Italian scientists have recreated the DNA of the fascist warrior-poet D'Annunzio from a 99-year-old semen stain they found. Eliezer Yudkowsky's blog posts from 2006-2009 have been collected as a pay-what-you-want ebook. I think a lot of Yudkowsky's stuff is wrong, and some of it dangerously so, and LessWrong seemed, last I looked, to have turned [...]
Mark Williams MP provided a refreshingly honest perspective on the Liberal Democrats' involvement in the Coalition at yesterday's Wales Governance Centre lecture at Cardiff University. He identified some hard lessons that have cost the party dearly, not least the mistake of agreeing to abstain on issues where they disagreed with the Tories. He implied that this had played a significant part in the dilution of the Party's identity. This was made more challenging by House of Commons procedure which regarded the Coalition as a single entity, stripping the Party of its allocated debate time, and its opportunity to ask questions ...
Fri 13th
21:09
He left Ludlow to find help elsewhere. Why can't we help homelessness people in Shropshire?
I'm struggling today. It was a day of beauty in the way people reacted. But the ugly hand of bureaucracy soured everything. Terry has been here a couple of days. He was rough sleeping. During the day he sat outside Holland and Barretts on Broad Street. I have been buried in work and hadn't been [...]
His name's Milo, born 12 March. Couldn't be happier... [IMG: image] [IMG: image]
Youth service budgets have been slashed by Shropshire Council. This year, Ludlow is set to receive only £10,850 to run services at the Youth Centre. This means we will need to rely more on volunteers if we are to keep our vital youth sessions going. Could you help? For us to deliver youth activities in [...]
A few weekends ago this blog was preoccupied with the demolition of the New Walk Centre in Leicester, This weekend there is another demolition to enjoy. The Greyfriars bus station in Northampton is to be blown up. As my photograph shows, it is a powerful Brutalist, or at least brutal, structure. If you came across it as an industrial building you would be mightily impressed. But it was a public building. And the minimum you ask of a public building is that it does not kill people. The underpasses and passages that the public was meant to use were so ...
Regular readers will be aware that Market Harborough is one of the best places to live in Britain. Still, it's nice to have it confirmed by the Sunday Times, which has included us in its list of the top 50 of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Part 3 - Towns and Suburbs. According to the Leicester Mercury report, the list is compiled by combining data and statistics on factors such as crime rates, house prices and school performance. Meanwhile, thousands of Melton Mowbray residents are without water.
[IMG: Rally entertainment Spring Conference Liverpool March 2015 Photo by Liberal Democrats] I'm sitting in the auditorium between Paul Walter who is taking photos which by the magic of technology will illustrate this post later, and Deborah from Derbyshire, who's at her first Conference. She's been saying what a wonderful atmosphere it is here. In front of us Nick Clegg, Jo Swinson and Paddy Ashdown are watching the singers who are entertaining us with bright and uplifting songs. It's a little bit of West End musical magic to make us smile. We've already had a video where some of the ...
The murder of Boris Nemtsov is beginning to look like a catalyst for some significant upheaval in Russia. The arrest of Chechen suspects initially looked like a lazy round up of the "usual suspects". However it quickly became clear that the individuals detained by the FSB were not just ordinary Chechens but significant figures, very close to the Chechen strongman, Ramzan Kadyrov, who has enjoyed special privileges both in his home patch, but also across Russia, including Moscow. Privileges which were, of course, granted by Putin. The fact that the head of the FSB personally announced the arrests -a very ...
I'm one of the signatories on this letter in today's Independent – and hopefully the policy will be debated at the Liberal Democrat spring conference in Liverpool tomorrow: We, the undersigned Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidates and activists have championed reform of the bedroom tax in the Liberal Democrat manifesto. Andrew George MP's Affordable Housing Bill, which the right-wing Conservatives refused to support, proposes removing all under-occupancy charges in social housing for the most vulnerable and those most in need. This includes protecting those with disabilities, those who have carers, joint custody of their children or families in the Army. ...
