Another month, another political compass. We're half-way through the year and the most I can say is... this is one odd quiz. As we'll see this month, it has some substantial failings. So, I've drifted more economically leftist, and also more socially authoritarian. Never by much, but the drift is there. It is regrettable that ...
This most toothless of watchdogs can still be useful. I don't know how many readers have registered with the Telephone Preference Service but it's the system which is supposed to prevent you getting unwanted telephone calls. Fat chance. Perhaps the clue lies on its own home page: "No money is received from the Government to run the Service, the direct marketing industry pays for it." Please note, too, that the service is FREE though there are other websites seeking to charge for a similar service which I wouldn't touch with a barge pole. It is a legal requirement that companies ...
(with thanks to Don Kranz, whose blog is a real inspiration, for luring me out of work-induced blog hibernation!) It's Diamond Jubilee weekend, and a time to think about the role of the monarchy, and the role it plays in all our lives. As so often, I seem to have some clear principles which turn awfully messy when they meet with real life, particularly when 'real life' means the chance to have a good party. You see, I don't really like the idea of having a head of state who is chosen on the hereditary principle: there, I said it. ...
Wow, what a party! We'd advertised the Big Picnic Lunch to start at noon. The first party arrived at 1145 and there was a steady stream after that. Never mind the weather - the Big Picnic was on! Entertainers turned up as promised; we had music, magic, puppets, stilt walking, juggling, sack races, welly throwing, fancy dress, and more - 4 solid hours of fun. The afternoon drew to a close
[HORRIBLY unhappy with the prose here -- this needs totally rewriting when I come to publish the whole thing as a novel -- but I've posted it because it's an important plot point for those who are following the story. The next bit is better-written] Charlie, meanwhile, was having to do P.E. Now, I quite ...
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 276th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (27 May – 2 June, 2012), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. ...
On Saturday, I went to the ASDA just off the A6177 Bradford Ring Road to pick up my other half: she was manning the entrance on behalf of the Bradford Food Bank. As shoppers came in, she tried to convince people to buy one or two extra items for a donation. I helped in a ...
How to get a photo to appear next to your comments You may have noticed that next to some people's comments is a small picture of themselves, such as: If you want a picture to appear next to your comments you need to do two things. Visit Gravatar.com, create an account and upload a picture. Post a comment, giving the same email address as the one you've used on Gravatar. How to show you are a party member when commenting The option to put a photo next to your comment is open to everyone. In addition, if you're a party ...
The Jubilee is being celebrated in style in the West End! Today, I had the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially open the superb Jubilee street party organised by the folk in Hillside Terrace, Road, Place and Drive. It seemed that everyone from the four streets was there - all generations - and the committee put in huge effort to organise a wonderful community event - some pictures below: Later this afternoon, I also had the privilege of joining the residents of Glamis Terrace and the surrounding area at their Jubilee Garden Party - another really enjoyable community event ...
[IMG: LibDem conference] There's been plenty of fuss about the party's approach to security accreditation for the Liberal Democrat federal (UK-wide) party conferences. Having criticised both some of the substance and the communications, it's only fair to point out just how easily I found the online conference registration process. Compared to many online payment/registration processes, the series of web pages is pretty good and the way it remembers key information is also handy – making the process fairly quick and painless (if – and it's an important if – the accreditation problems do not directly have an impact on you ...
Sun 3rd
16:05
In other news... Huhne in court, Clegg dines Tories, Ming protests immigration rules & other sto...
Here's a round-up of stories we haven't had time to cover on the site this past few days... Chris Huhne's ex-wife Vicky Pryce pleads not guilty (BBC News) Vicky Pryce, the ex-wife of Chris Huhne, has pleaded not guilty to taking the former energy secretary's penalty points for a 2003 speeding offence. The Eastleigh Lib Dem MP did not enter a plea because he will try to dismiss the charge against him at a future hearing, Southwark Crown Court heard. The pair, who were married for 26 years, face charges of perverting the course of justice. A date for the ...
A big "Thank You" to everyone who has been organising the many street parties and local events this weekend. Here's just one event - the Jubilee Big Lunch at Abbotswood, Yate, organised by Jacobs Well Church, Abbotswood Action and volunteers from St Nick's.
