I know I should be used to Royal Greenwich Council and the Objective-Free-Zone that is Greenwich Time but this "Bridge the Gap!" campaign really takes the biscuit. Yes there is an argument for more river crossings and yes some people are in favour of having the Silvertown Tunnel as the crossing. I personally would prefer not to have the ...
The excellent BBC documentary on this blog's musical hero has appeared on Youtube in its entirity. Copyright? Schmopyright.
Tomorrow's Observer claims privileged knowledge of Liberal Democrat tactics in the run up to the next election. Toby Helm writes: Nick Clegg will launch the pre-election process of distancing his party from the Conservatives on Monday, depicting one of the Liberal Democrats' key roles in the coalition as preventing the Tory right from pursuing a "fantasy world" outside the European Union ...Clegg will say: "The Tory right dreams of a fantasy world where we can walk away from the EU but magically keep our economy strong; where we can pretend that the world hasn't moved on and stand opposed to ...
One of our most treasured institutions in English life is the church, and, in particular, the Church Of England. Religion and faith is deeply rooted within our national conscience. Go to any English village or town and you will see, in pride of place, a church - sometimes it dominates the area, other times of more modest size, but in nearly every case it will be a main centrepiece of the community, an organiser of social activities, a place of celebration at Christmas, a place of solemn reflection on Remembrance Day, and always a place of worship and thanksgiving. I ...
Photo: Jongleur100 "I was particularly glad to read from you your comment that: 'it is no use standing up for civil liberties in opposition if you then forget all about them in power'. However I was disappointed in the omission from your email of any mention of the Justice and Security Bill which introduces secret courts into almost all civil proceedings." Jo Shaw, on behalf of Liberal Democrats Against Secret Courts, replies to Nick Clegg's latest weekly email. Charities should embrace the social enterprise model as part of their work and not become too dependent on public funds, Lord Wallace ...
Onwards and upwards with Odanglesex's transformation of its stationery operation. As usual, this is a repost with one or two changes (one change, in fact). FROM: Conor O'Connor, Director of Human Resources Development TO: Brett West, Head of Modernisation and Business Practice Brett - It was unfortunate that the last module of the Supersmart ordering training could not be delivered because the Supersmart order for the training from Piers, Gaveston, Edwards had not been completed. I'm afraid the failure was in our Directorate, so we'll hold our hands up. Verity Casement and Martin House can be booked as they achieved ...
Get rid of some of the extra weight I put back on since I became ill. Finish this novel Finish Fifty Stories For Fifty Years and get it bookified before November Write another book in the style of Sci-Ence! Justice Leak! Finish Beach Boys book 2. Record a solo album. Write more about comics. Posted ...
It's not much over 24 hours since we arrived in Birmingham for the Midnight Convention. Barely six of them have been spent sleeping. Essentially, conventions are like Lib Dem conference for Doctor Who fans. A meeting of all manner of creative, intelligent, funny people who share a passion for not just a tv programme but an underlying philosophy of tolerance and freedom. There is a lot of chatting to people you've never met before. Sitting around in bars discussing and debating. It's more than a little surreal that the Who fs dim is sharing this quite grand hotel with prize ...
Dear Nick, Thanks for your email about the Liberal Democrats successes this week on civil liberties. I was very pleased to hear of your decision to stand up for protecting freedoms of the individuals against an overreaching state. And the news about the Equal Marriage Bill is also good news for all who believe in equality. I was particularly glad to read from you your comment that: "it is no use standing up for civil liberties in opposition if you then forget all about them in power". However I was disappointed in the omission from your email of any mention ...
It's Saturday evening, so here are twelve thought-provoking articles to stimulate your thinking juices culled from the 50+ I've linked to from my Delcicious account this last week... Groundhog year – Peter Kellner examines the polls to find how 12 months' political turmoil has shifted popular opinion. The answer — not at all: 'public reaction this year to Britain's continuing economic troubles has been remarkably static. 2012 has been groundhog year.' What next? Osborne needs a change of direction – Adam Posen, a former member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England, lambasts the Chancellor's failed strategy: ...
Today is what should be the second busiest day for retailers in the whole year, only next Saturday should see more footfall and more turnover. However, with many already avoiding the city centre because of the ongoing protests news of a bomb alert in Castle Court will not help the local economy. The Saturdays in ...
Update from Amnesty International here about what they are asking their supporters to do to contact their MP, and suggestions of how to respond if the MP concerned supports the Justice and Security Bill:
Having worked in retail I know that today should have been the second busiest day in retailers' year. Only next Saturday the last before Christmas will see higher footfall and turnover. However, with tensions already heightened and many people avoiding Belfast City Centre, with the ongoing uncertainty about protests about the flag, we now have a bob alert phoned into Castle Court. The biggest retail mall in the City Centre on one of the busiest retail streets. Surronding businesses already affected last Saturday by the flags protest keeping people out of the city centre are seeing more people driven out ...
