martes, 15 de diciembre de 2009

Ows' olive offering...

Olive TreeI'm not sure how much I'll be posting over the next few weeks so please accept this card from Owsblog. Click on the image (...and then the door!) to receive the card. Design by Jacquie Lawson: easily "the classiest e-cards on the Web". [Link]

"Each card we make takes anything from a few weeks to several months to complete. Many of the elements of the animation are actually painted by hand (using real paint, brushes and paper!) because the textures and colours achieved that way are so much more attractive than the electronic equivalent. These paintings are then scanned into electronic form, and the laborious process of animation starts. Finally, the music is created to accent or complement the animation."

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viernes, 11 de diciembre de 2009

Ominous omnipotence...

Baroness Ashton of Upholland, the EU's new High Representative for Foreign Affairs, is "racing against time to establish a pan-European diplomatic service before David Cameron can clip its wings." This should be a message to all Ukippers to desist from weakening a prospective Conservative win at the coming General Election. Carl Bildt, the Swedish Foreign Minister has said,

"Since the Lisbon treaty came into force, relations between member states were no longer considered "foreign policy" but were now "domestic policy"

[FFS!!!] Therefore any EU leader has no need of his/her diplomats/ministers beside them at EU summits. Bildt said this defending the situation whereby (shock, horror, surprised...NOT!) the foreign minister of each country was banned from attending the EU summit in Brussels; a dozen of the 27 foreign ministers objected to this: errm...you mean they weren't aware they would be replaced by Baroness Ashton (or whomever) at the European summit in Brussels? You mean they weren't aware that it was henceforth...

"...futile for member states to think they could still act unilaterally."

Do you, like me, find that ominous and sinister? Downright scary? [The Times]

P.S. That last quote was from the previous EU foreign policy supremo, Spanish career diplomat Javier Solano. I tend to agree with David Cronin re Solano: his (Solano's) own description of his approach to diplomacy was "Make no enemies and never ask a question to which you do not know or like the answer." Or in other words be "grey", be all things to all men and be nothing at the same time: or, take the money and go with the flow, be damp wallpaper, or, as Cronin says: "'Make no enemies' is another way of saying 'have no principles'" [Link] That's not so bad - and apologies for the change of tack - but some think Solano was the Antichrist (which would make Ashton the new one)! Mind you, reading the following link, the closing paragraphs open up a whole new possible career for Tony Blair as one smooth end times operator.

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jueves, 10 de diciembre de 2009

Olive oil Oakeshott...

An olive oil economy...no, not what may happen because of global warming but what Liberal Democrat Matthew Oakeshott called the UK economy earlier today as our debt and our credibility "heads southwards" [Daily Politics] (plus Ken Clarke on good "straight up and honest" form). Elsewhere David Cameron hammers yesterday's piss-take by Darling.

"I think the Labour Party should be haunted for a decade by what we saw yesterday in terms of irresponsibility, basic deceit and complete lack of moral principle"

Update: 11th Dec 9am (GMT): now things become a little clearer. The piss-take I mentioned above was Brown's idea (and Balls).

"Alistair Darling wanted to impose a VAT rise above 17.5% in his pre-budget report to raise extra revenue but was persuaded by Gordon Brown to opt for an increase in national insurance instead"

And the "tax on jobs" charge levelled at Darling by George Osborne is relevant not only because it could cause job losses but also because only working people pay National Insurance (NI). Increased NI would usually hit middle and even low income earners harder than "the rich". Conversely, everyone pays VAT and would usually hit those with most money to spend i.e. the rich - although I could be wrong. Blimey, it must be bad, even the BBC are headlining it. [Link]

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miércoles, 9 de diciembre de 2009

Olympiakos outing opportunity...


[Edit: 'dead' image/video removed] Could it be Mission Impossible as Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger lines up ten teenagers in the squad of 18 players to face Olympiakos in the last group-stage game of the Chamions League. Arsenal have already qualified top of their table so for them tonight is a stroll but the other interesting thing is that lining up for Arsenal will be Tom Cruise. [Guardian]

"For me, there is only one Tom Cruise and he is the one who plays for Arsenal Football Club."

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Olympiakos outing opportunity...

Mission:ImpossibleCould it be Mission Impossible as Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger lines up ten teenagers in the squad of 18 players to face Olympiakos in the last group-stage game of the Chamions League. Arsenal have already qualified top of their table so for them tonight is a stroll but the other interesting thing is that lining up for Arsenal will be Tom Cruise. [Guardian]

"For me, there is only one Tom Cruise and he is the one who plays for Arsenal Football Club."

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martes, 8 de diciembre de 2009

Outing obfuscation...

"Obfuscation is the concealment of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, intentionally ambiguous, and more difficult to interpret." (from Wiki)

Today is Plain English Day! The Plain English Campaign has, since 1979, "been campaigning against gobbledygook, jargon and misleading public information." If you're within half an hour of The Brewery (London EC1Y 4SD) then get on down to the 30th Plain English Campaign Annual Awards 2009 (starts at midday UK time). Not to give too much away but as of today Mandy has another award!

