Paul Flynn MP
A quick link here to the site for British MP Paul Flynn - a supporter of last weeks Medical Pot Lobby. It offers a comprehensive report and opinion. Additional coverage from Chris Schmoo and The Guardian, with more expected in this weekend's Observer too.
The marijuana issues are of far more concern these days than just that of old hippies, but the latter group will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original "Summer of Love" next year. The Beeb are getting in early with a programme on the era at around 9pm tonight on BBC2 in Britain. May be a good watch.
This is a second attempt at uploading today so I'm keeping it short to see what happens. It is a holiday weekend here anyway and pretty quiet.
Later.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
The End of Euphoria
Writing yesterday morning I was reacting to watching the "farce" of the Bush-Blair summit. There was little humour in the event although Bush appeared to think otherwise. It was more like witnessing one of the closing acts in a dramatic tragedy. Since then, the media both here and in the elsewhere seem to have sensed that some kind of endgame is approaching and for that at least we can be more than thankful. If a shift in public perception is to come, it is their power that will accelarate it. For loads of analysis, see Latest Clicks at left.
An update the last week's medical pot lobby - the British member of parliament, Paul Flynn, has extensive coverage on his own website which is more than welcome. For an American clip on the benefits of taxing and regulating marijuana, click here.
The marijuana issue is wide ranging these days but certainly of interest to the generation of old hippies who will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original "Summer Of Love" next year. Tonight, the beeb aim to get in on the act early with a special programme on BBC2 (TV) at just past 9pm here in Britain.
Without Desmond Dekker, the music world may never have witnessed Bob Marley and the influence of reggae in world music. He sadly died yesterday aged 64. Also in music, the weird as Cate Blanchett is to play Bob Dylan in a movie and the humble as Joan Baez finds a new protest song.
Later.
An update the last week's medical pot lobby - the British member of parliament, Paul Flynn, has extensive coverage on his own website which is more than welcome. For an American clip on the benefits of taxing and regulating marijuana, click here.
The marijuana issue is wide ranging these days but certainly of interest to the generation of old hippies who will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original "Summer Of Love" next year. Tonight, the beeb aim to get in on the act early with a special programme on BBC2 (TV) at just past 9pm here in Britain.
Without Desmond Dekker, the music world may never have witnessed Bob Marley and the influence of reggae in world music. He sadly died yesterday aged 64. Also in music, the weird as Cate Blanchett is to play Bob Dylan in a movie and the humble as Joan Baez finds a new protest song.
Later.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Axis Of The Feeble
Covering a Friend's Back: Leaders Reverse the Roles - New York Times
With apologies to the Economist for this entry's title, a quick link to an editorial at New York Times on the aforementioned summit between Preacher and Emporer.
Also, an interesting piece at AlterNet discusses whether Psychedelic Drugs could alter modern medicine - tying in nicely with previous entries here.
Plus, in music, The State of The Dylan report.
Later
With apologies to the Economist for this entry's title, a quick link to an editorial at New York Times on the aforementioned summit between Preacher and Emporer.
Also, an interesting piece at AlterNet discusses whether Psychedelic Drugs could alter modern medicine - tying in nicely with previous entries here.
Plus, in music, The State of The Dylan report.
Later
Banner at Wednesday's medical cannabis lobby in Parliament Square, London. The same placard adorned a van which toured the area all day. The event cumilated in the handing in of a petition at Downing Street, followed by a lively committee room meeting with various members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords - many of whom had more radical legislative proposals than medical availability of the product itself. See below for more.
eTV Picture Post
Lame Ducks - Squawking!
Independent Online Edition > World Politics
So far the only UK paper to catch last night's late performance by Bush and Blair is the Independent - link headline link above. It was not a sight for already sore eyes. Both the Ape Emporer and his Prime Preacher looked decidedly uncomfortable despite the melodramatic "chimpanzee-walk" entrance from the former. Both were unable to offer any real hope on progress in Iraq and both seemed eager to abdicate responsibility for the future in favour of the newly elected government. On specific questions, Bush constantly exclaimed "We're still waiting for them to appoint a defense minister!" whilst Blair prefered to replay his theme of optimism about the new regime.
By the end of the show, Bush was clearly struggling with improvisation to questions and resorted to making bad jokes. Few laughed, so he ended up sniggering to himself! Blair even looked on puzzled at times as missed cues suddenly became epidemic. Bush constantly looked at Blair to take over the dialogue whilst Blair, caught on the hop, found himself mute in several instances. Asked about mistakes, Bush rather astonishingly admitted regret about his "gung-ho" attitude whilst Blair wriggled out of the issue by resorting to abstracts on their lack of initial foresight.
Both men are clearly on their last legs and were putting their faith in the new Iraq government as a legacy. It is doubtful that faith will be rewarded, but whatever the final solution, the timescale is now such that it will be a job for the successors to resolve. The sooner these two disappear into obscurity the better. The memory will already take a long time to fade.
To return to the start of the nightmare, the maverick former MI5 officer, David Shayler, now has a new UK-based site at http://www.nineeleven.co.uk which seeks to dispel the myth. He also introduces a new second edition DVD version of the documentary "Loose Change" which is compelling and can be ordered via the site.
Shayler was also one of the participants in the committee room session at the Medical Marijuana Lobby at Parliament on Wednesday. It was a highly successful day, with other participants in the exchange including a number of MPs and Lords who joined the Cannabis Education Trust and their many allies for debate. A petition was also handed in at Downing Street whilst an all-day protest was officially mounted outside the Palace of Westminster. Despite some collision with the 3 metre space left remaining for anti-war protester Brian Haw, the presense was noticeable with a "Placard Van" circling the square from early morning to early evening and the continual honk of horns indicating support from passing traffic.
See News of The Weed for more and other links.
The above, together with the Adobe Live event at London's Olympia, means it's taking a while to catch up on all the news undercurrents. See "Latest Clicks" for the running record.
Later.
So far the only UK paper to catch last night's late performance by Bush and Blair is the Independent - link headline link above. It was not a sight for already sore eyes. Both the Ape Emporer and his Prime Preacher looked decidedly uncomfortable despite the melodramatic "chimpanzee-walk" entrance from the former. Both were unable to offer any real hope on progress in Iraq and both seemed eager to abdicate responsibility for the future in favour of the newly elected government. On specific questions, Bush constantly exclaimed "We're still waiting for them to appoint a defense minister!" whilst Blair prefered to replay his theme of optimism about the new regime.
By the end of the show, Bush was clearly struggling with improvisation to questions and resorted to making bad jokes. Few laughed, so he ended up sniggering to himself! Blair even looked on puzzled at times as missed cues suddenly became epidemic. Bush constantly looked at Blair to take over the dialogue whilst Blair, caught on the hop, found himself mute in several instances. Asked about mistakes, Bush rather astonishingly admitted regret about his "gung-ho" attitude whilst Blair wriggled out of the issue by resorting to abstracts on their lack of initial foresight.
Both men are clearly on their last legs and were putting their faith in the new Iraq government as a legacy. It is doubtful that faith will be rewarded, but whatever the final solution, the timescale is now such that it will be a job for the successors to resolve. The sooner these two disappear into obscurity the better. The memory will already take a long time to fade.
To return to the start of the nightmare, the maverick former MI5 officer, David Shayler, now has a new UK-based site at http://www.nineeleven.co.uk which seeks to dispel the myth. He also introduces a new second edition DVD version of the documentary "Loose Change" which is compelling and can be ordered via the site.
Shayler was also one of the participants in the committee room session at the Medical Marijuana Lobby at Parliament on Wednesday. It was a highly successful day, with other participants in the exchange including a number of MPs and Lords who joined the Cannabis Education Trust and their many allies for debate. A petition was also handed in at Downing Street whilst an all-day protest was officially mounted outside the Palace of Westminster. Despite some collision with the 3 metre space left remaining for anti-war protester Brian Haw, the presense was noticeable with a "Placard Van" circling the square from early morning to early evening and the continual honk of horns indicating support from passing traffic.
See News of The Weed for more and other links.
The above, together with the Adobe Live event at London's Olympia, means it's taking a while to catch up on all the news undercurrents. See "Latest Clicks" for the running record.
Later.
Monday, May 22, 2006
On A "Tonic" Topic
Making up for a sparse blog of late, an epic rant!
As mentioned earlier, in Britain, a new Home Office drugs minister has admitted smoking cannabis. Vernon Coaker said he had indulged while a student at Warwick University. This as our new Home Secretary, John Reid, had cannabis found in his home a couple of weeks back. On Wednesday, a lobby for the medical use of marijuana will be attending parliament - whether they can make any mileage out of this is another matter.
I'll be photographing the event but I won't be totally at ease in pursuit of an issue with such narrow focus. I would be loathe to be overly associated with what might be the "stigma" of urging legislation simply on medical grounds. I rather think that considering "the weed" as a traditional all-round theraputic herbal tonic (homeopathy) is one of the good arguments for removing it from the proscribed substances list and ending the criminality of its use. The real issue is one of freedom to choose and civil rights. It's availability on prescription for example, would be no solution to the greater issue - it might be cheaper or free for those who get it, but the decision would be at the whim of an inconsistant medical profession whose choices are frequently dictated by the pharmaceutical industry and its desire to market ever-increasing quantities of new synthetic chemicals without regard for long-term consequences of their products, let alone the rising problems associated with their "mix and match" (and "swap") approach. On the other hand, it is possible that were Sativex or similar available on prescription to a greater extent, attitudes might change to the extent it becomes available "over-the-counter" like Viagra and countless new purpose-driven drugs aimed at recreational users. Of course, they'd probably then start adulterating it to expand the product range away from its natural origins. A dilemma. Pharmaceutical empires, like other huge corporations, these days both service our needs and create those needs at the same time. Were they to see a market that did not conflict with or adversly effect existing activities they would probably jump on it. They may well have the economic might to force a change of legislation. My worry is that their core business is marketing symptom-specific drugs designed to suppress ailments one by one. They would rather compound our intake of more products rather than offer anything with general all-round curative properties. As a medicine in this system, cannabis may be its own worst enemy. As a recreational product, that would make it a non-starter.
Marijuana prohibition should have been repealed decades ago and one has to wonder about the real reasons it hasn't been. Could it be that for smokers, the 20th century Tobacco market offered easier and better profits that depended on a "inhaling" monopoly? Could it be that the booming pharmaceutical industry sought to suppress natural curative products in favour of it's own new synthetics? Could it be that governments or other power-brokers determined to outlaw anything that might bring about a looser state of mind where the divine authority of church and state might be questioned by a more free-thinking populace? After all, Marijuana has often been accredited for intellectual stimulation. If the latter, although we live in more spirited times, are we not continually seduced by a new breed of technological drugs designed to steer us firmly in a proscribed direction?
There is an irony too in that present day propaganda and contemporary entertainment frequently takes its cue from the media and artistic experiments of the 1960s - an age when "mind-expansion" was the edict of a counter culture, psychedelic art expressed concepts based on hallucinogenic experiences and "multi-media" was born, albeit within the confines of the technology then available. Thinkers saw through the mask of social norms and started to question interaction between both ourselves and the planet itself. Conceptually, creativity and progressive thought came from an optimistic sub-culture for whom use of both mild and more powerful drugs was a driving factor. Yet it was not about drugs that numb the senses - it was about drugs that did the exact opposite. As we passively consume the image and sound edits on television, engage with interactive channels and websites or simply immerse ourselves inside a videogame, we are subscribing to an escapism largely born of drug experiences and now insidiously thrust upon us as a virtual drug in itself.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s the synthetic drug LSD was all the rage. Psychiatrists in particular promclaimed it as the future of mental health treatment. The theory was that, in a state of heightened awareness, clients could clean their brains out, wash away any hang-ups and delusions, then return to normality - refreshed, invigorated and with a clear perspective of reality and their purpose. As with all such acolytes, they themselves failed to perceive that everyone is different and that for each success there would be another case of someone for whom the experience would be a nightmare - greater obsession on problems, the internalisation of thought, paranoia and an inability to cope with the return to reality. LSD suddenly shifted from the medical arena to one of military weapon development with soldiers force-fed it to acclimatise them to a battlefield of chemical bombs. When, later, the drug became illegal, it also became more popular than ever - an icon of the free-thinking culure yet at the mercy of an increasingly inpure "black market". The tales of "acid casualties" from those times bear witness to the greater folly of forcing users into an uncontrolled environment and underground market.
Marijuana cannot be compared with LSD, despite the fact that ironically it remained illegal when the latter was being promoted. It is wholly natural, essentially a herb and has been used for centuries as an all-round tonic. Medicinal, yes - but recreational too. Indeed, it's original prohibition was largely accidental - entangled as it was in the resolution of the opium wars of a century ago. Queen Victoria made frequent use of it - none derided her or suggested she was unfit to rule as a result. It can be taken in a variety of ways and, being non-synthetic and extremely mild, can be consumed in regulated "dosages" rather like (the far more dangerous) alcohol. It can be slightly habit-forming, but unlike alcohol it is not addictive. I have certainly never met a "pot casualty" although I have met some users for whom individually it may not be the best tonic available. The only parallels with LSD are the social disaster of its illegality, the commonality of classification as an illicit substance and the fact that both fall under the category of "mind expanding" drugs.
