The Conservative position on the Lisbon Treaty, which William Hague failed to make completely clear in his recent interview with the Times, seems to be that if it is not ratified by the time of the next election they would put it to a referendum, whereas if it were already ratified they might and they might not. In neither circumstance are they able to say whether the referendum result would be binding on the government.
It is not just Parliament’s loss of control over foreign affairs and other areas, as if that weren’t bad enough; this Treaty creates new layers of bureaucracy and cost which we simply cannot afford. There must be cost cutting in Britain and that must start with Brussels, and reduction of the EU budget must begin with not increasing it due to the Lisbon Treaty.
It used to be that the Conservatives pledged to repatriate powers from Brussels, I suppose that has gone out of the window.
29 April, 2009
27 April, 2009
Climate Change
The Independent reports about what is happening on the Sun (the star, not the newspaper). ‘But now the speculation has grown louder because of what is happening to our Sun. No living scientist has seen it behave this way. There are no sunspots.’
You will recall that not so long ago if you referred to the climate and solar activity in the same breath you were a heretic. Not now, it seems. ‘solar scientists have been reticent about it because of its connections with those who those who deny climate change’; yes indeed.
‘When the Sun has gone quiet like this before, it coincided with the earth cooling slightly and there is speculation that a similar thing could happen now. If so, it could alter all our predictions of climate change, and show that our understanding of climate change might not be anywhere near as good as we thought.’
Don’t you get impatient with these people? A new term, ‘climate change denier’ is coined to make it sound like holocaust denier, and the coterie of self-selected experts froth at the mouth when anyone even questions their orthodoxy, whilst quietly, in the background, the whole thing is being reappraised.
If this turns out to be correct, and we are in for a mini ice-age, I should like to see the whole damned lot of them rounded up and fed to the supposedly extinct polar bears.
You will recall that not so long ago if you referred to the climate and solar activity in the same breath you were a heretic. Not now, it seems. ‘solar scientists have been reticent about it because of its connections with those who those who deny climate change’; yes indeed.
‘When the Sun has gone quiet like this before, it coincided with the earth cooling slightly and there is speculation that a similar thing could happen now. If so, it could alter all our predictions of climate change, and show that our understanding of climate change might not be anywhere near as good as we thought.’
Don’t you get impatient with these people? A new term, ‘climate change denier’ is coined to make it sound like holocaust denier, and the coterie of self-selected experts froth at the mouth when anyone even questions their orthodoxy, whilst quietly, in the background, the whole thing is being reappraised.
If this turns out to be correct, and we are in for a mini ice-age, I should like to see the whole damned lot of them rounded up and fed to the supposedly extinct polar bears.
Climate Change
The Independent reports about what is happening on the Sun (the star, not the newspaper). ‘But now the speculation has grown louder because of what is happening to our Sun. No living scientist has seen it behave this way. There are no sunspots.’
You will recall that not so long ago if you referred to the climate and solar activity in the same breath you were a heretic. Not now, it seems. ‘solar scientists have been reticent about it because of its connections with those who those who deny climate change’; yes indeed.
‘When the Sun has gone quiet like this before, it coincided with the earth cooling slightly and there is speculation that a similar thing could happen now. If so, it could alter all our predictions of climate change, and show that our understanding of climate change might not be anywhere near as good as we thought.’
Don’t you get impatient with these people? A new term, ‘climate change denier’ is coined to make it sound like holocaust denier, and the coterie of self-selected experts froth at the mouth when anyone even questions their orthodoxy, whilst quietly, in the background, the whole thing is being reappraised.
If this turns out to be correct, and we are in for a mini ice-age, I should like to see the whole damned lot of them rounded up and put in a large fridge.
You will recall that not so long ago if you referred to the climate and solar activity in the same breath you were a heretic. Not now, it seems. ‘solar scientists have been reticent about it because of its connections with those who those who deny climate change’; yes indeed.