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, and his comments on Essex County Council's Tories are worth noting: Tory-controlled Essex County Council decided this week not to sue their disgraced former leader Lord Hanningfield for the £287,000 of ratepayers' money he spent flying around the world with cronies and dining in style. This is a rash move. In four and a half months, the council is up for re-election. I am appalled that Essex Tories have such a cavalier view of financial accountability. Anyone who votes to put them back into office next May is mad. (Emphasis added) ...
The mid-2000's were, it seems a bit of a purple patch in terms of correlation between my musical tastes and that of the tracks in the Hit Parade (as it used to be called!). This is consistent with the general rule that I prefer the music of the even decades: 60's, 80's, 00's... Indeed, the chosen track has elements from two of those decades. Here are the Audio Bullys with Shot You Down featuring Nancy Sinatra: Enjoy! Andrew
Whenever bad winter weather hits the UK and causes traffic problems, there's a chorus of "why can't we keep with it when other countries manage fine?" complaints. To which the simple answer is: have you taken a look at what really happens elsewhere? In that vein, here is some German travel news: [IMG: Snow covered car] More snow is on the way, said the German weather service (DWD) on Monday, adding to the thick blanket covering most of the country and exacerbating travel woes amid countless accidents on the roads... Hundreds of flights were cancelled over the weekend when Germany's ...
I'm not a fan of Stagecoach (see here). So I was somewhat surprised that they have signed up as a partner in a 'bus for jobs' scheme. In January some 800,000 unemployed jobseekers will be granted free bus travel. Greener Journeys - the campaign to promote sustainable travel - has forged a deal with the UK's leading bus companies to enable jobseekers, especially the young, to use their routes
Sat 15th
15:00
George Osborne thinks he can win by appealing to mean-spiritedness - I think he's wrong
During his pre-budget statement last week, the Chancellor George Osborne set out his intent to ensure that many benefits only rise by 1% for the next 3 years. This has been hailed by some on the right of politics as a fiscally responsible thing to do and a way of ensuring that benefits do not rise by more than many people's wages have in the last few years. There have been others who have claimed that it is regressive and unfair to heap such a burden of real-terms cuts on those in society least able to afford it. But what ...
The entirely wonderful Kid for Kids organisation, who've done great things with and for Consett Kids, need your support to boost their "Lego Nativity" to the top of the charts. So go on, watch and marvel at 7 year old Samuel Crow's delightful re-telling of the Christmas story, and if you don't go on to like it on Facebook, Bah Humbug to you.
The first edition of the new Liberal Democrat party magazine, Ad Lib, went out to all party members earlier this month. Future copies will only go to paying subscribers, so what to make of the first edition's efforts to make people part with their cash for future editions? Judging its contents I think requires bearing three main factors in mind: it's a monthly publication, it's one that is printed on paper and it's probably not aimed at you. Both the first two attributes are rather more modern than you might think at first glance, for the usual story of rise ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... www.thepoke.co.uk Lordy, I just came across @ThePoke's "Awkward Christmas Photos" http://bit.ly/VHhf3H. The public's *strange*, isn't it? David Lodge: rereading Anthony Trollope | Books | The Guardian Love Trollope, but never heard of The Fixed Period, novel set in 1980 abt compuls euthanasia. Sounds fascinating! http://bit.ly/U2kDde The new tuition fees regime is radically transforming patterns of student mobility within Higher Education | British Politics and Policy at LSE Is reason for slightly larger drop in HE participatn by wealthy bec they're opting to study abroad? asks Rachel Brooks http://bit.ly/U2k0QO Huckabee Blames Shooting on ...
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the "Celebrating Harris" film preview and exhibition at the Central Library and Steps Theatre. It was an extremely well-attended event - despite a horribly cold and rainy evening - with many pupils, parents, FPs and other residents attending. The film "Celebrating Harris" was both an entertaining and moving documentary created by Harris Academy pupils, with contributions from many former pupils including Sheena Wellington and Stefani Dailly and filmed by Pure Media UK. The exhibition and drama were also excellent and it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. "Celebrating Harris" is a great tribute ...
What an Omnishambles: Discussing the state of the Brtish media with Ian Hislop – An interesting and very open interview with the Private Eye editor. Invasion of the cyber hustlers – "The cyber-credo of "open" sounds so liberal and friendly that it is easy to miss its remarkable hypocrisy. The big technology companies that are the cybertheorists' beloved exemplars of the coming world order are anything but open. Google doesn't publish its search algorithm; Apple is notoriously secretive about its product plans; Facebook routinely changes its users' privacy options." The Innocent Man, Part One (and Part Two) – Very long ...