In the reactionary backlash of today's world, too many people are jumping on obscure and generally biased "studies" that claim cannabis users can suffer long-term mental health damage. For the most part these reports fail to consider that the damage done by alcohol and legal drugs is far greater and that people's mental health can decline naturally with age anyway. Such stories have become the propaganda of opposition with little hard science and none of it irrefutable. Human Beings have always sought escape and release from the daily grind and the race has survived and boomed for thousands of years relying on what nature offered. As creatures who should be living in harmony with the planet and its ecosystem this interaction seems obvious. Alarming then, that those who would presume to engineer modern society seek to do so by dis-connecting us with our natural environment.
The freedom to choose what we use to feed our minds and bodies is a human right. Provided our actions do not adversly affect others, there is no law that can fairly dictate the contrary. With free choice comes some responsibility - but that is for the individual to reconcile. The collective has a right to censure the anti-social where they are confronted with it but no group has the right to dictate to others on matters of no consequence to themselves. In doing so, they risk creating their own problem - one beyond their own power to solve. Such has been the case with the criminalisation of certain drug users. There is a social divide in greater society that goes well beyond rich and poor - it is legislation that creates polarisation. We can't turn back time, but we can tear up the redundant rulebooks and let future time take care of itself. As people, left to their own devices, ultimately will - for that is the way of progress.
Later.
As mentioned earlier, in Britain, a new Home Office drugs minister has admitted smoking cannabis. Vernon Coaker said he had indulged while a student at Warwick University. This as our new Home Secretary, John Reid, had cannabis found in his home a couple of weeks back. On Wednesday, a lobby for the medical use of marijuana will be attending parliament - whether they can make any mileage out of this is another matter.
I'll be photographing the event but I won't be totally at ease in pursuit of an issue with such narrow focus. I would be loathe to be overly associated with what might be the "stigma" of urging legislation simply on medical grounds. I rather think that considering "the weed" as a traditional all-round theraputic herbal tonic (homeopathy) is one of the good arguments for removing it from the proscribed substances list and ending the criminality of its use. The real issue is one of freedom to choose and civil rights. It's availability on prescription for example, would be no solution to the greater issue - it might be cheaper or free for those who get it, but the decision would be at the whim of an inconsistant medical profession whose choices are frequently dictated by the pharmaceutical industry and its desire to market ever-increasing quantities of new synthetic chemicals without regard for long-term consequences of their products, let alone the rising problems associated with their "mix and match" (and "swap") approach. On the other hand, it is possible that were Sativex or similar available on prescription to a greater extent, attitudes might change to the extent it becomes available "over-the-counter" like Viagra and countless new purpose-driven drugs aimed at recreational users. Of course, they'd probably then start adulterating it to expand the product range away from its natural origins. A dilemma. Pharmaceutical empires, like other huge corporations, these days both service our needs and create those needs at the same time. Were they to see a market that did not conflict with or adversly effect existing activities they would probably jump on it. They may well have the economic might to force a change of legislation. My worry is that their core business is marketing symptom-specific drugs designed to suppress ailments one by one. They would rather compound our intake of more products rather than offer anything with general all-round curative properties. As a medicine in this system, cannabis may be its own worst enemy. As a recreational product, that would make it a non-starter.
Marijuana prohibition should have been repealed decades ago and one has to wonder about the real reasons it hasn't been. Could it be that for smokers, the 20th century Tobacco market offered easier and better profits that depended on a "inhaling" monopoly? Could it be that the booming pharmaceutical industry sought to suppress natural curative products in favour of it's own new synthetics? Could it be that governments or other power-brokers determined to outlaw anything that might bring about a looser state of mind where the divine authority of church and state might be questioned by a more free-thinking populace? After all, Marijuana has often been accredited for intellectual stimulation. If the latter, although we live in more spirited times, are we not continually seduced by a new breed of technological drugs designed to steer us firmly in a proscribed direction?
There is an irony too in that present day propaganda and contemporary entertainment frequently takes its cue from the media and artistic experiments of the 1960s - an age when "mind-expansion" was the edict of a counter culture, psychedelic art expressed concepts based on hallucinogenic experiences and "multi-media" was born, albeit within the confines of the technology then available. Thinkers saw through the mask of social norms and started to question interaction between both ourselves and the planet itself. Conceptually, creativity and progressive thought came from an optimistic sub-culture for whom use of both mild and more powerful drugs was a driving factor. Yet it was not about drugs that numb the senses - it was about drugs that did the exact opposite. As we passively consume the image and sound edits on television, engage with interactive channels and websites or simply immerse ourselves inside a videogame, we are subscribing to an escapism largely born of drug experiences and now insidiously thrust upon us as a virtual drug in itself.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s the synthetic drug LSD was all the rage. Psychiatrists in particular promclaimed it as the future of mental health treatment. The theory was that, in a state of heightened awareness, clients could clean their brains out, wash away any hang-ups and delusions, then return to normality - refreshed, invigorated and with a clear perspective of reality and their purpose. As with all such acolytes, they themselves failed to perceive that everyone is different and that for each success there would be another case of someone for whom the experience would be a nightmare - greater obsession on problems, the internalisation of thought, paranoia and an inability to cope with the return to reality. LSD suddenly shifted from the medical arena to one of military weapon development with soldiers force-fed it to acclimatise them to a battlefield of chemical bombs. When, later, the drug became illegal, it also became more popular than ever - an icon of the free-thinking culure yet at the mercy of an increasingly inpure "black market". The tales of "acid casualties" from those times bear witness to the greater folly of forcing users into an uncontrolled environment and underground market.
Marijuana cannot be compared with LSD, despite the fact that ironically it remained illegal when the latter was being promoted. It is wholly natural, essentially a herb and has been used for centuries as an all-round tonic. Medicinal, yes - but recreational too. Indeed, it's original prohibition was largely accidental - entangled as it was in the resolution of the opium wars of a century ago. Queen Victoria made frequent use of it - none derided her or suggested she was unfit to rule as a result. It can be taken in a variety of ways and, being non-synthetic and extremely mild, can be consumed in regulated "dosages" rather like (the far more dangerous) alcohol. It can be slightly habit-forming, but unlike alcohol it is not addictive. I have certainly never met a "pot casualty" although I have met some users for whom individually it may not be the best tonic available. The only parallels with LSD are the social disaster of its illegality, the commonality of classification as an illicit substance and the fact that both fall under the category of "mind expanding" drugs.
In the reactionary backlash of today's world, too many people are jumping on obscure and generally biased "studies" that claim cannabis users can suffer long-term mental health damage. For the most part these reports fail to consider that the damage done by alcohol and legal drugs is far greater and that people's mental health can decline naturally with age anyway. Such stories have become the propaganda of opposition with little hard science and none of it irrefutable. Human Beings have always sought escape and release from the daily grind and the race has survived and boomed for thousands of years relying on what nature offered. As creatures who should be living in harmony with the planet and its ecosystem this interaction seems obvious. Alarming then, that those who would presume to engineer modern society seek to do so by dis-connecting us with our natural environment.
The freedom to choose what we use to feed our minds and bodies is a human right. Provided our actions do not adversly affect others, there is no law that can fairly dictate the contrary. With free choice comes some responsibility - but that is for the individual to reconcile. The collective has a right to censure the anti-social where they are confronted with it but no group has the right to dictate to others on matters of no consequence to themselves. In doing so, they risk creating their own problem - one beyond their own power to solve. Such has been the case with the criminalisation of certain drug users. There is a social divide in greater society that goes well beyond rich and poor - it is legislation that creates polarisation. We can't turn back time, but we can tear up the redundant rulebooks and let future time take care of itself. As people, left to their own devices, ultimately will - for that is the way of progress.
Later.
Maximum force or enduring farce?
Iraqi Leader Vows 'Maximum Force'
So Iraq has a new official government and a new leader now in his second day. A general view above.
As I write, the Prime Preacher is in Iraq - a quick visit amid mega-security and secrecy in a bid the pally-up with the new government. As everyone who can afford to do so abandons the country and sectarian violence increases, it is a new government in name only - cabinet positions remain unfilled and their "anti-terror" declarations sound hollow amidst increased hostility to our occupying forces. Blair's proposed withdrawl in favour of this new government sounds more like a retreat in disguise.
Later in the week Blair goes on to Washington in an attempt to give some renewed support to the ailing Ape Emporer. This as Amerika announces plans to deploy anti-missile system in Europe and the British Post Office announces plans to tie up with a Euro-Amerikan mega-corporation. Not to mention a similar take-over of the London Stock Exchange in the offing. Sell out? The standards watchdog reckons Blair is "about to pay the price" for his subversion.
Drugs are an issue again in one form or other. Amerikan pharmaceutical giants are revealed as deliberately perpetuating a health crisis in order to sell more product whilst in the UK it seems our soldiers have become serious industral users of the illegal ones. For a bit of history we learn when 007 met LSD, whilst prescription painkillers are revealed to be increasing heart failure in the elderly. Maybe Big Pharma have their own agenda - rabid marketing to willing ignorant consumers followed by a death sentence when they run out of money to pay for more. The same tactic for which street "drug dealers" are reviled.
Britain's Home Office is in yet more trouble as we learn that 3000 odd innocents are on its list of criminals and the new drugs minister admits to smoking pot. More on the latter later.
The math of Bush troop deployments to the Mexico border is arousing interest. 6000 guardsmen to cover 2000 miles? Assuming there are three shifts in each day, that's just one person for each mile of the border. No wonder he's tendering out a high-tech solution to benefit his financial buddies, but even that is giving rise to skepticism.
On the music front, a piece on the newly invigorated Dixie Chicks and the Beatles era comes to Progressive Rock, Progressive Thought (the 13th in a great series at Op Ed News). I have absolutely no comment on whatever that was that won the Eurovision Song Combat, but will concede it did make for a change.
Later.
So Iraq has a new official government and a new leader now in his second day. A general view above.
As I write, the Prime Preacher is in Iraq - a quick visit amid mega-security and secrecy in a bid the pally-up with the new government. As everyone who can afford to do so abandons the country and sectarian violence increases, it is a new government in name only - cabinet positions remain unfilled and their "anti-terror" declarations sound hollow amidst increased hostility to our occupying forces. Blair's proposed withdrawl in favour of this new government sounds more like a retreat in disguise.
Later in the week Blair goes on to Washington in an attempt to give some renewed support to the ailing Ape Emporer. This as Amerika announces plans to deploy anti-missile system in Europe and the British Post Office announces plans to tie up with a Euro-Amerikan mega-corporation. Not to mention a similar take-over of the London Stock Exchange in the offing. Sell out? The standards watchdog reckons Blair is "about to pay the price" for his subversion.
Drugs are an issue again in one form or other. Amerikan pharmaceutical giants are revealed as deliberately perpetuating a health crisis in order to sell more product whilst in the UK it seems our soldiers have become serious industral users of the illegal ones. For a bit of history we learn when 007 met LSD, whilst prescription painkillers are revealed to be increasing heart failure in the elderly. Maybe Big Pharma have their own agenda - rabid marketing to willing ignorant consumers followed by a death sentence when they run out of money to pay for more. The same tactic for which street "drug dealers" are reviled.
Britain's Home Office is in yet more trouble as we learn that 3000 odd innocents are on its list of criminals and the new drugs minister admits to smoking pot. More on the latter later.
The math of Bush troop deployments to the Mexico border is arousing interest. 6000 guardsmen to cover 2000 miles? Assuming there are three shifts in each day, that's just one person for each mile of the border. No wonder he's tendering out a high-tech solution to benefit his financial buddies, but even that is giving rise to skepticism.
On the music front, a piece on the newly invigorated Dixie Chicks and the Beatles era comes to Progressive Rock, Progressive Thought (the 13th in a great series at Op Ed News). I have absolutely no comment on whatever that was that won the Eurovision Song Combat, but will concede it did make for a change.
Later.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Liquid Replenishemnt with a vengence
Water company bosses plan to tow icebergs up Thames
It might sound like fantasy but the water company here in London has unvealed plans to go up to the rapidly-melting arctic, grab a few icebergs and tow them into town via the River Thames. The fresh water will then be siphoned off to cope with the forthcoming drought. As the above link explains, another bright idea involves "seeding" clouds.
Bush popularity is now somewhere below that of Nixon but slightly higher than Venerial Disease and the "trust" factor nears zero. Some suggest Amerika needs to run for cover as the Ape Emperor attempts to escape accountability. All such issues are diverted today as Australia's PM John Howard goes to Washington and gets the full "pat-on-the-back" treatment from the Imperial Court.
In the UK, Blair gets ever more serious about copulating with nuclear power which means subsidies for wind, water and plant power will be eaten up by an expensive endeavour the disposal consquences of which will be left to generations after we are all dead and gone. Nor did I realise until last night that people running their car engines using vegetable oil are doing so aginst the law unless they register and pay the equivilent of fuel tax on their consumption. Evidence if needed that government's idea of a green agenda is a hoax except where potential added income is concerned. Less a banner for progress than a barrier to progress.