‘When the Sun has gone quiet like this before, it coincided with the earth cooling slightly and there is speculation that a similar thing could happen now. If so, it could alter all our predictions of climate change, and show that our understanding of climate change might not be anywhere near as good as we thought.’
Don’t you get impatient with these people? A new term, ‘climate change denier’ is coined to make it sound like holocaust denier, and the coterie of self-selected experts froth at the mouth when anyone even questions their orthodoxy, whilst quietly, in the background, the whole thing is being reappraised.
If this turns out to be correct, and we are in for a mini ice-age, I should like to see the whole damned lot of them rounded up and put in a large fridge.
24 April, 2009
The Gurkhas
The tightening of the rules to exclude the Gurkhas (or almost all of them) from settling in the UK is a disgrace, which brings shame on us all.
Our immigration policy at the moment allows evey Greek Cypriot swindler, every Maltese road sweeper, every Hungarian pimp to come to the UK to live and work, while their governments trudge the corridors of Brussesls demanding more subsidies, while the Gurkhas, who were not just on our side (which would be a pleasant change) but actually fought in our army, in our wars, are excluded.
It is a disgrace for which we are responsible: don't imagine this government has any guiding moral prnciples, much less something against the Gurkhas, they just wanted to save money and thought they could get away with this. Let's show them they can't.- See http://www.gurkhajustice.org.uk/
Our immigration policy at the moment allows evey Greek Cypriot swindler, every Maltese road sweeper, every Hungarian pimp to come to the UK to live and work, while their governments trudge the corridors of Brussesls demanding more subsidies, while the Gurkhas, who were not just on our side (which would be a pleasant change) but actually fought in our army, in our wars, are excluded.
It is a disgrace for which we are responsible: don't imagine this government has any guiding moral prnciples, much less something against the Gurkhas, they just wanted to save money and thought they could get away with this. Let's show them they can't.- See http://www.gurkhajustice.org.uk/
23 April, 2009
The UK Budget
I think there's only one thing that needs to be said about yesterday's budget. The whole thing is predicated on the willingness of markets to finance the debt. The 240 billion available from the IMF (we are being gently softened up for this, aren't we?) isn't enough to finance a 170 billion a year borrowing habit for very long. So it's credibility in the markets, or the whole pack of cards comes tumbling down.
Now, you don't need to be any kind of financial expert to understand this: lenders expect borrowers to pursue policies such that their loans are going to be repaid.
And Mr Darling is not pursuing such policies. He's still playing politics, hoping to trick the Tories into complaining about a 50% tax band which will raise no new revenue.
Cameron and Osborne now need to look as if they've got a plan, because if they haven't, the jitters will start.
Now, you don't need to be any kind of financial expert to understand this: lenders expect borrowers to pursue policies such that their loans are going to be repaid.
And Mr Darling is not pursuing such policies. He's still playing politics, hoping to trick the Tories into complaining about a 50% tax band which will raise no new revenue.
Cameron and Osborne now need to look as if they've got a plan, because if they haven't, the jitters will start.
St George's Day
St George’s Day today, and as usual people are asking why, if the Scots get St Andrew’s Day off, there shouldn’t be an English holiday.
The reason is that the patriotism hating bien pensant lefties who run New Labour and the BBC say that it will encourage the Far Right; but when International Labour Day was made a holiday I don’t recall anyone complaining that it would encourage the Far Left.
Boris Johnson the Mayor of London is trying to drum up some enthusiasm on the basis that it is William Shakespeare’s birthday. But he won’t succeed.
If you want to celebrate St George, go to one of these places where he is also patron saint: Beirut, Ethiopia, Genova, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Milan, Palestine and Portugal.
To cheer you up on this auspicious day, perhaps I can offer you what I believe to be the two worst Shakespeare jokes.
A man goes into a bookshop and asks for a play by Shakespeare.
‘Which one?’ says the proprietor
‘William’.
