Many of us when children like to imagine we are someone else, though few carry such fantasies into adulthood. It takes a very strange mind indeed to take on multiple personalities, serially, but that is what a young Frenchman of half-Arab parentage, Frédéric Bourdin, did before assuming the identity of an American teenager seven years his junior who ...
Day three and the GB Paralympic gold rush continues so too do the stamps, though not until Monday. It really was a Superhuman Saturday First up in the velodrome there was success in the men's B 1km for Neil Fachie and his sighted pilot Barney Storey (yes keeping the gold rush in the family is Sarah Storey's husband). Neil gets a gold post box in Aberdeen and Barney as well as getting a gold medal (a first for the pilot riders) gets a gold post box in Disley, Chesire. The track produced our next medal with our very own homegrown ...
Mitt Romney is quoted by the Huffington Post, telling a homeless hurricane victim in Louisiana to call the information line for health and human services programs. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
I have recently been to London for a couple of days and you can see some of the photos that I took at http://photographyfornovices.blogspot.co.uk/ I know that events are particularly painful for those involved and even for those who just see what is happening on television. It was surprising then to see the smiling faces on the left. The only serious aspect was a sign that read 'Assad Stop Killing Children'. The view of the Palace of Westminster is a little different because there are only five people in the photo and one vehicle. Well it was early morning. I ...
Sorry for the absence for a few days — and especially for not having the ebook version of the Kinks book finished yet. I've not been very well. I will, however, have a post up tomorrow on Mindless Ones about tonight's Doctor Who. Speaking of which... the reason there haven't been any Bigger On The ...
Not had music for some time on the blog, so there follows a couple of favourites - firstly this from Beyoncé, Sharon Leal and Anika Noni Rose performing "One Night Only":
First the good news. David phoned me on Thursday and he tried his best to reduce or remove the charges as outlined in my last blog entry. He couldn't change anything. I did ask about the deposit and how a credit check had caused this charge as I don't know of any previous debt. He told me that I was not a bad debtor but couldn't explain the reason for the charge. He was still looking for a better price for BT Vision when I had to tell him twice that there really was no reason to do so. I ...
Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference Agenda 2012 Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference 2012 Directory
Democrats hold their convention next week and it is creating waves of the wrong sort. The Democrat's convention isn't providing a crèche and every single little person including babies have to be registered. Democrats are well known for being the party that supports women's rights and I find it shocking that a major American party is limiting Women's attendance at their national convention. Childcare is an issue even for non-feminist women and providing childcare is the entry point for mothers to be able to participate. I should know! I cut my political teeth at a few Lib Dem crèches years ...
Adverse selection in political discourse - Another masterclass from Mr Dillow Pot and IQ - A Flawed Debate - Yes, yes, 1000 times yes! As Ed Miliband knows, Labour must learn to forgive the Lib Dems - Most sensible Toynbee column I've read in years Bookies won't pay out granny's Olympics bet - According to the BetFred account on Twitter they have already paid her: Wonder how much the 1700+ comments on the post contributed to that ;) The Sun's interview with violinist Nicola Benedetti was a masterclass in sexism (via @AGBear) - This almost seems like a parody BBC ...
Doctor Who's back on TV in half an hour, and to celebrate, Richard and I have put up our questions and answers about the first of one of Doctor Who's greatest eras - the New Adventures. So, click here to find out more about Timewyrm: Genesys, and reviews are likely to follow within the next week. We're also celebrating the 33rd anniversary this evening of the first broadcast of Destiny of the Daleks, the last story written for the show by Terry Nation and the first script-edited by Douglas Adams. Of course, back in 1979 Doctor Who was very different. ...
Having just given Nick Clegg two cheers (see previous post) I can hardly join the silly season clamour for ditching him. I agree that the party's performance in government has been somewhat accident-prone, to put it as kindly as possible. But the faults are shared ones, for which Clegg has received a disproportionate amount of opprobrium which, as Paddy Ashdown has pointed out , Clegg has borne with "a grace under fire that should make us proud." I cannot accept, however, Ashdown's modest assertion that "It is the job of our (Liberal Democrat) leader to take us into government. I ...
I'm getting to the end of the Torchwood books; this one has all the narrative problems of a book set between series 2 and Children of Earth - massive alien menace threatening to destroy the world starting with Cardiff, serious threat to Ianto's life, both of which we recover from effectively with a giant reset button. It is well told, with great scenes from the blowfish and the visceral horror of the undead, but the framework is a bit predictable.