Fri 13th
17:55
Handwriting expert raises concerns over ballot papers from Tower Hamlets mayoral election
[IMG: Blue biro] The Wharf reports: A forensic handwriting and document examiner said a large number of ballot papers from last year's Tower Hamlet's mayoral election could have been filled out with the same pen and many seemed to contain the same handwriting. The Royal Courts of Justice, where Mayor Lutfur Rahman has been accused by four petitioners of a number of indiscretions including orchestrating voter fraud, also heard there were discrepancies noticed within different parts of the same postal vote ballots.
This post is simply a shameless plug for the play that my eldest daughter has written. It's being produced by Encompass Productions and is being performed at the White Bear Theatre in April. It promises to be a great experience as science fiction is seen rarely on stage. I'm really looking forward to seeing it. ... Continue reading »
Under Lib Dem manifesto plans announced today, young people will be able to buy their own home without needing a deposit. The Rent to Own scheme will help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder by allowing them to build up a share in their home through renting without the need for a deposit. This is a revolutionary shift in housing policy that will give young people caught in 'generation rent' a chance at home ownership During the last decade home ownership for those under 35 years has plummeted. The percentage owning a home has gone down from 59% to 36%. ...
A new Lamb on the block at Higher Carnyorth farm. Sadly this little one and her twin had a rough start in life. Although the male twin is standing on his own two feet and feeding from mum, this one has weak little legs and it is touch and go whether she will make it but we will give her every chance. [IMG: Young Lamb] Just two days old but not properly found her feet. We are having to bottle feed her several times a day. Time consuming but never a chore! I took the afternoon shift today and took ...
This is a brief summary of the proceedings last night, subject to formal minutes being issued: 1) Reject proposal to close the gate 2) Sub group consisting of Robert Donald (CNC Chair), ward councillors Chris White, Gerard McHale and Sheila Burton plus 3 reps from Clarence Park Residents' Association to be set up to look [...]
"With the news that St Albans Council has lost its court case against Eric Pickles's decision to approve the Park Street lorry terminal, it really has been Friday 13th for local residents," said Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat candidate for St Albans. "All the judge could do was determine whether the Conservative Secretary of State had [...]
In a windowless room, those members who made it to the conference centre in time, and weren't skiving on the Beatles tour, went through a package of Powerpoint slides this afternoon. The slides showed, line by line, in red, all the deletions and additons to the party constitution which are proposed. These proposals are for an extremely important and refreshing reason: they open up attendance and voting at conferences to all members, rather than representatives. This change was decided upon at the last Glasgow conference. This meeting was to consult upon the alterations of the constitution to enact the change. ...
One of my abiding memories of the Liberal Democrat special conference that approved the coalition deal was the journey back from it. My phone had only a small amount of charge left and I was desperately trying to eke it out as I sat on the train while also trying to keep as up to date as I could with the final of the ICC World Twenty20 championship. The battery lasted just long enough to get to the end of the game, as England cruised past Australia's total to win. After years of failing to make a breakthrough and actually ...
If you answer a simple question or register for free (or oay for an extended period) you can read a summary of an FT interview with Tim Farron here. In it he gives marks of two out of ten for the way the party has handled the politics of coalition, and eight of ten for the handling of the original negotiations in 2010. He is described as the "likely successor" to Nick Clegg. He also distances himself from the NHS reforms and the tuition fees debacle. He says he is looking forward to the "thrill of rebuilding" after the election. ...
Edition #59 of Liberal Democrat Newswire came out earlier in the week, looking at the party's evolving tax and spend plans for the next Parliament, what new polling says about the party's strategy, record fundraising by the Lib Dems and more. You can also read it below, but if you'd like the convenience of getting it direct by email in future, just sign up here. It's free! And if you are already a reader and like it, why not Like my Facebook page to help publicise the newsletter to others? Welcome to the 59th edition of Liberal Democrat Newswire which ...
The policy announcement of 'rent to own' will offer tremendous hope to young people who cannot currently afford to buy a home or sometimes even to rent one. I for one, am extremely proud of this policy which recognises how hard it is for young people to get on the property ladder and provides a solution without burdening young people with having to save up for a deposit. I am putting in a speaker's card at conference to speak about housing and the Lib Dem's success in this area under Vince Cable.
