Some have expressed surprise that the Kinks should put out another box set, when Picture Book, a six-CD box set spanning the band's whole career, came out less than six years ago. The reason is very simple, really. This time they've got Andrew Sandoval, so they're going to do it properly. There were two big [...]
Thu 20th
22:46
And a tweet derails another political career: Emily Thornberry quits Labour Shadow Cabinet
The BBC reports: Labour's Emily Thornberry has resigned from the shadow cabinet over a tweet she sent during the Rochester and Strood by-election campaign. As for what the problem with the tweet was: Image from #Rochester pic.twitter.com/rOjTgpskmF — Emily Thornberry MP (@EmilyThornberry) November 20, 2014
The Surrey Herald reports: Jihadi terrorists force Staines estate agent name change To distance itself from the Jihadist terrorist group, an award-winning estate agents in Staines will change its name from iSiS to Oasis
The Guardian's How We Made series turned on the Spencer Davis Group 1965 number one Keep on Running earlier this week, interviewing Spencer Davis and Pete York. Spencer Davis recalls: The first radio stations to play it were the black ones in America, because we sounded black. When they saw pictures of four little white boys, they dropped us from their playlists, but by then the song had taken off.Thanks to Catalina Island Museum for the photograph of the Spencer Davis Group, which I believe comes from Spencer Davis's own collection, He lives on the island, which lies off the ...
[IMG: 1911715_10154912243065565_3205825898850673008_n] Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to pause and think of all those transgender people who have lost their lives just for being who they are across the world. I read the list of people who are being remembered in 2014 and it's pretty harrowing to think of all those young lives lost through prejudice. Everybody should be free to express their identity without fear or attack. A study earlier this year showed the high rates of suicide and attempted suicide amongst transgender people compared to the general population. We can't stand by in the ...
This afternoon, I took part in the latest West End Community Planning Partnership (LCPP) meeting at Blackness Library. The LCPP meeting is a good opportunity for representatives from different council departments, councillors and representatives from other organisations like police, fire and rescue and the NHS to discuss local issues and matters of concern and also let local residents raise issues, ask questions and have their say. This was the first afternoon meeting of the LCPP (the quarterly meetings have, until now, been in the evenings - we are now trying a mix of afternoon and evening meetings each year) and ...
Some people may have seen recently that the Barbie series has a rather sexist book out about Barbie the Computer Engineer. Fortunately, there's a way to improve this by making your own version. Thus, I made a short version about Barbie the Debian Developer and init system packager. (For those who don't know me, this is satirical. Any resemblance to people is purely coincidental.) [IMG: One day, Debian Developer Barbie] [IMG: One day, Debian Developer Barbie] [IMG: One day, Debian Developer Barbie] [IMG: One day, Debian Developer Barbie] [IMG: One day, Debian Developer Barbie] [IMG: One day, Debian Developer Barbie] ...
We often forget to say thank you, because we're straight on to the next thing. But today, I want to say thank you to everyone - from our members, activists, staff, councillors, MPs and Peers to Ed Davey for the success we've seen as a party on the Green Climate Fund. Even if climate change doesn't get your heart racing, if you want evidence that the Lib Dems in the Coalition are alive and kicking - look no further. Cameron's "green crap" attitude hasn't stopped us leading the world on climate change. We've got a lot more to do - ...
Now that the Secretary of State for Wales has opened up debate on what future devolution to the Welsh Assembly might look like and said that nothing has been ruled out at this stage, you would think that the rest of the Cabinet would shut up. Alas that is not the case. The BBC report that the Prime Minister has ruled out any change to the formula by which the devolved nations are funded. And he is still obsessing about Scotland and English votes for English MPs. How much long Cameron can continue to defend the indefensible is debatable. He ...
[IMG: Rechts gegen Rechts / Via Buzzfeed and youtube.com] Rechts gegen Rechts / via Buzzfeed and youtube.com What do you do when Neo-Nazis march through your town? Why turn their march into a sponsored walk so that the more the Neo-Nazis walk, the more funds they're raising for an anti-Nazi organisation: The route of the march was lined with motivational posters, encouraging the group to keep on raising more money... There was even markings on the road, showing the neo-Nazis how much money they had raised. Read more about the march through Wunsiedel over on Buzzfeed.
Regular readers will be aware that I like zoos, so what better when you have most of a spare day than to visit one. And so, I made the short journey from my hotel to the Jardim Zoológico on what was turning out to be a rather damp, dreary sort of day.
I spoke at a Global Entrepreneurship Week event at the University of Exeter last night, and I was asked to define the qualities of an entrepreneur. It was an event for more than a hundred or so eager undergraduates who have already decided that the corporate world is not the life for them, and who were trying to gather as much information as they possibly could, to help them start their own entrepreneurial journeys, post-graduation. University entrepreneurship isn't limited to Exeter, universities all over the country have growing entrepreneurship societies and NACUE (National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs) have ...
