Otto English takes a look at the record of the 62 Conservative MPs who signed the European Research Group letter to Theresa May. "The frenzied desire to 'give the Jews a good kicking' led the room to reject local MP Tulip Siddiq's alternative offer of a report on her parliamentary activities instead. Apparently, as we seek a full-on return to the Dark Ages, the ritual 'humiliation of the Jews' must come before any competing business." Philip Rosenberg on the institutional racism in his local Labour Party. "The idea that black people only inhabit urban areas, and that the English countryside ...
Clarendon Park, actually.
First, I want to apologise for the lack of posts this month. I've been very unwell since Christmas, battling fatigue and inflammation constantly (it's hard to understand how literal the "flam" in "inflammation" is until you start suffering from a ... Continue reading →
Fri 23rd
19:21
Former Freemason, 51, found drunk and naked inside a huge pipe organ with a toy gun and remote-contr...
By general acclamation among my Twitter followers, the Daily Mail wins this blog's prestigious Headline of the Day Award. Strictly speaking, the decision was up to the judges. But, hearing the mob baying at the gates, they soon caved in.
Over in the i newspaper they've been taking a look at the smorgasbord of Brexit-related social media hashtags such as #FBPE, #ABTV and #WATON: To the uninitiated, political discussion on the internet can sometimes appear as if it is taking place in code... One obvious problem with the hashtag movement is how meaningless a string of hashtags might be to someone outside the Twitter bubble. Philosopher AC Grayling's display name at time of writing was "A C Grayling #FBPE #ABTV #WATON #OFOC" - which is all but meaningless if you're not devoting your life to following Brexit's social media trench ...
Fri 23rd
17:22
1943 Retro Hugo for Best Related Work: C.S. Lewis on Paradise Lost, Hamilton's Mythology
This year is the sixth time that Retro Hugos have been awarded, following 1996 (for 1946), 2001 (for 1951), 2004 (for 1954), 2014 (for 1939) and 2016 (for 1941). However, only once has the category of Best Related Work attracted enough interest to justify a Retro Hugo, in 2004, when Conquest of the Moon by Wernher von Braun, Fred L. Whipple and Willy Ley saw off two other contenders. So there have been three finalists in five rounds of awards. This year we are considering work of 1942, and skimming through Goodreads I spotted two books that fall outside the ...
The preliminary agenda for Scottish Spring Conference, which takes place in Aviemore from 20-21 April, has been announced and it's going to be a bit of a cracker. Sure, there is going to be a bit of motherhood and apple pie – I mean, who on earth is going to vote against a motion regulating the sale of puppies? However, the Scottish Young Liberals have made sure that there is likely to be some intense debate. The party hasn't debated abortion law for a while, but with its devolution to the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Conference Committee has, to my ...
Fri 23rd
14:12
Why I wouldn't get your hopes up about a coherent Brexit plan from Labour after this week
There has been a flurry of new information from major shadow cabinet figures about Brexit this week, after what seemed liked an enforced silence on the topic. Unfortunately, it all makes as much sense as it usually does. John McDonnell has jumped on the extremely irritating "a" customs union with the EU, not be confused with "the" Customs Union most politicians seem to know very little about and yet feel must be discarded bandwagon. "We are not supporting membership of "the" Customs Union but we are looking at "a" customs union. The reason we are saying "a" customs union is ...
he Federal Policy Committee met again on 21st February 2018. There was a fairly hefty agenda and the meeting ran for a little over three hours. Update on Immigration and Identity Policy Working Group Adam Pritchard, the chair of this group, attended to provide a summary of its work. A copy of the consultation paper which is up for discussion at Spring Conference was circulated. The group is on schedule to complete its task on time and report to Autumn Conference. Adam said that imaginative policy will be needed to ensure that the paper has a good shelf life after ...