A new web chat service is being piloted on the Council website from Monday March 16th 2015. The service will be available on some of the most popular webpages including Council Tax, Benefits, Contact Us and Waste and Recycling during normal office hours. Stockport Council's website is proving very popular for residents wanting to report problems, with over half the reports of faulty streetlights, potholes and similar now via the website. But where someone wants to find out information or sort out a more complex problem, a web form is no good. The web chat service aims to make it ...
[IMG: Crystal ball. Photo courtesy of http://www.sxc.hu/photo/319199 - some rights reserved] #PredictMay7th enter our election comp & you could win £500 for charity! We'll donate £5 for the first 200 entries http://t.co/ZIZqS05jy7 — Blue Rubicon (@bluerubicon) March 10, 2015
We asked Stephen Gilbert MP to give us a few words on the importance of an effective stakeboard and poster campaign for our local elections: Stake boards are a crucial way to show the Liberal Democrats are a serious force in the local area. A strong, early showing of stake boards helps build momentum and [...]
Lots of people on social media and in the real media are getting excited about a request from the makers of the new Bond movie to film in the Senedd Chamber. Unfortunately, the Assembly refused their request, spawning a whole hasttag - #seneddbond, lots of Welsh bond film titles such as Carwyn Royale, D'hondt is not enough and On Her Majesty's Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill, and people comparing Leighton Andrews with Blofeld. All he needs is a white cat. BBC Wales reports the official Assembly Commission statement: "The Senedd's Siambr [chamber] is the home of Welsh democracy and ...
Bus company Western Greyhound has ceased trading this morning. A number of their routes run in the Launceston area. Cornwall Council are co-ordinating efforts to provide services with efforts being concentrated on school routes and those which meet a social need. The news will cause difficulty for many people who rely on local bus services for work, education and social needs. I know that people in Launceston rely on WG services for travel to Exeter, for example. Routes operated by the company fall into three categories: - school routes These are all covered today and the council (which contracts the ...
I purchased the photos below from the National Railway Museum in York. A fascinating look back to how Formby and Freshfield were around the time of the 1st World War. Click on the photos to enlarge them. [IMG: Freshfield Station in 1914 in Lancashire Yorkshire Railway days.] Freshfield Station in 1914 in Lancashire Yorkshire Railway days. [IMG: The bridge over the railway at Formby Station in 1913 in Lancashire Yorkshire Railway days.] The bridge over the railway at Formby Station in 1913 in Lancashire Yorkshire Railway days. The photos are amongst my Flickr shots at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/
Three local environmental organisations did well out of the first round of the Forum's Community Grants: Friends of Yate Common £1061 A proper, professionally prepared environmental plan is essential for well-used natural spaces. This grant will pay for a five-year management plan to identify priorities and projects to maintain and enhance this popular open space. Friends of the Beehive £1003 The Friends of the Beehive tend the honeybee colony at the Chipping Sodbury Community Orchard Apiary. The bees are essential for pollination of orchard trees and other plants. The beekeepers aim to educate the public and hopefully encourage them to ...
In the words of the Electoral Reform Society's current petition: "It's time to change the voting system for local elections in England and Wales. In 21st century democracies, election results should be determined by how people vote. Instead, Labour won 100% of seats in Manchester on 58% of the vote. The Conservatives won 62% of seats in Kingston on 35% of the vote. And the Liberal Democrats won 83% of seats in Sutton on 38% of the vote." Northern Ireland has used the Single Transferable Vote for local elections since 1973, Scotland since 2007. These reforms were implemented by respectively ...
Watch the new fun (yet educational) video from CGP Grey:
The link above is worth clicking and the document is interesting reading. Westminster politicians keep on telling us we are short of housing, so much so that many folk simply do not question whether they are right any more. This research confirms to me what I have always thought i.e. we have too much of the wrong types of housing. The problem areas are too few 1 & 2 bed properties and not enough affordable and social housing. On this basis and taking Sefton Council's astonishingly poor Local Plan into account why on earth are we going to end ...