Never let it be said that there is no space for idealism in politics, and who better than LYMEC, the umbrella organisation for European young liberals, to supply some. There is, however, no shortage of people suspicious of anything that smacks of a 'European Army', and there are plenty of amendments either deleting the resolution in full or removing most of the content. I can't see this one surviving... The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party convening in Lisbon, Portugal on 20-22 November 2014; Considering thatEurope is facing internal and external threats to its peace and security. These ...
#125625938 / gettyimages.com Last year I reviewed Alun Wyburn-Powell's comprehensive study of defectors to and from the Liberal and then Liberal Democrat parties. It's a fascinating read. Based on his unique database of such switches, he's now penned a six-point guide to spotting a defector: Defectors more often defect for better prospects (53%) than over policy differences (43%) and rarely over a personality clash (just 3% of defections). Men are more likely to defect than women, after allowing for the greater number of male MPs. Divorced MPs are more likely to defect. MPs with a military background, especially those who ...
Thu 20th
13:43
@ALDEParty Congress resolutions 2014 - The relations of the EU with Russia: towards a new security a...
Of course, it is the liberal curse to always want to appear reasonable, and here is a demonstration of that urge. There is, of course, a catch, in that the proposers make no mention of territorial integrity - can it be right that, without some sort of independently verified democratic process, countries in the shadow of Russia must tolerate the loss of territory through illegal state action? Personally, I think not... The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party convening in Lisbon, Portugal on 20-22 November 2014: Notes that since the end of the Cold War, the reaction in ...
The Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership provides an interesting case study as to how the very meaning of 'Free Trade' is changing. The treaty itself is on the rocks with increasing opposition from France and Germany alongside a powerful combination of unions and anti-globalisation advocacy groups. Nothing about that is particularly unusual but a crucial difference is the arguments these groups are making. For the first time they are talking about consumers. Traditionally trade deals meant hitting producers to help consumers with the abolition of tariffs, subsidies and protectionist legislation. Although there is an element of this in the TTIP ...
[IMG: Sandgate Art and Craft Fair Christmas 2014 poster] The Sandgate Arts and Crafts Fair for Christmas is at the Chichester Hall, Sandgate High Street CT20 3AR on Saturday November 29th and starts at 10am. Wide variety of affordable and unusual Christmas gifts. Lunch, tea and coffee served all day. All proceeds go to the Chichester Hall roof fund. There's FREE PARKING at Saga. If you are interested in taking part contact Zoe at zoesvarian@aol.com. For more information, find Sandgate Arts and Crafts on Facebook. Published and promoted by Tim Prater, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone, CT20 3BYPrinted (hosted) by ...
I have a BFI copy of the classic Post Office film Night Mail, with the Britten-Auden collaboration that emerged as night mails crossing the border-bringing-the-cheque-and-the-postal-order. It now looks like a hymn to public service commitment. One of the other features in the DVD was a sequel, in colour, dated from 1963, called Thirty Million Letters. It is a touching, emotional and absolutely brilliant evocation of what a postal universal service obligation used to mean. There are postmen walking through blizzards, delivering post from a pony and trap, by plane and in constant supportive contact with the public. The universal service ...
Thu 20th
12:21@ALDEParty Congress resolutions 2014 - We need a stronger CommonForeign and Security Policy (CFSP) o...
It would be fair to say that the role of Federica Mogherini, the European Union's nearest equivalent to a Foreign Minister for Europe, is not seen as being terribly credible. In fairness, I've always sensed that the big nations, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, are quite happy to have it that way, but if you really want Europe to have a voice that is listened to on the world stage, something is going to have to change. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party convening in Lisbon, Portugal on 20-22 November 2014: Notes that the Treaty of ...
Four children are left home alone for five days. Social services step in to move the kids out to live with their father. But there's a problem: the council have found a flat for the newly formed family, but it is unfurnished. The dad lives on a low income and does not have the savings to buy five beds and mattresses, and all the other furniture that is needed. If the property isn't adequately furnished, the children will have to be taken into care. (See case study here). Situations like this exist up and down the country. In this case, ...
[IMG: philanthropy impact] I wrote an article for the latest edition of Philanthropy Impact magazine — now available online here — wearing my day-job hat as Development Director of the Education Endowment Foundation. Here's what I said... Good intentions aren't enough. Let me give you an example. A programme called 'Scared Straight' was developed in the USA in the 1970s to deter juvenile delinquents and at-risk children from criminal behaviour by bringing them into contact with adult inmates to make them aware of the grim realities of life in prison. Early studies showed astonishingly high success rates, as much as ...
