Toward Point Counterpoint?

There are times when I read media from outside the UK and find links to stories about Britain that recieve little interest here. Other times I scan the same sources and find little mention of major British news items at all. Such is the case with the recent fiascos plaguing the Blair government. His health secretary is booed offstage at every turn, his deputy prime minister has been quite literally poking around in the civil service and, to top it all, his home secretary has been presiding over a department that is now in complete disarray. Even the police, the immigration service and the probation service are up in arms about the incompetence. Plus, today, another minister, John Reid has been found with cannabis in his house! Times they need a-changing!

You probably won't need me to tell you that Neil Young's "Living With War" is now up and streaming. All the advance publicity has obviously paid off because Neil's server seems to be straining under an unprecedented volume of hits. Those masses who parttook in the sessions and those others who were treated to the record company previews have had plenty to say about it - so much so that I was expecting all sorts of variety and innovation. Infact, the album is pure Neil Young at his legendary best. Neil's recent brush with mortality seems to have re-awakened his spirit and as a collection of protest songs the work is among his finest. The only unusual aspect to the music itself is the use of massed choir (with gives it a slightly religious feel, possibly to attract an audience prone to anthemic styles) and an acapella version of "America The Beautiful" at the end. The latter will probably offset any attempts to brand him as "un-patriotic". Hear it at Neil's Site.

May 24th will see a Medical Marijuana Rally here in London at Parliament Square. It's an all day midweek event and permission has been obtained to protest in the normal one-mile exclusion zone around Whitehall. A petition will be handed in the Downing Street by "Cannabis Gran" and some MPs will be making facilities available in a Commons meeting room. For more and up-dates, see News Of The Weed (there's a permanent link listed on left).

Later.