... and we went to look up how much the DVDs were because we all remembered it being so funny, and we came across this description for season one [with added comments by me]:Alexis Colby is divorced from Blake Carrington, a fabulously wealthy oil magnate who marries his secretary [and her cast iron hair] Krystle Jennings at the show's inception; the jealous Alexis, head of her own oil corporation [aren't we all?], does everything she can to destroy their union. The rest of the cast is comprised of Blake and Alexis' four children: the promiscuous amnesiac Fallon [isn't she the ...
This series of posts has been inspired by one of my best friends, Dr Kirsty Newman who's been blogging on a similar theme from a scientific perspective over at . It's also been inspired by this post on lifehacker , on how we can think critically about the information we are presented with..... So I turn to examining your sources. I've been tripped up in the past, (and so have those around me who admit it with varying degrees of honesty!) by facts changing, or not being as first presented, or having reacted on the basis of a theory ...
As the by-election in Kingston's Grove Ward enters its final days the Conservative campaign has turned distinctly negative with an array of attacks on the Lib Dem administration of the council. Their candidate a Tony Robinson look a like - named Adrian Amer - is described on the Tories election website as a: "Local Candidate, Crime Fighting Barrister, Kingstonian... Adrian has lived in Kingston for most of his adult life. He has been actively involved in the Community in Kingston for over 20 years and stood as a candidate for Grove ward in the last election. But it wasn't always ...
A sweet television commercial drawn by Raymond Briggs for British Rail's Saver tickets in 1988. And is that Johnny Morris doing the voice over? Thanks to @BrownhillsBob on Twitter.
It is perfectly ridiculous that the nation's premier TV channel has been put aside for an entire Saturday evening for a third round tennis match, whch amounts to the usual torture. Thank goodness that dear old Auntie Beeb has put on Billy's King Dick 2 on BBC 2. It really is superb. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
We Harborough bloggers often hang out together. Last Sunday I had coffee with Wartime Housewife and Unmitigated England, and the day before Backwatersman got on the bus when I was coming back from Long Buckby. That pilgrimage to Long Buckby to see the grave of Stanley Unwin led me on to Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance and to The Passing Show. But Backwatersman had already written about them back in May 2010, when he posted a video of the song "More Debris": This is a solo rendition by Lane and his band Slim Chance, from the period when he had ...
This is the oldest building in Leicester. Parts of St Nicholas Church date from 900 and, in the words of Paul Courtney, it has a claim, however uncertain, to be the site of the mid-Saxon cathedral on the basis of its siting in the civic hub of the Roman city. Its east-end must more or less front on the former Roman street running past the west side of the forum.And if you look at the photograph above you can see a couple of courses of Roman tile laid in herringbone fashion in the tower. Which is not surprising because there ...
Non-fiction 6 (YTD 28) The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell Jar Jar Binks Must Die, by Dan Kimmel The Flowering of New England 1815-1865, by Van Wyck Brooks The Steampunk Bible, by Jeff VanderMeer with S.J. Chambers et al. The Young Elizabeth, by Alison Plowden Danger to Elizabeth, by Alison Plowden Fiction (non-sf) 3 (YTD 14) Hard Times, by Charles Dickens A Good Hanging and Other Stories, by Ian Rankin Lust, Caution and Other Stories, by Eileen Chang sf (non-Who) 7 (YTD 39) Redemption in Indigo, by Karen Lord The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, by Selma Lagerlöf The Best Science ...
Lord Leveson has not produced his recommendations yet, and when he does many of us of a Liberal persuasion may not like them. But we can already say that his inquiry has been a great success. That is because it has laid bare the working of politicians and the media. We have heard editors, owners and politicians describing that they do under forensic questioning and on oath. It seems it was the US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis who first said "sunlight is the best disinfectant". He was right, but the Leveson Inquiry has done more than expose wrongdoing. It ...
Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform want to submit the following motion to the party's autumn Federal Conference. If you are a voting conference rep and would like to help make sure the motion gets enough signatures, please email the LDER Chair Crispin Allard with your name, local party and membership number. Thanks. Motion text: 2014 Elections to the European Parliament Conference notes: that all EU member states are required to use a proportional system for elections to the European Parliament that British elections to the European Parliament have been held using closed party lists since 1999 that the Liberal Democrats ...
