We have a week to save the world from Eurogeddon. Yesterday, we saw the biggest strike action in living memory. War with Iran is looming on the horizon. And what is the nation's obsession? A comment by Jeremy Clarkson about shooting trade unionists on the BBC's insipid early evening One Show, whose viewers are only comfortable with mind-numbing inanity. That and some nasty sweary racist woman on a tram. People are offended. So what? Be offended, it's your choice. Nothing will happen to you because you are offended. You won't get cancer by being offended. Being offended is subjective. It ...
Following a packed Christmas Concert in Dundee West Church tonight, the West End Christmas Lights were switched on at Seabraes, followed by a spectacular fireworks display. A great night was had by all and my many thanks to all who made tonight such a success! PC Bob and me, trying out the glo-specs and ears! Santa visits the Fire Engine at Seabraes! Image projected onto the tenement adjacent to Seabraes. We are very grateful to Elan Audio Visual Solutions for their superb lighting and audio tonight! The West End Christmas Tree!
I had to switch the computer on and write this blog because of the first question on Question Time. The question was "do the panel feel that Jeremy Clarkson should be prosecuted for his comments about strikers and if found guilty should he be taken outside and shot?" This joke was met by widespread approval, with applause and laughter. The first to answer was Deborah Meaden who added to the humour by saying that we should forget about the prosecution bit and just take him outside and shoot him. She didn't like what he said, it was an awful thing ...
OK, so you're too young to remember the Dave Clark Five – but their title sums up my day and my week. Sometimes there's a big issue to write about it and get your teeth into, at others you feel you're shoving pieces around on a chess-board looking for an opening. And that's this week. Monday: Adult Health and Wellbeing was a slightly tetchy meeting, but then in the afternoon I was at a meeting of Trustees of a local charity where there was a lot of positive thinking. In the meantime I popped into the Library to look at ...
Monday, rendezvous at 06.50 at St Pancras International to catch Eurostar to Brussels with Subcommittee F, to take evidence for our inquiry into EU policy on dangerous drugs. Spent the night there, and almost as early on Tuesday we flew to Lisbon for two further sessions. Then back to London, and tube to South Kensington, where kind Lindsay picked me up, arriving home at midnight. Wednesday was quite relaxed, my only appointment being with Edna Adan who runs the hospital in Hargeisa, together with the indefatigable Lulu Todd and others concerned with Somaliland. Today, joined in a question on Pakistan ...
On Wednesday Dec 7th, at 7.30pm, in the Haven Green Baptist Church Hall there is a public meeting where Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrat GLA Mayoral candidate) and Caroline Pidgeon (Leader of Lib Dems on the GLA) will be speaking and listening to residents about what the are concerned about. They want to hear about your concerns about London so come and ask your questions. Indeed as it is a public meeting so everyone is welcome. Contact me at gary.malcolm@ealing.gov.uk or @CllrGaryMalcolm and let me know any questions you have for Brian Paddick or Caroline Pidgeon.
I have a problem with the definition of fuel poverty: "Households are considered to be in 'fuel poverty' if they would have to spend more than 10% of their household income on fuel to keep their home in a 'satisfactory' condition, where, for example, a 'satisfactory' heating regime is considered to be one where the ...
The Catto Gallery in Hampstead traditionally offers an artistic pot pourri in December, and the Christmas Selection exhibition that opened there this evening is no exception. The variety of the artists shown is startling, both in medium and style. I really loved the bronze scultpures of animals by Joseph Paxton and could happily have walked ...
TweetMiliband has finally realisde which side his bread is buttered and come out on the side of the Unions. But it was such a long time coming, one began to wonder if the Unions and Labour were in during a trial separation. As an ex-Union Representative in the public sector, I am always been anti ...
I was very intrigued by this passage from Elisabeth Sladen's autobiography (this is my transcription of the audiobook read by Caroline John, so the punctuation of the original may be different):Katy Manning, who played Jo Grant [from 1971 to 1973], was leaving, and so Barry [Letts, the producer] had been quietly auditioning for a new companion. Eventually they thought they'd found the right girl, so they signed her up and began rehearsals. I can't tell you who she was; I don't think that would be fair. But I can say she didn't get on with Jon [Pertwee]. It just didn't ...
I wondered if Hansard had corrected what I thought was Ed Milliband's error at PMQs when he said:the dinner lady, the cleaner or the nurse, people who earn in a week what the Chancellor pays for his annual skiing holidayIndeed they have stuck with what he said. Perhaps it wasn't a mistake and he thinks that cleaners earn £11K per week.
