They're back! Or at least one of them is. Thanks to @solarpilchard on Twitter.
A weekend post at Medium ... The apps that made it
Sun 16th
22:19
I thought I would need a stout brown paper bag to watch the Sainsburys advert....and I was right
Oh puuuhlease! The trench warfare of the first world war was one of the most disgusting, heinous, awful situations humanity has ever inflicted on itself. To depict this in a beautiful, crafted, sickly advert to make us spend more money at a supermarket is beneath contempt. Quite simply, fuck off Sainsburys.
Supported by the Big Lottery Fund and led by Kew Gardens, Grow Wild, says its website, is an exciting four-year programme that will bring people together to sow UK native wild flowers. Grow Wild believes that together we can transform and bring colour to where we live: turning unloved spaces into wildlife-friendly wild flower havens. It has thousands of free seed kits to share so people can transform their local spaces into beautiful, inspiring and colourful wild flower havens. Thanks to a tweet from Ludlow's Andy Boddington.
( answers under the cut ) All answers are presented unedited, as entered by the candidate (mainly due to time). You can find links to other candidates' entries here [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
( answers under the cut ) All answers are presented unedited, as entered by the candidate (mainly due to time). You can find links to other candidates' entries here [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
The formal public consultation on proposals to change the M4 into a "smart motorway" between junctions 3 and 12 has now opened. A "smart motorway" uses the hard shoulder as a lane during peak times, and has variable speed limits. The Highways Agency have lots of information on their website about this scheme here They will be holding an exhibition at Winnersh Community Centre (off Mole Road, Sindlesham, next to Bearwood Rec) on FRIDAY 28th November between 2 pm and 8 pm, so put that date in your diary.
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 398th 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 (9-15 November, 2014), together with a hand-picked quintet, 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. George Grimes Watson, 1927-2013 by Jonathan Calder ...
[IMG: Lib Dem president ballot mailing] Voting for the Liberal Democrat federal committees closes at noon, Thursday 20 November. This ballot is open to voting conference reps (this time round – party conference has agreed in principle to change this for future elections). Voters should have either received an email with a link to voting and the candidate manifestos or had a posted mailing. In this contest I'm restanding for the Federal Policy Committee; see my FPC manifesto here and also my tips for six great candidates to vote for. It's also well worth taking a look at Jennie Rigg's ...
#183013747 / gettyimages.com A bizarre story. To coincide with the G20 meeting in Australia, Putin sent three of his warships to hover in international waters nearby. But what I found amusing is that Australia sent out three naval ships to meet the Russians. One of them, HMAS Paramatta (pictured above) contacted the biggest Russian cruiser, Varyag, to conduct a communications exercise, called a "COMMEX", which involves testing mutual radio communications, signal flags and semaphore lights. This was apparently carried out in a friendly spirit. "The Russians have responded happily to the exercise," a government source said. It seems to be ...
Here are the latest national voting intention figures from each of the main pollsters. To put the numbers into longer context, take a look at my database of polling figures going back to 1945, which is updated quarterly. Con Lab LibDem UKIP Green Con lead Fieldwork Method ComRes 30% 34% 8% 19% 3% -4% 12-14/11 Online ComRes 30% 30% 9% 19% 4% 0% 24-26/10 Phone ICM 31% 32% 11% 14% 6% -1% 7-9/11 Phone Ashcroft 30% 29% 10% 16% 7% 1% 7-9/11 Phone MORI 32% 29% 9% 14% 7% 3% 8-10/11 Phone Opinium 29% 32% 9% 19% 4% -3% 4-7/11 ...
I have lost count of the number of times I have visited Petra, not just Jordan's most impressive archaeological site but one of the true wonders of the ancient world. I've seen it under snow in winter and in the scorching sun of summer, but November is about the most perfect month to visit. I've [...]
[IMG: members forum wordle] 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 10 days: Remembrance; Fundraising on websites; Democracy in Ukraine; How over zealous are local Councils on nightlife? Plus one ...
Interstellar 12A Director: Christopher NolanMovie Website A long and detailed look at one man's mission to save a future Earth and his family from slow starvation by travelling through a worm hole to a new galaxy where life-supporting planets have been identified by an earlier mission, well, that's Plan A anyway... This beautifully languid piece of science fiction feels like some of the 70's classics of the genre, I'd place the mood somewhere between Solaris and 2001: A Space Oddity which probably isn't too bad a place to be. The real drawback is the soundtrack, presumably meant to be lofty, ...