As promised, here's another of the policy resolutions passed at last month's ALDE Congress. You'll notice that it calls for significant cuts on the size of future budgets... The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in Dublin, Ireland on 8-10 November 2012 Recallsthe ongoing discussions on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reform as well as the negotiations concerning the Multiannual Financial Framework; the 2011 Theme Resolution where the Party: "Calls for a European budget which is adjusted to the priorities of the 21st Century in which a decreased percentage of the EU budget is allocated to structural ...
I spent the past couple of days in Edinburgh with 'day job' meetings and a reception. Edinburgh is looking lovely and festive, as the photos below allude to!
This is Aaron Sorkin's comment on major gun crime in the US. Taken from the West Wing episode 'In the Shadow of two gunmen (part 1)'. CJ Cregg, the White House Press Secretary, addresses a press conference after the President and members of his party have been shot.
Another week, another six blogposts for your delectation, education and enjoyment... First up this week, Graeme Cowie at Predictable Paradox compares Scotland's system of Maintenance Loans with the new Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loan regime in England and Wales with some interesting conclusions. Next - and I wouldn't normally read or link to Guido Fawkes - here are some graphs showing how the average Income Tax rates have altered in different income bands between 2009/10 and 2011/12. (He links to a table of HMRC data to support his argument - the original data from which that has been cribbed can ...
I wrote this before the Presidential election. I didn't publish it because it looked like Obama was going to win without my help. Also, it feels unseemly to meddle in another country's politics. Recent events have stirred me into posting. I don't know much about Mitt Romney's position on gun control. It doesn't seem to have come up much in the run up to the election. I can, I think, infer his thoughts on the matter after watching this exchange he had with Bob Garon, a Vietnam veteran who was having breakfast with his husband. You can jump to 1:50 ...
Sat 15th
11:55
Nick Clegg's 'Letter from the Leader': "no use standing up for civil liberties in opposition if you ...
Nick was spoiled for choice this week on which liberal touchstone issues to focus on in his latest weekly missive... Whether to talk about torpedoing of the Draft Data Communications Bill or perhaps his pro-reform/anti-drugs stance following this week's Home Affairs select committee report — in fact he talks about both, even linking them to his pro-Leveson position. Manna from heaven to Lib Dem activists. The only surprise is that this week's equal marriage proposals aren't mentioned... Do you want the Home Secretary to be able to order the storage of vast quantities of data about who you email and ...
With only ten days 'til Christmas, thoughts turn inevitably towards two of the most important elements of the season - food, and panic, the two of which will become inextricable in next weekend's shopping. Today, though, I'm looking at one of the great Christmas shopping comforts, the Christmas dinner-themed pie (with champagne and burger cameos). Like the seasonal sandwich, a pie is rarely more marvellous than on a wet, cold day when you've been trampled in the crowds. And while many shops have their Christmas sarnies, today it's Pieminister versus Square Pie, and there's only one way to decide: BITE! ...
Whenever I have money I give to people begging in the streets or even not begging (some fellows in Newbury just sit on the side of the street with a blanket over their bodies). The Independent reported this week: Giving money or food to a homeless person won't do them any good, the housing minister has said, as welfare charities launch a "homelessness hotline" billed by the Government as an alternative to hand-outs. StreetLink is a new national helpline for members of the public concerned about a rough sleeper in their area. Backed by 500 homelessness charities, operators will pass ...
I am usually a Today man on the way to work, but occasionally I need light relief and try something else. This week I tried Chris Evans (who Gerard Butler had difficulty in understanding last night on the One Show. He kept on asking him to repeat himself). This week, Chris Evans played a beautiful mix from Carole King and then launched into old joanna hits from Russ Conway and Mrs Mills. It's a shame he didn't also sling in Winifred Atwell, but ho-hum. Hearing Side Saddle again made me appreciate what a beautifully produced record it is. There's a ...
The Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan, seemed rightly concerned when he complained after the equal marriage proposals of their implications for the Church in Wales. How could it be just that a church that was disestablished nearly 100 years ago be banned from choosing whether to marry same-sex couples of not? Isn't it only fair they be allowed to choose, even if they currently are unlikely to choose to do so? It seemed like yet another omnishambles. They didn't consult the Church in Wales and just went and treated them just like the established church in England. Disgusting. Except... During ...
Sat 15th
11:04
County council admit they have bungled the highways reporting system as it introduces 17 changes to ...
An email to county councillors has revealed what the Lib Dems have been saying all along – that changes to the highways fault reporting system introduced last February were bungled. The two page note details no fewer than 17 changes to bring the system back to full usability. Chris White said: 'The county council now relies heavily on the public to do its work for it so it wasn't the brightest idea to make it much more difficult for the public to use their on-line reporting system. 'The original changes should have been tested with users and the Conservative administration ...