TweetThere are a lot of gems in George's Magic Medicine, as Yvette Cooper referred to the Chancellor during the Autumn Statement. The infrastructure opportunities will create jobs, improve transport links, and improve the country generally. Better spending on schools will help reduce social divide and increases in benefit and pensions cannot be criticised. However, as ...
This is Northampton House in Kettering, which I shall always remember fondly because it was from here that I passed my driving test. (I have barely driven since, but it proves I am a real man.) As the second edition of A Guide to the Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire explains: It was built in 1910 as offices for James Pain, the iron ore magnate who had extensive ironstone quarries in north Northamptonshire during the 19thC and 20thC. The company still occupied Northampton House in 1927.Backwatersman has photographed its recent dereliction and provides a link to the campaign to save it ...
It's December which means for those who have them, it's time to get out those chocolate advent calendars! But for those of you who, like me, don't do such things anymore (and indeed for those of you who still do!), I thought I'd give my own unique little twist on this festive time of year with my Musical Advent Calendar countdown of my Top 25 favourite Christmas songs! Culminating with my favourite on Christmas Eve, I will blog a song a day, beginning with an opening double salvo today to whet your appetite! So here we go... Cole's Musical Christmas ...
TweetThe radio and papers have been using with representations of Egypt's new democracy this week. A near 100% turnout is pretty amazing, especially given the protests preceding the polls. The people may protests, they may dislike the current military rule, but they believe in the principles of democracy and the power to change the face ...
Have your say on the budget priorities for Greater Manchester Police and Stockport Council. Try the budget simulator – produce a balanced budget that takes accounts of your priorities. Greater Manchester Police Budget Simulator Stockport Council Budget Simulator
Because of the strikes on 30th November, a lot of the bins due for collection in the Cheadle area weren't collected. If your bin was missed, take it in and present it as normal on the next scheduled collection day. On that day, any additional bags left with the bins will also be collected.
Gatley lit up our Christmas Tree in style with a visit from Santa, carols and local shops and cafes open late. Everyone was impressed with the size of the crowds.
I find Top Gear irritating and the way it is relentlessly promoted by the BBC doubly so. I don't share Jeremy Clarkson's politics, though if you want to learn how to write a newspaper column, he is one of the best people to study. But today's row over his comments on The One Show is a complete nonsense. Read the transcript. Clarkson remarks how pleasant London was because of the strike - no traffic, empty restaurants. He then goes on to say, with slightly forced jocularity, that "we have to balance this though, because this is the BBC". So he ...
There is little about Jereny Clarkson I like. Indeed, I'm trying to find anything in his high-octane, petrol propelled promotion of carbon guzzling technology with which I could agree, and so far, I've found nothing. He is a person who promotes himself by shock value. He thrives on making controversial and offensive statements. They get him noticed and he therefore increases sales of his
Today is World AIDS Day. To mark the occasion, put aside 20 minutes to read through the HIV Aware website. Even if you think you know everything already, there is always something to learn. For example, I hadn't a clue that anyone had ever suggested fish pedicures might transmit HIV in the first place - but I learned that it's not true anyway. If you browse around the site, you'll realise how our benefits, criminal justice and immigration systems make life much more difficult for people living with HIV. It's awful to think that people who have been medically advised ...
Yes, you did indeed read that headline correctly - Belgium is, at last, to get a government - a mere 535 days after the inclusive elections in June 2010.The news Belgium has long been waiting for broke late yesterday evening after the country's politicians agreed the last details of a 185-page deal that will guide them for the remaining two-and-a-half years of their mandate - before MORE
The Jewish Chronicle reports: A Labour MP has caused outrage by suggesting that Britain's first Jewish ambassador to Israel has divided loyalties because he has "proclaimed himself to be a Zionist". Challenged by the JC to clarify his comments about Matthew Gould, who took up the post last year, Paul Flynn, the Labour MP for Newport West, said ambassadors to Israel had not previously been Jewish "to avoid the accusation that they have gone native". Britain needed, he said, "someone with roots in the UK [who] can't be accused of having Jewish loyalty". The Foreign Office and MPs from across ...