[IMG: Will Howells on Mastermind] Will Howells was one of the earliest contributors to Liberal Democrat Voice, helping to set up the site in 2006 The first post under his name, on an Unlock Democracy report about political membership and activism, came on 19th October 2006. He stayed with the team till 2008. He's taking part in this year's Mastermind and was on the show broadcast on Friday. You can watch him taking questions from John Humphrys on his specialist subject, the band Suede, here. The photo shows him in the famous black chair and is taken from his Facebook ...
There's an interesting article in Political Studies journal by Rosie Campbell and Philip Cowley which attempts to find out 'What Voters Want'. Published last year, it looks specifically what they want in terms of the characteristics of their candidates. The core of the study consisted of six split-sample internet surveys. Each survey involved respondents reading two short profiles about hypothetical candidates, and then answering four questions about those candidates. Following Kira Sanbonmatsu, our research design included profiles of two candidates (Sanbonmatsu, 2002), whom we (initially) called John and George: John Burns is 48 years old, and was born and brought ...
You would not think that we were yet in a position to revert to old versions of the mobile phone but apparently this is very much the latest trend. The Independent reports that the flip phone is making a comeback for mostly practical reasons: The trend appears to have originated in the handbag of Anna Wintour, who earlier this year was spotted peering at the screen of a flip-phone she had first acquired in approximately 2004 - before she switched to a BlackBerry and, later, an iPhone. Wintour-watchers interpreted her reversion to pre-smartphone technology as a style statement, but the ...
President Barack Obama hanging out with a koala is better than Kim Kardashian's bum. President Obama meets koala as part of G20 summit in Australia. Obama is still cooler than you. Sharing a koalaty moment in Australia. http://t.co/mbSY0ZQLxD #G20 pic.twitter.com/roeOMwh33h — The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 15, 2014 20,000 likes on Instagram. Break the internet.
[IMG: 7 ver 4 full] Many thanks to the visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here's our 7 most-read posts... One of my favourite broadcasting moments of the year (52 comments) by Caron Lindsay Labour's Mili-Madness is over. Now what? (47 comments) by Stephen Tall Breaking..Judy Murray's Strictly Success is due to a Scots Nat plot (3 comments) by Paul Walter Clegg talks to Cosmopolitan (74 comments) by Newshound Opinion: Jewish and Muslim voting intentions (24 comments) by John Kelly Two pieces of good Lib Dem news from Cambridge (11 comments) by Stephen Tall Carswell: Free Liberal. ...
Last Thursday, following an absolutely disgraceful Council meeting I wrote the following, "I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that we need to have a referendum on whether we should have an elected mayor. Remember that the people of Liverpool ... Continue reading →
When Bob Marley first toured Britain in 1973 he did not get separate billing. The band did not become Bob Marley and the Wailers until the following year when Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left because they did not want to tour. This song, which turns up regularly on BBC compilation shows, is part of a set recorded for The Old Grey Whistle Test in the middle of that Catch a Fire tour. Maybe it shows Marley and his very best. And there is a random clip of Stanley Unwin at the start too. Now read about Bob Marley's father. ...
This year's show was held over the weekend of the 8th/9th November at Birkdale High School and on the Sunday morning it was my job to help person the OPSTA (Ormskirk Preston & Southport Travellers Association) stall. I took a few photos at this always excellent show and here are a few of them:- [IMG: This OO scale layout was superb and took in the Herculaneum area of Liverpool including the old Overhead Railway depicted here] This OO scale layout was superb and took in the Herculaneum area of Liverpool including the old Overhead Railway depicted here [IMG: A Mersey ...
Now for a slight oddity for this blog.... In local sports and fitness news, local dance and fitness instructor Gemma Quinnell of Gemma Quinnell's Health, Fitness and dance ltd has got through to the final four in the finals of the Active Training Awards Small training provider of the year. This is a massive achievement for the Gillingham girl who has worked for years as a fitness instructor, choreographer and dancer here and abroad and also offers courses in dance and fitness for anyone who wants to pursue a career in these fields. My courses are aimed at anyone who ...