Kelly Brook Earlier this week there was a brief debate in the letters page of the Metro as to whether Rochester's favourite daughter, Kelly Brook, was indeed a good role model for young women in today's society. In fact the letter I read was firmly against such an accolade. It criticised Miss Brook stating that she was hardly a role model as she was only famous for taking her clothes off for money. This is indeed a fair point. After all Kelly's career started back in the 90s as a model and she soon found herself advertising Bravvisimo bras and ...
From 11am this morning in Hanwell near the clock tower, we were collecting signatures to stop Ealing Hospital and other local hospitals from being downgraded. Councillors Nigel Bakhai, Jon Ball and Andrew Steed was there to give assistance to our helpers who were speaking to residents encouraging them to sign the petitions and have their say via the official consultation. Please check out the consultation documents and have your say. Also sign the petition that Ealing Council set up to stop hospital downgrades. Here are some pics of the afternoon... Councillor Nigel Bakhai with Councillor Gary Malcolm campaigning in Hanwell ...
Today we are glad to welcome the Alliance Party to the cause of marriage equality here in Northern Ireland. When Belfast City Council was the first to debate this issue they were behind the curve and caught on the hop, but after completing a consultation with members today they passed the following motion. "That, in line with Alliance's core commitment to equality and to freedom of religion, party council supports the extension of civil marriage provisions to same sex couples, provided that robust protections are provided through legislation to ensure that faith groups and religious celebrants will not be forced ...
Took a quick spin around the Parkside estate today. [IMG: More in Slideshow] More in Slideshow: Leaving Parkside to deteriorate like this is not on. In the long run it's false economy as the weeds undermine the pathways and roadways which will require even more public money to put right. And it's not just weeds that need tackling, it's self planted trees, too. Come on Central Bedfordshire Council. You can do better!
Peter Kellner'e YouGov article this week on the Lib Dems' flagging fortunes is getting lot of airplay in Lib Dems circles and social media. There is a good discussion on this piece with an article by Nick Thornsby on at Lib Dem Voice at the moment. Apologies for adding to the word count but I thought it worth adding ...
Sorry for not doing this yesterday on the second day of the Paralympics but I was seeing Games Makers, the Paralympic Agitos hanging from Tower Bridge and watched some of the coverage on the big screen at Potters Field next to City Hall after I had a job interview. So day two saw two more golds. First up was the first Paralympic stamp for Wales and a gold post box in for Tredegar in Blaenau Gwent because of Mark Colbourne's win in the men's C1 individual pursuit. The athletics started in the Olympic Stadium and there was gold from the ...
A mailbox. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
"Doctors told to try and talk women out of epidurals to save NHS money" screamed yesterday's Daily Mail headline. I could understand women reading that and being outraged and terrified. Fortunately, this being the Mail, the truth is not as bad as the headline implies. Rather than being a miserly, deficit-busting ministerial directive, this is expert, evidence based guidance drawn up by the Royal Colleges of Midwives and Obstetricians with the help of the National Childbirth Trust. It aims to reduce the amount of medical intervention during childbirth because that's best for both mother and baby. Nowhere in the guidance ...
The Gregor Demarkian mysteries were recommended to me by widgetfox some time back, and I have several on the shelves; this is the first in chronological order, an Armenian-American widower and FBI veteran who is co-opted by a wealthy family to investigate a suitably Byzantine series of murders. It was well described in beautiful detail of setting and character, but the family are almost all really unpleasant people (apart from one sister who is a best-selling fantasy novelist) and I guessed the culprit correctly at quite an early stage. I'll read the ones still on the shelf but not sure ...
Sat 1st
12:42
August Books 28-29) Alien Adventures: The Underwater War by Richard Dinnick, Rain of Terror by Mike
One of the 2-in-1 Who volumes for younger readers produced earlier this year, with no particular thematic link between the stories other than that both happen on alien planets. The Underwater War is rather slight, an old-fashioned don't-fear-the-Other tale with an implausible language made of colours, but some decent Rory/Amy character moments and a gratifyingly large number of Old Who continuity references (things have rather changed in that regard since the early years of RTD). Rain of Terror is more substantial, 'orrible omnivorous voracious aliens, corrupt scientists and an epic train ride; but loses points for gender determinism, with two ...