Schools, churches, councils, the police and fire service are coming together next Tuesday to celebrate Christmas outside the Wulfstan Way shops in Queen Edith's. There will be children's craft activities (under 5s) from 5.30, then the Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith, will switch on the Christmas lights at 6 p.m. Next comes a community carol-singing, with special performances by the choirs of St James's, St John's and the Queen Edith Primary School. It is hoped Father Christmas will come to join the fun. See you there. Click here to download a programme.WWXmas2011
Willie Rennie has spent much of the last six weeks or so trying to get an answer from Alex Salmond about whether he will use the unexpected £67 million he's getting under the Barnett Formula to reverse the cut in funding to Scotland's colleges he's made. Even if he did, he'd still have £27 million to use for something else. Trouble is, it looks to me like Salmond is more than happy to play politics with the futures of almost 9000 young people who will not otherwise be able to go to college because that's how many places have been ...
"As we approach the anniversary of the birth of Christ, does the hon. Gentleman agree that today Joseph and Mary would not be able to get to Bethlehem because of the walls, the shepherds would be ethnically cleansed and the three kings would not be allowed into Palestine?" asked Bob Russell in the Commons on Monday
Thu 1st
18:20
Only 52% of 2010 Labour voters believe Ed Balls would make a better Chancellor than Osborne
Reading through the most recent YouGov survey, a few facts stand out: Aside from the well documented findings on where people place blame for the slowdown in growth (the Eurozone, the Banks and the last Labour Government), one fact struck me. Asked who would make the better Chancellor, Balls or Osborne (no Vince?) only 61% of people that say they plan to vote Labour and only 52% of those that say they voted Labour in the last election believe that Balls would make the better Chancellor. These results surely paint a grim picture for the Shadow Chancellor.
Last week, the Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Mark Littlewood, spent an hour talking to David Laws at the IEA's Westminster headquarters. Before a packed room, Mark and David touched on a whole range of issues – taxation, Europe, the formation of the coalition, just exactly how liberal the Liberal Democrats are, and many more. The hour-long exchange, which you can see below, is well worth a watch: (Video also available on vimeo here.)
0742 Did the grim predictions for the future contained in the Autumn Statement amount to a watershed moment in British politics, when politicians and the electorate began to accept how painful the recovery would be? Ben Page, of pollsters Ipsos Mori, examines where the public stands on the issue. And Jim Tomlinson, professor of history at Dundee University, and John Kay, economist and writer with the Financial Times, discuss what politicians can offer an electorate used to rising prosperity. HEALTH WARNING: CONTAINS SWEEPING GENERALISATIONS There was a discussion on Today this morning – above – which was talking in almost ...
Most Liberal Democrats were pretty horrified when George Osborne announced he was stopping disabled care home residents from claiming the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. We passed a motion asking for this to be reinstated at our Spring Conference in March - and today, it's been announced that, finally, this has happened. This is another example of how the Liberal Democrats can influence things within the Government. It doesn't happen immediately, but I know that this has come about because Steve Webb and other Liberal Democrat ministers have been championing the cause. And if you want to have some ...
Whenever I meet a carer I am humbled by their dedication and touched by the love they show in the face of daily adversity. To be a carer you have to be a pretty special person. It is also likely that you feel your tireless efforts to care for a family member or friend generally go unnoticed. But the Liberal Democrats want to make sure this silent army of carers is recognised. Every year unpaid carers save our national services an estimated £119 billion a year, which is why we included a manifesto pledge to provide guaranteed respite care for ...
What is the role of the police in society? Does it go beyond simply cutting crime and acting as law-keepers to include working with local communities in ways that are sometimes characterised as acting more as "social workers" or "youth workers"? How should forces work together following the introduction of the new Police and Crime Commissioners? How do we break down barriers between forces to encourage the sharing of best practice and increased cooperation? What needs to happen to ensure that the new Police and Crime Panels (PCPs) act as a check on the power of the Commissioner and are ...
There has been no politician in Scotland who has been more active in supporting a change in the law to allow same sex couples to get married than Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie. I've been really proud of him. Too often in the past, our parliamentarians have mainly voted in accordance with our policies but not actually proactively talked about it. It's been really good that both Willie and Nick Clegg are so obviously comfortable discussing issues affecting LGBT people. Yesterday, Willie commented on the poorly attended Scotland for Marriage march which went to Holyrood. He said: "I am very ...
