The European Union's relations with Russia hit a low in the summer of 2008, when Russian troops intervened in Georgia. And the energy crisis triggered by the Ukrainian gas dispute of January 2009 didn't help. But in the two-and-a-half years since then, there has been a degree of reconciliation, or at least the mutual acceptance ...
No, it's not my You Tube video of a basking shark (6,491 hits) or me guessing the new Doctor Who 30 minutes before Matt Smith was announced (5,483 hits) but a Twitpic I tweeted early one morning in March 2010. Incredibly, it's now had 10,740 hits. And it is a quick photo I took of, wait for it, a double yolked egg. The crazy world of the cyberweb, eh?
A very good chapter on a tragic and horrible episode, the sack of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, illustrated by lucid narrative and pungent analysis. We haven't had a chapter relating so closely to a single set of military incidents since Chapter XLI on Belisarius in Italy, which was good, or Chapter XXXI on the Sack of Rome, which was a refreshingly direct chapter after several dull ones. In a grand sweeping history like this, which covers 1300 years in 71 chapters, it makes sense to occasionally zoom in on key moments of inflection, and this is certainly ...
Three weeks ago I decided to spend a day at the British Chess Championships rather than watch the film Bobby Fischer Against the World. But it won't be in cinemas much longer, so today I went down to London to see it. It was on at the Prince Charles Cinema, just off Leicester Square. Bobby Fischer Against the World is centred on the Fischer vs Spassky World Championship from 1972, but also tells the story of Fischer's boyhood and later descent into mania. The video above, part of which is used in the film, shows a 15-year-old Fischer appearing on ...
I am doing some walk leader training. As part of the deal you need to do a two day first aid course. So I decieded to plump for the activity first aid course at Staverton lead by St Johns. I thought this would be dry death by powerpoint. For a start our trainer was ex-london ambulance with a story of death gore and adventure at every angle. Working for NHS Direct I can tell you some of my stories were ona par. But her story of being held hostage and being shot at - well working in a call centre ...
And changes his gender for him at the same time. I had to laugh
I am an Arsene Wenger fan. I have up most respect for what he has done at Arsenal. My lot are stuck in the Championship and don't look like getting out of it any time soon. Therefore I have no horse in the Premier League race but my sympathies are with the Arsenal and I hope they do well. Why you ask? Because they try to play the beautiful game. However if I was an Arsenal fan this evening sitting at home waiting for The X Factor to start I'd not be a very happy bunny. (Seriously why is The ...
Another day off from seeing shows was quite refreshing. It was nice catching up with Dave for a while after Three Man Roast, before heading off to the gym. My ankle was giving me a bit a gyp so I pathetically switched from heading to the gym to heading back to the flat – actually to write yesterday's blog post, but if I start referencing the writing of blog posts in these blog posts, it'll all get a bit meta, and dangerously Tristram Shandy. A defining feature of my previous Fringe trips over the last decade has been resorting to ...
It is with great sadness that we now know that Red 4, Flt Lt Jon Egging lost his life when his Hawk T1 crashed at the end of a display at the Bournemouth Air Show today. The news was officially announced ...
Its that time of year folks when you get to nominate your favourite LibDem blogs. I'm still reeling from last years nomination and shortlist for Best New LibDem Blog, an unexpected and lovely gesture that made me feel all warm ...
Volunteers are the key to success in any political campaign or charity. It might seem easy to recruit people in this job market but it can be very challenging to keep them involved and motivated for a long time. I have been volunteering for a number of years in various organisations and then I spent ...
Only a few words as these pictures speak for themselves. The Red Arrows are a fantastic advert for brand UK and emanate everything that makes this island we all live on great. They are fantastic embassadors for the RAF and ...
I'm a massive fan of the Red Arrows and have been for as long as I can remember. Only last year I was at the Farnborough Air Show giddy as a three year old waiting for them to perform on ...