In a world of multi-national corporations and the greed of a military-industrial complex, I sometimes wonder whether it would be better to privatise governance itself. Could we elect representatives whose sole function would be to act as "watchdogs" over "appointees" who have some genuine management skills. Parliament could then sack these substitute "ministers" if they didn't perform or were found incompetant. It might mean an end to "career" politics, but that might not be a bad thing - after all, public service is supposed to be the name of the game!
Talking of incompetence, the Scotsman reveals that the Health Service may end up spending more by re-imbursing people who get treated abroad than they would if they got their own act together.
The plans of the telecom companies are said to be making the Bush/Blair surveillance state look petty by comparison. Beware the Information Highway Robbers.
Later.
It might sound like fantasy but the water company here in London has unvealed plans to go up to the rapidly-melting arctic, grab a few icebergs and tow them into town via the River Thames. The fresh water will then be siphoned off to cope with the forthcoming drought. As the above link explains, another bright idea involves "seeding" clouds.
Bush popularity is now somewhere below that of Nixon but slightly higher than Venerial Disease and the "trust" factor nears zero. Some suggest Amerika needs to run for cover as the Ape Emperor attempts to escape accountability. All such issues are diverted today as Australia's PM John Howard goes to Washington and gets the full "pat-on-the-back" treatment from the Imperial Court.
In the UK, Blair gets ever more serious about copulating with nuclear power which means subsidies for wind, water and plant power will be eaten up by an expensive endeavour the disposal consquences of which will be left to generations after we are all dead and gone. Nor did I realise until last night that people running their car engines using vegetable oil are doing so aginst the law unless they register and pay the equivilent of fuel tax on their consumption. Evidence if needed that government's idea of a green agenda is a hoax except where potential added income is concerned. Less a banner for progress than a barrier to progress.
In a world of multi-national corporations and the greed of a military-industrial complex, I sometimes wonder whether it would be better to privatise governance itself. Could we elect representatives whose sole function would be to act as "watchdogs" over "appointees" who have some genuine management skills. Parliament could then sack these substitute "ministers" if they didn't perform or were found incompetant. It might mean an end to "career" politics, but that might not be a bad thing - after all, public service is supposed to be the name of the game!
Talking of incompetence, the Scotsman reveals that the Health Service may end up spending more by re-imbursing people who get treated abroad than they would if they got their own act together.
The plans of the telecom companies are said to be making the Bush/Blair surveillance state look petty by comparison. Beware the Information Highway Robbers.
Later.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Rocks Off on Acid Rock for Condi?
Independent Online Edition > Features
As Eric Clapton opens his latest residency at the Albert Hall tonight, this curious link above reveals that the Cream version of "Sunsine of Your Love" is the number two choice in a "Desert Island Disc" styled listing from Condi Rice. Whether this is PR to suggest she has catholic tastes and is thus a human being or actually genuine we cannot know.
The link is a good opener for something more serious. U2's Bono has taken over the British "Independent" newspaper for the day. The "Red" edition contains a cornucopia of articles relating to AIDS, Africa and world affairs from slightly different perspectives and is well worth the read. I'm no real fan of Bono - his evangelical zeal reminds me too much of the equally missionary appraoch of Bush and Blair. Promoting this journalistic exercise, he claims that "motivation does not matter" and that it is results that count. I would argue that results usually remain tainted by the motivation that achieved them.
The special edition is accompanied by a campaign which includes a collective of mobile phone companies who will be raising money for AIDS relief worldwide. A worthy cause, but I suspect the telcos will witness profits from the publicity that far exceeds the money raised for the cause itself. As we saw with the Live Aid revival last year, Bono (like Geldof) has a talent for bringing issues to the stage, but all too often the agenda is hi-jacked by government and corporate interests.
News is coming in of a new broadcast by Dubya which has ended in complete farce. It seems it went on air whilst the Ape Emperor himself though it was still a rehersal. "Bushisms" are reaching new heights! A link to the video will follow later.
My own "Latest Clicks" and "The Daily Mal" have now been ported to my Geocities webspace and should be restored to their usual anti-glory. Do mail me if anything is not working properly.
Later.
As Eric Clapton opens his latest residency at the Albert Hall tonight, this curious link above reveals that the Cream version of "Sunsine of Your Love" is the number two choice in a "Desert Island Disc" styled listing from Condi Rice. Whether this is PR to suggest she has catholic tastes and is thus a human being or actually genuine we cannot know.
The link is a good opener for something more serious. U2's Bono has taken over the British "Independent" newspaper for the day. The "Red" edition contains a cornucopia of articles relating to AIDS, Africa and world affairs from slightly different perspectives and is well worth the read. I'm no real fan of Bono - his evangelical zeal reminds me too much of the equally missionary appraoch of Bush and Blair. Promoting this journalistic exercise, he claims that "motivation does not matter" and that it is results that count. I would argue that results usually remain tainted by the motivation that achieved them.
The special edition is accompanied by a campaign which includes a collective of mobile phone companies who will be raising money for AIDS relief worldwide. A worthy cause, but I suspect the telcos will witness profits from the publicity that far exceeds the money raised for the cause itself. As we saw with the Live Aid revival last year, Bono (like Geldof) has a talent for bringing issues to the stage, but all too often the agenda is hi-jacked by government and corporate interests.
News is coming in of a new broadcast by Dubya which has ended in complete farce. It seems it went on air whilst the Ape Emperor himself though it was still a rehersal. "Bushisms" are reaching new heights! A link to the video will follow later.
My own "Latest Clicks" and "The Daily Mal" have now been ported to my Geocities webspace and should be restored to their usual anti-glory. Do mail me if anything is not working properly.
Later.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
A rapidly wobbling web
OK. No headline link today and a bit of a moan to boot.
Around a decade ago I started publishing to the web. I registered a domain name and housed it with a server that promised permanent atomatic renewal. I began by creating a portal for my archives with the intention that autobiographical and other material would remain available in data form long after I'm dead and gone. After all, such an information matrix was the very idea of the internet itself. Over the years, my host server was bought up by one company after another until it became a tiny subsidiary of some mega-corps. Last year, the origoinal contract notwithstanding, a new rule book was posted without advising customers and I suddenly found the site was gone. I waited until the renewal date came up with Nominet and onlt then found I couldn't even transfer the name elsewhere because the original provider still had it "tagged".
Now I'm not in the business of being a commercial site and of course spend most of my online presense on and around this blog. Putting links to other servers here was all I really needed and there was no actual urgency in re-establishing a domain name. For some time I have been using a broadband content server to feed the real content into my domain anyway. That provider has been remarkably good. It was very rare to find any downtime and there has never been a problem uploading new content two or three times a day. Then - a weeik or so ago - it disappeared! Totally! Comments at our users group ranged from speculation about a "Bush invasion" to a simple server "crash" that required someone to go in and reboot it. We waited. Then as of two days ago, every attempt to contact the server resulted in an advert saying it was for sale. Now, the user group itself (housed elsewhere) has vanished too. All this without notification from anyone.
It seems to me that the commercialisation of almost everything on the web (and even the greater internet) has become so pervasive that the original intention of the medium is becoming lost. The system that we wanted to accumilate global knowledge and dispense it to future generations has been hi-jacked by capitalist terrorists who want to possess it merely to service the greed of the here and now. Nor is the commercial abuse in itself enough - communications giants want to more and more layers into the structure so they can turn it into a corporate battlefield where you only get the content the individual provider dictates. As countries like China slowly get a greater degree of freedom, here in market-hub we call the "west", freedom is being ever more eroded. There is no altruism left as even the pioneers and innovators are enslaved by a planetary machine whose sole purpose seems to be the promotion of fiscal and material greed. It may be "hi-tech", but we are increasing reverting to a "medieval" culture. The difference between now and history is that the power-brokers are no longer playing on their national stages - the new platform is the world itself.
This column has continually been concerned about the imperial dreams of self-centred leaders and corrupt economics. Increasingly there are no sides to be taken in current local, national or international governance. It is time we considered an entire new civil and social infrastructure there services the needs of the world's citizens rather than an elite or have either "bought" power or fooled innocent electorates with false promises or the propaganda of mind-diversion.
So, back to the web and protecting the idealogy on which it was built. Check out the campaign to save it now.
Normal service will be resumed ...
Later.
Around a decade ago I started publishing to the web. I registered a domain name and housed it with a server that promised permanent atomatic renewal. I began by creating a portal for my archives with the intention that autobiographical and other material would remain available in data form long after I'm dead and gone. After all, such an information matrix was the very idea of the internet itself. Over the years, my host server was bought up by one company after another until it became a tiny subsidiary of some mega-corps. Last year, the origoinal contract notwithstanding, a new rule book was posted without advising customers and I suddenly found the site was gone. I waited until the renewal date came up with Nominet and onlt then found I couldn't even transfer the name elsewhere because the original provider still had it "tagged".
Now I'm not in the business of being a commercial site and of course spend most of my online presense on and around this blog. Putting links to other servers here was all I really needed and there was no actual urgency in re-establishing a domain name. For some time I have been using a broadband content server to feed the real content into my domain anyway. That provider has been remarkably good. It was very rare to find any downtime and there has never been a problem uploading new content two or three times a day. Then - a weeik or so ago - it disappeared! Totally! Comments at our users group ranged from speculation about a "Bush invasion" to a simple server "crash" that required someone to go in and reboot it. We waited. Then as of two days ago, every attempt to contact the server resulted in an advert saying it was for sale. Now, the user group itself (housed elsewhere) has vanished too. All this without notification from anyone.
It seems to me that the commercialisation of almost everything on the web (and even the greater internet) has become so pervasive that the original intention of the medium is becoming lost. The system that we wanted to accumilate global knowledge and dispense it to future generations has been hi-jacked by capitalist terrorists who want to possess it merely to service the greed of the here and now. Nor is the commercial abuse in itself enough - communications giants want to more and more layers into the structure so they can turn it into a corporate battlefield where you only get the content the individual provider dictates. As countries like China slowly get a greater degree of freedom, here in market-hub we call the "west", freedom is being ever more eroded. There is no altruism left as even the pioneers and innovators are enslaved by a planetary machine whose sole purpose seems to be the promotion of fiscal and material greed. It may be "hi-tech", but we are increasing reverting to a "medieval" culture. The difference between now and history is that the power-brokers are no longer playing on their national stages - the new platform is the world itself.
This column has continually been concerned about the imperial dreams of self-centred leaders and corrupt economics. Increasingly there are no sides to be taken in current local, national or international governance. It is time we considered an entire new civil and social infrastructure there services the needs of the world's citizens rather than an elite or have either "bought" power or fooled innocent electorates with false promises or the propaganda of mind-diversion.
So, back to the web and protecting the idealogy on which it was built. Check out the campaign to save it now.
Normal service will be resumed ...
Later.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Dynasty?
Pushing Brother
The perpetuation of Bushville? The above link suggests Dubya would like to see younger brother Jeb take over the presidency. Help! Meanwhile, his private presidential papers have popped up in the public wastebin.
This has been something of a "techie" week in the real world with the Internet World show in London clashing with a preview of Microsoft's new design platform. As a result, there has been no time for any in-depth news-reading and updates to this blog. Be not alarmed - I'm still here and will endeavour to catch up by the weekend.
Later.
The perpetuation of Bushville? The above link suggests Dubya would like to see younger brother Jeb take over the presidency. Help! Meanwhile, his private presidential papers have popped up in the public wastebin.
This has been something of a "techie" week in the real world with the Internet World show in London clashing with a preview of Microsoft's new design platform. As a result, there has been no time for any in-depth news-reading and updates to this blog. Be not alarmed - I'm still here and will endeavour to catch up by the weekend.
Later.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Did Bush Force British Minister Out?, London Papers: Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's Iran Stance Prompted Angry Bush Call To Blair - CBS News
Did Bush Force British Minister Out?
Well, it seems like the hyperactive Condi-Jack affair is over, so no more fun and games there. The weekend saw speculation that the Ape Emporer himself may have order Straw's removal from office - seemingly proving once again that the Prime Preacher effectively squats at heel beside the Amerikan dictator. "He's the decider!" and Whitehall be damned! The full US perspective from CBS at the link above.
Talking of links, "latest clicks" and a bunch of other stuff have not been able to upload since Friday and the sever for my own sites (listed left) has been down. It's not just me - it's everyone on the server - so fingers crossed the mess gets cleared up quick. I may switch servers for "!The Daily Mal" later this week.
Some of the more interesting links not uploaded...
Apple computer have won their long battle with the Beatles' company of the same name, C-Span are trying to suppress all the copies of Colbert's attack on Bush from the web and there's new new live illustred version of Pink's "Dear Mr President" up.
Some hard evidence has finally emerged on Bush's illegal domestic spying and against other advice he has appointed a military man to head up the civilian CIA. Russia has accused the United Nations of war-mongering on Bush's behalf on Iran, whiulst the leader of that country has actually written a unprecendented letter with proposed solutions to the White (wash) House. Palestine's health and social service infrastructure is suffering from the financial blockade, but the EU is trying to open a channel for basic service funds to get in.
British troops are suffering the impact of Blair's terrible legacy. Already on the defensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan, they are now digging in to protect themselves from an uprising in Iraq's south.
On the home front, please read the "Legislative & Regulatory Reform Bill" and be scared - very scared! Then act by visited the Save Parliament website. As the Balirite ediface crumbles, there is no better time to makes voices heard. For a bit of history, the Independent looks at the Forgotten Suffragettes.