I really worry about people at times. Unions do some great things protecting their workers and ensuring their rights are upheld, yet here they are coming out and demanding that a man is sacked for making a joke. This isn't just a man making an inappropriate joke in the work place, this is someone who's paid to make jokes. He was introduced as someone who makes controversial statements so surely if that is what the BBC are employing him for then if Jeremy Clarkson makes a controversial statement then they can't complain. I'd like to put the whole thing into ...
Thu 1st
15:21
Jenny Willott MP writes... Protecting a lifeline - Lib Dem success in battle for DLA Mobility Compon...
With all the headlines and discussion this week about the Autumn Statement and public sector strikes, people would have been forgiven for missing an announcement from the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller MP, that proves once again the Lib Dem influence in Government, and fulfilling yet another Conference motion. Maria Miller has today announced that the Government is dropping the proposals to remove the Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from people in residential care homes. The reversal answers the calls our Party made last Spring in Liverpool, where we passed a motion calling for the plan to ...
awkwardedmilibandmoments: Ed's evil shadow suddenly leapt up and tried to strangle Ed Balls.
In a recent post, I argued that the Lib Dems need to ensure that they have a clear identity. In his piece congratulating Sir Graham Watson, Barry Stocker has drawn attention to a speech that Graham has given on liberalism. The speech frames liberalism within a rich political tradition and shows why it is relevant today. This is a welcome contribution to the ongoing discussion about where the party is going and where it should be going.
On Tuesday, we found out just how bad the UK's economy is in Osborne's Autumn Statement which turned out to be a mini-budget. The structural deficit is apparently bigger than expected due to the boom followed by the bust being bigger than expected. This as well as the lack of growth in the economy means ...
Thu 1st
14:15The Coalition's Political Plan B, Mrs T, and TINA: what does this spell out for the Lib Dems?
The political aftershock of George Osborne's autumn statement is just beginning to sink in: the Coalition's 5-year austerity programme, designed to end in 2015 by the time of the next general election, is now a 7-year programme straddling two parliaments. This poses problems for the future of the Coalition, and for the Lib Dems in particular, encapsulated here by the FT's Philip Stephens: Here's the paradox. The effect of sticking to economic plan A has been to shred the coalition government's original political strategy. In the heady days after the 2010 election the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats signed up to ...
The discovery of the Higgs boson led to limitless power, the elimination of poverty and Kit-Kats for everyone. It is a communist chocolate hellhole and I'm here to stop it ever happening - from here. [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Amidst all the bad news on the EU it is good to able to report that Croatia has just received the formal approval of the European Parliament to join the European Union. I have not blogged on the process for a long time, but the upheaval that has been involved for Croatia has been considerable. The country has taken the issues of corruption and good governance extremely seriously, and there has been a determined effort to ensure that all evidence of wrong doing is fully investigated- indeed even the former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has been forced to face prosecution ...
Thanks to a lot of hard work by the planning committee, Cheadle's Jubilee celebrations next June look set to be a day that will live long in the memory. Keith and Iain were at the Upper Rooms last night to talk about the latest proposals. The day of celebrations will see Ashfield Road and Ashfield Crescent given over to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at the beginning of June next year. Current plans include a classic car show, an RAF flight simulator, stage and arena shows, a dog show and much more. The whole event is being organised by volunteers, and ...
A North West England Euro-MP has triggered an investigation into airlines who charge passengers extra to carry their duty free shopping onto the plane. The "one bag policy" has been catching passengers out who travel on low cost airlines. Some ... Continue reading →
The Electoral Commission has released information on the spending of the Yes and No campaigns and they reveal No outspent Yes, £3.26m to £2.14m. But it would be a huge mistake to think that we can just blame the different amounts spent. No were much more effective in how they spent their money and had ...
Today is World AIDS Day and the theme for 2011 is Getting to Zero. What that means is: Getting to zero new HIV infectionsGetting to zero discriminationGetting to zero AIDS related deaths The first one is up to YOU know your status and your partners status and play it safe until you do. HIV can be passed on by heterosexual as were a homosexual sex, it can also be passed on by intravenous drug users sharing neddles. So be careful folks. Treat each new sexual partner with safety first, you won't know if they are affected on first contact. The ...
These feel a marvellous idea – "John Morse has brought his unique blend of imagery and poetry to the streets of New York City." Traditional haiku poetry consists of 17 syllables, in three phrases of five, seven and five respectively. Making road safety Haikus is a great idea by the New York City Dept of Transportation commissioning artist John Morse of Dog Star Studiosto design the imagery and the Haikus. He had an installation around Atlanta using just Haikus graphically presented to emulate commercial roadside 'bandit' adverts. Perhaps around East Dulwich we could use these. We'd also need one about ...