THE STORY SO FAR: Kenneth Spotlessnob has decided Transformational Excellence and Strategic Vision needs an away-day and Dale Brashcon is organising it. Staff arriving find the main entrance to the Outdoor Activity Centre locked and finding the side entrance is a test of their initiative. Inside, everything buzzes, especially Dale Brashcon, as the set hour approaches...but some puzzling wallcharts have attracted young Scott Fitzwilliam's attention. What can they mean? There was a disturbance among the coffee cups and nervous conversation. Lucy Marlowe, who had joined OCC only five months before but was widely rumoured to be a high riser, was ...
When I was first sent the link I was quite intrigued, in fact I'm sure you are too so here is the original website. Before I come to my analysis I should point out that I am no expert in Housing benefit (ask me about the Luftwaffe's operations in 1940 and I can help), nor am I a serving member of the Council - just a member of the Libdems with an interest in what goes on in Medway. I must admit my interest is gained if there is a fault to be had at Gunwharf. I have, also got ...
The Singers By and large the technically-good singers did better than the technically-poor singers. There were exceptions to this, though. There was a restriction of style which spoke to it being definitely pop-oriented - I'm thinking both of the 17-year-old Asian lass who sang Nessun Dorma so well my jaw dropped, and the lad who did Livin' On a Prayer, neither of whom a single coach turned around for. There were also a number of male singers who I definitely couldn't see the attraction of. The guy who sang Rocket Man in the blind auditions, who all four coaches turned ...
Punk's annus mirabilis, 1977, is as distant from us as the middle of the second world war was to the young Sex Pistols. By chance, it coincided with the silver jubilee, locking Johnny Rotten and the Queen together in a regular cycle of anniversaries until one of them dies.wrote Dorian Lynskey in the Guardian yesterday. So today's music video choice was easy to make. Back in February I suggested that punk is no longer feared because it has become part of the pageantry of our history much as the teddy boys did before them. I quoted a local newspaper report ...
The weather may not be cooperating, but the Jubilee weekend ploughs on. So far I have attended a Jubilee parade at the local primary school where I am Chair of Governors, and a barbecue hosted by a north London friend. We are on our way to a damp riverside party in Docklands, where we may see some ships passing by on their way to and from the Thames pageant. The are street parties in neighbouring streets, and the Tube lines are full. There is a party mood about. I have stood up to the National Anthem and toasted the Queen. ...
Next year all Liberal Democrats in England are going to have to get used to new local parties. The coalition government's plans to change the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies across the UK, assuming they get passed into law, will have implications for how we organise ourselves at a local level. Traditionally Liberal Democrat local parties have been organised on a constituency basis. The local party would cover one or more parliamentary constituency. More recently a change was made to allow local parties in London to be based on borough boundaries, but for the rest of England local parties remained tied ...
Top Cat: The Movie - review "Top Cat! Do you remember it? Top Cat! Well, they've dismembered it." (tags: films ) Big Finish Produces Doctor Who Audio Plays with Brains, Heart and Humor A good primer on where to start with BF. (tags: doctorwho ) Javier Bardem Advocates for Western Sahara at the European Parliament (Ignore the bloke standing against the wall at 0:44.) (tags: westernsahara ) Bardem says Spain should take the lead in Western Sahara conflict (Ignore the bloke wandering around the back between 0:04 and 0:11.) (tags: westernsahara )
What a shocking week for the Government. We're well past the odd mishap. As the Government careers from one problem to another we're now shading into something rather more embarrassing. With the exception of some über-loyalists with an eye to preferment, excoriating comment is emerging from all points on the political spectrum. We've witnessed the Chancellor delivering tax U-turn after U-turn - on pasties, caravans, charitable giving and, most recently, possibly, on skips. Many thought this year's budget was objectionable for its overtly ideological stance - everything geared towards delivering a cut in the 50p tax rate. Shortly afterwards Damien ...
Despite the intermittent broadband and non-existent O2 signal I am determined to keep blogging from the Hay Festival if possible.Naturally, it is raining but many inhabitants of Mid Wales may take heart from the news in today's Observer that the Chancellor of the Exchequer plans to cut back wind farm subsidies.Whether that is retaliation for Nick Clegg refusing to back Jeremy Hunt is not clear, but it is very possible.Meanwhile, hours of entertainment are anticipated by the discovery of a local scandal rag called Hay-on-Wire, full of in-jokes and pseudo-scandal not fit for a blog of this nature.