Meanwhile, Slate are discussing the best way to take medical marijuana and Rolling Stone looks at its early years in a 1000th issue celebration.
The "London Informer" made us "Blog of the Week" at the weekend, reproducing some political comment and plugs for both Neil Young and the Medical Pot Day on May 24th. My thanks.
Later.
Well, it seems like the hyperactive Condi-Jack affair is over, so no more fun and games there. The weekend saw speculation that the Ape Emporer himself may have order Straw's removal from office - seemingly proving once again that the Prime Preacher effectively squats at heel beside the Amerikan dictator. "He's the decider!" and Whitehall be damned! The full US perspective from CBS at the link above.
Talking of links, "latest clicks" and a bunch of other stuff have not been able to upload since Friday and the sever for my own sites (listed left) has been down. It's not just me - it's everyone on the server - so fingers crossed the mess gets cleared up quick. I may switch servers for "!The Daily Mal" later this week.
Some of the more interesting links not uploaded...
Apple computer have won their long battle with the Beatles' company of the same name, C-Span are trying to suppress all the copies of Colbert's attack on Bush from the web and there's new new live illustred version of Pink's "Dear Mr President" up.
Some hard evidence has finally emerged on Bush's illegal domestic spying and against other advice he has appointed a military man to head up the civilian CIA. Russia has accused the United Nations of war-mongering on Bush's behalf on Iran, whiulst the leader of that country has actually written a unprecendented letter with proposed solutions to the White (wash) House. Palestine's health and social service infrastructure is suffering from the financial blockade, but the EU is trying to open a channel for basic service funds to get in.
British troops are suffering the impact of Blair's terrible legacy. Already on the defensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan, they are now digging in to protect themselves from an uprising in Iraq's south.
On the home front, please read the "Legislative & Regulatory Reform Bill" and be scared - very scared! Then act by visited the Save Parliament website. As the Balirite ediface crumbles, there is no better time to makes voices heard. For a bit of history, the Independent looks at the Forgotten Suffragettes.
Meanwhile, Slate are discussing the best way to take medical marijuana and Rolling Stone looks at its early years in a 1000th issue celebration.
The "London Informer" made us "Blog of the Week" at the weekend, reproducing some political comment and plugs for both Neil Young and the Medical Pot Day on May 24th. My thanks.
Later.
Friday, May 05, 2006
A Long Night's Aftermath
UK Politics
The UK local elections are over and Blair's party has suffered with many seats and council control going to other parties. As expected, Blair has reshuffled his cabinet.
Full election analysis is at the Independent link above. As I write, Jack Straw has been ousted as Foreign Secretary and Charles Clarke has gone as Home Secretary. Its a change for the two top jobs after Blair and Brown themselves. Margaret Beckett is the new Foriegn Secretary and John Reid is the new Home Secretary. The latter was recently the one found with Pot in his house, so its appropriate he will be the one to deal with the Medical Cannabis issue in a confrontation set for a week on Wednesday. (See previous blogs, or News Of Weed link at left)
Blair himself remains in place - unwelcome, but hardly surprising. Oddly, his loose-trousered deputy, John Prescott, has not been shifted - maybe it was simply a too weighty task for an inept administration. Although most election gains have been to the benefit of the Conservative Party, most analyists see it as a welcome trend towards health, public health and environmental issues. A shade of blue going very green, whilst Labour's red as becoming an ugly purple.
Here in London, the shift away from Labour is even more marked than elsewhere in the country. Several major inner-area councils have fallen. Sadly, some troubled areas have seen gains by the right-wing BMP who have capitalised on the discontent with draconian race and immigration policies that out-do Blair's own. Fortunately, these seats come nowhere close to being a majority required to implement any really unwelcome changes.
A long night with a good wake-up call. An equally long morning with government changes that seem very cosmetic. We'll see.
Later.
The UK local elections are over and Blair's party has suffered with many seats and council control going to other parties. As expected, Blair has reshuffled his cabinet.
Full election analysis is at the Independent link above. As I write, Jack Straw has been ousted as Foreign Secretary and Charles Clarke has gone as Home Secretary. Its a change for the two top jobs after Blair and Brown themselves. Margaret Beckett is the new Foriegn Secretary and John Reid is the new Home Secretary. The latter was recently the one found with Pot in his house, so its appropriate he will be the one to deal with the Medical Cannabis issue in a confrontation set for a week on Wednesday. (See previous blogs, or News Of Weed link at left)
Blair himself remains in place - unwelcome, but hardly surprising. Oddly, his loose-trousered deputy, John Prescott, has not been shifted - maybe it was simply a too weighty task for an inept administration. Although most election gains have been to the benefit of the Conservative Party, most analyists see it as a welcome trend towards health, public health and environmental issues. A shade of blue going very green, whilst Labour's red as becoming an ugly purple.
Here in London, the shift away from Labour is even more marked than elsewhere in the country. Several major inner-area councils have fallen. Sadly, some troubled areas have seen gains by the right-wing BMP who have capitalised on the discontent with draconian race and immigration policies that out-do Blair's own. Fortunately, these seats come nowhere close to being a majority required to implement any really unwelcome changes.
A long night with a good wake-up call. An equally long morning with government changes that seem very cosmetic. We'll see.
Later.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
New tune - Same old song
When Bill Clinton chose Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)" as his election anthem it seemed appropriate. The song was a classic, optimistic and evoked strong associations for what amounted to a generational shift in the White House. Later, in 1997, Blair tried the same trick with "Things Can Only Get Better" by a then contempory band whose name, as far as this author is concerned, is long forgotten. The line was optimistic, but the refrain was more a statement than a call to participation. As we now know, participation and public input into what was then only a vague agenda was the last thing on the preacher's mind.
Tomorrow's elections here in Britain are only for choosing our local governments and people tend to choose councils that serve their own interests rather than the nation as a whole. The national government's record however, goes a long way toward persuading voters about competence and intent. The now obvious hypocrisy of New Labour, combined with the betrayal of its roots and the scandals affecting half the cabinet would suggest democratic process is about to hit them hard. The "listening" promises of the last National Election are now buried in a sea of greed, corruption and sheer mis-management.
So back to the songs. Last night's election broadcast by the government was yet another excercise in psy-ops masquerading as a music video. Apart from a few Blair photo-calls, the images were a montage of contemporary landmarks and favourable social scenarios from around the country. By and large, none of them had anything to do with the government itself or it's failed projects. The music was another shallow pop song with a whimisical optimistic refrain I've already managed to forget overnight. In terms of association, the song wasn't even familiar (to me at any rate) and sounded far too youthful to have any serious voters above a certain age. It was, to put it frankly, cringe-making to watch.
It has never been more evident that this administrationhas completely lost the plot. Were this a general election, that broadcast alone would probably ensure their loss of power. Sadly, all they will lose tomorrow will be the swing towards alternatives in local governance and that is something of lesser consequence in an era when control of the nation's communities is largely dictated by central government itself. It will be some time yet before the voice of the people comes home to roost in Whitehall itself. Expect cosmetic changes at the end of the week as Blair changes the wardrobe he calls a cabinet. Expect little else.
Later.
Tomorrow's elections here in Britain are only for choosing our local governments and people tend to choose councils that serve their own interests rather than the nation as a whole. The national government's record however, goes a long way toward persuading voters about competence and intent. The now obvious hypocrisy of New Labour, combined with the betrayal of its roots and the scandals affecting half the cabinet would suggest democratic process is about to hit them hard. The "listening" promises of the last National Election are now buried in a sea of greed, corruption and sheer mis-management.
So back to the songs. Last night's election broadcast by the government was yet another excercise in psy-ops masquerading as a music video. Apart from a few Blair photo-calls, the images were a montage of contemporary landmarks and favourable social scenarios from around the country. By and large, none of them had anything to do with the government itself or it's failed projects. The music was another shallow pop song with a whimisical optimistic refrain I've already managed to forget overnight. In terms of association, the song wasn't even familiar (to me at any rate) and sounded far too youthful to have any serious voters above a certain age. It was, to put it frankly, cringe-making to watch.
It has never been more evident that this administrationhas completely lost the plot. Were this a general election, that broadcast alone would probably ensure their loss of power. Sadly, all they will lose tomorrow will be the swing towards alternatives in local governance and that is something of lesser consequence in an era when control of the nation's communities is largely dictated by central government itself. It will be some time yet before the voice of the people comes home to roost in Whitehall itself. Expect cosmetic changes at the end of the week as Blair changes the wardrobe he calls a cabinet. Expect little else.
Later.
Monday, May 01, 2006
A Come-What-May Day
Blair in four-day fight for career
The first day of month five and a traditional time for party and protest. It is of course a Bank Holiday here, but the word is a misnomer these days - retail frenzy is the order of the day and the financial institutions are readily available with the necessary credit facilities for those who join the fray. I don't know about market confidence though - it seems the chief of Barclays Bank prefers to take out his own mortgage with a rival.
The media are obsessing opn virtually the same stories that began the weekend - new variations on ministerial troubles and a couple of celebrity injuries in the form of Keith Richards and some footballer or other. Telling though - in the headline link above the Scotsman reckon Blair is facing an uphill 4-day fight to save his skin. More a case of "Mayday" as a distress call, methinks! Even Washington has detected his troubles.
For his deputy, one must hope it is also a "Bonk" holiday as more women surface with allegations of affairs and sexual molestation. Home secretary Clarke is now revealed to have hidden his scandals from the boss for 3 weeks and only a hastily convened excercise in carbon-dating has rescued the Defense Secretary from a dope bust.
May, I'm amazed to see, is also the first anniversary for this blog. It seems like a lot longer. I'm told it's going to be a "Blog Of The Week" in a London newspaper this week so we get a present too.
A friend sent me the following in the mail, although I gather it originated in an AOL forum. It offers some light relief for the political break ...
A message to the citizens of the United States of America:
In light of your repetitive failure to elect a competent President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.
Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (excepting Kansas, which she does not fancy). Your new prime minister, Tony Blair, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you actually noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium", and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it all along. The letter "U" will be reinstated in words such as "favour", "colour" and "neighbour." Likewise, you will learn to spell "doughnut" without skipping half the letters, and the suffix "ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise".
Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary", if necessary.
Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
There is no such thing as US English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter "u" and the elimination of "ize".
You will re-learn your original national anthem, God Save The Queen.
July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.
You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not mature enough to handle firearms. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you'll understand what we mean.
All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.
The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (the previously-used term "gasoline" will henceforth be taboo) - at roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.
You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick-cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.
The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. The substances formerly known as "American Beer" will henceforth be referred to as "Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine", with the exception of the product of the American Budweiser company whose product will be referred to as "Weak Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine". This will allow true Budweiser (as manufactured for the last 1000 years in Pilsen, Czech Republic) to be sold without risk of confusion.
Hollywood will be required to occasionally cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English roles. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.
You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).
Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the "World Series" for a game which is not played outside of America. However, since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable.
You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.
An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).
Thank you for your co-operation.
In Amerika, Katrina-hit New Orleans has been trying to celebrate it's rebirth with "JazzFest" - a weekend of music with the likes of Springsteen and Dyla, besides their more traditonal fare. Meanwhile, former secretary of state Colin Powowell reveals that there were not enough troops for the job of invading and rebuilding Iraq from the start. All this as Bush tried to give everyone a heart attack by coming onstage with a double. Thankfully it was an illusion and he was clearly "given the finger" in a weekend of massive protests in New York.
Finally for now, a plug for Jane Stillwater's Blog.
Later.
The first day of month five and a traditional time for party and protest. It is of course a Bank Holiday here, but the word is a misnomer these days - retail frenzy is the order of the day and the financial institutions are readily available with the necessary credit facilities for those who join the fray. I don't know about market confidence though - it seems the chief of Barclays Bank prefers to take out his own mortgage with a rival.
The media are obsessing opn virtually the same stories that began the weekend - new variations on ministerial troubles and a couple of celebrity injuries in the form of Keith Richards and some footballer or other. Telling though - in the headline link above the Scotsman reckon Blair is facing an uphill 4-day fight to save his skin. More a case of "Mayday" as a distress call, methinks! Even Washington has detected his troubles.
For his deputy, one must hope it is also a "Bonk" holiday as more women surface with allegations of affairs and sexual molestation. Home secretary Clarke is now revealed to have hidden his scandals from the boss for 3 weeks and only a hastily convened excercise in carbon-dating has rescued the Defense Secretary from a dope bust.
May, I'm amazed to see, is also the first anniversary for this blog. It seems like a lot longer. I'm told it's going to be a "Blog Of The Week" in a London newspaper this week so we get a present too.
A friend sent me the following in the mail, although I gather it originated in an AOL forum. It offers some light relief for the political break ...
A message to the citizens of the United States of America:
In light of your repetitive failure to elect a competent President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.
Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (excepting Kansas, which she does not fancy). Your new prime minister, Tony Blair, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you actually noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium", and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it all along. The letter "U" will be reinstated in words such as "favour", "colour" and "neighbour." Likewise, you will learn to spell "doughnut" without skipping half the letters, and the suffix "ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise".
Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary", if necessary.
Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
There is no such thing as US English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter "u" and the elimination of "ize".