After blogging about a double yoke egg last Saturday, I discovered that my wife had already opened two double yoke eggs – presumably from the same box. Then yesterday I opened another. So, eight yokes from four eggs so far! [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
I was out campaigning in a Lewisham by-election earlier in the year and ran into an activist from People Before Profit. Prior to meeting her, and without knowing much about the organisation, I rather admired the people who had set it up and what I knew of their passion to make the world a fairer ...
Here it is... create infographics with visual.ly
The Requiem Metal Podcast can be a bit patchy, and tends towards the black/death metal end of things a bit much for my tastes, but this week's edition is a bit of a corker. They do episodes themed around a band, or a particular aspect of a band's output - I recommend listening to their Monster Magnet, Bruce Dickinson solo, and Alice in Chains editions. The latest edition is The History of the World According to Iron Maiden Part 1 (Stone Age to c.1300CE), and because one of the hosts is a history teacher there's some interesting commentary between tracks. ...
Over on The Guardian website, Vince Cable writes: Tax avoidance, sham directors, money laundering: the recent Guardian investigation made sobering reading. In the UK we are proud that it is easier and cheaper to set up a company here than just about anywhere in the world. This flexibility is hugely valued by the start-ups and small companies which create a significant proportion of our wealth and jobs, and which are vital to recovery from the latest recession. But this flexibility provides a challenge: how do we stop our system from being abused by people who want to use it to ...
And the spreadsheet breaking down Have I Got News guests by gender is now updated. After last night, the figures are now: 29.63% of guests this series, and 23.43% overall, have been women 3 out of 9 guest hosts this season have been women, and 23.08% overall Charlotte Church broke a run of six straight male hosts, though it was the fourth week in a row with at least one female guest There's one more show in this series (next Friday) and I think after that I might do a post on some of the experiences I have had since ...
Today's Western Mail underlines many of the points I made a few days ago about the confusion at the heart of the UK Government concerning the status of the Church in Wales. It is not for me of course to say whether that church should conduct gay marriages, that is a matter for them. But Government should not seek to handicap a legitimate decision by putting legal obstacles in their way. The paper quotes the Archbishop of Wales, Dr. Barry Morgan as saying that the move to outlaw gay marriage in the Church of England and Church in Wales came ...
After our own Dunblane and the horrors of Newtown, Connecticut it seems that Nigel Farage emailed to someone of the `Britain needs guns` campaign group in March last year the following ` We note also that the growing incidence of gun-crime is in direct proportion to the restrictions placed on the ownership, by respectable people, of ...
Marriage equality is, I think, first and foremost being brought in for those LGBT people who wish to get married. I know that sounds completely obvious but I think that, after the last week of debate, that needs to be clarified. Let us also be clear that the current marriage equality proposals are flawed (as I stated in my response to them). We still don't get equal pensions rights, there remains some outstanding trans issues that have been completely by-passed and mixed-sex civil partnerships are completely off the agenda whilst leaving same-sex ones allowed. There is a lot Labour could ...
The Church of England and Same-Sex Marriage: What Happened, and How Very Furious I Am About It (tags: ) The Best Movies You Didn't See in 2012 | Underwire | Wired.com I saw one of these, and definitely don't want to see another, but am going to try and get hold of some of the others. Especially Robot And Frank. (tags: ) Authors' Funniest Responses to the Film Adaptations of Their Work - Flavorwire Ursula K Le Guin wins this by a country mile, although Alan Moore is amusingly surreal. (tags: ) Dredd 3D star Karl Urban and director Alex ...
The excellent Phyllis Stephen who runs the Edinburgh Reporter, a highly regarded local digital news site, has been complaining about my lack of blogging recently. So taking the hint I am now back blogging after a few distracted weeks! This week saw the final meeting of the council for 2012. Issues we discussed included bidding (unsuccessfully as it turned out) for the 2014 Tour de France to start in Edinburgh. This is very disappointing as it would have netted the local economy an estimated £24 million and it would have been a great spectacle. We are still in the running ...
And a partridge in a pear tree...er, except in Haddo Street. Upset local residents alerted me to the fact that, at the end of last month, four substantial pear trees in Haddo Street were felled by Royal Greenwich Council with the workmen saying it was due to the health and safety issues of ...
The proposed introduction of pay and display parking at the Verulum Road car park has been withdrawn. Verulum Road car park serves Botanic Gardens in Churchtown, and is particularly used by parents dropping off and collecting children from Churchtown Primary School. Parking here is currently free of charge. The proposal by Sefton Council to introduce pay and display charges at Verulum Road was part of a wider package of changes to the parking regime, including a 30% increase in the cost of both on-road and off-road parking. The proposals were due to be considered by Sefton's ruling Cabinet, but were ...
