regaled with stories of friends and colleagues who have gone out for the night, got very drunk and then sent a series of embarrassing text messages to ex-partners, co-workers and family that they were still squirming over months later. Judging by the number and content of the anonymous comments that were posted on this blog in the early hours of this morning, drunken texting has been replaced by inebriated surfing. I have deleted them all in the interests of coherence and good taste, something that this blog constantly strives to achieve.
Be in with the chance of winning £50 cash at the end of the month by registering for the library service's Read and Win Challenge! One lucky reader has already walked away with £50 during July. To be in with the chance of winning August's prize money all you need to do is to have read two books from the library by the end of the month. There are even more opportunities to win cash throughout the year: Read three books by end of September to be entered for an £100 draw Read four books by end of October to ...
Before I begin, the background: A man has been banned by the courts from visiting his fiancée at her home after neighbours complained about the couple's noisy sex sessions. Adam Hinton, 32, was handed an injunction preventing him going within 100 metres of the block in Bright, East Sussex, where his 29-year-old partner Kerry Norris lives. ... Norris [...]ShareThis
Despite the BBC telling everyone that Darlington Town Centre is closed and that people should stay away, the effects of the huge fire at the Kings Hotel have not stopped this weekend's Market Spectacular and most of the town centre is, or soon will be, open for business. At the moment the Cornmill Centre is shut and obviously the shops under the hotel are closed, but the rest of the
Well, I felt there was a need to re-familiarise ourselves with the full lyrics of "Dry Bones" or "Dem Bones" or "Dem Dry Bones". Lyrics inspired by the words of the prophet Ezekiel, written in 571 BC, as sung (among many other artists) by the Delta Rhythm Boys (below from YouTube): Ezekiel connected dem dry bones Ezekiel connected dem dry bones Ezekiel connected dem dry bones Now I hear the word
If you want a good reason to want Obama to win the US presidential election, here it is.
'Tis the season for lists... All this week we are publishing the top 100 posts by Lib Dem bloggers, in descending order of popularity, for the last year - August 2007 to July 2008, inclusive, according to click-throughs from the Aggregator. (Profuse thanks to techno-wizard and stat-monkey Ryan Cullen, who runs the Aggregator, for compiling this [...]
Tuesday: Oh very fluffy dear. A lot of FUSS has been caused by the new pamphlet from the Policy Exchange. Opinion has been divided between: Northern Tuff: "Eee, ow very dare you! Appen our Northern cities r'as fine as any of yon poofy southen uns, by eck if they're not!" and Southern Jessie: "Ay say, what jolly poor show, we're too bally overcryded already! We don't want a hale load of oiks coming down ere ryning the hayce prices, dontcha know!" But if Mr Balloon AND the Minister for Magical Accidents are rubbishing it, it must be doing SOMETHING right! ...
As a former member of party staff I self-imposed a moratorium on commenting in public on the party organisation. But now I have been out for a year, and the Executive Summary of the Bones report is out I am going to break cover a bit... Firstly I have to say the way the reporting of the Commission's work has been handled is an example of the lack of communication and answerability that the report
We said all this last year, but we'll say it again: Congratulations to everyone who got the A Level results they wanted. At this time of year there's always negative press comment saying "It was harder in our day". Ignore it! It's not easier now, it's just different - and probably taught better too. Enjoy your success, it's well deserved. And if you didn't get quite what you wanted, keep an open mind about courses and opportunities - there are lots of universities and colleges out there with places still available. (in fact, why not look at UWE - but ...
According to the Guardian, Tesco has reported a 40 percent drop in the number of plastic bags handed out over the last two years - a drop of 20 million bags a week. They have encouraged customers to re-use bags by giving Green Clubcard Points. They say that they don't intend to charge for single-use bags, but they will no longer be on display at the checkouts - people will have to ask if they want them. Marks and Spencer are among stores that have started charging, and their plastic bag use has dropped by 80 percent since May, a ...
Dear Mr Khalid Mahmood MP,
Fri 15th
00:01
Day 2779: Where are the Conservatories going to PUT all the people they want to lock up?
Sunday: Abandon the presumption of bail? Oh yes, VERY Civil Liberties.
Friday: And the Olympic Gold Medal for Throwing Their Weight About by a Superpower goes to... well, actually it's America again, but not without a fierce late challenge from the Empire of Vladland (formerly the Peoples' Plutocracy of Yeltsin). "This is not a war," the Russian ambassador told the world straight-faced. "This is Peace Enforcement." Yeaaaaaaas... It's funny (funny-peculiar that is) to see such an OLD-FASHIONED war peace-enforcement: a simple grab for land and resources, with none of your new-fangled asymmetric war-on-terra-fare. But then Vladland is an old-fashioned sort of a place, with old-fashioned tanks and old-fashioned massive numerical superiority. ...