This old tune came to mind in the middle of the night. You don't hear it much (justifiably) but the first 15 seconds of the record make it the best football song there is (narrowly pipping "Three Lions on their shirt"). After that sublime start, it reverts to the normal football song formula of choruses ... Continue reading Nice one Cyril!
In America the latest (that I've heard of at the time of typing) school shooting feels like it has picked up a little more momentum in the calls for action afterwards; not least because of the bisexual boss of the school's Gay/Straight Alliance group and how her extensive use of the term "BS" while explaining how the US' gun laws look from the perspective of some of the groups most likely to be killed as a result of the NRA's diligent purchasing of politicians was an ideal clip for going viral. Naturally there's a pushback with someone - possibly someseveral, ...
I was reminded of this by a conversation on twitter. Everybody in films always faces in towards the stream of water in a shower, but it is my habit to face outwards so it doesn't feel like being waterboarded. And then I got curious about other ablutionary matters... View Poll: Ablutions [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Having been to Crosby Library a number of times recently it has been brought home to me how much it needs a little TLC. I recall during my 15 years as a Sefton Councillor thinking similar thoughts and maybe I am as much to blame myself for not trying to do something positive to improve things? The Civic Hall behind the Library has been moldering away for many years now but frankly it too was in very poor internal condition the last time I was in there prior to its mothballing/closure. The building is certainly a child of its times ...
How do we get off 8%? We've been at or around that figure in the polls since well before the 2015 election, and despite our very clear and principled stance on Brexit, we're still stuck. Maybe we just need some 'events, dear boy'. We've had precious few parliamentary by-elections, which were the lifeblood of the party's momentum in the 1960s, 70s and 90s, and we haven't had the kind of Iraq War issue that puts us on the right side of public opinion and leaves the Conservatives and Labour on the wrong side. But do we just wait for such ...
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miss_s_b | Samsung Health Together Thing I've got a Gear Fit 2, but only one friend :( Eight Flavors: Punjabi-Mexican Cuisine and the Roti-Quesadilla We've Always Hated Girls Online: A Wayback Machine Investigation If you like what you see here (or even if you don't) please consider dropping me a tip: [IMG: Paypal Donate Button] [IMG: Buy Me an uncaffeinated beverage (because I'm allergic to coffee) at ko-fi.com] [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Thu, 12:01: Noord-Iers jongetje schrijft brief aan Rode Duivels en krijgt antwoord https://t.co/ASeN2IIH5q This is a lovely story. Thu, 12:56: The Karabakh Conflict as "Project Minimum" https://t.co/vmhToluN5Z Gloomy but accurate from @Tom_deWaal. Thu, 13:11: At CEPS Ideas Lab! #CEPSlab18 (at @TheEGGBrussels in Anderlecht, Brussels) https://t.co/ckTeD4FlUH Thu, 13:17: RT @Mina_Andreeva: .@JunckerEU #CEPSlab18 "We are a Union of #solidarity. In 2016 alone, we offered asylum to three times as many refugees... Thu, 13:19: RT @CEPBelgrade: There is a need to bring #WesternBalkans closer to the #EU, said @JunckerEU at the #CEPSlab18 Thu, 13:55: It was a rather abrupt answer. But of course ...
.....the amazing Paul Moat, who has been Campaigns Officer under former Head of Campaigns Adam Stachura for the past 4 years. Paul joined us from the North East in the run-up to the independence referendum in 2014 and has never been allowed to leave because he's such a good campaigner. Congratulations to him on his promotion. This means, of course, that there is a vacancy for Scottish Campaigns Officer which is open until 9th March. You can read the full job description here but if you think you could do any of this sort of stuff, do apply: We are ...
At sometime today the Newport West MP, Paul Flynn will introduce a Private Members Bill into the House of Commons advocating cannabis be made legal for medical use. If it becomes law, it would be make a huge difference to people living with a chronic disease or in constant pain. On the Guardian website, James Coke, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis explains why this would make a huge difference to the quality of his life: I'm convinced cannabis has allowed me to live more of a normal life than would have been possible with the constant pain. I've always smoked ...