But I'm a good Mormon wife - Salon.com Beautiful, heartfelt post about losing one's religion, and yet my biggest take-away from it is... SACRED UNDERWEAR? WTF? (tags: ) "let's pretend social interactions happen without social context" (tags: ) sex is not the enemy Definitely not safe for work; but utterly awesome. (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
The other day, I wrote a gentle piece about Scottish independence, focusing on some of the issues which should impact on any decision that Scots might make when voting in a referendum on the subject. My dear friend, and fellow Liberal Democrat Voice day editor, Caron Lindsay, very kindly tweeted that my words might be of interest and, indeed, I did trigger a response from a pro-independence campaigner, who challenged my suggestion that Scotland is perceived to have disproportionately high levels of public sector employment. I'll be honest, trying to challenge the existence of a perception is pretty brave, especially ...
Another brilliant event from Over The Air. The perfect mix of lectures, hacking, and relaxing in a country manor / museum. And, to top it off, my hack won a brace of prizes! The Wifi just about held up. Although I think it's fundamentally impossible to provide decent connectivity to 200+ people. Especially when they're geeks. Still liking @Edent's 'Music of the Geeks' on his android theremin. Beautiful. :) #OTA12 [IMG: flattr this!]
Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 560 party members responded, and we're publishing the full results. Members oppose accreditation 52%-36% The decision by the party to approve a system of police accreditation for Lib Dem members attending this year's Autumn Conference triggered one of LibDemVoice's most vigorous recent comments threads. We asked our sample of members their view: LDV asked: The party has announced there will be a system of police accreditation for members attending this year's ...
Saturday dawned rather colder than we'd hoped but undaunted the Parish Council and community volunteers were up and out on the grass at Orchard shops by 8a.m. For some that was a previously undiscovered time on a Saturday morning and I'm enormously grateful to them all. By 10 the fencing was adorned with bunting and flags, the grass was fenced off as a safety measure to deter children from
Had an enjoyable time at the WestFest Royal Twisted Tea Party at the Vine yesterday - a great start to the build-up to WestFest 2012. Here's a couple of photos!
Earlier this week my friend Chairman Cole sent the Olympic Torch Relay on its way to Bangor. Well I am glad to inform him that it made her safely to the second Bangor this week early this morning. Just after six it left Belfast and via Holywood arrived in Bangor just before 7am. I joined the crowd at the sea front. As first the convoy of sponsors vehicles Then the coaches and vans came by Before we finally saw the Torch bearer The reason we were all on the sea front was that a short walk/run away Was Upper Main ...
I'm on the Wave 102 news this morning about recycling improvements in the West End. Click 'play' below to listen:
Concern was expressed in yesterday's Courier that the new staff travel policy at Dundee City Council could adversely affect service provision to the City Council's customers. Views about this were, in particular, expressed about social work services. I have been in contact with the City Council's Chief Executive about this situation and he has responded to me as follows: "The policy has only recently been introduced, therefore it is perhaps too early for staff to make the allegations they have in the Courier this morning. However there is within the policy what I would describe as a test of reasonableness, ...
After yesterday's bit of mischief making, today's music choices are genuinely linked to the Jubilee as well as being pieces I love. First up, Handel's Coronation Anthem, Zadok The Priest, which has been played at British Coronations since 1727. Turn it up loud - it's the only way to listen to it! Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 was one of the pieces played after the service: Finally, the National Anthem with the Gordon Jacob fanfare used at the coronation itself... Andrew
You can download this poster as a higher-quality PDF here.
I have a race tomorrow. Most people don't know I'm running it and the few who do have been sworn to secrecy. I'll let you know how it goes. *grin* What I DO know is that I had the most random & fabulous adventure today and finished up with best darn pre-race pasta party. It was held at and cooked for by the Sons of Italy/the local Catholic church and I could seriously smell the garlic a block away. Omnomnomnom.
A blood-stained "do not disturb" sign hung on the door of hotel room 1215 of the Dupont Plaza in down-town Miami. Inside, the bodies of Chinese-Jamaican father and son Derrick Moo Young, 53, and his son Duane, 23, lay on ... Continue reading →