At the full council meeting on Tuesday there is a motion to do with Cornwall Council's decision to enter into a joint venture partnership to deliver a range of services including libraries and one stop shops, payroll and back office services. Because the venture will involve creating a private company which will be (at least) majority controlled by the private sector partner and because there will be no councillor representation on the board, we have described this move as privatisation. The power to take this decision rests with the cabinet and they have already voted to start the process. The ...
The foreign secretary William Hague claims Britain needs to shed it's guilt over the empire. It is no longer an issue, he said reclining on a plush leather chair while an African cleaner swept under his feet. The "old grudges" ... Continue reading →
The thing I care about most is to build a fairer society. A more socially mobile society, where a person's opportunities do not depend on the circumstances of their birth. - Nick Clegg
Cambridge City Council has made available, via the Area Committees, grants for local groups. Some examples of the type of things that can be fully or partially funded;Summer outing for elderly peopleProducing a newsletter for local residentsSports and arts activitiesCommunity events and festivalsFull information (and contact details) are available here (Google Docs, PDF). The first round of funding was completed in March and grants were awarded at the 17th May meeting of the North Area Committee. This round closes on the 30th September for decision at the 22nd November meeting. If you want help putting together a bid please contact ...
The changing nature of high street shop windows picks up many threads of wider change in society. Not only the increasing homogenisation of them as national chains with standard shop front designs have spread out across the country. But also varying attitudes towards, and technologies for, tackling crime. Large glass panes frequently sprouted metal shutters – immediately effective, relatively cheap and yet ugly ways of stopping the classic smash and grab crimes. Then a move away from shutters following an increasing awareness that ugly, off-putting high streets bring about their own problems with crime and fear of crime, with empty, ...
Checking Naomi Wolf's 8 big problems in the Assange case and coming up empty Assange defence witness speaks bluntly. (tags: wikileaks ) How Two Amateur Sleuths Looked for FinSpy Software Tracking state espionage. (tags: internet ) Campaigns Play Loose With Truth in a Fact-Check Age "They don't care, because it gets votes." (tags: uspolitics )
I am a Liberal Democrat because I believe in liberalism as a guiding ideology offering the best template for organising society in such a way as to give communities and citizens the greatest possible autonomy over their destinies. Challenging both state and commercial concentrations of power, safeguarding personal liberty and removing the obstacles which prevent ...
Sat 1st
10:36
Tories' Corby candidate Christine Emmett thinks her party's leadership does not know what it is doin...
Congratulations to Rutland blogger Martin Brookes for finding this insight into the thinking of the newly selected Conservative candidate in the Corby by-election. It dates from last year. Come to think of it, someone with contempt for David Cameron would fit in very well on the Tory backbenches. But she is unlikely to make it to the Commons, at least from Corby.
Local Lib Dem ward councillor, Darren Fower says it seems to have gone quiet in the area of Coverdale Walk, in recent weeks? Prior to that, both Cllr Julia Davidson and he, had received reports from local residents, including some in Ainsdale Drive, about problems occurring specifically at weekends. Darren has now visited the site several times and raised the issue with the police via their Facebook page, who told him, "The local team is aware of the ASB issues around this area and are regularly visiting to monitor the situation." Newly elected fellow LIB DEM councillor, Julia Davidson, also ...
Blackpool, Caligula and controversial anniversaries « Penelope's Weavings and Unpickings (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
The death of Neil Armstrong has, rightly, caused a certain amount of introspection around the world. Although I was a very small child, I can remember the Apollo Missions quite clearly, and apart from the amazing technical achievement, the thing I remember most was the sense of anticipation- that the Moon landings were not merely valuable for themselves, but that they marked a whole new era of manned space exploration. Each mission carried more and did more and for longer. It seemed that it would be a very short time before humans were permanently on the Moon, and the Sci-Fi ...
Although the party has been warming to fighting the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, estimates as to how many Liberal Democrat candidates there will be in the November contests vary hugely. So here's a first attempt from me to track the answer comprehensively, based primarily on the adverts which have so far appeared inviting people to apply for the selection in particular contests. As a result, the list will (so far) miss out some areas where the party has 100% decided to contest the election but an advert has not yet appeared. If you know of any others where the ...