You will re-learn your original national anthem, God Save The Queen.
July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.
You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not mature enough to handle firearms. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you'll understand what we mean.
All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.
The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (the previously-used term "gasoline" will henceforth be taboo) - at roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.
You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick-cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.
The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. The substances formerly known as "American Beer" will henceforth be referred to as "Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine", with the exception of the product of the American Budweiser company whose product will be referred to as "Weak Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine". This will allow true Budweiser (as manufactured for the last 1000 years in Pilsen, Czech Republic) to be sold without risk of confusion.
Hollywood will be required to occasionally cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English roles. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.
You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).
Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the "World Series" for a game which is not played outside of America. However, since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable.
You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.
An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).
Thank you for your co-operation.
In Amerika, Katrina-hit New Orleans has been trying to celebrate it's rebirth with "JazzFest" - a weekend of music with the likes of Springsteen and Dyla, besides their more traditonal fare. Meanwhile, former secretary of state Colin Powowell reveals that there were not enough troops for the job of invading and rebuilding Iraq from the start. All this as Bush tried to give everyone a heart attack by coming onstage with a double. Thankfully it was an illusion and he was clearly "given the finger" in a weekend of massive protests in New York.
Finally for now, a plug for Jane Stillwater's Blog.
Later.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Killers freed by Incompetence
Killers freed by mistake
Breaking news (no link yet - it's on the radio) is cause for some seriously "weighty" speculation. It seems our deputy Prime Minister has been having an affair with his secretary. In Westminster, such liasions are seemingly commonplace, but are thankfully no longer resigning matters in this day and age.
Sadly, it seems that more serious matters of mis-management and incompetence are also considered far too lightly as well. If there was ever an issue to resign over, it is the mess Charles Clarke has made of the Home Office - as detailed in the headline link above. An apology, together with a hint of blame on his predecessors, is hardly enough - especially as he was warned of the problem some time back. Like his leader, this man shows a complete disregard for the detail of policies which are ill-thought-out from the start - both men should be removed from the stage at the earliest opportunity - before they destroy the infracstructure of our country beyond repair.
20 years after Chernobyl, Magnum present a highly moving portait of it's legacy. This as both the US and UK engage in building a whole new generation of nuclear weapons. So much for "non-proliferation" treaties - is it any wonder the likes of Iran want to keep up with the race! To think Bliar once supported CND.
An appropriate musical interlude - "20" by master bluesman, Robert Cray. Also a video interview with Neil Young. And on a less serious note - how Mick Jagger (soon to be a sitcom star) won't give up his room for Bush.
Later.
Breaking news (no link yet - it's on the radio) is cause for some seriously "weighty" speculation. It seems our deputy Prime Minister has been having an affair with his secretary. In Westminster, such liasions are seemingly commonplace, but are thankfully no longer resigning matters in this day and age.
Sadly, it seems that more serious matters of mis-management and incompetence are also considered far too lightly as well. If there was ever an issue to resign over, it is the mess Charles Clarke has made of the Home Office - as detailed in the headline link above. An apology, together with a hint of blame on his predecessors, is hardly enough - especially as he was warned of the problem some time back. Like his leader, this man shows a complete disregard for the detail of policies which are ill-thought-out from the start - both men should be removed from the stage at the earliest opportunity - before they destroy the infracstructure of our country beyond repair.
20 years after Chernobyl, Magnum present a highly moving portait of it's legacy. This as both the US and UK engage in building a whole new generation of nuclear weapons. So much for "non-proliferation" treaties - is it any wonder the likes of Iran want to keep up with the race! To think Bliar once supported CND.
An appropriate musical interlude - "20" by master bluesman, Robert Cray. Also a video interview with Neil Young. And on a less serious note - how Mick Jagger (soon to be a sitcom star) won't give up his room for Bush.
Later.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Guilty until proven innocent
Blair's plan to drive out criminals draws fresh fears for civil liberties
There has been a problem publishing this blog for the last day or so. This link is from yesterday.
Later.
There has been a problem publishing this blog for the last day or so. This link is from yesterday.
Later.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Guilty until proven innocent
Blair's plan to drive out criminals draws fresh fears for civil liberties
For some reason this morning's blog didn't get posted properly - so much for push-button publishing. So a quich resume.
The headline link above goes the the Scotsman which reveals Blair's new plans which are a kick in the face to civil liberties as we know them. Dealing with suspected terrorists is one thing, but the Prime Preacher seems to have lost all sense of conscience in extending the tactics to the domestic front. For someone who trained as a lawyer, this is the supreme insult from a dictator who sees himself far removed from the affairs of the common man and woman. What will happen to future generations?
When Margaret Thatcher went batty, her party got rid of her. Is it not time the Labour Party does the same with this shallow-minded incompetant?
Also, headliningat CBS, a top CIA spy speaks out against Bush.
Later.
For some reason this morning's blog didn't get posted properly - so much for push-button publishing. So a quich resume.
The headline link above goes the the Scotsman which reveals Blair's new plans which are a kick in the face to civil liberties as we know them. Dealing with suspected terrorists is one thing, but the Prime Preacher seems to have lost all sense of conscience in extending the tactics to the domestic front. For someone who trained as a lawyer, this is the supreme insult from a dictator who sees himself far removed from the affairs of the common man and woman. What will happen to future generations?
When Margaret Thatcher went batty, her party got rid of her. Is it not time the Labour Party does the same with this shallow-minded incompetant?
Also, headliningat CBS, a top CIA spy speaks out against Bush.
Later.
Guilty until proven innocent?
Blair's plan to drive out criminals draws fresh fears for civil liberties
This link to the Scotsman tells of new restrictions on civil liberties planeed by our Prime Preacher and revealed yesterday. Considering he trained as a lawyer, it seems the Downing Street incumbant has finally lost the last vestiges of any conscience he may once have had. Draconian attitudes to suspected terrorists are one thing, but this proposal is a direct hit on the very notion of "fairness" in Britain's legal system.
When Margaret Thatcher started going this batty, her own party removed her. It's about time the Labour Party did the same with the shallow-headed dictator they too have ended up with.
Later.
This link to the Scotsman tells of new restrictions on civil liberties planeed by our Prime Preacher and revealed yesterday. Considering he trained as a lawyer, it seems the Downing Street incumbant has finally lost the last vestiges of any conscience he may once have had. Draconian attitudes to suspected terrorists are one thing, but this proposal is a direct hit on the very notion of "fairness" in Britain's legal system.
When Margaret Thatcher started going this batty, her own party removed her. It's about time the Labour Party did the same with the shallow-headed dictator they too have ended up with.
Later.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
The Rumsfeld Strikes Back
New Plans Foresee Fighting Terrorism Beyond War Zones
One might think with the current flack, which now includes young officers in the military, the Amerika's secretary of war might have hunkered (bunkered?) down for a while. No such luck! The headline above leads to the Washington Post where he reveals a host of new "secret" plans for upping-the-ante on imperial agitation. Just as the NSA dissect all the Iraq blunders in public.
The ape emperor does not, of course, oppose all "terrorism". Check out the White House Favourites for more. His enforced interlude with the Chinese leader over, Dubya's headed south for a team up with Arnie. In an attempt to bolster the falling ratings of both mean, they even tried to hijack Earth Day yesterday with some silly energy policies.
An FDA report illuminates the wide divide on marijuana policy and appears to lack so much credibility that that law reformers are those who benefit. More on the controversy in a slide show. It seems Pot is the preferred method of escapism in Iran too. Also on drugs, how to choose your anti-depressant and a piece on handling "TeenScreen".
In the UK the media have been obsessed with Queenie in her birthday suit and the re-christening of HRH Octopussy. An American writer, having visited Britain, suggests that Blair is worse than Bush. The Indpendent offers a bit of history with the Chilling Tales of the Black & Tans.
A couple of plugs. On the blog front we have The Smirking Chimp and old friend Richard Neville is back after the his recent disturbance. Old hippies looking for some fine nostalgia might find some light musical relief here.
Later.
One might think with the current flack, which now includes young officers in the military, the Amerika's secretary of war might have hunkered (bunkered?) down for a while. No such luck! The headline above leads to the Washington Post where he reveals a host of new "secret" plans for upping-the-ante on imperial agitation. Just as the NSA dissect all the Iraq blunders in public.
The ape emperor does not, of course, oppose all "terrorism". Check out the White House Favourites for more. His enforced interlude with the Chinese leader over, Dubya's headed south for a team up with Arnie. In an attempt to bolster the falling ratings of both mean, they even tried to hijack Earth Day yesterday with some silly energy policies.
An FDA report illuminates the wide divide on marijuana policy and appears to lack so much credibility that that law reformers are those who benefit. More on the controversy in a slide show. It seems Pot is the preferred method of escapism in Iran too. Also on drugs, how to choose your anti-depressant and a piece on handling "TeenScreen".
In the UK the media have been obsessed with Queenie in her birthday suit and the re-christening of HRH Octopussy. An American writer, having visited Britain, suggests that Blair is worse than Bush. The Indpendent offers a bit of history with the Chilling Tales of the Black & Tans.
A couple of plugs. On the blog front we have The Smirking Chimp and old friend Richard Neville is back after the his recent disturbance. Old hippies looking for some fine nostalgia might find some light musical relief here.
Later.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Drunk with power
The decider-in-chief:
"I'm the decider, and I decide what's best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."
President Bush
The link at top leads to an analysis at Op Ed News. For a slightly more amusing disourse, try the new Bush pop song. Also at Op Ed, a piece on Northern Ireland.
Whilst Rumsfeld isn't for the chop yet, some others are. In a White House domestic re-shuffle, both Scott McClellan and Karl Rove are finally gone. A vain attempt to save the presidential skin perhaps? Try camping it up at Camp David. The FBI are also molesting the family of a dead journalist in order to find ancient leaks which may or may not exist. Maybe we should look at the National Character of Amerika.
Fans of Nils Lofgren might want to listen to his new album, Sacred Weapon, which is streaming in full from AOL for the rest of this week only. Also, more fun and frolics and a guide to internet satire.
Later.
"I'm the decider, and I decide what's best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."
President Bush
The link at top leads to an analysis at Op Ed News. For a slightly more amusing disourse, try the new Bush pop song. Also at Op Ed, a piece on Northern Ireland.
Whilst Rumsfeld isn't for the chop yet, some others are. In a White House domestic re-shuffle, both Scott McClellan and Karl Rove are finally gone. A vain attempt to save the presidential skin perhaps? Try camping it up at Camp David. The FBI are also molesting the family of a dead journalist in order to find ancient leaks which may or may not exist. Maybe we should look at the National Character of Amerika.
Fans of Nils Lofgren might want to listen to his new album, Sacred Weapon, which is streaming in full from AOL for the rest of this week only. Also, more fun and frolics and a guide to internet satire.
Later.
Defensive Positions
A Show Is Born
Bush is backing him and so are a few high-salaried employees - the rest of his company and most of the world are not. As the New York Times link above points out, defending himself has now become the full time occupation of Amerika's Secretary of Defense. The daily show has become a political theatre bordering on farce.
Also on the defensive is Britain's Bliar. As everyone points out, never have we seen him so flustered and sweating as he addressed NHS issues yesterday. Whether his distress had anything to do with his failing welfare policies is unclear. Remember that on his return from the Easta break he would have been confronted with 300 police invading both Whitehall and the Labour Party offices as they start investigating the "cash for honours and contracts" scandals. It is quite possible the Prime Preacher himself could have received a caution as part of the process. Enough to get your back up if not as yet up aginst the wall!
Later.
Bush is backing him and so are a few high-salaried employees - the rest of his company and most of the world are not. As the New York Times link above points out, defending himself has now become the full time occupation of Amerika's Secretary of Defense. The daily show has become a political theatre bordering on farce.
Also on the defensive is Britain's Bliar. As everyone points out, never have we seen him so flustered and sweating as he addressed NHS issues yesterday. Whether his distress had anything to do with his failing welfare policies is unclear. Remember that on his return from the Easta break he would have been confronted with 300 police invading both Whitehall and the Labour Party offices as they start investigating the "cash for honours and contracts" scandals. It is quite possible the Prime Preacher himself could have received a caution as part of the process. Enough to get your back up if not as yet up aginst the wall!
Later.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
A Suicidal Mistake?
Suicide Bombing Stokes Israel-Hamas Tensions
The weekend attack on Israel is the first to occur since Palestine elected the Hamas government. Sadly, their reaction (as reported above and elsewhere) maybe the first mistake of that fledgling administration. Despite the rhetoric and their idealogical stance against those who occupy their land, they have so far resisted any overtly agressive actions. They were not behind this attack, but they have done themselves no favours by supporting it. If the Palestinian people are forced to resort to violence, it should be defensive - anything else effectively ruins the chances for any kind of diplomacy.
Israel of course will react far beyond the accepted notion of "tit-for-tat" - for every casualty they suffer they will seek to slaughter many in return. Whereas the wrongness of this would be expected to generate sympathy for the Palestinian cause, Hamas' refusal to condemn the event that triggers this response will be seen as antagonism in an era when the tactics of terrorism are strictly reserved for existing superpowers. Unlike Al Qeada, Hamas are not global outlaws. Defending their borders and striving to reclaim occupied lands is a legitimate part of their mandate - supporting acts of agression beyond that remit will simply alienate them further on the world stage.
