I'm going to try and keep up a 10-day report here, even though there seems little enough to report. The numbers in Belgium are still not falling, and there has been no firm news about vaccines, though a strong hint that our girls should get theirs very soon. This year's Worldcon had another kerfuffle, ending with the rescinding of the invitation of one of the Guests of Honour; apparently the first time this has ever happened. We live in unprecedented times. As I had hoped, I got my haircut today at the usual hairdresser, who reopened last week. After a ...
Sat 20th
19:00
Covid Watch: The word "truth" is being hijacked by fake news conspiracy theorists here in Ludlow
There have been too many victims of Covid-19. People for whom coronavirus was the primary cause of death. Many others whose death was accelerated or whose recovery from other diseases was cancelled through catching Covid. Truth has been a victim too. Conspiracy theorists and populists have been promoting a distorted review of reality. Uncertainty, crisis and threat have always been fertile grounds for conspiracy theories. But has never been so important to get the truth right. That is why I am angry at fake news now spreading around Ludlow. A "truthpaper" is currently been pushed through doors in Ludlow. Truth? ...
Following up the 1970s Kendall leaflet, Chesterfield's Paul Holmes has shared this from his town in 1973. It was the first Liberal Party leaflet in Chesterfield since the Second World War.
Many people are still suffering the consequences of the scandalous wave of leasehold selling that left many leasehold buyers paying charges that other homeowners would not expect to pay. Campaigners have convinced the government that this must be stopped but legislation is slow in coming.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (there is no punctuation in the official title) won the 1988 Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation. Second place went to Beetlejuice and third to Big; I have seen both but would rank the winner ahead of them. Fourth place went to Willow and fifth to Alien Nation; I have seen neither. IMDB users give Who Framed Roger Rabbit a respectable 8th place on both rankings; but Big and Beetlejuice (and Willow on one system but not the other) are ranked ahead of it. There's a couple of Oscar/Hugo crossovers, and even one with Doctor Who. Christopher ...
Fri, 12:56: How performers lost out in 'eye for an eye' Brexit talks https://t.co/zOZniIe0Bn In brief, there was inflexibility on both sides. (Though more from London.) Fri, 14:59: Blowing My Cover: My Life As A CIA Spy, and other misadventures, by Lindsay Moran Lindsay Moran made a bad career choice, took a few years to realise it, and eventually did realise it. #nwbooks https://t.co/doTbb4YcyE https://t.co/7gc5AbHz33 https://t.co/hJ1xRfGsGm Fri, 15:25: Europe and the Recognition of New States in Yugoslavia, by Richard Caplan Good book. Caplan explains what the European policy was in theory and practice, ending with a consideration of the effectiveness ...
I've been a parish councillor continuously since September 1985 on Maghull Town Council and in more recent times on Lydiate Parish Council so you won't be surprised to hear that after the carryings on at Handforth Parish Council, so beloved of the internet and media in the past couple of weeks, I've been asked by folks whether I've ever witnessed or even been a part of such 'entertainment'. I'm happy to say that I've not. Yes I've seen the odd flare of temper and odd inappropriate/rude remark, the odd bit of disrespect but usually it's been directed at parish councillors ...
The Guardian reports that a high court judge has found health secretary, Matt Hancock, acted unlawfully by failing to publish multibillion-pound Covid-19 government contracts within the 30-day period required by law: The judge, Mr Justice Chamberlain, ruled the failure to do so breached the "vital public function" of transparency over how "vast quantities" of taxpayers' money was spent. The judgment is a victory for the Good Law Project (GLP), a crowdfunded not-for-profit organisation that is making a series of legal challenges related to the government's procurement of protective personal equipment (PPE) and other services during the pandemic. Research by the ...
The Guardian reports today that staff shortages and a lack of available polling stations risk bringing chaos to May's local elections in England. Schools have been all but ruled out and many established venues are in use for testing or vaccinating. There are concerns that some counts could take so long they contravene the law which says the count must be conducted within four days. Newshound is currently recruiting fellow hounds prepared to offer their kennel at the price of one biscuit a voter if polling officers get desperate. Hounds For Democracy! * Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem ...
i) births and deaths 20 February 1913: birth of Rex Tucker, who is credited formally as director of The Gunfighters (1966) but also played an important role in the genesis of the show in 1963. 20 February 1954: birth of Anthony Stewart Head, who played Mr Finch/Brother Lazar in School Reunion (Tenth Doctor, 2006), Grayvorn in the 2002 Big Finish Excelis audio plays, and voiced characters in Death Comes to Time (Seventh Doctor webcast, 2001-02) and The Infinite Quest (Tenth Doctor animated, 2007) as well as doing voiceovers for many Doctor Who Confidentials. (Also Giles in Buffy, not that you ...
Sat 20th
07:00Linney House appeal for eight houses dismissed - decision strengthens the case against housing at Ca...
On Thursday, a government planning inspector rejected a scheme for eight homes in the grounds of Linney House. The decisions a vindication for Shropshire Council's planners and its tree team. They have been under a lot of pressure from the developer throughout but have stood their ground. For a scheme of at most eight homes, they have had to put in as much effort as might be expected for a supermarket application. The inspector's reasoning also strengthens our hope that the Castle View Terrace housing scheme will also be rejected at appeal. The inspector was clear that we have enough ...
Many thanks to all the residents who contacted me yesterday about the mess of overflowing recycling - mainly cardboard - at the Roseangle recycling area. I immediately contacted the City Council who promised to get it cleaned up - hopefully by the Saturday environment crew who are working today.
John Rogers describes this walk on YouTube: A walk through London's Little Italy up to the fields of Islington, starting at Chancery Lane Station on High Holborn. We go into the curious anomaly of Ely Place, owned by the Bishops of Ely and once technically part of Cambridgeshire. We visit the Old Mitre Pub where Sir Christopher Hatton danced with Elizabeth I. The walking tour goes along Hatton Garden, the centre of Britain's diamond trade, and into Leather Lane Market. The walk through Little Italy takes us in search of Fagin's den in Saffron Hill, a place visited by Charles ...