Move over, sumo wrestler. There is a new headline in town courtesy of Daily Mail Australia: "Morning, how was your weekend?" pic.twitter.com/NJ8Qx4tjwR — Dave Harland (@wordmancopy) February 23, 2018 If only he'd had a French President's camel with him.
Fri 23rd
09:00
South Glos consultations: Special Educational Needs /Disability, climate, social housing, sports fac...
Lots of South Glos consultations are around at the moment. Let's hope that some of them result in actions rather than just intentions: Draft Special Educational Needs and/or Disability Strategy, 2018-2023. Deadline 12 March Climate Change Strategy 2018-2023, aims to help South Glos become climate resilient with a thriving Low Carbon economy and lifestyle. Deadline 12 March Proposed changes to Homechoice Re-housing Policy: how they assess applications for and allocate social housing. Deadline 26 March Draft Playing Pitches, Indoor and Built Sports Facilities Strategies from South Gloucestershire Council, who seek your comments. Deadline 24 April Other South Glos consultations are ...
I have just finished a call with Vodafone to renew my mobile phone subscription. The gentleman on the other line was very courteous. Maybe more important, he was extremely transparent in what he was asking me to sign up to with all the benefits and limitations. But here's the thing. Whenever he said something that [...] The post Less regulation? It's up to business to make it possible appeared first on Radix.
The answer to American gun crime is.... More guns At least according to Donald Trump and the NRA. In the wake of the Parkland Florida shooting they want teachers to carry guns. But why stop there? America's clergymen - and women—could strap on shoulder holsters. How about scout leaders? They would look really macho with a pair of pearl-handlers dangling from their hips. Trump's latest daft answer to a problem is unsurprising. Every time he faces a problem involving force his knee-jerk reaction is to respond with more force or—at the very least—the threat of more force. North Korea, Iran, ...
As I have already publicised, Dundee's Participatory Budgeting process "Dundee Decides" is now live - you can read more at vote here. If you live in Dundee, please go onto the site, select the ward in which you live (eg West End) and select which of the six identified projects you would like to see funded and delivered by the City Council. You have until 23rd March to vote. There's a West End drop-in event on Monday - 26th February - 2pm to 6pm at Blackness Library - where you can find out more - all welcome!
A Merseyrail Ormskirk to Liverpool train rushes past the construction site on 19th February. Seen from the Park Lane overbridge. The new Poppy Fields development is on the left and Mersey Avenue housing is to the right. Maghull North's controversial new twin towers (lift shafts) as seen from the School Lane overbridge also on 19th February.This shot reverses the view so Mersey Avenue is to the left and Poppy Fields to the right. Click on the photos to enlarge them
We'll start with the bad news and disappointment of two losses to the Tories in Dorset. Hugely popular District and County Councillor Ros Kayes stood down for work reasons. A former Mayor of Bridport, even her opponents admired her. Even with strong local candidates and campaign, we couldn't hold off the Conservatives. Bridport (Dorset) result: CON: 39.6% (+2.5) LDEM: 34.6% (-3.7) LAB: 16.5% (+4.4) GRN: 9.3% (-3.2) Conservative GAIN from Liberal Democrat. — Britain Elects (@britainelects) February 23, 2018 * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
Fri 23rd
06:03
Shropshire councillors vote to increase council tax but not councillor's allowances after heated deb...
Yesterday's Shropshire Council meeting was quite lively at times. The subject matter was duller than dust - the council's finances. But it did get a bit hot under the collar, with raised voices, swearing and gasps of incredulity. Conservatives even voted against Conservative motions. Councillors squabbled over whether to raise the pay of the political leaders and eventually agreed not to do so - for now. Councillors did agree a £209m net budget for next year and to raise council tax by 5.99%. With police, fire and Ludlow Town Council also making increases, the overall council tax bill in Ludlow ...
Plenty of notice for this .....