Michael Carchrie Campbell, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats has supported The HIV Support Centre's Getting to Zero campaign as part of the World AIDS Campaign on World AIDS Day. I know that it is vital for everyone in Northern Ireland to be educated about HIV. It is a virus that affects us all ...
I know that it is vital for everyone in Northern Ireland to be educated about HIV. It is a virus that affects us all here. With the figures released today by the Public Health Agency showing a 20% increase on ... Continue reading →
I've lived in the Big Apple* for about fifteen months now, long enough to get into the swing of living here, and to have acquired and internalised some of the important skills and knowledge required to live in the most charmingly obnoxious city in the world, the USA, the state of New York. I originally started planning a series of posts that was "the Britisher's Guide to Living in the States," then I realised I knew nothing about living in 49 of those States – even though I could probably bullshit Massachusetts, come to think about - and then I ...
In the light of the public sector strike yesterday regarding pensions, I found it interesting to compare my pensions. Since I started working, I have been paying rather more than the minimum percentage of my wages into a private pension scheme. This is money which frankly in the last few years I'd rather have had at my disposal for short-term needs, but like a good citizen I have tried to save for the future. This year's statement was a shocker. At the end of the year, I have less money in my pension pot than this time last year, despite ...
Here, courtesy of the Centre for Economic Performance, is how the share of income going to the richest 1% has changed since the start of the last century: It is notable that although 1979 clearly stands out as a turning point, 1997 does not. The trend just continues as before. They also point out that it is not just Chief Executive and similar posts which have seen sharp pay increases: Although Chief Executive pay gets much of the media attention, they point out that it is far from the whole story when it comes to looking at how the best ...
Thu 1st
12:53
Channel 4 News FactCheck agrees with Jeremy Clarkson........well, a bit....that is, a micro-particle...
Ok, I'm not saying Channel 4 News FactCheck want public sector strikers executed (nor does Clarkson, by the way, he was doing his schtick). But the conclusion of their piece on public sector pensions rather supports Clarkson's complaint about public workers receiving "gold plated pensions..while the rest of us have to work for a living". Here's Cathy Newman's conclusion on Channel 4 News FactCheck: The government claim that the overhaul of public sector pensions will enrich many low and middle income earners is fanciful. Raising the pension age and increasing what people pay into their pension pots will make employees ...
Congratulations to Sir Graham Watson, MEP for South-West England & Gibraltar, on being elected to the presidency of the European Liberal Democrat And Reform Party in the European Parliament.
Congratulations to Sir Graham Watson on becoming President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR). ELDR Graham Watson groups national parties in European Union countries into an EU 'political party', in practice an alliance of national parties. Watson's acceptance speech, posted on YouTube, and available as an online transcript, is inevitably a balancing act between different strands of liberalism, but on the whole is to be welcomed from a LiberalVision point of view. John Milton, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant, Benjamin Constant, Wilhelm von Humboldt, John Stuart Mill, and Ludwig von Mises are all mentioned. All of these thinkers ...
The Economist blog, Free Exchange reports the growing evidence that the Eurozone crisis is sucking capital out of the peripheral European economies. Here in Estonia, we are inside the Eurozone, but there is certainly some increasing anecdotal evidence that suggest that Russia is being hit increasingly badly. Colleagues who work with Russian investors suggest that there is a serious liquidity problem and that Russian banks are facing a funding strike. The impact of the de facto collapse of the Bank of Moscow in July has underlined concerns about a large number of smaller banks in Russia. In Lithuania, Bankas Snoras ...
The Prime Minister described yesterday's strike as a "damp squib". Though I don't support the strike and I think it was more a case of chest-beating by the trade union leaders who want to parade as the leaders of the Labour movement, filling the void left by the Labour Leader Ed Moribund, the fact was that a large number of public sector workers did fail to turn up for work. Whilst the levels of
The government has proposed a very long trial of supersized lorries. The trial will last 10 years and involve 900 lorries. The supersized lorries will be 18.55m / 60 foot long – 2.05m longer than the current longest lorries. The lorry industry have suggested they will save fuel and increase capacity by 15%. But industry reports are that huge proportion of lorries are travelling empty. Instead of the Department of Transport working on such trials for bigger lorries they should be working on trialling cross industry loading of lorries to maximise them being fuller when trundling along in our wing ...