A selection of other peoples thoughts that have stimulated the grey matter today singularity hub on the technology of facial recognition and the riots. The British Journal of photography highlights the NUJ's objections to the BBC using unauthorised photos posted on Twitter. The Daily Mail brings us news of tikka masala flavoured cheese. Scientific American tell us the shocking news that a Republican Presidential candidate admits to believing in evolution. and my five* story of the day... NASA give us a potted history and the future mission of Voyager 2 (a must for space geeks everywhere)
It's Saturday night, but forget the X-Factor... Enjoy instead some classic election clips from the archives... Jo Grimond campaigns in the 1966 general election (Available on YouTube here.) Election Campaign, Feb. 1974 (including a rare clip of Jeremy Thorpe at 2:20). (Available on YouTube here.) Liberal Party Feb '74 election broadcast (Available on YouTube here.)
Chris is still pressing Herts Highways to improve the lighting in this area after concerns expressed by local residents about crime issues.
TweetMass hysteria and intellectual snobbery has returned once again, that's right, celebrity Big Brother is back. Into the fray has been thrown Sally Bercow, the wife of the speaker of the House of Commons. The right wing newspapers and commentators are having a field day with the faux indignation. The mass hysteria of what has been whipped up at the fact that Mrs Bercow has entered the house seems to be only matched by its own ridiculousness. There have been a lot of calls to suggest that she is demeaning the Houses of Parliament, that she is making John Bercows ...
Its been funny sort of day. Firstly one of the Red Arrows has crashed at the Bournemouth Airshow and now I find that someone I met at a Twitter drink up a couple of weeks ago has been defrauding people ...
"What people recognize is that there's a fear that the United States is in an unstoppable decline. They see the rise of China, the rise of India, the rise of the Soviet Union and our loss militarily going forward," Bachmann said on Jay Sekulow's radio show.
I hope you will understand that I can't provide you with evidence of receiving tax credits, given that I don't actually receive them. In fact, I'm actually too young to be eligible for them. By the way, I moved out of your area on August 7th. I would have told you sooner, but I didn't think you would want to give me benefits I hadn't asked you for. Please don't hold it against me; after all, I'm not your problem anymore. Sincerely, [IMG: [personal profile] ] tajasel My actual letter will be much more formal. This is just what I ...
If like me you're a member of the Electoral Reform Society, you'll have recently received a thick wad of paperwork through your letterbox. The reason? It's time for the election to the Council of the ERS. The deadline for voting is this Friday, 26th August, so time's not on your side to wade through the 53 manifestos of those standing for election. Simon McGrath wrote about the elections here on Lib Dem Voice this week, sparking an interesting discussion thread. But here's a further five posts (in no particular order) I'd personally recommend reading before deciding how to cast your ...
Did you know you can subscribe to Lib Dem Voice using Amazon's Kindle service? You can do so either on their Kindle device or using their apps for iPhone, Android, Mac or PC. The link to Lib Dem Voice on Amazon is here. It will set you back a modest £1.99 a month. Of course, if you think the content we produce here is worth £2 a month, and you don't have a Kindle, you are more than welcome to cut out the middle-person and donate it to us directly by standing order. You can also donate money to us ...
I really must get into the habit of posting my Feminist Friday posts on a Friday - I hope Transatlantic Blonde, who runs the series, doesn't get too annoyed with me. This week's topic is language in general and the use of the word "c***" in particular. It's not a word I like, or use and I find it highly offensive that a word for female genitalia comes at the top of the hierarchy of sweary words. While you would never find a woman being called, for example, a p***k or a d******d, presumably because comparison with such symbols of ...
I know from the number of people searching on Google and finding this blog that there's a good deal of interest in when Primark will open at the Merseyway Centre in Stockport. Well, if you walk past it now you'll see that it's 9am on Tuesday 6th September 2011 – happy shopping!
Sat 20th
14:00
Imagine you're a Registered Republican, you're about to select a candidate. Here are your choices.
Yes, I know we're all (sweeping generalisation) Obama folk. But on the basis that it's always best to know what you're up against... These are the latest campaign videos (as far as I can tell and as their websites reveal) from the 18 candidates still in the running. On occasion I have put in clips from debates etc if that's what the candidate is currently choosing to show (Newt Gingrich for example) and on other occasions when the candidate makes it hard to download the film - Jon Huntsman, stand in the corner- I've gone for the best proxy I ...