Philip K. Dick was right: we are becoming androids – "The deep problem, for Dick, wasn't that mechanisms might become more manlike. It's that men might be reduced to mechanisms." Why I Just Cancelled My Direct Debit To The Electoral Reform Society – Andrew Hickey on how their shilling for online voting has lost them his support. Because good people doing bad things does not happen only in sepia – Crooked Timber's Maria Farrell on the flaws in Britain's defence and security policies, highlighted by Philip Hammond's recent speech. China's Tensions With Dalai Lama Spill Into The Afterlife – The ...
Here's some of the articles that have caught my attention this week... Login Me in @timesredbox this morning on why the LibDems' 120+ polls of target seats is giving the party hope http://bit.ly/1MnIBXi Exclusive: new poll shows Featherstone in dead heat with Labour in Hornsey & Wood Green The difference naming a candidate makes: Lynne Featherstone neck-and-neck w/ Lab http://bit.ly/1aZ9xkR h/t @markpack YouGov | 1874 and all that: is Scottish independence inevitable? 1874 and all that... Will the SNP do in 2015 what the Home Rule League in Ireland did 141 years ago? http://bit.ly/1CX7f1f Rona Fairhead should lose BBC job ...
Fri 13th
09:22
Has Westminster lost the political capital necessary to make the changes society requires?
I was on a panel at the RSA Tuesday evening which focused on the future of health policy. Given the line up contained both Polly Toynbee and Andrew Haldenby, I thought the discussion was going to be more adversarial than it turned out to be. Instead, everyone broadly agreed that the NHS needed to reform in order to continue providing the level of service we've come to expect. There was disagreement on how to go about that, obviously, but the ability for the government to change things in order to improve was unanimously approved. The point I made was to ...
Guitar Solo Faces Make A Lot More Sense When Guitars Are Replaced With Giant Slugs (tags: ) Bulk interception is NOT mass surveillance, lies are truth, & hate is love, says ISC (tags: ) What Terry Pratchett said about death - the long quote from Hogfather just set me off again :( (tags: ) Terry Pratchett in quotes: "Goodness is about what you do. Not who you pray to." Goodness is about what you do. Not who you pray to. (tags: ) First photographs emerge of new Pacific island off Tonga - please Cthulhu, let them call it Leshp (tags: ...
Who could have predicted it? Who would have thought that four years after the Alternative Vote was firmly rejected by voters in a national referendum, we would be approaching the 2015 general election with First Past the Post at Westminster under serious scrutiny? Or that local electoral reform could be a realistic outcome of power-sharing talks between Liberal Democrats and one or other of the major parties (provided Lib Dems make it a 'red-line' issue)? What are the game-changers? Firstly, FPTP's supposed ability to deliver clear majority government was justification enough for many to put up with the obvious lack ...
The Press and Journal reports: Scottish Liberal Democrats believe their own research indicates they can retain a key north-east seat despite earlier gloomy polls. Last week polling conducted by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft showed that Sir Robert Smith faced defeat in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine with a 20.5% swing to the SNP. But the Lib Dems claimed his findings are flawed because they do not take into account personal recognition - and now the party thinks it has the data to prove it. Polling by Survation which looks at voting intentions broken down by individual candidates in West Aberdeenshire and ...
Eton Street appears on the unadopted footways list for future adoption. Residents have queried with me why it has low priority and, on looking at the scoring for the street (in terms of the scheme's scoring priority), I was surprised at its low points for age of housing. I raised this with the City Engineer and am now pleased to advise of his helpful response : "I can confirm that 6 points is given to streets where the majority of housing is built between 1940 and 1965. The scoring system for Age of Housing is as follows: Pre-1919 - 12 ...
The Malvern Gazette reports: A FORMER UKIP parliamentary candidate in Worcestershire has ditched the party and joined the Lib Dems, it has emerged. Caroline Bovey, a staunch activist for Nigel Farage for several years in and around Malvern, has announced that she has switched allegiance... She said: "The Liberal Democrats have a proven track record in Malvern and years of experience working for the Pickersleigh community. "I am very much looking forward to being a part of the team that builds on that in the future."