On Thursday the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) released a brief story in which it: warned that the sector faces "gross regulatory overload" that serves only to drive up rents at a time when tenants can least afford it. The RLA is conducting an exercise on the costs of regulation and has identified "over 100 individual pieces of legislation and regulation containing around 400 individual measures affecting the sector". The following examples were offered: Amongst the measures is legislation going back to the 1730s, such as the 1730 Landlord and Tenant Act, allowing landlords to require tenants to pay double the ...
Recently RIM contact developers asking for feedback on why we were or were not planning on developing for Blackberry 10. I was paid $50 for my opinion – in Amazon vouchers. I hope this hasn't comprimised the honesty of my answers. These are just my thoughts – I can't claim that they would solve RIM's problems, but I do think they would be a good way to help reclaim developer mindshare. What are the main reasons why you are not planning to develop applications for the Blackberry 10 platform?Platform won't be available until 2013!Probably no Linux platform.Tiny marketshare unless majority ...
A timely article in the Independent today makes the point we have been struggling to advocate-namely that the dominant model of ownership-the plc- is central to the problems of Britain's economic. At a time when shareholder-driven business is reeling from self inflicted wounds, mutuals - which are owned by and accountable to their customers -have been seen by many as part of the solution........... ............as Vince Cable said last week: "The destruction of the British building society movement ... was one of the great acts of economic vandalism of modern times." full article here Just as we need to up ...
There is currently a debate going on in Manchester about whether Private Hire Taxi Vehicles (PHVs) should be allowed to use Bus Lanes in the same way Hackney Carriages (Black Cabs) are permitted to. The City Council is unwilling to allow Private Hire Taxis in the Bus Lanes because they're concerned about how they could distinguish them from motorists and other Council's Private Taxis and what impact it would have on Buses. This is part of the reply I recently recieved from the Council's Deputy Chief Executive: However the Manchester Private Hire Association argue that the reasons Private Hire Taxis ...
Sat 30th
17:00
The Case For Scottish Independence: Devolution has failed - time to try something else
By Graeme Cowie I am a Liberal Democrat. I am not a nationalist. I identify as Glaswegian, Scottish, British and European. I support Scottish independence. Until that last sentence, most within the Lib Dems, especially the Scottish Lib Dems, wouldn't have batted an eyelid. Yet my experience is that final sentence leaves a great many ...
... one traffic island finally repaired by Westminster Council: Phew. Now, about that graffiti...
Second Reading of my Caravan Sites Bill yesterday. It now goes into Committee on a date to be agreed by the 'usual channels'. a weekly meeting of the Whips. Realistically, the chances of getting it onto the statute book are zero, so the objective is to get some ideas on the record and tease out further information about progress - if any - with the Government's site funding and planning for Traveller site proposals.
[IMG: Posted by Picasa]
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. Miliband surges to -43%, best rating yet among Lib Dems LDV asked: Do you think Ed Miliband is doing well or badly as leader of the Labour party? (Results in March in brackets) 1% – Very well 25% – Well Total well = 26% (7%) 51% – Badly 18% – Very badly Total badly = 69% (91)% 6% – Don't know ...
Tucked away on the OU platform website this week was an article written by Dr Petrina Stevens (the OU community representative on Senate). The full text of the article is available here and appears to be a brief summary of the key findings of the long-awaited postgraduate review, presented to Senate by Professor Sharon Ding. I'm all too aware of the difficulties of getting the gist of what I hope was an incredibly detailed presentation and fiery debate into a brief article. However if what has been reported is an accurate reflection of the postgraduate review then I'm very disappointed ...
I guess we were all shocked but not totally surprised by revelations about bankers this week. Over the last few years the cornerstones of a functioning liberal democracy – a trusted legislature, independent press and free markets, have all been shaken to their foundations, rocked by scandal. The minority of MPs who fiddled their expenses ...
[IMG: Overflowing recycling bins on corner of Stroud Green Road] I've had a number of complaints about the corner of Stroud Green Road and Upper Tollington Park (outside the excellent Vagabond cafe), where rubbish keeps piling up around the large recycling bins. I keep reporting the problem, but every time I'm in the area it still looks the same (see photo taken yesterday). The reoccurring problem seems to be caused by a combination of the recycling bins not being emptied enough, and local businesses dumping their rubbish there. I've emailed and spoken to our extremely diligent 'Neighbourhood Action Officer' who ...