A man goes into a bar dressed as Shakespeare. The Landlord says ‘You’re Bard’.
OK- I’ll get my coat.
The reason is that the patriotism hating bien pensant lefties who run New Labour and the BBC say that it will encourage the Far Right; but when International Labour Day was made a holiday I don’t recall anyone complaining that it would encourage the Far Left.
Boris Johnson the Mayor of London is trying to drum up some enthusiasm on the basis that it is William Shakespeare’s birthday. But he won’t succeed.
If you want to celebrate St George, go to one of these places where he is also patron saint: Beirut, Ethiopia, Genova, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Milan, Palestine and Portugal.
To cheer you up on this auspicious day, perhaps I can offer you what I believe to be the two worst Shakespeare jokes.
A man goes into a bookshop and asks for a play by Shakespeare.
‘Which one?’ says the proprietor
‘William’.
A man goes into a bar dressed as Shakespeare. The Landlord says ‘You’re Bard’.
OK- I’ll get my coat.
21 April, 2009
The UN - what was going on?
The UN has a High Commissioner for human rights, a lady by the name of Navi Pillay, and whatever her merits as an individual I think we can agree, looking round the world, that her office, at least, has not been much of a success. So what is the latest brouhaha all about?
It goes back to Durban in 2001 – perhaps earlier than that because Durban was chosen due to its history under apartheid. Anyway the UN decided to hold a conference there about racism. And a moment’s reflection will tell you that such a conference was going to be a failure from the start: I discriminate against you because you are a horrid bastard, you discriminate against me because you are a racist. But it is pointless trying to tell an international bureaucrat not to have a shindig at the world’s expense, and Durban is as good a place for a shindig as you can imagine.
Durban 2001 of course got hijacked by the noisy, who in my experience are rarely the most guilt free. The first attempt at a resolution was that there should be reparations for slavery. Colin Powell, then Secretary of State and a black man, famously asked whether he should expect to pay or to be paid. The next attempt was to try to resurrect the old UN chestnut that Zionism is racism. America, Israel and a few others walked out.
I mention all this because it was happening at the end of August 2001 and by 9th September the world had other things to think about and the fiasco had been largely forgotten.
Now Durban II has started up and you wouldn’t have needed a doctorate in international politics to guess what would happen. A few countries, including America, Canada, Italy refused to attend although Britain did (why?). The usual Zionism is racism stuff overwhelmed any attempt at serious discussion, attempting to make Israel a pariah state as South Africa was, and they added in that attacks on religions (and they mean the Danish cartoon depictions of the Prophet Mohammed) should be declared a breach of human rights. I watched Ahmadinejad’s speech on Al-Jazeerah (which is not what most people suppose it to be) and it was a shocker.
So that’s over until the next time, unless we have the sense to realise that this is not the forum for a discussion on racism, or indeed on the Israel/Palestine question. It was a clear case of the UN not resolving conflict but promoting it. The winners have been Iran and those states (well done, Italy) who boycotted. The losers have been Britain for attending and the UN itself. Ban Ki-moon, who looks next to useless, and Ms Pillay should seriously consider their positions (they won't, though).
It goes back to Durban in 2001 – perhaps earlier than that because Durban was chosen due to its history under apartheid. Anyway the UN decided to hold a conference there about racism. And a moment’s reflection will tell you that such a conference was going to be a failure from the start: I discriminate against you because you are a horrid bastard, you discriminate against me because you are a racist. But it is pointless trying to tell an international bureaucrat not to have a shindig at the world’s expense, and Durban is as good a place for a shindig as you can imagine.
Durban 2001 of course got hijacked by the noisy, who in my experience are rarely the most guilt free. The first attempt at a resolution was that there should be reparations for slavery. Colin Powell, then Secretary of State and a black man, famously asked whether he should expect to pay or to be paid. The next attempt was to try to resurrect the old UN chestnut that Zionism is racism. America, Israel and a few others walked out.