Paul Walter's LibDemVoice review of yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions mentioned the Ed Miliband soundbite which has been picked up by much of the media... but so far without the disbelief it's due. Here's what the Labour leader said: The difference is that, unlike the Prime Minister, I am not going to demonise the dinner lady, the cleaner or the nurse, people who earn in a week what the Chancellor pays for his annual skiing holiday. A quick reminder for those who don't live in the Westminster bubble that, last January, it was revealed (by which I mean I read it ...
I suppose it was inevitable that the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland would start to attract the more eccentric members of society, however I cannot say that I expected time travellers. According to this piece a would-be saboteur has been arrested at the Large Hadron Collider. Eloi Cole, who is described as a strangely dressed young man, said that he had travelled back in time to prevent the LHC from destroying the world: The LHC successfully collided particles at record force earlier this week, a milestone Mr Cole was attempting to disrupt by stopping supplies of Mountain Dew to the ...
Another post on the Liberal Vision site. Normal service will resume on this blog shortly!
'Movember' is over (although there's still time to make that donation). What now for the lip monster? Time to let go, or the beginning of a special relationship? Thoughts please...
The Liberal Democrat leadership had intended to fight the next general election on the basis that they had taken tough decisions and those decisions had paid off. The view was that by 2013 the economy would have turned around and voters who were angry with the party would forgive them by 2015. After the Chancellor's Autumn Statement it looks as though this strategy is no longer tenable. Danny Alexander made clear on Newsnight that he believes the party will go into the election arguing for more cuts to public expenditure in order to deal with a structural deficit that will ...
Cross-posted from Liberal Democrat Voice Liberal Democrat questions first this week: Jo Swinson asked: Ten years on from the military intervention, more than 3 million girls in Afghanistan are now in school. With the Bonn conference on Monday, will the Prime Minister send a clear message that the rights of those girls should not be traded away in a false choice between women's rights and security? The evidence shows that women's involvement in post-conflict resolution is essential for stability. The Prime Minister agreed: All those of us who have been to Afghanistan and met women MPs and other leaders in ...
I was pleased to hear of the agreement that the Welsh Liberal Democrats have brokered with the Welsh Government, securing a budget that provides the help that the most deprived children in Wales need to break the link between poverty and educational attainment. For every child that receives free school meals schools will receive an
Liberal Democrat questions first this week: Jo Swinson asked: Ten years on from the military intervention, more than 3 million girls in Afghanistan are now in school. With the Bonn conference on Monday, will the Prime Minister send a clear message that the rights of those girls should not be traded away in a false choice between women's rights and security? The evidence shows that women's involvement in post-conflict resolution is essential for stability. The Prime Minister agreed: All those of us who have been to Afghanistan and met women MPs and other leaders in that country who want to ...
The usual suspects have been out in force on the subject of the British Chancellor's Autumn statement. The mostly left-wing commentators have been imploring Mr. Osborne to switch to Plan B. "The cuts"- they say- "are too severe, and will damage growth". I am almost tempted to say "what cuts?" In fact, "If only..." because, although the government has talked big on the subject of government spending cuts, the fact is that the deficit remains close to its record high, and every month that passes adds yet further billions onto the national debt, which is already stretched way beyond the ...
Today is World AIDS Day. Take a minute of your day today just to think about whether you partake in any risky behaviours that might lead you into contact with HIV/AIDS and think about how you can protect yourself and others.
Scotland for Marriage is the group, led by key figures in the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland, which opposes extending marriage to same sex couples in Scotland. They held a march in Edinburgh, yesterday, attended by 200 people and are splashing the cash on media adverts to promote response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the issue. The Iowa legislature has been tackling the same issue, here. Have a look at what this young man had to say. It's never too late to change your mind.
This year just like an advent calendar I'm going to give you a little Youtube treat each day to hopefully get you in to the mood. First up here is one band that I have used before at Christmas time but this time not with a song you'll know.
Jeremy Clarkson is an attention-seeking controversialist. That's his stock in trade. He's about as close as the British have come to embracing America's shock-jock cult. And he was at it again yesterday — seeking attention, being controversial — when he appeared on BBC1′s The One Show and suggested striking public sector workers should be shot in front of their families. Cue VT: (Also available on YouTube here.) I guess that we all accept he wasn't being literal, that even Jeremy-bloody-Clarkson doesn't actually believe every single one of the hundreds of thousands who yesterday exercised their democratic right of collective action ...