Full details of the timetable and related events shown here: Market Promotion_Residents Handout
This week Conservatives in government have been flying a lot of kites about slashing welfare benefits – especially to those under 25 years of age. They've made it clear that these kites are about what the Conservatives are planning to put in their manifesto for the national elections in 2015. It's clear they'd be proposing these changes to implement now if the conservatives weren't in a coalition. Without the huge brake of the Lib Dems this shows what the Tories really want to be doing.
Writing in the Financial Times this week, Nick Clegg warned: In the debate on banking union we back greater co-operation on various aspects of an integrated financial system: common rules on the restructuring of failed banks, shared principles on how to protect depositors, high minimum standards for the capital EU banks should hold and a strong European Banking Authority. As for the second caricature, the idea that the UK is all about City opt-outs and financial deregulation, that has been out of date since this government took office. In reality, the UK has been arguing for tightening, not loosening regulation, ...
So we are in Liege in Belgium for what the start of the 99th Edition of the Tour de France. No Centenaries this year but some new places to visit and new mountains to climb. Though over 90km of time trialling and no severe mountain top finishes. Just the sort of route that may suit a certain Brit. But first up there is a 6.4km prologue around Liege. There is an old adage that the Tour cannot be be won on the prologue. While that may be true with only a few seconds separating the top riders when we get ...
Sorry. Couldn't resist.
I was well chuffed last night when I came in late from an evening at Gwyl Fawr Aberteifi to read that London Welsh have won their legal battle for promotion to the Premiership - English rugby's top flight. They deserved to do so just by the fact that they won the championship play-off final with a 66-41 aggregate victory over the Cornish Pirates. But the appeal panel ruled that the RFU's MSC contravenes EU and UK competition law and therefore found in favour of London Welsh, at the Newcastle Falcons' expense. I've been following London Welsh for years from afar ...
If David Cameron continues in the same vein as this week he will become the Liberal Democrat's greatest asset. His 17 point plan to curtail welfare benefits reveals that "compassionate conservatism" was always a façade and the "nasty party" lurks strong and virulent under a very thin veneer. Daftest of the proposals is that to stop all (my emphasis) housing benefit to the under-25s. That would include those already married or in partnerships, and possibly with children, those who have done what Cameron is fond of calling the "right thing", got on their bikes and found work away from the ...
This is the latest in my series of Random Thoughts posts with links, things found on the web and other stuf that has occured to me between 25th June and 30th June: Bill Rammell has a new job at university - no politics involved An interview with the new Vice Chancellor at the University of Bedfordshire. David Boyle to head Cabinet Office review of choice in public services This is some of the best news (re the Lib Dems in government) that I have heard for ages. There is a lot of talk about the need for reform of public ...
How Science-Geek Culture Discourages Female Science-Geeks | Geek Feminism Blog (tags: ) Is the Internet Convincing Women Not To Study Computer Science? - Beth Andres-Beck Very interesting study with proper academic citations. (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
There's an interesting piece up on LDV pointing out that the latest IFS report has said that the new system of Tuition Fees is more progressive than that introduced by Labour. They've also added some 'interesting' comments from the Guardian on their original story. But I'd add two more points There is a perfectly valid argument that the new system is fairer than the old - and we have singularly failed to get this point across. But I think we should be saying 'it's better than the old system but not as good as our preferred option - and still ...
News from the IFS confirms what others, including Money Saving Expert's Martin Lewis and of course Nick Clegg, have previously argued: The government's decision to raise maximum tuition fees to £9,000 will create a system that is "substantially more progressive" than the previous system. That is because the 30% of graduates with the lowest lifetime earnings will be better off under the new arrangements. And no cynical comments please about just how far down The Guardian's story this paragraph was placed [IMG: :-)] P.S. As it's the weekend and people may have other things to do, in order to save ...
In just a few hours time (1pm UK time, 2pm local) Tom Veelers from Team Argos-Shimano will get his moment of glory as the first rider to set off in the prologue of the 2012 Tour De France. After him, riders will go off every minute until Cadel Evans is the final man to depart the starting gate at 4.17pm (UK time). It's a relatively simple course for the prologue – just 6km long, with no real climbs or drops and only a couple of hairpin turns to add some technical difficulty: So, while this is a course of which ...