I mention all this because it was happening at the end of August 2001 and by 9th September the world had other things to think about and the fiasco had been largely forgotten.
Now Durban II has started up and you wouldn’t have needed a doctorate in international politics to guess what would happen. A few countries, including America, Canada, Italy refused to attend although Britain did (why?). The usual Zionism is racism stuff overwhelmed any attempt at serious discussion, attempting to make Israel a pariah state as South Africa was, and they added in that attacks on religions (and they mean the Danish cartoon depictions of the Prophet Mohammed) should be declared a breach of human rights. I watched Ahmadinejad’s speech on Al-Jazeerah (which is not what most people suppose it to be) and it was a shocker.
So that’s over until the next time, unless we have the sense to realise that this is not the forum for a discussion on racism, or indeed on the Israel/Palestine question. It was a clear case of the UN not resolving conflict but promoting it. The winners have been Iran and those states (well done, Italy) who boycotted. The losers have been Britain for attending and the UN itself. Ban Ki-moon, who looks next to useless, and Ms Pillay should seriously consider their positions (they won't, though).
15 April, 2009
The First Dog (2)
More about Bo. It's disturbing news, I'm afraid. Look away now if you are shocked by mental cruelty to innocent animals.
First, Bo was a gift from Sen. Edward Kennedy, who, I imagine, knew the value of a dog that could swim when you needed it to and then say nothing to the press.
Second, my correspondent Cheech tells me that the flower garland round our friend's neck, which I described as a lei in honour of the President, is in fact 'a "Rainbow Coalition" Collar provided by either the Gay lobby or Jessie Jackson.'
This dog needs our help.
We need to get someone inside the White House as a Dog Trainer, but training Bo to do the things that dogs do, like dig up flower beds, pee on the Oval Office carpet and quietly puke in front of visiting sycophants like Gordon Brown.
First, Bo was a gift from Sen. Edward Kennedy, who, I imagine, knew the value of a dog that could swim when you needed it to and then say nothing to the press.
Second, my correspondent Cheech tells me that the flower garland round our friend's neck, which I described as a lei in honour of the President, is in fact 'a "Rainbow Coalition" Collar provided by either the Gay lobby or Jessie Jackson.'
This dog needs our help.
We need to get someone inside the White House as a Dog Trainer, but training Bo to do the things that dogs do, like dig up flower beds, pee on the Oval Office carpet and quietly puke in front of visiting sycophants like Gordon Brown.
Euro bears
Congratulations to Open Europe for this:
"Apparently, Guenther Lischka, who is financial officer for the European Commission Enlargement Directorate General, was previously employed organising foreign excursions... for teddy bears. We kid you not. Having set up the 'Teddy Tours' company Guenther took clients’ teddy bears around Vienna taking photos with famous monuments and charging between 99-149 euros, depending on where the bear originated. According to El Mundo, the company only had around twenty clients during its year of existence and yet, to occupy his current position at the Commission he had to demonstrate “experience in accounting and finance”."
What disturbs me the most is price discrimination according to where the bears were from. Not exactly esprit communautaire, is it?
"Apparently, Guenther Lischka, who is financial officer for the European Commission Enlargement Directorate General, was previously employed organising foreign excursions... for teddy bears. We kid you not. Having set up the 'Teddy Tours' company Guenther took clients’ teddy bears around Vienna taking photos with famous monuments and charging between 99-149 euros, depending on where the bear originated. According to El Mundo, the company only had around twenty clients during its year of existence and yet, to occupy his current position at the Commission he had to demonstrate “experience in accounting and finance”."
What disturbs me the most is price discrimination according to where the bears were from. Not exactly esprit communautaire, is it?