Merseyside Police and the Youth Service recently held a youth barbecue at Crossens Community Centre. John Dodd is pictured (above) cooking the burgers, ably helped by Elaine Price, Chairperson of Crossens Community Association.
Further to my article at the end of June about the food waste recycling trial, today's Courier mentions its forthcoming launch this coming Wednesday. The City Council's Recycling Projects Officer has now sent me some specific information about the West End area's trial : "I am now writing to update you on the progress we have made & the forthcoming deliveries of food waste caddies, liners & kerbside containers. During early July, all households in the trial areas received a visit from a Recycling Advisor or member of the Waste Strategy team, hand-delivering the "Teaser card" advising residents of the ...
A superb photograph of the flowers at Seabraes, with thanks to Donald Suttie of Rockwellmedia
Hola. ¿Qué tal? Excuse my Spanish start to today, but I did the same early in July for the start of the last Grand Tour, and today is that start of tyhe last Grand Tour of the 2011 season. Yes today sees the start of the Vuelta a España. There may be a BMC Team without Cadel Evans, a Schleckless Leopard-Trek, no Contador in the Saxobank Team and as for Thomas Voeckler well Europcar don't even take part. However, there are some names that are targetting the Vuelta this yearwho started in the Tour de Francee. Sky see Bradley Wiggins, ...
The pre-publication newspaper serialisation of Chris Bower's biography of Nick Clegg used extracts which covered the Deputy Prime Minister's early life. When you read the full book the reason for this is amply clear. It has much interesting to say about Nick Clegg's multi-national family and their close brushes with the tragedies of the early twentieth century. As it gets on to Clegg's political career, however, it increasingly has little to say that will not already be familiar to close followers of political news from other accounts. In a few cases it even has less to say than has already ...
It is a big day for Swansea, the Swans' first home game in the Premiership. To mark the occasion we have our trademark August rain, but also the prospect of Max Boyce kicking off the game with a rewritten version of 'Hymns and Arias'. The original lyrics are here. I cannot wait to hear the revamped version. Sunday sees a gathering of a different type with a floating flotilla protesting against the closure of Swansea Coastguard Station. I will be there but plan to keep my feet on terra firma.
Kate Hoey is fun. She may not be that bright but she sure is fun. The Labour MP for Vauxhall is back in the news for claiming that Sally Bercow should give the money she is making from appearing on Celebrity Big Brother to the tax man as she gets to live rent free thanks to the tax man. Whilst that is true she only lives where she lives thanks to her husband's position. If the Bercow's split up then it would be Sally who'd have to move out. It just smells to me like Kate Hoey vying for some ...
Sat 20th
11:01
Life lesson from Chris Evans: if a banker offers you a cheque for £56 million, take it
Refusing to let a nice man from a big bank give me a cheque for £56 million. That is the number one 'dodgy decision I have made' from Chris Evans' "Memoirs of a fruitcake". It sums up the book, for me. I have just read it in a few days, which puts it in the Jeffrey Archer class. What a crazy life Mr Evans has had! He nearly threw away everything, yet has ended up with the Radio Two breakfast show and married to the "Golf Nurse". As they probably say in his home town of Warrington: 'Jammy beggar!'
Richard Flowers reported here on Lib Dem Voice last week Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock's grave concerns for a Portsmouth constituent facing deportation back to Uganda — Robert Segwanyi is gay, and argues he was imprisoned and tortured in his home country, where homosexuality is illegal. (Michael Andrewes, Mr Hancock's constituency researcher offered further background in the Voice's comments thread here.) For those who supported Mr Hancock's campaign on behalf of Mr Segwanyi there is some welcome news courtesy of the BBC website: 'Gay' Ugandan asylum seeker's deportation deferred A Ugandan man living in Portsmouth who says he will be ...
Over the past few weeks there has been discussion and debate regarding reforming every tax in England with the exception of Council tax ~ I feel it's time for the Lib Dems to correct that imbalance. At the moment I feel we have some of the most radical tax plans we have had in a long while. The raising of the income tax threshold, although not a headline grabber like lowering the basic rate, is a fantastic policy for helping out the low paid, making work pay and, for some, removing them from the benefit trap. For these reasons raising ...