Angus Lib Dems are backing proposals by Angus Council officers to repair the Esk Road Coastal Path in Ferryden. Due to coastal erosion and the resultant safety concerns the very popular coastal path has been closed, for many, many months. I back the hard work which has been put in by the council to reinstate the previous line of timber wall and path along the section affected by the erosion. I am aware that local walkers will be delighted when the coastal path finally re-opens due to its popularity [IMG: Sanjay Samani and David May visit damaged footpath] Lib Dem ...
Thu 20th
10:55The Extra 2%: how Wall Street strategies took a Major League baseball team from worst to first by Jo...
#165269756 / gettyimages.com [IMG: The Extra 2 Percent by Johan Keri] Jonah Keri's The Extra 2% is the story of what happened when three financial industry experts took over a failing baseball team with an unpopular owner and tried to turn it round. As the full title reveals, they did rather well. The book came several years after the famous bestseller Moneyball, itself the tale of a similar turnaround of a small and financially limited team into one that could compete with – and beat – vastly richer rivals. The Extra 2% is harder going than Moneyball for non-baseball fans, ...
Thu 20th
10:45@ALDEParty Congress resolutions 2014 - Strengthening the Global Role of the European Union
Meanwhile, the Finns from Suomen Keskusta offer some proposals for who we should be talking to and why... The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party convening in Lisbon, Portugal on 20-22 November 2014: Notes thatthe European Union is the leading global actor in the fields of trade, development and environmental policies and has a key role in ensuring the stability of the global financial system;these policy areas are strongly linked into each other and they have growing strategic importance for the EU;in these policy areas we can play a positive global role by promoting the common interests and ...
Conservative Resignation Contact Claire Halliwell 0161 486 1045 to help Candidate Jeremy Meal
Come and enjoy!
Having asked all the Presidential candidates a series of questions I have had a reply from Daisy Cooper - her answers follow: Q: "You have been putting forward some bold ideas for reform of the party, however, you have been part of the FE omnishambles - what guarantee do we have that you will be able to carry out your reforms of our internal systems and structures." If I'm elected as President, I will have a mandate to pursue the ideas which I have set out during my campaign. It's also clear from the manifestos of those running for election ...
Conservative sitting as UKIP, resignation Liberal Democrat candidate- Christopher Sams
Labour seat, resignation Liberal Democrat candidate- Janet Thomas For more information:
At the last full meeting of Bury Council I asked a question of Bury's representatives to Transport for Greater Manchester about their plans for 'Real-Time' bus information at bus stops. People might be familiar with the signs that we now have on Metrolink Platorms which show (after many years of them being unused) show what time the next trams are coming. People might also have seen the same thing at bus stops in other towns in this country, and also abroad. [IMG: Screenshot 2014-11-20 09.10.26] The answer seems to be that Greater Manchester has NO plans for real-time bus information ...
This is the first of six foreign and security policy resolutions, which may end up being coalesced into one final document, brought to you by two governing parties, Democraten 66 (the Netherlands) and Open VLD (Belgium)... The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party convening in Lisbon, Portugal on 20-22 November 2014: Notes thatrecent turmoil in the Ukraine and Russian expansionism have shown that the EU's capacity to defend its territory still is, and will remain, crucial for its safety and well-being;in light of recent events, member states are increasingly prepared to increase national defence budgets and no longer ...
Captain Euro is cheeeeeeeeese on a cheesestring (tags: ) This article in the mirror makes a serious point but the last line really made me laugh (tags: ) The Privilege Denier's Diversity Monitoring Form (tags: ) Lack of legal aid in child cases soars - damning indictment of Grayling (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
#180939997 / gettyimages.com Registration rates have been kept to the same as last year. You can register at www.libdems.org.uk/spring_conference_registration and if you're on Facebook, why not sign up to Facebook event, which I'll be updating regularly with conference news and links. The biggest cost for most people is accommodation, much more so than the registration fees. I believe the Liverpool local party is going to set up some arrangements with local members to provide accommodation at low cost whilst raising money for the party. That's well worth keeping an eye out for.
[IMG: wpid-wp-1416472228398.jpeg] As I'm sure my regular readers have noticed, I'm currently a student in the Department of Government at the University of Essex. The University and the Department have recently been honoured with the appointment of the first Regius Professorship of Political Science which has been granted to David Sanders, who has lectured in the department since 1975 and been one of the most important figures in British political science in that time. Last night, he delivered his inaugural lecture as Regius Professor: "The Reluctant Europeans: Britain and the EU, 1973-2015" I naturally went along to hear it, and ...
The planning application for a 'drive through' KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in Prestwich Village is on the agenda for the next meeting of the Planning Committee as with the officer report saying 'minded to approve'. This DOES NOT mean it has been approved, but it means that the 'approve' is what the report from the Planning Officers says, after their professional consideration of the issue. It remains up to members of the committee to make the decision, but it is fair to say that normally the opinions of the professional officers is listened carefully by the members of the Committee. ...