I touched on a similar subject last week when discussing the Overarching outcomes of outsourced output about the need to 'ditch the jargon that is the daily fare of all public bodies so they can "communicate effectively with local people"' ...[Link].

Update: their Grammar Quiz has just left my ego a bit deflated!

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Obvious outcome of overallocation...

Overallocation of carbon emission permits. Whilst the 20,000 delegates (How many???!!!), descend on Copenhagen, "1,200 limousines have flooded into the Danish capital (forget about public transport)" [Link] !! Naturally, there is an underlying motivation for some: many will benefit greatly from ETS (no I do not mean enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS, in English STDs although there is plenty of "free sex" on offer) but I refer to the EU's "carbon credits" given under the European emissions trading scheme (EU ETS).

"...the ETS has been turned into a system for generating free subsidies."

A system under which Britain's richest resident, the Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, is set to benefit from a £1bn windfall in "carbon credits". The same Lakshmi Mittal that is a major donor to the labour Party, the same man, let's not forget, that the Government helped to clinch a £70 million "soft" loan, funded by taxpayers, to allow him to buy Romania's Sidex steelworks.

Well his company stands to gain immensely but only after threatening to relocate if made to pay for carbon certificates (like a carbon tax) and "Following intense lobbying and claims that the scheme would harm business, the cap on emissions was set too high and too many permits were issued"... Details emerged after inquries by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) "Exposing the power of corporate lobbying in the EU". Also from The revelations of an analysis by Anna Pearson and Sandbag. (a PDF of their 'ETS SOS' is HERE). Anyway, they are not alone and others support the criticisms of carbon trading: Professor Jim Hansen (Director of Nasa’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies..yes, the same one who said the Copenhagen summit was a farce) who also prefers alternatives e.g. a direct tax on carbon. He said:

"The corporates see emissions trading as a huge opportunity to boost profits."

Update: 3:45pm. Oh the Irony...Copenhagen climate summit apparently in disarray as developing countries react furiously to leaked draft agreement.

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lunes, 7 de diciembre de 2009

OpenGeoscience...

BGSYippee...free stuff! Use OpenGeoscience: a free service from the British Geological Survey (BGS) where you can view maps, download photographs and other information. The material is free-of-charge for non-commercial private study, research and educational activities. There are various sections: Data, Maps, Reports and especially pictures. The one below could be from one of my holidays as a child...that could be me...

The Drum Rock, St. Mary's, IOS...except it was taken about 77 years before I was there and I was there for the last time about 36 years ago...and, among the various and impressive rock formations, I'm not sure if this one is still there! (by which I also mean I don't know if it was there when I was...if you get my drift...)

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sábado, 5 de diciembre de 2009

Ongoing occlusion...

occluded frontUpdate 2: a wide variety of weather can be found along an occluded front (or occlusion), with thunderstorms possible... Storms ahead! An update to yesterday's Organised oration over from this morning's Times Online: "Met Office to re-examine 160 years of climate data"...after admitting that public confidence in the science on man-made global warming has been shattered. The UK's Met Office database is one of three main sources of temperature data analysis on which the UN's climate change science body relies on.

"The Government is attempting to stop the Met Office from carrying out the re-examination, arguing that it would be seized upon by climate change sceptics."

Is it just me, or do they seem to be using "sceptic" - amongst other things - as an insult now?

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Obrogating old orthodoxy...

Interesting couple of posts from Iain Martin last night on his Wall Street Journal blog - with some good points from Andrew Lilico of Europe Economics - musing about what would have happened if UK banks hadn't been bailed out by Brown and Co. and that "the new consensus" is that the UK "would now be in the Great Depression II" if they hadn't.

"But many of the same people who trumpet this as the new orthodoxy were equally fervent believers in the old orthodoxy (which was that there would be no need for a new orthodoxy because most economic problems had apparently been solved)."

Indeed! Iain then refers to the newest National Audit Office: "Maintaining financial stability across the United Kingdom’s banking system" [Link] where it was interesting to read that the UK Treasury expects to have spent £107 million on advisers by April 2010. Now we presume - and indeed the NAO expect - that the taxpayer will get most of this money back but it does surprise me that "Two sets of financial advisers – from Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank respectively - who were each appointed on retainers of £200,000 a month for a year" (not including success bonuses). Ah well, if they save the country from The Brownstuff I suppose it would be worth it.

Anyway, the point that IM picks up on is the authorities were aware, in 2005, that "the existing legislative framework would not be sufficient in a crisis."

"That's the famous tripartite framework that was introduced with much fanfare in 1997, by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer"

FFS! And let's not forget either, that they were warned as far back as 1997, in an ocular oration.