In the US some say "Neocons are Toast" as the miliary become the new disaffected. Pop star Pink has a go at Dubya and there's more info on Neil Young's forthcoming "Living With War" protest album. For a nifty toon, check out "It's A Secret".
Later.
The weekend attack on Israel is the first to occur since Palestine elected the Hamas government. Sadly, their reaction (as reported above and elsewhere) maybe the first mistake of that fledgling administration. Despite the rhetoric and their idealogical stance against those who occupy their land, they have so far resisted any overtly agressive actions. They were not behind this attack, but they have done themselves no favours by supporting it. If the Palestinian people are forced to resort to violence, it should be defensive - anything else effectively ruins the chances for any kind of diplomacy.
Israel of course will react far beyond the accepted notion of "tit-for-tat" - for every casualty they suffer they will seek to slaughter many in return. Whereas the wrongness of this would be expected to generate sympathy for the Palestinian cause, Hamas' refusal to condemn the event that triggers this response will be seen as antagonism in an era when the tactics of terrorism are strictly reserved for existing superpowers. Unlike Al Qeada, Hamas are not global outlaws. Defending their borders and striving to reclaim occupied lands is a legitimate part of their mandate - supporting acts of agression beyond that remit will simply alienate them further on the world stage.
In the US some say "Neocons are Toast" as the miliary become the new disaffected. Pop star Pink has a go at Dubya and there's more info on Neil Young's forthcoming "Living With War" protest album. For a nifty toon, check out "It's A Secret".
Later.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Pay-off for the Preacher
Police probe 'government contracts for donations'
No sooner has the pay-off for honours business settled down and the matter of Blair's eco-unfriendly travel expenses bill shifted from the highlights, than we get another scandel. 300 police have been assigned to investigate how some private companies have nbeen getting exceedingly lucrative government contract in return for donating to his Labour Party. Applaud once more for the anti-sleaze hypocite! The summary above is in the Scotsman.
Across the atlantic, in a bid to boost the anti-abortion movement, it is now suggested that sperm have rights. We really are entering the realm of the absurd!
A quick plug for three good blogs - Hooterville, Down with Tyranny and My Left Wing.
Scots police have called for the legalisation of all drugs. The scots government side-steps the issue saying it's a matter for Whitehall. So much for devolution!
Later.
No sooner has the pay-off for honours business settled down and the matter of Blair's eco-unfriendly travel expenses bill shifted from the highlights, than we get another scandel. 300 police have been assigned to investigate how some private companies have nbeen getting exceedingly lucrative government contract in return for donating to his Labour Party. Applaud once more for the anti-sleaze hypocite! The summary above is in the Scotsman.
Across the atlantic, in a bid to boost the anti-abortion movement, it is now suggested that sperm have rights. We really are entering the realm of the absurd!
A quick plug for three good blogs - Hooterville, Down with Tyranny and My Left Wing.
Scots police have called for the legalisation of all drugs. The scots government side-steps the issue saying it's a matter for Whitehall. So much for devolution!
Later.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Silent Death of Freedom
Freedom dies quietly
This links to a short but pertinent article by John Pilger about the state of the surveillance state in Britain. At least Blair has been forced to back down on the "dictatorship" bill and an aide has been arrested. Others are due to get busted after Easter whilst the courts have declared some anti-terror provisions void.
On globalisation, read A Tale of Two Summits and on civil rights, 40 years and still counting.
Later.
This links to a short but pertinent article by John Pilger about the state of the surveillance state in Britain. At least Blair has been forced to back down on the "dictatorship" bill and an aide has been arrested. Others are due to get busted after Easter whilst the courts have declared some anti-terror provisions void.
On globalisation, read A Tale of Two Summits and on civil rights, 40 years and still counting.
Later.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
A doctor serving with the RAF, Malcolm Kendall-Smith has been sent to jail for 8 months for refusing to serve in Iraq. A veteran of two Iraq tours and another in Afghanistan, Kendall-Smith found evidence that the war was illegal and he would therefore be breaking the law by taking part. He also criticised Amerikan forces for behaving "like Nazis" in the occupation. His defense was not allowed by the Court Martial and his sentence was imposed on the ratter more simplistic grounds that he "dis-obeyed orders".
eTV Picture Post
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Rapidly drowning in Downing Street ?
Error forces rethink on bird flu risk zone
The report above in today's Scotsman reveals that the government mis-diagnosed the identity of the swan infected with Bird Flu and that the danger zone may now have to be extended to other areas of Britain. Another beaurocratic cock-up that doesn't bode well for the future.
The scandal about selling off seats in the House of Lords was offset slightly by the fact that all political parties are up to it - notwithstanding the fact that Blair pledged to reform the system way back in the days of his opposition. Last night's revelations that he has been "appropriating" large amounts of taxpayers' money to pay for private flights on personal holidays, party business and other suspect activities is altogether another matter. This particular abuse of power is only available to those actually in government and should rightly be condemned by other parties. The use of public money for such activities is bad enough, but the other stink comes from the wastage of fuel by a government supposedly concerned about emissions and global warming. Even the environment secretary herself has been using a private military shuttle service for her trips to Brussels. Hypocrisy certainly - some of us would say "theft" too!
Iran have announced the minor enrichment of some Uranium. This of course means they can effectively claim to be part of the "nuclear club" of nations and the intent seems to be in the demand they be treated as equals in negotiations. It looks like more of a PR ploy than any serious change in their ability to manufacture weapons. Read on here.
My apologies for the slowdown in this blog. The weekend meant being offline for a massive back-up of my proxy server and a reboot of my workstation resulted in some cantankerous behaviour until the beast warmed up again. I may not be daily again until after the holiday weekend - there's a lot to catch up on. "Latest Clicks" will update as normal.
Later.
The report above in today's Scotsman reveals that the government mis-diagnosed the identity of the swan infected with Bird Flu and that the danger zone may now have to be extended to other areas of Britain. Another beaurocratic cock-up that doesn't bode well for the future.
The scandal about selling off seats in the House of Lords was offset slightly by the fact that all political parties are up to it - notwithstanding the fact that Blair pledged to reform the system way back in the days of his opposition. Last night's revelations that he has been "appropriating" large amounts of taxpayers' money to pay for private flights on personal holidays, party business and other suspect activities is altogether another matter. This particular abuse of power is only available to those actually in government and should rightly be condemned by other parties. The use of public money for such activities is bad enough, but the other stink comes from the wastage of fuel by a government supposedly concerned about emissions and global warming. Even the environment secretary herself has been using a private military shuttle service for her trips to Brussels. Hypocrisy certainly - some of us would say "theft" too!
Iran have announced the minor enrichment of some Uranium. This of course means they can effectively claim to be part of the "nuclear club" of nations and the intent seems to be in the demand they be treated as equals in negotiations. It looks like more of a PR ploy than any serious change in their ability to manufacture weapons. Read on here.
My apologies for the slowdown in this blog. The weekend meant being offline for a massive back-up of my proxy server and a reboot of my workstation resulted in some cantankerous behaviour until the beast warmed up again. I may not be daily again until after the holiday weekend - there's a lot to catch up on. "Latest Clicks" will update as normal.
Later.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
A government just gagging for the gagging order
Independent Online Edition
Today's lead at the Independent above concerns the plight of two protesting grandmothers from Yorkshire. More importantly, it indicates just how much draconian legislation has managed to slip by uncontested recently. Maybe they hope to solve their pensions crisis by incarcerating all independent-minded persons above a certain age!
The first bird flu case in Britain has been reported from Fife. The offending beast has been dead a while and may have been partially eaten by other animals, which makes it sound like the authorities have been rather slow off the mark. We keep our fingers crossed.
Sad to say, Amerika has decided that "democracy" is no longer its priority in Iraq and that scientists must no longer express their views on global warming and climate change. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard have gone to war with the FBI - the latter now described as "The Federal Bureau of Luddites " by Slate. The Government Accountability Office reckons just about all the federal agencies are currently in breach of privacy rights law anyway.
On a more optimistic note, an article at Ode magazine concerns The Most Hopeful Court in the World - namely the European Court of Human Rights.
Later.
Today's lead at the Independent above concerns the plight of two protesting grandmothers from Yorkshire. More importantly, it indicates just how much draconian legislation has managed to slip by uncontested recently. Maybe they hope to solve their pensions crisis by incarcerating all independent-minded persons above a certain age!
The first bird flu case in Britain has been reported from Fife. The offending beast has been dead a while and may have been partially eaten by other animals, which makes it sound like the authorities have been rather slow off the mark. We keep our fingers crossed.
Sad to say, Amerika has decided that "democracy" is no longer its priority in Iraq and that scientists must no longer express their views on global warming and climate change. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard have gone to war with the FBI - the latter now described as "The Federal Bureau of Luddites " by Slate. The Government Accountability Office reckons just about all the federal agencies are currently in breach of privacy rights law anyway.
On a more optimistic note, an article at Ode magazine concerns The Most Hopeful Court in the World - namely the European Court of Human Rights.
Later.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
An enevitable execution or a suspicious hi-jack?
Sinn Fein man who spied for British is found shot dead
The above leads to a report in the Scotsman.
When, some months back, Sinn Feinn's Denis Donaldson was revealed to have been a former British spy within the IRA my first thought was that he had become a "marked man". Unless he disappeared or moved into protection on the UK mainland, his execution would be inevitable. After all, to the IRA, he would be perceived as a traitor in wartime and as such, despite a new era of de-militarisation, would need to be held to account. Strangely however, Donaldson retired to his home in the north of Ireland and no secret was made of his whereabouts - it was if he was inviting retribution.
His execution yesterday comes a no surprise - but, as a matter of timing, it is very curious. As the UK and Ireland prepare to re-institute a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland, Donaldson's killing at this moment serves nobody except those whose aim is to disrupt that process - namely the Unionist movement whose modus-operandi seems to forever discount any reconciliation with any part of Irish republicanism. They have used the last 24 hours to great advantage by making political capital of the events.
In a process started by John Major, Blair's early government made major inroads in bringing about a preace process in Northern Ireland - largely due to the impartial approach of the late Mo Mowlam, the influence of Bill Clinton and, one suspects, some guidance on catholicism from Blair's wife Cherie. Certainly, the IRA were persuaded that sectarian warfare, especially when reduced to the method of terrorism alone, held no future in an age of globalism where both Britain and Ireland were also partners in the European Union. Any reservations were probably wiped out completely with the rise of international Islamist terrorism which made the traditional inter-Christian battles of the Irish island seem petty by comparison.
Donaldson's death will presumably be treated as murder and become a matter for the police. How far they are able to persue the evidence remains to be seen. It is not an issue that should be allowed to disrupt the governance of Northern Ireland, the basis for which is already sound and the only obsticle being the inability of those living in the past to adapt. It will be a shame if they suceed in blocking renewed progress this week.
In Italy politics are reduced to "testicles" and in the US the government's own accountability office says that it's agencies are breaching privacy rights. The good news is that after 20 years, life returns to Chernobyl once more and someone has got Windows running on a new Intel Macintosh.
Later.
The above leads to a report in the Scotsman.
When, some months back, Sinn Feinn's Denis Donaldson was revealed to have been a former British spy within the IRA my first thought was that he had become a "marked man". Unless he disappeared or moved into protection on the UK mainland, his execution would be inevitable. After all, to the IRA, he would be perceived as a traitor in wartime and as such, despite a new era of de-militarisation, would need to be held to account. Strangely however, Donaldson retired to his home in the north of Ireland and no secret was made of his whereabouts - it was if he was inviting retribution.
His execution yesterday comes a no surprise - but, as a matter of timing, it is very curious. As the UK and Ireland prepare to re-institute a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland, Donaldson's killing at this moment serves nobody except those whose aim is to disrupt that process - namely the Unionist movement whose modus-operandi seems to forever discount any reconciliation with any part of Irish republicanism. They have used the last 24 hours to great advantage by making political capital of the events.
In a process started by John Major, Blair's early government made major inroads in bringing about a preace process in Northern Ireland - largely due to the impartial approach of the late Mo Mowlam, the influence of Bill Clinton and, one suspects, some guidance on catholicism from Blair's wife Cherie. Certainly, the IRA were persuaded that sectarian warfare, especially when reduced to the method of terrorism alone, held no future in an age of globalism where both Britain and Ireland were also partners in the European Union. Any reservations were probably wiped out completely with the rise of international Islamist terrorism which made the traditional inter-Christian battles of the Irish island seem petty by comparison.
Donaldson's death will presumably be treated as murder and become a matter for the police. How far they are able to persue the evidence remains to be seen. It is not an issue that should be allowed to disrupt the governance of Northern Ireland, the basis for which is already sound and the only obsticle being the inability of those living in the past to adapt. It will be a shame if they suceed in blocking renewed progress this week.
In Italy politics are reduced to "testicles" and in the US the government's own accountability office says that it's agencies are breaching privacy rights. The good news is that after 20 years, life returns to Chernobyl once more and someone has got Windows running on a new Intel Macintosh.
Later.
Monday, April 03, 2006
The Jack & Condi Show
Rice, Straw Press to Forge Unity
Given the complexities of international time zones, it has taken a while for the weekend hoaxes to settle down. One can assume most of the news is now back to normal.
