The actual episode was OK. Rattled along at a fair pace. Probably won't stand up to too many repeated viewings. Plot had more holes than Blackburn, Lancashire. Needed MOAR RIVER, or even SOME River. John Hurt awesome. David Tennant reminding me of everything I hated about his Doctor. And Clara and Kate FTW. And apparenty I am the only person left on earth who isn't a zygon. Which means zygons ARE good kissers, and I need to do some exploring of some people to find out what to do with all those suckers... >:) The Afterparty thing on BBC3 was ...
Nick Harvey has given an interview to the Huffington Post that is well worth reading. In it he - rightly, I think - questions Nick Clegg's enthusiasm for giving free school dinners to all children at infants schools while doing nothing more for older poor children: "Someone, somewhere, has found £600m a year we didn't know about down the back of a filing cabinet and has come up with the brilliant brainwave that the best way to spend it is to give a free school meal to all five, six and seven year olds - regardless of their income level. ...
We should be the ones giving presents and yet Doctor Who just doesn't stop showering us in awesomeness. Is there a better way to thank the fans for their loyalty than showing the best episode ever? Don't worry, though I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet. I love Doctor Who. I [...]
Leicester's Welford Road cemetery opened in 1849 on what was then a hillside overlooking the city. I wandered round it this afternoon in the autumn gloom as, down below, the Tigers prepared to defeat London Irish. With the help of a display board I found the grave of one famous citizen: Thomas Cook. One of the other family members buried here is his daughter Annie Elizabeth, an early victim of carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas water heater. She died at the family home in the London Road.
Friday 22 November 2013 was an awful day for me. I started off not too badly, not feeling particularly well, but decided that it was probably best to stay in bed for as much of the day as I could. Looking back, this was where the day began to go wrong, but at the time...
Day of the Doctor: Age: 756, er 759, er, you've lost count Stories: television 42 (if you count Shada); audio 42 (if you count John Culshaw doing 'im in The Kingmaker); books 42 (okay 25 actually, but come on Douggie Adams was his script editor!) Awesomeness: IS the Doctor! IS Tom Baker! Cuddles: Marry the girl, Doctor AKA: Meglos (the lush aggressive vegetation); Captain Rum; Prince Koura; the former Mrs Lalla Ward; that bloke that does Little Britain; Shirley Williams Now... enjoy the Anniversary Special and we'll be back tomorrow... it's faaaaar from being all over! Keep Warm!
Ender's Game (12A)Director: Gavin Hood A bleak sci-fi imaging of a world after a war with big alien bugs (Formics). Kids are taught to play computer games and then go fight the enemy. The film follows the fortunes of Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) as he trains to join the International Military. A sobering and thoughtful imagining of a possible future for warfare as Ender tries to square the circle of what's being asked of him and what he's becoming aware of. (Five out of five stars) ***** Thor: The Dark World 3D (12A)Director: Alan Taylor Epic mayhem from the comic ...
LibDemVoice has two parallel sites. The first is our public blog, the thing you're reading now. The second is our private members' forum, which only current Lib Dem members can access. If you're a member and want to chat with fellow party members about any issue that's on your mind, then why not sign up? In addition, you'll be included in our regular surveys' of party members' views. Here's some of the most active discussions this past 7 days: Cameron 'should start liberal party', apparently.; Good article on the 'bedroom tax ' on Conservative Home; Should we reverse the changes ...
I have had a very busy week, dominated by meetings. Calls & emails were still mainly about buses but some were about housing. In terms of the meetings I will share with you that I feel that West Planning Committee again showed that it does have teeth and can do the right thing! I will also share with you about a conference I attended, with many others from a range of services, on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence. Planning At planning this week we had to consider an application to remove the historic listed foot bridge at St Erth Station. ...
Many thanks to all who participated in and attended today's West End Community Fayre at Dundee West Church that launched the West End Christmas Fortnight 2013. Here's some photos and videos from this morning's fayre: Children from the Polish School:Children from the Russian School:The University of Dundee Gospel Choir:
Liberal Democrats have long-championed the rights of young people. We were the first major party to call for the voting age to be lowered to 16. We were the only party in 2010 which committed to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into UK law. In government, we have ended the detention of children for immigration purposes. But in one area of personal freedom and development, we remain distinctly illiberal: the age of consent. In response to the recent calls from Professor John Ashton, president of the Faculty of Public Health, to lower the age of ...
Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... The Institute For Fiscal Studies – A give and take Autumn Statement? "A give and take Autumn Statement?" http://bit.ly/1c01tfX < The Institute For Fiscal Studies' low-down Norman Lamb writes... How Liberal Democrats are promoting safety and openness in the NHS Over @libdemvoice Norman Lamb writes on the Lib Dem response to the Francis Report on the NHS http://bit.ly/1aO24A9 UK Polling Report Good analysis by @antonyjwells on the Hodges/Ashcroft controversy "On Private polling and incumbency effects" http://bit.ly/1dpHLNX 8 Reasons Why E-Cigarettes Should Not Be Regulated As Medicines 8 Reasons Why E-Cigarettes Should Not ...