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viernes, 4 de diciembre de 2009

Overpaying overseers...

From Conservative Home: By TPA Policy Analyst John O'Connell.

In our recent report with the Institute of Directors we advocated a public sector pay freeze as one of key measures to tackle the fiscal crisis. Politicians from all parties followed suit during the Conference season. But in particular we were told that executive pay in the public sector had to be reined in. The squeeze had to start at the top.

Read the rest [Link].

Also out today, the TPA's annual Public Sector Rich List 2009 [PDF] How is it possible that:
  • There are 8 people in the public sector who earn more than £1 million a year, compared with 4 people last year.
  • There are 35 people in the public sector earning above £500,000 a year compared with 21 last year.
  • There are 120 people earning above £250,000 a year compared with 88 last year.
Also, much as I despise Gordon Brown, he is the 324th highest paid person in the public sector. Surely some mistake...

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Organised oration over...

Not green Brown (see update) and nil Al. It seems Al Gore, the man who two years ago collected a Nobel peace prize, has cancelled his scheduled lecture due in Copenhagen next week. You could feel this was a follow-on from last month when he was booed by a crowd of 200 protesters in Palm Beach [Palm Beach Post]. It has been suggested that billing him as "President of the planet" (oh purrleeeze...) could have been one reason for that episode; one sign read: "Gore's Favorite Green Product? Your money in his pocket". Brilliant. I guess he was really shaken when confronted by more - quite serious - protesters at a book signing in Chicago this week (links to YouTube). I can't think WHY he has cancelled? Anyone know...?

Update: Now the shit [Brownstuff] is really going to hit the fan: Gordon Brown has come out and said,

"With only days to go before Copenhagen we mustn't be distracted by the behind-the-times, anti-science, flat-earth climate sceptics,"... ..."We know the science. We know what we must do. We must now act and close the 5bn-tonne gap. That will seal the deal."

From The Guardian, my emphasis. Unbelievable. Who gives him these lines? He KNOWS half the country is sceptical. His scorched earth policy and the treasury printing presses will have managed to put off tax rises before the next General Election, and now, as I've long suspected, he's making sure he deosn't win it! He also seems to have missed the obvious point that if we "know the science" why is there so much money being invested into trying to "prove" it? Surely, if what he is saying is true [snigger] it's proven?

Well we know what he thought of the "green" issue before: earlier this year we were told by Jonathon Porritt the Government's chief environmental adviser via an interview with The Independent newspaper that Gordon Brown doesn't [didn't?] "see the environment as important and spent years as Chancellor preventing British domestic action on climate change".

"...during his time at the Treasury Mr Brown did not "get" climate change and saw the environment as "middle class stuff".

Porritt claims that the environment is no more important to Brown than when he was Chancellor".[Link] (the interview was back in July).

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martes, 1 de diciembre de 2009

On occupation...

From today...1st December 2009:

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Gordon BROWN, Prime Minister
David MILIBAND, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

WHO, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION AND TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

PDF: [The Treaty of Lisbon]

A dispatch from an occupied country... [EU Referendum Blog] (the blog writers, when they started the Eurosceptic blog, knew it was probably going to have to be renamed when the UK had been given it's referendum on the EU...ahem)

"From today, as the Lisbon treaty comes into force, we are no longer masters in our own house. Our prime minister, as a member of the European Council, is obligated under this new treaty to promote the aims and objectives of the European Union, over and above those of the UK, and is bound by the rules of the Union."

From today, as the Lisbon treaty comes into force, we are no longer masters in our own house. Our prime minister, as a member of the European Council, is obligated under this new treaty to promote the aims and objectives of the European Union, over and above those of the UK, and is bound by the rules of the Union.

But everything is different. We are a satellite state of the Greater European Empire, ruled by a supreme government in Brussels. And things will stay different until we have regained our freedom. Until then, as I remarked before, we owe this government neither loyalty nor obedience. It is not our government. It is theirs. It is our enemy.
"

And from here?...who knows.

Tied to Europe?Update (well, back dating really) Did you enjoy your last day yesterday? From Constantly Furious (link through image)...

"Last day? Of what? Last day for a lot of things. Lots of things that really matter. Or should really matter. Ancient laws, concepts, paradigms, ways of living that have, over centuries, become part of our lives."

And even more incredible - and sinister - news if it's not a hoax (!!), just read Raedwald's post today.

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lunes, 30 de noviembre de 2009

Overarching outcomes of outsourced output...

Normally the titles of my blogposts need a little thinking about and this time is no exception: indeed it IS the whole point. Outcomes, Output, Outsourced and Overarching are all words on the list published earlier this year by the Local Government Association [Link to LGA] and brought to our attention again today by Anna Bawden over at The Guardian. At the time the LGA said

"We do not pretend to be perfect, but as this list shows, we are striving to make sure that people get the chance to understand what services we provide."