A recent government announcement that 1000 buildings in UK cities are to get free public wi-fi, again highlighted to me the need for Dundee to have free public wi-fi in the City Centre. As residents are aware, earlier this year, I mentioned the need for Dundee to progress this issue and - as I said at the time - many cities are discovering free wi-fi is a good way to attract more visitors. Already local businesses from coffee shops, hotels and restaurants, churches and bars are among the locations discovering the value of offering free wireless but a city centre ...
As part of West End Christmas Fortnight, there is a Children's Window Spotting Competition. Entry forms have been given to every pupil at our four local primary schools - Ancrum Road, St Joseph's Victoria Park and Blackness. The prize is a year's Family Membership of Dundee Botanic Garden (with thanks to the Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden) plus a gift voucher for £20. You can download the entry form here.
I have posted about pollution issues/concerns a number of times previously on this blog site but it is worth remembering that such concerns go back a while. Have a look at this excellent Bootle mural. It is on a former railway tunnel which is now a pedestrian walkway under Merseyrail's New Strand Station. I have published photos of many of the other murals in this tunnel on this site and on my Flickr site in recent times. [IMG: rsz_bootle_pollution_mural] Click on the photo to enlarge it. The photo above is amongst those on my Flickr site at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/
Some interesting historical aspects/artifacts of this station have been uncovered during its on-going major refurbishment. The Liverpool Echo has the fascinating story.
[IMG: image004] Sometimes being a Liberal Democrat is like walking into a bitterly cold prevailing wind with soggy leaflets in one hand and a disappearing map in the other. By-elections can be the epitome of that experience. Especially by-elections where our vote is being squeezed 'til our eyes water. Which makes every person who turns out in those battles a hero in my eyes. Yes yes we can all cheerily dry out our wet socks on the piping hot radiator of victory at an Eastleigh experience, but it is Rochester that's character forming! The team in Rochester are out every ...
[IMG: York Minster] Well, this is going to work out well I'm sure: JAMES Alexander has tonight dramatically quit as leader of City of York Council as the local Labour Party's turmoil continues. Cllr Alexander is also stepping down as York Labour leader after four years in the post, to take up a new role with Ed Miliband and the national Labour Party, and he will leave the council completely at next May's election. He made the announcement just hours after opposition councillors announced they would call for a vote of no confidence in him, however his departure was clearly ...
[IMG: CarParkFull] Conservative-controlled Dacorum Borough Council is giving planning permission to retailer after retailer in Berkhamsted – without any significant extra parking being required or provided. The Conservatives keep talking about their plans to put an extra deck over an existing car park in Berkhamsted – at huge expense. But at last night's council meeting, when Cllr Rosemarie Hollinghurst asked when this would happen – they couldn't exactly say, just vaguely mumbling that they were "expecting a planning application 'in the new year'". Later in the meeting, Cllr Nick Hollinghurst pointed out that 6 or 7 years ago Dacorum used ...
I was very pleased to play a part at the inaugural Sutton Business Excellence Awards organised by Successful Sutton. It took place on 7th November 2014 at the Holiday Inn, Sutton. Representing LBS and Opportunity Sutton I thanked our local businesses for their contribution to the borough, noting that their business rates contributed towards making the [...]
The UK and Norwegian governments have agreed to the UK National Grid and Norwegian electric distribution company Statnett constructing a 450mile long electricity interconnector between the UK and Norway known as NSN Link. It will connect the electricity systems of the two countries via a subsea cable, allowing the UK and Norway to trade power. When completed it will be the longest subsea interconnector in the world, passing through British and Norwegian waters. An outline planning application to Northumberland County Council has already been submitted so it's all systems go. Why the interest? It will carry Norwegian hydro electric power. ...
Season 8 of Dr Who recently finished. It saw the show rejuvenate itself and reach new heights. A month or so before Dr Who returned this summer, I opined to a friend that I wasn't really a Dr Who fan anymore. It was just the methadone for my Sherlock addiction. I suspect what drove this [...]
Today's thematic report from Estyn which assesses the linguistic progression and standards of Welsh at Key Stage 4 makes it clear that the Welsh Government's Welsh-medium education strategy is seriously off track in respect of its target for more learners to study through the medium of Welsh. The percentage of learners studying GCSE Welsh and two other qualifications through the medium of Welsh has barely moved between 2009 and 2013, and the percentage of learners studying at least five qualifications in this way has actually fallen in the same period. On current performance, the targets to increase the proportion of ...
Don't forget to get your DVDs out tonight for your thirtieth anniversary rewatch of The Box Of Delights... Help the GNOME foundation defend their trademark A Greasemonkey script that allows GNU/Linux users to download whole albums from Amazon Cloud Player without messing about with user agents and so on. You'll need to have clamz or [...]