"France and Britain, both sorely distressed, can combine together and, thus joined, have the superior power to raise Germany, even more shattered, to an equal rank and to lasting association with them. Then these three countries, helping each other, conscious of their future united greatness, forgetting ancient feuds and the horrible deeds and tragedies of the past, can make the core or the nucleus upon which all the other civilised democracies of Europe, bond or free, can one day rally and combine." Winston Churchill, House of Commons, 28 March 1950 It is hard to see David Cameron's approach to shared ...
I've recently moved in to a new house. The WiFi from my lounge just about stretches to upstairs, but it's a fairly noisy radio environment as everyone on the street also has WiFi. The 5GHz range is clear as a whistle - but only a few of my devices support that frequency. So! It's time to turn to HomePlugs. These nifty little gadgets create a wired network over your power cables. The most recent version promise up to 500Mbps transfer speed (a theoretical max which is never reached) - and, as I have 120Mbps broadband, that seemed like the most ...
I was only three years and 10 months old when John F Kennedy was killed so I have no idea where I was when the news came through. Equally, I was to young to get into Dr. Who and to be honest did not really start watching it regularly until the last year of the Jon Pertwee incarnation. Does that make me a bad Liberal Democrat? I do though remember where I was when I heard the news about the shooting of John Lennon and also when the first plane hit the World Trade Centre tower on 9/11. Now I ...
Sat 23rd
12:38
"I'm doing some - somewhat vague - research" says BBC Bod referring to Blunkett's views
I often get emails from people wanting some insight into what goes on in these parts, little do they realise how shallow my knowledge is, including the BBC researcher who emailed me this week. The Mail yesterday gave the government a rather blunt wake up call, as we all know most of us are profoundly disturbed by the levels of migration of last decade, concerned by the future schooling of our children, worried about overwhelmed health and welfare systems and bemused by the lack of any open honest debate about the implications. I'm lucky if I get to read or ...
With 6 months to the European elections, the Lib Dems are stepping up the party's drive to be identified as the most pro-European party – in contrast to previous campaigns when the party has tended to downplay its pro-Europeanism. There are two reasons. First, the Lib Dems believe we're better off in. Secondly, the party's private polling shows that those who aren't current Lib Dem voters, but would consider voting for us, are generally pro-European and like the party's stance. Party president Tim Farron published an article on the Huffington Post yesterday making the Lib Dem case. Here's an excerpt: ...
We shopped locally for the Beer and Bangers (Robert Tear for the sausages and Southport Brewery for the beer ) when we held a fundraising event for Southport Kidney Fund Birkdale Liberals/Lib Dems have a long association with the fund through our long time President Joan Coleman and activist Bernie Blaney and so it was that when Joan died earlier this year we decided to hold a fundraising event for the fund. We delight to present Sue Blaney with a cheque at the end of the evening, Many thanks to all who attended and contributed
Work has finally started on the extension to Southport's caravan Club site at the back of Victoria Park. This project was one of the last I dealt with when I was a member of Sefton's Cabinet a couple of years ago. The final decision being made by the Planning Committee. This will greatly increase the capacity for this very popular caravan site. The site was originally known as the archery butts where, presumably, archery once took place; although I cannot remember seeing this happen during the time I have lived in the town. For many years the only use for ...
Sat 23rd
10:55
Watch and laugh: Clarke and Dawe - Ministerial responsibility. Coming soon to Australia.
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe: You can also watch this on YouTube.
[IMG: Nick Harvey MP] Sir Nick Harvey, Lib Dem MP for North Devon (and former defence minister), has little doubt who's going to win the next election, as he tells the Huffington Post: ... Harvey has a "clear sense" of what he thinks is going to happen. And even more than that, he is "astonished" that few others within the Westminster Village share his view. "Stand fast a game changing event, which is always possible in the febrile political era in which we live, Labour is on course to win the next election," he declares. "This election is Labour's to ...
[IMG: Economics after crash cover] One of the topics I've revisited regularly on this blog over the last three years is the nature of economic knowledge and economic analysis. I have brought together nineteen of these blogposts as a collection of essays on the philosophy, ethics and methodology of economics. The essays touch on questions such as why economists missed the global financial crisis, debates about how economics needs to change, and the impact that economic analysis has on the real world. The issue of orthodoxy, heterodoxy and pluralism in economic analysis features prominently. The need for a stronger ethical ...