13 April, 2009
Memo to First Dog
Bad start: Bo as in Diddly rather than Beau as in Geste. OK, you've been cruelly uprooted from your native cork forests (I assume Portuguese water dogs come from Portugal, unlike Yorkshire terriers which come from London and German Shepherds which come from Essex), cruelly uprooted, I say, but that is no reason to allow yourself to be photographed wearing a Hawaiian lei and being patronised by all and sundry.
Any dog worth his salt would have eaten those flowers, in front of the cameras, dug a hole in the White House lawn and bitten a security guard.
Go to it, Bo.
Any dog worth his salt would have eaten those flowers, in front of the cameras, dug a hole in the White House lawn and bitten a security guard.
Go to it, Bo.
12 April, 2009
McBridegate
The political smear campaign, for which the Prime Minister's political adviser has resigned, was filth. I can scarcely think of another word for suggesting that the wife of a politician has mental health problems, to say nothing of the other proposed allegations.
The Prime Minister is directly associated with this and should supply us with an explanation of how it happened. In any walk of life you have to take responsibility for the actions of people who report to you, and his relationship with McBride and Tom Watson, about whom I think we shall hear more, was very close.
The other thing that should come out of this is why McBride was paid by the taxpayer. He was a civil servant when his role was clarly not a civil service one: it was entirely party political. We ought to emerge from this with all-party agreement that political workers are paid by their political party.
The Prime Minister is directly associated with this and should supply us with an explanation of how it happened. In any walk of life you have to take responsibility for the actions of people who report to you, and his relationship with McBride and Tom Watson, about whom I think we shall hear more, was very close.
The other thing that should come out of this is why McBride was paid by the taxpayer. He was a civil servant when his role was clarly not a civil service one: it was entirely party political. We ought to emerge from this with all-party agreement that political workers are paid by their political party.
11 April, 2009
Political hand to hand fighting
This blog is not a tattle-sheet but something quite significant is brewing in Westminster. It will be in the Sunday papers, and I advise you to read them.
The story so far:
(1) the Prime Minister's political adviser (a civil servant, paid by you and me) is Damian McBride. McBride plays dirty.
(2) the Labour Party is extremely worried about the right-wing nature of most blogs (and of course about the likelihood of its getting elected).
McBride produces some insinuations, some of them sexual, about some senior figures in the Conservative Party and the blogosphere. He knows, and is apparently on record as saying, that they are untrue. No matter.
MacBride emails the tittle tattle to a Labour Party blog and to several other people. Apparently a government minister, Tom Watson, is involved. These emails suggest publication details in a new blog Red Rag, which the government denied having been set up but which has been proven to have been established.
Lastly, someone in the Labour Party has leaked all this to the Sunday Newspapers.
Looks like fun.
The story so far:
(1) the Prime Minister's political adviser (a civil servant, paid by you and me) is Damian McBride. McBride plays dirty.
(2) the Labour Party is extremely worried about the right-wing nature of most blogs (and of course about the likelihood of its getting elected).
McBride produces some insinuations, some of them sexual, about some senior figures in the Conservative Party and the blogosphere. He knows, and is apparently on record as saying, that they are untrue. No matter.
MacBride emails the tittle tattle to a Labour Party blog and to several other people. Apparently a government minister, Tom Watson, is involved. These emails suggest publication details in a new blog Red Rag, which the government denied having been set up but which has been proven to have been established.
Lastly, someone in the Labour Party has leaked all this to the Sunday Newspapers.
Looks like fun.
10 April, 2009
Subsidy
The gin bottle on the table is nearly empty, perhaps enough for two modest G & Ts left.
But if I take what remains in the bottle down to the off licence, the government will give me £5 towards a new, full bottle. This subsidy is not available to whisky or vodka drinkers, or of course teetotallers, but maintains jobs in the gin industry and its suppliers (American juniper growers, for example).
Seems like sound economic sense?
No. And it isn't when applied to cars, either.