It was a tough weekend for the Rice-Straw tour. A volatile reception greeted the couple in Northern England and any hopes of a quiet weekend were dashed. So much so, that they sought to escape to Iraq. Sadly, Condi's plane cabin wasn't quite big enough for both of them and she ended up sleeping on the floor. The arrival in Iraq was pretty rough too and telling the local Prime Minister he should step down probably didn't enhance the atmosphere either. It's all in the report at top.
Today we see the launch of Britain's version of the FBI as Blair arrives back from down-under to try and take control of things again. Doctors are demanding a complete rethink of the Health Service while secret government documents suggest we may be in for a huge death toll if Bird Flu strikes. If you are planning to stock up on supplies, bear in mind that cheques are no longer acceptable. The British public have been coming up with suggestions to tackle climate change, some of which go beyond the courage of the government to implement.
In Amerika, the Ape Emperor has accidently signed the wrong bill into law and can't find anyone to take the FEMA job as the evangelical masses adopt U2's Bono for religious marketing. Amidst all the other corruption and lobbying scandals, an item in the Washington Post suggested The Effect of the Israel Lobby is distorting history. So today, the Dean of Harvard's Kennedy School loses his job.
If you are reading this at http://malburns.blogspot.com you can find more stories listed under "Latest Clicks" in the left column. As my obsessional oversight committee (that's you lot!) point out, now this column is available as a syndicated feed elsewhere the links bar doesn't get included. I'll try to aviod referencing it so much.
Later.
Given the complexities of international time zones, it has taken a while for the weekend hoaxes to settle down. One can assume most of the news is now back to normal.
It was a tough weekend for the Rice-Straw tour. A volatile reception greeted the couple in Northern England and any hopes of a quiet weekend were dashed. So much so, that they sought to escape to Iraq. Sadly, Condi's plane cabin wasn't quite big enough for both of them and she ended up sleeping on the floor. The arrival in Iraq was pretty rough too and telling the local Prime Minister he should step down probably didn't enhance the atmosphere either. It's all in the report at top.
Today we see the launch of Britain's version of the FBI as Blair arrives back from down-under to try and take control of things again. Doctors are demanding a complete rethink of the Health Service while secret government documents suggest we may be in for a huge death toll if Bird Flu strikes. If you are planning to stock up on supplies, bear in mind that cheques are no longer acceptable. The British public have been coming up with suggestions to tackle climate change, some of which go beyond the courage of the government to implement.
In Amerika, the Ape Emperor has accidently signed the wrong bill into law and can't find anyone to take the FEMA job as the evangelical masses adopt U2's Bono for religious marketing. Amidst all the other corruption and lobbying scandals, an item in the Washington Post suggested The Effect of the Israel Lobby is distorting history. So today, the Dean of Harvard's Kennedy School loses his job.
If you are reading this at http://malburns.blogspot.com you can find more stories listed under "Latest Clicks" in the left column. As my obsessional oversight committee (that's you lot!) point out, now this column is available as a syndicated feed elsewhere the links bar doesn't get included. I'll try to aviod referencing it so much.
Later.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
In the realm of the senseless
Clock running out of time, space
More fool you - more fool me. Some months back I planted a fake event in my calender (see left) and when the alert came from Yahoo I was, in my forgetfulness, taken aback. Like the previous post (filed at midnight, UK Time) it was of course a hoax for April Fool's day. Convention has it that such pranks expire at midday, so it's all over on this side of the Atlantic.
I wasn't alone in my jesting. The radio news is now revealing a more than usual profusion of jokes. Whether this headline link is one of them I'm unsure. It seems the New York clock that monitors US debt is rapidly running out of digits.
Over here, a very red-faced foreign secretary must be wishing the last 24 hours were a light-hearted prank too. Getting Condi over for a quiet weekend up north has gone somewhat less than according to plan. Topping it all, the performers at last night's concert suddenly changed the tune. At least Condi had the decency to admit to "tactical errors" - a few thousand of them actually!
It's not over yet, but last week's ping-pong game between the houses of Lords and Commons over the ID cards bill seems to have fizzled out with only a few compromises by the Blair administration. Richard Sheperd MP said: "One day, this Government will experience the wrath and indignation of a country that understands that this is not a small social measure; it is in fact a declaration by Government that the centralised state is more important and greater than the sum of every individual free citizen of the country that we were sent to represent." Would that that were a joke!
Talking of ID details, the US government has managed to mislay 94,000 of them in a Los Angeles garage.
For a whole host of recent links, check "latest clicks" at left. For the most part, it contains real news!
Later.
More fool you - more fool me. Some months back I planted a fake event in my calender (see left) and when the alert came from Yahoo I was, in my forgetfulness, taken aback. Like the previous post (filed at midnight, UK Time) it was of course a hoax for April Fool's day. Convention has it that such pranks expire at midday, so it's all over on this side of the Atlantic.
I wasn't alone in my jesting. The radio news is now revealing a more than usual profusion of jokes. Whether this headline link is one of them I'm unsure. It seems the New York clock that monitors US debt is rapidly running out of digits.
Over here, a very red-faced foreign secretary must be wishing the last 24 hours were a light-hearted prank too. Getting Condi over for a quiet weekend up north has gone somewhat less than according to plan. Topping it all, the performers at last night's concert suddenly changed the tune. At least Condi had the decency to admit to "tactical errors" - a few thousand of them actually!
It's not over yet, but last week's ping-pong game between the houses of Lords and Commons over the ID cards bill seems to have fizzled out with only a few compromises by the Blair administration. Richard Sheperd MP said: "One day, this Government will experience the wrath and indignation of a country that understands that this is not a small social measure; it is in fact a declaration by Government that the centralised state is more important and greater than the sum of every individual free citizen of the country that we were sent to represent." Would that that were a joke!
Talking of ID details, the US government has managed to mislay 94,000 of them in a Los Angeles garage.
For a whole host of recent links, check "latest clicks" at left. For the most part, it contains real news!
Later.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Asleep at the wheel?
Hot News
After two days without a full blog, you might be forgiven for thinking I'm dozing - especially as we've been celebrating our first national "Nap At Work" week. Truth is that some essential file re-organisation has pre-occupied this wordsmith. For the most important stuff, follow the headline link at the top.
For now, it's the midnight hour here in the UK which means snoozetime-a-la-regular for me. Cunning linguistics can wait.
Later.
After two days without a full blog, you might be forgiven for thinking I'm dozing - especially as we've been celebrating our first national "Nap At Work" week. Truth is that some essential file re-organisation has pre-occupied this wordsmith. For the most important stuff, follow the headline link at the top.
For now, it's the midnight hour here in the UK which means snoozetime-a-la-regular for me. Cunning linguistics can wait.
Later.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
A hornets nest descends on the Bush
Student Immigration Protests Continue
It may have started as a distraction, but with the immigration issue in Amerika it looks like the Bush administration have finally kicked a little too hard at a hitherto sleeping mass of people. Last weekend's demonstration has led to continuing unrest during the week, especially among students. As the full bill goes before the senate, the government faces a vast swathe of protest that better have been awakened earlier. By sheer co-incidence, we also see the Ape Emporer depart for Mexico to discuss matter relating to, you guessed it, immigration. Alternet even reckon the country may finally be on the Path back to normal as the neurotic-in-chief attempts to change course.
Exactly how the cost of enacting these policies equates with the massive US debt is also bewildering. Indeed, Al Jazeera reort that Asian businesses are be warned to prepare for an iminent collapse of the dollar whilst there's talk elsewhere of serious corruption in the world bank itself. As Britain too starts a descent into further debt, we note that China has now replaced Japan as the country with the most foreign reserves.
Talking of corruption, Jack Abramoff faces sentencing today - on which subject you may like this cartoon. Plus, a new superdrug to end all superdrugs is launched, as the US military find themselves "not guilty" thank you.
In the UK, our old pal "Willy" Clinton popped up yesterday to support Gordon Brown and was heard to ask some public service protesters "Is something wrong?" Belatedly, the US media have picked up on London's mayor Ken Livingstone's remarks about the Amerikan ambassador.
Yesterday in 1834, US President Jackson was "censured" by the senate. Those of us hoping for suitable celebration by way of a repeat performance were disappointed however. Today's anniversary is Three Mile Island - 27 years on and no lessons learned it seems, especially in the UK as the Prime Preacher presses ahead into his radioactive dreamland. We've also now missed our own emissions targets.
Heck - they're coming for all of us.
Later.
It may have started as a distraction, but with the immigration issue in Amerika it looks like the Bush administration have finally kicked a little too hard at a hitherto sleeping mass of people. Last weekend's demonstration has led to continuing unrest during the week, especially among students. As the full bill goes before the senate, the government faces a vast swathe of protest that better have been awakened earlier. By sheer co-incidence, we also see the Ape Emporer depart for Mexico to discuss matter relating to, you guessed it, immigration. Alternet even reckon the country may finally be on the Path back to normal as the neurotic-in-chief attempts to change course.
Exactly how the cost of enacting these policies equates with the massive US debt is also bewildering. Indeed, Al Jazeera reort that Asian businesses are be warned to prepare for an iminent collapse of the dollar whilst there's talk elsewhere of serious corruption in the world bank itself. As Britain too starts a descent into further debt, we note that China has now replaced Japan as the country with the most foreign reserves.
Talking of corruption, Jack Abramoff faces sentencing today - on which subject you may like this cartoon. Plus, a new superdrug to end all superdrugs is launched, as the US military find themselves "not guilty" thank you.
In the UK, our old pal "Willy" Clinton popped up yesterday to support Gordon Brown and was heard to ask some public service protesters "Is something wrong?" Belatedly, the US media have picked up on London's mayor Ken Livingstone's remarks about the Amerikan ambassador.
Yesterday in 1834, US President Jackson was "censured" by the senate. Those of us hoping for suitable celebration by way of a repeat performance were disappointed however. Today's anniversary is Three Mile Island - 27 years on and no lessons learned it seems, especially in the UK as the Prime Preacher presses ahead into his radioactive dreamland. We've also now missed our own emissions targets.
Heck - they're coming for all of us.
Later.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
The Mind Connection
Brain Cells Fused with Computer Chip
I'm both astonished and yet unsurprised at the same time, but it seems we may really be moving into the world of science-fiction brought to life, as the above link indicates. As communication technologies increasingly weave us into the surveillance planet, how long before the linkage extends into a very beings. The most important story I've read in quite a while, fears about cloning and the like look set to enter a whole new dimension.
In latest new it seems Bush's Chief-of-staff at the White House has resigned. Of course, Amerika is currently distracted from Iraq and the collapsing Bush administration by the controversy of criminalising illegal immigrants. Rob Kall offers an extended feature at OpEd News.
Later.
I'm both astonished and yet unsurprised at the same time, but it seems we may really be moving into the world of science-fiction brought to life, as the above link indicates. As communication technologies increasingly weave us into the surveillance planet, how long before the linkage extends into a very beings. The most important story I've read in quite a while, fears about cloning and the like look set to enter a whole new dimension.
In latest new it seems Bush's Chief-of-staff at the White House has resigned. Of course, Amerika is currently distracted from Iraq and the collapsing Bush administration by the controversy of criminalising illegal immigrants. Rob Kall offers an extended feature at OpEd News.
Later.
Striking a blow to the status quo
One and a half million out
The above leads to The Times report on todays walk-out by public sector workers here in the UK. Similar disruption is also happening across the channel in France today, hot in the wake of recent protests. A sign of the times?
In both cases the contentious issue is one of pay, but beneath the surface it is a symptom of capitalism becoming out of control. The present day inequality between nations and continental power-blocks and the exploitation of the poor by the rich is increasingly reflected in microcosm within the so-called "rich" countries themselves. Even governments who claim to have their roots on the left of the political spectrum have taken to servicing the needs of corporate globalism rather than addressing the local and international polarisation that system creates. The disparity of wealth and the sheer cost of social empowerment in an age where everything is "privatised" beyond civil accountability is shifting entire economic infrastructures toward a new world of "masters and slaves". The "duty of service" we expect of those we elect to power has been replaced by culture of a career-driven, money-hungry elite whose perception of reality is wholly corrupted by their privilaged postion.
Of such inbalance are revolutions made. It is not surprise at all that a mood of disaffection is returning to the social arena. If the so-called "leaders" don't wake up soon, what they may face may be better called "insurrection" - disruption beyond their power to manage at all!
Later.
The above leads to The Times report on todays walk-out by public sector workers here in the UK. Similar disruption is also happening across the channel in France today, hot in the wake of recent protests. A sign of the times?
In both cases the contentious issue is one of pay, but beneath the surface it is a symptom of capitalism becoming out of control. The present day inequality between nations and continental power-blocks and the exploitation of the poor by the rich is increasingly reflected in microcosm within the so-called "rich" countries themselves. Even governments who claim to have their roots on the left of the political spectrum have taken to servicing the needs of corporate globalism rather than addressing the local and international polarisation that system creates. The disparity of wealth and the sheer cost of social empowerment in an age where everything is "privatised" beyond civil accountability is shifting entire economic infrastructures toward a new world of "masters and slaves". The "duty of service" we expect of those we elect to power has been replaced by culture of a career-driven, money-hungry elite whose perception of reality is wholly corrupted by their privilaged postion.