The idea was to ditch the jargon that is the daily fare of all public bodies so they can "communicate effectively with local people" (from the local shop) I think it's a fine idea; it's just this sort of bottom-up, blue sky thinking that lends itself to cohesive communities and citizen empowerment; it's right that they should champion - for every stakeholder - the functionality of this core message, area-focused with the leverage their democratic legitimacy bestows on them as a shared priority of sub regional partnerships reconfigured to utilise revenue streams by thinking outside the box with social contracts; upstream fastracking of this framework protocol as a baseline without slippage and with the fulcrum of our can-do culture you have to advocate the actioning of this across-the-piece interfacial network model...

You get the picture!

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sábado, 28 de noviembre de 2009

Old Oxfordian overseers...

Village of the Damned 1960Now you would expect that those that rule over the UK, sorry, I mean those who do the UK citizens bidding, well them in parliament (!!) would be well educated, even very well educated, even attending the best universities...but what do they all do? The older generation of politicians all seem to be solicitors or barristers...lawyers. Not any more: the new crop of modern, "trendy", "professional" politicians seem to be very similar, and with reason: half of them seem to have done the same degree at the same university: PPE at Oxford. From Little Man in a Toque

"I was reading this Guardian article about which of the Miliband brothers is least obnoxious when I got bored and scrolled down to the comments. And the comments alerted me to a very interesting fact: Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University is responsible for much of our failed political class."

The article in question is HERE and the comments provide much of the info, but not all at once. Only the Miliband brothers at first then bit by bit other comments add to the list until we end up with the following by Trigmar posted at 25 Nov 2009, 12:45PM, albeit quoting several others as well (Toque has added more to get a mini cabinet and shadow cabinet)...startling. Ominous.

So to recap, the choices are: David Miliband (PPE degree from Oxford), Ed Miliband (PPE degree from Oxford), James Purnell (PPE degree from Oxford) and Ed Balls (PPE degree from Oxford).

I think this is New Labour's idea of diversity.

If they want a bit of female diversity they could always choose

Jaqui Smith (PPE oxford)
Yvette Cooper (PPE oxford)
Ruth Kelly (PPE oxford)

If they wanted a bit of unelected dark-knighted-ness they could always choose

Peter Mandelson (PPE oxford)

And hey, if the proles want a bit of a change we could always elect

David Cameron (PPE oxford) ably assisted by William Hauge (PPE oxford)
[sic]

...and if we wanted to really push the boat out we could go crazy and go for a crazy liberal like

Chris Huhne (PPE oxford)

Is it any wonder that all our politicians say the same thing? The most influential political figures in British politics are the Oxford PPE lecturers...

And the proles could hear about it through the wonderful media:

Stephanie Flanders (PPE oxford)
Rupert Murdoch (PPE oxford)
Nick Robinson (PPE oxford)
Nick Cohen (PPE oxford)
Michael Crick (PPE oxford)
Krishnan Guru-Murthy (PPE oxford)
John Sergeant (PPE oxford)
James Robbins (PPE oxford)
Evan Davis (PPE oxford)
David Dimbleby (PPE oxford)


What would be interesting if some decent journalist/anyone with time could compile a list of all University PPE course graduates...it seems to me to be more urgent now - rather than just important - that any new MPs should have actually "lived" before joining the ruling elite.

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lunes, 23 de noviembre de 2009

Only obeying orders...

WWI, Passchendaele Ridge As is so often the case the bravest among us never see their own actions as brave or heroic. Captain Noel Chavasse is one of only three VCs and Bar in the 150+ year history of this highest award, those that have won two Victoria Crosses. After more than one episode of "conspicuous bravery" and dying of his own wounds he said "Duty called and duty must be obeyed." It's a wonderful story not very well known and in the news today after his VC and Bar was bought by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft for his VC collection (owned by a Trust); it is believed to have been purchased for a world record price of nearly £1.5 million.

Photo: TIME/GETTY IMAGES: Allied forces on the battlefield as they recapture the Passchendaele ridge. From the article in The Daily Telegrpah (click on image)

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sábado, 21 de noviembre de 2009

Odious oration...

Now Hugo is really pushing the boundries, and I'm not on about him ordering his troops to start destroying frontier bridges. Today he's been defending his "brothers": this not only about people responsible for 'destroying' entire nations but also know murderers and known terrorists. Robert Mugabe isn't who many sane people would call their brother, much less saying it of Idi Amin:

"We thought he was a cannibal," Chavez said, referring to Amin, whose regime was notorious for torturing and killing suspected opponents in the 1970s. "I have doubts. ... I don't know, maybe he was a great nationalist, a patriot."

...or Carlos the Jackal!

"They accuse him of being a terrorist, but Carlos really was a revolutionary fighter," [From AP about an hour ago] "Chavez said during a televised speech to socialist politicians from various countries, who applauded."