Sun 16th
11:25
Watch and laugh: Clarke and Dawe - A Busy Time at the Great Hall as We Prepare for Guests
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe:
Following on from my previous post, here are some wonderful images from the 1964 General Election. Just scroll down to view them, then hover over each photo to see the caption. #3070063 / gettyimages.com #3375994 / gettyimages.com #3272267 / gettyimages.com #3304362 / gettyimages.com #3141067 / gettyimages.com #3354028 / gettyimages.com #3066597 / gettyimages.com #3329535 / gettyimages.com #3162792 / gettyimages.com #107415736 / gettyimages.com #80747415 / gettyimages.com #492854325 / gettyimages.com #3359882 / gettyimages.com #496502727 / gettyimages.com #104411418 / gettyimages.com #97365967 / gettyimages.com #2660690 / gettyimages.com #2660231 / gettyimages.com
There's a by-election in the Aberdeenshire ward of Troup at the moment. Ann Bell is the Liberal Democrat candidate. One of her six opponents, an Independent, put out this leaflet yesterday. [IMG: Troup Ward] You can read the rather, shall we say, strange content in full here on electionleaflets.org, that invaluable Unlock Democracy resource. It's certainly a fascinating collection of conspiracy theories. The back page has a pledge to veto same sex marriage certificates that, apparently, all other 6 candidates have failed to agree to. Frankly, I'm quite pleased about that. My favourite bit is the imprint, which says it ...
Sun 16th
10:09
Sefton Council – 'our draft Local Plan is therefore proposing that we need to release some gre...
Well there's a surprise – NOT. Soon we will see what Labour-led Sefton Council proposes to do with our precious Green Belt and high grade agricultural land when they publish their Local Plan for subsequent approval. [IMG: Green Belt campaigners outside Maghull Town Hall.] Green Belt campaigners outside Maghull Town Hall. Labour have made it very clear that they see building on the Green Belt and high grade agricultural land as a given, even though they started off the Local Plan process by saying that they were going to save the Green Belt from development! Well save it they never ...
[IMG: HEALTH Flu 185843 Swine flu] Nicolas Sturgeon, in her first speech as leader of the Scottish National Party, went in hard on the Auld Enemy. By which I mean, Labour. She said the Labour Party had "lost its soul" by backing a No vote in the Independence Referendum. An interesting take on things; despite its rather liberal, shall we say, take on history, almost certainly an effective one. Of course, in the same speech Sturgeon did assure Scottish voters that if the SNP held the balance of power after the next Westminster election, they would "never, ever put the ...
Watch the new video from Amnesty International UK: You can also watch this on YouTube.
www.iron-bird.co.uk/ My old mate and ace Lydiate photographer Keith Page put me on to this company's site. Well worth a look at some rather stunning photos/videos of Liverpool. Check out the 'Showreel' link on their site.
Chemistry of Cast Iron Seasoning: A Science-Based How-To (tags: ) An interesting post about porn (totally safe for work) (tags: ) Sorry, would-be sandwich makers: you'll find it much harder to get a job than I did (tags: ) An Open Letter to Ched Evans about your 'Supporters' (tags: ) Interesting results for "moral acceptability" from the US. Death penalty vs abortion stood out... (tags: ) Experiments show this is the best way to win campaigns. But is anyone actually doing it? (of course some of this stuff would be questionable under the representation of the people act in the ...
Lynne Featherstone has been writing for Left Foot Forward about her part in the equal marriage legislation. And she had a tantalising hint that there was more of the story to tell. One day, when I am no longer a minister, I will be able to tell the whole story of how the law came to be. But for now I can publically thank the activists, the LGBT+ community, the cross-party group of MPs, the Home Secretary, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and others for the support they gave. What has equal marriage meant for LGBT people? And ...
Yesterday, I enjoyed taking part in the Friends of Magdalen Green Soup and Pudding Lunch that took place at Dundee West Church. When I say 'taking part' - I was on doing the dishes! It was an extremely-well attended event, with great stalls as well as a lovely lunch provided by the highly talented Alison Cruickshank. A couple of photos from yesterday: Setting-up for the lunch Soup and Pudding Lunch in full swing!
Few young people can afford to spend months working for free as unpaid interns. The Liberal Democrats in Government have recognised cracking down on unpaid internships, including the introduction of the Government's Social Mobility Business Compact, the policy of naming and shaming rogue employers, steeper fines for non-payment of the national minimum wage and clearer advice through Government websites. All good stuff but we need to go further. We need to end unpaid internships lasting longer than four weeks to help address this problem and to create a stronger economy and a fairer society. This is the right thing to ...
Cousins who have researched the paternal side of my family tree tell me that their enquiries come to a full stop in the mid 19th century with a Luke Wrigley, who appeared in our area apparently from nowhere and was a road-sweeper. Perhaps because I have inherited some of his genes I find our present day road-sweeper a very affable chap. He's certainly very efficient, in spite of the challenges set up for him by my less considerate fellow townsmen and women. Unfortunately, rumour has it that his job is to come to an end, along with the maintenance of ...