But if I take what remains in the bottle down to the off licence, the government will give me £5 towards a new, full bottle. This subsidy is not available to whisky or vodka drinkers, or of course teetotallers, but maintains jobs in the gin industry and its suppliers (American juniper growers, for example).
Seems like sound economic sense?
No. And it isn't when applied to cars, either.
08 April, 2009
Earthquake (3)
250 dead, tens of thousands homeless, 26 villages and upwards of 10,000 buildings destroyed.
The hospital is working (and others are helping), the search for survivors continues despite the aftershocks, one of which, itself the magnitude of a serious earthquake, was felt in Rome and as far north as Emilia Romagna. The water is operating, most places seem to have electricity and there are tents for 14,500 people.
Despite the Italians' reputation for inefficiency, so far my impression is that they have done really well.
The hospital is working (and others are helping), the search for survivors continues despite the aftershocks, one of which, itself the magnitude of a serious earthquake, was felt in Rome and as far north as Emilia Romagna. The water is operating, most places seem to have electricity and there are tents for 14,500 people.
Despite the Italians' reputation for inefficiency, so far my impression is that they have done really well.
Data Retention and Snooping
As from last Monday, Internet Service Providers and others will be keeping a record of all emails, websites visited, as well as 'phone calls and text messages, such information to be used against you by Government, local authorities and the like.
This was not debated in Parliament, having been imposed under the EU Data Retention Directive.
The Government will say it has something to do with the fight against terrorism but it has the added little bonus that they know what you've been doing, doesn't it?
This was not debated in Parliament, having been imposed under the EU Data Retention Directive.
The Government will say it has something to do with the fight against terrorism but it has the added little bonus that they know what you've been doing, doesn't it?
MPs' pay
Guido reports that Irish politicians have taken a 10% reduction in pay on the government side, 5% on the opposition side, a 10% reduction in expenses and cancelled all pensions.
British MPs have just awarded themselves a 2.3% pay rise.
British MPs have just awarded themselves a 2.3% pay rise.
07 April, 2009
Earthquake (2)
For those who wish to help, donations can be made to Caritas Italia direct to their account at UNICREDIT BANCA DI ROMA S.P.A. IBAN IT38 K03002 05206 000401120727 with the heading 'Terremoto Abruzzo'
or by credit card to Tel. +39 06 66177001
or by credit card to Tel. +39 06 66177001
L'Aquila's earthquake.
It now seems that 150 people have died and something like 50,000 are homeless after a dramatic earthquake with its epicentre just outside l'Aquila struck at 3.30am on Monday. L'Aquila is a city of about 70,000 people, about the size of Bath, with a university and several schools. The town in its present form was laid out in the 13th century and many of the buildings are just rubble covered over with stucco.
I spoke on a local BBC Radio programme and the presenter said it was hard for the British, who generally do not suffer from earthquakes, to understand the threat, the fear and the reactions. Whilst it is the fourth serious earthquake in 30 years no one can ever get used to it; there are no predictors of the event and no way of estimating what the effects will be. This time there were cracks in walls 50 miles away. The mountain village of Onna was left without a single building standing.
The death tolls in similar strength earthquakes make interesting reading:
1908 86,000 dead
1915 33,000
1968 236
1976 976
1980 2,570
1997 11
2002 28
We are better at getting the wounded out and at treating them. As to the rest we are subject to nature and its incomprehensible forces.
Berlusconi, conscious perhaps of the mistakes Bush made after Katrina, has cancelled a trip to Russia and is throwing resources at this. The area needs its water supply repaired and tens of thousands of temporary homes. Then it needs to rebuild. We shall see how effective the Government is.
I spoke on a local BBC Radio programme and the presenter said it was hard for the British, who generally do not suffer from earthquakes, to understand the threat, the fear and the reactions. Whilst it is the fourth serious earthquake in 30 years no one can ever get used to it; there are no predictors of the event and no way of estimating what the effects will be. This time there were cracks in walls 50 miles away. The mountain village of Onna was left without a single building standing.