A person known (not just accused) of being guilty of multiple terrorist attacks, a known multiple murderer, well Chavez "defends" him; it's not the first time either, a few years ago he announced how he considers him a friend, and about that time Citizen Feathers reminded us he had corresponded with "El Chacal". Worth noting that letter was written AFTER Chavez became president. Let's hope that what Shimon Peres said last week turns out ot be true.

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viernes, 20 de noviembre de 2009

Occasional outrage...

Not an electrical outrage this time but there's certainly a current involved! Colleagues of mine are outraged (faux) by the news that The Royal Navy in the Strait of Gibraltar use buoys with a Spanish flag for target practice! From El Mundo online (no news yet in English) and clearly polemical - there are already nearly 200 comments, 40 or so of which were written whilst I was writing this blogpost (many, as one would expect, against the inaction of Spanish politicians!). El Mundo says that according to Military Institute 'sources' a Civil Guard patrol boat spotted a Royal Navy boat that, as soon as they [the British] detected the presence of the Spanish Civil Guard, picked up a buoy that had the Spanish flag attached which up to that point they had been using for target practice.

"La nave británica, al ver acercarse a la patrullera española, lanzó advertencias por megafonía: "No pueden estar ustedes aquí, son aguas internacionales"... ..."The British ship, seeing the approaching Spanish patrol 'launched' warnings by megaphone: "You cannot be here, these are international waters.""

Update 14:30: now over 500 comments but a fine response by one of many named anonimous (message 477):

Yo creo que ninguna bandera merece la enemistad de dos pueblos. Yo vivo en el Campo de Gibraltar y la convivencia entre espanioles y gibraltarenios es muy buena, de mucho respeto y todos queremos que asi siga siendo. Los politicos lo embrollan todo y lo ultimo que necesitamos en una de las regiones mas desfavorecidas del pais, es que ahora quieran enemistarnos con nuestros vecinos.

"I don't think any flag should cause (deserves) the enmity between two nations. I live in Gibraltar and the coexistence between the Spanish and Gibraltans is very good, with lots of respect and we all want it to remain so. Politicians entangle everything and the last thing we need in one of the most disadvantaged regions of the country is that they now want us to be at odds with our neighbours."

P.S. (11pm) Just in time to tell you that by one of those strange coincidences today is one of the 27 official UK's flag-flying days :-)

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miércoles, 18 de noviembre de 2009

Orgasms: ollapod's ophelimity...

ESSM - Inhibited Desire Disorder"Come on luv, give us a smile." "I can't manage that but how about a quick shag?"... A drug that underwent tests for use as an antidepressant has being called 'Viagra for women' after "surprising but not unpleasant side effects. In three separate trials, the drug flibanserin did wonders for women's flagging sex drive despite doing nothing to lift mood." [BBC] As would be expected some doctors are sceptical about use of medication to boost a female's sex drive but I don't know why, if certain foods and drink can then it seems logical and obvious that some sort of pill could be found: just like men, why would women be so different; the European Society for Sexual Medicine (click on image) tells us that

"Recent research suggests that approximately 40% of women may be affected by some sexual dysfunction."

Also, as I've mentioned before, more than once, one of the many sexual myths is that women, all women, experience orgasm with "penile penetration and thrusting" whereas research has shown that probably only one in four achieve orgasm in this manner!!! "A difference in sexual desire is one of the most common problems couples face and can cause much unhappiness and frustration if it is not talked about. Tiredness, depression, illness, stress, anxiety, relationship disharmony, drug or alcohol abuse can affect energy levels and sexual desire." No joking matter; so the lips are sealed.

ollapod n. - pharmacist
ophelimity n. - the ability to please (sexually)

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martes, 17 de noviembre de 2009

"The conclusion - Corruption hurts everyone." "The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) measures the perceived level of public-sector corruption in 180 countries and territories around the world. The CPI is a 'survey of surveys', based on 13 different expert and business surveys." From Transparency International (the 'global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption'). Corruption stats 2009:

LINK to full table.

New Zealand 1st
UK 17th: (no improvement of previous worst ever...)
Spain 32nd (getting steadily worse, this is the 5th year in a row that the perception of corruption has grown: Spain was bettered by two Latin American countries: Chile and Uruguay that were 25th =
Venezuela 162nd!!: most corrupt in Latin America, beaten only by Haiti as most corrupt in The Americas. What will Hugo say about this? I'm sure we won't have to wait long... [BBC Mundo]
Somalia last (180th)

LINK to interactive World map.

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Out of one...

Out of one job and into another: this is the advice given to Philip Hammond MP (Conservative Party spending spokesman)..."what he doesn't know about public spending isn't worth knowing." But Dr Eamonn Butler, director of the Adam Smith Institute, believes he needs to become their spokesman on public service renewal based mainly on the [correct] premise that you can't streamline the public sector by Treasury bullying [ring any bells?]