Predictable I suppose, but still fun! Happy 50th to the Doctor. [IMG: Tardis is the OED Online word of the day for 23rd November 2013]
Today's Western Mail reports that businesses are frustrated that a planned city region in south east Wales is not progressing quickly enough.. They say that the South East Wales Economic Forum surveyed 200 companies and found they mostly backed the city region plans, aimed at boosting jobs and investment. Firms are worried about the effects of prolonged economic austerity and see the region as offering opportunities. However, the businesses are clearly concerned that progress is slow and frustrated that proposals are not more visionary: Businesses list what they see as priorities to help make the city region succeed, possible constraints ...
Sat 23rd
09:59
So, what should be the Lib Dems 4 Pillar Policy areas for the 2015 manifesto? The Poll results are i...
Many thanks to everyone who took the time to complete my survey. Results are now in - and I think there are a few surprises.... Firstly, the winners in order of popularity (remembering that everyone had 4 votes each) - and there were 4 clear winners: 1. Housing (59% of votes cast) 2. Jobs and Sustainability (57%) 3. Fair Taxes (51%) 4. Energy, Climate Change and the Environment (48%) Many have expressed surprise that housing came top. I'm not. I voted for it myself (and to be honest I think led the jury by declaring I would vote for it) ...
It's October 1977. I'm five years old, and on the TV screen a virus is growing into something much much bigger than a virus has any right to be, and a professor is introducing his robot dog. The Invisible Enemy is that month's slice of Doctor Who, but the reason I mention it is because those scenes are my first proper memories of watching Doctor Who. It's not the first of it I've ever watched, but the first that I can remember watching. I'm sure I watched plenty of Who since I was born in the gap between The Time ...
*has compersion* ♡♡they so cute♡♡ (tags: ) The story behind the 50th anniversary Google doodle (tags: ) Bill Gates funds creation of thin, light, impenetrable graphene condoms (tags: ) To gallifrey! (tags: ) GNeil on love and art (tags: ) http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178050 @tom_watson actually, you don't mean Wild Oats, do you? http://t.co/PT8EJFNYqp 20 yrs not 25 in that (tags: (from twitter) ) 50 reasons why Hull is the UK City of Culture 2017 50 reasons why Hull is the City of Culture - today's front and our web story: http://t.co/Jv25qpri6A #HullYes http://t.co/e9OqrMGfYf (tags: hullyes (from twitter) ) posted The Blood ...
Sat 23rd
08:45
Norman Lamb writes... How Liberal Democrats are promoting safety and openness in the NHS
[IMG: nhs sign lrg] As a Liberal Democrat, my priority for the NHS is simple. I want patients to have the best possible care. When people are ill and vulnerable, they deserve safe and compassionate care provided by doctors and nurses with the best possible training and medical expertise. And people need to know that, when mistakes are made, doctors will be open with them - and that lessons will be learnt. What happened at Mid Staffs Hospital was a shocking scandal. The stories of neglect sent shock waves across the country. This Government was absolutely right to announce a ...
[IMG: Ed Miliband cartoon by Scott Clissold] Vote early, vote ... er ... once. The ellwood atfield gallery is once again running the Political Cartoon of the Year Awards and online voting is open until 2nd December. See the great shortlisted cartoons and vote for your favourite over on their site. Scott Clissold's Ed Miliband cartoon got my vote. What's your favourite?
Baby Boomers should stop subjecting the rest of us to their solipsism Two American anniversaries: the one you've heard about and the one that matters As you have likely noticed yesterday was the 50th assassination of John F. Kennedy. He is still a subject of massive fascination and a sizable industry. The most obvious aspect [...]
Locally East Dulwich councillors have been working to solve the Primary school reception places gap. By September 2016 the gap would have risen to 215-235 reception places. We've supported one free school that's opened by finding a site for it and provided the evidence and sugested sites for another two free schools. Together they should provide 170 of the required places and Southwark Council are providing another 45 useful places for our area. But after primary school where will these extra children go – surely we need more secondary school places? Council officials tell us not. But they plan secondary ...
I have, over a long period of time, pointed out to the council's Environment Department residents' complaints that the wheelie bin system in Saggar Street did not work well, due to storage problems and the hilly nature of the street that makes moving bins a challenge for residents. I am therefore pleased to have been advised that there will be a change to the bin collection system for numbers 2-10 (even) and 5-11 (odd) to a communal bin system. Residents have been advised: The map referred to above is below (with eurobin positions marked by red dots):
[IMG: Mike Hancock] BBC News reports: Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock will face no further police action in relation to alleged sexual assault claims. A Hampshire Police statement said it had discussed the case with the Crown Prosecution Service and would not be taking any further action. Mr Hancock, who is also a councillor, had strongly denied the allegations. An independent report released in September found he failed to observe the council's code of conduct. Hampshire Police said it had informed those affected by the decision. Mr Hancock said: "I'm personally delighted and pleased they have come to that conclusion." ...
This post is going to go live at precisely midnight — at which point it will be the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who. Enough people said they would want a book of my Fifty Stories For Fifty Years essays that I've put one together, and that is also available from midnight tonight. You can buy [...]