Of such inbalance are revolutions made. It is not surprise at all that a mood of disaffection is returning to the social arena. If the so-called "leaders" don't wake up soon, what they may face may be better called "insurrection" - disruption beyond their power to manage at all!
Later.
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Rock 'n' Rolling News Man
Jon Snow
The above link is not so much news as about the news - or rather, one of Britain's major news presenters. The Independent pays tribute to Jon Snow - anchor of the acclaimed "Channel 4 News" and multi-award-winning journalist. Nice one.
The prime peacher and spouse are hanging out down under where Blair has admitted he has de-stabilised himself. All set to de-stabilise Britain's security too, plans are announced for the UK to host missile silos for the Ape Emperor's new "Son of Star Wars" project. Also, parliament's lone anti-war protester has been arrested. Shame.
Later.
The above link is not so much news as about the news - or rather, one of Britain's major news presenters. The Independent pays tribute to Jon Snow - anchor of the acclaimed "Channel 4 News" and multi-award-winning journalist. Nice one.
The prime peacher and spouse are hanging out down under where Blair has admitted he has de-stabilised himself. All set to de-stabilise Britain's security too, plans are announced for the UK to host missile silos for the Ape Emperor's new "Son of Star Wars" project. Also, parliament's lone anti-war protester has been arrested. Shame.
Later.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Small beer for a poison plot
Qaeda Tested Poison Beer, Burger Plot
The above report from CBS concerns a trial that has received reasonably high profile coverage here in the UK. I've avoided commenting on the slow emergence of cases like this when arguably the greater issue is those who remain detained uncharged and with no recourse at all to a "court of law". There is however, something in this summary that gave me pause for thought.
Here we have a trial in Britain where a key witness is provided by the Amerikan FBI, escorted by US marshals and protected under armed guard by our authorities. We have defendants charged with very serious acts of plotting terrorism whilst some of the allegations made by this witness seem more like schoolyard fantasies.
I'm trying, for example, to image the laborious process of injecting thousands of beer cans with what must be a very slow-acting poison, stickering over each broken seal and then taking them to a football match for sale. In an age where terror threats come from committed suicide attacks by those duped into the pursuit of a false martyrdom, this seems like "small fry" indeed.
The ITN-produced "More 4 News" on British television has adopted a "watch" policy on news about "rendition flights" or other CIA misbehaviour. Although Jack Straw tells us that no such requests have been made in the post-9/11 era, the programme's pointed out this week that other documentation is routinely required that would indicate whether these flights did include prisoners on the passenger lists. If, as suspected, the US are arranging for their victims to be tortured, it is of grave concern.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs of conducting torture, I've always held that it is pointless in its purpose. Under such conditions, a suspect will probably agree to anything and possibly fabricate evidence just to stop the pain. The reliability of information garnered this way is thus highly suspect and of little real value in intelligence terms. If anything, it could be so misleading as to have the opposite effect of the avowed intent.
If torture is going on however, it occurs to me that there is one instance where it may serve its purpose - albeit a highly corrupt purpose at that. It is in the creation of a false witness. Under threat of torture, it is easy to conceive of a victim who would resort to fabrication of facts and it takes little streach of the imagination to realise that, under present security conditions, such a person could be produced as a witness in a purposely- compromised court of law.
There is of course no evidence itself that this is happening, but the possibility raises questions that need to be addressed. I, for one, remain slightly cautious about the dubious evidence mentioned in the above article, particularly given that it appears to be comprised of annecdotes merely tangential to the gravity of the real issue.
Later.
The above report from CBS concerns a trial that has received reasonably high profile coverage here in the UK. I've avoided commenting on the slow emergence of cases like this when arguably the greater issue is those who remain detained uncharged and with no recourse at all to a "court of law". There is however, something in this summary that gave me pause for thought.
Here we have a trial in Britain where a key witness is provided by the Amerikan FBI, escorted by US marshals and protected under armed guard by our authorities. We have defendants charged with very serious acts of plotting terrorism whilst some of the allegations made by this witness seem more like schoolyard fantasies.
I'm trying, for example, to image the laborious process of injecting thousands of beer cans with what must be a very slow-acting poison, stickering over each broken seal and then taking them to a football match for sale. In an age where terror threats come from committed suicide attacks by those duped into the pursuit of a false martyrdom, this seems like "small fry" indeed.
The ITN-produced "More 4 News" on British television has adopted a "watch" policy on news about "rendition flights" or other CIA misbehaviour. Although Jack Straw tells us that no such requests have been made in the post-9/11 era, the programme's pointed out this week that other documentation is routinely required that would indicate whether these flights did include prisoners on the passenger lists. If, as suspected, the US are arranging for their victims to be tortured, it is of grave concern.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs of conducting torture, I've always held that it is pointless in its purpose. Under such conditions, a suspect will probably agree to anything and possibly fabricate evidence just to stop the pain. The reliability of information garnered this way is thus highly suspect and of little real value in intelligence terms. If anything, it could be so misleading as to have the opposite effect of the avowed intent.
If torture is going on however, it occurs to me that there is one instance where it may serve its purpose - albeit a highly corrupt purpose at that. It is in the creation of a false witness. Under threat of torture, it is easy to conceive of a victim who would resort to fabrication of facts and it takes little streach of the imagination to realise that, under present security conditions, such a person could be produced as a witness in a purposely- compromised court of law.
There is of course no evidence itself that this is happening, but the possibility raises questions that need to be addressed. I, for one, remain slightly cautious about the dubious evidence mentioned in the above article, particularly given that it appears to be comprised of annecdotes merely tangential to the gravity of the real issue.
Later.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
The leaders that pray together prey together
Bipolar Blair
Earlier in the week I commented on the Prime Preacher's foreign policy speech. Today in Counterpunch above, Michael Carmichael delivers a far more biting critique which suggests a kind of Islamophobia is enamating from Downing Street. They also have a piece of how greater war spending and increased debt is actually making Amerika less secure.
In an attempt to further mix up the issues, the Bush administration seeks to further confuse our perception of George Orwell's work - in a hybrid of "1984" and "Animal Farm". Plus, denial is a force more powerful than faith whilst the undying human need for truth can give us hope yet.
In the UK, more news on the surveillance state as Scotland will be the first to introduce satellite tracking of sex offenders.
A revealing new portal is World Citizen Guide. Check out the "100 people" tab which tells much about the disproportionate balance in our planet today.
A report here also suggests that a cannabis legalisation party may make inroads in next week's Israeli elections as they are promoting other policies that appeal to the disaffected young and Arabs alike. On the same theme, the British pot campaign held a conference in Norfolk last week which co-incided with the anti-war events. Speeches, music and a record of proceedings can be found via this link.
Later.
Earlier in the week I commented on the Prime Preacher's foreign policy speech. Today in Counterpunch above, Michael Carmichael delivers a far more biting critique which suggests a kind of Islamophobia is enamating from Downing Street. They also have a piece of how greater war spending and increased debt is actually making Amerika less secure.
In an attempt to further mix up the issues, the Bush administration seeks to further confuse our perception of George Orwell's work - in a hybrid of "1984" and "Animal Farm". Plus, denial is a force more powerful than faith whilst the undying human need for truth can give us hope yet.
In the UK, more news on the surveillance state as Scotland will be the first to introduce satellite tracking of sex offenders.
A revealing new portal is World Citizen Guide. Check out the "100 people" tab which tells much about the disproportionate balance in our planet today.
A report here also suggests that a cannabis legalisation party may make inroads in next week's Israeli elections as they are promoting other policies that appeal to the disaffected young and Arabs alike. On the same theme, the British pot campaign held a conference in Norfolk last week which co-incided with the anti-war events. Speeches, music and a record of proceedings can be found via this link.
Later.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Flashbacks - An annex
Bring the Sixties Out of the Closet
Last week I mused a little on similarities between today and 40 years ago, which met with some approval. The link above leads to a piece at Alternet where Don Hazen is thinking on similar lines.
In Washington, it seems judges are leaving their day job to get down to a bit of rock & roll. Weird. Also, a white paper by the bush adminsitration qualifies under "a definition of insanity".
Later.
Last week I mused a little on similarities between today and 40 years ago, which met with some approval. The link above leads to a piece at Alternet where Don Hazen is thinking on similar lines.
In Washington, it seems judges are leaving their day job to get down to a bit of rock & roll. Weird. Also, a white paper by the bush adminsitration qualifies under "a definition of insanity".
Later.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
No budge yet in a budget called debt!
A case of leadership battle-lines
The above link leads to the Independent where it examines yesterday's financial decrees from Britain's chancellor, Gordon Brown. Brown is of course the "leader-in-waiting" for the day Blair steps down and with Blair's withdrawl from the stage in yesterday's Common, thre possible future triumverate of Brown, Cameron and Campbell got the chance for a dry run. It was all a bit flat, although Cameron's literal "bellow" was an impressive retort.
I question whether anything really happened at all. A few minor tweaks, a raise in the usual duties and a large amount of self-congratulation does not a budget make. The only thing apparant beneath the cosmetics was a plan to increase Britain's debts by billions over the next few years. Nothing like the mega-trillions "borrowed" by the Bush administration, but incriminating nonetheless.
I will now pay 9p more for a packet of cigarettes. By my reckoning, if only one in every 50 smokers give up the habit as a result of the new government campaign, the income from this increase will be wiped out completely. If 2 in every 50 smokers give up, the exchequer will suffer a loss in actual income. But will the improved health of those who quit actually allow the Health Service to make savings? One hopes so but doubts it - yet no new money was aanouced for the NHS in the budget at all. An odd PR omission if nothing else for a prospective Prime Minister.
The much hailed "green" tinge to taxation was both a farce and an insult. Gas-guzzling vehicle drivers will pay a few pennies more from their inflated pocket-money whilst those who can afford to invest in new low-emission technologies will be exempt. This means nothing to the average person. No attempt was made to implement a levy on aircraft emissions, even though this could have been done without affecting internationally agreed aviation fuel prices. A rise in airport taxes and a new draconian VAT band for environmentally damaging products could have brought in more money and re-enforced the "green" agenda.
We also need legislation for compulsory self-sustainability in all new homes and commercial buildings to reduce the drain on the national grid and other commercially distributed energy sources. Micro-technology for wind, solar and hydroelectric power is now available and the government could swell its coffers a little more by imposing penalties on fuel and energy wastage. Not wholly the chancellor's job of course, but integral to his remit.
In declaring how much we will need to borrow for the forseeable future, no mention was made of the military cost of following the Amerikan imperial agenda. This expenditure alone overshadows the cost of just about everything else the government spends money on. Getting out of the colonisation business would allow more to be spent on aid and overseas development, with enough left over the seriously dent the amount of borrowing we need to do.
The economy is indeed a loaded gun. What now, Dear Prudence?
Later.
The above link leads to the Independent where it examines yesterday's financial decrees from Britain's chancellor, Gordon Brown. Brown is of course the "leader-in-waiting" for the day Blair steps down and with Blair's withdrawl from the stage in yesterday's Common, thre possible future triumverate of Brown, Cameron and Campbell got the chance for a dry run. It was all a bit flat, although Cameron's literal "bellow" was an impressive retort.
I question whether anything really happened at all. A few minor tweaks, a raise in the usual duties and a large amount of self-congratulation does not a budget make. The only thing apparant beneath the cosmetics was a plan to increase Britain's debts by billions over the next few years. Nothing like the mega-trillions "borrowed" by the Bush administration, but incriminating nonetheless.
I will now pay 9p more for a packet of cigarettes. By my reckoning, if only one in every 50 smokers give up the habit as a result of the new government campaign, the income from this increase will be wiped out completely. If 2 in every 50 smokers give up, the exchequer will suffer a loss in actual income. But will the improved health of those who quit actually allow the Health Service to make savings? One hopes so but doubts it - yet no new money was aanouced for the NHS in the budget at all. An odd PR omission if nothing else for a prospective Prime Minister.
The much hailed "green" tinge to taxation was both a farce and an insult. Gas-guzzling vehicle drivers will pay a few pennies more from their inflated pocket-money whilst those who can afford to invest in new low-emission technologies will be exempt. This means nothing to the average person. No attempt was made to implement a levy on aircraft emissions, even though this could have been done without affecting internationally agreed aviation fuel prices. A rise in airport taxes and a new draconian VAT band for environmentally damaging products could have brought in more money and re-enforced the "green" agenda.
We also need legislation for compulsory self-sustainability in all new homes and commercial buildings to reduce the drain on the national grid and other commercially distributed energy sources. Micro-technology for wind, solar and hydroelectric power is now available and the government could swell its coffers a little more by imposing penalties on fuel and energy wastage. Not wholly the chancellor's job of course, but integral to his remit.
In declaring how much we will need to borrow for the forseeable future, no mention was made of the military cost of following the Amerikan imperial agenda. This expenditure alone overshadows the cost of just about everything else the government spends money on. Getting out of the colonisation business would allow more to be spent on aid and overseas development, with enough left over the seriously dent the amount of borrowing we need to do.
The economy is indeed a loaded gun. What now, Dear Prudence?
Later.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
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