"Instead, you need a complete review of what government does, what it has to do, what it can do better, and what can be done better by other people and by the public. All departments need to buy into that, and it needs a reform, not a finance minister in charge if everyone is going to trust the process and be a part of it. After all, the process may find that spending in some areas should be increased, even if other departments are found to be doing a lot of pointless stuff."

"Why Philip Hammond MP should resign" by Dr Eamonn Butler on the Adam Smith Institute blog [ASI blog]. Dr Butler is author of, amongst other things, "The Rotten State of Britain".

Hat tip; Iain Dale's Diary.

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OBE obit...

I'll always remember as haunting - not so much compared to what we have these days - opening credits to Callan: "Troubled government assassin David Callan... The downbeat screenplay by James Mitchell, about a killer brought out of retirement for one last job... a bleak antidote to the jet-set secret agent lifestyle popularised by the James Bond films." [BFI Screenonline] The 'Screenonline video and audio content is only available through registered UK schools, colleges, universities and libraries' so if you can watch their offering then all the better; below is the opening credits to the TV episodes, this one appropriately named "Where Else Could I Go?"

Who is Callan?

His weapons are theft, blackmail, murder. The tools of the trade are the knife, the gun and an icy courage no other man possesses. He is the Destroyer.

His ordinariness is his protection. He is a highly-skilled cracksman, a master of unarmed combat, a dead-shot with a pistol. He is a killer. But he looks so much like everybody else he is invisible. It is only when you know him well that you realise his strength, his menace - and his charm.

Format Document for Callan TV series by creator James Mitchell. Taken from the excellent Edited Guide Entry by smij a few years ago.

Veteran actor Edward Woodward has died aged 79 [Obit: BBC] Stage, screen, TV, cabaret, records and radio: the whole hog. I don't just remember Callan: there was the fantastic cult horror film The Wicker Man and I liked the idea of The Equaliser as well, and the silly schoolboy jokes: could your golf club do that? Edward Woodward's wood would.

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lunes, 16 de noviembre de 2009

Witanagemot Club...

Copied from The Witanagemot Club Website: Posted by Toque

"Who are we and what do we do?

The Witanagemot club is a collection of bloggers that believe that the current constitutional settlement is disadvantageous to England. The word 'Witenagemot' is an old anglo-saxon word used to describe an Anglo Saxon gathering of eminent people. It would include bishops, ealdormen, thegn's and the like. They would be summoned by the king and would advise him on various issues that were important to the kingdom. They would act as witnesses and be responsible for new taxes, charters and running the country in between monarchs. The witan had a regulatory effect on the king so that his decisions were discussed fully before implementation. The witan could also responsible for choosing the king. This particular Witanagemot Club, however, is open to all, regardless of ethnicity, just so long as you believe that England too is a nation that deserves political recognition in the form of its own parliament."

Encyclopedia Britannica : England
"Outside the British Isles, England is often erroneously considered synonymous with the island of Great Britain ( England , Scotland , and Wales ) and even with the entire United Kingdom . Despite the political, economic, and cultural legacy that has secured the perpetuation of its name, England no longer officially exists as a governmental or political unit—unlike Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which all have varying degrees of self-government in domestic affairs. It is rare for institutions to operate for England alone. Notable exceptions are the Church of England ( Wales , Scotland , and Ireland , including Northern Ireland , have separate branches of the Anglican Communion) and sports associations for cricket, rugby, and football (soccer). In many ways England has seemingly been absorbed within the larger mass of Great Britain since the Act of Union of 1707.' --- Encyclopedia Britannica, 2004."
The bloggers of the Witanagemot Club would like to change this state of affairs. Please check out the blogroll to see what we have to say on this subject.

English BlogsWant to join the Witanagemot Club? Here's how...

Membership

English BlogsTo be a member of the Witanagemot Club you should agree with our aims and you must be a blogger. In addition you will be prepared to provide a permanent link back to the Witanagemot homepage from the main page of your blog and, if at all possible, carry the Witanagemot blogroll.

English BlogsIf this sounds like you then you are all set to become a Witanagemot Club member; simply email Toque your blog details using the contact form [link from here] and you will add you to the blogroll and hopefully provide answers to any relevant questions that you may have.

English BlogsMembers of the club are expected to bitch and moan as often as possible about the political discrimination against England; send traffic the way of other blogs if possible; and, highlight the undemocratic regionalisation of our country.

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domingo, 15 de noviembre de 2009

Onager's overwrought oratory...

I'm looking forward to today's Aló Presidente; don't worry, I won't be listening to the whole thing, the average time is 6 hours...can you imaginge 6 hours of ANY leader every Sunday? I wonder what pap Hugo will have to say today because last week, as reported everywhere e.g. BBC, he said "Let's not waste a day on our main aim: to prepare for war and to help the people prepare for war, because it is everyone's responsibility,". He was quite clear in what he said.