Voluntary sector groups, small businesses, shops, offices, pubs, churches, dental practices and doctors' surgeries in South Werrington and North Gunthorpe can get free bicycle stands under the community cycle parking scheme run by ParkThatBike and supported by Peterborough City Council. Up to two stands - that's parking for four bikes - are available per applicant. You must install the cycle stands on your own property (we'll send you installation guidance) in a location agreed with ParkThatBike. Commenting, local LIB DEM ward councillor for this area, Darren Fower said: "I'm not sure how much publicity Peterborough City Council has given to ...
The Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement does contain some signs of green shoots, not, alas, of economic recovery, but of a change of direction. Public investment is to be ploughed into upgrading some of our motorways and the railway network (including the electrification of the TransPennine route.) The money involved is peanuts compared with what is required, and much less than the amount of public expenditure that has been cut. In addition the extra spending on real investment will not come on stream for several years, (though doubtless consultants will gobble up their fees fairly quickly) whereas the cuts ...
Marathon training, per my slightly insane 5-month training schedule, officially starts on Monday, but I'm really following the same schedule this week, with the exception of a shorter long run. I know 5 months is crazy, but, to be honest, I just couldn't wait any longer to have a plan (A PLAN) to follow. I'm such a better runner when I have a goal to work towards and am not nearly as good at just forcing myself to get out the door and go for a run. Plus, the holidays can be a hard time to be really mindful of ...
Thu 1st
06:01
Tonight at 6pm - West End Christmas Concert, Christmas Lights Switch On and spectacular fireworks ex...
This year's West End Christmas Concert takes place at Dundee West Church at 6pm. All local residents are very welcome to attend. There will be musical contributions from local primary and secondary schools and we are also delighted to welcome leading Scottish traditional singer Sheena Wellington and the children of the Russian School that takes place at Harris Academy at weekends. At 7pm, the West End Christmas Lights will be switched on at Seabraes by Sheena Wellington's grandson Liam Wellington aged two and a half, accompanied by characters from the Downfield Musical Society Panto Aladdin. There will be carol singers ...
cynicalwitch: keepcalmandshipeveryone: *trying desperately to keep a straight face* Since when did my friend change his name to Robby?
(Click the Doctor Watson Investigates tag for parts 1 – 3) I examined the cloth carefully, but however many secrets it may have yielded to Holmes' eye, to mine it was only a bloodied cloth. "And you say your sister kept this with her at all times?" "She had never been parted with it from ...
I am very disappointed by the support being given by the UK government to Canada, in its bid to alter the European Fuels Directive in Canada's favour, and I am bemused by the content of Norman Baker's letter to the Guardian. I've campaigned for Mr Baker, and hold him in high esteem, but I'm baffled ...
Non-fiction 6 (YTD 61) Diana Wynne Jones, by Farah Mendlesohn Race of a Lifetime, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin The New Face of Digital Populism, by Jamie Bartlett, Jonathan Birdwell and Mark Littler The Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland, ed. Christopher Haigh Why Nonviolent Resistance in Kosovo Failed, by Shkëlzen Maliqi Why Kosovo Still Matters, by Denis MacShane Fiction (non-sf) 5 (YTD 46) The Private Eye Annual 2008, edited by Ian Hislop (belongs in this category I suppose) Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott Moll Flanders, by Daniel Defoe Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier The Death of Ivan ...
Apopros of a conversation last night; unrelated to events of November 30th. "I gave up being an activist after only two years trying. Partly this is because I'm not the kind of person who can survive without downtime, and to be a good activist you have to be committed to the cause every waking hour, and a few sleeping ones too. But I'm also not very good at playing games." Becky Hogge - Barefoot into Cyberspace: Adventures in search of Techno-Utopia I think I have finally accepted that I've burnt out. It happened some time ago, if I'm honest, but ...
Thursday: Daddy's put the wrong disk in the DVD player. He says that this may LOOK like a Western but really it IS "The Prisoner" after all. I say it's STILL the wrong disk... I wanted GOLDFINGER! But apparently we're going to watch THIS... welcome to harmony A sheriff rides into town, storms into the Marshal's office and throws down his badge and gun. As he walks away, he is surrounded by toughs who knock him down and carry him off to a small town in the old West, a town called Harmony. D'you see what they did there? There's ...