The death tolls in similar strength earthquakes make interesting reading:
1908 86,000 dead
1915 33,000
1968 236
1976 976
1980 2,570
1997 11
2002 28
We are better at getting the wounded out and at treating them. As to the rest we are subject to nature and its incomprehensible forces.
Berlusconi, conscious perhaps of the mistakes Bush made after Katrina, has cancelled a trip to Russia and is throwing resources at this. The area needs its water supply repaired and tens of thousands of temporary homes. Then it needs to rebuild. We shall see how effective the Government is.
05 April, 2009
The Grand National
A 100-1 outsider winning the National is great news for the bookies, the worst damage reportedly being a £100 each way bet. It is the least fancied winner since Foinavon in 1967.
I used to live near Foinavon's stables and an amusing little tale is told of the background. The horse was owned by a wealthy lady who, the day before the race, turned up and treated all the workers to a bet on her horse, £1 here, £5 for the senior lads, which was serious money in the 1960s. They of course all knew that Foinavon was a hopeless nag and put the money on the favourite.
As we know at one of the last fences, now called Foinavon, almost the entire field fell, unnerved by some riderless horses, and Foinavon, well to the back, had enough time to pick a safe part of the fence and sail over while the rest were trying to remount.
One of the stable lads said the worst thing wasn't missing out on all that money, it was having to thank the lady for her gift the following day as she arrived in triumph.
I used to live near Foinavon's stables and an amusing little tale is told of the background. The horse was owned by a wealthy lady who, the day before the race, turned up and treated all the workers to a bet on her horse, £1 here, £5 for the senior lads, which was serious money in the 1960s. They of course all knew that Foinavon was a hopeless nag and put the money on the favourite.
As we know at one of the last fences, now called Foinavon, almost the entire field fell, unnerved by some riderless horses, and Foinavon, well to the back, had enough time to pick a safe part of the fence and sail over while the rest were trying to remount.
One of the stable lads said the worst thing wasn't missing out on all that money, it was having to thank the lady for her gift the following day as she arrived in triumph.
04 April, 2009
Business and politicians
'According to the government, GM's Rick Wagoner was forced to resign because of poor performance. That’s embarrassing. You run an organization that loses billions of dollars and then get fired by a guy who heads up an organization that loses trillions of dollars.'
Jay Leno
Jay Leno
Jade Goody's Funeral
'As the cortege makes its way through Bermondsey market...' What? Bermondsey?
Yes, friends, Our Jade's funeral has done a sort of lap of honour through the streets of Sarf London, which were lined with sobbing keeners. I remember watching Churchill's funeral forty odd years ago and I swear they made less fuss.
I just want to ask this: what sort of a nation have we become?
Yes, friends, Our Jade's funeral has done a sort of lap of honour through the streets of Sarf London, which were lined with sobbing keeners. I remember watching Churchill's funeral forty odd years ago and I swear they made less fuss.
I just want to ask this: what sort of a nation have we become?
03 April, 2009
Berlusconi shouts
Her Majesty the Queen apparently asked why Silvio Berlusconi made so much noise at the summit. The answer might be that the world's decision making body, the G8, of which he is currently Chairman, has been hijacked by Gordon Brown, but I think it's more simple.
He's Italian.
02 April, 2009
Royal Marriage
Charles Moore in the Spectator points out that although Prince William is unable to marry a Catholic girl, he could have a civil partnership with a Catholic man.
That'd brighten things up a bit.
That'd brighten things up a bit.
G20
I suppose it is inherent to the ageing process that I find increasingly fewer innovations pleasing, or even satisfactory.
But I do like the idea of starting international conferences on The Feast of All Fools. If it doesn't teach the participants some modesty, it may at least remind us how they should be treated.
But I do like the idea of starting international conferences on The Feast of All Fools. If it doesn't teach the participants some modesty, it may at least remind us how they should be treated.
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