Chavez vs Uribe Image credit: Fotomontaje: Casa Editorial El Tiempo (CEET) Click on image for article in El Tiempo about whether the differences between Colombia and Venezuela can be sorted (in Spanish).

Now the Venezuelan government are saying they will punish any media that manipulates Chavez's words: Penarán a medios que "manipulen" palabras de Chávez [AFP, Spanish]:

Los medios de comunicación que "manipulen" las últimas declaraciones del presidente venezolano Hugo Chávez, en las que llamó a sus compatriotas a prepararse "para la guerra", serán sancionados, informó este viernes el director de la Comisión de Telecomunicaciones (Conatel), Diosdado Cabello.

The media that "manipulate" the latest statements of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, in which he called on his countrymen to prepare "for war" will be punished, said Diosdado Cabello, the head of the Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), on Friday.

Now, Chavez did follow up what he said with "If you want peace, prepare for war," [*see below] so I can understand what God-given hair (ahem...) is on about and to that end the authorities will be monitoring and reviewing all past and current programming to check that the words weren't manipulated by being used out of context as clearly the context of preparing for war is simply a 'deterrent' phrase, (yes it is, honest) aimed at Bogota and Washington re U.S. troops using Colombian military bases. Needless to say Hugo has called Uribe both mafioso and a traitor for allowing this and believes that rather than being aimed at counter-narcotics offensives the Evil Empire is there to invade Venezuela.

Chavez made these statements during last week's Alo Presidente! but two days later he denied that his intention was to provoke armed conflict with Colombia although not surprisingly this and other actions belie these words: on Friday he insisted he was "not calling for any war,"...merely a call to "prepare for battle to defend the holy land of Venezuela" against possible aggression from the United States from Colombia. Well, I guess everyone will make their own minds up. Many already believe that all the fuss is just another way of creating a smokescreen for the Venezuelan government's mounting inefficiencies and also to weaken the local governments of Táchira and Zulia states both on the border with Colombia and both with govenors in opposition to Chavez.

*Si vis pacem, para bellum: "If you wish for peace, prepare for war", originally from Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum by the Roman military writer Vegetius but has been paraphrased more than a few times throughout history. Perhaps Chavez should state clearly what Andrew Carnegie said only seven years before the outbreak of WWI:

"These vast armaments on land and water are being defended as a means, not to wage war, but to prevent war.... there is a safer way ... it requires only the consent and the good-will of the governments. Today they say .... If you want peace, prepare for war. This Congress says in behalf of the people: Si vis pacem, para pactum: if you want peace, agree to keep the peace [Wiki]


Update 9pm (Spain): Well more of the same. The US government are the champions of cynicism, Obama should give back the Nobel peace prize because he sending more troops to Afghanistan and Pakistan, in Iran they are still killing women and children; supporting the coup in Honduras and that Venezuela would continue preparing for war because Colombia and the USA were warmongers. The Obama government look butt naked covering themselves with a fig-leaf, covering the truth (about the US military presence being in the fight against the drug gangs and guerillas) and he doesn't need or want anybody's (Spain, Brazil,...the Vatican!) help mediating. Normal day at the office really.

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viernes, 13 de noviembre de 2009

Outage or outrage...

Brazil's Big Blackout ...or both in this case; I bet it's not what you think! I'm on about a power outrage, or powercut! Earlier this week there was a power cut in Brazil, no big deal you think but it involved the Itaipu hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River between Brazil and Paraguay. It is the largest operational hydroelectric power plant in the world and the dam is second only to the Three Gorges Dam (Yangtze River, China) in its generating capacity. [Wiki] It was also elected as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by American Society of Civil Engineers. The rated nominal power of each of the 18 (out of 20) generating units is nine times what all the water from the nearby natural wonder of the world, Iguaçu Falls, would have the capacity to generate. Not newsworthy? Just look at the image opposite, or if your eyes are like mine click on the image to enlarge (pdf). It was possibly bigger than the 1999 Brazil Blackout and certainly bigger than the Java Blackout four years ago (although in Java more people were effected). Now, only a few months ago, by complete coincidence, Brazil finally granted sovereignty of the dam (and a load more dosh) to Paraguay and although many in Brazil may suspect soemthing I'm sure this has nothing to do with the blackout, which has been blamed on the heavy storms...I just hope there are no similar storms for the World Cup and Olympics in a few years time!

Anyway, I was just impressed that it was pretty much the equivalent of the whole of Europe in a blackout!

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Offering overtime...

"They don't get overtime for that - they get a bonus to compensate."...

'Numerology: MOD Expenses and Savings.
' Posted yesterday by Matt Wardman on Thunderdragon... "Savings from Planned Cuts to Territorial Army Training and Bonuses Paid to MOD Staff." A picture paints a thousand words...