Lawsuit: Mo. girl expelled for making rape claim - CBS News warning: very very triggery. (tags: rape) The Terminator made millions, the man who inspired it got peanuts James Cameron vs Harlan Ellison (tags: scifi) MoronWatch: The Moron Dictionary I particularly like the entry for "riots" (tags: funny)
A classic clip from US comedy series Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in which ran from 1968 to 1973. In the UK it was screened on BBC2. It made stars of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin. I just remember how colourful it was and, of course, the catchphrase: "Very interesting – but stupid".
I was struck by a story this morning of a son who failed to achieve three A grades in his A Levels and therefore did not get in to UCL as he had hoped. The son is now in his ...
Here are some thoughts from Mat Bowles on who to support in the ERS elections http://matgb.livejournal.com/454588.html
Congratulations to everyone who's made it through A-levels. Hopefully you got the grades you needed but there's no need to panic or despair if you didn't. Stockport Council is launching a dedicated Exam Results Helpline for pupils to provide you with support and guidance. The Exam Results Helpline will go live on Thursday 25th August and will remain open until Friday 2nd September. Any pupils wanting information, advice or support about what options are open to them can call 0161 475 7700, between 9.00am and 5.00pm. The line will also be open until 8.00pm from Thursday 25th August until Tuesday ...
Peter Hitchns, who once again showed what a thoroughly horrid set of views he holds with first, this little comment on a debate on Sky News; Riots are fun, people riot to enjoy themselves, they don't riot because they have grievance, ...
As Stockport Council reports: Three Stockport Council run parks have been voted the best free places to visit for a great family day out. Bruntwood Park, Bramhall Park and Reddish Vale Country Park were voted the first, second and third best places to visit in East Cheshire by members of parenting website Netmums.com Councillor John Smith, Stockport Council's Executive Member for Leisure, said: "We are committed to ensuring we have high quality family friendly parks for Stockport residents and visitors to enjoy visiting. We have a dedicated Council team maintaining the borough's parks and many friends of groups and dedicated ...
After ten minutes the trees thinned out and they found themselves on the side of the mountain. The twins, who were in front, turned and looked down on the "Hope Anchor" lying below them like a little model from a toy shop. "She's still there," said Mary. "Look, David, I think she's waving." They waved in return, but David would not let them linger. He was not enjoying this journey very much for he was tired already and not very used to Sally. Also it was horribly hot and the path, winding steeply now between the heather, was treacherous with ...
An imaginative combination of the elements which make up a Who story: the Tardis, with Eight, Sam and Fitz, lands in Sweden in 1999, but an unstable wormhole is allowing nasties from a dying dimension through, and the Doctor has to save the nice aliens before it is too late, with no help from UNIT. Well described, and the nice aliens have an interesting biology. Though I was sorry that the nice Swedish girl didn't get to go with the Tardis at the end.
Telephone giant, British Telecom, is being urged to think again after deciding to switch off the lights in public phone kiosks across Cambridge. The call comes from Cambridge County Councillor, Geoff Heathcock after he alerted BT to the fact that the internal light was out in a payphone kiosk in Hills Road. He also told the company that nearby vegetation had been allowed to become overgrown making the location even darker. BT told him that, having looked at its environmental policy, it had decided to turn the lights off in kiosks that were not being used on a regular basis. ...
The current Private Eye has a great cover. But the odd thing is that this satire is not so far from the truth of the one ceremony for London 2012 which has so far taken place. That was the eight-minute handover section of the 2008 Games. Here is how it was previewed in the Guardian: The moment one Olympic host city hands over to the next has veered from exuberant celebration of national identity to plain international embarrassment. Now after 12 months of secret planning, London's strategy for the handover of the Olympic flag at this summer's closing ceremony can ...
The tragic cycle of violence has restarted in Israel-Palestine, this time triggered by a terrorist attack on bus passengers in southern Israel not far from Eilat. The Israelis say the killers infiltrated from Gaza via Sinai, which both Hamas and the Egyptians deny. Whatever the truth of the matter, reprisal strikes were almost immediate, with ...