Non-fiction 4 (YTD 40) The Battle for God, by Karen Armstrong The Portable Greek Historians, ed. M.I. Finley The Reign of Elizabeth 1558-1603, by J.B. Black The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, by Émile Durkheim Fiction (non-sf) 8 (YTD 31) Gold from Gemini, by Jonathan Gash Watchman, by Ian Rankin The Public Prosecutor, by Jef Geeraerts Jade Woman, by Jonathan Gash Emil and the Detectives, by Emil Kästner The Great California Game, by Jonathan Gash Tender is the Night, by F. Scott Fitzgerald Not A Creature Was Stirring, by Jane Haddam SF (non-Who) 7 (YTD 50) Spectrum IV, ed. Kingsley ...
I am on Wave 102 news this morning, speaking about today's lecture by Professor Martin Kemp to mark the start of the opening of the "Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration from the Royal Collection'' exhibition at The McManus. Click 'play' below to listen:
The UK tax system is a mess. At 11,560 pages, it is five times longer than the German tax code. It allows so many exemptions at the top end that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a smaller proportion to the treasury than the poorest. So despite the Daily Mail's drivel about the rich being "overtaxed", the fact is that the tax burden in Britain falls disproportionately on the middle class. So the Lib Dem proposal to impose a super-tax on the wealthy has some superficial economic merit. Unfortunately it is a cynical exercise in the politics of the focus group. The ...
One week till the Bar Hill Community Market! The date for the next Bar Hill Community Market has been announced; Saturday 8th September in the Octagon (30 seconds walk from Tesco Car Park) in Bar Hill. The market is open from 10:30am until 2pm and also features a Craft and Art Exhibition in Bar Hill Church (right next to the Octagon). The market features fruit and vegetables, Homemade cakes, Jewellery, Greetings Cards, Confectionery, Jams, Knitted items,Patchwork, Bags, Wooden crafts, Beauty products and lots more! Fundraising for local groups and projects will also be going on as well and there will ...
Welcome to the third Saturday Six selection of some of the best blogposts and articles I've read over the past week. As ever, it's not a "Top 6", exhaustive or definitive selection - just six that I've earmarked as interesting or notable. First up, former Lib Dem President Baroness Ros Scott gains an insight into the workings of the TV and Film Production industry and provides an insight into the workings of Parliament and how members acquire knowledge of outside interests. Nadine Dorries is not someone I would normally read - but this piece is entertaining in as far as ...
Having campaigned for a long time to see the unadopted and poor-conditioned pavements brought up to a good standard, I am delighted that the area of Hillside Road, Hillside Terrace, Hillside Place and Hillside Drive is now having its pavements upgraded and adopted by Dundee City Council. Back in 2007, I proposed - and the City Council agreed - to increase annual capital funding on the unadopted footways programme by two and a half fold to £500 000. This increased funding is having a real and positive impact in getting unadopted pavements upgraded and improved across the West End and ...
The last time the Republicans won the presidency without a Bush or a Nixon on the ticket was 1928.
Speaking at the City Council's Scrutiny Committee recently, I warmly welcomed Leisure & Culture Dundee's Dundee Festival of Libraries initiative. The festival starts today and there's lots of activities across the city's libraries this month, including at our own Blackness Library. You can download a copy of the brochure at http://tinyurl.com/libraryfestival2012.
Yesterday's Guardian says that the way in which the Royal family, and Prince Charles in particular, are able to influence legislation so as to protect their own interests is about to be exposed in graphic detail. The information commissioner has ruled that the Cabinet Office must publish an internal Whitehall guide to the way the senior royals are consulted before legislation is introduced: The application of the controversial veto was revealed by the Guardian last year and has been described by constitutional lawyers as "a royal nuclear deterrent". Some believe its existence may underpin the influence Charles appears to wield ...
The performance of First Capital Connect (FCC) is to be scrutinised by St Albans City and District Council's Local Services Scrutiny Committee on 27 September 2012. Senior management from FCC and Network Rail will be questioned at the meeting on the progress they have made since they met the Committee in January 2012. At that meeting in January, the Committee raised with management of both companies a number of issues relating to the Thameslink Service and local stations. It was particularly concerned about delays to the service, the level of information provided to passengers during periods of disruption and the ...
Christine Emmett has been chosen as the Conservative candidate in the Corby by-election, reports the BBC. She is a Conservative councillor from Rutland, representing Ketton war, and lives in a former windmill. More about Christine Emmett on her website. Her campaign has got off to a shaky start. The constituency's full name is Corby and East Northants, but some bright spark at Conservative HQ, as Cranmer shows, thought she had been chosen to fight Corby and North East Hants.