Sat 30th
09:00
The British Bankers Association reminds us all once again what seems to be the hardest word.
Here's the statement put out by the BBA on the Libor scandal. Can you spot anything missing? BBA statement on FSA LIBOR investigation27 Jun 2012The BBA said: "This is an announcement with extremely serious implications which need to be carefully considered and the investigation findings will be fully included in the current review of Libor. This review was announced earlier this year and the authorities are fully engaged with it. Today's statement by the Financial Services Authority is the strongest possible confirmation that the LIBOR contributions and processes followed by the contributor banks must meet the necessary regulatory obligations and ...
ACTION PACKED PROGRAMME AT TRING CARNIVAL TODAY Tring Carnival procession down High Street to Pound Meadow today starting at Christchurch Road at 2 pm. Complete with a Steam Engine & Mayor! But you don't have to wait for the Procession – get started early with Revelation Majorettes at 12.30 pm in Pound Meadow. 55 stalls plus rides AND Ferret Racing! Six places to eat from noon onwards. Prefer a liquid lunch? No problem – visit the Tring Brewery Beer Festival in the Marquee! Music in the Marquee from 7.30 pm and Jazz on Sunday afternoon from 12 noon.
The Guardian reports: Sexual predators in the police are abusing their power to target victims of crime they are supposed to be helping, as well as fellow officers and female staff, the Guardian can reveal. An investigation into the scale and extent of the problem suggests sexual misconduct could be more widespread than previously believed. The situation raises questions about the efficacy of the police complaints system, the police's internal whistleblowing procedures, the vetting of officers and a failure to monitor disciplinary offences. Meanwhile, in other news Theresa May wants to give the police more powers to spy on the ...
Would I like to enter the ballot for a free ticket for the final technical rehearsal for the Olympic Opening Ceremony? You bet - and last week I learnt that I had won! This is one of the perks of being a Games Maker (aka volunteer). I nearly missed that opportunity because a few weeks ago I came quite close to dropping out. I received a bit of a shock when I read my shift times at ExCel during the Paralympics. During training we had been warned that some shifts might begin very early, with examples given of 7am starts. ...
The Independent reports: The Government was under growing pressure last night to call a public inquiry into the behaviour of Britain's bankers as the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, admitted the sector was a "massive cesspit" that needed cleaning up. * Newshound sets the agenda, as you would expect from a Red Setter
Following several complaints from residents, we've got in touch with Northern Rail and asking them to turn down the volume on the tannoy system at Gatley Station. The tannoy, which hasn't previously been an issue (and it's fairly new) can now be clearly heard from nearby houses, even those on the far side of the station car park. Northern Rail have confirmed that their engineers will look into it – we'll continue to press for action.
Back in 2009, my sister in law and former council colleague Helen Dick who retired from the City Council at the May election, and I decided to refuse the councillor salary increase. Two Conservative councillors - to their credit - did the same; not a single Labour or SNP councillor did. I have since confirmed that I will continue to refuse that increase throughout the new council term to 2017. It was not responsible of councillors to accept salary increases when workers across the public and private sectors were - and are - facing pay freezes and cuts. I remain ...
I am off to Bridgend this afternnon to take part in a march through town to commemorate Armed Forces Day. That is not all that will be happening though, as shortly after the march finishes the local Cat Protection Adoption Centre will be running a world record attempt in the town centre. The attempt is to break the record for the largest gathering of people dressed as cats and there will also be a Moggytastic costume show for the best dressed cat about town. The current record stands at 800 people so they are looking to smash this. Find out ...
Back in March, I reported one of my local councillors - Tim Dennen - left the Lib Dems to sit as an independent, citing 'personal reasons'. Over the intervening months it has become clear that he has become close to local Tories - who obviously have wooed him assiduously. This close relationship culminated with him being supported by the Tories for the Chair of Kingston Town Neighbourhood - the local area committee that deals with planning, local environment and other community issues. It, like everything in local government these days, comes with a generous stipend of £10k (on top of ...
One good aspect of Britain's political system is that when MPs become Ministers they retain their seats in the House of Commons as well as their constituency responsibilities. That is particularly important for Liberal Democrats, many of whom got into Parliament because they made their mark as community champions. So even if their Ministerial diaries are ...