This may seem like a one-off but it's not: the MoD's own figures show a total of nearly £288 MILLION had been paid out in bonuses since 2003. All this is within budget and allowed under previously arranged pay deals...of COURSE it is! And all this seeking efficiencies and cutbacks? btw...The MoD employs 85,000 civil servants - one for every two active armed forces personnel - [BBC] not a problem in itself but how many of those are "really" necessary and are these bonuses performance related? Are they in lieu of lower salary?...I doubt it. Home Secretary Alan Johnson said that MoD civilians did "difficult and sometimes dangerous" jobs, going "into the front line" to develop techniques to protect troops from improvised bombs: where it is his "understanding is they work 17, 18 hours in Afghanistan... ...They don't get overtime for that - they get a bonus to compensate."

I have no doubt that SOME MoD civilians do indeed do this; well Mr. Home Secretary, find out if your understanding is correct; you should know! And how many of them do this and how much do they get? And what are their base salaries and what allowances do they get? I wouldn't mind betting the percentage that do what you say here is less than 2% of those recieving bonuses.

P.S. I know the Government has done it's U-turn i.e. "a total climbdown over the decision to cut the budget of the Territorial Army by £20 million" but this sort of problem won't go away and the TA has already had one budget cut this year of £23 million.

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Official onanism...

"El placer está en tus manos" es el título de la campaña de la Junta de Extremadura para enseñar a los jóvenes a masturbarse; "autoexploración sexual y el autodescubrimiento del placer" [Telecinco, Spanish]

Pleasure in your handsNot sure how? Not sure when? Not sure what? No worries, "Pleasure is in your own hands": the Officials in the Spanish region of Extremadura have launched a campaign to teach young people about "sexual self-exploration and discovery of self-pleasure". [The Guardian]

Now being taught how to wank could be interesting. Owsblog touched on this sensitive issue (phnarr, phnarr) a few years ago by explaining what the original onanist was told to do, it's not what you think. Anyway, some "questioned why the poorest region in Spain was paying for a campaign to promote onanism."

"Extremadura should be pleased with itself," sniped Pilar Rahola, a columnist in the Barcelona-based La Vanguardia newspaper. "It may have the most unemployed young people in Spain, but they will be the best at masturbation."


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jueves, 12 de noviembre de 2009

Organ operation obsession...

The BBC reports on new research published by BJOG (British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) that more and more women are having surgical operations to create more aesthetic genitalia amid a "shocking lack of information on the potential risks of the procedure".

Operations to improve the appearance of the sex organs for both psychological and physical reasons are on the rise.

Talking of designer vaginas, here's a perfect cunt that's won another prize.

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miércoles, 11 de noviembre de 2009

One official option...

Apologies for posting this on Armistice Day but slimy snake Mandy Lying Hypocrite Mandelson is being tipped as the sinister sounding Information Minister: the business secretary could hold weekly televised news conferences to explain government business... [The Guardian]

Here are some tips from someone I think is not too dissimilar:

1. Propagandist must have access to intelligence concerning events and public opinion.

2. Propaganda must be planned and executed by only one authority.

4. Propaganda must affect the enemy's policy and action.

6. To be perceived, propaganda must evoke the interest of an audience and must be transmitted through an attention-getting communications medium.

7. Credibility alone must determine whether propaganda output should be true or false.

9. Credibility, intelligence, and the possible effects of communicating determine whether propaganda materials should be censored.

11. Black rather than white propaganda may be employed when the latter is less credible or produces undesirable effects.

12. Propaganda may be facilitated by leaders with prestige.

13. Propaganda must be carefully timed.

14. Propaganda must label events and people with distinctive phrases or slogans.

a. They must evoke desired responses which the audience previously possesses

b. They must be capable of being easily learned

c. They must be utilized again and again, but only in appropriate situations

d. They must be boomerang-proof

And so on...Based upon Goebbels' Principles of Propaganda by Leonard W. Doob.

Update: Just reading some of the comments on that Guardian link (Andrew Sparrow exclusive) Just hilarious; clearly none too popular is our Mandy.

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Once once...

Remember our soldiers...British Legion
It Is The Soldier...

It is the Soldier, not the minister who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Original poem by Charles Michael Province.


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Once once...

Remember our soldiers...British Legion
It Is The Soldier...

It is the Soldier, not the minister who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Original poem by Charles Michael Province.


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lunes, 9 de noviembre de 2009

Sorry, just had to post this; a very pretty girl with the welcoming name:

I Getmanova
!

Irina Getmanova, 19, a student who looks very much like one of my sisters-in-law, won the Miss Siberia 2009 beauty pageant held at the end of October. (click on image to enlarge)

The lovely Irina was only one when the Cold War officially ended but seeing her in such a competition is just one on the - albeit less serious - benefits of the end of that war; also, today is the 20th anniversary of the fall of one of the most infamous borders ever that came to symbolize the Cold War and the 'Iron Curtain' between Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc.

Photo credit: RIA Novosti, Valery Titievsky

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